: 9 2013 . 9 . . Parliament's legislative and constitutional affairs committee was not able to reach decision on an election appeal against MP Ahmed Mansour after Mansour's father and a leading member exchanged insults Egypt parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Al is expected to issue a decision on an election appeal against Ahmed Mortada Mansour, an MP affiliated with the liberal Free Egyptians Party, after his father, also an MP, disrupted a session that was due to decide his son's fate. The appeal, filed by Mansour's rival in the parliamentary elections in Giza's district of Dokki, Amr Elchoubaki, was accepted by the Court of Cassation that is solely authorised by the constitution to give a final say on appeals related to results of parliamentary elections. The court said Elchoubaki got more votes than Mansour and as a result, and in line with Article 107 of the Egyptian Constitution, he should be declared the winner of the Dokki seat. In its meeting Tuesday night to discuss the ruling and vote on it to be debated in a plenary session, the legislative and constitutional affairs committee failed to reach a decision. Its chairman, lawyer Bahaaeddin Abu Shoka, said he decided not to look into the issue after two of the committee's leading members lawyers Mortada Mansour and Alaa Abdel-Moneim mounted verbal clashes against each other and even exchanged insults. "I will remain chairman of the committee, but I will not look into this issue because of verbal clashes that swamped the meeting (on Tuesday night)," said Abu Shoka, adding that, "I took this decision in order to save the meeting from further escalation." The committee's deputy chairman Ahmed Helmi Al-Sherif told reporters Wednesday that it will be up to the parliament speaker to decide who will be responsible for heading the committee's meeting on Elchoubaki's appeal. He also disclosed that the committee's members submitted a memo to speaker Abdel-Al, complaining of lawyer Mortada Mansour's unruly behaviour that led to the disruption of the committee meeting. Before it began its meeting Tuesday night, committee members were surprised that their colleague Mortada Mansour, a flamboyant lawyer and chairman of Zamalek Sporting Club, tried to disrupt the debate. Mansour attacked MP Alaa Abdel-Moneim, a lawyer and a leading official of the "Support Egypt" parliamentary bloc, when he urged committee members to vote in favour of the Cassation Court's ruling that Elchoubaki should be declared the winner of the Dokki seat. "The ruling of the court is very clear, final and binding to parliament and all members should vote in favour of invalidating the membership of Ahmed Mortada Mansour and decide that Elchoubaki is the elected MP of Dokki," said Abdel-Moneim. MPs Abdel-Moneim and Ahmed Al-Sharkawi asked Mansour to leave the meeting room on the grounds that he is not one of its 32 members. "You do not have the right to be here and you have to go out," said Al-Sharkawi. Mansour responded by accusing members of the committee of taking money from Elchoubaki to vote in favour of the court ruling. Mansour claimed that some of the documents submitted to the Court of Cassation were doctored by Elchoubaki. Mansour added that there are two court rulings on the result of the Dokki district vote. "The first came in favour of my son Ahmed, and the second which came in favour of Elchoubaki was based on rigged documents," said Mansour. Mansour and Al-Sharkawi were about to exchange fists after Mansour told Al-Sharkawi "to keep silent." "You are a low-profile lawyer and I will not respond to you because it will be a big honour which you do not deserve," said Mansour. In reaction to these verbal clashes, the committee's head, Abu Shoka, said he was no longer able to look into the issue and that he would rather leave it up to the speaker to decide. Members of the committee told reporters that Abu Shoka left the meeting without allowing a final vote on the appeal because he was intimidated by Mansour. "It is sorrowful that Abu Shoqa was intimidated by Mansour," said Al-Sharqawi. Abdel-Moneim told reporters that the committee's members expect that speaker Abdel-Aal will choose one of the committee's two deputies Nabil Al-Gammal or Ahmed Al-Sherif to head the committee meeting on Elchoubaki's appeal, or that the speaker himself will do it. Ahmed Mansour was announced in January as the elected deputy for Dokki district. Search Keywords: Short link: EMERSON, Neb. (AP) Authorities say a 21-year-old Pender man was killed in a highway accident involving three vehicles. The Dakota County Sheriffs Office said the accident occurred a little before 12:30 p.m. Tuesday on Nebraska Highway 35 about one mile northeast of Emerson. The Sheriffs Office said an eastbound vehicle sideswiped a westbound van and then spun out of control when it hit water running over the roadway and struck another westbound vehicle. The eastbound vehicles driver, Michael Schmidt, died. One of the other drivers was hospitalized and the third driver was not injured. AMATRICE, Italy (AP) Rescue crews using bulldozers and their bare hands raced to dig out survivors from a strong earthquake that reduced three central Italian towns to rubble Wednesday. The death toll stood at 159, but the number of dead and missing was uncertain given the thousands of vacationers in the area for summer's final days. Residents wakened before dawn by the temblor emerged from their crumbled homes to find what they described as apocalyptic scenes "like Dante's Inferno," with entire blocks of buildings turned into piles of sand and rock, thick dust choking the air and a putrid smell of gas. "The town isn't here anymore," said Sergio Pirozzi, the mayor of the hardest-hit town, Amatrice. "I believe the toll will rise." The magnitude 6.2 quake struck at 3:36 a.m. and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including Rome, where residents woke to a long swaying followed by aftershocks. The temblor shook the Lazio region and Umbria and Le Marche on the Adriatic coast, a highly seismic area that has witnessed major quakes in the past. Dozens of people were pulled out alive by rescue teams and volunteers that poured in from around Italy. "She's alive!" two women cheered as they ran up the street in Pescara del Tronto, one of the three hardest hit hamlets, after a 10-year-old girl was pulled from the rubble 17 hours after the quake struck. And there were wails when bodies emerged. "Unfortunately, 90 percent we pull out are dead, but some make it, that's why we are here," said Christian Bianchetti, a volunteer from Rieti who was working in devastated Amatrice where flood lights were set up so the rescue could continue through the night. Premier Matteo Renzi visited the zone Wednesday, greeted rescue teams and survivors, and pledged that "No family, no city, no hamlet will be left behind." Italy's civil protection agency reported the death toll had risen to 159 by late Wednesday; at least 368 others were injured. Worst affected were the tiny towns of Amatrice and Accumoli near Rieti, some 100 kilometers (60 miles) northeast of Rome, and Pescara del Tronto, some 25 kilometers further east. Italy's civil protection agency set up tent cities around each hamlet to accommodate the thousands of homeless. Italy's health minister, Beatrice Lorenzin, visiting the devastated area, said many of the victims were children: The quake zone is a popular spot for Romans with second homes, and the population swells in August when most Italians take their summer holiday before school resumes. The medieval center of Amatrice was devastated, with the hardest-hit half of the city cut off by rescue crews digging by hand to get to trapped residents. The birthplace of the famed spaghetti all'amatriciana bacon and tomato sauce, the city was full for this weekend's planned festival honoring its native dish. Some 70 guests filled its top Hotel Roma, famed for its amatriciana, where five bodies were pulled from the rubble before the operation was suspended when conditions became too dangerous late Wednesday. Among those killed was an 11-year-old boy who had initially shown signs of life. The fate of the dozens of other guests wasn't immediately known. Amatrice is made up of 69 hamlets that teams from around Italy were working to reach with sniffer dogs, earth movers and other heavy equipment. In the city center, rocks and metal tumbled onto the streets and dazed residents huddled in piazzas as more than 200 aftershocks jolted the region throughout the day, some as strong as magnitude 5.1. "The whole ceiling fell but did not hit me," marveled resident Maria Gianni. "I just managed to put a pillow on my head and I wasn't hit, luckily, just slightly injured my leg." Another woman, sitting in front of her destroyed home with a blanket over her shoulders, said she didn't know what had become of her loved ones. "It was one of the most beautiful towns of Italy and now there's nothing left," she said, too distraught to give her name. "I don't know what we'll do." As the August sun turned into a nighttime chill, residents, civil protection workers and even priests dug with shovels, bulldozers and their bare hands to reach survivors. A steady column of dump trucks brought tons of twisted metal, rock and cement down the hill and onto the highway toward Rome, along with a handful of ambulances bringing the injured to Rome hospitals. "We need chain saws, shears to cut iron bars and jacks to remove beams. Everything, we need everything," civil protection worker Andrea Gentili told The Associated Press in the early hours of the recovery. Italy's national blood drive association appealed for donations to Rieti's hospital. Despite a massive rescue and relief effort with army, Alpine crews, carabineri, firefighters, Red Cross crews and volunteers, it wasn't enough: A few miles (kilometers) north of Amatrice, in Illica, residents complained that rescue workers were slow to arrive and that loved ones were trapped. "We are waiting for the military," said resident Alessandra Cappellanti. "There is a base in Ascoli, one in Rieti, and in L'Aquila. And we have not seen a single soldier. We pay! It's disgusting!" Agostino Severo, a Rome resident visiting Illica, said workers eventually arrived after an hour or so. "We came out to the piazza, and it looked like Dante's Inferno," he said. "People crying for help, help." The U.S. Geological Survey reported the quake's magnitude was 6.2, while the Italian geological service put it at 6 and the European Mediterranean Seismological Center at 6.1. The quake had a shallow depth of between four and 10 kilometers, the agencies said. Generally, shallow earthquakes pack a bigger punch and tend to be more damaging than deeper quakes. "The Apennine mountains in central Italy have the highest seismic hazard in Western Europe and earthquakes of this magnitude are common," noted Richard Walters, a lecturer in Earth sciences at Durham University in Britain. The devastation harked back to the 2009 quake that killed more than 300 people in and around L'Aquila, about 90 kilometers (55 miles) south of the latest quake. The town, which still hasn't fully recovered, sent emergency teams Wednesday to help with the rescue and set up tent camps for residents unwilling to stay indoors because of aftershocks. "I don't know what to say. We are living this immense tragedy," said a tearful Rev. Savino D'Amelio, a parish priest in Amatrice. "We are only hoping there will be the least number of victims possible and that we all have the courage to move on." Another hard-hit town was Pescara del Tronto, in the Le Marche region, where the main road was covered in debris. Residents were digging their neighbors out by hand before emergency crews arrived. Aerial photos taken by regional firefighters showed the town essentially flattened and under a thick gray coat of dust; Italy requested EU satellite images of the whole area to get the scope of the damage. "There are broken liquor bottles all over the place," said Gino Petrucci, owner of a bar in nearby Arquata Del Tronto where he was beginning the long cleanup. One rescue was particularly delicate as a ranger in Capodacqua, in the Marche province of Ascoli Piceno, diplomatically tried to keep an 80-year-old woman calm as she begged to get to a toilet, even though she was trapped in the rubble. "Listen, I know it's not nice to say but if you need to pee you just do it," he said. "Now I move away a little bit and you do pee, please." The mayor of Accumoli, Stefano Petrucci, said a family of four had died there, one of the few young families who had decided to stay in the area. He wept as he noted that the tiny hamlet of 700 swells to 2,000 in the summer months, and that he feared for the future of the town. "I hope they don't forget us," he told Sky TG24. President Barack Obama, speaking by telephone to Italian President Sergio Mattarella, said the U.S. sent its thoughts and prayers to the quake victims and saluted the "quick action" by first responders, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. A 1997 quake killed a dozen people in central Italy and severely damaged one of the jewels of Umbria, the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, filled with Giotto frescoes. The Franciscan friars who are the custodians of the basilica reported no immediate damage from Wednesday's temblor. Pope Francis skipped his traditional catechism for his Wednesday general audience and instead invited the thousands of pilgrims in St. Peter's Square to recite the rosary with him. He also sent a six-man squad from the Vatican's fire department to help with the rescue. MELBOURNE Australia has a split personality when it comes to China: Government officials stress the importance of their strategic alliance with the U.S., even if it upsets Beijing. But business leaders argue that Australia must accommodate the reality of Chinas overwhelming economic power in Asia. Its an awkward straddle for Australia, as its security and economic interests diverge. It has often been noted that this is the first time in our history that our No. 1 trading partner is not an ally, notes Foreign Minister Julie Bishop in an interview. The Chinese have raised scenarios where Australia could be forced to choose between the U.S. and China, Bishop explains. This is generally accompanied by warnings that Australia will need to choose its friends carefully, implying that economic partners may be more important than strategic allies. A visitor here encounters the debate about how to deal with Chinas growing power in almost every conversation. Its a painful dilemma: Australia has profited enormously from Chinas rise, posting 25 years of uninterrupted economic growth, fueled partly by its exports to China. But Australia also has a deep affinity for America and prides itself on an unblemished record of supporting the U.S. militarily, in good times and bad. This balancing act became more prominent this month when the government decided to block, on national-security grounds, Chinas proposed purchase of Ausgrid, the utility that provides power in the New South Wales region that includes Sydney. The Chinese embassy gave a tart statement to the Australian newspaper saying it was highly concerned that its investment had been rejected. Many Australian business leaders are unhappy, too, about spurning the regions economic superpower. At a dinner Monday in Melbourne that included some prominent executives, there was near-universal criticism of the governments Ausgrid decision, which several argued was driven by needless fear among the intelligence establishment about Chinese ownership of part of Australias power grid. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull illustrates the twin pull: In his business career as a lawyer, he worked on many lucrative deals in China. But since taking over last September as leader of the governing Liberal Party (which is conservative, in U.S. terms), he has been a critic of Chinese actions in the South China Sea. Turnbull argues that the prosperity-security split is a false dichotomy, because Australia cant have the former without the latter. Our relationship with the United States is becoming more important, not less, as the center of global economic gravity shifts relentlessly towards Asia, Turnbull said in a recent speech. For officials across the Australian government, the potential danger from China is clear. They see a China that, under President Xi Jinping, has increasingly sought regional dominance. Despite a rejection of its claims in the South China Sea last month by an international arbitration panel, Beijing has essentially won its campaign to create potential military bases on reclaimed islands. Australian government officials fear that China wants to treat the Asia-Pacific region in the same arbitrary way it deals with its own people. One Australian expert likens Chinas military rise to the issue of climate change. Its a gradual and probably unstoppable process: The question is whether to try to mitigate its effects, by taking tough measures, or simply adapt to the inevitable. The Turnbull governments willingness to challenge China seems based on two important assumptions. First, Beijings continued rise isnt as inexorable as it has seemed in recent years. Chinese economic growth is slowing, and its having trouble implementing economic reforms and creating the consumer-driven economy Beijing says it wants. Second, other Asian nations are becoming powerhouses, too. The Indian economy is now growing faster than Chinas; Indonesias per-capita GDP has increased 50 percent in the last decade; and Japan is making a slow comeback. What we need to ensure is that the rise of China . . . (is) conducted in a manner that does not disturb the security and the relative harmony of the region upon which Chinas prosperity depends, Turnbull said last year in his first interview after becoming prime minister. A poll released this year by the Lowy Institute, a foreign policy think tank that organized my visit to Australia, showed the conflicting pull on the country. Asked which relationship was more important, 43 percent named the U.S, and 43 percent said China. Australias heart and its wallet are in different places. The split may be manageable, but only if America remains a strong and reliable ally an issue that many Australians fear is up for grabs in our November presidential election. Peter Suzuki, a longtime University of Nebraska at Omaha professor, is remembered as a man who cared for his students across the world. Suzuki joined UNO in 1973 after teaching at universities in Turkey, Crete and West Germany. He served as chairman of UNOs urban studies department in the College of Public Affairs and Community Service and retired in 2002. Throughout his educational career, Suzuki was awarded 15 fellowships and grants, including two NATO fellowships and a Fulbright grant. Suzuki died Monday of complications related to pneumonia. He was 87. Pat Loontjer was friends with Suzuki for 35 years. She described him as absolutely brilliant, modest and the most gracious, kind man. Loontjer said Suzuki was a tiny man with a big heart. Most holidays, Suzuki, who Loontjer said was a gourmet chef, hosted foreign exchange students at his large Elkhorn home for meals. Students from all over the world were still in contact with him, Loontjer said. Former students have been sending letters and emails since Suzukis death, recalling a fabulous mentor, she said. Suzuki was born in 1928 in Seattle. When he was 13, Suzuki and his family, who were Japanese-American, were confined in an internment camp by the United States War Relocation Authority for 2 years. After World War II, the family eventually moved to New England. Suzuki went on to earn his bachelors and masters degrees in anthropology from Columbia University in New York City. After studying at Johns Hopkins University and Yale University, Suzuki earned a maters degree in philosophy and a doctorate in anthropology from Leiden University in the Netherlands. During his career, Suzuki also served as consultant on projects for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Army and Air Force, and the United Indians of Nebraska. Suzukis wife, Carol, died 18 years ago. The two met when she was studying abroad in Germany and Suzuki was teaching. The couple enjoyed traveling the world together, often going on cruises. Loontjer said Carol was a hell raiser, active in politics, helming campaigns and writing letters to the editor. Suzuki was quiet and mild-mannered. They were like salt and pepper, but they adored each other, Loontjer said. The couple also enjoyed animals, adopting stray cats and birds during their time together. Near the end of his life, Suzuki still had a large orange cat named Winston, a final living connection to his deceased wife. Suzuki and Carol were active members of the German American Society, attending weekly events and helping out wherever they could. He was the first one there and the last to leave, Loontjer said. A plaque at the club deems Suzuki a lifetime member. Suzuki is survived by his son, Wesley Suzuki, and siblings James Suzuki and Sally Oyabe. A service is planned for 11 a.m. Friday at Christ Community Church. Contact the writer: reece.ristau@owh.com; 402-444-1151 The sound of chainsaws greeted Dianne Greer when she awoke before sunrise Wednesday in her neighborhood east of Miller Park. When she opened the door to head to work, Greer first had to step over a 4-inch sycamore branch blocking her path. As the sun was preparing to set, that branch was gone and Greer was back at the edge of her driveway, sweeping storm debris, grateful the damage wasnt worse. It looked like a battlefield, she said. It was just incredible. One of the worst wind storms to hit the Omaha metro area in several years along with torrential rains created a mess for people, with tree limbs in yards and on cars, power lines tangled in trees and widespread power outages. Classes were canceled Wednesday at some area schools, Eppley Airfield closed briefly Tuesday night and utility crews dealt with snapped power poles and swinging power lines. From the vantage point of the Omaha Public Power District, this storm caused the metro areas worst tree damage since 2011, said spokeswoman Jodi Baker. At the peak, about 21,500 OPPD customers were without power, she said. By late Wednesday night, about 2,200 remained without power and some of those were likely to be without power yet today. We are dealing with extensive circuit damage, she said. Insurance agents were still assessing damage late Wednesday afternoon, so it was too early to characterize the severity of the storm, in terms of losses, said Anne Avery, spokeswoman for State Farm. During the worst of the Tuesday night storm, a Carter Lake neighborhood experienced one of the more treacherous situations. As tornadic-strength winds blew through, a large tree toppled, uprooting natural gas lines that served several homes and pulling down a power pole. Several homes were evacuated, and Black Hills Energy disconnected gas to 14 houses until repairs could safely be made, said Lynn Porter, spokeswoman for Black Hills. With daylight Wednesday, the gas utility was able to complete repairs, she said. Rainfall totals varied widely from 1.2 inches at Eppley Airfield to more than 7 inches near Kennard. The Omaha area saw significant flooding in low-lying areas, but the city dodged a bullet. In only one area did urban streams leave their banks along the Big Papio between Fort and Maple Streets, said Marlin Petermann, assistant general manager for the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District. Minor flooding occurred along the Knolls Golf Course and to nursery stock belonging to Mulhalls garden center, he said. The Kennard area, where rain was heaviest, feeds into the Papillion Creek system, so all that water flowed into the metro area where local rains added to the flood risk. Had Omaha gotten more rain, creeks could easily have left their banks, he said. It was just a really close call, he said. The rain caused headaches for homeowners, though. Thrasher, an Omaha-based company that specializes in basements and foundations, received a number of queries from homeowners. Christiane Agee, a spokeswoman, said most of the questions involved water coming into basements, window wells filling up and sump pumps going out due to power outages, all characteristic of a large amount of rain in a short amount of time. Sarpy County officials closed Cornhusker Road from 192nd to 198th Street, because fill dirt behind a bridge wall washed away, officials said. The dirt will need to be replaced before the road is reopened, they said. The bridge was not damaged, but the closure may last a few days. The storm produced a rope tornado in Washington County that didnt cause any damage, but winds gusting to about 95 mph in the Omaha area caused extensive damage. Most of the damage was caused by a downburst, which is an intense downward whoosh of wind that barrels from the sky and spreads out over a number of miles when it hits the ground, said Brian Smith, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Valley. The 95 mph wind gust was clocked at Eppley Airfield. Debris and a cargo container that blew onto a runway closed the Omaha airport Tuesday night for about 90 minutes. Eleven incoming flights were diverted to other airports, said Chris Martin, Eppleys director of airline affairs and airport operations. Eppley reopened at 11:43 p.m. after its employees took branches and leaves off the runway and the taxiways that feed it, Martin said. Trees and large branches were down around the city, but the northeast part of town was hit particularly hard. Wednesday classes were canceled at Rockbrook Elementary, 2514 S. 108th St., in District 66 and La Vista West Elementary School, 7821 Terry Drive, in the Papillion La Vista Community Schools. The schools had no power. Eight Omaha Public Schools didnt have power early Wednesday morning, but OPPD was able to restore power in all but two: Pinewood Elementary and Nathan Hale Middle, near Sorensen Parkway and North 60th Street. Roncalli Catholic High School, which is across from Pinewood, sustained damage to its roof, chimney and two skylights in the storm. A maintenance worker was at the school Tuesday night when the damage occurred and mopped up rain that poured through the damaged skylights and onto the gym floor, said Ann OConnor, president of the school. Students had physical education classes outside on Wednesday, OConnor said. The gym will be usable soon because the floor didnt sustain much water damage, she said. A reporters trip through some of the hardest-hit areas north and northwest of downtown turned up: Flooded construction sites a couple of blocks south Ames Avenue and Florence Boulevard. Big tree limbs and an awning in the street, also at Ames and Florence. Large limbs down at Bluff View Park, Florence Boulevard and Fowler Avenue, and at Miller Park, which is at 30th Street and Redick Avenue. More large limbs on the ground in the Woodhurst neighborhood and a monster-sized pine tree uprooted at 56th and Mary Streets. Three city dump trucks and a front-end loader cleaning up tree debris blocking the roadway at 33rd Street and Grand Avenue. Ellison Avenue blocked at 25th Avenue by a huge maple tree blown over onto three cars. The big maple had been on a small strip of Yvonne Carters front yard between the sidewalk and Ellison Avenue. I heard something loud, Carter, 62, said about the trees toppling. I thought it was just something on my porch. Some of the worst tree damage may have occurred along Florence Boulevard, particularly at Dave Barelas two-story home at 5610 Florence Blvd. He had a couple of power lines and four big trees blown over in his backyard. The trees missed his home. They missed his unattached, two-car garage by about 6 inches, said Barela, 60. When the trees fell last night, Barela said, they were so loud I thought they fell on my house. It scared the heck out of me and my wife, he said. Im not kidding, the whole house shook. In a first, two inmates of Institute of Mental Health tie the knot Jaya announces over Rs 500 cr initiatives for TN edu sector Chennai oi-PTI Chennai, Aug 24: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today announced initiatives worth over Rs 500 crore for higher education and school education in the state. Making a suo motu statement in the Assembly, she announced setting up of a centre to link all the universities and affiliated colleges in cloud computing which will offer the students and teachers a range of services. The proposed centre will come up on the Anna University campus here at an estimated cost of Rs 160 crore, she said, adding that a motor vehicle technical centre will also be established there to focus on research related to emission mitigation and fuel consumption of automobiles. An auditorium, at a cost of Rs 50 crore, with a capacity to accommodate 5,000 people, will also come up in the technical university, she said. Jayalalithaa also announced a research uplift and training centre on the Anna University campus, which will coordinate all the aspects related to obtaining a patent. Other announcements made by her for the higher education sector include establishing training centres at Chennai and Dharmapuri to help the Indian Engineering Services examination aspirants and a scheme to send 100 government engineering students on 15-day annual foreign study visits. Proposing new initiatives for the school education sector, Jayalalithaa announced construction of schools, upgradation of the existing ones, providing raincoats and boots to the students of hill areas, computerisation efforts, creation of virtual classrooms etc. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, August 24, 2016, 15:11 [IST] Jailer from Vadodara Central Jail file complaints against seven inmates for jumping 60-day parole Make in India: Not Spain, Gujarat facility to build C-295 for Indian Air Force now Gujarat CM dedicates 'Shahid Van' to people India oi-PTI Vadodara, Aug 24: On the occasion of 67th Van Mahotsav, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani today dedicated "Shahid Van" to the people, set up in memory of the martyrs of historic Narbanka battle, at Bhucharmori in Jamnagar district today. With this, the number of "Sanskritic Van" or culture forests in Gujarat has reached to 12 since 2004. The idea of such forests was conceived by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his stint as the Chief Minister of state. The objective of a Sanskritik Van is to increase the participation of people and create awareness among them. "With the 'Shahid Van' at Bhucharmori village, the number of 'Sanskritic Vans' established in Gujarat has gone to 12 since 2004," said state Forest and Environment Minister Ganpatsinh Vasava. He said the forest department has planted 70,800 saplings over 10 hectares to set up the 'Sanskritik Van' at Bhucharmori. PTI With the war in Yemen now resuming following the failure of negotiations in Kuwait to produce a political settlement, Ahram Hebdo spoke to Prime Minister Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr about the conflict. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmedthe UN special envoy for Yemen is currently trying to push the diplomatic path forward through his visits to states uch as Oman, and to the Arab League. However, some voices are arguing that Ahmed can present no further contributions to the Yemeni crisis in the future, although bin Daghr has a different opinion. "We believe the roles of the UN and Ahmed in Yemen remain crucial and necessary at this phase. We support the position of Ahmed and in fact the man continues to exert huge efforts, though suffering from the ignorance and foolishness of other groups," he said. When asked on whether or not new peace talks will potentially be held, bin Daghr said: "Ahmed will return from Oman, and there will be a new diplomatic path to some extent, though I don't know whether it will be based in Kuwait or somewhere else." He emphasised the presence of "real willingness" by his government to resume talksespecially in issues related to "the peace and stability" of Yemen. But he expressed his rejection for any sacrifice of the unity and the republican system of Yemen, describing it as a "red line." Bin Daghr pointed out that some UN member states are backing the positions of the Houthi rebels and ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, the ally of the Shia rebel group, referring specifically to Russia. For instance, he said that Ahmed requested the issuance of a UN condemnation statement against the actions of the Houthi-Saleh bloc, but Russia did not vote in favour of it, in addition to being to the only country to send a diplomatic delegation to attend the declaration of a political council by the Houthis in Sanaa last month. Bin Daghr however stated that he believes that Russia will "eventually respect the will of the Yemeni people." "We understand that the Russian have interests in the regions, but the Yemenis should not pay the price for this; we don't accept that," he said. "We have two big problems that we are facing at the same time. There is an overthrow of the legitimate authority, and there is terrorism by Islamic State militant group and Al Qaeda. We are fighting against the Houthis and we are backed by the Arab states, and we also fighting against Al-Qaeda [with the backing of] the international community, he said. We believe that we have achieved success in some aspects," the prime minister added. Bin Daghr said that the international community is more involved in the issue of combating terrorism than in combating the Houthis, believing that the latter is an "internal conflict." But for bin Daghr and his government, the Houthi issue embodies a "conflict between an attempt to have a divine right to rule in Yemen, and another one seeking to promote freedom, pan-Arabism and development." Regarding his visit to Cairo last week, Bin Daghr described it as "a gain in itself," stressing that political solutions to the Yemeni crisis should neither harm the interests of Yemen nor the security of Arab states, including "Egyptian national security." Ahram Online: Mr. Prime Minister, some figures on your side say the Houthis and the Islamic State militant group share a relationship. Don't you think that the ideological dissimilarity between them leads to enmity, and not shared interests? Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr: They both represent a threat to the state. The Houthis are against the republican system, and they certainly don't accept the unity of Yemen. The unity of the Yemeni regions happens only when a republican system is in place. Hence, we are facing a violent, terrorist group that knows nothing but acts of killing. Both the Houthis and Al Qaeda have the same goal, which is destroying the state. Al Qaeda, the Islamic State and the Houthis want to have a presence, and the way to achieve this goal is to destroy the state. As for Saleh, he has helped the Houthis achieve many of the gains they have made on the ground, but they are still the major actor in Yemen at the moment. He gave them access to the republican guards, and provided them with weapons, ammunition, ammunition depots and people to fight with them. Saleh believes that, through this approach, he can restore his leadership of the state. But many developments have given the Houthis the upper hand and as of now Saleh is weak. His approach appears to me as nothing but political recklessness and no talks with the Saudis will take place. Concerning Ahmed, Saleh's son, and his recent talks with the Houthis in Abu Dhabi, we don't care much about this visit. Neither Ahmed nor his father can decide anything. It is the Houthis who are ruling Yemen in the meantime. We believe that new changes will take place on the Yemeni scene, and this conclusion can be reached on the basis of the ongoing battles. On the political level, I cannot hide that Middle Eastern issues are linked to international positions, but we are expecting positive stances after we accepted the concessions that the international community asked us to make. After the Houthis showed stubbornness, we expect the UN Security Council to take positive decisions in the future, if there is justice and a willingness to abide by such a principle. AO: Do you expect the military confrontations to produce a positive outcome? ABD: Yes, and I promise soon we will be in Sanaa. AO: Do you have any expectations for the timeframe? ABD: No, because battles are going back and forth. But I can say that in the next few days we will be there, for we are militarily advancing every day, and the sounds of our artillery is heard everywhere in Sanaa. AO: In terms of unity in Yemen, what's your perspective on that issue? ABD: Yes, there will be a new shape for the state and for the issue of unity as well. The issue of Yemen's unification is a complex one to some extent, and it will take us a long time to tackle it. It is the experience of a whole nation that includes several historical phases, aims and developments. It also includes constitutions and laws that were established, while others were cancelled. We addressed the issue during the national dialogue conference on this basis, which is the fact that we have one population living in the same territory. But the problems of the southern areas should be solved, and the acts of foolishness that were committed against the people in Lahij, Abyan, Shabwa and Hadhramaut should stop. The political forces that attended the national dialogue agreed that Yemen needs to maintain its unity, though restructuring it is a necessity. I agree with this point of view, and also agree that the 1990 unification agreement is no longer in place. In the next days, a federal state that is composed of six regions will be put in place, which is consistent with the conclusions of the national dialogue. Search Keywords: Short link: Should Kashmir be given to Pakistan: Row erupts after this question appears in MP civil service exam J&K- Pulwama witnesses another attack- Bar association invites Amnesty International News oi-Vicky By Vicky Three police personnel were among the 15 who have been injured in a grenade attack at Pulwama in South of Kashmir. The injured are an additional superintendent of police, deputy SP and a station house officer. 12 others who were around the spot were also injured. Officials say that the grenade explosion took place near the Degree college in Pulwama district. It is however unclear who was behind the attack and police officials say that investigations are on. Earlier in the day, an 18 year old boy was killed after security personnel fired pellets and burst tear gas shells in South of Kashmir. The incident took place as the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh landed in the state to review the security situation. The youth identified was Amir Gul and he succumbed to injuries on the way to hospital. The death toll has now risen to 69. Call for Amnesty International: In another development, the Jammu and Kashmir high court bar association has requested Amnesty International and other human rights groups to visit Kashmir. The association called on the NGOs to assess the situation in the state and report about the human rights violations. The statement by the Bar was released following the death of Gul. In a statement the association said that they want to tell the people of the world who have respect for human rights that the struggle of the people of Kashmir for achieving their right of self -determination, guaranteed to them by 27 Security Council Resolutions is indigenous and neither is it sponsored by any group or country nor are any pecuniary considerations involved in it. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, August 24, 2016, 17:30 [IST] Case filed against filmmaker Kamal Kishor Mishra for hitting wife with his car | VIDEO Fire breaks out in BEST AC bus, no passenger hurt | VIDEO Mumbai Press Club condemns murder of Gujarat scribe India oi-PTI Mumbai, Aug 23 The Mumbai Press Club today condemned "the brutal murder" of Kishore Dave, who was the bureau chief of a newspaper of Gujarat 'Jai Hind' in Junagadh. "He was stabbed six-seven times with knife on Monday night. He was alone when he was attacked. An office assistant found him dead", a statement issued by the Club said. "Relatives of Dave, 53, allege that the son of a local politician is responsible for the murder," it claimed. As per the statement, Mumbai Press Club seeks immediate arrest of culprit(s) and impartial inquiry in the case. "We also reiterate our long-pending demand for a law to protect working journalists," it added. Dave, was stabbed to death at the office of a Gujarati daily at Vanjari chowk around 9.30 PM yesterday, police had said. He was the bureau chief of the newspaper which is published from Rajkot. PTI New railway line between Nandyala and Yerraguntla commissioned India oi-PTI Vijayawada, Aug 24: Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today commissioned a new railway line between Nandyala and Yerraguntla, which Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu described as the "dream of (late Prime Minister) PV Narasimha Rao." The Union Ministers and Chandrababu also flagged off a new passenger train between Nandyala and Kadapa on the occasion. They inaugurated the facilities through a remote video link from Vijayawada in the presence of state ministers, MPs and senior railway officials. Noting that poor connectivity caused disparities in growth of different regions within a particular state, Prabhu said, "we want to make sure connectivity will be the keystone." The 29 states make a "big family of India", the Railway Minister pointed out, adding the country grows if the states grow. "For this, infrastructure is needed and the railways has to provide most of it as it is the important backbone of industry and socio-economic development," Prabhu added. Venkaiah Naidu said the Nandyala-Yerraguntla railway line was a dream of the late Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao. "He represented Nandyala in Lok Sabha. His dream has now come true. You can calculate how many years it took for that to happen," Venkaiah observed. "As it would take 40 years to complete all railway projects promised so far, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked Suresh Prabhu not to take up any new projects," he said. "It's a gigantic task Prabhu is facing," he remarked. The 123-km railway line was built at a cost of Rs 967 crore and connects Kurnool and Kadapa districts of Andhra Pradesh. This will also directly connect the Rayalaseema region with the state's new capital Amaravati. The new line will gave a fillip to industrial activity in Kurnool and Kadapa districts that have a large mineral base, particularly the cement industry. There will be eight stations between Nandyala and Yerraguntla with no unmanned level crossing for a length of 75 kms out of the entire stretch. PTI NRHM scam:CBI court issues warrant against ex-minister, parents India oi-PTI Ghaziabad, Aug 24: A special CBI court has issued non-bailable warrant against former minister Anant Kumar Mishra and his parents in connection with National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam. CBI had filed a charge sheet in a case against former health minister Mishra alias Antu Mishra and his parents Dinesh and Vimla, sources said. The court issued the warrant against the trio. The court also issued non-bailable warrant against former Azamgarh chief medical officer K M Agarwal and two others in a separate case in which CBI had earlier filed charge sheet. PTI What is the controversy surrounding Cong's former IT Cell head Ramya? Pakistan comment blown out of proportion, says actor-politician Ramya India oi-Shreyas By H S Shreyas Bengaluru, Aug 24: Actor-politician Ramya aka Divya Spandana feels that her remarks on stay in Pakistan during SAARC Youth summit has been blown out of proportion by a section of media. In a brief telephonic interview with OneIndia, the Sandalwood actor said, "I was responding to a question from a journalist about my experience during the visit to Pakistan. I said they were hospitable" "The next question posed to me was about defence minister Manohar Parrikar's comment that drew a comparison between Pakistan and hell. I responded saying I did not feel so". "The media juxtaposed both the statements and played it out as it was my own reaction to the defence minister's comment", the actress said. Ramya, a former MP from Mandya, is facing a sedition charge for praising the neighbouring country. Ramya further told that the Pakistani citizens spoke to her with a lot of enthusiasm. "A lady told me that she has some relatives staying in Gujarat. We are unable to meet because of visa issues." The actress said that the people of Pakistan want both the nations to restore peace and normalcy. The SAARC youth summit she participated focused on peace and harmony between India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Afghanistan. "I just put out my opinion when I was asked to opine. I have the freedom of speech to express myself. India cannot isolate Pakistan and must engage in dialogue to bring in peace and restore friendship", Ramya added. Stating that she did not contradict Manohar Parrikar's statement, Ramya said that she only said what she experienced. Also read: [Now former Congress MP Ramya faces sedition heat] The actor, however, did not comment on the sedition charge since the matter was sub judice. She said she will follow legal procedure. OneIndia News Induction of Congress MLAs into BJP is death of Parrikar's legacy, says outgoing Goa deputy CM Manohar Parrikar seeks report on Scorpene leak, navy says leak not from India India oi-IANS By Ians English New Delhi, Aug 24 With sensitive information related to of combat and stealth aspects of India's Scorpene submarines being allegedly leaked, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday sought a report from the navy, adding that it appeared to be a case of hacking. The Indian Navy, in a statement, meanwhile said it is analysing the information. The navy also made clear that the source of the leak was not in India. The Scorpene submarines, designed by French shipbuilder DCNS and being manufactured at the Mazgaon Dockyard in Mumbai at a cost of around $3.5 billion, are conventional diesel vessels that boast of advanced stealth capabilities. The over 22,000 pages that have been leaked from DCNS contain information on different aspects of the boat, including its underwater sensors, above-water sensors, combat management system, torpedo launch system and specifications, communications system and navigation systems. While the leaked information is still being analysed to gauge the extent of damage, there is fear that it may compromise the submarine's detectability. Remaining hidden, or stealth, is considered the most important attribute of a submarine. Parrikar, at the sidelines of an event on Wednesday morning, said he got information about the alleged leak around midnight. "The first step is to identify if it relates to us," Parrikar told reporters here. "The Navy Chief (Admiral Sunil Lanba) has been asked to analyse what exactly has been leaked," the Minister said, adding his first assessment was that it was an act of hacking and not a 100 per cent leak. "We do have our final integration and all that," he said. "What I can understand -- because it came to my knowledge around 12 a.m. -- there is a hacking. So we will find out all these aspects," he said. "I've told the navy chief to find out all the details. Maybe, in a couple of days I'll be able share with you." The Indian Navy, in a statement issued shortly after the minister spoke, stressed the leak did not happen in India. "The available information is being examined at Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy) and an analysis is being carried out by the concerned specialists." "It appears that the source of leak is from overseas and not in India," the statement said. The Australian media reports, quoting DCNS, said that the leak of such technical data could not happen with its proposed submarine for Australia. The French company also alluded that the leak may have occurred at India's end, rather than from France. "Uncontrolled technical data is not possible in the Australian Arrangements," the company said as per a report in The Australian. "Multiple and independent controls exist within DCNS to prevent unauthorised access to data and all data movements are encrypted and recorded," it said. "In the case of India, where a DCNS design is built by a local company, DCNS is the provider and not the controller of technical data." The first of the Scorpene class submarines being built in India, INS Kalvari, went for sea trials in May 2016 and is expected to be inducted in the Indian Navy soon. Variants of Scorpene submarines are also used by Malaysia and Chile, with Brazil to join the club soon. IANS Sensitive data on India's Scorpene submarines leaked India oi-IANS By Ians English New Delhi, Aug 24 Sensitive data related to India's Scorpene submarines has been leaked, with French shipbuilder DCNS which designed the submarine facing a leak of documents spreading over 22,000 pages, a report in Australian media revealed on Tuesday. According to a report in The Australian, DCNS, which recently won a contract to design 12 submarines for Australia, includes details of submarine's underwater sensors, above-water sensors, combat management system, torpedo launch system and specifications, communications system and navigation systems. Variants of Scorpene submarines are also used by Malaysia and Chile with Brazil to join the club soon. First of the Scorpene class submarines being built in India Kalvari went for sea trials in May, 2016 and is expected to be inducted in the Indian Navy soon. Indian Navy officials have said the six submarines, once inducted, would form the core of the Navy's submarine arm for the next two decades. According to the report, DCNS has said that such a leak of technical data could not happen with its proposed submarine for Australia. The DCNS also implied that the leak might have occurred at India's end, rather than from France. "Uncontrolled technical data is not possible in the Australian Aarrangements," the company said as per the report in The Australian. "Multiple and independent controls exist within DCNS to prevent unauthorised access to data and all data movements are encrypted and recorded. In the case of India, where a DCNS design is built by a local company, DCNS is the provider and not the controller of technical data," it said. IANS As John Kerry arrives, Nigeria says top Boko Haram fighters killed International oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Abuja, Aug 24: Nigeria's air force has claimed to have killed several fighters of Boko Haram terror group and possibly its top leader while US Secretary of State John Kerry promised a consideration to increase military assistance to the African country to defeat the outfit, Reuters reported. Jets targeted the Islamist outfit inside Sambisa forest in northeastern Nigeria on Friday (Aug 19), the country's air force said, according to Reuters. A statement by military spokesperson Col Sani Kukasheka Usman also said that the Boko Haram's leader, the so called 'Abubakar Shekau', was fatally injured on his shoulders. However, he did not reveal details about the source of the information, Reuters added. The US had been closely monitoring the fight against the Boko Haram which has declared allegiance to the dreaded Islamic State and attacked Nigeria's neigbouring countries. However, neither Nigerian President Muhammadu Bukhari nor Kerry raised the issue of air raids on the militants during their meeting, sources in the State Department said, the Reuters report said. It said lack of adequate information stopped either sides from addressing the issue. Oneindia News Video: Why Chinas former president was escorted out from stage China unveils designs of Mars probe, rover to be launched in 2020 International oi-PTI Beijing, Aug 24: China has unveiled the designs of its Mars probe and rover to be launched in 2020 as it looks to catch up with India, US, Russia and EU to reach the red planet. China plans to send a spacecraft to orbit Mars, land and deploy a rover in July or August 2020, official media here quoted Zhang Rongqiao, chief architect of the Mars mission as saying. "The challenges we face are unprecedented," Ye Peijian, one of Chinas leading aerospace experts and a consultant to the programme, said. The 2020 mission will be launched on a Long March-5 carrier rocket, the work horse for Chinas space missions. It will be launched from the Wenchang space centre in south Chinas Hainan province. The lander will separate from the orbiter at the end of a journey of around seven months and touch down in a low latitude area in the northern hemisphere of Mars where the rover will explore the surface. Images displayed at yesterdays press conference showed a device with six wheels, powered by four solar panels, two more than the rover sent to the moon. Weighing around 200 kgs, it is designed to operate for three Martian months, Sun Zezhou, chief designer of the probe, was quoted as saying by state-run Xinhua news agency. The probe, for its part, will carry 13 payloads including a remote sensing camera and a ground penetrating radar which could be used to study the soil, environment, and atmosphere of Mars, as well as the planets physical fields, the distribution of water and ice, and its inner structure. A public competition for the name and the logo of the 2020 mission was also launched yesterday. Though China space programme has achieved several milestones like landing a rover on the Moon, successful manned space missions as well as building a space station which is currently underway, Mars alluded it. Mangalyaan Mars mission accomplished with a low budget of USD 73 million caught the attention and imagination of Chinese as India reached the red plant well ahead of China. India became the fourth country after US, Russia and EU to successfully send probes to Mars. Chinas attempts to send an exploratory probe called Yinghuo-1, in a Russian spacecraft in 2011 failed as shortly after the launch it was declared lost and later burnt during re-entry. This is the first time China revived its Mars mission since then. Zhang told people.cn the Mars programme will study the planets climate, surface, ionosphere, water ice distribution, internal structure, topography and physical field. Scientists will have to design a rover that can make its own decisions because the distance between Earth and Mars will cause delays in data transmission, Zhang said. A favourable alignment of Earth and Mars occurs for only a few weeks every 26 months, and 2020 offers that rare opportunity, National Space Administration director Xu Dazhe said. PTI Pakistan charges MQM chief with treason International oi-PTI Karachi, Aug 23: Pakistan on Tuesday (Aug 22) charged Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain with treason for his inflammatory speech that incited party workers to attack media outlets here. Hussain, leader of the MQM---the single largest party in Karachi, was accused of raising anti-Pakistan slogans at a protest rally that turned violent. Several journalists of various media organisation were attacked by the activists of the MQM. [MQM chief steps aside after 'cancer' remark] The protesters pelted stones and resorted to heavy aerial firing that killed one person and wounded others. Two cases have been filed against Hussain: one for treason for his anti-Pakistan speech to participants in the hunger strike organised by MQM and the other for inciting party workers to violent protests, Inspector General of Sindh AD Khawaja was quoted as saying by the Geo News. The case pertains to the attack on 'ARY' News' office, vandalising of property, arson and pelting of stones at police. MQM party workers took to streets yesterday after Hussain, in an address from London, incited them to storm media outlets and chant anti-Pakistan slogans during the hunger strike. The hunger strike was launched to protest the disappearance and arrest of their workers by the paramilitary rangers. Responding to the protests, paramilitary rangers launched a major offensive here and sealed offices of the party. The senior membership of MQM confirmed that they are no longer under the directive of Hussain. Senior MQM leader Farooq Sattar and other leaders said that in future the party would operate from Pakistan alone and that all decisions would be taken by the leadership in Pakistan and not from London from where Hussain has controlled the MQM for years now. "The MQM should operate from Pakistan alone," Sattar said. "We totally disassociate ourselves from the violence that took place in Karachi yesterday. It is totally against our policy to use violence to achieve our ends," he added. "Altaf Hussain and the entire party are being ridiculed due to these statements," Sattar added. "Enough is enough we cannot side with anti-Pakistan statements or ideology," said another MQM leader Aamir Liaquat Hussain. The MQM remains the single largest party in Karachi for decades now and have dominated the political landscape for years sweeping provincial and national elections but since the clean-up operation began on the orders of the centre, the party has come under intense pressure. PTI Related Turkey launches new artillery strikes at IS group in Syria Turkey's army backed by international coalition air strikes on Wednesday launched an operation involving fighter jets and tanks to drive Islamic State jihadists out of a key Syrian border town. The air and ground operation, the most ambitious launched by Turkey in the Syria conflict, is aimed at clearing jihadists from the town of Jarabulus, which lies directly opposite the Turkish town of Karkamis, the prime minister's office said. The operation -- named "Euphrates Shield" -- began around 4:00 am local time (0100 GMT) with Turkish artillery pounding dozens of IS targets around Jarabulus. Turkish F-16 fighter jets and coalition war planes also hit targets inside Syria while an AFP photographer then saw around a dozen Turkish tanks cross into Syria to support the operation. Tensions had flared across the Syria-Turkey border the previous day following rocket fire from Jarabulus which landed inside Turkey, with the Turkish army firing howitzer rounds in response. The operation also appeared aimed at pre-empting any assault on Jarabulus by pro-Kurdish militias, who also oppose IS but are accused by Turkey of seeking to carve out a Kurdish region in northern Syria. "God willing, we will get a result in a short time" to kick IS out of Jarabulus, Interior Minister Efkan Ala told the state-run Anadolu news agency, saying Turkey was working with coalition partners and moderate Syrian opposition. Turkish authorities had late Tuesday ordered the evacuation of Karkamis for safety reasons, raising expectations that an offensive was imminent. The AFP photographer in Karkamis saw 11 Turkish tanks crossing the frontier and then firing on Jarabulus. They were followed by several smaller military vehicles believed to be carrying pro-Ankara Syrian rebels who had also crossed over. Syrian activists have said hundreds of pro-Ankara rebel forces are waiting on the Turkish side of the border to take part in a ground operation to seize Jarabulus from the jihadists. Air strikes by Turkish jets also echoed through the skies. The effects of one air strike on the northern outskirts Jarabulus were easily visible, sending up a cloud of black smoke and sand. Turkey will want to show with the operation that it is serious about taking on IS, which has been blamed for a string of attacks inside the country, the latest a weekend attack on a Kurdish wedding in Gaziantep that left 54 dead. Ankara was long accused of turning a blind eye to the rise of IS in Syria and even aiding its movements to-and-fro across the border, claims the government had always vehemently denied. The launch of the operation comes as US Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Ankara to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with agreeing a unified strategy on Syria set to be a crucial issue. Biden is likely to face expressions of alarm from Turkey about the activities inside Syria of the People's Protection Units (YPG) militia, which Washington sees as an ally but Ankara regards as a terror group. Saleh Moslem, the head of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the YPG's political wing, tweeted that Turkey was now in the "Syrian quagmire" and would be "defeated" like IS. The air strikes by Turkish F-16s were the first such assaults since a November crisis with Russia sparked when the Turkish air force downed one of Moscow's warplanes. A dozen IS targets were completely destroyed in the air strikes. Turkish artillery meanwhile destroyed 70 IS targets, television said. Security sources quoted by Turkish television said a small contingent of special forces travelled a few kilometres into Syria to secure the area before a possible larger ground operation. The incursion by Turkish special forces and tanks is the first such into Syria since February 2015, when hundreds of Turkish troops crossed the border to move the relics of the grandfather of the founder of the Ottoman Empire. The movements have come at a critical juncture for Turkey in Syria's five-and-a-half-year war, with signs growing it is on the verge of a landmark policy shift. Ankara has always called for the removal of President Bashar al-Assad, putting Turkey at odds with his main supporters Iran and Russia. However Prime Minister Binali Yildirim acknowledged at the weekend for the first time that Assad was one of the "actors" in Syria and may need to stay on as part of a transition. Turkey has been shaken by one of the bloodiest years in its modern history, with a string of attacks by IS jihadists and Kurdish militants and the botched July 15 coup. The attack Saturday on a wedding party for a young couple has horrified the country, with the majority of the 54 victims aged under 18 and including children as young as four. Search Keywords: Short link: US condemns N Korea missile test-fire, calls it 'provocation' International oi-PTI Washington, Aug 24: The US on Wednesday (Aug 24) strongly condemned North Korea's test firing of a submarine-launched ballistic missile, describing it as a "provocation" in violation of the UN Security Council resolutions. "We strongly condemn this and North Korea's other recent missile tests, which violate UN Security Council Resolutions explicitly prohibiting North Korea's launches using ballistic missile technology," said Pentagon spokesman Gary Ross. Strongly condemning this missile test in violation of the UN Security Council resolutions, the Pentagon termed the development as a "provocation". "This provocation only serves to increase the international community's resolve to counter the DPRK's prohibited activities, including through implementing existing UN Security Council sanctions. "Multiple UN Security Council resolutions require the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile programme," he said. The US intends to raise its concerns at the UN to bolster international resolve in holding the DPRK accountable for these actions, Ross said. "Our commitment to the defence of our allies, including the Republic of Korea and Japan, in the face of these threats, is ironclad. We remain prepared to defend ourselves and our allies from any attack or provocation," he said. "We call on North Korea to refrain from actions that further raise tensions in the region and focus instead on taking concrete steps toward fulfilling its commitments and international obligations," Ross said. The US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) late last night said its systems detected and tracked what was assessed as a North Korean submarine missile launch at 3:29 PM CDT on August 23, 2016. The launch of a presumed KN-11 submarine-launched ballistic missile occurred off the coast of Sinpo, it said adding, it "did not pose a threat to North America". The missile was tracked over and into the Sea of Japan, around 480 kilometres off the coast of North Korea. It comes amid threats from North Korea of nuclear retaliation in response to large-scale US-South Korean military drills. PTI Learn to face criticism: Supreme Court tells Jayalalithaa New Delhi oi-Vicky New Delhi, Aug 24: The Supreme Court once again took J Jayalalithaa and her government in Tamil Nadu to task for filing defamation cases to silence political opponents. "You are a public figure, learn to face criticism," the Supreme Court told Jayalalithaa on Wednesday. The Supreme Court was hearing a petition filed by DMDK chief, Vijaykanth challenging a defamation case filed against him by the Tamil Nadu government. Jayalalithaa openly challenges Karunanidhi to join assembly debate On the last date of hearing the court had sought from the TN government the number of defamation cases it had filed. On Wednesday when the matter came up for hearin, the court said, "Stop using defamation proceedings to silence criticism. Focus on good governance instead. You cannot use the state machinery to file defamation cases against political opponents." Justice Dipak Mishra heading the Bench had observed that the public prosecutor must not behave like a post office. Justice Mishra while taking note of the large number of defamation cases filed by Tamil Nadu said that the public prosecutor must apply his mind. "The PP is not a post office," Justice Mishra said. The case was filed by Vijaykanth who had sought for quashing of proceedings against him in the defamation case. The Supreme Court during an earlier hearing had stayed the summons issued to Vijaykanth by the lower court. A defamation case had been filed against him by the government following his remarks on the Aavin milk scam. The state government had accorded sanction to prosecute the DMDK leader who was at that time the leader of the opposition in the Tamil Nadu assembly. Defamation cases cannot be filed for merely reporting the Chief Minister's health condition. No other state misuses the state machinery like the TN government, the Supreme Court also observed. The case has been adjourned to September 22. OneIndia News Never meant to accuse RSS as institution for killing of Mahatma Gandhi: Rahul tells SC New Delhi oi-Vicky New Delhi, Aug 24: Rahul Gandhi, the vice president of the Congress on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that he never meant to accuse the RSS as an organisation behind the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. He cited an affidavit before the Bombay High Court saying that he had accused only a few people in the RSS and not the institution. Now Subramanian Swamy wants discussion on Mahatma Gandhi killing The Supreme Court observed that that the statements by Rahul Gandhi are good enough to give the case a burial. The petitioner's counsel however, sought time till September 1. The Supreme Court also said that the inference of Rahul Gandhi's statement is that he never accused RSS as an institution for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. A defamation case had been filed in Maharashtra after Rahul Gandhi, the vice president of the Congress party had said at an election rally that the RSS was responsible for the death of Mahatma Gandhi. The court had while hearing the matter on an earlier date had observed that Rahul Gandhi must face trial if he did not apologise. However, on the next date of hearing the court had pointed out a procedural lapse and said that the magistrate court could not have ordered a police inquiry in a case of defamation. OneIndia News Central team roped in as dengue cases in Bihar rise to over 5000 Bihar's Gopalganj by-poll to see a tough fight between BJP and RJD Lalu Prasad asks Modi for help in dealing with floods Patna oi-IANS By Ians English Patna, Aug 24: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) President Lalu Prasad on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide assistance to Bihar in dealing with the "worst" floods in decades. "Flood situation in Bihar is worst than the 1975 floods; PM Modi should give attention to it," Lalu Prasad told reporters here, hours after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met the prime minister in Delhi and informed him about the grim situation in the state. Modi also spoke with Nitish Kumar on Monday over telephone and assured him that the Centre would provide all possible help to the state in tackling the disaster. Lalu Prasad, whose RJD makes up Bihar's ruling 'grand alliance' along with JD-U and Congress, said he has requested the state government to make available nutritious and hygienic food in all flood relief camps it has set up. He said he has also requested the state government to arrange adequate cattle fodder as thousands of people displaced by the floods are accompanied by their cows, buffaloes, goats. Over one million people have been affected by floods and the situation is grim in 12 districts, Lalu Prasad said. The Ganga and other major rivers have submerged vast swathes of the state, forcing thousands from their homes. The disaster has so far claimed 19 lives, including 11 in Bhojpur district alone. Over a dozen teams of the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force have been deployed in the flood-hit districts. Officials said standing crops worth crores of rupees have been damaged and road communication at several places has been disrupted. IANS For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, August 24, 2016, 12:02 [IST] NDRF rendering valuable services to flood victims in Bihar Patna oi-PTI Patna, Aug 24: Pressed into relief and rescue work in the Bihar floods, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has rescued more than 14,000 people in the state so far. In addition to engaging 10 teams from its 9th battalion based at Bihta, the NDRF has mobilised six teams from Chennai and five from Bathinda in Punjab to assist the Bihar government in meeting the challenges due to the swelling waters of the Ganga and the other rivers, DIG, NDRF SS Guleria told reporters here. Accompanied by Commandant, 9th Battalion, NDRF Vijay Sinha, the DIG said altogether, 900 rescue workers with 1,000 life jackets and 84 divers were rendering round-the-clock services to rescue those marooned. A total of 100 boats were being operated by the NDRF for the victims, he added. NDRF personnel yesterday rescued a man who was stuck at a tree-top near Danapur area in Patna district for two days and took him to a camp, Deputy Commandant KK Singh said. The NDRF DIG said the force was operating three water ambulances carrying medicines, especially those for snake bite, halogen tablets and other water-borne diseases. Asked about the difficulties faced by NDRF, Guleria, who supervised the force's operation during the floods in Jammu and Kashmir and Chennai earlier, said the current in the Ganga was proving to be a big challenge for the personnel. Asked if they were facing a tough time in meeting the demands to ferry VIPs instead of those marooned, the DIG said they have been "categorically" instructed by the Principal Secretary, Disaster Management, Vyasji, "not to entertain" any VIPs other than those recommended by the district magistrates of the affected areas. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, August 24, 2016, 14:29 [IST] Mirwaiz writes to Pope, Shankaracharya over Kashmir issue Srinagar oi-Vicky Srinagar, Aug 24: Kashmir separatist, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has written to the Pope Francis, Shankaracharya and Imam of the Kaba to find a solution to the problem in Jammu and Kashmir. Farooq who is the chairman of the Hurriyat (M) brings to the notice of the three religious leaders about the violence in Kashmir. The letter with Kashmir Reader states, "As I write to you, the present phase of the unceasing and unprecedented violence in Kashmir is over forty days old. Now a sense of extreme urgency has built up due to the inexplicable lack of response from the international community to this human tragedy. Why is the international community being a mute spectator? Is it awaiting some even more massive human tragedy to unfold in Kashmir before voicing their indignation? Aren't 69 killings in less than 40 days, with over 6,000 youngsters and children injured - mostly blinded and maimed - enough for the consciousness of the international community to be stirred?" The pellet gun Farooq also raises the issue relating to pellet guns. He says that the indiscriminate and heartless use of the pellet gun at point-blank range on teenagers, with devastating consequences, has elicited enough negative reactions in editorials in Indian mainstream media. There is an embargo on information coming out from Kashmir. Social network sites like Facebook have been forced to remove vital information from their sites under pressure from Indian netizens. No international human rights organisation is being allowed into Kashmir for fear of exposure, he further writes. "The Indian PM attempts to delegitimise our long term struggle - which began even before India's struggle for freedom - by equating it with terrorism, through an irresponsible and false discourse. Unfortunately, the Indian state constructs its foreign policy on this bluster. 9/11 provided the Indian state an excuse to put the Kashmir struggle under the rubric of terror. In the post 9/11 Islamophobic environment it fits well with the broader narrative. Kashmir happens to be a Muslim majority territory and India is using it as a pretext to demonise a people as terrorists and miscreants," he wrote in his letter. "The issue in Kashmir is primarily about the people of Kashmir and their right to self-determination. Our struggle is rooted in a quest for justice and dignity. We are the victims of sustained aggression from a democratic state, which uses primarily un-democratic ways to extinguish our right to self-determination," he further notes in his letter. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, August 24, 2016, 10:49 [IST] 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. 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Turkey said Wednesday it hoped to rapidly rid the Syrian town of Jarabulus of Islamic State (IS) jihadists after launching a pre-dawn military operation inside Syria, the interior minister said. "God willing, we will get a result in a short time, together with coalition forces and moderate (Syrian) opposition," Interior Minister Efkan Ala told the state-run Anadolu news agency, hours after Turkish army launched an operation to push IS jihadists out of Jarabulus. Search Keywords: Short link: Top US diplomat John Kerry arrives in Saudi Arabia later on Wednesday to push for peace in Yemen after UN-brokered talks collapsed despite world concern over mounting civilian casualties. Over two days, Kerry is to meet Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir and other Gulf ministers. He will also meet UN Yemen envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed and Britain's Under Secretary of State for the Middle East Tobias Ellwood. The kingdom leads an Arab coalition that began air raids in March last year and later sent in ground forces to support Yemen's internationally recognised government after Houthi Shiite rebels and their allies overran much of the country. As the civilian death toll continues to climb, the kingdom has faced mounting criticism from human rights groups. But there is little expectation of a breakthrough from Kerry's latest visit to the kingdom. Peter Salisbury, associate fellow at London's Chatham House think tank, told AFP there is "mounting pressure" from certain groups within the US government to see the war ended as soon as possible. "However, the Americans are limited in their ability to produce a meaningful political settlement." He said the current international approach, relying on United Nations Security Council Resolution 2216, essentially demands surrender by the rebels who control the capital Sanaa. "Demanding that they surrender unconditionally simply isn't going to work and my expectation is that, in a best case scenario, we will see many more months of war," Salisbury said. He added that neither the rebels nor the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi is willing to make the necessary concessions for a peace deal. Seventeen months after the coalition intervened, anti-rebel forces have regained territory but the Houthis still control most of the interior highlands and Red Sea coast. In the southwest, government forces are battling to break a rebel siege of Taez, Yemen's third city. Riyadh says the Houthis are backed by its regional rival Iran. Coalition-supported pro-government forces are also fighting Al-Qaeda militants who have exploited Yemen's power vacuum to expand their presence in the south and southeast. For civilians in Yemen, the Arab world's poorest country even before the war escalated early last year, the humanitarian situation "continues to deteriorate", the UN says. More than 6,600 people, roughly half of them civilians, have been killed, while millions lack food, clean water and adequate healthcare. US officials have repeatedly urged their major Middle East ally to avoid harming non-combatants. A diplomatic source in Riyadh said it is "becoming increasingly clear" that elements of the US administration are alarmed by the civilian death toll. Most recently, the State Department expressed deep concern after 19 people died in an August 15 air raid on a hospital supported by the Doctors Without Borders (MSF) charity. As well as providing precision-guided bombs, American forces have assisted the coalition with aerial refuelling and intelligence, although they have slashed the number of advisers directly supporting the coalition. Yemeni diplomatic sources said the US wants a deal on Yemen before the end of the year and will insist on the resumption of peace talks. After making no headway, Ould Cheikh Ahmed on August 6 suspended the talks in Kuwait for one month, which triggered an escalation in fighting. Negotiations ended after the Houthis and forces loyal to their ally, former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, appointed a council to govern Yemen. The move directly challenged Hadi's government, which works from Riyadh and Yemen's second city Aden. The diplomatic source in Riyadh said he expected a push in Jeddah for new peace talks. "I'm pretty sure that's what the Saudis want as well," the source said. The problem is that "there's no clear mechanism" for a way forward, he added. Salisbury said the talks should be broadened beyond the rebels and government to include groups in the south who want its pre-1990 independence restored. That, he said, "would send the message that peace in Yemen will be inclusive, not something agreed purely along the lines of elite interests." Kerry arrives from Nigeria and Kenya on a trip focused on counterterrorism. In Saudi Arabia, he will also discuss the conflict in Syria, in which the kingdom has taken part in US-led air strikes against the Islamic State (IS) militant group, the State Department said. Search Keywords: Short link: Syrian Kurdish fighters must return to the east of the Euphrates river or Turkey will "do what is necessary", Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Wednesday, after Turkish forces launched an operation in northern Syria. Turkish special forces, tanks and jets backed by warplanes from the U.S.-led coalition launched an operation into northern Syria on Wednesday to try to wipe Islamic State (IS) militants from the border and prevent further gains by Kurdish fighters. Cavusoglu, who was speaking in Ankara, also said that no one would be brought in from the outside and settled in the Syrian town of Jarablus, the border town held by Islamic State group that Turkey is targeting in the operation. Search Keywords: Short link: The Syrian government condemned Wednesday's Turkish incursion into the Islamic State group-held border district of Jarabulus as a "flagrant violation" of its sovereignty. The foreign ministry said it "condemns the crossing of the Turkey-Syria border by Turkish tanks and armoured vehicles towards the town of Jarabulus with air cover from the US-led coalition and considers it a flagrant violation of Syrian sovereignty." Search Keywords: Short link: Daily Record 14 Aug 2022 Philip O'Brian was able to secure the woman, who had stripped down to her underwear, into a seat with the help of cabin crew. Victoria Fontan, a professor of peace and conflict studies at the American University of Afghanistan, said that for days she did.. euronews (in English) 25 Aug 2021 Rumble 13 Sep 2022 Watch as we rank the Top 10 Victorious Songs of All Time. In this video, you will get to watch all the greatest hits from the TV.. The controversial 'Burkini' has been approved as beachwear in France's Grenoble. The swimsuit has been at the center of controversy.. Oneindia 17 May 2022 Rumble 15 Oct 2022 Today we have Lt. Steven Rogers (https://www.youtube.com/c/LtStevenRogers) on the show to discuss how the WEF, United Nations,.. BBC News 29 Oct 2022 Leader Alex Cole-Hamilton wants to dramatically improve on the 87 seats the party won in May. New Zealand Herald 09 Jun 2022 By Anneke Smith of RNZ The High Court has heard from New Zealand First Foundation donors who believed they were giving money to.. Rumble 28 Oct 2022 The Medical Medium Nerve Shifter is the focus of Day 9 of the Medical Medium Brain Shot Therapy Challenge from the New York Times.. Rumble 12 Oct 2022 I used to think that surrogacy and IVF was a good thing in general, but now ... I'm not so sure. I've discovered.. The United States is providing Turkey's military with air cover, intelligence and advisers in its offensive against the Islamic State (IS) group inside Syria, a senior US official said on Wednesday. "We want to help the Turks get ISIL off the border" between the two countries, the official told reporters, using an alternative acronym for the IS group. The official was traveling with US Vice President Joe Biden, who arrived in Turkey on Wednesday for meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, in an effort to help improve relations strained by Turkey's coup d'etat attempt last month. US advisers are communicating with the Turkish military about a plan to take the Syrian border town of Jarabulus, a key IS stronghold that is a primary objective of the Turkish offensive, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The United States is "syncing up with them, our advisers are in the planning cell with them," he said. "We'll have close air support if there's an operation" in Jarabulus. Washington is also helping ensure that Kurdish fighters further south do not provoke a conflict with Turkish forces by moving north toward Jarabulus, the official said. The United States has made it clear to the Syrian Democratic Forces, a US-backed Kurdish and Arab alliance, that "we don't and won't support them going north, and they can't without our air cover, so we've put a lid on them moving north," he said. "I think we've put a lid on the Turks' biggest concern (which) gives us breathing space to make sure the Jarabulus operation is done the right way." The Turkish operation -- named "Euphrates Shield" -- began early Wednesday with Turkish artillery pounding dozens of IS group targets around Jarabulus, according to the Turkish prime minister's office. Turkish tanks and special forces accompanied by pro-Ankara Syrian rebels then rolled across the border in an unprecedented operation to drive the IS group out of the town from which it has fired rockets into Turkey. Pro-Ankara Syrian rebels took the village of Keklijah three miles (five kilometers) west of Jarabulus and two miles from the border, Turkish state media said, in the operation's first reported military success. Search Keywords: Short link: Reprinted from Mike Malloy Website That's how former Fox host Andrea Tantaros describes the atmosphere at Fox News, as reports Slate online. Ailes, like Trump, enjoys name calling. According to this new lawsuit, he called one of his anchors a Puerto Rican prostitute and described another as an angry black. Tantaros is the latest woman to come forward with a lawsuit against Roger Ailes, and she is also naming Bill Shine and Bill O'Reilly as sexual harassers. Bill-O can't seem to lose the loofah, or falafel, whichever. This is how Slate reports the latest in the seeming unending line of Fox harassment victims: "Her suit alleges that she was repeatedly warned against wearing pants on-air because 'Roger wants to see your legs,' and that O'Reilly, who she regarded as a mentor, made unwelcome overtures. Ailes called Tantaros into his office for private meetings in August and December 2014 and February 2015, the suit claims, and proceeded to speculate about the sexual habits of Fox coworkers, about Tantaros' love life, and about how she would look in a bikini. When Tantaros refused to play along -- declining, for example, to comply when Ailes told her to turn around 'so I can get a good look at you' -- her standing at the network suffered. In February 2015, she was demoted from her 5 p.m. slot on the show The Five to a role on the midday program Outnumbered. "Tantaros claims that she reported Ailes' transgressions to Shine -- then a senior news executive and a top aide to the chairman -- in April 2015. She says she also asked him about a demeaning interview with the Fox publicity department that she suspected had been arranged to punish her; Shine told her, she says, to 'let this one go.' Shine has said that Tantaros never complained to him about any harassment. Her suit, however, suggests that's exactly what she'd expect him to say. 'Ailes did not act alone,' it claims. 'He may have been the primary culprit, but his actions were condoned by his most senior lieutenants, who engaged in a concerted effort to silence Tantaros by threats, humiliation and retaliation.'" Outnumbered ... how appropriate. How many more women are waiting, Truthseekers, in the sex cult that is Fox news? INTRODUCTION: A version of this commentary first appeared on August 12 in Chronicles magazine, a leading voice of paleoconservatism. Since then, Donald Trump has "clarified" that his accusing Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton of being the "founders" of ISIS was "sarcasm," which he later "re-clarified" for the media: "They know that. Because after I said that, I said he's the MVP. So, I said, 'the founder of ISIS.' Obviously, I'm being sarcastic -- but not that sarcastic, to be honest with you." While the media parses and re-parses Trump's words, Hillary gets a free ride. No one has picked apart her accusation that Trump is a "recruiting sergeant" for ISIS. A "sergeant," really? How many stripes are on Trump's arm? Was he ever a corporal? Oh, it's not literal, it's sarcasm. Well, here's some more sarcasm. If Trump's an ISIS-recruiting sergeant, Obama's the generalissimo and Hillary's a field marshal. Or maybe they're Godfather and consigliera. The fact is, as shown below, on the basis of an August 2012 report from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), the Obama administration -- at a time when Hillary was Secretary of State -- deliberately doubled down on their support for what they knew were al-Qaeda and Muslim Brotherhood-led jihadist groups in Syria. They did so even after being warned that could lead to the appearance of a radical statelet in eastern Syria, which in fact occurred right on cue eight months later, when the Iraqi wing of al-Qaeda declared itself the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS, ISIL, Daesh), later simply the Islamic State. In short, as is clear in the DIA report, ISIS was foreseen, caused, and intended by the "supporting powers." First and foremost, that means Obama and Hillary. Shockingly, if you keep arming and funding jihadists, you get more jihad. It's to be expected that the major media and supposed "fact-checkers," totally in the tank for Hillary, would ignore the DIA smoking gun and claim that Trump's accusation is a "pants-on-fire " falsehood, when in fact (style aside) it is correct on substance. No less egregious is the behavior of establishment Republicans who have defended Hillary. Also noteworthy (or notorious) is Fox News, which, while defending Trump, as of this writing still has not linked the 2012 DIA report to Trump's accusation. Instead, they are sticking to explanations that jibe with their neocon priorities, such as condemning Obama's "premature" withdrawal of American forces from Iraq, thus facilitating al-Qaeda in Iraq's expansion into Syria. Whatever application that assertion may have as a proximate contributing factor, al-Qaeda would not have been in Iraq at all if not for George W. Bush's invasion of that country, which of course (it cannot be repeated too many times) Hillary supported. NOTE: To their credit, Liz Wheeler ("Tipping Point") of the upstart conservative network One America News have featured this story! ++++++++++ Trump Claims Obama and Hillary Are 'Founder' and 'Co-Founder' of ISIS, Media Feign Amnesia of 2012 DIA Memo that Proves It (Chronicles magazine; August 12, 2016) No one paying attention with even one eye and half an ear can be ignorant of the fact that when it comes to this year's election the MSM are lying shills for Hillary. But now it seems they're all suffering from amnesia too. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Reprinted from Wallwritings Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan (Image by (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)) Details DMCA On one of my earliest reporting trips to Israel/Palestine in the early 1980s, I was assaulted by an Israeli government official wielding a wicked instrument called hasbara, Hebrew for propaganda. I had latched on to a group of tourists who were being lectured to by an Israeli government official. I asked the official a question about the West Bank. He whirled around to face me, his face contorted in a condescending smile. "I know nothing about any West Bank," he answered. "We have a Bank Leumi branch near here, but no West Bank." We both knew he was lying when he threw that verbal bomb at me, a weapon that Israel uses constantly to preserve a false narrative. Former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir made popular the key hasbara text for this false narrative, "A land without a people for a people without a land." To sustain its invading colonial project, Israel constructed its own narrative history, utilizing a steady outpouring of hasbara (propaganda). Hasbara tolerates no attack on Israel's false narrative. My encounter in the 1980s was with an official who did not want "West Bank" to enter the minds of the tourists he was busy brain-washing. This official was a soldier in the hasbara army. My question revealed that I was an enemy combatant who must be silenced. This narrative has infected the world, most especially in the United States, where all centers of power adhere to the false narrative. Those who fail to embrace the narrative are branded with that ultimate mark of shame, "anti-Semitism." BDS was created to combat the occupation the false narrative sustains. BDS is a non-violent tactic of boycotts, divestments and sanctions against corporations profiting from Israel's occupation. It was created by secular and religious groups who knew in time it could work to end the occupation just as a similar campaign brought down South Africa's apartheid system. BDS was not intended to eliminate Israel (a favorite Israeli false claim) but to call the world's attention to the oppressiveness of the occupation. Is BDS working? To use a Sarah Palin assertion, "you betcha." Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Reprinted from Palestine Chronicle 'What is happening in Israel now is fascism.' (Image by (Photo: ActiveStills.org)) Details DMCA "You deserve to see your loved ones suffer and die. But, maybe, you would be hurt before them," was part of a threatening message received by a staff member at "Al-Mezan," a Gaza-based human rights group. The photo attached to the email was of the exterior of the activist's home. The gist of the message: "we are coming for you." "Al-Mezan," along with three other Palestinian rights groups -- "Al-Haq," "Al Mezan," "Aldameer" and the Palestinian Center for Human Rights -- are actively pushing a case against Israel in the International Criminal Court (ICC) accusing it of war crimes in Palestine, particularly during the war on Gaza in 2014. In April 2015, the Palestinian Authority (PA) had officially signed the Rome Statute and, a few months later in November, the groups presented a substantial amount of evidence of Israel's suspected war crimes and crimes against humanity. But even before these dates, the war on independent rights groups was already heating up. Restrictions on Israeli NGOs, especially those that challenge the Israeli Occupation of Palestine, are fairly recent. However, pressure, violence, restriction on movement, raiding of offices and arrests, have been a fixture of Israeli policy against Palestinian rights groups. The most recent episode is only one example. "Since September 2015, several of the organizations have faced ruthless smear and intimidation campaigns seeking to discredit them and stoke insecurity among their staff," Amjad Iraqi wrote in Israel's +972Mag. "The harassment culminated in death threats made against two individuals: a senior Palestinian advocate with 'Al-Mezan' and Nada Kiswanson, a Palestinian-Swedish lawyer who is Al-Haq's representative in The Hague." Israel is, no doubt, feeling embattled. Its carefully carved brand -- that it is an oasis of democracy in an arid authoritarian desert -- is now full of holes. Its occupation, wars and siege in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, and the dissemination of images and information about such conduct throughout the internet and social media platforms is making it impossible for Israel to sustain its official hasbara. Thus, the angry backlash. The Israeli Knesset has been busy passing laws and proposing bills aimed at restricting the work of its own rights groups, or any independent civil society organization that seems, in any way, critical of the government and sympathetic towards the Palestinians. The "NGO Law" is now in effect. It forces NGOs to declare their sources of funding and punishes those who refrain from doing so. It also levies heavy taxes on such funds, even when declared. The European Union, along with the United States Government warned Israel against such laws, but to no avail. The bill is written in too broad a terminology, thus making it possible for the government to target such organizations without appearing vindictive or politically-motivated. "What is happening in Israel now is fascism," said David Tartakover, who was quoted in the British Guardian newspaper. Tartakover, the artist who designed the logo for the Israeli "Peace Now" campaign in the late 1970's described "a slow creep of limitations" that began in 1995 (following the assassination of Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin, at the hands of a Jewish extremist), but one that accelerated in the last year. One example includes the "Loyalty in Culture Bill," which sounds like, according to Michael Griffiths, "something out of Nineteen Eighty-Four." But it is no fiction. This bill targets artists and authors, and withholds funding from organizations that promote any material deemed objectionable by Israel's political establishment. This led to the banning of "Borderlife," an Israeli novel by Dorit Rabinyan, depicting a love story between a Palestinian man and a Jewish woman. Israel's Minister of Education, the hardliner, Naftali Bannett, banned the novel on the pretext that it promotes "assimilation" between the races. With the "most rightwing government" in Israeli's history now in charge, and an equally hawkish parliament, the foray of contentious bills are likely to continue. However, while Israel's own organizations, rights groups and dissenting artists are targeted by bans, fines and withholding of funds, Palestinians are threatened with much more severe consequences. To appreciate this more, one ought to look at the language used by a recent conference organized by Israeli newspaper, "Yediot Aharonot." Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Reprinted from Common Dreams Saudi Arabia is using billions in U.S. aid to fund their onslaught of innocent civilians in Yemen, but it's not too late for Congress to stop this madness. When Pope Francis visited the U.S. Congress in September 2015, he boldly posed a moral challenge to his American hosts, asking: "Why are deadly weapons being sold to those who plan to inflict untold suffering on individuals and society?" "Sadly, the answer, as we all know, is simply for money," he solemnly concluded. "Money that is drenched in blood." In this case, it's innocent Yemeni blood. During his almost eight years in office, President Obama has approved a jaw-dropping, record-breaking $110 billion in weapons sales to the repressive Saudi regime, all with Congressional backing. "In the face of this shameful and culpable silence, it is our duty to confront the problem and stop the arms trade," Pope Francis said. Our lawmakers have failed miserably at heeding the Pope's call. Manufacturers such as Boeing, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, and McDonnell Douglas have been pushing these sales to offset military spending cuts in the United States and Europe. These weapons manufacturers spend millions on lobbying, filling the campaign coffers of both Republicans and Democrats. In addition to that lobbying power, U.S. officials were pressured to placate Saudi Arabia after the Obama administration made a deal with its adversary, Iran. That appeasement came in the form of a level and quality of arms exports that should've never been approved for a repressive regime with an atrocious human rights record. Saudi Arabia is the number one exporter of radical Islamic extremism on the planet. Fifteen of the 19 Sep. 11 hijackers were radicalized Saudi citizens. The regime oppresses religious minorities, women, LGBT people, and dissidents, while dozens of non-violent participants in their own Arab Spring protests face execution, usually by beheading. The Pentagon says that providing the Saudis with F-15s bombers, Apache helicopters, armored vehicles, missiles, and bombs supports Saudi Arabian defense missions and helps promote stability in the region. But since March 2015, the Saudis have being using these weapons offensively to intervene in neighboring Yemen. Their relentless onslaught has killed thousands of innocent civilians, decimated Yemen's infrastructure, and left more than 21 million people -- that's four out of five Yemenis -- desperately in need of humanitarian assistance. The United Nations has said that Saudi air strikes on civilian targets likely constitute war crimes and calls the situation in Yemen a "catastrophe." Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). This piece was reprinted by OpEd News with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source. Patterns have long since emerged. We know that each illegal war of conquest is prefaced by a Public Relations campaign that demonizes the target country's leader and its government as it lies about on-the-ground realities. Muammar Gaddafi, for example, was presented to Western media consumers as a lunatic and despot. The Western narratives, however, were contradicted by the fact that he earned broad-based support from Libyans, all of whom enjoyed public services such as free healthcare and schooling, and a high standard of living. The same demonization campaign is being waged against the hugely popular Dr. Bashar al-Assad, the democratically elected President of Syria. Terrorist embedded propagandists teach us that he is an evil dictator who kills his own people, and that "he must go"; however, credible evidence inverts this logic. Henry Lowendorf, a member of the Executive Board of the U.S Peace Council's Peace and Fact-Finding Delegation to Syria, recently returned from Syria, reports, that, "What we saw (in Syria) goes against everything we read in the United States." He repudiates the Western media's demonization campaign against the government of President Assad and the Syrian Arab Army in these words: "When you go to Syria, which I did last month, the popularity of the government and the Syrian Arab Army is rampant. It's not out of some dream fantasy. It comes obviously from the government and the army being the only thing between living a secular life on the one hand and the hatred and violence of ISIS and the various other terrorist groups underwritten by the terrorist Saudis and US and their allies on the other. The refugees who don't leave Syria do not flee to the terrorist side, they flee to the government side, in huge numbers. So would all of us in similar circumstances. Syrians do not want their country turned into Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, or any of the other countries the US has liberated." [i] The reality is an inversion of the propaganda lies fed to Western audiences. In fact, President Assad must stay, for the sake of civilization, and for the sake of destroying Western-backed terrorism. Each time Empire succeeds in destroying another country, the problem of terrorism worsens, as might be expected. The destruction of Libya, for example, set the stage for the attempted destruction of Syria. Weapons stolen from Libyan armouries, thanks to the invasion, were covertly shipped to Syria -- all beneath the radar of the U.S Congress. A recently declassified Department of Defense document [ii] indicates that: "Weapons from the former Libya military stockpiles were shipped from the Port of Benghazi, Libya, to the Port of Banias and the Port of Borj Islam, Syria" And none of this is accidental. Sustainable Western open-source documentation demonstrates that the growth of terrorism is willful, and according to Western plans. The propaganda lies, the false flags, the terrorist-embedded NGOs , and the use of terrorist proxies to criminally destroy one country after another, is not only empowering terrorism world-wide, but it is also leading us to engineered conflict with nuclear-armed countries, in particular, Russia. Whereas the propaganda lies further the causes of barbarity and ignorance, we need a redirection towards the polar opposite: towards trajectories that support civilization, progress, and the rule of law. Prof. Chossudovsky explains in "America's 'Humanitarian War' against the World" that: "What is consequently required is a massive redirection of science and technology towards the pursuit of broad societal objectives. In turn, this requires a major shift in what is euphemistically called 'US Foreign Policy', namely America's global military agenda." We need to shift from Death Industries of the Military Industrial Complex, to Life Industries that serve, rather than destroy, humanity. We also need a strong anti-war movement based on a broad-based support of the truth, and a broad-based rejection of the "governing" lies. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Global Solar Control Films Market (Size of $645.1 Million in 2015) to Witness 9.4% CAGR During 2016 2022 https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/solar-control-films-market https://www.psmarketresearch.com/industry-report/chemicals-materials-and-energy https://www.psmarketresearch.com The global solar control films market was valued at $645.1 million in 2015, and it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.4% during 2016 - 2022. The factors driving the growth of the global market include reduction of energy cost & carbon footprint, reduction of ultra-violet (UV) & infrared (IR) emissivity, and increasing awareness about advantages of solar control films over normal sun reflective glass. Additionally, the surge in the real estate development is further boosting the opportunities for increasing demand for solar control films.Explore Full Report at:The sunlight streaming through window comprises heat, UV rays, infra-red radiation, and visible light. UV rays possess health risk, since excessive exposure may cause skin cancer, premature aging of skin, cataracts and other eye problems. UV rays are the major reason for fading, and it can cause damage to furniture, hard floor, equipment and other materials. Wherever there are windows, be it houses or offices, this issue will surface there. Solar control films block (absorbs) 98% of the UV rays to reduce the exposure, hence reducing the health hazard associated with UV rays and also preventing fading effects on furniture, interior and other appliances. Solar control films has the ability to block the certain wavelength of infrared radiations and reject heat without affecting the natural light and maintaining the inside temperature.In 2015, Asia-Pacific held the largest share (39.5%) in the global solar control films market with a market size of $254.7 million. The solar control films market in the region is anticipated to witness the highest growth at a CAGR of 10.6% during the forecast period. The major reasons behind the growth of the solar control films market in the region include large base of automobile industries and rapid development in building construction sector.The information and data in the publication Global Solar Control Films Market Size, Share, Development, Growth and Demand Forecast to 2022, represents the research and analysis of data from various primary and secondary sources. An amalgamation of bottom-up and top-down has been used to calculate the market size. 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The company has offices in the United States and in Nairobi, Kenya. Learn more atMayhall Marketing9445 High Cliffe StreetHighlands Ranch, CO 80129Lindsay Mayhall720-539-0970 Turkey launched its most ambitious operation of the Syrian conflict on Wednesday with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan saying it targeted the double threat from Islamic State extremists and Syrian Kurdish militias. Turkey says the air and ground operation dubbed "Euphrates Shield" will clear militants from the Syrian town of Jarabulus, which lies directly opposite the Turkish town of Karkamis. The operation was launched just days after Ankara appeared to soften its often-confrontational line on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whom Turkey wants to see removed. The military action began after 54 people were killed in a weekend suicide attack in the city of Gaziantep near the Syrian border that was blamed on IS. There has also been a recent upsurge in shelling of Turkish territory from Syrian towns under IS control. "ISIS (IS) has been directly attacking Turkish soil from Syria and so this operation is firstly a retaliation to that," Gulnur Aybet, director of Centre of Security Studies at Bahcesehir University in Istanbul (BAUCESS). "There is a chance these attacks from ISIS will intensify and that's why Turkey thought it's necessary to take these steps, to go across the border, with tanks and ground troops," she added. London-based Turkey analyst at Stroz Friedberg risk consultancy Emre Tuncalp agreed, saying there had been a "deterioration" in the security situation on the border. "The Gaziantep attack and the Karkamis shelling yesterday was like the last straw." However Aybet said the operation's aims were two-fold -- to counter the IS threat but also to prevent Syrian Kurdish groups moving into areas liberated from IS. Turkey views the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which it has denounced as a terror organisation along with the EU and the US. The Syrian Kurds "already occupy a large strip of that border but there is this part in the middle that is still held by ISIS. "So the concern is: do the YPG move into areas liberated by ISIS? In moving in this way, they (Turkish forces) are also preventing the YPG moving into those areas," the professor said. Tuncalp said Turkey had long declared its red line for the advance of the Syrian Kurdish group was the west of the Euphrates River. He said Ankara had choked on seeing the Syrian Kurds take from IS the strategic town of Manbij south of Jarabulus and well west of the Euphrates earlier this month. "That was really unacceptable for Turkey and was additional motivation to get more involved in that part of Syria." Aybet said the military operation showed Turkey would not allow the YPG to put down roots on its doorstep and allow a fragmentation of the Syrian state. "This has disrupted the YPG's plans. They thought the Americans would back them in the territorial conquest until the end but the Americans are playing a pragmatic game on the ground." A US official on Wednesday said Kurdish-dominated forces had stopped moving north towards Jarabulus. "So I think we have put a lid on the Turks' biggest concern," the official said. At the weekend, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim for the first time acknowledged that Assad was one of the "actors" in Syria, saying he may need to remain as part of any transition. Turkey is also working more closely with Iran and Russia, Assad's last remaining major allies. So far, no world power has objected to the Turkish operation, which began just hours before US Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Ankara. There have also been signs of a less confrontational Turkish foreign policy since Yildirim took over from Ahmet Davutoglu as premier in May. For Soner Cagaptay, director of the Turkish Research Programme at The Washington Institute, stopping Kurdish advances in the north was now Ankara's primary goal in Syria rather than Assad's removal. "Following the ouster of Ahmet Davutoglu, the architect of Turkey's foreign policy in the last decade, Ankara has recalibrated its Syria policy. "Blocking PYD Kurdish advances in Syria, previously Ankara's secondary goal, now trumps Turkey's erstwhile policy of ousting the Assad regime."Turkey launched its most ambitious operation of the Syrian conflict on Wednesday with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan saying it targeted the double threat from Islamic State extremists and Syrian Kurdish militias. Turkey says the air and ground operation dubbed "Euphrates Shield" will clear militants from the Syrian town of Jarabulus, which lies directly opposite the Turkish town of Karkamis. The operation was launched just days after Ankara appeared to soften its often-confrontational line on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whom Turkey wants to see removed. The military action began after 54 people were killed in a weekend suicide attack in the city of Gaziantep near the Syrian border that was blamed on IS. There has also been a recent upsurge in shelling of Turkish territory from Syrian towns under IS control. "ISIS (IS) has been directly attacking Turkish soil from Syria and so this operation is firstly a retaliation to that," Gulnur Aybet, director of Centre of Security Studies at Bahcesehir University in Istanbul (BAUCESS). "There is a chance these attacks from ISIS will intensify and that's why Turkey thought it's necessary to take these steps, to go across the border, with tanks and ground troops," she added. London-based Turkey analyst at Stroz Friedberg risk consultancy Emre Tuncalp agreed, saying there had been a "deterioration" in the security situation on the border. "The Gaziantep attack and the Karkamis shelling yesterday was like the last straw." However Aybet said the operation's aims were two-fold -- to counter the IS threat but also to prevent Syrian Kurdish groups moving into areas liberated from IS. Turkey views the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which it has denounced as a terror organisation along with the EU and the US. The Syrian Kurds "already occupy a large strip of that border but there is this part in the middle that is still held by ISIS. "So the concern is: do the YPG move into areas liberated by ISIS? In moving in this way, they (Turkish forces) are also preventing the YPG moving into those areas," the professor said. Tuncalp said Turkey had long declared its red line for the advance of the Syrian Kurdish group was the west of the Euphrates River. He said Ankara had choked on seeing the Syrian Kurds take from IS the strategic town of Manbij south of Jarabulus and well west of the Euphrates earlier this month. "That was really unacceptable for Turkey and was additional motivation to get more involved in that part of Syria." Aybet said the military operation showed Turkey would not allow the YPG to put down roots on its doorstep and allow a fragmentation of the Syrian state. "This has disrupted the YPG's plans. They thought the Americans would back them in the territorial conquest until the end but the Americans are playing a pragmatic game on the ground." A US official on Wednesday said Kurdish-dominated forces had stopped moving north towards Jarabulus. "So I think we have put a lid on the Turks' biggest concern," the official said. At the weekend, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim for the first time acknowledged that Assad was one of the "actors" in Syria, saying he may need to remain as part of any transition. Turkey is also working more closely with Iran and Russia, Assad's last remaining major allies. So far, no world power has objected to the Turkish operation, which began just hours before US Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Ankara. There have also been signs of a less confrontational Turkish foreign policy since Yildirim took over from Ahmet Davutoglu as premier in May. For Soner Cagaptay, director of the Turkish Research Programme at The Washington Institute, stopping Kurdish advances in the north was now Ankara's primary goal in Syria rather than Assad's removal. "Following the ouster of Ahmet Davutoglu, the architect of Turkey's foreign policy in the last decade, Ankara has recalibrated its Syria policy. "Blocking PYD Kurdish advances in Syria, previously Ankara's secondary goal, now trumps Turkey's erstwhile policy of ousting the Assad regime."Turkey launched its most ambitious operation of the Syrian conflict on Wednesday with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan saying it targeted the double threat from Islamic State extremists and Syrian Kurdish militias. Turkey says the air and ground operation dubbed "Euphrates Shield" will clear militants from the Syrian town of Jarabulus, which lies directly opposite the Turkish town of Karkamis. The operation was launched just days after Ankara appeared to soften its often-confrontational line on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whom Turkey wants to see removed. The military action began after 54 people were killed in a weekend suicide attack in the city of Gaziantep near the Syrian border that was blamed on IS. There has also been a recent upsurge in shelling of Turkish territory from Syrian towns under IS control. "ISIS (IS) has been directly attacking Turkish soil from Syria and so this operation is firstly a retaliation to that," Gulnur Aybet, director of Centre of Security Studies at Bahcesehir University in Istanbul (BAUCESS). "There is a chance these attacks from ISIS will intensify and that's why Turkey thought it's necessary to take these steps, to go across the border, with tanks and ground troops," she added. London-based Turkey analyst at Stroz Friedberg risk consultancy Emre Tuncalp agreed, saying there had been a "deterioration" in the security situation on the border. "The Gaziantep attack and the Karkamis shelling yesterday was like the last straw." However Aybet said the operation's aims were two-fold -- to counter the IS threat but also to prevent Syrian Kurdish groups moving into areas liberated from IS. Turkey views the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which it has denounced as a terror organisation along with the EU and the US. The Syrian Kurds "already occupy a large strip of that border but there is this part in the middle that is still held by ISIS. "So the concern is: do the YPG move into areas liberated by ISIS? In moving in this way, they (Turkish forces) are also preventing the YPG moving into those areas," the professor said. Tuncalp said Turkey had long declared its red line for the advance of the Syrian Kurdish group was the west of the Euphrates River. He said Ankara had choked on seeing the Syrian Kurds take from IS the strategic town of Manbij south of Jarabulus and well west of the Euphrates earlier this month. "That was really unacceptable for Turkey and was additional motivation to get more involved in that part of Syria." Aybet said the military operation showed Turkey would not allow the YPG to put down roots on its doorstep and allow a fragmentation of the Syrian state. "This has disrupted the YPG's plans. They thought the Americans would back them in the territorial conquest until the end but the Americans are playing a pragmatic game on the ground." A US official on Wednesday said Kurdish-dominated forces had stopped moving north towards Jarabulus. "So I think we have put a lid on the Turks' biggest concern," the official said. At the weekend, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim for the first time acknowledged that Assad was one of the "actors" in Syria, saying he may need to remain as part of any transition. Turkey is also working more closely with Iran and Russia, Assad's last remaining major allies. So far, no world power has objected to the Turkish operation, which began just hours before US Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Ankara. There have also been signs of a less confrontational Turkish foreign policy since Yildirim took over from Ahmet Davutoglu as premier in May. For Soner Cagaptay, director of the Turkish Research Programme at The Washington Institute, stopping Kurdish advances in the north was now Ankara's primary goal in Syria rather than Assad's removal. "Following the ouster of Ahmet Davutoglu, the architect of Turkey's foreign policy in the last decade, Ankara has recalibrated its Syria policy. "Blocking PYD Kurdish advances in Syria, previously Ankara's secondary goal, now trumps Turkey's erstwhile policy of ousting the Assad regime." Search Keywords: Short link: United States Blood Bank Refrigerators market 2016 Industry Popularity, Costs & Emerging Projects http://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=700239&type=E http://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/united-states-blood-bank-refrigerators-industry-2016-market-research-report.htm http://www.qyresearchreports.com/category/machinery-market-reports-169.htm The report examines the performance of the United States Blood Bank Refrigerators market through in-depth analysis of the various trends affecting the Blood Bank Refrigerators market. The research report presents an inclusive snapshot of the Blood Bank Refrigerators market with the help of complete statistics charting the development of the market United Statesly. Along with the historical database, the report also analyzes the competitive landscape of the Blood Bank Refrigerators market with the help of business strategies, financial overview, market shares, SWOT analysis, and recent developments. These insights into the competitive landscape help in calculating the dominance of key players in the market and help new entrants come up with informed market strategies to make the most of the marketas expected development trajectory.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The report looks into the supply and demand dynamics of the United States Blood Bank Refrigerators market, including import and export statistics and a detailed elaboration upon the upstream raw materials chain and downstream demand chain. It also presents a detailed overview of the manufacturing chain and the efficiency in the utilization of its production capacity.The report delves into the historical data of the Blood Bank Refrigerators market to predict the future trends of the market. It also involves the growth and revenue projections of the overall market. A number of tables, graphs, and pie charts are used to depict statistics pertaining to the Blood Bank Refrigerators market. These pictorial depictions enable easy comprehension of the market trends.The analysis of the chain structure of the Blood Bank Refrigerators industry includes an examination of various segments. The various factors influencing the United States Blood Bank Refrigerators market such as drivers, restraints, and opportunities have also been presented in the report.Browse Complete Report with TOC @Table of ContentsChapter One Blood Bank Refrigerators Industry Overview1.1 Blood Bank Refrigerators Definition1.1.1 Blood Bank Refrigerators Product Pictures & Product Specifications1.2 Blood Bank Refrigerators Classification & ApplicationChapter Two Blood Bank Refrigerators Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis2.1 Blood Bank Refrigerators Raw Material & Equipments Supplier and Price Analysis2.2 Blood Bank Refrigerators Labor & Other Cost Analysis2.3 Blood Bank Refrigerators Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis2.4 Blood Bank Refrigerators Manufacturing Process AnalysisChapter Three Blood Bank Refrigerators Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis3.1 2016 United States Key Manufacturers Blood Bank Refrigerators Capacity and Commercial Production Date3.2 2016 United States Key Manufacturers Blood Bank Refrigerators Manufacturing Plants Distribution3.3 2016 United States Key Manufacturers Blood Bank Refrigerators R&D Status and Technology Sources3.4 2016 United States Key Manufacturers Blood Bank Refrigerators Raw Materials Sources AnalysisRead More @QYResearchReports.com is an unimpeachable source of market research data for clients that comprise acclaimed SMEs, Chinese companies, private equity firms, and MNCs. We provide market research reports on various categories such as Energy, Chemicals, Alternative and Green Energy, Manufacturing, Machinery, Pharmaceuticals and Materials, and Glass.QYResearchreports1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United States+1-518-621-2074866-997-4948USA-Canada Toll freesales@qyresearchreports.com E-Learning Market size likely to exceed revenue of USD 240 billion by 2023 https://www.gminsights.com/request-toc/upcoming/215 E-learning market size is being valued over USD 165 billion in 2015 and is likely to grow at over 5% from 2016 to 2023, exceeding USD 240 billion. Factors such as low cost involvement accompanied by flexibility in learning are expected to drive industry growth.U.S. e-learning market size should be over USD 27 billion by 2016, owing to rising significance of these services across the region. Ease of accessibility along with improvised effectiveness due to animated learning is likely to positively impact e-learning market size. In addition, increasing number of internet users coupled with escalating number of internet enabled mobile phones are anticipated to propel industry demand over the several upcoming years. Increasing adoption from non-academic as well as academic sectors should boost the industry demand for these services.Increasing significance in corporate sectors will drive industry growth over the forecast period. As the service providers provide these educational services through latest technologies, it enables the user in having graphic-based and rich media learning experience. Furthermore, these services are anticipated to enhance employee productivity owing to which large numbers of firms are now opting for e-learning solutions over the traditional learning methods. This in turn is projected to positively impact e-learning market demand over next five years.Request for an in-depth table of contents for this report @Technology obsolescence along with change management are the factors anticipated to hamper the industry demand. Vendor-developer partnerships might pose numerous industry challenges from 2016 to 2023. Need of highly developed IT infrastructure is likely to pose a challenge to the industry demand for these services. Escalating demand accompanied by rising awareness for distance learning is likely to provide potential growth avenues to the numerous industry participants. In addition, advent of these services on tablets is anticipated to fuel the demand for the service over the forecast period.The industry can be segregated based on technology, product and vendors. Corporate and academic e-Learning are the types of product encapsulating product segment. Based on vender, the industry can be segregated into service providers and content providers. On the basis of technology, the industry can be segregated as rapid online learning, learning management system (LMS), mobile e-learning, podcasts, virtual classroom, application simulation tool, knowledge management system and learning Content Management System.North America may witness substantial growth owing to U.S. being the major region for adoption of these services and it is projected to exhibit significant growth prospects from 2016 to 2023.Asia Pacific, particularly the India e-learning market size is estimated to exhibit highest growth, more than 17%, and is anticipated to play a key role in the global industry. This can be attributed to increasing regulatory initiatives such as government funded literacy development projects in small villages and rural areas. This measure is forecast to drive the industry demand in the region. Sales were valued at USD 5.2 billion in 2011 and close to USD 10 billion by the end of 2015, with major generation from package content sales. Furthermore, lack of quality education along with affordability as well as convenience factors in the region might propel the industry demand over the forecast timeframe.Western Europe e-learning market size was valued around USD 6.5 billion in 2015 and is anticipated to be second largest industry for online learning solutions, with expected gains of over 5.5% throughout the forecast period. The spur in the region can be subjected to increasing adoption of these solutions in medium and small sized businesses.Latin America is expected to witness considerable growth from 2016 to 2023. LATAM e-learning market share was valued around USD 1.4 billion in 2014 and is likely to grow at a CAGR of over 14% over the next seven years. The positive spike can be dedicated to advent of governmental programs for handing out the laptops to the school students. Furthermore, private schools are now encouraging students to bring tablets and computers in order ti improve learning skills among students.Key industry participants in e-learning market share include encapsulate Apollo Education Group, Adobe systems, Cisco Systems, HealthStream, SAP, Citrix, McGrawHill, Oracle, Aptara, Cornerstone On Demand, Edmodo, NetDimensions, Saba Software, Schoology, Desire2Learn, Skillsoft, SumTotal Systems, Microsoft, Blackkboard, Pearson and Skill Soft.Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.29L Atlantic Avenue,Suite L 105, Ocean View,Delaware 19970United States Life Insurance Market Southeast Asia 2016-2020 Analysis of Market Size, Growth, Share and Economic Impact in the industry http://www.researchmoz.us/life-insurance-market-southeast-asia-2016-2020-report.html http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=741701 www.researchmoz.us/ Life Insurance Market Southeast Asia 2016-2020 Size and Share Published in 2016-06-03 Available for US$ 2500 at Researchmoz.usDescriptionGet the Full Report ##The 2007 financial crisis shattered many economies across the globe, and triggered a negative shift in customer demand, especially in the life insurance sector. The drop in income not only reduced demand for life insurance policies and products but also curtailed the market penetration of the industry. In the current market scenario, there are many product portfolios offered by the top life insurance vendors. With this scenario in place, the demand for life insurance policies is calculated on the basis of the rate at which transparent products are being provided by vendors to customers.Technavios analysts forecast the life insurance market in Southeast Asia to grow at a CAGR of 7.71% during the period 2016-2020.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the life insurance market in Southeast Asia for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report considers the gross life premium value in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, and other nations. The other regions include Cambodia, Brunei, Laos, Burma, and Timor-Leste.The market is divided into the following segments based on country:SingaporeIndonesiaThailandPhilippinesMalaysiaVietnamTechnavio's report, Life Insurance Market in Southeast Asia 2016-2020, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendorsAIA GroupManulifePrudential FinancialGet a Free Sample Copy of the Report:Other prominent vendorsAvivaAXAGreat Eastern LifeHSBCNTUC IncomeTokyo MarineMarket driverCreation of favorable environments to improve profitabilityFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeLack of financial modelsFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendRise in use of BPO for closed-book operationsFor a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2020 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?You can request one free hour of our analysts time when you purchase this market report. Details are provided within the report.Table of ContentPART 01: Executive summaryHighlightsPART 02: Scope of the reportMarket overviewTop-vendor offeringsPART 03: Market research methodologyResearch methodologyEconomic indicatorsPART 04: IntroductionKey market highlightsPART 05: Market landscapeMarket overviewMarket size and forecastFive forces analysisAbout ResearchMozResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ bit.ly/1TBmnVG Analyzing the Worldwide Market for Global Coronary Stent Market Report: 2016 Edition http://www.researchmoz.us/global-coronary-stent-market-report-2016-edition-report.html http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=706615 www.researchmoz.us/ Global Coronary Stent Market Report: 2016 Edition Size and Share Published in 2016-04-18 Available for US$ 800 at Researchmoz.usDescriptionGET THE FULL REPORT :The stent market is an important segment of the coronary heart diseases. The stent is a small, elastic, mesh like tube made of a metal stainless steel or cobalt alloy that acts as support. Stents are attached onto small balloons and opened inside the artery to reinstate blood flow and support the vessel wall. Stenting does not involve any major incision and is performed with the help of local anesthesia and low sedation. Stenting is relatively more comfortable for patients in comparison to coronary artery bypass heart surgery.Stents help in avoiding the heart attacks which is caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries. Drug eluting stents which are coated with medication are the most commonly used stents. Many new stents like bio resorbabale stents are in the market and next generation stents like drug filled stent are under research and development. Stents become very necessary in the severe instances of atherosclerosis which is a state where medium and large arteries harden and start narrowing because their insides get filled with plaque. The most common method employed for the treatment of coronary heart disease includes pharmaceuticals, balloon angioplasty, stenting and coronary artery bypass grafting.The stent market was affected by thrombosis scare in the year 2010. Later the market was also affected due to stent deformity issues and pricing pressures which led the stent market down.Get a Free Sample Copy of the Report:The key factors which are anticipated to drive stent market include aging population, improving utilization of hospital, enhancement in the volume of drug eluting stent, improvement in the global health care expenditure, accelerated economic growth, diabetic population, increased consumption of alcohol, rising obese population, increase in hypertension. Some of the significant developments of this industry include introduction of new products from competing companies, Next generation stents and testing of drug filled stent. However, the challenge to be faced ahead is pricing pressure, regulatory issues and complications associated with implantation of stents.This report offers a comprehensive analysis of the stent market. Furthermore, market dynamics such as key trends and development; and challenges are analyzed in depth. On the contention front, the global stent market is reined by few major players namely Boston Scientific, Abbott Laboratories, Johnson & Johnson and Medtronic. The competitive landscape of the respective market, along with the company profiles of the leading players are also discussed in detail.Table of Content1. Cardiology Market An Introduction1.1 Interventional Cardiology1.1.1 Bypass Surgery (or CABG)1.1.2 Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) or Angioplasty1.2 Stenting and its Types1.2.1 Drug Eluting Stent and Bare Metal Stent1.2.2 Benefits of Stenting2. Coronary Stent Market Analysis2.1 Global Coronary Stent Market by Value2.1.1 Global Drug Eluting Stent Market by Value2.1.2 Global Bare Metal Stent Market by Value2.1.3 Global Drug Eluting Stent Market by Volume2.1.4 Global Drug Eluting Stent Market by Device3. The US DES Market3.1 The US DES Market by Value3.2 The US DES Market Share by Device4. Rest of World DES Market4.1 Rest of World DES Market by ValueAbout ResearchMozResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ bit.ly/1TBmnVG At a CAGR of 24.73%, Global Cloud Identity and Access Management Market 2016-2020, Technology, Trends, Drivers, Challenges and Strategic Focus Report http://www.researchmoz.us/global-cloud-identity-and-access-management-market-2016-2020-report.html http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=517614 www.researchmoz.us/ Global Cloud Identity and Access Management Market 2016-2020 Size and Share Published in 2016-01-13 Available for US$ 2000 at Researchmoz.usDescriptionGET THE FULL REPORT :IAM is a security solution that ensures the accessibility of resources to authorized individuals in a multi-technology environment. IAM solutions provide secure identity-based access to on-premises and cloud-based systems, applications, and information from any location. These solutions help enterprises secure application systems by permitting employee access with a single sign-on (SSO) password.Cloud IAM enables cloud service providers (CSPs) or managed service providers (MSPs) to manage digital identities on the cloud. Providers of these solutions charge a subscription fee for maintaining, monitoring, and upgrading services, including training and support.Technavios analysts forecast the global cloud IAM market to grow at a CAGR of 24.73% during the period 2016-2020.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global cloud IAM market for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from the sales of IAM solutions hosted on both private, public, and hybrid cloud deployed as software as a service (SaaS). The report considers licensed suites on both fixed and pay-per-use bases.The market is divided into the following segments based on region:North AmericaEuropeAPACLatin AmericaMEATechnavio's report, Global Cloud IAM Market 2016-2020, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Get a Free Sample Copy of the Report:Key vendorsCA TechnologiesDellIBMPing IdentitySailPoint TechnologiesOther prominent vendorsBitiumCentrifyCovisintExostarFisher InternationalIlantus TechnologiesiWelcomeMicrosoftOktaOneLoginOracleSalesforceSAPSimeio SolutionsMarket driverIncreased demand from BFSI sectorFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeConcerns over data securityFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendEmergence of IaaS and on-demand cloud providersFor a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2020 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?You can request one free hour of our analysts time when you purchase this market report. Details are provided within the report.Table of ContentPART 01: Executive summaryKey findingsPART 02: Scope of the reportPART 03: Market research methodologyResearch methodologyEconomic indicatorsPART 04: IntroductionKey market highlightsPART 05: Market descriptionComponents of IAMFeatures of on-premises vs. cloud-based IAM deployment modelsAdvantages of cloud IAMIdentity-related threatsPART 06: Market landscapeMarket overviewGlobal cloud IAM marketAbout ResearchMozResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ bit.ly/1TBmnVG PharmaSphere: Emerging Biotechnologies Stem Cell Therapy is provides Strategic Analysis of Key Development Trends, Regulatory Requirements in Various Markets http://www.researchmoz.us/pharmasphere-emerging-biotechnologies-stem-cell-therapy-report.html http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=232165 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=232165 www.researchmoz.us/ PharmaSphere: Emerging Biotechnologies - Stem Cell Therapy Size and Share Published in 2014-11-10 Available for US$ 2995 at Researchmoz.usDescriptionGet the Full Report @@GlobalDatas report "PharmaSphere: Emerging Biotechnologies Stem Cell Therapy", provides strategic analysis of the global stem cells industry. It discusses key development trends, regulatory requirements in various markets, recent deals activity and industry dynamic trends, as well as describes the operations strategy of these companies. Furthermore, it includes a geographical segmentation of various markets including the EU and US, as well as emerging markets such as China, India, SouthKorea, and Israel-providing in-depth analysis of these markets regulatory framework, key domestic players and their stem cell pipelines, and strategic outlook.Throughout the report, GlobalDatas analysts provide you with expert insight, expanding on each strategy and factor discussed, with the aim of providing you with the tools needed for making informed business decisions.ScopeStem Cell Market Dynamics: This report provides analysis of the key drivers and trends shaping the global Stem Cell therapy market, including manufacturing, emerging markets, and development pipeline.Financial Performance Insight: Report uses GlobalDatas proprietary data across 22 key financial metrics to provide insight over stem cell company performance.PipelineAnalysis: Detailed information on ten leading stem cell therapies; trend analysis of clinical trial studies and investigators covering over 1000 trials related to stem cell therapies.Deal strategies: Exhaustive discussion on the strategic implications and synergies of deals including, M&A, collaboration as well as capital raisings such as equity offerings, private equity and venture financing activities.Regulatory Implications: Guidelines for stem cell usage for developing therapies in seven major markets for stem cells including US, Europe, Japan, SouthKorea, Israel, China and India.Company Analysis: Company landscape covering 40 companies on full pipeline, financials and key overview information.Get a Free Sample Copy of the Report:Reasons to buyIdentify the key domestic players in various stem cell markets, including South Korea, Japan and emerging markets such as India and China.Understand the key drivers and trends in the global stem cell industry.Analyze and track the strategies that companies are using to enter and/or strengthen their position in the evolving stem cell industry, as well as efforts being made by innovator companies like Pfizer and Novartis to enter this market.Use this information as an independent source for your due diligence and transaction strategy.Understand the regulatory framework and be prepared to tackle challenges facing the stem cell based therapies.HighlightsKey Questions AnsweredWhat are the key market drivers of the global stem cell industry?Who are the top players involved in the development of stem cell therapies in developed as well as developing countries?What are the main regulatory measures affecting the stem cell industry in the US, Europe, Japan, India, South Korea, China and Israel?What are the major trends in stem cell clinical trials and profiles of key investigators?What specific strategies are companies utilizing to combat some of the challenges currently facing the development of therapies in the global stem cell industry?Inquiry on this report:Table of Content1 Table of Contents 61.1 List of Tables 141.2 List of Figures 192 Introduction 222.1 Report Scope 222.2 Upcoming Related Reports 242.3 Recently Published Reports 243 Stem Cell Overview 253.1 Definition 253.1.1 Renewal 253.1.2 Potency 253.2 Types of Stem Cell 263.2.1 Embryonic Stem Cells 273.2.2 Adult Stem Cells 273.2.3 Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells 283.2.4 Cord-Blood-Derived Stem Cells 283.2.5 Amniotic Stem Cells 283.2.6 Fetal Stem Cells 283.3 Stem Cell Research Timeline 293.4 Therapeutic Applications 303.4.1 Cardiovascular 303.4.2 Central Nervous System 30About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ bit.ly/1TBmnVG Global Pure Play Software Testing Services Market 2015-2019 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/analysis/354357 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/354357 About Pure-play Software Testing ServicesView Full Report:Expertise, experience, proven capabilities, in-built structures and standards for processes, and costs involved are key considerations while outsourcing software testing. Technavios research reveals that, during the economic recession and early 2010, the majority of IT companies relied on in-house testing. Companies set up their own Testing Center of Excellence (TCOE) for this purpose. However, outsourcing of software testing services is witnessing double digit growth rate as third party service providers can provide better quality, enhanced testing processes, and globally recognized best practices.Pure-play software testing services is one of the segments of outsourced software testing services market. Technavio believes 2015 will be a positive year for pure-play software testing service providers. Software testing is a vital component of the software development life cycle.Technavio's analysts forecast the global pure-play software testing services market to grow at a CAGR of 15.90% over the period 2014-2019.Covered in this ReportThe global pure-play software testing services market is segmented based on geography.Technavio's report, Global Pure-play Software Testing Services market 2015-2019, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. It covers the landscape of the global pure-play software testing services market and its growth prospects in the coming years. The report also includes a discussion on the key vendors operating in this market.Get Sample Copy Of This Report:Key VendorsInspearitPlanit Test Management SolutionQualitest GroupSoftware Quality SystemsOther Prominent VendorsAcutestAmsphereChakkilam InfotechFraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software EngineeringImbusMTPQA InfotechSilicusTesnet Software TestingThinksoft Global ServicesTrigentMarket DriverIncreased Adoption of BYOA Policy among EnterprisesFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket ChallengeDifficulty in Protecting Intellectual Property RightsFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket TrendEmergence of STaaSFor a full, detailed list, view our reportKey Questions Answered in this ReportWhat will the market size be in 2019 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Marketresearchreports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. Marketresearchreports.biz services are especially designed to save time and money of our clients.State Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948(USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) Industry Complete Report 2015-16 : Growth Drivers & Key Benchmarks Analysis http://www.researchmoz.us/complete-2015-16-induced-pluripotent-stem-cell-ipsc-industry-report-report.html http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=288620 www.researchmoz.us/ Complete 2015-16 Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) Industry Report Size and Share Published in 2015-04-01 Available for US$ 3795 at Researchmoz.usDescriptionGet the Full Report ##Recent months have seen the first iPSC clinical trial in humans, creation of the worlds largest iPSC biobank, major funding awards, a historic challenge to the Yamanaka Patent, a Supreme Court ruling affecting industry patent rights, announcement of an iPSC cellular therapy clinic scheduled to open in 2019, and much more. Furthermore, iPSC patent dominance continues to cluster in specific geographic regions, while clinical trial and scientific publication trends give clear indicators of what may happen in the industry in 2015 and beyond. Is it worth it to get informed about rapidly-evolving market conditions and identify key industry trends that will give you an advantage over your competition?REPORT APPLICATIONSThis global strategic report is produced for:Management of Stem Cell Product CompaniesManagement of Stem Cell Therapy CompaniesStem Cell Industry InvestorsIt is designed to increase your efficiency and effectiveness in:Commercializing iPSC products, technologies, and therapiesMaking intelligent investment decisionsLaunching high-demand productsSelling effectively to your client baseIncreasing revenueTaking market share from your competitionOVERVIEWStem cell research and experimentation have been in process for well over five decades, as stem cells have the unique ability to divide and replicate repeatedly. In addition, their unspecialized nature allows them to differentiate into a wide variety of specialized cell types. The possibilities arising from these characteristics have resulted in great commercial interest, with potential applications ranging from the use of stem cells in reversal and treatment of disease, to targeted cell therapy, tissue regeneration, pharmacological testing on cell-specific tissues, and more.Traditionally, scientists have worked with both embryonic and adult stem cells for research tools, as well as for cellular therapy. While the appeal of embryonic cells has been their ability to differentiate into any type of cell, there has been significant ethical, moral, and spiritual controversy surrounding their use. Although some adult stem cells do have differentiation capacity, it is often limited in nature, which results in fewer options for use.Thus, induced pluripotent stem cells represent a promising combination of adult and embryonic stem cell characteristics.Get a Free Sample Copy of the Report:Discovery of Induced Pluripotent Stem CellsGroundbreaking experimentation in 2006 led to the introduction of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). These are adult cells which are isolated and then transformed into embryonic-like stem cells through the manipulation of gene expression, as well as other methods. Research and experimentation using mouse cells by Shinya Yamanakas lab at Kyoto University in Japan was the first instance in which there was successful generation of iPSCs. In 2007, a series of follow-up experiments was done at Kyoto University in which human adult cells were transformed into iPSC cells. Nearly simultaneously, a research group led by James Thomson at the University of Wisconsin-Madison accomplished the same feat of deriving iPSC lines from human somatic cells.Over the next few years, iPSC research advances accelerated exponentially. 2013 was the first time in which clinical research involving transplant of iPSCs into humans was initiated, led by Masayo Takahashi of the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology in Kobe, Japan. Dr. Takahashi and her team are investigating the safety of iPSC-derived cell sheets in patients with wet-type age-related macular degeneration. While the trial was initiated in 2013 and production of iPSCs from patients began at that time, it was not until August of 2014 that the first patient was implanted with retinal tissue generated using iPSCs derived from her own skin cells. Also, Kyoto University Hospital in Kobe, Japan announced in February of 2015 that it will be opening an iPSC therapy center in 2019, for purposes of conducting clinical studies on iPSC therapies.Landmark Events Create Market Opportunities for iPSCsIn 2009 ReproCELL, a company established as a venture company originating from the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University, was the first to make iPSC product commercially available with the launch of human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, which it called ReproCario. ReproCELL has since furthered its dominance in the area of iPSC products through a series of strategic acquisitions, including acquisition of Reinnervate, Stemgent, and BioServe Biotechnologies.Cellular Dynamics International (CDI) is another major market player in the iPSC sector. Similar to ReproCELL, CDI established its foothold on the iPSC industry early, being founded in 2004 by Dr. James Thomson at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who in 2007 subsequently derived iPSC lines from human somatic cells for the first time ever (although the feat was also accomplished simultaneously by Dr. Shinya Yamanakas lab in Japan). CDI currently holds more than 800 patents, and the company went public in July 2013 with a public offering that raised $43 million dollars, securing its position as the global leader in producing high-quality human iPSCs and differentiated cells in industrial quantities.Finally, Cellular Dynamics International (CDI) and the Coriell Institute for Medical Research received multi-million dollar grants ($16 million total) from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to create 3,000 iPSC lines from healthy and diseased donors, a result will create the worlds largest human iPSC bank.In aggregate, there is incredible enthusiasm and investment driving growth of the iPSC sector, with recent years seeing major advances in clinical research applications, production and differentiation technologies, and biobanking of iPSCs. There have been major funding awards, large initial public offerings (IPOs), significant patent challenges, and more. For companies and investors competing within the iPSC marketplace, it is critical to understand these major market events and how they are shifting industry dynamics.Four Primary Areas of CommercializationThere are currently four major areas of commercialization for induced pluripotent stem cells:1) Drug Development & Discovery: iPSCs have the potential to transform drug discovery by providing physiologically relevant cells for compound identification, target validation, compound screening, and tool discovery.2) Cellular Therapy: iPSCs can be used for cellular therapy applications, including autologous transplantation and potentially gene therapy. The purpose of cellular therapy is to reverse injury or disease.3) Toxicology Screening: iPSCs can be used for toxicology screening, which is the use of stem cells or their derivatives (tissue-specific cells) to assess the safety of compounds or drugs within living cells.4) Stem Cell Biobanking: The goal of stem cell biobanking is to create a repository of stem cell specimens, including source tissue from which iPSCs can be derived, differentiated cell types produced from iPSCs, and disease tissues produced from iPSCs. Large-scale stem cell repositories provide researchers with the opportunity to investigate a diverse range of conditions using iPSC derived cells produced from both healthy and diseased donors. Importantly, these repositories can also greatly expand the capacity for global research and collaboration.While competition is fierce in each of these areas, with the market leaders for each category are shown below:Drug Development and Discovery: Cellular Dynamics International (CDI) in Madison, WisconsinCellular Therapy (Therapeutic Applications of iPSCs): RIKEN Center, in Kobe, Japan, and Kyoto University in Kyoto, JapanStem Cell Biobanking: Cellular Dynamics International (CDI) in Madison, WisconsiniPSC Research Products: ReproCELL in Kanagawa, Japan; Thermo Fisher Scientific in Rockville, MD; STEMCELL Technologies in Vancouver, Canada; and BD Biosciences in San Jose, CaliforniaEnd-User Survey of iPSC ResearchersSince the discovery of iPSCs a large and thriving research product market has grown into existence, largely because the cells are completely non-controversial and can be generated directly from adult cells. Today, the number of iPSC products sold worldwide is increasing with double-digit growth. In addition, 22% of all stem cell researchers now self-report having used iPSCs within a research project. It is clear that iPSCs represent a lucrative product market, but methods for commercializing this cell type are still being explored, as clinical studies investigating iPSCs continue to increase in number.A distinctive feature of this report is an end-user survey of 273 researchers (131 U.S. / 143 International) that identify as having induced pluripotent stem cells as a research focus. These survey findings reveal iPSC researcher needs, technical preferences, key factors influencing buying decisions, and more. The findings can be used to make effective product development decisions, create targeted marketing messages, and produce higher prospect-to-client conversion rates.Key report findings include:Metrics, Timelines, Tables, and Graphs for the iPSC IndustryTrend Rate Data for iPSC Grants, Clinical Trials, and Scientific PublicationsAnalysis of iPSC Patent Environment, including Key Patents and Patent TrendsMarket Segmentation5-Year Market Size Projections (2015-2019)Market Size Estimations, by Market SegmentUpdates on Crucial iPSC Industry and Technology TrendsAnalysis of iPSC Market Leaders, by Market SegmentGeographical Assessment of iPSC InnovationSWOT Analysis for the iPSC Sector (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats)Preferred Species for iPSC ResearchInfluential Language for Selling to iPSC ScientistsBreakdown of the Marketing Methods, including Exposure and Response RatesAnd Much MoreIn summary, induced pluripotent stem cells represent a promising tool for use in the reversal and repair of many previously incurable diseases. To profit from this lucrative and rapidly expanding market, you need to understand your key strengths relative to the competition, intelligently position your products to fill gaps in the market place, and take advantage of crucial iPSC trends.Input SourcesThe content and statistics contained in this report were compiled using:Stem Cell Grant Funding Database (NIH database)Stem Cell Patent Database (USPTO)Stem Cell Clinical Trial Database (ClinicalTrials.gov)Stem Cell Scientific Publication Database (PubMed)Stem Cell Product Launch Announcements (Trade Journals, Google News)Stem Cell Industry Events (Google News, Google Alerts)Stem Cell Company News (SEC Filings, Investor Publications)International Survey (Electronically Distributed End-User Survey)And MoreTable of ContentEXECUTIVE SUMMARYReport OverviewKey Report FindingsPURPOSETo Survey Recent iPSC AdvancementsTo Provide a Snapshot" of the Global iPSC MarketTo Provide Market Analysis in the Context of Future ApplicationsTo Assess Opportunities for CommercializationTo Identify Major Market Players and Assess the Competitive EnvironmentTo Identify Existing and Emerging TrendsTo Identify Critical Opportunities and Threats within the iPSC MarketTARGET DEMOGRAPHICSCOPE OF iPSC MARKETProductsServicesTechnologiesTherapiesAdjunct Products and ServicesResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ bit.ly/1TBmnVG mHealth App Market Sizing 2015 2020 Organization, Structured, App Store Revenues and Key Application Segments http://www.researchmoz.us/mhealth-app-market-sizing-2015-2020-report.html http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=487918 www.researchmoz.us/ mHealth App Market Sizing 2015 - 2020 Size and Share Published in 2015-11-09 Available for US$ 2068 at Researchmoz.usDescriptionGet the Full report ::Despite the hype around mHealth apps, the global mHealth app market is a niche market today. This will change over the course of the next five years as mHealth app publishers will more and more concentrate on business models that uses mHealth apps to sell connected devices and services. Traditional apps store revenue sources like paid downloads, in-app purchase and in-app advertisement will not be big enough to support the growing number of mHealth app publishers.mHealth app users will remain the main driver for the next years allowing monetization strategies based on B2C business models. B2B models will become more important with health plans and HCPs integrating mHealth apps into the traditional healthcare market.The report has five main parts:Current market size: Provides current sizing of the mHealth market in terms of app numbers, app downloads and app store revenues for all mHealth apps or by app category. It identifies key application segments according to their current reach.Get a Free Sample Copy of the Report:Country mHealth markets: The report looks into the mHealth app market of 56 countries. It profiles 10 countries which currently offer the best market potential for mHealth app publishers. It provides information about the country mHealth app market characteristics, such as which platform leads in the country and required download numbers to enter a top 5 ranking position.17 mHealth business models: Describes performance of mHealth app publishers and their different monetization strategies. It identifies the most commonly used business models for mHealth apps and provides overview and best practice examples.Top mHealth app publishers: Publishers background and performance differ significantly for the Health&Fitness and Medical app section. The report list and describes current most successful Health&Fitness and Medical app publishers. It analyzes their product portfolio and its performance.mHealth market forecast: Estimates market size and market revenue until 2020. The market forecast provides a detailed outlook on demand and supply side of the mHealth app market in the next five years. It forecasts the number of mHealth app users, their platform preference and the number of downloads. The mHealth market revenue is provided for the main revenue sources.Table of Content1 Summary2 Scope3 Current status of the mHealth app market3.1 mHealth app categories market share3.2 Country market share by downloads and revenues4 Top 10 mHealth countries profiles4.1 China4.2 USA4.3 Germany4.4 Japan4.5 United Kingdom4.6 France4.7 Russia4.8 Brazil4.9 Italy4.10 Turkey5 17 mHealth business models5.1 Paid downloads5.2 Device sales5.3 Commission for appointments5.4 Featured listing5.5 One-time service fee for a consultation5.6 Service subscription5.7 Transaction5.8 AdvertisingResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ bit.ly/1TBmnVG Related Suicide bomber hits near US Consulate in Saudi Arabia Saudi security forces shot dead a suspected militant who tried to detonate explosives outside a mosque in the Qatif region in eastern Saudi Arabia, where many Shia Muslims live, the interior ministry said on Wednesday. "The man was shot outside a mosque in the town of Um al Hamam and died while being transported to the hospital. He had explosive materials in a bag," an interior ministry spokesman was quoted as saying by Saudi state news agency SPA. Police found a Pakistani residency card on the man, the statement said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attempted attack on Tuesday but the militant Islamic State group has carried out several deadly shootings and bombings, many targeting Shia mosques and security personnel. Islamic State is bitterly hostile to Gulf Arab monarchies and is seen to be trying to stoke Sunni-Shia sectarian confrontations in Arabian Peninsula states to destabilize and ultimately overthrow their dynasties. The interior ministry said on Wednesday that a Saudi citizen and a Syrian man seized at a checkpoint in the eastern city of Dammam in August with explosives on them had planned to bomb a restaurant on the island of Tarot. "Elements of Daesh abroad instructed them to carry out a suicide attack targeting the cafe in Tarot but the help of God and the vigilance of the security forces prevented this," said the statement using an Arabic language acronym for Islamic State. In July, suicide bombers struck three cities across Saudi Arabia, killing at least four security officers. The apparently coordinated attacks came on the penultimate day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan Search Keywords: Short link: Increasing Investment in Core ICT Technologies by Enterprises to Boost ICT Market in UK Market Research HUB http://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/ict-investment-trends-in-the-uk-enterprise-ict-spending-patterns-through-to-the-end-of-2017-report.html http://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=746271 http://www.marketresearchhub.com/ ALBANY, New York, August 24, 2016 Market Research Hub has added a new report, titled ICT investment trends in the UK: Enterprise ICT spending patterns through to the end of 2017, to its offering. This report presents key findings from a survey done on 154 enterprises in the UK on the prevalent trends in investments taking place in information and communications technology (ICT). The allocation of ICT budgets done by these enterprises in the UK across primary areas such as IT services, software, hardware, consulting, and communications has been presented in detail through this study. Furthermore, the study presents suggestions to service providers and ICT vendors on how to provide their solutions to UK enterprises.Browse Full Report with TOC -The report starts by presenting a detailed section on the trends prevalent in ICT budgets in the UK. This section presents highlights on the changes seen in the ICT budgets in 2016 and their expected size by the end of 2017. As per the report, UK enterprises are in support of making investments in newer ICT segments for augmenting their productivity and growth. As per the study, enterprises in the UK are looking to expend on their security services and products in 2016. This is being done so as to prevent the increasing cyber-attacks and malware.Next, information on the breakdown of hardware and software budgets has been presented. As per the study, enterprises in the UK are spending huge amount of money on a number of telecommunication domains so as to enhance real-time IP-based services such as audio and video conferencing. These enterprises focus on presenting low latency and high-bandwidth services for reducing their downtimes and increasing staff productivity.In the next part, the report presents the ICT money spending in areas including applications, networks, data centers, and service desks. In addition, the rating of vendors on numerous advanced and core technology categories is encapsulated in this section of the report. Furthermore, the IT and business objectives that the enterprises in the UK are planning to accomplish with their strategies in IT investments form an integral part of this section of the study.The report helps in understanding what changes UK enterprises dominant in the ICT landscape will face from 2016 to 2019 and their impact on the economy of the UK. The allocation of ICT budgets by these enterprises in particular areas in the UK has also been analyzed in this study. The upcoming players are able to better penetrate in their area of choice owing to the in-depth opportunity breakdown mentioned within technology categories such as business intelligence, cloud computing, and security products.Request for Free Sample Report:The emerging players can customize their areas of focus by analyzing the factors that are influencing the decisions of the UK enterprises while making a choice on the ICT provider. At the end, the IT and business objectives that enterprises in the UK are targeting with the help of their strategies in IT investment are described in the study.About Market Research HubMarket Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of market research reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.MRH functions as an integrated platform for the following products and services: Objective and sound market forecasts, qualitative and quantitative analysis, incisive insight into defining industry trends, and market share estimates. Our reputation lies in delivering value and world-class capabilities to our clients.Contact Us90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free : 866-997-4948 (US-Canada)Tel : +1-518-621-2074Email : sales@marketresearchhub.comWebsite : Non-Lethal Weapons Market is expected to reach USD 4,868.1 million in 2021 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=5705 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com According to a new market report published by Transparency Market Research Non-Lethal Weapons Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2015 - 2021, global non-lethal weapons market was valued at USD 3,201.6 million in 2014, growing at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2015 to 2021 to account for USD 4,868.1 million in 2021.The non-lethal weapons market is primarily driven by growing need for effective crowd control weaponry in various urban warfare applications globally. The increase in importance for the security and safety of civilian lives during adversary combat, anti-terrorism operations, hostage rescue and insurgency control in urban areas is also influencing the growth of global non-lethal weapons market. The non-lethal weapons provide advantages to the armed troops in terms of effectiveness, economy, and accuracy with reduced collateral damages.In terms of product type, the explosive held the highest revenue share accounting for more than thirty percent of the overall market in 2014. With the changing warfare tactics, the demand for directed energy weapons is also observing substantial growth globally. In terms of technology, the electromagnetic segment, chemical segment and acoustic segment are analyzed to be growing at rapid CAGR globally. The application of non-lethal weapons by law enforcement agencies are also expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% over the forecast period from 2015 to 2021.Get Free Sample Report Copy :Geographically, North America led the non-lethal weapons market with more than thirty percent market revenue share globally in 2014 and is expected to continue its dominance throughout the forecast period. The factors responsible for the dominance of the North America region are growing interest for effective crowd control weapons and growing adoption of high-end weapon systems to gain advantage in asymmetric warfare. Moreover, civilian awareness and rising security needs is further contributing to the growth of non-lethal weapons market in North America. The U.S. is estimated to be the largest market for non-lethal weapons in the world and is expected to remain so throughout the forecast period. Europe and Asia Pacific followed North America in the global non-lethal weapons market to collectively account for more than forty five percent of the global market revenue share. Asia Pacific is estimated to be the fastest growing region in the non-lethal weapons market with a CAGR of 6.8% from 2015 to 2021. The report includes the market revenues of 17 major countries in the non-lethal weapons market.The report provides company market share analysis of the various industry participants. Key players have also been profiled on the basis of company overview, financial overview, business strategies, historical roadmap and recent developments in the field of non-lethal weapons. Major market participants profiled in this report include the Raytheon Company, BAE Systems Plc, the Boeing Company, TASER International Inc, Lamperd Less Lethal, Inc., FN Herstal, Safariland Group, General Dynamics Corporation, LRAD Corporation and PepperBall Technologies, Inc. among others.About TMRTMR 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.Contact TMR90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Players in Global Stretch and Shrink Films Market Looking to Benefit from Low Operational Cost and Cheap Labor in APAC, states TMR http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=9809 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The global stretch and shrink films market is led by Fuji Seal International, Inc., Berry Plastics, and Dow Chemicals. Transparency Market Research has observed that these companies, as well as other prominent players, have been emphasizing on tie-ups with local distributors and expanding operations in developing economies to strengthen their position in the stretch and shrink films market.Bemis Company Inc. is one such company that has focused on geographical expansion as a key growth strategy. It has dedicated significant resources in strengthening its presence in China, India, and South America, making the most of the availability of cheap labor and raw material cost. In December 2015, the company acquired a Brazilian manufacturer of plastic packaging Emplal Participacoes S.A.Substantial Growth of Flexible Packaging Industry Driving DemandFlexible packaging is one of the most significant and fastest growing segments of the overall packaging industry and is rapidly replacing rigid packaging in several applications. Among the various types of flexible packaging, stretch and shrink films are abundantly used throughout the supply chain.The food and beverages sector is one of the leading end users of stretch and shrink films owing to the rising demand for packaged products and the growing use of flexible packaging, states the author of the study. The considerable growth of the packaged food and beverages industry has, in turn, had a positive impact on the stretch and shrink films market.Get Free Sample Report Copy :The market is also driven by the growing demand from the transportation and logistics industry, the rapid expansion of the pharmaceutical sector, and sustainable growth in the retail industry.Strict Government Regulations a RoadblockGrowing concerns pertaining to environmental damage and the health and safety of the people have inflicted the overall packaging industry over the years and this has resulted in the implementation of strict government legislations and rules. The enforcement of these rules has curbed not just the competition in several countries but also resulted in severe financial burden for players. This is projected to hamper the growth of the stretch and shrink films market.Moreover, the newly formed regulations push for sustainability and eco-friendliness and the demand for biodegradable alternatives for packaging has increased. Smaller companies producing stretch and shrink films are finding it difficult to make the switch from non-biodegradable materials and this is likely to adversely impact the market.Registering Strong Growth, Asia Pacific to Continue its Lead through 2024The revenue generated by the global market for stretch and shrink films was pegged at US$14.1 bn in 2015. Registering a 5.2% CAGR, the opportunity in this market is estimated to be worth US$21.1 bn by 2024. By type of material, linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) was the leading segment in 2015 and is estimated to account for a revenue share of almost 47% by the end of 2016. Based on type of product, the stretch and shrink films market is led by shrink films.Geographically, Asia Pacific is not only the key revenue generator in the global stretch and shrink films market but is also projected to be the fastest growing regional segment during the course of of the forecast period. On the basis of end use, the food and beverages sector was the leading consumer and revenue generator of stretch and shrink films. The pharmaceutical sector, on the other hand, is anticipated to register the highest CAGR from 2016 to 2024.About TMRTMR 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.Contact TMR90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Fragrances Market - An Analysis of Strategies of Major Competitors Forecasts 2012 - 2018 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=317 Fragrances, once regarded as frivolous and non-essential commodities, have seamlessly transformed themselves into essential day-to-day products that form a significant part of personal grooming. Fragrances are today a vital and mainstream element of the cosmetics industry and have gained much attention from consumers across the globe.Fragrances are a way of expressing personal style and individuality, thereby making it a consumer-driven industry. The fragrances market is also dictated by fickle and ever-changing fashion trends. This means that manufacturers in the industry are on a constant lookout for exciting, unique, and new fragrances to attract different consumer segments worldwide.The research report is an attempt to understand the fragrances market and provide clients with an unmatched and invaluable evaluation of the overall industry. Delving deeper into the fragrances market and its various nuances, this comprehensive publication discusses the factors governing the global and regional industrial landscape. The report, with the help of accurate and insightful statistics, throws light on the size, volume, and share of the global fragrances market and also provides strategic recommendations to help improve businesses.Get more Information :Overview of the global fragrances marketAs mentioned earlier, fragrances have achieved much importance among personal care and grooming products. As might be expected, the womens fragrances segment dominates the overall market and as a result, a majority of the innovations and product differentiations are targeted at this segment. However, even though fragrances for the fairer sex have long since captured the market, perfumes and fragrances for men have, of late, grabbed the attention of industry players. This has had a transformational impact on the global market and has set the pace for rapid expansion in the coming years.Another factor that governs the fragrances market is the trend of celebrity-inspired perfumes. These include fragrances endorsed by leading personalities in various walks of life as well as signature scents used by celebrities as a self-promotion campaign. Fragrances such as these garner much hype among certain sections of the consumer base. This trend has been observed across regions such as North America, Europe, and some countries in the Asia-Pacific region. However, market analysts state that this fad was met with negative response in the United Arab Emirates owing to vast diversity in population. People living in the UAE may or may not associate with celebrities from countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Spain, and Italy, which leaves the fragrances market relatively unchanged when it comes to celebrity-inspired scents.Premium brands account for a major share of the fragrances market in UAE owing to exceptional per capita incomes. In other parts of the world, this segment has gained demand in recent years thanks to rising disposable incomes and improving economies. Chanel, Gucci, Calvin Klein, Christian Dior, Prada, Yves Saint Laurent, and Louis Vuitton are some of the premium companies that have established themselves in the fragrances market.Companies mentioned in the research reportThe leading players in the global fragrances market include Waitrose, Savers Health & Beauty, The LOreal Group, Clarins Group, Superdrug Stores PLC, Co-Operative Food/Somerfield, The Estee Lauder Companies Inc., LLOYD Shoes GmbH, Sainsburys, Boots UK Limited, MAC Cosmetics, Tesco PLC, The Body Shop International PLC, Givaudan, Vantage, Morrisons, and Asda Stores Ltd.About UsTMR 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. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use 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.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Oral Hygiene Market- New Tech for Dental Care Industry http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=320 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com An increase in ageing population and rising demand for oral care are offering enormous opportunities for product innovations and developments to oral care providers. Rising awareness of oral care and the quality of services provided by dental care providers are some important factors driving the oral hygiene market. In addition to this, innovative products development and rising demand for aesthetic dentistry in developing nations is expected to drive the growth of the oral hygiene industry.Emerging technologies will have a great impact on the overall growth of this market as it will help in reducing the turnaround time spend on dental procedures and improve the efficiency of the dental care providers. Lack of consumer awareness is the biggest challenge faced by this market; however, this market has immense growth opportunities as a result of less rigorous laws with respect to advanced products development and their pricing.Read More :Market SegmentationBased on product type:Breath FreshenersDental FlossMouthwashDenture CareToothbrushes and Replacement HeadsToothpasteThis research report on the oral hygiene industry analyzes its market segments and major geographies. It provides an analysis of industry growth drivers, restraints, current market trends, market structure, and market projections for the coming years. It also includes an analysis of the recent technological developments in the oral hygiene market, Porters five force model analysis, and detailed company profiles of the top industry players. The report provides a review of the micro and macro factors significant for the existing market players and new entrants.The major geographies analyzed under this research study are North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World.The key players dominating this market are Colgate-Palmolive Company, GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Procter & Gamble Company, Costco, Kroger, Safeway, Wal-Mart, Dentsply International (U.S.), Ivoclar Vivadent (Liechtenstein), Danaher Corporation (U.S.), Heraeus Dental (Germany), 3M-ESPE (U.S.), GC Corporation (Japan), and others.About UsTMR 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. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use 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.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Warm Air Heaters Market - Historic, Current and Future Size of the Industry Forecasts 2018 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=519 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com This report offers a comprehensive analysis of the global warm air heaters market with regards to the historic, current and future size of the industry. Warm air heaters have replaced traditional water heating systems in the industrial sector and are also gaining popularity in home heating applications owing to their energy saving abilities.The report explores the emergence of the warm air heaters in numerous applications and the development of the segment over recent years. Segmenting the overall market on the basis of end-use application, product type and geography, the report provides a detailed picture of the market and the factors that influence its growth. It identifies key players and highlights the scope of each with respect to sales figures, product innovations, R&D activities, market share, growth prospects and challenges facing the company.Get More Information :OverviewThe overall market for warm air heaters has been segmented on the basis of type and end-use application. The various types of warm air heaters include forced air heaters, radiant heaters, indirect fired heaters, convection heaters, electric forced air heaters, and direct fired heaters. The air heaters are used in multiple sectors such as power generation, portable buildings, industrial, process, and tunnels.The air conditioning systems and warm air heaters market was estimated to be worth USD 10.8 billion in 2009 which grew to USD 24.5 billion in 2010 reporting a total profit of 28.64%. Since warm air heaters are most popular in residential and commercial areas, the market for warm air heaters is largely dependent on the level of construction activity in those sectors. In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in residential and nonresidential buildings which has boosted the market. The use of heaters for residential purposes also relies on weather conditions and fluctuations in climate largely influence the industry. Many countries in the U.S. and regions across Europe have been experiencing severe cold weather and sales have lifted by a great margin.In the U.S., there has been increasing demand for warm air heaters from Texas, Florida and California. Florida generated nearly 22% of the total revenue by the U.S. in 2010. There has been a steady demand from households in urban China as product innovations have crept into the market. Appliances offering moisturizing and waterproof features are gaining popularity in the high-tier cities.Warm air heating systems are also used in numerous industrial applications and the segment is expected to grow rapidly.Companies mentioned in the market research reportThe competitive landscape of the global warm air heaters markets is dominated by key players such as Reznor UK, AmbiRad Limited, Kroll UK Ltd., Dantherm A/S, and Winterwarm BV. The research report has an extensive section on company profiles, market share, business strategies adopted by each and growth prospects.About UsTMR 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. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use 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.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Orthopaedic Oncology Market Dynamics, Segments and Supply Demand 2016-2026 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1523 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1523 www.futuremarketinsights.com Orthopedic oncology accounts for a small proportion in orthopedics. Orthopedic oncology is a condition that arises due to the formation of benign and malignant tumors in bones and connective soft tissues. It also includes the diagnosis and treatment of patients with metastatic carcinomato the skeleton. Bone and soft tissue tumors are quite rare and sometimes require reconstructive surgery. Soft tissue sarcomas are more common than bone sarcomas. For 2016, the American Cancer Society estimates about 3,300 new cases for cancer of the bones and joints and 12,310 new cases for soft tissue sarcomas. There are three main types of bone cancers, osteosarcoma, which arises most often in the growing ends of long bones, chondrosarcoma, which develops in the metaphysis and Ewings sarcoma. Malignant bone tumors also referred to as chondrosarcoma are more prevalent in adults than other form of cancers and remains a challenging tumor to diagnose and treat. Treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy do not remain the preferred choice of treatment in treating such type of tumor as clinical studies demonstrate no substantial improvements in the survival rate of the patients. Therefore, adequate surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment in case of chondrosarcoma. As estimated by the American Cancer Society, chondrosarcomas is more prevalent with 40% of cases developing in adults whereas less than 5% of cases occur in patients younger than 20.Radiofrequency ablation has become the standard and most preferred choice of treatment in case of osteoid osteoma, a benign bone tumor that arises from osteoblasts. However studies demonstrates its expanded application in palliative treatment of patients with painful bone metastasis .The ability to perform less invasive procedures often allows more efficient, less painful, and more cost-effective patient care. In addition, minimally invasive techniques such as kyphoplasty, vertebroplasty, and acetabuloplasty may provide an alternative to major reconstructive surgery for patients with metastatic disease.Global Orthopaedic Oncology Market: Drivers & RestraintsFactors driving the global orthopedic oncology market includes rapidly ageing population with increasing risk of developing cancer. Patients who had prior high-dose external radiation therapy or treatment with anti-cancer drugs are at higher risk of developing osteosarcoma. However, a small number of bone cancers also develop due to heredity defects of bones and people with metal implants, which doctors sometimes use to repair fractures, are more likely to develop osteosarcoma. In case of soft tissue sarcoma adults with heredity disorders such as retinoblastoma, tuberous sclerosis, werner syndrome etc are at higher side of developing this type of cancer.Request Free Report Sample@High cost associated with the treatment for musculoskeletal oncology diseases and lack of awareness regarding the effective treatment therapies are some of the factors which restraint the market growth in the near futureGlobal Orthopaedic Oncology Market: SegmentationOrthopedic Oncology marketis segmented by treatment, by end user and geography:By TreatmentSurgeryAmputationLimb Salvage SurgeryReconstructive SurgeryChemotherapyRadiation TherapyTargeted TherapyBy End UserMultispecialty HospitalsCancer Research InstitutesGlobal Orthopaedic Oncology Market: OverviewRising prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders are expected to drive the demand for effective treatment therapies for treatment of various cancers associated with bones and soft tissues. The orthopaedic oncology market is expected to grow at a healthy pace attributed to rising prevalence of cancer over the forecasted period.Global Orthopaedic Oncology Market: Region-wise OutlookOn the basis of region presence, thrombophilia treatment market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and Asia pacific excluding japan, Japan, Middle East and Africa. Global market for Orthopediac oncology is expected to be on a higher side in North America and Europe owing to increasing prevalence of cancer and musculoskeletal related disorders. Asia pacific represents immense growth opportunity for orthopedic oncology market attributed to rapidly aging population and rising cancer incidence. In addition macroeconomic factors such as FDA approvals are also expected to increase the adoption rate of devices in the developed countries.Visit For TOC@Global Orthopaedic Oncology Market: Key PlayersSome of the key market players in the orthopedic oncology market are Stryker Corporation, Accentus Inc., Roche Diagnostics, Amgen Inc., Novartis AG, Biogen Idec, GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi S.A., and Pfizer Inc.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centres in the U.S. and India.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: JIMS, Rohini Organized Orientation week at Campus http://www.jimsindia.org/ Jagan Institute of Management Studies, (JIMS) Rohini, conducted an orientation week for the Freshers of BBA, BCA, MCA, MBA, PGDM, IB & RM in the college auditorium. The program focused on making students familiar with the campus, faculties, course curriculum, and expectations from students. The institute also focused on their strict regulations on anti ragging, regular classes and friendly approach towards innovative environment. Speakers - Balunywa Baker (Education counsellor, Uganda), Dr V.B Aggarwal-Dean-Infotech, Dr Sumesh Raizada - Dean-PGDM Programme, Dr Praveen Arora- Head of the Department and Dr Ashok Bhagat - Dean-IB were given a warm welcome by J.K. Goyal Director of the Institute. The programme was attended by inspirational parents, enthusiastic students and cooperative staff.Director J.K. Goyal while welcoming the students said that they must focus on imbibing skills which will make them confident, employable or even creator of employment. He added that parents are key stakeholders in their childrens education. We as an institute takes the responsibility of shaping the students career and make them stand in a unique position. He requested the freshers to have full faith in their teachers as well as college and finally wished them successful career.Balunywa Baker -Education counsellor, Uganda emphasized on Management Skills. He said that no matter in which field one is serving, having good management skills is the utmost requirement. He shared the value of developing the right attitude and shared his seven mantras for success. He further explained about the huge potential and opportunities in pursuing International Business in todays world scenario.Dr Ashok Bhagat conducted an ice- breaking introduction session with the students and also interacted with parents at a length.Dr V.B.Aggarwal emphasized on having an analytical and research oriented mindset which is the current demand of the corporate world of tomorrow.Dr.Sumesh Raizada, briefly told about the pedagogy followed and the various activities in which student are involved at the institute.Dr Praveen Arora, talked about discipline, attendance and other important rules to be adhered by students during sessions.All the key associated departments including CRMC, Strategic Alliance & Corporate Affairs, HODs, key staff & support teams were introduced during the programs.About JIMSJagan Institute of Management Studies (JIMS) imparts professional education at post graduate and graduate levels in the fields of Management and Information Technology. The Institute has been working for the attainment of a mission: to develop highly skilled and professional human resource for industry and business. From a very modest start, it has now acquired a commendable position as one of the premier institutes of the country.For more details, Please Contact - 011-45184000 or log on toBrannia is an intergrated marketing and public relation agency. The ongoing branding activity carried out by brannia has immensely enhanced the brand image.B-5, Sector-9 Noida, U.P - 201301 Tehran prepares to host two-day multi-sector investment summit next month Focus Iran Summit www.focusiransummit.com IFM, UKs leading finance publication, in association with Irans events and business consultancy, Open Iran Group, is hosting a comprehensive investment summit in Tehran, which will shed light on the countrys investment potential following the lifting of economic sanctions.The summit, which will be held from 26th to 27th September at the Espinas Palace Hotel, will have a host of subject experts and government officials, who will discuss the plethora of investment opportunities in sectors such as oil & gas, mining, banking, IT and technology.In addition to sector analysts, attendees can also attend sessions chaired by legal experts and sanctions specialists, who will bring to the fore the various challenges and perceptions of Iran after the sanctions era.Sindhuja Balaji, conference producer of the Focus Iran Summit, said, The summit will bring together a host of sector specialists, foreign investors and legal experts, who can network, interact and discuss the best possible means to encourage foreign investment and better economic relations.The two-day summit will have a host of interactive panel discussions and presentations made by government officials, foreign investors and regulators. Delegates will also have the opportunity to interact and network with each other in targeted meetings on Day 2 of the summit. There will also be an exhibition, expected to have around 40 stalls, according to a statement by the organizers.The summit is being supported by National Petrochemical Company, Securities & Exchange Organization and the German-Iranian Chamber of Commerce Association. Speakers from Iranian Mines & Mining Industries Development & Renovation (IMIDRO), National Petrochemical Company, Irans Ports & Maritime Organization, Foreign & Commonwealth Office UK, Sohar Port & Freezone, Novin Investment Bank, Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFIN), UKs Charlemagne Capital, Turquoise Partners and Roland Berger Strategy Consultants UAE are expected to attend the summit.Through the two-day summit, organizers along with the support of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, aim to position the Middle East nation as the next global investment destination.For more details on registration and participation, contact:sam.taylor@imarketmetrics.com or login in toInternational Finance Magazine (IFM) aims to be a source of information, analysis and insights for the global finance community. Headquartered in London, IFM was established with a mission to convey credible financial news and articles to the global financial community in a concise, simple and easy-to-understand manner.INTERNATIONAL FINANCE PUBLICATIONS LIMITED843 Finchley Road, London - NW11 8NA Wireless Communication Technologies in Healthcare Market: Dynamics, Segments, Size and Demand to 2016 - 2022 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/9182 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/9182 Wireless communication is the transformation of information over a distance without the aid of wires, cables or any other form of electrical conductors. The distance of transmission can range from few meters to thousands of kilometers. In the healthcare industry, wireless communication is playing a vital role in the transformation of information; however, the technology is still at the nascent and is expected to have massive adoption in the foreseeable future. There is increasing demand in the healthcare industry to retrieve, store, share, and send data in a various format to various devices across a particular healthcare institution. Various consideration is required to be made while implementing wireless communication within a healthcare institutions such as systems capacity for transmitting voice, data, and video information as well as its reliability and coverage. Few of the wireless devices used across the healthcare institutions include laptops, tablets, personal digital assistants, and healthcare smart clothes that monitor heart rate and blood pressureUse For to: Download TOC (desk of content material), Figures and Tables of the report:Applications of Wireless Technologies in Healthcare IndustryHomecare and TelemedicineInventory ControlPharmaceutical Sales Force ManagementMedical and Diagnostic LaboratoryPatient MonitoringAn increasing number of the ageing population who requires continuous health monitoring is one of the factors which have triggered the concept of wireless technology driven human body and is the primary factor driving the adoption of wireless communication technologies in the healthcare industry. Examination of a human body can be achieved using a network of intelligent wireless medical devices sensors which may be attached to the body surface or integrated into the tissues. It enables doctors or nurses to predict and diagnose adverse events in advance. However, compatibility and interoperability issues across various healthcare device working on different communication technology are hampering the growth of the wireless communication technologies market.Type of wireless communication technology:Bluetooth:Bluetooth is the wireless technology used for exchanging data over the short distance using the UHF radio waves. This technology was invented by telecom equipment vendor Ericsson.Radio Frequency Identification (RFID):RFID is a wireless communication technology used for data transfer and identification of objects using electromagnetic waves. Healthcare industry is using RFID technology to adopt leaner supply chain practices associated with manufacturing to pare down cost and improve safety.Ultra Wide Band (UWB)UWB is a radio technology that uses very low energy level for short range and high bandwidth communication over a large portion of the radio spectrum. Healthcare systems can be significantly improved with the lower coast and higher quality of services by using ultra wideband technology.WLAN and WWAN:WLAN and WWAN are two types of wireless area networks that provide connectivity on the go. WLAN stands for wireless local area network, and it typically covers all small areas such as clinics. On the other hand, WWAN stands for wireless wide area networks that covers much larger area that is outside the limits of WLANWi-Fi and Li-FiWi-Fi is a communication technology which is leveraged in a variety of healthcare applications such as infusion pumps, oxygen monitoring devices, and smart beds. In the foreseeable future, Li-Fi might replace Wi-Fi in the healthcare applications as Wi-Fi technology always possess a threat of overlapping of two radio waves with different frequencies which may lead to an improper diagnosis of the patient.North America region represent largest market opportunity for wireless communication technologies in the healthcare market. The U.S. and Canada are spending a huge amount of money in healthcare IT to address chronic diseases. Smartphone and customized wireless healthcare solutions are acting as a catalyst for healthcare institutions to improve patient care in these countries.In Asia-Pacific region, healthcare providers are more focused on safe, quality, and equitable healthcare services in a cost-effective manner. In order to provide healthcare services to increasing chronic aging population, healthcare organizations are improving their infrastructure by deploying various wireless communication technology based infrastructure.The IT spending in healthcare on the rise in the European region. Hospitals are increasingly adopting wireless infrastructure to co-ordinate day-to-day activities, reduce human errors, limit operational costs, and stay ahead in terms of offering customer centric quality service. In healthcare IT technology providers increasingly expanding their business in these regions. Growing private healthcare infrastructure and increasing government investments is driving the adoption of wireless infrastructure in the healthcare sector of Latin America and the Middle East and Africa regions.Request Sample Report@Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc., Extreme Networks Inc., Cerner Corporation, Cisco Systems, Inc., and GE Healthcare are some of the leading player dealing with global wireless communication technologies in the healthcare industry.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.ContactPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com US officials are reviewing evidence that Turkey has provided about Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who has been blamed by Turkey for a failed coup there in July, the White House said on Wednesday. Ankara has demanded that Gulen be extradited to Turkey from the United States. "Turkey has longstanding concerns with Mr. Gulen's activity, and they have presented significant evidence to the United States, and Department of Justice officials are carefully reviewing that evidence," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said in a news briefing. Search Keywords: Short link: Data Center Power Market: Size, Share, competitive landscape, current industry trends by 2015 - 2021 http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/data-center-power-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/toc/data-center-power-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/data-center-power-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/data-center-power-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com Data center is the department within the organization in which contains large group of networked computer servers used by organization for storage, processing or distribution of large amounts of data. Efficient power management for data centers involve analyzing amount of power entering into data center and power required for running computers in the data centers.Request Sample Report:The growth of global data center power market has been attributed to demand for effective power solutions due to tremendous increase in the number of data centers. In additions, global initiative towards reducing carbon footprints, increasing replacement of traditional data center with new data centers having power management capabilities are the key driving factors of the market. However, high initial investment in the data center power management solutions coupled with lack of awareness may restrict the growth of the market. Nonetheless, emergence of trends like modular power solutions, intelligent rack power distribution unit (IPDU) is expected to open up new growth opportunities in forecast period.The report covers forecast and analysis for the data center power market on a global and regional level. The study provides historic data of 2015 along with a forecast from 2016 to 2021 based on revenue (USD Million). To understand the competitive landscape in the market, an analysis of Porters Five Forces model for the data center power market has also been included in the study. The report also analyzes several driving and restraining factors and their impact on the market during the forecast period. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, wherein segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate and general attractiveness.Request TOC (Table of Contents) of this report:The report provides detailed segmentation of data center power market based on service, solution, vertical and end user. The service segment includes system integration services, consulting services and professional services. In term of solution the market segmented under power distribution and measurement, power backup and cabling infrastructure. Vertical segmentation includes healthcare, IT and telecom, energy, banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI), government and other verticals. enterprises, collocation provider and cloud service providers are the category under end user segment.Major regional segments analyzed in this study include North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa. In terms of revenue, North America held the largest market share in 2015 and acquired over 35% of market share in the same year. However, Asia Pacific is expected to be fastest growing region due to the presence of developing economies. Further, low cost of investment led companies to set up their data center in Asia Pacific regions which in turn supports the market growth.Do Inquiry before buying:Key players profiled in the report include Intel Corporation, Emerson Network Power, Raritan, Inc., ABB Ltd, Schneider Electric SE, Server Technology, Inc., Hewlett-Packard Company, General Electric Company, Eaton Corporation Plc and others.This report segments of the global data center power market as follows:Data Center Power Market: Service Segment AnalysisSystem integration servicesConsulting servicesProfessional servicesData Center Power Market: Solution Segment AnalysisPower distribution and measurementPower backupCabling infrastructureData Center Power Market: Vertical Segment AnalysisHealthcareIT and telecomEnergyBanking ,financial services and insurance (BFSI)GovernmentOther verticalsData Center Power Market: End user Segment AnalysisEnterprisesCollocation providerCloud service providersBrowse report at:Data Center Power Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaEuropeAsia PacificLatin AmericaMiddle East & AfricaAbout Us:Zion Market Research is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. Zion Market Research is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. We have market research reports from number of leading industry and update our collection daily to provide our clients with the instant online access to our database. With access to this database, our clients will be able to benefit from expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends.Contact Us:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite: Radio Frequency Components Market : Recent Industry Trends and Projected Industry Size by 2015 - 2021 Radio Frequency Components Market http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/6700 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/6700 Radio frequency components are the fundamental components required by any communication device for its proper functioning. The advancements in technology and miniaturization property (capability to fit in small size) of RF components are the factors driving this market forward. In addition, with advancements in universal mobile telecommunication network (3G and 4G), the market has seen high demand for tuners and switchers for offering precise functionality to other radio frequency devices such as demodulators, power amplifiers, etc. Although, the radio frequency components market is witnessing good growth, the production of radio frequency components requires significant investment from vendors, posing a challenge to the growth of radio frequency component market.View Sample Report :The radio frequency components market is segmented on the basis of components, modules, applications, and geography. The radio frequency components market is segmented on the basis of its components into five major categories, namely- RF filter (RX/TX FILTERS), duplexers, power amplifiers, antenna switches, and demodulators. On the basis of applications, the radio frequency components market is segmented into four major categories, namely- cellular phones, tablets and note books, SMART TVs, and STB (Set Top Box). The global traction transformer market is further segmented on the basis of modules into six major categories, namely- TX module, RX module, antenna switch module, duplexer + PA module, multi duplexer module, and RX + duplexer module. The radio frequency components market is segmented on the basis of geography into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Rest of World (ROW).Request TOC :Some of the leading players in the radio frequency components market include Triquint Semiconductors (U.S.), Murata Manufacturing (Japan), RDA Microelectronics (China), Skyworks Inc. (U.S.), RF Micro devices (U.S.), and AVAGO Technologies (U.S.). Other key players in the market include, ANADIGICS Inc., Vectron International, Tektronix, Inc., Epson Toyocom, WIN Semiconductors Corp., and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.ContactPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United StatesUSA - Canada Toll Free: +1 800-961-0353 Wireless Chipsets Market : Value Chain, Dynamics and Key Players (2015 - 2021) Wireless Chipsets Market http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/7057 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/7057 A wireless chipsets are a part of internal hardware made to enable a device to communicate and connect to another wireless device. A wireless adapter or chipset internet card is an inner hardware design, which is used in wireless communication systems or computer to connect with other devices. The market is expected to grow with a double digit CAGR. The consumers shift towards portable devices coupled with the increase usage of wireless devices increases the use of wireless chipsetsView Sample Report :The growth of the market is fueled by increased demand of the wireless devices and increased application areas of wireless chipsets. In addition, the shift from wired to wireless technology acts as a driving force for the wireless chipsets market. Some other drivers for this market are fast growth in the tablets and PC market and technology advancement related to the communications protocol and introduction of frequency bands in some emerging countries. However, complex inserted systems increases the cost of production and swiftly changing technological requirements acts as a restraint for the market.The total market can be segmented on the basis of type, application and technology. The segmentation by type includes mobile ZigBee chipsets, WiMAX chipsets, wireless/Wi-Fi chipsets, LTE chipsets and wireless display/video chipsets. The application segment includes Computers, laptops, mobile phone, global positioning system (GPS), routers and other wireless devices. The technology segment includes such as HD Display and Video, Low-power WLAN, Dual-protocol ZigBee and Multi-mode LTE. The market can be segmented by geography into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and RoW.Request TOC :The key players of the wireless chipsets market are Greenpeak Technologies Ltd., Atmel Corporation, Altair Semiconductor, Inc., Amimon Ltd., Gainspan Corporation, Broadcom Corporation, Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., Intel Corporation and GCT Semiconductor Inc., among others.Key features of this reportDrivers, restraints, and challenges shaping the Wireless Chipsets market dynamicsLatest innovations and key events in the industryAnalysis of business strategies of the top playersWireless Chipsets market estimates and forecasts(2015 -2021)About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.ContactPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United StatesUSA - Canada Toll Free: +1 800-961-0353 Cable Management System Market expand at CAGR of 9.80% Since World Is Undergoing A Period Of Rapid Digitization http://bit.ly/2bvBmEX http://bit.ly/2c69k5e http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The global market for cable management systems is likely to report a remarkable growth in the coming years. The opportunity that this market holds is expected to expand at CAGR of 9.80% during the period from 2016 to 2024 and rise from US$14.7 bn in 2015 to a value of US$33.9 bn by the end of 2024.The world is undergoing a period of rapid digitization, thanks to the emergence of fiber-optic and coaxial cables. The rise in wiring and cabling in devices as well as infrastructure is leading to increased incidence of cable spaghetti (a situation where cables are badly entangled), thereby accelerating the need for cable management systems across the world.Free PDF For Full Details with Technological breakthroughs is @Presently, information technology is witnessing a remarkable upsurge. A number of enterprises and institutions are increasingly becoming dependent of it that has required them to install high-performance cabling. This factor has fueled the demand for advanced cable management systems for data and communication applications remarkably across the world. In addition to this, an upswing in the application of communication technology is anticipated to increase the demand for these systems in the coming years.Cable Trays Find High Demand in Oil and Gas SectorMajor products available in the worldwide cable management system market are cable tray, raceway, cable ladder, cable trunking, cable connector, cable conduit, cable gland, cable lug and tools, cable chain and reel, and cable duct. Cable trays report the highest demand among all the cable system management products, accounting for a share of approximately 18% in the overall demand and a share of 14% in terms of revenue generated.The safety features, high-weight-holding capacity, compactness, cost-efficient design criteria, and maintenance-free deployment has increased the popularity of cable trays substantially, leading to their accelerated application in the oil and gas sector. The segment is expected to retain its dominance in the coming years.Promising Opportunities to Emerge in Asia PacificThe worldwide market for cable management systems is spread across Latin America, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa. Presently, the highest consumption of these systems is being reported in North America. In 2015, the region registered an opportunity worth US$4.34 bn in this market, which is likely to increase to US$10.22 bn by the end of 2024.Market Insight of cable management system can be Viewed @Although North America will remain the leading regional market for cable management systems, Asia Pacific is projected to offer most attractive opportunities for market players over the next few years. The rapid urbanization in Asia Pacific and the Middle East and Africa is likely to propel construction activities, specifically in BRICS nations, attracting a significant demand for these systems in the near future.The presence of a number of companies demonstrates a fragmented structure of the global cable management system market. TE Connectivity Ltd., HellermannTyton Group PLC, Thomas & Betts Corp., Niedax Group, Marco Cable Management, Schneider Electric SE, Vantrunk Int., Allied Tube & Conduit, Panduit Corp., Chatsworth Products Inc., Leviton Manufacturing Co. Inc., Enduro Composites Inc., Cooper Wiring Devices, Legrand SA are the major manufacturers of cable management systems across the world.Transparency Market Research (TMR) 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. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Transparency Market Research90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Driverless Cars Market Competitive Landscape has been Changed with Entry of Technology Firm http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/autonomous-cars-driverless-cars-market.html http://bit.ly/2bOnZP7 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ The concept of autonomous cars/driverless cars is being enthusiastically explored only now. However, the development of this market took root in the late 1970s. The first version of an autonomous car was unveiled by S. Tsugawa and his team back in 1977. The car had two cameras that implemented analog computer technology for signal processing. However, Ernst Dickmanns, a German aerospace engineer, is widely recognized as the pioneer of the autonomous car due to his series of projects in the field in the 1980s. The Carnegie Mellon University introduced an autonomous car, NavLab 5, and drove it from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles in 1995.Browse the Full Autonomous Cars/Driverless Cars Market Report at:Autonomous cars/driverless cars, however, received a commercial boost from technology giant Google, Inc. when the company introduced a fleet of seven autonomous Toyota Prius hybrids in 2010. The companys driverless car program has been termed as the turning point in the history of the autonomous/driverless cars market. The entry of a technology firm changed the competitive landscape of the market.The concept of autonomous cars/driverless cars has intrigued car enthusiasts and manufacturers alike as it nullifies human involvement in driving and navigation. An estimated 90% of road accidents across the world are caused due to human error. Hence, adoption of autonomous cars/driverless cars can significantly reduce the number of road accidents. Furthermore, autonomous cars will make it possible for visually impaired and senior citizens to commute safely. Driverless cars will also ensure better management of traffic flow and parking spots. All these factors are anticipated to support the growth of the global autonomous/driverless cars market.However, certain restraining factors challenge the concept of driverless cars. For example, car enthusiasts might find it unappealing to give up driving their own vehicle. High cost of autonomous cars and reliance on GPS satellites for navigation are likely to hamper the growth of the market. Recent accidents associated with the testing of driverless cars have raised concerns about the safety of drivers.Geographically, the global autonomous cars/driverless cars market has been segmented into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. The U.S. has been the leading the autonomous cars/driverless cars market in North America. Early adoption of the innovative technology and presence of key market players have boosted the growth of the market in the region. Government support in terms of amendments in traffic regulations and funding of research projects on autonomous/driverless cars is also expected to augment the market in the region. Major players in the automotive industry in Europe are working on novel technologies regarding the development of autonomous cars. Changes in traffic regulations by governments across countries such as Sweden, the Netherlands, and Germany are anticipated to support the market. Countries such as Japan, Singapore, and China are the key markets for driverless cars in Asia Pacific.View Exclusive Global Strategic Report for Driverless Cars at:The global autonomous cars/driverless cars market is witnessing increased competition due to the entry of technology firms. While automotive companies such as Tesla Motors, The Volvo Group, and Nissan Motor Company are working on the development of driverless cars, technology firms such as Google, Inc. and Baidu, Inc. are also exploring the opportunities in the autonomous cars market. Google, Inc. has tested its autonomous cars across Texas, Washington D.C., California, and Arizona.Tesla Motors has been among the pioneers in the development of autonomous cars. In 2015, the company launched its semi-autonomous cars Tesla Model X and Model S, and aims to introduce driverless cars by 2020. Several of these automobile manufacturers are collaborating with technology firms for the development of autonomous cars.Transparency Market Research (TMR) 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. TMRs 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 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Artificial Intelligence Market to Reach US$3,061.35 bn by 2024, Deployment in Disruptive Technologies Drives Growth http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=4674 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/artificial-intelligence-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Artificial intelligence is a fast emerging technology, dealing with development and study of intelligent machines and software. This software is being used across various applications such as manufacturing (assembly line robots), medical research, and speech recognition systems. It also enables in-build software or machines to operate like human beings, thereby allowing devices to collect, analyze data, reason, talk, make decisions and act The global artificial intelligence market was valued at US$ 126.24 Bn in 2015 and is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 36.1% from 2016 to 2024 to reach a value of US$ 3,061.35 Bn in 2024.Free PDF For Full Details with Technological breakthroughs is @The global artificial intelligence market is currently witnessing healthy growth as companies have started leveraging the benefits of such disruptive technologies for effective customer reach and positioning of their services/solutions. Market growth is also supported by an expanding application base of artificial intelligence solutions across various industries. However, factors such as low funding access or high upfront investment, and demand for skilled resources (workforce) are presently acting as major deterrents to market growth.On the basis of types of artificial intelligence systems, the market is segmented into artificial neural network, digital assistance system, embedded system, expert system, and automated robotic system. Expert system was the most adopted or revenue generating segment in 2015. This was mainly due to the extensive use of artificial intelligence across various sectors including diagnosis, process control, design, monitoring, scheduling and planning.Based on various applications of artificial intelligence systems, the market has been classified into deep learning, smart robots, image recognition, digital personal assistant, querying method, language processing, gesture control, video analysis, speech recognition, context aware processing, and cyber security. Image recognition is projected to be the fastest growing segment by application in the global artificial intelligence market. This is due to the growing demand for affective computing technology across various end-use sectors for better study of systems that can recognize, analyze, process, and simulate human effects.Browse Full Market Report With Complete TOC @North America was the leader in the global artificial intelligence market in 2015, holding approximately 38% of the global market revenue share, and is expected to remain dominant throughout the forecast period from 2016 to 2024. High government funding and a strong technological base have been some of the major factors responsible for the top position of the North America region in the artificial intelligence market over the past few years. Middle East and Africa is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of 38.2% throughout the forecast period. This is mainly attributed to enormous opportunities for artificial intelligence in the MEA region in terms of new airport developments and various technological innovations including robotic automation.The key market players profiled in this report include QlikTech International AB, MicroStrategy Inc., IBM Corporation, Google, Inc., Brighterion Inc., Microsoft Corporation, IntelliResponse Systems Inc., Next IT Corporation, Nuance Communications, and eGain Corporation.Transparency Market Research (TMR) 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. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Transparency Market Research90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: One more puzzle piece has fallen into place for the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. A Utah investment group has bought property that includes the space museum, the neighboring Wings & Waves Waterpark, a site where a hotel was once planned and other campus property, averting a foreclosure that could have shuttered those parts of the McMinnville attraction. Falls Event Center LLC, the investment group led by Oregon native Steve Down, offered $10.9 million for the properties, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported last month. The sale was finalized and acknowledged by a bankruptcy court judge last week, the museum said. The museum will continue to operate as a tenant under a 30-year rent-free lease. It will run the waterpark until the end of the year, after which the buyers will take over its operations. The buyers will also run event space on the campus, and they are also reviving plans to build a hotel on the site, said Evergreen Museum interim executive director Ann Witsil. The museum has been picking up the pieces after the failure of Evergreen International Airlines in 2013. The airline helped fund the namesake museum. The museum's complicated ownership structure meant different parts of the property had different owners, as did many of the planes. Each ownership entity was left saddled with debt. Museum leaders have made a series of business deals to secure the museum's future. Maine developer George Schott paid $22 million for the aviation museum property in 2015 in partnership with The Collings Foundation, an aviation nonprofit. It will lease the property to the museum, while the foundation will take ownership of some of the museum's planes. Another deal later that year secured for the future the aviation museum's star attraction, Howard Hughes' H-4 Hercules flying boat, nicknamed the Spruce Goose. The deal, for which terms were not disclosed, settled a long-standing disagreement over how much the museum owed for the plane. -- Elliot Njus enjus@oregonian.com 503-294-5034 @enjus Nearly one in six Portland homes listed on Airbnb operate essentially as full-time vacation rentals, an analysis by the data journalism website FiveThirtyEight found, a higher ratio than any U.S. city examined except Honolulu. The analysis found that Airbnb, a website that lets users easily rent their property to travelers like a hotel, has likely had little effect on housing prices to date. But it also said the full-time "commercial" rentals are the most likely to push housing costs higher because they might otherwise be rented out to locals. What's more, Airbnb depends on these commercial-tier rentals for 40 percent of its revenue in Portland, the analysis found, so the company's business depends on growing their ranks. FiveThirtyEight defined "commercial" Airbnbs as those rented out 180 days a year or more. That's enough time to account for every weekend day plus five work weeks. Airbnb disputed the analysis. A company spokesman was quoted as saying 180 days was an arbitrary threshold, and said many of the qualifying listings might actually be commercial enterprises like boutique hotels or guest houses that use the platform. The company has also argued that it helps residents combat rising housing costs by providing an extra stream of income. The analysis found Portland has 2,700 active Airbnb listings in all, which represents just 1 percent of its overall housing stock. Given the relatively small number of units, the impact on housing prices currently is likely small, FiveThirtyEight said, quoting several housing and land-use experts. Portland sought to rein in the impact on housing prices by requiring that owners live in the home they're renting out at least nine months out of the year, though an analysis by Willamette Week last year found numerous examples of apparent violations. Airbnb has another tie to Portland: its North American operational headquarters, which opened in 2014 in Old Town Chinatown and has more than 200 employees. -- Elliot Njus enjus@oregonian.com 503-294-5034 @enjus Screen Shot 2016-08-21 at 9.46.30 AM.png A Vancouver man was recovering from injuries he sustained when another man broke into his apartment, chased him to a nearby Starbucks and beat him. (File photo/The Oregonian) A Vancouver man was arrested Tuesday after allegedly breaking into a man's apartment, beating him up and chasing him to a nearby Starbucks, while he was dressed only in his underwear, to continue the beating, authorities said. The incident began to unfold when the victim, identified by KGW as Rollie Robledo, was sitting in his apartment on the 2500 block of Columbia Street around 9 a.m., said Kim Kapp, a Vancouver police spokeswoman. That's when the suspect, James Alex Neal, 35, allegedly began pounding on the door, eventually forcing his way inside where he began to beat Robledo, Kapp said. Robledo was able to flee the apartment, but did so in only his underclothes, Kapp said. Neal gave chase as the victim sought refuge in a nearby Starbucks and video captured by onlookers showed him trying and failing to hold the doors shut as Neal continued to pursue him. Once Neal pried the doors open, Robledo was knocked to the ground as bystanders stepped in to try and stop the fight. Neal appears to land a few more kicks, one to the back and another to the face, before the bystanders force him outside. Kapp said Neal was apprehended a short time later and arrested on suspicion of burglary and assault, but there was no word on what might have motivated the attack. He is expected to appear in court on Wednesday. Robledo was taken to the hospital with cuts, bruises and facial fractures, but was expected to recover, Kapp said. He told KGW that he owed the men who stepped in a debt of gratitude. "If you're watching, I really appreciate your help and support," he told the station, addressing the bystanders directly. "I just want to say thank you." Sitting in Starbucks this morning with Myra Brock talking business and then this happens. #inhisunderwear #noideawhy #filipellirealty (For licensing and usage, contact: licensing@viralhog.com) Posted by Santino Filipelli on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 -- Kale Williams kwilliams@oregonian.com 503-294-4048 oso market.jpg Oso Market + Bar (Carly Diaz) Oso Market & Bar, the European wine bar along Southeast Grand and Morrison Avenue's bustling drinking district, is closing. Hours will remain the same through Aug. 30 when the bar will switch over to dinner service, only. The bar will shutter after service on Sept. 2. "Portland, we thank you for your love and loyalty over the last three years," the bar wrote in a press release. "It has been the energy, enthusiasm and fine tastes of our customers that made us who we are. We will take these next few weeks to celebrate the great relationships we have made along the way as well as honor the hard work and talent of our staff. We look forward to a new set of opportunities and making more time for our friends and family. Long live great food and great wine!" We included Oso Market & Bar among the city's best wine bars in our 2014 Bar Tab. Here's what we wrote about them then: Welcoming, friendly and serious about its food and drinks, Oso is the kind of place you'd expect to find in a quiet Portland neighborhood. And yet, here it is, stationed at the eastern base of the Morrison bridge, on the highway otherwise known as Grand Avenue. The space looks tres Portland, but the food and drinks are grounded in Europe (oso is Spanish for "bear"). The by-the-glass wine list hovers in the $12 range and focuses on offerings you don't often see: rose from Bandol, txakoli from the Basque country. Beers, too, tend to be obscure German or Belgian styles while the small cocktail list comforts rather than challenges. The menu is snacky, seasonal and leans toward familiar Mediterranean classics with a Northwest spin. Caprese salad comes artfully arranged with peach slices tucked between tomatoes. The Nicoise uses smoked trout instead of tuna. Of the montaditos, the marinated octopus with chorizo served on a slice of roasted potato was a standout. Part artisan market/bottle shop, part restaurant serving just about every meal of the day (it offers a small weekend brunch), Oso is special enough to warrant the trip and comfortable enough to make you come back for more. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Tuesday - Friday; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday; 726 S.E. Grand Ave.; 503-232-6400; osomarket.com -- Samantha Bakall sbakall@oregonian.com Follow @sambakall Around 100 American troops have been deployed to a southern Afghan city at risk of falling to the Taliban, the spokesman for U.S. forces in Afghanistan said Monday. Brig. Gen. Charles Cleveland said the soldiers had arrived in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province, to provide training and support to Afghan forces. He said they would serve as a "new presence to assist the police zone," adding that Afghan security forces have conducted airstrikes in the area. The Taliban have seized a number of nearby districts in recent weeks and now threaten to overrun the city itself. Omer Zwak, spokesman for the provincial governor in Helmand, said there were plans for additional U.S. troops to support Afghan security forces in Lashkar Gah. The head of Helmand's provincial council, Kareem Atal, told The Associated Press that battles were underway "on several fronts" in the province, closing off roads and highways. "Around 80 percent of the province is under the control of the insurgents," he said. "There are a number of districts that the government claims are under their control, but the government is only present in the district administrative center and all around are under the control of the insurgents." Helmand's annual $3 billion opium crop produces most of the world's heroin and is used to fund the insurgency. Its population is mainly Pashtun, the ethnic group from which the Taliban derives most of its support, and the province borders Kandahar, where the Taliban's government was based from 1996 until the U.S.-led invasion in 2001. The insurgents have stepped up attacks in other parts of the country as well, taking advantage of the warm weather to wage war against the Kabul government. The Taliban seized the Khan Abad district in the northern Kunduz province on Saturday but have since been driven out, according to Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi. Search Keywords: Short link: Northwest Skyline Boulevard might be the last place you'd think to look for a drink. But there, high along the hill, stands a century-old roadhouse, its wood weathered and gray, a faded "Saloon" sign hanging above the porch. Inside, the bar's tap list is written in chalk above the register, with names like "Breakside" and "Commons" alongside the old "Rainier." Welcome to the new/old home of Skyline Tavern, a hidden oasis with wooden beamed ceilings standing atop the West Hills. Though this classic Portland bar underwent a mini makeover thanks to Filmmaker Scott Ray Becker, who purchased the tavern in early 2016, little has changed. Patrons can still bring their own brats and burgers to cook on a standing grill under the covered patio. It still offers one of the most private bar settings in the city, feeling more like a cabin in Central Oregon than an old roadhouse among the mansions in the West Hills. But the tap list reads more like a with-it neighborhood spot, and they accept credit cards. Food options are still somewhat lean, with a handful of sandwiches and salads, and small snacks like chips and salsa and a salami and cheese plate. If you're still hungry, just drive just a few miles down the hill for a classic burger and milkshake at Skyline Restaurant. Out back, staggered crescent brick benches encircle polygon-shaped wooden tables like terraced rice paddies. A long horseshoe pit sits near a fence. If you happen to swing by on a quiet night, settle into one of the Adirondacks on the porch, listen to horseshoes thud in the distance and gaze out onto the open meadow and try to remember that yes, you're still in Portland. -- Samantha Bakall sbakall@oregonian.com Follow @sambakall Whether you crave an Americano coffee drink or an Americano cocktail, their namesake Portland locale has you covered. "Cafe by day, bar by night, Americano is a nod to a European-style venue where imbibing happens throughout the day," explains co-owner Patrick Holland. "Americano is also a third place - not home, not work, but a welcoming community gathering space." Americano is also The Oregonian/OregonLive's 2016 Bar of the Year. That's because this sleek spot, on the ground floor of a new apartment building on a stretch of East Burnside Street with a couple of auto body shops, a shuttered karaoke bar and Laurelhurst Theater, represents the best-yet local example of a major craft-cocktail trend: the low-proof drink. Instead of high-octane spirits, Americano showcases vermouths, bubbly elements like sodas and sparkling wines and amari, the bitter Italian concoctions used as aperitifs and digestifs. And, because of its day job, Americano's bar can use coffee in a variety of interesting ways. "Having a daytime coffee program allows us to explore a largely untapped area of coffee/cocktail crossover," Holland says. On that front, try the Rockaway Beach, which mixes pot-still rum, cold-brew coffee, coconut milk and Demerara sugar. Americano's happy duality comes courtesy of Holland's two co-owners: the day operations from Coco Donuts' partner Ian Christopher and the night via Blair Reynolds, whose beloved tiki bar, Hale Pele, sits next to a Coco Donuts on Northeast Broadway. If you're hungry, Americano offers menus with a European accent for brunch, dinner and bar food, including crostini, tramezzini and oysters at happy hour. But the centerpiece of Americano is the white horseshoe bar, topped with marble, its base adorned in the pop-deco art that's also splashed across one wall. In the middle stands a tower of interesting amari and vermouths crowned with a cluster of lighted branches. If you come with a group, assemble in the lounge area and order an aperitif press pot. In another nod to coffee culture, French presses are filled with a floral array of amari, aromatized wines, herbs, fruit and soda water. It's part of a low-proof approach to allow those who prefer cocktails to beer and wine to keep pace with their friends. "I think the trend is one of sharing time and community without getting hammered," says bar manager Carlton Dunlap. "Beer lovers already have that ability to nurse on well-crafted brew and share time at beer halls and patios." True cocktails were meant to whet the appetite for dinner and accompanying wine. Drink too many and you're headed for a morning hangover. "So where does the cocktail drinker turn to when they don't want wine or beer?" Dunlap says. "Well, the French and Italians have been drinking vermouth, Americanos, and quinquinas as prelude to dinner/evening hours since the products were invented, and it fills that void that beer-drinking cultures have. They're delicious, intriguing, and you can definitely have a couple -- and amongst friends." 2605 E. Burnside St., 503-610-6126, americanopdx.com -- Colin Powers Barely into the new year, Kask disappointed fans of craft cocktails when it shut its doors along with its mother restaurant, the German dining destination Gruner. Thankfully, the closure was short-lived. A couple of months later, Kask reopened, a harbinger to the arrival of SuperBite -- the new project from the team behind Ox that took over Gruner's spot in the trendy West End. The Ox crew approached Kask with a light hand, but an editor's sensibility. Gone were many of the decorations: old kitchen scales, vintage beer cans -- "tchotchkes," as one bartender called them -- that populated the cozy Kask space. The makeover provides a familiar but cleaner look, along with a scaled-back, easy-to-execute menu, including dressed-up hangover food like English muffin pizzas and hot pockets. It doesn't compete with SuperBite and its creative small plates. It also doesn't have to. What remains at Kask is a dedication to well-balanced craft cocktails, some retained from the former menu (like El Diablo, a blend of tequila, lime, ginger beer and creme de cassis) plus some new creations. The pared-down offerings are divided into stirred and shaken drinks. On the latter front, the Freshman Fifteen feels like a tiki drink concocted by a Negroni drinker. There's aged rum, lime and pineapple but an upended mini bottle of Underberg Bitters allows drinkers to customize how much of a bitter bite they want -- what starts light and fresh becomes darker and more complex. If you liked the old Kask, chances are you'll like the new Kask. 1215 S.W. Alder St., 503-241-7163, superbitepdx.com/kask -- Colin Powers Putnam grads.jpg Oregon's class of 2016 may be the most-prepared for college in the state's history. Scores on the ACT college entrance exam improved overall and among almost all racial and ethnic groups. (Stephanie Yao Long / The Oregonian) Oregon's class of 2016 was the best-prepared for college in recent history, according to results for the 14,000-plus students who took the ACT college entrance exam. College readiness Percent of Oregon ACT-takers who scored college ready Reading 51% Math 49 Science 42 English 67 All 4 32 source: ACT The scores, made public on Wednesday, were only slightly better than for the previous class, with 4 percent more students demonstrating college readiness in math and 3 percent more testing college-ready in all four subjects tested. The average composite score, 21.7 out of a possible 36, was two-tenths of a point higher than the previous record. Still, the rising performance was notable because a larger proportion of Oregon's graduating class, 39 percent, took the exam than ever before, including 17 percent of ACT-takers who were Latino. Three years ago, 34 percent of graduates took the exam, 14 percent of whom were Latino. Black, white, Latino, Asian and multi-racial students all achieved record-high composite scores on the exam, with black students recording the biggest improvement. The test nonetheless found huge gaps in college preparedness by race and ethnicity, with black and Latino students lagging far behind whites and Asians. Nationally, performance on the ACT fell this year. The share of test-takers who tested college ready in reading, math, science and English decreased 2 percentage points, to 26 percent, while the share who weren't college-ready in any of those subjects rose 3 percentage points, to 34 percent. But officials who create and administer the test said the decrease resulted from seven additional states giving the ACT to all high school students, not just those who sign up for the entrance exam on their own. When a full cross-section of a state's students take the exam, average performance is expected to go down, as happened in all seven of the affected states. Oregon's ACT-takers are an atypical mix. Top achievers from all parts of the state choose to take the exam, but the test-taking pool is largely made up of students in a half-dozen medium and large districts that give the ACT for free to all students, including Portland, Beaverton, Tigard-Tualatin and Sherwood. Those districts generally prepare more of their students for college than the typical Oregon district, due in part to high levels of parent education. In Oregon and nationwide, girls were more likely than boys to take the ACT, and those who did outscored boys by more than half a point. But boys were far more likely to score college-ready in math. Among whites and Asians in Oregon, 55 percent of ACT-takers met college-ready standards in at least three subjects. Among Latinos and African Americans, only 19 percent did. One big problem, the test-maker said, is that Oregon's black and Latino students don't take enough core academic courses. Students need at least four years of English and three each of math, science and social studies to do well on the exam and in college, ACT officials said. But only 42 percent of Oregon's black test-takers and 46 percent of Latinos reported taking that many courses in high school, compared with 60 percent of white students, the testing outfit said. Taking mathematics beyond Algebra II is particularly important, the test-maker said. Only 13 percent of Oregon students whose most advanced math classes were geometry and Algebra II tested college-ready in math. Among Oregonians who took at least one further math course, 63 percent tested college-ready. Oregon students are far less likely than most to take the ACT more than once. About 23 percent did so, compared with 43 percent of test-takers nationwide. Oregonians who retested raised their composite score an average of 3 points, ACT officials said. Thirteen Oregon students in the class of 2015 scored a perfect 36 on the exam. Oregon students overwhelmingly say they want to earn a four-year college degree. Among ACT-takers who answered the question, 92 percent said they plan to earn a four-year degree, and half of those said they plan to earn a graduate or professional degree as well. Based on where they had their scores sent, Oregon students are most interested in attending Oregon State University, followed by the University of Oregon, then Portland State. Their top private school choice is the University of Portland and their No. 1 out-of-state option is the University of Washington. -- Betsy Hammond Portland Public Schools officials are rethinking a district ban on rap music on buses after allegations of racism. The district had banished hip-hop from its buses, deeming the genre "inappropriate." Teri Brady, senior director of transportation at Portland Public Schools, sent a directive to bus drivers in March forbidding "religious, rap music, or talk show programs." The memo included a list of acceptable stations, broken down into three genres: pop, country and jazz. Parent Colleen Ryan-Onken obtained a copy and it circulated in August among outraged parents, prompting the district to walk back the directive in statements released Wednesday. Ryan-Onken, who is white, said the memo "kind of fell into my lap." And when she read it, she was livid. "We regret the way this was communicated. Our intent is to limit student exposure to religious teachings, profanity and violent lyrics," said Portland Public Schools spokeswoman Courtney Westling. "The transportation department will be revising its guidance to bus drivers shortly to be more inclusive of different genres of music." Westling said the district had received several complaints regarding the radio stations that were played on buses. "I think it's overtly racist and leaves out two of our major communities in our music choices," said Ryan-Onken, who has a senior at Roosevelt High School. Ryan-Onken said not only is hip-hop music written off as "inappropriate" but Latin music also isn't even addressed. "When you outlaw a kind of music that is very indicative of the modern culture of one group of people you're basically saying that they're not welcome," Ryan-Onken said. "Those of us in the district, living in diverse communities in Portland, understand the racial equity stuff going on is entirely for the cameras. There is no real meat behind it." Ryan-Onken said the concern can't be swearing, as those words would be edited out on commercial radio. "Country music is offensive. It's about date rape, liquor and drugs -- all kinds of things!" Ryan-Onken said. "It's just as offensive as rap music can be." Kim Sordyl, a parent known for speaking out on district matters, wrote to school board vice chairwoman Amy Kohnstamm for help. "PPS has a spent a lot of taxpayer dollars on a PR show of equity. It has a 'Racial Equity Policy,' 'equity lens' table tents & posters, $9 million/year is spent on no-bid equity contractors (who donated to your campaign)," Sordyl wrote to Kohnstamm, going on to call the memo "racist." Sordyl said she has not heard back from Kohnstamm. Attempts by The Oregonian/OregonLive to reach Brady were not successful. Banning hip-hop may not protect young ears from controversial content. In 2012, Foster the People's "Pumped Up Kicks" topped charts. But beneath the veneer of bubblegum pop are unmistakably dark lyrics about a school shooting. The chorus says, "All the other kids with the pumped up kicks / You better run, better run, outrun my gun. All the other kids with the pumped up kicks / You better run, better run, faster than my bullet." In the wake of the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting, several radio stations pulled the tune, which was nominated for a Grammy. Portland, the whitest major city in America, has long had had a prickly relationship with hip-hop. Portland's tolerance of hip hop has even come under national scrutiny. In 2013, Vice declared "Portland Has A Hip-Hop Problem" in an article that concluded gentrification pushed out minorities and, consequently, their music. In 2006, Portland Police questioned if rap concerts were causing shootings, according to The Portland Mercury. In 2014, after police presence cut short a Southeast Portland rap show, Portland's Independent Police Review division examined the relationship between the police bureau and hip-hop artists. Portland Police weren't alone in this fear. In 2006, The Wall Street Journal reported rap concerts in Las Vegas casinos were being canceled last minute due to pressure from police and the state's gaming control board, which regulates gambling. The then-sheriff said he felt getting casinos to stop booking "gangster rap acts" was a "legitimate crime-prevention strategy." This article was updated at 12:48 p.m. to reflect the district's decision to revise music guidelines. -- Bethany Barnes The parent company of Budweiser plans to start brewing some of Craft Brew Alliance's beers as part of a renewed business agreement. The off-site brewing is part of an ambitious expansion for the organization that includes several Portland-based breweries including Widmer Brothers. Craft Brew Alliance signed a new 10-year agreement with Anheuser-Busch InBev to maintain a distribution agreement and lay out plans for future expansion. One of those goals is transitioning 300,000 barrels of production from the craft breweries to the Anheuser-Busch facilities, which already pump out Leffe, Hoegaarden, Landshark Lager, Natural Light, Michelob, Shock Top, and Bass Pale Ale on top of the Bud and Busch brews. "We have not yet determined which beers we would look to brew in Anheuser-Busch's breweries," said spokeswoman Jenny McLean. Widmer recently opened a brand-new Innovation Brewery, which has a dedicated staff of three that experiment with one-off brews, collaborations and bring back old favorites. Each of the other Craft Brew Alliance companies have their own version -- part of a $10 million expansion. Widmer, overall, is capable of creating 75,000 barrels at a time. McLean said, given the recent investment, Widmer doesn't plan to off-load any brewing yet. "However, it's great to know that all of our brands have an option for growth should the need arise in the future." Anheuser owns almost 33 percent of Craft Brew Alliance, which spans Kona Brewing in Hawaii, Red Hook in Washington, Resignation Brewery in Texas and Portland-based brands Widmer, gluten-free Omission and Square Mile Cider. Anheuser-Busch distributes the beers nationally, a boost that makes the beers much more pervasive in bars and on grocery store shelves than many independent breweries. Next, the partnership plans to take the beers internationally. Kona is already being sold in Mexico and Brazil, according to a Craft Brew Alliance release. The Alliance did not specify where the targeted countries might be, but Asia has shown interest in Oregon beers -- especially Japan. -- Molly Harbarger mharbarger@oregonian.com 503-294-5923 @MollyHarbarger The French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) on Wednesday called for an "urgent" meeting with Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve as a bitter debate raged over a ban on the burkini. The CFCM "is concerned over the direction the public debate is taking," the president of the body, Anouar Kbibech, said in a statement, citing the "growing fear of stigmatisation of Muslims in France". Search Keywords: Short link: Russia's foreign ministry expressed deep concern on Wednesday at Turkey's military operation in Syria, warning of rising tension over Ankara's targeting of Kurdish militia fighters at the border. "We are deeply concerned at what is happening in the Syrian-Turkish border area," the ministry said in a statement, warning this could lead to "further degeneration of the situation in the conflict zone" and "flare-ups of inter-ethnic tensions between Kurds and Arabs." Search Keywords: Short link: 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. The US State Department warned travelers to France that they should obey local laws Wednesday after several beach towns imposed a ban on swimwear incorporating Muslim veils. Dozens of French resorts have banned beachwear that "conspicuously" shows a person's religion such as a "burkini" -- a full-body swimsuit for Muslim women. In response to a query from AFP as to whether the United States would update its travel advice to warn Muslim Americans, a US official advised them to obey the rules. "In the country specific information for France that we provide on our website... we inform US citizen travelers that they are subject to local laws," he said. "And if they violate local laws, even unknowingly, they may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned," he warned. The United States has expressed concern about French attitudes to Muslim dress in the past, in particular its ban on full-face veils in public spaces. Search Keywords: Short link: How to develop a theatre that moves closer to the people, one that reflects their lives, and one where boundaries between the artists and their audience are erased? Two Egyptian theatre-makers, Moustafa Wafi and Riham Ramzi decided to provide their answer to those questions through practice. In 2013, they established the Nahda Arts School for Social Theatre (NAS), a school that offers one-year programmes which shape the community theatre performers. Operating under the El-Nahda Association for Scientific and Cultural Renaissance of Jesuit Cairo, a part of the theatrical skills development, NAS is centred on developing human capabilities and enhancing local communities through performances on streets, squares and other public spaces in villages and towns. As the founders explain, the project is created by the people and to the people, hence the Arabic abbreviation NAS, which is the equivalent of people in English. One such performance took place in Al Azhar park last week, when NAS celebrated the graduation of its second group of students. Families gathered in the park were surprised to find a group of young performers men and women, actors of different generations and event nationalities showcase their skills. The performance was a culmination of one year of work, during which the participants acquired skills such as singing, acting and circus arts and through them enacted stories taken from the everyday lives. While the large crowd gathered, cheered or sat on the lawns to watch the performance, Moustafa Wafi explained to Ahram Online that it is possible to produce interesting and popular low-budget performances, which easily connect with the Egyptian peoples local realities and provide them with spaces to enjoy art. We want to show to people that art is easy to make and that it can be also done with limited capabilities. All you need is to learn the methods, he added. Wafi further enumerates several other values he finds in the community theatre, a theatre format that does not need special lighting and does not follow the text nor the director in its strict sense. In the community theatre, performers are the leaders and creators of the show. They are not mere tools through which the director or the playwright present their vision. When performing on the street they have the freedom to adapt the scenes according to the specifics of the unfolding moment. In many ways, they ought to be experts in improvisation as well. This theatre is rich very rich in creativity and does not require high budget. It is an ideal model for all communities. Though NAS was founded in 2013, the idea of the community theatre practice goes back to 2011 and was partially triggered by the revolutionary movements and millions of Egyptians that gathered in the streets, Riham Ramzi, co-founder and the executive coordinator of NAS, points to the momentum that opened doors to many artistic activities done by the people and for the people on the streets.Soon after that, in 2002, when Moustafa Wafi became in charge of the artistic activities of El-Nahda Association for Scientific and Cultural Renaissance in Jesuit Cairo, and he wanted to do something different, he wanted to break boundaries between artists and the local community, Ramzi explains.However, instead of establishing one troupe that would perform on the streets addressing the variety of audiences, Wafi and Ramzi thought of creating a school for community theatre, a body which would give birth to generations of community theatre creators.Yet, the school needed a concrete curriculum and methodology. The team started by contacting other similar schools across the world to learn about their practice. They also initiated discussions with some of the foreign and local experts in Egypt to structure a complete project that can successfully meet their aspired target.The idea of the school was new and we wanted the curriculum to adopt all modern trends of community theatre, including theatre of the oppressed, object theatre, contemporary dance, etc. We wanted to include elements of Egyptian street theatre which in itself has rich history in the country. Hence, the target was to have this blend, absorbing what is original in our local culture and integrating what is trendy in the world, Wafi explains. The school welcomes everyone interested in arts and community theatre. New students are required to pass the entry test though. The programme lasts for one year, however the students keep the close link with NAS even after graduating.The final curriculum comprises of practical and theoretical components, with training methods flexible enough to be constantly revisited and remolded by the trainers.Having students from different backgrounds helps you gradually identify the most effective teaching methods, and consequently improve your model year after year. And while we provide basic methodology, we hope that eventually, the students will carry the new theatrical trend across Egypt.Wafi also points to another challenge NAS faced in terms of finding groups that would be interested in shaping and practicing this art form while following the vision set by Wafi and Ramzi.On the one hand people who were already involved in traditional theatre showed little interest in the community theatre while on the other hand, the thematic content did not seem appealing to the civil society activists who aim at delivering specific messages through art.We are not using art to deliver messages inundated with human rights issues. Our message is simply joy of art, Ramzi asserts. Our experience showed that our best students are those who target their local community through art projects, she added. We also initiate different exchange opportunities for our graduates as to expose them to new experiences and a variety of realities, he adds. The school has already moved towards sharing their experience. NAS builds a local network for street theatre troupes in Egypt, and develops partnerships with other schools, institutions, and troupes across the region.Wafi explains that since we aim at creating a theatre movement, we pay a lot of attention to the continuous development. We do not expect our graduates to receive support from either governmental or independent bodies, so we try to maintain the ongoing relationship with them. Whether they decide to establish their own street theatre troupes, or continue their studies abroad, we try to support their choices or direct them towards opportunities, Wafi explains.Ali Ismail, a part-time engineer, is one of NAS schools second year graduates. He underscores the benefits he drew from many workshops and new techniques he was taught.Before hearing about NAS, I had already been involved in a few experiments in street theatre, and traditional theatre too. At NAS, we follow a very different concept of theatre, a community theatre that draws on the social issues that make up the everyday lives of people. There is much room for improvisation and interaction with the audience, he comments.With the support of NAS Ismail launched his own street theatre project.I am working with Sudanese refugee children in the impoverished district of Arbaaa Wa Noss in Nasr City. I try to pass to them the techniques of the community theatre. We have been working for five months and I am happy to say that these kids are now more capable of expressing themselves and tackling some of their everyday life challenges. There is also a lot of interaction from the local audience; they share their feedback. When those children perform, they attract attention on the streets, people watch them from balconies, kids giggle and point at the performers. It is such a rich experience and a good source of positive energy too, Ali adds. Another graduate of NAS school, a 25-year old pharmacist Lelian Fayez has always dreamt of a career in theater. After graduation I began working in a pharmacy and I found myself locked in daily routines. Joining NAS helped my dream see the light. Studying at NAS involved a lot of hard work but it helped me discover my inner source of energy. I learned to breathe with all my body. I also learnt how to develop a scene from a personal story, unfold its layers and turn it into a storyline that touches everyone, Fayez explains adding that it took time for her family to accept her involvement in the community theatre. Today, Fayez is a member of Al Khaial Al Shaaby street troupe. Recently she has been selected to participate in a circus troupe in which, together with trainers from Egypt, Germany and France, she will put on a performance that will tour several governorates. During the summer months, she also holds small-scale performances in public schools, organised with fellow colleagues and she hopes to give a series of community theatre training workshops for the students of those schools. Young people should not wait as long as I did to practice theatre and learn to express themselves, she comments. While the graduates of NAS embark on projects of their own, the school also reaches out to communities in the most distant governorates. Wali reveals that their upcoming plans involve the launch of the first community theatre festival in Aswan, in February 2017. Organised in collaboration with the General Organization for Culture Palaces and other civil society organisations, the event will bring together different street theatre troupes from all over Egypt. This project will provide performing spaces, which constitutes another major challenge for the school. For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: Wednesday 24 August 2016 2:08pm Professor Vicky Cameron Professor Vicky Cameron is a firm believer in scientists responsibility to share findings with the community - particularly their research participants. I believe we owe it to those that participate in our research to explain how they may ultimately benefit from it. This is one of the reasons Professor Cameron is excited about becoming the Deputy Dean of the University of Otagos Christchurch campus. Part of the role involves getting out into the community and sharing information about the world-class health research and teaching happening at the University of Otago, Christchurch, and promoting it as a cool and quirky destination for students to come for health sciences postgraduate study. Professor Cameron will continue her work as leader of the molecular biology and genetics section of the Christchurch Heart Institute. She also leads the cardiovascular theme of the Government-funded Healthier Lives National Science Challenge. Within the next decade, this Challenge aims to reduce the burden and inequities in the four main non-communicable diseases by a quarter. Professor Cameron is a lead investigator on several studies including the Christchurch Family Heart Study, and is co-leader on the Hauora Manawa/ Community Heart Study investigating cardiovascular risk factors in Maori communities. She is an International Fellow of the American Heart Association. Professor Cameron will start in the role at the same time as the new Dean of the Christchurch campus, Professor David Murdoch. Professor Murdoch says he is thrilled Professor Cameron will be his Deputy Dean. Vicky is perfect for the job. She has real mana in the research and academic world combined with a genuine enthusiasm for attracting new postgraduate students and communicating with the public about the meaningful research we do. 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. (Beijing) China's insurance regulator is weighing new measures to clamp down on high-yield, short-term policies that compete with wealth management products, in a bid to reduce risk created by the high liquidity needs of such policies. The China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) met yesterday with representatives from about 30 insurance companies, seeking their opinions on two draft regulations that appear to target insurance policies positioned as alternatives to wealth management products sold by banks and other financial firms. Such products offer a certain amount of insurance coverage, allowing them to be classified as insurance. But they are more appealing as short-term investment products because they also offer high return rates even if buyers cancel them before they mature. Insurance companies such as Anbang Life, Funde Sino Life and Foresea Life Insurance have grown fast over the past few years on the strength of selling such policies, which critics say are risky because they pose huge liquidity risks to the policy issuer. China's wealth management sector has boomed in recent years, as everyone from traditional banks to insurance companies and newer P2P lenders pursued a growing middle class looking for better returns on their savings than those offered by traditional bank accounts. The wide range of products for sale pose big risks to investors who often don't understand what they're buying. Sellers like insurance companies also face risks from offering products without adequate preparations for big market swings and other unexpected events. The CIRC's new requirements would have an unprecedented impact on the young industry because they are more thorough than any methods previously used to rein in investment-type policies, said experts who have read the drafts. For example, insurance companies are told to make realistic assumptions about conditions that are important to the pricing of products, such as how many clients may drop out early and how much payout they can afford in a given period of time. Tweaking these assumptions to underestimate risk allows an insurer to offer investors high yields and tolerate more early cancellations. The draft rules, aiming to end such practice, say insurance companies that use "unreasonable actuarial hypothesis" to design and market products will be punished for "vicious competition" and "disturbing market order." Insurance companies were also told to register all of their life insurance policies with a minimum guaranteed return rate on investment. Those whose guaranteed yields exceed a certain level must not be sold unless they have been approved by the regulator, according to the drafts. CIRC Chairman Xiang Junbo said in a recent speech that investors looking for short-term profits tend to terminate their policies early, pressuring the cash flow of some insurers. He criticized some companies for selling too many short-term policies and using the proceeds to bet on investments that often take much longer to mature. A regulation implemented in March ordered all insurers to stop selling policies with a duration of less than one year and to scale back the sale of one- to three-year policies. Contact reporter Wang Yuqian (yuqianwang@caixin.com); editor Doug Young (dougyoung@caixin.com) The MBS Airport Commission has approved lease agreements with various entities that are expected to generate about $59,000 per year for the airport. One of the agreements, an existing pact with seven local farmers that allows them to grow certain crops on airport property, calls for a 2 percent increase. Airport Manager Jeff Nagel said the lease increase with farmers will net an additional $1,000 next year, pushing the total to about $50,000 annually. We restrict the crops they can plant to minimize wildlife attractions, Nagel said. Weve very careful with that. All the farmers know the rules and follow them. For instance, corn is prohibited because it attracts deer. Commissioner also approved a new lease that will allow a medical doctor to use vacant office space in the airports administration building to provide FAA-required medical exams for pilots through Air Docs. The physician, Dr. Greg Pinnell, is short on office space and will occupy space that has been empty for several years after the FAA moved out. The agreement with Air Docs, Nagel said, will generate about $5,500 per year. In other board action, commissioners approved the transfer of MBS food and beverage agreement from Sullivan Marketing, Inc. to Tom and Janet Wood, pending approval from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission. Sullivan Marketing, which is owned by Tim Sullivan and Tom Wood, requested the change, Nagel noted. Some planned retirements within Sullivan Marketing make it a great time to transition to Tom and Janet, Nagel said. Tom and Janet currently run the day-to-day operation now, so I expect no changes in the daily operations. They do an excellent job with food service. Im thrilled they will be staying on board. Tom and Janet Wood have run the food and beverage operation at MBS since the new terminal opened on Oct. 31, 2012. Since that time, MBS has received about $1,200 in monthly revenue from its lease with Sullivans, whereas in the old terminal MBS was paying $2,000 per month to subsidize the food and beverage operation, Nagel said. The newly approved lease contracts were the focal points of the MBS Airport Commissions August meeting. To the editor: I am responding to John Roberts letter concerning U.S. Rep. John Moolenaars support for Donald Trump. I salute John Moolenaar for having the strength of his convictions to support the party candidate. That is what good politicians are supposed to do. Mr. Roberts untrue comments about Mr. Trump explain where he is coming from. For instance, Mr. Roberts failed to mention that Mr. Khan, the father of the Gold Star family who spoke out against Mr. Trump at the convention, makes a living selling visas to Muslim immigrants. If I made my living selling visas to Muslim immigrants I would also be against Mr. Trump, for obvious reasons. By the way, since this information has become public knowledge, Mr. Khan has removed his business website from the internet. Mr. Moolenaar, thank you for standing by your convictions. MICHAEL D. MILLER Midland Maintenance A-10 Thunderbolt IIs are stored in hardened aircraft shelters during preflight inspections for Exercise Beverly Herd 16-2 at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. BH 16-2 is an exercise designed to test unit capabilities during wartime operations. The A-10 aircraft provides close air support, air strike control and combat search and rescue to the 51st Fighter Wing in support of the defense of the ROK. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Dillian Bamman) (Beijing) China's top economic planner appears to have temporarily halted a program that has channeled nearly 2 trillion yuan to government-backed infrastructure projects amid concerns that banks have shown little interest in participating. Since June, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has not announced any new projects to tap the program, where two policy banks, National Development Bank and the Agricultural Development Bank of China, issue a special type of bonds to help finance construction projects. New approvals had been expected in July, but were delayed because the government wants to evaluate the results of earlier investments, according to people close to the situation. The NDRC would not approve any new investments by the fund until the review ends, according to the people. It is unclear how long this may last. Inspectors had been sent to local governments, banks and construction companies to examine the progress of projects supported by the program and assess how much investment from other sources, including loans from other banks, had been made to those projects, an executive from a bank being inspected said. Since last August, the bond plan has channeled about 1.8 trillion yuan (US$ 271 billion) from lenders, including the state-run Postal Savings Bank, to mainly local government-backed enterprises toward infrastructure development. The program was conceived as a way to stimulate the economy and motivate investment from commercial banks and private investors in addition to the 1.8 trillion yuan. Firms receiving financial support from the bond program pay very little to use the capital because the Ministry of Finance provides subsidy that covers 90 percent of the interest payments on the bonds. The government has wanted more investors to chip in, by purchasing the bonds or making loans directly to projects funded by the program, according to the bank executive. Lending from other investors is important because investment from the bond program often accounts for only 10 to 15 percent of the capital a project needs, he said. But the response from many banks has been disappointing. One reason is that the bond fund usually supports projects conducted by the financing platforms owned by low-level authorities, such as county governments, to which big banks are often reluctant to make loans, according to several bank employees who have worked on related projects. Also, the bond yields are not appealing to banks even with the central government's subsidy because there are other investment options with similar risk, such as bonds issued by local governments, according to a manager at the China Construction Bank. Contact reporter Wang Yuqian at yuqianwang@caixin.com; editor Ken Howe at kennethhowe@caixin.com BLOOMINGTON Fire damaged a five-unit apartment building Tuesday afternoon in Bloomington, but all residents got out uninjured. Firefighters were called about 2 p.m. to the two-story brick building at 505 N. Roosevelt Ave. where smoke could be seen coming from the upper level. Stuart Blade, public information officer for the Bloomington Fire Department, said fire was found in the back of an upper apartment, but firefighters were able to put it out within five minutes. The American Red Cross is helping the family who lived in the apartment where the fire was located, said Blade, adding other residents were able to return to their apartments. There was an initial report that someone might still be in one of the apartments, and firefighters called for assistance from the Normal Fire Department, Blade said. Firefighters checked the building and found no one inside. They did rescue a dog and cat from the building. The resident whose pets were rescued, Cindy Shepherd, said she was home with two of her daughters when "my elder daughter said, 'Something's on fire.'" They didn't see smoke until after they left the apartment. "When we opened the door and started for the steps, we smelled the smoke," Shepherd said. "I knocked on doors on the way down." She added, "They (firefighting crews) were already getting here when I got out." Blade said crews were able to respond quickly because they were only a few blocks away on Jefferson Street for training when the call came in. Shepherd gratefully took Rocky, her 13-year-old dog, and Baby, her cat, from the firefighters. A first-floor resident, Mike Crisman, said he was sleeping when he heard sirens outside. At first, he thought it was an ambulance, then he received a phone call telling him to get out because there was a fire. Blade said the damage was estimated at $15,000, and the cause remains under investigation. "Although I would love for the citizens to be able to have their say on the ballot ... my duty is to apply the law here," Circuit Court Judge Scott Kording said. The American Veterans Traveling Tribute Vietnam Wall will make its way into Bloomington later today for a four-day display at Bloomingtons Evergreen Cemetery, 302 E. Miller St. It is an opportunity actually, a duty to remember and honor America's fallen during both the escorted trip to the cemetery and at the cemetery. The wall, an 80 percent replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., is 360 feet long and 8 feet tall. Public viewing starts at noon Thursday. The escorted travel begins at 1 p.m. today as pieces of the wall are driven from the Minonk exit on Interstate 39 to the cemetery. A welcoming ceremony will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, with a closing ceremony at 2 p.m. Sunday. It is so important for anyone who has a connection or a loved one with a connection to the Vietnam War to visit this replica and grieve, or experience it in any way they choose, Tina Crow, manager of Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, told The Pantagraph. There is so much here other than just the wall that make this special and we dont see something like this in this area very often. Related displays will include the Agent Orange Quilt of Tears made with quilt blocks submitted by family and friends of Agent Orange victims, and portraits of the fallen of Lima Company 3/25, one of the hardest-hit units in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The traveling tribute wall is similar, but larger, than the traveling wall that has made several stops in McLean County in past years. Regardless of the size or the name, the idea behind the traveling walls is to provide a public opportunity to honor the fallen of a war that brought protests, but in the recent past has led to regular tributes of the men and women who fought in Vietnam. Two years ago, The Pantagraph was one of several Illinois newspapers that led a project to secure photographs of every Illinoisan whose name is etched on the original black granite memorial in Washington, D.C. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial virtual wall listed all the names, but had not collected all the photos. Last year, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the start of the war, the newspaper staff profiled dozens of veterans who served during that time. For many, the names on the wall are those of strangers. But each name stands for one of thousands of veterans who could have been part of our family, our neighborhood, our high school graduating class. Much as we bow our heads in reflection at a funeral, and remove our hats for the American flag, the traveling wall and the Quilt of Tears offer a chance to honor, remember and pray for all of our war dead and for their families. They sacrificed their lives the rest of can continue to enjoy our freedom. Honoring that sacrifice is the least we can do in return. Illinois has the distinction of having one of the highest tax rates, and yet we rank near last in terms of financial condition. Mike Madigan doesnt know how to manage our money, simply put. We had 26 electoral votes in 1980; we now have 20. Companies like GM Foundry of Danville, GE of Bloomington, Eureka of Bloomington, Mitsubishi of Normal, Hiram Walker of Peoria, Jimmy Johns of Champaign and Caterpillar, with statewide locations, have all left or are leaving. These were good, solid jobs. People and businesses are leaving but Madigan stays and this all happened since he took control of our checkbook. Folks, the socialist policies of tax and spend are killing us and our country. Its time for term limits on both parties. When we observe bike paths being built, when our schools cant get paid for lunch programs, thats absurd and the career politicians need to be removed all of them after two terms. Support term limits, remove career politicians, vote capitalism. I will support Trump for the same fiscal reasons; we cant keep spending. Steve Hoselton, Lexington BLOOMINGTON A committee of volunteers worked hard to raise enough money to bring the American Veterans Traveling Tribute (AVTT) Vietnam Wall to Bloomington this year, the 40th anniversary of the war's end. "This particular traveling wall is an 80-percent replica of the original wall in Washington, D.C., said Tina Crow, manager of the cemetery, 302 E. Miller St. It helps with the healing process for those who cannot make it to Washington, D.C. It gives the veterans and their families a place to grieve." The national war memorial, which will be on display at Bloomingtons Evergreen Cemetery, honors members of the U.S. Armed Forces who fought in the Vietnam War, service members who died in service in Vietnam/southeast Asia, and service members who were unaccounted for during and after the war. "It helps with the healing process for those who cannot make it to Washington, D.C. It gives the veterans and their families a place to grieve." Starting at noon on Thursday, Aug. 25, 'The Wall' will be on display 24 hours a day and open to the public free of charge. The Welcome the Wall Ceremony begins at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, with Opening Ceremonies at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. The Candlelight Reading of Names will commence at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday. Along with the AVTT Traveling Vietnam Wall, measuring nearly 400 feet long, there will be additional historical displays. They are the Agent Orange Quilt of Tears, a collection of quilts showing veterans killed and suffering from Agent Orange exposure during the Vietnam War; Through the Eyes Memorabilia, a Vietnam War-era traveling museum; and the Eyes of Freedom Memorial, a display of soldiers from Lima Company who were killed in 2005 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Monetary donations can be made at https://www.gofundme.com/AVTT-Vietnam-wall; with information on the American Veterans Traveling Tribute (AVTT) Facebook page. Sponsors include: Are your kids raring to go back to school this fall or could they be dreading the school year because of the persistence of bullies? Unfortunately, bullying problem is prevalent among children in America and parents should be aware of how much serious this happens where they live. What must they do about it? A new study, conducted by the financial site Wallet Hub, looked into the states that have the biggest problems with bullying. Of the 45 that were analyzed, below is how they were ranked. The first set are the states with the highest rates of bullying problems, while the second state are the states with minimal bullying problems among school children. US States With Worst Bullying Problems 1 Michigan 2 Louisiana 3 West Virginia 4 Montana 5 Arkansas 6 Texas 7 Idaho 8 Alabama 9 South Carolina 10 Alaska US States With Minimal Bullying Problems 37 California 38 Hawaii 39 Connecticut 40 Delaware 41 Florida 42 Rhode Island 43 District of Columbia 44 Vermont 45 North Carolina 46 Massachusetts AOL reports that in Michigan, many school kids are now choosing homeschooling instead of attending public school to avoid getting bullied. Most issues stem from racism, gender ignorance and cyber bullying. Of these kids who have become victims, at least 10 percent have apparently attempted to take their life. The public school system in Michigan is supposedly working hard to address this problem. But if parents are aware of how bad the problem is in their area, then they can take an active part in determining and preventing bullying in schools. Experts suggest that parents must constantly have an open conversation with their children about school work and social activities, and they must pay attention to any changes in the kids' behavior. Proactive parents should also be aware of their children's online activities, per WBTW. Ideally, parents should also work hand in hand with the school and the community to address the issue, instead of pulling the kids off classes. "It's important for these kids going back to school to really think about the role that they are playing," said psychologist Robin Kowalski in the report. Watch the video below on how parents can best handle their kids if they are being bullied in school. After ditching the classroom and rallying in the streets, the Detroit public school teachers can finally rejoice with the Supreme Court ruling in favor of their plea. The teachers have been staging "sick-outs" as an act of protest against the corrupt Detroit public school district. According to CNN, 94 out of Detroit's 97 public schools closed on May because teachers called in sick. They have long known of Detroit Public Schools' impending bankruptcy but they just found out that they won't be receiving their full salaries for their year's work. This angered the teachers who decided another sick-out would be proper after the first one this year occurred last January. They protested that time because of improper working conditions that Detroit Public Schools are overlooking such as pest infestations, black mold forming and parts of the ceiling falling (via CNN). As per Detroit Free Press, teacher strikes are considered illegal under Michigan Public Employment Relations Act (PERA) that the Detroit school district filed a lawsuit against the teachers in protest. They specifically accused Steve Conn and Nicole Conaway of encouraging sick-outs among their fellow teachers that caused the closing of schools (via Detroit Free Press). Unfortunately, the tables were not in favor of Detroit Public Schools as the Supreme Court finally arrived with a decision that dismisses the teachers of any charge. They concurred that the nature of the sick-outs were political, rather than work-related. The teachers' "sick-out" protest was simply an exercise of their basic right to freedom of speech and not a violation of PERA. The teachers were happy but not surprised with the decision of the Supreme Court. Conn said that the Supreme Court just saw the "political plane concerning the state takeover of the district." Ultimately, the students are the most affected with the teacher sick-outs and lack of accountability from the Detroit School District. Parent Herald reported that Detroit's school children are one of the worst academic performers in the United States. A newly-built, debt-free district now stands in Detroit in hopes of restoring the education sector and improving the academic performance of students. Do you think that this new district holds promise? Sound off your thoughts in the Comments section and follow Parent Herald for more news and updates. Uh-oh! The British royal family seemed to be a constant target of speculations and recent reports claimed that Kate Middleton and Prince Charles are at war. The reason? The Duke of Cornwall has reportedly demanded that the Duchess of Cambridge will fulfill 11 royal engagements during the royal couple's trip to the Duchy of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly next month in just a span of two days. Due to the very hectic royal visit schedule, Kate Middleton is apparently seething with anger over Prince Charles' demands. As a matter of fact, royal watchers believe that Duchess Kate's 67-year-old father-in-law must be taking a sweet revenge by making his dear daughter-in-law work hard for the two day Duchy of Cornwall and Isles of Scilly visit scheduled on Sept. 1 and 2, Celeb Dirty Laundry reported. The celebrity gossip site also added that Prince Charles must be poking fun at the laziness of the Kate Middleton, claiming that the Duke of Cornwall is delighted at the thought that Duchess Kate was overwhelmed by her very busy schedule. Aside from the tension between Kate Middleton and Prince Charles, another Celeb Dirty Laundry report also claimed that the Duke of Cornwall is preparing his wife, Camilla Parker-Bowles, to be the next Queen of England when he will be crowned as the King. Even though Clarence House had announced on the day of their marriage in 2005 that the Duchess of Cornwall will take the title of Princess Consort if Prince Charles becomes King, the Duke reportedly wanted Camilla to be his Queen. With that said, royal watchers said that once Prince Charles becomes King, then there would be no one who can stop him from making Camilla Parker-Bowles as the Queen of England. But what would diehard Prince William and Kate Middleton fans will say? Will Prince Harry agree? Meanwhile, a new fashion survey, Kaleidoscope, has reportedly hailed Kate Middleton as the best celebrity style icon, earning 56 percent of votes, Stuff revealed. According to Kaleidoscope fashion designer Kirsten Emery, Duchess Kate flaunted the best summer style and who always looked "polished and elegant." In other royal-related news, the royal entourage that will accompany Kate Middleton and Prince William at their Canada visit has been revealed. According to People, the eight-day royal tour will kick off on Sept. 24 and the two children of the royal couple, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, will also be there. In addition, Kate Middleton and Prince William will also be accompanied by their best-known staffers including two private secretaries, Rebecca Deacon (for Kate) and Miguel Head (for William). They will also be joined by royal nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, Kate's personal assistant Natasha Archer, the Duchess' hairstylist Amanda Tucker, diplomatic advisor and former British ambassador to America Sir David Manning and PR team leader Jason Knauf. Do you think Kate Middleton and Prince Charles are at war? Sound off below and follow Parent Herald for more news and updates. As "Pirates of the Caribbean 5: Dead Men Tell No Tales" release date looms, the film is making headlines for all the wrong reasons again. Based on the latest reports, the crew members of the film have claimed that working with actor Johnny Depp aka Captain Jack Sparrow in the "Pirates" film franchise was a "nightmare." The latest "Pirates of the Caribbean 5: Dead Men Tell No Tales" production claims was revealed in "The Kyle and Jackie O Show," an Australian morning radio show. Based on the report of Yahoo! Movies, the production team told DJ Jackie O' Henderson that they were often waiting in vain for Johnny Depp to arrive on the set location in the Gold Coast, Australia. O' Henderson also revealed that the issues on the set of "Pirates of the Caribbean 5: Dead Men Tell No Tales" began when Depp's marital relationship with his wife Amber Heard started to fall apart. The Australian DJ also added that the 53-year-old actor would ditch work whenever he fought with his wife. With that said, The Global Dispatch claimed that "Pirates of the Caribbean 5: Dead Men Tell No Tales" release date would likely get delayed, all thanks to Johnny Depp's personal issues. Aside from the previous claims, the online news site also added that the production was postponed for four weeks due to Depp's hand injury surgery in the United States. These "Pirates of the Caribbean 5: Dead Men Tell No Tales" rumors, however, were unconfirmed. But there were also speculations about the time when Depp cut the end of his finger while he was under the influence of ecstasy and alcohol. Moreover, it was also reported that he went berserk by dipping his wounded finger in blue paint and wrote an accusation on a mirror, saying his 30-year-old wife was having an affair with Billy Bob Thornton. Speaking of Depp's personal issues and the "Pirates of the Caribbean 5: Dead Men Tell No Tales" production conflict, Daily Mail reported that Depp was seen aboard a $200 million yacht owned by Saudi Prince Abdul Aziz in Ibiza, Spain. It was reportedly the first sighting of the controversial actor since the $7 million divorce settlement with Amber Heard. Meanwhile, these "Pirates of the Caribbean 5: Dead Men Tell No Tales" set rumors have yet to be confirmed. As for the film sequel, Disney has no yet officially promoted the upcoming movie. As for the cast of the "Pirates of the Caribbean 5" movie, fans will see the return of actors Orlando Bloom as Will Turner, David Wenham as Scarfield, Kevin McNally as Gibbs, Geoffrey Rush as Capt. Barbossa, Stephen Graham as Scrum and Martin Klebba as Marty. The film also features some newcomers, including Javier Bardem as villain Capt. Salazar, Brenton Thwaites as Will Turner's son Henry, Kaya Scodelario as Carina Smyth and Mahesh Jadu as the Spanish soldier. As Parent Herald previously noted, the upcoming "Pirates" installment will be sailing through the cinemas on May 26, 2017. Do you think there's a tension between Johnny Depp and the "Pirates of the Caribbean 5: Dead Men Tell No Tales" production team? Write your comments below and follow Parent Herald for more news and updates. "BoJack Horseman" Season 4 has fans of the Netflix series wanting more of the satire, success and failings of stars BoJack (Will Arnett), Diane Nguyen (Alison Brie), Princess Carolyn (Amy Sedaris), Todd Chavez (Aaron Paul) and Mr. Peanutbuter (Paul F. Tompkins). What appears to be the lure of "BoJack Horseman" is a skillful presentation of the Netflix series' essence masked by a seeming sense of cynicism. Inverse points out that while "BoJack Horseman" may appeal by giving viewers a sense of empathy and encouragement over an environment of continuous real-life shortcomings, it is far from what the Netflix series is saying. At face value BoJack Horseman seems to champion shock jock, reckless behavior, but the media outlet highlights that the Netflix series, in fact, says that there is nothing heroic about self-destruction. What is your favorite part about Season 3 of my show? BoJack Horseman (@BoJackHorseman) August 23, 2016 Slate supports this perspective by pointing out that "BoJack Horseman" is not as cynical as it seems. Granted "BoJack Horseman" seems to mock values and ideals, which earned the Netflix series a label of irreverence. to all the people who keep asking me if i'm running for president, this is my final answer: maybe. BoJack Horseman (@BoJackHorseman) August 18, 2016 However, the media outlet proposes that at the heart "BoJack Horseman" is the cheesy "Horsin' Around," through which the Netflix character once reached revered celebrity status in Hollywood. According to Slate what makes Will Arnett's anthromorph nostalgic for "Horsin' Around" is not the fame that it gave the Netflix character, but the values that it embodied. thought someone was speaking to me in a strange language for a solid 2 minutes but then i realized they were just talking about sports. BoJack Horseman (@BoJackHorseman) August 24, 2016 "We're a family now, no matter what, and I will always be there for you," BoJack Horseman recites in "Horsin' Around." Slate proposes that the real and self-alienated BoJack Horseman wishes that such promises could be fulfilled just as easily and simply in real life. The media outlet further points out that "BoJack Horseman" creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg ably and intentionally throws in cheesy lines that embody real-life values, which the Netflix series characters skillfully ignore. Slate cites the New York Times magazine profile on Raphael Bob-Waksberg as explanation for how and why the "BoJack Horseman" creator designed the Netflix series in this way. The New York Times profile describes Raphael Bob-Waksberg as someone whose sense of humor packs a punch and who possesses a softer side that allows him to cry whenever he watched a Hallmark card commercial. The profile also did say that Raphael Bob-Waksberg gives the appearance of a man who constantly thinks a few steps ahead. Netflix released "BoJack Horseman" Season 3 on July 22, with announcements pending for the S4 release date. What do you hope to see in "BoJack Horseman" Season 4? Despite being a progressive country with better economy than others, the United States actually lags behind when it comes to parental leave. America has plenty to learn from the maternal and paternal leave policies of other governments. So, which country has the best parental leave policies? Below is a roundup. Data culled by Get Voip from 39 parental leave policies of countries around the world reveal that the United States isn't even in the top 10. Russia, Czech Republic, Spain, Germany and France generously offer 1092 days of parental leave privileges, but all of these are unpaid. Some countries allow for only one parent to avail of this, while other countries treat this as a shared benefit. Spain offers equal number of days for each parent, thus it's 2184 days in total. On the other hand, Denmark offers 224 days of shared parental leave, but these are all paid. Norway has 182 days paid parental leave, while Portugal offers 108 days paid. For maternal leaves, the United Kingdom allows for the longest at 365 days, though it is mostly unpaid. The Czech Republic offers 196 days of paid maternal leave, while China offers 128 days paid. For paternal leave, Iceland offers the longest at 150 days unpaid, while Norway provides 70 days paid paternal leave. To compare, the Family and Medical Leave Act of the United States offers parents a maximum of 12 weeks (90 days) parental leave, which covers the birth of the child or the need to tend to family members with serious illnesses. However, some states also have flexibility in charting more provisions to laws regarding this, which effectively makes most parental leave privileges in the United States as unpaid. Experts who talked with The Washington Post cite parental leaves, especially if paid, as "critical to the success of [a country's] economy." This provides families job security, especially for mothers, who should not be made to choose between work and family. You might have seen parents using a crescent-shaped nursing pillow to help make baby feeding more manageable. Though this item is quite popular and readily available anywhere, a coroner from Pennsylvania is sending out a warning about the dangers of this nursing pillow. Three babies have apparently died as a result of its misuse. Coroner Graham Hetrick said that some parents let their baby sleep on the nursing pillow when it should only be used exclusively for feeding. There's an apparent danger when babies are left to sleep on this type of pillow because the baby could slide down or her head could be pushed at the back of the curve. This results in the baby's airway getting cut off, resulting in the baby's suffocation, per Penn Live. The coroner underscored that there are several manufacturers of nursing pillows, but one of the more popular brands for parents is Boppy. The company that makes Boppy actually explicitly indicate on their website that their nursing pillow must only be used for feeding. The words "Never allow baby to sleep on a Boppy Pillow or Boppy Newborn Lounger," is emphasized on its dedicated page for safe sleep practices. Additionally, Boppy also has a safety tag on the pillow itself, in both English and Spanish. This is a very serious warning for a nursing pillow. People who need to be told this shouldnt be allowed a baby pic.twitter.com/Q5q7TogL4s (@melgin17) August 19, 2016 The National Institute of Child Health and Development has some practical suggestions for parents when it comes to safe sleep for babies. Among these include ensuring that the baby doesn't sleep in a crib filled with pillows and stuff toys. Child care expert Wendy O'Shea from the Pinnacle Health's Cribs for Kids Program said, "The best way is to lay your child down on their back on a firm mattress on a tightly fitted sheet - no bumper pads, no pillows, no stuffed animals - nothing in the crib, just the crib and the baby," via ABC 27. Experts believe that education of parents when it comes to baby's sleep safety is crucial because it can save the life of a child. Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner's marriage is the kind of partnership that extends beyond their home life. The couple, who married in 2009, are touted as two of the key figures in Donald Trump's campaign for president. However, being Donald Trump's kids -- or in Jared's case, his in-law -- puts Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner's marriage in the headlines almost every day. What do this power couple do to help Donald Trump's campaign? How do they manage to make their marriage work despite the stress of being Donald Trump's children? Ivanka Trump once said that her biggest role in the campaign is being daughter to his father, as it should be. "His campaign is his campaign," the businesswoman implied via CNN. But because she has worked with her father for so long, she does counsel the elder Trump on certain issues, whether this is asked of her not. While Ivanka discusses issues with her father, The New Yorker calls Jared Kushner as Donald Trump's "de facto campaign manager." The son-in-law is apparently one of the people who influenced Donald Trump's pick for running mate. Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner also serve as liaisons for their dad for various people. They are impressively connected with influential individuals, especially Jared, who runs real estate and publishing companies. Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner's marriage doesn't seem to be swayed by the rigors of politics. In fact, while Donald Trump's campaign has proceeded during this summer, the younger Trump couple have gone on vacations together. Morning hike in Hvar A photo posted by Ivanka Trump (@ivankatrump) on Aug 14, 2016 at 11:21pm PDT Interestingly enough, it's religion -- and not politics nor business -- that broke up Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner's relationship when they were younger. According to JTA, Ivanka and Jared parted ways a year before they were to get married because of differences in religious beliefs. But as things went, Ivanka soon converted from Presbyterian to Judaism, which is Jared's religion. Ivanka Trump credits her new faith to strengthening her marriage and family. "I really find that with Judaism, it creates an amazing blueprint for family connectivity," she told Vogue. "Kingdom Hearts 3" release date for PS4 and Xbox One updates remain to be very limited online. Fans are definitely itching to find out to learn more about the new Square Enix title that they mistook a recent announcement for the truth. A fake advertisement that was allegedly posted online by EB Games Australia confirmed that "Kingdom Hearts 3" release date will not only be made exclusive to PS4 and Xbox One, but will also be made available on the Nintendo NX, Christian Post reported. EB Games Australia quickly gunned down rumors and denied that they released the advertisement. The developer claimed that it's most likely a Photoshopped image. When it comes to the "Kingdom Hearts 3" release date for PS4 and Xbox One, fans have different theories about its rumored launch. In a Reddit forum, fans speculated that a late 2017 release is highly likely, but a 2018 launch should also be considered. Some even joked that it could even be released on 2020, or by the time "The Winds of Winter" is unveiled. Fans are definitely eager to get their hands on the new title, most especially since previous "Kingdom Hearts 3" release date updates claimed that the new title will be a big game. Series creator and director Tetsuya Nomura didn't deny the rumors, and has also stressed the importance of "Kingdom Hearts 3D" and "Kingdom Hearts 2.8" to the new title. "Kingdom Hearts 3" co-director Tai Yasue also echoed Nomura's statement and claimed that playing "KH 2.8" will actually help players understand the events of "KH 3." "Kingdom Hearts 2.8" will be released on December 2016. Along with its release, fans are speculating that more information about "Kingdom Hearts 3" will be disclosed. Stay tuned for more "Kingdom Hearts 3" release date for PS4 and Xbox One updates here! Plenty of teachers and educators have banned smartphones from classrooms because they believe it would distract students from learning. New research, however, suggested that taking smartphones away from youngsters can damage their time in classrooms more. A study by a research team in Singapore examined 87 undergraduates with ages between 18 and 29, The Telegraph reported. The research, which was published in the journal Computers in Human Behaviour, found that young people's smartphone addiction reached the point that they become anxious or stressed out when they don't have access to them. This distracts them further away from their lessons at school. Students whose smartphones were taken away scored 17 percent points lower on working memory than their peers who were permitted to have their phones with them during class. The study found that simply having their smartphones in their pockets is enough for these students. Researchers advised teachers to issue periodic technology breaks at school that allow them to check messages and notifications on social networking sites like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. This way, they don't feel like they are missing out on things and they won't feel anxious anymore. Andree Hartanto, the study's author from the Singapore Management University, said being separated from their smartphones for long periods can push students to use it more. They are also likely to experience poor cognitive functioning and emotional issues, which could affect their academic performance. A recent study from the London School of Economics, on the other hand, claimed with smartphone bans have students scoring higher in their tests by an average of seven percent. GCSE test results in Ebbsfleet Academy in Kent, England also increased twofold after the school banned smartphones in 2013. Some teachers believe that students get distracted with their smartphones instead of focusing on their lessons at school. But Ken Halla, a teacher at Hayfield Secondary in Alexandria, Virginia, argued using technology like smartphones in classrooms can be a positive tool for improving young people's education. Halla believes smartphones can increase student learning as long as it stays academic, according to the National Education Association. Smartphones are convenient to carry, have easy internet access, and can contain multiple education-friendly apps -- factors that can assist in young people's studies. Halla said there are educational apps that help students manage their schoolwork. Some of those are Remind101, which notifies pupils when an assignment is due, and polleverywhere.com, which allows students to test their knowledge of a lesson before an exam. There's the U.S. Constitution app as well, which gives students easy access to some of the most vital American documents. Stanford just imposed a new policy that majority of students may not be ecstatic about. School is about to kick off again but drinking hard liquor at on-campus parties has just become a thing of the past. Following a highly publicized sexual assault case that involved then-freshman swimmer Brock Turner, the Stanford administration is banning the drinking of hard liquor at on-campus parties. Only mixed drinks are allowed to be served on parties exclusive for graduate students. Good news for students who love beer and wine because the two beverages are not banned. For students aged 21 and above who stay at on-campus dormitories, only liquor bottles smaller than 750 ml would be tolerated (via NPR). Stanford University said in a statement as reported by NPR that smaller liquor bottles are priced higher than the bigger ones which may discourage students from buying in the first place. The stores that sell hard liquor around Stanford University are expected to experience a decrease in sales and may eventually change their locations. Those who would be caught in violation of the new policy may be kicked out of on-campus housing, and suffer any consequences the administration may deem fit such as attending alcohol education seminars and counseling. The main aim of the new policy is to reduce high-risk behavior that is said to be caused by excessive drinking. As per Stanford Daily, 91.46 percent or 2,323 students are against the hard liquor ban. A petition was also signed by 1,720 people showing their opposition to the ban. It is very unpopular, especially among college students who regard this life phase as their first breath of full freedom. Vice Provost for Student Affairs, Greg Boardman challenges students to be disciplined and comply with the new policy instead of devising ways to avoid being caught with hard liquor. According to him, messing with the new hard liquor ban would be inconsiderate of concerns by other students and would just contribute to the existing problem (via Los Angeles Times). As for other professors in Stanford University, the new policy steers away the discourse from the real root cause of sexual assault cases, which is lack of consent and not drunkenness. It takes responsibility away from Stanford, according to one professor (via NPR). Do you think that banning alcoholic drinks inside the campus would help Stanford University prevent assault cases from happening? Sound off your thoughts in the Comments section below and follow Parent Herald for more news and updates. One of the best ways to turn your children into empathetic adults is to expose them to other cultures by traveling. Experts believe that cross-cultural experiences can boost people's sense of empathy, compassion, creativity, and connection that he/she can bring into adulthood. According to Quartz, traveling and interacting with people of other ethnicities introduce children to socioeconomic diversity and cultivate their curiosity for the world. Adam Galinsky, a professor at Columbia Business School, said cross-cultural travel can make kids recognize that there's more to life than their egocentric view of the world. Galinsky said there are previous studies that found cross-cultural travel boosts perspectives and cognitive flexibility, which helps a person entertain multiple ideas. Denise Daniels, founder and executive director of the nonprofit organization National Childhood Grief Institute, said kids interacting with their peers from around the world can build confidence and respect. Daniels, however, advised parents to talk to their children before, during, and after their international travels. Those conversations should consist of a country's local customs and beliefs. Traveling can also help children, especially those living in a wealthy country like the United States, realize how fortunate they are because they have easy access to toys, books, electronic devices, and recreational activities, The Huffington Post reported via LiveFamilyTravel.com. Taking kids to developing nations would instill humility, generosity, and compassion in them and make them realize that not every child in the world has nice clothes, shoes, toys, and sufficient food like them. Traveling in non-English speaking countries can help children better understand the plight of immigrants in America and in other developed nations, Parenthood.com wrote. Kids get a taste of what it feels like to be an outsider when they visit non-English speaking countries and when they get back home, there's a huge chance that they are less likely to form judgments and stereotypes about people with different accents or nationalities. Of course, not all families can afford international travel. Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, an associate professor of education, psychology and neuroscience at the University of Southern California, said parents can expose their children instead to community organizations or school groups that bring together people from different social and ethnic groups, Quartz added. Exposure to other cultures via international travel, however, doesn't automatically turn children into an empathetic person. It's more of what they do in those travels that heavily impact kids. Samantha C. Sweeney, a psychologist and founder of the educational company Cultural Competence, said parents should provide children with a meaningful interpretation of why and how their lives differ from other people. The benefits of homework have long been contested. Some studies highlight its benefits while some discount its importance. A second-grade teacher in Texas seem to side with the latter as she has banned homework for the rest of the year in her subject. In a letter addressed to parents, Teacher Brandy Young at Godley Elementary School in Texas announced that there will be no formal assignments for the school year. All works that would be done at home are those that the student didn't finish in the classroom, those meals meant to be eaten with the family, books to be read together with parents, games to play outside, etc. (via New York Daily News). The letter was distributed to parents during the "Meet the Teacher Night" of the school before the new academic year starts. Young's new homework policy fascinated one of the parents, Samantha Gallagher, who was so enthralled with the teacher's scheme that she can't help posting a picture of the letter in Facebook. The photo has now over 70,000 shares with mostly positive comments directed towards the second-grade teacher and her no-homework approach on teaching. Gallagher even commented that after posting Young's letter in Facebook, she has received messages from Canada, Scotland, Ireland, Polynesia, Africa, Japan, Israel and Australia which she intereprets as the universality of the no-homework concept. New York Daily News reports that most teachers gauge a student's performance and ability on scores and are now less concerned with student happiness. It is simply repeating what has already been taught in the classroom and is not necessary on the growth of the student who can do other activities at home that would help develop his/her character more. Meanwhile, pro-homework advocates argue its value of practice that helps the student retain and test his/her ability. It also teaches students to have a sense of responsibility, to manage their time well in order to accomplish homeworks and have time for other things (via New York Daily News). As per Parent Herald, there are many problems of homeworks which leads people to judge its importance. These reasons include homeworks are not of good quality, homeworks are done at home without immediate feedback and lastly, participants of previous researches may have wrongly reported the time they spent doing their homeworks. This is why if homeworks would be given, its quality should be assured. Most people hate homework but regardless of personal preference, do you think that this teacher was right to ban homework in her second grade class? We would love to hear from you! Sound off your thoughts in the Comments section and follow Parent Herald for more news and updates. It's been a while since Josh Duggar got tangled on sex and cheating scandal, but people still don't forget. Not his family though. The Duggars seem to have forgiven and fully accepted Josh, as evident in recent family social media posts. Jim Bob Duggar has brought his sons to the EAA Oshkosh Airshow 2016, Josh included. They took a family photo and shared it on their social media pages. Most recently, they also shared a video showing little Meredith, Josh's daughter, learning how to walk. A report from The Bitbag noted the speculations that the whole Duggar family has been ignoring the eldest Duggar child. Fans did not fail to notice how Michelle and Jim Bob did not dare mention his name in their anniversary message, but instead referred to him as "first child." Josh Duggar may have created so much hate from fans who have been following the Duggars, perhaps out of their high expectations from a Christian family, which is supposed to be a role model when it comes to living righteously. The Duggars have actually been trying to rebuild Josh's reputation and bringing his name once in a while in the public. However, fans are quick to send harsh comments. That could be one of the reasons that the family tries to avoid mentioning him. But one of the Christian teachings is forgiveness, and so it's not really surprising for the Duggars to accept Josh. They are family after all. Anna Duggar and Josh Duggar have reunited since Josh went out of the faith-based rehab, and reports said they are attending professional marriage counseling. Meanwhile, "Jill and Jessa: Counting On" Season 2 premiered on Aug. 23. From last season's focus on the family getting back to their feet after the scandals and the cancellation of "19 Kids and Counting," the new season features new development among the Duggar daughters, particularly the engagement of Jinger Duggar and Jeremy Vuolo. Jessa Duggar has also revealed to be pregnant with Ben Seewald's second child. Rumors said that Josh Duggar would appear sometime in the show, but that has not been confirmed. "The Young and the Restless" is leaving their fans at the edge of their seats as August 24's episode is bound to get messy. It was revealed that Hilary (Mishael Morgan) will be in for a battle against Neil (Kristoff St. John). CelebDirty Laundry dished out the spoilers for tonight's episode as it was revealed what Billy and Victoria are up to. Hilary was frustrated with Neil, hence the messy feud erupted. It was mentioned that Hilary was upset about Neil's hidden secrets and his lies. Hilary is highly determined to squeeze Neil out and get answers from him. As for Devon (Bryton James) on the other hand, it was mentioned that he was dragged into their conflict. Aside from Neil and Hilary's nasty battle, Victoria, who is portrayed by Amelia Heinle, will be in for a wild ride as well. Phyllis (Gina Togoni) suggests that Victoria will be staying in Mexico for the meantime as she waits for the latest news. As for Victoria, she just wishes that she will get to spend time with Travis (Michael Roark). The ladies, however, could not come up to a mutual agreement as the episode progress. Summer's (Hunter King) wedding is still set since Travis won't be returning to Genoa City anytime soon. As the wedding approaches, Phyllis is up to somethings as she seems supportive. It was then mentioned that Phyllis unusual behavior raised suspicions as she may be attempting to sabotage summer and Luca's (Miles Gaston) wedding. Bill (Jason Thompson) is also in for a rough patch as his announcement at Brash and Sassy can potentially end up with something negative. Jill, who is Jess Walton's character, has pushing Bill at the edge of the cliff since he took over the company. The episode then moves forward being Bill being fed up with his mother. As "The Young and the Restless" progress, do you think Phyllis would sabotage Summer's wedding? Will Bill eventually quit is post? Do let us know through the comment section below. "Rick and Morty" Season 3 is going to be unforgettable and fans are really waiting what are in store for Rick and Morty and his gang. To tease the fans even more, Adult Swim provided concept art images and a possible spoiler to let us know what they are already cooking. In a recent Twitter post from Adult Swim, "Rick and Morty" Season 3 may have to deal with the possible start of not having Rick around. The production art is about Morty's garage and without Rick. In "Rick and Morty" Season 2, Rick was imprisoned and it may be possible that Morty will plan to rescue Rick as the hashtag of the tweet is #FREERICK. The image as well shows about Morty's garage laboratory and how empty it was. Following the tweet for "Rick and Morty" Season 3 points out to new characters and villains. It is speculated that the second image will deal with the Galactic Federation Prison and how fans would hate Gromflamite Prison General. It will really be difficult to have Rick escape as the Galactic Federation Prison tightened its security with news of a possible inmate escape. But with the help of Summer, Morty and possibly Rick's ex-wife, things may still be possible. While "Rick and Morty" Season 3 will focus on Rick's possible bust to freedom, other new characters who will join the cast is Rick's ex-wife. Summer and Evil Morty will also be there to make the adventure of the two more hilarious. It is still unsure whether the recent mini episode where Summer went to Harvard while Morty died because of the experiments Rick did to him will be partly placed on "Rick and Morty" Season 3. However, Evil Morty will be joining the cast for sure with Rick's ex-wife finally showing up. While the details about the tweets are not that much but it is certain that these are all connected in the upcoming freedom of Rick and may be seen in the first episodes of "Rick and Morty" Season 3. What do you think will happen to Rick in "Rick and Morty" Season 3? Would he be able to escape? Share us your thoughts below. Ever since it has become popular for professors to include teaching and research assistant work in the curriculum of their graduate students, the question whether to consider these people as students or school employees arose. Now, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has provided an official answer: graduate students are employees who can join or form labor unions as other workers can. Instead of hiring full-time employees, colleges rely on doctoral students to teach classes as part of their doctoral curriculum. They get paid lower than full-time employees so basically, the job gets done on a lower cost which is considered by others to be exploitative in nature. This is the common situation in most universities today, according to The Washington Post. The graduate students, of course, ask for their rights as employees to be recognized but the request comes with complications. It is because there is no clear distinction whether or not they should be called employees because they do ordinary employee work or if they are students because their teaching job is part of their student's curriculum. The Wall Street Journal reports a recent case involving a group of Columbia University students who wanted to join a union and be protected by employee rights for the work they contribute to the said educational institution. First, they had to be recognized as employees instead of students in order to join a union. In a 3-1 decision, the NLRB just gave them the go-signal to legally do just that. The decision meant a lot for the Columbia University students and graduate students in general. Once they join a union, the graduate students can ask for a higher salary and have a say in what is included on their curriculum, a process called collective bargaining. In private colleges and universities, they can bargain what classes they want to teach and when they would do the work. They can also legally strike against the university as part of a labor union (via The Wall Street Journal). The Wall Street Journal further reports that the NLRB decision is also applicable to undergraduate students working as teaching fellows, assistants etc. The decision is historical as it will change the labor conditions of most academic instructors. As per American Association of University Professors, fifty percent of faculty appointments are part-time workers. One-fifth of these appointments are graduate students. In your opinion, are graduate students who work as research and teaching assistants considered as employees or students? Sound off your thoughts in the Comments section and follow Parent Herald for more news and updates. Children are supposed to be in schools - learning new things, exploring career options and thinking about their passions. In war-torn nations such as Iraq and Syria, however, children and teenagers are being used as weapons of the heartless terrorist group, the Islamic State, who's been responsible for the series of beheadings, bombings and attacks that shook the world in recent years. As terrorism issues continue to persist, senior military experts are concerned about the increasing number of child jihadi recruits, whom ISIS might use in carrying out terrorist attacks all over Europe. According to Daily Mirror, the ISIS militants have recruited, kidnapped and forcibly enlisted thousands of young boys to become kid jihadists, suicide bombers and killers. The young recruits known as the "Cubs of the Caliphate" are then brainwashed, trained and dragged into war. Ex-British Forces leader in Afghanistan Colonel Richard Kemp said that the Islamic State militants are "despicable" as they use women and children as "human shields" who are forced to fight for them. The ISIS terrorists, however, seemed to be unaffected by the threats of the international governments. As a matter of fact, they recently released a video showing a battalion of young Asian boys trained with AK47 assault rifles. Speaking of young ISIS jihadists, a child suicide bomber, who was wearing an explosive belt, was thwarted by Iraqi policemen on Aug. 21, Sunday. CNN reported that the 15-year-old boy was suspected in an Islamic State-ordered suicide bombing attempt in Kirkuk, Iraq. According to the Iraqi authorities, the young suicide bomber has no parents and was only looking for a place to belong when he was abducted by the Islamic State militants. He was then brainwashed and trained to be the group's suicide bomber. With the growing number young ISIS jihadi recruits, why and how are they recruited? Based on the report of USA Today, these minors are part of the terrorist group's "new generation of believers" who are trained to continue its violent and ruthless philosophy. To carry out heinous attacks, the children are not only trained as suicide bombers. In fact, they are forced to participate in firing squads and beheading, just like the 2015 ISIS video showing military uniformed children shooting 25 Syrian regime troops at the Palmyra amphitheater. As of April, the United Nations has recorded 274 child recruits by the Islamic State. But why are children being used to fight and launch attacks? The Christian Science Monitor explained that the ISIS militants' recruitment of young children is the group's change of tactics. The online news site added that ISIS is using the children as destructive and psychological warfare after they lose control on their territories in Iraq and Syria, not to mention the deaths of its fighters. UNICEF regional spokesperson Juliette Touma also said that child recruitments are increasing as children take more active roles in fighting for the terrorist group. Unfortunately, ISIS' child recruitment has been viewed as an act of desperation, stressing how it can be morally defeating. But experts emphasized that using children is an effective psychological warfare that cast strength, penetrate defenses and harrow fear into the emotions of the group's enemy soldiers. Do you think the children can be saved and freed from ISIS' control? Sound off below and follow Parent Herald for more news and updates. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. A piece that I wrote for the Latvian national music organization back in 2004 vanished from the internet at some point. I recently discovered that I still had the text of the piece in an e-mail, and so I thought I would share it here. Authentic Power and Gentleness: A Meeting With Peteris Vasks Last week I had the unique privilege of introducing a group of American students from Butler University in Indianapolis to someone who is arguably Latvias most significant living composer, and certainly the most famous, namely Peteris Vasks. As I seek to sum up my impression of this man and his music, I find one word foremost in my mind: authentic. Vasks is a composer who, I think it is safe to say, composes not for money (indeed, he sees his work as helping to counter our tendency towards the commercialization of our world), nor for fame, nor for any other reason than this very simple one: he is a person of great creativity and deep spirituality, and music is the language in which he most naturally expresses these depths of his own person and experience. As he guided us through several different genres of his compositions, we saw before us a person of great humility. Vasks composes because it comes naturally, and that so many others are moved by his music is something he seems to consider a stroke of good fortune, rather than something that he ought to be able to demand as a right. As he played excerpts from his many CD releases, we had a unique opportunity to watch a composer listening to his own works, and I know I was not alone in remarking the sincerity with which he clearly felt every note of each opus. As one of the students, political science major Ellen Kizik, commented, Every time he put on his music for us to sample, I would look over at Vasks. It was like he was in a trance he was really concentrating on his music. Here was this genius sitting in front of me, a once in a lifetime opportunity. It left a very powerful impression on me. For religion major Kirstin Golberg, the best part of the event was precisely being able to watch Vasks listen to his own music. She commented, You could see the emotion on his face, that he was really passionate about his music, and that rubbed off on the rest of us. Over the course of roughly an hour and a half, Vasks spoke of his lifes work and introduced these students to his music. Most of them were unfamiliar with his compositions most young people in the United States as in Latvia do not particularly listen to serious music or art music, and are even less likely to listen to music by living composers. However, by the end of the session the interest of these students had clearly been captured, and I suspect that this has every bit as much to do with Vasks own person and enthusiasm as with his music. How many world-renowned composers would take time from their schedule to meet with a bunch of college students ones that were (with one exception) not even music majors? Vasks led us all through a selection of excerpts from his compositions: Dona Nobis Pacem, Encounter (from Three Poems by Czeslaw Milosz), Landscape with Birds for solo flute, the Piano Quartet, and finally the Symphony No.2. Although we did not get to hear them, he mentioned several works that are currently in progress, including his String Quartet No.5 and what is developing into a third symphony. Vasks also circulated the sheet music for some of the pieces while we were listening, and this was what made the biggest impression on religion major Jill Moffett, who said: It was amazing to see the written scores of the pieces he played for us. I found myself wondering how a human mind could ever produce something like this. Perhaps of most profound significance for these American students, however, was the information about Vasks life. On most of his CDs, one can read that Vasks was the son of a pastor, and that he studied in Lithuania. Few Americans however can connect these dots or have sufficient knowledge of the Soviet era to understand the connection: as the son of a religious figure, Vasks was prevented from entering university to study music in his native Latvia. It was for this reason that Vasks pursued his studies in Lithuania, trying repeatedly to be accepted into the conservatory in his native land. He eventually succeeded, but this was nevertheless a poignant reminder for some of us, and perhaps a first introduction for these young students, regarding the way the Soviets (like all totalitarian regimes) sought to stifle not just religious expression, but freedom and creativity in general. This, Vasks told us, was one reason he generally limited himself to instrumental compositions during the Soviet era. Words are dangerous in an obvious way, and their message of protest against or criticism of the powers that be is more easily discerned. Yet while music itself is also potentially dangerous, since it gives expression to the feelings of the human soul in a way that words often cannot, it is nevertheless much more difficult for authorities to demonstrate concretely that the message is subversive. Like Shostakovich, whom Vasks mentioned at our meeting and whose influence is particularly discernable in his Symphony No.2, so too Peteris Vasks gave expression to ideas of sorrow and joy, oppression and liberation, which the Soviet authorities could presumably interpret in a favorable light, but which others could discern as the longing of the soul for creative freedom, a cry of the oppressed spirit and its hope for a brighter future. For these American university students, too young to remember the cold war, these are valuable lessons they need to be made aware of. But we were also reminded of something more directly connected with the students present-day experience: that materialism and commercialism, in just as real if less violent ways, can also stifle genuine spirituality and the free expression of unrestrained human creativity. Someone to whom Peteris Vasks showed a copy of the score of his Second Symphony prior to its first performance commented that the work has both power and gentleness. This, I think, sums up the whole of Vasks many creative works. But more than this, I think it summarizes the impression we had of meeting the man behind the music: the man behind this powerful music is one who seems to value gentleness, simplicity, sincerity, and (returning to the word with which I started) authenticity. Ben Pruitt, a joint anthropology and philosophy major at Butler, remarked, While I was listening to his music, I closed my eyesIt conjured up really vivid pictures in my mind. Thats never happened to me before while listening to classical music. Powerful emotionsits a really wonderful thing. I know that this meeting made an impression on our whole group, whose visit to Latvia has been focused on the relationship between faith and vocation. I trust that Vasks words and music will help guide and inspire these students as they seek to find their own inner voice and their own path through life. Dr. James F. McGrath Butler University, Indianapolis, USA Patna: A District and Sessions Judge in Siwan on Monday sentenced Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jitendra Swami to life imprisonment in a case involving kidnapping and murder of a man in the year 2000. Awadhesh Kumar Dubey, Additional District and Sessions Judge, handed out life term to Swami in the abduction and murder of Bharat Singh, the brother of Damodar Singh, a former Janata Dal U candidate from Maharajganj. Swami, the son of former Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Uma Shankar Singh, was convicted on August 12 after a court found him guilty in the abduction and kidnapping of Singh during the 2000 Bihar Assembly elections. He was reported kidnapped on February 15, 2000 and his body was recovered two days later. A lower court in 2012 had acquitted Swami in the case but the Patna High Court, on appeal, find him to be guilty of committing the crime as alleged. Known for hopping parties as he found suitable, Swami had earlier made an unsuccessful bid in the 2013 Lok Sabha by-poll on a Congress ticket following the death of his father. He tried his luck again in 2015 Bihar elections, this time on a BJP ticket from Daraunda, only to lose again to JD-U candidate Kavita Singh. Patna: With flood situation remaining grim in many districts in Bihar, the Center has dispatched five teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to assist six teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) in combating flood where nearly a lakh people are said to be stranded for days in anticipation of being rescued by the state government. {gallery}newsimages2016/aug/082316{/gallery}Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday held an emergency meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking help from the Center after failing to take precautionary measures by severely underestimating the scope of the disaster insisting not a single district was under any type of threat despite media reports to the contrary. "We had not anticipated an unscheduled release of nearly 12 lakh cusecs of water into Sone River by the Indrapuri Barrage in Rohtas district. This took everyone by surprise though all attempts are being made to provide relief to the victims," said a source in the Water Resources Department. Officials said nearly a thousand boats have been deployed in the flood-hit zones to rescue victims stranded for the past three days or so. The relief comes in addition to the help being provided by the Army and the Air Force that have been put on high alert for any contingency. "I have asked the Prime Minister to send a team of experts to Bihar to review ground situation in the flood areas. We know that rivers are becoming shallow due to the deposition of silt in them that result in serious flooding in the state each year. It is imperative to raise the absorption capacity of the rivers by increasing its depth," Kumar, who graduated with an electrical engineering degree from Bihar College of Engineering in 1972, said. Meanwhile, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Sushil Kumar Modi on Tuesday slammed Kumar for playing politics with the Center when he should be concentrating on rescue and rehabilitation of the flood victims in Bihar. "Nitish Kumar never fails to play politics even in a grave situation like massive flood in the state. Instead of sending relief to flood-hit areas, he is being confrontational with the Center to score some cheap political points," Modi said. Reacting to the Chief Minister's assertion that the flood was the result of silt deposition in the river bed in the lack of any cohesive central policy on silt management, the former Deputy Chief Minister said that instead of focusing on relief and rescue, Kumar was once again displaying an amazing lack of understanding of the gravity of the situation. "He is playing politics like he always does. He is blaming the Center for his own failure. I would like to know why he not demanded a strong silt policy from the Center for the last ten years when Bihar is faced with flood each year. Also, Kumar claims himself to be close to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Is he going to ask her to tear down the Farakka Dam in West Bengal that deposits millions of tons of silt in Bihar rivers each year or will he only blame the NDA government for the flooding?" Modi asked. The BJP leader also reminded Kumar of playing politics over flood when he rejected a check of Rs. 5 crore given to Bihar by the Gujarat government for flood relief in 2008. News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. Podcast About 75% of military recruits arrive at a training base with no bank account and have to be bussed to a local bank to open one, says Jill Castilla, CEO of Citizens Bank of Edmond. The bank's team is building a platform that will help service members save and build credit. What Hamadan Says About the Fragility of Russian-Iranian Ties 08/24/16 By Mark N. Katz (source: LobeLog) Just one week after Russian bombers began flying missions over Syria out of an Iranian air base in Hamadan, Tehran has revoked its permission for Moscow to use the base. These missions never would have begun if Tehran had not agreed that they could take place. But Russia's public declaration that they were occurring had a negative impact on Iranian domestic politics. There was criticism in the press and parliament that allowing Russia to make use of an Iranian base violated Iran's constitutional ban on foreign military bases. Top government leaders responded to this criticism by saying that Russia had not established a base in Iran, but was simply refueling its aircraft at an Iranian one. But this line of reasoning did not quell criticism, and so Tehran announced an end to these Russian missions while criticizing Moscow for having announced them publicly. What this episode shows is that, even though Moscow and Tehran are both supporting the Assad regime against its opponents in Syria and top Iranian leaders were willing to allow Russia to use a base in Iran in pursuit of this common aim, a highly negative view of Russia prevails in Iran that limits the extent to which the leadership of the Islamic Republic want to be seen cooperating with it. Unlike so many Third World countries during the Cold War, where an anti-Western outlook resulted in a willingness to cooperate with Moscow, an anti-Russian outlook has long prevailed even among the most anti-American elements inside Iran. This is due to Iran's long, negative history with Russia-which has included Tsarist Russian conquest of Iranian territory in the 19th century, Tsarist Russian intervention against Iran's Constitutional Revolution in the first decade of the 20th century, Soviet Russia's support for secession in northwestern Iran after both World War I and World War II, Soviet occupation of northern Iran during World War II and (unlike the British who occupied southern Iran) unwillingness to withdraw its forces afterward, and support for Saddam Hussein during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War. Post-Soviet Russia has also annoyed Iran on many occasions, such as when it agreed to sell weapons to Tehran but then postponed or cancelled these deals at America's behest, took several years to complete the Bushehr nuclear reactor (amid all manner of rancorous dispute), and supported UN Security Resolutions imposing economic sanctions on Iran when it could have vetoed them. Many other instances could be cited, including Russian president Vladimir Putin's pursuit of improved relations with Iran's arch-enemies, Israel and Saudi Arabia. Russian warplanes at an Iranian base in Hamadan Far from showing just how closely allied Moscow and Tehran have recently become, this latest episode shows that cooperation between the two countries is difficult even when they are pursuing a common goal. This raises the question of what would happen to their relationship if their goals diverged, particularly in Syria. If and when Moscow and Tehran become convinced that Bashar al-Assad's opponents there have either been defeated or co-opted, it would not be surprising if they each sought the reduction of the other's presence and influence in Assad's government. Such an eventuality, of course, is not yet at hand, and Moscow and Tehran clearly still have reason to cooperate in Syria since the opposition to Assad is still quite strong. And as was the case in March, when Putin announced that he was withdrawing the main part of Russian forces from Syria but actually kept them there, it could be that Russia will either continue or resume bombing missions over Syria from Iran soon. Even so, just the announcement that Russia is no longer using the Iranian base shows that there are political costs to Iranian leaders to be seen cooperating with Russia. The severity of those political costs will be even more apparent if these flights do not resume. Some have suggested that Russian-Iranian cooperation (including Tehran allowing Russian use of its base for a week) stems from Iranian unhappiness with American policies, such as a slower pace to sanctions relief than Tehran thought would occur as a result of the Iranian nuclear accord. This may well be true. But Iran's withdrawal of permission for Russia to use its base did not occur as a result of a sudden improvement in Iranian-American ties. In other words, Russian-Iranian relations can be expected to be tense even if Iranian-American relations are as well. The ongoing tension in Russian-Iranian relations that this episode highlights could provide an opportunity for American foreign policy to exploit. But for this to happen, Washington would actually have to recognize that the opportunity exists. About the author: Mark N. Katz is a professor of government and politics at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. He earned a Ph.D. in political science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1982. He is the author of many books and articles, including Leaving without Losing: The War on Terror after Iraq and Afghanistan (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2012). This GTX 1070-powered notebook offers fantastic gaming performance, but its minimal overclocking ability keeps it from being completely mind-blowing. Nvidias GeForce GTX 10-series GPUs for laptops have arrived, and if the first Pascal-equipped notezilla in our lab is any indication, theyre formidable. Asus mighty ROG G752VS-XB72K OC Edition packs a GTX 1070 laptop GPU with 8GB of memory and an overclockable quad-core CPU. You also get 32GB of overclocked DDR4 RAM and an NVME PCIe SSD. along with a 1TB 7,200rpm hard drive. This is a seriously high-end laptop that cuts no corners, and its $2,499 price reflects it. An even more expensive version doubles the SSD storage and RAM (512GB and 64GB, respectively) and sells for $2,999. Its closest rival would be a laptop like Acers Predator 17X, which has almost the exact same base specs and configuration, but includes an older desktop GTX 980 GPU. Under the hood The G752VS we tested is a moderate upgrade from its last incarnation. Still, its hardware packs quite a punch. The CPU has been upgraded from a Core i7-6700HQ to a Core i7-6820HK. Both are 14nm Skylake quad-core processors with hyper-threading, but the 6820HK has a 100MHz-higher boost clock of 3.6GHz and is also an unlocked chip. By default when under load, the chip will turbo-boost one of its cores to 3.6GHz, or two cores to 3.5GHZ, or all four cores to 3.2GHz. Asus provides software that lets you push further, though: You can boost one or two cores to 3.8GHz, or all four cores to 3.6GHz. For yet more oomph, you can manually tweak the values to get one core up to 4GHz. PCWorld Since the CPU is an unlocked part, you can increase each cores multiplier individually up to 40x. The GPU upgrade from a GTX 980M to the brand-new GTX 1070 is the bigger deal: In our benchmark preview, the GTX 1070 walloped the 980M by 50 to 100 percent, depending on the test. These 10-series mobile parts are designed to perform at the same level as their desktop equivalentstheres nothing cut down here. In fact, the GTX 1070 for notebooks actually has more CUDA cores than the desktop part (128, to be exact). It has a slightly lower clock speed than the desktop 1070, but the 38MHz difference is a moot point because the GTX 1070 for notebooks is overclockable. With all this GPU muscle, you might be expecting one of the fancy new displays Nvidia said its 10-series GPUs would support, like a 120Hz panel, but thats sadly not the case here. The G752VS-XB72K features a good old-fashioned 1080p display with wide viewing angles (aka IPS equivalent), a 75Hz refresh rate, and a matte finish. However, it does also feature G-Sync, so that helps make up for the panels lower refresh rate. The ROG packs 32GB of DDR4/2,133MHz overclocked to 2,400MHz. You can up that to 64GB, but you should be doing some hardcore work to justify that outlay32GB should be more than enough for 99.9 percent of enthusiasts. To upgrade down the road, you undo one captive screw on the bottom of the laptop to access two empty SO-DIMM slots, as well as the SSD and hard drive. An Intel 8260 card supports dual-band 802.11ac and Bluetooth. Ports The G752VS-XB72K bristles with ports and connectors. On the left side youll find a Kensington lock port, two USB 3.0 ports, an SD Card reader, anda DVD multi-drive. What year is this? I would prefer to see that space used for a bigger batteryor more cooling, because the fan noise is louder than in other systems weve tested. The right side of the notebook looks like a strip of Swiss cheese: Youll find gigabit ethernet, HDMI 2.0, mini DisplayPort, two more USB 3.0 ports (one of which can charge devices while the system sleeps), and a USB 3.1 Type C port (10Gbps) with Thunderbolt 3. There are also jacks for a microphone, headphones, and line out, as well as a power connector. Chassis, input, and speakers Housing all this technowizardry is a chassis that is both massive and extremely solid. If you can pick it up (remember to lift with your knees), you wont feel a single iota of flex. While its clearly a monster at 8.9 pounds, the G752VS-XB72K actually weighs one pound less than the Acer Predator 17X. Josh Norem Styling details like this copper accent abound on this flagship notebook. The overall color scheme is what wed call silver and salmon, but Asus calls it armor titanium with plasma copper. I honestly prefer the Predators black-and-red color scheme, but Im a bit traditional. One very cool feature is the underbelly: It has transparent panels so you can ogle the cooling apparatus. Asus uses 3D vapor chambers and copper heat pipes to keep the CPU and GPU frosty. Josh Norem This kind of looks like a super car, where you can see the engine. At the center of it all is a full-sized island keyboard with orangesorry, plasma copperbacklighting. The keys are quite soft and also have some travel in them, so it feels very similar to typing on a real non-mechanical keyboard. The layout is good, too, with arrow keys that are isolated off to the sideI really dug having some extra room around them. Five programmable macro keys run along the top of the keyboard. You can choose up to three profiles per key, for a total of 15. Josh Norem The keys glow orange and look great, but there are no other color options. The keyboards only real drawback is the inability to adjust the color of its backlighting. Thats a surprising omission for a laptop of this stature, especially since the Acer Predator lets you change it via zones and the Razer Blade lets you tweak it on a per-key basis. As for the trackpad, it has soft and tactile buttons that feel like the keyboards keys and are easy to use, but its too slippery. We found ourselves accidentally dragging-and-dropping folders with some frequency. As a full-figured notebook, youd expect the G752VS-XB72K to have a booming audio system, but sound is muffled and indistinct. It doesnt get loud enough, either. Asus includes a Sonic Bass Woofer in the chassis, but the whole shebang is underwhelming. Software One of the highlights of the G752VS-XB72K experience is Asus Game Center software, which looks modeled after a Star Trek holodeck. All quips aside, its a bit too mucheverything is garish and hard to read. Heres what it looks like: PCWorld Sure, this interface looks futuristic, but its too cluttered. That said, we do appreciate its wealth of information and controls. You can examine every facet of the notebooks operation, change macro banks, toggle the chassis light bars on and off, and most importantly, fiddle with the overclocking controls. (Though we doubt youd do that more than once.) Asus provides two presets labeled Standard and Extreme, and theres also a manual mode that lets you juice the cores up to 4GHz by increasing the multipliers. Sadly, theres no way to overclock the GPU from this interface. Speaking of macros: Crafting them is as easy as selecting which function you want the button to perform, and then selecting it or creating it. We love the interface. PCWorld There are three banks of macros for five keys, giving you 15 total. Performance Lets get down to the nitty gritty. For our benchmarks, we ran everything on the Standard profile (i.e., with the CPU and GPU set to stock clocks). Doing so clearly illustrates what gains the GTX 1070 has over 9-series GPUsmake no mistake, it comes to the party with a massive advantage. Were expecting a slaughter. 3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Though its synthetic, 3DMark scales well with GPU horsepower. The GTX 1070-equipped G752VS outperformed the next-closest notebook by a decent margin, but lets dig deeper into that. PCWorld First, the Acer Predator 17X has a GTX 980 in itnot the mobile version, but the actual desktop part in a notebook form. Its equivalent among the 10-series parts would be the GTX 1080 for mobile, but the 1070 for mobile already beats it by a solid 35 percent. Compared to the previous version of the Acer Predator, which rocked the GTX 980M, the G752VS-XB72Ks GTX 1070 outruns it by an astounding 73 percent. Thats quite a jump from one generation to the next. Just imagine what two GTX 1070s or GTX 1080s in SLI could do. Tomb Raider This is an older game that errs on the side of CPU-intensive, but it can still tax a GPU. We saw a healthy 31 percent boost going from the GTX 980 to GTX 1070. PCWorld Once again, when compared to the GTX 980M, the jump was huge: an astounding 76 percent. (By the way, the next time someone tells you synthetic tests are dumb, remind them that we saw similar scaling here.) Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor We ran this title with the 4K texture pack installed to see how the G752VS-XB72K handles a more modern game. We werent disappointed. PCWorld Even on Ultra settings, the GTX 1070 ran at 144 fps: Thats a 64-percent boost over the Predators desktop GTX 980. The next number should make your jaw drop: Compared to the older GTX 980M, the GTX 1070s performance in this test marks an improvement of 104 percent. Holy. Crap. Handbrake This test uses the Android Tablet preset of the popular encoding software to crunch down beefy 30GB MKV file to a smaller MP4. The program will push the CPU to 100 percent and utilize every available core until the task is finished. PCWorld As we expected, the G752VS-XB72K finished in a dead tie with the Acer Predator 17X. They essentially have the same CPU, so similar times of approximately 49 minutes werent a surprise. As for actual performance, thats about as fast as you can get for a notebook with a mobile CPU these daysso you may reasonably perform content creation on this machine. We also overclocked the G752VS-XB72K to 4GHz and ran this test, but the chip wasnt able to hold at 4GHz throughout the encoding process. It reached temps of 83 degrees Celsius and then throttled down to about 3.3GHz to remain stable. The overall improvement in encoding time was a scant two minutes, so it wasnt worth the effort. Note that when we overclocked the Acer Predator 17X, it was almost 10 percent faster than the G752VS-XB72 in this test. Overclocking This laptop touts its overclocking abilities, but dont believe the hype. Sure the memory comes overclocked and the CPU is unlocked, but in our testing, we were unable to stress the notebook while overclocked. For example, when we ran the stress-test Prime95 to hammer on the CPU, it ran at 3GHz in Standard mode, then jumped to 3.6GHz in Extreme mode. However, temperatures were in the ballpark of 90 degrees Celsius, causing the G752VS-XB72K to throttle the clocks down to 3GHz to keep the temps around 73 degrees. Prime95 is a tough load, though. That said, the CPU still didnt hold high overclocks for long during our Handbrake encoding testwe verified this using Intels XTU utility, which showed the G752VS-XB72K quickly fall down from 4GHz to keep the chip from overheating. Is this just early hardware and something easily fixed in the UEFI? Only time will tell, but today wed say that the overclocking feature isnt worth it. PCWorld Sure, you can run it at 4GHzbut just not for very long. We also had very little luck overclocking the GPU. We were able to run a GPU offset of 221MHz, which resulted in a varying boost clock of around 1,750MHz or so. However, once we pushed the offset to 250MHz, the entire machine froze solid. Since the default boost clock for the GTX 1070 is 1,645MHz, running it at 1,750MHz will provide negligible gains. Conclusion The G752VS is certainly impressive. It offers almost double the a level of gaming performance over previously available single-GPU notebooks, which is insane. Its not a one-trick pony, eitherboth its quad-core CPU, DDR4 memory, and PCIe SSD are top-shelf all the way. This notebook is a desktop replacement, with the same amount of performance. And its priced quite fairly, even though $2,500 might seem exorbitant to people not used to gaming laptops. All of the fully loaded GTX 1070 notebooks we found online fell between $2,200 and $2,600, and almost all of them had the exact same specs. The only real fly in the ointment is its overclocking performanceits throttling under extended load is a bit disappointing. The Acer Predator 17X, for example, had no such issues. It would be nice if the keyboard had RGB backlighting capabilities and better audio, too. And the G752VS-XB72K only comes with a paltry one-year warranty, whereas similar notebooks from Acer and MSI offer warranties that are twice as long. For most users, these are small issues, but theyre worth noting. Still, its hard to argue with the incredible graphics performance of the GTX 1070. Even with the disappointing overclocking performance, its second to none. Virtual reality and gaming are changing the way PCs are built and driving the development of new types of memory for GPUs. A successor to the GDDR5 memory used in most GPUscalled GDDR6will be on its way by 2018, according to a presentation by Samsung executive Jin Kim at the Hot Chips conference this week. GDDR6 will be a faster and more power-efficient form of graphics memory. GDDR6 will provide throughput of around 14Gbps (bits per second), an improvement of 10Gbps with GDDR5. Although Samsung has targeted 2018 for GDDR6, new graphics memory usually takes a long time to reach the market, so the estimate may be aggressive. GPUs will need to be designed for the new memory, and components will need to be validated and tested, all of which takes time. Applications like VR and gaming are putting a heavy load on GPUs, under stress to deliver the best graphics. VR headsets like Oculus Rift and HTCs Vive only work with premium GPUs. GDDR6 will help GPUs deliver faster performance while drawing less power. The need for more GPU performance is already changing GPUs. New types of memory like HBM (High-Bandwidth Memory) and GDDR5X, which offer faster bandwidth, are already being used in new GPUs from AMD and Nvidia. GPUs with HBM and other new memory are still priced at a premium. But GDDR6like GDDR5could be used in low-priced GPUs. Itll also be easier for GPUs to transition from GDDR5 to GDDR6 or GDDR5X than to HBM, which redefines the memory subsystem. Its clear that Samsung is putting its weight behind GDDR6, while rival Micron is backing GDDR5X. Nvidias GeForce GTX1080 GPU has GDDR5X memory. Samsung also backs HBM. GPUs are also getting faster throughput, driving a need for faster memory. Faster memory helps GPUs process graphics faster, and the graphics can then be sent to memory, CPU, and storage via quicker interconnects like Nvidias NVLink or the upcoming PCI-Express 4.0. Advances in manufacturing have also created the need for new GPU memory. Some of the latest GPUs based on Nvidias Pascal and AMDs Polaris architectures are manufactured with new techniques including FinFET, a 3D structure in which chips are stacked. New memory like HBM and GDDR6 are designed for such new chip structures, while GDDR5 memory has been designed for older GPUs made using older manufacturing technologies that dont use stacked chips. SAN DIEGO Jake Arrieta threw eight scoreless innings of two-hit ball to become the NLs first 16-game winner and Kris Bryant and Addison Russell homered, leading the Chicago Cubs over the San Diego Padres 5-3 on Tuesday night. Arrieta (16-5) allowed a single to Alex Dickerson in the second and Christian Bethancourts double in the eighth. Arrieta has two no-hitters in the past year. The Padres brought the go-ahead run to the plate in the ninth, but Aroldis Chapman got the last two outs for his 28th save after Felix Pena was charged with three runs. Bryants 33rd home run tied him with Colorados Nolan Arenado for the NL lead. Russell smacked his fifth homer in five games, a two-run shot that put the Cubs ahead 4-0 in the fifth. Arrieta won for the fourth straight start. He had six strikeouts and three walks. The major league-leading Cubs are 21-5 in their last 26 games and 35 games over .500 for the first time since Sept. 25, 2008. Chicago has scored at least three runs in 22 straight games and has hit a minimum of two home runs in each of its last seven outings. Christian Friedrich (4-10) lost his eighth consecutive decision. He lasted 5 1/3 innings, giving up five runs and seven hits. He walked four and struck out two. Bryant got his second RBI in the sixth when his sacrifice fly scored Arrieta, who was aboard on a one-out triple. Bryant, who won the Golden Spikes Award at the University of San Diego, hit his second home run in two games in the third. His one-out blast put the Cubs ahead 1-0. The Padres blew several chances early. Travis Jankowski was picked off third in the first, and Arrieta, who is 27-5 since the beginning of last August, wiggled from jams in the next two innings thanks to two double plays, the first of three for the Cubs. The Riverside Community Hospital honored cancer survivors at a recent dinner that included lots of laughter. The hospital says the guest speaker, Lee Tomlinson, gave an entertaining presentation titled, Patient Extraordinaire on a Mission, The Blessing of Cancer. Seriously! He addressed the audience, which included more than 100 cancer survivors, wearing a hospital gown. Tomlinson, a cancer survivor, impressed upon the audience the importance of staying positive while fighting the disease, according to a hospital news release. The Aug. 3 event marked the hospitals 13th annual National Cancer Survivors Dinner. The news release says every survivor in the audience received a certificate and gift symbolizing the celebration of life. Contact the writer: community@pressenterprise.com Wildomar pet store will host microchip clinic WILDOMAR Low-cost microchips for dogs and cats will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or until sold out, Saturday, Aug. 27 at Natalies Rascals Pet & Spa Services, 32294 Clinton Keith Road, Suite 105. The clinic coincides with the business one-year anniversary party. Information: Natalies Rascals on Facebook.com Staff report $175,000 donation to benefit cancer patients LOMA LINDA A $175,000 donation to the Loma Linda University Cancer Center will go toward supportive care services for cancer patients. Such services are typically not covered by insurance companies, according to a news release from the hospital. Stater Bros. Charities and Inland Women Fighting Cancer presented the $175,000 check to the center on Aug. 17. Proceeds from last years Believe Walk in Redlands financed the donation. Staff report CHP to hold driver safety class in Temecula TEMECULA The California Highway Patrol will be hold a Start Smart driver safety class for teenagers and their parents or guardians at 6 p.m. Aug. 31 at Temecula City Hall, 41000 Main St. Seating is limited. To RSVP, contact CHP officer Mike Lassig at 951-506-2000 or MLassig@chp.ca.gov. Staff report Send items for possible inclusion in Community Notes to community@pressenterprise.com. Re: Cassie MacDuff bids farewell to longtime Inland Empire audience [News, Aug. 22]: Whoa there, Cassie. I dont recall us readers voting on letting you move on. Face it, no one can replace Cassie MacDuff. I have not always agreed on some of the things you wrote about but always enjoy reading your articles and now you will be sorely missed, not just by me, but the entire readership of the Press-Enterprise. I wish you well on your next adventure in life and work but remember what you said, Ill be seeing you. Im sure I speak for everyone when I say that we hope to see you pop in with some interesting article or post now and again. Whomever the P-E hires has some very big shoes to fill and it remains to be seen if that person can fit into them. So long, good luck and well all be seeing you too. Jon Fleischer Hemet I want to thank the Press-Enterprise for the privilege of allowing the readers to enjoy Cassie MacDuffs columns for many years. I always eagerly looked forward to her columns, which were written with deep thought, intelligence and logic. I know all of us who think that America is still great will miss Cassie very much. Good luck to Cassie in her next endeavor. Jerry Lassoff Hemet The Beaumont seven Re: All seven former Beaumont officials plead not guilty in corruption case [News, Aug. 20]: When I saw the Beaumont seven on the front page, I thought a gang of thieves. If these people were smart enough on city business to hold the management positions they held, they very well knew what they were doing was illegal and wrong. I just cant believe they got away with it for so long. Where were the auditors? Where was the rest of the city staff? Was nobody awake? They cast a shadow on the many honest people who work in city government. They deserve whatever punishment they receive. Patti Neff Hemet A group of 140 soldiers with Ontarios 330th Military Police Company, a California Army National Guard unit, have been deployed for a nine-month assignment in Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba. The unit deployed Aug. 8, along with the 29th Military Police Company out of Maryland. The 330th is tasked with providing military police operations for the base, best known as a detention site for those suspected of terrorist activities. State National Guard officials said that while individual members of the unit have previously been deployed to the base as part of other National Guard units, this is the first deployment to Guantanamo for the 330th. Contact the writer: mmuckenfuss@pressenterprise.com or 951-368-9595 Two brothers have married the flavors from their native Peru with those of Mexico to create a fusion restaurant that includes vegan and vegetarian-friendly fare. In February, Andre and Giovanni Miranda of Lima opened Red Panka, 1971 W. Redlands Blvd., Redlands, in a 1,500-square-foot former office. The most popular dish is the saltado, a Peruvian stir fry that typically combines a protein of marinated strips of beef, shrimp, chicken, baked cheese or tofu with onions, tomatoes and french fries, served with rice. Andre explained that Chinese immigrants living in Peru heavily influenced the saltado (Spanish for sauteed) aspect of the countrys cuisine. The restaurant is named after a Peruvian red chili pepper. Andre said one of the most-requested salads surrounds beef, chicken or shrimp with mixed lettuce, corn salsa, tomatoes, black beans, chilies, quinoa and avocado, sprinkled with corn nuts instead of croutons. Other favorites include grilled meat thats been marinated in chimichurri sauce. Prices top out at $10. Information: 909-792-9300, Facebook: Red Panka SMALL BITES Shakin up Riverside Plaza: Great Shakes will open on Main Street in October, across from the movie theater. Want to test drive its 25 flavors, including Key lime pie, peanut butter and banana? The flagship is at 160 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite A, Palm Springs. Information: 760-327-5300, greatshakes.com Aloha, Ono Hawaiian BBQ: The 3,005-square-foot restaurant specializing in island dishes opened Aug. 18 in the Riverside Plaza in the former Daphnes Greek Cafe. Information: 951-328-1988, onohawaiianbbq.com Celebrate: You can sample appetizers at the grand opening Sept. 8 of Habanero Grill, 2472 University Ave., Riverside, in Zacatecas Cafes former digs. Information: 951-224-9145, habaneromexican grillriverside.com Goodbye: After 20 years, Hot Wok, a favorite Murrieta restaurant, 40469 Murrieta Hot Springs Road, is closing at the end of the month. Fans adore the elderly owners, Roger and Lucy, as much as their egg rolls, pot stickers, Hawaiian chicken, chow phun and fried rice. Information: 951-696-7570 HEMET HAPPENINGS Farewell: DJ Restaurant, 567 N. San Jacinto St., a Hemet institution known for its prime rib and corned beef and cabbage, is closing Sunday. Grace Baker, who has worked at DJ for 42 years since she was 15 and bought it 25 years ago, said her lease is up. Im very sad, she said. I love my business. But this isnt a permanent adios, because Baker has feelers out for another location. Im optimistic, looking on the bright side, she said. Information: 951-925-5713, Facebook: DJ Restaurant Goodbye and hello: Rubios Mexican restaurant closed its location at 2701 W. Florida Ave., Hemet, on Sunday and has reopened at 30091 Haun Road, Menifee about a 20-minute drive away. Information: 951-309-6348 Bigger: On Friday, the 2-year-old Downtown Deli & Coffee Co., 113 N. Harvard St., Hemet, opened its adjoining, expanded suite, which added more than 20 seats to the popular sandwich and java joint. Information: 951-929-1521, facebook.com /downtownhemet To pass on tips about restaurants, breweries and food shops that are opening or closing, contact Laurie Lucas at llucas@scng.com or 951-368-9559. Despite facing overwhelming debt of nearly $2 million, Farrells Ice Cream was rescued Tuesday night by self-made millionaire Marcus Lemonis who featured the restaurant on his reality business show The Profit. Anytime you can bring people together, families together, and have fun thats a business worthy of investing in, Lemonis said during the premiere episode. In most shows, the chief executive of Camping World offers his expertise and wallet to struggling small businesses. During episode Tuesday, Lemonis spent the first part of the show scouring the financial books and operations of Lake Forest-based Parlour Enterprises. After researching the company and its employees, Lemonis decides if he wants help a business get back on its feet with a large investment. With Farrells, his initial assessment didnt look good as he discovered a company on the brink of disaster. Two of the companys five restaurants were in the red. Locations in Rancho Cucamongo and Sacramento had a combined debt of nearly $400,000. Among the issues plaguing the restaurants were faulty equipment, soaring food costs and untapped potential in its candy shops. Its like a train wreck, Lemonis said. He also found issue with the loud party atmosphere at each restaurant, where servers are constantly singing celebratory songs while banging on drums. He said it was distracting. While going over the companys financial records, Lemonis grew frustrated as he heard singing and percussion from another part of the dining room. Thats the reason why people dont come back here, he told the Farrells executive team, which included CEO Mike Fleming and President Paul Kramer. The business partners brought back the old fashioned ice cream brand in 2009 with the opening of Farrells Ice Cream Parlour at The Shops at Mission Viejo. Other locations followed in Sacramento, Brea, Riverside, Rancho Cucamonga and Buena Park. (A licensed location also operates in Santa Clarita, but its not part of the Parlour chain.) BUSINESS: Farrells Ice Cream Parlour plans Inland comeback The comeback of the old-fashioned ice cream brand drew crowds to the Mission Viejo restaurant. Diners came to relive memories of servers delivering monstrous ice cream concoctions while dressed in cane hats and pin-striped vests. The idea of bringing families together in a fun party atmosphere is great, Lemonis said. But Farrells had failed to take advantage of the brands nostalgic equity by operating lackluster candy shops and serving Thrifty Ice Cream. But Lemonis found value in the brand, so he invested $750,000 and took a 51 percent stake in the company. Getting the brand back in shape included tough decisions. He advised Fleming and Kramer to close the Rancho Cucamonga restaurant, which was in worse financial shape than presented in the books. Seeing a lack of imagination from the human resources director, who was in charge of stocking the candy shops, he stripped her of merchandising duties. Lemonis liked the ideas of Marketing Director Shauna Parisi, so he put her in charge of the reinventing the shops. To inspire improvement to the Farrells food and ice cream, Lemonis took Fleming and Kramer on a field trip to Universal Studios Hollywood and Fosselmans Ice Cream Co. in Alhambra. (Note: The Profit is shown on CNBC, which is part of NBCUniversal. Universal Studios is part of NBCUniversal.) On The Profit, Farrells announced plans to make its own proprietary ice cream using the original recipes left to them by Farrells founder, Bob Farrell. The team said they would also revamp the menu, focusing on higher-quality ingredients on fewer menu items. After the show finished filming in July, Parlour Enterprises closed its units in Rancho Cucamonga and Sacramento. New equipment was bought for remaining restaurants from Fountain Valley-based Chefs Toys, which also was featured on The Profit episode. In Buena Park, some immediate changes have been made, including a different color scheme in the dining room and a new outdoor marquee. The biggest physical change, as suggested by Lemonis, was made to the candy shop. Most of the candy now is being sold by the pound with several varieties of jelly beans, gummy bears and licorice. Shelves and barrels also are stocked with more unique treats, such as Harry Potter jelly beans and retro soda bottles. The merchandising tweaks have already paid off. Candy sales have tripled, Parisi said during a phone interview Wednesday morning. Bigger changes are on the way, said Parisi, daughter of CEO Fleming. The company plans to overhaul the menu with new burgers, fresh-cut fries and new ice cream flavors. The rollout is expected in the coming weeks. We thought the last few months were difficult but the real work is ahead, Parisi said. Contact the writer: nluna@ocregister.com San Bernardino County Supervisors on Tuesday voted against state certification of a necessary Environmental Impact Report for the Soda Mountain Solar Power Plant, saying the project would degrade pristine desert land with little benefit to area residents. By rejecting one the last approvals needed for the Mojave Desert plant to go forward, the county caught the attention of environmentalists around the country. And the vote against the plant will almost certainly reverberate in Washington. The Soda Mountain plant, which would be built six miles southwest of Baker, is part of the Obama administrations plans to develop 20,000 megawatts of renewable energy on public lands by 2020. The project has approvals from the federal Bureau of land management, which both approved the federal version of the Environmental Impact Report and OKd the project to be built on federal land. Developers of the proposed 287 megawatt plant say they arent giving up. We are gong to sit down and talk about options, Reyad Fezzani, chairman and CEO of Menlo Park-based Regenerate Power, said immediately after the vote. We are going to get this project done, Fezzani said. This is a good project and good projects get built. Fifth District Supervisor Josie Gonzales, First District Supervisor Robert Lovingood and Second District Supervisor Janice Rutherford voted to deny state certification of the final Environmental Impact Report. County spokesman David Wert said it wasnt clear on what, if any action, James Ramos, chairman of the board of supervisors, and Curt Hagman, fourth district supervisor, took. The county was acting as the lead agency for the state of California. Gonzales said that the project would create negative impacts for county residents without bringing lower electricity rates. Too often, San Bernardino County, with its vast lands, has felt the impact of green energy on the backs of residents with the energy going elsewhere, she said. Lovingood and Gonzales blasted the Regenerate Power team for providing confusing information and not being prepared to answer questions they knew supervisors would ask. The project has been around in various forms since 2007. It was scaled down to about 2,000 acres in spring 2015. Thats when the landowner, the federal Bureau of Land Management, eliminated a portion north of Interstate 15 in large part to accommodate Bighorn sheep. The county was being asked to certify the states portion of the Environmental Impact Report, as well as approve the projects access to water wells to keep dust down during construction. It is not clear whether the supervisors vote will actually block the project or just delay development, but it now lacks a necessary state-approved environmental study. This is certainly a setback, said David Lamfrom, director of the California Desert and National Wildlife Programs for the National Parks Conservation Association. Lamfrom said the supervisors vote sends a message across the nation that local communities can stand up to Washington policies. EMPLOYMENT PROMISES Lovingood questioned the accuracy of Regenerate Powers employment projections. The developer promised 215 on-site jobs during construction, and 53 full-time jobs after construction. Residents speaking in support of the project mentioned the importance of the jobs. Those opposed cited concerns about Bighorn sheep migration and the loss of scenic views caused by more than 1,700 acres of solar panels. Many of those in favor of the project had ties to organized labor and many of those opposed were affiliated with environmental groups. Give us a chance to earn a living wage and get more than minimum wage jobs, Greg Seifert, 31, of Baker said, speaking in support of the project. Seifert said he was let go from an $85,000-a-year job from Mollycorp, when the rare earth mining company shut down in late 2015. Now he works at near minimum wage jobs as a wrecking truck operator and at a community pool. Tyesah Goodman, told supervisors she moved out of San Bernardino and up to Barstow to give her son what she considered would be a better environment. As a member of Laborers International 783, Goodman said she hopes to get a job building the solar power plant, so she and her son can stay in Barstow. Brian Marsteller, of Hesperia, said this project is going to be important to a lot of businessmen in many communities. The most endangered species in the High Desert are human beings seeking a living wage, said Gaither Loewenstein, economic development director for the city Barstow. The project offers union jobs during construction and 53 permanent jobs, and many of those would likely be held by Barstow residents, he said. With declines in gasoline and diesel sales tax revenues, Barstow is struggling to keep police officers on the street and fire stations full, he said. But others questioned the environmental cost of building the project. We are chipping away at the desert and this is another chink, said Tom Budlong, 79, of Los Angeles. In the desert, infrastructure destroys legacy. Because we can do it (build this project) and have the ability to do so, is no excuse, said Budlong, a desert committee member of the Sierra Club. Dont take the easy path, said Ruth Rieman, of the unincorporated Flamingo Heights community near Yucca Valley. Instead of building the plant in the pristine desert, lets put solar on every parking lot the county owns, said Rieman. Michael Robinson-Dorn, professor of clinical law at UC Irvine Law Schools Environmental Law Clinic, said that county could have been held liable in lawsuits over environmental damage had it approved the project as the lead agency for the California Environmental Quality Act. Susan Sorrells, who owns several businesses in Shoshone, said the economic figures put forward by the county staff dont take into account the dollars and jobs that tourism and eco-tourism already create for San Bernardino County residents. We dont want to kill what we love, she said. Ileene Anderson, senior scientist for the Center for Biological Diversity, said San Bernardino County is a great place for solar when properly sited but this project is a poster child for poor planning. She said the vote sends a strong message to the nation about how to do solar right. Contact the writer: jsteinberg@scng.com or @JamesDSteinberg on Twitter An attorney hired by the city of Redlands to investigate an employees claims that she was the victim of retaliation and discrimination told a jury Monday he found no evidence to support her allegations. During a hearing in San Bernardino Superior Court, Steve Filarsky, who testified that generally he is pro-employer, refuted questions about whether he was the right choice to investigate claims by former employee Christine Smith. It was not in my interest or the citys interest to conduct a skewed investigation, Filarsky said in response to questions from Smiths attorney, Dan Ferguson. If there are issues they need to be disclosed and brought to the citys attention, Filarsky said. CONFLICT OF INTEREST? The city hired Filarsky to investigate the October 2012 grievance filed on behalf of Smith by her union representative after her supervisor, former Quality of Life Department Director Fred Cardenas, demoted her the day she returned from leave. Ferguson questioned whether Filarsky had a conflict of interest in investigating Smiths grievances, because he had given Cardenas legal advice on how to proceed with Smith during a meeting prior to Smiths return to work. According to Smiths lawsuit, she took time off for a medical condition following a major automobile accident. When she returned to work on Oct. 15, 2012, Cardenas asked to meet with her. She agreed, but asked her union representative, Mary LaPlante, to attend the meeting. Cardenas told Smith that she would not pass probation in her newly acquired position as fleet services administrative coordinator and that he discovered many errors while she was out, according to the lawsuit. Smith was demoted to her previous job as senior administrative analyst, and Smiths union representative filed a grievance on her behalf based on the demotion as a violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act, according to the lawsuit. Based on the performance errors discovered while she was on leave, Filarsky said in court Monday, Smith was not qualified to do the job of fleet services administrative coordinator. According to the suit, Cardenas reassigned Smith to be interim fleet coordinator in April 2012, despite reservations about her ability or desire to do the job. Cardenas then encouraged Smith to apply for the position and, when she did not, Cardenas revised the position to match her skill set. After being informed by the Human Resources Department that her position of senior administrative analyst could be eliminated and she could be demoted, she applied for the newly revised fleet services administrative coordinator job. She was promoted to the position in July 2012. STRESS LEAVE Smith claims the retaliation and discrimination continued for months after her return from medical leave in October of that year, ultimately forcing her to go out on stress leave in November 2012 and again in June 2013. According to the suit, since Smith was placed on workers compensation-related leave, her physician told the city that she should be placed in a different department in order to return to work. And due to the humiliation, emotional distress, and mental and physical pain and anguish allegedly caused by Cardenas, Smith should not be in a job that required contact with him. The city failed to accommodate her, according to the lawsuit. Cardenas resigned from the city in August 2015. Mondays testimony also reviewed Cardenas alleged violations of the citys anti-bullying and anti-workplace violence policies. In November 2012, LaPlante sent a letter to then-Human Resources Director Deborah Scott-Leistra, claiming Cardenas may have violated the citys policy on violence in the workplace during a meeting with Smith. During the meeting, Cardenas became angry and shoved the chair Smith was sitting in, according to the letter. Filarsky on Monday called Cardenas behavior boorish, but said it did not violate the policy. In a letter to LaPlante regarding the allegations, City Manager N. Enrique Martinez said the policy was not violated as Cardenas did not make verbal threats of physical violence and there was insufficient indicia that physical retaliation may occur. Court but is expected to resume Wednesday. Contact the writer: semerson@scng.com or follow Sandra on Twitter: @TheFactsSandra. Air Force 1st Lt. Christopher S. Villanueva recently graduated from the Basic F-16 Fighting Falcon Course at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. Every year, approximately 60 pilots graduate the nine-month training program, which consists of academics, simulation training and flight sorties. Prior to arriving at Luke AFB, Villanueva completed the 55-week Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program. Villanueva graduated in 2009 from Martin Luther King Jr. High School in Riverside and earned a bachelors degree in 2013 from the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado. He is the son of Steve and Lisa Villanueva of Riverside. Have your own military accomplishment to share? Send items for possible inclusion in the column to community@pressenterprise.com. Contact the writer: community@pressenterprise.com Three environmental groups have filed a notice of intent to sue San Bernardino and Colton and their regional wastewater reclamation authority for illegally killing the endangered Santa Ana suckerfish. By halting water releases critical to maintaining surface flows of the Santa Ana River, the jointly operated Rapid Infiltration and Extraction treatment plant is stranding and killing threatened fish, violating the Endangered Species Act and driving the fish closer to extinction, according to the notice. The 60-day notice of intent to file a lawsuit was filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society and the Sierra Club. Since 2014, more than 100 Santa Ana sucker deaths have been documented in three instances when the Colton/San Bernardino Regional Tertiary Treatment and Water Reclamation Authority halted water releases into the river, the three groups said in a statement released Monday. Each shutdown caused the Santa Ana River to go dry, stranding the endangered fish as well as other native fish. The shutdowns are to perform required maintenance to ensure that discharged wastewater meets federal safety standards, said Stacey Aldstadt, general manager of the San Bernardino Municipal Water Department. San Bernardino is an 80 percent owner, while Colton is a 20 percent partner in the plant, which is located in Colton but managed by the San Bernardino Municipal Water Department. The plant faces two primary issues in its shutdowns: The lightbulbs for the ultraviolet disinfection system are aging and need replacement. Because of the drought, when the plant shuts down, the water in a portion of Santa Ana River near the plant disappears, stranding fish. During planned shutdowns, more than 1,200 Santa Ana suckerfish have been salvaged in buckets, then released once the water starts flowing again, the statement from the three environmental groups said. Earlier this year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed it was investigating the situation. We are stepping in to enforce the Endangered Species Act because the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service the federal agency tasked with protecting our public-trust resources, has so far refused to act to protect the Santa Ana sucker, Drew Feldmann, conservation chairman for the San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society, said in a statement. In late December, the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District, a water wholesaler, wired $1.2 million to the San Bernardino water department to replace the more than 5,000 specialized ultraviolet lights. City officials say the order has been placed but not all lightbulbs will be replaced until May 2017, due to some complex issues. Aldstadt said the wastewater reclamation authority is both surprised and disappointed with the allegations made against it by the environmentalists. We have been working for 16 years with the United States Fish and Wildlife Services, voluntarily and at great expense to the ratepayers, to do the right things for the Santa Ana Sucker, said Aldstadt. Im not shocked, though, because we have not been able to get the Center for Biological Diversity to talk with us and understand either our treatment process or the lengths to which we have gone to work through the regulations imposed on us. Contact the writer: jsteinberg@scng.com or @JamesDSteinberg on Twitter Humanitarian extraordinaire and parish priest of the Christ the King Church in Accra, Rev Father Andrew Campbell has praised efforts by the NHIS in reaching the poor and vulnerable in society. Father Campbell told NHIA Chief Executive, Nathaniel Otoo, that the work of the NHIA was helping bring relief to many people around the country and urged the Authority to keep up the good work. Continue supporting the poor, they dont have anybody. Some of them are always praying that they dont get sick because they cannot afford the cost of healthcare. Continue helping these marginalized people so they feel loved and cared for, he said. Father Campbell made the remark on Tuesday when he visited the NHIA boss to commend the Authority for its interest in enrolling the needy and vulnerable populations of the country onto the Scheme, and to enlist the support of the NHIA in other humanitarian causes. I see it [NHIS card] work when I go to Weija, Ho with people who cannot afford it [healthcare]. I want you to continue to do this, thats the only way we can help humanity, keep it up, he encouraged. According to him, he has been following the NHIAs work with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection in providing financial access to healthcare to the needy and less privileged in our society. In his remarks, Mr Otoo praised Father Campbells dedication to helping the needy and vulnerable in Ghana. He pledged the NHIAs continued support to helping the poor get access to healthcare. He said Father Campbells commitment to bringing happiness to the needy is exemplary. The Ghana Living Standards Survey 6, has put the number of the extremely poor among the Ghanaian population at 8.4%. This translates to about 2.26 million people. In 2015, the NHIA through inter-agency partnerships enrolled 1.2 million of this number onto the Scheme. According to the NHIA, this includes the aged, school children on the School Feeding Program, prisoners, head porters and many others who now have access to healthcare. Father Campbell extended an invitation to the NHIA to join in his soup kitchen initiative where many street and homeless people are fed a meal every day at the Christ the King Church in Accra. He called on people of all faiths to abandon the poor and vulnerable in society. He was later enrolled onto the Scheme and issued an NHIS card. Father Campbell who is originally from Ireland has been in Ghana since 1971 undertaking missionary and humanitarian work. In addition to his work as the parish priest of the Christ the King Church at Cantoments in Accra, he heads the Weija Leprosaria and is a founding member of the Help Age Ghana an NGO that cares for old people. Source: Peacefmonline.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 Supporters of the General Overseer of the International Godsway Church (IGWC), Bishop Daniel Obinim have massed at the Nima police station demanding the immediate release of their Pastor. The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is holding Bishop Obinim is in its custody for alleged fraud to the tune of GHc 11.6 million. Yesterday [Tuesday], a video emerged showing the preacher being led into a vehicle from a Police station in handcuffs, escorted by some police officers. Citi News reported that some of the supporters were yelling: No Bishop no vote, No bishop no Ghana and We want bishop, we love Angel! among other cries. Bishop Obinim has since been transferred to the CID department at the Police Headquarters in Accra. The embattled preacher made headlines in the past week for the public flogging of two young adults for which he is under investigation but it is this claim of fraud that has landed him in prison custody. According to the CID, the complainant came to the Tema Police accusing Bishop Obinim of failing to deliver on a promise of helping him retrieve family gold proceeds from a fetish priest which culminated in him being defrauded of the GHc 11.6 million by the preacher. 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 Bishop Daniel Obinims lawyer, Mr Samuel Atta Akyea, has said handcuffing his client like a common criminal is not dignifying at all. Bishop Obinim was arrested on Tuesday by the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service. He is being investigated for defrauding a complainant of GHS11.6million by false pretences. This is the story for which he is being charged and for which they said he would not be admitted to bail, Mr Atta Akyea told Prince Minkah on Class91.3FMs Executive Breakfast Show on Wednesday. He spent Tuesday night in cells and has been going through the bail process on Wednesday at the Nima Police Station where he was transferred. Hundreds of his church members massed up at the station to demand his release. He was subsequently taken to an undisclosed location believed to be the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) after his fans struggled with the police during his transfer to the CID headquarters. Mr Akyea, however, expressed strong reservations about how his client has been treated. What was very sad for me was that the man [had] voluntarily gone to the police station and you handcuff him. You could see today hes been at the front pages of the Ghanaian Times and the Daily Graphic as if the nation hasnt got anything serious to discuss, as if they need this kind of pictures to overshadow the Montie FM issues and Im embarrassed by it. I dont think that the nation should stoop that low; we have more serious things to look at, not Obinims matters, he said. In Mr Atta Akyeas view, fraud allegations are normal issues which need not be blown out of proportion for propaganda purposes. They are normal things; if youve practised criminal law before, they are very normal fraud and, even, murder. So, if you look at priority and what is important to Ghana, do not make normal things extraordinary. If you did that then you have a motive. If you look at what is topical, its as if this is supposed to overshadow issues concerning the pardoning of these individuals [Montie 3], so, please, this is my view and I think theyve made it too melodramatic. A man who is known and notorious should be handcuffed? What for? Where is he running to? Do you know who is supposed to be handcuffed? The hardened criminals who theyve been searching for years and when they are so arrested, for fear that they might bolt, they handcuff them. So, what is the drama about? What is it that somebody is trying to secure? I dont understand. According to Mr Atta Akyea, although due process was followed in effecting the arrest of his client, the drama and propaganda was needless. You dont handcuff somebody who you know is decent, thats what it is. He is not a hardened criminal to be handcuffed and then used on the front pages of newspapers as if this is the most important issue that happened to Ghana. Treating him like common criminal is not dignifying, he added. Source: classfmonline.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 National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has called for leadership of the political parties to be bold to censure any of their followers who engaged in shameful impulsive outbursts. Deputy Ashanti Regional Director of the Commission, Mr. Raphael Wilson Arthur, said they should send strong signal to everybody that they did not approve of reckless behavior. He asked that all political actors upheld the political parties code of conduct to remove needless tension and conflict. He said it was important for everybody to show responsibility and avoid the aggressive rhetoric. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Kumasi, he said, the election should be a contest of ideas how to move the nation forward. He said the expectation was that the election campaign would be on message to appeal to voters and help them to make the right decisions. He spoke of the intensification of the Commissions education campaign in the region to encourage the people to get right with the law. They were working closely with the Information Service Department (ISD) to assist all to have better understanding of their fundamental rights and civic responsibilities. Mr. Arthur said they had been visiting the churches, markets, engaging youth groups, civil society organizations and holding community durbars to achieve this goal. He stated that teaching voters to properly thumbprint the ballot papers had been their other focus. Source: GNA 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 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has disclosed that his government shall establish an Office of Special Prosecutor, within the first six months of his administration, when, God-willing, he wins this years elections. According to Nana Akufo-Addo, the Special Prosecutor, to be established by Act of Parliament, will be independent of the Executive, and possess an exclusive remit to investigate and prosecute certain categories of cases and allegations of corruption, including those involving alleged violations of the Public Procurement Act and cases implicating political office holders and politicians. Prosecutions of such persons, he stressed, will no longer be tainted by perceptions of witch-hunting and selective justice. The NPP flagbearer made this known on Monday, August 22, 2016, whilst addressing the 16th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, at Abetifi, Kwahu, in the Eastern Region. Announcing a raft of measures to deal with the toxic issue of corruption, Nana Akufo-Addo, who was the Special Guest at the General Assembly, explained that a successful Ghana can only be built on the basis of good governance, underpinned by efficient and honest public services. This requires that we succeed in eliminating corruption. In order to restore Ghanas reputation, which, sadly, over recent years, has become a byword for corruption, the NPP flagbearer stated that, firstly, he, together with his team, will give the requisite leadership, which is lacking under President Mahama. Public service is for me exactly that public service. Anyone who joins my team to make money out of public office will not be welcome. Money is made in the private sector, not in public office. I will be strict in my supervision of this principle, he assured. Secondly, Nana Akufo-Addo stressed that his government will be scrupulous in enforcing the teachings of the Public Procurement Act (Act 663), which confine sole sourcing of public contracts to exceptional circumstances, and not the norm, as is the case under the Mahama government. Inflated contracts, which are currently the bane of our public finances, will be things of the past. Competitive bidding is the best protection of value for money in our public transactions, and will be the consistent mechanism for undertaking such transactions. The era of sole sourcing will come to an end, he said. The NPP flagbearer further added that an efficient and honest reordering and prioritization of the countrys public expenditure will enable us to devote more resources to enhance the capacity of our anti-corruption agencies. It is essential that they have the means to lead the fight against corruption. He continued, We will support all moves to give Parliament greater oversight capability over the activities of the Executive. This will give true meaning to the principles of separation of powers and accountable government. Nana Akufo-Addo, therefore, appealed to the Presbyterian Church to give critical support to the next NPP government, God-willing, as it undertakes these crucial steps. Our very future depends on their success. With barely a little over 3 months to the holding of this years elections, the NPP flagbearer asked for prayers for the peace of the nation, so that the country emerges from the elections as a more united country. Add prayers for Gods guidance to members of the Electoral Commission, so they can make transparent and fair arrangements for the electoral contests to enhance the stability of our country. And please pray for the NPP and myself, that I will be given, by Almighty God, wisdom, strength, courage and compassion to enable me carry out my duties as a good leader. And finally, I ask that you pray that, during this election campaign period, those who seek for votes from the people come with malice towards none and love towards all, he concluded. Source: Peacefmonline.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 Audio Attachment: Listen to Edward Omane Boamah, Minister of Communication Government has asked for calmness in the political atmosphere as far as the Montie 3 saga is concerned. The Minister of Communications, Dr Omane Boamah told Kwami Sefa Kayi in an interview on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' programme, Tuesday, that there is no need for people to be agitated because the President in consultation with the Council of State granted remission and not a pardon. He pointed out that the president has an unfettered respect for all state institutions, including the judiciary. Dr Omane Boamah stressed that the decision to remit the sentences of the Montie 3, does not in any way undermine the role of the judiciary According to him, even though the trio have been freed, it is on record that they have been imprisoned and fined. "This shows government respects the rule of law; the Supreme Court has finished with their ruling and petitions were forwarded to the President, and in consultation with the Council of State, the three were granted 'remission' . . . at the end of the consultation, they (Council of State) decided that the trio should not be pardoned but rather there should be remission. There is a clear difference between pardon and remission. I think we should give respect to the Council of State and the President," he clarified. He will continue to respect the powers conferred on state institutions and this includes the legislature, judiciary, executive, the media and citizens of Ghana which these institutions must serve. At all times he will ensure that he acts in a manner that does not offend the laws of our nation, the Communications Minister added. President John Mahama in consultation with the Council of State and in exercise of his constitutional powers under Article 72 of the Constitution remitted the remaining prison sentence imposed on three persons: Salifu Maase (alias Mugabe), Alistair Nelson and Ako Gunn who were sentenced to four months imprisonment and a fine of GH10,000.00 each for contempt of court. The remission is effective 26th August 2016. The three were sentenced on 27th July 2016 and have served part of the prison sentences imposed on them. Click the audio above to listen to the full interview between Omane Boamah and Kwami Sefa Kayi. Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.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 In consultation with the Council of State, President Mahama decided to remit the sentence of the Montie trio namely: Salifu Maase (alias Mugabe), Alistair Nelson and Ako Gunn on Monday. The decision has taken many legal pundits by surprise as well as a pro NDC group by name Victory for Mahama. The group led by Abdul Rashid Musah noted in a statement copied to Peacefmonline.com that Inasmuch as the constitution mandates the president to activate article 72 of the Constitution, the use of it in this case was a direct slap in the face of the judiciary as an organ of government. Below is a statement from the group We are shocked at the president's action to pardon the Montie trio; we just cant understand the motivation behind his pardone of the convicts. To be frank, although we deemed the Supreme Court punishment on our friends as hash, we least expected the president to yield to the internal party pressure that came in a form of a petition by activating the Article 72. The Montie trio went too far with their insults and threats on the Chief Justice, but, it's sad the president had to bow to such pressure from our party. We are today saddened and President Mahama has disgraced majority of us who have always touted him on several platforms to be someone who abides by rule. Should the NDC loose this years election, we should blame ourselves as a party and not only the president. We have made decision making harder for him in this crucial time we are campaigning to retain power. This decision by the president to pardon our own friends who made appalling statements about the Supreme Court is ill-timed, unwise and detrimental to our chance of retaining power. Inasmuch as the constitution mandates the president to activate article 72 of the Constitution, the use of it in this case was a direct slap in the face of the judiciary as an organ of government. The million questions begging for answers is 1. How can we strategize in the limited time we have to campaign for the president in this hostile atmosphere we as a party has created? 2. Why do we always have to allow the opposition to rebuke us by committing errors that could be avoided? 3. Are we aware we have left the door open for others to insult the president and tender in petitions to be freed should they be arrested? As a group we informed our party secretariats just as Baba Jamal warned the presidency on Okay FM some few days ago not to grant the culprits any pardon but it was ignored. Our campaign was picking up, but, it has been crushed with this avoidable action by our president. For us, we think it will be so hard for us as a party to retain power, though we wish we do. Signed Abdul Rashid Musah 0553474336 / 0209272845 Victory for Mahama, 2016 Source: Abdul Rashid Musah/ Victory for Mahama, 2016/ tel: 0553474336 / 0209272845 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 A renowned Criminologist, Conflict Resolution Expert and legal practitioner, Professor Ken Attafuah has described as a huge political gaffe President John Dramani Mahama's decision to exercise his prerogative of mercy enshrined in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana to remit the infamous 'Montie 3' from prison. Following recommendations by the Council of State, His excellency President John Mahama has, in accordance with his constitutional powers under Article 72 of the Constitution, remitted the remaining prison sentence imposed on three persons: Salifu Maase (alias Mugabe), Alistair Nelson and Ako Gunn who were sentenced to 4 months imprisonment and a fine of GH10,000.00 each for contempt of court. In the statement signed by Dr Omane Boamah, the President reminds all Ghanaians to guard against the use of intemperate language which has the potential of causing unnecessary tension. But according to Professor Attafuah, even though President Mahama has every right to exercise his presidential pardon to any convicted person, the circumstance leading to the remission of the 'Montie 3' makes the exercise wrong. Speaking on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, Professor Attafuah insisted that President Mahama has goofed not for breaking a law but due to the circumstance surrounding the sentence of the 'Montie 3'. I believe the President has goofed, and he has not goofed for breaking a law but he has goofed due to the circumstance surrounding the sentence of the Montie 3. The mindset behind the usage of the constitutional power is the issue we are discussing now, he asserted. He explained that it is unheard of that after 3 weeks into a 4-month sentence, the President exercises his prerogative of mercy to free them on the account that they have shown remorse for their actions. He mentioned that, normally the circumstance that attracts Presidential pardon has to do with people who have served their prison sentence for many years and may be facing health challenges in prison. The power is prerogative of mercy; it is not power used to free loved ones from prison. The Presidential oath is to exercise the powers of the State without ill-will or affection . . . it is a power which should not be used anyhow to show that we love others and they are our members and we believe that they have regretted their actions and so we are setting them free." He asserted that the Montie 3 are ardent supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the NDC officials have petitioned the President to release them and thus he has listened to their call to use his constitutional power to set them free because they were pursuing the NDC cause on radio. Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com.gh 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 definitive annual celebration of African and international talent and achievement, the MTV Africa Music Awards recognise and reward musicians and achievers who have made the most impact on African music and youth culture over the previous year. The ceremony will feature performances from African and international artists along with the shows signature cross-genre and cross-border collaborations. MAMA 2016 will celebrate African talent across 17 award categories, including Best Male, Best Female, Best Song and Best Collaboration by Absolut. The contribution of artists from Portuguese and French-speaking Africa will also be recognised in the Best Lusophone and Best Francophone categories. Additional categories include the Africa Re-Imagined Award and Personality of the Year. The nominations for the awards will be revealed in September 2016. Speaking at the launch in Joburg, Nabintu Petsana, Head of Joburg Tourism, said: We are thrilled to welcome MAMA 2016 to Joburg for the first time, and look forward to hosting this extraordinary cultural experience which will play a key part in enhancing Joburgs profile on the international stage. In line with Joburg Tourisms DomesticTourism Awareness Campaign [#Welcome2Jozi] which encourages locals to go the extra mile in showing all our visitors a good time, this event provides an ideal opportunity to remind Joburgers that Leisure is Our Tourism Business, contributing significantly to our local economy. Melanie Campbell, Head of Marketing: White Spirits and Rum, Pernod-Ricard, said: We are very excited and proud to be collaborating with the MTV Africa Music Awards once again for the ultimate showcase in African talent; ABSOLUT sets itself apart by challenging conventions and pushing boundaries of contemporary culture through creative collaborations with cutting-edge artists. This year we will see the brand celebrating artists who are original and aspire to greater heights through the power of collaboration. The Best Collaboration Award by Absolut honours the African musicians, achievers and trailblazers who source add, curate and collaborate the music we love.Absolut is ready to rock Jozi. Monde Twala, Vice President, BET, Youth and Music, VIMN Africa, added: The sixth edition of the MAMA promises to be our biggest and most ambitious yet. All roads will lead to the TicketPro Dome for an explosive evening of spectacle and music, while millions of music fans will enjoying the TV broadcast. Our viewers are passionate about African music and achievement, and we look forward to channelling and conveying that passion to an international audience. Celebrating the pan-African scope, the awards will encompass two Road to MAMA events to be held in Durban and Lagos featuring MAMA nominees and superstar DJs. Another much-anticipated element of MAMA 2016 will be a music industry workshop for aspiring musicians on the eve of the awards (21 October). First staged in 2008, the MTV Africa Music Awards have recognised the talent of musicians, achievers and personalities from across Africa, rewarding iconic artists and gamechangers such as 2Face Idibia, Big Nuz, Cassper Nyovest, Davido, DBanj, Flavour, Gangs of Ballet, HHP, Fally Ipupa, Liquideep, Mafikizolo, Lira, Nameless, LupitaNyongo, Clarence Peters, Diamond Platnumz, Anselmo Ralph, Sarkodie, P-Square, Tiwa Savage, Cabo Snoop, Toofan, Trevor Noah, Zebra & Giraffe, Uhuru, Wahu, Yemi Alade, and many more. MAMA 2016 Award Categories 1. Best Male 2. Best Female 3. Best Group 4. Best New Act 5. Best Live Act 6. Best Francophone 7. Best Lusophone 8. Best Pop/Alternative 9. Best Hip Hop 10. Best International 11. Legend Award 12. Best Collaboration in association with Absolut 13. Video of the Year 14. Song of the Year 15. Artist of the Year 16. Personality of the Year 17. MTV Base Africa Re-Imagined Award 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 Australian woman Sara Connor, who is implicated in the murder of a Bali police officer, is now accused of burning evidence after her British boyfriend David Taylor allegedly bashed the traffic cop to death with a beer bottle. The policeman, Wayan Sudarsa, was found dead last week on a popular beach with wounds to his head and neck. Police allege that Taylor flew into a rage and accused Sudarsa of being a fake cop before beating him to to death. Both Connor and Taylor have been named as suspects, which in the Indonesian justice system generally means investigators believe there is enough evidence to prosecute. It is suggested that although Taylor murdered the officer, it was Connor who collected his wallet and mobile phone and suggested burning them alongside the couples clothes, which were bloodied after the attack. Denpasar Police chief Hadi Purnomo claims the couple were methodical in their covering up of the crime: They had a plan to burn the evidence, including the clothes and the victims mobile phone and wallet so the cards in the wallet were cut up with scissors, the mobile phone was disposed of and everything in the wallet was cut up by scissors. There was a police member card and others. Then it was burned by Sara and David. They could face up to 15 years in jail if found guilty of murder. Indonesian investigators have 120 days to officially charge the pair if they believe they have enough evidence. Source: news.com.au. Photo: Facebook. The death roll from the 6.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Italy yesterday morning has risen to 120 people. The earthquake hit a remote area of central Italy, mainly affecting a town called Amatrice and surrounding areas. Yesterday, the number was sitting around approximately 38, but Italys Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has confirmed the devastating jump in numbers. This is not a final toll, he warned, saying that 368 people were currently known to be injured plus an unknown number is still trapped under rubble, so the number of deaths and injuries would no doubt continue to rise. We Italians are very good at arguing and being polemical but now lets stand in solidarity and pride alongside those who are rescuing others. Today is a day for tears. Tomorrow we can talk of reconstruction. Accumoli mayor Stefano Petrucci said some 2,500 people were left homeless in the local community; they could not return home due to the threat of aftershocks from the destructive earthquake. One resident of the area told media that that there were many tourists in the area due to it being holiday season: Its all young people here, its holiday season, the town festival was to have been held the day after tomorrow so lots of people came for that. No one allowed to spend Wednesday night in quake-hit town of Amatrice, Italian officials say https://t.co/qRQXHkkXq3 pic.twitter.com/HePOrR3fe9 CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) August 24, 2016 The event is Italys biggest disaster since LAquila in 2009. Source: ABC / Twitter. Photo: Awakening / Getty. A fisherman in the Philippines has been keeping what could be the worlds largest casually under his bed for the past ten years. If its confirmed to be real, the thing could be worth $131 million. Who would pay that much for a pearl? I literally do not know. I cant imagine paying even half that, to be honest. Look at the damn thing. Its a big-ass pearl: Its apparently 34kg, 60cm wide and 30cm long. The fisherman, from Puerto Princesa, says he found the pearl over ten years ago when his anchor caught on a giant clam. This yuge pearl was apparently gestating inside. Hes turned it over to the tourism office, clearly unaware of its potential value. Dunno about you, but Im in his boat on this one. If I found a pearl that big, Id probably end up chucking it under my bed as well. Selling it just seems like so much effort. Im not here for that. If this is real, itll smash the record of the last big-ass pearl, which was discovered in the same region in 1939 and weighed 6.4 kilos. That one was valued by a gemologist at $93 million. Again, I ask you: who is paying that much for pearls? Can I have their money? I would spend it better. Source: Sydney Morning Herald. Photo: Princesa Tourism Office. Everyone knows that plagiarism is bad and unacceptable, but its a maj problem in the fashion industry. Theres plenty of designers who take inspiration from other clothes theyve seen elsewhere, and paying homage is a standard practice. But plagiarism in its purest form, straight up copying someone elses design, is not cool at all. Its detrimental to the industry as a whole, and leads to the domination of fast fashion in a world that fundamentally needs unique, talented visionaries to be able to continue their work both creatively and financially. The team at Mother & Father PR in Sydney know this all too well, and they have a no-holds-barred approach to it. If they see someone they believe is completely copying one of labels under their wing, theyll fuckin tell it to you straight. Example numero uno their latest Instagram post. They took a Melbourne designer called Zian Couture to task, accusing them of allegedly plagiarising a design from a label they look after, Perth-born Zhivago. And by took them to task, we mean TOOK. THEM. TO. TASK. Seriously, you gotta read their caption: NOPE! NOPE! NOPE! As an agency, MFPR is at the coalface of Australian fashion, everyday we counsel clients who are battling to keep their dreams and their businesses alive. We witness a never-ending conga-line of shifty arseholes who are squeezing the lifeblood from the Australian design community. So when we see shit like this, it begs the question, how much more blood can be drawn (from independent designers) before we have no industry left? All it would take is a few minor changes to IP laws and independent Australian designers would have greater protection. @ziancouture, you are trying to pass yourselves off as designers, when are in fact, you are nothing more than than a wet shit and no matter how hard you wipe, youll be never clean. So to all the cock-juggling thunder c#nts like #ZianCouture, consider this your noticeMFPR is about to summon forth a shitstorm of biblical pain and suffering on your swamp asses! That term one more time, for the people in the back, was cock-juggling thunder cunts. Which is definitely a quote from Blade: Trinity, but absolutely bloody huge nonetheless. Huge. The company finished off the provocative post by tagging #ProtectAustralianDesign and #DontBuyFakes, in order to remind their audience that while the post is written with tongue firmly in cheek, it holds an important reason behind it. PEDESTRIAN.TV spoke to MFPR director Matthew Jordan, who told us exactly why they posted what they did, how they did: The post originated from an overwhelming feeling of complete frustration, sometimes I feel like Im screaming into the abyss In Australia there are massive problems with IP protection for designers and it seems like no one is willing to step-up and give independent designers a fighting chance by changing the laws. This issue touches every designer working in the creative industries, not just fashion. Its also important to note that once anything designer is replicated, it immediately loses its ticketed value. I literally deal with [this] every week, its not always ZHIVAGO (point in case, I stumbled across another client who appears to have had their IP plagiarised this morning on IG), but a lot of the time it is and while we lawyer up, its an expensive and time consuming process to shut these stores/labels down. Weve never publicly drawn attention to this problem and Ill admit, I kinda went a little William Foster yesterday, but if my caustic forked tongue can kick-start a dialogue about this problem, then good its long overdue or this is wishful thinking? V. FAIR. But regardless, you are nothing more than than a wet shit and no matter how hard you wipe, youll be never clean is possibly one of the greatest, most hard-hitting, Real Housewives-esque insult weve ever heard. Were probably gonna plagiarise it from you, Matt. Hope that cool fam. We contacted Zian Couture for comment, but did not receive a response at time of writing. Source: Instagram / @mf_pr. Gday, Yanks. According to a report by U.S. politics website POLITICO, the New York Times a.k.a. the worlds paper of record, if you like is making moves into the crowded Australian news market. Like The Guardian did, the NYT is keen on expanding its digital footprint by enticing Aussies with local news. POLITICO says that the Times has already dispatched research teams to lay the groundwork and has begun recruiting journalists in Australia, and absolutely see the opportunity to add to its 2 million strong subscriber base. The NYT already has correspondents and a minor presence here just the other day they ran a longform piece about The Sydney Morning Heralds uncertain future in print, which is a great read if youve got a moment. The newspaper is spending $50 million on its global ambitions, which include not only Australia but also Canada and Mexico. Australia is obviously appealing because were a connected, English-speaking nation. Lets see how this goes. Source: Politico. Photo: Getty Images. Exciting news out of the UK this morning: the top 15 award winning jokes from the Edinburgh Fringe are so mind bogglingly unfunny that you, whoever you are, could probably become an award winning international comedian if you wanted. The Fringe is, in effect, the biggest comedy festival in the world. UK TV station Dave holds a competition every year for the best joke of the Fringe and, sadly, something has gone astonishingly wrong this year. The jokes arent offensive theyre just, on the face of them, not very funny. Its not that the comedians on the list arent great comics! Many of them, like festival favourite Zoe Lyons, are hilarious human beings. The jokes chosen for this list, however Well, well let you be the judge: 1. My dad has suggested that I register for a donor card. Hes a man after my own heart Masai Graham 2. Why is it old people say theres no place like home, yet when you put them in one Stuart Mitchell 3. Ive been happily married for four years out of a total of 10 Mark Watson 4. Apparently 1 in 3 Britons are conceived in an IKEA bed which is mad because those places are really well lit Mark Smith 5. I went to a pub quiz in Liverpool, had a few drinks so wasnt much use. Just for a laugh I wrote The Beatles or Steven Gerrard for every answer came second Will Duggan 6. Brexit is a terrible name, sounds like cereal you eat when you are constipated Tiff Stevenson 7. I often confuse Americans and Canadians. By using long words Gary Delaney 8. Why is Henrys wife covered in tooth marks? Because hes Tudor Adele Cliff 9. Dont you hate it when people assume youre rich because you sound posh and went to private school and have loads of money? Annie McGrath 10. Is it possible to mistake schizophrenia for telepathy, I hear you ask Jordan Brookes 11. Hillary Clinton has shown that any woman can be President, as long as your husband did it first Michelle Wolf 12. I spotted a Marmite van on the motorway. It was heading yeastbound Roger Swift 13. Back in the day, Instagram just meant a really efficient drug dealer Arthur Smith 14. Ill tell you whats unnatural in the eyes of God. Contact lenses Zoe Lyons 15. Elton John hates ordering Chinese food. Soya seems to be the hardest word Phil Nicol Look, maybe were just dour, jaded old crumbums, but we scarcely cracked a smile. Except, maybe for that one about Instagram. If youre like us though shocked and saddened by the state of comedy we encourage you not to get worn down by this list. Rather, take pride and hope. You, you there, reading this right now, could go to Edinburgh next year and win Top Joke of The Fringe. We believe in you. You certainly couldnt do any worse, right? Source: NME. shutterstock_164779937.jpg Pictured is a wolf spider. (Shutterstock / Hector Ruiz Villar) AskPA, PennLive's newest column, wants to answer your questions about Pennsylvania. It could be about local history, how something works or even that thing on the corner of whatchamacallit street. Find out how you can send us your questions at the bottom of this story or through this link. Harrisburg has a lot of spiders because it's close to the buffet of insects we call the Susquehanna River. Insects, such as those that populate the river, are drawn to the lights of the city, according to senior extension associate and urban entomologist Steve Jacobs with the Penn State Department of Entomology. It's why you'll find many spiders waiting for their dinner near bright exterior light fixtures. These insects include mayflies, which start their lives in bodies of water, according to the University of California Museum of Paleontology. Stoneflies, caddisflies. blackflies and many other insects also populate the river, Jacobs said. "These are aquatic insects that, as adults, emerge from the waters to mate," he said. "...the water is pristine compared to when I was a kid swimming in the water. This is one of the reasons aquatic insects have returned to healthier population levels." In fact, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection assesses the water quality of rivers, such as the Susquehanna River, through its macroinvertebrate population, according to press secretary Neil Shader. Macroinvertebrates include insects, snails and clams among other creatures. The reduction in acid mine runoff farther up the watershed and other local improvements has led to healthier insect populations along the river, he said. The 2016 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report stated that there are no major problems with insect populations along the river but more rigorous analyses is needed for accuracy. There are about 3,000 species of spiders throughout the country, and there are hundreds in Pennsylvania, according to previous reporting by PennLive. Two of the most common species of spiders in Pennsylvania homes include the wolf and grass spiders, according to the Penn State Department of Entomology. This week's question was submitted anonymously. Is there something you want to find out about Pennsylvania? Let us know. Email your questions to PennLive.com life and culture reporter J.C. Lee at jlee@pennlive.com. Mail your question to 2020 Technology Parkway, Suite 300, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 (attn: J.C. Lee) Tweet your questions to PennLive.com at Send us a snap of your question through Snapchat. Just add "Pennlive" to your friends list or scan our code Type your question in the form below and click "Submit." APTOPIX Italy Quake A man walks amid rubbles after an earthquake struck in Amatrice Italy, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The magnitude 6 quake struck at 3:36 a.m. (0136 GMT) and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including Rome where residents of the capital felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks.(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) (Alessandra Tarantino) Rescue workers scrambled to reach survivors buried under rubble in isolated towns and villages across central Italy on Wednesday after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake and a series of strong aftershocks struck the region overnight, collapsing homes, rattling buildings as far away as Rome and Venice and leaving an escalating toll of dead and injured. At least 38 people were killed in the mountainous heart of the country, Civil Protection Department spokeswoman Immacolata Postiglione told reporters in Rome. But another official with the agency, reached by phone, called it a "temporary number" that may yet climb. She said authorities were still trying to assess the large number of injured but were focused now on saving lives. "No family or village or town will be left alone," Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said in a national address. Saying Italy would vigorously accelerate the ongoing rescue effort, he added, "we will continue to find people alive." In the worst-hit towns, dramatic live images on Italy's state broadcaster RAI showed rescue workers and local residents desperately clawing through rubble to save buried victims. Several survivors, including a small girl, were plucked alive from heaps of debris. Hospitals in the impacted areas were fast filling up with injured people. Thousands of residents were left homeless. The main earthquake, centered a shallow 5.5 miles below ground, struck at 3:36 a.m. local time about 10 miles from the town of Norcia in Umbria, a central Italian province known for its rolling hills of olive plantations and vineyards, and about 106 miles northeast of Rome. But the damage was far flung, with devastation striking the narrow, cobblestone streets of historic towns scattered across a sprawling zone including the earthquake-prone provinces of Lazio and Marche. Images showed heavy rubble from fallen buildings piled high on the narrow streets of old Roman towns. The blocked roads, officials said, were hindering rescuers attempting to access victims. A string of aftershocks as strong as 5.5 magnitude continued to hit the affected zone, catching the country during the high August vacation period when large numbers of Italians leave cities and towns for annual holidays. Luca Cari, spokesman for the Italian fire department, told Reuters that the worst-hit towns were Accumoli, Amatrice, Posta and Arquata del Tronto. Rescue workers took to the air in helicopters to assess the damage at dawn. Sergio Pirozzi, the mayor of the devastated town of Amatrice in the province of Lazio, told RAI that residents were buried under the debris of collapsed buildings. "The town isn't here anymore," he said. Pirozzi told the ANSA news agency that "dozens" had died in his town, suggesting a sharp increase in the death toll as rescue and recovery operations unfolded. In Amatrice, a town of 2,700 known for its local sons who became the cooks of popes, video and still images showed damaged archways, partially collapsed buildings and town squares in ruins. Men could be seen cleaning away piles of rubble with their hands, buckets and excavators. Live on RAI, a young man, his hand moving, was rescued from the rubble and carried away by workers. People draped in white blankets stood next to destroyed buildings. Aerial views of before and after pictures showed the magnitude of the destruction in what used to be a picturesque town. Pirozzi issued alarming assessments, saying debris was so bad that streets needed to be cleared to reach stranded residents. "The streets are not passable, and there are people under the rubble," he told RAI. "We are trying by all means to bring first aid, but we are working without light." Later, ANSA reported that at least five bodies were pulled from the rubble in Amatrice, with more expected. The mayor of another hard-hit town, Accumoli, described extensive damage and casualties. "Four people are under the rubble, but they are not showing any sign of life. Two parents and two children," the mayor, Stefano Petrucci, told RAI. Journalist Sabrina Fantauzzi was in Illica, a village 88 miles northeast of Rome, when the earthquake struck. "When I woke up during the night from the shock, I saw a big crack in the wall, I made it just in time to take the kids, taking the stairs and leave," she told ANSA. "The oldest houses, those of 1700, are damaged . . . but those made in the '70s are pulverized. The only buildings that held up were those built after the '80s, according to earthquake-resistant criteria." Authorities called on residents in Lazio and other affected provinces to avoid congesting roadways to help rescue workers. They also issued appeals for blood as hospitals dealt with a rush of earthquake injuries. Speaking in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, Pope Francis said: "I cannot but express my great pain and say I am with the people in all the places stricken by this earthquake." In Norcia, close to the epicenter, a number of homes had been reinforced to withstand earthquakes. That appeared to have limited the damage, although there were reports of injuries. Aid stations were being set up to distribute warm drinks. "Now we are trying to set up camps," city councilor Giuseppina Perla told RAI. The European Mediterranean Seismological Center and the U.S. Geological Survey reported that the main quake had a magnitude of 6.2, strong enough to wake up residents of Rome some 105 miles to the south. "This was very, very bad. I've never seen anything like it," Sabrina Sbermola, a resident of the central Italian town of Arquata el Tronto, told the BBC. The earthquake evoked memories of 2009, when a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck farther south, killing more than 300 people. That quake was centered around L'Aquila, about 54 miles south of the latest quake. Remy Bossu, head of the European-Mediterranean Seismological Center in France, said shallow earthquakes of this magnitude were not highly unusual in the zone hit Wednesday. In addition to the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake, another hit in 1997 in Umbria and Marche that severely damaged the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. He said the main problems in the area were widespread older buildings that cannot withstand earthquakes of this magnitude. "The problem is that the [earthquake-proof] building code only applies to new buildings," he said. "To retrofit an old building is a very complex and costly operation. So it's only done for key buildings, such as hospitals." Hillary Clinton appears at Broad Street Market in Harrisburg Democratic Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton makes a campaign appearance in Harrisburg, Pa. as her husband, former President Bill Clinton, listens, July 29, 2016. Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com More than half the people outside the government who met with Hillary Clinton while she was secretary of state donated to the Clinton Foundation, according to an Associated Press report. At least 85 of 154 people she met with or had scheduled phone conversations with gave money directly to the foundation or its international programs, the report said. These findings are the latest in a string of details that have raised ethical questions about Clinton and her ties to donors. Critics and Donald Trump supporters, such as Sen. Jeff Sessions, have accused Clinton of extorting international relationships to get money for her family's foundation. The 85 donors Clinton met with as secretary of state contributed as much as $156 million. At least 40 donated more than $100,000 each, and 20 gave more than $1 million, according to the Associated Press. As the AP reported: "The meetings between the Democratic presidential nominee and foundation donors do not appear to violate legal agreements Clinton and former president Bill Clinton signed before she joined the State Department in 2009. But the frequency of the overlaps shows the intermingling of access and donations, and fuels perceptions that giving the foundation money was a price of admission for face time with Clinton." Bill Clinton said in a statement Monday that if his wife wins the presidential election, he would step down from the foundation's board and stop all fundraising for it. The foundation would also stop accepting donations from foreign groups, U.S. companies and corporate charities, according to the report. Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon did not respond to the AP's questions about the ethical issues, but said in a statement Tuesday the standard set by the Clinton Foundation's ethics restrictions was "unprecedented, even if it may never satisfy some critics." To read more of the AP's report, go here. AMATRICE, Italy (AP) -- Rescue crews using bulldozers and their bare hands raced to dig out survivors from a strong earthquake that reduced three central Italian towns to rubble Wednesday. The death toll stood at 120, but the number of dead and missing was uncertain given the huge number of vacationers in the area for summer's final days. Residents wakened before dawn by the temblor emerged from their crumbled homes to find what they described as apocalyptic scenes "like Dante's Inferno," with entire blocks of buildings turned into piles of sand and rock, thick dust choking the air and a putrid smell of gas. "The town isn't here anymore," said Sergio Pirozzi, the mayor of the hardest-hit town, Amatrice. "I believe the toll will rise." The magnitude 6 quake struck at 3:36 a.m. and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including Rome, where residents woke to a long swaying followed by aftershocks. The temblor shook the Lazio region and Umbria and Le Marche on the Adriatic coast. Premier Matteo Renzi visited the zone Wednesday, greeted rescue teams and survivors. At least 368 were injured. He promised the quake-prone area that "no family, no city, no hamlet will be left behind." Hardest hit were the tiny towns of Amatrice and Accumoli near Rieti, some 100 kilometers (62 miles) northeast of Rome, and Pescara del Tronto, some 25 kilometers further east. Italy's civil protection agency, which was coordinating the rescue and care for survivors, said dozens were injured and thousands in need of temporary housing, though it stressed the numbers were fluid. Italy's health minister, Beatrice Lorenzin, visiting the devastated area, said many of the victims were children: The quake zone is a popular spot for Romans with second homes, and the population swells in August when most Italians take their summer holiday before school resumes. The medieval center of Amatrice was devastated, with the hardest-hit half of the city cut off by rescue crews digging by hand to get to trapped residents. The birthplace of the famed spaghetti all'amatriciana bacon and tomato sauce, it is made up of 69 hamlets that teams from around Italy were working to reach with sniffer dogs, earth movers and other heavy equipment. Rocks and metal tumbled onto the streets of the city center and dazed residents huddled in piazzas as more than 200 aftershocks jolted the region into the early morning hours, some as strong as magnitude 5.1. "The whole ceiling fell but did not hit me," marveled resident Maria Gianni. "I just managed to put a pillow on my head and I wasn't hit, luckily, just slightly injured my leg." Another woman, sitting in front of her destroyed home with a blanket over her shoulders, said she didn't know what had become of her loved ones. "It was one of the most beautiful towns of Italy and now there's nothing left," she said, too distraught to give her name. "I don't know what we'll do." As the August sun bore down, residents, civil protection workers and even priests dug with shovels, bulldozers and their bare hands to reach survivors. Dozens were pulled out alive: There was relief as a woman emerged on a stretcher from one building, followed by a dog. "She's alive!" two women cheered as they ran up the street in Pescara del Tronto, after an 8-year-old girl was pulled from the rubble after nightfall. And there were wails when bodies emerged. "Unfortunately, 90 percent we pull out are dead, but some make it, that's why we are here," said Christian Bianchetti, a volunteer from Rieti who was working in Amatrice. John Wayne Strawser, Jr. John Wayne Strawser Jr. was convicted in the West Virginia shooting death of his ex-girlfriend, and after his October sentencing, he will be brought to Pennsylvania to face charges in connection with an I-81 shooting death. (File photo. ) Two key pieces of evidence in the West Virginia trial of the accused I-81 shooter were the 911 call made by the victim's family and his statements to police, which were both released by prosecutors on Tuesday. John Wayne Strawser Jr. was convicted in Preston County, West Virginia of first-degree murder and fleeing with reckless indifference in the April 16, 2015 shooting death of ex-girlfriend Amy Lou Buckingham. He's set for sentencing Oct. 5, after which, he'll be transported to Franklin County, where he'll face another murder charge in the shooting death of Timothy "Asti" Davison. The 911 call was made by Amy Buckingham's sister, Elsie Buckingham. According to testimony at trial, she made the call after Strawser shot her sister outside of their Tunnelton, West Virginia home on April 16, 2015. Family members did not see the actual shooting, but they heard the gunshot and rushed outside, where they saw her on the ground and Strawser speeding away. Shortly after Strawser was arrested the following day, the West Virginia State Police interviewed him at their barracks in Kingwood. Though he never admitted to shooting Buckingham, he made statements that placed him at the scene, prosecutors argued. He also made statements that prosecutors say showed a callous attitude toward Buckingham and all of the women in his life, saying she was just one of five sexual partners. "Well, four now," he told police. There is some explicit language in this recording. HARBORCREEK, Pa. (AP) -- A 14-year-old Pennsylvania boy has been charged with fatally shooting his grandmother during an argument over school. Hunter Riley Reeser, of Harborcreek Township, is jailed without bond on charges including criminal homicide and first-degree murder. State police say he shot 60-year-old Sandra Orton in the head, then called her husband Tuesday claiming he found her wounded. Police say Reeser later called 911 and acknowledged shooting her. Police say Reeser told them he shot her because he didn't want to go to an unspecified school meeting. GoErie.com, which says mental health counselors were at the boy's school district on Wednesday, reported: State police investigators wrote in the affidavit of probable cause filed with the criminal complaint against Reeser that Reeser told investigators that Orton arrived at the Sawmill Road residence at about 7:25 a.m. Tuesday to take him to a scheduled meeting at school. Reeser did not want to go to the meeting and when Orton arrived he removed a rifle from his bedroom, went to the front porch of their residence and shot Orton through the window of the vehicle, investigators wrote in the affidavit. In Pennsylvania, children must be charged as adults in murder or homicide cases, though defense attorneys can later try to move the charges to juvenile court. Erie County prosecutors say they plan to oppose that. Reeser doesn't yet have an attorney to comment on the charges. A silver Buick LaCrosse with a bullet hole in the bumper, a scattering of shell casings, and three spent bullets were among the evidence introduced during the third day of a Dauphin County murder trial Wednesday morning. Shane Barker Prosecutors didn't drive the car into President Judge Richard A. Lewis' fifth-floor courtroom, where Shane Barker, 37, is being tried on charges that he gunned down 38-year-old Jerome Buckner in Harrisburg on Oct. 18, 2014. Instead, Senior Deputy District Attorney Jack Canavan called city police Officer Nicholas Ishman to the witness stand to describe how he found the car by following a trail of leaking engine fluid from the slaying scene at South 14th and Swatara streets. The Buick had a bullet hole beneath the left headlight, Ishman said. The car belonged to Barker. Investigators claim he shot it while he was firing a .40-caliber pistol at the fleeing Buckner. Police claim Barker drove away from the murder scene, but the bullet damage caused his car to break down several blocks away near 17th and Catherine streets. Marc McNaughton, a forensic investigator with the city police, testified that he found a grouping of six shell casings about 40 feet from where Buckner's body was found. Blood drops and a "fresh" - recently-fired - bullet also were found in the street, he said. Sergeant David Krumbine, a state police firearms expert, said the shell casings recovered from the slaying scene matched two test-fired casings from a handgun Barker bought legally in his native South Carolina. The test fires were found in the gun's packaging box , which was seized from Barker's home. The gun hasn't been found. Canavan and Deputy District Attorney Katie Adam are seeking a first-degree murder conviction and life prison sentence for Barker. Public Defenders Jessica Bush and Elizabeth Ruby are arguing that Barker was too drunk to form an intent to kill and so should not be convicted of the highest degree of murder. http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/08/harrisburg_gunman_cussed_stomp.html#incart_river_home_pop James Allen Nickol The York County District Attorney's Office has ruled a sheriff's deputy was justified in shooting and killing a man during an encounter in June. The deputy himself was shot twice in the encounter. York City police officers and York County sheriff's deputies were called to East Philadelphia Street about 8:45 a.m. on June 9 to attempt to arrest James Allen Nickol, 38, officials said. Nickol was wanted on charges of escape after reportedly skipping out on his work release. He had been in York County Prison since February on a burglary charge, officials said. Deputy Michael Lutz, a member of the office for five years, was in full uniform when he encountered Nickel in the back of the home and was about three feet from him before the altercation began, according to the report issued by the district attorney's office Wednesday. Lutz told investigators "he saw me right away" and described the look on Nickol's face as "shocked," according to the report. Lutz also ordered Nickol to show his hands on at least two occasions, but he appeared to be reaching for something instead, officials said. The following is an excerpt from the report of the events that followed: " The deputy made the decision to grab (Nickol) with his left hand and attempt to bring the suspect to the ground and cuff him. At that point the suspect turns clock-wise toward Deputy Lutz. Before he even saw the gun, Deputy Lutz was shot in the face. The deputy now describes himself being "in life saving mode." His ears started to ring and his finger moved to the trigger giving the suspect "at least two--right from the hip" hitting the suspect "at least twice." Deputy Lutz then went for the suspect's gun. As he is grabbing for the weapon, the suspect fires again hitting the deputy in the thumb. The deputy backed off and returned fire, hitting the suspect several more times before the suspect fell to the ground and the deputy stopped shooting." "Realizing he was losing a lot of blood, the deputy dropped his gun and took his glove off to examine his thumb. He describes his pants and shirt soaked in blood. By this time fellow officers had arrived and had him get on the ground with one applying pressure to his facial wound until the EMTs arrived." The report also includes interviews with other officers at the scene and interviews with several friends and relatives of Nickel. An ex-girlfriend said Nickol told her, "I love you Kristina, goodbye," during a phone conversation three days before the shooting and after learning that she had a new boyfriend, the report states. Nickel then sent the woman a picture of himself with a gun in his mouth. Lutz shot Nickol seven times in the torso during the altercation with a .40 caliber semi-automatic Glock, the report states. Nickol suffered wounds to his lungs, diaphragm, kidney, liver and intestines, according to the report. He was taken to York Hospital, where he later died from his wounds. "The deputy's actions on each occasion were in response to the deadly conduct of Mr. Nickol. Accordingly, the use of deadly force in response to Mr. Nickol's conduct was justified and no criminal action is warranted," according to the report. federal courthouse.jpg Five men have been indicted on federal charges in connection with bank robberies near York and Lebanon in 2015 and 2016, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced Wednesday. Derek Pelker, 26, of Wernersville; Ryan "Otis" Miller, 24, of Robinson Township; and Andrew Ishman, 31, of Wrightsville, were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy, armed bank robbery and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. They are accused of robbing of the Susquehanna Bank (now the BB&T Bank) in East Prospect April 24, 2015. Pelker and Miller are also charged with possessing firearms as convicted felons. The grand jury also returned a separate indictment charging Pelker; his brother, Keith Pelker, 27, of Wernersville; and Shannon Gadzouris, 23, of Shillington, with conspiracy and armed bank robbery. They are accused of robbing of the M&T Bank in Lebanon on April 5, 2016. According to the indictment, they used a CO2 gun that appeared to be a firearm to commit that robbery. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Capital City Violent Crimes Task Force, the Pennsylvania State Police, the South Lebanon Township Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force; and the Lebanon and York County District Attorney's Offices. The Capital City Violent Crimes Task Force consists of representatives from the FBI's Harrisburg Field Office and the Harrisburg Police Department. The case was brought as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership, a districtwide initiative to combat the spread of violent crime in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, U.S. Attorney Peter Smith said. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Office, the partnership consists of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose mission is to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit violent crimes. Shamaine Daniels council.jpg Harrisburg Council Vice President Shamaine Daniels (at right) ripped into Mayor Eric Papenfuse Tuesday night during a debate about the responsiveness of the city solicitor's office. At left is Councilman Westburn Majors and Jeff Baltimore. HARRISBURG--Harrisburg city council members are again considering hiring their own attorney because they claim the city solicitor's office isn't responsive to their requests. Council members expressed frustration Tuesday night that some of their requested legislation had stalled, sometimes for years, in the city solicitor's office. They also complained about legislation coming down at the last minute before meetings, giving them little time to review it before being asked to add it to the agenda. Council Vice President Shamaine Daniels, in particular, vented her exasperation after requests for legislation, including one to reconstitute the city's Human Relations Commission, have gone nowhere. She is also seeking to waive inspections for rental units that are already inspected by the housing authority to reduce staff time. "Someone needs to manage the legislation," she said. "I'm just tired of the excuses. At this point you're making my appearance here pointless." Council members also complained that the law office seemed more responsive to the mayor's requests and agenda than theirs. They said City Solicitor Neil Grover is supposed to serve both of the separate bodies-- the administration and the council-- equally. Grover disputed the allegation the he prioritized the mayor's requests or agenda. And he noted that his client technically is the city, not the mayor or council. "It's not that there's one piece of legislation over another," he said, explaining how his office staff members spend their time. "It's the priorities that the city's trying to get to when it cannot and the reality is that, the city cannot meet all its obligations. That is the cold hard reality. We cannot satisfy all things. And that's not just the law bureau." Grover said the city's law bureau staff is up against years of pent-up contracts and work related to deferred maintenance and infrastructure investments when the city was going through its financial crisis. The city also is battling complex lawsuits and cleaning up leftover matters from state receivership. "The army of lawyers that were here during the receivership are gone," he said. "There are a lot of things that require follow-up." The city's staff of five pales in comparison to the staff of 51 in Pittsburgh, for example, Grover said. Pittsburgh has more than six times the population, but more than 10 times the legal staff. The city's legal staff can put together drafts of simpler legislation fairly quickly, Grover said, but more complex matters require additional analysis that can slow legislation down. Council members last year pursued the idea of hiring an outside solicitor to provide legal services independent from the administration. Money has been included in the budget for the past two years for an outside solicitor. But council members never engaged an attorney because any legislation drafted by an outside solicitor would still need to go through the law bureau logjam, said Councilman Ben Allatt. Allatt said he had heard that outside agencies also have trouble getting answers from the city's law bureau. "We need to have better internal controls and for requests externally," he said. Council President Wanda Williams said her colleagues had supported adding two staff members to the law bureau in the past to try to solve the logjam, yet the problems persist. Mayor Eric Papenfuse supported the idea of hiring an outside solicitor to help draft specific legislation that council members want to introduce. "I believe that is the best solution," he said. Grover provided City Clerk Kirk Petroski with a request for proposal document Tuesday night that the council could use to hire an attorney. The mayor offered to advocate for council members' legislation at the solicitor's office if council members met with him to collaborate, but Allatt said they shouldn't have to meet with the mayor for his blessing. "We have a separation of power," Allatt said. "I feel the outcomes as of late are just directive of your agenda. I don't feel it's a shared agenda. I don't feel we're in that climate now." Tylor Reynolds.png Police have arrested Tylor Reynolds, 25, who allegedly robbed and assaulted a man in Harrisburg the evening of Aug. 12. Police are searching for Reynolds' brother, Scott Reynolds, who allegedly took part in the crime. (Harrisburg Bureau of Police ) Police have arrested one of two men charged with robbing and beating an unidentified male victim in Harrisburg earlier this month. Police arrested Tylor Reynolds, who along with his brother, Scott Reynolds, allegedly assaulted the victim on Catherine Street the evening of Aug. 12. Police met with the victim at Harrisburg hospital a few hours after the incident. He told police he was walking home when he ran into Tylor Reynolds in the 1600 block of Catherine Street at about 9 p.m. The two started arguing immediately about a disagreement the victim had with one of the Reynolds brothers, police said. Tylor Reynolds threw the victim to the ground and kicked him, along with his brother Scott Reynolds, who police said happened to show up. One of the two suspects stole the male's cell phone during the beating, according to police. The victim told police he blacked out during the assault and woke up sometime later. He then was taken to Harrisburg Hospital. Tylor Reynolds has been charged with robbery and four counts of subjecting another to physical contact/harassment. He also is charged with resisting arrest. A warrant has been issued for Scott Reynolds. Anyone having information on his whereabouts is asked to call police via Dauphin County emergency dispatch at 717-558-6900. Ask for a detective or supervisor. Tips also can be shared on the Dauphin County Crime Watch website. All tips are confidential, according to police. Dauphin County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $2000 for information leading to an arrest in this incident. John Wayne Strawser, Jr. John Wayne Strawser Jr. was convicted of killing Amy Lou Buckingham in Preston County, West Virginia. His statement to police and the 911 call from Buckingham's family played a crucial role in the prosecution's case. (File photo. ) He's been convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend in West Virginia, and soon, John Wayne Strawser Jr. will face charges in Pennsylvania in connection with a shooting death on Interstate 81. On Monday, a jury in Preston County found Strawser guilty of first-degree murder and fleeing with reckless indifference in the shooting death of Amy Lou Buckingham. Even though Strawser will spend the rest of his life behind bars with that conviction, Franklin County District Attorney Matt Fogal said after Strawser's sentencing in West Virginia on Oct. 5, he will start the process bringing Strawser to Chambersburg to face charges in the shooting death of Timothy "Asti" Davison. Amy Lou Buckingham At this point, Fogal said he cannot to comment any further on the Pennsylvania case, but the day after the West Virginia trial, Snyder was able to reflect on the evidence. And on Strawser. Strawser was charged with shooting Buckingham outside of her Tunnelton home on April 16, 2015, then leading police on a high-speed chase across the county. Going into trial, Snyder said he was sure he had a good case against Strawser, even though no one actually saw him pull the trigger. "There's no case that's all circumstantial or all direct evidence. It's always a mix of both," he said. In Strawser's case, there were a lot of pieces to the puzzle, and through the nearly weeklong trial, he worked to put it all together for the jury. And of the boxes and boxes of evidence hauled into the courtroom each day, three particular pieces stick out as the strongest - statements from the Buckingham family, text messages Strawser sent Buckingham, and Strawser's own recorded statement to the police. The text messages, Snyder said through trial, show Strawser's frame of mind of in the hour before Buckingham's shooting death. They were angry, threatening and expletive filled. Soon after sending those texts, Strawser arrived at the Buckingham home on the 100 block of North Street in Tunnelton. He went inside, said hello to the family, and went back outside. Amy Buckingham followed him. Though none of family members actually saw Strawser shoot Amy Buckingham, they heard the shot from inside the house, according to their testimony. They rushed outside, saw her on the ground and saw Strawser driving away. The aftermath of the shooting can be heard in this 911 call placed by Amy Buckingham's sister, Elsie Buckingham: And there was also Strawser's statement to the police. Though he never admitted to shooting Buckingham, prosecutors pointed out his callous attitude, often referring to Buckingham as just a sex toy. At one point, he told investigators Amy Buckingham was just one of five sexual partners, then added "Well, four now," and "four of them is fine." You can listen to that statement here: In West Virginia, the punishment for first-degree murder is either life without parole or life with mercy, which means he is eligible for parole consideration after 15 years. In Strawser's case, the jury chose the option without the possibility of parole, and Snyder said he pushed for that sentence because the evidence painted a picture of a dangerous man. When asked if he thought Strawser could be a sociopath, Snyder said it's possible. "He's not right. He is not like a normal human being," Snyder said. "I think everything we saw in this case shows he really has virtually no empathy, no connection to other human beings. Other human beings are just something used by him to accomplish whatever his purpose or ends are." Through his training on the subject with FBI officials, Snyder said a sociopath is someone who develops that way and a psychopath is a genetic issue of someone who is born like that. "I believe his history, his attitudes and what he showed are consistent with those types of behaviors," Snyder said. "I think what I saw and the evidence that I had is consistent with those types of things." The Strawser case ranks among the most heinous crimes he has seen in his time as a prosecuting attorney in Preston County. An unidentified male victim who was shot multiple times in Harrisburg's Allison Hill section early Tuesday is expected to survive, police said. Police found the victim after they responded to the report of multiple shots fired near 13th and Market streets at 2:16 a.m. After police saturated the area, officers received a report of a male who had stumbled into the nearby Pizza Boli restaurant with multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency crews rushed the victim to Hershey Medical Center, where he underwent surgery. He is expected to recover. Officers found the scene of the shooting in the 1200 block of Mt Pleasant Alley. Police found fresh blood and multiple bullet casings in the alley. There were no witnesses at the scene when officers arrived, police said. The incident marked the fourth shooting in Harrisburg in less than a week. Two male victims were shot within two hours of each other Wednesday night. Saturday night, Henry Liriano-Aquino, 45, died after he was shot in the head near Swatara and Hummel streets. Anyone with information regarding the shootings is asked to call police via Dauphin County Emergency Dispatch at 717-558-6900. Ask for a detective or supervisor. Tips also can be shared on the Dauphin County Crime Watch website. All information will be kept confidential. Dauphin County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $2000 for information leading to an arrest in this incident. Christopher Novitzke.jpg Harrisburg resident Christopher Novitzke, 37, left, is facing numerous charges, including attempted homicide, after police said he fondled two women in Victoria's Secret at the Colonial Park Mall in Lower Paxton Township, and then rammed a police vehicle numerous times as he attempted to flee Tuesday. The damaged police vehicle is pictured right. (Lower Paxton Township Police Department) A Harrisburg man was arrested after police said he fondled two women in a local Victoria's Secret store and rammed a police cruiser with his vehicle during an ensuing chase. Lower Paxton Township Police were called to the Colonial Park Mall for a disorderly conduct report at an unspecified time Monday. Police were told a white male, later identified as Christopher Novitzke, 37, had fondled two women inside Victoria's Secret and fled with stolen merchandise. A responding patrol sergeant located the green minivan Novitzke fled in along Royal Avenue, which is a dead-end road, police said. The sergeant tried to stop the minivan, after it reached the dead-end, according to police. Only Novitzke threw the minivan in reverse and rammed the sergeant's patrol vehicle several times. He struck it enough to move the sergeant's vehicle, and Novitzke fled from the traffic stop, police said. The patrol sergeant chased Novitzke as he tried to leave the immediate area.When other officers arrived shortly after, he made a U-Turn in the middle of Earl Avenue, accelerated and struck the patrol sergeant's vehicle head-on and disabled it, according to police. Again, Novitzke tried to flee, but this time responding officers were able to pull the minivan over, police said. Novitzke was arrested and charged with the following: Attempted homicide. Three counts of aggravated assault. Fleeing and eluding police. Resisting arrest. Two counts of indecent assault. Retail theft. Novitzke was charged and sent to Dauphin County Prison in lieu of bail. The patrol sergeant was taken to a local hospital with unknown injuries, treated and released. Novitzke's preliminary hearing is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 19. HACKED EMAIL.jpg Newly leaked documents reveal how deeply involved national Democrats were in critical primary races in southeastern Pennsylvania, shedding new light on candidate recruitment in a pivotal year. The Hill, a newspaper that covers Congress, reports this afternoon that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee went to great lengths to try to defeat Mike Parrish, a Democratic candidate in a contested primary in the Sixth Congressional District. The documents, handed over by hackers known as "Guccifer 2.0" show that the House Democrats' campaign wing courted a small businesswoman named Marian Moskowitz to run against Parrish: "To lure Moskowitz, the DCCC arranged calls and meetings with top party officials such as Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Mar.). "Please tell Moskowitz that the DCCC will be all-in on her candidacy," talking points to Hoyer, the second-ranking Democrat in the House, and other party officials said. "We will be there from day one to support her and help her build a strong campaign. DCCC is targeting this district but the current Democratic candidate (Mike Parrish) is not getting the job done." "These efforts, which have not been previously reported, proved unsuccessful, and Parrish ultimately won his primary." The Hill report reveals that "Guccifer 2.0" is widely believed to be a cover name for Russian Intelligence, which was supposedly behind the hacking attacks on the Democratic National Committee earlier this summer. Parrish is now running against incumbent U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello, R-6th. The Cook Political Report has rated the seat as "likely Republican." As The Hill notes, there's nothing particularly unusual about this kind of behind the scenes drama. What's rare is it being held up for public scrutiny. The documents released to The Hill on Wednesday come in addition "to five Pennsylvania specific documents released publicly ... including a November memo from the DCCC to House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) identifying House Districts 6, 7 and 8 as priorities for the party in the Keystone State. "The additional documents released to the Hill, include vetting documents, internal polling, and memos - including near-monthly updated versions of the same Pelosi memo as the three races progressed," The Hill reported. The 7th District seat, based in Delaware County, is currently held by GOP U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan. The 8th District, based in Bucks County, is an open seat, where longtime U.S. Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick is stepping down. Of all the state's contested Congressional races, Democrats widely believe their best shot at victory is in the 8th District. Students rally for Pennsylvania's charter schools About 500 students and staff from eight cyber charter schools flooded the atrium of the Keystone Building in the Capitol Complex to rally for Pennsylvania's charter schools. Johnson Wongso, 11, of Independence Charter School in Philadelphia shares his message at the rally. CHRISTINE BAKER, The Patriot-News By Tim Eller It's no surprise that the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) - a statewide organization that supports the status quo in traditional public education - doesn't support public charter schools - public schools that provide tens of thousands of children in communities throughout Pennsylvania with a high-quality education in a safe environment. It's also important to question the credibility and independence of studies and reports that are internally prepared and subsequently published by an organization that opposes public charter schools and public school choice. Like other traditional public education establishment organizations, PSBA once again attempts, through its recently issued "Special Report: Charter School Revenues, Expenditures and Transparency," to convince the public, policymakers and lawmakers that public charter schools are the problem with Pennsylvania's public education system. However, PSBA falls flat due to the fact that its report ignores the data that shows the opposite to be true. For example, the report states, "in the Chester-Upland School District, 46.1 [percent] of all expenditures were allocated to charter school tuition payments and in Philadelphia City School District, the percentage was 26.1 [percent] of all expenditures." What PSBA conveniently ignores is that, although Chester-Upland School District spends 46.1 percent of its budget on charter schools, 53.5 percent of the district's students attend charter schools. The same applies in Philadelphia: 26.1 percent of the district's budget is allocated to charter schools, but 33.8 percent of the district's students attend charter schools. These discrepancies are not unique in Chester-Upland and Philadelphia. In fact, it is clear that in both districts, like nearly all school districts statewide, charter school students receive less funding than their peers in traditional public schools. PSBA also contends that charter schools, compared to school districts, "expended a greater percentage of their overall budget on support services and facilities." What PSBA does not mention is that, unlike school districts, charter schools receive virtually no funding for their buildings and capital expenses. Charter schools are forced to use a portion of the tuition payments they receive from school districts to pay for and maintain their school buildings. Charter schools, unlike school districts, are not eligible for the state's cost sharing construction reimbursement program for school buildings. Data shows that statewide, on average, charter school students receive 25 percent less funding than their peers in traditional public schools. School districts retain the 25 percent to finance and maintain their facilities and capital expenditures while charter schools are forced to make use of the limited funds they receive to not only educate their students, but to secure and maintain safe and adequate learning facilities. Charter schools embrace accountability and transparency. In fact, charter schools are held to the same standards of academic and financial accountability and transparency. Charter schools are subject to the same laws and regulations regarding budgeting, reporting and auditing as traditional public schools. Charter schools in no way avoid their fiduciary duty to ensure tax dollars are used to the benefit of their students. While the Keystone Alliance supports the creation of a Charter School Funding Advisory Commission, it must be done in a comprehensive way that looks at every aspect of a charter school's operation, including both regular and special education and facility funding. Fair education funding only applies to traditional public school students but it must also include those students who choose to attend a public charter school. Charter schools rightfully challenge the traditional public education system by providing students and parents with public school choice and the ability to escape a failing school district in favor of an alternative school that will meet their academic needs. Perhaps PSBA should champion policies and changes to law that focus on and benefit students instead of protecting the status quo. Tim Eller is the executive director of the Keystone Alliance for Public Charter Schools. Vince Williams, Jamaal Charles Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Vince Williams, who signed a new three-year deal Tuesday, reaches to recover the ball during the second half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014 against the Kansas City Chiefs' running back Jamaal Charles. (AP Photo/Don Wright) (Don Wright) PITTSBURGH -- Vince Williams became the first member of the Pittsburgh Steelers' 2013 Draft class to sign a second contract with the team as a three-year deal was announced on Tuesday. Williams was taken in the sixth round, 206th overall out of Florida State. The inside linebacker backs up Ryan Shazier and Lawrence Timmons and has excelled both in games and in at camp this preseason. Behind Sean Spence, now a Tennessee Titan, Williams covered for Shazier when the 2014 first rounder was injured last season. Coming out of college, Williams wasn't invited to the Senior Bowl until Manti Te'o dropped out. Williams said that at the time he was planning on getting his masters degree to become a principal. He started 11 games his rookie year and has 85 tackles on defense, half a sack and two fumble recovers. On special teams Williams has resisted 26 tackles and a fumble recovery. The Steelers had $2,779,333 under the salary cap as of Tuesday evening, according to the NFLPA database. William' base salary and the pro-rated portion of his $78,680 signing bonus were set to cost Pittsburgh $694,670 against the salary cap this year. League minimums dictate the Steelers will have to pay Williams at least $675,000 in base salary this season. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form This aerial photo shows the historical part of the town of Amatrice, central Italy, after an earthquake, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The magnitude 6 quake struck at 3:36 a.m. (0136 GMT) and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including Rome where residents of the capital felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) A South Korean army soldier watches a TV news program showing images published Thursday in North Korea's Rodong Sinmun newspaper of North Korea's ballistic missile believed to have been launched from underwater and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, at Seoul Railway station in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. North Korean leader Kim said Thursday that his country had achieved the "success of all successes" in launching a missile from a submarine, saying it effectively gave the country a fully equipped nuclear attack capability and put the U.S. mainland within striking distance. The letters read "Kim Jong Un observed the launch of the SLBM, submarine-launched ballistic missile." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) Heather Mogg to take plea deal in murder case Heather Mogg is scheduled to make a plea deal with Emmet County prosecutors for the murder of her boyfriend, Jonathan Tippett. New course under construction The riders RIDERS LIST SUZUKI NINE KNIGHTS MTB 2016 Featuring a load of fearless riders on a course built for progression, the Suzuki Nine Knights MTB gears up for a week of dust, sweat and crazy footage.The tailor-made course, combining freeride and dirt jump elements, is taking shape at the new location in Reschenpass in South Tyrol, Italy. Culminating on the public contest day on Saturday the 10th, the world renowned media event begins on the 5th of September with invited riders joined by Become a Knight wild card winners Adolf Silva (ESP) with his big bag of tricks and Reilly Horan (CAN). Stomping solid and smooth tricks on his big bike Horan also bagged the freeride prize: a FOCUS bike sponsorship.Freeride category and the FOCUS bike sponsorship winner Reilly Horan (CAN):Open category wild card winner Adolf Silva (ESP):The shapers and carpenters are rushing to finish the course which includes a flow line and the main features: two super step-ups, 12 and 18 meters long; and a 7 meter high quarter-pipes with dirt landing, possibly one of the biggest ever built for mountain bikes. Returning to the line-up as a rider but also course co-designer, Sam Reynolds (GBR) is pumped, as freeride MTB is changing for the better and I'm excited to work with these guys to create an awesome set up with sick jumps at the forefront of the new freeride big air movement! Cant wait!Sam ReynoldsBalzamico Trail Design are creating the opportunity for more air time in the course and the existing terrain is perfect for that: shaping along a huge avalanche mound is not only more environmentally friendly, it's perfect for creating something extraordinary that combines freeride and slopestyle elements with huge obstacles, explains Andi Wittmann (GER).Szymon GodziekMany familiar faces are on the stacked riders' list including trick machine Szymon Godziek (POL), German powerhouse Peter Henke and local favourite Torquato Testa. The relaxed formatknown to lend itself to progressionamps up the anticipation for what the riders will do this year.Patrick Schweika, Bartek Krzyszton, Tobi WrobelWill Nicholi Rogatkin (USA), who stomped the Cashroll on a Downhill bike last year, be able to land more slopestyle tricks on his DH bike? Does Antoine Bizet, who nailed a double backflip on a DH bike in 2013, have something new up his sleeve? Will having designed the course give Reynolds an edge to throw down? What mischief will Swedish trio Max Fredriksson, Anton Thelander and Martin Soderstrom, get up to? Stay tuned for daily videos and photos, or if you want the full experience, join us on the Public Day on Saturday the 10th of September for a mountain bike session that, if the last few years are anything to go by, will go down in history.Torquato TestaFor detailed information and to watch all Become a Knight entries head to www.nineknightsmtb.com Antoine Bizet (FRA)Max Fredriksson (SWE)Szymon Godziek (POL)Peter Henke (GER)Reilly Horan (CAN)Clemens Kaudela (AUT)Lukas Knopf (GER)Sam Pilgrim (GBR)Timo Pritzel (GER)Sam Reynolds (GBR)Nicholi Rogatkin (USA)Adolf Silva (ESP)Martin Soderstrom (SWE)Anton Thelander (SWE)Torquato Testa (ITA)Olly Wilkins (GBR)Tobi Wrobel (GER)Loec QuadfliegHere's the trailer, in case you missed it!Szymon Godziek, Peter Henke@nineknights 888poker Ambassador Chris Moorman Wins 241,300 in Barcelona August 24, 2016 Matthew Pitt Editor 888poker has some of the worlds best poker players on its books as ambassadors. This elite group of players frequent the online poker tables of 888poker, and in live events around the world, flying the 888poker flag as they do so. One such player, Chris Moorman, only recently signed as an 888poker ambassador, and the badge seems to have brought him luck judging by how earlier this week he added 241,300 to his lifetime live tournament winnings, taking his impressive total to more than $4.4 million. Moorman was one of 3,447 players competing in the 1,100 ESPT Barcelona Main Event this week, and was one of the nine players to make it through to the final days play. First to bust from the final table was Irelands Dan Wilson, a player with almost $50,000 winnings at 888poker where he plays under the alias xXGlamBabeXx. Lars Farstad of Norway then fell in eighth-place, and he was followed to the rail by Jerome Brion of France, Switzerlands Jean-Marc Bellini, and another Norwegian in the shape of Marius Enebakk. Fourth-place, and its 202,420 prize went to another familiar face at the 888poker tournament tables, that of Nicholas YerSoLucky Newport, a player with more than $160,000 winnings at the 888poker virtual felt. Newport saw his queen-jack fail to improve against a pair of fours to bust in fourth-place. With only three players remaining, Moorman won a big pot to climb to the top of the chip counts, but he lost a coin flip with ace-ten against the nines of Mohamed Samri, and was headed for the rail less than ten-minutes later. Moormans exit came during the 400,000/800,000/100,000a level and saw Moorman raise to 1.7 million with a pair of red sixes on the button. Teunis Kooij responded with a 4.8 million three-bet from the small blind, and Samri folded from the big blind. Thirty-seconds later, Moorman shipped in his 26 million chip stack, a bet Kooij instantly called to put Moorman at risk of elimination. And at risk he was because Kooij held a pair of red queens, leaving Moorman drawing thin. A king-high flop took away any slight hopes of a straight for Moorman, and when the turn and river were both black sevens, Moormans incredible run was over. The 241,300 Moorman collected for this impressive finish is the fifth-largest live tournament score of his career to date. The largest weighs in at 800,000 ($1,068,690), which was Moormans reward for finishing second in the 2011 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event, narrowly besting the $1,015,460 Moorman banked for triumphing in the 2014 World Poker Tour LA Poker Classic. While Moorman was disappointed not to add another tournament title to his already impressive resume, there is no doubt we will see him and his 888poker badge at many final tables in the coming months. Play Against Chris Moorman at 888poker When Moorman isnt bossing around live poker tournaments, you can find him playing at 888poker under the alias 888Moorman. Moorman won the $50,000 Volcano for $14,605.25 on August 16, and all you need to battle against one of the best in the business is an 888poker account. Download 888poker via PokerNews, and you can enjoy a free $88 (free 20 for UK customers) just for creating your account. Make a deposit of $20 using the bonus code POKERNEWS20 and youll receive a free $20 to play at 888poker. Make another deposit, and 888poker matches it 100% up to a maximum of $888, giving you a potential $996 in free money to kickstart your 888poker career! Want to stay atop all the latest in the poker world? If so, make sure to get PokerNews updates on your social media outlets. Follow us on Twitter and find us on both Facebook and Google+! Pratyush Buddiga Wins the EPT Barcelona 25,500 Single-Day High Roller for 690,275, [Removed:17] 2nd for 704,755 August 23, 2016 Frank Op de Woerd Another event at the 2016 PokerStars.es EPT Season Barcelona, another record broken with Pratyush Buddiga and [Removed:17] finished first and second respectively to earn 690,275 and 704,755 after a deal was made. Last year's tournament, which saw a field of 152 wasn't able to finish in the intended one day, so this year's version started at 10:30 a.m. local time and saw a flock of players hit the poker room for the 25,500 Single-Day High Roller. Players started with 100,000 in chips and levels were 30 minutes long throughout. Despite the early starting time, the designated tables filled up quickly. There was a steady flow of new players and players re-entering right until registration closed after the extended lunch break. In total the event saw 165 total entries, consisting of 131 unique players and 34 of them using their single reentry option. That created a prize pool of well over 4 million with just shy of a million for first. After a long day of high-stakes poker action, Buddiga from the United States eventually walked away a champion after a three-way deal saw the New Zealander, Yan take home the biggest payout: Position Player Country Prize 1 Pratyush Buddiga United States 690,275 2 [Removed:17] New Zealand 704,755 3 Andrey Shatilov Russia 606,020 4 Tobias Reinkemeier Germany 347,650 5 Steve O'Dwyer Ireland 278,900 6 Alex Komaromi Uruguay 216,250 7 Parker Talbot Canada 160,080 8 Sergey Lebedev Russia 117,640 As was expected, players busted out left and right the entire day due to the fast-paced structure. With a 25,000 prize tag to enter, just about all of the players could be described as well-known. The best of the best came out for this event, and some wealthy amateurs joined them to battle it out for glory, a sweet trophy and a whole lot of cash. Gerard Pique, after having already played the 50,000 Super High Roller earlier this festival, made another appearance. He gathered a big stack early on, but eventually fell a couple places short of the money in a hand against eventual final tablist Talbot Parker. With so many entering, a lot left empty handed and, presumably, disappointed. Like Pique, big names like Anthony Zinno, Timothy Adams, Adrian Mateos, Jason Mercier, Shaun Deeb and last year's winner Martin Finger all fell well before the money. Dutch high roller Robert Soogea would become the bubble boy in this single-day affair. His elimination started first when he lost a big hand with a flush draw that didn't materialize. The remainder of his chips were lost against Dmitry Yurasov where the latter made top pair with queen-jack against the ace-five of Soogea. Robert Soogea bubbled the 25,500 Single-Day High Roller With that, the remaining 23 players were in the money earning a guaranteed 46,900. One young player from Germany played exceptionally well all day, especially for someone considered a poker aficionado. He didn't seem fazed by the big names surrounding him and wasn't backing down to anyone. Fedor Holz, a self-proclaimed retiree from poker, battled the entire day and eventually made it into the money for a min cash. Once he busted out, the rest of the field was able to breathe a big sigh of relief as they now officially had a fighting chance. Holz, of who some jokingly say he's just playing the "retiree" game to be able to join the One Drop Extravaganza in Monaco in October, walked away with 46,900, just shy of what he bought in for. After Holz busted out in 23rd place, the line at the payout desk would stay busy for some time. While the bubble hadn't didn't last long, play was still relatively shallow and pre-flop shoves were more common than post flop pots. Players like November Niner Vojtech Ruzicka (18th for 50,940), WSOP Main Event champion Martin Jacobson (15th for 62,660) and One Drop player Christoph Vogelsang (14th for 62,660) all made deep runs but tripped before the final table was reached. While Russian regular Dmitry Yurasov did make it to the last table in play, his 9th place finish meant he had officially bubbled the final table. With eight players remaining, the play did not tighten up in the least. Sergey Lebedev was the first to go after his ace-five didn't chop (let alone beat) the ace-four of his countryman Andrey Shatilov. A four on the flop and Lebedev hit the rail in 8th place for 117,640. Parker Talbot, jovial as ever - or should we say jolly - hit the rail in 7th place as his pocket tens ran into the ace-king of [Removed:17]. The ace on the turn did him in and Talbot received a 160,080 check for his 7th place finish. Alex Komaromi ended up 6th after he lost a crucial flip against Andrey Shatilov with ace-eight against deuces. Despite picking up a bunch of outs to counterfeit his opponent he eventually ended up with nothing more than ace-high. He received 216,250 for his 6th place. Long time Global Poker Index commander Steve O'Dwyer went home in 5th place after his ten-eight failed to improve against the king-four of Pratyush Buddiga. The 278,900 he received for his 5th place finish was the 13th biggest score of his career. Tobias Reinkemeier left the tournament in 4th place for 347,650 after his ace-six lost to Buddiga's ace-three, courtesy of a three on the turn. The final 3 players immediately started talking shop after the shorties had all been eliminated. [Removed:17], Pratyush Buddiga and Andrey Shatilov didn't need long to shake hands and sign the ICM-deal papers. [Removed:17] received 704,755, Pratyush Buddiga got 690,275 and Andrey Shatilov guaranteed himself 606,020. Part of the deal was to go all in blind till someone had all the chips and could claim the trophy. Andrey Shatilov finished 3rd after striking a deal 3-handed The finish only took two hands as the first eliminated Andrey Shatilov and crippled [Removed:17]. Pratyush Buddiga reigned supreme after one more flip to end it all. He didn't walk away the biggest winner cash wise, but he did receive the PokerStars spade trophy and was fortunate enough to pose for the winner photo as a result. PokerNews.com live coverage of the 2016 PokerStars.es EPT Season 13 Barcelona continues tomorrow as Day 2 of the Main Event starts at noon local time. Be sure to complete your PokerNews experience by checking out an overview of our mobile and tablet apps here. Stay on top of the poker world from your phone with our mobile iOS and Android app, or fire up our iPad app on your tablet. You can also update your own chip counts from poker tournaments around the world with MyStack on both Android and iOS. Daniel Kevin Harris was shot and killed by a North Carolina trooper last Thursday at the end of a vehicle pursuit. (Photo: Facebook) The North Carolina Highway Patrol is urging people to not jump to conclusions as agents investigate how a deaf driver with a history of minor offenses was shot and killed last week after leading a trooper on a 10-mile chase near Charlotte. The family of Daniel Kevin Harris said he was unarmed and suggested the sequence of events last week was a tragic misunderstanding the type the state's training manual warns troopers to avoid when dealing with the hearing impaired. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, Secretary Frank Perry of the state Department of Public Safety said in a news release. Authorities haven't said why the trooper fired, and a review of public records shows a few traffic charges against Harris from other states, including damaging his employer's vehicle with his own car after he was fired last year, according to a Denver police report. Last Thursday's incident started when Harris did not pull over as Saunders turned on his blue lights on Interstate 485 near Charlotte about 6:15 p.m. and ended after Harris drove down several miles of surface streets to his home. Authorities have released little information about the investigation, including any possible body camera or dashboard camera footage or whether a gun was found near Harris. The trooper has been placed on administrative leave, Fox News reports. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print The predictable response from the media to Hillary Clintons growing lead over Donald Trump is to drum up a Clinton scandal in the hopes that the polls will get closer. A new Reuters/Ipsos poll found that Clinton lead has grown to 12 points over Trump: Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton leads Republican rival Donald Trump by 12 percentage points among likely voters, her strongest showing this month, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Tuesday. The Aug. 18-22 poll showed that 45 percent of voters supported Clinton, while 33 percent backed Trump ahead of the Nov. 8 election. The fact that Clintons lead continues to increase over Trump no matter how much time the press spends on her emails was bad news for a corporate media establishment for whom a blowout presidential election will result in the loss of billions of dollars in potential profits. If the corporate owned press was going to use their influence to help narrow Trumps deficit in the polls, they needed a new strategy, so they followed Donald Trumps lead and began to play up The Clinton Foundation. The AP ran a screaming headline about many Clinton Foundation donors meeting with her while she was Secretary of State. Republicans and many in the media immediately screamed pay for play, but there is no evidence that the donors who met with Clinton received anything, so no, it wasnt pay for play. There is no evidence of pay for play, but the facts really have nothing to do with the motives behind why the media has hopped on the Republican talking point about The Clinton Foundation. Donald Trump is losing badly. If the current polling continues through the first presidential debate next month, history suggests that Hillary Clinton could end up winning the White House by a large margin. A blowout is bad news for the corporate media, so some are going to try to prop up what looks like a dying Trump campaign by giving Hillary Clinton some bad media coverage. The motivation for these stories isnt truth or even political bias. Its money. The election cant be allowed to take its natural course because a big Hillary Clinton win will result in lower profits for some media giants. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print In an interview with Trump campaign co-chair Sam Clovis on Tuesday, MSNBC host Chuck Todd dismantled the Republican nominees phony outreach to minority voters. In the exchange, Todd criticized Trump for portraying African-American neighborhoods as war zones and having almost exclusively white crowds at his campaign events. The MSNBC host also ran through the list of minority organizations that Trump has declined to meet with over the course of the campaign. Clovis claimed that the reason is that African-American organizations are in the pocket of the left, while Trump is appealing to real people at the grassroots level. The Meet the Press host also questioned whether Trumps recent talk about minority voters is really an attempt to win their votes or if hes just trying to win back white Republican voters who have been turned off by the GOP nominees inflammatory rhetoric. Welcome to week one under new management, Todd said of the latest controversy. Video: If [Trump is] going to make an appeal to African-American voters, shouldnt there be at least a good chunk of African-American voters in an audience at one of his rallies? Todd asked. Have you ever been to a rally? Clovis shot back. Yes, I have, sir, Todd responded. Its not the most diverse crowd, for what its worth. Twitter quickly sounded off on the heated exchange: Watching @chucktodd take down a Trump surrogate re: why his candidate hasnt directly engaged non-white voters. @MSNBC Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) August 23, 2016 Wonder how Kelly Anne Conway feels about Sam Clovis stomping all over her Trump is not a racist message campaign! @chucktodd North_Of_Boston (@Charles_1944) August 23, 2016 Its becoming obvious that Trumps recent habit of pretending to care about minorities after months of denigrating the very same people is just a desperate attempt to persuade disaffected white Republican voters. Come back, I swear Im not a racist, is essentially the new Trump argument, and it seems to be failing miserably. According to the latest polling, Trumps support among African-American voters barely even registers. In the important swing-state of Ohio, for example, a recent survey shows Trump winning just three percent of black voters. Trump and his campaign may think they can pull a fast one on minority voters, but they dont seem to be buying it. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print If somebody told me a year ago that the future Republican nominees lead in Texas would be in the mid-single digits, forcing him to campaign in the state with a little over two months until Election Day, I would have probably told them theyve had enough to drink. But with 76 days until voters head to the polls, the current GOP nominee, Donald Trump, finds himself in that exact predicament. On Tuesday, at a rally in Austin, Texas, Trump was forced to spend time in a state that shouldnt even be in question for Republicans this year. While there, Trump once again read from a teleprompter, his new favorite hobby since his campaign shake-up last week. The staff-written speech focused on some of his favorite themes: calling the system rigged, attacking the media, and claiming he is the only candidate who will put America first, although his life story shows that he has always put himself above all else. Video of the rally: In the low-energy speech, Trump promised to create millions of new jobs and prevent outsourcing to other countries. Of course, independent economic analysts have assessed that his plans would actually lead to a financial crisis worse than the Great Recession, costing millions of American jobs and reducing GDP. To ensure his supporters remain terrified enough to vote for him, Trump also renewed his focus on crime and illegal immigration, which are actually at decades-long lows, but he failed to mention that. We are going to build the wall, Trump instead told his crowd of supporters. Mexico is going to pay for the wall. Trump also repeated his favorite lie that the Second Amendment is under assault by the Democrats and will essentially be abolished under Hillary Clinton. Not true, of course, but the crowd loved it nonetheless. And, of course, it wouldnt have been a post-shake-up Trump rally if the Republican nominee didnt pretend to appeal to African-American voters by telling them their communities are unsafe, horrible places defined by crime and poverty. What do you have to lose? Trump once again asked minority voters. Whats sad about Trumps Texas campaign trip isnt just the content of the teleprompter speech, but the fact that he was forced to travel to the state in the first place. After all, Mitt Romney defeated President Obama in the Lone Star State by 16 points in 2012. The latest polling out of Texas this year gives the Republican nominee an astonishingly small lead of six points over Hillary Clinton. According to RealClearPolitics, Trump only leads in the state by an average of 8 points. According to the Dallas Morning News, Trumps campaign events in Texas are the closest to the general election by any major-party presidential nominee in two decades, signifying just how worried Trump is about traditional Republican states slipping away from him. While actual battleground states continue to shift dramatically toward the Democrats, the Republican nominee is stuck in Texas trying to keep that state from heading in the same direction. Team Clinton should be feeling pretty good right about now. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print In some way it is relevant to conservative talking heads that women dont have the same genital arrangement as men, and it is a source of endless fascination to them. They want to micromanage womens genitals, to control them, to talk about them as though they are somehow relevant to a womans career choice and deeds in life. And so we find Alex Jones and Roger Stone, two low-brow Trump thugs, debating whether or not frequent conservative target Huma Abedin, whom The National Review just yesterday characterized as an influence peddler to Clinton Foundation donors you know, the foundation which helps millions of people has had her genitals mutilated. At least The National Review had the courtesy to not obsess over the condition of Abedins genitals. They just obsess over debunked claims of Abedins alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. The whisper here, the subtext, is that shes not one of us. You know, because shesMuslim. Here are two adult white males acting like little boys digging through their sisters underwear drawer: ROGER STONE: I think shes a Saudi asset. The media keeps saying her mothers a prominent feminist. No. Her mothers a prominent advocate for genital mutilation. She has written extensively about genital mutilation. ALEX JONES: Did Huma have her genitals cut off? STONE: That I cannot tell you. But what I can tell you is JONES: I mean its fair, I dont mean that to be crass! Of course you meant to be crass. You could not be anything else. There is nothing Trump-related that is not crass. Ann Coulter defended this behavior, after all, in her new book on Trump, arguing that Being crude is an indispensable requirement, apparently because it makes you resistant to facts. And a Saudi asset? Whats that? Abedin was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and is of Indian and Pakistani descent. Apparently, all Muslims look alike to these yokels, who, like Coulter, seem to think if you cant trace your descent to a Revolutionary War hero you cant really be an American. This targeting of the other, in whatever form women, blacks, Hispanics, Muslims to name a few is at the heart of the Trump movement, bringing front and center a longtime conservative distrust of anything not white Christian male. As their vulgar speculation reveals, actual facts have nothing to do with their not-so-subtle talking points. They do, however, make clearer the distinction between the high-minded ideals of Hillary Clinton and the low-brow, minimized brain-capacity churnings of the Trump clique. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print A new poll of North Carolina shows Hillary Clinton leading a very close race 44%-42% over Donald Trump. According to Monmouth University: Among North Carolina voters likely to cast ballots in Novembers presidential election, 44% currently support Clinton and 42% back Trump. Another 7% intend to vote for Libertarian Gary Johnson, 1% name another candidate, and 6% are undecided. Trump does nearly as well as Clinton in getting the backing of fellow partisans, with 86% of Republicans supporting their partys nominee and 91% of Democrats backing their standard bearer. Independents prefer Trump (44%) over Clinton (30%), with 15% supporting Johnson. Clinton leads by 63 points among black, Hispanic, and Asian voters (76% to 13%), while Trump leads by 23 points among white voters (54% to 31%). In 2012, Barack Obama won non-white voters by 75 points, while Mitt Romney took the white vote by 37 points. Trump is currently doing about equally as well among white men (51% to 29%) and white women (56% to 33%), although is losing white voters with a college degree by 39% to 43% for Clinton. Trump maintains a sizable advantage among white voters without a college degree (66% to 22%). Trump is doing better in North Carolina than he is other red states at getting Republicans behind him, but one of his large and lingering issues remains the defection of white voters with college degrees to Hillary Clinton. The Clinton lead can be found in the fact that Clinton is under performing less with non-white voters (-12 over Obama) than is underperforming with white voters (-15 over Romney). North Carolina is going to be close, but if Hillary Clinton flips North Carolina back into the Democratic column, it will be a big step towards blocking any hope that Trump has of winning on Election Night. Donald Trump still does not lead in a single state that President Obama carried in 2012. The fact that Clinton is leading or competitive in states that Mitt Romney won paints a general picture of the trajectory of this election. Despite all of the near daily drama created by Trump, the 2016 presidential election is settling into a stable pattern. Hillary Clinton is leading with her map is expanding, while Donald Trumps path to the White House narrows with each passing day. Nothing is settled. The election in North Carolina is close, but time is ticking away, and Trump has yet to do anything to change the direction of this election. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Donald Trumps latest scheme to save money while running a presidential campaign is to put a few people in an RV throw some bumper stickers and lawn signs on it, and call it a field office in Florida. Kylie Atwood of CBS News reported: Trumps FL team says they are going to roll out a RV mobile field office at the Tampa rally today. 1 of 3 that will hit the FL roads. Kylie Atwood (@kylieatwood) August 24, 2016 Trump RVs, decked out w/ bumper stickers & yard signs, will initially put voter registration into hyperdrive." Then focus on early voting. Kylie Atwood (@kylieatwood) August 24, 2016 There are several problems with Trumps latest ploy. First, how will the RV know where to go to reach potential Trump voters in Florida when the Trump campaign has no data operation? One suspects the Trump RV is going to hang out in the mall parking lot and wait for supporters to show up. Secondly, this isnt how field offices work. A field office exists so that supporters and staff can come to a base of operations to work, volunteer, and get more information about the campaign. Having a field office that constantly moving is self-defeating. As of about a week ago, Florida political experts were reporting that Trump has zero ground game in the state. Three RVs sitting at Arbys arent going to change that. Hillary Clinton has at least 14 field offices in the state of Florida to Trumps one headquarters and three RVs. Every move the Trump campaign makes sends the clear message that money matters more than winning. Unless he can make a buck off of it, Trump appears to insist on doing everything on the cheap. RVs arent field offices, and Donald Trump isnt running a real presidential campaign. 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. WINONA A compromise measure on silica sand mining advanced a step Tuesday night with the Winona County Board of Commissioners. Commissioners voted unanimously to receive a modified proposed amendment to the Winona County ban on the mining and processing of silica sand. The amendment, sent to the board after a 5-3 vote at the Aug. 11 planning commission meeting, will now be reviewed by the county attorney and discussed at a public meeting set for Oct. 13. It is a compromise between an outright ban and the status quo. It would limit the number of industrial mineral mines, those for frac sand mining, to six in the county, with no mine allowed to exceed 40 acres. County Attorney Karin Sonneman's review will determine the next steps in the county's process to implement new regulations on mining of silica sand for hydraulic fracturing in the oil and gas industry. "If we have a public hearing on this amendment and we choose to go back to the original language (an outright ban on silica sand mining), would we need another public hearing?" asked Commissioner Greg Olson. ADVERTISEMENT Sonneman said that question, among others, will need to be answered as part of her review. For example, Olson said the amendment forwarded by the planning commission looked less like an amendment and more like a completely new change to the zoning ordinance. He questioned whether that amendment would need to be sent back to square one a 60-day public comment period and another trip to the planning commission, where it originated or if it indeed constituted an amendment. "The original proposal this board sent to the planning commission, it was not accepted or rejected," he said. "This is not a modification, in my opinion." But that will be up to interpretation of the public discussion to this point, Sonneman said. "We have to see if the record supports this," she said. If the record the minutes from the planning commission meeting support an interpretation of the current proposal as an amendment, then the next step is, indeed, the meeting scheduled for Oct. 13. If not, the board will need to adjust. "One of the key things to making a change in the zoning ordinance is the record must reflect whatever decision you make," Sonneman said. Sonneman will also assess the viability of the amendment, and give an opinion on that to the board. Commissioner Steve Jacob, a member of the planning commission and the leader in support of the amendment at the Aug. 11 meeting, said he thought the Oct. 13 meeting should cover just the amendment and not be a free-for-all on both the amendment and the original ban language. "There has not been public hearing on this language, but there has been on previous language," he said. "There should be a public hearing on this, then a decision can be made." Marie Kovecsi, the board president, said she hoped the board could move forward by either accepting the amendment, accepting the original ban language, or rejecting both. ADVERTISEMENT "I don't want to say you have only these three options," Sonneman said. While the board did not discuss the merits of the amendment on Tuesday, several members of the public did. One woman, who made use of a wheelchair, said she wanted the board to go back to the original ban language for health reasons. "It's scary to think I could come to Winona and not wheel around the lakes or around town if the frac sand trucks are unloading that day," she said. "I support a ban, not a compromise." Another woman said the amendment might be billed as a compromise, "but what it is compromising is public health, safety and the neighbors' property values." In other business, the board held a public meeting to collect input on a possible transportation sales tax. The half-cent tax would generate $1.68 million annually, according to a Minnesota Department of Revenue estimate. The county board began pursuing the tax when the state legislature failed to pass a transportation or a bonding bill in 2016. One Winona County resident said the tax would create an undue burden on low-income families since most of their wages go toward taxable purchases. "If this comes out of property taxes, it would still affect them, but would affect them in a fairer way," she said. Another county resident, a man from Winona, said since the county roads are used by everyone poor, wealthy, city and rural residents everybody should pay to keep the roads repaired. "It's obvious the state legislature isn't coming in with any money," he said. The board named Ken Fritz, the Winona County administrator, the interim planning and environmental services director after Eric Evenson-Marden left the post last week. Fritz, citing privacy concerns, would not elaborate on why Evenson-Marden left the position. AUSTIN Luis Abraham Espino boarded the bus. The 4-year-old boy smiled shyly at one of the bus aides sitting in one of the seats. His mother, Aurora Tomas, and older sister, Belen, 7, watched from the stairs. "Can you show me how to buckle your seat belt?" one of the adult aides asked. Luis nodded and began to assemble the buckle. A couple seconds later, a small "click" of the seat belt held the preschooler securely in place. Tomas smiled at her son. This would be the second time the young boy would be using the Rainbow Route program a collaboration among Southern Minnesota Area Rural Transit (SMART), the Parenting Resource Center and United Way of Mower County that provides transportation for preschoolers ages 3 to 4. "It's a wonderful program," Tomas said. "It's wonderful not having to worry about taking my child to school during the winter time when the roads are dangerous. It's really great." In 2007, the United Way of Mower County launched the Success by 6 Preschool Program. One of the major barriers that families faced in sending their children to preschool was transportation. It was difficult for working parents to get their kids to school during the work day. ADVERTISEMENT So with a partnership with AMCAT, the Rainbow Route was created. Between 2011 and 2012, 70 children on four buses were part of the program, according to a previous story. This year, the Rainbow Route had a record number of applicants of more than 190 people signing up for the service. There is only enough space for 130 children, so the program is looking to expand for the future. This program was made possible through a grant from the Hormel Foundation. The program subsidized the cost for families to keep it affordable at a dollar per ride a round trip costs $2 and some of the children riding the bus receive scholarships through United Way or through their school. "With the assistance of the United Way, SMART has been able to provide not only safe and reliable transportation to preschool children," said Kirk Kuchera, SMART operations manager. "It has provided members of our community with satisfying employment, knowing that what they are doing is making a difference in the lives of many." The bus rides were something the preschoolers looked forward to as the new school year begins. For Kayleen St. Louis, project coordinator for United Way of Mower County, the Rainbow Route is a necessary resource for many families living in Austin. Especially for those who may not have the means to bring their children to school. "We know from speaking with families in our community that many of our families have transportation barriers," St. Louis said. "Rainbow Route was started as a way to bridge that gap and provide preschool-aged children a safe and reliable way to get to and from school." Routes are based on more efficient pickup and drop-off sites for children and preschools. Every year, the mix changes and the routes are adjusted accordingly to accommodate the majority of students. An adult aide will be on the bus at all times to make sure children receive help getting on and off the vehicle and to assist if there was an emergency. All aides go through background checks and all necessary certifications such as CPR and first aid. Billie Jo Wicks and her friend, Jamie Zielke, both have sons, Teddy Wicks, 3, and Grasyn Zielke, 4, who will be using the Rainbow Route together to take the bus home after preschool. The program proved to be a lifesaver of sorts for the parents. ADVERTISEMENT "Without the bus, we wouldn't be able to get our kids to school and probably would have had to switch day cares," Zielke added. "It's definitely tremendous," Wicks said. "This is way more accessible for working families. Teddy and Graysn are very excited to ride the bus together." It's no secret, getting a degree or postsecondary credential is a necessity for finding a good job in today's economy, but many employers are demanding more. They want employees who are equipped with the hands-on skills they need to hit the ground running. However, many are finding a skills gap. According to the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, employers spend $177 billion on formal training annually and another $413 billion on on-the-job training. This emphasizes the need for career colleges. Career colleges work daily to fill that gap between education and employment by training students with relevant, hands-on skills in specific career fields. The contribution of career colleges can't be disregarded as policymakers look to invigorate the middle class through higher education. Career colleges are designed to train the students who are older, working full-time, supporting families, and in need of flexible scheduling. These non-traditional students are quickly becoming the norm, which is why colleges like ours serve a critical role for families and businesses in our communities. Shan Pollitt Campus director, Minnesota School of Business Rochester ADVERTISEMENT Rochester The value of downtown parking in Rochester is on the rise. With Mayo Clinic employees waiting more than a decade to be awarded access to parking lots and a growing number of other downtown employees looking for space, the potential income from surface parking lots, even on the outskirts of downtown, has been growing. The subject has already entered the political realm as an issue cited during a recent Post-Bulletin forum featuring candidates for Rochester City Council president. Challenger Sean Allen raised concerns about a house that was torn down in the Kutzky neighborhood as he and incumbent Randy Staver discussed issues facing Rochester. Last week, Rochester resident Laura Strand voiced similar concerns at a city council meeting after noticing homes being torn down to build parking lots in the Kutzky neighborhood. The economics seem to make sense. Charging monthly rates for six to eight stalls is likely more profitable than paying higher property taxes while trying to find a tenant or buyer for a home in need of repair. ADVERTISEMENT But what's the real cost? That's the question facing the Rochester City Council as city staff prepares a potential moratorium on tearing down houses to create commercial parking lots in medium- and high-density residential areas. Council member Nick Campion noted existing regulations allowing the creation of a parking lot in certain residential areas seem at odds with the city's intention for its core neighborhoods, which connect to the downtown. "That just doesn't seem to be what we are about," he said. At the same time, council member Ed Hruska voiced concerns about unintended consequences of a ban on converting homes to parking lots. "I don't like moratoriums," he told fellow council members. "They get started, and they go on forever." In this case, there is little worry that the proposed ordinance will be everlasting. In addition to only being in place for one year, the proposed moratorium would likely be moot after the city finalizes its new comprehensive plan, which should offer updated standards for parking lots and other facilities in all residential neighborhoods. And, while some may be comfortable waiting for the comprehensive plan to deal with the issue, it's obvious something needs to be done as soon as possible. These are treasured neighborhoods with a rich history of supporting our growing city. Changes within them need to be carefully considered. As some council members noted, not all surface parking lots are bad; some are needed to support new development. At the same time, existing housing is needed to support existing residents. It's a difficult line to navigate, but one that requires the city to err on the side of caution at this point. Once a house is gone from neighborhoods like Kutzky, it is likely gone forever. There will always be time to cautiously consider additional parking needs. ADVERTISEMENT For now, a moratorium is the right move. If unintended consequences arise, the city council can deal with them as they do any need that doesn't quite fit existing rules. A Canadian Coast Guard ship on Sunday tows flotation devices used by U.S. partiers to the Canadian side of the St. Clair River between Michigan and Ontario. About 1,500 Americans ended up in Canada after getting hit by strong wind and rain. Canadian Coast Guard North Korean troops have been spotted planting landmines near the truce village of Panmunjom, apparently to prevent soldiers from defecting. A government source here said on Tuesday, "North Korean military personnel were spotted last week laying several landmines in the northern part of Panmunjom." The 1953 armistice bans both sides from laying landmines in the area and prohibits the guards from carrying heavy weapons. "Most of the North Korean soldiers who defected have come from rear areas behind the frontline," a military spokesman here said. "But it seems frontline soldiers have become volatile since the recent resumption of propaganda broadcasts." The South Korean loudspeaker broadcasts along the border have alerted frontline soldiers to news like the mass defection of North Korean restaurant workers from China and the defection of Thae Yong-ho, the No. 2 man at the North Korean Embassy in London. The North has laid more than 4,000 landmines along its side of the demilitarized zone since April. In a statement, UN Command said it is aware of the laying of landmines near the Bridge of No Return near Panmunjom and "strongly" condemned it. "The presence of any device or munition on or near the bridge seriously jeopardizes the safety of people on both sides," it said. The new batch of emails showing that the State Department gave special access to top Clinton Foundation donors while Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State inspired Judicial Watch to recount the facts surrounding Claudio Osorio. Hes a Clinton Foundation donor who leveraged his generosity to get $10 million from the government with help from the Clinton State Department. Osorio is now serving a 12-year prison sentence after scamming the government out of millions and cheating his investsors. Judicial Watch explains: Osorio got the money from the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), a federal agency that operates under the guidance of the State Department, to build houses in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. . . . Osorios Haiti project was supposed to build 500 homes for displaced families in the aftermath of the earthquake. The project never broke ground and Osorio used the money to finance his lavish lifestyle and fund his illicit business ventures. He also ran a fraudulent international company. . .that stole millions from investors. Some of the OPIC Haiti money was used to repay investors of his fraudulent company (InnoVida), according to federal prosecutors. (Emphasis added) How did Osorio get the $10 million? According to Judicial Watch, which relies on reporting by Alana Goodman of the Washington Free Beacon, he got it at least in part because Hillary Clinton was willing to steer resources to his project (or so Osorio said). Earlier this year, Goodman reported: An official at the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), a federal agency under the guidance of the State Department, wrote a memo on Jan. 26, 2010 to her superiors recommending funding for a construction project in Haiti. According to the proposal, Miami businessman Claudio Osorio and his company InnoVida would build homes on the island using low-cost proprietary panels. Lynn Tabernacki, OPICs renewable energy director, noted in the report that InnoVida had U.S. persons of political influence that are able to assist in advancing the companys plans. For instance, former President Bill Clinton is personally in contact with the Company to organize its logistical and support needs, wrote Tabernacki. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has made available State Department resources to assist with logistical arrangements. Additionally, the Clinton Global Initiative had indicated that it would be willing to contract to purchase 6,500 homes in Haiti from InnoVida within the next year. Why might Hillary Clinton be willing to steer resources to this crooks project? For one thing, Osorio had hosted a fundraiser for Hillary at his Star Island mansion. For another, Osorio was a Clinton Foundation donor, contributing between $10,000 and $50,000 to the organization, according to Goodman. In addition, he had hired Clintons 2008 finance director Jonathan Mantz to lobby OPIC for the loan request. Less than 24 hours after Tabernacki, the OPIC official, wrote her memo citing Osorios Clinton connections, OPIC approved a $10 million loan. It approved the loan just two weeks after the company proposed the project. Officials told Goodman that the process usually takes months or years. But not when you have friends in very high places. The loan was approved even though OPIC was aware, as reflected in the Tabernacki memo, that Osorio had previously run a major tech company that went bankrupt after it was sued by shareholders for manipulating its stock prices through accounting fraud. Whats a little fraud if youre a Hillary Clinton fundraiser and Clinton Foundation donor? A signal to the Clintons that theres money to be made, I suspect. Not surprisingly, the homes in Haiti were never built. By the following year, Osorios company had declared bankruptcy and Osorio was in hot water with Securities and Exchange Commission and the FBI. Just another crooked Clinton crony who, by virtue of his generosity to Hillary, received special treatment from the Clinton State Department You might have noticed that I have been gone for a while. My family went up North for four days to Lake Vermilion, our preferred North Woods getaway for more than 25 years. My only contribution in absentia was a Drudge link to this post on Donald Trumps progress as a presidential candidate. Click to enlarge: Is a Drudge link exciting? Lets put it this way: the traffic that a Drudge link sends is pretty exciting, even on a Saturday night/Sunday morning. Going up North reminds us that Minnesota is a beautiful place, which perhaps is why we tolerate so much liberal foolishness: This is part of our crew on a pontoon boat. We had our whole family, including my daughter and son-in-law who returned from more than two years in Australia the day before we left, and my first grandchild, as well as two friends of my youngest daughter: As you may remember, I am now the president of a think tank, Center of the American Experiment. We are working hard to reform Minnesotas liberal political culture. You can follow the link to keep track of our many efforts in that regard, and if so moved, you can donate to us here. We are Minnesotas Think Tank, as our t-shirt proclaims: I wore the t-shirt yesterday and had to explain to several people what a think tank is. Our organization is having a real impact on Minnesota, as exemplified by this major report on Minnesotas economy, which we released last week. It has sparked a state-wide debate and even drawn praise from the Minneapolis Star Tribunes editorial board. Tomorrow afternoon we will be in St. Cloud, Minnesota, for a town meeting on the Centers report and the states below-par economy. If its August in Minnesota, along with going up North it is time for the State Fair, which begins on Thursday. This year, American Experiment will have a major presence at the fair. If you happen to live in or near Minnesota, and are thinking about attending the fair on Labor Day, please stop by the WCCO Radio booth (which happens to be next door to the Minnesota Republican Party booth). We will sponsor WCCO at the Fair on Labor Day and will be at the WCCO booth, handing out our most recent literature and a hot-off-the-press edition of Thinking Minnesota, our quarterly magazine. If you make it to the fair on Labor Day, please stop by and say hello. You can even register to win an American Experiment t-shirt or hat*. Here is the hat; we considered Make Minnesota Great Again, but decided on this instead: Hard at work, enjoying the great outdoors and advancing the cause of conservatism: a combination that is tough to beat. *If you wont be at the fair on Labor Day or dont want to take your chances on a drawing, you can order a t-shirt or hat by emailing Samantha Peterson, [email protected] Evan Bayh is a former Indiana governor and Senator. Since he left office, however, he has made his living as a connected Washington attorney at the K Street office of the McGuireWoods firm; he is a partner at the firm. According to the firms bio, which Bayh himself seems to have had a hand in: [Bayh] serves as a strategic advisor to many of the firms most significant clients, particularly those whose business goals are impacted by the actions of Congress, the executive branch, or by governors and legislators across the country. His niche seems not to be legal work per se. Rather, its political consulting. It represents much of what we have come to hate about the professional political class in Washington. McGuireWoods lists 21 offices in the United States. Not one of them is even located in Indiana. Bayh now seeks to return to office as Senator from Indiana, but his connection to Indiana is utterly nominal. He maintains a local mail drop in order to claim an Indiana residence. In an interview with WLFI-TV in Lafayette, Indiana, Bayh couldnt even correctly state his address (video below). Independent Journal Review reports: [A] review of Bayhs Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicle records shows that his address is actually Canterbury Square, not Court. The address Bayh told WLFI-TV is located several blocks away from his home address and in the same neighborhood. There is something deeply unsavory about Bayhs pretense. The video vividly illustrates it. Louis Nelson adds a few poignant details in this Politico report. I wonder how Indiana voters will see it. Via Al Weaver/Washington Examiner. Scott argues that Hillary Clinton is the worst Democratic nominee for president ever. I think Scott has a good case if we confine ourselves to the period since the Civil War. My nominee for the worst nominee in the past 152 years until Hillary is James Cox. He ran for president in 1920 against Warren Harding. Harding, though underrated, was no great shakes. However, America did not err when it elected him over Cox (and Socialist Eugene Debs) in a landslide. Cox was a mediocre governor of Ohio. When the Democrats nominated him after 44 ballots, Woodrow Wilson declared, theyve picked the weakest one. Wilson was right. Throughout the campaign, Cox waffled. He had never been a strong supporter of the League of Nations, and certainly not a hard line, no reservations man. However, according to David Pietrusza, author of the excellent 1920: The Year of Six Presidents, Cox became an ardent League supporter after a meeting at the White House with an extremely ill President Wilson. In his prime, Wilson was a very persuasive fellow, but not in his present condition. Pietrusza says that Cox was simply overcome by emotion. Cox also could not make up his mind about Prohibition. He began 1920 as the staunchest major Wet candidate in either party, but he evolved. After a meeting with Dry leaders he promised not to overturn Prohibition. When it came to race, however, Cox was consistent. He and his party ran a racist campaign, and it is this, in my view, that clinches his status as worst nominee. As governor, says Pietrusza, Cox had sharply reduced black patronage. He had pointedly ignored the homecoming from World War I of Ohios black Ninth Regiment. And, reversing the decision of his predecessor, he had allowed D.W. Griffiths Birth of a Nation to be shown in Ohio. (As a supporter of free speech, I agree with this decision, but Griffiths film was an utterly racist work; Woodrow Wilson, by the way, was a big fan). As presidential candidate, Cox warned: There is behind Senator Harding the Afro-American party whose hyphenated activity has attempted to stir up troubles among the Colored people upon the false claim that it can bring social equality. . . . Claims like this, and much worse, were echoed throughout the campaign by Coxs associates and supporters. The Republican platform promised to consider the most effective means to end lynching (as president, Harding would back, unsuccessfully, anti-lynching legislation). Hardings running mate, Calvin Coolidge, spoke in favor not just of ending lynching, but also granting equal opportunities to the colored race. On these matters, Cox (in the words of one civil rights activist) offered absolutely nothing. His running mate, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, offered not one word. The Democrats played the ultimate race card by promoting the claim that Warren Harding is not a white man. The claim had been made vociferously by Hardings father-in-law, who approved neither of Harding nor his own daughter, and whom Harding had attacked relentlessly in his Marion, Ohio newspaper. The evidence doesnt appear to support the claim, though as Harding said privately, who knows if one of my ancestors jumped the fence. As I understand it, the rumor, which predated the attack by Hardings father-in-law, seems to have been based on the fact that Hardings had lived in close proximity to blacks in Ohio and were abolitionists. What was Coxs involvement, if any, in spreading the rumor that Harding wasnt white? There is hearsay evidence that Cox privately gave it voice. There is also good evidence that the Ohio Democratic state committee promoted it. And, according to Pietrusza, a member of Coxs staff was implicated in handing out flyers peddling the rumor to individuals in the pay of the Democratic party. We will probably never know if Cox personally ordered or approved of the attack. But even if the matter of Hardings race had never been injected into the campaign, I would still rate Cox the worst post-Civil War presidential nominee until now. The Nigerian government has appointed a new managing director for the National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND). He is Ezekiel Oseni, a former general manager and chief risk officer at the Bank of Industry. Mr. Osenis appointment was announced Wednesday by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Mahmoud Isa-Dutse, who credited Minister Kemi Adeosun as approving the posting. His appointment which takes immediate effect was made under a Management Agreement between the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Industry, Mr. Isa-Dutse said in a statement. He said Mr. Oseni has several mandates, among which is to reposition the organisation and ensure that all outstanding indebtedness were recovered. Mr. Oseni holds a Bachelors Degree in Accounting from the University of Ilorin (1987-1990), a Masters Degree in Accounting from the University of Ilorin (1993 -1997). He also holds a Ph.D in Business and Applied Economics from the Olabisi Onabanjo University (2004 -2012). Before his time at the Bank of Industry as the general manager, risk management, Mr. Oseni worked as a Lecturer at the Department of Accountancy, The Polytechnic, Ibadan (1990-1991). He also worked as a Graduate Research Assistant in the Department of Accounting and Finance at the University of Ilorin (1992-1994). From 1993 to 1996, Oseni was a Part-Time Lecturer for the COSIT Programme at the University of Lagos. He worked as Lecturer 1 in the Department of Management and Accounting at the Faculty of Administration, Obafemi Awolowo University (1994-1997). He was also manager at the defunct Citizens International Bank, Lagos (1999-2005). He was also AGM, Head, Internal Control & Audit Division at the Bank of Industry (2005-2013). In 2014, he lectured part-time at the University of Lagos, teaching a module on New Business Venture Creation and Entrepreneurship Management at postgraduate level. NERFUND was set up to provide needed medium to long-term financing to viable Small and Medium scale production enterprises. Mr. Oseni is succeeding Muhammad Gidado Kollere who was appointed managing director in October 2013 after the finance ministry directed the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation to take over operations of the Fund. A CBN and NDIC Joint Special Examination report on the Fund had shown that the organisation ran at huge losses put at N5.7 billion at the time. In June 2016, NERFUND staff protested against the failure of government to appoint a substantive chief executive to oversee affairs of the organisation after the expiration of the one-year term granted the Mr. Kollere-led leadership. The Fund said on its website that it had funded about 2,829 projects valued at N9.5billion. It was celebration galore on Monday, August 15, 2016 when the President of the Dangote Group and Africas richest man, Aliko Dangote led other dignitaries to flag off Nigerias first full-fledged technology bank, SunTrust Bank. SunTrust Bank is the first regional bank to receive a new license by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) since 2001 and the first full-fledged financial technology bank in Nigeria. The Bank is the first commercial bank that runs minimal branches and focuses on electronic channels by offering telephone, mobile and internet banking services. According to Mr. Dangote who chaired the opening ceremony at the banks headquarters in Lagos, Fintech Bank is a welcome development in this era of cashless economy. He emphasized that SunTrust Bank will help the country harness its potential in the digital world. He explained further that technology-driven platform would distinguish the bank and make it the most cost-effective bank in the country with fewer personnel and attendant lower overhead cost. SunTrust bank has elements that appeal to me in its Fintech strategy driven by its focus on technology, the businessman said. SunTrust has recognized that the old model of business expansion via a network of expensive branch premises is obsolete. What you need now is to sit down at home and do your banking transactions thereby saving money and time. Mr. Dangote commended the board, management and staff of the bank for their courage in taking the bold step at a time banks all over the world are facing multiple challenges and headwinds and noted that the Banks focus will drive it to success. Former Governor of Gombe State, Danjuma Goje, now a senator, in his remarks at the unveiling ceremony, noted that the emergence of the bank during the implementation of the change agenda would contribute immensely to the rebirth of the Nigerian economy. He urged the bank to ensure that it is committed to the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises in the country, and to also support the big companies as part of its contribution to the growth of the Nigerian economy. The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, applauded the bank, saying the present cost of running banks in the country was high and that if the bank brings it down, it would succeed. It is uncommon courage to go into business now that everyone is going out and it takes triple courage to go into banking business, the monarch said. However, the situation in the country is full of opportunities for those that can see beyond the present. On his own part, the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, urged the management of the bank to put the interest of the country and the masses first in all its dealings, and to distance itself from the fraud and insider abuse that is prevalent in the Nigerian financial industry. The Chairman of SunTrust Bank, Charles Onyema Ugboko, explained that the bank would use technology to drive the financial inclusion goal of the CBN, saying the banks target was to bring financial services to 40 million unbanked Nigerians. Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Muhammad Jibrin, noted that with over 90 per cent of financial services being executed electronically, banking had moved from physical branches to a technology-driven sector. Most customers of tomorrow will not be the ones that go to the banking hall, so we need to be able to respond positively to the needs and expectations of the customers of tomorrow, and that is at the heart of our vision and strategy as tomorrows bank today, he said. Dignitaries at the event were the president of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nike Akande; deputy national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Lawal Shuaibu; former MD of AMCON, Mustapha Chike-Obi; former chairman of the EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu; former MD of Ecobank, Jubril Aku, and the CEO of Nigeria Mortgage Refinancing Company, Charles Iyangete, a professor. Others on the long list of dignitaries included former MD of First Bank, Bisi Onasanya; APC national legal adviser, Muiz Banire; the Lagos branch controller of the CBN, James Iyari, who stood in for his boss, as well as former minister of housing, Ama Pepple, among other eminent personalities. Officials of the Bangladesh army on Tuesday commended the current leadership of the Nigerian military for decimating the Boko Haram insurgents in northeast Nigeria within a very short period of its mandate. This commendation was made when a team of the Bangladesh National Defence College on Geo-strategic study tour of Nigeria visited the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja. The leader of the delegation, Rear Admiral Anwarul Islam, said the dramatic way in which the Nigerian Military routed the erstwhile deadly Boko Haram in the last one year was worthy of commendation. He said the Nigerian Armed Forces are famous for their contributions to peace support operations worldwide, saying they have contributed tremendously to world and regional peace. Rear Admiral Islam said Bangladesh has a lot to learn from the Nigerian Armed Forces. He lauded the CDS for his leadership direction and the Armed Forces for successfully degrading the Boko Haram terrorists in the North East. The Bangladesh military chief had solicited military bilateral relations with the Nigerian Armed Forces. Earlier in a welcome speech, the CDS, who was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans at DHQ, Air Vice Marshal Bashir Saidu, assured the team of the Nigerian Armed Forces readiness to partner with the Bangladesh Armed Forces and to synergize with other willing nations in the global war against terror. The team, according to the Director Defence Information, Brigadier General Abubakar Rabe, was later briefed on the operational activities of the, Multinational Joint Tasks Forces and Operations LAFIYA DOLE in the North Eastern part of Nigeria. Three North Korean fishermen have defected to South Korea after going adrift in the West Sea in a wooden boat on Aug. 7, the Unification Ministry said Tuesday. They came from Ryongchon, North Pyongan Province. They told investigators they had gone out to sea to fish but drifted south due to engine trouble. "Once the boat started drifting south they decided to defect," a security official said. "Another spur was that their life was getting more difficult because the North is selling fishing rights to Chinese trawlermen." One is the captain of the boat and the two others are crew. The boat was spotted by coast guards in waters near Gadeok Island off Incheon in the morning of Aug. 7. The fishermen are now at a facility run by the National Intelligence Service in Gyeonggi Province. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested a brother to Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State over alleged N2.4billion contract scam. Sources at the EFCC told PREMIUM TIMES that Francis Ayade was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the scam. Mr. Ayade, managing director of Leophina Nigeria Limited and Hally Brown International Limited, was fingered in alleged shady deals involving diversion of public funds into his companies accounts. Specifically, four different allocations from the Federation Accounts were alleged to have been diverted into Hally Brown International Limiteds account owned by him, an official told PREMIUM TIMES. Investigations by EFCC operatives showed that Hally Brown International Limited was awarded a road construction contract to the tune of N2.4billion in 2011. To finance the contract, Mr. Ayade allegedly took a loan of N350,000,000 (Three Hundred and Fifty Million Naira only) from First Bank Plc, on behalf of Cross Rivers Rural Access and Mobility Project. The loan, was however, unused for the contract, but transferred into the Mobility Project. Mr. Ayade has also been implicated in alleged suspicious transactions involving Obudu Micro Finance Bank, among other allegations. He has been offered administrative bail but still in the custody of the EFCC until he fulfills the bail conditions. It is not clear if Governor Ayade himself has been linked to the alleged scam. EFCC insiders said investigations were continuing. Christian Ita, the spokesperson to Governor Ayade could not be reached to comment for this story. He did not answer or return calls made to him on Wednesday morning. An iron pipe worked on by a local welder in Damaturu, Yobe State, exploded Wednesday, killing the technician and seriously injuring a soldier who brought the pipe, eyewitnesses and army officials said. The deafening explosion which echoed all over the town has caused serious panic as residents feared it was an attack from Boko Haram insurgents. PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the explosion occurred when a local welder was using heat flame to weld a pipe brought by soldiers, for use as improvised communication antenna needed for their security vehicle. It was not clear whether the pipe contained explosives. A witness said as the welder began to work, the pipe exploded killing him and ripping the soldiers abdomen open. Iman Ibrahim, who hawks wares around the area, told journalists that the explosion had shredded the body of the welder, while the soldier who was standing close by and giving the welder instructions on what to do was seriously injured. We all saw the soldier sprawling on the ground with his entire intestine ripped out of his stomach, and surprisingly he was still alive and conscious of all that was happening. But I doubt if he would survive even though he was rushed to the hospital, said Mr. Ibrahim. The spokesman of 127 Taskforce Brigade Lieutenant, George Okupe, who confirmed the development to journalists on phone, said some soldiers from the troops in Goniri here in Yobe State brought a pipe to be welded to increase the height of the antenna on one of their hilux car to the welder and the unfortunate incident occurred in the process of the job. The incident occurred at about 10.30 am at the shop of the welder. One of our soldiers was wounded in the accidental explosion with one civilian. Both have been taken to the Gen. Sani Abatcha Specialist Hospital Damaturu. Some locals suspected the soldiers may have brought in a pipe abandoned by Boko Haram, which had explosives in it. Mr. Okupe, a lieutenant, dismissed claims that the explosion had anything to do with Boko Haram. He urged journalists to await the report from the Police Explosive Ordinance Department who investigating the cause of the explosion. The management of African Newspapers of Nigeria, publishers of the Tribune stable, has apologized to a former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, over a report claiming Mrs. Ezekwesili said President Muhammadu Buhari did not deserve his position. The Sunday Tribune had reported that Mrs. Ezekwesili said Mr. Buhari did not deserve to be president for neglecting the 2000 recruits of the Nigeria Immigration Service, who slept in the open at the entrance of Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja from Friday till Saturday, to protest the reversal of their employment. Mrs. Ezekwesili denied making the comments. The apology from the management of Tribune was conveyed to Mrs. Ezekwesili via a letter signed by the managing director and editor in chief of the newspaper, Edward Dickson. I write on behalf of the Management to express our deep regrets over the publication in the Sunday Tribune of 21st August, 2016 as captioned above and tender unreserved apology for whatever embarrassment which the publication may have caused your associates and members of your family, the letter said. The publication was just an unfortunate error which was never intended to embarrass anyhow. Mrs. Ezekwesili commended the paper for the uncommon but very professional decision for not only recanting the story, but also apologizing to her. She also reacted to comments made by President Buharis spokesperson, Garba Shehus reaction to the false report credited to her. Tribune had quoted Mr. Shehu as saying that if Mrs. Ezekwesili said the president did not deserve to be in office, she should set up a political party and run against him. In her reaction, Mrs. Ezekwesili said, on the basis of the fiction weaved together by a reporter, he let loose one of those now-very-common indecorous and rumor- inspired verbal assault from presidential spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu. While I thank the newspaper for toeing the path of honour, I hope Mallam Garba Shehu will also be decent enough to admit his error of judgement and tender an unreserved apology for his falsehood and unwarranted attacks at me, she said. Mrs. Ezekwesili said it was important not to lose sight of the fate of the Immigration recruits. These are Nigerians from across the country, she said She said she was drawn to their plight while driving past where they had congregated, and saw among them a friend and Bring Back Our Girls, BBOG, colleague, Aisha Yesufu, who had taken up their cause. I spoke with them briefly and I had pleaded with the president to look into their matter, she said. An anti-graft coalition, Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), has urged the Bureau For Public Procurement (BPP), investigate the procurement proposal for the purchase of a new secretariat by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). In a petition to the BPE, signed by CSNACs national chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the group said the bureaus decision to purchase a new secretariat portends waste and fraud by the bureau. The petition followed a PREMIUM TIMES report on how the CCB abandoned its multi-billion Naira headquarters building after committing N1.4 billion to the project. In the quest of having a CCB headquarters complex, located on Plot 816 in the Abuja Central Business District, near Labour House, the project was awarded in 2010 to Brunnel Engineering Limited for N3.5billion (the award contained in a letter with reference number CCB/HQ/CORR/200/14 dated September 7, 2010 , signed by Bureaus Assistant Director, Procurement, N. Hussaini, on behalf of the bureaus Chairman, Sam Saba), CSNAC said. Following the signing of the letter, CCB released 15 percent of the contract sum as mobilization to Messrs. Brunnel Limited and the company mobilized to site. According to this newspaper, as the project got underway, the Federal Capital Development Administration (FCDA) approved a new design for the site (part of the Central Business District) that the complex should be high rise buildings of up to 18 floors. In view of this, the bureau directed the contractor to submit a fresh design for an 18-floor building at the cost of N12 billion. The bureau obtained a Certificate of No Objection from the Bureau of Public Procurement and raised a fresh memo to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval. But due to lack of fund, FEC ordered the bureau to review the project downward by reducing the number of floors. The project was reviewed to nine floors with four underground parking lots which was subsequently approved by FEC on October 31, 2012, and also approved the review of the contract sum from N3.5 billion to N8.7 billion (reviewed contract agreement signed February 5, 2013). The PREMIUM TIMES report stated further that, the inability of CCB to discharge the payment certificate as well as release funds for the project in instalments (the bureau expected the contractor to execute the contract with speed) allegedly dogged the project execution which led to abandonment of the project; despite the bureaus mandate of maintaining a high standard of morality in the conduct of government business. Surprisingly, under the year 2016 budget CCB had sought sum of N4.4 billion for the purchase of its headquarters building in Abuja instead of seeking funds to complete the abandoned project. According to the report, the amount is now contained in the 2016 Appropriation Act approved by both the Presidency and the National Assembly with letter dated June 7, 2016, and signed by the Acting Secretary of the bureau, Abiodun Kolawole and sent to the Bureau for Public Procurement requesting guidelines for an outright purchase of new building for its headquarters office. CSNAC is thereby demanding BPP to immediately suspend further action on the guideline for purchase of a new structure as requested by CCB, conduct a diligent investigation into circumstances surrounding the abandoned project; and ensure the completion of the structure under construction within a reasonable time, the petition said. The Independent National Election Commission, (INEC) has dismissed insinuations that all elections conducted since the assumption of office of the current chairman of the commission, Mahmood Yakubu, have been inconclusive. The commission said it conducted 139 elections which were concluded. The reaction was contained in a press statement signed and issued Tuesday by the acting secretary to the commission, Musa Adamu, in response to a statement credited to the outgoing president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Augustine Alegeh. Mr. Alegeh reportedly made the remarks at the opening of the Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, on Sunday, 21st August 2016. Mr. Alegeh was reported to have rebuked the Commission for having conducted one hundred and thirty six (136) inconclusive elections in the past one year under the watch of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the statement said. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seldom takes issues with members of the public. But the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is a highly distinguished and respected and respected person. Besides, he represents a knowledgeable and influential constituency. His pronouncements are therefore weighty and could pass for the gospel truth. The statement said: The Commission has thus far concluded 139 elections (118 at first ballot and 21 after supplementary) out of a total of 163 scheduled elections and that 22 elections were suspended due to violence while 2 elections are sub-judice. This shows that 72.3 percent of the elections were concluded at the first ballot, 21.8 percent of the inconclusive elections were concluded after supplementary; 1.2 percent are pending; while 13.4 percent were suspended in Rivers state due to violence. The commission said Mr. Alegehs pronouncement was ill informed, misplaced and undeserved. The commission, while assuring that it remained unwavering and irrevocably committed to delivering elections that are free, fair and credible, said inconclusive elections are caused by violence and over-voting and that the notion of inconclusive election is not strange to our law (see Section 26 and 53 of Electoral Act 2010 as amended). The Jamaatu Nasril Islam, an organisation led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar, has condemned the mob attack in Zamfara State which left eight people dead, following an alleged blasphemy on the Prophet of Islam. The group said the attack was most unfortunate. The incident occurred at a polytechnic in Talata Mafara. This recurring matter is becoming tediously monotonous and remains condemned in the strongest terms, the JNI said in the statement signed by its general secretary, Khalid Aliyu. The JNI said all Muslims should see themselves as faithful in the practice of the religion and not assume the position of judges to mete out punishment against anyone. The nasty behavior of some miscreants should not be misconstrued as the Islamic teaching, the JNI said. Mr. Abubakar, therefore, commiserates with all the affected victims of the unfortunate incidence and called on respective predominant Muslim communities to be very wary and cautious of crafty art of blasphemy within or around their respective communities and learn to handle such matters with utmost caution no matter the provocations that may arise therefrom. The latest killings came two months after a mob beheaded Bridget Agbahime in Kano on allegations that she committed blasphemy in an open market. In July, a female pastor was also killed in Abuja while preaching around her neighbourhood in the morning. Full statement: Jamaatu Nasril Islam (JNI), upon the receipt of reportage on the alleged blasphemy of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is once again poised to make this release over the most unfortunate alleged blasphemy which occurred at Abdu Gusau Polytechnic, Talata Mafara, Zamfara State. This recurring matter is becoming tediously monotonous and remains condemned in the strongest terms. The unfortunate attacks that ensued thereafter are criminal and also stand condemned. We reiterate that human lives are sacred and therefore must be dignified. That has been the position of Islam. JNI reemphasizes that individual Muslims are not Jurists, but faithful in the practicing of the religion. Therefore, they dont have the right to pass judgment on emotions. The nasty behavior of some miscreants should not be misconstrued as the Islamic teaching. In the light of which we commend the efforts of the Zamfara State Government in nipping in the bud, the escalation of the crisis and equally the beefing up of security by the various security agencies, around Talata Mafara and its environs is also commendable. We however call on state governments particularly in the north to hasten mechanisms which will address these repeated acts of blasphemy; it seems that there are deliberate attempts to cause more tension in the region and the country at large, in the name of blasphemy. While we commiserate with all the affected victims of the unfortunate incidence, we call on respective predominant Muslim communities to be very wary and cautious of crafty art of blasphemy within or around their respective communities and learn to handle such matters with utmost caution no matter the provocations that may arise therefrom. Finally, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, JNI calls on all and sundry to remain calm and avoid all actions that could jeopardize peaceful co-existence, especially at this material point of trying time of nation building. As always the generality of Muslims are also implored to fervently continue praying for the restoration of peace and security in Nigeria. The National Christian Elders forum has reacted to comments by the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar, that Nigeria is a multi-religious nation, saying the claim was against constitutional provisions. The NCEF also said Muslim leaders had in past and present times made deliberate steps towards Islamising Nigeria. Mr. Abubakar had said that Nigeria was not a secular nation, but multi-religious entity that cannot be Islamised. We are not secular but a multi-religious state because the people are so religious. We must respect one another and understand the tenets of the two religions, he had said. In a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday, the NCEF chairman, Solomon Asemota, said Nigerias constitution provides that the country is a secular state. The statement said Mr. Abubakars comments appeared to imply that Nigeria was made up of two religions until Islam dominates to become de facto and de jure religion of Nigeria. The Constitution which forms the basis, upon which our founding fathers agreed to live together as a country, provides under Section 10 that the Government of the Federation or of a State shall not adopt any religion as State Religion, the group said. Nigeria has multi-cultural and multi-religious communities, tribes, ethnic nationalities but one nation. It is correctly assumed that in the interest of peace and justice, the Constitution in Section 10 PROHIBITS the State from Religious participation by way of recognizing one and two religions. The Sultans interpretation, we submit, is intended to justify Islam and Christianity as State religions until Islam dominates to become de facto and de jure religion of Nigeria, the statement said. The statement defined secular as referring to things not connected with spiritual or religious matters. The NCEF said Muslim leaders had in past and present times made deliberate steps towards Islamising Nigeria. We respectfully disagree with the Sultan that it is not possible to Islamize Nigeria. By taking Nigeria into the OIC in 1986, Military Dictator, Ibrahim Babangida, officially turned Nigeria into an Islamic State. The Charter of OIC concerning membership stipulates that a country should, first and foremost, be persuaded that it is an Islamic nation before it can apply for membership. Simply by the act of the application for OIC membership, Babangida tampered with the secularity of the Nigerian State. That unilateral decision should be reviewed because it violates Section 10 of the Constitution, said Mr. Asemota. The NCEF used the statement to condemn the arrest of Joe Chinakwe for naming his dog Buhari, describing the act as another attempt to instill fear in the minds ordinary Nigerians. Chinakwe was picked up again based on Police belief that the suspects action was capable of provoking an ethno-religious crisis. Because the complainant and his group have threatened to kill him if he comes back and this may happen. If Nigeria is being run as a secular State, the Constitution in Sections 10, 37, and 38 guarantees right of private and family life, freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion that should protect Joe Chinakwe and the Complainant would have been arrested but because Nigeria is an Islamic State, Joe Chinakwe has to face trial in the process promoting; the most effective way to get rid of critics is to instill fear in ordinary Nigerians, the statement said. The NCEF said it was apprehensive about the composition of those in the security and intelligence committee, set up by President Muhammadu Buhari, as well as those who currently head the leadership of schools in Nigeria. It is as a result of the understanding (or lack of it) of Civilized Jihad that we are apprehensive of those in the Security and Intelligence Committee of the Federal Government by some unexplained reasons are mainly Muslims. President Buhari, (Muslim), Chief of Defense (Christian), Chief of Army Staff, Chief of air Staff, Minister of Defense, Minister of Internal Affairs, Inspector General of Police, National Security Adviser, Director General of DSS are all Muslims from the North. We are not too sure whether the Vice President is a member of this Committee following information that he was once excluded from the meeting the President called. Some of us Christians, are uncomfortable that the Heads of National Universities Commission (NUC), Polytechnics, Colleges of Education, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), and National Teachers Institute (NTI) are all Muslims. For the record, the truth should also be spelt out so that the futility of their venture can be evident to all. We owe ourselves and posterity that much. 1. Governor Yahaya Bello was never imposed on the people. He is the peoples choice, the result of their votes. This was clearly demonstrated after the APC primary election when the whole people went mourning as the news of Alhaji Yahaya Bello coming first runner up reached them. Alhaji Yahaya Bello had to calm the visibly angry Kogites. The whole Confluence State went happily agog when by a divine twist and the peoples support Alhaji Yahaya Bello finally emerged as the Governor of Kogi State. 2. As we shall see below, following from the overall provisions of the law and paragraph 44(N) of the Approved Guidelines and Regulations for the Conduct of 2015 General Elections, the decision of the Kogi State Collation/Returning Officer for the Governorship Election not to make return on the 22nd November, 2015 until a supplementary poll had taken place in the affected polling unit(s) is in line with the provisions of both the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act. 3. Furthermore, INECs invitation of the APC to substitute her deceased candidate in the November 21, 2015 Governorship Election in Kogi State is in accordance with the provisions of Section 33 of the Electoral Act and this cannot be seen as an imposition. It is in the public knowledge that Faleke was only joined to Audu after the primaries had been concluded, but Bello, whom the APC chose, participated in the primary election that produced Audu as candidate, so the provisions of Section 141 of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended makes Falekes claim both untenable and unjustifiable. 4. Accordingly, the nomination of Alhaji Yahaya Bello to replace the late Audu did not contravene the Constitution or the Electoral Act and Faleke lacks the locus standi to represent the APC in those Elections. In Chief Francis Uchenna Ugwu & Ors Vs PDP & Ors LER [2015] SC.130/2013, the Supreme Court stated that the law is well established that sponsorship of candidates for election is within the exclusive control and domain of the political party and this is binding on all courts pursuant to section 287 of the 1999 Constitution as amended. PER C. B. OGUNBIYI, J.S.C. See P.D.P. vs Sylva (2012) 13 NWLR (Part 1316) 85 PER K. B. AKAAHS, J.S.C. 5. There was no stolen mandate in Kogi State. What happened in Kogi State in the 2015 governorship election was a series of events within the one election. It is obvious that the uninformed erroneously capitalized on the words inconclusive election to mislead the public. No election was ever won in Kogi State on the 21st November, 2015 and no other body is statutorily empowered to declare otherwise except the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) and INEC did not declare anybody as a winner on 22nd November, 2015. The Tribunal and the Court of Appeal have since backed INEC on this issue. 6. It is clearly against the provisions of Section 221 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) for Faleke to lay claims to the number of votes polled before the demise of Audu and before the election was concluded for the fact that only the party could canvass for votes, the constitution does not recognise independent candidature so it is correct to say that Faleke is not a candidate in the November 21, 2015 gubernatorial election in Kogi State. 7. The Issue of Audu/Faleke ticket having won the elections to all intents and purposes is false. Their joint ticket had not less than of all the votes cast in 2/3 of the Local Governments in Kogi State is not a winning argument. It is on record that both the APC and the PDP won onequarter of the votes cast in each of the 21 Local Government Areas of the State. What is at important is the majority of votes cast. The Audu/Faleke ticket did not gather a clear majority as to conclusively outpace Wada/Awoniyi in the first round, hence INECs decision for supplementary polls. 8. The number of registered voters in the 91 polling units where election had been cancelled, which was 49,953 voters, exceeded the margin of scores between the joint ticket of Prince Audu and Faleke and that of Capt. Wada and Arc. Awoniyi, being 41,619. The implication was that the result of election in those polling units could result in election results being reversed. Hence, the INEC lawfully declared the election inconclusive. 9. Faleke and his coworkers did not dispute the cancellation of election in those polling units in the State where elections had been cancelled due to overvoting, violence and malpractices. So, attempting to capitalize on section 179(2) of the 1999 Constitution to make case for James Faleke would not have worked. 10. The Voters Register is the only Source of actionable information on Number of Registered Voters not Permanent Voters Card. Urging the courts to hold that INEC ought to have ignored the voters register in those areas where supplementary elections were held and depend instead on the number of PVCs collected is a direct attempt to subvert the express positions of the Electoral Act, especially Section 10(4) thereof, which provides as follows: When a general election is notified by the Commission pursuant to Section 31 of this Act, the current official register of voters certified by the Commission in accordance with the provisions of this Act shall be the official voters register for those elections. INEC was therefore right to use the official register of voters instead of the controversial PVCs to determine the number of voters in the areas due for supplementary elections. 11. The issue of transferring or inheritance of votes as some people want us to believe is utterly alien to our laws. The Courts have held in plethora of cases that votes cast in an election belong to the Party not an individual as candidate in an election. See Section 33 of the Electoral Act and CPC Vs. Ombugadu (2013) 18 NWLR PT. 1385 P.66 at 152. The primary method of contest for elective offices is therefore between Parties, not candidates (emphasis mine) See Amaechi Vs. INEC (2009) 5 NWLR PT. 1080 P. 227 at 317. Therefore, votes cast in 2015 Kogi Gubernatorial Election will always belong to the APC and not any individual. 12. The Electoral Manual that is so often disparaged by the uninformed is a valid subsidiary legislation, and where it is found to be relevant, its provisions must be invoked, applied and enforced. The Supreme Court was in agreement with this position in the case of Buhari Vs. Obasanjo (2005) 2NWLR PT. 901 Page 241 at 511 and Ajadi Vs. Ajibola (2004) 16 NWLR PT. 898 p. 91 at 165, para H. In this case the INEC rightly applied the Manual in the Kogi Election. 13. Section 160 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) confers powers on INEC to make its own rules or otherwise regulate its own procedure which shall not be subject to the approval or control of the President. Paragraph 15 (I) of the Third Schedule to the Constitution empowers the National Assembly to enlarge the powers of INEC through legislative enactments. In the exercise of this power, the National Assembly enacted the 2010 Electoral Act. 14. Given that INEC is the sole authority empowered by the Constitution to conduct elections, INEC is better positioned to make detailed rules and regulations to guide the conduct of elections, the National Assembly delegated the power to make enabling rules for the conduct of elections to INEC. Section 153 of the Electoral Act vests in INEC the power to issue regulations, guidelines and manuals for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of the Act and for its administration. 15. In essence, the Electoral Act will be ineffective without the supportive and complimentary regulations, guidelines and manuals issued by INEC. Pursuant to the powers granted it by the Constitution and the Electoral Act, INEC issued the Guidelines and Regulations for the Conduct of the 2015 General Elections (hereinafter referred to as the Guidelines) and the Manual for Election Officials 2015 (Updated Version). 16. Section 141 of the Electoral Act makes a compelling case for Governor Yahaya Bello. To make a declaration that Governor Yahaya Bello never participated in all the stages of that election is a lie taken too far. Full participation in all stages of theelection is not a phantom concept which does not lend itself to precise definition. Section 141 of the Electoral Act as affirmed by per M.D Muhammad JSC in the case of Yaradua Vs. Yandoma (2015) 4 NWLR PT. 1448 at 177, does justice to the issue as follows: an election is a long drawn out process with distinct stages ending in the declaration of a winner by the returning officer. It entails ones membership of a political party, his indication of desire to be partys candidate at the election, primaries for nomination of the partys candidate, presentation of the partys candidate to INEC, the event of the election, return of successful candidate at the election after declaration of scores and in conclusion, the issuance of certificate of return to the successful candidate. It is submitted that in the context of Section 141 of the Electoral Act, a supplementary election is a general election held to allow areas which did not vote earlier to do so in order to arrive at the true outcomes of the elections. Governor Yahaya Bello did not contravene Section 141 of the Electoral Act. The contextual import of section 141 of the Electoral Act contemplates the party and the candidate in full participation in an election in all the stages of the said election, which of course Governor Yahaya Bello fulfilled. At this point, both the party and the candidate are inseparable. It thus follows that Governor Yahaya Bello fully participated in all the stages of the said election. To say otherwise is to give a different interpretation to the the law. 17. James Abiodun Falekes case is not only bad, but incurably so. The Supreme Court was emphatic that there is simply no room for a candidate (like James Faleke) who never contested a primary election in such a setting to emerge a party candidate. See Amaechi Vs. INEC (2009) 5 NWLR PT. 1080 P. 227 at 317. 18.Governor Yahaya Bello is eminently qualified to contest for election as the Governor of Kogi State. To maintain that Alhaji Yahaya Bello is not a registered voter in Kogi State nor voted in the election, therefore surmised not to be qualified to be elected as Governor is a mischievous and malicious attempt to introduce a strange law into the Nigeria legal jurisprudence. The 1999 Constitution clearly provides for the qualification of a candidate seeking to be elected into the office of a Governor. Section 177 provides thus: A person shall be qualified for election to the office of Governor of a State if a. He is citizen of Nigeria by birth; b. He has attained the age of thirty five years; c. He is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party; and d. He has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent. I challenge anyone to point out any part of the above grundnorm that makes Governor Yahaya Bello unqualified to contest the election that took him to Lugard House. We therefore submit that taking this whole matter into proper perspective, justice was rightly served by both the Tribunal and the Court of Appeal. Kogi State now looks to the Supreme Court to consolidate these verdicts so that their Governor can finally put his full focus on governance undistracted by traducers. APCS CIVIL WAR IN KOGI AND THE BEGINNINGS OF AN ACHILLES HEEL It is pertinent to sound a call to action to the The All Progressives Congress (APC) before the actions of a few become the parameters by which Nigerians judge the party. Nigerias Governing Party needs to get her house back in order, and quickly. Before the 2015 Presidential Elections she was a disciplined army, marshaling with military precision nationwide and executing strategy with a unity of purpose that was matchless. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the former Ruling Party, was a sitting duck before the APCs very mobile, hard-hitting campaigns and was totally outclassed in every theatre. It is no mean feat to wrest power from a ruling party in Africa but the APC did it at first try. Some opposition parties on the continent have been trying for 3-4 decades. Now in Government, it appears success has compromised discipline, and party cohesion appears to be the first victim. Watchers of current affairs have noticed a troubling penchant for specific party bigwigs to appear above the law, and act in brazen violation of party unity, without the least repercussion from any quarter, never mind internal party control systems. The most glaring example of this insidious canker is to be found in Kogi State where forces allied to one of the most prominent power blocs in the APC are hellbent on unseating Governor Yahaya Bello even if it means losing the state to the PDP. Twice now successive judicial hierarchies, namely the Kogi State Gubernatorial Elections Petitions Tribunal and the nations Court of Appeal, have affirmed Governor Bellos election in very clear terms, and twice now members of his own party led by James Abiodun Faleke have led the charge to disavow it. They have now appealed to the Supreme Court before whom they have again rehashed their previously and twice-dismissed claims. Claims which can be summarized thus: If Yahaya Bello remains Governor in Kogi, then the APC as a party, along with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the nations Judiciary, have perverted justice. All the same, it is not the Kogi oppositions recourse to the Judiciary that is so irksome. Au contraire, that aspect of their wahala is commendable. The judicial option is always best when free men dispute for their rights. What is dangerous, and the conduct which APC National has failed to curb is the sponsored false portrayal, in dozens of media platforms, of the APC Administration in Kogi State as a rampantly rapacious looting machine. The preponderance, monopoly actually, of these libelous publications in the Lagos Axis of the Nigerian Press practically geo-locates their source, and sponsors. This campaign of malice and calumny, while directly targeted at de-branding the current occupant of Lugard House, Kogis Government House, is having the (intended?) effect of slowly, but steadily, de-marketing the APC at all levels. Initially, these adverse publications and media appearances were minor irritations which left a bad taste in the mouth of anyone abreast of the facts. In recent times though, they have mushroomed into a serious image problem for the APC as a whole. Anyone who looks at the figures being bandied about and approaches the available evidence with frankness will not require a soothsayer to deduce the truth. Of course, there is no such looting going on in Kogi State. The allegations are figments of the fevered imaginations of their proprietors. In Kogi the New Direction Agenda is firmly on course, rebuilding the battered state it inherited and renewing the shattered psyche of her people. Nonetheless, the APC hierarchy must realize that image is crucial currency in governance and perception is key to image. What these enemies within have failed to grasp is that in their bid to hurt Yahaya Bello with their lies, they are hurting the whole Governing Party. The message Nigerians are getting from these false publications, if one goes by the trending discourses on social media, is that these allegations must be true if they are coming from such influential party insiders. And whats more, if they are true of the APC in Kogi, then they must be true of the APC everywhere. It is this perception problem, and its allied image implications for the APC in general that necessitates an urgent and decisive intervention by party leaders. Kogi State is not the first where members of the same party struggle in court over who the rightful occupant of a post which has been won at the polls should be. Abia State is embroiled in a similar tussle at the moment but parties therein have limited their hostilities to the courtroom, and to the issues. They have not turned it into a referendum on the capacity of their party to rule that state. Surely the APC can do better and the lowest hanging fruit right now is to rein in her members who engage in these anti-party activities in Kogi. Governor Yahaya Bellos New Direction Agenda in Kogi State is resonating with the people. The tangible efforts of the Administration at addressing the developmental challenges confronting the state are well received. When the Governor visited Okene days after his election and was received by a mammoth crowd, some uncharitably averred it was because he hails from the town. When he visited Ankpa last week for a private engagement and was received by a mammoth crowd celebrating his result-based, purposeful governance, detractors were struck speechless. Kogi State is poised to become leading light among the APC states under Yahaya Bello, but she needs the party machinery at all levels to prevent enemies within from strewing obstacles along the path. This is not to say that such enemies can stop the New Direction Agenda from actualization. It is to say that proactive action by the party to contain them will amount to much less obstacles to surmount, and better speed in succeeding. Failure to do this could well amount to a chink in the armour and the beginning of an Achilles Heel. A house divided against itself cannot stand. Signed: Barr. Segun Senibi (Kogi West) Barr. Adeiza Ojo (Kogi Central) Barr. Idakwo Andrew (Kogi East) FOR: KOGI CONCERNED LAWYERS FOR DEMOCRACY (KCLD) ***SPONSORED*** Samson Ogah, who was declared governor of Abia State by a court in June, is heading to the Supreme Court to claim his mandate. Incumbent governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, had challenged the court ruling, and has refused to step down. On August 18, the Court of Appeal in Abuja upturned the decision to hand Mr. Ogah the position. The Appeal Court said Mr. Ikpeazu had not committed any tax offence as the first court ruled. In its ruling, a five-member panel led by Justice Morenike Ogunwumiju said the June 27 ruling amounted to raping democracy. After reading through the judgement several times I was amazed at how the trial judge arrived at his conclusion of perjury against the appellant when there was no evidence of forgery. To say the least, his findings are ridiculous, the court said. Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday, Mr. Ogahs lawyer, Alex Izinyon, said his client had resolved to go to the highest court. Yes I will let you have our processes, Monday next week, Mr. Izinyon said when asked whether his client would proceed to the Supreme court. Unknown gunmen on Tuesday, abducted Ibrahim Samaila, a member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, representing Tudun Wada Constituency. Mr. Samaila, the Chairman of the Assemblys Committee on Lands Surveys and Country Planning, was abducted at gunpoint in Abakpa, in the Kaduna North Local Government area of the state, a witness said. The kidnappers came in a Sienna Car and within few seconds, their other gang members joined them and whisked the lawmaker away, the witness, who asked not to be named for security reason, said. The kidnappers were armed with sophisticated weapons. They shot at a vehicle vending pure water which was passing by, thinking it wanted to block them. Mr. Samaila is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). A family source said the abductors later contacted the lawmakers relatives warning them against involving the police in the matter. The gang also urged Mr. Samailas family to be ready to pay whatever ransom they demand in exchange for the lawmakers freedom. It is however not clear how much ransom the abductors want. The Senator representing Kaduna Central in the Nigerian Senate, Shehu Sani, has condemned the kidnap of Kaduna lawmaker, Ibrahim Samaila. Mr. Sani said the kidnappers represent an evil and tyrannical force who threatens our lives, liberty and livelihood in the north today. Some unknown gunmen on Tuesday, abducted Mr. Samaila, a member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, representing Tudun Wada Constituency. The lawmaker, who serve as the the Chairman of the Assemblys committee on land surveys and country planning, was abducted at gunpoint in Abakpa, in the Kaduna North Local Government area of the state. The kidnappers came in a Sienna Car and within few seconds, their other gang members joined them and whisked the lawmaker away, the witness, who asked not to be named for security reason, said. The kidnappers were armed with sophisticated weapons. They shot at a vehicle vending pure water which was passing by, thinking it wanted to block them, a witness told PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday Mr. Sani in a statement on Wednesday said the rising cases of kidnapping in the north and particularly in Kaduna axis, is evidently the next threat to national security after a dying insurgency. As a people we can only save ourselves by standing up and speaking out collectively against kidnapping and kidnappers in our society, he said. The Senator said the culture of silence and fear of kidnappers cannot in anyway guarantee the safety and security of the people. Kidnappers are embolden and encouraged by our silence, our resignation and our submissive resort to payment of ransom to secure our freedom. There exist today a regime of fear of Kidnappers in the north and its sustained by a systemic pattern of silent payment of ransom and fear. Kidnappers have taken over from Insurgents. Political leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth and women must courageously stand up and speak out against this evil. To extinguish a deadly inferno we must move towards it and confront it, he said. Mr. Sani also called on security agencies to wake up and stand up to dangerous trend, while, also urging the Federal Government to provide for them the adequate funding and relevant technological equipment to contain the menace. Kidnaping has become a widespread profitable criminal enterprise which cannot be combatted by half scale measures. The need for citizens to form protective and preventive groups against kidnapping is now. Kidnappers must not dictate our way of life. Security agencies and the general public must jointly confront this evil, Mr. Sani said. Fifty four students of Confucius Institute of Nnamdi Azikiwe University have been awarded scholarships to further their education in China. The students, who successfully passed through various Chinese programmes, are to pursue further programmes that will last from one to four years in various tertiary institutions in China. Three of the awardees will be sponsored by the Chinese government, while the rest will be sponsored by Confucius Institute. In his address during a send-forth ceremony organised for the awardees Monday, the Universitys Vice Chancellor, Joseph Ahaneku, said he was glad that the efforts of the Institute were yielding positive results. The vice-chancellor said he was very interested in the progress of various programmes of the university, including that of the institute. Prof. Ahaneku was the director of the Confucius Institute of the university for four years before becoming the vice chancellor. He said the passion he developed for the institute over the years will be adequately sustained. The vice-chancellor said before now, the Confucius Institute existed only in Nnamdi Azikiwe University and University of Lagos. Currently, a new one is being developed at the Bayero University Kano. Prof. Ahaneku told the awardees that though they will be in China in about a weeks time for further studies, they were going to be evaluated to further confirm their worthiness in character and in learning. He urged them to be good ambassadors of Nnamdi Azikiwe University. Prof. Ahaneku said though some of the beneficiaries were not students or graduates of the university, they would be pursuing their further studies under the watchful eyes of Nnamdi Azikiwe University. Other highlights of the occasion included short music presentation by the awardees. Other persons at the event include the UNIZIK Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) Carol Arinze-Umobi, staff and students of the Confucius Institute, and the Admin Officer of the universitys Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Perpetua Ilozue, who represented the Director Information, Public Relations and Protocol of the university, Emmanuel Ojukwu. Polish and Ukrainian Presidents, Andrzej Duda and Petro Poroshenko, in Kiev on Wednesday stressed the need to continue historical dialogue. The Polish president took part in the observances marking the 25th anniversary of Ukraine's independence. He told a joint press conference with President Poroshenko that their talks focused on "difficult matters, including history and historical memory". May be of interest to you Presidents Duda and Poroshenko appeal to international community "We will continue dialogue in this field. We will be trying to make it more productive than so far." President Duda declared, stressing that one could expect joint actions in this field. "I hope that we will be able to speak about concrete projects in December," he added. President Poroshenko stressed that as far as history of the two countries was concerned, dialogue should not be beneficial to a third state. He added that neither Poles nor Ukrainians would benefit from problems in mutual relations. According to President Poroshenko, politicians should say: "we forgive and ask for forgiveness". He also said that historical questions should be left in the hands of historians. The Polish president thanked his Ukrainian host for inviting him to Kiev to attend the observances marking the 25th anniversary of Ukraine's independence and said "it was a sign of appreciation" for Poland "which was always with Ukraine over the recent 25 years". The Polish president was the only foreign guest invited to Kiev. "Poland was the first country to recognise Ukraine's independence declared on December 2, 1991. Poland was with Ukraine in all difficult moments: during the Orange Revolution and the Revolution of Dignity. And Poland is with Ukraine today in the time of the ongoing difficult conflict in the eastern part of the country and Crimea's occupation," the Polish president said. President Duda told reporters he had renewed his invitation to President Poroshenko to pay an official visit to Poland and said it could take place on December 2, the 25th anniversary of recognising by Poland of Ukraine's independence. President Poroshenko admitted that Poland had been the first country to recognise Ukraine's independence and thanked "for a tough position of Polish and EU partners regarding Russia's aggression against Ukraine and Crimea's annexation as well as Ukraine's territorial integrity". "We are grateful for such solidarity," he said. The Ukrainian president also thanked Poland for its support and cooperation in energy issues and praised Poland's position regarding Nord Stream 2 and the Turkish Stream. He stressed that 2016 would be the first year when "Russia's energy blackmail" could prove unsuccessful. (PAP) Presidents of Poland and Ukraine, Andrzej Duda and Petro Poroshenko, in Kiev on Wednesday appealed to the international community to step up efforts to stop Russia's aggression against Ukraine. "We appeal to the international community to increase efforts, including a policy of sanctions against the aggressor, in order to restore respect for international law and stop the aggression against Ukraine", the presidents wrote in a joint declaration adopted on the 25th anniversary of Ukraine's independence. May be of interest to you Poland and Ukraine will continue historical dialogue The two presidents acknowledged Ukraine's right to and prospects for "acquiring full NATO membership in future, in accordance with the Ukrainian nation's will". They also underlined the key role of transatlantic unity in ensuring security and stability in Europe and the world. The document highlights the strong cultural and historical ties between the Polish and Ukrainian nations and the fact that Poland was the first country to recognise Ukraine's independence. The presidents stated that establishing and developing a strategic partnership between Poland and Ukraine "is a historic choice without alternative, and expanding and deepening this cooperation has broad prospects, enormous potential and corresponds to the deepest interests of both countries and their nations". Duda and Poroshenko underlined "the immutability of Poland's position in supporting Ukraine's efforts to regain its territorial integrity". "We confirm that Ukraine acknowledges the significance of Poland's active role and importance in seeking a lasting solution for stability and peace in the region, and the Polish side believes that Ukraine's independence is of fundamental importance for Poland's security and independence", the declaration also reads. The two heads of state declared that they would continue to develop Polish-Ukrainian relations in accordance with the treaty on good neighbourhood, friendly relations and cooperation signed in Warsaw in 1992. They pointed out that Ukraine's association agreement with the European Union was an important factor in this cooperation. "Poland supports the introduction of visa-free travel between the EU and Ukraine as an effective measure for expanding interpersonal contacts", the document also states. Duda and Poroshenko underlined "the importance of the fact that Poland has consistently supported and will support Ukraine on its path of deep transformation and structural reforms". Proof of the strength and stability of Polish-Ukrainian ties is found "in Poles' unqualified support for Ukrainians fighting during the Orange Revolution and the Revolution of Dignity for freedom and democracy", the presidents stated. They also expressed readiness for continued cooperation to support and protect the rights of the Polish and Ukrainian minorities in the respective countries. The presidents noted "the existence of tragic pages in the history of Polish-Ukrainian relations" and underlined the importance of "constructive Polish-Ukrainian dialogue based on historical truth". (PAP) Manpasand Beverages new manufacturing facility in Haryana completed ( Read 6168 Times) 24 Aug 16 Share | Print This Page Manpasand Beverages Limited, Indias leading fruit juice player, has completed setting-up of its new manufacturing facility in the state of Haryana. Located in Ambala, the new facility will contribute additional 45,000 to 50,000 cases per day to Manpasands existing capacity of 120,000-125,000 cases per day. The total investment for this facility was around Rs 160 core and has been financed though the IPO proceeds. In 2015, Manpasand had raised Rs 400 crore through an IPO and one of the primary objectives of this was setting-up a manufacturing facility at Ambala in Haryana. Speaking about the completion of the new facility, Mr. Dhirendra Singh, Chairman & MD of Manpasand Beverages said, The demand for our fruit juices under the Mango Sip and Fruits Up brands is so large that we need to continuously add new capacities to cater to this growing demand. The facility will produce the entire range of Fruits Up drinks, carbonated and non-carbonated, along with our flagship brand, Mango Sip. From a strategic point of view, this facility will give us an upper hand in reaching out to markets in North and North-Eastern India. With the Ambala facility in near operational phase, Manpasand has now five manufacturing facilities located in various parts of India: two at Vadodara in Gujarat, one in Varanasi, UP, one in Dehradun and the new one at Ambala in Haryana. The company is also planning to set up a new plant in South India in future. The other major initiative Manpasand has embarked upon was to tie up with organised retail players as well as various food and beverage outlets such as Metro Cash & Carry, Aditya Birla Retail, Havmor Ice Cream & Cafei Coffee Day, to name a few. Manpasand also became the only beverage company to tie up with global ice cream major Baskin Robbins in India. In the coming months, the Company is going to forge more such alliances to increase its urban market penetration. The market size of beverage industry in India, which consists of juices, carbonated drinks and bottled water is estimated to be worth around Rs. 65,000 crore and this market is estimated to grow at CAGR of more than 20%. The Indian packaged juice industry size is about Rs. 8,000 crore and it has been growing at more than 30% per annum in last few years and will maintain that pace in future as well. About Manpasand Beverages Limited (www.manpasand.co.in) One of the countrys leading fruit juice players with Rs. 556 crore plus net sales in FY16, Manpasand Beverages Limited has got the unique distinction of being the only pure play Company in this sector in the Indian capital market. Manpasand Beverages represents the successful story of a visionary first generation entrepreneur, Dhirendra Singh, who has built one of Indias fastest growing fruit juices company and is now ready to take on the global cola giants head-on. Manpasand Beverages is a fruit drink manufacturing company with a primary focus on mango fruit, which is the leading flavour for juice drinks in India. Companys flagship brand, Mango Sip, a mango-based fruit drink, is strategically focused towards customers primarily based in semi urban and rural markets. With a view to expand its product portfolio and target the urban markets, Manpasand launched its Fruits Up range of products which offers fruit drinks and carbonated fruit drinks in different flavours. Without any synthetic base, 'FRUITS UP' is made up of natural ingredients and comes in a range of carbonated and non-carbonated fruit drinks. With Fruits Up, the company plans to capture part of the huge carbonated drinks market, which is estimated to be worth around 25,000 Crores. Recently, the company has entered into packaged tender coconut water segment through their new brand, Coco Sip. In terms of health drinks, Manpasand ORS is afloat in North Eastern and soon has plans to go pan India. Manpasands beverage brands are present in 24 states through more than 200,000 retailers, over 2000 distributors and 200 plus super stockists. The company has two manufacturing facilities at Vadodara in Gujarat, one each at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Dehradun in Uttaranchal and a new one is being set up at Ambala in Haryana. In the fast and ever-growing fruit-based beverages market in India, the Company has emerged as a significant and formidable competitor to the National and Multinational beverage giants. A customer-centric approach, value-for-money offerings, strong focus on affordable price points, innovation and research, brand building, aggressive production capacity expansions and strong distribution strategies are the Company's major strengths. Source : This Article/News is also avaliable in following categories : Business News Your Comments ! Share Your Openion ATLANTIC CITY -- A lot of unpleasant actions will likely be needed to fix this citys finances, a firm advising the city told residents Tuesday. Michael Nadol, of PFM Group, led the citys third public meeting on its five-year fiscal plan to avoid a state takeover. Nadol introduced the firm to the public, described the citys dire financial situation and outlined some steps that could help the city achieve fiscal stability. A lot of the actions that will likely be necessary will be unpleasant, Nadol said. And they havent happened yet for a reason. Because absent the kind of challenge the city faces, (it) wouldnt want to see them happen. A city resident, Doreen Heller, 66, asked what kinds of actions that could mean. Nadol said he couldnt speak to what the final outcomes will be, but said it could mean changes in services, a city workforce reduction, changes in employee compensation or tax increases Can we afford to pay you? quipped Heller, who said she pays $17,000 in taxes. PFM can bill the city no more than $225,000 for a years work, according to its contract with the city. PFM works around the country and develops financial plans for governments facing budgetary stress, according to a statement from the Mayors Office. It is currently the state-appointed overseer for Pittsburgh and helped Philadelphia recover from junk bond credit ratings in the early 1990s, the statement said. Nadol said the firm is one month into its work and is conducting interviews, reviewing data and developing five-year financial projections for the city. It will do quantitative analysis for the city and help inform city officials decisions. The firm has office space in the city and about five firm members are dedicating half or more of their time on Atlantic City, Nadol said. The city has until Nov. 3 to submit the plan to the state. The plans rejection would result in a state takeover of the citys finances and major decision-making powers for five years. The city has a roughly $100 million budget deficit before state aid. It also owes $228 million in bonds issued to cover tax appeals and an additional $165 million in tax refunds to Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa and MGM Mirage, according to Moodys. PFM is not the first firm to review the citys dire finances. Most recently, Ernst & Young billed the state $2.6 million for its work in the city. But this time, the firm works for the city, not the state. After the meeting, Mayor Don Guardian recalled a time the city asked Ernst & Young for financial planning advice. They said We cant share that with you. We work for the state of New Jersey. Not for you,"" Guardian said Geology professors are particularly grateful there is a National Park Service, which celebrates its 100th birthday today. National Parks provide a peek into the natural world as it was hundreds of years ago. Thats one reason Stockton Universitys Geology Club takes a trip to National Parks West every year, said associate professor Matthew Rocky Severs. Particularly when doing a science like geology, you are studying the Earth. Its useful to have places that have been pretty much kept untouched, Severs said. This past May, the trip included a stop at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico, he said. Other (caverns) have become way too touristy. They put all kinds of access and things in and do damage, said Severs. Carlsbad does not do that. Severs has been running the trips for about four years, he said. Before that, they were run by colleagues like retired geology professor Mike Hozik, who also ran trips with classes in the 1980s and 1990s. We do alumni events every year, and some of the alumni from 20 to 30 years ago say they dont remember much of anything from this or that class, but I remember everything we did on our out-west trip to Colorado, Severs said. New Jerseys Sierra Club is commemorating the anniversary because the National Park Service is part of its legacy, Director Jeff Tittel said. Conservationist and Sierra Club founder John Muir helped lead the movement to create national parks, Tittel said, and gave President Theodore Roosevelt a three-day wilderness tour of what would become Yosemite National Park in California. The National Park Service was established after the passing of the Organic Act in 1916, which was a main objective of the Sierra Club, said Tittel. It was actually opposed by the first chief of the United States Forest Service, Gifford Pinchot, who believed in logging and mining of public lands. In New Jersey, the National Park Service established the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve, which controls development in the million-acre zone. It also runs National Recreation Areas, National Monuments and National Historical Parks here. Sierra Club member Steven Mather became the first head of the Park Service, and his wife was from Elizabeth, Union County, Tittel said. The Pinelands National Reserve was created in 1978 as part of the National Parks and Recreation Act. It is the countrys first National Reserve and is the largest open space on the eastern seaboard and recognized for its biodiversity by the United Nations, said Tittel. The Reserve is also tied to our clean drinking water and holds 17 trillion gallons of water in the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer. Contact: 609-272-7219 Twitter @MichelleBPost ATLANTIC CITY More than 1,000 people have signed a bait shop owners petition to give fishermen access to inlet jetties once a $21.4 million seawall is finished. Fishermen are afraid there will be no way down from the high wall to the jetties, even though City Engineer Russell Cipolla said the city will provide access. The mayors wish is to create access to the jetties to allow fishing once the seawall, bulkhead and Boardwalk portion is completed, Cipolla said after hearing of the petition, which has circulated in about a dozen bait shops in the area. But Cipolla said no details have been worked out about how people will get from the Boardwalk behind the seawall, down to the jetties. Its going to affect my business and everyone elses around us, said Noel Feliciano, owner of One Stop Bait and Tackle on Atlantic Avenue. There are 12 bait shops in and around Atlantic City, not including Bass Pro. He said he will keep collecting signatures until we get a plan or something in writing from the City of Atlatnic City about what it will do for fishermen. The Army Corps of Engineers is building the seawall and boardwalk behind it, and has no plans to build access routes to jetties, spokesman Steve Rochette said. The corps will turn it over to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and local authorities when complete, he said. Feliciano said he was happy to hear about the mayors intentions, but wants the city to put the promise of jetty access into writing. Atlantic City has a long history of fishing off its jetties dating back to the 1920s, and a world record striped bass was caught off the Vermont Avenue jetty in the 1980s. A lot of shore towns cater to fishermen, said Feliciano, as he watched a family from Philadelphia fish off the Atlantic Avenue jetty. But he said Atlantic City has never promoted the sport, even though it brings in many tourists and could bring in more. Reginald Riggins and his wife Linda were with their daughter Shaina and her new husband Philip Price who were on a short honeymoon. They all were enjoying the view as they watched Reginald Riggins catch a trigger fish. I come down a lot, said Reginald Riggins. I give my money away at the casino, stay and do this, then go home. The $29.4 million Army Corps of Engineers project started last fall, and a preliminary completion date is Memorial Day 2017. About $21.4 million is being spent on the seawall and $8 million on the boardwalk. Feliciano said he started the petition in part to get a definitive answer from the city. The petition also asks Atlantic County and the state to do their part to protect fishermens rights. He said Cipolla called him after hearing about the petition during a Press interview. He told me we are going to have access, they are just trying to plan and see how to do it, said Feliciano, 45, who said he grew up in the resort and has fished there since he was a child. I said I need something in writing that says that. Im happy they called but we need a committment. Other fishing spots have been lost, and that makes fishermen nervous, Feliciano said. Fishermen lost access to the bridge into Longport about two years ago, he said, and to Lower Bank Bridge that connects Egg Harbor City and Lower Bank in Washington Township, Burlington County, this year. Both sites had been popular spots for years, Feliciano said. There are five jetties in the area of the seawall project in the Inlet, Cipolla said. All are essential for fishing, since they give fishermen access to deep water of the channel, which is up to 60 feet deep in places, Feliciano said. No drawings or other plans have been made as to what type of access there might be, but it may be staircases over the seawall and down to the jetties, Cipolla said. A separate project to reconstruct the Boardwalk from Rhode Island to Oriental avenues started in June. Funded by a $5 million grant from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, the contractor is Walters Marine Construction Inc. of Woodbine. It will connect the main Atlantic City Boardwalk to the seawall portion, and a third phase will run from Caspian Avenue to Gardners Basin. But the third phase has not been funded yet, Cipolla said. As important as an expanded Boardwalk is, its also important to preserve access to jetties and give tourists something more to do than just gamble, Feliciano said. He said the city should take the new Route 52 causeway bridge from Somers Point to Ocean City bridge as an example of how to make infrastructure into a tourist destination. You have four fishing piers for crabbing and fishing and a beautiful, free boat ramp. You can run (or bike on the bike path), take your kayak or canoe, Feliciano said. People are bird watching and theres a visitors center and plenty of parking. Outdoors activities attract families, he said. Atlantic City is surrounded with water, but you cannot rent a kayak or boat in the city, he said. Its a shame. When you say the Inlet, you are talking about a gem for fishing, he said. And he is hopeful the gem will remain. He has a good intention for Atlantic City and a passion for Atlantic City, Feliciano said of Guardian. I honestly think if he says something, hell try to do something about it. Contact: 609-272-7219 Twitter @MichelleBPost EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP A suspicious object inside a bag Wednesday halted operations at Atlantic City International Airport. The airport reopened to travelers about 5 p.m. Wednesday, an hour after the object prompted an airportwide evacuation. The object was discovered on a security image but was determined to be innocuous, State Police Capt. Stephen Jones said. People inside the airport, including people inside restaurants and shops, began to return to the airport after being asked to leave the building. The State Police Bomb Squad responded to the airport. Atlantic City man admits to armed robbery at Caesars Casino An Atlantic City man pleaded guilty to a 2014 armed robbery at Caesars Casino after he was f Officials could not provide information on whether flights from the airport were delayed. At the cellphone parking lot a short distance from the airport, people waiting to board Spirit Airlines flights were left to wonder what was going on. Lincoln Kaji, 45, of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, said Spirit airlines didnt inform passengers of the situation. Kaji and his family were heading to Boston to visit family. I got here, and we werent allowed any further, Kaji said. I have no idea what is going on, I just want to make my flight. Rick Miick, 64, of Toms River, was headed to the airport to pick up his son. My son texted me from the plane saying that they werent being let off the plane, Miick said as he waited in the parking lot with his dog, Toby. Contact: 609-272-7046 Twitter @ACPressHuba Contact: 609-272-7260 Twitter @ACPressDeRosier BRIDGETON Standing at the intersection where her husband was shot and killed by police in 2014, Lawanda Hartsfield-Reid said she is starting a nonprofit in his name to help people in need in Bridgeton. Hartsfield-Reid, 39, of Upper Deerfield Township, joined her friends and family Wednesday for a barbecue memorial at the intersection where her husband, Jerame Reid, was shot and killed by Bridgeton police on Dec. 30, 2014, after an officer removed a handgun from the glovebox in front of him. My husband was very generous. He helped people. I dont want the stigma of being a thug in Bridgeton to be how hes remembered, Hartsfield-Reid said. She is still sorting out fund-raising details for the new charity, which shes calling Reids Manor. On Wednesday, she and friends wearing matching T-shirts grilled hotdogs and hamburgers for neighborhood children and handed out dozens of brightly colored school backpacks. Eventually, she wants to provide a temporary home in Bridgeton for families in crisis to stay. She and other members of Reids family are suing Bridgeton in federal court over the shooting. According to court papers, the city has offered the family $1.1 million, about half of which would go to Reids infant son. This week the U.S. Attorneys Office said it would not bring criminal charges against former Bridgeton police officer Braheme Days, who shot Reid seven times when Reid tried to force open the passenger side door where Days was standing. The U.S. Attorneys Office determined that Reid was unarmed at the time of the shooting. Days had just removed a loaded .38-caliber handgun from the glovebox in front of Reid. The shooting occurred at a time when the Black Lives Matter movement put police shootings in the national spotlight. But Reids family said race was not an issue in the shooting. Days and Reid are black and knew each other. Days had arrested Reid previously in a case where Reid was charged with resisting arrest. Reids family said the shooting still leaves unanswered questions in Bridgeton and New Jersey about when police can use deadly force. I have four sons and I worry every day when theyre driving, cousin Catina Hartsfield, of Bridgeton, said as she cradled her 3-month-old granddaughter. If they get pulled over, I tell them to turn the car off, turn the dome light on and keep their hands on the steering wheel, she said. And if they have time, they should record everything on their cell phone. The U.S. Attorneys Office said there was insufficient evidence to charge the Bridgeton officer because the government could not prove Days did not fear for his own life and safety when he shot Reid. By that standard, Hartsfield-Reid said, every traffic stop is fraught with danger. She said officers need better training to discern genuine threats to their safety. I dont think all police are bad. If I need the police, Ill call them, she said. Her mother, Hazel Hartsfield, of Millville, said she thinks the charity is a good idea. It will give her daughter a way to channel her energy, she said. I think shell do a lot of good. Ive been trying to keep her focused the past two years, she said. Were still here and were not going anywhere. Contact: 609-463-6712 Twitter @ACPressMiller This year's headline from The New York Times: "If Hillary Clinton wins, foundation will stop accepting foreign donations." Next year's headline: "Clinton Foundation accepts $250 million in foreign donations." Call me a cynic, but I think this is totally possible. I can even imagine how the reconciliation between these two seemingly conflicting headlines would go. We can imagine the usual Clinton apologists saying something like this: "Well, $75 million was donated after the election in November but before the inauguration in January, and we always meant that the new rules would take effect after the inauguration. "Another $100 million contributed from foreign countries and corporations was donated to the Clinton Foundation affiliate in Canada, so there is obviously no conflict. Hillary is not president of Canada. The fact that the money spent three hours in the Canadian bank before it was transferred to the United States or that Chelsea and Bill and whoever just live with a Canadian bank's checking account and credit cards doesn't matter. If the right-wing conspirators want to complain about accounting practices, the Clintons can't be expected to stoop to that petty level. "Of course, as promised, Bill Clinton has refrained from giving paid speeches. The $25 million that was received was in no part speaking fees, but only 'appearance fees' and a travel expense reimbursement from donors who had already made their contribution. He just stopped by to say thanks." They'll continue: "Of course, another $25 million or so came to Chelsea, but no reasonable person can dispute that she is worth every penny. She has become, in effect, a strategic adviser for various international entities, and her expertise is very much in demand. And she has done innumerable selfless good works for which people felt inclined to give her a gratuity. "Next, the $25 million that came in from the rulers of Moneystan all came from their New York real-estate company, so that's not 'foreign' at all. Besides, everyone knows the Clintons thought about honeymooning in Moneystan. "So there you have it: The foundation has not accepted any money from a foreign government or corporation. The Clintons have gone beyond what other First Families have had to report and endure, but there is just no way to satisfy some of their bitter, partisan critics." You read it here first, folks. There will be about 10 minutes of outrage, and then everyone will shrug and move on. Ed Rogers is a political consultant and a veteran of the White House and several national campaigns. After a state hearing this month on its massive student loan program, legislators are working on some improvements, such as forgiving a loan if the student borrower dies. That's compassionate and doable. The program, though, is a small part of a higher education crisis of access and affordability. That's a nationwide challenge, so while New Jersey institutions are working toward solutions, U.S. reforms will be needed. The N.J. Higher Education Student Assistance Authority has made nearly $2 billion in loans, the most of any state, but little compared with the $1.3 trillion in existing federal student loans. Easy access to loans allowed more than 20 million Americans to attend college, which is great. Nearly half of them aren't making payments on their loans, and a sixth of them are in default, which is not sustainable. The U.S. also forgives the loans for qualifying borrowers who work 10 years for nonprofit organizations or government agencies. Between the expected defaults and forgiven loans, the federal government may be out as much as $500 billion. While loan programs let students take on more debt, they allowed colleges to increase their costs - which provided more funding for programs, but required even more borrowing to pay for college. The results overall fall short of hopes and expectations. About half of college students have completed their four-year degree after six years. Many with degrees have difficulty finding jobs if they didn't study science, technology, engineering, mathematics or business. Reforms are needed in several areas of higher education for it to better serve the aspirations of students and changes in work, while staying affordable for students and governments. Some reforms already are developing in New Jersey. Part of the answer is providing more technical education. Two-thirds of future jobs will require college degrees, many of them with some technical expertise. Vocational/technical education can prepare students for the other third of jobs. This year's opening of Cumberland County Technical Education Center gives all counties in the region - and nearly all in the state - a vocational high school aligned with trends in employment. Mainstream high schools are incorporating vocational/technical programs for their students too. The graduates of these schools mostly go on to college, and innovations are creating more affordable paths to a college degree every year. Atlantic Cape Community College and Rutgers University Camden this spring announced a lower-cost way to earn a nursing degree by attending Atlantic Cape for three years and then finishing at the school's Rutgers University-Camden completion center. Another program offers bachelor's degrees from Fairleigh Dickinson University by attending Atlantic Cape for two years and then entering the university with tuition reduced 40 percent. Rowan University is likewise partnering with Gloucester and Burlington community colleges to offer bachelor's degrees with three of the four years of study at the affordable community college rate. Student loans will still be needed, of course, and more flexible payment options and deferments should be pursued for the state's program. The crisis in college loans and costs, though, can only be addressed by the federal government. Ready availability of loans greatly expanded access to college while strengthening the stake students have in succeeding at college. Grants and public funding schemes that don't require repayment would weaken that stake. But the system still needs a nudge in the direction of loan effectiveness. Sheila Bair, formerly chairwoman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and now president of Washington College, has proposed capping federal borrowing by students and requiring colleges to help repay loans if their students have high default rates. Maybe such a model could be extended to the student debt bubble, with colleges given a choice of covering a portion of the debt, along with U.S. taxpayers, or reducing their costs to students. American higher education as a whole is excellent in the height and breadth of its achievements. Reforms to parts of the system can be good if they help higher ed continually evolve to serve the growing and changing U.S. society. Our view 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. WINNERS WILL BE HONORED AT GALA EVENT BY THE U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16th 2016 AT CIPRIANI WALL STREET, NEW YORK. NEW YORK, Aug 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA) invites media worldwide to submit entries for its 21st annual UNCA Awards for the best print, broadcast (TV & Radio) and online, web-based media coverage of the United Nations, U.N. agencies and field operations. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160428/361260LOGO The prizes amount to over $60,000 to be distributed among the prize categories and winners. Deadline for submissions is September 1, 2016 The awards are open to all journalists anywhere in the world. The Awards are: 1. The Elizabeth Neuffer Memorial Prize, sponsored by the Alexander Bodini Foundation, for written media (including online media). The prize is for print and online coverage of the U.N. and U.N. agencies, named in honor of Elizabeth Neuffer, The Boston Globe bureau chief at the U.N., who died while on an assignment in Baghdad in 2003. 2. The Ricardo Ortega Memorial Prize for broadcast (TV & Radio) media. The prize is for broadcast coverage of the U.N. and U.N. agencies, named in honor of Ricardo Ortega, formerly the New York correspondent for Antena 3 TV of Spain, who died while on an assignment in Haiti in 2004. 3. The Prince Albert II of Monaco and UNCA Global Prize for Climate Change. The prize is for print (including online media) and broadcast media (TV & Radio) for coverage of climate change, biodiversity, and water. 4. The United Nations Foundation Prize. The prize is for print (including online media) and broadcast media (TV & Radio) for coverage of humanitarian and development aspects of the U.N. and U.N. agencies. IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS: Coverage of the U.N. and U.N. agencies is specified in each category; the committee welcomes coverage of all issues particularly on the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, peacekeeping operations and nonproliferation, including the elimination of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. Work in print, broadcast (TV & Radio) and online coverage must be published between September 2015 and August 2016. The judges will look for entries with impact, insight and originality, and will take into account the courage and investigative and reporting skills of the journalists. Entries from the developing world media are particularly welcome. Entries can be submitted in any of the official U.N. languages (English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, and Russian). A written transcript in English or French will facilitate the judging process. Each candidate can submit to no more than two (2) prize categories, with a maximum of three (3) stories in each. Joint entries are accepted. Electronic files and web links uploaded to the online Entry Form are required . HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY: Entries are submitted online by completing the UNCA Awards Entry Form. On the first page, please complete your personal information and bio and upload your photo, then proceed to submit your work electronically by including web links and or/uploading files directly to the Entry Form. ** Electronic entries are mandatory ** All entries must be received by September 1st, 2016 For Questions regarding UNCA Awards & entries please contact: The UNCA Office, 1-212-963-7137. Or send an email to uncaawards@unca.com CLICK ON THE ENTRY FORM BELOW TO GET STARTED: ENTRY FORM http://unca.com/unca-awards-call-for-submissions-form/ UNCA Awards Committee : Giampaolo Pioli (UNCA President), Carole Landry (UNCA Treasurer), Nabil Abi Saab, Valeria Robecco, Seana Magee, Emoke Bebiak, Sherwin Bryce-Pease, Olga Denisova, Zhenqiu Gu, Sylviane Zehil, Bouchra Benyoussef, J. Tuyet Nguyen, Richard Roth. SOURCE United Nations Correspondents Association KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Asia Plantation Capital Berhad (APCB), is pleased to announce that it has become the first dedicated agarwood plantation company in Asia to receive regulatory approval from Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia (SSM - Companies Commission of Malaysia) for its Malaysia-based investment scheme. SSM is a statutory body in Malaysia that regulates companies and businesses, and is the country's leading authority for the improvement of corporate governance, and compliance with businesses registration and corporate legislation. As an enforcement body, SSM lays down stringent guidelines, and after a thorough audit by Agrinexus International -- Malaysia's leading management services company for the agriculture sector -- Asia Plantation Capital Berhad's regulatory approval has now been confirmed. The approval is important for APCB and all its stakeholders, as it not only maintains the integrity of the industry and the investment sector, but also provides security and peace of mind for both current and potential clients. Steve Watts, CEO of Asia Plantation Capital Berhad commented, "This comes as a significant step forward for us as a company, and indeed the agarwood plantation industry as a whole. The approval further strengthens our position as a global leader, and allows us to provide our services to regulated investment funds, individuals and institutional investors, all of whom can now have the comfort of knowing that we have gone through a rigorous audit and approval process by Malaysia's foremost financial regulator." "It also paves the way for our ambitious expansion and investment programmes in Malaysia," he continued, "and follows up our recently signed joint venture with Tunku Temenggong Johor's, Johor Motorsports, as well as agreements we have already reached to manage plantations with Eco BlackGold. Expansion plans are also underway for our existing factory in Johor, and we are also looking at a major investment into new agarwood plantations in the very near future." Watts concluded, "As part of the company's commitment to investing in local communities, we are aiming to supply our knowledge and expertise by introducing an 'outgrower' programme with local farms, smaller growers, and fellow plantation operators, and in return, offer a fixed price for their current, mature trees. We can also assist them by providing access to the processing facilities at our factories." Asia Plantation Capital Berhad has already established itself as a world leader in agarwood plantation management and the production of 100% pure, organic Oud oil -- a fact not lost on the fragrance world. APCB supplies its sustainably sourced Oud to Fragrance Du Bois -- a young, innovative perfume house whose range of Oud-inspired products have created quite a stir on the international market, and whose pace of expansion appears to be matching that of Asia Plantation Capital. "Obtaining regulatory approval from a body as prestigious and well-respected as the Companies Commission of Malaysia is extremely helpful to the development of our company and what we are striving to achieve as an organisation," said Steve Watts in signing off. "It's excellent news for both us and our investors, and is a testament to the efforts we have put in to create only the finest products, embracing the best, ethical business practices, and with every respect to the environment in which we must all live and work." Note to editors: For further information, please contact: Samantha Tham PR & Marketing Executive, Asia Plantation Capital Email: samantha.tham@asiaplantationcapital.com Tel: +65-6222-3386 About Asia Plantation Capital Berhad APCB is part of the Asia Plantation Capital Group, which is one of the world's fastest growing plantation management companies, leading the way in sapling cultivation, forestry growth, pioneering inoculation methods, harvesting techniques, distillation methods and product processing, while bringing important economic benefits to local communities. About Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia (SSM) SSM is the Companies Commission of Malaysia, formed in April 2002 after a merger between the Registrar of Companies (ROC) and the Registrar of Businesses (ROB). It serves as an agency to incorporate companies and register businesses, and provides both company and business information to the Malaysian public. SSM comprehensively enforces business registration and corporate legislation compliance, and is responsible for monitoring all activities and developments in Malaysia's corporate and business sectors. Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20160824/8521605349-a Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20160824/8521605349-b Related Links http://www.asiaplantationcapital.com SOURCE Asia Plantation Capital BASINGSTOKE, England, August 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Capita Healthcare Decisions, in partnership with China's National Health and Development Research Centre (CNHDRC) and the International Decision Support Initiative (iDSI), has successfully won funding from the UK Government to support healthcare development in China. The Prosperity Fund, a cross-government initiative managed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), is a 1.3 billion fund to promote the economic reform and development needed for growth in eligible partner countries over the next five years. Funding is being received by a number of providers. In China the project has six objectives consistent with the Fund's global goal of promoting reform and growth - including a focus on healthcare. The strategic partnership between Capita, CNHDRC and the iDSI (which is led by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) International), will enable extensive skill sharing and strategic guidance, allowing Chinese healthcare to achieve benefits and improvements in a number of areas. As part of this, Capita will use its 16 years of experience to guide Chinese healthcare organisations on the use of clinical content. As well as its widely used and accredited specialist clinical teletriage algorithms, and patient focused web based clinical algorithms, Capita's internal clinical editorial team - supported by an extensive network of external experts - can create or update tailored clinical content to meet clients' requirements. Insight will also be given on the capability to make this content digitally dynamic using Capita's Decision Management System (DMS) technology and Patient Relationship Management System, Salus, built on Microsoft Dynamics CRM. This strategic relationship between three leading authorities in healthcare policy and healthcare technology, with particular strengths in emerging markets, will set the foundations for transformed healthcare delivery. Dr Charles Young, chief medical officer at Capita Healthcare Decisions, said: "Our relationship with iDSI and CNHDRC is extremely exciting, both strategically and in a practical way. Working closely with these partners enables us to functionalise high level strategic guidance, and so enable healthcare providers to directly improve health outcomes globally." Notes to editors More information on the Prosperity Fund can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cross-government-prosperity-fund-programme/cross-government-prosperity-fund-update SOURCE Capita Healthcare Decisions - Just one in four UK drivers (26%) expects to be served by the insurance industry as it stands today if they owned a driverless car and 31% expect cover to become cheaper - Technology poses major scope for insurance disruption with 16% of UK drivers believing their needs will be met by new market entrants and 8% believing driverless cars will make insurance in its current form obsolete - Technology faces challenges in adoption; safety, specifically in higher risk driving situations such as wet weather and heavy traffic, is the key issue for car manufacturers to overcome LONDON, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The development of driverless cars could pose challenges for the insurance industry, according to a new study by LexisNexis Risk Solutions, with only 26% of UK drivers expecting their insurance cover in a driverless future to be provided by the industry as it stands today. Nearly a third of UK drivers (31%) also expect it to be provided at a lower price. This means, the industry will need to consider how to remain relevant and profitable as technology evolves. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160120/324390LOGO The technology behind driverless cars still faces significant barriers to overcome in terms of public attitudes. The majority (50%) of UK drivers view driverless cars as a good idea, yet this is set against close to a quarter (23%) who see driverless cars as offering more drawbacks than benefits. There is also a minority (14%) who do not see any benefits whatsoever. Safety is the main stumbling point for public opinion, despite human error causing nearly all (94%) road accidents1. UK drivers are split with 31% anticipating an improvement in safety, set against 29% who expect the roads to be more unsafe. The key drawbacks cited by consumers today are trust in the reliability of the driverless technology (58%), its ability to respond to behavioural cues outside of ordinary driving, such as instructions from road workers (53%), drivers losing skills through lack of practice (52%), performance in bad weather (45%) and the potential impact of job losses in sectors employing drivers, such as logistics or public and private transport (42%). Bill McCarthy, Managing Director, UK and Ireland Insurance, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, said, "Driverless cars as a mainstream choice are still some way off in technology terms, but it is also clear that there's a gulf to be crossed in terms of consumer opinion. Some of this is almost certainly a lack of familiarity and this may diminish as vehicles become more autonomous overtime, but it is evident that genuine concerns around safety and ethics exist. Tackling these concerns and communicating benefits has to be a focus for manufacturers we know, for example, that cars built today with autonomous emergency braking are significantly less likely to kill or injure than cars only a few years older, but is this message reaching consumers and is it being applied to the future of driverless cars? Our research suggests not." The study also reveals that the technology will likely face obstacles from the driver, with 42% believing that drivers will be reluctant to give up control over the route, speed or how the car manoeuvres. Also important is the loss of the driving experience itself, often a key feature of car advertising and cited by 39% of respondents. Consumers are aware of the potential benefits, however, with 39% citing a reduction in traffic accidents with a computer able to make a faster and safer reaction than a human driver, 38% seeing a resulting benefit from lower insurance premiums as claims fall, whilst 37% and 33% cite a reduction in the stress of driving and a reduction in traffic jams and congestion respectively. For the insurance industry, the future poses challenges and the scope for disruption is present, with nearly one in ten consumers (8%) believing that coverage simply will no longer be needed and 16% expecting their insurance to be provided by a business currently outside of the industry, for example, directly from the car manufacturer. This means that the industry must ensure it stays relevant as technology continues to evolve. "For the insurance industry, significant disruption lies ahead. The successful motor insurer of the future, in our view, will be the one that is today seeking to understand how underwriting can keep up with or even pioneer the new car and data technologies, such as telematics, that are already revolutionizing the sector. We believe the future for the sector is bright, but that the industry is best served through adaption and learning from the technologies and capabilities available today," concluded McCarthy. Notes to editors Methodology All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from a poll carried out on behalf of LexisNexis Risk Solutions by Consumer Intelligence on a nationally representative survey of 1,314 insured drivers and policy decision makers aged 18 and over living in the UK. The online survey was conducted in July 2015. About LexisNexis Risk Solutions LexisNexis Risk Solutions (http://www.lexisnexis.com/risk/) is a leader in providing essential information that helps customers across industries and government predict, assess and manage risk. Combining cutting-edge technology, unique data and advanced analytics, LexisNexis Risk Solutions provides products and services that address evolving client needs in the risk sector while upholding the highest standards of security and privacy. LexisNexis Risk Solutions is part of RELX Group plc, a world-leading provider of information solutions for professional customers across industries. For more information on LexisNexis Risk Solutions, visit: http://www.lexisnexis.com/risk/uk/insurance/. 1 https://www.abi.org.uk/News/News-releases/2016/01/Clearing-the-way-for-driverless-cars-an-insurance-commitment Related Links http://lexisnexis.com SOURCE LexisNexis Risk Solutions NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- J.F. Lehman & Company ("JFLCO") is pleased to announce that it has signed a definitive agreement with Oldenburg Group Incorporated to acquire its Heavy Equipment Group, including both its defense and mining business units. In a return to its roots dating back to 1858, the new company will be named Lake Shore Systems, Inc. ("Lake Shore" or the "Company"). The acquisition will represent JFLCO's 25th sponsored platform investment since the firm's inception. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20091221/NY29520LOGO Lake Shore designs, engineers, manufactures and supports complex, heavy equipment systems to meet mission critical requirements in harsh operating environments, including large deck handling equipment, access and lifting systems for U.S. Government vessels and customized underground mining equipment for mine owners and operators around the world. The Company operates from facilities in Rhinelander, WI, Iron River, MI, Kingsford, MI, and Ontonagon, MI as well as other sales and service sites in the U.S. and Mexico. Alex Harman, Partner at JFLCO, stated, "We are pleased to have Lake Shore join our expanding portfolio of defense, maritime and aerospace companies. They are an excellent fit with our investment strategy given their leading market positions, long-standing customer relationships and outstanding workforce. In today's marine and mining marketplace, the need for specialized, high-quality, safe, and cost-effective solutions is growing, and Lake Shore offers a full-range of products and aftermarket services to meet this demand. We look forward to working with the management team to grow the business organically and through complementary add-on acquisitions." The transaction is expected to close later in 2016. About J.F. Lehman & Company, Inc. Founded in 1992, J.F. Lehman & Company is a leading middle-market private equity firm focused exclusively on the defense, aerospace, and maritime sectors. The firm has offices in New York and Washington. For more information about J.F. Lehman & Company, please visit www.jflpartners.com. Related Links http://www.jflpartners.com SOURCE J.F. Lehman & Company The acquisition of Ciber Norway complements the organic growth of ManpowerGroup's own professional resourcing and project-based workforce solutions arm, Experis, and will help meet growing demand in the IT sector. Ciber Norway's business, including 130 employees, will transition over to ManpowerGroup when the deal is expected to close later this month, pending regulatory approval. This acquisition builds on ManpowerGroup's already strong presence in Norway. Since opening its first office there in 1952, ManpowerGroup has diversified its business across four brandsManpower, Experis, ManpowerGroup Solutions and Right Managementnow spanning thirty locations and finding work for more than 20,000 people in Norway each year. Ciber Norway brings with it ten years of IT industry expertise. "We're pleased to announce this acquisition that continues to build on the strength of our Experis business in Norway and further accelerates our strategy to shift our business mix towards higher value and professional services," said Maalfrid Brath, Managing Director ManpowerGroup Norway. "As clients across every sector continue to invest in rapidly changing technology and upgrade their capabilities, ManpowerGroup is well-equipped to deliver the best talent and provide in-demand skills at all levels of the IT market." "The sale of Norway follows our strategy to create a much more focused and simplified company as we have announced," said Ciber President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Boustridge. "We are pleased to have found a high-quality home for our Norway business with ManpowerGroup/Experis. As a strategic buyer with local operations, we believe they will provide a seamless transition and great continuity and service to our customers and our employees." About ManpowerGroup ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN) is the world's workforce expert, creating innovative workforce solutions for nearly 70 years. As workforce experts, we connect more than 600,000 people to meaningful work across a wide range of skills and industries every day. Through our ManpowerGroup family of brands Manpower, Experis, Right Management and ManpowerGroup Solutions we help more than 400,000 clients in 80 countries and territories address their critical talent needs, providing comprehensive solutions to resource, manage and develop talent. In 2016, ManpowerGroup was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the sixth consecutive year and one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies, confirming our position as the most trusted and admired brand in the industry. See how ManpowerGroup makes powering the world of work humanly possible: www.manpowergroup.com. About Experis Experis is the global leader in professional resourcing and project-based solutions. Experis accelerates organizations' growth by attracting, assessing and placing specialized expertise in IT, Finance and Engineering to deliver in-demand talent for mission-critical positions and projects, enhancing the competitiveness of the organizations and people we serve. Experis is part of the ManpowerGroup family of companies, which also includes Manpower, ManpowerGroup Solutions and Right Management. To learn more, visit www.experis.com. About Ciber, Inc. Ciber is a global IT consulting company with approximately 6,000 employees in North America, Europe and Asia/Pacific. Ciber partners with organizations to develop technology strategies and solutions that deliver tangible business value. Founded in 1974, the company trades on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CBR). For more information, visit www.ciber.com and follow us on Twitter , LinkedIn , Facebook , Google Plus and our blog . Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements related to ManpowerGroup, Ciber Norway, and the potential benefits of the acquisition, including statements regarding timing of closing and results of the proposed transaction. Actual events or results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements due to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks associated with: ManpowerGroup's ability to successfully integrate Ciber Norway; execution of plans and strategies; the inability to successfully complete the transaction, and other important factors that could cause results of the acquisition and related transactions to differ materially from the forward-looking statements detailed in ManpowerGroup's public filings with the SEC, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. ManpowerGroup disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking or other statements in this release, except as required by law. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to Ciber's operations, results of operations and other matters that are based on Ciber's current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections. Words, such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "may," "opportunity," "plan," "positioned," "potential," "project," "should," and "will" and similar expressions, are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. For a more detailed discussion of these risks, see the information under the "Risk Factors" heading in Ciber's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and Ciber's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2016, and other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other than as required by law, Ciber undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements in light of new information or future events. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Contact Scott Kozak Ciber, Global Communications, Investor and Industry Relations 303-967-1379 skozak@ciber.com Sven Fossum Communications Manager ManpowerGroup Norway Mobile: +47 930 24 314 E-mail: sven.fossum@manpowergroup.no http://www.manpowergroup.no/Presse/ Related Links http://www.manpowergroup.com SOURCE ManpowerGroup; Ciber, Inc. LONDON, August 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Market Analysis and Company Profiles Including Abbott Laboratories, Myriad Genetics, Roche, Qiagen, Agilent Technologies, Siemens, Johnson & Johnson and Other Companies in the US, Europe, Israel, India, Canada and South Korea, Exploring Those Diagnostic Products for Personalised Medicine and Partnerships With Pharmaceutical Developers Companion Diagnostics - Discover Leading Companies' Activities and Outlooks How are companies in the companion diagnostics (CDx) industry performing? Visiongain's new report gives you data, analysis and discussions for producers of those medical devices. Our study lets you assess top companies in that industry and market, showing you their activities and outlooks. There you see financial results, opinion, trends, opportunities and revenue prediction for those developments in biomarkers, genomics, targeted therapies, theranostics and personalised medicine. That way you explore the potentials of established and rising companies. Please read on to scan those 17 leading competitors and see what their future market could be worth. Forecasts and discussions to help you stay ahead in knowledge and authority Our new study assesses 17 leading companies and analyses that overall market. There you find sales results, revenue forecasting and growth rates. In our 166 page report you get 34 tables, 23 charts and an interview with MedGenome. You also gain qualitative analyses, including discussion of research and development. Our work lets you assess the most beneficial and lucrative applications of those diagnostic tests for advancing human medicine, making it more personalised. Discover what is happening. To see a report overview please email Sara Peerun on sara.peerun@visiongainglobal.com Company profiles - see why firms succeed, also exploring their potentials Our report profiles 17 leading companies worldwide. Our investigation discusses prominent companies, exploring their activities by: Analysing companion diagnostic product portfolios and technologies Investigating the status of commercial developments Assessing R&D and applications for those medical devices Uncovering organisations' strengths, weaknesses, activities, strategies and prospects Giving qualitative analyses and revenue forecasting of the overall world companion diagnostics market from 2016 to 2026. Our survey shows you how technology changes, as well as explaining how diagnostic needs develop from 2016. Assess the rising demand for companion diagnostic products. Prospects for US-based developers, manufacturers and marketers Chapter 4 profiles companion diagnostic manufacturers based in the United States. Leading companies profiled there are these seven organisations: Abbott Laboratories Myriad Genetics Genomic Health Thermo Fisher Scientific Johnson & Johnson LabCorp Illumina. There you discover what the future holds, seeing how companies compare and compete. Suppliers and users of companion diagnostic systems will benefit from 2016. Outlooks for European manufacturers of those diagnostic medical devices Chapter 5 profiles companion diagnostic manufacturers based in Europe. Leading companies profiled there are these six firms: Roche Qiagen Agilent Technologies bioMerieux Siemens MDxHealth. Many opportunities remain, with expanding revenues likely from 2016 to 2026. Discover what is possible, seeing how you could gain. Potentials of developers and producers in the rest of the world Chapter 6 profiles companion diagnostic manufacturers based in the rest of the world. Leading companies profiled there are these four organisations: MedGenome Diagnocure Seegene Savyon Diagnostics. Our work shows you possibilities for improving those technologies and raising sales, harnessing biopharmaceuticals, gene technologies and targeted therapies, including personalised medicine. See what the present and future hold, finding how you could gain. Forces affecting the companion diagnostics industry - what shapes its present and future? Our report discusses pressures, opportunities and other events affecting that industry and market from 2016, including these influences: Biomarker discovery and technologies including genomics, pharmacogenomics, proteomics and metabolomics Laboratory developed tests (LDT) Theranostics - the fastest growing segment of the CDx market Partnerships and other deals, including M&A and collaborations with pharma companies including Eli Lilly, AstraZeneca, Merck, GSK, Pfizer and Novartis Applications in cancer therapy and other therapeutic fields Regulations for companion diagnostic tests - opportunities and challenges. With our analysis you assess that industry's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. See what is happening and how to gain. That way you explore what restricts and stimulates companies developing, producing, marketing and selling those diagnostic tools. Value of that market in 2020 - what sales growth is possible? Our investigation predicts overall world revenues for companion diagnostic tests will reach $10.52bn in 2020. Those sales will rise further to 2026, showing strong revenue growth. Many opportunities exist for companies large and small as personalised medicine expands. Ways Medical Device Leader Series: Top Companion Diagnostics (CDx) Developers, Manufacturers and Marketers in 2016 helps your work In particular our new study gives you this knowledge to benefit your research, analyses, plans and presentations: Profiles of 17 leading companion diagnostic companies - assess their products, technologies, partnerships, R&D and results Forecasted revenue to 2026 for that overall market at world level - discover expected sales rises for companion diagnostic products, finding the gains possible Competition and opportunities - explore what affects that industry, assessing forces influencing its sales and determining its future Opinion from an interview with a leading company - gain information to help you stay ahead in knowledge, benefiting your reputation for commercial insight. That new study, by our in-house analysts in the UK, has the purpose of helping your work. There you gain data and discussions you find nowhere else, helping you succeed. Independent analysis to benefit your authority on companion diagnostics Our work gives independent analysis. There you receive competitive intelligence found only in that report, seeing where technological and financial prospects are most promising. With our study you are less likely to fall behind in knowledge or miss opportunity. See how you could help your research, analyses and decisions, also saving time and benefiting your authority. Explore that industry's future, seeing what is possible and how you could gain. Our new investigation is for everyone analysing companion diagnostic tests and associated medical products. There you find data, trends, opportunities and forecasts. Avoid missing out. Instead benefit in knowledge and influence by getting our report here now. To see a report overview please email Sara Peerun on sara.peerun@visiongainglobal.com To request a report overview of this report please emails Sara Peerun at sara.peerun@visiongainglobal.com or call Tel: +44 (0) 20 7336 6100 Or click on https://www.visiongain.com/Report/1715/Medical-Device-Leader-Series-Top-Companion-Diagnostics-(CDx)-Developers-Manufacturers-and-Marketers-in-2016 Organisations Mentioned in the Report Abbott Laboratories AbbVie Alere ARCA Biopharma ARGENE AstraZeneca Bayer Beckman Coulter BioMarin Pharmaceutical bioMerieux Biocartis Biomonitor Boehringer Ingelheim Brain Resource Company Bristol-Myers Squibb CancerGuide Diagnostics Caprion Proteomics Caris Life Sciences Celldex Therapeutics Cellestis Cephalon Cepheid Clearstone Central Laboratories Clinical Reference Laboratory CompanDX Compendia Bioscience Crescendo Bioscience Curidium Medica Dako DiagnoCure DxS Eli Lilly Endocyte Epitomics Exosome Diagnostics Explera Flagship Biosciences Foundation Medicine Genfit GenMark Diagnostics Genomic Health Genzyme Genetics GlaxoSmithKline HistologiX Hologic Ibis Biosciences InDex Pharmaceuticals Invivoscribe Technologies Ipsen Ipsogen Johnson & Johnson Knome Lab21 LabCorp Laboratory for Personalized Molecular Medicine Life Technologies MDxHealth Medco Health Sciences MedGenome Merck MolecularMD Monogram Biosciences Myriad Genetics Nanosphere Navigenics Oncomed Opko Health Oxford BioTherapeutics Pfizer PharmaMar Progenika Biopharma Prometheus QIAGEN Quest Diagnostics Quintiles Transnational Corporation Randox Pharma Services RiboMed Biotechnologies Roche SABioscience Corporation Saladax Biomedical Siemens Signal Genetics Sirius Genomics Skyline Diagnostics STARLIMS Technologies SterilMed Synthes Takeda Target Discovery TcLand Expression Theranostics (NZ) Theranostics Health TIB MolBiol Tocagen Tragara Pharmaceuticals Transgene Transgenomic TrimGen Corporation Unilabs ViiV Healthcare Weisenthal Cancer Group Zinfandel To see a report overview please email Sara Peerun on sara.peerun@visiongainglobal.com SOURCE Visiongain Ltd SINGAPORE, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- - Target is more than four times the US$49.6 million generated in FY2016 Just over a year after it started operations, International Energy Group ("IEG"), a wholly owned subsidiary of New Silkroutes Group ("NSG" or "the Group"), said today it is on track to generate more than US$225 million in revenue by the end of its current financial year ending 30 June 2017 ("FY2017"). That will mark the Group's highest revenue in more than a decade. NSG, previously known as Digiland International Limited, had achieved revenue that exceeded US$200 million 12 years ago in FY2004, as a distributor of consumer IT products. NSG no longer distributes such products, and is evolving into an investment holding company with businesses in energy and resources, infocomm technology, healthcare and fund management. IEG currently accounts for most of NSG's revenue. Headquartered in Singapore, IEG commenced operations in June last year as an oil and gas trader. It has since grown rapidly despite the worst slump in oil prices in recent history. For the 12 months from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016 ("FY2016"), IEG generated revenue of US$49.6 million, of which US$32.6 million was achieved in the final quarter, US$9.5 million from January to March, US$5.8 million from October to December and the rest from July to September. It eked out a modest profit at its inception and ended the financial year in the black as revenue swelled. Building on its growth momentum, IEG expects revenue to exceed US$225 million in the current financial year. This will be driven by new credit facilities the company recently obtained from several international banks. Mr Artun Gursel, book leader for IEG, said: "We are not affected by the collapse in oil prices or the global glut in oil as we are asset-light with zero corporate debt. We earn a margin by adding value in the way we secure supplies and deliver to buyers. The entire process is carried out in the most efficient way possible. Low oil prices and the excess supply of oil work to our advantage as we can handle more volume and trade more cost effectively." Aligning itself with China's "One Belt One Road" policy, IEG initially targeted buyers mainly in Southeast Asia, North Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Its counterparties include oil majors and national oil companies. It has since started trading in China and Europe and intends to further expand its geographical reach. IEG also expects to eventually manage and own oil storage facilities in Asia and Europe. As announced in May 2015, IEG has a joint venture with the government of Malta to develop the Southern European island into an energy trading hub between the two continents. About New Silkroutes Group Limited New Silkroutes Group (Bloomberg: NSG SP) is a Singapore-incorporated company (established on 25 Jan 1994) listed on the Mainboard of Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Ltd (SGX). It is evolving into an investment holding company with core competencies in Capabilities Enablement, Capital Allocation, and (Policy) Analysis. The group, through its subsidiaries and associate companies, has exposure to key sector verticals, including Energy/Resources, Healthcare, and Infocomm Technology with a focus on Security & Governance. About International Energy Group Pte Ltd Founded in August 2014, International Energy Group (IEG) is an oil and gas company headquartered in Singapore. IEG is a 100% subsidiary of New Silkroutes Group Limited, and comprises several affiliated companies wholly or partially owned. One of these companies, IEG Malta Limited, headquartered in Malta, is a joint venture between IEG and the Maltese Government. IEG also manages a network of wholesalers with distribution channels in South Korea, Vietnam and other countries in Asia. For enquiries, please contact: New Silkroutes Group Limited Email: ipr@newsilkroutes.org WeR1Consultants Pte Ltd 3 Phillip Street, #12-01, Royal Group Building Singapore 048693 Tel: (65) 6737 4844 Frankie Ho -- frankieho@wer1.net SOURCE New Silkroutes Group Limited DUBLIN, August 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Middle East & Africa UPS Market By kVA Range, By End User, By Country, Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2011-2021" report to their offering. The UPS systems market in Middle East & Africa (MEA) is projected to register sales of 4.2 million units by 2021 due to increasing penetration of new technology & systems, rising internet penetration and expanding trade & tourism sector. Increasing investments into the IT sector in Middle East & Africa (MEA) is resulting in growth in demand for UPS systems in the region. Saudi Arabia and UAE dominate the region's UPS market on account of increasing requirement for continuous power supply, so as to avoid huge productivity losses in diverse end-use segments. Less than 5kVA UPS segment is projected to witness significant growth in the coming years due to increasing penetration of ATMs, shifting consumer demographics and growing presence of modern retail outlets in countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Africa and Egypt. Number of internet users in MEA escalated from 351.8 million in 2013 to 416.9 million in 2015 and is further projected to cross 600 million over the next five years, which is anticipated to boost demand for UPS systems through 2021. Moreover, cloud computing technology segment in the MEA region has been growing at a significant pace, particularly in Saudi Arabia, and the segment is further anticipated to further grow on account of increase in number of firms using cloud services and rising investments on network & desktop outsourcing. This trend is expected to augment need for storing and protecting huge amount of data, thereby fueling growth in the region's UPS systems market. Emerson Network Power is expected to continue its leadership position in Middle East & Africa UPS market, followed by APC by Schneider Electric and Eaton Corporation Plc. Recent Trends & Developments Rising Influence of Locally Available Low Price Products Trending Green Storage Technologies Modular UPS Systems Replacing Centralized UPS Systems Rising Demand for Green UPS Systems Growing Use of Complete Power Solutions Increasing Demand from SMBs and Service Sectors Key Topics Covered: 1. Product Overview 2. Research Methodology 3. Analyst View 4. Middle East & Africa UPS Market Outlook 5. Middle East & Africa UPS Market Attractiveness Index 6. Middle East & Africa UPS (Less than 5kVA) Market Outlook 7. Middle East & Africa UPS (5.1kVA-20kVA) Market Outlook 8. Middle East & Africa UPS (20.1kVA-60kVA) Market Outlook 9. Middle East & Africa UPS (60.1kVA-200kVA) Market Outlook 10. Middle East & Africa UPS (Above 200kVA) Market Outlook 11. Saudi Arabia UPS Market Outlook 12. UAE UPS Market Outlook 13. South Africa UPS Market Outlook 14. Nigeria UPS Market Outlook 15. Market Dynamics 16. Recent Trends & Developments 17. Competitive Landscape 18. Strategic Recommendations Companies Mentioned AEG Power Solutions AMETEK SolidState Controls Active Power Inc. American Power Conversion Corporation Eaton Corporation PLC Emerson Network Power, Inc. GemNet Gulf LLC Rittal Middle East FZE Socomec Middle East Tripp Lite For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/34d3xk/middle_east_and Related Topics: Electricity Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com SOURCE Research and Markets Company Celebrates by Launching New Direct Shipping Option and Improved Line of Customer Service SHENZHEN, China, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- 5 years ago the executives of SammyDress saw a huge hole in the fashion e-commerce niche. At the time consumers had to pick between high quality products and cheap prices. This resulted in some customers getting low quality products to save some money. SammyDress launched to mediate this issue specifically in the dress niche. Over the last 5 years the company has been able to readily adapt and has grown a huge fan base. Today in celebration with the 5 year anniversary SammyDress is proud to announce the launch of direct shipping. This new shipping method will cost a fraction of express shipping while producing similar delivery speeds. SammyDress is a subsidiary of Globalegrow and sister site of Zaful and Rosegal. SammyDress customers have come to know the company as offering affordable products at high quality, however many have asked for better delivery options. Customers shop at SammyDress to save money so paying for express shipping was often not an option. The company has been working for the last 5 years and recently changed this. The new direct shipping option is now available. Major western countries from around the globe will now have the option to buy products with express delivery speeds at snail mail prices. This is a huge step forward for SammyDress and the company is one of the few in the fashion e-commerce industry to offer such a service. With the introduction of direct shipping SammyDress is expecting a large intake of new customers. To be ready for them SammyDress has hired and trained many more customer service representatives along with updating service guidelines. Customers support will now be better than ever and will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Customer satisfaction is guaranteed at SammyDress and if any customer has a problem with an order or has question before a transaction the customer service team is available to help. These new changes are already being seen as a positive for customers, customers are already flooding the site with positive feedback about the care the customer care team gives. This should show new customers that SammyDress is a brand to be trusted, and one that cares about the well beings of its shoppers. Related Links http://www.sammydress.com SOURCE SammyDress Announced in May this year, the "O2O2O Solution", or "Online to Offline to Online Solution" is the sourcing system, service, and product jointly developed by UBM and Alibaba B2B under their strategic alliance which began in December 2015. SIGN and LED CHINA 2016, which will take place 19-22 September at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC), will be the culmination of the two companies' collaboration, as the O2O2O Solution makes its debut. Synergies between the offline world of face-to-face trade exhibitions and the online world of search and transactions can already be seen in the collaboration between Alibaba B2B and the SIGN & LED CHINA fairs organised by UBM Trust. For the first time in trade fairs anywhere, exhibiting companies have been given an additional digitally-supercharged marketing experience in the form of added promotional campaigns, business matchmaking opportunities and services, and a robust online company and product showroom through the O2O2O Sourcing System with transaction capabilities. Compared to a traditional "brick & mortar-only" exhibiting experience, exhibitors of SIGN and LED CHINA 2016 will be the first to enjoy the benefits of: Complimentary online product and company showrooms through the O2O2O Solution Sourcing System where visitors attending the event and potential Alibaba.com buyers can search, discover, communicate, and even request meetings with these exhibitors ahead of the event where visitors attending the event and potential Alibaba.com buyers can search, discover, communicate, and even request meetings with these exhibitors ahead of the event A complimentary Alibaba.com Trade Assurance programme specially-designed for SIGN and LED exhibitors, running from September through November 2016 , granting buyers who place orders with these exhibitors up to USD $1 million in trade protection , granting buyers who place orders with these exhibitors up to USD in trade protection Online promotions of their products during Alibaba.com's Super September Purchasing online promotional period as well as a focused LED and sign "Product Zone" on 1688.com (serving the domestic B2B market) in September The full range of onsite services at the O2O2O Solution Booth and concierge services Pre-registered visitors and exhibitors to SIGN and LED CHINA 2016 have all received an invitation to participate in the O2O2O Solution Sourcing System where they can search for best fit suppliers, buyers, and partners. Within the first week of the invitations going out, several hundred meeting requests have already been made. This online business match-making experience will come full circle onsite at SIGN and LED CHINA where visitors and exhibitors can make use of the 200+ sqm O2O2O Solution Booth which encompasses an experiential solution demonstration area, a VIP meeting lounge with private meeting rooms, and a dedicated O2O2O Solution Concierge team to help facilitate onsite interpretation and business match-making. To stay up-to-date or learn how to participate, please visit: http://www.signchina-sh.com http://www.ledchina-sh.com Contacts Christine Chen Ben Veechai Marketing Manager Regional Director International Marketing UBM Trust Co Ltd. UBM Asia Ltd T: +86-20-3810-6261 x 866 T: +852-2516-1691 E: chrsitine.chen@ubm.com E: ben.veechai@ubm.com About UBM Trust (www.ubmtrust.com) UBM Trust is a joint venture company of UBM Asia, which is owned by UBM plc listed on the London Stock Exchange. We have extensive experience in organizing large-scale exhibitions covering different industries in China, as well as organizing Chinese enterprises to participate in famous fairs abroad. Our flagship events serve the sign and LED industries. Among the definitive exhibitions of their kind in the world, these two events have become an important catalyst for the development and upgrading of China's sign and LED industries, offering a comprehensive one-stop trading platform for exhibitors and visitors. We take pride in providing professional high-quality service s to our customers. About UBM Asia (www.ubmasia.com) Owned by UBM plc, UBM Asia is the largest trade show organizer in Asia and the largest commercial organizer in China, India and Malaysia. Established with its headquarters in Hong Kong and subsidiary companies across Asia and in the US, UBM Asia has a strong global network of 32 offices and 1,300 staffs in 24 major cities. We operate in 19 market sectors with 230 events, 28 trade publications, 18 online products for over 2,000,000 quality exhibitors, visitors, conference delegates, advertisers and subscribers from all over the world. Related Links http://www.ubmtrust.com SOURCE UBM Trust HOLON, Israel, August 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Telematics Wireless Chosen to Provide Street Lighting Management Solution Telematics Wireless (Telematics), a leader in smart city control applications, has announced that its smart city technology has been selected for use in a new control and monitoring solution for 132,500 street lights in the City of Montreal, Canada. As part of a C$28 million contract awarded to engineering consultants Energere for the supply and installation of an intelligent street lighting management solution, Telematics' solution will include its 7-pin external Lighting Control Units (LCUs) and internal LCUs that will control the operation of the lighting fixtures. Energere, who intend to provide comprehensive city-wide coverage via multiple smart city networks, has chosen Telematics' T-Light Pro System for its highly robust wireless mesh multi-hop network that utilizes self-healing and cognitive radio algorithms. Telematics' solution for smart city applications enables reliable and secure two-way communications between lighting nodes and the Central Management Software (CMS) via a wireless network that uses a small number of gateways. This energy-saving solution controls lighting levels and monitors the power and energy usage of lightings. Street light outages are detected in real time, thus reducing maintenance costs and enhancing public safety. In addition to monitoring and controlling the street lights, the T-Light communications platform will enable the City of Montreal to implement a vast array of smart city solutions. These solutions include the integration of snow sensors which can notify the public works when the streets need to be cleared of snow; the ability to blink the street lights on specific streets to warn citizens to move their cars for the snow plows; and the use of sensors on water meters to provide meter readings, detect leakage or monitor sewage lines for overflow. "What makes this project unique, is that it successfully combines the solutions of various smart city technologies and companies," said Eddy Kafry, CEO of Telematics Wireless. "Our reputation as a leader in providing smart city and wireless communications solutions has led us to be selected for this large-scale project for the City of Montreal." About Telematics Wireless Telematics Wireless is a recognized global leader in the delivery of outdoor lighting control systems, as well as robust, reliable and advanced energy and water resource management systems based on RF wireless networks. With almost 20 years of experience in Machine-to-Machine technologies, our solutions support a wide spectrum of smart city applications, increasing their efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. The company has deployed tens of thousands of Light Control Units worldwide in dozens of cities. Telematics Wireless has also deployed over 14 million cutting-edge wireless devices and water systems for Automatic Meter Readings, Advanced Metering Infrastructure, energy resource management, smart grid, location-based services, asset tracking, and electronic toll collection. Media Contact: Leora Borgenicht - Telematics Wireless leora.borgenicht@tlmw.com +972-(0)3-557-5700 http://www.telematics-wireless.com SOURCE Telematics Wireless PUNE, India, August 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- MarketReportsOnline.com adds Global Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) Market with Focus on the Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) (2016-2020) research report of 64 pages on the mechanical circulatory support industry to the medical devices intelligence collection of its research store. The Mechanical Circulatory Support industry report further highlights key market figures for Ventricular Assist Device (VAD), which is a key device in the MCS market. Furthermore, the report also assesses the key opportunities in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry. Growth of the overall global MCS market has also been forecasted for the years 2016-2020, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers and the current and future trends. Complete report on mechanical circulatory support (MCS) market spread across 64 pages providing 3 company profiles and 5 tables and 21 figures is now available at http://www.marketreportsonline.com/497686.html. Country Coverage: United States Company Coverage of Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) Market: Thoratec (St. Jude Medical). HeartWare International & ReliantHeart Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs for blood and oxygen. It is a chronic and progressive condition in which the heart cannot keep up with its workload. Treatment alternatives available for the heart failure are: Medical Management, Coronary Angioplasty, Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery, Heart Restraint Devices, LV Reduction Surgery, Total Artificial Heart, Heart Transplant, Intra-aortic Balloon Pumps and Mechanical Circulatory Support. A mechanical circulatory support (MCS) device is designed to take over the pumping function (a part or full) of the heart by mechanically pumping blood into the aorta. In this process, blood is allowed to flow from the left ventricle to the pump chamber via the cannula, which is powered by an electric source outside the body. The report entitled "Global Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) Market with Focus on the Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) (2016-2020)" provides analysis of the global MCS market, with detailed analysis of market size and growth, penetration, market share and economic impact of the industry. The analysis includes the market by value, by volume, by segments, etc. The report also includes the analysis of the United States MCS market by value, by volume, etc. Thoratec (St. Jude Medical), HeartWare International and ReliantHeart are some of the key players operating in the global MCS (Mechanical Circulatory Support) market, whose company profiling has been done in the report. In this segment of the report, business overview, financial overview and business strategies of the companies are provided. MCS (Mechanical Circulatory Support) therapy can be segmented into Chronic MCS and Acute MCS. A ventricular assist device, or VAD, is a mechanical pump used to support heart function and blood flow in people with weak or failing hearts. The VAD treatment for chronic MCS can be divided into Bridge-to-Transplantation (BTT) and Destination Therapy (DT) and in acute MCS, the same can be divided into Post-Cardiotomy Myocardial Recovery Following Cardiac Surgery and Cardiac Surgery Support. The global mechanical circulatory support (MCS) market is expected to increase at significant growth rates during the forecasted period (2016-2020). The global MCS market is supported by various growth drivers, such as, long waiting list for heart transplant treatment, launches of new products, better results of MCS relative to other treatment options etc. Yet, the market faces certain challenges, such as, low awareness, side effects of LVAD, etc. Purchase a copy of this "Global Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) Market with Focus on the Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) (2016-2020)" research report at http://www.marketreportsonline.com/contacts/purchase.php?name=497686. Global LVAD Market Report: The report "Global LVAD Market" provides a comprehensive analysis of the global market for LVAD, global BTT and DT market along with in-depth study of the US market and focus on application area worldwide. The major trends, growth drivers as well as issues being faced by the industry are being presented in this report. The three major players in the industry, Thoratec Corporation, Heartware International Inc. and Abiomed Inc. are being profiled. Explore Latest Daedal Research Market Research Reports at http://www.marketreportsonline.com/publisher/daedal-research-market-research.html. About Us: Market Reports Online comprises of an online library of 250,000 reports and in-depth market research studies of over 5000+ micro markets. We provide 24/7 online and offline support to our customers. Get in touch with us for your needs of market research reports. Contact Us: Ritesh Tiwari UNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZ Magarpatta city, Hadapsar Pune, Maharashtra 411013, India Tel: +1 888 391 5441 E-mail: sales@marketreportsonline.com SOURCE Market Reports Online WASHINGTON, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc., a nonprofit educational organization honoring the achievements of outstanding individuals and encouraging youth to pursue their dreams through higher education, today announced that 16 students from Idaho will receive the prestigious Horatio Alger Lola and Duane Hagadone Scholarship in the amount of $7,000 per recipient. These young men and women are recognized for their admirable commitment to continuing their education and serving their communities, despite facing adversity. Since 2005, Association Member Duane Hagadone and his wife, Lola, have funded the Horatio Alger Lola and Duane Hagadone Scholarship in recognition of Idaho-based students. 321 Idaho Scholars have been awarded more than $1.2 million. The scholarship is open to eligible high school seniors who reside in Benewah, Boundary, Bonner, Kootenai, Latah, or Shoshone counties. To qualify, each student must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0, exhibit financial need and demonstrate perseverance in overcoming personal challenges. Applicants must be planning to attend North Idaho College, Lewis-Clark State College (Coeur d'Alene or Lewiston campuses) or the University of Idaho. "Each year, the students who receive our sponsored scholarship continue to inspire us with their determination, intelligence and drive to succeed," said Mr. Hagadone, Horatio Alger Association Member, Class of 2004. "The 2016 scholarship recipients are committed to pursuing higher education and serving their local communities in our beloved Idaho, despite facing significant challenges along the way. These are the personal characteristics that set them apart from their peers. Lola and I are deeply pleased to support the Association through this scholarship fund, which enables these deserving individuals pursue their dreams." Collectively, the 2016 Horatio Alger State and Specialized Scholarship recipients have maintained an average GPA of 3.6 and an ACT score of 24 while coming from households with an average annual income of $19,116. Scholars have access to a variety of resources including college preparatory support, access to guidance and crisis counselors as well as mentoring programs. "It is through the incredible generosity of Members such as Duane and Lola Hagadone that the Association is able to provide financial and emotional support to such remarkable students each year," said Tony Novelly, chairman, Horatio Alger Association. "Horatio Alger Scholars, including these 16 students from Idaho, exhibit so many admirable qualities and we are proud to support this next generation of leaders in their endeavors." Horatio Alger Association was founded in 1947, and since 1984, it has administered one of the nation's largest privately-funded, need-based scholarship programs. The Association has awarded more than $125 million in undergraduate, graduate and specialized scholarships to students from across the United States (including all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico) and Canada. In 2000, 16 years after the establishment of its National Scholarship Program, Horatio Alger Members began funding scholarships concentrated in each state to further the Association's mission of helping deserving young people pursue their collegiate goals. For a complete list of the 2016 Horatio Alger Lola and Duane Hagadone Scholars, please click here. For more information about Horatio Alger Association please visit https://www.horatioalger.org. To engage on social media, please "Like" the organization on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/HoratioAlgerUS); and "follow" on Twitter (https://twitter.com/HoratioAlgerUS) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/horatioalgerassociation/). About Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans: Founded in 1947, the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc. is dedicated to the simple but powerful belief that hard work, honesty and determination can conquer all obstacles. The Association honors the achievements of outstanding leaders who have accomplished remarkable successes in spite of adversity by bestowing upon them the Horatio Alger Award and inducting them as lifetime Members. Horatio Alger Members support promising young people with the resources and confidence needed to overcome adversity in pursuit of their dreams through higher education. Through the generosity of its Members and friends, the Association awards more than $12 million annually in undergraduate and graduate need-based scholarships across the United States and Canada and provides college support and mentoring services to its Scholars. Since 1984, the Association has awarded more than $125 million in college scholarships to more than 22,000 deserving young people. For more information, please visit www.horatioalger.org. CONTACT: McKenna Young 484-385-2913 (office) [email protected] SOURCE Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc. Related Links http://www.horatioalger.org ABBOTT PARK, Ill., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Abbott (NYSE: ABT) will present at the Wells Fargo 2016 Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016. Brian Yoor, senior vice president, finance and chief financial officer, will present at 7:45 a.m. Central time. A live audio webcast will be accessible through Abbott's Investor Relations website at www.abbottinvestor.com. About Abbott: Abbott is a global healthcare company devoted to improving life through the development of products and technologies that span the breadth of healthcare. With a portfolio of leading, science-based offerings in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic pharmaceuticals, Abbott serves people in more than 150 countries and employs approximately 74,000 people. Visit Abbott at www.abbott.com and connect with us on Twitter at @AbbottNews. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150928/271488LOGO SOURCE Abbott Related Links http://www.abbott.com NEW YORK, Aug. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Report Details Visiongain assesses that the airport security market will reach $9,336m in 2016. Airport security technology is being driven by growth in the commercial air transport market and the need to process increasing passenger numbers without negatively impacting upon the quality of security. Furthermore, new regulations, such as those in Europe that are related to screening, are also set to influence trends related to new technology solutions to replace or upgrade existing measures. It is therefore critical that you have your timescales correct and your forecasting plans ready. This report will ensure that you do. Visiongain's report will ensure that you keep informed and ahead of your competitors. Gain that competitive advantage. The report will answer questions such as: - What are the prospects for the overall airport security industry? - How is the airport security market structured? - What are the primary applications in airport security? - Who are the key players in the airport security industry? - What are the demand and supply dynamics underpinning the airport security sector? - What are the key technologies in airport security? 5 Reasons why you must order and read this report today: 1) The report provides detailed profiles of 12 leading companies operating within the airport security market - American Science & Engineering Inc - Analogic Corporation - Bruker Corporation - CEIA SpA - G4S plc - Implant Sciences Corporation - L-3 Communications Holdings Inc - Morpho SAS - Nuctech Company Ltd - Rapiscan Systems - Securitas AB - Smiths Detection 2) The study reveals where and how companies are investing in airport security. We show you the prospects for the following regions: - Asia Pacific - Europe - North America - Rest of the World 3) The analysis is also underpinned by our exclusive interviews with leading experts - Eric Zanin, Senior Vice President & General Manager for the Security & Detection Systems Business, Analogic Corporation - Amit Mattatia, President & CEO of Opgal Optronics Industries Ltd 4) Our overview also forecasts and analyses these technologies from 2016-2026 - Screening systems - Digital surveillance and monitoring - Perimeter security - Access control 5) Our study also provides details of 229 contracts categorised by the following airport security technologies and by region from 2016-2026 - Screening systems - Digital surveillance and monitoring - Perimeter security - Access control - Asia Pacific - Europe - North America - Rest of the World Competitive advantage This independent, 429 page report, guarantees that you will remain better informed than your competitors. With 355 tables and figures examining the baggage handling systems market space, the report gives you an immediate, one-stop breakdown of your market. Net profit and capital expenditure forecasts, as well as analysis, from 2016-2026 keeps your knowledge that one step ahead of your rivals. Who should read this report? - Anyone involved with the airport security industry - CEO's - COO's - CIO's - Business development managers - Marketing managers - Technologists - Engineers - Suppliers - Investors - Banks - Government agencies - Contractors - Airport operators - Airlines - Airline ground operations management / executives - Ground handling companies - Baggage handling systems OEMs and system integrators - R&D personnel How will you benefit from this report? - This report you will keep your knowledge base up to speed. Don't get left behind - This report will allow you to reinforce strategic decision decision-making based upon definitive and reliable market data - You will learn how to exploit new technological trends - You will be able to realise your company's full potential within the market - You will better understand the competitive landscape and identify potential new business opportunities & partnerships Don't miss out This report is essential reading for you or anyone in the airport security sector with an interest in airline and airport security. Purchasing this report today will help you to recognise those important market opportunities and understand the possibilities there. Order the Airport Security Market Report 2016-2026: Forecasts & Analysis of Top Aviation Security Companies Providing Passenger, Baggage & Cargo Screening, Surveillance & Monitoring, Perimeter Security & Access Control report now. We look forward to receiving your order. Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p03620231-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 SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Anaplan, the leading planning and performance management platform, announced today that it has surpassed $100 million revenue run-rate and reached cash flow break-even for the first time in the company's history since going to market four years ago. Revenue grew over 80% year-over-year, driven by new customer wins across more than 20 countries, which increased Anaplan's global user base to 100,000. The company also reached cash flow break-even a year ahead of schedule, even as it grew its global workforce by 35% year-over-year to 600, and opened new offices in London and Hong Kong. "The first half of 2016 has been a time of record-breaking sales results that demonstrated the impressive fundamentals of Anaplan's business, along with increasing global demand for our planning and performance management platform," said James Budge, Anaplan CFO and Co-President. "In addition to attracting new Global 2000 clients, we also achieved industry-high retention rates." From supply-and-demand balancing to financial planning and human resources modeling, Anaplan's platform is being used by a rapidly growing number of Global 2000 companies, including: Coty, Inc., Del Monte, Gatwick Airport, Lamoda Group, Louis Vuitton, and Morgan Stanley. "Financial planning and analysis is always at the center of attention, particularly in large organizations like ours," said Luke Beben, CFO at Lamoda Group. "The fashion industry is very dynamic, so we were looking for a platform that could keep up with our pace and allow our business to be fully in charge of the planning processes. We chose Anaplan for its ability to deliver a single real-time, cloud-based environment for planning and optimizing anticipated business performance." Other 2016 highlights include: Anaplan's San Francisco Hub16 conference attracted more than 1,300 technology innovators, analysts, business executives, and Anaplan partners from Deloitte, Kellogg Company, P&G, Tyco International, and United Airlines. Hub16 conference attracted more than 1,300 technology innovators, analysts, business executives, and Anaplan partners from Deloitte, Kellogg Company, P&G, Tyco International, and United Airlines. Mary Meeker named Anaplan as a pioneer of "Organization-Wide Analytics," one of 2016's key enterprise trends featured in her annual Internet Trends Report . named Anaplan as a pioneer of "Organization-Wide Analytics," one of 2016's key enterprise trends featured in her annual . Gartner named Anaplan a Visionary in the Strategic Corporate Performance Management Magic Quadrant 1 and a Challenger in the Sales Performance Management Magic Quadrant. 2 and a Challenger in the Sales Performance Management Magic Quadrant. Forrester named Anaplan as a Breakout Vendor in SaaS business applications. 3 Singapore CIOs voted Anaplan as the best-in-class integrated business planning platform. Morgan Stanley presented Anaplan with the 2016 Award for Tech Innovation. "The enterprise SaaS software market continues to grow at breakneck speeds for software solutions that are easy to use and grow over time to meet their customers' requirements. In the enterprise planning and performance market, customers seek solutions that are both easy to use and reliable in terms of delivering accurate planning models across all aspects of their organization. This capability is core to every business function, not just finance," commented R "Ray" Wang, principal analyst and CEO of Constellation Research. About Anaplan Anaplan is the leading planning and performance management platform for smart businesses. Anaplan delivers an unrivaled planning and modeling engine, predictive analytics, collaboration in the cloud, and a simple interface for business users. Anaplan is privately held company headquartered in San Francisco, CA, with offices in 15 countries. To learn more, visit anaplan.com. Follow us on: Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Facebook. Press Contact Anaplan Consort Partners (North America) (210) 382-2165 [email protected] ____________________________________ 1 Gartner "Magic Quadrant for Strategic Corporate Performance Management" by Chris Iervolino and John Van Decker, May 31, 2016. 2 Gartner "Magic Quadrant for Sales Performance Management" by Tad Travis, January 6, 2015. 3 Forrester "Breakout Vendors: SaaS Business Applications" by Paul Hamerman, May 10, 2016. SOURCE Anaplan Related Links http://www.anaplan.com/ LOS ANGELES, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Avata Intelligence, a leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, today announced that the company has officially changed its name from Armorway. The name change reflects the intelligence behind its award-winning AI platform and growing use in analyzing and recommending actions for optimal outcomes. Applications of the platform have expanded to include such diverse areas as public safety & infrastructure, defense, healthcare, global awareness and social impact. Avata Intelligence's patented AI platform delivers descriptive, diagnostic, predictive and prescriptive analytics combined with AI techniques such as machine learning. It helps enterprises of all sizes dynamically understand and react to critical challenges by implementing effective solutions for the problems faced. In one example of the multi-faceted AI platform, organizations can gain contextual analysis of incoming social media posts by harnessing the Avata natural language processor. In an alternative example, RSS feeds are filtered through a machine learning process to only present organizations with material relevant to their objectives. Avata's platform is the brainchild of researchers from the University of Southern California; company co-founder Zareh Baghdasarian, a serial high-tech entrepreneur who serves as CEO; and noted researcher Milind Tambe, Avata's Chief Research Officer. Dr. Tambe will be presenting at the Bloomberg Government event "Data Revolution: How AI and Machine Learning Are Remaking Our World", on August 25 in San Francisco. "Our AI platform has the ability to provide the highest degree of intelligence by analyzing available data when emerging uncertainties surpass limited resources," said Avata Intelligence's CEO and co-founder Zareh Baghdasarian. "When an organization has true clarity about the resources in an environment and how they should be utilized, decision making and operational efficiency vastly improve." Company co-founder and Chief Research Officer Milind Tambe added, "The name Avata Intelligence better communicates the 360-degree perspective behind our pioneering and award-winning technology." "Avata" translates to "open" in Finnish and conveys the pathways for intelligence that its platform provides for problem solving based on the behavior patterns and dynamics of a given environment. About Avata Intelligence Headquartered in Venice, California, Avata Intelligence was founded in 2013 and develops products that bridge the gap between data and decisions, as well as human intuition and machine intelligence. The core technology was developed in partnership with the University of Southern California through grants from the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense and the US Army Research Office. Investors include Aristos Ventures, private angel investors and investment from serial entrepreneurs, founders and executives from several high tech companies. Media Contact: JoAnn Yamani, Esq., APR [email protected] 408-781-5719 SOURCE Avata Intelligence Related Links http://avataai.com O'Gara will oversee ongoing operations at BDS Mobile. He will also be responsible for designing and implementing the BDS Mobile strategic plan and driving extensive and sustainable growth. "Jim's tech background combined with his ability to build and grow teams while increasing revenue will ensure BDS Mobile continues to succeed," said William Towell, CEO/Founder BDS Mobile. Prior to joining BDS Mobile O'Gara served in leadership positions at Synactive and SugarCRM.com where he built a 60-person team to convert IBM's CRM use from Siebel to the SugarCRM platform. O'Gara's tech experience also includes roles at Digital Equipmemt, Informix, AltaVista and FrontRange Solutions. He joined BDS Mobile as an Advisor in 2014. "BDS Mobile has built a state-of-the-art mobile messaging platform that will give brands exciting new ways to engage with mobile users," said O'Gara. "Mobile marketers are struggling to harness the power of mobile messaging and the huge popularity of emoji. BDS Mobile has the solutions to allow brands direct engagement with this enormous market while providing them clear analytics to measure the return on these efforts." For more about BDS Mobile. To download buzzMSG, visit the App Store. CONTACT INFORMATION Sydney Lindner Public Relations Specialist (608) 358-3790 [email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160819/400434 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160129/327502LOGO SOURCE BDS Mobile Related Links http://bdsmobiletech.com WESTPORT, Conn., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- SeriousFun Children's Network has named Blake Maher as its new Chief Executive Officer. Maher will transition from his role as Chief Program Officer, focused on ensuring program quality standards across the global network, to leading the overall program, development and support efforts of the network of 30 camps and programs around the world. Prior to joining the SeriousFun Children's Network Support Center in Westport, CT, Maher served as CEO and Executive Director of The Painted Turtle, a SeriousFun camp located in Lake Hughes, CA. SeriousFun Children's Network provides life-changing camp experiences to children living with serious illnesses and their families, always free of charge. "For more than 20 years, I have witnessed the remarkable impact that SeriousFun camps have on the lives of children with serious illnesses and their families," said Maher. "I'm continually inspired by the courage of the children and by the devotion of our camps, staff, partners, volunteers, and families. It is an honor to be taking on an even greater role in shaping and supporting this important work." In addition to serving as CEO and Executive Director of The Painted Turtle from 2011 to 2016, Maher played an integral role on the camp leadership team since 2003. He designed and directed The Painted Turtle's original Summer and Family Weekend Programs and was instrumental in creating a variety of innovative camp programs in California for children with serious medical conditions. Maher has worked in the field of child advocacy and experiential programming for more than 20 years, including work with abused and homeless children, arts programs, and outdoor and recreational programs for children. Following college, Maher worked at Paul Newman's first camp for children with serious medical conditions, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, in Connecticut. He also helped open Newman's second camp, Barretstown, in Ireland. "As the Network's name states, we take our work seriously so that more children living with illnesses can have the fun they so deserve," said Maher. "I have watched thousands of campers grow up through our camp system to become amazing adults who are committed to ensuring that kids just like them get the same transformative and magical experience. To me, seeing the way camp continues to profoundly change lives is one of the most exciting aspects of this journey." "Throughout his tenure, Blake has demonstrated a strong commitment to the mission of the Network and to the legacy of Paul Newman," said Don Gogel, Chairman of the Board, SeriousFun Children's Network. "He is passionate about providing unique camp experiences to children with serious illnesses and their families and is dedicated to building an effective and sustainable global network that can offer these experiences to children everywhere." Maher holds an MFA and MA in Creative Writing and a BA in English and Political Science. His writing has appeared in magazines, newspapers, and books, and has been broadcast on NPR. Maher assumes official responsibilities as CEO on September 1, taking over for outgoing CEO Mary Beth Powers. Powers has accepted a position as the Vice President of Programs for a local family foundation. About SeriousFun Children's Network SeriousFun Children's Network is a global community of 30 camps and programs serving children with serious illnesses and their families, always free of charge. Founded by Paul Newman in 1988, SeriousFun has served more than 732,000 children and families from more than 50 countries. Each member camp is an independent, not-for-profit organization dependent upon private funding to serve all children at no cost to their families. A Support Center raises funds and provides central standards and services for all SeriousFun camps and programs. To learn more about SeriousFun, visit www.seriousfunnetwork.org. Media Contact: Emily Walsh/Nina Kiersted Sunshine Sachs 212-691-2800 [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160823/400690LOGO SOURCE SeriousFun Childrens Network Related Links http://www.seriousfunnetwork.org BLOKHUS, Denmark, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- BlockPay is a young blockchain based FinTech company from Munich that helps businesses with fast and simple payment processing services. The platform supports most cryptocurrencies. BlockPay is solving most of the security and business risks through modern Blockchain technologies and helps business around the world to accept digital payments for free. The BlockPay Pre-ICO hosted by OpenLedger began today, at 04:00 PM GMT. The pre-ICO is receiving a great response from the community and the company has successfully raised over 300 BTC within hours of the campaign going live. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/400867LOGO The transparency and immutability of Bitcoin blockchain is a two-edged sword which the businesses and corporates are wary about. While these properties implement accountability and some form of clarity to transactions made on the cryptocurrency network, it also leaves the whole company's financial data open to the public. In today's competitive world, it is essential for businesses to play their cards close to the chest. Leaving confidential transaction information in the public domain makes them an easy target for industrial espionage by their competitors. By uncovering the ownership of certain wallet addresses, rival companies can easily gain access to information about their competitor's operations and supply chain. Businesses are not willing to take such risk by adopting blockchain based payments at this point. Some of the other factors affecting the use of cryptocurrency and blockchain based solutions by businesses include security, network effect and volatility of digital currencies. BlockPay is working on addressing these concerns by creating standardized point-of-sale merchant tools. Armed with ready proof of concept products, the company is now aiming to make it available to merchants and businesses after completing the development. The upcoming crowd-fundraising campaign through an ICO is aimed at raising the necessary capital to do so. BlockPay's suite for businesses includes a standalone application for merchants along with an integrated system to support existing e-commerce and PoS systems like Odoo and SAP. The BlockPay suite is suitable for any type of business including grocery chains, gas stations, vending machines, kiosks and more. Customers can choose to pay for their purchase with digital currencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Steem, Dash, Bitshares etc. using BlockPay's Echo wallet application. BlockPay suite also supports payments from wallets like Mycelium, Jaxx, Circle and Dash. Echo Wallet is a multi-currency, multi-asset wallet that also doubles as a secure communication application. Merchants and customers can use Echo to send secure voice, video and instant messages over an encrypted channel. While explaining the features and advantages of Echo, Christoph Hering the CEO and co-founder of BlockPay says, "It solves two major problems of our time: Privacy and Financial freedom. First, Echo protects your personal chat, video and voice messages against hackers and censorship. Second, Echo gives you the choice to manage multiple currencies at your fingertips. Transfer takes 3 seconds or less and thanks to modern blockchain technologies Echo users can register their desired username on the blockchain with just a few simple taps." BlockPay is available for merchants and businesses at zero cost with support for over 44 different languages. BlockPayICO OpenLedger is working with BlockPay to facilitate the crowdfunding process. OpenLedger has launched the Pre-ICO on its ICOO economic enterprise engine starting 04:00 PM GMT on August 23, 2016. The actual public ICO is set for early 2017 and it is being organized in cooperation with OpenLedger decentralized exchange platform, ICOO and CCEDK ApS a Danish company specializing in bootstrapping startups. Investors interested in being part of the BlockPay Pre-ICO can purchase BLOCKPAY tokens on the company's official ICO page or on the CCEDK.com website. CCEDK is in the forefront of BlockPay ICO by offering a range of services including escrow, asset and BLOCKPAY token distribution, media coverage, ordering module and more. The funds raised during the ICO can be monitored at all times on OpenLedger's dedicated escrow account ico.blockpay. Bitcoin received during the ICO are stored in a multisig escrow account only to be accessed at the end of the event. BlockPay Pre-ICO tokens can be bought with BTS, BTC, ETH and SBD. The platform has a built-in ShapeShift enabled conversion module to allow those willing to invest in other digital currencies by converting them to BTC. The ICO will end once all the 5,000,000 BlockPay tokens set aside for the crowdfund are sold. About OpenLedger OpenLedger is a peer-to-peer cryptocurrency platform acting as the host, framework and toolkit for constant innovation. Designed for high-speed transactions, it allows users to securely trade assets in near-real time at ultra-low fees. OpenLedger is built on top of the MIT-licensed Graphene technology of BitShares 2.0 and it acts as the foundation for Decentralized Conglomerate (an ecosystem of interlinked and mutually-supporting companies) also known as the DEX The Decentralized Exchange. Know more about BlockPay at https://www.blockpay.ch Know more about OpenLedger at https://www.openledger.info/ BlockPay ICO page https://blockpay.ch/newsroom/investor-relations/ BlockPay ICO on CCEDK https://www.ccedk.com/ico/blockpay Media Contact Contact Name: Ronny Boesing Contact Email: [email protected] Location: Blokhus, Denmark OpenLedger 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. Related Links Bitcoin PR Buzz BlockPay Related Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcuVSjR6gkk This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com SOURCE BlockPay Related Links https://www.blockpay.ch/ UPLAND, Calif., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Blue Shield of California has expanded its Accountable Care Organization (ACO) network in Southern California through a new collaboration with PrimeCare Medical Network, Inc., the Inland Empire's largest network of independently contracted physicians, and San Antonio Regional Hospital, which has been serving area residents for more than 100 years. The collaboration will provide enhanced care coordination for local residents, making it easier to share important health information across the health care system, so providers involved in a patient's care support the same treatment plan. Blue Shield's newest ACO helps transition the region's health care system from one that reimburses for quantity of services to one that rewards the quality of patients' health outcomes while seeking to make care more affordable. The network will serve more than 13,000 people in the Chino/Upland/Rancho Cucamonga region who are enrolled in Blue Shield's HMO plans. "A shared clinical strategy with health care providers is the foundation of our ACO program and an integral part of our ongoing effort to connect Californians with quality care in a cost-effective way," said Kristen Miranda, senior vice president of strategic partnerships and innovation at Blue Shield of California. "PrimeCare and San Antonio Regional Hospital have shown an incredible level of commitment to this work, including setting important goals in improving quality while controlling cost." PrimeCare is a health care delivery network serving more than 187,000 people in the Inland Empire. PrimeCare primary care physicians and specialists have been serving patients since 1994. "Together with Blue Shield of California and San Antonio Regional Hospital, we expect to achieve even better health outcomes and greater patient satisfaction," said Leigh Hutchins, president and CEO of PrimeCare. San Antonio Regional Hospital is an acute-care hospital that has been serving the community for more than a century and treats more than 200,000 patients each year. The hospital system includes its main campus in Upland that will soon open a new 52-bed emergency department and patient tower with private rooms to continue its legacy of serving the needs of a growing region. The system also includes medical plazas in Eastvale, Rancho Cucamonga and Fontana. "San Antonio Regional Hospital is dedicated to providing exceptional care for the people and communities it serves," said Harris Koenig, president and CEO of San Antonio Regional Hospital. "Through Blue Shield's ACO network, we will collaboratively work with Blue Shield, PrimeCare and our physicians to enhance the clinical care provided for our patients. Using common data and metrics available in a clinically integrated system, we will work together to keep Blue Shield members healthy, avoid unnecessary emergency room visits and the need for hospitalization. We are excited about the opportunity to enhance the care delivery system, and we look forward to serving a key role in this Blue Shield ACO relationship." From its first ACO in 2010, Blue Shield's network now includes 37 ACOs, serving about 340,000 people. In the program's first five years, Blue Shield and its ACO participants achieved more than $325 million in estimated healthcare savings. About PrimeCare PrimeCare Medical Network, Inc. has been caring for the communities of San Bernardino and Riverside counties since 1994 through its independently contracted network of 350 local primary care doctors and more than 1,000 specialists. PrimeCare physicians take pride in the relationships they build with their patients and are dedicated to promoting their overall well-being. For more information, visit www.primecare.com. About San Antonio Regional Hospital San Antonio Regional Hospital in Upland, California is a 271-bed, nonprofit, acute care hospital that combines excellent clinical care with exceptional compassion. The award-winning hospital offers a comprehensive range of general medical and surgical services, along with the latest technological advances in cardiac care, cancer care, orthopedics, neurosciences, women's health, maternity and neonatal care, and emergency services. Since 1907, San Antonio Regional Hospital has emerged as a premier regional medical facility with satellite locations across the rapidly expanding Inland Empire. The hospital is nearing completion of a major expansion project that will add a new 52-bed emergency department and a 92-bed patient tower comprised of 80 private rooms and 12 critical care beds on its main hospital campus. The expansion positions San Antonio as a hospital of the future, offering state-of-the-art healthcare services in a healing environment that is focused on the patient and family. To learn more, visit sarh.org. About Blue Shield of California Blue Shield of California, an independent member of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, is a nonprofit health plan with 4 million members, 6,800 employees and more than $13 billion in annual revenue. Founded in 1939 and headquartered in San Francisco, Blue Shield of California and its affiliates provide health, dental, vision, Medicaid and Medicare health care service plans in California. The company's mission is to ensure all Californians have access to high-quality care at an affordable price. Blue Shield has contributed more than $325 million over the past ten years to the Blue Shield of California Foundation. Contact your local agent or broker about Blue Shield of California products and services, or visit www.blueshieldca.com. CONTACT: Matthew Yi Corporate Communications (415) 229-5359 [email protected] SOURCE Blue Shield of California Related Links https://www.blueshieldca.com What differentiates Dreamsquare from other recruitment platforms is its self-developed AI system called HEURI that has collected the career profile data of 300 million professionals around the world. Steve Han, the founder and CEO of the company explains, "We first take an individual's response to our survey on credentials, work preferences and cultural values. Then we compare the results to our career profile database in order to identify and recommend the ideal job opportunity, company and career path for each user. The platform also provides real-time global recruiting information and trends related to the suggested job positions and companies." The consulting service is comprised of an online survey and an offline meeting with a HR expert. Students who receive the same employment recommendations will be grouped together, mentored, and provided with assistance in designing their careers. The mentors will be carefully selected from among current employees of global companies, such as Facebook, Apple and Google. The company also provides assistance for startups and those who seek global employment opportunities. Based on customized vocation data, the platform recommends the ideal company for each job seeker, and Dreamsquare offers team-building opportunities for those seeking to establish a business. Dreamsquare's business model is built around offering consulting services to individuals and schools and recommending ideal companies to prospective employees. In Korea, Dreamsquare recently made a partnership with Yonsei University on providing a recruitment consulting project for Yonsei university students. The program involves global consulting and mentoring, giving the students an opportunity to launch their business in earnest. In the second half of this year, the startup is planning to forge similar partnerships with other schools, including Ewha Womans University. In the U.S, Dreamsquare is aiming to provide online services to prestigious universities including Stanford, Cornell and so on. Talent X team members will be deployed to the universities to hold vigorous on-campus marketing helping as many students as possible to find their right career path. About Born2Global Founded in September 2013, Born2Global, each year, selects over 100 startups with high potential for entering the global market. Born2Global provides services such as professional consulting in law, patents, accounting, marketing, investment and business development. Born2Global also gives training services to startups by hosting conferences, seminars and meetups. Over 60 companies have been selected to reside in the business space at the Startup Campus. Born2Global has brought investment of over US$173.6 million for 83 startups and Born2Global's experts have provided 5,117 consulting services, resulting in 369 overseas patent applications, 204 overseas business contracts and alliances with 26 overseas incorporations since the establishment of Born2Global in 2013. For more detailed information on the Dreamsquare, please check out www.mytalentx.com. Contact Person: Jina Lee Email: [email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160823/400370 SOURCE K-ICT Born2Global Centre MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) is scheduled to participate in the Wells Fargo Healthcare Conference on September 7, in Boston. Mike Mahoney, chief executive officer, Dan Brennan, executive vice president and chief financial officer, and Susie Lisa, vice president, Investor Relations, will participate in a 30-minute question-and-answer-session with the host analyst beginning at approximately 9:20 a.m. EDT. A live webcast of the question-and-answer-session will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Boston Scientific website at www.bostonscientific.com/investors. We encourage interested parties to register at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time to ensure a timely connection. A replay of the webcast will be accessible at www.bostonscientific.com/investors beginning approximately one hour following the completion of the event. About Boston Scientific Boston Scientific transforms lives through innovative medical solutions that improve the health of patients around the world. As a global medical technology leader for more than 35 years, we advance science for life by providing a broad range of high performance solutions that address unmet patient needs and reduce the cost of healthcare. For more information, visit www.bostonscientific.com and connect on Twitter and Facebook. CONTACTS Media: Investors: Tom Keppeler Susie Lisa, CFA 508-683-6585 (office) 508- 683-5565 (office) Media Relations Investor Relations Boston Scientific Corporation Boston Scientific Corporation [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE Boston Scientific Corporation Related Links http://www.bostonscientific.com NATCHEZ, Miss., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Callon Petroleum Company (NYSE: CPE) ("Callon" or the "Company") today announced that the Board of Directors has approved the following management promotions: Gary A. Newberry was appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and will continue to lead all aspects of operations managed by direct reports Jerry Weant , Vice President of Land and Michael O'Connor , Vice President of Permian Operations was appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and will continue to lead all aspects of operations managed by direct reports , Vice President of Land and , Vice President of Permian Operations Joseph C. Gatto, Jr. was appointed President, in addition to his current role as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer was appointed President, in addition to his current role as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Mitzi P. Conn was appointed to the newly created position of Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer and will report to Mr. Gatto. Mr. Newberry and Mr. Gatto will continue to report to Fred Callon, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr. Callon commented, "I am proud to announce the promotion of these individuals that have guided our company through one of the most turbulent times we've experienced in the global oil markets. We have emerged as a leading operator in the Permian Basin with a proven track record of sustained asset growth combined with leading-edge capital efficiency and operating costs. The strong partnership they have built between our operational and financial organizations has fostered a culture of teamwork and respect that exemplifies Callon's core values. I am confident that this leadership team will continue to drive shareholder value in the years ahead while maintaining our valued reputation amongst all of our business partners." About Callon Petroleum Callon is an independent energy company focused on the acquisition, development, exploration, and operation of oil and gas properties in the Permian Basin in West Texas. This news release is posted on the Company's website at www.callon.com and will be archived there for subsequent review. It can be accessed from the "News" link on the top of the homepage. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements This news release contains 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. Forward-looking statements include all statements, as well as statements including the words "believe," "expect," "plans" and words of similar meaning. These statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and financial performance. No assurances can be given, however, that these events will occur or that these projections will be achieved, and actual results could differ materially from those projected as a result of certain factors. Some of the factors which could affect our future results and could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include the volatility of oil and gas prices, ability to drill and complete wells, operational, regulatory and environment risks, our ability to finance our activities and other risks more fully discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, available on our website or the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. For further information contact: Eric Williams Manager, Finance 1-800-451-1294 SOURCE Callon Petroleum Company GREAT NECK, N.Y., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- SHARESTATES, a growing online lending platform for real estate investment properties, announced it got high marks from USProServ, LLC, an outside consultancy that specializes in compliance remediation, network infrastructure and data security for financial/insurance companies. The audit, commissioned by Sharestates, revealed that the crowdfunding site earned high marks on security and compliance, revealing that the company is committed to making sure its users are secure beyond the current governing bodies of compliance requirements. "The Sharestates Executive Management group supported our efforts to remediate issues and adopt recommended Policies and Controls identified in our Gap Analysis. Despite the process having an adverse effect on their traditional standard operating procedures, management backed our initiatives and encouraged their staff to embrace this effort to meet or exceed the current compliance requirements and set them firm apart from the pack." Said USProServ LLC, President / CIO Warren Hampton. "Work has already begun on attaining an even higher level of security and compliance aimed at protecting the consumer and investors private information through the real estate funding process," Hampton added. The audit was conducted by Kushner, Smith, Joanou and Gregson, LLP who certified that Sharestates has achieved its "SOC 2 Type 1 Certification" under the American Institute of CPA's for controls relevant to Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality and Privacy. "We are extremely pleased with the results," said Sharestates CEO Allen Shayanfekr. "As part of our evolving dedication to our community of peers and investors, we are striving to make the crowdfunding experience a pleasant and secure one for all participants." According to Sharestates Principal Radni Davoodi, the company's founders feel strongly about taking the initiative to raise the standard for tighter security measures that will directly benefit their users and partners in the crowdfunding sector space. "Our compliance and technology teams are committed to incorporating proven methods of fraud prevention that are the fundamental stepping stones for high target industries, such as the banking institutions," added Davoodi. "It's up to our peers and us alike, as the leaders of this financial movement known as crowdfunding, to set the standard for our industry moving forward." The Sharestates founders, who are veterans in the recently regulated title insurance industry, know first-hand about the dangers in the cyber world and the course of actions needed to mitigate the dangers. "These are baby steps towards our ultimate visions," added Davoodi. To further secure its site, Sharestates also uses Lexis Nexis, the leading service provider for comprehensive background, OFAC, and AML compliance checks, the software, that is considered to be the banking industry's standard for compliance purposes, provides Sharestates with thousands of databases against which it checks out borrowers and investors. "While our industry isn't required to do so, Sharestates is taking the initiative to set the standard for best practices in what promises to be an exciting space," added Shayanfekr. ABOUT SHARESTATES: Sharestates is a real estate investment marketplace that allows individual and institutional investors to participate in rigorously vetted debt and equity offerings. All of the offerings on Sharestates' platform have passed through a 34-point underwriting process. To compete in the market, Sharestates leverages proprietary technology and a close partnership with The Atlantis Organization, which founded by Radni Davoodi and Raymond Y. Davoodi in 2004 has become one of the nation's leading title agencies. This partnership provides Sharestates with access to and credibility among an expansive network of real estate developers, investors and lenders, cultivated over the course of more than $4 billion in transactions that Atlantis has managed over the years. Since Sharestates.com launched in 2015, it has closed over 200 transactions with more than $145 million in funding, across the United States, with zero loss of principal and net annualized returns ranging from 10 to 20 percent. For more information, please visit https://www.sharestates.com. Contact Dominique Ingram 212-201-0750 [email protected] SOURCE Sharestates Related Links www.sharestates.com NEW YORK, Aug. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --Synopsis In real terms, the Egyptian construction industry registered positive growth during the review period (20112015) and is expected to continue to expand over the forecast period (20162020), with investments in residential, infrastructure, and energy and utilities construction projects. Forecast-period growth will be driven by government efforts to develop the country's rail and road infrastructure and meet its energy targets by 2022. The growing number of public-private partnership (PPP) projects and the increasing pace of foreign investment will also drive industry growth over the forecast period. In July 2016, the government signed 20 economic agreements with the Chinese government. The agreements, worth EGP111.7 billion (US$15.0 billion), will include investments in the country's housing, transport and energy sectors. Government flagship programs such as the October Oasis, Sustainable Development Strategy 2030, Local Development for Upper Egypt governorates and development of Cairo Metro Line 6 projects, are expected to support industry growth over the forecast period. In real terms, the industry's output value recorded a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.32% during the review period, and is expected to register a forecast-period CAGR of 8.24%. Summary Timetric's Construction in Egypt Key Trends and Opportunities to 2020 report provides detailed market analysis, information and insights into the Egyptian construction industry including: - The Egyptian construction industry's growth prospects by market, project type and construction activity - Analysis of equipment, material and service costs for each project type in Egypt - Critical insight into the impact of industry trends and issues, and the risks and opportunities they present to participants in the Egyptian construction industry - Profiles of the leading operators in the Egyptian construction industry - Data highlights of the largest construction projects in Egypt Scope This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the construction industry in Egypt. It provides: - Historical (2011-2015) and forecast (2016-2020) valuations of the construction industry in Egypt using construction output and value-add methods - Segmentation by sector (commercial, industrial, infrastructure, energy and utilities, institutional and residential) and by project type - Breakdown of values within each project type, by type of activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition) and by type of cost (materials, equipment and services) - Analysis of key construction industry issues, including regulation, cost management, funding and pricing - Detailed profiles of the leading construction companies in Egypt Reasons To Buy - Identify and evaluate market opportunities using Timetric's standardized valuation and forecasting methodologies. - Assess market growth potential at a micro-level with over 600 time-series data forecasts. - Understand the latest industry and market trends. - Formulate and validate strategy using Timetric's critical and actionable insight. - Assess business risks, including cost, regulatory and competitive pressures. - Evaluate competitive risk and success factors. Key Highlights - In March 2015, the government announced plans to build a new capital city to the east of Cairo near the Red Sea, in an aim to promote economic growth. The project was suspended temporarily following lack of consensus on the project's tenure and cost. However, the government re-announced the commencement of the project in February 2016. The new capital city will include 1.1 million housing units, 663 healthcare facilities, 700 kindergartens, 40,000 hotel rooms, 1,250 religious buildings, and retail malls on a 1.8 million m2 area, theme parks and an airport. - Egypt's strategic geographical location and availability of cheap and competitive workforce is increasing the pace of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)'s 2015 World Investment Report, the oil sector represented the highest recipient of FDI with a share of 71.7% during 20142015, followed by the construction and manufacturing sectors with 2.2% and 2.0% shares respectively. - In a bid to minimize traffic congestion in Cairo, the Egyptian Ministry of Transport announced plans to construct Cairo Metro Line 6. Accordingly, the Ministry of Transport signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the China Railway Construction Corporation worth EGP26.1 billion (US$3.5 billion) in December 2015. The 30km-long metro line project will connect northern Al-Khosos and the southern suburb of Maadi. - In 2015, the government signed a MoU with Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation of Russia to construct a nuclear power station in El Dabaa region. With a total investment of EGP186.2 billion (US$25.0 billion), the plant will be developed with a capacity to generate 4,800MW of electricity. The plant is expected to be completed in 2022. - The government is accelerating the pace of investment under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. In February 2016, the Egyptian Ministry of Housing signed four PPP contracts with major real estate companies which include Mountain View-Sisban Holding alliance, Arabia Group and Palm Hills. The total value of these PPP projects is EGP200.0 billion (US$26.8 billion) and includes developments such as the Mountain View iCity residential project in the New Cairo city which will cover a 2.1km2 area with 18,000 housing units, and a resort. Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p04068863-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 CALGARY, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Mr. Keith Creel, Canadian Pacific's (TSX: CP) (NYSE: CP) President and Chief Operating Officer, will address the Cowen and Company 9th Annual Global Transportation Conference on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 at 8:35 a.m. eastern time in Boston, Massachusetts. CP will provide access to a live audio webcast of Mr. Creel's remarks in the Investors' section of its website, www.cpr.ca. A replay will also be available following the conclusion of the event. About Canadian Pacific Canadian Pacific (TSX:CP)(NYSE:CP) is a transcontinental railway in Canada and the United States with direct links to eight major ports, including Vancouver and Montreal, providing North American customers a competitive rail service with access to key markets in every corner of the globe. CP is growing with its customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit cpr.ca to see the rail advantages of Canadian Pacific. SOURCE Canadian Pacific Related Links http://www.cpr.ca SAN DIEGO, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Curology, the dermatologist-founded direct-to-consumer prescription skincare company, today announced the completion of a $15 million Series B financing led by Advance Vixeid Partners, with participation from prior investors Sherpa Capital and Forerunner Ventures. "This funding will accelerate Curology's mission to provide effective and affordable acne and anti-aging treatments to people across the country," said Curology founder and CEO David Lortscher, MD. "Our business has grown 5x in the past year; the capital raised will allow us to serve even more consumers frustrated by the skincare options available in the market today." For a fraction of the cost and none of the hassle of an in-person appointment, Curology offers acne and aging-related dermatology consultations, as well as customized prescriptions. Consumers share photos of their skin, and a licensed medical professional uses the Company's platform to evaluate their condition and prescribe a personalized topical solution. The product is sent directly to the customer on a recurring basis, and the formula is adjusted as necessary through an ongoing relationship with Curology's medical professionals. "In the US, there is only one dermatologist for every 36,000 people and most are concentrated in major metro areas, meaning access to specialists is limited. As a result, many consumers settle for inadequate over-the-counter remedies," Dr. Lortscher explained. "With Curology, they get one-on-one dermatology care and personalized, prescription strength treatment for just $20 per month." Courtney Robinson, Principal at Advance Vixeid Partners, added, "David and the Curology team are fundamentally transforming the multi-billion-dollar acne treatment market. By using technology to remove friction and cost from the conventional model, Curology can scale quickly and better serve consumers with accessible, effective, affordable treatment." ABOUT CUROLOGY Curology is a customized, prescription skincare company, specializing in acne and anti-aging treatments. Founded in 2014 by David Lortscher, MD, Curology's end-to-end online solution enables patients to remotely share photos of their skin with a licensed medical professional, who after an initial consultation, prescribes patients a customized topical medication designed for their specific skin needs. Curology is currently hiring visual designers and marketing experts to join their San Francisco-based team. ABOUT ADVANCE VIXEID PARTNERS Advance Vixeid Partners ("AVP") invests in rapidly growing companies that operate at the intersection of the technology, media and marketing sectors. AVP is an independent growth equity investor with unique insights, access and value creation resources created by the firm's strategic relationship with Advance Publications, Inc., one of the world's premier global media franchises. AVP seeks to invest $10 million to $25 million in each of its investments, and is a hands-on partner to entrepreneurs in growing businesses and building value. AVP's current investments include Nativo, Curology and Above Average, and the firm's principals have been investors in and served on the boards of successful growth companies such as Farfetch, Newsle (acquired by LinkedIn), PowerPlan, Rent the Runway, and Vestiaire Collective. For more information, please visit www.avpgrowth.com. Media Contact: Barbra Watson [email protected] 781-789-7207 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160621/381974LOGO SOURCE Curology BOSTON, August 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CyberX, the leading provider of cybersecurity solutions for the Industrial IoT (IIoT), announced today the launch of its groundbreaking automated Vulnerability Assessment (VA) solution for industrial networks. Cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure are turning into a major global threat as more and more industrial networks embrace extended connectivity and IIoT technologies. These introduce previously unseen threats into OT networks, making today's operational networks around the world more vulnerable than ever. There is a pressing need to conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments in industrial networks across all verticals. CyberX has developed the first fully automated Vulnerability Assessment solution for industrial networks to provide unparalleled, comprehensive insight into operational networks' security posture, and create a new reality in which industrial organizations can easily maintain enhanced security posture and network resiliency. With a single click, CyberX's automated Vulnerability Assessment solution generates a detailed report of the entire network's infrastructure and potential vulnerabilities, and provides mitigation recommendations that enable industrial entities to prioritize their OT cybersecurity investments. With its innovative Vulnerability Assessment solution, CyberX empowers security and operations teams to gain a deep understanding of their OT network's security resilience, and preempt potential attacks that could cripple operations. CyberX has been successfully providing this revolutionary solution in private beta to a select group of large industrial players. "Our customers have been amazed at the detailed level of insight this solution provides", says Omer Schneider, CEO and Co-founder of CyberX. "We have been able to detect and mitigate OT network vulnerabilities, and discover serious security flaws in industrial assets that were completely unknown to the operations and security managers. More importantly, the potential impact these exploits could have had on customers' production environments is very significant, measured in many thousands or even millions of dollars in potential losses." Nir Giller, CTO and Co-founder notes "The fact that this solution can deliver such insights, instantly, with no manual or human interference, is a real game changer. It is substantially faster that any manual risk assessment tool currently available for industrial networks, and is the only automated VA process that can cover an entire operational network without having to be connected to it." He adds, "As ICS CERT often reminds organizations to perform deep analysis and evaluate the impact of vulnerabilities, our new Vulnerability Assessment solution offers just that, providing deep visibility into the OT network and its security posture, and enabling industrial organizations to always stay one-step ahead, maintaining operational continuity and security." The CyberX Vulnerability Assessment report is based on automatic collection from multiple data sources. The report provides a security rating for each device based on its vulnerabilities, and an overall Vulnerability Assessment score for the entire network. In addition, the report includes insights and recommendations to guide the security and operations teams on how to ensure network security and resiliency. The CyberX Vulnerability Assessment solution is available locally or as part of CyberX's SaaS offering. For more information, please visit CyberX Vulnerability Assessment. About CyberX CyberX leads the way in securing the Industrial Internet by providing complete visibility into IIoT environments as well as real-time detection and alerts of operational incidents, cyber threats and system tampering, thus minimizing disruption to operations and downtime. Seamlessly connecting to any IIoT environment, our flagship platform XSense, which harnesses IFSM technology, provides immediate results by collecting data across the IIoT environment and utilizing Big Data and Machine Learning to optimize the detection of anomalous behaviors. Serving customers worldwide, CyberX is a member of the Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC) and ICS-ISAC and was recognized by Gartner as a 2015 Cool Vendor in Security for Technology and Service Providers. Named "Best Product in ICS/SCADA Security Solution of 2016" by Cyber Defense Magazine at RSA, its research is considered cutting edge, contributing zero-day vulnerability discoveries to both the US Department of Homeland Security and industrial vendors. CyberX is also a member of the Israeli national consortium chosen to provide cyber solutions for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, which is supported by the Israel Foreign Trade Administration of the Ministry of Economy and Industry, and Israel's National Cyber Bureau of the Prime Minister's Office. Contact information Romit Barratson Sagi Director of Marketing CyberX [email protected] +972-54-4483476 SOURCE CyberX HYDERABAD, India, August 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Industry Experts published the new comprehensive market research report on Fluoropolymers. The new report titled 'Global Fluoropolymers Market - Products, Technologies and Applications', reveals that the chemical processing sector is estimated to be the largest consumer of fluoropolymers with 77k metrics tons in 2016 and projected to consume 106k metric tons by 2022 by growing at a CAGR of 5.6% during 2016-2022, while electrical & electronics is projected to be the fastest growing sector during the same period. PVDF is projected to be the fastest growing fluoropolymer overall owing to the demand from electrical & electronics sector where it is projected to grow by a CAGR of 9% and reaching 13k metrics tons by 2022. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/400814LOGO ) Fluoropolymers' exceptional properties, such as outstanding chemical resistance, weather stability, low surface energy, low coefficient of friction, and low dielectric constant, have attributed to their widespread usage in sectors such as chemical processing, electrical & electronics, automotive, building & construction and medical among others. Global fluoropolymers demand is attributed mainly to the robust growth in the developing regions and also continued economic recovery in the developed nations that drives industrial investment and growth in construction activities. PTFE is the largest fluoropolymer in terms of volume and value. However, melt-processable fluoropolymers such as PVDF, FEP, ETFE and ECTFE are forecast to record fastest growth during the analysis period, owing to the significant demand from emerging applications such as photovoltaic modules and architectural membranes among others. The report reviews, analyses and projects the Fluoropolymers market for the period 2012-2022 globally and the regional markets including North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of World. The regional markets further analyzed for 12 independent countries across North America - The United States, Canada and Mexico; Europe - France, Germany, Italy, Russia and the United Kingdom; and Asia-Pacific - China, Japan, India and South Korea. Global volume consumption of Fluoropolymers, standing at 223.2 thousand metric tons in 2012, is forecast to be 281.6 thousand metric tons in 2016 and is projected to reach 402 thousand metric tons by 2022 at a CAGR of 6.1% between 2016 and 2022. Asia-Pacific is the largest volume market for Fluoropolymers globally, forecast to be 126.6 thousand metric tons (45% share) in 2016 and is also likely to post the fastest 2016-2022 CAGR of 7.4% and reach a projected 194.4 thousand metric tons by 2022. The global Fluoropolymers market report analyzes the fluoropolymer product types comprising Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), Fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), Perfluoroalkoxy (PFA/MFA), Polyvinyl fluoride (PVF), Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), Ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE) and Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE). The report also analyzes the key end-use sectors of fluoropolymers including Chemical Processing, Electrical & Electronics, Mechanical/Industrial, Automotive & Transportation, Building & Construction and Others. The global markets for the above mentioned product types and end-use sectors are analyzed in terms of volume in metric tons and value in USD for the aforementioned analysis period. This report also provides the comprehensive market analysis of each fluoropolymer product segment by end-use sector. The report provides comprehensive data on fluoropolymers production capacities which includes production capacity by manufacturer, by fluoropolymer type, by country and by manufacturer's production plant. This 588 page global market report on Fluoropolymers includes 408 charts (includes a data table and graphical representation for each chart), supported with meaningful and easy to understand graphical presentation, of market numbers. This report profiles 17 key global players and 39 major players across North America - 6; Europe - 7; and Asia-Pacific - 26. The research also provides the listing of the companies engaged in manufacturing and processing of Fluoropolymers. The global list of companies covers the address, contact numbers and the website addresses of 211 companies including subsidiaries. Hyderabad, India based Industry Experts is a multi industry focused business information provider. For more details, please visit http://industry-experts.com/verticals/chemicals-and-materials/global-fluoropolymers-market-products-technologies-and-applications Media Contact: Sharath Kumar +1 320-497-3787 [email protected] SOURCE Industry Experts WASHINGTON, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The illegality of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's experiments on human beings with deadly pollutants will be exposed by Energy and Environment Legal Institute senior legal fellow and JunkScience.com publisher Steve Milloy at a special convened meeting of the National Academy of Sciences on Wednesday, August 24 at 1pm ET. "EPA secretly hired the NAS to whitewash its illegal experiments," said Milloy. "We uncovered the secret whitewash and compelled the NAS re-open the process so that it can avail itself of incriminating evidence the EPA has covered-up," added Milloy. Milloy will make a 30-minute presentation, which will be followed by 30-minute presentations from John Dunn MD, JD and Stan Young, PhD. Presentations will be followed by NAS Committee discussion and an opportunity for public comments. For years, EPA has quietly been experimenting on humans with what the agency describes as deadly pollutants, including soot and diesel exhaust. Though the EPA tells the public and Congress that there is no safe exposure to these pollutants, it experiments with them at very high doses on people who the EPA says are most vulnerable to them, including the elderly (up to age 80), children (as young as age 10 years), and sick people with asthma, diabetes and heart disease. In March 2014, the EPA's inspector general issued a report critical of the EPA's human experiments. The embarrassed agency then quietly hired the National Academy of Sciences in an apparent bid to obtain a clean bill of health for the agency's otherwise unethical, if not illegal experiments. "I learned of the NAS review when it was virtually over. There had been no public notices of the review," said Milloy. "But after a little sunshine on the covert doings, the NAS decided to reopen the process and have another public meeting for my colleagues and I to present the vital information the EPA has concealed from NAS," Milloy explained. "The EPA tried to con the National Academy of Sciences into whitewashing EPA's illegal experiments. We will expose the details of this con at the meeting," Milloy promised. The factual background for the controversy is explained in a July 24 Washington Times commentary by Milloy available here. The meeting is being held via webinar. The meeting agenda is available at the National Academy of Sciences website. Viewing/listening to the webinar requires contacting Mr. Orin Luke of the National Academy of Sciences at [email protected] or 202-334-2034. The Energy and Environment Legal Institute (E&E Legal) is a 501(c)(3) organization engaged in strategic litigation, policy research, and public education on important energy and environmental issues. E&E Legal advocates responsible resource development, sound science, respect for property rights, and a commitment to markets as it holds accountable those who seek excessive and destructive government regulation that's based on agenda-driven policy making, junk science, and hysteria. Contact: Audrey Mullen, 202-270-2772 or [email protected] SOURCE Energy and Environment Legal Institute (E&E Legal); JunkScience.com Related Links http://eelegal.org PETALUMA, Calif., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A case to be heard by the Federal District Court in San Francisco in October, could bring an end to a twenty-year-old federal contracting scandal that has diverted hundreds of billions in federal small business contracts to many of the largest corporations in the world. ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, Fox News and RTTV have all reported on the abuses. The American Small Business League (ASBL) has filed for an injunction against the Small Business Administration to stop the agency from diverting federal small business contracts to Fortune 500 firms, their subsidiaries and thousands of large businesses. The ASBL is also asking the court to stop the SBA from fabricating the government's compliance with federal law that mandates a minimum of 23% of all federal contracts be awarded to small businesses. The SBA has fabricated the federal governments compliance with the goal by excluding the vast majority of federal contracts from their calculations. In 2015 the SBA claimed small businesses had received 24.9% of all federal contracts. To achieve that number, the SBA excluded approximately $800 billion in federal contracts and include billions in federal contracts to over 151 Fortune firms. The ASBL estimates in 2015 legitimate small businesses probably received no more than 5% of all federal contracts and not the 23% required by law. In July, Mother Jones released an investigative article titled, "Giant Corporations Reaping Billions in Federal "Small Business" Contracts". As early as 1995 the Inspector General for the Small Business Administration uncovered large businesses were fraudulently receiving federal small business contracts. The Inspector General referred to it as a "particular fraudulent practice." In 2003 Government Accountability the Office uncovered over 5,300 large businesses had illegally received billions in federal small business contracts and subcontracts. The Associated Press published an article on the rampant fraud that ran in newspapers across the country. In 2005 the SBA Inspector General released Report 5-15 that stated, "One of the most important challenges facing the Small Business Administration and the entire federal government today is that large businesses are receiving federal small business awards and agencies are receiving credit for these awards." In 2015 Public Citizen released their investigative report on the abuses titled, "Slighted, Accounting Tricks Create False Impression Small Businesses Are Receiving Their Fair Share of Federal Contracts." ASBL President Lloyd Chapman stated, "When we win this case it will finally close the door on over twenty years of fraud and corruption at the Small Business Administration. All of our research indicates that it will increase the volume of federal contracts to legitimate small businesses by well over $200 billion a year and create millions on new jobs in every state in the country." Contact: Jeanne Spatola [email protected] 707-789-9575 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/400787LOGO SOURCE American Small Business League SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Fluidic Energy today announced an ambitious commitment to bring affordable and reliable energy to 100 million people globally by 2025 via its game-changing long duration energy storage technology and "Whole Product" turnkey approach. With over 40MWh of energy storage globally, Fluidic has positively impacted more than 3 million people. Building on momentum already established in Indonesia, Fluidic signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the government of Indonesia in October that will provide reliable and renewable powered energy to 1.7 million people in the remote regions of the country. In March, Fluidic also reached an MOU with the government of Madagascar, under which the company will provide reliable renewable energy to an estimated 100 villages and communities and 400,000 people on the island. "Fluidic's experience, partnerships, leadership and unique technology enable us to develop and execute some of the largest commercially viable and immediately deployable rural electrification projects," states Fluidic Energy CEO, Steve Scharnhorst. "The entire Fluidic Energy team has rallied around our commitment to deliver reliable and clean electricity, positively impacting more than 100 million people by 2025, elevating the prosperity of entire communities in the process," said Scharnhorst. "It's an ambitious target, but our growing momentum in diverse climates and harsh environments around the globe, and the proven performance of our Zinc-air long duration battery technology provides us confidence that the goal can be achieved." Globally, 1.2 billion people are still living without access to electricity. Long duration, performance-reliable and financially viable energy storage has been identified by many as the key breakthrough that will accelerate the access to clean, reliable energy for a significant portion of these people. The Fluidic Energy systems used in both the Madagascar and Indonesian renewable energy projects will deliver reliable, uninterrupted renewable electricity, bringing significant benefits and the platform for economic activity and growth to remote villages. Fluidics' long duration energy storage products can deliver electricity over several days without the use of diesel generators, eliminating harmful emissions and lowering costs. With access to reliable electricity, communities gain an enhanced standard of living and opportunities for economic growth. "Rural electrification projects that deliver a reliable energy future to people, in many instances for the first time in their lives, is extremely rewarding to our entire team. It is also very exciting to be a part of global telecom expansion efforts. Putting reliable communications in places with historically challenging infrastructure can change people's lives and empower their future," said Scharnhorst. The 100 million by 2025 target is aligned to the aggressive goals of the company, which is the first and only company to commercialize rechargeable and long duration Zinc-air energy storage technology in high volume. The company has over 100 patents and over $150 million invested in advancing this technology to date. An unprecedented amount of people impacted by this bold commitment will be through rural electrification efforts. Additional lives will be enhanced via the delivery of reliable electricity to unstable grid regions in critical infrastructure applications such as telecommunications. Scharnhorst concluded, "Changing the lives of 100 million people globally by 2025 is ambitious. When you see the technology in action as we have since 2011 and witness how access to electricity can transform communities, it is a source of inspiration and determination." About Fluidic Energy Fluidic Energy is dedicated to accelerating the worldwide transformation to clean, reliable energy through its innovative and intelligent energy storage solutions. Enabled by groundbreaking battery technology and smart-grid intelligence, Fluidic Energy designs, manufactures and markets proprietary energy storage solutions globally. It is the first and only company to commercialize and deliver rechargeable Zinc-air battery technology in high production volumes. Fluidic Energy has delivered tens of MWh of energy storage globally with its industry leading lowest levelized cost. Fluidic Energy continues to build momentum as the long-duration energy storage leader, installing systems worldwide that increase reliability, functionality and surpass cost targets necessary for practical energy storage adoption. While meeting market needs now, Fluidic Energy is paving the path for the smart, sustainable grid of the future. 8455 N 90th Street Scottsdale, Arizona 85258 www.fluidicenergy.com Contact: Katie Avila Fluidic Energy +1-480-966-0242 Email SOURCE Fluidic Energy Related Links http://www.fluidicenergy.com BERLIN, Germany, Aug. 24th 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Starbucks in Germany has selected the Berlin-based start-up FluxPort as a wireless charging partner. Guests in three Munich Starbucks Coffee Houses can now wirelessly charge their smartphone while enjoying their coffee. The charging pads, called FluxPorts, are smoothly integrated into tables and charge mobile devices via induction. This is the first step in the nationwide roll-out of the FluxPort wireless charging infrastructure. Starbucks was the first coffee shop in the world offering free Wi-Fi in 2010. In order to further enhance customer experience, Starbucks has chosen to integrate Qi wireless charging technology from FluxPort. Starbucks installed FluxPorts in three stores in Munich; the Sendlingerstrae 27 the Arnulfstrae 32 stores as well as at the pep shopping center in Neuperlach. Using FluxPort wireless charging, Starbucks once again demonstrates their flair for innovation and mobile zeitgeist. "Since the beginning we had this idea of drinking coffee while easily charging our smartphone at the edge of the table. Starbucks, the most successful coffee house chain in the world, supports this idea. Thus FluxPort expands its nationwide wireless charging network with an extraordinarily strong partner. Soon anyone can find their wireless charging spot at their Starbucks shop," says Sener Abanozoglu, founder and CEO of FluxPort. "Offering wireless charging with FluxPort means to us the next logical step for a holistic customer experience," explains Hanko Geissler, Construction Manager at Starbucks who selected the Qi wireless charging technology. "With every cup of coffee we want to inspire our guests and offer a familiar place to relax and enjoy. Our partners in the coffee houses are often asked by our guests for a way to charge their mobile phones. With FluxPort wireless charging service we are pleased to offer a convenient solution and thus to make our guest's stay even more enjoyable." FluxPort uses the Qi technology for wireless energy transfer, a standard that is supported by corporations such as IKEA, BMW, Audi, Opel, LG and Samsung. The Qi standard was established by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC). Smartphones that do not yet have integrated Qi technology can easily be equipped with the Fluxy a Qi receiver in the form of a small chip or case. External adapters the Fluxy Drop Universals can be borrowed directly at the Starbucks coffee house. "The Qi ecosystem continues to expand worldwide. The deployment of FluxPorts by Starbucks is an exciting and important step to making sure consumers in Germany are able to keep their phone charged throughout their daily journey." Said Menno Treffers, chairman of the WPC. Starbucks is now part of the first Germany-wide wireless charging network that will help smartphone users get rid of their charging cables and stop the endless search for the next socket. There were 46 million smartphone users in Germany in April 2016. The FluxPort app shows these users exactly where to find the nearest battery refueling location. This free application for iOS and Android helps to navigate via GPS and includes all FluxPort locations across Germany with contact details, images and other information. Press Pictures FluxPort Wireless Charging is now available in three Starbucks Coffee Houses in Munich, Germany: https://www.dropbox.com/s/1i5w5s4fmwd4i6i/201608-Starbucks-FluxPort-Foto.jpg?dl=0 Further press pictures, amongst others a portrait of M. Sener Abanozoglu, founder and CEO of FluxPort, a FluxPort Logo and the FluxPort product family: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0t1khuh3cn1x9yf/AABWofFM_rJ35YQ4N4d_sBXma?dl=0 Video FluxPort YouTube commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_JiGcjPxs0 About Starbucks Since 1971, Starbucks Corporation has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting the highest quality arabica coffee in the world. Today, with stores around the globe, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at www.starbucks.com. About FluxPort FluxPort is a provider of wireless charging for smartphones. With the FluxPort system smartphone users can recharge their device easily on the way and at home. FluxPort builds up a partner network of restaurants, hotels, the service sector and retail throughout Germany and beyond. The company offers wireless charging for smartphones of all current brands such as Apple, Samsung, LG, Google Nexus and Nokia Lumia. With central headquarter in Berlin FluxPort is the first company in Germany which established the wireless charging approach in cooperation with local and regional companies within a network. Thanks to cooperation partners FluxPort is also available in Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, in Ireland, Croatia und Turkey. www.fluxport.com SOURCE FluxPort Related Links https://www.fluxport.com NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Last week Inc. magazine ranked Markets Group NO. 1319 on its 35th annual Inc. 5000. The list is the most prestigious ranking of the nation's fastest-growing private companies and Markets Group ranked based on their growth of 294% over the last three years. "I'm happy to see Markets Group once again named in this year's Inc 5000", says Adam Raleigh, CEO. "I'd like to thank the team for honoring the conference craft through this huge achievement. Also, I'd like to formally announce our launch in Europe, the Middle East and Africa with 24 new events for 2017." In 2014, Markets Group was named on the Inc. 500 list for the first time, ranking at #425. In addition, they were distinguished as the #1 conference organizer and #1 financial services firm based in NYC in terms of growth that year. Last year, they ranked as #785. Markets Group's growth is the result of the company's efforts to expand and continue to provide exclusive forums in essential markets around the world. More than 10,000 professionals rely on Markets Group to achieve premium returns on their time, marketing and research. Their clients range from mining executives in Chile, to public pension funds in Sweden, to single family offices in Texas, to investment bankers in New York, to construction companies in Panama. "The Inc. 5000 list stands out where it really counts," says Inc. President and Editor-In-Chief Eric Schurenberg. "It honors real achievement by a founder or a team of them. No one makes the Inc. 5000 without building something great usually from scratch. That's one of the hardest things to do in business, as every company founder knows. But without it, free enterprise fails." About Markets Group Markets Group is an executive forum organizer with a track record of 175+ conferences in over 20 countries. Founded in 2009 in New York, Markets Group has grown into one of the largest and most successful conference organizers in the Americas, with over 65 professionals operating out of our headquarters in Midtown Manhattan. We have successfully executed events in North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. For more information contact: Karishna Perez Marketing Manager Markets Group +1 646 216 8581 [email protected] www.marketsgroup.org SOURCE Markets Group Related Links http://www.marketsgroup.org SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Limelight Health, provider of enterprise technology for the employee benefits industry, announced today that Mark Morgan, former President of Anthem Blue Cross has been elected to Limelight Health's board of directors. Mr. Morgan has decades of experience in the health insurance industry. He has held senior leadership positions at several of the nation's largest health carriers, including Anthem Blue Cross and Health Net. As President of Anthem Blue Cross, Morgan oversaw the management of their commercial business and strategy in California, taking the helm at onset of and guiding Anthem through implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the Covered California exchange. "Mark is an experienced and respected executive in the healthcare industry. We couldn't be more thrilled and excited to welcome him to Limelight Health's board of directors," said Jason T. Andrew, Limelight Health's CEO. "His operational and executive experience will be extremely valuable as Limelight Health continues to grow nationwide." "Limelight Health fills the need for a connected, dynamic, real time quoting platform which allows all users in the employee benefits ecosystem to make more informed and timely decisions," said Morgan. "I'm excited to be joining their board and have the opportunity to contribute to their growth and assist with their emergence into new markets." Before joining Anthem Blue Cross, Morgan began his career at Health Net, where he had leadership roles across all lines of business to include Large Group, Small Group, and Individual and Family Plans as well as product development, marketing, sales and underwriting. Morgan earned a bachelor's degree in finance from California State University Northridge and a master's degree in business administration from Pepperdine University. He was a licensed agent for over ten years. About Limelight Health Limelight Health powers reimagined employee benefits distribution, providing a new all-in-one health insurance quoting platform and solution for health insurance carriers, general agents and brokers. Leveraging years of insurance industry experience, Limelight Health provides a new all-in-one platform and solution that connects and integrates data with other benefits technologies like payroll, CRM, benefits administration and compliance tools. This solution aids in the decision making process with advanced quoting and decision tools while saving time and eliminating redundancies. For more information, visit limelighthealth.com Media Contact: Amber Moore Limelight Health [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160114/322216LOGO SOURCE Limelight Health Related Links http://www.limelighthealth.com SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Although there's no act to restrict nickel used in jewelry in US, Geshia has upgraded its jewelry making process to feature its nickel-free jewelry. All its retail shops have been stocked with the new products. Geshia Nickel Free Jewelry Nickel is a lustrous, silver-white metal often used in jewelry as a base which is then plated with gold or rhodium. It's a carcinogenic, allergenic material which if inhaled, ingested or absorbed through the skin. It's for this reason that the EU banned its use in 1994. All jewelry pieces and items that came into contact with the skin could not contain nickel. The UK also adopted the EU Nickel Directive as its standard in 2005 to protect its citizens. The USA is yet to set a standard how much nickel can be used in jewelry. Nickel is still being used in white gold and rhodium plating. Worse still, CBS featured a story on how 90% of children's and adult's jewelry pieces from major retail stores like Ming 99 City, Target, Big Lots, Burlington Coat Factory, Claire's, Walmart, Glitter, Forever 21, Meijers, H&M, Kohl's, Icing, Justice, and Hot Topic contained high levels of nickel. The New York University School of Medicine warns that chronic exposure to the element has been connected to cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, neurological and developmental deficits in children as well as high blood pressure. As a jewelry brand, Geshia (under Geshia Group Inc. official retail site: http://geshia.com) has introduced a new production technique. Instead of nickel, palladium, a member in platinum family, which is harmless to the human body, is selected to be used in rhodium plating over the solid sterling silver of jewelry. It's an upgrade of the obsolete method and makes metal of jewelry nickel free. "Nickel is a proven risk to human body, and it's our responsibility as a jewelry brand to provide safe product to our clients,'' said Celine Zeng, Geshia's CEO. "It shouldn't to be continued to be used in jewelry in US even if there's no act to restrict it." Media contact: Victor Long Email 888-212-3548 Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMTnsemZGS0 SOURCE Geshia Group Inc. Related Links http://geshia.com ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Gibbs & Cox, Inc., a leading independent naval architecture and marine engineering firm, announced the promotion of Mr. Kevin Prince to Vice President of the Gibbs & Cox (G&C) Engineering Group. In this role, Mr. Prince will be responsible for management and execution of engineering services across G&C's broad range of commercial, government and international clients. "Kevin has spent 22 years of his 36-year engineering career at Gibbs & Cox, bringing unmatched knowledge of the maritime industry and ship design," said President and Chief Executive Chris Deegan. "His combined technical acuity and demonstrated leadership makes him the ideal selection to lead our Engineering Group." Mr. Prince holds a Bachelor's of Science in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the University of Michigan. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Maryland and Virginia, a Chartered Engineer in Great Britain, and a certified Project Management Professional. He is also a Member of The Society of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineers, and a Fellow of The Institute of Marine Engineering Science and Technology. Previously, Mr. Prince was an Assistant Vice President of Gibbs & Cox's Engineering Group. About Gibbs & Cox, Inc. Gibbs & Cox Inc. is a global leader in maritime engineering and design, with over 8,000 vessels built to our designs since 1929. Gibbs & Cox supports military and commercial clients in the U.S. and internationally with all phases of marine design as well as construction and lifecycle management. Gibbs & Cox's breadth and depth of high performance commercial and military vessel skills are augmented with the acquisition of Donald L. Blount & Associates (DLBA). DLBA specializes in the technical development of high-performance marine craft. Independent and privately held, Gibbs & Cox is headquartered in Arlington, VA, with offices in Newport News and Chesapeake, VA; New York, NY; Philadelphia, PA; New Orleans LA., and Washington, D.C.. Learn more at www.gibbscox.com. SOURCE Gibbs & Cox, Inc Related Links http://www.gibbscox.com CHICAGO, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Grainger (NYSE: GWW), the leading broad line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) products serving businesses and institutions, today announced it awarded special one-time grants to the six community colleges most active in the Grainger Tools for Tomorrow scholarship program. Grant awards were based on the top three community colleges with the most students earning Grainger Tools for Tomorrow scholarships overall during the last 10 years, and the top three community colleges with the most veterans earning Grainger Tools for Tomorrow scholarships. "Congratulations to these six schools," said Grainger Chairman, President and CEO, Jim Ryan. "The Grainger Tools for Tomorrow scholarship program started with seven community colleges in 2006, and now includes 125 schools. We began this program to support the evolving opportunities of skilled trade workers. Today, the skilled trades offer exciting, long-term careers that require advanced problem-solving skills, science, technology and math knowledge. Through our Grainger Tools for Tomorrow scholarship program, we are proud to do our part in helping qualified technical education and public safety students graduate." Each year, Grainger works with the American Association of Community Colleges to offer two scholarships of $2,000 each at 125 community colleges in the U.S. The scholarships are awarded to students in skilled trade and public safety programs such as plumbing, welding, automotive, construction, fire safety and law enforcement. Half of the scholarships offered are earmarked for veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. In addition to the scholarship, Grainger provides tools to students after they graduate to help them launch a successful career. Since 2006, Grainger has donated more than $3.1 million to support technical education. The top three community colleges with the most students earning Grainger Tools for Tomorrow scholarships overall during the last 10 years are: Community College of Baltimore County (17 scholarships); (17 scholarships); St. Louis Community College (17 scholarships); and (17 scholarships); and Cincinnati State Technical & Community College (16 scholarships). The top three community colleges with the most veterans earning Grainger Tools for Tomorrow scholarships are: Lee College in Baytown, Texas (11 veteran scholarships); (11 veteran scholarships); American River College in Sacramento, California (9 veteran scholarships); and in (9 veteran scholarships); and Bellingham Technical College in Bellingham, Washington (9 veteran scholarships). These six schools received more than $8,000 each through this one-time grant. Grant awards are based on proceeds from merchandise sold at the Grainger Store during the 2016 Grainger Show. To learn more about the Grainger Tools for Tomorrow scholarship program, please visit www.graingerskilledtrades.com. About Grainger W.W. Grainger, Inc., with 2015 sales of $10 billion, is North America's leading broad line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating products (MRO), with operations also in Europe, Asia and Latin America. Follow Grainger on Twitter and Facebook. Subscribe to Grainger's Media Room to receive the latest news. SOURCE W.W. Grainger, Inc. Related Links http://www.grainger.com DETROIT, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Alliance Plan (HAP) announced today that it would donate $25,000 to support the Crim Fitness Foundation's mindfulness program, which includes support for the Crim's mindfulness program in the Flint Community Schools during the 2016-2017 school year, as well as a symposium on that topic this fall. The announcement was made at a press conference to kick off the HealthPlus Crim Festival of Races. The donation will help the Crim Fitness Foundation expand its existing program and aid mindfulness training and curriculum for Genesee County educators. With this support, teachers and school staff will be trained to incorporate mindfulness techniques in their daily classroom routines. The goal is to help students stay focused and present while attending school. "Mindfulness is wellness programming that is often overlooked and misunderstood," said Tom Spring, director of wellness and community relations for HAP. "We wanted to help the Crim expand its existing program so that people understand the benefits. When you're on autopilot, you're not in control, and may participate in actions without thought or consideration of the consequences." HAP's donation will also help support the Crim Mindfulness Symposium & Conference on Oct. 6. The Flint event will feature national experts on mindfulness, as well as details of the Crim's plans for the 2016-2017 school year. For decades, the Crim has offered programs to encourage residents in Genesee County to eat better and move more. The mindfulness program serves as one part of the overall school-based strategy to keep people well. "HAP is focused on keeping our communities and members well before they ever get sick," said Spring. "We are inspired by the Crim and its work to encourage physical activity. Programs like the 'I Crim for Flint' campaign are a fun way to motivate kids to start building healthy habits early." Contact Jamie Florida by email at [email protected] for more information about Crim Mindfulness programs. HAP Acknowledges 30- and 40-Year Racers HAP also made it easier to spot the veteran Crim racers on Saturday. During today's press event, HAP honored 30- and 40-year racers with a badge of honor an orange armband to acknowledge their accomplishments. Forty-year racers will sport the orange and white version while 30-year racers will wear an orange and black band during this week's activities. Earlier this year, HAP announced that it would serve as the title sponsor of the 2017 HAP Crim Festival of Races, succeeding HealthPlus as title sponsor following the merger of the two companies in February. About Health Alliance Plan Health Alliance Plan (HAP) is a Michigan-based, nonprofit health plan that provides health coverage to more than 675,000 members and companies of all sizes. For more than 50 years, HAP has partnered with leading doctors and hospitals, employers and community organizations to enhance the health and well-being of the lives we touch. HAP offers a product portfolio with six distinct product lines: Group Insured Commercial, Individual, Medicare, Medicaid, Self-Funded and Network Leasing. HAP excels in delivering award-winning preventive services, disease management and wellness programs, and personalized customer service. Contacts: Ebony Dooley Katie Rebella Health Alliance Plan MCCI on behalf of HAP 248-443-7847 office 248-318-4303 mobile [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE Health Alliance Plan (HAP) Related Links http://www.hap.org IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- HomeUnion, an online real estate investment management firm, has released new data on the best military towns for investing in single-family rental (SFR) properties based on average cap rates, which are the relationship between an investment property's net operating income (rents minus expenses) in the first year of ownership and the purchase price of the property. To be included in the list, military bases must have a population of active duty personnel and their families of 15,000 or higher. SFRs near Warner Robbins, Ga., a U.S. Air Force Base which supports 19,500 active service members and family, have average cap rates of 7 percent. Meanwhile, rental housing in Watertown, N.Y., where the Fort Drum Army base is located, is also an excellent investment with cap rates of 6.9 percent on average. SFRs in Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C., have average cap rates of 6.3 percent. "The military bases included in this study are located throughout the United States," explains Steve Hovland, director of research for HomeUnion. "SFRs near military bases that offer the highest returns, however, are primarily located in the South and Midwest," he adds. One California base made the list Twentynine Palms, a Marine Corps branch with 17,700 people in the Inland Empire. "Acquiring SFRs near military bases may be one of the best real estate investment strategies, for a variety of reasons," explains Don Ganguly, CEO of HomeUnion. "For example, military service members are employed by the Federal government, which provides greater employment certainty than the private sector. Demand from service men and women is stable, particularly as the military limits overseas deployments following two protracted wars. In addition, the military compensates service members based on market-rate rents, rank and dependents, giving landlords incentive to lease to military personnel and their families," he adds. "The transient nature of serving in the military also means that there is a substantial population of government workers that prefer to rent rather than buy, driving demand over the short and long term," adds Hovland. Here's a complete list of the best military towns for investing in SFRs: Military Base Metro State MHA[1] Cap Rate MHA Area Rent MHA Price Active Duty & Family Branch Robins AFB Warner Robins GA 7.0% $965 $93,900 19,500 Air Force Fort Drum Watertown NY 6.9% $1,238 $121,700 20,100 Army Fort Jackson Columbia SC 6.3% $1,145 $120,500 15,000 Army Fort Sill Lawton OK 6.3% $822 $87,000 46,700 Army Fort Benning Columbus GA 6.1% $914 $99,100 86,800 Army Sheppard AFB Wichita Falls TX 5.9% $883 $100,900 16,800 Air Force Fort Gordon Augusta GA 5.8% $1,078 $119,700 15,800 Army Fort Hood Killeen TX 5.8% $1,097 $126,500 151,900 Army Fort Sam Houston San Antonio TX 5.6% $1,294 $152,500 19,600 Army Offutt AFB Omaha NE 5.5% $1,193 $140,800 23,300 Air Force Fort Knox Louisville KY 5.5% $968 $115,100 100,200 Army Fort Stewart Hinesville GA 5.4% $1,208 $146,000 57,300 Army Eglin AFB Valparaiso FL 5.2% $1,382 $171,100 20,700 Air Force Fort Bragg Fayetteville NC 5.2% $940 $120,900 55,500 Army Camp Lejeune Jacksonville NC 5.0% $994 $129,300 46,100 Marine Corps Fort Campbell Hopkinsville KY 5.0% $977 $134,700 62,400 Army Twentynine Palms Inland Empire CA 4.9% $1,062 $135,900 17,700 Marine Corps Mayport Naval Station and Jacksonville NAS Jacksonville FL 4.8% $1,251 $174,700 76,700 Navy Cherry Point MCAS Havelock NC 4.8% $1,064 $153,200 35,200 Marine Corps Langley AFB Newport News VA 4.7% $1,378 $189,500 18,000 Air Force 1 MHA (Military Housing Area): MHAs are a set of zip codes set aside by the government to compute BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing). BAH is an allowance determined by the U.S. Dept. of Defense prescribed by geographic duty location, pay grade, and dependency status. It provides uniformed service members equitable housing compensation based on real estate prices in local civilian housing markets when government quarters are not provided. About HomeUnion HomeUnion is an online real estate investment management firm. Based in Irvine, Calif., it provides all the services needed for individuals to invest remotely in single-family rental (SFR) properties. The company uses a combination of research and proprietary analytics to incorporate data on over 110 million homes and 200,000 neighborhoods into their database, and then delivers its solutions to an on-the-ground infrastructure that currently serves 18 locations. HomeUnion's role spans the lifecycle of the investment transaction: identifying sound investments, handling all aspects of acquisition, maximizing income, protecting asset value, and selling the asset when the time comes. SOURCE HomeUnion Related Links http://www.homeunion.com COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hondros College of Business announces a special networking event exclusive to its alumni. The College has invited alumni to attend a Homecoming event that will be on October 6, 2016 at the Westerville Campus. This event is free to Hondros Alumni Association members. Two guests of honor will speak at the Hondros Homecoming event. Guest speaker and Hondros alumnus Skip Weiler, President of The Robert Weiler Company, will discuss commercial real estate and its impact on residential sales. The second guest speaker is Real Estate Attorney Kristin Rosan, who will cover best practices, the broker lien law & compensation issues as they relate to commercial real estate. The event will be held at 4140 Executive Parkway, Westerville, Ohio 43081. The schedule is as follows: check in, happy hour and appetizers from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; Free CE: Commercial Real Estate & Residential Sales from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.; and networking from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. "This is the first Homecoming event we've hosted as a College," said President Tina Lapp. "We're very much looking forward to giving our incredible alumni the opportunity to network and reconnect with each another." Hondros College of Business alumni can register here for the event using discount code HOMECOMING at checkout to gain free admission. About Hondros College of Business Hondros College of Business, based in Columbus, Ohio, educates individuals who want to improve their lives by entering new careers that offer stability, flexibility, independence and financial rewards. Hondros College of Business, with six Ohio campuses and with course offerings in many states nationwide, offers a variety of professional certificates and continuing education programs, as well as an Associate Degree in Business Management. Professional programs include real estate, appraisal, home inspection, mortgage, insurance, securities, personal training, online marketing and oil and gas safety. For more information, visit http://www.hondros.com. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160418/356668LOGO SOURCE Hondros College of Business Related Links http://www.hondros.com "Millennials are bold, willing to hunt for something different, and they believe innovative smartphones will play a vital role in their everyday life and bring superior experiences," said George Zhao, President of Honor. "Leveraging these valuable insights as well as our aesthetic and creative expertise, we crafted the glamourous glass back for Honor 8, which is so different from all the metal body smartphones out there on the market. Combined with cutting-edge features incorporated in the dual-lens camera, fingerprint recognition, powerful CPU and battery, all enabled by our latest innovation, Honor 8 is a state-of-the-art device that will empower technology-savvy digital natives to explore the world and fulfill their potential." "'For the Brave' is the essence of Honor's brand spirit and by working with recognized opinion leaders who represent the brave global youth, we aim to ignite more passion amongst our young consumers, encouraging them to live to the fullest," said Steven Wang, Global Marketing Director of Honor. "For Honor 8, we invited Brooklyn Beckham as our global brand ambassador and Louane Emera as our brand ambassadors in France. Through these partnerships and ongoing consumer engagements, Honor is becoming the smartphone brand of choice for millennials and a lifestyle trend setter for those who are young-at-heart." First unveiled in China in July, then in the US on Aug 16th, today's Honor 8 event concludes its global launch tour in Europe -- one of its most important markets, playing a vital role in the brand's worldwide success. Eva Wimmers, President Honor in WEU / Vice President Honor Global said: "At Honor, we do not take short cuts. It is our unwavering commitment to innovation, collaboration and action that has enabled us to achieve rapid business growth and brand development in Europe over the past two years. Looking ahead, our strategic focus is to introduce more innovative products such as Honor 8 to the European market and continuously enhance customers' shopping experiences. We also look forward to growing with young people across the region and becoming the ideal partner of other growing youth brands and services." Honor 8 will hit the shelves in Europe on August 24 on Honor's vMall. Honor 8 features Smooth design by perfect craftsmanship With a 5.2-inch FHD touchscreen display, the trendy exterior of Honor 8 boasts a resilient two-sided 2.5D glass body and diamond-cut aluminum alloy edges that form an ultra-narrow bezel. The 3D grate design with its 15-layer process of craftsmanship on the glass back reflects light beautifully, making Honor 8 a glamourous statement piece for trail-blazing users always on the hunt for something different. Capture the bright side of life Featuring one RGB and one monochrome sensor, 1.25 um large pixel size, Honor 8's dual 12MP lenses can capture more light, increase picture quality, bring bright colors to life and render crisper details to photographs. Its hybrid auto-focus perfectly aligns the laser focus, precise depth focus and contrast focus to deliver quality images regardless of the lighting conditions. The Honor 8 also packs a punch with its 8-megapixel front-facing camera for the selfie addict in users. One touch to unlock the digital world With 0.4-second phone unlock, auto learning skillset, 3D fingerprint reading, and a level-4 fingerprint collection algorithm, the Honor 8 delivers a truly advanced experience in terms of speed, intelligence and security at users' finger tips. Powerful performance The Honor 8 is powered by an 8-core CPU up to 2.3GHz with 16nm FinFET technology. With an ever-intelligent high-end processor and 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM for flawless multi-tasking and seamless gaming. The CPU chipset also contains an i5 co-processor, which controls the phone's sensors and features, and works in alignment with the Kirin 950 SoC chipset to provide users with increased processing speed, response time and battery life. Hefty battery life and fast charging to keep connected Featuring a 3,000mAh[i] battery with Smart Power 4.0 maximizing stand-by time, Honor 8 is expected to keep going for 1.77 days under normal usage and a full 1.22 days under heavy usage[ii]. The power is also enough to run offline videos for 10 hours straight. It also delivers a world-class 9V/2A charging experience[iii], reaching almost 50% charge in just 30 minutes. For emergency situations, you'll get two-hours of phone time or six-hours of offline music on a mere 10 minute charge. For more product information, please visit: http://www.hihonor.com/global/ [i] 3,000mAh for typical rate, 2,900mAh for rated rate. [ii] Data based on Honor laboratory tests, actual times may vary. [iii] Honor 8 only supports 9V/2A charging when used with the factory-provided charger. Charging times may vary depending on the charger used and the ambient conditions. About honor Honor is a leading smartphone e-brand under the Huawei Group. In line with its slogan, "For the Brave", the brand was created to meet the needs of digital natives through internet-optimized products that offer superior user experiences, inspire action, foster creativity and empower the young to achieve their dreams. In doing this, Honor has set itself apart by showcasing its own bravery to do things differently and to take the steps needed to usher in the latest technologies and innovations for its customers. For media enquiries, please contact: Reed Li Burson-Marsteller Hong Kong [email protected] +852-2963-6719 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160823/400408-INFO SOURCE Honor Related Links http://www.hihonor.com/global "IDAHOAN prides itself on offering convenient solutions to quality food products, while the HERDEZ Brand is a world-class leader in authentic Mexican food," said Ryan Ellis, director, retail marketing for IDAHOAN. "This agreement brings forth strengths of both brands." With easy to find packaging, these four new product options, manufactured by IDAHOAN and distributed under the HERDEZ Brand label, HERDEZ Traditional Instant Refried Beans, HERDEZ Jalapeno Instant Refried Beans, HERDEZ Chorizo Instant Refried Beans and HERDEZ Queso Instant Refried Beans, come in 5.4-5.8 oz packets and make 4.5 prepared servings. They are ready in minutes and can be found at food retailers in select markets. For more information on IDAHOAN Foods visit www.idahoan.com. For more information on the HERDEZ Brand visit www.herdeztraditions.com. About IDAHOAN Foods, LLC Combining a full-service network of professionals from field to fork, Idahoan Foods, LLC is a leading manufacturer of value-added products. Its potato processing plants, nationally recognized retail, foodservice and warehouse club brands of products, along with its grower partnerships, allow Idahoan Foods to deliver superior quality and value to its customers. For more information visit www.idahoan.com. Follow Idahoan Foods on Facebook and Twitter. About the HERDEZ Brand HERDEZ salsa is made the authentic way, using fresh ingredients like tomatoes, onions, chile peppers and cilantro. Today, HERDEZ Salsa is the No.1 selling salsa brand in Mexico and a growing staple in homes in the United States. HERDEZ authentic Mexican products are available nationwide at major grocery stores. Visit www.herdeztraditions.com for more information. HERDEZ Brand is a division of MegaMex Foods, LLC. Founded in 2009 in Southern California, MegaMex Foods, LLC is a joint venture of two giants in the food industry-Hormel Foods and HERDEZ del Fuerte, S.A. de C.V. MegaMex Foods, LLC, prides itself on a keen expertise of marketing, sales and chain supply management making them an excellent partner for retail and foodservice companies. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160823/400741 SOURCE IDAHOAN Foods, LLC Related Links http://www.idahoan.com PITTSBURGH, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ImPACT Applications announces ImPACT Pediatric, its newest innovation in the field of concussion management. The first and only FDA-approved concussion-specific tool designed for individuals ages 5-11, ImPACT Pediatric provides health care professionals with objective measures of neurocognitive functioning for evaluation and management of concussion in younger children. ImPACT Pediatric is an iPad-based computerized test that is individually administered, engaging for children, and easy to use in a clinical setting. It addresses a gap that has existed in the medical device community for yearsa lack of normed and validated computerized neurocognitive assessment tools for efficiently and effectively measuring neurocognitive function in this age group. Created by ImPACT Applications, the developer of the FDA-approved ImPACT computerized neurocognitive concussion assessment and management tool, ImPACT Pediatric offers pediatric patients the same advantages seen by more than 10 million ImPACT test takers. "ImPACT Pediatric is a huge step forward for the industry and specifically for pediatric patients who are at-risk of concussion-related injuries," said Michael Wahlster, chief executive officer of ImPACT Applications. "Unlike older age groups who are often baseline tested before injury, concussion management for young children is mostly reactive. ImPACT Pediatric allows for proactive baseline testing for well-child patients and insight into cognitive changes if an injury occurs. It produces easy to use, secure, and manageable test results with age-referenced normative comparisons." According to a study by researchers from the University of Washington and Seattle Children's Research Institute together with colleagues at the University of Colorado, nearly 2 million children may suffer sports-related concussions each year. As more children below the age of 12 participate in recreational physical activity, often at the recommendation of a health care provider, baseline testing of this demographic population is increasingly essential to overall concussion management protocol. "ImPACT Pediatric is quick, efficient, and interesting for children to complete on the tablet," said neuropsychologist Thomas G. Burns, Psy.D, ABPP. "It also provides norm-referenced baseline data for ages 5-11. ImPACT Pediatric makes it easier for the clinician to monitor recovery and ultimately to inform returnto-activity decisions." Like ImPACT, the company's neurocognitive test for ages 12-59, ImPACT Pediatric has been granted FDA approval as a Computerized Cognitive Assessment Aid for Concussion, a new category for a device that uses an individual's score(s) on a battery of cognitive tasks to provide an indication of the current level of cognitive function in response to concussion. FDA de novo approval signifies ImPACT Pediatric has met the FDA's premarket requirements to demonstrate accuracy, validity, and reliability for concussion management and specifically states that ImPACT will "aid in the assessment and management of concussion." Health care professionals who are interested in adding ImPACT Pediatric to their offerings can learn more and request more information at www.ImPACTPediatric.com. About ImPACT Applications, Inc. ImPACT Applications, Inc. is the maker of ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing), the most widely-used and most scientifically-validated computerized concussion management tool available and the newly-launched ImPACT Pediatric, both the first of their kind to earn FDA clearance. More than 7,400 high schools, 1,000 colleges and universities, 900 clinical centers, 475 Credentialed ImPACT Consultants, 200 professional teams, and select military units choose ImPACT to assist in the management of concussion. Since 2006, ImPACT has served nearly 8 million individual test takers. For more information, visit www.impacttest.com. SOURCE ImPACT Applications Related Links http://www.ImPACTPediatric.com AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Businesses today are struggling to comply with numerous state and federal employment regulations. A few sample statistics are: In a recent survey of independent business owners, 22% rated government regulation as their number one issue. The cost of employment litigation in the U.S. can range from $75,000 to $250,000 . . In 2015 the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reported that Texas comprised 10.7% of the nation's total number of discrimination complaints. These statistics demonstrate that companies large and small face numerous challenges to their corporate culture, employee relations, and bottom line. Many business partners feel frustrated that they spend more time addressing compliance issues than driving their business. Our clients partner with Workplace FactFinders to develop creative, cost-effective solutions to such issues as: A lack of infrastructure or experience to navigate through burdensome government employment regulations; An overwhelmed human resources team that may not have the time or experience to properly conduct internal investigations; A loss of productivity that has been identified because the corporate culture is inconsistent with operational objectives; Large sums of money have been spent on legal fees for issues that could have been avoided if company personnel had been trained on how to effectively address these concerns internally; A potential merger or acquisition is contemplated and a thorough due diligence investigation is needed; Counsel recommends that an independent, third-party conduct an internal investigation. Workplace FactFinders was created to provide companies with innovative alternatives to traditional "fixes" such as incurring the cost of adding staff or paying unnecessary legal fees to mitigate the risk associated with employment compliance. For more information on how Workplace FactFinders can assist or benefit your company, please visit our website at www.workplacefactfinders.com. ABOUT WORKPLACE FACTFINDERS, LLC Workplace FactFinders, LLC is proudly headquartered in Austin, Texas. We are 100% woman-owned. Co-founders Cynthia Fenton and Stephanie Woodhead possess over 35 years of combined experience in the investigation and consulting fields. Their passion for identifying potentially adverse issues and proposing creative solutions led them to form Workplace FactFinders with one idea in mind: mitigating risk by helping employers fill the informational, cultural, and regulatory gaps that they face every day. Please contact Workplace FactFinders at: Cynthia Fenton Stephanie Woodhead 12407 N. Mopac Expy, Suite 250-514 Austin, TX 78758 (844) 321-9733 (Toll-Free) SOURCE Workplace FactFinders, LLC Related Links http://www.workplacefactfinders.com KIRKLAND, Wash., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- A strong 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck central Italy early Wednesday morning. The extent of the devastation and death toll are still being realized. Most of the deaths are being reported from the town of Amatrice, near the epicenter of the earthquake. There are many surrounding towns also affected by the earthquake in Italy, which was felt 100 miles away in the city of Rome. Officials expect the death toll to continue to rise as search and rescue activities are being conducted by Italy's Department of Civil Defense and Department of Civil Protection, along with local fire, police, and medical teams in an effort to locate survivors. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/401063 The shallow quake caused vulnerable old stone buildings to collapse while most people were sleeping. Subsequent and numerous aftershocks have further weakened already damaged buildings. Patients from the Amatrice hospital were transferred to a nearby hospital in Rieti as the hospital was severely damaged during the earthquake and was rendered unusable. The director of Italy's Civil Protection Agency, Fabrizio Curcio, has activated national emergency procedures and noted the Norcia / Amatrice earthquake is on par with the 6.3 magnitude L'Aquila earthquake that occurred in 2009, which resulted in more than 300 deaths, more than a thousand injuries, and left 50,000 people homeless. Responding to the L'Aquila earthquake, CEO and founder Richard Hotes of Alaska Structures and the Hotes Foundation, donated a four-shelter 25-bed BLU-MED mobile hospital to the Italian government. Volunteers with the Hotes Foundation worked alongside members of the BLU-MED team and the Italian government to construct the 3,000 square foot mobile hospital. The BLU-MED mobile hospital donated to the Italian government was part of BLU-MED Response Systems' Disaster Response Stockpile. This program maintains an emergency supply of mobile field hospitals, medical shelters, command centers, office and work space, mobile trailer systems, as well as housing accommodations for up to 10,000 people capable of being deployed to any location in the world within 48 hours or less. The recent earthquake in Italy, followed by the 6.8 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar, emphasize the need for mobile hospitals to care for victims of such disasters. The BLU-MED team thoughts and prayers go out to the family's affected by the earthquakes in Italy and Myanmar. BLU-MED Response Systems (BLU-MED), a division of Alaska Structures, Inc., is The World's Leader in Deployable Medical Facilities. BLU-MED provides turnkey, portable shelter-based solutions for a wide range of applications including full service hospitals with alternate EOC, CBRNE, triage, isolation, immunization, decontamination, emergency rooms (ER), operating rooms (OR), intensive care units (ICU), burn unit, and mortuaries, mobile field hospitals, alternate command centers, temporary housing and base camp requirements for hospital expansion, surge capacity, and emergency disaster preparedness and response. BLU-MED also offers support services including a full range of medical equipment packages, vendor managed inventory, field deployment, and training & exercise support. For more information, visit www.Blu-Med.com If you would like more information or to request access to the BLU-MED Disaster Response Stockpile, please call +1-425-739-2795 or visit our website: http://blu-med.com/disaster-response-stockpile/ Alaska Structures designs, engineers and delivers the highest quality fabric building systems for extreme environments. Since it was founded in 1975, more than 55,000 Alaska Structures have been tested and proven in over 65 countries around the world, including more than 30,000 Alaska Military Shelters and 17,000 Alaska Environmental Control Units in Afghanistan and Iraq. For more information, visit www.AKS.com. Contact: Don Diesel Email +1-314-565-8248 SOURCE BLU-MED Response Systems Related Links http://www.Blu-Med.com Today, Izzy Bijoux, a sophisticated American jewelry and accessories brand with celebrity clients, has confirmed that its advanced direct selling business model has been formally launched in Central Florida to a buzz of enthusiasm. Its first annual Jobs Expo in Central Florida to find 1,500 new Sales Stylist Executives is taking place on September 21st, 2016 at the Wyndham Orlando Resort, 8001 International Drive, FL 32819, from 10am to 8pm. The company is primarily focused on the greater Orlando area with plans for rapid expansion across the Sunshine State. In tandem with the Central Florida launch, the brand has commenced a targeted recruitment campaign to add to its fast-growing team who are passionate about the jewelry industry in America. Already, a sizeable percentage of women aged between 18 and 70 from the Central Florida region who are hugely engaged by fashion, jewelry and sales have been attracted to the company. Senior Management at Izzy Bijoux plans to build on this strong momentum to quickly reach its target of a 1,500 strong division of exceptional Sales Stylist Executives on the ground in the greater Orlando area. Register for the Jobs Expo here: (www.izzybijoux.com/register) "We are very excited to bring an empowering culture at Izzy Bijoux to the people of Central Florida. I am excited to share our business model with the many Job Expo attendees and all that we believe in and stand for as a company and a terrific brand choice," asserted, Dr. Chidi Kalu, General Manager, Izzy Bijoux. With its national headquarters in Hollywood, California, a new regional hub in Orlando, Florida, and its dedicated online store serving loyal customers across the United States, Izzy Bijoux and its team of highly skilled professionals are a dynamic name on the Central Florida jewelry scene. The brand has invested in a state of the art e-commerce platform that will be at the heart of its strategic local operations in association with Izzy Bijoux's superior one to one support structures and the highest quality skin-safe affordable materials. Video - http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/PRNA/ENR/Izzy-Bijoux-Jewelry.mp4 SOURCE Izzy Bijoux Related Links http://www.izzybijoux.com DALLAS, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Dallas attorney John Austin Curry, of the law firm Caldwell, Cassady & Curry, has been selected as an Associate Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America (LCA). Curry is a founding partner of the firm, where he focuses his practice on high-stakes patent infringement litigation and matters of corporate co-founder disputes. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160823/400841LOGO Curry has worked on high-technology cases involving electrical engineering and computer science technologies. Specifically, he has litigated and tried cases involving technology related to the manipulation of document architecture, systems and logic designed to facilitate the creation of secure communications, algorithms for efficient usage of routing cache, and techniques for down-converting carrier RF signals to baseband. The LCA is a trial lawyer honorary society composed of less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers. Fellowship in the LCA is highly selective and by invitation only. Fellows are selected based upon excellence and accomplishment in litigation, both at the trial and appellate levels, and superior ethical reputation. The LCA is aggressively diverse in its composition. Established as a trial and appellate lawyer honorary society reflecting the American bar in the twenty-first century, the LCA represents the best in law among its membership. Curry graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law after graduating valedictorian in his engineering and mathematics class at SMU. He now serves as a member of SMU's Lyle School of Engineering Executive Board. Caldwell, Cassady & Curry http://caldwellcc.com Media Contact: Teddy Novin (e) Email (p) 202.253.1860 SOURCE Caldwell, Cassady & Curry Related Links http://caldwellcc.com NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- J.F. Lehman & Company ("JFLCO") is pleased to announce that it has signed a definitive agreement with Oldenburg Group Incorporated to acquire its Heavy Equipment Group, including both its defense and mining business units. In a return to its roots dating back to 1858, the new company will be named Lake Shore Systems, Inc. ("Lake Shore" or the "Company"). The acquisition will represent JFLCO's 25th sponsored platform investment since the firm's inception. Lake Shore designs, engineers, manufactures and supports complex, heavy equipment systems to meet mission critical requirements in harsh operating environments, including large deck handling equipment, access and lifting systems for U.S. Government vessels and customized underground mining equipment for mine owners and operators around the world. The Company operates from facilities in Rhinelander, WI, Iron River, MI, Kingsford, MI, and Ontonagon, MI as well as other sales and service sites in the U.S. and Mexico. Alex Harman, Partner at JFLCO, stated, "We are pleased to have Lake Shore join our expanding portfolio of defense, maritime and aerospace companies. They are an excellent fit with our investment strategy given their leading market positions, long-standing customer relationships and outstanding workforce. In today's marine and mining marketplace, the need for specialized, high-quality, safe, and cost-effective solutions is growing, and Lake Shore offers a full-range of products and aftermarket services to meet this demand. We look forward to working with the management team to grow the business organically and through complementary add-on acquisitions." The transaction is expected to close later in 2016. About J.F. Lehman & Company, Inc. Founded in 1992, J.F. Lehman & Company is a leading middle-market private equity firm focused exclusively on the defense, aerospace, and maritime sectors. The firm has offices in New York and Washington. For more information about J.F. Lehman & Company, please visit www.jflpartners.com. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20091221/NY29520LOGO SOURCE J.F. Lehman & Company Related Links http://www.jflpartners.com HOLLYWOOD, Fla., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Hope On Wheels (HHOW) and Hollywood-area Hyundai dealers will present Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital with a $50,000 Impact Grant tomorrow to be used to improve care and increase treatment options for kids with cancer. Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital was chosen because of its proven track record of caring for children with pediatric cancer, and is one of 18 recipients across the country to receive a 2016 Hyundai Impact Grant from Hyundai Hope On Wheels (HHOW). The $50,000 Impact Grant will be presented during a Handprint Ceremony, during which the handprints of local Hollywood-area brave young cancer patients will be captured on a white 2016 Hyundai Tucson the Hyundai Hope On Wheels hero vehicle to commemorate their fight against the disease. The ceremony will also feature: Scott Singer , Associate Administrator, Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital and Pediatric Services, Memorial Healthcare System , Associate Administrator, Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital and Pediatric Services, Memorial Healthcare System Dr. Carmen Ballestas , specialist in pediatric oncology and hematology , specialist in pediatric oncology and hematology Giselle San Juan , pediatric cancer patient and her mother, Jennifer San Juan About the Hyundai Hope On Wheels Impact Grant During the months of July and August, HHOW will award 18 hospitals in the US with a $50,000 Hyundai Impact Grant for pediatric cancer research to help end childhood cancer. The Impact Grant supports the programmatic needs of pediatric oncology. The grant may also be used to support direct patient assistance programs, such as enrichment programs, play room/teen center equipment, family on-site support, educational initiatives, or other efforts to improve care and cure for kids fighting cancer. In addition to the Impact Grant winner, Hyundai Hope On Wheels will soon announce the winners of its Hyundai Scholar and Young Investigator Grants. This year alone, HHOW will award more than $13 million in new pediatric cancer grants. Since 1998, the program has funded $115 million in research to Children's Oncology Group (COG) member institutions nationwide. The program also creates awareness about the importance of the disease, which is the leading cause of death by disease in children in the United States (source). Attendees at the various ceremonies will include HHOW's two national youth ambassadors and pediatric cancer survivors, Hannah Adams and Ryan Darby, who will deliver a message of hope to children's cancer hospitals. Hannah was five years old when she was diagnosed with a Stage 3 Wilms tumor that enveloped her kidney. Since her recovery, she has pursued her love of dancing and singing to help uplift and encourage other children and families through their fight. Twelve-year-old Ryan was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia six years ago, and since his recovery, he has shared his story and words of encouragement with children and families across the country. Watch Hannah and Ryan's story at www.HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org "Our mission at Hyundai Hope On Wheels is clear: End Childhood Cancer," said Scott Stark, Chairman, Hyundai Hope On Wheels Board of Directors. "By funding transformational research through our Impact Grants and celebrating the lives of the brave young cancer fighters at our handprint ceremonies, we move closer to our dream of a day without cancer. This is a fight you can count on us to be in until no child ever has to hear the words: you have cancer." HYUNDAI HOPE ON WHEELS Hyundai Hope On Wheels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is committed to finding a cure for childhood cancer. Launched in 1998, Hyundai Hope On Wheels provides grants to eligible institutions nationwide that are pursuing life-saving research and innovative treatments for the disease. HHOW is one of the largest nonprofit funders of pediatric cancer research in the country, and primary funding for Hyundai Hope On Wheels comes from Hyundai Motor America and its more than 830 U.S. dealers. Since its inception, Hyundai Hope On Wheels has awarded more than $115 million towards childhood cancer research in pursuit of a cure. To learn more about Hyundai Hope On Wheels, please visit www.HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org or follow us on social media at www.facebook.com/HyundaiHopeOnWheels, www.twitter.com/hopeonwheels, and www.youtube.com/hopeonwheels. HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 830 dealerships nationwide. Please visit our media website at www.hyundainews.com and our blog at www.hyundailikesunday.com Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140319/LA86658LOGO SOURCE Hyundai Hope On Wheels PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to finding cures for all kids with cancer, challenges supporters everywhere to go the distance in September for Alex's Million Mile 2016 (AMM). Returning for its fourth year during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, AMM participants will collectively run, walk and/or ride one million miles to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer research. Last year, more than 15,000 participants logged over 963,000 miles in 24 different countries on 6 continents. Since its inception, AMM has raised over $1.8 million. Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation creator, Alexandra "Alex" Scott Individuals and teams who participate can log as many or as few miles as their ability allows, with each mile contributing to the collective million miles goal. Animal lovers rejoice your four-legged friend's miles count, too. So, don't forget to add your dog or cat to your AMM team. Miles can be logged manually or by using MapMyFitness, Fitbit or Strava apps starting September 1. The event is free to participants, but fundraising is encouraged and can start as soon as participants register. Participants can create their own team or search the AMM website for a variety of teams to join, based on location, childhood cancer types or teams led by ALSF researchers. New this year, childhood cancer teams allow participants to join a team for a specific type of childhood cancer and the money raised on that team will fund research projects for that particular cancer. Again this year, ALSF researchers who lead their own teams can raise money for their own projects and have up to $25,000 matched by the Foundation. "I am currently supported by ALSF as a Young Investigator and want to 'give back' to the organization by contributing myself," said Elliot Stieglitz, MD, of University of California San Francisco. "I also view it as a mechanism to incorporate my friends and family into the fight against cancer. Several people I know who might not otherwise have an outlet that allows them to directly contribute to pediatric cancer research have used this as an opportunity to get involved." Once participants create their own or join teams, there are plenty of ways to log miles and raise money. Individuals and teams looking to log their first mile can join First Mile events on September 1. A list of First Mile events is available on AlexsMillionMile.org. More ideas to help participants achieve their mileage goals are available on AlexsLemonade.org/blog. Although fundraising is not mandatory, AMM participants are encouraged to raise money while logging miles and raising awareness for childhood cancer. Many teams hold traditional lemonade stands and bake sales, but individuals and team can be as creative as possible because every dollar counts towards finding cures for all kids with cancer. Participants can show support through social media utilizing #Journey2aMillion. To register for Alex's Million Mile and get more ideas to help you reach your mileage and fundraising goals, visit AlexsMillionMile.org. About Childhood Cancer Childhood cancer is a general term used to describe cancer in children occurring regularly, randomly and sparing no ethnic group, socioeconomic class, or geographic region. Childhood cancer extends to over a dozen types of cancers and a countless amount of subtypes. Just a few of these cancer types include: Ewing's sarcoma, glioma, leukemia, lymphoma, medulloblastoma, neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma, retinoblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and Wilms' tumor. In the United States, childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children under the age of 15. Every day, approximately 250 kids around the world die from cancer, accounting for 91,250 losing their lives to the disease every year. About Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of cancer patient Alexandra "Alex" Scott (1996-2004). In 2000, 4-year-old Alex announced that she wanted to hold a lemonade stand to raise money to help find a cure for all children with cancer. Since Alex held that first stand, the Foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement, complete with thousands of supporters across the country carrying on her legacy of hope. To date, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, a registered 501(c)3 charity, has raised more than $127 million toward fulfilling Alex's dream of finding a cure, funding over 650 pediatric cancer research projects nationally. For more information on Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, visit AlexsLemonade.org. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/400879 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/400880LOGO SOURCE Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation Related Links http://www.alexslemonade.org ALLENTOWN, PA, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - JustFoodERP, a leader in the food software industry, has released JustFoodERP 2015 Feature Pack 3, a product update containing a suite of valuable new features. The all-in-one business software unites different parts of a food manufacturing or distribution business under one integrated system and now contains broader built-in support for variable weight products such as those found in meat and seafood industries. It also has many other benefits for food companies, adding support for reading and printing information-rich single-scan bar codes such as GS1, and introducing a streamlined handheld interface for warehouse picking and receiving. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/400962LOGO) Feature Pack 3 was designed to help food manufacturers and distributors lower costs, simplify complex processes and improve food safety so they can focus on growing their businesses. It captures the real-world complexity of planning and costing interrelated products (like a sub primal beef loin and the various cuts it can yield), and includes over 80 other improvements based on user feedback. Its guided interface is optimized for handheld devices, making picking, receiving and other warehouse jobs easier than ever. "This feature pack focuses on increasing productivity and tying together our existing variable weight features with streamlined shop floor interfaces and enhanced barcoding, delivering a market leading solution for business relying on variable and catch weights," says Steve Judges, VP Product Management at JustFoodERP. "The variable weight and product families support is exciting because it simplifies the tracking and costing of protein products which have weights that are inconsistent, and create challenges at all stages of production, from receiving ingredients to shipping finished goods." JustFoodERP offers three implementations of its software, Foundation, Professional and Enterprise, offered to companies with a range of needs. With over 10 years of experience implementing ERP at hundreds of food manufacturing and distribution companies, JustFoodERP now offers implementation flavors for most food companies in North America. About JustFoodERP: JustFoodERP delivers software for the food industry. Their experienced food experts help your company lower costs, improve food safety and manage compliance to keep customers successful. They do this by giving customers the software they need to run their businesses efficiently and profitably. Over 200 customers across North America enjoy the benefits of JustFoodERP software. JustFoodERP is an IndustryBuilt Software company, with offices in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Mississauga, Ontario. Visit www.justfooderp.com, and follow JustFoodERP on Twitter @justfooderp. SOURCE JustFoodERP DALLAS, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE: KMB) will webcast its participation in the 2016 Barclays Global Consumer Staples Conference from 9:30 a.m. to 10:10 a.m. CDT on Wednesday, September 7. Maria Henry, Senior Vice President and CFO, will make a presentation about the company's strategies for growing its global consumer and professional businesses and will subsequently answer questions from conference attendees. A link to the broadcast and related presentation slides will be provided through the Investors section of Kimberly-Clark's Web site at www.kimberly-clark.com. About Kimberly-Clark Kimberly-Clark and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Every day, nearly a quarter of the world's population trust Kimberly-Clark brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and well-being. With brands such as Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend, Kimberly-Clark holds No. 1 or No. 2 share positions in 80 countries. To keep up with the latest news and to learn more about the company's 144-year history of innovation, visit www.kimberly-clark.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. [KMB-F] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110928/DA76879LOGO SOURCE Kimberly-Clark Corporation Related Links http://www.kimberly-clark.com RICHMOND, Va., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- This fall, consumers can support public arts nationwide as they enjoy KRIS, one of America's most popular Italian Pinot Grigios. KRIS and Americans for the Arts (AFTA), the nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education, are partnering again for the seventh consecutive year. Over the past six years, the "Art of Education" program awarded over $350,000 in grants to schools in the United States to improve academic achievement through quality arts education. Now called the "Art of Giving," this year's campaign has broadened its purview to focus on public art. Beginning September 12, 2016, consumers, art enthusiasts and KRIS fans will have the chance to vote for their favorite public art project from over 250 U.S artists who have created works in the form of sculptures, murals and installations. Voting will be held at www.kriswine.com/giving, where there will be an image gallery with information about each artist and their work. When the campaign concludes on October 31, the artist with the greatest number of votes will be awarded the top prize of $10,000. The next seven artists who receive the most number of votes will also receive cash prizes for a total of $25,000 in grants. Grant money will be given directly to the winning artists with the aim to fund further projects in the spirit of enhancing their communities through public art. Voters and fans can also follow the campaign through the #KRISArtofGiving hashtag. "It has been an honor to support arts education in our public schools for the past six years in the 'Art of Education' campaign and we are excited about the new focus of 'Art of Giving.' We think this revised focus will excite communities to get involved in supporting public arts throughout the country," said Ian Downey, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Leonardo LoCascio Selections (LLS), a member of The Winebow Group. "We have loved working with AFTA throughout the years and it continues to be a highlight for our company every year." KRIS is a significant supporter of Americans for the Arts' work, and a key partner in showcasing the transformative power of the arts. Public art installations of any type are a key opportunity to build community vitality by instilling a sense of place, creating a heightened awareness in the viewer, and reflecting the values of the community in which it exists. "Whether subtly beautiful or vibrantly jolting, public art has the singular ability to make citizens going about everyday business in public places stop, think, and through the power of art, appreciate a moment, no matter how brief," said Robert L. Lynch, President and CEO of Americans for the Arts. "We are grateful to have a partner such as KRIS Wine that understands the important role that art plays in our lives, and we look forward to the new focus of 'Art of Giving.'" Art is a guiding principle behind KRIS wines as articulated in the brand's slogan, "Discover the Art of Wine." The timeless and inspiring KRIS label emphasizes the role of the sun in ripening the grapes to perfection and the human hand in crafting the wine. Artist Riccardo Schweizer, a native of Alto Adige, studied cubism in Paris under Pablo Picasso and Joan Miro, and gave his original paintings to the winery. He was convinced art had to leave the galleries and museums and become one with his applications. About KRIS Wine: KRIS Pinot Grigio is handcrafted in Alto Adige using grapes sourced from Italy's delle Venezie appellation. The winery is located in the hillside town of Montagna, where culture is a unique reflection of Germanic heritage and Italian nationality. An ideal combination of traditional winemaking artistry and modern technology is used in the blending process. KRIS Pinot Grigio is the #3 best-selling Italian wine in the U.S. The KRIS label was designed by contemporary Italian artist Riccardo Schweizer (1925-2004) and conveys the same expressive style and balance of art and science found in the KRIS winemaking process. For more information, please visit www.kriswine.com. About Americans for the Arts: Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education in America. With offices in Washington, D.C. and New York City, it has a record of more than 50 years of service. Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Additional information is available at www.americansforthearts.org. SOURCE KRIS Wine Related Links http://www.kriswine.com SAN DIEGO, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hub International Limited (HUB), a leading global insurance brokerage, risk advisory and employee benefits firm, announced today that Liliana Salazar has joined Hub West Region as Chief Compliance Officer, responsible for addressing the employee benefit compliance and regulatory needs of customers, employee benefit consultants, and sales executives. Liliana will be a part of our National Compliance Team, responsible for identifying and implementing national solutions, developing client advisories, and interacting with other members of our National Practice to provide oversight and assistance on matters impacting the administration of employee benefit plans. Liliana will be based in the Los Angeles office. Most recently, Liliana Salazar served as Senior Vice President of Compliance, National Practice Leader Employee Benefits Compliance with Wells Fargo Insurance, where she was responsible for addressing employers' health and welfare responsibilities under federal, state and local laws and regularly interacted with regulatory agencies such as the DOL, IRS, CMS, HHS, EEOC and state insurance departments to address the applicability of laws and regulations to group plans. Liliana Salazar has over 20 years of experience as a compliance officer. "We are thrilled to make this announcement. Liliana is skilled in cost-effective employer solutions to comply with the new health care reform mandates and is a much welcome addition to the Hub team," said Shannon Taylor, West Region President, Employee Benefits, Hub International. "Liliana will join our team of compliance experts to partner with clients and provide them with consultative services and value-added compliance solutions." Liliana Salazar holds a JD degree from Universidad de Los Andes and is on the Principals Council of the National Association of Health Underwriters, and is a member of the American Bar and California Bar Associations. About Hub International Limited Headquartered in Chicago, IL, Hub International Limited is a leading global insurance brokerage that provides property and casualty, life and health, employee benefits, investment and risk management products and services through offices located in the United States, Canada and Latin America. Media Contact Colleen M. Lee 858.373.6956 [email protected] SOURCE Hub International Limited The acquisition of Ciber Norway complements the organic growth of ManpowerGroup's own professional resourcing and project-based workforce solutions arm, Experis, and will help meet growing demand in the IT sector. Ciber Norway's business, including 130 employees, will transition over to ManpowerGroup when the deal is expected to close later this month, pending regulatory approval. This acquisition builds on ManpowerGroup's already strong presence in Norway. Since opening its first office there in 1952, ManpowerGroup has diversified its business across four brandsManpower, Experis, ManpowerGroup Solutions and Right Managementnow spanning thirty locations and finding work for more than 20,000 people in Norway each year. Ciber Norway brings with it ten years of IT industry expertise. "We're pleased to announce this acquisition that continues to build on the strength of our Experis business in Norway and further accelerates our strategy to shift our business mix towards higher value and professional services," said Maalfrid Brath, Managing Director ManpowerGroup Norway. "As clients across every sector continue to invest in rapidly changing technology and upgrade their capabilities, ManpowerGroup is well-equipped to deliver the best talent and provide in-demand skills at all levels of the IT market." "The sale of Norway follows our strategy to create a much more focused and simplified company as we have announced," said Ciber President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Boustridge. "We are pleased to have found a high-quality home for our Norway business with ManpowerGroup/Experis. As a strategic buyer with local operations, we believe they will provide a seamless transition and great continuity and service to our customers and our employees." About ManpowerGroup ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN) is the world's workforce expert, creating innovative workforce solutions for nearly 70 years. As workforce experts, we connect more than 600,000 people to meaningful work across a wide range of skills and industries every day. Through our ManpowerGroup family of brands Manpower, Experis, Right Management and ManpowerGroup Solutions we help more than 400,000 clients in 80 countries and territories address their critical talent needs, providing comprehensive solutions to resource, manage and develop talent. In 2016, ManpowerGroup was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the sixth consecutive year and one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies, confirming our position as the most trusted and admired brand in the industry. See how ManpowerGroup makes powering the world of work humanly possible: www.manpowergroup.com. About Experis Experis is the global leader in professional resourcing and project-based solutions. Experis accelerates organizations' growth by attracting, assessing and placing specialized expertise in IT, Finance and Engineering to deliver in-demand talent for mission-critical positions and projects, enhancing the competitiveness of the organizations and people we serve. Experis is part of the ManpowerGroup family of companies, which also includes Manpower, ManpowerGroup Solutions and Right Management. To learn more, visit www.experis.com. About Ciber, Inc. Ciber is a global IT consulting company with approximately 6,000 employees in North America, Europe and Asia/Pacific. Ciber partners with organizations to develop technology strategies and solutions that deliver tangible business value. Founded in 1974, the company trades on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CBR). For more information, visit www.ciber.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Google Plus and our blog. ManpowerGroup Inc.s Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements related to ManpowerGroup, and the potential benefits of the acquisition, including statements regarding timing of closing and results of the proposed transaction. Actual events or results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements due to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks associated with: ManpowerGroup's ability to successfully integrate Ciber Norway; execution of plans and strategies; the inability to successfully complete the transaction, and other important factors that could cause results of the acquisition and related transactions to differ materially from the forward-looking statements detailed in ManpowerGroup's public filings with the SEC, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. ManpowerGroup disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking or other statements in this release, except as required by law. Ciber, Inc.s Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to Ciber's operations, results of operations and other matters that are based on Ciber's current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections. Words, such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "may," "opportunity," "plan," "positioned," "potential," "project," "should," and "will" and similar expressions, are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. For a more detailed discussion of these risks, see the information under the "Risk Factors" heading in Ciber's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and Ciber's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2016, and other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other than as required by law, Ciber undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements in light of new information or future events. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Contact Scott Kozak Ciber, Global Communications, Investor and Industry Relations 303-967-1379 [email protected] Sven Fossum Communications Manager ManpowerGroup Norway Mobile: +47 930 24 314 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.manpowergroup.no/Presse/ Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160823/400778LOGO Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150708/234002LOGO SOURCE ManpowerGroup; Ciber, Inc. Related Links http://www.manpowergroup.com DETROIT, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- McCann Detroit today announced that it has once again been awarded the Tourism and Business Marketing accounts for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), following a competitive review. The announcement extends the agency's successful 10-year partnership with the MEDC for tourism marketing, and five-year partnership with the MEDC for business marketing. All work will continue to be developed out of McCann's Detroit offices. "We are excited to continue working with the team that created the award-winning and industry-leading Pure Michigan brand 10 years ago," said Emily Gerkin Guerrant, Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Public Relations, MEDC. "The teams at both Weber Shandwick Detroit and McCann Detroit have been excellent partners in our efforts to promote and market Michigan and bring their own passion for this state to the job every day. With more than 1,000 total employees in the state, both firms are strong in-state partners that have years of experience working in Michigan." "I am thrilled that we are able to continue our long, rewarding relationship with the MEDC," said Mel Smart, Executive Vice President and General Manager of McCann Detroit. "We have been proud to be a part of the evolution of the Pure Michigan brand over the past decade. It's especially gratifying for our Detroit teams to be able to work on a brand that is so close to our hearts and homes." The highly effective Pure Michigan brand is designed to promote tourism and business initiatives on behalf of the Great Lakes State. The tourism campaign has been credited with helping generate more than 4.6 million trips to Michigan in 2015 alone, with out-of-state visitors spending nearly $1.4 billion in Michigan communities. In 2016, McCann Detroit's Pure Michigan work earned the agency a second Effie Award for Sustained Success, a recognition given to brands that have delivered proven effectiveness for more than five years. UM Detroit, a division of IPG Mediabrands, will continue to serve as media agency. About McCann Worldgroup Detroit With more than 1,000 employees at its Birmingham and Detroit, Michigan offices, McCann Worldgroup Detroit is comprised of four agencies: Commonwealth//McCann Detroit, MRM//McCann Detroit, McCann Detroit and Weber Shandwick Detroit. McCann Worldgroup Detroit offers a full range of creative and marketing services to its variety of clients. SOURCE McCann Detroit Related Links http://mrm-mccann.com ATLANTA, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today announced new appointments within its senior management team both at corporate headquarters in Atlanta, GA and in its regional offices. All appointments take effect immediately. Bob Yeatman: Regional General Manager, Northeast Region Bob Yeatman, currently serving as the regional general manager for the Western Region will become regional general manager for the northeast region. Yeatman will report directly to Adam Chamberlain, senior vice president of sales, and will manage and direct regional staff as well as the sales and service field organization to support dealers in the region. Yeatman has been with Mercedes-Benz for over 25 years in a variety of positions, including general manager of sales operations and general manager of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services (MBFS). Tracey Matura: Regional General Manager, Western Region Replacing Yeatman as general manager of the western region will be Tracey Matura. In this position, Matura will oversee all service, sales, marketing, operations and dealer relations for the company's western region in Irvine, CA, reporting directly to Adam Chamberlain. Most recently, Matura served as general manager, central region and has held various positions at Mercedes-Benz for over 20 years, including general manager of smart and general manager of SRD and General Counsel. In her new role, Matura will manage and direct regional staff as well as the sales and service field organization to support dealers in the region. Mike Nolte: Regional General Manager, Central Region Mike Nolte will become regional general manager, central region. In his new role, Nolte will report directly to Adam Chamberlain, and will be responsible for all service, sales, marketing, operations and dealer relations for the company's central region in Chicago, IL. Most recently, Nolte held the role of general manager, sales operation at MBUSA and has held other senior-level positions in Global Sales, including Vice President of Mercedes-Benz Russia responsible for Own Retail Operations along with serving as CEO of Mercedes-Benz Egypt. M. Bart Herring: General Manager, Sales Operations M. Bart Herring replaces Nolte as general manager, sales operations. Herring will oversee the development and implementation of all policies, programs and activities in support of all Mercedes-Benz new vehicle sales and objectives. He will also be responsible for sales volume planning, reporting to Adam Chamberlain, which aligns MBUSA's strategic sales direction and front-line execution. Herring previously held the role of general manager, product management and has been with the organization for 18 years in various management roles. Matt Everitt: General Manager, General Counsel Matt Everitt, most recently general counsel for Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc. (MBUSI) and Mercedes-Benz Vans Manufacturing, LLC, will become general counsel for MBUSA. Everitt will be responsible for the legal department, which provides support, counsel and guidance for the company and its employees in the U.S. He began his Daimler career with Daimler AG in 2011 in Stuttgart, Germany as senior counsel responsible for legal and regulatory compliance matter. About Mercedes-Benz USA Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Atlanta, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz products in the United States. MBUSA offers drivers the most diverse lineup in the luxury segment with 15 model lines ranging from the sporty CLA-Class four-door coupe to the flagship S-Class and the Mercedes-AMG GT S. MBUSA is also responsible for Mercedes-Benz Vans and smart products in the U.S. More information on MBUSA and its products can be found at www.mbusa.com, www.mbsprinterusa.com and www.smartusa.com. Accredited journalists can visit our media site at www.media.mbusa.com. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160630/385298LOGO SOURCE Mercedes-Benz USA Related Links http://www.mbusa.com "We are very pleased to announce the Michigan Chamber endorses Paul Mitchell for Congress," said Michigan Chamber President & CEO Rich Studley. "Paul is a successful business leader and conservative activist who shares the Chamber's belief in free enterprise and limited government." "Paul Mitchell is a conservative outsider who ran a positive and successful campaign outpacing several experienced opponents in the primary election," noted Jim Holcomb, Senior Vice President for Business Advocacy & General Counsel for the Michigan Chamber. "Paul is a citizen activist who last year led the fight to defeat a big sales tax increase." "As a U.S. Representative, he will continue his fight for solutions to grow Michigan's economy, encourage job creation, and create more opportunities for businesses across the state to succeed," added Holcomb. Mitchell faces Democratic opponent Frank Accavitti, a former three-term State Representative from Grosse Pointe, who averaged a score of only 32 percent on the Chamber's legislative voting record during his tenure. Accavitti was unsuccessful in his bid for State Senate in 2010. "Paul Mitchell will be an effective, solutions-oriented member of Congress and we are proud to endorse him for Michigan's 10th Congressional District," Studley concluded. The Michigan Chamber of Commerce is a statewide business organization representing approximately 6,700 employers, trade associations and local chambers of commerce. The Michigan Chamber represents businesses of every size and type in all 83 counties of the state. Michigan Chamber member businesses provide jobs to 1.5 million residents. One of every 2.6 employees in Michigan works for a Chamber member firm. The Michigan Chamber was established in 1959 to be an advocate for Michigan's job providers in the legislative, political and legal process. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140812/135529 SOURCE Michigan Chamber of Commerce Related Links http://www.michamber.com CEDAR PARK, Texas, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Moe's Southwest Grill, the fast-casual restaurant best known for creating craveable burritos to order with fresh, flavorful ingredients, is opening their newest location in Cedar Park at 1320 Cypress Creek Road Cedar Park, TX 78613 on September 1 at 11 a.m. The Cedar Park location is the first Moe's location to open in the Austin area. "Texas is a key growth market for Moe's and with the new Cedar Park location, we are confident this move will prove successful in helping grow our base of Moe's lovers in the Austin area and in Texas," said Peter Ortiz, Moe's Vice President of Franchise Development. The Cedar Park location is owned and operated by franchisee Eric Gutierrez. This is Gutierrez's first Moe's location, and he has plans to open 14 total locations in the Austin area over the next several years. He is a former McDonald's franchisee and is planning to relocate from New Jersey to Austin. The Austin Spurs will be kicking off the grand opening celebrations on August 31, with the Silver and Black Give Back fundraiser lunch from 12 to 2 p.m., featuring a $5 entree, side and drink. The Cedar Park Public Library Foundation will continue the celebrations with a dinner fundraiser from 6 to 8 p.m. with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting the local organizations. Opening day celebrations on Thursday, September 1 will feature $5 burritos all day and a prize wheel. One week later on September 9, Cedar Park residents will also have a chance to win more. The first 100 guests in line will be awarded free burritos for a year. There are three things Moe's newbies should know: the crew will cry "welcome to Moe's" when you walk in the door (don't be jolted it's normal), the most popular burrito is lovingly called the Homewrecker, and Moe's Famous Queso is famous for a reason. Each meal is created-to-order in a way that is as unique as the people Moe's serves. With honestly good ingredients like all-natural chicken, grass-fed steak, organic tofu and handcrafted guacamole, Moe's offers a wide variety of options to meet guest's unique tastes and lifestyle. And no matter the meal, guests can always count on getting free chips and salsa. Moe's in Cedar Park will be open Monday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, guests may call (512) 243-5420 or visit www.moes.com. Don't forget to connect with Moe's on Instagram, Twitter, Vine and Facebook, by tagging your posts and pics with #welcometomoes. About Moe's Southwest Grill Welcome to Moe's! Founded in 2000 in Atlanta, GA, Moe's Southwest Grill is a fast-casual restaurant franchise featuring fresh, handmade, customizable southwestern food in a welcoming environment that rocks. Moe's is committed to serving only the highest quality ingredients 100% of the time at all of our locations in the U.S and abroad. While Moe's is best known for its burritos packed with a choice of more than 20 fresh, flavorful ingredients, the menu also features kid's, vegetarian and low-calorie options, all served with free chips and salsa. Check out Moe's online at www.moes.com. Media Contact: Lauren Tweet, Allison+Partners, (214) 975-8784, [email protected] SOURCE Moe's Southwest Grill Related Links http://www.moes.com TARZANA, Calif., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Money Making Opportunities Catalog and Magazine, based in Tarzana, CA, is celebrating its 55th year as a publisher of small business ventures and financial opportunities. The Money Making Opportunities brand was first launched as a magazine in 1961 by Donald H. Perry, self-proclaimed serial entrepreneur. The magazine featured news articles on successful entrepreneurs and was filled with hundreds of franchise and sales opportunity advertisements in each monthly issue. Perry operated Money Making Opportunities Magazine successfully for 49 years until 2010 when he decided to shut down the magazine due to slowing ad sales and heavy competition from online magazines. Perry died in 2011. He was 84 years-old. By the time the magazine folded, the Money Making Opportunities Catalog, which was rolled out as a supplement to the magazine, had made a big splash in the small business industry and steadfastly became the most popular product offered by the Money Making Opportunities brand. The free Catalog is distributed quarterly and promotes over 200 books, manuals, DVDs and audio CDs featuring successful entrepreneurs giving advice on how to start and operate various homebased businesses. The catalog is known for selling rare, unusual and hard-to-find titles specializing in work-from-home opportunities. Money Making Opportunities Catalog also features a bi-monthly Platinum Executive newsletter that is offered to a select number of catalog customers and is filled with expert advice and tips on starting a homebased business plus special offers for its readers. To receive a free Money Making Opportunities Catalog, please call toll-free 1-800-243-1322. About Money Making Opportunities Catalog and Magazine Established in 1961 by Donald H. Perry, Money Making Opportunities Catalog and Magazine is a leading publisher in the field of small business ventures and homebased financial opportunities. Originally based in Studio City, CA, the Money Making Opportunities brand now operates out of Tarzana, CA and distributes a quarterly catalog by mail to entrepreneurs throughout the United States and Canada. Media Contact: Mary Miller Email 818-949-6919 SOURCE Money Making Opportunities Catalog BELIZE CITY, Belize, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The directors and management of N1 Technologies, Inc. (OTC PINK: NTCHF) announced today that the company has filed a new Biotech Patent with the USPTO for its VIRITRON VPN Bacteriophage Treatment for Pneumonia. The company is a leader in Nanotechnology research, and now has focused on entering the Biotechnology arena with its latest discovery. The VIRITRON VDX and new VIRITRON VPN biopharmaceutical is a Genetically Modified Bacteriophage that is highly effective in fighting antibiotic resistant pneumonia infections. A Bacteriophage is a natural organism that has been proven in various human trials to be highly effective at fighting various infectious bacteria. N1 Technologies intends to develop a treatment for Staph and pneumonia infections based on this unique modified organism technology. The company is working to develop a treatment for a number of antibiotic resistant strains of bacterial infections. "Entering this $30 Billion dollar market is a big step for our company and we are very excited to be moving directly into this arena. We are focused on the financial prospects for our investors and the company," says CEO Steve Lovern. The company will hire "Wet Labs" leading Geneticists and Bio Engineers to assist in this effort. Once fully developed the company will seek out partners in the pharmaceutical industry to partner with for the manufacturing and marketing of the treatment. Learn more: http://www.N1Technologies.com. FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "will" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Corporation's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the Corporation. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the Corporation is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained here. www.N1Technologies.com SOURCE N1 Technologies, Inc. Related Links http://www.N1Technologies.com BEND, Ore., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The nation's first online cannabis trading platform is set to revolutionize the industry. CannaFo.com offers Trade Desk, an online trading platform that seamlessly connects marijuana producers, processors, and dispensaries. "It's difficult for growers and retailers to find each other. What we offer with Trade Desk is seamless connection," explained CannaFo.com President, Kelly Martin. "We are advocates for the cannabis industry. We are trying to help and improve it, as we can, through technology." While the cannabis industry is one of the fastest growing in the nation, there has been a lack of a trustworthy platform allowing cannabis business owners to connect and develop strong business partnerships with other vendors. Laws vary in each state, and no centralized source, such as Craigslist, previously existed. Trade Desk is primed and ready to change all of that. CannaFo's Trade Desk platform provides connection opportunities in four sections: Connect, Buy, Sell and Pricing. Together they work to allow producers, processors and dispensaries the time to focus on their businesses, rather than hunt for connections. The Connect section brings producers, dispensaries and seed companies together. It provides listings, names and contact information, and an anonymous chat system for added security. For those looking for product, there is the Buy section. Buyers may browse through available inventory and connect with the seller directly. The Sell section allows producers to list inventory available to businesses, whether they have already connected or not. CannaFo has created the cannabis industry's first transparent open market. The Trade Desk Pricing section provides up to date listings of the average pricing based on location. Variations in price do not affect most consumers, but when purchasing for wholesale, finding a fair price is crucial. Trade Desk is a subscription-based table platform. The subscribers will have to demonstrate proof of license, in order to participate. CannaFo.com developed Trade Desk to be used on a state-by-state basis, as there are no current Federal guidelines to follow, and laws differ between the states. CannaFo is excited about Trade Desk, and offering its services free for sixty days to new subscribers. There is also an app for that! The CannaFo app is tablet-supported, as well as IOS, Android and Blackberry. Access is important to CannaFo, and they intentionally programmed the app to be available to anyone, no matter their device. According to Josh Pardee, Co-founder/Lead Engineer, "There is simply no device that can't access the info." About: CannaFo.com, headquartered in Bend, Oregon, is the world's largest online resource for all things cannabis. The site provides a comprehensive directory, marketplace and social platform for cannabis consumers, businesses and growers/producers. While only less than a year old, CannaFo already has over 90,000 followers on Facebook and continues working to build their following and help improve the industry they love. Get in the know, with Cannafo! Contact: 1558 SW Nancy Way Suite 104 Bend, Oregon 97703 541-640-8135 [email protected] SOURCE CannaFo LLC Related Links http://www.cannafo.com IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- POPin today announced the publication of a new leadership book, Management vs. Employees: How Leaders Can Bridge the Power Gaps That Hurt Corporate Performance, by Hayes Drumwright, founder and CEO of POPin. The book explores how to address the typical divide between management and the employees they lead. In Management vs. Employees, Hayes Drumwright attacks a problem that has plagued companies for years: How can leaders bridge the power gap between management and employees in a way that inspires both to engage? Published by Apress Media, Drumwright's book serves as an essential resource to build trust, gather input, distribute accountability, and make followers feel like accomplices in the leader's master plan. Before launching POPin, Drumwright bootstrapped several other businesses in multiple industries, generating over $500 million in annual revenue. Based on many revealing stories of personal success and failure, Drumwright's new book details the mindset and methodologies that leaders must take to succeed. He emphasizes the importance of closing the gap on apathy and entitlement at all levels of an organization in order to create an engaged workforce that can scale up organically. "Leaders need to take responsibility for uncovering inspiration at all levels while addressing the debilitating fears and apathy that prevent full commitment and engagement of every team member," Drumwright said. "My goal in writing this book is to help business leaders learn how to better implement change in today's over-complicated, over-structured enterprise, while inspiring the employee base to work toward corporate success with the same passion as the founders and executive team." Greg McKeown, New York Times bestselling author of Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, said, "I believe a person who can turn a negative into a positive can never be defeated this is brilliantly illustrated in Management vs. Employees. Hayes Drumwright shares his stories of success, and, importantly, failure with a rare rawness that you will be grateful for again and again." New York Times best-selling management author Patrick Lencioni said, "This is a raw, transparent and courageous book about the deeper issues that prevent leaders from doing what they really want to do. Hayes takes us on a trip through his own discovery and leaves us with advice and counsel that is practical and challenging. Brace yourself." Lencioni is considered the architect of organizational health, a concept that he calls the last competitive advantage in business today. Best-selling author Daniel H. Pink, whose books have sold more than two million copies in 35 languages worldwide, said, "Hayes Drumwright is a world-class entrepreneur. And in this direct, provocative and honest book, he describes both the path of his life and the route all of us take to build something big. Along the way, he shows that a leader's ultimate job is not to shield people from risk, but to help them learn and grow." Based on real-world stories from multiple company engagements, readers will learn: Why there is a divide between management and the employees they lead How to build trust, gather input, distribute accountability and make those you lead feel like an accomplice in the leader's master plan About POPin POPin is a crowd-solving mobile platform that helps organizations connect with team members and partners to improve initiative success management. The app leverages crowdsourcing and crowd-solving to meet specific business challenges and provide a common voice for collaboration. POPin also offers SaaS, web interfaces and dedicated engagement managers to deliver timely and innovative impacts to relevant corporate objectives. For more information visit www.popinnow.com. Media Contact Gutenberg Communications Michael Gallo 212-239-8594 [email protected] SOURCE POPin Related Links http://www.popinnow.com LYNDHURST, N.J., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Scarinci Hollenbeck is pleased to welcome Joseph H. Tringali, who has joined the firm as Counsel to the litigation practice group. Tringali brings impressive skills and substantial experience serving clients in the areas of commercial litigation, white collar criminal defense, bankruptcy, environmental, family, and employment law. He will practice out of the Lyndhurst office. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160823/400451 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160823/400452LOGO Joseph H. Tringali, Litigator & Trial Attorney Among his career experiences, Tringali served as counsel to a court-appointed Site Administrator, responsible for the clean-up of contaminated sites in Hudson County, New Jersey. He has also represented a designated redeveloper in a complex environmental litigation, assisted Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustees with the liquidation of assets, defended individuals in federal and state criminal matters, and counseled individuals and businesses involved in government investigations. "I'm very pleased to be joining Scarinci Hollenbeck," said Tringali. "I've admired them for a long time, and I feel that I have a lot to contribute to a firm as well-respected as they are." Robert E. Levy, Partner, and Chair of Scarinci Hollenbeck's litigation group said, "We look forward to Joe being with us. Joe has a great reputation as a litigator, and he comes to us from a very prestigious firm. We're glad to have him." A 2004 graduate of Amherst College, Tringali attended Seton Hall Law School where he earned his J.D. in 2007. At Seton Hall Law, he was President of the Peter W. Rodino, Jr. Law Society, Best Brief Author and Best Oral Advocate (2006), and a member of the moot court Board. He was also the recipient of the Luigi Franzese Scholarship in recognition of outstanding leadership, character and service. Tringali was recognized as a New Leader of the Bar (formerly 40 Under 40) by the New Jersey Law Journal in 2016, and has been selected for inclusion in New Jersey Super Lawyers Rising Stars, issued by Thomson Reuters, for 2011-2013. About Scarinci Hollenbeck Scarinci Hollenbeck is a 50-attorney regional law firm with offices in New Jersey, New York and the District of Columbia. We have upheld a commitment to excellence since our founding in 1988. Our principal areas of practice include Business Law, Real Estate Law, Environmental and Land Use Law, Labor and Employment Law, Litigation, and Intellectual Property Law. Our litigation group includes highly qualified and experienced attorneys, some of whom are Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as Civil and Criminal trial lawyers. Contact : Peter Moeller Tel: 201-896-4100 x 3328 Email SOURCE Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC Related Links http://www.sh-law.com/ HERNDON, Va., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Global technology company Nuix today announced Nuix Insight Adaptive Security, the first endpoint security platform to tightly integrate cybersecurity threat prevention, detection, response, remediation, and deception in one solution. Unlike traditional endpoint security products, Nuix designed its adaptive security platform from the ground up to provide a seamless end-to-end approach for protection. Most endpoint security products focus only on a few links of the security kill chain, forcing organizations to invest in multiple point solutions in order to implement a complete security workflow. This inevitably leads to greater risks, costs, and productivity losses. "Previous attempts at applying an adaptive model to security software have failed because they've ineffectively cobbled together several overlapping tools that were never intended to work with each other, creating a sort of 'security Frankenstein'," said Eddie Sheehy, CEO of Nuix. "Nuix Insight Adaptive Security is a tightly integrated endpoint defense solution that closes the feedback loop between sensing, filtering, detecting, and disrupting security events earlier in the kill chain." Nuix Insight Adaptive Security combines six security technologies into one lightweight, intelligent endpoint agent, featuring: Digital Behavior Recorder: Continuously monitors and records endpoint activity straight from the kernel, including users, processes, Windows Registry changes, user sessions, DNS queries, file system information, Netflow communications, removable media, and print jobs Continuously monitors and records endpoint activity straight from the kernel, including users, processes, Windows Registry changes, user sessions, DNS queries, file system information, Netflow communications, removable media, and print jobs Real-time detection: A multilayered threat detection stack that automatically identifies malicious activity A multilayered threat detection stack that automatically identifies malicious activity Intelligent protection: Includes whitelisting, blacklisting, application control, and behavioral blocking Includes whitelisting, blacklisting, application control, and behavioral blocking Response and investigation: Automated and manual options including incident triage and investigation capabilities allowing security analysts to search, filter, and organize single or multiple data sets collected by the Digital Behavior Recorder Automated and manual options including incident triage and investigation capabilities allowing security analysts to search, filter, and organize single or multiple data sets collected by the Digital Behavior Recorder Remediation: Allows analysts to terminate malicious processes based on their process identifier (PID) and to delete files and Windows Registry keys Allows analysts to terminate malicious processes based on their process identifier (PID) and to delete files and Windows Registry keys Deception: Fake listening services that help analysts identify attackers during the reconnaissance phase of their attacks. To understand the continuously changing threat landscape and the challenges it presents to organizations' security posture, Nuix employs a team of security consultants including pentesters, incident response experts, social engineers, and digital forensic professionals. Through field activities and client engagements, these consultants stay up to date with evolving security threats and attack techniques. Nuix then incorporates the intelligence they gather into the platform's logic engine so it can take automatic actions that help protect customers from advanced attacks. "I always get excited when I run across a product designed, built, and refined by experienced security practitioners," said Adrian Sanabria, Senior Security Analyst at 451 Research. "The endpoint has long been a blind spot for enterprises, partially because they just generate too much data. "Without a vendor that understands how to manage that data properlyhow to filter and prioritize itthere's a high likelihood that continuous endpoint recording products will create more problems than they address. It is crucial these products avoid adding to the existing toxic problems of information overload and alert fatigue that security practitioners are struggling with." Nuix Insight Adaptive Security is now available to enterprise customers who join Nuix's Early Adopters Program. It is the first release from the Nuix Insight range of security and intelligence products. Later in 2016, Nuix will release Nuix Insight Analytics & Intelligence, a four-dimensional security intelligence platform for breach investigations, deep-dive forensics, and analysis. About Nuix Nuix (www.nuix.com) protects, informs, and empowers society in the knowledge age. Leading organizations around the world turn to Nuix when they need fast, accurate answers for investigation, cybersecurity incident response, insider threats, litigation, regulation, privacy, risk management, and other essential challenges. SOURCE Nuix Related Links http://www.nuix.com FEASTERVILLE-TREVOSE, Pa., Aug. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Small business owners and entrepreneurs from Bucks and Montgomery counties will once again gather at the Fuge in Warminster, PA on Thursday, October 20 for the second annual BucksMont BizCon (BMBC). New this year, local undergraduate and graduate students are invited to attend the event for FREE. Co-hosted by digital marketing agency SEOM Interactive and online bathroom accessories retailer TheBathOutlet.com, this daylong conference will focus on the importance of an integrated marketing strategy specifically the tactics, channels, challenges, and opportunities for small business owners. Attendees will hear from industry experts how effective branding, as well as strategies such as search engine optimization, pay-per-click, public relations, social media, and on- and offline marketing can break out of their silos and work together to increase visibility, and keep businesses relevant in a highly-competitive landscape. "At the core of this conference is a genuine excitement and passion for encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit," said Mark Kennedy, owner and president of SEOM Interactive. "It's important for us to continue building on that mission, and one of the ways we do that is to expand our reach to include those who may have the seed of an idea, but limited financial means. That's why we decided to offer free tickets for students this year. They are the next generation of small business owners, so it's important to give them access to the people, tools, and resources to help get their ideas and businesses off the ground." BMBC 2016 will conclude with the exciting "Sell it to the Sharks" 'Shark-Tank'-style competition, where three start-ups will pitch their marketing plans to a panel of judges for the chance to win $5,000. The "sharks" include Yaz Shuhaibar, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of TheBathOutlet.com, Mark Kennedy, and last year's competition winner Katie Robbins, owner of Taste of Tuscany. Submissions are currently being accepted. For more information on the contest, or to enter your business, visit www.bucksmontbizcon.com/selltosharks. Tickets include breakfast, lunch, unlimited coffee, and networking opportunities with the area's most sought-after digital marketing experts and entrepreneurs. Students are entitled to ONE free ticket. General admission tickets are currently $24.99 until September 30 and will increase to $39.99 until the day of the event. For more information on the event, including agenda and speakers, to purchase tickets, or to apply to participate in the "Sell it to the Sharks" contest visit, www.bucksmontbizcon.com/. About SEOM Interactive SEOM Interactive is a digital marketing agency offering search engine optimization, pay-per-click advertising, social media marketing, and public relations services to small and medium businesses across the country. With a focus on generating quality leads, SEOM has helped hundreds of businesses increase their bottom line through effective online campaigns. To learn more, visit www.seominteractive.com. About TheBathOutlet.com TheBathOutlet.com was created with a single goal in mind - to provide a way for customers to select and buy home and bath furnishings from the comfort of their home, with all the tangible benefits of a physical store. TheBathOutlet.com prides itself in providing customers with the best shopping experience. For more information, visit www.thebathoutlet.com. SOURCE SEOM Interactive Related Links http://www.seominteractive.com AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- College students who pay their tuition bills with a credit card incur an average "convenience fee" of 2.62%, according to a new CreditCards.com report, which surveyed 300 of the largest U.S. public, private and community colleges. That can amount to $262 for every $10,000 of tuition. Community colleges are the most fee-friendly. Out of the 100 largest community colleges surveyed, 97% accept credit cards for tuition payments and only 8% charge convenience fees. By contrast, 93% of public universities and 77% of private institutions that accept credit cards charge convenience fees. Community colleges are the most fee-friendly. Out of the 100 largest community colleges surveyed, 97% accept credit cards for tuition payments and only 8% charge convenience fees. By contrast, 93% of public universities and 77% of private institutions that accept credit cards charge convenience fees. Roger Williams University in Rhode Island has the highest convenience fee (3%), followed by St. Joseph's University in Pennsylvania and Miami University-Oxford in Ohio, which tied at 2.99%. "If your college charges a high convenience fee, it's not worth paying your tuition with a credit card," said Matt Schulz, CreditCards.com senior industry analyst. "Especially if you have outstanding student loan debt, it's unnecessary to dig yourself more deeply into debt just to pay with plastic." Eighty-five percent of the 300 colleges and universities that CreditCards.com surveyed accept credit cards for tuition payments under at least some circumstances. The most common restriction on card use is only accepting credit card tuition payments online. Other restrictions include limiting credit card payments to certain classes of students (such as graduate students) or not allowing students to use certain major credit card vendors. Click here for more information: http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/colleges-charge-card-fee-survey.php About CreditCards.com: CreditCards.com is a leading online credit card marketplace, bringing consumers and credit card issuers together. At its free website, consumers can compare hundreds of credit card offers from America's leading issuers and banks and apply securely, online. CreditCards.com is also a destination site for consumers wanting to learn more about credit cards. Offering advice, news, features, statistics and tools, CreditCards.com helps consumers make smart choices about credit cards. In 2015, over 27 million unique visitors used CreditCards.com to find the right credit card to suit their needs. For More Information: Adriana Perisa Publicist [email protected] 917-368-8637 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160823/400695 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151014/276819LOGO SOURCE CreditCards.com Related Links http://www.CreditCards.com "Darren's unique understanding of business and social issues has made him a respected leader across sectors for more than two decades," said PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi. "His insight into the role of business in society will be particularly valuable as we continue to drive our Performance with Purpose agenda and pursue strategies to drive sustainable long-term growth." Prior to joining the Ford Foundation in 2010, Walker served as Vice President at the Rockefeller Foundation since 2005, where he oversaw numerous initiatives, including the effort to rebuild New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. Walker also served as chief operating officer of the Abyssinian Development Corporation, Harlem's largest community development organization, from 1995 to 2002. During his tenure, he oversaw a comprehensive revitalization program resulting in more than 1,000 new units of housing, Harlem's first commercial development in twenty years and New York's first public school built and managed by a community organization. Earlier in his career, Walker worked in international law and finance at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton and UBS. "We welcome Darren to the PepsiCo Board of Directors," said Ian Cook, Presiding Director. "His experience and expertise across sectors will further strengthen the Board and our ability to create shareholder value." Walker currently serves as a member of the boards of Carnegie Hall, the New York City Ballet, Friends of the High Line and the Arcus Foundation. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and was named one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World" by Time magazine in 2016. He holds a J.D., B.S. and B.A. from The University of Texas at Austin. About PepsiCo PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $63 billion in net revenue in 2015, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales. At the heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose our goal to deliver top-tier financial performance while creating sustainable growth and shareholder value. In practice, Performance with Purpose means providing a wide range of foods and beverages from treats to healthy eats; finding innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment and reduce our operating costs; providing a safe and inclusive workplace for our employees globally; and respecting, supporting and investing in the local communities where we operate. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com. Cautionary Statement Statements in this communication that are "forward-looking statements" are based on currently available information, operating plans and projections about future events and trends. Terminology such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "project," "anticipate," "will," or similar statements or variations of such terms are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such terms. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted in such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: changes in demand for PepsiCo's products; regulatory initiatives, including the imposition of new or increased taxes; PepsiCo's ability to compete effectively; unstable political conditions, civil unrest or other developments and risks in the markets where PepsiCo's products are made, manufactured, distributed or sold; unfavorable economic conditions in the countries in which PepsiCo operates; supply or business disruptions; failure to realize anticipated benefits from PepsiCo's productivity initiatives or global operating model; product quality, safety and integrity issues; damage to PepsiCo's reputation or brand image; fluctuations or other changes in exchange rates; and other factors discussed in PepsiCo's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. PepsiCo undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140415/73233 SOURCE PepsiCo Related Links http://www.pepsico.com ATLANTA, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Preferred Apartment Communities, Inc. (NYSE: APTS) ("PAC" or the "Company") today announced that it closed on a loan investment of up to approximately $21.1 million. This investment is in connection with Bristol Development Group's plans to develop a 271-unit multifamily community located in Birmingham, Alabama. Additionally, with this investment, PAC received an option to purchase the multifamily community following stabilization at a discounted price to market. "Bristol Development Group is a Nashville based developer of Class A multifamily properties throughout the Southeast U.S. We have pursued a relationship with Bristol for some time and hope this is just the first of many high quality projects that we can work on together," said Daniel M. DuPree, the Company's Chief Investment Officer. About Preferred Apartment Communities, Inc. Preferred Apartment Communities, Inc. is a Maryland corporation formed primarily to acquire and operate multifamily properties in select targeted markets throughout the United States. As part of our business strategy, we may enter into forward purchase contracts or purchase options for to-be-built multifamily communities and we may make real estate related loans, provide deposit arrangements, or provide performance assurances, as may be necessary or appropriate, in connection with the development of multifamily communities and other properties. As a secondary strategy, we may acquire or originate senior mortgage loans, subordinate loans or mezzanine debt secured by interests in multifamily properties, membership or partnership interests in multifamily properties and other multifamily related assets and invest not more than 20% of our assets, subject to any temporary increase unanimously approved by our board of directors, in other real estate related investments such as grocery-anchored shopping centers, senior mortgage loans, subordinate loans or mezzanine debt secured by interests in grocery-anchored shopping centers, membership or partnership interests in grocery-anchored shopping centers and other grocery-anchored shopping center related assets as determined by our manager as appropriate for us. At June 30, 2016, the Company was the approximate 96.4% owner of Preferred Apartment Communities Operating Partnership, L.P., or the Operating Partnership. Preferred Apartment Communities, Inc. has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, commencing with its tax year ended December 31, 2011. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain 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. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "trend", "will", "expects", "plans", "estimates", "anticipates", "projects", "intends", "believes", "goals", "objectives", "outlook" and similar expressions. Because such statements include risks, uncertainties and contingencies, actual results may differ materially from the expectations, intentions, beliefs, plans or predictions of the future expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and contingencies include, but are not limited to, those disclosed in PAC's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. PAC undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required by law. Additional Information The SEC has declared effective the registration statement (including prospectus) filed by the Company for each of the offerings to which this communication may relate. Before you invest, you should read the final prospectus, and any prospectus supplements, forming a part of the registration statement and other documents the Company has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Company and the offering to which this communication may relate. In particular, you should carefully read the risk factors described in the final prospectus and in any related prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference in the final prospectus and any related prospectus supplement to which this communication may relate. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the Company or its dealer manager, International Assets Advisory, LLC, with respect to the Follow-On Offering, and JonesTrading Institutional Services LLC, with respect to the ATM Offering, will arrange to send you a prospectus if you request it by calling Leonard A. Silverstein at (770) 818-4100, 3284 Northside Parkway NW, Suite 150, Atlanta, Georgia 30327. The final prospectus for the Follow-On Offering, dated October 11, 2013, can be accessed through the following link: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1481832/000148183213000128/a424b3prospectus900m.htm The ATM Offering prospectus, dated July 18 2016, including a base prospectus, dated May 17, 2016, can be accessed through the following link: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1481832/000148183216000152/atmprospectus.htm Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160707/387211LOGO SOURCE Preferred Apartment Communities, Inc. NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are experts from the ProfNet network that are available to discuss timely issues in your coverage area. You can also submit a query to the hundreds of thousands of experts in our network it's easy and free! Just fill out the query form to get started: http://prn.to/alertswire EXPERT ALERTS How to Press America's Reset Button Impact of Water Accessibility and Scarcity Heavy-Duty Commercial Vehicles Facing Heavy-Duty Regulations Zika Spread Magnifies Questions of Employer Liability MEDIA JOBS Media Reporter WWD (NY) Weekend News Anchor/Reporter KMBC/KCWE-TV (MO) Assistant Managing Editor Law360 (NY) OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES 6 Simple Tools for Creating GIFs to Enhance Your Storytelling Facebook Live: A Game Changer Know Before You Go: 4 Tips for Journalists Covering a Major Event EXPERT ALERTS: How to Press America's Reset Button Sean Burke Founder Reset Our Gov "A few years ago, it became clear to me that unless I was somehow able to alter our country's course for the better, my children and their children would not enjoy the level of American freedom and prosperity that I've enjoyed throughout my life. There's a revolution going on in our country; the majority of Americans don't feel the country is going in the right direction. After extensive research, I found a way that's simple, safe, legal and effective to take back control of our country, and it's this: No business would allow their board of directors to remain if they balanced their budget only a handful of times in 80 years. The same is true in our country. The way you can show you're upset is to walk in, and if you're not happy with your government, vote the guy who's in out and give someone else a shot. The House of Representatives can all be replaced in two years and all of the Senate can be removed in six. When I began this journey with Nelson, my motorhome named after George Washington's horse, wrapped in graphics featuring my message, I was looking for a way that I could personally bring about change, but ended up with a way that we all can, if we work together." Burke is the author of "How to Press America's Reset Button," which explores how to completely disrupt business as usual in Washington, D.C., and put our country onto a better path. The book takes the reader down that path and helps them see America's reset button for themselves, and how they can very simply press it themselves to help bring the country back under their control. Burke has appeared on such programs as the "Today" show, the CBS Evening News and Sky News and has been interviewed by the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, USA Today and the Los Angeles Times. He is based in Seattle, but currently touring the country in Nelson, his motorhome, spreading his message (see a link to his itinerary below). Itinerary: http://www.resetourgov.org/seans-itinerary Website: http://www.resetourgov.org Contact: Penny Sansevieri, [email protected] Impact of Water Accessibility and Scarcity Snehal Desai Global Business Director Dow Water & Process Solutions Families from Flint, Mich., to the Central Valley of California have experienced the devastating impacts of living -- even a day -- without water. "Imagine a Day without Water" is a national campaign taking place on Sept. 15 that will provide an opportunity to reflect on America's commitment to ensuring a sustainable water future for all. Says Desai: "The accessibility of water impacts everyone. Technology has an important role to play in addressing today's challenges and in preparing for the resilient water systems of the future, including improving water quality, increasing water treatment efficiency and reducing environmental impact." Desai is available to comment on this "invisible crisis" that is disrupting daily lives, threatening jobs and businesses, and putting communities' health and prosperity at risk. To amplify their conviction that water resources must be managed effectively, efficiently and sustainably, Dow is leading the discussion about critical issues related to water resources and national infrastructure, with Desai at the forefront. Specific topics he can address include, but are not limited to: water scarcity trends and conservation solutions, from commercial and industrial to municipal to residential (including oil and gas, food and beverage, and power industries); strategies to help ensure water is affordable, reliable, and accessible to all communities and businesses; cost-effective, sustainable ways for companies and individuals to improve their water footprint; and how public and private collaboration and investment can improve failing water/wastewater infrastructure. Desai has been a trusted editorial resource for numerous print, online and broadcast consumer business, sustainability and trade media outlets, providing perspective on critical water-related topics for Bloomberg BusinessWeek (he was profiled in the 2015 "Good Business" issue), GreenBiz.com, Yahoo! Finance, Water Technology, Water Online, and more. He has also been a keynote speaker at innovation and water industry events, including IBM Interconnect and the International Water Conference, and has been an active panel participant at VERGE SF, Levi's Symposium on Water and Long Term Value, One Water summit, etc. He also sits on the U.S. Water Alliance board of directors. In his role as global business director, Desai is responsible for developing and implementing the growth strategy for the business and leading the approximately 1,700 employees worldwide. He has more than 25 years of increasing leadership responsibility experience in the sales, marketing and business development of water, plastics, chemicals and renewable materials. Website: http://www.dowwaterandprocess.com Contact: Beth Crisafi, [email protected] Heavy-Duty Commercial Vehicles Facing Heavy-Duty Regulations H. Peyton Inge IV Attorney Chamblee Ryan Kershaw & Anderson in Dallas Tougher greenhouse gas and fuel efficiency standards are coming for new large and heavy-duty vehicles, such as buses and tractor-trailers. The package of regulations announced this week represent the latest effort by the Obama administration to produce cleaner and more efficient vehicles after 2018. In the final rule, the Environmental Protection Agency tightened carbon dioxide emission standards while the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration imposed fuel consumption measures. Says Inge: "The goal of reduced carbon emissions is laudable, but fuel efficiency typically means less power from engines that are more expensive to purchase and operate. The long-term environmental effects of the regulations are likely to be positive, but they are also likely to hit truckers in the pocketbook when they purchase a new rig, with costs ultimately passed along to the consumer." Inge represents trucking companies on operational and litigation matters. Bio: http://www.chambleeryan.com/attorney-bios/h-peyton-inge-iv/ Website: http://www.chambleeryan.com Contact: Barry Pound, [email protected] Zika Spread Magnifies Questions of Employer Liability Justin Markel Attorney Roberts Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey PC in Houston Health officials have reported the first spread of the Zika virus from state to state when a Texas man got the disease after visiting a section of Miami where mosquitoes have been spreading Zika. The virus can cause brain damage and other birth defects in infants if the mother is infected during pregnancy. While its dangers first appeared in Brazil, its spread to the U.S. has magnified questions about risk, including to workers whose employers want them to travel. Says Markel: "Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, employees may refuse to work in certain circumstances when working conditions are dangerous. Among other things, the employee must genuinely believe that an imminent danger exists, and there must be a real danger of death or serious injury. Because of the way Zika is transmitted and the availability of preventive measures, it is unlikely that an employee could refuse to travel on this ground unless the employee is pregnant. However, employers should be cautious when an employee refuses such a work assignment. An employee could argue that she is protected by OSHA and is shielded from adverse employment actions." Contact: Kit Frieden, [email protected] **************** MEDIA JOBS: Following are links to job listings for staff and freelance writers, editors and producers. You can view these and more job listings on our Job Board: https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/community/jobs/ Media Reporter WWD (NY) Weekend News Anchor/Reporter KMBC/KCWE-TV (MO) Assistant Managing Editor Law360 (NY) ***************** OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES: Following are links to other news and resources we think you might find useful. If you have an item you think other reporters would be interested in and would like us to include in a future alert, please drop us a line at [email protected] 6 SIMPLE TOOLS FOR CREATING GIFs TO ENHANCE YOUR STORYTELLING. GIFs never seem to get old or go out of style. These animated silent loops have dominated the world of online memes for some time now, going viral on blogs and social media more times than we can count. Here are six simple tools you can use to create GIFs to enhance your articles: http://bit.ly/2bpY9Ci FACEBOOK LIVE: A GAME CHANGER IN 2016 SUMMER OLYMPICS IN RIO. As athletes continue to compete against each other for medals, social media platforms are also still vying for a spot on the podium. With its live-streaming features and Instagram, Facebook seems poised to take home gold against the likes of Twitter and Snapchat -- hardly even a qualifier four-years ago during the last summer games. Read more: http://prn.to/2brgJv3 KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: 4 TIPS FOR JOURNALISTS COVERING A MAJOR EVENT. If you're covering a major event like the Olympics, here are some pointers to keep in mind: http://bit.ly/2b4RCsC **************** PROFNET is an exclusive service of PR Newswire. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150416/199234LOGO SOURCE ProfNet Related Links http://www.profnet.com LAVAL, QC, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. (TSX: PLI) (OTCQX: PFSCF) ("ProMetic" or the "Corporation") announced today that it has entered into a binding agreement (the "Agreement") for the acquisition of Telesta Therapeutics, Inc, ("Telesta") by way of a plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act (the "Acquisition"). Under the terms of the Agreement, ProMetic will acquire all of the share capital of Telesta at a share price of $0.14 payable in ProMetic common shares. The number of common shares to be issued by ProMetic will be based on the volume-weighted average closing price ("VWAP") of ProMetic's common shares for the five (5) trading days prior to the closing date of the Acquisition. Completion of the Acquisition is subject to the approval of Telesta's shareholders and a number of customary closing conditions for a transaction of this nature, which include court and regulatory approvals (including the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange). The Acquisition is expected to close in early November, 2016. The Agreement also contains customary deal protection mechanisms, including no shop provisions and a mutual $2.5 million breakup fee payable by Telesta or ProMetic in specified circumstances. Strategic and Financial Benefits of the Transaction: Provides the opportunity for further integration of manufacturing capability and longer term capacity expansion in a 150,000 sq. ft. facility in Belleville, Ontario ; ; Provides approximately $34 million in cash to be deployed towards ProMetic's drug development and clinical programs and value generating activities; in cash to be deployed towards ProMetic's drug development and clinical programs and value generating activities; Does not materially affect ProMetic's EBITDA and operating cash flows; Provides up to $50 million in potential tax attributes; and in potential tax attributes; and Provides ProMetic with a significant foothold in Ontario , consolidating its presence as a major player in the Canadian market. Pierre Laurin, President and CEO of ProMetic stated: "This acquisition opportunity is strategic for ProMetic in many ways, with immediate, mid-term and long-term financial and operational benefits. It allows ProMetic to secure flexibility in its continued objectives of seeking vertical integration from raw material sourcing to distributing finished biopharmaceuticals in North America and abroad. The addition of a central Canada location also fits well with our strategy of facilitating the pursuit of Canadian national self-sufficiency for plasma-derived therapeutic products", added Mr. Laurin. Commenting on the transaction, Dr. Mike Berendt, Chief Executive Officer of Telesta, said: "We are convinced that ProMetic Life Sciences represents a balanced, low-risk, high reward opportunity for Telesta's shareholders. ProMetic's business model combines recurrent and growing revenue from their world-class filtering technology, potential block buster upside from their small molecule fibrosis program, and multiple plasma therapeutic proteins targeting orphan diseases. The premium offered to Telesta's shareholders by ProMetic is based on their ability to leverage multiple Telesta asset classes". "The addition of the Belleville, Ontario facility whilst not essential to ProMetic's current plans and timelines, provides the opportunity to build greater flexibility into our manufacturing capability. The newly refurbished portion of the Belleville, Ontario facility would require minor modifications to fit our purposes", declared Mr. Bruce Pritchard, Chief Operating Officer of ProMetic. "It allows us to consider a vertical integration of fill-finish operations, currently being outsourced, and the creation of further downstream processing lines, adding flexibility to the combination of plasma derived products manufactured simultaneously", added Mr. Pritchard. Conference Call and Webcast Information ProMetic will host a conference call at 8:30am (EST) on Wednesday August 24, 2016. The telephone numbers to access the conference call are (647) 427-7450 and 1-888-231-8191 (Toll-free). A replay of the call will be available from August 24, 2016 at 11:30 p.m. until August 31, 2016. The numbers to access the replay are 1-416-849-0833 (passcode: 69480167) and 1-855-859-2056 (passcode: 69480167). A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available through the following:http://event.on24.com/r.htm?e=1250463&s=1&k=D8D7FC88E5598DB7548B6BFBCCB1967C About Telesta Therapeutics, Inc. Telesta is a Montreal-based biotechnology company focused on the licensing/acquisition and development of transformational therapeutics for the treatment of serious human diseases such as cancer, immune diseases and targeted rare diseases. It is agile, pragmatic, efficient, and driven by a passion for breakthrough science, drug development and making a difference in the lives of patients and their families. Through its strong convictions, work ethics, and collaboration-driven approach, it is leveraging its deep expertise and skillsets to bring transformational medicines to patients and their physicians. About ProMetic ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. (www.prometic.com) is a long established biopharmaceutical company with globally recognized expertise in bioseparations, plasma-derived therapeutics and small-molecule drug development. ProMetic offers its state of the art technologies for large-scale purification of biologics, drug development, proteomics and the elimination of pathogens to a growing base of industry leaders and uses its own affinity technology that provides for highly efficient extraction and purification of therapeutic proteins from human plasma in order to develop best-in-class therapeutics. ProMetic is also active in developing its own novel small-molecule therapeutic products targeting unmet medical needs in the field of fibrosis, anemia, neutropenia, cancer and autoimmune diseases/inflammation as well as certain nephropathies. Headquartered in Laval (Canada), ProMetic has R&D facilities in the UK, the U.S. and Canada, manufacturing facilities in the UK and commercial activities in the U.S., Europe, Russia, Asia and Australia. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements about ProMetic's objectives, strategies and businesses that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are "forward-looking" because they are based on our current expectations about the markets we operate in and on various estimates and assumptions. Actual events or results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements if known or unknown risks affect our business, or if our estimates or assumptions turn out to be inaccurate. Such risks and assumptions include, but are not limited to, ProMetic's ability to develop, manufacture, and successfully commercialize value-added pharmaceutical products, the availability of funds and resources to pursue R&D projects, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies, the ability of ProMetic to take advantage of business opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry, uncertainties related to the regulatory process and general changes in economic conditions. You will find a more detailed assessment of the risks that could cause actual events or results to materially differ from our current expectations in ProMetic's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2015, under the heading "Risk and Uncertainties related to ProMetic's business". As a result, we cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement even if new information becomes available, as a result of future events or for any other reason, unless required by applicable securities laws and regulations. All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless indicated otherwise. SOURCE ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. Related Links http://www.prometic.com WASHINGTON, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 1921, more than 1,300 attendees convened in Phoenix for the 2016 NACCHO Annual Conference, making it the largest gathering of local health department (LHD) leaders and other public health professionals in the United States. The meeting provided participants with an opportunity to hear from national thought leaders, learn about successful and replicable public health practices from their peers, and discuss the pressing challenges affecting LHDs today. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160823/400596 This year's conference theme, Cultivating a Culture of Health Equity, provided a venue for in-depth conversations about the social determinants of health equity to achieve health and well-being for all members of their communities. A diverse mix of speakers addressed the theme during four general sessions and more than 100 sharing sessions, providing attendees with a range of perspectives on and approaches for tackling health inequities at the local level. Four plenary sessions were offered. To mark the start of the conference, attendees were welcomed to Phoenix by Bob England, MD, Director of the Maricopa County (AZ) Department of Public Health. England introduced Arizona democratic state senator Steve Gallardo of the 13th district. Describing instances of health inequity in his district, Gallardo said he knew of legal residents among his constituency too afraid to seek care when they are sick, because of their concerns about their family's mixed immigration status. "Healthcare is a basic right, not a political cause," declared Gallardo. During Wednesday's general session Tony Iton, MD, JD, MPH, Senior Vice President of Health Communities, The California Endowment, described the organization's $1 billion, 10-year mission to improve the health of 14 communities by examining the social determinants of health. Iton said that unfortunately, there is a narrative of exclusion in America and an effort to dehumanize certain populations. Dehumanization shapes policy, according to Iton. "Who belongs and who doesn't belong has an effect on policy." To change policy, he said, there has to be a change "in the power of poor people." During the conference awards ceremony, Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck, MD, MPH, Executive Director of NACCHO presented the Local Health Department of the Year Award to the Kansas City (MO) Health Department (medium jurisdiction category) and Harris County (TX) Public Health (large jurisdiction category). Patrick Libbey, Co-Director of the Center for Sharing Public Health Services in Olympia, WA, received the Maurice "Mo" Mullet Lifetime of Service Award. For more from the conference, visit www.nacchoannual.org. Save the date for NACCHO Annual 2017, July 1113 in Pittsburgh. About NACCHO The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) represents the nation's 2,800 local governmental health departments. These city, county, metropolitan, district, and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities. For more information about NACCHO, please visit www.naccho.org. Contact Theresa Spinner, MA Director, Media and Public Relations Direct: 202-783-5551 Email SOURCE National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) Related Links http://www.naccho.org DUBLIN, August 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Middle East & Africa UPS Market By kVA Range, By End User, By Country, Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2011-2021" report to their offering. The UPS systems market in Middle East & Africa (MEA) is projected to register sales of 4.2 million units by 2021 due to increasing penetration of new technology & systems, rising internet penetration and expanding trade & tourism sector. Increasing investments into the IT sector in Middle East & Africa (MEA) is resulting in growth in demand for UPS systems in the region. Saudi Arabia and UAE dominate the region's UPS market on account of increasing requirement for continuous power supply, so as to avoid huge productivity losses in diverse end-use segments. Less than 5kVA UPS segment is projected to witness significant growth in the coming years due to increasing penetration of ATMs, shifting consumer demographics and growing presence of modern retail outlets in countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Africa and Egypt. Number of internet users in MEA escalated from 351.8 million in 2013 to 416.9 million in 2015 and is further projected to cross 600 million over the next five years, which is anticipated to boost demand for UPS systems through 2021. Moreover, cloud computing technology segment in the MEA region has been growing at a significant pace, particularly in Saudi Arabia, and the segment is further anticipated to further grow on account of increase in number of firms using cloud services and rising investments on network & desktop outsourcing. This trend is expected to augment need for storing and protecting huge amount of data, thereby fueling growth in the region's UPS systems market. Emerson Network Power is expected to continue its leadership position in Middle East & Africa UPS market, followed by APC by Schneider Electric and Eaton Corporation Plc. Recent Trends & Developments Rising Influence of Locally Available Low Price Products Trending Green Storage Technologies Modular UPS Systems Replacing Centralized UPS Systems Rising Demand for Green UPS Systems Growing Use of Complete Power Solutions Increasing Demand from SMBs and Service Sectors Key Topics Covered: 1. Product Overview 2. Research Methodology 3. Analyst View 4. Middle East & Africa UPS Market Outlook 5. Middle East & Africa UPS Market Attractiveness Index 6. Middle East & Africa UPS (Less than 5kVA) Market Outlook 7. Middle East & Africa UPS (5.1kVA-20kVA) Market Outlook 8. Middle East & Africa UPS (20.1kVA-60kVA) Market Outlook 9. Middle East & Africa UPS (60.1kVA-200kVA) Market Outlook 10. Middle East & Africa UPS (Above 200kVA) Market Outlook 11. Saudi Arabia UPS Market Outlook 12. UAE UPS Market Outlook 13. South Africa UPS Market Outlook 14. Nigeria UPS Market Outlook 15. Market Dynamics 16. Recent Trends & Developments 17. Competitive Landscape 18. Strategic Recommendations Companies Mentioned AEG Power Solutions AMETEK SolidState Controls Active Power Inc. American Power Conversion Corporation Eaton Corporation PLC Emerson Network Power, Inc. GemNet Gulf LLC Rittal Middle East FZE Socomec Middle East Tripp Lite For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/34d3xk/middle_east_and Related Topics: Electricity Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com RIVERSIDE, Calif., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The City of Riverside is the latest community in the area to offer Renew Financial's CaliforniaFIRST program thanks to an affirmative vote of the city council last night. CaliforniaFIRST provides cost-saving financing to thousands of eligible property owners for environmentally friendly home energy upgrades that are then repaid on property taxes. The Tuesday night vote by the city council offers residential and commercial property owners the chance to take advantage of important financing options for renewable energy and energy efficiency upgrades, as well as water efficiency measures, and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) financing, which has been adopted by more than 200 cities and counties across the state, makes energy and water efficiency projects more accessible for California homeowners by providing project financing that is then paid back as a line item on their annual property tax bill. Now property owners throughout Riverside County and the greater San Bernardino County can immediately take advantage of it. CaliforniaFIRST's PACE financing program allows homeowners to choose a participating contractor in their area and install a variety of custom-tailored clean energy, water efficiency and EV charging projects. "We are committed to providing California homeowners with a simple way to finance upgrades that improve properties while saving energy, water and money," said Cisco DeVries, CEO of Renew Financial. "Homeowners in Riverside now have an important choice when it comes to lowering their bills and reducing their energy and water usage. By selecting PACE, they are joining millions of their fellow Californians in the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save water at the same time. We are thrilled to continue our expansion into Riverside and San Bernardino counties and provide the entire region with options to save money and improve the value of their homes." "We are happy that CaliforniaFIRST PACE financing option is one of several new PACE programs that homeowners and commercial property owners in Riverside can utilize to make crucial energy upgrades," Mayor Rusty Bailey said. "Competition is a good thing for consumers and the anticipated increase in PACE volume in our city will also help create and sustain local jobs in the contractor community." For more information please visit: www.californiafirst.org. About CaliforniaFIRST The CaliforniaFIRST Program is a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing program for residential and commercial properties. Administered by Renew Financial, a national clean energy finance company, CaliforniaFIRST allows property owners to finance the installation of energy and water improvements on homes or businesses through the issuance of a municipal bond, which can then be paid back as a line item on their property tax bill. CaliforniaFIRST financing doesn't rely on a credit score and does not require any money down, opening the program to a wide range of Californians. For more information:www.californiafirst.org. About Renew Financial Renew Financial is one of the nation's leading clean energy financing companies. Founded in 2008 by former White House appointee and U.S. Department of Energy official Cisco DeVries, who originated the concept of Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE), Renew Financial now provides multiple financing products across the country. PACE enables property owners to finance the entire cost of energy and water efficiency and renewable energy upgrades to their homes and businesses, and then repay those costs on their property tax bill. Named by Scientific American as one of the top 20 ideas that can change the world, PACE was identified as a national clean energy policy priority by President Obama in 2015, and received favorable regulatory guidance from the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) in July 2016. Renew Financial's other financing products include residential unsecured loans (ReHome), utility on-bill financing, and others. Renew Financial partners with Rainforest Trust to preserve endangered rainforests with a donation made for every completed project. Renew Financial is a pending trademark of Renewable Funding LLC. Additional information may be found at renewfinancial.com | @RenewFinancial | LinkedIn | Facebook | Blog SOURCE Renew Financial Related Links http://www.renewfinancial.com/ LOS ANGELES, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ROK Stars, the consumer products and environmental technologies development company founded by John Paul DeJoria and Jonathan Kendrick, has announced its ROK Drinks division has signed several new beer distributors for the ABK Beer brand. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/400835LOGO Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/400834 ABK continues to grow its territory, announcing that several states will be added to the ABK Beer distribution map. Agreements have been signed with National in Georgia, Best Brands in Tennessee, Chrissa in Northern California and Good Spirits in Nevada. As distribution of ABK Beer widens throughout the states in the months ahead, new releases will be added along with the flagship styles available: which are two award winning lagers, Hell and Edel as well as Rose Beer which is a fantastic beer, lemonade mix. "We are thrilled to have found solid business partners who share so much enthusiasm in building the ABK Brand in their respective markets," stated Jonathan Kendrick, Chairman of ROK Stars. "Aligning with these great distributors enables our retail customers and consumers to have access to 700 years worth of Brewing Tradition," Added Kendrick, "We look forward to supporting our new wholesalers in their efforts to increase selection, volume and exposure for the growing ABK Beer Portfolio. About ROK Drinks With a fast-expanding portfolio of beverages, ROK Drinks was co-founded by John Paul DeJoria, known as 'America's favorite entrepreneur,' and British entrepreneur Jonathan Kendrick. John Paul DeJoria is best known as the co-founder of Paul Mitchell, the largest privately held hair care business in North America, as well as being co-founder of Patron Tequila, the world's Number 1 premium tequila brand. Contact: Alison Kennedy 3233943999 Email More information at: www.rokstars.com abkbeer.com SOURCE ABK Beer MAIDENHEAD, United Kingdom, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Seqirus today announced results of two data integrated analyses from six randomized clinical trials evaluating the safety and immunogenicity of its trivalent MF59-adjuvanted seasonal influenza vaccine in children aged six months to less than six years.1,2 The two analyses were presented at the 28th International Congress of Pediatrics in Vancouver, Canada, 17-22 August 2016. In one analysis of data from six clinical studies involving more than 10,000 children, 5,542 children were exposed to at least one dose of the trivalent MF59-adjuvanted seasonal influenza vaccine for young children to evaluate immunogenicity (haemagglutination inhibition titres), efficacy (difference in rate of confirmed influenza cases vs placebo or non-adjuvanted vaccines) and safety. Results showed that immunogenicity and efficacy were greater in children who received the trivalent MF59-adjuvanted seasonal influenza vaccine for young children compared to those who received a non-adjuvanted influenza vaccine, while maintaining an acceptable safety profile (1% severe events).1 "Seqirus is proud to contribute to the body of evidence supporting the use of adjuvanted vaccines to help protect children from seasonal influenza," said Russell Basser, MD, Senior Vice President of Research & Development at Seqirus. "While it's important to vaccinate people against the flu throughout their lives, the unique properties of an adjuvanted vaccine may potentially offer additional benefits to young children, who have immature immune systems and typically experience the highest incidence of the disease during community outbreaks." In a second integrated analysis of the same six randomized trials, safety of the trivalent MF59-adjuvanted seasonal influenza vaccine for young children was compared with non-adjuvanted influenza vaccines among 373 young children with underlying medical conditions. Of the children at risk, 179 received the trivalent MF59-adjuvanted seasonal influenza vaccine for young children and 194 received control vaccines. Children with underlying medical conditions most frequently had a medical history of underlying respiratory system illnesses (6270%). Solicited adverse events (AEs) were experienced by 74%, 73% and 58% of the trivalent MF59-adjuvanted seasonal influenza vaccine for young children, Flu-licensed and Flu-investigational groups, respectively.2 Immunogenicity of the trivalent MF59-adjuvanted seasonal influenza vaccine for young children was assessed in the same at risk population using data from one study. Results showed that geometric mean titers were two to three times higher with the trivalent MF59-adjuvanted seasonal influenza vaccine for young children (n=179) than with control vaccines (n=194) for all three vaccine strains (A/H1N1, A/H3N2 and B). Seroconversion rates were high for both trivalent MF59-adjuvanted seasonal influenza vaccine for young children (7996%) and control vaccines (8389%).2 About Seasonal Influenza Influenza is a common, highly contagious infectious disease that can cause severe illness and life-threatening complications in many people. Because transmission to others may occur one day before symptoms develop and up to five to seven days after becoming sick, the disease can be easily transmitted to others. Influenza can lead to clinical symptoms varying from mild to moderate respiratory illness to severe complications, hospitalization and in some cases death.3 About Seqirus Seqirus is the new global company created in July 2015 from the combined strength and expertise of bioCSL Inc. and the influenza vaccines business formerly owned by Novartis AG. As the second largest influenza vaccine provider in the world, Seqirus is driven by the promise it shares with parent company, CSL Limited, to provide medicines that help to protect and save lives. Seqirus is a transcontinental partner in pandemic preparedness and a major contributor to the prevention and control of influenza globally, with extensive research and production expertise and manufacturing plants in the US, Europe and Australia and a commercial presence in 20 countries. Seqirus is part of CSL Limited (ASX:CSL), headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. The CSL Group of companies employs more than 16,000 people with operations in more than 30 countries. For more information visit www.seqirus.com and www.csl.com. References: Patel S., et al. MF59-Adjuvanted Seasonal Inactivated Influenza Vaccine: Well Tolerated and Highly Immunogenic in Young Children Cumulative Clinical Experience. Oral Presentation. 28th International Congress of Pediatrics, Vancouver, Canada , 17-22 August 2016 . Patel S., et al. MF59-Adjuvanted Seasonal Inactivated Influenza Vaccine: Well Tolerated and Highly Immunogenic in Young Children With Underlying Medical Condition. Poster Presentation. 28th International Congress of Pediatrics, Vancouver, Canada , 17-22 August 2016 . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Key Facts about Influenza (Flu) & Flu Vaccine. Updated 2015. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm. Accessed April 2016 . Media Contact Monica Galimberti Corporate Affairs, Seqirus [email protected] [email protected] Phone: +39 335 7440521 (mobile) SOURCE Seqirus Related Links http://www.seqirus.com NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is investigating potential claims on behalf of purchasers of the securities of Goldcorp, Inc. ("Goldcorp" or the "Company") (NYSE: GG). Such investors are advised to contact Peretz Bronstein or his investor relations analyst, Yael Hurwitz at [email protected] or 212-697-6484. The investigation concerns whether Goldcorp and certain of its officers and/or directors have violated Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. On August 24, 2016, Reuters released an article that said Goldcorp's Penasquito mine experienced a leak of selenium into the groundwater well near the mine in October 2013. Only a year later in October 2014 did Goldcorp announce to the Mexican government that there was a rise in selenium levels in the groundwater following the contamination near its mine waste facility. The Reuters article continued that two weeks ago, Goldcorp told the Mexican government that the contaminated water was also found in other areas on its property. According to Reuters, this was the first time the leak has been revealed to the public. Following this news, Goldcorp stock dropped during intraday trading on August 24, 2016. If you purchased Goldcorp securities or if you are aware of any facts relating to this investigation, you can assist this investigation by visiting the firm's site: http://www.bgandg.com/gg. You can also contact Peretz Bronstein or his Investor Relations Analyst, Yael Hurwitz of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC: 212-697-6484 or via email [email protected]. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, email and telephone number. Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a corporate litigation boutique. Our primary expertise is the aggressive pursuit of litigation claims on behalf of our clients. In addition to representing institutions and other investor plaintiffs in class action security litigation, the firm's expertise includes general corporate and commercial litigation, as well as securities arbitration. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Contact: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC Peretz Bronstein or Yael Hurwitz 212-697-6484 | [email protected] SOURCE Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC Related Links http://www.bgandg.com NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Goldcorp, Inc. ("Goldcorp" or the "Company") (NYSE: GG). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 9980. The investigation concerns whether Goldcorp and certain of its officers and/or directors have violated Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. [Click here to join this class action] On August 24, 2016, Reuters reported that Mexican regulators are investigating whether Goldcorp broke any regulations in its handling of a contaminated water leak at Mexico's biggest goldmine, previously undisclosed to the investing public by the Company. On this news, Goldcorp stock fell $1.64, or 9.27%, to close at $16.05 on August 24, 2016. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Florida, 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. CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP [email protected] SOURCE Pomerantz LLP Related Links http://www.pomerantzlaw.com EMERYVILLE, Calif., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of the National Park Service Centennial on August 25, Siegel & Strain Architects salutes the National Park Service (NPS) for 100 years of safeguarding the nation's natural and cultural heritage, and making it more accessible to all. Siegel & Strain is proud to have played a part in that effort for the past 15 years, working with NPS on more than 30 projects throughout the West, from new master plans supporting growth and diversity of park visitation to the design of new buildings that serve NPS's environmental education mission. This work is commemorated in a blog post on select projects and a graphic timeline honoring their important work with NPS. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/400953 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/400954 Most recently, Siegel & Strain collaborated with environmental non-profit NatureBridge and NPS on the National Environmental Science Center in Yosemite National Park, California, a 17-building residential education center with dining hall, cabins, bath houses, classrooms, and a fire station, to serve some 13,000 students and instructors who visit annually. The design is itself an interactive model of sustainability. Aiming to achieve zero net energy and LEED Platinum certification, the project also targets 60% efficiencies versus conventional water use, and minimizes material waste. "This project embraces our commitment to sustainable design in an environment where sustainability is not only impactful but entirely necessary," says Siegel & Strain co-founder and principal Henry Siegel, FAIA. "Going into its next century, NPS places high importance on its role as a model for environmental stewardship. It also embraces our firm's core values around incorporating the wider needs of both visitors and surrounding communities." Siegel & Strain also led the development of a new master plan for the Yosemite Valley Lodge, built over 50 years ago and needing upgrades for today's growing number of visitors. The Yosemite Valley Village Store will be re-purposed into the primary "port-of-entry" for visitors to Yosemite Valley. The design will return the space to the original glassy pavilion that focuses on views to Glacier Point to the south. New decks and entry doors provide access from all sides as well as ample space for outdoor kiosks and exhibits. New exhibits are designed to orient visitors to major park sites and get them to their destinations quickly. This project was designed in concert with a major reconfiguration of roads and parking throughout the Valley to improve the visitor experience. As NPS sees visitor numbers grow, the diversity of visitors is broadening as well, acknowledges Nancy Malone, AIA, Siegel & Strain principal and LEED Fellow. She says, "In our collaboration with NPS, we are continually looking at how to adapt facilities, now and into the future, for a more culturally diverse population. For example, we know that we need to develop different types of picnic areas and trails for differing kinds of visitor groups. At Sequoia National Park we are helping them plan a new category of affordable lodgingsomething between camping and higher-end accommodations." Other NPS / Siegel & Strain collaborations include: Redwood National & State Parks Visitor Center for Save the Redwoods League Orick, California Wawona Wildland Fire Fighting Facility Yosemite National Park, California Pinnacles Visitor Center & Fire / Search & Rescue Building Pinnacles National Park, California Concord Hills Regional Park Joint Use Visitor Center Port Chicago, Concord, California Lodgepole & Grant Grove Visitor Centers & Giant Forest Museum Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, California Presidio Historic Hangars, Building 643 San Francisco, California Presidio Hill Radio Building San Francisco, California Presidio Rob Hill Campground: Activity Pavilion & Bathhouse San Francisco, California Presidio Stewardship & Sustainability Center San Francisco, California Presidio Historic Queen Anne Houses San Francisco, California Fort Winfield Scott Historic Structures Reports The Presidio of San Francisco, California Furnace Creek Visitor Center Death Valley National Park, California Zzyzx Mineral Springs Historic District Mojave National Preserve, California Yosemite Indian Cultural Center Yosemite National Park, California Responding to the scale and particularities of visitor expectations at National Parks comes naturally to the Siegel & Strain design team. The firm's emphasis on site-sensitive design together with its ability to engage and consider all stakeholders gives the firm a passion and perspective that aligns with NPS's core values and mission of preserving the country's national parks. ABOUT SIEGEL & STRAIN Located in Emeryville, California, Siegel & Strain Architects is an innovative design firm with a commitment to sustainable design and superior client responsiveness. The firm has won more than 70 design awards, including four AIA Committee on the Environment Top Ten Green Projects awards, for projects that range from institutional and historic to residential. CONTACT Michelle Slade Walter Communications Email +1 415 215 1521 SOURCE Siegel & Strain LONDON, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- By 2020, the Indian Railways Will Invest Over $100 Billion to Create Transformational Digital Change This market insight provides an outlook of the growth opportunities for the rail industry in India. Ambitious government plans coupled with unprecedented levels of foreign investment are leading to a complete overhaul of the rail environment in India. Over 39 cities are planning to invest in expansive urban rail networks to address severe traffic congestion problems. High-speed rail and dedicated freight corridors are planned to separate passenger and freight traffic to increase operating efficiency. Introduction The Indian rail system is one of the largest railway networks in the world, serving over 7,112 stations connected by a network length of 65,808 km. However, it is plagued by abysmal service quality levels, frequent delays, accidents caused by severe shortages in funding, as well as aging assets and infrastructure. Indian Railways is the state-owned enterprise that manages all railway-related activities in India. With a huge population of 1.25 billion (2014), Indian rail operations largely cater to passenger traffic. Trains are often overbooked and overcrowded, and it is normal practice for ticketless passengers to bribe on-board ticket collectors instead of purchasing the appropriate fare. Exhibit 1 compares the utilization of rail networks around the world with freight or passenger traffic. The 4 largest rail networks are in the United States, Russia, China, and India. However, the exhibit also makes clear the state of decay in the Indian railways. The United States and Russia are heavily focused on freight operations, while China maintains a strong balance between passenger and freight operations. Indian rail freight volumes are extremely low compared to passenger traffic; passenger operations are subsidized, creating further gaps in revenue generation. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4062678/ About Reportbuyer Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers http://www.reportbuyer.com For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 208 816 85 48 Website: www.reportbuyer.com SOURCE ReportBuyer Related Links http://www.reportbuyer.com TROY, Mich., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Altair Partner Alliance (APA) added systems engineering software from XLDyn, LLC to its lineup of software partnerships. The software is made up of two modules, XLSE and XL1D, which work together to automate the creation of system models and perform one dimensional (1D) multi-physics simulations. "Our partnership with XLDyn is one we've been looking forward to," said Carlo Damiani, Vice President System Modeling at Altair. "One of the most exciting aspects is that it offers a great interface with solidThinking Activate, which will provide our joint users with not only top-notch system modeling capabilities, but also an easy to use environment for requirements and verification." XLSE is a model and math based systems engineering tool to automate the creation of system models whose requirements can be verified by tightly integrated simulation and tests. The software synchronizes the Object Management Group Systems Modeling Language (OMG SysML) diagram, Table and Word document views of the design requirements to support parametric, block definition, requirement, package and internal block diagrams. XL1D provides 1D multi-physics simulation for controls, mechanical, electrical, and thermal elements with multiple solution types. These modules together create an excellent tool for balancing requirements and design parameters at the system, subsystem and component levels. "We are thrilled to be joining forces with the Altair community," said Thomas Tecco, Chief Operating Officer at XLDyn. "Our systems modeling software brings new and innovative capabilities to complement those already a part of the Altair offering, so we are confident this partnership holds many good things to come for systems engineers across our global user base." The XLDyn software is widely applicable across industries, and is best suited for those with interdependent and complex requirements. It provides systems and product development engineers with the ability to develop and track product requirements and graphically document the requirement verification methods to appropriately balance and optimize the designs to be sure targets are met. For more information about the software, please visit the product page: http://www.altairhyperworks.com/partner/xldyn. About the Altair Partner Alliance Altair's HyperWorks platform applies a revolutionary subscription-based licensing model in which customers use floating licenses to access a broad suite of Altair-developed, as well as third-party, software applications on demand. The Altair Partner Alliance effectively extends the HyperWorks Platform from more than 20 internally developed solutions to upwards of 60 applications with the addition of new partner applications. Customers can invoke these third-party applications at no incremental cost using their existing HyperWorks licenses. Customers benefit from unmatched flexibility and access, resulting in maximum software utilization, productivity and ROI. For more information about the Altair Partner Alliance, visit http://www.altairhyperworks.com/apa. About XLDyn, LLC The XLDyn mission is to develop system engineering tools that are fully integrated with an intuitive and easy to use graphical interface. We have two modules developed in Microsoft .NET 4.5 Framework. XLSE for authoring OMG SysML compliant system models and XL1D for authoring and simulating detailed 1D multi-physics systems models. The XLDyn technology is covered by three approved U.S. Patents, plus one pending. Product success requires meeting or exceeding the customer expectations. Engineers need to define requirements, trace relationships, verify status against targets in one easy to use software tool. The solution to this is XLDyn as it provides the most integrated and easy to use Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) software for requirements and verification tracking. It has a wide range of functionality needed by Systems and Simulation Engineers and at the same time provides a "project view" capability that is ideal for managers and teams to keep abreast of project status. XLDyn is the perfect tool for balancing designs at the system, subsystem and component level. Please visit www.xldyn.net for more information. About Altair Founded in 1985, Altair is focused on the development and application of simulation technology to synthesize and optimize designs, processes and decisions for improved business performance. Privately held with more than 2,600 employees, Altair is headquartered in Troy, Michigan, USA with more than 45 offices throughout 20 countries, and serves more than 5,000 corporate clients across broad industry segments. To learn more, please visit www.altair.com. Media Contacts Altair Corporate/North America Biba A. Bedi +1-757-224-0548 x 406 [email protected] Altair Europe, the Middle East and Africa Evelyn Gebhardt +49-6421-9684351 [email protected] XLDyn, LLC Tom Tecco +1-734-239-7004 x 700 [email protected] SOURCE Altair Related Links http://www.altair.com SOUTH EL MONTE, Calif., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- After fighting on behalf of workers for six years, Teamsters Local 986 has won a $4.2 million back-pay settlement for employees at KAG West in Southern California. "This is a huge victory for the workers at KAG West who voted to join Local 986 in August 2010," said Chris Griswold, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 986 in South El Monte, California. "Six years ago, the company unlawfully withheld pay raises for the union workers and they have been fighting for justice since. Local 986 and the workers never gave up the fight." Tankhaul drivers and mechanics at 17 terminals in Southern California voted to join Local 986. At the time, there were 368 workers in the bargaining unit. The $4.2 million settlement includes back pay, interest and payroll taxes, and will be paid to 426 current and former workers; 175 workers will receive back-pay awards in excess of $10,000 and the highest will be $24,541 plus $2,135 in interest. In addition, all current, active employees will receive a pay raise to take effect by August 29. In June 2015, the National Labor Relations Board ruled that KAG West unlawfully withheld raises from union workers, saying the company's actions supported a finding that it was motivated by anti-union hostility. "I want to commend Local 986 for never giving up this fight for the wages owed to the KAG West workers," said Keith Gleason, Director of the Teamsters Tankhaul Division. "This sends a strong message to KAG West and Kenan Advantage Group employees that they're better off being represented by the Teamsters than being left at the mercy of this company." Local 986 officials vow to continue fighting to win a fair contract for the workers. Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hard-working men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters. Contact: Kara Deniz, (202) 624-6911 [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100127/IBTLOGO SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters Related Links http://www.teamster.org HERZLIYA, Israel, August 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- StoreDot, (http://www.store-dot.com/) the nanotechnology materials pioneer known for its super-fast battery charging technology, is announcing today that the Tel Aviv District Court has decided in favor of StoerDot to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Ramot with prejudice. In its suit, Ramot claimed that StoreDot had breached its License Agreement with Ramot and that StoreDot's innovative technology stems from research done at Tel Aviv University. Ramot also claimed that StoreDot's groundbreaking Intellectual Property (IP) is related to Service Inventions created by TAU researchers. Tel Aviv District Court has appointed two experts, respected professors in their fields, in order to evaluate Ramot's claims and StoreDot's technology. The experts had unambiguously reached the conclusion that Ramot had presented baseless claims. In light of the expert's opinion, Ramot retracted from its claim against StoreDot following the court's recommendation to do so. Therefore, the court overruled the suit with prejudice. "We are very pleased with court's ruling, but we're not surprised," said Dr. Doron Myersdorf, CEO and Co-Founder at StoreDot. "I'm sure that Ramot, like other shareholders in the company, will continue to benefit from being StoreDot's pioneering partners, and from our patented technological breakthroughs such as the FlashBattery designed for both smartphone and electric vehicles." About StoreDot: StoreDot Ltd. is an innovation leader in materials and device applications, developing ground-breaking technologies based on a unique methodology for the design, synthesis, and manufacturing of organic compounds. Designed to replace known technologies by means of enhanced chemical, electrical, and optical properties, StoreDot's proprietary technology, inspired by nature, can be optimized for multiple industries including fast-charging batteries in mobile devices, electric vehicles and for next generation LCD displays. Alona Stein | PR Supervisor | Blonde 2.0 | +972-507782344 SOURCE StoreDot MONTREAL, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Telesta Therapeutics Inc. (TSX: TST) (PNK: BNHLF) today announced that it has executed a binding Agreement, subject to shareholder approval, to be acquired by ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. for consideration of $0.14/Telesta share, payable in freely tradable shares of ProMetic Life Sciences (TSX: PLI). The actual number of ProMetic shares payable per Telesta common share, will be calculated based on the 5-day volume-weighted average price of ProMetic shares, for the 5 days immediately preceding the date on which the Court ordered plan of arrangement becomes effective if shareholders vote to approve this transaction. Commenting on this announcement, Mr. James Rae, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Telesta Therapeutics stated: "Following a very comprehensive review of multiple strategic options, Telesta's Board of Directors has unanimously endorsed the recommendation of the Special Committee of the Board of Directors to recommend to shareholders the acceptance of this purchase offer from ProMetic Life Sciences. This offer represents a significant premium to Telesta's share price since February, 2016. ProMetic Life Sciences is uniquely positioned to leverage Telesta's financial, manufacturing and human resources, while delivering to Telesta shareholders, through this payment in ProMetic shares, significant potential future upside as they bring their large therapeutic pipeline to commercial deployment." Telesta and ProMetic will be collaborating in the weeks to come to prepare an information circular for distribution to Telesta's shareholders. This circular will provide a detailed description of the transaction and a copy of the financial fairness opinion prepared by the financial advisors to the Special Committee of Telesta's Board of Directors, which indicated that the proposed transaction is fair from a financial point of view. The circular will confirm the time and place of the special shareholders meeting which is expected to be held prior to the end of October. Dr. Michael Berendt continued: "We have conducted significant due diligence on a large number of strategic opportunities over the last 6 months and are convinced that the offer from ProMetic Life Sciences represents a balanced, low-risk, high reward opportunity for Telesta's shareholders. ProMetic's business model combines recurrent and growing revenue from their world-class filtering technology, potential block buster upside from their small molecule fibrosis program, and multiple plasma therapeutic proteins targeting orphan diseases. The premium offered to Telesta's shareholders by ProMetic is based on their ability to leverage multiple Telesta asset classes compared to other expressions of interest received, that were largely based on the third party's interest in our net cash balances. I would also note that ProMetic will be undertaking a comprehensive internal review of the MCNA1 platform. We are convinced that this offer is in the best interests of all Telesta stakeholders and look forward to speaking with and interacting with shareholders between now and the special shareholders meeting." About Telesta Therapeutics Inc. Telesta is a Montreal-based biotechnology company focused on the licensing/acquisition and development of transformational therapeutics for the treatment of serious human diseases such as cancer, immune diseases and targeted rare diseases. We are agile, pragmatic, efficient, and driven by a passion for breakthrough science, drug development and making a difference in the lives of patients and their families. Through our strong convictions, work ethics, and collaboration-driven approach, we are leveraging our deep expertise and skillsets to bring transformational medicines to patients and their physicians. Except for historical information, this news release may contain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws that reflect the Company's current expectation regarding future events. Forward-looking statements and information are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while, considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements and information are not guarantees and there can be no assurance that such statements and information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements and information. These forward-looking statements and information involve risk and uncertainties, which may cause, but are not limited to, changing market conditions, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies, the establishment of corporate alliances, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new product development, uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's ongoing quarterly and annual reporting. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements and information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. All written and oral forward-looking statements and information attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. SOURCE Telesta Therapeutics Inc. Related Links http://www.telestatherapeutics.com/ LONDON, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Summary With the rapid transition from tracked to wheeled platforms in the global armoured vehicles market, the importance of 8x8 vehicles have increased manifold over the past few decades. The growing popularity of such vehicles can be attributed to their better mobility and light weight, which results in improved combat capability in a battlefield. Additionally these vehicles also require lower operational and maintenance costs, while ensuring a longer operational life. Key Findings - Large scale modernization initiatives being undertaken by key defense spenders across the world are a primary factor that will drive the demand in the 8x8 armored vehicle market over the coming years. The need to replace aging vehicle fleets, particularly in countries in the European and Asian regions, is expected to further fuel the growth of this sector. - Modularity is a key attribute that is gaining increased popularity in 8x8 military vehicles. Driven by the high demand for modular 8x8 vehicles, prominent manufacturers are coming up with vehicles that offer enhanced modularity, thus offering high flexibility in critical battlefield operations while ensuring lower costs. - The growth of the 8x8 armored vehicle sectors in emerging markets is expected to outpace that of traditional markets over the coming years. While traditional markets such as the US and Europe are currently focusing on building their naval and air force capabilities, emerging nations in Asia and the Middle East are more focused on modernizing their vehicle fleets in an effort to enhance the capabilities of their ground forces. Synopsis The 8x8 Armored Vehicle Market - Key Drivers, Trends and New Developments report offers insights into the industry with an analysis based on key trends, drivers and new developments in the domain. This report analyzes factors that influence demand for 8x8 armored vehicles, key market trends and technology developments in the sector. In particular, it provides an in-depth analysis of the following: - End-user Analysis: Insight into the key users of 8x8 armored vehicles within the military as well as homeland departments. - Drivers: Detailed analysis of factors driving the global market for 8x8 armored vehicles - Trends: Insights on the prevalent trends in the sector - Technology Trends and New Developments: Insights into current technological trends and new developments that will shape the market in the future - Key 8x8 Armored Vehicles In Use: Highlights of five popular 8x8 vehicles that are being currently used be defense forces across the world - Recent/Expected Launched: Highlights of five key 8x8 vehicles that are yet to be deployed - Country Analysis: Analysis of the five spenders that are anticipated to invest heavily in the domain, and recent programs executed by these nations - Supplier Analysis: Analysis of the five major companies that are catering to 8x8 armored vehicle requirements in the domain Reasons To Buy - Determine prospective investment areas based on trend analysis of the global 8x8 armored vehicle market - Gain in-depth understanding about the underlying factors driving demand for 8x8 armored across the world and identify the opportunities offered by the current scenario - Strengthen your understanding of the market in terms of demand drivers, industry trends, and the latest technological developments, among others. - Identify the major channels that are driving the global 8x8 armored vehicle market, providing a clear picture about future opportunities that can be tapped, resulting in revenue expansion. - Make correct business decisions based on thorough analysis of the competitive landscape of the sector with detailed profiles of major 8x8 armored vehicle suppliers which include information about their products, alliances, recent contract wins and financial analysis wherever available. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4040263/ About Reportbuyer Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers http://www.reportbuyer.com For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 208 816 85 48 Website: www.reportbuyer.com SOURCE ReportBuyer Related Links http://www.reportbuyer.com CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Global economic consultancy The Brattle Group has been recognized as one of the 10 best consulting firms to work for in the 2017 Vault Consulting 50. For the third consecutive year, Brattle ranked highest among all economic consulting firms. "Brattle's continued success reflects a relentless focus on our values: collaboration, integrity, performance, and respect," noted Brattle President Alexis Maniatis. "We are thrilled to be recognized again as a top consulting firm, and we celebrate this achievement with all of our staff." Respondents to the survey acknowledged Brattle's "fantastic leadership" and "flat, collaborative, supportive culture" that provides "a great environment for learning and challenging yourself." The survey also praised the firm's "strong training and good placement opportunities" and that it "cultivates intellectual curiosity and quality performance." The Vault Consulting 50 is based on employee feedback about firm culture, work/life balance, overall satisfaction, compensation, overall business outlook, and promotion policies. It is also based on feedback from employees at other consulting firms who contribute to a prestige score. Brattle was also recognized as a top 10 consulting firm in several quality of life rankings, including benefits, compensation, diversity, firm culture, innovation, overall business outlook, supervisor relationships, and training programs. The full list of the Vault Consulting 50 is available at www.vault.com. In addition to the Vault ranking, Brattle has been recognized over the past year as a top consulting firm in several industry rankings and publications, including Global Competition Review, Global Arbitration Review, Forbes, Who's Who Legal, Advisory HQ, and Finance Monthly. The Brattle Group analyzes complex economic, finance, and regulatory questions for corporations, law firms, and governments around the world. We are distinguished by the clarity of our insights and the credibility of our experts, which include leading international academics and industry specialists. For more information, please visit www.brattle.com. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160107/320171LOGO SOURCE The Brattle Group Related Links http://www.brattle.com LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- With new faces at the studio, and a series of events upcoming in 2H16, a significant update to our new website, the Michael A Vaccaro Studio has itself been renamed the Tony Vaccaro Studio. This is a nod to the world renowned photographer's more popular appellation. Born Michelantonio in 1922, Tony was Mickey as a toddler before becoming Tony at school. The US Army refused to accept the long first name in 1943, and re-Christened him: Michael Anthony Vaccaro, the name Tony used for Look Magazine. - Kulbinder Garcha joins as an investor and Managing Partner. Kulbinder, a graduate of St John's College, Cambridge, brings almost twenty years of equity research bulge bracket investment banking experience to the studio and will advise on strategic direction, finance and business development. - Manolo Salas is our new senior editor. A product of the LaGuardia College photography department, Salas is a master of Adobe digital platforms, and combines cutting edge image processing speed with an old-school aesthetic appreciation. Salas has traveled extensively for his own photography, through Asia and the Caribbean, and photographs artists who share his Dominican roots. - Alessandro Berni, from the contemporary art gallery in Perugia, Italy, has come aboard to lead sales into 2017. Berni, who directs communications and all social media for the Hydra Art Project, promises to make Tony a household name with his mix of sharp on-line image presentation and pop-up galleries right here in New York City. - Maria Vaccaro, Tony's daughter-in-law, continues twenty-two years after first working as Tony's darkroom assistant. She joins the studio full-time after maternity leave to give Tony two grandsons. Maria was born in Eastern Slovakia then Czechoslovakia - in 1975, and graduated from Hunter College in 2002. The superbly reviewed "Shots of Life" exhibition in the Ville de Caen, France, closes on August 28th, 2016. The 90 prints will be delivered to Tony's museum in Bonefro, Italy, and will hereafter comprise the permanent collection there. (see Caen Exhibition for more details). For more information please see www.tonyvaccaro.studio. Media Contact: Frank Vaccaro [email protected] Photos: http://www.prlog.org/12582075 Press release distributed by PRLog SOURCE Tony Vaccaro Studio Related Links http://www.tonyvaccaro.studio SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Technical Institute graduates are among top winners in multiple national and international industry skills competitions, including Penske Elite Technician, Cummins Top Tech and Navistar Top Service Technician. Manufacturer competitions in the auto and diesel industry serve to highlight technicians who are outstanding in their knowledge and skills, and reward those with a drive to succeed. "We launched the Penske Elite Technician program to recognize technicians as a key component of our business," said Anthony R. Pordon, executive vice president, investor relations and corporate development, Penske Automotive Group. "The program was designed to showcase technicians who have exceptional skills and to reward them for their skills, expertise and contributions to our company. UTI-trained techs are regularly among our top performers across the nation." Competition details vary and generally include a series of timed, written exams along with multiple troubleshooting and repair diagnostic sections designed to highlight technicians with superior knowledge and performance. "It's rewarding to see our graduates continually perform at such high levels and be recognized for their skills by our industry customers," said Chuck Barresi, senior vice president, Customer Solutions at UTI. "We are proud to provide a solid foundation for them to launch their careers in the industry and want to congratulate them on their success." UTI graduates were among many industry award winners and finalists, including Nathan Reed, Navistar Top Service Technician Award for Truck, and Matt Johnson, Penske Elite Technician of the Year. Additionally, five of the nine Penske Elite Technician finalists were UTI graduates. Reed, a service technician for RWC International in Phoenix, was one of 13 top service technicians from International and IC Bus dealers across the United States and Canada selected to compete in the 2016 Navistar Technician Rodeo held at the Navistar Woodridge Facility in Lisle, Illinois. He was awarded a Snap-on toolbox and cash prize, and will represent the U.S. in the Best of America competition in early 2017. Reed graduated in 2009 from UTI-Glendale Heights' Diesel & Industrial Technology program and the 15-week International Technician Education Program (ITEP), one of UTI's manufacturer-specific advanced training programs. Johnson, a service technician for Penske BMW North Scottsdale, was one of 120 technicians 22 from Arizona nominated for the Penske Elite Technician program. After a regional competition, he was one of three named to represent the Western Region when finalists went head-to-head in written and hands-on competitions in North Carolina. In addition to being recognized as the Technician of the Year, Johnson also was awarded Snap-on tool credits, a cash prize and VIP tickets to the Indianapolis 500 as a special guest of Team Penske. "The most valuable part of this entire competition were the connections I made throughout the experience," said Johnson. "I also saw firsthand how my employer values technicians as part of the team, and is looking to recognize our contribution and is seeking our input." Download images here: http://uti.mediaroom.com/imagelibrary About Universal Technical Institute, Inc. Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) is the leading provider of post-secondary education for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians. With more than 200,000 graduates in its 51-year history, UTI offers undergraduate degree and diploma programs at 12 campuses across the United States, as well as manufacturer-specific training programs at dedicated training centers. Through its campus-based school system, UTI provides specialized post-secondary education programs under the banner of several well-known brands, including Universal Technical Institute (UTI), Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and Marine Mechanics Institute (MMI) and NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech). For more information, visit www.uti.edu. Contact: Amber Price [email protected] 602-417-0687 SOURCE Universal Technical Institute, Inc. Related Links http://www.uti.edu TEL AVIV, Israel, August 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Unomy, a B2B sales and marketing intelligence startup company announced a partnership with Microsoft Accelerator, a global initiative empowering entrepreneurs around the world on their journey to build great companies. The Microsoft Accelerator will be using Unomy, an alumni of the program in itself, in order to scout for new opportunities and validate them. Additionally, as part of its peer-to-peer program, Microsoft Accelerator will promote Unomy's platform to their Alumni community worldwide as a tool for B2B customer acquisition and growth. "We are proud to be working with Microsoft Accelerator in such a close capacity. Unomy's unique marketing and sales intelligence capabilities will be beneficial to every B2B company in Microsoft's portfolio, said Gal Har-Zvi, CEO and Co-founder of Unomy. Founded in 2013 in Tel Aviv, Unomy helps B2B sales and marketing professionals discover new business leads and work more informed throughout the customer acquisition process. Unomy provides rich data on millions of companies, including company size, locations, revenue estimates, size of internal departments, online popularity, social media activity, funding rounds, contact details and more. Its applications are endless," explains Har-Zvi. In June 2016 the company announced an extended seed round of $2.4M. It is backed by Janvest Capital Partners, Leta Capital, Altair Capital and a handful of private investors About Unomy Unomy is a Tel Aviv-based B2B sales and marketing intelligence platform that helps sales and marketing professionals find relevant prospects and understand them better. Using a host of filters, users can research companies, and specific contacts within those companies, that would be most appropriate to contact in order to "make decisions" quickly. For more details visit Unomy.com. Contact information: Ori Manor Co-founder, CMO [email protected] SOURCE Unomy WASHINGTON, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce announces enthusiastic support for Hillary Clinton's comprehensive proposals to jump-start small business startups and strengthen small business growth and declares the chamber's promise to support these pro-small business reforms and innovations. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/400986LOGO "The U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce has consistently sought out U.S. leadership that genuinely understands small business and the many levers and tools available through government policies, investments and practices to spur small business start-ups and growth," states Margot Dorfman, CEO of the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce. "After reviewing Hillary Clinton's set of comprehensive proposals to jump-start small business startups and business growth, we can clearly and enthusiastically confirm that Hillary Clinton is a true small business champion." "The small business proposals recommended by Hillary Clinton are smart, focused and nuanced. Each proposal displays a real understanding of the issues and takes a uniquely strategic approach to fueling new business startups, small business growth and job creation," adds Dorfman. "Clinton's proposals will make it much easier for small businesses to start and thrive at every step including: cutting red tape and expenses to make it easier to start a business as well as pushing state and local governments to do the same, making it easier for small businesses to secure financing and find investors, ensuring that education and resources reach underserved communities, allowing entrepreneurs to defer student loan payments interest-free while launching start-ups, providing much needed tax relief for small business owners (including expensing new investments), making it cheaper and faster to manage business accounting and filing taxes and making it easier to offer health care and other benefits to employees." Clinton's proposals address an issue that is of great concern to members of the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce access to federal contracts. The U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce is the leading national champion for women suppliers to the federal government. Clinton's proposals will make it easier for small businesses to work with the federal government, compete for contracts and secure payment promptly. Clinton's small business proposals also include a much needed focus on encouraging small business exports and making it easier for small businesses to fight back when they are stiffed by predatory, big business bad actors. "It's about time small business had a champion in the White House," concludes Dorfman. "The U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce will work tirelessly to support and advance these proposals. Our American economy, job creation and the financial strength of our families will all benefit from the effective implementation of Hillary Clinton's small business startup and growth proposals." The U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce (USWCC) is the leading advocate for women on business, economic and leadership issues. As the economic leader for women, the USWCC creates opportunities, drives progress, advocates, and provides tools and solutions to support the economic growth of women across America. The USWCC ( http://www.uswcc.org/ ) is a not-for-profit 501(c)6 organization founded in 2001 with over 500,000 members; its headquarters offices are located in Washington, D.C. Contact the USWCC at 888-418-7922. Related Links U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com SOURCE U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce Related Links http://uswcc.org CORONA, Calif., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Viribright Lighting, Inc., the preferred energy efficient, long-life, LED light bulb replacement for GE, Sylvania, Philips, Cree and Osram LED bulbs, is pleased to announce their participation at booth 4657, in the 2016 Orgill Fall Market being held in the Sands Exposition and Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV, from August 25-27th. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/400825 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/400826LOGO "The 2016 Orgill Fall Market, offers an opportunity for Viribright to share with retailers its' new, patented, groundbreaking innovations in energy efficient, long-life LED light bulbs," according to Kai Clarke, Vice President of sales and marketing for Viribright. "In the LED marketplace, we are proud to demonstrate how our newly patented, energy efficient, LED light bulbs, offer consumers higher value through our leading position as an innovator and developer of superior energy efficient, long-life LED core technologies." "Viribright's patented, new, energy efficient, long-life LED bulbs, offer increased value and brightness while lowering cost, by generating more lumens per watt with a higher Color Rendering Index (CRI) than other LED bulbs from GE, Sylvania, Philips, Cree, and Osram." Energy saving, long-life LED light bulbs incorporating Viribright's newly patented technologies have also recently been awarded Energy Star Certification, and are available through Viribright authorized retailers and distributors or ready to ship from the company's bi-coastal distribution centers. For more information on purchasing Viribright energy efficient, long-life LED light bulbs near you, or how to become a distributor, please contact Viribright Lighting at: [email protected] or call 877-847-4276. About Viribright Lighting Viribright Lighting is a subsidiary of Matrix Holdings Limited (HKEX1005). Matrix Holdings Limited was established in 1979 and has been publicly traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 1994. Matrix Holdings Ltd. has world-class factories in China and Vietnam with over 20,000 employees globally. Viribright's new energy efficient, long-life LED light bulbs are the preferred replacement choice for GE, Sylvania, Philips, Cree and Osram light bulbs. Viribright is the leading brand of high value, long-life, LED light bulbs which offer mercury free, energy-efficient, beautiful light using patented Viritrue advanced LED light bulb technology. These new, long life Viribright LED light bulbs offer superior lumens per watt at a lower price than GE, Sylvania, Philips, Cree and Osram. Viribright's robust selection of high value, energy efficient, long life LED lighting products are the next generation in new LED lighting technology. Please visit http://www.viribright.com for more information. Viribright and Viritrue are registered trademarks of Viribright Lighting, Inc. Contacts: Kai Clarke Vice President of Sales and Marketing 877-847-4276 Email SOURCE Viribright Lighting Related Links http://www.viribright.com PUNE, India, August 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Welding Equipment, Accessories, and Consumables Market by Technology (Arc Welding and Oxy-Fuel Welding), Equipment Type (Welding Electrode, Filler Metal, and Oxy-fuel Gas), Accessory, Consumable, End-Use Industry, and Region - Global Forecast to 2021" published by MarketsandMarkets, The market size is estimated to grow from USD 19.57 Billion in 2016 to USD 24.00 Billion by 2021, at a CAGR of 4.23%. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 ) Browse 345 market data Tables and 50 Figures spread through 286 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Welding Equipment, Accessories, and Consumables Market" http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/welding-equipment-accessories-consumable-market-197066654.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report. Factors such as increase in demand for the welding equipment, accessories and consumables market in Asia-Pacific, increase in demand from the end-use industries such as structural (construction), automobiles, steel, and marine (oil and gas) industry are some of the drivers for the growth of welding equipment, accessories, and consumables market. Consumables such as shielding gases and oxyfuel gases to gain maximum traction during the forecast period The shielding segment dominated the market in 2015 and is projected to be the fastest-growing segment in the next five years, as a result of the rising demand for argon gases by the industries to meet the demand. Furthermore, the oxy-fuel segment is projected to be the second fastest-growing industry. Arc welding as a technology to witness the highest growth in the welding equipment, accessories, and consumables market The report defines and segments the Welding Equipment, Accessories, and Consumables Market on the basis of technology offered into arc welding, oxy-fuel welding, and others. The arc welding technology is projected to grow at the fastest CAGR due to the grow in demand from emerging countries such as China and India, which are ranked first and second, respectively, in the global welding equipment, accessories, and consumables market. The second fastest growing sector is that of oxy-fuel welding. Make an Enquiry: http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=197066654 "Asia-Pacific region to be the largest market for welding equipment, accessories, and consumables during the forecast period." The Asia-Pacific region leads the market due to its large population and its growing demand for the construction, automobile, steel, and marine (oil and gas) industry. As welding equipment, accessories, and consumables have a widespread application in all these end-use industries, the Asia-Pacific region, which is witnessing a major growth in these sectors as well, has become a large market for these various equipment. This is followed by North America, which is the second largest market for welding equipment, accessories, and consumables. The ecosystem of global welding equipment accessories and consumables comprises distributors/suppliers such as Colfax corporations. (U.S.), Lincoln Electric Inc. (U.S.), Illinois Tool Works Inc. (U.S.), Air Liquide (France), and the Linde group (Germany). Other players in this market include GCE holding AB (Sweden), Fronius international GMBH (Austria), CSR Limited (Australia), Messer group (Germany), Matheson tri-gas Inc. (U.S.), Bug-O (U.S.), Gentec (China), and Muller (Germany), which help the manufacturers in the development and growth of welding equipment accessories, and consumables markets. Browse Related Reports: Gas Equipment Market by Industrial Gas (Atmospheric, Hydrogen, Acetylene, Helium), Type (Gas delivery, Regulators, Purifiers & filters, Flow devices, Gas generation, Cryogenics, Gas detection), Process (Generation, Storage, Detection, Transportation) - Forecast to 2021 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/gas-equipment-market-68487468.html Welding Gas/Shielding Gas Market by Type (Argon, Carbon dioxide), by Storage, Distribution & Transportation (Cylinder & Packaged Gas, Merchant Liquid/Bulk), by Application (Gas Metal Arc Welding, Tungsten Gas Arc Welding), by End-Use Industry - Global Forecast to 2020 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/welding-shielding-gas-market-200200857.html About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is the largest market research firm worldwide 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 1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets SOURCE MarketsandMarkets Mumbai, Aug 19 : Actress Mahima Chaudhry, who is all geared up for her forthcoming bilingual film "Dark Chocolate", says that her character in the movie is inspired by Indrani Mukerjea. In August, Mumbai police had arrested Indrani, her ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna and her former driver Shyamwar Rai for the murder of her daughter Sheena Bora. Mahima says that the film is based on this real story. "'Dark Chocolate' is based on the Sheena Bora murder and I play Sheena's mother," said Mahima at the film's trailer launch. "This is my first Bengali film and a very exciting moment for me" she added. The actress also says that she didn't get time to prepare for the role. "When I was offered this role, I thought this is very different. I wanted two-three months for preparation but my director insisted that we kick off shooting in two-three days. As the case was just unfolding and my director wanted to finish the film, we completed the movie within a month," she said. Director Agnidev Chatterjee said that the case was quite intriguing. "I thought that a mother could never kill her daughter. There must be something more to the whole case. I have known most of people involved in the case. Suddenly something like this has happened. So, I am saying something about the case through my film," he explained. The film has been produced by Pradip Churiwal and also features Riya Sen, Mumtaz Sorcar and Rajesh Sharma. Kabul, Aug 20 : Taliban militants on Saturday seized control of Khan Abad district in Afghanistan's Kunduz province as sporadic clashes continued around the district centre, officials said. "Dozens of armed militants overran the district bazaar early Saturday morning. They also stormed the district centre and seized government office buildings after security forces made a tactical retreat to outer sides of the district after dawn," Xinhua news agency quoted a security source as saying. The district is located around 25 km east of the provincial capital of Kunduz. The main highway connecting Kunduz to the neighbouring Takhar province passes through the district. "The provincial security officials were meeting to prepare for a counterattack. The security forces will soon kick the militants out from Khan Abad," another official said. Zabiullah Mujahi, a purported Taliban spokesman, said the militants also seized weapons and vehicles after capturing security checkpoints following Saturday's clashes. He said the Taliban also overran several troop security posts in the neighbouring Ali Abad district. The Kunduz province and neighbouring Baghlan and Takhar provinces have been the scene of heavy clashes over the past couple of months as Taliban tried to challenge government forces in the once relatively peaceful region. Kunduz city has been facing a severe power cuts since Thursday when several electricity towers were destroyed during the clashes. The destroyed power pylons had been transmitting imported electricity from the neighbouring country of Tajikistan, according to officials. The militants seized Dahna-e-Ghori district of Baghlan after a coordinated offensive earlier this month. In Kabul, an army soldier was killed and another officer wounded after a roadside bomb struck an army vehicle in the city earlier on Saturday. The Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since early April when the militant group launched its annual rebel offensive in different places of the country, which had claimed hundreds of lives including militants, security personnel and civilians. Kabul, Aug 21 : At least 43 Taliban militants were killed as Afghan security forces mounted an operation in the country's Kunduz province, authorities said on Sunday. "Joint Afghan security forces backed by army's air power also injured 14 militants in Khan Abad, Ali Abad and Imam Sahib districts during an ongoing operation codenamed 'Thunder 14' on Saturday," Xinhua news agency cited an army statement as saying. The Taliban on Saturday seized Khan Abad but the security forces regained control of the strategic district which is located 25 km east of the provincial capital Kunduz city. "Taliban district governor Hussain from Khan Abad was also killed," the statement said. Sporadic clashes were going on in the militancy-hit province, sources said. Kunduz and neighbouring Baghlan and Takhar provinces have been the scene of heavy clashes over the past couple of months as Taliban has been trying to challenge the government forces in the once relatively peaceful region. Nay Pyi Taw, Aug 22 : External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday met Myanmar's State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi here. "An old friend of India, a new partner in progress. EAM meets Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, State Counsellor & FM of Myanmar," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted along with pictures of the two leaders. This is the first high-level visit from India to Myanmar after Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) assumed power earlier this year. After arriving in Nay Pyi Taw earlier on Monday, Sushma Swaraj first met Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw. "Enhancing linkages with Myanmar's new Govwernment. EAM @SushmaSwaraj calls on President U Htin Kyaw in 1st engagement," Swarup said in another tweet. Sushma Swaraj is being accompanied by Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar and other senior officials of the Ministry of External Affairs. During the 15th round of Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi earlier this month, India and Myanmar reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral issues, including high-level visits, security and defence-related issues, boundary matters and border management, trade and commerce, development cooperation, connectivity, cultural and consular matters. They also exchanged views on issues of mutual interest at regional and multilateral forums. The consultations are of special significance as these were the first institutionalised exchanges between India and Myanmar after the swearing-in of the new NLD government in Myanmar on March 30 this year. In the intervening period, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on June 16 visited Myanmar as a special envoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman earlier led a high-level business delegation to the eastern neighbour for the India-Myanmar Business Conclave on May 18-20. Last month, in a meeting with Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Laos, Suu Kyi said that she looked forward to visiting India. As her country's constitution bars her from becoming President, the Nobel Peace laureate serves as the State Counsellor and Foreign Minister. Suu Kyi made her first visit in her current capacity to China last week. New Delhi, Aug 22 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday assured total support in the rescue and relief operations in the flood-affected states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Praying for the safety and well-being of those affected by floods, the Prime Minister hoped that the situation in the affected areas would normalise at the earliest, a statement said. "I pray for the safety and well-being of those in areas affected by floods in parts Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh," Modi said. The Prime Minister said Home Minister Rajnath Singh is "closely monitoring the situation". "He (Rajnath Singh) has spoken to the chief ministers and taken stock of rescue and relief operations. Centre assures total support in the rescue and relief operations. I hope the situation in the affected areas normalises at the earliest," the Prime Minister said. Nay Pyi Taw, Aug 22 : After the heavy exchange of fire between the Indian Army and the banned insurgent outfit NSCN (Khaplang) last week in Nagaland along the India-Myanmar border, both countries on Monday agreed to maintain peace and security along the the international border. This was agreed to during meetings External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had with Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw and State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi during her day-long visit to Nay Pyi Taw. "Both sides agreed to make efforts to ensure peace and security along the long shared border," sources here said. "The Myanmar side stated that activities of insurgent groups would not be countenanced from Myanmar territory and suggested that this issue should be addressed and taken forward through cooperation in established bilateral forums," they said. Heavy exchange of fire took place on Friday between the Indian Army and the NSCN(K) after the soldiers allegedly raided some of the villages along the Indo-Myanmar border. According to the state police, the incident took place at about 4 a.m. near Chenmoho in Mon district in Nagaland which shares its eastern border with Myanmar. Though some reports said that the Indian forces crossed into the Myanmar side in pursuit of the insurgents, authorities have denied this. This is the first cabinet-level visit from India to Myanmar after Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) assumed power in March this year, a gesture that Myanmar leaders have appreciated, the sources said. She expressed fullest support to the new Myanmar government in its efforts to meet its developmental goals in the country. Suu Kyi warmly recalled her long association with India and with Indian personalities. "She briefed the External Affairs Minister on the preparations for the upcoming 21st Century Panglong Conference for National Reconciliation," the sources said. "The External Affairs Minister conveyed India's full support to this process and said India stands ready to extend any necessary help." Both sides also agreed to work together to identify new areas of cooperation where there is much untapped potential. "This includes areas such as agriculture especially pulses, power, renewable energy, skill development, health, education, transport and social development," the sources said. India is already supplying 3 MW of electricity to Myanmar through the Moreh-Tamu link from the northeastern state of Manipur. The Myanmar side also expressed appreciation for the training that 20 Myanmar MPs had recently received at the Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training in New Delhi. President U Htin Kyaw was quoted as satying: "India is the country we should get best lessons from on what democracy means." India's Act East Policy also came up for discussion and both sides agreed that it fitted neatly into Myanmar's needs and as such areas of mutually-beneficial cooperation should be identified in the near future. According to the sources, Sushma Swaraj extended invitations to both the President and the state Counsellor to visit India at their earliest convenience, which were accepted. Lucknow, Aug 22 : Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati received yet another jolt on Monday when her trusted lieutenant Brajesh Pathak, who spearheaded the assimilation of Brahmins in the party fold, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. Minutes before he joined the BJP in New Delhi in the presence of party President Amit Shah, Pathak was expelled from the BSP. The departure of Pathak is sure to hurt Mayawati as he was a tall leader among the Brahmins and a credible face in Unnao, adjoining the state capital Lucknow. After S.C. Mishra, he was considered the most acceptable Brahmin leader in the party. It was rumoured a fortnight back that Pathak was leaving the BSP but he himself came out and trashed the reports as baseless. In fact, he was the media convener of the Sunday rally of Mayawati in Agra. However, on Monday as he was shown the door by Mayawati, the party seems to have lost an important leader as it braces for the 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. Two of her trusted leaders -- Swamy Prasad Maurya and R.K. Chowdhary -- recently quit the party. While Maurya has joined the BJP and has vowed to install a majority BJP government in Uttar Pradesh, Chowdhary recently held a rally with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Pathak's exit from the BSP is set to hurt it in a big way, feel political observers as he was known to be the architect of the upper caste embrace of the BSP in 2007, which ultimately led to a full majority government of the BSP. Pathak was a Lok Sabha member from Unnao in 2004 and had started his political career from the Lucknow University. He had contested the state assembly election from Malwan in Hardoi on a Congress ticket in 2002 but lost narrowly to BSP candidate by 130 votes. He has been Rajya Sabha member twice. His wife Namrata Pathak enjoyed a state minister rank during the Mayawati regime in 2007-2012. She is now likely to join the BJP soon. Damascus, Aug 23 : Turkey on Tuesday bombarded Islamic State (IS) militant group's targets in northern Syria amid reports that Syrian rebels are to launch an offensive against the group. Artillery positions inside Turkey fired on the IS and Kurdish YPG militia targets in the towns of Jarablus and Manbij, BBC reported. Some 1,500 Turkish-backed Syrian rebels are thought to be in the Turkish town of Gaziantep waiting to attack. The Turkish artillery fire followed a massive suicide bombing in Gaziantep. A bomber suspected of links with the IS killed 54 people, including 22 children, at a Kurdish wedding, in the deadliest attack in Turkey this year. As many as 66 people are still in hospital, out of which 14 are in a serious condition. President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber aged between 12 and 14, adding that initial evidence pointed to the IS. But Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Monday said it was too early to verify the organisation responsible or whether the attack was carried out by a child. The wave of bombings in Turkey could intensify as the country becomes ever more embroiled in the Syrian war, the media reported. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the IS should be "completely cleansed" from northern Syria. A coalition including Syrian Kurdish YPG forces has been pushing the IS out of Syrian towns, including Manbij. However, the Turkish bombardment has also struck YPG positions north of Manbij. Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a Turkish-Kurdish rebel group fighting for autonomy within Turkey since the 1980s. Washington, Aug 23 : The United States has advocated "direct" talks between India and Pakistan to reduce tension between the two countries and normalize their ties that have soured recently after deadly unrest in Jammu and Kashmir. "We strongly support all efforts between India and Pakistan that can contribute to a more stable and prosperous region, and that includes meetings at any level between Indian and Pakistani officials," State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mark C. Toner told journalists on Monday. He was responding to a question about tense India and Pakistan relations and a recent war of words over alleged human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir, and Islamabad's support for terrorism. Pakistan last week offered to hold Foreign Secretary level talks with India over the Kashmir dispute. India rejected the offer and said they were ready to talk but only on the cross-border terrorism. Toner was asked that Pakistan on different occasions had sought a US role for mediation between the two countries and if Washington was ready to come forward as a mediator. But he hinted that there was no role for the US in India and Pakistan bilateral ties. "Our longstanding position has always been that India and Pakistan stand to benefit from a normalization of relations and practical cooperation, and so we would be encouraged that India and Pakistan continue to engage in direct dialogue aimed at reducing tensions." New York, Aug 23 : United States' star swimmer Ryan Lochte has lost all four of his major sponsors, including Speedo and Ralph Lauren Corp, following his "exaggerated" story about being robbed at gunpoint at the Rio Games. Speedo and Ralph Lauren were followed by announcements from skin care firm Syneron-Candela and Japanese mattress maker Airweave that they were terminating their contracts with him. The cancellation of sponsorships came after the 12-time Olympic medallist lied about being robbed at gunpoint by a policeman after a night out during the Rio Olympics, BBC reported on Tuesday. Speedo, the biggest sponsor of the four, said: "We cannot condone behaviour that is counter to the values this brand has long stood for." Lochte, aged 32, said he respected Speedo's decision, and thanked the company. "I am grateful for the opportunities that our partnership has afforded me over the years," he said. Speaking on US talk show Today, the six-time Olympic gold medallist added: "I made a mistake and I definitely learned from this. They put on great Games... and my immature, intoxicated behaviour tarnished that a little." Ralph Lauren, which has removed some of Lochte's images from its website, said its sponsorship of the swimmer had been only for the Rio Olympics and would not be renewed. Ralph Lauren and Airweave both stressed that they would continue their support of the US Olympic and Paralympic teams. Syneron-Candela said: "We hold our employees to high standards, and we expect the same of our business partners." Speedo said it would donate a $50,000 portion of Lochte's sponsorship fee to the Brazilian operation of the charity Save The Children. The value of Lochte's Speedo sponsorship has not been disclosed. The contract reportedly expires this year after 10 years. The US business magazine Forbes calculated that in the year of the 2012 London Olympics, Lochte earned about $2 million in sponsorships from companies such as Gillette, Nissan, AT&T and Gatorade. Lochte's performance at Rio did not reach the heights of his London triumph, but Forbes estimated his endorsements would still have been between $1 million-$2 million. Lochte's behaviour has been met with disdain in the US and he has been widely pilloried in the US media. On August 19, the New York Post carried a front-page headline describing him as the "Ugly American", along with the slogan "Liar, Liar, Speedo on fire". Lochte is one of the most successful swimmers in history, with 12 Olympic medals, and he once had his own reality television show in the US. In Rio, he swam in two events, winning a gold medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay. "We appreciate his many achievements and hope he moves forward and learns from this experience," Speedo said of Lochte. Bratislava, Aug 24 : Justice Ministers from European Union (EU) member states cautioned against growing radicalisation in Europe here on Tuesday. "The problems that present-day Europe has are not only economic or security ones. The inclination of a portion of the population towards anti-system and extremist groups, as a result of many processes where each and every one plays a certain role, is also a problem," Xinhua news agency quoted Slovak Justice Minister Lucia Zitnanska, who chaired the panel discussion of EU Justice Ministers, as saying. The delegations from 27 EU member states participating in the conference adopted a joint statement in which they stressed their determination to protect democracy, the rule of law and human rights. Aware of the reasons leading to growing radicalisation, they agreed that society should stay alert to the intrusion of extremist tendencies and attitudes into politics, which may threaten Europe's democracies and the rule of law. "It is very important to talk about these issues and try to find a solution so that the situation of the past century, when external and internal factors led to the creation of totalitarian regimes with the more or less tacit consent of the democratic majority, will not be repeated," stressed Zitnanska. New Delhi, Aug 24 : If your heart lies in seafood -- prawn to be precise -- The China Kitchen at the Hyatt Regency is the place to head for in the capital. Different versions of prawn and tofu -- or bean curd -- are on the brand new menu of this Chinese restaurant, situated at the pool level, that will make you want to keep coming back, expensive though it may be. The ambience of the restaurant, done up in wood, is welcoming and cosy. The tables are immaculately laid, and you get to eat in a bowl which rests on a stone -- very visually appealing for a first-time visitor. Although the restaurant is known for its Peking duck, don't miss the chunks of coagulated soy milk and the lip-smacking filling of prawn in de-seeded red chilli. Prepared by Chef Zhang Hongsheng, the special menu included poached chicken, different dumplings, shrimp, pork, lamb, tofu, rice and Sichuan fried noodle. While the poached chicken in spicy sesame sauce, peanuts, crispy garlic and coriander set the tone for the meal, the twice-cooked crispy lamb shanks with garlic, cumin, coriander and chili was delectable. Talking about the evolving food tastes in India, Chef Zhang said: "People are well travelled and have well-developed tastes and preferences which make them experiment with more cuisines in authentic flavour." "Peking duck, which has been famous since the imperial era in China, is our signature dish. It is done to perfection here and is the most sought-after by our Chinese patrons. Our Indian patrons favour vegetable dimsums with a variety of stuffings like celery and mushroom," he added. For me, the dimsums with fresh peas, sweet corn, mushrooms and celery wasn't exactly exceptional. What should definitely be tried is the crispy-spicy prawn in Sichaun black bean sauce, spring onion and crispy garlic; the stir-fried asparagus with porchini mushroom; and last, but not least, the traditional "Mapo" tofu in chilli, chives, garlic and Sichuan peppercorn that can make even a tofu hater its biggest fan. Some of the other dishes on the new menu are chilli jumbo crabs served with freshly baked baguette and, of course, the legendary Peking Duck. There have been additions to the dessert list as well, like the Cognac chocolate cigar, with a strong taste of orange. Then there is the jasmine-flavoured ice cream, which was interesting; and Chinese egg tarts. A restaurant that I would recommend to lovers of Chinese cuisine, especially as the tastes are authentic. But Indians may be put off by the presentation -- prawns served with eyes and legs intact may perhaps not go down well with the locals. FAQs: Where: Hyatt Regency, Bhikaiji Cama Place, New Delhi. Meal for two: Rs 4,500 plus taxes without alcohol. Timings: Lunch 12:00 pm to 3:30 pm, Dinner 7:00 pm to 11:30 pm. (The writer's visit was at the invitation of Asia Seven. Kishori Sud can be contacted atkishori.s@ians.in ) New Delhi, Aug 24 : With sensitive information related to of combat and stealth aspects of India's Scorpene submarines being allegedly leaked, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday sought a report from the navy, adding that it appeared to be a case of hacking. The Indian Navy, in a statement, meanwhile said it is analysing the information. The navy also made clear that the source of the leak was not in India. The Scorpene submarines, designed by French shipbuilder DCNS and being manufactured at the Mazgaon Dockyard in Mumbai at a cost of around $3.5 billion, are conventional diesel vessels that boast of advanced stealth capabilities. The over 22,000 pages that have been leaked from DCNS contain information on different aspects of the boat, including its underwater sensors, above-water sensors, combat management system, torpedo launch system and specifications, communications system and navigation systems. While the leaked information is still being analysed to gauge the extent of damage, there is fear that it may compromise the submarine's detectability. Remaining hidden, or stealth, is considered the most important attribute of a submarine. Parrikar, at the sidelines of an event on Wednesday morning, said he got information about the alleged leak around midnight. "The first step is to identify if it relates to us," Parrikar told reporters here. "The Navy Chief (Admiral Sunil Lanba) has been asked to analyse what exactly has been leaked," the Minister said, adding his first assessment was that it was an act of hacking and not a 100 per cent leak. "We do have our final integration and all that," he said. "What I can understand -- because it came to my knowledge around 12 a.m. -- there is a hacking. So we will find out all these aspects," he said. "I've told the navy chief to find out all the details. Maybe, in a couple of days I'll be able share with you." The Indian Navy, in a statement issued shortly after the minister spoke, stressed the leak did not happen in India. "The available information is being examined at Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy) and an analysis is being carried out by the concerned specialists." "It appears that the source of leak is from overseas and not in India," the statement said. The Australian media reports, quoting DCNS, said that the leak of such technical data could not happen with its proposed submarine for Australia. The French company also alluded that the leak may have occurred at India's end, rather than from France. "Uncontrolled technical data is not possible in the Australian Arrangements," the company said as per a report in The Australian. "Multiple and independent controls exist within DCNS to prevent unauthorised access to data and all data movements are encrypted and recorded," it said. "In the case of India, where a DCNS design is built by a local company, DCNS is the provider and not the controller of technical data." The first of the Scorpene class submarines being built in India, INS Kalvari, went for sea trials in May 2016 and is expected to be inducted in the Indian Navy soon. Variants of Scorpene submarines are also used by Malaysia and Chile, with Brazil to join the club soon. New Delhi, Aug 24 : It was Google that first flagged off self-driving cars. Tesla Motors, GM and Ford soon followed, and now with two bold moves, Uber, the on-demand car pioneer, is fuelling the race to the finish line. On August 18, it announced a $300 million deal with Swedish car maker Volvo to develop fully driverless, or autonomous, cars by 2021; and also the acquisition of Otto, a San Francisco-based start-up focused on self-driving trucks. "We have been piloting a programme where friends and family of our Advanced Technology Centre team can request a self-driving car through the Uber app. It's still early days, but we are planning to expand this pilot to the Pittsburgh community," a Uber spokesperson told IANS in an email from San Francisco. Uber will allow people in Pittsburgh to hail modified versions of Volvo sport utility vehicles (SUV) to get around the city. In May, the self-driving car community was left in shock when Joshua Brown, 40, of Ohio was killed when his Tesla Model S electric sedan crashed into a tractor-trailer while on auto-pilot mode. Billed as the first known fatal accident involving a self-driving vehicle, preliminary investigation indicated that the crash took place when the tractor-trailer turned into the Tesla's path and the auto-pilot failed to apply the brakes. Despite the tragedy, the backers of self-driving cars still see a great opportunity in an age when 'Time' is a most precious commodity and people are spending too much of it driving vehicles on increasingly congested roads, or looking for parking. According to experts, passenger vehicles travel a total of 10 trillion miles annually, at an average speed of 40 km per hour. They also estimate that, assuming conservative occupancy, people are spending 600 billion hours in vehicles. "Most of the autonomous vehicle service providers and manufacturers are trying to free up this time," Thomas George, Senior Vice President and Head of CyberMedia Research (CMR), a Gurgaon-based market research firm, told IANS. George, however, is clear that it will be quite a while before we see the phenomenon in India. "It will take another generation to make an autonomous vehicle transportation network feasible and widely adopted among the low-automated geographical regions like India, while the US and China could see better adoption within 15-20 years," George told IANS. According to studies, the global revenues from "connected cars" -- the precursor to fully autonomous or self-driving cars -- are growing at an an annual rate of 27.5 per cent and are expected to touch $21 billion by 2020. This is still minuscule when compared to the revenues of one auto maker, say, Toyota, which are in excess of $250 billion Yet, that is the way future lies, and many countries are creating the infrastructure necessary for connected cars and, eventually, fully-autonomous cars. In the UK, driverless car trials are likely to begin on a strategic road network by 2017 and a A15 million "connected corridor" from London to Dover will be set up to enable vehicles to communicate with infrastructure and even with other vehicles. "All these moves indicate that the dream of autonomous vehicles is turning out to be reality," George added. For Gaurav Sharma, Research Manager (Enterprise and IPDS) at the International Data Corporation (IDC), the true implementation and adoption will only happen as we thrive further in the connected economy. "For any autonomous vehicle, data would be the real fuel that would help it sustain a safe and smooth ride. The timely collection, processing and sharing back of data/information between the vehicle and external (control) systems (or internally between the systems) would form its knowledge base and enable the vehicle to function smoothly in different conditions," Sharma told IANS. To make autonomous vehicles a success, the associated laws, regulations, traffic systems, infrastructure, emergency response systems, manufacturing systems, data and information handling and processing systems will also need to undergo a change at a faster pace. "The scenario does look feasible but the human touch is hard to remove, especially in a country like India where this would also entail managing the issues of a large workforce (drivers, mechanics, etc.) who will need reskilling/fitment in other jobs as we look forward to such scientific marvels in our digital economy," Sharma pointed out. Safety is also a prime concern as malicious hacking of systems of fully-autonomous cars can cause massive damage. "It's important for the autonomous vehicle players to deliver high-security and cyber-security processes. In addition, more steps need to be taken to avoid Tesla or Google-like car accidents," George added. For Sharma, "We are looking at the next decade, at least, for a mass adoption of driverless vehicles unless commercialised by companies like Uber (for ride-sharing services) while the people with the capacity to pay might end up owning it earlier than the masses, as always." (Nishant Arora can be contacted at nishant.a@ians.in) Sydney, Aug 24 : Following targeted raids on the Australian east coast, authorities have arrested 34 Malaysian nationals for working illegally in the agriculture sector. Following information from the community, authorities on Tuesday raided a labour hire syndicate alleged to be employing illegal foreign workers near Coffs Harbour on the New South Wales mid-north coast, and found 14 nationals were in Australia illegally while 20 others were exploiting their temporary stay visas, Xinhua news agency reported. "Tuesday's operation sends a strong message to individuals and syndicates involved ... if you are in Australia without a valid visa, if you work in breach of your visa conditions or if you are exploiting foreign workers, you will be caught," Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said in a statement on Wednesday. The raids form part of an ongoing multi-agency task force investigating visa fraud and illegal work that resulted in the arrest of three persons and the detention of 95 illegal workers. Anyone convicted in Australia for facilitating visa fraud and illegal work faces up to 20 years' imprisonment or fines up to Australian dollars 100,000 ($75,985). Employers involved in the exploitation of foreign workers face civil penalties of $8,207 per breach, while corporations face $41,033 per breach. All 34 Malaysian nationals are currently being detained in an immigration detention facility awaiting deportation. Kabul, Aug 24 : At least 22 militants were killed in the past 24 hours during military operations by Afghan security forces in the country's 11 provinces, authorities said on Wednesday. "A total of 21 militants were also wounded during the joint military operations," Xinhua news agency quoted the Defence Ministry as saying in a statement. The statement also confirmed the loss of seven army personnel during the operations. The ground forces, supported by artillery and air power, have also seized weapons and defused landmines during the raids, the statement noted. In northern Kunduz province, the security forces cleared several villages overnight, killing seven militants and wounding five others, a police official said. The militants have been clashing with security forces in Kunduz city over the past couple of days as they tried to overrun the city which was briefly seized by the Taliban in late September last year. Kunduz province and neighbouring Baghlan and Takhar provinces have been the scene of heavy fighting over the past couple of months as the Taliban try to challenge the government forces in the once relatively peaceful region. Lucknow, Aug 24 : More than a dozen persons, including policemen, were injured here on Wednesday when Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters tried to blockade the assembly, which is in session. The protest was to highlight the alleged lawlessness and soaring crime rate in Uttar Pradesh. Led by state BJP President Keshav Prasad Maurya, thousands of BJP leaders and workers tried to march towards the assembly complex, but were stopped by policemen at the barricades put up at many places to prevent agitators from moving forward. When the BJP protesters refused to back down, the police lobbed teargas shells, used water canons and resorted to cane charge to disperse them. Some among the agitators pelted stones at police personnel, injuring a few of them, including Hazratganj Circle Officer Ashok Verma, and a media photographer. The BJP workers sought the resignation of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and said he had lost the moral authority to rule Uttar Pradesh. State BJP spokesman Harish Chandra Srivastava said party legislators, office-bearers, youth wing workers and members of its executive participated in the protest. Washington, Aug 24 : A zoo in the US where a gorilla was killed earlier this year has deleted its Twitter account after constant online trolls about the animal's death, the media reported. The move comes a day after the Cincinnati Zoo said it was "not amused" by the flood of comments jokes, memes and mentions of Harambe -- the gorilla -- on its micro-blogging website page, Time.com reported on Tuesday. Harambe, a 17-year-old western lowland gorilla, was shot dead in May to save a three-year-old boy who had crawled through a barrier and had fallen into the animal's enclosure. The incident sparked international outrage and has since then been subject to controversy, prompting angry tweets and petitions. Social media users trying to visit the Cincinnati Zoo's Twitter account on Tuesday were redirected to a page that says: "Sorry, that page doesn't exist." The "constant mention of Harambe makes moving forward more difficult" for the zoo's staff, Thane Maynard, Director at Cincinnati Zoo in the US, was quoted as saying in a statement to a new agency. "We are not amused by the memes, petitions and signs about Harambe," Maynard added. The zoo's Facebook page was still up and running, the report said. Mumbai, Aug 24 : Actor Gaurav Arora, who made his debut with the film "Love Games", says intimate scenes should be incorporated in a film only if required and not merely to grab eyeballs. Asked if he is comfortable doing bold scenes on screen, Gaurav told IANS: "For the record, I don't have any intimate scenes in 'Raaz Reboot'. Just one kissing shot, that too in a song." "It's not about being comfortable or being open to doing intimate scenes. It's about if it is required in the film and if the story demands it, you've got to do it." The actor says it's a part of his job, but he believes it shouldn't be done just to "sensationalise the film or just to grab eyeballs". Directed by Vikram Bhatt, "Raaz Reboot" is the fourth instalment of the "Raaz" franchise and features Emraan Hashmi with south Indian actress Kriti Kharbanda. The film has been shot in Romania. Produced by Vishesh Films, the film will release on September 16. -*-When Boman Irani, Farah Khan met The Vamps Actors Boman Irani and Farah Khan met British all-boys band The Vamps, who are in the country to collaborate with musical duo Vishal and Shekhar. Boman on Tuesday night took to Twitter and shared a photograph of himself along with Farah and the members of the boy band -- Brad, James, Connor and Tristan. "Met up with the swell young gents of the The Vamp. So good to know you love Mumbai and our spicy food," Boman captioned the image. The Vamps and Vishal-Shekhar have together collaborated for a song called "Beliya". -*-Big B's 'Kala Patthar' clocks 37 years Megastar Amitabh Bachchan starrer 'Kala Patthar' has completed 37 years since its release in the Hindi film industry. "And 37 years of 'Kala Patthar'," Big B reminisced on Tuesday on Twitter. "Kala Patthar", which released in 1979, tells the story about Vijay, a former navy officer, who when disowned by his family starts working at a coal mine. Trouble ensues when the mine is flooded with water and he is trapped along with several other miners. Directed by Yash Chopra, the film, which also stars Shashi Kapoor Rakhee, Shatrughan Sinha, Neetu Singh and Parveen Babi, is based on the Chasnala mining disaster. Washington, Aug 24 : The US has said that critical opinion should be "encouraged, not silenced" with regard to freedom of the press in a democracy. The comment came in the wake of an attack on a news channel office in Karachi, Pakistan, that left one person dead and several injured. US State Department spokesperson Mark Toner said on Tuesday: "I would just say in a democratic society, critical opinion should be encouraged, not silenced. We believe democracies become stronger by allowing free expression from diverse voices within society, and we would emphasise that any expression must be peaceful." The US statement came in response to a question on freedom of the press in Pakistan, in relation to the attack on the ARY News office in Karachi on Monday by workers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) protesting "lack of coverage of the party's hunger strike" at the Press Club. MQM leaders said they were protesting peacefully at ARY office against biased media coverage when police started firing on peaceful protesters, leading to the death of one and injuries to several others. Following the attack, Pakistani paramilitary troops have sealed the headquarters of the MQM and arrested five of its top leaders. Toner earlier said: "We've certainly seen the reports about these incidents. Pakistani security forces, I think, have arrested several members of the MQM, the Muttahidi -- Muttahida, rather -- Qaumi Movement. Some of these members -- and also sealed their headquarters. We're also aware of yesterday's vandalism of an ARY News office in Karachi. Obviously, the government of Pakistan would be the best source for further information on these events." The violence came after MQM's leader in exile Altaf Hussain lambasted Pakistan as a "cancer for the entire world" and the "epicentre of terrorism". His speech was broadcast over loudspeakers to a crowd in Karachi from London, from where he has run the party since the early 1990s. Canberra, Aug 24 : A French national allegedly cried "Allahu Akbar" during a stabbing attack that left a 21-year-old British woman dead and two others injured at a backpackers hostel in Australia, media reported on Wednesday. The 29-year-old man went on a stabbing spree late on Tuesday night at a backpackers hostel near Townsville in northern Queensland state. The suspect was arrested at the crime scene and the investigators took possession of the knife allegedly used in the attacks. The Australian and British media identified the deceased as Mia Ayliffe-Chung, from Derbyshire, who was reported to be days into a three-month working holiday in the area after having worked in a bar in the Gold Coast, the Guardian reported. Chung lived in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast and worked as a waitress at the Bedroom Lounge Bar before making the 800-mile trip north to work outdoors. The investigations revealed comments that could point to extremist Islamic motivations, it was not yet fully determined if the attack was terror-related, Steve Gollschewski, Deputy Commissioner of Queensland Police, said on Wednesday. "While this information will be factored into the investigation, we are not ruling out any motivations at this stage, whether they be political or criminal," Gollschewski said. "Investigators will also consider whether mental health or drug misuse factors are involved in this incident," he said. Besides the woman, a British man, 30, was in a critical condition with stabbing wounds. A local man, 47, who intervened suffered non life-threatening injuries, and also a dog at the hostel was fatally wounded. The French national had entered Australia lawfully in March on a temporary visa, and was not on any watch lists, Gollschewski said. "This is not about race or religion. It is individual criminal behaviour," Gollschewski said. "While this matter is being treated as a homicide, the Queensland Police Service will continue to work with its federal counterparts in relation to the investigation," he said. Sharon Cowden, an Australian federal police commander, said at the same press conference that while the alleged killer had no known links to extremist groups, investigators would be "speaking to all appropriate international law enforcement" to examine this. "Any line of inquiry that takes us to international law enforcement we will follow," she said. Cowden condemned the attack as a "senseless act of violence". Earlier on Wednesday, Superintendent Ray Rohweder told reporters in Townsville that investigators were "still trying to piece together what has happened -- we don't have a motive yet". "Police were confronted with a terrible scene when they arrived," he said adding: "There were up to 30 people who witnessed the incident." Police was in contact with the British consulate which would liaise with the victims' families, Rohweder said. Bill Byrne, the Queensland Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services, described the incident as "tragic and disturbing". Ali Kadri, an Islamic Council of Queensland spokesman called for caution in public discussion before full facts were known, saying speculation about an act of terrorism was "actually empowering the terrorists". "We have to be careful about trying to connect every single murder committed by a Muslim to terrorism," he said, adding: "To speculate it's (an act of) terrorism... what is going to happen now is ISIS are going to pick up on it, they're going to claim it, and they're going to look stronger than they are." Australia has been on high alert for terror attacks since September 2014, suffering several attacks including the lone wolf-style murder of Police accountant Curtis Cheng at a Western Sydney police station in 2015. The authorities have conducted 16 counter-terror operations since 2014, arresting 44 alleged home-grown terrorists. New Delhi, Aug 24 : The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its nod for the signing of a new Air Services Agreement (ASA) between India and Fiji. The agreement is for updation of the existing agreement between the two countries, which was signed in 1974. "The updation is as per latest ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) template keeping in view the latest developments in civil aviation sector and with an objective to improve the air connectivity between the two countries," a statement said. A draft text of the agreement has been finalised in consultation with several key ministries. According to the agreement, both countries shall be entitled to designate one or more airline which will have right to open offices. The proposed agreement allows airlines to take decision freely on tariffs in respect of the agreed services at reasonable levels based on commercial considerations. They have to operate the agreed services on specified routes. "The routes and frequencies shall be decided subsequently," the statement said. Now Indian carriers can operate to any point in Fiji from points in India whereas the Fijian carriers can establish direct operations to Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai in India and by code share with Indian carriers to Bengaluru, Kolkata and Hyderabad apart from points given for direct operation. Besides, Kochi, Varanasi, Ahmedabad and Amritsar may be served through domestic code share operations. New Delhi, Aug 24 : Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi had not blamed the RSS as an institution for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, but the people associated with it, the Supreme Court was told on Wednesday. Union Minister of Urban Development M. Venkaiah Naidu welcomed the development, saying that "wisdom is prevailed". The RSS, however, has demanded an apology from the Congress Vice President. Senior counsel Kapil Sibal told the apex court bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman of Rahul Gandhi's stance while referring to an affidavit filed by Gandhi before the Bombay High Court challenging the defamation proceedings against him by a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker Rajesh Madhav Kunte. The bench, while taking note of Gandhi's statement before the high court, said that it can dispose of the matter after the Congress leader's "unequivocal" statement that he had not blamed the RSS as an organisation for Mahatma Gandhi's assassination, but only the people linked with it. However, the court deferred the hearing till Sep 1 as senior counsel Umesh R. Lalit, appearing for the RSS worker, wanted time to take instructions from Kunte. Sibal told the apex court that Gandhi has never accused RSS for the Mahatma's assassination. He, Sibal said, had told the high court that "the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi was a result of the destructive philosophy of the persons associated with the RSS. It was also clearly suggested that the assassins were associated or affiliated with RSS" and never accused RSS as an institution of the crime. As the court indicated the order it may pass, Sibal said: "I am not making any addition, alteration or subtraction" in what Gandhi had said in his affidavit. Venkaiah Naidu expressing satisfaction over the development, said: "I hope wisdom has prevailed upon him, on others to not make such aggressive remarks." The RSS reacted sharply, demanding an apology from Rahul Gandhi for his remark. "Rahul Gandhi and Congress Party should stop lying and apologies," the RSS wrote on twitter. Patna, Aug 24 : Protests by flood victims continued across Bihar for the third day on Wednesday against inadequate assistance provided to them by the state government. The protesters blocked roads and heckled district officials, expressing their anger over the quality and quantity of government aid. At several places in Patna district, protesters gave vent to their anguish. "There are reports of protests by flood victims demanding relief in Barh sub-division, Bakhtiarpur, Mokamah, Bihta, Maner and Danapur," an official said. According to the official, protesters demanded food and cattle fodder at the relief camps. "Flood victims have blocked the National Highway-80 in Mokamah and NH-30 near Maner in Patna," an official said. In Barh sub-division, flood victims staged a dharna on Wednesday to protest lack of relief. The protesters blocked the road in Bachwara in Begusarai district, demanding adequate relief. They also protested in Munger and Bhojpur districts. In the last few days, block development officers and circle officers have faced the fury of flood victims. Hundreds of flood victims gheraoed the circle officer in Raghopur in Vaishali district. The flood-hit people in Nathnagar in Bhagalpur staged a protest as well. Similar protests were staged in Samastipur, Khagaria and Aurangabad. Vayasji, Principal Secretary of the Bihar Disaster Management Department, said the water level in the Ganga may rise and that will affect people in the lowlands along the river. The government has alerted officials to keep a close watch on the situation. Till date, floods have claimed 23 lives, including 11 in Bhojpur alone. About 900 officials of the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force have been deployed in the flood-hit districts. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered cancellation of leave of police, administrative officials and engineers. The Chief Minister also directed officials to speed up rescue and relief operations. New Delhi, Aug 24 : Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi will visit India at the invitation of President Pranab Mukherjee from September 1 to 3, it was announced on Wednesday. Al Sisi will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising ministers, officials and business leaders, according to a statement issued by the External Affairs Ministry. During the course of his visit, the Egyptian President will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mukherjee will receive Al Sisi and host a banquet in his honour. Vice President Hamid Ansari and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will also call on the Egyptian leader. Al Sisi will meet both Indian and Egyptian business leaders during the visit. "India and Egypt enjoy excellent relations marked by strong, traditional and civilizational ties and contribute towards peace and development in the world," the ministry statement said. The last presidential visit from Egypt to India was in 2013 when then President Mohamed Morsi visited New Delhi. Sarajevo, Aug 24 : Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the European Police Office (Europol) will sign an Agreement on Operational and Strategic Cooperation here on August 31, media reported on Wednesday. Director of Europol Rob Wainwright will sign the agreement during his two-day visit to BiH with the Minister of Security of BiH Dragan Mektic, Xinhua news agency reported. According to BiH Ministry of Security, this will be an extremely important step towards the improvement of cooperation with the countries of the EU in the field of security, especially in combating and investigating serious forms of international crime. "The agreement will not only enable the exchange of operational information with the Europol member states but also represents a step forward on the European path of BiH," the ministry said. During his visit, the Europol director will also visit the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies of BiH and the State Investigation and Protection Agency. New Delhi, Aug 24 : The Congress on Wednesday accused the government of "cover-up" over the alleged data leak of the Scorpene submarine, which it said had "gravely compromised" India's national security. The party demanded a complete "security audit" of the Mazgaon Docks Limited and the Defence Ministry. "India's national security stands gravely compromised with shocking leaks of the specifications of the Scorpene submarine," Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala told reporters here. "We demand a complete security audit of the Mazgaon Dock Limited and the Defence Ministry by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court. The government can have representatives from defence forces, intelligence agencies as members," the Congress leader added. "This leak has put a question mark on India's maritime security. It has jeopardised the initiative to build six Scorpene submarines," he said. Surjewala also said that despite the data leak, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, the Narendra Modi government and Indian Navy were engaged in "operation cover-up instead of fixing responsibility". "Navy and Defence Minister continue to speak in conflicting voice. One calls it hacking, while the other calls it a leak," Surjewala alleged. Attacking Parrikar, Sujewala said, "Despite this blunder, which has hurt our defence preparedness, explanation of Modiji's Defence Minister is that it is a case of hacking. Indian Navy is saying the leak is possibly from a source outside India." "Can they do so without conducting any inquiry?" Surjewala questioned. "It is intriguing how clean chits are being meted out without the matter being looked into," he said, adding, "It is a myopic approach and a complete apathy on the part of the (Narendra) Modi government." "What steps the government has taken to ensure that the data leaked online has not gone into the hands of the enemy and hostile countries," he asked. A report in Australian media revealed on Tuesday that sensitive data -- comprising documents over 22,000 pages -- related to Scorpene submarines have been leaked from French shipbuilder DCNS, which designed the submarine. Citing the statement given by the French company DCNS, Surjewala said, "The French company have issued a statement hinting that the leak happened in India." "They said multiple and independent controls exist to prevent unauthorised access to data and all data movements are encrypted. In the case of India, DCNS is the provider not controller of data -- clearly hinting that the leak happened in India," he accused. The Congress leader also claimed that nearly 22,400 pages were leaked of Project 75, which carried the emblem of the Indian Navy. "This is the biggest disaster in recent times." Surjewala said the government has gone on overdrive to say that these leaks have not compromised the operational capabilities. "We have read out all the details. It is for everyone to judge if the operational capabilities of the submarines and Indian Navy have been compromised or not," he added. New Delhi, Aug 24 : The cabinet on Wednesday approved a scheme to enhance the grant of compensation to the civilian victims of terror attacks, communal violence, left wing extremism (LWE), cross-border firing and mine, IED blasts from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, officials said. The approval to the scheme -- the Central Scheme for Assistance to Civilian Victims -- came at the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here. For the first time, civilian victims of cross-border firing along the India-Pakistan border will be given a compensation of Rs 5 lakh. It is similar to those who die in acts of terrorism or left-wing extremism (LWE) violence, a statement said. Now onwards, any civilian who dies anywhere in the country due to terror attack, LWE violence, firing from across the border, shelling or IED explosion will be given Rs 5 Lakh as compensation uniformly. The amount will be given to the next of kin of the victim. The same Rs 5 lakh compensation will also be given to those who sustain 50 per cent or more disability or incapacitation due to these reasons, the release said, adding that the compensation amount will be given subject to the condition that no employment has been provided to any of the family members of the victims by state or central governments. Till date, the next of kin of persons killed or civilians who suffered permanent disabilities as a result of such violence were paid Rs 3 lakh as per provisions of the central scheme for assistance to civilian victims of terrorist, communal, Naxal violence since 2008. New Delhi, Aug 24 : Leading gynaecologists have termed the government nod to the Surrogacy Regulation Bill, that bans commercial surrogacy, as a black day, and say it will lead to malpractices like surreptitious and illegal surrogacy, that is rampant in kidney transplantation. Doctors have questioned the government's decision and asked why would any woman become a surrogate mother for another couple, without any benefits. "What an unfortunate decision it is? Many deserving infertile couples remain childless because of careless government policies. But this kind of provision will do a lot of injustice to infertile couples," said Himanshu Bavishi, President of Delhi chapter of Indian Society of Third Party Assisted Reproduction (INSTAR). The bill for which the government has given it's nod allows surrogacy only on an ethical basis without any monetary benefits. Only a relative of the childless couple can become a surrogate mother under the new norms. Abha Mazumdar, Director, Department of IVF at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, considered the founder of IVF in India, told IANS: "I am completely against the government's decision. This is certainly going to trigger corruption in surrogacy just like rackets being run in kidney transplants across the country. Commercial surrogacy cannot be banned in India... the government should have given a second thought to it." "By banning commercial surrogacy, the government is snatching a boon that childless couples had till now as an alternative to become parents, and at the same time a way to earn money for the surrogate mother," she added. Alka Kriplani, head of gynaecology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) said: "The government should have a balanced decision. There are many women who do not have uterus and many others who have complications with uterus. In such situation surrogacy can only help and commercial surrogacy is the only solution. Not every time a relative will come forward to become a surrogate mother." The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its nod to the Surrogacy Regulation Bill, 2016, that seeks to prohibit "commercial surrogacy" and allow "ethical altruistic surrogacy" only to needy infertile married couple External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told reporters, after the cabinet meeting, that altruistic surrogacy, which is the only way left, will not be allowed to single parents, live-in partners and homosexual couples. Married couples can get permission only if their marriage is at least five years old. Shivani Sachdev Gour, another Delhi-based IVF specialist and member INSTAR, called it a black day in the history of surrogacy. "It is a black day in the history of surrogacy. Probably, the policy makers didn't know how surrogacy can benefit them. Good practices can easily be regulated but should not be banned," Gaur told IANS. According to doctors, there are more that 50 million infertile couples in the world and their desperation for a biological child has turned commercial surrogacy into a booming business. Thousands of infertile couples rent wombs from poor women for nine months so they can take a baby back home. Eminent IVF expert Anurag Bishnoi, recently in the news for helping an elderly 70-plus Amritsar couple have a child, questioned the bill and added that how exactly the new bill will be implemented and monitored is unclear. "The logic behind the provision seems to ensure that no harm is caused to the child growing in a surrogate's womb. The bill very clearly says that the onus of proof is with the clinic. This will increase the paper work of clinics," Bishnoi told IANS. Under the new rules, doctors will have to keep all the records of the couples for 25 years as they will have to prove to the government that the surrogacy done through their clinic is ethical and not commercial. Swaraj had said that of late having a surrogate child had become a trend for a few people, even if they already have kids, boy and girl, as they don't want their wives to suffer pain. (Rupesh Dutta can be reached at rupesh.d@ians.in) New Delhi, Aug 24 : The leak of data related to India's Scorpene submarines created a stir on Wednesday, with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar seeking a report from the Indian Navy on the documents. The navy, however, stressed that the data in the leaked report is hypothetical, pertaining to simulators, and the signature of a boat can be known only when it hits the seas. The navy also made it clear that the leak did not take place in India. The data, which comprises over 22,000 pages, was leaked, the Australian media reported. It contained documents on the Scorpene submarines, designed by French company DCNS and being built in India by the Mazagaon Dock Limited in Mumbai (Maharashtra) at a cost of around $3.5 billion. The news created ripples in India soon after the report in the Australian media came out. According to sources, experts from the navy started examining the documents on Tuesday night. Defence Minister Parrikar, who sought a report in two days, said it appeared to be a case of hacking. "The first step is to identify if it relates to us," Parrikar told reporters here. "The navy chief (Admiral Sunil Lanba) has been asked to analyse what exactly has been leaked," the minister said, adding his first assessment was that it was an act of hacking and not a 100 per cent leak. "I've told the navy chief to find out all the details. Maybe, in a couple of days, I'll be able share with you." The navy, in a statement issued shortly after the minister spoke, stressed the leak did not happen in India. "The available information is being examined at the Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy), and an analysis is being done by the specialists concerned," the navy said. "It appears that the leak's source is overseas and not in India," the statement said. A complaint was also filed at the Prime Minister's Office, though there was no official statement from the PMO on the issue. The Defence Minister was briefed by the navy chief. Later, he also held a meeting with top naval officials. The opposition Congress alleged that the government was trying to cover up the issue. Former Defence Minister A.K. Antony demanded a probe. "Despite this blunder, which has hurt our defence preparedness, explanation of Modiji's Defence Minister is that it is a case of hacking. The Indian Navy is saying the leak is possibly from a source outside India. It is intriguing how clean chits are being meted out without looking into the matter," Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said. Navy sources, meanwhile, maintained there is nothing to be alarmed about as the data does not pertain to any of the Scorpene submarines currently being built in Mazgaon Docks, Mumbai. "Details in the leaked documents regarding the Scorpene submarine are not valid because the signature can be known only once the boat goes out to the seas," a navy source said, adding the specifications mentioned in the document are hypothetical. "How can we know the signature of the boat which is still not done with the trials. The technical and operational details will be written by how we exploit the submarine. So far, even the weapon systems and torpedo are not there." The navy, nonetheless, held the leak is an issue of concern. "The documents should not have been leaked, but there is nothing to be alarmed about," said the source. DCNS, two-thirds owned by the French government, said a probe will be carried out to determine the exact nature of the leaked papers, potential damage to the company and customers and responsibilities for this leak. The Australian media reports, quoting DCNS, said that the leak of such technical data could not happen with its submarine proposed for Australia. The French company also alluded that the leak may have occurred at India, rather than from France. DCNS this year signed a contract with Australia for the manufacture of 12 submarines. The first of the Scorpene-class submarines being built in India, Kalvari, went for sea trials in May and is expected to be inducted in the Indian Navy by this year-end. Officials said the other six submarines, in different stages of construction, will be inducted subsequently at intervals of nine months each. The variants of the Scorpene submarine are used by Malaysia and Chile, and Brazil is soon to join the club. Kolkata, Aug 24 : Tata Sons' Chairman Cyrus P. Mistry on Wednesday said the Tata Group is looking for investment opportunity in West Bengal. "We look for the opportunity to invest in Bengal. When the opportunity does come, we look at that actively," Mistry said. Asked about the group's investment interests in the state by shareholders' of Tata Global Beverages Ltd (TGBL), he said: "I think the opportunities have to show themselves, and when they do, irrespective of the political environment, we will make the decision to invest." Relations between the Tata group and West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress had become unpleasant after Tata Motors abandoned the Nano project at Singur in Hooghly district of Bengal in 2008 following persistent opposition from party supremo Mamata Banerjee on the land acquisition for the project. Banerjee opposed agricultural land acquisition and asked Tata to return 400 acres, out of 1,000 acres acquired for the project, to the farmers. The matter is still before the Supreme Court. New Delhi, Aug 24 : A 10-year old boy, who was kidnapped from a government hospital in 2007 has been rescued, Delhi Police said on Wednesday. The police also arrested a couple for kidnapping the child. According to the police, the boy then one-and-half years old was whisked away in November 2007 from Babu Jagjivan Ram Hospital, situated in Jahangirpuri area of east Delhi, and had been missing since then. The police rescued the boy almost nine years later. "A few days ago, the biological father of the child, Afsar, approached police saying that his child was reportedly seen in the Jahangirpuri area by someone," Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Rishi Pal told reporters. "Following the complaint of the father, teams were formed to trace the missing child, which rescued him from an MCD (Municipal Corporations of Delhi) school situated in Seelampur area," the officer added. "The couple was arrested after they confessed to their crime during interrogation," the officer added. The arrested couple was identified as Mohammad Samim and Nargis, both residents of Kaushik Puri in east Delhi, the police said. The officer said that during interrogation the couple tried to mislead police by giving vague replies. "Enquiries made in the neighbourhood revealed that the child was brought suddenly a few years back," Pal said. "The couple told the neighbours that the delivery of the woman had taken place earlier in the ancestral village and the child was staying with his grandparents since then." The police also said that it is investigating the involvement of the couple in child kidnappings and human trafficking. New Delhi, Aug 24 : Women rights activists said on Wednesday that surrogacy regulation bill approved by the Union cabinet was a step in the right direction but surrogacy was a complex issue and implementing the proposed law will be challenging. "Renting a womb has become a commercial exercise and not the way it should be. There is certainly a need for regulation," said All India Democratic Women's Association President Subhashini Ali. "In many countries, there is a counselling of people who want surrogacy, saying that the adoption option should also be considered. They are told all the many health hazards also. The person who is a surrogate, her rights have to be protected," she Ali added. According to Sarojini N.B. from the organisation Sama, who has been closely involved with the issue, implementation of the bill is challenging. "The implementation of law is challenging. The ban (on commercial surrogacy) might push it underground," she said. Sarojini feels that altruistic surrogacy with relatives can cause further exploitation of women in a patriarchal set-up. "Only 'altruistic surrogacy' with close relatives, i.e. within the 'family' is going to be allowed. There is enough evidence that shows the exploitative nature of the 'family' as an institution where women may be subjected to various kinds of patriarchal pressures, including coercion to act as surrogates. We need to look into it carefully," she said. The director of the Joint Women's Programme India and Vice President of the YWCA of India, Jyotsna Chatterjee said: "It's good that commercial surrogacy has been banned. One of the major things is that it was almost becoming a malice like prostitution." Raising issues concerning identity, she said, "If an Austrian man from Europe comes, and goes for a surrogate child in Mumbai, what is the nationality of the child? Will he/she be Indian or Austrian?" "Though surrogacy has been very helpful for women who have not been able to have their own children, like everything else it has become a fashion," Chatterjee said. "Take that actor -- one actor who is not married, goes for surrogacy through a woman and says that it's my child. What about the woman who might, at some time, claim that this is my child? He could give her money. It's almost like a business exchange. A child is used as a product." Referring to the case where an Australian couple abandoned one of their twins in Delhi, Chatterjee showed her concern from the perspective of the child. "What identity does the child have? The father will take it away. The woman who has produced the child also has rights as she has produced the child. She should be the person who should give nationality to the child," she said. According to the social activist Reena Banerjee: "A lot of poor women are exploited because of surrogacy. Huge money goes to doctors and the medical institutions, hired surrogate mothers are just exploited." "Surrogacy should only for those women who can't conceive but it has become a fashion as those women, who don't want to take the pain of pregnancy, take its advantage." "Implementation will be very difficult. Strong monitoring on part of the government is required," Banerjee said. Rome, Aug 24 : A proposal to build a mosque near Italy's popular tourist attraction the Leaning Tower of Pisa was met with stiff opposition and claims that it could become a centre of radicalisation, a media report said. The local council had provisionally approved plans for building a $5 million mosque 400 metres from the world famous tourist attraction, which is visited by more than one million persons each year, the Guardian reported on Wednesday. Hundreds of residents took part in a protest last weekend organised by the no-mosque campaign and organisers said they gathered more than 2,000 signatures on a petition calling for a referendum on the issue. The right-wing Forza Italia party, which was leading the campaign, claimed that a majority of the city's 90,000 persons opposed the building of the mosque. Gianluca Gambini, a local Forza Italia politician, told the local media: "It's not just that it would be built in the wrong location, just 400 metres from the Leaning Tower, but also because people know that mosques are places where there is a risk of radicalisation." Daniela Santanche, a Forza Italia MP who joined the protest, said: "Today we are at war, whether you like it or not, and we have to fight it with whatever we have. Mosques should be closed, not opened, because they are not places of worship, but places that preach hatred." The Mayor of Pisa, Marco Filippeschi said any move to block construction of the mosque would contravene freedom of worship, which is enshrined in the Italian Constitution. "For 20 years, Muslims from Pisa have been coming together in a small mosque in the centre of the town and no one has ever protested," Filippeschi said. "Not one cent will be spent by the council administration to build the mosque," he added. Pisa's Muslim population has been increased by recent migration from north Africa and Bangladesh. Izzedin Elzir, the president of the Union of Islamic Communities in Italy, said a referendum on the mosque would be unconstitutional and threaten Muslims' religious freedom. "Our rights should be protected. This campaign is based on prejudice and opposition generated by politicians who want to win votes by exploiting fear after the recent attacks in France, Belgium and Germany. They need to take responsibility for fanning the flames of prejudice and creating panic," the Guardian quoted Elzir as saying to the Religion News Service. Construction of the 57-metre (187ft) Leaning Tower of Pisa began in 1173 and took about 200 years to complete. The tower started sinking soon after construction began. Restoration work carried out between 1990 and 2001 corrected the angle of tilt from 5.5 degrees to 3.99 degrees. New Delhi, Aug 24 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday told the Delhi High Court that Pratibha Singh, wife of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, needed to be further questioned in the ongoing probe in a money laundering case. Justice Vipin Sanghi was told by the ED as Virbhadra Singh's wife did not have answers to several questions put to her during questioning on August 9 and some documents were also sought from her, so she needed to be further questioned. Earlier, the ED had told the court it had no intention as of now to arrest Pratibha Singh and if it is satisfied, that a case is made out against her, the court will be informed before she is arrested. Pratibha Singh filed the plea for restraint orders against the agency in the wake of the arrest of Life Insurance Corporation agent Anand Chauhan, a co-accused in the money laundering case. The ED arrested Chauhan from Chandigarh on July 9 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act - the first arrest in the case, in which the Himachal Chief Minister is an accused. Both the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation have accused Chauhan of in vesting Virbhadra Singh's "tainted" money of Rs 5 crore in LIC policies under his and his family members' names. The ED reportedly found that Virbhadra Singh had accumulated assets worth Rs 6.03 crore, both in his and his family members' names, which were disproportionate to his known sources of income, during his tenure as Union Steel Minister from 2009 to 2011. New Delhi, Aug 24 : The BJP has convened a meeting of its Rajya Sabha members on August 31 which will be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party sources said on Wednesday. BJP President Amit Shah and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will also attend the meeting, among others. Sources said that the meeting has been convened to increase involvement of party's Rajya Sabha members in organisation and government, apart from house activities. According to sources the Prime Minister is likely to take stock of work of Rajya Sabha members. Modi had earlier sought a report card of party's Lok Sabha members during monsoon session of Parliament. Sources said that Rajya Members are likely to be assigned the work to strengthen party organisation where its presence is poor. They are also likely to assigned new responsibilities. The BJP, which has only 52 members in Rajya Sabha, is in minority in the upper house. "The whole exercise is to held them (Rajya Sabha members) accountable like Lok Sabha members," a party leader, who did not want to be identified, told IANS. "They needs to be answerable about use of MPLADS funds. Many of the Rajya Sabha members have not yet adopted the villages under Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojna," he added. New Delhi, Aug 24 : The Health Ministry has set up a control room to monitor the rising number of dengue and chikungunya cases in Delhi. The central government has also urged all the states and Union Territories to declare dengue as a notifiable disease for improving reporting and for taking preventive measures in the affected areas. According to the statistics of the various municipal corporations in Delhi, the national capital has witnessed a total of 20 chikungunya and 311 dengue cases. However, sources from various hospitals place the figure far higher at over 400 for chikungunya and over 600 for dengue. The Health Ministry held a meeting, chaired by Health Minister J.P. Nadda, over the increasing dengue and chikungunya cases across the country. Health Secretary C.K. Mishra has also directed officials for strengthening vector control and surveillance. According to the ministry, the Delhi government officials mentioned that special awareness programmes are being held in the city schools, such as rallies, to educate the children on dengue. Speaking to reporters in the national capital, Mishra on Wednesday said that a comprehensive awareness campaign on dengue and chikungunya will be started in the wake of rising cases of the vector-borne diseases across the country. West Bengal has recorded the highest number of dengue deaths in 2016 at 22, while Delhi has witnessed three dengue deaths till now, according to the Health Ministry. The other states which have witnessed a rise in the number of dengue and chikungunya cases are Karnataka and Kerala. "We have decided to take a few initiatives and start a comprehensive information and communication campaign to tell people about the prevention of dengue and chikungunya," said Mishra. When asked why West Bengal was witnessing an increase in deaths related to dengue, Mishra said: "West Bengal has more of Type 3 dengue, while other places like Delhi are witnessing Type 2 dengue." "AIIMS has also done the testing of West Bengal samples and found it to be Type 3 dengue," Mishra added. There are four distinct but closely related serotypes of the virus that cause dengue (DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4). Recovery from infection by one provides lifelong immunity against that particular serotype. However, cross-immunity to the other serotypes after recovery is only partial and temporary. Subsequent infections by other serotypes increase the risk of developing severe dengue. Observing that there was a rise in mosquito breeding in Delhi, Mishra said hospitals have been given time till August 28 to check if any of the places in their premises have mosquito breeding grounds, after which action will be taken if they are found lacking. A seminar will also be held in the coming week where 68 poster and oral presentations will be given by the states on various ways on how to tackle vector-borne diseases like dengue and chikungunya. "We had 198 proposals but out of them only 68 have been selected. If the presentation of any of them is found good, then the other states may be asked to implement that," said Mishra. New Delhi, Aug 24 : The Congress on Wednesday said party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi speaks from the courage of his conviction and reiterated his submission before the Supreme Court that assassination of Mahatma Gandhi was a result of "destructive philosophy" of the persons associated with the RSS. Answering queries on the defamation case filed by Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) worker Rajesh Madhav Kunte, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said at a press conference here: "Rahul Gandhi speaks from the courage of his conviction, has spoken on historical evidence and facts, and always stood by, is standing by and will stand by the truth of what he spoke." He said that Rahul Gandhi will abide by the decision of the Supreme Court in the matter. Surejewala's remarks came after Gandhi's counsel Kapil Sibal told the apex court that he had not blamed the RSS as an institution for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi but the people associated with the organisation. Sibal told this to the apex court while referring to an affidavit filed by Gandhi before the Bombay High Court challenging the defamation proceedings against him by Kunte. Kunte had initiated the criminal defamation suit against the Congress Vice President objecting to his election speech at Sonale in Maharashtra wherein he had allegedly blamed the RSS for Mahatma Gandhi's assassination. Sibal also addressed the media and said: "A careful reading of the relevant part of his (Rahul Gandhi) speech indicates that as per the petitioner, the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi was a result of destructive philosophy of the persons associated with the RSS." "He stands by that. It was also clearly suggested that the assassins were associated or affiliated with the RSS. We stand by that," the Congress leader added. New Delhi, Aug 24 : Demanding the right to technology, the Rashtriya Kisan Progressive Association (RKPA) has written to the Chief Ministers of 22 states to pressurise the Centre to clear the introduction of GM mustard. Pointing out to a stressed rural economy, the farmers' organisation wrote to the Chief Ministers on the much-debated Genetically Modified mustard, a hybrid self-polinating crop with high yield, saying "this technology has the potential to impact millions of Indian farmers and therefore impact the national rural economy". The Union Environment Ministry recently showed its reluctance to allow further testing of GM crops. The activists claim the GM mustard contains genes that conferred herbicide tolerance (HT) on the crop. A Supreme Court Technical Expert Committee has recommended a ban on such HT crops. "Globally, the GM crops have changed the way farmers earn their livelihood. We want our farmers to access this new revolutionary seed technology as soon as possible, which can lead to a new horizon for the mustard belt in our country. We request for support through a signature campaign involving 3,25,096 farmers from 22 states and seek the right to technology," an RKPA statement said. GM mustard is likely to be the first transgenic seed to be available in the field. Activist groups claim it will be a gateway to several other GM crops like tomato, rice, brinjal and these may pose health and ecological risks. Currently, GM cotton is the only transgenic crop commercially available for farmer fields in India. Kolkata, Aug 24 : Altogether 62 Bangladeshi fishermen, who had been rescued from the Bay of Bengal last week, were handed over to Bangladesh Coast Guard on Wednesday along with two of their fishing boats, a defence ministry spokesman said. Four Bangladeshi fishing boats namely Allardan, Farhad, Nahim and Ma Ganga were found adrift in Indian waters following engine failure during the depression in North Bay of Bengal on August 17-18. While Allardan and Farhad had been sighted 35 nautical miles South of Sagar Lighthouse, Nahim and Ma Ganga were found stranded inside the creek by Coast Guard surveillance aircraft on August 18. The fishing boats had departed from Maipur and Cox Bazaar and were caught in the cyclonic winds that hit the Bay of Bengal. Two fishing boats had been towed to Coast Guard Station at Frazerganj, where the marooned crew was provided with medical treatment, food and additional clothing during their stay. Joint interrogation by Coast Guard, Marine Police and Special Investigation Branch had been carried out to confirm the authenticity of the fishermen on their arrival at the fishing port. While Allardan and Farhad were handed over during the day, the remaining two boats would be given back after repairs, the spokesperson said. New Delhi, Aug 24 : Jawaharlal Nehru University student Anmol Ratan, who allegedly raped a 28-year-old Ph.D student, surrendered before police on Wednesday, police said. He surrendered before police around 10.15 p.m. at Vasant Kunj north police station in south Delhi, a senior police officer said. Ratan had allegedly raped the girl a few days back after luring her to his hostel room on the pretext of giving her the copy of a movie she wanted and then giving her a drink spiked with a sedative. An activist of the All India Student Association (AISA), Ratan was expelled from leftist student outfit after the allegations against him. New Delhi, Aug 24 : Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti said on Wednesday that she has convened a meeting of Chief Ministers of Chhattisgarh and Odisha to sort out Mahanadi water dispute at the earliest. She made the announcement after a delegation from Odisha led by Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan called on her here. "I will hold a meeting with the Chief Ministers of Odisha and Chhattisgarh on a mutually convenient date between September 10 and 20 at New Delhi to ensure that no injustice is done to Odisha," she told reporters after the meeting. She said that a meeting was called by her ministry here on July 29 which was attended by officials from Odisha and Chhattisgarh. "After this, I made a statement in Parliament according to which both the states had to exchange information with each other on the issue," she said. She said that she has directed her ministry officials to complete this task of information exchange at the earliest. Odisha has been opposing the construction of barrages in the upper catchment areas of the Mahanadi by the Chhattisgarh government on the ground that it will affect Odisha's farmers. 'Do Not Marry Before Age 30' pitched at 'leftover' women From:chinadaily.com.cn | 2016-08-24 09:15 Joy Chen's book is being pitched to China's "leftover women". Photo provided to China Daily Joy Chen, a former deputy mayor of Los Angeles, didn't expect to become a popular author in China. Yet she is now in the country promoting her book Do Not Marry Before Age 30. First published in Chinese in 2012, the book now out in English is being pitched to China's "leftover women", and a movie deal with Wanda Media is also in the works for the Chinese-American author who once was also a real estate developer. Chen, 47, was also a CEO headhunter. Her volunteer work in the city of Los Angeles led her to become its deputy mayor from2001 to 2005. It was also a time when Chinese publisher Citic Press Group sought her out and asked her to write a book of "life strategy" for Chinese women who are looked down upon by society for not being married at the "right age". At first, the idea seemed ludicrous to Chen - she hadn't written anything beyond personal blogs until then. Chen got married at the age of 38 and has two daughters with husband Dave. The birth of her own daughters inspired her to try and write something that would help Chinese women, she says. Do Not Marry Before Age 30 encourages women not to get married only due to the fear of being labeled. Chen posted a blog of the same title in 2011 to find out if an American-born could write anything of value for Chinese women. Her doubts evaporated once the post went viral and that led to the publication of her book, she says. "I realized that the circumstances of our lives are different, but the big questions that we as women face in our lives are the same. So because of that I found that I have sisters all around China and that to me is the biggest reward from writing a book," Chen says. Writing Do Not Marry Before Age 30 posed many challenges for her. It was a very busy time in her life and she wanted to draw on more than just personal experience to write the book. She did research on philosophy, psychology, religion, anthropology and more - any subject that would lead her to write a better book. She communicated with Chinese women, too. [Photo provided to China Daily] Chen wrote the book in English before getting it translated to Chinese. "There were so many questions that came up in the translation process ... So we had to make a lot of choices and on some occasions we made up some new words," she says. Chinese columnist Li Xiaodiu says Chen's smiling photo on the book's cover is attractive and reminds the reader of strong women like the Chinese-American TV host and entrepreneur YueSai Kan. Chen was deeply inspired by Kan from the time she was an intern on the TV host's team. "Amidst such breakneck change (in China)...Chinese women are now faced with many other options," Kan says in the book's forward, adding that Do Not Marry Until Age 30 will help women figure out the options. Chen's next book is due in the spring of 2017. The book will tackle a broader topic, one that concerns both men and women: how to find your dream career. Her unorthodox career path, from real estate to writing, is proof that finding the perfect job is not an easy task. According to Chen, what's important is identifying your passions and recognizing your greatest strengths. "Because if we find all those things we can channel our greatest strengths and what we love to do and create value in the world that's unique to us," she says. As deputy mayor of Los Angeles, Chen definitely had the platform required to enact big changes. For example, a "cash for college" program was designed to narrow the intergenerational education gap in that city and give more people a chance at higher education. It eventually became a statewide program, signed into law by then-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. But her influence declined after she was no longer deputy mayor. Though she may no longer have the type of influence that helps young people gain access to colleges, Chen feels a different kind of power as a writer today. Mei Jia contributed to this story. Concerns have been raised about the UKs Help to Buy Isa which is aimed at first time buyers saving towards a deposit for their first home. When the scheme was announced last year by then Chancellor George Osborne it was assumed that young people would receive the extra money put in by the Government towards the purchase of a home as part of their deposit. With the average deposit on a first home around 15,000 the Chancellor announced that if first time buyers saved 12,000 they would get the next 3,000 paid for them. But now it has emerged that the scheme will no pay out before a home is actually purchased, leaving first time buyers needing to save the whole 15,000 before they can actually complete a home purchase. The small print of the Government's flagship Isa states that the bonus will not be paid out until the sale is complete and a spokesman suggested that it was never designed as a deposit saving scheme but to be put towards the cost of a home overall. It is thought around 500,000 would be home owners have already taken out Help to Buy Isas and they now need to discuss with their banks what will happen when they are ready to receive the promised bonus from the government. Mark Hayward, managing director of the National Association of Estate Agents, said that it has changed the goal posts for first time buyers who have saved in a Help to Buy Isa. Consumers have been putting money aside on the basis that they believed it would be applied to their deposit on a new home, he pointed out. To now clarify that it is not actually available until completion is the perfect example of a painful lack of transparency and frankly nothing short of deception. First time buyers are already struggling with getting on to the housing ladder and this much hyped initiative was welcomed at the time as a way of helping them, but in fact could have ended up costing buyers if they have gone ahead with a purchase believing that the bonus counted towards the deposit, he added. The UKs mortgage sector was hit in July as a result of the European Union referendum with both the number and value of house purchase approvals falling month on month and year on year. The BBA figures show that house purchase approval numbers were 19% lower than in July 2015, though in the first seven months of 2016 they were some 2% higher than in the same period of 2015. The data also shows that remortgaging approvals were 6% higher than in July 2015 and in the first seven months of 2016 were 21% higher than in the equivalent period of 2015. Overall gross mortgage borrowing of 12.6 billion in the month was 6% higher than in July 2015 while net mortgage borrowing is 3% higher than a year ago. As the first lending figures since the decision to leave the EU not much can be taken from them, according to Rebecca Harding, BBA chief economist. The data does not currently suggest borrowing patterns have been significantly affected by the Brexit vote, but it is still early days. Many borrowing decisions will also have been taken before the referendum vote, she pointed out. Andy Knee, chief executive of LMS, said that the figures suggest home buyers took stock in July. He pointed out that the value of loans for house purchases fell to its lowest level since March 2015 following a buoyant first six months of 2016, What remains to be seen is whether this will become the norm or if August activity will be bounce back following the immediate shock. On the other hand, despite a small fall remortgaging is up as existing home owners capitalise on the record low mortgages available, he explained. Following the vote for Brexit, swap rates fell leading to lower mortgage rates across the board. At the same time, intense speculation about a decrease in the Bank of England interest base rate to 0.25% and other monetary policy interventions have also contributed to lower rates, encouraged lending and driven home owners to take advantage of this, he said. Anecdotally, there is little to suggest a lull in the demand for house purchase and remortgaging. We therefore expect activity to bounce back in the autumn months once the dust settles and some sense of normality returns, he added. According to Tanya Jackson, head of corporate affairs at Yorkshire Building Society, believes that peoples desire to own a property largely outweighed any uncertainty caused by the EU referendum in July. That said, the full effects of the vote are unlikely to be seen until a few months after the outcome of the vote was announced, as those buying a home in July are likely to have begun the house buying process before the EU referendum, she said. We do expect the outcome of the EU vote to limit market activity to an extent in the short-term as prospective buyers take a wait and see approach on how it affects their finances. However, peoples desire to own a home should support demand for mortgages in the long term. This, combined with the lack of supply, is likely to put upwards pressure on house prices in the long term which will in turn push up the size of deposits and loans required, she added. Catherine Serie "Almost 10,000 baby boomers are turning 65 every day. Today's seniors are different in many ways. People are living longer. The diseases and issues of aging are multiplying in the population. Thousands of senior home caregivers are relatives. They work every day for no pay and with no training. Still others receive training but don't have access to additional training they need and want to improve their skills. The NCBAC is dedicated to understanding the senior of today, their lifestyle and challenges. The organization is focused on creating the finest quality of life possible. According to Dr. Donna Surges Tatum, Chair of NCBAC, "The work of this organization is a mission to us. Many of us have dealt with family members who have faced the decisions that aging brings. Catherine brings us an unusual combination of skills including a strong corporate background in marketing and training. We have a need to provide quality education to many different types of people in the caring professions. We believe Catherine can help us do that. Last year she launched a new and updated version of our Senior Transition Specialist (CRTS) course, putting it on-line for the first time anywhere. She is now expanding our Alzheimer's caregiver training which is already accredited by the state of Florida." According to Serie. "This is an opportunity to make a real difference for older Americans. Almost 10,000 Baby Boomers are turning 65 every day in the US. With this comes the need to downsize living conditions. Sometimes it also often means dealing with diseases like arthritis, diabetes and Alzheimer's. We're dedicated to educating caregivers and families on how to understand and successfully manage through these issues." Catherine Serie was educated at Purdue University, where she also did Master's work in Organizational Communication and Industrial Psychology. She held several senior management positions in technology companies, most recently Avnet in Phoenix, Arizona. She currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona. Martin Zorn, President and COO for Kamakura Corporation Malaysias RHB Banking Group upgrades to Kamakura Corporation suite of solutions for Asset Liability Management, Funds Transfer Pricing, Basel 3 Liquidity calculations for regulatory compliance, and other Compliance Calculations Kamakura Corporation reported Monday that it had signed an upgrade to the Kamakura Corporation suite of solutions for the Malaysian-based, RHB Banking Group, (http://www.rhbgroup.com/), the fourth largest fully integrated financial services group in Malaysia. RHB Bank was incorporated in Malaysia as a public limited company on 24 August 1994 under the name of DCB Holdings Berhad. The group was established following the mergers of Kwong Yik Bank, DCB Bank, Sime Bank and Bank Utama Berhad which were incorporated more than 100 years ago. It assumed its present name since 1997. RHB Capital was listed on the Main Board (now known as "Main Market") of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad on 29 December 1994, replacing DCB Bank Berhad (now known as RHB Bank Berhad ("RHB Bank"), pursuant to a restructuring undertaken in 1994. The RHB Banking Group provides financial products and services through its main subsidiaries RHB Bank Berhad, RHB Investment Bank Berhad, RHB Insurance Berhad and RHB Islamic Bank Berhad, while its asset management and unit trust businesses are undertaken by RHB Asset Management Sdn. Bhd. and RHB Islamic International Asset Management Berhad. On 16 March 2005, the RHB Banking Group became the first domestic financial group in Malaysia to set up an Islamic banking subsidiary, known as RHB Islamic Bank Berhad. In November 2012, the RHB Banking Group acquired OSK Investment Bank Berhad (OSKIB) and in April 2013, the merger between OSKIB with RHB Investment Bank (RHBIB) made RHBIB the largest investment Bank in Malaysia by assets. With the recent merger of OSKIB and RHBIB, the investment banking business is now in six ASEAN countries and Hong Kong. The project involves the complete update of the balance sheet management and funds transfer pricing solutions from the previous version of Kamakura Risk Manager (KRM) suite of products, which the bank has been using since 2000. Dr. Clement Ooi, EVP and Managing Director, Asia-Pacific Operations, stated, Kamakura has been the global leader in the development and implementation of integrated risk management systems with customers in over 40 countries. Kamakura has been uniquely positioned to provide the system support that clients require to optimize the value of the installed solutions today and in the future. Support for Kamakura products continue to be provided by a professional team that clients have worked with in the past. The project, through this upgrade, encompasses regulatory reporting with Basel LCR reporting for all the bank subsidiaries and associates in Malaysia, Thailand, Labuan, Singapore, Laos, and Cambodia, to comply with Bank Negara Malaysia reporting requirements. The project comprises software implementation, subject-matter consulting, and the creation of reports specific to the bank and Central Bank requirements from both executive management and regulatory perspectives. Suresh Sankaran, Principal Risk Officer of Kamakura Corporation stated, RHB Bank is a very advanced bank, always ahead of its peers in innovative risk management information process implementations, and their selection and implementation of Kamakura after a comprehensive vendor evaluation proves that organizations seek modular and integrated solutions wherever possible in order to minimize the use of disparate systems. This project will result in a very accurate assessment of the risks of the bank, and the fact that these can be stress tested means that the organization is prepared for any adverse movements in market conditions. The bank will be able to actively manage liquidity through the stress testing of macro factors, and assessing their impact on liquidity cashflows both on a contractual and behavioural basis, and this will mean that they are uniquely positioned not just to report on current regulations, but go well beyond in the use of liquidity reporting for actively managing the balance sheet. Patrick Ho, Group Chief Risk Officer, said Monday, The successful upgrade of the RHB Bank risk solutions is not just due to the professional approach adopted by Kamakura Corporation, but on the bank understanding the immense need for subject-matter expertise that is available with Kamakuras consulting personnel. This project will provide the bank with not just executive information on risk metrics, but also complete regulatory compliance from a Basel III standpoint, and positions us well to be first adopters in the world of regulatory stress testing from a dynamic perspective in Malaysia. With this upgrade, RHB Bank is uniquely positioned to be fully compliant with regulatory reporting from a Basel 3 liquidity standpoint as we will generate cashflow information at the transaction level, and this will also be used in our net income simulation and stress testing endeavor. The main reason for the selection of Kamakura was its unique offering of a completely integrated ERM solution which included advanced LCR forecasting and stress-testing capabilities, which is essential for the bank to actively manage its cashflow positions and profiles. Ng Sew Cheng, Head of Group Asset & Liability Management, stated, our selection of the Kamakura Asset Liability Management, Funds Transfer Pricing, Liquidity, and relevant reporting structures underpinning the solution was based on a very competitive process. The Kamakura consulting team is exceedingly professional and courteous, and our history with them indicates that they adopt a no surprises approach, which means that both the bank and the vendor are abreast of all developments during the implementation. We look forward to working closely with Kamakura Corporation to further refine our risk structures and processes in the not-too-distant future. We also are cognizant of the fact that Kamakura offers a seamless transition between risk and compliance through its integrated modules, and this is of particular relevance to our organization as we move towards IFRS and Basel compliance. We also believe that Kamakura will not just provide us with the regulatory comfort blanket today, but will be positioned to provide such compliance for years to come, as their research of today is being converted to regulations of tomorrow. Dr. Clement Ooi further stated, the Kamakura Funds Transfer Pricing solution will be used for computing liquidity premiums and discounts along with the standard pricing framework, and this will ensure that our economic profits are in line with reality and business units will be insulated from risks other than their core competence. This will mean a practice that is transparent and seamless from a business unit, product, and customer perspective. It will also give us a good insight into transaction level economic profit and value management can then be attempted to optimize returns. Martin Zorn, President and COO for Kamakura Corporation, said Monday, The successful upgrade of the risk project in RHB Bank is important not just from an integrated risk management standpoint but also in the realm of regulatory compliance. The fact that there are other, similar projects not just in Malaysia but in the entire region is a great plus for Kamakura, and is testimony to the credentials of Kamakuras subject matter experts. Kamakura is well-positioned to meet the burgeoning regulatory demands imposed on financial institutions in the region and has the wherewithal to keep pace with regulation; as a matter of fact, what is currently being introduced as risk regulation has been available in Kamakura Risk Manager for the past ten years. To follow risk commentary by Kamakura on a daily basis, please follow Kamakura CEO Dr Donald van Deventer (http://www.twitter.com/dvandeventer), Kamakura President Martin Zorn (http://www.twitter.com/riskmgrhi), Kamakura Principal Risk Officer Suresh Sankaran (http://www.twitter.com/sureshkamakura) and Kamakuras official twitter account (http://www.twitter.com/KamakuraCo). About Kamakura Corporation Founded in 1990, Honolulu-based Kamakura Corporation is a leading provider of risk management information, processing and software. Kamakura was named to the World Finance 100 by the Editor and readers of World Finance magazine in 2012. In 2010, Kamakura was the only vendor to win 2 Credit Magazine innovation awards. Kamakura Risk Manager, first sold commercially in 1993 and now in version 8.1, is the first enterprise risk management system with users focused on credit risk, asset and liability management, market risk, stress testing, liquidity risk, counterparty credit risk, and capital allocation from a single software solution. The KRIS public firm default service was launched in 2002. The KRIS sovereign default service, the worlds first, was launched in 2008, and the KRIS non-public firm default service was offered beginning in 2011. Kamakura added its U.S. Bank default probability service in 2014. Kamakura has served more than 330 clients ranging in size from $1.5 billion to $1.6 trillion in assets. Kamakuras risk management products are currently used in 43 countries, including the United States, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Austria, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Russia, the Ukraine, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South America, Australia, Japan, China, Korea, India and many other countries in Asia. Kamakura has world-wide alliances with Fiserv (http://www.fiserv.com) and SCSK Corporation (http://www.scsk.jp/index_en.html) making Kamakura products available in almost every major city around the globe. For more information contact Kamakura Corporation 2222 Kalakaua Avenue, Suite 1400, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815 Telephone: 1-808-791-9888 Facsimile: 1-808-791-9898 Information: info(at)kamakuraco(dot)com Web site: http://www.kamakuraco.com About the RHB Banking Group The RHB Banking Group is the fourth largest fully integrated financial services group in Malaysia. The Groups core businesses are streamlined into seven main business pillars, namely Group Retail Banking, Group Business & Transaction Banking, Group Wholesale Banking, Singapore Business Operations, Group Shariah Business, Group International Business and Group Insurance. Group Wholesale Banking comprises Corporate Banking, Investment Banking, Client Coverage, Group Treasury & Global Markets, Asset Management and Private Equity. All the seven business pillars are offered through the Groups main subsidiaries -RHB Bank Berhad, RHB Investment Bank Berhad, RHB Islamic Bank Berhad and RHB Insurance Berhad, while its asset management and unit trust businesses are undertaken by RHB Asset Management Sdn. Bhd. and RHB Islamic International Asset Management Berhad. The Groups regional presence now spans ten countries including Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Lao PDR and Myanmar. It is RHB Banking Groups aspiration to continue to deliver superior customer experience and shareholder value; and to be recognised as a Leading Multinational Financial Services Group. For more information please contact Group Marketing & Communications Division, RHB Bank Berhad - Cynthia Blemin at 012-249 4071/ cynthia.blemin(at)rhbgroup(dot)com or Alicia Pinto at 012-349 6364/ alicia.christine.pinto(at)rhbgroup(dot)com. Martin Zorn, President and COO 1-808-791-9888, extension 8700 pressroom(at)kamakuraco(dot)com http://www.kamakuraco.com http://www.kris-online.com Renewal by Andersen Los Angeles and San Francisco (RbA), a division of Andersen Corporation, has announced a partnership with 16-year old professional race car driver Max Fedler and Max Fedler Racing with the specific goal of raising $30,000 plus matching donations for K9s For Warriors. Online donations can be made at http://k9sforwarriors.donorpages.com/myevent/rbala/ between today and December 31, 2016. RbA executives have committed to matching $1 for every $1 donation up to the $30,000 goal. In addition, the RbA team and Max Fedler Racing will collaborate and deliver a special awareness and fund raising event in conjunction with Maxs Pirelli World Challenge race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, October 6-9, 2016. In 2016, K9s For Warriors celebrated their 5th year anniversary with a goal of serving 12 warriors every month by providing trained service canines to those suffering from post traumatic stress disability, traumatic brain injury, and/or military sexual trauma. The dogs themselves are evaluated and trained rescue animals meaning two lives saved for each warrior. To date, more than 242 service dogs have graduated the program. Renewal by Andersen, Los Angeles and San Francisco, are excited to share in the partnership with Max Fedler Racing to raise money and awareness for this important service. We believe K9s For Warriors is an outstanding organization which empowers our Nations warriors to return to civilian life with dignity and independence. Max Fedler and his team clearly share this passion. Together we believe we can help save lives one warrior and dog at time. Max Fedler is the youngest professional race driver in the Pirelli World Challenges Touring Car series and is using his platform to create awareness for corporations and causes important to their people. As Max states, My dad has worked extensively with organizations that support returning warriors including serving on Advisory Boards and as an experiential leader for warrior programs and surviving spouse programs. When RbA approached us about using our platform for K9s For Warriors, I jumped at the opportunity. We know a number of warriors who have been affected by PTSD and TBI. Weve seen how service dogs can be life saving in these situations. We want to make sure the message is heard and people support this program. About K9s for Warriors: K9s For Warriors is dedicated to providing service canines to warriors suffering from Post-traumatic Stress Disability, traumatic brain injury and/or military sexual trauma as a result of military service post 9/11. Our goal is to empower them to return to civilian life with dignity and independence. About Renewal by Andersen: Renewal by Andersen is the start-to-finish window replacement division of Andersen Corporation. The company offers a replacement process that includes an in-home consultation, custom manufacturing, and installation through one of the largest nationwide networks of window replacement specialists. For a complimentary in-home consultation, or to view more information about Renewal by Andersen visit http://www.renewalbyandersen.com. About Andersen Corporation: Headquartered in Bayport, Minnesota, Andersen Corporation and its subsidiaries manufacture and market window and door products under the Andersen, Renewal by Andersen, Silver Line and American Craftsman brands. Andersen was founded in 1903 and employs nearly 11,000 people in locations across North America. Andersen is a privately held company. Visit us at http://www.andersencorporation.com. About Max Fedler Racing: Summit Max Fedler is a fourth generation racer, tracing his roots back to his great grandfather, as well as an honor student and athlete at Denver South High School. He is the youngest professional race car driver in the Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car Series and has placed inside the top 10 in all of his events to date with his Plenco sponsored BMW M235iR. Max Fedler Racing provides a highly visible, experiential platform for corporations, individuals, and non-profits to leverage for events, marketing, and communications. Visit Max on Facebook & Instagram at Max Fedler Racing as well as http://www.maxfedler.com. In its second appearance on the exclusive ranking of the nations fastest-growing companies, Entrust Energy ranked No. 10 among top Houston companies and No. 673 overall on Inc. magazines 35th annual Inc. 5000 list. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economys most dynamic segment its independent small businesses. Companies such as Microsoft, Dell, Dominos Pizza, Pandora, Timberland, LinkedIn, Yelp, Zillow, and many other well-known brands gained their first national exposure as honorees of the Inc. 5000. Being recognized by Inc. magazine for the second consecutive year is a testament to our teams focus on exceptional customer experience and innovation, said Layne Loessin, President & CEO of Entrust Energy. In the past year, weve seen exponential growth through many aspects of the business and continue to invest in systems that improved the quality of service for our valued customers, including our proprietary billing platform built in-house and launched this year. As reported by Inc. Magazine, Entrust Energy experienced outstanding growth of 583% in just three years. The Houston headquartered company which recently celebrated six years in business, has grown from four employees to 132. Currently, the company serves 27 utilities in eight states, and will expand to 36 utilities by late this year. The 2016 Inc. 5000 list was unveiled online at http://www.Inc.com and in the September issue of Inc. Magazine. This years collection of companies is considered to be the most competitive crop in the lists history. According to Inc. Magazine, the average company on the list achieved a three-year growth of 433%. The Inc. 5000s aggregate revenue is $200 billion, generating 640,000 jobs over the past three years. More details about this ranking can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000. About Entrust Energy Entrust Energy is a retail energy company dedicated to delivering electricity and natural gas to homes and businesses in deregulated markets throughout the United States. We differentiate ourselves by consistently providing first-class, quality customer experiences and competitive and engaging products. Put simply, we are people serving people, providing personalized service with the upmost respect that our customers deserve. For more information about Entrust Energy, visit: http://www.entrustenergy.com Winning effort From:chinadaily.com.cn | 2016-08-24 09:15 Liu Cixin spoke at a readers' meeting that introduced Hao Jingfang (right)'s sci-fi works in July in Beijing. Luo Xiaoguang/China Daily With a second Chinese bagging the Hugo prize, expectations from the country's sci-fi writers are rising. Xinhua reports. On Sunday, a second Chinese author received a prestigious Hugo Award for science fiction, this time in the category of best novelette. Hao Jingfang, author of Folding Beijing, won the award at the 74th World Science Fiction Convention in the United States following Liu Cixin's 2015 Best Novel award for The Three-Body Problem, the first part of a trilogy. Established in 1953, the Hugo Awards acknowledge the best works in science fiction or fantasy and, along with the Nebula Awards, are seen as the top prizes in the genre. They are named after Hugo Gernsback, founder of the American science fiction magazine Amazing Stories. The best novelette prize has previously been won by such acknowledged greats as Isaac Asimov, Ursula K. LeGuin and George R.R.Martin. The news was received with great delight at the Shanghai Book Fair that closed yesterday. Folding Beijing tells of a father's struggle to send his daughter to school in the Beijing of the future, alluding to the difficulties that some Chinese parents face today to ensure their children receive a quality education. Hao herself graduated in physics from Tsinghua University in 2006. "Chinese sci-fi is embracing unprecedented opportunities today," said Liu Cixin at the Shanghai fair. Liu believes China is witnessing the beginning of sci-fi "industrialization" and the environment for sci-fi writers has greatly improved from the previous decades. Death's End, the third part of Liu's trilogy, is to be released in the United States on Sept 20. The English translation of the entire trilogy made its debut at the Shanghai fair on Sunday. "Following the success of The Three-Body Problem, we noticed an increase in Chinese material in sci-fi all round the world," said Yao Haijun, chief editor of Science Fiction World, China's leading sci-fi magazine. "It may also be associated with the rise of the Chinese economy in general." The Three-Body Problem has sold more than 160,000 copies since it was published in November 2014, and has been reviewed in The New York Times and Wall Street Journal. A view of the Shanghai Book Fair held at the Shanghai Exhibition Center from Aug 18 to 23. Wang Rongjiang/China Daily As to why the work has been so widely welcomed in the West, Yao believes the excellence of the translation is a major factor. "It has also set up a link between China and the West, through which foreign readers can attempt to hypothesize about the future of the country," he said. His view is shared by Liu. "Science fiction is becoming a key to the world's understanding of China," he says. In China, demand for science fiction is on the rise. Audiences have become interested in such movies and many high-profile figures from beyond the literary world - Li Yanhong, head of internet giant Baidu, and Lei Jun, co-founder of smartphone maker Xiaomi - have heaped praise on Liu's work. Despite these accolades and a certain amount of financial success, science fiction in China is still in its infancy and in dire need of a nurturing system. Liu recalls attending a writers' conference in the US. "Before stepping in the room, I thought it was a roundtable meeting with twenty plus people," he said. But when the door opened, Liu was shocked to see thousands of participants. In contrast, Chinese fans struggle to name 30 domestic science fiction writers, among whom less than 10 are making a living from their craft. "We need to create an environment that allows more writers to develop their talent and the genre to prosper," Liu said. To increase the number of science fiction writers in China, Beijing's Future Affairs Administration, a startup that mainly deals with science fiction copyright business, plans an incubator for talents. "How to attract the young generation is the biggest challenge for sci-fi," said British science fiction writer Ian McDonald at the Shanghai fair. Liu echoed his views, suggesting that it will be increasingly difficult for science fiction writers to write satisfying works in an era when people have instant access to the latest developments in technology, such as the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope, dark-matter detection satellites and so on. At the same time, however, Liu sees a new opportunity in every development. "New technology would provide a knowledge foundation for writers." Guardian Manufacturing, a technology portfolio company focused on advanced automation and process technologies, has acquired Vapex Environmental Technologies. The acquisition further expands Guardians portfolio of advanced ozone process technology companies, which include Guardian Ozone and Pinnacle Ozone Solutions, which are focused on industrial and municipal market segments, respectively. Founded in 2002, Vapex has developed and commercialized a proprietary method of treating odors, fats, oils and grease primarily in municipal wastewater applications. Over the past 14 years, Vapex has successfully proven its technology and built a significant presence in the market. The Vapex acquisition expands Guardians ozone technology offerings and further strengthens the companys market-leading position as a supplier of integrated ozone process systems. Chuck Smith, President & CEO of Guardian Manufacturing stated, Vapex is a respected brand with a loyal customer base in the United States. Adding the Vapex technology to the Guardian family further strengthens our portfolio of advanced ozone generation, delivery, and process control portfolio companies. The Vapex line of systems perfectly complements Guardians municipal offerings which are provided through Pinnacle Ozone Solutions. Mr. Smith went on to add, Our goals moving forward are to strengthen Vapex technology in municipal wastewater and expand into a broad range of industrial markets and applications that are served by Guardian Ozone. Both companies are excited about the synergistic possibilities the acquisition holds. ABOUT Guardian Manufacturing Founded in 1992, Guardian Manufacturing is a diversified technology portfolio company focused on delivering advanced process automation technologies for a broad range of industries. Central to Guardians portfolio companies is a focus on industrial automation, ozone generation and process controls which are offered through Guardian Manufacturing, Guardian Ozone, Pinnacle Ozone Solutions, and now Vapex Environmental Technologies. Together, the family of companies provide comprehensive ozone solutions for both municipal and industrial applications such as drinking and wastewater treatment, aquatic & zoological life support, food & beverage, agriculture, laundry, and textile processing. All of Guardians technology companies share a focus on advanced automation, industry-leading efficacy, energy efficiency, cost-effectiveness. Please visit http://www.guardianmfg.com for to learn more. Parties interested in obtaining further information or receiving news releases from Guardian Manufacturing may e-mail a request to support(at)guardianmfg.com or visit our website at http://www.guardianmfg.com. A great city deserves a great psychology practice. Southeast Psych, one of the nations largest and most innovative psychology practices, has arrived in the Nashville area. The company, based in Charlotte, NC, provides individual, group, and family therapy, as well as assessment for all ages. Founded in 2001, Southeast Psych has steadily grown with two large offices in Charlotte, a New Zealand office, and this new location in Brentwood, directly across from Brentwood Academy. Psychologist Dr. Lauren King, a native of Nashville, had the vision to bring the company to the area. Our motto for the Nashville office is, A great city deserves a great psychology practice, and thats truly how I feel, Dr. King said. Accompanying Dr. King for the startup is Southeast Psych founder Dr. Dave Verhaagen, the author or co-author of 8 books and a frequent speaker at regional and national conferences. Nashville is one of the few cities in the world that could have gotten me to leave Charlotte. I love Nashville and I cant wait to serve this community! Dr. Verhaagen said. Also transitioning from Charlotte to Nashville is Nick Valadez, a licensed professional counselor who is a highly-regarded relationship expert. New clinical staff include nurse practitioner Caitlyn Rissler who is a specialist in developmental pediatrics, as well as Dr. Danielle Mizell coming from the Cleveland Clinic and Dr. Brittany Rader joining from Atlanta. In addition to being a traditional psychology practice, Southeast Psych also has a media division that produces videos, podcasts, webinars, and websites. They publish about five books per year under their Hero House imprint, as well. The biggest distinction of the practice is its emphasis on fun and innovation. We provide traditional services like therapy and assessment, but we do it in a way that is incredibly fun and creative, said Dr. King. You can tell that from the moment you walk in the door with the superhero posters, the recording studio, and the video games. In the kids area, we even have a giant guitar on the ceiling with lights on the strings. Southeast Psych has been successful in the Charlotte market and they expect the same level of success in Nashville. Its a growing market. The need is there, said Dr. King. The practice opened in Brentwood on Aug. 10th and their clinicians were seeing new clients on the first day. I feel like we are coming to town at exactly the right moment, she added. For more information about Southeast Psych Nashville, please contact Dr. Lauren King at lking(at)southeastpsych.com or visit SoutheastPsychNashville.com. DeVry University is collaborating with RefactorU on its new web development training program offered through the DeVry Bootcamp. DeVry Bootcamps inaugural cohort will begin this September in Westminster, Colorado. Were delighted to collaborate with DeVry University in bringing this new offering to the market, said Sean Daken, RefactorU CEO. Its a testament to RefactorUs success in producing the quality junior web developers in Colorado." DeVry University has a national reputation for quality technical education with over 85 years of heritage. DeVry recognizes the importance of keeping up with todays rapidly changing software platforms. This new program is designed to not only help students acquire essential technical skills, but also to help students present their personal brand and cultivate a network of new professional contacts. Bootcamp students spend ten weeks in an immersive, hands-on course designed to teach modern full-stack web development frameworks. Students create their own applications and build a portfolio of projects to share with employers. Upon completing the program, graduating students receive a certificate of completion from DeVry. Graduates are invited to attend a local DeVry sponsored career fair to meet prospective employers and to share their work. To learn more about DeVry Universitys new coding bootcamp please visit devry.edu/bootcamp. The first DeVry Bootcamp cohort starts September 30, 2016 in Westminster, Colorado Jaclyn Swe, General Counsel & Director of Business Development San Diego I am thrilled to work with our amazing executive group, and I look forward to the new challenges that lie ahead as we continue to expand. Past News Releases RSS Aptus Court Reporting Adds Industry... Aptus Court Reporting Makes... Aptus Court Reporting Continues... Californias premier deposition services company, Aptus Court Reporting, has expanded Director of Business Development Jaclyn Swes role to include duties of General Counsel for the company. Swe joined Aptus in 2013 as a business development executive in the San Diego market. Prior to that, Swe served as an Account Executive and Division Director with Robert Half Legal, preceded by five years practicing law (2006 through 2011). It has been a wonderful experience being part of Aptus success and growth over the past three years. I am thrilled to work with our amazing executive group, and I look forward to the new challenges that lie ahead as we continue to expand, says Swe. As General Counsel and Director of Business Development, Swe will continue to work closely with regional and national law firms in a business development role. Swe holds a Juris Doctorate degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law and will draw on her legal practice experience to assist the company in legal and/or regulatory matters. Jaclyn's contributions to the company over the past three years have had a significant impact on our growth. We are excited to see her continued success in this expanded role, says Aptus Managing Partner Ashley Walton. The talent and dedication Jaclyn brings to Aptus and our clients is exceptional. Her unwavering commitment to quality, professionalism, and integrity will continue to solidify our presence in the market. I am thrilled to be working closely with Jaclyn in her new position, says Aptus COO Sandy Waite. In addition to her dynamic career, Swe has volunteered in multiple roles throughout the San Diego community including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Legal Aid Society of San Diego, and the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program. About Aptus Court Reporting: Aptus Court Reporting is a full-service court reporting firm headquartered in San Diego, CA. The company provides decades of combined experience in the court reporting industry and offers videography, transcription, and trial support among its list of services. Its company focus is connecting testimony and technology. Aptus provides a one stop solution for deposition and trial needs. For more information about Aptus Court Reporting, please visit http://www.aptuscr.com. MoistureShield composite decking on the Canadian River Wagon Bridge in Texas The MoistureShield decking was readily available, cost effective, easy to work with, looks great and is durable Starting with Spanish explorer Francisco Coronados search for the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola in the 1500s, travelers have been traversing Texas Canadian River in search of fortune for centuries. In a region rich with history, MoistureShield composite decking is poised to take its place in history on the Canadian River Wagon Bridge in the Texas Panhandle, following its first year of exposure to the demanding Texas climate. In 1916, the Austin Bridge Company of Dallas commissioned the 3,255-foot truss bridge across the river for wagon traffic to serve the growing region. It was replaced in 1953 by a more modern automobile bridge, and then upgraded again in 2000 when Hemphill County converted the picturesque, old wagon bridge to be used by pedestrians and bicyclists. In October, 2015, county officials rededicated the bridge after replacing its old, damaged wooden planks with durable and attractive MoistureShield composite decking designed to last decades longer than traditional wood decking. We were planning to use a Brazilian hardwood for the new bridge deck, but it ended up being too expensive to purchase and install, explains Donny Ringo, construction superintendent and project manager for RBR Construction (Weatherford, Texas). The MoistureShield decking, by contrast, was readily available, cost effective, easy to work with, looks great and is durable against the demanding north Texas summer heat and winter ice. Plus, the warranty was a big selling point. RBR Construction installed approximately 59,000 square feet of MoistureShield Vantage Collection composite decking in Desert Sand. Due to the size of the order, MoistureShield provided specialty 2x8 boards to fit the bridge design at a 14 ft. length with only a 1/4 tolerance on each end. The decking was very consistent and high quality, says Ringo. Out of 7 semi-truck loads only two boards were out of the length tolerance. Everybody thoroughly enjoyed the job. The Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) describes the Canadian River Wagon Bridge as the focal point for a scenic hike-and-bike trail and a platform for viewing wildlife, including white-tailed deer, wild turkey and waterfowl. Hemphill County Judge George Briant called the bridge a legend and legacy here in this community, according to the Canadian Record newspaper. Visitors can find the bridge two miles north of Canadian, Texas, on U.S. 60/83. With its warranty against rot, decay and termite damage, the MoistureShield composite decking will help north Texas residents and visitors enjoy the Canadian River Wagon Bridge for many decades to come. MoistureShield composite decking and railing offers the solution for every commercial and residential decking need with its range of attractive colors, realistic embossed wood grain patterns and grooved boards to accommodate hidden fasteners. Because of a unique manufacturing process, each MoistureShield board is protected to the core, and is backed by the industrys leading lifetime warranty. With 95% total recycled content, MoistureShield composite decking and railing is also an environmentally responsible choice, helping prevent discarded plastics from ending up in landfills. For more information visit moistureshield.com or call (866) 729-2378. With this core team, we will continue to provide top-quality service that our clients have come to expect. Gordian Compliance Solutions (Gordian), a leader in securities compliance consulting, today announced that Ben Buckwalter, Patrick Dominguez, Yulia Kalk, and Justin Schleifer have been promoted to managing partners. Each of the new partners has been with the firm for more than three years and has been instrumental in Gordians growth as a national service provider. Ben Buckwalter serves as general counsel for both Gordian Compliance Solutions and affiliate, Gordian Investments, LLC, a FINRA member broker-dealer. Mr. Buckwalter also serves as Senior Compliance Consultant to the firms investment adviser clients and brings an analytical approach to solving a wide range of compliance problems. Patrick Dominguez serves as the Director of Investment Adviser Services for Gordian Compliance, a position in which he coordinates consulting activities for the investment adviser consulting business and promotes the organization and growth of the firms consulting program. Additionally, Mr. Dominguez acts as Senior Compliance Consultant to numerous clients and fulfills the duties of Chief Compliance Officer for an SEC registered investment adviser. He is particularly interested in frontier and emerging market asset classes as well as SEC examination priorities and preparation. Yulia Kalk leads the Gordians Broker-Dealer Services division and acts as Chief Compliance Officer for Gordian Investments. Ms. Kalk is also the Chief Operating Officer for Gordian Compliance Solutions and is responsible for coordinating internal processes within the firm. Ms. Kalk is passionate about utilizing almost 20 years of regulatory compliance experience to assist clients with all compliance needs, including the broker-dealer application process, on-going compliance services, and special projects to resolve complicated compliance issues. Justin Schleifer acts as the Chief Compliance Officer for both registered investment advisers and broker-dealers, in addition to serving as the Chief Financial Officer for Gordian Compliance and its affiliate broker-dealer, Gordian Investments. Mr. Schleifer applies a practical business approach to compliance, assisting clients with complex structures and mandates to create efficient and powerful compliance programs. These individuals have shown excellent loyalty and have contributed significantly to the firms success, said Niel Armstrong, Founder and President of Gordian. With this core team, we will continue to provide top-quality service that our clients have come to expect. ABOUT GORDIAN COMPLIANCE SOLUTIONS Gordian Compliance Solutions is a concierge compliance consulting firm headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in New York and Florida, specializing in regulatory compliance services for financial industry firms. Gordian works with investment advisers, broker-dealers, private fund managers, and futures professionals to provide compliance and risk management, using a risk-based approach to identify a firms regulatory obligations with an eye towards implementing industry best practices. FutureTech and its brands Access, NxtGen, and Fresh Juice Access and all of the brands powered by FutureTech are focused on assisting automotive businesses in making their transition into servicing advanced technology vehicles that use electric drive systems. Electric, Hybrid, and Fuel Cell Vehicle technology firm FutureTech Auto (FTA) will be conducting two 8-hour training events in Las Vegas, Nevada to coincide with the events surrounding SEMA and AAPEX. These training events are scheduled for October 31st and November 4th focusing on Service Advisors, Electric Drive Systems, High Voltage Battery Installation and, targeted diagnostic processes. Registration is available on FutureTech's website. These training events serve as the official kick-off of the Access brand powered by FutureTech supporting training and education. Access is committed to providing technology and training delivered in a way that is comprehensive and accessible to everyone currently or planning to service vehicles with Electric Drive technologies. Access powered by FutureTech has a unique approach," says Dr. Mark Quarto, Chief Technical Officer of FTA. We provide technical training solutions for management, support teams, and technicians. Dr. Quarto recognizes that the needs of Service Advisors have been overlooked specific to supporting Advanced Vehicle Technologies. If your business has made an investment in technician-related training as well as tools and equipment, now its time for your service advisors and managers to receive training on how to interface and sell advanced technology vehicle services to customers that own these cars. NOW is the time to fill that void. The Aging process of an Electric Drive System begins with the Battery Pack: "So when your customer brings the car in for a perceived high voltage battery problem, why dont we find out if the battery needs to be serviced at all, Dr. Quarto states, and if it does, the Battery Testing and Installation training provides the technician with the skills to confidently do it economically for both the shop and the customer. These 8-hour events, which will be held at Franks European Service in Las Vegas, are only a preview of what Access has planned for 2017 and beyond. Access brand has management and technician training courses scheduled in key locations throughout the U.S. market. The initial 2017 training schedule will be posted and accepting registrations on August 30th, 2016. This is about accessibility and ease of application for all global businesses, says founder Don Burton. Access and all brands powered by FutureTech are focused on assisting automotive businesses in making their transition into servicing advanced technology vehicles that use electric drive systems. He further states, FTAs scalable solutions make it easy and possible for all businesses to enter this growing market". As an ongoing commitment to the automotive market, FutureTech and Access have made available complimentary webinars each month, cost effective training classes, and varied technical events to support the needs of service and maintenance businesses. Customers with high interest in participating in this event can review course outlines and register for these invitation only training events in Las Vegas, by visiting futuretechauto.com/vegas-training. Franks European Service is located at 1931 N. Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas NV 89109. FutureTech was founded in 2015, and has a combined 70 years experience in developing and delivering Advanced Vehicle Technology solutions. By understanding that the industry is composed of many equally important pieces, FutureTech can deliver multi-faceted solutions to automotive service shops, fleets, distributors, manufacturers, educators, and more. FutureTech meets the demands of today's automotive service professionals while developing tomorrow's advanced technology solutions. For more information, visit http://www.futuretechauto.com BTC Media announces a 24-hour blockchain hackathon to be held in Nashville, Tennessee on October 1-2, 2016 in advance of its Distributed: Health conference. Over $20,000 in cash prizes will be awarded at the competition to the best applications of blockchain technology for healthcare, insurance, identity, media management and other use cases. Competing hackathon teams will be challenged to build applications that address healthcare opportunities including interoperability, electronic medical records, identity and trust, claims processing and pharmaceuticals, among other issues. The event will be held at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, a world-class tech hub for entrepreneurial startups, providing business resources, connections and a vibrant community workplace experience in the heart of downtown Nashville. Blockchain University Co-founder Robert Schwentker will be facilitating the hackathon. Were excited to host our second blockchain hackathon, said BTC Media CTO Tyler Evans. The first Distributed: Trade hackathon featured 16 teams presenting innovative applications of blockchain technology for identity, insurance and even tracking blood donations. Like the St. Louis event, this competition will feature teams from corporate giants, blockchain startups and the nations top universities. David Bailey, CEO of BTC Media, pointed out that Nashville is the ideal venue for this event and the conference, given its ranking among the top centers in the U.S. and the world for healthcare innovation. Nashville is also home to BTC Medias international headquarters. Of the hackathons $20,000 in prize money, $10,000 will be awarded as a Grand Prize to the team who creates the most vibrant application related to the exploding opportunities for blockchain solutions in healthcare. Conference sponsor Gem will award a prize of $5,000 in bitcoin to the team with the best application built using the GemOS blockchain platform. BitFiniti - The Blockchain Experience will award the winning team with a presenter's package which includes the opportunity to promote their winning project at center stage and exhibit in the presenter's gallery at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel on October 30 - November 2. BitFiniti will also provide hotel accommodations and travel expenses. The panel of judges for the competition will include representatives of major players in the venture capital community as well as corporate executives and technology innovators. The hackathon is sponsored by State Farm, BitFiniti and Gem with participation from Jumpstart Foundry, FBS Capital, the Blockchain Education Network and Martin Ventures. The [hackathon] for us was an opportunity to learn how to tie our love of coding and love of blockchain tech together and learn how to code blockchain applications, said Dev Bharrel, a student who was among the winners at the Distributed: Trade hackathon in June. We are just a bunch of 20-year-olds who now, because of this hackathon, have the opportunity to build something greater than ourselves. The Distributed: Health conference, to be held on October 3, 2016 at Nashvilles Schermerhorn Symphony Center, is a first-of-its-kind event bringing healthcare leaders and blockchain technology innovators together with other major enterprises to address how the new technology will disrupt and optimize the healthcare industry. To register for the hackathon or the conference, visit https://GoDistributed.com/health/. For hackathon rules visit http://dist-health.devpost.com. About BTC Media: Headquartered in Nashville, BTC Media LLC is the publisher of Distributed, Bitcoin Magazine and yBitcoin. BTC Media is the worlds largest provider of multimedia educational and informational resources about the digital currency and blockchain industries. We get to send northern Virginia back to school in style, while also raising money for a great cause. For the fourth year in a row, Alexandre de Paris Beauty Spa Centre will host its Free Back to School Haircuts charity event later this month, on Sunday, August 28 from 9:30 am until 4:30 pm. Its one of our favorite events of the year! said Alexandre de Paris, owner of Fairfax, Virginias premier Beauty Spa Centre. We get to send northern Virginia back to school in style, while also raising money for a great cause. Alexandre de Paris and his team are offering free Back to School haircuts for children, and college students who present a current school ID with a minimum donation of $20. (Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or a guardian.) All funds raised will be donated to Pantene Beautiful Lengths. Back to School haircuts will be given on a first come, first served basis. About Pantene Beautiful Lengths Beautiful Lengths is a partnership between Pantene and the American Cancer Society, the largest nonprofit health organization committed to saving lives from every cancer and improving the quality of life for people facing the disease. The role of Pantene is to help women grow long, strong, beautiful hair and to provide the funds to turn this hair into free, real-hair wigs for women with cancer. About Alexandre de Paris Beauty Spa Centre Alexandre de Paris Beauty Spa Centre features a wide array of services for men and women, including haircutting, hair highlighting, hair coloring, facials, massage, body treatments, and nail services. Celebrate a bridal party, special occasion, or simply treat yourself. For more information, or to request an appointment, visit http://www.alexandredeparis.com. CorreLogs product line uniquely complements our existing product and services offerings, ideally providing the European market with reliable products and local, reliable support. CorreLog, the leader in multi-platform IT security event log management, today announced a partnership agreement with InSoft Infotel, provider of mainframe software solutions, development, training, and consulting for businesses throughout Europe. The key component of the partnership will center around CorreLogs mainframe security solutions designed to deliver real-time mainframe event message data to distributed Security Information and Event Management or SIEM systems. Under the partnership, Infotel, France and InSoft Infotel Software GmbH, Germany, will address an increasing demand from European markets seeking tighter controls for security and compliance across highly complex and heterogeneous IT infrastructures. SIEM systems were originally designed for distributed environments with little concern for the mainframe, said George Faucher, president and CEO of CorreLog, Inc. Fifteen years ago (and still prevalent today), when data governance and auditing controls were evolving into SIEM, mainframe and distributed security people and processes were highly polarized, and there was little interaction between the two to secure data. Were helping clients bridge this IT security gap in North American and InSoft (Infotel) will be helping us do the same in Europe. InSoft Infotel is looking forward to working with CorreLog, said Colin Oakhill, Infotel strategic advisor for InSoft. "CorreLogs product line uniquely complements our existing product and services offerings, ideally providing the European market with reliable products and local, reliable support. CorreLog Products Featured in the Agreement The product distribution agreement will center around the following CorreLog mainframe products: SIEM Agent for IBM z/OS In real-time, SIEM Agent for z/OS delivers security event messages from z/OS to distributed SIEM systems and IT Security Operations Centers. SIEM Agent auto-formats event messages from RACF, CA-ACF2, CA-Top Secret, DB2, IMS, CICS, IND$FILE, FTP, TCP/IP and other facilities and in real time, exports the messages to a SIEM or IT SOC. | More info dbDefender DAM Agent for IBM DB2 dbDefender provides real-time Database Activity Monitoring (DAM) for both DB2 and IMS databases with an agent-based software program. dbDefender monitors database activity for any sign of unauthorized access or attempt to view datasets, then sends a real-time notification to a SIEM or IT SOC. | More info Visualizer for IBM z/OS An affordable SIEM system, CorreLog Visualizer was specifically designed and pre-congured for use by z/OS security administrators and system programmers. It provides visibility and point-and-click functionality from a standard web browser into z/OS security and operational events. | More info CorreLog Mainframe Product Integration CorreLog Mainframe solutions are designed to deliver real-time notifications from RACF, ACF2, Top Secret, DB2 and IMS directly to any Windows- or UNIX-based SIEM system. CorreLog Mainframe SIEM solutions are highly interoperable and have certified integrations with the following distributed SIEM systems: IBM QRadar SIEM HP ArcSight SIEM RSA Security Analytics McAfee ESM & DAM Solutionary (MSSP) Micro Focus NetIQ Fortified Health Security Solutions Additionally, SIEM Agent for z/OS has field integrations with Splunk, LogRhythm, Dell SecureWorks, and many others. For more information about SIEM Agent for z/OS or other CorreLog product integrations, please contact CorreLog support directly. About InSoft Infotel: InSoft Infotel Software GmbH, a member of the Infotel Group, is a software development, training and consulting firm specializing in mainframe and client/server systems, electronic archiving, and database systems. Based in Dusseldorf, Germany, and founded in 1986, InSoft Infotel Software GmbH now supports more than 350 customers, worldwide, including many major companies in all industries. For more information about InSoft, please visit: http://www.infotel.com (France) or http://www.insoft-software.de (Germany). About CorreLog: CorreLog, Inc., a privately held corporation, is an independent Security Information & Event Management (SIEM) software vendor that has produced software and framework components used successfully by hundreds of private and government organizations worldwide. Our core solutions provide visibility across both mainframe and distributed systems on user activity that is indicative of cyber threat. Since 2008, CorreLog, Inc. has been committed to delivering better decision-support solutions for InfoSec and security auditing professionals who need more advanced perimeter security and improved adherence to PCI DSS, HIPAA, SOX, IRS Pub. 1075, GLBA, FISMA, NERC and other industry standards for securing data. Our solutions are designed to be highly interoperable and complementary to clients existing IT investments. We consider our technology approach to be unique in both personnel and product and we believe our solutions pass the test of low total cost of ownership with high SIEM functionality. For more information on CorreLog products, please visit http://www.correlog.com. Copyright 2016, CorreLog, Inc. All rights reserved. All trademarks and registered trademarks used herein are the properties of their respective owners. Press Contact CorreLog, Inc.: Tony Perri, Marketing & PR Director Phone: (239) 514-3331, xt. 406 1004 Collier Center Way, 1st Floor Naples, FL USA 34110 Contact Link Press Contact InSoft Infotel Software GmbH: Carry Franke, Distribution Director Phone: ++49 (0) 211 44 03 16-6 Sternstrasse 9 11 40479 Dusseldorf, Germany Contact Link Chinese sci-fi: A new way to know China From:chinadaily.com.cn | 2016-08-24 10:14 Liu Cixin, writer of The Three-Body Problem, holds a book signing in Shanghai on August 21. [Photo/IC] Following on the huge success of The Three-Body Problem, a milestone science fiction trilogy written by Liu Cixin, Chinese post-80s female writer Hao Jingfang won over the judges panel of the World Science Fiction Society with her book Folding Beijing on August 21. "Science fiction writers prepare for all future possibilities, whether good or bad, likely or unlikely. You can hear sci-fi writers talking about the strategies to face aliens, at the dinner table, seriously. We care about all possibilities. We live in the parallel universes," said Hao as she accepted a Hugo Award for Best Novel at the Kansas City Convention Center in the United States. Meanwhile, it is really a coincidence that the English versions of The Three-Body Problem books were published in China on the same day, attracting lots of science fiction lovers who stood in long queues to purchase them. "After Liu's winning the Hugo Award last year, Chinese science fiction has received increased attention from international science fiction circles. Also, it has a close relationship with China's rise and economic performance in particular," said Yao Haijun, deputy editor-in-chief of Science Fiction World, a renowned magazine in China. "We have already built a bridge between China and the rest of the world by inviting professionals to translate the literature. In addition, foreign readers are curious about Chinese-style fiction and are interested in finding clues to China's future from these kinds of books," Yao added. "Compared with other literature, science fiction is a genre best able to transcend cultural boundaries, as what it depicts is a universal crisis facing the entire human race. Therefore, Chinese science fiction may be a key to help foreign people know about China," Liu suggested. Since the release of the English version of The Three-Body Problem in November two years ago, a total of 1.6 million copies have been sold globally. Besides, many influential news media including the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal have recommended and spoken highly of the series. "I am fond of Liu's books and he is amazing. Attractive story plots, unique narrative methods and wonderful writing style... I am curious to find out about his views on global warming, non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and political systems in the next four hundred years," said foreign reader Hanson Steven about Liu's books. "I am proud that more Chinese books, and science books in particular, have entered the world stage. By reading Chinese-style science fiction, foreign people just have to be amazed by our imagination," Weibo user Lansehudie said. The Three-Body Problem was adapted into a stage play this year. [Photo/Weibo] Does it seem that Chinese science fiction has taken the world by storm? Not really. In the world of science fiction, the West still dominates. And our domestic science fiction commercial chains have a long way to go before resting on their laurels. Just take science fiction movies as an example. No landmark film has been made in the field so far. Compared with influential western counterparts such as The Martian, Inception and Star Trek, Chinese science fiction movies are still in the initial stage. According to an insider, more than 80 related movies have been registered this year at the State Administration of Radio Film and Television, the country's top film media office, representing a sharp contrast to no registrations last year. "To take advantage of the science fiction movie craze, the Chinese science fiction film industry should move forward in a professional, commercialized and localized manner. China enjoys a splendid and profound civilization with rich materials that can be tapped into. How to turn localization into globalization is a challenge we need to meet," movie critic Zhang Xiaobei suggested. "Different from comedies, an integrated part of the Chinese movie market, science fiction films represent a niche market in China in dire need of care and support. Generally speaking, a science fiction film reflects multi-level relationships including man-to-man, man-to-alien, man-to-nature and nature-to-alien, which may not appeal to the majority of audiences. Therefore, a complete science fiction film mechanism should be set up as soon as possible," said fellow movie critic Yan Peng. Related Female sci-fi writer wins Hugo accolade Chinese female writer nominated for Hugo Award for Best Novel We fully expect Tony will strengthen our sales management team as we grow and look for new opportunities. Lazydays, The RV Authority and worlds largest RV dealership, is pleased to announce that Tony Bruce has joined its expanding Sales Management team, working alongside eight other managers to lead the 100+ person sales team at the Tampa dealership. Prior to joining Lazydays, Bruce built a very successful career at La Mesa RV, holding positions of Sales Consultant, Sales Manager, and most recently General Sales Manager. Tony joins Lazydays with a very successful track record in the RV industry, said Ron Fleming, Lazydays Vice President and General Manager. We fully expect Tony will strengthen our sales management team as we grow and look for new opportunities. Bruce comes to Lazydays as the company experiences broad sales growth as a result of recent RV dealership acquisitions; the addition of new product segments to include Featherlite, the leader in towable trailers for both the auto and equestrian markets; and several partnerships to host RV tailgating lots with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos and University of Florida Gators. Joining Lazydays is a wonderful opportunity, Bruce said. No one in the RV industry can offer what Lazydays can, and I look forward to working with the team and welcoming customers into this one-of-a-kind facility. About Lazydays Lazydays, founded in 1976, is the worlds largest RV dealership. Based on 126 acres outside Tampa, FL since 1996, Lazydays also has dealerships located in Tucson, AZ as well as three dealerships located in Loveland, Aurora and Longmont, CO. Lazydays has the largest selection of RV brands in the nation featuring more than 2,500 new and pre-owned RVs, over 300 service bays and two on-site campgrounds with over 700 RV campsites. Lazydays RV Accessories & More offers more than 40,000 accessories online for your shopping convenience. Shop us online or visit one of our store locations in Florida, Arizona and Colorado. Lazydays has built its reputation on providing an outstanding customer experience with exceptional service and product expertise, and as a place to rest and recharge with other RVers. More than half a million RVers visit Lazydays every year, making it their home away from home. Lazydays has been recognized as a Top 50 RV Dealer by RV Business and as one of Tampa Bays Top Work Places. The Lazydays Employee Foundation, supported by payroll contributions from more than 65% of Lazydays employees, has contributed more than $1.5 million dollars to make many historic changes for at-risk children in the Tampa Bay and Tucson communities. For most people, Lazydays isn't just the beginning of their journey; it's very much a part of their ride. To learn more, visit http://www.lazydays.com. ### We have always worked hard to provide our clients with the highest quality IT support so that they can optimize their operations and achieve success. Stratosphere Networks has been named to the CIOReview list of 20 Most Promising IT Services Companies 2016. A panel of CEOs, CIOs, IT VPs and analysts (including members of the CIOReview editorial board) identified Stratosphere as one of the countrys best providers of technology solutions related to IT services. Were thrilled that CIOReview has recognized us as one of the top IT solution providers in the nation, said Steve Melchiorre, CEO of Stratosphere Networks. We have always worked hard to provide our clients with the highest quality IT support so that they can optimize their operations and achieve success. The list aims to help CIOs tackle a rapidly evolving IT landscape by highlighting vendors and consultants that can help businesses stay competitive, in addition to becoming more flexible and efficient. We are proud to announce Stratosphere Networks as one among the 20 Most Promising IT Services Companies 2016, said Jeevan George, managing editor of CIOReview. Stratosphere Networks provides flexible, customized solutions and service offerings that meet organizations unique business needs and allow them to remain competitive and profitable. Stratosphere Networks helps organizations by providing reliable IT services that are essential for business. Its team of certified experts provides high-quality Chicago IT support as well as services for businesses across the nation. The companys fully staffed Network Operations Center provides full maintenance services and support, including desktop support, business continuity, disaster recovery, remote and on-site support, proactive network monitoring and ongoing maintenance services. About Stratosphere Networks Stratosphere Networks is a multifaceted IT managed service provider focused on delivering comprehensive technology services and solutions to meet and exceed the always-changing, diverse business needs for all industries. This company is led by team of experts who work with leading clients to develop a cohesive technology support plan specifically designed for the business. For more info, visit http://www.stratospherenetworks.com/ About CIOReview Published from Fremont, California, CIOReview is a print magazine that explores and understands the plethora of ways adopted by firms to execute the smooth functioning of their businesses. A distinguished panel comprising of CEOs, CIOs, IT VPs including CIOReview editorial board finalized the 20 Most Promising IT Services Companies 2016 in the U.S. and shortlisted the best vendors and consultants. For more info: http://www.cioreview.com/ The fourth annual UNCF Mayors Luncheon will be held at 11:30 a.m., Friday, August 26, at the Sinclair Community Colleges Charity Early Auditorium. The event brings together more than 200 of Ohios business, civic and education leaders who support UNCFs efforts in providing quality education for minority students. Dr. Herman J. Felton, Jr., the newly appointed president of Wilberforce University, will provide opening remarks. The Honorable Nan Whaley, Daytons mayor, will deliver the keynote address. Access to education is essential to the success of the Dayton community, Whaley said. By breaking down the barriers in our community and providing support through organizations like UNCF, our citizens will have the opportunity to thrive. Events such as the Mayors Luncheon are vitally important in providing the necessary resources for Ohio students to get to and through college. Last years luncheon raised more than $20,000 in support of these efforts. UNCF is determine to create a college-ready culture for the next generation of leaders, said Natalie Coles, UNCF area development director. As a community, it is imperative to unite in the development of our young peoplesecuring better futures for us all. Sponsors of the luncheon are the CareSource Foundation and Honda of America Manufacturing. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit UNCF.org or call 614.221.5309. 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. Downtown Bethesda is the perfect place for us to launch the next era of RainKing. RainKing Software, Inc., a leader in IT sales intelligence, is moving from its current headquarters on Rockledge Drive to a new, larger space at 7700 Old Georgetown Road. As part of the relocation and expansion, RainKing plans to add more than 60 new sales, research and client success positions as it continues to successfully grow its presence within the sales intelligence solutions market. We are excited at the prospect of continuing the growth and success of RainKing in new space in Downtown Bethesda, said CEO John Stanfill. Downtown Bethesda is the perfect place for us to launch the next era of RainKing. The vibrant urban setting, with direct access to the Metro and hundreds of eateries, will help us to attract and retain the best sales professionals and employee base in the Washington, DC, metro area." RainKing delivers IT sales intelligence on nearly 1 million technology decision makers and over 50,000 companies globally. The Company received a large private equity investment last year from Spectrum Equity, which has enabled RainKing to aggressively expand its sales, research and engineering infrastructure to further strengthen its competitive advantage. To assist with the expansion, the Maryland Department of Commerce has approved a $200,000 conditional loan through the Maryland Economic Development Assistance Authority and Fund (MEDAAF). The Company is also eligible for a number of state and local tax credits. Additionally, Montgomery County has approved a $100,000 grant convertible to a loan from the countys Economic Development Fund. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ ABOUT RAINKING Founded in 2007, RainKing delivers IT sales intelligence on nearly 1 million technology decision makers and over 50,000 companies, globally. RainKing's customizable platform enables customers to quickly identify and rank likely buyers and ensures they are targeting the most relevant decision makers at every company. Additionally, RainKing's researchers employ a multi-faceted approach to surface actionable IT investment signals, including timely insight on a company's technology-related pain points, spending initiatives, and contract opportunities, for thousands of companies each day. By delivering quality sales intelligence and best-in-class service, RainKing empowers sales and marketing teams to be more targeted, productive, and successful. RainKing's solution is offered through a SaaS based application that integrates seamlessly with leading CRM and marketing automation platforms. For more information, visit http://www.rainkingonline.com. BrightWave Infographic: Millennials + Email, By the Numbers BrightWave released findings today based on extensive original research about Millennials and email, helping marketers make sense of a huge, important demographic, as well as providing actionable insights for creating engaging email campaigns that speak to the generation. The white paper, titled Millennials + Email: How to Engage Email Natives, found that Millennials prefer that brands they like communicate with them via email, point blank. The paper outlines why this isand gives clear direction in terms of program cadence, frequency, creative and testing for those looking to active a huge part of their list. A few notable findings: They prefer email over other channels: Email was the preferred method of contact with brands millennials do business with or like, beating out social media, SMS, phone calls and more. Millennials dont want to share emails: Only 8.7% say theyll share engaging content. Youre emailing them too much: 47.1% say they unsubscribe because they receive emails too often It is available for download here: http://www.brightwave.com/resource/millennials-email-engage-email-natives/ The survey of more than 1,500 people between the ages of 18 to 34, also found that Millennials expect great, personalized contentand that they expect it to look great on every screen. Five actionable takeaways help marketers make sense of the wealth of data uncovered in the research. Its validation to see that some of our feeling and assumptions about what works with Millennials were proven correct, said Laura Sullivan, Creative Director at BrightWave and author of the white paper. Its also nice to see some surprises in the research that make us turn traditional wisdom on its head. An infographic, also released today, provides a quick snapshot of the findings and teases the more detailed insights in the white paper. Get a closer look at the infographic here: http://www.brightwave.com/millennials-email-infographic/ BrightWave is partnering with some top minds in the email world, including John Thies from Email on Acid, Jordan Cohen from Fluent and Kaila Garrison of Oracle, to host a webinar on October 26. The talk will be a chance to test the findings against others research in the field and have a larger discussion about Millennials and email. Sign up for the webinar here: http://www.brightwave.com/mwebinar About the research The research, which had statistically significant results, polled over 1,500 people between the ages of 18 and 34, with the results weighted by gender and region. About BrightWave BrightWave is North Americas leading email marketing agency. The award-winning firm specializes in elevating email marketing and eCRM programs that drive revenue, cut costs and build relationships. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, BrightWave works with a blue chip client roster, including Aflac, Chick-fil-A, Equifax, MattressFirm, Mizuno and Phillips 66. For more information, please visit http://www.BrightWave.com. The Cassina Group We attribute much of our success to our outstanding team of REALTORS. They are passionate about a great real estate event and among the most professional and committed in their field. When Jimmy Dye and Robertson Allen started The Cassina Group in 2006, they could only dream that it would grow into the company it has become today. We knew we wanted to create a real estate company that was different than any other firm in Charleston, said Jimmy Dye, company co-owner and broker-in-charge. By balancing traditional real estate models with unique marketing and emerging technology, we have created an innovation-drive company that continues to grow and evolve with the changing market. The vision behind the company remains, with an established reputation for delivering stronger results through leading-edge technology and building lasting relationships. Since its founding in 2006, the firm has become a leader in the Charleston real estate market with two offices in downtown Charleston and one in Mount Pleasant. By recruiting and retaining top talent, The Cassina Group has built a company of dedicated, full-time agents who are highly educated and knowledgeable about the real estate market. We attribute much of our success to our outstanding team of REALTORS, said Owen Tyler, Managing Broker of The Cassina Group. They are passionate about a great real estate event and among the most professional and committed in their field. As evidence of their success, The Cassina Group has been named to Inc. 5000s list of fastest growing privately held companies in the United States. It is the companys third consecutive year on the list, and they hold the distinct honor of being the only real estate firm in Charleston to receive this years award. We are thrilled and humbled by our inclusion on this prestigious list, said Robertson Allen, company co-founder and broker-in-charge. We are fortunate to live and work in a city as great as Charleston; and we are so thankful to have worked with such wonderful clients over the past ten years who have helped us grow into the company we are today. For more information on The Cassina Group, please visit their website at http://www.TheCassinaGroup.com. We know some teachers may be afraid to discuss this election in their classroom because it is so controversial, but its important for students to participate in the democratic process. Today, the Newseum launched Election 2016: Stumped!? a free online resource for teachers and students that puts the 2016 election in context and offers tools to demystify election procedures, decode campaign messages and make their voices heard. The new educational resource is available on NewseumED, a website that provides learners of all ages free access to curated, standards-aligned content from the Newseums vast collection of more than 35,000 newspapers and magazines, 20,000 artifacts and 40,000 photographs. Election 2016: Stumped!? is made possible with generous support by the American Association of University Women. AAUW could not be more proud of our connection with the Newseum, NewseumED, and the resources gathered for the Election 2016: Stumped!? project, says Cordy Galligan, AAUWs vice president of marketing and communications. Along with the womens history teaching module Women, Their Rights and Nothing Less, these powerful collections show the importance of exercising our First Amendment rights and raising our voices. We encourage educators everywhere to utilize these fun and free resources to bring history to life in the classroom and demystify the electoral process. In the midst of a 2016 election cycle that has confounded everyone from pre-voters to political pundits teachers and students have faced a dearth of resources for tackling the subject in and out of the classroom. Election 2016: Stumped!? addresses this need by providing a clear yet sophisticated pathway for users to identify causes of confusion in the 2016 election, discuss the big, prickly issues and get involved. The multimedia collection of primary sources uses an engaging case-study approach that puts stumped election issues in historical context. The case studies tackle the entire election cycle, from the early days of the race to the frenzy of the final weeks. The result: Students can critically examine pressing civic questions such as, how democratic is the primary process? Has social media changed presidential campaigns for better or worse? When is bias in election coverage a problem? We know some teachers may be afraid to discuss this election in their classroom because it is so controversial, but its important for students to participate in the democratic process, says Barbara McCormack, the Newseums vice president of education. Our nonpartisan resource will give them a safe launching pad to have informed discussion and debate. Each case studys accompanying lesson plans provide tools for organizing evidence and structuring classroom debate around election mechanics, the candidates messages and the varying forms of public participation in the digital age. NewseumED was launched in October 2015 with two EDCollections: Making a Change and Women, Their Rights and Nothing Less, which explore how civil rights advocates and suffragists used the powers guaranteed by the First Amendment to make their voices heard and enact change. In March 2016, NewseumED introduced Freedom in the Balance, which uses the events of Sept. 11, 2001 to examine the fragile balance between preserving the five freedoms of the First Amendment and maintaining public safety. NewseumED includes more than 1,000 historic documents and 170 lesson plans that are easily searchable by type, topic and time period. The educational content is framed by the freedoms and ideals protected by the First Amendment, which acts as a springboard to explore more about the opportunities and challenges of our democracy. Full access to the site requires free, secure registration, but a unique share function allows teachers to offer their students a custom URL that provides access to the sites content without a login. The Newseum will host its seventh annual Fall Teacher Open House on Oct.1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., which will highlight its free resources for educators through classes, tours and workshops. Admission is free. Educators and tour operators who register in advance will be entered into a drawing for a $250 certificate to The Source, Wolfgang Pucks famous restaurant adjacent to the Newseum. Since the Newseum opened in 2008, more than 4.7 million students have taken advantage of the museums online resources and free classes related to media literacy, history, civics and the First Amendment. About the Newseum The Newseum is dedicated to free expression and the five freedoms of the First Amendment: religion, speech, press, assembly and petition. Headquartered on historic Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., the Newseums compelling, dynamic and engaging exhibits, programs and education initiatives help ensure that these fundamental freedoms remain strong and protected both today and for future generations. The Newseum Institute promotes the study, exploration and education of the challenges confronting freedom through its First Amendment Center and the Religious Freedom Center. The Newseum is a 501(c)(3) public charity funded by generous individuals, corporations and foundations, including the Freedom Forum. For more information, visit newseum.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. When you give talented people meaningful work and creative freedom in a supportive environment, great things can happen, Ross Toohey, CEO, 2e Creative. 2e Creative a full-service creative agency focused on healthcare, science, and technology is a finalist for the 2016 Medical Marketing & Media (MM&M) Awards, which recognize excellence in the healthcare marketing industry. 2e Creative is nominated for three major awards including MM&Ms Small Healthcare Agency of the Year award, which the firm won in 2015. MM&M is a leading monthly business publication that has been serving healthcare marketers since 1966. Its a tremendous honor to be recognized by MM&M for our work, said Ross Toohey, CEO, 2e Creative. Every day we strive to provide our clients with the kind of creative thinking, counsel and content necessary to make their campaigns stand out and resonate in a crowded marketplace. Im proud to work alongside an inspiring group of creative problem solvers and storytellers. In addition to the Agency of the Year award nomination, MM&M also nominated 2e Creative for Best Branded Website for Healthcare Professionals (Pacific Biosciences website) and for Best Disease Education Campaign (Alcon and Muck Magazine). In July, MM&M named 2e Creative one of the Top 100 Agencies of 2016. During the past three years, 2e Creative has grown revenue by 58 percent and expanded its staff from 19 to 55 people, with 12 positons currently open. Toohey attributes the agencys rapid growth and recognition to 2e Creatives culture and its business approach, which combines passion and agility to meet the modern needs and preferences of clients. We only do work we are truly passionate about, work that makes a positive impact on peoples lives, said Toohey. When you give talented people meaningful work and creative freedom in a supportive environment, great things can happen. Entries for the 2016 MM&M Awards will be reviewed by a panel more than 100 judges comprising healthcare marketers and leaders from the agency, client, publishing and service sectors. For more information about the 2016 MM&M Awards and a listing of this years finalists, visit http://www.mmm-online.com/awards/. About 2e Creative 2e Creative, Inc., is a full-service brand communications agency with a mission to drive change for brands that shape the world. Founded in 1999 and based in St. Louis, Missouri, the agencys expertise spans the worlds of healthcare, medical tech, emerging/advanced technologies, life science, and beyond. With a list of innovative, thought-leading clients from across the globe including Alcon, Siemens, Abbott, and more 2e Creative is uniquely wired to help brands engage and activate audiences. Agency core competencies include branding, marketing strategy, communications and analytics, digital strategy and development, advertising and promotion, HCP engagement and patient activation. 2e Creative was named 2015 Small Healthcare Agency of the Year by Medical Marketing & Media (MM&M), and was recognized as the 2014 Healthcare Impact Agency of the Year by Advertising Age and Modern Healthcare. For more information, visit http://www.2eCreative.com. Godwin Bowman & Martinez Chairman and CEO, Donald E. Godwin, has been honored for a sixth consecutive year in recognition of his commercial litigation practice. Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), Mr. Godwin continues a storied legal career, which has included such notable accomplishments as the successful defense of Halliburton in the nation's largest environmental lawsuit the civil litigation stemming from the BP Macondo Well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico(MDL - 2179, United States District Court Eastern District Court of Louisiana) . Beyond Best Lawyers honors, he has earned recognition among the Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America, in Chambers USA, the American City Business Journals Whos Who in Energy listing, Texas Lawbook's 50 Lions of the Texas Bar, D Magazine's Best Lawyers in Dallas and has been recognized multiple times by Thomson Reuters among the Top 100 Super Lawyers in Texas. Earning selection for a fifth year is George R. Carlton Jr., a founding member of the Firm, and Chair of the Godwin Bowman & Martinez Mass Tort Litigation Practice Group. The Dallas shareholder was selected based on his product liability litigation defense work. Dallas shareholder Carolyn R. Raines earned Best Lawyers recognition for a fourth time based on her commercial litigation work, and has also been recognized on the list of Texas Super Lawyers. Godwin Bowman & Martinez President, R. Alan York, recognized for the third time for his work in Appellate Law, is Board Certified in Appellate practice. Mr. York has been chosen to the list of Texas Super Lawyers since its inception in 2003, recognized multiple times among the Top 100 Super Lawyers in Houston, and has been an integral part of the Houston contingent of the firm's Halliburton team in the BP Macondo well (Deepwater Horizon) (MDL - 2179, United States District Court Eastern District Court of Louisiana) matter. Regarded by many as the definitive guide to legal excellence, Best Lawyers is based on an in-depth peer-review process in which the leading attorneys from across the country provide professional feedback on other lawyers in their respective practice areas. Godwin Bowman & Martinez PC is a trial and appellate law firm with offices in Dallas and Houston, Texas. The firm focuses on a wide array of legal matters including commercial litigation, appellate law, employment law, energy, zoning and condemnation, accountants and lawyers professional liability defense, family law, bankruptcy, trust and estate litigation and more. The firm's attorneys represent Fortune 500 companies, middle-market leaders and individuals in some of the nation's most public and high-stakes trials, and have done so for more than 35 years. To learn more about Godwin Bowman & Martinez, visit http://www.godwinlaw.com. For more information, please contact Ed Sothcott at 214-939-8626 or ESothcott(at)GodwinLaw(dot)com The Guess Corporation We are excited to share this design for our gas and convenience store plan and look forward to delivering an upscale experience to customers The Guess Corporation is pleased to release the rendering for its planned gas and convenience stores. The design is representative of the gas and convenience stores that the company's petroleum will build across the United States through new construction and acquisitions. Existing stores that are acquired will be renovated according to the new design. Scott+Cormia is overseeing the architecture and design for the gas and convenience stores being acquired and built. The Guess Corporation plans to build a portfolio of 1,000 units within the next year through its petroleum unit, Guess Petroleum, Ltd., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the company. The units will operate under the brand, GP Express. GP Express will be an upscale chain of gas and convenience stores with scent technologies that eliminate the odor of gas inside the store and provide the customer with a better shopping experience inside the store with fresh goods and premium quality merchandise. The design provided is innovative and incorporates open spaces with floor to ceiling windows that allow for natural light exposure. The exterior of the stores will feature enhanced outdoor lighting and well-situated advanced gas pumps. "We are excited to share this design for our gas and convenience store plan and look forward to delivering an upscale experience to customers," stated Cutie Shrestha, Corporate Vice-President and Managing Engineer for The Guess Corporation. The Guess Corporation's petroleum unit is considering many acquisition opportunities along with sites for new stores throughout various parts of the U.S. About The Guess Corporation The Guess Corporation is a conglomerate based in Durham, North Carolina which began as a trader of diamonds and expanded into over 20 business areas since 2012. The company's projected revenue for 2016 is $250 Million and its asset base currently exceeds $100 Million. About Scott+Cormia Scott+Cormia is an Orlando, Florida based architecture and interior design firm that was founded by Ray Scott and Matt Cormia. The firm has an extensive design portfolio and has handled domestic and international projects for its clients. As a full-service firm, Scott Cormia provides complete project management including initial site planning and overseeing construction. Primary school Chinese textbooks get fresh new illustrations From:chinadaily.com.cn | 2016-08-24 16:11 Illustration for Ode to Goose by Huang Guoxiang. [Photo/66wz.com] Primary school students in China will start using new editions of their textbooks this coming September, with new illustrations that will help them understand classic Chinese poems. To accompany the 110 classic poems included in 12 volumes of Chinese for primary school students from Grade One to Six, one hundred illustrations were painted by artist Huang Guoxiang of Wenzhou, Zhejiang province. "Illustrations coupled with ancient poems used to be painted using fountain pens, which differs somewhat from the artistic conceptions that Chinese poems aim to express. I think traditional ink painting suits Chinese poems more," said Huang during an interview with thepaper.cn. The old version of Chinese has been in use for more than a decade. "Our aesthetic tastes, in adults and children alike, have changed somewhat. The illustrations in textbooks should keep up with that," said Huang. The 2016 edition of Chinese, published by People's Education Press, has already been approved by China's Ministry of Education. Volume one for first-graders has already been published, and the textbooks for other grades will gradually be replaced starting next semester. "An editor from People's Education Press called me last September and asked whether I was interested in painting illustrations for the new edition of Chinese. My task was to create illustrations for three poems: Ode to Goose, Min Nong and Spring Dawn, and I spent two weeks working on them. After about 20 days, the publisher called me again and asked me to illustrate for all 12 volumes of Chinese from Grade One to Six," Huang said. Huang said he referred to the Chinese textbooks his son used previously before working on a new painting. "The strokes made by fountain pens tend to be harsher. The flow of the ink in ink painting expresses the mood of the poem better," he said. But he did not just create any ink paintings; Huang tailored his style of painting for his target readers. Primary school students may not necessarily be attracted to traditional Chinese ink painting, as the strokes tend to be thick and the colors dark. So he fused ink painting with watercolor to make the pictures visually appealing to the young readers while fully expressing the essence of classic poems. For instance, for the poem Ode to Goose, a work that's widely known in China, Huang focused on expressing the gestures of the goose clearly to readers. The goose on shore should raise its neck high as if singing to the sky, and the white feathers of the goose in the water should float gracefully while its feet pedal in the green waters, which are all expressed in the poem. "It's not that difficult to illustrate a single poem. The hard part is, sometimes there are three poems on one page and the contents of these poems may vary greatly, so it was challenging for me to express the moods of all of them with one illustration. Sometimes I had to think with a bigger picture and create something that fits it all," added Huang. Huang and the editors exchanged the most views on the style of clothing for the people in the illustrations and whether they fit the era in which the poem was created. "They didn't say anything about the style of my paintings," Huang added. Related: Witness to history Cofco shows children the secrets of farming A page of Chinese. [Photo/66wz.com] Illustration for Jiang Nan by Huang Guoxiang. [Photo/66wz.com] Best in Biz Awards 2016 International Best in Biz Awards, the only independent business awards program judged by members of the press and industry analysts, today announced the winners in its fourth annual International competition. More than 270 public and private companies hailing from all sectors of the global economy and more than 30 countries competed in this years International program. Gold and multiple award winners in Best in Biz Awards 2016 International include: Actiontec, AdTheorent, Azeus Systems, BDNA, Best Version Media, CallidusCloud, Citrix, ClearSlide, Clover, Creative Lodging Solutions, DHL Express (Germany and Vietnam), Earth Friendly Products, ekin Technology (Turkey), Fleetmatics, Fluent Home (Canada), Glassbeam, gyro, Hormel Foods, Information Builders, Isagenix, iXsystems, Kiosked (Finland), Lifesize, Mark One, Motorclean (UK), Newsweek Europe, O.C. Tanner, OptumRx, Pushpay (New Zealand), RES Software, Sino Jet Management (Hong Kong), TaskUs, Tidy Books, Untangle, USANA, Vonage and WP Engine. For a full list of gold, silver and bronze award winners in Best in Biz Awards 2016 International, visit: http://intl.bestinbizawards.com/intl-2016-winners. This year, for the first time, the International program is recognizing the Top 5 Most Awarded companies participating in this years competition using a weighted-medal point system. Companies received 3 points for each gold win, 2 points for each silver, and 1 point for each bronze award. This year, the top spot was taken by CallidusCloud, having been recognized for honors in 11 categories (18 points). Actiontec was the second most awarded winner, with 5 awards (10 points). Tied for the third spot were two companies: Creative Lodging Solutions and Pushpay (New Zealand) (each with 8 points) and in fifth position was BDNA (7 points). For more information on the 5 Most Awarded companies, see: http://intl.bestinbizawards.com/intl-2016-winners-5-most-awarded/. Members of the judging panel were once again effusive in their praise of the quality of the award entrants in this years program: Judging Best in Biz Awards is an incredible experience, year after year, said Sharon Bennett of Bennett Business Connections and Small Business IT (Canada), returning to judge her fourth Best in Biz Awards competition. The process of assigning a Gold, Silver, and Bronze was very difficult. Its amazing to see how technology is enabling companies to innovate and push the boundaries. I can not wait to see next years entries. It was both an honor and a challenge to judge the Best New Version category, with a diverse range of products all demonstrating innovative development over the last year, said Cat Ellis, managing editor at PC Format, judging her fifth Best in Biz Awards competition. Many of the entries were connected by a theme of empowerment using new technology to remove barriers between managers and data, customers and salespeople. These new versions have the potential to improve the experience of businesses worldwide by giving non-technical people a toolkit that enables them to make better decisions and connect with consumers. Just as prior years, novel companies keep insisting on solving problems we did not even consider had a better solution than classic ones, said Jaime Rodriguez-Guerra, Computer Hoy, judging his third Best in Biz Awards International competition. We need to stop relying on the comfortable thats the way it is and insist on the disruptive way of thinking these bright minds present. We face problems every day and we can act to solve them efficiently. The participants in the Most Innovative Company of the Year category prove it year after year. Judging for the Executive of the Year category is quite different from evaluating a companys overall performance, as you need to carefully consider personal intangibles such as leadership and vision, said Jon Arnold, principal analyst with J Arnold & Associates, returning to judge his fourth Best in Biz Awards program. Another challenge is that the candidates came from a wide variety of industries, with each executive facing a distinct set of competitive factors. All of these executives have been successful with their companies, but by evaluating how well their leadership translated into business-level results, I was able to rank order their standing for this category. As a third time judge, I can honestly say that the quality and diversity of the participating companies continues to surprise me, said Didi Cardoso, editor in chief at Gamers Intuition. While choosing a winner is always a pleasant but never easy task, it all comes down to evaluating functionality and originality. Im looking forward to returning and seeing what innovative products and services will stand out next year. Winners in the 4th annual program were determined based on scoring from an international panel of judges from top-tier news, business, finance, and technology publications and media outlets from 15 countries and all continents. This years judging panel included writers and contributors to such publications as ARD (Germany), Australian (Australia), Bennett Business Connections (Canada), Computer Hoy (Spain), CTV (Canada), Gamers Intuition (United States), HT Mobile (Israel), IAA Magazine (United Arab Emirates), InBusiness (Cyprus and Greece), Irish Independent (Ireland), J Arnold & Associates (Canada), Khaleej Times (United Arab Emirates), PC Format (United Kingdom), PC Pro (United Kingdom), Radio Ngati Porou (New Zealand), Ventures Africa and Enterprise54.com (Nigeria), Vyapar (India) and Wirausaha & Keuangan (Indonesia). Best in Biz Awards is now accepting entries in its 6th annual North American program, open to any company from any industry based in or operating in North America, in more than 60 company, department or team, executive, product, and PR and media categories. The late entry deadline is September 16, 2016. About Best in Biz Awards Since 2011, Best in Biz Awards, LLC has been recognizing companies for their business success as judged by renowned members of the press and industry analysts. Best in Biz Awards honors are currently conferred in two separate programs: North America and International, and in more than 60 categories, including company, team, executive, product, and PR and media. Entries in the 6th annual Best in Biz Awards are currently being accepted from all companies based or operating in North America until the final deadline on September 16, 2016. For more information, visit: http://www.bestinbizawards.com. On Thursday, August 25th, the Law Offices of Shrader and Associates will be taking a break from their asbestos injury cases to give back to the community. They'll be hosting Farm-to-Table Metro East, an event which is designed to raise money for the American Cancer Society. The event will be held at 7126 Goshen Road, Edwardsville, IL. VIP ticket holders will be treated to a special reception at 5 PM. The event itself begins at 6 PM. The event is currently sold out, but the event coordinators continue to sell wait list tickets. "Obviously, as mesothelioma attorneys we're very concerned by the cancer epidemic," says Justin Shrader, the managing partner. "We've gotten to know cancer patients from around the nation as we've fought for their rights. The American Cancer Society fights for these people just like we do. Thus, we're pleased to be the premium sponsors of this event." Local executive chefs will pull out all of the stops when it comes to exercising their culinary creativity, all in the name of delighting guests with the local, farm-fresh ingredients that will be used in every dish. Local distilleries, upscale vineyards and talented mixologists will provide the perfect spirits to complicate every taste sensation. To maximize the comfort of the guests the event dress code is listed as being "elegantly casual." The compliment of chefs includes Chef Adam Washburn of the 1818 Chophouse, Chef Kevin Willman of FarmHaus, Jenny Cleveland & Eric Heath of Let's Eat Cleveland-Heath, and Doc Richardson of Doc's Smokehouse. Desserts are provided by The Cup and Woodfire Pizza. Beverages will be provided by Old Bakery Beer, Excel Brewing Company, Recess Brewery, Peel Brewery, Hidden Lake Winery, Grafton Winery, Mastermind Vodka, and Stumpy's Spirits. Auction items include a weekend getaway to Houston, TX, a backyard makeover, a tour of Washington, DC, a personal meal prepared in home for 8 people by Chef Adam Washburn, a Colorado vacation and a Mexico vacation. The silent auction will include even more items; smaller items such as party starter kits and pilates lessons. "There will be something for everyone. It's just going to be a really fun, really amazing event," Shrader says. All proceeds will go to finding a cure for cancer. For more information about the event, visit http://www.acsfarmtotable.com. ABOUT SHRADER & ASSOCIATES Shrader & Associates, LLP is a national law firm specializing in asbestos, benzene, vinyl chloride, medical device, concussion and mesothelioma personal injury cases. To better serve its clients, the firm has offices in Texas and Illinois. Each client is given a free legal evaluation of their case and is paired with the attorney that's best suited to their circumstances. Contact: Shrader & Associates, L.L.P. 22 A Ginger Creek Parkway Glen Carbon, IL 62034 (618) 659-0001 http://www.shraderlaw.com/ CSR-174 Drilling Rig Our focus in this is to get these folks back in their home... there are so many residents in Rowlett still displaced Doing its part to help the area community, Fortress Foundation Systems of Rockwall, in conjunction with TMG Manufacturing of Tampa, Florida and 2000 Industries of Carrollton, today announced it would be donating $15,000 in services to the Wright family of Rowlett. Work is scheduled to begin on Thursday, August 25th. The repairs will utilize the new CSR174 cutting edge drilling machine built by TMG Manufacturing. This incredible drill rig is designed to achieve maximum torque and depth for helical pier applications. The rig is unique in that it is extremely efficient and utilizes a proprietary 4 speed gearbox that allows for accurate control of both speed and torque, said Cathy Hood, Texas Area Rep for TMG Manufacturing. 2000 Industries is the first rig dealer of TMG materials and rigs in the DFW Metroplex. The Wright family was one of hundreds of Rowlett Residents that lost their homes to the deadly Tornado on December 26th 2015. Remarkably many homes remain in disrepair in the damage area and some families have run out of options. The pain of tornado damage is enough, but many homeowners in the area have to deal with the additional struggle of insurance issues and bad contractors. Cathy Hood had seen enough. Our focus in this is to get these folks back in their home... there are so many residents in Rowlett still displaced, said Hood. We have been blessed enough over the last few years that it's only right that we pass those blessings along. 'Paying it forward' sounds so cliche but to hoard what we have been given isn't what we are about. Our motto at Fortress is 'honesty, integrity, affordability' even if that affordability means helping someone out who is down on their luck. With work scheduled to begin on Thursday August 25th, Fortress Foundation Systems and their local partner 2000 Industries are eager to begin and use this one of a kind machinery to get the ball rolling. We can't have a homeowner rebuilding on a slab we suspect is unstable. We wouldn't want our family living that way, nor would we want that for someone living right here in our own community, said Hood. This particular area of Rowlett has some of the most expansive clays in the Dallas Fort Worth area. Methods of stabilization should be closely scrutinized by geotechnical and/or structural engineers with experience in similar cases. For more information regarding Fortress Foundation Systems, please visit http://fortressfoundationsystems.com/ About Fortress Foundation Systems Fortress Foundation Systems is based in Rockwall Texas. From the initial consultation to the completion of the job, the owner is hands on. They pride themselves on outstanding customer service, quality control, and above all, communication. Customers are never treated as numbers. The owners background includes sinkhole repair as well as varied types of foundation remediation. Taking a professional approach with customers is the top priority. Notably, FFS has nearly impeccable ratings across review sites. For more information regarding Fortress Foundation Systems, please visit http://fortressfoundationsystems.com/ About the TMG Manufacturing CSR174 Rig TMG manufactures the first ever purpose-built combination SPT, CPT and Wireline Rotary Core Test Drill Rig. Having the versatility to auger drill, rotary/mud drill, wireline rotary core drill, SPT hammer test and full-function CPT test in ONE compact track mounted drill rig, is a first in the industry. Engineers can now invest in one machine to test soils using SPT or CPT and core sampling technologies. The cost savings is tremendous. About TMG Manufacturing Founded in 2003, TMG Manufacturing strives to be the supplier you can count on for quality geotechnical products, drill rigs, tooling and equipment. TMGs main facility is located in Tampa, Florida just north of Tampa International Airport and we are a nationwide service provider. Our 20,000 square foot facility is equipped and tailored to manufacture and fabricate a multitude of quality products specifically designed for the geotechnical industry, including compaction grouting drill rigs, SPT and CPT soil testing drill rigs, compaction grouting equipment and products, underpinning equipment and products, drill rods, drill casings, drill bits, augers, as well as tooling used in the installation process. TMG has been the leading fabricator and manufacturer of sinkhole remediation contractors in Florida for over a decade. Their unique approach to fabrication has resulted in ongoing relationships with the leading geotechnical and structural engineers charged with choosing the proper materials in situations that can actually endanger the safety of families. Get more information at http://tmgmfg.com About 2000 Industries 2000 Industries of Carrollton is the only authorized dealer of TMG, MFG Products. JD Grommesh, CEO at 2000 did not hesitate when approached with the opportunity to provide support for this project in conjunction with TMG and Fortress Foundation Systems, a longtime customer. 2000 Industries has been the go to source of the highest quality materials for foundation repair companies and their customers for 24 years. The union of TMG and 2000 is a melding of two highly respected companies in the field of foundation products and solutions. Get more information at http://www.2000industries.com/ ### All trademarks and product names are the property of their respective companies. ICX Media, Inc., a next generation multi-platform distribution and marketing intelligence engine for independent content creators, is expanding its operations into New York City, a critical market for creators, brands, agencies and media companies. Leading the new ICX Media office in NoMad is David (DJ) Johnson, Director of Business Development. DJ joins ICX Media from the London office of SpotX, a video inventory, monetization and management platform for premium publishers and broadcasters, where he spent five years in a similar business development role. This is the Age of the Creator and a good portion of that ecosystem, from media companies to brands, agencies and content creators are physically in NYC. As ICX Medias video technology platform will be at the center of powering that ecosystem, we needed to build a physical presence here, said Michael Avon, CEO and Co-Founder of ICX Media, Inc. We remain focused on execution. The ICX Media New York expansion marks another significant growth milestone for the company in 2016; we expect to expand to the West Coast this winter as well. In July, ICX Media opened its creator beta program and it also announced a new partnership with VUBIQUITY to offer independent content creators access to premium video distribution opportunities globally. In March, ICX Media announced that it secured initial seed financing of $2.5 million. About ICX Media, Inc. ICX Media is an entirely new kind of media company founded by a senior team of digital media veterans. The company offers a robust software and data platform that enables independent video content creators to find their audience and increase their ability to make money. The ICX Media platform allows content creators to produce, distribute and market their digital video content across web, mobile and connected TV channels and apps more efficiently. Visit http://www.icxmedia.com for more information, or follow us @icxmedia on Twitter. Effectively managing Outside Counsel Guidelines is vital to firms sustainable profitability. As both pricing and contractual arrangements become more complex and client-driven, increasingly sophisticated tools are required to meet these demands. Prosperoware, a leading enterprise software company delivering innovative technology transforming legal and professional services, today announces that company president, Keith Lipman, will co-present Effectively Managing Outside Counsel Guidelines with Eugenia Franzel, Senior Pricing & LPM Manager with Steptoe & Johnson, LLP as part of the peer-selected educational sessions at the 39th Annual ILTACON, held in National Harbor August 28th-September 1st. The session will be held Wednesday, August 31st at 3:30pm in Maryland D of the Gaylord National Resort. Law firms find themselves competing for and engaging new business in a buyers market. Legal departments leverage this not only through RFPs but through outside counsel guidelines, applying vendor management-like practices to the law firms they hire. Effective management of increasingly complex OCGs is vital to enduring client relationships and the firms profitability. Delivered along a spectrum of detailed stipulations, outside counsel guidelines now often extend well beyond downward pressure on costs to stipulating an array of multi-faceted preferences running the gamut from billing and invoicing, to staffing of matters, to IT requirements, travel and preferred third party service providers. Keith and Eugenia will explore industry best practices and available tools which assist firms to effectively manage OCGs and to engage, invoice and receive payment on these mattersand successfully avoid penalties or write-downs. Prosperoware Umbriathe core technology behind Prosperowares nomination for ILTA Innovative Solution Provider of the Year--unites law firm leadership and lawyers with their business development, pricing, finance, and human resources teams to improve discourse between firms and their legal department counterparts through a comprehensive understanding of the cost of delivery for services; effectively systematizing contractual arrangements such as OCGs to ensure delivery on terms and conditions, and providing ongoing monitoring of the financial health of matters to avoid pro forma surprise, write-offs and write-downs as a result. Keith Lipman comments, Effectively managing Outside Counsel Guidelines is vital to firms sustainable profitability. As both pricing and contractual arrangements become more complex and client-driven, increasingly sophisticated tools are required to meet these demands. I am pleased to be co-presenting with Eugenia and to engage this vital discussion for the ILTACON attendees. Prosperoware is exhibiting at ILTACON at booth #321. For more information, click here. About Prosperoware Prosperoware is an enterprise software company focused on law firms, corporate legal departments, and professional services firms. Our customers include half of the G20 and AmLaw 100 firms as well as large global corporations and Big Four accounting firms. Our innovative software transforms how professionals work and enables firms to deliver more value to clients while protecting profitability. We empower firms to reduce costs, improve profitability, and better compete by: Improving relationships with clients by delivering predictable fees and beneficial insight into work performed Empowering professionals to price and budget while leveraging modern profitability metrics Evolving to a need to know security model without impacting workflow Simplifying iManage administration and improving user adoption of electronic files Our teams work primarily from offices in London, Chicago, and Philadelphia. Our 270+ customers range in size from small firms with just a handful of users to those with more than 14,000. Prosperoware customers include: Akin Gump, Goodwin Procter, Baker Botts, Hill Dickinson, Berwin Leighton Paisner, DLA Piper, Duane Morris, Hughes Hubbard & Reed, Sheppard Mullin, Comcast, and NBCUniversal. Scytl Online Voting OEA 2016 Scytl consistently exceeded our expectations by providing us with the highest level of service throughout the online voting project. Patricia Mercado, Marketing Officer, OAS Staff Federal Credit Union As part of the Organization for American States Staff Federal Credit Unions (OAS FCU) mission to promote free and fair elections and operate with the best interest of their members, Scytl Online Voting was deployed to help increase member engagement in the Board of Directors and Credit Committee Elections held in April and May 2016. With over 5,000 members, 40% of which live outside of the United States, ensuring overseas participation in elections is of the utmost importance. With Scytl Online Voting all members, including members outside of the United States, can securely cast their vote on any mobile device with an internet connection. In addition to ensuring increased engagement with voters, OAS FCU is committed to providing the highest levels of voting security and privacy. As with most organizations, credit unions follow specific by-laws and rules that can affect how they manage elections. Adhering to the OAS FCUs unique election requirements, with Scytl Online Voting, the organization gained voter confidence with remote accessibility, enhanced security, and election results transparency. Scytls end-to-end security, authentication, digital certificates, advanced cryptographic protocols and best practices, ensure members with the integrity of election results. Credit unions operate in a democratic process where one member equals one vote. Security and transparency are especially important when voting for Board of Directors and Credit Committee Members of Credit Unions or any financial cooperative. Scytl Online Voting provides the highest level of cryptographic security protocols to ensure voter privacy and confidence. Scytl consistently exceeded our expectations by providing us with the highest level of service throughout the project. Our members clearly understood their roles throughout the election process and provided positive feedback about the Online Voting solution, concludes Patricia Mercado, Marketing Officer, OAS Staff Federal Credit Union. About OAS FCU OAS Staff Federal Credit Union, a non-profit, full-service financial cooperative, was organized and chartered in 1962 by several employees of the Organization of American States. OAS FCU currently serves the employees, family/household members and retirees of the Organization of American States (OAS). OAS also serve select employee groups at other organizations such as IICA (the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture), the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), the Pan-American Development Fund, the Development Getaway Foundation and the Inter-American Dialogue. The OAS FCU is a democratic financial cooperative that operates with the best interests of our members/owners and community in mind. Members/owners play an integral role in shaping the future direction of this progressive, dynamic and caring organization by participating in the Board of Directors and Credit Committee elections. About Scytl Scytl is the global leader in secure election management and electronic voting solutions. Specializing in election modernization technologies, Scytl offers the first end-to-end election management and voting platform, providing the highest security and transparency standards currently available. Scytl has capitalized on its more than 18 years of research to develop election-specific cryptographic security technology protected by more than 40 international patents and patent applications, positioning Scytl as the company with the largest patent portfolio of the industry. Scytls solutions have been successfully used in over 42 countries across the globe over the last 10 years, including Canada, the United States, France, Norway, Switzerland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the UAE, India, Iceland and Australia. Scytl is headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, with strategic offices in the United States, Canada, Brazil, Peru, and Greece, as well as field offices in the UK, Ukraine, Mexico, Malaysia, India, Bangladesh, and Australia. For more information, visit http://www.scytl.com. Media Contacts Leticia Barcia Vice President of Marketing, Scytl leticia.barcia(at)scytl(dot)com +34 93 423 0324 Pierre Mayo Marketing Manager, Scytl pierre.mayo(at)scytl(dot)com +1 813 865 7534 Scenes from the conference The conference provides invaluable networking and learning opportunities A highlight in the industrial refrigeration calendar, the Gustav Lorentzen conference - which runs until August 24 - kicked off last Sunday, bringing a whole host of experts and industry leaders. Star Refrigeration was there to provide insight and knowledge on the latest developments in low charge ammonia, CO2 refrigeration and air and water source heat pumps for district and industrial use. With a total of nine presentations and two technical tours to their state of the art CO2 and ammonia installations at two distribution centres in the area, Star Refrigeration is a major contributor to this years event. And it did not fail to inspire during the first two days as sessions became fully booked. Rob Lamb, Star Refrigeration Group Sales and Marketing Director, said, The conference provides invaluable networking and learning opportunities for all involved , and as such, is imperative for all industry stakeholders with an interest in natural refrigerants and in the role refrigeration will continue to play in achieving a more sustainable future. The event commenced with the SuperSmart Workshop once registration was completed and provided attendees with first-hand insight into the newly started, EU funded project. The scheme aims to remove non-technological barriers for the implementation of energy efficient and eco-friendly technologies in supermarkets, as well as create the starting point for an EU Ecolabel for supermarkets. In the evening, delegates took advantage of a networking and welcome session before being treated to a live concert performed by the Strathclyde University Chamber Choir. The musical programme included a range of songs in honour of Scottish poet Robert Burns, also known as Rabbie Burns, as the Chairman of the conference, Andy Pearson explained just before joining the choir to sing along. Day two started off with the presentation of student prizes, awarded to those who showed outstanding dedication. Alexander Von Bismarck of the Environmental Investigation Agency presented a keynote speech highlighting the current status of natural refrigerants use. He also noted that the framework for the phase down of high GWP HFCs is expected to be locked in in the Montreal Protocol in two months time. Looking at the industry to date as well as future challenges, Carole Bond of Carbon Data Resources then addressed delegates with the question What is the role of natural refrigerants in achieving the targets set out in COP21?. A wide variety of responses were shared amongst the audience, including energy efficiency linked to the use of natural refrigerants, improvement of installation standards and customer awareness, inclusion of CO2 related tax as a driver, more visible GWP figures, and considerations of total environmental effect of refrigerants -not just on global atmosphere but also the impact of synthetic refrigerants on water. The paper sessions were set to be all about learning, analysing and sharing ideas. Hosted by some of the most well-known experts in the sector, speakers discussed some of the refrigeration industrys hottest topics. A host of Stars very own specialists addressed delegates on a range of topics. The most popular presentations tackled issues on somehow controversial subjects. Bruce Smeaton, a consultant for Star Technical Solutions talked about What is the best natural refrigerant? And What is the best refrigeration system? Experts usually give quite vague answers when asked what is the best refrigerant and the best refrigeration system. I wanted to tabulate and quantify all the most relevant thermodynamic, economic, environmental and safety aspects into a structured approach that is easily digestible, Smeaton said. On a more historical note, Andy Pearson, Star Refrigerations Group Managing Director addressed the main auditorium to examine the concept for heating and cooling buildings by currents of air. The idea was presented in 1852 by Professor William Thomson of Glasgow University, who for the first time discussed the use of a heat pump in an academic paper. Shedding light on the important lessons learned from the paper and its relevance in the justification of the adoption of heat pumps in modern systems, Pearson analysed the viability of Lord Kelvin claims of a potential COP of 35against current thermodynamic knowledge. Taking a rounded approach, Andrew Lamb, Senior Technical Designer at Star Refrigeration stepped up to talk about the elements to consider in the design of large ammonia heat pumps to enhance payback and provided guidance on the cost effectiveness of extra heat exchangers and non standard arrangements. John Clark, Consultant of Star Technical Solutions explained the choice between pumped glycol and pumped CO2 , including the difference between capital cost and operation cost of each and looked at the potential operating issues. Tuesday was set to be just as intriguing for attendees with the inclusion of additional, more practical activities. Star Refrigeration gave delegates guided, technical tours of some of their refrigeration installations in the area. Taking them to one of the countrys major retail operators distribution centre in Falkirk and to the Brakes Brothers facilities in Newhouse, the tours showed delegates the innovative technology used at the CO2 and ammonia sites. The Brake Brothers tour highlighted how the refrigeration systems combine low ammonia charge with high efficiency. David Blackhurst, director of Star Technical Solutions, led visitors through an inspection of the refrigeration and associated safety systems installed. The visit was followed by a short course on ammonia safety in low charge ammonia systems which reviewed the design strategy and decision-making process that led to the development of the low charge ammonia system, as well as its positive impact on site safety, while comparing the results to a more traditional ammonia refrigeration system design. Stars CO2 and ammonia refrigeration plant incorporated cutting edge technology when it was installed at the supermarkets distribution centre in Falkirk over twelve years ago. Star Refrigeration Technical Director Angus Gillies guided the visit, providing an overview of the refrigeration plants design, installation and operation. Delegates then undertook a short course entitled Advancement in ammonia and CO2 plant and design: what we can learn from the past?, which highlighted the benefits of the innovative design and explained the specific differences that are applied to the refrigeration system design and installation today after a decades worth of analysis and research. The afternoon consisted of more sessions, with Gillies, who was honoured with the Lightfoot Medal Award at the IOR dinner in February, using his in-depth knowledge on natural refrigeration technology gained over years of research and design of industrial applications to address delegates on the distinct challenges that exist in the design of large carbon dioxide refrigeration plants to assure reliability. Over the course of today, a keynote address from Consultant Ray Gluckman on the opportunities and barriers for natural working fluids is set to precede the final sixty technical presentations on a variety of topics. These will include papers from Star Refrigerations Business Development Manager, Dr. Lewis Brown who will present a paper on Experimental measurements and computational predictions of the gas flow field in a refrigerant helical oil separator. Star Technical Solutions consultant Dermot Cotter will demonstrate A Systematic Approach to Risk Assessing Ammonia Refrigeration Systems and will then be followed by Dr Pearson who will explore, in a second intervention at the conference, his paper on Ventilation for Ammonia Systems. The conference will wrap up this afternoon, after a closing session from the Conference Chairman Dr Pearson. Delegates remaining in Edinburgh this evening will be able to apply for a free ticket to the Edinburghs famous Tattoo. The 2016 IIR Gustav Lorentzen Natural Working Fluids Conference is being held at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh Episcopal Relief & Development is supporting the disaster response efforts of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, where crews have recently contained the Blue Cut fire in the hills north of San Bernardino. Over the past week, the blaze burned nearly 57 square miles of land and destroyed over 100 homes. More than 82,000 people had been evacuated. According to The Very Rev. Canon Michael Bamberger, Disaster Co-Coordinator for the Diocese of Los Angeles, the diocese is partnering with Episcopal Relief & Development to provide gift cards for immediate needs to two groups of affected people: those who are displaced either as short-term evacuees or longer-term due to the loss of their homes, and those who are newly unemployed due to businesses being lost or damaged in the fire. Local churches are responding as well, including St. Timothys Episcopal Church in Apple Valley and St. Hilarys Episcopal Church in Hesparia, closest to north side of the burn area. St. Peters Episcopal Church in Rialto is also responding to needs of those evacuated from the Lytle Creek area of the fire. St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Upland, outside the burn area, hosted a training for disaster responders that covered Disaster 101 and the emotional life-cycle of a disaster, preparing them to minister to those impacted. We always encourage churches to look to their most vulnerable neighbors in this time of need, Bamberger said. The recovery process will be long, and our churches will continue to serve their neighbors. Bamberger stated that four of the six dioceses across the state of California were currently experiencing fires, and that this is just the beginning of what looks to be a very grim fire season. Theres a direct connection between this enhanced fire season and the long-term drought in California, Bamberger said. Were under water conservation measures and hoping for better weather. Other fires include the Clayton fire in Lake County (Diocese of Northern California), the Chimney fire near San Luis Obispo (Diocese of El Camino Real) and the Erskine fire near Lake Isabella (Diocese of San Joaquin). A map of current fires in California is maintained at fire.ca.gov. Bamberger reported that all of the California Diocesan Disaster Coordinators participated in a conference call two weeks ago to brief each other on their local situation and that they continue to stay in contact. He noted that Episcopal Relief & Development Preparedness Training Coordinator Lura Steele is coordinating these conversations to ensure that leaders know whats going on in other dioceses. I am extremely grateful for the leadership of the diocesan disaster coordinators around California, said Katie Mears, Director of Episcopal Relief & Developments US Disaster Program. They have contributed immensely to regional preparedness and response, supporting and training local clergy and lay volunteers to care for the most vulnerable in their communities. Please support Episcopal Relief & Developments response to the devastating wildfires across California by donating to the US Disaster Response Fund, and pray for all those impacted. For over 75 years, Episcopal Relief & Development has served as a compassionate response to human suffering in the world. The agency works with more than 3 million people in nearly 40 countries worldwide to overcome poverty, hunger and disease through multi-sector programs, using the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework. An independent 501(c)(3) organization, it works closely with Anglican Communion and ecumenical partners to help communities create long-term development strategies and rebuild after disasters. PIRA Energy Group, a leader in global energy market analysis, announced today that Karl Rove, former Deputy Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush as well as Jim Messina, former campaign manager for President Barack Obama will keynote its Executive Energy Conference on October 5th in New York City at The Times Center. PIRA Week, now in its 37th year, brings together energy executives, government officials, investors and academics to hear and discuss the firms renowned calls on the direction of commodity prices. This year, a new Executive Energy Conference has been added to the Annual Client Seminar taking place on October 6th-7th. This will include a distinguished line up of speakers to help to evaluate the financial risks and opportunities, the policy and geopolitical factors, and the technology innovations most likely to shape the future landscape of the energy market. See the full agenda here. "We're pleased to welcome Karl and Jim to the keynote podium and look forward to their insights," said Gemma Postlethwaite, CEO of PIRA, a leading global provider of energy information. "As we approach one of the most pivotal U.S. elections in recent history, we need to prepare for many possible scenarios that could impact the already evolving energy landscape." In addition to Rove and Messinas keynote address, the PIRA Executive Conference will feature remarks from many of the industrys top thought leaders, including: John Hess, CEO, Hess Corporation Laurence Meyer, Former U.S. Fed Governor Scott Sheffield, CEO, Pioneer Natural Resources Marco Dunand, CEO, Mercuria Trading Mark Couling, Global Head of Crude, Vitol T. Boone Pickens, CEO, BP Capital Ambassador Dennis Ross, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy Attendance at the conference is open to corporate and industry executives with advance registration: register here. Accredited media may attend a separate press conference as PIRAs guests by contacting Jeff Mancini at jmancini(at)pira(dot)com. The event will otherwise be off the record. About PIRA Energy Group Established in 1976, PIRA is one of the leading energy market analysis firms, providing the total view of the energy market so its clients can make the best business decisions possible. Currently, more than 500 companies located in 60-plus countries retain PIRA. These include international integrated majors, national oil and gas companies, independent producers, refiners, marketers, oil and gas pipelines, electricity and gas utilities, major industrials, airlines, trading companies, financial institutions, and government agencies. To learn more about PIRA Energy Group and its services, please visit: http://www.pira.com. Contacts PIRA Energy Group Chief Marketing Officer Jeff Mancini, +1-212-686-6787 jmancini(at)pira(dot)com The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Incorporated (CBCF) today announced that President Barack Obama will deliver his seventh and final keynote address at its 46th Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) Phoenix Awards Dinner. The event is scheduled for 6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 17 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The evenings co-emcees will be Trevor Noah, host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central, and actress Sanaa Lathan, who has a new show premiering this fall on FOX. Honorary co-chairs of this years conference are U.S. Representatives Karen Bass of California and Lacy Clay of Missouri. President Obama is our nations most influential and demonstrable voice. We are honored to have him speak at the Phoenix Awards dinner, said R. Donahue Peebles, chairman of the CBCF board of directors. In the face of great challenges, his historic two terms in office have strengthened Americas resolve to close the persistent gaps between the daily realities and the actual well-being and security of African Americans. The Phoenix Award is the CBCFs highest honor, presented to individuals whose extraordinary achievements strengthen communities and improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities, nationally and globally. We are extremely proud of the leadership, civic engagement and commitment shown by this years honoreesand salute their efforts to promote empowerment and respect for and among all people, said CBCF president and CEO, A. Shuanise Washington. Our honorees embody the foundations 40-year commitment to raise awareness and address the challenges African Americans face every day in education, health care, minority business development and entrepreneurship. This years distinguished honorees are as follows: Democratic Presidential Nominee Hillary Clinton will receive the inaugural Trailblazer Award, in recognition of becoming the first woman presidential nominee of a major party in the United States and her remarkable contributions to the nation. The Trailblazer Award recognizes a leader who is the first, in his or her chosen field, to make a global or national groundbreaking achievement and whose vision, perseverance and lifework has created opportunities for African Americans and minorities. U.S. Representative Charles B. Rangel will receive the first-ever Congressional Black Caucus Founders Award, recognizing his leadership as a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and his unparalleled contributions to the nation. U.S. Representative Marcia L. Fudge will receive the Barbara Jordan Award in recognition of her exceptional public service and long-standing commitment to improving social and economic conditions for the people of Ohio and the nation. Robert F. Smith, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Vista Equity Partners, will receive the CBCF Chairs Award for his outstanding contributions as an investor and entrepreneur, and for his long-standing commitment to improving the social conditions of communities around the world. Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal church will receive the Congressional Black Caucus Chairs Award in honor of the Emanuel Nine for their extraordinary strength and courage in the face of adversity. The Phoenix Awards Dinner is the primary fundraising event for the CBCF, a 5013, non-partisan, nonprofit, educational and research institute. This black-tie event showcases the CBCFs education and leadership programs, and provides an opportunity to recognize outstanding individuals who make humanitarian contributions to society. To purchase tickets to the dinner and to register for the ALC, visit cbcfinc.org/alc. ABOUT ALC: The ALC is the leading policy conference on issues impacting African Americans and the global black community. The conference features more than 70 public policy forums on health, education, economic empowerment, the environment, and more. Signature events include the National Town Hall, Celebration of Leadership in Fine Arts, Community Breakfast and Health Fair, Gospel Extravaganza, Black Party, Prayer Breakfast, and the culminating event, the Phoenix Awards Dinner. This years theme, Defining the Moment, Building the Movement, will highlight social and political moments in American history that define the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. Sign up to receive the e-newsletter and follow the CBCF on social media using hashtag, #CBCFALC16 for updates. Twitter: twitter.com/cbcfinc Facebook: facebook.com/CBCFInc Instagram: instagram.com/cbcfinc LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/congressional-black-caucus-foundation Google+: google.com/+CBCFIncorg YouTube: youtube.com/user/CBCFINC ### A man surnamed Chen, of Beilun district in East Chinas Ningbo city, was surprised to receive a message from the local governments official website. Several days ago, he submitted a complaint on the website about the disorderly parking by some container trucks in the citys downtown, which inconvenienced some citizens. The government leaders responded immediately and took measures to solve the problem, Economic Daily reported. Chens story is a symbol of the Chinese governments effort to integrate the internet and government services. Since 2015 on, the State Council has issued several policies urging authorities to update official websites, building a unified online service platform, publicizing information quickly and improving collaboration among different departments and regions. In 2016, it began a regular inspection of government websites around the country. Inspection items included the updating speed and quality of information, interaction with users and services. A recent inspection from the second quarter revealed that 85 percent of websites were up to standard. In addition, a management mechanism has been formed for official websites. Government executive office is accountable for its website, and the General Office of the State Council is responsible for the supervision of all government websites in China. According to the official plan, government websites should not only serve as an information source, but also a smart platform integrating information, data and services. Inspection results from the second quarter of 2016 also showed that 77.7 percent of websites that failed belong to county governments or below. Zhang Nan, an assistant professor at Tsinghua University, told Economic Daily that some local authorities do not have enough staff or money to run a website that keeps up with the internet era. The budget of some websites is less than 20,000 yuan ($3,011) a year, he said. The State Council suggested that local authorities that cannot afford to maintain their own official websites should shut them down and transfer the operation to upper levels. It is a trend that government websites should be fewer and more comprehensive, said Economic Daily. They provide more quality information and services and are more secure than previously. In East Chinas Anhui province, 1,938 websites have been shut down so far, most of which belong to local authorities. It costs less and is easier to manage, said an information official in Huangshan, a city in Anhui. Apart from fewer websites and higher quality, the collaboration of information and services among different websites is also an important factor in the construction of a smarter government. On the one hand, local government websites are asked to reprint crucial information from the central government in a timely manner. Recent inspections found that over 80 percent of official websites can reprint crucial information from the official website of the State Council within 24 hours. It is important to enhance communication between the government and the public, said Huang Huang, an assistant professor at Peking University. On the other hand, according to the plan, official websites in different regions and departments are urged to build a unified platform to share data and services, in order to enhance convenience for the public. For example, the website of the Public Security Bureau of Anhui province has integrated the services of its subordinate agencies, enabling citizens to do much of their paperwork online, including resident administration, entry and exit and driver's license issues. Experts said that in order to enhance coordination, a universal standard on technology and management among official websites should be set up, and authorities should open more information to the public as well as to other departments and regions. Running an official website is not just updating pages, but should be used as a chance to build a smarter and more modern government, an effort to adjust to a rapidly changing internet era. Direct Mail Marketing for Attorneys CourtPost's goal is to dispel the myth that legal marketing cannot be professional. Our focus is on providing ethical, dignified, and professional legal marketing services. - Luke Schwartzer Attorney marketing and advertising has been a point of debate for decades. In fact, attorney advertisements were banned outright not too long ago. The State Bar of Arizona, for example, banned attorney advertising in 1976. The ban and subsequent initiation of disciplinary proceedings against a law firm founded by Bates and O'Steen resulted in a barrage of litigation. The case reached the Supreme Court of the United States, Bates v. State Bar of Arizona, 433 U.S. 350 (1977), and is a pillar in legal marketing jurisprudence. The State Bar of Arizona argued that in essence that advertising would "undermine the attorney's sense of dignity and self-worth" and "tarnish the dignified public image of the profession". Furthermore, attorney advertising may be misleading, to the detriment of the public, and may generate frivolous lawsuits. The Supreme Court rejected these arguments and ruled that attorney advertising was commercial speech protected under the first amendment. Their reasoning was that legal advertisements are not inherently misleading and the "belief that lawyers are somehow 'above' trade has become an anachronism. In the end, bankers and other professionals advertise, why shouldnt lawyers? Furthermore, fears of misleading advertisements have been addressed by the States. Advertising is regulated in some states, like Florida, the state bar must approve all advertisements including websites (see Rule 4-7.19 of the Florida Rules of Professional Conduct). As the Supreme Court ruled "[f]or every attorney who overreaches through advertising, there will be thousands of others who will be candid and honest and straightforward." The fact of the matter is that legal advertising gives consumers more options and more information. It also allows law firms to effectively allocate their resources and reach clients in need. This is where marketing companies, like CourtPost, come in. CourtPost has legal professionals on their team - which gives them a unique understanding of clients. With this insight into the legal industry, CourtPost understands the needs of a growing law firm. CourtPost blends the latest technology with traditional marketing techniques and ensures that all of its services are compliant with all ethical rules and regulations. Their goal is to break whatever is left of the stigma that attorney marketing "tarnish[es] the dignified public image of the profession". Learn more about CourtPost. A cornerstone of Attorney Marketing has become Direct Mail Marketing. This takes marketing to the next level. Direct Mail Marketing allows attorneys to specifically target individuals in need of legal services. These individuals, like most of the U.S. population, do not have an attorney on retainer and typically will only need an attorney once or twice in their life. CourtPost's Attorney Direct Mail Marketing service is simple and straightforward. CourtPost's team identifies parties in need of legal services daily, from a myriad of sources, and targets them with a marketing piece. CourtPost provides DUI/DWI leads, Criminal leads, Bankruptcy leads, or even custom leads. CourtPosts mailing team also ensures that all marketing pieces are mailed the same day as leads are generated. An important accomplishment that give its clients an edge over the competition. As state above, each pieces is rigorously vetted by our in-house legal professionals. The goal is to cement direct mail marketing for attorneys as the effective marketing technique while preserving a high level of professionalism. Learn More About Direct Mail Marketing. CourtPost is also on the forefront of attorney website design, legal content drafting, and consulting. All of which, again, are offered with the highest degree of ethical compliance and professionalism. Learn More. Legal marketing is always changing and there are still many obstacles that attorneys and law firms face. CourtPost makes it a point to discuss these issues and invites the public to participate via their blog. The 2016 Government Workforce: Learning Innovations conference showcases the power of collaboration and innovation in learning. Adam Nuefeld, Deputy Administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration, and Russell Deyo, Undersecretary for Management of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will keynote the 2016 Government Workforce: Learning Innovations Conference, hosted by the Association for Talent Development (ATD) and The Public Manager. The conference will be held September 7, 2016 at the Washington Hilton. Opening the conference will be White House presidential transition expert Martha Kumar, who will conduct a special interview with 2016 presidential transition director Tim Horne. The keynote speakers will each share relevant stories about management, cultural change, and the preparations each agency is making in light of the upcoming presidential transition. Undersecretary Deyo will talk about workplace challenges like integrating agency-wide efforts on acquisition management, boosting employee morale and engagement, and coordinating across an agency with highly independent components. Deputy Administrator Nuefeld will speak about his agencys efforts to bring innovative new approaches to the federal government. White House presidential transition expert Martha Kumar and 2016 presidential transition director Tim Horne will discuss this years new, formalized cross-government presidential transition program. The Government Workforce: Learning Innovations conference is designed to share human capital and workforce learning best practices, with an emphasis on real-world application and implementation across government agencies. The innovative un-conference model showcases the power that collaboration and innovation have in the learning environment to help agencies meet their strategic mission outcomes. Program tracks for the conference are: Leading Through Transition The Workforce of the Future and the Changing Nature of Work Talent Management Best Practices: Getting Results For more information about the 2016 Government Workforce: Learning Innovations conference, visit http://www.governmentworkforce.org. Follow the conference on Twitter with #GovWorkforce. ATD and The Public Manager are grateful to these conference sponsors: American Public University, American University, ANI, Arbinger, ASM Research, C2 Technologies, Excelsior College, GetControl.net, GoAnimate, GovDelivery, Graduate School USA, lynda.com , OPM: HR Solutions, Penn State World Campus, Pluralsight, Questionmark, The Brooks Group, TwentyEighty, UNC Executive Development, and University of Maryland University College. About ATD and The Public Manager The Association for Talent Development (ATD) is the worlds largest professional membership organization supporting those who develop the knowledge and skills of employees, improve performance, and help to achieve results for the organizations they serve. Originally established in 1943, the association was previously known as the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD). The Public Manager is an independent magazine that brings forth real stories of unstoppable innovation in U.S. government. Learn how peers on the federal, state, and local levels get human capital matters right. Cut through the red tape and bureaucracy with proven best practices. And get a monthly dose of talent development inspiration from ATD, the worlds largest talent development association. Partners of The Public Manager include American Public University, American Universitys School of Public Affairs, Blackboard, Dale Carnegie Training, Graduate School USA, Hensley Fraser, Management Concepts, and Wordrake. The Public Manager is published by The Bureaucrat Inc., a not-for-profit organization owned by ATD that is chartered and devoted to furthering knowledge and best practice in government. The Bureaucrat, Inc. maintains a separate governance structure, with its own corporate officers and Board of Directors. Top Denver Fertility Clinic (877) 977-2959 Egg freezing offers many women the opportunity to delay pregnancy until the timing is right, either due to chemotherapy or life issues! Rocky Mountain Fertility Center is now offering an in-house egg freezing program to assist patients with their needs for future fertility. The egg freezing is offered by a Board Certified fertility specialist at several locations in Colorado and South Dakota. Call (877) 977-2959 for more information and scheduling. Thousands of babies worldwide have been born successfully as a result of egg freezing. No increased incidence of birth defects or chromosomal abnormalities have been seen as a result of the process. Egg freezing may be a great option for women facing infertility due to upcoming chemotherapy, surgery or radiation. Also, the procedure may be excellent for couples undergoing in vitro fertilization who are morally or ethically opposed to the cryopreservation of embryos. Many women delay childbearing til later these days due to career obligations, so egg freezing is an excellent option. Dr. Deborah Smith, the Medical Director of Rocky Mountain Fertility, offers the procedure along with many assisted reproductive technologies. She is Board Certified and has been named the top Colorado fertility doctor by HealthTap along with receiving the Patients Choice Award over five years in a row. Rocky Mountain Fertility has a first rate IVF lab and the frozen eggs are stored on site. The clinic offers an egg donation program as well. The Center is a part of the US Fertility Network, which offers patients a 15% discount when receiving treatment through the Network. For the top fertility treatment in Denver metro area, call (877) 977-2959. Team Flite-Riot in action Everything about this experience was truly a group effort. Members of the world famous radio-control (R/C) aircraft YouTube channels Flite Test and Rotor Riot won first prize and the Peoples Choice Award at the Red Bull Flugtag held in Boston. As Team Flite-Riot, they flew their aircraft 69 feet from the flight deck into the Charles River and past the competition, becoming the first team in Flugtags 25-year history to win both the grand prize and the Peoples Choice Award. Everything about this experience was truly a group effort, said Josh Bixler, President and Host of Flite Test. Our team worked relentlessly to design and build the aircraft, plus we had a great pilot in Chad Nowak and the support of the Flite Test and Rotor Riot communities. We couldnt have done it without them. Together, Flite Test and Rotor Riot boast a worldwide online community of over 500,000 members. The Flite Test and Rotor Riot FaceBook, Instagram and Twitter communities flooded the Flugtag with hashtag votes for Team Flite-Riot, propelling them to win the Peoples Choice Award. The support from both communities was incredible, said Austin Furey, Flite Tests Business Development Manager. None of this wouldve been possible without them, and it really inspired us to pour everything into our design and themeand have fun doing it. The fun factor was evident in their Pokemon-inspired theme, which featured Team Flite-Riot pushing their aircraft off the flight deck dressed as Pikachu. Using their model aircraft design expertise and the flying knowledge of experienced glider pilot Chad Nowak (host of Rotor Riot), Flite-Riot earned high scores from the five Flugtag judges. The win is especially notable considering the high level of competition, which included Draper Laboratory and aerospace engineers from MIT. Our aircraft was a conventional fixed wing design with functional rudder and elevator control surfaces and a wingspan of just under 24 feet, continued Bixler. We built it in under 10 days with a budget of $530, and everyone at Flite Test helped in some capacity. This is a great group win for Flite Test, Rotor Riot and our communities as a whole. After winning at Flugtag, Flite Test issued a challenge to their community to recreate the project: build the plane in less than 10 days with a budget of $500. Flite Test has also released a Flugtag Vlog and Recap Episode on their YouTube channel. For more information about Flite Test, visit flitetest.com. For more information about Rotor Riot, visit rotorriot.com. Trick-or-treating poses many challenges for children with disabilities especially those with mobility issues, but every child should have the opportunity to enjoy Halloween, says Aaron Karlin, MD, ACCESS Chairman. ACCESS (Adapting and Changing Childrens Environments with Successful Solutions), a locally founded non-profit fund of the Northshore Community Foundation, has announced that the 7th annual Boo Fest will be held on the grounds of Lakeview Regional Medical Center on Saturday, October 29th from 10AM to 3PM. The popular Northshore event benefits children with disabilities and their families, but is open to children of all abilities. The gates open for early admission for special needs families at 9AM, followed by general admission at 10AM for the entire community. Admission is only $2 per person. Trick-or-treating poses many challenges for children with disabilities especially those with mobility issues, but every child should have the opportunity to enjoy Halloween, says Aaron Karlin, MD, ACCESS Chairman. Boo Fest provides a safe and fun environment for these families to enjoy the holiday. According to ACCESS board member Jim Silvestri, We started this event seven years ago as a way for all children in our community to experience the fun of trick-or-treating. It has grown to nearly 10,000 attendees each year and more than 70 trick-or-treat houses and castles for the kids to visit. The wheelchair accessible walking path around the duck ponds and green space adjacent to Lakeview Regional Medical Center allow children of all abilities to go house-to-house collecting treats. The day is packed with lots of fall-themed activities which include pumpkin decorating at the pumpkin patch, face painting, all-abilities games, a complimentary photo booth, music and dancing provided by a DJ, participation by State Police Troop L, and much, much more. Children are encouraged to wear their favorite Halloween costume and take part in the annual Boo Fest costume contest for the title of Spookiest, Most Original, Crowd Favorite, Cutest, and Best Group costume. Local businesses and members of the community may get involved in Boo Fest by sponsoring a trick-or-treat house or castle. Each sponsor will receive and then decorate a 5-foot tall cardboard gingerbread-style house or castle from which they will also hand out candy and other giveaways. Cash prizes will be awarded to winning trick-or-treat houses in the Scariest, Most Creative, and Kids Choice categories. Placement of the houses and castles will be in one of six Halloween-themed neighborhoods, in addition to locations along the walking path. Businesses are asked to provide their own candy or non-edible treats for distribution. Varying levels of Boo Fest sponsorships are available to area businesses/families interested in participating: Great Pumpkin ($5,000), Boo Town Sponsor ($2,500), Haunted Mansion ($1,000), Haunted Castle ($500), or Haunted House ($250). Sponsorship forms can be downloaded from the event website, http://www.accesslouisiana.org, or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ACCESSLouisiana. Proceeds raised from Boo Fest sponsorships assist families of children with disabilities with purchasing home or van modifications, assistive devices and adaptive equipment that have been denied by private insurance and/or Medicaid. In its first six years, ACCESS has raised nearly $200,000 for the pediatric and adolescent disabled community from the Boo Fest event. For more information about ACCESS or for Boo Fest sponsorships, contact Dr. Aaron Karlin at akarlin(at)ochsner(dot)org or at 985-718-7532. Sponsorship forms can also be downloaded from the event website, http://www.accesslouisiana.org, or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ACCESSLouisiana. Pictures from prior years events are posted on the website, as well. Back for a 5th year, the Northshore Area Board of Realtors (NABOR) Annual Chili Challenge will take place during Boo Fest. NABOR is the non-profit professional association of agents, brokers and affiliate members in St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes. This is NABORs 9th Annual Chili Challenge. The event is open to all interested in a fun afternoon demonstrating their culinary talents, while supporting programs that benefit children with disabilities and their families. Part of the proceeds from the Chili Challenge will be donated to ACCESS. Teams are invited to participate in the Chili Cook-Off Challenge, with 1st and 2nd place winners, along with awards for Best Booth Showmanship. The cost to enter a team is $150 with separate event sponsorships also available. NABOR Board President, Wendy Hinton of Camellia City Reality, is encouraging the Northshore community to come out and support this tremendous event. NABOR is excited about this continuing partnership with ACCESS, as it also supports the mission of the NABOR organization in serving the community. For more information on the Chili Cook-Off Challenge, contact the NABOR Office at 985-674-4233, 2016 Chili Challenge Chair Wendy Hinton, 985-290-716. ACCESS Adapting and Changing Childrens Environments with Successful Solutions. The mission of ACCESS is to raise awareness and funds to help support families of children with disabilities in order to improve their quality of life. ACCESS is a fund of the Northshore Community Foundation, an organization described by I.R.C. Section 501(c)(3) as a nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal income tax and to which contributions may be tax deductible in whole or in part as a charitable contribution. The federal tax identification number is 61-1517784. For more information about ACCESS, call (985) 718-7532. The mission of the Northshore Area Board of Realtors (NABOR) is to be a proactive and progressive professional organization providing quality services of value to the REALTOR members and communities of St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington Parishes of Louisiana. After 10 years and eight Internet marketing events, Matt Bacaks The Profit Coalition is leaving the Sugarland Country Club behind. But he couldnt walk away from his home for the last decade without one last hurrah. To celebrate his move to Peachtree City, Bacak held an exclusive event on the country club grounds, followed by a private party at his personal residence. The farewell celebration took place the weekend of July 2930, 2016. According to Inc. (http://www.inc.com/john-brandon/6-signs-youre-sacrificing-too-much-for-success.html) magazine, the number one sign someone is sacrificing too much for success is giving up family time for work. After devoting the past decade-plus to living his life for everyone else, Matt Bacak has decided to start living it for his family and friends. To get closer to whats important to him, Bacak had to bid goodbye to the place hes called home for 10 years. Rather than mourn the leaving behind, he decided to turn that relocation into a celebration of what prompted it by hosting an exclusive soiree at the country club. Its there that his The Profit Coalition has been holding court all these years. He then invited his guests back to his private residence for one final hurrah. The events guest list consisted of 120 top marketers from all over the world, many of them VIP members of Bacaks Profit Coalition. The billing included Sam England, Nick James, David Asarnow, David Perdew, Alicia Lyttle, Brian Anderson, Dustin Mathews, Bart Baggett, Colin Theriot, Jeremiah Baker and dozens of others. On top of the non-stop networking opportunities, the party offered underground marketing strategies and tactics. In addition, it served as the venue for the unveiling of this years Marketer of the Year winner. Big names like Bonin Bough, host of the TV series Cleveland Hustles, Dave Seymour of the A&E TV series Flipping Boston and James Malinchak of ABC's "The Secret Millionaire also attended the two-day affair. Each invitee was personally hand-selected by Bacak. Anyone who is anyone was there, he sums up. I cannot thank the people who supported me over the last 10 years enough. This get-together was my small token of appreciation for all theyve done. Where does Bacak go from here? Fans of the one-time Internet Marketer of the Year need not worry that his move to Peachtree City signals his retirement. Quite the contrary, in fact. Bacak sees his relocation as a fresh start where bigger and better deals will be happening. For starters, hell be working directly with Bonin Bough, the host of Executive Producer LeBron James' new show on CNBC, Cleveland Hustles. Plans are also underway to bring the Zen Master of the Internet, Matt Furey, back into the spotlight. New books by Bacak are in the works as well. For more information on Matt Bacaks Last Hurrah at the Sugarloaf Country Club and for details on where he goes from here, visit his video by clicking here. To learn more about the upcoming deals on his agenda, contact Bacak at 404-537-1425. Buck Creek Medical Plaza, 50 Buck Creek Road, Avon, Colo. For a high-resolution version, please visit: http://www.wolfmediausa.com/hostedimages/NexCore/BuckCreek.jpg I cant tell you how proud we all are that NexCore was able to pull this off and we have this new medical office building in our town. When NexCore Group, a national healthcare real estate developer, broke ground on the new three-story, 48,400 square foot Buck Creek Medical Plaza in Avon more than a year ago, it realized a long-standing but rather elusive goal of building a new healthcare facility that uses 21st century delivery models to provide consolidated outpatient and emergency care in a highly convenient location in the Vail Valley. At the Aug. 4 grand opening celebration, a proud group of community leaders and healthcare providers joined NexCore in honoring the tenacity that went into the much-needed project that opened less than a year after breaking ground. I cant tell you how proud we all are that NexCore was able to pull this off and we have this new medical office building in our town, Avon Mayor Jennie Fancher said during the grand opening celebration. This building came together and was constructed in virtually a year. To me thats remarkable. With anchor tenants Centura Health and Colorado Mountain Medical, and other specialties such as physical therapy, dental and allergy, top-quality healthcare is being delivered to a Colorado mountain community that has been especially challenged by the changes in medical care during the past few years. Buck Creek Medical Plazas centralized location with great visibility, beautiful views, access from U.S. Interstate 70 and free parking provides the kind of care the Vail Valley community demanded and deserved, while further establishing the area as a top-notch resort and residential community with quality healthcare, physicians and diversified jobs. Town Manager Virginia Egger echoed the sentiment of the importance and challenge of bringing excellent healthcare to a diverse mountain community. Buck Creek Medical Plaza in Avon brings one of the most important ingredients needed to have a strong community. This is truly a spectacular addition to the region and to Avon. Brooks Bock, M.D., CEO of anchor tenant Colorado Mountain Medical, a multispecialty physician group that has been in Eagle County for 35 years, expressed his gratitude for the collaboration that went into the project. Noting that healthcare is a very important part of what people use to make decisions about where theyre going to live and recreate, Dr. Brooks said it was wonderful to be a part of a project that brings together such a diverse group of healthcare provisions in a single building with the convenience of parking, which as many of you know is a prime consideration when youre looking at any project in Eagle County. We have taken a long time looking at the needs of all the communities that we serve and the significant cost pressures of healthcare in mountain communities, added Jeff Brickman, President, Mountains North Operating Group for Centura Health, the co-anchor at the facility. Were very excited to be a part of this community. Were excited to provide choice. Were very excited to develop healthcare in a way that will sustain health and wellness, he said. The story behind the facility is one of synchronicity, collaboration and fate, with a dose of luck and pluck as Ms. Eggers put it. NexCores Managing Principal Todd Varney spent six months trying to find land, but was unable to find anything suitable in the area. Ideally, NexCore wanted the facility to be in Avon, as it is in the center of the Vail Valley, bordered by East Vail and Eagle, and is the home of the tony Beaver Creek ski resort. Mr. Varney finally found a 2.15-acre piece of land called Buck Creek Lot 1A that was bought by the Eagle River Fire Protection District at the top of the market in 2007 for $3.6 million. The parcel was perfect for NexCores needs. But when Mr. Varney tried to buy it from the Fire District, the answer was no, as it was not for sale. Mr. Varney then went to the Town of Avon and Ms. Egger. She was aware of and had the first rights to buy a two-acre lot adjacent to the Fire District land, known as Lot 1B. New York financier and Vail resident Oscar Tang, an individual highly committed to the Vail Valley, owned that lot. Mr. Tang entered into a covenant and reverter clause arrangement with NexCore, who purchased Lot 1B for $1.6 million. As NexCore began the design process on the medical facility, it concurrently helped the Fire District determine the best ways to build on Lot 1A, so there would be a synergy between the two lots. In the process they determined they were better off swapping parcels. NexCore agreed to buy the Fire Division piece for $3.6 million, the same price paid in 2007 at the top of the market. From there, things went into high gear, as NexCore wanted to break ground on the facility in 2015. The Town of Avon participated with the Fire District on a bridge loan. The planning department took the challenge and set its conditions and deadlines. NexCore took on the majority of the risk in order to meet the timing on the back end for its clients, including $800,000 in initial design costs before entitlements were completed. NexCore and the Fire Division met all the deadlines and the Town of Avon was able to help NexCore fast track entitlements. In the end, the project was a great success for everyone involved. NexCore ended up with the lot it wanted in the first place, with the best frontage, views and access for its healthcare clients. The Fire Division ended up with a site that works better for it, realizing a beneficial $2 million gain to help accelerate its own development. The town of Avon got one more asset to attract and retain visitors and quality jobs in its beautiful resort community. The philanthropic Tang Family sold its land to a great cause. And the community of Vail Valley got a world-class outpatient medical facility. There are no truly comparable medical buildings in Avon or the surrounding communities that will be able to offer the image, referral base and patient convenience of Buck Creek Medical Plaza, said Mr. Varney. Properties housing physician tenants are mixed use, office buildings or retail projects with poor access, visibility and some are quite difficult to navigate. With the lack of adequate resources to identify quality physicians, patients often attribute quality of the location to the quality of practice. Buck Creek Medical Plaza will provide the image quality to give physicians a leg up against the competition. The facility is 95 percent leased. For leasing information, please contact Stacey Hall at 970-688-4630. For a drone video aerial view of Buck Creek Medical Plaza, please visit: http://goo.gl/0b17O2. About NexCore Group LLC NexCore Group develops healthcare facilities for hospitals, health systems and physicians. We solve complex real estate challenges through innovative building solutions and creative financial structures. In a rapidly changing healthcare industry, NexCore has the superior expertise to deliver quality environments and flexible spaces that help grow your business, lower expenses and mitigate risk. Over the past 25 years, NexCore has developed and acquired a total of 6.1 million square feet of health care facilities across the country. Our company has been recognized repeatedly as one of the Top Healthcare Real Estate Developers in the U.S. by Modern Healthcare magazine. NexCore is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, and as the company continues to grow so does its geographic reach. Over the last several years, NexCore has opened regional offices in Chicago; Bethesda, Md.; Portland, Ore.; Dallas; Orlando, Fla.; and Laguna Niguel, Calif. For more information, please visit http://www.nexcoregroup.com. Contact: Tracy Hindman, Marketing Director, 303-293-0673. 30 - Fact Sheet Buck Creek Medical Plaza Location: 50 Buck Creek Road, Avon, CO 81620 Size: Three levels, 48,400 gross square feet Construction Start: June 2015 Construction Completion: June 2016 Developer: NexCore Group LLC, Denver Equity: NexCore Group LLC, Denver Lender: Siemens Financial Services Inc., Iselin, N.J. Owner: The project is being financed and will be owned by NexCore Group. Architect: Davis Partnership Architects, Denver Construction Manager: Calcon Constructors, Englewood, Colo. Property Manager: NexCore Properties LLC, Denver Asset Manager: NexCore Properties LLC, Denver On Aug 23, Premier Li Keqiang issued an instruction to a national meeting on poverty alleviation, saying that relocating efforts in impoverished regions is the key to relieving poverty and promoting peoples livelihoods and well-being. As an important move in fighting poverty, the relocating efforts will move people living in impoverished regions where the natural environment is uninhabitable and social economic conditions are underdeveloped to other places that are more favorable for living and more developed. In his instruction, the Premier also stressed that efforts should be made to increase the potential of people being relocated to new regions and make effective use of poverty alleviation funds to take targeted measures to help people lift themselves out of poverty. Presented by Vice-Premier Wang Yang, the national meeting on poverty alleviation was held in Guiyang, Guizhou province, from Aug 22 to 23. Further efforts should be made to set clear goals, strict principles, and straightened mechanisms in the key battle over poverty, Wang emphasized at the meeting. Wang Yang said that since the conference on poverty alleviation and development was held last year, relocation work has made a good start in every region. The vice-premier urged reinforcing follow-up policy support, in terms of industrial assistance, labor training and exports, and social security, making sure that relocated households can shake off poverty during the planned period. In addition, Wang called for further implementing a coordinated work mechanism between governments at all levels, clarifying the procedures in the transfer and use of capital and loan repayments, and simplifying related procedure approvals to ensure the smooth operation of poverty relief projects. Finally, the vice-premier asked to strengthen the supervision of funds for relocation work, rooting out misconduct that involves misappropriating or intercepting the funds. And he also called on the poor population to increase the capacity to lift themselves out of poverty. Cookies What are cookies ? How do we use cookies? How to control cookies? Managing cookies in your browser see what cookies you have got and delete them on an individual basis block third party cookies block cookies from particular sites block all cookies from being set delete all cookies when you close your browser X A cookie is a small text file that a website saves on your computer or mobile device when you visit the site. Cookies are widely used in order to make websites work, or work more efficiently, as well as to provide information to the owners of the site.Website use Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. ("Google") to help analyse the use of this website. 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You can delete all cookies that are already on your computer and you can set most browsers to prevent them from being placed.Most browsers allow you to:If you chose to delete cookies, you should be aware that any preferences will be lost. Also, if you block cookies completely many websites (including ours) will not work properly and webcasts will not work at all. For these reasons, we do not recommend turning cookies off when using our webcasting services. In Canadian author Prices second novel, By Gaslight, two men haunted by the past meet in a haunting city. What drew you to writing about William Pinkerton, son of legendary detective agency founder Allan Pinkerton? My great-grandfather, Albert Price, was trained as a gunsmith in London. But around 1889 he traveled to Canada, then to the westernmost part, Vancouver Island, where he founded a locksmith and security company. Some 10 years ago we learned that Albert had got into some sort of trouble with the law, and had fled as far from London as he could get. The idea of a man with criminal leanings finding himself on the other side of the law fascinated me. Years later I was reading a biography of William Pinkerton, and I found the detective described in similar termsas a man with all of the talents of the master criminal, a man for whom the ends justified the means, and whose easiest friendships were with the criminal class, but who worked on the side of the law. I suppose while I was writing William Pinkerton, some part of me was also writing my way back towards my great-grandfather. Pinkerton is pitted against a criminal called Adam Foole, but grapples just as powerfully with the legacy of his father. Did you know you were going to write about the ways that parents haunt our minds and lives? By Gaslight was always fundamentally a novel about parents, and grief, and loss, and the unfinished business of a life. I began with Williams character, measuring itself against the sudden absence of his powerful father, and the novel wrote itself from there. Its difficult to say how and why such obsessions matter to me, as a writer and as a person, but it does seem one of the dominant elements in the stories I tell: the ways our lives are so much a grappling with what we have inherited from our parents, and the complicated nature of what we seeand fail to seeourselves passing on to our children. The books main story is set in 1885 London, but you shift fluidly between decades and continents. Was that difficult? There was much trial and error, much rewriting. I wanted a book that was digressive enough to encompass a life, but also somehow lean in its forward movement, engrossing. Something I understood early in the process was that the leaps in time would need to justify their presence in the telling itself. Nothing could feel arbitrarily located. If I could not be clear, to myself, about why a flashback was placed where it was, and why the novel could not be written without its being there, then it needed to be reconceived. In some ways this novel is a study in character. But on a more fundamental level, it is a study in structure and how to work with structure to create movement and meaning. ROCK ISLAND Rock Island-Milan School board members on Tuesday heard a tentative budget presentation that anticipates a $1 million education fund deficit for the 2016-2017 fiscal year. Board members heard from chief financial officer Bob Beckwith that the district's total revenue is anticipated to be $76.9 million, up from $75.1 million in the 2015-16 year. The district anticipates an education fund balance of $19 million at the end of the fiscal year. Mr. Beckwith told board members local revenue changes for the 2016-17 school year include an increase of property taxes by $244,000 because of a slight increase in equalized assessed valuation in 2015. The School Food Service program is down $100,000 because of the district adopting the Community Eligibility Program, which provides free meals to everyone at no cost. State revenue changes include an increase of $483,000 in state aid. Mr. Beckwith said this increase is because of the governor's budget proposals that call for fully funding state aid. The conclusion of the School Improvement Grant at Rock Island High School means the district sees a reduction in $1.5 million federal revenue and a reduction in salary expenditures at the high school. Among other expenditures, the district plans to make roof repairs at the high school, Earl Hanson, and Washington, for a total of $266,000 in life/safety fund expenditures. Tuesday's budget presentation was for information only, with no action taken by the board. The budget will now be available on public display for at least 30 days. A budget hearing is planned for Sept. 27 to allow public comment and the board is expected to adopt the budget that same evening. In other business, board members: Took no action following a closed session to discuss negotiations and employee matters. Approved a $54,000 contract for fresh fruits and vegetables to Central Illinois Produce for the 2016-17 school year. PORT BYRON State Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale, wants to end food and travel perks given to legislators. Rep. Smiddy said at a news conference at his office here Wednesday he had introduced house bill 6600 that, passed into law, "would end the practice of legislators receiving taxpayer-funded reimbursements for food and travel" when attending General Assembly sessions in Springfield. He hopes to run the bill through November's veto session to have it in place by Jan. 1, when the new legislature goes into session, he said. Representatives from three local social service agencies The Arc of the Quad-Cities, Illinois-Iowa Center for Independent Living and the Epilepsy Foundation which have suffered budget cuts, attended his news conference to lend their support. Sarah Wright, development and communications director at The Arc of the Quad Cities praised Rep. Smiddy for trying to "lead by example" and for "trying to free up any sort of resources that can go to help serve our most vulnerable residents." Rep. Smiddy has declined claiming reimbursements for the past 18 months and believes his congressional colleagues need to do the same. "Legislators receive about $111 a day when in Springfield in per diems," he said. It equates to $19,647 per day if counting all 177 legislators, he added, Legislators also get to claim 39 cents a mile for travel costs, which can add up to a considerable sum considering the size of the state of Illinois. Seniors, the developmentally disabled, veterans and people helped by Meals on Wheels or by social-service agencies such as the independent living center continue to struggle, yet "we continue to allow legislators to receive these perks," Rep. Smiddy said. "It's not right, and this legislation will put an end to this out-of-touch practice," he said. He admitted it's not "the overall solution" to the state's budget crisis, but if it means a senior can get one more home-delivered meal, a veteran can get care for one more day, an individual can get home care, or an elderly person can live longer on their home instead of heading to a costlier long-term care center, "then we have to pass this bill," Rep, Smiddy said. "We should not be getting these reimbursements for just doing our jobs." ANKARA, Turkey (AP) Turkey's prime minister's office said the Turkish military and the U.S.-backed coalition forces on Wednesday launched an operation to clear a Syrian border town from Islamic State militants. The state-run Anadolu Agency said the operation began at 4 a.m. with Turkish artillery launching intense fire on Jarablus followed by Turkish warplanes bombing IS targets in the town. It's not clear if any Turkish or Turkish-backed Syrian opposition forces have crossed the border. The agency said the operation aims to clear Turkey's border of "terror organizations" and increase border security. It said the aim also is to "prioritize and support" Syria's territorial integrity. The assault follows Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlet Cavusolgu pledge on Tuesday of "every kind" of support for operations against IS along a 100-kilometer (62-mile) stretch of Syrian frontier, putting the NATO member on track for a confrontation with U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters in Syria, who have been the most effective force against IS and who are eyeing the same territory. Cavusolgu said Turkey would support twin operations stretching from the Syrian town of Afrin in the northwest, which is already controlled by Kurdish forces, to Jarablus, in the central north, which is held by the Islamic State group. "It is important that the terror organizations are cleansed from the region," Cavusolgu said in a joint news conference with his Hungarian counterpart. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said some 500 Syrian rebels were massed on the Turkish side of the border in preparation for an assault, including local fighters from Jarablus. One rebel at the border told the BBC the number was as high as 1,500 fighters. The latest developments have thrust the town into the spotlight of the ongoing Syrian civil war. Jarablus, which lies on the western bank of the Euphrates River where it crosses from Turkey into Syria, is one of the last important IS-held towns standing between Kurdish-controlled areas in northern Syria. Located 20 miles (33 kilometers) from the town of Manbij, which was liberated from IS by Kurdish-led forces earlier this month, taking control of Jarablus and the IS-held town of al-Bab to the south would be a significant step toward linking up border areas under Kurdish control east and west of the Euphrates River. Turkey has increased security measures on its border with Syria, deploying tanks and armored personnel carriers in recent days. On Tuesday, residents of the Turkish town of Karkamis, across the border from Jarablus, were told to evacuate after three mortars believed to be fired by IS militants landed there, Turkey's Dogan news agency said. Turkey has vowed to fight IS militants at home and to "cleanse" the group from its borders after a weekend suicide bombing at a Kurdish wedding in southern Turkey killed at least 54 people, many of them children. Turkish officials have blamed IS for the attack. Ankara is also concerned about the growing power of U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish forces, who it says are linked to Kurdish groups waging an insurgency in southeastern Turkey. The Kurdish-led group known as the Syria Democratic Forces, or SDF, recaptured Manbij from IS earlier this month, triggering concerns in Ankara that Kurdish forces would seize the entire border strip with Turkey. The U.S. says it has embedded some 300 special forces with the SDF, and British special forces have also been spotted advising the group. Syrian activists, meanwhile, said that hundreds of Turkish-backed Syrian opposition fighters were gathered in the Turkish border area near Karkamis in preparation for an attack on Jarablus. Nasser Haj Mansour, an SDF official on the Syrian side of the border, said the fighters gathering in Turkey include "terrorists" as well as Turkish special forces. He declined to comment on whether the SDF would send fighters to the town, but an SDF statement said the Syrian Kurdish force was "prepared to defend the country against any plans for a direct or indirect occupation." The reports and rhetoric appeared to set up a confrontation between the SDF, the most effective U.S. proxy in Syria, and NATO ally Turkey. A rebel commander affiliated with the SDF was killed shortly after broadcasting a statement announcing the formation of the so-called Jarablus Military Council and vowing to protect civilians in Jarablus from Turkish "aggression." Abdel-Sattar al-Jader was shot by unknown gunmen late Monday, an hour after he accused Turkey of mobilizing fighters and "terrorists" for an assault on Jarablus. Al-Jader had pledged to resist Turkish efforts to take control of the city and warned Ankara against further aggression. The Jarablus Military Council blamed the killing on Turkish security agents. There was no immediate comment from Turkey. Haj Mansour said two suspects were in custody but declined to comment on their identities. The Kurds' outsized role in the Syrian civil war is a source of concern for the Syrian government as well. Fierce clashes erupted between the two sides over control of the northeastern province of Hasakeh last week, and Syrian warplanes bombed Kurdish positions for the first time, prompting the U.S. to scramble its jets to protect American troops in the area. The Syrian government and the Kurds agreed on a cease-fire Tuesday, six days after the clashes erupted. The Kurdish Hawar News Agency said government forces agreed to withdraw from Hasakeh as part of the truce. Syrian state media did not mention any withdrawal, saying only that the two sides had agreed to evacuate the wounded and exchange detainees. Government and Kurdish forces have shared control of Hasakeh since the early years of the Syrian war. Meanwhile, the Syrian army and its allies intensified their attacks on militant positions around the so-called military college in the northern city of Aleppo. A video obtained by The Associated Press showed air raids, shelling and firing on the complex, which was taken over by al-Qaida-affiliated fighters earlier this month. Plumes of smoke were seen billowing overhead. Russia's Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said in emailed comments on Tuesday that Russia and the Syrian government will announce "the first 48-hour humanitarian break in hostilities" in Aleppo as soon as they receive an official request from the U.N. envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura. My son and I took advantage of a wonderful opportunity last week and toured the Nina and the Pinta while they were docked at Davenport. These magnificent replicas of Christopher Columbus two smaller ships which sailed on his world-changing journey give a visitor a brief but impressive taste of what life was like for the brave men who sailed into unknown seas. I stood on the deck, leaned over the railing, and watched the Mississippi flow past, imagining sailing for months with nothing to see but water swirling below. After telling the informative and friendly current crew goodbye, I continued to muse on the courage of those who were willing to risk everything for a dream. The name Columbus was once revered as representing a visionary, a dreamer, a skilled and intelligent navigator who staked his life and reputation on what he believed to be true. However, when the 500th anniversary of his landing was observed in 1992, public opinion had transformed him into a gold-hungry monster who, behind the facade of religion, ruined half the globe. While no one disputes the tragedy of smallpox being transported to a population with no immunity, this was hardly Columbus intent in a world ignorant of microbiology. Yet we continue to judge him and his motives based on current knowledge and acceptable behavior. This idea, that moderns are somehow naturally more intelligent, enlightened, and capable than our ancestors is described in a phrase coined by C.S. Lewis: chronological snobbery. It is rampant. Many believe that because we have technological capabilities far outstripping all preceding generations, we are better and smarter, more qualified to judge what is good, right, or acceptable. This outlook ignores the fact that those very ancestors we scorn are the ones who made the discoveries, took the chances, to make those advances possible. Also ignored is the influence which a society has on the people who compose it, skewing their worldview and creating a distinctive mindset of which they are unaware. And it affects us as much as our forefathers. The revised, half-true versions of history are especially dangerous if it is true, as the saying goes, that ignorance of history dooms one to repeat it. Rarely does a story have only one side. In another example, a recent news article reported the removal of the word Confederate from Confederate Memorial Hall at Vanderbilt University. Apparently anything tainted with association to the Civil War South is to be discarded. But the southern states had excellent political points; many of our Founding Fathers feared the usurpation of the individual states rights when the Constitution was adopted. Most Confederate leaders saw themselves as the heirs of a grand tradition that challenged federal authority and sought to preserve the rights of states to govern themselves. Erasing a piece of American history leaves us wide open for further advances on freedom. As Winston Churchill warned, If the present tries to sit in judgment of the past, it will lose the future. History can be startling, frightening, unsettling. Our urge is to view the past through the lenses of the present, ignoring the surroundings that led to actions of which we disapprove. But how do we wish to be judged by the future? Whatever your political or moral stand, it is indisputable that we tolerate and even promote behavior that would have been considered unspeakable evils in times past. Someday generations to come will judge us, believing that they are more enlightened than we are. If we want them to judge us with mercy, perhaps we should exercise like mercy toward the people and events of the past. CALDCs Halloween Celebration A Real Treat! The Central Astoria LDCs 7th annual Batty Over Halloween Celebration held on Sunday, October 23rd was a real treat for everyone who came out. Despite... 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... G'day! It's Murray here. I've put together a little quiz to test your musical knowledge. Think you can score top marks in Murray's Magic Music Quiz? Give it a go now! A senior government official said at a briefing in Cape Town this week that the move would enforce compliance with rules on local content and ensure that locomotive and rolling stock deals were financially sound. Minister in the presidency Mr Jeff Radebe says consolidating locomotive procurement would ensure efficiency and compliance with localisation requirements, BDLive reports. Transnet and Prasa have traditionally made their own deals with locomotive builders. In June 2014, Transnet signed a deal worth more than Rand 50bn ($US 3.6bn) for 1064 locomotives from General Electric, Bombardier and CRRC Corporation, while passenger operator Prasa entered into a Rand 3.5bn deal with Vossloh for 70 locomotives. The Vossloh deal - which has since ballooned to Rand 5bn as a result of inadequate hedging - has been mired in controversy since the new locomotives were found to exceed the South African loading gauge, resulting in Transnet banning the units from operating over its 3kV dc network for fear of fouling the catenary. Meanwhile, the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) said in April it was yet to receive full details on the amount of local content in the new locomotives currently being built for Transnet, BD Live reports. Transnet has set a localisation target of 69% for its new locomotives, a move that is in line with state requirements to support local manufacturers as well as Transnet's long-term ambition to became an OEM in its own right. This would be the first time the standards bureau had conducted a localisation review of rolling stock. On August 23, the government also announced that President Jacob Zuma will oversee the strategy of all state-owned enterprises as the chairman of a special presidential coordinating committee. The president will have line-of-sight on strategic decisions and interventions concerning South Africa's state-owned enterprises, said Bloomberg News quoting Radebe. The committee will oversee 715 state entities which operate the South African rail network, airports, harbours, troubled national airline South African Airways, and energy suppliers which generate about 90% of the country's electricity. 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 Judge Robert J. Bryan of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington might not realize it, but his actions may affect the extent to which the FBI emphasizes the law enforcement or intelligence gathering aspects of its mission. Bryan recently excluded evidence presented by the FBI in the case of U.S. v. Jay Michaud showing that a defendant allegedly accessed child pornography. It was excluded because the FBI was unwilling to reveal the particular software exploit used to collect the evidence. Here's what happened: The FBI developed a capability to exploit a computer's vulnerability and installed software to collect evidence from a suspect's computer. The FBI awkwardly calls this capability a network inspection tool. The defense attorneys filed numerous motions to compel the FBI to reveal the complete method by which it acquired the evidence, to ensure that the search was legal under the Fourth Amendment. While the FBI revealed the code used to collect the evidence, it chose not to reveal the specific vulnerability used to gain access to the suspect's computer in the first place. Essentially, the FBI argued that a judge doesn't need to know how a lock was picked in order to rule on the lawfulness of evidence found inside a house. And the reason the agency wants to conceal the technique is that exposing the particular software exploit would enable criminals to patch their systems, which would prevent the FBI from using this capability. By refusing to provide the court with information about the exploit, the FBI made the decision to continue using it, potentially jeopardizing this and other prosecutions based on the same exploit. This is not the first time the FBI has exploited a vulnerability on a suspect's computer in order to install software that collected evidence. In 2007, the FBI installed software on the computer of a person suspected of making bomb threats against a school. From the computer, the software collected information that was then transmitted back to the FBI. The tool was known as a computer and internet protocol address verifier. But in this case, the suspect pleaded guilty to the charges without forcing the FBI to reveal exactly how it compromised the suspect's computer. This is also not the first time that the FBI exploited an unknown software vulnerability (often referred to as a zero-day vulnerability) to acquire digital evidence. The recent battle between the FBI and Apple to unlock the cellphone of the alleged killer in the San Bernardino case promptly ended when the FBI was able to exploit a zero-day vulnerability and gain access to the phone. Nor is it the first time that law enforcement withdrew critical evidence over concerns of exposing their cyber techniques. In 2014, state police in Baltimore withdrew evidence allegedly collected using a Stingray, an electronic device that mimics a cellphone tower and enables law enforcement to intercept cellphone calls. But there is an important difference between these cases and the U.S. v. Jay Michaud. This is the first time that the FBI has voluntarily withdrawn evidence collected by exploiting a zero-day vulnerability. The FBI's dilemma going forward is that the more it relies on exploiting these kinds of hidden software vulnerabilities, the more it will be forced to reveal them to the public. If the FBI chooses to use and reveal the agency's exploits, it risks exposing its capabilities, enabling other criminals to patch their computers. On the other hand, if the FBI conceals its exploits, then it risks the ability to successfully prosecute cyber criminals should further evidence be questioned and ultimately withdrawn. This raises two important concerns. First, whether, in the cyber domain, the FBI will operate less like a law enforcement agency, and more like a de facto cyber-intelligence agency that collects inadmissible information. While the judge's decision may well be appealed, the fact remains that the more crimes are committed in cyberspace, and the more law enforcement must rely on the tradecraft of finding and exploiting software vulnerabilities, the more pressure will be placed on them to reveal their capabilities and maintain an effective role as a federal law enforcement agency. The second concern regards the public's ability to exercise effective oversight of the FBI's activities. As the FBI withdraws more evidence in fear of revealing its techniques, the less insight the public will have concerning the agency's methods and whether they comply with the rules. If the public isn't told how the lock was picked, then it becomes even more important to have oversight over the lock pickers. Sasha Romanosky studies topics on the economics of information security and privacy, and is a researcher at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation. Cortney Weinbaum is a former intelligence officer in the U.S. Intelligence Community. She is a national security researcher with the Intelligence Policy Center at RAND. This commentary originally appeared on Inside Sources on August 24, 2016. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis. Russian nationalist Potkin found guilty of organizing extremist movement MOSCOW, August 24 (RAPSI, Lyudmila Klenko) Moscows Meshchansky District Court has found Russian nationalist Alexander Potkin guilty of organizing extremist movement using the funds embezzled from the Kazakh BTA Bank, RAPSI learned in the court on Wednesday. A prosecutor earlier asked the court to sentence Potkin, who is also known as Alexander Belov, to nine years in penal colony. Investigators claim that Mukhtar Ablyazov, former chairman of the bank, who wanted to destabilize the constitutional order in Kazakhstan, asked Potkin to help him with organizing an extremist group. Potkin allegedly agreed and used funds embezzled from BTA Bank to spread the nationalist ideology in Kazakhstan. Belov was arrested on October 15, 2014 at the Hotel Intourist Kolomenskoe in Moscow on charges related to the embezzlement of $5 billion from BTA Bank. At the time of the arrest, Potkin allegedly had documents on him that effectively tied him to the embezzlement. Investigators believe that Potkin (Belov) was a mastermind in a money laundering operation in 2012-2014. He was also suspected of involvement in laundering money that was embezzled from BTA Bank by its former chairman Mukhtar Ablyazov. Ablyazov, who allegedly defrauded BTA Bank of more than $6 billion, left Kazakhstan for the UK, where he was granted political asylum in 2011. However, he remained a fugitive from justice since February 2012. Ablyazovs whereabouts remained unknown until he was detained on July 31, 2015 near Cannes, France. Kazakhstan, Russia, and Ukraine are all seeking his extradition. In October 2015, French authorities approved Ablyazovs extradition to Russia. TOLOnews.com, August 21, 2016 Latifa Rahmani, a 12-year-old Afghan immigrant died in an Iranian hospital on Friday afternoon after being denied the opportunity to undergo liver transplant surgery. Latifa died in the Namazi Hospital in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz from liver failure, Iran media reported. Latifa Rahmani, a 12-year-old Afghan immigrant died in an Iranian hospital on Friday afternoon after being denied the opportunity to undergo liver transplant surgery. (Photo: TOLOnews.com) Latifa Rahmani, a 12-year-old Afghan immigrant died in an Iranian hospital on Friday afternoon after being denied the opportunity to undergo liver transplant surgery. (Photo: TOLOnews.com) The girl had not been able to get a new liver because Iran bans such surgery for illegal immigrants, Iran Front Page reported. According to Latifa's father, the hospital refused to do the procedure because they were illegal immigrants and could not afford the costs involved as private patients. Officials at the hospital however said that the child had been in desperate need of a liver transplant when she came in but that there had not been enough time to carry out the required tests. They noted that the country's rules, as in many other countries, do not allow the transplant of body organs from dead bodies of Iranians to living bodies of foreign nationals. But Mohammad Hossein Qorbani, the deputy chairman of Iranian Parliament's Health Commission, underlined the need for a revision in the ban on the transplant of body organs to foreign nationals. "Wherever people's lives are in danger, we should not deprive them of medical services because of their foreign nationality. We should also take into account the humanitarian aspect of the issue," Qorbani said. He said that parliament is ready to revise the law that bans the transplant of body organs to foreign nationals. 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. In this April 3, 2014 file photo, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio works on a science project with pre-kindergarten pupil Justin De La Cruz during a visit to P.S.1 in New York. (AP Photo/New York Daily News, Susan Watts) RCEd Commentary Schools and districts are doing students and parents a disservice by scrapping letter grades for schools. School assessment and accountability systems are extremely important to any public school system. What the system measures represents its view of what makes for an effective school, and holding schools accountable is a powerful tool for pushing struggling schools to improve. A simple and understandable summary measure of each schools overall performance is essential for an accountability system. The new federal education law requires that states report some summary measure of each schools overall performance. Some dont like clear summary labels like A through F letter grades -- of school performance. No single measure could possibly describe something as complex as a school, the argument goes. Rather, those opposed to school accountability policies prefer that evaluation systems report lots of information about each school. They claim that this would provide parents and policymakers with a full picture of the schools attributes. In practice, this provides so much information about a school that it becomes impossible for a parent or curious policymaker to distinguish if it is effective. As a result, ineffective schools simply fly under the radar and feel no strong push to improve. Thats exactly what has happened in New York City. And kids in the citys worst schools are paying the price. Beginning in 2007, New York Citys accountability system assessed schools based on their students scores and gains on standardized tests as well as surveys of parents, teachers, and students about the schools environment. The city made public detailed reports about each schools performance on a wide variety of measures within each of these categories. In addition, it gave each school a letter grade -- from A to F -- summarizing its overall performance, taking all of these measures into account. These letter grades were effective. Two studies -- one by me and my coauthor Joshua Cowen of Michigan State University, the other by economists Jonah Rockoff of Columbia and Leslie Turner, now at the University of Maryland -- found that in schools labeled as failing in the policys first year, student test scores improved substantially the following year relative to how they would have performed had the schools received higher grades. In our paper, we additionally showed that the test score improvements caused by the F grade persisted with the students two years later, suggesting that they were not driven by manipulations to the testing process. In a new study for the Manhattan Institute, I show that a similar positive effect from receiving an F grade was still present in the fall of 2013, six years after the letter grades were first introduced in New York City. Despite the evidence, fundamentally reshaping the accountability program was an early priority of the administration headed by Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina. The new system would continue to provide detailed information about quality to parents and schools. But no longer would the Department of Education rate a school with a summary letter grade characterizing its overall performance. In the new accountability systems first year, the city collected and reported nearly identical information as under the prior policy but omitted the summary letter grades. What happened? Nothing. And thats the problem. I calculated the grade that each school would have received had the administration followed the former accountability systems approach. Unlike in prior years, students in schools that would have received an F (but now didnt receive it under the new system) didnt make gains relative to other schools. That is, when the administration discontinued the letter grades, it annihilated a positive effect that the prior system was still having on the citys worst schools. New York Citys experience suggests that public reporting of a wide variety of school-performance data does not improve school performance. Without the accompanying letter gradea measure easily understood by parents of school children to summarize and rank school performancethe incentive to improve may simply not be as strong. To put the point crudely: nothing says failure like an F. The requirement that states provide each school with a summary performance measure is a valuable part of the new federal education law. With the accountability ball back in their court, states should take a lesson from New York City and meet the requirement with the simple, straightforward, and yet effective strategy of issuing letter grades to schools. When Washington intervenes in the economy to "fix" a perceived problem, more often than not it ends up causing more confusion and doing more harm than good. Take the Treasury Department's sweeping new "earnings-stripping" regulations designed to stop so-called inversions, a rational business strategy allowing U.S.-based companies to recover some of the competitive advantages they have lost because America imposes the highest combined federal, state and local corporate tax rates on the planet (among OECD countries, only France comes close). By merging with a foreign corporation and moving its headquarters to another country with a lower tax rate, U.S. companies can raise their after-tax earnings, thus supplying the wherewithal for more investment, expanded production and additional hiring. Calling inversions unpatriotic and contributing to capital "flight" - sending investment and jobs overseas - the U.S. Treasury has been pushing new regulations in recent months to make it more difficult for businesses to avoid paying their "fair" share of the taxes flowing into governmental coffers. Previously announced "reforms" did little to stop businesses from pulling up stakes here at home and moving to friendlier tax environments, so Treasury buckled down in April and proposed new regulations under Section 385 of the Internal Revenue Code. Those regulations would empower the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to classify how related-party interests in a corporation can be treated as income rather than debt. The significance? Bigger corporate tax bills. Despite being rolled out with some fanfare - including a host of laudatory comments from President Obama - financial institutions, business groups, accounting firms and both parties on Capitol Hill have been unimpressed, arguing that the new regulations go too far, overturn long-standing tax case law and upend foundational tax principles. As a result, businesses not even contemplating inversions will find themselves paying higher taxes for simply managing inter-company debt transactions. News flash: businesses do not pay income taxes, only people (owners, employees, suppliers and customers) do. The corporate tax burden is shifted backward and forward in various ways depending on the nature of the industry in which the company operates. Moreover, corporate income is taxed twice: once at the level of the firm and then again at the level of individual shareholders when distributed to them as dividends. Any increases in the market value of the corporation (capital gains) are taxed when investors sell their shares. Recognizing these other taxes on corporate incomes, a principled argument can be made that the "optimal" corporate income tax rate is zero. Even if one is not willing to go that far, extensive analysis conducted by Ernst and Young concluded that, "The proposed regulations reach well beyond the inversion transactions that may have been their primary impetus; they extend to routine financing transactions for both non-US-based and US-based multinational corporations, for some majority-owned subsidiaries, for private equity funds and their portfolio companies, and for taxable real estate investment trust subsidiaries." In addition, "if finalized in their current form, the proposed regulations would dramatically affect a wide range of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions and ordinary course [of business] corporate finance and tax operations." Alarmingly, some companies, such as Procter & Gamble, estimate that compliance with the new regulations would raise their annual operating costs by between $220 and $340 million. Earnings that otherwise would go to hiring new employees, investing in research and development or inventing new products and services instead will by sucked up by the federal government. After a three-month public comment period during which myriad commentators - individual taxpayers, large and small businesses, economists, accountants and former government officials - weighed in on the changes, a senior Treasury official was forced to concede that the proposal was a "blunt instrument [that] might have overdone it." The problem isn't inversions, it's our overly complex, anti-growth, anti-investment corporate tax code. And the simplest and most effective way of fixing the problem is bringing U.S. corporate tax rates more in line with our global competitors. Do that and inversions will stop without resorting to more regulations and hiring more IRS agents to enforce them. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 08/24/2016 ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. 's Josh Murray has announced he is still dating Amanda Stanton and they are currently living together.Season 3 of is currently airing on ABC and viewers are watching Murray and Stanton's love story unfold. They've been inseparable ever since meeting, and according to the couple, the relationship has actually worked out."Things are going amazing," Murray told Us Weekly, who relocated from Atlanta, GA, to Stanton's apartment in Irvine, CA, this summer. "I 100 percent believe that Amanda is somebody I could spend the rest of my life with."Stanton, 26, echoed Murray's sentiment and couldn't help but gush about her man."He's so dedicated and so loyal," Stanton told the magazine. "He's sweet and thoughtful and caring -- it's not just something he turns on for the cameras."Since Murray and Stanton are an item, he must serve as a stepfather figure now to her two young daughters -- Kinsley, 4, and Charlie, 2.Despite the fact the couple is living together, Murray and Stanton stopped short of confirming spoiler reports their time in ended with them getting engaged when the finale filmed in Mexico this past June. According to Reality Steve spoiler blogger Steve Carbone, Murray definitely popped the question with a Neil Lane ring in Paradise and Stanton accepted."I definitely want to get married again," Stanton, who divorced her ex-husband Nick Buonfiglio in December 2014 after two years of marriage, told Us. "I do want more kids eventually. I have my hands full right now, but somewhere along the road -- yes!"Stanton is clearly sold on Murray and has overlooked accusations his ex-fiancee, Andi Dorfman , made in her memoir It's Not Okay, which Murray calls "fiction." Dorfman claimed Murray was verbally abusive in their short-lived relationship as well as temperamental and controlling, which has been brought to light on .Both Nick Viall and Evan Bass warned Stanton about Dorfman's allegations on the show when she began dating Murray. Viall -- who finished as the Bachelorette's runner-up on Season 10 -- is also in Dorfman's book and admits a lot of the unflattering information about him is true.Stanton confessed to the magazine she hasn't read Dorfman's book, nor does she intend to."I know Josh pretty well now myself," said the blonde beauty, "so it's not something I'm too worried about. There are two sides to every story." , We're sorry, this article is not currently available To help students reconnect to the Athens community, Indie South Fair is having its official Back to Cool event Sept. 17, which was designed by the market's founder, Serra Ferguson, to revitalize relationships between students and local artists. As more commercialized businesses move in on campus and in downtown Athens, students, local residents and University of Georgia alumni have debated the factors that contribute to a sustainable local economy. These contrasting perspectives were made clear after a recent Red & Black column, The student argument for big business in Athens, was published that supported a mixed economy. James F. Brooks, a historian and professor of anthropology and history at the University of California, Santa Barbara, visited the University of Georgia Sept. 2 to give a speech on his take of the mystery of the Awatovi people. FILE - In this May 19, 2013 file photo, Prince performs at the Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Several pills taken from Prince's estate in Paisley Park after his death were counterfeit drugs that actually contained fentanyl,a synthetic opioid 50 times more powerful than heroin, an official close to the investigation said Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File) SHARE By AMY FORLITI, Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Some of the pills taken from Prince's estate in Paisley Park after his death were counterfeit drugs that actually contained fentanyl a synthetic opioid 50 times more powerful than heroin, an official close to the investigation said. The official, who spoke to The Associated Press Sunday on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation, said nearly two dozen pills found in one Aleve bottle were falsely labeled as "Watson 385." According to Drugs.com, that stamp is used to identify pills containing a mix of acetaminophen and hydrocodone, but the official said at least one of the pills tested positive for fentanyl. Autopsy results released in June show Prince died April 21 of an accidental fentanyl overdose. The official who spoke to the AP said records show the 57-year-old Prince had no prescription for any controlled substances in the state of Minnesota in the 12 months before he died. Authorities are still investigating how Prince obtained the drugs. Fentanyl has been responsible for a surge in overdose deaths in some parts of the country. When made into counterfeit pills, users don't always know they're taking fentanyl, increasing the risk of fatal overdose. The Star Tribune first reported about the mislabeled pills in a story published on its website late Saturday. Some of the dozens of pills seized from Paisley Park were found to have other drugs in them, some were oxycodone or codeine, and some were not controlled substances. About a dozen tablets were found in a dressing room at Paisley Park, but the vast majority was in bottles of aspirin and Vitamin C that had been tucked inside a suitcase and bags including one Prince often carried with him. Some pills were also found loose in the bag, the official said. One pill with the "Watson 385" stamp tested positive for fentanyl, lidocaine and another drug. Officials found nearly two dozen pills similar to the one that was tested, the official said. Another aspirin bottle had more than 60 counterfeit tablets in it. Some pills that were analyzed contained fentanyl, lidocaine and U-47700 a synthetic drug that is eight times more powerful than morphine. Authorities also found a prescription bottle in someone else's name that contained 10 oxycodone pills, the official said, without revealing who was listed on the prescription. The official said Prince had many of these pills with him on April 15 when the airplane he was on made an emergency stop in Moline, Illinois, after he fell ill from a suspected drug overdose as he was heading home from a performance in Atlanta. Prince was given two doses of Narcan, an antidote used to reverse suspected opioid overdoses, the official said. U-47700 can be tested for in toxicology screens, but is not done routinely because it is a relatively new chemical. Presence of the drug was not tested in Prince's case, but the levels of fentanyl in his system were more than enough to be toxic, the official said. Tests on Prince prior to his death did not show fentanyl in his system, which means he wasn't a long-time abuser of that drug, but likely took the fatal dose sometime in the 24 hours before he died, the official said. The official did not elaborate on those tests. But at least one doctor, Michael Todd Schulenberg, saw Prince on April 7 and again on April 20, the day before he died. According to a search warrant, he told a detective he had ordered tests for Prince and prescribed medications. Schulenberg's attorney, Amy Conners, has said patient-privacy laws do not allow her to say what the prescriptions were. The autopsy report also shows Prince had diazepam, lidocaine and hydrocodone acids in his body, the official said. Diazepam is an anti-anxiety pill sold as Valium. It's a sedative and can also be used to control seizures, which Prince suffered from as a child. Lidocaine is a local anesthetic. A basket for garbage is seen on a beach near Havana, Cuba, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. Government advertising campaigns, billboards in the dunes, new trash cans on the beaches and tractor-driving public cleanup crews have failed to ease the pileup of trash on Cuban beaches. (AP Photo/Desmond Boylan) SHARE By ANDREA RODRIGUEZ, Associated Press HAVANA (AP) Hayde Lanza, her sister-in-law and their children left home in their swimsuits after breakfast, loaded with food, juice and bottled water. A 40-minute bus ride later they were staring at a turquoise sea riffled by a gentle Caribbean breeze and a powdery white beach littered with food wrappers and aluminum cans. "There are cardboard boxes and broken bottles," Lanza said. "In the water there's cracker packages, plastic, everything. There's no respect for the people who show up after you. Even right next to the trash cans there's piles of trash on the ground." Litter is a problem virtually everywhere in the world. But the trashing of Cuba's world-class beaches by beachgoers themselves has become so extreme that tourists are complaining and Cubans bemoan it as a symptom of something amiss in a nation that's long cherished cleanliness, order and mutual respect. "No one has a sense of ownership, not of the environment, or of the beach or anything. People think, 'This isn't mine so it doesn't matter if it's dirty,'" said Yanelis Silva, who was selling snacks, drinks and fried chicken at a beachfront stand on the eastern outskirts of Havana. "It was really disappointing to get to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and find mountains of trash," one tourist wrote on TripAdvisor about her time in Varadero, one of Cuba's best-known resorts. Particularly extreme during summer vacations, the beach trash problem fuels a widely shared Cuban belief that national values disintegrated during the post-Soviet economic collapse known here as the Special Period. For many Cubans who remember the Cold War decades of subsidized plenty, the economic deprivation that began in the 1990s caused permanent damage to standards of personal behavior in one of the world's last communist-run societies. "There's no justification, but at one point the situation in our country was so hard that people stopped worrying about public resources because they had to take of their personal needs," Silva said. Government advertising campaigns, billboards in the dunes, new trash cans on the beaches and tractor-driving public cleanup crews have failed to ease the problem. At the height of the summer beach season, it's common to see beachgoers spend a day eating, drinking and playing in the water, then leave all their trash in a mound on the sand. "It's like your house is your sanctuary and anywhere outside it, you don't care what's happening," said Angela Corvea, an environmental activist and marine biologist. Cuba played host to 3.5 million tourists last year and expects 3.8 million in 2016, part of a boom set off by the declaration of detente with the United States in December 2014. Numbers are expected to surge even higher when commercial flights to and from the United States start again this month after a 54-year hiatus. "This is bad for business. When they see the beach trashed they'll go somewhere else," said Armando Rodriguez, a souvenir vendor with a stand on a beach outside Havana. "We arrive and clean up our area and by midday it's full of cans." Many Cubans remember a time when they could be fined for littering, but enforcement has virtually disappeared in recent years. Cuban environmentalists say public awareness campaigns needs to be accompanied by officials again imposing the legally required fines of $9 to $90 for leaving garbage in public areas a heavy burden in a country where take-home pay averages about $25 a month. "We have to be aware that if we hope for economic development through tourism, we have to take care of the beaches," said Osmel Francis, a musician and environmentalist. "I lot of people these days don't even want to swim because there's so much trash." ___ Associated Press writer Michael Weissenstein contributed to this report. Greg Barnette/Record Searchlight California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention firefighters work to put out a fire near Shingletown in June 2014. Cal Fire officials say they want the state to increase firefighters' pay to be more commensurate with what city firefighters make. SHARE This page from the Firefighter Total Compensation Survey put together by CalHR's Office of Financial Management and Economic Research in May 2014 shows firefighter salary ranges. By Joe Szydlowski of the Redding Record Searchlight California state firefighters are campaigning in Sacramento and beyond for higher pay, saying municipal departments are luring their colleagues away with better wages and hours. "We don't want to be the highest paid department, just compensated fairly to what the average is," said Steve Buell, who serves as the alternate chapter director for the Local 2881 in Nevada, Yuba and Placer counties and as a fire captain with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. His union, which represents Cal Fire firefighters across the state, rallied Monday at the Capitol with family members for higher pay. That agency, he said, has had trouble with recruitment because of the base wages, which he said amount to a little more than half of the average at municipal fire departments. However, when benefits, overtime and other contributions are added in, entry-level, full-time Cal Fire firefighters receive $11,051 while battalion chiefs receive $15,818 monthly. Those figures add up to about two-thirds of their municipal counterparts, according to the 2014 California Firefighter Total Compensation Survey by the California Department of Human Resources, which negotiates the union contract that affects 6,500 employees. Representatives with that agency didn't return two calls for comment, including one to a cell phone. In its report, Cal HR randomly selected 20 fire departments to compare with Cal Fire's compensations. That report found that while Cal Fire pays less of a base salary, its full-time firefighters receive more overtime, offsetting the gap somewhat. It also said they receive substantially more money for health benefits but less for retirement than municipal firefighters. But total compensation for Cal Fire employees is similar to some Redding firefighters, according to data provided by the city. While entry-level firefighters make about $40,000 more with Cal Fire than Redding, Redding's captains and engineers earn more than their Cal Fire counterparts. The battalion chiefs' salaries are comparable. But, Buell said, those total compensation numbers don't include one key element, which the report brought up: Cal Fire firefighters work 72 hours a week to staff their station for that pay the surveyed municipalities, along with the city of Redding, require only 56 hours per week. Federal law establishes a full-time shift as 53 hours per week because firefighters typically work 24-hour shifts. That means Cal Fire employees work more hours than their municipal counterparts but still take home less cash, Buell said. In addition, a new law raises the minimum wage for Californians, including seasonal firefighters, he said. That means an upward pressure on year-round, full-time employees, Buell said. Their contract has gone through several negotiations, but 2006 was the last time they received a raise, he said. "We've settled for so long, and with the minimum wage pushing up, we have to fix the wage problem," he said. That's causing morale problems and a brain drain, he said. "If I'm a firefighter making $4,000 and a captain makes $4,500 and has way more responsibility, I'm going to stay a firefighter. There's no incentive to promote," he said, noting half of those who applied to become Cal Fire fire captains actually took the test. Many instead move to municipal departments, where they get better pay for the same work, he said. "You could be working on a fire assignment next to a (Los Angeles) fire engine, they're making $50 an hour and the Cal Fire (employee) is making $24 or $26 an hour, all on overtime," he said, noting those numbers were hypothetical. "Double the money for the same amount of risk." Andreas Fuhrmann/Record Searchlight A group on Tuesday withdrew its petition to the California Fish and Game Commission to increase the number of striped bass anglers could catch and reduce the size limit of hooked fish. SHARE By Damon Arthur of the Redding Record Searchlight A controversial proposal to increase the number of striped bass which some blame for the demise of salmon anglers can catch has been withdrawn. The California Fish and Game Commission had been set to consider the proposal on Thursday, but the petition was withdrawn late Tuesday afternoon, meaning the panel will not consider the item. The meeting in Folsom was expected to draw dozens of opponents and proponents, as both sides geared up for a fight over the issue. Some say striped bass have decimated the salmon population as they feed on the young fish as they leave freshwater streams on their way out to the ocean. In June a group of Southern California water agencies and business groups, including the Metropolitan Water District and the California Chamber of Commerce, submitted a petition to the commission asking it to increase the limit on the number of striped and black bass anglers can catch. They also proposed reducing the size of striped and black bass anglers can catch. Under the proposal, the size limit would have dropped from 18 inches to 12 inches. Anglers also would have been able to catch six striped bass, rather than the current two. For black bass, the size limit would have been 8 inches, rather than 12 inches, and the daily limit would have been 10, up from the current five fish. Paul Weiland, a lawyer from Orange County who submitted the petition, was not available for comment Tuesday. An official at the commission office in Sacramento said she could not share the request to withdraw the petition because members of the commission had not yet seen it. John McManus, executive director of the Golden Gate Salmon Association, said he opposed changing striped bass regulations. He said salmon are suffering due to state and federal policies on stream diversions, rather than predators like striped bass. He said groups representing recreation and commercial anglers were united in opposition to the proposal. "It was clear the entire fishing community had united, or come together, in opposition to this petition and the anti-science approach it was trying to push," McManus said. "Maybe the backers of this petition heard from scientists who set them straight." The commission was being asked to either reject the petition, approve it or refer it to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife for further study. The commission rejected a similar proposal in 2012. SHARE By Nathan Solis of the Redding Record Searchlight A month after the Redding City Council voted to not get behind a homeless plan, Shasta County supervisors approved a new approach at Tuesday's board meeting send the plan back to the city for a vote. The Board of Supervisors did not agree to commit any funding to restructure the Redding/Shasta County Continuum of Care, which secures grants for two nonprofits who serve the homeless. Instead they directed county staff to work with Redding City Manager Kurt Starman to flesh out a new approach to existing services and "a path forward" as laid out by County Executive Officer Larry Lees. "I don't want to do just the same thing. There is room for growth," said Lees. That growth means the COC will remain under the care of the county and data collection will be taken on by another agency, leaving more time for an administrator to coordinate local programs. The third point is to hire a leader to take control of the COC. Lees said a coordinator could be hired for $100,000 but that figure was not finalized. The tactic approved on Tuesday lacked dollar figures, as opposed to a plan presented last month by Redding City Councilwoman Kristen Schreder, who outlined an overhaul to beef up the role of the COC. Her overhaul would have asked the city of Redding and county to commit $65,000 each for two years. That plan looked to hire a full-time administrator, assign a nonprofit to manage the program and purchase software to coordinate agencies already serving the homeless population. On Tuesday, Lees offered a measured approach, offering the county would benefit from a new homeless management information system, which tracks people receiving services and would better coordinate providers. Talk of upgrading the system were left as possible scenarios for the future. Lees reminded the board of a few programs assisting the homeless and how they provide rental assistance and accountability by working with case managers, who provide a layer of stability for landlords to house the homeless. Supervisors Les Baugh and Leonard Moty questioned what type of nonprofit would take over. Supervisors David Kehoe and Pam Giacomini wanted to include other cities in the conversation such as Anderson, Shasta Lake and Burney. "What's important here is there are no winners or losers. Just moving the conversation forward is important," said Kehoe. Schreder said she still had questions about the new path approved by the board. "I'd like to see more of the details. I appreciate the board brought this back to discuss. I don't think we know what type of description goes with this specific plan," Schreder said. Critics of Schreder's plan say it lacked input from the current COC board. Schreder said the plan she presented in July was the product of community workshops and facilitated by professionals. Starman said the Redding City Council will consider the plan at its Sept. 6 meeting. SHARE What do burping, perfume, and throwing Skittles all have in common? They have all gotten kids arrested at school. Classroom antics that once would end in a trip to the principal's office, detention, or, at worst, a suspension now end in a ride in a police car and an arrest record. The consequences can be grossly disproportionate to the conduct. In New Mexico, a 13-year-old boy was arrested after disturbing his physical-education class with fake burps. The charge: violating a state statute that criminalizes interference with a school's "educational process" by "any act which would disrupt, impair, interfere with or obstruct the lawful mission, processes, procedures or functions of the property, building or facility." An appeals court ruled that the police officer could not be held liable for the arrest, though a brief dissent argued that prior case law required "a more substantial, more physical invasion" than momentary "noise or diversion" like fake burps to find that school operations are jeopardized to a point that justifies arrest. In Texas, Sarah Bustamantes, 12, was also cited for "disrupting class." Why? She sprayed perfume on her neck after classmates teased her, telling her that she smelled. They then complained about the smell of her perfume and the teacher called the police. Officers arrested Alex Stone, a 16-year-old South Carolina high schooler, after he completed an in-class writing assignment the first day of school. Alex wrote, "I killed my neighbor's pet dinosaur," and "I bought the gun to take care of the business." The teacher called the police, who searched his locker and person for weapons. They found none but arrested Alex anyway for disorderly conduct, claiming the boy was being irate. Alex's mother noted: "First of all, we don't have dinosaurs anymore. Second of all, he's not even old enough to buy a gun." In 2014, the government charged Christian Stanfield, a 15-year-old with a learning disability, with disorderly conduct. After his teacher failed to stop other students from harassing Stanfield, he recorded the bullies and brought the recording to the attention of the school officials. They called the police on him instead for recording others without their permission. The charges were later dropped. In Louisiana, a bus driver told an eighth grader and a couple of other students to stop throwing Skittles at one another on their ride home. The next day, a police officer cuffed the student in the middle of a social studies test and "dragged" him from the classroom. The boy spent six days in a juvenile detention facility, charged with "interference with an educational facility" and "battery." A judge subsequently asked: "Am I to get this right? Are we really here about Skittles?" 2014 (the last year for which data are available) marked a historically low number of juvenile arrests for violent crime. Yet these cases illustrate an increasing number of criminal arrests for disorderly conduct. A disastrous (and perhaps predictable) consequence of introducing children to the criminal justice system for this level of conduct is that minors have to cope with the stigma that attaches to a brush with criminal law enforcement; it can follow them for the rest of their lives. Studies show that a "first-time arrest during high school nearly doubles the odds of high school dropout, while a court appearance nearly quadruples the odds of dropout." Disorderly conduct such as scribbling on a desk or a Skittles fight certainly falls outside the realm of conduct most people would assume to be criminal. As Kady Simpkins, a lawyer for Sarah Bustamantes, said: "They're kids. Disruption of class? Every time I look at this law I think: Good lord, I never would have made it in school in the U.S. I don't know how these kids do it, how they go to school every day without breaking these laws." Even when an arrest is not made, police involvement in harmless conduct can have lasting negative consequences. In Collingswood, for example, police were called into a class party in June when a third grader said something about brownies that another child said was racist. Police questioned the boy, then his father, and reported the incident to the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency. The boy's mother said the questioning "intimidated" and "traumatized" her son. Superintendent Scott Oswald told reporters that "on some occasions over the last month, officers may have been called to as many as five incidents per day." Teachers and parents must accept responsibility to discipline kids for minor misbehavior themselves. The potential costs of an unwarranted arrest of a student in class are too high, and law enforcement officials have real crime to deal with. John-Michael Seibler is a legal fellow in the Heritage Foundation's Center for Legal and Judicial Studies. Nathan Howe is a member of Heritage's Young Leaders Program. Contact the writers via www.heritage.org Ireland's 57th annual Rose of Tralee Festival culminated Tuesday night with the naming of the Rose of Tralee, and one of Chicago's own took home the crown. Maggie McEldowney of Beverly, representing Chicago in the international competition, beat 64 other women who hailed from Ireland's many counties as well as from cities such as Dubai, Sydney, Toronto and, in the U.S., Boston, New Orleans and San Francisco. Advertisement "This is just a wonderful dream come true," she told RTE's Morning Ireland. The Rose of Tralee Festival, held in Tralee in County Kerry in southern Ireland, includes concerts, a carnival, parades and much more, but the main event is the competition, "which brings young women of Irish descent from around the world to County Kerry, Ireland for a global celebration of Irish culture," its website says. A young woman originally had to be a native of Tralee to qualify for the competition, but it was expanded in the 1960s to include anyone from County Kerry and to young women "of Irish birth or ancestry" in 1967, according to the Chicago Rose of Tralee site. McEldowney, 27, attended the University of Illinois and Mount Greenwood's Marist High School, where she currently works as director of development. She told Morning Ireland that her grandmother was born in Ireland's County Derry, and according to RTE, she's on the Board of the Young Irish Fellowship Club of Chicago, which coordinates fundraisers that celebrate Irish culture. Advertisement When asked on Morning Ireland how Irish she feels, McEldowney responded, "I'm definitely an American, I grew up in Chicago, but I think there are a lot of Irish ways of life that were instilled in me growing up. I grew up in a very Irish neighborhood, whether it be first, second, third generation. So the wonderful part about Chicago is, the generations continue. My grandparents were from Ireland, my friends have parents who are Irish, and now I have friends who are starting their lives in Chicago as well who are my age, so the tradition continues. The Irish community is alive and well in Chicago." While the Rose of Tralee competition may look like the Irish version of Miss America, it's not just a beauty pageant, and that's a perception McEldowney hopes to change as the new Rose, she told Morning Ireland. "I would love to alter the image, just like the Roses before me have done, because it's so much more than the glitz and the glam," she said. "Which is a wonderful part of it, it's a beautiful aspect of the festival as well, but there's so much more that goes into it so I look forward to creating awareness for that." Congratulations! @gauxmargaux | mhenquinet@redeyechicago.com Eternal good guys PAWS Chicago are responding to the recent flooding in southern Louisiana by sending volunteers from Chicago to go and rescue homeless animals. Since the flooding started, more than 40,000 people have been displaced from their homes, creating a desperate need for emergency housing for hundreds of pets. PAWS is sending a veterinary team and additional volunteers on Wednesday to the affected areas. Advertisement PAWS expects to rescue dozens of cats and dogs and transport them back to the PAWS Chicago Medical Center overnight Thursday. PAWS is hoping to help alleviate pressure on shelters in flooded areas and find new forever homes for those precious little fur babies. But with an influx of pets comes an increase in need for resources, from foster homes to supplies required for animal car. You can learn more about donations or opening your home to a foster petor volunteer your time taking care of these cute and cuddly guysat a PAWS Chicago Adoption Center. Advertisement @shelbielbostedt | sbostedt@redeyechicago.com Indian Railways sustenance, freight traffic, - which accounts for about 70 per cent of its revenue - has been plateauing of late, says Ramakrishnan T S. Instead of analysing what was wrong with its freight service model, Indian Railways went for the knee-jerk measure of reducing freight rates. Result: loss in revenue. In such a situation it will be difficult for the Railways to retain its existing freight transport volume With the passage of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill in Parliament, there is a sense of well-being in the country, as it is expected that this tax would turn India into a single market, cut the flab in the logistics industry and remove distortions created by inter-state taxes, thereby make the manufacturing sector more competitive. Growth of the manufacturing sector would spur growth of the logistics industry. The transport sector would be happy with the double benefit of growth in its business and reduction in transportation costs. But Indian Railways (IR) should be worried with the arrival of the GST, unless it wants to remain in a sthitpragya state. Why so? Because IRs sustenance, freight traffic, - which accounts for about 70 per cent of its revenue from transport operations - has been plateauing of late, registering about 1.095 billion tonnes in 2014-15 and 1.107 billion tonnes in 2015-16. Indian Railways had commissioned the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) to assess the prospects of its freight traffic in 2016-17 as well as to suggest possible strategies. NCAER recommended reduction of freight rates, removal of 10 per cent port congestion charges, review of 15 per cent season surcharge, some changes in operations such as reviewing the two-point loading restriction, restoring the long-term committed business segment of short-distance freight traffic with concessions and abolishing dual freight rates for transporting iron ore (30 per cent more for export than for domestic use). All these recommendations were made essentially on the principle of price elasticity - that with decreased freight charges, demand would increase substantially and hence, overall revenue would also increase. IR removed 10 per cent port congestion charges and 15 per cent season charges effective from May 1, 2016. It abolished dual freight rate for transporting iron ore effective from May 10. These measures did benefit IR - a three per cent overall increase in freight loading - but there was also a seven per cent overall drop in revenue in June 2016 compared to June last year. This apart, in April and May this year, there was a decrease in freight loading by two per cent from the figure during the same months in 2015. In a nutshell, IR did not generate as much revenue in the first quarter of 2016 as it did in the same quarter last year. Neither the existing freight charges nor the reduced freight charges helped IR increase its revenue from freight traffic - decreased freight charges did help it transport some more freight but with a loss of revenue. Why? Price elasticity works only when the service delivery is the same across competitors. IRs service delivery has been worse than other transport modes. It became convenient for IR to go for the knee-jerk measure of reducing freight rates based on the NCAER report without even assessing by itself what was essentially wrong with its freight service model. NCAER, on its part, did not analyse the issue in a holistic manner to arrive at path-breaking solutions to increase rail freight traffic. What was the core issue that stopped IR from increasing its freight transport output? It is this: IR has been unable to provide faster and timely transportation of non-bulk freight transport and hence has been unable to make a foray into non-bulk freight transportation. Whether it is the transportation of raw material, partly processed goods or finished goods, those who look for faster and committed delivery dont prefer transporters who transport goods at their own will and are non-committal about delivery. To understand this fully, we need to know the freight transport pattern in general. There are two categories of freight - bulk and non-bulk materials. Materials defined by weight and volume such as coal, iron ore, food grains, petroleum and cement are bulk materials. There is a qualitative difference in the transportation and handling of bulk and non-bulk materials. Some of the bulk items such as iron ore and coal are of low value, whereas most of the non-bulk items are invariably of high value. Materials in transit also form the inventory. Hence, the transportation of non-bulk materials happens in smaller consignments, rather than accumulating and transporting them in one go. End-to-end transport also has to be faster, safer (for the material) and the material has to be delivered in the committed time, even if the transportation cost is higher. On the other hand, the sole criterion for transportation of low-value bulk material is that it should be cheap. Given this condition, IR had a clear edge over road transport in transporting low-value bulk materials of coal and iron ore. IR also has an edge in transportation of high-value bulk materials such as cement, fertilisers, food grains, petrol, oil and lubricants, especially if these are transported over long distances. As a result, bulk items contribute about 89 per cent of freight loading and 85 per cent of freight earnings of IR. However, IR pays a price for transporting bulk items, as 40 per cent of the wagon movement is on empty rakes. This is a huge flab IR carries for capturing and retaining low-value bulk material transportation. In bulk freight traffic, coal is the single major source of revenue for IR, contributing about 30 per cent, against 29 per cent of the entire passenger transport. Hence this would hit IRs financials. The NCAER study estimated that freight transport for IR would grow at 2.1 per cent in 2016-17 and half the growth would come from coal alone. However, IR may not be able to achieve any addition to coal transportation volume as conditions are not conducive. As of 2016 India has surplus power and its power sector has been steering towards solar power. Against this backdrop, IR cannot depend any more on coal to augment its freight traffic and hence, its revenues. Moreover, pipeline and coastal shipping have also forayed into transportation of bulk items, giving IR tough competition. For medium distances, cement transportation has already moved towards trucks. In such a situation, it is difficult for IR to retain existing bulk freight transport volume, let alone augment it. (This is the first of a two-part series.) The author is a Doctorate in Public Systems from IIM Ahmedabad and currently teaches at TAPMI, Manipal. The views are personal. Photograph: Reuters These have been selected based on the earnings growth prospects and favourable (buy) ratings by brokerages India Incs earnings growth has disappointed investors over the past few quarters, as well as the past couple of years. However, the March quarter was relatively better. Revenue growth came ahead of Street expectations, as well as over the preceding few quarters. The trend in the June quarter numbers so far is mixed. Slowing economic growth, high debt and a virtual freeze on greenfield capex by private companies are among the factors that have hurt India Incs results. Hence, it is no surprise that a large part of the companies in BSE 100 stocks universe have witnessed earnings downgrades for many quarters now. However, there are six stocks that have seen increase in their one-year forward (FY17) earnings estimates for three quarters in a row now based on data till June 30, 2016. These six companies include Bharat Petroleum Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, JSW Steel, Mahindra and Mahindra Financial Services, UPL and Vedanta. Grasim and Tata Steel, too, figure in the list. But, given the recent development of the merger of Aditya Birla Nuvo with Grasim, investors may want to wait for more clarity. For Tata Steel, though, most analysts polled by Bloomberg have a sell recommendation on the stock with their average target price of Rs 309, indicating a downside potential of 20 per cent from the current levels. From the rest, here are some companies which investors can consider on declines given that their stocks are also close to analysts' target prices. These have been selected based on the earnings growth prospects and favourable (buy) ratings by brokerages. BPCL/HPCL Oil marketing companies HPCL and BPCL could witness flattish compounded annual growth in earnings over FY16-FY18, according to Bloomberg consensus estimates, but that isn't worrying the Street given the improvement in operational parameters and enhanced visibility. These companies had witnessed a significant improvement in FY16 net profit on the back of diesel price deregulation and virtually nil under-recoveries, creating a high base in the last financial year. Prior to this, their profits were highly volatile given the uncertain timing of government compensation towards the under recoveries. So, a flattish earnings trajectory isn't worrisome. Going ahead, both these companies stand to gain from benign crude oil prices and reducing working capital and interest costs. While diesel price deregulation has been a major positive for these companies and will aid their marketing margins, the stock prices could rise further led by gradual increase in price of kerosene; a full de-regulation will provide a big boost. In fact, both these companies can further gain from value unlocking in their investments in refineries such as Numaligarh Refinery and HPCL-Mittal Energy due to improving outlook of refining business. Favourable developments in its exploration and production business will be another catalyst for BPCL, going forward. In this backdrop of structural improvement in business, most analysts are positive on both BPCL and HPCL. JSW Steel The company is likely to post strong double-digit volume growth going forward. JSW Steel has also been generating healthy free cash flows and has high efficiency and conversion cost parameters vis-a-vis other steel manufacturers. We believe JSW Steel will be able to recalibrate its costs in the current challenging steel market, better than peers given its track record, analysts at JM Financial write in a recent note on the company. The governments supportive stance against imports is another positive for JSW Steel, though any discontinuance on this front could impact the stock, and the domestic steel industry. M&M Financial Services M&M Financial Services stands to gain from a good monsoon given its strong presence in rural markets. Improving rural outlook will not only boost the company's loan growth but also rub-off favourably on its asset quality as the loan repayment ability of existing borrowers improves. The falling cost of funds along with an uptick in loans to the high-yield segments of tractors, utility vehicles could push up the companys net interest margins as well. However, as the company complies with Reserve Bank rule of recognising bad loans earlier (90 days versus 120 days currently), the non-performing assets ratios could trend slightly upwards. UPL UPL is among the key beneficiaries from a good monsoon. Continued traction in the Latin American market, which forms 20 per cent of UPLs revenues will be another factor fuelling growth going forward. Management expects revenues to grow 12-15 per cent this year and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation to improve by 60-100 basis points. A well diversified portfolio along with continued focus on branding and new product launches are key positives. The company could also derive synergy benefits from merger of Advanta in FY18. Unfavourable movements in currency and sustained low crop prices are key downside risks. Vedanta Improving prospects and capacity expansion of its zinc, aluminium and power businesses will be key catalysts for Vedanta going forward, say analysts. Increased availability of cheaper coal will also drive cost efficiencies at the company. The merger of Cairn India will provide Vedanta the much-needed access to its rich cash flows and substantially improve tight liquidity at the Vedanta standalone entity level, says Tarang Bhanushali, analyst, IIFL. Reducing the debt burden would also aid Vedanta's cash flows going forward. Photograph: Reuters Airlander 10, the 92-metre-long part plane part helicopter, part airship - was damaged after reportedly hitting a telegraph pole The world's largest aircraft crashed, on Wednesday, in eastern England during its second test flight since being revamped in the United Kingdom. Airlander 10, the 92-metre-long part plane part helicopter, part airship - was damaged after reportedly hitting a telegraph pole at its base at Cardington airfield in Bedfordshire. "The flight went really well and the only issue was when it landed," said a spokesperson for Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV), the firm behind the USD 33-million aircraft. "We're debriefing following the second test flight this morning. All crew are safe and well and there are no injuries," an HAV statement on Facebook said. The Airlander, christened Martha Gwyn, was first developed for the US government as a long-endurance surveillance aircraft, but the British firm launched a campaign to return the craft to the skies after it fell foul of defence cutbacks. It is nearly 15 metres longer than the biggest passenger jets and uses helium to become airborne, travelling at speeds of up to 92mph, the 'Guardian' reported. The Airlander successfully completed its first test flight without incident on August 17. It performed one lap of the airfield before landing about half an hour later. HAV claims once it clears all tests the aircraft could be used for a variety of functions such as surveillance, communications, delivering aid and even passenger travel. The company hopes to be building 10 Airlanders a year by 2021 and says the huge aircraft will be able to stay airborne for about five days during manned flights. It is also hoped an Airlander 50 will eventually be developed, which will be able to transport 50 tonnes of freight. Photographs: Darren Staples/Reuters and Gareth Bumstead/Reuters Even in times of disaster and distress, caste tensions continue to stay afloat at relief camps for flood victims in Bihar with reports coming in about Dalits at the Bihar Vidhyapeet Bhawan and B N collegiate camps in Patna being abused, humiliated and deprived of relief by some upper caste men, a district official said on Wednesday. "Flood victims have been given shelter at the Bihar Vidhyapeet Bhawan in Patna as per their caste. Dalits have been treated as unwanted," Mangri Devi, a Dalit flood victim told rediff.com. According to officials, at the time of distribution of relief items on Tuesday, a group of upper caste men forcefully drove away Dalit women saying they could not have food alongside them. The Dalit women later informed the concerned officials and lodged a complaint against their village panchayat head who had arranged a separate shelter for them far from that of the upper caste people. A similar situation was reported from relief camps at B N Collegiate. "Dalits were abused, misbehaved and humiliated during the distribution of relief items," Ramji Ram, a flood victim at the B N Collegiate camp, said. When contacted, Patna District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Agarwal said he was unaware of any such incident. "If anything like this happened, it is unfortunate and we will investigate it," he told rediff.com. Agarwal has been visiting various relief camps in the district and inspecting food preparations and other arrangements. "As per the chief minster's directive, we are serving them (the flood affected victims) food in stainless steel utensils. The administration is taking every possible step to ensure that people at the camps are being served proper food," Agarwal said. Mahender Yadav, an activist working among flood victims in Koshi region which comprises of five flood-prone districts, is not surprised by the reports of caste discrimination. He said: "We found similar cases of caste discrimination in relief distribution last month and reported them to district officials in the Koshi region." A Congress MLA, who did not wish to be identified, said he was shocked to learn that panchayat heads distributed relief among their own castemen and deprived other castes, particularly poorest Dalits and extremely backward castes during last month's flood in the Koshi region. "It is saddest part in time of crisis." Over 22 people have been killed and 23.71 lakh affected in the Bihar floods with many areas, specially the riverine belt of 12 districts, submerged. The state is facing one of the worst floods in the decade despite receiving less than normal rainfall as all the major rivers flowing through the state are in a spate. Ganga, Sone, Punpun, Burhi Gandak, Ghaghra and Kosi rivers have affected 23.71 lakh people in 1,115 villages living in 12 districts of the state, a statement from the Disaster Management Department said. Of the 38 districts in the state, nearly 20 have been affected by the recent floods. IMAGE: A man uses tube boat to wade through flooded area of Hajipur, Bihar on Tuesday. Photograph: PTI Photo Ten people were killed and lakhs affected due to floods in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal where major rivers are flowing above danger mark, while two boys are feared dead after they were washed away in flash floods in the Tawi river in Jammu on Wednesday. In Uttar Pradesh, two persons were killed since Tuesday in the floods which have affected around 8.7 lakh people in 987 villages of 28 districts in the state, officials said. NDRF teams have been sent to Varanasi, Allahabad, Ghazipur and Ballia, Relief Commissioner D K Singh said, adding, "In these four districts, 30,247 people have been shifted to the relief camps, while 62,397 have been moved to safer places." The situation has worsened due to release of water from Nepal and the adjoining states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand which has led to further rise in the water levels of the major rivers, he said. In Bihar, with seven fresh deaths, the toll in the current round of floods mainly due to the swollen Ganga river rose to 29. While five deaths were reported from Samastipur, one each was reported in Nalanda and Khagaria, a release by State Disaster Management Authority said, adding the floods caused by rising waters of Ganga, Sone, Punpun, Burhi Gandak, Ghaghra and Kosi have affected 29.71 lakh people in 4,222 villages in 24 districts of the state. In Aurangabad district, one person was killed and eight others feared dead when a country boat ferrying flood victims capsized in swollen Punpun river last evening. With the latest deaths, toll in Bihar floods including those in Kosi areas earlier, has risen to 127. Except for a light downpour in Gaya, major parts of Bihar did not witness any rain on Wednesday. Heavy rains lashed the national capital bringing down the mercury two notches below normal even as humidity levels rose. "The maximum temperature was recorded at 31.8 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal while the minimum temperature was 27 degrees Celsius, a notch below normal," a MeT official said. The Safdarjung observatory recorded 5.6 mm rainfall. Humidity levels oscillated between 87 an 64 per cent. In Jammu, two teenage brothers are feared dead after they were washed away in flash floods in the Tawi river, while another youth was rescued, police said. In West Bengal, West Midnapore, Hooghly, Howrah, Bankura, Burdwan and Nadia districts are affected due to release of water by Damodar Valley Corporation. In Malda district, around 135 houses were washed away due to erosion in the Ganga river, while 20 villages were inundated with rise in water level of the river. A few places in the state received little or moderate rains since yesterday, while Kolkata recorded maximum temperature of 32.1 degrees Celsius. In Punjab and Haryana maximum temperatures hovered close to normal levels, even as light rain lashed a few places. IMAGE: Houses submerged in flood, in Allahabad. Photograph: PTI Photo Ten more teams of the National Disaster Response Force were on Tuesday deployed for rescue and relief operations in flood-hit Bihar and Uttar Pradesh even as the force rescued over 33,000 marooned people from various states. Witnessing continuous rains and with people not wanting to leave their homes, the force has also deployed a number of 'boat ambulances' in these states on which the personnel of the force provide pre-hospitalisation treatment and medicines to the affected. "The 10 teams that were airlifted on Monday for Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have been deployed. We are intensifying our operations," NDRF chief O P Singh told PTI. A special control room at the forces' headquarter New Delhi is monitoring the situation 24X7, he said. As per reports coming from the flood-affected areas of UP, the water level is increasing by 1 cm per hour in areas around Varanasi and about 15 cm rise in the water level has been seen in the day till now, a senior official said. There are reports of waterlogging in Varanasi and Ghazipur, the official said. "So far, NDRF teams have evacuated/rescued 33,210 people and provided medicine assistance to 9,197 needy people," the national contingency force said, adding rescue operations in four other states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Assam are in "full swing". Apart from the 10 fresh teams, 17 rescue teams of the NDRF are operational in Bihar. As per data, while 650 people were rescued from Patna, 1,580 from Didarganj, 450 from Sonepur, 65 from Vaisali, 780 people from Bakhtiyarpur and 300 people and 10 cattles were rescued from Digaghat Danapur to safer locations. "Thus, NDRF has rescued a total of 14,178 people in last four days in Bihar," it said. Similarly, 19 teams of NDRF are deployed in different parts of Uttar Pradesh. In order to launch massive operations in the two worst-affected states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, the NDRF has created on-ground control rooms in these two states and deputed two senior Deputy Inspector General-rank officers to take control of the situation. IMAGE: Indian Air Force helicopters carrying out rescue, relief and evacuation of people marooned during the flood fury. Photograph: Press Information Bureau IMAGE: Protesters run for cover as security forces fire tear gas shells in at Waniyar Safakadal in Srinagar. Photographs: Umar Ganie/Rediff.com On a day Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh was in the Kashmir Valley where life remained paralysed for the 47th consecutive day, a youth died in a clash with security forces while 18 security personnel, including three officers, were injured in a terrorist attack. Curfew was in force in parts of Srinagar and two other towns even as restrictions and separatist-sponsored shutdown continued to paralyse life elsewhere in the valley. In a clash between stone-pelting mobs and security forces in Pohu village of Pulwama district on Wednesday morning, a youth died due to pellet injuries, raising the toll in the ongoing unrest in Kashmir to 66. "Aamir Bashir, who had pellet injuries in his chest, was brought to SMHS Hospital here but the doctors declared him brought dead," a police official said. Several other persons sustained injuries in the clashes. Later in the day, terrorists targeted security personnel near the Degree College in Pulwama town by hurling a grenade and then firing. 18 security personnel, including a Central Reserve Police Force Commandant, an Additional Superintendent of Police and a Deputy Superintendent of Police, were injured in the attack after which militants fled from the spot. District Magistrate of Pulwama Muneer-ul-Islam said restrictions will be imposed in all parts of the district from 4 am on Thursday till further orders. "No person, except ill persons or otherwise allowed by the Magistrates, shall be allowed to move," an order issued by the District Magistrate said. IMAGE: A protester in Srinagar throws a tear gas shell back at cops. Meanwhile, curfew was in force in five police station areas of downtown Srinagar and Batamaloo and Maisuma areas in the uptown, a police official said. In south Kashmir, curfew continued in Anantnag town and was imposed in Pampore town today to maintain law and order. On Tuesday, the authorities had lifted curfew from most areas of Srinagar in view of the improving situation. However, restrictions on assembly of four or more people under Section 144 of the CrPC continued in rest of the Valley. Due to the curfew, restrictions and separatist-sponsored strike, normal life remained paralysed for the 47th consecutive day. Shops, private offices, educational institutions and petrol pumps remained closed while public transport continued to be off roads. The attendance in government offices and banks was also affected, the official said. Mobile Internet also continued to remain suspended in the entire Valley, where the outgoing facility on prepaid mobiles remained barred. The separatist camp has extended the strike till September 1. Afghan forces ended the assault after 10 hours of gunfire. IMAGE: Afghan policemen stand guard at the site of an attack at American University of Afghanistan in Kabul. Photograph: Mohammad Ismail/Reuters Afghan security forces on Thursday killed two gunmen who attacked the American University in Kabul, ending a 10-hour assault on the compound that left twelve dead. The dead included seven students, according to Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi. Three police officers and two security guards were also killed, the ministry said. Gunmen launched the assault on Wednesday evening which began with a large explosion that that officials said was a car bomb followed by gunfire that forced hundreds of students and faculty members to flee while precipitating a battle with security forces. Officials said elite Afghan forces, with help from the United States and NATO military advisers, surrounded the walled compound and eventually worked their way inside. After a night of sporadic gunfire, officials said the forces killed at least two gunmen and ended the assault. Police said they rescued more than 500 students from the university. IMAGE: Afghan men walk towards an ambulance after they were rescued from the site of an attack at American University of Afghanistan. Photograph: Mohammad Ismail/Reuters No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes as fundamentalist Taliban militants step up their summer fighting season against the central government. Roman Dehsabzwal, who was inside a second-floor classroom when the assault began, told RFE/RLs Radio Free Afghanistan that he believed an attacker blew himself up just outside a building and then others began entering. First there was a loud bang and windows shattered, then gunfire started, Dehsabzwal said. One of my friends was wounded. Dehsabzwal said he escaped by jumping from the second floor along with two others, then fleeing the scene. IMAGE: An Twitter user posted this vantage view of the attack. Photograph: Twitter A student, who asked to remain anonymous, said he was attending a lecture class when he heard a very enormous and harsh sound -- an explosion roughly 50 metres from his classroom. Everyone looked around the room looking for an escape, he said. We have an emergency exit area in the corner of the campus. Its like a gate that opens when people need to get out of campus. Everyone was running out of there. He heard gunfire as they ran, then a second explosion. Both explosions came from the schools entrance, he said. People were screaming for help. Everyone was screaming, he said. IMAGE: An Afghan policeman keeps watch at the site of an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. Photograph: Omar Sobhani/Reuters The university, which opened in 2006, has more than 1,700 students, many of whom take classes part-time while working full-time jobs. The campus attack comes two weeks after two teachers at the university -- an Australian and an American -- were abducted by unknown gunmen in Kabul. Their whereabouts are still unknown. The violence came as the Taliban are escalating nationwide attacks. IMAGE: A wounded man is helped by a medic inside an ambulance following an attack at American University of Afghanistan in Kabul. Photograph: Omar Sobhani/Reuters Condemning in the strongest terms the terrorist attack on the American University in Kabul, the United States reaffirmed its support to the Afghanistan government and people and saluted the quick response of Afghan forces. The US condemns in the strongest terms the terrorist attack today on the American University of Afghanistan. We salute the quick work of the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces who responded to the attack and secured the university, Spokesman of the National Security Council, the White House, Ned Price said. We send our thoughts and prayers to the families and loved ones of those killed and our heartfelt wishes for a speedy recovery to those wounded. We further reaffirm the support of the US for the Afghan government and people as they continue to build a more stable, secure, and prosperous Afghanistan, he said. IMAGE: Afghan security forces seen creating a perimeter around the attack site. State Department spokesperson Elizabeth Trudeau said an attack on a university is an attack on the future of Afghanistan. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump sent his thoughts and prayers to everyone at the university in Kabul, saying We must defeat radical Islamic terrorism. Anyone who will not name our enemy is not fit to lead this country. This tragic attack on a symbol of hope and progress is yet another reminder of the increasingly perilous security situation in Afghanistan, said Senator Richard Burr, Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. More than 22,000 pages of top secret data on the capabilities of six highly advanced submarines being built for the Indian Navy in Mumbai in collaboration with a French company have been leaked, ringing alarm bells on Wednesday in the security establishment. IMAGE: Employees stand around the Indian Navys first Scorpene submarine before being undocked from Mazagon Docks Ltd, a naval vessel ship building yard, in Mumbai April 6, 2015. Photograph: Reuters The combat capability of the Scorpene submarines being built at Mazagon dock at a cost of $3.5 billion (over Rs 23,495 core) by French shipbuilder DCNS, went public when an Australian newspaper, "The Australian", put the details on the website. Reacting with alacrity to the development, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who learnt about the leak at midnight, ordered Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lamba to go into the 'entire issue". A detailed report is also being sought by the Indian government from DCNS. "What I understand is there is a hacking. So we will find out all this," Parrikar told media persons in Delhi. The details leaked included what frequencies the submarines gather intelligence at, what levels of noise they make at various speeds and their diving depths, range and endurance all sensitive information that is highly classified, the Australian said. It said that 'Marked "Restricted Scorpene India", the DCNS documentsdetail the most sensitive combat capabilities of Indias submarine fleet and would provide an intelligence bonanza if obtained by Indias strategic rivals, such as Pakistan or China.' Navy sources said the leak of data "was a matter of serious concern" but added that the document was dated and the Indian submarine had undergone "many changes" from the initial design the details of which have been leaked. Terming the leak of classified documents as a "serious matter", DCNS, a French defence major, said in a statement that the issue is being thoroughly investigated by the French national authorities for defence security. "This investigation will determine the exact nature of the leaked documents, the potential damages to DCNS customers as well as the responsibilities for this leakage," a statement by DCNS headquarters in Paris said. DCNS had earlier implied that the leak might have occurred at India's end, rather than from France. "Multiple and independent controls exist within DCNS to prevent unauthorised access to data and all data movements are encrypted and recorded. In the case of India, where a DCNS design is built by a local company, DCNS is the provider and not the controller of technical data," the company said. The Australian has been told that the data on the Scorpene was written in France for India in 2011 and is suspected of being removed from France in that same year by a former French Navy officer who was at that time a DCNS subcontractor. "The data is then believed to have been taken to a company in Southeast Asia, possibly to assist in a commercial venture for a regional navy. It was subsequently passed by a third party to a second company in the region before being sent on a data disk by regular mail to a company in Australia. "It is unclear how widely the data has been shared in Asia or whether it has been obtained by foreign intelligence agencies," it said. Defence analyst Commodore Uday Bhaskar (Retd), Director of Society of Policy Studies, said if the veracity of the documents is proved then it definitely compromises the Indian platform. "This is so because the leakage of so much technical details compromises the submarines capability to stay undetected." IMAGE: A DCNS worker looks at the propeller of a Scorpene submarine at a facility of the shipbuilder near Nantes, France, in April. Photograph: Reuters France says it will cooperate with India France said it has taken "very seriously" the issue of leak of sensitive documents and would work with India very closely with transparency. As the Scorpene data leak report broke out shaking the Indian defence establishment, French Ambassador Alexandre Ziegler said here French authorities were trying to assess the extent, nature and sensitivity of information that may have been leaked. "Well, I have seen the report in the press. What can I tell you is that the French authorities are taking the matter very very seriously and working very seriously with DCNS, the French ship building company," he told reporters at an event organised at Alliance Francaise in New Delhi. "We (French authorities) are trying to asses the extent; the nature; the sensitivity of information that may have been leaked, and we will do work in this... in very very close cooperation (and) with full transparency with Indian authorities," Ziegler said. The data tells the submarine crew where on the boat they can speak safely to avoid detection by the enemy. It also discloses magnetic, electromagnetic and infra-red data as well as the specifications of the submarines torpedo launch system and the combat system, it said. It details the speed and conditions needed for using the periscope, the noise specifications of the propeller and the radiated noise levels that occur when the submarine surfaces. The data, accessed by the paper, includes 4457 pages on the submarine's underwater sensors, 4209 pages on its above-water sensors, 4301 pages on its combat management system, 493 pages on its torpedo launch system and specifications, 6841 pages on the sub's communications system and 2138 on its navigation systems. Indian Navy's Scorpene submarine INS Kalvari is escorted by tugboats as it arrives at Mazagon Docks Ltd, a naval vessel ship building yard, in Mumbai, India. Photograph: Reuters Scorpene submarine project leak "scandalous": Congress Terming as "scandalous" the Scorpene submarine project leak, Congress demanded a complete security audit of the defence ministry by a sitting Supreme Court judge even as it accused Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar of launching an "operation cover-up". The audit could be in the form of a commission of inquiry and should fix responsibility of the political executive, including that of the Defence Minister and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the party's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told reporters. Insisting that the inquiry should probe the defence minister and the defence ministry to see whether they had abdicated their responsibility, he said the leak has put a question mark on India's maritime security. Dubbing it as the "biggest defence disaster" of recent time, he said it has jeopardised the sole initiative to build six Scorpene submarines in collaboration with French company DCNS by government-owned Mazagaon Dock Ship Builders Ltd at Mumbai. "Despite the 'Himalayan blunder' that has deeply hurt India's defence preparedness, the Modi government/Defence Minister are indulging in 'operation cover-up' instead of fixing responsibility," he alleged. Surjewala claimed that all concerned, including the defence minister and Indian Navy, are speaking in contradictory voices. While Parrikar continues to describe the leaks as "hacking", the navy states that the "source of leaks is overseas and not in India", he said. French Company DCNS has clearly hinted that leak may have taken place in India, he said. With a coastline of 7517 kilometres to defend with merely 13 submarines and one nuclear submarine, the government appears to be living in denial, he said. "It is in fact intriguing as to how 'clean chits' are being meted out without conducting a proper inquiry. For such an inquiry to be fair, it has to be headed by an independent neutral authority of the level of a sitting Supreme Court judge with officials from the armed forces, naval and Military Intelligence, IB or other specialised agencies as its members," he said. Surjewala contended that this is an "alarming" situation that requires a complete 'security audit' of Mazagaon Dock Ship Builders Limited as also of the Defence Ministry. IMAGE: Thai soldiers inspect the scene of a car bomb blast outside a hotel in the southern province of Pattani, on Wednesday. Photographs: Surapan Boonthanom/Reuters One person was killed and more than 30 others were wounded after a car bomb exploded outside a hotel in Thailands insurgency-hit southern region on Tuesday night. Police said condition of some of the injured is critical. The bomb struck shortly before midnight outside a hotel on the outskirts of Pattani, one of three Muslim-majority southern provinces that have been battered by insurgency for the past 12 years. Though the area is not popular with tourists, Thailand has been on edge since a series of explosions struck resort towns in the northern part of the country earlier this month. So far there is one killed and more than 30 injured, Major General Thanongsak Wangsupa, commander of Pattani provincial police was quoted as saying by news agencies. The hotel building was considerably damaged, he added. IMAGE: People stand at the scene after the blast. Most countries advise their citizens visiting Thiland against traveling to Pattini because of the long-running conflict between the Buddhist-majority state and Muslim rebels seeking greater autonomy. Shootings and bombings on almost a daily basis since 2004 have left more than 6,500 dead in the region, most of them civilians. A staff member at the towns hospital said 32 people were injured, five of them critically. All are Thai nationals, the worker added, requesting anonymity. The rebels are reportedly trying to target Western nationals to spark international outrage as the kingdoms junta leadership has been keen to downplay suggestions that the insurgency may have spread. The rebels never claim their attacks but factions are known to be frustrated with their lack of progress after more than a decade of fighting, suggest media reports. A dozen Turkish tanks have rolled across the Syrian border to clear a town of Islamic State militants. The operation, code named "Euphrates Shield" is aimed at clearing jihadists from the town of Jarabulus which lies directly opposite the Turkish town of Karakamis, the prime minister's office said. Jarablus lies along the west bank of the Euphrates River, less than a kilometer from Turkey. It's the last major town held by IS on the Syrian-Turkish border. The operation began around 4:00 am local time (0100 GMT) with Turkish artillery pounding dozens of IS targets around Jarabulus. Turkish F-16 fighter jets and coalition war planes also hit targets inside Syria. Media said an unspecified number of elite Turkish special forces were already on the ground inside Syria. Tensions had flared across the Syria-Turkey border the previous day, following rocket fire from Jarabulus which landed inside Turkey with the Turkish army firing howitzer rounds in response. Turkey will want to show with the operation that it is serious about taking on IS, which has been blamed for a string of attacks inside the country, the latest a weekend attack on a Kurdish wedding in Gaziantep that left 54 dead. Representative image. Photograph: Murad Sezer/Reuters The US Postal Service on Tuesday said it will issue a Diwali postage stamp, meeting one of the long pending demands of Indian-American community in Washington. The Diwali stamp is being issued as a "Forever" stamp, the US Postal Service said in a statement. The stamp design, unveiled by the US Postal Service, is a photograph featuring a traditional diya oil lamp lit in a sparkling gold background. Sally Andersen-Bruce of New Milford, Connecticut, photographed the diya. Greg Breeding of Charlottesville, Virginia, designed the stamp and William J Gicker from Washington postal service was the project's art director, a statement said. The first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony will take place at the Indian Consulate in New York City on October 5, the USPS said. Hinduism was the only major world religion, for which the USPS had not issued a postage stamp. "This is a dream come true," said New York-based Ranju Batra chair, Diwali Stamp Project, who had led campaign to send thousands of letters to the US Postal Service in the past and had campaigned before the US Congress. "It has taken seven years for me, thanks to Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney," she said. Over the past several decades, a large number of individuals, organisations and Congressmen had campaigned for the issuing of a postage stamp commemorating the festival of lights. Several resolutions were introduced in the Congress too. The United States State Department has expressed concern over human rights violation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, maintaining that it has always been urging parties in Pakistan to settle their differences peaceably and through a valid political process. US States Department spokesperson Mark Toner said that he could not agree with the view that nobody knew about human rights violations in PoK before Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the same in recent times. Sure, Well, I would respectfully beg to differ. We do have concerns about the human rights situation there, have reported it for several years in our Human Rights Report, and weve obviously -- are always urging all parties in Pakistan to work out their differences peaceably and through a valid political process. And with respect to Kashmir, our policy there is well known, he said. The prime minister, in his concluding remarks at an all-party meeting to discuss the flare-up in Kashmir in the wake of the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, had said Pakistan forgets that it rains bombs from fighter planes on citizens of its country. Time has now come that Pakistan will have to answer to the world about the atrocities being committed on people in Balochistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, he had said. Speaking from the ramparts from the historic Red Fort on the occasion of the nations 70th Independence Day, Prime Minister Modi signalled a distinct hardening of posture against Pakistan, by raising human rights violations in Balochistan and PoK. The PM said the people of PoK and Balochistan had thanked him for flagging the human rights abuses by Pakistans security forces. The prime ministers comments were criticised as crossing a red line by the Pakistan government, a charge New Delhi has rejected. Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his reference to Balochistan in Independence Day speech, Shiv Sena on Wednesday sought to know if he will send the army to save the Baloch leaders who have been charged with sedition for backing his remarks. Five cases, including that of sedition, were registered recently against three top Baloch nationalist leaders in Pakistan who backed Modi's supportive words on their struggle in Balochistan. "Baloch leaders have paid a heavy price for supporting PM Modi. Serious offences like waging war against Pakistan have been registered against them. This is a part of Pakistan's tyrannical attitude," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said. "What will our PM do in their support now? Will he send the army to save Baloch leaders from Pakistan or will he once again give a speech denouncing Pakistan's action against them? These leaders are facing trouble only because they supported PM Modi's speech," it said. The Sena also questioned Modi on the action he planned to take against those waving Pakistani flags in Kashmir. The Bharatiya Janata Party ally also said Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's stand on holding talks with Hurriyat to improve the situation in the Valley is completely wrong. On August 15, from the historic Red Fort, Modi had said people from Balochistan thanked him for highlighting the atrocities the Pakistani State inflicted on the people of Balochistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Pakistan later said Modi crossed the "red line" by talking about Balochistan and asserted it will "forcefully" raise the Kashmir issue during the next month's United Nations General Assembly session. Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri in a speech last week alleged that the Indian government "fully supports the ongoing insurgency in Balochistan". IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Red Fort, August 15. Photograph: Press Information Bureau Here's your weekly digest of the craziest stories from around the world. She's selling her wedding dress on eBay to fund divorce from husband In a bizarre incident, a 28-year-old woman in the UK has put her designer wedding dress, worth 2,000 British pounds, up for sale on eBay to pay for her divorce after she found her husband was cheating on her. Samantha Wragg, from Chesterfield, wore the dress on her wedding in August 2014. She claims her husband left her after 18 months and was already living with another woman, the Dailymirror reported. Wragg, a blogger, is now selling her designer art deco wedding dress on eBay to help pay for her divorce, which she says her ex-husband "left her to foot the bill for." She says the ivory, floor-length dress is a little dirty and will need to be dry-cleaned before it's worn again "to get rid of the stench of betrayal." Samantha says the size six strapless gown, which has a long lace train and buttons down the back, cost her parents around 2000 British pounds brand new in 2014, but she's started the bidding at 500 British Pounds. Bids for the dress are currently close to 66,000 British. The day Americans turned Madrasi The US Consulate General in Chennai had a remarkable idea to commemorate the city's 377th birthday. Instead of raising a toast to the city, founded on August 22, 1639, a few members from the US Consulate decided to go on a gastronomical journey at Kasivinayaga Mess. And then, they uploaded their experience on Facebook on a video titled, "Feeling the everyday rhythm of Madras life" "We should come here every day," they could be heard saying as they feasted on delicacies off banana leaves. "Eating a MEAL with your hands in banana leaf is always special, isn't it? And it's a celebration especially in South India! We are trying to connect your every day rhythm of Madras life highlighting Madras culture, food, and traditions. This is the first video in the Madras Week video series. SEVEN more to come. Keep watching and make your Madras connections! Happy Madras Week," read the caption of the video posted by the US Consulate General on YouTube. Since it was posted on August 21, the video has received over 1.6 million views and more than 49,600 shares. Eight-acre 'Super Mario Bros.' Corn Maze is a crowd-puller Images of Mario, Luigi and friends have been carved into the fields of an upstate New York farm as part of a corn maze based on Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. game series. It is the latest installment of an annual themed maze at the Stoughton Farm in Newark Valley. Owner Tom Stoughton told Fox News that the farm's mazes typically attract about 10,000 visitors annually. An aerial photo of the 8-acre maze clearly shows Mario, Luigi and fellow Mario Bros. characters Princess Peach, Toad and Yoshi carved into the cornfield. Stoughton says he created the maze based on a design by a Utah company. He says creating the maze usually takes a few weeks and involves "a lot of math." Booze party begins in US, ends up in Canada About 1,500 Americans floating down a river that separates the United States from Canada had to be rescued from the water when strong rains and winds sent them illegally into Canadian territory, Reuters quoted the country's coast guard as saying on Monday. The Americans were taking part in the annual Port Huron Float Down on Sunday in the St Clair River, which runs between the US state of Michigan and the Canadian province of Ontario. The winds blew the flotilla of inflatable rafts and inner tubes off course and toward the Canadian shore, Reuters reported. Some rafts deflated, spurring a rescue effort by the Canadian Coast Guard as well as federal and provincial police, coast guard spokeswoman Carol Launderville said in an email. Most "floaters" had to be rescued from the water, with many towed to shore, according to the coast guard. Some tried to swim back to the United States. Seen the world's first playable DJ pizza box Pizza Hut has got something for you out-of-the box, or maybe you can say, on the box. Though there's not much to innovate in the pizza-making industry, this international franchise has recently launched the "world's first playable DJ pizza box", which is a standard cardboard container rigged up with touch-sensitive decks, a mixer and other controllable buttons. According to Engadget, it is created by printed electronics expert Novalia. The battery-powered box connects to your computer or smartphone via Bluetooth and is compatible with DJ software like Serato DJ. You can scratch, rewind, control pitch and cross-fade. This playable DJ pizza box will however be limited to just five of Pizza Hut's 350 UK restaurants. Melt-proof ice-creams are here! Ice-cream lovers, rejoice! There's a new ice-cream in town with a melt-free twist. Gastronaut Ice Cream, created by a food expert, comes in a bar and can be enjoyed at room temperature, the Mirror reported. It may be very different from its frozen counterpart as it can be crumbled in your hands, but once you begin eating it, the organic snack transforms into the "exact same sweet and creamy ice cream" you have known all your life. To melt-proof an ice-cream, first they freeze-dry it and then dehydrate it, with nothing added to it except a pinch of salt. Freeze-drying involves first freezing a food substance and then creating a powerful vacuum before adding heat which draws out the frozen liquid from the food as vapour. The Gastronaut range comes in 3 mouth-watering flavours -- Mexican Chocolate Chip, Cookies and Cream and Mint Chocolate Chip. Owner Rob Collignon said: "This is the only premium organic freeze-dried ice cream on the planet. I've always liked freeze-dried ice cream -- they sell it in space museums and camping stores. I've eaten it my whole life but it doesn't taste that good because they start with the cheapest ice cream imaginable." The 34-year-old from Brooklyn worked on his product for three and a half years before bringing it onto the market. Doctors remove 40 knives from stomach of a policeman In an unusual case, as many as 40 knives were surgically removed from the stomach of a policeman in Gurudaspur, Punjab who claimed that he used to feel an "urge" to eat them. A team of five doctors carried out a five-hour long surgery on Surjeet Singh (40), who is employed with Punjab Police and is posted at Tarn Taran district, at a hospital. "He had a wild urge to consume metal. Even for us, the experienced surgeons, it was frightening," Dr Jatinder Malhotra told CNN. "A series of ultrasounds followed by various tests, including endoscopy and CT scan, related to the stomach were carried out before the surgery as the patient was admitted in the hospital with severe weight loss, besides multiple ailments. "In the beginning, cancer was suspected but during investigation some hard metal substances were found inside the stomach that had damaged liver and kidney and other organs," said Malhotra who led the team of doctors during the operation. "We were so nervous... a small mistake could have taken the patient's life," Malhotra said. "In my 20 years of practice, I have never seen anything like it." Malhotra said they found folded knives, unfolded knives and rusted and broken knives in the man's stomach. Is that a Tyrannosaurus Rex? A lightning bolt some believed to be shaped like a tyrannosaurus rex struck a national park in Arizona. The US Department of the Interior shared a photo of the oddly shaped bolt of lightning which struck Petrified Forest National Park. "This bolt looks like a Tyrannosaurus rex getting ready to chomp a formation at Blue Mesa," they wrote. Some people provided their own opinions of the lightning bolt's shape, suggesting it resembled a snake, a cougar or an upside down heart-shaped balloon on a string. KFC's fried chicken-scented SUNSCREEN? Are you a fan of Kentucky Fried Chicken? Here's a complete bizarre move by the fast food giant. KFC has created an "exclusive and extremely limited run of fried chicken-scented sunscreen" that will be available on a first come, first served basis, according to a press release. Their tagline is, fittingly, "The only skin that should be extra crispy this summer is on your fried chicken." So, how do you score the body grease? Visit ExtraCrispySunscreen.com! Spoof video shows 'human sacrifice' at CERN No, there wasn't actually a human sacrifice at the CERN laboratories in Switzerland -- home of the Large Hadron Collider. Officials say they are looking into a "spoof" video filmed on the site without permission. Shot from a building at the European Organization for Nuclear Research in Geneva, known as CERN, the video shows hooded people in a courtyard before the cape of one woman is lifted off her shoulders. After she lies down, a hooded person approaches and appears to stab her with a knife. An off-camera voice reacts with an expletive and the camera turns away. On its website, CERN called the video "a work of fiction showing a contrived scene." 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. UNHCR preparing for huge displacement from Iraq's Mosul Publisher UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Publication Date 23 August 2016 Cite as UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UNHCR preparing for huge displacement from Iraq's Mosul, 23 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57bd405e4.html [accessed 29 October 2022] In Iraq, displacement may be about to dramatically worsen with the focus of military action turning towards Mosul. Already, in recent months, some 213,000 people have fled their homes in different parts of the country. This includes 48,000 people from the Mosul area, 87,000 from the Falluja region, and 78,000 from Shirqat, Qayyara and surrounds. Mosul is Iraq's second largest city, and the humanitarian impact of a military offensive there is expected to be enormous. Up to 1.2 million people could be affected. UNHCR is doing what it can amid enormous challenges to build more camps to accommodate people and mitigate suffering, but additional land for camps and funding is still needed. Iraq is already one of the world's biggest internal displacement situations. Some 3.38 million people have fled their homes since January 2014, among them families who have been displaced multiple times. UNHCR continues to advocate, in a volatile, fast-evolving and complex conflict, for freedom of movement of civilian populations. This is especially critical when it comes to people fleeing combat zones. Everything possible should be done to ensure the safety and dignity of people affected. UNHCR provides humanitarian support, including shelter, emergency relief kits and protection services, such as legal aid for displaced families. With the impending situation in Mosul we are now expanding our efforts to be able to assist hundreds of thousands more people. Contingency plans have been drawn up to provide shelter assistance for up to 120,000 people fleeing conflict in Mosul and surrounding areas, as part of an inter-agency response to the crisis. And across the region a series of camps are in the process of being expanded or established while other shelter options are being prepared. In Debaga, in Erbil Governorate, two camps were completed in July and August to house displaced Iraqis who fled villages to the east of the Tigris. Due to the number of daily new arrivals, UNHCR is looking to construct an additional site, and we are awaiting land to be made available by the local authorities. Debaga has swollen nearly ten-fold in just a few months - from a camp housing 3,500 displaced people in March to several sites now housing more than 34,000. North of Mosul, work is almost completed at Zelekan site, in Sheikhan district, with a capacity for 1,200 tents. Site preparations are also underway at Amalla site, in Telafar district, north-west of Mosul, for a camp with a capacity for 3,000 tents. In Kirkuk, UNHCR is constructing a new camp in Daquq district, with capacity for 1,000 tents, and expanding additional camp capacity at Nazrawa and Laylan, which are now completely full. Work is also underway in Salah al-Din for a 1,000 tent camp at Tal al- Seebat. UNHCR is also assessing and identifying other sites across northern Iraq in close consultation with authorities. Altogether, UNHCR is looking to set up camps in up to six locations across northern Iraq although progress depends on both the availability of land and of funding. UNHCR's overall appeal for $584m for displaced people including Iraqi refugees in the region was only 38 per cent funded as of 2 August. Finding available land for the new camps has become a critical issue. Land is identified and provided by the local authorities and assessed by UNHCR, other UN agencies and humanitarian partners for suitability. However, this issue is fraught with problems. Many private landowners are unwilling to lease land; other land may be unsuitable due its topography, its proximity to the frontline or military operations and the risk of contamination by UXOs or landmines, or it may be located in areas where the arrival of displaced Iraqis could inflame ethnic, sectarian, religious or tribal tensions. UNHCR leads the protection, shelter and non-food items and camp coordination and management response. The agency currently has contingency stocks of tents and other relief items for 20,000 households country-wide. Kazakhstan: "Attracting children" an offence? Publisher Forum 18 Author Felix Corley Publication Date 23 August 2016 Cite as Forum 18, Kazakhstan: "Attracting children" an offence?, 23 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57bd45a94.html [accessed 29 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. Officials, police and journalists raided two Baptist children's summer camps to check if children were present with parents' consent. Also, a Pastor was fined because a church member's granddaughter attended a children's programme. Officials often insist religious organisations need written permission from both parents. As ICC trial opens, Malian extremist admits guilt to destroying historic sites in Timbuktu Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 22 August 2016 Cite as UN News Service, As ICC trial opens, Malian extremist admits guilt to destroying historic sites in Timbuktu, 22 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57bd506f40e.html [accessed 29 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. 22 August 2016 - An alleged Malian Islamist accused of destroying historical and religious monuments in the fabled city of Timbuktu pleaded guilty in the first-ever international war crimes trial focusing on destruction of cultural heritage, the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced on the opening day of the landmark case, which was welcomed by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi admitted guilt to the war crime consisting in the destruction of historical and religious monuments in Timbuktu, between around 30 June 2012 and 11 July 2012, the ICC said in a press release, which noted that "this is the first international trial focusing on the destruction of historical and religious monuments, and the first ICC case where the defendant made an admission of guilt." According to the release, the trial in The Hague, Netherlands, started with the reading of an extract of the confirmed charge against the accused, and the presiding judge asked him to confirm that he understood the charge. Mr. Al Mahdi admitted guilt to the charge. In her presentation, ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said that the destroyed buildings of immeasurable value, notably the mausoleums of Muslim saints, were a major part of the historic heritage of the ancient city of Timbuktu. "They were also more generally a part of the heritage of Mali, of Africa and of the world. All, except one, were inscribed on the World Heritage List," she said. "These buildings were deliberately destroyed by Mr. Al Mahdi and his co-perpetrators before the very eyes of the people of Timbuktu, who looked on powerlessly," she continued. Mr. Al Mahdi, a member of Ansar Dine, was directly involved in the entities established by the armed groups Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Ansar Dine during the occupation of Timbuktu in 2012, the Prosecutor said. "Today's trial is indeed historic," she stressed, noting that "it is all the more historic in view of the destructive rage that marks our times, in which humanity's common heritage is subject to repeated and planned ravages by individuals and groups whose goal is to eradicate any representation of a world that differs from theirs by eliminating the physical manifestations that are at the heart of communities." Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the landmark case and commended the Court for bringing the significant issue to the forefront of efforts to ensure international justice and accountability, his spokesperson said in a statement. "It draws our attention to an increasingly worrying trend of deliberate destruction of cultural heritage in situations of armed conflict," said the statement, which also noted that "such attacks represent a callous assault on the dignity and identity of entire populations and their religious and historical roots." The Secretary-General "strongly condemns" all such acts, and call on all concerned to ensure perpetrators are held accountable, the statement said. The judges will pronounce a decision and a possible sentence after further proceedings. 'Pressure' on Palestinian households to move raises risk of forcible transfers UN official Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 22 August 2016 Cite as UN News Service, 'Pressure' on Palestinian households to move raises risk of forcible transfers UN official, 22 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57bd508a412.html [accessed 29 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. 22 August 2016 - A senior United Nations official has cautioned that many Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank are facing a heightened risk of forcible transfer as there has been a recent surge in the number of demolitions in the area. "Repeated rounds of demolitions, restrictions on access to basic services and regular visits by Israeli security personnel promoting 'relocation plans' are all part of a coercive environment that now surrounds these vulnerable Palestinian households," Robert Piper, UN Coordinator for Humanitarian Assistance and Development Aid in the occupied Palestinian territory said today in a news release after returning from a visit to the Palestinian community of Abu Nuwar in the Jerusalem governorate. "The cumulative pressure to move to other parts of the West Bank continues to be ratcheted-up; in this environment, we cannot expect people to make decisions based on genuine consent so the risk of forcible transfers remains high," he added. According to the release, there has been a surge in demolitions and confiscations across the West Bank this year, with 786 Palestinian-owned structures demolished so far in 2016. These demolitions have cumulatively displaced 1,197 people, including 558 children. Over 200 of the demolished structures had been provided as humanitarian relief. Since the start of August, Israeli security forces have destroyed or confiscated a total of 85 civilian structures across 28 West Bank communities. 29 structures across eight locations were demolished in the last week alone, resulting in the displacement of 64 Palestinians, including 24 children. The structures demolished in August included emergency shelters following previous home demolitions, animal sheds, latrines, a community centre and a new drinking water network. Damage to the water network, that was supported by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), has affected nearly 1,000 Palestinians in five herding communities in the Jordan Valley who suffer extreme water scarcity especially during summer months, added the release. "As the occupying power, international law requires that Israel ensures that the basic needs of Palestinians are met and that the conditions necessary for their development are present, including a fair and lawful planning and zoning regime," it further noted. The news release also said that facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid is also a legal obligation whilst the forcible transfer of populations is prohibited under International Humanitarian Law, as is the destruction of property unless absolutely necessary for military operations. There is also renewed concern for the community of Susiya in the southern West Bank, where over 170 civilian structures are under threat of demolition and where the Israeli authorities abruptly ended negotiations with community representatives last month. "Dkaika. Khan al Ahmar. Um al Kheir. Abu Nuwar. Susiya these are just some of the highly vulnerable communities where families, many of whom are Palestine refugees, live in permanent fear of becoming homeless and children wonder if they will still have a school to attend tomorrow," said Mr. Piper. Pakistan: Attacks on Transgender Women Surge Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 22 August 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Pakistan: Attacks on Transgender Women Surge, 22 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57bd515d4.html [accessed 29 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. Pakistani authorities should urgently investigate the surge in violent attacks on transgender women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Human Rights Watch said today. They should also investigate allegations that medical staff and police failed to assist victims and pursue justice in cases involving transgender people. On August 9, 2016, unidentified assailants in Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, shot Sumbal, a transgender woman, three times in the abdomen when she resisted abduction and rape. The district hospital refused to admit her, saying they only have male and female wards, and therefore could not treat a transgender person. The district police also refused to register a case until transgender activists protested outside the hospital. "The surge in brutal attacks on transgender women in Pakistan will only end when authorities signal that they will hold the attackers to account," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "Hospital staff and police need to stop their humiliating treatment of transgender people and start protecting their rights." The attack on Sumbal was the latest of several recent attacks against transgender people in this province in northwestern Pakistan, Human Rights Watch said. Farzana Jan, president of the Shemale Association, a transgender rights group based in the province, told Human Rights Watch that activists in the Mardan district have responded to cases in late 2015 and early 2016 in which police apprehended transgender women. She said the police typically took them to the police station, taunted them, forcibly removed their clothing, ordered them to dance, and poured cold water on them when they refused. When they complained, they were subjected to further abuse. Ayesha, a 22-year-old transgender woman in Peshawar, the provincial capital, said that last year a mob threatened her house and robbed her. Attackers shouted that she was "spreading vulgarity" in the area. "When I went to the police station, the guard at the police station gate did not even let me enter," Ayesha said. "Each time I go to the police station [to follow up on the progress of the case], the police staff mock me and make inappropriate remarks. They have refused to take any action against the perpetrators." On July 3, unidentified people attacked the home of Arzu, a 26-year-old transgender woman in Peshawar, and set it on fire. Arzu said the attack occurred within days after she took in a transgender friend who had escaped from an abusive male partner and his extended family, who had forced her into sex work. Pakistani law includes provisions to protect the rights of transgender people, Human Rights Watch said. In 2009, Pakistan's Supreme Court called on all provincial governments to recognize the rights of transgender people. The judgment specifically called for more communication with transgender communities and better coordination on cases reported to the police. The Supreme Court also directed provincial social welfare departments to improve the civil registration process for transgender people and allow them to register as a third gender. The court directed provincial governments to submit reports on the conditions for transgender people in the provinces, instructing authorities to include transgender people in voter lists and to protect their inheritance rights. The court also ordered the relevant authorities to ensure the right of transgender people to basic education, employment, and protection. Some local governments have carried out parts of the court's order, including by creating employment programs for example by hiring hijras, a term for some transgender women as tax collectors in Karachi. In June 2016, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government said that it had allocated PKR200 million (US$2 million approximately) for the welfare of transgender people in the province. However, activists told Human Rights Watch that even this positive move by the government came with threats. "Senior members of the K-P government have told us that this money will only be spent on our welfare if we [transgender activists] stop bringing a bad name to the government by continuing to talk about the attacks on transgender people," a transgender activist said. "It [was] offered as a political bribe." The Supreme Court judgment came at a time when governments in South Asia began to allow for legal recognition of transgender people a crucial step in upholding their fundamental rights and ensuring their ability to manage daily life safely. These developments include a 2007 Supreme Court judgment in Nepal, a 2014 cabinet decision in Bangladesh, and a 2014 Supreme Court judgment in India. Sri Lanka has in recent years taken some steps toward legal gender recognition for transgender people. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa authorities should undertake prompt, thorough, and impartial investigations into the recent attacks on transgender people in the province, Human Rights Watch said. They should also ensure that those responsible for these crimes are appropriately brought to justice. The provincial government should end surveillance, intimidation, and harassment of transgender people by the local authorities. The provincial government should arrange for the police to work with transgender communities and organizations to introduce sensitivity training in accordance with the 2009 Supreme Court judgment on ending discrimination against transgender people and with international human rights principles. "Police involvement in abuses against transgender people has generated profound mistrust between the community and provincial authorities," Adams said. "Authorities abusing transgender women and threatening them when they seek justice should be seen as a threat to all Pakistanis a sign of the government's failure to ensure basic safety for all." Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Bahrain: Authorities Targeting Shia clerics Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 23 August 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Bahrain: Authorities Targeting Shia clerics, 23 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57bd51ec4.html [accessed 29 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. Bahraini authorities are targeting Shia clerics in a systematic campaign of harassment that violates their rights to freedom of assembly and speech, and to religious freedom, Human Rights Watch said today. On August 18, 2016, a Bahraini court convicted Sheikh Ali Humaidan of "illegal gathering" and sentenced him to one year in prison for his involvement in peaceful gatherings in the village of Diraz outside the home of the spiritual leader of an opposition group, who was arbitrarily stripped of his citizenship in June. Human Rights Watch has spoken to four Shia clerics who said that authorities have charged them with illegal gathering over their involvement in the protest and another three who said they were questioned. "Now that the Bahraini authorities have begun to run out of human rights defenders and political activists to jail, silence, or exile, they are moving on to the Shia community's religious leaders," said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "Bahrain appears to be willfully and recklessly fanning the flames of sectarianism, while simultaneously taking moderate voices out of play." Media reports indicate that at least eight others are facing charges that violate their rights. Credible local sources have told Human Rights Watch that the Bahraini authorities have questioned or brought charges against at least 56 Shia clerics since June, but Human Rights Watch has not been able to verify these claims. In a Bahrain News Agency statement on June 20, the Interior Ministry said it was revoking the citizenship of Sheikh Isa Qasim, who is considered the spiritual leader of the country's main opposition group, Al Wifaq. The revocation of his citizenship followed the authorities' June 14 decision to dissolve Al Wifaq. In May, the Bahrain First High Court of Appeal affirmed the conviction of Al Wifaq's secretary general, Sheikh Ali Salman, and increased his sentence from four years to nine, despite an unfair trial and charges that clearly violated his right to free expression. The authorities accused Sheikh Qasim of "creating an extremist sectarian environment" and said he had "encouraged sectarianism and violence." The decision to strip him of his citizenship led to ongoing protests outside his home. One of the most high-profile Shia clerics charged with illegal gathering, Sheikh Maytham al-Salman, said that authorities summoned him to Hamad police station on August 14 for questioning. Police officers denied his four requests for legal representation, saying they did not have orders to allow a lawyer to be present. He said the police insisted that he remove his clerical turban and robes, refused his request to shower and change his clothes, and kept him in interview rooms for 26 hours without sleep. He said he believed the insistence that he remove his religious attire was intended to "insult and intimidate a Shia cleric." Authorities released him without bail on August 15 and have yet to set a date for trial. Sheikh Hamza al-Dairi, and two other clerics who requested anonymity also said they were facing charges of illegal gathering. Local media reports indicate that Sheikh Mohamed Sanqoor, Sheikh Muneer al-Matooq, Sheikh Mohammed Jawad Al Shehabi, Sheikh Yassin al-Mosawi, Sheikh Aziz al-Khadran, Sheikh Isa al-Moamen, Sheikh Hani Ali Ahmed Baseera, and Sheikh Imad al-Shoala are all facing charges of illegal gathering or "inciting hatred" of the government. On August 16, a group of UN human rights experts criticized "numerous charges" brought against Shia clerics and called on the Bahraini authorities to end what it called its "systematic harassment of its Shia population." The experts represent the UN independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms (known as Special Procedures) on rights including freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion and belief, protection from arbitrary detention, and the rights of human rights defenders. In February, authorities deported Sheikh Mohammed Hasan Ali Husain, who is among a group of more than 200 Bahrainis stripped of their citizenship since 2012. In April 2014, the then United Nations special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief said the decision to deport another Shia cleric, Hussain Mirza Abdelbaqi Najati, "may amount to intimidating and thus discriminating against the entire Shi'a Muslim community in the country because of its religious beliefs." The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Bahrain has ratified, protects individuals' rights to peaceful assembly (article 21), freedom of religion (article 18), and freedom of expression (article 21). "These prosecutions and interrogations of clerics are the latest stage of a systematic campaign to nullify dissent and protest in Bahrain," Stork said. "But to target the Shia community's religious leaders at a time when the region is facing sectarian violence is a dangerous and irresponsible tactic that Bahrain's US and UK allies in particular should forcefully condemn." Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Human rights do not stand in the way of India's ambitions Publisher Amnesty International Author Champa Patel Publication Date 20 August 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, Human rights do not stand in the way of India's ambitions, 20 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57bd52a54.html [accessed 29 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. "Our democracy," Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned soon after coming to office, "will not sustain if we can't guarantee freedom of speech and expression." Importantly, it should be noted, that it is not just the freedom to voice conformist views - it is also the freedom to express views that are unpopular, critical, or even offensive. This is why the Indian constitution guarantees freedom of expression, and why it has signed up to a number of international human rights treaties. In India, those protections flow from a proud tradition of pluralism and debate. When that tradition has been broken with, such as during the notorious Emergency, it leaves an indelible mark on the country's history. Sadly, the threats to that tradition are still with us today. In the name of protecting the nation, they imperil India's identity by endangering pluralism and shutting down debate. The charges of sedition levelled against Amnesty International India staff are merely the latest in a series of assaults on long-cherished freedoms. Earlier this year, it was students at JNU who were hounded and vilified before being arrested for sedition. Mere days later, SAR Geelani, a former Delhi University lecturer, was also arrested under this crude law that was once favoured by the British Raj as a tool to silence the movement for independence. In the first three months of this year, 19 people reportedly faced sedition charges. For years, there have been constant and widespread assaults on peaceful civil society organisations. The irony is that the very people who boast a fiercely independent identity are so beholden to colonialism's tainted legacy. No staff of Amnesty International India were involved in the alleged 'anti-national' sloganeering at an event on human rights violations in Kashmir. We are an independent human rights organization that campaigns all over the world for states to comply with international human rights law and, accordingly, do not take a side on questions such as self-determination in a given context. But if others were involved in the alleged sloganeering, their human right to do so must be protected, as is made clear in India's own constitution. The same right applies to the ABVP, the youth organisation that filed the original sedition claim against us. We absolutely and wholeheartedly support their right to protest peacefully against us. If the police were to take any measures that would threaten their human rights to freedom of expression, assembly or association, we would speak up for their rights But at the same time we will not tolerate any threats against our staff, or be cowed by attempts to shut us up or to delegitimise our human rights work. Amnesty International is not new to controversy. We have been attacked by numerous governments for documenting human rights violations. As the Nobel Peace Prize Committee noted in 1977 when it presented Amnesty International the award, the organization's "great and ambitious goal" is to "contribute to the implementation, in every country, of the principles of the Declaration of Human Rights." We are not always popular in that pursuit. The hostility the organization is currently facing is reminiscent of some reactions we have faced from many other countries. For example, from critics in Pakistan when we publicised its record as the third most prolific executioner in the world, and denounced its government for failing to reform its own colonial-era laws, such as on blasphemy. Or when we called for accountability of the Pakistan military for its record in Baluchistan, including secret detentions, torture, unlawful killings, mass graves, and enforced disappearances. However, there are also times when the mood in Pakistan has been more sympathetic, such as when we criticised unlawful killings that the U.S. carried out through drone attacks, some of which possibly amounted to war crimes. The report was consistent with our work on violations of international humanitarian law by U.S. forces in Afghanistan. In June, we also said that the U.S. had failed to halt the transfer of arms for use in Yemen despite mounting evidence of war crimes. Saudi Arabia, which is leading the military coalition in Yemen, has also taken strong objection to our work. The UN's credibility, we said, was at stake if it continued to have Saudi Arabia on the Human Rights Council without a credible and impartial investigation of its human rights violations in Yemen. But we did not just focus on the Saudis in Yemen. In a report published this May, Amnesty International detailed how Huthi forces - the focus of Saudi Arabia's war - have presided over a brutal and deliberate campaign targeting their political opponents and other critics. Judging by the favourable coverage the report received in the Saudi press, it is fair to say that even Saudi Arabia finds it possible to appreciate Amnesty International's work. As the report on the Huthis shows, we do not just focus on states. Amnesty International always and absolutely opposes attacks by armed groups against civilians around the world. Over recent months, amid a wave of horrific and unconscionable violence, we have condemned attacks by armed groups in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, France, Belgium, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Nigeria, Cameroon, Thailand and other countries. In India, we uphold the same principles. In our 2015 report on Kashmir, we criticised the authorities for human rights violations committed in Kashmir under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, including unlawful killings and enforced disappearances. And, in the same report, we point out how the Kashmiri Pandit community has "witnessed a number of attacks by armed opposition groups" that caused "hundreds of thousands fleeing the valley". We make no apologies for standing up for human rights everywhere, including India. Human rights do not stand in the way of India's ambitions. Indeed, human rights are an inherent part of these. Copyright notice: Copyright Amnesty International Iraq: Executions will not eliminate security threats Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 22 August 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, Iraq: Executions will not eliminate security threats, 22 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57bd533e4.html [accessed 29 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 execution of 36 men in Iraq yesterday marks an alarming rise in the authorities' use of the death penalty in response to the dramatic security threats the country is facing, said Amnesty International today. The men were convicted over the killing of 1,700 military cadets at Speicher military camp near Trikrit in June 2014, after a deeply-flawed mass trial which lasted only a few hours, and relied on "confessions" extracted under torture. "These mass executions mark a chilling increase in Iraq's use of the death penalty," said Lynn Maalouf, Deputy Director for Research at Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Regional Office. "Time and time again, Amnesty International has emphasized that victims' families have the right to truth and called for justice for the atrocities committed by the armed group calling itself the Islamic State. However, executing men who were forced to 'confess' under torture and were not given a proper chance to defend themselves is not justice. "Relying on executions to counter Iraq's security challenges is completely misguided. It does not address the root causes of deadly attacks and will only serve to perpetuate the cycle of violence. The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and there is no credible evidence that shows it serves as more of a deterrent to crime than a prison term." Only thorough, fair and transparent trials will deliver justice for victims of deadly attacks and their families. Amnesty International had raised the Speicher case during a meeting in Baghdad on 4 August 2016 with the Special Committee in the Presidency Office established last year to speed up executions, and explicitly appealed for the President not to ratify the death sentences for these men. The organization is calling on the Iraqi authorities to immediately establish an official moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty. Pending abolition, Parliament should remove the death penalty from legislation and respect all international standards applying to the use of the death penalty. One of the men executed "confessed" to killing 60 cadets at Speicher after receiving threats that his wife and sisters would be raped. He was also beaten with cables and given electric shocks. Video evidence shows the man being punched in the face during interrogation and "confessing" on Iraqi TV with a visible bruise under his right eye. Even though he recanted this "confession" in court, according to lawyers it was used to justify its verdict. The court did not order an independent investigation into his and other defendants' allegations of torture. Background Forty people were convicted over the Speicher massacre in February 2016. On 31 July the verdict was upheld for 36 of the men and the Iraqi President ratified the executions on 14 August. The Iraqi authorities have come under increasing political and public pressure to speed up executions, particularly following the deadly attack on Karrada, a shopping district in Baghdad on 2 July, which claimed nearly 300 lives. In the wake of the attack, the Ministry of Justice announced seven executions were carried out on 4 and 5 July. It stated that there were up to 3,000 individuals on death row. Amendments were also introduced to Iraq's criminal code on 12 July making it more difficult for defendants sentenced to death to seek a retrial. At least 81 executions have been carried out in Iraq so far in 2016, and at least 123 people sentenced to death. Copyright notice: Copyright Amnesty International After escaping war, what awaits Syrian children in Europe? Publisher Amnesty International Author Gauri van Gulik Publication Date 22 August 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, After escaping war, what awaits Syrian children in Europe?, 22 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57bd53804.html [accessed 29 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 horrific situation facing Syria's children, graphically captured by the haunting image of five-year-old Omran Daqneesh, shocked and bloodied in the back of an ambulance after being pulled from the rubble of his home, makes it easy to understand why parents would take their children on the desperate, arduous journey to Europe. But if a child like Omran were to survive the trip and reach Europe's shores, their ordeal would be far from over. On a visit to the Greek island of Lesvos, I saw first-hand what awaits them. In a detention centre on Lesvos I met Ahmed, a one-year-old baby who has been sick for almost all of his short life from what his mother described as a chemical attack. She told me that a bomb destroyed their home soon after Ahmed was born, lodging shrapnel in his neck. Soon after, he developed severe asthma and other symptoms consistent with chlorine gas inhalation. When I met him almost a year after the bombing, I could see his scars and his little body struggled to breathe. His family are Palestinians from Syria first fled the horrors of siege and starvation in Yarmouk camp, outside Damascus. But the war followed them as they fled to Idlib in the north of the country. After a bomb hit their home, his mother took them across the border into Turkey where they paid smugglers to take them across perilous waters in an overcrowded boat to the Greek islands. Once on land, Ahmed's family did not receive a warm welcome. They arrived after the EU-Turkey deal came into effect on 20 March, effectively transforming the islands into mass detention facilities. Ahmed's family were locked up with more than 3,000 other people in Moria detention center, closed off from the outside world by barbed wire fences. When I saw them, they had no privacy and no idea what would happen to them next. Instead of quickly providing Ahmed with the urgent medical care he needed, a doctor first gave the family a box of paracetamol. Since then, they were removed from detention but remain stranded in Greece, like nearly 60,000 other refugees and migrants. Onward routes to Europe are mostly shut off. If it was up to some European leaders, most would simply be deported back to Turkey. This desperate situation is being played out across Europe, in Hungary, Serbia, Greece, Calais and elsewhere. Omran reminds me of so many children we have seen around the continent, and the ordeals they face. Almost a third of refugees and migrants crossing the Mediterranean to Europe are children. Many of them travelling alone, vulnerable to exploitation, or separated from their families along the way, sometimes by the authorities themselves. For the ones who have experienced the trauma of war, there is barely any psycho-social support. There are few safe places for them to play, let alone to learn or go to school. Some of the children we've met have spent so long out of school that they have forgotten how to read and write. One 16-year-old boy from Syria who has been in a camp on the Greek mainland told us: "We have been here for 423 days with no hope, no education, no schools. I need the chance to complete my studies." These children need safety, special care, education, and a roof over their head. They need governments to allow and facilitate family reunification. They need countries to follow through on their promises to relocate and resettle families like Ahmed's. In Europe, governments are shamefully behind on both fronts. For example, European Union leaders have relocated only 5% of the refugees they promised to take last June. While Omran, as Alan Kurdi before him, captured the attention of the world, heartbreak and outrage are not enough. The images have moved the world, but not leaders. Until they act, thousands of children will suffer the same fates as Omran, Alan and Ahmed. Copyright notice: Copyright Amnesty International The credible death threats against a member of the Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights evidence a serious escalation in the ongoing smearing, intimidation, and threats campaign against several prominent Palestinian human rights organisations. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders urges the international community to ensure that a genuine investigation takes place. On August 10, 2016, an Al Mezan [1]'s staff member received an email sent both to his personal and work email addresses, with the following death threat: "you deserve to see your loved ones suffer and die. but maybe you would be hurt before them". Six photos of the house where he resides were attached to this e-mail that follows two other threatening messages addressed to him on August 2 and 6. Following the escalation in the level of the attacks against Al Mezan, the Observatory has been informed about numerous incidents that have taken place in recent months and that illustrate the scale of the ongoing campaign of threats and attacks against Al Mezan and its staff members. These attacks have included threats to Al Mezan staff members both directly and through friends and donors, baseless accusations of affiliation with political and terrorist groups or groundless claims of mismanagement of their funds and of involvement in sexual crimes, just to mention some of the most worrying incidents. The smear campaign seems to attempt to discredit the organisation in the eyes of its donors and its international partners. The nature and the content of the attacks seem to indicate the existence of close surveillance using advanced technologies to track phone numbers, email addresses, and to get the content of the communications of Al Mezan's staff members, not only in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) but also in Europe. The Observatory strongly condemns the coordinated attacks against Al Mezan and recalls that similar attacks have recently taken place against Al-Haq [2]. These attacks aim at intimidating the organisations that pressured the Palestinian Authority (PA) to join the ICC and that submitted together with Al Dameer and the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) communications to the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor's Office urging it to open an investigation. In light of the continued attacks endured by prominent Palestinian human rights organisations, the Observatory urges all relevant stakeholders, including the United Nations (UN) and the European Union, to take action to ensure that an immediate, exhaustive and independent investigation into the situation is carried out. Moreover, they must contribute to create an environment where human rights defenders, including those critical of the relevant duty-bearers human rights record, can operate freely, in compliance with the relevant international norms and standards, including the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. They're defeating Boko Haram but are they Nigeria's next security threat? Publisher IRIN Author Eromo Egbejule Publication Date 22 August 2016 Cite as IRIN, They're defeating Boko Haram but are they Nigeria's next security threat?, 22 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57bd5cc34.html [accessed 29 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. Boko Haram is on the run, and much of the credit must go to vigilantes in northeastern Nigeria who have risen up to protect their local communities from the jihadists. But there is a growing concern that they represent a whole new security threat. Abba Aji Khalli is an auditor employed by the Borno State government in Maiduguri, the birthplace of Boko Haram. In June 2013 he was one of the first to join the "Civilian JTF", a vigilante group that armed itself with machetes and ancient single-shot hunting rifles to protect the city when the military appeared overwhelmed by the challenge. A year later, when the militia helped finally drive Boko Haram out of Maiduguri, Khalli was at its core, leading what he claimed was an 8,000-man unit. "They are children of necessity because they were formed to fight insurgents," the 52-year-old said of his troops. Key to the vigilantes' success is that they know who is and isn't Boko Haram in their individual neighbourhoods. There was a degree of support for the insurgents in the early days; a sense that they were "our boys", especially when the floundering military's strategy was no more sophisticated than indiscriminate arrests and collective punishment. But Boko Haram was even more severe. Anyone not with them was regarded as a potential target, even the most pious Muslims. They killed with impunity, and their vindictiveness finally succeeded in turning the community against them, led by Maiduguri's middle classes. All in the name The name, the Civilian JTF, was an implicit recognition of their allegiance to the security forces, then known as the Joint Task Force, or JTF for short. The self-defence units acted as the eyes and ears of the military, but also took direct action, ruthlessly dealing with alleged Boko Haram cells in the community. "So, I ask, 'what about the youths who have sacrificed their lives to protect Nigeria's integrity?'" Human rights groups have documented serious violations by the militia, including the summary execution of people identified as Boko Haram, as well as their participation in extra-judicial killings by the military. The battle for local control was so vicious that Boko Haram made it a point to set an example in towns where the Civilian JTF was active. Bama, for example, was destroyed when the army and militia defenders were finally overcome. The state government was quick to embrace the militia, officially known as the Borno Youth Association for Peace and Justice. It provided training to a small cadre of volunteers, some vehicles, and occasionally a small stipend, but no weapons in any systematic way, apparently concerned it would not be able to keep track of them. What next? As the war comes to a close, the authorities are aware that it's the vigilantes who've been at the forefront of defending their communities now present a new challenge. The state government has officially registered some 3,000 young men, but the real size of the militia is estimated at around 30,000 and not all of them are local heroes. Apart from the killings, Civilian JTF is accused of sexual abuse and exploitation, especially in camps set up for people displaced by the fighting. Because of their links to the security forces, they have tended to act as if they are "above the law". Khalli has returned to the security of his job as a government auditor. But a large percentage of his men were, at the time they joined the Civilian JTF, either unemployed or small-time street traders and hustlers the same ranks Boko Haram drew from. Where is my reward? They will be looking for some reward for their service, and in a country in which disgruntled and unemployed youths routinely offer themselves to politicians and anyone else willing to pay as thugs for hire, they pose a real threat to stability. Last December, Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima made this frank assessment: "Unless deliberate efforts are made towards addressing issues of unemployment, illiteracy, hunger and extreme poverty, the CJTF will be the Frankenstein monster that might end up consuming us." Some moves have been taken to try to nip the problem in the bud. Last year, Borno state legislators passed into law a Youth Vigilante Empowerment Scheme. Currently, 1,850 Civilian JTF members are signed up as beneficiaries of the free medical aid and $75 monthly stipend. The army has recently inducted in 250 ex-militia members and the Department of State Security has absorbed about 30 others, but these are tiny numbers. There have long been calls for a state police service to absorb the rest of the men, but it is a contentious issue across Nigeria. The undermanned federal police force has failed woefully to provide law and order but there are fears that local politicians and businessmen could seek to more easily manipulate state police to their advantage. But as the army continues to recapture territory from Boko Haram, calls for a state police force to help fill the security vacuum and protect the displaced returning home have only grown louder. Double standards In the interim, Fati Abubakar, a Maiduguri-based journalist, believes the Civilian JTF should act as the main community defenders. "There are possibilities for them to become protectors of the community after the military leaves," he told IRIN. "It's imperative that the government engage the youth in productive activities. Idleness is dangerous." Khalli, the vigilante leader, agreed but said the federal government must help also, and should be sued if it doesn't. "The state government has a lot of responsibilities and can't do it alone. Engagement should begin from now, because knowing Nigeria once the war ends we will all be forgotten." Christiana Wakawa, who works at the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Development at the University of Maiduguri, has another concern. "The government needs to get them [the vigilantes] into therapy first," she told IRIN. "They have seen so many things in war so they need to learn new skills or else they'll keep using their wartime skills." People in the northeast see a double standard over how earlier unrest in Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta was managed, and are calling for similarly generous terms. In 2009, the government granted an amnesty to some 10,000 young men who had taken up arms to demand a fairer share of oil revenues for the region. It included demobilisation and training programmes, and a shower of money. Khalli questions why the delta militants who killed Nigerian soldiers and whose sabotage of oil facilities damaged the economy were placated, while his men risk being abandoned. "I ask the federal government: 'between Niger Delta militants and my boys, who are more responsible? Who ought to be taken care of?'" he told IRIN. "Government has given them scholarships, jobs, and billions of dollars. So, I ask, 'what about the youths who have sacrificed their lives to protect Nigeria's integrity?'" Booby-trapped bicycles Publisher IRIN Author Tom Westcott Publication Date 23 August 2016 Cite as IRIN, Booby-trapped bicycles, 23 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57bd5d2e4.html [accessed 29 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. Under the scorching midday sun and the rattle of heavy artillery and Kalashnikov fire, three men on the Libyan coast are deactivating mines with electricians' pliers, clad in flak jackets and helmets that will do them little good if a device detonates. "One mistake here and basically you're dead," Mohammed*, 40, tells IRIN. He is carrying three newly deactivated devices, including a frighteningly realistic fake rock packed with explosives. He is taking them off the battlefield in Sirte, where Libyan forces are edging closer to defeating the so-called Islamic State. The militant group's mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have already left hundreds of Libyan fighters dead and maimed and, as government forces continue to advance into the centre of the town, poorly equipped demining units are struggling to deal with the aftermath. International demining organisations are loath to work in Libya a position that won't have been helped by the death of a British de-mining expert in the Iraqi city of Ramadi on Monday so these explosives threaten to leave a terrifying legacy for civilians long after the war is over. Understaffed and unprepared Just 200 metres ahead of Mohammed and his colleagues, a child's bicycle lies in the middle of the road. It looks innocent but the men have spotted a trap; a thin wire leads from the bike to a rigged tank shell. Anyone attempting to use the road would have to move the bicycle, triggering the explosive mechanism. To add to the danger, Mohammed explains that the ground on either side of the road is also mined. His unit part of the intelligence services of one of Libya's three governments was drafted in to help when Libyan fighters found the sheer numbers of mines and IEDs in Sirte unmanageable. The assault on the city, led by fighters from the UN-backed Government of National Unity that Mohammed is loyal to, began in May. It has really put Mohammed's skills to the test. Trained in the United States back in 2004, he said IS has used tactics he's never seen before. Retreating militants have left a trail of devices across each district of the town, many disguised as, or rigged to, everyday objects. "This stuff never existed before in Libya. We never saw a range of devices like these," he says. Doors, windows, even furnishings, have been connected to explosives. It's been deadly for the Libyan forces. Brigadier General Mohammed al-Ghasri, a spokesman for the military operation in Sirte, told IRIN that mines and IEDs had killed more than 400 fighters and injured another 2,000. The dead include four commanders of military engineering units that specialise in deactivating and removing IEDs. Another demining officer lost both his arms when a device he was working on exploded. "If the international community had helped us with this, we could have avoided a lot of bloodshed and losses" "No international organisations or governments have given us any help with demining operations or even provided us with equipment we desperately need, such as metal detectors for finding mines," al-Ghasri complained. "If the international community had helped us with this, we could have avoided a lot of bloodshed and losses." Al-Ghasri said the engineering units had dismantled 200 IEDs in the last fortnight alone. "But every day we find more and more, including explosives rigged with transparent fishing wire in civilian homes." In recently liberated districts of Sirte, fighters have uncovered makeshift factories where IS has been hand-crafting explosives, including grenades, bombs and IEDs. In one sprawling farm in the Hay Dollar district of Sirte, once a villa-lined luxury area favoured by former ruler Muammar Gaddafi's inner circle, soldiers found dozens of bags of fertiliser piled next to metal components, ready to be packed into bombs to create lethal shrapnel. There were pipe joints stuffed with explosives, racks of chemicals and gas masks, as well as bomb "recipes". In addition to these urban stockpiles, fighters have to deal with desert expanses and exposed rural areas on the coastline that IS controlled until recently. "We desperately need help with special technologies for detecting IEDs and mines," said army officer Salah Jarbar, standing on charred tarmac outside the ruins of a police station destroyed two months ago by an IS car bomb in the village of Abu Grain. Abu Grain's outlying desert, 150 kilometres west of Sirte, was left heavily mined by IS. Like al-Ghasri, Jarbar said even metal detectors would be of great help. "They are a cheap technology but really we need a lot of them." The threat to civilians Once Libyan forces finish off IS in Sirte, al-Ghasri estimates it will take at least another five months to clear the town of mines, IEDs, and unexploded ordnance. A number of international humanitarian demining outfits, including Handicap International and the Mines Advisory Group (MAG International) were active in Libya after the 2011 uprising until fighting in Tripoli in 2014 prompted embassies and international organisations to flee the country. Libya's ongoing instability, including in the capital, has left most wary of returning. "MAG is not working in Libya and we currently have no plans to restart," MAG Fundraising and Communications Assistant Gayle Gabe told IRIN. As of September 2013, MAG alone said it had removed more than 495,000 explosive remnants of war across the country, including those found in ammunition stockpiles. For now, local people living in former IS-controlled territory live in fear that any accidental stumble could be their last. In the Ghardabiya district south of Sirte, a former teacher still too scared of IS retribution to give his name, said that with the group gone explosives were now his greatest fear and called on the international community to pitch in. "We urgently need international mine-clearance organisations to come and check the areas around Sirte, especially in the desert areas, because there are just so many mines there," he said. "We are afraid for our children and we are afraid for our future." Other areas already liberated from IS have begun to see the consequences of explosives left untended, with shepherds and herdsmen whose livestock roam significant distances in particular danger. One shepherd from Bin Jawad, a town freed from IS in late May, has already fallen victim. While searching for his sheep in late July, the shepherd drove over a suspected IS mine 10 kilometres south of the town. Local civil society activist Fadiel Fadel described the man who sustained only minor injuries mainly from the shattered glass windows of his truck as lucky, but said the incident showed the threat locals face. As displaced former residents started to return to their homes after Bin Jawad was liberated, military engineering units dismantled IEDs left in homes but did not have the capacity to comb the outlying desert areas for mines, the activist explained. "Mines are really dangerous and difficult, especially for farmers, and here we are looking at large areas that can't be explored or cleared easily," Fadel said. "The situation is quite critical and I don't think Libya has the capacity to manage this problem alone." * Name changed for security concerns Debunking Mauritania's Islamist militancy mythology Publisher IRIN Author Chris Simpson Publication Date 23 August 2016 Cite as IRIN, Debunking Mauritania's Islamist militancy mythology, 23 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57bd5da94.html [accessed 29 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. Fast-modernising Mauritania presents itself as something of a showcase for how "to do" countering violent extremism, or CVE, in Africa. Last year, the Sahelian country hosted a regional summit to discuss ways local communities could work with the authorities to confront radicalisation, an initiative warmly endorsed by the United States. US Assistant Secretary of State Bisa Williams saluted Mauritania's past record of success on CVE, and noted its strong reputation as a centre of Islamic learning whose scholars "are well-equipped to respond to assaults on the practice of Islam and espouse messages of peace". De-radicalisation the Mauritanian way President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz has spoken confidently of Mauritania's unique approach to tackling the challenge of "radical Islam" in a country that has been a self-styled Islamic republic since independence. "De-radicalisation" has become the mantra and the drop in radical violence over the last five years has been attributed to the Mauritanian way: a mix of a security clampdown that has driven extremists out of the country, and the softer approach of CVE. Prison dialogues held in 2011 between extremist prisoners and senior Muslim moderates are portrayed as a pioneering initiative, offering an inspiring example to neighbouring countries like Mali and Niger, contending with similar problems. Abdel Aziz is still making the case for dialogue. In his Ramadan address to the nation in June, he appealed once again to Mauritania's oulemas, or theologians, "to do more to promote the values of tolerance and social solidarity" and to use their wisdom to reach out "to the partisans of extremism". In Mauritania's case, "the partisans of extremism" are the men and women that have fallen victim to malign influences from outside, most notably the Algerian-led Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), which developed into al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) in 2007. There have been sporadic attacks in Mauritania since the mid-1980s, including raids on the French and Israeli embassies; the kidnapping and killing of Westerners; and gun battles between the security forces and militants in the centre of Nouakchott. Was there a deal? Documents seized from the US commando raid on Osama bin Laden's compound in Pakistan, released earlier this year, suggest that AQIM was considering a truce with the Mauritanian government in 2010, which could be a reflection of the success of the security drive. The terms of the possible deal were that, for a guaranteed $11 million to $22 million a year, Mauritania would be spared any kidnappings or other terrorist activity on its soil. In return, all AQIM prisoners would be released and the government would avoid "any hostile attack against the brothers from its territories". There is no evidence in the correspondence that the government agreed to the proposal. Mauritania has denied the authenticity of the documents and its jihadist detainees remain in prison, although there have been some spectacular escapes. Exporting extremism The main danger seems to be the export of extremism rather than domestic insurgency. No other country in the region produces as many high-ranking ideologues in the Sahelian jihadist movement as Mauritania. Nevertheless, Islamist militancy has frequently been presented as an existential threat to Mauritania's stability. As recently as June 2015, US analyst Michael Rubin asked in the US publication Commentary: "Will Mauritania be the New Terrorist Haven?" likening Mauritania to southern Libya and warning of "AQIM's unfettered access to most of the country". Similar warnings were being issued more than 10 years ago, focusing particularly on the fragility of the Mauritanian state, its deteriorating economy, and the multiple frustrations of a younger generation susceptible to radical ideas. "It is quite possible to mistake radical conservatism for terrorism" But it is unclear how much support violent extremism has in the country: nor to what extent it is a reflection of opposition to a narrow political elite, dominated by the country's Moors, who are of Arab descent. Mauritania provided senior cadres to al-Qaeda and related movements well before the 2012 secessionist conflict in Mali. For example, Abu Hafs al-Mauritani was reputedly part of bin Laden's inner circle, as a spiritual and political counsellor. Al-Mauritani was later imprisoned in Iran, transferred to Mauritania, and eventually released in July 2012. During the conflict in Mali, Mauritanian nationals figured prominently among the Islamic guerrilla katibas, or brigades, battling the government. Hamada Ould Mohamed Kheirou became the founder of the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa, one of AQIM's main allies in northern Mali. Driving militancy What research has been done on AQIM operatives in Mauritania suggests those most vulnerable to recruitment were marginalised young men, living on the urban periphery, sometimes with a background in petty crime. The legacy of slavery also resonates. The state-backed religious establishment had resisted its abolition (it was only officially abolished in 2007) - an affront to both Afro Mauritanians, and the Haratins, the descendants of slaves. "The Islamists' rise is the result of the failure of the autocratic Mauritanian elite to construct a cohesive nation state and to confront the country's legacy of slavery," argues researcher Sebastian Elischer. Thirteen anti-slavery campaigners were last week sentended to 15 years in prison. Zekeria Ahmed Salem, a Mauritanian scholar, has looked closely at the relationship between state and Islam in Mauritania. Talking to IRIN in Nouakchott, Ahmed Salem stressed the dangers of over-simplifying trends and currents in Mauritania. "It is quite possible to mistake radical conservatism for terrorism," he emphasised. In Mauritania, notes academic, Armelle Choplin, "the central government has always had an ambiguous policy towards Islam in general and in particular Islamist movements". The government accepts the presence of an explicitly Islamist party, Tawassoul, as a legitimate actor. Tawassoul's leader, Jemil Mansour, was incarcerated under the regime of Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Ould Taya, who ruled from 1984 until his overthrow in 2005 and became obsessed about the Islamist threat in his later years. The traditional Malikite form of Sunni Islam, promoted by the state, was under pressure. Through Saudi patronage, Wahhabist mosques had grown at a spectacular rate. Mauritania was producing preachers heavily influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. The multiparty system also brought religious actors into the political arena. Ould Taya's close ties to Washington and Mauritania's hosting of an Israeli embassy were both heavily criticised. The government responded with strong clampdowns on mosques and preachers deemed dangerous, and made an attempt to outlaw non-Malikite teaching. The terror card was played repeatedly, with dissidents crudely linked to GSPC. A botched and bloody coup attempt in June 2003 was portrayed as the work of Islamist extremists. The round-ups and mass arrests that followed undoubtedly helped fuel the recruitment of radicals in Nouakchott and elsewhere. Abdel Aziz and the Salafists Interviewed on the international chain TV 5 in November 2015, Abdel Aziz said Mauritania wanted to do right by "those who do not have blood on their hands". The prison-based dialogue programme initiated in January 2010, which has done much to boost Mauritania's CVE credentials, was initially requested by the militant detainees. It involved many of Mauritania's most senior theologians and concluded in August 2010 with all but two of the 50 plus prisoners who agreed to be part of the process repenting and renouncing jihad as an acceptable choice for Muslims. In return, the state offered freedom and care packages for those leaving prison. The state made it clear that convicted jihadists involved in episodes like the killing of four French tourists in Aleg in 2007 would not be released. Several of the detainees had already received death sentences, although no executions have been carried out in Mauritania in years. But Mauritania's remaining hardline prisoners have frequently pleaded for their release as well. Human rights activists have often warned of the prisoners' poor conditions, the lack of information on their status, and arbitrary transfers from one prison to another without families being informed. Lawyers have repeatedly complained of confessions being made under torture, and prisoners have regularly used hunger strikes to protest their treatment. Military makeover On taking office as an elected head of state in 2009, Abdel Aziz pledged that he would "spare no effort in attacking terrorism and its causes", making it clear it was his predecessors that had let Mauritania down. In the official Mauritanian narrative on fighting extremism, Abdel Aziz won the war. From June 1985 and the killings of 15 Mauritanian soldiers by GSPC fighters in the northeast until 2011, AQIM was active in Mauritania. But the episodes were too sporadic to suggest a sustained terror campaign. However, the marked decline in violence on Mauritanian territory over the past five years has been attributed to a number of factors. These include a ferocious anti-terrorism law; better controls along the 2,200-kilometre frontier with Mali; more flexible security forces; improved regional intelligence sharing; and closer collaboration with allies, notably the US, in military training. The US Africa Command has frequently saluted Mauritania's military input. It was also Mauritania that kick-started the African Union-backed Nouakchott Process in 2013, bringing 11 states together to boost security cooperation. But there are sceptics, and they point to the AQIM letter to bin Laden as evidence that Abdel Aziz has deliberately overplayed the domestic threat conflating Islamic conservatism, which is a growing force, with jihadist intentions. Mauritania is a country blessed with abundant natural resources, from iron ore to gas, and its fishing grounds are among the richest in the world. Most Mauritanians do not see that wealth: it has a literacy rate of 40 percent and suffers from endemic food insecurity. Anti-terrorism, critics say, provides a useful distraction from tackling Mauritania's real enemy: poverty and social exclusion. RSF condemns grenade attack on Kosovo public broadcaster Publisher Reporters Without Borders Publication Date 23 August 2016 Cite as Reporters Without Borders, RSF condemns grenade attack on Kosovo public broadcaster, 23 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57bd5e6b4.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Comments All reference to Kosovo should be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244. 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. Fast-modernising Mauritania presents itself as something of a showcase for how "to do" countering violent extremism, or CVE, in Africa. Last year, the Sahelian country hosted a regional summit to discuss ways local communities could work with the authorities to confront radicalisation, an initiative warmly endorsed by the United States. US Assistant Secretary of State Bisa Williams saluted Mauritania's past record of success on CVE, and noted its strong reputation as a centre of Islamic learning whose scholars "are well-equipped to respond to assaults on the practice of Islam and espouse messages of peace". De-radicalisation the Mauritanian way President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz has spoken confidently of Mauritania's unique approach to tackling the challenge of "radical Islam" in a country that has been a self-styled Islamic republic since independence. "De-radicalisation" has become the mantra and the drop in radical violence over the last five years has been attributed to the Mauritanian way: a mix of a security clampdown that has driven extremists out of the country, and the softer approach of CVE. Prison dialogues held in 2011 between extremist prisoners and senior Muslim moderates are portrayed as a pioneering initiative, offering an inspiring example to neighbouring countries like Mali and Niger, contending with similar problems. Abdel Aziz is still making the case for dialogue. In his Ramadan address to the nation in June, he appealed once again to Mauritania's oulemas, or theologians, "to do more to promote the values of tolerance and social solidarity" and to use their wisdom to reach out "to the partisans of extremism". In Mauritania's case, "the partisans of extremism" are the men and women that have fallen victim to malign influences from outside, most notably the Algerian-led Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), which developed into al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) in 2007. There have been sporadic attacks in Mauritania since the mid-1980s, including raids on the French and Israeli embassies; the kidnapping and killing of Westerners; and gun battles between the security forces and militants in the centre of Nouakchott. Was there a deal? Documents seized from the US commando raid on Osama bin Laden's compound in Pakistan, released earlier this year, suggest that AQIM was considering a truce with the Mauritanian government in 2010, which could be a reflection of the success of the security drive. The terms of the possible deal were that, for a guaranteed $11 million to $22 million a year, Mauritania would be spared any kidnappings or other terrorist activity on its soil. In return, all AQIM prisoners would be released and the government would avoid "any hostile attack against the brothers from its territories". There is no evidence in the correspondence that the government agreed to the proposal. Mauritania has denied the authenticity of the documents and its jihadist detainees remain in prison, although there have been some spectacular escapes. Exporting extremism The main danger seems to be the export of extremism rather than domestic insurgency. No other country in the region produces as many high-ranking ideologues in the Sahelian jihadist movement as Mauritania. Nevertheless, Islamist militancy has frequently been presented as an existential threat to Mauritania's stability. As recently as June 2015, US analyst Michael Rubin asked in the US publication Commentary: "Will Mauritania be the New Terrorist Haven?" likening Mauritania to southern Libya and warning of "AQIM's unfettered access to most of the country". Similar warnings were being issued more than 10 years ago, focusing particularly on the fragility of the Mauritanian state, its deteriorating economy, and the multiple frustrations of a younger generation susceptible to radical ideas. "It is quite possible to mistake radical conservatism for terrorism" But it is unclear how much support violent extremism has in the country: nor to what extent it is a reflection of opposition to a narrow political elite, dominated by the country's Moors, who are of Arab descent. Mauritania provided senior cadres to al-Qaeda and related movements well before the 2012 secessionist conflict in Mali. For example, Abu Hafs al-Mauritani was reputedly part of bin Laden's inner circle, as a spiritual and political counsellor. Al-Mauritani was later imprisoned in Iran, transferred to Mauritania, and eventually released in July 2012. During the conflict in Mali, Mauritanian nationals figured prominently among the Islamic guerrilla katibas, or brigades, battling the government. Hamada Ould Mohamed Kheirou became the founder of the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa, one of AQIM's main allies in northern Mali. Driving militancy What research has been done on AQIM operatives in Mauritania suggests those most vulnerable to recruitment were marginalised young men, living on the urban periphery, sometimes with a background in petty crime. The legacy of slavery also resonates. The state-backed religious establishment had resisted its abolition (it was only officially abolished in 2007) - an affront to both Afro Mauritanians, and the Haratins, the descendants of slaves. "The Islamists' rise is the result of the failure of the autocratic Mauritanian elite to construct a cohesive nation state and to confront the country's legacy of slavery," argues researcher Sebastian Elischer. Thirteen anti-slavery campaigners were last week sentended to 15 years in prison. Zekeria Ahmed Salem, a Mauritanian scholar, has looked closely at the relationship between state and Islam in Mauritania. Talking to IRIN in Nouakchott, Ahmed Salem stressed the dangers of over-simplifying trends and currents in Mauritania. "It is quite possible to mistake radical conservatism for terrorism," he emphasised. In Mauritania, notes academic, Armelle Choplin, "the central government has always had an ambiguous policy towards Islam in general and in particular Islamist movements". The government accepts the presence of an explicitly Islamist party, Tawassoul, as a legitimate actor. Tawassoul's leader, Jemil Mansour, was incarcerated under the regime of Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Ould Taya, who ruled from 1984 until his overthrow in 2005 and became obsessed about the Islamist threat in his later years. The traditional Malikite form of Sunni Islam, promoted by the state, was under pressure. Through Saudi patronage, Wahhabist mosques had grown at a spectacular rate. Mauritania was producing preachers heavily influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. The multiparty system also brought religious actors into the political arena. Ould Taya's close ties to Washington and Mauritania's hosting of an Israeli embassy were both heavily criticised. The government responded with strong clampdowns on mosques and preachers deemed dangerous, and made an attempt to outlaw non-Malikite teaching. The terror card was played repeatedly, with dissidents crudely linked to GSPC. A botched and bloody coup attempt in June 2003 was portrayed as the work of Islamist extremists. The round-ups and mass arrests that followed undoubtedly helped fuel the recruitment of radicals in Nouakchott and elsewhere. Abdel Aziz and the Salafists Interviewed on the international chain TV 5 in November 2015, Abdel Aziz said Mauritania wanted to do right by "those who do not have blood on their hands". The prison-based dialogue programme initiated in January 2010, which has done much to boost Mauritania's CVE credentials, was initially requested by the militant detainees. It involved many of Mauritania's most senior theologians and concluded in August 2010 with all but two of the 50 plus prisoners who agreed to be part of the process repenting and renouncing jihad as an acceptable choice for Muslims. In return, the state offered freedom and care packages for those leaving prison. The state made it clear that convicted jihadists involved in episodes like the killing of four French tourists in Aleg in 2007 would not be released. Several of the detainees had already received death sentences, although no executions have been carried out in Mauritania in years. But Mauritania's remaining hardline prisoners have frequently pleaded for their release as well. Human rights activists have often warned of the prisoners' poor conditions, the lack of information on their status, and arbitrary transfers from one prison to another without families being informed. Lawyers have repeatedly complained of confessions being made under torture, and prisoners have regularly used hunger strikes to protest their treatment. Military makeover On taking office as an elected head of state in 2009, Abdel Aziz pledged that he would "spare no effort in attacking terrorism and its causes", making it clear it was his predecessors that had let Mauritania down. In the official Mauritanian narrative on fighting extremism, Abdel Aziz won the war. From June 1985 and the killings of 15 Mauritanian soldiers by GSPC fighters in the northeast until 2011, AQIM was active in Mauritania. But the episodes were too sporadic to suggest a sustained terror campaign. However, the marked decline in violence on Mauritanian territory over the past five years has been attributed to a number of factors. These include a ferocious anti-terrorism law; better controls along the 2,200-kilometre frontier with Mali; more flexible security forces; improved regional intelligence sharing; and closer collaboration with allies, notably the US, in military training. The US Africa Command has frequently saluted Mauritania's military input. It was also Mauritania that kick-started the African Union-backed Nouakchott Process in 2013, bringing 11 states together to boost security cooperation. But there are sceptics, and they point to the AQIM letter to bin Laden as evidence that Abdel Aziz has deliberately overplayed the domestic threat conflating Islamic conservatism, which is a growing force, with jihadist intentions. Mauritania is a country blessed with abundant natural resources, from iron ore to gas, and its fishing grounds are among the richest in the world. Most Mauritanians do not see that wealth: it has a literacy rate of 40 percent and suffers from endemic food insecurity. Anti-terrorism, critics say, provides a useful distraction from tackling Mauritania's real enemy: poverty and social exclusion. Local newspaper owner is 4th Brazilian journalist to be murdered this year Publisher Reporters Without Borders Publication Date 23 August 2016 Cite as Reporters Without Borders, Local newspaper owner is 4th Brazilian journalist to be murdered this year, 23 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57bd5eec4.html [accessed 29 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. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns last week's murder of local newspaper owner Mauricio Campos Rosa in Santa Luzia, a town near Belo Horizonte in the central state of Minas Gerais, and urges the local authorities to leave no stone unturned until the instigators are identified and brought to trial. Aged 64, Mauricio Campos Rosa had just left the home of some friends on the evening of 17 August when he was shot five times with a revolver beside his newspaper's vehicle. He died shortly after being rushed to hospital. The owner and editor of O Grito, a free local newspaper distributed on the streets of Santa Luzia for the past 20 years, Rosa also reported for the Diarios Associados media group. A few days before Rosa's murder, O Grito had reported that several local elected officials were illegally participating in a garbage collection cooperative. He is the fourth Brazilian journalist to be murdered this year, following Joao Miranda do Carmo, Manoel Messias Pereira and Joao Valdecir de Borba. "How many more Brazilian journalists will have to be murdered before the authorities seriously address the problem of violence against the media?" said Emmanuel Colombie, the head of RSF's Latin America desk. "The Minas Gerais judicial authorities must do their duty and identify those behind this cowardly act. This latest murder has silenced not only a journalist but also an independent media outlet. It must not go unpunished and it must not be forgotten, as is so often still the case in Latin America." The Santa Luzia municipal authorities have yet to comment on the murder. The police have opened an investigation and have so far not ruled out any possible motive. RSF joins the Minas Gerais Union of Professional Journalists (SJPMG) in demanding a swift and impartial investigation into Rosa's murder in order to identify those responsible and to ensure that it does not go unpunished. Coinciding with the start of the Rio Olympics, RSF launched a campaign on 04 August to draw attention to violence against the media in Brazil. This latest murder unfortunately confirms that the federal authorities must urgently propose concrete measures to protect journalists and combat the impunity that still prevails in many of the country's regions. Brazil is ranked 104th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2016 World Press Freedom Index. Burundi Reporter Wins Peter Mackler Award for Courageous and Ethical Journalism Publisher Reporters Without Borders Publication Date 23 August 2016 Cite as Reporters Without Borders, Burundi Reporter Wins Peter Mackler Award for Courageous and Ethical Journalism, 23 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57bd5f7e4.html [accessed 29 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. Journalist Eloge Willy Kaneza of Burundi has been named the winner of the 2016 Peter Mackler Award for Courageous and Ethical Journalism. The award is presented by the Global Media Forum in collaboration with Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Agence France-Presse (AFP). The award will be presented in a ceremony at the National Press Club in Washington on October 13. Kaneza, 34, is the public face of SOS Media Burundi, a collective of mostly anonymous journalists that emerged after the closure of radio stations during the May 2015 coup attempt against President Pierre Nkurunziza. Using smartphones and mobile applications, Kaneza and his colleagues work under difficult circumstances as the only source of news for their countrymen and those outside Burundi. "Not only does Eloge Kaneza embody the journalistic values the Peter Mackler Award seeks to honor, he and his colleagues have also found creative ways to push back on repression using online technologies," said PMA Project Director Camille Mackler. "He is a role model." Here's what other journalists are saying about Eloge Willy Kaneza: "The authorities and uncontrolled armed groups have become the number one menace for journalists in the country. In such a context, continuing to do your work as a journalist with such integrity and courage is absolutely remarkable. Eloge deserves this award that is not only a testimony to his work, but a strong message of hope sent to the whole Burundian journalistic community." - Clea Kahn-Sriber, RSF Africa Desk. "Not only is Eloge not afraid, but he is also an excellent reporter who strives to get both sides of the story; his survival in this very troubled country could be due to his fairness." - Nengussie Mengesa Director, African Division, Voice of America. Esdras Ndikumana, correspondent for Agence France-Presse and Radio France Internationale, who was forced into exile after being attacked by intelligence agents, said recently that without SOS Media Burundi, he wouldn't be able to provide his readers and listeners with any information from the country. Eloge studied audiovisual communications in Bujumbura's Universite Lumiere. He also attended a Reporters Without Borders workshop on cyber security in Bujumbura, along with other SOS Media Burundi reporters, to learn how to protect communications online. He speaks English, French and Swahili. Since 2008, the Peter Mackler Award has recognized those journalists who fight courageously and ethically to report the news in countries where press freedom is challenged. It honors the memory of the veteran AFP journalist who was dedicated to mentoring young journalists. The Award ceremony will take place on October 13, 2016 at 6PM at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, 529 14th St. N.W, 13th Fl.; Washington, DC 20045. The ceremony will be followed by a networking hour. Burundi is ranked 156 out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders 2016 World Press Freedom Index, falling 11 places since the 2015 index. Press freedom violations recounted in real time January 2016 Publisher Reporters Without Borders Publication Date 22 August 2016 Cite as Reporters Without Borders, Press freedom violations recounted in real time January 2016, 22 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57bd5fd94.html [accessed 29 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. 22.08.2016 - Court upholds decision to flog blogger Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is appalled to learn that an appeal court in the city of Saveh, in central Iran, has upheld a lower court's decision that the Saveh-based journalist and blogger Mohammad Reza Fathi should be flogged because of his posts about city officials. Under the original ruling handed down on 13 April, Fathi was sentenced to 444 lashes (to be administered in six sessions of 74 lashes) on charges of defamation and publishing false information. In its 12 July ruling, the appeal court confirmed the decision to flog Fathi but modified the sentence. It sentenced him to three sessions of 77 lashes for defamation and three sessions of 76 lashes for publishing false information for an increased total of 459 lashes. But the appeal court added that only the second sentence (three sessions of 76 lashes) will be administered in accordance with article 134 of the new Islamic penal code (as amended in 2013), which says that when a defendant is given more than one sentence on criminal charges, only the sentence corresponding to the gravest charge is implemented. RSF again calls on the judicial authorities to overturn this sentence, which is inhumane and medieval, and contrary to international law. Read the entry of 30.06.2016 - Iranian blogger sentenced to 444 lashes ---------- 16.08.2016 - Journalist gets three years, another trial pending Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is outraged to learn that Issa Saharkhiz, a well-known independent journalist who edited several reformist newspapers, wassentenced to a total of three years in prison by a Tehran revolutionary court on 9 August. His lawyer, Mahmoud Alizadeh-Tabatabaie, said Saharkhiz was given two years on a charge of anti-government propaganda and one year for "insulting Ali Khamenei, the Islamic Revolution's Supreme Leader." Two other pending charges against Saharkhiz publishing false news and insulting the head of the judicial system are to be tried separately as political crimes before a court of assizes, the lawyer added. Saharkhiz was one of several journalists who were arrested on 2 November 2015. He has been in a Tehran hospital since 10 March after suffering a heart attack and going on hunger strike. Often proposed since the 1979 revolution, the controversial law on political crimes was finally adopted by the Iranian parliament in May. This law violates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (which Iran has signed) and other international norms. ---------- 18.07.2016 Narges Mohammadi ends hunger strike Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is relieved that imprisoned journalist and human rights defender Narges Mohammadi abandoned her hunger strike on 16 July after being able to talk by phone with her two children, who now live with their father in Paris. RSF is pleased that the judicial authorities allowed this but points out that she should not be in prison, especially as she is in very poor health. RSF was also pleased to learn that Afarin Chitsaz, a journalist held since a wave of arrests on 2 November 2015 , was released on bail of 1 billion toman (720,000 euros) on 5 July pending a decision on his appeal. Two other journalists who were arrested the same day, Ehssan Mazndarani and Saman Safarzai, were each granted three days' furlough on 5 July. Mazndarani had been hospitalized with pulmonary problems after being on hunger strike for more than three weeks. ---------- 08.07.2016 Narges Mohammadi on 12th day of hunger strike Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is concerned about the conditions in which journalist and human rights activist Narges Mohammadi is being detained. She has been on hunger strike since 27 June in protest against her treatment and, in particular, a ban on contacting her husband and children, who live in exile in France. Her state of health is very worrying. "She is continuing her hunger strike although she has to take several medicines every day and has been the victim of convulsions in her cell twice," her husband, Taghi Rahmani, said. A spokesperson of the Centre for Human Rights Defenders (which has been arbitrarily banned in Iran since 2006) and a close aide of Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi, Mohammadi has had many spells in prison in connection with her human rights activism. Her current period in detention began when she was arrested on 5 May 2015. She was given a 10-year jail sentence on 18 May 2016. At an event that RSF organized at the Theatre du Rond Point in Paris on 2 May 2016, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo awarded the City of Paris medal to four journalists proposed by RSF. One of them was Mohammadi, who sent a poignant message to the event from her Tehran cell. Her health is in danger but she is being denied the medical treatment she needs. In October 2015, she was taken from prison to a Tehran hospital, where she spent ten days handcuffed to a bed before being returned to prison against medical advice. -------- 30.06.2016 - Iranian blogger sentenced to 444 lashes Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is outraged by the sentence of 444 lashes that a court in the city of Saveh, in central Iran, imposed on Mohammad Reza Fathi, a journalist and blogger, on 9 June. The sentence is to be implemented in six sessions of 74 lashes. Fathi has filed an appeal. RSF urges the judicial authorities to overturn the sentence, which is inhumane and medieval, and contrary to international law. The sentence is the outcome of three complaints filed by local officials, including a legislator, a deputy mayor and 11 members of the Saveh municipal council, about articles critical of the municipal government and local officials that Fathi posted anonymously on his blog, called Radio Saveh (http://www.pooria6.blogfa.com/). Arrested by members of the FTA (Iran's cyber-police) on 5 August 2012, he was released on bail 13 days later pending trial on a charge of "publishing false information with the aim of upsetting public opinion." The trial finally began on 13 April 2015 and concluded with the announcement of the sentence three weeks ago. A number of media outlets and prominent figures have protested against the sentence, some of them in a letter to President Hassan Rouhani. Defending the sentence at a news conference, judicial authority provincial director Ghasem Abdolalhi said flogging was sometimes preferable to imprisonment "because only the culprit feels the consequences, while a jail term also affects the family" and because this form of punishment also satisfied the culprit's victims more. He also pointed out that the sentence could be reduced to a fine on appeal. Fathi was previously arrested in 2005 in connection with his posts in an earlier blog, Savehjam (http://www.savehjam.blogspot.com), criticizing the provincial governor and Saveh's mayor, and a letter he wrote to then President Mohammad Khatami lamenting "the limited ability of officials to accept criticism." After the release of the letter, he was questioned by members of the Edareh Amaken, Iran's vice squad, on 26 March 2005. Nine days later, members of the local police arrested him on the street and held him for three days. Under pressure from the authorities, he finally closed his blog, which had been very popular in his region. ------------- 22.06.2016 - Jail terms for former Iran CEO and three journalists Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns the 91-day jail sentences passed on 18 June on Ali Akbar Javanfekr, former CEO of the Iran media group and onetime adviser to controversial former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and three former journalists with the group's pro-government daily Iran, Abdolreza Soltani, Said Yousefipour and Hassan Ghassemi. The pro-Ahmadinejad website Dolat Bahar said a special court for government employees convicted them on 19 May of an "act of rebellion against government agents." Their lawyers have appealed. They were convicted in connection with the events that took place on 21 November 2011, as Javanfekr was holding a news conference at Iran's headquarters to protest against the one-year jail sentence and three-year ban on working as a journalist that a court had given him the day before. Tehran prosecutor's office representatives and police carried a particularly violent raid on the newspaper during the press conference, arresting Javanfekr and using teargas on the Iran journalists who were there to support him. ------ 21.06.2016 Reformist daily Ghanoon suspended Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi's decision yesterday to suspend the reformist daily Ghanoon with immediate effect in response to a complaint by the Revolutionary Guards accusing it of defamation and "publishing false information with the aim of upsetting public opinion." The newspaper's name means "The Law" in Persian. Dolatabadi said the decision was taken under article 114 of the code of criminal procedure, which provides for immediate measures for the "prevention of crime." He did not say what prompted the complaint but Ghanoon often publishes articles critical of the conservative factions that support the Supreme Leader and have the judicial system's support. A Ghanoon article dated 25 May and headlined "The latest change: ministry of intelligence 2" criticized a bill that was approved on the last day of the latest session of parliament, on 25 May. It granted full powers to the Revolutionary Guard intelligence agency, which operates independently of the ministry of intelligence. --------------- 16 June 2016 - Conservative website closed, reformist editor prosecuted Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reiterates its condemnation of government harassment of print and online media outlets following the closure of a conservative news website and the start of judicial proceedings against the editor of a reformist newspaper. The Committee for Press Authorization and Surveillance, the censorship wing of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, closed the conservative Jahannews website on 15 June under paragraph 11 of article 6 of the press code, which bans "spreading rumours and false information and misusing content written by others." The committee did not say which content had caused offence. The site often posts stories critical of the government. In recent months, it posted information about the visits to Iran by Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour, who was killed in a US drone strike in May, and revealed the content of a letter from European Union foreign affairs representative Federica Mogherini to the Iranian foreign minister about problems implementing the international agreement on Iran's nuclear programme. It also revealed information about the dismissal of a member of the Rouhani administration. According to Iranian media reports, both the foreign ministry and the president's office have filed complaints against Jahannews. The reformist daily Ghanon was the victim of a complaint by the prison administration accusing it of publishing false information. On 14 June, the Tehran public prosecutor confirmed that Ghanon editor Mahnaz Mazaheri would be prosecuted over an 11 June article headlined "24 cursed hours" about the mistreatment and injuries that a detainee received in the course of a 24-hour period in a prison in the southern part of the capital. Hossein Shariatmadari, the editor of the ultra-conservative daily Kayhan, was meanwhile questioned by the prosecutor's office for culture and media on 15 June about complaints filed by various government bodies accusing it of publishing false and libellous information. A former interrogator at Tehran's Evin prison, Shariatmadari was appointed as Kayhan's editor by Supreme Guide Ali Khamenei in the early 1990s. ------------- 15.06.2016 Five Internet activists freed conditionally Reporters Without Borders is pleased to learn that five Internet activists who had been held for the past three years Amir Gholestani, Fariborz Kardarfar, Masoud Ghasemkhani, Seyyed Masoud Seyyed Talebi and Amin (Faride) Akramipour were granted conditional releases on 13 June. Gholestani had been due to serve another 12 years in prison, Kardarfar another 10, Ghasemkhani another eight, and Talebi and Akramipour another four. All of them also have suspended sentence of five years prison. This means they will be under judicial control for the next five years and will have to report to a police station every month. Revolutionary Guards arrested them and three others in September 2013 because of their activities on social networks, above all their Facebook posts about human rights abuses. After being placed in solitary confinement in Section 2A of Tehran's Evin prison and subjected to a great deal of pressure, the eight defendants were sentenced to a combined total of 123 years in prison on 27 May 2014 on charges of anti-government propaganda, "insulting what is sacred" and "insulting the Supreme Leader of the Revolution." An appeal court reduced the sentences significantly in April 2015. Two of the other three activists, Naghmeh Shahi Savandi Shirazi and Mehdi Reyshahri, were released in 2014 and 2015 respectively. The third, Roya Saberi Negad Nobakht, is still held. ---------------- 14 June 2016 Kabodvand paroled but Mazndarani back in his cell Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is relieved to learn that imprisoned journalist Mohammad Sedegh Kabodvand ended his hunger strike on 9 June after being acquitted of the new charges brought against him and welcomes the decision by the judicial authorities to grant him four days of medical parole, which began on 12 June. RSF nonetheless points out that Kabodvand should have already been released under article 134 of the new Islamic penal code (as amended in 2013), which recommends that a defendant convicted on more than one criminal charge should serve only the longest sentence. RSF continues to be concerned about the health of Ehssan Mazndarani, an imprisoned journalist who has been on hunger strike since 17 May. According to his family, he was taken back to Tehran's Evin prison on 11 June although he is still refusing to eat and is suffering from pulmonary problems and anxiety attacks. In a joint statement published on 11 June, 76 Iranian journalists called for the immediate release of these two journalists. "We are concerned about the crucial consequences that the hunger strike could have on the lives of these detained journalists and we condemn the violation of their legal and fundamental rights," the statement said. ---------- 07.06.2016 - Concern about two journalists on hunger strike in prison Reporters Without Borders (RSF) continues to be concerned about the way the authorities in Tehran's Evin prison are treating Mohammad Sedegh Kabodvand and Ehssan Mazndarani, two journalists who are on hunger strike in protest against the conditions in which they are being held and the injustices to which they have been subjected. Mazndarani has refused to eat since 17 May, according to his family, who were unable to locate him in the prison for several days after he had a heart attack on 21 May. It later turned out that, without telling the family, the prison authorities transferred him to a hospital, where doctors voiced concern about his condition. His family says he was also the victim of violence by a prison guard on the day he was hospitalized. Kabodvand was hospitalized after he, too, had a heart attack on 25 May but was sent back to Evin prison a week later. Doctors say that his condition is critical and that the hunger strike could cost him his life. As there no longer seems to be any limit to the persecution of media personnel in Iran, RSF calls on the authorities to give an immediate undertaking to guarantee the health of these two journalists. RSF also reminds Ahmed Shaheed, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran, that he has a duty to intercede without delay and to demand official explanations from the authorities. --------- 23.05.2016 Alarm over fate of two journalists in Evin prison Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is outraged by the lack of transparency and denial of justice surrounding the hospitalization of Mohammad Sedegh Kabodvand, a journalist on hunger strike since 8 May in protest against his continuing detention and the judicial harassment to which he has been subjected in recent months Kabodvand was taken to hospital on 21 May after collapsing in his cell in Tehran's Evin prison but, after 24 hours of observation, he was returned to his cell. His family was able to visit him today but he was very weak and was unable to remain standing. He is continuing his hunger strike and his condition is very worrying. Ehssan Mazndarani, another journalist held in Evin prison, has meanwhile disappeared within the prison, according to his wife, Malieh Hossieni. She was told on 17 May that, on the orders of Revolutionary Court Judge Mohammad Moghiseh, he had been transferred back to Section 2A of Evin, a section controlled by the Revolutionary Guards. But Evin prison officials denied this on 20 May without saying where he was. Arrested on 2 November 2015 along with three other journalists, Mazndarani was sentenced to seven years in prison on 26 April . RSF urges Ahmed Shaheed, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran, to intercede quickly and demand official explanations from the Iranian authorities. Under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is party, denying medical care constitutes a violation of the ban on torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. ---------- 12.05.2016 - Shargh's former political editor released Reporters Without Borders has learned that Keyvan Mehregan, a journalist who writes for reformist newspapers and used to be the daily Shargh's political editor, was released yesterday after serving nine months of a one-year jail term. His wife said a judge granted his conditional release at a Tehran prosecutor's request. Mehregan was arrested when he went to the Tehran passport office to renew his passport on 26 August 2015. From there he was taken to Evin prison's sentence enforcement office, where he was told that he had been sentenced to a year in prison and that he had to begin serving the sentence at once. He had been detained on several previous occasions since 2009. ---------- 09.05.2016 - Two citizen-journalists freed conditionally Reporters Without Borders (RSF) welcomes the decision taken on 4 May to grant a medical parole to citizen-journalist Hossien Ronaghi Malki in return for bail of 300 million toman (220,000 euros). Malki, who was arrested in December 2010 and is serving a 15-year jail sentence, has undergone several kidney operations and is in very poor health. He began a hunger strike more than a month ago. According to his family, a forensic doctor said his medical problems were incompatible with further detention. The Tehran prosecutor's office therefore obtained for him a suspension of sentence for one month on medical grounds. RSF reminds the judicial authorities that Hossien should already have been released for good under article 134 of the new Islamic criminal code (as amended in 2013), according to which someone convicted of more than one crime serves only the main sentence. RSF has also learned that citizen-journalist Atena Ferghdani was freed conditionally on 3 May following last month's announcement by her lawyer, Mohammad Moghimi, that a Tehran appeal court had reduced her jail sentence from 12 years and nine months to 18 months. She continues to be sentenced to three years in prison on a separate charge of insulting the Supreme Leader but this sentence is now suspended and will expire in four years' time . ---------- 29.04.2016 - Well-known cartoonist freed conditionally Reporters Without Borders (RSF) welcomes the release of Hadi Heidari, a well-known cartoonist who worked for the daily Shahrvand and ran the Persian Cartoon website. He was freed conditionally in Tehran on 27 April after completing half of a one-year jail sentence. Plainclothesmen from the Tehran prosecutor's office arrested him at Shahrvand on 16 November 2015 and took him to Evin prison, where he managed to inform his family that evening that he had been arrested to serve a prison sentence. ---------- 26.04.2016 Long jail terms for journalists arrested in November Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns the heavy jail sentences that have been passed on three journalists who were the victims of a wave of arrests in November. Afarine Chitsaz of the daily Iran, Ehssan Mazndarani, the editor of the daily Farhikhteghan, and Saman Safarzai of the monthly Andisher Poya were sentenced to ten, seven and five years in prison respectively, according to their lawyers, Mahmoud Alizadeh-Tabatabaie and Iman Mirzazadeh. A revolutionary court tried them on 7 March on charges of anti-government propaganda, conspiring against government officials and insulting government officials. They and Issa Saharkhiz, a well-known independent journalist who edited several reformist newspapers in the past, were arrested at their homes by Revolutionary Guard intelligence officers on 2 November. No sentence has been announced for Saharkhiz, who has been in a Tehran hospital since 10 March after going on hunger strike and suffering a heart attack. Iran is still one of the world's five biggest prisons for media personnel and is ranked 169rd out of 180 countriesin the 2016 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index. ---------- 25.04.2016 Court reduces citizen-journalist's 12-year sentence Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is relieved to learn that an appeal court has reduced the sentence imposed on citizen-journalist and human rights defender Atena Ferghdani, and that she is now due to be freed next month. RSF nonetheless calls for her immediate release because she is the innocent victim of judicial persecution. Her lawyer, Mohammad Moghimi, told journalists today that a Tehran appeal court had reduced her jail sentence from 12 years and nine months to 18 months, and that she should therefore be able to leave prison on 11 May. "The appeal court acquitted her on the charge of plotting against the regime and ordered a four-year suspension of her sentence for insulting the Supreme Leader, while her sentence for insulting Iran's President and the guards of Section A2 of Evin prison was commuted to a fine," he said. The only sentence upheld by the court was the 18-month jail term for anti-government propaganda, he added. Ferghdani was arrested on 11 January 2015 when she responded to a summons from a Tehran revolutionary court for posting a video on Facebook and YouTube the previous month. In the video she had described her experiences in Section 2A of Evin prison a section controlled by Revolutionary Guards after a previous arrest in August 2014. ---------- 07.04.2016 - Two journalists freed Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is relieved by this week's release of two journalists citizen-journalist Vahid Asghari on 4 April and professional journalist Said Razavi Faghih on 6 April. A young information technology student arrested on 11 May 2008 at Tehran's main international airport,Asghari was sentenced to death twice by a revolutionary court on charges of "publishing false information with the aim of stirring up public opinion," "activities threatening national security" and "hosting anti-Islamic and counter-revolutionary websites and collaborating with foreign media." After an international outcry, the death sentence was quashed and, on 6 December 2012, another revolutionary court gave him an 18-year jail sentence, which a Tehran appeal court reduced to 15 years two months later. Asghari has various ailments including Carpal tunnel syndrome (compression of the median nerve in the hand and forearm). He spent seven months in solitary confinement and was mistreated and tortured. In a letter to the presiding judge of one of the revolutionary courts on 17 October 2009, he gave a detailed description of the horrific interrogation sessions to which he was subjected. Faghih used to work for various newspapers including Yass-e No, which the authorities closed in 2009. Arrested on 24 February 2014, he should have been released on completing a one-year sentence in March 2015 but he was given a new sentence of three and a half years in prison on charges of anti-government publicity and insulting Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the Assembly of Experts. He suffers from various renal and cardio-vascular ailments and underwent a heart operation in January 2015, following which he was returned to Rajaishah prison. He began a hunger strike on 27 March in protest against the way he was being treated and was released ten days later. ---------- 29.03.2016 Two journalists freed pending trial Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has learned that the journalist Hassan Shikhaghai was released on bail on 15 December, pending trial. The editor of Ruwange, a news website based in Mahabad, in the northwestern province of Kurdistan, he was arrested on 7 October 2015 by plainclothesmen at the Mahabad revolutionary court's behest. RSF has also been told that Farzad Pourmoradi, a journalist based in the western province of Kermanshah who works for the Kermanshah Post, has also been released pending trial. He had to pay 90 million toman (70,000 euros) in bail. Revolutionary Guard plainclothesmen raided his home and arrested him on 2 November after he created a Kalaghnews page on the Telegram social networking service. He is charged with "activities against national security," "anti-government publicity" and insulting government officials. He suffered acute cardiac and pancreatic problems while in prison. ---------- 17.03.2016 - Sent into exile after four years in prison Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns the ruthless manner in which the judicial authorities are enforcing the sentence imposed in 2013 on journalist and researcher Said Madani. Released on 15 March, after four years in prison,Madani has been ordered to travel at once to the southern city of Bandar Abbas to begin a period of two years in exile there. A sociologist and writer (who haswritten many articles for independent media outlets), Madani was freed under article 134 of the new Islamic criminal code (as amended in 2013), under which someone convicted of more than one crime serves only the main sentence. After being arrested by plainclothesmen at his Tehran home on 7 January 2012, Madani spent a year in isolation in Section 209 of Tehran's Evin prison. The decision to sentence him to a jail term followed by exile was taken by a Tehran revolutionary court on 18 June 2013. ---------- 18.02.2016 Four Narenji website employees returned to prison Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns yesterday's rearrest of four senior members of the Narenji (Orange) tech news website to begin serving long jail sentences that were confirmed on appeal. The four Ali Asghar Honarmand, Hossien Nozari, Ehsan Paknejad and Abass Vahedi are sentenced to eleven, seven, five and two and a half years in prison respectively. Originally arrested along with seven colleagues in the southeastern city of Kerman on 3 December 2013, they were convicted by a Kerman court on 24 May 2014 on charges of "anti-government publicity," "actions threatening national security" and "collaborating with TV stations based abroad." Their seven colleagues received suspended sentences. All were freed in return for payment of large bail amounts. A court upheld the sentences on 30 November 2015 but the authorities did not notify them prior to the time of their rearrest. --------- 12.02.2016 - Former BBC journalist detained in Tehran Reporters Without Borders condemns the detention of Bahman Darolshafai, a 34-year-old former BBC journalist with British and Iranian dual nationality. Arrested at his Tehran home by plainclothesmen on 3 February, he managed to make a short phone call to his mother five days later, telling her he was "in a cell in Evin prison and under interrogation." After several years in London, Darolshafa left the BBC's Persian Service n 2014 and returned to Iran. Thereafter he was repeatedly interrogated by intelligence ministry officials and was forbidden to do any kind of journalistic activity. He had been translating literary and philosophical works. ---------- 2.02.2016 - Four journalists held provisionally for past two months Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns the continuing provisional detention of four journalists who were the victims of a wave of arrests exactly two months ago, on 2 November 2015 . Mahmoud Alizadeh-Tabatabaie, a lawyer representing two of the four, said: "There are differences between the investigation judge and the prosecutor as regards the charges against my clients." He is defending Ehssan Mazndarani, the editor of the daily Farhikhteghan, and Issa Saharkhiz, a well-known independent journalist. As well as being accused of "propaganda activities against the government," they are also charged with "acting against national security by means of meetings" and "conspiring against and insulting government officials." The case has been sent to the Tehran revolutionary court, whose president, Aboughasem Salevati, has been persecuting journalists and online information providers for years. He staged the "Stalin-style" mass trials in August 2009 and alone is responsible for convicting more than 100 journalists. The other two journalists arrested on 2 November are Afarine Chitsaz of the daily Iran and Saman Safarzai of the monthly Andisher Poya. All four continue to be denied all their rights. ------------ 14.01.2016 Woman journalist detained for fourth time since 2009 Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns journalist Rihaneh Tabtabai's detention for the fourth time since 2009. Tabtabai, who has worked for Shargh,Etemad, Bahar and other reformist newspapers, was jailed on 12 January to serve a one-year sentence on charges of endangering national security and anti-government publicity. Originally imposed by a revolutionary court in November 2014, the sentence was upheld by a Tehran appeal court two months ago. She is also sentenced to a two-year ban on political and journalistic activity in the media and online after she completes the jail term. After being arrested on 12 December 2010, she was released on bail of 10 million toman (7,500 euros) on 16 January 2011. On 2 April 2012, she received a two-year jail sentence from a Tehran revolutionary court that was reduced to six months on appeal. She served the sentence from 21 June to 11 November 2014. She was also detained from 31 January to 26 February 2013, when she was freed on bail. --------------- 12.01.2016 Journalist sent back to prison Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns Meisam Mohammadi's reimprisonment on 8 January. A onetime political editor of Kalameh Sabaz (a daily closed by the authorities in June 2009) and contributor to the Beheshti Foundation website, Mohammadi was arrested at his home by intelligence ministry officials on 10 February 2010 and was freed on bail two months later, pending trial. He was sentenced in May 2012 to four years in prison and a five-year ban on journalistic and political activities on charges of anti-government publicity and "meeting to conspire against national security." Kalameh Sabaz's owner, former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Mousavi, the writer Zahra Rahnavard (who is Mousavi wife) and Mehdi Karoubi, a former parliamentary speaker and owner of the closed newspaper Etemad Melli, are still illegally held under house arrest and have been detained since 24 February 2011. Mousavi and Karoubi, who were both presidential candidates in 2009, have also been stripped of all of their rights. Their state of health is very worrying. New York, NY -- (ReleaseWire) -- 08/24/2016 --"New To The Street's- Power Up America" TV series will continue to follow Oakridge Global Energy Solutions (OTCQB:OGES) and CEO Steve Barber as he steers the company making and marketing "COOL" batteries for an additional year. The extended series will total 14 FOX Business TV episodes, and expand the reach to potentially over 150 Million households monthly with the additional network coverage. This monthly show will follow Barber and his team as he goes after different vertical markets with Oakridge's growing variety of energy storage products. Steve Barber, CEO and Executive Chairman of Oakridge, stated, "We are absolutely thrilled that FOX Business Channel has decided to extend the 'Power Up America' TV series for another 12 episodes. The FOX Business TV series has created a tremendous amount of investor awareness about Oakridge, and has also highlighted our new range of cool smart energy cell products and their diverse applications." "We realized quickly after our second visit to Oakridge's Facility in Palm Bay, Florida that the series needed to be extended. Virtually everything needs power, and Oakridge is going after many markets with superior products here and abroad. The public is interested in watching this company and how they do it- they feel part of it from the beginning," stated Vince Caruso, President, FMW Media Works Corp. "New To The Street's" producers plan on airing "Power Up America" episodes across Canada and Latin America over the next 12 -15 months. About FMW Media Works Corp. ("New To The Street") FMW Media Works Corp. is a leading provider of business profiles and special corporate programming. FMW Media Works produces "New To The Street" which paves the way to the latest financial issues, offering a blend of business and financial services news reporting and in-depth interviews relating to new products, economic analysis, and public company profiles. "New To The Street" airs as paid TV programming, and airs in the United States reaching potentially 100 million homes, in Canada reaching potentially more than 5.3 million homes and viewed on other select International stations. Visit www.NewToTheStreet.com About Oakridge Global Energy Solutions, Inc. (OTCQB:OGES) Oakridge Global Energy Solutions Inc. leads in the innovation, development, manufacturing and marketing of disruptive energy storage technology for military, civilian and medical uses. The company's research & development and its powerful strategic alliances with leading Japanese industry players has led to the development of some of the world's most innovative Lithium-ion "smart energy cells", all with smart-phone connectivity to monitor status, and representing some of the longest-lasting rechargeable power sources currently available, with a life up to 3 times greater and a 30 percent longer cycle between charges than Chinese-manufactured counterparts. Located in Palm Bay, Florida, the Company is poised to become a dominant player in the lithium-ion energy storage space with its unique "smart energy cells" and is dedicated to bringing manufacturing back to the United States. For more information visit: www.oakridgeglobalenergy.com Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer: 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. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "ongoing," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will," "would," or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time the statements are made and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainty and other factors that may cause our results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this press release. This press release should be considered in light of all filings of the Company that is contained in the Edgar Archives of the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. Contact: Bill James Director of Investor Relations Office: 321-610-7959 ext. 1008 Direct: 321-802-9764 bjames@oakg.net Source: UPTICK Newswire Denver, CO -- (ReleaseWire) -- 08/24/2016 --A Just Cause continues to fight for families and friends to be treated with respect and decency as they visit their loved ones in federal prisons. AJC has contacted numerous members of Congress and Federal Bureau of Prisons Director Thomas Kane to intervene in continuing harassment and disrespect by prison staff to inmates and their families in the visiting room at the minimum security federal prison camp in Florence, Colorado. "Florence prison officials told me that the inmates greeting loved ones from the Colorado Springs Fellowship Church group is considered 'special treatment' and will not be tolerated because it is a threat to security and presents an opportunity to pass contraband," says Lamont Banks, Executive Director of A Just Cause. "The church group has been visiting for four years without incident under two Wardens, but when Warden Stancil took over in March 2015 the church group were viewed as potential criminals and have been treated poorly by staff ever since," adds Banks. Torri Lopez, a member of the church group, speaks about his experience arriving at the entry to the compound to visit David Zirpolo (IRP6). "I was greatly offended when Correctional Officer Price asked why I and my daughter were coming to visit and didn't I have anything better to do with my time," says Lopez. "What I do with my time is none of his business," muses Lopez. "The attitude by Florence prison officials are representative of a widely-accepted U.S. philosophy that promotes retribution versus rehabilitation and characterizes its incarcerated as people that should be despised by society," adds Banks. Unlike the United States, other developed nations, such as Germany and the Netherlands are based on rehabilitation, human dignity and privacy, and they both have significantly lower recidivism rates than the U.S. On April 3, 2016, Bill Whitaker of the show Crime and Punishment toured German prisons and interviewed Joerg Jesse, the Director of Prisons in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, a state in northern Germany. Whitaker told Jesse that Americans think crime and punishment. "The incarceration, the imprisonment itself is the punishment. The loss of freedom. That's it," says Jesse. Norway agrees. In March 2016, the BBC reported, according to the Directorate of Norwegian Correctional Service, that prison should be a restriction of liberty, but nothing more. The wrongly-convicted IT execs known as the IRP6 speak about their experience at Florence. "I was wrongly-convicted and didn't realize how profoundly priceless freedom is," says David Banks (IRP6). "Our justice officials and the vast majority of American citizens would have to walk in our shoes to understand. There is no greater loss for the living than being stripped of your freedom and when you are innocent the loss is exponentially greater," says David Banks. "I was told by one prison guard that their goal is to make prison more difficult so the inmate doesn't want to return. I suppose that's why some Wardens and staff, not all, have a pile-on attitude and attempt to deprive us and our visitors of the basic human dignity of greeting family and friends," says David Banks. "I describe many of the Florence correctional officers as adversarial to me and my visitors," says David Zirpolo (IRP6). "I feel we are being punished by the prison for simply expressing our love for one another," adds Zirpolo. "It's as if the staff resents or is jealous of our family and friends faithfully visiting us for 4 years because they think we are despicable, vial human beings," says Clinton Stewart (IRP6). "Warden Stancil and other prison management are quick to remind us that this is a federal prison as if that gives them a license to deprive us and our visitors of human dignity and decency," says Ken Barnes (IRP6). "When we filed a grievance because of the unfair treatment, Warden Stancil suspended our visiting privileges and tried to ship us hundreds of miles away from our families," laments Barnes. "The treatment has been difficult on my 10-year-old son and my teenage daughter who was treated poorly because she brought female items for her monthly cycle," says Demetrius Harper (IRP6). "My son has been forced to leave because he had on sweatpants," adds Harper. After visiting Germany's Prison, John Wetzel, Pennsylvania's Secretary of Corrections said: "I think more than anytime in the history of our country, we have the right and left agree that we've -- frankly screwed up the corrections system for 30 years and it's time to do something different. It really starts with understanding that, you know, a human being's value isn't diminished by being incarcerated." Twitter: #Imprisnd4debt Change.org petition: https://t.co/jab5TqU00s What you need to know about Powerball and the $825 million jackpot Incident reports released on Tuesday by the Abilene Police Department: Criminal mischief, 4700 block of Clover Lane, Monday A man told police someone he knew threw the top part of a vehicle jack stand at the windshield of his vehicle causing $400 damage. Assault, 500 block of Medical Drive, Monday A man told police a woman attacked him at a business, causing scratches on his face and arm, an abrasion on his leg and back pain. He was taken to hospital by a family member, police said. Manufacturing or delivery of a controlled substance, 2900 block of North First Street, Monday Police said a woman was arrested after a traffic stop. The woman is suspected of possessing 13 grams of methamphetamine and 10 grams of heroin in a red plastic container next to feet at the time of the stop. Police said a male passenger in the car was also arrested and charged with a parole violation. Public intoxication, 4800 block of South 14th Street, Monday Police said a man was arrested after displaying signs of intoxication while talking to another person outside a convenience store. Police said the man displayed difficulty standing and spoke with slurred speech. ROME At least 73 people were reported killed and dozens more were missing or feared dead Wednesday after a magnitude-6.2 earthquake and a series of aftershocks struck several towns in central Italy, toppling scores of buildings, according to Italys civil protection agency. Hardest hit were towns in the regions of Umbria, Lazio and Marche some 80 to 100 miles northeast of Rome. Immacolata Postiglione, head of the civil protection agency, gave the breakdown at a briefing Wednesday but stressed the figures were still provisional. Earlier, the Italian news agency ANSA reported at least 35 were killed in the town of Amatrice, 11 in Accumoli, near Rieti, and 17 in the province of Ascoli Piceno, which includes Pescara del Tronto. As rescue teams using bulldozers and bare hands claw through piles of rubble, authorities warned the death toll is likely to rise. Mayor Sergio Pirozzi, the mayor of Amatrice, told the Associated Press that rescue teams are trying to reach all 69 hamlets around his town. Half of the town doesnt exist anymore, Pirozzi told RAI-TV. People are stuck underneath the rubble. Houses are no longer there. Police near the town of Ascoli said they could hear cries for help from under the rubble but lacked the heavy equipment to move the rocks, according the RAI radio. In Accumoli, one witness told ANSA that fire and police teams looking for a young couple and two children in a pile of rubble were alternating earth-moving equipment with individuals using bare hands. Several buildings collapsed and lights went out after the earthquake, Pirozzi said. He said he had trouble communicating with emergency responders and couldn't reach the hospital. The center of Amatrice was devastated and homes collapsed on residents as they slept. The whole ceiling fell but did not hit me, resident Maria Gianni told the AP. I just managed to put a pillow on my head and I wasnt hit luckily, just slightly injured my leg. The local hospital was also badly hit, forcing the wounded and stretcher-bearers to gather in front of the building. Ambulances then transferred patients to other towns. The picturesque medieval town of about 3,000 residents best known as the home of pasta allamatriciana is remote and was cut off after a bridge connecting the town and the rest of the region was damaged in the quake. Search parties sifted through the rubble in various towns and villages as the sun rose. It became clear for some officials that the extent of the damage was worse than they initially thought. 'Now that daylight has come, we see that the situation is even more dreadful than we feared with buildings collapsed, people trapped under the rubble and no sound of life,' Stefano Pertucci, mayor of Accumoli mayor, told RAI-TV. We need chain saws, shears to cut iron bars, and jacks to remove beams: everything, we need everything, civil protection worker Andrea Gentili told the AP. Fabrizio Curcio, the director of Italys civil protection agency, activated national emergency procedures. He said the quake was on par with one in L'Aquilla in 2009 that left more than 300 people dead. Italy, which sits on two fault lines, is one of the most earthquake-prone countries throughout Europe. The first earthquake struck around 3:30 a.m. local time near Norcia, a small town roughly 105 miles from Rome, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. No victims were reported there, but the quakes damaged buildings, according to RaiNews24. Much of our patrimony is damaged, but there are no victims, Mayor Nicola Alemanno told RaiNews24. That is the good news. Italian Premier Matteo Renzi, who is heading to the zone later Wednesday, says the immediate priority is to rescue any survivors. In brief remarks, Renzi thanked rescue workers who dug through debris to reach residents crushed by their homes. Renzi said that in times of trouble, Italy shows its true face. He added: No family, no city, no hamlet will be left alone. ROME At least 73 people were reported killed and dozens more were missing or feared dead Wednesday after a magnitude-6.2 earthquake and a series of aftershocks struck several towns in central Italy, toppling scores of buildings, according to Italys civil protection agency. Hardest hit were towns in the regions of Umbria, Lazio and Marche some 80 to 100 miles northeast of Rome. Immacolata Postiglione, head of the civil protection agency, gave the breakdown at a briefing Wednesday but stressed the figures were still provisional. Earlier, the Italian news agency ANSA reported at least 35 were killed in the town of Amatrice, 11 in Accumoli, near Rieti, and 17 in the province of Ascoli Piceno, which includes Pescara del Tronto. As rescue teams using bulldozers and bare hands claw through piles of rubble, authorities warned the death toll is likely to rise. Mayor Sergio Pirozzi, the mayor of Amatrice, told the Associated Press that rescue teams are trying to reach all 69 hamlets around his town. Half of the town doesnt exist anymore, Pirozzi told RAI-TV. People are stuck underneath the rubble. Houses are no longer there. Police near the town of Ascoli said they could hear cries for help from under the rubble but lacked the heavy equipment to move the rocks, according the RAI radio. In Accumoli, one witness told ANSA that fire and police teams looking for a young couple and two children in a pile of rubble were alternating earth-moving equipment with individuals using bare hands.Several buildings collapsed and lights went out after the earthquake, Pirozzi said. He said he had trouble communicating with emergency responders and couldn't reach the hospital. The center of Amatrice was devastated and homes collapsed on residents as they slept. The whole ceiling fell but did not hit me, resident Maria Gianni told the AP. I just managed to put a pillow on my head and I wasnt hit luckily, just slightly injured my leg. The local hospital was also badly hit, forcing the wounded and stretcher-bearers to gather in front of the building. Ambulances then transferred patients to other towns. The picturesque medieval town of about 3,000 residents best known as the home of pasta allamatriciana is remote and was cut off after a bridge connecting the town and the rest of the region was damaged in the quake. Search parties sifted through the rubble in various towns and villages as the sun rose. It became clear for some officials that the extent of the damage was worse than they initially thought. 'Now that daylight has come, we see that the situation is even more dreadful than we feared with buildings collapsed, people trapped under the rubble and no sound of life,' Stefano Pertucci, mayor of Accumoli mayor, told RAI-TV. We need chain saws, shears to cut iron bars, and jacks to remove beams: everything, we need everything, civil protection worker Andrea Gentili told the AP. Fabrizio Curcio, the director of Italys civil protection agency, activated national emergency procedures. He said the quake was on par with one in L'Aquilla in 2009 that left more than 300 people dead. Italy, which sits on two fault lines, is one of the most earthquake-prone countries throughout Europe. The first earthquake struck around 3:30 a.m. local time near Norcia, a small town roughly 105 miles from Rome, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. No victims were reported there, but the quakes damaged buildings, according to RaiNews24. Much of our patrimony is damaged, but there are no victims, Mayor Nicola Alemanno told RaiNews24. That is the good news. Italian Premier Matteo Renzi, who is heading to the zone later Wednesday, says the immediate priority is to rescue any survivors. In brief remarks, Renzi thanked rescue workers who dug through debris to reach residents crushed by their homes. Renzi said that in times of trouble, Italy shows its true face. He added: No family, no city, no hamlet will be left alone. Steph Solis reported from McLean, Va.; Contributing: Charles Ventura from Los Angeles, Jessica Durando from McLean. Hey, Republican Party. African-American voter here. I hear you've been looking for me, but you're sending out such wildly mixed messages that I'm not sure if I should be flattered or furious. Hat No. 2 fits me pretty snugly right now. Here's why. Your national standard-bearer, Donald Trump, is making an explicit appeal for my vote. He came to Charlotte last week and said the Democratic Party plays black voters for suckers while black neighborhoods rot. 'Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party have taken African-American votes totally for granted,' he said. 'What do you have to lose by trying something new?' That's a good, fair question. Too bad the guy asking it ranks as the most racially inflammatory presidential candidate since arch-segregationist George Wallace. Instead of making his black-voter sales pitch by talking to us, he's doing it by talking about us to white audiences. That tells me a hell of a lot more than the words on his Teleprompter do. It might also help if he acknowledged the fact that most black people aren't poor. Some 26 percent are, according to the University of Michigan's National Poverty Center. And while that's unacceptably high compared with white Americans' poverty rate of 10 percent, that leaves a whopping 74 percent of black Americans above the poverty line. You wouldn't guess it listening to Trump bellowing away about black despair. Yes, the inner cities clearly need new ideas and more help. But Trump isn't offering either. That's because he's not courting the black vote with this new sales pitch; he's giving cover to embarrassed white supporters who are sick of answering for his racial provocations. Speaking of which, you GOP elders might want to look in on Dallas Woodhouse, executive director of the N.C. Republican Party. Guy's in no danger of winning an NAACP Image Award right now. He shamelessly urged Republicans sitting on county elections boards to limit early voting hours and keep polling sites closed on Sundays clear efforts to pinch voting options favored by blacks. No, no, you say. That's about keeping Democrats from voting. We can't help it if most black voters just happen to be Democrats. Actually, you can. Blacks vote Democrat today because Democrats fought for their votes. The party that once welcomed cross-burning Klansmen did an about-face on civil rights and earned the black vote. Are you fighting to get those votes back? Nope. The path to do so is clear, if you're interested. Embrace affirmative action and let racist base voters walk. Pass criminal justice reform. Champion black entrepreneurship and the rebuilding of the inner cities. Reach out to churchgoing black families; their traditionalist social values mirror yours. Even viewed through the lens of small-government conservatism, this agenda is do-able. You'll lose old voters. And you'll gain new ones. Just as the Democrats did 50 years ago. In a changing America, you'll be in position to compete for real minority votes, instead of just complaining about imaginary fraudulent ones. That fraud charge stinks. It's built on the racist presumption that black voters can't discern whose policies align most closely with their interests and worldview. It suggests that, even if they're not literally fraudulent, black votes remain somehow illegitimate because they're votes for free stuff, not for well-considered policies. OK. Then why did black voters derail Bernie Sanders, the king of free stuff, in the primaries? Why'd they save Hillary Clinton? Simple. She showed up when he didn't. She out-worked him. And he didn't realize it until it was too late. Concerned about black votes this November, GOP? Quit whining. Stop provoking. Start competing. Email Eric Frazier, a columnist for the Charlotte Observer, at efrazier@charlotteobserver.com Most of us have seen a photograph or video of the Syrian boy. Omran Daqneesh, 5, is seen sitting dazed in an ambulance seat, his CatDog T-shirt and face covered in dirt and blood splattered. Alone. His town of Aleppo in northern Syria was bombed last week. In the video, the chaos created by violence can be heard. Civil war has raged in that country for years, and airstrikes are common. Three were killed and more injured that day in Aleppo. Omran survived with only minor injuries but days later, his 10-year-old brother, Ali, died. Omran had been pulled quickly from the destruction but Ali was not. Ali is one of almost 450 victims in the Aleppo area this month; almost a quarter of those are children. Their city has been turned into rubble. A story in our Sunday edition stated that search-and-rescue crews, too, are targets. They rush to help victims, then are attacked themselves by government forces. Some, sadly, are added to the list of victims. Earlier this summer, Danny Sims, of Abilene-based Global Samaritan Resources, traveled to northern Iraq and saw similar sights. We presented some of his photographs, which showed immense destruction and virtually no human presence in a city about the size of Abilene. There are two things tugging at us. One, is that we fear the violence in the Middle East will come here. It has, of course. The twin towers were reduced to rubble. We fear terrorists will find new targets in our country, who knows where, if we let our guard down. We can do something about that by being vigilant. Does it mean building a wall and denying certain people entry into our country? It's one of the great emotional debates of the presidential election. Secondly, we see what is going on there when the horror stories and horrible photographs come to us. We want to do something, but what? Should we get involved in faraway feuds, or mind our own business? Sims believes we should join the fight, but in a peaceful way. That is, helping the victims. Not making it about us but about them. Our support will build their spirits to stand up to their enemies, who have become our enemies. Ironically, some say the photo/video of Omran was staged to lure Western countries into the fray. Someone with Aleppo Media Center, an anti-government group, probably thought we should see him, because he was filmed. But the propaganda accusation is as heartless as seeing the photograph and shrugging it off. Mock-ups placed Omran's image in unlikely settings, such as between President Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin talking with each other in a comfortable setting. On Sunday, volunteers will meet at Zion Lutheran Church, 2801 Antilley Road. That church is joining with nearby River of Life Church and Global Samaritan folks to prepare 2,000, 20-pound Food Paks for children. Not across the ocean, but right here. You see, children are caught in the middle everywhere. It's from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. You also can donate to this effort. If you were moved by the photo of young Omran, do something for children over there by going to www.globalsamaritan.org. We want to hug and comfort Omran, and we can by doing something for children in our country. State Highway 36 was closed most of Tuesday while crews cleaned up debris from a one-vehicle accident about 10 miles southeast of Abilene. No one was injured in the wreck, which occurred about 7:15 a.m., said Sgt. Frederick Biddle with the Texas Department of Public Safety. An 18-wheeler driven by Richardo Antonio Alfaro, 38, of Houston, apparently struck a concrete barrier in a construction zone and rolled over. The collision scattered the rig's load of pipe across the highway. The truck itself landed upside-down near a culvert under the highway. In addition to removing the pipe, the truck and other debris, a crew was vacuuming oil and fuel spilled from the truck. All but local traffic was being diverted on Highway 36 at the intersection with Farm Road 18 near Abilene Regional Airport. The highway was closed to all traffic at the intersection with Farm Road 1750 at Potosi. The road reopened about 6 p.m., according to Mary Belle Turner, spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Transportation. The workers, atop a 6-metre-high stage, were pouring in pumpable concrete to make the slab when the supporting pipes underneath gave away. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below This just in... Features It's so much more than just a "truly f**ked up ride". Jailed Cambodian opposition member Meach Sovannara (Top C) is escorted by police officials in front of the appeal court in Phnom Penh, Aug. 23, 2016. A Cambodian government official dismissed jailed opposition party spokesman Meach Sovannaras lawsuit in the United States accusing Prime Minister Hun Sens son and the Cambodian government of wrongfully imprisoning the Cambodia National Rescue Party official. Council of ministers spokesperson Phay Siphan told RFAs Khmer Service on Wednesday that the government is unconcerned about the lawsuit because Cambodia is a sovereign nation and does not come under U.S. law. In that case, they can do what they want, he told RFA. If you want to file a complaint, do it because that court is not an international court that has jurisdiction, and it has no power to take any action or judge any country. While the Cambodian government may be unconcerned about the lawsuit, Hun Manet, the prime ministers son and a general in the Cambodian military who is considered the successor to his father, has decided to hire an attorney to fight the lawsuit. Morton Sklar, Meach Sovannaras attorney, filed the suit April 8 in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, alleging that Hun Manets family connections and leadership role within Cambodias security forces make him liable for the emotional and financial damage borne by Meach Sovannaras family for his imprisonment. Meach Sovannara, who holds both Cambodian and U.S. citizenship, and 10 other opposition figures were sentenced to prison terms of up to 20 years on insurrection charges after a demonstration in July 2014 that resulted in violent clashes between protesters and security forces in Phnom Penhs Freedom Park. Meach Sovannara and the other opposition activists received stiff sentences, but rights groups say that none of the defendants was identified as having committed an act of violence during the event. A hearing on preliminary motions in the lawsuit is scheduled for Sept. 1, and Sklar says a ruling in Meach Sovannaras favor could prove potentially embarrassing, [to Hun Manet and the Cambodian government] including their role in the violent attack on Paul Hayes when he was delivering service of process in the case. Hayes was severely injured when he was allegedly beaten up by Hun Manets bodyguards while attempting serving him with the subpoena in the lawsuit. Online videos appear to show Long Beach police spraying tear gas at Hun Manets bodyguards and protesters after a Hayes was allegedly assaulted by the bodyguards while serving Hun Manet with the subpoena in the Meach Sovannara lawsuit. Sklar told RFA that the Long Beach Police Department has opened a criminal investigation into the altercation. While foreign government sovereignty usually protects foreign officials from facing trial in the U.S. just as U.S. leaders are protected from lawsuits abroad, the Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act contains an exception for violent action against U.S. citizens abroad, explained Sklar. RFA could not reach either Hun Manet or defense ministry spokesperson, Chhum Socheat for comments, but Hun Manets attorney, John Purcell told RFA that the accusations made in Meach Sovannaras complaint are groundless. Reported and Translated by RFA's Khmer Service. Written in English by Brooks Boliek. North Koreas most popular electronic gadget has suddenly caught the eye of the authorities who have become fearful that the device makes it too easy to watch forbidden TV stations and videos. The Chinese-made Notetel may be primitive when compared to an iPhone or Galaxy Note, but its cheap price, small size, availability and functionality have made it a big hit with North Koreans. While North Koreans love their Notetels for the devices ability to play DVDs, EVDs, accept USB sticks and SD cards, and its ability to tune in Chinese or South Korean TV stations, that very ability has Pyongyang worried, sources tell RFAs Korea Service. The EVD, or enhanced video disc, is Chinas equivalent to the DVD. While the North Korean government recently legalized the Notetel, they are apparently having second thoughts, as the sources tell RFA that the authorities are now confiscating the devices. The most popular electronic product among North Koreans is Notetel from China, a source in North Hamgyong province told RFA. Since people in North Korea are able to watch videos via DVD, USB or SD card with Notetel, and also watch Chinese TV programs with the device, the NK authorities ordered the forfeit Notetels. Despite severe penalties, North Koreans appear to have a hunger for media other than the state-sponsored programming they are legally allowed to watch. North Korean residents seldom watch domestic TV, considering it a home decoration, rather, they frequently watch a small TV or a Notetel which is easy and quick to hide from sudden inspection, a source from South Hamgyong province told RFA. Cost for the device runs from a low of about $33 for the most basic black-and-white model to around $66 for the newest models with the most features, according to the sources. The devices are particularly popular with students who use them for both education and recreation. If people adjust the antenna of small TV or Notetel, they can watch South Korean and Chinese TV programs under the blanket even at night, said the source from North Hamgyong province. Most students own a Notetel, which is intended for education, but it can been also used for watching illegal videos. South Korean English study programs are a popular product for Notetel owners, the source said. North Korean authorities are even confiscating students educational Notetels, but the upper class and executives avoid the authorities inspections and keep their childrens educational Notetels. While Pyongyang wants to keep a lid on outside influences, they also want to ensure that inside influences that they deem inappropriate dont spread. A more important reason the North Korean authorities confiscated the small devices is that besides the outside TV programs and South Korean English programs, there is also the Wangjaesan Light Music Band Dance CD that North Koreans are passing around. The band has been the focus of rumors and news reports, some were later discredited, that members of the Wangjaesan Light Music Band Dance and other popular North Korean musicians were executed. The Wangjaesan Light Music Bands Dance CD contains decadent scenes such as half-naked women dancing in front of Kim Jong Un, and once the secretive video rapidly spread among residents, Notetel became a target of crackdown. Reported by Sunghui Moon and Jieun Kim for RFAs Korea Service. Translated by Hyosun Kim. Written in English by Brooks Boliek. Collapsed walls surround an ancient pagoda after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Bagan in central Myanmar's Mandalay region on Aug. 24, 2016. UPDATED at 9:43 A.M. EST on 2016-08-25 A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmars Magway region early Wednesday, killing at least three people and damaging hundreds of buildings and Buddhist pagodas in an archaeological site in the nearby ancient city of Bagan. A seven-year-old and a 15-year-old girl perished when a riverbank gave way in Yenanchaung township, south of Chauk, and an adult died and another was injured when a tobacco-processing factory collapsed in the town of Pakkoku, according to media reports. I heard the noise first and then someone said it was an earthquake, a Magway township resident who gave her name as Myint told RFAs Myanmar Service. Then we ran out of house. I had such an experience when I was young. The quake, which occurred about 52 miles below the earths surface, hit around 4:34 p.m. local time about 15 miles west of the town of Chauk on the Irrawaddy River south of Bagan, according Myo Thant, secretary of the Myanmar Earthquake Committee. Its tremors were felt as far away as Thailand, India and Bangladesh. It caused one building in Pwint Phyu township and one in Magway township to collapse, sources said. This quake is almost similar to the Bagan earthquake in 1975, Myo Thant told RFA. The temblor which occurred on July 8 of that year leveled and damaged many temples, some irreparably. More than 2,000 temples and pagodas, many of which were built between the 10th and 13th centuries, dot Bagan, a popular tourist destination which sits in an earthquake zone in Mandalay region about 30 kilometers (19 miles) north of the epicenter of Wednesdays temblor. The map shows the epicenter of a 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck near the town of Chauk in central Myanmar's Magway region on Aug. 24, 2016. RFA graphic Damaged structures The earthquake damaged 94 ancient pagodas in Bagan, including Sulamani, Dammangyi, Lawkananda, Mya Sati and Hteelo Minlo, as well as the ceiling of the upper house of the regional parliament in Magway, sources said. Other news reports said nearly 200 pagodas were damaged by the quake. We have been compiling a list of damaged structures, though we havent completed it, said Thein Lwin, deputy director general of the Bagan branch of the Ministry of Culture's Archaeology and National Museum Department. The Bagan Archaeological Zone is a main attraction for the countrys nascent but growing tourism industry, popular with religious pilgrims and tourists who come and scale the ancient Buddhist monuments to watch the sun set. In fiscal year 2014-15, roughly 242,000 tourists who visited the zone generated about U.S. $4.1 million, according to a May 2015 article in the Myanmar Times which cited figures from the Bagan branch of the Archaeology and National Museum Department. In 2014, the archaeological zone raised its admission fee to U.S. $20 from U.S. $10, the article said. Reported by Thiri Min Zin for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Former U.N. secretary-general Kofi Annan speaks during the opening session of a forum on investment for sustainable development in Africa in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, June 21, 2016. The Myanmar government has chosen former United Nations chief Kofi Annan to head a newly formed advisory commission to resolve obstacles to development and sectarian tensions between Muslims and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists in troubled Rakhine state where the majority of the countrys Rohingya ethnic minority group lives. The nine-member Advisory Commission, a national initiative to resolve protracted issues in the region, will be chaired by former secretary-general of the United Nations, chairman and founder of the Kofi Annan Foundation and noble laureate, Mr. Kofi Annan, and will be composed of three international and six national persons of eminence who are highly experienced, respected and neutral individuals, said an article in the government newspaper Global New Light of Myanmar based on an announcement issued Wednesday by the office of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi. She will sign a memorandum of understanding with the Kofi Annan Foundation, a Geneva, Switzerland-based nonprofit organization that works to promote better global governance and achieve a fairer more peaceful world, the article said. The commission is tasked with reviewing humanitarian and development issues, access to basic services, the assurance of basic rights, and the security of the Rakhine people in western Myanmar, the article said, though it did not mention the Rohingya by name. The Rohingya Muslims, most of whom live in Rakhine, have borne the brunt of decades of routine discrimination that also has affected the states other minority groups, including ethnic Rakhine, Kaman Muslims, Christians, and Hindus. The commission will undertake assessments and make recommendations by focusing on conflict prevention, humanitarian assistance, rights and reconciliation, institution building and promotion of development of Rakhine state, the article. It will also examine international aspects of the situation, including the background of those seeking refugee status abroad. The commissions Myanmar members, which include both Buddhists and Muslims, are Win Mra, chairman of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC); Thar Hla Shwe, president of Myanmar Red Cross Society; Aye Lwin, a Muslim leader and founder of the interfaith group Religions for Peace Myanmar; Mya Thida, president of the Obstetrical and Gynecological Society of the Myanmar Medical Association and member of the Myanmar Academy of Medical Science; Khin Maung Lay, member of the MNHRC; Saw Khin Tint, chairwoman of the Rakhine Literature and Culture Association in Yangon and vice chairwoman of the Rakhine Womens Association. Besides Annan, the two other international members of the commission are Ghassan Salame, a Lebanese academic and former senior advisor to Annan when he was U.N. secretary-general, and Laetitia van den Assum, a career Dutch diplomat and former advisor to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. After holding meetings with all relevant stakeholders, international experts and foreign dignitaries, the commission must submit its findings and recommendations to the Myanmar government via Aung San Suu Kyi and publish a report within 12 months, the article said. Dismantling discrimination London-based rights group Amnesty International welcomed the creation of the commission to address the human rights situation in Rakhine. For the commission to be truly effective, it must ensure an independent, impartial and thorough investigation of human rights violations in Rakhine state, said Rafendi Djamin, the groups director for South East Asia and the Pacific. Only when the facts have been established can Myanmar move towards accountability and dismantling the systemic discrimination that Rohingyas face. However, a commission isnt needed to take immediate steps to restore rights and dignity to the Rohingya and other Muslims in Rakhine state, he said. A first step would be to lift the restrictions on their freedom of movement, and allow them the chance to seek education, employment, aid and assistance. Some 140,000 Rohingya Muslims were displaced after violence erupted four years ago between them and Rakhine Buddhists, leaving more than 200 dead and tens of thousands homeless after their houses were destroyed. The Rohingya, who bore the brunt of the attacks, were later forced to live in refugee camps. About 120,000 Rohingya currently remain in the camps, while thousands of others have fled persecution in the Buddhist-dominated country on rickety boats to other Southeast Asian countries in recent years. The government does not consider the Rohingya to be full citizens of Myanmar and denies them basic rights, freedom of movement, and access to social services and education. Other plans for Rakhine On June 1, the Myanmar government created the Central Committee for Implementation of Peace and Development in Rakhine State to put impoverished and strife-torn Rakhine on a path to peace and development. Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmars de facto national leader, chairs the 27-member committee which include all government ministers and Rakhine state officials. The National League for Democracy government has pledged to spend more than 70 billion kyats (U.S. $5.9 million) to develop Rakhine by financing goods and services that promote human resources, open migrant resource centers to help workers and conduct a transparent. Kofi Annan, who was the U.N. secretary general from 1997 to 2006, and the United Nations jointly won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001. He also was the predecessor of current U.S. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who will visit Myanmar at the end of August to participate in the governments Panglong Peace Conference, an effort spearheaded by Aung San Suu Kyi to foster permanent peace and national reconciliation in Myanmar after decades of ethnic separatist civil wars. Reported by Kyaw Soe Lin for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Nguyen Thi Nay's son Nguyen Huu Quoc Duy, 31, was arrested by provincial police on Nov. 21, 2015, after authorities accused him and his cousin, Nguyen Huu Thien An, of using Duys Facebook page to incite others to oppose the government. He was sentenced on Aug. 23 to three years in prison by a court in Khanh Hoas Nha Trang city under Article 88 of Vietnams penal code. Nguyen Thi Nay spoke to Mac Lam of RFA's Vietnamese service about her ordeal on the trial day and her reaction to the stern sentence. RFA: What happened on the day of the trial of your son? Nguyen Thi Nay: The commune police told us before the trial that our son would be tried the next day and we could attend the trial. My husband, two other children and I went to the court the next day, but we could not get in. Police were everywhere. They first asked if we had any invitation from the court and they said that without an invitation, they would not let us in. I asked why not even the parents could attend the trial. One policeman said he would let in my husband only. My husband went ahead, but they stopped him at the gate. They said they now could not let anybody in unless we had an invitation from the court. I shouted: 'Why can't I attend the trial of my son?' Right after that, female police officers surrounded me. I asked one woman why, if she was police, is she hugging me like she was about to pick my pocket. One policeman took my phone from me as soon as I was about to record the scene. He then pushed me into a jeep. They grabbed my arms so tightly that they were bruised. They drove me very far away from the court. They let me stay in a local commune police station. They gave me a loaf of bread to eat and told me that I could only leave when the trial was over. RFA: Were you able to see Duy when he was in detention? Nguyen Thi Nay: They never let me see Duy. One time I heard that my son was being kept in Ninh Hoa prison. I brought some food there, but the police looked up my son's name in the book and told me Duy was not allowed to receive any supplies in Ninh Hoa prison. I asked the provincial police why I could not give my son food and they told me to leave the food there and they would send it to him. I heard that there was no canteen at that prison so every week during that nine-month span, I would send food to him at the prison. RFA: There is a report that you had asked two lawyers, Vo An Don and Nguyen Kha Thanh, to represent your son. Why was Phan Bach Mai his lawyer at the trial today ? Nguyen Thi Nay: When I heard that my son would be tried, I went to the prosecutor's office to inform them that I would invite our own lawyers but they said Duy already chose another lawyer. I sent a complaint because my son was in prison and he did not know any lawyers. How could he have chosen Bach Mai? I went to Bach Mai's house to ask him why he had agreed to represent my son when he had never met him. He told me that Duy saw him when he was in a prison meeting with another client and Duy asked him to represent him. I asked how much he charged my son, and he said it is free. I was so worried because I did not feel comfortable when he charged nothing. Nobody is so good as to represent a defendant without any fee. I know for sure the police arranged for him to represent my son. I sent a complaint but nobody replied. RFA: Duy was jailed on charges of conducting propaganda against the state. But what did Duy really do, as far as you know? Nguyen Thi Nay: He wrote about negative things in society, about corrupt communists. He gave details about some officials who could build houses worth of billions of dong after a few years working in the government. I don't know all the details about what he wrote, but many people who had read his Facebook page said it was nothing so serious, compared to many others who wrote more serious stuff than him. They took my son too intimidate others others. My son cursed at the state. The authorities told me that because he cursed at them like that, I was not allowed to see him. RFA: What do you think about the sentence of three years handed down to Duy at the trial? Nguyen Thi Nay: I only learned about the verdict in the afternoon after they released me from the station. I was very upset. He should have been acquitted. His lawyer is the police's man. I'm very upset because my son is innocent. I have never seen any trial like this before. My son is innocent, but they forced the verdict on him and did not let me see him. Translated by Viet Ha. KYIV -- Vladimir Putin has asked for political asylum in Ukraine -- sort of. Its not actually the Russian president, but Roman Roslovtsev -- an anti-Kremlin activist known for staging one-man protests against Russias strict law on public assembly while wearing a rubber Putin mask -- who is asking Ukraine to provide him sanctuary. Roslovtsev fled Moscow around noon on August 20, leaving the room he rented in the Russian capital and all of his belongings -- including the mask -- behind, he told RFE/RL in an interview in Kyiv on August 22. He took with him only his Russian internal passport, some cash, and the clothes on his back. Fearing Russian security services were listening to his phone calls, he didnt even tell his mother. A friend ferried him into Belarus by car and he approached the Ukrainian border just before midnight, Roslovtsev said, making his way on foot before hitching a ride on a truck. There Roslovtsev told Ukrainian border guards and a security-services officer: Please, I want political asylum in Ukraine. A spokesman for Ukraines State Border Guard Service, Oleh Slobodyan, confirmed to RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service on August 21 that Roslovtsev requested political asylum at passport control at the Novi Yarylovichi crossing in northern Ukraine, on the border with Belarus. After letting Roslovtsev enter Ukraine, border guards treated him to coffee and put him on the first bus to Kyiv, where he arrived -- exhausted but feeling free -- at around 10 a.m. on August 21. I feel good [in Kyiv]I am safe, he said. Born and raised in Moscow, Roslovtsev, 36, trained as an accountant and wasnt overtly political until the start of Ukraines Euromaidan movement late in 2013. Seeing Ukrainians flood the streets of Kyiv to protest corruption and abuse of power, he said, impassioned him. When Russia adopted a harsh new protest law a few months later, he saw an opportunity to do the same in his country. Wearing a Putin mask and carrying a sign adorned with the phrase Im not afraid of 212.1 the new article in Russias Criminal Code under which people convicted of violating tight restrictions on public gatherings can face up to five years in prison -- Roslovtsev strode through Moscows Red Square toward the Kremlin. Within minutes he was grabbed by police. But his protest drew the attention of activists online -- so he did it again, and again he was stopped by police. And then again with the same result. In all, Roslovtsev has been detained 21 times -- 13 times while wearing the Putin mask and eight without. The legislation added to Russias Criminal Code in July 2014 is part of a series of laws designed to curb opposition demonstrations like the anti-Putin Bolotnaya protests in Moscow in 2011-2012 and keep the Kremlins critics at bay. The law was met with sharp criticism by rights groups. Amnesty International called it draconian, while Human Rights Watch said it is an attempt to criminalize public criticism. Escape Plan Roslovtsev said he had been planning his escape since his last political protest, on June 10, which earned him 30 days in detention -- the maximum for an administrative offense. He was fed up with what he called persecution by Russias Federal Security Service (FSB), the main successor agency to the Soviet KGB, and the inability to continue protest activity in Russia. He was also frustrated that authorities did not bring charges against him for his last performance. He had hoped a criminal case would be opened and a public trial would ensue. In court, he said, he could have fully exposed the absurdities of this law. Instead, he said, FSB officers made clear that if he continued his protests, he would not face criminal charges but would either be sent to a madhouse or jailed for 30 days. I realized that I did not achieve my desired result; no criminal case was opened, he said. When Roslovtsev was released from detention on July 10, he made up his mind to leave Russia. He plotted for the next month, enlisting the help of friends in Moscow. But when the time had come to make his move on August 20, he hesitated after noticing two suspicious men in the courtyard of his apartment building. They posed as neighbors merely smoking near the building entrance. But I did not know them, and I know all the residents of the house, he said. When a friend arrived in a car to shuttle him out of his motherland, he decided to leave his suitcases behind for fear of giving away his plan. Actively Fighting Roslovtsev says he chose to seek asylum in Ukraine because it is actively fighting the Putin regime and he wants to help the country in that fight. I want to enter a Ukrainian army unit. I will be very grateful for [the opportunity], he said, adding that he sees it as a continuation of his protest performance. Kyivs forces are fighting against Russia-backed separatists in a conflict that has killed more than 9,500 people in eastern Ukraine since 2014 and continues despite a cease-fire deal. If hes able to join the ranks of a military unit, he said, I will write on my rifle Im not afraid of 212.1 and on my helmet write the word mask, and so continue the struggle against the Putin regime. There is at least one obstacle that may prove too big to overcome, however: Roslovtsev suffers from thrombophlebitis, a painful inflammation that occurs in leg veins. I can serve with it. This is a serious disease, but I live with it, Roslovtsev insisted. But he also suffers from astigmatism, which impairs his sight and kept him from mandatory military service in Russia. His first fight, though, will be for his own freedom. Ukraines Record Two Russian activists, citing persecution under the protest law, have been granted political asylum in Eastern Europe. Irina Kalmykova received asylum in Lithuania in May, while Ukraine granted asylum on August 15 to 79-year-old Vladimir Ionov, who was the first person charged under the strict law. Historically, Ukraine has a poor track record of accepting asylum seekers or even providing adequate protection for them while they are applying. In 2015, the State Migration Service of Ukraine refused to grant political refugee status to the vast majority of Russian citizens who fled to Ukraine for fear of persecution in their home country. Of 86 Russians who applied last year, seven were granted asylum, according to statistics provided to the BBCs Ukrainian service in February. They come here because they believe that they will find a young post-revolutionary, democratic country, and instead they are faced with the old, post-Soviet bureaucratic system, Maksim Butkevych, a human rights group Without Borders, which provides legal assistance to asylum seekers, told BBC Ukraine. The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, wrote in 2013 that Ukraine needed to improve its asylum process to guarantee effective protection against asylum-seekers being sent back to the countries from which they fled. There is also a need to create conditions for the transparent and fair review of asylum applications, including for instance enhancing the independence of decision-makers, it added. But not much has changed since then, says Halya Coynash, a member of the nongovernment Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group. I dont think [Ukraines migration services] do nearly enough, Coynash said in an interview with RFE/RL. President Petro Poroshenko, handing a Ukrainian passport to Russian-born journalist Yekaterina Sergatskova in April 2015, said that he would urge Ukraines parliament to pass legislative amendments to simplify the procedure of granting citizenship and providing political asylum for people persecuted in their homeland, particularly Russians. However, as of August 23, no such legislation had been introduced in parliament. Still, Yuriy Shulipa, a human rights lawyer who is assisting Roslovtsev with his asylum request, is confident Ukraine will rule in the activists favor. Because of his stance against Putin and willingness to fight against his regime, and given the fact that one Russian activist persecuted under the protest law has been given asylum here, I think [Roslovtsev] has a 100 percent chance, Shulipa told RFE/RL. Mykhaylo Shtekel of RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service contributed to this report KYIV -- Ukraine marked 25 years of independence from the Soviet Union on August 24 with a massive parade of soldiers and heavy weaponry through central Kyiv, in a show of force designed to boost the morale of the countrys servicemen and reassure Ukrainians amid heightened tensions with Russia. Flanked by battle tanks, missile carriers, and other equipment, hundreds of uniformed troops marched through Independence Square in the countrys largest military procession since it declared independence in 1991. Independence has given us democracy and freedom, the feeling of civic dignity and national unity, President Petro Poroshenko said, addressing the crowd. Thousands of flag-waving Ukrainians dressed in traditional embroidered shirts cheered, Glory to Ukraine! and Death to enemies! -- chants popularized during the Euromaidan protests that drove a Russia-backed president from power in 2014. Generals saluted from armored transport vehicles and the national anthem rang out: The glory and the freedom of Ukraine has not yet perished. Parliament in Ukraine adopted an independence declaration on August 24, 1991, three days after the collapse of a hard-line coup attempt in Moscow that was meant to prevent the Soviet Union from falling apart. Ukrainians overwhelmingly approved independence in a December 1, 1991, referendum, and the Soviet Union ceased to exist later that month. Independence Day celebrations have taken on a martial tone since Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and fomented separatism in eastern Ukraine, where a war that started that April has killed more than 9,500 people. Poroshenko said in his address that 2,504 Ukrainian servicemen are among the dead but that the enemy has failedto bring Ukraine to its knees. WATCH: Ukraine Rehearses For Independence Day Military Parade Besides potentially boosting morale, the large-scale military parades have enabled Kyiv to showcase its military, which has been revitalized after deteriorating following the Soviet collapse. In 2014, Independence Day came amid a major offensive by the Russia-backed separatists that killed hundreds of Ukrainian troops, led to a demoralizing battlefield defeat, and more or less solidified the conflict lines. Kyiv then agreed to a cease-fire deal -- the first of two agreements known as the Minsk accords -- on terms critics say were beneficial to Moscow. This year, there are fears that another offensive is looming. INFOGRAPHIC: Ukraine Besieged (click to enlarge) Fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists has flared in eastern Ukraine since June, with Kyiv suffering its worst battlefield casualties in a year. Officials in Kyiv say Russia has increased its troop presence near Ukraines borders, and Russian accusations that Kyiv tried to stage attacks in Crimea early in August -- denied by Ukraine -- have added to the tension. Last week, Poroshenko warned of the possibility of a full-scale invasion on all fronts and put Ukraines military on high alert. He said that he was prepared to impose martial law should the situation worsen. Surrounded by military materiel during the August 24 celebration, Poroshenko told Ukrainians: Today, our main guarantor is the armed forces of Ukraine. And this is much more serious than the Budapest memorandum, a reference to a treaty signed in 1994 by Ukraine, Russia, and the United States. The accord was meant to provide security assurances by its signatories in return for Ukraine giving up its nuclear weapons. But many Ukrainians have deemed the deal a failure after Russias military-backed annexation of Crimea and its interference in eastern Ukraine, where Kyiv and NATO say Russia has sent large numbers of troops and weapons during the conflict. While the idea of parading deadly weapons through the capital irked some Ukrainians, others said the event gave them a sense of pride. The parade is for our patriotism. It is important to raise the spirits of Ukrainians, especially when we are at war, said Volodymyr Bondarchuk, 74, a Soviet Army veteran who wore a pressed suit and a medal commemorating his service. Russia's interference in Ukraine has badly strained ties between Moscow and the West. Congratulating Ukraine on behalf of President Barack Obama "and the American people," U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said he was "deeply impressed by all you have accomplished in the more than two years since the Revolution of Dignity," as many Ukrainians call the Euromaidan protests. "Despite Russias aggression in eastern Ukraine and its illegal occupation of Crimea, you have worked steadily to build stronger and more effective political, economic, and cultural institutions," efforts that "have required perseverance and sacrifice," Kerry said in a statement. "The United States will stand by you as you continue to strengthen your democracy," he said. "With our European partners, we will also press for full implementation of the Minsk agreements to end Russian aggression in Donbas and return the international border to Ukrainian control. We remain steadfast in our refusal to recognize Russias attempted annexation of Crimea." Russia and Ukraine traded salvos this week with dueling criminal investigations against each other's top military brass, a new front in the ongoing conflict between the two countries. Ukrainian Prosecutor-General Yuriy Lutsenko launched the opening legal hand grenade on August 22, announcing a probe into Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and 19 other Russian military and civilian officials. Lutsenko said the officials are suspected of "committing especially serious crimes against the foundations of Ukraine's national and civil security, peace, and international law and order," adding that Kyiv plans to seek international warrants for their arrests. Not be outdone, Russia's Investigative Committee returned fire on August 24, saying that a criminal investigation had been opened into Shoigu's Ukrainian counterpart, Stepan Poltorak, and other military officials. They are accused of war crimes and violations of a 2015 cease-fire in the eastern Ukrainian region known as the Donbas, according to a statement from the agency, Russia's top investigative body. Fighting in parts of the Donbas has surged in recent weeks, with Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists exchanging mortar, artillery, and gunfire. Tensions there spiked earlier this month after Moscow said it had detained a group of Ukrainian saboteurs in Crimea, and large columns of military equipment were seen moving around the Ukrainian peninsula, which Russia seized and annexed in 2014. Kyiv rejects Russian accusations of "provocations" in Crimea and war-torn eastern Ukraine. The likelihood of either country putting the accused top officials on trial is virtually nil, though both nations allow for trials in absentia. A lawmaker in Russia's upper house of parliament, meanwhile, suggested one way to further tweak Kyiv: by staging criminal proceedings against Ukrainian officials in areas of the Donbas territory controlled by separatist forces. More than 9,500 people have been killed in the fighting, according to international observers, and tens of thousands have been displaced. KABUL -- At least 13 people, including seven students, were killed during a 10-hour assault by gunmen on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul. The attack began on August 24 with a large explosion that officials said was a car bomb followed by gunfire as the suspected militants breached the walls of the complex. Hundreds of students and faculty members were trapped inside the university during the attack. Afghan special forces, with help from U.S. and NATO military advisers, surrounded the walled compound and eventually worked their way inside. After a night of sporadic gunfire, officials said the forces killed at least two gunmen and ended the assault in the early hours of August 25. Reports said the dead also included three police officers, two university guards, and a teacher. Dozens were wounded and taken to hospitals. Some 35 students and nine police were injured and about 750 students and staff were rescued from the university. The Afghan Public Health Ministry said no foreigners were reported among the wounded. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes as fundamentalist Taliban militants step up their summer fighting season against the central government. WATCH: Police Collect Evidence Following Deadly Attack On American University In Kabul Roman Dehsabzwal, who was inside a second-floor classroom when the assault began, told RFE/RLs Radio Free Afghanistan that he believed an attacker blew himself up just outside a building and then others began entering. "First there was a loud bang and windows shattered, then gunfire started," Dehsabzwal said. "One of my friends was wounded." Dehsabzwal said he escaped by jumping from the second floor along with two others, then fleeing the scene. The attack is one of the deadliest assaults on a prominent university in Afghanistan. The growing number of students attending university, especially women, is widely hailed as one of the biggest successes in Afghanistan since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001 toppled the Taliban regime. "Attacking educational institutions and public places and targeting civilians will not only fail to shake our determination, but will further strengthen it to fight and eradicate terror," President Ashraf Ghani said in a statement on August 25, condemning the "terrorist attack." "We send our thoughts and prayers to the families of those killed and our heartfelt wishes for a speedy recovery to those wounded," the U.S. National Security Council said in a statement, strongly denouncing the attack. The U.S. State Department condemned what it called "an attack on the future of Afghanistan." The university, which opened in 2006, has more than 1,700 students, many of whom take classes part-time while working full-time jobs. The campus attack comes two weeks after two teachers at the university -- an Australian and an American -- were abducted by unknown gunmen in Kabul. Their whereabouts are still unknown. The violence came as the Taliban are escalating nationwide attacks. Afghan forces backed by U.S. troops have engaged in heavy fighting in Lashkar Gah, the capital of southern Helmand Province, seeking to head off a potential Taliban takeover. The Taliban have also seized large areas of the northern province of Kunduz -- where militants briefly seized the provincial capital, Kunduz city, last year in their biggest military victory in the past 15 years -- leaving Afghan forces stretched on multiple fronts. With reporting by AFP, AP, and Reuters A jailed Armenian activist who helped seize a Yerevan police station last month wants to run for mayor in his hometown, but hard-line opposition representatives are discouraging him from doing so. Arayik Khandoyan, a member of the armed group Sasna Tsrer (Daredevils of Sassoun) that occupied the police station for two weeks last month in a deadly standoff with police, wants to be elected head of the Tsaghkahovit community in Armenias western Aragatsotn Province in an election scheduled for September 18. His proxy submitted an application to the Central Electoral Commission shortly before the deadline expired on August 19. Khandoyan is a 45-year-old veteran of the 1992-94 Nagorno-Karabakh war with Azerbaijan and is also known as Lone Wolf. He currently faces charges of hostage-taking and illegal arms possession. But Armenias law allows citizens in pretrial detention to run for election as long as they are not convicted of a crime. If registered as a candidate, Khandoyan will run against the incumbent mayor of the village, who is a member of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia. But the Founding Parliament, a hard-line opposition movement to which Khandoyan and other Sasna Tsrer members are loyal, is urging activists not to participate in elections under the current government, saying they should instead push for political change through street protests. Founding Parliament senior representative Alek Yenigomshian has called on Khandoyan to withdraw from the race. In an interview with RFE/RLs Armenian Service, Yenigomshian, who himself faces charges of aiding the armed occupiers and was recently freed pending trial, said that the Founding Parliament believes the political situation cannot be changed through elections under the current regime. Yenigomshian said Khandoyan decided to run for mayor without consulting the group. He said the group's jailed leader, Zhirayr Sefilian, and other members also would discourage Khandoyan from running. The period for the withdrawal of candidacies is not over yet," he pointed out. Meanwhile, members of Khandoyans extended family in Tsaghkahovit said local authorities are laying obstacles to his election bid. His brothers wife said a government loyalist obstructed her involvement in the local election commission. U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's campaign aides in 2012 reportedly fought the release of Ukrainian political leader Yulia Tymoshenko when she was in jail. The Associated Press reports that a consulting firm run by former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his deputy Rick Gates was working for Ukraine's Party of Regions and directed a multimillion-dollar lobbying effort between 2012 and 2014 that undercut U.S. public support for Tymoshenko, though she was considered a political prisoner by the United States and European governments at the time. Manafort resigned from the Trump campaign last week amid revelations about his undisclosed lobbying for the Ukrainian party and Ukraine's pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, who was ousted by a popular uprising in 2014. Gates continues to serve as Trump's campaign liaison with the Republican National Committee. Tymoshenko, who was Ukraine's prime minister from 2007 to 2010, was jailed on embezzlement charges following her government's defeat by Yanukovych in 2010. Based on reporting by AP Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned the arrest of Faiq Amirov, a leading member of the Popular Front of Azerbaijan party. Amirov, who is also the financial director of the daily Azadlig, was arrested this month, charged with "inciting religious hatred" as well as with "violating the rights of citizens under the pretext of conducting religious rites," and ordered held provisionally for three months. In an August 24 statement, RSF called for the withdrawal of the "ludicrous charges" brought against Amirov. Azerbaijani police said that Amirov had books by U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom the Turkish government has accused of masterminding the July 15 botched coup. Gulen denies involvement. "By borrowing Erdogan's 'hunt for Gulenists' leitmotiv, the Azerbaijani authorities have found a great pretext for launching a new crackdown against their own critics, even if it is completely absurd," said Johann Bihr, the head of RSF's Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk. Azerbaijan, a Turkic nation, shares strong ties with Turkey. It has voiced a strong support for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan following the failed coup. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has said Washington had "unwavering support" for democracy in Turkey following last month's failed coup, but demurred on Ankara's demands to extradite the self-exiled cleric Turkey says was behind it. Biden spoke in the Turkish capital on August 24 during a joint news conference after meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The one-day trip by the U.S. vice president was largely aimed at patching up ties damaged by the coup attempt and Turkey's impatience over U.S. reluctance to turn over Fethullah Gulen. Gulen has denied any role in the coup. Asked when a decision would be taken on extraditing Gulen, Biden said: "How long it will take will depend on how much evidence is able to be presented. Thus far, until yesterday, there has been no evidence presented about the coup." "When you go into an American court you cannot say 'this is a bad guy'. You have to say 'this is a guy or a woman who committed the following explicit crime'" he added. Biden also dismissed speculation inside Turkey that the United States wanted to protect Gulen. The United States has "no, no, no, no interest whatsoever in protecting anyone who has done harm to an ally. None. But we need to meet the legal standard requirement under our law," he said. He also noted that the evidence presented in Turkey's extradition request was related to events before the July 15 coup. "Can you imagine us being happy with another military state [in Turkey]? We did not get on so well with your previous military states. So what motive could we possibly have?" he added. Combating Islamic State Biden arrived in Ankara just hours after Turkish forces, supported by U.S. air strikes, launched a military offensive against Islamic State (IS) militants in northern Syria. Turkish tanks and armored personnel carriers crossed the border into a part of northern Syria that has been under the control of the militants since July 2013. Syrian rebels from the Syria Free Army also were taking part in the operation and reportedly advanced into the border town of Jarablus. At the news conference with Biden, Erdogan said Jarablus had been recaptured by Turkish-backed rebels late August 24. The incursion was slammed by Syrias government, which described it is a blatant violation of Syrian sovereignty and demanded an end to what it said was "aggression" being carried out under the pretext of fighting terrorism. "Fighting terrorism cannot be undertaken by ousting [IS]...and replacing it with other terrorist organizations directly backed by Turkey, the Syrian government said in a statement. Biden told reporters Syria must be whole and united, and not carved into pieces. That was seen as a veiled reference to U.S. backing for the YPG, a Syrian Kurdish rebel group that has been one of the most effective battlefield forces against Islamic State militants in Syria. Turkey fears Kurdish successes will embolden its own sizable Kurdish minority. It also sees that group as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, which has carried out a three-decade insurgency in Turkey's southeast. Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu said on August 24 that Syrian Kurdish fighters must return to the eastern side of the Euphrates River or Turkish military forces would "do what is necessary." Biden agreed, saying, "We have made it absolutely clear...that they [pro-Kurdish forces] must go back across the river. They cannot, will not and under no circumstances get American support if they do not keep that commitment. Period." Earlier, after meeting with Prime Minister Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, Biden said Washington put "paramount importance" on its relations with Turkey. He said U.S. use of the Incirlik air base in southeastern Turkey "remains the lynchpin" for carrying out air strikes against Islamic State fighters. During and for several days after the coup, Turkey shut down flight operations at Incirlik. Biden also praised Turkey for hosting 3 million refugees that have fled the conflicts in Syria and Iraq, noting that the effort has placed an enormous burden on the country. With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, and Anadolu When a court in Russian-annexed Crimea ordered activist Ilmi Umerov to a psychiatric clinic for a month of assessment tests, the decision sent shock waves through the peninsula's indigenous ethnic Tatar minority. For two and a half decades, authorities in Crimea have refrained from the routine Soviet-era practice of declaring dissidents mentally ill, condemning them to life in an insane asylum. But now, Umerov's sentencing and subsequent confinement to a psychiatric clinic in Simferopol suggests a return to the practice. Crimean prosecutors first charged Umerov, the former deputy chairman of the Crimean Tatars' self-governing body -- the Mejlis -- with separatism in May after he made public statements opposing Moscow's seizure of the peninsula from Ukraine. Then, on August 11, while he was under home detention during his trial, a court ordered Umerov to undergo psychiatric testing. A week later, he was forcibly committed to Simferopol's Psychiatric Hospital No. 1 for a 28-day period. The forced admission to the clinic stunned Umerov's colleagues and supporters, who say the 59-year-old community leader is anything but mentally unbalanced. "I have known him for 30 years, I know him well," Abdureshit Dzhepparov, coordinator of the Crimean Contact Group on Human Rights, told RFE/RL on August 22. "I may not be an expert psychiatrist, but on the eve of his removal to the psychiatric clinic, I know that he was without a doubt in full mental health." Umerov's sudden dispatch to a mental institution, where for the first several days he was denied visitors or the use of a telephone, reminded many of the dark days when dissidents in the Soviet Union simply disappeared into asylums, never to be seen or heard from again. "This is the first case in [post-Soviet] Crimea where they have placed a normal person in a psychiatric hospital," said Dzhepparov. "If you do not fight against it now, and try to change it, there could be second, third, and fourth cases...until it becomes a conveyor belt." Echoes Of The Past Umerov's daughter, Aishe, told RFE/RL on August 21 that she believes the court's intention is to break her father's spirit even before his trial is completed. "Their major goal is to break the man to make him betray his principles," she said. "In other words, all in the 'best' tradition of the Soviet punitive medicine. But he holds on." Fears that Russia could be reviving the practice of committing dissidents to asylums are fueled by other, similar cases. In one prominent example, Russian activist Mikhail Kosenko, one of the defendants in the "Bolotnaya Square Case," was sentenced to compulsory psychiatric treatment in October 2013. His crime was participating in a protest that turned violent in Moscow's central Bolotnaya Square on May 6, 2012, over Russian President Vladimir Putin's inauguration for a third term. Kosenko remained in a closed psychiatric institution for eight months. Umerov's sudden confinement comes despite the fact he suffers serious illnesses that require regular medical attention -- care that reportedly he is not receiving in the asylum. He has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Relatives say that, in the clinic, Umerov is allowed to have medication only once a day, despite his need for more frequent doses. When his daughter visited him recently, she found him suffering from high blood pressure, dizziness, and fainting spells. She said the food provided by the clinic is not suitable for her father's illnesses and he is only able to eat what relatives bring, despite the fact that their visits can be up to 17 hours apart, depending on the clinic's admission schedule. 'Politically Motivated' Human rights groups have protested against Umerov's detention in the asylum. The Moscow-based Memorial human rights center called the case against Umerov "illegal and politically motivated" as he was sentenced to the psychological tests earlier this month. The Kharkiv Rights Protection Group, based in the Ukrainian city of the same name, argued on August 22 that "there are no grounds at all for the criminal charges Russia has brought against him, nor for the supposed 'psychiatric assessment.'" Moscow claims that Umerov fomented separatism in an interview he gave to the Crimean Tatar television station ATR on March 19 in Kyiv. In the interview, he said Ukraine must not change its view on Crimea and that "Russia must be forced to leave Crimea and Donbas," a reference to the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of eastern Ukraine. Supporters said that Umerov has never called for armed resistance within Crimea to Russia's occupation. They also noted that his views are in line with those of most Crimean Tatars, the majority of whom opposed the peninsula's occupation and annexation by Moscow in March 2014. More than 1,000 Crimean Tatars attended a prayer service for Umerov at his home in Bakhchysarai in southern Crimea on August 22. His family reported that those in attendance came from all corners of the peninsula. Based on reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service Ukrainians have increasingly woken up to the sound of suicide drones as Russia turns to Iranian-made imports to destroy civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. Now they may have another deadly Iranian weapon to worry about -- ballistic missiles. Cheap but effective, Shahed-136 and Shahed-131 "kamikaze" drones have already made a deadly impact in Ukraine. If U.S. intelligence assessments pan out, Russia will soon be able to supplement its use of Iranian suicide drones and its own cruise and ballistic missiles with powerful short-range Iranian Fateh-110 and Zolfaghar ballistic missiles. Coming as the Kremlin is reportedly struggling to maintain its depleted stockpile of aerial weapons as it ramps up strikes, the missiles would potentially boost Russia's ability to continue its costly air campaign. Jeremy Binnie, a Middle East defense specialist at the global intelligence company Janes, said having more missiles gives Russia the ability to sustain the bombardment against Ukraine." Going Ballistic The Fateh-110, which was unveiled in 2001 and has a stated range of 300 to 500 kilometers, was developed from a heavy artillery rocket dating from the 1980s. To increase the weapon's accuracy, the Fateh-110 was given a guidance system and movable fins that allow it to be steered as it approaches its target. The Zolfaghar, which debuted in 2016 and also has guidance capabilities, comes from the same family as the Fateh-110 but boasts a much longer range due to its use of a lighter carbon-fiber airframe and a smaller warhead. Binnie said the Zolfaghar's use against the Islamic State (IS) extremist group in eastern Syria confirmed that the missile was capable of reaching at least 650 kilometers, which he said is "a statement of how much the Iranian tactical missile program has really advanced over the years." Iran's claim that the Zolfaghar can travel even farther -- up to 700 kilometers -- would put the western Ukrainian city of Lviv within range of strikes launched from Russian territory, while the more powerful Fateh-110 could potentially hit the city from Belarus, which has served as a staging ground for Russian attacks. While there has been no indication that Russia plans to purchase launching systems from Iran, Binnie suggests that the Russian military could pair the missiles with existing equipment because the Iranian launchers were adapted from a Soviet-era system. "It might be possible for the Russians to quickly adapt some old equipment they have lying around into launch systems," Binnie said. The Iranian military, he added, fitted the Soviet system to trucks, allowing for mobility and concealment. "Those civilian trucks can be covered over to make it hard to spot that they're actually missile launchers," Binnie said. 'Lawnmowers' And 'Mopeds' Iranian military drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), have been homing in on targets across Ukraine since late August, according to the United States. The buzzing sound of the Iranian Shahed-136 and Shahed-131 drones, built with off-the-shelf components, have earned them derisive monikers such as "lawnmowers" and "mopeds." But the slow-moving, low-flying drones, which are maneuvered to crash into their target, have proven themselves capable of hitting their mark both in terms of military effectiveness and cost. It is capable of extracting or delivering attrition and damage when launched, but it costs little compared to other UAVs that Russia has in its own arsenal," said Samuel Bendett of the Virginia-based Center for Naval Analyses (CNA). Ukraine alleges Russia has ordered 2,400 of the Iranian suicide drones, and its military has claimed to have shot them down in great numbers, often using conventional anti-aircraft guns or even small-arms fire. But their ability to be launched in bunches of five -- often from the cover of civilian trucks -- improves their chances of reaching their target. "The Ukrainians are stopping most of these, but the whole point of these drones is that they fly in a large mass," Bendett said. "The air defense does not always catch all of them. All it takes is for several or even one to make it through." The estimated range of the Shahed-136 varies, but Iran says it is capable of traveling 2,500 kilometers. The slightly smaller and older Shahed-131, which has been used by Huthi rebels in Yemen to attack Saudi targets in the Arabian Peninsula, has been estimated to have a range of 900 kilometers, according to tests conducted by the Ukrainian military. Ukraine's Defense Ministry has published multiple images of downed Shahed-136 drones in recent weeks, and the Ukrainian National Guard on October 19 claimed to have shot down a Shahed-131. Ukraine has also claimed to have shot down a more advanced Iranian combat UAV, the Mojer-6 drone capable of carrying out both reconnaissance missions and aerial strikes within a range of 200 kilometers. There have also been reports of Russian interest in obtaining Irans Shahed-129 and Shahed-191 combat drones. "When launched from any territory that Russia controls or is allied with -- anywhere from the south, from the Donbas, from Belarus -- they're able to strike a lot of Ukrainian targets," Bendett said. In addition to the U.S. intelligence assessment that Russia will soon boost its arsenal with Iranian ballistic missiles, as first reported by The Washington Post on October 16, the White House on October 20 said that Iranians are now "directly engaged on the ground" in Moscows war against Ukraine after sending "a relatively small number" of personnel from the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps to assist Russian forces in using the Iranian drones. Iran has denied sending combat drones to Russia, and Moscow has rejected claims that it is using Iranian UAVs. Images of downed Iranian drones appear to show that they have been rebranded to look Russian-made, experts say, with the markings in Cyrillic naming them as the Geran-1 (the Shahed-131) and Geran-2 (the Shahed-136). Observers are widely skeptical of Russia's denials, noting that the drones are essentially identical right down to the font of the serial numbers. Even Russian Defense Ministry experts have unwittingly admitted that the suicide drones are Iranian. But the rebranding of the drones to make them appear to be Russian has opened the possibility that Moscow could, if it is not already doing so, seek to manufacture or assemble the Iranian drones on its own territory. Sustaining A Campaign The new aerial weaponry fits well with the Russian military's renewed focus on striking military and civilian targets far from the front lines in southern and eastern Ukraine. The air assault has ratcheted up following the October 8 appointment of Colonel General Sergei Surovikin, a former Aerospace Forces commander, to lead the Russian war effort. Just days after Surovikin's appointment, Russia launched the biggest air strikes since the beginning of its invasion of Ukraine in February. Moscow said the drone and missile strikes, which targeted civilian areas and infrastructure in cities throughout Ukraine, were in response to a bomb blast that damaged a key bridge linking Russia to the occupied Crimean Peninsula. While the Kremlin has accused Ukraine's intelligence services of carrying out the "terrorist" attack on the Crimea Bridge, Ukraine has denied responsibility. Since the initial air assault in response to the bridge blast, Russia has continued to pound Ukrainian infrastructure, often targeting power plants in what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said is a deliberate effort to wear down the Ukrainian people by denying them heat and electricity as winter approaches. "Civilian infrastructure is obviously the new layer in this war. The Ukrainian economy is now the target, the Ukrainian population is now the target," Bendett said. Hard To Stop The hypersonic speed and high trajectory of Iran's Fateh-110s and Zolfaghars, should they arrive, would be extremely difficult for Kyiv to counter without a network of high-tech and costly antimissile batteries it currently does not possess. Ukraine has repeatedly requested more advanced missile-defense systems from the West, and in the face of the threat of the delivery of Iranian ballistic missiles reportedly sent an official request to Israel this week for components of its "Iron Dome" system. While the United States has said that it is seeking to expedite the process of sending two U.S. air defense systems known as NASAMS, Washington has appeared reluctant to provide more advanced Patriot missile systems. Janes' defense expert Binnie is skeptical that the delivery of the Patriot system, which has proven to be successful in shooting down ballistic missiles, is realistic for Ukraine. "It's eye wateringly expensive and it's probably not really practical because each [missile] battery only covers one city," he said. "You would never get enough batteries to get the coverage you would want. You just wouldn't be able to find them, produce them, and train enough Ukrainians." Russian President Vladimir Putin says the world faces the most dangerous decade since World War II and predicted that the historical period of the West's "undivided dominance over world affairs" is coming to an end. Speaking on October 27 at a conference of international policy experts in Moscow, Putin said the decade ahead is "probably the most dangerous, unpredictable and, at the same time, important...since the end of World War II." 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. Putin laid the blame for the situation at the feet of Western countries, which he said have cast aside the norms of international affairs in order to maintain dominance and hold down countries they see as "second-class civilizations." The Russian leader also said he had no regrets about sending troops into Ukraine and sought to explain the conflict as part of the efforts by Western countries to secure their global domination. Putin claimed in his speech to the Valdai Discussion Club, a think tank, that the West had helped incite the conflict and also seeks to stoke a crisis over Taiwan in an attempt to enforce global dominance. Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, triggering the biggest military conflict in Europe since World War II and driving relations with Western countries that back Ukraine and its drive to be part of the European Union and NATO to their lowest depths since the Cold War. Putin cast the conflict in Ukraine as a battle between the West and Russia for the fate of the second-largest Eastern Slav country. It is partly a "civil war," he said, as Russians and Ukrainians are one people. Kyiv has flatly rejected both of those ideas. The goal of what Russia refers to as a "special military operation" is to take the eastern Donbas region, Putin said, adding that in his view the region would "not have survived" on its own had Russia not intervened militarily in Ukraine. WATCH: A local official told Russian conscripts "You are not cannon fodder" in a video published online recently. The men responded by angrily shouting that, actually, that's exactly what they are. But the war has gone far beyond the Donbas region, with Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure, residential buildings, and other nonmilitary structures, killing tens of thousands of Ukrainians across the country. Putin used the speech largely to rail against the West, saying it has nothing to offer to the world "except its own domination," and the goal of globalization "is neocolonialism to dominate the world." He said Russia is only trying to defend its right to exist in the face these Western efforts. Putin also asserted that more and more nations refuse to follow Washington's demands and Russia will never accept the West's attempts to dominate the world. Citing gay pride parades and the acceptance of transgender people in Western countries, Putin also defended "traditional values" and said "nobody can dictate to our people how to develop and what society we should build." He also said Russia has never considered the West an enemy and has many things in common with it but will continue to oppose the diktat of Western neoliberal elites. U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Putin's speech presented no new ideas. "We don't believe that Mr. Putin's strategic goals have changed here. He doesn't want Ukraine to exist as a sovereign, independent nation state," Kirby said. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said Putin's speech can be described as "for Freud," referring to psychoanalysis founder Sigmund Freud. "The person who invaded a foreign country, annexed its land, and committed genocide accuses others of violating international law and the sovereignty of other countries? One truth: The person who started a wind will get a storm. The storm is coming," he said on Twitter. Answering questions from journalists after his speech, Putin reiterated the Kremlin's assertion that Ukraine plans to use a so-called dirty bomb on its own territory. The claim has been dismissed as false by Ukraine and its allies, who say Russia may have raised the matter because it plans to use such a bomb in Ukraine as a pretext for escalation. "It was me who ordered [Defense Minister Sergei] Shoigu to inform by phone all his colleagues about it," Putin said, adding that Russia does not need to use dirty bombs in Ukraine. Putin also said he supported plans by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to visit Ukraine's nuclear power plants for inspections. "It must be done as soon and as openly as possible because we know that Kyiv authorities are now working to cover up such [dirty-bomb attack] preparations," Putin said, without giving any exact information proving the claim. Ukraine invited IAEA inspectors to visit its nuclear facilities after the Kremlin made its unsubstantiated claim about the preparation of a dirty bomb -- which would use the explosion of a conventional warhead to spread radioactive material or chemicals over a wide area. Ukraine said it would welcome inspections because it had "nothing to hide." According to Putin, Russia has never talked about the use of nuclear weapons in the war with Ukraine despite his own promise to defend Russian territory with any means at our disposal" and saying his words were "not a bluff." "We see no need for [using nuclear weapons in Ukraine]," Putin told reporters. "There is no sense for that, neither political, nor military." The trial of the head of the Kazakh Journalists' Union and chairman of the National Press Club has been adjourned due to the defendant's poor health. Seitqazy Mataev and his son, Aset, who is also on trial and is the director of the KazTAG news agency, went on trial on corruption charges in Astana on August 23. Seitqazy Mataev said he felt ill on the first day of the trial and was taken to a hospital with high blood pressure. Judge Aqbolat Qurmantaev said on August 24 that the trial will resume on August 29 as doctors concluded that Seitqazy Mataev was not fit to attend the trial. The Mataevs were detained in February and later placed under house arrest. They have been charged with financial fraud. Seitqazy Mataev has also been charged with tax evasion. Both deny any wrongdoing, with rights organizations having denounced the charges as politically motivated. Kosovar Interior Minister Skender Hyseni says there have been no recorded cases in the past year of citizens joining the Islamic State militant group in Syria and Iraq. "It is now a year that we did not record any case of the departure of the citizens of Kosovo in foreign wars," Hyseni said on August 24, adding that authorities should still not be "comfortable." Pristina has come under pressure for a perceived failure to crack down on Middle East-funded Islamic charities and radical religious figures blamed on young Kosovars joining extremist groups. More than 300 people from Kosovo have gone to fight for extremist groups in the Middle East, making it the biggest contributor per capita in Europe. Kosovo authorities say around 50 homegrown jihadists have been killed in fighting in Syria and Iraq and around 120 have returned to Kosovo. More than 100 people in Kosovo have been arrested or are under investigation for recruiting or fighting abroad on behalf of the Islamic State extremist group. Kyrgyz authorities say negotiations are under way with officials in neighboring Uzbekistan to secure the release of four Kyrgyz nationals detained by Uzbek police in a disputed border area abutting the two Central Asian states. Kyrgyzstan's state border-guard service said on August 24 that the four men are being held at the Yangi-Kurgan district police station in Uzbekistan. Negotiators from the Uzbek border-guard service said there was no reason to worry about the safety or condition of the detained Kyrgyz. The tensions have prompted Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev to ask his government to review international border agreements signed by previous administrations. Kyrgyz officials said the four men were detained by the Uzbek police officers deployed by helicopters to a small mountain known as Ungar-Too on August 22. Ungar-Too is located in disputed territory along the border between the two countries and is the site of a Kyrgyz radio and television transmitter at Kerben where the men work. Kerben has been a flash point for unrest in the past, including when Kyrgyz police fired on protesters angry over reports suggesting a border demarcation agreement with China had surrendered land in a nearby mountain range. This month's deployment of the Uzbek police officers -- whose number Bishkek put at around seven -- prompted some residents of nearby Kyrgyz villages in the Aksy district center in southern Jalal-Abad Province to stage a protest. 'On Top Of Our Heads' The Kyrgyz locals gathered near the district government headquarters on August 23, demanding that authorities resolve the dispute. Mayram Akkulueva, a resident of the village of Ustukan who attended the demonstration, said participants also demanded that Uzbek police leave the area. "We saw how two Uzbek helicopters brought the soldiers to the mountain," she said. "The mountain is located above our village. It feels like they have sat on the top of our heads." She added, "We are afraid, we dont know what happens next." Kyrgyz authorities said they sent reinforcements to the border area after the Uzbek police deployment. The Kyrgyz border-guard service said on August 24 that the situation in the area remains unchanged. Atambaev said some border agreements with neighboring countries were signed without transparency or the endorsement of the public or parliament. He said past border agreements play "a negative role in current efforts to defend Kyrgyzstan's national interests." Meanwhile, local authorities in Jalal-Abad said that work is under way to build a new radio and television transmitter in the area. Written by Farangis Najibullah Montenegro's Foreign Minister Igor Luksic has withdrawn from the race to be the next United Nations secretary-general, leaving 10 candidates vying to succeed Ban Ki-moon. Luksic, who sent a letter to UN members announcing his withdrawal on August 23, had come in last in a straw poll of UN members on candidates hoping to replace Ban, whose term expires on December 31. By tradition, the world's top diplomatic post has rotated among regions. Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe have all held the job. Eastern European nations, including Russia, argue that they have never had a secretary-general and it is their turn. There has also never been a woman secretary-general and a group of 56 nations is campaigning to select a female. In his letter, Luksic said "for the sake of equal ownership of all the regions within the UN I hope the Eastern European argument will prevail when it comes to the final decision." In the straw poll, Portugal's former Prime Minister Antonio Guterres was leading other announced candidates. Based on reporting by AP Pakistani authorities have charged the exiled leader of a major political party with treason and inciting terrorism after violent protests in Karachi. Authorities on August 23 charged Altaf Hussain, the leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), of treason for inciting violence and using anti-Pakistan slogans during a recent speech. Crowds of MQM workers attacked the ARY News television office on August 22, firing shots and smashing the premises after Hussain gave a telephone address to supporters from London in which he castigated the media for not covering a six-day hunger strike. The workers later clashed with police outside, leaving one person dead and several wounded. Law-enforcement agencies accuse MQM of racketeering, abduction, torture, and murder in its bid to maintain power. The party denies any link to crime. Based on reporting by AFP and Dawn Russia has charged that U.S. reluctance to do more to combat Syria's Al-Qaeda affiliate remains an obstacle to reaching agreement to cooperate in Syria. The Russian Foreign Ministry warned on August 23 that the U.S. failure to move against the Al-Nusra Front, recently renamed Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, risks creating a "new terrorist monster in Syria." Russia's accusations came one day after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said U.S.- Russian talks on finding avenues to cooperate in Syria are nearing an end. Al-Sham has been one of the most effective rebel groups fighting the Russia-backed Syrian regime, and it has ties to other rebel groups supported by the United States. "Washington agrees that Al-Nusra Front...is a terrorist organization. But it has not been the target of strikes" carried out by the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State in Syria, the Russian ministry said. "It has been nearly a year in which the Americans have refused to share with us their data on the location of Al-Nusra militants," it said. "Instead of taking practical steps, the Americans have made any intensification in their fight [against Al-Nusra] conditional on promises of [regime] change," it said. Based on reporting by AFP, Interfax, and TASS Russia has expressed deep concern at Turkey's military operation in norther Syria, hours after Turkish tanks advanced into an area held by the Islamic State (IS) group. The Russian Foreign Ministry said on August 24 that Turkey's air and ground operation could lead to "further degeneration of the situation in the conflict zone" and "flare-ups of interethnic tensions between Kurds and Arabs." Moscow has supported President Bashar al-Assad in Syria's conflict, while Ankara has backed the rebels fighting his regime. Syria's government also condemned the Turkish offensive, which involved Ankara-backed Syrian rebels from the Free Syrian Army. The operation, named Euphrates Shield, targeted the IS-held border town of Jarablus, but also appears aimed at preventing Kurdish forces from expanding further across northern Syria. Based on reporting by AFP, Reuters, and AP A man who took four people hostage inside a Citibank branch in downtown Moscow surrendered peacefully a few hours later. The man, identified by Russian news agencies as a 55-year-old bankrupt businessman, claimed to have a bomb. The hostages, who included three bank employees and one customer, were freed unharmed. One of them was Gleb Bryanski, the deputy editor of the TASS news agency, who said the man who seized the bank "didn't look like a hardened criminal but like a desperate person. He was really nervous, constantly apologizing and smoking a lot," Bryanski added. Based on reporting by Interfax, TASS, and AFP Tajikistans parliament has adopted a new law on amnesty proposed by President Emomali Rahmon last week. According to the law, adopted on August 24 by parliament's lower house, the amnesty will affect more than 12,000 people. More than 3,000 inmates will be released from prison and more than 4,000 people with suspended sentences will be pardoned under the new legislation. The prison terms of more than 5,000 people will also be shortened. Those convicted of serious crimes such as murder, terrorism, religious extremism, and other serious crimes are not subject to the amnesty. The amnesty was proposed to honor the 25th anniversary of Tajikistan's independence from the Soviet Union, which will be marked on September 9. International watchdogs and rights activists have criticized the Tajik government for using antiterrorism laws to crack down on dissent in the country. ON MY MIND The anniversaries have been coming fast and furious in recent weeks. There's been the failed Soviet coup on August 19-21, the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia on August 20, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact on August 23, and Ukrainian independence (featured in today's Daily Vertical) today. And a pretty important one is coming tomorrow, although it probably won't garner the attention of the others. On August 25, 2008, weeks after it invaded Georgia, Russia crossed an ominous line when it recognized breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states. Only a handful of countries (Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Nauru) followed Moscow's lead, and the two separatist territories remain largely isolated. But formally recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia was nevertheless a clear escalation of Russia's bullying of its neighbors. It was a prelude to the annexation of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula and its intervention in the Donbas. It was a signal that Vladimir Putin's regime planned to treat the sovereignty of its neighbors as conditional. IN THE NEWS U.S. officials say reporters at The New York Times and other U.S. news organizations have been targeted by hackers suspected of working on behalf of Russian intelligence. The Kremlin has announced that the leaders of Russia, Germany, and France will meet on the sidelines of an upcoming G20 summit to discuss the situation in eastern Ukraine. Russia has charged that U.S. reluctance to do more to combat Syria's Al-Qaeda affiliate remains an obstacle to reaching agreement to cooperate in Syria. Ukrainian filmmaker Oleh Sentsov, who is behind bars in Russia, has called on Ukrainians not to fight for his release "at any price, as it would not bring the victory nearer." During a televised debate, Vyacheslav Maltsev, a State Duma candidate from the opposition PARNAS party, called for Vladimir Putin's impeachment. Russia's Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case against Ukraine's defense minister. Two Russian weightlifters who won bronze medals in the 2008 Summer Olympics have failed doping retests. WHAT I'M READING Troops On The Border On his blog Russian Military Analysis, Michael Kofman examines the goals of Russia's military buildup on Ukraine's borders. "Russian staff likely fears a Croatia scenario whereby Ukraine cordons off the separatist republics and then builds up an army large enough to wipe them out in a few years," Kofman writes. "With three divisions, plus several brigades, organized under two combined arms armies (CAA) headquartered nearby, they figure it will deter future Ukrainian leaders from such adventurism. It also places Ukraine in a geographic vice, running from Yelnya to Crimea." Putin's Lost Decade Writing in Slon.ru, economist and political analyst Vladislav Inozemtsev evaluates what he calls "Russia's lost decade." "The first 10 years of the Putin regime were modern Russia's lost decade," Inozemtsev writes. "The country entered them after ending the crisis and industrial downturn of the 1990s. There was very cheap labor and raw materials, which could have led to a 'new industrialization' similar to that of the Asian tigers. But those 10 years were spent consolidating a Soviet-style economy." Revisiting A War Scare Thomas Frear of the European Leadership Network has a piece looking at the 1983 war scare that followed NATO's Able Archer exercises. "In November 1983, the Soviet Union began to increase the combat readiness of its forces in Eastern Europe, including the air force forward-deployed in East Germany, in preparation to meet an expected preemptive strike by the United States and its allies," Frear writes. "The cause of this anxiety was the 1983 Able Archer NATO military exercise, an unusually large affair that focused on concentrating major formations of allied units in Western Europe in order to fight a combined arms operation, inclusive of tactical nuclear weapons, against the Warsaw Pact. The series of events leading up to and including this exercise highlight multiple, highly serious intelligence failures by both sides." David Hoffman's piece in The Washington Post on the same topic last year is also worth a read -- or a reread. Livable Moscow Maria Antonova in Foreign Policy on how Moscow is becoming more livable as it becomes less democratic. Winning At Doping In an article in Vox, Mark Galeotti, a senior research fellow at the Czech Institute of International Relations in Prague, argues that Putin has turned Russia's doping scandal into a win-win. Hacker Fail Well, you knew this was going to happen sooner or later. As Elias Groll writes in Foreign Policy, Kremlin-backed hackers falsified documents stolen from George Soros to smear Aleksei Navalny -- and got caught out. Stress Test In The American Interest, former U.S. State Department official Kirk Bennett looks at the state of the Russian economy and asks: "Is Putins Russia Headed For A Systemic Collapse?" The Best Medicine Oliver Bullough has an interesting piece in The Guardian on how Ukraine is reforming its medicine procurement system with the help of some U.K. firms The Russia Card In a piece for Meduza, former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul explains how Russia became a theme in the U.S. presidential election. The Glazyev Tapes Andreas Umland comments on the recently released recordings of telephone conversations allegedly depicting Kremlin aide Sergei Glazyev helping orchestrate the annexation of Crimea and unrest in the Donbas. A new contest is raging in northern Syria. This time, however, it's not a battle but a race. On August 24, Turkish tanks and soldiers, backed by U.S. coalition air strikes, crossed the Syrian border to attack positions held by the militant group Islamic State (IS) near Jarablus. This town lies near the frontier with Turkey and is approximately 95 kilometers northeast of the city of Aleppo. On the same day, the BBC reported the following: Military sources told Turkish media 70 targets in the Jarablus area had been destroyed by artillery and rocket strikes, and 12 by air strikes. Turkish-backed Syrian rebels are accompanying the Turkish advance. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the operation was aimed against both IS and Kurdish fighters. Despite the fact that Turkey is fighting IS in this area, fighting terrorists may be the mechanism that Ankara is using to engage in northern Syria rather than the primary motivation. Such a scenario envisages Turkey trying to reverse a series of foreign policy defeats it has suffered in recent months, a cycle that has been accelerating in recent weeks. Aleppo Province is quickly becoming the conflict's most complicated arena. As LiveUAMap illustrates, the region is divided by (at least) six distinct groups of fighters: Islamic State Kurdish SDF (northeast) Kurdish YPG (northwest) Anti-Assad rebel coalition (in and around Aleppo city) Free Syrian Army in the Azaz pocket (Turkish border, north of Aleppo) The coalition supporting Syrian president Bashar al-Assad The city of Aleppo, once Syria's financial capital, is largely controlled by antigovernment rebel forces and is besieged by a coalition comprising the Syrian military, fighters from Hezbollah, Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commandos, Iraqi Shi'ite militias, and Russian contract soldiers, with the former two groups representing the bulk of the party. Lately, however, the tables have turned. In the past two weeks, rebel forces, with the help of Al-Qaeda-linked groups, have broken the siege of the city and are now locked in a desperate and bloody battle for the Syrian government's last real stronghold in the north. If the forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad lose this fight, the anti-Assad rebels would have a nearly unified front and would be able to push deeper into the regime's heartland. But the power dynamic in this area is made more complicated by the other competing factions in the region. The westernmost reaches of territory held by IS protrudes north of Aleppo city. To the northeast of the city, the Syrian Defense Forces (SDF) are now rapidly capturing territory from IS. The SDF is made up mostly of Kurdish YPG fighters, although it also contains Arabs and other non-Kurds, and they have been armed, trained, supplied, and otherwise supported by the United States in an effort to create a ground force in Syria that is capable of taking and holding territory from IS. They have taken control of Manbij, about 70 kilometers east-northeast of Aleppo city, and are pushing farther west and south in the process. Crucially, they are also advancing north of Manbij toward Jarablus, the target of Turkey's invasion. Making things even more complicated, there is another group of anti-Assad rebels that is also predominantly occupied with the fight against IS. Due north of Aleppo city, members of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) control a crescent-shaped sliver of territory sometimes called the Azaz pocket, with their backs to the Turkish border, IS controlling the majority of their perimeter, and a separate group of YPG Kurdish fighters to the west. These FSA fighters are said to have received training, equipment, and support from Turkey and the CIA, but they have been fighting a desperate battle for survival for months. In the spring, Russian air strikes and ground troops reportedly tipped the balance of power in this region and split the rebel lines in two, cutting off the anti-Assad rebels in Aleppo from the Turkish border, and from the rebels in Azaz. IS, smelling blood in the water, struck north and west, capturing huge amounts of territory from the FSA and other rebel groups. The YPG also saw opportunity, and worked to expand its control in the region. Since then, the SDF -- which the United States says is made up of more than just YPG fighters but which some analysts say is primarily interested in advancing Kurdish interests in the region -- has benefited from strong support from the United States and has flanked IS. Rebels in the Azaz pocket have capitalized on IS's weakness and have pushed west, but at a snail's pace compared to the advances made by the SDF. Regional Balance To simplify: What is taking place in northern Aleppo Province at the moment is effectively a race to see who can capture the most territory from IS the fastest. Just like the end of World War II, when the United States and Britain were advancing into German territory from the west and the Soviet Union was gobbling up the Nazi empire from the east, so too are the Kurds and the various non-Kurdish rebel groups fighting to stake their own claims as IS collapses under the combined weight of its enemies. Just like 1945, the outcome of this race could have major implications for the regional balance of power and could set the stage for the next war in the region, whether hot or cold. So far, the major losers in this race are arguably the moderate Free Syrian Army (FSA) and Turkey, while Kurdish groups have gained the most. Between 2012 and 2014, the FSA led the fighting against the Assad regime in northern Syria and captured the vast majority of this territory. Between 2014 and 2016, IS seized control of vast swaths of northern Syria. In the last year, foreign support for the Assad military, particularly Russian air power, has helped gobble up even more territory from the anti-Assad rebels. Now, with robust U.S. support, the SDF is capturing that territory and controlling it itself. In mid-August, Syrian activist Omar Sabbour shared a map made by Syrian journalist Hadi Abdullah that clearly illustrates how much territory has shifted. In 2013, most of northern Syria was covered by the dark-green color of the anti-Assad rebels. IS had yet to be formed, Assad had been pushed out, and the light-green color denoting Kurdish territory was relatively small. In 2014, almost the entire map was gray, having been taken over by IS. But since 2016, the light-green of the Kurds has displaced much of the gray, while Assad's forces have once again entered this zone of control. The perception among many Syrian activists in this area is that U.S. support for moderate rebels has been lacking while U.S. support for the SDF has been robust. Sabbour's opinion of these developments is strongly worded. The US has essentially stolen vast swathes of Syria liberated by the FSA between 2012-13 and given them to the YPG. Between 2012-13 -- when these areas were liberated -- the US was actively blockading military supplies coming in from neighboring countries, he wrote. Since this post, the SDF has advanced even farther. There are those, of course, who would dispute that worldview. But Sabbour's opinion is not uncommon. Reports suggest there is a sense among many Sunnis that the U.S. government's strategy in Syria and Iraq has empowered Shi'ite and Kurdish groups at the expense of Sunnis who once controlled Iraq and who have always been the strong majority in Syria. Turkey, a major supporter of the anti-Assad rebels and a country that is effectively at war with the Kurdish PKK and, to a lesser extent (for now) the YPG, has watched as its own proxies have struggled while a group it considers to be a terrorist organization gains power just across its border. Kurdish groups have been blamed for a series of terrorist attacks inside Turkey this summer, including several last week. Jarablus appears to have been the last straw. Earlier in the week, Turkey fired warning shots, with artillery, at SDF positions in northern Syria. On August 22, the SDF commander of the newly-formed Jarablus military council, Abdulsettar Al-Cadiri, was assassinated after announcing the beginning of the fight for the city. There is no proof for the claim, but there are suggestions that Turkish military intelligence was responsible. Turkey's engagement in Syria could complicate the situation further, since it is entirely possible that the Turkish military or the rebels it supports could go to open war in northern Syria. Such a development could derail the fight against IS and efforts to end the Syrian conflict, and even widen the war. Any conflict of that nature could also exacerbate sectarian tensions at a time when stability and peace are already at a premium in the region. In short, it's an oil barrel, surrounded by powder kegs, surrounded by flame. The U.S. government is responding. At the time of writing, the breaking news was that visiting U.S. Vice President Joe Biden had told Kurdish forces that they "must move back across the Euphrates River." He said "they cannot -- will not -- under any circumstance get American support if they do not keep that commitment," according to the AP news agency. Now there are new questions: Will Turkey continue to expand its operations in Syria? Does this mark a new, much more robust phase of NATO intervention in the conflict? Will Turkey then turn on Assad? Will the SDF and other Kurdish groups respond, or might they lose U.S. support? And how will Russia and Assad respond to their loss of control in northern Syria, which may very likely be permanent? The race for northern Syria has just heated up. Who will win? Syria's government has condemned a Turkish military offensive in northern Syria, just hours after Turkish tanks and armored personnel carriers advanced into a part of Syria that has been under the control of Islamic State (IS) militants since July 2013. Ankara-backed Syrian rebels from the Syria Free Army also were taking part in the operation, which was being supported by U.S. and Turkish air strikes and was aimed at clearing IS militants from the border area. The operation began just before dawn on August 24 as U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was traveling to Ankara for talks with senior Turkish officials -- including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. A senior U.S. official aboard Bidens plane told reporters on August 24 that Washington was in sync with Turkey on plans. Syria's government described the military incursion as a "blatant violation" of Syrian sovereignty and demanded an end to what it said was "aggression" being carried out under the pretext of fighting terrorism. Damascus said in a statement that "any move to combat terrorism on Syrian territories should have been coordinated with the Syrian government and army." It said: "Fighting terrorism cannot be undertaken by ousting [IS]...and replacing it with other terrorist organizations directly backed by Turkey." As Turkish armored forces began crossing the border into Syria, Biden arrived in Ankara and went into talks with parliamentary speaker Ismail Kahraman. Biden was scheduled to meet Erdogan and Yildirim later in the day -- with their talks expected to focus on deteriorating relations between Ankara and its NATO allies since a failed July 15 military coup in Turkey. The United States and Europe have criticized a broad crackdown by Ankara against Erdogans political opponents since the coup. Erdogan said Turkeys request for Washington to extradite exiled Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen -- accused by Erdogan of orchestrating the attempted coup -- would be a key issue in the talks. Washington has said it would need evidence of the U.S.-based clerics involvement in the coup. Gulen has denied any involvement in the plot. But Erdogan said on August 24 he would tell Biden that the United States has no excuses and must hand over Gulen. Another issue expected to be discussed during Bidens one-day visit to Ankara is the role in the fight against IS militants that Syrian Kurdish fighters should have. Washington supports Syrian Kurdish fighters from the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and sees them as vital to the U.S.-led coalitions strategy of combating IS militants. But Ankara accuses the PYD of being aligned with Turkish Kurdish rebels from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Finally, recent efforts by Erdogans government to improve relations with Russia -- steps that have contributed to the worsening of ties between Turkey and its NATO allies -- also were expected to be addressed by Biden. Ahead of Bidens arrival in Ankara, the joint Turkish-U.S. military operation on August 24 was focusing on the IS-held Syrian border town of Jarablus and the surrounding area. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu vowed via Twitter that the "cleansing" of Jarablus would mark a turning point in the fight against IS. By midday, Turkish artillery and warplanes, together with U.S. warplanes and guided by Turkish special forces inside Syria, had launched more than 200 air and artillery strikes against IS targets in and around Jarablus. Syrian opposition activists and Turkish state television reported that fighters from the Turkey-backed Free Syria Army had advanced into Jarablus during the early afternoon. Meanwhile, correspondents reported seeing more than a dozen Turkish tanks cross from Turkey into northern Syria as part of the operation. Erdogan said on August 24 that the conflict in Syria is the main reason Turkey faces terrorist attacks in its territory. He vowed that all IS fighters would be cleared from parts of northern Syria that border Turkey. Erdogan also said no one can view the Syrian problem independently from Turkeys internal affairs. Turkish Interior Minister Efkan Ala said Turkey also sees a threat from what he described as other terrorist organizations -- a reference to Syrian Kurdish fighters from the PYD. After reports that Turkey also was firing artillery at Syrian Kurdish fighters from the PYD, the group's leader, Salih Muslim, said Turkey had entered the Syrian quagmire and would be defeated along with IS militants. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on August 24 that Syrian Kurdish fighters must return to the eastern side of the Euphrates River or Turkish military forces would do what is necessary. With reporting by AP, Reuters, AP, AFP, and Anadolu KYIV -- More than a decade ago, Viktor Medvedchuk became known as the "Gray Cardinal" because his low profile masked unparalleled clout in the halls of power in Ukraine. These days, detractors have another nickname for the millionaire tycoon and backroom politician with close personal ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin: they call him the Prince of Darkness. A behind-the-scenes force in Ukrainian politics ever since Leonid Kuchma's presidency, when he served as chief of staff from 2002 to 2005, Medvedchuk holds no prominent post today -- and he says he doesn't want one. In a recent interview, he told RFE/RL he feels more "free" and effective without the confines of political office. But his outsize influence has been thrown into relief again by the upheaval that has hit Ukraine since protesters drove a Moscow-friendly president from power in February 2014. Russia responded by seizing Crimea and fomenting unrest in eastern Ukraine, setting off a war between Kyiv and Russia-backed separatists that has killed more than 9,500 people. With ties in tatters, Ukraine's new, pro-Western leadership appointed Medvedchuk that June to act as a lead arbiter in dealings with Russia. The hope was that the Kremlin connections of a man who has Putin as the godfather of his daughter would be helpful -- particularly in negotiating prisoner exchanges. But Medvedchuk's Kremlin connections meant that, while the appointment was celebrated in Moscow, it was met with widespread concern and suspicion by the Ukrainian public. More than two years later, that wariness has not gone away. Several Ukrainians who were jailed in Russia have returned home in swap deals, including the prominent former helicopter navigator Nadia Savchenko, but many others remain behind bars. Meanwhile, the peace deal Medvedchuk helped forge for eastern Ukraine is in danger of falling apart. The cease-fire is in tatters, with increased fighting this summer stoking fears of a return to full-scale war. And political aspects of the Minsk accords, which were supposed to reintegrate separatist-held territory into Ukraine and restore Kyiv's control over its border with Russia by the end of 2015, have gone largely unfulfilled. For many in Ukraine, questions about the motives of Medvedchuk have only been amplified. Medvedchuk is "Putin's personal representative in Ukraine," said Taras Berezovets, director of the Kyiv-based political consultancy firm Berta Communications. 'Just Jealous' Medvedchuk has said it is a "great honor" to be counted among Putin's friends. The Russian president reportedly baptized Medvedchuk's daughter in St. Petersburg in 2004, and cameras have repeatedly captured him at Putin's side -- whether it's at a Formula One race in Sochi, Russia, at a sambo martial arts meet, or with wife and kids in tow at a lavish Crimean villa. In the interview with RFE/RL, Medvedchuk made no apology for his closeness with Putin. On the contrary. "You know, those who talk about it, it seems to me they're just jealous of me. They are just jealous of me, and that's it," he said, adding that he has nothing to hide: "I don't even want to make other comments on this subject, because my work is transparent." Medvedchuk spoke to RFE/RL in a boardroom at his office, behind heavy doors flanked by beefy security guards in an unassuming building off Kyiv's Leo Tolstoy Square. He wore well-shined loafers, pressed slacks, musky cologne, and a tight-fitting white shirt that set off a fresh suntan he acquired in what might seem like the last place a Ukrainian politician would go for a summer vacation these days: Crimea. "It was perfect -- a warm sea, nice temperature, great location," said Medvedchuk, whose practiced, pearly smile seemed to project a confidence grounded in careful preparation. "I first vacationed in Crimea sometime in the early 1990s and I've continued that tradition since." But this is not the early 1990s. Today, Crimea is at the heart of a rift between Moscow and Kyiv that may never heal: Ukraine says it will never give up the peninsula, while Moscow says it will never give back what Putin has called Russia's holy land. Kyiv, rights groups, and Western governments say Russia has abused and oppressed Tatars and other Crimeans who opposed the annexation in March 2014, and visitors from other parts of Ukraine have been intimidated and threatened with imprisonment by the Moscow-imposed authorities. Medvedchuk said that he understood their frustration and stressed that legally, Crimea is part of Ukraine. That is the position of Kyiv and most of the world. "But de facto, unfortunately, it belongs to Russia," he said. And don't expect it be returned to Ukraine, he added, accusing the central government of pushing the peninsula away, alienating its residents, and prompting them to accept Russian control. "If the authorities in Ukraine would like Crimea returned, they would not cut the electricity [from the mainland to the peninsula], not cut the water and declare an economic blockade," Medvedchuk said. "It would not have stopped rail transport, both freight and passenger. It would not have stopped trucking." Medvedchuk is in lockstep with the Kremlin, or close, on other key issues. While much of the world accuses Moscow of igniting the war in eastern Ukraine, Medvedchuk puts most of the blame on the Ukrainian government. He contended that Kyiv is wrong when it says that elections in the separatist-held territories, a key step on the path to peace set out in the Minsk deal, are possible only after Ukrainian control over the border with Russia in those regions is restored. The accord called for an immediate and full bilateral cease-fire, followed by the withdrawal of all heavy weapons by both sides and the establishment of an effective monitoring regime before local elections should be held. Kyiv must also adopt a law governing the elections and pass legislation providing amnesty to separatists who have not committed heinous crimes, something that has become a contentious political issue in Kyiv and is yet to be done. "Without these political changesthe Minsk deal won't budge an inch," Medvedchuk said, suggesting the onus is on Ukraine. Echoing Moscow's line, he said Kyiv must reach a consensus directly with the separatist leadership, "because there is no other way to bring these territories back [to Ukraine]." "Well, there is one more way, but it is unrealistic," he continued. "The Ukrainian army must go on the offensive and seize these territories by force. But neither Washington nor Brussels will let Ukraine do that." In contrast with Medvedchuk and the Kremlin, Kyiv and the West have stressed the need for Russia to fulfill its obligations under the Minsk deal, which requires the withdrawal of "all foreign armed formations, military equipment, as well as mercenaries" from Ukraine. Swap Deals In addition to being an architect of the Minsk deal, Medvedchuk has become a key go-between for Kyiv and Moscow in arranging prisoner exchanges -- most notably the swap of Savchenko, on May 25, for two Russians Kyiv says were military intelligence officers. In all, he claims to have facilitated the release of 402 illegally held persons since December 2014. In this area, he is quick to tout his importance. "I am the only person conducting negotiations with the administrations of the self-proclaimed LNR and DNR [and] with the administration of the Russian Federation," he said, grasping his chest with his hands and leaning over the table. LNR and DNR are acronyms of the names the Russia-backed separatists use for the territory they control. Three weeks after Savchenko came home, Medvedchuk was able to get Russia to release and return Ukrainians Hennadiy Afanasyev and Yuriy Soloshenko, in exchange for two Ukrainian citizens charged with promoting separatism in Odesa. Since then, though, the swaps have stalled, and each side still holds many dozens of people in custody. Among the Ukrainians held by Russia are Oleh Sentsov -- a filmmaker who was detained in Crimea in May 2014 and sentenced to 20 years in prison in August 2015 on a terror plot conviction that supporters say is a travesty of justice -- and Oleksandr Kolchenko, who was detained at the same time and sentenced to 10 years. The U.S. State Department has called the charges against Sentsov and Kolchenko "groundless" and said they "were taken hostage on Ukrainian territory." There have been rumors in recent months of negotiations to free them, but no deal has materialized. According to Medvedchuk, that's because the men are in a different category than those detained on the battlefields of the Donbas. "There are people who [were detained] in Donetsk and Luhanskin connection with events that occurred on the territory of the 'antiterrorist operation,'" Medvedchuk said, using Kyiv's term for its military operation in eastern Ukraine. He said Savchenko is the best example. In Russia's view, he said, the cases of Sentsov, Kolchenko and some others are different because "they were convicted of an offense committed on the territory of Crimea, which de jure is perceived by Russia as its territory." According to Medvedchuk, more than 600 people whose release is sought by the separatists are being held on Kyiv-controlled territory. He said that's about equal to the number of those held by the DNR, LNR, and Russia combined. From Kyiv to Washington, many have long viewed Medvedchuk as a Russian stooge, an accusation he vehemently denies. When Russia seized control of Crimea, the United States imposed sanctions on Medvedchuk for "threatening the peace, security, stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of Ukraine, and for undermining Ukraine's democratic institutions and processes." A White House statement also said that Medvedchuk had "provided financial, material, or technological support" to Viktor Yanukovych, the president who was pushed from power and fled to Russia after setting Ukraine's upheaval in motion by scrapping plans for a far-reaching Association Agreement with the European Union and seeking closer ties with Russia. That decision was in line with policies advocated by Medvedchuk, who had been criticizing the EU for years. In 2012, his nonprofit political group Ukrainian Choice pushed for a referendum on Ukraine's accession to the Moscow-led Customs Union -- one of the groupings of former Soviet republics that Putin seems to see as a counterbalance to the European Union and to Western influence in the region. Ukrainian Choice also played a role in stirring up anti-EU sentiment ahead of the November 2013 summit in Vilnius during which Yanukovych had been set to sign the Association Agreement. In a nationwide campaign, it put up billboards showing same-sex stick-figure couples holding hands and the words: "Association with the EU means same-sex marriage." Born in Siberia to a father who was deported there from western Ukraine after suffering political repression for participating in national movements, Medvedchuk was not always such a critic of the West. East And West While a deputy in Ukraine's parliament between 1997 and 2002, he often spoke well of Europe and especially Poland, where he enjoyed close working relationships with government officials. Those who know him say they noticed a shift to pro-Russian views when he worked as Kuchma's chief of staff from 2002 to 2005. Since then, Medvedchuk has helped shape political and economic policies in a way that detractors say plays directly into Putin's hands. They point to his involvement in drafting a contentious 2010 gas agreement signed by Putin, then prime minister, and his Ukrainian counterpart Yulia Tymoshenko, as an example of him brokering a deal that favored Moscow. More recently, he has said that Ukraine must be "federalized" if it is to be stable, meaning that that regional authorities including the separatists in the east should be granted more power at the expense of the central government -- an idea that has also been promoted by Moscow. "Medvedchuk is a political genius," said Berezovets. "But his efforts are directed at Putin's success, not Ukraine." Turning to the third person to refer to himself, Medvedchuk denied that in the interview. "Mr. Medvedchuk lives here in Ukraine," he told RFE/RL. "He studied here, worked here, continues to work here. It is home to his family; his children are studying here." "I'm not going to go anywhere. I wish happiness and prosperity for the country and will do everything to ensure that this country finds peace," Medvedchuk continued. "My relationship with the president of Russia, I believe, helps me to help [Ukraine's] interests. I use it wherever possible." 'Real Peace' Right now, Medvedchuk said, he is using it to seek an end to the war in Donbas. It is coincidence, he says, that his position on this issue -- that Donbas is part of Ukraine -- is shared by Putin. "[Putin says] that there should be peace in Donbas. He also recognized and continually said that the Donbas is the territory of Ukraine," Medvedchuk said. "Putin, however, also repeatedly said that he thinks about the safety of the Russian-speaking population in the Donbasas outlined in the Minsk agreements." Two days after interviewing Medvedchuk, RFE/RL visited the front-line positions of a Ukrainian battalion in Maryinka, a town 28 kilometers from the center of the separatist stronghold of Donetsk. There was no cease-fire. On the night of July 27, tanks unleashed a barrage of shells on the battalion's positions from the separatist-held side about 100 meters away, setting off blasts that rocked the town and set one home ablaze. There was nobody inside; many have fled Maryinka since the start of the war. It's a conflict that many of those fighting want to end. Asked about the Minsk deal and Medvedchuk's role as an arbiter between Kyiv, Moscow, and the separatists, battalion commander Vyacheslav Vlasenko echoed what has become a widespread sentiment in war-torn eastern Ukraine: "I don't care." "It could be the devil or Adolf Hitler himself," Vlasenko told RFE/RL at the battalion's Maryinka headquarters. "If this person brings real peace, then I don't care who he is." 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. Dominion Virginia Power won approval Tuesday to bury about 400 miles of power lines, and to charge its typical customer an extra $6 a year to pay for the $140 million project. The utility will spend an average of $350,000 per mile to reach about 6,000 customers and will add 50 cents to the average customer bill starting next month. The State Corporation Commission on Tuesday approved the project as a pilot program after voting down the utilitys first attempt to recover costs for burying lines. Dominion originally had sought to implement a broader program that would cost about $263 million, but state regulators were skeptical of the cost. In its hearing earlier this year for the pilot program, an expert witness for Dominion argued that the impact of line burial in reducing outages during storms would include economic and societal benefits of more than $2 for every dollar spent on the project. The SCC said it has placed a $140 million hard cap on the cost for identifying and replacing lines in the pilot program. The company was given approval to place a rider on customer bills of about 50 cents per 1,000 kWh of usage. Dominion spokesman David Botkins said the lines are in various parts of the state, in residential areas that have had chronically poor reliability or numerous outages over the last 10 years. Specific locations were not immediately available. We have identified some of the worst-performing circuits in our service territory, and the object is to underground lines in those areas to improve the reliability of the entire system, he said. Dominion already has been proceeding with replacing some lines after the General Assembly passed legislation in 2014 allowing electric utilities to spend up to 5 percent of their total revenue to move power lines underground. Depending on the results of the pilot program, Dominion may seek to move up to 4,000 miles of lines underground, serving as many as 150,000 customers. However, the SCC said its approval of the pilot program does not predetermine approval of any other investment in the strategic underground program. Dominion says that moving lines underground helps to free crews to restore power in other places during outages. Given the overwhelming support of our customers and the General Assembly for this innovative program to make our electric service even more reliable, we strongly believe it should continue beyond this first phase, Dominion said in a statement on Tuesday. Even while double-digit rate increases loom for Virginians with Affordable Care Act plans in 2017, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says reasonably priced plans will still be available to consumers in the commonwealth. Marketplace rates for 2017 will not be finalized until October, after they are reviewed by both state and federal regulators. But based on what was filed with Virginias State Corporation Commission earlier this summer, insurance companies are expecting rates to increase by an average of 14 percent in Virginia. In its report, however, the Department of Health and Human Services states that, even if all rates increased by 25 percent, most consumers in Virginia 74 percent would still be able to purchase coverage for less than $75 per month. Headline rate increases do not reflect what consumers actually pay, Kathryn Martin, acting assistant secretary for planning and evaluation with the department, stated in a news release sent out Wednesday. One of the main arguments for the departments findings is the fact that the marketplace was developed to counterbalance any potential increase in premiums with rising subsidies for consumers. (I)f all premiums in a market go up by similar amounts, the large majority of consumers in that market will not have to pay more, since tax credits will increase in parallel, the release states. Last year, most rates were expected to rise by double digits as well, but the average premium increased just $4 per month, the release continues. Additionally, the fact that the marketplace allows those seeking health insurance plans to shop around, comparing multiple plans to find the right one for them and their family, consumers can choose cheaper options. Last year, more than 28 (percent), or 74,602, returning Virginia HealthCare.gov consumers switched plans, the release states. They saved an average of $28 per month. The departments analysis, released Wednesday, came out amid numerous reports that major insurers such as United Healthcare, Aetna and Humana Health Insurance are leaving the exchanges in various states next year. Although Humana has backed out of Virginia, United and Aetna are continuing to offer plans in the commonwealth in 2017. Meanwhile, another major insurer, Cigna, is offering a plan in the marketplace for the first time in Virginia this year. I think its always the folks that are leaving that get the headlines, but not the folks that are entering, said Dr. Mandy Cohen, chief operating officer and chief of staff for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, during a call Wednesday on the report. Any reduction in competition, however, has the potential to cause rates to spike. Opponents of Anthems proposed $54 billion acquisition of Cigna, for example which the U.S. Department of Justice, in conjunction with Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, has filed litigation to block claim the merger would reduce competition and cause premiums to rise. But the departments report also points out that current rates in the marketplace are below the initial Congressional Budget Office projections, and that the 2017 rate increases are subject to a number of predictable upward pressures that will dissipate next year, the release states. When insurance companies presented their proposed rate increases to the SCC in late July, they explained that one of the most significant drivers of premium increases is that people signing up for marketplace plans are far sicker than originally anticipated. And, more often than was initially anticipated, healthy people are choosing to pay the penalty associated with not having insurance, rather than just signing up for a plan. Without those healthy consumers to counter the costs of the sicker ones, insurance companies are forced to raise premiums. But during the call Wednesday, officials with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services pointed out that the marketplace has reduced the rate of uninsured across the country overall, which was one of its major goals. Its important to remember ... that we had, prior to the Affordable Care Act, no options for many consumers who had pre-existing conditions, Cohen said. Two veteran commercial real estate brokers joined Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer, a commercial real estate firm in Henrico County, effective Tuesday. Kevin South, with more than 15 years of experience in retail brokerage and development, joined as a vice president and will work directly with Thalhimer Realty Partners, a wholly owned acquisition and development subsidiary. David Crawford, a retail sales and leasing specialist with more than 19 years of experience in the industry, also joined as a vice president and will focus his work in Thalhimers retail services group. Both were formerly with commercial brokerage CBRE | Richmond. They are recognized as two of the top retail brokers in our marketplace, and its a substantial addition to our Thalhimer retail team that is already No. 1 in the market, said Lee Warfield, president and CEO of Thalhimer. Its very rare in our marketplace for established brokers to transition firms. What attracted us was the strength of Thalhimers foothold in central Virginia, Crawford said. We see this as a way to improve ourselves as real estate brokers and increase our services and knowledge to our clients. Both have experience working with Publix Super Markets Inc., a new grocery store entry in the Richmond area. South, 46, provides site selection and consulting services to national retailers such as Publix. He has worked with institutional and regional property owners to create and execute leasing strategies for retail properties, including grocery-anchored and mixed-use properties. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, the global trade association of shopping centers, and the Midlothian Rotary. He attended James Madison University on a full golf scholarship, graduating in 1992 with a bachelor of science degree in political science/public administration. South will continue to serve his long-term clients. But he also will focus on growing the retail asset portfolio for Thalhimer Realty Partners. The subsidiary is developing the Reynolds South project on 17 acres south of the James River into a mixed-use project. It is working with a grocery store for that site, but nothing is definitive at this time and the potential tenant is not Publix, said Drew Wiltshire, president of Thalhimer Realty Partners, on Tuesday. Once a foil plant for Reynolds Packaging Group, the property is being turned into apartments, retail and offices. The site for the grocery store is on 2 acres, which could accommodate a 36,000-square-foot store. We would love to talk with Publix, but we are not working with them now, Wiltshire said. *** Crawford will focus on retail site selection, land sales, and landlord and tenant representation. He assisted Publix with its entry into the central Virginia market. The Florida-based chain is buying 10 Martins Food Markets in the Richmond area and converting them into Publix stores. It also is building a store off Nuckols Road in western Henrico County that is scheduled to open next year. Crawford also advised Cobb Theatres/CineBistro with several locations in the region. Other key clients include Excel Property Trust, Slate Properties, Principal Real Estate Investors, Invesco Realty Advisors and RIOCAN. Crawford, 46, is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, the Greater Richmond Association of Commercial Real Estate and the Chesterfield Business Council, where he is a cabinet member and chairman of the Government Relations Committee. He is a 1993 graduate of the University of Richmond with a bachelor of science in business administration. After he was shot, Craig Michael Bates ran as far as he could to an overgrown property near his home in western Hanover County, where he collapsed and died in the 1500 block of Mickie Town Road. On the opening day of the trial in Bates killing, prosecutors said it was Justin Valentino Mason, 26, of Richmond, who fired the fatal shot from a revolver into Bates chest on June 27, 2015. It will be clear that the killer is ... Justin Mason, prosecutor Mackenzie Babichenko said during opening statements in Hanover County Circuit Court on Tuesday. Defense attorney Bobbi Graves countered that the prosecution will be unable to meet its burden of proof by the end of the three-day jury trial. Theres no doubt that theres been a tragedy, Graves said before impressing upon the jury that the prosecution must prove Masons guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Mason is charged with first-degree murder and a related firearm charge in Bates death. Tuesday ultimately ended in an impasse, with Judge Patricia Kelly postponing until today a decision on whether to allow prosecutors to show the jury surveillance video evidence intended to link Mason to Bates death. Graves argued that the surveillance video from two convenience stores should not be entered into evidence because they were downloaded by authorities weeks after Bates was killed and could have been altered. Prosecutors called more than half a dozen witnesses on Tuesday, including Bates niece who lived nearby and heard gunshots the morning of his death but did not pay them any mind because the area is frequented by hunters; a neighbor who saw a man in his mid-20s that morning but who could not identify the person; and several law enforcement witnesses who testified about their roles in the investigation. Bates, 30, lived with his older sister, Angela Miller. On Tuesday, Miller said she was vacationing in Orlando, Fla., when she received a frantic call from her sister reporting that Bates was dead. I immediately went into shock, she recalled. Lawyers for two Richmond public middle school students on Wednesday filed a federal civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Education over district discipline policies they say unfairly punish black students and students with disabilities. The 28-page indictment of the districts practices details inconsistencies arising from subjective interpretations of a student code of conduct lawyers describe as a disorganized and internally inconsistent assortment of narrative, lists, and charts. In response, the city school system has pledged to cooperate with the U.S. Department of Educations Office of Civil Rights in handling the complaint. Because the rules governing what constitutes a violation and how to respond are vague, teachers and administrators within the predominantly black school system have ended up doling out more frequent and more severe punishments to black students and students with disabilities than their peers, the complaint states. Black and disabled students in Richmond were suspended from school at almost 13 times the rate of white students without disabilities, lawyers found in an analysis of 2014-15 school year data from the Virginia Department of Education. Its more than a child being suspended we have deep-rooted issues within our school system that need to be reformed, said Lynetta Thompson of the Richmond branch of the NAACP, which jointly filed the complaint. The students are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia and lawyers with the Legal Aid Justice Centers JustChildren program, which announced the complaint Wednesday in a press conference held at ACLUs Richmond office. Students identified by initials as J.R., a rising eighth-grader at Boushall Middle School, and A.L. who was a sixth-grader at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School last year, suffered the effects of the districts disciplinary inconsistencies, the complaint alleges. Both J.R. and A.L. are identified in the complaint as black male students with disabilities. In both cases, Richmond Public School officials responded to incidents at the childrens home schools by unnecessarily reassigning the students to the citys beleaguered alternative school, according to the complaint. Both ultimately appealed those decisions. In one instance a child looking for his teacher was confronted and restrained by a school security guard, according to the compliant. In another, a child diagnosed with ADHD and Aspergers syndrome was repeatedly suspended after altercations at school without staff first working on his behavioral assessment and intervention plan. School officials should have found more appropriate, less disruptive resolutions, the complaint alleges. Although African-Americans were about 76 percent of the districts public school population during the 2014-2015 school year, they received 93 percent of short-term suspensions and 98 percent of all long-term suspensions issued districtwide, according to the complaint. The districts alternative school had a population of 242 in that time, of which 238 students had received a short-term suspension. Only one student at Richmond Alternative that year was white, the complaint states. These disparities cannot be explained by differences in student behavior, said Rachael Deane with the Legal Aid Justice Center. Rather, there is overwhelming evidence that the school divisions discipline policies are excessively punitive and lack clear standards for application, leading to subjective interpretation and selective enforcement. Lawyers allege that the district relies too heavily on short and long-term suspensions to handle relatively minor infractions, such as insubordination or disruptive demonstrations. The majority of all 145,657 short-term suspensions issued to students across the state during the 2014-2015 academic year were the result of behavioral issues instead of physical assaults or threats, according to the Virginia Department of Education. The complaint, filed with the Office of Civil Rights, does not seek financial remedies for the named students and instead asks that the district implement improved policies. Richmond School Board member Tichi Pinkney Eppes, 9th District, welcomed the criticism. She was the lone board member in attendance at Wednesdays press conference. We cannot overstate the seriousness of these issues, she said. I think we are all aware that these are problems, and we need to work to find solutions. Richmond Public Schools spokeswoman Kenita D. Bowers said the system is already working to address concerns in the complaint to ensure discipline is handled fairly across the board. Police have identified a man killed in a shooting Tuesday at the Foxwood Apartments in South Richmond. Officers found Brian M. King, 24, of the 4000 block of Mallard Creek Circle in Chesterfield County, suffering from a gunshot wound shortly after 4 p.m. in the courtyard of the apartment complex in the 5000 block of Snead Road, police said. King was taken to a local hospital, where he died, police said. Anyone with any information about the shooting is asked to call Major Crimes Detective Arcellious Demery at (804) 646-5999 or Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000. Citizens can also text Crime Stoppers at 274637, using the keyword ITip followed by the tip or submit a tip online at www.7801000.com. A month after agreeing to repay the federal government $100,000 annually for more than six decades, the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority has learned it must make up an additional $507,800. A report issued last week by the Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development faulted the agency for overcharging the federal government over a three-year period. The more than $500,000 reimbursement the audit calls for is due to a duplicative information technology fee. An additional $5 million hangs in the balance as the cash-strapped agency works to justify years worth of maintenance fees the housing authority billed HUD at a $95 hourly rate. Those services ranged from skilled work such as heating and ventilation repairs to furniture moving and trash pickup, according to the 12-page report dated Aug. 17. Federal auditors worked at the agencys headquarters between October and June to scour records of fees the authority charged to HUDs programs for evidence the billed services were eligible, reasonable and supported by the departments guidelines. The time period in question October 2012 to September 2015 was a tumultuous time for the agency, said T.K. Somanath, who came out of retirement in January 2015 in hope of stabilizing the authority after years of mismanagement. This is like the ghost of the past it keeps haunting us, Somanath said Tuesday of the audit findings. The authoritys board last month agreed to reimburse the federal government $100,000 annually for more than 60 years to repay money administrators had been taking improperly from other accounts to prop up an outsized administration. That money was intended to support the operation of public housing units, according to the inspector generals report. We had some real legacy issues, if you will, where there had been serious problems that were not necessarily shared with the board, said Robley S. Jones Jr., chairman of the agencys board of commissioners. That hasnt been the case under Somanaths leadership, Jones said. Every meeting as we move forward, theres less of this, Jones said. Weve been working hard to increase transparency. Somanath pointed to the elimination of 19 positions many from the agencys central office last year as proof of his commitment to fiscal discipline. That has been the problem here, Somanath said. Ive worked hard to promote accountability. The agency he inherited after the abrupt departure of CEO Adrienne Goolsby was overbudget and under stress, he said. It also was paying about $2 million annually in outside legal fees it could not afford. Jones said the agencys most pressing current issue is a lack of cash to operate its more than 4,000 units and to promote the muscular revitalization of its aging large-scale apartment complexes. Were cash-strapped, Jones said. Its a challenge trying to maintain existing properties. The agency had a $62.4 million operating budget for the 2016 fiscal year. It currently has about $4.9 million in reserves, of which $3 million is restricted for specific uses. Richmond police Chief Gerald Smith resigned Tuesday after a 27-month tenure that included calls for his resignation from some of the departments rank-and-file and an ongoing controversy over his comments regarding an alleged mass shooting plot at Dogwood Dell. A Henrico County man is on trial in the death of his 81-year-old grandmother, who was found late last year in the home they shared. The body of Bertha Bernice Pannell was found Dec. 29 at the home in the 3900 block of East Chatham Drive in northern Henrico. She had been beaten to death, a medical examiner testified Wednesday during the first day of a two-day trial. Her grandson, Ricardo Green, 47, was indicted Jan. 6 on a charge of first-degree murder. Family members said Pannell took Green in after he was released from prison. Now he faces life behind bars if convicted. Green also faces charges of possession of a controlled substance, driving after being declared a habitual offender, and eluding after leading police on a chase that ended in a crash on Staples Mill Road in the hours following Pannells death. Prosecutor Tania Stark began her opening statement detailing evidence of the brutal killing and the testimony the jury of 10 men and three women one person is an alternate would hear linking Green to the crime. There was blood on the bed, floors the walls, Stark said, describing the scene inside Pannells bedroom, where she was found lying face down at the foot of her bed, covered in a white blanket and two pillows. The murder weapon: the defendants boots, tucked below his bed, drenched in blood, Stark said to the jury. You will come to the conclusion that he used those boots to beat her to death. Jennifer Bowers, assistant chief medical examiner, said Pannell was covered in bruises and lacerations from head to torso. A rib was broken, her heart and other organs were also damaged, and she suffered several brain hemorrhages. Bowers said she couldnt estimate the number of blows that would have caused that much damage, but said it was multiple. Upon cross-examination from Greens attorney, Jeffrey L. Everhart, Bowers said she wasnt asked to match the injuries to any specific object that may have caused them. Everhart also asked Greens girlfriend at the time, Shelia Dudley, who testified first on Wednesday, about a prosthetic leg Green wore. He had his right leg removed below the knee due to complications from diabetes, and he was sometimes unsteady on the prosthesis, stumbling and at times falling, according Dudley. Everhart seemed to suggest that Green was not capable of mounting such a vicious attack. After court, Pannells sister, Doris Wingfield, said her sister wouldnt have gone quietly. From what they said, she put up a fight, said Wingfield of Mechanicsville. The medical examiner who conducted an autopsy found DNA under Pannells fingernails. Today, an expert is expected to testify that the DNA will match Green, or a close male relative on his fathers side. No such relative exists, Stark said in her opening statement. Pannell, who went by her middle name Bernice, was the oldest of 10 siblings. Wingfield was the next oldest. We were very close, Wingfield said. We would talk until 2 oclock in the morning. The family attended Greater Nazarene Baptist Church in Mechanicsville, where Pannell was a deaconess. The Sunday before her sister died, Wingfield said Pannell was ready to kick Green out of the house. Ricky was a troubled child, said Susie Stewart, another of Pannells sisters. He should have had help long ago. Online court records show Green was convicted by a Richmond jury of aggravated malicious wounding and grand larceny in late 2000. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison with six years suspended for the wounding, the records said. Court records also show guilty pleas for forging, uttering and attempting to elude. She loved that boy, Wingfield said. She loved him too much. The day that police found his grandmother dead was Greens birthday. Wingfield suspects he asked Pannell for money and she refused and maybe told him to leave the house. I dont believe he planned it, Wingfield said. I think he just got so angry in the moment. I feel sorry for Ricky. I still love him. I ask that God have mercy on his soul. Whatever punishment they give, it will not be nearly the suffering and punishment he gave his grandmother who loved him. Theres no justice for her. When he was arrested last year, Fernando Chang Monroy had two handguns, 165 rounds of ammunition, $9,500 in cash, seven cellphones and two GPS devices. The 37-year-old father of three with no criminal record was apprehended in his hometown of Guatemala City, Guatemala, on Sept. 10 for buying airplanes in Virginia that were used to fly more than a ton of cocaine across Central and South America. He will be sentenced this morning in Richmond by U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson. Federal sentencing guidelines call for a term of imprisonment of about 22 years to more than 27 years for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine on board an aircraft registered in the U.S. Chang Monroy pleaded guilty in March, admitting he bought airplanes in the Eastern District of Virginia which stretches from Northern Virginia through Richmond east to Hampton Roads for the purpose of transporting large amounts of cocaine from secret airstrips in Venezuela to airstrips in Honduras. In his role as purchaser of the two aircraft, Chang Monroys actions involved the United States, and more specifically, the Eastern District of Virginia, in the dark underworld of international cocaine smuggling, wrote prosecutors in a sentencing memorandum to the court. It is apparently the first such prosecution in the Eastern District of Virginia. Authorities said the large used aircraft market in the U.S. plays a key role in international drug trafficking by providing an inexpensive and relatively safe way for large trafficking organizations to move drugs. This case should send a clear signal to the drug trafficking community that the United States will not tolerate the use of its aircraft to further the distribution of illegal narcotics, the government argued in the case. The U.S. attorneys office added, Chang Monroy profited from helping move millions of doses of cocaine from their source of supply to countless end users. ... Each aircraft flight carried 1,000 kilograms of cocaine, worth tens of millions of dollars. The defendants activities fall within a range of conduct not typically seen by this court. Based on the enormous drug weight involved in this conspiracy, the defendants prominent organizational role, and his possession of multiple firearms, the defendants case is certainly unique, the government told Hudson. Authorities are seeking a prison term at the low end of the guideline range, while Chang Monroys lawyers are seeking a sentence of little more than 11 years. They argue he was not a leader or organizer, but simply an aircraft broker albeit one who bought and sometimes modified aircraft to transport drugs and who was paid in money or drugs. They also ask for a reduced term in light of his lack of a prior criminal record, his waiving of any extradition fight and his willingness to plead guilty. Chang Monroys father, whom he had not seen since he was 12 years old, died three years ago. His mother lives in Spain, his lawyers said. In pleading guilty, Chang Monroy also admitted arranging for the safe passage of the aircraft through Venezuelan air space with the Venezuelan military. He did so, the U.S. attorneys office contends, by recruiting an individual ... who coordinated with corrupt radar operators to avoid interception by the Venezuelan military. Authorities did not identify the seller(s) of the two, twin-engine, turbo-prop Beechcraft King Airs. Chang Monroy admitted that the first airplane was sold to a Honduran drug trafficking organization for a percentage of the profit from 1,000 kilograms of cocaine transported aboard it on Oct. 27, 2013, from Apure, Venezuela, to Limon, Honduras. The second airplane was sold to a Colombian drug trafficking organization. Among other things, Chang Monroy arranged for test flights to ensure its airworthiness, painted it to conceal its identity and selected pilots to transport the cocaine. In March 2014, the second airplane was flown to Apure and loaded with 1,000 kilograms of cocaine. But the pilots refused to take off despite assurances of a safe departure after seeing Venezuelan military aircraft overhead. The cocaine was taken off the aircraft and the aircraft was destroyed. No further details were available. Chang Monroy was extradited to the U.S. last Dec. 1 after his arrest in Guatemala City. The case was investigated by the DEA, IRS and FBI, as well as police in Hanover County, Chesterfield County and Richmond, and the Virginia State Police. Richmond Police have identified the victim of a Wednesday morning homicide in Richmonds East End. Just after 12:30 a.m., Habeeb Hafeed, 30, of the 1800 block of North 30th Street, was outside his business in the 1800 block of North 30th Street when gunshots were heard. Hafeed fell to the ground and was pronounced dead on scene from an apparent gunshot wound, according to a press release from the Richmond Police Department. The business was closed at the time of the incident. Police do not currently have information on suspects that they are prepared to release at this time. Anyone with any information about this incident is asked to call Major Crimes Detective Conrad Simms at (804) 646-0712 or Crime Stoppers at 780-1000. Citizens can also text Crime Stoppers at 274637, using the key word ITip followed by your tip or submit a tip online at www.7801000.com. Noted philanthropist Doris Buffett has long supported Dixon Park Pool financially, and Fredericksburgs City Council repaid her generosity Tuesday night. The councilors voted unanimously to rename the pool the Doris E. Buffett Pool in her honor. Its very appropriate that we name this pool for Ms. Buffett. It is an inspiration for others to do likewise, said Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw. Buffett, known locally as the Sunshine Lady due to her Sunshine Lady Foundation, donated $61,000 when the pool opened in 2006 so city residents could swim for free that summer. The city had planned to charge the citys youngsters and seniors $3 and adults $5 each time they used the facility. Some had feared that would put the pool out of reach for low-income families. As a grandmother, I just cant imagine children on one side of the street listening to the splashing and laughter on the other side and not taking part because they cant afford it, Buffett was quoted as saying in an article that ran that summer in The Free Lance-Star. She has continued to cover those user fees year after year, donations that have totaled more than $500,000 so far. She also donated the money to provide swim lessons for the citys third graders in 2011. The Recreation and Memorials Advisory commissions had requested that the pool be renamed for Buffett. Dixon Street, where the park is located, was named for Roger Dixon, a pre-Revolutionary War lawyer and merchant who lived in Fredericksburg and owned land across the Rappahannock River from Ferry Farm, George Washingtons boyhood home, according to Edward Alveys The Streets of Fredericksburg and information on the area tourism site, visitfred.com. Since its inception, [Ms.] Buffett has given her full support to ensure that all children in Fredericksburg may swim all season long at no cost, Susan Tyler, who chairs the Recreation Commission, wrote in a letter to the Memorials Advisory Commission. This has made it possible for so many more children to learn to love and be safe in the water. Her generosity and extraordinary contribution cannot be overstated. When Buffett was contacted at her home in Boston just prior to City Council considering the request at its Aug. 9 meeting, she said that she was struggling with her emotions over hearing the news about the possible renaming. Im honored and thrilled and very happy for everybody thats going to use it, she said of the pool. Buffett, who also has a home in downtown Fredericksburg, has long been generous to the area through her foundation. Among other gifts, shes donated $1 million to Micah Ecumenical Ministries to buy seven homes for chronically homeless people who have mental illness, given a $2 million grant For the Gladys P. Todd Academy and sponsors the Sunshine Baseball League at Sunshine Ballpark off Fall Hill Avenue. City Council also held a public hearing on ExteNet Systems Virginias request for a 15-year, non-exclusive license to install and operate a distributed antenna system, or DAS, on existing utility poles at 3000 Plank Road, 1080 Hospitality Lane and the intersection of Fall Hill Avenue and Carl D. Silver Parkway. It previously received the councilors OK to install DAS on 12 utility poles in the area around the University of Mary Washington campus. Work on that project will begin shortly and should be completed before the end of the year, said Manish Matta, ExteNets marketing director, in a phone interview last week. He said that the company also has a number of DAS locations in Spotsylvania County. Distributed antenna systems are an alternative to larger cellular facilities such as the tower in Central Park and the tower near the Powhatan water tower. Instead of one large antenna, several smaller antennas are used to provide cellular coverage. Theyre installed in a box that attaches to a utility pole, according to a memorandum that Dave King, assistant director of Public Works, sent City Manager Tim Baroody. King recommended that council approve ExteNets request because DAS will improve cellular reception in the area without requiring obtrusive antennas and related facilities. The company will pay the city $200 per year if the proposed license is approved. ExteNet, which is based in Lisle, Ill., would own and operate the system, and also need to get agreements with telecommunications companies such as Verizon for use of the system and with Dominion for use of the poles. Councilor Kerry Devine asked an ExteNet representative if the company would check to make sure that the work was done correctly and there were no dangling wires. Some of our poles are unsightly already, she said. The representative said that ExteNet, which will not do the installation itself, would inspect it after it was done. City Council voted unanimously to approve the license. In other business, Councilor Chuck Frye Jr., who has been spearheading an effort to keep Fredericksburg murder free, said that he was sad to report that there was a fatal shooting in the city last week. It was the first murder in the city since December. I beat myself up bad thinking of what else I could do, said Frye, who has put up Stop the Violence signs in Ward 4, helped resurrect the Midnight Madness program last year and suggested the citys gun give-back program. I know you cant control what goes on, but I took this to heart, he said. I was hoping, Im still hoping, for murder free for the future. Greenlaw thanked him for his passion and persistence, and also thanked the citys police and fire departments for the enormous amount of work they did to ensure that things went smoothly when Donald Trump held his rally Saturday at the Fredericksburg Expo & Convention Center. British rocker Ozzy Osbourne ridiculed the fate of famed Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson when recently visiting the grave of his left arm buried in the family cemetery at historic Ellwood on the Wilderness Battlefield in Orange County as portrayed on a recent episode of the new History Channel show, Ozzy and Jacks World Detour. Premiering last month, the program follows the former Black Sabbath front man and his reality TV star son both apparent history buffs as they visit significant sites. The duo was on its way to Jamestown when they made a detour in Orange, resulting in two minutes of humorous air time. Were in Civil War country now, are we? asks Ozzy in the beginning of the brief segment to which Jack replies, Big time. The Civil War started around here and ended around here. This was the front line. Jack said he stumbled upon the site of Stonewalls Jacksons amputated arm on the internet. This famous generals arm is buried here, he says, eliciting an incredulous, What? from Ozzy, the first of many similar reactions. Jackson was one of the most gifted tactical commanders in history, Jack says, and they called him Stonewall because he stopped an advance like a stone wall that is, until his own troops shot him during the 1863 Battle at Chancellorsville. Jackson was badly wounded and transported to the nearby field hospital at Ellwood manor, where his arm was amputated. Why didnt they call him Stonewall one-arm Jackson? asks Ozzy to which Jack replied, They probably would have but he died seven days later. Jackson was 39. Stonewall one-arm dead Jackson, Ozzy says as they travel along Virginia 20 approaching the Wilderness Battlefield area and entrance to Ellwood. They had a funeral for his arm? asks Ozzy to which Jack explained that Jacksons wife didnt want to disturb the grave where the appendage had already been buried. What? says Ozzy. Weird, right? says Jack. Pulling up to Ellwood unannounced, Ozzy proclaims, Lets see the slimmest grave in history. Reading an interpretative sign on site, the rocker again acts surprised when informed, here lies the amputated left arm of Stonewall Jackson. Its like a Monty Python [expletive deleted]! he says. Why did they bury it here? Jacks explains that a resident of Ellwood saw the limb lying outside on the ground, gathered it up and brought it across the field for burial in the family cemetery . He just feels so incomplete in the afterlife, says Jack, making his father laugh. He was armless, Ozzy said. It was an armless thing to, Jack said. Stonewalls arm ahhh! Ozzy then turned toward the grave and gave Jackson a high five. The rest of Jackson is buried in Lexington. A bit irreverent, the History Channel segment was all in good fun, said Mark Leach, president of the Friends of Wilderness Battlefield. He got to meet Ozzy and Jack when they visited in March. I actually thought they did a good job, Leach said Tuesday. When the TV crew arrived, local people doing yard work on-site, including Leach, were not allowed to watch the filming. We didnt quite know what to expect, he said. I was kind of happy with it. They showed us on the map and the signs for the battlefield. He added that Ozzy and Jack were really respectful in not attempting to cross a rope surrounding the grave site and took the time to read the interpretative panels. It looks like nothing was found at this location. Maybe try a search? Search for: Search A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. BLACKSBURG Students have just returned to Virginia Tech for fall classes, but just off campus horticulture professor Holly Scoggins is already administering an exam. Shes not testing students, but a species of plant long gone from Virginia agriculture that may eventually make a comeback: hops. Were trying to see what varieties might do well for growers in Virginia and extrapolating that to the mid-Atlantic region, Scoggins said. Scoggins and her team, along with collaborators from several academic departments and Virginia State University, are hoping the grant-funded hops trial yard off Prices Fork Road will give researchers information to help growers choose the most productive varieties and care for them in the most efficient ways. Scoggins has received $15,900 from the Virginia Agricultural Council and $30,000 from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for the project. About $21,000 in additional funds from a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant awarded to Virginia State University will go to Tech to test plants in Blacksburg for optimum nitrogen levels, she said. Vigorous perennials related to hemp, hops plants grow up to 25 feet in one season. In late summer, the plants produce an acidic flower bud, or cone, that when added to beer imparts a refreshing astringent quality. Hops were a major crop in colonial Virginia, but later shifted to other parts of the country. Different varieties also can impart the complex flavors favored by craft brewers. Today, 164 craft breweries are operating in Virginia, according to the states Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, creating an increasing demand for hops from which Virginia growers might be able to profit. There are challenges to developing an industry here, however. Hops typically do less well in Virginia than in other parts of the country with longer summer days and less humidity. U.S. commercial production is centered in the Pacific Northwest, where Washington state leads with 56 million pounds grown there in 2014, according the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Mid-Atlantic hops yields, even from mature plants, lag far behind the Pacific Northwest. One acre of plants in Oregon produces between 1,000 and 2,000 pounds of dried hops. Meanwhile, the same variety grown in North Carolina yields between 160 and 320 pounds of dried hops, according to research done by North Carolina State University. There are gaps in knowledge, too. The plants are not widely studied, and there isnt enough information to help growers troubleshoot disease, nutritional deficiencies and the best cultivation techniques, according to Scoggins. For example, researchers suspect that Virginia yields have been lower in part because growers under-fertilize the heavy feeding plants. The fertilizer study is expected to shed light on the best nitrogen rates, she added. In Virginias warm and humid environment, hops are beset by fungal diseases and pests, such as the European corn borer, which as its name suggests bores up through the stem of the hops bine, damaging the plant. We didnt even know they were a problem, Scoggins said. Leafhoppers, Japanese beetles and other insects have been issues for some varieties. Diseases like powdery mildew and some strains of blight have also made appearances, Scoggins said. Knowing the challenges, she and collaborators from entomology, Virginia Cooperative Extension and other areas can develop recommendations to help growers avoid or minimize problems. With help from graduate students, this week Scoggins is harvesting at the trial yard, where about a half an acre is planted with about a dozen varieties of hops. The team first must cut down the up to 19-foot-tall hops bines (not vines), and then pick each cone by hand. They meticulously weigh the harvests from each picking. This data will help determine the yields of each cultivar. Then the team will take their bounty to Brian Wiersema, the pilot plant manager for Techs Department of Food Science and Technology, including a new research brewhouse. Wiersema said he will dry the hops in an oast, or hops drying kiln, to give them a longer shelf life. The kiln can do up to 44 pounds of hops in up to 14 hours. The drying is done gently over low heat to preserve the all-important aromatic oils, Wiersema said. He plans to use some of the hops in the research brewery, Wiersema said. Beer made at the brewery can only be used for research purposes at this point. Scoggins said she has been talking to local brewers about the possibility of providing them some hops for their brews, as well. Samples of the cones are also going to Techs enology laboratory Director Ken Hurley, who will do chemical analyses. He can quantify the levels of bittering agents and aroma compounds, and compare what he finds with what has been published in the literature. Hurley has a lot of samples to run before drawing any conclusions, but so far he said the levels of the oils have been higher than expected for Virginia hops. Hurleys hypothesis is that Virginia hops produce more flavor and aroma compounds than the same plants grown elsewhere. Last year he received $7,500 from the Virginia Agricultural Council to study this facet of hops. If the evidence bears out his suspicion, it would be a powerful marketing tool for Virginia growers, and likely spur more to branch out to hops. Its a highly interdisciplinary project, Scoggins said. Even the architecture and design school is in on it. Chip Clark from that school designed the trial yard, which other growers can use as a model for their own operations, she said. Scoggins said it will take at least three years to determine how well each hops variety will do in Virginias challenging environment. U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith's office shares his e-newsletter for the week of Aug. 22: Telemedicine Now is the Time From time to time, this column highlights ongoing challenges, promising innovations, etc. being undertaken by various people, organizations, and/or businesses from throughout Ninth District. For example, I wrote earlier this month of a local cow/calf operation and its owners support of improving our tax code. I have also discussed the Radford Health and Rehab Center, which has made strides in health care innovation and improving patient care through telemedicine, which generally refers to clinical services provided remotely using various telecommunications technologies. Another local facility taking advantage of developments in telemedicine is the Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), which treats many Ninth District veterans. I visited the Salem facility last week and, in addition to more general issues I discussed with their leadership, I was able to visit their physical therapy department which uses telemedicine to provide greater services to rural areas of Virginia. As you may know, the VA has what are called Community Based Outpatient Clinics, or CBOCs. There are hundreds of them throughout the country, as they provide common outpatient services and are intended to help make it more convenient for veterans particularly those in rural communities to receive care closer to home. In the Ninth District, there are CBOCs located in Norton, Tazewell, and Wytheville. In the Wytheville CBOC, a room that previously housed a printer and other equipment was turned into a physical therapy room. There, Ms. Jessica Edwards, a Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant, uses Clinical Video Technology (CVT) as part of their telerehabilitation program. After a veteran completes a one-time evaluation at the Salem VAMC, follow up treatments may be provided at the Wytheville CBOC through CVT. Ms. Edwards works remotely with folks at the Salem VA including Dr. William D. Adkins, PT,DPT, OCS, ATC, Cert. MDT (a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Salem-based physical therapist) and Dr. Anthony Caruso, PT,DPT (a Doctor of Physical Therapy and the Chief of the Physical Therapy Department at the Salem VAMC). During my visit to the Salem facility, Ms. Edwards joined us via camera from the Wytheville CBOC. They conservatively estimated that their telerehabilitation program has saved veterans 93,380 miles in travel for treatments and reevaluations, as those veterans would otherwise have to drive to the Salem VAMC. This is in addition to the estimated $26,700 they estimate saving in completed consults, the $61,600 they estimate having saved through follow-up visits provided in Wytheville, and the $2,097 potential savings in telehealth re-evaluations provided in Wytheville. A similar program recently began at the Staunton CBOC, which is outside of the Ninth District. This telerehabilitation program uses taxpayer money wisely, and provides a valuable service to veterans by delivering musculoskeletal care to those living in rural Virginia communities. Without such a service, the benefits of a veterans physical therapy may have worn off in a cramped car during their drive home from the Salem VAMC. The Carilion Family Medical Clinic in Giles County, a clinic I visited several years ago, also practices telemedicine. If a patient were to come in with pneumonia, for example, and it was determined the patient has a mental health issue such as depression, they would connect via telehealth with a mental health worker for additional assistance. I am sure other Ninth District facilities make use of some telehealth technologies as well, but I have not yet had the opportunity to visit all of those. Telemedicine is a trend we as a nation should embrace, particularly for rural and underserved areas. As part of that, federal policies and coverage should reflect that telemedicine is a way for rural and underserved areas to receive a higher degree of health care services. It is also a way for patients to save money and time traveling numerous miles to seek help. As a part of that vision, I have introduced legislation to expand access to stroke telemedicine (also called telestroke) treatment in Medicare. Through telestroke, a patient having a stroke can gain access to specialists through the use of interactive videoconferencing, even if the hospital at which the patient is receiving treatment does not have a stroke neurologist available around the clock. This telestroke service should, for many patients, reduce the need for rehabilitation and nursing home stays because data shows us quick intervention can often prevent the most devastating effects of a stroke. The Furthering Access to Stroke Telemedicine (FAST) Act (H.R. 2799) can be found at www.morgangriffith.house.gov. Submitted by Andie Pivarunas British rocker Ozzy Osbourne ridiculed the fate of famed Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson when recently visiting the grave of his left arm buried in the family cemetery at historic Ellwood on the Wilderness Battlefield in Orange County as portrayed on a recent episode of the new History Channel show, Ozzy and Jacks World Detour. Premiering last month, the program follows the former Black Sabbath front man and his reality TV star son both apparent history buffs as they visit significant sites. The duo was on its way to Jamestown when they made a detour in Orange, resulting in two minutes of humorous air time. Were in Civil War country now, are we? asks Ozzy in the beginning of the brief segment to which Jack replies, Big time. The Civil War started around here and ended around here. This was the front line. Jack said he stumbled upon the site of Stonewalls Jacksons amputated arm on the internet. This famous generals arm is buried here, he says, eliciting an incredulous, What? from Ozzy, the first of many similar reactions. Jackson was one of the most gifted tactical commanders in history, Jack says, and they called him Stonewall because he stopped an advance like a stone wall that is, until his own troops shot him during the 1863 Battle at Chancellorsville. Jackson was badly wounded and transported to the nearby field hospital at Ellwood manor, where his arm was amputated. Why didnt they call him Stonewall one-arm Jackson? asks Ozzy to which Jack replied, They probably would have but he died seven days later. Jackson was 39. Stonewall one-arm dead Jackson, Ozzy says as they travel along Virginia 20 approaching the Wilderness Battlefield area and entrance to Ellwood. They had a funeral for his arm? asks Ozzy to which Jack explained that Jacksons wife didnt want to disturb the grave where the appendage had already been buried. What? says Ozzy. Weird, right? says Jack. Pulling up to Ellwood unannounced, Ozzy proclaims, Lets see the slimmest grave in history. Reading an interpretative sign on site, the rocker again acts surprised when informed, here lies the amputated left arm of Stonewall Jackson. Its like a Monty Python [expletive deleted]! he says. Why did they bury it here? Jacks explains that a resident of Ellwood saw the limb lying outside on the ground, gathered it up and brought it across the field for burial in the family cemetery . He just feels so incomplete in the afterlife, says Jack, making his father laugh. He was armless, Ozzy said. It was an armless thing to, Jack said. Stonewalls arm ahhh! Ozzy then turned toward the grave and gave Jackson a high five. The rest of Jackson is buried in Lexington. A bit irreverent, the History Channel segment was all in good fun, said Mark Leach, president of the Friends of Wilderness Battlefield. He got to meet Ozzy and Jack when they visited in March. I actually thought they did a good job, Leach said Tuesday. When the TV crew arrived, local people doing yard work on-site, including Leach, were not allowed to watch the filming. We didnt quite know what to expect, he said. I was kind of happy with it. They showed us on the map and the signs for the battlefield. He added that Ozzy and Jack were really respectful in not attempting to cross a rope surrounding the grave site and took the time to read the interpretative panels. They showed there is something to learn there, Leach said, who said he wasnt all offended by Ozzys comments about Jacksons left arm. BRAVE Lynn Bunting bade farewell to her blonde tresses to pay tribute to her late sister. Lynn signed up to Brave the Share for Macmillan Cancer Support in memory of Kay Tomlinson, who died last year. She lost her shoulder-length locks at the Maltby branch of Tesco after husband Lloyd suggested she undergo the big trim in public. I wasnt at all nervous on the day until my dad started off the shave, said Lynn, of Maltby, whose brother-in-law and niece, Ian and Georgia Tomlinson also took their turns with the clippers, before letting hairdresser Lisa Oldham complete the job. My sister was really looked after by Macmillan so when I heard about the Brave the Shave campaign I thought I had to do it. Lynn who has raised 1,500 for Macmillan said she may grow her hair back but was actually quite enjoying having it short, adding: Its so easy to look after. Diamcor more than doubles Q2 revenue Diamcor generated gross revenues of about $3 million from its operations in the interim period ended September 30, 2022, compared to $1,4 million for the same period in the previous year. The company is still conducting trial mining exercises at its... IBJA commits to Declaration of Responsibility & Sustainability Principles The Indian gold industry has signed a Declaration of Responsibility and Sustainability Principles, convened by the LBMA and the World Gold Council, which expresses a commitment to operate responsibly and sustainably, based on a clear set of shared goals... De Beers boosts Q3 output, maintains production guidance De Beers rough diamond production rose 4% to 9.6 million carats, mainly due to the treatment of higher grade ore at both Orapa in Botswana and South Africa as well as continued strong performance in Namibia, according to its parent company, Anglo... Hong Kongs major jewellery fairs are set to return in 2023 An announcement from Informa Markets Jewellery indicates that the industrys two biggest B2B sourcing events will be back in action in Hong Kong in 2023 following a three-year forced pandemic break. After Rio Tinto Group announced plans to shut the Bunder diamond mine in the state of Madhya Pradesh-India, Indias Mines Ministry said it will analyze if mining at the site is viable because of environmental concerns, according to media reports. The deposit is located in an ecologically sensitive zone and its not clear if the mine can be auctioned again, Mines Secretary Balvinder Kumar said in New Delhi. Rio Tinto said that it would work with the federal government and the state of Madhya Pradesh to examine options for another investor to take over the project. The Bunder mines fall under a zone that has thick forests, Kumar said. The environment ministry says only deep and underground mining can be done in these areas. We need to examine if well be able to exploit this block commercially. Rio Tinto had hoped to bring Bunder into production as early as 2019. The project was pegged as one of only four new mines to enter production in the next decade. Transfer of the block is not an option under the new mining policy, so the only way is re-auction, R.K. Sharma, secretary general of the Federation of the Indian Mineral Industries said, If the government doesnt re-auction the mine because of environmental reasons, then Rio Tinto will not get back any of the money it spent on the exploration. Aruna Gaitonde, Editor-in-Chief of Asian Bureau, Rough & Polished Canterra Minerals Corporation has signed a property agreement with CanAlaska Uranium Ltd to acquire a 70 percent interest in the West Carswell property in the western Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan. The company additionally announced that it will shortly commence a detailed 1,770 line kilometer airborne magnetic survey over the area. West Carswell comprises approximately 44,000 hectares within the west Athabasca Kimberlite, located 20 kilometers southwest of De Beers/CanAlaskas Athabasca Diamond Project. There are six targets at the property, which exhibit discrete magnetic lows and are characteristic of magnetic features, thought to be kimberlite pipes. "CanAlaska has been innovative in their approach to diamond exploration and identified many new targets within northwestern Saskatchewan; a region we believe has the potential to host a new Canadian kimberlite field," said Canterra president and CEO Randy Turner. South Africas richest man, Christo Wiese said there are opportunities to consolidate diamond operations in southern Africa. Two firms backed by Wieses family bought a 47 percent stake in TransHex and planned to form a group with 25 percent shareholder RECM & Calibre. TransHex owns diamond projects in Angola and South Africa. There are opportunities for consolidating diamond operations in southern Africa, he was quoted as saying by Bloomberg. Obviously we will look at growing the business as much as we can. Wiese said diamonds are wonderful things, things of beauty and of everlasting value, adding that its just a very exciting business. Bloomberg reports that TransHex was not Wises first foray into diamond mining, as his involvement in the industry can be traced back to co-ownership of a South African alluvial diamond mine in the 1970s. Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished T20 World Cup: 'Really Not Concerned, Yaar'-Batting Coach Vikram Rathour's Nonchalance For Protea Pace Line Up T20 World Cup, IND vs SA: 'Two Match Small Sample Size; He is Batting Well In Nets'-Batting Coach Confirms KL Rahul Set to Open IND vs SA: 'We See Ourselves as One of The Best Pace Attacks There is' - Anrich Nortje T20 World Cup: 'Had India Lost to Pakistan, They Would Have Come Hard at Zimbabwe'-India Legend New Zealand posted a merchandise trade deficit of NZ$433 million in July, Statistics New Zealand said on Wednesday - or 11 percent of exports. The headline figure missed forecasts for a shortfall of NZ$325 million following the downwardly revised surplus of NZ$110 million in June (originally NZ$127 million). Exports were worth NZ$3.96 billion, shy of expectations for NZ$4.07 billion and down from NZ$4.26 billion in the previous month. Meat and edible offal led the fall in exports, down NZ$97 million (19 percent). Milk powder fell NZ$118 million (23 percent) while the quantity rose 0.9 percent. Fruit fell NZ$17 million (5.7 percent) while the quantity rose 3.9 percent. Australia was the only top export destination to rise in value, up NZ$37 million. "The meat export falls this month are partly due to record meat exports this time last year," international statistics senior manager Jason Attewell said. "Meat values in July 2015, off the back of a record high meat season, were 31 percent higher than the average value for the previous five July months." Imports came in at NZ$4.40 billion versus forecasts for NZ$4.45 billion and up from NZ$4.13 billion a month earlier. Intermediate goods led the fall in imports, down NZ$296 million (15 percent) due to crude oil. Consumption goods fell in value for the first time in 23 months, down NZ$114 million (9.6 percent). The only top import partner to rise in value was the United States, up NZ$83 million. 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. Cabinet office is set to release final Japan leading economic indicators index for June at 1:00 am ET Wednesday. Ahead of the data, the yen held steady against its major rivals. As of 12:55 am ET, the yen was trading at 113.36 against the euro, 132.22 against the pound, 104.12 the Swiss franc and 100.36 against the U.S. dollar. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Forex News Finland's producer prices declined at a faster pace in July, figures from Statistics Finland showed Wednesday. The producer price index fell 3.8 percent year-over-year in July, which was worse than the 3.4 percent decrease in June. The measure has been falling since August 2013. The fall in the producer prices for manufactured products was particularly caused by reductions in the prices of oil products, manufacturing of basic metals and chemicals and chemical products from July 2015, the agency said. Both domestic and foreign market prices dipped by 4.8 percent and 3.1 percent, respectively in July from a year ago. Similarly, import prices declined 5.0 percent and export prices slid 4.8 percent as compared to June last year. On a monthly basis, producer prices dropped 0.3 percent from June, when it rose by 0.3 percent. It was the first fall in five months. 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. Early signals are mixed for Canadian stocks Wednesday morning, as oil prices slumped on signs of rising U.S. inventories. However, upbeat earnings from another of Canada's biggest banks may keep investors in a decent mood. Royal Bank of Canada (RY.TO) revealed earnings for its third quarter that increased 7 percent from last year. RBC also hiked its dividend. ProMetic (PLI.TO) has agreed to acquire Telesta Therapeutics (TST.TO) in an all share transaction. American International Group Inc. (AIG) is in early discussions to sell insurance operations connected with Lloyd's of London to Canada's biggest pension fund, the Wall Street Journal reported citing people familiar with the matter. Energy stocks may come under pressure after a big drop in crude oil prices. WTI light sweet crude oil was down $1 at $47 a barrel. Morgan Stanley says an agreement between members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to curb supplies remains "highly unlikely." Yesterday, the S&P/TSX Composite Index was up 16 points to 14,764.77. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis Belgium's confidence sharply deteriorated in August, after two months of improvement, survey figures from the National Bank of Belgium showed Wednesday. The business confidence index plunged to -3.1 from 1 in July. Economists had expected a modest decline to 0.8. Weakness was witnessed across the board. Morale in the factory sector sharply declined, mainly due to weaker assessment of order books. Sentiment in the business services sector eased after three consecutive months of improvement as firms viewed the current situation more negatively and consequently, their expectations were dim. Confidence in the construction sector fell on the back of a sharp fall in new orders and an unfavorable assessment of overall order books. In trade, confidence decreased largely due to the sharp decline in the employment prospects and worsened demand expectations. 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. Republican White House aspirant Donald Trump addressed an election campaign rally in Austin, Texas, Tuesday night to draw national attention to his call for border security as well as the need for a Special Prosecutor to investigate Hillary Clinton's alleged misuse of the State Department to benefit the Clinton Foundation while she was the Secretary of State. Talking to an audience in the state bordering Mexico, Trump insisted that his administration will build a wall to stem the flow of illegal immigrants so that the law can be enforced, Americans' jobs and wages are protected, and to keep the country safe. According to the Texas government, nearly 200,000 illegal immigrants were booked into Texas jails between 2011 and 2016. Collectively, those arrested were responsible for more than half a million criminal offenses, including homicides, sexual assault charges and burglary. Trump said he wants to create safe zones in the Middle East. "My plan suspends visas when we can't perform effective screening, and it puts forward a new ideological screening program to keep out people from our country who don't support our values," he said. In a scathing attack on what the Trump Campaign dubbed as the State Department's "Pay-For-Play Scandal under Hillary Clinton," Trump said, "If our Secretary of State can be bought, or bribed, or sell or trade government favors, then the whole American system is threatened." Wednesday, Trump returns to the battleground state of Florida, where he will have two Tampa-area events, and he will spend Friday campaigning in Nevada. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Political News Russia, China, Iran, North Korea and violent extremism are the five biggest threats to the United States' national security, according to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Four are nation states that can cause varying degrees of concern. The fifth threat, terrorism, can flare up in any part of the world, Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford told the new class at the National Defense University Tuesday. Dunford said he's concerned about Russia's behavior, including its annexation of Crimea, its actions in Eastern Ukraine, it threats to Georgia and Moldova, and its aid to Syria. China is a bit more opaque, Dunford said. China has invested significant sums in building up its military, including its nuclear enterprise. Its actions in the South China Sea are cause for concern to the United States, the chairman said. Meanwhile, Iran is trying to spread its influence across the Middle East, he said, and must be carefully monitored. And, the chairman said, North Korea is still building nuclear capabilities and intercontinental missiles and is the most unpredictable nation on the list. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Political News USA Today has joined other papers and Republicans calling for the Clinton Foundation to be shut down amid allegations of corruption. In an op-ed piece published late Tuesday, USA Today's editorial board described plans to tighten the ethical safeguards for the Clinton Foundation as woefully incomplete. "The only way to eliminate the odor surrounding the foundation is to wind it down and put it in mothballs, starting today, and transfer its important charitable work to another large American charity such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation," the editorial board wrote. They added, "If Hillary Clinton doesn't support these steps, she boosts Trump's farcical presidential campaign and, if she's elected, opens herself up to the same kind of pay-to-play charges that she was subject to as secretary of State." The piece by USA Today comes amid claims the Clinton Foundation was involved in a "pay-to-play" scheme while Hillary Clinton was serving as Secretary of State. A recent report from the Associated Press claimed more than half the people outside the government who met with Clinton while she was secretary of state gave money to the foundation. "Should Clinton win, she'll face an uphill battle to rebuild trust in government and find a way to get Washington working again," USA Today's editorial board wrote. They added, "That task will be all the harder if millions of voters repulsed by Trump's rhetoric and concerned with his volatile behavior find that his 'Crooked Hillary' taunt had some substance in fact." While former President Bill Clinton has noted the vital work done by the foundation, the editorial board argued that there will be no more vital work for Hillary Clinton than being president. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Political News Crude oil prices plunged Wednesday, once again unable to crack the $50 barrier due to a huge build in U.S. oil inventories. The EIA reported a 2.5-million-barrel increase in crude oil inventories for the week to August 19. Gasoline inventories, already high for this time of year, were unchanged. Oct. WTI oil settled at $46.77/bbl on Nymex, down $1.33, or 2.8%, the lowest in a week. Traders downplayed talk of a possible deal between OPEC and Russia to curb supplies. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis By SA Commercial Prop News Property Market could evolve with the development of blockchain technology, says Ortneil Kutama, Media Director at SA Commercial Prop News. The way property industry transactions are conducted could evolve with the development of blockchain technology, which is effectively the machine behind the cyber currency bitcoin. National banks are trialling it. Politicians have talked it up. The Reserve Bank (Sarb) Governor Lesetja Kganyago has expressed openness to blockchain technologies , which underlie cryptocurrencies like bitcoin. A new report from the World Economic Forum predicts that the underlying technology introduced by the virtual currency Bitcoin will come to occupy a central place in the global financial system. "The emerging technology that runs on a distributed ledger has become increasingly associated with transparency, accountability and open governance because of its supposedly tamper-proof design," says Ortneil Kutama, Media Director at SA Commercial Prop News. Some experts suggest that the blockchain could completely transform the way we pay for goods and services or exchange information. "Its irrefutable that the internet and digital media tools continue to change the way we do business, as it plays a pivotal role in the property sector," says Kutama. In terms of the real estate industry, the technology has the potential to allow... TO GET THE FULL STORY, CLICK HERE FOR MORE By SA Commercial Prop News Obed Bapela: Deputy Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Minister The City of Johannesburg says it is turning the tide on its billing challenges and is on track to meet the June deadline to clear all billing related queries that pre-date the end of October 2011. This emerged after Mondays meeting between the Deputy Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Minister Obed Bapela and the executive council of the city. Bapela said the Presidential Hotline received over 8 000 queries on the Johannesburg billing system and 5 000 of these have been attended to by the city. Most of these queries were made last year. Most of the cases which were reported to the hotline, Bapela said, involved the finalisation of the estates of the deceased, cut-offs and clearance certificates, while others were disputing the amounts they have to pay. Government decided that it is no longer business as usual, said Bapela, adding that the task team set up to deal with the matter was working expeditiously to resolve the issue. The Citys MMC for Finance, Geoffrey Makhubo, said they have made progress since the launch of the Revenue and Billing Roadmap in November last year. The main objectives of the 19-month road map include improving the accuracy of billing and customer data integrity; enhancement of the city's customer engagement model; to ensure better responsiveness; the eradication of property change-of-ownership backlogs and the implementation of a 'standard of service charter' for customers. Currently, he said there were about 100 000 queries relating to billing issues. Of these, 66 000 date back from the end of October last year, while about 35 000 where lodged from November last year as indicated by data as of 13 March. Makhubo said they were on track to meet the June deadline, which will also see the city providing consistent customer information, resolving queries, making arrangements to settle outstanding debt and maintaining the accuracy of bills. He hoped that they would also be able to sort out new issues within 30 days - provided there were no external factors. He said with the help of the new ITC system, they would be able to look at historical problems and how to deal with these. Bapela said he was happy with the citys plan to fix the billing situation. His office will be visiting other municipalities around the country experiencing problems. The wrong location, no buses and competition from sellers sitting outside supermarkets is being blamed for the ongoing failure of the Vaitele Market. Vendors at the market have raised concerns about the $5.7 million tala market not being put to good use since it was opened in 2011. Delivering the keynote address at the time, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said, The market will serve this side of the capital and Upolu. It should also immediately result in the easing of traffic through Fugalei (market), easing of the pressures and demands on the main market there and the over-crowdedness weve become all too familiar with through the years. No longer will families in this area need to go to Fugalei anymore. Everything they need will be sold here. Sadly, this has not been the case. According to the vendors, sales are slow every day as they do not have many customers. Salapo Tavita Brown from Vaitele Fou said theyve been selling their products at Vaitele since the market was opened in 2011. My mother was the one who started selling coconuts, firewood, taro and other products here, says Salapo. But my wife and I continued her work when she passed away. I hardly come here; its usually my wife who comes to sell our products here at the market. But ever since we started, I have never seen this market as crowded as the other markets in town. Not many people come to this market to buy things. Its the same every day and every week. Sales are slow, says Mr. Brown. This is a big market and its clean and in good condition. But its a pity that not many people are here to make good use of it. Mr. Brown said that each week from Monday to Wednesday, they get only two to three customers each day. But from Thursday to Sunday, those are the only days where we can earn close to a hundred tala, he added. Sometimes when we bring in fruit and vegetables, they end up being rotten before we can even sell them. Moreover, Mr. Brown believes the main problem is the location of the market. I believe that if it was located on the side of the main road, it wouldve been easier for people to see what we have to offer. I have heard from some people that they dont know about this market. Moreover, the growing number of people and farmers selling products in front of supermarkets is what Mr. Brown thinks is one of the major challenges. More and more people are selling products in front of supermarkets like Frankies and there are other Chinese shops selling the same thing we sell here at the market. I mean what was the purpose of having this big market here when people are out there selling their products instead of making good use of the market? I mean why not make good use of the facility that was built for the farmers to sell their products and other families for business? People usually buy from them more than us, because a lot of people who go to do their shopping at the supermarkets are able to see their products and buy from them and this stops people from coming here to the market. And thats what I mean when I say that it wouldve been better if the market was located on the side of the main road. Also if this market was advertised well, I am pretty sure a lot of farmers would bring their products and a lot of people would be attracted to come here as well. It would be nice if we can have all the people selling their products to come and make good use of this market. Another negative, he believes is not having buses stopping at the market. If you look at the market at Savalalo and Fugalei, there are bus stops there where the markets are, and people are able to see whats available there and buy from it. But its a different story for this market and I think thats one of the reasons why a lot of people dont know what we sell here. According to Mr. Brown, the only reason why the number of people increases in the afternoons is when people come to have lunch at the restaurants and the eateries. The other reason is the billiard tables are here. Most of the people that you see here at the market are here to play pool. But the number of vendors and farmers who come here to sell their products are less than 10. Another seller, Leaoaniu Lomiga from Toamua agreed with what Mr. Brown said. We hardly have any customers each day, and it has always been like this, he told the Samoa Observer yesterday. Its such a shame that people are not making good use of this facility. Its a new market, its clean and safe. I think that this facility is better than the other markets but its just that only a few people come here to buy things because there are hardly any vendors here selling their products. And I also believe that if the market was located on the side of the main road for everyone to see, this wouldnt be the case. The $5.7 million Vaitele market was opened in April, 2011. The facility includes an expansive crops hall, a fish market area, over 50 flea market stalls and 40 business spaces for small retail shops and others. Mr. Wolfgang Drewes from the small town Heide in Northern Germany is well known on our shores for his ongoing projects in sourcing donations for Samoa. Most of his previous projects were focused on equipment for the Fire and Emergency Services Authority and once again, he has helped this organization. In addition, the Ministry of Health has benefitted from his generosity and that of others in his home region. He fell in love with Samoa back in 2010 when he participated in a training of F.E.S.A. staff providing a Rescue Tender full of tools donated by the German Technical Relief Organization THW. Since then, he has begun his own projects to help Samoa. He is promoting Samoa in his home region of Northern Germany by talking about his positive impressions of Samoa and he is convincing people in Germany to donate needed equipment to Samoa. And if he has allocated donors or if he collects enough volume of goods financed by him, he is fulfilling the next complicated step to organize the shipment to Samoa. For F.E.S.A., he donated in 2012 the first Mobile Kitchen to be used in Upolu. In 2014 it was a fully equipped Ambulance and Short Wave Radios, and in 2015, a container full of spare parts and fire protection gear. Now he has brought F.E.S.A. a second Mobile Kitchen, this time a donation from the German Technical Relief Organization T.H.W.. The Mobile Kitchen is designed to provide immediate help in areas where a disaster has occurred. The kitchen can be towed as a trailer to remote areas and it has the capability to cook food on it for up to 400 people at the time. Additionally, Wolfgang donated a trailer, 80 working uniforms and plenty of other useful goods for F.E.S.A. The total value of the goods for F.E.S.A. is about $30,000 tala. A handover to the Fire and Emergency Services Authority was conducted last week. With space to spare in the container, Wolfgang filled it up with an Ultrasound Scanner the midwife Aiufi from the Sataua District Hospital has asked him for. She wanted to use it for scanning pregnant women. Wolfgang has known Aiufi for some time through her German husband Helmut who has been living in Savaii for over 30 years. As Wolfgang discussed the usage of the Ultrasound Machine with N.H.S. they came to the conclusion that the scanner would be under-utilized at the District Hospital. The high tech device is more needed at Savaiis Tuasivi Hospital. The scanner is a Phillips HDI 4000 Ultrasound machine ideal for breast, urology and vascular imaging for diagnostic purposes. The device has been donated by the Westkuestenklinikum Heide, the hospital of Wolfgangs home town. Wolfgang still had some goods for the Sataua District Hospital: a wheelchair, walker, crutches and a laptop for administration purposes. The handover ceremony at the Tuasivi Hospital was attended by the Associate Minister of Health, Salausa Dr Ah Ching and other N.H.S. officials. The total value of the Savaii Donation was about $18,000 tala. Wolfgang is very thankful to the German Organization E.G. Global and the T.H.W. Stiftung for supporting him in financing the freight costs. AMATRICE, Italy (AP) Rescue crews using bulldozers and their bare hands raced to dig out survivors from a strong earthquake that reduced three central Italian towns to rubble Wednesday. The death toll stood at 120, but the number of dead and missing was uncertain given the huge number of vacationers in the area for summer's final days. Residents wakened before dawn by the temblor emerged from their crumbled homes to find what they described as apocalyptic scenes "like Dante's Inferno," with entire blocks of buildings turned into piles of sand and rock, thick dust choking the air and a putrid smell of gas. "The town isn't here anymore," said Sergio Pirozzi, the mayor of the hardest-hit town, Amatrice. "I believe the toll will rise." The magnitude 6 quake struck at 3:36 a.m. and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including Rome, where residents woke to a long swaying followed by aftershocks. The temblor shook the Lazio region and Umbria and Le Marche on the Adriatic coast. Premier Matteo Renzi visited the zone Wednesday, greeted rescue teams and survivors and said the casualty toll stood at 120 dead and was likely to rise. Another at least 368 were injured. He promised the quake-prone area that "No family, no city, no hamlet will be left behind." Hardest hit were the tiny towns of Amatrice and Accumoli near Rieti, some 100 kilometers (62 miles) northeast of Rome, and Pescara del Tronto, some 25 kilometers further east. Italy's civil protection agency, which was coordinating the rescue and care for survivors, said dozens were injured and thousands in need of temporary housing, though it stressed the numbers were fluid. Italy's health minister, Beatrice Lorenzin, visiting the devastated area, said many of the victims were children: The quake zone is a popular spot for Romans with second homes, and the population swells in August when most Italians take their summer holiday before school resumes. The medieval center of Amatrice was devastated, with the hardest-hit half of the city cut off by rescue crews digging by hand to get to trapped residents. The birthplace of the famed spaghetti all'amatriciana bacon and tomato sauce, it is made up of 69 hamlets that teams from around Italy were working to reach with sniffer dogs, earth movers and other heavy equipment. Rocks and metal tumbled onto the streets of the city center and dazed residents huddled in piazzas as more than 200 aftershocks jolted the region into the early morning hours, some as strong as magnitude 5.1. "The whole ceiling fell but did not hit me," marveled resident Maria Gianni. "I just managed to put a pillow on my head and I wasn't hit, luckily, just slightly injured my leg." Another woman, sitting in front of her destroyed home with a blanket over her shoulders, said she didn't know what had become of her loved ones. "It was one of the most beautiful towns of Italy and now there's nothing left," she said, too distraught to give her name. "I don't know what we'll do." As the August sun bore down, residents, civil protection workers and even priests dug with shovels, bulldozers and their bare hands to reach survivors. Dozens were pulled out alive: There was relief as a woman emerged on a stretcher from one building, followed by a dog. "She's alive!" two women cheered as they ran up the street in Pescara del Tronto, after an 8-year-old girl was pulled from the rubble after nightfall. And there were wails when bodies emerged. "Unfortunately, 90 percent we pull out are dead, but some make it, that's why we are here," said Christian Bianchetti, a volunteer from Rieti who was working in Amatrice. A steady column of dump trucks brought tons of twisted metal, rock and cement down the hill and onto the highway toward Rome, along with a handful of ambulances bringing the injured to Rome hospitals. "We need chain saws, shears to cut iron bars and jacks to remove beams. Everything, we need everything," civil protection worker Andrea Gentili told The Associated Press in the early hours of the recovery. Italy's national blood drive association appealed for donations to Rieti's hospital. Despite a massive rescue and relief effort with army, Alpine crews, carabineri, firefighters, Red Cross crews and volunteers, it wasn't enough: A few miles (kilometers) north of Amatrice, in Illica, residents complained that rescue workers were slow to arrive and that loved ones were trapped. "We are waiting for the military," said resident Alessandra Cappellanti. "There is a base in Ascoli, one in Rieti, and in L'Aquila. And we have not seen a single soldier. We pay! It's disgusting!" Agostino Severo, a Rome resident visiting Illica, said workers eventually arrived after an hour or so. "We came out to the piazza, and it looked like Dante's Inferno," he said. "People crying for help, help." The magnitude 6 quake's epicenter was located near Accumoli and Arquata del Tronto and had a shallow depth of just four kilometers, Italy's geological institute said. Generally, shallow earthquakes pack a bigger punch and tend to be more damaging than deeper quakes. "The Apennine mountains in central Italy have the highest seismic hazard in Western Europe and earthquakes of this magnitude are common," noted Dr Richard Walters, a lecturer in Earth sciences at Durham University in Britain. The head of Italy's civil protection service, Fabrizio Curcio, noted that the region is popular with Romans escaping the heat of the capital to their country houses, swelling the population during the summer months. This weekend, Amatrice was due to celebrate its annual festival honoring its native pasta dish, possibly adding to the number of people in town. The devastation harked back to the 2009 quake that killed more than 300 people in and around L'Aquila, about 90 kilometers (55 miles) south of the latest quake. The town, which still hasn't fully recovered, sent emergency teams Wednesday to help with the rescue and set up tent camps for residents unwilling to stay indoors because of aftershocks. "I don't know what to say. We are living this immense tragedy," said a tearful Rev. Savino D'Amelio, a parish priest in Amatrice. "We are only hoping there will be the least number of victims possible and that we all have the courage to move on." Another hard-hit town was Pescara del Tronto, in the Le Marche region, where the main road was covered in debris. Residents were digging their neighbors out by hand since emergency crews hadn't yet arrived in force. Aerial photos taken by regional firefighters showed the town essentially flattened and under a thick gray coat of dust; Italy requested EU satellite images of the whole area to get the scope of the damage. "There are broken liquor bottles all over the place," said Gino Petrucci, owner of a bar in nearby Arquata Del Tronto where he was beginning the long cleanup. One rescue was particularly delicate as a ranger in Capodacqua, in the Marche province of Ascoli Piceno, diplomatically tried to keep an 80-year-old woman calm as she begged to get to a toilet, even though she was trapped in the rubble. "Listen, I know it's not nice to say but if you need to pee you just do it," he said. "Now I move away a little bit and you do pee, please." The mayor of Accumoli, Stefano Petrucci, said a family of four had died there, one of the few young families who had decided to stay in the area. He wept as he noted that the tiny hamlet of 700 swells to 2,000 in the summer months, and that he feared for the future of the town. "I hope they don't forget us," he told Sky TG24. A 1997 quake killed a dozen people in central Italy and severely damaged one of the jewels of Umbria, the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, filled with Giotto frescoes. The Franciscan friars who are the custodians of the basilica reported no immediate damage from Wednesday's temblor. Pope Francis skipped his traditional catechism for his Wednesday general audience and instead invited the thousands of pilgrims in St. Peter's Square to recite the rosary with him. He also sent a six-man squad from the Vatican's fire department to help with the rescue. Talasa Lumepa Atoa Saaga, was sworn in yesterday as a District Court Judge, the newest member of the judiciary in Samoa. Judge Saaga dedicated her achievements to her late parents, Vaasiliega Potoi Atoa and Lesina Atoa of Vaimoso. During the ceremony, Judge Saaga thanked the Chief Justice, Patu Tiavasue Falefatu Sapolu for the opportunity given to her to join the judiciary. She then paused for a while and acknowledged the hard work of her parents who had prayed day and night for her to be able to secure a good future. Sitting in this chair today, is the fruit of my parents prayers and my own work, to get a better future, said Judge Saaga. Judge Saaga said she would never forget her fathers advice from when she was four years of age. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In every way acknowledge him and he will direct your path. Chief Justice Patu Tiavaasue Falefatu Sapolu welcomed the new judge and reminded her to put aside love and anger, and serve Samoa with honesty and without fear or favour. Everyone is equal under the law and it does not discriminate but treats both rich and poor, strong and weak, equally, he said. Judge Saaga was reminded that the oath she took is to serve Samoa in accordance with the Constitution and the Law. As a Judge, you no longer have human feelings, but stand independently under the guidance of God, said C.J. Patu. Attorney General, Lemalu Hermann Retzlaff reminded Judge Saaga that her appointment is an honour and privilege, a duty and commitment, not to be taken lightly, especially when she faces many challenges. The vice-president of the Samoa Law Society, Alalatoa Rosella Papalii acknowledged another milestone for the Society, especially in Judge Saagas journey. Her addition to the bench not only marks another milestone for women judges, but also lifts the standard of the bar to the highest level, she said. Alalatoa described Judge Saaga as a high achiever, a born leader from a young age, and a student who stood out in her school days. She then lightened the mood saying, She was the most popular student at school, and she earned the nickname King Kong, because of her actions, but she was also named as Samoas version of the American actress, Marilyn Monroe. It is no secret that the legal profession was once dominated by men, but the wheels have turned, and I am proud to say now that women now dominate the profession, said Alalatoa. Judge Saaga is the second U.S.P. graduate to be appointed as a judge of the Samoan Court. Judge Saaga graduated from the University of the South Pacific in Vanuatu with a Bachelor of Law in 1998, and worked as a state solicitor in the Office of the Attorney General. In 1999, she graduated with a Post Graduate Diploma in legal practical and was admitted to the Fijian Bar and at the same she was admitted to the Bar in Samoa. Judge Saaga is also an accredited mediator in Samoa. When I first came to Samoa as the Chinese Ambassador last year, His Excellency Mr. Wang Xuefeng says, I was invited to a concert held in this fale. The fale he is talking about, belongs to the National University of Samoa (N.U.S.) at Vaivase, which is also where it is located. But what impressed His Excellency very much, was the concert. It was such a beautiful concert and I loved it so much, insists His Excellency: In fact, he was so touched by it that since then the Chinese Embassy has continued to strengthen our friendship with the National University, he says. As its turned out though, that relationship has become so successful so that the Chinese Embassy has introduced a a Chinese Language course under the universitys Faculty of Arts, where students can learn how to speak Chinese And to ensure the relationship will continue to grow while attracting more interest at the same time, its understood that a Chinese volunteer is teaching the course at the University. Two months ago, His Excellency reveals, I was invited to the prize giving ceremony for all the students whod learned Chinese in the first semester. And during the ceremony, I realized that all of them were able to speak Chinese. And then on Tuesday this week, the Chinese Embassy presented a gift to the National Universitys School of Music in the form of two musical instruments. The handover ceremony was held at the N.U.S. Fale, where the Vice Chancellor, Professor Fiu Asofou Soo, accepted the donation from His Excellency, Mr. Wang Xuefeng, in the presence of teachers and students of the School of Music. The instruments were a piano and a keyboard that cost $NZD6,000. When he handed over the instruments, Ambassador Wang reminded about the Chineses ongoing support in developing education in Samoa, and in strengthening Chinas relationship with the University. He said: And now we are here today to witness this very special occasion, we cherish this love between our two countries. He also said the handover ceremony was much more than just handing over some musical instruments. He said: Handing over the instruments is handing over our love and friendship. The beautiful music that will come out of these instruments is a symbol of the beautiful friendship that we have and share. Professor Asofou Soo accepted the donation and spoke on behalf of the teachers and students, when he thanked Mr. Wang and the Chinese Embassy for their generosity. He said: The Chinese Government has done a lot for the N.U.S. through His Excellency, Mr. Wang Xuefeng, and the Chinese Embassy in Samoa. Last month, the Chinese Embassy sent 10 students from N.U.S. on a trip to China and when they returned, they expressed their appreciation saying they just loved the trip, said Mr. Wang. Re: Call from Minister annoys local businesswoman I know what you think is the route to go and this is what I believe is dangerous. I also know that colonization in Samoa was started years ago I am amazed that the Samoan people are still the rightful owners of their land in a traditional way after all these events but I dont think you understand what a miracle that is and o think you and the pm are careless and take this for granted. Right now the foreigners are also realizing this and they want to end this miracle. Fiji is a silly example. The Indian people brought British colonial capitalist thinking to Fiji. It benefitted them not the indigenous Fijian people which is what brought Bainimarama to the rescue of his people. He saw they were slaves in their own land. Its one thing to accept foreigners and immigrants to your land, I like that too. Its another thing to allow yourself to be colonized and lose your dignity, way of life and your land and riches to the foreigners so they control you. This is what you and the PM dont get. Sure let the Chinese come and build but make sure they give the Samoan people jobs and that the government passes laws to protect small Samoan business that are at risk of failing because of unfair advantage. Equality of condition is more important sometimes than equality of opportunity. Wendy Wonder Think a minuteWinston Churchill was 65 years old when he first became Englands Prime Minister. It was May of 1940 and Englands military was not well armed or prepared for war. So when Hitlers huge, powerful German army was planning to attack the British Isles, most military experts expected Germany to easily defeat England in no time. But these experts could not imagine that in only 7 months, Winston Churchill would change the history of England and the entire Western World. During those 7 months, when the families of Great Britain gathered in their living rooms to listen to their leader over the radio, their feelings of fear and hopelessness were soon replaced by great confidence, hope, and victory. Why? Churchill knew just how to get the English people to believe in themselvesin their own cause and abilities. And defeating Germanys powerful army became Englands finest hour! Its been said: People who feel good about themselves do their best. Whether its at work on the job, at home with their mate and children, or with friends. So if you want people to change, youve got to help them believe in themselves so they will want to change and do their best. But when we criticize and shame our children, our wife or husband, or people we work with, we only hurt them and tear down their self-confidence. So why should we expect them to do better when weve made them believe they cant! We all do our best when we feel good about ourselves. Thats why a successful businessman says: Instead of catching people doing something wrong to criticize and punish them, try to catch people doing something right and praise them for it. Then they will want to keep doing that right thing and always do their best. This is why Jesus Christ commands us to love others as yourself. Make others feel good about themselves the way you want to feel good about yourself. So wont you ask Jesus to forgive you for your past and for treating others wrongly? Then ask Him to start changing your heart, so you can not only become your best, but you will also bring out the best in others. Just Think a Minute Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine 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 New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/24/2016 -- In the past few years, government norms pertaining to emission reductions has become stringent, which in turn has forced the manufacturers to opt for technologies to reduce emissions. It has been observed that, many automobile companies all over the world are using automotive fuel system for improving efficiency and to reduce pollution. Growing automotive industry is expected to be the major reason for the rise in demand for automotive fuel systems. A fuel storage tank, pump, filter, and injectors or a carburetor are included in the automotive fuel system. Now a days maximum vehicles are powered by gasoline or diesel fuel. Fuel vehicles have two separate fuel systems. One fuel system is made in such a way that it runs on gasoline. The other fuel system is designed for running in CNG (compressed natural gas) or LPG. LPG is the more popular in this category. Automotive fuel system is also used in the hybrid vehicles. A combination of conventional fuel and electric power are used in the hybrid vehicles. Most of the time gasoline plays the role of primary power source and the electric motor is used for the assistance for higher speed. In addition to this, its competitive advantages such as high power output and efficiency is influencing the automobile manufacturers to use the automotive fuel system. It has been noticed that the automotive fuel system is being used by the maximum automobiles companies because the initial cost of that particular system is less. In line with this, the revenue generated from sales of global automotive fuel system is expected to increase at a higher pace between 2016 and 2026. View Sample Report : http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/11452 Global Automotive Fuel System Market Dynamics: As mentioned earlier, the global automotive fuel system market is anticipated to be driven by its competitive advantages such as high power output, fuel efficiency, emissions performance, less maintenance and reliability. Growing preference for light weight vehicles is expected to drive the global automotive fuel system market. In addition to this, the increasing population coupled with rising disposable income is anticipated to boost the demand for automotive fuel system, thus increasing the automotive fuel system market. Stringent government norms pertaining to reducing the hazardous emissions is expected to fuel the global automotive fuel system market. The companies are focusing on research & development and product innovation in order to retain their market share in the global automotive fuel system market. Global Automotive Fuel System Market Segmentation: The global automotive fuel system market is segmented on the basis of vehicle type as passenger cars, light commercial vehicle and heavy commercial vehicles. Automotive fuel system market can also be segmented on the basis of components such as intake manifold, throttle body, air filter, fuel injectors, PCM/ ECM, airflow meter, fuel filter, fuel pump, fuel tank, and pressure regulator. In addition to this, the automotive fuel system market also can be segmented on the basis of engines type of the vehicles such as petrol & diesel. Global Automotive Fuel System Market: Regional Outlook Geographically, the Global automotive fuel system industry can be divided by major regions which include North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific region, Japan, Middle East and Africa. North America and Europe are expected to retain their dominance in the global automotive fuel system market. Moreover, Asia Pacific is expected to grow at a high pace over the forecast period. Global Automotive Fuel System Market Players: Some of the major players identified across the value chain of the automotive fuel system market includes continental AG, Delphi automotive PLC, Denso Corporation, Robert bosch, Hitachi limited, Aisin group, Borg warner INC, Cummins, INC, Denso corporation, Exide technologies, Honeywell international INC. The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to categories such as market segments, geographies, types and applications. The report covers exhaustive analysis on: Market Segments Market Dynamics Market Size Supply & Demand Current Trends/Issues/Challenges Competition & Companies involved Value Chain Regional analysis includes: North America Latin America Asia Pacific Japan Western Europe Eastern Europe Middle East & Africa The report is a compilation of first-hand information, qualitative and quantitative assessment by industry analysts, inputs from industry experts, and industry participants across the value chain. The report provides an in-depth analysis of parent market trends, macroeconomic indicators and governing factors, along with market attractiveness within the segments. The report also maps the qualitative impact of various market factors on market segments and various geographies. Request TOC : http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/11452 Report highlights: Detailed overview of parent market Changing market dynamics in the industry In-depth market segmentation Historical, current and projected market size in terms of volume and value Recent industry trends and developments Competitive landscape Strategies of key players and products offered Potential and niche segments, geographical regions exhibiting promising growth A neutral perspective on market performance Must-have information for market players to sustain and enhance their market footprint About Persistence Market Research Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance. To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes. Pune, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/23/2016 -- The report "Food Safety Testing Market by Contaminant (Pathogens, Pesticides, GMOs, and Toxins), Food Tested (Meat & Poultry, Dairy Product, Processed Food, and Fruits & Vegetables), Technology (Traditional and Rapid), and by Region - Global Forecast to 2021", The food safety testing market is projected to reach a value of USD 17.16 Billion by 2021, at a CAGR of 7.4% from 2016. The market is driven by factors such as global increase in outbreaks of foodborne illnesses and implementation of stringent food safety regulations. The high growth potential in emerging markets and untapped regions provide new opportunities for market players. Browse 91 market data Tables and 71 Figures spread through 225 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Food Safety Testing Market - Global Forecast to 2021" Make an Inquiry Early buyers will receive 10% customization on reports. Pathogens segment to dominate among contaminants between 2016 and 2021 In 2015, among the contaminants of food, testing for pathogens dominated, with Salmonella accounting for the largest share in the food safety testing market. Many food product recalls by FDA have been recently registered in the U.S. and other countries, especially due to Salmonella contamination. Increasing food contamination and outbreaks of STEC poisoning have resulted in increasing the frequency of Campylobacter and E. coli testing across the world. Laboratories have been adopting rapid testing technologies to obtain faster results in response to the demand from the food manufacturers. The rising concerns regarding health issues due to contaminants are expected to drive its testing services market. Speak to Analyst Rapid technology segment is projected to lead the market through 2021 The rapid technology segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2016 to 2021. The food safety testing market is driven by the advancement of testing technologies and the increase in demand for advanced and rapid technology systems. The importance of this technology is increasing due to its quick, accurate, efficient, and easy-to-use characteristics. The stakeholders demand new and emerging technologies for analytical testing and ensure certification denoting the high quality of their products. This has been driving the market for rapid technologies in food safety testing. Significant growth for food safety testing is observed in the Asia-Pacific region Asia-Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing region in the food safety testing market. Infrastructure development such as sustainable transformation of the food safety testing policies, and various rules and regulations implemented by different countries in the region are estimated to drive the growth of the food safety testing market in this region. Moreover, Japan has shown tremendous efforts towards growth of food safety testing by implementing stringent regulations. The Japanese food safety testing laboratories have been constantly registering patents for developing technologies to detect contaminants. The Southeast Asian food safety testing market has shown a tremendous growth opportunities. This has impacted the demand for food safety testing in the country. This report includes a study of marketing and development strategies, along with the product portfolio of leading companies. It includes the profiles of leading companies such Eurofins Scientific SE (Luxembourg), Silliker Inc. (U.S.), SGS S.A. (Switzerland), Bureau Veritas S.A. (France), and Intertek Group Plc (U.K.). About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is the largest market research firm worldwide 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 1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Blog: http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/market-reports/food-and-beverage New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/24/2016 -- The environmental protection is becoming a major concern for the world today, government laws, and industry association advocate to use the continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS) in manufacturing plant to ensure the safety of workers, workplace and environment. These CEMS devices are used to detect toxic and hazardous gases in order to maintain safety. Flue gas analyzer is one of the important device under CEMS system which plays an important role in protection of atmosphere from toxic and hazardous gases while increasing the efficiency of the plant. Generally, a flue is pipe, duct or opening of chimney which are used to exhaust gases to outdoors from boiler, generator of furnaces installed in manufacturing facility. Flue gas analyzer is a device that detects and monitors the composition of exhausting gases from furnaces or boilers and help to determine the proper ratio of air and fuel. Flue gas analyzer directly measures and displays flue gas, temperatures and differential pressure. The global flue gas analyzer market is increasing rapidly due to its increasing usage across various industries such as automobiles, chemical and food. Some of the major factor identified are rapid industrialization, stringent government laws and industry standards towards environmental protection. However high cost of implementation for small size manufacturing plants and low awareness in some regions can pose a major challenge towards the growth of the global flue gas analyzer market to some extent. Some of the major trends identified in the global flue gas analyzer market are use of internet of everything (IoT) and artificial neural network technology. Thinking about report: Please observe the beneath the hyperlinks to satisfy your necessities; Request for the Report sample : http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/8056 Global Flue Gas Analyzer market is segmented on the basis of geography, product type and by end-user industry. The product type segment of the global flue gas analyzer market includes; Portable Fixed On the other hand end-use industry segment is further segmented into following categories; Oil & Gas Power Generation Chemical Food Pharmaceuticals Automotive Other Industries The global flue gas analyzer market is expected to grow at significant rate over the forecast period from 2015 to 2025. Emerging economies such as India and China are forecast to surge the demand for flue gas analyzer market due to increasing number of new manufacturing facilities and expansion of existing capacity of manufacturing plants. Among the product type segment, fixed type flue gas analyzer segment dominated the global flue gas analyzer market in 2014, while portable type flue gas analyzer is forecast to expand at higher CAGR over the forecast period. Request TOC (desk of content material), Figures and Tables of the report: http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/8056 The global flue gas analyzer market is geographically segmented into seven key regions which are, North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan and Middle East & Africa. As of 2014, North America dominated the global flue gas analyzer market followed by Asia and Europe. On the other hand BRIC countries are expected to grow at higher CAGR when compared to other countries in their respective regions. Also, in terms of growth rate Asia Pacific is anticipated to play major role in growth of global flue gas analyzer market Valley Cottage, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/24/2016 -- Macadamia nut was introduced in the early 1960s to the Kenyan highlands from Australia. Macadamia is a member of the family Proteaceae, native to Australia. Australia and Hawaii are the major producing areas of macadamia with others including eastern and southern Africa, and Central and Latin America. Several species of macadamia exist in Australia but only two species such as M. tetraphylla and Macadamia integrifolia and their hybrids are grown commercially. Production of macadamia nuts in Australia is mainly in eastern shore of Australia (northern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland). Currently, Hawaii is the largest producer of global macadamia, accounting for around 70 percent of total macadamia production worldwide followed by Australia, around 22 percent, rest is produced by other countries including Malawi, South Africa, Kenya, Guatemala, Mexico, California, Costa Rica, Brazil, New Zealand and China. Tree nuts include almond, cashew, hazelnut, pistachio, walnut, macadamia, and pecan. Currently, macadamia accounts for around only one percent among all the tree nuts available across the globe. Almond nut dominates the nut segment, accounting for around 34 percent. Increasing health claims for macadamia have witnessed a surge in recent years, which if succeeded is expected to increase the consumption of macadamia nuts among consumers. Request Free Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1304 Global Macadamia Market Segmentation: On the basis of application the global macadamia market is broadly segmented into food industry, and cosmetics industry. In food industry macadamia is widely used in confectionaries including chocolate bar, chocolate covered candy, ice cream and other baking products. In cosmetics industry it is used in shampoos, sunscreens, soaps and others. Geographically, global macadamia market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan and Middle East & Africa. Currently, North America and Western Europe account for major market share for macadamia however, Asia Pacific excluding Japan is expected to grow significantly in the forecasted years. Global Macadamia Market Dynamics: Owing to increasing variety of applications of macadamia, various workshop are taking places in order to increase the international trade for macadamia and since capitalise the growing demand for macadamia. Adoption of macadamia in chocolate and ice cream among consumers is expected to drive the demand for global macadamia in the near future. The biggest restraint for macadamia market is increasing crop losses due to immature nuts and moldy / rotten nuts. The crop losses due to these type of nuts accounts for around 50 percent of the total macadamia wastage globally. Thereby, reducing inclination of crop growers for macadamia and thus, hampering the market growth. There is a high opportunity to increase the market share of macadamia in terms of revenue across countries such as Mexico, China, South Africa and others. Companies are investing in these countries through promotional activities in order to increase the footprint of macadamia worldwide. Request For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1304 Global Macadamia Market Key Players: Some of the key players operating in the global macadamia market are Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corp., Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company, MacFarms, Wondaree Macadamias, NAMBUCCA MACNUTS Pty Ltd, Golden Macadamias, Royal Macadamia (Pty) Ltd., Kenya Nut Company Ltd. and MWT Foods Australia. Nashville, TN -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/24/2016 -- Since 2005, Southern Irrigation has been installing LED landscape lighting throughout the Greater Nashville and Middle Tennessee areas. When residential and commercial location owners need a team of experts to design, install or repair LED lighting in Franklin, TN and surrounding towns, they choose the experienced technicians at Southern Irrigation. Prospective customers are encouraged to visit their website and complete an informational contact form to receive a detailed estimate today. LED lighting offers many advantages over traditional lighting. While the bulbs used for traditional lighting last about 4,000-5,000 hours, LED bulbs last for an impressive 40,000-50,000 hours. This means that the average property owner will have to replace the bulbs for LED lighting every 12-15 years instead of every 1.5 years. The unsurpassed durability and low-maintenance of the innovative systems offer many advantages over traditional lighting. LED lights also require fewer watts to be powered which, in turn, allows for more lighting fixtures to go on a single transformer. Individuals will also be able to choose from a multitude of shapes and sizes due to the versatile properties of these systems Not only is LED lighting in Hendersonville, TN and other local towns more efficient in energy consumption, product life and the amount of materials required for installation, but the emitted light is also much cleaner and crisper than the yellowish light associated with traditional landscape lighting. When home and business owners rely on Southern Irrigation to install LED lighting on their property, they can rest assured knowing that it will be completed correctly. With these systems, individuals will find that the focal points of their location are highlighted and an increased level of protection is facilitated. Visit Southern Irrigation's website to learn more about their LED lighting services today. About Southern Irrigation Founded in 2005, Southern Irrigation has grown into a company that is heavily relied on by its neighbors and the surrounding community. Going through a reinvention phase in 2011, Southern Irrigation has been able to dominate the irrigation and landscape lighting industry. Greater Nashville Tennessee and surrounding areas have been positively impacted by the team at Southern Irrigation. Southern Irrigation continues to expand its territory today. For more information on commercial and residential irrigation and landscape lighting systems, please visit http://www.southern-irrigation-tn.com/. In an animal study, an international team of researchers led by Medical Research Council (MRC) Harwell Institute scientist Dr. Steve Brown has uncovered several novel genes associated with age-related conditions including hearing loss, retinal degeneration and osteoarthritis. Age is a risk factor for many conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hearing loss, dementia and others, but the genes that we carry also influence whether we are more or less susceptible to these. Not much is known about which genes influence age-related conditions, or how they do so. To explore this further, Dr. Brown and his colleagues from the UK and France introduced new mutations at random positions in the genes of mice before they were born, and then monitored their health as they aged. If an age-related condition developed, the team investigated which particular gene in that mouse had been mutated. We have utilized N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea mutagenesis to generate pedigrees of mutagenized mice that were subject to recurrent screens for mutant phenotypes as the mice aged, the scientists explained. In total, we identify 105 distinct mutant lines from 157 pedigrees analyzed, out of which 27 are late-onset phenotypes across a range of physiological systems. Using whole-genome sequencing we uncover the underlying genes for 44 of these mutant phenotypes, including 12 late-onset phenotypes. These genes reveal a number of novel pathways involved with age-related disease. One gene identified by the team was Slc4a10 (solute carrier family 4, sodium bicarbonate transporter, member 10). This gene was already known to be needed for eye function, but the study linked defective Slc4a10 to age-related hearing loss for the first time. Identifying Slc4a10 and other genes related to late-onset conditions in mice could now prompt investigation of the same genes in humans to ask if naturally-occurring mutations in them cause similar effects. Our study is an important springboard for a better understanding of which genes in humans are involved in age-related conditions, and how changes in those genes influence this, said study first author Dr. Paul Potter, of MRC Harwell Institute. This is a first and vital step in developing new therapies. As we get older, we have an increased risk of developing many conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hearing loss and dementia, said Dr. Lindsay Wilson, Program Manager for Genetics and Genomics at the MRC, who was not involved in the study. The genes that we carry can influence this, but it is hard to know which do, or how. This study increases our understanding of the genes related to ageing and ill-health and may ultimately help us to identify new treatments. The teams findings were published in the August 18 issue of the journal Nature Communications. _____ Paul K. Potter et al. 2016. Novel gene function revealed by mouse mutagenesis screens for models of age-related disease. Nature Communications 7, article number: 12444; doi: 10.1038/ncomms12444 The first modern-day extinction of bird species in the Galapagos Islands has been recorded by researchers as they study specimens at the California Academy of Sciences. The Galapagos Islands is renowned for Charles Darwin's voyage on the Beagle, inspiring people with his fabled description of the islands describing its amazing wildlife diversity. The islands are well scattered in the Pacific Ocean and has been an interesting source of discoveries on nature and animals. A new study made the island even more abundant with treasures and historical facts since researchers added a beautiful bird to the list of animals at home to the islands - the San Cristobal Island Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus dubius). Unfortunately, the bird is now extinct. The bird is the first known of the modern days to be extinct in the bird species on the Galapagos Islands. The creature was last seen alive 1987 and was only recently discovered when researchers were studying the historical collections at the California Academy of Sciences, based on the report by Live Science. The team initially planned to study the subspecies of Vermilion Flycatchers when they found out that San Cristobal bird has a genetically distinct characteristic from the previous. In their study, they revealed the previously known two subspecies were, in fact, two species named Pyrocephalus nanus and Pyrocephalus dubius. "A species of bird that may be extinct in the Galapagos is a big deal," according to Jack Dumbacher, a co-author of the study. "This marks an important landmark for conservation in the Galapagos, and a call to arms to understand why these birds have declined." Researchers still fail to know why the birds went extinct but they suspected two invasive species to impact the extinction of the poor flycatcher. Previous studies found the evidence of foreign rats introduced to the islands which feast on the birds' eggs. The other invasive species is the larvae of a parasitic fly that feed on growing nestlings leaving only a few birds to mature and multiply. Some people think it was great the bird was discovered bringing its memories back. "Wouldn't it be great if the San Cristobal Vermilion Flycatcher weren't extinct? No one is looking, I'm pretty sure of that," commented another co-author Alvaro Jaramillo as reported in IFL Science. "At the very least, this discovery should motivate people to survey and see if there are any remaining individuals of the species hanging on that we don't know about." Unfortunately, there is no recorded evidence of the flycatcher over the past two decades, or maybe people simply fail to look deeper into the islands. The study was published in the journal Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. The puzzle of the history of World War II is still being discovered with a new underwater study conducted by scientists on Tuesday morning showing a photograph of the USS Independence aircraft carrier. The team made an expedition to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, just 30 miles off the coast of Northern California where the aircraft carrier rests peacefully. They searched for the623-foot-long shipwreck sitting peacefully on Half Moon Bay. The expedition was made available on live broadcast as they travel 2,600 feet under the water. The telecast was open for viewers at nautiluslive.org and ended on Tuesday afternoon, as per the report in Mercury News. During the telecast, stunning details were seen like the ship's huge anti-aircraft guns, name on the hull, its flight deck, and the last pieces of the Hellcat fighter plane. According to James Delgado, the director of maritime heritage for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, "It's damaged, but the star, the insignia, is still there on the wing and the 50-caliber guns are still in place." The ship was completely covered with huge white sponges with many orange thornyhead fishes swimming around. They also saw large fishing nets on the bow and stern. "Independence is in much better condition than I expected. It looks as it did in the 1946 photographs. It is a frozen moment in time," he added. The Independence was an active participant in the war at Wake Island, Okinawa and Leyte Gulf. In 1946, the Navy returned the vessel to the Bay Area before finally sinking it off the coast. It was the lead of its class in carrying light-weight aircraft during the World War II, says Live Science. The USS Independence remained one of the less known vessels during the World War II and its shipwreck was found four decades later by the U.S. Geological Survey as they were mapping the seafloor. It remained at the bottom of the Bikini Atoll and remained a tourist attraction for divers. The team scanned the ship and confirmed it is safe for humans to get near since it shows negative of any radioactive materials since much of its radioactivity was lost during its early days. They're very pleased that the ship is submerged below the ocean because water acted as an effective buffer to shield it from any radioactive material. "Any radioactivity will not penetrate water more than an inch or two inches," Delgado added. He is also among the researchers who unlocked the secrets of The Titanic and plans to pursue a career of exploration and share the wonders of the world as he discovers it. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is planning to hand over the International Space Station or ISS to a private company. The orbiting laboratory has a very important role in the field of science and every decision that NASA drops regarding the station is equally important for the people. NASA's Deputy Associate Administrator for Exploration System Development, Bill Hill, states that on the next decade "mid-2020s" he is hoping to hand over the keys of the ISS to a commercial owner. This is clearly a bold move for NASA since the ISS has long been publicly open and owned. One of NASA's long-term plans is to reach Mars and the decrease of governmental commitments makes it impossible to reach the Red Planet. Hence, they believe that the only way to make this project attainable is to work with private space industry companies. As per the government's side, ISS is only funded to remain its orbit up to 2024. Originally, the ISS was expected to stop its mission this 2016, according to Digital Trends. However, President Barack Obama has extended the deorbiting date. This extra time was given for NASA to prepare its goal to set foot on the Red Planet and how the transition would take over when the time for the keys to be handed over arrives. In a report made by Tech Times, Bill Hill said, "NASA's trying to develop economic development in low-earth orbit. Ultimately, our desire is to hand the space station over to either a commercial entity or some other commercial capability so that research can continue in low-Earth orbit." It's not yet stated as to which private company the key to ISS will be given to. However, its primary contractor, Boeing, is looking to the possibility to operate the space station twice the length it was originally designed for. The Food and Drug Administration approved two new cognitive testing devices namely the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) and ImPACT Pediatric. Medical professionals can now assess effectively the signs and symptoms of patients with head injuries. Both the testing devices will examine the cognitive skills of the patients such as word memory, reaction time and word recognition. The ImPACT is recommended for patients aged 12 to 59. Meanwhile, the ImPACT Pediatric is for patients aged 5 to 11, according to Fox News. Carlos Pena, Ph.D., M.S., director of the division of neurological and physical medicine devices at the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health explained that these devices provide a useful new tool to aid in the assessing of patients experiencing possible signs of the concussion. On the other hand, the clinicians should not rely on these tests alone to rule out a concussion or determine whether an injured player should return to a game. The Food and Drug Administration examined the ImPACT device over and done with its de novo classification process, in which special controls can be developed. It also provides assurances of safety and effectiveness of the devices. The ImPACT device is developed by ImPACT Applications, which is situated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is operated on a desktop or laptop computer. On the other hand, the ImPACT Pediatric is a game-like tool that can be applied on an iPad. The FDA approved the programs for marketing after the submission of more than 250 peer-reviewed articles of the ImPact Applications company. Half of these undergone clinical research studies. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are over 2 million visits in an emergency room for traumatic brain injuries in the United States each year. These account for over 50,000 deaths in America each year. They also reported a number of children aged 14 years old and below approximately 214,883 were brought to emergency rooms due to head injuries from 2001 to 2013. In a major breakthrough, astronomers have discovered a newborn star in the galaxy which they claim is already 30 times bigger than the Sun. The astronomers are hoping that the study of the newly found star, which is located approximately 11,000 light-years away from Earth, will offer more insight into the origin of the stars and the universe. According to the team of researchers from the University of Cambridge, the baby star is still in the process of collecting material from its parent cloud of gas and dust. It is expected that once the protostar enters the adult phase, it will grow out to be more massive. The astronomers found the star, initially named G11.92-0.61 MM1, using the telescopes Submillimetre Array (SMA) in Hawaii and the Very Large Array (VLA) in New Mexico. The two telescopes have longer wavelengths than normal telescopes and allowed the researchers to see through the cloud and into the stellar nursery where the protostar resides in a cold and dense region, reported ScienceAlert. Dr. John Ilee, lead author of the study from Cambridge's Institute of Astronomy, explained that it takes a few million years for the formation of an average star like the sun, but, gigantic stars, like the one discovered recently, take only around 100,000 years to form. He added that it is very difficult for the astronomers to study such protostars as they burn their fuel faster and tend to have shorter life-spans. During the study, the research team found that MM1 is surrounded by a "Keplerian disc" which is a large disc of matter that rotates more quickly at its center than at its edge. Llee said that such type of rotation is also observed in the solar system where the inner planets rotate around the sun faster than the outer planets. He added that it was interesting to find a disc around a massive young star as it suggests that the heavyweight stars are formed in a similar way to lower mass stars, like the Sun, reported Space.com. The researchers are planning to use the Atacama Large Millimetre Array (ALMA) in Chile in the near future to check the region and find if there are more companion stars hiding inside the extremely dense disc. The research findings have been published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. A team of researchers from the University of South Wales in Australia found the fossils of a tiny species of extinct marsupial lion dated 18 million years ago. They were discovered in at the Riversleigh World Heritage in northwestern Queensland. The team named the species Microleo Attenborough, in honor of Sir David Attenborough, who was a broadcaster and naturalist. He supported the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, which he designated it as one of the four most important fossil areas in the world, according to Phys.Org. The description of the new species was printed in the journal Palaeontologia Electronica. The paper was authored Dr. Anna Gillespie from UNSW and other colleagues. Dr. Gillespie said that Microleo Attenborough would have been more like the cute, but still feisty kitten of the family. It was much smaller than the other members of this extinct marsupial lion family. It weighed as much as 600 grams. Mike Archer, a professor from UNSW said that despite its relatively small size compared with the Pleistocene Thylacoleo carnifex, which was the last surviving megafauna marsupial lion, the new species was one of the larger flesh eaters existing in the ancient community of rainforest creatures at Riversleigh, as noted by Australian Network News. The discovery of the new species was found from a limestone deposit believed to have shaped in a pool within a rainforest landscape about 19 million years ago, during the Miocene. The fossils specimen unearthed includes its skull and teeth. The researchers will still examine the skull and skeleton to know the marsupial lion's lifestyle. They would further analyze the fossil remains and need the complete set of its remains to unravel some of its mysteries. The marsupial lion is an inexistent species of carnivorous marsupial mammal that lived in Australia from the early to the late Pleistocene (1,600,000 to 46,000 years ago). It is known as the largest meat-eating mammal in Australia. It is also one of the largest marsupial carnivores in the world. Earlier this year, Harambe, the rare 17-year-old western lowland gorilla was killed to save a 3-year-old boy who fell into his enclosure. The death of the rare gorilla immediately resulted to a lot of online backlash and several petitions, but more than that, memes have been gaining attention - something that the Cincinnati Zoo was not too happy about. Cincinnati Zoo wants you to stop sharing memes about Harambe https://t.co/HIybUzyQkI pic.twitter.com/xDPSzLmd4I The Independent (@Independent) August 24, 2016 According to Time, zoo director Thane Maynard said that the surfacing memes are making the healing of their staff members more difficult, as constant mentions of the animal has been making it difficult for them to move forward. "We are not amused by the memes, petitions and signs about Harambe." Maynard said in a statement to the Associated Press. "Our zoo family is still healing, and the constant mention of Harambe makes moving forward more difficult for us. We are honoring Harambe by redoubling our gorilla conservation efforts and encouraging others to join us." However, telling the internet to cool down their Harambe memes is like throwing gasoline to a fire. Within 24 hours after the statement, the zoo had to close their social media accounts because the cyber community has drowned them in a deluge of Harambe memes and jokes. Deleting their accounts may seem extreme but under the circumstances, Forbes believes that it is their best course of action. Just a few days ago, Maynard's personal Twitter account had been hacked by someone going by the moniker "Prom," who used the account to tweet hashtags like #JusticeForHarambe. This hijacking was suspected to be the final straw that compelled the zoo director to issue and official statement regarding the Harambe memes. Unfortunately, the zoo had to learn about media trolling the hard way - the words "we are not amused" prompted hooligans to start the deluge of Harambe memes, petitions calling an end of all Harambe petition included. The White Scar Cave at Ingleton resumed operation on August 23 after having an overnight flooding on Sunday. It was forced to close after heavy rains flooded the mini-waterfall out of the entrance and the down the steps. According to Craven Herald, heavy rains hit the area and flooding a number of roads. The B6255, which is next to the visitor center was also flooded. John Connaughton, the cave manager described the flooding last Sunday as an "exceptional flood." "I've been here for 31 years and this is the worst I've seen at the moment," said Connaughton. BBC News reported that White Scar Cave has the 90m (295 ft.) long battlefield Cavern. This is considered the longest cave chambers in Britain. The White Scar Cave was first explored by Christopher Long and J.H.Churchill in August 1923. It is accessed through a vertical boulder choke, which an access tunnel has been cut to include it on the visitor trail. It is opened to the public as the show cave. Its entrance is from the Ribblehead to Ingleton road on the west of Ingleborough. There are tours for the visitors every year. Guests can also enjoy amenities such as shopping stores and cafe. FLORENCE, S.C. A 24-year-old Florence man was arrested and charged with attempted murder in connection to a shooting from Sunday, Aug. 21, on Brunson Street in Florence. According to Lt. Mike Brandt with the Florence Police Department, Russell Rashad McCall Jr. was arrested on Tuesday, Aug. 23, after his alleged involvement with the shooting incident. Officers from the Florence Police Department and agents from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division made the arrest. Brandt said the shooting "may have stemmed from an ongoing dispute between the he (McCall) and the victim." McCall was charged with attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime and is currently being held at the Florence County Detention Center. A bond amount has not yet been determined. FLORENCE, S.C. U.S. Rep. Tom Rice says former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will not win South Carolina in November, and no matter who wins the presidency, the Republican Party will survive. A poll released Tuesday night by the South Carolina Democratic Party showed the presidential race in the Palmetto State tied, with Clinton and Trump deadlocked at 39 percent each. Rice said at a Florence meet-and-greet on Wednesday morning that despite those numbers, Trump will win South Carolina come November. If Donald Trump continues to go off the rails and say crazy things hell continue to decline in polls but I think theyre putting his gravestone up too early, Rice said. They havent debated yet. We havent seen their policies side by side, so I think we still need to give him a chance. I still have hope. Rice said Trump wasnt his first or second choice for the Republican nomination but he ultimately supports his partys nominee. Ive said from day one that Id back our nominee and I have, he said. I just wish Trump would not say a lot of things he says. When he says off-the-wall stuff, it hurts Republicans in close races. It makes it less likely that Republicans will win and in could shrink our majority in the House. He said Trump is all over the board with his policy and to win in November hell have to have strong debates. Although Trump has clenched the Republican nomination there are many Republicans in Washington who have vowed to never vote for Trump. Some view this as a critical split, and possibly the demise of the Republican Party. Rice said those worries arent unfounded but Republicans will be OK. I think some of his [Trumps] policies are more Democrat than they are Republican and he has brought some division to the party, but I think well be fine, he said. Whether Donald Trump wins or loses I think well lose the Senate. I think well keep the House. Rice also expressed disappointment with other Republican presidential hopefuls who made the same pledge as Trump to not run third party and support the partys nominee yet refused to endorse him once he clinched the nomination. I didnt think Trump would get the nomination but he did, Rice said. I went to the convention and was very disappointed with the candidates who were worried Trump was going to take the legs out from the Republican Party, then turn around and not support him. Thats not the best performance by the Republican Party. We have to show unity. In a short 76 days we will vote in the election that could be the most important election in the lives of our children or grandchildren. Our responsibility for being fully informed of the facts before we vote cannot be overstated. Most of what we see on television or read in the newspapers is focused on the upcoming presidential election with little or no news about the equally important local races. Please dont misunderstand me, I agree the upcoming presidential election is important, but so are the myriad of local elections. Where can you find all of the candidate information so you are an educated voter? For example, this November the voters will choose five members for the Florence School District 1 school board. What do you know about the individuals running for election? Many of those running are current board members running for re-election. What has their performance been during their current tenure? Should they continue, or is it time for new faces to lead the school district? The same lack of detailed information exists concerning other local elections. Unfortunately, most of those races were already decided in the primaries held in June. Many districts are gerrymandered to ensure a specific outcome, and then too many of the voting public vote by pushing a D or an R on the voting machine without knowing the name or experience of whom they are really voting for. The suggestion to make the elections to the city council nonpartisan seems like a good idea. But both nonpartisan elections and the elimination of gerrymandered districts must be a subject for a future column, so back to the real issue at hand. How do we ensure that the candidates we elect to the school board are the best ones to lead the school system that directly affects our children and grandchildrens education and future? How has the school system performed under the current leadership? How do we evaluate school systems? Annually, for at least the past seven years, students in grades three through eight have been tested every spring to assess their progress in English language arts, reading, mathematics, science and social studies. These test results not only provide an assessment of the students but also provide us a measure of how the school system is performing. Who is providing that critical source of information to the voting public? It seems the answer is no one is reporting the details! I accept that the school board members are not personally responsible for how well the students do on those tests. The students themselves and their parents are primarily responsible. But when a majority of the students fail to meet the established standards, the school system and the board that governs that system have to bear a large portion of the blame for that poor performance. According to the 2015 ACT Aspire test results for third- through eighth-grade students in District One, the test scores were abysmal. Less than 45 percent of the students tested met the standard in mathematics, only about 37 percent met the standard in reading and about 21 percent met the standard in writing. By almost any criteria, this is a failing performance by the system. Those results are strikingly similar to the substandard scores from the previous eight years. While many people might blame standardized testing as being invalid, that is usually just a poor excuse offered by the people who are responsible. The results from the tests taken in April 2016 are still not published, but I fully expect history to repeat itself as it has in previous years. The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce is holding a Regional Education Summit on Sept. 7. That summit appears to be focused on creating a talented workforce prepared to compete for highly skilled jobs. Maybe Francis Marion University President Fred Carter and Florence-Darlington Technical College President Ben Dillard can tell us what percentage of the incoming freshmen at their institutions have to take remedial courses because the secondary school system has not prepared them to continue their education. Hood Temple could gather that same information from other colleges and universities in South Carolina. Rumors abound on this subject, and those three could give us the facts. The next step should be for the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce to hold a summit on elementary and secondary education in Florence and get the unvarnished details to the public well before the upcoming elections. I suggest all nine members of the District One school board along with Superintendent Randy Bridges be on stage to provide the details and answer questions. This is not a time for speeches but a time to face the music. Failure cannot continue to be an option. As an unrelated side note, I found it interesting last week that a former Navy Seal, Matt Bissonnette, was ordered to pay more than $6.6 million for violating a nondisclosure agreement he signed. Justice Department spokeswoman Nicole Navas stated the decision doesn't discredit Bissonnette's military service but reinforces that service members comply with the nondisclosure documents they sign. Will the U.S. Justice Department hold Hillary Clinton to that same standard for not complying with the State Department agreement she signed? Maybe we will soon read that the DOJ has changed its name to Department of Justice for Some Not All. Remember to get all of the facts before you vote, your children and grandchildren are counting on you. Citizen Columnist Thomas J. Sheehy is a retired colonel in the U.S. Army and a retired businessman. Hes been married 42 years, has two sons and four grandchildren, whom he and his wife followed to Florence several years ago. Contact Sheehy at citizencolumnist@florencenews.com. Part of the appeal of Detroit's But these beautiful old buildings, specifically the ones Eastern Market utilizes for food processing, need to be modernized to conform to new legal standards. And if not for the proactive efforts of Eastern Market Corporation, this issue could have seriously undermined one of our region's most unique and cherished institutions. Last year, Eastern Market Corp. engaged hundreds of stakeholders and urban planning firms from Detroit and London, England to produce a plan for guiding the expansion and redevelopment of the district through 2025. Instead of being threatened by the new law, it's using it as an opportunity to modernize. Eastern Market, which "You have a lot of companies with a great family recipe, we get them licensed, they start to feel confident, and work their business. Then they're ready for the next stage of growth," says Mike DiBernardo, Eastern Market's director of Food Innovation Programs. But Eastern Market wants to still be able to accommodate businesses looking to grow and those that would consider relocating to a food processing district. One of those growing companies is Patrick Schwager and Carlos Parisi making salsa in Eastern Market's community kitchen But, says Schwager, it might be time to move on. "I really want to stay in Eastern Market. But when you get to the point when you start to see scale with your items, an hourly rate at the kitchen makes it hard to grow," he says. "You're locked in the price point of your items. I'm looking for an option." Growth isn't the only pressure point causing Eastern Market to expand its footprint. A new federal law, Hence the creation of a new, ambitious district. Eastern Market hopes to develop buildings and vacant land north and east of the existing market district for both sale and lease. While new buildings will be favored over old given the technological and structural concerns of modern processing, there will also be adaptive reuse of some older ones. DiBernardo says several existing companies in the market, as well 30 in the region, are already considering moving into the area. There's many more facets to the plan, including adding pedestrian circuits, increasing connectivity to the rest of Detroit by opening Russell Street at both ends and advocating for better bus service, improving the amount and ease of parking, and methods to decrease the market's carbon footprint. A feasibility study will also be conducted for creating a new wholesale produce terminal in the northeastern area to replace the Detroit Produce Terminal on West Fort Street and accommodate both large semi-trucks and smaller trucks that deliver to restaurants. Inspecting brussels sprouts The plan also recognizes that the food system is changing, with consumers demanding more locally-grown food. But getting fresh food from local and regional small farms to restaurants and other businesses is complicated. Grow Eastern Market (GEM), which was launched this year, links farmers, some who don't currently sell at the market, with commercial consumers. GEM not only makes the connections, but transports produce in a refrigerated truckliterally from farm to kitchen. With over 100 farms for buyers to select from within 150 miles of the market, there's many options to choose from. GEM offers customers 12 different varieties of eggs and 25 varieties of peppers. Their farmers have different growing practices: conventional, sustainable, organic, and so forth. Not only that, but farms and restaurants are geographically spread outeven on market days, it's difficult for chefs to connect with growers. Lynn Browne, general manager of GEM, makes a compelling case for everyone in the food chain to participate. "If you look at it from both ends of the spectrum, chefs work long days," she says. "We can bring these products to you. We've been on the farms." Vicki Zilke at her farm Vicki Zilke Though it's a small percentage, Zilke says GEM has the potential of impacting her sales "enormously." It eliminates much of the work she would have to do to distribute the produce, while introducing her to new consumers. "My goal is to sell what I grow and have a viable family business by growing good food," says Zilke. "I really don't want to drive food around. That's where Eastern Market is essential to farms like mine. I want to be a farmer I cannot tell you how important this new process is. In the world of agriculture, often it's the farmer who earns the least amount of money." Eastern Market's crisis has created an enormous growth opportunity, for both its interests and the those of regional growers and food processors. Its managers could have gone with the flow and created a retail/residential zone that retains a food market theme but erodes the transactional purpose that has defined the market for 125 years as a working food district. A mysterious woman who lived 2,000 years ago in what today is modern Egypt has been brought back to life by an Australian team of scientists and artists. Thanks to CT scanning, 3-D printing and other forensic techniques, a team of scientists and artists now know approximately when the woman lived, where she lived, what she ate and why she may have died. Questions of her history first came up when Ryan Jefferies, curator for the Harry Brookes Allen Museum of Anatomy and Pathology at the University of Melbourne, began to worry that the mummified remains might be decaying from the inside. RELATED: Mummy of Egyptian Noblewoman Found Although the remains were preserved in an archival container, the head and face were hidden behind bandages blackened by oil and embalming fluid. And so Jefferies requested a CT scan. Luckily the skull was in good condition. But Jefferies soon realized that using the technology could reveal more than just whether the remains were intact. "The CT scan opened up a whole lot of questions and avenues of enquiry and we realized it was a great forensic and teaching opportunity in collaborative research," Jefferies told the university's publication, Pursuit. He then teamed up with other experts from the university to investigate the mummy's past, since its gender and story were a complete mystery. Watch the video below to see how the team worked together. Easly on, Janet Davey, a forensic Egyptologist from Monash University, concluded that the mummy was female, after studying the bone structure imaged by the CT scanner. Anthropologist Caroline Wilkinson from Liverpool John Moores University in the UK who is an expert in facial reconstruction, seconded the finding. The ancient woman was named Meritamun, which means beloved of the god Amun. Additional analysis indicated that Meritamun lived in ancient Egypt, stood about 5 feet 4 inches tall and was between the ages of 18 and 25 when she died. WATCH VIDEO: Who Is the Mystery Mummy Buried in King Tut's Tomb? In the CT scans, it's clear that Meritamun suffered from two tooth abscesses. The tooth decay could have occurred from eating sugar, which was imported to the region after Alexander the Great's conquest of Egypt in 331BC. But it could have also come from eating honey. The fine quality of the linen bandages indicate that Meritamun held a high status and was most likely embalmed during the time of the Pharoahs, before Alexander conquered the area. For those reasons, Davey thinks the woman lived around 1500 BCE, although the team is still awaiting the results of radio carbon dating to confirm. RELATED: Did Child Mummy in Italy Open Her Eyes? Clues in the CT scans reveal that Meritamun may have died from the tooth abscesses. The CT scans also show evidence of anemia, a lack of red blood cells. When people have this condition, the bone marrow swells as it tries to produce more red blood cells and can thin the surround bone, leaving behind pits that are visible after death. The thin, pitted bone could have also been caused by malaria parasites. To reconstruct the face, the team used the CT scans to created a 3-D rendering and then printed the skull in two sections. Sculptor Jennifer Mann used the 3D-printed skull to reconstruct Meritamun's face. The video above shows how Mann placed plastic markers at different locations on the skull to mark where tissue might be thicker or thinner, based on Meritamun's age. The shape of the nose was estimated based on the size of the nasal cavity and the mouth took form based on Meritamun's overbite, revealed in the CT scan. "It has been a hugely rewarding process to be able to transform the skull from CT data on a screen into a tangible thing that can be handled and examined," said department of anatomy and neuroscience's imaging technician Gavan Mitchell. For this mysterious woman, a story has come to light. Photos: Mystery Mummies: Who Are They? style="text-align: left;">Discovered in 1881 in the Deir el-Bahri Cache above the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut and unwrapped by Gaston Maspero in 1886, this mummy, known as CG 61066, was badly damaged by grave robbers in antiquity. The left arm was broken off at the shoulder, the right arm cut off at the elbow and the right leg severed from the body. style="text-align: left;"> The mummy's name remains uncertain. It was identified as that of King Thutmosis II (reign c. 14931479BC) thanks to a wrongly spelled label. However, the inscription appear to have overwritten an earlier sign referring to Thutmosis I. This could indicate the inscription had been changed from Thutmosis I to Thutmosis II, suggesting that the royal mummy CG 61066 is that of Thutmosis I rather than his likely son Thutmosis II. Photos: Mummies' Faces, Hairdos, Revealed in 3D style="text-align: left;">Badly damaged by ancient robbers, this mummy had fallen into pieces, the well preserved head broken off, all four limbs detached and the feet severed. The mummy has been identified as that of Thutmosis III, the sixth pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty (reign about 14791425 BC) and shares a striking resemblance with Thutmosis II (mummy CG 61066), his purported father. style="text-align: left;"> The identification is based on the fact that when it was unearthed, the mummy was lying in a coffin bearing in its interior traces of inscriptions made for Thutmosis III. A linen shroud with a funerary book which certainly belonged to Thutmosis III, was possibly placed there by the embalmers. Photos: Signs of Incest in Famous Mummies style="text-align: left;">French excavator Victor Loret found the mummy CG61069 in 1898 in the KV35 tomb in the Valley of the Kings. The mummy was lying in a wooden coffin placed into a stone sarcophagus with inscriptions naming Amenhotep II, the seventh pharaoh of the 18th dynasty of Egypt, who ruled between 1428 and 1397BC. A simple label on the mummy's shroud presented the identity of Amenhotep II. style="text-align: left;"> Some doubt however remains. The coffin did not give a name and was too large for the mummy. Moreover, the faded hieratic ink inscription could have been easily misread. "With reservations the mummy CG 61069 should be considered as Amenhotep II until proven otherwise," Ruhli and colleagues concluded. style="text-align: left;">Kidney Spotted For First Time in Egyptian Mummy style="text-align: left;">Found in 1898 in the KV 35 tomb, this damaged mummy -- both feet are broken off and the right leg was ripped off at the knee joint -- shows the face of an extremely emaciated man. The body has been identified as Thutmosis IV, the 8th Pharaoh of the 18th dynasty who ruled between 1397 and 1387 BC, thanks to inscriptions on the chest and coffin correctly spelled and clearly visible. According to the researchers, the identification should be considered reliable. style="text-align: left;">When it was unwrapped in 1905, this mummy revealed a body in rather bad condition. The head was broken off, most of the soft tissue from the face gone, the right leg was cut away from the trunk, and part of the foot missing. The embalmers taped the mummy together in the attempt to restore a lifelike appearance. Bird bones, a human big toe, and parts of an arm were found inside the body cavity. The genetic profiling determined the mummy was the consort of Queen Tjye and as the genetic father of the mummy from tomb KV 55, thus identifying the body as Amenhotep III. Ancient Egyptian Mummy Wearing Jewels Found style="text-align: left;">The identity of these exceptionally well-preserved mummies is certain, since the coffins and funerary objects bear their names and status. Genetic testing recognized Yuya and Thuya as King Tut's great-grandparents. style="text-align: left;">This nameless and naked mummy was found in 1898 in the cachette KV 35 together with the so-called Younger Lady and a teenage boy. The regal quality of mummification and her bent arm recognized her as a queen; speculations were made to identify her as of Tjye, Nefertiti, or Hatshepsut. In view of the genetic test, where she was proved to be the daughter of Yuya and Thuya, the identification as Tjye, wife of King Amenhotep III, appears the most realistic one. style="text-align: left;">This body, consisting of a completely disarticulated skeleton with few missing part and a damaged skull, was identified as Akhenaton although some argued he could have been the elusive pharaoh Smenkhkare. In the Tutankhamun Family Project he was proved with molecular genetics to be a direct descendant of the "Elder Lady" (Queen Tiye) and mummy CG 61074, commonly regarded as "Amenhotep III," and this would indicate that he was the heretic king Akhenaton. style="text-align: left;"> The KV 55 mummy was also determined to be the genetic father of Tutankhamun. Inscriptions support the genetics. Not only the body found in KV55 bore golden bands with the name Akhenaton, but inscriptions from Tell el-Amarna, the city of the heretic king, describe King Tut as the son of Akhenaton. The devastating earthquake that hit central Italy has levelled to the ground the town of Amatrice in central Italy, authorities said. According to the United States Geological Survey, the earthquake hit at 3:36 a.m. local time near Norcia, rattling villages up to Rome, which is roughly 100 miles away. The Italian Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology said the quake had its epicenter at a depth of about 6 miles in a wooded area near the Lazio village of Accumuli. RELATED: Deadly 6.2 Magnitude Quake Strikes Central Italy "The intensity is comparable to the earthquake that hit the Aquila region in 2009," Fabrizio Curcio, head of the Civil Protection Agency, said. That quake killed more than 300 people. So far 38 people have been reported dead, but the death toll is not final. "There are people still under the rubble, so we fear that this number could rise further," Immacolata Postiglione, head of emergency services for Italy's Civil Protection Agency, told reporters. WATCH VIDEO: Is the Richter Scale the Best Way to Measure Earthquakes? A team of foreign veterinarians began taking measures on Tuesday to evacuate the last surviving animals from a zoo in the Gaza Strip that has been dubbed "the world's worst". In front of each cage of the zoo in Khan Yunis, one of the vets stops and fires an anaesthetic dart into monkeys, birds, porcupines, and the only tiger in the Palestinian enclave. Three foreign vets and their assistants took part in their seventh and final visit on Tuesday, carefully sedating animals for medical examinations, before they will be taken out of the strip. RELATED: Rare Sumatran Tiger Dies at Indonesia's 'Death Zoo' The animals will undergo a series of ultrasound scans and vaccinations before crossing the Erez checkpoint into Israel on Wednesday morning. For months, Amir Khalil, an Austrian vet of Egyptian origin, and colleagues from the Four Paws non-governmental organization, have made regular visits to the zoo in southern Gaza. "Khan Yunis Zoo has been known as the 'worst zoo in the world' since it became public last year that the zoo was crudely mummifying the animals that died in their care and displaying them," Four Paws says on its website. "Four Paws has been active in providing emergency food and supplies to the animals, but now we have the chance to rescue them all for good." RELATED: Ringling Bros. to Phase Out Use of Circus Elephants At one point in the past there were more than 100 animals housed at the zoo, but they were decimated by repeated wars and shortages of customers. Now just 15 animals remain including a gazelle, pelicans, as well as the monkeys, porcupines and tiger. But on Wednesday they will take the road to Israel and then to Jordan. The tiger will eventually travel to South Africa, but will stop in Israel to be transferred to a cage adapted to air transport, said Khalil. "A truck will come and take the animals to cross Erez," he said. WATCH VIDEO: The Pros & Cons Of Zoos It was a mountain of lies. Last spring, an Indian couple claimed to have summited Mount Everest and made headlines for becoming the first pair from their country to do so. Then their story, which was marked by inconsistencies and faked photos, started to unravel. Now a high-level committee in Nepal is recommending that the government ban them from the mountain for 10 years, reports The Adventure Blog. RELATED: Do We Need Police on Mt. Everest? In early June, news outlets were heralding Dinesh and Tarkeshwari Rathod as the first Indian couple to successfully summit Everest. But experienced mountaineers spotted glaring problems with the evidence. BuzzFeed social reporter Andre Borges broke the story on June 28, posting photos showing the two wearing completely different gear at different points of the purported climb. Hrm. Soon, government ministers had launched an investigation, The Adventure Blog's Kraig Becker reported. Indian climber Satyarup Siddhanta recognized his own summit photos and accused the couple of altering them to make it seem like they were there. A three-member panel in Nepal concluded that the photos were indeed doctored. WATCH VIDEO: The Superhuman Sherpas of Mount Everest The remains of 14 women believed to be of high status and importance have been found at Stonehenge, the iconic prehistoric monument in Wiltshire, England. The discovery, along with other finds, supports the theory that Stonehenge functioned, at least for part of its long history, as a cremation cemetery for leaders and other noteworthy individuals, according to a report published in the latest issue of British Archaeology. During the recent excavation, more women than men were found buried at Stonehenge, a fact that could change its present image. Photos: 'Superhenge' Found Buried Near Stonehenge "In almost every depiction of Stonehenge by artists and TV re-enactors we see lots of men, a man in charge, and few or no women," archaeologist Mike Pitts, who is the editor of British Archaeology and the author of the book "Hengeworld," told Discovery News. "The archaeology now shows that as far as the burials go, women were as prominent there as men. This contrasts with the earlier burial mounds, where men seem to be more prominent." Pitts added, "By definition -- cemeteries are rare, Stonehenge exceptional -- anyone buried at Stonehenge is likely to have been special in some way: high status families, possessors of special skills or knowledge, ritual or political leaders." Understanding Stonehenge: Two Explanations The recent excavation focused on what is known as Aubrey Hole 7, one of 56 chalk pits dug just outside of the stone circle and dating to the earliest phases of Stonehenge in the late fourth and early third millennium B.C. Christie Willis of the University College London Institute of Archaeology worked on the project and confirmed that the remains of at least 14 females and nine males -- all young adults or older -- were found at the site. A barrage of high tech analysis techniques, such as CT scanning, was needed to study the remains, given that the individuals had been cremated. Radiocarbon dating and other analysis of all known burials at Stonehenge reveal that they took place in several episodes from about 3100 B.C. to at least 2140 B.C. Long bone pins, thought to be hair pins, as well as a mace head made out of gneiss -- a striped stone associated with transformation -- have also been excavated at Stonehenge. Stonehenge Was Once A Complete Circle As for why no children's remains were found during this latest excavation, both Willis and Pitts believe that such corpses must have been treated differently. Pitts suspects that infants and children were also cremated, but that their ashes were scattered in the nearby river Avon. "There is a common association between late Neolithic religious centers and the sources or upper reaches of significant rivers," he explained. Stonehenge's location is also important because prior U.K. burial sites, which were often large mounds containing stone and timber chambers, tended to be erected on hilltops or other high ground, far away from where people lived. Intricate Treasures From Stonehenge Burial: Photos While Stonehenge was also set apart from housing, it and other later cremation cemeteries tended to be on lower ground near rivers that locals must have frequented. Pitts said this placement is "perhaps in line with a move from a focus on male lineage and hierarchy to both genders and family or class. This reflects a parallel shift from markers of territory and land (via the barrows) to commemorations of communities." As for the culture(s) represented by Stonehenge, Willis said the monument was built about 1,000 years after agriculture arrived from the Middle East. The people had wheat, barley, cattle, pigs, sheep and goats, but no horses yet. They did not yet use wheels, but had well-crafted stone tools. Metalworking spread to Britain at around 2400 B.C., which was well after the early stages of Stonehenge construction. Stonehenge, now a World Heritage Site, radiates timeless beauty and achievement, but it seems women's status proved to be more ephemeral. Willis said that the role of women in society "probably declined again towards the 3rd millennium B.C...both archaeological and historical evidence has shown that women's status has gone up and down quite noticeably at different times in the past." The "googly eyed" purple marine dweller that recently took the Internet by storm is likely a math whiz, new research suggests. The distinctive creature, a stubby squid (Rossia Pacifica), looks like a cross between a squid and an octopus, but it's actually very closely related to cuttlefish, which apparently have impressive math skills. The stubby squid, filmed by the exploration team of Nautilus Live, is so cuttlefish-like that it was initially mistaken for one in many of the recent reports. RELATED: Purple Stubby Squid Charms Submersible Scientists Tsang-I Yang and Chuan-Chin Chiao of the National Tsing Hua University Institute of Systems Neuroscience authored the new research in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. They write: "Cephalopods (cuttlefish, octopuses and squids) have the most complex brains among invertebrates (animals without a backbone), and are known for their sophisticated cognitive behaviors." Cephalopods are masters of disguise. Even the bright purple stubby squid can become quickly opaque. Here is another squid demonstrating the rapid technique: Cuttlefish can disappear into their environment, looking like just another bumpy surface within the ocean substrate. The cuttlefish's eyes can even look like a natural substrate feature. To test cephalopod number sense, Yang and Chiao conducted a series of prey quantity preference tests using juvenile cuttlefish that were reared from eggs collected in the waters of Keelung and Nanilao, Taiwan. The researchers presented the young cuttlefish with various types of shrimp: large, dead, alive and small. The test subjects had to select between one of two options. The cuttlefish generally went for larger quantities, and could even be seen mulling over similar choices. Chiao told Discovery News that he and his colleague "think that cuttlefish think about their choices for a while before making a decision, and this delayed time is task difficulty dependent." Over time, the researchers realized that the cuttlefish could distinguish number differences above the ratio of 1.25. This means that their number sense is at least equivalent to that of young humans and other primates. RELATED: 10 Surprising Facts About Animal Intelligence As for why 1.25 is significant, the researchers explained that the figure is just a rough estimate, but that differences below this amount would not matter much to cephalopods. "Although we are not very sure, we think that number sense could benefit cuttlefish, not only in prey choice, but also in mate choice and navigation," Chiao said. The scientists also determined that when the cuttlefish were particularly hungry, they would choose "fast food," such as one large shrimp versus multiple smaller ones. If they were not as hungry, they would eat the smaller shrimp. The findings indicate that all animals with such number sense, including humans, integrate both internal and external information when making quantity and quality decisions about food. Previous research has shown that hunger level alters quantity-related decision-making in humans. RELATED: Squids Thriving as Oceans Warm It's believed that many animals have some level of number sense, but it could be particularly advanced in cephalopods. There are several reasons for this. The star closest to the sun is home to an Earth-sized planet with temperatures suitable for water -- if any exists -- to pool on its surface, a scenario that is believed to be favorable for life, research published Wednesday shows. But don't pack your bags for Proxima b quiet yet. Although the 25 trillion-mile journey is a stone's throw by celestial yardsticks, it would take more than 112,000 years to get there traveling at 25,000 mph, the speed of the Apollo moon rockets. RELATED: Welcome to Proxima b, Our Nearest 'Earth-like' Neighbor Zipping along at 20 percent of the speed of light, however, which is the goal of Russian billionaire Yuri Milner's Project Starshot, the journey would take 20 years. Upon arrival, you might not be able to breathe. Scientists do not know if Proxima b has an atmosphere, though computer models suggest it is possible. They also have no evidence that Proxima b, which is believed to be at least 1.3 times the mass of Earth, has any water. WATCH VIDEO: What You Need To Know About Proxima b "The biggest question mark for whether this is an Earth-like planet or not is whether there is water. That entirely depends on the formation, on the history of the planet," said astronomer Ansgar Reiners, with the University of Gottingen in Germany. "You can come up with formation scenarios that end up with an Earth-like atmosphere, that end up with a Venus-like atmosphere, that end up with no atmosphere at all," he said. RELATED: Fly Through the Proxima Centauri System Proxima b also is probably tidally locked to its mother star, with half its surface in permanent darkness and the other half in constant daylight. Outbursts from its parent star probably blast the planet with a barrage of high-energy X-ray and ultraviolet radiation, which might make life a challenge. Even so, red dwarf stars like Proxima Centauri, the parent star to the newly found Proxima b, have become popular targets in the hunt for habitable worlds beyond the solar system. That is because a planet about the size of Earth in orbit around one of these small stars is proportionally larger and easier to find than similarly sized planets circling stars as big as the sun. Proxima Centauri, for example, is less than 20 percent the mass of the sun. Its planet, Proxima b, was discovered after painstaking efforts to understand a slight but regular shift in the wavelengths of light coming from Proxima Centauri, one of a trio of stars in the Alpha Centauri system. Astronomers discovered that light from Proxima Centauri shifted every 11.2 days, as measured by the HARPS spectrograph on the European Southern Observatory's 3.6-meter telescope in La Silla, Chile, and simultaneously by other telescopes. RELATED: Could Proxima Centauri Be Our Interstellar Getaway? As early as 2013, an international team of scientists began to suspect that Proxima Centauri was being regularly tugged by the gravity of an orbiting planet, but since it is an active star they had to rule out other options, such as stellar flares. In a paper published in Nature on Wednesday, the team confirmed that the star closest to the sun is indeed home to a potential cousin Earth. It also may have siblings, scientists said. "We have found a terrestrial planet orbiting Proxima Centauri," said lead author Guillem Anglada-Escude, with Queen Mary University of London. The discovery gives scientists the closest possible extrasolar planet to try to directly image, though current instruments are not yet good enough yet to separate out light reflecting off Proxima b from light radiating from the parent star. With even a pixel of light from the planet, scientists can attempt to ferret out whether Proxima b has an atmosphere, water or other chemicals tied to life, such as methane. RELATED: Earth-like Exoplanet Orbiting Nearby Star? As the closest star to Earth, Proxima Centauri already has received a lot of telescope time, including a cursory scan by astronomers looking for radio signals from potential extraterrestrial civilizations. The star is only visible from Earth's southern hemisphere, so the SETI Institute has not been able to use its current array of telescopes in California to look for ET on Proxima Centauri, astronomer Seth Shostak told Seeker.com. A decade ago, the SETI Institute used Australia's Parkes Observatory for a search for extraterrestrials, beginning with a quick look at the sun's nearest neighbors. "We didn't hear anything, but maybe the Alpha Centaurians were being coy that day," Shostak said. GALLERY: Meet Proxima b, Our Nearest 'Earth-Like' Neighbor style="text-align: left;">This artist's impression shows the planet Proxima b orbiting the red dwarf star Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our solar system -- "only" 4.25 light-years away. Included in view is the more distant Alpha Centauri AB binary star system that Proxima orbits from afar. Now that an alien world has been confirmed to be orbiting within Proxima Centauri's "habitable zone" and is most likely a small, rocky world slightly larger than Earth, speculation rumbles as to its "Earth-like" potential. However, we currently have no idea whether Proxima b has an atmosphere and, though liquid water could exist on its surface, we have no idea if water is even there. But it's a start. style="text-align: left;">Credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser style="text-align: left;">This artist's impression is an imagining of Proxima b's hypothetical rocky surface with a hazy atmosphere. From observations made by the ESO's La Silla Observatory, we know Proxima b is around 30% more massive than Earth, most likely making it a rocky exoplanet. But as it orbits so close to its star, the world would be ravaged by the small star's X-ray emissions and frequent flares, likely damaging its habitable potential. Interestingly, as Proxima b has a very compact orbit, it's likely tidally-locked (one hemisphere will always be facing the star). style="text-align: left;">Credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser style="text-align: left;">In this Digital Sky Survey 2 observation of the space surrounding Alpha Centauri AB, our closest stellar neighbor Proxima Centauri can be seen glowing red. Proxima Centauri is a small red dwarf star approximately 15% the diameter of our sun. This diminutive stellar object also has a "surface" temperature of 3,042 Kelvin (2,769C/5,016F), which is around half that of our sun. Its lower temperature means Proxima Centauri's habitable zone is much more compact than the sun's. style="text-align: left;">Credit: Digitized Sky Survey 2 Acknowledgement: Davide De Martin/Mahdi Zamani style="text-align: left;">As can be seen in this diagram, a comparison is made between the orbit of Mercury, the closest planet to the sun in our solar system, and Proxima b around Proxima Centauri. Proxima b is so close to its parent star that it completes one orbit every 11.2 days. As a comparison, Mercury takes 88 days to complete one orbit about the sun. style="text-align: left;">Credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser/G. Coleman style="text-align: left;">The ESO's 3.6-metre telescope at the La Silla Observatory in Chile is shown here with the locations of Alpha Centauri and Proxima Centauri in the night sky. The 3.6-meter telescope, and High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS) instrument, studied the light from Proxima Centauri to detect the slight wobble the star experiences as Proxima b completes its orbit. From this signal, the exoplanet's orbital period and mass could be determined. style="text-align: left;">Credit: Y. Beletsky (LCO)/ESO/ESA/NASA/M. Zamani Using the HARPS instrument, astronomers of the Pale Red Dot campaign watched these spectroscopic variations of Proxima Centauri as Proxima b orbited the star. This technique is so sensitive that it could detect the very slight motion of the star approach and recede from the Earth at a speed of only 5 kilometers per hour, around walking pace. From the Doppler shifting of the recorded light from January 1 for 90 days, an oscillating signal became clear, which represents the 11.2 day orbit of an exoplanet, 1.3 times the mass of Earth. The photo featured in this episode was taken by Michal Huniewicz, a British software engineer, avid traveler, and photographer. The photo depicts a cargo train on the Mauritania Railway system, transporting Iron Ore across 700 kilometers of Sahara Desert, from the plant in Zouerate to Nouadhibou on the Atlantic coast. The man seen in the photo is not a local. His name is Ammar and he's a friend of Michal's; the only friend brave enough to accompany him to Mauritania. Although Mauritania is a beautiful place, it's also the target of many terrorist groups including al-Qaeda. Not to mention that 1 in every 5 citizens is involved in some type of forced labor or indentured servitude. The U.S. State Department actually warns against traveling to the country at all. The day this photo was taken, Michal and Ammar witnessed a pretty miraculous thing. Early in the morning they noticed that from the cargo around them, people began to emerge. The railway is the only way to get across the desert, so for many Mauritanians it is the only way they have to visit family and friends in distant places, or to find work. There are no planes, no trucks, and no other options to travel through the sweltering Sahara. If you try to drive and your car breaks down, you're as good as dead. The train journey is no walk in the park either. The open-air train hoppers are incredibly overheated during the day, and drop down to freezing temperatures at night. There's no privacy, no bathrooms, and never enough water. Many times you're sharing a space with a multitude of livestock while being covered in ore dust. Still, Mauritanians will continue to ride the train, not only because they have no other option, but because it's free. Michal and Ammar were fascinated by these people and the whole process of train jumping. They took photos of many of them, not knowing who they were or what brought them to the train. For them, the Mauritanian railway experience was one of the most memorable adventures of their lives. Watch more This Happened Here: Why Is This Panda in Prison? Read more about the Mauritania railway: New York Times: Train to (almost) nowhere in Mauritania An international tribunal in The Hague recently rejected China's territorial claims to the resource-rich South China Sea -- the latest ruling in an ongoing regional dispute. But what is The Hague, anyway? Excellent question. Glad you asked. Laura Ling has the answers in today's Seeker Daily report. The metropolitan area known as the Hague is the government seat and third-largest city in the Netherlands. But in terms of international dispute resolution, it's kind of like the capital city of the planet. More than 160 international organizations are headquartered in The Hague, including the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC). It's also one of the main host cities for the United Nations, along with Geneva, Vienna and New York. History and tradition have earned the city some splendid nicknames, such as the Judicial Capital of the World and the International City of Peace and Justice. RELATED: The Netherlands Will Close Five Prisons Due to Empty Cells It all began in the late 19th century, when Russian Czar Nicholas II called for an international meeting on peace and disarmament, inviting 26 countries to draft the first international treaties on war. This meeting resulted in the creation of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the world's first sitting panel for settling international disputes. Over the next century, hundreds of other courts, panels, tribunals and organizations made their home in The Hague. As a recent example, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has been operating out of the city for nearly two decades now. In 2013, the OPCW was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for facilitating the destruction of Syria's stockpile of illegal weapons. So when media outlets refer to The Hague, they're referring to a specific court or panel within the city. As such, the power of The Hague ultimately depends on the political body issuing a given ruling, which member states have officially agreed to abide by the decision, and what enforcement options are in place. In the case of the South China Sea dispute, matters are murky. While pretty much every other nation in Southeast Asia and the world applauded the decision, China's state news agency called the ruling "null and void" and insisted that The Hague has no jurisdiction over the matter. Sigh.... -- Glenn McDonald Check out Discovery GO Learn More: New York Times: Tribunal Rejects Beijing's Claims in South China Sea International Criminal Court: Al Bashir Case The Hague International City of Peace and Justice Bam pushes for support for Filipino scientists, business startups Senator Bam Aquino calls on concerned government agencies to provide necessary support to Filipino scientists to boost the country capability in terms of research and development. "We want to make sure na ang ating Filipino scientists, hindi lang sila makabalik dito at magkaroon ng opportunities sa ating bansa bagkus pati iyong mga nandito hindi na kailangan lumabas ng Pilipinas," said Sen. Bam during the hearing of the Committee on Science and Technology which he chairs. Aside from enticing Filipino scientists to return to the country, concerned government agencies must give them more opportunities to thrive through proper benefits and other forms of support. Sen. Bam said his committee will focus on the passage of Senate Bill No. 679 or the Magna Carta for Scientists to help address the issue. Aside from the plight of Filipino scientists, the hearing also tackled the measure providing necessary support for business startups to thrive and compete in the market. "Nakita natin na full support ang DOST, ang DTI, all of the agencies are fully supportive of this bill. This will hopefully unlock our digital startup community," said Sen. Bam of his Senate Bill No. 175 or the Innovative Startup Act. Among those who expressed support for the bill were Department of Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Pena, other government officials and private stakeholders. "Maraming startup sa ating bansa na magagaling. They have very good ideas pero nasasayang dahil nahihirapan magsimula ng negosyo at nahihirapan sa mga regulasyon," said Sen. Bam. If enacted into law, Sen. Bam said the Innovative Startup Act will make it easier for tech startups to set up and build successful businesses in our country. Press Release August 24, 2016 STATEMENT OF SEN. JV EJERCITO ON THE SANDIGANBAYAN ORDER If faced with the same situation, I WILL NOT HESITATE TO DO IT AGAIN. I am truly saddened by the order issued by the Sandiganbayan. The order precludes me from discharging my duties as a duly elected Senator while it is hearing the case involving the purchase of firearms for the police force while I was still Mayor of San Juan City. Let me reiterate that as San Juan City Mayor then, I felt that it was my duty to approve the purchase of firearms for our policemen as the crime situation had simply gotten out of hand. Our police force needed more than moral support as it urgently needed firepower against criminals who virtually held the city under siege. Thus, I approved the purchase of additional firearms for our police force to protect the lives and property of my constituents. I do not regret such decision as it was my bounden duty and responsibility to protect the well-being of the city residents. The Duterte administration knows very well that its campaign against crime and illegal drugs requires that the Philippine National Police is well-equipped to run after criminals. Our law enforcers on the ground cannot hope to subdue criminals with sheer will power unless they have adequate firepower. This is precisely what I realized during my term as City Mayor, and this is the reason why I did not hesitate to do the same thing when faced with similar circumstances in San Juan then. I wish to make it clear that I respect the order of the court. In the same breath, however, I am fighting this legal battle without delay as deep in my heart I KNOW I DID THE RIGHT THING AND THAT JUSTICE IN THE END WILL BE ON MY SIDE. Press Release August 24, 2016 GORDON FORMALIZES CALL FOR DFA TO SEND NOTE VERBALE TO CHINA Acting on his call for the Department of Foreign Affairs to send a note verbale to China in a bid to close the spigot and stop illegal drugs from flowing into the country, Senator Richard J. Gordon formalised his proposal in writing. In a two-page letter sent to Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay, Jr., Gordon urged the DFA to raise the level of cooperation with China in the fight against drug trafficking in view of the unanimous confirmation by the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency pointing to Chinese citizens and China as the source of illegal drugs, both finished products and raw materials. "May I urge the Department of Foreign Affairs - through a vigorous note verbale submitted to the Government of the People's Republic of China to raise the level of dialogue and cooperation requesting a more robust task force through our respective Immigration Bureaus and relevant law enforcement agencies to stress the urgency of the situation and thus the need for action by China to help in stopping the source of illegal drugs," he said in the letter. The Philippines' drug problem has risen to very serious proportions as it has adversely affected around 3.7 million Filipinos who become either drug users or pushers, of which 1 million are youth who are either in or out of school. Gordon pointed out that China recognizes the problem of illegal drugs which is shown by its resolute efforts to address the problem in its own soil. "China recognizes the problem of illegal drugs as shown by its assiduous efforts - through its draconian security network - in arresting Filipinos and nationals of other countries who are arrested upon arrival as drug mules and now face the death penalty. China also recognizes the adverse effects on its own citizens as these are arrested when caught and even executed. Given the above, particularly China's robust security system, its own government could easily interdict the drugs and personnel coming out of China," he said. The senator noted that through a raised level of cooperation between the two countries, a joint task force could be created to identify patterns of passengers and gather collective intelligence; initiate capacity building initiatives against transnational trafficking of drugs; and have the Chinese nationals involved in drug trade to be arrested in China, among others. "This cooperation and fight against drug trafficking will be beneficial to both nations," he stressed. Press Release August 24, 2016 Lacson bill strips drug pushers, financiers of bank secrecy Drug pushers, manufacturers, cultivators, importers and financiers can no longer hide their ill-gotten money in banks, as a bill filed by Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson seeks to strip them of their rights under the Bank Secrecy Act. Lacson said his Senate Bill 1025, which strengthens the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, is a proactive move to support the government's unrelenting war against illegal drugs. "Experiences of the past tell us that our country's high regard to the secrecy of bank deposits results to law enforcers' limited authority in terms of confiscation and forfeiture of money or proceeds of the sale or trade of illegal drugs," he said in his bill, titled "An Act Authorizing the Examination of Bank Deposits, Accounts and Records of Pushers, Manufacturers, Cultivators, Importers and Financiers of Dangerous Drugs, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act No. 9165 and for Other Purposes." The bill allows the examination of bank accounts, deposits and records of pushers, manufacturers, cultivators, importers and financiers of dangerous drugs, in keeping with the Philippines' obligation under the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (Vienna Convention). It empowers the courts or other competent authorities to order bank, financial or commercial records be made available or be seized. Under Lacson's bill, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation may seek written court orders for the examination of bank records of a person against whom probable cause is established. Special divisions of the Court of Appeals that would issue such court orders shall be designated by the Supreme Court, one each for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The written order granted by the authorizing division of the Court of Appeals, the original ex-parte application, and the written authorizations from the heads of the PDEA, PNP or NBI, are deemed classified information. But the person whose bank accounts have been examined or frozen has the right to be informed of the acts done by the authorities. Bank data and information obtained via the examination of records shall be deposited with the authorizing division of the Court of Appeals in a sealed envelope or package. The sealed envelope or package shall not be opened unless authorized in writing by the authorizing division of the Court of Appeals. "It shall be unlawful for any person, police officer or custodian of the bank data and information obtained after examination of deposits, placements, trust accounts, assets and records to copy, to remove, delete, expunge, incinerate, shred or destroy in any manner the items enumerated above in whole or in part under any pretext whatsoever," Lacson said. Information acquired from the examination of the bank deposits shall not be used in the prosecution of offenses not related to the anti-drug law. Penalties Anyone who copies, removes, deletes, expunges or destroys such items may be penalized with imprisonment from six to 12 years. On the other hand, a law enforcement official or judicial authority who fails to notify in writing shall face six to eight years in jail. Unauthorized or malicious examination of bank data may net 10 to 12 years in jail. Bank officials and employees defying a court-authorized examination face imprisonment of 10 to 12 years as well. Similarly, false statements or misrepresentation of facts may net 10 to 12 years in jail. Seized assets Seized, sequestered and frozen bank deposits and assets shall be deemed as property held in trust by the bank or financial institution for the person and the government while the investigation or trial is ongoing. If the person is found innocent or is acquitted, the seizure will be deemed lifted and the bank deposits deemed released. But if the person is convicted, the seized assets are forfeited in favor of the government. Unjustified refusal or delay in restoring the seized assets may net 10 to 12 years in jail. Loss, misuse, diversion or dissipation of seized assets may net 10 to 12 years in jail. Press Release August 24, 2016 PANGILINAN TO CONVENE SENATE AGRI COMMITTEE, COCO LEVY BILL UP FOR PUBLIC HEARING MANILA -- The 40-year struggle over the estimated P73-billion coco levy fund may soon come to an end as Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on Wednesday announced that the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Act of 2016 (popularly known as the coco levy bill) is scheduled for its first public hearing on September 1. Pangilinan, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, is optimistic that the issue of the coco levy will finally be given priority after the previous Congress failed to pass the bill. "We have high hopes for the passage of this measure within the 17th Congress, and we will do everything in our power to expedite its passage. We have to recognize the urgency of the situation - our farmers have waited long enough," Pangilinan said. In 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that the coco levy fund is public fund, and awarded it to the government to use it to develop the coconut industry. Former President Benigno Aquino III issued two executive orders in March 2015 for its immediate inventory and transfer to the government for the Integrated Coconut Industry Roadmap and the Roadmap for the Coco Levy, and certified the bill as urgent. The House of Representatives passed the measure on third reading last October 2015, while the Senate went only as far as period of amendments. Pangilinan, who helped craft the bill during his stint as Cabinet Secretary, has repeatedly called for its passage during the previous Congress. "This time, we will personally make sure it pushes through. Through this measure, there will be an accounting and inventory of the coco levy assets that will be converted into a perpetual trust fund that will be used for the coconut industry and its development. This way, we will be able to bolster the income of our coconut farmers," Pangilinan said. Aside from the coco levy fund bill, Pangilinan is also batting for several pro-farmer and pro-fisher legislation such as the Sagip Saka Act of 2016, which will mandate national and local government agencies to purchase directly from accredited agricultural enterprises thereby increasing the incomes of the farmers and fisherfolk, and the creation of a Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. Pangilinan refiled the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Act of 2016 before the opening of the 17th Congress last July 25. Press Release August 24, 2016 Liga ng mga Barangay officials visit Koko, affirm support for admin programs Liga ng mga Barangay national and regional officials, led by National President Edmund Abesamis, visited the office of Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III for a courtesy call. The officials affirmed their support for the Duterte administration's war on drugs and the proposed shift to federalism. They brought with them Resolution No. 3, approved in the LNB's 10th National Executive Board meeting, which declared "...full support, cooperation and commitment... to President Rodrigo R. Duterte and to the achievement of his goals, plans and programs for the country, especially, though not limited to, peace and order." Koko is the President of PDP Laban, the party of President Duterte. In the meeting, they expressed their support for federalism. Together with Koko, whose father, Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel, Jr., authored the Local Government Code, they discussed matters that will improve the service of barangays to the people. Press Release August 24, 2016 POE PANEL RESUMES HEARING ON EMERGENCY POWERS THURSDAY The Senate will resume its hearings on Thursday on the proposed emergency powers for President Duterte, even as committee chairperson Senator Grace Poe pressed the Transportation department to present to lawmakers detailed plans and projects to solve the transportation crisis gripping the metropolis and other urban areas. Poe said her public services committee has scheduled the resumption of the public hearing at 10 a.m. at the Session Hall. "The bottleneck will not be in the Senate because we will conduct hearings consistently. But when we asked the Department of Transportation--give us already, as early as now, while we are discussing the problems in the hearings--what your proposed projects are. There's none yet. Kahit na [sana] di pa kumpleto [ang mga plano]," Poe told a forum in Manila. On Tuesday, Poe made an unannounced visit to the Southwest Integrated Provincial Terminal in Paranaque City, ahead of the resumption of the hearings, to witness firsthand the plight of commuters. She inspected its facilities and conversed with passengers to gain perspective of the current situation. At a breakfast forum, Poe noted the sorry state of the terminal and its facilities, including dark and enclosed station areas that result in the containment of emissions from buses, lack of enough space for buses to maneuver that endangers safety of commuters, makeshift ladders used by passengers to gain access to the terminal, filthy walkway laden with hanging clothes, abandoned main waiting area due to unbearable temperature and water leaks from the rains, and small unsanitary restrooms, among others. "It has always been my practice that before I conduct a hearing and discuss issues, I try to at least go to those places and physically feel it," added Poe. Invited on Thursday's hearing are officials from the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group, and stakeholders. Poe noted that legislators were still not enlightened as to what specific projects that the government will pursue and hoped that the exhaustive public hearings will help push the government out of the present transportation woes. "I am not afraid to grant emergency powers if I feel that we have the safeguards there. With those checklists, Congress has the power to withdraw it. So in my case, my conscience will be clear in granting it as long as I know that we have the necessary safeguards there," said Poe during a forum, referring to a proposed congressional oversight committee that will oversee the implementation of the emergency powers and will scrutinize contracts. "As the chairperson of the Committee on Public Services in the Senate, we will invite private sector advisers that will be part of the oversight to look at the contracts. Kung ma-approve itong oversight, kasama po doon ang isang ex-Chief Justice na pwedeng tumingin, isang economist, at isang engineer na talagang alam ang mga kontratang 'yan. Hindi pwedeng lahat [sa panig ng] gobyerno lang," said Poe. The DOTr has recently took over from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic management in Metro Manila, with the MMDA mainly tasked to focus on solid waste management, flood control projects and local government coordination. Press Release August 24, 2016 Villar files bill penalizing "No permit, no exam" policy Sen. Cynthia Villar filed a bill that will penalize the imposition of a policy that prohibits students of post-secondary and higher education from taking their midterm or final examination or other similar assessments due to unpaid tuition and other school fees. Senate Bill No. 722 or the "Anti-No Permit, No Exam Act of 2016" makes it unlawful to require the students to secure a permit from school authorities prior to the administration of midterm, periodic or final examination. "It is typical for Filipino parents to sacrifice so much so that their children could get education. However, there are unavoidable circumstances at times when they could not meet the obligation to pay the tuition fee on time. Schools should be more compassionate towards students suffering from financial difficulties," Villar said. Villar, who served as chairperson of the Committee on Higher and Technical Education when she was Las Pinas Representative, said while the issuance of Commission on Higher Education memorandum Order 9 series 2013 prohibiting all 1,800 higher education institutions (HEI) in the country from implementing a 'No permit, no exam" policy is commendable, a law that will penalize violators will be more effective in stopping this policy. "We need to put in place a more considerate policy towards students undergoing financial difficulties. In the past, we have seen how this policy has caused humiliation, trauma and stress to students, as well as their families," Villar said. In 2013, the case of University of the Philippines- Manila freshman Kristel Tejada, caused a furor after she committed suicide because she could not pay her tuition fee. UP has since scrapped the 'no late payment' of tuition policy. Under the bill, it is unlawful to compel students to pay upon enrollment a down payment or first installment equivalent to more than 30% of the total amount of tuition and other school fees for the entire semester or duration of the course. Any HEI or tech-voc institute official or employee, including deans, coordinators, advisers, professors, instructors and other concerned individuals found guilty of violating any of the unlawful acts will be punished by a fine of not less than P100,000 but not more than P200,000. Press Release August 24, 2016 Privilege Speech of Sen. Juan Miguel F. Zubiri 24 August 2016 Senate Session Hall Elevated Walkways and Bike-lanes, for a Safer and Healthier Citizens, an Inclusive Mobility Scheme Mr. President, I rise on a matter of personal and collective privilege, on an issue that affects us all. I am referring to the traffic situation in Metro Manila. Where does the traffic situation in Metro Manila stand? A quick reply would be - it is always at a standstill! Levity aside Mr. President, we can all relate to the traffic mess in Metro Manila that we have to deal with every single day. Words are not enough to describe our frustrations, our agony, how it increases our daily stress and how it affects our lives, albeit negatively. Waze, the GPS-based navigation app, even tagged the metro to have the "worst traffic on earth". Still, that label pales in comparison to how Dan Brown described Manila as the "gates of hell," in his novel, Inferno, with our six-hour traffic jams, poverty, pollution, and sex trade. For the record, here are the numbers for us to better understand the gravity of the situation. There are now two million three hundred seventeen thousand and two hundred four (2,317,204) registered vehicles in Metro Manila. This is twenty-six percent (26.6%) of the total registered vehicles in the country, as of 2015. The vehicle density in Metro Manila is three thousand six hundred forty-three per square kilometer (3,643 per km2), higher than Singapore (1,360), Tokyo (967) or New York City (2,504). Metro Manila has a total road network of four thousand seven hundred fifty-five kilometers (4,755 km). This road network is comprised of one thousand and thirty-two kilometers (1,032 km) of national arterial and secondary roads, and three thousand seven hundred twenty-three kilometers (3,723 km) of local roads. The ideal road network for our situation should be eight thousand kilometers (8,000 km), or almost double of what we currently have. The volume of vehicles plying EDSA, one of our main thoroughfares, is seven thousand five hundred (7,500) vehicles per hour in one direction, or three hundred sixty thousand (360,000) vehicles per day in both directions. Other estimates place it as high as five hundred twenty thousand (520,000) vehicles per day. Compare this with the vehicle capacity of EDSA, which is only six thousand (6,000) vehicles per hour in one direction, or two hundred eighty-eight thousand (288,000) per day in both directions - it is easy to see that EDSA carries vehicles way beyond its capacity every single day. Of the total vehicles plying EDSA, three hundred thousand (300,000) or eighty-three percent (83%) are private vehicles, and only about seventeen percent (17%) are public utility vehicles. As for the mass rail transit, the number of commuters taking the rail on a normal weekday are the following: Daily Commuters Designed Capacity LRT1 - 518,600 560,000 per day LRT2 - 212,000 472,000 per day MRT (Line 3) - 570,000 350,000 per day Of the 12 million Metro Manila population, 12.5 million trips are made daily, of which seventeen percent (17%) are to and from work and fifteen percent (15%) are to and from school. About seventy percent (70%) of these trips use public transport, of which thirty-nine percent (39%) use jeepneys, fourteen percent (14%) use the bus, and less than nine percent (9%) account for the rail system. This grim picture of the horrendous traffic situation in the Metro brings me to an incident last July 25, when the nation was aghast to witness a viral video of another road rage victim. Biker Mark Vincent Garalde was shot in close range by a Hyundai Eon driver, after a traffic altercation resulting in a fistfight. Vincent Garalde died instantly with multiple shots in his body. Another victim, Rosell Bondoc, was also hit by a stray bullet and was seriously injured. The car driver was later identified as Vhon Martin Tanto, an inactive military reservist. (play video, courtesy of Youtube) Thankfully, after a few days, Mr. Tanto was arrested in Masbate and is now in jail, facing charges. I could not rest to let the issue go down as a simple traffic altercation which led to a violent death by a biker, someone who supposedly has a right to share the road with motorists. It cannot be just another number in the statistics of road rage incidents leading to death. There must be a deeper problem to this issue and it begs to be answered. I realized that the bigger issue here is road-sharing, respecting each other's right to use the road - motorists, bikers, pedestrians, and PWDs alike. It is also about discipline, sensitivity, and consideration for others. We may take to task the LTO or LTFRB for not educating our drivers properly and for issuing drivers licenses indiscriminately, even to psychotics and drug dependents. But that is another issue, deserving of another privilege speech. But really, how safe, walkable and bike-able are our sidewalks in Metro Manila? (play video 00:00:09 second start to 00:00:37 second; 00:00:45 to 00:02:39) (1st set of pics - slideshow) We see that our sidewalks, supposedly for pedestrians and PWDs, are narrow and crowded with vendors, parked vehicles, electric posts, and plant boxes. Pickpockets, snatchers, and robbers lurking for their next victims make our sidewalks unsafe for pedestrians and bikers alike. In navigating our sidewalks, locals have a term for it - "para kang nakikipag-patintero kay kamatayan, kung hindi sa mga snatchers at hold-uppers." We can even make Olympic athletes for the hurdles event out of our Metro Manila pedestrians. However, the non-motorized transport or NMT users such as bikers and pedestrians are still struggling to claim their own share in road space. Thus, there are those who advocate for the designation of a lane in our major roads for bikers and pedestrians. This is in line with the concept of inclusive mobility. If there is inclusive growth in the country's development goals, there is inclusive mobility in transport planning. The Philippines' Inclusive Mobility Network, a multi-sectoral coalition of over 20 organizations and agencies advocating inclusive mobility in the country, provide this definition - Inclusive mobility is "a transport system that works for the poor and vulnerable. To move around the city, every person should be able to carry himself, if not all the way, then part of the way. Everyone who can, must walk, bike, commute, and only as a last resort, take the car." With our roads becoming the virtually the longest parking lots in the world, such clamor to designate a lane for bikers and pedestrians seems to be wishful thinking. We keep expanding our roads, many times even taking space from our sidewalks, with motorists as our primary consideration and with total disregard for non-motorized transport. In the last APEC meeting in Manila, the Philippines was successful in pushing for the approval by the APEC Transportation Ministers of a framework that will promote inclusive mobility in the region, to ensure that all sectors of society have access to safe and efficient transport systems. The inclusive mobility framework espoused by the Philippines is now covered by the Joint Ministerial Statement that will be the roadmap for the APEC to work on for the next two years. In the joint statement, the APEC's transport ministers endorsed the initiative to create an inclusive mobility framework for the region, as "such would increase productivity and support acceleration of economic growth." Under the Philippines' proposal, the inclusive mobility framework means that access to safe and efficient transport shall be provided to all sectors, especially the less privileged, persons with disability, women, children, and the elderly. How then can we promote accessibility of our transport systems for non-motorized transport or pedestrians, bikers and even persons with disability? How can we transform our cities into walkable and bike-able communities that promote safer and healthier mobility for our citizens? How can we implement inclusive mobility? This brings me to a business trip I had in Shanghai, China. I saw their elevated walkways, interconnected to business districts, offices and shopping malls. (play video 00:02:40 to 00:02:50) With our roads turning into total gridlock many hours of the day, I believe that the elevated walkway and bike lane are ripe for implementation in Metro Manila. This scheme will answer our inclusive mobility programs for the metro and other highly-urbanized cities in the country. It will promote health among our citizens and provide a safer transport system for all. For a start, we can put several kilometers of this along EDSA, from the Ortigas business district to Ayala in Makati. These elevated walkways and bike lanes can be interconnected with the existing footbridges in these commercial and business districts, providing a seamless, well-connected and accessible transport system. These elevated walkways should be covered or roofed to encourage people to use them even during the rainy season or under the midday sun. These should be well-lighted at night, and equipped with CCTVs and roving security. This will provide our commuters with the option to use bikes to and from their offices or schools, or walk if their destination is within walking distance, especially in between work hours if one is going to a meeting. This will make our cities and urban areas truly walkable communities. This can even become the main transport system for metro commuters when our streets are flooded during stormy weather or monsoon rains. I understand that the City of Manila has been constructing several footbridges over its major intersections and commercial districts at no cost to the city government. These footbridges are covered, equipped with CCTVs, and provided with security guards. We also have a similar system in the Makati central business district along Dela Rosa Street all the way to Greenbelt area. (2nd set of pics - slideshow) If we can widen these footbridges to accommodate bike lanes and stretch them along EDSA and other major thoroughfares, we can easily have a safe and efficient alternative mode of transport. (play video 00:02:51 onwards, with no audio) I will not belabor the engineering design or budget for this program, as the government agencies concerned can provide them in hearings to be conducted. But I enjoin my distinguished colleagues to also bear in mind the debilitating economic cost of traffic in Metro Manila, which according to a *2012 JICA study is about 2.4 Billion Pesos daily. Former NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan actually pegs it at a conservative estimate of 3 Billion Pesos daily in 2015. With the enormity of the traffic problem in Metro Manila, and maybe soon in Metro Cebu or Metro Davao, solving it would require a multi-pronged or multi-disciplinary approach. Inclusive mobility through elevated walkways and bike lanes is my humble contribution to the discussion. I ask this august body to join me in requesting our executive agencies to seriously consider this approach. Thank you very much. *JICA's P2.4 billion a day figure includes lost work hours, lost business opportunities due to delays and missed deadlines and wasted fuel. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Marie Van Elder has always been terrified of the ocean, so she forces herself to sit at its shore and make paintings of it. This gives tension to her work and when John Lindsey saw this sense of danger and trepidation, he wanted to bring it to his art gallery near Ocean Beach. One year later, Van Elders series of paintings will be on display Thursday, Aug. 25, in a solo show at Lindseys gallery, aptly named the Great Highway, which is as specific to the Pacific Coast as Van Elders works. To be clear, the Great Highway is not actually on the Great Highway. The art gallery is on Lawton Street, but still is close enough that Lindsey can walk out his front door, see the surf, hear the wind and smell the fog. His gallery program is centered on the intersection of land and sea. It always revolves around a conversation about the ocean, Lindsey says. Maries paintings capture the uneasiness of the ocean at the same time she captures the serenity. Lindsey noticed this when Van Elder, 51, contributed a collage to a group show about Jacques Cousteau. Van Elder lives in Mill Valley and does much of her work on the craggy Mendocino coast, so she had no trouble coming up with a years worth of oil on canvas. I have recently become visually fascinated by the northern coast and its unruly ocean and crashing waves, unpredictable currents, enduring rocks, ever changing contours and light, moody reflections, moving skies, Van Elder says in her artists statement. It is a place of chaos where the whimsical can rapidly transform into the catastrophic. ... The intimacy of my seascapes is a humble attempt to tame this mysterious force. Van Elder hails from landlocked Brussels and came to the Bay Area for one year to learn English. That turned into 28 years, and along the way she earned her MFA in painting at California College of the Arts. She describes herself as a contemporary realist painter, and balances her paintings of the coast with still lifes of flowers that can be found along the coast. There are 29 paintings, all either 8 by 10 inches or 12 by 18 inches, in the exhibition, titled Entre Fleurs et Mer, Between Flowers and Sea. Lindsey operates the Great Highway as a small artist-run gallery in a former video store six blocks from the beach. Since he opened five years ago, three galleries Irving Street Project, Far Out Gallery and Three Fish Studios have joined him in the Outer Sunset, defined as the 12 blocks between Sunset Boulevard and the Great Highway. I am actively trying to get people from the other side of town to come out here, says Lindsey, who knows what it takes to draw the Thursday night art crowd: food and music. For the opening of Entre Fleurs et Mer, Lindsey is bringing in the Rusty Ladle Soup Factory to sling Belgian chicken chowder at the adjacent Lawton Trading Post, and a guitar-ukulele duo featuring Anastasia. Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com Instagram: sfchronicle_art Entre Fleurs et Mer: 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25. Through Sept. 24. The Great Highway, 3649 Lawton St., S.F. www.thegreathighway.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate When Kendall Graveman was 1-6 in mid-May, he took some solace in some motivational words he heard somewhere. Someone told me 1-6 doesnt define you. Its what you do when youre 1-6 to get back where you need to be, the As second-year starter said. Since then, Graveman is 9-2 with a 3.33 ERA over 16 starts, and Wednesday, he earned his 10th victory of the season as Oakland beat the Indians 5-1. The only blemish on Gravemans day was Roberto Perezs two-out homer in the seventh, which ended Gravemans string of scoreless innings at 16. Wildly streaky Oakland took two of three from the AL Central leaders and held them to three runs in the series. The Indians, who swept Oakland at Cleveland last month, came in with a plus-111 run differential and were outscored 14-3. Pretty amazing, against this team, As manager Bob Melvin said. Thats impressive, to hold a lineup like that to three runs, Graveman said The As continued to get nice work from rookie third baseman Ryon Healy, whose hitting streak is at 11 games after an RBI single in the second. Rookie shortstop Chad Pinder added his second RBI in as many games, a sacrifice fly, and Danny Valencias popup fell behind first baseman Carlos Santana, allowing two runs to score. The popup initially was ruled a hit but was changed to an error, ending Valencias streak of multihit games in starts at seven, the As longest streak since Randy Velarde had seven in 1999. Khris Davis, who tripled to open the second, had two hits, as did Jake Smolinski. Graveman gave up six hits and two walks and struck out two. He has walked no more than two batters in 14 of his past 15 starts. Briefly: Henderson Alvarez (shoulder) will throw an inning in a rehab appearance with rookie-ball Arizona on Saturday. Jesse Hahn (shoulder) is likely to make a start with Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday. Sean Doolittles next outing with Nashville will be Friday, and then he might join the As in St. Louis. Susan Slusser is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. On deck Thursday Off Friday at Cardinals 5:15 p.m. CSNCA Detwiler (1-2) vs. Weaver (0-1) Saturday at Cardinals 4:15 p.m. CSNCA Neal (2-3) vs. Leake (9-9) Leading off Phegley update: Josh Phegley is likely to come off the 60-day DL when Oakland returns home Sept. 2. The catcher is going on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville this weekend after missing two months while recovering from knee surgery. Susan Slusser Public-school students standardized test scores in math and English were up across the board this year in California, with students in every grade and from every ethnic group showing improvement, according to results released Wednesday. Overall, 49 percent of the 3.2 million students who took the exams met or exceeded standards for their grade level in English, up from 44 percent the year before. In math, 37 percent hit that mark, up from 33 percent. To see the results in individual districts and schools, go here. Of course theres more work to do, but our system has momentum, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said in a statement. The results showed students scores under the second year of standardized tests that were put in place in the 2014-15 school year. The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress tests are administered to students in grades three through eight and grade 11. They are based on the Common Core curriculum, which includes more in-depth analysis, writing and problem-solving skills than previous standardized tests used in California schools. The exam includes an online test, which adjusts the difficulty of questions based on whether a student answered the previous question correctly. The students must also perform a task that applies knowledge in a real-world setting. These positive results are based on a new college and career readiness assessment that is online, and expects students to demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving skills unlike the old, multiple-choice tests they replace, said state Board of Education President Mike Kirst. Not all the results offered a rosy picture. There was little to no improvement, for example, in narrowing the achievement gap, with African American, Latino and low-income students continuing to lag far behind their peers. Twenty-nine percent of African American students met or exceeded standards in English, and 18 percent hit that mark in math. Those scores were up over last year by three percentage points and two percentage points, respectively, but the gains failed to keep up with improvements made by Asian American and white students. Torlakson described the gap as pernicious and persistent. English learners, economically disadvantaged students and those with disabilities all made modest gains in both English and math. Students in San Francisco and Oakland showed year-over-year improvement, though their gains were smaller than in other large urban districts. In San Francisco, 53 percent of students met or exceeded standards in English and 50 percent did so in math, up one percentage point and two percentage points over last year, respectively. In Oakland, 30 percent of students met or exceeded English standards and 25 percent hit that mark in math, also up one and two percentage points, respectively. San Franciscos overall scores reflect the districts large Asian American enrollment, a subgroup with significantly more students reaching or exceeding standards. District officials acknowledged a big achievement gap, with African American students significantly behind their peers. In math, 12 percent of black students and 21 percent of Latino students in San Francisco met or exceeded standards in math, compared with 70 percent of Asian Americans and 69 percent of whites. While SFUSD students demonstrate greater proficiency than many of their peers in urban schools across the state, said district Superintendent Richard Carranza, these results also reinforce how critical it is to focus on closing the achievement gap for our African American and Latino students. Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Presidio Trusts board was not misled by its employees when it rejected George Lucas bid to build a waterfront museum within the unusual national park, federal investigators say. A Department of the Interior review of the controversial 2014 decision did not substantiate the allegations of Lucas supporters that the filmmaker was treated unfairly by staff members, according to a report released this week by the departments inspector general. Instead, the review suggested Lucas was inflexible and unwilling to alter his desired museum of narrative art to meet the guidelines for the site, which was being offered in an open competition. In sorting through 37,000 emails generated by a Freedom of Information Act request from Lucas backers investigators also found no evidence of any actions that violated trust policies. The report did say that some of the more caustic exchanges between one former staff member and consultant created an embarrassment for the Trust because of the tone of exasperation and disdain toward the Star Wars creator and his proposal. Even so, everything found by investigators pointed to no prejudgment by the appointed board or its staff, said Nancy DiPaolo, a spokeswoman for the inspector generals office. One thing after another kept reinforcing the lack of a prior decision to oppose Lucas. We hope this allows all parties to move forward, said Joshua Steinberger, chief of strategy and communications for the trust. Overall, he said the trusts decision-makers are pleased but not surprised by the findings. The investigation was conducted at the request of Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Hillsborough. According to DiPaolo, it took six or seven months and involved multiple investigators, though not on a full-time basis. Lucas, who developed the Letterman Digital Arts Center in the Presidio more than a decade ago, first proposed a privately funded museum for the Crissy Field site in 2010. The trust that manages the former Army post instead conducted an open competition for the 8-acre property that began in 2012 and continued until February 2014. The filmmaker now is looking at potential museum sites either on Treasure Island or in Los Angeles. He abandoned an effort to build his museum in Chicago on Lake Michigan earlier this year because of a legal challenge. John King is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jking@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @johnkingsfchron There was a big earthquake and fire in San Francisco in 1906, some people maintain, but youd never know it from walking around town. Theres not a single brass plaque to tell the story, city historians say, brass plaques being a big deal in the history business. Weve even got a brass plaque in San Francisco marking the place where the first slot machine was invented, said historian Joseph Amster. Nothing for the earthquake. The San Francisco History Association is seeking to change all that, as soon as it can come up with $18,780. Thats how much it must still raise to buy the $20,000 brass plaque that the association wants to fabricate and install at Market and Geary streets, on the side of the historic de Young Building, three short blocks west of the slot machine plaque. The spot is also just a few steps from equally historic Lottas Fountain, the elegant edifice and earthquake shrine on a traffic island with three large waterspouts designed for watering horses, should that mode of transport make a comeback. Amster, a board member of the history association, is heading the online fundraising campaign and also trying to figure out how to condense the history of the disaster into 200 words and still squeeze in a plug for the de Young Building. The 11-story brick tower survived not only the quake and fire, but also served as headquarters of The Chronicle from 1890 to 1924. The planned plaque is the kind of thing historians dream about. It will include the precise time of the quake (5:12 a.m. on April 18, 1906), its precise estimated strength (7.8), the precise number of city blocks that were destroyed (500, give or take) and the fact that you could fit a bunch of other cities historic fires inside the San Francisco fires footprint (Boston, Chicago and either Philadelphia or Baltimore, Im not sure which, said Amster). Fortunately, nearly eight months remain before the plaque is to be unveiled at next Aprils quake anniversary celebration, Armster said, so theres plenty of time to delete either Philadelphia or Baltimore before the 6-by-4-foot chunk of bronze goes to the foundry. Lottas Fountain is the spot where the faithful gather each year to observe the quake. This years celebration was the first without an honest-to-goodness quake survivor on hand, so it will be a fine thing to have something else to spice up attendance next April. Its not easy laying down a chunk of metal in a major city and expecting it to stick around, Amster said with a sigh. Metal thieves make off with anything. In June, a thief even made off with a bronze disc that marked the geographic center of San Francisco, less than a day after it was installed. That disc was about the size of a silver dollar and worth but a few pennies. Someone also made off with a small plaque from the base of Lottas Fountain that told about the fountain, not the quake. It was just held down with epoxy, Amster said. Were not going to install our plaque like that. Well have lots of heavy bolts. At least a dozen. Probably more. Graffitti will also be a problem. Lottas Fountain acquires scribbled obscenities from time to time there were two new ones this week and Amster said someone will probably do the same to the $20,000 plaque. Its a city, he said. What can you do? Just above the wall where the plaque will go hangs a surveillance camera linked to the Ritz-Carlton Residence Hotel, which occupies the de Young building these days. Condominiums there go for $3.3 million, the equivalent of 165 earthquake plaques. The lovely new plaque should be safe enough there, Amster said, as an outfit like the Ritz-Carlton has deep pockets and probably does not install dummy surveillance cameras like the ones on BART trains that kicked up all the fuss. When hes not shaking down do-gooders for plaque donations, Amster spends his days dressing up as Emperor Norton and conducting $20-a-head walking tours of San Francisco. The Emperor would surely have bemoaned the lack of a quake plaque, had he not died 26 years before the disaster happened. When cities fail to do their duty in the plaque department, Amster said, everyone suffers. San Francisco does have the gold-painted fire hydrant at Church and 20th streets and the Portals of the Past monument in Golden Gate Park, and each has a small marker, but neither tells the full story of the quake. History is our soul, Amster said. When you neglect your history, you ignore a citys spirit. Among the people who could stand a bit of educating about the 1906 quake were newlyweds Dan and Sarah Garbutt, a couple from Leeds, England, who said Tuesday that they did not even know an earthquake had occurred in San Francisco. The Garbutts had just arrived that morning on a flight from London to celebrate their marriage, which had occurred 48 hours earlier, and as they walked down Geary Street past Lottas Fountain and toward their hotel, their minds appeared to be on other subjects besides history. If a plaque was there, we would have stopped and read it, Dan Garbutt said. I like knowing about stuff. We read the one at the Ferry Building a few minutes ago. It had a lot of history. I forgot what it said. But we did take a picture of it, Sarah Garbutt added, squeezing her husbands hand. Steve Rubenstein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: srubenstein@sfchronicle.com Kevin KC Jones knew more than how to design computer software. He knew how to make a lemon meringue pie, play Autumn Leaves on the saxophone and pedal his bicycle over the hills of Marin County. He helped to electrify a Muni trolley line, he knew how to identify a great wine from a lesser one, and he loved to pitch in with San Francisco public schools. Mr. Jones died of head injuries on July 21, three weeks after a suffering a bicycle accident near Glen Park. He was 60. A native of Cambridge, Mass., and a 1979 graduate of McGill University in Montreal, Mr. Jones came to San Francisco in 1981 and worked for three decades as a software engineer for such companies as Autodesk, Microsoft, Leapfrog and Skype. He also helped Muni design and install the overhead electric wires for the 24-Divisidero route. Mr. Jones traveled frequently on software design matters to Europe and Asia and spent so much time in Estonia that, according to his wife, Beth, I was starting to think he was part Estonian. Acutely aware as he aged that he was working in a young persons field, Mr. Jones remained open to the near-constant evolution of his profession. KC was an anomaly, his wife said. He always kept on top of changes. He never wanted to become a dinosaur. For years, Mr. Jones was active in public school issues in San Francisco, volunteering in classrooms and at fundraisers. He created and moderated the first online bulletin board, with 1,800 participants, focused on San Francisco public school matters. I always valued when KC weighed in, in a forum that was often contentious and heated, recalled Lorraine Woodruff-Long, former executive director of Parents for Public Schools in San Francisco. He was a model of diplomacy and, through this forum and many others, made a giant contribution to public education in San Francisco. A tall, funny, thoughtful and gregarious man, Mr. Jones was at home in the kitchen, where he enjoyed crafting his famed lemon pie or his specialty orzo-feta salad. He was particularly fond of discussing politics, watching the Golden State Warriors and spending time with his dog, Shane. Mr. Jones is survived by his wife of 26 years and two children, Hanna of Toronto and Sam of San Francisco. To honor Mr. Jones, the San Francisco school board adjourned its Aug. 9 meeting in his memory. A private memorial gathering will be held in San Francisco in the fall. Steve Rubenstein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: srubenstein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SteveRubesf California Highway Patrol / A 38-year-old Sebastopol man died after crashing a pickup truck into a pole in that city Tuesday morning, the California Highway Patrol said. CHP officers responded to reports of a collision on Occidental Road near Jonive Road at about 8:20 a.m. There, officials determined a Chevrolet Silverado had sped into a utility pole, breaking it in half. Fitbit was cleared of allegations that its activity trackers were made using confidential information that had been stolen from rival Jawbone. Fitbit and its contract manufacturer, Flextronics International, didnt steal trade secrets to make the fitness devices, U.S. International Trade Commission Judge Sandra Dee Lord said in a notice posted on the agencys website Tuesday. The judges findings are subject to review by the full commission, which has the power to stop products made overseas from entering the country. No party has been shown to have misappropriated any trade secret, the judge said in the notice. Her full findings will become public after both sides get a chance to redact confidential information. The trade secrets allegations are all thats left of virulent back-and-forth patent-infringement complaints the San Francisco companies had filed against each other. Three Fitbit patents and four Jawbone patents were invalidated by judges, although the companies are challenging those findings. Jawbone had claimed that Fitbit lured away key employees, who brought with them confidential information, accusing Fitbit of systematically plundering Jawbone employees and information. Jawbone first sued Fitbit last year over trade secret violations in Superior Court, where the case is still pending, as is a patent case in federal court. Privacy Cheating site far from secure Privacy officials in Canada and Australia have found that cheating website Ashley Madison had inadequate security safeguards and policies despite marketing itself as a discreet and secure service More than a year after a data breach at the website for married people seeking affairs that made international headlines, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner said Tuesday that their investigation had identified numerous violations of both countries privacy laws. The two agencies said in a report that Ashley Madison lacked a comprehensive privacy and security framework, even though the sites parent company knew how important that was, and even went so far as to place a fake security trust mark icon on its home page to reassure users. Hackers breached the site in July 2015 and posted the information online a month later after the company didnt comply with their demands to shut down Ashley Madison. The companys use of a fictitious security trust mark meant individuals consent was improperly obtained, Canadas privacy commissioner, Daniel Therrien, said in a statement. The agencies found inadequate authentication processes for employees accessing the companys system remotely and poor key and password management practices. In some instances, passwords were stored as plain, clearly identifiable text in emails and text files. Video games Settlement with backers Rhode Island has reached a $25.6 million settlement with two of the financial backers it sued over a disastrous deal with former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schillings 38 Studios video game company. The state announced Tuesday that it has agreed to the proposed settlement with Wells Fargo Securities and Barclays Capital, which was filed Tuesday in Rhode Island Superior Court and is contingent on the courts approval. The company founded by Schilling was given a state-backed loan, and taxpayers were left on the hook when it collapsed in 2012. The state says its still in litigation with First Southwest and Schilling. The new settlement brings to $42 million the amount the state has recovered from parties involved in the deal. Real estate New-home sales hit 9-year high Americans stepped up their purchases of new homes in July to the fastest pace in nearly nine years, a sign that low mortgage rates and a solid job market are helping the residential real estate market. New-home sales jumped 12.4 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 654,000, the strongest level since October 2007, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. Construction of single-family houses has picked up as the market has extended its recovery from the housing meltdown that began nearly a decade ago. Sales in July roughly matched the long-standing pace of 650,000 new homes selling each year. Wireless AT&Ts Cuba service deal AT&T has reached a deal for enhanced roaming and other cell phone services for wireless customers visiting Cuba. The company announced the agreement with the state telecommunications company, Etecsa, this week. Terms were not released. AT&T says the service will include talk, text and data. Sprint reached agreement with Etecsa last fall to allow subscribers visiting Cuba to send and receive calls and text messages. Chronicle News Services Solar power dims SolarCity will cut 108 jobs from two Bay Area offices, the East Bay Times reported, as the company prepares for a takeover by Tesla Motors. SolarCity will cut 80 positions from its San Mateo headquarters and 28 in San Francisco. The layoffs, expected to begin in October, will come in customer service, sales, legal operations, recruiting, engineering and information technology. CEO Lyndon Rive and his brother, Chief Technology Officer Peter Rive, have asked to have their annual salaries reduced to $1 from $275,000 as part of the cost-cutting plans. Number of the day 29 million Thats how many fitness wristbands McDonalds is recalling. The bands, made in China and distributed in Happy Meals, have caused dozens of children to develop skin irritations.The bands featured a digital screen that tracked a childs movement and included motion-activated lights. Journalist hack The FBI is investigating a cyberattack on reporters of the New York Times and is looking into whether Russian intelligence agencies are responsible. An official says the breach against individual reporters did not compromise the newspapers network. CNN first reported the violation, which comes as federal authorities investigate a breach of the Democratic National Committee that has been attributed to Russian intelligence agencies. The Daily Briefing is compiled from San Francisco Chronicle staff and news services. See more items and links at www.sfgate.com. Twitter: @techbriefing This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Menlo Park, home to social media giant Facebook, took a major step toward limiting the use of drones in the city on Tuesday, joining a rising number of locales that are restricting the aircraft popular with hobbyists and businesses. All four City Council members present at Tuesday nights meeting approved the addition of language to Menlo Parks ordinance to ban the takeoff and landing of drones at the citys 12 parks. The council is expected to approve the new ordinance next Tuesday. The city began examining its rules for drones after a resident complained that people were flying radio-controlled helicopters too close to the walking paths at Bedwell-Bayfront Park, which is across a slough from Facebook and the citys largest park. While Menlo Parks ordinance bans motorized vehicles like remote-controlled cars or BMX bikes at city parks, it does not contain language prohibiting the flying of aircraft at the parks. The last time that part of the ordinance was updated was 1969, said Derek Schweigart, Menlo Parks assistant community services director. Our ordinance language was very old, Schweigart said. We did not specifically mention drones per se because the word drone is fairly new. The move reflects the dilemma facing cities as drones become more popular. Nature enthusiasts fear drones will harm animal habitats. Some citizens are leery of the impact on privacy from the flying, camera-equipped craft. Meanwhile, entrepreneurs believe drones can help solve some of the worlds problems and are eager to test them out in real-life situations. The future is going to include drones, and there is not a thing we can do about that, said Menlo Park Mayor Richard Cline. We have to find a way to cohabitate (with drones), but security and safety has to be number one. The Federal Aviation Administration, citing industry numbers, believes drones will grow into a more than $82 billion market and generate more than 100,000 jobs over the next decade. Tech companies such as Amazon and Google are examining the use of drones for delivering goods, and Facebook is working to launch drones to beam the Internet to parts of the world that lack adequate access. The National Park Service, the East Bay Regional Park District and Santa Claras theme park Great America already have policies banning drones. Some Bay Area cities like Burlingame already had language in place prohibiting aircraft from flying in city parks, which could apply to drones, Schweigart said. Gregory McNeal, a law professor and drone expert at Pepperdine University, said cities have alternatives to regulating the drones. He pointed to a National League of Cities report last week that included a suggestion that cities require drone operators to digitally register details on when and how they will operate the technology, so that it will be easier to hold those operators accountable. The Menlo Park ordinance goes in the wrong direction, McNeal said. Menlo Parks expected change would only affect takeoffs and landings at city parks. Residents and businesses would still be able to launch drones on private property. There will also be wording in the new ordinance that would leave it open for people to fly drones at designated park areas, but those areas dont exist now, Schweigart said. People have expressed concern about drones impact on wildlife near Bedwell-Bayfront Park, Cline said, and officials will continue to research how other cities are regulating drones. We cant just complicitly say its OK and put that danger out there without having time to look at it, Cline said. For now, we had to shut it down until we had that data. The new rules would take effect 30 days after the council gives its final approval, Schweigart said. If people were to fly drones in city parks after that time, they could be fined. Wendy Lee is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: wlee@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thewendylee Three men were wounded in four separate shootings that broke out in San Francisco during an 11-hour stretch including one that occurred early Wednesday in United Nations Plaza, police said. Police do not suspect the shootings between 5:25 p.m. Tuesday and 4:17 a.m. Wednesday are related. Just after midnight Wednesday, a 23-year-old man was shot and wounded in United Nations Plaza when two gunmen opened fire after getting into a verbal argument with the victim, police said. The victim was hit once in the lower torso, taken to a hospital and is expected to survive, police said. An 18-year-old suspect, whose name was not released, was arrested in the UN Plaza shooting, but the second assailant drove away in a car and remained on the loose, police said. About four hours later, a 39-year-old man survived getting shot four times in the Mission District. The victim was sitting in a car at 16th and Shotwell streets when someone walked up and fired six shots at him, police said. The shooter, who police are trying to identify, ran to a black sport utility vehicle and sped away. At 11:38 p.m. Tuesday, a 28-year-old man was shot while waiting for a bus at Mission Street and Geneva Avenue in the Outer Mission neighborhood, police said. The victim, who was taken to a hospital by a friend, told police a vehicle drove up and shots rang out. No arrests were made. Police are also investigating a shooting that happened at 5:25 p.m. Tuesday at a home in the 3200 block of San Bruno Avenue in Visitacion Valley. A 67-year-old man, who was inside the house at the time of the shooting, told police that someone rang his doorbell and was yelling outside his house for five minutes before gunfire erupted. The shooting shattered the living room window of the house and a back patio door window, police. No one was injured and no arrests have been made in the shooting. Bill Hutchinson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: bhutchinson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @bill_hutchinson This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A "once in a lifetime" party open to public ticket buyers will hit the San Francisco Mint this Friday evening. Per SF Station, the 10-hour dance event is being organized and coordinated by Peter Glikshtern, Jeff Whitmore, and Jordan Langer, the creative minds behind Public Works, The Midway artist collective, bars like Jones and Oddjob, as well as the various parties and events thrown by the Pier 70 partners. The event, as you may note, is a surprising one for the Mint. Besides occasional weddings and the Bleacher Report soiree the venue hosted during Super Bowl Week, the Mint is not generally known to have a hand in throwing such festivities. This party, which will feature music by German producer Robert Babicz, Berlin-based electro-funk artist Monolink, and many more, seems to be one of the few exceptions. It will also be relatively expansive, taking place within several rooms of the Mint. In addition to dancing in the sub-treasury basement where Babicz is performing, and watching projection-mapped displays in the outdoor courtyard, guests may also explore a few other rooms. "You may find yourself in an Edison bulb-lit hallway passing through a series of vaulted rooms," the Facebook event invite reads. "Each one filled with different treasures, performances, and other various oddities." Tickets for the show are on sale now. Pre-sale promotions have concluded, but full-priced passes are still available for $20. The (cash only) event begins at 5 p.m. and runs until 10 p.m. in the courtyard, and continues in the sub-treasury basement until 3 a.m. Saturday morning. Alyssa Pereira is a staff writer for SFGATE. Follow her here on Twitter. The cuisines of dozens of nations are represented by these Bay Area restaurants. How many of them have you visited? Which favorites have we left off the list? What's the next best thing to the golden, buttery, meat-filled empanadas pulled piping-hot from your grandmother's oven in her home in the Chilean countryside? The hand-held pies at Chile Lindo might not be made with your family recipe, but you will taste love in each and every bite. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate This article originally appeared on Hoodline.com A week and a half after renowned street artist Shepard Fairey created a new mural at Octavia and Linden, the piece appears to have been tagged. Tipster Jeffrey B. alerted us to the tags, and an anonymous tipster tells us that the tagging occurred overnight on Monday. We reached out to a representative for Fairey, who said she wasn't aware of the new additions. Based on their tags, the people responsible appear to be "Ecks," a graffiti artist from Mexico City, and another person named "Ryan." (Here's another, similar "Ecks" taken in SF in 2014.) Fairey's piece "Workers' Rights," which depicts Cesar Chavez upon the completion of his 300-mile farmworkers' march to Sacramento, was created as part of a new exhibition of his work, American Civics, that's currently showing at the San Francisco Art Exchange. For the exhibit, based on the work of photographer Jim Marshall, Fairey also completed a second mural at 701 Alabama St. in the Mission, which portrays Fannie Lee Chaney, the mother of a slain civil rights worker. It's unclear if that piece has been tagged as well. We'll keep you posted on whether or not Fairey's mural will be fixed up to remove the tags. This article originally appeared on Hoodline.com NEW YORK American audiences will get the rare chance to catch a sneak peek at the new Miss Saigon before it opens on Broadway next spring. They just have to go to a movie theater. A filmed version of the musicals live 25th anniversary celebration in London will make its world premiere in 175 movie theaters on Sept. 22, six months before the production with the same leading actors lands on Broadway. The show captures the performance at the Prince Edward Theatre in Londons West End in September 2014, augmented by close-ups recorded a few months after the show closed there this year. The cast members Jon Jon Briones as the Engineer, Eva Noblezada as Kim and Alistair Brammer as Chris are expected to star when the show opens at the Broadway Theatre in March, but producer Cameron Mackintosh isnt worried the broadcast will cannibalize fans. It encourages business, he said. This is the greatest cinematic trailer for a theatrical production thats ever been produced. I could be wrong, but I defy anybody who loves the show and isnt bowled over by the film not to want to go. Miss Saigon, a tragic Vietnam War love story inspired by Giacomo Puccinis opera Madama Butterfly, has songs by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg, who also wrote Les Miserables. Mackintosh said he didnt initially plan for a broadcast version of Miss Saigon, but was persuaded to capture the 25th anniversary of its West End arrival with a dozen cameras. A finale was added that featured the original stars Jonathan Pryce, Lea Salonga and Simon Bowman as well as Mackintosh making a surprise appearance. He considered it one of the top three performances of Miss Saigon in its history. Beyond just it being a wonderful performance, there was a sense of magic in the air, he said. He and his team decided to add documentary footage and fold in close-ups that were shot later. They reminded viewers it was a live event by not digitally removing the performers microphones and layering in shots of the audience going into the theater and their reactions at some scenes. What producer in his lifetime gets the chance to do a great show twice with two brilliant companies in two different productions? Not many people have ever had that opportunity, said Mackintosh. For local showtimes and to purchase tickets, go to www.fathomevents.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Its the late 1950s, and Germany still hasnt fully acknowledged the crimes of the Nazis. In Buenos Aires, Adolf Eichmann, architect of the Final Solution, is living comfortably and taping interviews saying, I could and should have done more to reach the goal of exterminating 10.3 million Jews. The People vs. Fritz Bauer is a gripping drama of a German attorney generals relentless pursuit of Eichmann to extradite him to Germany for trial. Bauer, as played by Burghart Klaussner (The White Ribbon), is a complicated and dignified man. He has health problems and has received death threats, but as one of his superiors says, he is a man with righteous anger. Bauer is also gay, and his enemies, many of whom still have ties to the Nazi ideology, will try to discredit him by exposing his so-called deviant behavior. Even his own team, except for Heinz Mahler (Rudiger Klink), a deeply committed man who also has secrets, lacks the enthusiasm to track down war criminals. Director Lars Kraume starts the movie depicting the lives of Bauer and Eichmann on parallel tracks, but then leaves the dual story lines behind and focuses on Bauer and Mahlers pursuit of justice. Bauer is forced to commit what is considered a treasonous act by seeking aid from Israels intelligence agency, Mossad, when the German government refuses to go after Eichmann. For those who dont know, Mossad captures Eichmann, but there is no extradition. The trial is held in Israel, where he is found guilty and executed. The People vs. Fritz Bauer starts as a taut thriller, but loses some momentum before picking up again, and Klaussners fine performance keeps us on edge through most of the film, even though we know the result. Leba Hertz is The San Francisco Chronicles arts and entertainment editor and Sunday Datebook editor. Email: lhertz@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @lhertz The People vs. Fritz Bauer Drama. Starring Burghart Klaussner and Rudiger Klink. Directed by Lars Kramme. In German with English subtitles. (Not rated. 105 minutes). To see a trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN5PvNQq86E FORT BRAGG, N.C. The Army general who ordered Sgt. Bowe Bergdahls court-martial testified Wednesday that he wasnt swayed by negative comments from a powerful U.S. senator, saying that he takes his duty very, very seriously. Gen. Robert Abrams, the four-star head of U.S. Army Forces Command, found himself in the unusual position of defending his objectivity against a defense effort to remove him from the case. Abrams referred the case to a general court-martial rather than a lower-level tribunal in December, weeks after Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., indicated there would be repercussions if Bergdahl werent punished. Wearing a short-sleeved white dress shirt and blue pants, Abrams asked a prosecutor curtly Where do you want me? as he strode toward the witness stand. He grew testy when a defense attorney asked him to explain why he wasnt afraid of McCain, who leads a Senate committee with the power to approve or scuttle assignments for top military commanders. I have served my country for 34 years. I am at the highest rank I am ever going to attain, he replied, adding that he has a mandate to ensure a fair trial for Bergdahl. I take that duty and responsibility very, very seriously. Addressing defense attorney William Helixon as counselor, Abrams added, Up to this point no one and I mean no one has tried to influence me in any way. In two motions, the defense had questioned whether Abrams faced improper conflicts. The judge, Army Col. Jeffery Nance, ordered Abrams to testify because of a reference in one of the motions to the general destroying dozens of letters from Bergdahl supporters and critics. Its unusual for a four-star general to testify in a court-martial hearing, said Eric Carpenter, a former Army lawyer who teaches law at Florida International University. The defense motion to disqualify Abrams cites his prior role advising former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel during efforts to return Bergdahl from captivity. It also raises questions about whether Abrams considered defense objections to the findings of a preliminary hearing. If granted, a disqualification would allow a different commander to decide whether a court-martial is needed. A spokesman for McCain said the senator would not comment on the pending case. Bergdahl, who is from Hailey, Idaho, walked off his post in Afghanistan in 2009 and wound up a captive of the Taliban and its allies until 2014 when the Obama administration won his release by trading Guantanamo Bay detainees. Bergdahl faces charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, the latter of which carries up to a life sentence. His trial is scheduled for February. WICHITA, Kan. Alexander Blair has admitted his role in a foiled terrorist attack: aiding a wannabe Islamic State jihadists plan to detonate what they thought was a bomb at a Kansas military post to kill or maim as many U.S. service members as possible. Blair says nobody is perfect and blames a genetic disorder for allowing others to take advantage of him. U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree will weigh that and other factors when he hears testimony and arguments as he calculates how much prison time, if any, the 29-year-old Topeka man should serve. 1 LAPD outreach: The Los Angeles Police Department plans to create a novel program to reach out to the families of people killed during encounters with officers and help them navigate the often-complicated aftermath of such incidents, officials said Tuesday. Details about the Family Liaison Program are still being worked out, however the president of the civilian board that oversees the LAPD said the goal was to better communicate with relatives of those who are killed by police or died while in the LAPDs custody. 2 College test: Nearly two-thirds of this years high school graduates took the ACT college entrance exam, and their scores suggest that many remain unprepared for college-level coursework. The testing company based in Iowa City said Wednesday that only 38 percent of graduating seniors who took the exam hit the college-prepared benchmark in at least three of the four core subjects tested reading, English, math and science. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Texas game wardens have recovered a king cobra after it slithered away from a home in Needville. The 10-foot snake disappeared on Tuesday night from its owner's home, according to the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office. The area the snake escaped in is in a fairly rural area on Cloudt Road near Needville High, Junior High and Middle schools, said officials with the Needville Independent School District. Officials said staff and faculty at the campuses knew of the issue but classes continued as normal. Along with game wardens, deputies and other law enforcement offices searched for the snake. A king cobra found its way into The Rice luxury downtown apartments in July 2015. It's unclear how that snake ended up in the apartments. A crowd of residents circled around the snake and were careful to keep their distance. Residents said animal control authorities arrived to bag up the snake and take it away. According to National Geographic, a single king cobra bite is enough to kill 20 people or one elephant. They are generally shy and try to avoid humans but will become aggressive if cornered, according to National Geographic. The king cobra is considered the world's longest venomous snake and can grow as long as about 18 feet. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A 59-year-old cabbie who plowed into two people on a San Francisco sidewalk while apparently experiencing some kind of medical emergency apologized for the wreck Wednesday after he was released from a hospital. But the two men John Diesso struck at a shoeshine stand on a Market Street sidewalk near Sutter Street Tuesday afternoon remained at San Francisco General Hospital, one in critical condition, hospital spokesman Brent Andrew said. Im sorry the accident occurred, Diesso said Wednesday, refusing further comment. The proprietor of the shoeshine stand, identified by friends as 66-year-old Saleem Bae, is in fair condition, while his 40-year-old helper, who was not identified, remained critical, officials said. Investigators were at the chaotic scene shortly after the driver plowed through an advertising kiosk and into the two victims at the shoeshine stand just after 3 p.m. Tuesday. Police on Wednesday continued to piece together what led to the crash but said the driver may have experienced some sort of medical emergency shortly before he veered off the road and onto the crowded sidewalk. Diesso, who police said was not impaired, remained at the scene and was cooperating with officers. Investigators will be looking into the Burlingame residents driving history, along with possible mechanical problems with the vehicle and any medical problems Diesso may have had, said Sgt. Michael Andraychak, a San Francisco police spokesman. State records with the Department of Motor Vehicles show that Diesso has no convictions on his driving record and that his drivers license is valid. Managers with San Franciscos Yellow Cab Cooperative the citys largest taxi operator did not return several phone calls and emails Wednesday. Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky On Aug. 15, Tina Louden sat at her kitchen table in small-town Missouri, clutching the urn that held her daughter's ashes. She caressed its smooth, pink surface, embossed with a golden rose and inscribed with her name, Ashley N. Shannon, followed by her dates of birth and death. It had been eight years since Ashley started using heroin and three years since it killed her. On this day, a Monday, Ashley, a dark-haired mother of two, would have turned 28. Moved by impulse, Louden grabbed her cellphone and snapped a grainy photo of her face resting on the urn's rim. Then she started typing. "To my daughter's drug dealer," she wrote, "this is how I spend my daughter's birthday now." " . . . how do you live with yourself???" She posted it to Facebook. More than 250,000 people have clicked "share" in the week since. That was exactly what Louden intended. Her message, brief and sharp, ended with a call to action: "I don't normally post pics like this but let's make this go viral so all the drug dealers see what they are doing to our families." Louden's honest, raw confession is just the latest in a string of online posts and even death announcements that have dared to talk about topics long-held as taboos: addiction, drugs, mental illness. For decades in obituaries, mourners were expected to fill in blanks. "Died suddenly" or "passed away at home" became code phrases for "overdose" or "suicide." But a new wave of parents, like Louden, are harnessing the Internet to turn their children's deaths into something meaningful. As Alexandra Rockey Fleming reported in The Post this month, the conventional death notice is changing: "She will be best remembered for her free spirit, love of life, and the incredible strength she had while enduring so much pain that came from her struggles with addiction," said the death announcement for Kelsea Brandt of Forest Hill, Md., whose mother, Wendy Messner, has founded a group called Rage Against Addiction with the mission of making "rock bottom the foundation for a new life." Louden's post, she told TV station KSDK, has inspired addicts and their families to message her. They say her photo moved them to get help. "Maybe it would change somebody," Louden told KSDK. "We live through this pain, every birthday, every holiday, it's not the same. Part of our heart is gone." Prescription pills came first for Ashley, before she moved to heroin. For five years, she struggled to get clean, KSDK reported, to be healthy for her two young daughters. But on July 4, 2013, Ashley overdosed. She was 24. "I know Ashley took the drugs, but I still believe the dealer should be somewhat responsible," Louden told TV station KSDK. "They are selling this poison knowing that it could kill you." It's all painfully timely. Overdoses are at a record high, with public health officials saying the nation is in "crisis." Adjusting for population, the drug overdose mortality rate has risen by 425 percent since 1982, The Washington Post previously reported. Drug overdose deaths have outpaced fatalities from motor vehicle accidents and, in what one official called "a silver lining to what is absolutely a tragedy," there has been a grim increase in organ donation. In the past five years, organ donors who died of overdoses jumped by 50 percent, according to Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network data. In 2014, an estimated 914,000 people aged 12 and older had reportedly used heroin, a 145 percent increase since 2007, according to the World Drug Report from the United Nations. The reason, according to the report, is simple: As law enforcement and the medical community crack down on prescription drug abuse, addicts are turning elsewhere for their next high. And in the United States right now, heroin is cheap. Just last week, 26 people overdosed on heroin in a span of four hours in the small West Virginia city of Huntington, population 49,000. "An overdose outbreak of similar magnitude in New York City (population 8.4 million) would affect more than 4,400 people," according to a Washington Post analysis. And more recently, officials have begun finding heroin supplies laced with a mixture of other dangerous opioids. One is Carfentanil, an animal tranquilizer strong enough to knock out an elephant. Law enforcement can hardly keep up. Hospitals are overwhelmed. Families feel helpless. It's why parents like Louden have turned to one of the few things in their control - the Internet. Although her town of De Soto, Mo., is small, Louden told KSDK she cannot know whether her daughter's drug dealer saw her grieving Facebook post. But, she said, maybe somebody's drug dealer did. --- Katie Mettler is a reporter for The Washington Post's Morning Mix team. She previously worked for the Tampa Bay Times. @kemettler This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate San Jose police arrested one of their own officers on Tuesday a nine-year veteran of the force who allegedly leaked sensitive information to members of a violent drug-trafficking gang, authorities said. The officer, identified as Derrick Antonio, was taken into custody during a citywide takedown of a Vietnamese criminal organization. He was charged with five felony counts of unauthorized computer access and one felony count of accessory after the fact. His acts were deplorable and in no way represent the character of the remaining members of this department who under extraordinary circumstances protect and serve the city with great honor, San Jose Police Chief Eddie Garcia said Wednesday. As distasteful as this has been to have identified and criminally investigated one of our own, it is a testament to the integrity of the San Jose police officers and the investigators involved. Antonio was obviously involved in some way shape or form with the gang, Garcia said, but a specific motive or connection was not released. Police did not elaborate on the nature of the confidential information he allegedly provided gang members. Antonio has been on paid administrative leave since June, Garcia said. The broader sweep, called Operation Gang of Thrones, stemmed from a March criminal conspiracy case focused on a Vietnamese street gang believed to deal in narcotics, bookmaking, public corruption, illegal gambling, assault and extortion, police said. On Tuesday, police served 34 search warrants at various homes, businesses and Vietnamese cafes in San Jose, Santa Clara, Milpitas, Fremont, Anaheim and an undisclosed area in Louisiana. Authorities arrested 23 suspects, men and women ranging in age from 19 to 53. Six suspects remained at large. All were charged with extortion, public corruption, narcotics trafficking, assault, illegal gun possession and conspiracy, police said. In the search, authorities seized five handguns, 69 illegal gambling machines, body armor, jewelry, phones, $200,000 in cash and the gangs financial records. Additionally, they confiscated more than 4,000 ecstasy pills, 300 Xanax pills, 200 MDMA tablets and illegal steroids. They also seized more than 600 pounds of marijuana, including 420 pounds of weed found in Louisiana. Several cars were also seized, including one that had $100,000 cash in a hidden compartment. Gang members also illegally housed a pet alligator at one of the locations, authorities said. Police have identified three more suspects who conspired to bribe a uniformed member of the department. They were said to be affiliated with Duong Cafe, at 2268 Senter Road in San Jose. It was not clear if Antonio was the officer the suspects tried to bribe. Antonio was booked into Santa Clara County jail. Evan Sernoffsky and Peter Fimrite are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com, pfimrite@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky, @pfimrite #flight resumption Flights from Gimpo airport to Osaka, Taipei to resume Sunday Flights from Seoul's Gimpo International Airport to Osaka and Taipei will resume later this week, the state-run airport operator here said Saturday, more than two years after the r... #football Daejeon earn promotion to top division in S. Korean football After eight years of toiling in the second division in South Korean football, Daejeon Hana Citizen FC will be playing with the big boys in 2023. Daejeon routed Gimcheon Sangmu F... BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images ISTANBUL Turkey sent tanks, warplanes and special operations forces into northern Syria on Wednesday in its biggest plunge yet into the Syrian conflict, enabling Syrian rebels to capture an important Islamic State stronghold within hours. The operation, assisted by U.S. warplanes, is a significant escalation of Turkeys role in the fight against the Islamic State, the militant extremist group ensconced in parts of Syria and Iraq that has increasingly been targeting Turkey. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate First, right wing talkmeister Rush Limbaugh warned, President Obama was after your guns (an alleged plot that didn't work so well). Then, he was going to impose martial law through military exercises taking place in Texas (another scheme that didn't work out). Now, Limbaugh says, Obama wants to turn farms over to ... lesbian farmers. That's right. The latest conspiracy theory on the far right is the government's plan to promote lesbian farmers through the "Rural Pride" program. Is he afraid the corn won't grow straight? No. Limbaugh, according to a transcript of his Aug. 17 show, considers it a plot to blow up a segment of America that traditionally votes Republican. READ MORE: Obama picks 'Jade Helm' as favorite conspiracy theory about presidency "Okay, go ahead and laugh at it, but I'm telling you what they're doing. They are trying to bust up one of the last geographically conservative regions in the country; that's rural America," Limbaugh said. What makes this truly odd is, the "Rural Pride" program is a real thing. The U.S. Agriculture Department has, under Obama's administration, sought to make LGBT farmers feel more comfortable and educate gay farmers about loans, housing assistance and how to deal with bullying. The Williams Institute, which studies sexual orientation and gender identity law and public policy out of the UCLA Law School, found that almost 10 percent of all same-sex couples in the country live in rural America and such couples are actually more likely to be families of color and raising children. (There are no solid numbers available on Texas.) READ MORE: Helpful tips on avoiding Internet hoaxes The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force also issued a report finding that these couples are more likely to be low-income and are almost twice as likely to receive public assistance. The transgender community is particularly vulnerable. The Ag Department has held Rural Pride seminars around the country -- most recently in Iowa -- to discuss challenges faced by LGBT farmers. None of the materials associated with the program talk of money to give away to prospective gay farmers. Other federal departments have held similar events, including a Small Business Administration gathering in Houston in February. READ MORE: SBA holds LGBT event in Houston To Limbaugh, though, it's just a matter of seeing what's behind the free range lesbian program -- a liberal assault on America's farmers (an alleged plot the efficacy of which has yet to be determined). "But I, El Rushbo, am able to read the stitches on the fastball and clearly see what this is about," Limbaugh said. Theres a reason why a llama play has concluded all six Pint-Sized Play Festivals. The headlining annual event of San Francisco Theater Pub, which stages theater in bars and whose motto is Make it good, keep it casual, have a beer, comprises short, beer-themed plays, the last of which features a belligerent, drunken llama, written each year by Stuart Bousel and played by Rob Ready. For Llama VI, Ready wears a T-shirt that says LLAMA. His rendition of slurred speech makes the idiom of intoxication sound operatic in range and expressive power. A master of timing, he inserts such a gulf of a pause between the words I am and starting a family hes listing reasons why the tradition of the llama play might not persist that you imagine a whole dimension of possibilities for the South American pack animal before Ready even suggests one. The skill of Readys that was on most exuberant display at the performance Monday night, Aug. 22, however, was improvisation. At one point in the short play, he asks an audience member to borrow a chair. On Monday, he happened to select Leslie Dahlgren Egashira of Oakland, whos about half Readys size, twice his age and with the wide-eyed, ragamuffin bearing of Giulietta Masina in La Strada. Her business card, it was later revealed, lists the following specialties: clown, mime, classical / ethnic dance / drama. What followed was a pas de deux worth leaving the house for on its own. Egashira did not relinquish her chair until she had rolled around on the floor with it first; Ready did not seize it until he had bidden her to return to it a red herring, so that he could then try to smush his body next to hers in the seat. Such are the wonderful possibilities when theater forays out of grandiose playhouses and into the public houses, or pubs even if those pubs are also attached to theaters (this Pint-Sized takes place in the bar and restaurant section of PianoFight). In Theater Pub performances, which are all free, you dont have to turn off your cell phone, stop talking to your companions or (heaven forbid) delay a drink order until intermission. The audience members who crowd into the venue, all the way back to the bouncer, might be actors in the next scene, which might take place on the bar stool next to you. None of the other 10 short plays in this years festival reach the transcendent heights of Llama VI, which Emma Rose Shelton directs. Especially in the shows first act, many shorts meander in their structure yet remain inert in staging theres a lot of quasi-philosophical chitchat from characters seated at bar tables. But the second act is much more dynamic, with an unsentimental divorce drama, a spy caper and an epistolary monologue from perhaps the worlds most ruthless email writer, played by Jessica Rudholm. A standout is James Nelsons Beer Culture, which makes a well-worn comic trope beer snobs fondness for arcane, affected descriptors feel novel. Aficionados Annie (Caitlin Evenson, another comic all-star in two different short plays) and Charlie (Kyle McReddie) detect notes of everything from whippoorwill gizzard to a panther s in a rainstorm in their brews. Fear not, would-be audiences, if your palate lacks that sophistication, in either your beer or your theatrical preferences. Rumor has it that at PianoFight, even plastered llamas who elbow senior citizens out of their chairs can get past the bouncer. Lily Janiak is The San Francisco Chronicles theater critic. Email: ljaniak@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LilyJaniak Pint-Sized VI: Through Monday, Aug. 29. 90 minutes. Free. PianoFight, 144 Taylor St., S.F. www.sftheaterpub.com To see a video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qm0PPCp0unU On the eve of Sen. Bernie Sanders launch of a new political organization to expand his political revolution, most of the staff of his fledgling group known as Our Revolution has quit, concerned that its leadership would violate Sanders core values. There is a revolution within the revolution. Sanders was scheduled to outline the groups goals Wednesday evening to supporters gathering at 2,400 house parties nationwide, including at a few dozen in the Bay Area. He was expected to describe how Our Revolution will back candidates who support his progressive ideals and to urge fans to vote against GOP nominee Donald Trump, a key leg of support for his erstwhile primary rival, Hillary Clinton. But Sanders immediate political goals for November are in jeopardy after eight of the groups 12 staffers, including its digital director and all of the organizing team, resigned, saying they disagreed with longtime Sanders confidant Jeff Weaver being appointed to run the organization. They contended that Weaver, who managed Sanders presidential campaign, planned to solicit donations from San Francisco billionaire and environmental activist Tom Steyer and billionaire liberal donor George Soros. They also said he planned to spend much of the money on television ads instead of a grassroots operation that would court small donors, the way Sanders presidential campaign did. Weaver formed Our Revolution as a 501(c)(4) organization, a configuration that has drawn criticism because it wont have to disclose donors. Staffers many of them also veterans of Sanders presidential campaign recoiled, saying Weavers approach was antithetical to the ethos of Sanders campaign. The Vermont senator relentlessly bragged that the average donation to his campaign was $27 and that the millionaires and billionaires who were destroying the nations political and economic systems were not funding him. He railed against the dark money given by donors to 501(c)(4) political groups. When they learned of Weavers plans, several top staffers told The Chronicle, they begged Sanders not to hire him to lead Our Revolution. They had bristled at his mismanagement of the presidential campaign, as former organizing director Claire Sandberg put it. Ultimately, when it became clear that Sanders, who has worked with Weaver for decades, would not budge, many said they would rather leave the new group than betray the core values of the political revolution they hoped to foment. One of the first to leave last Wednesday was Kenneth Pennington, a native of El Dorado in the Sierra foothills, who was the digital director of Sanders presidential campaign. He was widely praised for his teams ability to keep up with the much-larger Clinton campaign. Others followed, with the majority quitting Sunday. It was an extremely difficult, anguishing decision for all of us to make, Sandberg said. It was only after all the programmatic staff had long conversations, including about how to get through to Bernie about the depth of our concerns, that we concluded about that there was no chance to remove Jeff. We could not enable Jeffs vision for the organization in any way. Weaver said the departures would have no impact on Wednesdays launch nor the groups potential impact on the election. He has already hired Revolution Messaging, which worked with the presidential campaign, to run Our Revolutions digital operation, saying it would actually increase our capacity. He expected to hire a new organizing staff shortly. He said he chose to organize as a 501(c)(4) because it would give Our Revolution more flexibility including to attract donors but didnt think that compromised the values Sanders has espoused. He said that he has spoken to people within Steyers NextGen environmental organization about reaching out to Millennial voters on climate-change issues, saying that the primary purpose of this organization is not just political. Its broader than that. (A spokesman for Steyer said he has not met with Weaver nor has he been asked to donate to Our Revolution.) As for criticism of his management style, he pointed to Sanders winning 22 state primaries and caucuses after few gave the campaign much of a chance when it started. He said that in any organization, some departments will complain that they could have done more if they received more resources including on political campaigns. Im honored to enjoy the confidence of the senator, Weaver said. Still, Sandberg, a former Oakland resident who worked at San Franciscos Rainforest Action Network from 2013 to 2015, said it would be hard to ask volunteers some of whom had volunteered 30 to 40 hours a week during the campaign to support something that was contradictory to what they had worked for earlier. But she had confidence that while Our Revolution might struggle to get rolling because of the mass departures, Sanders political revolution will ultimately survive. The organization has a massive email list, which gives it access to people who made more than 60 million calls on Sanders behalf. The movement that emerged from Bernies candidacy will go on no matter what, Sandberg said. People want a political revolution and nothing less. And they are not going to stop until we have achieved a political revolution. Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli I have these moments where Im like, Wow, what will this feel like? said Wendy Tokuda on the eve of the final television broadcast of her decades-long career in California. Tokuda, a Bay Area television staple for more than 30 years, retired from broadcast journalism on Friday, Aug. 19. But that nights sign-off wasnt the first time Tokuda has stepped out of the Bay Area spotlight. The veteran journalist established herself as the face of KPIX for more than a decade before leaving for a job in Los Angeles in the early 1990s. The Seattle native would later return to Bay Area living rooms as an anchor for both the local NBC and CBS affiliates, and then gave up the anchor chair in 2010. Now, after six years working primarily as a feature reporter, Tokuda is retiring from local television for good. I started anchoring in the 70s. There were only four (stations). That was it, Tokuda said. We were shooting on film when I started. Tokuda remembers the day the newsroom put the typewriters up on the shelves to make room for computers. They had to pull them back down at least once when the computer network failed. In that age before the Internet, television was king and local anchors were as visible as anyone in the region. Television had the ability at that time of making the Bay Area more of a community, Tokuda recalled. I just happened to be there at this magical time. It was extraordinary, and it isnt going to happen again. Dan Rosenheim helped persuade Tokuda to sign on at KRON after her detour to Los Angeles, and he later talked her into retaking her seat at the KPIX anchor desk. She anchors the news with intelligence and polish and warmth. Its kind of a magical combination, and it helps explain why she has been so popular with the audience, said Rosenheim, now vice president and news director at KPIX. She is very knowledgeable, very well read. But Tokuda remembers an era when her reputation wasnt so well established. During that first week as a permanent KPIX anchor, Tokuda said, she took a call from a man demanding to know who that woman was in the anchor chair. After Tokuda listened and politely informed the man that she was that woman, the viewer agreed to give her a chance. I was such a pit bull with it, said Tokuda, who says she really only sees the challenges of being a woman and Asian in hindsight. Reporting was something I really wanted to do. But there was one topic that got her more hate mail than any other: the World War II internment of Japanese Americans. Nobody even knew about the internment. It was not in the history books or anything, and our parents never talked about it, said Tokuda, whose parents met in an internment camp. So Tokuda told stories of what had happened in the Bay Area and chronicled the movement. Thats when I felt it. I couldnt help but think that my parents were affected by that, she said. From the anchor desk, Tokuda and longtime anchor partner Dave McElhatton told local stories in their signature style. Tokuda was a steadying voice after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and a gifted storyteller during the scramble to rescue Humphrey the whale, the humpback who strayed into San Francisco Bay in 1985 and again in 1990. She turned the story into one of three reality-inspired childrens books. Her passion for connecting with children slowly surpassed her desire to command the anchor desk, and she said her regular feature known as Students Rising Above, which she produced for 17 years, has been her most important work. The segment highlights a nonprofit that helps at-risk students who excel in the classroom despite harrowing personal challenges. Thanks to Wendys initiative, it raises hundreds of thousands of dollars to send kids to college each year, said Rosenheim. They have an annual banquet, and its stunning when they introduce someone who maybe lost both parents and singlehandedly raised two siblings and had a job on weekends, all while getting As in high school, and now theyve gone to college and graduate school and are about to join a big law firm. Tokuda said that franchise will be turned over to the journalist Sherry Hu, allowing her to step away for good. Tokuda plans to spend more time with her husband and their five daughters while continuing to pursue her continuing passions of storytelling, environmental restoration and finding ways to help at-risk children. Bill Disbrow is a content manager for SFGate.com. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate AMATRICE, Italy Rescue crews using bulldozers and their bare hands raced to dig out survivors from a strong earthquake that reduced three central Italian towns to rubble Wednesday. The death toll stood at 159, but the number of dead and missing was uncertain given the thousands of vacationers in the area for summers final days. Residents wakened before dawn by the temblor emerged from their crumbled homes to find what they described as apocalyptic scenes like Dantes Inferno, with entire blocks of buildings turned into piles of sand and rock, thick dust choking the air and a putrid smell of gas. The town isnt here anymore, said Sergio Pirozzi, the mayor of the hardest-hit town, Amatrice. I believe the toll will rise. The magnitude 6.2 quake struck at 3:36 a.m. and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including Rome, where residents woke to a long swaying followed by aftershocks. The temblor shook the Lazio region and Umbria and Le Marche on the Adriatic coast, a highly seismic area that has witnessed major quakes in the past. Dozens of people were pulled out alive by rescue teams and volunteers that poured in from around Italy. Shes alive! two women cheered as they ran up the street in Pescara del Tronto, one of the three hardest hit hamlets, after a 10-year-old girl was pulled from the rubble 17 hours after the quake struck. And there were wails when bodies emerged. Unfortunately, 90 percent we pull out are dead, but some make it, thats why we are here, said Christian Bianchetti, a volunteer from Rieti who was working in devastated Amatrice, where flood lights were set up so the rescue could continue through the night. Premier Matteo Renzi visited the zone Wednesday, greeted rescue teams and survivors, and said the toll stood at 120 dead and was likely to rise. At least 368 others were injured. He promised the quake-prone area that No family, no city, no hamlet will be left behind. Worst affected were the tiny towns of Amatrice and Accumoli near Rieti, about 60 miles northeast of Rome, and Pescara del Tronto, about 15 miles farther east. Italys civil protection agency set up tent cities around each hamlet to accommodate the thousands of homeless. 1 Death squads: Perus government said this week that its initial investigation into allegations of police death squads has identified nine officers, including a general, who purportedly masterminded the disappearance of at least 20 civilians since 2012. The much-awaited report comes on the heels of comments by new Interior Minister Carlos Basombrio that there is strong evidence police officers ran death squads in different parts of the country to secure promotions and other benefits. The revelations are fueling louder calls for an overhaul of Perus free-wielding police force, which has been dogged by allegations of corruption and involvement in organized crime under former President Ollanta Humala. 2 Kashmir protests: Government forces in Indian-controlled Kashmir fired bullets and shotgun pellets on Tuesday to break up protests demanding an end to Indian rule in the disputed Himalayan region, injuring at least 14 people, officials said. Police said the troops fired after villagers pelted them with stones in the southern Shopian area while they were clearing roadblocks set up by anti-India protesters in about half a dozen villages. The killing of a popular rebel commander on July 8 has sparked some of Kashmirs largest protests against Indian rule in recent years. At least 65 civilians have been killed and thousands injured, mostly by government forces firing bullets and shotguns at rock-throwing protesters. YANGON, Myanmar A powerful earthquake shook Myanmar on Wednesday, killing at least three people and damaging nearly a hundred ancient Buddhist pagodas in the former capital of Bagan, a major tourist site, officials said. The U.S. Geological Survey said the magnitude 6.8 quake was centered about 15 miles west of Chauk, a town south of Bagan. It was located fairly far below the Earths surface at a depth of about 52 miles, the USGS said. Deep earthquakes generally cause less surface damage. At least 94 brick pagodas in Bagan were damaged, the Ministry of Religious and Cultural Affairs said. Bagan, also known as Pagan, has more than 2,200 structures including pagodas and temples constructed from the 10th to the 14th centuries. Many are in disrepair while others have been restored in recent years, aided by the U.N. cultural agency UNESCO. The vast site is the countrys premier attraction for tourists, who can view a panorama of temples stretching to the horizon flanked by the mighty Irrawaddy River, an especially impressive experience at sunset. Dr. Myo Thant, general secretary of the Myanmar Earthquake Committee, said other areas apparently were not badly affected. Police officer Htay Win in Pakokku, about 45 miles from the epicenter, said one person there had been killed and one injured. The person was killed by falling bricks from a building, he said. Worried residents of Yangon, the countrys main city, rushed out of tall buildings, and objects toppled from tables and from Buddhist shrines in homes. However, there were no reports of serious damage in the city. The quake was also felt in a half dozen states in neighboring India, where people rushed out of offices and homes at several places. It caused buildings to sway in Bangkok, Thailands capital, several hundred miles to the east. There were no reports of damage in either country. KABUL A U.S. soldier was killed by a bomb near the southern Afghan city of Lashkar Gah and another was wounded, officials said Tuesday, days after more than 100 U.S. troops arrived there to help plan the strategic citys defense amid weeks of losses to the Taliban. The U.S. military said the service member had died of wounds sustained during operations near Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province, when a patrol was struck by an improvised explosive device. It was the second U.S. service member killed by hostile fire in Afghanistan this year, as the force in the country has mostly drawn down to a smaller advisory mission. In January, Staff Sgt. Matthew McClintock was killed in Marjah district, also in Helmand province. The return of U.S. forces under the NATO mission to Lashkar Gah, more than two years after British soldiers who were part of the same mission closed their last base in the city, highlights a scramble to prevent the fall of a major population center. For weeks before that, top Afghan generals were sent from Kabul to hold the line as district after district came under attack, with the Taliban surrounding the city. Even as local Afghan officials were reporting the presence of U.S. personnel near the battlefield in the Chah-e-Anjir area, about 10 miles from the city, U.S. military officials in Kabul insisted that the new team was there only to advise the leadership of the southern police zone based out of Lashkar Gah. The troops that have gone down there are really focused on force protection of the advisers there, to make sure they are secure, Brigadier Gen. Charles Cleveland, a spokesman for the U.S. military in Afghanistan, told reporters on Monday. What you wont see is they are not about to go out and conduct operations. On Tuesday, Cleveland said, The service members killed and wounded today were not a part of the new advisory mission in Lashkar Gah, suggesting that they were part of the regular advisory support the NATO mission has been providing Afghan special operation forces, often traveling with them in their raids. Still, the line between combat and advice becomes remarkably thin when Afghan special forces, trained to conduct quick commando raids, have for weeks now been used as ground forces in Chah-e-Anjir, at least. As the top generals were busy in Helmand, the northern city of Kunduz, which was briefly overrun by the Taliban last fall, once again faced strong offensives at its gates. The district of Khanabad briefly fell to the insurgents, and fighting raged less than a mile from the city center. Walter Scheel, who as foreign minister and deputy chancellor of West Germany under Chancellor Willy Brandt from 1969 to 1974 helped foster detente with the Soviet bloc and rapprochement with communist East Germany, died Wednesday in Bad Krozingen, in southwest Germany. He was 97. The death was confirmed by his political party, the Free Democratic Party, and by the office of Germanys president, Joachim Gauck. Mr. Scheel served in the largely ceremonial role of president of West Germany until his retirement from politics in 1979. He lived in Bad Krozingen. Although he was one of Bonns most durable postwar leaders, Mr. Scheel was overshadowed by the far more dynamic and popular Brandt, the architect of Ostpolitik the West German initiatives that led to improved relations with Moscow and its East European allies, and to a Berlin agreement that eased Cold War tensions in 1972 by establishing diplomatic ties between the two Germanys. The reunification of Germany in 1990, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War followed a long process of Soviet political and economic stagnation and corresponding declines in Soviet influence over European satellites it acquired at the end of World War II. But historians say Ostpolitik played a crucial role as an early catalyst, letting West and East step back from destructive confrontations. While Brandt is credited with initiating the reconciliation policies he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1971 it was Mr. Scheel who brought those policies to fruition at the negotiating table. He hammered out the final versions of the 1970 nonaggression treaties with the Soviet Union and Poland that formed the cornerstones of Bonns normalization strategies. Mr. Scheel forged closer West German ties with Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and other communist states and contributed to the growing political and economic unity of Europe. He also established stronger ties with the United States and NATO members. In a cutaway coat for special occasions or a turtleneck for cocktail parties, he looked every inch the diplomat: a distinguished face, affable and conciliatory; an easy smile for a telling joke, receding gray hair that curled fashionably over his collar at the back. His conversation delved into favorite Bach organ works and modern art; he also cultivated epicure tastes, smoked expensive cigars and collected wooden masks from Africa. But in May 1974, Brandt was forced to resign when Guenter Guillaume, a senior member of his staff, was arrested and exposed as an agent of the East German secret service, the Stasi. With Brandts departure, Mr. Scheels career in diplomacy also ended abruptly. Mr. Scheel briefly succeeded Brandt as chancellor, conducting Cabinet meetings and making interim decisions, but he held the reins of government for only a little over a week, until Helmut Schmidt was elected chancellor. Mr. Scheel was then elected president of West Germany, a largely ceremonial post that he kept for five years until he retired from political life in 1979. With his Ostpolitik and his European policy, he has earned lasting credit for understanding and reconciliation in our continent, Gauck said in a statement. Walter Scheel (pronounced Shale) was born in Solingen, in Germanys industrial Rhineland, on July 8, 1919. His father was a wheelwright and carriage builder. As a boy, he witnessed street clashes between communists and nationalists in the 1920s. He attended secondary school in Solingen, and after graduating in 1938 became an apprentice at a local merchant bank. In 1939, as World War II began, he was drafted into military service and assigned to the Luftwaffe. He became a cigar-smoking fighter pilot who attained the rank of first lieutenant and who, in action over France and Russia, shot down four Allied combat planes. He was decorated with two Iron Crosses. Mr. Scheel married three times. In 1942, he wed Eva Kronenberg, who died in 1966. They had one son. In 1969, he married Dr. Mildred Wirtz, a widow with a daughter by a previous marriage, and with whom he had three children. She died in 1985. Since 1988, he had been married to Barbara Wiese, who survives him. Complete information on survivors was not immediately available. What makes something local? We think of green chile as being quintessentially New Mexican, and yet tons of the chile we eat is actually grown in California, Mexico and beyond. Is it the stuff or is it the people thats important? If your mom makes the red chile sauce she learned from her grandmotherbut uses chiles from Californiadoes that make it any less New Mexican? These are some of the questions Ive been chewing on since I stumbled across Vara, a wine company born in New Mexico, making and selling wine with the history of New Mexico winemaking as its themebut not actually growing grapes or making wine here. Get that? It was at a pop-up dinner cooked by chef Jonathan Perno of Albuquerque's Los Poblanos Inn that I discovered Vara. The back of the bottle mentioned New Mexico but the wine was from the Rioja region of Spain. It clearly said IMPORTED and bore the little Rioja sticker, but the label talked about the Pueblos. What? Why? How? Huh? So I called the number listed on the website and a few days later I met with Doug Diefenthaler and his partner Xavier Zamarripa. Both are super-passionate about wine. Diefenthaler has worked in the wine business for decades, since studying agricultural economics in college. Diefenthaler sold wine across the West before eventually settling here in the late '80s. In 1989 he co-founded the New Mexico Wine Patrol, a fine wine distributor that grew through the 1990s until it was swallowed by Southern Wine and Spirits in 2001. After that Diefenthaler became more interested in exploring how to connect American buyers online with wineries across the world. Through a mutual friend he met a mosaic artist named Xavier Zamarripa, a transplanted Texan with Basque family roots. Zamarripa studied the art of mosaics in Italy, where he fell in love with wineand a New Mexican girl. You might have heard something about his efforts to open a vineyard and winery in the rural valley just north of Albuquerque. That plan was thwarted by neighborhood opposition, but Zamarripa was intent on making wine. Diefenthaler had seen the success of Gruetbut also the failure of so many other dreams of making great wine here. "I said to him: 'We don't want to be another New Mexico winery,'" Diefenthaler recalls. The two talked about the great, long history of wine in the Rio Grande valley, stretching back to Spanish colonists. "What can we do to build on that?" Diefenthaler wondered. "We can make Spanish wine in Spain and import it. And we can source the best Spanish varietals here in the United States and make wines from that. We can connect the past to the present." Make sense? Vara is named for the Spanish word for "cane," which refers to "canes of sovereignty" given to Pueblo governors by the King of Spain in 1620and similar canes given by President Abraham Lincoln to the governors in 1863. The company sells six wines, four made in Spain and two made in California. The Spanish wines are each 100 percent varietals that express the character of Rioja. The Viura ($12) is a fresh, floral white with a tropical nose and a clean finish. A rose made with 100 percent Garnacha ($12) has a dark raspberry color and the aroma and flavor of ripe strawberries. It's not a sweet wine but it's on the fruitier, sweeter side of good roses. The Tempranillo ($27) is a dark, intense red with ripe cherry flavors made more complex by spending a few months in American oak barrels. The Silverhead Brut ($16) is a traditional cava: Fruity, fun, irresistible and inexpensive. The American wines include the Blanco Especial ($27), a blend of Albarino, Viognier, Marsanne and a touch of Chardonnay. It's big, soft, floral, fruity and luscious. The red, called Tinto Especial ($27), is mostly Tempranillo with Garnacha, Syrah and Monastrell. It's a full, rich red with dark fruit and enough tannin to stand up to a steak. You can buy Vara wines at Susan's Fine Wine and Spirits, Kaune's Neighborhood Market, Kokoman Fine Wines and Liquor, Arroyo Vino and the Rancho Viejo Village Market. Some of them are by the glass or bottle at Arroyo Vino, the Eldorado Hotel, Eloisa, Midtown Bistro, the Santa Fe Bar and Grill and Hotel Chimayo de Santa Fe. Diefenthaler and Zamarripa have big dreams for the company, and they expect to have a local tasting room and some kind of locally made product in the future. But exactly how those plans will ripen is, for now, a mystery. Santa Fe Reporter Michael Sumner and Melody Sumner Carnahan recently put their house on the market and moved into a walkup off Cordova. The glass front door bears a logo for Burning Books, their long-running publishing imprint, and two bikes lean at the bottom of a long staircase. A bright space on the second floor functions as their kitchen, bedroom and dining quarters. This place feels detached from Santa Fe, like a cube of San Francisco floating above the desert Southwest. For their latest project, Michael combed through a vast trove of photographs that chronicles their lives in California and New Mexico. Melody examined the pictures as though they were found objects, assigning new names to recurring faces and weaving a fresh mythology from almost-forgotten moments. The project became a book called Twice Through the Maze and inspired a photography exhibition at Phil Space (1410 Second St., 983-7945) that opens Oct. 14 at 5 pm. One summer morning, Michael and Melody sip espressos and flip through a mountain of books on their dining table, reassembling the life story that they just dismantled. "We both grew up in Colorado," says Michael. "California was sort of the dreamland for many years." After Sumner got his MFA from the University of Oregon and they traveled through Europe, they moved to Palo Alto in 1978. Life in the sleepy community provoked the duo to dream up a rebellious art project: They plastered wheat pastes of Edouard Manet's "The Fifer" all over town. This assault on the mundane was their first artistic collaboration, and caused a satisfying stir. "Boredom is very important," Michael notes. "Even Gertrude Stein said it's important to get bored, and then you start coming up with stuff." Ennui incited their next collaboration as well: a mysterious letter sent to 100 people. It contained a form that listed the years 1970 to 1979, with a blank line next to each year. Nearly everyone filled it out and returned it, from family members to famous artists such as John Baldessari, Carl Andre and Vito Acconci. Their creative responses to the ambiguous challenge became The Form, the first Burning Books title, published in 1979. Melody had been determined to study writing at Stanford University, but ended up in a masters program at Mills College in Oakland in '79. "Mills has an internationally known book arts program, and we learned how to do letterpress printing and everything," Melody says. She also studied media arts and creative writing, seeking ways to bring new interactivity to the written word. "The writing people weren't that interested in what I did," she says, "so the people at the Center of Contemporary Music were my friends." For her thesis, Melody wrote a book called The Time is Now and asked a number of musicians to compose accompanying songs. Later, she and Michael would create a smaller version of the text that fits in a box with a CD of the songs. "Every one of our books has another media extension, and every book is different," Melody explains. The move to Oakland came at a serendipitous moment. "We were excited to be in the big city," Michael tells SFR. "San Francisco was exploding into this punk scene, which was so energized and wonderful. There was theater and music and all of this interesting stuff, and we were just eating it up." They forged connections with the museum world and continued collaborating with avant-garde musicians. Their 1986 book The Guests Go in To Supper featured interviews with John Cage, Yoko Ono and other composers. Over the next few years, Michael grew tired of the crowded city and developed a hunger for new frontiers. "We sold our '64 Ford because it was falling apart, and got a Vanagon," Sumner says. "We started taking trips to the Southwest, and it was like, 'Oh my god, there's a horizon.'" Melody, however, wasn't as eager as Michael to break away from California. "He had spiritual pornography syndrome. That's what happened to him. I just went along," she says. They moved to New Mexico in 1989, and attempted to live the secluded desert lifestyle that Michael had imagined. "We lived everywhere in New Mexico," Melody says. "Awful, terrible things happened to us. I'm writing a book about it." There was a robbery, a hailstorm, a fire and a flood. Just as they started to believe that they were biblically plagued, the duo heard from video art pioneers Steina and Woody Vasulka in Santa Fe. "They knew our other books. They thought we were real publishers," Melody says. The Vasulkas had a fast-approaching exhibition in Austria, and needed someone to do the catalog. "So we came in and they had all these chaotic binders, and it was supposed to go into this catalog that was only 300 pages," says Michael. "We figured out some kind of price, which came out to about $5 an hour, but it was really exciting to work with them." Melody assisted with the editing process, and Michael flexed the digital design skills that he'd picked up during a stint at Macworld Magazine in California. The Vasulkas connected Michael and Melody with a circle of Santa Fe artists. "The people we knew were in their 50s and 60s," says Michael. At the time he and Melody were in their 30s. "We helped them make all sorts of things. We were like, 'We can design and edit.'" In the meantime, their national reputation was growing: A catalog they made for the Guggenheim paid well enough that they were able to buy a house in Santa Fe. "We were always trying to make the books come alive to represent the person's art," says Melody. Burning Books has produced just 33 books since it was established, but its founders have blazed across the art world firmament like a quirky comet. Twice Through the Maze was a chance to connect the dots into strange new constellations. The book reads like an opera synopsis blended with a surreal mystery novelMelody crafted the former plot, and Michael the latter. Figures from their lives take on a mythological status: Manet's "The Fifer" is a white rabbit of sorts, Woody Vasulka becomes The Minister or The Minotaur, and other friends and family take the roles of famous figures such as Aphrodite and Artemis. "I had a closet full of 35 mm negatives and color slides which had never been printed in any form," says Michael. "I took these pictures, but I don't remember a lot of this stuff. I didn't quite know what I had." All the more reason to burn it down and start again. Santa Fe Reporter Gary Johnson says he sees an opportunity in "the craziest election ever." (Steven Hsieh) Gary Johnson, the former New Mexico governor and current Libertarian nominee for president, stepped onstage at the Albuquerque Convention Center wearing mesh Nikes and mom jeans, the uniform apparent for a candidate whose Super PAC just spent $30,000 on internet web memes. Tears welled in his eyesa reaction, he says, to hearing his two adult children speak on his behalf moments before. "Is this the craziest election ever?" asked Johnson to a crowd of hundreds on Aug. 20. "You know how crazy it is, right? I'm going to be the next president of the United States." When Johnson ran on the Libertarian ticket in 2012, he received 1 percent of the popular vote. But in this polarizing election, Libertarian hopefuls see a rare opportunity for his third-party candidacy, which has secured ballot access with 39 states. Polls show major-party nominees Hillary Clinton, and even more so, Donald Trump, at historically low favorability levels. Johnson and his running mate, former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, are attempting to bring their poll numbers up to 15 percent, the threshold for a spot on the debate stage in September. Johnson cut straight to his stump speech: Get rid of income and corporate taxes to create "millions" of jobs. Strip away zoning regulations and watch affordable housing rise. Enter trade deals and encourage entrepreneurship. "The model of the future is Uber everything. Uber doctor, Uber lawyer, Uber accountant, electrician, plumber," Johnson said. "Eliminate the middleman." Alfred Walker, an assistant attorney for the City of Santa Fe, stood in the front row, throwing his arms up in agreement with the Johnson philosophy of "keeping government out of our bedrooms and out of our pocketbooks." Walker has always been a "small-L" libertarian, he tells SFR, but this will be his first time voting for the party proper. Clinton and Trump? "They are both exactly the same," he says. "They'll both increase the size of government." Alfred Walker, far right, is planning to vote for a libertarian candidate for the first time. (Steven Hsieh) Before Johnson came on stage, several New Mexico Republicans offered their support for the candidate. (The state provided his best showing in 2012, giving him about 3.55 percent of the popular vote.) Johnson, who first made a career running a construction firm, served two terms as governor from 1995 to 2003. State Sen. Lisa Torraco, R-Albuquerque, said she would "spit" at the next suggestion that a vote for Johnson is really a vote for Clinton or Trump. "Trump is a pussy!" interrupted a supporter from the back of the room, echoing a public comment made by Johnson not once, but twice, this election cycle. (Clinton and Green Party candidate Jill Stein are the two remaining large party hopefuls who have yet to make crude reference to the female anatomy. Notice a pattern?) A Blair Dunn, son of Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn and Republican candidate for state Senate in Bernalillo County, kicked off the event with crowd-rousing calls to action. "New Mexico and Albuquerque, are you ready for some liberty?" Dunn also came with jokes. "Let's say, for the sake of argument, that Trump and Hillary are riding a plane across the Atlantic and they crash. Who wins?" said Dunn, before revealing his punchline: "America." And even before Dunn joked about the two major presidential candidates dying in a fiery accident, Johnson wandered among a group of lowriders outside the convention center who had recently announced their support for the Libertarian ticket. At one point, the former governor climbed inside a candy-green whip and glued his hands to the ceiling as the vehicle bounced wildly into the air. Political gods could not have dreamed up a better photo-op. "I am so honored," Johnson repeated as supporters approached him for selfies. This is probably not Johnson's first time in a lowrider. (Steven Hsieh) Backdropped by cars with Lambo doors, the governor sat down for a television interview. "I've never thought about asking a candidate for president this, but how does it feel to use marijuana?" the interviewer asked. "I would say it feels pleasant," Johnson replied. He last consumed marijuana in the form of edibles about three months ago. (The former governor, a health nut, stopped smoking.) He also served as CEO of a marijuana branding company called Cannabis Sativa Inc., but stepped down to run for president. Johnson's opposition to the War on Drugs is perhaps his best-known position. Walker, the city attorney, says he didn't totally agree with Johnson when he announced his support for legalizing marijuana in 1999, but he admired the governor's conviction while Bill Clinton's drug czar called him "Puff Daddy Johnson." "What the governor said made me think, We need to talk about it," said Walker, who previously served as an assistant district attorney. Another distinction of Johnson: He wants to roll back American interventionism. He's been a critic of the Obama administration's backing of rebel groups during the Syrian and Libyan civil warsa move he says has helped foster extremist groups like the Islamic State. "In my lifetime, I cannot think of a single instance where when we've supported regime change it has resulted in anything better," Johnson said during the rally. It's a message that resonates with John Lovell, a 35-year-old Army veteran who spoke with SFR outside a nearby Starbucks a few hours before. Lovell sported flowing brown hair and a t-shirt emblazoned with the Libertarian mascot: a red, white and blue porcupine. He turned to the party in spite of contrary influences in his life. Lovell's father, a Democrat, pushed him leftwards because of his family's working class background, he says. His platoon sergeant, a Republican, nudged him to the right because of the GOP's small-government philosophy. In 2012, Lovell heard then-Republican presidential nominee Ron Paul speak, and he found his people. "People should not have to witness what I saw over there. It was horrifying," he tells SFR, referring to the Iraq War. Johnson, for the record, is currently the leading presidential candidate in polls among active military personnel. Santa Fe Reporter News, August 10: Bikes in the Woods We All Ride Together Mountain bikers didn't mourn the establishment of the Columbine Hondo Wilderness Area, as was reported. Instead, we celebrated, along with the rest of the community, the permanent protection of a spectacular area and the establishment of a new 20-mile loop trail. With less than 2 percent wilderness, New Mexico has relatively less wilderness than other Western states. Wilderness advocates and mountain bikers share a lot of common ground and I consider myself both, just like thousands of others who cherish our country's natural treasures. ... Without the pristine views, clean water, and abundant wildlife, our life in Santa Fe would be very different. Opponents of federal public lands, like Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), will use any means to attempt to divide and conquer these groups for the purpose of allowing commercial development of our public lands. Instead, let's continue work together to honor these last wild places and also promote healthy outdoor activities for all citizens. Doug Booth Santa Fe News, August 17: Short Supply Let Them Have Meds This isn't the first time that SFR has reported about shortages of medications. The regulators' conservative philosophies are clearly more important to them than the act legalizing cannabis as medication. They're creating bigger health care disparities for low-income residents around the state. Kelly O'Donnell's market report is a real wake-up call for the industry. ... Peter St. Cyr needs to find out if lawmakers have the will to hold the bureaucrats responsible or at least provide critical oversight. Linda O'Day SFReporter.com Cover, August 17: Cannabusted Trust the Men in Blue Different parts of government aren't talking to each other. Cops should be able to arrest people for barbaric behavior disruptive to the welfare of the community. If pot is involved it would be a coincidence. Santa Fe cops can't be expected to perform intelligently under conflicting regulations. I will continue to trust their mostly good judgement. Ned Carbine SFReporter.com SFR will correct factual errors online and in print. Please let us know if we make a mistake, editor@sfreporter.com or 988-7530. Mail letters to PO Box 2306, Santa Fe, NM 87504, deliver to 132 E Marcy St., or email them to editor@sfreporter.com. Letters (no more than 200 words) should refer to specic articles in the Reporter. Letters will be edited for space and clarity. Santa Fe Reporter The unmistakable nip of fall is settling into Santa Fe mornings, the chamisa are starting to hint at turning their autumn gold and the big yellow school buses are rolling down city streets. The staff at SFR finds this the very best season for settling down with a few good books. I spent part of 2016 with my nose buried in a tattered copy of Moby Dick. Having avoided this cultural coin in the change purse of early-American literature for this long, I had always wanted to check it off my lifetime reading bucket list. It took months. It was torturous. More than once, I wanted to abandon the endeavor and trade it in for the 2014 Emoji Dick version that was "written" with the help of an automated Amazon translator. Yet, I made it to the end. (Spoiler alert: The whale wins.) We promise that the books we highlight in the following pages won't be like that. They're new works with new ideas that we think you, dear readers, will actually enjoy. Some have local connections, like the latest in the mystery novels that form the foundation for the Longmire TV series, a hiking guide with ideas for off-beat adventures where you might even learn something, and former journalist John Fleck's analysis of successful water management in New Mexico that's also an admonition to the future about community cooperation. Others are books we just really liked, such a graphic novel about Marines and a riveting exploration of genetics and ethics. And we couldn't fit all the book info we wanted to impart in just this section of the paper, so check out an Arts and Culture feature on a local publishing imprint and the Three Questions section in the calendar with former SFR columnist Rob Wilder. Finally, if you want more about Melville, don't miss a tidbit about his romance with Nathaniel Hawthorne. Happy fall, y'all. (Julie Ann Grimm) Speaking to Scars Not-quite-memoir cuts close to teen anguish that strikes young women As she labored away in an administrative position at a university creative writing program, Kathleen Glasgow was trying to write her first novel. It was not the inaugural book that she published this summer, however. The pivotal moment came on a city bus on her way to work late one Midwestern spring when she saw them: angry scars on a teenage girl's arm, scars not unlike the ones she made on her own limbs. "I didn't want to write this book. I was writing another novel, and I certainly didn't want to go back into the past and dredge up all these emotional feelings, because I have worked really hard to get beyond that and not harm myself," Glasgow tells SFR from her home in Tucson. The girl noticed that she had noticed. She tugged at her long sleeves, pulling them back into position. "I should have said something to her. I should have said to her, 'You are not alone, and I did it and I am here and you will be here later,'" she says. "And in essence, I decided that I didn't have that book growing up and I am going to write that book for girls and boys like her." Excerpt LIKE A BABY HARP SEAL, IM ALL WHITE. MY FOREARMS are thickly bandaged, heavy as clubs. My thighs are wrapped tightly, too; white gauze peeks out from the shorts Nurse Ava pulled from the lost and found box behind the nurses station. Like an orphan, I came here with no clothes. Like an orphan, I was wrapped in a bedsheet and left on the lawn of Regions Hospital in the freezing sleet and snow, blood seeping through the flowered sheet. The security guard who found me was bathed in menthol cigarettes and the flat stink of machine coffee. There was a curly forest of white hair inside his nostrils. He said, Holy Mother of God, girl, whats been done to you? My mother didnt come to claim me. But: I remember the stars that night. They were like salt against the sky, like someone spilled the shaker against very dark cloth. That mattered to me, their accidental beauty. The last thing I thought I might see before I died on the cold, wet grass. *** THE GIRLS HERE, THEY TRY TO GET ME TO TALK. They want to know Whats your story, morning glory? Tell me your tale, snail. I hear their stories every day in Group, at lunch, in Crafts, at breakfast, at dinner, on and on. These words that spill from them, black memories, they cant stop. Their stories are eating them alive, turning them inside out. They cannot stop talking. I cut all my words out. My heart was too full of them. *** I ROOM WITH LOUISA. LOUISA IS OLDER AND HER HAIR IS LIKE A red-and-gold noisy ocean down her back. Theres so much of it, she cant even keep it in with braids or buns or scrunchies. Her hair smells like strawberries; she smells better than any girl Ive ever known. I could breathe her in forever. My first night here, when she lifted her blouse to change for bed, in the moment before that crazy hair fell over her body like a protective cape, I saw them, all of them, and I sucked my breath in hard. She said, Dont be scared, little one. I wasnt scared. Id just never seen a girl with skin like mine. From Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow; 2016 by the author. Published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House, an imprint of Random House Childrens Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York. Books about depression and self-harm didn't make their way to mainstream shelves until Glasgow, now 47, was in her 20s. When she found 1994's Prozac Nation by Elizabeth Wurtzel, Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen, which had published a year earlier, and the 1999 Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, she says she felt validated. Nine years after that bus ride, Girl in Pieces made its debut. Unlike the works from Wurtzel and Kaysen, Glasgow's is not an outright memoir. Yet there are pieces of her in the plot that revolves around Charlie, a teenage girl who readers first meet mute in a psychiatric hospital. "I gave Charlie my scars and the emotions behind the scars, but her story belongs to her. Her particular trajectory in life is completely fictional and it's not mine," Glasgow says. "But when I was writing the book, I was really specific with myself that if I was going to talk about such an emotional subjectself harmthat I was going to be completely honest about it and I was going to go for broke, because not many people really understand why people do it and what it's really like." Self-harm such as Charlie's deliberate cutting of her arms and legs with broken glass is rarely suicidal, psychologists say, but people describe it as bringing a sense of relief and control, often followed by regret and shamea repeating cycle common for people with depression and victims of or witnesses to violence. Most agree it affects girls in disproportionate numbers. Glasgow says she distracted herself from some of the hard-to-handle "last gasps" of the book with binges on Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead. "There were times when I had to stop and walk away and not go back to it for three months. It's very hard. It's a subject that if you've been through it or you suffer depression, it can be pretty triggering. I had to be careful with writing it at the right times," she says. Healing come in many forms. Although it's a trite chronology for anyone who's heard their share of "the mountain called me" stories about how people land in Santa Fe, Charlie's time in our city in the novel is important in the plot. Glasgow has visited often, including during her days as a student at the University of New Mexico, she says, and her next bookalready under contract with Random Houseis set in what she describes as a fictional Northern New Mexico town. It, too, is about a teenage girl. Glasgow says she's drawn to write about young women because she feels "perpetually stuck in adolescence." Books about depression and self-harm didnt make their way to mainstream shelves until Kathleen Glasgow, now 47, was in her 20s. (Courtesy Random House) "I once read something that said the moment your addiction starts is the moment that you stop emotionally developing as a person. So if I thought about it completely, adolescence for me was a time when I had no idea who I was and I was trying to bury my past in a way and have a future, but yet I was keeping myself in the same spot by harming myself and drinking too much. Adolescence is this passionate time. You want to know about the world, and you have not quite been as pared down by experience as you will be when you are an adult. You have to round off your edges to get a job or go to school. So I think it's a brilliant time to write about and to think about." (JAG) The Hour of Land A Personal Topography of Americas National Parks Author: Terry Tempest Williams That who we are as a people, what we have become as a nation, and where and how we govern ourselves is echoed in our public lands resonates through Terry Tempest Williams' latest book, The Hour of Land. The stories of ourselves are etched in those miles, in America's "evolving idea," as Williams writes. In a book commemorating the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, created Aug. 25, 1916, Williams tours national parks from Big Bend at the Mexico border in Texas to Gates of the Arctic. Some of them provide familiar territory for Williams, like the towering peaks of Grand Teton National Park she grew up hiking. Some, like Big Bend's towering sandstone canyons, offer new terrain for her to explore. And some are made new by the company she keeps, as she returns to Gettysburg National Military Park with her adopted son from Rwanda, a survivor of the genocide there, who asks how any war can be "civil." True to her form, meditative prose poems consume some chapters and we're left only with glimpses of the sea birds. But what emerges clearly is that we are not yet done with damaging these places. We're still desecrating the few burial mounds preserved in Iowa's Effigy Mounds, threatening to slice up Big Bend in the name of a border wall to block immigration, and encroaching on the solitude Theodore Roosevelt sought in the North Dakota park that now bears his name with drilling rigs and natural gas flares. Over and over again, she makes clear the need to preserve these places, not just for the sake of the land, but for the sake of ourselves. It's not just the plants and animals that need these spaces, she insists, invoking Wallace Stegner. We need them, too. (Elizabeth Miller) The Highwayman Author: Craig Johnson Every night, at 12:34 am, Highway Patrol Trooper Rosey Wayman receives the same call for help over her patrol car radio. She'd normally rise to the occasion, but the caller's voice sounds eerily like that of Trooper Bobby Womack, who died 35 years ago. Has Wayman lost her mind, or is Womack's ghost trying to tell her something? The Highwayman is the 14th installment in Craig Johnson's Longmire series, which began in 2006, and serves as the inspiration for the popular television show, now in its fifth season, filmed at Greer Garson Studio at the Santa Fe University of Art and Design and on location throughout New Mexico. Sheriff Walt Longmire and Henry Standing Bear seek to uncover the mystery of Womack's death and affirm Wayman's sanity. Johnson's greatest strength lies with his dialogue, which comes off as folksy and natural, but don't expect him to introduce the protagonists. He doesn't spend much time describing characters or setting, leaving the reader unmoored from one scene to the next. The conclusion of the story also leaves one asking, "Oh, it was that guy?" It might be best to catch this one when they adapt it for television, but if you're looking for a carefree read peppered with snappy dialogue, it's good for a lazy afternoon. (Andrew Koss) LaRose Author: Louise Erdrich When a shot fired at a deer in the field behind his house accidentally kills his neighbor's 5-year-old son, Landreaux Iron turns to the Ojibwe traditions for a path toward atonement, and gives his youngest son to his neighbors to raise as their own. "Our son will be your son now," he and his wife declare. The roughshod justice mercilessly intertwines the two families (already tangled through estranged half-sisters) around a boy named for generations of healers. In Louise Erdrich's recognizable blending of past and present, the narrative leaps back centuries to weave in the story of the earliest namesake for the boy, LaRose. Her deft hand is again at play creating characters who feel familiar while riding far beyond the bounds of any stereotypical boxes for them. A narrative that, by certain measures, hovers around a recovered alcoholic Native American, depressed housewife, angst-ridden teenagers and a precocious child explodes into terrain that reminds us of the intractable draw of our ancestors, the inescapable reach of our own grief and how the stains of suspicion and guilt can corrupt even the boldest gesture toward redemption. Those familiar with Erdrich's previous works, including National Book Award winner The Round House, will recognize some names in this latest entry into her ongoing saga of Native and white families in North Dakota. Above all, Erdrich's work shows clear mastery in this highly literary exploration of the limits of our generosity and the rippling damage of bones badly set as they heal. (EM) Hiking to History A Guide to Off-Road New Mexico Historic Sites Author: Robert Julyan With due deference to the Sierra Club's Day Hikes in the Santa Fe Area as the dominant hiking guide for our readers, this work is a worthy addition to the outdoor reference collection for locals in that it's really only sort of a hiking guide. If you've already taken your in-laws to Bandelier too many times, the book might also up your tourism hospitality game. Robert Julyan presents essays and general directions on 22 interesting day trips that hopscotch through time and place with way more details than you find on trailhead signs or roadside markers. "I've always felt that history is best experienced on foot, if for no other reason than that was usually how it was made," he writes in the introduction. In the right crowd, you might even read parts of the short pieces aloud to your companions during the road trip. While Julyan hits the obvious highlights of state's history including the turquoise mine near Cerrillos, the Manhattan project and Billy the Kid's Wild West in Lincoln County, the spots he suggests for visits are not just off-road, as the title boasts, but also off-beat. Travel along the same road that brought New York City artists to Taos in the 1890s to a boulder that marks where a broken wagon wheel set off a reimagined creativity in the region for many easterners who would follow. Walk through the Pecos Wilderness to the picturesque meadow known as the home of Beattys Cabin and get a primer on how the elk that stalk there now are only present because of help from a herd in Wyoming when the native elk had been hunted to extinction. Not all the places are accessible for all travelers, but most don't require epic training either. Or, one could simply enjoy the encyclopedic stroll through the imagination without leaving the library. (JAG) Challenging the Wests Water Myths Journalist sets out to write the stories of adaptability and adjustment When longtime water-beat reporter John Fleck found himself spending a spare afternoon in Prague along the Vltava River, near the place where a narrow, fordable section drew people and the City of Bridges followed, the idea that water is at the core of our communities clicked into place. "If you're a journalist and a storyteller, thinking about a community and trying to understand how a community functions, you can always start with the water," Fleck says. "Water was always this central organizing principle from which everything else follows." We gravitated then, just as travelers gravitate now, to the banks of the Thames in London or the waterfront in Seattle, he says. Cities are where they are because of the water they accesslike Santa Fe, situated where the river runs out of the mountains. "If you want to understand a city, you can always start with its water and think about how it grew and evolved, how people came together collectively to manage the water, to build around it, to think about it," he says. "Then this thing happens often, and that's especially true in the West, where we kind of overshoot our water." Excerpt: Chapter 1, Rejoining the Sea The Myths The catastrophe narrative isnt just inaccurateit promotes myths that actually stand in the way of solving our problems. Most obvious is the myth that waters for fighting over. The quote is wrongly attributed to Mark Twain, but its also just plain wrong. Fighting rarely solves water problems, and scholars have found that collaborative agreements are far more common than winner-take-all fights, whether in the courts or with guns. A corollary myth is that water flows uphill toward money, as if the rich will inevitably run roughshod over their neighbors in the coming water wars. But a century of water allocation law and policy shows this is simply false for the vast majority of the water in the United States. One need simply look at farmings share of Colorado River water (some 70 to 80 percent) compared with its share of the economies of the US basin states (2 percent) to see the fallacy in that truism. The far-richer cities have far less water than their farming cousins. The most pervasive of the myths is that we are about to run out of water. Ive heard it countless times, and it usually follows a predictable pattern. Today, we need this much water to support this many people and this much farming. As either grows, well need more water, the narrative would suggest. ... [T]hat deeply held fear of running out of water feeds back into the first myths, triggering a limbic response to protect our share against others. From Water is for Fighting Over by John Fleck; citation from original omitted. 2016 by the author. Reproduced by permission of Island Press, Washington DC. In the three decades he spent reporting on water, including a long stretch at the Albuquerque Journal, perhaps the steadiest stream had predictions for drought, and then, in recent years, drought. "I realized we were confronting that drought that we always feared, and that the kind of chaos and crisis that everyone expected wasn't happening," he says. "I got really interested in the question of why that is, how that is, what is it that we're doing that's different than what I had expected, and sort of confronting my own assumptions that grew out of that apocalyptic narrative of Cadillac Desert and Chinatown." He's since left newspapers in part to have time to write a book on all he'd learned, but also to teach the next generation of water managers at the University of New Mexico. He wrote Water is for Fighting Over and Other Myths about Water in the West as a way of telling, in depth, case studies of the planes that don't crash and the cars that don't wreck: the many success stories for water management. Fleck characterizes the book as a balance to the "narrative of doom" prevailing in nonfiction about the West, pushing back with figures like that Albuquerque's per-capita water use has reduced by half since the mid-1990s; that while the population of Las Vegas, Nevada, has increased by 600,000, the city's water consumption has dropped by 33 percent, and in the farm country of Imperial Valley, on the Colorado River Basin, water use has declined 20 percent since the early 2000s. He writes about how Californian communities have collaborated on how to re-water their aquifers to keep the ocean out. "We know we have the tools to use less water. Everybody can use less water. And once we recognize that, then it's easier to compromise and collaborate with your neighbors," he says. "There's this instinct to want to go to the barricades and fight for a lot of people, but if we can get beyond that expectation of the classic quote that Mark Twain never said, that beer is for drinking and water is for fighting over, then you can create the space for collaborative solutions." When John Wesley Powell first explored the American West in the 19th century, he declared no cities could ever rise from so arid a landscape. He's right and he's wrong, Fleck says. The 20th century industriously produced a system of dams and canals that do allow for people to live in dry climates, as well as grow crops and raise livestock there. But, he adds, "We've also demonstrated that Powell was right, that we can't support as much as we thought we could. So can we, through these collaborative human relationships in our communities and our water management communities, figure out to walk ourselves back from the brink? Because if we try to keep expanding acreage and diverting more water out of our rivers, that's going to fail." There's a limit out there somewhere, and communities will have to decide which end to constrain: growth, or water consumption. "I think that's the choice that every single community faces," he says. "There is no more water, because of climate change, there is probably less water, so communities that have a water supply need to recognize that there's risk that that water supply could be smaller. And they could choose to continue to have lawns and swimming pools and palm trees and not grow, or if they want to grow, they can choose to conserve water, to use less water, to manage their water better to allow the growth that they want." John Fleck is pouring out his knowledge on Western water management. (Karl Flessa) The newest piece of that conversation about how to allocate water stems from its oldest uses, and that has meant trying to allocate some water to the rivers themselves. "This is one of the hardest parts of the problem, because we have all these legal and policy structures that were built before we had this broad set of environmental values. So figuring out how to carve out some water for thisit sounds weird to call it a new use because it's really the oldest of uses, but in our human management of water it is kind of conceptually newis really important," Fleck says. We've seen that in the Santa Fe River, which now has the Living River Ordinance, and in San Luis Rio Colorado in Mexico, where a dry riverbed in a town named for the presence of a river saw water for the first time in decades after a historic agreement among the Colorado River's shareholders led to dam releases just for that purpose. "You have to think about how to use less water in some other area in order to enable that, and these are hard conversations about values as communities," he says. Environmentalists thought it would never happen, and now they've seen it once. Doing it again may be the challenge. "I think we can," Fleck says. "If that's what we decide we care about, we can do it." (EM) Terminal Lance The White Donkey Author: Maximilian Uriarte While Marine-turned-comics artist Maximilian Uriarte draws all the characters in his new graphic novel, Terminal Lance: The White Donkey, with a high level of detail, he handles the backgrounds of locations like Hawaii, Oregon and Iraq in a sort of washed-out, dreamlike fashion. Minimal colors represented in watercolor set the mood for most scenes and make limited instances of vivid color hit much harder. The tale of a young Marine named Abe who enlists to fill some unknowable void within himself, Uriarte's creation is semi-autobiographical and acutely terrifying throughout each of its sections. Uriarte shirks the convention of graphic novel narration to focus on conversational dialog of Marines; rarely have we seen a more intimate or authentic view into the day-to-day of our armed forces. The portrayal of the actual people behind the war and their reasons to fight is stark and honest, and we learn that even mundane routines have the potential to become emotional minefields. Abe's descent from bright-eyed, optimistic youth to unraveling, explosive drunk grappling with PTSD is difficult yet movingly real. His failed attempts to re-assimilate into civilian life are disarmingly genuine and patiently crafted. Uriarte's first foray into a format longer than his recurring Terminal Lance strip (which appears in the Marine Corps Times), The White Donkey is nearly impossible to put down. As we root for characters that seem unflinchingly true to life, Abe's story remains gripping right up to the very last emotionally charged page. (Alex De Vore) The Gene An Intimate History AUTHOR: Siddhartha Mukherjee Physician Siddhartha Mukherjee masterfully traces the progression of "one of the most powerful and dangerous ideas in the history of science." This story begins in 19th-century Austria, where an Augustinian abbot named Gregor Mendel quietly established the rules of inheritance. From that point, Mukherjee invites readers to discover every major insight of genetics alongside the scientists who brought them to light. The author, who won a Pulitzer prize for The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer, writes a scientific procedural as thrilling as any mystery novel, each revelationfrom the discovery of DNA to a complete map of the human genomerepresenting another piece of the puzzle. Along the way, Mukherjee explores some of the social consequences of genetics. On one side of the coin, we've sequenced diseases, found a scientific basis for sexual preference and traced all humans to a common African ancestor. On the other: Carrie Buck and Hitler. And then there are the ethics of now. Scientists are on the cusp of "broadly manipulating" the genome of a human embryo. It's technology that could potentially eliminate certain diseases, like Huntington's and cystic fibrosis, while also paving our way to designer babies. Coming from a lineage speckled with mental illness, Mukherjee is intimately connected to his subject. Stories of his family's struggles with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia weave throughout the scientific narrative, adding a personal touch to the story, and perhaps offering readers a point of connection. (Steven Hsieh) Mongrels Author: Stephen Graham Jones The troubles with being a werewolf in modern Americas are multifoldnot only are there the standard-issue gauntlets of hunting and being chased for having hunted, but there are the woes of holding down a job, maintaining a credit score, keeping school records and retrieving shed clothing. There is, as well, the ongoing worry of getting caught. Werewolves, Stephen Graham Jones posits in Mongrels, must have to move a lot. Mongrels, Jones' latest in a line of more than 20 books and his first successful foray into the subgenre, is the offspring of a class he taught at the University of Colorado focused on werewolves. He told Westword, "I had so much werewolf stuff in my head. I had to unpack it. I finally had enough nerve to tackle what I saw as my big werewolf novel, the one I was meant to write." The story is of a transient, mismatched family: the narrator is raised by his aunt and uncle, his mother having died the day he was born, as is expected in werewolf families. They traverse the southern portions of America, avoiding snowfall as they roam from the house in Arkansas where the narrator's storytelling grandfather dies mid-morph, prematurely aged out of existence at 55 and already too old to continuing "wolfing out." All the while, the narrator edges toward age 16 and the answer to the question that should, by then, arrivewhether he'll transform, like his aunt and uncle do, or whether, as was the case with his mother, the genes have skipped him. And which side does he want to land on anyway? It's not all trouble and terror, as Jones layers in a good dose of the humor no doubt required by a contingent that suffers great difficulty keeping tabs on a pair of pants. (EM) Santa Fe Reporter A former trustee for the Wellington Tenths Trust has told Ngatata Love's fraud trial that he was ok with the idea that "consultants" could be paid a $3 million fee for negotiating a deal with property developers. Former Tenths Trust chair Love is charged with obtaining a secret commission and obtaining significant sums by deception. The Crown says he signed an agreement in late 2006 with Auckland property developers Redwood Group and Equinox Group to ensure they could lease land owned by the Tenths Trust, and that he received service fees through Pipitea Street Development Limited (PSDL), a company owned by his companion Lorraine Skiffington, without the trusts knowledge. That money is said to have been used to repay a property loan. The final defence witness, Grant Knuckey, a former trustee of the Tenths Trust when Love was chairman, said he would have expected there to be a payment to the consulting group for negotiating with the developers on the Trust's behalf. "Oh absolutely, we couldn't do it ourselves," Knuckey said in the High Court at Wellington yesterday. "The risk was too great, we didn't have the team, we would have had to go out and hire a lot of people." Asked by Love's lawyer, Colin Carruthers QC, what his response would be if he was told the payment for those services totalled $3 million, Knuckey said that he thought that was part of the $75 million cost of building - "it was a development cost" - and it wasn't a cost to the trust. Earlier in the hearing and in his third day in the witness box, Love was asked by crown prosecutor Grant Burston about a joint venture partnership document which discussed the relationship between PSDL and Pipitea St Limited and showed PDSL loaned $1.5 million for the purchase of the Love and Skiffington's Moana Rd, Plimmerton property. The document, created in November 2010, was found on Love's laptop by the Serious Fraud Office, Burston said, though Love said he hadn't much used the laptop and denied he had written it. "I wish I could prepare a document like that, but I couldn't, and it's certainly not my creation," Love said. "I didn't create this document, I physically wouldn't know how to do that in terms of a computer." Throughout the document, the author used the terms "we" and "us" about the developer payment negotiations, and refers to correspondence Skiffington had by saying "you". The Crown says the document must have been written by Love, with "we" referring to him and Skiffington, something which Love denied. "Lorraine Skiffington was not the author, the only other person who would have written this document found on your laptop," Burston said. "You were confirming you and Lorraine used the funds to purchase Moana Road." Love said he hadn't made the document, and said the questions in the document sounded more like they had come from Shaan Stevens. The trial continues today with both sides set to sum up their cases. 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: SKO - FY23 Interim Results Announcement Date - 23 November 2022 Downer awarded $490 million road maintenance contract SKC - 2022 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS AND TRADING UPDATE TCL - Result of AGM TradeWindow secures U.S. footprint with FoodChain ID October 28th Morning Report October 25th Morning Report Mainfreight Investor Day / Market Update GFI - Greenfern - Offer closes 27th Oct MCY - Quarterly Operational Update Vigil Monitoring, the digital healthcare company founded by Ray Avery and Alan Brannigan, is changing its name to Jupl as it expands into Australia. The companys cloud-based technology platform, backed by Spark and Bupa, records health and activity level details about patients who are living independently by connecting wirelessly to devices such as smartphones or smartwatches. Details are uploaded and notifications sent to healthcare providers, saving labour costs and providing better monitoring. Brannigan said the Vigil Monitoring name was well-regarded locally but didnt encompass everything the company does. The name Jupl is a play on the word duple, relating to connecting two people. We are more than just monitoring. We connect carers, family and friends with their loved ones by providing personal biometric data in real-time, he said. The company has just developed a new app which its healthcare provider customers will sell, allowing information to be passed on to families and caregivers wherever they are in the world. Jupl is paid a licensing fee per active user from its three New Zealand customers who include global healthcare provider Bupa and charitable organisation St John. Also under development and due for release later this year is another product linking healthcare providers to patients beyond the gate, i.e., when they move outside their homes. The Personal Emergency Responses Systems (PERS) market is predicted to grow at double-digit rates in the near future. The World Health Organisation forecasts the number of people expected to live past 65 years will reach 1.5 billion by 2050 globally and thats causing a steadily increasing demand for home healthcare services, of which the PERS is a key component, Brannigan said. Jupl has opened an office in Australia and is now ramping up expansion in that market through its partnership with Bupa and one with another large player its due to announce in a couple of weeks, to provide the hardware for its software technology. Next year the company plans to expand into other international markets, in particular the UK and Europe, funded by a near-$4 million capital fund-raising round in early 2017. Jupl has focused on the PERS market, which is funded by governments and insurers, but its technology can also be adapted to other remote social and health data environments once it becomes clear who would pay for it, Brannigan said. Established four years ago, Jupl is already profitable, Brannigan said, declining financial details. It has had around $1 million in government research and development funding grants and attracted $5 million in investment from Spark Ventures, Sparks internal unit focused on developing new technologies, in 2013 and a further $5 million in 2014 from Bupa. Spark and Bupa own about 30 percent and 19 percent respectively. Brannigan has retained a 10 percent share and Avery 8.6 percent. 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: SKO - FY23 Interim Results Announcement Date - 23 November 2022 Downer awarded $490 million road maintenance contract SKC - 2022 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS AND TRADING UPDATE TCL - Result of AGM TradeWindow secures U.S. footprint with FoodChain ID October 28th Morning Report October 25th Morning Report Mainfreight Investor Day / Market Update GFI - Greenfern - Offer closes 27th Oct MCY - Quarterly Operational Update BENGALURU: The digitalized world is functioning through websites where, even the basic necessities of life can be obtained through them. People are creating their own website to target the audiences about their products and services. However, at the same time a question arises in mind; are the audiences being aware of the website? Or how many of them actually visited the website? To answer the questions, YOURSTORY gives inputs on the four different ways to figure out how people find the website on Google. According to YOURSTORY, these are the four ways to determine the overall traffic behavior in your website. SEO Monitor The SEO platform combines data from Google Analytics and Google Search Console. In addition, the platform uses SEO monitor to extract and canvas up to 1, 20,000 keywords. It further gives an idea of the number of people visiting your site and moreover, gives tips on where to allocate time and also the ways to increase traffic. Notprovided.org This website uses PHP in order to reclaim organic search keyword data. The method of retrieving is processed through utilizing already-available code from Googles API library. The code is about to be made open source soon. Your sites search function If your website is enabled with a search function, than using personal on site function is an ideal option to look for things. Search option should be configured with Google Analytics to understand the visitors needs and what they are exactly searching for. It can further help in optimizing the website according to the visitor reviews. Ask your site visitors Any website entirely depends on the audience review. Like the way in the pop-us and email subscriptions, its better to ask the viewers about the medium they used in finding the website. The medium can include social networking, through a friend or the internet. Even a limited number of response helps in understanding the audiences search behavior. These valid ways gives a better understanding of how the audiences find the website and it further allows in optimizing the website. Read Also: Jivi Mobiles Starts Production In Delhi Facility NiFCO To Raise $50mn Through Offshore Fund In 4-5 Months NEW DELHI: India and the U.S. are looking at ways to cooperate at the consular level in events of crisis like natural disasters where the two countries can help each other in providing information about their citizens. Michele Bond, US Assistant Secretary of state for Consular Affairs, also welcomed India's efforts to bring in a legislation in line with the Hague Abduction Convention. She is in India for an annual Consular Dialouge. The issue of H-1B visa also discussed between the two countries. "Our thought is our governments might look at how we can cooperate on planning for the kinds of regional events that we want to be prepared to respond in a well coordinated and well planned way. "Because there are things that happen, say if we take the big tsunami some years ago where every country in the region is going to involved in responding, everyone is going to have citizens, ... We have citizens who are involved. "Any kind of crisis where multiple governments need to be informed about...We see lot of example of natural and other kind of disasters where people who are involved need good information and their family members are frantically trying to find out where are they...Are they ok?," she said. Regarding a legislation on H-1B and L Visa Reform Act of 2016 pending in the US Congress, Bond said over 70 per cent of the H1-B visas go to Indians. Recently the visa fees for H-1B were also raised. The Indian IT sector had raised concerns about the legislation, which hurt its revenue model. She also said that there is no drop in visa applications. "We did talk about those visas and it is very important to recognise what success story the H-1B and L visas are. Indians citizens receive almost 70 per cent of the all H-1B visas worldwide. So it is over-whelming Indian applicants are one the ones successful in qualifying for these visas," Bond said. She said increasing business to business ties, providing efficient and prompt assistance to business travellers on B-1 and H-I visas is a "big priority" for the US. She added that as for the L visas, Indian citizens receive approximately 30 per cent of all L issued worldwide. Noting that India stands second after Mexico in terms of cases related to parental abduction in the US, the senior US official said it hoped India joins the Hague Convention on Parental Abduction soon. The 1980 Hague Convention on Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction facilities the prompt return of abducted children to their country of habitual residence and helps deter international parental child abduction. India is not a party to it, but has come up with a draft legislation on International Child Removal and Retention Bill 2016 and has sought responses on it. Bond said in September senior US official Susan Jacob will be in India and will be discussing the issue. "We encourage India to continue its progress toward accession because we genuinely believe its a significant issue to this country," Bond said, adding that US currently has 80 such cases of child abduction and is related to India. The issue also figured in the joint statement between India and the US during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit in last June. Read Also: India Highest Recipient Of H-1B Visas: U.S. Official U.S. To Issue Long-Awaited Diwali Postal Stamp BENGALURU: During school days, you might have read about freedom fighters, but at that age we may not have paid much attention towards the minute details taught related to the independence struggleplaces, date, significance and many more. Listed are some of the places that still flash history in front of your eyes: Fort of Jhansi: The Fort of Jhansi is situated over the hill called Bangira in Uttar Pradesh once served as a remarkable stronghold for Chandela Kings. As time passed, the fort witnessed many administrators one of which was Raja Gangadhar Rao, married to Manikarnika Tambe (Lakshmi Bai). After the death of her husband Lakshmi Bai ruled Jhansi and she lead the Jhansi forces against the British East India Company. On April 4 1858, Jhansi was besieged by the British forces lead by General Hugh Rose. During this siege Rani Lakshmi Bai was able to escape on horseback but was later captured when she tried to defend the Gwalior Fort. Cellular Jail: This jail is also known as Kala Pani and was a colonial prison in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It was built to exile political prisoners which included Batukeshwar Dutt and Veer Savarkar who along with other freedom fighters struggled for independence. Sabarmati Ashram: Located on the banks of Sabarmati River in Gujarat, Sabarmati Ashram is known to be the residence of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and his wife Kasturba Gandhi. Gandhi led the Dandi march also known as the Salt Satyagraha from this Ashram on 12 March 1930. Red Fort: For nearly 200 years, Red Fort was the residence of Mughal emperor until 1857. On 7 October 1858 British troops took over the fort and looted it, one of the loots included Koh-i-Noor diamond, Jade Wine cup of Shah Jahan, and Crown of Bahadur Shah II. After independence, the Red Fort is used as a military cantonment. Aga Khan Fort: This fort is situated near Kalyani nagar in Pune and was built by Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan III in 1892. The fort was used as a prison to hold freedom fighters who were arrested during the Quit India Movement in 1945. Jallianwala Bagh: Jallianwala Bagh is a maidan (Open Ground) in Amritsar which is enclosed by high walls. On 13 April 1919 General Dyer unleashed British soldiers who fired 1600 rounds over large group of crowd including man, women and children. This bloodshed was so brutal that even today you can see the bullets engraved on the walls. Read Also: College Expeditions which You will Reminisce for the Rest of Your Lives How are Food Trucks Gaining Immense Popularity? McMahon Wagner.jpg Conservative Chairman Harold Wagner watches as Democrat Michael McMahon thanks the party for backing him for the DA race in 2015. (Staten Island Advance/Rachel Shapiro) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - A group of about 100 insurgent Staten Islanders challenging the Conservative Party establishment has been dealt a blow, as three courts have ruled against them in their quest to knock members off the county committee. Calling themselves the "Freedom Caucus" of the Conservative county committee, the group of 100 + people recently circulated petitions to get on the body and change how it runs, who its leaders are and which candidates it supports. About 50 will get on the committee, filling vacant seats, while around 80 will face primaries on Sept. 13 against establishment county committee members. The group challenged the petitions of 55 of the establishment members who filed with the Board of Elections, taking issue with misspelled names, incorrect addresses and not enough valid signatures. But without having challengers living in the same election district as the petitioners, the Board of Elections, citing election law, didn't grant standing for the challenges to proceed. Representing the group in a legal battle is attorney Richard Luthmann, a Democrat on the outs with party leaders. The legal counsel for petitioner in the case, Sam Pirozzolo, Luthmann argued to the courts that while Pirozzolo didn't have legal standing to challenge establishment petitions, the election law should be interpreted more broadly. Those living in the larger Assembly district should be granted standing, he argued. A judge in the Supreme Court disagreed, as did a panel of four judges in the appellate division of the Supreme Court. A third, the Court of Appeals, refused to hear the case at all. "We presented a strong case and the Board of Elections' conduct was replete with incongruities and outright errors," Luthmann said Tuesday after the Court of Appeals declined to hear the case. The Board of Elections would not comment on the litigation. While its clerks' reports for the 55 petitions acknowledged the errors that could have invalidated the petitions, without a challenger with standing, the petitions remain valid. "The courts are supposed to uphold the integrity of the elections process," Luthmann said. "Going forward, I think we have to look to the federal court for the forum on these issues." While there were 55 petitions with errors, the case brought to the court only included seven in the 63rd Assembly District, as it would have been cost prohibitive otherwise, Luthmann said. While Pirozzolo lives in the 63rd Assembly District, he doesn't live in the same election district as any of the seven. Conservative Chairman Harold Wagner said, while "they gained a little ground" by getting about 50 members into vacant slots, the fight comes down to approximately 84 primaries that will occur on Sept. 13, wherein registered Conservatives will vote in the tiny, obscure races -- each election district will only have a handful of eligible voters. "It's anybody's gain, really," he said. He estimates having about 195 county committee member slots to the approximately 50 the insurgents are guaranteed. "I think we did fairly well in court, as far as that goes," he said. "We have quite a few people guaranteed on the county committee ... they have a few people guaranteed." His criticism with the new members is that they're not "real Conservatives." "They are people who were at one time or another Republicans," he said. Asked whether he'll welcome in the new members begrudgingly, Wagner said, "We need workers, there's no question about it. I hope they're dedicated and work together." He previously responded to the threat of a takeover by mobilizing his own members against a "raid." In one letter to members earlier this year, Wagner warned of the planned takeover after a bitter battle in the district attorney's race. In that race, Democrat Michael McMahon was given party backing, but Republican Joan Illuzzi won the party line away from him in a opportunity to ballot primary election. McMahon went on to win the general election. At the time, Conservative Chairman Emeritus James Molinaro, the former borough president with a strong grip on the party, castigated Republicans for helping Illuzzi take the line away from his party. "These Republicans are not Conservatives, they do not share our values and they are ultimately hoping to take over our party and make us a mere 'rubber stamp' for their choices," Wagner wrote in a March letter. "That would be disastrous for both parties and would undermine the very reason for our party's existence as an independent voice for Conservative values and principles." In a second letter, he asked people not to sign petitions for the challengers. "The insurgent group that may also circulate petitions does NOT have the support of any of the elected officials." UPDATE 9:15 p.m.: Hylan now clear for travel STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A man was struck and seriously injured in Dongan Hills Tuesday evening, according to a spokesman for the FDNY. The incident happened at approximately 5:38 p.m. at the intersection of Hylan Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue, and the person struck was transported to Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze, the spokesman said. No vehicles were being allowed down Hylan past Burgher Avenue in the direction of Tottenville after the accident because of an investigation being conducted by police. Several helicopters were hovering overhead in the area. The driver of the gray jeep that struck the man remained at the scene. Jasmine Bermudez, who police were speaking to as a witness, said the man was crossing at Atlantic Avenue against traffic when the grey jeep saw him and attempted to avoid striking him. She described him as an older man, and said the injuries seemed severe. "I can't believe he flipped like that," Bermudez said. There is no crosswalk at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Hylan Boulevard because of a median divide. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- "U.S. Under Attack" screamed the bold headline on the front page of the Advance on Sept. 11, 2001. "Terror planes slam into the towers, Washington also hit." The earliest images said it all: A fireball hitting the World Trade Center, black smoke billowing from the skyline, heavily armed cops, panic at Ground Zero. Because of the Advance's publication time in 2001, it was the only paper on the East Coast to carry same-day coverage of the attacks. Another headline, "On the Scene: Panic and Fear," told the first-person account of former Advance reporter Jill Gardiner, who was on her way to the newsroom from her apartment on East 28th Street. She parked her car for a closer look, and headed toward the ferry. "At this point, lines for the pay phones stretched 25 deep and people were growing more frantic," she wrote. "The sound of a third explosion sent people running, including me, in all directions. A pit had formed in the bottom of my stomach as I realized that I'm completely alone and anonymous in Lower Manhattan and have no way to get in touch with my family, my friends or my office." On Sept. 12, 2001, the Advance carried a dramatic image: A photo of Ground Zero with people covered in ash and soot, the street war-torn. The Associated Press photographer chose to capture this moment in black and white. The headline beneath the photo read: "America trembles and seethes after terror attacks in New York and D.C. This was the text. "There could be thousands dead. Hundreds could be Staten Islanders. Today, a day after the most egregious terror attack on the United States, no one knows. We do know that the incomprehensible devastation has deeply touched our community. The Staten Island Fire Department's elite Rescue 5 unit raced into the firestorm yesterday morning. The 11-member team has not yet returned to Staten Island. Fire Battalion Chief Charles Kasper is listed officially as missing. Families from St. George to Tottenville were wracked with pain, and then overjoyed, as they received telephone calls from loved ones with a simple message, "I'm OK. " Others were not as fortunate and still wait. The stories that will unfold will forever change our lives and the world in which we live. Today, the Advance begins its attempt to tell those stories. What you will read and see today will make your heart ache. It is the first day that Staten Island and America try to overcome the numbness that engulfed us yesterday while trying to understand how it all happened. And why?" In the days that followed, our front pages displayed the faces, the seemingly endless toll of Staten Islanders either missing or killed in the attacks. As the years passed, both our front pages and those inside the Advance, and also on SIL ive.com, continued to tell the stories of the memorials, the stories of the men and women who went to war, and the stories of a borough forever changed. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Police seek the public's help identifying a man sought for questioning in connection with a stolen wallet earlier this month. On Aug. 6 at around 10 p.m., an unidentified man removed a 67-year-old woman's wallet from the counter at the Dunkin Donuts at 770 Forest Ave., West Brighton, according to a written statement from the NYPD's Deputy Commissioner of Public Information office. A day later, the man, police said, used the credit and debit cards in the wallet to make $384.64 worth of unauthorized purchases. Some of those purchases were at the following Staten Island locations: $35.24 at Burger King at 20 Willowbrook Road in Port Richmond Center $41 worth of Gatorade, cigarettes and cigars at the 7-Eleven on 1705 Richmond Ave. in Graniteville $42.95 at Bagels Bread and Butter at 732 Forest Ave. in West Brighton Police released surveillance photos of the man wanted for questioning taken in the 7-Eleven, the statement said. The unidentified man is described as white and in his 20s. Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS or 888-57-PISTA (74782) for Spanish. The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- When charged with embezzling $75,000 from her employer, a South Beach woman told cops "desperate times call for desperate measures." Lisa Legere will have up to three years behind bars to mull that strategy after pleading guilty to grand larceny. Legere, then 35, was busted on Oct. 14 of last year. Cops said she had stolen cash from Port Richmond-based Command HVAC II between Oct. 1, 2014, and July 1, 2015, while working as a bookkeeper. Over the course of those nine months, she wrote 20 checks to herself from a company bank account, a criminal complaint said. When questioned by police, Legere said, "Desperate times call for desperate measures... I did this for two months... stealing became an addiction.... I paid bills with it," according to the complaint. Previously, in June 2011, Legere was arrested on similar charges. Prosecutors alleged she racked up nearly $24,000 in personal purchases on a company credit card over two years while working for Jordan General Contracting. Court papers said Legere paid her cell phone bills with the credit card, and bought electronics, accessories, clothing and books for herself and her children. She was convicted of third-degree grand larceny in that case, and received five years' probation, said a law enforcement source with knowledge of the case. A Command HVAC II representative previously told the Advance she didn't know about Legere's past arrest when the company hired her. In the latest case, Legere pleaded guilty in Criminal Court to fourth-degree grand larceny, a felony. In exchange for her plea, she'll be sentenced Dec. 6 to 18 months to three years in prison. In addition, a judgment of restitution in the amount of $87,367 will be entered against her, said prosecutors. Said Mark J. Fonte, Legere's lawyer, "My client is extremely remorseful for her conduct and understands that she will suffer the consequences of her actions." Legere remains free on $10,000 bond, according to online state court records. 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 Emerging middle class to expand by a billion people Updated: 2016-08-24 07:38 By ZHU WENQIAN A grandfather reads stories to his granddaughter at a library in Beijing. The middle class read more than the national average by a large margin. [Photo by Wang Jing/Asianewsphoto] US public relations firm Ogilvy & Mather identified 12 emerging markets that will be key to middle-class consumer growth over the next decadeshowing a shift to South Asia as the epicenter of future middle-class growth, according to its new report released in Beijing on Tuesday. The South Asian markets focus principally on India, but include Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Indonesia and the Philippines. The vast arc of future growth extends up to China, and to Egypt, Nigeria, Mexico and Brazil in the other direction. In the next 10 years, these 12 markets will be the source of the next billion middle-class consumers, Ogilvy & Mather said. They will create a critical tipping point as the middle class moves from a minority to the majority of the local population in many of these markets. "The research shows the world as it will be in the not-too-distant future. A billion new middle-class members will literally change its shape. It will become, for instance, much more orientated to South Asia, especially India," said Miles Young, chairman and CEO of Ogilvy & Mather. "Most Western businesses simply are not used to thinking this way. This means finding a new lexicon of growth, as the phrase 'emerging market' now doesn't fully describe the new realities. 'Velocity' better describes the real transformation in these markets." Ogilvy & Mather said that the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) index of markets has outlived its usefulness. The new ranking provides a different perspective on future global growth and challenges some of the outdated notions about emerging markets. The research, which measures middle-class growth in terms of income, rather than assets, used a purchasing power parity methodology to equalize the purchasing power of different currencies. It also assessed markets based on the velocity of growth and change. Some companies have grossly underestimated this factor in their global growth plans. "These new dynamics are particularly relevant to China and Chinese businesses as they look to grow their footprint along the route of the Belt and Road Initiative and beyond. Successfully executing this expansion is critical for China's transition to a new model for growth in the 21st century," Young said. The report, which was conducted for the first time, surveyed 3,600 consumers from the 12 markets. It also addresses a range of social, cultural, technological and lifestyle trends. Wang Wen, executive dean of the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China, said: "The report helped address the transformation of brands and provides more information on those new and less familiar markets to the public. Entrepreneurship will also alter trade and investment patterns in these markets." German Jan Frodeno crushed the long course world record* of 7:41:33 (set by Andreas Raelert) with a fantastic time of 7:35:39, and Swiss Daniela Ryf won the women's title in an impressive 8:22:04 and finished 9th overall at the 2016 Datev Challenge Roth. After the bike Ryf was ahead of the women's world record time of 8:18:13 set by Chrissie Wellington in 2009, but in the end fell just about 4 minutes short. In the men's race on the other hand Jan Frodeno was on record pace all along and swam 45:22, biked 4:08:07 and ran 2:39:18 on a cool and fairly wind mellow day. The men Prior to the race some folks had predicted that Frodeno's friend and training partner Nick Kastelein might be pacing the German Wunderkind through the swim in the Europakanal, but Frodeno quickly dropped all other competitors including Kastelein and built up a 90-second lead by the time he came out of the water ahead of defending champion Nils Frommhold and Kastelein. His 45:22 swim split was just about one minute quicker than the 2011 time of Andreas Raelert. Frodeno wasted no time on his new Canyon Speedmax CF SLX bike either and quickly pulled away further. Tyler Butterfield managed to bridge up to Frommhold and Kastelein, and these 3 athletes rode in a group for most of the bike segment, but Frommhold pulled away towards the end. When Frommhold arrived in T2 he learned that the 2015 Ironman World Champion was more than 10 minutes up the road, despite a reported small crash. Frodeno had in fact ridden a race best 4:08:07 bike split. Kastelein and Butterfield were next into transition and they were followed by Cyril Viennot and the hard charging Joe Skipper who were more than 21 minutes behind Frodeno. Per Bittner, Jan Raphael and Henry Beck followed next having lost around 28 minutes each. But maybe just as important for Frodeno, he was up 4 minutes on the elusive world record pace The wicked pace of Frodeno continued during the run and the gap to the chasers grew larger and larger. A bit further back however Joe Skipper was on a mission and slowly reeled in folks in front of him. He first passed Viennot and not much later Butterfield for fourth place. With about 14k to go Skipper moved past Kastelein who was racing in his first long course race, and then hunted after the defending champion Frommhold. At the front of the race Frodeno looked fantastic and ran a superb 2:39:18 to take the win in a world record time of 7:35:39 and looked thrilled when he crossed the finish. Joe Skipper's race best 2:38:52 run allowed him to move past Frommhold with one km to go and capture the runner-up spot in 7:56:23. Frommhold finished 3rd in 7:57:49. The women Daniela Ryf was first out of the water in 49:10 and only the top 3 men managed to swim faster. Ryf was thus quickly out of sight for her competitors. Michelle Vesterby, Carrie Lester and Anja Beranek needed just under 52:30 for the 3.8k swim segment in the Europakanal. Vesterby, Beranek and Lester were chasing hard on the bikes, but the Swiss pro pulled further and further away and rode well among the pro men. Vesterby then had some bike problems and dropped back. Meanwhile the defending champion Yvonne Van Vlerken managed to close the gap to Beranek and Lester about an hour into the bike segment. But the Swiss Ironman World Champion recorded a race best 4:31:29 bike split and that allowed her to start the run well out of reach, and about 10 minutes below the 2009 World Record pace of Chrissie Wellington. Ryf ran well too and recorded a race best run of 2:57:40 to take the win in 8:22:04. Carrie Lester ran 3:03:38 to capture second place in 8:42:13 and Yvonne Van Vlerken rounded out the podium with a 3:10:58 run and a total time of 8:49:35. 2016 DATEV Challenge Roth Roth, Germany / July 17, 2016 Top men 1. Jan Frodeno (GER) 7:35:39 ** 2. Joe Skipper (GBR) 7:56:23 3. Nils Frommhold (GER) 7:57:49 4. Cyril Viennot (FRA) 8:02:44 5. Nick Kastelein (AUS) 8:05:03 Top women 1. Daniela Ryf (SUI) 8:22:04 2. Carrie Lester (AUS) 8:42:13 3. Yvonne Van Vlerken (NED) 8:49:35 4. Laura Siddall (GBR) 8:51:59 5. Anja Beranek (GER) 9:00:20 * Prior to race the Challenge Roth organizing team set up a media and moto meeting and put very strict rules on media and other motorbikes so that athletes at the front of the race would not have an unfair drafting advantage. All vehicles were told to have a minimum 25 meter gap when riding in front and 3 meters to the side, and the Roth team added security bikes to makes sure everything was kosher and there would not be any grey area in case of a record. ** World Record Time The Islamic School of Canberra says it is struggling to stay afloat after months without Commonwealth funding and remains in the dark about if and when it will be restored. The embattled school in Weston was stripped of $1.1 million of annual federal funding in April and has since relied on funding from the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, which operates the school, to make up some of its shortfall. Chair of the Islamic School of Canberra Azra Khan says the loss of Commonwealth support has taken its toll on the school. Credit:Jay Cronan Chair of the Islamic School of Canberra Azra Khan says the loss of Commonwealth support and delays in decisions about future funding has taken its toll on the school, which can barely pay its staff and operating costs. "We have delayed payments to a number of suppliers and a lot of bills haven't yet been paid including electricity, telephone, internet, insurance, and we are having to reach outside the normal stream of funding for staffing salaries," she said. The National Australia Day Council has promised to hold a "major public event" in Canberra following significant backlash to its dumping of the Australia Day Live concert. The decision to drop the concert prompted swift and significant condemnation from both sides of politics on Wednesday, amid fears it would shut ordinary Australians out of Australia Day celebrations. Josh Frampton, 9, of Nicholls, at the Australia Day Live concert last year. Credit:Rohan Thomson ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr threatened to withdraw future funding from the council, and Liberal cabinet minister Zed Seselja sought an intervention from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Mr Barr and Australia Day Council chair Ben Roberts-Smith spoke on Wednesday afternoon, agreeing to work together on a new public event for Australia Day. Christine Nolan is well-known in Canberra for her previous role as executive director of the Office for Children, Youth and Family Support for the ACT Government, responsible for child protection, youth justice and family support. Since February last year, she has been chief executive officer of Breast Cancer Network Australia, the peak national organisation for Australians affected by breast cancer. Caitlin Moorhouse, who has bowel cancer, with her mother and CEO of Breast Cancer Network Australia, Christine Nolan, at the Pink Lady luncheon at the National Gallery on Wednesday. Credit:Elesa Kurtz She has been based in Melbourne to be close to her daughter Caitlin Moorhouse who is fighting her own cancer battle stage four bowel cancer. The Canberra Times spoke to Caitlin earlier this year about her diagnosis which came soon after the birth of her first child, Violet, with husband David. LJ Hooker, Harvey Norman and AirAsia have been revealed as the most complained about NSW businesses in July. The rankings were the first to be released in the newly launched Complaints Register, from NSW Fair Trading. The register, which will be published online monthly, identifies all NSW businesses that have been the subject of 10 or more complaints in a month. Growthpoint Properties has shelved the decision to sell its $145 million industrial portfolio and will instead undertake discussions with major tenant Woolworths about its lease at the distribution centre in the NSW-Victorian border town of Albury-Wodonga. The portfolio, which also includes three properties in Melbourne's western suburbs, was put to the market in May and was under due diligence with some potential buyers. But one party withdrew and another wanted only selected assets. Growthpoint will engage with Woolworths over long-term leasing arrangements in Albury-Wodonga. Growthpoint chief executive Tim Collyer confirmed at the company's results on Monday that following the breakdown in the sale process, it was felt best to withdraw. "We have decided to keep the industrial portfolio and will engage in a conversation with Woolworths about their long-term occupancy plans for the distribution centre at Albury-Wodonga," he said. Silk Road economic forum kicks off in Tehran Updated: 2016-08-24 14:37 (Xinhua) TEHRAN - A forum titled "Silk Road Economic Belt" kicked off in Iran's capital Tehran on Tuesday with its focus on the friendly exchanges and cooperation between China and the Islamic republic. China and Iran are both countries with great civilization, and the long history of friendly exchanges between them has laid a solid foundation for the Silk Road Economic Belt initiative, He Xingliang, counselor of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, said at the forum held in Tehran's Niavaran Cultural Center. There are great potential and broad prospects in bilateral cooperation, especially in the fields of resources and technology, the Chinese official said. For his part, Head of Iran-China Friendship Association Ahmad Mohammadi hailed the role of China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative in the interaction between Iran and China. Mohammadi said the interaction between the two countries has long existed, but has taken new dimensions with the initiative. "The proposal has been well received in Iran, and the Islamic republic is preparing to accept the proposal," Mohammadi said. In order to implement the project, the first step is to establish a secretariat of the project in China, he said, adding that it can be followed by sessions of the secretariat with the representatives from the participation states. Meanwhile, deputy head of the faculty of international relations of Iran's Foreign Ministry, Mohammad Reza Dehshiri, said the Belt and Road Initiative is aimed at creating a friendly environment for better neighborhood in terms of political, economical and security dimensions. The Islamic republic is determined to actively participate in the project, and believes that joining the plan would help the regional and international economic development, Dehshiri said. On Tuesday, a Chinese cultural festival opened in Tehran with the aim to promote China-Iran exchange and cooperation. The one-week event, titled "2016 Experience China in Iran," features China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region through a photo exhibition and cultural activities. Ideas for the collective noun for ducks swimming in unison (C8) flood in. "The tune those ducks are gracefully swimming to would be 'Unchained Mallardy'," says George Manojlovic, of Mangerton. An aerobics class of ducks suggests Adam Fitzgerald, of West Footscray, and a daffy of ducks from Tony Clarke. A Tchaikovsky of ducks, all swimming to Swan Lake suggests Barry Galbraith, Cranebrook, with similar from Wendy Bull, North Turramurra. "I suggest we call such a synchronicity," says Michael Sparks, C8 PhD, Braddon. "My suggestion is inspired by events I recently watched during a large sporting carnival in Brazil." Helpfully, Bill McCaffrey, Concord, adds: "I do not know what collection of ducks is, but a collection of prostitutes is An Anthology of Pros." Now to growing old gracefully. "Having reached a certain biblical age, I've started a 'life's too short for ...' list," reveals Margaret Stuart of Moss Vale. "Here's the beginning of it and growing by the day. Life's too short for: teabags, instant coffee, cheap loo paper, bad wine and plastic kettles." There's more. "My father was a little surprised to receive a letter from the sheriff's office telling him that he is on the jury list and may be called for jury duty. The letter advised that jury duty is a rewarding responsibility and a fundamental part of our justice system. My dad has no disagreement with that. However, there is an age issue Alfred Powell received the letter at Tamworth Nursing Home where he has lived for almost five years. In my reply I enclosed a copy of my father's birth certificate September 16, 1908. Yes, he's Australia's oldest male resident and will be 108 next month. Although of sound mind and still mobile, he believes that the task is a little beyond him!" League table matters. "If successful what I would want as a prize is an autographed photo of the board of directors of Column 8. Which will be framed and revered," says Richard Stewart OAM, Pearl Beach. (C8: Many of the board are still flying back business class from Rio but we'll suggest it.) "As a long-time contributor to Column 8, strictly for the purpose of amusing and edifying (and who has not entered your 'League table' contest) may I suggest a Vanity Set as a suitable prize for the winner." Kevin Harris, Beecroft. The National Australia Day Council's decision to unilaterally cancel the ACT's hugely popular annual Australia Day Live concert appears to be nothing less than another example of Canberra bashing. The irony is while other states and territories have been eyeing off the event nobody comes out of this a winner. The 'Australia Day in the Capital' concert will replace the previous national event which was held outside Parliament House. Credit:Rohan Thomson The long-running concert isn't going to be moved to a new permanent home or even rotated from state to state. It will simply die a sudden death, killing off a very popular annual outing that celebrates the national day in the national capital. The City of Sydney Liberal "team" handpicked by lobbyists and powerbrokers deserves scrutiny. The Herald has taken the first look under the covers with its story about the background of the man who is managing the campaign of the Liberal candidate for lord mayor. In local government, in which the Premier is heavily invested, you would hope the Liberals sent their best and brightest to Sydney's Town Hall to represent Australia's only world city and the hub of its cultural and economic life; that they would remember that in a two-party system, with power comes responsibility. But the reality is they have not. Much has been said about the problems of the NSW Liberal Party. Its factional hijacking is now all pervasive and beyond the influence of the Premier. You don't have to search widely for examples. But scrutiny should not stop there. From a Ryde councillor determined to serve both Ryde and Sydney simultaneously to the spouse of a sacked state minister, the team represents more of a group of Liberal Party diehards and lackeys than a team of serious policy makers with the independence and fortitude to hold off paid influence peddlers and party heavies. Handing the keys to the city to the Liberal Party on September 10 would be to hand them to vested interests who have the ability to pay for policy. As a former Liberal and a current councillor of the City of Sydney, I know what it's like to be beholden to "faceless men", many of whom view the city as little more than a bauble of power. I was asked on many occasions to advocate for the shrinking of the City of Sydney electoral boundaries, not unlike what we have seen before, which would have the inevitable result of alienating residents, giving the Liberal government of the day an edge at the ballot box. In 2014, one of the key Liberal faceless men asked me to write a paper detailing such a plan. As an experienced local councillor, I knew this paper was wrong for the community. Sydney has flourished to become more than the CBD. It is now a cutting-edge metropolis where people want to work, live and play. A place where there is a symbiotic relationship with business and residents. That I wanted no part in this plan cut no ice with the faceless men. It was pulled from my hands and pushed into the media within hours. It has rightly been lampooned as a bald-faced attempt to manipulate the boundaries of the city for electoral advantage. Like the power of the NSW factional organisers, the idea of shrinking Sydney will not easily go away. No doubt it will be an agenda item in the parliamentary inquiry into local government elections, which happens after each election. There will be other independent papers presented and eminent experts in support. We'd never take the kids to a war-torn country, but what about one recently rocked by a wave of deadly attacks? This question came to me as I pored over reports of the latest bombing attacks on Thailand, which killed four and injured scores more. Over the span of just 18 hours several explosions went off at five resorts around the country, including tourist hot spot, Patong in Phuket. With all the casualties being Thai nationals, the country was in mourning. Naturally, the events also had many tourists still in Thailand seriously thinking of changing their itinerary. But there was another good reason why I paid such close attention. We'd just booked a three-week family Thai holiday. What's more, for the first time in all our travels together my husband finally agreed to that week in a resort that I'd longed for. Sir Antony Jay, who has died aged 86, was a writer, broadcaster and director, and co-author, with Jonathan Lynn, of Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister, the political comedies that kept the nation laughing through the Thatcherite 1980s. The guiding principle of Yes, Minister, which first aired on BBC2 in 1981, was a gentle satire on a governing system in which elected politicians are outmanoeuvred by their more worldly, unelected officials. The series starred Paul Eddington as Jim Hacker, the hapless, publicity-hungry but risk-averse minister for administrative affairs engaged in constant wrangles with the Civil Service in the form of his Machiavellian permanent secretary Sir Humphrey Appleby (Nigel Hawthorne). The minister was aided and abetted (sometimes) by his private secretary, Bernard Woolley, played by Derek Fowlds. Writers Antony Jay (left) and Jonathan Lynn found success with satire in Yes, Minister and its follow-ons. With such gems as Sir Humphrey's alarmed response to Hacker's suggestion of an official inquiry: "A basic rule of government, minister, is never set up an inquiry unless you know in advance what its findings will be," and Hacker's perennial aversion to "courageous" decisions, the series became compulsive viewing, not least for the politicians and bureaucrats it satirised, including Margaret Thatcher herself. Despite not being renowned for her sense of humour, the Prime Minister claimed that Yes, Minister was her favourite programme and once turned up at the BBC studios with her own script. The stars of the show, no admirers, had to be cajoled into acting out a slightly awkward scene, broadcast on the evening news bulletins, in which Mrs Thatcher was seen ordering Hacker and Sir Humphrey to "abolish economists" as a first step toward cutting the budget. This time a year ago, I stomped grumpily into the local GP's office to get a cough checked out. I'm a great supporter of the Stoics and consider it an affront to have to visit a doctor. I was ordered to have a chest X-ray and immediately sent a blistering text to my husband: "if you ever needed evidence of rampant over-testing by the medical profession, this is it." Illustration: Dionne Gain Turns out I had whooping cough - an occupational hazard for those of us who work in schools. I also had lung cancer. Currently one in three of us will get cancer at some point in our lives. I just hadn't expected it to be me. And lung cancer? Really? I don't smoke, and have spent my life telling teenagers not to smoke or do drugs. How Australian democratic institutions will deal with the matter of marriage reform is now in doubt, just when there appear to be majorities in each house of parliament in favour of legislative change. The Turnbull government plans to proceed with its promised plebiscite on same-sex marriage, first announced as policy by the Abbott government in its dying days, though it now seems likely it will occur in February rather than before the end of this year as anticipated. It is set on this course despite the undoubted cost, warnings about divisiveness from some community leaders and the fact that it is not the preferred direction of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. The government stands by the fact that this is the policy it took to the recent elections and because it is a delicate compromise negotiated between conservatives and liberals within the joint party room, which was sealed when Turnbull became prime minister last September. The plebiscite will test the skill and resolve of party leaders, both of whom are advocates of same-sex marriage reform. To proceed a plebiscite bill must pass the two houses of parliament but there is no guarantee this will happen as a majority of the Senate prefer a parliamentary vote. If the government bill is blocked then the plebiscite cannot proceed. At the same time a parliamentary vote on marriage reform could only be carried in the House of Representatives if there was a Coalition free vote or if some Coalition members were willing to cross the floor. Both possibilities are unlikely. Campaigners for same-sex marriage, almost all opposed to a plebiscite on the grounds that it invites a hurtful campaign, appear now to be split between those who would grudgingly accept a plebiscite in order to achieve their goal and those who would prefer to wait years if necessary for a parliamentary vote. As well as fears about the possible impact of the tone of a plebiscite campaign on the gay community some advocates are worried about the unpredictability posed by a plebiscite. It could be lost despite current majority public support. This is a realistic fear given Australia's referendum record. The ABC has come under fire for signing a sponsorship deal with Swisse Wellness that will help the vitamin giant promote its products throughout the Asia-Pacific. The ABC this week announced Swisse, the Victorian government and Monash University as its three "foundation partners" for its international media service Australia Plus. The ABC has formed a 'Foundation Partnership' with Swisse Wellness, the Victorian government and Monash University. Credit:Nic Walker In a media release describing Swisse as "Australia's leading natural health brand", the ABC announced: "The Foundation Partnerships will see ABC International highlight the work of Monash, the Victorian state government and Swisse in their respective fields across its Australia Plus platforms and through Australia Plus' media partner networks across Asia." The deal with the company - which the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has previously found to have misled customers - has alarmed health experts and some within the ABC. Labor will move to re-establish a Senate inquiry into corporate bribery following the "shocking allegations" of a Fairfax Media/ABC investigation into the practices of two major Australian firms. Senator Sam Dastyari said he feared Australia was a "soft touch" for corporate crime and that heftier laws were required to prevent companies engaging in corrupt practices overseas. Leaked internal documents suggest the ASX-listed miner Sundance Resources is claimed to have bribed the despotic leader of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso, in 2007 to secure a lucrative iron ore contract. The alleged multimillion-dollar share deal is now under investigation by the Australian Federal Police. Separately, internal emails suggest the Snowy Mountains Engineering Company may have been asked for a $27,000 "political donation" to Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena then the agricultural minister while seeking his approval for a dam project. Australia should give the Indian military access to Darwin and key training ranges in the far north as part of a deepening of defence ties to counterbalance the rise of China, a leading think-tank says. The report by the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney also says Australia should let India use its military airfield on the Cocos Islands for maritime surveillance and reconnaissance. Darwin First Brigade soldiers competing for the final day of last year's annual 1st Brigade Military Skills competition. Credit:Glenn Campbell Author David Brewster, an expert on South Asian security at the Australian National University, said it was vital that Australia was part of the rapid deepening of the defence relationship between the US and India, which he said was "streaking ahead". "The US-India strategic relationship is driven by several imperatives, the most immediate being the perceived threat presented by China to the regional order," the report states. First Cambodia-China business, investment forum to be held in Nanning next month Updated: 2016-08-24 14:40 (Xinhua) PHNOM PENH - The first Cambodia-China Business and Investment Forum will be held on Sept 12 in Nanning city in Southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, according to a Commerce Ministry announcement on Wednesday. The forum will be convened back-to-back with the 13th ASEAN-China Expo, which will be attended by Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, the announcement said, urging businessmen and investors to register for the event. "This business summit is very useful for Cambodian businessmen and investors," it said. The forum will contribute further to boosting trade and investment ties between Cambodia and China. According to the government's figures, trade volume between the two countries was valued at $4.4 billion in 2015, up 18 percent year-on-year. On the investment side, China is the largest investor in the Southeast Asian country with cumulative investment of over $11 billion from 1994 to 2015, according to the Council for Development of Cambodia. The Turnbull government and the Australian Federal Police have rejected suggestions of political motives behind raids on departmental computer servers in Parliament House on Wednesday. AFP officers remained tight-lipped after executing search warrants on Department of Parliamentary Services offices in pursuit of leaked internal documents relating to cost blowouts and technical delays within the national broadband network - some of which had been reported exclusively by Fairfax Media. AFP officers began the extraordinary action from 10am but acknowledged that with parliamentary privilege being asserted, documents obtained would be treated as confidential and remain off-limits to investigators until such time as the Senate itself rules on whether privilege attaches to any documents. The focus of AFP investigators was understood to be the DPS servers, which provide internet access to all publicly employed occupants on Capital Hill - including MPs and their staff. Sir Arthur Streeton's magnificent 1907 panorama of Sydney Harbour is listed for public sale on August 31 for only the fourth time. Sotheby's Australia estimate of $1.5 million to $2 million are an indication of Streeton's rising value on the secondary market over the past few decades. When this painting was sold in 1976 it was bought for a mere $30,000. In 1999 it sold for just over $450,000. Arthur Streeton's 1907 panorama of Sydney Harbour is listed for sale for only the fourth time. In a way this work, painted from Mosman overlooking the headland at Cremorne, echoes the rise in Sydney harbourside real estate prices. Streeton's painting is in the absolute waterfront category. Of course, that $2 million higher estimate wouldn't buy you a one-car garage these days. In 1907, Streeton had recently returned from Europe. He was staying in a boarding house at Mosman at the time. This dynamic image captures the city at the start of the new century, with early signs of economic prosperity. Dr Google is poaching patients from flesh and blood GPs, with three out of five Australians turning to the internet to avoid seeing a health professional, a new survey suggests. The results come on the heels of the search engine giant's foray into symptom searches, but health experts warn against shunning their doctors for the unruly web. Just under 60 per cent of Australians admitted to looking up health information online to avoid going to a doctor, NPS Medicinewise survey of more than 1000 Australians suggested. The proportion of online symptom searches avoiding face-to-face appointments rose to almost 80 per cent among 18 to 34 year olds, according to the survey results released Thursday. Politicians must be blamed for public sector failings after years of "foolish" outsourcing and staff cuts, a former senior bureaucrat says. Terry Moran, a former Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary, said the census failure was linked to years of neglect, cuts and poor decision making by politicians. Terry Moran, former head of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, says the ABS has been ravaged by both sides of politics. Credit:Wayne Taylor The Australian Bureau of Statistics shut down its website earlier this month after detecting denial-of-service attacks that could have compromised the security of public data. "I don't blame the poor people at the ABS," he said. Three days after he murdered Leeton school teacher Stephanie Scott, cleaner Vincent Stanford sent his identical twin brother a cryptic text message. "I'm going to send you an envelope keep in safe for me," he said. Marcus Stanford, 25, would later tell police he did not know what was in the envelope until he received it at his Adelaide Hills home in South Australia. Inside the envelope were two rings, which he later pawned, and Ms Scott's driver's licence. The President of the NSW Legislative Council, Don Harwin, was behind a recent push to shrink the City of Sydney council area for the benefit of the Liberal Party, according to the party's former candidate for mayor. NSW upper house president Don Harwin. Credit:Dallas Kilponen A former senior inner-city Liberal, Edward Mandla, has split with the party and is running on an independent ticket in next month's council elections. Since splitting, Cr Mandla has sought to attack the role and influence of the party's factional chieftains. The ringleader of a network that helped young Australian men fight for Islamic extremists in the Middle East has broken down in court, sobbing "we are not terrorists man, we love Australia, we are Australians". Giving evidence for the first time, south-western Sydney man Hamdi Alqudsi described his role as a "caring big brother", but said he did not know what had happened to the men, at least two of whom died fighting, that he helped join Syria's brutal civil war. Alqudsi, 42, was last month found guilty by a jury of seven counts of providing services with the intention of supporting hostile acts in Syria between June and October 2013. Nobel Peace Prize nominee and former Islamic State prisoner Nadia Murad will discuss her harrowing ordeal before a Queensland University audience. The 21-year-old will give a guest lecture at the University of Queensland on Wednesday night on behalf of the Yazidi people. A woman will tell a UQ audience of her ordeal as a prisoner at the hands of Islamic State. Credit:Ross Duncan Ms Murad's family was massacred and she was abducted and sexually enslaved in August 2014 before escaping three months later. She addressed the United Nations Security Council last December to talk about her plight and IS's attempt to destroy women and girls. A jury has been unable to reach a verdict in the trial of a man accused of the bludgeoning murder of a Brisbane chef more than two years ago. James Thomas Howell pleaded not guilty to murdering chef Peter Milos on May 4, 2014, when his trial began in the Brisbane Supreme Court. Chef Peter Milos Milos was found dead after allegedly being attacked with a spirit level and hammer. Credit:Facebook Jurors retired shortly before 11am on Tuesday but were discharged about 3pm on Wednesday after they were unable reach a verdict. Justice Peter Lyons thanked them for their service during the trial. A woman who was hit by a car while she was crossing the road on her mobility scooter has appealed for help to track down the driver, who took off at high speed. Kath Duncan, who was born a congenital amputee and always uses a scooter, was crossing Hoddle Street from Johnson Street in Collingwood, at the pedestrian crossing when the silver car ploughed into her right hand side at 1.30pm on Tuesday. Kath Duncan on her mobility scooter, which was cracked and damaged on the right hand side. Credit:Justin McManus "I hadn't gone more than two metres and suddenly there's this huge bang and a big silver car, possibly a 4WD, smashed into me and scraped the side of my scooter." Ms Duncan said the vehicle kept banging into the side of the scooter, which spun it in the opposite direction. She was unable to see the driver or catch the number plate. IHG hotels group signs up to China's Alipay system globally Updated: 2016-08-24 19:56 By Cecily Liu in London(chinadaily.com.cn) A sales assistant sits behind and under Alipay logos at a train station in Shanghai, February 9, 2015. [Photo/Agencies] InterContinental Hotels Group, the UK-based global hotelier which includes the InterContinental and Holiday Inn brands, announced on Wednesday that it will give Chinese guests the ability to pay via Alipay through all of its online and mobile channels across its full range of hotels globally, becoming the first worldwide hotel group to do so. The first phase will see Alipay being accepted across IHG's existing estate of more than 270 hotels in China and selected international hotels. The global rollout of Alipay will begin in 2017, across IHG's more than 5,000 hotels globally. The announcement is the latest development of Alipay's international expansion to provide Chinese tourists with payment convenience, after the a landmark partnership with French payments processing group Ingenico last week, where the Paris-based payments software and terminals producer will facilitate thousands of European merchants to accept Alipay from Chinese tourists. Alipay, the mobile payment service run by the New York-listed Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group's financial affiliate Ant Financial Services Group, has expanded rapidly in mainland China, and the company now says it has 450 million active users, representing an estimated 80 percent of the country's mobile payments market. It started as an online payment platform, used by Alibaba's customers and sellers, but in more recent years extended to become a popular mobile payment system enabling Chinese customers to pay for retail purchases. "With IHG's extensive global footprint, this strategic collaboration will help Alipay reach out to more customers, especially Chinese customers as they travel around the world," said Sabrina Peng, Vice President of Ant Financial. "As China's leading online and mobile payment solution provider, Alipay aims to deliver convenient and flexible services to customers. We would like to provide a taste of home' for our users when they travel abroad," Peng said. Keith Barr, Chief Commercial Officer, IHG said, "IHG has always been a leader in providing advanced payment solutions to guests through our direct booking channels. We are thrilled to be partnering with Alipay to strengthen our ever-evolving travel experience for our guests globally." According to IHG, members of nearly 90 million Chinese households will be able to travel overseas by 2023, fuelled by a growing middle class and increasing propensity to travel. Cui Zhijian, an associate professor of operations management at IE Business School in Spain, said at the moment it makes sense for Alipay to target Chinese tourists who travel abroad, because the amount of shopping done by outbound tourists is large. "However it is difficult for them to market their payment platforms to European locals. The other difficulty is that because UnionPay is already doing so well in Europe, most Chinese outbound tourists will just use UnionPay to purchase products when they go abroad, therefore Alipay's European expansion is in direct competition with UnionPay," said Cui. China UnionPay is an alliance of Chinese bank cards, allowing Chinese tourists to pay overseas without having international credit cards, and is commonly installed in Western luxury hotels and retailers, such as London's Harrods and The Ritz. The Alipay IHG partnership is a part of Alipay's wider international push. Earlier this year it collaborated with Uber, allowing people with Alipay to use it to pay for rides using Uber's car-hailing app. It has also forged alliances with the likes of German banking software company Wirecard to offer mobile-payment services to Chinese tourists in Germany. Ingenico's alliance with Alipay allows European internet retailers to accept payments through Alipay's e-wallet. In addition, it will allow Alipay to accept payments from European customers with MasterCard, Visa and other cards who buy goods through various online marketplaces it runs, such as AliExpress. To contact the reporter: cecily.liu@mail.chinadailyuk.com An elderly man has been carjacked at an intersection in northern Geelong. Not only did the thieves steal his ute, they forced the victim to hand over his wallet as well. The 76-year-old man war carjacked in Norlane at 2pm on Monday afternoon. Credit:Cathryn Tremain The 76-year-old man had stopped at the intersection of Station and Forster streets in the suburb of Norlane about 2pm on Monday when the two thieves struck. One forced open the passenger side door and climbed into the vehicle, while the other wrenched open the driver's side door and dragged the man from the ute. Melbourne Express: Thursday, August 25, 2016 Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Were working to restore it. Please try again later. Dismiss Security is tight. Guards patrol three times a night. And the whole place is ringed with barbed wire. Yet two mates were able to sneak into the East Perth Power Station, perform risky stunts throughout the derelict industrial building and share footage of their antics online to inspire other thrillseekers. "What would have happened if he had have let go?" said grieving mother Helen Blackwood, whose 24-year-old son Todd Rowlinson was killed at the derelict South Fremantle Power Station in May after falling 15 metres. "He could have slipped or something could have gone wrong. We need to stop this from happening," she said. The Perth man who died in a jet ski accident off Fremantle on Tuesday has been identified as young father, Scott Dickey. The 30-year-old, originally from Waiuku in New Zealand, is understood to have worked for BHP Billiton and leaves behind a two-year-old daughter. Scott Dickey died in a jet ski accident off Fremante on Tuesday. Credit:Facebook Mr Dickey was pulled from the water off the coast of South Fremantle around 4.30pm on Tuesday. He was found floating unconscious near the Fremantle Sailing Club, with a jet ski discovered nearby. Labor has made fresh claims the state government risked the safety of children by ignoring warnings not to open the Elizabeth Quay Water Park. Opposition planning spokeswoman Rita Scaffioti said on Wednesday new evidence obtained in Freedom of Information documents showed the government opened the park despite the detection of harmful in water samples, amid other safety concerns. "This is the first time we have written evidence the water park was opened despite warnings it was not ready to be open," Ms Saffioti said. "As a mother of three young children, the idea you would open a park when there were concerns being raised by the City of Perth and the Department of Health is significant." Firefighters have extinguished a house fire in Perth's southern suburbs which took place across the road from a high school. The blaze, on Folland Parade in Atwell, was reported around 1.30pm on Wednesday. Smoke billowing from the fire, across from Atwell College. Credit:Facebook Students across the road attending Atwell College were unharmed in the fire, which caused more than $40,000 damage. A Department of Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman said the blaze started in the home's airconditioning with smoke billowing out the roof. Western Australia's treacherous coastline has wrecked scores of ships over the centuries, from the Batavia's infamous mutiny in the Abrolhos to the ghostly wreck of the Alkimos just north of Perth. Across the seaward margins of the state there are more than 1,400 wreck sites that have been identified with countless more still to be found - and Perth couple David Jackson and Jacqui McGhie are setting off to Exmouth Gulf hoping to add one more to the state's heritage. "We're going to spend two weeks looking for a Catalina flying boat that crashed there in World War II," Mr Jackson said. "It's a US Navy plane and not much is known about it other than it crashed near Potshot in 1943 and a few of the crew were killed. We'll be scouring the sea floor and who knows what we could find?" A powerful earthquake has killed at least three people and destroyed dozens of temples and stupas in the ancient city of Bagan in central Myanmar. The 6.8 magnitude quake shook buildings across the Southeast Asian country, with tremors felt as far away as Thailand - where witnesses reported high rise towers swaying in Bangkok - Bangladesh and eastern India. Damage from the earthquake in central Myanmar. Credit:Myanmar Ministry of Information Facebook Fire department and Red Cross officials said two children were killed in the small town of Yenanchaung, south of Chauk. "Two young girls died when a pagoda collapsed on a river bank," said Moe Thidar Win, deputy director of the disaster management team at the Myanmar Red Cross Society. "One man died in a Pakokku tobacco factory when the roof collapsed on him." It's just after 1am in central Italy, where search-and-rescue crews are still digging through the rubble in the hardest-hit towns searching for survivors. Those who were fortunate enough to escape uninjured were bunkering down for their first night in tents erected for survivors whose homes had been destroyed. "Tonight will be our first nightmare night," said Alessandro Gabrielli, one of the survivors staying in the tent city in Accumoli, told Reuters. "Last night, I woke up with a sound that sounded like a bomb," he added. A man leans on rubble following an earthquake in Amatrice, Italy. Credit:AP It hit a region 100km north-east of Rome, notorious for serious earthquakes, but populated by towns where most houses were too old to be quake-proofed. The quake was followed by strong aftershocks: one of magnitude 5.4 at 4.33am in Norcia, in the province of Perugia, and a third violent tremor in the early afternoon sparking panic. Rescue workers rescue a dead body in a damaged building in Accumuli. Credit:Getty Images The ancient, stone villages of the mountainous region crumbled, burying their sleeping occupants. "It was a 'boom' - but it was noise you felt through your bones, rather than heard," said 19-year-old student Alessio Serrafini, sitting stunned on a park bench in the town of Amatrice, about 85 miles northeast of Rome, recounting the moment when the quake hit. The clock of the Bell Tower of the Italian village of Amatrice is stopped at the time when an earthquake struck central Italy. Credit:AP As he spoke in a near-whisper, yet another aftershock rumbled through - one of dozens of strong jolts that caused debris-showered rescuers to joke grimly about joining the dead whose bodies they had uncovered. Terrified survivors, some of them having escaped clad only in underwear or pyjamas, spent hours outdoors, first huddling in blankets in the predawn chill, then sweltering in the afternoon heat. A victim is carried on a stretcher from a collapsed building after an earthquake, in Amatrice, central Italy. Credit:AP Italian emergency personnel set up shelters and urged quake victims to come away and try to rest, but many remained glued to the scene of collapsed structures, where the sound of heavy equipment and the shouts of rescuers echoed into the evening. Village clocks stopped when the initial jolt hit - at 3.36am - and aerial photographs showed the scope of devastation, gray dust and piles of masonry replacing what had been quaint medieval streets and piazzas. Destruction at Pescara del Tronto Credit:Getty Images Onlookers made the sign of the cross as rescuers pulled bodies from the rubble, loading them onto doors and planks that served as makeshift stretchers. A church's garden became a temporary morgue, with rows of corpses covered with bloodstained sheets. Rescuers with sniffer dogs searched the rubble for survivors into the night. Rubble surrounds a building as a European Union flag hangs following an earthquake in Amatrice, Italy. Credit:Bloomberg As night fell, rescuers became more desperate in their search for the living. "You keep digging, relentlessly and determinedly in the rubble," said Italian Red Cross president Francesco Rocca. "Every minute counts." Firefighters search through debris in Amatrice. Credit:AP Rescuers spoke of hearing cries for help and children weeping in the wreckage. They worked with machinery and with bare hands, terrified of hurting those they were trying to save. In Pescara del Tronto, dead bodies pulled from the remains of their homes lay in a children's playground. Sergio Pirozzi, mayor of Amatrice, told RAI: "Half the town no longer exists". Mr Rocca said volunteers from around the country were flooding into the region including rescuers and psychological support teams, and others setting up field kitchens for survivors left without a home. Some families died together. In Arquata, a husband and wife were pulled dead from the rubble along with their two children aged eight years, and seven months. But there were stories of survival, too. In Amatrice, a woman told the media: "The whole wall fell but it did not hit me Then the whole ceiling fell on my head I just managed to put a pillow on my head." In tiny Pescara del Tronto, a village almost completely destroyed by the quake, a grandmother was pulled alive from the wreckage of her home after throwing herself over her two grandchildren to protect them from the collapsing ceiling, Italy's ANSA reported. Nearby, on a road where almost every house had crumbled, a man marvelled at his narrow escape. He had just woken up and headed out to work when his home disappeared behind him. "In an instant everything collapsed," he told ANSA. "Ten seconds were enough to destroy everything." The quake rocked Italy from coast to coast. Chandeliers swung and beds jolted in Rome, and roof beams creaked as far away as Venice. More than 35 kilometres from the epicentre, one Italian reported their whole house was shaking, "chandeliers, beds moving violently". A resident of L'Aquila, where a similar strength earthquake hit seven years ago, said there was a "sound like breaking rocks", her furniture and doors moved about, and objects jumped from shelves. Another L'Aquila resident said they were in the same house, and same room, as they had been for the previous quake the walls creaked but this time they had taken the precaution of bolting furniture to the walls. More than 50 kilometres from the epicentre, another witness reported water spouting from plugholes and roof beams splitting. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Thursday morning that there were no reports of Australians killed or injured in Italy. He urged any Australians in the area to follow the advice of local authorities. The head of Italy's Civil Protection Department said "we are in the midst of the relief phase, in which the priority is to save lives, then assistance to the population and subsequently damage relief". The earthquake-hit region is just to the north of L'Aquila, where a 6.3-strength earthquake killed more than 300 people in 2009. After that disaster civic authorities were criticised for poor building design in an earthquake-prone region. In 2012 six scientists and a government official were convicted of manslaughter for giving "falsely reassuring" statements about the likelihood of a quake just days before it hit. Pope Francis replaced his weekly catechesis in St. Peter's Square with a heartfelt address on the earthquake. "Hearing the mayor of Amatrice say that our town is gone, and knowing that there are children among the dead, I am deeply saddened," the Pope said. Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi promised Italy would "pull together and show its most beautiful face". "No one will be left alone - no family, no community, no neighbourhood," he said. European governments offered condolences, and President Barack Obama telephoned Italy's president to offer thoughts and prayers, as well as any needed assistance. The Italian government mobilised troops to help with rescue efforts and quickly freed up emergency funds for disaster relief. First Tibetan search engine offers unified portal Updated: 2016-08-24 07:58 By PALDEN NYIMA(China Daily) China's first Tibetan-language search engine was launched on Monday in the northwest province of Qinghai. The search engine, yongzin.com, will serve as a unified portal for all major Tibetan-language websites in China, said Tselo, director of the Tibetan Language Work Committee of the Hainan Tibetan autonomous prefecture in Qinghai. Yongzin means "master" or "teacher" in Tibetan. It will also be a major global source for information in Tibetan online, he said. The search engine has eight sections for news, websites, images, videos, music, encyclopedia, literature and forums. Since the engine's trial operation one month ago, it has been drawing users from 34 countries and regions, with hits exceeding 10 million, according to a report by China News Service. The engine will greatly meet the needs of Tibetan netizens with different retrieval demands, according to the Hainan Prefectural Tibetan Information Technology Research Center, the developer of the engine. It will also help to boost technology transfer and the application of research findings of Tibetan information processing, the center said. Sangye Janma, a Tibetan student in Minzu University of China, said the engine has a great effect on her studies. "Without such an engine in the past, I had to find most of the Tibetan data from books in the library. It is time-consuming and inconvenient," said Sangye Janma, who majors in Tibetan history. "When I find what I need for my thesis, I can copy and paste instead of typing out every part, and I can search useful results of Tibetan studies by overseas countries online," said the 25-year-old. Norbu Dradul, a Tibetan filmmaker in Sichuan's Aba Tibetan autonomous prefecture, said he has been using the engine for a month. "I am really pleased with such a breakthrough. Although there is still a gap compared with search engines such as Baidu, I believe it will grow stronger in the near future," said the 33-year-old. The project, which cost 57 million yuan ($8.7 million), was initiated in April 2013. "Our preliminary estimate is that more than 1.2 million Tibetan language speakers from China will use it. In the future, the number of users is likely to hit 2 million," said Dorjee Rabthen, director of the Hainan Prefectural Tibetan Information Research Center. Xinhua contributed to this story. Istanbul: For a war that has seen all imaginable types of foreign intervention, the sight of columns of Turkish tanks rolling over the border with Syria on Wednesday was still a surprising one. In an unprecedented operation, Ankara sent a dozen armoured vehicles carrying special advisers and more than 1500 Syrian rebels into the neighbouring city of Jarablus to drive Islamic State back from its frontier. Travelling over earth scorched from days of strikes by Turkish warplanes, the troops had prepared for a drawn-out and costly battle. But the offensive did not last long. The opposition fighters, most of them from the Free Syrian Army, had by the evening declared the city completely liberated, erecting the flag of the Syrian revolution in the central square. PHILIPSBURG:--- The Supervisory Board of Directors of N.V. GEBE has decided in its meeting held on Saturday August 20th 2016 ratified by resolution signed by all 7 members of the Supervisory Board of Directors to effective August 23, 2016 relieve Mr. Andrew Zagers from the position of Interim Managing Director of N.V. GEBE pending the appointment of a new managing board or new managing directors by the shareholder of N.V. GEBE. Please find the Supervisory Board resolution herewith. The Supervisory Board of Directors of N.V. GEBE has also decided to appoint in accordance with article 8 paragraph 11 of the By-laws: - Ms. Iris Arrindell (Commercial Manager) - Mr. Kenrick Chittick (Production Manager) jointly to act as the Interim Managing Directors of the Company. The Interim Managing Directors are appointed to make jointly and severally only day-to-day decisions. The acts of the Interim Managing Directors are limited to those acts that cannot be delayed. A internal memo was sent to all employees of the company informing them of the decisions taken by the company. SMN News further learned that Zaggers refused to accept the letter when it was given to him on Tuesday. Registration Appeltjes van Oranje 2017 has started Children that grow up in vulnerable situation are the focus of the Appeltjes van Oranje 2017. With the theme Powerful Children in mind, the Oranje Fonds seeks organizations that devote themselves to these children. In order to be considered for this prize, an initiative will need to assist children with their development, improving their surroundings or provide support to the parents. Registration is possible until September 23rd via oranjefonds.nl/appeltjes. On May 2017, three organizations will be awarded an Appeltjes van Oranje. Vulnerable Children belong one of the most vulnerable groups in our society. The family situation and surroundings have great influences on their development. Fortunately, in our kingdom, there are many initiatives that work with children, and their family, on their development. They appoint a buddy to children who have difficulties keeping up at school, assist children with a language deficiency or connect a family from the neighborhood with another family that could use some support. This kind of beautiful examples is what the Oranje Fonds is looking for. Invaluable Ronald van der Giessen, director of the Oranje Fonds, explains: Every child deserves the same opportunities in life. However, due to factors such as a hard family situation or a language deficiency, children sometimes have a false start. The initiatives that help them to prosper in life are invaluable. We are looking for initiatives that are successful in their approach, help these children with their development and make a difference in their lives. We ask all projects that do so, to please apply for the Appeltjes van Oranje! Appeltjes van Oranje The Appeltjes van Oranje is an annual award of the Oranje Fonds for initiatives that have successfully managed to connect different groups of people and creating a livable society. In doing so, they are an example to others. The prize consists of a bronze statue, made by Princes Beatrix, and a cash prize of 15.000. Each year the awards are handed out by Queen Maxima at Palace Noordeinde. In lustrum years, King Willem-Alexander himself will hand out the prize. Oranje Fonds The Oranje Fonds supports social initiatives in the Netherlands and the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. The past year 31 million has been invested in supporting initiatives that allow for people to meet each other, feel a less sense of loneliness, understand each other and make an effort for one another. The Oranje Fonds is sponsored by, amongst others, the Nationale Postcode Loterij, De Lotto, as well as by friends and businesses. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima have been the official patrons of the Oranje Fonds since its inception. PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Finance Richard Gibson Sr. told members of the media on Wednesday that last week when he announced that NGOs (foundations or associations) does not have to file profit tax his announcement was taken out of context by some and they have been getting a little bit over zealous. He said those NGOs do have to pay their TOT and wage taxes but they are exempted from profit tax. He made clear on Wednesday that NGOs will only be exempted from profit tax and not wage taxes and other dues. While foundations that operate as a business would have to file profit and wage tax while they would also have to pay the necessary dues for employees they have in service. As for the flat tax and indirect taxes that some people think is better for St. Maarten the Minister said that is not beneficial for the masses of people living on St. Maarten. He said that such taxes will only benefit the rich. He made clear that these taxes would only be giving a tax break to the rich by means of reducing their taxes. As for the indirect tax, the Minister said again the rich will be benefitting because this tax will apply to items purchased. The Minister said that just Tuesday the Council of Ministers approved a legislation that would improve compliance. The new legislation he aims at going forward and will bring the country up to par with technology since it would require stores to install cash registers that are connected to the system in order for the sales to be monitored. The Minister of Finance also mentioned the meeting he had in Curacao where the financial statements of the Central Bank were ratified and St. Maarten will be getting NAF10M as its share of the profits. Skid Row Victims Overdose on 'Spice" as authorities warn of a local "health crisis." For the second time in just four days, firefighters responded to a group of overdose victims in Skid Row on Monday, August 22. Eighteen people were treated in the 400 block of E. Fifth Street in down town L.A. at about 10:30 a.m. Fourteen were transported to hospitals. Just last Friday, firefighters responded to s similar situation a few blocks away. Eighteen victims were also treated in that incident, where the presumed overdose was attributed to "spice." Spice is another name for a synthetic marijuana that has become increasingly available on the street of Los Angeles. The product can have wide variability in both potency and effects. Monday's patients seemed to have similar symptoms, leading health care professionals to believe that there is an unusually potent batch of the drug currently available. Many of the patients had altered mental states, and some had seizures. summer heat or underlying medical conditions can exacerbate the effects of the drug, creating emergency situations. In other incidents this summer, the users have become combative or wandered in and out of traffic. Use of the drug seems to be prevalent and increasing among the homeless population of the Skid Row area, causing an impact on the EMS and Fire Department resources, as well as using services at community hospitals. The drug reportedly sells on the street for about $1 a joint, and does not show up on drug screens for those in treatment programs. Because of its unpredictable nature, spice can be very dangerous or even deadly for those who choose to smoke it. ---------------------- Synthetic cannabinoids are designer drugs that are chemically different from the chemicals in cannabis but which are sold with claims that they give the effects of cannabis. When these chemicals are sprayed or otherwise soaked into a base material which is often plant-based, then the plant with chemicals is sometimes misleadingly called synthetic marijuana. These products are sold for recreational drug use There are several psychoactive artificial cannabinoid families (e.g. AM-xxx, HU-xxx, JWH-xxx, CP xx) that are sold under brand names like K2 and spice, both of which are now used as generic terms used for any synthetic cannabinoid product. KTLA Firefighters respond to a multipatient incident attributed to spice use in Skid Row on Aug. 22, 2016. When synthetic cannabinoid blends first went on sale in the early 2000s, it was thought that they achieved an effect through a mixture of natural herbs. Laboratory analysis in 2008 showed that this was not the case, and that they in fact contain synthetic cannabinoids that act on the body in a similar way to cannabinoids naturally found in cannabis, such as THC. A large and complex variety of synthetic cannabinoids, are used in an attempt to avoid the laws that make cannabis illegal, making synthetic cannabinoid a designer drug. They have been sold under various brand names, online, in head shops, and other stores. Studies have associated synthetic cannabinoid use with psychotic episodes days after use, some of which have resulted in death. They are often marketed as herbal incense or "herbal smoking blends", and the products are usually consumed through smoking. Although synthetic cannabinoids may not produce positive results in drug tests for cannabis, it is possible to detect their metabolites in human urine. The synthetic cannabinoids contained in these products have been made illegal in many countries. Libertarian Presidential Candidate Gary Johnson Pledges to Legalize Marijuana That's just like, your opinion, man: Gary Johnson reiterated his pledge to make Marijuana a Schedule II drug today, essentially legalizing cannabis products such as THC. Yeah, well, that's just like, your opinion, man." Jeff Bridges, The Big Lebowski In the United States, 30-50 million people use cannabis daily--fully 10% of the U.S. population. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_(drug). If you're one of them, you believe you need the green cure to go to work in the morning, and chill-ax in the evening. Your biggest fear is that one day, Federal Imperial Stormtroopers will break down your door, and take away what you need to exist. From whence cometh our salvation, man? The DEA just announced they won't move Cannabis to Schedule II, despite a petition from 21 Governors. Clinton? Forget it; not on her agenda, and Bill was a big Federal Mandatory Sentencing guy. Donald Trump will be too busy deporting your gardner. But there is a Moses who promises to lead us out of the wilderness of Nixon Era Marijuana scheduling. TAOS, New Mexico - Gary Johnson reiterated his pledge to make Marijuana a Schedule II drug today, essentially legalizing cannabis products such as THC. Speaking to CNBC, Johnson described how he was a long distance biker, an "endurance athlete," who won the New Mexico governorship in 1994 on a national Republican victory night. While Johnson is a fiscal conservative, he became disillusioned with the big government aspects of social conservatism. Johnson and his VP candidate former Massachusettes Gov. William Weld are both former Republicans whofavors smaller government, with less intrusive social policies. They are both in favor of legalizing marijuana In 2005, Johnson says, he was almost paralized in a paragliding accident. He fractured his back and was in terrible pain. "I lost an inch and a half in height on that accident from the fracture in my back. And it took me three years to fully recover - although six months after the accident, I did bicycle from Santa Fe to Napa Valley." "It was really painful and I have an aversion to painkillers. I'm laying on the floor and someone comes by and they said, "You know, you want me to get you some marijuana for this?" And I thought, "Yes, I do. Please." And I think that it absolutely helped me through this period that was really, really difficult." From there, Johnson became the chief executive of a marijuana growing company. "The fact that I got to be the CEO of a publicly traded company in the marijuana space, that was something that was completely unexpected. But very quickly, marijuana products medicinally compete with legal prescription drugs that statistically kill 100,000 people a year. There's not been one documented death due to marijuana." "Then on the recreational side, I've always maintained that legalizing marijuana will lead to less overall substance abuse because people will find it as such a safer alternative than everything else that's out there, starting with alcohol." "The president of the United States, hiring the surgeon general, can de-schedule marijuana as a class one narcotic. And that would open up the research and the development. I would want to do that. Yes." said Johnson Not to be confused with the Libertarians, The United States Marijuana Party (USMJParty) has also endorsed Gary Johnson. USMJParty is a cannabis political party in the United States founded in 2002 by Loretta Nall specifically to end the war on drugs and to legalize cannabis. Their policies also include other socially libertarian positions. Local chapters have been formed in 8 states, and they are affiliated with a number of international cannabis political parties. In 2015, almost half of the people in the United States had tried marijuana, 12% had used it in the past year, and 7.3% had used it in the past month.These numbers are similar to the Johnson Weld ticket's national poll numbers, and that is not a coincidence. TAOS, New Mexico - Gary Johnson reiterated his pledge to make Marijuana a Schedule II drug today, essentially legalizing cannabis products such as THC. In 2014, daily marijuana use by US college students reached its peak level since records began in 1980, rising from 3.5% in 2007 to 5.9% in 2014 and had surpassed daily cigarette use. In the US, men are over twice as likely to use marijuana as women and 18-29 year-olds are six times more likely to use as over 65-year-olds.[24] In 2015, a record 44% of the US population has tried marijuana in their lifetime, an increase from 38% in 2013 and 33% in 1985. Marijuana use in the United States is three times above the global average, but in line with other Western democracies. 44% of American 12th graders have tried the drug at least once, and the typical age of first-use is 16, similar to the typical age of first-use for alcohol but lower than the first-use age for other illicit drugs. While there is no poll of daily marijuana users, it's a good bet that, to the extent they vote, they will be voting Johnson Weld this November. Most people pay their bills online, so no need to pay the rent on retail space The interior of the Southern California Gas company office. In a story as old as the internet: Most people pay their bills online, so there's no need to pay the rent on retail space. So Cal Gas will close it's SM office permanently on 11/01/16. No worries, you can still pay at a couple retail stores in Santa Monica, or online at www.socalgas.com Southern California Gas Company has announced that they are closing their Santa Monica storefront payment location after 40 years. The location at 1300 6th Street, allowed you to pay your bill "Low tech" way, i.e. with cash. It will close on November 1, 2016. Those who wish to pay their Gas Co. bills in cash in Santa Monica, may still do say at Patton's Pharmacy, 734 Montana Avenue; at Mike's Liquor Store, 2402 Wilshire Blvd, or at Ocean Park Pharmacy, 2731 Ocean Park Blvd. These days of course, most people mail in a check or pay their bill online at http://www.socalgas.com, which So Cal Gas company still welcomes you to do. Natural gas is a fossil fuel used as a source of energy for heating, cooking, and electricity generation. It is also used as fuel for vehicles and as a chemical feedstock in the manufacture of plastics and other commercially important organic chemicals. It is a non-renewable resource. The Southern California Gas Company (referred to as SoCalGas) is the primary provider of natural gas to the region of Southern California. Its headquarters are located in the Gas Company Tower in Downtown Los Angeles. Can anyone else remember standing in line with their mom or dad to pay the gas bill? This gas company's roots trace back to the 1800s when new settlers arrived in Los Angeles in search of a new frontier. In 1867, Los Angeles Gas Company, the forerunner of today's Southern California Gas Company, installed 43 new gas lamps along Main Street, making the city safer at night. The gas lighting business was run by five entrepreneurs who manufactured the gas from asphalt, a tar-like substance, and later from oil. The company was enjoying modest success until Thomas Edison introduced his electric light in 1879. With the future of the gas lamp business uncertain, the company began looking for other uses for gas, and Los Angeles soon had its first gas stove and heater. Meanwhile, Pacific Enterprises was looking to expand its gas business. Founded in San Francisco in 1886 as Pacific Lighting, the company bought several small gas manufacturing and distribution companies in the area, including the Los Angeles Gas Company in 1890. These companies ultimately became Southern California Gas Company. By the early 20th century, natural gas-a colorless, odorless gas found in association with oil underground-was starting to gain attention. The breakthrough came with the discovery of the Buena Vista Oil Field near Taft, California in 1909, which included a huge reservoir of natural gas. Since natural gas had twice the heating value of manufactured gas, the company took the bold step to convert its system to natural gas and build pipelines throughout the state. Natural gas was soon found throughout the country, and demand for the fuel was rapidly growing. To meet customer demand, the company began storing gas in large holding tanks. In 1941, the company introduced a new system to the Southwest United States: underground storage of natural gas. By 2016, the company had four separate underground storage facilities, all of them depleted oil and gas fields repurposed as gas storage. The four are, in order from largest to smallest, the Aliso Canyon field, north of Porter Ranch; Honor Rancho, near Newhall; the La Goleta Gas Field adjacent to Goleta; and the Playa del Rey storage facility, north of Playa del Rey, near the Los Angeles International Airport. It is a story as old as the internet: Most people pay their bills online, so there's no need to pay the rent on retail space. 18-year-old Republican Removed by Trump's Security Team A Donald Trump security staffer calls 18-year-old Jake Anantha aside before having him removed from the Charlotte Convention Center Jake Anantha, an 18-year-old college student and Donald Trump supporter was enthusiastic about attending a Trump rally at the Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, last Thursday. He joined the waiting crowd at about 3:30 p.m., and then proceeded toward the stage around 4:30 when the attendees were finally allowed inside. Suddenly, Anantha reports, a member of Trump's security team tapped his shoulder and led him to the side. The man said they knew who Anantha was, and they knew he had attended many other rallies. Anantha protested, saying he was a local supporter who had never attended a rally before, but he was escorted out of the Center. Since it was a private event, he could do nothing about it. In an interview with The Charlotte Observer, Anantha said that he is a registered Republican, and his first vote ever was for Trump in the state's Republican primaries. Anantha is a student at Central Piedmont Community College whose parents are conservative Republicans. He and his father, Ramesh Anantha, believe he was pulled out solely because of his darker skin. Ramesh's parents immigrated to the United States from India. Given Trump's less-than-stellar reputation among people of color, Ramesh noted "It's unbelievably ironic. [Jake] should have been looked at as a perfect Trump supporter. He should have been somebody they're putting up on stage." The younger Anantha says that in the past, he has been quick to defend Trump, and didn't even mind his campaign rhetoric. Rather than a racist, he saw Trump as someone who was critical of the current immigration system and tough on Islamic terrorism. His opinion changed, he says, as he stood outside the Convention Center and watched hundreds of white people stream in with no problem or concern. Jeff Siner | The Charlotte Observer Rose Hamid, left, and Jake Anantha are escorted from the Charlotte Convention Center before Thursday's Trump rally. He told The Charlotte Observer "I thought he was for all people. I don't believe he is for all people anymore. Why are all these white people allowed to attend and I'm not?" Trump may not have thrown him out personally, but the GOP nominee is responsible for the staff that he hires and for the overall tone of the campaign. Trump's people are reportedly "looking into the incident." Jake Anantha now says he plans to cast his vote this November for Libertarian Gary Johnson. Rose Hamid, a Charlotte, N.C., Muslim was ejected at the same time as Anantha. She has gone to several Trump rallies to peacefully protest his depiction of Muslims, handing out flower pens as part of her "Salam, I come in peace" campaign. Security claimed she was a "nuisance." Avere Systems and Cycle Computing Provide One-Click Cloud Compute Scalability PITTSBURGH, PA and NEW YORK, NY (Marketwired) 08/23/16 , a leading provider of hybrid cloud enablement solutions, and , the leader in public cloud orchestration software for big data and big compute, today announced a technology integration that enables hybrid high-performance computing (HPC) in popular public cloud computing environments. By integrating the Avere cloud bursting technology with Cycle Computings offering, users are now able to launch an Avere tiered file system on demand linked directly with the CycleCloud managed scalable compute nodes through cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud Platform and Microsoft Azure. The integration addresses a growing enterprise need for hybrid cloud solutions that enable organizations to seamlessly store data and run applications on premises or in the cloud with minimal latency and without moving large datasets from existing storage locations. The combined solution solves two of the biggest barriers to hybrid HPC adoption: automation of cloud resources and ubiquitous access to data from any storage location. Avere and Cycle bring together industry-leading technologies to enable the cloud to easily access, manage and orchestrate workflows while maintaining control of the data itself by allowing it to remain on premises. This is particularly important in HPC-intensive industries like life sciences, financial services analytics, and government research computing, where customers seek to run large compute grids in the cloud without moving their data. Cycle Computing customers work with enormous data sets that require the easy and cost-effective compute power offered by the public cloud, but enabling access to the data has been a challenge, said Rick Friedman, Vice President of Solutions and Marketing at Cycle Computing. With Avere vFXT technology available within the platform, our customers now gain a cost-effective way to access all of the data they need while they optimize compute performance and scalability across one or even multiple cloud providers. The Avere vFXT Edge filers significantly improve cloud compute performance by caching the required data close to the compute nodes and avoiding latencies after the first read. Control over the data is maintained within owned storage systems while leveraging and scaling the compute capacity required for HPC workflows, such as those run by Cycle Computing customers. Averes cloud bursting technology makes it easy for HPC customers to take advantage of massive cloud compute, removing critical limitations such as network latency and concerns of data security, said Scott Jeschonek, Director of Cloud Products at Avere Systems. The combined strength of Averes vFXT with Cycle Computings ability to easily manage cloud access, balance multiple providers, and orchestrate workflow is a powerful solution for compute-intensive workloads. To learn more about how Avere Systems integrates with Cycle Computing, see the demonstration and plan to visit both companies at in Salt Lake City, Utah from November 14-17. Avere is radically changing the economics of data storage. Averes hybrid cloud solutions give companies for the first time the ability to end the rising cost and complexity of data storage and compute via the freedom to store and access files anywhere in the cloud or on premises, without sacrificing the performance, availability, or security of enterprise data. Based in Pittsburgh, Avere is led by veterans and thought leaders in the data storage industry and is backed by investors Lightspeed Venture Partners, Menlo Ventures, Norwest Venture Partners, Tenaya Capital, and Western Digital Capital. For more information, visit. Cycle Computing is the leader in Big Compute software to manage simulation, analytics, and Big Data workloads. Cycle turns the Cloud into an innovation engine for your organization by providing simple, managed access to Big Compute. CycleCloud is the enterprise software solution for managing multiple users, running multiple applications, across multiple clouds, enabling users to never wait for compute and solve problems at any scale. Since 2005, Cycle Computing software has empowered customers in Big 5 Life Insurance, Big 10 Pharma, Big 5 Hedge Funds, F500 manufacturing, startups, and government agencies, to leverage hundreds of millions of hours of cloud based computation annually to accelerate innovation. For more information visit: For Avere Systems Bhava Communications for Avere Systems Amber Winans 510-984-1526 For Cycle Computing Joanne Hogue Partner, Smart Connections PR +1 (410) 658-8246 Eat your food packaging, don't bin it - scientists Updated: 2016-08-23 09:56 (Agencies) Scientists are developing an edible form of packaging which they hope will preserve food more effectively and more sustainably than plastic film, helping to cut both food and plastic waste. The packaging film is made of a milk protein called casein, scientists from the US Department of Agriculture said at a meeting of the American Chemical Society. The milk-based packaging does not currently have much taste, but flavors could be added to it, as could vitamins, probiotics and other nutrients to make it nutritious, they said. The film looks similar to plastic wrapping, but is up to 500 times better at protecting food from oxygen, as well as being biodegradable and sustainable, the researchers said at the meeting in Pennsylvania, which runs until Thursday. "The protein-based films are powerful oxygen blockers that help prevent food spoilage. When used in packaging, they could prevent food waste during distribution along the food chain," research leader Peggy Tomasula said in a statement on Sunday. Between 30 and 40 percent of food produced around the world is never eaten because it spoils at some time after harvest or during transport, or gets thrown away by shops and consumers. Yet almost 800 million people worldwide go to bed hungry every night, according to UN figures. Halving food waste by 2030 was included as a target in global development goals adopted by world leaders in 2015. The US scientists also want to reduce the amount of plastic that is thrown away. "We are currently testing applications such as single-serve, edible food wrappers. For instance, individually wrapped cheese sticks use a large proportion of plastic - we would like to fix that," said Laetitia Bonnaillie, co-leader of the study. Single-serve pouches of cheese would still have to be encased in a larger plastic or cardboard container for sale on store shelves to prevent them from getting wet or dirty. Edible packaging made of starch is already on the market, but it is relatively porous and does not block oxygen from reaching the food as effectively. Bonnaillie said she hopes the milk protein packaging will be on store shelves within three years. Related: Interview: Head chef at Great Hall reveals his passion for herbs TransGaming Announces Date of Special Meeting of Shareholders and $1.168 Million Investment by Plazacorp Holdings Limited TORONTO, TORONTO (Marketwired) 08/23/16 TransGaming Inc. (TSX VENTURE: TNG) (the Company or TransGaming) is pleased to announce that it will hold a special meeting of its shareholders on September 16, 2016 (the Meeting) for the purposes of approving (i) a change of business from one focused on the digital distribution of games for Smart TVs, next-generation set-top boxes and over-the-top devices, to that of lending to, investing in and financing real estate transactions (the Proposed COB) under the rules of the TSX Venture Exchange (the TSXV), (ii) the sale of TransGamings GameTree TV business (the Sale of Assets), (iii) the creation of a new Control Person (as that term is defined in the polices of the TSXV) in connection with the private placement by TransGaming of $1,168,125 of subscription receipts to Plazacorp Holdings Limited (the Plazacorp Financing), (iv) the election of new directors of the board of directors of the Company (the New Directors), (v) a consolidation of the common shares of TransGaming by a ratio of up to 35:1 (the Consolidation), (vi) a change of the name of the Company to Findev Inc. (the Name Change), (vii) the offering by the Company of mezzanine financing credit facilities to Plazacorp Investments Limited and/or its affiliated companies (the Credit Facility), and (viii) certain amendments to the TransGaming stock option plan (the Plan Amendments and, together with the Sale of Assets, the Plazacorp Financing, the New Directors, the Consolidation, the Name Change and the Credit Facility, the Other Transactions). The record date for the purpose of determining the holders of common shares entitled to receive notice of and attend the Meeting and vote thereat is August 22, 2016. The management information circular (the Circular) relating to the Meeting provides significant disclosure with respect to the matters to be submitted to the Meeting and will be filed under the Companys profile at . PLAZACORP FINANCING TransGaming is also pleased to announce that, consistent with its plans previously announced via news release dated May 9, 2016 as part of the Proposed COB, it entered into a subscription agreement for subscription receipts with Plazacorp Holdings Limited (Plazacorp Holdings) on August 22, 2016 pursuant to which Plazacorp Holdings acquired 77,875,000 pre-Consolidation subscription receipts from the Company at a purchase price of $0.015 per subscription receipt for gross cash proceeds of $1,168,125 (the Proceeds). These subscription receipts will entitle Plazacorp Holdings to receive, upon exchange, 2,225,000 post-Consolidation common shares at a deemed price of $0.525 per post-Consolidation common share. Proceeds from the Plazacorp Financing will be held in escrow pending satisfaction of certain release conditions (the Escrow Release Conditions) related to the completion of the Proposed COB. If the Escrow Release Conditions are not met, the Plazacorp Financing will not close and the funds will be returned to Plazacorp Holdings without interest. Once the Escrow Release Conditions are satisfied and the Proceeds are released from escrow to TransGaming, the proposed use of the Proceeds shall be to fund real estate investments as described in the Circular. The 2,225,000 post- Consolidation common shares to be issued to Plazacorp Holdings would constitute forty percent (40%) of the issued and outstanding post-Consolidation common shares of the Company, thereby rendering Plazacorp Holdings a Control Person of the Company. PROPOSED COB The Company announced its intention to proceed with the Proposed COB via news release dated May 9, 2016. If completed, the Proposed COB will constitute a Change of Business under Policy 5.2 of the TSXV and is conditional upon, among other things, the Company obtaining TSXV and shareholder approval. Upon completion of the Proposed COB, the Company will become a Tier 1 investment company. If the Proposed COB does not obtain regulatory and shareholder approval, the Company will not proceed with the Other Transactions. In such circumstances, the Board will reconsider the strategic objectives of the Company and report back to the shareholders. OTHER TRANSACTIONS Sale of Assets TransGaming announced via news release dated August 16, 2016 that it had entered into an asset purchase agreement with TransGaming Interactive UK Limited, a subsidiary of General Media Ventures Ltd., through which it is proposing a sale of its GameTree TV business in conjunction with the Proposed COB. The financial terms of the Sale of Assets will be fully disclosed in the Circular and the completion of the Sale of Assets will be conditional upon, among other things, the Company obtaining TSXV and shareholder approval. Amendment of Stock Option Plan The primary amendment to the current stock option plan, which will only be effective upon receipt of shareholder and TSXV approval, is a change from a fixed number stock option plan to a rolling stock option plan, with the maximum number of shares reserved for issuance being equal to ten percent (10%) of the issued and outstanding shares of TransGaming as at the date of the grant of an option under the amended stock option plan. For further details and information about the amendments to the stock option plan, please see the Circular. Election of New Directors The Company is seeking shareholder approval to establish a new board of directors comprised of six (6) individuals, four (4) of whom would be independent of Plazacorp Holdings. They include: Mr. Anthony Heller, President, Plazacorp Investments Limited, Mr. Sruli Weinreb, Founder and Managing Partner, Plaza Capital Limited, Mr. Brice Scheschuk, CEO, Globalive Capital and Globalive Communications and current Chair of TransGamings Board, Mr. David Roff, Partner, Globalive Capital, Mr. Niall Finnegan, President, Finnegan Marshall Inc., and Mr. Devon Cranson, President, Cranson Capital. Consolidation TransGaming proposes to consolidate its common shares by a ratio of up to 35:1. Based on TransGamings 116,797,889 currently issued and outstanding common shares with a market trading price of $0.02 per share, the proposed Consolidation would result in 3,337,082 issued and outstanding post-Consolidation common shares, each with a market price of $0.70 per share. Name Change The Company proposes to change its name to Findev Inc. following the Proposed COB. Credit Facility TransGaming will also seek out the necessary shareholder and regulatory approval of the establishment of a secured revolving term credit facility to be made available by the Company to Plazacorp Investments Limited and its affiliates as mezzanine financing for certain condominium development projects in the Greater Toronto Area, with such credit facility to be evidenced by a credit agreement between the Company and Plazacorp Investments Limited. For further details and information about the Credit Facility, please see the Circular. SHAREHOLDERS MEETING Shareholder approval of not less than 66 2/3% of the shares voting in person or by proxy at the Meeting will be required to approve the Sale of Assets, the Consolidation and the Name Change. The resolutions approving the Proposed COB, the Plazacorp Financing, the New Directors, the Credit Facility and the Plan Amendments require approval by a simple majority of the votes cast by shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting. BROKERED PRIVATE PLACEMENT In connection with the proposed COB and Other Transactions, the Company expects to complete an arms length brokered private placement of a minimum of 16,666,666 subscription receipts and up to a maximum of 33,333,333 subscription receipts at a price per subscription receipt of $0.60 resulting in gross proceeds to the Company of a minimum of $10,000,000 and up to a maximum of $20,000,000 (the Private Placement). Each subscription receipt shall be automatically exercisable into one post-Consolidation common share upon the satisfaction of certain escrow release conditions. In addition, each subscription receipt will include, at no additional cost, one common share purchase warrant in the capital of the Company for each post- Consolidation common share issued. Each warrant shall be exercisable for a period of 36 months from the date of completion of the Private Placement, into one post- Consolidation common share at an exercise price of $0.70. The proceeds from the Private Placement will be held in escrow and will be released to the Company subject to and conditional upon (i) the satisfaction of all conditions precedent to the Proposed COB and Other Transactions, and (ii) the receipt of all required regulatory approvals necessary to complete the Proposed COB and Other Transactions (including, without limitation, the conditional approval of the TSXV). If the escrow release conditions are not satisfied, the subscription receipts issued in the Private Placement will immediately become null, void and of no further force or effect and the escrowed proceeds will be returned to the holders on a pro-rata basis. Cranson Capital Securities Inc. (the Agent) will act as the agent for the Private Placement. The Company shall pay the Agent an initial work fee of $10,000 upon confirmation of shareholder approval for the Proposed COB and a cash amount equal to six percent (6.0%) of the aggregate proceeds of the Private Placement raised by the Agent. For further details and information about the Private Placement, please see the Circular. CONDITIONAL APPROVAL The TSXV has conditionally approved the Change of Business, Other Transactions and Private Placement, subject to TransGaming fulfilling all of the requirements of the TSXV including receipt of shareholder approval where applicable. OTHER INFORMATION Completion of the Proposed COB and Other Transactions is subject to a number of conditions, including TSXV acceptance and shareholder approval. The Proposed COB and Other Transactions cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. TSXV approval of the Private Placement is also required. There can be no assurance that the Proposed COB, Other Transactions and Private Placement will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular to be prepared in connection with the Proposed COB, Other Transactions and Private Placement, any information released or received with respect thereto may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of TransGaming Inc. should be considered highly speculative. The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the Proposed COB, Other Transactions and Private Placement, and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. On behalf of the Company, Dennis Ensing, CEO NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this document may constitute forward-looking statements, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our 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. When used in this document, such statements use words like may, will, expect, continue, believe, plan, intend, would, could, should, anticipate and other similar terminology. These statements reflect current assumptions and expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date of this document. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to vary significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the factors discussed under the Risk Factors section of the Companys the most recently filed Annual Report which is available on SEDAR at . Although the forward-looking statements contained in this document are based upon what we believe are reasonable assumptions, we cannot assure investors that our actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. We assume no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by securities law. Contacts: Dennis Ensing CEO (416) 979-9900 Divya Ghatak Joins Watermarks Board of Directors SAN FRANCISCO, CA (Marketwired) 08/24/16 GoodData is proud to announce that Divya Ghatak, Chief People Officer, has joined s board of directors. Watermarks mission is to increase the number of women in leadership positions, and Ghataks will be a huge asset to their organization. Ghatak oversees global people operations at GoodData, where she combines her extensive leadership experience developing strategic people operations for diverse global businesses with a special focus on employee engagement, talent and leadership development, corporate culture and organizational collaboration. Through her data-driven approach, Ghatak focuses on measurable impact and alignment of people processes with company brand, culture and goals. Prior to GoodData, Ghatak led talent and implementation of people strategy for SaaS and Collaboration at Cisco Systems, assuming HR responsibility for a $4.5 billion, 4,500 employee global business. Before that she served as Director of Human Resources for North American Operations at Tavant Technologies, and was the founder and CEO for Venturis India, an executive search firm focused on multinational firms in India. My passion is building amazing experiences where talented people can perform at their best, said Ghatak. The business case for building diverse and inclusive environments has never been stronger, and I am excited about bringing this to the forefront with Watermark. GoodData accelerates the digital transformations of enterprises by turning their data into a profit center. It does this by enabling them to quickly create and distribute data products and Smart Business Applications to their B2B networks, including their clients, business units, suppliers, or partners. Our clients include enterprises like Penton that need to deliver revenue-generating data products to their clients and software companies like Zendesk that market their own Smart Business Applications using GoodData. GoodData is headquartered in San Francisco and is backed by Andreessen Horowitz, General Catalyst Partners, Intel Capital, TOTVS and others. For more information visit and follow GoodData on and . Watermark (wearewatermark.org) is the leading community of top women executives, entrepreneurs and emerging executives in the San Francisco Bay Area whose mission is to increase the number of women in leadership positions. The membership organization connects, develops and advocates for the advancement of women in the workplace by offering regular leadership development programs and networking opportunities and promoting gender diversity and equality initiatives. Watermark supports girls leadership programs, as well, to help build a well-qualified workforce for the future. Amy Duryea Gainsight Recognized by Forbes as Best Enterprise Software Startups to Work for in 2016 REDWOOD CITY, CA (Marketwired) 08/24/16 Gainsight, , was recognized by Forbes Contributor Louis Columbus last week as one of the . The recognition is the result of analysis completed with publically available Crunchbase and Glassdoor data, and concluded the following: Of eligible enterprise software startups, was one of only two companies with 100% ratings in percentage of employees who would recommend the company to a friend and percentage of employees who approve of the CEO. Gainsight, along with aPriori Technologies, received the highest cumulative rankings in this analysis. 39% of the top 100 enterprise startups are in the Bay Area, 12% are in the Boston and 7% in New York City. Gainsights was the highest-ranking CEO alongside Stephanie Feraday of aPriori, Orion Hindawi of Tanium, Cedric Bru of Taulia, Marc Heyneker of Revinate, Greg Stock of Zenoss and Alex Shootman of Workfront. This recognition comes on the heels of , the industry conference for the Customer Success community hosted by Gainsight this past May. Over 3200 attendees gathered in Oakland for the fourth annual event, which saw an increase in attendance of 56.9% YoY with a 55.83% NPS (up 10 points YoY). Culture is something that we talk a lot about at Gainsight but rarely do you get the opportunity to see the quantified impact of employee success, said Nick Mehta, CEO at Gainsight. We are honored by this recognition and what it means for our employees and their families. Gainsight is a great place for me to work too, and Im truly thrilled to come into the office every day. Using data from Crunchbase, Columbus narrowed the field of companies to include only enterprise software startups. Companies acquired, closed, or exited via Initial Public Offerings were excluded. The list was further narrowed to companies with at least one round of funding. Finally, only the top 100 best-funded enterprise software startups were analyzed. To calculate the best companies to work for, Columbus determined the percentage of employees who would recommend each of the 100 companies to a friend and the percentage of employees who approve of the CEO. To account for fake reviews, only companies with at least 15 reviews from active employees were ranked. (That 15-review threshold was based on statistical analysis from a ). shows the results of the analysis. Gainsight also announced today a market expansion effort to Europe with its Chief Customer Officer, Dan Steinman, moving to London this September to carry the torch from the companys operations in the Americas. Once an office has been opened, the location will be Gainsights first in Europe and sixth overall, joining Redwood City, St. Louis, Phoenix, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. As a Customer Success pioneer and co-author of , Steinman is uniquely positioned to add his considerable experience to the community of Customer Success professionals in Europe as Chief Evangelist for the region. Its a great adventure for me personally, said Dan Steinman, Chief Customer Officer at Gainsight. Im actually more excited about what I can learn from the brilliant Customer Success people Ive met in Europe than what they might learn from me. The Customer Success movement is flourishing in Europe. Last year at the inaugural Pulse Europe conference, over 450 executives in Customer Success gathered to share best practices unique to the context of subscription businesses in EMEA. Europes is set to return this year and more than double in size with over 1000 members of the Customer Success community in attendance. Im so excited to welcome Gainsight to Europe, said Martine Niermans, Chief Customer Officer at Bynder. EMEA offers so many unique opportunities for Customer Success. Gainsight has a proven track record of bringing innovative solutions to new challenges. You can read more about Gainsights approach to the European market in a reflection blog post by Dan Steinman . Learn more about Pulse Europe 2016: Hear from Gainsights customers: Join Gainsights growing team: Gainsight, the Customer Success company, helps businesses grow faster by reducing churn, increasing upsell, and driving customer advocacy. Gainsights product helps you touch customers effectively, track customer health consistently and transform the way your company orients around the customer. Gainsight provides a 360 degrees view of customers and drives retention across Customer Success, sales, marketing, executive and product management. Learn how leading companies like Adobe, Box, DocuSign, HP, Marketo, Nutanix and Workday use Gainsight to help their customers succeed at . Blog: Twitter: Facebook: Solar Novus Today Has Been Integrated With Novus Light Technologies Today Visit Novus Light Technologies Today to see all the cutting-edge stories and products that you have come to enjoy on Solar Novus Today. In addition, you will find more information on related light-based technologies. Get the latest solar and renewable energy news delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for the Green Technologies newsletter CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR GREEN TECHNOLOGIES NEWSLETTER Indo-Canadian Sikh MP Bardish Chagger has been named as the new Leader of the government in Canada's House of Commons, becoming the first woman to hold the post in the country's history. Ms Chagger, the 36-year-old Waterloo MP and Minister of Small Business and Tourism, was among 19 Indian-origin candidates who won in last year's general election. "This is a tremendous opportunity. I have been involved in the political process for basically my whole life," Ms Chagger told reporters on Parliament Hill after her swearing-in yesterday. "I know what democracy should look like. Democracy should be engaging Canadians. That is the leadership of our prime minister and that's why the whole of government approach will work for Canada," she was quoted as saying by CBC News. The latest development makes her the first woman in Canadian history to hold the job of guiding government legislation through Parliament and replaces Dominic LeBlanc. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his "confidence in minister Chagger as a worthy successor", the report said, citing a government statement. On the first day on the job, Ms Chagger said she "really does believe that we can all work together...let's work with the team and let's get there," she said. Ms Chagger, who was born and raised in the Waterloo region, attended the University of Waterloo where she was the president of the Young Liberals. She will retain her title as the minister along with the new role. She is one of the four Sikh Canadians inducted into Trudeau's Cabinet besides Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan - a combat veteran who did three tours in Afghanistan as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces, Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi and Innovation Minister Navdeep Singh Bains. Everything you need to know about Notre Dame vs. the Orange Saturday in Syracuse, N.Y. football 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 Exoplanet hunters hit a milestone today (Aug. 24) with the discovery of the closest alien world to Earth. Located a mere 4.22 light-years away, the alien planet, dubbed Proxima Centauri b (or just Proxima b), orbits the sun's nearest neighbor, a red dwarf star known as Proxima Centauri. What makes the discovery even more exciting is that the newfound terrestrial planet is about the size of Earth and lies in Proxima Centauri's "habitable zone" the range of distances where liquid water could exist on a world's surface. So it's a good candidate for powerful telescopes, or even interstellar spacecraft of the future, to study for signs of alien life. [Proxima b: Closest Earth-Like Planet Discovery in Pictures] "It's the nearest exoplanet we will ever find," Guillem Anglada-Escude, an astronomer from Queen Mary University of London who led the research, told reporters today (Aug. 24) during a press conference in Garching, Germany. Looking for life Even though the planet lies in the habitable zone, there's no guarantee that Proxima b which is likely about 1.3 times more massive than Earth is actually capable of supporting life. The authors of the new study said they could not yet determine whether the planet has an atmosphere or if there's liquid water on its surface; they also don't know how the world formed. The researchers also emphasized that they did not necessarily find an "Earth-like" planet, but rather an "Earth-size" one. And that distinction is an important one, said Bruce Macintosh, a professor of physics at Stanford University who was not involved in the research. "In our solar system, planets [of] that size or smaller are mostly made out of rock, but in other solar systems, we don't really know," Macintosh said. "It could be Earth-like, or it could be a planet like Neptune with a large atmosphere of hydrogen gas, or it could be a 'water world' like [Jupiter's moon] Europa that's mostly water or ice with a smaller rocky core, or some weird and unimaginable combination." But the discovery team, including Ansgar Reiners, a professor of astrophysics at the University of Gottingen in Germany,saidthat computer modeling work and observations of other star systems suggest that Proxima b likely is a terrestrial planet with a "surface you could stand on." Still, there are other factors that might work against the possibility of life on Proxima b. For example, red dwarfs such as Proxima Centauri are quite active stars, and Proxima b's distance from its star is just 5 percent of the distance between the Earth and the sun. So the alien planet is bombarded with anX-ray flux about 100 times greater than the flux that Earth receives from the sun, study scientists said. And it's not clear if Proxima b has a magnetic field like Earth's that would protect the exoplanet from such levels of radiation, which could be harmful to life. Also, if it turns out the planet has no atmosphere, Proxima b would be quite cold, with surface temperatures of about minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 40 degrees Celsius), researchers said. The planet would need to have an atmosphere, and therefore a greenhouse effect, to help push temperatures up above freezing. If Proxima b does have an atmosphere, the planet might be able to host liquid water on its surface a condition thought to be key for the existence of life, Reiner explained during the press conference in Germany. [Alien World 'Proxima b' Around Nearest Star Could Be Earth-Like (Video)] Getting a closer view Proxima b was discovered using the European Southern Observatory's (ESO) La Silla Observatory in Chile. The team used La Silla's High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher instrument, or HARPS, to look for regular "Doppler wobbles," or the gravitational tugs an orbiting planet induces on its parent star. Other methods of observation are needed to settle the question of whether Proxima b is a good place to look for alien life. It might be possible to observe Proxima b transiting, or appearing to pass in front of its parent star in relation to Earth. By measuring different wavelengths of starlight passing through the atmosphere around Proxima b (if the world has an atmosphere), scientists could learn about the planets chemical makeup. "If it transits, we can learn far more about the planet, including searching its atmospheres for signs of life," said exoplanet expert Sara Seager, an astronomer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who wasn't involved in the new study. But even if the planet doesn't transit and there's just a 1.5 percent chance that it does, according to its discoverers large, ground-based telescopes of the future might be able to study the world by direct imaging. "It will be possible in the future to take pictures of this system with technology that is not too far away," said Reiners. Proxima b could be an ideal target for the next generation of observatories, such as the European Extremely Large Telescope, which is now under construction in Chile, researchers said. These telescopes, Macintosh explained, could "slice" the planet away from the star and maybe measure its spectrum to see if its atmosphere contains life-indicating elements like oxygen. "That's probably more than a decade off, but having this system right here is a very strong motivator for making sure the extremely large telescopes have planet-imaging capability," Macintosh said. Before too long, it might even be possible to send an interstellar spacecraft to sail past Proxima Centauri and its planet. Earlier this year, a new, $100-million private initiative called Breakthrough Starshot launched with the goal of sending a tiny spacecraft on a 20-year journey to reach Alpha Centauri, a binary star system near Proxima Centauri. Some astronomers think all three stars are part of the same system. (Breakthrough Starshot counts astrophysicist Stephen Hawking and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg among its board members.) The main goal of that project is to look for signs of life in Earth's neighboring star system, and "with today's announcement, we now know there's at least one planet that has at least some similarities to Earth," Pete Worden, the leader of the Breakthrough Starshot initiative and the former director of NASA's Ames Research Center, said at today's press conference. The latest discovery could influence the Starshot mission, and Worden said his team hopes that within a generation it can launch its interstellar nanoprobes. [Proxima Centauri's Alien Planet Closer Than You Think - With Right Spacecraft (Video)] Is Earth unique? Scientists are eager to learn about the possibility of life on Proxima b to answer age-old astronomical (and even philosophical) questions, such as, "How common is life in the universe?" Scientists have discovered more than 3,200 exoplanets to date, but most of them lie hundreds or thousands of light-years from Earth. (That's primarily because NASA's Kepler spacecraft has found about two-thirds of all known alien worlds, and Kepler searched relatively distant stars during its main mission from 2009 through 2013.) So probing the atmospheres of many potentially life-hosting worlds such as Kepler-186f, the first Earth-size exoplanet found in its star's habitable zone isn't feasible, at least in the near future, said Kepler scientist Elisa Quintana, who led the team that found Kepler-186f. That means it's hard, for now, to understand conditions like the weather, temperatures and surface features of these alien worlds and to know whether these planets truly have the right conditions for life. "We can only say that a planet is the right size and in the right orbit for being potentially habitable," Quintana told Space.com. That's why finding a possibly habitable world so close to Earth is so special: Astronomers have the ability to perform follow-up studies. Indeed, the discovery of Proxima b could have huge potential for helping researchers learn about the habitability of red dwarfs, which are also known as M dwarfs, Quintana said. "More than 70 percent of the hundreds of billions of stars in our galaxy are M dwarfs," she said. "Learning whether planets like Proxima b can retain an atmosphere and probing that atmosphere for signs of life would have huge implications for the abundance of life in the universe." Follow Megan Gannon on Twitter @meganigannon. Follow us @Spacedotcom,Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com. 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. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. 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Get complete PC optimization and extend the life of your PC with these must-have software tools. Illinois gun bill HB 6303 has been signed into law by Governor Bruce Rauner, and it might slow down illegal gun trafficking in the state. Tuesday, Rauner held a signing ceremony, which was attended only by Republicans Democrats and police officials skipped the event without a real explanation. The gun bill was sponsored by House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, a former assistant states attorney, who claims that prosecutors often complained about existing penalties, which were not severe enough to punish gun traffickers. HB 6303 makes it possible for judges to deliver harsher sentences to the person, who buys the gun illegally imported to Illinois and the person selling it. Data showed that there were 442 homicides in Chicago so far this year and 6-in-10 guns used to commit those violent crimes were purchased outside of the state. The reason? It is easier for criminals to purchase weapons in the states surrounding Illinois because they have softer gun policies and little screening. It has been proven that 20 percent of illegal guns that enter Illinois came from Indiana where no permit is required. After Indiana, the largest suppliers of weapons in Illinois are Mississippi and Wisconsin, which are responsible for 6.7 percent and 3.6 percent, respectively. In Illinois, to become a legal gun owner, a person must go through a lengthy process. Anyone, who sells a gun either privately or commercially, is obligated to perform a background check on the buyer. The state also requires that all gun holders obtain a FOID card to buy guns and ammunition. The new gun law carries a very harsh sentence of 4 to 20 years in prison for the first conviction for trafficking guns. The second offense will be punishable by up to 30 years. A handful of organization and politicians slammed the bill. The American Civil Liberties Union in Illinois said: the sentences are too severe and that there is already a federal law on the issue. Durkin replied by saying the bill does not go far enough. He said: That doesnt get the job done. All of our communities are at risk of gun violence. We in Illinois are suffering.Our children are at risk, innocent people at risk. He added: Theres never been a major focus on who arms the shooter,theyre going to be held accountable and theyre going to be sentenced in a very strong fashion. Rauner hit back at critics, who stated that the federal government, should be the one handling gun legislation. The governor said: Ill be very candid.I believe very strongly in this bill. I have not discussed federal policy and I really dont want to get into federal policy. There are a lot of things there that, you know, Im 100 percent focused on Illinois. This bill is very good policy for Illinois. Experts believe the new bill will not do much to fix the situation. The US deploys helicopters in Libya and signals a new phase in the operation. Marine Corps AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters are part of the mission. In a statement released by the Pentagon, it was revealed that since early August, the United States has been using attack helicopters to target ISIS fighters in Sirte to retake the coastal city. Militants used sniper fire, suicide bombings, and booby traps to take control of the city, famous for being the hometown of Moamer Kadhafi in June 2015. The US has conducted 77 airstrikes in the area using AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters, which are described below: Originating from a concept demonstrator delivered to the U.S. Army in 1962 based upon a UH-1 Huey, the AH-1W Super Cobra is the worlds first attack helicopter. Marines have been flying the AH-1W Super Cobra since 1986. The last AH-1W was delivered in 1998. The AH-1W is being replaced by the AH-1Z, starting in 2006 as part of a remanufacture program. The Last AH-1W is expected to be replaced in 2020. AH-1Ws are fielded in Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadrons, or HMLAs, along with the UH-1N. Super Cobra helicopters form the backbone of the Marine Corps air-ground task force and act as on-call close air support platforms for Marines under fire. Cobras are also used for ground attack coordination, with pilots trained to call in artillery or mortars on positions while orbiting above the battlefield. Lieutenant Commander Anthony Falvo confirmed the usage of the attack helicopters. Falvo is a spokesman for the US militarys Africa Command (AFRICOM), and he explained: The Cobras provide additional precision air strike capability. It gives us a little bit more flexibility. The SuperCobra gunships are stationed on the USS Wasp, which is a Navy multipurpose amphibious assault ship in the Mediterranean Sea. The Pentagons statement also revealed that the US involvement in the Sirte operation would last weeks not months, but Falvo seems to dispute that fact. He shared: We are there at the request of the GNA.We will continue our support for as long as it is requested. If they were to tell us tomorrow they do not need our support any more; we would end our support at that point. More than 350 pro-GNA fighters have been killed, and nearly 2,000 wounded in the battle. Boumerdes (Algeria), August 24, 2016 (SPS) - The Prime Minister, Mr. Abdelkader Taleb Omar has called on France to contribute in finding a solution to the Western Sahara conflict, due to its international responsibilities in maintaining security and stability in the world and the region. "We call on France to be part of the solution rather than being the cause of the prolongation of the conflict and complexity, to accelerate the aspirations of Maghreb peoples in the regional, democratic and prosperous construction on the south shore of Mediterranean ", the Prime Minister said in his speech before the participants in Summer University. He also appealed France, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to stop its blind support to the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara. "This support encourages the Moroccan regime in its challenge to the United Nations and its resolutions." On the other hand, Abdelkader Taleb Omar praised the Spanish people consensus support to the Saharawi people, calling Spanish government to assume the historical and legal responsibilities towards the Saharawi people as the administering power of the territory, according to the international law, and to fulfill its debt to the Saharawi people by acting as a "positive" to speed up the peaceful settlement of the conflict. He also expressed his thanks and gratitude to the international movement of solidarity with the struggle of the Saharawi people to governments, parliaments and political parties and civil society in Africa, Europe, America, Asia, Australia, who accompanied Saharawi people in the various stages of his struggle in international forums and regional. (SPS) 125/090/TRA Copenhagen (Denmark), 24, August 2016 (SPS) The Danish MP. Mr. Christian Juhl through the Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee questioned Monday the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kristian Jensen about Moroccos recent violation of ceasefire in Western Sahara. Moroccan troops have crossed the border between the Moroccan-occupied territory of Western Sahara, and the part of Western Sahara controlled by the country's indigenous Saharawis of the Guerguerat area, near the border with Mauritania. The Moroccan troops thus, in principle, broke the ceasefire that has kept a tense peace between Morocco and Africa's last colony Western Sahara's liberation movement Polisario since 1991. What consequences does the minister believe the breaking of the ceasefire ought to have for Morocco? What does the Minister think that the EU and the UN should do in this situation? What steps will the Minister take on behalf of Denmark in regard to the resolutions of the Danish parliament on the Western Sahara / Morocco conflict? Does the Minister see this act as an aggravation of the conflict? What will it, in the view of the Minister, take to promote peace and the UN resolutions that promise Western Sahara the right to a referendum on the country's future? MP Juhl Questioned the Minister. SPS 125/090 New York , 24 August 2016 (SPS) The Frente POLISARIO has called for urgent UN action to uphold the ceasefire agreement between the POLISARIO and Morocco in response to ongoing Moroccan violations of the 1991 deal. Since 11 August, Moroccan occupation forces in Western Sahara have repeatedly crossed the Moroccan military wall in the Al Guargarat zone in defiance of military agreement No. 1 of the ceasefire, which prohibits any work or deployment in a 5km strip along the wall. In a letter addressed to the UN Secretary-General, Frente POLISARIO Secretary-General and Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic President Brahim Ghali said such behaviors are part of a pattern of systematic escalation, the latest manifestation of which was the expulsion by the Moroccan State of occupation of the civilian and administrative personnel of MINURSO. He added that this action represented a dangerous precedent aimed at undermining the mandate of the mission and the blatant and serious affront to the decisions of competences of the UN Security Council. The POLISARIO urged UN Security Council to call for the immediate cessation of the work undertaken by Morocco and asked the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) to install an observation post in the area to calm the situation. The POLISARIO asked MINUSRO to report to the UN Security Council in accordance with its mandate to monitor the ceasefire. Frente POLISARIO MINURSO Coordinator Emhamed Khadad stated,in the absence of real pressure by the international community, Morocco has been given a green light to embark on an aggressive provocation against the Saharawi people. The UN cannot allow Morocco to get away with this blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement.SPS 125/090 The National Sheep Association has announced that the major sponsors for one of the sheep industrys most important events, NSA North Sheep, will be Tow Law based rural chartered surveyors Vickers & Barrass in conjunction with Darlington Farmers Auction Mart. Returning to County Durham, NSA North Sheep 2017 will take place on Wednesday 7 June at West Shields Farm near Tow Law, courtesy of W.H Smith & Sons a family run partnership managed by John Smith alongside his two sons David and Alan and his nephew Jim. Vickers & Barrass (formerly T H Vickers & Sons) are firmly cemented in the local rural and agricultural community and have been operating as auctioneers and valuers for over 65 years. Darlington Farmers Auction Mart is a long established Auction centre based in the heart of County Durham within the town boundary of Darlington. DFAM is a main centre for sales of prime cattle and sheep in the north east of England. The company also handles large numbers of store and breeding stock at weekly and seasonal sales throughout the year. Vickers and Barrass offer a wide range of services from sales of farm property and farming stock, farm management, valuations, dispute resolution, compensation and compulsory purchase claims and Basic Payment Scheme claims together with Environmental Stewardship matters. With clients stretching from the Scottish Borders to North Yorkshire, Adam Barrass practice manager at Vickers & Barrass Chartered Surveyors and Andrew Armstrong director and senior auctioneer of DFAM explain why they were so keen to be a part of next years NSA North Sheep. We are very closely linked to the Smith family at West Shields Farm and the wider farming industry in this area. Many of our clients are sheep farmers and when the NSA announced that 2017 North Sheep would be held so close to our main office and on one of our clients farms we felt it was important to be part of it. Hosted by the UK Valais Blacknose Sheep Society (VBSSUK) this inaugural event saw over 150 Valais Blacknose sheep being shown at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, for what can only be described as a spectacular showcase of an extraordinary breed. Breeders competed across 13 classes with the winners of each class being presented with a traditional Swiss bell. In order to maintain the same standards the breed are held to in their home country, the society opted to mirror the Swiss system and based the event on the hugely popular Miss Visp contest which is held in Valais annually. This also included an ensemble of eight highly qualified Swiss judges, who were able to provide farmers with information and encouragement to reach the levels expected by their Swiss counterparts. The Supreme Overall Champion title was taken by Raymond Irvine and Jenni McAllister with Highland Breeze, who was also awarded Female Champion. Taking home Male Champion and Reserve Supreme Champion was Tim Dunne of Cumbria, with Westmorland Dancer. Tim was also awarded Reserve Female Champion for his 2016-born ewe lamb, Westmorland Dilly sired by Prendwick Eros. She sold at 3,400gns to GW Lee & Sons, Stockley Burn Farm, Frostereley, Co Durham. Reserve Male Champion was awarded to Raymond Irvine and Jenni McAllister with Highland King Kong. Speaking afterwards, Raymond said: The Valais Blacknose Sheep Society UK had come so far in such a small amount of time. To be crowned the Overall Champion is a great honour and to do it with so many great sheep at the event has been a dream. Jenni and I are over the moon, it has not really sunk in! It was a successful day all round for Scottish breeders, Raymond and Jenni, who received the top price in the sale ring with an in-lamb gimmer which sold for 3,600 to GW Lee & Sons. With an excellent offering of sheep from breeders travelling from far and wide, this is the biggest sale of Valais Blacknose sheep to take place in the UK. Commenting on the sale on behalf of Harrison and Hetherington, Heather Pritchard said: We were absolutely delighted to be hosting the first ever dedicated sale of Valais Blacknose Sheep in the UK. There was a huge amount of interest from across the UK and Ireland, and without a doubt it is creating much attention. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAMFORD From the custom cardboard artwork splattered on the walls of the foyer to the circle patterns adorning the sunroom and various colorful wallpapers exuding a youthful personality covering a childs bedroom, a modern sabbath-day house downtown is loaded with unique character behind its rustic brown exterior. The Fifth Street home, on the market for $1.5 million, begins with a windowless foyer decorated with an abstract cardboard mosaic leading to a brightly-lit living room equipped with French doors and a fireplace. Off the living room is a formal dining room and a kitchen with concrete walls and stainless steel countertops. This is something you dont usually see in the suburbs, said listing agent Walter Block, of William-Pitt Sothebys. Some of these rooms, like the kitchen, are built and designed like a New York loft. Robin Rapoport Milstein purchased the property in 2003, and describes herself as an interdisciplinary artist on her professional website. She dabbles in paint, sculpting and even choreography. She founded Headless Horse dance in 2002 as a platform to explore the body as a sculptural element, according to her website. Her husband is New York real estate billionaire Edward Milstein, whose family has made its fortune through a series of real estate and banking ventures since the 1950s. Most recently, the Milsteins founded the New York Private Bank & Trust. The towering, 8,600-square-foot home at 200 Fifth St. just around the corner from Agudath Sholom Synagogue was built in 2005 as a sabbath-day house. In colonial Connecticut, sabbath-day homes, which were heated in the winter and built close to houses of worship, served as nearby pit stops where worshipers ate and kept warm between morning and afternoon services and entertained family on religious holidays. The layout of this home is not traditional because when they built it, they just created something for what they needed, Block said. Its unique and completely custom. Nearly every room is designed to entertain, as droves of family members used to fill the home on weekends and Jewish holidays. The concrete basement is a childs oasis, equipped with a game room, built-in speakers and two guest bedrooms, while the main floor is geared toward the adults. Open space in the kitchen is perfect for cocktail hour and French doors in the living room lead to the back patio, allowing guests to mill in and out as they mingle. A storage room on the lower level is still filled with stacks of folding chairs and formal wine glasses. On weekends and holidays, this home was filled to the brim with children and family members, Block said. Were not just talking about grandma and grandpa and a few aunts and uncles. Some aspects of the home are more personalized, like the private master bedroom suite off the back of the house with its colorful sunroom and vaulted ceilings. Bedrooms on the upper levels are like something out of childrens dreams. A loft above one of the girls bedrooms used to be a private dollhouse room, while the boys room around the corner features slanted ceilings, huge closets and even a poker table. Hidden behind a door in the second-floor hallway is a spiral staircase leading to a spacious third floor, which Block calls the leave-me-alone room. You dont have to trek all the way to the third floor for solitude, though. Surrounded on all sides by a wall of trees, the property just outside Stamfords bustling downtown feels a million miles from civilization. French doors in nearly every room on the first floor, including the master bathroom, lead to the sprawling patio in the private backyard. Block noted not a single penny was spared when the owners built the home, making it a turnkey move-in for the right buyer. Considering the homes unorthodox layout, however, he admitted it will take a unique buyer to purchase the property. This home will probably go to someone who has the need or the want for all of the special things this house offers, he said. In terms of location, you couldnt be in a better spot, but for the average buyer some of the design isnt for everyone. nora.naughton@scni.com; twitter.com/noranaughton I am writing in response to the article Some downtown business owners lose during Alive@Five by Liz Skalka. In the interest of transparency, I am a small business owner in the downtown as well as a member of the Downtown Special Services District board. In the article, a grievance was made that Alive@Five is detrimental and a potential liability to a select number of Columbus Park businesses. Those strong words are, at best, a naive and baseless attempt to do a disservice to the potential that Alive@Five and especially the DSSD bring to our city. The DSSD and all of its organized events are incredibly important to Stamfords branding and culture equity not to mention its small businesses, whether they benefit instantly or indirectly. Credit where it has been earned: the DSSD, under the leadership of Sandy Goldstein, has saved the downtown. Right where the Alive@Five is organized, Columbus Park was plagued with prostitution and drug dealing just a few decades back. Look at it now. There are sculptures, a well-maintained park, a humongous tree that is expensively lit up every year around December for several months and its a safe place people to walk, to go have dinner with their family, or to enjoy a safe concert together with thousands of people. It is also the place where multi-culturalism thrives every time groups of citizens from different ethnic backgrounds celebrate their independence days right in its center. This is all possible due to the work and the financial contribution of the DSSD, year after year for the last 20 years. In addition to the park, the DSSD has lobbied for and helps negotiate new sidewalks. Its Downtown Ambassadors patrol the streets, watching for shady activity, getting to know business owners, and offering assistance when needed. When there is construction in the downtowns surrounding area by big developers, it is the DSSD that steps in and negotiates in the best interest of every business and its clients to ensure that there is little to no interruption to pedestrians. Fair criticism of their work or any of their events is welcome as long as it is just and not one-sided or embarrassingly short-sighted as in this case. Every single restaurant, bar, night club, hotel and developers benefit directly from Alive@Five and the DSSDs work, which has been praised nationally. Its effect is felt throughout the entire city, not just the downtown. Business owners who ignore this and instead fault the DSSD for bringing tens of thousands of people to our city, should instead look inwardly. Instead of complaining, create marketing strategies that allow you to benefit from the unprecedented flow of people into the downtown that attend cultural events such as Alive@Five. The DSSD allows us as a city to stay competitive with other surrounding urban areas and will continue to draw more people and benefits to the city. As a board member of the DSSD, I have also seen everyone, from Sandy down to the staff, bending over backward for small businesses both successfully and unsuccessfully it just cannot win them all. Regardless, while I understand the hurdles that these businesses face, I strongly believe that we should be oriented toward the bigger picture. The DSSD does not represent one or a few small businesses it represents the entire downtown. By allowing it to focus in the big picture, everyone citizens, small and large businesses, and developers will have a city that is relevant and vibrant while cashing in! Fernando Luis Alvarez is the owner of Fernando Luis Alvarez Gallery on Bedford Street in Stamford and a board member of the Downtown Special Services District. G overnment plans to sell Holloway Prison to pave the way for a potential 2 billion housing development, have come a step closer with a property agent brought on board to aid the sale, the Evening Standard can reveal. Agent Bilfinger GVA has won the Ministry of Justice contract to advise on the sale of the largest womens jail in Europe. Ex-chancellor George Osborne said last year that the North London jail was to be sold as part of a 1.3 billion overhaul of the UK prisons service. Holloway, opened in 1852, has been home to notorious killers including Moors murderer Myra Hindley. Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be executed in the UK, was imprisoned there before her death in 1955. Actresses Helena Bonham Carter and Carey Mulligan shot scenes for 2015 blockbuster Suffragette at the prison, which held some of the biggest figures of the womens suffrage movement. The prison will close this year, and the first inmates were moved to HMP Downview in Surrey in May. Property sources believe offers of 200 million could be made for the site, which they expect to be used for up to 5000 homes. A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: "We will work to get the best possible value for the taxpayer." London estate agent Currell said properties in the area are now fetching between 450,000 and 550,000, meaning the projects end value could be around 2.25 billion. Chief executive Anne Currell told the Evening Standard: Large sites in zone two locations are hard to come by, with most having already been developed, so it is likely to be a lucrative venture for the right developer. She added: Any new scheme here will be extremely popular with buyers because of relative affordability and accessibility. Transport links are excellent, with Holloway Road, Caledonian Road and Tufnell Park stations all under a mile away. The links will be given a further boost once the night tube is rolled out fully in autumn. B usiness needs the Government to get on with Brexit and the details of leaving the European Union, the boss of the worlds biggest advertising group said today. WPPs Sir Martin Sorrell said: British business wants certainty and resolution while the Government wants to string it out. The process around Article 50 and withdrawal will last a long time when, from a business point of view, people want it to be done quickly. But he added that after a tepid April, May and June in the run-up to the referendum, July was stronger, perhaps reflecting a post-Brexit vote recovery, but even so its difficult to figure out whats really going on yet. Sorrell said his business was watching developments to see how exiting would affect it. It depends what is negotiated and what the results are, he said. If it means tax changes, changes to trade or a change in the status of London there will be implications. Sorrell, who campaigned vigorously for Remain, has said his business could expand faster in Europe than in the UK as a result of the vote. But he pointed out that, with its emphasis on the US and western Europe, WPP was still likely to grow faster than its global rivals. July sales were boosted by a visually spectacular Rio Olympics, while US presidential candidate Donald Trumps reluctance to spend on advertising could be something he lives to regret if he loses, said Sorrell. He nudged growth forecasts for revenues for the year up from over 3% to well over 3%. First-half revenues jumped 11.9% to 6.5 billion with headline profits up 16% at 690 million. Both were ahead of analysts forecasts and the shares rose 95p, or 5%, to 1842p. Statutory pre-tax profits fell 40% to 425 million after a writedown of 122 million on the value of WPPs 20% stake in data analyst Comscore. Comscore has been hit by an internal accounting probe, which started in March and which Sorrell said he was appalled has not been sorted out yet. Management ws recently overhauled. T he Prime Minister is back from her hiking holiday in Switzerland refreshed, we hope, reinvigorated and game for the challenges ahead. Which is just as well, because her in-tray is daunting. The most immediate problem is, of course, the Brexit negotiations, specifically the timing of triggering Article 50, which initiates formal divorce proceedings. Mrs May need not be unduly distracted by the suggestion of Labour leadership contender Owen Smith that the referendum result could be reversed by a further vote on the final outcome, either through another referendum or a vote in parliament this would be merely to prolong the uncertainty that makes life impossible for business; it is also astonishingly undemocratic. But in the real world the Prime Minister needs to focus on the proper Remain campaign: that of persuading overseas firms to remain in Britain. Indeed, companies, both foreign and domestic, need reassurance about the future before the final deal is negotiated. For instance, she needs to emphasise that EU nationals who are already working here will be welcome to remain in the country and there will be simple, rational rules to enable firms to recruit workers from abroad in future. This may mean that firms will be obliged to advertise jobs here first, subject to the skills required, before recruiting overseas, but whatever the regulations they should be clear and fair. The chief incentives to business will of course come with the Autumn Statement over to the Chancellor, Philip Hammond. His focus should be on shoring up business confidence with perhaps a further cut in corporation tax and an overhaul of business rates. The expansion of aviation capacity in the South-East is another priority. Its a byword for procrastination: already it seems the decision will not be made by October as promised. Yet a committee chaired by the Prime Minister will make it, so there is no excuse for delay. The facts and arguments are already clear; what is needed now is a decision. It may not have to be a choice between Heathrow or Gatwick there could be expansion at both. Thats just for starters. Mrs May has her work cut out. Maths appeal Today's call by a tuition expert for maths GCSE courses to be reformed is a useful reminder of the need to match education to the realities of the modern world. Indeed, in our age of computer coding, a solid foundation in mathematics is more important than ever. Children will enjoy the subject more if they understand its application to potential careers, and to their daily lives. Beyond computer programming, maths plays a crucial role in a wide variety of industries, and is central to both our financial sector and to the successful growth of entrepreneurialism. It is not a subject in which anyone should be left lacking in confidence. It was encouraging to see last week that maths was the most popular subject at A-level. Still, it would be helpful if all children not just those who excel were encouraged to carry on with mathematics beyond 16. Not a nightmare job One of the most interesting jobs at City Hall is open to applicants. The Mayor is seeking to recruit a night mayor to bolster and diversify the nocturnal economy, now that the weekend Night Tube is running The salary is 32,000 for a two-and-a-half day week or maybe, two-and-a-half nights: being an insomniac and partygoer will be a positive asset. Since Usain Bolt seems only to be in London briefly, perhaps Mr Khan should consider Prince Harry? T he collapse of Jeremy Corbyns latest bid to present himself as a man of the people is an abject personal humiliation. It is also richly symbolic of the broader crisis into which the Labour Party has plunged. Travelling on the 11am from London to Newcastle earlier this month, Corbyn claimed the train was rampacked and declining to travel first class had himself filmed sitting on the floor. Alas for the Labour leader, this victory for class war was short-lived. Virgin Trains has released CCTV footage showing there were plenty of empty economy seats on the service in question and that there was therefore no need for Corbyns mini-martyrdom. As Michael Dugher MP, sacked as shadow culture secretary in January, remarked, the voters can spot a bullshitter a mile away. Yes, indeed. Loading.... But what was Corbyn trying to achieve with this student stunt? As leader of the Opposition he ought to be obsessively concerned with presenting himself as a prospective Prime Minister. Virgin Trains CCTV disputes Labour Leaders claim of ram-packed service If Labour is to be taken seriously as a party of government his primary task should be to demonstrate his fitness for high office, not orchestrate petty acts of protest. Yet I wonder increasingly whether Corbyn would sign up to that analysis. Earlier this month he declared that he would not automatically resign if he lost the next general election, on the grounds that nothing is inevitable. Nor does he seem troubled by the fact that for the second time in 12 months his party is wholly distracted by a leadership race. Indeed, Corbyn seems to positively relish these contests, as though Labours collective introspection were somehow desirable as part of a greater ideological struggle. Instead of directing his fire at Theresa May he is busy arguing how many Trotskyites can dance on the head of pin with his rival for the leadership, Owen Smith. It is hard to avoid the conclusion that what animates Corbyn is not the future of the country but the future of his party. At the heart of Labours predicament lies a bitter paradox. Two years ago the party had only 190,000 members; now it has more than half a million. Yet this expansion has been accompanied by a reckless lurch to the Left, away from the day-to-day concerns of the partys traditional voters and towards the intellectual socialism of public-sector professionals and university towns. Growth does not presage electoral glory. For Labour moderates, the gravitational pull of a full-blown split is naturally increasing. Quite the opposite: the bigger Labour gets, the less relevant it becomes to the vast majority of voters. The origin of this particular leadership race was a confidence motion after the EU referendum in which 172 MPs voted against Corbyn, compared to only 40 who voted in his support. His response was not to resign but to appeal to his popularity in the mass movement. Barring a great upset, that popularity will be sufficient to see off Smiths challenge and to safeguard Corbyns leadership when the result is announced on September 24. Yet the structural problem will persist. The Parliamentary Labour Party is now intractably opposed to Corbyn. The mass membership, in contrast, increasingly resembles a cult of personality. Those who dare to question his suitability for the job, such as Sadiq Khan, can expect to be booed by those who have drunk the Corbynite Kool-Aid. It is worth recalling that Labours roots are overtly parliamentary: in 1900 the TUC established the Labour Representation Committee to support working-class candidates in elections. But todays Labour movement is more interested in purity of ideology than in the pursuit of power. The march to the Left has also encouraged a fresh wave of entryism the extent of which is clear from a dossier compiled by Tom Watson, Corbyns deputy. The Labour leaders response to this evidence of hard-Left infiltration was dismissive. It was, he told The Observer, nonsense, adding that I think he [Watson] knows its nonsense. These are the words of a man whose interest in party discipline is confined to protecting his own position. For Labour moderates the gravitational pull of a full-blown split is naturally increasing. Why stay and watch Corbyn or someone like him destroy the partys electoral credibility and hand power indefinitely to the Tories? The appeal of such arguments is clear and present. Yet most moderates to whom I have spoken stop short of embracing this option. They cite the difficulty of establishing the infrastructure of a new party, the inglorious precedent of the SDP, and (most important of all) their dogged reluctance to hand the keys of the party they love to a gang of wreckers. Stunts on trains do nothing to help those on the margins of society, or families struggling to get by Instead they accept that they will have to go through the process of an annual leader ship contest repeatedly. As one prominent moderate puts it: It will take many iterations but well get there. In his classic of Left-wing polemic, Parliamentary Socialism, Ralph Miliband expressed grave doubts that Labour would ever be transformed into a party seriously concerned with socialist change. Half a century on, Corbyn is determined to prove him wrong not so that Labour may govern but in order to position the movement as the most powerful Left-wing protest group in the country. All of which may be fun for the Labour leader and his friends but it is also an unconscionable betrayal of those whom the party was founded to represent. Stunts on trains do nothing to help those on the margins of society, or families struggling to get by. It is already hard to believe that Labour was in power as recently as 2010. How long before the party has the collective decency to remember what it is really for? T o be a woman who has interacted with the criminal justice system is to be part of a legacy of trauma. Women may make up less than 5% of the UK prison population, but over half of them report experiencing abuse at some point in their lives. Its a statistic that is as difficult to bear as it is vital to understanding the troubling circumstances that can precede a woman spending time in prison. Theatre company Clean Break have made a lifes work of bringing these stories to the stage. Set up in 1979 by two previous inmates of Askham Grange prison, they have spent almost forty years creating theatre that tells the urgent stories of women and the criminal justice system. But their commitment to these women goes further; the company also runs an education programme for women in prison, or those who have recently left, giving them opportunities to train and study. The companys impact on the cultural landscape is undeniable they have worked with and developed playwrights like Lucy Kirkwood and Vivienne Franzmann, and performed work at the Royal Court and Soho Theatre. And never even more so than this summer, where their plays have been seen across the country, both at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford and at Edinburgh Festival. In September, they bring a double bill of new writing focusing on BAME women to The Yard, fresh from its run at Edinburgh. Roisin McBrinn is the head of Clean Breaks artistic programme; she directs their shows, commissions and develops new work with writers, teaches playwriting for women in prison, and generally acts as an inspiring force for good in a theatre landscape that has too often marginalised womens stories, or reduced them to voiceless victims. Roisin McBrinn in rehearsals She tells me that the grassroots history of Clean Break being set up by former inmates means that their work will always relate back to working directly with women who have experience of the criminal justice system. This is the broader term they use when discussing the women they work with; more pejorative terms like offender ignore that the risk of offending often comes with a swathe of vulnerabilities, including mental health issues, alcohol or drug addiction, and domestic abuse. The company may have morphed massively since its conception, but at the centre of it, its still about the need to tell stories about women who are often totally misunderstood, or have stories that dont get out there, and combine that with using drama and theatre to hopefully change the lives of vulnerable women, McBrinn says. Alongside McBrinns work looking after the artistic programme, Clean Breaks Kentish Town base has two studios solely for education programmes. Up to two hundred women come through their doors every year, taking theatre courses that they may have first interacted with through Clean Breaks outreach work in prisons, or have been referred to by one of the organisations partnering charities. But those two strands a theatrical programme and a series of education courses are coming ever closer together, McBrinn tells me. Over the last eighteen months, they have been developing work with professional writers that will be performed by graduates from Clean Breaks courses. This crossover between the artistic programme and the department dedicated to engagement with women in prison is really huge, and absolutely essential, McBrinn says. The women who are on our education programme are at the centre of what we do. An exciting upcoming project is a collaboration between performance artist Deborah Pearson and playwright Stacey Gregg, which will look at mainstream perceptions and representations of women in prison. Its going to be a bit of departure for Clean Break, McBrinn tells me. Clean Break's production of House, written by Somalia Seaton / Jane Hobson The fact that Clean Break is a women-only company is a completely central element to the organisations founding ethos. Circumstances for women in prison are often very different to those of men: research says that eight in ten women in prison have committed non-violent offences, but one in two will go on to reoffend within a year. Women in custody are also five times more likely to have a mental health problem, and one in three have experienced sexual abuse. Its the vulnerability of the women who are often in those situations when we work with them thats very central to it being women-only. But also theres a whole political element to those choices, which is based around the female voice, ownership, feminism its totally essential, McBrinn says. Female-delivered services are also considered to be absolutely essential to the recovery of women who are in difficult situations, because thats the safest way to deliver services. Safety and trust are massively central to what we do. Theres also a need more broadly to alter the landscape of who gets to have their voice heard in a theatre, McBrinn says. We are absolutely of the opinion that the status quo is deeply uneven when it comes to female voices in theatre and theres still a lot of work to be done to try and ensure women have more power, more voice, and that women are championed to the point that they ought to be. An understanding that womens risk of offending is often down to a tapestry of trauma that may snake through their entire history, even before they were born, is a crucial part of what Clean Breaks work tries to pass on. To somebody who had a prejudiced perception of women who have been in prison, be that down to stereotypes enforced in TV dramas or sensationalist headlines in the media, McBrinn tells me, What Id really say is please come and see one of our plays! Zawe Ashton and Maureen Beattie star in This Wide Night by Chloe Moss / Clean Break The offerings are multi-faceted, and really try to explore the deep-seated, long-extending complications of how a woman could end up in that circumstance. A big part of why we exist is to address any stereotypes or prejudice around the potential or assumed trajectory of a woman, who is vulnerable or not coping, and ends up interacting with the criminal justice system, she says. We exist to try and tell the truth around those stories, to try and ensure theres as much empathy and understanding, and to galvanise audiences to rethink or even change a situation that is frequently unfair or misunderstood. How they end up working with their various writers depends; for their latest double bill, Clean Break were looking specifically for brilliant, promising writers from BAME backgrounds to work with, but McBrinn says, otherwise, its just about feeling like a writer is really brilliant and original and has a perspective that might aid and extend what were trying to do, and that theyre saying something in a way that is exceptional. Every year the company works with a writer-in-residence, which involves them spending time with the company, doing residencies in prisons, and creating a play based on tailored research supported by Clean Breaks contacts and connections. Their structured and intensive research meant that this years writer-in-residence Laura Lomas was able to spend time in a mother and baby unit in a prison to aid her writing. The next writer-in-residence, Deborah Bruce, will take up the position in September. The two shows that come to The Yard in September, already described as a work of unmistakable integrity in The Guardian, are House and Amongst the Reeds. Somalia Seatons House tells the story of a young woman returning home to her mother after a five year absence, and Chino Odimbos Amongst the Reeds looks at two women hiding from the authorities in a disused office block. Clean Break's production of Amongst the Reeds, written by Chino Odimba / Jane Hobson House is a bit of a prodigal daughter story, McBrinn tells me, looking at the misinterpretation of mental health problems, and also the responsibility her mother religious mother might have had for her daughters decline. But its also a story about a very strong woman putting her life back together. Amongst the Reeds is about two womens friendship, as well as their dependency on one another and one of them is about have a baby, and the world has to change for her. Opening the plays in Edinburgh was a reflection of the fact that the two plays were written by emerging writers, who can benefit from having their work seen by a vast amount of festival-goers in an intimate venue. But it could be argued that bigger venues have a responsibility to throw their weight behind Clean Break and provide a platform for their work. McBrinn agrees, but says that Clean Break are constantly in dialogue with bigger venues, and trying to challenge what a Clean Break main stage production could be. I do feel like there is a conversation always with bigger organisations, and for us to go to the RSC this summer was a very positive move forward. Its very, very important that these stories are living outside of the periphery, McBrinn says, which was why she was encouraged by the success of Duncan Macmillans People Places and Things last year. A play about a womans journey to rehabilitation received rave reviews and transferred from the National Theatres small Dorfman auditorium to the West End. Although it was written by a man, it could possibly be a Clean Break story. Ellie Kendrick and Sinead Matthews in Pests by Vivienne Franzmann / Jonathan Keenan I was excited that a story like that was becoming mainstream, and the more of that the better. We definitely want to be involved in those conversations, but also champion organisations who are continuing to tell stories that might not be as easy to consume but are so important and vital. It doesnt get more mainstream than Netflix, and one of their biggest success stories has been Orange Is the New Black, an original series about a group of womens lives in prison. McBrinn applauds the way that they have told LGBT stories, something she wants to explore further with Clean Break. But in her opinion, the writer who has really done it is Sally Wainwright, the brain behind BBC drama Happy Valley. The Bafta-winning series follows a police officer, played by Sally Wainwright, whose daughter was raped and subsequently committed suicide, and whose sister is an ex-addict. There are many women in that series that could well have been Clean Break women, in inverted commas. She shows women in a terribly sophisticated and multi-faceted manner, she says. Were hopefully part of a whole community of women who are pushing boundaries in showing that truth and complexity. Its about ensuring there is a fourth and a fifth and a sixth dimension always, because that is the truth of how we live. London's local theatres 1 /15 London's local theatres Bush Theatre The Bush Theatre in Shepherds Bush began life in 1972; it first lived above a pub that held only 80 people, but in 2010 moved to an old public library building. Under the artistic directorship of Madani Younis, the theatre was transformed into one of the city's most influential artistic spaces. Now that Lynette Linton has taken over the reins, the stages continue to host groundbreaking works by new talent and the legends of years gone by. Philip Vile Camden People's Theatre Camden Peoples Theatre is a small theatre a few minutes away from Warren Street that has shown huge dedication to developing and supporting new artists. Since 2013, their Calm Down Dear Festival has presented a packed programme of feminist performance. It's just one of the many festivals CPT holds, including Handle With Care, which sees the so-called "generation snowflake" strike out beyond their safe spaces. Finborough Theatre The Finborough, a 50-seater above a pub in Earls Court, is a great champion for new writing, but it also puts on a number of rarely seen plays, like RC Sherriffs The White Carnation and JB Priestleys Cornelius. A number of playwrights associated with the building have won the Pearson Award including Laura Wade, Anders Lustgarten and James Graham, so its a great place for spotting upcoming new talent. The Finborough, a 50-seater above a pub in Earls Court, is a great champion for new writing, but it also puts on a number of rarely seen plays, winning numerous fringe awards. A number of playwrights associated with the building have won the Pearson Award including Laura Wade, Anders Lustgarten and James Graham, so its a great place for spotting upcoming new talent. Matt Freestone Orange Tree Theatre Under Artistic Director Paul Miller, who was appointed in 2014, Richmonds Orange Tree has had something of a shake-up. They had a huge hit with Alistair MacDowells Pomona, which brought in new audiences and transferred to the National Theatre and the Royal Exchange. Alongside new writing they have presented revivals from writers as DH Lawrence, Doris Lessing, and Terence Rattigan. Under Artistic Director Paul Miller, who was appointed in 2014, Richmonds Orange Tree has had something of a shake-up. They had a huge hit with Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' An Octoroon, which ran at the National Theatre, and stage evenings with some of the most influential voices in theatre from Dame Judi Dench to Sharon D Clarke. Alongside new writing they have presented revivals from writers as DH Lawrence, Doris Lessing, and Terence Rattigan. The Yard Artistic Director Jay Miller converted a disused warehouse in Queens Yard, Hackney Wick, into a 110-seater fully raked amphitheatre, and filled it with vibrant new writing. The small venue, created with recycled materials, has punched above its weight ever since; Alexander Zeldins extraordinary play on zero-hour workers, Beyond Caring, began life there before going to the National Theatre. It also regularly holds readings of drafts in developments and scratch nights for artists to test out new work. Arcola Theatre The Arcola in Dalston has two theatre spaces and plays host to a number of emerging theatre companies. On top of this, it is heavily invested in the local community and contains a number of theatre groups within it, including the Queer Collection, Women's Company and Ala-Turka for the Turkish and Kurdish groups of east London. As well as hosting new writing, they hold an opera festival every year; Grimeborn runs for several weeks over the summer. Lyric Hammersmith Theatre The Lyric Hammersmith Theatre is over 125 years old but it definitely isnt showing its age. Theyve had a number of hits transfer to the West End, including Ghost Stories, which returned to the UK this year after a successful trip around the word. There is now a new boss behind the wheel, as Rachel O'Riordan has taken over and kicked things off with artistic associate Tinuke Craig's urgent adaptation of A Doll's House. Gate Theatre The Gate Theatre lives above the Prince Albert pub in Notting Hill, where it has been presenting theatre in its 75-seat venue since 1979. It counts Stephen Daldry, Erica Whyman and Carrie Cracknell amongst its previous artistic directors, with Ellen McDougall in charge now, and pretty much anyone who is anyone has worked there at some stage of their career. Southwark Playhouse Southwark Playhouse began life in 1993, with a disused workshop being turned into a flexible theatre space. With two performance spaces, they put on a vast spread of work, from musicals to new plays, always focusing on breathing new life into the classics. Ambitious as ever, the Playhouse is moving into two new venues, a flagship site at Elephant and Castle and another in the arches of London Bridge Station. Ovalhouse Ovalhouse provides a space for new artists to develop work and offers an eclectic programme of experimental performance, as well as having a commitment to participation work and getting young people involved with the theatre. Its roots go back to the 1930s and numerous important cultural figures have started their careers there, from David Hare to Stella Duffy. They are about to move from their home in Kennington to a new site in Brixton, a mile and a half down the road, and asked performers in the final season to help them demolish the building. Shoreditch Town Hall This Grade II building became an independent arts venue in 2004, and has a number of different spaces including the huge Assembly Hall and basement space The Ditch. As well as hosting productions they curate their own artistic programme and present ground-breaking works from the likes of Jamie Lloyd and Alice Birch. Fun fact: it was involved in the filming of Florence Foster Jenkins and The Lady in the Van. Kiln Theatre Kiln Theatre in Kilburn (formerly known as the Tricycle) is the starting place for a number of plays that have gone on to have a massive life in recent years: Red Velvet starring Adrian Lester, Moira Buffinis Handbagged and Florian Zeller's The Son. Indhu Rubasingham joined as artistic director in 2012 and spearheaded a renovation before the rebrand. Theres a cinema too if your prefer your entertainment beneath a veil of celluloid. Philip Vile Theatre503 The Theatre503 is above The Latchmere pub in Battersea, and offers more new writing opportunities than anywhere else in the country. They have a year-round open submission policy and believe its a crucial way to keep the industry open to new writers. Their writing prize offers an unproduced writer a chance to be a part of their main season, and ensure they programme productions from writers from previous decades who have been overlooked. Their track record is excellent, with a lot of their shows transferring to bigger venues. Rose Theatre Kingston Its worth making the journey to the Rose. It opened in 2008 and was modelled on the original Elizabethan theatre that lived on Londons bankside. It hosts work from theatre companies such as the RSC as well as producing its own, and can attract the best. The world premiere of Elena Ferrante's My Brilliant Friend took place here in 2017, and runs this year at the National Theatre, reuniting the original cast. Park Theatre The Park Theatre in Finsbury Park only opened in 2013, converted from a vacant office block next to the station. Artistic director Jez Bond wanted to create a neighbourhood theatre that presented world class theatre, and its first season featured Maureen Lipman and Charity Wakefield. It continues to present new writing and revivals, featuring Ian McKellen and Celia Imrie among its cheerleaders. parktheatre.co.uk Although Clean Break have hundreds of examples of women who have gone on a journey as a result of their involvement with the company, McBrinn stresses it would be inappropriate to hold one example up above others. A woman who for instance is starting a Masters at Central in September having spent time in prison and met Clean Break there that is a huge triumph. But its not right or truthful to hold that up beside a woman whose journey might have had a tangibly smaller impact. A successful Clean Break graduate, she says, is somebody who graduates and hopefully can take strength and positive impact, whatever that means for them from the experience of working with us. McBrinn believes that the arts have a huge capacity within the criminal justice system, in terms of the potential for transformation, for offering confidence for individual lives, as well as for transforming the perceptions of audiences. In the right circumstances, theatre and art can change lives, she says and I think without that belief we couldnt keep going as Clean Break. Whether that be that your mind is altered so that you make a choice to change something in your own life, or that somebody who is having difficulty just surviving on a day to day basis finds a raison detre and it alters how they live, McBrinn says. Im hoping that we can help audiences to rethink who is sitting beside them on the bus. House + Among the Reeds are at The Yard from September 1-17. Find out more about Clean Break on their website. Follow Going Out on Facebook and on Twitter @ESgoingout C ommuters are powerless. You are at the whim of fickle signals, at the mercy of lawless timetables. You Citymapper your journey and it promises 40 minutes; an hour and a half later you are finally flouncing off the platform, wringing your hands in impotent fury. Sometimes fantasy is the only thing that sustains you. Perhaps you exaggerate the tardiness of the 7.49 to Waterloo to sauce up your story; perhaps you tell people you had to sit on the floor the whole way because there were categorically no seats available even though there absolutely were. Anyone who tries to rationally disprove your version of events with, say, CCTV footage, is the enemy. But fury simply charges that enemy with energy. Getting hot and bothered about a train journey makes you look like a doddering reactionary who isnt up to your job, probably. Dont get mad, get better at commuting. Do not sit on the floor The corridor of a train is a dirty thoroughfare. A child will tread on your splayed fingers; the snacks and drinks trolley will butt into your knees. First scan the carriages to see if there are any seats available. It sounds obvious but sometimes it might look like there are no seats available when in fact, there are seats available. Split up It might be that you cannot sit with your entire entourage. Perhaps there are some seats together but there are not enough for everyone. Undeniably, this is unfortunate, but your mates probably wont forget you or defect to Owen Smith on the journey. If you feel bereft, start a group WhatsApp, or gesticulate across the carriage. Avoid snacks Taking food or drink on your commute is risky. If you do not have a seat you will need a spare hand to hold on to a safety rail. Hot drinks are a risk to yourself and others holding two almost-full coffees in your hand is the action of a madman. Avoid strong-smelling foods and anything that could spill on your seat. Or the floor, where you are inexplicably sitting. Take reading material Commuting is dead time and it is easy to waste it faffing about on your phone. But filming your journey is not intellectually enriching, nor is employing mates to take pictures of you. Later, when you reflect on the journey, you will feel empty, and sad. Instead, take a book. Everyone is raving about The Girls you could finish it in a few days if you use your time cleverly. Books to read in 2016 1 /10 Books to read in 2016 Click through our gallery to discover the best beach reads for summer 2016... Shutterstock / wavebreakmedia The Girls by Emma Cline Clines debut novel first started to make noise in 2014 when the unknown 25-year-old sold her manuscript for a reported $2 million as part of a three-book deal. Now that the book is finally out, its fast becoming clear why it was so hotly anticipated. Beautifully written, this unflinching account of 14-year-old Evie Boyds enticement into a hippie cult is loosely inspired by the Manson murders of the late Sixties. But if youre looking for the next Helter Skelter, Cline has put the grisly details on ice, focusing instead on a coming-of-age story that will reacquaint you with your teenage self: angry, unheard and passionate. Fans of The Virgin Suicides and The Bell Jar will struggle to put this down. Youll Grow Out Of It by Jessi Klein Comedian Jessi Kleins hilariously candid autobiography offers a relentlessly funny collection of real-life stories and the lessons shes learned from them. These include her transformation from tomboy to tom man, attempting to find watchable porn and identifying the difference between being called maam and miss. If you liked Amy Poehler's Yes Please, this is a must-read. Love Wins: The Lovers and Lawyers Who Fought the Landmark Case for Marriage Equality by Debbie Cenziper and Jim Obergefell Keep the spirit of this months Pride celebrations alive by reading this fascinating and moving story of the lovers, lawyers, judges and activists behind the groundbreaking Supreme Court case that led to one of the most important civil rights victories in history - the legalisation of same-sex marriage. Both inspiring and unforgettable, these accounts will stay with you long after youve finished reading. Bukowski in a Sundress: Confessions from a Writing Life by Kim Addonizio Kim Addonizio's wisecracking debut memoir is a hilariously salacious account that reflects on writing, drinking, dating and her wildest years as a young writer. She captures moments of inspiration at the writing desk and adventures on the road- from a champagne-fuelled sexcapade to sparsely attended readings at remote Midwestern colleges. Barkskins by Annie Proulx At over 700 pages, this book isnt for the faint-hearted, but youll breeze through it thanks to its brilliantly genius characters. Based on the taking down of the worlds forests, the book centres around the greedy and vengeful descendants of wood-cutters over 300 years who seize what they can of a presumed infinite resource, leaving the modern-day characters face to face with possible ecological collapse. The Loney by Andrew Michael Hurley Scooping the coveted Debut Novel of the Year accolade at this years Costa Book Awards, this Gothic work has earned praise from a host of literary critics and writers, including Stephen King who described it as an amazing piece of fiction". Set in 1976 it follows a familys annual stay in an old house in Lancashire, a place gripped by the mystery of the death of the local priest. The Heavenly Table by Donald Ray Pollock Set in Alabama in 1917, Pollocks novel follows dispossessed farmer Pearl Jewett and his three young sons. Several hundred miles away in southern Ohio, a farmer Ellsworth Fiddler lives with his son, Eddie, and his wife, Eula. After Ellsworth is swindled out of his family's entire fortune, his life is turned upside down, throwing him onto a tumultuous trajectory that will directly lead him to cross paths with the Jewetts. Dark, violent and funny, this book will be like nothing else youve ever read. Do not go viral on social media Your search for meaning in this meaningless world should not tempt you even momentarily to do something silly just for a story. Be polite to staff Obviously train staff are beleaguered troopers who have to slog away daily on a network that frustrates them as much as it frustrates you. You could use their struggle as a route into a debate about re-nationalisation of the railways, or you could just be a sport and sit down on one of the available seats. Follow Phoebe Luckhurst on Twitter: @phoebeluckhurst I t has been 18 months since I wrote an open letter to the man who assaulted me. It was published in Oxford Universitys student newspaper and at the end of the letter I encouraged others to write in with their experiences under the hashtag #NotGuilty. I hoped to reach out to other students who might have gone through something similar and felt unable to talk about it or get help. Little did I anticipate that, almost overnight, the published piece would go viral. Soon my letter was all over the national press. My words were translated into several other languages and the hashtag became a global campaign. The response was overwhelming. Since last April hundreds of people around the world have shared their stories with the Not Guilty campaign. My letter was the spark that fired up a movement which aims to break the taboo of talking about sexual assault. We want to send a clear message to perpetrators that we will not tolerate this, and to victims that we are with you. The good news is that it seems to be working. One woman wrote to us after being assaulted by someone she had trusted and cared about, and said: I have read many of the stories posted on here, and feel more hopeful that if so many women can move forward then I can too. Another contributor, who was assaulted on public transport in London, said: I am so proud to be part of #NotGuilty, for why should we suffer this form of abuse? It's been 18 months since Ione Wells wrote an open letter to the man who assaulted her / Matt Writtle A woman who attended one of our workshops later told me that writing about her experience that day had finally allowed her to tell her family about the impact the attack had on her. She also wrote a letter to her assailant, although they may never understand, I showed them that I can survive this unimaginable ordeal, and that empowers me. Working on the campaign has taught me a great deal, primarily that sexual assault is an issue everyone needs to talk about not just those who have experienced it. As one recent contributor says, If you have been made to feel uncomfortable or damaged by a sexual encounter... there are millions of women and men who have felt like you feel and who want to help you. Open discussion about sexual assault is crucial for education, not only about the nuances of consent but also about how and where to get help if you, or somebody you know, is assaulted I certainly didnt know about the support structures that existed until it happened to me. One woman told me that after she was assaulted she Googled what to do if youve been raped. = The key, as with anything, is to begin as early as possible. This year I ran #NotGuilty workshops in schools covering issues from sexting to dispelling myths about assault and talking about the appropriate ways to support a friend who has experienced abuse. Consent workshops have become more common at campuses and schools across the world and have been the cause of controversy. One Warwick student condemned them in an article for student website The Tab as being a smug, righteous, self-congratulatory intervention. But in my experience their importance is demonstrated by the huge grey areas I have witnessed in peoples understandings of what constitutes consent particularly when alcohol or close relationships are involved and I have no doubt a large part of that is down to a lack of adequate sex education. Ione Wells' assailant appears in court / Glenn Copus Talking with students gave me a real buzz, so I began to think about ways we could bring our online community together. Given that I had personally found it an incredibly restorative process, I decided to hold writing workshops for survivors. In collaboration with Pavan Amara and My Body Back, which works to help women to reclaim their body image and sexuality after abuse, we held a workshop that allowed writers to address either their perpetrator or anyone else they thought they needed to get through to. Despite one of the ground rules being you can tear what you write up at any time, this is primarily for you, not anyone else by the end every attendee wanted to read theirs to the group. But Im also passionate about the need to involve everyone in these conversations. Speaking at events such as the Clear Lines Festival, where I talked about enjoying sex again after assault, made me realise that we need to get creative if we are to avoid preaching to the converted and attract audiences who arent already invested in the issue. I ran an arts festival this year in Oxford called We Need to Talk, for example, featuring three plays and a drama workshop that all incorporated themes of sexual violence with the aim of engaging people with the issue through mediums they are perhaps more likely to approach off their own accord. One play we put on was a one-man show by Tanaka Mhishi called This is How it Happens, which traces the struggles of a male rape survivor many audience members commented on how didnt realise how much the issue affected men too. Seeing the response that some of the more harrowing plays we showcased was moving. People were shocked to see the manifestations of trauma performed, and many told me they had never quite realised the impact of it before which is exactly what I had hoped to change. Though the campaign has given me a way to transform a negative experience into something I can feel hugely positive about and encouraged by, I cant pretend it has been an easy process to get here. Dealing with the repercussions of sexual assault is a difficult, hugely up-and-down process for anyone, and going through this process in the public sphere was additionally overwhelming.But when people ask me how I have changed 18 months on as a result, as well as the campaign, I think it is important to stress that, despite the media attention last year, Im still much like I was 18 months ago. Im still a normal student, still plagued with the bugbears of essay deadlines and overdrafts, still enjoying the glorious freedoms and relative lack of responsibilities as one should in their twenties. Part of normalising discussion about sexual abuse is also normalising the individuals and lives affected by it. We need to emphasise that, just like the victims of any other crime, we shouldnt be defined by something that happened to us, we arent just statistics or news stories but individuals just like everybody else. Follow Ione Wells on Twitter: @ionewells notguiltycampaign.co.uk P olice have released new images in a bid to trace a man who punched and kicked a commuter unconscious after bumping into him at a station. The 22-year-old victim was walking through Harrow on the Hill station when he bumped into the alleged attacker. Police say the attacker, who had already argued with a group of men on the station stairs, repeatedly punched and kicked the man to the floor before a worker at Harrow on the Hill station rushed to help. The victim was left lying unconscious on the floor of the station and suffered cuts, bruises and a broken cheek bone. Fresh appeal: New pictures have been released of a man wanted in connection with the attack (BTP) / Metropolitan Police British Transport Police have now released new CCTV images of a man they would like to speak to in connection with the incident, which happened at 2pm on July 24 . Officers now say the man in the pictures left the train at Pinner station and are appealing for witnesses to come forward. Detective constable Chris Church said: This was a seemingly unprovoked assault and it is important this violent individual is brought to justice. Aggressive attack: The victim was beaten unconscious (BTP) / Metropolitan Police I would also like to thank the brave member of staff who intervened and stopped the man attacking this victim. Had he have not done that, the injuries could have been far worse. Detective Church added: This man left the train at Pinner station so I believe he has connections there. If you recognise him, please do contact us. Anyone with information is asked to contact police by text on 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 and quoting reference 204 of 9/8/2016. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. M ore than 100 criminals were given longer prison terms last year after their original sentences were deemed to be too soft. A total of 102 offenders faced tougher punishments under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme in 2015, figures from the Attorney General's office show. Sex offences and robbery accounted for more than half of the cases where jail terms were lengthened. Under the ULS scheme members of the public can ask the Attorney General to examine sentences they believe to be very low or unduly lenient. The scheme is reserved for certain types of case including murder, rape, robbery and some child sex crimes. Only one person needs to ask for a sentence to be reviewed, and anyone can make a request. Government law officers may then ask the Court of Appeal to look at the sentence, with judges having the option to keep the sentence the same, increase it, or issue guidance for future cases. The new figures show that the Attorney General's office received 713 requests for sentences to be reviewed under the initiative last year, with 136 referred to the Court of Appeal as potentially unduly lenient. For 102 offenders, the Court agreed to raise the original sentence, with the highest number of cases, 38, relating to crimes in the sexual offences category. The next highest category was robbery, with 18 sentences increased, followed by firearms offences, with 14 increased. The number of sentences considered has increased by more than 100% since 2010, but referrals resulting in increased sentences have stayed broadly stable over the period. Attorney General Jeremy Wright said: "While in the vast majority of cases, sentencing judges get it right, the ULS scheme is essential in ensuring victims, family members of victims and the general public are able to request that sentences they think are unduly lenient can be reviewed and, where necessary, increased." The NSPCC said it was "worrying" that some sentences for child abuse "appear to be too lenient". A spokeswoman said: "These crimes have a devastating effect on the victim, and as such any punishment should always reflect the severity of the crime." She added that it was "heartening" to learn that "justice was eventually administered" after reviews. A close associate of hate preacher Anjem Choudary who beat up a schoolboy for cuddling his girlfriend in a Muslim Patrol-style street attack is facing jail today. Michael Coe, 35, was acting as a "self-appointed enforcer" when he grabbed the 16-year-old round the neck and flung him to the floor, then turned his anger on a passing teacher who tried to intervene. He branded the boy's girlfriend a "whore" for hugging in the street, after quizzing the young couple on whether they were Muslim. Judge Michael Gledhill QC said Coe was acting as a "self-appointed enforcer" of his Islamic values, and he had been involved in a "strikingly similar" incident in 2013. "He saw two people he assumed were Muslim behaving as young people lawfully and frequently do in every town and every street in this country", said the judge. "Having seen them cuddling he took offences because he thought they were Muslims and to his way of thinking Islam prohibits such behaviour. "He stopped to reprimand them, acting as a self-appointed enforcer of how he thinks the Muslim religion should be conducted." The judge added that Coe "poses a very high risk of committing further offences of violence" when free from prison, and will consider a lengthy prison term when sentencing Coe. Coe has been in and out of prison since he was a teenager, including an eight-year sentence in 2006 for possession of a shotgun and trying to shot at police officers. While behind bars, he was converted to Islam by al Qaeda terrorist Dhiren Barot and adopted the name Mikael Ibrahim. Following his release, Coe became associated with hate preacher Anjem Choudary's now notorious extremist group Al-Muhajiroun. He has been photographed at a extremist demonstrations to mark the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, against the banning of niqabs in France, and in support of Sharia Law, Southwark crown court heard. Coe stood trial at the Old Bailey last June accused of trying to join ISIS, having been caught in the back of a lorry in Dover on its way out of the UK. He was cleared of the charge but received a 15-month prison sentence for possessing false identity documents. A jury deliberated for 90 minutes before convicting Coe of the attack on the schoolboy, in April 15 this year. The incident has echoes of the notorious Muslim Patrols by Choudary associates Jordan Horner, Ricardo McFarlane, and Royal Barnes. Facing Jail: Michael Coe, 35, was acting as a "self-appointed enforcer" / Metropolitan Police The three extremists toured east London to harangue and attack people who were displaying "non-Muslim" behaviour - including kissing and drinking alcohol. During his trial, Coe admitted he had been convicted in 2013 of shouting at teenagers in the street when he overheard them using foul language, branding them "kuffir scum" during the incident. In his latest conviction, Coe stopped his car while driving to see his heavily pregnant wife, so he could harangue the teenage couple as they cuddled in Wilson Road, East Ham. Believing the boy was older, he first said "let that schoolgirl go", and then said: "How would you like it if your sister was cuddling?" Coe then asked if they were Muslim, and fearing he would turn violent the teenagers denied it. He then replied: "Why am I wasting my time with you if you are not Muslim?" and branded the girl a "whore". The court heard Coe grabbed the boy around the neck and flung him to the ground. The boy was knocked out and woke up to find he was covered in blood. "This case is about what started as unpleasant bullying with religious overtones in the street, followed by an attack by this 35-year-old man on a 16-year-old schoolboy", said prosecutor Jonathan Polnay. Teacher Boutho Siwela witnessed the attack and tried to photograph Coe's car numberplate, but then found himself on the end of a violent assault. Coe also grabbed him around the neck and threw him to the ground before driving away. He later claimed the attack was in self defence, but jurors rejected the hulking 16-and-a-half stone Muslim's story. Choudary, one of the founders of now banned Al-Muhajiroun, is currently in HMP Belmarsh awaiting sentence for inviting support for ISIS. He was banned from contacting Coe - a known associate - while awaiting his trial, but was hauled in front of a judge after they were spotted speaking on a street corner. Judge Michael Gledhill QC remanded Coe, of Devenish Road, Greenwich, in custody until sentencing on September 21, ordering a report on his "dangerousness". Coe had denied assault occasioning actual bodily harm and battery but was convicted on both charges by the jury. The court heard he had convictions for wounding, burglary, assault, and possession of drugs as a youth. He was locked up for four years in 2001 for car jacking and received a 21-month sentence in 2002 for violent disorder. Coe received the eight-year sentence in 2006 at Leeds crown court, and was fined 160 for the religiously aggravated haranguing in the street in 2013. P olice locked down a major high street after gunfire broke out in dramatic scenes in south-east London. Scotland Yard said officers were called shortly after 8pm on Wednesday evening but found no-one suffering injuries at the scene. A spokesman said: "Police in Lewisham are appealing for witnesses and information following the discharge of a firearm in New Cross. "Police were called at around 8.15pm on Wednesday, August 24, to reports of shots fired in New Cross Road, near to the junction of Billington Road. Shots: Car damage apparently caused by the gunfire / Twitter/@Hengcredible "Officers attended the scene but found no injured parties, and there have been no reports of anyone injured at this time. "Evidence of a discharge of a firearm was found and a crime scene is currently in place, causing the temporary closure of New Cross Road." An eyewitness, who asked not to be named, said he heard about four or five shots near the Coral bookmakers on New Cross Road. He said: "I just heard a loud pop, looked down the road about 20 metres in front of me [and] I saw a male in a hoodie holding a gun just firing. "[It] happened very quick then he ran off. "[It was] just right outside Coral and the car was on the other side. "Think I heard about four or five shots. That was the scary part." On social media, members of the public also reported hearing gunfire. One user wrote: "shooting in new cross London A2 new cross Rd sealed off approaching new cross gate" Another posted: "5 weird loud pop noises in New Cross Gate. Everyone hanging out of windows and came out the doors to see what it was." A young father who was shot in the head in a quiet residential street was turning his life around his friends said today. David Robinson, 25, was murdered after an argument in a music studio in Hornsey, north London, at 9pm on Saturday. Mr Robinson, a former pupil of Islington Arts and Media School, was found collapsed in the doorway and was taken to hospital where he died three hours later. He had previously been involved in gang violence but friends said Mr Robinson, who had a daughter, had changed and become a devout Muslim known as Dawud. A friend told the Standard: He was a loving father and husband. He was a very honest and respectful man. I just want people to know that he wasnt a gangster he simply grew up like most teenagers in London and inherited a bit of its culture, made mistakes like everyone else but he learnt from them and changed his life around dramatically. He changed for the better and I know he only wanted to live his life without sin as he is very religious. Another wrote online: Rest in peace David. Condolences to all his friends and family. We only spoke a few times but he was making positive moves and this should be highlighted. When Mr Robinson was 20 he was convicted of violent disorder and made the subject of an anti-social behaviour following a mass brawl in which men used bicycles as weapons. Friends who grew up with Mr Robinson said he loved rap music and had been an aspiring rapper. Police forensics officers continued to search the scene last night and could be seen searching Big House Studios 101 on Sunnyside Road. No arrests have been made and enquires continue. Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact the incident room on 0208 345 3775 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org P olice were today raiding homes across London as part of a clampdown on suspected criminals in the lead-up to the Notting Hill carnival this weekend. Scotland Yard officers were conducting the swoops as part of 500 separate operations across the capital this week to stop troublemakers from attending the two-day festival. This morning several raids were carried out on suspected drug dealers near the carnival area. One address in Hurstway Walk, in Notting Hill, was targeted around 9.30am and officers took away an Audi parked nearby. The police teams broke down the front door and handcuffed and restrained a suspected drug dealer inside the flat. Another address was targeted in St Marks Road in Notting Hill just after 8am. City of London police, who were supporting the operation, used a hydraulic ram and a crowbar to smash open the front door as a dozen officers stormed in. Screams and shouts could be heard from inside the maisonette. Carnival: A man is led away during today's raids A police dog was led inside to search for drugs, cash or weapons, while police searched a black suitcase left by the front door. But the suspected target was not inside at the time of the raid. The operations across London include weapons sweeps, traffic stops, targeting gang members and other crime prevention measures. As part of the move, called Operation Vitality, the Met revealed four people had been arrested in Barnet after a gun was discovered, two more were arrested there after being found with ammunition and Class B drugs, and in Newham two people were arrested, one for possession of a pistol and another for carrying a machete. Superintendent Robyn Williams said the operation was to thwart and disrupt criminals before the carnival. She added: We want to pre-empt criminal activity and thwart it, but for us this is very much business as usual. It would be remiss for the largest festival in Europe, and the 50th carnival, not to disrupt anyone who wants to carry knives, steal or use drugs. Today is an intelligence-led operation and criminals carrying guns, knives or seeking to do harm will be put out of action. At last years event, more than 400 people were arrested. T his was the moment police uncovered a "cannabis jungle" with a suspected street value of nearly 1 million in a south-west London house. Officers in Kingston carried out the drugs bust on the property in Surbiton on Wednesday morning, finding an estimated 250 cannabis plants. On entry to the house on Tolworth Rise North, they found four rooms packed with kit and the Class B drug. Video posted online shows the moment police discovered the stash being grown under artificial lighting. Discovery: Four rooms filled with cannabis plants were found at the address in Surbiton / @MPSKingston Kingston Police captioned the tweet: "Looks like we found a #CannabisJungle today... Done some sums, potential 1,000,000 street value." A spokesman added: "At 11.20am today police executed a search warrant at a residential address in Surbiton. "Inside the premises officers found four rooms being used to grow cannabis, estimated at this stage to be 250 plants." He said no arrests had been made. Kingston Police's Pc Sebastian Ellis added: "This was a great bit of team work between our Safer Neighbourhood Teams. "They all came together to execute the warrant and removed a huge amount of cannabis out of the supply chain". Officers are now appealing for information. Contact police on 101, quoting reference 3314/24AUG17, with any clues. P olice today arrested a 32-year-old man on suspicion of terror offences in a swoop on a west London property. Scotland Yard said the detention was linked to Syria. Officers raided an address in Brent this morning, the force added. A spokesman said: Officers from the MPS Counter Terrorism Command have this morning arrested a 32-year-old man at an address in NW10. He has been arrested on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts - Contrary to Section 5 of The Terrorism Act 2006. He has been taken to a central London police where he remains pending further enquiries. The spokesman added the detention was not connected to the arrest of a serving member of the Armed Forces in Somerset this afternoon. The arrest is linked to Syria, he said. P ro-Palestinian activists threw chairs and set off a fire alarm during a protest against the former head of the Israeli secret service speaking at a London university, a court heard. Demonstrators surged past security staff at Kings College, London and staged a demonstration outside the room where Ami Ayalon, ex-commander of the Israeli navy and former head of secret service agency Shin Bet, was due to speak. He had been invited by the universitys Israel Society on January 19, but the talk was derailed when more than 200 people turned up to the 56-capacity meeting room. Members of the pro-Palestine group gained access to the corridor outside the room and began chanting, throwing chairs and banging the windows, Westminster magistrates heard. Videos of the demo, posted on social media, were played to the court yesterday as one of the group, Ivana Bevilaqua, 25, stood trial for assault by beating. Victim Esther Endfield described how protesters overwhelmed university security guards to get into the building, and said her phone was knocked out of her hand by Bevilaqua as she tried to film the scene. She said demonstrators who claimed Mr Ayalon had been involved in torturing Palestinians were shouting, chairs were thrown and banged on the floor, people were banging the walls and throwing things at the windows and chanting. Politics student Bevilaqua, of north London, who has lectured on Islamic State, told the court: I just wanted to speak to this war criminal. She was found guilty and given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay 200 costs, plus 100 compen-sation to Ms Endfield. A serving member of the British Armed Forces was today arrested on suspicion of terror offences. The 30-year-old man was held at an address in Somerset at 12.20pm by the Mets counter terrorism officers on suspicion of being involved in preparing terrorist acts. He has been taken to a west country police station. Scotland Yard said the arrest was pre-planned and carried out as part of a joint investigation with the Police Service of Northern Ireland and South West Counter Terrorism Intelligence Unit. Searches are being carried out at a home and wooded area in Devon, which have been cordoned off in connection with the inquiry. Police said there was no immediate threat to the public. No further details have been provided about the arrest at this stage. A man was stabbed in a north London townhouse before staggering down the street and collapsing in a pool of blood on the pavement. Murder squad detectives are investigating after the 25-year-old is said to have been attacked in a property in Maryland Road, Wood Green, in the early hours of yesterday before fleeing around the corner to Glendale Avenue. He hammered on the front doors of neighbouring homes, crying out for help to raise the alarm. A neighbour called police at 4.44am and despite attempts by paramedics to save him he was pronounced dead at the scene. Neighbour Luan Shehu, 46, told how his neighbour answered his door to the victim, who was topless and covered in blood. Police presence: Murder squad police after the attack / Lucy Young Mr Shehu said: He heard banging on his door and opened it to see a man only in shorts covered in blood. He was crying out for help. He called the ambulance and it came very quickly. They were working on him on the pavement outside our homes but they could not save him. He was very traumatised by what he had seen. Neighbours described their horror as they left their homes for work to see the body of the man, who was white, lying on the street. Police attempted to hide his body with sheets. Carpenter Csaba Kokai, 35, said: I came out of my house at 5.45am and saw the body. It was a terrible thing to see. There was blood on my path so he must have come here before collapsing. The police told me to get back inside. Another neighbour sobbed as she said: He wasnt completely covered so I saw his face looking up to the sky. I cant get the image out of my head. Its the most horrible thing I have ever seen. Police sealed off sections of the two streets as forensic officers searched the area, including on roofs and in drains, to look for a potential murder weapon. Neighbours said the flat where it is believed he was stabbed, part of a 500,000 semi-detached townhouse, was home to around 10 eastern Europeans. One neighbour said he saw police banging on the door of the property before entering in the minutes after the stabbing. Police were guarding the property last night as officers continued to work inside. Detective Chief Inspector Andy Chalmers, who is leading the investigation said: We believe the man was attacked inside an address in Maryland Road but managed to escape outside, and attempted to get away ending up in Glendale Avenue. We are keeping an open mind regarding the possible motivation behind this murder, and I am keen to hear from anyone who may be able to help. A 19-year-old man, who was being questioned on suspicion of murder, has since been bailed. P rince William and Kate met "courageous" teenage survivors of self-harm and mental health problems. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge praised the girls and told them to be proud of what they had gone through. The royal couple visited newly-revamped Youthscape centre in Luton, a charity which works to support young people. Eighteen-year-olds Holly Keany and Ellis Jones opened up to the royal couple and told of their own exeriences with mental health. Tour: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge meet some young people while touring the centre. / Eddie Mulholland/AFP/Getty Images Miss Jones, who lost her mum aged 14, said she was thankful for Prince Williams kind words, especially as he also lost his mum at a similar age. Miss Jones revealed she began self-harming after her mum was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease but said organisation Youthscape had helped her cope throughout the illness and when her mum died. Prince William told her: "What happened should never have happened to you and you should never have gone through it. "The fact you have gone through it and got where you are now, you should be really, really proud." Snooker: The Duke of Cambridge plays pool during a tour of the centre. / Eddie Mulholland/PA Wire Kate told both girls they were "so courageous" and "strong". Speaking after the meeting, Miss Jones said: "I feel so thankful for what he said, especially because he lost his mum at a similar age. "It meant a lot to me. He said I was really brave and strong and that I should be proud of myself. He was really nice and so was Kate." Talking: Prince William and Kate meet some of the young people at the centre in Luton. / Eddie Mulholland/PA Wire The Youthscape building at Bute Mills in Luton, Bedfordshire, reopened in April after a 3.2 million revamp. It was designed for the organisation as a national hub for its work. Founded in 1993, the charity specialises in young people's social, emotional and spiritual development. It has pioneered projects such as SelfharmUK, which is the only dedicated imitative aimed at helping youngsters understand and recover from self-harm. A street artist has unveiled his angel of Angell Town as he donated a bespoke piece of artwork to the estate in Brixton. Ciaran Robinson, who goes by the name Lhouette, crafted his trademark silhouette set on a canvas made from a reconditioned forklift truck pallet and finished off with glossy resin. The artwork could now be hung in the new Angell Town School, which is set to open its doors for the first time next month. Mr Robinson gathered ideas for the piece during a visit to the estate earlier this month where he held a workshop with dozens of young people in Newbury House. He said he wanted to add something colourful to liven up the estate and teach young people how to work with stencils and spray paint for the first time. Mr Robinson, who has exhibited work at the Houses of Parliament, is best known for using the cut-out angel image often holding machine guns or set against pop culture icons on canvasses fashioned from discarded material. The unveiling was attended by the London Community Foundation, which backed the Standards award-winning The Estate Were In campaign in Angell Town last year. Mr Robinson, from Luton, said he was inspired to visit the estate after reading about the Standards campaign. T his is the moment a car was seen being driven through a newly-opened segregated cycle lane in Hyde Park. Black cab driver David Clark, 38, shared footage of the white Toyota Prius weaving in between cyclists on the two-way track next to West Carriage Drive on Tuesday. He said baffled bystanders were left open-mouthed as the vehicle made its way through the central London park. Mr Clark, who has driven a taxi for six years, said: The cyclists and the people on the sidewalk were just staring in disbelief. They couldn't believe what they saw but sadly I wasn't surprised. Baffled: Taxi driver David Clark said people were stunned to see a car being driven on a segregated cycle track in Hyde Park / David Clark I do not know how they did it because sat navs are so sophisticated now but maybe they thought they could take a chance. The cycle route was opened on Friday as part of the planned East-West cycle superhighway which is due for completion later this year. A TfL spokesman said he was not aware of the incident but said cars being driven on cycle tracks did happen from time to time. T his is the dramatic moment a car burst into flames on a road in south-east London. Flames engulfed the car on Shooters Hill Road, Blackheath, as thick black smoke billowed in to the air. Metropolitan Police Officers and fire crews rushed to the blaze, close to Greenwich Park, just after midnight. A spokesman for London Fire Brigade said: We were called at 12.13am this morning to reports of a car on fire on Shooters Hill at the junction with Goffers Road. One fire crew from East Greenwich attended the scene. The fire was out by 1.40am. Police sealed off the road for an hour while fire fighters dealt with the blaze. No one was injured in the fire. Just six-hours earlier a second car was engulfed in flames in a residential street in Lewisham. T he boss of Lloyds Bank today told its 75,000 staff that anyone can make a mistake following allegations he had an affair with a former special adviser to Tony Blair. I dont expect anyone to get everything right all the time, Antonio Horta-Osorio wrote to employees after reports he spent almost 4,000 while allegedly entertaining academic Wendy Piatt, 45, as he attended a banking conference in Singapore. He added: The important point being how we learn from those mistakes and the decisions and actions we take afterward. The bank, bailed out by taxpayers for 20 billion in 2009, said it had examined Mr Horta-Osorios expenses at the conference and cleared him of any wrongdoing. He said: As youd expect, I pay for my personal expenses whilst away and only reclaim what is a business expense. But he spoke of his deep regret for any damage the allegations had done to the bank, which he joined in 2011 and which is still nine per cent owned by taxpayers. My personal life is obviously a private matter as it is for anyone else, he said. But I deeply regret being the cause of so much adverse publicity and the damage that has been done to the groups reputation. It has detracted from the great work which you do for our customers. The Lloyds boss, 52, has been married to his wife Ana for 25 years and returned to work this week after several weeks leave. The Treasury has received 16 billion back from the bailout and he has returned Lloyds to profit. But he has also shrunk it rapidly, including a further 3,000 job cuts earlier this year. Today he told remaining staff: I have been a strong advocate of expecting the highest professional standards from everyone at the bank, and that includes me ... having the highest professional standards raises the bar against which we are judged and as I have always said we must recognise that mistakes will be made. L ondon bus workers today announced two 24-hour strikes in a row over rosters, including on Bank Holiday Monday when the Notting Hill Carnival takes place. Members of Unite at bus operator Tower Transit will walk out on Friday and again on Monday after voting by 9-1 to back action. Unite said around 1,000 drivers, engineers and other workers are involved in the dispute - affecting 28 routes in the capital. Regional officer Simon McCartney said: "Tower Transit bus workers have reached breaking point over an increasingly belligerent management who have turned their back on constructive consultation and dialogue. "Instead workers now face the imposition of changes to their rosters leaving them out of pocket and rearranging their family life. "To add insult to injury, bus workers have also found themselves short changed when doing overtime on a rest day. "Our members take great pride in keeping London on the move 24 hours a day and deserve better." Mike Weston, Transport for London's director of buses, said: "I'm sorry that some of our customers may face disruption to their usual routes. "I would advise everyone to check our website for the latest updates and we'll be working hard to ensure that customers have up to the minute information about which services are affected. "We're also encouraging Tower Transit and Unite to resolve the dispute as quickly as possible to avoid disruption to passengers' journeys." T wo London sisters wearing headscarves were escorted off a plane and questioned by armed police after being wrongly accused by passengers of supporting Isis. Sakina Dharas, 24, and 19-year-old Maryam Dharas, along with sibling Ali Dharas, 21, were on board an easyJet flight at Stansted, bound for Naples, when a member of cabin crew asked them to leave the aircraft. Kings College London student Maryam told the Guardian the trio, of Indian descent and from north west London, were quizzed by police for an hour and asked: Do you speak English? She said: What happened was wrong. This kind of profiling shouldnt take place. I dont want this to happen again to anyone else. EasyJet has since apologised but Maryam said her sister Sakina, a University College London clinical pharmacist, was left close to tears by the treatment. She told the paper: Were told a couple had reported us having been reading Isis materials. My sister and I wear headscarves. We thought, theres clearly profiling going on here, she went on. We were just in shock. What is going on? None of us have been doing that. Were absolutely flummoxed. We were asked have you had any Arabic on your phone? Have you been reading the Quran? We dont even speak Arabic, we dont know Arabic, were not even Arabs. They were eventually allowed back on to the flight but Sakina was told she faced further background checks. A spokesman for easyJet said: EasyJet can confirm that, following concerns raised by a passenger during the boarding, a member of ground staff requested the assistance of the police, who took the decision to talk to three passengers at the bottom of the aircraft steps, before departure. The police then confirmed to the captain that the passengers were cleared to complete their journey and they reboarded the aircraft and the flight departed to Naples. The safety and security of its passengers and crew is our highest priority, which means that if a security concern is raised, we will always investigate it as a precautionary measure. We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused to the passengers. Essex police said they were satisfied the initial report on the August 189 flight was of good intent. T ransport for London is moving Tube maintenance in-house in a bid to save 80 million in management fees over the next decade, it announced today. The Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines will be looked after by TfLs own engineers after it is released from a contract with private firm Amey next year. The move is part of a drive by Sadiq Khan to cut waste and improve efficiency within TfL to pay for his fares freeze promise over the next four years. The mayor said he was proud that TfL would be bringing the work back into the public sector as soon as the contract, a legacy of the public-private partnership, allowed. London Underground already has experience of managing operations in-house following the collapse of maintenance firm Metronet in 2007. The body will not make a profit from the deal, with all savings put back into modernising the transport network and freezing TfL fares. TfL claims the Mayors fares freeze pledge will cost 640 million and be funded by major cost-cutting, including organisational restructuring. It will also see cuts to agency staff and a recruitment freeze, as well as a senior staff pay freeze and end to some free travel perks for families. This would deliver the cash for the first two years, with TfL working on the remaining two, against a backdrop of it losing its central government grant in 2018. Mark Wild, managing director of LU, said: We are carrying out a root-and-branch review of our business to cost less and make transport in London more affordable for our customers. As part of this, we are using our in-house maintenance expertise to save tens of millions of pounds. There will be no impact on our extremely high standards of maintenance and we will be working closely with Amey over the next 18 months to ensure a smooth transition. J eremy Corbyn attacked Sir Richard Branson as a tax exile who was laughing all the way to the bank today in a major escalation of the row over whether he was forced to sit on a train floor. The accusations denied by Sir Richards office were levelled after the Labour leaders claims that there were no seats on the ram-packed Virgin train were shown by CCTV images to be untrue. But Mr Corbyns embarrassment increased when the challenger for the Labour leadership, Owen Smith, implied that the Left-winger had not told the truth about the incident. Im not quite sure what the Corbyn version of events is because I think it changed a couple of times yesterday, he said. But what is clear from the footage that Ive seen is that he had a seat on the train, and there were seats on the train, and he chose to sit on the floor. Ram-packed?: CCTV footage shows Mr Corbyn walking past reserved but empty seats at 11.08am in Coach F. / Virgin Trains. The extraordinary row resulted in some of the most damaging headlines yet for Mr Corbyn in todays papers. However, it did not dim the enthusiasm of backers at a Newham rally last night who chanted Jeremy, Jeremy, Jeremy at his appearance. The incident began when Mr Corbyn travelled with a film-maker on the three-hour 11am Virgin Trains service from Kings Cross to Newcastle on August 11. Seated; Virgin Trains' CCTV footage shows Corbyn did have a seat. / Virgin Trains. He was filmed on the floor, complaining that there were no free seats and arguing that nationalisation would improve services. But Virgin Trains released CCTV images that appeared to show the Labour leader walking past empty, unreserved train seats. Mr Corbyns campaign manager Sam Tarry who is a national official with the TSSA rail union opened fire at Virgin tycoon Sir Richard on the Today programme, saying: I think it is quite clear, Richard Branson is literally laughing all the way the bank at the British taxpayers expense. Lets be clear about whats going on here. This guys a tax exile. Referring to rail subsidies, he went on: In the last year this guy has made around about 53 million direct from the taxpayer. Mr Tarry told supporters at the Newham rally last night: The Establishment are absolutely petrified of what this campaign is about, what this movement is about. A Virgin spokesman said that it was not true that Sir Richard was a tax exile. O utgoing Ukip leader Nigel Farage is set to give a speech at a Donald Trump rally in the US tonight on the topic of Brexit. Mr Farage will not endorse the Republican candidate for president but is expected to talk about how the anti-establishment beat the establishment ahead of Mr Trumps appearance, a former adviser said. The transatlantic right-wing partners will appear at a rally at the Mississippi Coliseum, where tickets reportedly have sold for 1,000 US dollars (755). I'm out: Nigel Farage doesn't want to relocate to the Australian jungle / Geoff Caddick/AFP/Getty Billionaire businessman Mr Trump has dubbed himself "Mr Brexit" on Twitter and hailed the referendum outcome as "a great thing... an amazing vote". Raheem Kassam, a former Ukip adviser to Mr Farage who is in Mississippi, said: "As I understand it, I think the plan is for him to speak ahead of Trump's speech, and basically just to walk the audience through the Brexit campaign and how the anti-establishment beat the establishment. "He is very keen to stress that this is not an endorsement - he doesn't want to behave like Obama did during the Brexit campaign, he doesn't want to tell Americans how to vote. "So he is just there as a storyteller from a country which has gone through a similar election recently." Asked if Mr Farage sees the groundswell of support for Mr Trump as a similar popular revolt to the Brexit vote in the UK, he said: "Yes, sort of a kick back against same old same old." Barack Obama was widely criticised after he spoke out against Brexit ahead of the referendum, warning that the UK would be at the "back of the queue" in any trade deal with the US if it chose to leave the EU. Mr Kassam said he did not know if Mr Farage, who flew over to the United States on Tuesday, will actually appear on stage with Mr Trump. Additional reporting by PA T heresa May will personally chair a Cabinet committee to decide on Heathrows third runway plan, the Evening Standard has learned. The Prime Minister will lead a thorough review of the evidence and aims to announce the much-delayed decision within the Governments current target of October. A new membership for the Economic Affairs (Airports) sub-Committee is to be announced shortly. Justine Greening, the Education Secretary and Putney MP, who is widely regarded as the Cabinets most diehard opponent of Heathrow, is not likely to be a member, say Whitehall insiders. The Prime Minister was returning to work full-time today after her Swiss walking holiday, with the critical issue of airport expansion high on her list of priorities. Supporters of Mrs May insist she will act in the national interest, rather than be swayed by night flight noise protests in her Maidenhead constituency. But she was among five Cabinet ministers with seats close to flight paths who were kept off the decision-making committee under David Cameron. Tory MP Crispin Blunt, who chairs the Gatwick Coordination Group which is pro-Heathrow expansion and against a second runway at Gatwick, said: Its her call to make. Although she has a constituency interest, she has got to put the countrys interests first. John Stewart, of anti-runway group Hacan, predicted that Mrs May would be more sympathetic to people suffering airport noise because of her local issues. He said: This suggests she is going to have quite a fundamental look at the issues. Im sure she will try to act for the national interest but there is no question that as an MP whose constituency is so close to Heathrow she will be affected by local opinion. It is widely believed at Westminster that Mr Cameron was about to announce the go-ahead for Heathrow expansion before his resignation derailed the process a year after the Airports Commission recommended the move, subject to noise and air quality tests. Speculation that Mrs May might try to rush a decision in a September window after ministers return from holiday is being dismissed by Whitehall sources. Instead they are talking of a decision coming by the end of the year. Members of the old committee who might carry on include Business Secretary Greg Clark and Communities Secretary Sajid Javid. F ive people have now died in the sea off Camber Sands on the hottest day of the year, after two more bodies were pulled from the water. Three people were confirmed dead this afternoon after emergency teams were called to reports of the men needing urgent medical aid at about 2.15pm, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said. The death toll was later raised to five after two more bodies washed up on the beach at Camber Sands, near Rye, East Sussex, this evening. The RNLI confirmed that two more bodies had been found, and said the search was still on for another missing person. A Camber Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesman said: "Emergency services' crews have recovered two more people from the sea at Camber Sands beach this evening. Rescue attempt: helicopters come in to land at Camber Sands / James Beeson "Three men died earlier today after being pulled from the same area of Camber Sands earlier this afternoon. Now the bodies of a further two men have been found in the water. "Rye Bay and Dungeness Coastguard Rescue Teams, Rye Harbour and Dungeness RNLI lifeboats and the UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Lydd are currently on scene, alongside Sussex Police. "Sadly, all five men have been confirmed deceased. Our thoughts are with their families at this time." It is the second serious incident to take place recently at Camber Sands, which with its sand dunes has long been a popular destination for beachgoers. Last month 19-year-old Brazilian Gustavo Silva Da Cruz died after getting into difficulty while swimming in the sea there. Mr Da Cruz, who was visiting family in Croydon, south London, was one of three men who got into trouble. The two others, who were not connected to him, included a man aged 35 and his son aged 17. One eye-witness at Camber Sands, Natalja Taylor, 30, who was on a day-trip with her husband, said police were driving up the beach with a loudhailer urging people to stay out of the sea. She said: "We were sat on a hill a bit further away and we saw three people being pulled out of the water. I think the people who rescued them were regular people, not emergency personnel. "We don't know what condition they were in. There were so many people there. They were still on the beach when we left. "Police drove on to the beach with a loudspeaker, telling people not to go into the water until further notice. They also taped off a huge chunk of the beach so no-one could get near it. "It's pretty scary. I'm not sure how it happened. We decided not to go into the sea after seeing warning signs about some kind of fish. It wasn't particularly windy down there, it was just a hot, sunny beach day. "There was a lot of people on the beach, particularly for a weekday. We're now just hoping that everyone involved is okay." Police remained on the beach as day-trippers said they were surprised there were no lifeguards present. Paula Day, 49, from the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, said: "The first thing we saw was a helicopter flying really low. "And then later we saw someone being resuscitated. Police were telling everyone to get out of the sea because of a rip tide. "It was heaving with people here. We have been coming here for years and we have never seen anything like this. The sea was fine." The Lydd and Lee-on-Solent-based UK Coastguard search-and-rescue helicopters were also scrambled to the scene, along with an air ambulance. An RNLI lifeboat from Rye and Coastguard rescue teams are also there. Suggestions that the deaths may be linked to jellyfish have been ruled out, and there was nothing to suggest the men were migrants. One beach-goer said police told her to stay out of the sea due to a rip tide. The Camber Sands deaths came as police said that a two-year-old girl who was swept into the sea with her father had also died in hospital. Mckayla Bruynius died at Bristol Children's Hospital on Tuesday night, having been caught by a large wave at Fistral beach in Newquay, Cornwall, last Friday. Her father, Rudy Bruynius, was also killed, during a weekend in which a total of six people were killed in tragedies around the coast. T hree men have died after getting into trouble in the sea off Camber Sands on one of the hottest days of the year. Emergency teams were called to reports of the trio needing urgent medical aid at Camber Sands, near Rye, East Sussex, at about 2.15pm, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said. A Sussex Police spokesman said: "The three men, who have not yet been identified, sadly died despite efforts to save them." One eye-witness, Natalja Taylor, 30, who was on a day-trip with her husband, said police were driving up the beach with a loudhailer urging people to stay out of the sea. She said: "We were sat on a hill a bit further away and we saw three people being pulled out of the water. I think the people who rescued them were regular people, not emergency personnel. "We don't know what condition they were in. There were so many people there. They were still on the beach when we left. "Police drove onto the beach with a loudspeaker, telling people not to go into the water until further notice. They also taped off a huge chunk of the beach so no-one could get near it. Camber Sands: air ambulances come in to land on the beach / James Beeson "It's pretty scary. I'm not sure how it happened. We decided not to go into the sea after seeing warning signs about some kind of fish. It wasn't particularly windy down there, it was just a hot, sunny beach day. "There was a lot of people on the beach, particularly for a weekday. We're now just hoping that everyone involved is okay." It is the second serious incident to take place recently at Camber Sands, which with its sand dunes has long been a popular destination for beachgoers. Last month, 19-year-old Brazilian Gustavo Silva Da Cruz died after getting into difficulty while swimming in the sea there. Mr Da Cruz, who was visiting family in Croydon, was one of three men who got into trouble. The two others, who were not connected to him, included a man aged 35 and his son aged 17. A two-year-old girl from London who was fighting for life after being swept out to sea while on a Cornwall family holiday has died in hospital. Mckayla Bruynius was with her 33-year-old father Rudy and her mother Lisinda when they were caught out by a freak wave at Fistral Beach in Newquay last Friday evening. All three were rescued but Mr Bruynius who was born in South Africa and lived in Morden with his family - died later in hospital. His daughter also lost her fight for life at a hospital in Bristol last night, police said today. Paying tribute to her husband and daughter, Mrs Bruynius said: Rudy was a loving, caring and supportive husband, father and friend. Mr Bruynius with his wife Lisinda / PA He had a great sense of humour and was an active person. He always put other people first. Mckayla was a busy bee and always happy. I am in disbelief at what has happened. I am so shocked at how quickly the sea condition changed on that day whilst we were enjoying a family time together in Cornwall. I pray that others can learn from our tragedy as I do not wish for anybody to go through our grief. She thanked medical staff, the emergency services and the public for their support and offers of help after the accident. The familys two young sons managed to remain on the rock as the huge wave swept Mrs Bruynius, her husband and daughter into the sea. The coastguard rushed to the scene after being alerted by a 999 call at around 5.20pm. Mr Bruynius was pulled from the water by lifeguards and given CPR on the beach before he was airlifted to Cornwalls Treliske Hospital. Mckayla was rescued in a lifeboat and taken to Bristol Childrens Hospital where she spent four days in a critical condition before she died. A JustGiving page set up by friend Terri-Anne Young Remant to support the family has raised more than 31,000. Writing on the page, family friends Armand and Madelein Jansen Van Noordwyk said: Mckayla is now peacefully resting with her Daddy. She went last night. Rest well little angel, we will miss you more than words can say. All our prayers and thoughts are now with Lisinda and the boys. We know the road ahead will be rocky and very, very hard. May they find the strength. Investigating officer Detective Constable Jarrod Yewen, from Newquay CID, said: This is a tragic case for all those involved and our thoughts remain with the family at what is a deeply traumatic time for them. The deaths are not being investigated as suspicious therefore the police will now prepare a file for HM Coroner and an inquest will be held in due course. A rmed police ordered a woman to remove a burkini on a French beach as part of a controversial ban on the swimwear. At least four police officers were seen standing over a woman who was resting on the shore of a beach in Nice wearing a full-body swimsuit. After they arrived at the scene near the Promenade des Anglais where last months horrific Bastille Day lorry attack took place - she appeared to remove the blue garment. One of the officers took notes or issued an on-the-spot fine during the exchange. Footage shared on Twitter also appeared to show police approaching a woman who came out of the sea at the resort in a full-body swimsuit and headscarf. The photographs emerged as a mother-of-two also told yesterday how she had been fined on the beach in nearby Cannes for wearing leggings, a tunic and a headscarf. Her ticket, seen by French news agency AFP, said that she was not wearing an outfit respecting good morals and secularism. The 34-year-old said: I was sitting on a beach with my family. I was wearing a classic headscarf. I had no intention of swimming. Witness Mathilde Cousin added: The saddest thing was that people were shouting go home, some were applauding the police. Her daughter was crying. Last week, Nice became the latest French resort to ban the burkini. Like many other holiday hotspots, the city barred clothing that overtly manifests adherence to a religion at a time when France and places of worship are the target of terrorist attacks. The ban comes after Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel drove a truck in to crowds during Bastille Day celebrations at the resort, claiming 86 lives on July 14. Just 12 days later a Catholic priest was brutally murdered near the northern city of Rouen. The ban by several towns will come before Frances highest administrative court tomorrow following an appeal by the Human Rights League. The organisation is set to challenge the decision by a lower court in Nice, which upheld a ban on the outfit by the town of Villeneuve-Loubet. The Nice tribunal ruled on Monday that the ban in Villeneuve-Loubet was necessary, appropriate and proportionate to prevent public disorder after a string of attacks by Islamic extremist in the country. A black man has been shot by police in the US after calling them to his home to report a robbery. Carl Williams was left fighting for his life after being shot by police in what has been described as a tragic incident. Mr Williams, from Indianapolis, had called officers to report that his wife had been assaulted by a black suspect with a rifle. But when police arrived at the scene, they mistook Mr Williams for the suspect and fired at him. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) have faced a barrage of criticism after Mr Williams, who reportedly had his gun on him, was immediately shot on sight. Tragic accident: Assistant Chief Randal Taylor speaking at a press conference / RTV6 Mr Williams had called 911 at 4.34 am to report that his wife was assaulted by a "black male in a red shirt armed with a rifle" who had stolen the couple's car. When police pulled up to his house, the 48-year-old opened his garage door with his gun in his hand, it is claimed. An officer with nine years experience, then fired, shooting him in the abdomen. At a press conference broadcasted in RTV6, assistant chief of IMPD Randal Taylor said: "First and foremost this is a tragic incident, involving a homeowner attempting to protect his family and the IMPD officers trying to do the same thing. "And of course our thoughts and prayers are certainly with the homeowner and the family, who was mistakenly shot by our officer and we wish him a quick recovery." He added: "The officers involved were forced to make a split second decision based on the information and totality of the circumstances known at the time. "The officer involved was a nine-year veteran of the east district late shift. Again this was tragic and unforeseen. I don't know of any officer who goes out wanting to get into a shootout with anyone, but especially not, as in this case, a homeowner." Police said that the original suspect is still at large. A British schoolboy has died in hospital four days after being rushed to hospital after almost drowning in his holiday hotel pool. The 12-year-old was taken to Vall dHebron Hospital in Barcelona last Thursday at around 4pm after being revived by the poolside at a three-star hotel. He had been staying in the Costa Brava resort of Lloret de Mar with his parents and older sisters when the ordeal happened. But sources have since confirmed the boy has lost his fight for life after spending four days in intensive care. The youngster has not been named. Last weeks incident happened at the Guitart Central Park Resort & Spa Hotel. The 252-room hotel describes itself on its website as an emblematic family hotel and boasts: A space for those who look for a family hotel in Lloret de Mar to enjoy without any worries and with the best value for money. Local reports last week said it appeared the youngster, who knew how to swim, had jumped or fallen into the water from the second level of the pool and failed to surface. Lifeguards rescued him from the water and managed to get his heart beating again with the help of local police who had a defibrillator. An air ambulance, which ended up taking him to hospital, was sent to the scene along with a conventional ambulance. It is not known when he died on Monday. An investigation led by a local judge is continuing. It is understood the youngster was taking medication for a health condition and investigators are probing whether it contributed to what happened. Confirmation of his death came just three days after Reece Morris, 40, from Walthamstow, north east London, died a hero trying to save his young daughter when they got into difficulties while swimming in the sea on the Costa del Sol. He was helped out of the water by lifeguards after fellow bathers went to assist him with his daughter, but collapsed of a suspected heart attack as he reached shore. The tragedy happened on Sunday afternoon in front of the dead mans wife and other daughter aged five at El Penoncillo Beach in Torrox on the eastern Costa del Sol. Brit pals Lisa Coggins, 35, and Tracey Aston, 32, drowned in front of three other friends they were on holiday with in Lloret de Mar last October. The bodies of the two women from Birmingham were recovered following a massive air and sea search. A Japanese father has stabbed his 12-year-old son to death after the child failed to study for an entrance exam. Public broadcaster NHK reported that Kengo Satake, 48, told police that he argued with his son for not studying before a test. The boy was apparently due to take the examination in a bid to gain a place at a leading private junior high school. Police officers working in Aichi prefecture in the city of Nagoya said that the son, named Ryota, died from loss of blood in hospital on Sunday. The father was arrested after hospital staff phoned the police, and told officers that he had stabbed Ryota by mistake. NHK reported that the boy was often told off by his father for not studying, and said the school the boy was hoping to get into was one of the leading private schools in Aichi prefecture. According to local media, Ryotas mother was at work when the incident occurred. A British woman told how she was "living her dream" in a poignant message before she was stabbed to death in a knife rampage at an Australian hostel. Backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, wrote on Facebook that she was missing her friends and family in the UK while travelling. She wrote: The hardest thing (about) living my dream, missing the important home things. Graduations, people in hospital, funerals and birthdays. Ms Ayliffe-Chung was killed when a Frenchman went on the rampage in the small agricultural town of Home Hill, Queensland. The victim is the youngest of four sisters, according to her Facebook page, and comes from Wirksworth in Derbyshire. She went to Anthony Gell School before going to Chesterfield College to study psychology and communication and culture. British woman murdered in Australia by possible terrorist knifeman She then went to Buxton College to study childcare. She had travelled to Bali before arriving in Australia. In recent days she had posted about encounters with North Queenslands insects and the hot sun and shared photographs of her grease-covered jeans after long days of farm work. On August 19 she wrote: Day one, done! Only 87 left to do. Today we were in sugar canes. Feeling like a little Jamaican again. Saw about 5 small spiders, 4 poisonous toads and 3 geckos. Not too shabby a day. In another message, posted a week ago to her friends, she wrote: I love all these cuties, they have made my last 5 months so much fun (and my amazing managers, barmen, glassies, DJs, MCs, hosts, the guy that sleeps on the sofa at the back... Oh and that kid that does the lights)! I love coming to work to see you all and Im going to miss you. The 3 months on the farm will be easy, its just putting up with Sam and Chris Im concerned about. Will probably return tired, sunburnt and slightly insane but Ill be back nonetheless. Distraught friends described the victim, who was in Home Hill working on a farm after a job in a bar on Australias Gold Coast, as fun-loving. Monique Cross said: She was a gorgeous person. Its an awful tragedy. Friend Amy Browne, who worked with her at the bar on the Gold Coast, wrote: My beautiful friend and gorgeous soul taken way too soon under the worst circumstance possible. Killed at hostel: Mia Ayliffe-Chung Still cant believe youre not coming back, gone but never forgotten. Rest easy Mia. We all love you so so much. I love you always. Mia was honestly the most bubbliest and most caring girl I knew. She got along with everyone she met, she just had that gorgeous personality that everyone seemed to enjoy. She always had a smile on her face, so innocent and full of life and love. Our memories will be cherished forever and I know shed want us all to stay positive in the darkest of times. An ex-colleague, who did not want to be named, said Ms Ayliffe-Chung left the bar three weeks ago to work on the farm, adding that she had done only three days work before being killed. A 30-year-old British man, named locally as Tom Jackson, was critically injured in the attack, which was witnessed by up to 30 people. The owner of Shellys Backpackers hostel was also hurt and a dog was stabbed to death. Police said they were confronted by a terrible scene as they detained the suspect. The attackers potential links to extremism are now being investigated, although officers said they were treating Ms Ayliffe-Chungs killing as murder, rather than a terrorist crime. Victim: Mia Ayliffe Chung was killed in a knife attack / Facebook The suspects mental health is also being assessed. Briton Emily Waters, who had stayed at the hostel previously, described how some of her friends witnessed the killing, saying: They all had to stand and watch the poor girl get murdered. I cant believe it. Ive just been told the guy who did this is someone I lived with there the whole time. To think I spent time talking to him and working with him. Facebook Queensland Police described the attack as a senseless act of violence. Supt Ray Rohweder said officers were confronted by horrific scenes as they arrived after 11.15pm yesterday. Two officers ordered the 29-year-old attacker, who had injuries to his arms, to lie on the ground and grabbed the knife he used in the attack. He was caught on police body camera shouting Allahu Akbar, Arabic for God is greatest, as he was taken into custody and was also reported to have use the same phrase in the attack. Queenslands Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Golleschewski told reporters the attack was being treated as murder but said a possible terrorist motive was being investigated. Initial inquiries indicate that comments which may be construed as being of an extremist nature were made by the alleged offender, he said. Weve had three people stabbed, one deceased, one critically injured. Its a shocking attack by any standards. He said his force was not ruling out any motivations at this early stage, whether they be criminal or political, adding: The associated issues of what motivated him and whether that has any relevance to radicalisation is something well explore fully. The attacker is understood to have been in Australia on a temporary visa for about a year. Ms Ayliffe-Chungs father Howard is understood to live in South Norwood. Her half-sister Nicola Chung, 35, said he was indisposed today, adding that the family is preparing a statement. The injured hostel owner was named by a friend as Grant Scholz, 46. Britains High Commissioner to Australia, Menna Rawlings, is travelling to the area. A young British backpacker was stabbed to death as a knifeman went on a rampage at an Australian hostel. Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, was knifed in a frenzied attack in front of more than 30 people by a man who was allegedly shouting "Allahu Akbar" in Queensland. A 31-year-old British man was also left fighting for his life and a dog was stabbed to death at Shellys Backpackers in the small town of Home Hill, south of Townsville. A 29-year-old French man is now in police custody over the killing. Hostel victim: Mia Ayliffe-Chung / Facebook A third man, who intervened, was also stabbed in the leg but his wounds were not life-threatening and he was released from hospital following the attack last night. Police are investigating whether the arrested man who had been in the country for several months has any link to terror organisations. Killed at hostel: Mia Ayliffe-Chung Ms Ayliffe-Chung, who worked at The Bedroom nightclub, in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, had been in the area for 10 days and was planning to find work as a fruit picker. Staff at the venue told local media she was intent on returning to the bar after carrying out a required three-month fruit-picking stint in Home Hill so she could extend her holiday visa. Ms Ayliffe-Chung, originally from Wirksworth in Derbyshire, was described by friends and colleagues as full of energy and an infectiously happy young girl. Backpacking tour: Mia Ayliffe-Chung had been travelling through Australia / Facebook Close friend Kyle Godwin wrote on Facebook: Today the world has lost one of the most beautiful young women to ever walk this planet. Today I lost a best friend. A girl like no other, one of the happiest, full of energy, delightful, energetic and hilarious girl I've come across. Even though I've only known you for a short amount of time it feels like we have been best friends for years, we just seemingly clicked and were like two peas in a pod. Another friend Rowan Clark said: Mia was an infectiously happy, young girl, and will be missed dearly. Ms Ayliffe-Chung was from Wirksworth, Derbyshire / Facebook Hannah Weisskopf-Biggs described Ms Ayliffe-Chung as a beautiful and soulful girl. Writing on Facebook, she said: Just can't believe it. Mia Ayliffe-chung was too young and such a beautiful & soulful girl. My thoughts and prayers are with her family. Monique Cross, an Australian friend of Miss Ayliffe-Chung, said: "She was a gorgeous person. It's an awful tragedy - I can't believe it." Tom Paenga wrote on Facebook: "R.I.P Mia. I know that I will not find someone like you again, so happy, so motivating, in good times and in bad times always you were drawing a smile..." On her Facebook page, Ms Ayliffe-Chung had shared pictures and videos of her time in Queensland, including selfies after long days of farm work and of her time spent working in the nightclub. Ms Ayliffe-Chung shared pictures on social media after long days of farm work / Facebook She is said to have studied psychology and childcare in the UK. Supt Ray Rohweder said police were confronted by a terrible scene when they arrived at the hostel after the attack at 11.15pm. Loading.... Two officers ordered the attacker, who had injuries to his arms, to lay on the ground and grabbed the knife he used in the attack. The aftermath of the knife attack in Australia Queensland state Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Golleschewski told reporters: Initial inquiries indicate that comments which may be construed as being of an extremist nature were made by the alleged offender.. Weve had three people stabbed, one deceased, one critically injured. Its a shocking attack by any standards. The arrested man, who has been in Australia on a temporary visa since March, was also caught on police body camera shouting Allah Akbar as he was taken into custody. The man was taken to Townsville Hospital to be assessed for mental health and drug issues as anti-terror police began their investigation into the horrific crime. No charges have yet been laid. A mother has told how she was racially abused by a crowd of locals in France after being ordered by police to remove her hijab or face a fine. The 34-year-old former air hostess, named only as Siam, was approached by three officers while at La Bocca beach in Cannes with her young children. They demanded she remove her floral-patterned headscarf. Siam described how police read her the details of the headscarf ban on beaches, stating beachgoers must wear correct clothing, respect secularism, hygiene rules and security and arguing that her hijab was an ostentatious sign of religion. She agreed to pay the 11 fine but was then reduced to tears when a crowd surrounded her, shouting go home and were Catholics, witnesses claimed. She told French magazine LObs that she was stunned that racist terms were used freely. My children were crying, witnessing the humiliation of me and my family. Even I could not help crying. They humiliated us, she said. Mathilde Cusin, a journalist for France 4, said the crowd were like a pack of hounds attacking the woman. Ms Cusin said: People asked her to leave or remove her veil, it was pretty violent. "What shocked me is that it was mostly people in their thirties, not the elderly as one might imagine. Mayor of Cannes David Lisnard said he supported the actions of the police officer and argued that they were right to fine anyone wearing a religious garment. He said the officers had no reason to doubt their judgement. In a statement, the mayor said he did not wish any Muslims to feel unwelcome on the beach and said people of all faiths should be allowed their rights. Siam confirmed she had contested the Collectif Contre LIslamophobie, an organisation which protects the rights of Muslim citizens. In a country meant to be famed for its human rights, I havent seen any evidence of the principles of liberte, egalite or fraternite, she added. In Nice, armed French police forced a woman to remove a 'burkini' on a beach. The full-body swimsuit has controversially been banned in several holiday hotspots across the country. N orth Korea has test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile, according to the US and South Korea. The KN-11 missile was launched off the Norths eastern coast and flew about 300 miles before falling into the Sea of Japan. Japanese PM Shinzo Abe said the missile fell inside his countrys air defence identification zone, calling it an unforgivable, reckless act which poses a grave threat to Japans security. Submarine-launched ballistic missiles are of particular concern because of the mobility of submarines and the ease with which launch preparation can remain undetected. North Korea is banned by the UN from any use of ballistic or nuclear technology. But in recent months it has carried out repeated missile launches, and is believed to be close to conducting its fifth test of a nuclear device. The US State Department said it strongly condemned the missile tests and would raise concerns at the UN. It comes as South Korea and the US begin annual military drills, which routinely anger Pyongyang. Loading.... North Korea has also seen several high-profile defections, including its deputy ambassador to the UK, Thae Yong-ho. A 21-year-old British woman was stabbed to death by a knifeman who went on a rampage while allegedly shouting 'Allahu Akbar' at an Australian hostel. Police are probing possible terrorist links after the attack which also left a 31-year-old British man fighting for his life in hospital. A third man, a 46-year-old Australian who intervened in the fight, was also stabbed in a leg but his wounds were not life-threatening and he was released from hospital following the frenzied attack last night. British consular staff were called in by police and have been in contact with families of the victims. Killed at hostel: Mia Ayliffe-Chung The woman was named locally as waitress Mia Ayliffe-Chung, who had been in the area for 10 days and was planning find work as a fruit picker there. Backpacking tour: Mia Ayliffe-Chung had been travelling through Australia / Facebook A French man aged 29, who is now in police custody, also stabbed a dog to death during the attack witnessed by a roomful of more than 30 people at Shellys Backpackers in the small town of Home Hill, south of Townsville, Queensland. Loading.... Supt Ray Rohweder said police were confronted by a terrible scene when they arrived at the hostel after 11.15pm. Two officers ordered the attacker, who had injuries to his arms, to lay on the ground and grabbed the knife he used in the attack. The aftermath of the knife attack in Australia Queensland state Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Golleschewski told reporters: Initial inquiries indicate that comments which may be construed as being of an extremist nature were made by the alleged offender.. Weve had three people stabbed, one deceased, one critically injured. Its a shocking attack by any standards. The arrested man, who has been in Australia on a temporary visa since March, was also caught on police body camera shouting Allah Akbar as he was taken into custody. The man was taken to Townsville Hospital to be assessed for mental health and drug issues as anti-terror police began their investigation into the horrific crime. No charges have yet been laid. T urkish tanks crossed into Syria today after heavy shelling of an area held by Islamic State forces. It came as Turkey again targeted IS in the Syrian border town of Jarablus after its foreign minister promised to cleanse the border. Military sources said 70 targets in the area had been destroyed by artillery and rocket strikes, and 12 by air strikes. Shelling began at about 2am UK time, with 224 rounds fired in the space of one hour and 45 minutes. Turkish special forces are already inside Syria as part of the operation to clear IS out of Jarablus. Turkeys state-run news agency said tanks had crossed into Syria as part of the offensive. In its report, the Anadolu Agency, which cited unnamed military officials, did not say how many tanks entered Syria. The private NTV television said as many as 20 tanks had crossed into Syria and that clashes were taking place at the border. Turkish counter-terror police also launched dawn raids on IS members in Istanbul today. Arrest warrants were issued before the operation, which included a raid on an address in the Pendik district on the Asian side of the city, according to reports. A force of 1,500 Turkish-backed Syrian rebels is said to be waiting across the border to take part in the Jarablus operation. The Turkish military has also shelled positions belonging to the Kurdish YPG militia, apparently to deter them from taking Jarablus themselves. Ankara fears the Kurds could create an autonomous area near the border which could fuel Kurdish separatism. After todays offensive began, the Turkish prime ministers office said: The Turkish Armed Forces and the International Coalition Air Forces have launched a military operation aimed at clearing the district of Jarablus of the province of Aleppo from the terrorist organisation Daesh [IS]. Turkey blames IS for a bomb attack that killed dozens of people in the south of the country at the weekend. It had earlier ordered residents in the Turkish town of Karkamis just across the border from Jarablus to evacuate after the town was hit by mortar fire believed to come from IS positions. Jarablus lies along the west bank of the Euphrates River, less than a mile from Turkey. It is the last major town held by IS on the border. Turkeys air strikes are its first inside Syria since the downing of a Russian jet in November. Moscow and Ankara only mended ties last month after punitive Russian sanctions. Meanwhile, US Vice-President Joe Biden has arrived in Ankara, Turkeys capital, where he is scheduled to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. R ose Leslie left some viewers rather surprised by her posh accent after an interview on This Morning. The actress, 29, who plays Northern Wilding Ygritte in Game of Thrones, got fans talking after her appearance on Wednesdays show. A number of viewers took to Twitter in shock after the stars accent didnt seem to match up to her most famous character. #RoseLeslie 's accent is messing with my head. @itvthismorning she sounds like #GoCompareAdvert but is so lovely too, wrote one confused viewer. Am genuinely shocked at how different Rose Leslie sounds to her game of thrones character @itvthismorning, wrote another. Explaining her accent to Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford, Leslie said: Bizarrely enough Im actually from Scotland. Thats where I was born and raised. Thats where my parents still live. When asked why she had lost her Scottish accent, she explained: I was sent to boarding school in Somerset and then drama school kind of eviscerated [it]. BBC Breakfast fans had a similar reaction when she appeared on the show a few months ago. Rose Leslie's actual voice just made me do a double take. She's POSH?!, wrote one viewer. One Twitter user clearly couldnt contain his shock, posting: ROSE LESLIE'S REAL ACCENT. OH MY F****** LORD! Leslie is playing an American in her brand new film, Morgan. Its really wonderful to be able to escape from your own natural voice and take on someones persona, she said. J udge Rinder has made a dig at Ed Balls ahead of their appearance on the new series of Strictly Come Dancing. The criminal barrister, who will be taking to the dance floor in just a few weeks, made a jibe about the former Shadow Chancellor and discussed his fellow contestants. Criticising Balls political career, Rinder told The Sun: Im sure he will be a much better dancer than he was a politician. The barrister, who fronts reality courtroom show Judge Rinder, went on to say that he thought contestants with prior dance training had no advantage. Do I think theyve got an advantage? Not really. I think the British public can tell, they want people to be good, but they also want to see people improve, I think, he said. They want to see people go on a journey, but if they know how to dance already then all the better for them. The full line-up for this years series has just been confirmed, with final three Greg Rutherford, Tameka Empson and Lesley Joseph revealed earlier this week. Olympic gymnast Claudia Fragapane has already emerged as an early favourite, with William Hill giving her odds of 7/2 to win. He's got the moves: Ed Balls will be hitting the Strictly dance floor / Jeremy Selwyn Pop star Will Young, who reportedly took ballet classes for 11 years, is currently the second favourite at 5/1. Hollyoaks heartthrob Danny Mac is also expected to have some impressive moves in his repertoire and is third favourite at 5/1. The 2016 series of Strictly Come Dancing kicks off with the launch show on September 3. T his years series of The Great British Bake Off kicked off with mirror glaze cakes, tears and an age old baking debate. While all 12 brand new contestants put in sterling first efforts on the signature bake, technical challenge and showstopper during 'cake week', it was church minister Lee who was the first to be voted off. After a number of dry bakes during Wednesday nights launch show, the Bolton-based 67-year-old lost his place in the competition. Succumbing to a lack of moisture in his drizzle cake, Lee was later told that his showstopper was too simple. His didnt fare much better in the technical challenge, with his chocolate failing to reach the edges of the cakes. Ive always enjoyed baking and in church I do baking demonstrations, he told Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood before he left the marquee. You can console yourself by knowing that youre one of the 12 best amateur baker in the country," said Hollywood. At the other end of the spectrum, Jane was named star baker, despite a slightly shaky situation with one of her Jaffa Cakes. Great British Bake Off 2016 - contestants in pictures 1 /17 Great British Bake Off 2016 - contestants in pictures Full tent The bakers taking part in the Great British Bake Off 2016 have been revealed BBC/Love Productions Rav Age: 28 From: Kent Bio: After studying Criminology at university, Rav went on to support students at City University, London. Hes experimental with his baking and is inspired by vegan baking and eastern cuisine Speciality: Flavour combinations BBC/Love Productions Andrew Age: 25 From: Derby Bio: Northern Irish-born aerospace engineer Andrew was taught to bake by his mum and gran. Hes a straight-A student who went to Cambridge University Speciality: Structurally ambitious bakes BBC/Love Productions Louise Age: 46 From: Cardiff Bio: Hairdresser Louise progressed her skills by making cakes for charity sales at work. She adventurous in her designs and in her hobbies having completed a trek around the Andes and various other mountains Speciality: Elaborate cakes BBC/Love Productions Lee Age: 67 From: Bolton Bio: Builder-turned-theologist-turned-Pastor Lee used baking as a way to fill his days in the Eighties when an injury stopped him from playing cricket. Speciality: Traditional flavours, including cherry, hazelnut, vanilla and chocolate BBC/Love Productions Kate Age: 37 From: Norfolk Bio: Qualified nurse Kate is a Brownie leader and uses seasonal fruits which she gathers with her kids in her baking Speciality: Sugar craft BBC/Love Productions Val Age: 66 From: Yeovil Bio: Semi-retired substitute teacher Val incorporates her baking into her teaching. She does aerobics in her kitchen but she might not do so in the Bake Off tent Speciality: Traditional classics BBC/Love Productions Benjamina Age: 23 From: South London Bio: Teaching assistant Benjamina takes inspiration from the likes of Instagram and Pinterest for modern takes on classic bakes. She takes feedback from her family to improve her creations Speciality: Fresh and modern versions of traditional cakes BBC/Love Productions Michael Age: 20 From: London Bio: Currently studying Politics and Economics in Durham, Michael has Cypriot heritage grew up making Greek pastries with his nan Speciality: Big grand cakes BBC/Love Productions Selasi Age: 30 From: London Bio: Ghanaian-born Selasi works in finance, and his hobbies include motorbikes, basketball, and travelling. He recently ran a 10k, half marathon, and trekked through Malawi for charity Speciality: Delicate cupcakes BBC/Love Productions Jane Age: 61 From: Beckenham Bio: Garden designer Jane wakes up at 5am to bake her bread. Her grandfather owned a bakery, and she s passionate about the classics Speciality: Classic cakes, biscuits and pastry BBC/Love Productions Tom Age: 26 From: London Bio: Rochdale-born Tom works for the Royal Society of Arts and is creative with his flavours and ingredients. He lost 30 kilos, and has a have your cake and eat it mentality Speciality: Surprising twists BBC/Love Productions Candice Age: 31 From: Bedfordshire Bio: Secondary school PE teacher Candice was taught to bake by her nan, and loves everything vintage. She lives with her boyfriend Liam and pug Dennis Speciality: Baking the classics like her nan BBC/Love Productions Other early stand-out bakers included Ghana-born Selasi, who was praised for his originality and technical prowess. The first challenge of this years competition was a classic drizzle cake, which happens to be Hollywoods firm favourite. The Great British Bake Off 2016: Launch Trailer While one cake was completely gin-soaked, Benjaminas had great flavour and texture, and Janes drizzle had great penetration. The Jaffa Cake challenge was slightly more hit and miss, with many of the bakers confused about which was top and which was the bottom. Viewers seemed more concerned about whether or not this put the age old 'cake of biscuit' debate to bed. I f youre planning to watch return of the Great British Bake Off, dont run off immediately afterwards to whip up your favourite on-screen dessert; the Chronicles of Nadiya is something you wont want to miss. This documentary stars Nadiya Hussain, last years Bake off Champion, and probably the loveliest woman in the world. Here she gets her own two-part show, as she travels to Bangladesh in search of fresh flavours and her own family history. Nadiya last visited Bangladesh for her wedding 10 years ago, and is dying to thank her family members whose prayers and support drove her to success. This is a journey that takes me home, she explains, to the people and places Ive missed so much. Expect to wish for smell-o-vision as we see Nadiya sample mouth-watering local dishes, and laugh alongside her as she works her magic in kitchens far from the luxuries of the Bake Off tent. Its not your namby-pamby kind of cooking in England, Nadiya laughs, Youve got to be a full-on Hell Kitchen kind of cook. Great British Bake Off 2016 - contestants in pictures 1 /17 Great British Bake Off 2016 - contestants in pictures Full tent The bakers taking part in the Great British Bake Off 2016 have been revealed BBC/Love Productions Rav Age: 28 From: Kent Bio: After studying Criminology at university, Rav went on to support students at City University, London. Hes experimental with his baking and is inspired by vegan baking and eastern cuisine Speciality: Flavour combinations BBC/Love Productions Andrew Age: 25 From: Derby Bio: Northern Irish-born aerospace engineer Andrew was taught to bake by his mum and gran. Hes a straight-A student who went to Cambridge University Speciality: Structurally ambitious bakes BBC/Love Productions Louise Age: 46 From: Cardiff Bio: Hairdresser Louise progressed her skills by making cakes for charity sales at work. She adventurous in her designs and in her hobbies having completed a trek around the Andes and various other mountains Speciality: Elaborate cakes BBC/Love Productions Lee Age: 67 From: Bolton Bio: Builder-turned-theologist-turned-Pastor Lee used baking as a way to fill his days in the Eighties when an injury stopped him from playing cricket. Speciality: Traditional flavours, including cherry, hazelnut, vanilla and chocolate BBC/Love Productions Kate Age: 37 From: Norfolk Bio: Qualified nurse Kate is a Brownie leader and uses seasonal fruits which she gathers with her kids in her baking Speciality: Sugar craft BBC/Love Productions Val Age: 66 From: Yeovil Bio: Semi-retired substitute teacher Val incorporates her baking into her teaching. She does aerobics in her kitchen but she might not do so in the Bake Off tent Speciality: Traditional classics BBC/Love Productions Benjamina Age: 23 From: South London Bio: Teaching assistant Benjamina takes inspiration from the likes of Instagram and Pinterest for modern takes on classic bakes. She takes feedback from her family to improve her creations Speciality: Fresh and modern versions of traditional cakes BBC/Love Productions Michael Age: 20 From: London Bio: Currently studying Politics and Economics in Durham, Michael has Cypriot heritage grew up making Greek pastries with his nan Speciality: Big grand cakes BBC/Love Productions Selasi Age: 30 From: London Bio: Ghanaian-born Selasi works in finance, and his hobbies include motorbikes, basketball, and travelling. He recently ran a 10k, half marathon, and trekked through Malawi for charity Speciality: Delicate cupcakes BBC/Love Productions Jane Age: 61 From: Beckenham Bio: Garden designer Jane wakes up at 5am to bake her bread. Her grandfather owned a bakery, and she s passionate about the classics Speciality: Classic cakes, biscuits and pastry BBC/Love Productions Tom Age: 26 From: London Bio: Rochdale-born Tom works for the Royal Society of Arts and is creative with his flavours and ingredients. He lost 30 kilos, and has a have your cake and eat it mentality Speciality: Surprising twists BBC/Love Productions Candice Age: 31 From: Bedfordshire Bio: Secondary school PE teacher Candice was taught to bake by her nan, and loves everything vintage. She lives with her boyfriend Liam and pug Dennis Speciality: Baking the classics like her nan BBC/Love Productions You might even pick up a few recipes to try at home, or some useful tips to spice up your cooking, as she takes us through her favourite dishes step by step. This pun-tastic travelogue is what Nadiya fans (aka, the entire United Kingdom) have been waiting for since we saw her whisk her way to victory in the GBBO final that broke viewing records last year. While the first episode focuses on Nadiya returning to her roots in her family's village, the second episode brings magnificent vistas and adorable otters when she travels the Padma river and learns about some ingenious local fishing techniques. Its an entertaining and emotional hour of a woman whos even sweeter than the cakes which made her famous. BBC One, 9pm Sometimes, the real story is in the comments. An interesting opinion piece in the New York Times caught my attention Monday. Skip the Fancy Towels, and Hire More Nurses, was the headline. The article talked about hospitals providing hotel-like amenities, while cutting corners on staffing. Some of the examples in the opinion piece were a surprise to me. Alcohol-free champagne toasts delivered to every new mother at one hospital. Monogrammed towels at a hospital where a psychiatric nurse has complained about not being able to care for patients one-on-one and double the patients she should be caring for because the hospital sent the other nurse home. A hospital patients primary goal is to get better, not to take a vacation Reams of studies show that when hospitals hire more nurses, patient risks of death, infections, complications, falls, failure to rescue rates and readmission drop, author Alexandra Robbins said in the piece. Hear, hear! It seems like a no-brainer. If having to make a choice between amenities and having to adequately staff a hospital, I sure do hope that hospital administrators in our nations hospitals are picking the latter. If my loved one is in a hospital, Im not going to care about the monogrammed towels. I will care about the attention and treatment that my loved one received. And, its what Ill remember the most. I was curious to see what the reaction of nurses may be to the piece so I read the comments. I expected people agreeing with the piece. Interestingly, though, the comments that caught my attention are the ones that talked about the lack of change in the industry. One nurse talked about the design of a lift that requires at least two people to lift an immobile person. She suggests that it be improved to save nurses time, and injury. I didnt agree with some of her suggestions she doesnt like requirements that nurses be required to check in medications and inventory. She bemoaned increased charting. Both of these last two requirements are done, from my knowledge, in efforts to increase the care and safety of our patients. However, her list of comments does make a person think are there better ways to do things to increase efficiency? I bet there is and some nurses may have some recommendations for improvements. Hopefully, hospital administrators listen to those on the front lines, so to speak. Other nurses talked about the health care system being broken. We hear this so much from politicians that I think we tend to think of it as only a line to get elected. However, some of the nurses in the comments talked about patients who are unable to get care, so when they finally are in a hospital, they are seriously ill and at greater risk for complications. Other nurses talked about the shortage of nurses, while at the same time, some talked about how difficult it was for new nurses to get hired. Again, the message was to hire more nurses, and to teach them how to be great nurses. If staffing levels are getting to danger zones, as the spouse of one nurse said, it seems to me that the standards of a hospital are going to go down. Sure, Im just a patient. And, Im just reading articles about health care and not working in the field. All of us have probably worked at jobs where we grinch and moan about our jobs, depending on the day, but the comments from the nurses on this piece seemed like more than that. Hospitals are life and death organizations. If I gathered one thing from the comments, its that a lot of hospital administrators are not listening to the nurses and doctors who are working with the patients at hospitals. And, that seems like the real story to me. Perhaps listening to the nurses and doctors could improve these hospitals more than monogrammed towels and alcohol-free champagne. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? 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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. About 30 local business owners and community leaders gathered to ask N.C. Lt. Gov. Dan Forest questions about small business issues Tuesday. The luncheon, held at Mitchell Community Colleges Technology and Workforce Development Center on West Front Street, was sponsored by the National Federation of Independent Businesses, an industry group that provides advocacy, education and other services to small businesses nationally, and the Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce. At the beginning of the meeting, Chamber president David Bradley asked Forest what he and others have done about potential economic losses due to House Bill 2 -- the controversial legislation passed by lawmakers earlier this year that bans transgender individuals from using bathrooms that correspond with their gender identities in government facilities. Forest said no businesses have left North Carolina because of the bill, and private business owners have the right to create whatever bathroom accommodations they deem necessary. Forest also discussed education and its ties with the health of North Carolinas small businesses. Ninety-two percent of all businesses in North Carolina are considered small businesses, he said. A two-year associate degree can provide training to get many jobs with small businesses, Forest said. Spending the first two years at a community college like Mitchell can reduce the cost of earning a degree by up to 44 percent, he said. That means that more students will be coming out of school with less debt, he said. Forest and Gregg Thompson, NFIBs state director, told the group that small business owners with questions can contact them in Raleigh. Forest can be reached at 919-814-3680. Thompsons office number is 919-833-9480. Inner Mongolia-based Chinese steelmaker Baotou Iron and Steel (Baogang) has announced that it carried out a hot run test on its continuous annealing line No. 1 on August 18, which was built by China Metallurgical Group Corporation (MCC) subsidiary Capital Engineering & Research Incorporation Ltd (MCC CERI), SMS Meer Engineering China (SMEC) and Fives Stein Company. Shanghai-based Chinese steelmaker Baosteel has announced that it has received its first export order for its self-developed 13Cr special oil well steel pipe from the Middle East, which lays the foundation for Baosteels entry into the overseas oil well steel pipe market. The Chilean price distortion commission, CNDP, has initiated an antidumping (AD) duty investigation regarding imports of wire rod from China upon a request made by Chilean steelmaker CAP Acero, according to a document filing published in the nations Diario Oficial, Chile s official gazette. On November 9, 2012, the ministry had imposed AD duties ranging from 9.2 percent to 14.4 percent on imports of the given products from the EU and Japan Wednesday, 24 August 2016 16:14:05 (GMT+3) | Istanbul In July this year, Japanese crude steel production was up 1.3 percent compared to the previous month and up 0.5 percent compared to July 2015, totaling 8.88 million mt, according to the data released by the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF). Meanwhile, in July of the current year Japan 's pig iron production totaled 6.94 million metric tons, rising by 4.2 percent compared to the previous month and down by 0.3 percent year on year. In the January-July period of this year, the country's pig iron output stood at 47.02 million metric tons, down 0.4 percent, while its crude steel production came to 60.94 million metric tons, falling 0.8 percent, both on year-on-year basis. By MARK EVANS mevans@stegenherald.com Bloomsdale will probably host a major fireworks display. The pyrotechnics will not take place until 2024, however. During the Oct. 12 board of aldermen meeting, Kevin Wehner and city officials again discussed the possibility of a July 4 fireworks display at the youth soccer fields on land leased by the city Mackinac Island What a beautiful weekend on Mackinac. The trees are dressed in autumn blaze and on the way to the Grand... Outdoors This Week in the Eastern U.P. OK, first, summer was over. Then, next thing you know, September was gone. Now, October is almost over. People, this... Looking Back 130 YEARS AGO The St. Ignace News Saturday, October 29, 1892 Deer season closed on Tuesday last. The Gospel... Southwest Airlines Co., proud owner of a storied corporate culture that values fun, hard work and a maverick mindset, is contending with an unaccustomed challenge: hostile public disputes with its labor unions. Employees are showing up for picketing like never before and waving anti-Southwest placards. Unions representing more than two-thirds of the workforce called on Chief Executive Officer Gary Kelly to step down this month, and the carriers head of labor relations announced his retirement late Tuesday. Contract talks have dragged on for years even as Southwest the dominant passenger airlines serving St. Louis posted record profits. The acrimony is fueling concerns about higher expenses as many employees fight for their first pay raises in years. The airline says it needs productivity gains and new work rules after losing much of its advantage in operating costs over American Airlines Group Inc., Delta Air Lines Inc. and other larger rivals. Southwest is also fending off ultra-discounters such as Spirit Airlines Inc. Investors care about this stuff, Hunter Keay, a Wolfe Research analyst, said of labor-management strife. They want to know if its going to impact the numbers and start to impact operational statistics. Amid the tension, Southwests labor chief, Randy Babbitt, announced his retirement on Tuesday. Babbitt, 70, a former head of the Federal Aviation Administration who had been with Southwest since 2012, declined a request to be interviewed. Pilots union head Jon Weaks said the executives presence had hindered progress in contract talks, and Audrey Stone, head of the flight attendants labor group, said she was thrilled with Babbitts departure. While Southwest is no stranger to tough contract negotiations more of its employees belong to unions than at any other U.S. carrier whats new is the degree to which those labor groups are going public with details of the talks on social media. Workers have been picketing at major airports and the 8,300-member pilots union has spotlighted its message on a three-story electronic billboard in New Yorks Times Square. As many as 1,000 pilots, joined by other Southwest workers, protested inside and outside Dallas Love Field terminal Wednesday, their labor group said. The unions also say Southwest failed to adequately address a series of technical faults that grounded flights and stranded passengers. The disruptions provided the extra impetus for the no-confidence vote against Kelly and operations chief Mike Van de Ven. Employees feel like somewhere along the way, the emphasis at Southwest became no longer about the people, Stone said. Our people are what made Southwest Airlines successful. Herb founded our company on that motto take care of your employees and they are going to take care of the customers, with emphasis on the employees first. Herb Kelleher, the colorful and popular co-founder of Southwest, stepped down as chairman in 2008, seven years after giving up the CEOs title. He still serves as chairman emeritus and is in his office most days. His name is invoked often by employees, who still rush to speak to him at various functions. The airline has never laid off workers and its profit-sharing program paid out $620 million last year, or the equivalent of eight weeks pay for each employee. The voluntary turnover rate has never topped 3 percent, said Jeff Lamb, executive vice president of corporate services. On Aug. 11, Southwest received 6,500 applications for flight attendant jobs in less than four hours. I dont think what Id consider to be an isolated group calling for a change or management to leave to be any indictment on our culture, Lamb said. The core is still extremely solid. Years of negotiations The carrier began operations in 1971, flying to three Texas cities with three planes. Now it carries more passengers on domestic routes than any other, operates 719 aircraft and has 53,200 employees. That much change requires an evolving culture, said Susan Divers, a senior adviser at ethics and leadership consultant LRN. Its no longer us against the world and the hungry upstart, she said. You have to replace that insurgency with other ways of interacting that still really inspire people and keep that dialogue going with employees. The airline has been in contract negotiations with pilots and mechanics for more than four years and flight attendants for three years. Pilots and flight attendants both rejected tentative agreements last year, while baggage handlers and other airport ground workers approved a new contract in February by 50.4 percent of the vote. Billions spent to buy back company stock, poor decisions about upgrading on-board products and missteps tied to the 2010 acquisition of AirTran are among other management shortfalls that have hurt the carrier, said Weaks, president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association. What were trying to do is make everybody, from the institutional people to the Southwest board of directors to the general officers themselves look in the mirror at the way we do things, said Weaks, whose union has sued the carrier over flying Boeings newest 737. This place could really, really just kick butt, but we keep getting in our own way. A no-confidence vote by unions against a CEO isnt uncommon in the airline industry. Kelly and Van de Ven said in messages to workers that they had no plans to leave, and were backed by the carriers board in an Aug. 5 letter. Southwest lost much of its operating-cost advantage when larger rivals used bankruptcy to eliminate debt, reset compensation and freeze pension contributions. The airline has to swap higher pay for productivity gains to make money with lower fares, Van de Ven said. We have very competitive contract offers in front of every union, so its not a question of whether or not we want to provide our employees with significantly more compensation, he said. But we need to make sure we have changes in our processes and work rules. The airline also is investing $500 million over three years to replace its aging technology systems. Gary is a very astute businessman, very smart, very good financially, said Jerry McCrummen, 61, a Southwest ramp worker and former Transport Workers Union official. But he doesnt know his work groups like Herb did. We built something together and we struggled, and through that fire we bonded with that management. We dont see that anymore. CHICAGO Bed Bath & Beyond on Wednesday said it ordered an external audit of textiles from Welspun India, after Target Corp. last week accused the Indian manufacturer of passing off cheap sheets as premium Egyptian cotton for two years. This could compound the woes of Welspun, which supplies to several large U.S. retailers and has seen its shares plummet percent since Target's announcement on Friday. The incident also highlights the problems large retailers face with quality control and compliance when procuring from suppliers spread around the world. Bed Bath & Beyond spokeswoman Leah Drill said the retailer will pursue an investigation and take appropriate action. Bed Bath & Beyond's announcement comes after the world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., this week said it is reviewing Welspun's cotton certification records. Department store JCPenney is also conducting an investigation "to ensure the integrity of Welspun's product claims." Macy's Inc. on Wednesday said it is monitoring the situation. Target on Wednesday said it is in the process of taking out all products manufactured by Welspun under the 'Fieldcrest' label, and has already removed 750,000 Fieldcrest bedding products from stores and its website. Those were sold between 2014 and 2016, and Welspun claimed they were made from Egyptian cotton, spokeswoman Molly Snyder said. The investigation at Target, which routinely audits its products, finished at the end of July, Snyder said. She declined to provide details about what triggered the investigation. Target is offering a refund, in the form of a gift card, to affected customers who either have a loyalty card or purchased the products online. Target declined to comment on how this kind of product quality issue was missed by their internal buying team for such a long period. However, Snyder said that Target had taken no action against its employees and blamed Welspun for leading them to believe that what they were supplying was, in fact, Egyptian cotton. "This was 100 percent a Welspun issue," she said. On Monday, Welspun said it was investigating the product specification issue and would hire a Big Four accounting firm to review its supply processes. Some retailers such as Swedish home furnishing giant Ikea said they would continue doing business with Welspun while awaiting the outcome of the Indian textile manufacturer's probe. Pfizer agreed to buy an antibiotics business from AstraZeneca for $725 million as well as other payouts, settling for one piece of a company it once tried to acquire. Pfizer will pay $550 million to AstraZeneca when the transaction closes and make another payment of $175 million in January 2019, according to a statement Wednesday. In addition, AstraZeneca is eligible to receive as much as $250 million in milestone payments, up to $600 million in sales-related payments, as well as certain royalties. New York-based Pfizer has been looking for ways to bolster both its pipeline and portfolio of marketed drugs after two failed attempts at a major acquisition, first with AstraZeneca in 2014, then with Allergan this year. The U.S. drugmaker this week agreed to buy Medivation Inc., maker of the Xtandi prostate cancer drug, in a $14 billion deal. AstraZeneca, meanwhile, has been shoring up its declining revenue by licensing out and selling assets that aren't central to its business, enabling investment in focus areas like cancer research. The London-based drugmaker in June sold rights to its anesthetics medicines, another non-essential area, to Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Ltd. Revenue from "externalization," as the company calls it, and divestments was $2.3 billion last year, and AstraZeneca has said it would generate more than that this year. As a result of the divestment, AstraZeneca will cease to invest in commercial activities in its small molecule antibiotics business, and doesn't anticipate that any of its sales force will be transferred to Pfizer as part of the transaction, a spokeswoman said in an e-mailed response to questions. Pfizer is buying rights to several of AstraZeneca's experimental and approved antibiotics in global markets outside the U.S., including Zavicefta, which is used to treat severe bacterial infections resistant to other drugs an area of growing need. The transaction will give Pfizer rights to three medicines already on the market, including Zavicefta, which was approved by the European Commission in June. It also gives Pfizer two drugs that are still in clinical development, including one to treat methicillin-resistant staphylococcus, or MRSA, infections. AstraZeneca's portfolio will add to more than 60 anti-infective and anti-fungal medicines that Pfizer sells, said John Young, group president at Pfizer Essential Health, in the statement. AstraZeneca is "pleased that our strong science in antibiotics will continue to serve a critical public health need through Pfizer's dedicated focus on infectious diseases," said Luke Miels, executive vice president for Europe, in the statement. The deal doesn't include biotechnology products in development at AstraZeneca's MedImmune unit, or AstraZeneca's stake in Entasis Therapeutics, a company developing new small-molecule anti-infectives. DOVER, Del. In 2009, a global coalition was pressing governments to lift the veil on corporate secrecy. Its members U.S. President Barack Obamas administration, influential senators, international law enforcement agencies, anti-corruption activists and major American allies presented a formidable front in their campaign against money laundering and tax evasion. The United States, championing the cause abroad, was also pursuing legislation for stronger disclosure rules at home. Then along came Jeffrey Bullock, the newly appointed secretary of state for Delaware. His tiny East Coast state was in crisis, heading toward an $800 million budget deficit. Delawares second-biggest biggest source of revenue was fees from few-questions-asked company registrations and other corporate services. That cash cow was in danger. A proposed U.S. law would have required states to track the true owners of the companies they register. The global pushback against shell companies was threatening to dim Delawares longstanding appeal as a secretive corporate domicile. Seven years later, the proposed law continues to languish, thanks in part to Bullock. He was neither the first nor the only official to take up the fight, but became a leader in defending the status quo as worldwide support for change gained traction. Its as easy as ever to register a company in Delaware with scant disclosure of the real owner, making the state a magnet for anonymous shell companies that law enforcement says can be used to avoid taxes, launder money from drug-trafficking or conceal terrorist financing. Were viewed as hypocrites, said Carl Levin, the now-retired Michigan senator who sponsored the legislation and an advocate of corporate transparency in his 36 years on Capitol Hill. We go after tax havens and people who launder money but then we become a haven. His bill received fresh support this month, in a letter from a coalition of the worlds largest banks to U.S. lawmakers. The legislations prospects remain unclear. Delaware, meanwhile, is doing much better. Since Bullock started his job, the number of companies registered in Delaware has jumped 34 percent, to 1,181,000 as of last year. Revenue from the states corporations unit surpassed the $1 billion mark for the first time in 2015. In 2010, the state budget deficit was $800 million; as of this July, it was zero. Rising fee income from registrations, which surged during Bullocks tenure, helped plug the gap. Even before Bullock was appointed, officials from several states were working to address the growing sentiment against corporate secrecy. And Delaware took some steps to curb secrecy, such as tightening oversight of registered agents, third parties who act on behalf of companies. But Bullock helped outmaneuver foes of the status quo by tapping his political connections, drumming up support among other states and hiring a Washington lobbying firm. In an interview, Bullock said corporate secrecy in the United States is a problem and that law enforcement needs tools to uncover the identities of company owners. He opposed past efforts to deal with the problem, he said, because they would have placed undue burdens on individual states. The federal government, not states, should be responsible for making the system more transparent, he said. The cost of opacity Leaving states to collect ownership information, Bullock said, could leave weak links in the system by creating a patchwork of different approaches and financial resources for collecting those details. And criminals can find the weakest link, he said. The vast majority of Delaware-registered companies are legitimate enterprises. More than 50 percent of all U.S. publicly traded companies and 66 percent of the Fortune 500 call Delaware home, according to the Delaware Division of Corporations. Still, the opacity championed by Delaware and other states has allowed some notorious criminals to carry out their deeds and hide ill-gotten gains. Lobbyist Jack Abramoff laundered money defrauded from clients through a Delaware shell company run by a lifeguard out of a beach house. Mexico cartel kingpin Joaquin El Chapo Guzman allegedly used a Delaware-based tequila business to launder drug money. Former Zambia strongman Frederick Chiluba siphoned off millions from state coffers into Delaware shell companies. The list goes on. Bullocks reach extends into the offices of his counterparts in other states who, at Delawares direction, lobby their U.S. representatives to fight transparency, said Heather Lowe, director of government affairs at Global Financial Integrity, an anti-corruption advocacy group in Washington, D.C. Bullocks influence is astoundingly frustrating, Lowe said. Its impossible for authorities to determine exactly how much dirty money is tucked away in havens. Based on an analysis of International Monetary Fund data, Global Financial Integrity says that roughly $1.1 trillion in illicit funds were transferred out of developing countries in 2013. Where companies want to be Corporate America has long favored Delaware as a domicile because of statutes that give directors broad discretion in how they run companies, a dedicated court for corporate disputes that dates to 1792, and a business-friendly legislature. Delaware was the first state to let stockholders limit the liability of corporate directors. Delaware is also one of the worlds easiest places to set up a company. The state charges as little as $90 to register a limited liability corporation, or LLC. All thats needed is the name of a registered agent, which can be bought from an outside company for $50. Approximately 200 agents represent Delawares 1.2 million companies. Form Your Delaware Company in Just Minutes, touts the website for one of them, Harvard Business Services Inc. When law enforcement officials, or anyone else, search Delawares corporate registry online to see who owns a company, all they get is the name and address of the agent. The true owner, also known as the beneficial owner, doesnt have to be disclosed. The Corporations Division of Delawares Department of State comprises a warren of cubicles in the basement of a government building in Dover, the state capital. The divisions 111 employees man two shifts, working until midnight to accommodate urgent corporate filings. For $1,000, the office will vet a corporate registration application in an hour, taking requests as late as 9 p.m. Bullock was raised in Claymont, a steel town whose fortunes fell with the collapse of the U.S. steel industry. He came up in local politics, landing a gig as chief of staff to then-Governor Tom Carper in the 1990s. Delawares current governor, Jack Markell, appointed Bullock secretary of state in 2009. It was a bleak time for Delaware, in the wake of the global financial crisis. By 2010, the states budget was deep in the red. State leaders were wrestling with the equally unappealing prospects of deep spending cuts and steep tax hikes. Worse, Delawares corporate registry franchise, its biggest revenue driver after personal income tax, was in jeopardy. America the outlier In 2006, the Financial Action Task Force, or FATF, a group of some three dozen nations formed to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, noted significant shortcomings in the United States. The group declared Washington non-compliant in four of 40 categories for anti-money-laundering compliance. Among the failures: Authorities could not obtain timely information about a companys real owners, FATF said. The task force demanded that the United States fix the problem. For Washington, which was pressing allies to crack down on terror financing, it was an embarrassing critique. The same year, the U.S. Government Accountability Office, Congresss auditing arm, concluded that federal law made it too easy for individuals to anonymously form companies. Delaware was a favored destination for such companies, the report said. As anti-secrecy momentum built, Senator Levin and then-Senator Barack Obama joined forces with Senator Norm Coleman of Minnesota to make it tougher to register new companies without identifying the owners. They issued a bill in 2008 that would pare back secrecy laws in Delaware and other states by forcing them to collect information about the true owners of companies, thereby making the facts more accessible to law enforcement. In 2009, the Department of Justice, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Manhattan District Attorneys office each testified to a Senate committee that corporate secrecy was a growing problem and impeding law enforcement. Championing the cause By then, Bullock had been appointed secretary of state. Trim and friendly, he became a popular figure, tasked with praising the states founders in speeches on Delaware Day and flanking the governor at bill-signing ceremonies. He pursued a weightier agenda behind the scenes. By May 2009, he had hired Washington lobbying firm Peck Madigan Jones to sway lawmakers and administration officials against Levins bill. One of the partners, Jonathon Jones, had served as Governor Carpers chief of staff after Bullock. Bullock is the only secretary of state in the country with a taxpayer-funded lobbying firm, according to lobbying disclosures. Bullock said the firms main role was to lobby on the Dodd-Frank financial regulatory reforms. Peck Madigan didnt return calls seeking comment. Bullock then hit back against FATF, the multinational group that had slammed Delaware as a secrecy haven. He co-wrote a Sept. 16, 2011, letter to FATF on behalf of the National Association of Secretaries of State in which he called the groups recommendations impractical, warning it not to meddle with the core principle of Constitutional state sovereignty. Such letters from association leaders are not unusual, a NASS spokesperson said. Meanwhile, Levin made a tactical misstep. He introduced his bill in the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, where an influential member was Delaware Senator Tom Carper Bullocks old chum and former boss. The bill was the subject of two hearings in 2009, tying it up for six months. Carper testified against it, saying states shouldnt be burdened with more work. I have long believed it should be easier for law enforcement to access identity information about criminals who manipulate our corporate laws, Carper said in a statement to Reuters. But new rules to ease access should preserve a nurturing business environment, he said. Stuck in the Senate Levin reintroduced a more detailed bill in late 2011 with ramped-up identification checks. The Treasury endorsed it. This time, according to a former congressional staffer, Carper pressed Senator Joe Lieberman, the committee chairman, to let the bill languish. When the bill was scheduled for a markup, the final step before going to the full Senate for debate and a possible vote, it never came to pass, the staffer said. Lieberman, in an email, said Carper and other committee senators voiced concerns about the bill. It was my impression that they were hearing from their states secretaries, Lieberman said. Lieberman said he asked the senators to compromise. They tried but were never able to find the sweet spot of an agreement. And thats where it ended, said Lieberman, now a lawyer in private practice. In June 2013, pressure rose on Washington to act. The Group of Eight industrialized nations issued a declaration demanding that members curtail anonymous shell companies. The plan called for creating ownership registries to aid authorities. That month, President Obama issued a national plan to address the G8 concerns, including a call for the Treasury Department and other agencies to back measures against anonymous shells. Levin retooled his bill yet again in August 2013. It had yet to make it to the Senate floor for debate, five years after it was introduced. This time, he crafted it for consideration by the Senate Judiciary Committee, hoping for a better reception. By then, NASS, where Bullock had become a dominant voice, was pushing a counterproposal. It advocated addressing the issue by relying on information the Internal Revenue Service collects from companies. That wouldnt work, critics said. The IRS has long restricted the information it gives law enforcement, they said. Further, the IRS requires only that companies register responsible parties, a term that could include anyone even a lawyer duty-bound to hide the real owners identity. It was a cover to oppose a bill thats presumably aimed at the true owners of corporations, Levin told Reuters. Its a dodge. Agents for change NASS spokeswoman Kay Stimson said the IRS collects the same kind of information described in the Levin bill. Law enforcement officials, she said, have told NASS that the IRS data is sufficient. In 2013, two retired FBI special agents took up the cause against secrecy, serving as unofficial spokespeople for active agents. Dennis Lormel and Theodore Greenberg, with decades of experience working anti-money laundering cases between them, visited Bullock in his offices in mid-2013. Too often, they told Bullock, the FBIs trail went cold at the addresses of Delaware incorporation agents. Sometimes that happened when foreign law enforcement agencies sought FBI assistance chasing the money trail of a suspected criminal. Such cases, they said, frayed relations with foreign agencies, which were expected to cough up the goods whenever the FBI was hunting terrorist cash flow. The two agents walked Bullock through a form and protocols used by banks in Switzerland, long one of the worlds most secretive financial hubs. If Delaware could simply meet the same minimal transparency standards as the Swiss, everyone would be happy. Bullock told them Delaware would not tighten requirements because companies would flee to other states with lax laws, according to the agents. Bullock told them the resulting blow to the state treasury could harm his chances of winning higher office, the agents said. I was pleasantly surprised that he was at least being honest, Lormel said. Bullock said he didnt recall all the details of his meeting with the former FBI agents. He said he does not have future political aspirations. The anonymity that is possible when using shell companies can lead to difficulties in federal investigations, an FBI spokeswoman said. She declined to comment on the legislation. An alternative plan That July, NASS held its annual convention in Anchorage, Alaska. A report about shell companies, prepared in part by Bullocks office, was circulated among the groups shell company task force. It discussed, among other things, IRS changes that could simplify collecting ownership details. Afterward, other secretaries of state, including Vermonts James Condos, entered the fray. Condos was a critical link to Senator Patrick Leahy, Democrat of Vermont, then chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, where Levins bill would soon be pending. Levins bill would leave companies, especially small businesses, with additional costly and confusing layers of bureaucratic red tape, Condos wrote in an Aug. 8, 2013, letter to Leahy, days after returning from Anchorage. The bill never left the Judiciary Committee. Condos said that Bullock did not encourage him to write to Leahy. Bullock and NASS say he didnt play the lead in rallying opposition to Levins bill. The cause had been taken up much earlier by officials in other states, he said, and by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Bar Association. NASS says secretaries of state have unanimously opposed Levins legislation from the start. This issue was already hot and heavy when I entered the scene, he said. By 2014, some Delawareans were growing concerned about the states reputation as a secrecy haven. A group of state legislators began circulating a draft public letter opposing Bullock and supporting Levins bill. Rebellion at home Bullock tried to quash the letter before it went public. I am writing to urge you to not sign on, he wrote in an email to state Representative Paul Baumbach on July 10, 2014. To support this kind of legislation sends the wrong message to the 1,050,000 legal entities incorporated in Delaware, he said. Baumbach signed anyway. He said he has stopped following the issue. Bullock told Reuters that he emailed the lawmakers out of concern that the registration business would simply move to other states if Delaware changed policies unilaterally. Thirty-one of Delawares 62 elected state legislators signed the letter opposing Bullock and supporting Levins bill. Taking action will help ensure that individuals cannot use our states incorporation laws for illicit purposes, the legislators wrote. The resistance failed. In March 2014, a senior U.S. Treasury official told Lormel, the former FBI agent, that the Obama administration was conceding defeat. There was too much opposition to the bill. A month later, an item on the White House blog reported Obamas support for the alternative proposal centering on IRS data. Asked about the change of tack, a senior administration official said: The Obama administration wants to work with Congress to pass meaningful legislation that would require companies to know and report accurate beneficial ownership information at the time of a companys creation, so that the information can be made available to law enforcement. Lormel, the former FBI agent, said the IRS approach may yield some useful information for law enforcement, but noted that identities of real owners might still be missing. Levin and limbo Levin retired in 2014. Other legislators took up his cause. Similar bills have struggled to gain traction. In May, the U.S. Treasury unveiled a new rule that, starting in 2018, will require banks to more thoroughly vet the real owners of potential corporate customers. Levin says the Treasurys definition of beneficial owner is loose and allows the reporting of managers instead of actual owners. On July 14, Delawares Senator Carper introduced yet another alternative a bill that would codify the IRS approach supported by Bullock. This legislation, crafted by Bullocks office and Delawares senators, would require every U.S. company to get an IRS identification number. Companies would provide responsible party information to the IRS that law enforcement officers could use in money-laundering and terrorism cases, according to the bill. The bill also outlines a new process for federal law enforcement to obtain that information from the IRS, a step that has required a court order and often led to dead ends. Proponents of transparency think it falls short. These are half-measures that largely serve to deflect political opposition rather than tackle the problem, said Mark Hays, a senior adviser at Global Witness, an anti-corruption group. Two days after Carper introduced the bill, Bullock unveiled it at a NASS conference in Nashville, Tennessee. He suggested the bill would help cast secretaries of state in a more positive light after years of fighting the Levin bill. I know how people portray us, Bullock told the conclave. I dont want to be against things, I want to be for things. Additional reporting by Francisco Vara-Orta in Columbia, Mo. Marilynne Robinson, who won a Pulitzer Prize for "Gilead," will receive a lifetime achievement award from the Dayton Literary Peace Prize organizers. The Iowa writer follows honorees who include Elie Wiesel, Barbara Kingsolver and Taylor Branch. Last year's winner of the honor, called the Richard C. Holbrooke Distinguished Achievement Award, was Gloria Steinem. The award is named for the U.S. diplomat who brokered the 1995 Bosnia peace accords reached in Ohio. Robinson's "Gilead" was the first of a set of connected novels that includes "Home" and "Lila." The quiet, powerful stories revolve around a small-town Iowa minister and his family. Robinson's 1980 book "Housekeeping" explored themes of family and home in a story about two sisters; it was made into a movie. The Dayton honor recognizes her overall body of novels and essays for their moving and thoughtful reflections on spirituality, politics, science and modern life. Sharon Rab, founder and co-chair of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation, praised Robinson's writings on "forgiveness, the sacredness of the human creature, and delight in being alive and experiencing the natural world" in a statement, adding that her works demonstrate "the universal healing power of reconciliation and love." "I have had the privilege of seeing for myself how books live in the world, how readily they can cross all sorts of borders and boundaries, how important they are in sustaining a human conversation through and despite the frictions that arise among nations, how intensely they can be taken to heart anywhere," Robinson said in a statement. In 2012 President Barack Obama presented Robinson with a National Humanities Medal. Robinson, 72, who was born in Idaho, was a longtime professor at the famous Iowa Writers Workshop. She retired from the University of Iowa this spring, and the head of the writing program called her "irreplaceable." Robinson has actually published more nonfiction titles than fiction. They are usually collections of cerebral essays, often about religious history or spirituality: "Mother Country: Britain, the Welfare State, and Nuclear Pollution" (1989) "The Death of Adam: Essays on Modern Thought" (1998) "Absence of Mind: The Dispelling of Inwardness from the Modern Myth of the Self" (2010) "When I Was a Child I Read Books": Essays (2012) "The Givenness of Things" (2015) Robinson earlier this year was awarded the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction, a lifetime achievement honor. She will receive the Dayton award Nov. 20. 'Gomorrah,' 9 p.m. Wednesdays on Sundance beginning tonight (Aug. 24) Three stars (out of four) Watch a British TV series and you might need subtitles. There's no such problem with "Gomorrah," the 12-episode crime drama arriving tonight on the Sundance Channel. "Gomorrah" is from Italy and was wildly popular there, and it airs in Italian, with subtitles. Are you out? If not, consider that "Gomorrah" (based on the best seller by Roberto Saviano and the movie that followed) is frequently compared to "The Wire" for its gritty, down-and-dirty look at narcotics dealers, in this case in Naples. That this show is merciless becomes clear in the opening scenes, when Camorra clan boss Don Pietro Savastano (Fortunato Cerlino) orders his lieutenants to torch the home of an elderly woman whose son is muscling into Savastano territory. Don Pietro's right-hand man is Ciro (Marco D'Amore), known as "The Immortal" because he seems to defy death. The Don might like to embrace Ciro (say CHI-ro) as his heir, but he also has a son, Gennaro (Salvatore Esposito), who is chubby and a bit dim; in other words, no Ciro. Atmospheric, showing a side of Italy no travelogue would touch, "Gomorrah" is also fast-paced, covering so much ground in two episodes provided for preview that most series would already be over. But "Gomorrah" has far to go, because on top of everything else, it's a soap opera. (An interlude involving a hideous couch is actually funny.) Don Pietro's wife, Immacolata (Maria Pia Calzone), turns out to be more of a key player than Carmela Soprano ever was. Access to imported international series, airing in their original languages, is one of the great benefits of having so many cable networks competing for exclusive programming. ("Deutschland '83," also on Sundance, was one of the best dramas of the year.) "Gomorrah" won't be for everyone, even those who aren't put off by subtitles. It is graphically, often excruciatingly violent, and the big cast and low lighting make the characters hard to sort out. Look away from the screen even for a second (no checking Facebook!) and you could be lost. For a niche audience, though, "Gomorrah" will be a favorite. It was in Italy, where a second, 12-episode season has already aired. That season has also been picked up by Sundance. ST. LOUIS Exasperated by nearly two months of defiance of a court order to supply details about people making sexual abuse claims against a St. Louis priest, U.S. District Judge Carol E. Jackson dealt a heavy blow this week to the advocacy group SNAP and others. In an order filed Monday in a suit by the Rev. Xiu Hui Joseph Jiang, Jackson says that SNAPs refusal to comply has made it impossible for the priest to litigate the claims against him. So as a sanction, Jackson in effect allowed Jiang to prevail on his claim that SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, defamed him and conspired against him. Jackson said the court will direct that it has been established that SNAP defendants did conspire together to obtain plaintiffs conviction on sexual abuse charges and that it was because of discriminatory animus against plaintiff based on his religion, religious vocation, race, and national origin. Likewise, she said the court will direct that it has been established that SNAPs public statements were false and that they did not conduct any inquiry into the truth or falsity of these public statements, but instead made these statements negligently and with reckless disregard for the truth. Jiang filed a defamation suit last year against the boys parents, police and SNAP leaders David Clohessy and Barbara Dorris, claiming they conspired against him for monetary gain, and that police went after him because of his religious and racial background. He had been named on criminal charges that were later dropped. Jacksons sanctions appear to apply specifically to SNAP. She had ordered June 27 that SNAP provide detailed information about people making complaints against Jiang. The organization responded with arguments of what the judge called a rape crisis center privilege to protect the information. Jackson wrote that it does not exist. She said SNAP neither produced the information ordered nor defended itself beyond repeated assertions of a nonexistent privilege. Her original order said that SNAP must hand over emails, text messages and contact information of people who accused Jiang of sexually abusing a boy in a Catholic school bathroom, resulting in charges that were dropped. Jiang was previously accused of having improper contact with a teenage girl from Lincoln County who attended the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, where Jiang was associate pastor. Charges of child endangerment and witness tampering Jiang had been accused of leaving a $20,000 check for the family as hush money were dismissed in 2013. In Mondays order, the judge seemed to outline other avenues for SNAP, pointing out that it had not proposed targeted redactions of names of third-party victims or attorneys-eyes-only disclosures. SNAP contends it has turned over hundreds of pages of redacted documents to Jiangs lawyers. It could have been worse for SNAP, the order suggests, noting that because of deliberate and willful refusal to comply, she could have entered a default judgment against the organization. She said that her findings on key points is a lesser but equally effective sanction. Her order says that SNAP must pay reasonable expenses, including attorneys fees generated by the defiance. SNAP also has refused Jacksons order to turn over all records of donations to the organization from the law firm Chackes, Carlson & Gorovosky, which has handled clergy sex abuse cases. The firm, according to David Clohessy, SNAPs executive director, did donate to SNAP from 2005-12 but never represented the organization. He said he doesnt know why Jiangs lawyers want that information. Clohessy said Jacksons order is a worrisome setback but that SNAP respects the courts authority. He said he isnt sure what SNAP will do but believes the organization did what it believes it had to do to protect victims. He said he wont know until the court-imposed Sept. 1 deadline to find out how much of Jiangs legal bills the organization will have to cover. Thats obviously a concern but its less a concern for us than the ability of victims and alleged victims to report predators and be protected, he told the Post-Dispatch. Well keep fighting, you know. We have no choice. Clohessy said he wasnt sure if SNAP would still be required to turn over the identities of alleged victim but that the group still believes doing so will deter others from coming forward to police, prosecutors, therapists and support groups. Jiangs lawsuit, Clohessy says, seeks to make sure that yet another alleged victim, witness or whistleblower stays silent, Clohessy said. Jiangs lawyer, John Sauer, could not be reached for comment Tuesday. It remains unclear if Jacksons ruling absolves SNAP from providing Jiangs legal team with the identities of alleged abuse victims. SNAPs lawyer, Amy Lorenz-Moser, said SNAP is considering an appeal. Its not over, she said. Peter Joy, a Washington University law professor, says the order sanctioning SNAP is unusual because it appears to side with Jiang while rendering SNAPs obligation to turn over evidence moot resulting from the groups refusal to do so. I think its going to be tough for them to win on appeal, Joy said. At this point, theyve lost not based on having the underlying complaint fully litigated but by basically failing to comply with the judges discovery order. FENTON The suspect in a carjacking here on Aug. 8 has been jailed in northwest Alabama on charges that he robbed a credit union and led officers on a high-speed chase there. Justin N. Ratcliff, 38, of the St. Louis area, was held Tuesday in Colbert County Jail in Tuscumbia, Ala., charged with robbing the TVA Community Credit Union in Tuscumbia of about $2,000 on Aug. 10. The following day, the Mississippi Highway Patrol captured Ratcliff about 40 miles from Tuscumbia. The Mississippi Highway Patrol said one of its troopers tried to stop Ratcliff for speeding near Belmont, Miss., just west of the Alabama state line. A spokesman said Ratcliff abandoned the car during the chase and ran, but was caught. The spokesman said he was driving a car stolen from Missouri. Iniside the car, he said, they found evidence of the robbery in Tuscumbia. St. Louis County Police said Ratcliff is a suspect in a carjacking Aug. 8 from the parking lot of the Walmart in Fenton. Police said he drove off after taking the car from its owner. The Mississippi Highway Patrol contacted St. Louis County Police about the case last week. Ratcliff is not yet formally charged in Missouri, but faces charges in Alabama and Mississippi. He was held on $100,000 bond in Tuscumbia. OFALLON, Mo. Pamela Hupp thought she found the patsy who could help get some heat off her related to a 2011 murder near Troy, Mo., officials said Tuesday. She somehow lured a gullible, brain-damaged man into her car last week and took him to her home in OFallon, then called 911 and emptied a revolver into his body as an operator listened, they said. Officials speculate that Hupp told Louis R. Gumpenberger, 33, that she was a producer for NBCs Dateline program, and was willing to pay $900 to $1,000 for him to help her re-enact a 911 call. When police arrived at her house to find Gumpenberger dead, Hupp told police that he had jumped into her vehicle and held a knife to her neck, demanding that she take him to her bank to get Russ money. She claimed she broke away and ran into her house, grabbed a gun from her nightstand, and shot him when he entered the room. Investigators later found a note in Gumpenbergers pocket purporting to be instructions on how to kidnap Hupp to get Russ money, in exchange for $10,000. He also had $900 in cash in his pocket, but police don't believe he put those things in his pockets himself. The evidence seems to indicate she hatched a plot to find an innocent victim and murder this innocent victim in an apparent effort to frame someone else, St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Tim Lohmar said at a news conference. Russ is Russell Faria, convicted in 2013 of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of his wife, Elizabeth Betsy Faria, at their home near Troy two years before. Hupp was a key witness in that trial. But a Lincoln County judges refusal to allow the defense to make counteraccusations against Hupp helped win Russell Faria a new trial last year, in which he was acquitted. Lohmar and OFallon Police Chief Roy Joachimstaler said Hupps story of last weeks shooting quickly fell apart, leading to charges Tuesday of first-degree murder and armed criminal action. Hupp, 57, fell apart too. Joachimstaler said that she refused to make a statement to police after her arrest Tuesday morning. While in a police bathroom, she stabbed herself multiple times in the wrist and neck with a pen she had hidden, he said. She was reported to be stable at a hospital. Hupps husband did not respond to a message seeking comment, nor did lawyers who have represented her in a civil case. Hupps story Officials said Hupp claimed that Gumpenberger, a stranger, got out of a silver car driven by someone else and climbed into her SUV in her driveway at her home around noon on Aug. 16. She said the silver car left. She initially told police she didnt know anybody named Russ, whose name she said was mentioned by the attacker. Then she said she did know Russ Faria, and she surmised the reference to money was Betsy Farias life insurance payout. Hupp had collected on a $150,000 life insurance policy on her friend Betsy Faria after becoming the beneficiary just days before the woman was slain, and Hupp was the last person known to see the victim alive. Hupp told police she had driven around St. Charles the morning of Aug. 16, looking for thrift shops, and stopped by her daughters home but nobody was there. That home is about two miles from Gumpenbergers. But investigators re-created Hupps cellphones movements, and discovered that at 11:25 a.m., about 40 minutes before Gumpenberger was shot, GPS put her in his apartment complex in St. Charles, about 13 miles from her home. She spent about four minutes there. Gumpenberger had suffered severe brain damage in a 2005 traffic crash and had significant physical and mental impairments. She was very calculated looking for someone who fit a particular profile, Lohmar said. This victim fit that profile, someone not very sophisticated, someone easily swayed by a large amount of cash. But, officials said, Hupp did not anticipate that Gumpenbergers limitations would have people who knew him doubting that he could have been involved in a such a crime. Officials said an extensive investigation did not reveal any connection between Gumpenberger and Hupp or Russell Faria. Gumpenberger had no cellphone or ID when he died. Lohmar said investigators do not believe that he placed the note or the $900 in his pocket. A knife was found in Hupps car. Were confident we know where that came from, the prosecutor said. Lohmar said that the case was still under investigation, but that the death penalty definitely remains in play. Bail for Hupp was set at $2 million cash. Looking for a victim? Authorities also said a woman, not named in court documents, identified Hupp as someone in a dark SUV who approached her in the driveway of her St. Charles County home on Aug. 10, claimed to be a producer for NBCs Dateline and offered $1,000 to go with her and record a scripted sound bite about 911 calls. That woman initially agreed, but then became leery because Hupp had no credentials and the story did not seem credible. Surveillance video from a camera on the womans home confirmed through the license number that the SUV was Hupps gray 2016 GMC Acadia. What the woman described as the Dateline 911 script was very, very similar to what we were able to hear on the 911 call involving Hupp and Gumpenberger, Lohmar said. The prosecutor noted, Our theory is ... that she was vetting a potential victim. Joachimstaler said police would like to hear from anyone else who might have been approached by Hupp. It appears she was searching for a patsy that could possibly take some heat off her, he said, later saying that the heat was connected to the Faria case. Our conclusion is that she was looking for a victim. In court documents obtained by the Post-Dispatch on Monday, police report that the 911 caller at 12:08 p.m. said someone was trying to break into her house, and repeatedly asked for help. She could be heard refusing to get inside a vehicle. Shots were heard, followed by the sound of smoke alarms sounding, and the caller said that she had shot someone. The Betsy Faria murder case and questions about Hupps possible role in it were the subject of a joint Post-Dispatch-KTVI Fox 2 investigation in 2014. The Dateline program also did a story on the case. Lincoln County officials have said they were convinced that they had prosecuted the right person, Russell Faria, in his wifes death. Faria sued officials there last month, claiming they fabricated evidence and botched the investigation. Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney Leah Askey, who twice took Russell Faria to trial, did not respond to messages seeking comment on Tuesdays developments. U.S. Attorney Richard Callahan acknowledged Tuesday that his office has been reviewing the public record in the Faria case, but he said that he did not believe that the events of the last few weeks would have any bearing on that review. Farias lawyer, Joel Schwartz, who has been convinced of his clients innocence, said, Ive been waiting for this day for a long time. He said Faria is hoping that they are looping this in and can show (Hupp is) involved in the Betsy Faria murder, which weve always believed. Schwartz added that, Its not as if he had to prove to anyone he didnt do this. A fifth-grader can understand, based on the evidence. Gumpenbergers mother, Margaret Burch, declined to comment Tuesday, referring a reporter to Pastor John Lundin of Hope Lutheran Church in St. Charles, where the family attended services. Lundin said Burch was very much relieved by the arrest. He said Gumpenberger was eager to please and a delightful man-child but that his brain injury had left him completely gullible. Betsy Farias mother, Janet Meyer, declined to comment. Some of Hupps neighbors on typically quiet Little Brave Drive said Tuesday they were glad to hear of the arrest and that a home invasion was not involved. Its a big relief, said Cole Jones, 21. He said that ever since he and others on the block heard of Hupps involvement in the Faria case, they had concerns about her. Nikki Melvin, 39, said, Its craziness, absolute craziness. Another neighbor, Nick Lloyd, 37, said the situation over the past week had been kind of freaky. Hupps mother's death On Oct. 31, 2013, Hupps mother, Shirley Neumann, 77, was found dead under the balcony of her third-floor apartment at the Lakeview Park Independent Senior Living community, at 1393 Bowles Avenue, near Fenton. There were no witnesses to the fall. St. Louis County police investigated, and took a second look about a month later, after receiving an anonymous note referencing the Faria case and making other allegations. But detectives found no indication of a crime. Hupp had taken Neumann home about 5 p.m. the day before, after taking her to the hospital and keeping her at Hupps home for a night, a police report says. Hupp told staff her mother had already eaten and would not be down for dinner, the report says. Hupp also reportedly said Neumann would not be down for breakfast but probably would eat lunch. A housekeeper checked on Neumann about 2:30 p.m., after she didnt arrive for lunch, and found the apartment door open, the water running and the patio door open. The top railing on the balcony was intact, but there was damage to vertical bars under it. Neumanns body was on the ground. The housekeeper said Neumann sometimes was unsteady on her feet if she took a pill for back pain. Hupps brother, Michael Neumann, told police he did not have any concerns about foul play in his mothers death, the report says. Asked about the deaths of Neumann and Betsy Faria, Lohmar said Tuesday, I cant speak to the evidence in other cases. Joel Currier and Mark Schlinkmann of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report. Updated at 9:30 a.m.: The St. Louis Board of Elections has begun to release records related to absentee voting in a state Legislative primary race won by Penny Hubbard, D-St. Louis. Earlier: ST. LOUIS The city Election Board will produce records relating to absentee ballots cast in the Aug. 2 primary on Thursday morning, Chairwoman Joan M. Burger said. The board made a similar promise on Tuesday after a judge ruled it had violated the law by failing to release the documents. But when two Post-Dispatch reporters arrived at the Election Boards offices downtown on Wednesday morning, they were told the production of the records was being postponed because there were privacy concerns and legal issues raised about the release of the information, Burger said. The information, including applications for absentee ballots and the envelopes they came in, was sought by the attorney for Bruce Franks, who lost in his bid to unseat state Rep. Penny Hubbard in the Aug. 2 Democratic primary. Franks claims a large number of improperly cast absentee ballots tilted the election in Hubbards favor. Franks attorney, Dave Roland, sued for the records, and on Tuesday St. Louis Circuit Judge Julian L. Bush agreed and ordered the records produced. The Post-Dispatch also asked for the records through a Sunshine Law request. Bush delayed hearing arguments in Rolands request for a new election, waiting until the Secretary of States office certifies the Aug. 2 results. Roland also showed up at the Election Board office Wednesday morning, expecting to review the results. But before his arrival, Burger said she met with St. Louis City Counselor Mike Garvin and Deputy City Counselor Matt Moak. The board was postponing the production of documents on their advice, Burger said. Roland criticized the decision. The only reason that I can imagine that they are continuing to hold on to these records is that they simply want to delay, Roland said. Burger said she was concerned about making public some information contained on the ballot applications and envelopes such as the last four digits of the voters Social Security number, and whether they voted absentee because of religious reasons or because they are participating in the states address confidentiality program, which protects victims of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault or stalking. But on Wednesday afternoon, Roland said he would agree to a protective order barring release of the last four digits of voters Social Security numbers, which are on the documents. Roland said neither he nor his client was interested in that information. Burger, a former St. Louis circuit judge, said it is possible the board will redact some of the information contained in the documents and then produce them. Burger told the Post-Dispatch that the board had closed the records based on the advice of Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kanders office. Stephanie Fleming, a spokeswoman for Kander, said in an email that Kander did not tell the St. Louis City Election Board to close any records and does not have the authority to do so. The Secretary of States concerns are limited to releasing information about Safe At Home Address Confidentiality participants as well as the last four digits of absentee voters Social Security numbers, but that would be up to a judge to decide not the Secretary of States office, her written statement said. The statement did not address questions the Post-Dispatch asked about Kanders opinion on what the board should do, and about the status of the offices investigation of the underlying absentee voter fraud allegations. CLAYTON Trailnet, an organization that advocates for safe and alternative options for pedestrians and cyclists in the St. Louis region, is holding up a double-fatality accident in Wellston as an example that stiffer punishments are needed for drivers. Most traffic fatalities dont result in criminal charges because they are merely the result of human error, and negligence can be hard to prove. But Trailnet says more needs to be done to make sober drivers more accountable. The organization is specifically scrutinizing the deaths of LaTonya Williams, 19, and her boyfriend, Jermaine Byrd, 22. They were run over by a car one evening in 2015 while walking on a sidewalk near Martin Luther King Drive and Kienlen Avenue. The driver wasnt charged with a crime and didnt have any points taken off her drivers license. Its really kind of disturbing to us and our organization, said Ralph Pfremmer, executive director of Trailnet. It speaks to how vulnerable everybody is and how the system doesnt always work in favor of the victim. This isnt the only story that is out there. There are many. Williams was portrayed in a Post-Dispatch story about regional public transportation and housing challenges. The teenager used to walk the spine of busy Highway 141 to get to work. But it wasnt until her family moved from Valley Park to Hillsdale in north St. Louis County that she was hit. The accident happened amid a spike in such incidents in St. Louis in which no one was charged. Nationally, Williams and Byrd were two of about 5,000 pedestrians killed by drivers each year, 15 percent of all traffic fatalities. Our system doesnt provide enough protections for the vulnerability of all road users, Pfremmer said. Darica Robinson struck Williams and Byrd in a borrowed car when they were walking home from buying snacks at a nearby convenience store, according to an investigation report by St. Louis County police. Robinson, who was 19 at the time, stayed at the scene and called 911. While witnesses gave a conflicting account, she told police that an oncoming vehicle came flying toward her, forcing her to swerve across two lanes of oncoming traffic before jumping the curb, the report states. Robinson agreed to a sobriety test, which showed she was sober. She wasnt texting or speaking on her cellphone right before the crash, according to test results noted in the investigation. St. Louis County prosecutors ultimately chose not to pursue criminal charges. But four traffic tickets were issued: speeding, failure to drive within a single lane, operating a motor vehicle without a valid drivers license and driving a vehicle without insurance. A county spokesman gave incorrect information for a previous story about the incident by saying Wellston was handling the traffic tickets. A Wellston clerk had said they had no record of the tickets. In fact, the St. Louis County counselors office issued the tickets in October 2015. On Dec. 7, 2015, at the countys North Division municipal court in Hazelwood, Robinson represented herself. Robinson negotiated an agreement with prosecutor Sara Fuelling that amended the speeding ticket to a nonmoving, illegal parking violation; the other three citations were dismissed. Municipal Court Judge Craig Concannon signed off on the file. She killed two people, Pfremmer said. She was not punished. She didnt get any points off her license. Where is the justice? There is none. St. Louis County Counselor Peter Krane, who oversees municipal court prosecutions, confirmed the information about the case and stood by the decisions. Because Robinson wasnt charged with a crime, he said, the municipal court didnt hold her accountable for the deaths either. He said Robinsons driving credentials were updated before the municipal court matters were decided. He said she could have been speeding to avoid a head-on collision. Krane said speeding tickets are often amended to nonmoving violations in different courts and that they try to do it fairly. We try to do it not only for the people who have the wherewithal to hire a lawyer and have the social levels of getting that disposition, but also for the persons who dont necessarily have that but also demonstrate a need to have the positive resolution and move on, Krane said. Robinson could not be reached for comment. Including court costs, Krane said the illegal parking violation fine to Robinson is $162.50. He said Robinson had not paid the ticket. A municipal court warrant has been issued for her arrest, which should be exercised the next time she is pulled over. Its troublesome, Krane said, because she didnt live up to her side of the agreement in that sense. The Bank of Japan's purchases of the country's exchange-traded funds (ETFs) has been distorting the market, offering traders a leg up on picking stock winners. Japan's central bank has been scooping up ETFs and the numbers are large enough to sway markets. At its late July meeting, it said it would increase its ETF purchases so that their amount outstanding will rise at an annual pace of 6 trillion yen (Exchange:JPY=) ($56.7 billion), from 3.3 trillion yen previously. The book value of the BOJ's ETF holdings was 8.7 trillion yen at the end of July, Citigroup said, citing BOJ data, with the investment bank estimating the market value of 9.7 trillion yen at that time. That's introducing distortions into Japan's stock market, not just from the amount, but also due to the makeup, with more than 50 percent of the purchases in ETFs tied to the Nikkei 225 index (Nihon Keizai Shinbun: .N225), analysts said. That's because the Nikkei 225 index is weighted by the price of individual stocks, compared with other indexes, such as the broader Topix (: ), which are weighted by market capitalization. Indeed, in a note dated Sunday, CLSA analyst Nicholas Smith called the Nikkei 225 a "Flintstones index from an abacus age." But the BOJ's focus on Nikkei 225-tied ETFs can open up opportunities for traders. For one, analysts have advised focusing on sectors strongly represented in the Nikkei index, rather than the Topix. "If the BOJ were to continue to purchase mainly ETFs linked to the Nikkei average, we would recommend overweighting sectors with high weightings in the Nikkei, namely retail, electricals, information and communications, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals," Citigroup said in a note dated Tuesday. "At the individual stock level, we would overweight names with high ratios of BOJ purchases to trading value and stocks that are overweight in the Nikkei average and underweight those which are underweight in the Nikkei average," it added. Stocks with a high ratio of BOJ purchases to trading value included Takara Holdings (Tokyo Stock Exchange: 2531.T-JP), Kyocera (Tokyo Stock Exchange: 6971.T-JP), Fast Retailing (Tokyo Stock Exchange: 9983.T-JP) and NTT Data (Tokyo Stock Exchange: 9613.T-JP), Citigroup noted. Story continues But Citigroup also recommended staying underweight stocks where the BOJ was a major shareholder as that could spur corporate governance concerns as a perpetually supported share price could weigh on management discipline. CLSA's Smith made similar recommendations, saying Toyota (Tokyo Stock Exchange: 7203.T-JP) was being removed from the brokerage's model portfolio and replaced with Fast Retailing, which is the highest-weighted stock in the Nikkei index. CLSA also added Softbank (Tokyo Stock Exchange: 9984.T-JP) to its model portfolio as the fourth-most overweighted stock in the Nikkei, replacing Hulic (Tokyo Stock Exchange: 3003.T-JP), which wasn't in that index. "It is disappointing to be forced to invest in such a non-fundamental way," Smith said. But there were reasons for caution before pursuing the trading strategy. For one, the BOJ planned to use its September meeting to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of its policies. Citigroup said that would likely offer the central bank a good opportunity to change its methodology. "We think the BOJ needs to rethink its approach to purchases of ETFs so that it is mainly buying Topix-linked ETFs," the bank said, noting if the change were made it would flip its strategy to pursue stocks overweighted in the Topix compared with the Nikkei. "Were the BOJ to rethink the way it purchases ETFs, then the benefits could accrue more to electric power and gas, land transportation, wholesale, transport equipment, and banks, which have low weightings in the Nikkei average," it said. Citigroup noted that the six Topix-linked ETFs had total market capitalization of 5.8 trillion yen at the end of July, compared with the eight Nikkei 225 ETFs at 7.7 trillion yen. Citigroup estimated that the BOJ was buying ETFs at levels proportionate to their market capitalizations, working out to 54 percent for the Nikkei 225 ETFs, 41 percent for Topix-tied ETFs and 5 percent for others, which included the six JPX-Nikkei 400 index ETFs, which had a market capitalization of around 630 billion yen at the end of July. Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook. By CNBC.Com's Leslie Shaffer; Follow her on Twitter @LeslieShaffer1 ST. LOUIS A Tower Grove East woman took to social media to lambaste the electric company Ameren Missouri for a bill she claims contains hundreds of dollars in back payments from an account set up in her roommate's name about a decade ago. Madison Goldman posted on the Tower Grove South community Facebook page Monday saying her roommate recently called the electric company to ask about an $800 bill he received in his name after only living in their apartment for two months. She writes in the online post the company told the roommate that $386.98 in past due charges were in his name from ten years ago, when he was 14. Goldman also cast doubt in the post on the accuracy of the nearly $400 for last month's electricity. She also writes in the post that the company had threatened to turn off her power. As of Tuesday afternoon, Goldman said the company had not turned off the electricity in the Tower Grove East apartment. "They say they sent a fraud packet last month, which we didn't know about or ever receive," Goldman said in a Facebook message Tuesday. "So they're sending it again." A few people commented below Goldman's post saying they too had heard of people setting up accounts in the names of children under the age of 18. "In general terms, customers are not allowed to put bills in the names of children under 18 as the legal age of contract service is 18 years old (unless the minor has received emancipation papers)," Ameren said in a statement Tuesday. Ameren did not speak specifically about Goldman's inquiry or her roommate's account. The company said a customer must fill out an Ameren theft ID packet and a police report if he believes his identity was unlawfully used to open an account. Ameren also said the company verifies a customer's social security number when a new account is established. The company says it has used technology since 2006 that will not allow an account to be set up with the identity of a minor. Gay Fred, consumer services manager at the Missouri Public Service Commission, said Tuesday that while people do open fraudulent accounts in the names of minors, it's rare. Not speaking specifically about Goldman's situation, Fred said it is possible for utility companies to bill a person later on if an account is set up in that person's name as an adult. But that person may not be required to pay the bill if it can be proven through an investigation that fraudulent activity occurred in that person's name when he or she was a minor. "There is no rule for how far a company can go back," Fred said. She said people often think there is a cap on how far back a utility company can bill someone for a debt, maybe five or seven years, but there is no statute of limitation on that. Goldman said she paid the balance owed from last month after talking with someone at Ameren later Tuesday. She said the company was not requiring her and her roommate to pay the nearly $400 in overdue payments until the matter is investigated. Missouri Public Service Commission spokesman Kevin Kelly said if customers believe a bill is high, they should contact their utility company. He said if they aren't able to settle the dispute with the company they should call a specialist at the commission for help at 1-800-392-4211. Nigel Farage, a leading advocate for Great Britain leaving the European Union, will appear with Donald Trump at a rally in Mississippi on Wednesday night, ITN confirmed. The right-wing leader stepped down from the U.K. Independence Party shortly after Britain voted in a referendum to exit the political and economic bloc. Farage is already in Jackson, Mississippi, he told ITN, an NBC News partner. He is expected to tell the story of Brexit and its implications for the world. A Trump campaign spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request to confirm whether Farage will appear at the rally. Republican presidential nominee Trump has tried to draw parallels between his presidential campaign, which has a strong nationalist message, and Britain's vote to leave the EU. He recently said in a vague tweet that people would call him "Mr. Brexit," possibly referencing that polls missed the referendum's outcome and could prove wrong again as he largely trails Democratic rival Hillary Clinton . Trump and Farage have both stoked concerns about immigrants, globalism and a perceived loss of control to far away bureaucrats. Trump appeared in Scotland shortly after the EU referendum, saying he loved to see people "take their country back." Farage attended the Republican National Convention in Cleveland last month. Jeb Blasingame, broker/owner at Blasingame Group, Inc./Star Realtors was recently recognized as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Real Estate Agents in the state of Illinois by Real Estate Executive Magazine, according to a press release. Blasingame will receive the Top 100 award in a presentation at the Real Estate Mastermind Summit on Oct. 10, in Chicago. Blasingame has led his team to significant growth in recent years with the group receiving national recognition as the No. 41 ranked team in the country, according to Real Trends/Wall Street Journal. The Blasingame Group is also the No. 1 ranked team in the St. Louis metropolitan area by families served and was recognized by the Greater Gateway Association of Realtors (GGAR) as the top team producer with the most team listings and the most units sold. Blasingame was recently nominated to serve on the GGAR board of directors. The Top 100 award is really a recognition of the hard work and commitment from our entire team, Blasingame said. We have a tremendous group of agents and coordinators who routinely go above and beyond the norm when it comes serving our clients. Im very proud of them. Real Estate Executive Magazine conducted a comprehensive analysis of the leading real estate companies in America. The publication states it seeks to recognize and celebrate the service, dedication and hard work that real estate executives put into building their companies and serving their agents and clients. The 100 Most Influential Real Estate Agents is by invitation only and at no cost to executives or real estate companies. Blasingame Group, Inc./Star Realtors serves the residential real estate needs of customers in Madison, St. Clair and Monroe counties in Illinois. Its located at 1735 Pontoon Road, in Granite City. You can reach them at 314-610-2170. Decades of international discussion on sustainable development has simply failed to reform international governance and institutions in ways that can keep pace with the rate of global environmental change, they conclude. Political values and trade-offs The question is how planetary boundaries can be used in this context to drive sustainable development as we deal with the growing challenges of the Anthropocene. "Simple political or institutional solutions to such complex problems seldom exist. They are always associated with political values and trade-offs, and hence need continuous public, scholarly, and political debate," Galaz and colleagues argue. Nonetheless, it is indeed possible to identify key elements of governance reform grounded in the concept of planetary boundaries. This is what the Solutions article sets out to do even though the authors conclude that each element has its implementation problems and trade-offs. "We should not let this distract us from the urgent need to focus on solutions," they write. Learning, innovation and creativity Five governance elements are discussed in the article. They are in turn related to: 1) deep institutional reform at the international level 2) the potential to tap into international law and legal principles 3) the importance of biosphere economics that takes threshold effects seriously 4) multi-scale knowledge integration 5) a mobilizing narrative as a driver of transition. Overall, in order to be successful any governance reforms need to "offer opportunities for learning, innovation, and creativity at all levels, in both the North and South". In 2015 the original planetary boundaries from 2009 were updated, but the central message remains: there are global environmental boundaries beyond which humanity is very likely to face a number of non-linear, abrupt, and irreversible changes. Within these boundaries humanity must find a safe space to flourish, beyond them the risk of undoing much human progress rises substantially. Debate is healthy, but... The idea of planetary boundaries is the subject of ongoing discussion and debate: this debate revolves around for instance whether thresholds in natural systems really exist and if the focus on scarcity and boundaries help or hinder action. In addition, Galaz and colleagues note that the planetary boundaries concept has also induced considerable debate between states with different development needs. This means that the planetary boundaries must be made attractive and meaningful to different societal actors, in both the North and South. If not, the concept will not fulfill its potential as a guide for human action in the Anthropocene. Ongoing debate in academia, in policy circles, and in society at large is healthy, and we should not allow debate about the precise nature of planetary boundaries to stymie necessary institutional reforms and innovation they write. LONDON MARKET CLOSE: FTSE makes weekly gain but banks weigh on Friday Friday, October 28, 2022 - 17:08 The FTSE 100 managed a weekly gain, despite underperforming peers on Friday, while strong results from oil majors lifted the mood in New York, shaking off poor numbers from Amazon. Central banks move into focus again next week. The Federal Reserve announces its rate decision on Wednesday, with the Bank of England following on Thursday. The FTSE 100 index closed down 26.02 points, or 0.4% at 7,047.67 on Friday, but finished the week 1.1% higher. The FTSE 250 ended down 165.25 points, or 0.9%, at 17,916.67 - closing the week up 4.1%. The AIM All-Share closed down 4.09 points, or 0.5%, at 805.37, finishing 2.7% higher over the past five days The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.5% at 703.81, the Cboe UK 250 closed down 1.0% at 15,378.84, and the Cboe Small Companies ended down 0.5% at 12,320.39. The pound was quoted at $1.1595 at the London equities close Friday, up slightly from $1.1573 at the close on Thursday. Though sterling's marked rise tempered slightly on Friday, the currency has gained 3.2% over the past week. Markets have so far taken confidence from the new UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. In the FTSE 100, Centrica added 5.2% after it announced the reopening of the Rough natural gas storage facility off the east coast of England. Centrica, which owns British Gas, said the facility is operational for winter. The facility increases the UK's storage capacity by 50% despite it operating at just 20% of its previous capacity. GSK closed up 2.3% after it said its majority owned ViiV Healthcare venture has received the European Medicines Agency's validation for its marketing authorisation application for HIV prevention, and said its MAA for respiratory syncytial virus adult vaccine has also been accepted. NatWest was the worst performer. It plunged 8.3% as it reported strong income growth in the third quarter, boosted by both increased lending and higher interest rates, but the bank warned it is keeping a close on eye on any change in behaviour from its customers. In the three months to September 30, operating profit before tax rose to 1.09 billion from 976 million a year before. Putting a cap on the bank's profit, NatWest set aside 247 million in the quarter to cover an expected increase in bad loans, which is reversed from a 221 million gain the year prior. Lloyds fell 3.3% in negative read across. Glencore fell 1.0% as it trimmed annual guidance for some of its commodities after a disappointing third-quarter performance dominated by supply chain disruptions in Kazakhstan, extreme weather in Australia, and strikes in Canada and Norway. In the FTSE 250, ASOS tumbled 11%. The stock was rocked by a Telegraph report which stated some hedge funds have shorted the stock, just days after retailer Frasers bought a stake. Elsewhere in London, China-focused investment trusts fell. JPMorgan China Growth & Income fell 2.9% and abrdn China Investment dropped 3.5%. Investor sentiment turned sour as Chinese cities doubled down on Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. Stocks in New York were firmly in the green at the London equities close, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 2.0%, the S&P 500 index up 1.7% and the Nasdaq Composite up 1.8%. After disappointment from tech stocks, oil majors put some shine on this week's US corporate earnings calendar. Exxon Mobil revenue in the third quarter of 2022 jumped 52% to $112.07 billion from $73.79 billion a year prior. Attributable net income soared to $19.66 billion from $6.75 billion. The oil major's bottom line rose 10% from $17.85 billion in the second quarter. Chevron posted pretax earnings of $14.80 billion, up from $8.06 billion the year before. Revenue increased to $66.64 billion from $44.71 billion the year before. Exxon shares rose 1.8%, while Chevron was up 0.3%. Amazon slid 10%, after its poor numbers overnight. Wall Street also shook off a higher inflation reading for the US on Friday. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Fed's preferred inflationary measure, the core personal consumption expenditures index, which excludes food and energy, shot up 5.1% year-on-year in September, quickening from a 4.9% hike in August. "The Fed's favoured measure of inflation is heading higher, rather than lower, while employment costs continue to rise at double the rate experienced over the past 15 years. The market is probably right to expect the Fed to slow the pace of rate hikes from December, but this is by no means guaranteed," analysts at ING commented. On Thursday, the European Central Bank on Thursday lifted its benchmark interest rates by 75 basis points, as expected. In European equities on Friday, the CAC 40 in Paris ended up 0.5%, while the DAX 40 in Frankfurt ended up 0.2%. The euro stood at $0.9943 at the European equities close Friday, lower against $0.9984 at the same time on Thursday. Against the yen, the dollar was trading at JP147.54 late Friday, higher compared to JP145.90 late Thursday. Gold was quoted at $1,640.91 an ounce at the London equities close Friday, down sharply against $1,662.60 at the close on Thursday. The precious metal has an inverse relationship with the greenback, weakening as the dollar strengthens. Brent oil was quoted at $93.34 a barrel at the London equities close Friday, down from $94.75 late Thursday. In Monday's UK corporate calendar, there are full year results from self storage company Lok'n Store and kidney disease-focused diagnostics firm Renalytix. In the economic calendar, the EU will publish its latest GDP and CPI readings. Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. I generally reach for bourbon or rum in the summer months, while reserving single malt for when the weather cools down. Something about the smokey style of Islay Malts especially, like Laphroaig, are perfect for a chilly evening in the fall or winter. But I didnt want to wait to try the new Lore. Introduced earlier this year, Lore fills the vacancy in the Laphroaig lineup left by the 18-year-old expression, which was discontinued last year. A bottle retails for a hefty $125. Lore doesnt carry an age statement but mixes older and newer whisky, described on the Laphroaig website as a marriage of classical Laphroaig styles and many ages of Laphroaig; some as old as vintage 1993. The marriage draws from the peaty power of Laphroaig with the smoothness of double matured stock finished in European oak hogsheads. The result is a totally new Laphroaig from what you might be used to, but one I found extremely enjoyable. The classic smoke and peat provide the background of the whisky but there is whole lot more going on here. The nose features smoke and seaweed along with pear and shortbread. The palate layers sherried notes of fruit and fudge over brine, spice, and maltiness. The finish is both rich and clean with peat, honey, sugar cookies, and oak. I understand those who are frustrated by the trend towards NAS (non age statement) whiskies on both sides of the Atlantic. That said, Lore is an example of how a whisky not locked into an age statement can provide plenty of depth and complexity by blending old and new whisky. Somewhat by chance, I smoked a Cameroon-wrapped cigar while sampling Lore, and I cant recommend the combination enough, as the light spice of the Cameroon wrapper goes perfectly with the rich peat. Specifically, try La Flor Dominicana Cameroon Cabinet, Arturo Fuente Don Carlos, or Drew Estate Nirvana. Patrick S photo credit: Laphroaig A Stratford District Councillor was guest of honour at the opening of a new theatre inspired by Shakespeares Globe in Holland this month. The Shakespeare Theatre Company Diever have been performing Dutch translations of Shakespeares plays for 70 years, and their new Globe theatre, which cost 250,000 to build, will offer a spectacular setting for the groups productions. Councillor Mike Brain was invited to the grand opening of the Shakespeare in Diever Globe on 12 August, taking with him a special gift to add some Shakespearean authenticity. The group invited Cllr Mike Brain to the grand opening because he has supported the company for a number of years, but made a special request for him to bring a wooden object connected with the Bard if possible. Not one to disappoint, Mike contacted the Birthplace Trust who responded by offering a very special donation to the theatre company. Mike presented a cross section of mulberry tree from New Place, supposedly from a tree descended from one planted by Shakespeare in 1609 on the order of King James I. The gift was accompanied by a letter from the Birthplace Trust vouching its authenticity. Mikes connection with the Shakespeare Theatre Company Deiver stretches back to 2006 when he first went over to Holland to watch a performance, though the company originally played in Stratford back in 1988. At Mikes invitation the company returned to the town performing As You Like It in 2007. Their experiences of Stratford and of watching a performance at the Swan Theatre inspired the company to create its own Globe Theatre. The In Diever Globe Theatre holds up to 200 people and is made from 60sq metres of French Oak. Mike said: This company has a huge passion for Shakespeare and people come from all over Holland to watch them perform. They were so surprised when I arrived with the mulberry wood, I dont think they expected me to bring anything, they were thrilled with it. To be given the opportunity to go up on stage and present it to the company was an honour and a pleasure, it was great to be able to share their passion for Shakespeare with them. I thought it was so kind for the Birthplace Trust to come up with a gift like that in less than 24 hours, and Im very thankful for the efforts of Julia Howell for making it possible. The small form factor Monarch devices are ideal for house of worship applications; facilitating live service offerings, broadening accessibility, and spreading high-quality video content to congregations who are present in-house or are joining the service remotely Page 1 Matrox will be on hand at the upcoming WFX - Worship Facilities Conference and Expo (Louisville, Kentucky, September 21-22, 2016 Booth 1028) to display the Monarch line of streaming and recording appliances, including the Monarch HD and the newly released Monarch LCS. The small form factor Monarch devices are ideal for house of worship applications; facilitating live service offerings, broadening accessibility, and spreading high-quality video content to congregations who are present in-house or are joining the service remotely. Monarch products fit seamlessly into places of worship allowing them to capture video of a service from a camera and/or the lesson presentation from a computer, and easily webcast them to their congregants," said Dan Maloney, technical marketing manager, Matrox. The intuitive products will mean faster turnarounds and allow sermons and prayer materials to reach audiences quicker, including those in on-site overflow rooms or at-home viewers with limited mobility. For those viewing at home, an experience comparable to being there in person will now be available on demand. Matrox Monarch LCS Video Content Capture Appliance Competitively priced at $2,495 US, the Matrox Monarch LCS is an all-in-one device with HD streaming, recording, and production capabilities. Matrox Monarch LCS is an easy-to-use content capture appliance that accepts video from any SDI or HDMI camera and presentation content from computers over HDMI. Inputs can be encoded independently and in sync for use with the latest multi-stream video players. Alternatively, the inputs can be combined in a variety of production layouts, including picture-in-picture and side-by-side, for use with standard video players. In recording applications, the encoders write H.264 files (MP4 or MOV) directly to network-mapped drives, eliminating the need for post-service file transfer. Matrox Monarch HD H.264 Encoder For simpler installations where only a camera feed of the room needs to be webcast, the Monarch HD encoder, priced at $995 US, enables master-quality recording of sermons and services for post-event editing. Matrox Monarch HD takes an HDMI input from a source such as a camera and generates an H.264-encoded stream compliant with IP protocols (RTSP or RTMP). While encoding the video at bitrates suitable for live streaming, it simultaneously records a high-quality H.264 file (MP4 or MOV) to an SD card, a USB drive, or a network-mapped drive. About Matrox Video Matrox Video is a technology and market leader in the field of 4K, HD and SD digital video hardware and software for accelerated H.264 encoding, realtime editing, audio/video input/output, streaming, A/V signal conversion, capture/playout servers, channel-in-a-box systems and CGs. Matrox's Emmy award-winning technology powers a full range of multi-screen content creation and delivery platforms used by broadcasters, telcos, cable operators, post-production facilities, live event producers, videographers and A/V professionals worldwide. Founded in 1976, Matrox is a privately held company headquartered in Montreal, Canada. For more information, visit www.matrox.com/video. On first glance, it seems to be an unlikely friendship. But, as South Africa's dominant African National Congress (ANC) party lost control Tuesday of economic hub Johannesburg to its main political rival an event symptomatic of President Jacob Zuma plummeting in recent polls and expectations of a flat-lining economy the ANC's look to China for lessons in political dominance and economic growth is not that surprising. In discussion documents from its 2015 national conference, the ANC described China's economic development and leadership as "a guiding lodestar of our own struggle." But, just how helpful for the ANC is building ties with China? China is South Africa's largest single trading partner, according to the World Trade Organisation. The ANC's 2015 discussion documents say that bilateral "trade volumes have far surpassed the value of USD $400 billion [in that year]," and the party is keen to grow this figure. Alison Bradley, a South African China specialist, told CNBC via telephone that the ANC sees value in the Middle Kingdom as an "economic model to emulate." In its 2015 discussion documents, the ANC lauds, "the rise of emerging economies led by China herald[ing] a new dawn of hope for further possibilities of a new world order." Reflecting this, China and South Africa inked $6.5 billion of deals in December last year, just ahead of a China-Africa cooperation summit in Johannesburg. Despite an enormous trade imbalance between the two countries, some South African companies have profited from investment in their Chinese counterparts. For example, South African media firm Naspers found financial success and was catapulted to the status of largest African company by market value by investing in Chinese internet sensation Tencent. "China views South Africa as an entry way into the continent," says Bradley, adding that "to understand their relationship, you have to look at all of Africa. It's not a bilateral, but a multilateral relationship from China's perspective." Story continues For the ANC, China presents an alternative way of developing an economy and lifting people out of poverty without fracturing a political structure in the process. This is particularly pertinent considering the ANC's disappointing local election result in early August, which is contributing to its loss of power in major cities. China's successful state-owned enterprise businesses model could also be of interest to ANC policymakers, who in their 2015 discussion documents accept that domestic nationalized industries have issues that need to be to be addressed "as a matter of urgency." Ratings agencies cite South African state organisations such as energy firm Eskom and South African Airways as potential risks. Martin Plaut, a South African fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, is skeptical, arguing that China and South Africa's tie "isn't a long-term, real relationship." He describes China as a take-no-prisoners business partner, citing its decimation of South Africa's clothing industry in the African market over the past two decades, in which "South Africa wasn't even a competitor as China was so much better at it." The ANC's relationship with China could be beneficial in both domestic and international politics. With recent local election results revealing waning public support, the ANC would be justified in looking to the Chinese Communist Party's more secure hold on power as a model of winning over hearts and minds. Phillip de Wet, an associate editor at South Africa's Mail and Guardian, said in a podcast by The China Africa Project that the "greatest admiration really lies in what the ANC sees as the policy clarity of the Chinese Communist Party and [how it can] really harness the country behind [its plans.]" On the international stage, the ANC is supportive of China, for example endorsing the latter's position on the South China Sea territorial dispute. In its 2015 discussion documents, the ANC describes China as "gradually redefining the world towards a multi-polar order." This rhetoric can be contrasted with the ANC's accusations of the U.S.' use of "aggressive foreign policy to advance its national interests." But, any overt moves to emulate China's authoritarian rule would ultimately undermine the bedrock on which modern South Africa rests: its constitutional support of democracy. Plaut says, "the ANC, and the population of South Africa, is deeply wedded to the democratic process." Links between the two countries should not be overplayed, as both Bradley and Plaut agree that South Africa still looks to Europe and the United States as key cultural influencers. Plaut's analysis of the ANC's foreign policy is that the party "is fed up with the West wagging a finger at them." He adds, "Zuma likes the Chinese. He considers them good people to do business with and they don't lecture [him]." Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook. Crude oil storage tanks are seen from above at the Cushing oil hub, appearing to run out of space to contain a historic supply glut that has hammered prices, in Cushing, Oklahoma, March 24, 2016. REUTERS/Nick Oxford By Barani Krishnan NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices tumbled on Wednesday, with U.S. crude settling about 3 percent lower, after an unexpectedly large inventory build in the world's biggest oil consumer renewed worries about oversupply. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said crude inventories rose 2.5 million barrels last week, versus analysts' forecasts for a draw of 500,000 barrels. [EIA/S] Gasoline and distillate stocks also rose, the EIA said, driving down oil prices that had mostly risen in the past two weeks on speculation of an output freeze by OPEC. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures settled down $1.33, or 2.8 percent, at $46.77 per barrel. Brent crude futures fell 91 cents, or 1.8 percent, to close at $49.05. "I cannot continue to stress that at this time of year we are supposed to be getting draws," Tariq Zahir, oil trader at Tyche Capital Advisors in New York, said, referring to the summer inventory drawdowns expected amid peak demand for motor fuels. "But instead, we're seeing a build in every single aspect that's quite eye opening. The Street has gotten it wrong again, with predictions that you'll start getting rebalancing of supply-demand in the third quarter." Gasoline stocks in the U.S. Gulf Coast hit seasonal highs not seen since 2013. There was also an increase of 4 million barrels of "other oils" last week, described by some traders as less-valuable industrial oils that refiners crank out when there was too much gasoline. "It's ridiculous how much of oil we're swimming in," said Phil Davis, trader at PSW Investments in Woodland Park, New Jersey. U.S. gasoline futures were the only bright spot in the oil complex, settling up modestly after a spate of refinery outages and on concerns about a possible hurricane headed towards the U.S. Gulf Coast where many oil and gas installations were located. Crude futures have swung from bear to bull market territory this month as renewed worries of an oil glut were subdued by speculation that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will agree to an output curtailment with non-members led by Russia at a meeting in Algeria next month. A similar production freeze idea failed in April and analysts remain skeptical it will work now as some OPEC members keep pumping at high levels even while touting the plan. "There is currently a race to print any freeze headlines but we have not yet seen strong substance behind them," said Olivier Jakob, managing director at PetroMatrix, an energy consultancy in Zug, Switzerland. That could lead to more market volatility, some say. OPEC prattle of output curbs could encourage an influx of speculative capital and price pullbacks of around $2-$3 a barrel, Jim Ritterbusch of Chicago-based oil markets consultancy Ritterbusch & Associates, said. (Additional reporting by Karolin Schaps in LONDON and Mark Tay in SINGAPORE; Editing by Marguerita Choy and Alistair Bell) U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton delivers remarks at a gathering of law enforcement leaders at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, U.S., August 18, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson By Ginger Gibson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton called on pharmaceutical company Mylan NV to voluntarily drop the price of its severe allergy treatment drug EpiPen, which has increased in price by more than 400 percent in the past decade. "That's outrageous - and it's just the latest troubling example of a company taking advantage of its consumers," Clinton said in a statement. "It's wrong when drug companies put profits ahead of patients, raising prices without justifying the value behind them." Clinton frequently said during the primary that she would fight pharmaceutical companies - part of an attempt to counter criticism that she was too closely tied to the insurance industry. She has released a proposal that she says will lower drug costs for consumers. Mylan spokeswoman Nina Devlin did not respond to inquiries about Clinton's criticism of the company. Mylan acquired the product in 2007, and the price increased from $100 in 2008 to its current cost of $600. Shares of Mylan closed down more than 5 percent at $43.15 on the Nasdaq. The price of EpiPen is outrageous, said Robert Weissman, president of consumer watchdog group Public Citizen. Mylan is endangering lives and ripping off the country. Weissman said EpiPen's U.S. price should be rolled back sharply, noting the product is available for as little as $112 in Canada. Many other drugmakers also routinely raise prices of their prescription drugs by 10 percent or more each year, and U.S. legislation is needed to prevent such price spikes, he added. The White House took a more cautious tone in criticizing rising drug costs, refusing to comment on the decisions of an individual company. "I will observe, however, that pharmaceutical companies that often try to portray themselves as the inventors of life-saving medication often do real damage to their reputation by being greedy and jacking up prices in a way that victimizes," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said at a news briefing. Clinton joins a bipartisan group of lawmakers who are calling for investigations into the price increase of EpiPens, which are preloaded injections of epinephrine (adrenaline) that people use if they are having a dangerous allergic reaction that untreated could result in death. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, wrote Mylan earlier in the week to ask for an explanation of the price change. Senator Amy Klobuchar, the top Democrat on the committee's antitrust subcommittee, called for an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission. On Wednesday, Republican Senator Susan Collins and Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill requested that Mylan provide a briefing for the Senate to explain the price change. Grassley and Klobuchar, along with Democratic Senators Patrick Leahy and Richard Blumenthal and Republican Senator Ron Johnson, on Wednesday said they had written to the Food and Drug Administration to ask about its approval process for alternatives to the EpiPen. "Given the importance of this topic, it is imperative to understand the FDAs role with respect to EpiPens and its approval of generic equivalents that could help to increase competition and lower prices if introduced, the senators said in a statement. We have reached out to every member of Congress who has sent us a letter, and we look forward to meeting with them and responding to their questions as soon as possible, Devlin said. In January, Clinton admonished Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc, which raised the price of a heart drug. In the wake of a Clinton campaign blog post targeting Valeant, the company's stock fell. In March, she released a campaign ad vowing to target the company specifically. Clinton also criticized Turing Pharmaceuticals in the fall of 2015 when public ire rose after it decided to raise the price of an antiviral medication commonly used by AIDS patients and pregnant women from $13.50 a tablet to $750 each. After a single post by Clinton on the social media website Twitter critical of Turing, the company's stock price tumbled. At that time, Clinton released a comprehensive drug price plan that she says would reduce costs. Her proposal includes capping monthly out-of-pocket costs, expanding generic drug access and allowing Americans to buy pharmaceuticals abroad. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said little about lowering drug prices. He has proposed increasing the amount of negotiations permitted by Medicare in order to lower prices for those using the program. (Additional reporting by Ransdell Pierson; Editing by Bernard Orr and Jonathan Oatis) Ford Motor (NYSE: F) is issuing two safety recalls and one safety compliance recall in North America. Details are as follows: Ford issues safety recall for certain 2013-15 Ford and Lincoln vehicles to replace fuel pump control modules Ford is issuing a safety recall for approximately 86,000 2013-15 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS and Lincoln MKT vehicles with 3.5-liter gasoline turbocharged direct injection engines, as well as Ford Police Interceptor sedans to replace fuel pump control modules. In the affected vehicles, the fuel pump control module could fail, which may cause an engine to not start or stall. In some cases, the engine could stall without warning while driving and without the ability to restart, increasing the risk of a crash. Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries associated with this issue. Affected vehicles include: 2013-15 Ford Taurus with 3.5-liter gasoline turbocharged direct injection engine built at Chicago Assembly Plant, Aug. 25, 2011 to May 31, 2015 2013-15 Ford Flex with 3.5-liter gasoline turbocharged direct injection engine built at Oakville Assembly, Sept. 12, 2011 to May 29, 2015 2013-15 Lincoln MKS with 3.5-liter gasoline turbocharged direct injection engine built at Chicago Assembly Plant, Aug. 31, 2011 to May 31, 2015 2013-15 Lincoln MKT with 3.5-liter gasoline turbocharged direct injection engine built at Oakville Assembly, Sept. 12, 2011 to May 29, 2015 2013-15 Ford Police Interceptor sedan, all engines, built at Chicago Assembly, Sept. 8, 2011 to May 31, 2015 There are approximately 88,151 vehicles affected, including 77,502 in the United States and federalized territories, 7,353 in Canada and 1,083 in Mexico. Dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pump control module as needed at no cost to the customer. Ford issues safety recall for certain 2015-16 Ford Transit vehicles to replace fuel injection pumps Ford is issuing a safety recall for approximately 2,500 2015-16 Ford Transit 3.2-liter diesel-equipped vehicles to replace fuel injection pumps. In the affected vehicles, the fuel injection pump could malfunction, which may cause the engine to not start or stall without warning while driving and without the ability to restart, increasing the risk of a crash. Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries associated with this issue. Affected vehicles include 2015-16 Ford Transit 3.2-liter diesel-equipped vehicles built at Kansas City Assembly Plant, July 15, 2015 to April 14, 2016. There are approximately 2,472 vehicles affected, including 2,013 in the United States and federalized territories, and 457 in Canada. Dealers will inspect the fuel system for metallic contamination. If no metallic contamination is present, dealers will replace the fuel injection pump and associated parts. If metallic contamination is present, dealers will replace the fuel injection pump, fuel injectors and fuel filter, and will clean and flush the fuel system at no cost to the customer. Ford issues safety compliance recall for certain 2017 Ford Escape vehicles to update power window software Ford is issuing a safety compliance recall for approximately 23,000 2017 Ford Escape vehicles to update power window software. In the affected vehicles, the power window system configuration may exceed the regulatory requirement for remote actuation closing force, increasing the risk of injury. Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries associated with this issue. Affected vehicles include certain 2017 Ford Escape vehicles built at Louisville Assembly Plant, Oct. 5, 2015 to May 12, 2016. There are approximately 23,150 vehicles affected, including 17,985 in the United States and federalized territories, and 5,157 in Canada. Dealers will update the power window system software at no cost to the customer. VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW) announced key strategic alliances in the Internet of Things (IoT) space to help bridge the gap between IT and operational technology (OT) worlds. VMware has formed alliances with Bayshore Networks, Dell, Intwine Connect, Deloitte Digital, PTC and V5 Systems. According to IDC's "Worldwide Semiannual Internet of Things Spending Guide," IoT spending will grow to nearly $1.3 trillion by 2019.(1) While businesses look to integrate IoT into their organizations and offerings, significant changes must be made for IoT to reach enterprise grade and scale. In its current state, the operations side of the business primarily drives IoT. As the shift turns from pilot projects to enterprise production, IT involvement is necessary for efficient management and security. VMware plans to help address these concerns and allow IT to provide businesses with the proper infrastructure necessary to keep businesses from being disrupted while also enabling OT to streamline its management and operations of IoT to scale across these newly-connected objects. With these strategic alliances, VMware solutions can help organizations across OT and IT deliver more comprehensive IoT Enterprise solutions. "IoT is said to be the largest addressable market since the advent of the Internet, and the true potential of IoT has yet to be realized in the enterprise. As a company that has been delivering technology innovations to enterprises for nearly 20 years, we will leverage our core strengths around device management, operational analytics and security to help bring specific IoT offerings to customers," said Bask Iyer, chief information officer and general manager, IoT, VMware. "Our work with these companies will be important in helping businesses meet their strategic needs for IoT applications, analytics, hardware and services, ultimately extending their reach from the data center and cloud to the edge." "Together Dell and VMware offer mutual customers and partners choice and flexibility in speeding up Internet of Things deployments," said Andy Rhodes, executive director, Commercial IoT Solutions at Dell. "VMware is helping us pave a way for IoT innovation across industries and we look forward to the continued collaboration." "Deloitte Digital's IoT practice helps organizations develop value-driven business strategies and implement systems that harness the power of the IoT," said Andy Daecher, principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP and chief IOT executive at Deloitte Digital. "By collaborating with VMware we can offer customers a comprehensive solution around management and infrastructure that allows our clients to boost productivity and gain competitive advantage." "The PTC ThingWorx IoT platform enables customers to develop and deliver powerful enterprise IoT applications and solutions that offer transformative business power, so it's only natural that PTC would collaborate with the one of the leaders in enterprise technology," said Rob Gremley, President, Technology Platform Group, PTC. "Our technology combined with VMware will enable our customers to quickly bring to market enterprise-ready IoT solutions." In June, VMware announced Liota (Little IoT Agent), a vendor-neutral open source software development kit (SDK) for building secure IoT gateway data and control orchestration applications. VMware plans to continue to develop IoT-related alliances to help customers address complex IoT use cases across healthcare, transportation, manufacturing, government, CPG and more. VMware and its collaborators will showcase industry specific IoT use cases in the 'Internet of Things Experience' zone at VMworld, taking place from August 28 - September 1 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Convention Center in Las Vegas. There will also be several IoT sessions at VMworld unveiling VMware's IoT strategy and more. Please see schedule of sessions at http://www.vmworld.com/uscatalog.jspa?search.track=technologyFutures Atlanta, Georgia (PRWEB) August 24, 2016 Students at Cumberland Academy of Georgia, an Atlanta special-needs school, were welcomed with new and improved facilities when they arrived for the first day of school on August 11. This summer, the school had a new, covered portico constructed at the entrance of the building. Additionally, landscaping was added to accentuate the new entrance, improved stainless steel bathroom stalls were added, classrooms have been painted, progress is being made to renovate and transform the school's kitchen, and a new sign is being commissioned for the school's roadside entrance. "The portico completely changes the look and feel of the front elevation," says Debbi Scarborough, founding director at Cumberland Academy of Georgia. The covered entrance will allow children to stay dry when crossing the 20 foot stretch between the curb and the door when being dropped off or picked up on rainy days. "Some of the students have sensory issues, so it's a big deal for them to avoid getting wet during the rain." When planning the portico's construction, Cumberland intended for it to be a last. The roof of the portico is made of weather-proof galvanized steel with a baked on color finish that will be maintenance-free for 30 years. The walkway into the building will be a slip-resistant, epoxy-coated faux marble. As an element of fun and school pride, they chose to use the school's colors, blue and white, for the walkway. Landscaping was installed to accentuate the new entryway and further beautify the school's front elevation. Funding for the portico addition comes from Cumberland's "Our Home, Their Future" Capital Campaign. As a private, non-profit school, Cumberland depends on charitable contributions to fund special projects like this, allowing them to continue to be a special school for special students. So far this year, Cumberland has met about 50 percent of their funding goal. The school's large kitchen renovation is another special project currently underway at the school. The project, entitled, "What's Cooking," will transform the kitchen space into a "living laboratory" to help teach the children how to be independent adults, and learn skills like basic cooking, laundry and how to change bedding. Still in the planning stages, the changes and upgrades to the kitchen will be unique compared to any other school. Once complete, it will allow students to practice and nurture valuable life skills. Typically not included in school curriculum, Cumberland Academy of Georgia implements many programs such as this to help their special need students thrive. Cumberland Academy of Georgia specializes in the needs of students with autism, Asperger's syndrome, attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and other learning disabilities. Fully accredited by both the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Georgia Accrediting Commission (GAC), Cumberland Academy serves over 100 students in grades 4 through 12, and also offers a postgraduate year. For more information about Cumberland Academy of Georgia, go to http://cumberlandacademy.org/. Donations to Cumberland Academy of Georgia are accepted at the school's website, https://cumberlandacademy.org/support/donate/. About Cumberland Academy of Georgia: Cumberland Academy of Georgia specializes in the needs of students in grades 4 through 12 who have high-functioning autism, Asperger's syndrome, attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning disabilities. Cumberland was founded in 2007 by Debbi and Matthew Scarborough, and is a fully-accredited, independent, non-profit school that seeks to provide a safe and supportive academic atmosphere for its students. Cumberland accepts applications year-round. To schedule a family tour, please contact Terri Brooks, director of admissions, at 404-835-9000, or email admissions(at)cumberlandacademy(dot)org. Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/autism-school/atlanta-special-needs/prweb13631116.htm STOCKHOLM--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cantargia AB (Cantargia) interim report for January June 2016 is available on the company website (www.cantargia.com/Investors/Reports). Significant events in the second quarter The exercise period for warrants of series TO 1 and TO 3 began on 23 March 2016 and ended on 13 April 2016. In total, 4,127,260 warrants of both series were exercised, representing around 83.5 per cent of the number of warrants issued. Through the warrants Cantargia raised approximately SEK 31.4 million before issue costs. During the period the Company gave investor presentations at the international BioEquity conference in Copenhagen on 10 May 2016 and at the Smabolagsdagen small cap investor event at the Sheraton Stockholm Hotel on 13 June 2016. The annual report for the financial year 2015 was published on 29 April 2016. The company held its Annual General Meeting on 25 May 2016 and published a report on the AGM the following day. The annual report and AGM report are available for download on the companys website, www.cantargia.com. Cantargia received a Notice of Allowance from the US Patent Office for IL1RAP as target molecule for antibody-based treatment in acute lymphoblastic leukemia followed by a Notice of Allowance for IL1RAP as target molecule for antibody-based treatment in solid tumours from the same patent office. The company also received formal approval in Japan of a patent for solid tumours. The company announced that its CAN04 product candidate has been shown to have a high level safety in high doses repeated treatment with up to 100 mg/kg. During the period Cantargia also decided that the company will conduct further process development studies to establish a strong foundation for long-term production and that the start of the GLP toxicity study will therefore be postponed until autumn 2016. Consequently, the start of clinical studies will also be postponed until the end of the first quarter of 2017. A third party filed an opposition to Cantargias patent in Europe for IL1RAP as a target molecule for antibody treatment and leukemia diagnostics. Cantargia will be working with its patent agents and the European Patent Office to conduct the process in a professional and correct manner. Significant events after the end of the period In July Cantargia announced that the US Patent Office had approved the companys application for IL1RAP as target molecule for antibody-based treatment of solid tumours. In August Cantargia announced that the companys former CEO, Agneta Svedberg, has exercised 1,250 warrants of series 2011/2016. The exercise of the warrants will raise SEK 250,212.50 for Cantargia. Financial information First half (1 Jan 2016 30 Jun 2016) Other operating revenue was kSEK 0 (0). Earnings after financial items were kSEK -16,023 (-9,059). Earnings per share were approximately SEK -0.91 (-0.68). The equity/assets ratio was around 87 (89) per cent compared with the beginning of the year. Second quarter (1 Apr 2016 30 Jun 2016) Other operating revenue was kSEK 0 (0). Earnings after financial items were kSEK -7,926 (-5,432). Earnings per share were approximately SEK -0.45 (-0.41). Definitions Earnings per share: Profit for the period divided by 17,633,134 shares as at 30 June 2016. Equity/assets ratio: Equity divided by total capital. Unless otherwise indicated, figures in parentheses refer the same period in the previous year. This constitutes information that Cantargia is required to publish under the EUs Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication through the above contact person at 8:30 (CEST) on August 24, 2016. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160823006364/en/ Cantargia AB Goran Forsberg, CEO Telephone: +46 (0)46 275 62 60 E-mail: [email protected] Certified Adviser: Sedermera Fondkommission Source: Cantargia AB GLEN ELLYN, IL -- (Marketwired) -- 08/24/16 -- College of DuPage Board Chairman Deanne Mazzochi, Trustees Charles Bernstein and Dianne McGuire, as well as administrators, faculty, staff and members of the Presidential Search Committee recently celebrated the investiture of the College's sixth president, Dr. Ann Rondeau. The ceremony, which took place during fall convocation, included a welcome from Dr. Karen Hunter Anderson, Executive Director of the Illinois Community College Board. Click here for a video from the event. "We are here today to celebrate the installation of an exceptionally proven leader, Dr. Ann Rondeau. I could spend hours detailing her exceptional list of past accomplishments, but we (the Board) feel her best accomplishments are yet to come here at College of DuPage," Chairman Mazzochi said. "We want the world to know the incredible value of students who have attended College of DuPage. We work hard to ensure our students receive a deep and broad knowledge base so they can navigate successfully anything the world may offer or demand from them. We ready them for limitlessness. That's a tall order, but Dr. Rondeau is known for being fearless when it comes to orders of any magnitude. We are excited to be on this shared journey." Expressing her gratitude for being welcomed as COD's sixth president, Dr. Rondeau stressed the importance of communication, collaboration and a renewed focus on student success. "I am inspired every day by our students, our faculty and all of you who make this institution what it is," she said. "This is a powerful place with a rich legacy and it is also a place with a promising future. I am fully committed to leading and helping our students move forward in their own journeys, as well as helping faculty and staff on their individual journeys toward excellence." Dr. Rondeau also noted the College's renewed commitment to transparency and accountability. "Accountability feels good. When it is present, we all depend upon each other and build trust, which in turn, creates optimism," Dr. Rondeau said. "Each of us must share in the responsibility of the 'whole' -- no one person, group or idea will take this college into the future. We must all work together to create the genius that is COD. We must be a united community to lead our students to reach their goals and be an example of positive change. My covenant promise is this: I will be a wholly accessible partner and accountable leader in the growth and future success of our students and to the noble call of education and learning." College of DuPage is an accredited community college that serves more than 29,000 students each term. The College, which grants nine associate degrees and more than 170 certificates in 100 areas of study, is the second largest provider of public undergraduate education in Illinois. The following files are available for download: Vice President for Marketing and CommunicationsJoe Moore(630) [email protected] Source: College of DuPage Model takes her favorite UGG styles to the streets of Los Angeles NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Getting a jumpstart on the fall season, UGG (a division of Deckers Brands NYSE: DECK) teamed up with model and It Girl Hailey Baldwin to launch the next evolution of the brands iconic Classic Boot silhouette. Comprising five styles, the all-new Classic Street Collection blends edgy, streetwise styling with the unmistakable feel of UGG. Capturing a modern, younger-looking aesthetic and feel, Baldwin is seen in a breezy, beach-chic photo series set against the quintessential Californian backdrop of Venice Beach, LA. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160824006161/en/ Hailey Baldwin in UGG Quincy (Photo: Business Wire) here for high res campaign images> here for high res event images> I love UGG and remember being really excited the first time I ever got a pair because all of my friends had them they were really cool; basically if you didnt have UGGs you werent as cool, says Baldwin. I love the Classic Street Collection because its a little bit more wearable, its not just for inside the house, its actually something you want to be out on the street in and incorporate as part of your everyday outfit. Working with a brand my friends and I have always worn and loved is awesome, especially as this collection shows how far UGG has evolved. If I had to sum up UGG in three words it would be classic, comfortable and cool! Haileys edgy fashion sense and unmistakable street style make her the perfect partner to celebrate our new Classic Street collection, said Alice Hampton, Senior Director of Global PR for UGG. Her fun and youthful perspective showcases new, modern and fresh ways to wear UGG outside. Behind the lens was acclaimed photographer Mike Rosenthal, who captured Baldwins effortless, street-chic vibe at a handful of locations around Venice Beach, showcasing the contemporary California lifestyle that UGG embodies. Ranging from $150 to $300 USD, the Classic Street Collection features materials that have been pretreated to repel water and stains, and an incredibly lightweight, ultra-cushioning Treadlite by UGG outsole that delivers all-day comfort and maximum wearability. The 5-style collection encompasses the McKay, a stylish ankle bootie with a buckle strap; the Quincy that takes cues from the ever-classic combat boot silhouette with lace-up detail and exposed sheepskin; the Cedric and Braiden that can be cuffed for supreme versatility; and the Sibley, an edgy, knee-high boot with curved seaming and paneled construction. The Classic Street Collection is available now at UGG retail locations worldwide, UGG.com and select wholesaler partners. About UGG Founded in 1978 in California, UGG is a division of Deckers Brands based in Goleta, California. The brand has built a reputation on luxury and comfort by using only the finest materials in the world, employing the highest standards of craftsmanship, and delivering new and innovative styles. For more information please visit www.ugg.com or www.deckers.com. @UGG #thisisUGG View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160824006161/en/ Lindsey DiCola | UGG PR Manager 516-317-3645 [email protected] or Matthew Magnin | UGG PR Associate 917-842-2391 [email protected] Source: UGG DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Aug. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 16th Harrigan Foundation presented Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network with an $8,000.00 check from their inaugural Run to the Rescue 5K Run/1 Mile Walk Fundraiser from February 2016! Harrigan Foundation's founder, Doris Harrigan was overjoyed to present the funds to help with co-pays for counseling and treatment for First Responders such as Firemen, Policemen, EMT's and Nurses, Lifeguards and Veterans seeking help. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160823/400639 The Harrigan Foundation believes in the mission to create opportunities for addiction treatment for these everyday heroes in our communities. Run to the Rescue is an exciting annual event hosted by the Harrigan Foundation organized as a way to not only raise money for First Responders in need of treatment, but also to raise awareness in the community and bring people together for this incredibly important purpose. This gift will go to helping afford treatment services to the men and women who have fought tirelessly everyday to protect their communities. Everywhere there are First Responders in need of help with addiction and trauma disorders and the Harrigan Foundation has made a commitment with the Run to the Rescue 5K Run to help our heroes however we can. Through our continued efforts to develop cutting edge training opportunities and educational materials in the fields of mental health and addiction, and through actively raising money to pay for the treatment of First Responders, we are making a difference. We want you to come make a difference with us! The second annual Run to the Rescue 5K Run/1 Mile Walk is scheduled for February 4th, 2017 at Anchor Park in Delray Beach Florida. The Harrigan Foundation is already actively looking for runners and volunteers of all ages to join us! Come get involved with helping to change lives that change the world! Please consider sponsorship by mailing your check to: 1177 George Bush Boulevard, Suite 500Delray Beach, Florida 33483 You can call 561-921-6109 for information on sponsorship. Soon there will be a link available. To get more information and get involved, visit the Harrigan Foundation website at http://www.harriganfoundation.com/. Run sign-up will be available soon online as well. "Harrigan Foundation, Inc. is a public charity under 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. Our Federal ID #30-0551878. Contributions are deductible to the extent permitted by law. No goods or services were provided in exchange for your contribution." Related Images image1.jpg image2.jpg 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/harrigan-foundations-run-to-the-rescue-donates-to-southeast-florida-behavioral-health-network-300317289.html SOURCE The Harrigan Foundation NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 08/23/16 -- Jacob Frydman, acclaimed real estate investor, is honored to be able to support the National Committee for the Furtherance of Jewish Education (NCFJE), and its many cause-driven charities. The avid philanthropist is deeply involved with the foundation, working closely with its Orphan, Poor and Sick Fund, Released Time Program, and Toys for Hospitalized Children initiatives among many others. Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneerson founded NCFJE in the midst of WWII with the principle mission of providing Jewish public school students with a free Jewish education. Shortly after its conception, the institution noticed that many of the children lived in households experiencing a variety of social and economic hardships, and implemented a multitude of educational, community outreach, and humanitarian services that still provide imperative aid to New York's citizens today. Rabbi Hannoch Hecht of the Rhinebeck Jewish Center introduced Jacob Frydman to the committee, and the businessman was immediately enthralled by their generosity, "I saw from their past work that the NCFJE has made countless positive lasting effects on individual families and the entire community." Created in 1941, the Released Time Program educates Jewish youth about the history, customs and prayers of Judaism, and has inspired more than a quarter million boys and girls in the greater New York area to be proud of their faith. Each Wednesday students are dismissed an hour early from school and transported to a nearby synagogue, where dedicated instructors create a welcoming religious atmosphere and teach the children about their heritage. The classes are free of charge, and are now available in over 125 public schools. Another longstanding NCFJE charity, Toys for Hospitalized Children, distributes over 10,000 toys and gifts to hospitals, special needs facilities, and destitute children each year. In an effort to share joy with the city's elderly as well, the 50-year project has recently expanded to servicing senior residences on an as-need basis. The Orphan, Poor and Sick Fund aids underprivileged families in accessing necessary resources through grocery and clothing vouchers, rent and utility assistance, school and camp scholarships, and weekly food disbursements. Rabbi Hecht considers Frydman's constant assistance with these initiatives as a sign of greater understanding, "He knows that the foundation of the Jewish community is the Jewish family, and he believes that by helping needy families we can all look forward to a stronger Jewish community as a whole." Jacob Frydman is a native New Yorker, real estate investor, and private equities expert. Over his 30-year career, he has structured, financed, and executed highly complex real estate transactions. He often discusses business, law, and ethics at Columbia University and in the Master's Lecturer series at New York Law School. A passionate and vocal member of the Jewish faith, Frydman has been an active supporter of the NCFJE for many years, and assists other charitable committees including The Chabad of Dutchess County and Washington, DC-based The Brem Foundation. Jacob Frydman -- Blog -- JacobFrydmanNews.com: http://JacobFrydmanNews.com Jacob Frydman (@jacobfrydman) -- Twitter: https://twitter.com/jacobfrydman Jacob Frydman -- Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/jacob-frydman www.JacobFrydmanNews.com Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/8/24/11G111621/Images/mw1aqt8pp8g1jtm140klp5sb59go2-522a69788812b0d980210569369b5e52.jpg Embedded Video Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lpgwu_U5liM Source: JacobFrydmanNews.com A woman walks past the head office of Angola's state oil company Sonangol in the capital Luanda, Angola August 26, 2012. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File Photo (Reuters) (Reuters) - Cobalt International Energy Inc said the proposed $1.75 billion sale of a 40 percent stake in two offshore oil blocks in Angola to the state oil company was terminated as it did not get the necessary approvals from the country's government. The deal was automatically terminated after the Angolan government did not give the approvals within one year, Cobalt said on Tuesday. (http://bit.ly/2bCsPk2) The oil and gas producer announced in August last year the sale of its 40 percent stake in the fields to Angola's Sonangol, which holds the remaining stake. But, three weeks back Cobalt warned that it was unlikely to close the deal. Cobalt said on Tuesday it has begun the marketing and sale process of the assets. The company's shares had tumbled more than 40 percent on Aug. 2 when the company first said that the deal was unlikely to close. Since then the stock has pared most of it's losses through Monday's close. (Reporting by Arathy S Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza) PORTLAND, OR -- (Marketwired) -- 08/24/16 -- Today, Jama Software -- a product-development solution for companies building complex hardware, software and integrated systems -- announced additions to its executive team. Jonathan Cogan joins as vice president of sales and Clay Moore, formerly Jama's director of solutions engineering, has been promoted to vice president of customer success. "Jonathan and Clay bring backgrounds in data and analytics as well as decades of experience in enterprise software companies," said Scott Roth, CEO, Jama Software. "Their appointments are strategic steps in Jama's focus on growth to meet the needs of our customers as we hone our subscription business. Both Jonathan and Clay have tremendous leadership skills, and I'm confident our customers are in capable hands." Cogan served as senior vice president of global field operations and sales at GoodData and has held senior sales leadership roles at Janrain and Webtrends. With nearly two decades of experience leading Portland-based teams that solved complex problems, Cogan has been instrumental in designing, implementing and supporting revenue-generating models at scale. "The convergence of complex systems presents incredible opportunities and challenges for today's companies," said Cogan. "Jama has a unique opportunity to help customers overcome these challenges. I'm excited to join the company during a time of such momentum and lead this team to new levels of growth." Moore came to Jama in 2015 as director of solutions engineering, leading the team responsible for architecting solutions for new customers and expansions, including NASA, Zoll, Eaton, John Deere and Samsung. He previously held senior roles at ShopIgniter (acquired by Mixpo) and ExactTarget (acquired by Salesforce), and has over 15 years of data-driven experience designing and delivering subscription-based enterprise solutions. "The Jama product can be a real differentiator for our customers, and I love helping them realize its potential," said Moore. "I look forward to continuing to work with our customers to help them build amazing products." Today's news continues Jama's trajectory of record-breaking revenue and follows the appointment of Scott Roth as CEO earlier this year. In the past six months, the company has released a major update to its flagship product, Jama 8, launched a partner alliance program and announced a critical safety certification. About Jama Software Jama Software is the definitive system of record and action for product development. The company's modern requirements and test management solution helps enterprises accelerate development time, mitigate risk, slash complexity and verify regulatory compliance. More than 600 product-centric organizations, including NASA, Boeing and Caterpillar, use Jama to modernize their process for bringing complex products to market. The company is headquartered in Portland, Oregon. For more information, visit www.jamasoftware.com. Source: Jama Software SPRINGDALE, Ark., Aug. 24, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN) will webcast its presentation at the Barclays Global Consumer Staples Conference on Thursday, Sept. 8, at 11:15 a.m. ET. Representing Tyson Foods will be Donnie Smith, chief executive officer, and Tom Hayes, president. The webcast will be available at the companys investor relations website http://ir.tyson.com, on the Tyson IR App or by direct link at https://cc.talkpoint.com/barc002/090616b_js/?entity=23_QB4IFOD. About Tyson FoodsTyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN), with headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, is one of the world's largest food companies with leading brands such as Tyson, Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm, Sara Lee, Ball Park, Wright, Aidells and State Fair. Its a recognized market leader in chicken, beef and pork as well as prepared foods, including bacon, breakfast sausage, turkey, lunchmeat, hot dogs, pizza crusts and toppings, tortillas and desserts. The company supplies retail and foodservice customers throughout the United States and approximately 130 countries. Tyson Foods was founded in 1935 by John W. Tyson, whose family has continued to lead the business with his son, Don Tyson, guiding the company for many years and grandson, John H. Tyson, serving as the current chairman of the board of directors. The company currently has approximately 113,000 Team Members employed at more than 400 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world. Through its Core Values, Code of Conduct and Team Member Bill of Rights, Tyson Foods strives to operate with integrity and trust and is committed to creating value for its shareholders, customers and Team Members. The company also strives to be faith-friendly, provide a safe work environment and serve as stewards of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it. To download Tyson Foods free investor relations app, which offers access to SEC filings, news releases, transcripts, webcasts and presentations, please visit the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android mobile devices. Media Contact: Gary Mickelson, 479-290-6111 Investor Contact: Jon Kathol, 479-290-4235 Source: Tyson Foods Inc Customers are seen inside the Express store in Broomfield, Colorado August 28, 2013. REUTERS/Rick Wilking By Subrat Patnaik (Reuters) - Express Inc (NYSE: EXPR) lost more than a quarter of its market value on Wednesday as its lower-than-expected results belied a recent uptick in apparel sales that has helped most retailers. Express, which had outperformed many of its peers in a weak apparel market last year, also slashed same-store sales and profit forecasts for the year. "Earnings were below our guidance, reflecting challenging store traffic," Chief Executive David Kornberg said on a conference call. Kornberg also cited a "lack of clarity" across the company's assortment as there were too many choices, particularly in the women's line. Shares of the Columbus, Ohio-based company fell as much as 25.8 percent to $11.90, setting up the stock for its worst day in more than four years. Most apparel retailers and department stores reported largely better-than-expected results for the second quarter, helped by favorable weather and targeted promotions. "Express diverged from the pack in 2Q as the company was unable to take advantage of an improved mall apparel backdrop, in our view, reporting a deeply underwhelming comp," Deutsche Bank analyst Paul Trussell wrote in a note. Sales at Express stores open for more than a year fell 8 percent in the second quarter ended July 30, much steeper than the 4.7 percent decline expected by analysts on average, according to research firm Consensus Metrix. Express and larger rival American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE: AEO) were the rare bright spots among store-based apparel retailers last year as competition from online and off-price retailers intensified. Express's sales growth, however, has lost its momentum this year as its mall-based stores failed to attract more shoppers. "Results continue to support the belief that Express is a mall-dependent volatile fashion retailer," Nomura analyst Simeon Siegel wrote in a note. The company's net income more than halved to $10.1 million, or 13 cents per share, in the quarter, as the company increased markdowns on products as it prepared for the fall season. Net sales fell 5.8 percent to $504.8 million, down for the first time in nearly two years. Analysts on average had expected a profit of 17 cents per share and sales of $520.95 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. The company also slashed its full-year adjusted earning forecast to $1.00-$1.14 per share, from $1.41-$1.54, as it expects traffic to remain challenging. (Reporting by Subrat Patnaik in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty) U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaks during an event to promote the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) educational programe for girls in Abuja, Nigeria August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will present proposals on ending Yemen's conflict and resuming peace talks in meetings with Saudi leaders over the next two days, a senior U.S. official said on Wednesday. As Kerry landed in Jeddah for the talks with Saudi leaders and other Gulf Arab states, the U.S. official said he would update them on U.S. meetings with Russia addressing military cooperation in Syria. Backing by the Saudis and other Gulf countries for the plan, which would see Washington share some intelligence with Moscow, is vital because of their support for opposition groups involved in Syria's civil war. Russia supports President Bashar al-Assad. Kerry will meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva on Friday to try to close a deal on possible military cooperation aimed at defeating Islamic State militants in Syria. A major focus of the Yemen talks, which will include British and United Arab Emirates officials, will be to try to end a 16-month conflict that has killed more than 6,500 people, about half them civilians. A Saudi-led air campaign in Yemen against Iran-allied Houthi rebels has come under increasing scrutiny for causing a large number of civilian casualties. A senior State Department official declined to elaborate on Kerry's proposals. "The multilateral meeting on Yemen is designed to share ideas and initiatives for getting the political discussions back on track and trying to get a political solution," the official said. It would also address getting aid delivered. The U.S. military has coordinated with the Saudi-led air campaign in Yemen, helping ensure Saudi access to precision-guided munitions. The Pentagon has also sent U.S. military lawyers to help train Saudi counterparts in ensuring the legality of coalition strikes. But there has been growing concern in Washington that the Saudi campaign may have targeted civilian installations including hospitals. Human rights groups have argued that US forces may also be responsible under the rules of war for civilian casualties because of its support for the Saudi campaign in Yemen. Kerry "will raise our concerns about civilian casualties and damage to civilian targets inside Yemen," the official said, adding that he would press the Saudis to ensure air strikes were "discriminate and precise." An annual UN report on children and armed conflict said the Saudi-led campaign was responsible for 60 percent of child deaths and injuries in Yemen last year. Saudi Arabia has said the report is based on inaccurate information. (Reporting by Lesley Wroughton; editing by Dominic Evans) The logo of Swiss bank UBS is seen at the company's headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland February 10, 2015. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo By Joshua Franklin and Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi ZURICH (Reuters) - The head of the world's biggest wealth manager on Tuesday warned rivals turning to Asia for growth that achieving profitability in the region will prove challenging. Many banks have looked to build up businesses in the Asia Pacific region to compensate for the sluggish pace of private wealth growth in western Europe and North America in recent years. But Juerg Zeltner, who runs UBS's wealth management business outside of the Americas, said that making money in the region can be tough. "We've been in Asia for 50 years," Zeltner said at a conference organised by the Finanz und Wirtschaft newspaper. "I would still not call Asia a home market. We are huge in Asia ... We are growing incredibly strongly and yet it is difficult to grow profitably for a long time in these countries." Switzerland's UBS is also the biggest private bank in Asia Pacific, according to a league table from Asian Private Banker, with $274 billion in assets under management. That puts it ahead of the likes of Citi (NYSE: C), HSBC and Credit Suisse , though the latter has made expansion in Asia a priority since Tidjane Thiam became CEO a little more than a year ago. One reason why Asian private banking can be less profitable is that Asian clients often spread their wealth across more banks than European clients. Much of the wealth in Europe has also been inherited and clients then pay banks to manage their fortunes. In the likes of Hong Kong and Singapore, millionaires and billionaires are more likely to be self-made and take a more active role in managing their wealth, which is less lucrative for the bank. Zeltner also said that UBS will approach any possible acquisitions with caution and is focused on growing organically. "The most important thing for us is that we grow organically and qualitatively," he said. Smaller Swiss private banks, which for years benefited from clients bringing money to Switzerland to take advantage of the country's bank secrecy rules, are struggling under a global clampdown on tax evasion and increasing regulatory costs. (Editing by David Goodman) UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 24, 2016 (August 18, 2016) ALTISOURCE PORTFOLIO SOLUTIONS S.A. (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter) Luxembourg 001-34354 98-0554932 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) 40, avenue Monterey L-2163 Luxembourg Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (Address of principal executive offices including zip code) +352 2469 7900 (Registrants telephone number, including area code) NOT APPLICABLE (Former name or former address, if changed since last report) Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below): o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. In connection with his appointment to the Board of Directors on August 18, 2016, Mr. Orin S. Kramer received a one-time award of 500 shares of common stock of Altisource Portfolio Solutions S.A. (Altisource), as provided in the compensation plan for non-management directors approved by Altisources shareholders at the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The restricted shares were granted under the Altisource 2009 Equity Incentive Plan and will vest in four (4) equal installments annually on the date of our annual meeting of shareholders, with the first installment vesting on the date of our 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The restricted shares will be forfeited if Mr. Kramer leaves the Board of Directors prior to vesting except in the case of disability or Retirement (as defined in the award agreement). A copy of the form of award agreement for this grant is included as Exhibit 10.1 to this Form 8-K. The description set forth in this report of the terms and conditions of the award is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of such award agreement. Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits. (d) Exhibits. Exhibit No. Description Exhibit 10.1 Form of Director Restricted Share Award Agreement SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. Date: August 24, 2016 Altisource Portfolio Solutions S.A. By: /s/ Kevin J. Wilcox Name: Kevin J. Wilcox Title: Chief Administration and Risk Officer Exhibit 10.1 DIRECTOR RESTRICTED SHARE AWARD AGREEMENT THIS RESTRICTED SHARE AWARD AGREEMENT (this Agreement) is made in the City of Luxembourg, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, as of the 18th day of August, 2016, by and between Altisource Portfolio Solutions S.A., a Luxembourg public limited liability company (societe anonyme), (the Company), and [ ] , a Director of the Company (the Director). WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the Board) recommended and the shareholders of the Company adopted that certain Altisource Portfolio Solutions S.A. 2009 Equity Incentive Plan (the Plan); and WHEREAS, the shareholders have approved a one-time grant of 500 restricted shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, to each new non-management Director on the date of his or her initial election to the Board of Directors. NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto have agreed, and do hereby agree, as follows: 1. GRANT OF RESTRICTED SHARES The Company hereby grants to the Director, pursuant to and subject to the Plan, an aggregate of 500 restricted shares of common stock of the Company (Restricted Shares), on the terms and conditions herein set forth (the Award). 2. VESTING OF AWARD A. Generally The Restricted Shares will vest in four equal installments annually on the date of our annual meeting of shareholders, with the first installment vesting on the date of the Companys [ ] Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Except as provided in Paragraphs B. and C. of this Section 2, the Award will not vest unless the Director shall be a Director elected at a general meeting of shareholders of the Company. B. Retirement or Disability If service as a Director is terminated by reason of Retirement or disability prior to vesting of the entire Award, the Award shall continue to vest on the dates set forth in Paragraph A of Section 2 above. As used herein, Retirement sh all mean the voluntary cessation of service as a director by a director who is 60 years of age or older and who has served on the Board for at least three years. C. Death If service as a Director is terminated by reason of death, any portion of the Award remaining unvested will be forfeited. The vested portion of the Award at the time of death shall pass by will or by the applicable laws of descent or distribution. 3. METHOD OF AWARD A. On the date of vesting, the Director receiving Company shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share (Shares) shall pay to the Company the full amount of any required withholdings applicable to the taxable income of such Director resulting from the Award in cash unless the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, shall permit such taxes to be paid in Shares. As soon as practicable after receipt of notice that all required payments by the person receiving the Award have been made, the Company shall deliver a certificate or certificates representing said vested Shares to the Director receiving the Award, or cause such Shares to be delivered through electronic delivery to the Directors account at American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC. 1 B. The Director hereby represents and covenants that (a) any Shares acquired upon the vesting of the Award will be acquired for investment and not with a view to the distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), unless such acquisition has been registered under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities law; (b) any subsequent sale of any such Shares shall be made either pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws, or pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act and such state securities laws; and (c) if requested by the Company, the Director shall submit a written statement, in a form satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that such representation (x) is true and correct as of the date of acquisition of any Shares hereunder or (y) is true and correct as of the date of any sale of any such Shares, as applicable. As a further condition precedent to the delivery to the Director of any Shares subject to the Award, the Director shall comply with all regulations and requirements of any regulatory authority having control of or supervision over the issuance of the Shares and, in connection therewith, shall execute any documents which the Company shall in its sole discretion deem necessary or advisable. C. The Award is subject to the condition that if the listing, registration or qualification of the Shares subject to the Award upon any securities exchange or under any law, or the consent or approval of any governmental body, or the taking of any other action is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the vesting or delivery of the Shares hereunder, the Shares subject to the Award shall not vest or be delivered, in whole or in part, unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained, free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company. The Company agrees to use reasonable efforts to effect or obtain any such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval. 4. TERMINATION OF AWARD A. If the Director ceases to serve as a Director of the Company other than by reason of Retirement or disability prior to vesting of the entire Award, the Award shall terminate and be cancelled for the Shares that have not already vested on the last day of the Directors service on the Companys Board of Directors. B. In no event shall the granting of the Award or its acceptance by the Director give or be deemed to give the Director any right to continued service on the Board of Directors of the Company. 5. CONTINUED SERVICE The Director agrees that he/she will remain in the service of the Company on the Board of Directors at least until the date of the 2017 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders and that he/she will, during such service, spend the time and effort necessary to properly discharge his/her responsibilities. In the event of the termination of the Directors service on the Board of Directors during said period, the Award, to the extent not theretofore vested, shall terminate. 6. ADJUSTMENT UPON CHANGES IN SHARES If there shall be any change in the Shares subject to the Award granted hereunder, through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split or other change in the corporate structure, appropriate adjustments may be made by the Board of Directors of the Company (or if the Company is not the surviving Company in any such transaction, the Board of Directors of the surviving Company) in the aggregate number, kind of shares and price per share subject to the Award. 7. OWNERSHIP OF RESTRICTED SHARES; DIVIDENDS A. Ownership of Shares Subject to the restrictions set forth in the Plan, the Director shall possess all incidents of ownership of the Restricted Shares granted hereunder, including, without limitation, but subject to Paragraph B of this Section 7, the right to receive dividends with respect to such Restricted Shares (but only to the extent declared and paid to holders of common stock by the Company in accordance with Luxembourg law), provided, however, that any such dividends shall accrue, but only be delivered to the Director with respect to Restricted Shares that have vested, and such dividends shall be treated, to the extent required by applicable law, as additional compensation for tax purposes if paid on Restricted Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Director shall have no right to vote the Restricted Shares unless and only to the extent the Restricted Shares have vested in accordance with this Agreement. B. Dividends Any dividends with respect to Restricted Shares (whether such dividends are paid in cash, stock or other property) (i) shall be subject to the same restrictions (including the risk of forfeiture) as the Restricted Shares with respect to which they are issued; 2 (ii) shall herein be encompassed within the term Restricted Shares; (iii) shall be held by the Company for the Director prior to vesting; and (iv) shall be paid or otherwise released to the Director, without interest, following the vesting of Restricted Shares with respect to which they were issued. C. Non-Transferability of the Award The Award shall not be transferable otherwise than by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution. More particularly (but without limiting the generality of the foregoing), the Award may not be assigned, transferred (except as aforesaid), pledged or hypothecated in any way (whether by operation of law or otherwise) and shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process. Any attempted assignment, transfer, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition of the Award contrary to the provisions hereof, and the levy of any execution, attachment or similar process upon the Award, shall be null and void and without effect. 8. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES AND COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS The Company shall reserve and keep available such number of Shares as will be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this Agreement, shall pay all original issue and/or transfer taxes with respect to the issue and/or transfer of Shares pursuant hereto and all other fees and expenses necessarily incurred by the Company in connection therewith and will from time to time use its best efforts to comply with all laws and regulations which, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, shall be applicable thereto. 9. AMENDMENT In the event that the shareholders of the Company shall amend the Plan and such amendment shall modify or otherwise affect the subject matter of this Agreement, this Agreement shall, to that extent, be deemed to be amended by such amendment to the Plan. 10. CONSTRUCTION This Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. 11. ENTIRE AGREEMENT This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the Company and the Director and supersedes all other discussions, correspondence, representations, understandings and agreements between the parties, with respect to the subject matter hereof. 12. HEADINGS The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed a part hereof . ATTEST: ALTISOURCE PORTFOLIO SOLUTIONS S.A. By: By: Kevin J. Wilcox William B. Shepro Chief Administration and Risk Officer Chief Executive Officer DIRECTOR By: [Name] Director UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 August 24, 2016 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) CIBER, Inc. (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 001-13103 38-2046833 (State or other jurisdiction of (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) incorporation) 6312 South Fiddlers Green Circle, Suite 600E Greenwood Village, Colorado, 80111 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code) (303) 220-0100 (Registrants telephone number, including area code) (Former name or former address, if changed since last report) Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2 below): o Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. On August 24, 2016, Ciber International B.V., (Ciber International) a subsidiary of Ciber, Inc. (Ciber) and Experis AS (Experis), a subsidiary of the ManpowerGroup (ManpowerGroup), announced that they have signed a purchase agreement (the Agreement) for the sale of all of the outstanding shares of Ciber Norge AS (Ciber Norge, and the sale, the Ciber Norway Sale), which operates Cibers business in Norway. Subject to the terms of the Agreement, Experis agreed to pay, in the aggregate, a $7.0 million (USD) cash purchase price (the Purchase Price), which price includes $700,000 (USD) to be held in escrow (the Escrow Amount), to be released in equal parts at 12 and 18 months from the closing date. The Purchase Price also is subject to a purchase price adjustment twelve months after closing with respect to the retention of certain Ciber Norge customers, which adjustment is capped at $1.75 million (USD). Ciber anticipates using the proceeds from the Ciber Norway Sale for working capital and to reduce its borrowings under its ABL Facility with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A (Wells Fargo) by approximately $3.0 million (USD). The Agreement also contains representations and warranties and covenants, as well as indemnification provisions customary for transactions of this nature. Completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the performance of covenants and the satisfaction of certain other conditions, including the receipt of applicable regulatory approvals, consent of Wells Fargo, as lender and agent under Cibers ABL credit facility, conclusion of due diligence by Experis, no material adverse change with respect to Ciber Norge since the date of the Agreement, and other terms as set forth the Agreement. Ciber International will continue to be involved in the full transition of the business to Experis after the closing of the transaction, which is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2016, subject to the satisfaction of closing conditions as described above. The foregoing description of the Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Agreement to be filed as an exhibit to the Companys next Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. On August 24, 2016, Ciber and ManpowerGroup issued a press release regarding the Agreement. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto. Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits. (d) Exhibits. 99.1 Press Release dated August 24, 2016. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. Ciber, Inc. Date: August 24, 2016 By: /s/ Christian Mezger Christian Mezger Chief Financial Officer Exhibit 99.1 ManpowerGroup Announces Acquisition of Ciber Norway Deal Further Strengthens Experis Brands IT Capabilities Oslo, Norway, August 24, 2016 ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN), global leader in innovative workforce solutions, today announced an agreement with Ciber , Inc. (NYSE: CBR), a leading global information technology consulting, services and outsourcing company, to acquire its business in Norway. The acquisition of Ciber Norway complements the organic growth of ManpowerGroups own professional resourcing and project-based workforce solutions arm, Experis, and will help meet growing demand in the IT sector. Ciber Norways business, including 130 employees, will transition over to ManpowerGroup when the deal is expected to close later this month, pending regulatory approval. This acquisition builds on ManpowerGroups already strong presence in Norway. Since opening its first office there in 1952, ManpowerGroup has diversified its business across four brandsManpower, Experis, ManpowerGroup Solutions and Right Managementnow spanning thirty locations and finding work for more than 20,000 people in Norway each year. Ciber Norway brings with it ten years of IT industry expertise. We're pleased to announce this acquisition that continues to build on the strength of our Experis business in Norway and further accelerates our strategy to shift our business mix towards higher value and professional services. said Maalfrid Brath, Managing Director ManpowerGroup Norway. As clients across every sector continue to invest in rapidly changing technology and upgrade their capabilities, ManpowerGroup is well-equipped to deliver the best talent and provide in-demand skills at all levels of the IT market. The sale of Norway follows our strategy to create a much more focused and simplified company as we have announced, said Ciber President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Boustridge. "We are pleased to have found a high-quality home for our Norway business with ManpowerGroup/Experis. As a strategic buyer with local operations, we believe they will provide a seamless transition and great continuity and service to our customers and our employees. About ManpowerGroup ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN) is the worlds workforce expert, creating innovative workforce solutions for nearly 70 years. As workforce experts, we connect more than 600,000 people to meaningful work across a wide range of skills and industries every day. Through our ManpowerGroup family of brands Manpower, Experis, Right Management and ManpowerGroup Solutions we help more than 400,000 clients in 80 countries and territories address their critical talent needs, providing comprehensive solutions to resource, manage and develop talent. In 2016, ManpowerGroup was named one of the Worlds Most Ethical Companies for the sixth consecutive year and one of Fortunes Most Admired Companies, confirming our position as the most trusted and admired brand in the industry. See how ManpowerGroup makes powering the world of work humanly possible: www.manpowergroup.com . About Experis Experis is the global leader in professional resourcing and project-based solutions. Experis accelerates organizations' growth by attracting, assessing and placing specialized expertise in IT, Finance and Engineering to deliver in-demand talent for mission-critical positions and projects, enhancing the competitiveness of the organizations and people we serve. Experis is part of the ManpowerGroup family of companies, which also includes Manpower, ManpowerGroup Solutions and Right Management. To learn more, visit www.experis.com . About Ciber, Inc. Ciber is a global IT consulting company with approximately 6,000 employees in North America, Europe and Asia/Pacific. Ciber partners with organizations to develop technology strategies and solutions that deliver tangible business value. Founded in 1974, the company trades on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CBR). For more information, visit www.ciber.com and follow us on Twitter , LinkedIn , Facebook , Google Plus and our blog . Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements related to ManpowerGroup, Ciber Norway, and the potential benefits of the acquisition, including statements regarding timing of closing and results of the proposed transaction. Actual events or results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements due to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks associated with: ManpowerGroup's ability to successfully integrate Ciber Norway; execution of plans and strategies; the inability to successfully complete the transaction, and other important factors that could cause results of the acquisition and related transactions to differ materially from the forward-looking statements detailed in ManpowerGroup's public filings with the SEC, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. ManpowerGroup disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking or other statements in this release, except as required by law. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to Cibers operations, results of operations and other matters that are based on Cibers current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections. Words, such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "may," "opportunity," "plan," "positioned," "potential," "project," "should," and "will" and similar expressions, are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. For a more detailed discussion of these risks, see the information under the "Risk Factors" heading in Cibers Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and Cibers Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2016, and other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other than as required by law, Ciber undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements in light of new information or future events. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. ### Contact Scott Kozak Ciber, Global Communications, Investor and Industry Relations 303-967-1379 Sven Fossum Communications Manager ManpowerGroup Norway Mobile: +47 930 24 314 Later that day, the Strategic Transactions Committee met by telephone with management and representatives of PJSC and Latham. Following a summary of developments relating to Parents announcement that it would not be submitting a counterproposal to the August 17 Mill Road Proposal, representatives of Latham again reviewed with the Strategic Transactions Committee their fiduciary duties when considering the proposed transaction, and management and representatives of Latham reviewed the terms and conditions of the proposed merger agreement (the Mill Road Merger Agreement). The Strategic Transactions Committee discussed the terms of the August 17 Mill Road Proposal, including the proposed $0.25 premium relative to the Offer Price, as well as the relative timing of the proposed transactions with Parent and Mill Road, the potential risks associated with a delay in a proposed transaction with Mill Road relative to the current proposed transaction with Parent, the required payment of the $6.6 million termination fee to Parent under the Merger Agreement if the Company were to terminate the Merger Agreement to enter into a Superior Proposal and the terms of the equity and debt commitments presented by Mill Road as part of the August 17 Mill Road Proposal. The Strategic Transactions Committee also noted that Mill Road had indicated that it had obtained approval from its debt financing sources and it had delivered into escrow its signature pages to the proposed merger agreement. A representative of PJSC reviewed PJSCs financial analysis of the August 17 Mill Road Proposal and then PJSC rendered to the Strategic Transactions Committee an oral opinion, confirmed by delivery of a written opinion dated August 23, 2016, to be delivered to the Company Board to the effect that, as of the date of such written opinion and based upon and subject to various assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered, and qualifications and limitations upon the review undertaken in preparing its opinion as set forth in such written opinion, the $6.35 per share cash consideration to be paid to the Companys stockholders (other than as specified in such written opinion) pursuant to the Mill Road Merger Agreement was fair, from a financial point of view, to such stockholders. After further deliberations, the Strategic Transactions Committee recommended that the Company Board adopt resolutions to (a) withdraw the Company Boards recommendation that the stockholders of the Company accept the Offer and tender their Company Shares pursuant to the Offer, (b) terminate the Merger Agreement in order to enter into the Mill Road Merger Agreement, and pay the $6.6 million termination fee payable to Parent in connection therewith, (c) determine that the transactions contemplated by the Mill Road Merger Agreement are fair to and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, (d) approve the Mill Road Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby and (e) recommend that the stockholders of the Company accept the tender offer contemplated by the Mill Road Merger Agreement and tender their Company Shares pursuant to such tender offer. MEMPHIS, TN--(Marketwired - August 24, 2016) - Data Facts, Inc, a nationwide provider of background screening solutions, is exhibiting at the Tennessee Society for Healthcare Human Resource Administration (TSHHRA) Conference held at THA Headquarters in Brentwood TN. Ann Easton, Data Facts' National Account Executive, believes in the importance of participating in the conference. "We know we will have a productive experience both in exhibiting at the conference and attending the informative sessions that will be available. It will give us the opportunity to network with potential new clients, and to stay in sync with the latest laws and regulations that impact the industry." The speaker lineup this year is impressive, with Joe Bohling, Jesse Hercules, Lucy English, and more experts presenting valuable information on timely topics such as employee retention, generational hiring, and non-discrimination policies. Data Facts, Inc. will promote their full suite of healthcare background screening and monitoring product solutions to help employers in the healthcare industry screen applicants quicker and more accurately. "Healthcare providers face stringent hiring guidelines from state and federal legislation. We assist our healthcare clients in screening accurately and thoroughly, so they can minimize their chances of dealing with stiff government fines for non-compliance." The TSHHRA Conference begins Thursday, August 25th and concludes Friday, August 26th. Data Facts will be represented by National Account Executive Ann Easton and Account Manager Jennifer Taylor, and will be giving away a Jawbone Mini Jambox at their booth. Participants should visit for a chance to win. About TSHHRA The Tennessee Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration is a non-profit organization established exclusively for research, education, and information sharing purposes. TSHHRA, an affiliate organization of the Tennessee Hospital Association, is comprised of human resources decision-makers representing the Tennessee healthcare industry. Story continues About Data Facts, Inc. Since 1989, Data Facts, Inc. has provided trusted background screening information to Human Resource professionals to reach sound hiring decisions. Headquartered in Cordova, TN, the company maintains a national footprint, keeps a close eye on technological development, and stays at the forefront of industry compliance and regulations. This insight allows them to provide a suite of comprehensive solutions to advance their clients' efficiency in sound decision making. Their dedication to operational excellence and personalized support has solidified them as an industry leader. Their commitment to above industry standards is proven by their NAPBS accreditation, sustaining SOC 1 and SOC 2 certifications, all staff members upholding FCRA certification, and maintaining active roles on the NCRA and multiple MBA boards. Data Facts, Inc. was the proud recipient of the Commercial Appeal's Top Workplace Award in 2013, 2014, and 2015. For more information, please contact Data Facts, Inc. at 901-685-7599 or email info@datafacts.com. Subscribe to their lending solution or background screening blog follow them on Twitter at @dfscreening and @dflending, and connect on LinkedIn at Data Facts, Inc. to stay abreast of industry updates. VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Aug 23, 2016) - Dynasty Metals & Mining Inc. ("Dynasty" or the "Company") (DMM.TO)(DMMIF) wishes to provide a brief operations and corporate update. Operations Zaruma In mid-June of this year, with the participation of the Ecuador labour ministry, Dynasty entered into an agreement with the mine workers at its Zaruma mine in southern Ecuador such that the workers were permitted to extract ore from the Zaruma mine for a 10 day period, the net proceeds of which were to be applied toward the workers' outstanding wages. Dynasty is pleased to announce the results of this 10-day arrangement. Approximately 2,000 tonnes of ore at a grade of 3.35g/t Au were mined and processed as per the terms of the agreement. The resulting approximately 215 ounces of gold were sold for proceeds (net of processing costs) of US$192,341.24, which contributed to the outstanding wages for the Zaruma miners. Mining activity is continuing at the Zaruma mine at this time with the majority of the work force having returned. Such workers are operating under the terms of the agreement with the Company announced on July 21, 2016, which shall continue until the outstanding wages have been repaid. On August 19, 2016, the Ecuador Ministry of Labour informed Dynasty's Ecuadorian subsidiary, Elipe S.A., that it had finalized and archived the collective dispute between the company and the mine workers. "We are pleased that this has been settled and we can move forward in a constructive way with the mine workers," commented CEO Robert Washer. Dynasty Goldfield Dynasty is pleased to announce that progress is being made toward active mining of the Dynasty Goldfield project. Dynasty and Green Oil S.A. ("Green Oil"), the mining contractor, have satisfied the financial guarantee required by the Ecuador environment ministry and anticipate receipt of full regulatory approval within the next two weeks to commence mining at the Dynasty Goldfield site. With this approval in its final stage, Green Oil plans to move machinery to the site shortly. After all final approvals have been obtained, Green Oil may begin road construction for the development of the open pits within in these concessions. Story continues Corporate Dynasty has also appointed Hernan Moreno to the role of Interim Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Hernan, who holds both legal and financial professional designations, gained his accounting experience in Ecuador with both Ecuadorian and international organizations. About Dynasty Metals & Mining Dynasty Metals & Mining Inc. is a Canadian based mining company involved in the mining, exploration and development of mineral properties in Ecuador. The Company is currently focused on gold production and continued development at its Zaruma Gold Project. The Company also owns the Dynasty Goldfield Project, a permitted property 180km southwest of the Zaruma project, and the Jerusalem Project, an exploration property immediately south of the Fruta del Norte project. For further information please visit the Company's website at www.dynastymining.com. Forward-Looking Information This news release contains statements which are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking information" which are prospective in nature. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "projects", "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", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Such information in this news release includes, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's efforts at obtaining regulatory approval at the Dynasty Goldfield site, the timing of such approval and the Company's plans if and when final approvals have been obtained. Such statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause Dynasty's actual results, revenues, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Important risks that could cause Dynasty's actual results, revenues, performance or achievements to differ materially from Dynasty's expectations include, among other things, that the Company will be unable to obtain regulatory approval at the Goldfield Project, that construction will not go as planned at the Goldfield project, that the Company will be unable to re-commence operations at the Zaruma Project, that equipment will no longer function as intended, that alternative transactions or arrangements to fund the Company will not be available on terms acceptable to the Company or at all, and other risks found in Dynasty's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2015, which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Other than in accordance with regulatory obligations, Dynasty is not under any obligation and Dynasty expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. An Australian father and son are continuing their New Zealand holiday today after being rescued off Mt Tongariro last night. The 49-year-old man and his 13-year-old son set out yesterday morning to visit Mt Doom in the Tongariro National Park. One of New Zealands best BMX freestyle riders will join other daredevils for the 2016 Kawerau Woodfest. The iconic Bay of Plenty event will take place on September 19-25 and will feature some new activities for people of all ages. Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed the appointment of a New Zealand Army Brigadier to a senior role in the counter-Daesh Coalition. The Brigadier will take up the role of Deputy Commanding General of the Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command, Operation Inherent Resolve, for a nine-month period from November. The role is based in Baghdad, and while the NZDF has a small number of other roles at Coalition headquarters in the region, this will be the most senior position a New Zealand officer has held in the organisation, Mr Brownlee says. It shows the trust and confidence the Coalition has in the professionalism and ability of New Zealand Defence Force personnel. Other recent senior international appointments which show the regard with which NZDF personnel are held include the appointment of Major-General Dave Gawn as the Head of Mission/Chief of Staff to the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation based in Jerusalem, and Royal New Zealand Navy Commodore Jim Gilmour who led the recent RIMPAC 2016 amphibious taskforce. The Brigadier appointed to the Coalition Headquarters in Baghdad will not be named, consistent with New Zealands non-identification policy for personnel deploying to Iraq. Source: Office of Gerry Brownlee. old earthrise moon lunar orbiter 1 nasa Before an Apollo-era NASA could launch a few humans on top of a rocket and plop them down on the moon, it needed to find safe places to land. So from 1966 through 1967, the space agency launched five spacecraft, which it not-so-creatively named Lunar Orbiters 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. lunar orbiter one nasa Lunar Orbiter 1 was the first to swing around the moon. It automatically took film photos, processed and scanned them, then beamed the images back as radiowaves to receivers on Earth, where technicians recorded them onto analog data tapes. On Aug. 23, 1966 50 years ago Tuesday Lunar Orbiter 1 took the above photo: the first-ever of Earth rising up above the cold, bright dust of our planet's biggest satellite. However iconic, it looks pretty crummy. That's because 1960s technology couldn't access the full depth of the data NASA had on its tapes. So after printing out what it needed to select landing sites, the space agency mothballed the tapes in a Maryland storage unit. "They changed hands several times over the years, almost getting tossed out before landing in storage in Moorpark, California," Doug Bierno wrote at Wired in 2014. The tapes were well-kept, but the refrigerator-size tape drives the only devices capable of accessing the data had sat in the barn of Nancy Evans, a former NASA employee who saved them from going into the garbage, for the better part of a few decades. mcmoons nasa ames flickr copyright cara mccormick That is, until space entrepreneur Dennis Wingo found out about the situation through a web group in 2005. Wingo immediately contacted Keith Cowing, a former NASA employee and founder of NASAWatch.com, for help. The duo eventually launched the Lunar Orbiter Image Recovery Project (LOIRP), which aimed to digitize the photos and make them public. They received limited funding, rounded up technical help, and set up shop in an abandoned McDonald's on the campus of NASA Ames Research Center. Story continues They called the home of their archivist project "McMoons." The old fast-food restaurant flew a Jolly Roger pirate flag in its window and was steps away from part of an old ICBM missile. Years later, LOIRP had recorded terabytes' worth of high-quality digital imagery that might have otherwise been lost to history. "The resolution of our images vastly exceeds the original prints," Cowing told this reporter in 2012. To see the difference, simply scroll down: earthrise recovered loirp nasa And this is just one low-resolution slice of the fully assembled image. That full-resolution photo file is roughly 1.2 gigabytes in size enough, Cowing told me, that "printed out at native resolution it would be larger than a standard billboard." All of the photos are now being prepared for final submission to NASA's Planetary Data System, alongside images the USGS recovered in a separate digitization effort. Cowing told Business Insider in 2015 that LOIRP donated all of its gear to the Library of Congress. "[T]hat project is more or less at an end," he wrote in an email. "Not much happens [at McMoons] any more." NOW WATCH: One of the most inspiring speeches ever delivered by a president will make you believe you can do anything More From Business Insider Miss Universe, Alicia Machado Venezuela-born beauty queen Alicia Machado, who was Miss Universe 1996, became a U.S. citizen on Friday, Aug. 19, 2016. (Instagram) It's official: Former Miss Universe Alicia Machado is now a United States citizen. "I so proud and inspiration (sic) to be a U.S. Citizen," she wrote on Instagram. "I'll be Voting! All my power and my support become with (sic) my next President @hillaryclinton Miss Housekeeping and miss Piggy Can Vote @realdonaldtrump." Machado, 39, claims she wanted to become an American just to vote against Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election. The Venezuelan-born TV personality says he bullied her when she was a teen beauty pageant contestant, calling her "Miss Housekeeping" because of her accent and "Miss Piggy" to mock her weight. Trump co-owned the Miss Universe pageant with NBC until last year, when the network dropped the beauty competition over the Republican candidate's controversial comments about Mexican immigrants. Trump later settled a $500 million lawsuit with Univision, which also dropped the Miss Universe broadcast, and sold the show to the WME/IMG talent agency. The 1996 reigning Miss Universe, Alicia Machado of Venezuela, joins in the opening number during the 1997 Miss Universe Pageant in Miami Beach Friday, May 16, 1997. Machado was 19 when she was crowned Miss Universe in 1996. She told Inside Edition that he ordered her to lose weight afterwards, publicly calling her an "eating machine" in an interview with Howard Stern. "I was very depressed in that moment," Machado said, adding that she later required therapy to deal with eating disorders and body image issues. ET reports she took the oath of allegiance at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Miami on Friday. She waved a small American flag and reaffirmed her plans to vote for Hillary Clinton. Machado has also appeared in endorsement ads for the Democratic presidential candidate. Destiny USA exterior 2013.0.JPG Exterior of Destiny USA shopping mall in Syracuse. Picture shot from Hiawatha Boulevard. (Rick Moriarty / The Post-Standar) Richard Darwish SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A woman had just stepped out of her vehicle Wednesday morning in Destiny USA's parking lot when a knife-wielding man approached, police say. The man, Richard A. Darwish, 36, of Syracuse, threatened the woman with a knife just after 10:30 a.m., said Sgt. Richard Helterline, of the Syracuse Police Department. Darwish then stole the woman's vehicle and left the mall, he said. The woman and the two children she was with, ages 12 and 14, were not injured, Helterline said. After responding to the mall, police relayed a description of the stolen vehicle and Darwish to other officers. Soon after, a detective spotted the stolen vehicle parked in the 200 block of Apple Street - about 2 miles away from the mall, Helterline said. He then saw Darwish walking away, he said. The detective approached Darwish and arrested him without incident, Helterline said. When he arrived at police headquarters, Darwish stopped cooperating, Helterline said. Darwish tried to run away from officers when they brought him into the department's downtown Syracuse building, Helterline said. The escape attempt was not successful. Darwish was charged with first-degree robbery, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, endangering the welfare of a child, fourth-degree grand larceny, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, attempted second-degree escape and resisting arrest. He's being held in the Onondaga County Justice Center pending arraignment. Helterline said Darwish's mugshot would be released when it was available. Kathy Hochul Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks during a ceremony at the State of New York Emergency Medical Services Memorial at the Empire State Plaza in Albany in May. She will appear at three events Wednesday in Central New York. (AP Photo/Mike Groll) SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul will deliver remarks, host a roundtable and attend a hotel ribbon-cutting at three separate events on Wednesday in Central New York. At 11 a.m. Hochul is scheduled to appear at a ribbon-cutting to open a Hampton Inn & Suites in Cazenovia. Then, at 1 p.m., she will host the Central New York Roundtable on Women's Leadership. That event will take place at Onondaga Community College. Later, at 2:30 p.m., Hochul will deliver remarks at the Syracuse Center of Excellence for Environmental and Energy Systems. David M. Rubin, former dean of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, is a regular columnist for Syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Email him at dmrubin@syr.edu. If you needed any further proof of how difficult it will be to bridge the chasm that exists between the law enforcement community and the minority community, look no further than our local case involving Maurice "Mo" Crawley, Syracuse Police Officer Vallon Smith and Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick. You can watch some of what happened on the evening of July 28 in the 100 block of South Avenue in the video at the top of this post. Crawley was videotaping Officer Smith as he made an arrest. In the video, Smith seems to be behaving in a professional manner. Suddenly Smith crossed the street and, hurling the F-bomb, challenged Crawley. Smith didn't appreciate being filmed or followed. Crawley was charged with obstructing governmental administration and resisting arrest, and he was taken to jail. DA Fitzpatrick said at a press conference later that these charges would be dismissed, but a new charge of "harassment" might be brought against Crawley at a court appearance scheduled for Aug. 25. If Fitzpatrick does charge Crawley, it would be most unfortunate. The law is clearly on Crawley's side. He has a First Amendment right to film a police officer in a public place as the officer goes about his duties. One clear statement of this right comes in the case Glik v. Cunniffe, decided by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in 2011. (You can read the opinion here.) The facts in Glik are similar to the Crawley case. Glik was walking in the Boston Common when he saw what seemed to be an arrest with excessive force. He took out a camera and began to film the scene. One of the officers approached Glik and told him he had taken enough pictures. He put handcuffs on Glik and charged him with disturbing the peace, aiding in the escape of a prisoner, and violating a Massachusetts wiretap law for recording audio without the cop's permission. All these fanciful charges against Glik were dismissed. Then Glik asked the Boston Police Department to investigate the incident. They refused, and no disciplinary proceedings were brought against the arresting officer. So Glik filed suit against the police department on grounds that his First Amendment right (to film) and Fourth Amendment right (protecting him from being arrested without probable cause) had been violated. In its ruling on whether Glik's case could proceed, the First Circuit sided strongly with Glik. The court stated that it makes no difference the police were annoyed with Glik for filming them. Their annoyance "does not make a lawful exercise of a First Amendment right a crime." The right to film police in public is well established. "Gathering information about government officials ... serves a cardinal First Amendment interest in protecting and promoting the free discussion of governmental affairs," the court wrote. This is particularly true as concerns the behavior of law enforcement officials who may misuse their authority "to deprive individuals of their liberties." The court warned that "the freedom of individuals verbally to oppose or challenge police action without thereby risking arrest is one of the principal characteristics by which we distinguish a free nation from a police state" [my emphasis added]. The court noted there is no legal distinction between a "journalist" and a citizen. Every citizen with a camera is now a journalist, and everything occurring in public can be filmed. The police must get used to it. The lesson for Syracuse Police Chief Frank Fowler is clear. Teach your officers the law. Instruct them that citizens have a First Amendment right to film them on the job. Officer Smith should have simply ignored Crawley, completed the original arrest, and left the scene. Fowler owes the public a full accounting of how he handles this incident. As I write this, he has said nothing. The lesson for Fitzpatrick also is clear. No charges should be brought against Crawley. He did nothing wrong. How can he "harass" Smith when it was Smith who crossed the street to confront him? "Harassment" under New York Penal Law 240.26 says Crawley's actions must "serve no legitimate purpose." Playing watchdog on the cops is manifestly a "legitimate purpose." It is also disturbing that this is the second recent instance in which Fitzpatrick has tried to criminalize, and thereby discourage, protected First Amendment activity. The first involved the bogus letter, critical of COR Development, sent to The Post-Standard by Bruce Conner. The letter was "signed" by local clergymen who never signed it. To the extent there was a legal problem with this letter, civil remedies were available to the clergymen. The criminal charge lodged by Fitzpatrick against Conner was, properly, thrown out by a judge. If we are going to improve police-community relations, our law enforcement authorities must realize that the solution starts with them. The Crawley affair need not have happened. Chief Fowler and DA Fitzpatrick must respect the First and Fourth Amendment rights of citizens. This is not yet a police state. Joanie Mahoney Onondaga County Executive Joanne Mahoney delivered the State of the County address at the Central New York Hub for Emerging NANO Industries earlier this year. ( Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com) SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Another prominent New York Republican said today she's hesitant to support her party's nominee for president. Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney said she is "struggling" with the choice between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton this fall. Ultimately, she said, she would have a hard time supporting Trump. "I would never want my kids to think that I supported someone who thought entire races and religions weren't welcome in our country," she said. "When I get in the booth, I'm not sure what I'm going to do, but unless some clarification for some of the things that have been said comes, I would have a hard time" voting for Trump. Mahoney also expressed skepticism over Clinton and the ties between The Clinton Foundation and the State Department. "They're talking about the people that get an audience with the State Department being contributors," she said. "It goes to judgment." If she had to decide today, she said she is unsure how she would vote. She said she didn't pay much attention to this summer's conventions, because she was focused on running the county Mahoney spoke with a reporter about the state of the election following an event celebrating renovations to the county library downtown. The Onondaga County GOP has thrown its support behind Trump, led by Chairman Tom Dadey. Dadey served as a co-chair of Trump's New York primary campaign and was a delegate at the GOP Convention in July. Mahoney, however, has had a distant relationship with local GOP leadership. She made waves when she endorsed Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, in his run for governor in 2010. The two have since developed a strong working relationship. Mahoney is the latest local figure to weigh in on the election. U.S. Rep. John Katko, also a Republican, has also expressed hesitation in supporting Trump. U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna crossed party lines to support Clinton. Mayor Stephanie Miner has been an ardent supporter of Clinton. Trump supporters locally include Dadey, Comptroller Bob Antonacci and Sen. John DeFrancisco. ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- New York state has launched a campaign against underage drinking just in time for the start of the fall semester. Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday announced a multi-agency effort involving the State Police, Department of Motor Vehicles officials and state liquor regulators intended to curb drinking by those under 21. The push will involve training for bar workers, outreach and prevention efforts on campus as well as raids on campus bars. Last year the state prosecuted more than 1,500 alcohol license holders for selling to underage patrons. In addition, raids on bars led to 760 arrests and the confiscation of 750 fake IDs. SUNY Binghamton University Binghamton University is a school in the State University of New York college system. (Instagram | @binghamtonu) Update: SUNY Binghamton officials say the program's title is being used ironically, and participants said there was no evidence it was "anti-white." The State University of New York at Binghamton is under fire for offering a "Stop White People" course. The Binghamton Review reports SUNY Binghamton, also known as Binghamton University, is instructing residential assistants (R.A.'s) on how to deal with "uneducated people" in racial situations. The course, titled "StopWhitePeople2k16," aims to "help others take the next step in understanding diversity, privilege, and the society we function within." According to the Daily Caller, "privilege" is believed to suggest the course will discuss "white privilege" and related topics about race. The course description was revealed Tuesday in a page from Binghamton University's R.A. training schedule. The class is being taught three current R.A.'s, who receive a free room at the taxpayer-funded school for helping guide students living on campus. The story went viral Wednesday when it was shared on Drudge Report and other sites. Binghamton University has not commented on it, but the Daily Caller points out the school's official R.A. guide encourages "an environment where interaction between people of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds as well as the sharing of divergent opinions and beliefs are respected and welcomed." "Stop White People" and #stopwhitepeople2016.became trending topics on Twitter, as some critics were quick to accuse the course of divisive rhetoric and reverse racism. We always look forward to the opening of a new eatery. Over the Sebastian Inlet Bridge on U.S. 1 is a new bar and grill worth trying. Located in the Sebastian Inlet Marina, you can't miss the Chubby Mullet Bar and Grill. Our party of four was excited to share two of the starters, poke tuna ($12) and stuffed chubby clams ($10). The beautiful plate of clams filled with manchego cheese, bacon and homemade breadcrumbs was enjoyed by everyone. For the poke, large chunks of raw tuna were fresh and served with wakame salad, ginger and crispy wontons. We would have enjoyed this poke a bit more if the tuna and salad were cut smaller and tossed together before serving. Three rock shrimp and shrimp tacos ($11) were very tasty and were accompanied by a large serving of rice and beans with sour cream and salsa on the side. Who says you can't get an outstanding burger at a fish joint? The fresh Angus beef burger ($10) was thick and seasoned and grilled to perfection with premium smoked cheddar cheese ($1.25) and lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle. Sandwiches come with a choice of grandma's creamy coleslaw or an order of crispy French fries. My favorite was the mahi club ($13). A gorgeous portion of mahi was blackened and grilled lovingly before being placed on a soft roll with crispy bacon, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle. Delish! Not my favorite was the fried fisherman's dinner ($26). An enormous basket of mahi, shrimp and calamari, (conch also is available) it is almost enough for a family of four and comes with two sides. For my party's taste, the batter in which the seafood was fried was not very flavorful. Don't miss grandma's key lime pie ($5). And don't try to share a slice among four people. We had a war of the forks, all vying for another bite of this pie comprised of a delicious, unique crust (Did I detect coconut?), tart filling and creamy topping. Note that The Chubby Mullet serves food on disposable dinnerware to limit pollution by harsh chemicals used by commercial dish washing machines. Maribeth Renne dines anonymously at the expense of Treasure Coast Newspapers for #TCPalm Social. Contact her at maribeth.d.renne@gmail.com or follow @mebpeb on Twitter. CHUBBY MULLET BAR AND GRILL Cuisine: Seafood Address: 8685 N. U.S. 1, Micco Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m., daily Phone: 772-228-8265 Alcohol: Beer, wine Handicap access: Wheelchair accessible Website: www.facebook.com/ChubbyMullet Everyone is going orange in September for Hunger Action Month. The Treasure Coast Food Bank has several events planned throughout the month to show how residents can take action against hunger. 'Hunger is not going away, and we use Hunger Action Month each September to encourage everyone to advocate, donate and volunteer to help fight hunger,' said Treasure Coast Food Bank CEO Judith Cruz. Eat, Drink and Give is an event where local restaurants participate by providing a special menu item and dedicate those proceeds to Treasure Coast Food Bank. Several restaurants already have announced they'll be participating in September. The owners of Orange Bloom, Thibaldo and Jessica Manrique, said they'll plan something special at their Fort Pierce restaurant. The restaurant features steak, seafood and Latin American cuisine. The Riverside Cafe, which sits along the Indian River in Vero Beach, will serve a rum punch bucket to support Hunger Action Month. You can sip a cool drink while joining the fight against hunger. Chef Stephane Becht will serve his escargots bourguignon. The French classic is a burgundy escargots flambe in cognac, baked in herb garlic butter. Ordering the featured appetizer at Bistro Fourchette in Vero Beach sounds like delicious way to support the Treasure Coast Food Bank. If people want to try an appetizer with a kick, the Palm City Grill in Palm City will feature calamari chipotle. Chef Steven Beers lightly flours and fries the calamari, which is served with a spicy chipotle mayonnaise. Bob and Tracy Davis, owners of Sailors Return in Stuart, will have 'Thirsty Thursday' with $5 drinks. Stuart Coffee Company in downtown Stuart will serve a flavored coffee as the drink of the day. It's going to be a fun month. Orange lights will glow throughout the Treasure Coast, and don't be surprised if you see fountains spouting out orange. Another event planned for Hunger Action Month is a 24-hour festival of food sorting and packing Sept. 9-10 at the Treasure Coast Food Bank. The goal for this year is to pack 250,000 pounds, which will exceed last year's achievement of 200,000 pounds. The Kane Center and the Council on Aging of Martin County will host a roundtable discussion, 'Aging without Dignity: Addressing Senior Poverty in Martin County,' at 8 p.m. Sept. 13 in Stuart at the Kane Center. On Sept. 19, the Coffee Bar Blue Door will have a foodie movie night at 8 p.m. featuring 'Big Night' with Stanley Tucci. There are so many ways to support this issue. You can be an anti-hunger activist on social media, attend one of these events or visit www.stophunger.org. For details about the individual featured menu items, contact the Treasure Coast Food Bank at 772-489-3034, or visit www.stophunger.org or stop by the restaurant directly. PARTICIPANTS SHARE By Will Greenlee of TCPalm PORT ST. LUCIE The death of a 48-year-old man found around midnight Tuesday with a gunshot wound to the head has been labeled a suicide, a police spokesman said Wednesday. A motorist noticed the man slumped over in a wheelchair in a vacant lot about 12:05 a.m. Wednesday in the 500 block of Southeast Chapman Avenue, said Master Sgt. Frank Sabol, police spokesman. That person drove to the nearby police station to notify authorities. Sabol said the man last was seen around 8 p.m. Tuesday. The man had a single gunshot wound to the head. Police found a silver revolver at the scene, and Sabol said the incident is a suicide. Blue-green algae is concentrated in stagnant water earlier this year at a boat ramp at the St. Lucie Lock and Dam near Stuart. (FILE PHOTO) SHARE By Isadora Rangel of TCPalm A plan to reduce Lake Okeechobee discharges received much praise from Treasure Coast elected officials and environmental activists, but some Republican lawmakers and the sugar industry were lukewarm, to say the least. Florida Senate President-elect Joe Negron acknowledged he will have to spend a lot of political capital to push through the proposal he announced this month in his hometown of Stuart. "I told everyone up front this will be difficult," Negron said. Negron's challenge is twofold. First, he must persuade his fellow Republican state lawmakers to allocate the state's $1.2 billion share next year. Some of those represent areas of Florida with their own environmental problems and have strong ties to the sugar industry. Even harder will be persuading Congress to give the same amount. The $2.4 billion total would be used to buy 60,000 acres south of Lake O and build a reservoir, which would connect to existing canals to move water into the Everglades instead of the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers. There already are signs of the kind of opposition Negron will face. SUGAR Sugar giant Florida Crystals and the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida own most of the land Negron wants to buy. In a joint news statement, they said selling active farmland "means losing (1,000) or more jobs in the 'Glades communities, not to mention the impact to businesses." They said they will review details of the proposal. Negron said he's open to looking at other properties. Residents of communities south of the lake protested outside Negron's Palm City office Wednesday, saying his plan will result in job losses. Sugar will be the top challenge to the proposal, said Frank Jackalone, the Sierra Club's senior field organizing manager for Florida. He added sugar growers might try to inflate the price of their land. The sugar industry is considered one of the most powerful agriculture interests in the state. Florida Crystals and the cooperative have contributed more than $700,000 to the Republican Party, candidates and political committees in the 2015-16 election cycle. "If they get the right price, they will sell," Jackalone said. "They (sugar) use their power strategically." OPPOSITION IN CONGRESS Negron will need the Florida congressional delegation to push for the reservoir's approval on Capitol Hill, and the money to build it. Republican Sen. Marco Rubio said he's not ready to support the project until Congress approves and funds an Everglades restoration project already on the books that would reduce 14 percent of discharges. The Central Everglades Planning Project, known as CEPP, is awaiting approval this year, but Congress has yet to schedule a vote to do so. Florida is in competition with 49 other states and adding more projects makes it harder to get money, Rubio told the Miami Herald earlier this month. Treasure Coast U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, a Democrat who's challenging Rubio for his Senate seat, said he supports Negron's proposal. Murphy's primary opponent, U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson also support it. Environmentalists refuted Rubio's claim, saying a reservoir south of Lake O was envisioned in a multi-project Everglades restoration initiative approved in 2000 that includes CEPP. Spending $1.2 billion in federal dollars to build the reservoir when the total cost of the initiative is estimated at $15 billion becomes a small price, the Sierra Club's Jackalone said. Negron said he didn't take Rubio's comments as opposition to his plan. He said the two have talked and Rubio only wants to make sure CEPP is authorized first, but is open to additional projects. STATE LAWMAKERS Negron has said he has a job to sell the land buy to other lawmakers in Tallahassee. Yes, he will have a lot of power as the Senate president, but he still has to horse trade with the House. GOP Speaker-elect Richard Corcoran said via an emailed statement he will review the proposal "with seriousness and respect." Gov. Rick Scott also said he's reviewing it. Two Panhandle Republicans issued a statement days after the plan's announcement, hinting at the kind of resentment Negron's plan might create, even among his party. State Sen. Greg Evers and Rep. Mike Hill said buying land won't solve discharges and might funnel money away from North Florida water projects. Evers is leaving to run for Congress and Hill is running to replace him in the Senate. Negron said he has a good rapport with North Florida lawmakers. He helped them secure money for springs restoration this year and was part of a delegation that visited and helped the Panhandle after the BP oil spill. He said the recent algae blooms helped people across the state understand Lake O discharges aren't acceptable. "No one in Florida is defending the status quo anymore," Negron said. "No one is saying, 'It's fine that you have poisonous blue-green algae.'" By Isadora Rangel of TCPalm Treasure Coast congressional candidate Brian Mast's opponent accused him of lying about graduating from Harvard University. The truth is Mast is an alumnus of the prestigious school, but he didn't go through its highly selective admissions vetting. An Army veteran, Mast graduated from the Harvard Extension School, which serves nontraditional students who work on their degree on a part-time basis, often through online courses while they maintain full-time jobs. Anyone can take such courses, but to get a degree as Mast did, students must complete three prerequisite courses and then have their application accepted. Mast is considered a front-runner in the six-candidate Aug. 30 Republican primary in District 18, which Democratic U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy is leaving to run for the U.S. Senate. Opponent Mark Freeman has been criticizing him, writing on Facebook that Mast is exaggerating his accomplishments and "did not graduate from Harvard University." Who's right? A degree from the extension school is considered a Harvard University degree, and its students attend the same graduation ceremony as other Harvard graduates. Harvard directs its graduates to "use specific language" about their degrees. In Mast's case, that means specifying he completed his degree at the Harvard Extension School, school spokeswoman Stephanie T. Kacoyanis said. Mast has left "extension school" out of his biography many times. For example, Mast lists only "Harvard University" under the education category of his LinkedIn social media account. And his campaign released a TV ad in which a local business owner and supporter says, "Here's a combat veteran with a degree in environmental studies from Harvard University." Mast has a liberal arts bachelor's degree in extension studies with a concentration in economics and minors in government and environmental studies, he said. Courses An extension school degree is different from a degree from Harvard College, the university's highly selective undergraduate school that typically is associated with the name "Harvard." The college and the extension school are among the 12 degree-granting schools that make up Harvard University. Those also include, for example, the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Acceptance into the extension school is easier and courses are cheaper, but graduating is a challenge. Of all the students who took courses since the school's 1910 inception, less than one-fifth of 1 percent have graduated with degrees, The Atlantic magazine reported in 2013. Mast said some of his professors also taught at the prestigious college. Mast graduated this year. In addition to online courses, he said he took summers off from his then-job as an explosive specialist at the Department of Homeland Security to attend full-time courses on the campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. "To me it's very cut and dried," Mast said. "It's Harvard University ... I know the courses were not slack courses." SHARE By Ledyard King, USA TODAY WASHINGTON Consumers will still have affordable health care options even after Aetna leaves the federal health care exchange serving Florida and 10 other states at the end of the year, federal regulators said Wednesday. "We are confident that the marketplace will continue to bring coverage to millions of Americans next year," Ben Wakana, a spokesman for the Health and Human Services Department, told reporters in a conference call. "This is a marketplace that is serving more than 11 million people right now (nationally) and has helped this country get to the lowest uninsured rate on record." HHS officials used the conference call to release a report touting the success of the Affordable Care Act, one of President Obama's signature domestic achievements. The report states coverage remains inexpensive for most people who have purchased a health care plan on HealthCare.gov, the federal exchange serving Florida and 37 others states. Eighty percent of Florida consumers would still be able to purchase coverage for less than $75 a month even if all insurance rates increased 25 percent, according to the HHS report. Final premiums will be made public in October. The HHS report comes a week after Aetna announced it will leave the Affordable Care Act's federal exchange in 11 states. That followed dozens of similar decisions by large and small insurers across the country, moves that have dramatically reduced competition in some states and contributed to increased premiums. That development was inevitable because insurers now must compete based on price alone instead of on their ability to attract the healthiest customers, health care experts say. In May, UnitedHealthcare announced it would withdraw from HealthCare.gov in Florida. Once Aetna leaves, most of the state's 67 counties will have just one provider, unless another company steps in. Federal officials said Wednesday such movement is natural given the challenges insurers face providing coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Cigna, for example, is expected to re-enter Florida's marketplace after exiting at the end of 2015. "It's always the folks who are leaving that get the headlines, but unfortunately not the folks who are entering," said Mandy Cohen, chief of staff at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. More than 1.7 million Floridians are enrolled in a plan through HealthCare.gov, which serves individuals not covered through an employer or the government. The vast majority nationwide (including about 90 percent in Florida) are eligible for a tax subsidy to reduce their premiums. Katie Martin, acting assistant secretary for planning and evaluation at HHS, said turnover of insurers on the federal exchange is still preferable to the situation prior to the Affordable Care Act, when people with pre-existing medical conditions were denied coverage or were priced out of the health insurance market altogether. "Entry and exit from the market is a normal part of the market," Martin said. "What I think is positive here is that we have a vibrant marketplace where folks can come and look and shop and have the ability with financial assistance to make sure those premium are affordable to them." Contributing Jayne O'Donnell, USA TODAY and Frank Gluck, Fort Myers News-Press Contact Ledyard King at lking@gannett.com; Twitter: @LedgeKing Bruno Gallerani, 93, of Port St. Lucie examines his Mae West inflatable life jacket in November 2013 that he last saw in 1943, when he was shot down over Belgium. A member of the family who sheltered him sent the jacket back to him in 2013. (FILE PHOTO) Anthony Westbury Columnist SHARE Bruno Gallerani Bruno Gallerani Image of the Commemorative Air Force B-17 Flying Fortress on March 28-30 at the Treasure Coast International Airport in Fort Pierce. (ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS) "Keep Calm & Carry On," reads the message on the red tin with a British flag. It was a gift three years ago from Lorraine Gallerani, for my column about her husband Bruno's daring escape across World War II Europe after his B-17 bomber was shot down in Belgium. The "Keep Calm" labels have, of course, become wildly popular in recent years. The phrase originated from a World War II British government warning about ignoring rumors and gossip. Yet the message also perfectly fits people like Port St. Lucie resident Bruno Gallerani, members of what we now call the Greatest Generation. He and his peers simply got on with their jobs, no matter how dangerous. Since 2013 I've written two columns about Bruno, but last week another small piece of the story came to light in an email from Kansas City. It was from Joe DeGrandi, who said he'd recently come across my columns about Bruno. DeGrandi wanted to shed more light on the backstory of his wife's great uncle, Joe Schreppel, who was the tail gunner on the same B-17, dubbed the "Jolly Roger." The bomber was on a mission intended to strike Nazi ballbearing factories, but never reached its target; the plane was shot down near Antwerp. MORE | Anthony Westbury: Port St. Lucie veteran rediscovers a crucial piece of his past in the mail Anthony Westbury: Great escape story from World War II gets a postscript in Port St. Lucie Of the Jolly Roger's 10-man crew, only five bailed out as the crippled plane descended in a slow arc. Engineer gunner Bruno helped three crew members get out. One was Schreppel, the tail gunner, who was mortally wounded before reaching the ground. He died shortly after landing. Villagers from Zoersel scraped together money to buy flowers to give him a proper burial. The two local women responsible, and the priest who said a Mass for Schreppel, were imprisoned for several months for helping the enemy, according to Belgian researchers. Bruno landed safely and went on a 30-day odyssey across Europe, aided by resistance fighters, before returning to his base in England. He had been a member of a relief crew for the B-17 and didn't know Schreppel, he told me this week at his home near Club Med in Port St. Lucie. DeGrandi's email included crew members' names but none rang any bells with Bruno. "We weren't encouraged to get to know each other," Bruno, now almost 96, recalled. He is remarkably offhand about his exploits, noting "What gets me is how today people worry about dying in wars. We were told we were expendable. War is so different these days." And so is the amount of information available to us. What's always struck me about the downing of the "Jolly Roger" is how many details of the story are available online. It's not only Bruno's story. Belgian researchers have pieced together the complete mission from its fogbound beginnings in eastern England to the recollections of the German Focke-Wulf fighter pilot who shot the B-17 down. We know the fate of the other crew members and where they are buried. Once he landed, Bruno stashed his parachute, heated flight suit, service revolver and his inflatable "Mae West" life vest near a pine tree. Seventy years later the life preserver was mailed back to him by Michel Van de Put. Van de Put, then 15, was a member of the aristocratic family who sheltered Bruno for several days. As I reported in 2013, the preserver stenciled with his name and serial number looks brand new, even though it's more than 70 years old. And it still fits him. Maybe returning long-held souvenirs is a Belgian habit. DeGrandi's email revealed that one of the villagers who picked up the body recently sent the family one of Schreppel's gloves. Bruno's story is full of hardworking, decent people who simply got on with the jobs that fate sent them. No complaints, no whining, no thinking they were special in any way. And Bruno is exactly that way, too. Only a few weeks away from his 96th birthday, he's still trim and remarkably active. In 2013 he'd told me he kept active by "helping a friend" install sprinkler systems. "I do the digging," the 93-year-old explained in a matter-of-fact tone. At 95, Bruno is still driving his black pickup with the "World War II POW" tags, and he's still working. "Digging?" I asked. "No, it's too hot for that," Bruno responded. "I'm helping a friend lay tile. Well, he does most of the work; I just cut the tile and clean things up. You've got to force yourself to get up and go out. You gotta be tough to be old." An amazing man from an amazing generation that kept calm and carried on. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, we're losing 492 of them every day. Cherish them before it's too late. Images from the scene of a double homicide in the 19000 block of SE Kokomo Lane in Tequesta on Aug. 16. Austin Harrouff is the suspect in the stabbing that took place in the evening of August 15, killing John Stevens III and Michelle Mishcon, according to the Martin County Sheriff's Office. Accident Scene Cleaners of Port St. Lucie were there to clean the house. (LEAH VOSS/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS) Every so often you'll hear a politician call for a "honest national conversation on race." We never get around to having that conversation, and the implication usually is that this is the fault of the racists. But I wonder if they're the only culprits. You, of course, know all about the brutal murder of John Stevens III and Michelle Mishcon last week in southern Martin County. Austin Harrouff, 19, is alleged to have killed the couple and was reportedly biting off pieces of Stevens' face when deputies arrived on the scene. It took four deputies, and a K-9, to subdue Harrouff. Why didn't they shoot him? Martin County Sheriff William Snyder said it was because deputies were afraid they might hit Stevens, whom they thought might still have been alive. One prominent activist suggested there was a simpler reason: Austin Harrouff is white. "Four different officers despite the clear and obvious crimes that had taken place, despite the risks to their own safety decided to surround Austin Harrouff and forcefully remove him, so that they could arrest him without shooting and killing him," wrote New York Post columnist Shaun King, a prominent voice in the Black Lives Matter movement, shortly after the attack. "What I know, and what many of you know too, is that had Austin Harrouff been black, he would've been shot and killed on sight." King went on to cite the 2012 "Causeway Cannibal" incident in Miami where a black man named Rudy Eugene, found eating the face of a victim, was shot dead by police. King cited several other cases in which mentally disturbed, young African-American men who hadn't harmed anyone were gunned down by police. I take the macro point. Law enforcement shootings of African-American suspects have become one of the pre-eminent political issues in this country, with good reason. But King's not merely speaking in broad terms: He is saying that Martin County deputies who apprehended Harrouff would have killed him if he were black. In effect, King is accusing these deputies of latent racism simply because they're "cops." King's theme was picked up by other left-leaning outfits including the Miami New Times and Vice News, which interviewed Sheriff Snyder. "The idea that our deputies would think, 'This is a white man, I can't shoot him, I should take more time,' it's unconscionable," Snyder said. "If you know my deputies, nobody would accuse them of that." King, of course, doesn't know Snyder's deputies. But apparently that doesn't matter. Meanwhile, social media exploded with similar accusations that Martin County deputies would obviously, necessarily have shot and killed Harrouff if his skin was a darker color. As King put it in his column: "A part of the definition of white privilege is having options unique to you because of your skin. Clearly, those benefits even extend to a rampaging cannibal." Is that fair, do you think? Because it feels to me like King exploited our local tragedy and smeared these local deputies my neighbors, and yours to make his broader point. And that broader point depends upon the notion that all cops are the same, a monolithic entity rather than a diverse group of individuals. Now, are there cops out there not necessarily just in Martin County who would have fired on Harrouff if he were black? I'm sure there are. There are cops out there who would have fired on him even though he was white. There are cops who are too quick on the trigger, there are racist cops, there are cops who do bad things and get protected by their unions, cops who get away with abuses because of a police culture that excuses their actions. But there are good cops, too. And what King suggests is that they don't exist not here, not anywhere. Because cops are cops. Is this how we foster a legitimate, honest national conversation on race by saying, "I know exactly what you would have done even though you didn't do it?" Is this how you build bridges, by impugning individual officers who did nothing wrong who, in fact, did everything right? King subsequently tried to walk back his comments, telling Vice News that he merely hopes more officers can show restraint when it comes to dealing with people of color. So perhaps he should say exactly that in a subsequent column. Because if we're ever going to have that honest national conversation about race, it's going to require honesty from everyone involved. Photos by Fran Foster The Grand Sand Bandstand at Captain Hiram's SHARE Scoop's Two Drink is one of the newer additions to the establishment. The couple holding the surfboard are Will Collins' grandparents, nicknamed Scoops and Two Drink. Hiram's held its 30th anniversary party over the course of a weekend that included live music, special drink and food specials and the option to put your toes in the sand and enjoy the atmosphere. Hiram's employees, Ron Wilkinson, Carol Hoffman, Roxy McCarty (seated), Denise Brown and Annie Raftery, remember the days of the marina and a few dozen bar stools and a raw bar. Owner Will Collins poses with a captain at Captain Hiram's Resort in Sebastian. By Fran Foster, The Newsweekly Captain Hiram's Resort is a family tradition in name and in the way business is conducted. It's name honors the memory of owner Tom Collins's great uncle, Sgt. Hiram Collins, a World War II soldier killed at Normandy. "Hiram's started very differently than what it looks like today," explains Tom's son Will Collins. "We had 14 bar stools, sold cold beer and had a raw bar. The hotel didn't exist. It was the boat storage and we used an old Jeep and forklift to get the boats into the water." Hiram's has had multiple partners over the course of those three decades. Liz and Mickey Capp are two of them Mickey is a premier builder in town. Collins describes him as the nicest guy in the world. Capp wasn't one of the original owners but he has always been involved. Jimmy Hoffman and Martin Carter also partnered with Tom Collins in the early days. Capp bought out Carter, though the Hoffman's are still very much involved in the business' continued success. "This was a very different place in the '80s and early '90s," remembers Carol Hoffman who helped open the establishment. "Martin Carter called me and said, 'You need to leave Texas, work and live here,' which I did for 27 years." Ron Wilkinson started working at Hiram's in 1983 when it was really more of a tackle shop than a waterfront resort. "Our regulars and staff would watch the newer owners of boats trying to figure out how to maneuver, bringing their boats down from where the hotel stands now," he says with a wicked grin. "Sometimes it would take them an hour to get it all figured out. And here would be the 12 bar stools filled with regulars and they would clap for them when they figured it out. It was a rite of passage almost." Growth spurt Will Collins describes the growth of the resort as organic and credits the city of Sebastian as part of that success. When the city began to grow, so did Hiram's. But the hurricanes of 2004 took their toll on the original establishment. They also spurred its transformation into what it is today. After all that rebuilding, the small marina eventually became the area's largest waterfront resort and restaurant. What started in 1987 as a raw bar that could serve about 28 people, can now accommodate more than 500 guests, thanks to the addition of the hotel. The marina has also expanded, growing from a 14 boat slips to 60. It has its own store and facilities for guests. They also have partnerships with businesses for river tours and airboat rides. Hotel rooms were the next logical step after the hurricanes took out the boat storage area starting with the four Captain's Quarters rooms, located over the ship's store. Those four rooms are still the most sought after accommodations, as they overlook the water and the bandstand. The success of these rooms led to the development of the Riverfront Building, which opened in March of 2004. Today, Liz and Mickey Capp continue the tradition of gracious hospitality that began 1986. Many options Hiram's is now a waterfront resort that has multiple businesses combined in one location. In the 1990s, the Sandbar was added. It's a spot where you can can put your toes in the sand and dance to reggae music. The resort now boasts two separate restaurants: the Blackfins Riverfront and the Sandbar Beach Club. There is also a separate bar called Scoops' Two Drinks, which is named after Will Collins' grandfather, who was known as Scoops, and grandmother whose nickname was Two Drinks. That is the resort's top shelf bar its newest addition. The Coral Bar is the large free standing bar in the middle of the Sandbar. Bimini Beach host events such as weddings and fundraisers. The Tiffany Room is a private facility upstairs at Blackfins, where receptions and meetings can be held in a private setting. "We spend a ton of time and energy supporting local companies because we have the space to do it," says Collins. "It's a big deal for us and we can accommodate 150 guests in the Tiffany room." Collins also pointed out that the two restaurants have different menus. Blackfins has more extensive offerings. The Sandbar Beach Club is more focused on cocktails and bar food. That doesn't mean you can't get a rumrunner and cheeseburger at Blackfins or vice versa. "We realized that our customers were telling their friends they were at Hiram's," he explained. "But where at Hiram's? The hotel, inside restaurant, Scoops, sitting at Bimini Beach? We needed to do a better job of branding all the different options available so that's why we changed it a few years back. We even train our staff differently." Family Collins believes that one of the keys to their success is the family atmosphere. That philosophy extends to the staff. There are locals who have worked there for decades. Some longtime employees have children or grandchildren who have taken their place. "It's quite funny really to watch these kids grow up here," said Collins. "They start off at 16 years old as a busboy and as we get busy, they are like a deer in the headlights. But they learn so much by working in this industry, building their skill set and making long-life relationships." Its obvious Collins loves his job and his staff. He has made multiple long lasting relationships from the family business. "One of our long term employees actually babysat me when I was young like changed my diaper. That kind of long," he said. "We pride ourselves on the family atmosphere and really believe that we have created something different than your average resort. It feels more like a family and we take pride in that. "We have so many return guests that have been coming here for decades. Everyone knows each other's names, which helps make you realize you are doing something good." For more information about Captain Hiram's Resort, visit their website at www.hirams.com or call them at 772-388-8588. SHARE Photos by Stephanie LaBaff Vanessa Lopez, 6, tries on a buffalo skin. Jimmy Sawgrass, a Muskogee-Creek Indian, shares the rich history Florida's indians. Jimmy Sawgrass sounds out different animal calls made from bone horn. Jimmy Sawgrass demonstrates the original game of lacrosse. By Stephanie Labaff, The Newsweekly Jimmy Sawgrass, a member of the Muskogee Creek tribe, has been honoring his ancestors for decades by sharing his knowledge of Southeastern Native Americans. "There's not a place in Florida where my people haven't hunted, gathered, fished, farmed or lived," said Sawgrass. He brought their history to life at the North County Library as part of the summer programs offered for children. However, the historical re-enactor's presentation was just as much of a draw for adults many of whom weren't even parents of the younger attendees. Sawgrass is a walking history museum. He's spent the past 30 years traveling around the state sharing his Native American heritage at powwows, festivals, historical reenactments, schools and community events. Historians and archaeologists have been able to document a great deal of Native American's past. But it was tribal elders, outdoorsmen, and re-enactors who taught Sawgrass about his culture and history. Dressed as his ancestors would, Sawgrass talked of how Native Americans believed they were a part of the land and conducted themselves, accordingly. Everything they had came from Mother Earth, and nothing was wasted. As he explained how the tribes' skills in hunting, weaving and cooking evolved, Sawgrass showed artifacts made from animal bones and hides. "There were no stores back then," explained Sawgrass. "You had to make everything you needed from the land. We even had Gatorade back then. But of course, it really was made from a gator alligator that is." Sawgrass talked about how his ancestors made weapons from bone and rocks, which they would use to hunt animals like the nokose (bear). Everything from the hides to the bears' "guts" would be used. Bear skins laid on top of moss were used as beds. The bones were used to make whistles, weapons and handles. Of course, the meat fed the tribe. And the bear's innards could be used as bait to catch other food. While the Indians lived in dwellings called chickees and couldn't drive through McDonalds for dinner, Sawgrass says Native American boys and girls weren't that different from those running around today. They played with dolls and toys, climbed trees, explored and had to go to bed when their parents told them it was time. Just ask Cody Boettner, one of the top ten hoop dancers in the world and Sawgrass' son. Boettner grew up with one foot in the past and one in the present. He is currently attending Florida State University, where he has been able to continue to embrace his family history in today's world. Sawgrass plans to continue to sharing the history of Florida's earliest inhabitants so his people won't be forgotten. His presentation proves that they still have much wisdom to share. To learn more, visit JimSawgrass.com. Press-Journal, Aug. 23, 1946 Katherine Jean Gollnick, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Gollnick, celebrates with her first birthday cake at a party on Aug. 11 at her home. SHARE Press-Journal, Aug. 23, 1956 Wallace R. King inaugurates city bus service using 'midget' buses manufactured by Volks-Wagen. Success of the long sought service will be contingent on patronage. 90 YEARS AGO: 1926 The back country VERO BEACHOne thousand letters printed on lithographed stationary were mailed out, purporting advantages of farming in the Vero Beach back country. The Vero Beach Chamber of Commerce sent the letters to people who have written to the Florida Department of Agriculture requesting information about Florida's farm lands. The letters contain scenes in Vero Beach and throughout the county, and are only part of the Chamber's program to stimulate interest in back country development. 80 YEARS AGO: 1936 Stamping 'air mail' VERO BEACHA rubber stamp, embossed with "VIA AIR MAIL," is now available on the Post Office lobby desk for patrons to utilize for stamped mail intended to be delivered in air mail dispatch. 70 YEARS AGO: 1946 French orphan INDIAN RIVER COUNTYThe Indian River County unit of the national American Legion Auxiliary has sent an 11-pound box of food and toys to a 3-year-old orphan in Saint Fre, France, a city severely demolished during both world wars. The national auxiliary has taken responsibility for all 29 children of that town, which were assigned to the Florida department of the Legion. Mrs. John Schlitt is the local child welfare chairman. 60 YEARS AGO: 1956 Natural gas VERO BEACHGarnering the widest and broadest opinions and ideas from the general public is the purpose of a special public hearing being called by the Vero Beach City Council. The topic: installing a natural gas distribution system. During cold weather, the city's electric power system is taxed at peak load and a considerable capital expense expended in such a short time period. Utilizing natural gas may reduce the city's overall capital outlay. 50 YEARS AGO: 1966 Minchew's machine VERO BEACHHerbert Minchew and his wife Lois have had to travel twice a week to Miami for his treatments on a kidney machine. Weekly costs are over $400 for bills and expenses, only part of which are covered by insurance. The Minchews have exhausted their resources fighting this life-threatening kidney disease. The Vero Beach Exchange Club voted unanimously to underwrite the purchase of a kidney machine to be located here and available to any person needing treatment. So far, $900 has been donated, and if contributions are insufficient, the club will make up the difference from its own funds. 30 YEARS AGO: 1986 An MRI INDIAN RIVER COUNTYA public preview was staged yesterday, when Indian River Memorial Hospital showed off the magnetic resonance imaging unit. "To put it simply, magnetic resonance imaging is like performing an autopsy except you get up and walk away," said Dr. Robert L. Kegan, president of MRI Associates, Fort Lauderdale. MRI is a new diagnostic imaging modality that is safer than other existing modalities such as CAT-Scanners, biopsies, or exploratory surgeries because it uses no ionizing radiation and is unimpeded by bone. 10 YEARS AGO: 2006 Supporting local gun range INDIAN RIVER COUNTYWhether or not candidates are being supported by people who are targeting the public shooting range on County Road 512 for closure, is a topic prevalent in the current election dialogs. A mass-mailed letter, supposedly containing allegations, has stirred Second Amendment conversations, and political fury, throughout the county. According to County Office of Management and Budget records, the Indian River County Shooting Range has brought in less money than it costs to operate. SHARE By Keith Macdonald, The Newsweekly Vero Beach resident, Jason Urbonowicz doesn't think small. After his first annual KDMF car show in Melbourne in 2015, he decided to move the second show to Riverside Park in Vero Beach. That decision gave him the additional space and the initiative to push his import extravaganza to a level that attracted car owners from around the country. In short, KDMF2 was gigantic. What is KDMF? The Korean Domestic Market, or KDM, consists of import cars from Kia and Hyundai. The F stands for Florida, so KDMF2 was the second-ever KDMF show. Pretty straightforward. Many of the cars were stock, or stock appearing, but the majority of them were "tuned" versions. Across the park, neon-bright colors accented the entries, creating a vibrant feast for the eyes of curious spectators. Boosted What's a "tuned" import? The Urban Dictionary defines a tuned car as "a vehicle engineered to overcome factory limitations in order to gain more power, lower racing ETs or better handling." Many of the imports on display were piped for nitrous oxide injection (NOS), which creates a powerful boost in performance. Urbonowicz knew that opening up the show to Japanese Domestic Market cars, he would attract even more show entrants. But Urbonowicz didn't stop there: he enrolled local car show promoter Scott Morley of "Showin" to bring in classic cars as well. "We thought about it and said, why not open it to all makes?" explained Urbonowicz. "So I contacted Scott and it all worked out great." Among the few hundred imports on display were dozens of classic muscle cars and older imports. The import car participants checked out the older cars, while the classic car guys curiously perused the rows of newer imports. Full support When asked how it was for a younger person to coordinate a larger car show with the City of Vero Beach, Urbonowicz had positive things to say. "It was actually fun. But they had a long list of strict rules I had to follow," he said. "I followed those rules and we were good to go. We had people who drove here from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Georgia and all over Florida from Miami to Naples and up to the panhandle." Urbonowicz and his team of judges gave out more than 100 awards in dozens of categories. In fact, the judges were so busy, it was hard to get them together for the group photo. "Everybody's a winner today," Urbonowicz said with a laugh. Brian Debski, Urbonowicz' lifelong friend, was very supportive. "I really believe in what he did," Debski said. "I mean, look at this place!" The show was a family affair. Anibal Quinones, president of Custom Toys car club of Brevard County, was in attendance with his wife Cindy and their two children, Javier and Angel. "We were in the club in Philadelphia, until we moved to Florida," said Quinones. "So we started a new branch here." Special entries Vincent Molina of New Jersey owned the car that made the longest journey to KDMK2. His 2010 Nissan 370Z, with its Lamborghini-style swing-up doors and bright green finish, was a gigantic crowd pleaser. "The bright green isn't really a paint job. It's actually a wrap," Molina explained. It's an Autoflex Plasti Dip or a layover wrap. I can peel it off to expose the factory paint job if I wanted to." Molina's naturally aspirated, fuel-injected V6 engine creates an astonishing 484-horsepower with 447 foot pounds of torque. "We did lots of computer remapping," he laughed. "We retuned it beyond belief, so not even Nissan could change it back now." Another crowd pleaser was a Mini-Cooper Countryman wagon owned by Johnny Lopez of Poinciana. Lopez made several changes that enhanced the performance of the car. "I changed all of the suspension and went from16-inch to 22-inch wheels," said Lopez. "I added nitrous oxide, LED lighting all around and added a roof rack." He purchased the car new in 2012 and all of the improvements were done in a matter of one year, he said. Lopez was there to represent the Prophecy Car Club from the Kissimmee area. With uninterrupted sunshine, lots of music, food vendors and 250 cars, the KDMF2 show can be called a fantastic success. "We just hosted the world's largest gathering of Kias and Hyundais," claimed Urbonowicz. Perhaps some local dealerships should embrace that success and become involved next year? After all, it's been proven: Jason Urbonowicz puts on a class car show. The streets were filled during the Real Men Wear Pink big reveal. SHARE Photos by Stephanie LaBaff Jaye Ana Martella, 3, and Jessie Marcellino Bella Hill, 8, Peyton Kimball, 5, Connor Harris, 6, Grace, 5, and Claire, 7 1-2, Delgado Jenny Fee, American Cancer Society Community Manager, and Dr. Daniel Glotzer, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Chairman. MarIa Augusta Rivera and Sandra Luppi By Stephanie Labaff, The Newsweekly Traffic came to a standstill on Ocean Drive as the "real men" of Indian River County were unveiled during August's Sunset Saturday Night. While the crowd listened to the sounds of Soul Jam, enjoyed good food and lively conversation, the anticipation began to build as an inordinate number of men in sporting pink began to fill the street. Emcee Hamp Elliott solved the mystery as he introduced the men who accepted the challenge to fight breast cancer. Community leaders Edwin Perkins, Travis Beckett, Tim Zorc, Nic Peterson, William Crook, Andrew Barton, Michael Kissner, Karl Steene, Charles Eberhart, Adam Preuss, Chris Pinson, Wesley Davis, Michael Natale, Patrick Ottuso, Bill Penney and Larry Macke will be the ones working to raise money and awareness on behalf of breast cancer victims. One member of the crowd said, "It's like 'Where's Waldo' in pink." Keep watch around town for these pink warriors, as each of them work to raise $2,500 before the end of October for this year's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event. This inaugural Real Men Wear Pink of Indian River County campaign supports the American Cancer Society's mission to promote early detection and prevention, research and counseling for breast cancer victims and their families. In Florida alone, nearly 17,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year and almost 3,000 will die from the disease. Cancer knows no boundaries. It could be your mother, daughter, sister, neighbor or co-worker. To learn more about these Real Men, visit MakingStridesWalk.org/realmenindianrivercofl or email jennifer.fee@cancer.org. For information on how you can help or to participate in Strides Against Breast Cancer presented by the Scully-Welsh Cancer Center at Indian River Medical Center on Oct. 15, visit MakingStridesWalk.org/indianriverfl or call 772-562-2272. For information about breast cancer or any other cancer-related questions, visit Cancer.org or call 800-227-2345. Tropical wave Aug. 24, 2016, 2 p.m. By Elliott Jones of TCPalm DEVELOPING NEWS TODAY 3:30 p.m.: A tropical wave that is producing gale-force winds over the Leeward Islands could become a tropical depression or Tropical Storm Hermine out in the ocean at any time during the next few days, according to the National Hurricane Center. Regardless, it is going to impact the Treasure Coast, said National Weather Service meteorologist Matt Bragaw. Expect 2 to 3 inches of rain, with up to 6 inches in some locations, starting Saturday night and continuing through Monday, Bragaw said Wednesday afternoon. Flooding could occur on the Treasure Coast on land thats still saturated from heavy rainfall earlier this month, he said. Wind speed forecasts arent available, but a small craft advisory probably will be put into affect starting Saturday night, Bragaw said. 2:33 p.m.: Rains from the approaching tropical wave could lead to flooding this weekend because the grounds are saturated from earlier rainfalls, forecasters said. 2 p.m.: The wave lacks well-defined circulation but is producing tropical-storm-force winds over the Leeward Islands. The system could become a tropical storm or tropical depression at any time during the next couple of days. 12:15 p.m.: Beginning this weekend, the pull of the moon is expected to raise tides higher than normal. That -- coupled with tropical weather -- could increase beach erosion, according to the National Weather Service, Melbourne. 11:45 a.m.: The National Hurricane Center is reporting that the Air Force plane finds tropical storm-force winds in the tropical wave called 99L. USAF plane finds tropical-storm-force winds. Mission still ongonig to see if tropical cyclone is forming. #99L pic.twitter.com/EQlE16Exi0 NHC Atlantic Ops (@NHC_Atlantic) August 24, 2016 11:35 a.m.: An Air Force Reconnaissance aircraft currently investigating the broad low pressure area and tropical wave near the northern Leeward Islands has found winds of tropical storm force in a few squalls near the northernmost Leeward Islands. Squalls of tropical storm force can be expected over the extreme northern Leeward Islands and portions of the northern U.S. and British Virgin Islands this afternoon. 10:20 a.m.: Martin County Emergency Management Director Debra McCaughey encouraged residents to "pay close attention to the forecasts and make a personal plan" for your family. "If Martin County becomes threatened, we will be providing information to our media outlets relative to Martin County actions, such as evacuation orders and shelter openings." Basic hurricane kits should include: (for complete list, check out our storm suggestions) non-perishable food and snacks water flashlights batteries battery-operated radio pet supplies baby supplies cash (ATMs may not work if power outages occur) More suggestions on how to prepare for a storm from Indian River County's Emergency Services: Do you know what to do before a tropical storm or hurricane impacts our area? Take these basic steps: 1.Get a... https://t.co/YA0JbaYevP Indian River EOC (@IndianRiverEOC) August 24, 2016 9:55 a.m.: Based on current conditions, marine forecasters with the National Weather Service now expect the tropical weather to bring heavy rains to the Treasure Coast from Saturday night through Monday. Also there could be a small craft advisory. There would be widespread rains of two to three inches, with up to six inches in some locations, meteorologist Matt Bragaw said Wednesday. Wind speeds can't yet be predicted. The forecast could change as the tropical wave strengthens. EARLIER STORY The main weather threat to Florida and the Treasure Coast continues to be a tropical wave that now has an 80 percent chance of strengthening in the next five days, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center. MORE | Live satellite view over Atlantic At the least, the Treasure Coast will get rain from the tropical wave expected to be in the Bahamas by the weekend, said Tom Daly, coordinator, St. Lucie County Division of Emergency Management. The public "should stay on top. Don't dismiss this," he said Wednesday morning. Daly advised people to check their emergency supplies and include a FM radio, batteries, food and water. Anyone on medications should check their supplies, he said. At 8 a.m. Wednesday, the wave was located over the northern Leeward Islands. The National Hurricane Center will send up an aircraft later today to investigate the system. Currently, the wave is forecast to have gusty winds and heavy rains. In the next day or two, it could become a tropical depression. The weather system's highest chances of strengthening will be as it reaches the warm waters of the Bahamas, forecasters said. Farther east, Tropical Storm Gaston is in the mid-Atlantic Ocean and is forecast to become a hurricane today. Gaston's projected path is to eventually take it northward. By Monday it is forecast to be far out in the ocean off South Carolina. No warnings have been issued for anywhere on the eastern seaboard. TROPICAL WAVE At 8 p.m., a strong tropical wave and associated broad area of low pressure is centered about 100 miles north of Puerto Rico and producing gale-force winds over water to the north of the Lesser Antilles. MORE | Live satellite view of tropical wave However, satellite images indicate that shower activity has become less organized than earlier today, and the low continues to lack a well-defined center. Although upper-level winds are only marginally conducive for development, this system could still become a tropical cyclone during the next couple of days. Environmental conditions have the potential to become more conducive for development over the weekend when the system is near the central or northwestern Bahamas. Regardless of development, gusty winds, heavy rains, and possible flash floods and mudslides are likely to occur over portions of the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, and the southeastern and central Bahamas during the next couple of days. Residents in the northwestern Bahamas and Florida should monitor the progress of this disturbance. Because of the large uncertainties regarding this system's development and future track, it is too early to speculate on what specific impacts might occur in the northwestern Bahamas, Florida or beyond. Formation chance through 48 hours: 50 percent. Formation chance through 5 days: 80 percent. TROPICAL STORM GASTON Interactive map of Gaston Location: 1,205 miles west of Cabo Verde Islands. Maximum sustained winds: 70 mph. Movement: Northwest at 17 mph Next advisory: 5 a.m. At 11 p.m., the center of Tropical Storm Gaston was about 1,205 miles west of Cabo Verde Islands. Gaston is moving toward the northwest near 17 mph. This general motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days. Maximum sustained winds remain near 70 mph, with higher gusts. Weakening is forecast during the next couple of days. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles from the center. MORE INFORMATION Occasional late-afternoon and early evening heavy downpours will result in as much as one-half to one inch of rainfall in the most intense storms, from Barefoot Bay to the Jupiter Inlet. SHARE Aug. 24, 2016 Aug. 24, 2016 Aug. 24, 2016 Aug. 24, 2 am By Staff Report This evening, there's a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. It's mostly cloudy, with a low around 76 expected Winds are east-northeast around 10 mph. Sunrise was at 6:57 a.m. Sunset was at 7:50 p.m. EXTENDED FORECAST Source: National Weather Service Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9pm, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 79. East northeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Friday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 9am. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. East northeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9pm, then a slight chance of showers between 9pm and 1am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 78. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. East northeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 77. East northeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. Windy, with an east wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Sunday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 77. East wind 10 to 15 mph. Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. East wind 10 to 15 mph. Monday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 77. East wind 10 to 15 mph. Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. East southeast wind 10 to 15 mph becoming south in the afternoon. TROPICS Source: National Hurricane Center Atlantic: 11 p.m.: Tropical Storm Gaston is 1,205 miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands. Maximum sustained winds are 70 mph. Weakening is forecast during the next two days. 8 p.m.: A tropical wave is centered about 100 miles north of Puerto Rico. This system could become a tropical depression during the next day or two. Formation chance through 48 hours: 50 percent. Formation chance through 5 days: 80 percent. Pacific: 9 p.m. MDT: Tropical Depression 13-E has formed. It's centered about 455 miles southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, with top winds of 35 mph as it moves west-northwest at 14 mph. 5 p.m. PDT: Showers and thunderstorms associated with an area of low pressure about 1,300 miles southwest of Baja California peninsula continue to show some signs of organization. Environmental conditions are expected to be conducive for slow development of this system, and a tropical depression is likely to form by this weekend while the low moves westward or west-northwestward about 15 mph. Formation chance through 48 hours: 40 percent Formation chance through 5 days: 80 percent TODAY'S TIDE FORECAST Source: National Weather Service Sebastian Inlet Bridge High tides: 12:53 a.m. and 1:37 p.m. Low tides: 7:15 a.m. and 7:47 p.m. Fort Pierce Inlet, South Jetty High tides: 1:10 a.m. and 1:54 p.m. Low tides: 7:21 a.m. and 7:53 p.m. MARINE FORECAST Source: National Weather Service Today: Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet with a dominant period 5 seconds. A moderate chop on the intracoastal waters. Chance of showers and slight chance of thunderstorms. Tonight: East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet with a dominant period 7 seconds. A light chop on the intracoastal waters. Chance of showers and slight chance of thunderstorms. Thursday: East winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet with a dominant period 8 seconds. A light chop on the intracoastal waters. Chance of showers and slight chance of thunderstorms. Thursday Night: Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet. A light chop on the intracoastal waters. Chance of showers and slight chance of thunderstorms. Friday: Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet. A moderate chop on the intracoastal waters. Chance of showers and slight chance of thunderstorms. Friday Night: East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet. Chance of showers and slight chance of thunderstorms. Saturday: East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet. Chance of showers and slight chance of thunderstorms. Saturday Night: East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet. Chance of showers and slight chance of thunderstorms. Sunday: East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. SHARE By Mary Silva, Your Newsweekly Contributor Help an adult learn how to read or learn English! One out of five adults in our county need and want our help. We have a waiting list of students requesting help. No teaching experience required and seasonal tutors are welcomed. Literacy Services of Indian River County, a United Way nonprofit agency partner, is providing a free workshop (snacks provided) to train prospective tutors to become volunteer tutors. Only two to three hours a week is required to tutor and you can choose morning, afternoon or evening as well as the days of the week you would like to tutor. Tutoring sessions are generally twice a week for ninety minutes a session and are always held in a public facility such as the library or church. The workshop is scheduled for Aug. 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at our Oslo Center. If you are interested in attending the workshop please call Anali at 772-778-2223 to RSVP. Literacy Services is dedicated to helping local adults improve reading, writing and communication skills so they can become more productive community members. It receives no government funding and relies on the generosity of our community. The company is offering a $999 Smart Home Staging Kit consisting of basic smart-home devices including a Nest Thermostat, Nest Protect Smoke/carbon-monoxide alarm, and a Nest Cam home security camera ; a smart entry lock from August, with an August Connect module for remote access; and a Lutron Caseta wireless lighting starter package. If youve watched those fixer-upper shows on television, youre probably familiar with the concept of staging, dressing up a home to make it more appealing to potential buyers. Coldwell Banker suggests home-sellers should stage their properties with the latest smart-home technology to foster bids more quickly. When listing a house on the market, home staging is used to help potential buyers envision themselves living in the home, said Coldwell Banker chief marketing officer Sean Blankenship. Having smart-home technology already installed in the home greatly increases the wow-factor. Most potential buyers are looking at dozens of homes, according to Blankenship, so that wow factor sets your home apart from the crowd, leaving less-memorable properties on the market for longer than they should be. The longer a property is on the market, the harder it will be to get your asking price. Blankenship cited some statistics to back his argument: 71 percent of potential homebuyers are looking for a move-in ready home; and of that group, nearly half consider smart-home technology as part of that equation. While smart-home technology has had trouble gaining traction in the mainstream marketplace, fully half of millenials and two out of every five broadband households would consider using smart-home technology to stage their home and help sell the house faster. What we do know from our most recent smart-home technology survey is that 54 percent of all U.S. respondents would opt for the smart home if faced with two homes that were exactly the same except for the fact that one home was smart and the other was not, Blankenship said. Whether youre looking to stage your home in preparation for sale or you want to upgrade it to live in, you can purchase the kit from any Coldwell Banker realtor for $999. The kit is also available online at www.smarthomestaging.com, but it costs $1035 there, which is only a slight discount over paying MSRP for everything at retail. Why this matters: The single biggest factor thats stymied the growth of the smart-home market has been the absence of standards that enable various devices to operate together. From that standpoint, Coldwell Banker has done a good job of recommending basic products that will work together without much hassle. This kit is a modest introduction to smart-home technology. It should be easy to deploy, and it will improve your home whether you intend to sell it or not. If you do, it will set your home apart from much of the competition. Apple has purchased medical records startup Gliimpse, Fast Company reported Monday, in order to broaden its presence in the personal healthcare information management market. Apple confirmed that the purchase took place earlier this year, according to the magazine. Apple in recent years has delved into healthcare with offerings such as HealthKit, CareKit and ResearchKit. The Gliimpse acquisition is seen as an extension of those efforts. Apple is highly committed to creating products and services around health, said Tim Bajarin, president of Creative Strategies. Gliimpse gives Apple another powerful data-tracking tool to tie to their health ecosystem of products and services, he told TechNewsWorld. Magical Machine Gliimpse has been working for three years on its technology, which it refers to as a magical machine. The aim is to eliminate the tower of babble plaguing medical data today by converting medical records that can appear incomprehensible into information that both humans and machines can digest and use. Apple so far has focused on healthcare information gathered outside the clinical spectrum, said Roeen Roashan, senior analyst for healthcare technology at IHS Markit. With Gliimpse, youre opening up the system with hospital records, lab records, and data from pharmacies, he told TechNewsWorld. That not only expands Apples reach and strengthens its product, but it also enhances its analytics capabilities in terms of providing better patient care. Guessing Game What Apple will do with Gliimpses technology is anyones guess, as the company is known for keeping its plans under tight wraps. Apple might consider Gliimpse a critical technology to an overarching healthcare service, or it may simply see it as complementary to other Apple health and fitness solutions, said Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT. At this point, its impossible to say. Purchasing Gliimpse could signal a new direction for Apple, noted Bob ODonnell, chief analyst at Technalysis Research. I think were seeing arguably the beginning of a new type of Apple thats looking outside its core into a number of different areas and seeing how they can be a disrupter, he told TechNewsWorld. Healthcare is one of those areas. Formidable Challenge Healthcare can be challenging for vendors who are already in the business, let alone for newcomers like Apple. The main challenge in this space is interoperability across systems not only within Apples platforms, but also across provider networks and the rest of the healthcare sector, IHS Roashan explained. Numerous challenges face any company doing business in healthcare, Pund-ITs King told TechNewsWorld. They include a lack of consensus among healthcare providers and services, a reliance on proprietary technologies, and fierce competition among stakeholders. Even initiatives like electronic medical records can result in confusion at least when it comes to sharing records with nonaffiliated doctors and facilities, he added. The problems only get worse when you go outside the United States, noted Patrick Moorhead, principal analyst at Moor Insights and Strategy. Each country has its own compliance schema and laws, making things complex, he told TechNewsWorld, which plays against the consumers need for ease of use. Baby Steps With Gliimpse, Apple may be able to reduce some of the healthcare system friction that so frustrates its users. This is a baby step toward democratizing healthcare information and creating a more empowered consumer of healthcare, said Jeff Dachis, CEO of One Drop. The first step in doing that is giving consumers their own healthcare information, he told TechNewsWorld. Gliimpse potentially offers that to them. Giving consumers control of their own health data could be beneficial to both patients and the vendor that cracks the data-sharing problem. The idea of patients owning and managing their health information could make medical visits simpler, and diagnosis and treatment safer and more relevant, suggested Pund-Its King. The company that gets it right could become massively successful and prosperous, he added.At the same time, meeting healthcare regulations and security requirements is not for the faint of heart, and numerous healthcare stakeholders are likely see such efforts as endangering the well being of their businesses. Neither Apple nor Gliimpse reponded to our requests to comment for this story. Delta Air Lines reportedly canceled 300 flights Tuesday morning, a day after a mammoth outage that forced it to temporarily ground thousands of flights worldwide and ultimately cancel more than 400 of them. Although an update posted at 10:00 p.m. ET Monday night warned that there would be more than 100 flight cancellations and roughly 200 delays Tuesday morning, the actual numbers appeared considerably worse. The disruption began with a power outage that took place around 2:30 a.m. on Monday at the airlines Atlanta headquarters, according to Delta and Georgia Power. Delta CEO Ed Bastian apologized to customers later Monday in a video message taped live from the airlines operations and customer center, saying the carrier was engaged in an all hands on deck effort to restore service. Mea Culpa I apologize for the challenges this has created for you with your travel experience, Bastian said in his video message.The Delta team is working very, very hard to restore and get these systems back as quickly as possible. The company instituted system-wide waivers, he added, which would allow customers to rebook their flights or get refunds without penalty. Those waivers were available through Delta.com and the companys reservations agents. The airline was investigating the cause of the outage, Delta spokesperson Traci Messier told TechNewsWorld on Monday, noting that it had not yet discovered the exact cause. A hack may have been responsible, early media reports suggested, but that hypothesis remains unconfirmed. Georgia Power responded to the outage, which appeared to be related to Delta equipment that interconnects with Georgia Power, which serves more than 2.4 million customers in the state, according to spokesperson John Kraft. The utilitys other customers were not impacted by any power problems, he said, adding that Delta has been a great customer of Georgia Power for a long time. Delta issued a number of updates on Twitter and its corporate website, noting that there were lag times on the flight arrival and departure screens at the airport and on its reservations site and mobile app. Mondays failure was one of a very few major outages at Delta in many years, according to Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst at Atmosphere Research Group. Delta generally has a strong record with handling technology issues, he noted. Clearly something extraordinary happened today, Harteveldt told TechNewsWorld on Monday. What Im curious about is why the backup systems didnt kick in to make sure the flights werent canceled. Delta responded admirably to the outage, which appeared to be limited to departure control systems, he said. The airline was able to get flights from Europe and Asia back on track and also was able to maintain its mobile app and website functionality. Southwests Meltdown The Delta outage followed by about three weeks an hour-long outage at Southwest Airlines, which was due to the failure of a notebook-sized router that didnt know it had failed, said Melanie Jones, a spokesperson for Southwest. So it broke, but did not trip a backup, she told TechNewsWorld. It kept bringing traffic into itself for processing. That outage, which caused the cancellation of 2,300 flights, required Southwest to reboot all of its systems, which took hours to complete. Southwest Airlines responded to its outage like the Keystone Cops, according to Atmosphere Research Groups Harteveldt, who said it was embarrassing to watch. Southwest had failed to make necessary upgrades in technology, he maintained. Two major unions at Southwest called for the ouster of CEO Gary Kelly after that outage. However, the company pushed back, criticizing the statement as a negotiating tactic. Southwest has taken action to shore up its technological defenses, according to spokesperson Jones. First, we have developed a backup procedure for this router brown out condition, should it ever recur. The router in question is an older model, and we will soon have upgraded all routers that will be more reliable and not subject to a brown out, she explained. Beyond addressing the immediate problem, Southwest will continue on our journey of updating, enhancing, replacing and modernizing our software, systems and technologies, said Jones. We are also replacing, upgrading and modernizing our entire primary data center, currently housed in Dallas across the street from TOPS, she added. Thats the place where we store and run our vast array of computers that provide the systems we use to support our customers every day, Jones said. We have a complete remote data center as a backup to our primary data center, and we run redundant systems and networks even in our primary data center. Delta has made healthy investments in its technology over the years, Harteveldt said. The airline two years ago signed an agreement with Travelport to reacquire its data and intellectual property rights, which are critical for passenger service and flight operations. The agreement made Delta the only major carrier to have direct control over those systems, the company said. Under that agreement, Travelport continued to host the Delta platform of its Atlanta data center. Delta previously was the owner of the Worldspan global distribution center, which Travelport acquired in 2007. GDS systems historically have been used by travel agencies to book reservations for airline flights, hotels, car rentals and cruises. Twitter last week announced it had suspended 235,000 accounts since February for promoting terrorism, bringing to 360,000 the total number of suspensions since mid-2015. Daily suspensions have increased more than 80 percent since last year, spiking immediately after terrorist attacks. Twitters response time for suspending reported accounts, the length of time offending accounts are active on its platform, and the number of followers they draw all have decreased dramatically, the company said. Twitter also has made progress in preventing those who have been suspended from getting back on its platform quickly. Tools and Tactics The number of teams reviewing reports around the clock has increased, and reviewers now have more tools and language capabilities. Twitter uses technology such as proprietary spam-fighting tools to supplement reports from users. Over the past six months, those tools helped identify more than one third of the 235,000 accounts suspended. Global efforts to silence #Daesh online are bearing fruit.#UnitedAgainstDaesh pic.twitter.com/InNXnYUmEj (@sawabcenter) July 13, 2016 Twitters global public policy team has expanded partnerships with organizations working to counter violent extremism online, including True Islam in the United States; Parle-moi dIslam in France; Imams Online in the UK; the Wahid Foundation in Indonesia; and the Sawab Center in the UAE. Twitter executives have attended government-convened summits on countering violent extremism hosted by the French Interior Ministry and the Indonesian National Counterterrorism Agency. A Fine Balance Twitter has been largely reactive rather than proactive, and thats been hit and miss, but from [its] standpoint, thats probably the best they can do without being too draconian, said Chenxi Wang, chief strategy officer at Twistlock. You could, perhaps, consider creating a statistical analysis model that will be predictive in nature, she told TechNewsWorld, but then you are venturing into territories that may violate privacy and freedom of speech. Further, doing so is not in Twitters best interest, Wang suggested, as a social networks aim is for people to participate rather than be regulated. Gauging Effectiveness Its not easy to judge Twitters success in combating terrorism online. How often does Twitter actually influence people who might be violent? wondered Michael Jude, a program manager at Stratecast/Frost & Sullivan. How likely is it that truly crazy people will use Twitter as a means to incite violence? And how likely is it that Twitter will be able to apply objective standards to making a determination that something is likely to encourage terrorism? The answers to the first two questions are uncertain, he told TechNewsWorld. The last question raises highly problematic issues, Jude said. What if Twitters algorithms are set such that supporters of Trump or Hillary are deemed terroristic? Is that an application of censorship to spirited discourse? There Oughta Be a Law Meanwhile, pressure on the Obama administration to come up with a plan to fight terrorism online is growing. The U.S. House of Representatives last year passed the bipartisan Bill H.R. 3654, the Combat Terrorist Use of Social Media Act of 2015, which calls on the president to provide a report on U.S. strategy to combat terrorists and terrorist organizations use of social media. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee earlier this year approved a Senate version of the bill, which has yet to be voted on in the full chamber. Its probably a good idea for the president to have a plan, but it would need to conform to the Constitution, Jude remarked. Policies havent yet caught up . Its not out of the question that government policies may one day govern social media activities, Twistlocks Wang suggested. Exactly how and when remains to be seen. Automatic Counterterrorism YouTube and Facebook this summer began implementing automated systems to block or remove extremist content from their pages, according to reports. The technology, developed to identify and remove videos protected by copyright, looks for hashes assigned to videos, matches them against content previously removed for being unacceptable, and then takes appropriate action. That approach is problematic, however. Such automatic blocking of content goes against the concepts of freedom of speech and the Internet, said Jim McGregor, a principal analyst at Tirias Research. On the other hand, you have to consider the threat posed by these organizations, he told TechNewsWorld. Is giving them an open platform for promotion and communication any different than putting a gun in their hands? The pros of automatic blocking terrorist content online are its fast and its consistent, observed Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group. The cons are, automatic systems can be easy to figure out and circumvent, and you may end up casting too wide a net like Reddit did with the Orlando shooting, he told TechNewsWorld. Im all for free speech and freedom of the Internet, McGregor said, but organizations posting extremist content are responsible for crimes against humanity and pose a threat to millions of innocent people and should be stopped. However, you have to be selective on the content to find that fine line between combating extremism and censorship. There is the danger of content being misidentified as extremist, and the people who uploaded it then being put on a watch list mistakenly. There have been widespread reports of errors in placing individuals on the United States governments no-fly list, for example, and the process of getting off that list is difficult. I have one friend whos flagged just because of her married name, McGregor said. There needs to be a system in place to re-evaluate those decisions to make sure people arent wrongly accused. Fighting Todays Battles The automated blocking reportedly being implemented by YouTube and Facebook works only on content previously banned or blocked. It cant deal with freshly posted content that has not yet been hashtagged. There might be a solution to that problem, however. The Counter Extremism Project, a private nonprofit organization, recently announced a hashing algorithm that would take a proactive approach to flagging extremist content on Internet and social media platforms. Its algorithm works on images, videos and audio clips. The CEP has proposed the establishment of a National Office for Reporting Extremism, which would house a comprehensive database of extremist content. Its tool would be able to flag matching content online immediately and flag it for removal by any company using the hashing algorithm. Microsofts Contribution Microsoft provided funding and technical support to Hany Farid, a professor at Dartmouth College, to support his work on the CEP algorithm. Farid previously had helped develop PhotoDNA, a tool that scans and eliminates child pornography images online, which Microsoft distributed it freely. Among other actions, Microsoft has amended its terms of use to specifically prohibit the posting of terrorist content on its hosted consumer services. That includes any material that encourages violent action or endorses terrorist organizations included on the Consolidated United Nations Security Council Sanctions List. Recommendations for Social Media Firms The CEP has proposed five steps social media companies can take to combat extremism online: Ms. Alice Opena DTI Bureau of MSME (BSMED) Division Chair, Mr. Louise Crisostomo Business Development Manager for Services, Dell Philippines, Ms. Rebecca Lee - Brand Manager, EUC, Dell South Asia, Mr. Christopher Papa Country Manager, Dell Philippines, Mr. Frank Rich Senior Marketing Communications Manager, Microsoft Philippines, Mr. Lloyd Luna Entrepreneur (President and CEO of Lloyd Luna Company) Our Vostro line continues to deliver and receive tremendous feedback from our small business professionals as the go-to devices to efficiently run and perform critical, everyday tasks Ms. Rebecca Lee - Brand Manager, EUC, Dell South Asia - talking about the features of the 2016 Dell Vostro business notebooks. On Wednesday - August 24, 2016, via an exclusive media event held in Makati City,formally introduced itsandlaptops, which are designed to meet the specific needs and demands of small businesses.At the gathering, Dell representatives and business owners talked about how these notebooks enhance productivity and deliver outstanding support and security, which are necessary in running a small enterprise in this day and age.Measuring only 18.5mm at its thickest point and weighing just 1.59 kg,features a premium look and feel and has a smooth metal cover that comes in Era Gray and Jingle Gold colors.This laptop delivers powerful performance as it can come with a configuration powered by Intel 7th Generation Core i7 processor and have up to 1TB HDD, 256GB SSD or an optional dual drive HDD + SSD for easily adding more storage. They also offer up to 16GB of DDR4 RAM, which can be expanded up to 32GB. With security as top priority, Dell Vostro 14 5000 has an optional fingerprint reader with Windows Hello that lets customers log in with just a touch, and they deliver commercial-grade security by providing hardware protection and storage for encryption keys with hardware TPM 2.0.On the other hand, theSeries 14-inch laptops provide security options and reliable business productivity features for budget-conscious small businesses.Notebooks under this series feature a lightweight and thin build, with Midnight Blue, Black and Sparkling White color options. And ith up to Intel 7th Generation Core i5 processors, up to 1TB HDD or 128GB SSD and up to 8GB DDR4 memory, these new laptops definitely provide the right power and productivity tools for small organizations.Vostro 14 3000 laptops likewise offer optional hardware TPM 2.0 for commercial-grade security and an optional built-in fingerprint reader with Windows Hello that enables users to log in quickly and securely with just a touch of a finger.On top of that, the laptops HDMI and VGA ports allow users to connect to external devices, including multiple monitor displays with legacy ports.Small business owners want affordable solutions that help their employees be more productive.. With these [...] new devices, were delivering affordability, design and support to enable the next level of productivity," shared, Country Manager of Dell Philippines.Dell understands that many small businesses dont have their own IT department and this is why the new Vostro laptops are backed by the companys award-winning support service, ProSupport Plus.Powered by the innovative Dell SupportAssist technology, ProSupport Plus is the only complete support service combining 24x7 priority access to expert support, accidental damage repair, and proactive, predictive monitoring for automatic issue prevention and resolution. With this top quality after-sales support, small businesses are equipped with a true partner in managing their end-to-end IT infrastructure. They can easily contact Dell Philippines at +63 2 663 2000 or toll free at 1800 1601 0061 for 24x7 direct access to Dell technicians. I mean, how can you not fall in love with Sony Xperia handsets? If you own any of the more recent Sony Xperia flagship level releases , you'd be glad to know that the legendary Japanese tech giant has already confirmed that your device will definitely receive Android 7.0 Nougat firmware upgrade According to Sony, they are 'working hard to bring this major update to as many of our devices as possible, as quickly as they can' -- so I think there's hope that models not included in the initial list could get Nougat too Always well-crafted, these smartphones are a joy to hold and behold. Not to mention, their main cameras are always top-notch and the touch response of the display is right up there with the iPhone.Quoting the company ( source ),Despite the Sony's recent decision to focus its efforts more towards creating industry-leading handsets in the, this announcement proves that Team Xperia is not letting go or forgetting its responsibilities towards consumers who supported and bought their previous high-end models.Now, if you own a 2015 C-Series or M-Series mid-tier Xperia release, you shouldn't fret.. They even said that they are excited to let users experience the new features and functionality as well as the improvements that they've implemented on the Xperia interface.So when exactly should owners of the above-mentioned Xperia smartphones expect to get Android 7.0 update? No word on that yet. "We'll be sharing more soon; So stay tuned," Sony said. Hackers suspected to be working for Russian intelligence agencies have targeted a number of US news outlets, including the New York Times, according to reports from CNN and later confirmed by the newspaper. CNN said that the FBI was investigating the attacks, which are thought to be part of wider series of hacks on US organizations that include the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Sensitive emails stolen from the DNC were released by Wikileaks in the run-up to the party's convention back in July. It's rumored that the hacks came in the form of spear phishing attacks - email spoofing fraud attempts that appear to originate from trusted sources but actually contain malicious software or links to fake websites. The method could be used to gain reporters' online credentials and gather confidential information, such as the details of their government contacts. The Times said email services for employees are outsourced to Google, and that none of the attacks had been successful. "We are constantly monitoring our systems with the latest available intelligence and tools," said Times spokeswoman Eileen Murphy. "We have seen no evidence that any of our internal systems, including our systems in the Moscow bureau, have been breached or compromised." The FBI's investigation into the DNC hack has since been expanded to include the reported breach of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The Times reports that once the investigation is complete, President Obama will decide if there is enough evidence to accuse Russia's government or any of its agencies publicly. Rumors say it's pretty likely that Apple will drop the popular 3.5mm headphone jack from its next smartphone. The decision isn't sitting well with most potential iPhone 7 buyers; even Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has warned that moving to an all-in-one lightning connector is "going to tick off a lot of people." There's a possibility that Apple will include some Lightning-equipped earphones and a Lightning-to-jack adaptor with the next iPhone, but Wozniak doesn't think this will placate everyone. "Mine have custom ear implants, they fit in so comfortably; I can sleep on them and everything. And they only come out with one kind of jack, so I'll have to go through the adapter," he told The Australian Financial Review. If the 3.5mm jack does disappear, there's always the wireless option. But Woz thinks we're not yet at the stage where this can match the quality provided by wired headphones. "I have cars where you can plug in the music, or go through Bluetooth, and Bluetooth just sounds so flat for the same music," he said. "If there's a Bluetooth 2 that has higher bandwidth and better quality, that sounds like real music, I would use it. But we'll see." Bluetooth 5, the next revision of the global wireless standard, is set to arrive by 2017 at the latest. It will double the speed and quadruple the range of low energy connections while increasing the capacity of connectionless data broadcasts by 800 percent. At its Developer Forum in San Francisco last week, Intel spoke about how it wants to replace the 3.5mm jack with USB Type-C. Wozniak hinted that Apple should consider heeding the chip maker's advice and follow "the lead" of its competitors. "I think USB-C is going to be the future," said Woz. "One of my favorite Android phones, the Nexus 5X, uses that connector. It gives it a higher level in my own thinking." News arrived last week that the world's biggest aircraft, the helium-filled plane/airship Airlander 10, had completed its maiden voyage in Bedfordshire, UK. Today, a second test flight took place. Sadly, this one wasn't quite as successful - the aircraft crashed into the ground as it came in to land. Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) - the company that built the Airlander 10 - said on its Facebook page: "We're debriefing following the second test flight this morning. All crew are safe and well and there are no injuries." An eyewitness account claimed that a line hanging from the aircraft had hit a telephone pole, causing it to crash. The company has since denied this, calling the impact a "heavy landing," but it did admit that Airlander sustained some damage, believed to be in the cockpit. A spokesperson for HAV said that other than the crash, the rest of the 100 minute flight passed without any problems. "The flight went really well and the only issue was when it landed," they told the BBC. At 302 feet long, the Airlander 10 is about 50 feet longer than the world's biggest passenger planes. It has a carbon fiber hull filled with 38,000 cubic meters of pressurized helium, and its four 325hp, 4 litre V8 direct injection, turbo-diesel engines drive the four propellers. During last week's maiden flight, the Airlander reach an altitude of 500 feet and hit a top speed of 40 mph. It flew in a six mile area, taking off and landing without any incidents. The UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch has confirmed it is investigating the crash, but said it would not be sending a team to the site. Sony Electronics is a top brand when it comes to car audio systems. In fact, online users hail the Sony Mex as the best car stereo receiver for 2016. Banking on this reputation, Sony has announced the release of XAV-AX100, an in-car audio system that supports both Apple's CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sony XAV-AX100 offers a 6.4-inch touch panel display running on an 800 x 480 native resolution. It supports USB, Bluetooth and voice command using a connected phone. Sadly, it does not support NFC (one-touch connection). Aside from the basic voice-activated commands like making phone calls, playing tracks and opening apps, some more options open up for the XAV-AX100 once a compatible phone is connected. For instance, the user interface's background color can be changed and the display be dimmed altogether. Note that messages can also be sent using the XAV-AX100's touch panel display. The in-dash audio receiver comes with an upgradable firmware and a decent number set of input and output ports, which includes the rear view camera input. But what Sony really seems to be proud of is its audio technology. "High power sound comes full throttle with the XAV-AX100 in-car audio system," says Sony in a blog post. "55watts x 4 Dynamic Reality Amp 2 and EXTRA BASS low boost circuitry overcome engine noise and reproduce clear sound at any volume level with deep and punchy bass. The 10-band graphic equalizer gives an astonishing variety of sound." Together with all the hardware, Sony claims that its unique technology within DSO (Dynamic Stage Organizer) dispels the unclear or muddy sound produced by front-door mounted full-range speakers. The electronics company explains that the sound output is akin to that of dash-mounted speakers that provide a better audio experience compared to front-door mounted ones. Connecting the XAV-AX100 to either CarPlay or Android Auto is pretty straightforward. It's really just downloading the app and connecting the phone to the receiver's USB port. To use Siri, CarPlay users will need to press and hold the device's home button until the digital assistant is displayed on the receiver. Do note that for Android Auto, Android 5.0 Lollipop or later is needed. Also bear in mind that it will be the phone and not the receiver that will be processing most of the tasks. According to a press release, the XAV-AX100 supports a plethora of languages. This includes English, French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, Russian, Thai, Portugese, Korean, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese. Sony is planning to officially launch the XAV-AX100 for $499.99 before November 2016 ends. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Opera's free, unlimited VPN app is now available for Android, allowing users to enjoy greater control of their browsing experience and unblock various geo-specific content. Opera baked in a free, unlimited VPN for its desktop browser back in April, then extended the courtesy to its mobile iOS app in May. Opera for Android is now finally catching up, getting the same treatment as the iOS app. With the baked-in Opera VPN, users can make it seem like they're browsing from the United States, Germany, Canada, Singapore or the Netherlands, thus bypassing certain geo-based restrictions that may limit their access to some content. While there are plenty of VPN apps available on the market, the best thing about Opera's offer is that it's completely free, it doesn't have any data limits and it doesn't require any subscription or login. In addition to the built-in VPN, Opera for Android will also check the security of the Wi-Fi network thanks to its Wi-Fi test tool, advising users to turn on the VPN if it detects any weaknesses in the network. More specifically, the Wi-Fi test tool will check the network and rate it with scores ranging from A to F, where A is the most secure and F requires extra caution. The tool also checks to see if it's a public or private Wi-Fi network, if it's encrypted, if it leaves the location and IP address exposed, if others can see or monitor your device details, if there are other devices sharing the same connection and, if so, how many. Setting up Opera VPN is easy and straightforward, taking only a few seconds, and the app will handle the Android VPN settings so that users don't have to. "The Opera VPN app can help unlock online borders and is the closest thing to a Viking shield today's mobile users have for virtual self-protection," says Opera. Opera VPN for Android promises access to more online content regardless of geo-restrictions, without compromising Wi-Fi security. It's worth pointing out, however, that turning the VPN feature on will likely cause a slight speed decrease, but that's normal and shouldn't really affect the experience. Head over to the Google Play Store to download the new Opera VPN app for Android, or check out the video below to get a better idea of what it brings to the table. If you already downloaded and installed the app, drop by our comment section and tell us how it fares. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A judge for the United States International Trade Commission ruled that Fitbit did not steal trade secrets from rival fitness tracker company Jawbone, as alleged by Jawbone in the lawsuit filed against Fitbit last year. In the lawsuit, Jawbone claimed that Fitbit systematically stole its trade secrets by poaching employees, who first downloaded confidential information from the database of Jawbone, such as supply chains, business plans and technical specifications, before transferring to Fitbit. According to ITC Judge Sandra Dee Lord, Fitbit, along with its contract manufacturer Flextronics International, did not steal Jawbone trade secrets to make its wearable devices. "No party has been shown to have misappropriated any trade secret," Lord said in the notice that was posted on the ITC website, with the full findings to be released to the public after both companies are given the opportunity to withdraw the confidential information that was included in the case. Jawbone was looking to secure an import ban against the products of Fitbit. Both companies manufacture their devices overseas and then import the wearables into the United States. With the ruling, Fitbit will be able to continue importing their products into the United States and sell them in the country. Jawbone comes away with nothing to show from the complaint that it filed to the ITC in July 2015, in which it accused Fitbit of infringements on six patents alongside its practice of poaching employees. Two of the patent cases were withdrawn and the four others were deemed invalid by the judge. James Park, the CEO of Fitbit, said that the company was pleased with the ITC's rejection of the claims of Jawbone, with Fitbit maintaining from the beginning of the case that the allegations of its rival were without merit. According to Park, the move by Jawbone was nothing more than a desperate attempt to disrupt the momentum of Fitbit, as Jawbone is trying to compensate for its own lack of success in the wearables market. A representative for Jawbone, meanwhile, said that the company will be seeking a review of the ruling, as the case handled by the ITC only involved a small part of the trade secrets said to be stolen by Fitbit and Flextronics due to the agency's limited jurisdiction. The company will be moving forward with its larger trade secret case against its rival, which is headed to a jury trial in California. With the full scope of Jawbone's claims, the company is confident that it will prevail when the case is heard by the jury. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Hackers believed to be working for Russia targeted the Moscow bureau of the New York Times in an attempted cyberattack earlier in the month. The cyberattack, however, was said to have failed, with no evidence showing that it was successful. "We are constantly monitoring our systems with the latest available intelligence and tools," said New York Times spokeswoman Eileen Murphy, who noted that it does not look like any of the company's systems, including those in Moscow, were breached by the attack. It was reported that the New York Times, along with other media organizations in the United States that were not identified, were the targets of a series of cyberattacks that were detected over recent months. The FBI, along with other security agencies, are investigating the attempted security breaches. Investigators are so far linking the cyberattacks to Russian intelligence agencies, with Russian hackers targeting news organizations as part of a wider series of attacks that focus on organizations of the Democratic Party. Intelligence officials believe that Russian spy agencies are launching the cyberattacks to acquire information from a long list of non-governmental organizations that have connections to the political system of the United States. As such, news organizations would be prime targets, as they hold valuable data such as contacts of reporters in the government, along with unpublished reports and communications containing sensitive information. The political parties of the United States have also been affected by the waves of cyberattacks being launched, including the Democratic National Committee, the campaign of presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and the congressional fundraising committee of the party, along with organizations of the Republican Party and the systems of presidential nominee Donald Trump. Trump famously invited Russia to investigate the 30,000 emails that Clinton deleted from her time with the State Department, when she used a private server. "Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing," Trump said last month, though adding that him having the ability to instruct Russian hackers was farfetched. Still, Trump could possibly influence the targets being selected by Russian hackers, especially if the country's government is supporting his race for the presidency. Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, has previously praised Trump as a brilliant and talented man, with Michael McFaul, the former ambassador of the United States to Russia, stating that Putin has strong motives in wanting Trump to prevail in the elections with the means to exert an influence on the presidential vote. Such means include cyberattacks, McFaul said, and if Russian hackers can be influenced, directly or indirectly by Trump, news organizations would be a prime target, given the fact that Trump sees them as political opponents. Russia has been tagged as a major cybersecurity threat by U.S. Cyber Command's deputy commander, Lt. Gen. James K. McLaughlin. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Musicians who play wind instruments need to clean them regularly to prevent the growth of molds and fungi that can cause "bagpipe lung", a rare but potentially fatal condition. Doctors blame the death of a British bagpipe player on his bagpipe whose moist and dark interior provided a good breeding ground for fungus. The report of the fatal case, which was published in the journal Thorax on Aug. 22, appears to be the first documented case of death caused by bagpipe. The 61-year-old man who never smoked and whose house did not have molds or signs of water damage suffered from dry cough and worsening breathlessness. The man was earlier diagnosed of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), a chronic inflammatory lung disease that can be set off when the immune system responds to an inhaled protein from the environment. The condition is often linked to occupational exposures such as when people working with birds inhale particles from feathers or droppings. The man's condition worsened and his walking became limited. He also had a hard time breathing. During a three-month trip to Australia in 2011, however, the man's symptoms improved and he was able to walk longer distances without stopping. His breathing and condition started to deteriorate again though when he returned home to the UK. The man's condition appeared to be associated with his hobby. He played bagpipes daily but he was not able to take the instrument when he traveled to Australia. Samples collected from several areas inside the bagpipe he used revealed the presence of different types of fungi. Despite receiving treatment, the man's condition worsened and he eventually died. The autopsy revealed he suffered from significant lung damage. Although there are other reported cases of hypersensitivity pneumonitis in people who play trombones and saxophones, this is the first time a case was linked with bagpipes. The researchers said any type of wind instrument may possibly get contaminated and pose health risk to players. Cleaning the instrument immediately after use and getting them to drip dry may reduce the risks. "Wind instruments of any type could be contaminated with yeasts and moulds that act as a potential trigger for HP and highlights the need for careful history taking in identifying potential triggers," study author Jenny King of University Hospital South Manchester and colleagues wrote in their report. "Wind instrument players need to be aware of the importance of regularly cleaning their instruments and of potential risks." 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Global efforts to accomplish targets set against HIV/AIDS could be seriously undermined because of shortfalls in testing, officials from the World Health Organization (WHO) warned in a new report published Tuesday, Aug. 23. One of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) targets is for at least 90 percent of all people with HIV/AIDS to become aware of the status of their condition. The targets also include the following: that 90 percent of patients receive antiretroviral therapy (ART), and that 90 percent of those who receive ART achieve lasting viral suppression by 2020. All these targets are connected to the UN's goal of eradicating the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030. However, in a new study, a team of researchers from WHO found that inadequate capacity to perform lab tests that monitor HIV infection, as well as underuse of current testing capacity can seriously limit the ability to reach the UNAIDS targets. Led by Vincent Habiyambere, WHO experts analyzed responses to annual surveys sent to the organization from 127 countries between 2012 to 2014. Respondents of the surveys reported on the usage and capacity of CD4 testing, a lab test that counts the number of CD4 cells in a blood sample, HIV viral load (VL) testing and early diagnosis for infants in their respective countries. Habiyambere and his colleagues found that the capacity of available CD4 instruments were enough to meet the demand irrespective of treatment status. But when it came to the VL capacity to cover needs, it was inadequate. Even when capacity was sufficient, only 13.7 percent of current CD4 testing and 36.5 percent of current VL testing are used around the world, the report said. What's more, low-income and middle-income countries, including African countries where HIV prevalent is high, are not ready to tackle the challenge of testing, researchers found. The study said reasons for the worrying gaps in testing could be the following: lack of reagents, lack of equipment, equipment not being properly maintained, absent or inadequate staff training and machines that are not serviced regularly. Because of this, Habiyambere and his colleagues urge the formulation of a national laboratory strategic plan to improve services and make them more efficient. Governments and international partners should implement and monitor the strategic plan. "Strong leadership, resources, planning, and management are needed to scale up laboratory services," the authors wrote in the report. Details of the new WHO research are published in the journal PLOS Medicine. Photo: United States Mission Geneva | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Samsung Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge owners in the United States are in for a small treat as the August security patch is now rolling out. After the whole Stagefright scare, which affected millions of devices, as well as the more recent QuadRooter vulnerability that put 900 million Snapdragon-powered devices at risk, the importance of monthly security updates has become even more apparent. Google is taking steps to ensure devices running its Android operating system stay safe and get regular patches for any potential vulnerabilities, so it's releasing monthly maintenance updates to keep them up to date. Google typically releases the patches at the beginning of each month, after which device manufacturers customize the updates and eventually release them to their devices. Samsung, for its part, hasn't been very thorough when it comes to delivering the latest Android security patches to its devices worldwide, but at least U.S. owners of the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge are now getting the very latest patch. The company already started rolling out the August security patch for its two flagship smartphones to fix various shortcomings, including the issue related to the SideSync application. Before the patch, activating the SideSync app before finishing the Setup Wizard stage left the device vulnerable to malware installation, but the update now ensures that SideSync can only be activated after completing the Setup Wizard. Considering that this is a security update, the Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow version number remains unchanged at this point maintenance releases just add a few tweaks under the hood. The security patch includes a number of patches from both Google and Samsung, as detailed in the changelog. Samsung started rolling out the August security patch over the air (OTA), which means that not all devices will get it at the same time. Nevertheless, it's highly recommended to install the update as soon as it becomes available. As previously mentioned, the latest security patch is rolling out now for U.S. owners of the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, but Samsung makes no mention of a global release at this point. The patch should hit more devices worldwide in the near future, but it remains to be seen just when that will be. For now, U.S. users can check whether the update is available for their device by accessing Settings > About Device > Software Update. If the security patch is available, tap Download Updates to get your phone up to date. If you'd rather not go through this process, you can simply wait until the system notification alerts you that the update is ready for download. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Google recently announced that the latest and final edition of Android 7.0 Nougat is being rolled out for Nexus devices, starting today, Aug 23. If you are a Nexus user, you can soon get it via an OTA update. You can go to 'Settings' menu and tap on 'About', and then select 'System Updates'. You will have to, then, click on 'Check for Updates' and wait if the update actually pops up on your device. This is the simplest way. However, if the update doesn't show up, and you are a type of person who cannot wait until the roll out pops up, you can opt in for a manual update. And, here's how you can do it. Since the OTA update hasn't popped up on your device, the only other way left for you to try out is, via the beta program. But, it would be very important to keep in mind that, only some devices can actually get an update through this method, including Nexup 6P, Nexus 5X, Nexus 9, and Pixel C. Also, do not forget to actually back up your Android device before going for an update. You have to visit http://g.co/androidbeta, sign in to your Google account, and tap on Enroll Device. Once done, you can again follow the 'OTA update' method we mentioned earlier. You can get an update pop up and then, enjoy! While Google claims that they take up to 24 hours to send out an update to your device, it usually reaches you within minutes. However, we recommend you to be on a Wi-Fi connection for the download. It's pretty simple. However, there is another way to install the new Android Nougat as reported by Gadgets 360 where in you will have to download the latest Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tool on your PC and go by a number of processes, which we feel are a little complicated; especially if you are new to recovery modes, SDKs and the rest. Image via mobile.softpedia.com Android 7.0 Nougat, Android Select Lenovo Handsets To Have Office, Skype, And OneDrive Preloaded | TechTree.com Due to the Microsoft licensing programme expansion, now Lenovo has announced to include 3 of it's productivity apps, in some select handsets including those under the brand name of Motorola, which it currently owns. With regards to this development, Nick Parker, the Corporate Vice-President of Microsoft's OEM division said, The marriage of Microsofts apps and Lenovos Android-based devices will enable customers around the world to be more productive, more connected and achieve more. Mystery however has remained, exactly which future handsets from the company will have the Microsoft apps, but has confirmed that MS-Office, Skype, and One-Drive are part of the offering. The latest development also points towards a significant change in terms of strategy change, from Microsoft's end, which is now shifting its attention towards creating software for mobiles, instead of trying to create something ground-up, in the hardware department. Lenovo being one of the largest manufacturers in China, provided an ideal solution for Microsoft to get on board with, which will actually help apps directly to the consumers, and that too on such a large scale, as Lenovo has promised to ship several of its devices in the future with the productivity apps, as reported by ibtimes. However, let's not rule competition out of the whole dimension of this development. Other Chinese brands such as Xiaomi, Asus, Samsung, and LG have already been in talks with Microsoft over such similar deals with them. It would also mean that Lenovo will have to push its game further, and compete with the other major players in terms of value added features, to gain a foothold in the market. On the software maker's front, this will perhaps put Microsoft on a more productive path in terms of financials, as bottom line profits and revenue margins have been an issue of late. Image via Android Authority TAGS: Lenovo, Motorola, Microsoft, Microsoft Office, OneDrive a better method of estimating pistachio production throughout the year. analytics to create the correct dosage (i.e., prescription) of water for pistachio nuts. specific Agricultural technology can solve this mystery, according to Robert Tse, the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) California innovation director and former California Department of Food and Agriculture deputy secretary. We were talking with Robert in the last Ag & Food Tech Blog , as you may recall.Surprises are bad in agriculture, he noted in his usual understated manner.We can no longer farm withdata, Tse concluded. We need prescriptions like a blood test for a person for the individual farms and crops.Tse recalled the trees looked healthy. The nut shells formed. But there was a 43 percent drop in yield. That was adrop. Why? Too little water and at the wrong times for pistachios.Great precision with the wrong prescription.A prescription for every foot will give us healthy farming and healthy food for the future, he said, including the elements of that prescription and how it will be injected into the food system is the future.The high rate of pistachio blanks, Tse said, illustrates two problems calling for a technology solution:Gadgets, not so much. On-farmintegrated data management, yes. Integrated with the extant devices too.But notice a nuance, Tse pointed out. The key data are NOT associated with mechanical stuff, like big green tractors, but with the plants and inputs.Inputs calibrated to the square foot,square foot, he said. Calibrated by type of crop, variety of plant, soil moisture for that plant, weather and recency of fertilizer and pesticide applications.The ag tech market is by no means saturated, Tse opined, but it is evolving to more real-time, farm-specific levels.Who are the most likely customers? Those permanent crop growers who are most interested in consistent and necessary (for their customers) high-quality production.And remember this bit of closing advice, Technology adapts to the crop, not the other way around.This is Part Two of a two-part conversation with Robert Tse. Read Part One here. Elecciones presidenciales El pais mas grande de la region elige este domingo a su proximo mandatario. Tras no lograr hacerse con la mayoria de los votos en los comicios del 2 de octubre, Luis Inacio "Lula" Da Silva y Jair Bolsonaro se disputan la Presidencia en una balotaje que enfrenta tendencias y valores contrapuestas. Con equipos en el terreno, Telam presenta una cobertura exclusiva con noticias, analisis, opinion, fotos y mas. On Friday, former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took advantage of the last debate between candidates before Sunday's presidential elections to accuse the current president,... | Read More Mexicos telecom regulatory authority, the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT) recently deferred the planned auction of its 2.5 GHz band (2500MHz-2690MHz) wireless spectrum. It has been postponed from second half of 2016 to first quarter of 2017. Notably, wireless spectrums of 2.5 GHz band are very suitable for the deployment of 4G LTE networks. The reason for the delay is to coincide it with a change in the bidding schedule for 4G LTE shared wireless network using 90 MHz of spectrum within the 700 MHz-band to cover nearly 98% of the population by 2018. In 2014, the Mexican government had undertaken this massive project of shared wireless network to instil competition in the highly monopolistic telecom industry. Mexico's Secretariat of Communications and Transport (SCT) initially scheduled to declare the name of 700 MHz band tender winners on Aug 24, 2016. However, SCT first delayed it to Sep 29 and then further to Nov 17. The SCT cited the number of tenders along with the complexity of queries and requests for clarification submitted by the bidders as the primary reason behind the delay. Final contracts will be signed on or before Jan 27, 2017. In May 2015, the government of Mexico slashed its planned expenditure from $10 billion to $7 billion for the proposed deployment of the nationwide wholesale mobile network over a period of 10 years. The primary reason for the cut in the planned expenditure was the governments belief that 12,000 mobile towers should suffice for the installation of this network as against 20,000 estimated previously. Various leading telecom infrastructure equipment developers with global operational experience offered bids for the state-owned mobile network project. Notable among them were Ericsson AB ERIC, Nokia Corp. NOK, Cisco Systems Inc. CSCO, Motorola Solutions Inc. MSI, China Telecom Corp. Ltd. CHA, Alestra, and Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. The SCT received 39 tenders from interested parties. Story continues Mexico is the largest economy in the Latin American region with a growing middle class population eager to spend more on high-speed wireless networks to facilitate the use of smartphones and tablets. Additionally, the wireless penetration rate is relatively low in the country. Given the potential for growth, an investment in the nation may augur well for telecom network equipment manufacturers. 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 CISCO SYSTEMS (CSCO): Free Stock Analysis Report ERICSSON LM ADR (ERIC): Free Stock Analysis Report NOKIA CP-ADR A (NOK): Free Stock Analysis Report CHINA TELCM-ADR (CHA): Free Stock Analysis Report MOTOROLA SOLUTN (MSI): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research * Public servants' computers to be segregated from May * Staff can still surf Internet, but on separate devices * Move has met with mixed reactions among cyber experts By Jeremy Wagstaff and Aradhana Aravindan SINGAPORE, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Singapore is working on how to implement a policy to cut off web access for public servants as a defence against potential cyber attack - a move closely watched by critics who say it marks a retreat for a technologically advanced city-state that has trademarked the term "smart nation". Some security experts say the policy, due to be in place by May, risks damaging productivity among civil servants and those working at more than four dozen statutory boards, and cutting them off from the people they serve. It may only raise slightly the defensive walls against cyber attack, they say. Ben Desjardins, director of security solutions at network security firm Radware, called it "one of the more extreme measures I can recall by a large public organisation to combat cyber security risks." Stephen Dane, a Hong Kong-based managing director at networking company Cisco Systems, said it was "a most unusual situation", and Ramki Thurimella, chair of the computer science department at the University of Denver, called it both "unprecedented" and "a little excessive." But not everyone takes that view. Other cyber security experts agree with Singapore authorities that with the kind of threats governments face today it has little choice but to restrict internet access. FireEye, a cyber security company, found that organisations in Southeast Asia were 80 percent more likely than the global average to be hit by an advanced cyber attack, with those close to tensions over the South China Sea - where China and others have overlapping claims - were particularly targeted. Bryce Boland, FireEye's chief technology officer for Asia Pacific, said Singapore's approach needed to be seen in this light. "My view is not that they're blocking internet access for government employees, it's that they are blocking government computer access from Internet-based cyber crime and espionage." Story continues AIR-GAPPING Singapore officials say no particular attack triggered the decision, but noted a breach of one ministry last year. David Koh, chief executive of the newly formed Cyber Security Agency, said officials realised there was too much data to secure and the threat "is too real." Singapore needed to restrict its perimeter, but, said Koh, "there is no way to secure this because the attack surface is like a building with a zillion windows, doors, fire escapes." Koh said he was simply widening a practice of ministries and agencies in sensitive fields, where computers are already disconnected, or air-gapped, from the Internet. Public servants will still be able to surf the web, but only on separate personal or agency-issued devices. Air-gapping is common in security-related fields, both in government and business, but not for normal government functions. Also, it doesn't guarantee success. Anthony James, chief marketing officer at cyber security company TrapX Security, recalled one case where an attacker was able to steal data from a law enforcement client after an employee connected his laptop to two supposedly separated networks. "Human decisions and related policy gaps are the No.1 cause of failure for this strategy," he said. "STOPPING THE INEVITABLE"? Indeed, just making it work is the first headache. The Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) said in an email to Reuters that it has worked with agencies on managing the changes "to ensure a smooth transition," and was "exploring innovative work solutions to ensure work processes remain efficient." Johnny Wong, group director at the Housing Development Board's research arm, called the move "inconvenient", but said "it's something we just have to adapt to as part of our work." At the Land Transport Authority, a group director, Lew Yii Der, said: "Lots of committees are being formed across the public sector and within agencies like mine to look at how we can work around the segregation and ensure front-facing services remain the same." Then there's convincing the rank-and-file public servant that it's worth doing - and not circumventing. One 23-year-old manager, who gave only her family name, Ng, said blocking web access would only harm productivity and may not stop attacks. "Information may leak through other means, so blocking the Internet may not stop the inevitable from happening," she said. It's not just the critics who are watching closely. Local media cited one Singapore minister as saying other governments, which he did not name, had expressed interest in its approach. Whether they will adopt the practice permanently is less clear, says William Saito, a special cyber security adviser to the Japanese government. "There's a trend in private business and some government agencies" in Asia to go along similar lines, he said, noting some Japanese companies cut internet access in the past year, usually after a breach. "They cut themselves off because they thought it was a good idea," he told Reuters, "but then they realised they were pretty dependent on this Internet thing." Indeed, some cyber security experts said Singapore may end up regretting its decision. "I'm fairly certain they would regret it and wind up far behind other nations in development," said Arian Evans, vice president of product strategy at RiskIQ, a cyber security start-up based in San Francisco. The decision is "surprising for a country like Singapore that has always been a leader in innovation, technology and business," he said. (Reporting by Jeremy Wagstaff and Aradhana Aravindan, with additional reporting by Paige Lim; Editing by Ian Geoghegan) The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), together with Phatra Securities pcl and Bank of America Merrill Lynch, will hold Thailand Focus 2016 during August 31- September 2, 2016 at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel,Bangkok. Thailand Focus 2016 will be hosted under the theme A New Growth Strategy, enabling foreign funds to meet directly with almost 140 listed firms, aiming to attract investment intoThailands promising economy. The event will be presided over by Minister of Finance Apisak Tantivorawong for the opening ceremony and the keynote speech, unveiling government strategy to drive Thailands sustainable economic growth. SET President Kesara Manchusree said that Thailand Focus, the largest and most well-known institutional investor conference in Thailand, held for the tenth time this year, would gather Thai listed firms executives to present updated information and keep the global institutional investors well-informed of the business environment and scenario. This year, foreign funds, will meet directly with almost 140 listed companies on SET and mai from large, mid to small-sized companies in all industries with a combined market capitalization of THB 11.75 trillion (approx. USD 335.7 billion), or 77 percent of total market, as o fAugust 22, 2016. Thailand Focus has been receiving tremendous attention from listed firms and investors. Past statistics showed that the two-thirds of listed firms who frequently participated in the event have had higher foreign trading values. Thailand Focus aims to showcase to global investors the Thai capital markets growth potential and strong fundamentals of Thai listed companies various businesses as well as our sector diversification such as healthcare, alternative energy and logistics In addition, the event can also enhance investor relations function, which will continuously help promote the companys values in the long run, added Kesara.Patchanee Limapichat, Managing Director of Phatra Securities (member of Kiatnakin Phatra Financial Group) stated, For more information about Thailand Focus 2016, please visit www.set.or.th VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 24, 2016 / Miranda Gold Corp. ("Miranda") (MAD.V) and Prism Resources Inc. ("Prism") (PRS.V) are pleased to announce drilling is underway on their Cerro Oro Project in Colombia. Prism is the funding partner and Miranda is the operator of the joint venture. The previously announced (April 27, 2016) commencement of the drill program was delayed while waiting for onsite inspections by the Caldas Department environmental authorities. Prism and Miranda are drill testing a large low sulfidation epithermal gold system at Cerro Oro, where mapping and sampling indicate the potential for multiple high-grade gold veins occurring within broader zones of lower grade disseminated and fracture controlled mineralization. Four to five angle holes totaling 1,200m are planned. Cerro Oro is 14km southwest of the Marmato District. Both Cerro Oro and Marmato occur on a northeast trend of epithermal systems. Marmato, an analog target for Cerro Oro, has a greater than 150-year history of mining. The Cerro Oro gold system has seen less erosion than Marmato and a greater vertical extent of mineralization may be preserved. Porphyry dacite stocks mapped at Cerro Oro are equivalent to the dacite porphyry hosting the veins at Marmato. At Cerro Oro, it is inferred that gold-bearing fluids from vein structures flooded into porous wall rock near the paleo surface. While the porous rocks at surface are important for potential broad zones of lower grade mineralization, veins may be better developed within competent dacite porphyry at depth. Drilling will test several veins where historic and active artisanal workings show higher assay values. Drill fans on two to three fences along a 600m trend are designed to test several veins and intervening mineralized wall rock. Veins, stockwork, and disseminated mineralization will be tested at the same time. The veins extend for approximately 2 km of strike; this program is an initial test of vein and grade continuity. Multiple sub-parallel one- to two-meter width veins are identified within an area of alteration of greater than 1 sq km. Veins assay from 2m @ 2 g Au/t to as high as 2m @ 12 g Au/t and wall rock and country rock where mineralized assay from 0.5 to 3.0 g Au/t. Samples of country rock significantly displaced from veins have widths up to 6.5 m @ 1.98 g Au/t. These assays come from a database of 416 - 2m channel samples including all rock types, containing assays ranging from non-detectable to 12 g Au/t, with a median value of approximately 0.150 g Au/t. Adularia in veins and vein-selvages, bladed replacement texture, and abundant stibnite occurrences at Cerro Oro suggest a high level, low-sulfidation epithermal gold system. Adularia and bladed textures are widely reported in low sulfidation epithermal veins, related to fluid boiling and high-grade gold deposition. Stibnite commonly occurs above gold in low sulfidation epithermal veins. Visible fine gold is common in crushed samples of both fresh rock and saprolite - artisanal miners recover fracture-hosted gold locally from in-situ weathered rocks by hydraulic mining. Miranda controls approximately 1,100 hectares at Cerro Oro of which 711 hectares are controlled by a contract and the remainder through applications. The project is in the Caldas department 120 km south of Medellin. Data disclosed in this press release, have been reviewed and verified by Miranda's Chief Executive Officer, Joseph Hebert, C.P.G., and B.Sc. Geology, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. About Miranda Miranda is a gold exploration company active in Colombia and Alaska. Miranda employs a prospect generator and joint venture business model. Miranda focuses on generating projects with world-class discovery potential, and then joint ventures multiple projects to maximize the chance of discovery, while reducing economic risk and shareholder dilution. Miranda has active exploration joint ventures with Prism Resources Inc. and Montezuma Mines Inc., and a production joint venture with Gold Torrent Inc. About Prism Prism Resources Inc. is a junior exploration corporation listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. Its focus is on earning its 70% interest in the Cerro Oro Project. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OF BOTH MIRANDA AND PRISM For more information related to Miranda: Joseph (Joe) Hebert, Chief Executive Officer +1-775-340-0450 Email: joseph.hebert75@gmail.com www.mirandagold.com For more information related to Prism contact: Robert (Bob) Baxter Prism Resources Inc. +1-778-928-1864 Email: bbaxter@prismresourcesinc.com 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. U.S. investors are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on our properties. We advise U.S. investors that the SEC's mining guidelines strictly prohibit information of this type in documents filed with the SEC. This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the Company's current expectations and estimates. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results implied or expressed in such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others: the actual results of current exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans to continue to be refined; possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates; accidents, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; and fluctuations in metal prices. There may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. 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. 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. SOURCE: Miranda Gold Corp. Dang Van Tuan, 44, tells officers at a Ho Chi Minh City police station how and why he killed and dismembered his de facto sister-in-law. Photo: Dam Huy An abusive father in Ho Chi Minh City attempted suicide before confessing to the grizzly murder of his sister-in-law, police say. Officers discovered the dismembered body of Bui My Hanh, 40, on Wednesday in two sacks at the mouth of an alley off of Vo Van Kiet Street -- not far from the house she shared with her de facto husband Dang Van Thanh, 37. Police say her killer, Dang Van Tuan, 44 moved into their house shortly after his release from prison last year. On Wednesday afternoon, Tuan led police officers to Hanh's severed head, which he allegedly burying in the soil around the Lo Gom Bridge in District 6. Police are performing DNA tests to confirm whether the head belonged to Hanh. Tuan was arrested on Wednesday afternoon after Nguyen Van Phung, a neighbor, told police he'd seen him carrying two large stinking sacks out of his house at 3am. The neighbor did not bother to call the police until word of the discovery of Hanh's body in a nearby alley spread throughout the neighborhood. I smelled a foul odor and thought it came from some dead rats," he said. "I was startled to learn that it was a dead person." Another eyewitness, identified only as L.M.P, said he saw Tuan heading to the market near Ong Lanh Bridge in District 1 on Tuesday to buy sacks and rolls of tape. Tuan reportedly said he had just killed a person. P. thought he was joking. The statements allegedly led police to the unhappy household. After breaking down his locked front door, police found Tuan lying unconscious in a pool of his own blood with his wrists slashed. A sordid love triangle Tuan reportedly told police he was released in late 2013 after serving seven years on drug trafficking charges. A police source said the ex-con moved in with his younger brother, Thanh, and his common-law wife, Hanh -- who had herself moved in with Thanh in 2012. The house the trio shared sits in an alley off of Tran Dinh Xu Street in District 1. To make ends meet, the brothers drove a xe om (motorbike taxi) while Hanh provided high-interest loans to people in the neighborhood. Tuan and Hanh were both methamphetamine addicts and usually smoked the drug at home together, both brothers told the police. Local newspapers quoted a police as saying that Thanh claimed his wife was engaged in extramarital affairs with ten other men, including Tuan. If I wanted to have sex with Hanh, I had to pay, he reportedly told the officers. Tuan denied those claims. A lot of people believed that my sister-in-law and I had a sexual relationship, but Id never commit such a sin. I considered Hanh my sister as she was very nice, he reportedly told the interrogating officers. He said the three of them had argued a great deal. The precise nature of their dispute has not been revealed, but Tuan reportedly told police he killed Hanh after she threatened to hire gangsters to bump him off. At around 3pm on September 28, while Thanh was off at work, Tuan invited Hanh to smoke meth with him, police say. Once high, Tuan reportedly asked Hanh to forget about their quarrel, but she refused. After flying into a rage he took up a black pepper mortar and cracked Hanh over the head, police say. Then he choked the life out of her. After locking the door, Tuan called Thanh and told him not to come home. Tuan reportedly chopped Hanh's body up at around 2am on Wednesday. After placing her dismembered corpse in sacks and dumping them at the mouth of a nearby alley, he reportedly drove to District 6 and buried her head. Then, he went home and tried to poison himself. When that failed, he slashed his wrists and was saved from death by a team of police officers. Abusive father Tuan has a son, whom he regularly beat following his release from prison, Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper quoted neighbors as saying. Dang Van Kiet, 13, returned to his house wet, teary and fatigued at 5pm on Wednesday after his father's arrest. Tuan had reportedly thrown him out of the house several days before. T., a next-door neighbor, said she has taken care of Kiet since he was one-month old. The neighbor claimed that Tuan used to live as husband and wife with two other women, besides Hanh. Kiet, she said, is the child of his "second wife," who left Tuan soon after giving birth. T. usually fed Kiet and, at some point, began to house him. When Tuan was sent off to jail, she began sending the child to school. The boy has loving relatives but theyre all poor, she said. Tuan took the boy back after getting out of jail. Tuan usually beat the little one, not with a whip but an iron bar. Myself and many other neighbors usually rubbed him down him with medicinal oil after the beatings, T. told Tuoi Tre. Kiet lost many days at school because Tuan refused to pay his tuition, she said. The poor boy loves going to school. I talked to Tuan about it many times, and he always dismissed my concerns. He even told Kiet not to talk to me, T. said. She said now that the boy has no one left, she will continue to care for him. A Vietnam Airlines Airbus A321 was grounded for repairs at a central Vietnamese airport Tuesday after technicians found its tailplane was damaged. The damage was discovered when the plane was preparing for a flight back from Vinh to Ho Chi Minh City in the morning after landing at 8.30 a.m. The carrier sent another airplane to pick up the stranded passengers. The Northern Airports Authority said it is investigating the incident. What caused the damage is still unclear. Tuoi Tre newspaper quoted an unnamed source as saying that the tailplane might have hit something when the plane was towed in Vinh Airport. Syrian Kurdish and government forces agree a ceasefire to halt fighting in the northeastern city of Hasaka, although survivors wonder how long it will last. File photo of Malaysia's first submarine, 'KD Tunku Abdul Rahman', a Scorpene-class diesel-electric submarine, docks in Port Klang outside Kuala Lumpur September 3, 2009. French naval contractor DCNS said on Wednesday it may have been the victim of "economic warfare" after secrets about its Scorpene submarines being built in India were leaked. India opened an investigation after The Australian newspaper published documents relating to the submarine's combat capabilities, raising concerns over another major contract with Australia. The leak contains more than 22,000 pages outlining the details of six submarines that DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy. "I understand there has been a case of hacking," Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told reporters. "We will find out what has happened." The submarines are being built at a state-run shipyard in Mumbai and the first one was expected to go into service by the end of the year, the first step in the Indian navy's effort to rebuild its dwindling fleet. The leak has raised doubts about the security of DCNS's submarine project in Australia where it is locked in exclusive negotiations after seeing off rivals for a A$50 billion ($38 billion) contract to build the Barracuda next generation of submarines. DCNS, which is 35 percent owned by Thales, said it was working to determine if any harm had been caused to clients with a view to drawing up an action plan. File photo of an employee looking at the propeller of a Scorpene submarine at the industrial site of the naval defence company and shipbuilder DCNS in La Montagne near Nantes, France, April 26, 2016. Asked if the leak could affect other contracts, a company spokeswoman said it had come against a difficult commercial backdrop and that corporate espionage could be to blame. "Competition is getting tougher and tougher, and all means can be used in this context," she said. "There is India, Australia and other prospects, and other countries could raise legitimate questions over DCNS. It's part of the tools in economic warfare." DCNS, which is also vying for submarine contracts in Norway and Poland, beat Germany's ThyssenKrupp AG and a Japanese-government backed bid by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Australia. That was a major blow to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's push to develop defense export capabilities as part of a more muscular security agenda. The leaked documents cover the Scorpene-class model and do not contain any details of the vessel currently being designed for the Australian fleet. Thales, whose shares fell 3 percent before paring back some of the losses, declined to comment. French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who finalised the Australian deal, also declined to comment. Major strategic problem The breadth of detail in the documents creates a strategic problem for India, Malaysia and Chile, all of which operate the same submarine, an Australian political source with decades of experience in the global arms industry told Reuters. Excerpts published in redacted form on the newspaper's website contained highly sensitive details of the submarine including technical manuals and models of the boat's antennae. "If it's 22,400 pages, it's a major stuff-up," the source said. "It's a huge deal. "It allows them to understand everything about the submarines. What speeds it can do; how noisy it is; what speeds the mast can be raised at ... all of that is just devastating." File photo of Indian Navy's Scorpene submarine INS Kalvari being escorted by tugboats as it arrives at Mazagon Docks Ltd, a naval vessel ship building yard, in Mumbai, India, October 29, 2015. REUTERS/Shailesh Andrade/Files. A French source close to the matter tried to play down the severity of the leak, saying the documents appeared to be "sensitive but neither critical nor confidential". The Indian Defence Ministry said in a statement it was investigating the impact of the leak on the submarine program which it said had occurred from abroad. It gave no details. Uday Bhaskar, a former naval officer, said that if the leak was established, it would amount to a significant compromise of the credibility of the submarines. India has a fleet of 13 aging submarines, only half of which are operational at any time, opening up a gap with China which is expanding its maritime presence in the Indian Ocean. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull sought to deflect concern about the leak, touting the high security standards in Australia, where the submarine will be built. The Australian reported that the leak occurred in France in 2011. "But clearly, it is a reminder that, particularly in this digital world, cyber security is of critical importance," he told the Seven TV network. A Turkish army armoured vehicle is pictured in Karkamis on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern Gaziantep province, Turkey. Turkish special forces, tanks and jets backed by planes from the U.S.-led coalition launched their first co-ordinated offensive into Syria on Wednesday to try to drive Islamic State from the border and prevent further gains by Kurdish militia fighters. A column of at least nine Turkish tanks crossed into northern Syria with Turkish-backed Syrian rebels to push Islamic State out of the border town of Jarablus, military sources said. A Reuters reporter at the border witnessed intense bombardments, with palls of black smoke rising around the town. President Tayyip Erdogan said the operation was targeting Islamic State and the Kurdish PYD party, whose gains in northern Syria have alarmed Turkey. Ankara views the PYD as an extension of Kurdish militants fighting an insurgency on its own soil, putting it at odds with Washington, which sees the group as an ally in the fight against Islamic State. "This morning at 4 a.m. (0100 GMT) an operation started in northern Syria against terror groups which constantly threaten our country, like Daesh (Islamic State) and the PYD," Erdogan said in a speech in Ankara. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Turkey, which has NATO's second biggest armed forces, hours after operations began on a pre-planned trip. Biden is the most senior U.S. official to visit since a failed July 15 coup shook confidence in Turkey's ability to step up the fight against Islamic State. Smoke rises from the Syrian border town of Jarablus as it is pictured from the Turkish town of Karkamis, in the southeastern Gaziantep province, Turkey "Euphrates Shield", named after the river running nearby, is Turkey's first major military operation since the abortive coup. A military source said the Turkish-backed rebels had seized control of four villages as they pushed toward Jarablus. The offensive by Turkey comes four days after a suicide bomber suspected of links to Islamic State killed 54 people at a wedding in the southeastern city of Gaziantep. Syria's foreign ministry condemned what it said was a breach of its sovereignty and accused Ankara of launching the incursion to replace Islamic State with "other terrorist groups". Testing time A senior U.S. official traveling with Biden said the United States wanted to help Turkey to get Islamic State away from the border, and was providing air cover and "synching up" with the Turks on their plans for Jarablus. The shelling was hitting Islamic State, not Kurdish forces, he said. Biden's visit comes at a testing time for Turkish-U.S. relations. Turkey says the failed putsch was staged by Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania for the past 17 years. Erdogan wants Gulen extradited but Washington says it needs clear evidence of his alleged involvement, sparking an outpouring of anti-Americanism from Turkey's pro-government media. Gulen denies any involvement in the attempted coup. The Turkish army began firing artillery rounds into Jarablus at around 0100 GMT and Turkish and U.S. warplanes pounded Islamic State targets with air strikes. It was the first time warplanes from Turkey have struck in Syria since November, when Turkey downed a Russian warplane near the border, and the first significant incursion by Turkish special forces since a brief operation to relocate the tomb of Suleyman Shah, a revered Ottoman figure, in February 2015. Turkey and the United States hope that by removing Islamic State from the border, they can deprive it of a smuggling route which long saw its ranks swollen with foreign fighters and its coffers boosted by illicit trade. But for Turkey, it also preempts any attempt by Syrian Kurdish militia fighters, who play a critical part of the U.S.-backed campaign against Islamic State, to take Jarablus. Kurdish fighters have captured large areas of territory since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011, and Ankara has long declared the Euphrates river, which runs just east of Jarablus, a red line which it does not want them to cross. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Kurdish fighters must return east of the Euphrates or Turkey would "do what is necessary". He said the operation was a turning point and would accelerate removing Islamic State from Syria's Aleppo region. Entering a "quagmire" Plumes of smoke rose from the hills around Jarablus, visible from the Turkish town of Karkamis across the border. The boom of artillery rounds was audible as advancing Turkish tanks fired. Turkish military sources said the air strikes had hit 12 Islamic State targets, while artillery fire hit 70 targets. "The aim of the operation is to ensure border security and Syria's territorial integrity while supporting the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State," one military source said, adding work to open a passage for ground forces was under way. Turkish army tanks are pictured in Karkamis on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern Gaziantep province, Turkey. Saleh Muslim, head of the Kurdish PYD, wrote in a tweet that Turkey was entering a "quagmire" in Syria and faced defeat there like Islamic State. Redur Xelil, spokesman for the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, said the intervention was a "blatant aggression in Syrian internal affairs". Kurdish groups control swathes of northern Syria where they established de facto autonomy since the start of the Syria war. The YPG, armed wing of the PYD, took control of most of Hasaka city on Tuesday, about 250 km (155 miles) east of Jarablus. That growing Kurdish influence has alarmed Ankara, which is fighting its own insurgency with militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), blamed by the government for an escalation of attacks in the southeast of Turkey. The U.S.-backed Syria Democratic Forces alliance (SDF), which includes the YPG, captured the city of Manbij, just south of Jarablus, from Islamic State earlier this month. The U.S. official acknowledged Turkey had not been happy about the Manbij operation but said Washington underlined the Kurds would pull back once the city was cleared and that they would not move north, addressing a major Turkish concern. "We've put a lid on the Kurds moving north, or at least doing so if they want any support from us," he said. Post-coup operation Turkey had vowed on Monday to "completely cleanse" Islamic State militants from its border region after the Gaziantep bombing. Operation "Euphrates Shield" also comes after at least 10 mortar shells from Jarablus landed in Karkamis and the surrounding areas in recent days, forcing residents to flee. Syrian rebels backed by Turkey had said they were in the final stages of preparing an assault from Turkish territory on Jarablus. A Syrian rebel with one of the Turkey-backed groups said about 1,500 fighters had gathered in Turkey to take part. It is Turkey's first major military operation since the failed July coup by rogue solders who tried to overthrow Erdogan and the government, killing 240 people and triggering a purge of suspected coup supporters in the army and civil service. Angered by a perceived lack of Western sympathy over the coup, Turkey chilled ties with Washington and the EU while ending a diplomatic row with Russia and proposing more military cooperation with Moscow in fighting Islamic State. Growing ties between Ankara and Moscow have worried Turkey's Western allies. The Airlander 10 hybrid airship is seen after a crash-landing during a test flight at Cardington Airfield in Britain, August 24, 2016. The world's longest aircraft, the Airlander 10 airship, has crash-landed after a test flight in Bedfordshire, central England, its British manufacturer Hybrid Air Vehicles said on Wednesday. The airship, which is bigger than the size of six double-decker buses, sustained damage on landing from its second test flight, Hybrid Air Vehicles said, adding that all crew were safe and well following the incident. Privately owned Hybrid Air Vehicles denied a report on the BBC that the airship had hit a telegraph pole. "No damage was sustained mid-air," the company said on Twitter. Hybrid Air Vehicles was not immediately reachable by telephone. Workers look at damage to the Airlander 10 hybrid airship after a test flight at Cardington Airfield in Britain, August 24, 2016. The 92-metre Airlander 10 made its first test flight earlier this month and the company had posted photographs of it up in the air before Wednesday's incident. Once the concept is proven, Hybrid Air Vehicles hopes the helium-filled giant will be able to stay airborne for up to two weeks, and that potential customers might want to use it to carry cargo or deliver aid, for surveillance, communications or leisure purposes. It can carry 48 passengers. The Airlander can take off and land vertically meaning it does not need a tarmac runway. It can also operate from open fields, deserts, ice or water. Airships have a long history stretching back to the 19th century, although their popularity dipped in the face of competition from aeroplanes in the 20th century and high-profile accidents such as the Hindenburg disaster in 1937. Hybrid Air Vehicles told Reuters in March that it aimed to be building 12 airships a year by 2018. It seems that Starbucks (SBUX) can put as much ice as it wants in your beverage. A judge in California dismissed a case that accused the coffee chain of under-filling its iced drinks, saying the plaintiff had "not alleged any viable claims" against the company. "If children have figured out that including ice in a cold beverage decreases the amount of liquid they will receive, the Court has no difficulty concluding that a reasonable consumer would not be deceived into thinking that when they order an iced tea, that the drink they receive will include both ice and tea and that for a given size cup, some portion of the drink will be ice rather than whatever liquid beverage the consumer ordered," wrote Percy Anderson, the U.S. District Judge presiding over the case in his dismissal of the lawsuit last Friday. In addition, Anderson noted that the company's signage just lists the size of the cups in ounces, but does not say how much liquid will be in the cup. "The cups Starbucks uses for its cold drinks... are clear, and therefore make it easy to see that the drink consists of a combination of liquid and ice," Anderson wrote. A Starbucks spokeswoman told CNBC, "We are pleased with the court's decision and the judge's comments on the matter." This isn't the only ice-related lawsuit that Starbucks is facing. A woman in Illinois also accused the company of over-icing its cold beverages. That case has yet to be settled. In both ice cases, Starbucks responded by saying that consumers who are not satisfied with how their drink was prepared can ask for it to be remade. Another class-action lawsuit was filed against the coffee chain in March, which stated that Starbucks had been under-filling its hot lattes. Gov. John Bel Edwards asked President Barack Obama for a wide range of flood relief Tuesday, including having the federal government pick up a bigger than normal share of recovery costs, dollars to construct the Comite River Diversion Project and assistance for battered homeowners who lacked flood insurance. "While we do not doubt the ability of our citizens to recover, we need the help of the federal government," Edwards said in a four-page letter to Obama, who toured flooded areas in Zachary to get a firsthand view of the flood of 2016. The governor said the flood, combined with other problems, "is testing our spirit in ways we have not seen since the challenges posed by Hurricane Katrina." In his message to the president, Edwards asked that Louisiana be relieved from the requirement that it pay for 25 percent of repair costs. He said well over 100,000 homes were damaged or destroyed and that in March more than 29,000 homes were damaged or destroyed in flooding in north Louisiana, as well as damages to public roads, buildings and bridges. "I therefore ask you to reduce Louisiana's cost share from 25 percent to 10 percent," Edwards said in his letter. +2 President Obama heads to Baton Rouge today to view flood damage President Barack Obama will tour flood-ravaged areas of Louisiana on Tuesday and meet with l In another area, the governor said the Comite River Diversion Project was authorized in 1994 and residents have paid taxes for it for nearly 20 years. If it had been in operation, Edwards said, a significant portion of water from the Comite River would have been diverted to the Mississippi River "and away from homes and businesses in East Feliciana, St. Helena, East Baton Rouge and Livingston parishes." The governor asked Obama to authorize $125 million for the Army Corps of Engineers for the federal share of the project, which has already won congressional authorization. In a third area, Edwards requested block grant disaster recovery dollars be included in the president's supplemental budget request to Congress since many homeowners lacked flood insurance, or were not required to carry it. Without such assistance, he said, "many neighborhoods and communities will not be able to recover." After touring damaged homes, Obama noted to reporters that lots of damaged residences lacked flood insurance. He said what FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate is doing, and been instructed to do, "is let's get the money out as fast as we can." "Because we know that there's going to be a certain amount of assistance that's going to be forthcoming, so there's no point in waiting," Obama said. "We kind of make initial estimates and start pushing stuff out," he said. In another letter to Obama, the ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Financial Services asked that Louisiana's 25 percent share of disaster assistance be shelved entirely. U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., said for a variety of reasons the "bulk" of recovery dollars should come from the federal government. In his letter, Edwards also asked for road and bridge repair dollars, including up to $25 million for the south Louisiana flood. He said a task force to oversee the recovery is in the works. "While I know our best days remain in front of us, we need help from the federal government to get us there," Edwards wrote. Elizabeth Crisp of The Advocate Capitol news bureau contributed to this report. 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. During his visit to Baton Rouge Tuesday, President Barack Obama met with the family of injured East Baton Rouge Sheriffs deputy Nick Tullier, his father confirmed. Met with President Obama todayat the Baton Rouge airport, James Tullier wrote on the Facebook page Nick Tullier Strong, where he has been posting updates on his sons condition. During their visit, Tullier told Obama that he is looking for a rehabilitation center for his son. Obama introduced Tullier to his personal physician and told the doctor of the request, Tullier said. Obamas doctors will talk with Nicks doctors and then get back to me with their recommendations. Hopefully that works out, Tullier said in the Facebook post. Tullier also gave an update on his sons condition, saying that his head wounds continue to heal and that his temperature has held steady over the past couple of days, but that his lips and tongue have swollen, indicating an allergy. His trachea usually stays pretty clear. Lungs sound good, Tullier said. Nick Tullier, 41, was critically wounded in the July 17 attack on law enforcement in Baton Rouge. He was shot in the head and the stomach and has remained in the hospital since the attack, which killed three officers and left two others wounded. Read the full Facebook post here or below. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO -- Selected to serve as ambassadors for the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts, front row from left, are Annie Noel, Aliyah Newell, Mason Rutledge, Samantha Hernandez, MyChel Robinson, Olivia Gotte, Samantha Wright, Grace Dumdaw and Caroline Jin; second row, Bethany Jenkins, Elizabeth Long, Ariana Yelverton, Genesis Lambert, Milan Arpino, Kennedy Ellender, Kerry Doyle, Gwyneth Engeron, Bryce Istre, Xavier Banks, Maya Bochas and Alexis Cambridge; and third row, Brendan Nalbone, Lucy Rhymes, Josh Ballagh, Marissa Ramsey, Ian Sager, Janie Bourgeois, Edouard Ferrell, Claire Leming, Mia Grichendler, Hayden Fisher, Varun Amin, Kabir Shah, Sterling Trafford and Malak Alammar. Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission When Central public schools reopen Sept. 6, the first- and second-graders who attend flooded Tanglewood Elementary will relocate for several weeks to space in the joint campus of Central Intermediate and Central Middle schools, according to an update released Wednesday morning by the school district. Livingston schools hit worst in flooding, but is not alone Of the Louisiana school districts affected by the floods, Livingston Parish is reporting the Temporary classrooms are being set up in in the multipurpose room and gymnasiums at the Intermediate and Middle schools. Meanwhile, the restoration of Tanglewood Elementary has begun, but it wont return to normal operation for another eight to 10 weeks, said Centrals Assistant Superintendent Sandy Davis. Davis laid out the following schedule of events between now and when school restarts: Monday and Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Each day is being set aside for bus change requests and new student registration, the former is being done at the office at Central Intermediate School and the latter at the office at Central Middle School. Thursday, Sept. 1: All Central school employees will return to work. Bellingrath Hills will hold open houses that day for kindergarten and prekindergarten students. Saturday, Sept. 3: Members of the community who need new school uniforms and school supplies can pick them up at no cost from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the gym at Central High School. Tuesday, Sept. 6: The first day of school for students. Kindergarten and prekindergarten will stagger start times, with boys coming on Sept. 6 and girls coming to school the next day. Thursday, Sept. 8 is the first day for all students in those grades to come to school. Louisiana students rank 44th nationally on a test of college readiness called the ACT, officials announced Wednesday. The composite average 19.5 out of a possible 36 was rolled out by state education leaders on July 25. How public and private students fared nationally was released by the Iowa City, Ia. organization that oversees the tests early Wednesday. State Superintendent of Education John White told reporters there are positive signs within the numbers, especially when Louisiana is compared with 17 other states where all students are required to take the ACT. By that measure the state ranks 13 out of 18 states, finishing ahead of Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi and Nevada. White said that comparison is more valid because states where few students take the ACT and take the SAT instead distort the results. "Should we be satisfied with 13th? Absolutely not. Does it represent real progress? Absolutely it does," he said. The exam measures how high school students fare in English, math, reading and science. Louisiana has long finished near the bottom of the list nationally, and White said the state was at the bottom before the state's top school board in 2012 required all students to take the exam. He said when the state is compared to those where all students take the test it is in the 30th percentile. Nationally the state finished ahead of Alabama, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina and South Carolina. Massachusetts is tops in the nation with an average composite score of 24.8. Despite gains, Louisiana still lags in U.S. education rankings Earlier this month, state Superintendent of Education John White trumpeted the fact that Lou The average nationally is 20.8, down from 21 last year. Nearly two-thirds of graduating seniors 64 percent took the test, up from 59 percent last year. "Research clearly shows that scores initially decrease when states adopt the ACT for all students, but access and opportunities increase," said ACT Chief Executive Officer Marten Roorda. The state Department of Education released figures that show gains in recent years compared to the rest of the nation. Since 2014 Louisiana students have narrowed the gap nationally in meeting ACT benchmarks, including five percentage points in English, three percentage points in reading, one percentage point in math and four percentage points in science. "Our state is growing while the nation's performance is stagnating," White said. "Reading through the ACT's report it is evident that high schools and the educators and students of Louisiana have made extraordinary strides in recent years." The highest scoring districts in Louisiana are St. Tammany, 21.5; West Feliciana, 21.4 and Zachary, 21.3. Jessica Bandele, whose son is about to start second grade at Mayfair Lab School, said panic set in Monday when the news broke that school was being put off until after Labor Day. But then she and other school parents started coming up with solutions. They pretty quickly got together and asked if people had a babysitter, if we could get kids together and so on, she said. Parents traded tips on what was open. One Mayfair parent was even able to start an impromptu camp at a yoga studio. Bandele resorted to a much simpler solution. I own my own business, she said. My son can fortunately come to work with me. He may not like it. Meanwhile, most East Baton Rouge Parish school employees will remain off the job Wednesday and wont return until Sept. 1. Employees just returned to work Monday after being off for six work days due to the floods. Nine-, 10- and 11-month employees will now stay home for six more work days. Only 12-month employees are reporting to work for the duration, said Adonica Duggan, school system spokeswoman. Duggan said lengthy discussions occurred Tuesday before this new work schedule was settled on. Employees were informed mid-afternoon via a systemwide email. We explored various scenarios and sought guidance from district legal counsel on available options, she said. The school system had previously planned to reopen Wednesday but put on the brakes 36 hours before that was to happen after discovering new schools that did not take in flood waters but nevertheless mold and other problems had developed inside. Livingston schools hit worst in flooding, but is not alone Of the Louisiana school districts affected by the floods, Livingston Parish is reporting the The number of Baton Rouge public schools with issues was initially set at just nine. The total as of Tuesday afternoon had grown to 16. The six schools added to that list are: former Banks Elementary, Buchanan Elementary, main campus of BR FLAIM, Northdale Academy, and Scotlandville and Sherwood Middle magnet schools. Problems at BR FLAIM, a foreign language immersion school, and Sherwood Middle were discovered Tuesday. Baton Rouge Magnet High, Northdale Academy and Westdale Middle schools had minimal flooding that was cleaned up and so were taken off the list. Northdale, however, was returned to the list after new moisture intrusion was discovered Monday. School officials were readying the 10755 Cletus Drive campus to take more than 600 students displaced from distant Glen Oaks High, which experienced flooding. The school system considered but rejected a two-tiered reopening, opening undamaged schools right away and later opening other schools for those students whose schools were damaged. Duggan said transportation problems are so great that it makes it hard to open any schools right away. She noted only 80 percent of school buses and drivers have been accounted for so far. Also, as of Tuesday, the school system had 1,369 students who were displaced from their homes and requesting transportation from a different location, meaning developing new bus routes, Duggan said. The students who were impacted come from across our school district, and the details around providing them safe, reliable transportation to their home sites are currently being resolved, she said. An incomplete fleet of buses impacts transportation for all of the schools. The school system is planning to buy a few more buses to replace those damaged, hopefully to arrive in time for the post-Labor Day opening, but Duggan said those plans are not yet finalized. The 13-day reopening delay is causing parents in Baton Rouge to scramble. While summer camps are over, new camps are springing up in their place. The A.C. Lewis and Paula Manship branches of the YMCA both opened special holiday camps last week. They run from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. on weekdays, open to children ages 4-13. The camps cost $20 per day for YMCA members and $30 per day for non-members. Both camps have plenty of spots still open and financial assistance is available to families with financial hardships, said Kristen Hogan, YMCAs marketing director. We want them to have some place for children to go while their parents get back to work, a place where kids can take their mind off things, do activities, explained Hogan. BREC is steadily opening emergency camps to meet demand. Seven were open Tuesday and served 179 kids. Three more were set to open Wednesday: one a BREC-operated camp at Mills Avenue Park, 424 Woodpecker St.; and two more run by Boys and Girls Club of Greater Baton Rouge at BRECs Alaska Street Park, 3014 Alaska St., and Belfair Teen Center, 4390 Fairfields Ave. Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center, which was flooded and just reopened Tuesday, will start an 11th camp on Monday. Were just trying to open as many camps as we can open, said Cheryl Michelet, the BREC spokeswoman. All BREC camps are open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Parents can either register in person, or, with the exception of camps at Cedar Ridge and Mills Avenue Park, online at webtrac.brec.org/. The camps serve children 4 to 12 years old and cost $14 a day or $50 per week, though BREC, like the YMCA, works with families with financial problems to make camps more affordable. The East Baton Rouge Parish school system is also talking about launching unspecified educational options between now and Sept. 6 to help bridge the gap. Duggan said the school system is starting to reach outside partners such as BREC, YMCA and Big Buddy to see what else can be developed. South African police reportedly ordered Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan to its offices, fueling speculation that the Treasury chief may be replaced and upending the South African rand currency and country-specific exchange traded fund. The iShares MSCI South Africa ETF (NYSEArca: EZA ) plunged 2.9% Tuesday. South Africa has been one of the better performing emerging markets of 2016, rising 29.8% so far this year. South African markets retreated Tuesday after Gordhan was given a warning statement, an official account issued to accused persons before they are charged with an offense and to warn them of their rights, reports Xola Potelwa for Bloomberg. Trending on ETF Trends Oil Could be the Commodity to Play In 2017 WisdomTree Investments to Close 6 ETFs Nigeria ETF Extends Sell-Off on Banks Forex Ban Clinton Mylan Attack Reminds Biotech ETF Investors of Election Risks More Problems Seen for Europe Bank ETF Former tax officials Ivan Pillay, Johann van Loggerenberg, Adrian Lackay and Andries van Rensburg have also been tagged and sent letters informing them of charges. Its political turmoil and investors in the international market dont like the fact that theres a possibility that Pravin Gordhan could go as finance minister, Wichard Cilliers, a trader at Treasuryone (Pty) Ltd., told Bloomberg. They see him as a credible finance minister. Thats why theres the initial selloff in the market and thats why its very jittery. SEE MORE: Political Volatility Could Weigh on South Africa ETF The rand currency declined as much as 2.9% to $13.9816, its weakest since August 3, after trading positive 1.1% earlier. The weakening rand also dragged on the iShares MSCI South Africa ETF, which is not hedged against currency risks. Gordhan has been reportedly facing dismissal and arrest on espionage charges for setting the South African Revenue Services National Research Group to spy on political figures including President Jacob Zuma. Story continues For more information on the South African market, visit our South Africa category. iShares MSCI South Africa ETF When GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump traveled to flood-ravaged Louisiana last week, word spread that the real estate mogul would donate $100,000 to flood recovery efforts, as well as an 18-wheeler full of supplies for flood victims. The Louisiana Republican Party later confirmed to The Advocate that the campaign had said it planned the donations. +16 Trump, Pence meet flood victims, tour hard-hit BR neighborhoods Donald Trump and his running mate Mike Pence traveled to Baton Rouge on Friday to visit floo The Washington Post, which has been vetting Trump's somewhat unclear history of charitable giving, this week attempted to fact check those claims. The conclusion: Trump's campaign says he will send a personal check to Greenwell Springs Baptist Church this week and it has taken credit for the 18-wheeler that arrived with him in St. Amant. "Its a personal contribution from Mr. Trump, and I believe the church should be receiving that on Thursday or Friday," Trump campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks told the Post of the $100,000 contribution. Additionally, the campaign also confirmed that he was responsible for a truckload of supplies -- just not the truck Trump was seen helping to unload on Friday. "I dont know the logistics behind it," Hicks told the Post. "But he purchased the supplies, obviously, and we coordinated the truck, and we were happy to do it." Others in the community who spoke to the Post though were unclear as to the origin of the 18-wheeler or its connection to Trump. "I was never told he donated [the truck]. I was just told that, 'Hey, this truck was the truck that was coming with Trump.' So I never heard it [as] 'donated,'" Mark Stermer, the senior pastor of the church that received the supplies, told the Post, adding the relief efforts were "so chaotic over there, we were just getting trucks in and out." The Trump campaign didn't immediately respond to The Advocate's request for more information on the donations. Trump spent more than three hours on Friday visiting flood-affected areas in East Baton Rouge, Livingston and Ascension parishes. When asked outside why he had decided to make the impromptu trip to Louisiana, Trump responded, "I came here to help." Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, had urged Trump to volunteer with the recovery or make a "sizable" monetary contribution. "We welcome him to Louisiana, but not for a photo-op," the governor's spokesman Richard Carbo said on the eve of Trump's visit. "Instead we hope he'll consider volunteering or making a sizable donation to the Louisiana Flood Relief Fund to help the victims of this storm." Edwards later said he felt that Trump's trip, along with his running mate Mike Pence, was "helpful." "I think ... because it helped shine a spotlight on Louisiana and the dire situation that we have here that it was helpful," Edwards said on CNN after Trump's visit. On Tuesday, President Barack Obama traveled to flood-affected neighborhoods in East Baton Rouge Parish and met with local leaders about flood recovery. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has said she will also travel to Louisiana but her campaign has provided no specific date or details for that trip. Clinton also encouraged her supporters to donate to flood relief efforts. "The best way to help Louisianans affected by these terrible floods is to make sure they have the resources they need today," Clinton said in a statement released by her campaign Monday morning. "I am committed to visiting communities affected by these floods, at a time when the presence of a political campaign will not disrupt the response, to discuss how we can and will rebuild together." You can say that President Barack Obama should have come to Louisiana and viewed the immense During his visit to Zachary Tuesday, President Barack Obama did his best to brush off questions of politics. One of the nice things about being so close to the end of his second term, he quipped, is that he doesn't have to worry about such things even if it was clear from his tone that, to some extent, he still does. But there'll be no escaping flood-related politics for the candidates running for Congress this fall, in particular the many candidates for U.S. Senate. Already, the massive destruction and talk of federal response is seeping into the conversation. Democrat Foster Campbell, a member of the Public Service Commission, penned an opinion piece in a Washington, D.C., publication "The Hill," calling on the three Republican members of Congress who voted against a large package of aid after Hurricane Sandy to apologize. One of those no votes came from U.S. Rep. and fellow Senate candidate John Fleming of Minden, who's now defending himself and letting it be known that he'd back an aid package for the Baton Rouge and Lafayette areas, but only if it doesn't contain the sorts of goodies for other parts of the country that members in other parts of the country try to attach to such bills in exchange for their support. We haven't heard the end of debate. Republican U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany of Lafayette, who did back the full Sandy aid package, landed in the national media too. In a "Meet the Press" interview Sunday, he decried the dearth of coverage to date and Obama's decision to continue his Martha's Vineyard vacation without personally speaking of the disaster, even though his administration has been on the ground from its onset. And New Orleans lawyer Caroline Fayard, who grew up in heavily-damaged Livingston Parish, has been heavily publicizing on social media her campaign's efforts to provide aid. Much of the action in Washington will likely take place before a new senator takes office, but the disaster, like Hurricane Katrina more than a decade earlier, is a big enough deal to reshape the politics of the day. For evidence, look no further than one of the men standing at the president's side Tuesday, outgoing U.S. Sen. and habitual Obama critic David Vitter. Just how much did the ground have to shift for that weird tableau to happen? They were affectionately dubbed the 'Cajun Navy' after citizen-saviors rescued hundreds during Louisiana's devastating flooding, but a recent proposal could add new licensing requirements. Jonathan Perry, a Republican state senator, is working on legislation that could require training, certificates and a permit fee for citizen-rescuers to bypass law enforcement into devastated areas, according to a report from WWL-TV. Perry represents Senate District 26, comprised of Vermilion Parish and portions of Acadia, Lafayette and St. Landry parishes. He took to Facebook Tuesday evening to explain the logistics of his proposed legislation, which he said is not to limit volunteer rescuers, but rather to empower them. "The intent of what I want to do is to completely unregulate it, to where our volunteers are not stopped from going out," he said in the Facebook video. "It is basically to remove any restrictions and allow people to get to our citizens quicker." Perry said in the video his goal was to clear up "misinformation" after an initial Lafayette radio interview where he discussed the subject. At the end of the day, there are going to be two things that are going to be the hurdle when you approach it from the states standpoint, said Perry in the interview, per WWL-TV. Liability is going to be number one for them. They dont want the liability of someone going out to rescue someone and then not being able to find them (the rescuers) and, secondly, theres a cost. Some who took part in the rescue parties have spoken out against the proposal, including Dustin Clouatre of St. Amant. "How can you regulate people helping people? That doesn't make sense to me," said Clouatre to WWL-TV. In Livingston Parish, officials initially prevented private citizens from heading into the waters to render aid, but as calls from stranded residents mounted, they relented. "Then it was like, do you have vests? Do you have insurance? Are you truly capable of doing this?" Parish President Layton Ricks said. "And as it turned out, we couldn't have done it without those guys. They were a tremendous asset for our people." For the full WWL-TV report, click here. Jeri Frazier tugged at the waterlogged drawers of her desk, but couldnt get them to budge. Pushing a wayward curl back from her face, she wiped her forehead and sighed. My house didnt flood, but my brother-in-laws, both of them lost everything, she said. I know Im fortunate. I know I am. But it hurts. Military relics, a water pump, an old sewing machine and other period pieces all sat high above the water line in Fraziers 11th-grade U.S. history classroom at Denham Springs High School on Tuesday. But near her desk, a waist-high model of the D-Day invasion at Normandy had real water lapping in its basin put there by the floodwaters that coursed through campus a week ago. My son said it looks more realistic now with the water in it, she said. Frazier and other teachers at Livingston Parishs flood-ravaged schools returned to their classrooms, many for the first time, Tuesday to take stock of what was salvageable and what was not. Hundreds of their colleagues from non-flooded campuses joined in the painstaking effort, cataloging the losses in ink and sometimes tears. Assistant Superintendent Steve Parrill said district officials are close to announcing a return date for students, perhaps after a status report from their cleanup contractors on Friday. It is expected that a few of the hardest-hit campuses may have to move to alternative sites for some period of time. Fifteen of the parishs 45 school sites were damaged by floodwaters, with eight mostly in the Denham Springs area sustaining severe damage, he said. +5 'It hit everywhere': Denham Springs devastated by record flooding Deanna Welch, her hair up and shoulders bare, sat out on the steamy sidewalk in a soggy offi Among the most severely damaged, Southside Junior High on Petes Highway, was basically a 100 percent loss, Principal Carlos Williams said Tuesday. The school saw standing water 4 to 6 feet deep everywhere except the new band hall, which had been built up 4 feet to meet the newest flood elevations set by FEMA, Williams said. The band hall received only about an inch of water -- and only for a relatively brief time-- sparing thousands of dollars worth of instruments and equipment and even allowing for the carpet to be treated rather than replaced. Were actually going to be housing instruments here from other schools that took on water, Williams said. Administrators also hope to salvage a large painting of the schools buccaneer mascot, as well as a buccaneer statue the students named Bojo one of only a few items to survive the flooding in the gym. The rest of the campus, though, will become a construction site Wednesday, with crews ripping out drywall and built-in wood cabinetry, burning paper records that are beyond restoration and working to get students and faculty back into the classrooms as soon as possible, Williams said. Our teachers took one final look at their classrooms today, and it was very emotional for them, he said. But weve got a strong group, and were focused on replacing this tragedy with better things, like hope and some excitement about the new version that will be in its place. Williams said he asked his teachers to take inspiration from the words painted high on the hallway walls higher than the water line that ransacked their classrooms. The water never touched those words. It cant, Williams said. It cant touch teamwork. It cant touch perseverance or diligence or strength. And those are words that our students and teachers chose to put there. Parrill said more than a third of the districts staff members were displaced by the flooding, and even those who were not displaced are likely caring for immediate family members whose homes were destroyed. Many also lost their vehicles to the flooding and may need transportation when schools reopen. Others will have child care needs to address, after some daycare facilities were inundated and forced to close. But Tuesday, despite being told not to come if they had been displaced, some 250 teachers from across the parish showed up at Denham Springs High to help their fellow teachers take inventory. Virginia Berthelot and six teachers from Albany schools stood amid piles of soggy artwork and supplies in Berthelots classroom, organizing the things that could be salvaged and cataloging those that could not. Student work pinned high on the walls had survived, as had the stained-glass-style paper that covered the top windows and cast a rainbow of colors inside the once-flooded room. But nearly everything else from the 35 new stools she bought this year to the collection of art supplies in her closet was destroyed. Berthelot paused to run her fingers across the top of a brightly painted and decoupaged desk in the supply closet her first teachers desk then went back to work. A smile softened her furrowed brows as she held up a square of pop art-covered foam rubber. Her computer cords had been submerged and she didn't know what would happen when she tried to turn it back on, but at least her new Roy Lichtenstein mouse pad had survived. Its the little things, she said. Two flood victims from Livingston Parish one who died Aug. 17 and the other whose body was found that same day were identified Wednesday. The body of William Thomas, 52, was discovered in a wooded area off South Point Drive in Denham Springs where water had risen about five feet, according to a statement from Livingston Parish Sheriff's office spokeswoman Lori Steele. Interactive map: Detailed look at the 13 flood-related deaths in Louisiana According to the state Department of Health, 13 people have died as a result of the widespre Thomas was listed as missing during the days of record flooding in the region and never returned from a morning walk, according to Steele. And Josette Maquar, 94, died of aspiration pneumonia due to ingesting floodwater while being rescued in Denham Springs, said Joe Harrell, chief investigator for the Livingston Parish coroner's office. Maquar died on the morning of Aug. 17 at Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center in Baton Rouge some time after she was rescued, Harrell said. On the same day, a team from the state Fire Marshal's Office, using a K-9 unit, found Thomas's body, which showed no obvious signs of trauma. There were 13 deaths related to the flooding this month, according to statistics compiled by the state Department of Health. Advocate file photo by JOHN McCUSKER -- Protesters gathered April 2, 2016 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to object to and oil and gas lease sale and drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. As an alumnus of LSU, my heart goes out to the people in south Louisiana. The persons of that region are strong and solid work ethics and wil Library Lagniappe: Find the college that's right for you at Metairie seminar You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Chantelle Pellegrini shoulders a burden heavier than most could even contemplate at her age. From childhood to her teens, the 17-year-old has informally cared for her mother, who suffers from permanent injury and mental illness. Chantelle Pellegrini, 17, a carer for her mother since she was a young child, wants to see better supports for young carers still in school. Credit:Christopher Knaus "Sometimes it's hard because I don't get me time to just relax and escape my day-to-day life," she said. "I'm always there for my mum, I don't see it as a job. I just take it upon myself." Dr Helmy had faced allegations from three female patients of inappropriate sexual and physical behaviour, the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal said in its decision delivered last week. The doctor has to be supervised during his practice. Credit:Virginia Star The chaperone order overturns an earlier decision by the Medical Board of Australia that banned Dr Mohamad Helmy from treating female or young patients, because the ban was "unduly restrictive". A Canberra GP must be chaperoned when treating female patients or patients under 18 while an accusation of inappropriate behaviour is investigated, a tribunal has ordered. The most recent and only allegation still being investigated came in March this year, from a patient who alleged he had been "grooming her" and was physically inappropriate with her during a consultation. He has denied the allegations, but he says the patient hugged him on one occasion and he responded by kissing her on the cheek. Another allegation, from 2015, alleged Dr Helmy had acted inappropriately over three years. The Medical Board referred the matter to the AFP, but an investigation was closed in April without charge. The tribunal heard the woman had said she didn't have the strength to go ahead to "fight it in court". A third allegation, from 2012, was also closed without charge after the patient didn't respond to police inquiries. The Medical Board has also indicated its investigation into this one is unlikely to progress further. The tribunal said Dr Helmy "strenuously denied" the allegations in the 2013 and 2015 complaints, and there were two third-party witnesses who dispute part of the allegations made by one patient. A man walks along the beach during Harmattan season in Dakar February 8, 2012. REUTERS/Joe Penney/Files By Emmanuelle Landais DAKAR (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Hunched over her laptop, eyes locked on the screen, Marieme Seye listens to the step-by-step instructions given by her teacher. The 18-year-old isn't studying math or history, however. With 24 other Senegalese students, she is learning to develop a mobile app to raise awareness about the environment. In small groups, the students develop apps focusing on environmental issues, in the format of their choice such as a game, quiz or a platform to look up potentially unfamiliar terms, such as "endangered species". Seye has called her app "Weer Weelde", which means "a healthy planet for a healthy life" in Wolof. Users must choose which between four pictures for example, a person drinking dirty water, another smoking, industrial fumes and people planting trees to pick what represents the most positive contribution to the planet. Choosing the correct image in this case, tree planting rewards the user with points, before all pictures appear with a caption explaining the dangers or benefits linked to the activities. "I'm interested in developing a phone app because I use them all the time," Seye told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. The three-day workshop, organised by the Goethe Institute and mJangale, a Senegalese after-school programme, aims to improve students' literacy, numeracy, and foreign language skills. Christelle Scharff, co-founder of mJangale and professor of computer science at Pace University in New York, teaches participants to use MIT App Inventor a drag-and-drop tool allowing users to create a basic phone app. The students follow her every click on a computer screen projected on the wall. "The goal is to introduce young people to computing, as well as to make them more knowledgeable about the environment," Scharff explained, walking between the groups to check their progress. "So it's applying computing to something. We didn't want kids to just develop an app, but also to gain knowledge in another area." Story continues The Android apps will be made available on Google Play, where they can be downloaded for free. Idriss Sall Diop, 18, just passed his baccalaureate. "This is totally new to me, I've never studied IT and just started using computers," he admitted from his front-row seat. "Young people are interested in social media but not necessarily in the environment," he added. "I think these apps are a way around that we're always keen to learn about new things." FROM CONSUMER TO CREATOR Adja Aissatou Sy, communications manager at Senegal's Ministry of Environment, said at the workshop that teenagers have limited awareness when it comes to environmental issues. "Mobile apps are a good way to share information and broaden young people's knowledge on this topic," she explained. The African continent has been slow to adopt digital technologies in education, according to Thierry Zomahoun, chairperson of the Next Einstein Forum, a conference to advance science innovation in Africa. The first conference was held in Dakar in March. He believes more advanced equipment in schools from computers to scientific laboratories will broaden students' horizon and better prepare them for the job market. "We can't just stand idle while there are more African engineers in the U.S. than there are on the African continent we need to reverse that trend," he said at the conference. Scharff added that "as big consumers of technology, Facebook and all these tools, young people can also contribute to tons of solutions here in Senegal." According to Senegal's Telecoms Regulation Authority report released in March, the country's mobile phone penetration rate reached 113.7 percent in the first quarter of 2016 which can be explained by the fact that some mobile users hold several SIM cards. Sy agrees that youth need a context in which to create a link with the environment. "For example, there doesn't exist, as far as I know, an app that focuses on biodiversity in Senegal," she said. "I would like to see a game on identifying our endangered species like chimpanzees or panthers and asking questions that would empower young people to protect their environment." (Reporting by Emmanuelle Landais, editing by Zoe Tabary and Laurie Goering. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights and climate change. Visit http://news.trust.org) It's been five years since they last flew out of Canberra but now Tigerair is coming back, you could be on your way to Melbourne for free. The budget airline confirmed it would reinstate the link between Canberra and Melbourne on Monday, after three years of negotiations. Tigerair, which begins flights between Canberra and Brisbane on Thursday. Credit:Jon Hewson The first 2000 one-way tickets between Canberra and Melbourne will go on sale for $59 from 11am on Thursday and the first 200 bookings through tigerair.com.au will receive their fare for free. How? Tigerair will refund your base fare back to your original form of payment (minus the booking and service fee, as well as the cost of baggage, seat selection, meals or travel insurance). Joe Cinque's Consolation, the new film about the death in Canberra of Joe Cinque, has been selected for the 41st Toronto International Film Festival, marking the films' international premiere. The film will be released in Australian cinemas on October 13. Jerome Meyer as Joe and Maggie Naouri as Anu Singh in Joe Cinque's Consolation, which has been selected for the Toronto International Film Festival. It had its world premiere as part of the Melbourne International Film Festival at which its two sessions sold out in a matter of hours. ANU law student Anu Singh killed her boyfriend Joe Cinque by injecting him with heroin in 1997 in a flat they were sharing in Downer. The Canberra Liberals will fund an eighth house for women and families escaping domestic violence or homelessness, Community Services spokeswoman Nicole Lawder announced on Wednesday. The Liberals would also abolish the 0.34 per cent levy charged on grants to community groups, which raises between $430,000 and $450,000 a year. Liberal Nicole Lawder has promised extra funding for families escaping homelessness and domestic violence. Credit:Elesa Kurtz EKZ Ms Lawder said the Liberals would give $500,000 to Communities at Work to buy another house. The group own seven houses at the moment, which it rents to women and families living in refuges. Communities at Work deputy chief executive Lee Maiden said the homes are transition accommodation for the women. They can stay up to two years, but are helped and encouraged to leave within the first 12 months into longer-term housing. Ms Lawder also announced an extra $100,000 funding a year to help the group support families through the "Reach Home" program. The emails show a plot to skim the money off a World Bank-funded dam project in 2009. In return, Mr Sirisena was to approve the awarding of the dam contract to SMEC, worth $1.82 million . Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena. Credit:AP SMEC's Sri Lankan manager, who was recently sacked, wrote in emails to two Australian colleagues that he wanted to "inform the minister/co-ordinating secretary" of the size of an alleged kickback to be paid and that he needed to "prioritise" certain payments to unnamed parties "since the signing of the contract would depend" on it. SMEC has confirmed a "request for a political donation", but insists an internal investigation found no donation was made and the firm "continues to fully co-operate with the AFP." Australia prides itself on being a clean place to do business, but revelations by Fairfax Media and others over a decade show that many companies agree to corrupt practices in developing countries. The government gave the AFP an extra $15 million in April to fight corporate bribery after Fairfax Media revealed the global Unaoil bribery scandal, which involved construction giant Leighton Holdings, and allegations that Tabcorp bribed the sister of Cambodia's President. In a statement overnight, Sri Lanka's President Sirisena said he had "no knowledge of the incident" and requested further details to "ascertain the involvement of any of his office staff. The president also said he would co-operate "in any investigation" in Australia and "will also instruct the relevant local authorities to investigate". Under Australia's existing corporate crime regime - plagued by weak whistleblower protections and laws - the likelihood is that most accused firms will avoid prosecution. Former NSW Supreme Court Judge and chair of anti-graft NGO Transparency International, Anthony Whealy, QC, urged the Turnbull government to urgently fix Australia's corporate whistleblower regime and do more to get companies to co-operate with authorities. Federal police only discovered the Sundance allegations when told by Fairfax Media. World Bank corruption investigators had alerted the AFP to evidence of bribery involving SMEC in late 2013. The AFP's top corporate crime investigator, Peter Crozier, urged CEOs and the public to realise that corruption robs the world's poorest people and benefits the corrupt elite. The AFP's top corporate crime investigator, Peter Crozier, says corruption robs the world's poorest people. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Prosecutions in Australia remain elusive, he said, but the AFP was pushing for new ways to encourage companies to self-disclose, whistleblowers to co-operate and corporate Australia to champion an anti-corruption culture. "The companies themselves, and their CEOs they both have a legal responsibility, but they [also] have a moral and ethical responsibility here to show some integrity in their business processes." Secret Congo share deal Sundance Resources' MbalamNabeba Iron Ore Project, on the border of Cameroon and the Republic of Congo, was visited by tragedy in 2010 when its chairman, Ken Talbot, and the company's entire board died in a plane crash while on business. The mine has been touted as one of Africa's biggest iron ore ventures, capable of transforming the struggling Congolese economy and paying huge dividends for shareholders of the ASX-listed miner. But internal Sundance files tell a darker story of shady middlemen and alleged bribery benefiting the family of Congo's most powerful man. In mid-2006, Sundance Australian executives dispatched agents to Congo to secure exclusive mining licences for jungle-covered land near the Cameroon border. A July 2006 report by Sundance's African agents sent to the Australian firm says it is "is very clear" the project would only go ahead with the backing of "Head of State," President Denis Sassou Nguesso. Company files reveal that the agents then brokered a deal potentially worth millions of dollars with the president's son and nephew, who demanded they be given a large parcel of shares in Sundance's proposed Congo subsidiary. "Denis [-Christel] Sassou Nguesso [the president's son] was delighted by the project, but clearly had a problem with the shareholders standing that was proposed to the Congolese side in this deal." "Unless we give them [the Nguesso government] a good reason to do this project with us, they would want to do the project with the Chinese," the confidential July 2006 report states. Sundance agreed to give a one-third stake in its Congolese subsidiary to the president's son and nephew in late 2006 and later swapped some of those shares for a multi-million dollar shareholding in its listed Australian company. In August 2007, President Sassou Nguesso personally signed off on two exclusive mining permits for Sundance, which the company's agents attributed to "our relations and network in Congo." Mbalam Camp, iron ore deposit in the Congo. Credit:Sundance Resources Sundance told the ASX in 2008 that it would issue several large tranches of its Australian shares, worth up to $13 million, to unnamed Congolese shareholders. Internal files reveal the beneficiaries as "Denis [-Christel] and Rodrigue," the President's son and nephew. The President and his son, have been investigated by international NGOs and French authorities over human rights abuses and alleged corruption, with French corruption investigators in 2009 uncovering the family's ownership of luxury cars and real estate in Paris worth millions. The AFP said it is evaluating the case and takes "these allegations very seriously." A Sundance spokesman said after being contacted by Fairfax Media, the firm "has commissioned an independent party" to conduct a "thorough assessment". Snowy Mountains and the president On September 12, 2013 World Bank investigators sent a confidential file to the federal police alleging the SMEC was engaged in suspected "fraud and corruption" in connection to a power plant project in Bangladesh in 2007. This prompted a secret federal police probe, which dug up another bribery allegation involving SMEC's involvement in an aid-funded sewerage project in Colombo in 2011. In April last year, startled locals from Cooma, a picturesque town 100 kilometres south of Canberra, watched on as federal agents launched a surprise raid on SMEC's headquarters. SMEC's origins are in the Snowy Mountain Hydro Scheme. Following its privatisation in 1993, the company grew to become a global engineering giant with 5400 staff in dozens of countries. SMEC has previously faced corruption allegations after it sacked longstanding CEO Jack Boniface in 2001 over the use of his expense account. Boniface unsuccessfully sued the firm for unfair dismissal in 2007 but, in doing so, revealed that to win contracts, he was involved in the "payment of bribes to government and other officials." In addition to the World Bank inquiry, internal company emails reveal bribery allegations involving a second Sri Lankan contract, a dam project also funded by the World Bank. Emails from SMEC's recently sacked Sri Lankan manager to two Australian colleagues detail an alleged meeting in 2009 with Sri Lanka's president Sirisena, who at the time was minister for Agriculture, Development and Agrarian Services. SMEC's manager wrote on June 3 that Sirisena, who was also "secretary of the ruling party - a powerful man in the present administration", may request "something out of the way - funds for the party". SMEC needed Mr Sirisena to sign off on cabinet papers approving the award of the $1.82 million dam project. Two days later, SMEC's manager wrote another email to his colleagues about his meeting with Mr Sirisena. "He said there will be elections in the near future and he wants to know whether SMEC could make a donation for the elections. He [Mr Siresena] detailed me to discuss this with his Co-ordinating Secretary. Co-ordinating-Secretary said this is the way it goes prior to signing the cabinet papers. He wants us to propose an amount/percentage on the contract value. If you could advise me on an amount of percentage based on the financial figures I could inform the minister/ Co-ordinating Sec " Twelve days later, the manager wrote another email saying that unnamed "key people" had asked for approximately "1%... of the total contract." "The key people have now disclosed their cost as 2.5m LKR [Sri Lankan Rupees, a sum worth about $A27,000]". "Since the signing of the contract would depend on our agreement to honour the cost of 2.5 M LKR, we have to prioritise that." Senior men in Australian business were twice as likely to rank other men over women as effective problem-solvers, despite believing that women were as capable as men in delivering outcomes. Chief Executive Women, which represents more than 370 of Australia's most senior women from corporate and community sectors, and Male Champions of Change, a group established in 2010 by then Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick to increase the representation of women in leadership - draws on recent research to show that the way merit is currently used in appointment decisions can, in fact, hide gender bias and protect the status quo. Its report In the Eye of the Beholder: Avoiding the Merit Trap, said that the more an organisation promotes itself as "meritocratic", the more inequitable it was found to be. It said common biases still impact decision-making in Australian companies. These include an "affinity bias" - "a tendency to favour people who are like us". This, the report found, resulted in "homogenous teams and group think". "I am deeply concerned by this significant price increase for a product that has been on the market for more than three decades, and by Mylan's failure to publicly explain the recent cost increase, which places a significant burden on parents, schools and other purchasers of the EpiPen," senator Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat, said on Tuesday in a statement, noting that he is a parent of a child with severe allergies. Mylan acquired rights to sell EpiPen in 2007, and raised the price by about sixfold before coming under scrutiny last year for charging $US600 for a two-pack of the life-saving medication. Credit:AP On Wednesday, the Senate Special Committee on Aging asked Bresch to turn over information used by Mylan's board of directors related to the price increases. The panel wrote a letter to Bresch asking her to "provide a briefing to committee staff on the pricing of EpiPen at a mutually convenient time no later than two weeks from today". The letter was signed by the committee's chairman, Republican senator Susan Collins of Maine, and its top Democrat, senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat who has asked the company to lower its prices, is holding an event on Wednesday where he will call for investigations by the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Federal Trade Commission into potential antitrust violations and deceptive and illegal trade practices. Martin Shkreli was called before a congressional committee this year to explain why he bought the rights to an older drug and raised the price. Credit:AP Congressional anger may be fuelled by the company's tactics in pushing legislation that helped boost the use of EpiPens. Mylan spent about $US4 million in 2012 and 2013 on lobbying for access to EpiPens generally and for legislation, including the 2013 School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act, according to lobbying disclosure forms filed with the Office of the Clerk for the House of Representatives. Mylan also was the top corporate sponsor of a group called Food Allergy Research & Education that was the key lobbyist pushing for the bill encouraging schools to stock epinephrine auto-injectors, of which EpiPen is by far the leading product. The recent price increase for EpiPens places a financial burden on those who desperately need this drug to prevent life threatening allergic reactions. But Bresch's connections to Capitol Hill already have some lawmakers tiptoeing around the usual Washington blame game. Blame game For example, Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a co-sponsor of the 2013 schools bill, asked Bresch in a letter on Monday to explain the "shocking price increases". However, in an interview on Tuesday, he was less eager to talk about Bresch herself or the prospect that she might soon be testifying to the committee. He initially answered during one telephone call that he was unaware that she had any direct involvement in the pricing. Then, in a follow-up call, Blumenthal responded when asked again about the possibility of her coming before Congress by saying, "I am just not going to comment on that". Tax moves Bresch, 47, has been CEO of Mylan since 2012 and previously held other senior posts at the company, including as head of government relations. Last year, she had to defend the company after it moved its corporate address overseas to lower its US taxes in a transaction known as an inversion. Now incorporated in the Netherlands, its principal executive office is in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. Ross Baker, a political scientist at Rutgers University in New Jersey, said on Tuesday that he assumes Bresch's father, Manchin - who is not on the Judiciary Committee - would recuse himself "and put a lot of distance between himself and any investigation" into the matter. "He'd be unwise to rise to the defence of Mylan," Baker said. Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley of Iowa, who is running for re-election, also wrote a letter to Mylan saying he was "concerned that the substantial price increase could limit access to a much-needed medication", asking for an explanation by September 6, the day the Senate returns from its seven-week summer recess. Jill Gerber, Grassley's spokeswoman, said in an email that he wants to hear back from Mylan before considering holding a hearing. School program Mylan has given away more than 700,000 free EpiPen's to schools since 2012 under a program that allows them to receive four free auto-injectors, the company said in a statement. Yet schools have to use their own funds to purchase additional pens. Mylan declined to comment on the price increases coinciding with legislation to encourage EpiPen use. Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, asked the Federal Trade Commission on Monday to look into whether Mylan had done anything to deny competitors access to the market in order to keep raising prices. She pointed to a competitor product, Adrenaclick, that she said was less expensive but had only minimal sales. Klobuchar was also a co-sponsor of the schools bill. In the House on Tuesday, majority and minority staff members of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee held a meeting after receiving a letter from Representative Grace Meng, a New York Democrat, requesting the panel hold a hearing. The majority staff scheduled a call with the company, though Democrats on the committee said they were waiting to hear back on whether a hearing will be scheduled. A spokeswoman for committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz of Utah, said that as of Tuesday afternoon no hearing was scheduled. "And no comment beyond that," said the spokeswoman, M.J. Henshaw. The top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, Elijah Cummings of Maryland, said on Tuesday he wanted a hearing when lawmakers returned from their summer break to Washington in September. Londoners have been telling transport authorities to shove their Oyster Cards where the sun don't shine for 13 years. Strikes on the Tube, bad service, violence and technical glitches abound. Losses on pokies subsidise the food and booze for non-players. Credit:Andrew Meares In 2005 London medical students even adapted The Jam song Going Underground into a foul-mouthed parody based on doing something quite painful with the Oyster. Now we have our own version, the Opal. Screen Australia has named an unassuming Romeo and Juliet tale set in the South Pacific as its official entry for best foreign language film at the 2017 Oscars. Based on a true story, Tanna is a cinematic translation of a song about two lovers who defy the ancient laws of arranged marriage. It was filmed on a volcanic outlying island of Vanuatu in the native language of Nauvhal, the cast drawn from the village of Yakel who, until the arrival of Australian filmmakers Bentley Dean and Martin Butler, had never seen a movie before. The plot follows a young girl, Wawa, who falls in love with the chief's grandson but is unknowingly betrothed to another as part of a peace deal hatched between two warring tribes. The young lovers run away, precipitate a renewal of hostilities and must choose between their hearts and the tribe's future. Sarah Hanson-Young has declared the culture of secrecy on Nauru "out of control" after she was barred from returning to the tiny country to investigate the plight of refugees. The Greens senator has called on Malcolm Turnbull to intervene, insisting "Australians deserve to know what is being done in their name on Nauru". She suspects the decision is payback for her role in exposing the extent of sexual and other abuse of detainees inside the Nauru detention centre more than two years ago. The senator's allegations prompted the Moss review in October 2014, which found evidence of rape, sexual assault of minors and guards trading marijuana for sexual favours from female detainees. Fly-by-night private colleges with high drop-out rates are set to lose access to taxpayer subsidies under a federal government plan to "smash" the business model of dodgy operators. The Turnbull government is also considering imposing limits on how much students can be loaned for particular vocational courses and restricting funding to courses with strong employment outcomes. Left-field courses with poor job prospects such as performing arts and art therapy are likely to be ruled ineligible for government funds. Education Minister Simon Birmingham will announce on Thursday that he is finalising a major overhaul of the government's scandal-plagued vocational loans scheme to come into effect next year. Natural gas-focused energy company Questar Corp.s STR proposed purchase by Virginia-based Dominion Resources, Inc. D received nod from Public Service Commission of Utah, subject to certain terms and conditions. The impending approval was a major regulatory hurdle and its sanction has moved the proposed combination of the duo one step closer to finalization. This $4.4 billion merger now requires the final regulatory approval of the Wyoming Public Service Commission. The transaction is expected to close in 2016 after the final regulatory approval is received. The entity formed by the merger of Questar Corp and Dominion Resources will serve about 2.5 million electric utility customers and 2.3 million gas utility customers across seven states. Moreover, the integrated energy company will be operating more than 15,500 miles of natural gas transmission and approximately 25,700 megawatts of electric generation. QUESTAR Price QUESTAR Price | QUESTAR Quote Dominion Resources is a major energy company engaged in regulated and non-regulated electricity distribution, generation and transmission businesses. In addition, it sells electricity at wholesale prices to rural electric cooperatives, municipalities and through wholesale electricity markets. Questar Corp. is a natural gas-focused energy company with three principal subsidiaries Wexpro Company, Questar Pipeline, and Questar Gas Company. Both Questar and Dominion Resources currently carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked players from the Utilities-Gas Distribution industry are Just Energy Group Inc. JE and Northwest Natural Gas Company NWN a. Both these stocks hold 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 DOMINION RES VA (D): Free Stock Analysis Report NORTHWEST NAT G (NWN): Free Stock Analysis Report QUESTAR (STR): Free Stock Analysis Report JUST ENERGY GRP (JE): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research The first national survey designed to discover how widespread sexual assault and harassment is among university students is decades overdue, says Australian Human Rights Commission president Gillian Triggs. All 39 of Australia's universities will participate in the research project to give the sector a proper understanding of the prevalence of attacks and harassment on campuses. Gillian Triggs: "To respond to [sexual assault and harassment] in a nationwide consistent manner we ultimately need research." Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Professor Triggs hopes the data will shine a light on disturbing initiation rituals, the experience of international students, and the rates of sexual assaults at universities compared to wider communities. The decision of a judge to dismiss a disability discrimination case which he described as a "trifle" and "nothing more than a try-on" has been overturned on appeal in a development described as a victory for the rights of people with disabilities. Central Coast woman Kate Hinton launched a case against Westmead Private Hospital after it was unable to provide a sign language interpreter for her husband Anthony, who is deaf, to help him communicate with medical staff during the birth of their first baby last year. Anthony Hinton, his wife Kate Hinton and their baby daughter Abigail. Credit:James Brickwood The couple ended up having to switch to the public Westmead Hospital, which provided an Auslan interpreter free of charge. The matter came before Judge Alexander "Sandy" Street in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, where he dismissed the case in February, comparing Mrs Hinton's request to her "buying a bag of chips" and expecting the shopkeeper to provide an interpreter. A severe weather warning for heavy rainfall remains in place for Sydney and the central coast. However, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, the worst of the rain should now have passed. It's expected it will ease off further after midnight, and we will get just a few millimetres tomorrow. Most of the Sydney basin copped a drenching from 9am to 11.30pm, BoM figures show, with 61mm of rain at the Royal National Park, 60mm at Sydney Olympic Park, and 58mm at Canterbury. Chatswood, North Ryde, North Parramatta, Toongabbie, Lidcombe, Bankstown and Peakhurst also had rainfall figures in the mid-50s, while the rest of Sydney had between 30 and 50mm of rain. We can expect top temperatures of 16 degrees tomorrow, with showers continuing until the weekend. Tributes have begun flowing in for the British backpacker slain in a frenzied stabbing in north Queensland. Friends have described Mia Ayliffe-Chung as an infectiously happy young woman as news of her death in Home Hill, a rural town about 75km south-east of Townsville, spreads to her former home on the Gold Coast. The 21-year-old arrived in Australia about a year ago on a working holiday. She had been working as a waitress at Gold Coast nightclubs before making her way north for the backpacker rite of passage on the harvest trail. She completed her first day on a sugarcane farm on August 17 and began sharing photos of her experience on social media. Mia Ayliffe-Chung arrived in Australia in 2015 ready for the adventure of a lifetime. She had just qualified as a childcare practitioner and was ready to see the world. Her adventures took her through Morocco, Turkey, India and Thailand before taking up her one-year visa in Australia. She began working at Bedroom Lounge Bar on the Gold Coast as a waitress, gathering a multitude of new friends. Transgendered and intersex Queenslanders will have to wait until the Palaszczuk Government addresses a multitude of other wrongs against the state's LGBTIQ community, before learning whether or not the government will allow them to change gender on their birth certificates. The Palaszczuk Government is facing pressure to follow the ACT and Victorian lead in amending legislation to allow transgendered and intersex people to alter their gender on their birth certificate, a move which removes legal barriers and discrimination for those transitioning. Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath has acknowledged the government needs to work through a various issues the LGBTIQ community has identified among its priorities for social justice reform." Credit:Tertius Pickard The South Australian parliament is examining legislation which aims to follow suit and Tasmania has opened the topic up for consultation. But Queensland has made no moves since Newman Government Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie announced a review of the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act. The change in government saw the review dropped and Labor has yet to pick the topic back up. An artist's impression shows the planet Proxima b, which is 1.3 times the mass of Earth. Credit:ESO/Kornmesser "But what Proxima does is act like a neon sign: right here, folks, this is not fuzzy or vague, it's the very nearest star in the sky." Dr Butler said this discovery adds to a body of evidence that suggests about 30 per cent of all stars have a planet orbiting in the habitable zone. Dr Paul Butler. "This isn't a rigid figure," he said. "It could be 20 per cent or up to 50 per cent." With about 100 billion stars in the galaxy, even a conservative estimate means there are probably billions of planets that could harbour life. "This is the jackpot for astronomers and futuristic dreamers alike. It's really an extraordinary discovery," said Professor Peter Tuthill, an astronomer at the University of Sydney who was unconnected with the study. Dr Butler said the whole point of the science he is doing is to provide information for the next generation. "I think of what I'm doing as like the early ocean voyagers that found the Americas and Australia. The first role was simply to map what they had found so people could follow up. And that's exactly what I'm trying to do. "I want to build a map of the nearest stars that can point the way for the next generation." In 2012, researchers announced a planet around Alpha Centauri, the next nearest star. But that was debunked last year. Is Dr Butler sure of their discovery? "It's really unlikely that two totally different telescopes using two totally different techniques could have the same systematic errors. That's really implausible." The Alpha Centauri announcement relied on one data set. "This is data from two telescopes over a number of years. It is reasonably compelling evidence," said Professor Chris Tinney at the University of NSW. Professor Tinney, while not connected to this study, has worked with Dr Butler. None of the detected exoplanets have been directly observed. However, detecting and measuring the velocity of a star's wobble indicates the mass of any object orbiting it. The speed of the wobble is determined by measuring Doppler shifts in light reaching Earth. When the star is moving ever so slightly towards us, the light is shifted to the blue end of the spectrum, when it wobbles slightly away from us, measured light shifts towards the red. Southern skies over the ESO telescope in Chile with images of the stars Proxima Centauri and Alpha Centauri AB. Credit:ESO/ESA/NASA "Any talk about life on Proxima b is pure speculation," said Dr Butler, speaking to Fairfax Media from the Magellan telescope at Las Campanas, Chile. "We won't have a clue about life until we take the next step, which is direct imaging of the planet allowing us to study the atmosphere ... but that is realistically 20 years away." That, however, is a lot quicker than sending a probe. The fastest spacecraft humans have sent into space is the New Horizons mission to Pluto. It was sent from Earth at some 45 kilometres a second and flew past Pluto at a still impressive 14 kilometres a second. However, even at the upper speed it would take almost 30,000 years for a probe to reach Proxima b. This image of the sky around the bright star Alpha Centauri AB also shows the much fainter red dwarf star, Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our solar system. Credit:ESO/ESA/NASA While Proxima b is a bit like the third rock from our sun, the star it orbits is very unlike our own. Proxima Centauri is a red dwarf "M-class" star. It is much smaller and cooler than our sun, a "G-class" star. At about 3000 degrees, it has about half the surface temperature of the sun and is just 12 per cent the sun's mass. Its luminosity the amount of energy it emits is just 0.15 per cent that of our sun. That explains why it cannot be seen with the naked eye and was not discovered until 1915. Astronomers estimate that as many as 75 per cent of stars in the galaxy are M-class red dwarfs. This means studying Proxima Centauri and its planet will give us an understanding of many of the potential star systems in the Milky Way. Writing in Nature, Artie Hatzes of the Thuringian State Observatory said: "Circling a star at the right distance is no guarantee that the planet has liquid water or even an atmosphere that can support life." The small distance from Proxima b to its star means that, in the same way our moon always faces one side to Earth, this planet is most likely to be "tidally locked" and would have a permanently bright side and a permanently dark side. Further, the magnetic field of Proxima Centauri is 600 times greater than the sun's and, as the researchers point out, the planet suffers "X-ray fluxes that are approximately 400 times that experienced by Earth". "This could be bad news if you want to keep a biosphere going," said Professor Tuthill at Sydney University. SES crews have discontinued the search for missing Yea man Matyas Babos nine days after the 79-year-old went missing. Mr Babos, who has dementia, went missing from his Francis Street home sometime between 10am and 4pm on August 15. Matyas Babos, 79, has not been seen since Monday August 15. Credit:Victoria Police SES crews have been scouring bushland and battling wet and windy conditions in north-east Victoria in search of Mr Babos for several days but decided to postpone the search on Monday afternoon. SES Marysville deputy controller Jo Hunter confirmed SES crews had stepped back, pending further requests from Victoria Police. "If you can keep people out of prison you're saving the community a lot of money I don't think people understand how much imprisonment costs." Ms Popovic, who is also co-ordinator of the Koori Court division of the Magistrates Court, will speak on Thursday at the Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration's conference on Indigenous justice in Alice Springs. She will use her speech to call for Victoria to take lessons from other jurisdictions that are trialling so-called "justice reinvestment" measures, that redirect money and resources from policing and prisons to social measures to try to keep people out of jail in the first place. "Justice reinvestment is a movement that started in the far-right of the United States and was actually started by Jeb Bush and people that he was close to in the Republican Party, where they just took the view that what they were spending in Texas on prisons was ridiculous, and that maybe they should be thinking about purely from an economical rationalist's point of view reinvesting the money from prisons into social programs, such as rehabilitation," Ms Popovic told Fairfax. "They've closed prisons in Texas as a result. And they've reduced crime." "I was relieved to see him get justice and then immediately disappointed to see him walk free again," she said. Ms Sinha, who went to the school in the 1960s and 1970s, said another alleged perpetrator, who is believed to be dead, abused her friends on school camps. She accused Preshil of being slow to act and defensive in response to a flood of allegations about the two men that emerged on social media in 2013. "I would have thought Preshil could have been a leader," she said. Mr Lethbridge said McMillan's crimes had caused destructive and lasting effects on his victims. "The crimes have devastated their lives and continue to significantly impact them," he said. "You were a person trusted to care for children and given authority over them. You betrayed that trust and abused that authority." Mr Lethbridge noted the abuse of the Wesley student took place in an isolated tent where he was "effectively powerless". "There was, in short, no escape," he said. "This happened repeatedly." He said McMillan, who was deregistered from teaching in 1996, deserved a prison term, but took his ill health into consideration when sentencing him. McMillan, who sat in the court's front row with a walking stick by his side, rocked his head back and let out a sigh at the magistrate's first mention that a prison term was warranted. Defence counsel Dermot Dann, QC, asked Mr Lethbridge to take into consideration his client's "outstanding" contribution to the community, including belonging to choirs, volunteering at the CFA and involvement in an olive growers' association. "This man has contributed to the community very well and he's been out of trouble," he said. Mr Dann said his client's guilty plea, lack of prior offences, low risk of reoffending and ill health should also be considered, suggesting either a community corrections order or suspended sentence was appropriate. McMillan's case was adjourned in March when a broken leg prevented him from travelling to Victoria from his home in Queensland. Mr Dann said McMillan suffered from a heart condition, osteoporosis, scoliosis and psychological issues, including adjustment disorder and a preoccupation with his medical condition. "A term of imprisonment would be particularly burdensome for a this man at his age," Mr Dann said. Prosecutor Luisa Di Pietrantonio asked that McMillan be jailed, noting the maximum five-year prison term available. McMillan was placed on the lifetime sex offender registry. As he sat in the dock ready to be led away by police, his two now-adult victims shared brief words and a few smiles with each other. Another former student, Jason Downing, who was taught by McMillan in the late 1980s, said he believed the sentence was fair due to the nature of the offending as well as his age. Mr Downing said McMillan would regularly order students to take off their clothes in a communal shower after gym lessons. The teacher would shower with them, also naked. "He'd be lathering himself up. He'd put his towel between his legs. It was reasonably perverted," he said. Although Mr Downing didn't think anything untoward was going on at the time, he said he wasn't surprised when the allegations surfaced, including by some of his friends. "He was generally not well liked. He was a bit of a weirdo," he said. In a letter sent to parents at the school on Wednesday afternoon, Preshil offered victims its "wholehearted" support. "Preshil has apologised publicly for the crimes of this man, recognising that we do not know the full extent of the pain and damage he has caused," the letter, signed by principal Marilyn Smith and school council chair Andrew McMeekin, said. "The school wishes publicly to acknowledge the courage and the patience of those who have not allowed this matter to rest." The letter also acknowledged some of the school's community were disappointed that its communication about McMillan had not reached all alumni. Preshil was the creation of founder Greta Lyttle, and her niece Margaret Lyttle, who was principal for 50 years, until 1994. Feeling unfairly targeted by myki inspectors is nothing new for Melbourne's homeless travellers, an expert on disadvantage says. Her comments come after a Melbourne commuter claimed she was threatened with a fine and abused by ticket inspectors for offering to pay a homeless man's tram fare earlier this week. Youth Projects chairwoman Melanie Raymond said such cases were not an isolated occurrence. "People who are homeless do feel they are victimised and more likely to be given a hard time, not just on public transport," she said. A $1 billion Turnbull government plan to widen the Monash Freeway has hit a roadblock, with the Andrews government claiming it could worsen congestion at key intersections. The state and Commonwealth governments have for months been squabbling over the fate of $1.5 billion that was handed to Victoria by the former Abbott government in mid-2014 for the dumped East West Link project. After considering legal action to recoup the cash, in the lead up to last month's federal election Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull promised to let Victoria keep the money provided it is used for various hand-picked federal projects. Included on the list was the condition that $500 million is spent for a more extensive upgrade of the Monash Freeway, matched by an equal contribution from Victoria. It started as an experiment, a pretty messed up one, but an experiment nonetheless. "Blake", as he wants to be called, was using Tinder for himself and kept seeing underage girls on the dating app. "Imogen", who said she was 15 in her Tinder profile, quickly matched with hundreds of men. Credit:The Tinder Experiment/YouTube "I didn't think they realised the position they were putting themselves in," he said. The 26-year-old watched the American reality series To Catch a Predator (actors posing as girls to trap paedophiles) and he thought he could do a Melbourne version with his friends. A judge has dismissed the appeal by a traditional owner of Perth's Beeliar wetlands against the Aboriginal heritage approval given for the Roe 8 highway extension. The extension is the most contentious part of the largely federal-funded near $2 billion Perth Freight Link project, which opponents say will involve clearing about one-quarter of the environmentally-sensitive wetlands. The Roe 8 highway extension has cleared the latest hurdle in mooted construction through the Beeliar wetlands. Credit:Facebook It is also controversial on Aboriginal heritage grounds. However Supreme Court of Western Australia Justice Janine Pritchard handed down her decision on Wednesday, which rejected traditional owner Corina Abraham's challenge of the approval. Tokyo: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday North Korea's latest missile launch was "unforgivable" and posed a grave threat to Japan's security, adding his government had lodged a stern protest against its isolated neighbour. "This poses a grave threat to Japan's security, and is an unforgivable act that damages regional peace and stability markedly," Abe told reporters at the prime minister's residence. North Korea fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile off its east coast early on Wednesday, South Korea's military said, the latest in a string of missile launches in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions. The missile was fired at around 5.30am local time from near the coastal city of Sinpo, where satellite imagery shows a submarine base to be located, and travelled about 500 kilometres, officials at South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Defence Ministry told Reuters. Bangkok: A little-publicised 13-year war in southern Thailand has escalated further, with militants detonating twin bombs designed to target emergency workers and security forces. Thirty minutes after the first bomb was detonated in a parking lot near a hotel in the coastal town of Pattani, a second bomb exploded in a truck parked at the hotel entrance, killing one Thai and injuring 30 others. The attack late on Tuesday night came less than two weeks after a series of co-ordinated bombings and fires in tourist areas in seven Thai provinces, including the resort of Phuket, the most popular destination in Thailand for Australian tourists. Thai police say most of the suspects in the August 11 and 12 attacks that killed four people and injured 30 are Muslims from the southernmost Malay-majority provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani, where almost 7000 people have been killed as Malay insurgents have waged a separatist war since 2004. Washington: Donald Trump is very laid back, revealing his afflictions for all to see. But that Clinton woman - whoa, blimey and bloody hell, how good is she at pretending all is well when we know she's crook as well as being crooked? Apart from being the most unpopular candidates to face off for the presidency, these two also are the oldest: he's 70; she's 68. One of the American campaign traditions, locked in by the ageing candidacy of Ronald Reagan in 1980, is that candidates be honest with the people though the GOP's John McCain opted to bore them to death, releasing more than 1000 pages of his medical history in 2008. But Trump and Clinton have opted for a show of the contempt that characterises this campaign she has released just a couple of pages of her medical history; he has released a couple of paragraphs. New website innovations simplify auction bidding process for salvage vehicle buyers MISSISSAUGA, ON, Aug. 23, 2016 /CNW/ - Impact Auto Actions Ltd., a subsidiary of Insurance Auto Auctions (IAA) and a business unit of KAR Auction Services , has launched a new website (www.impactauto.ca) with a modern interface and an array of enhancements. The new site also offers Impact's buying customers access to two new tools: My Auction Center, a personalized dashboard designed to streamline the process of sourcing and purchasing salvage vehicles, and Impact AuctionNowTM, an online bidding platform that helps buyers optimize their time online which seamlessly integrates with My Auction Centre ensuring all account activity is accessible at the click of a button. "We are delighted to launch our new online buyer portal which not only simplifies the bidding process for our customers, but reinforces our commitment to investing in our diverse and growing buyer market," said Terry Daniels, Impact's Managing Director. "Together these enhancements constitute one of our largest investments in our buyer base to-date and we are already getting great feedback from buyers." The updated website includes an advanced search function which allows users to find vehicles with ease by choosing from several pre-defined categories, as well as a 'saved search' option which stores users' most frequently used search terms to improve the online experience. The site also now offers a simplified registration process for new buying customers which eliminates the need to complete extensive paperwork with a fast, simple and secure online registration to access Impact's auctions. Registered buying customers can also now access My Auction Center and Impact AuctionNow. My Auction Center is a comprehensive dashboard which facilitates buying and account management activities by enabling customers to bid in real time, receive vehicle pick-up notifications and view upcoming auctions and announcements on a single page. Impact AuctionNow brings domestic and international buyers side-by-side with live bidders at Impact's auctions. Building on the company's previous LiveBlock Hybrid Auction system, the site now has a contemporary interface and new features that enable buyers to find and purchase salvage vehicles through Impact's website with greater ease and efficiency. In addition, AuctionNow allows customers to gain faster and easier access to Impact's vehicle inventory, streamlining the buying process and providing a better customer experience. Through the upgraded platform, buyers can now view and bid on multiple auction lanes or sales from one screen, track active bids across all auctions sites, pre-bid on a vehicle the moment it is posted until its auction date, and monitor upcoming buying opportunities via an automated Watch List. Visit Impact's new website at www.impactauto.ca. About Impact Auto Auctions Impact Auto Auctions is Canada's leading live and live-online salvage vehicle auction company with 14 auction facilities in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. Impact's national service offering allows sellers to standardize processes across the country, and provides buyers with Canada's most extensive selection of salvage vehicles. Impact is a subsidiary of Insurance Auto Auctions (IAA), and a business unit of KAR Auction Services, Inc. . For more information, please visit www.impactauto.ca. About Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc. Insurance Auto Auctions is the leading live and live-online salvage vehicle auction company and a business unit of KAR Auction Services . Headquartered in Westchester, Illinois, IAA has 170 auction facilities throughout North America offering towing, financing and titling services. With the most auction facilities in North America, IAA provides registered buyers from around the globe with millions of opportunities to bid on and purchase donated and salvaged vehicles. Since 1982, IAA has sold millions of vehicles through its weekly auctions for insurance companies, fleet and rental companies, financing companies, charity organizations and the general public. IAA also leverages its business model to assist charitable organizations in the US through its One Car One Difference campaign. To date IAA has provided millions of dollars in additional funding to charities by assisting in the processing of donated vehicles. Learn how we are making a difference by visiting www.1car1difference.com. With a talented team of over 2,000 employees, IAA is committed to providing customers with the highest level of services in the salvage auto industry. Go to www.IAA-Auctions.com to learn more, and follow IAA on Facebook and Twitter. Monday 05 September, 2016 Reliable information reaching Biafra writers desk has it that the life of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indi... syria map Syrian rebels, backed by Turkish and US forces, have captured the ISIS border city of Jarablus in northern Syria. The capture of Jarablus serves as a major blow to ISIS, the group also known as the Islamic State, ISIL, or Daesh, as the city functioned as a funnel for foreign fighters and supplies leading from Turkey into Syria, The Washington Post reports. Turkey and the US hope that by removing the Islamic State from the border, they can deprive it of a smuggling route that long saw its ranks swollen with foreign fighters and its coffers boosted by illicit trade. The capture of Jarablus came after Turkey vowed on Monday to "completely cleanse" ISIS from its border following a suicide bombing at a wedding in the Turkish city of Gaziantep on Saturday. The bombing is thought to have been carried out by ISIS, though the group has not yet claimed responsibility. The bombing killed 54 people and was aimed at a Kurdish wedding, most likely in an attempt to further provoke hostilities between Turkey's Kurdish minority and the central government. "Daesh should be completely cleansed from our borders and we are ready to do what it takes for that," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said at a news conference in Ankara. Turkey followed through with its vow to expunge ISIS from its border by launching a large-scale offensive against the city of Jarablus on Wednesday. The BBC reports that the Turkish military destroyed 70 targets around Jarablus with artillery strikes and another 12 targets with airstrikes. Following the strikes, Turkish tanks and special forces, also backed by US-led coalition airpower, moved into northern Syria and against Jarablus. The mission also involved the use of Turkish-backed regiments of the Free Syrian Army rebel group, which crossed over the border from Turkey to assault Jarablus. The Washington Post reports, citing rebel forces and Turkish officials, that the combined force managed to reach the center of Jarablus while encountering little to no resistance from ISIS. It is believed that the militant group fled the city before the offensive was fully launched. Story continues As much as the mission was meant to strike at ISIS and deny the group from conducting further operations within Turkey, the drive against Jarablus was also meant to limit the aspirations of the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia. "This morning at 4 a.m. (1 a.m. GMT) an operation started in northern Syria against terror groups which constantly threaten our country, like Daesh (Islamic State) and the PYD," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a speech in Ankara. The sudden Turkish-backed seizure of Jarablus comes as the YPG seized the ISIS-held city of Manbij and prepared to turn its attention against Jarablus. Indeed, over the weekend the Syrian Democratic Forces which are largely made up of the YPG formed a Military Council aimed at retaking the border city. turkish forces enter syria The YPG has emerged as one of the most powerful groups fighting against ISIS in Syria. The group has managed to seize and hold large portions of northern Syria, and the Kurds have made moves toward forming an autonomous Kurdish region in the north of the country in a similar move to that of Iraqi Kurdistan. But the YPG has ties to the Kurdish PKK movement, which the US and the EU consider to be a terrorist organization and which has waged a deadly insurgency across eastern Turkey since in the 1980s. Despite a lull in attacks as the Turkish government and the Kurds worked on a peace process, violence between the PKK and the Turkish military has restarted, leading to clashes throughout Turkey's Kurdish east. Turkey fears that the expansion of the YPG across Syria will only further embolden the PKK at home. For that reason, Turkey's push to take Jarablus has as much to do with limiting the YPG's territorial ambitions as it does with forcing ISIS from the border. Kurdish fighters have captured large areas of territory since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011, and Ankara has long declared the Euphrates river, which runs just east of Jarablus, a red line it does not want them to cross. The Turkish military actions against Jarablus have been named "Euphrates Shield." It is Turkey's first military action since the failed coup in July. Syria's foreign ministry condemned what it said was a breach of its sovereignty and accused Ankara of launching the incursion to replace the Islamic State with "other terrorist groups." Damascus has also called for an immediate end to the Turkish-backed incursion. However, Turkish officials told the official Anadolu news agency, however, that the operation was "aimed at clearing the Turkish borders of terrorist groups, helping to enhance border security and supporting the territorial integrity of Syria," The Post notes. NOW WATCH: EX-PENTAGON CHIEF: These are the 2 main reasons ISIS was born More From Business Insider Crown Princess Mary of Denmark wears the Ruby Parure Tiara (Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images) When Denmarks crown princess attends glittering events like royal weddings, state banquets, or the annual New Years courts, she often wears a distinctive tiara of rubies and diamonds. The tiara isnt only beautiful it has an amazing backstory that travels back two centuries to France and the extravagant imperial coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte. Ingres, Napoleon on his Imperial Throne, 1806 (Image: Wikimedia Commons) After Napoleon was declared Emperor of France, he knew that he needed to have a coronation worthy of his new position and one that would show the world that his empire was legitimate and important. He planned the ceremony down to the smallest detail, carefully referencing French royal tradition while still emphasizing that his reign was new and modern. Surrounding himself with a group of glittering supporters was a key aspect of the plan. He had recently named a slate of 18 Marshals of the Empire, men who had proven their military prowess and their loyalty during his post-revolution quest for power. Outfitting the marshals and their wives in splendid finery, Napoleon decided, would help to emphasize the power of the imperial court. Accordingly, he gave each of the marshals a large sum of money to purchase suites of jewels for their wives to wear at Notre Dame during the coronation. Desiree Clary, later Queen of Sweden (Image: Wikimedia Commons) One of these new marshals was Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, the son of an attorney who had proven himself to be a skillful though sometimes manipulative military commander. His personal connection to Napoleon was intriguing: in 1798, Bernadotte had married Desiree Clary, the daughter of a silk merchant from Marseilles. Until 1795, Desiree had been engaged to marry someone else: Napoleon Bonaparte. When he met Josephine de Beauharnais, however, Napoleon had ended his engagement to Desiree. Her Bonaparte connections went even further, however her sister, Julie, was married to Napoleons brother, Joseph. In many ways, Bernadotte owed his position in Napoleons inner circle to Desiree. Detail, The Coronation of Napoleon by Jacques-Louis David, 1808 (Image: Wikimedia Commons) When Napoleon handed Bernadotte money to purchase a new suite of jewelry for Desiree, Bernadotte ordered a lovely set of diamond and ruby jewels from a jeweler in Paris. (Sadly, the name of this jeweler seems to have been lost to history.) The suite included a necklace, girandole earrings, and a large corsage brooch, as well as two hair ornaments in the shape of branches, with pave-set diamond leaves and ruby berries. As she walked in the coronation procession at Notre Dame on December 2, 1804, Desirees new ruby parure would have glittered brightly as she followed Empress Josephine, carrying the new empresss veil and handkerchief on a pillow. Fredric Westons portrait of the Bernadotte family, ca. 1837 (Image: Wikimedia Commons) Desiree was happy living in Paris among her family and friends at the imperial court, but in 1810, she was suddenly forced to take on a new position. Bernadotte was elected Crown Prince of Sweden, and Desiree had to pack up her life, including her rubies, and travel to Stockholm. It didnt last long; even after Bernadotte became King Carl XVI Johan of Sweden, Desiree was unhappy in Scandinavia, and she fled back to Paris, where she stayed until 1823. That year, her son, Oscar, married Josephine de Beauharnais, a granddaughter of Empress Josephine. Desiree begrudgingly moved back to Stockholm, where she and her rubies stayed until her death in 1860. Queen Lovisa of Denmark (Photo: Wikimedia Commons) The next owner of the ruby set was Desirees daughter-in-law, Josephine, who was known as Queen Josefina by the Swedes. She amassed an incredible collection of jewels during her lifetime, including legacies from Empress Josephine and the imperial family of Brazil. When her granddaughter, Princess Lovisa, married Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark in 1869, however, Josefina knew exactly which jewels to give her as a wedding present. Because the ruby set is red and white the colors of the Danish flag she offered them to Lovisa, who took them with her to Denmark. Queen Alexandrine wears the ornaments as a bandeau The set has been in Denmark ever since. In 1898, Lovisa gave the hair ornaments to her new daughter-in-law, Alexandrine, who married the future King Christian X. Shes the one who connected the two branches together and wore them as a sort of bandeau. When Lovisa died in 1926, she bequeathed the rest of the set to her elder son, King Christian. Sadly, though, there dont seem to be any existing portraits of Alexandrine wearing the complete set of ruby jewels. Queen Ingrid wears the ruby parure (Photo: STF/AFP/Getty Images) Alexandrine was not a devotee of elaborate jewels, and she didnt keep the ruby parure in her own collection for long. Christian and Alexandrine gave the entire ruby set to their new daughter-in-law, Princess Ingrid of Sweden, in 1935. Ingrid, a great-great-great-granddaughter of the sets original owner, took the sparse bandeau and transformed it into a full, imposing wreath tiara. She also made other alterations and additions to the parure during her lifetime. Mary wears the tiara at one of her pre-wedding events (Photo: KELD NAVNTOFT/AFP/Getty Images) When Ingrid died in 2000, she left many of her jewels to her three daughters, but she bequeathed the ruby set to her grandson, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark. The rubies were earmarked for his future spouse who, unbeknownst to the world, Frederik had met a few months earlier. After the engagement between Frederik and Mary Donaldson was announced, the rubies were the first major set of royal jewels that she wore. Crown Princess Mary wears the adjusted tiara (Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) Following in Ingrids footsteps, Crown Princess Mary had the tiara altered slightly in 2010 so that it better fit the shape of her own head. Two centuries after the jewels sparkled down the aisle of Notre Dame at an imperial coronation, Mary still wears them regularly today. Cops and prosecutors said Cathy Woods was a lesbian and that it had driven her to murder. Woods killed college student Michelle Mitchell in Reno, Nevada, in 1976 after the 19-year-old rebuffed her sexual advances, prosecutors claimed. Despite the lack of physical evidence, witness statements saying the victim was with a man, and Woodss diagnosed schizophrenia, she was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Woods spent the next 35 years in prison before a DNA test in 2014 placing a suspected serial killer at the scene of the crime set her free. The case against her was cooked, Woodss lawyers claim in a federal lawsuit filed against Reno law enforcement on Monday. Seeking damages for civil rights violations, malicious prosecution, and emotional distress, Woodss lawyers say she was the victim of a homophobic prosecution and police force that preyed on her mental illness to force a confession for a crime she didnt commitall while Mitchells real killer walked free. Woods was the longest-serving wrongfully convicted woman to be exonerated in United States history, her lawyers wrote in the lawsuit. The city of Reno, named in Woodss lawsuit, said it was still reviewing the suit when contacted by The Daily Beast on Tuesday. All I can say right now is well defend the city, Karl Hall, attorney for the city of Reno, said. Mitchell, a nursing student at the University of Nevadas Reno campus, was found dead in a garage in February 1976 with her hands bound and her throat slit. Witnesses said they had seen Mitchell with a man shortly before her disappearance, and large footprints, as though from a mans shoe, were found near her body. Physical evidence in the case was scant save for a cigarette discovered nearby. With forensic DNA testing a decade away, police were stumped: The case went cold for three years. Then, in 1979, in the Louisiana mental facility where she had been committed involuntarily for psychiatric treatment, Woods started talking about Mitchells killing. The details Woods gave were public knowledge, her lawyers say: Woods had lived in Reno at the time of Mitchells murder, and the story had been highly publicized. Still, Woodss counselor contacted Reno police, in what her lawyers say was a violation of physician-patient confidentiality. The hospital staff should have known she was hearing voices at the time, Woodss lawyer Elizabeth Wang told The Daily Beast. Woods was being treated for schizophrenia, thought disorder, and auditory hallucinations. She was doing all kinds of things that indicated she was saying things that were not at all true. Woods did not match the profile Reno police had assembled of their suspect. Witnesses described seeing a strange man with Mitchell before her death and leaving the area of the crime, but he was large, nearly 6 feet tall. Woods was considerably shorter, with feet too small to match the shoe prints found near Mitchells body. Nevertheless, the Law Enforcement Defendants decided that the Defendants from Reno should travel to Shreveport, Louisiana to interrogate Ms. Woods, her lawyers wrote. At the time of the interrogations, the Law Enforcement Defendants were eager to solve a highly-publicized murder case that had become a cold case. Already detained in the hospital against her will, Woods was highly susceptible to giving a false confession, Woodss lawyers say. Police investigators did not read her Miranda rights, ignored her plea for an attorney, did not allow her to leave the hospital room where she was held, and otherwise ignored her signs of mental illness and distress, the lawyers say. Eventually, Woods confessed to murdering Mitchell. Or at least, police say she did. Theres no record of Woodss confession like a recording, her lawyers say. Nor did police ask her to write her confession, or sign a sworn affidavit. Instead, police memorialized a confession after Woodss interrogation, feeding Woods non-public information about the crime in order to make her appear complicit, her lawyers say. The states case rested on a story of scorned affections, accusing Woods of killing Mitchell after Mitchell rejected her. But the narrative was a fiction, the lawyers say. Im not sure the origins of why they said she was a homosexual, Wang said of Woods, who is heterosexual. I think part of it had to do with the fact that many witnesses identified a male suspect running from the scene Our belief is that they tried to reconcile the fact that Woods is a woman with the other evidence from witnesses, by saying, Oh, well, shes a lesbian. Shes butch. She dressed like a man. They talked a lot at the trial about the way she dressed, the way she acted. A lot of it was stuff that would not be brought up at a trial today, but even by the standards of that time, it was really quite homophobic. By casting Woods as a lesbian, prosecutors hoped to malign her character, her lawyers say. At a time when homosexuality was broadly considered immoral, less than a decade after homosexuality was de-listed as a psychiatric illness, accusing a woman of murdering another over unrequited advances was no doubt helpful to the states case. Woods lost her trial and her subsequent appeal, and spent the next 35 years in jail, where she attempted suicide, survived an assault, and was subjected to electroshock therapy. All the while, Mitchells real killer went unaccused. In 2014, 38 years after Mitchells slaying, police tested the DNA on a cigarette found at the scene of the murder. The DNA matched that of Rodney Halbower, the suspected Gypsy Hill Killer or San Mateo Slasher accused of murdering up to seven women and girls in early 1976. Since Mitchells murder, Halbower had been in and out of prison. In November 1975, just months before the murders of seven women and girls in California and Nevada, he had been jailed for rape. After the murders, for which he was not originally investigated, he was booked again on rape charges, this time escaping during a softball game and kidnapping his 7-year-old daughter in Michigan. Recaptured and returned to a Nevada prison, he escaped a second time in 1986 and fled to Oregon, where he stabbed a woman in a parking lot. Halbower was convicted of attempted murder and was serving a life sentence when DNA tests linked him to Mitchells murder and those of two other women killed in early 1976. When the results of the DNA test were made public, Woods was released, and Halbower was extradited to California, where he has been charged with two 1976 murders. The first thing Woods did after her September 2014 release from prison was to eat a cheeseburger and onion rings with her brother. She is delighted, Woodss criminal attorney Maizie Pusich said upon her release. She is having probably the best day of her life because she knows that this is all over. Woods is free now, and living with family. But her lawyers say no settlement can win back the years she lost in prison. Ms. Woods will never get 35 years of her life back, they wrote. Nothing about being mentally vulnerable could ever justify being wrongfully convicted for over three decades. Up on the fourth floor of the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home on Madison Avenue, there were at least 300 stories standing in a long line that had formed by 2:30 on Monday, a soft, summer day in Manhattan. The stories were told mostly by men who worked for, with or alongside a magnificent and honorable policeman named John Timoney who was claimed by cancer at the age of 68 a few days earlier and now lay in wake as hundreds lined the sidewalk outside waiting patiently to pay their respects. John Timoney was a sentinel of the city. And his life, his accomplishments and his very demeanor stand as a vivid antidote to the toxic behavior of another man from New York City who manages to incite a fear of the future by constantly hinting or even claiming that America is being stolen by some who do not belong here or rigged by some others in political power. Timoney rose to the very top of the New York City Police Department in the 1990s as First Deputy Commissioner and Chief of Department under Bill Bratton. He was then Commissioner in Philadelphia and Chief in Miami and at every single stop he changed policing for the better of both the cops and the civilians who sought their services. But his story is far bigger than the sidewalks he strolled as a patrolman or the cities and the people he swore to protect and never, not ever, let down. It began in spring 1961 when John Timoney, 13 years old, left Dublin, Ireland, with his family and landed in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan. On the 4th of September that year a young patrolman, Francis Xavier Walsh, was shot dead trying to stop a robbery in a Chinese grocery store on 8th Avenue in Harlem. Walsh and his family lived on West 171th Street and his funeral Mass was held on Sept. 8 up the block from where John Timoney and his new best friend in America, Tommy Hyland, lived. Both boys sat on a stoop across from the church, watching intently, mesmerized by the blue line of mourners, by the degree of dedication to the dead police officer, by the lines of mourners and the devotion to ceremony and remembrance. I remember John turning to me and saying, We should do that when we grow up. We should be cops, Tommy Hyland, a retired NYPD detective, was saying Tuesday afternoon shortly after John Timoney was buried. Can you imagine what he would have thought about today? John Gallagher had been saying earlier Tuesday morning. A kid arrives from Ireland, a stranger to our shores, and now Fifth Avenue is shut down for his funeral. What a country. What a man. Gallagher is a former New York City policeman. He followed Timoney to Philadelphia as his counsel and to Miami too and he was speaking now on the sidewalk outside St. Patricks Cathedral, a symbol of faith built by the hands and hearts of immigrants. Now it was nearly 10 a.m. and the sounds of 20 motorcycles coming slowly down the avenue pierced the mid-morning air. The bike cops were followed by a Chrysler hearse carrying a flag-draped casket, an American flag with green stripes and white stars. The NYPD Emerald Society Pipes and Drums band followed the hearse playing a dirge. Then the black cars filled with family pulled to the curb and Msgr. Robert Ritchie, Rector of St. Patricks, came down the steps to greet them and lead them through the open doors of the church. Msgr. Ritchie came from the Bronx and, like Timoney, went to Cardinal Hayes High School there. Like Timoney, Ritchie became fluent in Spanish. And the two of them, the priest and the policeman, had an acute understanding of what its like to be poor or newly arrived in a land where you are surrounded by glamour and wealth and celebrity. Two men together, saving souls and lives. The Catholic funeral Mass is a splendid, holy spectacle and St. Patricks Cathedral is famous throughout the world. The service took place on a morning when the heat and humidity surrendered to a fine breeze and a cloudless August sky and the spectators stood on the sidewalk comfortably observing the scene just a few blocks south of Trump Tower. The words and music of the Communion hymn, Be Not Afraid, floated through the church and drifted through the doors on to the avenue. The remembrances of John Timoney from Bill Bratton, Ed Rendell, Tom Wolfe, Sean and Christine Timoney and Johnnie Miller of the NYPD were true and telling and to the point: This was the funeral of a great and good man who had spent a life worthy of praise and imitation. Now the Mass had ended. The air of incense surrounded the casket and floated throughout the cathedral. The big crowd filed to the street. The family followed. The church doors remained open wide. The crowds on the sidewalks stood, hushed. The pallbearers came down the middle aisle, down the steps, marched to the back of the Chrysler hearse and gently placed the casket down. Two buglers played America the Beautiful. The flag was folded and presented to Timoneys wife, Noreen. Six NYPD helicopters flew in slow formation in the sky above Fifth Avenue. Hundreds of white-gloved police officers snapped to attention and saluted. Then, this man of the city, this man of America, this boy who arrived from Ireland to grab and hold on to everything the land stands for and still symbolizes around a world aflame with hostilities, was taken away to be buried. His name was John Timoney, honorable policeman, American and someone who left a lasting impression of all that is good about the job he loved and the land he served. At the state-of-the-art Moody Theater in Austin, Texas, shortly after 10 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Sean Hannity rested his eyes on Donald Trump. At that moment, the boisterous crowd was booing a mention of Jeb Busha sad weakling, invoked to exemplify the silliness of ever questioning Trump. A slow smile crept across Hannitys lips. His eyes stayed fixed on Trumps. He didnt blink, and he didnt look away. Then Trump made a statement that basically co-signed Jeb Bushs immigration ethos. At the evenings immigration event, Trump didnt just flip-flop on the immigration position he put forward last summer; he flip-flopped on mass deportations multiple times over the course of his own one-hour town hall (roughly one-third of which was commercial breaks). For Trumps devoted supporters and ideological fellow-travelers, his vacillating stance wont mean much. But for everyone else, its a reminder of the post-fact nature of his campaignand of the reality that entertaining multiple positions on an issue that is life-and-death for many people no longer disqualifies one from being taken seriously as a contender for the presidency. As a preface, its important to note that Trump isnt alone in being all over the map on immigration. Over the course of her political career, Hillary Clinton has held a veritable cornucopia of views on deportations at first she was fine with them; then she wanted it to be slightly harder to deport children; then she wanted children to be deported, but not too many of them; then she decided that only adult undocumented immigrants convicted of violent crimes should be sent back to their home countries. Shes contained multitudes. But Trump, in just one hour of cable news, somehow topped that. Hannity teed him off by asking about what President Trump would do with the 11 million or so undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States. You seem to, in the last week, be revisiting the issue of sending everybody back that is here illegally, Hannity said. Tell us where you stand on that. We want to follow the laws, Trump replied, glowering. You know, we have very strong laws, we have very strong laws in this country. And I dont know if you know, but Bush and even Obama sends people back. Now, we can be more aggressive in that, but we want to follow the laws. If you start going around trying to make new laws in this country, its a process thats brutal, he added. So: No new laws, maybe. Also consider being more aggressive. Maybe. Not an answer. But OK. Weve got some great people in this country, he then said. They shouldnt be here, theyre still great people. That descriptor, by the waygreat peopleis the highest of Trumps praises. It is usually reserved for police officers and attendees of Trump rallies. Now, apparently, it also applies to undocumented immigrants. But weve got some really really bad gang members, Trump continued, and some horrible people. Start with them, Hannity said helpfully. Those people are going out Day 1, Trump replied. Theyre going to be the first ordertheyre going out Day 1. Then Hannity asked about law-abiding, hard-working, home-owning undocumented immigrants. What about them? Do they have to go back or would you reconsider that? Hannity asked. We are going to follow the laws of the country, Trump replied. They have to go back? Hannity followed up. Were going to see who people are, were going to see how theyve done, Trump replied. Then he expounded on that: There certainly can be a softening, he said. Because were not looking to hurt people, we want people, we have some great people in this country, we have some great, great people in this country. So but were gonna follow the laws of this country. So: President Trump would prioritize deporting undocumented immigrants convicted of violent crimes and would be open to softening and, maybe, letting others stay. Thats basically Jeb Bushs stance: that some undocumented immigrants are dangerous and violent, and they need to be deported, and that others are decent, hard-working people who can offer a lot to American society, and they should stick around. Its a view that polls well, and that is easy to defend. Clinton holds it. Obama does too. That said, its a view Trump fast abandoned. A few minutes later, Hannity brought up the topic of undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. legally but then stayed longer than their visas allowed. So Hannity queried: What to do? You have to get em out, Trump said flatly. You have to get em out. That is a very simple, clear policy statement: deport all visa overstays. But heres the thing: Upward of 40 percent of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. fit into that category (the data isnt great, but PolitiFact says its a safe guess). Thats roughly 4.4 million peoplesome of whom are likely great people!whom Trump would want deported, and pronto. So now were back to an unequivocal endorsement of mass deportation, regardless of home ownership or employment status or whatever else. At this point, you may be thinking that Trump doesnt have a very good grasp on what his own immigration policy actually is. You would not be alone in that sentiment. Mark Krikorian, who heads the Center for Immigration Studiesa group that advocates for stricter immigration laws, and whose research Trump frequently citessaid he thinks Trump doesnt really know what he wants vis-a-vis immigration. He trusts Trump, he added, as long as the candidate has the support of Sen. Jeff Sessions, an Alabama Republican and a stalwart opponent of any leniency for undocumented immigrants without a dramatic increase in border security. Krikorian said he likes the immigration policy proposal Trump released on his website last summer, which Sessionss team helped him formulate. Its pretty detailed, Krikorian said. Its just that hes never read it. The Republican Party in Louisiana has had enough of David Duke. At an upcoming meeting this weekend, the Louisiana GOP is going to vote on measures that would preclude the former Klansmen from being able to run as a Republican again. Theres nothing Republican bigwigs can do to stop Dukes current Senate bid. But they hope to change the bylaws to block out former felons and individuals affiliated with racist organizations, two things which are on Dukes resume. The former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives and previous Ku Klux Klan grand wizard formally announced his Senate run at the end of July, propelled by the success of Donald Trumps campaign and the shooting of police officers in Dallas. The backlash to his announcement was immediate from Louisiana Republican Party Chairman Roger F. Villere Jr. The Republican Party opposes, in the strongest possible terms, David Dukes candidacy for any public office, he said in a statement immediately after Dukes announcement. David Duke is a convicted felon and a hate-filled fraud who does not embody the values of the Republican Party. Duke doesnt plan to go down without a fight. In a letter addressing the planned ousting, provided to The Daily Beast by his campaign coordinator Mike Lawrence, Duke likens his pending expulsion to the work of the Communist Party in the Soviet Union. This is the right of the people not the bosses, Duke writes. Many Republican leaders have supported leftist democrats for high office against Conservative Republicans, and some have been part of the Never Trump Movement which tries to sabotage the current nominee of the Republican Party, he adds. This treasonous action could elect a radical leftist democrat, Hillary Clinton, who is opposed to the values and policies of the overwhelming majority of Republican voters in our state. Duke has frequently tried to tie his support base to the same voters who are backing the real estate moguls runwhite voters who see their rights diminishing with the increased prevalence of immigrants in the United States. Even last week during Trumps visit to Louisiana, Lawrence told The Daily Beast that Duke was in the area and might just bump into the alleged billionaire. They did not see each other. When Trump first faced accusations that he was becoming intellectual bedfellows with Duke, the former grand wizard asserted that despite Trumps claims, the real estate mogul knew who he was. Let him do whatever he thinks he needs to do to become president of the United States, Duke defiantly told The Daily Beast in February of Trumps dismissal. Even in discussions of this impending meeting of the Louisiana GOP, Lawrence was quick to link the fates of Trump and Duke. Remember this is the same group that tried to hijack the Trump delegate votes for Louisiana and give to [Trumps GOP primary rival Ted] Cruz, Lawrence said in a text message. They function as a totalitarian organization and done so for years. He, of course, is referencing how delegates were distributed to Ted Cruz during the Republican primary after Trump narrowly won the state. This was due to an organizational failure by the Trump campaign in which they failed to secure delegates to represent them on a number of convention committees. Its unclear just how much campaigning Duke is actually doing in the state, as Lawrence said their operations were pausing briefly so that the former state representative could help with flood relief. With the debate schedule, and participants in question, Dukes ability to face his opponents on a public platform is also up in the air. U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy has only confirmed that he will attend one debate and hasnt specified any furtherleaving the rest of the candidates in the lurch. Although, white nationalist and former Trump delegate William Johnson is attempting to host a web-based debate independent of the organizational structures in Louisiana featuring Duke in the near future, he told The Daily Beast. For now, the campaign is simply struggling to allow Duke to remain a Republican in the state. Lawrence said they have contacted the American Civil Liberties Union to help plead their case and he hopes it goes to the Supreme Court in the state. The ACLU has not returned a request for comment about this matter. Republican activist Charlie Buckels previously made clear that he wants Duke to never carry the GOP mantle again. We have an egregious situation going on with David Duke, Buckels, the state partys finance chairman, told The Times-Picayune in advance of the Aug. 27 planned meeting. He has every right to run for office, but we believe he does not have the right to run under the Republican banner. The GOP plan to block Duke, as it stood last month, was to change the bylaws in the state to keep convicted felons and individuals who associate with racist organizations from running on the Republican ticket. Duke went to jail in the early 2000s for filing a false tax return and using money given to him from supporters for personal expenditures including gambling trips. The Louisiana GOP has not returned a request for comment for this article. For Dukes part, he claims that his affinity for Trump is the main reason why he should remain a Republican. If Trump wins, Duke is his go-to guy in the Senate. The opinions I hold are the same as the founders of this country and because of political correctness many of you have been forced to the positions of the left when it comes to massive immigration and ethnic displacement of white Americans, the former grand wizard wrote. Though some of our positions may differ, I have a perfect Republican voting record, and do support 100% the Republican nominee Donald Trump who I hope and pray will defeat the horrific threat to us represented by Hillary Clinton. But for the local Republican leadership, Duke appears to be more of an imminent threat at the moment. There is way too much cheese in America, so the US Department of Agriculture is buying a massive amount of it. According to a release from the USDA, it will buy 11 million pounds worth roughly $20 million by its estimate and distribute it to food banks around the country. The US cheese market has had a significant oversupply problem for most of the year because foreign buyers have looked elsewhere for their dairy products as a result of the strong dollar. Before this slowdown in exports, many farmers had ramped up their production because of record-high prices. We understand that the nations dairy producers are experiencing challenges due to market conditions and that food banks continue to see strong demand for assistance, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in the release announcing the move. This commodity purchase is part of a robust, comprehensive safety net that will help reduce a cheese surplus that is at a 30-year high while, at the same time, moving a high-protein food to the tables of those most in need, he said. The USDA said that there was a number of reasons for the low prices in the cheese market. While USDA projects dairy prices to increase throughout the rest of the year, many factors including low world market prices, increased milk supplies and inventories, and slower demand have contributed to the sluggish marketplace for dairy producers, said the release. (Andy Kiersz/Business Insider) According to Joe Schmit, head trader and cofounder at Dairy Opportunities, the government support makes sense given the recent moves of the commodity. Over the summer, the price of cheese rallied about 30% despite a seemingly large buildup in inventories. It appears that traders were speculating that the government was going to step in. And while it did, the 11-million-pound purchase, however, is only 1% of the inventory built up, according to Schmit. Combined with the fact that the buy is smaller than expected, it may lead to a drop in prices in the coming days. Story continues The government made a much smaller buy than originally thought, and the price was slightly lower than where it was trading, said Schmit. For those reasons, I wouldnt be surprised if there was some sell pressure. Additionally, said Schmit, the government consistently buys smaller amounts of cheese for its programs and has even done these sorts of special large-scale buys in the past, so the support for dairy farmers is not unprecedented. Its not surprising to see the government giving the cheese market a little boost, concluded Schmit. NOW WATCH: The secret ingredient to add to your grilled cheese More From Business Insider Donald Trumps empty apology tour pleading for forgiveness from the minority groups he demonized during this campaign made a new stop Tuesday night. This time he attempted to woo Latino voters by appearing on Sean Hannitys Fox News immigration special to announce he was open to softening his plan to deport all 11-plus million undocumented immigrants. Shockingly, Trump even stated that some of the undocumented immigrants are great people. (Of course, he noted some were really horrible.) This follows Trumps attempt to gain support with the African-American community over the last few nights with his bizarrely worded plea: Youre living in poverty, your schools are no good, you have no jobs. He added, What the hell do you have to lose? After hearing that speech, Im really praying Trump doesnt try to reach out TO Muslim Americans. I can just picture him delivering an equally bigoted sales pitch to my community: Muslims, why not vote for me?! After all, Im practically Muslim: I dont drink alcohol and Ive had three wives. Plus, I love the hummus. And I understand your community. I have had many conversations with people driving my taxicabs and at the deli. Add to that we share another common trait: We both treat women really badlyyou cover them up and I call them dogs and pigs. So why the hell not vote for me! But the real reason Trump shouldnt reach out to the Muslim communityeven though Muslims could play a deciding role in certain key swing states like Florida, Ohio, and Michiganis that theres nothing he can say to persuade us to support him after all the hate he has sent our way. Now to be clear, the Muslim-American community is not monolithic. There are some Muslims supporting Trump. In fact, I debated the head of Muslims for Trumpan organization I believe boasts a membership of oneon CNN and MSNBC. And there are some Muslims who have problems with Hillary Clinton for various reasons, primarily tied to her hawkish views. But few Muslims I know are supporting Trumpand I know a lot of Muslims. While theres no recent polling of Muslim-American voters, Id predict that Trumps support in our community is in the single digitsthe same support Trump is now seeing from the African-American community. (Keep in mind that African Americans make up about a third of the Muslim community in the United States.) I doubt Trump is surprised or frankly cares that Muslims are overwhelmingly opposed to him. If he did, he wouldnt have made demonizing Muslims a staple of his campaign from the start. Even before Trumps infamous call in December for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States, he had been stoking hate versus our community. It first began when Trump fabricated a claim that thousands of Muslims cheered in New Jersey on 9/11a tale so tall that even cheerleader in chief Rudy Giuliani conceded it was not accurate. From there Trump said he was open to special ID cards and a database to register all Muslims in America. He has called for profiling of Muslim Americans. And just a few days ago on Fox News, Trump declared that Muslim Americans know about terrorists but are not speaking out, adding, if theyre not going to help us, theyre to blame also. The truthsomething Trump ignores when demonizing minority groupsis that Muslim Americans have been working closely with law enforcement to prevent terror attacks. We all recall that the FBI had investigated the Orlando gunman before his attack. Want to guess who had tipped off the FBI about him that triggered that investigation? A Muslim-American member of the community concerned by his alarming rhetoric. Heres the thing that Trump doesnt get about minorities, be they African American, Latino, Muslim, LGBT, Jewish, LGBT, you name it: If you pivot on a policy issue that hurts our community, in time we might forgive you. But when you intentionally demonize us for political gain, we will never, ever forget that. Does Trump really believe that Latinoswhom he has demonized from Day 1 of his campaignwill suddenly support him because he met briefly with a few Latino leaders or now says that hes open to softening his deportation plan? That a few speeches to white audiences about how much he cares for African Americans will erase memories of him defending his supporters beating up black protesters? Or his racist birther campaign against Preisdent Obama? And on and on and on. As we minorities know, Trump wouldnt be reaching out to any of us if he were winning in the polls. Trump does not truly regret his words demonizing our respective communities. Trumps only regret is that there are not enough white supremacists to elect him president. So Trump, dont waste your time reaching out to Muslim Americans. We dont want a seat on the Trump train. We would rather walk than share a ride with the bigots sitting on it. PARIS The monsters of al Qaeda and the so-called Islamic State probably never will be held to account the way the Nazis were at the Nuremberg Tribunals after World War II. The snarled red tape and convoluted politics of todays international organizations will frustrate such grand designs for justice, even after the self-proclaimed caliphate is reduced to dust on the ground and unread footnotes in history. But the trial going on at the International Criminal Court in The Hague this week gives us a hint of what can be done, and, indeed, what must be done. The defendant, Ahmad al Faki al Mahdi, served the branch of al Qaeda in North Africa that very nearly took over all of the nation of Mali in 2012, until French troops intervened. The terrorists greatest prize was the ancient city of Timbuktu, al Mahdis hometown, and he did everything he could to show he supported his fanatical mentors gruesome diktats. But al Mahdi is not on trial for the amputations, beheadings, torture, and rapes associated with the holy war waged by al Qaeda, ISIS, and their offshoots. Al Mahdi is on trial for massacring history. We have seen a lot of savage iconoclasm over the last 15 years. In 2001, the Taliban brought down the towering twin statues of Buddha in Bamayan, Afghanistana prelude to the operation by their allies in al Qaeda, who brought down the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York only a few months later. More recently weve seen the devastation wrought by ISIS on the ancient monuments of Nimrud in Iraq, and those of Palmyra in Syria: winged bulls turned to gravel with jackhammers, the Temple of Baal erased from the map with high explosives. These would-be holy warriors claim to have a direct line to God, a unique and exclusive understanding of His Truth. They are determined to destroy anyone and anything that does not fit their view, and they do all this in the name of Islam. So it is worth noting that al Mahdi is on trial, specifically, for leveling the mausoleums of Muslim saints in a city that was one of the cradles of Islamic civilization, and that the prosecutor who leveled the charges against al Mahdi in court on Monday, Fatouh Bensouda, is a Gambian woman from a large Muslim family. She knows where this guy is coming from, which may account in part for the power and passion of her opening statement. This trial, said Bensouda, is about answering the destructive rages that mark our times, in which humanitys common heritage is subject to repeated and planned ravages. The mausoleums al Mahdi destroyed were the embodiment of Malian history, captured in tangible form, from an era long gone yet still very much vivid in the memory and pride of the people who so dearly cherished them. Your honors, Bensouda told the judges, culture is who we are. Bensouda has been criticized for failing to make the ICC a new Nuremberg. But the criteria she has to work with are suffocating and contradictory. The court has no jurisdiction over territories where the government is not a party to the Rome Statute that established the court in 1998. So the court has no territorial jurisdiction over the ISIS heartland that straddles Iraq and Syria, neither of which signed on. The UN Security Council can refer cases, but the United States is not a party to the statute, and neither are Russia and China. Thats three of the five members. The United Kingdom, which did sign on, has discovered that its soldiers are the only people being investigated for crimes in Iraq, even now. (Some in the U.K. would like to see former prime minister Tony Blair charged, but that hasnt happened.) Theoretically, individuals can be brought before the court if they are from countries that are parties to it. ISIS has recruits who fit that criterion who are from France, the U.K., Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Austria, among other countries. But the court is supposed to limit its actions to those most responsible for mass crimes, as Bensouda declared in April, and since ISIS is a military and political organization led by nationals of Iraq and Syria, that limits her ability to pursue them. Al Mahdis case, however, was handed over to the court by the Malian government after al Mahdi was arrested in neighboring Niger last year, and it fits all the narrow criteria. Mali is a party to the Rome treaty, al Mahdi is a Malian citizen, and he was the head of the Hisbah, the morality brigade that went on a destructive rampage in Timbuktu for 10 days in June and July of 2012. The depth and importance of the culture there, and the threats to it under jihadist rule, are the subject of Joshua Hammers recent book The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu. He sees the al Mahdi case as an important breakthrough and symbol to both the jihadis and their beleaguered subjects that these kinds of crimes wont go unanswered. To be sure, theres an argument to be made that the court should be channeling its resources in pursuit of those who stoned adulterers to death and chopped off hands and feet, says Hammer, but this case reminds the world that the destruction of cultural patrimony has been one of the jihadists most brutal and effective means of intimidating, demoralizing, and breaking the spirits of the people whose lands they occupy. As Bensouda put it, To intentionally direct an attack against historic monuments and buildings dedicated to religion constitutes a war crime and is a profound attack on the identity, the memory and, therefore, the future of entire populations. We do not know how often Bensouda talked this way to al Mahdi before the trial, but this much we do know. When he stood before the court on Monday, he admitted his guilt. I would like to seek the pardon of the whole people of Timbuktu, said al Mahdi. I would like to make them the solemn promise that this was the first and the last wrongful act that I will ever commit. I seek their forgiveness. Even with his admission of guilt, he is facing many years in prison. I am pinning my hope on the fact that the punishment meted out to me will be sufficient for the people of Timbuktu, and Mali, and mankind to offer forgiveness, he said. Perhaps they will. But in the meantime the masons of Timbuktu have been hard at work. They are "considered to be 'living human treasures' for their unique craftsmanship," Bensouda told the court. They have rebuilt the mausoleums, while the sculptors of winged lions at Nimrud and the builders of temples at Palmyra are gone forever. It was less than three weeks before he said goodbye to The Daily Show for good that Jon Stewart delivered a segment that, in retrospect, perfectly sums up everything America has seen from Donald Trumps presidential campaign over these past 14 months. At this point, toward the end of July 2015, Trump had been an official candidate for little more than a month. While his poll numbers were already starting to surge, no one in the mainstream media was taking his candidacy seriously. It was only a matter of time, the pundits said, before he went the way of Herman Cain or Michele Bachmann before him. But Stewart saw something different. Just a couple of days earlier, Trump had declared that John McCain was not a war hero because he was captured in Vietnam. I like people that werent captured, Trump added. This was before he suggested Megyn Kelly had blood coming out of her wherever during the first GOP debate. Before he mocked a New York Times reporters physical disability. Before he questioned the rights and motives of a Muslim-American Gold Star family. At the time, it made sense that most experts believed criticizing a sitting Republican senator for spending years as a P.O.W. in Vietnam was a bridge too far for a Republican presidential candidate. Over a year later, it seems almost harmless compared to everything that has happened since. Stewart, however, did not understand why Trumps GOP rivals were acting so surprised. After all, The only reason you liked this guy in the first place was because of the terrible things he was willing to say about Obama. In his view, it was only a matter of time before Trump turned on his fellow conservatives. Later in the same Daily Show episode, correspondent Jordan Klepper joked that Trump was an inspiration to hedge fund managers and frat boys everywhere. Donald Trump could very well be our first openly asshole president, he said. While Richard Nixon was more of a closest asshole, Trump says it loud and proud: Im here, Im an asshole, get used to it, you Mexican rapist losers! Stewart may have understood before most what made an asshole like Trump so appealing to such a large swath of American voters, but its safe to assume that even he did not truly believe Trump would get as far as he did in the electoral process. And this exasperation over just how right he was comes through in each of the few public appearances he has made over the past year. In his cameos on Stephen Colberts Late Show, Stewart has both dressed up as Trump to get the media to pay attention to more pressing issues like the 9/11 first-responders bill and delivered a pointed rebuke of the candidates attempts to co-opt patriotism with the help of Fox News. For Stewart, most things come back to a critique of media and Trump is no exception. During a rare longform podcast conversation with David Axelrod back in May, Stewart returned to the theme he explored on his show the year before and even came close to praising Trump for doing judo against the cable news networks. The voices that are amplified are the ones that are the most conflict-oriented, the most extreme, those are the guys that get the airtime, Stewart said, labeling Trumps tactic of saying the most outrageous thing he can think of Reality Show 101. Most pundits believed Trump would ultimately defeat himself with this strategyand judging by the way the polls are going, they may be right in the end. But what Stewart knew from the beginning is that if Americans werent careful, they could end up electing the asshole they deserve. With Taylor Swift firmly in their rearview, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West now have a new celebrity to put in their place. Swimwear model Kate Upton will undoubtedly be the target of Americas first celebrity couple when Yeezy sees Uptons latest Snapchat post slyly accusing his wife Kim of having had a nose jobsomething shes repeatedly denied. This morning, Upton posted a selfie on Snapchatthe very service Kim used to ice Taylorwith the caption: I look like a Kardashian, nose job and all. The cattiness of this is sensational, as Kim has always denied having a nose job, despite an apparent change in her facial profile over the years. After the birth of her new son, Saint, she wrote on Instagram: No I dont do fillers or Botox when pregnant like some tabloids are reporting, you would have to be really sick to endanger your child like that! Anyone who has been pregnant or gained weight knows your face totally changes! My nose gets bigger, cheeks fuller & my lips swell up. The backstory of the bad blood between Upton, who is most famous for being filmed by accused rapist Terry Richardson doing the cat daddy, and Kardashian, a multimillionaire mogul, dates back to an extraordinary episode where Kanye bizarrely took offense after Vanity Fair featured swimwear model Upton in the guise of Marilyn Monroe on the cover of their November 2013 issue. Most media observers thought the choice of Upton as Monroe was inspired: Clad in a satiny, champagne-colored one-piece, the model addressed the camera with a sultry red pout while holding a birthday cake with a single candle on it. But Kanye was not just unhappy; he was personally offended. In an off-thewall, 42-minute rant on Power 105s Breakfast Club radio show, Kanye professed to be outraged that Kate was chosen for the cover, not Kim. I have a love-hate relationship with the paparazzi, but actually I love them because they are empowering us. They are empowering us over Vanity Fair that want to say that Kate Upton is Marilyn Monroe. Kate Upton aint Marilyn Monroe, Kim is Marilyn Monroe, he said. She was controversial. She [is] controversial. Five months later, Kim and Kanye landed the front cover of Vogue with a mock wedding picture. The power couple replaced Upton on the cover, according to E! News. But the issue sold half the usual circulation and received backlash from subscribers. Time, as the old saying goes, is supposed to be a great healer, but it appears that swimwear and bikini model Upton hasnt done much healing. Lovers of ridiculous celebrity feuds will be delighted. On Monday night, Seth Meyers spent nearly 12 minutes breaking down Donald Trumps decision to double down on his alt-right base by hiring the man behind Breitbart News as his latest campaign chief. Tuesday, it was Hillary Clintons turn. After laying out the latest problems with Trumps campaign, Meyers pivoted to his Democratic opponent by saying surely thats good news for Hillary Clinton. Unless, of course there are approximately 15,000 new emails set to be released by the State Department just before the election. How many emails can Hillary Clinton have that she can just miss 15,000? an incredulous Meyers asked. He feared that she might be one of those weirdos who has them all unread on her phone. Trump may be a demagogue, Meyers quipped, but I cannot vote for a sociopath who doesnt clean out their inbox. Later in the segment, Meyers examined some of the already-released emails that showed that Clinton Foundation officials may have used connections at the State Department to obtain special access to Clinton donors and friends. For example, one official emailed Clinton aides asking for a favor and requested they take care of an associates request. Words like favor and take care of shouldnt be in State Department emails, Meyers said. They should be in the last five minutes of a Sopranos episode. While Meyers stressed that there are no smoking guns in Clintons emails, he added, They do seem to demonstrate, at the very least, that if you were a Clinton Foundation donor, or a friend, or Bono, it was easier to at least get your request seen by someone at the State Department. But Meyers also admitted that in any other year all of this would be so much more damaging to Hillary. Fortunately for her, she is still running against Donald Trump. Stephen Colbert wasted no time getting political on Tuesday nights Late Show. And his target was the health of Americas two major presidential candidates. Over the past few weeks, Donald Trump has been speculating that Hillary Clinton is too frail to fight ISIS, with his surrogates fueling conspiracy theories that the former secretary of state is secretly dying. Its a charge that Clinton did her best to shut down on Colberts late-night rival Jimmy Kimmels show the night before. Most notably, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani urged voters to google Hillary Clinton illness to find out the truth for themselves. The only problem, as Colbert sees it, is that a search of that term brings up Giulianis comments. Heres what's happening, the host said. Giuliani says shes not healthy, and you can look it up on the internet. And when you look it up on the internet, it says that Giuliani says shes not healthy and to look it up on the internet. Its an endless loop. Its like a snake with its tail in its mouth. Or a man with his head up his own ass. Colbert went on to say hes not surprised that Giuliani was able to diagnose Clinton so well, because both he and Trump are experts on female anatomy. As proof, he pointed to an actual video they made in 2000 in which Giuliani appears in drag and Trump tells him how beautiful he is. Now, obviously, thats shocking, and youre going to want to verify that video, Colbert said. Just go online and put down Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, drag queen, motorboat. Colbert isnt buying the Clinton conspiracy theories, accusing them of saying shes frail or weak when theyre just tip-toeing around the medical condition that youre really upset about, one that no other president in history has ever faced. Hillary Clinton has chronic no-penis, Colbert explained. Its congenital. Every woman in her family has had the same thing. People whine ad nauseam about the flaming bags of dog shit that the major Hollywood studios leave on their proverbial doorstep every summer (OK, most of winter and spring, too). Theyre not wrong. Your typical first-half movie boasts more dodgy storylines and stunted logic than a Trump rally, and 2016 has been no exception. We have been sadistically subjected to laugh-free comedies like Zoolander 2, Dirty Grandpa, and Adam Sandlers The Do-Over; the bloated disasterpieces Batman v Superman and Gods of Egypt; and whatever the hell Nina was. Sad! But it hasnt been all bad. Yes, many fine films have seen the light of day in the months before Oscar season kicks offyou just had to look hard to find them. So without further ado, here are The Daily Beasts best movies of 2016 so far. 1. Green Room (Dir. Jeremy Saulnier) Filmmaker Jeremy Saulniers follow-up to his stellar debut Blue Ruin doesnt disappoint. The premise is simple enough: The Aint Rights, a struggling punk band, are in the midst of a DIY tour across the Pacific Northwest. They meet a radio host who helps book them a gig performing in the woods of Oregonfor a bunker of neo-Nazis. After the show, Pat (Anton Yelchin) goes to the green room to retrieve a fellow band members phone, only to discover that a girl has been stabbed to death. This sparks a brutal, bloody war of attrition between the band and the venues Nazi proprietors, led by Darcy (a terrifying Patrick Stewart). Turns out these punk kids have plenty of fight in em. Saulnier knows how to ratchet up the suspense, and does so here in ways that make the films sudden bursts of ultraviolence, from flesh-eating dogs to broken limbs, hit you like shots to the gut. He further juxtaposes the carnage with shots of arresting beauty, from the lush green forests of Oregon to punkers limbs flailing in slow-mo to the music. This is not just the grindhouse film of the year, but the best movie of the year (so far). And the recent passing of its gifted star, Anton Yelchin, has imbued Green Room with an added layer of emotion, as youre left rooting for his battered, ballsy hero to stay alive by any means necessary. 2. The Fits (Dir. Anna Rose Holmer) The debut feature of filmmaker Anna Rose Holmer first gained traction at the Venice Biennale, where it received a funding grant, and later premiered to critical plaudits at the Venice and Sundance Film Festivals. It centers on Toni (Royalty Hightower, brilliant), an 11-year-old inner city boxer who soon finds herself fixated on a local dance troupe. When its members begin to come down with violent fitsfainting, nausea, you name itToni becomes even more emboldened to achieve success. Holmers film is visually sumptuous, ethereal even, and a haunting meditation on identity, puberty, and assimilation. Youll be fully immersed in her world throughout its 72-minute running time thanks to its elegant presentation and newcomer Hightowers mesmerizing performanceone that hopefully wont be forgotten come awards time. 3. Hell or High Water (Dir. David Mackenzie) Mackenzies drama Starred Up, about a young man whos sent to an abusive U.K. prison where his father is holed up, was one of my favorite movies of 2014, and his follow-up proves it was no fluke. Written by Taylor Sheridan (Sicario), the gritty western follows Toby (Chris Pine) and Tanner (Ben Foster), two brothers whove decided to take matters into their own hands, robbing a series of banks in order to save their farm in West Texas. Two Texas rangers, led by veteran Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges), are hot on the hell-raising brothers tail. Every element, from the dialogue to the scenery to the score, drips with sweaty authenticity, and the performances are aces across the boardnone more so than Bridges, whose grizzled, plaintive cowboy is the perfect generational foil to his live-wire targets. No other film is as grounded in a sense of place as Hell or High Water, which not only vividly captures the depressed rural South, but also the anger blue-collar Americans feel toward a system thats let them hang out to dry. 4. Weiner (Dirs. Josh Kriegman, Elyse Steinberg) It hasnt been a very rich year for feature-length documentariesthough televisions O.J.: Made in America was an unequivocal triumphwith the most notable exception being this batshit-insane chronicle of one of the most self-destructive politicians in recent memory. A metaphor for our celebrity-infused times, as well as the chaotic political climate, Kriegman and Steinberg were granted unprecedented access to Anthony Weiner during his notorious mayoral runyou know, the one that crashed and burned when it was discovered that the Democratic politician had, once again, sexted with strangers on the internet (only this time under the tabloid-ready handle Carlos Danger). Its one of the most extraordinary and riveting portraits of political hubris youre likely to see, as you watch this gifted, passionate horndog implode before your very eyes, dashing both his dreams and those of his long-suffering wife, Huma Abedin. 5. The Lobster (Dir. Yorgos Lanthimos) While the execution doesnt quite match the intrigue of its premise, Greeces Yorgos Lanthimos has emerged as one of the more compelling surrealist filmmakers around. His follow-up to the Oscar-nominated (and considerably more brutal) Dogtooth is set in a dystopian society where singles are checked into a hotel and have 45 days to find a partner with similar traits lest they be transformed into an animal. David (Colin Farrell) manages to escape into the woods, where he hooks up with a pack of loners led by a draconian leader (Lea Seydoux) who prohibits romance of any kind. He soon finds himself falling for a fellow short-sighted loner (Rachel Weisz). Lanthimoss film is a terribly funny and subversive satire. Varietys Guy Lodge put it best when he wrote that The Lobster serves as a brilliant allegory for the increasingly superficial systems of contemporary courtship, including the like-for-like algorithms of online dating sites that plague modern society. 6. The Invitation (Dir. Karyn Kusama) Since her thrilling indie debut Girlfight, Karyn Kusama has been chewed up and spit out by Hollywood (Aeon Flux, anyone?), but with The Invitation she reminds us how gifted a filmmaker she is. The setup is simple enough: Will (Logan Marshall-Green) and his new girlfriend Kira (Emayatzy Corinealdi) are, along with other close friends, invited to a dinner party in the Hollywood Hills hosted by his ex-wife Eden (Tammy Blanchard) and new hubby David (Michiel Huisman). Eden has been off-grid for two years, as both she and Will struggled to come to terms with the death of their child. Over the course of the evening, Will becomes increasingly suspicious of Edens erratic behavior, and convinces himself that this invitation was not to a dinner party, but something far more disturbing. Kusama is a master-builder of tension, upping it inch by inch until it hits its breaking point, culminating in a finale that will leave you breathless. 7. Sausage Party (Dirs. Conrad Vernon, Greg Tiernan) Birthed from the fertile minds of longtime collaborators Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the team behind Superbad (which they wrote at 16), Pineapple Express, and This Is the End, this R-rated animated comedy about a horny supermarket hot dog (voiced by Seth Rogen) who learns the awful truth about the Great Beyond, is not only the funniestand raunchiestmovie of the year thus far, but also provides a fascinating commentary on theology, the afterlife, and tolerance. As our own Jen Yamato put it, Sausage Party is a film that makes food bone food with explicit abandon but also champions rationality over blind faith, encourages healthy sexual expression and acceptance, and points out that plenty of our prepackaged notions of otherness and division are relics of misguided traditions that have passed their expiration date. Honorable Mention: The Jungle Book: Jon Favreaus adaptation of the Rudyard Kipling fable is the most stunningly rendered movie so far this year. Captain America: Civil War: That the Russo brothers pulled this superhero extravaganza off as well as they did is a miracle. Morris from America: A charming fish out of water tale about an aspiring MC that boasts two of the most winning turns of the year from newcomer Markees Christmas and Craig Robinson. Cemetery of Splendor: A hallucinatory dream of a film by Thai master Apichatpong Weerasethakul. Look him up and watch all of his movies. Youll thank me later. Turkish tanks have invaded northern Syria, backed by about 5,000 Arab and Turkmen Syrian rebelsranging in ideological orientation from nationalist to Islamist to Salafistand U.S. and Turkish fighter jets and drones, to retake the city of Jarablus from ISIS. By most accounts, this combined army has succeeded in record time; fewer than nine hours later, Jarablus appears mostly if not completely liberated from takfiri rule. Superficially, this all appears to the good and straightforward and would strike the casual observer as a long overdue aggressiveness on the part of Ankara, which for the past few years has conspicuously dragged its feet in combating the black-flagged menace amassed at its doorstep and inside its own domicile. Jarablus is one of two remaining population centers that the forces loyal to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi still control in the province of Aleppo, a gateway between his caliphate and the West for the transport of foreign fighters and resources, which have lately been used to grisly effect in Paris, Brussels, Istanbul and, most recently, a wedding party in Gaziantep, courtesy of what may have been a child suicide bomber. And yet Lewis Carroll really does now seem to be the Clausewitz of the coalition's ever-evolving war against Sunni extremism given the absurd paradoxes and strategic contradictions inherent to its prosecution. For Turkey's campaign against ISIS isnt really Turkey's campaign against ISISor rather, its not only or even principally that. Here is how the spokesman for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan classifies Operation Euphrates Shield, as the Jarablus blitz is formally known. The goal, Ibrahim Kaln tweeted today, is to rid the Syrian-Turkish borderland of all terrorist elements, including DAESH and the YPG. Daesh is the pejorative Arabic acronym for ISIS. YPG stands for the Peoples Defense Units, Kurdish-predominant paramilitaries which have been fighting ISIS and who, just last week, helped liberate the jihadist stronghold of Manbij, another city in Aleppo province, with extensive U.S. air support and embedded U.S. Special Forces. In other words, Turkey and America are now in a joint struggle to quash ISIS and rein in Americas foremost proxy force on the ground fighting ISIS. Or, as Alices tea party companion the Mad Hatter might put it, If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see? I think we're beginning to. Turkeys main motivation for invading Syria is to stop the YPG from connecting two Kurdish cantons Kobane and Afrin, which its political leadership refers to as the contiguous region of Rojava, or Syrian Kurdistan. The YPG has made no secret of its plans to carve out a semiautonomous statelet in Syrias north in line with a century-old ambition of eventually linking this territory to other Kurdistan regions in southeastern Turkey, northern Iraq and western Iran. The problem is that the YPGs political branch, the Democratic Union Party, is the Syrian affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, a U.S.- and Turkish-designated terror organization. Erdogan and his general staff therefore see such a breakaway project as a graver national security threat than they do ISIS and their resentment toward Americas connivance in exacerbating that threat through fire and steel has been palpable, not to mention dangerous. In the past, Turkish artillery has shelled YPG positions when the paramilitaries got too close to the border or moved too far west of the Euphrates Riverdeemed by Ankara to be a red line for Kurdish advancement. The YPG plan, according to Wladimir van Wilgenburg, The Daily Beasts embedded reporter in Syrian Kurdistan, was to move from Manbij to al-Bab, the last remaining ISIS-held city in Aleppo and the headquarters of ISISs foreign intelligence service, or amn al-kharjee, a department responsible for plotting international terror attacks, and then to Afrin; attack ISIS from two sides, Til Rifaat and Manbij. Turkey has pre-empted the Kurdish state-building exercise, as its own preferred paramilitaries will now control Jarabulus, absent any YPG presence, and connect it to al-Rai, a border town that Free Syrian Army rebels took last week from ISIS, in advance of a final mission to liberate al-Bab. Whereas the United States had previously acquiesced, if not quietly facilitated the violation of that red line, Washingtons position appears to have shifted decidedly in favor of its embattled NATO ally. As one unnamed U.S. official told The Wall Street Journal, We dont want a direct clash between those forces and the Turks. Thats not a good scenario for anybody. Weve made that clear to the Turks. Not coincidentally, Vice President Joe Biden was in Ankara today to reaffirm his support for the Erdogan administration after last months failed coup by military and security figures loyal to exiled Islamist cleric Fethullah Gulen, whose hideaway in the Poconos of Pennsylvania has been the source of record-high levels of Turkish anti-Americanism in the last several weeks, and who is now being sought for extradition. Asked at a joint press conference about the YPGs assurances that it would not try to occupy territory west of the Euphrates red line, Biden said, They cannotwill notunder any circumstance get American support if they do not keep that commitment. It is impossible not to read such remarks as an unambiguous warning by a once permissive White House to its long-indulged minority asset. The YPG will likely go further and read it as a sell-out of the Kurdsthe latest in a long, ignominious history of American betrayalsat the expense of an authoritarian government which it views as a witting accomplice to ISIS. Moreover, the warning might not go entirely heeded now that Turkish troops are in Syria and liable to clash with the YPG. Salih Muslim, the co-chairman of the Democratic Union Party, tweeted today, Turkey is in Syria Quagmire [sic]. will be defeated as Daish. Posturing though this may be, it cuts remarkably close to declaration of war against a NATO member-state. Ironically, even in defeat ISIS has scored a not-so-insignificant geopolitical victory, since its strategy all along has been to preoccupy and enervate Turkey with the Kurdish Question. For the better part of the last year the majority of ISIS-perpetrated terror attacks in Anatolia had a common theme: They targeted rallies or communities whose sympathies may lie with the PKK, and who believe Erdogans sympathies lie with ISIS. So any attack by the jihadists on the Kurds increased resentment toward Ankara and an uptick in PKK terrorism against the Turkish state. Which is exactly what happened. In May 2015, ISIS bombed two headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (HDP), a largely Kurdish organization that mounted a dark-horse challenge to Erdogan in the last Turkish general election. Six were injured. In June, it bombed an HDP rally just minutes before that partys charismatic leader, Selahattin Demirtas, was scheduled to speak; four died, hundreds were wounded. In July, ISIS struck once more, this time at a demonstration led by two Kurdish Marxist groups at Amara Culture Centre in the town of Suruc, in Urfa province. The demo was meant to highlight reconstruction efforts for Kobane, just across the border in Syria. It was besieged by ISIS in 2014, but finally liberated by the YPG with heavy backing from U.S. air power in the first six months of Operation Inherent Resolve. The PKK retaliations for these attacks were billed explicitly as revenge operations against a government seen as collaborating with Daesh. They began at the end of July, with the assassination of Turkish police officers in Diyarbakir. Turkey was now forced to escalate two wars simultaneously against its oldest domestic insurgency and an increasingly lethal new one, plus wage a counterterrorism police operation that, while putatively aimed at breaking up ISIS cells and networks throughout the country, tended to snare far more PKK operatives. ISIS, meanwhile, continued its carnage against the Kurds: in October 2015, it perpetrated what was then, before the Istanbul airport bombing, the worst terror attack in modern Turkish history, deploying two suicide bombers to the HDP-organized Labor, Peace, and Democracy rally just outside Ankaras Central railway station, within eyeshot of Turkeys National Intelligence Organization, its answer to the CIA. The attackers were Omer Deniz Dundar and Yunus Emre Alagoz, the brother of the Suruc operative. The two siblings, according to Turkish media accounts, were lured into ISISs fold after the fall of Kobane a year earlier. As Turkish journalist Ilhan Tanir told me, when I was conducting research for the revised and expanded version of my book on ISIS, the jihadist agitprop within Turkey reveals a savvy geopolitical agenda: ISIS members consistently and sharply criticize Turkish political leaders and security forces for being soft on the Kurds and the PKK, while they react angrily against the arrest of ISIS members. Their effort to re-spark a war between Erdogan and the PKK, which both sides seemed eager to do anyway since the summer of 2014, is not a far-fetched conclusion at all. It worked, even if the price ISIS must now pay is in the greater erosion of its Islamic empire. Lawmakers in California are trying to facilitate sexual assault prosecutions with no legal time limit, inspired by the avalanche of sexual assault allegations against Bill Cosby, a number of which stem from incidents that allegedly occurred over a decade ago. Last Thursday, a California Assembly unanimously passed a bill that would eliminate the states current 10-year statute of limitations for felony sex crimes, so that victims of rape or sexual abuse could theoretically bring charges at any time (more on how this works in practice later). The bill will likely be passed by the state Senate, which passed an earlier version in June, and will subsequently be signed into law by the California governor. California law currently mandates that rape and felony sex crimes be tried within 10 years, unless DNA evidence surfaces after the statute of limitations has passed. The new measure is designed to ensure that victims of sexual assault will have more opportunities to bring their assailants to justice. More than 50 women have accused Cosby of sexual assault in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, a number of whom have not been able to pursue charges against the comedian because the statute of limitations for sex crimes in their jurisdiction have expired. Three of those alleged victims spoke before the California Senate in June: Victoria Valentino, a former Playboy model who claimed Cosby raped her in Hollywood in 1969; Kacey, who said the comedian sexually assaulted her 20 years ago in Bel-Air; and the actress Lili Bernard, who claimed she was raped by Cosby in the 90s in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Bernard recently discovered shed missed her opportunity to file charges by a few months, according to the Los Angeles Times. None of these women would benefit from the new law in California, since charges cannot be brought retroactively. In 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Strogner v. California that a law enacted after a prior limitation had expired violates the Constitutions ex post facto clause. The new law would therefore only apply to future victims of rape and sexual assault, as well as to victims for whom Californias current 10-year statute of limitations had not yet expired. There are now 34 states across the country that have statutes of limitations on rape or sexual assault (or both), with legal time limits ranging from three to 30 years. Those limits exist to account for the deterioration of evidence, but also out of concern that criminal defendants will not be able to mount a defense for a crime they allegedly committed many years ago. But aging cases are often more problematic for the prosecution, according to Robert Weisberg, professor of law at Stanford University. The prosecution still has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the crime occurred, and its not easy to win cases that late, Weisberg told The Daily Beast. The defense, meanwhile, has to give the court a very specific reason why theyre unable to guard themselves against these charges. Weisberg noted that jurisdictions have been making an increasing number of exceptions to statutes of limitations in cases of sexual assault over the past 30 years, in part because weve developed a greater understanding of how trauma affects memory. In many cases, prosecutors have successfully argued that plaintiffsparticularly those in child sexual assault caseshad developed psychological issues as a result of the trauma that prevented them from recognizing or articulating the crime until years after the fact. If a legal system is granting a lot of exceptions, they might decide that it makes more sense to categorically change the law, Weisberg said. That way they dont have to worry about case-by-case exceptions, but the significance of the delay in terms of how probative the evidence is will always be up for grabs if the case goes to trial. Weisberg also noted that, in most jurisdictions, there is no statute of limitations for murder, which has always been considered the most serious felony crime. Needless to say, the legal system is not weighing complex psychological issues like repressed memory in murder cases. To some extent, the call to eliminate the statute of limitations on rape is a call for social recognition that rape is a very serious crime, Weisberg said. But advocates arrived at that decision years ago. Statutes of limitations for rape and sexual assault are artificial time limits created for the sake of convenience, but only for the perpetrators convenience, said Marci Hamilton, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania specializing in child sex abuse. Theres no record of an avalanche of false claims in states where there never has been a statute of limitations [for rape], so the arguments defending these statutes are very weak, she added. When asked about the child sex abuse panic in the late 80s and 90s that led to a series of false convictions, Hamilton stressed that advancements in child psychology and interviewing techniques would preclude a similar national phenomenon today. At this moment in history, there is no evidence that statutes of limitations for rape and sexual assault should not be eliminated. One thing critics and proponents of the bill agree on is that it reflects a long overdue shift in cultural attitudes about sexual assault. The fact that California will likely sign this bill into law certainly shows that were taking sexual assault more seriously, said Tamara Lave, professor of law at the University of Miami. But it makes it hard for someone who is innocent to defend themselves. And for a country that believes in liberty, thats a problem. Maria Mendoza of Miami was one of the first women in the U.S. to give birth to a baby with complications from Zika, as CNN reported Tuesday. She wont be the last. Although Mendoza made the decision to give birth, other Zika-infected pregnant women want to terminate their pregnancies. Depending on where they live, however, that might not be possible. In Florida, where Mendoza gave birth, abortion is banned 24 weeks after a womans last period with exceptions for her life and health but not for fetal anomalies. Mendoza was carefully monitoring her pregnancy from an early stageshe was infected with Zika at three monthsbut studies have shown that the virus can still cause severe defects even if a woman is infected during her third trimester. Zika has already hit 405 travelers from Florida and dozens of locals as well, after Miami mosquitoes began spreading the virus this summer. Florida is not the only state where legislative barriers to abortion could soon find themselves under pressure from Zika-infected pregnant women. In Texas, where there have been at least 108 travel-associated Zika cases so far, abortion is banned 20 weeks post-fertilization. Texas has an exception for fetal abnormalities, but only if they are incompatible with life outside the womb. North Carolina has reported 35 travel-associated cases of the virus to the CDC. The state bans abortion 20 weeks after a womans last period, with exceptions for a pregnant womans life and physical healthbut not for a fetal abnormality. Other states with fewer reported Zika cases have bans on later abortion as well, with varying timelines and exceptions. And according to Guttmacher Institute data, most of the states that allow late abortion for a fetal anomaly, like Texas, require it to be lethal. But Zika-related complications are not always lethal, and as CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden noted, lifetime health care costs for a microcephalic child can fall between $1 and $10 million. In all of the confusing Zika panic, one thing is clear: Abortion restrictions in the United States were not designed with a contingency like Zika in mind. Most women who seek abortion after 20 weeksa favorite cut-off point of abortion opponentsare doing so because of logistical delays and other exacerbating life circumstances, as a 2013 study in Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health found. As that study noted, data suggest that most women seeking later terminations are not doing so for reasons of fetal anomaly. But with Zika gaining a foothold in the continental United States, there could be an increase in women seeking abortion for that very reason. Soon, women who might not have expected to navigate the messy patchwork of U.S. abortion laws will probably have to do just that. There have been a handful of notable Zika-related abortion cases to date, like a 33-year old Finnish woman named Satu who spoke with NBC News about terminating her pregnancy at 21 weeks. Satu lived in D.C., where there are no restrictions on when an abortion can be performed. But more complicated stories are sure to come. Per CDC data, there have already been 521 cases of pregnant women with laboratory evidence of a Zika infection. And even setting aside 20- and 24-week bans, the states in which Aedes aegypti mosquitoes live typically have several other abortion restrictions as well, as TIME pointed out. A recent STAT-Harvard poll suggests that most Americans would support abortion access for the women most affected by Zika, even after 24 weeks. The poll of 1,000 respondents found that 59 percent believed women should have legal access to abortion after 24 weeks in the event of Zika-related microcephaly. That included 72 percent of Democrats and 48 percent of Republicans. But so far, anti-abortion groups have been firmly opposed to Zika-based exceptions. Zika should not be used as a springboard for a search-and-destroy mission against disabled babies, Susan B. Anthony List president Marjorie Dannenfelser told The Daily Beast after Marco Rubio voiced his opposition to abortions for women with Zika. Senator Marco Rubio is exactly right, said Americans United for Life acting president Clarke Forsythe. As the CDC notes, an anomaly ultrasound generally takes place between 18 to 20 weeks, which is already cutting it close for women living in states with 20-week abortion bans that dont have exceptions for fetal abnormalities. Other tests, like a screen for Down syndrome, typically happen between 15 to 20 weeks.But Zika complications are not always detectable that early in pregnancy. Some may not be noticeable until after childbirth. As CNN reported, Maria Mendozas ultrasounds looked normal throughout her pregnancy, with doctors only discovering brain calcifications after performing an MRI on her newborn child. That diagnosis was unexpected. I cried a lot, Mendoza told CNN. It was terrible. And as the Atlantic noted, research in the New England Journal of Medicine and The Lancet found that Zika can cause complications in the third trimester, even after the 30-week mark. And at that late stage in pregnancy, women in all but seven states and D.C. would be unable to access abortion unless there were an applicable fetal anomaly exception. Research has already shown that Zika has driven up abortion requests in Latin America, and if the virus continues to spread in the United States, abortion requests will almost certainly rise here, too. Whether or not those requests can be fulfilled, it seems, will be a different story. 2000 - 2022 24 .- . focus-news.net, () . 24 . 24 . . 24 . From real ale to craft beer Where will the thirst for authenticity take us next? Asks Simon Gore, managing director, Parker Williams brand design agency Simon Gore Parker Williams Nearly 30 years ago, in deepest darkest Norfolk, I came across my first craft beer. From the outside the pub looked unassuming, but inside, it was packed with beer enthusiasts who had come from afar to sample its famous home brew, Nelsons Blood. There was plenty of discussion around recipe, flavour and appearance, but to be truthful it was an acquired taste, closer to Summer Scrumpy cider and pungent 1970s home-brew kits. How things have changed: craft beer is booming. And though experimentation and invention remain at its heart, craft beer now promises quality, provenance, and expertise too. Unusual taste profiles and flavour mash-ups Of course, adventurous ingredients, flavours and aromas are nothing new. The Belgians, especially their monks, have been innovating beer for centuries by marrying new taste with tradition. As the craft movement grows, so does flavour experimentation. But strange ingredient combinations can be either seductive or torturous. Ever been tempted by a pint of spontaneously-fermented sour ale with fresh raspberries? In any case, the craft philosophy has captured our imagination. The focus is on individuality and boundary-pushing, as the tasting notes that adorn beer packaging now read more like a food menu. Take the foodie language employed by London-based craft brewery Redemption, its Fellowship Porter promises drinkers a combination of "coffee, liquorice and dry roasted malt flavours, complemented with hints of dark fruit. It even goes on to describe how the taste profile develops on the palate, as "the initial sweetness fades into a restrained bitter finish. This is terminology previously reserved for wine, whisky and coffee. And its not just ingredients simple wooden barrels are changing the brewing industry too. Whilst Bourbon is the most popular, other barrels such as tequila and Cognac are also becoming a part of the brewing process. As brew master Jason Perkins explains: "The barrel is an ingredient. Brewing with unusual grains is on the up too, which reflects the innovation around Free From, driven by a growing awareness of nutrition and food intolerances. BrewDog is a case in point, launching its first gluten-free brew, Vagabond, last year. Other grains too, from millet to corn to sorghum, all prove a lack of gluten doesnt equate to lack of flavour. Changing audiences: from local village to urban hipster Ultimately though, a large part of craft beers appeal is that anyone can have a go. Craft of Brewing courses and Brewing Science degrees abound, while hobbyists-turned-professionals make up the majority of craft success stories. Take the beer geeks behind Newports Tiny Rebel, who started out in a garage. The pair began by messing around, before they realized they were brewing beers better than those we could buy down the pub. This spirit of adventure has attracted a new, younger generation to craft beers. Influencing hipsters have transformed craft beer into an urban cool phenomenon that focuses on quality. Its not for bingeing, its cultured and clever. And each brand has its own distinctive story of invention. At the same time, new rituals are emerging around the way craft beer is served. Along with the revival of old favourites like the dimple pint glass, pricier brews demand smaller measures and thus, smaller, stemmed glasses. So theres something for wine drinkers too. Near our studio in Chiswick, the UKs first Italian craft beer pub encourages drinking in halves or two-thirds of a pint. Some of the Italian Job's" brews reach incredible levels of potency, more comparable to a fine wine than a beer. And, like any great Italian wine, the beers showcase a variety of styles to be accompanied by delicious Italian street food. It is urban class and craft combined. The art of beer: powerful experimental design So craft beer brands are more experimental. They are agile and have more freedom to innovate than bigger beer brands. There is an immediacy to the creative process, where consumers are exposed to a brewers story from concept through to process and packaging. "Product love" comes first, with the brand evolving from the makers vision; reflecting individual personalities and philosophies. Take the brand identity created by Logan Plants Beavertown brewery in North London, which is a veritable work of art. The illustrations by artist-in-residence and creative director Nick Dwyer, full of strange aliens, big bangs and skeletons, create a fantasy world not unlike prog-rock cover art. This look has created a powerful, stand-out brand that reflects the rebellious anti-big" nature of the makers. The brand is big on attitude, combining a deep rooted love of product with a desire to innovate. Other craft brands, such as Brew By Numbers, have adopted a more sophisticated approach. The finished labels feature simple batch numbers and tasting notes; they arent glossy or overly manufactured, but embrace connoisseurship, where complexity of flavour takes precedence over edgy, illustrative graphics. Either way, theres no doubt that great craft beer and great design are interlinked. Being in the know: Craft beer exclusivity and hype For craft beer aficionados, being in the know about whats happening at the forefront of experimentation, innovation and craftsmanship is all part of the appeal. Pliny the Younger, a draft-only offering from Russian River in California, is brewed just once a year and released in February for two weeks only. Apparently its simply too difficult and time-consuming to brew more than this, with a tremendous quantity of expensive raw ingredients going into each batch. Beer fanatics come from all over to queue for hours in order to taste their allotment of Younger. Once in, theres a three-hour maximum stay and a limit of three 10 ounce glasses per person. Over in North Carolina, Wicked Weed launched an online pre-sale this August of the latest in their Angel Series. It was limited to one pack per person. The allocation of White Angel, a sour beer aged in wine barrels sold out in about an hour. Demand from those in the know runs high. Turning full circle Craft brewing looks set for a blossoming future. The opening of UBrew, one of the first open breweries, in a large railway arch in a foodie-centric part of Bermondsey is an interesting development. Novices and experienced brewers alike can use the professional kit to experiment and brew their own recipes, with a taproom for customers to sample UBrew member tap takeovers. Which takes me back to my early discovery of Nelsons Blood. The original brew house and makers have long gone, but its more accessible now, with a polished, grown-up brand look and feel. However, its craft credentials are still firmly intact: locally grown barley, recipe innovation with the addition of rum liqueur and an engaging brand story. It even comes complete with tasting notes. The flavour is still challenging, but maybe thats part of the craft charm. The business challenge now is to break out of the micro-niche and grow profitably, without being perceived as too well-known, mainstream and boringly consistent. A rare challenge indeed. 24 August 2016 Glover 18 release honours Scottish Samurai A rare blend of Scotch and Japanese whiskies has proven so popular that its makers have released a third version. The Glover 18 is the third in a series of whiskies honouring Scottish Samurai Thomas Blake Glover and celebrating the long history of trade and friendship between Scotland and Japan. Its owners, Edinburgh-based TBG & Co, say the new edition has already attracted a very promising number of international orders prior to todays international launch. The whisky brand takes its name from Thomas Blake Glover, nicknamed the Scottish Samurai because of the profound impact he had on the modernisation of Japan in the 19th century. Glover was the first foreigner to receive the Order of the Rising Sun from the Japanese Emperor in recognition of his many achievements. Jim Millar, a senior parliamentary adviser at Holyrood and director of TBG & Co, says: The Glover whiskies are a celebration of Scotland's influence and its international friendships. They honour the achievements of Thomas Blake Glover and celebrate our important relationship with Japan, which continues to flourish, especially in the fields of trade, culture and education. TBG & Co has confirmed it is now looking towards producing future variants with whiskies from other countries, with the team researching historical characters and options for casks from international single malt distilleries. Director David Moore, an Asia veteran in the drinks sector and now Scotland-based, comments: We knew the idea behind The Glover was a strong one, but we're still overwhelmed by the international interest the fusion whisky garnered, both for its concept as well as its look, aroma and taste. The first two editions sold out almost immediately and were heavily over-subscribed, finding their way to 15 international markets." "It's clear there's a strong market for these types of premium fusions between Scotch whisky and international whisky, which have their own unique character. Moore highlights the ongoing relationship with the Fife-based premium bottler Adelphi, whose managing director Alex Bruce blended mature whisky from Longmorn and Glen Garioch distilleries in Scotland with exceptionally rare whisky from the legendary Hanyu distillery in Japan to create the Glover fusions: There are only a handful of Hanyu casks left in the world. For the Glover, Alex has worked his magic with this highly sought-after whisky to hone and perfect a beautifully balanced and sublimely satisfying dram." He also says TBG & Co is looking at funding options from Scottish Development International and Scotland Food and Drink, and that the company is also looking to appoint a project manager to oversee current operations, with the likelihood of additional employees further down the line as the business grew. He adds: Creating international fusions is not without its challenges, but the rewards are clearly there for people to see and taste. These whiskies are a celebration of Scotland's internationalism, of its positive influence on other countries, of partnerships that reach across physical borders". We think it's worth trying that little bit harder to create these fusion whiskies, a drink that was made for sharing with friends. The Glover 18 is likely to be exported to more than 15 countries, including a significant amount to Japan. Domestically, previous editions of The Glover sold in luxury retailers Harvey Nichols and Harrods, as well as specialist whisky shops. World-renowned whisky consultant Charles MacLean, who worked with Alex Bruce on creating the Glover fusions, also provided the tasting notes for the latest Glover brand. He described the whisky as: Richly fruity ripe pear, juicy red apples, cherries, orange juice on a base of vanilla sponge, spread with strawberry jam and whipped cream. The two previous editions of The Glover were launched simultaneously on October 26th, 2015, in Tokyo and Aberdeen, where Thomas Glover is celebrated with an exhibition at the Maritime Museum, at an event that was also attended by Hajime Kitaoka, Consul General of Japan and Lord Bruce, Honorary Patron of the Japan Society of Scotland, and Councillor Jenny Laing, Leader of Aberdeen City Council. Glover was a native of Aberdeenshire and hails from Fraserburgh. The 22-year-old version, of which only 373 were ever made, retailed at 1050 version. Now sold out, bottles of the 22-year-old have appeared on online auction sites for more than 2000 a bottle. About 1500 of the 14 year old version were made, selling at about 100 a bottle, for which again there is a healthy premium secondary market. The Glover 18 (48.6%), of which 1448 were made, is available from whisky specialists, in strictly limited quantities, priced around 145. Pictured below: David Moore (left) and Alex Bruce 24 August 2016 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Donald Trump is applauding the prospect of former Texas Gov. Rick Perry mounting a possible primary challenge against Republican Sen. Ted Cruz in 2018, saying, "Boy, will he do well." At a fundraiser in downtown Austin, Trump was standing next to Perry when he was asked about the Texan's chance to unseat his state's junior senator. Cruz, who unsuccessfully fought Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, notably declined to endorse him at last month's GOP national convention and faces re-election in 2018. In a recording of the event first posted online by a Democratic group, the Lone Star Project, Trump answers that he's been "hearing a lot about that." "I don't know if he wants to do it, but boy, will he do well," Trump says of Perry. "People love him in Texas. And he was one great governor." Two fundraiser attendees verified the recording on Wednesday on the condition that their names not be published. The fundraiser occurred Tuesday. Trump hasn't been shy about criticizing fellow Republicans even those up for re-election. He initially declined to endorse House Speaker Paul Ryan's re-election bid earlier this summer, then formally threw his support behind it before Ryan crushed a primary challenger in his Wisconsin district. Cruz sparked an outcry at the GOP convention in Cleveland last month by refusing to endorse Trump during his prime-time speech rebuffing calls for Republican Party unity behind its nominee. Perry left office last year and was a harsh Trump critic as he briefly ran for the Republican presidential nomination, even calling the billionaire businessman a cancer on conservatism. Perry has since endorsed Trump and become a surrogate who has praised him on national television. The former governor has kept a low profile since dropping out of the 2016 presidential race last fall. Recent polls suggest Cruz's popularity in Texas has suffered since his convention speech, and one even indicated that Perry would top Cruz in a hypothetical matchup. Those close to Perry say he's laughed off the idea of a Senate run, but Perry hasn't publicly ruled it out. While running for president, Cruz originally said he'd endorse whoever the eventual Republican nominee was. He said later he'd changed his mind because Trump insulted his family during the bitter White House campaign. Mica Mosbacher, an Austin resident and former finance co-chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, was a vocal supporter of Cruz's presidential run but is now is backing Trump. "I am deeply disappointed in our senator that he did not honor his pledge," Mosbacher said by phone Wednesday, referring to Cruz's reneging support for Trump. "And I, along with a lot of other donors, are very upset." But that's what happened to Ann Levere, who has spent many summer days in an inflatable raft on the St. Clair River bordering Michigan and the Canadian province of Ontario. The annual Port Huron Float Down, which draws cooler-toting revelers in colorful dinghies and inner tubes, is a tradition dating to the late '70s, and Levere has been a regular for nearly as long. This year strong winds blew Levere eastward, separating her from her family. In an attempt to point her raft in the other direction, the 48-year-old grandmother slipped and fell into Canadian waters. She wasn't alone - some 1,500 river partygoers inadvertently drifted across the northern border, entering Canada without documentation on Sunday. Most had to be rescued through a massive effort from several Canadian agencies, then were returned to the United States by bus. Others were given a lift back to the American side by friendly Canadians on the water. After Levere tumbled into the river, a Canadian woman pulled her up onto her own raft. Together, they latched onto a Canadian freighter that towed them toward Port Huron. By the time Levere reached land, she had been on the water for nearly seven hours. "They just made me feel so warm and comfortable," she said of her rescuers in a phone interview with The Washington Post. "If it wasn't for them, I don't know what would have happened to me." Other floaters were just as grateful for the neighborly assistance. "God bless Canada!" a raucous group shouted in a Canadian Coast Guard video posted by the CBC. A statement from the Coast Guard described the Port Huron Float Down as an "unsanctioned event" that "poses significant and unusual hazards given the fast-moving current, large number of participants, lack of life jackets ... [and] challenging weather conditions." Speaking to the CBC, Coast Guard official Peter Garapick said he wishes the event would end but knows that's "wishful thinking." Some Americans who feared retribution from Canadian authorities tried to swim back to the Port Huron shore. "They were terrified of entering another country without documentation," Garapick said. "No one carries their passport or any ID, and a lot were drinking alcohol. We had to pull a lot of people out of the water and say 'no.' They were very upset, cold and miserable." A line of buses transported the floaters, who were described as "possibly drunk" and "refugees" in Canadian media, over a bridge and back onto American soil. Sunday's festivities weren't the first time Americans caused trouble in Canada this summer. In June, a big game hunter from Ohio posted a YouTube video showing himself killing an Alberta black bear with a spear, along with a photo of the bear's intestines wrapped around a tree branch. After the video went viral this month, the government of Alberta said they plan to ban spear hunting, calling the practice "archaic" and "unacceptable," while commenters labeled it "barbaric." In 2012, a LivingSocial survey of Canadians found that 39 percent believe Americans are the world's worst tourists. It may be due to what they bring with them: On Monday, the Canadian Border Services Agency issued a statement urging Americans tourist to leave their firearms at home. In Sarnia, city workers on Monday were still cleaning up beer cans, coolers and flotation devices left behind by their unexpected Float Down guests. "This [year's Port Huron Float Down] was the worst but also the best," said Levere, who noted that "there's always a few drunk people who fight and make it seem bad for the rest of us." She concluded: "It was scary at first, crazy - but fun." Neutral observer says writer's views may be misleading I respect Bob Presley's views, but some may be misleading. I consider myself as neutral, not liberal, but a progressive thinker with conservative values. I am not an Obama fan, neither Bill nor Hillary fan, also not a Trump fan. Presley said George W. Bush ignored the Osama Bin Laden threat, but Bill Clinton also ignored this threat four times. Hindsight is 20/20. The Bush administration did start the Iraq War in 2003. The majority of lives loss were sustained by civil and insurgent populations after 2005 to 2007. Obama began the withdrawal of forces in Iraq in 2011, then reactivated forces to Iraq in 2014, because of insurgents and civil unrest. The Iraq War and 9/11 added $850 billion to our national debt between 2001 to 2009, but under Obama this war debt rose to $ 1.778 trillion from 2009 to 2015. In 2009 Obama added 47,000 troops to Afghanistan. Obama has spent $857 million on his War on Terror since 2010 compared to Bush's $921 million, and Bush had to deal with 9/11. Bush's deficit rose $5 trillion over four years but Obama's rose from $10 trillion to $19 trillion. This escalation began with Bush, but it is totally out of control now. This economy has made a great recovery, especially here in Texas. Would the rest of the world say the same. While the U.S. unemployment is down, our wage gain rate also is down. Our wages are worth less, many people are worse off than before. ObamaCare is a disaster. Aetna has lost $430 million since 2014. The available policies have higher premiums, higher deductibles, and less coverage. We cannot blame the Republicans, nor can we blame the Democrats. We need to blame and adjust our politicians. RANDY BOENIGK Bryan Enough of the ugliness of the past eight years under Obama Hillary Clinton supporters, try to convince me to vote for her by using valid data in support of a candidacy that promises a continuation of Barack Obama's policies. President Obama promised from the beginning that he would change America fundamentally and, with some assistance from Secretary Clinton, he has fulfilled that promise. Domestically, we have a stagnant economy. Were Obama's Labor Department to publish the valid unemployment rate, including Americans who have given up on trying to find work, it would double the currently reported figure. We have more than twice the number of Americans on food stamps than when Obama took office. Under Obama, race relations have deteriorated, acts of violent crime have escalated, police officers have been demeaned, terrorism has grown, illegal immigration has risen, moral standards have declined, and the family structure has been fragmented. There is not a nation with whom we have improved relations after eight years of the Obama, Clinton, and Kerry leadership. To punctuate their incompetence, this administration recently paid $400 million in ransom money to Iran for the return of four of our citizens. This was a dangerous precedent; sufficiently so, that Obama took to the airwaves and falsely denied it. Our military has been degraded to the point that our Marine Corps aviation recently had to resort to cannibalizing junked aircraft for parts to keep its fighter planes operating. As a nation, our debt is nearly $20 trillion -- twice that of eight years ago. I say enough of the ugly. Let's get back to America's inherent beauty. LYLE D. STOCKMOE College Station Check insurance acceptance at some freestanding ERs The Eagle's recent article on the spread of emergency rooms not affiliated with a hospital was timely. Although such facilities may fulfill a need, to call them emergency rooms is somewhat misleading. Most hospital ER's are required to "stabilize and treat" all patients regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. By contrast, doctors at one locally prominent non-hospital ER proclaim aloud in their TV commercials that they accept most major insurances. The fine print on the screen, however, says except Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare. Basically, they don't want old folks, poor people or veterans. TOM KISKE College Station In an historic move last week, residents of Shishmaref, Alaska voted to relocate their coastal village due to erosion, which is expected to worsen as a result of climate change. The four-mile long island is losing shoreline at a rate of 10 to 30 feet per year. To date, 19 homes and the National Guard Armory have moved as a result. With only 600 residents affected, their decision to relocate last week may not appear to be a logistical challenge but the cost of a full relocation of the entire village is estimated at 180 million U.S. dollars. Shishmaref is not the first Alaskan village to make such a heart-breaking decision. In 1996, the 350 residents of Newtok decided to move to a piece of elevated land nine miles from their home based on projections their village could be completely submerged as early as 2017. However, very little relocation has taken place - despite significant flood damage - in the interim. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requires villages to pay up to half of the costs for new infrastructure - estimated at $130 million for Newtok, which makes the reality of relocation cost-prohibitive. In 2008, I visited Arctic Alaska as part of the Ben & Jerry's Climate Change College led by the late polar explorer, Marc Cornelissen. Sadly, I wasn't surprised to witness the retreating glaciers, thinning sea ice or hear about the plight of the polar bear. In contrast, I was stunned to discover climate change was already affecting the unique culture of the Inupiat community living there, particularly as residents of Alaska (who receive oil royalties of approximately $2,000 per person annually through the Alaska Permanent Fund) and as citizens of the United States (a country that had refused to agree to global climate action at the time). This odd dichotomy of the Alaskan Inupiat community - as both victims of climate change and beneficiaries of the very things contributing to climate change - was palpable. Eight years ago, the scientists and explorers I met in the Arctic described the Inupiat culture as one that would cease to exist' as a result of climate change. Since then, almost nothing has been done to prevent the extinction of a subsistence-based culture that has been in existence in Alaska since 1000 B.C. Finding appropriate relocation sites able to withstand the impacts of climate change within traditional Inupiat hunting grounds adds further to the challenge. Newtok and Shishmaref are only the tip of the iceberg. Alaska is warming two to three times faster than the rest of the United States, and the impact of rapid warming on the permanently frozen land of these native villages is dramatic. An assessment by the U.S. Government Accountability Office in 2003 reported 86 per cent of Alaska's 213 native villages had already experienced flooding and erosion from melting permafrost - with 31 villages described as being in imminent danger' and 12 villages deciding to relocate by 2009. An anonymous donor has stepped up to pay for a new threat alert system to be implemented in Franklin County schools. With a price tag of $47,000, COPsync911 may not have been possible for the county school division, until the donor contacted the sheriffs office. We were blessed to receive a call from a private donor who read about the program in a local newspaper and made the donation to cover the costs of both the schools and law enforcements sides of the program, said Sheriff Bill Overton. And we are so thankful. COPsync911 is a real-time threat alert system that would immediately connect the staff of a school under potential threat with law enforcement officers closest to the schools location. With the installation of the COPsync911 software on classroom computers or mobile devices, administrators and teachers inside each school would simply click an icon to open a real-time connection referred to as a crisis communications portal with dispatchers and officers. Officers can send an immediate reply message, letting the sender know they are on their way, and users will be able to communicate with each other, as well as dispatchers and officers. Its like a chat amongst users of the software, said Director of Technology Matthew Fitzgerald. Its a portal in which users can communicate with each other and with law enforcement. The program not only sends an immediate alert to dispatchers, it gets officers on the scene faster and dispenses a downloadable sketch of the threat location within the building, Overton said. It gives us the ability to see where we are and locate where the shooter may be, said Major Mike Bowman, who was on the scene during the 2007 Virginia Tech mass shootings. It will act as our eyes throughout the situation. Its about saving lives and giving us the ability to do our jobs a lot quicker. Seconds do matter, added Overton. COPsync911 would allow a school, such as Callaway Elementary, which is located many miles away from law enforcement, to access an off-duty officer that may live only a mile away, versus dispatching an officer from Rocky Mount, said Superintendent Mark Church. We would like to thank the sheriff and his staff, Church said. As a school system, our number one priority is the safety of our children, as well as our staff, as we are the largest employer in Franklin County. Communication is the key, and this system will allow our staff to have that needed access. COPsync911 will not replace the school resource officers already in place at schools, Overton said. Training for law enforcement, school administration and staff will start immediately with the high school being the first to get linked into the software by the end of the 2016-2017 school year. The program will launch at the middle school next, followed by elementary schools. There will also be plenty of demonstrations and test runs throughout the division before the program goes live, Fitzgerald said. Its not only for the safety of students, but for the staff who put themselves in harms way to protect those students, said Supervisors Chairman Cline Brubaker, and for the law enforcement officers involved. Our children are very special to us, and in case of an emergency situation, officers need and deserve all the help and extra support they can get. Iowa high school football playoffs: All the state quarterfinal games The winners of this week's Round-of-16 games advanced to next week's state quarterfinal round of the playoffs. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HARTFORD The Connecticut Business & Industry Association is giving up its legislative neutrality and will target three Democratic Senate incumbents for removal this fall, including 12th-term Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr. of Woodbridge, in a $400,000 media campaign marking the groups first foray into partisan politics. The move disappointed and angered Democratic leaders, but Joseph F. Brennan, CBIAs president and CEO, said the effort is an attempt to support candidates who believe in promoting business interests. Weve always been a nonpartisan organization and we will continue to be a nonpartisan organization with our endorsements supporting, as we have in the past, both Republicans and Democrats, Brennan said in an interview. In a limited number of races, were doing some independent expenditures. A different direction In all, the CBIA will support candidates in four Senate and 11 House races. Thirteen of the 15 candidates are Republicans, including Nicole Klarides-Ditria, who is running against third-term Rep. Theresa Conroy of Seymour. Klarides-Ditria is the sister of House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby. The two Democrats who will gain CBIA support in social media and direct-mail campaigns are Rep. John Hampton of Simsbury and third-term Rep. Jonathan Steinberg of Westport, both of whom voted against the new state budget in May. Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, said that because the CBIAs campaign was announced so early in the election season, Democrats have time to supplement the races of the three targeted incumbents Crisco and liberals Sen. Mae Flexer, D-Killingly and Sen. Dante Bartolomeo, D-Meriden. A fourth seat is being vacated by retiring Sen. Andrew M. Maynard, D-Stonington. Brennan said that recent focus groups brought together by the statewide business organization have underscored the need to take issues to the public directly. People are not feeling good about the economy, the direction of the state, the livability and affordability of the state, he said, stressing that Connecticut has only regained about 80 percent of the jobs lost in the 2008 recession. We feel that the status quo is not going to be particularly favorable. Were trying to set a different direction. Brennan denied that the CBIA is trying to create a Republican majority in the Senate, where the GOP hasnt ruled since the 1995-96 legislative sessions. Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, said Wednesday he is confident voters will return the three incumbents to the Senate, which Democrats control 21-15. The elections are about choices and everybody has the right and every group has the right to make decisions, Duff said in a phone interview. The most-important decision is on Election Day. Looney believes Republican members of the CBIA were angered by the associations endorsement of the Democratic budget in the spring. The reaction, he said, is the new, partisan campaign to inject independent expenditures in the upcoming legislative races. Extremely disappointing Its somewhat alarming, said Looney, stressing that major pro-business initiatives have emerged in recent years with majority Democratic support. My record is pro-business, said Crisco, who is co-chairman of the legislative Insurance and Real Estate Committee and vice chairman of the Banking, Commerce and Public Health committees. He called the CBIA support for his challenger, George Logan, extremely disappointing. He said that in recent years, small businesses in his district have benefited from $4 million in state aid, and they will benefit from $5 million in car tax reductions. The CBIA has abdicated their role as a neutral arbiter on behalf of the business community, said Speaker of the House Brendan Sharkey, D-Hamden. Im disappointed because I have always relied on CBIA to be a neutral source for information and guidance on issues affecting the business community. I and future speakers will be less likely to refer to them because questions I ask or information I share can now be used in a political campaign. Democrats have an 87-64 majority in the House. Conroy said she was shocked by the CBIA decision. I have worked very closely for years with the New Haven Manufacturing Association, she said. I went to bat for the restoration of hospital funding, especially with Griffin hospital down here in the Valley. I voted for the state retirement fund because many people in my district dont have their own retirement funds and would like an option. I think Im one of the stronger ones supporting business. Steinberg, who will receive CBIA support, said he was surprised but pleased that the association is acknowledging his work leading the House Democrats moderate caucus, which he described as being hard on caucus leaders. Were trying to get rid of the serial deficits and create sustainable budgets, Steinberg said. He said he and other lawmakers have already succeeded in cutting back on overtime, reducing prison populations and enacting major health care reforms. We have to be pro-business and focused on turning the economy around, Steinberg said. Weve got to turn the corner. At the end of our August visit to Nova Scotia, we took the fast CAT ferry from Yarmouth to Portland, Maine a smooth 5 hour trip across the mouth of the Bay of Fundy. Wed been drawn to the exciting Portland food scene that has lately been spotlighted in the press with a beam as bright as the Portland Head lighthouse. The hip young artisans that feed the Portland renaissance were written up in the August issue of Food and Wine. The New York Times devoted a full page to 36 Hours in Portland on July 31. Locally, The Hour referenced Portlands heavy mix of restaurants in a July 31 article by Alexander Soule about restaurants dominating the storefronts in SoNo. Everybody is talking about Portland! A new generation of food and beverage innovators has created a collection of high concept yet down to earth eating and drinking opportunities including cutting-edge restaurants, award-winning breweries, nationally recognized bakeries, and imaginative food trucks that have fueled a tourism boom in this historic port city. We took an afternoon stroll around town visiting the Cabot Farmers Annex, the famous Harbor Fish Market, and window shopping on Commerce Street and along the wharfs. Then it was off to the Munjoy Hill neighborhood in East Portland where beautifully restored Victorian mansions line the waterfront, surrounding an established neighborhood close enough to the harbor to enjoy a refreshing sea breeze. Our destination was the stylish and intimate restaurant Lolita Vinoteca + Asador where Chef Guy Hernandez creates remarkable Mediterranean cuisine that sometimes speaks with a Down East accent. The restaurant has a carefully chosen wine list, artisanal charcuterie, farmstead cheeses, and tapas in addition to small, medium and large plates one more irresistible that the other. After ten days of fresh Nova Scotia seafood, we were eager for some Mediterranean cooking from their wood-fired oven . A couple of tapas from the Monday night special (a single oyster with boozy ice and crispy potatoes with aioli) and half glasses of Portuguese Vinho Verde and rose got us started. From an intriguingly named menu category of Toasts, Pots, and Snacks, we chose four on the (untrue) assurance that they were small: Tuna Confit with olives and tomato on wood-grilled sourdough; Chicken Liver Mousse, rich and silky; Sardine Puree, tasting of an herbal sea; and Marcona almonds with sage and sea salt. All delicious, but too much. A palate-cleansing salad of local greens with sprigs of parsley and dill had a few leaves of just-picked peppery arugula to kick it up and a light refreshing lemon vinaigrette. It was the most distinctive, memorable, and remarkable salad of the whole trip maybe the whole summer. Im a little wary of hum-drum restaurant green salads, but this one restored my faith. The main courses (already full, we ate them anyway) were pasta-based: Rigatoncini with local mushrooms, thyme, a dolop of cream, and a sprinkle cheese was rich and satisfying; Torchio (torch shaped) with Nduja (a hot and spicy finely ground uncured sausage) and crunchy-sweet fresh peas had an irresistible complex flavor. Sadly, with no room for dessert, we had to pass on the short-crusted Strawberry Galette, Cream Puffs with chocolate caramel mousse, and the Warm Milk + House Baked Cookies. Portland has a great reputation for bakeries some featuring bread, others specializing in sweets. The next morning I popped around the corner from our hotel to The Holy Donut, a donaphiles pilgrimage site famous for adding mashed Maine potatoes to their donut dough. The spuds give the donuts a dense, rich texture more substantial than a typical raised donut, but not as structured as a cake donut. Still full from dinner, I could only sample four flavors. The moist, unglazed old-fashioned donut has a hint of potato flavor. It can also can be had with a dusting of cinnamon sugar. Sweet potato is a little sweeter with a characteristic pale yellow/orange color and finished with a ginger glaze. Blueberry, with chunks of berry and a vibrant fresh berry taste, is coated with an almost garish but delicious blueberry glaze. Other flavors I wanted to try are: maple-bacon, fresh lemon, pomegranate, dark chocolate with sea salt (the best seller, but not a morning donut for me), and bacon-cheddar filled. After the donuts, realizing that the excessive eating had to stop, but still wanting to grab as much Portland goodness as we could, we organized a picnic to eat on the drive home. The menu started with a visit to the landmark Standard Baking Company for an organic Rustica loaf. Then it was back to the Cabot store, which carries the full line of Cabot Cheeses along with many other specialties. A small block of sharp New England cheddar and a locally bottled root beer rounded out the menu. A few hours down the road, we tore off hunks of bread to eat with slices of cheddar and celebrated, our tour of Nova Scotia and Maine with a simple and satisfying roadside repast. Frank Whitmans Not Bread Alone column runs every Thursday in The Hour. Frank can be reached at notbreadalonefw@gmail.com. NORWALK Norwalk police are asking for the publics help in providing clues to the 1993 murder of 23-year-old Juan Johnny Cornelio. On Sunday, Oct. 10, 1993 at 3:47 p.m., Norwalk police received a call from 15 Godfrey St. reporting a deceased male, later identified as Cornelio. Cornelios girlfriend and mother of his daughter, along with a friend, came up from New York City to check on Cornelio after he did not arrive in New York City the night before for his daughters birthday and they could not reach him by telephone. They unlocked the front doors and found the man deceased and sitting at a small table in the bedroom suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. The Detective Bureau assumed the investigation and learned from friends that Cornelio was originally from New York City and would sell drugs in Norwalk. He had moved to Norwalk five months prior to his death and continued to sell cocaine in large amounts, police learned. Information was received that Cornelio may have had a girlfriend that was married and lived nearby. The girlfriend was described as a black female, 30 to 40 years old with the first name Edith or Iris, and that she had seven children. The womans husband was described as a large and heavy-set man who drove a light red car The evening before the shooting, police learned that Cornelio was at his house at 9:30 p.m. with one of his drug runners when a black female came over and wanted $500 that Cornelio had promised her. Cornelio and the female argued out front and then went into the house, at which point Cornelio told the runner to leave. The runner described the black female as 35 to 40 years old with seven children and her husband was a tall husky black male that drove a light red car and was a customer of Cornelios. The witness told police that he was aware that a Jamaican male was coming over to purchase 90 grams of cocaine but had not arrived prior to his leaving at 9:30 p.m. During subsequent interviews of the friends of Cornelio that initially located him, they admitted that when they found Cornelio deceased, they also located about two ounces of cocaine, a scale, and $1,000 cash on the table in front of him and cleaned it up before calling the police to report his death. Police said these action would appear to eliminate a robbery-homicide as the motive. The investigation stalled with few leads and Edith or Iris was never identified for an interview. The case remains unsolved. Anybody with information is asked to contact Lt. Art Weisgerber at 203-854-3028 or aweisgerber@norwalkct.org. Anonymous internet tips can be sent through the Norwalk police website at www.norwalkpd.com . Anonymous text tips can be submitted by typing NPD into the text field, followed by the message and sending it to CRIMES (274637). This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WESTPORT Contractor Herbert S. Grant, who died Tuesday in a construction accident in Westport, will be remembered as a man who would give you his last dollar, said his youngest son, Bill Grant. Police said the elder Grant died when he was struck in the upper body by the front discharge chute of a concrete mixer truck. The accident remained under investigation on Wednesday. Grant, 69, was in the business of building foundations and just about anything else made of poured concrete. He lived on Stratfords Elm Street for nearly 30 years, and was listed as the owner of the H. Grant Const. Co. Anything that was made from poured concrete, he did it, said his son, who works for the city of Norwalk. He was a hard worker, and he told us that he was going to work until the day he died, and thats exactly what he did. Born in Maine, Grant moved to Connecticut when he was 16. In 1979, he returned to Maine with his family for a time, only to move back to Connecticut to reopen his concrete business in 1986. Bill Grant said his dad almost never missed a day of work. He was a mans man, he said. I remember him even as a kid, leaving for work every day with concrete on his boots. Underneath that cement dust on his work overalls was a man with a big heart, the son said. Never judgmental he was always willing to help people out, Bill Grant said. He was that kind of a guy hed always greet you with a smile. Family members said that there would be a memorial service, although those plans are still being made. Herbert Grant had five children and 15 grandchildren. His wife, Nancy, died five years ago. He would have turned 70 on Sept. 5. The accident is being investigated by the regional office of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Westport, Trumbull and State Police, as well as the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The cement mixer is owned an operated by Suzio-York Hill Asphalt and Concrete Suppliers, of Meriden. The incident occurred at a residence on County Lane in Westport. Grant hired Suzio-York Hill to deliver concrete to the site, Westport police said. Police, fire and EMS units were called to the residence at about 12:20 p.m. Tuesday. Grant, who was unresponsive at the time, was transported to the Norwalk Hospital, where he died, police said. OSHA Area Director Robert Kowalski said that there has been a rash of construction fatalities in Southwestern Connecticut since Oct. 1, 2015 eight in all. This one is the first in a very long time involving a concrete mixer, however, he said. A State Police trooper and two others are being credited with rescue a man from a burning car on Tuesday. It happened around 10 a.m. near Exit 3 on Route 72 in Plainville. Each triplet is responsible for at least one aspect of the business. They said they all work together on some things, including what days to open and keeping track of inventory. It was a beautiful Monday on the farm in Red Bud, Ill., where Kirk Liefer was putting in a new grain bin and waiting for the harvest. The corn crop looks pretty good, the fourth-generation farmer reports. Funny, the U.S. Agriculture Department predicts record production of corn and soybeans this year, but farmers are worriers, we suppose. What else is on Liefers mind as the corn grows? Trade with Japan believe it or not. Liefer leads a quintessential American life, benefiting from what he calls one of Gods greatest gifts: the land. Yet nearly his entire corn harvest and 80 percent of his soybeans will go down the Mississippi by barge and on to Japan. That makes Liefers family farm more export-dependent than Caterpillar Inc. is. A regional trade deal between the United States and 11 Pacific Rim nations, including Japan, Mexico and Malaysia, but not China, would give a big boost to Midwestern agriculture. Or, if you prefer to think like a worry-prone farmer: The failure of Congress to ratify the deal, known as TPP the Trans-Pacific Partnership would leave farmers and other exporters vulnerable, because trades a competitive game and market share is always in flux. If TPP happens, we have all these partners we collaborate with and hopefully trade grows, Liefer says. If for some reason all the parties get together and the U.S. doesnt, what says they dont go somewhere else? Exactly. This deal is about both boosting and protecting exports. The Illinois Farm Bureau says the state already sends $1.4 billion of soybeans annually to the 11 TPP countries, plus $1 billion of corn and other feed and $1.5 billion of pork, dairy, beef and other products. If the trade agreement is approved by the U.S., the Illinois Farm Bureau says state ag exports would increase by $127 million, not to mention broader benefits to the state. That translates into $9,000 more a year for the average family grain farm. But if the United States decides to sit out TPP? The country faces the prospect of losing out to other ag exporters. The agreement would knock down tariffs and quotas, eliminate burdensome red tape and set rules for a variety of issues such as intellectual property for a group of countries that makes up 40 percent of the global economy. The 11 other TPP countries are Japan, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Malaysia, Singapore, Chile, Peru, New Zealand, Vietnam and Brunei. One specific opportunity for the U.S. is increased beef and pork exports to Japan, which long has tried to keep a lid on American meat imports. If those barriers are erased, Japan will take in more American beef and pork, which also would trigger increased demand for corn and soybean feed for those animals. We see significant expansion, maybe 5 cents a bushel for feed to cattle and hogs, says Tamara Nelsen of the Illinois Farm Bureau. These same dynamics are at play in many categories of U.S. exports, ranging from machinery and auto parts to flour. As the standard of living rises in TPP countries such as Vietnam, demand for imported goods will increase. The only question is whether the United States gets the chance to make those sales, or is sidelined. President Barack Obama plans to push hard for TPP this fall, angling for a congressional vote during the abbreviated session after Election Day. Unfortunately hes got an uphill battle. Trade has gotten a dirty name this election cycle, blamed for gutting American factories when the fact is that nearly every American manufacturing job that disappears is a victim of productivity gains, not foreign competition. The reality is that trade is a healthy form of competition. American companies make great products and should be allowed to sell to the broadest market. American consumers, meanwhile, are better off because some foreign-made products (like toys and shoes) are cheaper, while others (like cars and airplanes) are good enough to entice shoppers, a fact that spurs U.S. firms to improve their quality. Congress: Pass this bill. The political furor amounts to a populist boondoggle. Opponents of TPP act as if America is only now debating whether to open the doors to doing business with other countries. Kirk Liefer and a lot of other people will tell you differently. Global trade is the reality, and should be promoted. Phillies complete comeback with 10th inning HR to win Game 1 of World Series Philadelphias catcher hit a go-ahead solo home run in the top of the 10th after his team had rallied out of an early 5-0 deficit. The administration of Edwardsville District 7 Schools has recently been notified that the Edwardsville High School Class of 2016 earned the highest composite score - 23.2 - achieved by EHS seniors in the last 10 years. The 23.2 composite score represents students' test-taking results from the spring 2015 ACT administered to all juniors at EHS as well as tests taken by students during their senior year on national test dates. The ACT is a curriculum-based achievement test that assesses students in English, Reading, Math, and Science. It is scored on a scale of 1 to 36, with 36 being a perfect score. According to a District 7 release, the average composite score for the Class of 2016 was 23.2, up from 22.9 for the Class of 2015. Illinois average composite score stands at 20.8. We continue to be impressed by the academic accomplishments of our high school students, Edwardsville District 7 Superintendent Lynda Andre said in the release. Our highly qualified K-12 faculties who deliver standards-aligned curriculum coupled with strong parent expectations ensures that our students excel in high school. As a result, Edwardsville High School graduates are extremely well-prepared for university-level work and attend academically rigorous colleges upon graduation. The ACT is a college entrance exam that for many years was a component of the Illinois high school assessment, the Prairie State Achievement Exam. High school juniors in Illinois will begin taking the SAT exam in spring 2017 as the new high school accountability test. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Pranoto Iskandar and Nicola Piper (The Jakarta Post) Cianjur Wed, August 24, 2016 Migration is now widely acknowledged as an issue that requires concerted coordination beyond the national level. As many studies confirm, if it is managed properly, migration can produce enormous potential for migrants and their families, region and beyond. To be clear, this position applies not only to the so-called high-skilled but also, more importantly, to low-skilled migrants that have been viewed unfavorably in Southeast Asia, including, from the perspective of the sending countries such as Indonesia. Seen from this point of view, migration is supposedly a win-win solution serving as a focal point for further integration rather than as division between sending and receiving countries. Taking into account all the promising developments in the region toward one vision, one identity and one community that are taking place within ASEAN, it is surprising that the process has anachronistically been inimical to the subject of freedom of movement. Specifically, the 2007 ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrants has been widely regarded as [falling] short of assuring equal opportunity and treatment. The current arrangement in regional integration tends to gravitate toward a mere free movement of goods, excluding persons. On the other hand, this might also mean that the member states, whether they be sending or receiving countries, are, in one way or another, in a perpetual race to enhance a variety of punitive measures that aim to put a stop to all this unwelcome aspect of integration. Truth be told, as Jagdish Bhagwati puts it, [t]he reality is that borders are beyond control and little can be done to really cut down on immigration. As a result, under the current regional arrangement, the only recognized form of migration is for a limited number of high-skilled professionals. Seemingly, ASEAN has acknowledged its potential for development, albeit in a very modest way, as agreed in the framework of the ASEAN Economic Community. However, this cherry-picking model is not only, pragmatically speaking, misleading but ethically unacceptable for ASEAN as a project that strives to promote [...] justice[,] the rule of law [...] and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter. It is simply unrealistic to expect the volume of this unofficial movement to subside, let alone to reach a halt. Given the above situation, it makes sense to come out with a pragmatic approach in dealing with the issue. Pragmatically, one has to recognize that the numbers of low-skilled migrants within the region accounts for more than two thirds of the movement. In todays societies, migrating for work is no longer dominated by the lucky few. It would raise eyebrows, therefore, for the region to neglect the interests of this population. In fact, the integration of migration within the purview of ASEAN can be seen as part of its democratizing project. In other words, the institutionalization of a true and genuine acceptance of the freedom of peoples movement signifies that ASEAN is in tune with an overwhelming number of its populations demands. By extension, this realistic turn might also imply that ASEAN is starting to send a strong signal to be informed by the regions everyday problems and therefore makes itself more important. Economically speaking, freedom of movement is potentially more rewarding than trade liberalization. For example, a study by Lant Pritchett estimated that the benefits of freeing movement are much bigger than the trade liberalization and foreign aid combined. In fact, this claim has been included in the pantheon of economic orthodoxy. Further, the option for closing borders is not only uneconomical but also morally untenable and it is recognized that the territorial boundaries that eventually define the physical identity of a modern state were (or could use are) decided arbitrarily. Thus, as Joseph Carens argues, citizenship as a set of particular rights entitlement is no different from a feudal privilege that is hard to justify when one thinks about it closely. It is natural that considering the philosophical basis of citizens privileges is rather weak; the universally agreed and applicable international standards on legal enforcement of immigration law require a strict distinction so it cannot be confused with the more stringent approach of regular criminal law. To be specific, as far as international migration law is concerned, domestic enforcement is permissible to the extent that it is in the administrative remit. After all, the experience shows that the effort to put a stop to migration is bound to fail. More importantly, the claim for an open border has also somewhat been recognized in various ASEANs documents, such as the 2011 Ha Noi Declaration on the Adoption of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity. While it is true that we see an unprecedented regression in the area of freedom of movement in many states traditionally regarded as liberal, this by no means justifies the current approach that, to a certain extent, can be viewed as illegalizing the low-skilled migration. Rather, the current crisis should be seen as an opportunity to correct the past mistakes that sustained the misleading caricature of the region as a conservatizing player in international affairs through the previous insistence on Asian values and other such arbitrary factors. All in all, the introduction of the genuine freedom of movement is not foolhardy, especially in regional context. It has been implemented in other regions of the world the EU, MERCOSUR (South American states), ECOWAS (West African states). Instead, it should be seen as a pragmatic approach that eventually leads to further legitimization of ASEAN itself. It is worth noting that migration of the low skilled is arguably the most important upcoming agenda for the region. Naturally, the case for regulatory regime in the region is in line with the effort of making ASEAN as a people orientated project. The failure to do so is sending the wrong message to the people. Migrations beneficial potential is there for the region to gain or lose. Burying the reality of low-skilled migration under the carpet is both jeopardizing for the project of regionalism in the long run and morally deplorable at the same time. Nevertheless, should ASEAN be serious with progressing to shift away from pure elitism, it makes sense now to start treating this population as one of the important facets of the regional project. *** Pranoto Iskandar is founding director of the Institute for Migrant Rights, Cianjur, West Java, Indonesia. Nicola Piper, a professor of international migration at the University of Sydney; is advisory board member of the Institute for Migrant Rights. --------------- We are looking for information, opinions, and in-depth analysis from experts or scholars in a variety of fields. We choose articles based on facts or opinions about general news, as well as quality analysis and commentary about Indonesia or international events. Send your piece to community@jakpost.com. For more information click here. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Associated Press (Associated Press) New York, United States Wed, August 24, 2016 A visit to Hawaii for most people is relaxing and fun, but not for Amy Schumer. The comedian says she was hospitalized this summer with bronchitis while shooting a film with Goldie Hawn in Hawaii. (Read also: Latest dust-up in plus size wars: Amy Schumer vs. Glamour) As a guest Monday night on "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert," Schumer said she had difficulty speaking, was bedridden and coughed so much that she fractured some ribs. "Hawaii it didn't totally agree with me," Schumer joked. The comedian, who is publicizing her book "The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo," is taking a break from her sketch-comedy series "Inside Amy Schumer" so she can tour and focus on writing. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 24, 2016 Chairman of the Bung Karno Foundation, Guruh Sukarno Putra, has asked for a status clarification of thousands of art items collected by first president Sukarno, which are now housed in the State Palace. Guruh also called on the government to return the collection to Sukarnos family first before being returned to the palace. Those items are Sukarnos collection. The correct procedure is to return them to Sukarnos heirs. Even if theres a mandate to return them to the people, the state cannot automatically take ownership of the collection. Ethically, there should be a discussion [with the family], Guruh explained to tempo.co in the Indonesian Art and History Seminar at the National Gallery on Monday. According to Guruh, the government must clarify the status of the collection. He hopes the government will open a discussion about this with the Sukarno family via the Bung Karno Foundation. The foundation, Guruh says, reserves the right to discuss the matter as it was formed by all eight of Sukarnos children. The State Palace houses almost 3,000 historical items, more than 2,000 of which were collected during president Sukarnos era. Most of the collection comprises paintings by local and international artists. (Read also: State Palace painting exhibition) In the seminar, Guruh explained the history of Bung Karnos art collection, and expressed his disappointment at how Sukarnos mandate about his collection had not being carried out. He claimed many items in the palace collection had gone missing, despite being under heavy security protection. Guruh gave an example of a missing painting that ended up in a businessmans collection and a Basuki Abdullah painting that was being exhibited in an auction house. There are also paintings that have been stolen and replaced by replicas now on display. Former palace management head Adek Wahyuni Saptantinah acknowledged that there was no official data on the palaces collection. According to Adek, if there are missing paintings from the palace collection, they probably went missing during the transitional period from Sukarno to Suhartos administration. When I was hired, there was no official list, so we started the data collection individually on president Sukarnos collection, Adek says. Adek explained the data-input was followed by collection appraisals to determine the maintenance budget. During her time in service, there were no missing items, some of the palaces collection, which was kept in museums and galleries, was even returned to the palace without any fees. There are two paintings in the Rudana Museum, Bali. One more painting is in a gallery in Jakarta. They are willing to return the paintings, she said. Guruh also expressed the Bung Karno Foundations intention to maintain the Sukarno collection in one place, for instance in a museum. (Read also: State Palace exhibits iconic paintings to celebrate Independence Day) Mikke Susanto, curator of the 17:71 Goresan Juang Kemerdekaan exhibition, says there still are problems in the management of the palace collection and the exhibition is a way to protect the palace collection. These items have not made it into the cultural preservation, and they dont have the protection laws either, he said. Cultural director general, Hilmar Farid, also said his team would expedite regulation regarding this and would convey the messages and aspirations to the palace and presidential secretariat. Deputy of political communication and information dissemination of the presidential staff office, Eko Sulistyo echoed Hilmars statement, There has been a lot of input. We will deliver it. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Jake Coyle (Associated Press) Wed, August 24, 2016 Writer-director Richard Tanne's feature film debut "Southside With You" views history through an unlikely, heart-shaped prism: the first date between Barack Obama and Michelle Robinson. Contemplating further such forays into presidential romance is indeed frightful. Are we itching closer to a rom-com about the courtship between Gerald and Betty? Or, heaven help us, "Pizza Night With Bill and Hillary"? And yet Tanne's film is no mere First Couple valentine. Nuanced and charming, "Southside With You" is a sunny, strolling odyssey through African-American life in 1989, filtered through two future icons as they navigate the world around them and their place in it. Tanne and his excellent actors (Parker Sawyers as Barack, Tika Sumpter as Michelle) compress into a single day something broader and more meaningful than White House trivia. Though the movie settles into a Richard Linklater-like series of conversations and encounters, it begins with the blare of Janet Jackson's "Miss You Much" on the car radio and the unmistakable feel of an '80s movie. "Southside With You" is, in a way, a portrait of a president-to-be as a young John Cusack. Riding in a beat-up yellow Datsun and flicking his cigarette ash out the window, 28-year-old Barack is on his way to pick up Michelle, a 26-year-old colleague from their law firm who persistently insists that they are emphatically not on a date. "Just another smooth talking brother," is Michelle's judgment, as recited here by her mother. The Obamas' first encounters were, to an extent, sweetly old-fashioned. He took her to a movie. They kissed over ice cream at Baskin Robbins. But the film was no mere date movie; it was Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing." And their stops include an African American art exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago and a community meeting in a church (something incorporated here from a later date) where "Brother Barack" flashes his speech-making skills. (Read also: Former president BJ Habibie reveals third movie based on life of late wife) They drive a little and walk a little through Chicago's Southside, but they're also passing through a larger cultural atmosphere. Barack is reading Toni Morrison's "Song of Solomon" before he leaves to pick up Michelle. Names of people killed on the streets of Chicago adorn a wall they stride past. Debate over the divisive ending of "Do the Right Thing" (when Mookie throws a trash can through Sal's pizzeria) engulfs them outside the theater. Sumpter and Sawyers both, against the odds, evade the trappings of impression and give natural, intimate performances about two outsiders on their way to becoming Beltway insiders. "I'm tired of being two different people," Michelle says of being a black woman in a white world. They are both in the process of forming themselves, measuring their own ambitions. The undertow of history is all around: "Something else is pulling me," says Obama. Inevitably, approximately half of the moviegoing electorate will have little interest in "Southside With You." But the film is essentially devoid of politics. Its tenderness, warmth and modesty (it's a mere 84 minutes long) is an all the more a welcome change of pace in this election year. Even most of the winks you'd expect in an origin story like this aren't heavy-handed. Some are actually quite good. As Michelle gets ready for her date, her father hollers, ominously, "So what's this boy's name?" "Southside With You," a Miramax and Roadside Attractions, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for "brief strong language, smoking, a violent image and a drug reference." Running time: 84 minutes. Three stars out of four. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, August 23 2016 Burdened by a persistent deficit in the national health insurance, the government, earlier reluctant to try to stop the countrys addiction to smoking, has announced a plan to raise cigarette duties. The plan, which has yet to have a specific schedule, has given new hope to anti-tobacco groups, which have despaired over the governments protection of the industry. A public health expert from the University of Indonesia (UI), Hasbullah Thabrany, pointed out that Indonesia is a country with considerable tobacco consumption. 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 Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 24, 2016 Health Minister Nila Moeloek revealed on Wednesday that at least 1,500 children in Banten, Jakarta and West Java had been exposed to fake vaccines. She said the data was from investigations conducted by a fake vaccine investigation task force, which also included officers from the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim). The investigations were conducted in 14 hospitals and six clinics reported for having received fake vaccines since 2014, she said. Of the total, Nila said, 915 children were exposed to fake vaccines in health facilities in Jakarta, followed by 374 children in West Java and 211 in Banten. "After we obtained the data from Bareskrim, we carried out a verification process in those health facilities based on the medical records and data they provided to us," Nila told journalists after a meeting with the House of Representatives Commission IX overseeing health affairs. The minister said 975 of the children who received fake vaccines had been re-vaccinated, while parents of 303 children had refused re-vaccination. The rest were not re-vaccinated for various reasons, such as their failure to respond to re-vaccination calls or invitations. Some of them failed to show up during vaccination schedules while others refused to have their children re-vaccinated, saying there were no problems with their health. Nila said parents should not worry about the authenticity of vaccines their children had received. She said the government would provide vaccines to children free of charge. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Adjie Harisandi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 24 2016 Indonesias coal industry is still experiencing a declining trend in production as a result of the low prices in the global market. Data from Coal Contracts of Work (CCOW) show that global coal production declined 16.27 percent in the first semester of 2016 (year-on-year), from 120.58 million tons to 100.96 million tons. Even though coal prices in the global market have increased significantly by more than 30 percent year-to-date, from US$50.6 per ton at the end of 2015 to $68.1 per ton in mid-August, the year-to-date average price remains only around $53.6 per ton, lower than the average price in 2015 of $58.9 per ton. It is also much lower than the average coal price when Indonesia reached its highest coal production in 2014, which was $70.9 per ton. The decline in coal prices implies lower production of coal, which in turn creates three important problems. First, the decline in coal production closely relates to the decline of exports, implying less export revenue. The export market is very important for coal because about 80 percent of Indonesias coal production is transported to foreign countries. It is not surprising that in 2015 coal export revenue was the second highest after crude palm oil (CPO), with a 10.6 percent share of total export revenue. Second, low coal prices imply a decline in investment in the mining sector. Investment in the mining sector in the first quarter of 2016 declined significantly. Data from the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) show that foreign direct investment realization in the mining sector declined about 83.3 percent year-on-year to $189.2 million in the first quarter of 2016. Similarly, domestic direct investment declined about 75.4 percent, from Rp 770.2 billion ($58.55 million) to Rp 189.5 billion. Note that in 2015 , investment from foreign and domestic investors in the mining sector was the third highest. Third, regions that are very dependent on coal are experiencing lower economic growth than other regions. For example, South Kalimantan and East Kalimantan in 2015 grew only 3.85 percent and -0.85 percent, respectively; and in the first quarter of 2016 only 3.97 percent and -1.29 percent. Since 2012, South and East Kalimantanhave grown below national economic growth and have continued to slow. We know that the global economy in the next coming years will remain in a difficult situation and that we should not hold out overly high hopes for commodity demand. Therefore, empowering domestic demand for coal is vital to accelerate recovery in the coal sector. To date, the domestic use of coal is very low, standing at only 87.5 million tons in 2015, of which 77 million tons, or approximately 20 percent of total coal production, is used to generate electricity. Indonesias electrification ratio is still low and some regions are still experiencing electricity deficit. By looking at the countrys coal abundance, we should be able to generate electricity using coal as the main energy source. The current low coal price period is a very good window of opportunity to promote coal as an alternative energy source. As Indonesia used only 20 percent of domestic coal production for electricity, we can always increase this number for the use of coal as the energy source for electricity. Of course, the key problem is how to increase the capacity of coal-based electricity generators. In order to attract more investment in coal-based electricity generators, the government should provide more incentives for investors to invest not only in coal extraction but also in coal-based electricity generators. Accordingly, incentives should be used to drive investment in power plants using coal as an energy source, for example mine-mouth power plants. Additionally, the government should also provide more room for private investors to participate in transmission network development if state-owned electricity company PLN has limited funds to build the network. We believe that investors will always come if rational calculation of costs and benefits is attractive enough and is supported with certain and clear regulations. In conclusion, the strategy of empowering domestic demand for coal through supporting coal-based electricity generators is essential to make up for lower demand from export markets. It is an important lesson that Indonesias economic dependence on commodities export should be lessened, as the economy is very vulnerable to price volatility and weak demand. Increasing domestic coal consumption for electricity is a surefire way of reducing dependency on the commodity export market. The low price in the current period is a great opportunity to increase the capacity of power plants in Indonesia using coal as an energy source, ensuring Indonesia does not throw its primary energy resources at a cheap price to other countries. Expediting the construction of power plants to absorb coal production is vital to encourage the recovery of the domestic coal industry. ____________ The writer is an industry analyst at Bank Mandiri -------------- 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 Sade Bimantara (The Jakarta Post) Canberra Wed, August 24 2016 Many analogies have been said about the Indonesian-Australian relationship. Some draw similarities with riding a roller coaster, while others say that it is like the interactions of two very different neighbors. Many surveys have since provided some evidence for those claims. The Lowy Institute poll in June 2016 found that Indonesia comes third as Australias best friend in Asia after China and Japan, a sharp rebound from 2014. The same poll shows an all-time high warm feeling of Australians toward Indonesia, after a cool feeling in 2015, with 91 percent believing that Australias relationship with Indonesia to be important. 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 Suherdjoko (The Jakarta Post) Semarang, Central Java Wed, August 24, 2016 Police cannot yet confirm reports that 19 of the 177 Indonesian haj pilgrims recently arrested by Philippine authorities for allegedly using illegally obtained passports are from Central Java. Central Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Condro Kirono said his agency had started an investigation into possible arrest of the 19 local haj pilgrims by immigration authorities at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Friday. For that purpose, he said, the police had coordinated with the Religious Affairs Ministry and the immigration office at the Law and Human Rights Ministry. We are investigating the origin of the haj pilgrims and on why and how they could depart [for Mecca] from the Philippines. These matters are still being investigated, said Condro in Semarang on Wednesday. Separately, Central Java Religious Affairs Agency head Saefuddin Zuhri said the 19 haj pilgrims were not registered on the list of pilgrims departing from Adisumarmo International Airport in Surakarta. They were not in line with prevailing procedures when they departed for the pilgrimage. We didnt know they were there. I have contacted our embarkation point in Surakarta. We found this matter had become an inter-state concern, said Saefuddin. According to the Central Java chapter of the Law and Human Rights Ministry, 11 of the 19 Central Java haj pilgrims arrested in the Philippines are from Jepara, followed by five people from Semarang and three from Pati. The director of the Central Java Polices special crimes and investigation division, Sr. Comr. Edy Moestofa, said travel agents who dispatched the 19 haj pilgrims could be charged under Law No. 6/2011 on immigration. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 24, 2016 The majority of revenue the government reaps from the proposed cigarette excise increase should be used to improve prevention-centered programs and healthcare services for people with smoking-related health problems, a lawmaker said. As we know, Indonesias cigarette excise revenue amounts to almost Rp 140 trillion [US$10.5 billion] now, and if it increases, especially because of the cigarette excise increase currently debated by all elements of society, the government should allocate more of the revenues to healthcare services, Dede Yusuf, chairman of House Commission IX overseeing health and labor affairs, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday. In its recent survey on cigarette prices, the University of Indonesias (UI) Center for Health Economics and Policy Studies found that around three-quarters of 1,000 respondents, including smokers, agreed cigarette prices should be increased to up to Rp 50,000 per pack. They also agreed the excise revenues should be used to fund the national health insurance (JKN) program. It was earlier reported that as of April, the Health Care and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) had suffered from Rp 7 trillion worth of losses from the JKN program. In Indonesia, cigarettes are priced within a range of between Rp 12,000 to Rp 20,000 per pack. Cigarette tax revenues collected amounted to Rp 139.5 trillion in 2015. However, Dede said, the use of the tax revenues had not been prioritized to fund and improve healthcare services in the country. With such huge revenues, he said, the government should be able to allocate more funds to improve community healthcare centers (Puskesmas) and dispatch more health workers to disadvantaged and outermost areas. (wnd/ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Julia Suryakusuma (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 24 2016 According to Mawalu2 on Kompasiana (a citizen media blog), there are at least two things that make one indisputably Indonesian: eating rice grown on Indonesian soil, and having your mothers placenta buried in Indonesian ground. He was of course reacting to the brouhaha over Arcandra Tahar, who was recently sacked from his position as energy and mineral resources minister. Well, if this is the case, then I do not qualify to be Indonesian, as not only was I not born in this country, I was brought up abroad and probably ate bread and potatoes more than I ate rice. 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 Kathleen Foody (Associated Press) Atlanta Wed, August 24, 2016 A proposal to build a mosque and Muslim cemetery has so angered some residents of Newton County outside Atlanta that their commissioners have temporarily banned all building permit approvals for religious institutions. The moratorium prompted the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the NAACP to request a federal civil rights investigation in Newton County. A spokesman for U.S. Attorney John Horn confirmed receipt of this complaint Tuesday, but declined comment. Mohammad Islam, the religious leader behind the proposal, said he doesn't intend to take any legal action; instead, he met Tuesday with local leaders of other faiths in Newton County, seeking their support for a fresh start. "Our hope is that we will build a strong relationship and the challenges we are facing can be overcome," Islam said. "We respect them, we love them. Their peace is our peace, their security is our security." Opposition gathered swiftly this month as word spread that members of a mosque in Doraville, a northwest Atlanta suburb, planned to build on 135 acres in rural Newton County about 40 miles southeast of Atlanta. Their imam explained that it has been difficult to uphold Muslim funeral rituals, and so they need a place to perform services and bury their dead. One commissioner questioned whether the project would make Newton County "a prime area for the federal government to resettle refugees from the Middle East" in an interview with The Rockdale Citizen, a local newspaper. Two public meetings were held, both crowded with angry opponents who clapped and cheered when people expressed fears about global terrorism. In video recorded by WXIA-TV, one man says it's hard to "draw the line between innocent Muslims and radical Muslims." A woman said she shouldn't be labeled "a bigot" because she worries about large crowds. Another woman repeated the false claim that President Barack Obama is a Muslim. Edward Mitchell, executive director of CAIR's Georgia chapter, said that when "anti-Muslim rhetoric" and the actions of Islamic extremists create mistrust and division, authorities should be educating their constituents, "not fanning the flames." "Let's just skip to the ending, the happy ending," Mitchell said. "Let's work together as a community to make sure everyone's concerns are addressed in a positive and peaceful way, not a hysterical way." Newton County Manager Lloyd Kerr didn't address this bigger picture in a statement Tuesday. It said simply that while the five-week moratorium is in place, county officials "will review zoning ordinances for all places of worship and make recommendations for necessary changes if applicable to the Board of Commissioners." Some Georgia communities, such as Lilburn and Kennesaw, also opposed mosques in recent years, before relenting to their construction. Others, such as Dekalb County, have become havens for refugees. But places like Newton County need not fear becoming magnets for refugees, said Amy Crownover, spokeswoman for New American Pathways. The organization is one of five refugee resettlement organizations in Georgia that are contracted with the federal government to assist refugees arriving in the United States. "We work in partnership with communities, looking for communities where refugees can be successful," which requires easy access to public transportation, jobs, English classes and other services. Newton County "isn't an ideal setting," Crownover said. ___ Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ni Komang Erviani (The Jakarta Post) Denpasar Wed, August 24 2016 A romantic vacation in Bali turned very ugly after Briton David James Taylor and his Australian girlfriend Sara Connor allegedly killed a police officer on a Kuta beach last Tuesday. Despite previously denying any involvement Taylor was reported to have confessed during interrogation on Monday that he beat First Adj. Insp. Wayan Sudarsa with a bottle during an altercation. He claimed that he thought the policeman had stolen Connors bag. 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 Ahmad Junaidi (The Jakarta Post) Ambon, Maluku Wed, August 24, 2016 A number of experts and peace-movement activists, as well as state officials from the Netherlands and Indonesia will discuss inclusive religious education in a three-day conference in Ambon, Maluku, starting on Wednesday. Organized by the Netherlands-Indonesia Consortium for Muslim-Christian Relations, the experts and activists will discuss several key issues, such as the role of religious education in strengthening openness instead of fear of the other, reaching the minds and hearts of citizens, especially the youth, and the role of governmental and non-governmental religious education and peace programs play in post-conflict areas. Among the experts and activists and state officials who will discuss the issues are Prof. Dr. Frans Wijssen from Radboud University, Dr. Zainal Abidin Bagir from Gadjah Mada University, Dr. Ismail Rumadah from IAIN Ambon, Dr. Cornelis Adolf Alyona from the Indonesian Christian University of Maluku (UKIM), Maluku Governor Dr. Said Assagaf, Prof. Dr. Amsal Bakhtiar from the Religious Affairs Ministry, Foreign Affairs Ministry representative H.E. Niniek Kun Haryati and Tess van der Zee from the Dutch Embassy. Corrie van der Ven of the Netherlands-Indonesia Consortium for Muslim-Christian Relations said Ambon was chosen as the venue because Ambon was increasingly seen, both at a national and international level, as a place to learn how to build peace among different religious groups, known as a laboratorium damai, a laboratory for peace. Supported by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the conference will take place at IAIN Ambon and the UKIM. (jun) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Liza Yosephine (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 24, 2016 At least eight travel agencies suspected to have been behind orchestrating 177 Indonesians haj pilgrims posing as Filipinos are currently under police investigation, an official from the Religious Affairs Ministry has said. The eight travel agencies were based in Jakarta, Makassar and South Sulawesi, the ministry's inspector general Muhammad Yasin said on Tuesday. He refused to give details on the names of the companies or individuals involved, citing the ongoing investigation by the police. The agencies were not included as official travel agencies among the 693 umrah (minor haj) travel operators (PPIU) and 269 haj operators (PIHK) listed on the ministry's website, Yasin continued. "Prospective pilgrims must be selective in choosing a travel company conducting umrah or haj travels, and not to be easily persuaded by cheap prices or the quick departure times offered," he warned the public. The ministry had sanctioned 14 umrah travel operators last year guilty of various offenses, he said. Among them include Al Aqsa Jistru Dakwah, Mulia Wisata Abadi, Pandi Kencana Murni and Sanabil Madinah Barokah. Several companies have also had their operational permit revoked namely Mediterrania Travel, Mustaqbil Lima, Ronalditya, Kopindo Wisata, Catur Daya Utama, Huli Saqdah, Maccadina, Gema Arofah, Wisata Pesona Nugraha and Assuraniyah Cipta Prima. The ministry would continue to work together with the police to track down illegal travel operators and enforce necessary legal actions, Yasin added. The case gained public attention following the detention of 177 Indonesians by Philippine immigration authorities after being caught with illegally obtained Philippine passports on their way to conduct a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. (rin) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ahmad Junaidi (The Jakarta Post) Ambon, Maluku Wed, August 24, 2016 Suhadi Cholil of Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University of Yogyakarta said students currently only study their own religions and learn very little about other faiths. A few private high schools, such as in Bogor and in Yogyakarta, provide their students with multi-religious studies. It would be better if the government also offers multi-religious studies [in public schools], Suhadi said on the first day of the International Conference on Inclusive Religious Education in the Netherlands and Indonesia held in Ambon, Maluku, on Wednesday. He said the government should change the curriculum of religious teaching and train teachers if it wanted to offer interreligious studies and create religious tolerance in schools. Recent surveys in Indonesia, including one by the Wahid Institute, showed growing religious intolerance among students and teachers in state-run senior high schools. Frans Wijsen of Radbout University of the Netherlands said the shift from the study of single religions to interreligious studies had been on the educational agenda in his country since the rise of secularism. He said the in the Netherlands, which enforced a separation of state and church, religious studies have begun to move from objective to engaged. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 24, 2016 The country must pay extra attention to the implementation aspects of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) before ratifying it, otherwise it will backfire on the labor-intensive industry, an international law expert has warned. Created in 2005 to control the supply of tobacco products, the FCTC has been ratified by 180 countries. Among big cigarette-manufacturing countries such as India, China, and Brazil, only Indonesia and the US have not ratified the UN-sponsored treaty. "Indonesia is both a producer and consumer [of cigarettes]. On one side we need to reduce the number of first-time smokers, but on the other side we still rely on the excise revenue [from the industry]," University of Indonesia international law professor Hikmahanto Juwana told The Jakarta Post in Jakarta on Tuesday. A fall in the supply of cigarettes as imposed by the ratification amid a high number of smokers, he continued, would only create a black market for illegal cigarettes, either locally produced or imported. "If that happens, a high price for cigarettes will be useless to boost the states revenue from the excise tax," Hikmahanto said. According to a recent release by producer Hanjaya Mandala Sampoerna, the country's illegal cigarette trade reached 11.7 percent of the total trade last year and led to Rp 9 trillion (US$680 million) in potential state losses. (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rizal Harahap (The Jakarta Post) Pekanbaru Wed, August 24, 2016 First Pvt. Wahyudi, a member of Detachment Rudal/004 Dumai, was posthumously promoted to the rank of chief private by the state to honor his service while fighting forest fires last week. The commander of a forest fire emergency task unit in Riau, Brig. Gen. Nurendi, said the honor was bestowed because Wahyudi died on duty. Fighting a forest fire is an honorable duty because it is the mandate from the state for the public, he said on Wednesday, while sending off Wahyudis body at Sultan Syarif Kasim Airport in Pekanbaru. Wahyudi will be buried in his hometown of Magetan, East Java. Wahyudi went missing on Thursday last week when he was fighting a fire in Bangko, Rokan Hilir regency, Riau. He was with two friends on Thursday at 3 p.m., trying to replace a fire extinguisher with a bigger one. He returned to the forest to fetch a hose they had left in an oil palm plantation. After some time, his friends started to worry and called him. Wahyudi told them he was climbing a large tree 100 meters from the water source that they had used to extinguish the fire. But when his friends reached the tree, he was not there. They called him again, and Wahyudi said he was trapped in the middle of the burning plantation. They searched but could not find him. Wahyudi had been deployed for two weeks before he went missing. His body was found on Tuesday, not far from the tree he said he had climbed. (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Xie Feng (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 24 2016 The next G20 summit will be held from Sept. 4 to 5, 2016 in Hangzhou, China. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indonesian President Joko Jokowi Widodo will join the leaders of other G20 members and international organizations to discuss matters of vital importance for global economic cooperation. As the premier forum for global economic governance, the G20 summit mechanism was set up at the height of the international financial crisis in 2008. At the time, member states forged close partnerships that enabled us to jointly tide over a difficult time. We have coordinated monetary and fiscal policies, pushed ahead reform of international financial institutions and brought the world economy back from the precipice. 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 Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 24, 2016 The government aims to match 1,100 Indonesian traders with 14,700 potential international buyers and book US$800 million in transactions in the upcoming 31st Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI). According to the Trade Ministrys director general for export development, Arlinda Imbang Jaya, 4,000 buyers have registered to attend the exhibition. Nigeria is sending the most buyers with 443 registrants followed by Saudi Arabia (93), India (83), Lebanon (49) and Kuwait (28). "We will launch regional discussions, business counseling and business matching. We target US$800 million in transactions," she said at the Trade Ministry in Jakarta on Wednesday. The high number of Nigeria registrants was due to the high number of Indonesian primary goods shipped there, such as soap and noodles, she explained. In response, Industry Ministry secretary-general Syarif Hidayat said Indonesia must start focusing on the African market. "Unlike the European market that needs sophisticated products, the African market needs simple goods, but we can sell them in huge quantities," he said. The event, to be held Oct. 12-16 at Jakarta International Expo Kemayoran, is supported by the Foreign Ministry, the Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Ministry, the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) and the Creative Economic Agency (Bekraf). (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Suherdjoko (The Jakarta Post) Semarang, Central Java Wed, August 24, 2016 Indonesia became the first country to obtain the EU's Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) as the European Parliament approved the European Commissions proposal for the extending the FLEGT license to Indonesia on Aug. 9. With the decision, Indonesian wood products are allowed to enter 28 EU member countries without having to pass a due diligence process, which was expensive and a lengthy procedure, as previously required by EU trade laws. As a follow up to the decision, on Aug.18, the European Commission issued an EU regulation, which acknowledges that Indonesia has fulfilled the requirements within the framework of the EU Trade Regulation and Voluntary Partnership Agreement signed by Indonesia and the EU in 2013, the Environment and Forestry Ministrys sustainable production forest management director general, Putera Parthama, said in Semarang, Central Java, on Tuesday. With the EU regulation, he said, Indonesia left behind its competitors, which also exported wood products to the European market. They included African countries, which had signed a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the EU; Latin America countries; ASEAN member countriesMalaysia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, Laosand China. Its real proof that Indonesias timber legality system [SVLK] has been acknowledged by the 28 EU member countries as guaranteeing that Indonesian wood products do not come from illegal logging activities, said Putera. Since the implementation of the SVLK in 2013, Indonesias export value in wood products has increased from year to year. In 2015, the countrys export value increased two fold from the previous year. In July, Indonesias wood exports amounted to US$500 billion with the three biggest export destinations comprising China, Korea and Japan. The EU market accounts for 11 percent of our total wood products market. However, the EU can become a barometer in relation to environmental requirements and timber legality, said Putera. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Liza Yosephine (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 24, 2016 The Indonesian Consulate General located in the affluent Upper East Side in New York City, US, was robbed early Monday by two people who broke into the premises at 1.05 a.m. local time, an official has said. "The police are currently investigating the incident," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arrmanatha Nasir told The Jakarta Post. The faces of the suspects were captured on the consulate's CCTV, he continued. Arrmanatha said among the stolen items was an official car, which had a consular license plate, and was parked in front of the office. He said the vehicle would be replaced by insurance. Several other small items located within the reception room inside of the building were also taken, he added, which included a computer tablet and a small brief case. The consulate was guarded 24 hours a day, however, only one person was assigned at night, he said, adding that the night guard on duty was also responsible for patrolling the whole complex. Arrmanatha said incidents such as this could occur anywhere, including in New York. "The security system at the consulate will be reviewed and will certainly be improved," he said. The consulate is located in an upscale neighborhood in the Manhattan borough of New York, within a stone's throw away from Central Park. The Upper East Side neighborhood is home to some of New York's wealthiest residents and is famed for its luxury shopping areas. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Kupang Wed, August 24 2016 The East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Police have uncovered seven human trafficking syndicates operating in the province, netting 13 suspects in operations up to village level in 2015 and 2016. The suspects worked comprehensively, from recruiting and arranging the departure of victims to their destinations, to printing fake identity cards and birth certificates, NTT Police chief spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Jules Abast told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. The suspects are being held separately so they cannot coordinate with each other. Some are being detained at the Kupang Police station, others at other police stations, said Jules. 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 Ayomi Amindoni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 24, 2016 President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has urged the National Land Agency to accelerate the certification of land to prevent agrarian conflicts. Jokowi wants to see millions of land certificates issued every year. "I think if we work together with the provincial governments, we can at least issue 5 million land certificates a year," Jokowi said in a limited meeting on agrarian reform at the State Palace on Wednesday. Jokowi said the Agrarian and Spatial Planning Ministry should improve its land management practices to minimize potential disputes between businesses and communities. Jokowi added that the spirit of land reform was in the realization of justice in land ownership, usage and the fair utilization of natural resources. "Certification is crucial," Jokowi said. (dan) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Haeril Halim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 24, 2016 Amid a case involving Southeast Sulawesi Governor Nur Alam, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has warned governors that it pays special attention to corruption cases related to natural resources and that they should not issue licenses for exploitation "carelessly". The commission named Nur Alam a suspect on Tuesday for bribery related to several dubious mining licenses in the province. The case is related to natural resources. Because this is a source of money besides taxes, the KPK pays special attention, KPK deputy chairman Laode M. Syarif said in a press conference held to discuss Nurs case. I hope this case can serve as a lesson for other provinces, and that violations in issuing licenses wont happen again, he said. Nur is accused of violating laws in issuing licenses from 2009 to 2014; he has been provincial governor since 2008. One example was a license to PT AHD, which committed illegal mining, said Laode. Laode said regional leaders issued mining licenses and received kickbacks for them. This happens in regions that have a lot of resources, he said. We warn governors not to carelessly issue licenses. Dont let anything like this happen again. The KPK has yet to detain Nur, and has also yet to name suspects any figures from the companies in question. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Andi Hajramurni (The Jakarta Post) Makassar Wed, August 24, 2016 South Sulawesi Governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo said on Wednesday that he had not received a dismissal letter from the Home Ministry for Andi Idris Syukur, 60, who was found guilty of graft by the Makassar Corruption Court on Monday. The court sentenced Andi, the Barru regent, to four years and six months in prison for money laundering and corruption in relation to a mining exploration permit involving Bosowa Group in 2012. Syahruls statement was confirmed by South Sulawesi administration secretary Abdul Latif. We have not received a dismissal letter from the ministry, said Abdul. Read also: Barru regent gets 4.5 years for corruption, money laundering Syahrul said that despite the lack of a letter, he had taken over control of the Barru administration two months ago and explained that he had not announced the move to avoid tension. Barru Deputy Regent Suhardi Saleh was in charge even though the governor had not issued a decree, Syahrul added. Meanwhile, Idris lawyer, Aliyas Ismail, insisted that his client was still the regent even though he had not been going to the office. My client is still the regent because he has not received a dismissal letter, said Aliyas. Aliyas said his client had not decided whether he would accept the verdict handed down on Monday or appeal to a higher court. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Bambang Nurbianto (The Jakarta Post) Kuching, Serawak, Malaysia Wed, August 24, 2016 Malaysia is a lone ranger in Southeast Asia as it fights more or less solo against the majority of environmentalists views that palm oil trees should not be planted on tropical peatland as it is believed to severely affect the local environment and exacerbate global warming. Malaysia, the second biggest palm oil producer after Indonesia, is a home to 2.43 million hectares of peatland, 27.5 percent of which has been developed into palm oil plantation, while Indonesia with production of 23 million tons last year is a home to 16 million hectares of peatland with 1.6 million hectares of it developed. Unlike Indonesia which prefers to follow the mainstream views of the environmentalists and has decided to launch a moratorium on new development on peatland since 2011, Malaysia fully supports its palm oil industry who have tried to prove that peatland cannot be classified as sacred land. The Malaysian government established the Tropical Peat Research Laboratory (TPRL) in Serawak state to facilitate its scientists to conduct research on the economic and environmental aspects of peatland development. They claimed that they have managed to eradicate the negative impacts of peatland exploitation. However, their arguments were nearly unheard as they were inundated by the mainstream opinion of the environmentalists. Militant environmentalists have long believed any peatland exploitation would cause serious problemsland subsidence, water scarcity, forest fires, flooding and worsen global warming. They disapprove of any peatland exploitationeither for producing raw materials such as fertilizer, agricultural media and biomass briquettes or for plantation purposes. In trying to get attention from other parts of the world, Malaysia lobbied members of the International Peat Society (IPS) so that the peatland country could host the International Peat Congress. As a result, the 15th congress was held in the Sarawak state capital of Kuching from Aug. 16 to 19, attended by hundreds of scientists, the first ever peatland congress in Asia since its first edition in 1954 in Dublin. We want it to be organized here because anytime a peatland congress was organized in Europe, Malaysia and Indonesia were always hit black and blue. We were accused of being criminals against the environment, Lulie Melling, a TPRL director and chief of the congresss steering committee, told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of the congress. Participants of the International Peat Congress listen to the presentation from an expert on peatland management during the first day of the congress in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, on Aug. 16.(JP/Bambang Nurbianto) Malaysia managed to manuever the congress as a showcase for the results of TPRLs research, particularly for its finding on mechanical soil compaction, which claimed to effectively reduce susceptibility of peat-fire outbreaks during the dry season and flooding during the rainy season as the land had higher capability to absorb water. They also said the compaction also reduces CO 2 emissions from peatland up to half from what was believed previously by many scientists. However, Susan Page, a professor of physical geography at the University of Leicester in the UK, who was a keynote speaker at the congress, insisted that developing palm oil plantations was unsustainable. People talk about sustainable development on peatland. But it really doesnt exist because the only sustainable peatland is a peatland that is left alone, Page told the Post in an interview. Certain crops and vegetables may be allowed to be cultivated on the peatland, but not an intensive peatland development because a conversion into palm oil plantation which in fact improves the economy and peoples welfares was not equal to the big losses that will follow, she believed. Meanwhile, Bjorn Hanell, the IPS president, said environmental activists and scientists should not just prevent people from utilizing peatland, while ignoring new findings on peatland management. They should be ready to discuss the new findings on peatland management openly, he added. But, for palm oil players, criticism against palm oil development on peatland is not merely a scientific matter. They believe it is part of a trade war because palm oil is a tough competitor to soya bean oil and sunflower oil that have been developed in America and Europe. Children sing 'Heal the World' together with President of the International Peat Society (IPS) Bjorn Hanell (left), Sarawak Chief Minister Haji Adenan bin Haji Satem (Center), Malaysias Plantation Industry and Commodities Minister Mah Siew Keong and other Malaysian officials during the opening of the International Peat Congress in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, on Aug. 16.(JP/Bambang Nurbianto) They claim the two vegetable oils were less sustainable as people need much larger land to cultivate bean and sunflowers. They even criticized scientists in developed countries, who called for stopping peatland development in developing countries while ignoring the fact that their countries have earlier exploited peatland in the past. Responding to that, Page admitted that Western countries have committed the same mistake in the past. It is very true that there was intensive exploitation of peatland in Europe. But it happened hundreds of years ago when the people had not been informed about gas emissions and global warning, she said, adding that European countries had already paid the cost for their past mistake by building large seawalls with expensive pumping systems to prevent seawater flowing into land. But certainly such finger pointing will not end the differences. Scientists across the world now have an opportunity to look into documents presented by their Malaysian and Indonesian counterparts, as well as those from other countries about sustainable peatland development that had been presented in the congress. The result of this research has now been well-documented by the IPS and countries like Malaysia and Indonesia are waiting for a fair discussion on the issue. Member of IPS executive board Moritz Bocking promised to follow up the result of the congress by inviting all involved parties in a roundtable meeting. Meanwhile, Supiandi Sahabian, the Indonesian Peat Association (IPA) chairman, called on the Indonesian government not to be just passive in the peatland issue. Instead, it needs to support more research on peatland management so that the major peatland country will not just accept the mainstream opinion that peatland should remain a sacred ground and ignore its potential. (bbn/ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Stefani Ribka (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 24 2016 Publicly listed food giant Mayora Indah expects to allocate US$75 million to capital expenditure next year, higher than the $50 million set aside this year, to cater to increasing demand on the back of an improved economy. The maker of many locally popular snacks and drinks, from Beng-Beng and Astor wafers to Energen cereal and Torabika sachet coffee, will use the funds to buy new machines to support its three existing plants in Tangerang, Banten. We will add new machines because theres still vacant land space around its four-year old factory in Balaraja, Mayora commissioner Hermawan Lesmana said during a recent interview with The Jakarta Post. Each machine will have the capacity to produce 2 to 5 tons of products per hour. Purchasing power increased during the first six months of the year; thats why our growth accelerated. The Indonesian economy has recovered, and will hopefully grow even further in this half and the next, he added. Mayora Indah saw a 22.6 percent year-on-year leap in sales growth in the first semester of the year to Rp 9.2 trillion ($902.2 million) after seeing flat 1.3 percent sales growth in the first semester of 2015. Besides Mayora, other commercial food makers like instant noodle producer Indofood CBP Sukses Makmur and health drink maker Sido Muncul also booked rebound in sales with year-on-year growth rates at 9.8 percent and 9 percent, respectively, in the first semester. Improving economy will lead to better purchasing power. Our exports also increase, Hermawan said. Indonesias gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 5.18 percent in the second quarter of the year, higher than 4.91 percent in the first quarter, with the government aiming to stoke growth to 5.2 percent this year. The company targeted Rp 17.5 trillion revenue this year, double-digit growth from last year after growing in single digits in the past couple of years, backed by improving economic conditions and consistent marketing efforts. Mayora Indah, which started out in 1977 as a family cooperative with signature Roma biscuits, has continued to launch new products to compete with similar firms like Orang Tua Group and Kraft Indonesia. Our brands are old so we need to always innovate by relaunching them with a different taste or package size, said Hermawan. Investa Sarana Mandiri analyst Hans Kwee said the commercial food industry had recovered generally in the first half thanks to higher disposable income despite the slow economic recovery. The Idul Fitri festivity in July also helped the sector with higher sales, he added. Shares in Mayora Indah, traded on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) under the code MYOR, traded at Rp 1,505 apiece on Tuesday. The company earlier this month conducted a stock split with 1:25 ratio in order to reduce share prices so more individual investors could buy Mayora Indah stocks. Prior to the stock split, the shares were traded at more than Rp 35,000 apiece. -------------- 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 Hans Nicholas Jong (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 24, 2016 Any sexual relations outside marriage could soon be outlawed in this country, with some Constitutional Court (MK) justices signaling their support for the idea, which is currently under consideration at the court. In the latest hearing of a judicial review of the Criminal Code, which is aimed at outlawing casual sex, justice Patrialis Akbar concurred with three expert witnesses presented by the plaintiffs, who argued that Indonesias legal system was too liberal. Our freedom is limited by moralistic values as well as religious values. This is what the declaration of human rights doesnt have. Its totally different [from our concept of human rights] because were not a secular country, this country acknowledges religion, he said. Patrialis, a former National Mandate Party (PAN) politician, asked the experts whether or not all laws in Indonesia should accommodate religious norms. If the principles that have been comprehensively explained [by the expert witnesses] are not enforced in the existing law in this country, would this country be a secular country where religion no longer needed to be respected? After asking the question, Patrialis pointed out that the Constitutional Court was an institution that was guided by the light of God. Read also: Sexual activity outside marriage 'should be regulated' Another judge, Aswanto, asked whether it was about time that casual sex should not only be punished by social norms but also by the law. I was a bit annoyed with what the government said, [that we should] let people commit zinah [adultery or casual sex] and not regard them as criminals. Its a little bit annoying. I believe casual sex is a crime, he said. Aswanto was responding to a representative from the Law and Human Rights Ministry, who told the court that if the panel of justices accepted the plaintiffs demand, then hundreds of thousands of people could be criminalized. The justices statements seem to support perceptions that the Constitutional Court is leaning toward conservatism, raising concerns that it will eventually accept the petition filed by the Family Love Alliance, which consists of academics from the nations top universities. During Tuesdays hearings, the expert witnesses focused on attacking the concept of universal human rights, saying that it was not applicable in Indonesia because the country was built on religious norms. The application of universal human rights has to consider the special situation in a country, Padjadjaran University law professor Atip Latipulhayat said. Therefore, the concept of universal human rights would be dangerous if it was applied without considering religious norms, he added. Atip told the court that the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community did not have the rights of other Indonesian citizens. For Indonesia, LGBT is not [a human] right. The right of the LGBT people is to be humanized with Indonesian values because our law clearly stipulates that a marriage is between a man and a woman, he said. University of Indonesia (UI) constitutional law expert Hamid Chalid, who also testified as an expert witness, said the current Criminal Code was too liberal as it was drafted by the Dutch. Our country has silently legalized sex outside marriage, rape of men and sex between same-sex couples. Our law has been so liberal because we have allowed it to be like that for too long. Is that what we want? he said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 24 2016 A growing number of Indonesian Muslim women are opting for divorce rather than staying in an abusive marriage, even though the countrys legislation does not guarantee their rights after they split up. Divorce has become more common since the Muslim-majority country enacted the 1974 Law on marriage, which allows Muslim women to file for divorce. The Directorate General of Religious Court System Bodies (Badilag) recorded 351,395 divorce cases last year, up from 345,174 cases in the previous year. The Badilag data show that 71.8 percent of all divorce applications last year were filed by women, up from 69.7 percent in the previous year. The main reason for women to end their marriages, according to the Badilag data, is an inharmonious relationship with their spouses, which some womens rights activists say is another way of saying they are victims of domestic violence. Many women have been abused in their marriage, but are reluctant to tell the truth and choose to simply say they have an inharmonious relationship, National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) commissioner Indraswari told The Jakarta Post on Monday. Wulan Julia, a 42-year-old now-single mother of two children, said she had filed for a divorce in 2007, after seven years in what she alleged was an abusive marriage with her husband. When she made that decision, she said she was fully aware she was not ready financially. However, she said she had opted to move on and live a life free from physical violence. It was considered a taboo for a woman to file for divorce at the time, especially since my former husband was an Indonesian Military officer. But I realized that I had to move on with life, she said. While divorces in many places have their pitfalls, a post-divorce life in Indonesia can be more challenging. For some Indonesian women, life after splitting up from their husbands is hard, as they have to find a new source of income after losing their male breadwinners, Dina Afrianty, an associate of the Center for Indonesian Law, Islam and Society from the University of Melbourne, said on Tuesday. The Marriage Law stipulates that men who divorce their wives are responsible for providing financial support to their former wife and their children. But, as of today, there is no legal mechanism to ensure they fulfill their obligations. In many court rulings, judges dont include the responsibility of the husband to provide financial support during the iddah [waiting period] and to pay for mutah [consolation gifts], Dina said. But even court rulings made little difference, because men often ignored them, Dina said, adding there was no legal avenue for women to sue their former husbands for failing to abide by the rulings. Unlike in Indonesia, Singapore has clear mechanisms to ensure the wellbeing of women and children after a divorce. The countrys legal system clearly states that a divorce has to be accompanied by a maintenance order, which states the amount to pay, when to pay for it and the method of payment. Similarly, in Malaysia, a divorced wife has the right to obtain support from her ex-husband. The court can penalize the husband for failure to do so. It does not help that most women in Indonesia decide to stay at home after being married, making it more difficult for them to get a decent job after years of being a housewife. Some women might face economically challenging lives, but they still opt for divorce, because they cant stand living in an abusive household for a long time, said Sri Wiyanti Eddyono, a lecturer at Gadjah Mada University who previously worked as a lawyer with the Legal Aid Foundation of the Indonesian Womens Association for Justice (LBH APIK). (win) __________________________________ 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 News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 24, 2016 A growing number of Indonesian Muslim women are opting for divorce rather than staying in an abusive marriage, even though the countrys legislation does not guarantee their rights after they split up. Divorce has become more common since the Muslim-majority country enacted the 1974 Law on marriage, which allows Muslim women to file for divorce. The Directorate General of Religious Court System Bodies (Badilag) recorded 351,395 divorce cases last year, up from 345,174 cases in the previous year. The Badilag data show that 71.8 percent of all divorce applications last year were filed by women, up from 69.7 percent in the previous year. The main reason for women to end their marriages, according to the Badilag data, is an inharmonious relationship with their spouses, which some womens rights activists say is another way of saying they are victims of domestic violence. Many women have been abused in their marriage, but are reluctant to tell the truth and choose to simply say they have an inharmonious relationship, National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) commissioner Indraswari told The Jakarta Post on Monday. Wulan Julia, a 42-year-old now-single mother of two children, said she had filed for a divorce in 2007, after seven years in what she alleged was an abusive marriage with her husband. When she made that decision, she said she was fully aware she was not ready financially. However, she said she had opted to move on and live a life free from physical violence. It was considered a taboo for a woman to file for divorce at the time, especially since my former husband was an Indonesian Military officer. But I realized that I had to move on with life, she said. While divorces in many places have their pitfalls, a post-divorce life in Indonesia can be more challenging. For some Indonesian women, life after splitting up from their husbands is hard, as they have to find a new source of income after losing their male breadwinners, Dina Afrianty, an associate of the Center for Indonesian Law, Islam and Society from the University of Melbourne, said on Tuesday. The Marriage Law stipulates that men who divorce their wives are responsible for providing financial support to their former wife and their children. But, as of today, there is no legal mechanism to ensure they fulfill their obligations. In many court rulings, judges dont include the responsibility of the husband to provide financial support during the iddah [waiting period] and to pay formutah [consolation gifts], Dina said. But even court rulings made little difference, because men often ignored them, Dina said, adding there was no legal avenue for women to sue their former husbands for failing to abide by the rulings. Unlike in Indonesia, Singapore has clear mechanisms to ensure the wellbeing of women and children after a divorce. The countrys legal system clearly states that a divorce has to be accompanied by a maintenance order, which states the amount to pay, when to pay for it and the method of payment. Similarly, in Malaysia, a divorced wife has the right to obtain support from her ex-husband. The court can penalize the husband for failure to do so. It does not help that most women in Indonesia decide to stay at home after being married, making it more difficult for them to get a decent job after years of being a housewife. Some women might face economically challenging lives, but they still opt for divorce, because they cant stand living in an abusive household for a long time, said Sri Wiyanti Eddyono, a lecturer at Gadjah Mada University who previously worked as a lawyer with the Legal Aid Foundation of the Indonesian Womens Association for Justice (LBH APIK). (win) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani and Margareth S. Aritonang (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 24, 2016 Fourteen years after the last amendment, the Peoples Consultative Assembly (MPR) has started the process of amending the 1945 Constitution, setting the stage for a battle among political parties that could end up transforming the countrys political system. The MPR, which under the New Order regime served as the highest law-making institution in the country, could regain its power in the drafting of the state policy guidelines (GBHN), the guidance for long-term development plans that the president must implement. According to a proposal drafted by the MPR assessment agency, a team jointly established by the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) and four political party factions at the House of Representatives, two options are available to allow for the change: amending the constitution to grant the MPR the authority to issue the guidelines through an MPR decree, or inserting the concept of GBHN-like guidelines into an article of the 1945 Constitution. The two largest political factions at the House, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and the Golkar Party, back the first proposal. Amending the Constitution to grant the MPR more authority will make it a stronger legal instrument, PDI-P deputy secretary-general Achmad Basarah said. With the authority to draft GBHN, the MPR would have a greater mandate than that of the president and could sanction the latter for failing to implement the guidelines. Between 1999 and 2002, soon after the fall of president Soeharto, the MPR amended the Constitution four times in an attempt to limit the power and authority of the president. The amendment also allowed for greater checks and balances among state bodies by redistributing power among the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the government. By reinstating the GBHN, the MPR plans to elevate itself again as the highest law-making institution in the country, above the president and able even to impose control over the government, a system very different to the current presidential system. Constitutional law expert Feri Amsari, a researcher at the Center of Constitutional Studies at Andalas University in Padang, West Sumatra, said that the plan, if endorsed, could mean the introduction of a parliamentary system, which he claimed would be unsuitable. Our political tradition is not ready to bring back the parliamentary system because the executive branch of the government would be prone to instability. The presidential system brings more stability because it regulates a fixed tenure for the executive body, Feri said. Political expert Ramlan Surbakti from Airlangga University in Surabaya, East Java, said there was no need to amend the Constitution or grant more power to the MPR, as the countrys political system centers on the executive. Ramlan recommended that the GBHN be inserted into the Constitution. Amending the 1945 Constitution will consequently bring back power to the MPR as the highest branch of government. We still have no idea what consequences this will have. Who will oversee the MPR in the future? he asked. The proposal for bringing back the GBHN was first aired by PDI-P chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri, daughter of president Sukarno, who first came up with the idea of guiding principles for the countrys government. But it was Sukarnos successor, Soeharto, who made the plan reality in 1969, soon after he took the reins of power from the countrys founding president. In the post-Soeharto era, the MPR could threaten to use the GBHN to impeach a president who did not effectively implement development policy; transitional president BJ Habibie decided not to seek another term after his accountability report was rejected by the MPR in 1999. A constitutional amendment in 2001 removed the MPRs status as the highest state institution and axed the GBHN altogether. Under the current presidential system, a move against the president in the form of an impeachment proceeding can only occur if the House launches an inquiry, requesting detailed examination of a policy, and only when the policy in question meets the criteria for violations that could be subject to an impeachment trial can the process start. Currently, of the 10 factions at the House, only the Democratic Party opposes the GBHN plan. The president and vice president are directly elected by the people. They present their vision and mission to the people. So why should they have to follow the guidelines made by the MPR? party deputy chairman Syarifuddin Hasan asked. ______________________________ 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. For print subscription, please contact our call center at (+6221) 5360014 or subscription@thejakartapost.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 24, 2016 The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) and the Operation Tinombala task force have agreed to adopt a softer approach in the pursuit of the remaining members of the East Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT) terrorist group still hiding in the forests of Poso in Central Sulawesi. Operation Tinombala task force, Komnas HAM, humanitarian civil society organization Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C) and local representatives held a meeting at the Central Sulawesi Police headquarters on Tuesday discussing the management of Poso amid the ongoing Operation Tinombala. "We need to build a persuasive formula and take a softer approach in the arrest of the members," Komnas HAM commissioner Siane Indiraini said after the meeting referring to the 14 MIT members believed to still be hiding in the forests. She also urged the task force to treat the Poso terrorist suspects humanely so as to uphold human rights. The meeting was held to build the same perspective on the management of Poso to create a peaceful Central Sulawesi, task force chief Brig. Gen. Rudy Sufahriadi said. The security personnel have urged the remaining members of the MIT to give themselves up to the authorities following the shoot-out that left the group's leader Santoso aka Abu Wardah dead in mid-July. "The operation will continue and we will let the wanted men surrender and we will facilitate them [in doing so]," said Rudy who is also Central Sulawesi Police chief. Poso has been home to Operation Tinombala since January. It is the largest joint operation between the police and Indonesian Military (TNI) with more than 3,000 personnel aimed at taking down the MIT terrorist group hiding in the mountainous forests of Poso. (rin) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Fedina S. Sundaryani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 24 2016 Oil and gas giant Pertamina will soon get the go-ahead from the government and oil and gas regulator to carry out early investment in the gas-rich Mahakam block next year. The government is planning to issue several legal instruments to enable Pertamina to invest in the Mahakam block before it officially takes over operation in 2018 from current operator Total E&P Indonesie. The early investment is intended to prevent any sudden drops in oil production during the operator transition period, as Mahakam remains the backbone of national gas production. Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry Oil and Gas Director General IGN Wiratmaja Puja said that a ministerial regulation and a decree from the Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Special Task Force (SKKMigas) would be completed next Tuesday. Furthermore, an agreement is also set to be signed by Pertamina and Total next week over the arrangement of the early investment. This will be done in order to make sure that theres no drastic drop [in production]. There will still be a decrease during the transition period, but it wont be as drastic, he said following a meeting at the Office of the Coordinating Maritime Affairs Ministry. Total holds a production-sharing contract that will end in late 2017. Under the contract, it holds a 50 percent stake in the block, while its partner Inpex controls the other 50 percent. Following the contracts expiration, Pertamina will own a 100 percent stake in the block Mahakam is currently the biggest gas-producing block in the country. The block produced 1.7 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) of natural gas in the first quarter of the year, significantly higher than its 1.5 bcfd target of 2016. Furthermore, oil production is in line with the target of 65,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd). The oil and gas sector has been rocked by low crude prices in the past few years, leading to low exploration and production. The government has not increased the production target from this years 1.15 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) given the lack of new discoveries over the past couple of years. Meanwhile, Pertamina executive director Dwi Soetjipto said that the company would invest US$1.5 billion in the second half of 2017 for the development and maintenance of 19 active wells. The investment will be included in the companys work plan and budget (WP&B) proposal, negotiations with SKKMigas on which will start next month. Pertamina hopes that the investment will be able to slow Mahakams inevitable decline in production, as the block is already mature. Were not even the operators yet but we will invest while Total carries out the work. There needs to be a legal instrument, which we hope will be issued soon, he said. Dwi also explained that both Pertamina and the government were waiting for Total to decide within the next two weeks whether it would continue participating in the Mahakam production-sharing contract after the original was terminated. Although Pertamina is set to have a 100 percent share of the block, it is allowed to divest up to 30 percent of its ownership to partners. Pertaminas best choice may be to involve the current contractors to minimize the decline in production following a change in operators. However, Dwi said the company was ready to operate the block with or without Total and Inpexs help. Total vice president for corporate communications, human resources and finance, Arividya Noviyanto, also attended Mondays meeting. However, he was reluctant to unveil the French-based companys possible participation post-2017. We were only asked to update the current situation, specifically about the current transfer of ownership. Transfers like these take years, he said. -------------- 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 Margareth S. Aritonang and Ina Parlina (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 24 2016 The police uncovered on Tuesday Indonesian travel agencies that had aided a group of haj pilgrims to go to Mecca using Philippine passports. A group of 177 pilgrims were arrested on Friday at Manila International Airport after it was discovered that they could not speak the local language and their Philippine passports were illegally obtained. Two Philippine escorts were also detained with them. 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 (News Desk) Jakarta Wed, August 24, 2016 Gubernatorial candidate Sandiaga Uno has said he proposes either Jakarta City secretary Saefullah, Jakarta deputy head for tourism affairs Syviana Murni or Batang Regent Yoyok Riyo Sudibyo as his running mate. Sandiaga, a businessman and Gerindra Party politician, has been nominated by his party to run in the Jakarta gubernatorial election on Feb. 15, 2017. We told Sandiaga to nominate his deputy candidate, but Sandiaga said the candidate must be discussed with members of the coalition, said Jakarta Legislative Council Deputy Speaker M. Taufik, who is also a Gerindra Party politician, in Jakarta on Wednesday. The Kinship Coalition, which is made up of seven political partiesthe Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Gerindra Party, Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), Democratic Party (PD), National Awakening Party (PKB), United Development Party (PPP) and National Mandate Party (PAN)had previously agreed to nominate a gubernatorial candidate to challenge Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnamas reelection. Following the coalitions establishment, however, the PDI-P said it was not fully committed to the coalition as the party was considering to nominate Ahok as its gubernatorial candidate. Meanwhile, Taufik said Bojonegoro Regent Suyoto was also considered but he was not ready to be nominated as Jakarta deputy governor. The Gerindra Party has secured the support of at least two partiesPKB and PDthat have expressed their commitment to Sandiagas nomination, while other parties have not agreed on who will be the coalitions gubernatorial candidate. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Hyung-Jin Kim (Associated Press) Seoul, South Korea Wed, August 24, 2016 North Korea on Wednesday fired a ballistic missile from a submarine off its east coast into the sea, the South Korean military said, at a time of heightened tensions between the two Koreas. North Korea launched the missile from a submarine off the eastern coastal town of Sinpo on Wednesday morning, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. The launch comes just two days after the U.S. and South Korea began their annual joint military exercises that the North considers a rehearsal for an invasion. South Korean defense officials said it wasn't immediately known whether the launch was successful or not. North Korea has previously fired several submarine-launched ballistic missiles into the sea, but outside experts said the North has yet to acquire operational submarine-launched missiles capable of striking distant targets like the mainland U.S. The North's acquiring the ability to launch missiles from submarines would be an alarming development because missiles fired from submerged vessels are harder to detect in advance. The North's latest missile launch comes at a time of intensified animosities between the rival Koreas over the defection of a senior North Korean diplomat in London and a U.S. plan to install a sophisticated missile defense system in South Korea. On Monday, South Korea and the United States also kicked off the annual Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercises, prompting North Korean threats of retaliation. About 28,500 U.S. troops are based in South Korea to help deter potential aggression from North Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. North Korea usually responds to the regular South Korea-U.S. military drills with weapons tests and fiery warlike rhetoric. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 24, 2016 Expert witnesses from a group of scholars and activists that requested the revision of three articles (284, 285, and 292) in the Criminal Code (KUHP) on adultery and sodomy defended their standpoints at the Constitutional Court, saying the activities should be categorized as crimes to deter people from doing them. The group, the Family Love Alliance, claiming to protect the countrys morality, wishes to criminalize all kinds of sexual intercourse between unmarried people and between homosexuals. The proposed revisions stipulate punishments for married people engaged in sexual activity with partners who are not their spouses and for adults committing sodomy on minors. The revision of the articles will prevent people from having sexual activity outside marriage. Also, if such thing happens in society, members of the public will not act as vigilantes but take it to legal procedures, Hamid Chalid, constitutional law expert from University of Indonesia, said Tuesday. Echoing Hamid, Asrorun Niam Sholeh, chairman of Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), said such revisions were needed as sexual intercourse outside marriage caused unwanted pregnancy and would affect the child who would be humiliated or insulted by society. The revision will be a correction to the Criminal Code, which was passed [in 1946], Atip Latifulhayat, a law expert at Padjadjaran University, said, adding that the law of each country was different concerning such things because of the social norms of a state. (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Andi Hajramurni (The Jakarta Post) Makassar, South Sulawesi Wed, August 24, 2016 The alleged haj passport scam case implicating 177 Indonesian haj pilgrims has given a crucial message to the government to immediately improve the quality of haj services in the country. Amriadi, 30, the husband of Rosdiana, one of 177 Indonesians detained by Philippine authorities for using fake passports, claimed his wife was attracted to go on the haj via Manila, as the haj waiting list in the country is not as long as in Indonesia. The resident of Ujungpero village, Sabbangparu district, Wajo regency, South Sulawesi, further said his wife departed for Mecca, Saudi Arabia, through Aulad Amin, a travel agent popular with its experience to dispatch Indonesian haj pilgrims via the Philippines. Amriadi said it might take several years for his wife to go on the haj if she used the regular procedures provided by the Indonesian government. That was why he agreed to pay Rp 135 million (US$10,192) to Aulad Amin to facilitate her wifes haj departure via Manila. Last year, one of our family members went on the haj via the Philippines, facilitated by Aulad Amin. Thats why my wife also used this travel agent, said Amriadi. He further said Rosdiana registered her haj pilgrimage at the travel agent in January and immediately got a confirmation on her departure. In May, she was taken to the Philippines by the travel agents officials who said it was for the purpose of processing her haj departure documents, said Amriadi, who paid the extremely expensive haj fee from his agriculture harvests. Around 50 percent of the 177 Indonesians detained for using fake Philippine documents are from South Sulawesi. They mostly registered their haj pilgrimage via illegal travel agents but they were not aware of it. The number of registered haj pilgrims in South Sulawesi have reached more than 169,000, creating a lengthy waiting list of between 17 to 40 years. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post) Bandung Wed, August 24, 2016 Arya Dipa The members of the Street Library community denied accusations by Siliwangi Military commander Brig. Gen. Wuryanto that they were actually a motorcycle gang posing as book lovers. The accusation was obviously wrong, Indra Saputra, one of the community members, said Wednesday. Wuryanto said Street Library was just a front for a motorcycle gang in Bandung, which was why he ordered his subordinates to disperse the people who were doing the activity from Cikapayang Park on Saturday evening in Bandung. Indra said the community had spread a love for books since 2010. He said they chose Cikapayang Park because it had better lighting than other parks. This park is the citys icon. Everyone hangs out there: street vendors, pedestrians, young people doing sports, motorcycle clubs sharing experiences. It is a reflection of a resilient city that calls itself a creative city, Indra told The Jakarta Post. He said his community not only targeted street children, but it was open to anyone from children and university students to tourists and street vendors. He said the community had a wide array of books from general subjects to finance, as well as magazines. They bring the books every week to the park. Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil had expressed regret over the incident, during which some members reported that they had been beaten. According to the military command, the position of the library was near a motorcycle gang. I think it was a misunderstanding, he said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post) Bandung Wed, August 24, 2016 A 13-year-old boy, identified only as HA, cried after the Bandung Military Court II-09 delivered its decision Tuesday against First Corp. Saheri, who was found guilty of beating him and his friend SKA in December last year. HA felt the sentence, eight months in jail, was unjust to the victims. Why only eight months? For beating a child? HA asked, crying. Harjoni, HA's father, said the decision was unfair to them. Ive been pursuing justice also for the past eight months. I expected a heavier punishment, Harjoni told The Jakarta Post. The head of the judicial panel, Lt. Col. Nanik Suwarni, said the she and two other judges, Maj. Kus Indrawati and Maj. Dahlan Suherlan, agreed to give Suheri a heavier sentence than what was demanded by the military's team of prosecutor team, which asked for only four months' imprisonment. Nanik said Suheri was found guilty of violating the children protection law. The beating happened when HA and SKA, both 13, were riding pillion on a motorcycle driven by another friend, R. They passed Saheris house in Cibinong, Bogor in West Java in December last year. The road was bumpy and when R tried to evade a hole, HAs cup of ice tea flew at Saheris house, which was being renovated. During the trial, it was reported that Saheri exited the house, yelled at the three boys, screaming, Thief! Thief! Thief! while throwing rocks at them. In January, HA and SKA told a press conference at the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute that Suheri took them to a vacant lot near his house, tied them to trees and beat them. Locals who thought the boys were thieves also beat them, they said. (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 24, 2016 Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita promises to provide a faster system for processing trade licenses and warns to punish any official who spoils the effort. The ministry would set a time limit for processing the licenses. While waiting for the process, businesspeople would be allowed to continue their businesses, the minister said. "Then our first echelon [the highest rank for officials in the ministry] will deliver the permit to you directly," Enggar said in a policy synchronization meeting on Wednesday in Jakarta. He further highlighted that businesspeople should report the official in charge of their license if they breached the time limit, so that the ministry could investigate their case and prepare sanctions. After the implementation of Regional Autonomy Law in 2004, trade officials in regional areas are no longer under the ministry's direct jurisdiction. Instead, they operate under their respective regional government. "Regional administrative rules are not always parallel with the central government as they can be easily revised if the regional head has a differing opinion. Therefore, I call on regional trade officials to follow the central governments direction," Enggar said. (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Christopher Torchia (Associated Press) Johannesburg Wed, August 24, 2016 In past years, big names in South Africa picked up the annual Gulen Peace Award, a local accolade inspired by a Turkish preacher who has been blamed by Turkey for an attempted coup last month. Both Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu and Graca Machel, an activist and widow of Nelson Mandela, have been feted in the name of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who has won international recognition for promoting dialogue and education. But this year's award ceremony is in doubt as Turkey campaigns globally to shut schools and other institutes linked to Gulen, who once enjoyed support from the Turkish government that now calls him a terrorist. "We haven't decided yet whether there will be an event or not," said Ayhan Cetin, director of the Turquoise Harmony Institute, a Gulen-inspired group based in Johannesburg. South Africa's government has not moved against Gulen supporters, but it could be awkward for someone to accept the award because of the international tension, he said. At home, Turkey has detained more than 40,000 people in a bid to dismantle the network of Gulen, drawing criticism that the purge could sweep up anyone critical of the government. Turkey's international campaign against Gulen, who denies any involvement in the July 15 uprising, targets schools and other institutions in more than 100 countries, including in Asia, Africa, Europe and the United States. The Turkish bid is complicated by questions of national sovereignty and whether there is evidence of links between far-flung projects many with no formal ties to Gulen's headquarters in the US and the coup attempt against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Gulen's global influence could depend partly on whether the United States extradites him at the request of Turkey, which is frustrated by US statements that it must present evidence and follow the legal process, a commentator said. "As long as they kind of enjoy some sort of American cover, I think they will be able to continue," said Halil Karaveli, a senior fellow at the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute and the Silk Road Studies Program. Turkey accuses Gulen, who is associated with Islamic mysticism, or Sufism, of clandestinely grooming school recruits to eventually take over the state. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has told ambassadors that their countries should move against schools or associations tied to Gulen's movement, known as Hizmet, or "Service" in Turkish. "Here's some friendly advice: If you are late in taking action against them, this threat will no longer be a Turkish threat, it could become your countries' greatest threat," Yildirim said. Somalia, a war-torn beneficiary of Turkish aid, closed educational and medical facilities linked to Gulen, though Turkey said they would operate again under different management. Azerbaijan seized a university connected with Gulen, while the Kurdish regional government in northern Iraq said Gulen-affiliated schools will be transferred to new ownership, Turkey's Anadolu Agency reported. The reaction in some other countries, such as Germany and Kenya, is more skeptical or cautious. In places with limited resources, the schools have won praise for producing local graduates with good results. "It shouldn't be an arbitrary decision to close any school, just based on somebody's political wish," said Jeton Mehmeti, an education analyst in Kosovo. Gulen, whose Islamic movement first expanded outside Turkey in the early 1990s after the fall of the Soviet Union, has come under international scrutiny in the past. Russia closed schools connected with the cleric years ago amid concerns there about Islamic militancy. There are about 150 taxpayer-funded charter schools believed to be linked to Gulen in the United States, and Turkey has retained a US legal firm, Amsterdam & Partners, to file complaints against them. The FBI has investigated allegations of employment discrimination, competitive bidding abuses and visa fraud at some of the schools, with few repercussions so far. In South Africa, nine schools inspired by Gulen's teachings follow a mostly secular curriculum that emphasizes math and science, and offer scholarships to disadvantaged children. Of their 3,500 students, 95 percent are South African, said Cetin of the Turquoise Harmony Institute. Tensions over the coup attempt deepened a rift among Turks in South Africa, where the Turkish ambassador, Kaan Esener, described operators of Gulen-inspired schools as a "crime syndicate" in a radio interview. Some Erdogan supporters also criticized the Nizamiye mosque north of Johannesburg, a soaring structure built with the funds of a Gulen backer. Cetin speculated that Turkey would pressure Gulen's expatriate supporters by rounding up relatives and friends at home in a widening crackdown. "The circle will be bigger and bigger," he said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tama Salim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 24 2016 Venezuela celebrated a belated 205th Independence Day in Jakarta with a reception on Tuesday night, highlighting the cordial relations it has with Indonesia despite being separated by a vast distance. The lively reception, held in the ballroom of a South Jakarta hotel decorated in the yellow, blue and red of the Venezuelan flag, was opened by a choir of children from an elementary school. The students sang the Venezuelan national anthem in Spanish before singing the Indonesian anthem. 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 Asmara Wreksono (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 24, 2016 Of the many prizes, bonuses and tokens of appreciation given to Olympians, the ones that might be the most attractive, aside from the cash bonuses, are probably those that include the phrase "lifetime supply" and it becomes even sexier when followed by the phrase, "airline tickets". AirAsia announced today that it will award ASEAN Olympians who won gold medals at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics with a lifetime supply of free air tickets. AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes said in a statement: I admire the performance of athletes like Sukanya Srisurat and Sopita Tanasan from Thailand, Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir from Indonesia and also Joseph Schooling and Hoang Xuan Vinh who won the first golds for Singapore and Vietnam. (Read also: Air Asia introduces routes to Tehran and Mauritius) While gold medalists are being awarded with free lifetime AirAsia tickets, silver medalists are also being awarded with free tickets for five years and bronze medalists are awarded with free tickets for two years. The free tickets can be used to fly to more than 120 destinations within the AirAsia flight network and AirAsia X in Asia, Australia, the Middle East and Africa. They have proven that we can achieve anything as long as we are confident and always try our best tirelessly to make our dreams come true. This is in line with AirAsias mission, which is to be the best by setting examples, Fernandes said, These athletes have taught us to not stop trying to be the best and, for that, this is the least AirAsia can award them with. Fernandes said he also hopes the wins can inspire other athletes in the region, and he looks forward for more medals from ASEAN athletes. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 24, 2016 Indonesias Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu claims that the trilateral agreement on maritime security signed by Indonesian, Malaysian, and Philippine defense ministers in early August, has been in force to secure regional waters. Ryamizard asserted that the three countries had already conducted several measures to secure trade routes in the shared sea territory against threats from Abu Sayyaf, including to begin guarding coal export barges traveling between the countries. "Coal exports generate income for our country, while the Philippines, which depends on our [coal] exports, will also benefit from it. [The agreement] give us advantages and therefore [the countries] should cooperate," Ryamizard said in Jakarta on Tuesday. The Philippines' latest military raid on the militant group in southern Philippines, which resulted in heavy casualties for Abu Sayyaf, was part of Manila's commitment in accordance with the agreement, namely to end the kidnappings and hijackings, Ryamizard claimed. While the trilateral agreement had allowed military personnel to cross sea borders in "hot pursuit" of militants and emergency situations, with the prior knowledge of the "trespassed party", the pact had yet to authorize land-based operations due to constitutional reasons from the Philippines' side. (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ayomi Amindoni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 24, 2016 Low-cost carrier AirAsia is set to open five new routes across Indonesia in a bid to attract six million more tourists to the country. The company's CEO, Tony Fernandes, said these new destinations were expected to become as popular as Bandung, which became one of Indonesia's top tourist destinations after the airline added the city to its network. "No one flew to Bandung before we did. Now, Bandung is a very successful town and we are discussing other destinations in Indonesia that we think we can develop for tourism," said Fernandes at the State Palace on Wednesday prior to a meeting with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo. (Read also: AirAsia seeks govt support to explore more RI destinations) During the meeting, Fernandes told Jokowi that Malaysia attracted around 24 million tourists each year. Meanwhile, Indonesia has recorded just 10.5 million tourist visits so far this year, even though the country targeted 20 million visitors for 2016. "We believe AirAsia can contribute quite a lot [to reaching that target]," he went on to say. Fernandes said tourism was a fantastic economic multiplier. For every US$1 spent, tourism could potentially multiply that figure by up to 12 times. "Our commitment to the President is to add at least six million tourists to the country, which could bring in around $39 billion in terms of economic wealth to Indonesia," he added. Fernandes asked the government to relax the capital structure in the airline industry, which currently only allows for 49 percent foreign ownership. "We would like to make more money for Indonesia, so we also discussed capital structure," he said. (kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ni Nyoman Wira (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 24, 2016 Amid an increasing number of Chinese tourists visiting the archipelago, the government aims to attract at least 2.1 million Chinese visitors by the end of this year. Titik Lestari, a spokesperson from the Tourism Ministry's improvement and development division for the Asia-Pacific Market, told Antara news agency that efforts had been made to achieve the target, including by promoting Indonesia's tourism at the annual Shanghai Book Fair that ended on Tuesday. During the event, the second edition of Discovery Indonesia, a book written in Mandarin by CCTV reporter Dou Yun Yun, who has spent the last five years in Indonesia, was launched. "Hopefully the book will be able to introduce our tourism to Chinese citizens and lure them to visit Indonesia," said Titik. (Read also: Worlds longest, highest glass bridge opens in Hunan) To further boost the Wonderful Indonesia campaign, the ministry also made Shanghai celebrity Rong Rong a tourism ambassador. Rong said that she felt honored and promised to assist in introducing the archipelago's tourist destinations, especially to the denizens of Shanghai. The campaign is also being spread via Ximalaya, a popular online reading platform in China that allow users to listen to audiobooks and is being developed as a tool to listen to interviews. (kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ni Nyoman Wira (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 24, 2016 Muslim travelers have become an important market for Japan, with the country having prepared Muslim-friendly facilities to attract more of them. The government has built facilities to accommodate Muslim travelers such as prayer rooms at airports and added qibla (direction of prayer) signs in hotel rooms. Although [the facilities] may not be available everywhere, we are ready to welcome Muslim travelers," Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) manager Kristiana Susanti told a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday, adding that the country aimed to attract at least 250,000 tourists from Indonesia this year. To further promote Japan tourism in Indonesia, which is home to the largest Muslim population in a country, JNTO is slated to hold Japan Travel Fair in Kota Kasablanka mall in South Jakarta on Sept. 10-12. (Read also: The sneakerheads guide to sneaker hunting in Shibuya, Japan) At the event, visitors can expect to grab brochures listing Muslim-friendly restaurants from Tokyo to Hokkaido, purchase travel packages at special prices offered by five airlines and 19 travel agents, take part in a lucky draw of return tickets to Japan, and enjoy performances, including a ninja show by Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura, Japanese cuisine show and a music performance by Hiroaki Kato. Kato told The Jakarta Post that aside from exploring Hokkaido and Sapporo during winter, visitors should also visit Kyushu for its delicious food, Okinawa Island and Shikoku. "Kyoto is also a must-visit during autumn. It has a lot of temples and momiji trees. The scenery from Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto during autumn is particularly awesome, said the musician. (kes) (Read also: Japan tourism board launches online media center) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Associated Press) Paris Wed, August 24, 2016 Fewer foreign tourists are visiting the Paris region after deadly attacks last year and a season of strikes, violent labor action and exceptional floods. The regional tourism office reported figures for the first half of 2016 this week showing that the drop was especially high among Japanese, Russian and Chinese visitors. Spending on hotels fell particularly sharply, but was partially compensated by a rise in the number of people staying in private apartment offerings. (Read also: Louvre, Orsay museums close as Seine overflows in Paris) Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault has called a meeting for early September to find ways to revive tourism, which represents about 7 percent of the French economy. Other French regions have not been as hard hit as Paris, though French Riviera tourism was shaken by a truck attack in Nice last month that killed 86. One of the firms entangled in the Rivingon House mess is walking away from another real estate deal in Brooklyn. The Daily News and the Post are reporting today that Slate Property Group has sold its share of the Bedford-Union Armory project in Crown Heights. BFC Partners will now handle the large residential and recreational site on its own. The price was not disclosed. Sources told the News that the de Blasio administration moved to push Slate out because officials believe the developer misled them about its plans for former nursing home Rivington House. Slate, China Vanke and Adam America Real Estate purchased the Lower East Side building for $116 million and plan luxury condos in the converted school building. The sale took place after the city lifted deed restrictions on the property. Two investigations found that Slate and the Allure Group, Rivington Houses previous owner, worked to keep their plans for the property a secret. More from the Daily News: In a letter to the city, Slates David Schwartz confirmed his company had sold its interest in the above-referenced Project on mutually agreeable financial terms. Were focused on doing projects that are going to get done, and focused on doing affordable housing, Schwartz told the News. It seemed to us that it was going to be a difficult ride, even though we didnt agree with any of the protests, and there was no merit to it. The project has to be approved by the City Council and other officials under the citys land use process. Getting it approved may have been difficult or impossible with controversy swirling around the developer, especially after the unexpected defeat of a different affordable housing project in Inwood. We didnt want to give any more fuel to the fire. Its really important for Crown Heights to get this affordable housing, Schwartz said. The community really needs it. Schwartz denied that Slate misled the city on Rivington House. Local activists on the Lower East Side want the administration to find a way to get the nursing home back from the luxury developers. The mayor has said the city will invest $16 million on the LES to make up for the loss of Rivington House. But the activists said thats not good enough. Just let this sink in. Men with guns forcing a women to undress, with the weight of the law behind them. pic.twitter.com/4BI16Bbss9 Abdul-Azim (@AbdulAzim) August 23, 2016 Armed police force woman to take her clothes off. What part of that sentence is OK? #BurkiniBan (((Dawn Butler MP))) (@DawnButlerBrent) August 24, 2016 So worrying that French armed police can force a woman to take her clothes off. Total violation of rights makes no one safer. #BurkiniBan Claire Jones (@claireylegs) August 24, 2016 Oh France, you've got this so wrong. Humiliating a woman on a beach is not fighting terrorism, it's destroying your own values #BurkiniBan Louise Ann Davies (@louanndavies) August 24, 2016 Just let women wear what they want. Stop policing our bodies #burkiniban #burkini I. Maria Jones (@mariaj81) August 24, 2016 No attire makes anyone do anything. Stop policing women's bodies and clothes. I am so ashamed of France. #BurkiniBan Millie Noor (@camille_noor) August 24, 2016 Fight the war on terrorism, just not using women and our bodies as your battleground. #BurkiniBan Nigerian Zoella (@pizzaandcyanide) August 24, 2016 Would French authorities force these women to remove their outfits for not "respecting good morals" ?!!#BurkiniBan pic.twitter.com/QcCpXJdBT4 Said Shoaib (@saidshouib) August 24, 2016 How is this ok? It's 2016. Women should be able to wear whatever they want. #burkiniban pic.twitter.com/oDsKuVT5PU Tanya Burr (@TanyaBurr) August 24, 2016 The ban has been enforced in a number of towns in the country under that claim that it will help integration and fight extremism.One particularly poignant image has been shared widely of the woman in France next to a woman believed to be from the 1920s having the length of her bathing suit measured by a Sheriffette special police deputies sworn in for the sole purpose of monitoring womens swimwear.And people think its a perfect comparison to highlight how society has always policed whats acceptable for women to do with their bodies on the beach.Other interesting similarities have also been drawn. A 21-year-old British woman has died and a 30-year-old British man is in a critical condition after being stabbed at a backpackers hostel in Queensland, Australia. The attacker allegedly shouted Allahu Akbar Queensland Police Service said up to 30 people witnessed the senseless act of violence. A 46-year-old local man also suffered non life-threatening injuries. A 29-year-old French national has been arrested. Police are continuing to investigate the incident at #HomeHill with assistance of @AFPMedia. https://t.co/iDXGTnEdDLhttps://t.co/rDYZT14WVU QPS Media Unit (@QPSmedia) August 24, 2016 The stabbing took place at Shelleys Backpackers accommodation in Home Hill at around 11.15pm local time on Tuesday, police said. The hostel is in a small town it is a popular place for backpackers to find fruit-picking work. Its about 62 miles from the coastal city of Townsville in North Queensland. Deputy police commissioner Steve Gollschewski said the investigation is in its early stages and all motivations are being considered, including criminal and political, as well as the impact of drugs and mental health problems. He said: Initial inquiries indicate that comments which may be construed as being of an extremist nature were made by the alleged offender. It is alleged that the suspect used the phrase Allahu Akbar during the attack and when arrested by police. Detective Superintendent Ray Rohweder, from Queensland Police Service, said officers were confronted with a terrible scene when they arrived. The woman was found dead at the scene and the British man was rushed to hospital in a critical condition. Both the victims families have been contacted. Forensic crews have arrived at backpackers hostel in Home Hill after double stabbing. A woman is dead, man critical. pic.twitter.com/1abyKfjd5O Chris McMahon (@ChrisTheJourno1) August 23, 2016 He said he couldnt tell reporters how long they had been in the country and whether they knew each other. But they were all staying at the same accommodation. The 46-year-old man has been released from hospital. Police said a dog had also been fatally injured in the attack. The man taken into custody is a visitor to Australia who has been in the country since around March on a temporary visa. He has no known local connections, Gollschewski said. (Anthony Devlin/PA) He said they were still trying to find out what he has been doing in the country since his arrival but he was not known to police before the attack. Police arent searching for anyone else in relation to the incident and there is no known ongoing threat to the community. Gollschewski added: This is not about race or religion. It is individual criminal behaviour. We're working w local authorities & providing support to the families of the British citizens affected following #HomeHill attack. (1/2) UK in Australia (@ukinaustralia) August 24, 2016 Our thoughts are with the victims of #HomeHill attack and their families at this difficult time. (2/2) UK in Australia (@ukinaustralia) August 24, 2016 The fact that the suspect shouted the phrase Allahu Akbar which means God is Greatest in Arabic had been confirmed as officers were wearing body-worn video cameras. He is believed to have been acting alone. Police have retrieved a knife which is believed to have been the weapon. Gollschewski said the woman was the first person to be attacked and that the incident was at the moment being treated as a murder case, not a terror attack. Police have taken possession of a knife which is believed to have been the implement used in the stabbing incident. #HomeHill QPS Media Unit (@QPSmedia) August 24, 2016 Rohweder said: Witnesses have said that they have observed the person attacking one of the persons and as a result of that there was another altercation and subsequently the male person has gone back upstairs at the accommodation complex. A 21-year-old British woman has died after being stabbed at Shelleys Backpackers accommodation in Home Hill in Queensland, Australia, by a man shouting Allahu Akbar. The woman has been named locally as Mia Ayliffe-Chung, from Derbyshire. Police said a 29-year-old French national carried out the knife attack in Queensland. A 30-year-old British man was also left in a critical condition. Mia was only days into a three-month trip working with animals on a farm, according to social media (Amy Browne/PA) Amy Browne, 19, from the Gold Coast, worked as a bartender at the Bedroom Lounge Bar where Mia was a waitress. She told the Press Association: Mia was honestly the most bubbliest and most caring girl I knew. She got along with everyone she met, she just had that gorgeous personality that everyone seemed to enjoy. She always had a smile on her face, so innocent and full of life and love. Our memories will be cherished forever and I know shed want us all to stay positive in the darkest of times. Rest in peace my beautiful friend, heaven has truly gained another angel. (Google Street View/PA) The stabbing happened at an accommodation complex in the Home Hill area of Queensland at around 11.15pm local time on Tuesday, police said. Queensland deputy police commissioner Steve Gollschewski said all motivations were being considered, including criminal and political as well as the impact of drugs and mental health problems. But the fact that the suspect shouted the phrase Allahu Akbar which means God is Greatest in Arabic had been confirmed as officers were equipped with body-worn video cameras. Friends paid tribute on Facebook, with Tom Paenga writing: R.I.P Mia. I know that I will not find someone like you again, so happy, so motivating, in good times and in bad times always you were drawing a smile My condolences to your family and to those who had the pleasure of meeting you. Taken too soon but never forgotten!!! And Kyle Godwin wrote: We really do live in a cruel world. The only good thing to come from this is that heaven really truly has gained an amazing and beautiful soul. I love you more then anything in this world beautiful. According to social media, Mia was only days into a three-month trip working with animals on a farm and had been posting diary entries on Facebook with pictures sharing her experiences with friends. Her latest post, on Saturday, read: Day 4 done. Just 85 left! Skills achieved; the ability to tell the difference between a rock and a clump of mud and throwing stones really far. The sun is too hot. Stupid Australia. On July 19, the 21-year-old wrote on Facebook about being away from her family and home: The hardest thing living my dream, missing the important home things. Graduations, people in hospital, funerals and birthdays. Following news that radical cleric Anjem Choudary was convicted for inviting people to support the so-called Islamic State, extremist prisoners who seek to poison the minds of others will be put in special units. Justice Secretary Liz Truss plans to remove extremist books from prison libraries, as well as look into the role of prison chaplains. This comes after a report found that there was complacency at the growing problem of Islamist extremism in jails. Justice Secretary Liz Truss plans to remove extremist books from prison libraries, as well as look into the role of prison chaplains. This comes after a report found that there was complacency at the growing problem of Islamist extremism in jails. Truss said that the government was establishing specialist units to hold a small number of very subversive individuals. She recognised the risk of extremists being more powerful being kept together, but that authorities must "keep apart those who might collaborate together to create more problems." The report into extremism in prisons, led by former prisoner governor Ian Acheson, found a Muslim gang culture and consequent violence, drug trafficking and criminality inspired or directed by these particular groups. It also found extremist prisoners advocating support for the so-called Islamic State, as well as issuing threats against staff and inmates. The aggressive encouragement by extremists to get people to convert to Islam and the strong support for the so-called Islamic state was alarming to prison guards. Ms Truss said in response to the report that the prison system cannot continue to allow some inmates to peddle poisonous ideology across the mainstream prison population. The government will implement eight of the reports 11 recommendations, which includes creating specialist units for the most subversive extremists. A similar system has already been used in the Netherlands to tackle radicalisation. Following rent strikes from more than 1,000 students earlier this year, as of the 18th of June The National Union of Students (NUS) has joined the renewed campaign for affordable university accommodation. The students claim that the rents are a form of social cleansing in London, in order to exclude poorer students who cannot afford the extortionate rent costs. University College London (UCL), Goldsmiths, Roehampton and Courtauld Institute of Art are among the universities who have taken part in the rent strike to highlight the unaffordable rent costs and poor quality accommodation. Soaring rent prices have been widely recognised as completely unaffordable. One lecturer at Goldsmiths was particularly concerned, stating: This issue is infecting every aspect of student life. He highlighted that even students who qualify for maximum student loans are working two or three jobs, which inevitably affects their study. They are not showing up for lectures he said, and we have lecture rooms half empty." Some have been working in catering industry jobs until around 5am and are simply too exhausted to study. The whole thing is affecting our capacity to teach. Research published by NUS revealed that 60% of graduates who lived the with 9,000 tuition fees also have consumer debts averaging around 2,600, as well as their student debts. This means that during a students time a university they could borrow as much as 53,000. With recent cuts to maintenance grants by the government, this puts students with less money even further into debt and gives students a difficult start to their working lives as they are already in debt. The NUS have therefore pledged to help mobilise students and facilitate rent strikes, along with providing legal support about communication with universities. Vice president of NUS Shelly Asquith said that they are demanding an end to the exploitative profits from university accommodation. UCL have demonstrated the benefits of committing to rent strikes, when over 1,000 students withheld payments in a rent strike that lasted five months. Despite threats by the university, in June this year UCLs campaign Cut The Rent declared victory with a 1 million concession, as well as promises of bursaries and rent freezes. The campaign has found new momentum following this success and the support of NUS. 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Then, a second blast caused by a huge bomb in a parked pickup truck exploded at 11pm, and wounded 29 security officers and bystanders, 17 of whom were rushed to hospital. One of the victims died of her wounds overnight. Authorities identified her as Oraphan Sriuenhat, 35, caught in the second blast from the vehicle bomb. She was working at a food shop in front of the targeted hotel when the second bomb went off. Both bombs went off and burst into flames in a parking lot behind the pub. The car bomb shattered windows in a wide circle in the heavily populated area. Shops, homes and the 100-room, eight-story Southern Hotel all suffered damage. More than 10 cars and motorcycles parked in the area were also damaged by the blast, authorities told Thai reporters on the scene. It was unclear whether the bombs were set off by timers or electrical signal. Read original story here. Electrician electrocuted while working on Phuket high-voltage cables PHUKET: An electrician who worked for a company sub-contracted by the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) was hospitalised yesterday afternoon (Aug 23) after being electrocuted while working on high-voltage cables in Patong. accidentspatong By Eakkapop Thongtub Wednesday 24 August 2016, 11:45AM The man had to be rescued from on top of a electricity pylon before being taken to hospital. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Kusoldharm rescue workers stationed at Patong Beach responded to a call made at 3:40pm where it was reported by a local resident that an electrical worker was electrocuted while working on the high-voltage power lines on Rat Uthit 200 Pi Rd. The man appeared to be seriously injured and was slumped on top of a power pole rescue workers were told. Rescue workers arrived at the scene with staff from Patong Hospital to find a group of people gathered near a power pole. Patong Municipality officials arrived soon after with a cherry picker which they used in the 20 minute operation to bring the injured man down. The victim was later named as 22-year-old Pornchai Palasuth an employee of a company sub-contracted by the PEA to improve the power lines in the Patong area. A Kusoldharm rescue worker said that Mr Pornchai suffered burns to several areas of his body and was taken to Patong Hospital. He was later transferred to Vachira Hospital Phuket where he currently remains. Police are investigating the incident to find out what caused the electrical shock, the rescue worker said. Manhunt for ATM robbers kicks off BANGKOK: A manhunt is under way with police investigators suspecting the theft of more than B12 million from the state-run Government Savings Bank (GSB) is the work of Eastern European criminals and may be linked to the multiple attacks on ATMs of a major domestic bank in Taiwan in July. crimepolice By Bangkok Post Wednesday 24 August 2016, 08:39AM An employees shuts down the network and posts paper 'out-of-service' notices after cyber-thieves armed with malware got ATMs to spew 12 million baht in cash like a casino jackpot. Photo: Bangkok Post / Wichan Charoenkiatpakul After covering up the thefts for two weeks, GSB on Tuesday (Aug 23) shut down half of its ATMs after discovering some were infected with malware that forced them to dispense millions of baht in cash in what is the countrys first recorded case of its kind. Assuring the thefts, which took place during Aug 1-8, have not affected customer accounts, GSB president Chartchai Payuhanaveechai said the gang targeted 21 ATMs in at least six provinces and made off with B12 million. The six provinces are Phuket, Surat Thani, Chumphon, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi and Bangkok. He said the bank has reviewed security camera footage and identified potential suspects as foreign nationals who infected the ATMs with malware that forced the machines to dispense banknotes. Their method involves stealing from the bank ATMs, not from customers accounts, he said. According to Mr Chartchai, the gang singled out ATMs manufactured by ATM giant manufacturer, NCR, for the attacks. So, the bank shut down about 3,300 stand-alone ATM machines from this maker indefinitely, until it has improved security measures to avoid further damage. GSB has about 7,000 ATMs nationwide from three manufacturers. However, another 600 NCR ATM machines in front of its bank branches are still functional, he said, adding that customers can use the ATMs of other commercial banks in the same area without having to pay intra-bank fees during the shutdown. Mr Chartchai said the bank has asked the ATM maker to develop a software to counter the malware attacks and is negotiating with the firm to pay for the damages. Pol Gen Panya Mamen, a senior police adviser, said these are the first reported malware attacks on ATMs in Thailand. Similar attacks have been reported in Malaysia and Taiwan where ATMs were cleaned out. Based on security footage, he said police believe there are about 25 people involved in the series of thefts and they are divided into two to three teams. He said the gang chose to empty the ATMs after midnight and spent some time stealing, so he urged members of the public who may have witnessed the thefts to come forward. Mr Chartchai and other banking executives were quick to cite the July attacks on Taiwan ATMs, but jackpotting cash-dispensing machines is well known and has occurred around the world. The technique of spotting vulnerable ATM networks, injecting malware and forcing the machines to spew out cash was demonstrated at a hackers conference in Las Vegas in 2010,and has been reported almost regularly since. Barnaby Jack, a legendary US hacker and security expert, showed how certain ATMs on certain networks could be manipulated. Because the attackers needed no ATM card to drain the machine, he called the exploit jackpotting because it was like winning a jackpot at a slot machine in a casino. At least half a dozen types of malware and dozens of variants have been detected since then. Pol Gen Panya said the thieves likely studied the infrastructure of the targeted ATMs and the banks system for some time. Police are closely monitoring ATMs that might be vulnerable. He added the banks system is unable to detect such irregularities and the bank would not suspect anything until an actual count of cash. The hard disks of the targeted ATMs have been sent by police for examination at McAfee. He said the Metropolitan Police Bureau, the Central Investigation Bureau, the Economic and Cyber Crime Division, and Police Region 7 and Police Region 8 will meet on Friday to follow up on the investigation. Pol Lt Gen Nathathorn Prousoontorn, chief of the Immigration Bureau, said the bureau has sent alerts about two possible suspects captured by security cameras to immigration checkpoints. He said immigration authorities have also been sent to check out venues where eastern European nationals live, and they are coordinating with Russian authorities for assistance. A source said the gang had hacked into the banks system several times and lured them into thinking it was a false alarm before they installed the malware at an ATM of GSB in Phang Nga during March-April. According to the source, the tampering was detected but it was ignored due to prior false alarms. To steal the money, the gang inserted an electronic card into the ATMs which forced them to release as many as 40 banknotes per withdrawal. Normally, the number of banknotes released in a withdrawal is capped at 20. The source said the bank is working with the manufacturer of the targeted ATMs to figure out which malware was used. The theft could be linked to the one in Taiwan in July when malware programmes triggered withdrawals of almost B100 million. According to the source, three suspects were arrested in connection with the thefts in Taiwan and they said there were 30 of them targeting ATMs across the country. A source at the Royal Thai Police said Tuesday the GSB filed a complaint about the thefts with the Economic and Cyber Crime Division on Aug 9. Read original story here. One dead, dozens of temples damaged as powerful quake hits Myanmar MYANMAR: A powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar just after 5:30pm today (Aug 24), killing at least one person and damaging around 60 pagodas in the ancient city of Bagan, officials said. By AFP Wednesday 24 August 2016, 08:42PM The Dhammayangyi temple in Bagan pictured as the earthquake struck. Photo: AFP The quake, which the US Geological Survey said hit at a depth of 84 kilometres at 5:34pm local time, was also felt across neighbouring Thailand, India and Bangladesh, sending panicked residents rushing onto the streets. At least one man was killed in Magway region where the quake struck, said Han Zaw Win, a local MP from Pakokku township. A 22 year-old man was killed when a nearby building collapsed during the earthquake, he told AFP, adding that a woman was also injured. A local official reported heavy damage to several temples in Bagan -- Myanmars most famous archaeological site and a major tourist destination some 30 kilometres north of the quake's epicentre. About 60 pagodas in Bagan were damaged. Some were seriously damaged, said Aung Kyaw, the director of Bagans culture department. A tourist police officer from Bagan confirmed the damage and said a Spanish tourist was slightly hurt when the quake knocked her from the temple where she was watching the sunset. Scaling Bagans ancient Buddhist monuments to watch the sun set over the citys 2,500 temples is a daily ritual among tourists and local pilgrims who flock to the site. The temples, built between the 10th and 14th centuries, are revered in the Buddhist-majority country. Myanmar, which has opened its doors to a rising tide of visitors since emerging from junta rule in 2011, is eager to see the ancient capital designated as a UNESCO world heritage site. Still scared The USGS estimated that the earthquakes impact would be relatively localised but noted that many buildings in the region are highly vulnerable to shaking. Soe Win, a local MP from Chauk -- a riverside town close to the epicentre -- said it was the worst earthquake he had experienced in years. More than eight pagodas in town collapsed, he told AFP, referring to Chauk. Two buildings collapsed as well, while some others were cracked. People in town are still scared. The earthquake caused high-rise buildings in Myanmars largest city Yangon to sway, as well as those in the Thai capital Bangkok and the Indian city of Kolkata. Services of the underground railway have been suspended fearing aftershocks of the quake, Kolkata Metro Railway spokesman Indrani Banerjee told AFP. The quake was also felt throughout south and southwestern Bangladesh close to the border with Myanmar, with residents running outside. At least 20 people were injured as workers tried to flee a building in the Savar industrial district outside Dhaka, ATN Bangla television reported. All of us ran to the streets leaving the houses and shops unsecured as the quake seemed very dangerous, Nazmus Sakib, from the southern city of Chittagong near the Myanmar border, wrote on his Facebook wall. Earthquakes are relatively common in Myanmar, although the country has not suffered a major one since 2012. That powerful tremor -- also of 6.8 magnitude -- struck the centre of the country, killing 26 people and injuring hundreds. Russia, China drive tourist arrivals up 12% in January-July BANGKOK: Thailands Ministry of Tourism and Sports reports international tourist arrivals to Thailand reached more than 19.5 million during January to July, this year, showing an improvement of 11.87 per cent. RussianChinesetourismeconomics By Anton Makhrov Wednesday 24 August 2016, 11:28AM Foreign arrivals for the first seven months of 2016 show two-digit improvement, thanks to Russians and Chinese. Photo: Junpei Abe Released earlier this week, the ministrys data showed the country attracted 19,538,190 international visits during the first seven months of this year compared to 17,465,861 visits during the same period last year. In July alone, immigration recorded 2,946,286 international arrivals, compared with 2,657,993 in 2015, up 10.85%. From January to July China supplied more than 5.765 million visits to Thailand, showing a 20.54% improvement over 4,782 million visitors in the first seven months of 2015. Meanwhile, recovery in the Russian market gains momentum. Over 599,140 travelers from this country visited Thailand in January-July, up 19.39% from slightly over 506,071 recorded last year. In July alone the arrivals from Russia grew 20.02%, while in June a 28.41% growth was recorded. Arrivals from Europe (including Russia) grew in the first seven month by 9.23%, USA and Canada showed 9.35% growth, India and South Korea both demonstrated and increase of over 13%. Australian and New Zealand markets are still on decline with only 519,3 arrivals from these countries recorded by Immigration so far, down 1.6% from last year. 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. 11AAA semis will be awesome and more from HS football quarterfinals high-school-sports 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. An Afghan policeman holds a rocket-propelled grenade launcher at the site of a complex Taliban attack on the campus of the American University in the Afghan capital Kabul on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. University President Mark English told The Associated Press that security forces had arrived on the scene soon after the attack began around 7 p.m. (1430 GMT) (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) People watch a TV news program showing a file footage of North Korea's ballistic missile that the North claimed to have launched from underwater, at Seoul Railway station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. North Korea on Wednesday fired a ballistic missile from a submarine into the sea in an apparent protest against the start of annual South Korea-U.S. military drills, Seoul's military said. The letters read "North Korea fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) in waters off its east coast." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) Turkish army tanks move toward the Syrian border as pictured from Karkamis, Turkey, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. Turkey's military launched an operation before dawn Wednesday to clear a Syrian border town from Islamic State militants, and a private Turkish TV station reported that a small number of Turkish special forces had crossed into Syria as part of the operation. The operation was launched hours before Vice President Joe Biden was due in Ankara for talks that include developments in Syria. (AP Photo) Rio Olympics has just ended. But an intellectual Olympics begins this week in Jackson Holethe Olympics of global central bankers. Each year, finance ministers, apex bankers, economists, academics, visionaries and policymakers look forward to participating in the biggest monetary policy summit. Leaders gather in Kansas City Feds region of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, in the United States to take a long term perspective on monetary issues rather than solving issues at hand. They deliberate on future emerging issues and trends that help in setting up policies and targets for the global economy. Not everyone can attend the three-day programme held annually in the late August. The number of participants has been limited as thought-provoking discussions are an important part of the symposium. Media seats are also regulated, though requests come from many countries. And all of them pay to attend the session. But those who have been rejected need not be disheartened. The proceeding, papers and discussions will be made available on the official website www.KansasCityFed.org some time later. Viewers have access to important papers, commentaries and discussions from past Symposiums, as well. This year, the conference is from August 25 to August 27. The topic for the symposium 2016 is: Designing Resilient Monetary Policy Frameworks for the Future. Discussions will be focused on the future of monetary institutionslike the central banksin view of past experiences, daring the currently held principles. The pinnacle of the summit is on Friday when the Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen addresses the conference. The speech could provide some indication to the next Fed monetary policy scheduled for September 14. The Wall Street will be curiously watching Yellen's speech as market is in the grip of any Fed chair indication at the symposium. Brief History Over the three decades, the symposium has gained importance. In the past, some of the ideas put forward by the meet were rejected, but later turned out to be reality. Likewise the economic crisis of 2007-10 was foreseen at Jackson Hole. Markets take the symposium outcomes seriously as they can possibly influence currency markets and stock exchanges everywhere. Except for four years in the beginning, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City has continuously hosted the symposium at Jackson Hole. The event was held at various locations from 1978 to 1981. From 1982 onwards, Jackson, Wyo., one of Americas most beautiful national parks, became the permanent venue of the worlds top economic symposium. Topics, too, have broadened along with this. The Money Museum Visitors to Jackson Hole have another attraction: a money museum operated by the Kansas City Fed. The museum offers a total understating of the Federal Reserve System. The visitors have access to one of the largest vaults, which keeps millions of dollars. During the one hour guide tour, visitors can see Harry Truman coin collection and can raise gold bars in their hands. The interactive exhibit is a delight for money enthusiasts. The family of Bexen Vincent, who is suspected to have reached Syria along with his wife to join the Islamic State terror group, got a text message from the couple saying they had been blessed with a baby girl. Bexen and Nimisha The message, received by Bexen's father Vincent on Sunday, also contained some Islamic prayers. Bexen's wife Nimisha was carrying when the couple went missing along with a few others in June this year from Palakkad. Nimisha had converted to Islam before her marriage and changed her name to Fathema. Bexen's brother Bestin and his wife were also in the group which allegedly travelled to Syria. According to an online portal, the message was sent only to Bexen's family while Nimisha's mother Bindhu was unaware of the development until she was informed by the police. Bindhu, who is living in Thiruvananthapuram, had earlier alleged foulplay in her conversion and demanded that the police bring her daughter back. At least 21 youths, including women, from Kasaragod and Palakkad districts are suspected to have left the country to join the international terror group. Meanwhile, the Union Home Ministry has ordered a probe by the National Investigation Agency into the disappearance of youths from the state. As the heat over Bulandshahr gang rape refuses to come down, a CAG report tabled in Uttar Pradesh Assembly has added fuel to the fire. According to the report on the empowerment of women in the state, in the past two years, rape incidents have gone up by 43 per cent in the state. The most shocking fact is that majority of rape victims are minors, 59 per cent of total victims. Regions which have reported maximum number of rapes include Aligarh (392- rape incidents) followed by Moradabad (377), Allahabad (346) and Agra (328). Law and order has been a major issue for the Samajwadi Party ever since it formed government in the state. It has faced severe criticism several times on the matter of crimes against women in the state. With the Bulandshahr case, which shook the entire nation, even the High Court pulled up the government for not handing over the probe to the CBI. The state government was later forced to hand over the probe to the CBI. The report also pointed out that the crimes against women had gone up by 61 per cent between 2011 and 2015, which included crimes like kidnapping of women. The report also mentioned shortage of police personnel in the state and warned the government that if remedial measures are not taken immediately, crime rate in the state will worsen. There are 81 cops to protect every one lakh people in the state. This number is well below the UN standards that stipulate 222 cops to protect one lakh people. The revelations have provided enough ammunition to the opposition to attack the ruling SP government. The BJP spokesperson Viajay Bhadur Pathak said, "Undoubtedly crime against women have gone up badly in the state and BJP has been stressing this point for long, the report has vindicated our stance." Other opposition parties also assailed the government bitterly on this issue. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), in a submission made to the Central Information Commission, has justified tax exemptions given to political parties for the contributions that are made to them despite apprehensions that this is being used to whiten black money. The justification was made by the Board in response to an appeal filed before the CIC by RTI activist Subhash Chandra Agrawal. The tax body defended the exemptions, stating that democratic institutions form the very basis of polity in India and it was deemed necessary that political parties be treated differentially so that impetus is given to organised political activity. Political parties require funds in order to carry out a variety of activities including contesting of elections, organising meetings and rallies, publishing literature, among others. Also, these activities are both of a regular nature, such as organising of rallies and bringing out publications, and also periodic with respect to certain matters such as conducting elections. Accordingly, political parties have been granted certain exemptions and deductions to that they are able to utilise maximum funds for the public purpose of political activity. The exemptions are provided to the political parties under Sections 13A, 80GGB and 80GGC in the Income Tax Act in recognition of the role played by the political parties in the democratic set up of the country and to provide further necessary incentives to promote the activities of such political parties, the CBDT said in its response. Agrawal had filed an appeal before the CIC, demanding that the tax exemptions given on the contributions made to political parties be abolished. His contention is that this exemption is being misused by the parties to whiten black money. The CBDT has failed to take note of the mushrooming of political parties. The number has gone up to 2000, while only 50 of these are recognised as state or national level political parties, he said. Moreover, he said, the political parties had failed to comply with the verdict of the full bench of the CIC which brought them under the purview of the RTI Act, and hence the indirect government funding to them in the form of tax exemptions should be abolished. Exactly seven months before the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Speaker P. Dhanapal, while wrapping up on the last day of the assembly session in October 2015, hailed his leader and chief minister Jayalalithaa Jayaram for her people friendly policies. He praised her for her supremacy and noted that she had read 182 statements under rule 110 in the floor of the assembly only for the welfare of the people. But what Dhanapal failed to note was the 190 criminal defamation cases filed by his leader against political opponents, journalists and media houses. Ten months later now, the Supreme Court has come down heavily on Jayalalithaa for filing 213 criminal defamation cases in five years. Anyone calling a government corrupt or unfit cannot be slapped with defamation case. There has to be tolerance to criticism. Defamation cases cannot be used as a political counter weapon. Cases for criticising the government or bureaucrats create a chilling effect, observed the top court bench comprising of Justices Dipak Misra and R.F. Nariman, while hearing a petition filed by DMDK chief Vijayakanth. On July 28, while hearing the same petition, the bench asked the Tamil Nadu government to furnish the complete list of defamation cases filed by the chief minister. It may be hard to believe that the state government has a special lawyer to oversee these cases. The special lawyer will decide if the statement by any politician or a news report is defamatory. If he feels it is defamatory, he will prepare the affidavit and give it to the city public prosecutor who will in turn file the case, say well informed sources in the Madras High Court. It is a long list of cases in which at least 69 have been filed against the opposition DMK, 28 against Vijayakanth and 24 against his party DMDK. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy and several other media houses have also faced the wrath of the chief minister in the last five years. What is alarming is that anyone criticising the government or Jayalalithaa would be immediately pulled to the court. At the Principal Sessions Judges (PSJ) court alone 162 cases have been filed against politicians, journalists, media houses and a woman newsreader. Tamil weekly Ananda Vikatan and bi-weekly Nakheeran were always at the receiving end. Vikatan was sued again in the first week of August even after the apex court expressed its anguish against the defamation cases on July 28. It was worse in 2014, when every other publication which wrote about her health was sued. Rediff, Tehelkha and even Subramanian Swamy were dragged to the court for talking about Jayalalithaas health. The height of hatred was when television anchor Cyrus Broacha was sued for dressing like Jayalalithaa in his spoof show The Week that Wasnt. These are the cases filed by either Jayalalithaa or the government for anything considered defamatory against the chief minister. Apart from these, there are hundreds of defamation cases pending in every district court filed by her ministers. But not a single defamation case filed by the government or Jayalalithaa has seen the light of the day in these five years. It may be recalled that at least 120 cases were filed by Jayalalithaa and her government during her first term in 1991-1996. At least 125 cases were filed during her second term in 2001-2006. All these were predominantly against the media houses and journalists. However, things started changing in 2011 after Jayalalithaa took over for the third time with a thumping majority. The first case was filed in 2011 against PMK leader S. Ramadoss, when he commented on her visit to her Kodanad house in a press statement. Since then the number of cases have been constantly increasing. As Kashmir continues to simmer, Border Security Forces have set up camps in 20 government schools and vital installations in Srinagar and other places. This is for the first time in 12 years that BSF is replacing CRPF in Srinagar. Kashmir has been in the throes of separatist agitation sparked by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani and two of his associates on July 8 in Anantnag in south Kashmir. The protests have resulted in the death of 68 people, including two policemen, and over 5,000 have been injured, many of them blinded and crippled by pellets. The decision to house paramilitary forces in schools comes just a day after Education Minister Naeem Akhtar announced reopening of government schools in Kashmir and a day before Home Minister Rajnath Singh's arrival in Srinagar. The Union minister will hold talks with various groups of people to try and diffuse the crisis. The BSF has taken over school buildings at Gupta Ganga, Nishat, Kralkhud, Kothi Bagh, Panthachowk, Rainawari, Maharaj Gunj, Safa Kadal, Karan Nagar, Lal Bazaar, Jawahar Nagar, Shutra Shahi, Channapora, B.K. Pora Nowgam. The CRPF have also occupied several school buildings across Kashmir. Most of the forces, sources said, will be used to dominate areas in south KashmirAnantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, and Kulgamwhich has emerged as the epicenter of the ongoing agitations. Most civilian deaths, attacks on police and government installations have taken place in south Kashmir, base of the PDP. The central forces also took over the security of 50 vital installations and deployed manpower. The troops have encircled playgrounds of the schools with barbed wires and classrooms have been filled with sleeping cots. The BSF has fortified the buildings and rifles pop out of windows. This is reminiscent of the 90s when militancy was rampant in Kashmir and forces had occupied government buildings turning them into camps and interrogation centers. Inspector General (IG) BSF, Kashmir frontier, Vikas Chandra told reporters that the forces have set up camps at different places as the government had asked it to replace CRPF. "We have taken over four schools in SrinagarS.P. Higher Secondary School, DAV School and two more schools in Nishat and Bemina," he said. Director of Education Shah Faesal, the first Kashmiri to top IAS examinations, offered no comments. The separatists have condemned the government decisions to convert schools into camps. "BSF and paramilitary CRPF troopers have occupied various key government and semi-government schools," Syed Ali Geelani Tweeted. The BSF had vacated school buildings after 2002, when Mufti Muhammad became chief minister of the state for the first time after dislodging NC from power. But the force has once again taken over government and a few private schools at a time when his daughter, Mehbooba Mufti, is heading a highly unpopular coalition of PDP and BJP. The force conducted anti-militancy operations in Kashmir from 1991 to 2004 and was replaced in Srinagar by CRPF. French shipbuilder DCNS, which has designed the Scorpene submarine for the Indian Navy, has suffered a massive data leak. The leak contains more than 22,000 pages outlining the secret combat capability of six submarines that DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy. The French shipbuilder which earlier this year won a A$50 billion ($38.06 billion) contract to build Australias next generation of submarines has suffered a massive data leak, raising doubts about the security of one of the worlds biggest defence projects. France's DCNS Group beat out Germany's ThyssenKrupp AG and a Japanese-government backed bid by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, in a blow to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's push to develop defence export capabilities as part of a more muscular security agenda. The leak, which was first reported in The Australian on Wednesday, contains more than 22,000 pages outlining the secret combat capability of six submarines that DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy. The documents cover the Scorpene-class model and do not contain any details of the vessel currently being designed for the Australian fleet. "As a serious matter pertaining to the Indian Scorpene programme, French national authorities for defence security will formally investigate and determine the exact nature of the leaked documents," a DCNS spokeswoman said in a statement. "The matters in connection to India have no bearing on the Australian submarine programme which operates under the Australian governments arrangements for the protection of sensitive data." A spokesman for the French embassy in Canberra declined to comment when reached by Reuters. A spokesman for the Indian High Commision in Canberra also declined to comment. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull sought to deflect concerns about the leak, touting the high security standards in Australia, where the submarine will be built. The Australian reported that the leak occurred in France in 2011. "But clearly, it is a reminder that, particularly in this digital world, cyber security is of critical importance," he told the Seven TV network. The breadth of detail in the documents creates a major strategic problem for India, Malaysia and Chile, all of which operate the same submarine, an Australian political source with decades of experience in the global arms industry told Reuters. Excerpts published in redacted form on the newspaper's website contained highly sensitive details of the submarine including technical manuals and models of the boat's antennae. "If it's 22,400 pages, it's a major stuff-up," the source said. "It's a huge deal. "It allows them to understand everything about the submarines. What speeds it can do; how noisy it is; what speeds the mast can be raised at ... all of that is just devastating." Japan had been seen as early frontrunners for the contract, but its inexperience in global defence deals and an initial reluctance to say it would build in Australia saw it slip behind DCNS and ThyssenKrupp. Tokyo called the decision "deeply regrettable" and demanded an explanation from Australia of why its bid failed. The leak comes as Australian Defence Minister Marise Payne announced that she would visit Japan this week for meetings with her Japanese counterpart, Tomomi Inada, the first visit by an Australian defence minister since the winning bid was announced. Years after the violent pro-Khalistan movement, largely aided by the Sikh diaspora in Canada, was snuffed out, seemingly for ever, a U S -based organisation going by the name of Sikhs for Justice was caught campaigning in Punjab, for what it called Referundum 2020. The organisation's website and Facebook pages have long been blocked by the government The SFJ's activists are distributing pamphlets and T-shirts in support of their campaign to get Punjab independence through democratic and peaceful means, according to their legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh Panun. Their volunteers are also obtaining signatures to request the United Nations to hold a referendum on right to self-determination for the Sikhs on the basis of the U.N Charter and International Convent on Civil and Political Rights. A very few people in the state knew about this organisation till Augut 10 when Jalandhar zone inspector general of police Lok Nath Angra confirmed that a US resident, Harjap Singh Jaaphi, hailing from Bhilowal village near Chabbewal in Hoshiarpur district, was associated with SFJ and was a proclaimed offender in an old terror related case of murder. Jaaphi and some others were arrested by the police, earlier in the month, and remanded to police custody . "The youths arrested were working for Referendum 2020 launched by SFJ, and they were also planning to carry out some terror activity. Weapons were recovered from them," Angra said. Hoshiarpur district police registered a case under provisions of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Arms Act on August 6, and arrested three others Jaspreet Singh Jassa of Chabbewal, Hardeep Singh Deepa of Jallowal, and Kuldeep Singh of MohalllaShekhan of Hoshiarpurwhile recovering three pistols of 9mm and .32 bore, 28 cartridges, T-shirts and religious and other books. They also arrested one Bikramjit Singh of Annaikot Kalan village of Gurdaspur district while recovering 40 rounds of .32 bore, T-shirts and flags. Hoshiarpur senior superintendent of police (SSP) K.S. Chahal said all of them were arrested from their respective houses. But it has now become a story of police violating human rights and resorting to extreme and gruesome third degree torture. According to advocate Navkiran Singh, general secretary, Lawyers for Human Rights International, based in Chandigarh, all the four accused were sent to judicial custody to central jail in Hoshiarpur after remaining in police remand from August 6 to August 15. However, finding one of the accused Jaspreet Singh aka Jassa Singh in a bad physical and mental health condition on August 16, his lawyer filed an application for treatment and medical examination by a board of doctors. The same day, the court directed the jail authority to produce Jaspreet Singh before SMO, Civil Hospital, Hoshiarpur on August 18. The SMO, Hoshiarpur was directed to constitute a board of doctors to conduct the medical examination of Jaspreet Singh and report to the court on or before August 23. It also said Jaspreet Singh should be sent to some better institute for treatment if need be. Hearing about the torture, a delegation of LHRI, visited the four arrested youth, and maintained Jaspreet was subjected to extreme torture in order to elicit a confession from him. According to Navkiran Singh, instead of giving him the medical examination as ordered by the court, the jail authorities produced him before SMO, Civil Hospital on August 18 and a symbolic board of doctors was constituted. This expert board of doctors believed that no immediate treatment was needed to Jaspreet Singh and that they could only advise after receiving his test reports as recommended by them, which were still pending. As a result, Jaspreet Singh was sent back to Central Jail, Hoshiarpur. After the LHRI intervention, he was shifted to the civil hospital for treatment. Says human rights advocate, Navkiran Singh, This is the worst condition of a brutally tortured prisoner that I have ever seen in my 30 years of legal career. LHRI will wait for the medical report, and may move the Punjab and Haryana High Court for a judicial enquiry. This year, TheChesedFund.com revolutionized Jewish fundraising. Created as a resource for Jews all over the world to raise money for important causes without being robbed by heavy fees, the site has quickly gained popularity and taken the crowdfunding world by storm. However some may doubt the pure intentions behind this venture, under the old adage that some things are too good to be true. YWN sat down with Chesed Fund founder Avi Kehat, to ask hard questions. The Chesed Fund site will always be free, he said, definitively. We created this site so there could be free fundraising for Jewish causes. He continued, We have received so much emotional support and encouragement from users and we are continuing our mission at full speed. The Chesed Fund has continued to grow in popularity, as people all over the world have experienced tremendous success in their fundraising ventures. It certainly seems that this resource will continue to be absolutely free. The real question seems to be who will choose to benefit from it, and who will continue to take their business to the sites growing rich on their 5%. Turns out, not everything is too good to be true. CLICK HERE TO VISIT THECHESEDFUND.COM (YWN NYC World Headquarters) [UPDATE IN EXTENDED STORY] (10:40PM EST MONDAY) A Hatzolah Ambulance was detained for over an hour, and another member ticketed for responding to an emergency call on the Palisades Parkway (PIP) this evening, YWN has learned. Sources tell YWN, that Hatzolah received a call for a vehicle involved in an MVA with multiple patients on the PIP, and dispatched units direct, as well as an ambulance from New Square Hatzolah. Upon arriving at the scene, the member responding in his private vehicle was issued at least two tickets by a PIP Police Officer, and was not allowed to treat the patients, and the arriving ambulance was not allowed to transport any of the patients as well. Additionally, the ambulance was detained for well over an hour. Unfortunately, this is not the first incident involving the PIP Police Department. In fact, they have a reputation of many altercations with Hatzolah in the past. The situation became so bad approximately five years ago, that Kiryas Joel Hatzolah stopped using the PIP to transport patients to NYC. Instead they take a longer route using NJ Route 17. Four patients were transported by EMS to Nyack Hospital in stable condition from tonights accident. UPDATE 12:50AM EST TUESDAY: In regards to the comments written by YWN bloggers stating that Hatzolah is not licensed to operate in the state of New Jersey, YWN is exclusively publishing the following letter which speaks for itself:THE FOLLOWING WAS WRITTEN ON MARCH 19, 1996 BY THE DIRECTOR OF STATE OF NEW JERSEY, DEPARTMENT OF LAW & PUBLIC SAFETY (DIVISON OF HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY): In another matter that is of priority concern, especially in the northeast part of the state (NJ), is the Chevra Hatzalah. It is a volunteer ambulance association run by the Hasidic Jewish community out of New York. They are a voluntary group who provide ambulance service at no charge to the Jewish community. They do travel a great deal through the northeast part of the state in going to and from the southern counties of New York State. There is also a very active group in the Lakewood community. They are fully trained and licensed by the State of New York as EMTs which is recognized by our EMS system here in New Jersey. The problems that have arisen is that on occasion our various public safety officials have failed to recognize them as a qualified ambulance group. Their responses in New Jersey is on request by a member of the Jewish community who desire an ambulance corporation who share their religious beliefs. In addition, when they come upon an auto crash and want to assist they have been denied the opportunity to do so. I mention this particular group so you might pass it on to your public safety people advising them that they are legal, fully qualified, and licensed to provide first aid and transport. They in no way intend to interfere with any local rescue squad. All they want to do is provide assistance with public safety being uppermost. If you have any questions about either matter, feel free to contact my office or staff for assistance at any time. Thank you for your time and past support. Sincerely, Colonel Peter J. OHagan Director. NOTE: Actual letter can be viewed HERE. (Yehuda Drudgestein YWN-112 / YWN-782) On Monday, 18 Menachem Av, a group of Jews, among them children, was assaulted by Arabs as they toured the Old City of Akko during the afternoon hours. The Arabs attempted to push the tourists from the very high ancient wall of the city as they strolled at the site. In response to the assault one of the tourists in the group, an IDF soldier, was forced to draw his personal weapon to defend the group. After the incident the soldier was detained for investigation and taken to the citys police station, where policemen confiscated his personal weapon. Honenu Attorney Adi Kedar is providing the soldier with legal counsel. We were strolling along the walls of the Old City, about 20 people, including many children, when suddenly, for no reason, an Arab youth approached us and threatened to push us off of the wall, an enormous height of 12 meters. After a few minutes several more young men and youths joined the youth. One of them started to push members of the group off the wall and to genuinely endanger their lives. I and other members of the group, in order not to fall from the high side towards the sea and the boulders, were forced to jump from the wall to the low side. In reaction to the assault one of the members of the group, a soldier, was forced to draw his personal weapon in order to deter the assailants and to protect the group, which included children. In response the police detained him for investigation and confiscated his weapon. We are on our way to the station to give testimony, said one of the tourists. The group filed a complaint at the police station against the Arab assailants. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) Israel earlier this week responded immediately and harshly to a rocket attack originating in Gaza, aimed at Sderot. Bchasdei Hashem there was no loss of life or injuries in the attack but there was property damage. While Israel and Turkey recently reached a reconciliation agreement to resume diplomatic relations, the Turkish Foreign Ministry was quick to respond to Israels retaliatory attack with condemnatory messages. Israels Prime Ministers Office however did not permit Turkeys condemnatory statements pass without a response, stating the normalization of relations doesnt mean we will remain silent in the face of baseless condemnations. Israel will continue defending herself against rocket attacks the statement read. Israel Foreign Ministry Spokesman Emmanuel Nachshon explained Turkey should think twice before criticizing the military actions of others. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) Security forces uncovered a teudat zehut (ID card) forgery operation in the village of Akrabah in the Shomron. The raid was carried out based on a credible intelligence tip. The forgery operation sold ID cards, drivers licenses, work permits and permits to enter Green Line Israel. Authorities confiscated a laptop computer, printer, as well as forms and other materials used to make the forged documents. The head of the operation is reported to be a 32-year-old male resident of the PA (Palestinian Authority) was taken into custody. It is further reported that the documents were sold for NIS 300 each. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Police Spokesman Unit) While politicians continue flying the share the burden flag and the IDF insists it has programs tailored to the needs of the chareidi community, Israel Radio veteran military correspondent Carmela Menashe reported on Monday evening 18 Menachem Av that a chareidi soldier has fallen victim to physical and emotional abuse by members of his own unit. He was physically assaulted as his fellow combatants looked on in laughter. The soldier, who is now on leave, refused to return to his unit but has been instructed to do so despite the incident. One of the soldiers responsible for the offense has been sent to 20 days lockup. Menashe explains the soldier no longer wishes to meet with his fellow soldiers, yet alone serve with them. She adds that she was bewildered to learn military police were not brought into the picture. The soldiers commander told him he would not honor his transfer request. Menashe adds in her report that they all saw what was taking place yet they looked on and laughed while no one stepped forward to assist the victim. The soldiers father explained the incident and how members of his unit decided to target him, adding his son has grown accustomed to being the units punching bag as they regularly humiliate him. Menashe broke the story via twitter saying If the victim was a female soldier clearly the attackers would be placed on trial and paid dearly for their actions. I do not understand the commander, how they are leaving him alone without coming to his side, especially a chareidi soldier who is so unaccustomed to such behavior. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) Rabbi Benny Lau of Jerusalems Rambam Shul will be working with his newly-appointed co-spiritual leader, Karmit Feintuch, who has the title Rabbanit. The Rambam Shul is a dati leumi shul located in the Katamon neighborhood of the capital and the shul has voted unanimously to take Rabbanit Feintuch on to work side-by-side with Rabbi Dr. Lau. Feintuch, who teaches in Midreshet Migdal Ohz in Gush Etzion for the past seven years is expected to begin serving in her new post next month. The Jerusalem Post reported that in 2014, Jennie Rosenfeld because the first female communal leader in an Orthodox community, appointed to serve in Efrat. While there is the controversial Maharat Yeshiva in the USA, this is not the norm in Israel but it appears to becoming increasingly palatable in the modern religious community in Israel as well. The Rabbinical Council of America a number of months ago passed a resolution reaffirming its opposition to hiring women as religious leaders. Clearly Agudas Yisrael is opposed as well. The JPost asked Rabbi Lau if he is concerned with the response the shuls decision will elicit. He is quoted explaining he is not genuinely interested in what people have to say. He adds Over fifty percent of the community are women, questioning why a woman should not be a part of the leadership role. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) [PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE] President Reuven Rivlin on Tuesday, 23 Menachem Av, visited Gaza border communities escorted by senior IDF commanders including IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-General Gadi Eizenkott. Mr. Rivlin also met with soldiers of the Bedouin Tracker Unit, combat engineers, members of the Givati Brigade Black Arrow unit and local civilian officials. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) The Social Security Administration has rolled back extra security measures on the agencys website after getting complaints from people who had trouble accessing their accounts. For years, workers and beneficiaries have been able to use the My Social Security website to get information about benefits, logging in with a user name and a password. On July 30, the agency began requiring people to sign into their account using a one-time code that was sent to them in a text message. This is a common security method used by banks, credit card companies and other financial institutions to fight identity theft. The agency said it implemented the extra security to comply with President Barack Obamas executive order requiring federal agencies to improve the security of online financial transactions. We implemented it aggressively because we have a fundamental responsibility to protect the publics personal information, the Social Security Administration said in a statement. However, Social Security has temporarily stopped requiring the extra security after getting complaints. Our aggressive implementation inconvenienced or restricted access to some of our account holders, the statement said. We are listening to the publics concerns and are responding by temporarily rolling back this mandate. People can still request the extra security on a voluntary basis. (AP) A Palestinian not seen publicly since his capture by the CIA in 2002 appeared Tuesday at a U.S. government hearing called to determine whether he should remain in detention at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Abu Zubaydah, who sat expressionless during the brief hearing, was the first high-profile al-Qaida terror suspect captured after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and the first to vanish into the CIAs secret black site prison network. The review panel issued no immediate ruling on his status. He has been held at Guantanamo Bay since September 2006. The U.S. believed that Zubaydah, 45, was one of the most senior figures in al-Qaida when he was captured in Pakistan. It has since dropped that claim. Zubaydahs lawyers deny he was a member of al-Qaida. Following his capture, the CIA under President George W. Bush initiated an interrogation program, now widely viewed as torture. Under this once-secret program, Zubaydah was subjected to what the Bush administration called enhanced interrogation in the belief that he was withholding information about al-Qaida. A Senate report released in 2014 said that belief was false. Zubaydah was subjected to the torment of waterboarding 83 times in August 2003. Straining under a waterlogged cloth clamped over his face, Zubaydah became completely unresponsive, with bubbles rising through his open, full mouth, according to CIA emails cited in the Senate report. He was body-slammed by his captors. He was hooded, then unmasked and ominously shown a coffin-like box. In a statement prepared for the review and provided to The Associated Press on Tuesday, a lawyer for Zubaydah asserted that he poses no danger to the U.S. Abu Zubaydah is not now and never has been an enemy of the United States and has been involved in no terroristic acts, the lawyer, Mark P. Denbeaux, said in the statement. Denbeaux, a law professor at Seton Hall Law School, maintains the government has grossly exaggerated its claims against Zubaydah. He pointed to a 2014 report by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence that accused the CIA of offering a misleading version of what it was doing with its black site captives and deceiving the nation about the effectiveness of its interrogation techniques. But it is only this forum, Denbeaux wrote, referring to the Guantanamo review, that can correct, at least partially, the injustice done to this man since this panel marks the first time anyone other than torturers and jailers have had an opportunity to see and to hear from Abu Zubaydah. Detainees are not permitted to speak at their review hearings. Zubaydah sat in silence during the proceedings. He reportedly lost his left eye while being held by the CIA. A photo of him from the time he was transferred from CIA custody to Guantanamo Bay shows Zubaydah with a black patch over his left eye. At Tuesdays hearing he wore wire-rimmed glasses. Resting on his chest and attached to a strap hanging around his neck was what appeared to be a black eye-patch. At the hearing, the governments detainee profile of Zubaydah, dated March 31, 2016, was read aloud. It said he played a key role in al-Qaidas communications with supporters and operatives abroad and that he was generally aware of the 9/11 attacks before they happened. It does not say he was an al-Qaida member. The government statement said he probably retains an extremist mindset, adding that he has shown a high level of cooperation with the staff at Guantanamo Bay. It said he has condemned the Islamic State group for its atrocities and the killing of innocent people. Some of (Zubaydahs) former colleagues continue to engage in terrorist activities and could help (him) return to planning attacks against Israel and the United States in Pakistan, should he choose to do so, the government statement said. Zubaydah was born in Saudi Arabia to a Palestinian father but does not have Saudi citizenship. A statement read at Tuesdays hearing by a U.S. military officer acting as Zubaydahs personal representative said he wants to reunite with his family and begin the process of recovering from injuries he sustained during his capture. Zubaydah has stated that he has no desire or intent to harm the United States or any other country, and he has repeatedly said that the Islamic State is out of control and has gone too far, the statement added. (AP) With deep pain and anguish we are saddened to report the petirah moments ago of Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis ah founder of HINENI and pioneer in the world of Kiruv. With the Rebbetzins petirah Klal Yisroel has suffered an irreplaceable loss. The Rebbetzin was a trailblazer, for over a half century, crisscrossing the globe with her message of loving-kindness and hope. She was a teacher of Torah to millions of Jews from every walk of life. She spent her life showing the beauty of Yiddishkeit to Jews across the globe bringing countless neshomos back to their roots. Rebbetzin Jungreis was born in Szeged, Hungary in 1936, where her father HoRav Avrohom HaLevi Jungreis ztl was Chief Rabbi. A Holocaust survivor, Rebbetzin Jungreis made it her life mission to bring back Jews to authentic Yiddishkeit. She was a pioneer in the world of kiruv/outreach and founded the international HINENI Movement. The Jungreis family had been deported with other Jews from Szeged. After suffering through many concentration camps, Bchasdei HaShem, the family eventually arrived in Switzerland. In 1947, after being spared the horrors of the concentration camps and the Holocaust, the Jungreis family arrived in Brooklyn, New York where the Rebbetzin married a distant cousin, HoRav Meshulem HaLevi Jungreis ztl. The newly-married Jungreis couple settled in North Woodmere, New York, where Rabbi Jungreis was the spiritual leader of Ohr HaTorah. The Rebbetzin, together with her husband embarked on a lifelong mission devoting their lives to combatting the spiritual Holocaust that was occurring right in front of their eyes here in the United States. She waged a fierce battle against interfaith marriages, secularization, and other forms of assimilation, which she firmly believed was an existential threat to the continued existence of Klal Yisroel. Under the Rebbetzins leadership HINENI became a worldwide movement, inspiring Jews to seek out their roots and return to Yiddishkeit. Rebbetzin Jungreis authored several best-selling books including The Jewish Soul On Fire, The Committed Life, and The Committed Marriage, all of which have been translated in many languages with millions of volumes disseminated in every corner of the globe. Her latest book Life Is A Test was widely acclaimed as one of the 10 best Jewish inspiration books of all time. The Rebbetzins pioneering work has been widely recognized, and she received brochos and encouragement from numerous gedolim, including such giants as the Satmar Rebbe, HaRav Yoel Teitelbaum ztl, HaRav Yosef Eliyahu Henkin ztl, HaRav Moshe Feinstein ztl, and many others. She was also recognized by numerous world leaders for her work within the Jewish community to advance Yiddishkeit. Among them were such notables as the late Prime Minister of Israel Menachem Begin ah and President George W. Bush who asked the Rebbetzin to accompany him to Yerushalayim for the celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the State of Israel in 2008. The Rebbetzin was an incredible woman a person who has literally influenced and touched countless people. The many thousands of individuals who were fortunate enough to receive her brocho immediately felt the connection with this unique person. Rebbetzin Jungreis is survived by her children Chaya Sora Gertzulin, Rabbi Yisroel Jungreis, Slovi Wolff and Rabbi Osher Jungreis, and by many grandchildren and great grandchildren. The Levaya will be held on Wednesday morning at 11:00AM at the Agudath Israel of Long Island, located at 1121 Sage Street in Far Rockaway, NY. Boruch Dayan HaEmmes [PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE] Rabbi Hershy Ten, president of Bikur Cholim (Los Angeles), traveled to Louisiana donating vital medical supplies to help flood victims during the devastating flooding. The damage has caused more than 106,000 residents and households to register for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. More than 60,000 homes were damaged, officials said, and 13 people were killed. The magnitude of devastation and need among the flood victims in Southern Louisiana is unimaginable until youre here, Rabbi Ten told YWN. Ive been blessed to have been able to donate vital medical supplies in-person with these amazing volunteers. The flooding has created political headache for the White House as critics blasted Obama for being too slow to visit the state. He spent the previous week vacationing on Marthas Vineyard, while Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his vice presidential running mate, Mike Pence, visited the state and handed out supplies. Hillary Clinton, Trumps Democratic opponent, said Monday that she too plans a trip to the flood site. Her campaign said in a statement that she would come to the state at an unspecified time in the future. (Dov Gefen YWN) The New York Police Department chronically skirted rules intended to protect political groups from unwarranted government surveillance while investigating Muslims, the citys independent police monitor said in a report released Tuesday. The audit, conducted by Inspector General Philip Eure, found that while the NYPDs Intelligence Division had valid reasons to launch investigations, it frequently extended them past court-mandated deadlines without proper authorization. In 100 percent of the cases reviewed by the inspector general, the department also didnt adequately explain why it was extending investigations that hadnt turned up evidence of unlawful activity. These failures cannot be dismissed or minimized as paperwork or administrative errors, the report said. The very reason these rules were established was to mandate rigorous internal controls to ensure that investigations of political activity which allow NYPD to intrude into the public and private aspects of peoples lives were limited in time and scope and to ensure that constitutional rights were not threatened. NYPD officials responded by characterizing the criticisms contained in the report by Eure as more technical than substantive. They also said the department had implemented a new electronic tracking system that will notify them when authorization for surveillance has expired. We believe weve adhered to the spirit and the letter of the law in each instance, the NYPDs top attorney, Lawrence Byrne, said at a news conference. We dont break the law to enforce the law. The report comes eight months after the city agreed to settle lawsuits accusing the department of waging a covert campaign of religious profiling and illegal spying. As part of the deal, the NYPD agreed to codify civil rights and other protections required under the court-ordered Handschu decree put in place in response to surveillance used against war protesters in the 1960s and 70s that ban investigations based on race, religion or ethnicity and require use of the least intrusive investigative techniques possible. The suits were among legal actions that followed reports by The Associated Press that revealed how city police infiltrated Muslim student groups, put informants in mosques and otherwise spied on Muslims as part of a broad effort to prevent terrorist attacks. A footnote in Eures report said of the case files audited, 95 percent involved Muslims or other people associated with Islam. The report accused the division of failing to follow rules requiring that applications for permission to do undercover investigations must state the particular role of the undercover in that specific investigation, so that the need for this intrusive technique can be evaluated. The NYPD almost never included specifics in its applications, but instead repeatedly used generic, boilerplate text, the reported added. Tellingly, this boilerplate text was so routine that the same typographical error had been cut and pasted into virtually every application. The departments top intelligence official, John Miller, countered that Handschu restrictions dont prohibit the use of boilerplate language in the paperwork, and that its sometimes needed for the sake of confidentiality. The fact is that detailing what an individual persons role is going to be before theyre deployed, before the case takes its own direction, is a very risky venture, in terms of not just revealing that persons identity, but also by predicting whats going to happen that hasnt happened yet, Miller said. Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, called the findings more evidence that the NYPDs surveillance of American Muslims was highly irregular, operated in a black box and violated even the weaker rules that existed before our proposed settlement. (AP) A ballistic missile fired from a North Korean submarine on Wednesday flew about 500 kilometers (310 miles), the longest distance achieved by the North for such a weapon, Seoul officials said, putting all of South Korea, and possibly parts of Japan, within its striking distance. North Korea already has a variety of land-based missiles that can hit South Korea and Japan, including U.S. military bases in those countries. But its development of reliable submarine-launched missiles would add weapons that are harder to detect before liftoff. South Koreas military condemned the launch as an armed protest by North Korea against the start of annual South Korean-U.S. military drills, but acknowledged it was an improvement over previous tests of similar missiles. North Koreas nuclear and missile threats are not imaginary threats any longer, but theyre now becoming real threats, South Korean President Park Geun-hye said of the launch. Those threats are coming closer each moment. The missile, fired from a submarine off the eastern North Korean coastal town of Sinpo, reached into Japans air defense identification zone, according to Seoul and Tokyo officials. The U.S. Strategic Command said it tracked the launch of the presumed KN-11 missile into the Sea of Japan. Its 500-kilometer (310-mile) flight puts most of South Korea within its range if it is fired near the two countries border. Missiles of such capability could also potentially strike parts of Japan, including U.S. military bases on the island of Okinawa, considering the operational range of North Koreas Sinpo-class submarines, which can move about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) underwater at a time, said analyst Kim Dong-yub at Seouls Institute for Far Eastern Studies. North Korea fired two missiles from submarines earlier this year, but South Korean defense officials believe they exploded in midair after flying less than 30 kilometers (18 miles). The launch was the latest in a series of missile, rocket and other weapon tests this year by North Korea, which is pushing to acquire reliable weapons that are capable of striking targets as far away as the continental United States. In June, North Korea, after a string of failures, sent a midrange ballistic missile more than 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) high. Analysts say the flight showed North Korea has made progress in its push to be able to strike U.S. forces throughout the region. Many outside experts say North Korea doesnt yet have a functioning long-range nuclear missile capable of reaching the continental U.S., but they acknowledge that the North has been making steady progress in its weapons programs and could one day develop such a weapon. Some civilian experts have said they believe the North already has the technology to put warheads on shorter-range missiles that could strike South Korea and Japan. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the launch an impermissible and outrageous act that poses a grave threat to Japan. The U.S. Strategic Command statement said the launch did not pose a threat to North America, but the U.S. military remains vigilant in the face of North Korean provocations. The Foreign Ministry of China, North Koreas last major ally, called for all sides to avoid actions that increase tensions. Wednesdays launch came two days after the U.S. and South Korea began their 12-day Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercises, prompting North Korean threats of retaliation for the military drills, which it views as an invasion rehearsal. North Korea usually responds to regular South Korea-U.S. military drills with weapons tests and fiery warlike rhetoric. The launch also comes at a time of intensified animosity between the rival Koreas over the defection of a senior North Korean diplomat in London and a U.S. plan to install a sophisticated missile defense system in South Korea. About 28,500 U.S. troops are based in South Korea and tens of thousands of more in Japan. (AP) A French man shouting the Arabic phrase Allahu akbar stabbed a British woman to death and wounded two men in an attack at a hostel in northeast Australia, police said Wednesday. The 29-year-old suspect did not have any known links to the Islamic State group and appeared to have acted alone, Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said. Police were trying to determine whether the man had been motivated by extremism, or something else. While this information will be factored into the investigation, we are not ruling out any motivations at this early stage, whether they be political or criminal, Gollschewski told reporters in the Queensland state capital of Brisbane. Investigators will also consider whether mental health or drug misuse factors are involved in this incident. The attack took place Tuesday night at a hostel in the town of Home Hill, south of Townsville in northern Queensland. A 21-year-old British woman was found dead at the scene and a 30-year-old British man was hospitalized in critical condition. A local man was treated and released for injuries. A dog was also fatally wounded in the attack. The man, a French national visiting Australia, shouted Allahu akbar the Arabic phrase meaning God is great both during the attack and while being arrested by police, Gollschewski said. He has not yet been charged, but police werent looking for any other suspects related to the incident. Police were treating the attack as a homicide, rather than a terrorism-related incident, Gollschewski said. The associated issues of what motivated him and whether that has any relevance to radicalization is something were going to explore fully, but we wont know for some time whether thats the case, he said. Queensland police dont release the names of suspects. Their identities are revealed publicly after they appear in court. The man had been in Australia on a temporary visa for about a year, Gollschewski said. Australian Federal Police Commander Sharon Cowden said her office was speaking to international police agencies about the attack. We condemn this murderous aggression and we are fully cooperating with Australian authorities, French Foreign Ministry spokesman Romain Nadal said Wednesday. We present our condolences to the family and wish for a quick recovery for the wounded. (AP) Sources tell YWN that a Williamsburg Chaveirim Volunteer was issued summonses for having a friend of his change his tire in the first gas station on the Palisades Parkway in New Jersey. The Palisades Police have a long history of being an arrogant, insensitive police force. The entire agency is a few officers, with just about zero police work other then issue summonses on a small stretch of highway that they actually patrol. They have a history of stopping Hatzolah ambulances transporting critically ill patients from Rockland County to Manhattan, and detaining them. In 2008, a New Jersey lawmaker attempted to have the agency disbanded, and police patrol given over to Bergen County. That was no successful. Earlier this month a man sued the agency, claiming he was unlawfully arrested and beaten by the officers. (Chaim Shapiro YWN) A committee headed by the Director-General of the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) will soon submit its recommendations pertaining to stores operating in Tel Aviv on Shabbos. According to the Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) report, recent Interior Ministers have been unwilling to address this political hot potato regarding stores in Tel Aviv on Shabbos and the matter was given over to the special committee that also includes the Director-Generals of the Ministries of Economy, Interior, Justice, Religious Services and the PMO. Tel Aviv Councilman and Yisrael Chofsheet party official Miki Gitzin feels the time has come to permit stores in the city to open on Shabbos as many wish to do. Gitzin adds the committee should honor the decision of Tel Aviv City Council, which abided by the democratic process to reach its decision. The council decided to permit a limited opening of stores to prevent Shabbos from becoming a weekday but on the other hand, permitting non-religious residents to shop on Shabbos. Gitzin explains the city has a plan, one that is enforceable, one that will provide essential services without Shabbos becoming just another day of the week. The first recommendation would permit 160 stores to open around the city in line with regulations set forth by the city. The second recommendation is to cut the number by 20%, which means stores will be permitted to operate, but fewer in number. This would also be more restrictive regarding what types of stores will be permitted to operate on Shabbos. There is a third recommendation as well which also permits the opening of a certain number of stores. It currently appears the special committee is entertaining one of the above possibilities, which will also compel amending the local municipality law, but the committee is not considering the closure of all stores in Tel Aviv on Shabbos. This Galei Tzahal reports has Tel Aviv Councilman (Shas) Elchanan Natan furious, insisting no stores may be permitted to operate on Shabbos. From his perspective, it is not about 100, 120 or 150 stores opening but the idea of permitting Chilul Shabbos under the law. Natan adds that till now, the city did not have to address the stores opening illegally but once a new municipal law is in place, the city will be compelled to compel stores operating illegally to shut their doors. He feels the committees recommendations are unacceptable and legalizing opening stores on Shabbos will lead to more harm than good. Kobi Cohen, who runs the Super Yuda chain explained to Galei Tzahal that the time has come to decide if the country is a democratic one or a halachic state. Any attempt at a compromise he compares to Shlomo HaMelech and deciding to split the baby to satisfy both women. He backs the citys proposal to permit the opening of 160 stores on Shabbos. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) Brussels Airlines has given in to pro-Palestinian pressure which was seeking to persuade the airline to stop serving Achva brand halva bars, which are manufactured in a plant in Barkan, an industrial center in the Shomron near Ariel. A Palestinian solidarity organization began pressuring the airline, explaining the halva company operates in occupied Palestinian territory and as such, it should not support it be offering its passengers the Achva halva bars as it does. An airline official explains the halva is controversial so the decision was made to stop offering it. Using twitter to get another message out, Brussels Airlines said were an airline catering to a large international audience. Its our responsibility to offer products that please all. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) Come and enjoy Read more [...] The millionaire boss of Berkeley Group faces a shareholder backlash over his bumper pay in the latest protests over boardroom excess. Tony Pidgley, the former Barnardo's boy who set up the luxury housebuilder in 1976, took home 21.5million last year and 23million the year before as his salary was topped up with bonuses and awards from a long-term incentive plan. Under a separate scheme he could receive a further 100million in the coming years, prompting a group of investors to urge shareholders to vote against the package at the company's annual meeting on September 6. Berkeley boss Tony Pidgley took home 21.5m last year and 23m the year before as his salary was topped up with bonuses and awards from a long term incentive plan The Institution of Directors branded Pidgley's pay 'excessive'. Cliff Weight, chief executive of ShareSoc, which represents individual investors, said his remuneration was unnecessarily high. ShareSoc said the payouts would be 'an unnecessary transfer of wealth from shareholders to management' and criticised the latest 25,000 rise in Pidgley's basic pay to 875,000 a year. 'Given his huge equity incentives, I am surprised Pidgley was given an increase in salary,' said Weight. 'I doubt this will motivate or help retain him, so it could be considered as a waste of shareholders' money and may attract unnecessary media attention.' But a spokesman for Berkeley said 94 per cent of shareholders had voted in favour of its latest long-term incentive plan resolution in 2011 and added: 'Major shareholder bodies have been consistently supportive of the company's approach to remuneration.' It is the latest in a series of outcries against the remuneration packages of FTSE bosses, whose pay has sky-rocketed over recent years, angering shareholders. In April, 60 per cent of BP shareholders voted against boss Bob Dudley's 14million pay deal, and WPP chief executive Sir Martin Sorrell's proposed 70million pot sparked a shareholder revolt at the firm's annual meeting in June. Prime Minister Theresa May has promised to overhaul corporate governance to try and close the wealth gap that sees bosses being paid more than 140 times what their staff receive. THE BARNARDO'S MILLIONAIRE - TOM PIDGLEY Now 69, Tony Pidgley was adopted aged four from Barnardo's by travellers Pidgley left home and school aged 15 He set up a haulage business and sold it aged 20 He set up housebuilder Berkeley Group in 1976 the company is now in the FTSE 100 and has nearly 14,000 employees Pidgley was paid 21.5m last year when Berkeley made profits of 530.9m He owns Berkeley shares worth 172m Pidgley, who was adopted by travellers from Barnardo's at the age of four, has led Berkeley Group to its position as one of the UK's most successful housebuilders. He left school at 15 to form his own haulage company, which he sold at the age of 20 before forming Berkeley Group seven years later and floating it on the stock market in 1985. Revenue for the year ending April 30 was 2billion, in a year which saw 3,776 new homes sold across London and the south of England for an average of 515,000 each. Much of Pidgley's pay stems from long-term incentive plans, agreed when the company's share price was about 8 in 2009. It closed at 2649p last night, up 3.9 per cent or 99p on the day. Now Pidgley who is worth 270million according to the Sunday Times Rich List holds 172million of shares in the company. Stefan Stern, director of the High Pay Centre, said: 'There's something systematically wrong when that sort of reward is available even in the context of the market. 'Are companies like this succeeding at the same time that millions of people are being kept out of the housing market altogether and others are paying excessive rents? It doesn't look or feel right.' The Campaign for Community Banking Services, which has been fighting bank branch closures for 17 years, is folding. This year, 546 closures have been announced and with more in the pipeline, the total for 2016 is likely to overtake last year's 681. Derek French, a former NatWest banker who launched the campaign group, says he doesn't want to give communities false hope. 'No hope': Derek French who launched The Campaign for Community Banking Services 'They are being hit by closures and we don't want people to think they can stop it,' he says. 'There's no hope of changing anything. We're realists.' In 2002, his group pressured NatWest to reopen a branch in Bedfordshire five years after it had closed. Lured by bright and breezy websites, child-friendly apps and celebrity endorsements, my children ditched their good, old-fashioned piggy banks last year and switched to new, all-singing, all-dancing children's debit cards. We chose Osper, a card that promises to help your child manage their pocket money in a digital age. It's billed as a 'completely safe and secure way to spend' and has been endorsed by celebrities such as TV presenter Davina McCall. What we hadn't banked on was six months later discovering half of my 11-year-old daughter Bethan's pocket money had been plundered from her account via one of the world's biggest gaming communities for children without a single one of us being any the wiser. Game over: 11-year-old Bethan, pictured with mother Avril Williams, lost half of her pocket money to a gaming community Just like its rival GoHenry, Osper is a pre-paid debit card for children aged eight to 18. It allows parents to upload their pocket money automatically each week and the child to withdraw cash from a cashpoint, pay by chip and pin and, if parents switch on the facility, make purchases online. It was launched in 2014 and backed by Davina McCall, who posted a video on her website saying: 'There's something about the app and the way it works and how simple it is that just feels safe. To me, that's really important as a mother. It's teaching me to relax a bit when it comes to finances and my children.' GoHenry goes further and allows children aged six to 18 to make contactless payments in shops with the pre-paid card. It also lets you set and tick off chores for your child, enabling them to earn more money each week. The attraction is that children are not allowed to spend what they don't have and there is no overdraft facility nor penalties on either card. And unlike the bank accounts I grew up with, these pre-paid debit cards allow parents to view a child's latest spending at any moment on mobile phone or computer apps, while setting savings goals. Children's accounts are big business, but a piggy bank still be your best bet They sounded like the perfect way to teach our children about managing money as cards rapidly replace cash everywhere from the corner shop to the railway station. Another happy contrast with the traditional High Street bank is that Osper and GoHenry don't require a child or parent to visit a branch to open an account. They require less ID and are linked to an account monitored and controlled by the parent. For example, with Osper there is no credit check and as long as the firm can find you on the electoral roll you do not need to provide photo ID or proof of address. Osper is proud to claim you can sign up for a new card online in less than two minutes. These accounts are big business. GoHenry has 165,000 subscribers in the UK and Osper says 30 cards are ordered every minute during busy times. The firms make their cash through subscription fees. The parent pays, rather than the child and services don't come cheap. For the Osper card, the fee starts at 1.50 per month per child rising to 3 per month per child for the premium service that lets you set goals and categorise spending. GoHenry charges the parent 2.49 per child per month. Children are not rewarded with interest. Osper and GoHenry proudly claim their cards are a safe and secure way to pay and manage your child's pocket money. Neither allows children to spend money in pubs, bars or gambling websites. And they allow a parent to turn online spending on and off via their own website. So how, despite all this belt-and-braces security, did my 11-year-old lose half of her pocket money? We found 10 a month had been disappearing out of her account for six months to MovieStarPlanet. Endorsement: TV presenter Davina McCall posted a video on her website saying: 'There's something about the app and the way it works and how simple it is that just feels safe' This is an interactive website where children create an imaginary film star, choosing its clothes, hairstyle and so on. The website which also has a mobile app has more than 250 million registered children aged eight to 15 playing in 16 countries. Bethan had tried it briefly months ago, so I felt certain she was the victim of fraud. But shockingly, Osper made it incredibly difficult to get the card blocked. Each of the three times I called its office from Friday, May 27 when we discovered the payments to the following Monday, I was promised someone would ring back. The call never came. I eventually found the 'turn off online spending' feature on the Osper website myself. If my bank had acted so slowly to fraud on my account, I'd have been furious. So how can Osper justify treating children like this? Its founder and chief executive Alick Varma accepts the out-of-hours service we received wasn't good enough. He told me the company has put a clearer emergency process in place at its call centre. Soon you will be able to exchange messages with a member of staff while using its mobile phone app. And a new help section will be available in the app within three months. It was just as difficult to tell MovieStarPlanet, as its 'report a problem' feature is hidden deep within the site. I ended up quizzing MovieStarPlanet's head of safety Vernon Jones to find out what happened. He told me the company's technical systems are designed to block any payments by children's debit cards. Mr Jones believes my daughter's account was hacked by another user or her personal information was obtained somehow. Children can sometimes be lured into giving their login details, passwords or bank details to strangers in a chat room or via an innocuous-looking email that arrives in their inbox, he says. However, Bethan is adamant that she did not give her details to anyone, so we have no obvious explanation for what happened in this case. Mr Jones conceded that though MovieStarPlanet monitors its systems for scams, keeping up with the pace of criminals is 'an impossible task'. The company is reviewing its complaints procedure and says it will be making it easier for children and adults to alert it to problems. So, how do we protect our children and their pocket money as cash dies out? I learned the hard way that as a parent, I need to look at my daughter's account and check for fraud more regularly. I have also turned off online spending. My children and I have agreed to make any online purchases together in future. My daughter's pocket money has been refunded and all of us have learned a valuable lesson: while these debit cards look enticing, they are no replacement for good, old-fashioned parental vigilance and ground rules. Savers using Help to Buy Isas to get on to the housing ladder face fiddly negotiations with sellers due to a catch in the scheme's small print. More than half a million people have taken out the tax-free savings deals launched by George Osborne. The former Chancellor said cash saved into them would get a 25 per cent top-up from the Government, giving savers up to 3,000 'for a deposit on their first home'. But small print blocks customers from using this bonus for the initial 10 per cent deposit payable to the seller when contracts are exchanged. That could leave buyers thousands of pounds short, putting purchases at risk. Savers using Help to Buy Isas to get on to the housing ladder face fiddly negotiations with sellers due to a catch in the scheme's small print Money Mail understands buyers will have to rely on their solicitor to negotiate a compromise with the seller. Savers have found confusion at banks, and the Treasury committee of MPs is to quiz officials on the loophole. Mark Hayward, director of the National Association of Estate Agents, says: 'This is frankly nothing short of deception.' WHAT ARE HELP TO BUY ISAS? Tax-free savings deals launched last year to help 'generation rent' build up a deposit for a first home. Like ordinary Isas, they're offered by banks and building societies. The difference is that the state tops up your savings with a 25 per cent bonus if you use the cash to buy a home to live in. For every 200 you save, the Government adds 50 - up to a maximum of 3,000. You can put in up to 12,000 for a maximum bonus of 3,000. The minimum bonus you can claim is 400, which means saving 1,600. You can pay in 1,200 on day one and then no more than 200 a month. The cash can be used for a home worth up to 250,000 or 450,000 in London. GREAT - WHEN DO I GET THE CASH? You can take out your cash whenever you like. But the government top-up is paid only when you buy a home. Your solicitor applies for you when the deal nears completion. The money is then passed to the seller. It covers some of your deposit for a home loan. First-time buyers try to save 5 per cent to 10 per cent of the house price and apply for a mortgage for the remaining 90 per cent to 95 per cent. A 10 per cent deposit on the average 213,927 home (Land Registry figures) means saving 21,393. You need save only 18,393 to hit that level, using the bonus on a Help to Buy Isa. OK, SO WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? The problem is first-time buyers pay for a house in two stages, but the Help to Buy Isa bonus is available for only one of these. The first chunk of money is paid when you exchange contracts. It's standard for the seller to ask for 10 per cent as a down payment. You can use the money you paid into a Help to Buy Isa and interest on this. You give the account details to your solicitor and the money is transferred to the seller. But the government bonus is not available at this stage. That is added to your pot later, when the sale 'completes'. This second stage is when your mortgage lender sends its share and you add any extra deposit above the initial 10 per cent. The Government then releases the 25 per cent bonus on everything you put in to the Help to Buy Isa. Snag: First-time buyers pay for a house in two stages, but the Help to Buy Isa bonus is available for only one of these WHY CAN'T I USE IT FOR A DEPOSIT? The Treasury says the delay is to stop people committing fraud. It's worried savers might claim the bonus as a deposit, give it to a friend who is 'selling' their property - then pull out of the sale and pocket the money. A Treasury spokeswoman says: 'Half a million first-time buyers have made use of the Help to Buy Isa scheme with 22,000 already receiving their bonus. 'It is designed so first-time buyers receive the bonus at the point where their house purchase is certain to proceed. 'This means support can be targeted at people who are definitely buying a property - something you can only be sure of as a transaction approaches completion.' COULD I BE LEFT SHORT OF FUNDS? Perhaps. Take the example of the average 213,927 home. When you exchange contracts, you'll be asked for 10 per cent, or 21,393. If you're using the Help to Buy Isa, you may have been relying on up to 3,000 from the government top-up. But as that won't be paid until completion, you may have only 18,393. That's 8.6 per cent of the price - less than most sellers ask for. WILL I LOSE THE SALE? Not necessarily. When you make an offer for a property, your solicitor will know how much money you have readily available as a deposit. A good conveyancing solicitor will know Help to Buy Isa savers won't have the government top-up for the exchange deposit so they will enter negotiations with the sellers and their solicitor to find a compromise. In our example, both sides might agree on an 8.6 per cent deposit at exchange. The danger comes if the buyer fails to say they are using the Help to Buy Isa or solicitors are unsure of the rules. Some sellers' solicitors demand the full 10 per cent. CAN I NEGOTIATE A SMALLER DEPOSIT? Negotiations over initial deposits are common, says Dev Malle, of the conveyancer MyHomeMove. But it's vital to be clear about your situation with solicitors and the seller from the start. Higher up the chain, people often agree to waive the initial deposit as everyone's cash is tied up in the home they're selling. But first-time buyers relying on Help to Buy Isas may struggle. A 5 per cent deposit would give you 10,696 on the average 213,927 home. If you're using the Help to Buy Isa, you may have saved just 8,022. That's just 3.75 per cent of the price when 10 per cent is needed. You could be forced to find extra cash. Lloyds boss Antonio Horta Osorio expressed 'deep regret' to his 75,000 staff today after being caught having an alleged affair on a business trip. The married father-of-three, 52, spent time in a hotel room with Dr Wendy Piatt, the 45-year-old director general of the prestigious Russell Group of universities, while in Singapore for a conference. But in his memo to staff he simply apologised for the damage the 'adverse publicity' had done to the bank's reputation rather than saying sorry for his actions. He has faced intense media coverage and questions about what was paid for on expenses after racking up a room bill of 3,276 during his stay in June, with 550 spent in the spa. Lloyds boss Antonio Horta Osorio (pictured left) expressed 'deep regret' to his 75,000 staff today after being caught having an alleged affair with Dr Wendy Piatt (right), the 45-year-old director general of the prestigious Russell Group of universities, on a business trip in Singapore The humiliating email read: 'My personal life is obviously a private matter as it is for anyone else. But I deeply regret being the cause of so much adverse publicity and the damage that has been done to the group's reputation. 'I have been a strong advocate of expecting the highest professional standards from everyone at the bank, and that includes me. 'Having the highest professional standards raises the bar against which we are judged and as I have always said, we must recognise that mistakes will be made.' Lloyds has insisted no rules were broken and said the chief executive paid personal costs out of his own pocket. But the revelations come at an extremely sensitive time for the bank. Last month Mr Horta Osorio announced that Lloyds is cutting 3,000 jobs and shutting 200 branches as part of an efficiency drive, but with the bank declaring profits had doubled in the first half of 2016 to 2.5billion, it was heavily criticised for blaming the job losses and closures on Brexit. Hand in hand: Mr Horta Osorio and wife Ana were seen publicly for the first time since the revelations at a funeral in Portugal Mr Horta Osorio was on holiday in his native Portugal when the story broke but was due back in the office this week. The chief executive who is considered an effective boss by shareholders, and earned 8.8m last year will pledge to steer the bank through the potentially rocky period after Brexit. The comments were expected to be accompanied by a defence of his track record at Lloyds, which was bailed out by the Government during the financial crisis and is now on a path back to health. It is not known if he will also issue a similar message to its millions of customers or to taxpayers, who still own a 9pc stake. THE GROVELLING APOLOGY LLOYDS BOSS SENT TO STAFF In a memo to his 75,000 Lloyds staff today, group chief executive Antonio Horta Osorio apologised for the damage done to the reputation of the bank over allegations of his affair. He wrote: 'Having returned to work I wanted to use the opportunity to address the recent media coverage of my private life. 'As you may have read, my expenses were reviewed in light of speculation by certain newspapers and the Group has confirmed that they are fully compliant. As you'd expect, I pay for my personal expenses whilst away and only reclaim what is a business expense. 'My personal life is obviously a private matter as it is for anyone else. But I deeply regret being the cause of so much adverse publicity and the damage that has been done to the Group's reputation. It has detracted from the great work which you do for our customers on a daily basis and from the major accomplishments of the past five years. 'This includes the Government shareholding having reduced from over 40 per cent to around 9 per cent with over 16 billion plus dividends having been returned to taxpayers. 'More broadly I have been a strong advocate of expecting the highest professional standards from everyone at the bank, and that includes me. 'I will continue to strive to meet those standards. Having the highest professional standards raises the bar against which we are judged and as I have always said we must recognise that mistakes will be made. I don't expect anyone to get everything right all the time. 'The important point being how we learn from those mistakes and the decisions and actions we take afterward.' Advertisement Mr Horta Osorio is understood to have written to fellow Lloyds executives after the scandal broke. Insiders claimed an inquiry had established 'beyond any doubt' that he had done nothing wrong, and that the boss paid for personal expenditure on the trip using a separate credit card. The revelations emerged days after Lloyds announced plans to axe 3,000 jobs and close 200 branches. Revelations: The news of the alleged affair came days after the bank announced it was axing 200 branches and 3,000 jobs Mr Horta Osorio has not yet spoken publicly about the alleged affair but was pictured hand in hand with his wife Ana at a funeral in Portugal. The allegations led some shareholders to question his future at the bank, and opened him up to allegations of hypocrisy. He has previously spoken out about the need to restore trust in banking, warning in a 2012 speech that reputations 'take years to build and can be destroyed overnight'. Lloyds has a strict personal integrity policy which demands staff maintain 'the highest reputational standards'. A breach can lead to disciplinary action. Lloyds declined to comment last night. People in my street don't speak English: Farage says immigration was key to Brexit vote - and takes a swipe at Hilary During a wide-ranging interview Mr Farage was asked by Super Talk FM host JT how pivotal a role he felt immigration had played in the British peoples decision to leave the EU.He replied: It was the absolute key. I dont think there was any one incident. I think this was a gradual thing that what people saw were unrecognisable, rapid changes in their community.It was gradually people saw their way of life was changing, their quality of life was deteriorating, and they kept being told by their leaders oh dont worry about it because our GDP is going up so all immigration must be a good thing.Where we struck the chord is yeah, our GDP may be going up through mass immigration but whos benefitting? Its the big businesses getting cheap labour who are benefitting.He added that there are things in life that matter more than money saying people cared more about their communities, local services and whether your kids feel safe going out into the street to play.The former UKIP leader has become a hero figure in the Republican movement following the Brexit vote, with US politicians recognising similar feelings of anger towards the political elite in Washington.During the interview he aimed a series of barbs at Democratic nominee Hilary Clinton, describing her as an establishment stooge who was on the side of self-interested big business and not ordinary people.And speaking about the vitriol Brexit voters had faced from UK politicians and media, he said: I see all the things being said about Trumps supporters theyre stupid, theyre old, theyre backward, theyre racist and I just think the parallels are so enormously strong.Ive been part of a political revolution in the UK. They all said it couldnt happen the media, the politicians, the businesses.That we were whistling in the wind, we were away with the fairies, we were going to lose, the EU was going to be here forever.But with a well aimed stone like David we hit our Goliath, we knocked that over and the parallels here are uncanny.If people want things to change theyve got to get out of their chairs and fight for it it can happen. We proved it. Human Rights Act WILL be scrapped, Justice Secretary insists Harry Readhead for Metro.co.ukTuesday 23 Aug 2016The Human Rights Act will be replaced by a British Bill of Rights, the Justice Secretary has insisted.Earlier this month, The Times reported that the draft bill had been scrapped.A source told the paper that the justice department wished to avoid a fight with the Scottish government, which is opposed to the abolition of the Human Rights Act, and would be focusing its efforts instead on prison reform.The Justice Secretary, Liz Truss, told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme yesterday, however, that this was not the case and that she fully intended to deliver the Conservative manifesto pledge.Im looking very closely at the details but we have a manifesto commitment to deliver that, she said.Prime Minister Theresa May said in a speech in April that she was strongly in favour of legislation which protects human rights in a way that doesnt jeapardise national security or bind the hands of parliament.A true British bill of rights, decided by parliament and amended by parliament, would protect not only the rights set out in the convention, but could include traditional British rights not protected by the ECHR such as the right to trial by jury, she said.She clarified at the same time that there would be no parliamentary majority for the withdrawal of the UK from the European Convention on Human Rights.Read more: Human Rights Act WILL be scrapped, Justice Secretary insists | Metro News 'We can hear children screaming in the rubble': Desperate hunt for survivors as rescue workers dig with their bare hands after 6.2 magnitude earthquake rocks central Italy killing at least 38 and leaving 150 missing EUROPE'S DEADLIEST EARTHQUAKES AND WHY ITALY IS TORMENTED BY QUAKES Europe is no stranger to deadly earthquakes. Here we list the most devastating: This map shows the location of the quake's epicentre and where activity has been measured 28 December 1908 Sicily and southern Italy. This magnitude 7.1 earthquake almost completely destroyed the Sicilian port city of Messina and Reggio Calabria in southern Italy. Between 75,000 and 200,000 people were killed although some estimates put the deathtoll at 95,000. 11 January 1693 Sicily. The most powerful earthquake in Italian history, this magnitude 7.4 quake destroyed at last 70 towns and cities. It caused the death of around 60,000 people. 1 November 1755 Lisbon, Portugal. Known as the Great Lisbon earthquake, it struck on the holiday day of All Saints Day at around 9.40am, sparking fires and a tsunami. Geologists have estimated it had a magnitude of between 8.5 and 9. Lisbon was almost totally destroyed and it is thought that a fifth of the citys population perished. A further 10,000 are thought to have died in Morocco, bringing the deathtoll to an estimated 50,000. 26 December 1939 Erzincan, Turkey. With a recorded magnitude of 7.8, this quake caused extensive damage around Erzincan and along the Kelkit River. Around 32,700 people died. 13 January 1915 Abruzzi, central Italy. This magnitude 6.7 earthquake destroyed the town of Avezzano which sat directly over the epicentre. It left 32,000 people dead and caused $60 million of damage. 17 August 1999 Turkey. More than 17,000 people were killed and 50,000 injured in this magnitude 7.6 earthquake. Nearly 37 seconds of strong shaking caused widespread damage in Istanbul, Izmit, Kocaeli and Sakarya. 3 October 1914 Burdur, Turkey. More than 17,000 houses were destroyed in this magnitude 7.0 earthquake and around 4,000 people lost their lives. 26 November 1943 Ladik, Turkey. A magnitude 7.6 earthquake that caused the deaths of around 4,000 people and destroyed three quarters of the homes in the Ladik-Vezirkopru area. 1 February 1944 Gerede, Turkey. About 50,000 homes were destroyed in this magnitude 6.5 earthquake and 2,790 people perished. 23 November 1980 Campania and Basilicata, southern Italy. A magnitude 6.5 earthquake that claimed the lives of 2,735 people and left 394,000 people homeless. By Sarah Dean and Martin Robinson, Uk Chief Reporter and Ted Thornhill for MailOnline 24 August 2016The scale of the devastating Italian earthquake was laid bare this morning as shocking pictures and terrifying eyewitness accounts revealed how four towns were almost wiped off the map in just a matter of seconds.At least 38 people were killed, including two babies, and 150 people are missing, believed to be trapped under rubble, after the 6.2-magnitude quake struck at 3.30am local time while villagers slept in their beds.Today rescuers spoke of hearing children's screams from the rubble and locals were spotted frantically digging with their bare hands to try and save loved ones.The quake which devastated the Umbrian mountainside towns and villages of Amatrice, Accumoli, Arquata del Tronto and Pescara del Tronto was so powerful that it even rocked buildings in the centre of Rome more than 100 miles away and was felt as far away as Croatia.Survivors today described 'apocalyptic' scenes in towns and villages near the city of Perugia - the capital of the tourist-packed Umbrian region, which is especially popular with British holidaymakers.The quake's epicentre was near Norcia in Umbria, about 105 miles north east of Rome, and falling bridges and landslides meant some areas are still cut off with emergency teams only able to get there on foot.The mayor of Accumoli, Stefano Petrucci, said this morning: 'My town isn't here anymore' as people were carried out of ruined buildings on stretchers and people desperately searched the debris for survivors or sobbed as they inspected their own ruined homes.Photographer Emiliano Grillotti said that in Accumoli he saw over 15 people digging with their bare hands to save a family of four with two children. He said: 'I can hear one of the children screaming'.Todays disaster is the biggest in the region since April 2009 when a 6.3 magnitude earthquake occurred 28 miles to the south east of Norcia near the town of LAquila, killing 295 people and injuring 1,000. That disaster led to lengthy recriminations over lax building controls and the failure of authorities to warn residents that a quake could be imminent.The first victims of the devastating quake were an elderly couple whose home collapsed in Pescara del Tronto, in the Marche region, around ten miles from the epicentre. A family of four, including a eight-month-old baby and his brother, nine, were also reported dead in the town of Accumoli.Two brothers, aged four and seven, were pulled from the rubble nearby after hiding under a bed with their grandmother as the building fell down. Some 100 people were still unaccounted for in the village of Arquata del Tronto.A newborn baby was also found dead after being pulled from a family home in the center of Arquata del Tronto.The quake hit during the summer when the populations of the towns and villages in the area, normally low during the rest of the year, are swelled by holidaymakers.One person has died and a family of four including two young children, aged 8 months and 9 years, are feared dead in their collapsed house in Accumoli, according to its mayor.Stefano Petrucci said: 'Now that daylight has come, we see that the situation is even more dreadful than we feared, with buildings collapsed, people trapped under the rubble and no sound of life.'We have a tragedy here. Four people are under the rubble, but they are not showing any sign of life. Two parents and two children.'It is a disaster, we have no light, no telephones, the rescue services have not got here yet.'The quake also destroyed homes and buried people under rubble in the small town of Amatrice, where many more are feared dead.'The roads in and out of town are cut off. Half the town is gone,' said the town's mayor Sergio Pirozzi.He added: 'There are people under the rubble... There's been a landslide and a bridge might collapse. The situation is dramatic, there are many dead. I cannot give a toll for now because rescue efforts are under way and it is very, very difficult'.The centre of Amatrice was devastated, with entire palazzos razed to the ground. Rocks and metal tumbled on to the streets and dazed residents huddled in piazzas as aftershocks continued into the early hours.'The whole ceiling fell but did not hit me,' marveled resident Maria Gianni. 'I just managed to put a pillow on my head and I wasn't hit luckily, just slightly injured my leg.'Another resident said she had been woken by the shaking in time to witness the wall of her bedroom cracking open. She was able to escape into the street with her children.One witness named Marco, a sanitation worker from Amatrice, told La Repubblicca how everything 'fell apart' in an instant.'It was a miracle for me to survive... I just woke up when suddenly everything collapsed. Ten second were enough to destroy everything,' he said.A witness in Configno, near Amatrice, recalled: 'It was a nightmare. We woke up at 3.35am, the furniture falling down, walls moving more than a meter. We rushed out, many are still in their underpants here, in the street. We did some bonfires in the square and went to help old people to get out from their houses.'As daylight dawned, residents, civil protection workers and even priests began digging out with shovels, bulldozers and their bare hands, trying to reach survivors. There was a sigh of relief as a woman was pulled out alive from one building, followed by a dog.'We need chain saws, shears to cut iron bars, and jacks to remove beams: everything, we need everything,' civil protection worker Andrea Gentili told The Associated Press.'I don't know what to say. We are living this immense tragedy,' said the Rev. Savino D'Amelio, an Amatrice parish priest. 'We are only hoping there will be the least number of victims possible and that we all have the courage to move on.'In Amatrice, the ANSA news agency reported two bodies had been pulled from one building. The Rev. Fabio Gammarota told ANSA another three were killed in a separate collapse.Amatrice Mayor Pirozzi told state-run RAI radio and Sky TG24 that residents were buried under collapsed buildings, that the lights had gone out and that heavy equipment was needed to clear streets clogged with debris.Aleandro Petrucci, the mayor of nearby Arquata del Tronto, said Pescara was one of 'two or three hamlets that have just completely disintegrated.'A resident of the village told Rai that she had been woken by the shaking in time to witness the wall of her bedroom cracking open. She was able to escape into the street with her children.A family friend of a tourist from Toronto, Canada, who was caught up in the earthquake told MailOnline how he escaped.Silvano Rendina was awoken and 'climbed through the window of his father's ancestral home in Pescara del Tronto when the earthquake struck'. After helping numerous townsfolk escape the rubble and after daybreak, he took photos of the utterly devastated town.Mr Rendina eventually made it to a bar in neighbouring Tresungo, which had WiFi and bottled water for rescuers coming from Pescara del Tronto.'He said he thought they had got out all those who were verbally responsive, but reported that there were at least three other deaths other than the elderly couple reported. He said there had to be many more trapped,' family friend Mary Pat Elliott told MailOnline.Two bodies were recovered from rubble in Amatrice, a mountain village in neighbouring Lazio that was packed with visitors at the peak of the summer season.Paola Mancini, 79, told local newspaper Corriere the first words she heard were Run, run, everyone outside.She was in the hospital Grifoni, in Amatrice, when the earthquake started. A nurse screamed for everyone to get out into the street.There were two of us in the emergency room. We got up and ran as quickly as possible. We were in the hall, where we found a doctor who calmed us as much as he could.She was admitted into the hospital on Tuesday. This morning she was in the street along with the rest of the 14 inhabitants of the hospital.It has been a long and terrible shock. We have been scared, and we remain paralysed by terror. There have been moments of panic, but the nurses have been very professional and they got us all out into the street quickly.She said: 'The first ambulance arrived, a man on a stretcher was injured, covered by blood and shocked. Although I lived here I didnt recognise him. He was crying and kept saying, my wife is dead because our house collapsed'. Dozens of wildfires that have blackened hundreds of square miles raged in the arid U.S. West on Tuesday, as destructive blazes forced residents from homes in California and Washington state. At least six people have died in Western wildfires this summer. Seven new large fires have flared up since Monday, bringing the total number of blazes burning in the region to 32, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Combined, the wildfires have charred more than 500,000 acres (200,000 hectares), the agency said. In California\s San Luis Obispo County, firefighters have been able to carve containment lines around about a third of the 37,100-acres (15,000-hectare) Chimney Fire by Tuesday morning. That blaze, which started in the county\s rugged coastal hills on Aug. 13, has destroyed 36 homes and continued to threaten nearly 1,900 more, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Evacuation orders were in effect for about 6,000 residents on Tuesday, according to Cal Fire spokesman Aladdin Morgan, up from just 2,500 on Monday. The historic Hearst Castle, a major tourist attraction on California\s central coast, will be closed to the public through the week as a safety precaution due to the blaze. The monumental estate, built in the early 20th century for publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst, was no longer in immediate danger, but the Chimney Fire had crept within three miles (5 km) of the castle over the weekend before shifting direction, authorities said. To the north, firefighters were battling a cluster of blazes that have blackened about 8,000 acres of dry brush, grass and timber in Spokane, Washington, area. Authorities said on Monday that, due to limited resources, they had to enlist the help of local farmers to help battle flames that had destroyed more than a dozen buildings in the area. Those blazes all erupted on Sunday, stoked by extremely hot, dry weather and gusty winds. Lower temperatures, rising humidity and diminished winds were expected to help crews gain some ground on Monday, as firefighting reinforcements arrived. As of Tuesday, the so-called Hart Fire had been 10 percent contained while officials were hopeful that a pair of fires, dubbed the Spokane Complex, could be contained within their existing footprints. SOURCE: REUTERS Hopewell Community Park remains a 'labor of love' for local community The lush green park is a product of the combined efforts of the Hopewell Township community and a symbol of decades of conservation efforts in Beaver County. But the past does not exist independently from the present. Indeed, the past is only past because there is a present, just as I can point to something over there only because I am here . But nothing is inherently over there or here. In that sense, the past has no content. The past -- or more accurately, pastness -- is a position. Thus, in no way can we identify the past as past Kristin Lanier, a May graduate of Midwestern State University, has been named the recipient of a $30,000 Rotary Global International Scholarship that will send her to Ireland to earn a master's degree in peace and conflict studies from Ulster University in Northern Ireland. Lanier graduated from MSU with a degree in theater, and she received the President's Medal of Excellence. She was introduced to the Rotary program by MSU Honors Program Coordinator Juliana Felts, who had received the scholarship in 2008 to study in France, and has participated in the training program for new scholars almost every year since. This will not be Lanier's first international foray. When she was 13, she traveled to Australia as a student ambassador with the People to People program. She also participated in an MSU Study Abroad program in Great Britain, which included an informal visit to Ireland. 'Traveling abroad is letting go and opening up to new ways of thinking and seeing that the world is full of diversity,' Lanier said. --- Jesika Fisher is one of 12 students at the University of North Texas who have received a scholarship from UNT's Frank W. Mayborn Graduate Institute of Journalism. She is the daughter of Danny and Kathy Jane Fisher. Fisher will continue her master of journalism degree this fall. She received a bachelor's degree in English with a double minor in mass communication and theater from Midwestern State University in 2007. She is currently employed at MSU as a secretary for the Gordon T. and Ellen West College of Education. She is a graduate of Petrolia High School. --- The John & Nevils Wilson School of Nursing at Midwestern State University recognized its accelerated undergraduate nursing graduates at the summer 2016 Nursing Pinning Ceremony Aug. 12 at MSU's Clark Student Center. Bachelor of Science in Nursing candidates who participated were Brittany Adams, Mark Adkins, Kelsey Beaird, Blayne Berry, Heather Carney, Lauren Conti, Melissa Drage, Tiffany Drews, Jason Fawcett, Justin Gellner, Jocelyn Jose, Judith Justice, Cynthia Solis, Jazzmyne Taylor, Flora Van Dyke and Ashley Williams. --- The Wichita Falls Area Association of Retired School Personnel has selected new officers for the 2016-17 year. Cliff O'Neal and Jack Lavy will serve as co-presidents. Other officers include 1st Vice President Tom McGough, 2nd Vice President Lola Pepper, Secretary Carla Linn, Treasurer Marilyn Wood and Parliamentarian Jane McGough. When Wichita Falls' Last Man Club was founded in 1928, in the spirit of friendship, few of its 100 or so charter members would have anticipated that its record would become one of the saddest files in the TRN archives. The plan was for all the buddies, veterans of either the Spanish-American War or World War I, to gather once a year in the city to reminisce and celebrate their good fortune as survivors of the these two great wars. Last Man Clubs had been spouting up all over the nation, and in keeping with a universal tradition, the Wichita Falls veterans purchased fine bottle of French wine purportedly 100 years old, even then which would go to the last surviving member of the group. Like many of the clubs, Wichita Falls' group boiled down to a dozen core members, who faithfully attended every Memorial Day gathering here. By 1960, when the core group had lost just one member, the photographer captured 11 sturdy men in dapper suits, just one of whom needed the help of a cane to stand proudly as the flash bulb popped. Twenty years later, though, only five remained, including two who were unable to attend for health reasons. In 1988, only WWI veterans Obert A. Falnes, 91, the club's commander, and Fred Cone, 93, survived. Cone, a Realtor and builder who constructed more than 300 houses here during his lifetime, died in about 1990. Falnes, a truck driver and faithful member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Thomas Fowler American Legion Post, dutifully inherited the wine and disbanded the club, even though he no longer remembered why he had joined. He made no public comments. Like many of the last men from clubs throughout the company, perhaps he was too lonely to celebrate his honor. He died Aug. 23, 1992, at age 96, one of only a scattering of Great War veterans who remained in the nation. The last of the American Last Men died in 2011, and a great generation faded from the nation. Camp Fire gears up for start of new year The Camp Fire after-school program will begin Aug. 29 at Camp Fire's Harrell Park, with plenty of time remaining to register for the program. Children are transported to the park in Camp Fire vans from 18 schools in the Wichita Falls, City View and Burkburnett school districts. The first meeting will be a swimming party at the Harrell Park pool. Daily activities will include homework help, swimming, fishing, cookouts, archery, sports, games, crafts, singing, hikes, outdoor environmental programs and service projects. A Fall Family Fun Night is scheduled for Sept. 29. Each child receives a hot meal while attending the after-school program. Membership in the Camp Fire after-school program is $15 a year. A permission form must be signed by each child's parent or guardian. A family of three or more can join for $35 for the year. In addition to the after-school program, children can participate in the traditional Camp Fire program, led by volunteers in Wichita Falls and five surrounding counties. Parents and grandparents are invited to begin a Camp Fire club, which requires two volunteer co-leaders and six to 20 children for each club. Membership fees for the traditional program are the same as for the after-school program. For junior and senior high students, Camp Fire offers the Teens in Action program. Information: 322-5209 or info@campfirentx.org. Y wants residents to take a good hike The Wichita Falls YMCA has issued a 'Hike Up Journey Challenge' to all residents looking to improve their strength, mind and spirit. Hike Up! is an event where people lift and carry a designated load backpack and go for a hike. Men and women work together as a team to reach a goal while building esprit de corps. Hikers weighing under 140 pounds will carry packs weighing 10 pounds, and those over 140 pounds will carry 20 pounds. The hikes will cover 5 to 8 miles. The four- to five-hour event will begin at 9 a.m. Sept. 10 at the Bill Bartley Family Branch YMCA, off Southwest Parkway. Registration for Hike Up! runs though Sept. 5. Cost is $65 per YMCA member or $85 for nonmembers. To sign up, call 761-1000 or visit ymcawf.org. Photo contest entries due Sept. 5 Sept. 5 is the submission deadline for entries in the York Rite Body Royal & Select Masters Photo Contest. The contest will include three categories historic, outdoor and abstract and prizes will be offered to the top three winners in each category. Photographers should submit 8-by-10-inch prints of either black and white or color photos. Each photo should be labeled with the photographer's name and contact information and the category. The entry fee is $10 per photo. Entries can be sent to York Rite Body Council of Royal & Select Masters, 3503 Kemp Blvd., Wichita Falls, TX 76308. Make checks or money orders payable to WF Council #140. Information: jewry48@yahoo.com. A Wichita County grand jury declined to indict the following individuals, listed with their former charges: Anthony Lee Beamon, assault by family/house member with two or more prior convictions Albert James Breeding, violation of bond/protective order. Rocio Amanda Escobedo, abandon/endanger of child criminal neglect (4 counts). Brandon Shane Eustice, assault family house member impede breathing. James Randolph Graham, theft of property. Michael Scott Greene, aggravated sexual assault. Tiffany Ellen Henderson, evading arrest detention with a vehicle. Dezirae Irene Lopez, possession with intent to promote child porn. Brandley Mitchell Martin, unauthorized use of vehicle. Jennifer Marie Martinez, assault family/household member. Michael James Medina, assault family house member impede breathing. Makara Ponn, evading arrest detention with vehicle. Demetris Deshawn Pope, possession with intent to promote child porn. Mario Daniel Rodriguez, hinder apprehension or prosecution. Matthew Arthur Taylor, abandon endanger child crime (4 counts). Riley Sage Weiss, assault family household member. Wichita Falls has again found itself in the center of a battle over transgender rights. This time, the subject is health rights for transgender people. Texas and four other states filed another lawsuit in Wichita Falls today, this time claiming the Obama administrations new nondiscrimination health laws could make doctors act against their judgement and religious convictions. Wichita Falls federal court was also the site chosen for conservative states to sue the government for opening school bathrooms to transgender students. The Regulation force doctors to perform controversial and sometimes harmful medical procedures ostensibly designed to permanently change an individuals sexincluding the sex of children, the states claimed in the newest lawsuit. Albany SUNY Polytechnic Institute is looking for someone new to lead its real estate development office. Two potential hurdles for the recruitment effort: open investigations by both U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara and state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman into several of the school's projects across the state. Walter "Jerry" Barber, president of Fuller Road Management Corp., one of two non-profits that manage development projects for SUNY Poly, is retiring next month. Barber, who worked in the state comptroller's office from 1977 to 2013, has been leading a complete overhaul of SUNY Poly's contractor bidding processes and corporate governance rules amid the investigations, which are delving into possible improper construction contract awards. There is no indication that Barber is the subject of either probe. Bharara's investigation appears to be focused on the actions of two longtime associates of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, lobbyist Todd Howe and former gubernatorial aide Joe Percoco. Barber, who also serves as chief operating officer of Fuller Road Management, has also held the post of chairman of Fort Schuyler Management Corp., a similar nonprofit originally set up by SUNY Poly for its projects in Utica at the former SUNY IT campus. Fort Schuyler Management was also used by Cuomo to facilitate other SUNY Poly projects in Buffalo, Syracuse and Rochester. Barber has been working to merge the two nonprofits into one to streamline operations at SUNY Poly, a process that appears to be ongoing. At its Aug. 3 board meeting, the Fuller Road board of directors revealed Barber's retirement plans and the creation of a search committee to find a replacement. Robert Samson, a former IBM executive who is a Fuller Road Management board member, said at the meeting that the state is "in a better place because of Jerry's service and (Fuller Road Management) is a better corporation because of his contributions." Barber has also ushered SUNY Poly through several difficult periods this year in which state agencies controlled by Cuomo have failed to reimburse contractors doing work for SUNY Poly projects. "Jerry will definitely be missed," SUNY Poly spokesman Jerry Gretizinger said Tuesday. But (Fuller Road Management) and (Fort Schuyler Management) are in good hands with their boards and executive teams. Jerry's legacy of checks and balances ensure that both (organizations) will continue to operate with transparency and integrity." Last week however, the state Public Authorities Control Board approved $685 million in state funding for Cuomo's NanoUtica initiative at SUNY Poly's Utica campus. NanoUtica includes plans for a computer chip factory for Austrian chip maker ams AG and a silicon carbide chip packaging center that will be run by SUNY Poly and General Electric Co. However, work remains in limbo on a silicon carbide chip manufacturing center being built on SUNY Poly's Albany campus. The Pike Co. of Rochester walked off the job last month after not being paid about $9 million for work dating back to April. The state Dormitory Authority, also known as DASNY, has withheld payments from Fuller Road Management for the project due to issues with invoices. "The work has not resumed yet, but we are working closely with DASNY to expedite payments to contractors," SUNY Poly spokesman Jerry Gretzinger said Tuesday. lrulison@timesunion.com 518-454-5504 @larryrulison This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Saratoga Springs Paul Ryan is coming to the Spa City on Monday, but his exact location is being kept a secret for security reasons, a source said. The speaker of the House of Representatives will share lunch with more than 100 select area Republicans as a fundraiser for Congresswoman Elise Stefanik who represents the 21st District. The district includes the North Country and parts of Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties. To attend, guests had to undergo federal security clearance. They also had to pay $150 for the pleasure of meeting the Republican leader who was the running mate of presidential candidate Mitt Romney in 2012. The event is expected to last up to three hours. Ryan will then visit Buffalo for a fundraiser for Tom Reed, a congressman who represents the 23rd District. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is expected to endorse Stefanik before the luncheon. This is Stefanik's first re-election campaign. She is running against Democrat Mike Derrick, a retired Army colonel from Peru, Clinton County, and Green Party candidate Matt Funiciello, a bread company owner and political activist from Hudson Falls. wliberatore@timesunion.com 518-454-5445 A state trooper who started his career 29 years ago in Troop K was picked to lead the sprawling eastern New York district that stretches from the New York City line to Columbia County. Robert M. Nuzzo was chosen to be the next major for the troop by State Police Superintendent George P. Beach II, State Police announced Wednesday morning. Troop K covers Columbia, Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester counties. Nuzzo was assigned to Troop K when he began his career in 1987. He was transferred to Troop F in Ulster County a year later and was transferred to Troop L on Long Island when he was promoted to lieutenant in 2001, State Police said. Along with 100 other state troopers, Nuzzo went to Louisiana in 2005 to help with Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts. "It turned out to be probably one of the most rewarding experiences of my career," Nuzzo said. Nuzzo returned to Troop F in 2006 and remained there until he returned to Troop K as an administrative captain. He returned to Troop F as a zone commander in 2012 and was promoted to major special operations in 2015. During his time on Long Island, Nuzzo led the security at the 2002 U.S. Open on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park. "Obviously the whole dynamic of security changed on Sept. 11," he said. "What started out to be mostly a traffic and minor security concern became a tremendous logistical challenge of coordinating over 400 troopers and almost 1,000 police officers from the region to ensure the safety of the 50,000 daily guests of the U.S. Open at Bethpage." He was also part of the security force at Woodstock 1994 in Saugerties and Woodstock 1999 in Rome. Nuzzo succeeds Robin H. Benziger who is moving to the Division of State Police in the Office of Employee Relations. When asked what he brings to the job, Nuzzo underscored his extensive and diverse experience. "I bring a tremendous amount of experience working not only within the State Police but with external partners in law enforcement and in the community that I've served," he said. "I'm looking forward to making our communities and very much the schools safer every day." Nuzzo begins his new job on Thursday. jlahut@timesunion.com 518-454-5414 @JakeLahut BETHLEHEM Monolith Solar president Steve Erby called out National Grid and other utilities on Wednesday for dragging their feet approving solar farm projects across upstate. Erby says that utilities are essentially tying up millions of dollars in capital that solar companies like Monolith have poured into projects, only to see them bogged down in the regulatory approval process even after they have been built. Starbucks Fizzio or Frappuccino Buy 1 FREE 1 Promotion Starbucks got a special treat for you to celebrate the end of the week! Enjoy a Buy One Free One when you purchase any Frappuccino or Fizzio beverage between 5pm to 8pm. This promotions is valid from 25 and 26 August 2016 only, at ALL Starbucks stores in Malaysia. An early celebration to the weekend. Terms and conditions apply **Terms and conditions apply** ~Complete Online Survey and Get Paid in CASH~ Looking for some others great discounts promotion? Get up to 90% off on dining, beauty treatments, fitness packages, mobiles & tablets, travel packages, fashion & dress and more! Terms and Conditions Valid only on 25 and 26 August 2016, 5pm to 8pm. Applicable at all Starbucks stores in Malaysia except Genting Highlands and Sunway Lagoon Kiosk. Complimentary beverage must be of equal or lesser value than the purchased. Not valid with other discount or promotion. Starbucks Starbucks, whose name was inspired from a character in the novel Moby-Dick, was first established in 1971 at Seattles historic Pike Place Market. The name was chosen by its founders for evoking the romance of the high seas and the seafaring tradition of early coffee traders. In 1981, Howard Schultz enjoyed his first cup of Sumatran coffee at a Starbucks store and was instantly captivated by it. A year later, he joined the company and was given the positions of chairman, president, and CEO. Howard travelled to Italy in 1983 and was charmed by Italian coffee bars and its connection with people. He brought his experiences back to Starbucks and set out to make the company into one that not only celebrated coffee and its traditions, but to connect people together. Since then, Starbucks has grown exponentially and currently has up to 23,000 outlets worldwide, putting a smile on customers faces one cup at a time. Other Ongoing FREE Samples Giveaway Schenectady Monday was a big day at Transfinder, the Schenectady-based company that makes software to route school buses. That's because it was the first day of school for most students in the state of Texas where Transfinder has a large customer base. In recent years Transfinder has been introducing a new product called "Infofinder i" which provides the bus routes and bus stops of students to parents. Although districts were initially slow to adopt the new software, it is gaining popularity, with 62 new districts adding the product over the past 12 months. Monday was the first real test of a new version of the software that is more mobile phone friendly and will hopefully allow parents to get bus route information more quickly than in the past. That will also help Transfinder better manage the amount of server space they have to dedicate to Infofinder i, although Transfinder is using Amazon Web Services, which can be scaled up and down quickly to manage the amount of parents that are using Infofinder i at the same time. "It's a big deal," Transfinder CEO Antonio Civitella said Monday afternoon as traffic on the Infofinder i site was spiking as parents were checking the site to see when their kids were coming home on the bus. "Today is it. So far, so good." At about 1:30 p.m., as Civitella and a group of Transfinder employees gathered in the break room, 3,456 people were concurrently checking the site at that moment. That number peaked to 3,918 concurrent users later in the day. Joseph Messia, chief operating officer of Transfinder, told the Times Union on Tuesday that the Infofinder i site got more than a half a million queries on Monday, a 52 percent increase from the same day last year. Since the upgrades, the average search time has dropped from 3.4 minutes to just 1.3 minutes, a trend that continued Monday as well. "As expected, we saw a much lower average engagement time," Messia said. "This was due to a much faster application and better design." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. Civitella said many districts at first balked at using Infofinder i because they were worried about privacy issues. However, Civitella said, school districts often get swamped by last minute phone calls by parents about their kids' bus routes and bus stops on the first day of school. And they often don't call the bus garage or transportation departments. The Infofinder i helps alleviate those calls, and it also helps district employees easily get bus information to parents over the phone if they do call. "They (school districts) realize the benefits," Civitella said. lrulison@timesunion.com 518-454-5504 @larryrulison This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The name John Henry is synonymous with hard work, fortitude, integrity and tenacious spirit. But we're not talking about that John Henry. Instead, consider John Benjamin Henry, a native of Saint Ann, Jamaica, who came to America on a presumed temporary basis in the 1970s and ended up staying for 40-plus years. "I found this place, and it was really good," says Henry, who came to New York state as a migrant worker through the federal government's H-2A program at age 15 and started working at Golden Harvest Farms in 1976. Henry started as a field picker during apple season, but by 1980, he was making the doughnuts the Valatie orchard and farm stand is known for. "Now they call me the doughnut king," he says. "I've become widely known at Golden Harvest after all these years." More Information If you go: John Henry Day celebration at Golden Harvest Farms When: Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday Where: 3074 Route 9, Valatie Contact: 758-7683; goldenharvestfarms.com Info: Free admission, cider doughnuts and whiskey tasting with Jamaican-infused activities for the family. See More Collapse Forty years at a single establishment is nearly unheard of given the high turnover rate of today's workers. Golden Harvest will be hosting John Henry Day, a Jamaican-infused celebration of the man who has contributed so much to the farm, on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. Free cider doughnuts will be available, along with samples of John Henry single malt whiskey, made at the farm's Harvest Spirits Farm Distillery. "It is a testimony to John Henry's contributions to the farm. Our most valuable distilled product is named after him," says farm owner Alan Grout. "I've spent more time with John Henry than anyone else in my life," says Grout, noting that customers do not feel that their visit to the farm is complete without saying hello to Henry. "People know him better than they know me. He's the window to the business." Grout's close relationship with Henry has built a credibility and authority that allows Henry to make decisions in Grout's stead with customers, employees and associates of the farm. "He oftentimes makes a better decision than I would make myself," says Grout, adding that Henry's 40 years, "makes me feel old, but I'd feel a lot older if not for him. He can run the business better than me." That sort of knowledge and relationship didn't come overnight and without learning curves, says Grout. "One problem I have after 40 years is his Jamaican dialect. He's learned to talk more slowly." Henry is now an American citizen and still travels to Jamaica to visit his daughter, who has a doctoral degree, and son, an electrical engineer, but he says, "Jamaica is a little island in the sun with a little economy. Jamaica is very small. Everything is big in America. The American dream is good here. I love it. I stay." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. Staying in touch with his roots has proven to be Henry's best attribute for the farm. He is a liaison for migrant workers in the H-2A program who come to the farm annually (between 45 and 70 a year, many from Jamaica) and has become a role model and a source of guidance for younger workers who aspire to Henry's position and lifestyle. "He has the knowledge and desire to walk in someone else's shoes," says Grout, and his empathy for the migrant worker has been effective in keeping morale, worker retention and productivity high. The good will is not lost on Henry. "I enjoy working here ... that's my favorite thing (about working here). They are good to me, good people." When asked how much longer Henry thinks he will work at Golden Harvest, Grout steps in to answer in jest: "He'll be owning the farm one day, and I'll be working for him." Deanna Fox is a freelance food and agriculture writer. www.deannafox.org This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Albany Nancy Rivera wants to try medical marijuana and as a New Yorker suffering with nerve damage from diabetes, she qualifies to do so under the state's program. Trouble is, Rivera's doctor is not registered to certify patients for the program. The 62-year-old Troy woman could look for one of the 20 physicians in the four-county Capital Region who have taken a course and registered. But her doctor would still need to help her because right now patients cannot access a database of registered doctors on their own. As Rivera struggles to get herself a prescription, the state Department of Health is recommending a series of expansions to the state-run medical marijuana program nearly nine months into its first year of operation that could ease her troubles. The 12 recommendations, which the department appears to be making to itself as part of its two-year report on medical marijuana usage under the Compassionate Care Act, include reviewing whether the drug should be used for chronic severe pain, releasing a list of consenting registered doctors to the public and adding five additional companies that can grow, manufacture and sell medical marijuana over the next two years, which would double the program's size on the manufacturing and sales end. More Information By the numbers Nearly 5,000 New Yorkers have been certified to use medical marijuana through the state's program. Here's a breakdown of the participants by their condition: 5Huntington's disease 33Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS 139Parkinson's disease 165HIV/AIDS 328Epilepsy 372Inflammatory bowel disease 500Spinal-cord injury 514Multiple sclerosis 1,238Cancer 1,704Neuropathy Source: State Department of Health See More Collapse Also included are recommendations to allow nurse practitioners to certify patients, look for ways to allow schools to administer the drug under limited circumstances and evaluate home delivery for patients. Who acts on those recommendations, the department isn't saying yet. On Tuesday it said only that they are under review and it "will advise on the next steps in the process and substance within the next two weeks." Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, D-Manhattan, who helped author the Compassionate Care Act, said the 12 steps all can be taken by the department on its own and include some actions the department has already been engaged in, including studying additional ailments. "The recommendations, as far as they go, are in the right direction," said Gottfried, who has led legislative efforts to expand the program. "It's still a disappointing report and the fact that these are recommendations and not announcements of action makes you wonder what is going to happen." The report's quiet release last week, reported by Politico New York Monday, comes at a time when 6,415 patients have been certified to be treated with medical marijuana and 656 doctors statewide have registered to prescribe the drug as of DOH's Aug. 9 count. There are two schools of thought on those numbers. On one side, the department is quick to point out that "New York's program has more physicians registered than other states whose programs have been in existence for significantly longer than New York's." On the other side, those like Gottfried have been calling since the program began in January for expansion of the types of ailments that can be treated and registering of nurse practitioners and physicians assistants to enable them to prescribe medical marijuana. Legislation that would have allowed both of those changes to move forward didn't get off the ground in the Legislature during the 2016 session. At the same time, while the five authorized medical marijuana companies walk a tight rope between raising their voices to call for expansion more vociferously and playing within the program's rules, some investors have remained wary of the program's future given what they see as a difficult business model to work within. Two companies on Tuesday expressed caution about expanding the number of registered organizations so soon, lest they dilute a market with a limited clientele to begin with. While the report points to 4,998 patients being certified as of June 15, executives from both Etain and Vireo Health of New York pointed to the number of unique patient visits to dispensaries each month, which hit more than 1,500 in only May of the six-month period examined for the department's report. May also was the peak for the number of dispensing transactions, which was just over 2,500. "The challenge for New York's new medical marijuana market is not supply but rather demand," Vireo Chief Executive Officer Ari Hoffnung said. "Adding registered organizations before this new market matures could really risk destabilizing the market and adversely impacting the patients that we serve." Etain Chief Operations Officer Hillary Peckham said, "The goal is really to expand access to patients and create a viable market before we focus on expanding organizations." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. But as is often the case when discussing medical marijuana, expanding patient access isn't just about state-level actions. Even if she found a doctor, Rivera, whose monthly disability income is under $1,000, still would not be able to get the drug, she said. Illegal under federal law, marijuana is not covered by health insurance. That means paying a steep price out of pocket: Etain's pharmacist estimated in March that customers were spending $300-$800 a month. "The insurance companies won't pay for the visits it takes for people to be certified," she said. "And then, I can't afford the medication." mhamilton@timesunion.com 518-454-5449 @matt_hamilton10 The full report from DOH is below: Two Year Medical Marijuana Report An integral part of World Youth Day is for those who arrive a week early for Days in the Diocese. These days number almost a full week where locations near the central site of World Youth Day welcome pilgrims into their homes to experience the culture of the host country. Our group from Plattsmouth and greater Nebraska were assigned to the Diocese of Legnice in Poland. We were randomly grouped with host families. Three other priests and I stayed with an endearing couple named Andrei and Stanislawa. They knew precious little English, and we were even more in deficit with our Polish skills. Yet, we communicated and had a beautiful time. They treated us like kings! They showed us pictures of their children and grandchildren. They showed us pictures of pilgrimages they had taken throughout Poland and to Rome. And the foodoh my! Stanislawa daily put together a spread of meats, breads, vegetables and cakes like you wouldnt believe. Andrei diligently carried it from the kitchen to the dining room and kept our cups full of coffee and tea. They truly loved us. And we received their love gratefully in a foreign land. It is another lesson learned from World Youth Day. Ormond Historical Society has organised a field trip as part of National Heritage Week, in association with the Portroe Gathering. The "Walk & Talk about Ancient Rock Carvings" takes place this Friday, August 26, and will centre on a prehistoric site at Lisheentyrone, Portroe. The site includes a pair of of standing stones, a bowl barrow and a large horizontal stone panel of cup marks. The site is in the region of 4,000 years old and is of a similar tradition as Newgrange, Co unty Meath. The trip will be guided by Derek Ryan, compiler of the popular blog and Facebook page The Tipperary Antiquarian. Derek is a surveyor with a strong interest in megalithic monuments and actually discovered the Rock-Art panel which will be featured in the trip. His writings on this site were featured in the magazine Archaeology Ireland in an article entitled Rock Art in North Tipperary Derek's work can also be seen at thetipperaryantiquarian.blogspot.ie. This event is open to all and is free of charge. The meeting point is Portroe National School at 6.30pm. Bring suitable footwear and clothing for the weather. Meanwhile, as part of National Heritage Week, Nenagh Heritage Centre will host a traditional music concert this Thursday, August 25, between 1pm and 2pm featuring Eileen O'Brien and Nora Butler. The event is free of charge. Nenagh Heritage Centre is in the Governor's House, Kickham Street, Nenagh; ph: 067-33850 A Nenagh family is safe and well following the devastating earthquake that struck central Italy this Wednesday, leaving an estimated 39 people dead. Frances Doherty, Gortlandroe, is staying about 90kms away from the epicentre but told the Tipperary Star that her house shook when the quake struck at around 3.35am (1.35am Irish-time). She is on holidays in the area with her daughter and her two grandchildren. Frances said they had to sleep in their car for about four hours until it was safe to go back to their house. We are all safe and well, but I am still a bit shook. I woke and heard all the local dogs going wild. I thought it was wolves at the lake. The beds started shaking and the ground was moving. Our legs turned to jelly There was a second tremor. We didn't know how far away it was. After the third tremor we went to our elderly neighbour's house. They were terrified, she said. The magnitude 6.1 quake hit Amatrice and Accumoli near Rieti, some 80 miles (100km) north-east of Rome, though the quake was felt beyond the Lazio region into Umbria and Le Marche on the Adriatic coast. The centre of Amatrice was devastated, with entire palazzos razed to the ground. Dazed residents huddled in squares as dozens of aftershocks continued into the early hours, some as strong as 5.1. In 2009, nearby L'Aquila was hit by an earthquake in which over 300 people died. For more on this story, see next week's Tipperary Star [August 24, 2016] AdTheorent Wins Gold and Silver in Best in Biz Awards 2016 International AdTheorent, Inc., a technology company whose data-driven predictive solutions are transforming digital advertising, today announced that it has been named the gold winner for "Most Innovative Product of the Year for Enterprise" in Best in Biz Awards 2016 International, the only independent global business awards program judged by members of the press and industry analysts. Additionally, the company was awarded silver for "Best New Product of the Year for Enterprise." AdTheorent is being recognized for its measurement and analytics platform, Barometic. Originally developed as an internal tool for AdTheorent's data-driven digital ad network, Barometric has served, tracked, and organized petabytes of data for use by AdTheorent's predictive modeling platform, delivering unparalleled accuracy and informing media spend. This year the company launched Barometric as an independent hosted service offering for use with all media, allowing marketers to leverage the solution's transparent, multi-environment methodology to measure cross-channel engagement in real-time, allowing for ongoing optimization and campaign management. Barometric is the only solution capable of collecting mobile IDs across all environments -- such as web, app, rich media, video and brand studies -- and matching these multiple IDs to a single pseudonymous user, resulting in superior attribution. Most tracking and analytics solutions solely compare performance. AdTheorent's solution goes beyond to report the specific situations (content, technology profile, date, time, geo, audience demos, and much more) in which a conversion took place, to inform ad buying and targeting. "Barometric's ability to provide a clear view of how digital media affects engagements and purchases across all conversion environments has been a driving force in AdTheorent's ongoing success and impressive company growth," said Matt Fusco, Vice President of Barometric. "We were thrilled to make Barometric available as a licensable solution this year and we're honored to be awarded two Best in Biz International Awards." More than 270 public and private companies hailing from all sectors of the global economy from more than 30 countries competed in Best in Biz Awards' fourth annual International program.Best in Biz Awards 2016 International honors were once again presented in a range of categories, including Fastest-Growing Company of the Year, Most Innovative Company of the Year, Support Department of the Year, Most Innovative Product, Enterprise Product and Consumer Product of the Year. Best in Biz Awards' uniqueness stems, in part, from the composition of its judging panel. Only writers, journalists, and contributors to business, consumer, financial, trade and technology publications, as well as broadcast outlets and analyst firms, are invited to serve as judges each year. Structured this way, Best in Biz Awards is able to leverage the experience and expertise of an influential group of global opinion makers to determine award winners. Winners in the 4th annual program were determined based on scoring from an international panel of judges from top-tier news, business, finance, and technology publications and media outlets from 15 countries and all continents. This year's judging panel included writers and contributors to such publications as ARD (Germany), Australian (Australia), Bennett Business Connections (Canada), Computer Hoy (Spain), CTV (Canada), Gamers Intuition (United States), HT Mobile (Israel), IAA Magazine (United Arab Emirates), InBusiness (Cyprus and Greece), Irish Independent (Ireland), J Arnold & Associates (Canada), Khaleej Times (United Arab Emirates), PC Format (United Kingdom), PC Pro (United Kingdom), Radio Ngati Porou (New Zealand), Ventures Africa and Enterprise54.com (Nigeria), Vyapar (India) and Wirausaha & Keuangan (Indonesia). About AdTheorent AdTheorent is a technology company that is transforming digital advertising through user identity mapping and data-driven predictive solutions. AdTheorent's machine learning technology platform, Cross-Environment Map and Barometric technologies help brands understand and connect with their audiences at scale. AdTheorent's machine learning technology platform combines millions of data attributes into precise and accurate adaptive models for the purpose of identifying optimal audiences. Powered by data-driven intelligence, AdTheorent's platform delivers the right ad, to the right user, at the right time - all in "real time" within brand advertisers' ROAS and performance goals. AdTheorent provides the most comprehensive cross-environment mapping infrastructure in market, which maps millions of unique device IDs to US households (without using or obtaining individual identities) and other physical locations, and appends those device IDs with extensive 1st, 2nd and 3rd party data sources. As a mobile-first Data Management Platform, AdTheorent is uniquely positioned to match offline and online data to mobile at scale, affect cross-environment targeting and break new ground in media attribution including physical activity such as purchase. AdTheorent's Barometric measurement and analytics solution features the advertising industry's most advanced cross-environment tracking and attribution solution, providing the "post-click and post view" signals necessary for modeling to (i.e., predicting) true user engagement and awareness. The collective result to AdTheorent-partnered brands and marketers is higher engagement rates across any client-defined metric - The Intelligent Impression. For more information, visit: www.adtheorent.com. About Best in Biz Awards Since 2011, Best in Biz Awards has been recognizing companies for their business success as judged by renowned members of the press and industry analysts. Best in Biz Awards honors are currently conferred in two separate programs: North America and International, and in more than 60 categories, including company, team, executive, product, and PR and media. Entries in the 6th annual Best in Biz Awards are currently being accepted from all companies based or operating in North America until the final deadline on September 16, 2016. For more information, visit: http://www.bestinbizawards.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160824005695/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 24, 2016] DeVry University Appoints Steven Nelson as President for North Brunswick Campus in N.J. DeVry University today announced the appointment of Steven Nelson as president of the North Brunswick campus in New Jersey, with oversight and responsibility for the Cherry Hill and Paramus centers. Nelson will be responsible for providing strategic leadership and support to students, faculty and staff at the university's New Jersey locations. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160824005157/en/ Steve Nelson (Photo: Business Wire) While building stronger ties with business and industry leaders as well as with local employers in the metropolitan area, Nelson will play a significant role in increasing the community's awareness of DeVry's degree program offerings to prospective students interested in pursuing an education in technology and business. "Steve brings a passion for student success that is evident in his words, actions and demeanor," said Anthony Stanziani, group president at DeVry niversity. "We are excited to have Steve join our team in New Jersey. With more than 15 years of experience in higher education, he will be pivotal as DeVry expands access to education through new modalities of learning and programs of study." Before Nelson joined DeVry University, he was the campus president for the Everest Institute in Pittsburgh where he was responsible for the day-to-day operations and oversight of all campus personnel and student satisfaction and retention. He also held positions at Kaplan Higher Education as the director of operations for their Career Institute in Charlestown, Massachusetts; and as executive director for Kaplan College in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Nelson attended Indiana University (News - Alert) in Bloomington, Indiana, where he earned his MBA after completing bachelor's and master's degree programs in music, both with a major in performance. He was an adjunct professor of music for five years following his honorable discharge from the U.S. Air Force in 1995. About DeVry University DeVry University's mission is to foster student learning through high-quality, career-oriented education integrating technology, business, science and the arts. Founded in 1931, the university offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs onsite and online within its five distinguished colleges of study: Business & Management, Engineering & Information Sciences, Health Sciences, Liberal Arts & Sciences, and Media Arts & Technology. The university is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC, www.hlcommission.org). Its highly credentialed faculty members have experience in the fields that they teach, providing real-world experiences designed to prepare students for in-demand careers. With locations across the U.S., DeVry University is one of the largest private-sector universities in North America. The university is a part of DeVry Education Group (NYSE: DV), a global provider of educational services. To learn more about DeVry University, visit devry.edu. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160824005157/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 23, 2016] IBERIABANK and FHLB Dallas Award $20K to Benefit New Orleans Nonprofits IBERIABANK and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) today awarded $20,000 in Partnership Grant Program (PGP (News - Alert)) funds to benefit two New Orleans-based nonprofits. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160823006339/en/ Project representatives attended a check presentation celebrating $20,000 in Partnership Grant Program funds from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas and IBERIABANK to Puentes New Orleans, who received $12,000, and the Urban Conservancy, who received $8,000. (Photo: Business Wire) The Urban Conservancy received $8,000, its third PGP award since 2012 from FHLB Dallas and IBERIABANK. This year's PGP grant will be used to staff, market, and hold a series of educational workshops, presentations, and networking events for the Greater New Orleans small business community. Through its StayLocal initiative, the Urban Conservancy provides business owners with tools to compete effectively while educating the community on how investing in locally owned businesses can help build stronger, more resilient neighborhoods across New Orleans. "This grant helps us connect our locally owned businesses with a local financial provider in IBERIABANK, and this will really help build businesses' banking relationships," said Dana Eness, executive director at the Urban Conservancy. "For small businesses, access to capital is one of the biggest questions they have, so this grant is particularly useful in helping to shore-up those relationships." Puentes New Orleans received a $12,000 grant, which will be used to build the capacity of their Economic Asset Building Program, providing consumer credit counseling, first-time homebuyer education, and business consulting to the low- to moderate-income Latino community in New Orleans. Establised in 2007, Puentes New Orleans helps Latinos in New Orleans overcome the obstacles that often keep them from purchasing homes. "Our clients are hardworking, family-oriented individuals who dream of one day becoming homeowners, starting their own businesses, and sending their children to college," said Salvador Longoria, board member at Puentes New Orleans. "There are a few factors, however, that keep them from realizing that dream." Mr. Longoria cited limited English proficiency, and unfamiliarity with the homebuying process, fair housing laws, and the availability of financial products as some of the obstacles his clients face when purchasing a home. Through the PGP, FHLB Dallas member financial institutions, such as IBERIABANK, contribute $500 up to $4,000 to a community-based organization (CBO). FHLB Dallas matches the contributions at a 3:1 ratio, which provides up to $12,000 in grant money to a CBO. Including the 2014 grant, and another grant in 2012, the Urban Conservancy has been awarded a total of $24,000 in PGP funding through IBERIABANK. "The Urban Conservancy has been successful in starting a conversation about the benefits of local investing, beginning with a workshop in early 2013 that brought community leaders together from a wide range of different industries and economic sectors," said IBERIABANK Executive Vice President and Regional Group Manager Donald Zornman. "This initial meeting has evolved into a sustained discussion on strategies to reinvest more dollars back into the local community through a series of workshops and roundtable meetings." Mr. Zornman said Puentes New Orleans has a unique understanding of the needs and challenges faced by the Latino community. "This is IBERIABANK's first time to support Puentes New Orleans through the PGP," said Mr. Zornman. "Puentes is uniquely positioned to understand and serve the needs of the low-income Latino community and the grant will be beneficial in assisting with increasing its organizational capacity." PGP grants are offered annually through FHLB Dallas' member institutions via a lottery system. Funds may be used for research, organizational capacity-building, grant- and funding-application assistance, or contractual services. In 2016, FHLB Dallas awarded $225,000 in PGP funds to assist 23 CBOs. Combined with the $96,200 from member institutions, a total of $321,200 was awarded this year. "It's rewarding to see the positive impact of partnership between nonprofits and our member institutions," said Greg Hettrick, first vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas. "Our role through the PGP is to leverage and help maximize IBERIABANK's support to community organizations by providing a valuable community investment tool." About IBERIABANK IBERIABANK Corporation is a financial holding company with 298 combined offices, including 199 bank branch offices and three LPOs in Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Texas, Florida and Georgia, 22 title insurance offices in Arkansas and Louisiana, mortgage representatives in 66 locations in 10 states, seven locations with representatives of IBERIA Wealth Advisors in five states, and one IBERIA Capital Partners, L.L.C. office in New Orleans. About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank system created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $54.4 billion as of June 30, 2016, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced advances and other credit products to approximately 850 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Texas. Visit fhlb.com for more information. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160823006339/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 24, 2016] Marley Natural Premium Cannabis Products Launch in Oregon Marley Natural, the official Bob Marley cannabis brand, is proud to launch its inaugural collection of premium cannabis flower, pre-rolls and oils, lifestyle accessories, and body care in Oregon this week. Starting on August 24, 2016, the brand's all-natural, sun-grown premium cannabis products, as well as smoking and other lifestyle accessories, will be available at all Serra and Nectar (News - Alert) dispensaries in the Portland metro area and Eugene. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160824005343/en/ Marley Natural cannabis flower and oil are hand-selected from local farms run by experienced growers committed to sustainable growing practices. Sun-grown, natural and free of harmful pesticides, chemicals or fertilizers, all Marley Natural products are tested and clearly labeled for potency, purity and safety. (Photo: Business Wire) Marley Natural's product lines include: Four categories of all-natural, locally-sourced, sun-grown cannabis flower, pre-rolls and oil: Marley Green (hybrid), Marley Gold (sativa), Marley Red (high-CBD), and Marley Black (indica); (hybrid), (sativa), (high-CBD), and (indica); Body care products infused with the moisturizing power of cold-pressed hemp seed oil and blended with other natural Jamaican botanicals; A collection of smoking accessories made from sustainably grown American Black Walnut wood and heat-resistant, hand-blown glass. All Marley Natural products are designed with deep respect for Bob Marley's legacy and belief in the positive potential of the herb to heal and inspire us. The brand launched in Los Angeles on February 6, 2016-Bob's 71st birthday. In addition to Oregon, Marley Natural cannabis is currently available in dispensaries across northern and southern California. Lifestyle accessories and body care products are available nationwide at specialty retailers, as well as online at www.MarleyNaturalShop.com. By the end of 2016, Marley Natural cannabis products will also be available in Washington. "We are fortunate to be living during a promising time of positive change, especially with regard to cannabis and how people understand it. My father would be so happy to see so many people appreciating the natural, healing power of the herb," said Cedella Marley, Bob's daughter. Rise Up: Marley Natural Gives Back to Oregon In the spirit of giving back both to Jamaica and to communities that have been harmed by cannabis prohibition, Marley Natural has created a social impact initiative called Rise Up. Rise Up fund a series of carefully curated projects that reflect Bob's vision for an inclusive and compassionate community where people take care of each other and the environment. In Oregon, Marley Natural has partnered with the Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA), the first non-profit organization created specifically to progress the cannabis industry by increasing diversity. Marley Natural's partnership with the MCBA will create a Rise Up Expungement Day to help men and women who have been convicted of non-violent cannabis related offenses file a motion to set aside felony and non-felony arrests or conviction charges that qualify for expungement. Learn more about Rise Up Expungement Day at http://www.minoritycannabis.org/expungement-day.html. In Jamaica, Rise Up is funding projects with four organizations across the island, each dedicated to empowering local farmers, fishers, and entrepreneurs: Oracabessa Bay Fish Sanctuary, Farm Up Jamaica, Golden Valley Farmer's Group and Occupy Pinnacle. In California, Rise Up has partnered with Defy Ventures, an entrepreneurship, employment, and character development training program for currently and formerly incarcerated men, women, and youth. Marley Natural's commitment to giving back to Jamaica and communities harmed by prohibition through Rise Up will grow in scale and scope as we expand our operations globally. More details about Rise Up are available at www.MarleyNatural.com/RiseUp. About Marley Natural Marley Natural is the official Bob Marley cannabis brand, crafted with deep respect for Bob's legacy and belief in the positive potential of the herb to heal and inspire us. To learn more about Marley Natural, visit www.MarleyNatural.com or follow the conversation on social media using @MarleyNatural and #MarleyNatural. About Marley Natural Products Sun-Grown Cannabis Flower, Pre-Rolls and Oil Marley Natural cannabis flower, pre-rolls and oil are hand-selected from local farms run by experienced growers committed to sustainable growing practices. Sun-grown, natural and free of harmful pesticides, chemicals or fertilizers, all Marley Natural products are tested and clearly labeled for potency, purity and safety prior to sale. Marley Natural cannabis flower, pre-rolls and oil are available in four categories, each featuring different strains depending on harvest availability: Marley Green features hybrid strains recommended for people beginning their journey with Marley Natural . Marley Green strains have balanced levels of THC that combine the cerebral high of sativa with the physical relaxation of indica. Marley Green strains are appropriate for anytime use. features hybrid strains recommended for people beginning their journey with . Marley Green strains have balanced levels of THC that combine the cerebral high of sativa with the physical relaxation of indica. Marley Green strains are appropriate for anytime use. Marley Gold features sativa strains that offer energetic, uplifting effects that may produce a more cerebral experience compared to other cannabis strains. Marley Gold strains are appropriate for daytime use. features sativa strains that offer energetic, uplifting effects that may produce a more cerebral experience compared to other cannabis strains. Marley Gold strains are appropriate for daytime use. Marley Red features CBD-rich strains that combine CBD and THC in a beneficial ratio. CBD-rich cannabis is frequently reported to provide patients and consumers with anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-anxiety properties without the psychoactive effects of strains high in THC. Marley Red strains are appropriate for anytime use. features CBD-rich strains that combine CBD and THC in a beneficial ratio. CBD-rich cannabis is frequently reported to provide patients and consumers with anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-anxiety properties without the psychoactive effects of strains high in THC. Marley Red strains are appropriate for anytime use. Marley Black features indica strains recommended for connoisseurs seeking a more physical, full-body experience. Marley Black strains are high in THC and appropriate for nighttime use. Naturally-Derived Cannabis Sativa Body Care Infused with Jamaican Botanicals The Marley Natural body care line offers naturally-derived formulas that blend the moisturizing power of hemp seed oil with Jamaican botanicals (including ginger, lemongrass, turmeric, and cerasse). All formulas contain cold-pressed hemp seed oil rich in essential fatty acids, Omega-3s and Omega-6s. All formulas are paraben, sulfate and cruelty free. Body care products are available for sale nationally via www.MarleyNaturalShop.com. The hemp seed body care products include an essential oil blend, body lotion, body wash, body salve, hand cream, bar soap and a lip balm. Sustainably Grown American Black Walnut Smoking Accessories Balancing intuitive design with Jamaican-inspired accents, Marley Natural's smoking accessories cater to discerning herb connoisseurs who celebrate the ritual of smoking. The collection features products made from sustainably grown American Black Walnut wood and heat-resistant, hand-blown glass, all boxed in 100% recyclable packaging. Each product is designed to ensure durability, convenient maintenance, and a comfortable hand-feel. The accessories are designed to be used only with legal smoking herbs and are not intended to be used with tobacco products. The collection is available for sale nationwide at specialty retailers, as well as online at www.MarleyNaturalShop.com. The collection includes a taster, a spoon pipe, a steamroller, a bubbler, and a grinder, as well as prep trays and storage devices. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160824005343/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] EGG HARBOR, Wis. This Summer a talented student from South Bend, attended Birch Creek Music Performance Center. Anna Niemoth, a pianist from Louisville High School, spent two weeks at Birch Creek for their Symphony Session (July 3 - 16). She was chosen among 189 students from around the country to attend one of four sessions offered at this prestigious academy with world-renowned faculty. Birch Creeks unique mission is to provide intensive, performance-based instruction to promising young musicians ages 12-19 by immersing them in a professional, mentoring environment. Birch Creek celebrates its 41st concert season in 2016 and continues to support a student: faculty ratio of approximately 2:1. This provides students with an abundance of personal attention from their faculty mentors, who represent top music educators and performers from around the country. Students are given the opportunity to hone their technical skills and learn firsthand all the aspects of life as a professional musician. Students at Birch Creek perform 30 concerts for paying customers throughout the summer in addition to six community and outreach events. The Program Director of the Birch Creek Symphony session is Ricardo Castaneda. Castaneda is Professor of Oboe and English Horn at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill. He is currently principal oboist with the Lake Forest Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Sinfonietta. The Birch Creek Symphony Orchestra is conducted by Brian Groner, Music Director of the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra, Appleton, Wisconsin. Birch Creek Music Performance Center in Egg Harbor, is a residential summer music academy for advanced young musicians. With a performance emphasis, students are taught by nationally and internationally recognized performers and educators during the day, and perform alongside them in concerts at night. The four sessions Birch Creek offers for students and audiences are Percussion & Steel Band, Symphony, and Big Band Jazz. More information about 2016 concert events, the Birch Creek Academy, and events this fall are posted at www.birchcreek.org/tickets. [August 24, 2016] New Orleans Nonprofit Received $8K Grant from Whitney Bank and FHLB Dallas The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) and Whitney Bank awarded Home by Hand, a New Orleans nonprofit and affordable housing developer, $8,000 in Partnership Grant Program (PGP (News - Alert)) funds during a check presentation today. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160824006192/en/ The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas and Whitney Bank awarded Home by Hand, a New Orleans nonprofit and affordable housing developer, $8,000 in Partnership Grant Program funds during a check presentation today. (Photo: Business Wire) Home by Hand will use the grant to support its operations, focusing their efforts on providing affordable housing to low- to moderate-income families in a neighborhood that was badly damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Established in 2015, Home by Hand was created by Project Home Again, which built more than 170 homes in New Orleans in the Gentilly neighborhood on the northeast side of the city. Louisiana State Representative Joseph Bouie (District 97) said, "This is a wonderful example of private/public partnerships which support a community's rebuilding and growth efforts." Home by Hand was instrumental in rebuilding many parts of the Gentilly neighborhood and can greatly benefit from the grant funds, according to Whitney Bank AVP and Community Affairs Officer Ashley Aubrey Harrison. "We're excited to partner with Home by Hand because they're a staplein the New Orleans community," she said. "New Orleans needs groups like Home by Hand to help provide access to affordable housing and these funds will help them continue their mission." Home by Hand Executive Director Carey Shea commented on the impact the PGP funds will have, not only on bolstering the organization's mission, but also on the community. "Distressed communities need community development organizations that are on the ground every day working to improve the quality of life of the residents," said Ms. Shea. "This grant enables us to focus on our core line of business, which is building beautiful, energy-efficient homes for first-time homebuyers." She said that while they would not have closed their doors without the grant, they would have spent "hours and hours on research and writing grants - hours that will now be used to create new projects and advocate for the community." Presented annually, PGP grants are awarded to community-based organizations (CBO). The grants may be used for research, organizational capacity-building, grant- and funding-application assistance, or contractual services. In 2016, FHLB Dallas awarded $225,000 in PGP funds to assist 23 CBOs. Combined with the $96,200 from member institutions, a total of $321,200 was awarded this year. Through the PGP, FHLB Dallas member financial institutions, such as Whitney Bank, contribute $500 up to $4,000 to a CBO. FHLB Dallas matches the contributions at a 3:1 ratio, which provides up to $12,000 in grant money to a CBO. "The PGP is a great source of grant funds to offset operation and administration expenses so that nonprofit organizations like Home by Hand can focus on their mission of providing affordable housing," said Greg Hettrick, first vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas. "We're glad to partner with Whitney Bank." About Whitney Bank Since the late 1800s, the Whitney Bank name has embodied core values of Honor & Integrity, Strength & Stability, Commitment to Service, Teamwork, and Personal Responsibility. Part of Hancock Holding Company's Gulf South financial services family, Whitney Bank locations in Louisiana and Texas and Hancock Bank locations in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida offer comprehensive financial choices, including traditional and online banking; commercial and small business banking; private banking; trust and investment services; certain insurance services; and mortgage services. More information and online banking are available at hancockwhitney.com. About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank system created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $54.4 billion as of June 30, 2016, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced advances and other credit products to approximately 850 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Texas. Visit fhlb.com for more information. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160824006192/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] People Living with HIV in Illinois Encouraged to Take HIV #StayinCare Quiz Illinois HIV Care Connect has introduced the HIV #StayinCare Quiz to raise awareness of the topic of staying in care, also known as "retention in care." By taking this seven-minute quiz, people living with HIV in Illinois can measure their offhand awareness and knowledge of why staying in HIV care is important. At the end of the quiz, they are informed of the correct answers and directed to educational resources about the importance of staying in HIV care. The quiz can be found at http://tinyurl.com/jz7g6re. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160824005209/en/ Take the HIV #StayinCare Quiz at hivcareconnect.com (Graphic: Business Wire) Illinois HIV Care Connect is promoting the quiz on its website (www.hivcareconnect.com) and via its Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, and Instagram social media platforms. "The Stay in Care Quiz is part of a web and social media campaign emphasizing the importance of staying in HIV care," said Tom Hughes (News - Alert), executive director of the Illinois Public Health Association (IPHA), which manages Illinois HIV Care Connect with funding from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). "It follows two successful campaigns we have done previously - one on the importance of viral suppression and another on HIV and mental health. All of these campaigns give advice on how to live long and healthy lives with HIV." In fall 2016, Illinois HIV Care Connect will publish educational content about the importance of staying in HIV care on its website. People living with HIV in Illinois will be asked to retake the quiz after reviewing the campaign information, so that Illinois HIV Care Connect can compare the pre- and post-campaign quiz results. Illinois HIV Care Connect is a statewide network providing medical case management, health care and support services to people living with HIV. Seven lead agencies coordinate the services provided to eight Illinois regions through the program. About 36,000 Illinois residents are estimated to be HIV-positive. Illinois HIV Care Connect lead agency offices located in Rockford, Peoria, Springfield, Belleville, Murphysboro, Champaign and Chicago serve people living with HIV in all of Illinois' 102 counties. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160824005209/en/ [August 24, 2016] Tennessee Selects Xerox to Issue Benefits Cards, Ensure Citizens Receive Payments Quickly, Securely The State of Tennessee has selected Xerox to provide benefits cards to 120,000 citizens receiving child support, unemployment compensation and state pension payments. The five-year, $5.5 million contract with the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration allows for quicker payment distribution and better security of funds. The cards will be delivered through Xerox's Go Program, an electronic payment card solution which accelerates payments to recipients by using a reloadable MasterCard (News - Alert) debit card, granting recipients convenient access to funds and account information. The new cards also have Europay, MasterCard and Visa (EMV) capabilities, providing enhanced security of beneficiary funds, and reducing fraud, waste and abuse for government agencies. Tennessee is one of the first state governments in the nation to provide its citizens with EMV-enhanced benefits cards. "Receiving these payments in a timely fashion is crucial to recipients' livelihoods from buying necessities to ensuring an electric bill is paid," said Mike Cerone, senior vice president and managing director, Card Services group, Xerox. "Our Go Program is not only built with technology that effectively reduces risk, but also ensures funds are distributed quickly and through a tested, reliable network." Xerox developed a different card design for each program so that it is easy to distinguish which card to use if a citizen receives multiple benefits. The new cards were mailed to beneficiaries in late June, and the cards began receiving payments on July 1. Xerox Public Sector Solutions helps government agencies transform their operations and business processes to better serve their constituents. Driving innovation through analytic, research and data, Xerox works with 1,700 clients at the federal, state, regional and local level in all 50 states and 34 countries around the world. Click to Tweet About Xerox Xerox is helping change the way the world works. By applying our expertise in imaging, business process, analytics, automation and user-centric insights, we engineer the flow of work to provide greater productivity, efficiency and personalization. Our employees create meaningful innovations and provide business process services, printing equipment, software and solutions that make a real difference for our clients and their customers in 180 countries. On January 29, 2016, Xerox announced its plans to separate into two independent, publicly-traded companies - Xerox Corporation, which will be comprised of the company's Document Technology and Document Outsourcing businesses, and Conduent Incorporated, a business process services company. The company is on track to complete the separation by the end of 2016. Learn more at www.xerox.com. Note: To receive RSS news feeds, visit http://news.xerox.com. For open commentary, industry perspectives and views visit http://twitter.com/xerox, http://www.linkedin.com/company/xerox, http://simplifywork.blogs.xerox.com, http://www.facebook.com/XeroxCorp or http://www.youtube.com/XeroxCorp. Xerox and Xerox and Design are trademarks of Xerox in the United States and/or other countries. Conduent is a trademark of Xerox Business Services, LLC in the United States and/or other countries. Prices, features, specifications, capabilities, appearance and availability of Xerox products and services are subject to change without notice. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160824005183/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 23, 2016] The Mobile Phone Insurance Ecosystem: 2016 - 2030 - Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies & Forecasts NEW YORK, Aug. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Given the increasing prevalence of expensive household goods, cars and consumer electronics, insurance has become an unavoidable and often necessary cost in modern life. Mobile phones, and smartphones in particular are no exception to this trend. Most major wireless carriers, insurance specialists, device OEMs, retailers and even banks now offer insurance plans that cover theft, loss, malfunctions and damage of mobile phones. Many policies now also integrate enhanced technical support and additional protection features such as data backup facilities, allowing users to securely backup their phone data online. SNS Research estimates that the global mobile phone insurance market is expected to account for nearly $20 Billion in revenue by the end of 2016. The market is further expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 12% over the next four years, eventually accounting for over $30 Billion in revenue by the end of 2020. The "Mobile Phone Insurance Ecosystem: 2016 2030 Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies & Forecasts" report presents an in-depth assessment of the mobile phone insurance ecosystem including market drivers, challenges, opportunities, value chain, future roadmap, case studies, ecosystem player profiles and strategies. The report also presents market size forecasts from 2016 through to 2030. The forecasts are segmented for 5 regional and 25 country level markets. The report comes with an associated Excel datasheet suite covering quantitative data from all numeric forecasts presented in the report. Topics Covered The report covers the following topics: - Mobile phone insurance ecosystem - Market drivers and barriers - Insurance policy structure, distribution channels and key trends - Case studies of mobile phone insurance initiatives - Industry roadmap and value chain - Profiles and strategies of over 40 leading ecosystem players - Strategic recommendations for ecosystem players - Market analysis and forecasts from 2016 till 2030 Forecast Segmentation Market forecasts are provided for the following reginal and country level submarkets: - Asia Pacific - Europe - Latin & Central America - Middle East & Africa - North America Country Level Segmentation - Argentina , Australia , Brazil , Canada , China , Colombia , France , Germany , Hong Kong , India , Israel , Italy , Japan , Mexico , Netherlands , Poland , Russia , Saudi Arabia , Singapore , South Africa , South Korea , Spain , Taiwan , UK & USA Key Questions Answered The report provides answers to the following key questions: - How big is the mobile phone insurance opportunity? - What trends, challenges and barriers are influencing its growth? - How is the ecosystem evolving by region? - What will the market size be in 2020 and at what rate will it grow? - Which countries will see the highest percentage of growth? - Who are the key market players and what are their strategies? - What risks are typically covered in mobile phone insurance offerings? - How can insurance plans help wireless carriers in reducing churn? - What strategies should wireless carriers, device OEMs and insurance providers adopt to remain competitive? Key Findings The report has the following key findings: - SNS Research estimates that the global mobile phone insurance market is expected to account for nearly $20 Billion in revenue by the end of 2016. - The market is further expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 12% over the next four years, eventually accounting for over $30 Billion in revenue by the end of 2020. - In an effort to boost the uptake of mobile phone insurance, wireless carriers and insurance providers have extensively enhanced their insurance offerings with the addition of location tracking, data protection/recovery features and integrated technical support. - The success of mobile phone insurance plans has driven several wireless carriers, such as NTT DoCoMo and Orange, to invest in the sales of other insurance products through mobile phones and their retail outlets. - New insurance models are also beginning to emerge, such as London-based So-Sure's social insurance for mobile phones, which allows customers to get up to 80% of their money back, if they and their friends don't claim. - Device OEMs are beginning to invest in tailored plans to suit the specific requirements of certain regional markets. A good example is Xiaomi's Mi Protect plan in India, which covers accidental and liquid damage, for as little as $7 per year. Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p04086083-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 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-mobile-phone-insurance-ecosystem-2016---2030---opportunities-challenges-strategies--forecasts-300317382.html SOURCE Reportlinker [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 23, 2016] SEO Inc. Named SEO Agency of the Year Finalist in 2016 Landy Awards CARLSBAD, Calif., Aug. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- SEO Inc. is thrilled to announce its standing as a finalist in the 2016 Landy Awards as SEO Agency of the Year in the SEO category. The winner of this coveted prize will be announced at the awards gala held in New York City September 28, 2016, during the annual Search Marketing Expo (SMX) conference. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160823/400628LOGO The Landy Awards are presented each year by Search Engine Land and sponsored in part by Google. The event celebrates the best agencies, teams, and individuals in the digital marketing community. SEO Inc.'s entry was one of 200 submissions from SEO, SEM, and digital marketing agencies across 18 categories. "I'm so proud of our team for all of their hard work," said Garry Grant, founder and CEO of SEO Inc. "We put together an outstanding submission representing our best work to date. Although our work speaks for itself, we know our years of dedication and SEO innovation will pay off." Senior Project Manager Cari Bacon expounded upon the agency's submission. "We increased organic traffic for our client by 199 percent, non-branded organic traffic by 233 percent, and most importantly, revenue by 39 percent. We also removed a Google penalty that our client acquired years ago, resulting in over 60 nonbranded keywords achieving first-page rankings." As one of the longest-standing agencies in the SEO industry, SEO Inc. has helped clients around the world surpass their business goals with integrated search engine optimization strategies, such as targeted campaigns, keyword analysis, website content improvement, link popularity engagement, and more. SEO Inc. also offers clients pay-per-click management, Web development, search engine optimized copywriting, press releases, and social media management for a fully integrated approach to online marketing. "We had every confidence that we would be a finalist," said Grant. "Our company was one of the first in the industry. With decades of experience, we're far from novices in the digital marketing industry. Our integrated approach to search marketing means clients obtain a wide variety of strategies to improve rankings, achieve marketing goals, and increase revenue." Going into the awards ceremony, SEO Inc. is pleased with its team's hard work, dedication, and results. "We're in the running against four other finalists. The competition is sure to be fierce. After all, more and more SEO agencies have popped up over the years. But we're certain our work will shine through. As a finalist, we're proud to have accomplished what we have," Grant said. For more information, please read SEO Inc.'s Landy Awards announcement here. About SEO Inc. Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, since 1997, SEO Inc. is one of the top search engine optimization companies in the world. It has helped hundreds of companies grow their business with search engine optimization best practices. The agency also focuses on digital marketing strategies that provide clients with results-oriented, full-service solutions. Visit www.seoinc.com or call 877-736-0006 for more information. Related Images image1.png image2.png Related Links SEO Inc. Website 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/seo-inc-named-seo-agency-of-the-year-finalist-in-2016-landy-awards-300317274.html SOURCE SEO Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 23, 2016] Anti-Jamming Market for GPS by Technique (Nulling System, Beam Steering System, Civilian System), Receiver Type (Military & Government Grade, Commercial Transportation Grade), Application, End User, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2022 NEW YORK, Aug. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- "Anti-jamming market for GPS expected to grow at a high rate between 2016 and 2022" The Anti-jamming market for GPS is expected to reach USD 4.80 billion (in terms of value) and 309.2 thousand units (in terms of volume) by 2022, at a CAGR of 7.0% and 10.1%, respectively, between 2016 and 2022. The demand for a secured weapons guided system, and increasing vulnerability of GPS signals due to development of low cost GPS jammers are the major drivers for growth of the market. "Flight control application to be the leading segment in terms of value of the Anti-jamming market for GPS during the forecast period" The reason for flight control application to be the largest segment in the military-based airborne end user is because flight control is the most critical application for aerial platforms to operate on GPS signals and they are expected to be completely immune to GPS jamming signals. "North America expected to hold the largest market share during the forecast period" The market in North America is expected to grow at a moderate rate in the overall market till 2022. The combination of multiple factors makes North America the most dynamic region in the Anti-jamming market for GPS. The reason for the North America region to be the dominant market is because it is home to some of the top players in the Anti-jamming market for GPS such as Rockwell Collins, Inc. (U.S.), The Raytheon Company (U.S.) and NovAtel, Inc. (Canada). Moreover, the U.S. has the most powerful military in the world. In the process of determinin and verifying the market size for several segments and sub segments of the Anti-jamming market for GPS gathered through the secondary research, extensive primary interviews have been conducted with key people. The breakup of the profiles of primary participants is shown below: - By Company Type: Tier 1 20%, Tier 2 45%, and Tier 3 35% - By Designation: C-Level Executives 35%, Directors 25%, and Others 40% - By Region: North America 30%, Europe 20%, APAC 45%, and RoW 5% The geographic segmentation in the report covers the four major regions of the world, namely, North America , Europe , APAC, and RoW. The report also profiles major players in the Anti-jamming market for GPS. Some of the major players in this market are Rockwell Collins (U.S.), The Raytheon Company (U.S.), NovAtel, Inc. (U.S.), Cobham plc (U.K.), Mayflower Communications Company (U.S.), BAE Systems (U.K.), Furuno Electric Company Ltd ( Japan ), Harris Corporation (U.S.), Lockheed Martin (U.S.), Thales Group ( France ), The Boeing Company (U.S.), and U-Blox ( Switzerland ). Reasons to Buy the Report: This report caters to the needs of leading companies, industries, component manufacturers, and other related stakeholders in this market. Other parties that could benefit from the report include government bodies, environmental agencies, consulting firms, business development executives, C-level executives, and VPs. Our report would help analyze new opportunities and potential revenue sources and enhance the decision-making process for new business strategies. The quantitative and qualitative information in the report, along with our comprehensive analysis, would help a player to gain a competitive edge in the market. Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p04073950-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 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/anti-jamming-market-for-gps-by-technique-nulling-system-beam-steering-system-civilian-system-receiver-type-military--government-grade-commercial-transportation-grade-application-end-user-and-geography---global-forecast-300317417.html SOURCE Reportlinker [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 23, 2016] Vacuum Valve Market 2021 Forecasts, Key Players Profile and Analysis Report PUNE, India, August 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Market-Research-Reports.com adds "Global and Chinese Vacuum Valve Industry, 2011-2021 Market Research Report" latest study of 150 pages, published in Aug 2016, to the Machinery and Equipment's intelligence collection of its store. The Global Vacuum Valve Industry 2016 Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Vacuum Valve industry. Complete report on Vacuum Valve industry divided into 11 major chapters that offer an overview of current market scenario as well as 2021 forecasts is now available at http://www.market-research-reports.com/470288-vacuum-valve-industry . The Global Vacuum Valve Industry 2016 Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Vacuum Valve industry. Firstly, the report provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Vacuum Valve industry analysis is provided for the international market including development history, competitive landscape analysis, and major regions' development status. Secondly, this report states import/export, supply and consumption figures as well as cost, price, revenue and gross margin by regions (United States, EU, China and Japan), and other regions can be added. Then, 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 Vacuum Valve industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed. Finally, the feasibility of new investment projects is assessed, and overall research conclusions are offered. In a word, the report provides major statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individual interested in the market. Order a copy of this report at http://www.market-research-reports.com/contacts/purchase.php?name=470288 . The first chapter introduces the Vacuum Valve Industry by Brief Introduction, Development & Status of Vacuum Valve Industry. The second chapter focuses on Manufacturing Technology of Vacuum Valve, the third one gives Analysis of Global Key Manufacturers (Including Company Profile, Product Specification, 2011-2016 Production Information etc.). The forth chapter deals with 2011-2016 Global and China Market of Vacuum Valve. The chapter 5 summarizes Market Status of Vacuum Valve Industry. Partial List of Tables and Figures for Global & China Vacuum Valve Industry Figure Vacuum Valve Product Table Vacuum Valve Classification Table Vacuum Valve Applications Figure Vacuum Valve Manufacturing Technology Table Major Manufacturers Production Technology List Table Vacuum Valve Industries Policy List Figure 2016 Global Vacuum Valve Market Share By Country Explore more report on Machinery and Equipment's Industry at http://www.market-research-reports.com/cat/machinery-and-equipments-market-research . Another research titled Global and Chinese Control Valve Industry, 2011-2021 Market Research Report provides key statistics on the market status of the Control Valve manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry. Firstly, the report provides a basic overview of the industry including its definition, applications and manufacturing technology. Then, 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 Control Valve 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 2016-2021 market development trends of Control Valve industry. Analysis of upstream raw materials, downstream demand, and current market dynamics is also carried out. In the end, the report makes some important proposals for a new project of Control Valve Industry before evaluating its feasibility. Overall, the report provides an in-depth insight of 2011-2021 global and Chinese Control Valve industry covering all important parameters. Comprehensive Table of Contents and more for the report is available at http://www.market-research-reports.com/471738-control-valve-industry . About Us: Market Research Reports is an aggregator of syndicated market research studies that offer current and future market intelligence across multiple industrial verticals through is high quality database. Market Research Reports aims to help you take business decisions accurately and on time, every time. Understanding your time constraints, we can help you find the most relevant research based on the requirements you share with us. Our customers get 24 X 7 email and phone support. Feel free to reach us at +1 888 391 5441 with your business intelligence needs. Contact: Ritesh Tiwari UNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZ Magarpatta city, Hadapsar Pune - 411013 Maharashtra, India. Tel: +1-888-391-5441 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 24, 2016] Panopto Secures $42.8 Million in Funding to Accelerate Growth and Video Platform Innovation SEATTLE, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Panopto, a leading provider of enterprise and education video solutions, announced today that it has secured $42.8 million in funding to continue its business expansion and technology leadership in video content management, recording, and live streaming. The minority growth round was led by Sterling Partners, in conjunction with existing investors, management and a senior credit facility underwritten by Square 1 Bank. Signal Hill served as exclusive financial advisor to Panopto for this transaction. Founded in 2007, Panopto pioneered the categories of lecture capture and enterprise video content management. Today, the company offers a comprehensive video platform that enables a diverse set of organizations to capture and manage all of their video assets. The platform includes: A secure YouTube-like portal for publishing and sharing videos A unique search engine that finds any word spoken or shown on-screen in videos Cloud transcoders that convert videos for optimal playback on any device Video recording, screencasting, and live streaming tools A remote recording service for securely controlling video events from any location An online video editor Video viewing reports and analytics An enterprise content delivery network (ECDN) for efficiently streaming videos Mobile apps for enhanced online and offline playback Since its founding, the company has amassed more than two million videos in its cloud-based video platform, making it the largest repository of expert learning videos in the world. Each month, customers stream more than 100 years of video from Panopto Cloud, which has experienced 20% compound quartely growth since 2012. For two years running, the company has been recognized by Gartner as a "Leader" in enterprise video content management and has been ranked as one of the fastest growing companies on Deloitte's Fast 500 list. Current clients include New York Life, GE Healthcare Digital, Yale University, Brown University, and the Wharton School of Business. Panopto's dramatic growth reflects surging demand for video in the workplace and higher education. This demand has also been demonstrated by a flurry of market activity in the last 12 months. During this period, the video content management market has seen the acquisitions of UStream and ClearLeap by IBM, Microsoft's entry into the space with Microsoft Stream, and an influx of funding with a recent eight-figure investment round announced by Kaltura. "Over the past nine years, we've had the privilege of helping millions of students and employees improve themselves and their organizations through video-based learning," said Eric Burns, co-founder and CEO of Panopto. "With Sterling Partners, we've found the ideal investor to help us bring this enabling technology to more businesses and universities around the world. Sterling's portfolio breadth, unique experience across enterprise and education technologies, and deep networks will propel us to the next level of growth and market presence." Sterling Partners' Managing Director Jason Rosenberg commented that "within five years, video will be the dominant form of online communication. As demand for this technology continues to accelerate, Panopto is leading the industry in product innovation and organizational capability. With its explosive growth in the enterprise, its dominant position in higher education, and its significant technological advantages over its competitors, Panopto is set to emerge as the leader in this multibillion-dollar market. We're thrilled to partner with Eric and his team as they continue to scale." About Panopto Panopto helps businesses and universities create searchable video libraries of their institutional knowledge. Since 2007, the company has been a pioneer in video capture software, video content management systems, and inside-video search technology. Today, Panopto's video platform is the largest repository of expert learning videos in the world. Headquartered in Seattle with offices in Pittsburgh, London, Hong Kong, Beijing, and Sydney, Panopto has received industry recognition for its innovation, rapid growth, and company culture. For more information, visit www.panopto.com. About Sterling Partners Sterling Partners is a private equity firm with a distinct point of view on how to build great companies. Its eighth investment fund, the Education Opportunity Fund, was launched in partnership with USA Funds in April 2015. The Fund's objective is to invest in purpose-driven companies and partner with high-performing leaders that are taking an innovative approach to transforming businesses that have a connection to the education industry. The Education Opportunity Fund will target investments primarily to growth-stage, technology-relevant businesses. The principals of the Education Opportunity Fund believe in ideas and ideals, in people and in partnerships that drive long-term success. For more information, please visit www.sterlingpartners.com. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/panopto-secures-428-million-in-funding-to-accelerate-growth-and-video-platform-innovation-300317521.html SOURCE Panopto [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 24, 2016] Red Hat Powers New Generation of High-Performance Virtualization Based on Open Standards with Red Hat Virtualization 4 Red Hat (News - Alert), Inc. (NYSE: RHT), the world's leading provider of open source solutions, today announced the general availability of Red Hat Virtualization 4, the newest release of its Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) -powered virtualization platform. Red Hat Virtualization 4 challenges the economics and complexities of proprietary virtualization solutions by providing a fully-open, high-performing, more secure, and centrally managed platform for both Linux- and Windows-based workloads. It combines a powerful updated hypervisor, advanced system dashboard, and centralized networking for users' evolving workloads. Built on Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Red Hat Virtualization 4 is designed to easily integrate with existing IT investments while providing a foundation for emerging technology deployments, including containerized and cloud-native applications. While virtualization remains a key element of datacenter infrastructure, customer needs around the technology are rapidly evolving. Enterprises just embarking on a virtualization deployment may want a complete, agile platform that embraces efficiency and open standards of interoperability, while enterprises who have already deployed virtualization technologies may become increasingly concerned about their investment due to costs, performance limitations, or incompatibility. Red Hat Virtualization 4 is designed to address these emerging scenarios with a platform built on open standards, providing a powerful, flexible solution for new deployments and helping existing virtualization users migrate to an open, extensible solution. Red Hat Virtualization 4 includes both a high-performing hypervisor (Red Hat Virtualization Host) and a web-based virtualization resource manager (Red Hat Virtualization Manager) for management of an enterprise's virtualization infrastructure. Specifically, Red Hat Virtualization 4 introduces new and enhanced capabilities around: Performance and extensibility Management and automation Support for OpenStack and Linux containers Security and reliability Centralized networking through an external, third-party API Performance and Extensibility Red Hat Virtualization 4 introduces a new powerful and smaller footprint hypervisor co-engineered with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.2. The new hypervisor helps streamline the installation of system packages and driver updates, simplify the deployment of modern technologies, and provide better hardware support configuration management integration. Additionally, Red Hat Virtualization can now be installed via Anaconda, the common installer for both Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Red Hat Virtualization hypervisor. The new platform also includes support for advanced network functionality, helping to simplify the process of adding and supporting third party network providers via a new open API. This feature allows for the centralization and simplification of network management systems by enabling Red Hat Virtualization Manager to communicate with external systems to define networking characteristics that can be applied to a virtual machine's network interfaces. Management and automation To improve overall virtualization management, Red Hat Virtualization 4 offers an advanced system dashboard that provides a comprehensive view of virtualized resources and infrastructure. This enables administrators to better diagnose and remediate problems before they impact operations. Additional automation functionality includes: A storage image uploader , which provides a browser-based interface to upload existing KVM Virtual Machine files directly or via a remote URL, placing the image in the storage domain without requiring third party tools. , which provides a browser-based interface to upload existing KVM Virtual Machine files directly or via a remote URL, placing the image in the storage domain without requiring third party tools. Advanced live migration policies to enable users to fine-tune granular migration characteristics of hosts, down to an individual VM or cluster level, enabling faster operations and overall performance. OpenStack and Linux containers While virtualization as a technology is mature, Red Hat Virtualization 4 provides key support features for Linux container-based workloads as well as OpenStack private and hybrid cloud deployments. For containers, Red Hat Virtualization 4 supports Red Hat Enterprise Linux Atomic Host as a configurable guest system and allows guest agents to be run as, and report on, containers on the Atomic Host VM. Red Hat Virtualization 4 also provides native support for Red Hat OpenStack Platform Neutron. This enables organization to streamline shared services and minimize their operational footprint by deploying services more seamlessly across traditional and cloud-enabled workloads. A More Secure Virtualization Environment These newly-introduced features in Red Hat Virtualization 4 complement the security assets brought to Red Hat Virtualization through its base in Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Red Hat Virtualization 4 includes and supports sVirt, which applies Mandatory Access Control (MAC) for greater VM and hypervisor security. This helps to improve overall security and harden the physical and virtual environment against vulnerabilities that could be used as an attack vector against the host or other VMs. Red Hat Virtualization is also integrated with Red Hat Satellite, Red Hat's systems management solution. Red Hat Virtualization standardizes infrastructure and virtual machine guest provisioning through existing Red Hat Satellite 6 implementations. It also provides visibility into the host and virtual machine errata details to ensure patch compliance across a physical and virtual environment. Availability Red Hat Virtualization 4 is available as a standalone offering, as an integrated offering with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and as part of Red Hat Cloud Suite as part of a comprehensive solution. Existing subscribrs can upgrade to Red Hat Virtualization 4 through the Red Hat Customer Portal. Supporting Quotes Gunnar Hellekson, director, product management, Linux and Virtualization, Red Hat "Our customers continue to rely on virtualization as a vital part of their datacenter modernization efforts while also using it to help bridge to new cloud-native and container-based workloads. Red Hat Virtualization provides the economics, performance and agility needed across both traditional and new infrastructure initiatives." Gary Chen, research manager, Software Defined Compute, IDC (News - Alert) "While virtualization remains a key underpinning for the modern datacenter, customer needs are rapidly evolving to demand more than simply virtualizing traditional workloads. Modern virtualization platforms need to address these standard scenarios while making way for the emergence of virtualized containers and cloud computing, key aspects that Red Hat Virtualization can address in an open, extensible fashion." Paulo Dutra, Data Processing Center manager, Caja de Valores "Red Hat Virtualization has enabled us to streamline our operations and automate our disaster recovery process, reducing our risk from manual intervention and helping to cut our system recovery time in half. Without Red Hat Virtualization, we would not have been capable of managing the number of servers we projected, and we were able to add more virtual machines without additional monetary investment." Scott Farrand, vice president, Platform Software, HPE "Customer needs are continuing to evolve and their infrastructure has to keep pace. Red Hat's enhancements provide HPE's customers better cost and performance with multiple ways to deploy and use this technology in an open source environment." Thomas Wenninger, chief operating officer, IT-Services and head of IT Infrastructure, Universitat Salzburg "Partnering with Red Hat to build our PLUS Web Services project has enabled us to extend the benefits of a flexible, private cloud platform to more than 20,000 of our students and employees and consolidate 30 department sites and computer centers into a single cloud infrastructure. Through a combination of Red Hat Virtualization and Red Hat's management solutions, we received extensive support for the design and implementation of our new private cloud. The open interfaces of Red Hat's Infrastructure-as-a-Service solutions enabled our cloud solution to maintain compatibility with major standards and prevent vendor lock-in for the future." Bob Zuber, director of product management, Lenovo (News - Alert) Data Center Group "Red Hat Virtualization 4 provides a robust set of enterprise features that help us deliver maximized performance and a lower total cost of ownership. And the cross-platform scalability for both Linux and Windows workloads enables us to meet the diverse needs of our customers. When coupled with the industry-leading reliability of our servers, a Red Hat Virtualization 4 on Lenovo solution adds maximum reliability to the performance and cost of ownership benefits." Additional Resources Learn more about Red Hat Virtualization 4 Learn more about the engineering journey to Red Hat Virtualization 4 Read how Caja de Valores is using Red Hat Virtualization Read Gartner's (News - Alert) 2016 Magic Quadrant for x86 Server Virtualization, where Red Hat Virtualization was named a "Visionary" Connect with Red Hat Learn more about Red Hat Get more news in the Red Hat newsroom Read the Red Hat blog Follow Red Hat on Twitter Join Red Hat on Facebook Watch Red Hat videos on YouTube Join Red Hat on Google+ Follow Red Hat on LinkedIn About Red Hat, Inc. Red Hat is the world's leading provider of open source software solutions, using a community-powered approach to provide reliable and high-performing cloud, Linux, middleware, storage and virtualization technologies. Red Hat also offers award-winning support, training, and consulting services. As a connective hub in a global network of enterprises, partners, and open source communities, Red Hat helps create relevant, innovative technologies that liberate resources for growth and prepare customers for the future of IT. Learn more at http://www.redhat.com. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: risks related to the ability of the Company to compete effectively; the ability to deliver and stimulate demand for new products and technological innovations on a timely basis; delays or reductions in information technology spending; the integration of acquisitions and the ability to market successfully acquired technologies and products; fluctuations in exchange rates; the effects of industry consolidation; uncertainty and adverse results in litigation and related settlements; the inability to adequately protect Company intellectual property and the potential for infringement or breach of license claims of or relating to third party intellectual property; risks related to data and information security vulnerabilities; the ability to meet financial and operational challenges encountered in our international operations; ineffective management of, and control over, the Company's growth and international operations; and changes in and a dependence on key personnel, as well as other factors contained in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (copies of which may be accessed through the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov), including those found therein under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations". In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially because of more general factors including (without limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic and political conditions, governmental and public policy changes and the impact of natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Red Hat, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Red Hat Virtualization, Red Hat Satellite, Red Hat Enterprise Linux Atomic Host, Red Hat Cloud Suite and, the Shadowman logo, are trademarks or registered trademarks of Red Hat, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and other countries. Linux is the registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the U.S. and other countries. The OpenStack Word Mark is either a registered trademark/service mark or trademark/service mark of the OpenStack Foundation, in the United States and other countries, and is used with the OpenStack Foundation's permission. Red Hat is not affiliated with, endorsed or sponsored by the OpenStack Foundation, or the OpenStack community. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160824005301/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 24, 2016] Battery Energy Storage System Market (Grid Connected) Size, Competitive Landscape, Key Country Analysis and Forecasts to 2020 PUNE, India, August 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ReportsnReports.com adds "Grid Connected Battery Energy Storage System Market Size, Competitive Landscape, Key Country Analysis and Forecasts to 2020" 2016 research report to its store providing an overview of the energy storage market, defining various energy storage technologies and their maturity level. The report also provides in-depth analysis of the global BESS market and market analysis of key countries including the US, Chile, Germany, Italy, the UK, France, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and Australia. The report analyzes the regional and country-level BESS market value for the historical (2006-2015) and forecast (2016-2020) periods, the regional and country-level BESS market share by technology and application by 2015, and the competitive landscape for respective countries in 2015. Complete report Solar PV Module Market with 76 market data tables and 58 figures, spread across 174 pages is available at http://www.reportsnreports.com/reports/658556-grid-connected-battery-energy-storage-system-market-size-competitive-landscape-key-country-analysis-and-forecasts-to-2020.html . Companies discussed in this research report are NGK Insulators, BYD Company, A123 Systems, Samsung SDI, LG Chem, ABB Ltd, S&C Electric, Parker Hannifin, AES Energy Storage, Saft Groupe SA, GS Yuasa International, SonnenEnergie GmbH, Panasonic Corporation, General Electric Company, Siemens AG, Hitachi, Younicos AG and Exide Industries. Scope Analysis of the growth of the energy storage industry with a focus on battery energy storage market and its demand in various key regions, including Asia-Pacific , America and Europe . , America and . Apart from global and regional analysis, the report provides BESS market analysis in key countries including the US, Chile , Germany , Italy , the UK, France , China , India , Japan , South Korea , and Australia . , , , the UK, , , , , , and . The report provides BESS cost analysis and historic and forecast market size y technology and application. It provides competitive landscape with profiles of key market players globally and in various countries in 2015. Brief description of upcoming and under construction projects in the battery storage market. Qualitative analysis of key regulations, market drivers and restraints impacting the energy storage industry. Order a copy of this grid connected battery energy storage system report @ http://www.reportsnreports.com/Purchase.aspx?name=658556 . Reasons to buy: Facilitate decision-making by analyzing historical and forecast data on BESS market; Develop strategies based on developments in the BESS market; Identify key partners and business-development avenues, based on an understanding of the movements of the major competitors in the BESS market and Respond to your competitors' business structure, strategies and prospects. Explore more reports on Energy and Power. On a related note, the report titled Battery Management System Market by Battery Type (Lithium-Ion, Advanced Lead-Acid, Flow Battery, & Nickle Battery), Component, Topology (Centralized, Modular, Distributed), Application, and Geography - Global Trend and Forecast to 2022 says battery management system market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 20.5% between 2016 and 2022 to reach USD 7.25 billion by 2022. The battery management system market is driven by factors such as the growing need for battery management in electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles. Moreover, the high demand for battery management systems from the renewable energy storage system applications and growing trend of battery-driven public transport further drives the market. The major players in the battery management system market include Johnson Matthey Plc. (U.K.), Lithium Balance A/S (Denmark), Nuvation Engineering (U.S.), Valence Technology, Inc. (U.S.), Intersil Corporation (U.S.), Linear Technology Corp (U.S.), NXP Semiconductors N.V. (Netherlands), Texas Instruments Inc. (U.S.), Elithion Inc. (U.S.), Vecture Inc. (Canada), and Ventec SAS (France) among others. Read more at http://www.reportsnreports.com/reports/571832-battery-management-system-market-by-battery-type-lithium-ion-advanced-lead-acid-flow-battery-nickle-battery-component-topology-centralized-modular-distributed-application-and-geography-global-trend-and-forecast-to-2022.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 [email protected] 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 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] LINCOLN Lower Platte South Natural Resources District Board of Directors recently approved a budget that provides flood protection updates, continued mapping of ground water supplies, restoration of a rare saline wetland, new trail development and more. The approved Fiscal Year 2017 Budget totals $26,089,912 or about $6.5 million less than the NRDs first budget draft earlier this year. Some items were cut or deferred as a result of directors keeping the districts property tax requirement ($9,257,354) unchanged from last year. The NRD, with the help of a contracted engineering consultant, will continue to assess needs for upgrading structures along Lincolns Salt Creek Levee, prioritize those projects and develop designs and cost estimates ($495,000). The process, called a System Wide Improvement Framework Plan overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is meant to keep the more-than-50-year-old Salt Creek Levee reliable in protecting part of the city from flooding. These projects are in addition to routine operation and maintenance of the levee and are expected to take several years to complete. The NRD will continue to participate in aerial geological mapping ($421,000) through its association with the Eastern Nebraska Water Resources Assessment, a coalition of six NRDs in eastern Nebraska. Helicopter flights to gather data were expected to be completed in mid-August over parts of Lancaster, Cass and Saunders counties. The scanning technology provides much useful geological data, including the locations of secondary aquifers. Continued help for the communities of Davey, Elmwood, Hickman, Pleasant Dale, Union, Valparaiso, Weeping Water/Otoe RWD #3 and the Lower Salt Creek area from Waverly to Ashland to reduce elevated nitrate levels in ground water is in the FY 2017 Budget and the NRD will continue its administration of ground water allocations, rules and regulations in the Dwight-Valparaiso-Brainard Special Management Area. Planned FY 2017 activities related to the NRDs Integrated Management Plan for surface water and ground water, adopted in 2014, include an inventory of available water ($460,000). The NRDs participation in the Lower Platte River Basin Water Management Plan Coalition, a group of central and eastern Nebraska NRDs and the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, will also continue. The Coalition helps member NRDs better plan and manage water resources in their individual districts by monitoring water supply and use on a more regional scale. A newly-formed consortium of three NRDs, including the Lower Platte South, and other entities plans to study long-term water supplies available to the lower Platte River basin, to enhance streamflows or aquifer storage to support public water systems. The Lower Platte South is the lead agency for the Drought Contingency Study and much of the $460,000 budgeted for the study will be reimbursed by the other partners. Restoration will continue at the NRDs Marsh Wren, a 150-acre site along North 40th Street, just south of Interstate 80, in Lincoln, that was once a pristine saline wetland ($840,200). Saline wetlands form when artesian salt water flows to the surface and salt accumulates in the soil until primarily only salt tolerant plants and animals can live there. The phenomenon occurs in only a few places on earth. Erosion and other factors have deteriorated many saline wetland acres over time in Lancaster and Saunders counties, but the NRD has had great success in their restoration. The new budget has $1.2 million set aside to help landowners with projects that improve the quality of surface water throughout the district and in specially targeted areas above public access lakes. These projects include the installation of terraces, waterways, sediment basins and more. The completion of Havlat Dam ($216,000), a road structure dam under construction in partnership with Seward County, just south of Pleasant Dale, will improve flood control in that area. The budget also includes the operation and maintenance of 180 dams throughout the district. Construction of another segment of the Salt Creek Levee Trail ($408,500) in Lincoln, from 14th Street to 23rd Street and Cornhusker Highway is in the budget. The new segment will be an extension of a trail segment that was officially opened earlier this Haymarket Park to 14th Street. Other important NRD activities provided for in the budget include: continuing to work with the Nebraska Department of Roads and Cass County to extend the MoPac East Trail to the Lied Platte River Bridge at South Bend construction of a trail underpass at Rosa Parks Way and Salt Creek, in Lincoln continued study of endangered species and the control of invasive plant species along the Platte River continued assistance for landowners in surface water quality and flood control practices participation in an ice jam agreement to help control flooding along the Platte River and continued efforts to keep District residents informed about NRD conservation programs and how they can help. The NRDs fiscal year began on July first and development of the annual budget starts in April, with multiple opportunities for public input throughout the process. A link to the complete budget is available at lpsnrd.org. There is a much quoted saying that sums up the importance of educators in our lives: If you can read this, thank a teacher. Id like to put a new twist on this beloved phrase. If you can dance, thank Janice Freeburg. For 60 years, Janice taught children from just above toddler age to high school aged students to tap their feet and perform. She taught them family-friendly routines, which wowed relatives at recitals, Cass County fairgoers watching the talent shows and Harvest Festival followers at its respective talent gala. Her dancers were also uniquely and appropriately costumed. One of my former reporters actually won a Nebraska Press Award 13 years ago with a photograph she took of young dancers, all dressed in pink tutus, directed by Janice at the Harvest Festival. I have tried many times to best that photo, but have always failed. Every routine Janice, and now her granddaughter Jillian and others taught by Janice, directed was a second-by-second photo opportunity. After 13 years at the Journal, I can truly testify that she took these youngsters, age 3-6, and turns them into expert dancers when they reached their senior year. You cant help but smile when the youngest first come onto the stage, a little unsure of their steps, but dressed so cute and so intent on performing, a lapse here and there just does not matter to the audience. Even at this age, she trained them to stay focused and smile. By the time they perform their senior year, you wonder if they all couldnt make it in a Broadway musical. The first time I saw one of her students perform, I didnt even live here. The young woman executed a River Dance and won a talent show just down the river from here. After moving to Plattsmouth and witnessing a group of her dancers perform a River Dance, I immediately suspected there was a connection between the two. Sure enough, Janice taught the young woman in my hometown as well. Janice began working on her teaching degree at Peru State Teachers College. She transferred her credits to University of Nebraska at Omaha and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. She was a member of the Omaha Dance Teachers Association for more than 50 years. But you can earn degrees and still not be able to teach at the level that this wonderful woman was able to do. Janices teaching skills were mixed with a little magic. Magic comprised of patience, encouragement, discipline, creativity and hard work. After Jillian took over the studio in 2013, Janice remained active with the classes. Jillian told me in an interview her grandmother would continue to help. She will be there forever in some way. The studio is in her basement. Its a very nice studio and its beautiful, Jillian said. I believe Janice, even in retirement, danced along with the students in her mind and with her heart, even when her body failed to keep up. Always needing to identify the tiny dancers for the newspaper, I continued to call Janice for help. Each year, I realized the phone rang a few more times before she reached it to answer. And each time, she was as gracious as the first time I met her. In fact, I cant remember not knowing her, which is a hallmark of a good leader, friend and all around person. Janice had to leave her family and students behind Sunday, Aug. 14. Now she is free of pain and able to waltz, tap dance or hip-hop for her Maker. May we all prove worthy of seeing her next recital. Be sure, the production will be heavenly, just as they were here. But she will remain a presence in our community as long as any of her students or their children and grandchildren can step to the music. Shell be there forever in some way. When two of my daughters were very little, my wife and I enrolled them in preschool. I remember quite clearly the first day of class. We parked in the school driveway, helped our children out of the car, and then watched them walk together hand in hand toward the building. Scared and hesitant, they moved away from us slowly, inch by inch, nearing the schools front door. The sight was so cute but also just heart wrenching. Releasing children from hearth and home, where you can keep your arms around them to guard them from fears real or imagined, is no small shift. Im sure many of you have had similar experiences as you first let your children go to school. We nudge our children forward, then hand their care over to teachers and schools to help them become the best version of themselves. For the children, back to school brings anxiety and anticipation, desire and even dreadall common emotions at this time of year. Despite the current divisiveness in our culture, one area in which we find broad agreement is that proper education is a top priority. The question is who best delivers this important public good. I have met with numerous teachers and administrators who have long lamented the creeping federalization of education policy. Many other citizens also see education policy as the proper and special domain belonging first to the family, and by extension the community. A tendency to homogenize education through centralized bureaucracy and regulation interferes with the source and summit of education excellence found in local control. While the current cultural and political debate is focusing on the concentration of power in Washington and elsewhere, an important countertrend has taken place in education. Within the last year, Congress passed the Every Student Succeeds Act, which replaced the earlier No Child Left Behind approach. While I certainly recognize the sentiment that federal government should not be substantially involved in education policy, the new law favors flexibility for communities to create the type of environment in which children can flourish. Beyond the policy discussion, education is often understood to mean the accumulation of more and more knowledge, which translates to more and more homework, more and more schoolwork. An overemphasis on this routine can rob a young person of the joy of learning. To learn is to own the knowledge, not just be confronted by it. A balance of physical exercise, clubs, and well-ordered social time, in addition to the rigors of more disciplined activities such as repetitive math and understanding the grammatical structure of language, allows for a more well-rounded educational experience. On a deeper level, a genuine and holistic education imparts true wisdom to students, along with the ability to think critically and communicate effectively. On a recent plane ride back from Washington, I quickly learned much of the cabin was full of Nebraska teachers. They were joking, laughing, and filled with excitement to be coming homeclearly it was the end of a demanding week of meetings. Something stood out to me. I noted a natural friendshipa natural communitybetween these teachers, who shared a desire to help form young children. While we are all still adjusting to these opening days of school, helping a child along the healthy journey of self-discoverywhat a gift! How to download iOS 16 Learn how to update your iPhone to iOS 16, to make use of all the latest and best features while ensuring your iPhone is as secure and optimized as it can be Apple fans are hoping to be wowed on Sept. 7 when Apple is expected to take the wraps off its new iPhone, but one device is expected to missing from the party if Apple even had plans to ever unveil it. This summer, rumors circulated that Apple would launch an iPhone Pro alongside the iPhone and iPhone Plus models that currently make up its lineup. According to those rumors, the iPhone 7 Pro would be a better-equipped version of Apple's smartphone, featuring a dual-lens camera, 256GB of storage and compatibility with a number of new peripherals, including a relatively slim charging cover and a dock that could connect the phone to a larger monitor and keyboard. But Japanese news site Nikkei reports that a third, ultra high-end device has now been relegated to Apple's back burner. (Image credit: NowhereElse.fr) "The competition is so fierce that Apple killed off a premium iPhone 7 model in the second quarter, less than six months before its official launch in September," Nikkei reported, citing unnamed sources. MORE: Hey, Apple! Make These 5 Products And I'll Buy Them New iPhone specs sent to protective case manufacturers also indicate that only two models will be released, according to Max Wolff, chief economist at Manhattan Venture Partners, who says he himself has seen those specs. Wolff says the expected third model may have been too expensive a venture to take a chance on, especially when you consider the added manufacturing costs and the uncertainty about whether consumers will be clamoring for it the way they have for previous iPhone models. "The iPad Pro hasn't been a runaway success, so [Apple] may be nervous" about launching a Pro version of the iPhone, Wolff added. Whatever changes come with Apple's latest iPhones won't be worth upgrading for, according to Angelo Zino, technology analyst at S&P Global Market Intelligence. "The iPhone 7 will be more evolutionary, not revolutionary," predicts Zino, who says he doesn't think there was an iPhone 7 Pro in the works to begin with. "The design will be similar, there may be an upgraded processor, no headphone jack, and it may have 32GB worth of storage on the base model," Zino added. MORE: Why You Might Want to Skip iPhone 7 Instead of releasing a Pro model this year, Apple is more likely to release one next year, timed with the iPhone 8 release and the iPhone's 10th anniversary, Zino says. And by then, along with the expected wireless charging capabilities, Apple's phone could potentially have a curved OLED display and even be bendable, he said. "Smartphones are a mature market," said Wolff, who adds that virtual reality and augmented reality should be the next big things on Apple's list of priorities. "If Apple wants to stay Apple, they have to catch up or stay ahead with VR and AR." But Apple already appears to be quietly ahead of that game. According to a report by AppleInsider on Monday, Apple was granted an augmented reality navigation patent in 2013, following its acquisition of AR company Flyby Media. Trade helps grow Nebraska. From commodities like corn and soybeans to beef and pork, Nebraska reaps the benefits of international trade to the tune of about $10 billion. We didnt achieve this level of success overnightit has been the product of a lot of hard work in building trade relationships with countries around the world. With low commodity prices right now, it is particularly important we work to expand trade opportunities and open up new markets across the globe. Last week, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) and I announced that Nebraska would be signing letters of intent with Taiwan to expand our trade relationship with the country. Taiwan has historically been a very important trade partner with our state. During a visit to the country this month, the Nebraska Ag Director signed letters of intent on behalf of the state with Taiwan to purchase more than $405 million in Nebraska corn, soybeans, wheat, beef, pork, and distillers grains. The letters outline Taiwans intent to purchase over $100 million each of wheat, corn, and soybeans as well as a total of about $20 million of pork and beef products. These letters of intent build on our successful trade missions last year. Our efforts to build relationships during international trade missions have led to several successful investments from companies including Morio Denki, Geist, and Worldlawn. In addition to these successes, Kawasaki announced in January that it would establish its first U.S. aerostructures production line in Lincoln. Kawasaki leadership said last falls trade mission to Japan played a part in their decision-making to expand Kawasakis presence in Nebraska. This expansion is great news for Nebraska, and builds on Kawasakis current production lines that produce railcars and all-terrain vehicles and employ 2,000 people in Lincoln. Another tool that could help Nebraska expand overseas trade relationships is the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which is currently under consideration in Congress. TPP would bring down tariffs and help expand markets for Nebraskas commodities along the Pacific rim. Earlier this year, I partnered with the Nebraska Farm Bureau to unveil an analysis of TPPs economic impact on Nebraska. The analysis released by the Farm Bureau showed that TPP had the potential to add $378 million in cash receipts for Nebraska in ag products alone. Trade agreements like the letters of intent Nebraska is signing or TPP, which the federal government is negotiating, require a great deal of relationship building over time. To this end, I will be leading a trade mission to China later this fall. China is Nebraskas fourth largest trading partner after Mexico, Canada, and Japan, and its a country with a growing economy and middle class, who have an increasing demand for quality food products. During this trade mission, we will highlight Nebraskas quality commodities and manufacturers. Nebraska businesses and ag producers who do business in China, or those that are hoping to enter this market, should contact the Department of Economic Development or NDA to express their interest in joining the trade mission. Departmental contacts include Cobus Block at 402-480-5806 or cobus.block@nebraska.gov or Stan Garbacz at 402-471-2341 or stan.garbacz@nebraska.gov. You can also download the form for yourself at http://opportunity.nebraska.gov/trademission. Space is limited, so contact the departments soon! Trade has been and continues to be a great way to grow Nebraska. As we continue to look for new ways to expand trade relationships, I will to share success stories with you. If you have questions about this topic or any other, I hope that you will contact my office by emailing pete.ricketts@nebaska.gov or by calling 402-471-2244. We look forward to hearing from you! Google Pixel 7 vs. iPhone 14 camera shootout which phone wins? Which camera phone would you rather have with you? Our Google Pixel 7 vs. iPhone 14 camera face-off pits the two leading devices against each other in a variety of scenarios. The PS5 is a true generational leap, offering incredibly fast load times and an innovative new controller that can change the way games feel. Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test . PS5 Specs Price: $499 (standard), $399 (Digital Edition) CPU: 3.5GHz, 8-core AMD Zen 2 GPU: 10.3 teraflop RDNA 2 GPU RAM: 16GB GDDR6 Storage: Custom 825GB SSD Expansion: NVMe M.2 SSD slot Disc drive: 4K Blu-ray player Size: 15.4 x 10.2 x 4.1 inches Weight: 9.9 pounds The PS5 is coming up to its two-year birthday, and is proving as popular as ever. And that's no surprise as it's a fantastic gaming machine, offering a true generational leap over the PS4. Not only does the PS5 offer 4K gaming, it has seriously advanced haptics, a speedy SSD and immersive 3D audio . All of these and more combine to delver a console that's truly equipped for next-generation, or now current generation, gaming. There is a slight caveat in that the console is so big with a divisive design that it may not appeal to everyone. But it's nevertheless a compelling console that's well worth tracking down a PS5 restock for. So read on for our full PS5 review. PS5 review: Price and where to buy The PS5 launched on November 12, 2020 in the U.S., and came to the U.K. and most other parts of the world on November 19. The standard PS5, which includes a 4K-Blu-ray drive, costs $499, while the PS5 Digital Edition goes for a cheaper $399, if you dont mind going discless. Its worth noting the PS5 has been extremely hard to buy. Retail stock has been going in and out rapidly, so be sure to bookmark our PS5 restock guide and check out the retailer links below. We know we're still several years off, but here's eight things we want in the PS6. PS5 review: Design (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Its been discussed to death, but the PS5 is a truly gargantuan piece of machinery. Sonys 15.4 x 10.2 x 4.1-inch console dwarfs pretty much any gaming system thats come out in the past decade, including the PS4 Slim and the PS4 Pro. Its also far bigger than its new next-gen rival in the Xbox Series X, and makes the Xbox Series S look like a childrens toy. That massive chassis allows the PS5 to pump out some serious performance while staying mostly cool and quiet (which well talk more about later), but the sheer size of the new PlayStation could be an issue for those with small entertainment areas. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Unless you plan on putting your PS5 on the floor, youll likely need a dedicated small table if you plan on standing it vertically. I was able to fit the PS5 in my entertainment center in a horizontal orientation, but just barely. As such, youll want to measure your available space before you set up a PS5 at home. Speaking of orientation, the PS5 includes a detachable stand that allows you to position the massive console vertically or horizontally. The stand screws into the bottom of the console in vertical mode (the PS5 includes a screw, but no tool to screw it in), and clamps on to the PS5s rear port area in horizontal mode. Itd be nice if the PS5 included a tool for unscrewing the base, but I had an easy enough time using a coin to attach and remove it. The system stands up securely in vertical mode with the base attached, but I found the base to be far more finicky in horizontal orientation. It took me a few tries before I could get it to lay flat securely on the base. I eventually got the PS5 to sit still horizontally in my entertainment center, but the fact that the console slid off the base quite easily unless it was positioned just right gives me some pause. Still, Ill likely be keeping the PS5 in horizontal orientation for most of my time with it, simply because Im worried about accidentally tipping over the insanely tall chassis while it sits on my table (especially when my hyperactive nephews are over). (Image credit: Tom's Guide) The PS5s eye-catching, futuristic aesthetic has been the subject of much debate ever since it was unveiled, and I still have mixed feelings about it. I find that the console looks like an unsightly, oversized cable modem when standing vertically, due to its pointy white side panels and the asymmetrical bulk added on by the Blu-ray drive. But I've grown somewhat fond of how it looks sitting horizontally under my TV, where its curves and edges seem to shine more (even if it looks like a miniature Barclays Center). I also like the attractive LED status lights on each side of the interior, which is both slicker and more pronounced than the status light on the PS4. And the tiny, hidden PlayStation controller icons within the inner panels are a great extra touch. Love it or hate it, the PS5 is a system packed with attention to detail, and looks unlike any console weve seen before. As of Dec. 13, 2021, you can also invest in official PS5 covers, which will change the color of the console's faceplates. They won't alter the system's overall design, but at least you won't be stuck with a plain white color scheme. Furthermore, one person has made an unofficial PS5 Slim that looks pretty good, albeit with some heavy caveats. PS5 review: Ports and expansion (Image credit: Tom's Guide) The PS5 has a fairly standard array of ports, complete with some welcome modern conveniences. You get a Hi-Speed USB Type-A port up front, as well as a USB Type-C SuperSpeed port. Its nice to see a console finally feature USB-C connectivity out of the box, especially for connecting modern accessories and storage drives. In the back, youll find two SuperSpeed USB-A ports, an Ethernet jack, an HDMI 2.1 port and an AC adapter. (See the best gaming TVs for recommendations of TVs with HDMI 2.1.) The PS5 has ditched the PS4s optical audio port, which may be a bummer for folks with high-end audio devices with optical connections. However, some companies are already offering optical-to-HDMI splitters, such as Astro with its Astro A20 headset. If you want to expand on the PS5s built-in 825GB of SSD storage, theres PCle 4.0 M.2 expansion slot that you can access by opening up the console. Note that not all SSDs are supported, you will need one that hits Sonys fairly strict requirements (opens in new tab), such as the Western Digital SN850, Samsung 980 Pro, or the upcoming Sony-produced Nextorage M.2 NVMe SSD. At launch, the expansion slot was locked but the latest PS5 software update has unlocked it which enables users to add an additional SSD for more storage. We tested out the process ourselves while the feature was still in beta, and enjoyed some excellent results. The consoles SSD expansion slot gives the PS5 another arrow in its quiver against the Xbox Series X. Adding additional internal storage to Microsofts console requires the purchase of a pricey proprietary SSD card, whereas Sonys SSD expansion solution allows you to select between various third-party models that range in price. The PS5 also works with standard external hard drives, but only for carrying over your digital PS4 games or save files. PS5 review: Interface (Image credit: Sony) The PS5 interface is a clean, attractive and snappy evolution of the PS4 software. Hopping in and out of games and navigating menus feels instantaneous, to the point where the PS4 menu now feels sluggish and cluttered by comparison. And while there are some features Id like to see added to the PS5 interface, it introduces some exciting new ways to get to what youre playing even faster. Still, there are plenty of PS5 hidden features you need to try. The home screen will look familiar to PS4 owners, with a horizontal row of tiles that showcases your most recent games. When you highlight a game, that titles art will take over the entire home screen while its music plays in the background, which is a neat aesthetic touch. Theres a handy Explore tab that shows news and updates, as well as a Game Library tab that allowed me to instantly start downloading my collection of PS4 titles. Much like on PS4, the PS5 lets you capture videos and screenshots, or stream to YouTube or Twitch with a quick tap of the Create button. I like that the PS5 software looks clean overall, but I do wish there were an option for organizing your games into folders, like there is on PS4. And while its cool seeing the background adapt to whichever game you have highlighted, Im surprised theres no option to set custom wallpapers instead. (At least there's a simple trick to give your PS5 a retro look that turns the logo into the iconic red, yellow, green and blue logo found on earlier versions of the console.) Longtime PS4 users will have to shake some muscle memory, as a tap of the PlayStation button now brings up a control center that lets you switch apps, view your friends, check notifications, monitor your controllers battery life and more from the bottom of your screen. Better yet, you can customize the control center to have quick access to features such as network settings, accessibility options and broadcast controls. Its a big improvement from the PS4s quick menu, which took up a far bigger chunk of the screen and wasnt as snappy or customizable. (Image credit: Sony) Snappy and clean software is great, but the PS5 interface really comes alive when you start playing a game. Tapping the PlayStation button while playing a PS5 game brings up the Activities menu, which shows information such as the current progress of your mission, a set of trophies you can go after, or a list of in-game activities that you can jump right into. For example, I was able to dive into a series of side missions and challenges right from the Activities menu in Spider-Man: Miles Morales without having to actually find them in-game, saving me time Id have to otherwise spend swinging around Manhattan. You can also access the Activities menu right from your Game Library before you even boot up a game, meaning I was able to hop right into a specific level in Astros Playroom without having to deal with any menus. As someone who doesnt always have a ton of free time, the ability to jump to a specific chunk of a game at a system level isnt just appreciated its downright revolutionary. While it may seem like a minor concession to some, the Activities menu could end up changing the way we play games, and Im really eager to see how developers take advantage of it in the coming years. (Image credit: Sony) My biggest gripe with the PS5 on a software level is that, unlike the Xbox Series X and S, Sonys console doesnt seem to be able to suspend multiple titles at once. While Xboxs Quick Resume feature lets you seamlessly jump between half-a-dozen games while picking up right where you left off in each one, the PS5 requires you to boot up each game from scratch. Whats more frustrating is that the console doesnt warn you when your existing game will close in favor of a new one, which could lead to you losing unsaved progress. While the PS5s load times are so fast that the lack of Quick Resume isnt a huge issue, its a bummer that Sonys console doesnt have an answer to one of the Series Xs most convenient features. As of February 2022, users can try the new PS5 beta software, which should improve chat, navigation and voice command features. PS5 review: DualSense controller (Image credit: Tom's Guide) The PS5 DualSense controller just might be the most next-gen thing about Sonys new console. The gamepads haptic feedback, adaptive triggers and built-in speaker work together brilliantly, creating a level of tactile immersion Ive simply never experienced while playing a game before. The DualSense especially shines in Astros Playroom, a free, pre-installed title built specifically to showcase what Sonys new controller can do. In this colorful 3D platformer, you can feel and hear the subtle impact of grains of sand while walking through a storm, or experience a smooth gliding sensation when skating over ice, just to name a few examples. Everything from pulling on a rope to gliding around in a jetpack generates an extremely detailed level of force feedback. Its the kind of thing you truly need to feel to believe. If you're already pondering the PS5 DualSense vs DualShock 4 battle, the new controller comes out on top for sheer innovation alone. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) The adaptive triggers are especially impressive, as they can become harder to actuate based on whats happening in-game. For example, the triggers gave much more resistance when I was controlling my character in a spring-loaded jumpsuit, accurately replicating the feeling of pushing down on a spring and releasing it. Games can even take advantage of the DualSenses built-in microphone, as I had to blow on the controller to move a platform of ice in Astros Playroom. Sackboy: A Big Adventure also makes impressive use of Sonys controller, as I could feel a sudden sense of resistance when walking through tall grass thanks to some steady haptic patterns. I felt vibrations moving through specific parts of the controller during cutscenes, and enjoyed the soft taps that accompanied Sackboy flailing his feet around while floating in the air. And in the sword-based combat of Godfall, I felt the triggers tense up to add extra weight to the feeling of slicing up enemies of heavy attacks. When playing Spider-Man: Miles Morales, I felt subtle, but extremely nuanced, vibrations during cutscenes, as the controller would perfectly match the clinking of glasses or the distant stomps of Rhinos feet with tactile feedback. I also appreciated the slight feeling of resistance when using the triggers to web-swing through Manhattan, as well as the soft buzz of electricity that played out of the speaker every time I charged up Miles Venom attacks. Sonys new controller packs a built-in microphone, which allows you to chat with friends when you dont have a gaming headset handy. And it totally works in a pinch. I had an entire voice chat with my colleague Marshall who was also on his DualSense, and we were able to hear each other just fine through the controllers built-in speaker. Youll still probably want to use a dedicated headset to hear your game and chat audio during a competitive Call of Duty match, but the fact that you can talk to friends on PS5 without needing a headset is a great touch. The DualSense already shows some incredible potential, but its only as good as the games that take advantage of it. While games like Astro's Playroom, Spider-Man, Godfall and Sackboy do some exciting things with Sonys gamepad, Im curious to see how many developers fully tap into the DualSenses unique features as more PS5 games show up. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Beyond its advanced haptics, the DualSense fares pretty well as a standard controller. Its significantly bigger than the DualShock 4 gamepad, with a hefty feel, and a design that seems to take a page out of the Xbox Wireless Controller in terms of ergonomics. While the DualSenses meatier grip feels satisfying to hold, I wish it were just a bit more compact, and found my hands getting cramped when playing more intense action games like Godfall and Devil May Cry 5. The good news is that the DualSenses buttons and triggers feel great during everyday gameplay. I had no issues doing my usual Mortal Kombat 11 combos thanks to the controllers smooth D-pad and snappy face buttons. The thumbsticks and triggers felt responsive and accurate when I gunned down Rebels in Battlefront II. The touchpad is much bigger this time around, and I like that the built-in lightbar wraps around the center rather than being hidden at the top, as on the DualShock 4. PS5 review: Performance and load times (Image credit: Sony) With a powerful 8-core AMD Zen 2 processor, 10.3 teraflops of graphics power and a ridiculously fast custom SSD, the PS5 promises some of the best performance to ever come out of a games console. And while Ive only played a handful of titles that are designed to harness the PS5s power, Im already impressed by what Sonys console is able to pump out in terms of fidelity, framerate and, most importantly, load speeds. This shouldnt come as a shock, but games look fantastic running on Sonys new console. Spider-Man: Miles Morales looked more akin to a high-end PC game than a PlayStation title, as I gawked at the gorgeous reds and purples of Spider-Man and his enemies popping off the screen in 4K. Thanks to the consoles ray-tracing support, Manhattans skyscrapers reflected off one another realistically, as did a series of lifelike puddles in a busy Times Square. The PS5 version of Miles Morales has a special Performance mode, which turns off effects such as ray tracing and uses upscaled 4K in favor of a higher framerate. When I switched to this mode and zipped through the city at a silky 60 frames per second while still enjoying beautiful visuals, I felt like I was experiencing something that simply couldnt be done on previous-gen consoles. This made it extremely hard to go back to the PS4 version of Miles Morales, which often chugged below 30 frames per second. This experience is likely to improve in future, with Sony confirming variable refresh rate support (VRR) will hit the PS5 sometime in 2022. But while ray-traced visuals and 60 fps performance modes are great, its the PS5s lightning fast SSD that truly makes Sonys console feel next-gen. When booting up a game like Spider-Man: Miles Morales, theres almost zero downtime between selecting the title from your home screen and being out on the street, beating up bad guys. The same process took around 20 seconds before I could start playing the PS4 version. Astros Playroom is just as instantaneous, as I was able to jump from the games main hub area to its myriad vibrant levels without a single loading screen in sight. The PS5s blazing SSD is also what allows you to skip to certain portions of a game via the Activities menu, and upcoming titles such as the dimension-hopping Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart look theyll do some truly inventive things with it. Well have to see how more titles utilize the SSD, but it already feels like one of the biggest leaps forward in console gaming in quite a while. PS5 vs PS4 load times PS5 PS4 (2013 model) Boot time 22 seconds 30 seconds Spider-Man: Miles Morales (startup) 12 seconds 12 seconds Spider-Man: Miles Morales (menu to gameplay) 2 seconds 20 seconds The Last of Us 2 (startup) 15 seconds 33 seconds The Last of Us 2 (menu to gameplay) 1 minute 1 minute, 28 seconds Mortal Kombat 11 (startup) 8 seconds 11 seconds Mortal Kombat 11 (menu to gameplay) 10 seconds 18 seconds Star Wars Battlefront II (startup) 33 seconds 1 minute, 5 seconds Star Wars Battlefront II (menu to gameplay) 12 seconds 22 seconds When it comes to load time improvements for PS4 games, I saw the most dramatic gains when playing The Last of Us Part II. Naughty Dogs acclaimed action-adventure game started up more than twice as quickly on PS5 than it did on PS4, and took nearly 30 seconds less to get into a playable encounter from the main menu. I noticed similarly significant improvements for Star Wars Battlefront II, which took about 33 seconds to boot up on PS5, compared to over a minute on PS4. The differences in load times were less stark when testing titles such as God of War and Mortal Kombat 11, but every single game I tested loaded fastest on PS5. PS5 review: Backwards compatibility (Image credit: Sony) The PS5 works with nearly all PS4 games, which is a huge step up from Sonys complete lack of backwards compatibility last generation. I tested close to a dozen PS4 games on PS5, including The Last of Us Part II, God of War, Mortal Kombat 11, Tetris Effect and Resident Evil 2, and almost all of them loaded faster and ran better than they did on my launch PS4. Both digital and disc-based PS4 games worked without a hitch on my PS5, and my physical movies worked just fine on the systems 4K Blu-ray drive. The PS5 allows you to take advantage of any PS4 Pro enhancements a game offers, so games that have higher resolution or frame rate modes benefit the most from Sonys new console. As someone coming from a launch PS4, the ability to finally enjoy God of Wars high-frame rate mode or play Tetris Effect in 4K felt almost worth the price of admission on its own (the aforementioned load time boosts certainly dont hurt, either). The PS5 is designed to work with most first-party and officially licensed PS4 accessories, and I had no issues bringing my existing last-gen gear over. Pairing my DualShock 4 to the PS5 was as simple as plugging it in via USB cable, and my existing headsets worked just fine with the DualSenses 3.5 mm audio jack. Third-party wired controllers, such as my Hori Fightpad and Victrix Pro FS Fight Stick, also worked perfectly as I mashed buttons in Mortal Kombat. Just keep in mind that the DualShock 4 only works with backwards compatible PS4 games, so you wont be able to use it for PS5-only titles. More recently, a new patent application filed by PlayStation designers hints that the PS5 will someday be able to run PS1, PS2 and PS3 games giving you even more reason to pick up a PS5. PS5 review: Game lineup (Image credit: Sony) The PS5s launch lineup is off to a solid start. The console's big marquee launch game is Spider-Man: Miles Morales, a gorgeous and fun follow up to 2018's Marvel's Spider-Man complete with ray-traced graphics and an optional 60 fps performance mode. Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a simple but charming 3D platformer with lots of character customization, but Astro's Playroom, the free pack-in game that shows off the DualSense controller, might be even better. Not since 2007's Nintendo Wii has a console launched with a notable game included out of the gate, and Sony's new platformer is oozing with fun collectibles and easter eggs for hardcore PlayStation fans. If mature action's more your thing, Godfall is a fun and beautiful action-RPG that feels like a marriage of the weighty combat of God of War 2018 and the deep loot system of Destiny. Want something more stylish? Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition is an enhanced version of the stellar 2019 slash-em-up complete with both ray-tracing and 120 fps performance modes. One of the PS5s biggest true launch exclusives is Demons Souls, a visually stunning remake of the beloved 2009 action/RPG of the same name. We've just started testing out Bluepoint's new take on the cult favorite, so stay tuned for more impressions. (Image credit: Sony) The problem is, you don't need a PS5 to play many of these games. Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Sackboy: A Big Adventure are also available on PS4, as are many of the big third-party games that arrived at launch. Those include Assassins Creed Valhalla, Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate, The Pathless, Dirt 5 and NBA 2K21. All of these games will be available on PS4, but youll need a PS5 to enjoy features such as true 4K gameplay and 60 fps frame rate options. Its also worth noting that Fortnite was PS5-optimized at launch, and titles such as Madden NFL 21 and Watch Dogs Legion will offer free PS5 upgrades for folks who own the PS4 versions. Looking forward, you can expect major PS5 exclusives such as Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, God of War Ragnarok and Horizon Forbidden West (the latter of which will have a PS4 version) to start hitting in 2021 and beyond. While you dont necessarily need a PS5 to play some of the biggest new games from both Sony and third parties, you will enjoy much better versions of them on the new system. And dont forget that most of your PS4 library will come with you complete with major visual and performance enhancements for select titles. PS5 review: Apps The PS5 has access to pretty much every entertainment app youll need, including Disney Plus, Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video and, new to the PlayStation ecosystem, Apple TV Plus. These apps all worked identically to their PS4 counterparts in my testing, which isnt a bad thing. Every app I tested loaded quickly and streamed reliably, whether I was binging Chappelle's Show on Netflix or catching up on wrestling news on YouTube. But more importantly, the PS5s streaming apps are easier to access than before thanks to a handy Media tab thats just a button press away on the home screen. Thats a nice upgrade from the PS4, which buried all of its streaming apps in a slow-loading TV & Video menu. As a cautions and caveated FYI: PS4 jailbreaks could supposedly work with the PS5, which theoretically would open it up for all manner of homebrew software and apps. But we'd suggest you avoid this as it can cause problems, something you don't want to do when the PS5 is still very difficult to find in stock. You can also check our PS5 exclusives vs. Xbox exclusives story to see how the two libraries stack up. PS5 review: Heat and noise (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Thanks to its massive internal fan and large vents along the inside of the chassis, the PS5 stayed cool and mostly quiet during my time with it. I rarely noticed any noise coming out of the console, even as I spent hours exploring Astros Playroom or webbing up crooks in Spider-Man. I did notice some rare moments of audible noise when running Star Wars Battlefront II, and could hear discs spinning pretty loudly when I first put Blu-rays in the machine. But compared to the jet-engine-like noises that come out of my PS4 when simply downloading a game, the PS5 is blissfully quiet. PS5 review: 3D audio The PS5s Tempest Engine enables it to deliver 3D audio for supported games, allowing you to hear game sounds with greater directionality than standard stereo can offer. The PS5s 3D audio is designed to work with most existing headphones and headsets, though Sonys new Pulse 3D Wireless Headset is optimized for the technology. So far weve tested 3D audio on an Astro A20 headset, and while the effects have been mostly subtle, they show lots of promise. The PS5s audio tricks were most pronounced in Astros Playroom, as I could hear the rain clearly coming from above me, and could pinpoint the sound of a tornado whirring between my left and right ears as it shot my character upwards. It was also easy to pick out where cars, planes and enemies were coming from when swinging around in Spider-Man: Miles Morales, but I didnt notice a huge difference between when the effect was on or off. Like many of the PS5s features, itll ultimately be up to developers to make the most of the consoles 3D audio tech. Were eager to try more games with 3D audio support, as well as get our hands on the Pulse 3D headset for the full experience. PS5 review: Verdict (Image credit: Tom's Guide) The PS5 is a genuine leap forward for console gaming, offering gorgeous 4K performance, stunningly fast load times and a truly game-changing controller that makes playing games more immersive and tactile than ever. It plays nearly all PS4 games, and, in many cases, allows them to run and load better than ever before. However, there are a few reasons to wait before hitting that buy button if you can even find Sonys new console, that is. The PS5s launch lineup contains very few must-have exclusives, as PS4 owners can still enjoy major releases such as Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Assassins Creed Valhalla. The consoles massive size may also be a concern for those with limited space, and the DualSense controller itself could be a little big for folks with smaller hands. As with most console launches, the PS5 is only going to get better over time with new exclusive games and features for those who choose to wait. Its also worth considering Microsofts $499 Xbox Series X , which offers slightly more power and works with four generations of Xbox games. But if you manage to pick a PS5 up now, know that youll be treated to a true next-gen experience complete with advanced haptics, beautiful graphics and almost zero friction between you and the games you want to play. The PS5 will soon lose its little-used Accolades feature. Melbourne garage rockers The Deadpans have dropped their new single Sally, along with a 1970s style home video to match. Treading the line between surf rock and indie pop, the track is a soft shambling love song built for twenty somethings wasting their days away in the sunshine. The Deadpans are playing tonight at Bar Open supporting Eddie Boyd, while Sally is being released onto 7 vinyl, which will be available at The Deadpans single launch in the coming weeks. Its hard to overstate the importance The Saints play in the history of Australian music. One of the most legendary bands to come out of our homegrown punk scene, The Saints wield untold influence over bands here and across the pond. They were kind of god-like to me and my colleagues. They were just always so much better than everybody else. It was extraordinary to go and see a band that was so anarchic and violent, said Aussie music legend in his own right Nick Cave of the group. Now theyre set to play three intimate and exclusive home turf shows at Melbournes Gasometer Hotel this October. The shows will see frontman Chris Bailey returning to Australia to play alongside Saints alumni drummer Iain Shedden, with Pat Bourke on bass and You Am Is Davey Lane on guitar. This is a rare opportunity to see one of Australias most iconic and important bands. Check below for all the dates and ticketing details and make sure you get yours fast because they will not be hanging around for long. The Saints National Tour Dates Wednesday, 5th October 2016 The Gasometer Hotel, Melbourne (18+) Tickets: Oztix | 1300 762 545 Thursday, 6th October 2016 The Gasometer Hotel, Melbourne (18+) Tickets: Oztix | 1300 762 545 Friday, 7th October 2016 The Gasometer Hotel, Melbourne (18+) Tickets: Oztix | 1300 762 545 Boutique winter festival Snowtunes is only two weeks away, returning to picturesque Lake Jindabyne on September 3rd 2016. Promising to unshackle your imagination and push the boundaries of a modern day music event, the festival looks to follow up on last years inaugural success to offer snow-goers the ultimate music festival experience at the base of the Snowy Mountains. Were all about any event that offers a new way to experience live music, and here are a few reasons wed recommend making the trip this year whether youre expertly tackling the black runs or still trying to master the art of the snow plough. Straight from the slopes to the stage Ever wanted to combine the adrenaline of a day on the slopes and a night in a moshpit? Of course you have. The festival is located in the heart of Lake Jindabyne, conveniently between the famous ski slopes of Perisher and Thredbo, and offers a whole bunch of packages (2 day lift passes and various accommodation) to allow you to do just that. The festival boasts a run time of 2:00pm-1:00am, so you can ski or snowboard all day and catch all the awesome acts on offer at night. Another killer lineup Following a seriously strong debut lineup last year, Snowtunes has once again delivered an eclectic but well balanced assortment for the snowy one-dayer. From triple j darlings Ball Park Music and party starter Hot Dub Time Machine, to acclaimed beatmaker What So Not and other favourites like Asta and Kilter, the festival promises to bring audiences plenty of tunes to keep you warm and dancing through the night. The full lineup is right here. Perfectly tuned for winter Nailing an obvious hole in the saturated festival market, Snowtunes is one of the only festivals that are capitalising on the crowds that flock to the snow during winter. Whereas most festivals take advantage of Australias seemingly endless Summer and have you baking in 40 degree heat, Snowtunes is designed around the snowfields and all the activities on offer there that no summer festival can offer. That location No more Melbourne/Sydney rivalry, as Snowtunes is located smack-bang between the two and if youre a Canberrian, you can practically jog there. The location itself is also expectedly pretty, and last year the stage was a castle with an enormous snowflake, and an equally-huge sun that actually spewed flames overhead. Take that, infinity prism! It wont break the bank Youve got a few different options for tickets, and none of them will set you back a crazy amount. A general admission ticket is $115 and gets you access to the entire festival, while a bundle that includes a ticket and a 2-day Thredbo lift pass is $240. Bus tickets from select cities are available from $40 as well, to save you the drive home. If youre feeling especially fancy, a luxury ticket is available that rolls in transport, meals and accomodation and even a guided tour of the national park for $345. Boutique festivals just keep kicking goals The age of the boutique festival is well and truly upon us. Laneway is taking charge as one of Australias premiere festivals, Paradise and Big Pineapple Fest are making waves, and Snowtunes is continuing that run of small-scale innovators. Rather than a huge commitment that leaves you cooked for a week afterwards, maybe its an awesome time to check out one of the smaller festivals around the country delivering the latest in Aussie artists live to a smaller and more intimate crowd. Tickets and info It all kicks off from 2pm-1am on Saturday September 3 at the Jindabyne ski fields tickets are available now. ABC Radio chief Michael Mason is currently celebrating Australias national youth broadcaster triple j nearing 2 million listeners. According to the latest radio ratings survey, the stations national reach is 1.96 million. But that reach is dropping in Melbourne where, believe it or not, young listeners actually prefer to listen to oldies station Gold FM. As the Sydney Morning Herald reports, under-24s prefer Wham! and Phil Collins to DMAs and Vera Blue. According to Fairfax, Gold and Fox are dominating in Melbourne. The two stations are tied at 8.6 percent share of the market, with Fox edging out Gold as the leader in the under-17s market with 27.3 percent and 21.7 percent of the 18-24s. But whats most surprising about the fifth radio ratings survey of the year is the fact that Gold has leapfrogged over triple j in the youth market. The j commands 4.5 percent of teen listeners, compared to Golds 5.8 percent and it was similar with those in their early 20s. Where triple j is doing spectacularly well is in the 25-39 demographic, where they command 12.5 percent of listeners. This echoes the results of the May survey, which also showed strong numbers for triple j amongst 25-39s. Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth were the only major cities in which 18-24s commanded a larger share of triple js listeners than the 25-39 demographic and even then, Sydney was the only city in which triple j was the preferred station of 18-24-year-olds. In most cities, triple j was most popular amongst the 25-39 demographic and often outstripped the market shares of other stations, even commercial giants like NOVA and KIIS, who were actually more popular amongst the 18-24-year-olds. Whats more, its been this way for quite some time. Tone Deaf has previously reported on the results of radio ratings surveys in which triple j have absolutely dominated the highly coveted 25-39 demographic. The news is always tinged with irony. Since triple j is a commercial-free broadcaster, advertisers cannot purchase time on the most popular station amongst their most sought-after age bracket and its not clear just why its so popular with those in their 30s and 40s. Part of the reason may simply be that it takes a while to develop music taste outside of the mainstream, a theory for which there is some actual scientific evidence and even Double J presenter Myf Warhurst has touched on this. Of course, its important to note that radio surveys dont provide an accurate depiction of the listening habits of Australians, since community radio stations, digital broadcasters, and streaming services are not analysed. The Vanns are Jimmy Vann (vocals and guitar), Lachie Jones (drums), and Tom Switlek (bass). They have a new single, its called Skinny Legs, its awesome, and theyre celebrating it with a quick East Coast tour. Recorded and produced by Nathan Sheehy, best known for his work with Birds of Tokyo and Dune Rates, Skinny Legs is another fabulous car crash of melody and riff-work from one of Australias hardest working young bands. The last three years have seen The Vanns play over 250 shows, supporting the likes of Sticky Fingers, Ash Grunwald, The Delta Riggs, British India, Tired Lion, Kingswood, The Griswolds, Jinja Safari, Dappled Cities, and many more. The band will play two shows next month, kicking off a rapid-fire East Coast tour at the Workers Club in Melbourne on Saturday, 17th September, before hitting Brighton Up Bar in Sydney on Saturday, 24th September. The Vanns National Tour Dates Saturday, 17th September 2016 Workers Club, Melbourne Saturday, 24th September 2016 Brighton Up Bar, Sydney Yael Abouhalkah: "Work with council members and the Regional Transit Alliance, form a solid partnership, and make sure this budding feud does not get out of control." THERE IS NO FEUD GIVEN THAT KANSAS CITY VOTERS REJECTED TOY TRAIN STREETCAR EXPANSION LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO!!! Once again, the lead scribe for the taxpayer subsidized newspaper advocates imore taxpayer supported rail transit without the benefit of a citywide vote.The column is mostly out of date and a discussion that we hadon this blog but here's the newspaper marching orders to the last remaining folks who aren't taking all their news from their phone:And so, this particular screed is linked only to further our ongoing media literacy campaign . . .This column that's closed to comment and pretty much indefensible in public is nothing more than City Hall sponsored hype that's must more sinister than Visit KC garbage because it's cloaked under the guise of opinion journalism and not just marketing . . . At least the PR pros have the decency to pay for expensive suits and tacky Chiclet teeth orthodontia.Whereas the latest screed is just another newspaper hack shilling for his civic benefactor.You decide . . . CHECK THIS WORD FROM INSIDERS OFFERING A PEEK INTO THE LATEST KANSAS CITY COMMUNITY POLICING DEBATE WHEREIN BOTH SIDES ALLEGEDLY ACCUSE ONE ANOTHER OF BULLYING!!! "As I am sure you know; Chief Forte is dissolving the CIO position from KCPD. After many emails were sent to Chief Forte in protest of this action, he called a meeting of neighborhood leaders to discuss his thought process. In this "meeting" (Press-Op) Chief Forte spent over an hour lecturing us about bullying and how by sending him emails explaining our disapproval was us bulling him. He set this meeting up with barely 24hrs notice, then proceeded to invite the media which was uncalled for and filled the room with his entourage; thus bulling the concerned citizens in the room. During the question segment he continued his bullying by not allowing anyone who disagreed with him finish their questions, he would just interrupt them and talk over them, the questions he did answer were in true political round about form. Not once did he answer the questions directly." Signed: Bullied by Forte THIS IS THE SECOND MAJOR CONTROVERSY INVOLVING THE KCPD CHIEF THIS SUMMER AND THIS TIME AROUND NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS IN NORTHEAST SEEM EXCEPTIONALLY FRUSTRATED WITH THE TOP COP!!! Kansas City's Chief of Police is embroiled in another controversy and while the staffing decision is well known . . . Insiders offer our blog communityperspective.To wit . . .Here's the word . . .##############In fairness, the Chieffor an example of success without CIOs and continues to contend that ALL police should fulfill the duties of this position that's now dissolved.Nevertheless . . .Developing . . . The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a unit of the World Bank, signed a deal with Eurobank on Tuesday to provide 100 million euros to the Greek lender The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a unit of the World Bank, signed a deal with Eurobank on Tuesday to provide 100 million euros to the Greek lender, as part of its global financing program. IFCs trade facility will help Eurobank boost its trade finance activity and competitiveness, with a focus on export-related business, by providing risk mitigation for individual trade transactions through GTFPs growing network of issuing and confirming banks, the corporation said in a press release. The agreement is part of our initiative to restore the Greek economy, and will benefit both entrepreneurs, who are struggling to remain competitive globally under unfavorable conditions, and the Bank, said Eurobank CEO Fokion Karavias. Having returned to profitability, we prioritize supporting the Greek economy," he added. Eurobank Group and IFC have developed a strong partnership through the participation of the Groups subsidiary banks in Romania, Serbia and Bulgaria in the GTFP since 2010. To date, IFC has extended over 1 billion euros in cumulative trade finance support to Eurobanks Balkan subsidiaries and their local customers, helping them tap new markets and commercial partners. Greece has a competitive advantage in international trade with its geographical position as a historical, commercial, cultural and economic crossroads, said Marcos Brujis, IFC Global Director, Financial Institutions Group. Unleashing Greeces export potential and connecting local companies to international markets can help tremendously to revive the Greek economy and drive development. In 2015, at the request of the Greek government, IFCs Board endorsed a selective and temporary IFC reengagement in Greece. IFC became a shareholder in all of Greeces four systemic banks by participating in their recapitalization, acquiring 150 million euros worth of shares to restore financial sector stability and investor confidence, strengthening the banking sector. 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 The European Commission has issued a statement in support of former ELSTAT chief Andreas Georgiou, in relation to the charges against him and the quality of official statistics. The European Commissions statement is as follows: Sound and reliable fiscal data are essential for sound economic decision making. Recent statements in the media, however, call into question the quality and reliability of official statistics in Greece. Although the Commission will not, as a matter of principle, comment on individual national legal proceedings, it is concerned about these statements as they also call into question the validity of the fiscal data underpinning the Stability Support Programme for Greece. The Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, as well as European statistics, Marianne Thyssen, said: The independence of the Hellenic Statistical Authority ELSTAT and the quality of its statistics are essential. For the Commission and Eurostat it is absolutely clear that data on Greek Government debt during 2010-2015 have been fully reliable and accurately reported to Eurostat". The Commission now calls upon the Greek authorities to actively and publicly challenge the false impression that data were manipulated during 2010-2015 and to protect ELSTAT and its staff from such unfounded claims. It also urges the Greek authorities to support and preserve the quality of Greek statistics, as well as the independence of the Hellenic Statistical System, along the lines defined in Greek statistical legislation and in the Commitment on Confidence in Statistics of 2012. A letter signed by Vice-President Dombrovskis, Commissioner Moscovici and Commissioner Thyssen was sent in this regard to Greek Minister of Finance Euclid Tsakalotos. 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 Greece and Italy have demonstrated to Europe and the world the meaning of solidarity, he argued The High Commissioner of the UNs Refugee Agency (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi met with the President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos and Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Wednesday morning and praised Greeces role in receiving and accommodating refugees. The Greek President referred to the UNs contribution to addressing the refugee crisis in Greece, as well as the EU-Turkey agreement. Mr. Pavlopoulos also hit back at critics within and outside the EU for their use of unacceptable tactics and fearmongering. On his behalf the UNs High Commissioner commented that it was the first time he visits a UN mission for a second time, indicating the Commissions importance in supporting the Greek people, the institutions and Greek government. He further stressed that contrary to other states in Europe which closed their doors and are hostile to refugees, Greece demonstrated what solidarity is about. In his statements, the Greek Prime Minister stated that the UN has a critical role and underlined that cooperation between the Greek government and the UNHCR will improve and become more effective. PM Tsipras also noted that a permanent solution is necessary, not just for the refugee crisis, but the ongoing conflict in Syria. Mr. Grandi thanked the Greek Premier for Greeces response to the refugee crisis and noted that Italy has also helped refugees. Both neighboring countries, he explained, have demonstrated to Europe the meaning of solidarity. 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 Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will discuss the kingdom's drive to cut its reliance on oil exports in visits to China and Japan that begin next week, Saudi media and sources said on Wednesday. In April, Prince Mohammed launched radical economic reforms designed to develop non-oil industries in Saudi Arabia and attract billions of dollars of foreign investment. Chinese and Japanese banks and companies are expected to play major roles. The prince will visit China early next week for talks on economic ties as well as security issues, the Saudi Gazette reported. He will then visit Japan from August 31 to September 3, meeting Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters. From Japan, Prince Mohammed will return to China to chair Saudi Arabia's delegation to the September 4-5 summit of leaders of the world's 20 biggest economies in the eastern city of Hangzhou, the Saudi Gazette said. A Saudi source familiar with the trip said Prince Mohammed would present to the G20 his economic reform plan, which envisages state spending of around SR270 billion ($72 billion) in the next five years on projects to diversify the economy. Prince Mohammed's father, King Salman, led the Saudi delegation to last year's G20 summit in Turkey; heading this year's delegation would be a fresh political boost for the 31-year-old prince, who rose to prominence when his father took the throne in January 2015. Saudi officials will discuss energy cooperation agreements with China and Japan, including a plan to cooperate with China in storing crude oil, the Saudi cabinet said on Monday. Saudi Arabia has traditionally accounted for most of Asia's crude imports, but Opec's top producer has lost ground in a number of major markets including Russia and China, and faces a further threat from Iran, which is ramping up exports after the removal of Western sanctions. National oil giant Saudi Aramco has been in talks with China's CNPC and Sinopec for investment opportunities in refining, marketing and petrochemicals, Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih said earlier this year. Under Prince Mohammed's economic reforms, Riyadh plans to sell a stake of up to 5 percent in Aramco that could be worth tens of billions of dollars, and Chinese and Japanese money could prove crucial in smoothing the sale. In June, Saudi and Japanese officials discussed possible Japanese investments in an initial public offer of Aramco shares that might occur as soon as in 2017. Officials at top Chinese banks have said they would be interesting in being involved in the offer. - Reuters The upcoming World Islamic Banking Conference (WIBC 2016) in Bahrain will gather over 1,300 leaders onto a single platform to chart new areas of growth, address economic uncertainties, and unlock opportunities in the global Islamic finance industry. To be held in strategic partnership with the Central Bank of Bahrain, the event will be held at the Gulf Hotel in Bahrain from December 5 to 7 under the theme of "Economic Uncertainties: Vigilance & Growth". The 23rd edition of WIBC will celebrate the rich heritage and the legacy of the globally renowned brand, one that has for over two decades promoted excellence, innovation and growth for the $D2 trillion Islamic finance industry. Promising fresh and topical content, the event will help produce a roadmap for 2017 and beyond by harnessing technology, cutting-edge research and powerful speakers. WIBC is known to traverse boundaries; it has truly evolved into a global phenomenon attracting participants from the Middle East, East and West Africa, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Europe, and North America. Central bankers, ministers and other dignitaries attend this prestigious event with the view of exchanging best practices and learnings on emerging Islamic finance markets. WIBC is also known for its emphasis on ethical and values-based business in the context of Islamic finance. Indeed, Ethical Banking and Corporate Social Responsibility will be of prime importance on the agenda. The emphasis on technology is another great feature of WIBC 2016. Sessions will explore how to take Islamic finance forward in a digitally connected world, producing insights from pioneers and innovators in the financial technology space. Key players from Fintech, mobile banking, crowdfunding, and other tech sources will lead the innovation agenda at the conference. The WIBC audience will play a formative role in the discussions, participating via live voting across sessions. On the intelligence front, WIBC 2016 will continue building on its track-record as the definitive platform for thought leadership with the launch of several reports in collaboration with leading players in the Islamic Finance and Digital Space. WIBC leaderboard this year will recognize excellence in the industry through the much-coveted WIBC Performance Awards 2016. The nominees will be announced weeks before the December event and the winners at the Gala Dinner on December 6. In addition, as a part of the exhibition, a new feature will be added known as the WIBC Majlis which will be an exclusive lounge area for conference participants, speakers and sponsors to gather and network in an informal setting. TradeArabia News Service Sharjah-based Shriram EPC FZE, a leading engineering, procurement and construction contractor, has won a contract worth $230 million for constructing the balance of plant of a steel mill in Sohar, Oman. The 1.2-million-tonnes-per-annum mini mill project is being built by Moon Iron and Steel, an Oman-based company with investments from Gulf Investment Corporation, Oman Development Fund and Sultans Special Forces Pension Fund. Shriram EPC FZE is a 100 per cent subsidiary of India-based Shriram EPC (SEPC), a leading provider of integrated design, engineering, procurement, construction and project management services for infrastructure projects in roads and highways, water and sewerage, renewable energy, process and metallurgical plants and municipal service sector projects. The project has an execution period of 32 months, said a Shriram EPC press statement. T Shivaraman, managing director and CEO of Shriram EPC Limited, said: The recent order win is a big step forward for the company through our 100 per cent subsidiary. The order win demonstrates the operating excellence of our team. Given the slowdown in the steel and metals business in India with capacity expansions on hold, this overseas order will enable us to maintain and strengthen our position in this sector. It will also give us a strong base to expand our business in the Middle East market." -TradeArabia News Service Kalaam Telecom, Bahrains second largest telecommunications provider for corporates, and Microsoft have announced joint plans to deliver software and cloud experiences to enterprises, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication. To read further, please visit GDNonline. The Gulf Future Business group (GFB) announced that it will launch the first ICT annual report in Bahrain Bahrain ICT Report2016. GFB chairman, Ahmed Al-Hujairi said that this report aims to provide regional readership with ICT business intelligence the ICT sector needs to stay ahead, produce the most accurate statistics and independent analysis available to help make fundamental long-term investment decisions, and produce detailed ICT analysis to be able to publish authoritative reports covering the ICT sector. Al-Hujairi explained that Bahrain ICT Report for this year will contain a special report on the award given to HRH Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa by International Telecommunication Union. The Bahrain ICT Report 2016 aims to present relevant and important information such as the progression and achievement in the ICT sector. Both the government and private sector will be highlighted in the report to add more value and opportunities in the field of ICT, Al-Hujairi said. The report also will contain many parts: history of ICT in Bahrain, about ICT in Bahrain, telecom in Bahrain, about how Telecom companies in Bahrain adapts to the latest technology and NGO in Bahrain ICT, Points of views, interviews from prominent ICT leaders that will share opinions on the ICT field, studies and research, forecast or future plans that are researched based articles about ICT, analytics, and research-based statistics to help understand the status of the ICT in the region he added. It will be available both in print and electronic to be distributed to all over Bahrain and other countries, circulation 50,000 per edition Al-Hujairi added. TradeArabia News Service 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. Massey Ferguson, a worldwide brand of AGCO, has announced that its new MF 300 Xtra tractors with exclusive features are now available to purchase through the MF dealer network. This range of 50-85hp multi-purpose, entry-level tractors was unveiled earlier this year at the US-Africa Business Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Massey Fergusons extensive distributor and dealer network is trained by us and is qualified to provide sales and full back-up for our products, said Thierry Lhotte, Massey Ferguson vice-president marketing, Europe/Africa/Middle East. The new MF 300 Xtra tractors and the wide-ranging after-sales services we offer are available only from accredited Massey Ferguson dealers. They alone are authorised to sell and support brand-new MF 300 Xtra models which come equipped with exclusive features including sun canopy, front weights, drawbar and trailer tipping pipe, Lhotte said. Our highly-professional Massey Ferguson Dealer Network is what sets us apart and protects our customers, Lhotte emphasised. Through these outlets, Massey Ferguson customers have access to the complete range of the MF 300 Xtra Tractor Series, 12-month warranty supported by fully qualified MF dealer technicians, genuine AGCO parts, maintenance and service programmes, training and advice. Only official outlets holding a Massey Ferguson franchise can offer our factory-backed support. The MF 300 Xtra strengthens Massey Fergusons position in the lower horsepower sector and offers a broader choice to farmers looking for a rugged and reliable general-purpose machine. To complement the new tractor models, a new line of Massey Ferguson-branded implements is available including disc harrows, fixed-disc ploughs, subsoilers, planters, trailers and a transport box. Featuring low cost of ownership, easy servicing and maintenance, the MF 300 Xtra Series range consists of six models. Initially three models were released - the 50hp MF 345 Xtra two-wheel-drive (2WD), 75hp MF 375 Xtra (2WD) and 85hp MF 385 Xtra (2WD and 4WD). The longer wheelbase 50hp MF 350 Xtra (2WD), 60hp MF 355 Xtra (2WD) and 60hp MF 360 Xtra (2WD) are also now available. Fuel-efficient power comes from 3-cylinder AD 3.152 and 4-cylinder 4.41 diesel engines. The well-proven mechanical transmission offers four gears in two ranges to provide eight forward and two reverse speeds. The MF 300 Xtra tractors are offered with sun canopy, front weights, drawbar and trailer tipping pipe a unique package of features exclusive to this new range. All models are available in footstep configuration, while the spacious operators environment is equipped with a spring-suspension deluxe seat. - TradeArabia News Service Saudi security forces shot dead a suspected militant who tried to detonate explosives outside a mosque in the Qatif region in eastern Saudi Arabia, the interior ministry said on Wednesday. "The man was shot outside a mosque in the town of Um al Hamam and died while being transported to the hospital. He had explosive materials in a bag," an interior ministry spokesman was quoted as saying by Saudi state news agency SPA. Police found a Pakistani residency card on the man, the statement said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attempted attack on Tuesday but the militant Islamic State group has carried out several deadly shootings and bombings, many targeting Shi'te mosques and security personnel. The interior ministry said on Wednesday that a Saudi citizen and a Syrian man seized at a checkpoint in the eastern city of Dammam in August with explosives on them had planned to bomb a restaurant on the island of Tarot. "Elements of Daesh abroad instructed them to carry out a suicide attack targeting the cafe in Tarot but the help of God and the vigilance of the security forces prevented this," said the statement using an Arabic language acronym for Islamic State. In July, suicide bombers struck three cities across Saudi Arabia, killing at least four security officers. The apparently coordinated attacks came on the penultimate day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. - Reuters Iraq's prime minister said the country has not yet reached its full oil market share, suggesting his government would not restrain crude output as part of any possible Opec agreement to lift prices. "And the capping, we are not open to that because Iraq is still below what it should produce," Haider Al-Abadi told reporters, responding to a question about whether the second-largest Opec producer would be open to such a deal. Venezuela, whose economy like Iraq's has been hit hard by the oil price collapse, has for months sought to rally producers towards an agreement to limit production. Despite rising this year, oil at around $49 a barrel is less than half its level of mid-2014. Members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries are due to meet informally in Algeria next month on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum (IEF). Russia is also expected to attend the IEF. Al-Abadi's comments come as sources in Opec and the oil industry told Reuters Iran, Opec's third-largest producer, was sending positive signals that it may support joint action to prop up the oil market. Tehran refused to join an attempt in April to freeze output at January levels, scuppering those talks because Saudi Arabia said it wanted all producers to join the initiative. Iraq, which depends on oil sales for 95 percent of its public spending, appears set to continue boosting production, which currently stands at around 4.6 million barrels per day. The Baghdad government resumed partial pumping from fields in Kirkuk operated by state-run North Oil Company (NOC) via a Kurdish pipeline to Turkey, the oil ministry said on Thursday without explanation. Oil flow had stopped in March because of a dispute between Al-Abadi's government and authorities in the autonomous Kurdish region over control of oil resources. Al-Abadi said on Tuesday the decision was made in order to extract gas associated with oil and avoid damage to reservoirs. "We have to produce oil in order to get gas," he told the news conference in Baghdad. "This is a very old oil field, if this field does not produce oil, it can be degraded... So we were told to pump oil from Kirkuk to Ceyhan," he said, referring to the Turkish Mediterranean port where the pipeline delivers crude for international oil sales. Al-Abadi also said Iraq may base its public budget for 2017 on an oil price of $35 per barrel, about the same level as this year after it was lowered from an initial forecast of $45 a barrel. Iraq sells its crude at a discount to international oil prices. The price assumption for 2017 could still be changed by parliament which has to approve it, Al-Abadi's spokesman said separately. Reuters Turkeys Unit International plans to invest $3 billion on the construction of a 5,000-megawatt power plant in Iran, a report said. Unal Aysal, chairman of the Belgium-based energy firm, has concluded talks with Iran's Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian in Tehran, Iran Daily reported, citing Fars News Agency. "At the moment, the signing of the final agreement is awaiting the go-ahead by the Ministry of Energy," head of Thermal Power Plants Holding Company of Iran Mohsen Tarztalab was quoted as saying in the report. "The contract is being prepared for submission to the Ministry of Energy. If it is accepted, the ministry will announce it for taking necessary steps," Tarztalab said. The Turkish energy company signed a preliminary deal with Iran's energy minister in June to build seven natural gas combined cycle power plants in Iran, according to the report. Construction of the plants will begin in the first quarter of 2017, the company said. The plants are expected to meet 10 per cent of Iran's energy needs. Hari Prasad Pokhrel is the new addition to the Downtown Rotana team, taking on the role of specialty outlet manager for the hotels award-winning restaurant Teatro Downtown which recently launched in Bahrain. Teatro Downtown is the third Teatro in the region to be opened by the Rotana Group following the chains tremendous success and bagging of multiple awards in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the most recent being Best International Restaurant 2015 at the TimeOut Awards. Teatro is Downtown Rotanas premiere restaurant venue featuring an East-meets-West cuisine within a cozy ambience designed with contemporary flair. Originating from Nepal and with over a decade of experience in the hospitality industry, Pokhrel has a career that spans multiple international hotel chains, including working with Michelin star Chefs such as Gordon Ramsay in restaurants across the Gulf. Hari joined the Rotana Group over four years ago, and spent three years working at Teatro Abu Dhabi, located at the Park Rotana & Park Arjaan, before taking on his new challenge at Downtown Rotana. In his current role, and with a wealth of experience under his belt, Pokhrel is responsible for overseeing the entire operation of Teatro and along with his dynamic team, they are focused on delivering the highest quality of service and customer excellence that exceed guest expectations at all times. We are happy to welcome Hari to the Downtown Rotana family; we are confident that with his experience, creativity and positive character, he will effectively contribute to the success of Teatro Downtown and maintain the chains reputation for superior food and service quality, said Lilian Roger, general manager of Downtown Rotana. Pokhrel has been recognised numerous times for his hard work and dedication, and has received appreciation letters from high profile personalities as well as royalty for his outstanding achievements. He has also attended various workshops in leadership training, safety and security, and food and beverage, to get a holistic understanding of the industry he so passionately serves. It is a great feeling to be in Bahrain and I look forward to bring to the table some of my previous experience working at Teatro Abu Dhabi. The Teatro brand has an established reputation in the region and its Bahrain-based counterpart is fast-growing in popularity among locals and neighbouring guests; it has an amazing vibe and I will certainly do my best to push its success, explained Pokhrel. - TradeArabia News Service Crowne Plaza Jordan Dead Sea Resort and Spa - part of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed an agreement with the regional programme, Economic Integration of Women in the Mena Region (EconoWin). The programme is implemented by the German Development Cooperation, known as GIZ, to promote the employment of women at private companies across the Mena region through Gender Diversity Management (GDM), a concept critical to the integration of women into the labour market. Under this agreement, Crowne Plaza Jordan Dead Sea Resort and Spa and EconoWin will jointly plan and prepare for the implementation of a specific corporate gender diversity initiative, which promotes employment opportunities for women through GDM. The agreement was signed by Area General Manager of IHG Dead Sea Properties, Firas Irsheidat, and EconoWins National Project Manager-Jordan, Nour Moghrabi, at the Crowne Plaza Jordan Dead Sea Resort and Spa. The GDM project, which will be implemented by Crowne Plaza Jordan Dead Sea Resort, aims at attracting, retaining and developing female talents in order to enhance business performance and, subsequently, increase the number of female workers in the hotel industry. This is achieved by rolling out campaigns that raise awareness on the nature of work in the hotel sector in Jordan, in addition to providing training opportunities that lead to employment. Commenting on the agreement, Irsheidat said, This agreement reaffirms our commitment to supporting all segments of the local community, as well as our efforts to back the Government of Jordan by contributing toward one of the pillars of the National Tourism Strategy, namely, increasing female participation in the hospitality workforce. Through our partnership with EconoWin, we will focus on showcasing the importance of working in this sector and tackling the culture of shame often associated with working in the field of tourism and hotels, particularly for women. Irsheidat added that the Crowne Plaza Jordan Dead Sea Resort and Spa will empower the women with the skills and knowledge needed to work in the hotel industry so that they may benefit from the work opportunities available at the Resort and Spa. In turn, Moghrabi said: Our agreement with Crowne Plaza Jordan Dead Sea Resort and Spa marks the beginning of our journey to address the challenges that face the hotel industry with regard to recruiting women. This corresponds with EconoWins goals to bring the practice of GDM to select companies. Through GDM, we aim for greater employment opportunities within the 20 companies we support in Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco. By applying this concept, the hotel will become better equipped to handle the difficulties faced in the field of recruiting, retaining and developing women who represent an essential pillar of the workforce. The GDM project aims at improving womens integration into the labour market in order to enhance the performance of national economies through measures that improve companies performances. Consequently, employees level of job satisfaction will be raised, and the burdens incurred by companies as a result of employees transferring or quitting will be reduced. - TradeArabia News Service Dubai International Airport, the worlds number one airport for international passengers, welcomed the inaugural flight of Nepal Airlines from Kathmandu on August 19. The airline now offers three direct flights per week from the Nepalese capital to Dubai airports Terminal 2, onboard an Airbus A320 aircraft. The new service adds more choice for the expatriate Nepalese community in the UAE as well as for the thousands of visitors looking to experience the cultural heritage, colour, and general milieu of Kathmandus packed streets, not to mention the many who visit the city to tackle the worlds highest peak, Mount Everest. - TradeArabia News Service Luxury hotel brand Shaza Hotels, a joint venture between Qatar-based Barwa Real Estate and Kempinski Hotels, is set to open 20 hotels in the Middle East by 2020, a senior official has revealed. Speaking at a media roundtable today at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain, Sanjiv Malhotra, executive vice president - Shaza Hotels, unveiled the group's expansion plans over the next four years, and the story behind the unique brand. "Since our inception, the core idea was to create a luxury hotel brand that is born of the Middle Eastern culture," said Malhotra. Taking its inspiration from cultures along the Silk Route, Shaza is the only brand which offers "hand crafted" Middle Eastern guest experiences in a contemporary setting, Malhotra said. Shaza, which derives its name from the Arabic word for 'fragrance', first entered the hospitality market in 2010, with a 469-key property in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. Now the brand is looking to further expand its five-star offering with 13 hotels (2,500 rooms) signed across the region including Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, Riyadh, Bahrain, Doha, Amman, Salalah, Fez, Marrakech, Cairo and Muscat. Each of the 13 hotels will have a unique core theme covering art, wellness, honeymoon etc. Targeting pilgrims to the holy cites in Saudi Arabia, Shaza Makkah is set to open in the first quarter of 2017, followed by openings in Muscat (Q2), Salalah (Q3) and Doha (Q4). Shaza is also targeting Bahrain with a project planned in the Seef district. Negotiations are currently underway and no opening date has been confirmed. The project is expected to cost over $150 million and will comprise 180 rooms., Malhotra said. He also confirmed that the group would be shelving its Bahrain Bay project, which was earlier announced in 2008, until the financial situation improves. "Bahrain Bay is a beautiful architecture but beacuse of the financial crisis, the project is on hold at the moment," he said. "The Middle East is cautious when it comes to large investments because of the low oil prices. "These economic challenges have an impact on investments." Malhotra also unveiled the brand's latest hositality offering - Mysk - which falls under the four-star segment. This brand of hotels will target the younger travellers in the region. "Shaza Hotels is our mature brand of hotels and Mysk will be our more vibrant, convivial brand," said Malhotra. A twist on the word 'musk', the first Mysk hotel will open in Muscat, Oman in the second quarter of 2017. Malhotra also said that the group was open to the idea of bringing its flagship Mysk to Bahrain as well. The group's 20-hotel portfolio by 2020 will include 14 Shaza Hotels and six Mysk Hotels, Malhotra confirmed. - TradeArabia News Service AGENTatHOME Magazine A version of this article appears in print in the August 2016 issue of AGENTatHOME Magazine. Subscribe COLUMBUS Several people were injured when a school bus transporting Lakeview Community Schools students collided with another vehicle Monday afternoon near the districts junior/senior high school. Rescue personnel were called to the accident along 83rd Street just west of Monastery Road around 4 p.m. Monday. According to a Platte County Sheriffs deputy, the westbound bus was transporting students from Shell Creek Elementary School when it struck a Chevrolet Avalanche that was stopped in the roadway while waiting to turn into the Lake North camping area. The deputy said the bus driver attempted to stop before the collision, but was unable to do so. Lakeview Community Schools contracts with Mid States School Bus Inc. of Wayne for its busing services. Nobody on the school bus was injured in the accident, but four passengers in the Avalanche were transported by ambulance to Columbus Community Hospital, one with serious injuries. The driver was uninjured. The occupants of the Avalanche, which had Colfax County license plates, were camping at Lake North, according to the deputy. Students were transported from the scene in other vehicles. Columbus Fire and Rescue and the Platte County Sheriffs Office responded to the scene. A persistent, often fierce wind blows across the barren stone peak that is Mount Washington. Above the tree line very little grows, and yet theres always life here, as scientists, tourists and adventurers share the 6,288-foot mountain. (TRAVPR.COM) USA - August 24th, 2016 - For more than two centuries, the Northeasts highest summit has captured the American imagination. Mount Washington: The Crown of New England, on view at the Currier Museum of Art from October 1, 2016 through January 16, 2017, brings together for the first time many of the most important early images of the Mount Washington region and it returns Albert Bierstadts monumental 10-foot-wide painting, The Emerald Pool (1870), to New England for the first time since it was painted. The exhibition includes 40 paintings and a rich selection of historic prints, vintage photographs, scientific reports and guidebooks that helped make Mount Washington an international symbol of the American wilderness and its scenic wonders. The Crown of New England is a gorgeous love letter to the Northeasts tallest mountain, and one of the largest exhibitions presented by the Currier. People are fascinated by the beauty and majesty of Mount Washington, and for good reason, said Andrew Spahr, Currier director of collections and exhibitions. This exhibition will present major paintings by Thomas Cole and John Kensett (1816-1872) that helped alter the course of American art in the 19th century as well as prints, photographs and early guide books that made the region one of the most popular tourist attractions in America in the mid-1800s. The Art of Mount Washington Images of the White Mountains began appearing in the early 1820s, but it was the paintings of Thomas Cole (1801-1848) that first attracted the larger artistic community. Coles View in the White Mountains (1827) pictured a snowcapped Mount Washington rising above a verdant valley, the peak silhouetted against dark clouds. The image was infused with a sense of national pride, the mountains rough, craggy pinnacle named after Americas first national hero, represented a strong, confident America that could weather any storm. The tremendous artistic potential of Mount Washington was fully realized in the early 1850s. New Hampshire-born artist Benjamin Champney (1817-1907) and New York painter John Kensett spent several weeks during the summer of 1850 sketching in and around North Conway. Their summer sketches were later worked up as oils for exhibition in New York and Boston, to strong critical acclaim. Kensetts Mount Washington from the Valley of Conway (1851), became well known through a popular engraving of the time. In turn, these works of art helped boost tourism in the region, especially among individuals seeking adventures away from the city. During the 1840s and 1850s, the region was also the subject of some of the first landscape photographs ever taken. These images were in some cases experiments with the newly invented and in others served as souvenirs of visits to the scenic White Mountains, further promoting the area. Soon, the availability of accommodations near Crawford and Pinkham Notch, the Conway Valley and eventually atop the mountain, meant artists, scientists and adventurous tourists could spend more time exploring the area. The Science of Mount Washington Mount Washington is known internationally for being the home of the worlds worst weather. It regularly records winds that can change from a light breeze to hurricane strength within hours. One wicked 231 mph wind in April 1934 retains the world record for highest wind ever observed on land. Artists often worked together in partnership with scientists, botanists, geologists and meteorologists, who needed accurate yet evocative images that would help bring their research to life visually. Text-based descriptions were enlivened with drawings, some reproduced using the newly invented mediums chromolithography and photography. Artists, many of whom studied sciences such as geology, in turn benefitted from understanding the specific processes that shaped the White Mountain landscape, giving them a more accurate sense of the scenes they committed to paper or canvas. About the Exhibition The exhibition includes 146 works of art and related historical objects, presented in mostly chronological order across all three of the Museums special exhibition galleries. It begins with the first major paintings and prints of the region, dating back to 1827. The exhibition concludes with a dramatic presentation of Bierstadts The Emerald Pool, much as it would have been displayed in late-19th century venues as it toured the United States and Europe. The painting won a medal at the International Exposition in Vienna in 1873. A fascinating interactive space will offer visitors of all ages opportunities to explore the art and science of the region. It will include displays of real-time weather conditions atop Mount Washington, as well as incredible videos taken from the summit, thanks to our collaboration with the Mount Washington Observatory in North Conway, N.H. Visitors can view stereographs, make art, read colorful tales of the region from period guidebooks and the exhibition includes a fun family guide. Tickets $5/person in addition to general Museum admission. Exhibition Support Mount Washington: The Crown of New England is supported by the Henry Melville Fuller Exhibition Fund, the Kimon S. & Anne C. Zachos Exhibition Fund, the Robert & Dorothy Goldberg Charitable Foundation, the Mt. Washington Auto Road, Skinner Auctioneers and Appraisers, Pamela A. Harvey, Harold Janeway, Harvey Construction, the Jack & Dorothy Byrne Foundation and the Susan E. Strickler Exhibition Fund. We are proud to have New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) as media sponsors. General Information The Currier Museum of Art, located at 150 Ash Street, Manchester, N.H., is open every day except Tuesday. It is home to an internationally respected collection of European and American paintings, decorative arts, photographs and sculpture, including works by Picasso, Matisse, Monet and O'Keeffe. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the engaging exhibitions, the dynamic programs ranging from art-making and lectures to music, a Museum Shop, and an airy, light-filled cafe. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the Museum. The Currier welcomes visitors with disabilities and special needs. We are wheelchair accessible and offer FM headsets for sound amplification at many public programs. For more information, visit CURRIER.ORG or call 603.669.6144, x108. The Currier Art Center offers studio classes, art camps, Master classes and intensive workshops for all ages. The Museum also owns the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Zimmerman House, complete with the original furnishings and the owners' fine art collection. ### U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS ANNOUNCES RETURN OF DINE VI CULINARY EVENT U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS (August 23, 2016) - Restaurant Week returns to the United States Virgin Islands this fall featuring a selection of culinary experiences on St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas. The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism announced that the culinary extravaganza, known as Dine VI, will be staged from October 27 to November 12, 2016, on all three islands, building on the success of the inaugural event held on St. Croix last year. "Food aficionados, gourmands as well as culinary, travel and lifestyle journalists are invited to the U.S. Virgin Islands this fall to enjoy the many delights of our local restaurant scene," said Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty, noting that the two week span "allows us to fully celebrate our culinary diversity." Patrons are invited to dine at a wide selection of restaurants offering special prix fixe menus and experience events such as a farm-to-table culinary educational session, reef responsible fish fry, and food truck festival. Visitors and local foodies alike can indulge in traditional fare and savor dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. Hotel reservations for Dine VI can be booked on www.VisitUSVI.com , where travelers can receive 20 percent off their hotel stay and a dinner pass for two guests. The Dine VI offer is valid for travel from October 25 to November 15, 2016 and is also bookable directly with participating hotels utilizing the booking code DINEVI16. Guests will receive their dinner pass upon arrival. Restaurants are encouraged to register and participate in this food-centered experience by contacting Sharon Rosario at 340 772-0357 or srosario@usvitourism.vi. For more information, visit www.dine.vi 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. 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. New Delhi Air Arabia on Wednesday announced the launch of "comprehensive Equated Monthly Instalment (EMI) payment options for Indian travellers". The EMI facility would be available for credit card holders of eight banks including that of SBI, Axis Bank and HDFC Bank. It operates 115 weekly flights from its hub in Sharjah to 13 Indian cities, including Jaipur, Kochi, Coimbatore and Mumbai. PTI Jaipur BSNL earns Rs 128-crore profit in Rsthan Reeling under heavy losses in recent years, BSNL in Rajasthan has earned an operating profit of Rs 128 crore in the fiscal 2015-16, and the current trends show it would likely touch Rs 280 crore by the end of the current financial year. Besides, the revenue growth of Rajasthan BSNL has made a history in the country by securing 12.36% growth as of now, its Chief General Manager RK Misra said on Tuesday. TNS New Delhi ManpowerGroup to acquire Ciber Norway Workforce solutions company ManpowerGroup on Wednesday said it will acquire global information technology consulting firm Ciber's business in Norway. Ciber Norway's business, including 130 employees, will shift to ManpowerGroup when the deal closes later this month, pending regulatory approval. PTI Bengaluru Quikr buys ZapLuk to boost beauty biz Online classifieds firm Quikr on Wednesday said it has acquired ZapLuk, provider of on-demand beauty and wellness services, to scale up its 'AtHomeDiva' business. Under its services vertical, QuikrServices, Quikr will now offer a full range of on-demand home beauty services to consumers in multiple cities including Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Gurgaon and Hyderabad, it said. PTI New Delhi PowerGrid seeks nod to raise Rs 14,000 crore State-owned utility PowerGrid has sought shareholders' approval to raise up to Rs 14,000 crore through issuance of bonds from domestic and external sources in 2017-18. The funds will be raised through issuance of bonds under private placement in 2017-18. PTI New Delhi Nod to cancellation of four SEZ projects The government has given a go-ahead for the cancellation of projects to four special economic zones (SEZ) developers including those of Broadway Integrated Park and Veritas Infrastructure Development. The decision regarding this was taken in a meeting of the Board of Approval (BoA) on August 12, which was chaired by Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia. PTI New Delhi SBI to raise up to Rs 11,000 crore Country's largest lender State Bank of India on Wednesday said it will raise up to Rs 11,000 crore through Basel III-compliant debt instruments on a private placement basis. PTI Karnal Vodafone 4G services in Karnal, Panipat Vodafone on Wednesday launched its 4G services in Haryana from Karnal. Initially, it has been started in two districts Karnal and Panipat. In the coming days, the 4G services would be started in the entire state. TNS Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 24 In a major step in the fight against tax evasion, the Union Cabinet today gave its approval to the revised DTAA between India and Cyprus that provides for source-based taxation of capital gains on transfer of shares instead of one based on residence. This step follows the recent amendment to the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with Mauritius. As in the case of Mauritius, the treaty with Cyprus had provided for residence-based taxation of capital gains. According to the Finance Ministry, with the revision of the treaty now approved by the Cabinet, capital gains will be taxed in India for entities resident in Cyprus, subject to double tax relief. In other words, India will have the right to tax capital gains arising in India. The provisions in the earlier treaty for residence-based taxation were leading to distortion of financial and real investment flows by artificial diversion of various investments from their true countries of origin, for the sake of avoiding tax. As in the case of Mauritius, this amendment will deter such activities. Negotiations with Singapore are also underway for similar changes. The proposed DTAA provides for source-based taxation of capital gains on transfer of shares, instead of residence-based taxation as provided in the existing DTAA. India and Cyprus have a DTAA since 1994. Cyprus is a major source of foreign funds flows into the country. From April 2000 till March 2016, India received foreign direct investment to the tune of Rs 42,680.76 crore from Cyprus. Kolkata, August 24 Tata group will invest in West Bengal as and when opportunities arise taking an apolitical stance in business, Chairman Cyrus Mistry said today. Opportunities have to show themselves in West Bengal. When the opportunities show themselves, we make investments irrespective of political dispensation, Mistry replied to shareholders at Tata Global Beverages Ltd (TGBL) AGM when asked about the groups investment interests in the state. Relations between the Tata Group and the Trinamool Congress now in power in West Bengal soured after Tata Motors abandoned the Nano project at Singur in the state in 2008 following intense opposition from the party chief Mamata Banerjee. Banerjee opposed acquisition of farm land for the project and asked the Tatas to return 400 acres out of 1000 acres acquired for the project to the farmers. A Supreme Court verdict on the matter is being awaited. We take an apolitical stance in business. West Bengal has a special place in our heart and history. We will look at West Bengal as a place to grow, he said. PTI Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 23 There seems to be no end to snatching incidents in the city. Snatchers targeted a man and took away his cash at Sector 26 today. Seventeen snatching incidents have been reported this month. This is the fifth snatching incident reported in the past four days. Prem Pal, a resident of Bapu Dham Colony, Sector 26, in his complaint to the police, claimed that two pedestrians approached him in the morning and snatched Rs 6,000 from him. The victim informed the police who reached the spot and began investigation into the matter. Despite nakas, the UT police have failed to curb snatching incidents. The frequent snatching incidents have instilled fear among city residents. The police had recently busted two gangs of snatchers, but the arrests have failed check snatching incidents. Rajinder Nagarkoti Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 23 A day after a fire engine struggled for nearly an hour to reach a fire spot in Sector 17 due to haphazard parking of vehicles, Chandigarh Tribune begins a series highlighting the difficulties being faced at parking lots and indiscipline among vehicle owners in the tricity. The first part of the series brings to the fore the ground reality in all four paid and four unattended parking lots in Sector 17. While the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (MC) earns over Rs 4.5 crore annually from 25 paid parking lots across the city, it has failed to provide a "people-friendly" paid parking system. Despite the incident yesterday in which a fire engine was stuck in a parking lot for nearly 55 minutes due to haphazard parking, the condition remained the same or was even worse in the parking lots at Sector 17 today. A majority of the parking lots do not have designated parking space marked with white paint for each vehicle. The parking lots do not have a lane for fire engines to move in case of any mishap. The parking lots are required to have a dedicated lane for the movement of fire vehicles. The main focus of parking lot attendants is to issue manual slips (which is also a violation as e-ticketing machines are mandatory) at the entry point. They are least bothered about the inconvenience faced by people inside the parking lot. After the incident yesterday, no lessons seem to have been learnt as there was no improvement in the parking of vehicles at the CMC parking lot in Sector 17 today. Parking attendants continued to allow haphazard parking inside the lot. There was no space for the movement of emergency vehicles such as ambulances and fire engines. The staff were not present inside the lot to help people park their vehicles properly. The condition of the Bank Square parking lot and the parking area opposite the RLA office in Sector 17 was even worse. People had parked their vehicles behind other vehicles. At the Bank Square parking lot, which was surrendered by the contractor recently, a woman and a youth had heated arguments as the woman had parked her car behind the youth's car with the hand brake on. The youth had to wait for nearly 25 minutes for the woman to return to take out his car. At the paid parking lots, including the one behind the Neelam cinema and the CMC parking lot, forget CCTVs and electronic ticketing machines for issuing parking slips, parking contractors had not even deployed staff inside the lots. Violations galore Presence of staff While the terms and conditions set by the MC for the parking contractors clearly state that one person should be present at every 50 metres, no person was found inside the parking space at several parking lots. Designated parking space According to the norms, the parking contractors have to ensure that vehicles are parked at the designated places. However, two-wheelers can be found parked in the area designated for four-wheelers. CCTV camera Every paid parking lot needs to get a CCTV camera installed at the entry and the exit for recording the registration number of vehicles. There were non-functional CCTV cameras at various parking lots. Uniform for parking attendants The parking attendants are required to wear a light brown shirt, dark brown trousers, a brown belt and black shoes. However, parking attendants are often found shabbily dressed. Complaint box Every parking lot needs to have a sealed complaint box in which visitors can drop their complaints against the contractor or the attendants. However, hardly any complaint box is found at the parking lots MC issues notice to CMC parking lot contractor The MC on Tuesday issued a notice to the CMC parking lot contractor for haphazard parking on Monday, which blocked the entry of a fire engine on Monday. Aarti Kapur Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 23 The Chandigarh Police have approved September 7 as the new date for holding the Panjab University Campus Student Council (PUCSC) elections, as proposed by the university authorities. The university today sent a communication to the UT Administration regarding the fresh date for the elections. UT SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill said the police would go ahead with the date proposed by Panjab University for the student council elections. He said they had no issue in approving the proposed election date. A meeting was held today in the university after the UT Administration did not approve the proposed date of September 9 for holding the elections in view of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's scheduled visit to the city the same day. At the meeting, it was decided to propose September 7 as the fresh date for the elections. University officials said the PU would announce the date for the elections after receiving a written communication from the Administration. PU Chief Security Officer Jatinder Grover said as the elections were being advanced, the university had decided to restrict the entry of four-wheelers not carrying PU stickers on the campus after August 26. A spokesperson for the PU has asked students, staff and faculty members to collect their vehicle stickers from their departments on or before August 26. The Lyngdoh committee norms will come into force after the announcement of the date for the elections. No counting if parties litter campus The university authorities have decided that counting of votes will not take place if any student party is caught littering the campus or violating the Lyngdoh committee norms. Counting to start at 2 pm The counting of votes will start at 2 pm on September 7 at the Gymnasium Hall on the campus. Proposal received, says Home Secy UT Home Secretary Anurag Agarwal said the proposal had been received but no date had been finalised as yet. Chandigarh, August 23 The UGC has sanctioned Rs 50 crore to Panjab University (PU) as the second instalment of the annual grant. PU Vice-Chancellor Arun Kumar Grover said the university today received the sanction letter of Rs 50 crore and the grant would be released soon. This will be the second instalment to be received by the university from the UGC in five months for 2016-17. On August 18, at a meeting with PU VC Grover and Satya Pal Jain, Senate member, in New Delhi, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar had assured them that the grant would be released soon. On June 29, the UGC had released Rs 40 crore as the first instalment of the grant to the PU. Sources said with the release of the second instalment, the financial condition of the campus would improve and for the next two months, there would be no problem in disbursing the salary to the staff. TNS Ramkrishan Upadhyay Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 24 New Punjab Governor-cum-UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore has invited people of the city to be a part of the Administration. In his first interaction with mediapersons after an introductory meeting with officers at the UT Secretariat today, Badnore stressed the need for a participatory Administration with ideas flowing freely from all directions. He said he would be accessible to the residents. On his vision for the city, the Administrator said he wanted Chandigarh to be not just smart but the smartest city. While making it clear that the concept of Le Corbusier will remain intact, he favoured development with a human touch. Happiness is not just about better roads, buildings or smooth traffic, but something much deeper. Its about caring for the needy and that is why my focus will be on the physically challenged, senior citizens and schools for the visually impaired, Badnore said. He asked officers to follow the best practices of cities such as Bristol in the UK or Copenhagen in Denmark for improvement in environment and making the city green. He said the city should assess the total carbon footprint and make an action plan to reduce it as done by certain developed cities in the world. He said Chandigarh should strive to be a zero carbon city. He said there was need for developing a volunteer culture. There are many retired generals, academics and other experts in the city. We need to utilise their services as volunteers for the development of the city. I want people to come forward, he said. The Administrator asked the Inspector General of Police to provide training to eligible people in weapons so that they can get jobs in security agencies. He gave directions to the police to register FIRs in all cases brought by city residents. Sampark centres to have suggestion boxes Parimal Rai, Adviser to the Administrator, announced that suggestion boxes would be placed at the Secretariat and Sampark centres soon. He said the Administration would start a website specially for the purpose to providing suggestions. G Parthasarathy AT the all-party meeting on August 13, PM Narendra Modi said: There cannot be any compromise on national security, but we have to win the confidence of the people of J&K. He directly blamed Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism for fomenting unrest in the Valley. Significantly, he added that Pakistan must be exposed globally for atrocities in PoK (including Gilgit-Baltistan) and Balochistan. It was therefore inevitable that he would reiterate this during his address to the nation on Independence Day. Quite obviously, the PMs statements were crafted after careful consideration of the geopolitical and regional situation, with particular focus on the internal and external challenges Pakistan, the epicentre of global terrorism, now faces. These challenges do not arise from developments across Pakistans eastern borders with India, but on its western borders with Afghanistan and Iran. Pakistans brutal suppression of the Baloch people has been a continuing feature since its birth. The then ruler of Balochistan, the Khan of Kalat, pointed out that Balochistan historically held a status different from other princely states in British India. Barely 10 days before independence on August 4, 1947, Jinnah agreed that Kalat will be independent, on August 5, 1947, enjoying the same status it originally held in 1838, having friendly relations with its neighbours. On the same day, an agreement was signed, with Pakistan stating: The government of Pakistan agrees that Kalat is an independent State, being quite different in status from other states of India. It was through treachery, deceit and fraud that Pakistan seized control of Balochistan. Baloch nationalists have since fought wars continuously with Pakistan in 1948, 1958-1959, 1962-63 and 1973-74. The bloodiest conflict, which continues today, began in 2003. Thousands of Baloch youths have disappeared after being taken into custody by the Pakistan army. Legally, Pakistans claims of sovereignty over Balochistan are questionable. Fears that India will somehow get drawn into a quagmire by expressing solidarity with the Baloch are ridiculous as we do not share border with Balochistan. The Baloch freedom fighters have traditionally received haven and support from their kin living along the Balochistan-Pakistan border and financial support from Baloch nationalists abroad. Moreover, while there are no controversies on Balochistans borders with Afghanistan, the Afghans and, indeed, Pashtuns on both sides of the Durand Line have never accepted the Durand Line, arbitrarily drawn as the border between British India and Afghanistan in 1893. The late Khan Abdul Ghaffar, a stalwart of our freedom struggle, insisted that he should be buried at Jalalabad in Afghanistan, symbolising his rejection of the Durand Line. The senior-most Pashtun leader in Pakistan, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, recently asserted that historically the borders of the Pashtuns have extended up to Attock on the banks of the Indus. PM Modis statement on Independence Day came at a time when tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan are high, with Afghanistans refusal to accept any fencing or gates to denote the Durand Line as being the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. There have been shootouts between Afghan and Pakistani forces recently on this issue, as Afghans have opposed Pakistani moves to fence or otherwise seek to portray the Durand Line as international border. Tensions have only grown with the Pakistan army launching massive military operations against Pashtun tribals in Khyber and North Waziristan agencies, using fighter air strikes. Over 1.5 million Pashtun tribals have been rendered homeless, with around 1 lakh fleeing across the Durand Line into Afghanistan, vowing to return to their homes, with many ready to resort to the use of arms. The army and the Nawaz Sharif government are also at a loss on how to deal with the situation that has flowed from the reckless use of force against tribals in an area, which is disputed. Allegations have already started about our RAW and its Afghan counterpart, the National Directorate of Security, joining hands to stoke the fire, both in Balochistan and across the disputed Durand Line, separating Afghanistan and Pakistan. These developments are now assuming international dimensions. The US has warned Pakistan that it will not hesitate to repeat actions like those it took to eliminate former Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour with a drone attack in Balochistan. The American military commander in Afghanistan, Gen John Nicholson, has urged India to step up its military assistance to Afghanistan by the supply of additional MI-35 attack helicopters and spares for Soviet-era equipment with the Afghan army. General Nicholson frankly stated: We have seen the LeT presence and operations in Afghanistan. Our goal is to prevent these groups (Haqqani Network, Taliban and LeT) from regaining sanctuaries. He added that the LeT was born in the Kunar Province of Afghanistan and that it had essentially been an ISI subsidiary for operations in India. While maintaining covert contacts with the Taliban, China has stepped in (unsuccessfully so far) to facilitate a deal between the Taliban and the Afghan government. China believes that a Pakistan-supported, Taliban-led government will not support its oppressed Muslim minority in Xinjiang. Balochistan is strategically important for China, which has an interest in the provinces vast mineral resources of gold and copper in the Chagai district, where Pakistan conducted its 1998 nuclear tests. More importantly, Chinas $46 billion OBOR project links its Xinjiang Province to the Pakistani port of Gwadar in Balochistan, which is located astride Indias energy corridors to the oil-rich Persian Gulf. There are growing indications that Gwadar will be a major hub of China-Pakistan maritime military cooperation. China has pledged to strengthen Pakistans navy with significant supplies of new submarines and frigates. People in Balochistan have been infuriated by massive Chinese assistance to Pakistan for projects in Balochistan from which they derive virtually no benefit. Chinese engineers working on these projects have been attacked and killed. Balochistan is set to become increasingly important strategically, as an assertive China seeks to co-opt its all-weather friend Pakistan for strengthening its military presence in the western part of the Indian Ocean. It would be disingenuous to pretend that what happens in Balochistan is of no interest to India. Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 23 Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said encroachment on the Wakf Board land by private persons and government agencies is a major scam that requires an inquiry. Supporting the attention motion in the Assembly moved by the Chairman of the Wakf Board, Amanatullah Khan, the Deputy Chief Minister said that according to law after 1970 gazette of Government of India, nobody could take away the Wakf land. The land is for the use of social welfare of the Muslim community. Amanatullah in his attention motion said that 1100 bigha land and 382 other properties, including graveyards, mosques, madrassas have been encroached upon. The DDA has taken over 1100 bigha land of the Board where buildings and parks have been constructed. He said Millennium Park was a graveyard. At present, there is a graveyard known as Tikona Qabrastan at Nizamuddin where 300-year-old graves are still visible. But the DDA has installed a board there claiming that the land belongs to it. Under which law the DDA has taken the land is not known, he said. Amanatullah said that he met the LG Najeeb Jung for the Wakf land taken by the DDA. Instead of working out the issue, the LG told him that he wanted to change the Chairman of the Wakf Board. Speaking on this issue, Environment Minister Imran Khan demanded an inquiry commission to know how it was taken by the DDA and the way out to take the land back. He said it was all done when the Congress was in power in Delhi as well as in Centre. Demanding an FIR against the encroachers, AAP MLA Sarita from Shahdra said that Congress had always made Muslims fool. Muslims voted the Congress for power but got nothing except losing their property. Ved Prakash, MLA from Mehrauli said that 59 Wakf properties are located in his Assembly constituency but have been encroached on either by private persons or taken by the DDA on the pretext of being government agency. A habitually-wayward Raksha Mantri makes a bizarre statement, demonising our neighbour as hell. His Cabinet colleagues and party spokesmen are embarrassed and maintain a studied silence, everyone pretends that the Raksha Mantri had not actually embarrassed the nation. But when a Congress legislator in Karnataka publicly disagrees with the Raksha Mantri's hellish formulation, the voluble right-wing wants to slap a sedition charge on her. The ever-angry BJP activist and the ever-excitable ABVP leader seek to hog television time by staging protest against her anti-national activity. A complaint has been filed in a district court, seeking direction to the police to book the former actress for sedition under Section 124(a). Even if it is granted that Karnataka in recent years has become a fertile ground for extreme intolerance in the name of religion and patriotism, the rest of the country has to sit up and take note of this creeping lynch mentality. Bravely, Ms Ramya has refused to be cowed down by the lumpen mobs, invoking patriotism and threatening violence and vandalism. She deserves a salute. Disagreement with a political party or a Raksha Mantri on Pakistan or for that matter on any other issue does not cannot constitute sedition. If Pakistan was such a disagreeable, demonised place, why has the Raksha Mantri not persuaded his own government to do the very minimum: break off diplomatic relations with Islamabad; or, at least, recall our High Commissioner? It may be that the ruling party at the Centre has zeroed in on nationalism as the new jumla to excite and incite its cadres and its core constituency, but it would still need to be reminded that it has a responsibility to our citizens to produce lawful governance. Mobs cannot be seen to be controlling the streets be it the Jats in Haryana, or vigilante gau rakshaks in western Uttar Pradesh or rampaging Pakistan-is-hell deshbhakts. Mobs are the very anti-thesis of development. But if the district-level judiciary or police allows itself to be carried away by the slogan-shouting crowds, India itself would not remain for long a paradise to live, work or set up industry. New Delhi, August 24 Former Governor of Haryana, Bihar and West Bengal AR Kidwai died on Wednesday after a brief illness at a city hospital. He was 96. Kidwai is survived by two sons and four daughters. His funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon at the Jamia Burial Grounds. Kidawi was Haryana Governor from July 7, 2004, to July 27, 2009. Prime Minister Narendra Modi mourning his death, tweeted, "My condolences on the passing away of Dr AR Kidwai. His long career in public life included many roles & responsibilities." "Dr AR Kidwai distinguished himself in the fields of education and social welfare. May his soul rest in peace," he said. Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi tweeted: "Deeply saddened by the passing away of Dr AR Kidwai former Gov of Bihar, Bengal & Haryana. A scholar & a humanist his loss will be deeply mourned". Born in 1920, Akhlaq Ur Rahman Kidwai served as Governor of several states for a record period of 17 years in Bihar (twice), West Bengal and Haryana, in addition to holding temporary charge of Governor of Punjab and of Rajasthan and Administrator of Delhi and of Chandigarh. Besides, being a member of the Rajya Sabha from 2000-2004, he also served as the Chairman of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) from 1974-78. He had taken active part in the '1942 Quit India' movement. On January 25, 2011 Kidwai was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, the country's second highest civilian award for his outstanding contribution towards public affairs. Kidwai received an MS degree in Organic Chemistry with Biochemistry from the University of lllinois and completed his PhD from Cornell University in 1950. He was a distinguished scientist and a researcher in the field of organic chemistry. A renowned educationist, he was also member and patron of the Delhi Public School Society and president of the South Delhi Women's Polytechnic. He had also served as the chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University. PTI Rohtak, August 24 In a faux pas, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday forgot Olympic silver medallist P V Sindhu's full name and also wrongly called her from Karnataka. "It's a proud moment for us that two of our daughters won medals on Raksha Bandhan festival. Sakshi Malik from Haryana and Sindhu (asks others what is her name) ... P V Sindhu from Karnataka," he said. Sindhu hails from Hyderabad. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Khattar was addressing a huge gathering during the reception which was accorded by the Haryana government to the Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik in Bahadurgarh town near Rohtak after she arrived this morning from Rio de Janeiro. #WATCH Haryana CM ML Khattar says PV Sindhu is from Karnatakahttps://t.co/TXsYp5SGay ANI (@ANI_news) August 24, 2016 Notably, the Khattar government had also announced a Rs 50-lakh reward for Hyderabad-based badminton player Sindhu. During the course of his 11-minute speech at Bahadurgarh, Khattar also said his government will identify and help the athletes who showed good timings during ongoing police recruitment drive in Haryana. "The information we have, some of those who came there, even though they came for seeking jobs, their running time record shows that they even surpassed and bettered the time of some athletes who took part in the Olympics. We will identify them and help them move forward." Khattar was initially scheduled to honour Sakshi Malik at her village Mokhra Khas in Rohtak but later decided to felicitate her at Bahadurgarh. He was accompanied by his senior cabinet colleagues Capt Abhimanyu and O P Dhankar, among others, to welcome the star athlete. At the grand felicitation function, Sakshi was handed a cheque of Rs 2.5 crore by the Chief Minister. The CM also announced cash reward of Rs 10 lakh each for the 23-year-old wrestler's two coaches, besides sports nursery and stadium for her village Mokhra Khas. Sakshi was also appointed as Haryana's brand ambassador for Narendra Modi government's flagship 'Beti Padhao-Beti Bachao' programme. PTI Ehsan Fazili & Majid Jahangir Tribune News service Srinagar, August 24 A youth was killed in a clash between protesters and police in Pulwama district and 16 security personnel were injured in a militant attack as Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh held talks with political leaders during his second visit to Kashmir in a month. During the talks, Rajnath who is on a two-day visit to the restive Valley, was told the Centre should initiate a dialogue with all stakeholders to find a lasting solution to problems in Jammu and Kashmir. Amir Ahmad Mir of Ratnipora was killed and several others got injured in the clash at Pinglina. Amir was shifted to SMHS hospital, Srinagar, where he succumbed to his injuries. With this the death toll in recent violence has gone up to 68. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Rajnaths visit comes a month after his earlier two-day visit on July 23 when he had held discussions with the leaders of different political parties and individuals. The visit assumes significance in view of the recent meetings of the state opposition parties led by former chief minister Omar Abdullah with President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Read: NC delegation meets Rajnath, seeks ban on pellet guns use Meanwhile, 16 security personnel, including 12 CRPF men and four policemen, were injured in a militant attack in south Kashmirs Pulwama district in the afternoon. Among the injured CRPF personnel, one was an officer. Three officers of the J&K Police were among four injured cops. Police said militants lobbed a grenade and later opened fire at a police party in Pulwama, 35 km from here, near a degree college injuring 16. The injured included Additional Superintendent of Police, Pulwama; Deputy Superintendent of Police, Pulwama, and a Station House Officer. The SHO has been shifted to Armys 92 base hospital in Srinagar, the police officer said. The area has been cordoned off by forces to track the militants involved in the attack. Ahead of his visit to the Valley, Rajnath Singh said on micro-blogging site Twitter, I will be staying at the Nehru Guest House. Those who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat are welcome. I will be staying at the Nehru Guest House. Those who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat are welcome. Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 24, 2016 Immediately upon his arrival at the Nehru Guest House here, Singh, accompanied by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and other officials, held a meeting with different wings of administration including security, health and maintenance of essential commodities for the people. Official sources said Singh asked head of para-military forces, dealing with the law and order situation, to exercise maximum restraint while dealing with protesters and also appreciated their efforts in maintaining law and order in the Valley. The Home Minister was conveyed that there has been improvement in situation on the ground, there is no scarcity of essential commodities and health services are functioning, they said. After the review meeting, the Home Minister had separate meetings with heads of para-military forces and state police chief for understanding their working conditions and also to enquire whether there was an operational requirement. Later, a delegation of opposition National Conference led by former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met the Home Minister and urged him to immediately ban use of pellet guns as a crowd control means in Kashmir. BJP's national secretary Ram Madhav told reporters in Delhi that the Home Minister will meet all those people who want to see him and talk about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. With PTI inputs MASON CITY The public is invited to attend Mercy Medical Center North Iowa's 100th anniversary celebration on Friday, Sept. 16. An open house dessert reception with historical displays commemorating Mercy's 100 years of service will be held from 2-4 p.m. with special greetings at 2:45-3 p.m. This event will be followed by a Celebratory Mass with Archbishop Jackels from 4-5 p.m. All activities are free and will be held in the Mercy Medical Center North Iowa Auditorium located at the East/Main campus on 1000 Fourth St. S.W.; enter through the west doors near the Mercy Cancer Center. We are pleased to have this opportunity to extend our thanks and appreciation to the area for their help and support over the past 100 years. We are proud of our history and the contributions to the health and well-being of our patients, stated Dan Varnum, CEO Mercy Medical Center - North Iowa, in a news release. "We are delighted to host this free event on September 16th in celebration of the hospital's 100th anniversary. We extend a warm invitation to the entire community to join us. The Sisters of Mercy opened St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, now known as Mercy Medical Center North Iowa, in 1916. The hospital began with 120 beds and has grown to be licensed for 346 beds. In addition, Mercy Medical Center North Iowa employs a staff of more than 2,600, including over 400 medical providers. The Mercy North Iowa network consists of the Mason City medical center plus eight critical access hospitals and owns a number of primary care and specialty clinics. In addition, a home health agency, a hospice, a regional referral laboratory, pharmacies, an emergency services network and regional rehabilitation and diagnostic technology services round out the Mercy North Iowa network of service offerings. Much of the original building and physical space that was built in 1916 is no longer present due to the many additions, improvements and renovations to Mercy's complex. The facility and services have greatly evolved since 1916, but the continued commitment to the mission of exceptional, compassionate care for the area has remained unchanged over the past 100 years. Srinagar, August 24 A six-member delegation of Opposition National Conference on Wednesday met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and demanded immediate ban on use of pellet guns and initiation of dialogue with all stakeholders on Kashmir. The National Conference delegation was led by former chief minister Omar Abdullah and interacted with Singh for 45 minutes, official sources said. They said the delegation urged the Home Minister to immediately ban use of pellet guns as a crowd control means in Kashmir. "They also demanded that Centre initiate a dialogue with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir to find a lasting solution to the problems faced by the state," a source said. Omar had led a delegation of Opposition parties to New Delhi last week where they called on President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi to apprise them about the ground situation in Kashmir. Omar thanked Singh for promptness of the Centre in exhibiting "seriousness" about the suggestions made by the Opposition parties during their visit to Delhi. Singh arrived here to review the security situation in the wake of clashes between protesters and security forces. PTI Ehsan Fazili andMajid Jahangir Tribune News Service Srinagar, August 24 Union Home Minister Rajnath Singhs visit to take stock of the current Kashmir unrest was marked by the death of a civilian in a clash and a grenade attack by militants in Pulwama district of south Kashmir today. At least 100 people were injured in other clashes between protesters and the police in different areas of the Valley. The Home Minister arrived here today on a two-day visit to take stock of the situation, during which he met the leaders of various political parties, civil society and top civil and security officers, on the 47th day of the unrest today. During his first visit on July 23 and 24, Rajnath had met leaders of various parties, top civil and security officers. Rajnath, accompanied by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, drove straight from the airport to the Nehru Guest House at Cheshma Shahi, overlooking the Dal Lake around noon. As he drove to the destination, the roads were deserted amid curfew, restrictions and shutdown to maintain law and order and protest recent civilian killings. Earlier, he invoked Vajpayees mantra and tweeted: I will be staying at the Nehru Guest House. Those who believe in Kashmiriyat, insaniyat and jamhooriyat are welcome. But by the time he reached the Nehru Guest House, a civilian was killed and several others injured in the clashes that took place near Pinglina in Pulwama district. The incident took place when the police tried to prevent a protest rally at Vehil village, leading to clashes with the security forces. A youth, Aamir Gul Mir, of Ratnipora was seriously injured and nearly a dozen others were injured in the incident. Aamir succumbed to his injuries at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital here. With his death, the toll in the ongoing turmoil, which erupted after the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8, has gone up to 68, including 66 civilians and two J&K policemen. At least 17 security personnel, including 13 CRPF men and four policemen, were injured when suspected militants lobbed a hand grenade and opened fire at them while mingling with a mob near Government Degree College, Pulwama. However, the residents contested the police claim of the militants having hidden in the crowd. The area was cordoned off and a search operation launched to nab the militants. The police said those injured included Additional Superintendent of Police, DSP and SHO of Pulwama. They have been shifted to Armys 92 base Hospital, Srinagar. Arun Joshi Tribune News Service It will require political and diplomatic statesmanship to achieve a lasting solution to the Kashmir crisis as the mountain of challenges is higher than ever before, given the scale of anger and distrust. It would be imprudent to expect quick results of such a complex issue, in which the neighbouring country has invested so much to fuel the anti-India campaign. Prime Minister Narendra Modis promise on Monday to secure a permanent and lasting solution through dialogue has been followed up by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singhs visit to Kashmir to start work on the political process through dialogue. This can gain further credibility if a healing touch is applied and the bold step taken by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee of declaring ceasefire is replicated. In the immediate context, Modis statement of describing the agitating youth and the injured security personnel as our people should help redeem the volatile situation that has left 68 dead and thousands more injured in the past seven weeks. Rajnath Singhs mandate is clear: to look at the surface of the situation, anger beneath, and the possible solutions within the parameters defined in the Indian Constitution. First, the wounds need to be healed, then the discussions can deliver the results, which a majority of population across the state is looking forward to. Of course, the separatists are not happy with the rider of the dialogue within the (Indian) Constitution. But, the fact remains that no government in Delhi, past, present or in future can overstep this limit. Moreover, the Indian Constitution and democracy offer a vast scope for resolving the toughest of tough matters. This is as much a reality as the deepening alienation and growth of a new generation brought up on the hate India narrative. Peace may dawn, but the anti-India sentiment will stay on unless a profound meaning is given to our people with immediate follow-up actions on the ground to soothe the nerves not only in the Valley but also in the rest of the state. Otherwise, Delhi may address a part of the problem because Jammu and Ladakh want their empowerment too. The people of these regions do not want to be taken for granted. Now the stakeholders have an opportunity, which can be grabbed if the fight between our people(protesters) and our people (security personnel) is brought to a permanent halt. People may not be speaking out and may be adhering to protest calendars of separatists, but they certainly want this cycle of violence to end without getting inflicted with a sense of defeat. While talking to our people is never a question of victory or defeat. Let the Centre understand this. It should borrow a leaf from the page of Atal Bihari Vajpayees era - Ramazan ceasefire. It could be a ceasefire in the run-up to Eid-ul-Zuha, a big Muslim festival falling on September 12. It can set the stage for a fruitful dialogue. There is a huge difference. That time in 2000-2001 (the Ramazan ceasefire had lasted for six months from November 2000 to May-end 2001), the fight was against armed militants, there were no protester on the street. Dealing with this unrest poses a momentous challenge. The civil society that has been demanding a ban on pellet guns must come forward. Kashmir cannot, and should not lose more lives and eyes. Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 24 The ruling BJP, it appears, is running out of patience over the way Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is handling the unrest in the Valley which entered the 47th day of curfew on Wednesday. According to top BJP leaders here, apart from reviewing the situation in Kashmir and talking to stakeholders Home Minister Rajnath Singh has another mandate. They say Singh also wants to convey that thought that she should get cracking against radicalised groups, the Over Ground Workers (OWGs) read the riot act that is and create a situation for relaxing the curfew. In another three days, the curfew would complete 50 days and it should be relaxed, they add. OWGs are workers of militants entrusted with the job of providing logistical support like food, money, hideouts, organising and uniting stone-pelters. Asserting that the cycle of violence in the Valley will die down soon, within two weeks, the BJP leader in know of developments said for that to happen Mehbooba had no other choice but to act tough with the OWGs otherwise it will not end. She (Mehbooba) is a hardworking and good administrator. The Centre is also cooperating with her in all ways. But she has to be tough with the OWGs, otherwise the cycle of violence will not end, he said. Meanwhile Singh, upon his return from the Valley, will prepare a comprehensive report on the issue on the basis of which the Centre will decide its further course of action. We are waiting for the Home Ministers report to decide the further action. All options are open to bring the Valley back to normalcy and peace, including the Centre pitching in further for better handling of situation there. The BJP is part of the state government but as per its leaders here, it is the Chief Minister who has the last word. She may be dictated by vote bank politics but she has to be seen acting tough, they assert. What is seems worrying the BJP is the fact that majority of incidents have been from South Kashmir areas under the influence of the ruling PDP. This apart, some statements issued by a couple of PDP legislators after the killing of Hizbul Commander Burhan Wani have also irritated the BJP leadership here. BJP leaders also say that they are not averse to talking with separatists as part of the political solution also suggested by opposition parties in their meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is a propaganda that we are not willing to talk to separatists, feelers have been sent to them. However the initiative, the first move, has to be from their side. And everything has to be within the Constitutional framework, they add. Mona Almost every Indian speaks three languages on an average and the life revolves around five or six if not more, and it takes one Gulzar to make the most of this typical trait found nowhere else in the world. Having translated some 272 shayars from different regional languages, this author, poet and filmmaker feels strongly about developing Hindi as the link language across the length and breadth of the country rather than English. And that, he fears, would probably take another 100 years to assimilate our strong cultural influences. Languages, life, literature, cinema, Partition, religion flitted in and out of conversational frames as the eminent lyricist, clad in crisp white kurta pajama and not to be missed golden jutties, took out time to interact with the alumni, faculty and students of the Panjab University. Some reflections: The man, whose words have given us countless memorable and hit songs, right from Mera gora ang leyi lo to Chaiyya chaiyya to fit every mood and situation, made it clear that it was not a day to talk about films. However, he did assert in a cross reference that its time cinema developed its own literature. So many variants of Devdas, tragedy of a man and story of two women Paro, who turns a woman overnight marrying a man much older than her and Chandramukhi, who turns from a woman into a girl in love! Are all these versions Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyays? Cinema has matured enough to be able to make its own writings. Literature sure is one area thats close to his heart and it pains him that its only in Bengali, Marathi and Malyalam that one can find good childrens literature. While in Hindi all children books are geared towards the epics, Punjabi has zero and Urdu below zero contribution towards childrens books. He stresses on the need for writers who can target different age groups as its way more challenging to talk to children in their own language which is different at different levels, elucidating it by reading one his Tagores translations. Someone points out how social media has killed books and Gulzar disagrees. Publication is on the rise and he insists, One must write. If your writing has weight, it will find a way to reach the readers; if one has a story, one must say it. While many in his age bracket criticise the young, this octogenarian sees great hope in them. He is happy that his 6-year-old grandson can fix his phone while downloading a game and playing it simultaneously. My total hope is this young generation...Main daud daud ke kadam kar milata hoon/ Ye zindagi kitni tez chalti hai. All for accepting the past and moving on, he cannot belie the misery of Partition or the way it actually panned out; hope is the only answer according to him. He quotes a Pakistani shayar, Ummed ki kiran ke siva kuch aur nahi aas/ Is ghar ki roshni ka yehi intzam hai. The master writer leaves everyone in the jam-packed auditorium asking for more... mona@tribunemail.com Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 24 In all, 20 companies from the city will participate in the 10th India International Textile Machinery Exhibition (ITME), which will be held at Mumbai in December. Around 25 new products of the textile sector will be launched during the exhibition. The products, which would benefit the entire textile industry, include eight for the spinning sector, seven for processing and nine for weaving, said Seema Srivastava, executive director, ITME. Besides, 162 new companies, including 32 from abroad, will participate and showcase their products at the six-day event to be held in December. The event, which is supported by the Union Heavy Industry and Textile Machinery Department with Gujarat as the state partner, makes it the only privately organised exhibition supported by the Centre and the state government, she said. Dyestuff and chemicals showcasing exhibitors from Taiwan, Turkey, Italy, Switzerland, China and Australia is attracting much visitor enquiries. Turkey, especially in spinning, weaving and chemical and dyes chapters, is of high interest to the domestic and regional business visitors at India ITME 2016. Visitors and delegations from countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Middle East have already registered. Extensive promotional activities are ongoing in Ethiopia, China, Egypt, Iran, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Turkey. Another major attraction would be green technology and waste water technology from Italy, China and India, which would provide much required solutions for domestic textile units, she said. Estimating that the exhibition would see around 1.5 lakh visitors, she said ITME 2016 was a catalyst and also the best avenue to take advantage of Indias improving manufacturing competitiveness, cost advantage and large urban and rural market. United Nations, August 23 Indias consistent stand that Dawood Ibrahim is based in Pakistan has got a virtual endorsement from the UN after the world organisation confirmed six addresses of the underworld don in that country. The listing of the UN Security Councils ISIL and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee also includes information about Dawoods various passports, including those issued in Pakistan. India, in a dossier, had cited nine addresses in Pakistan as those frequented by Dawood. Of these, the UN Security Councils ISIL and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee removed three, finding them incorrect. The committee, which yesterday amended its entry concerning Dawood, a UN-designated terrorist, made no changes with regard to six addresses provided by India. One of the three addresses dropped by the committee from its list was found similar to that of a residence of Islamabads envoy to the UN Maleeha Lodhi. It did not amend Dawoods addresses Karachi, Pakistan (White House, Near Saudi Mosque, Clifton), House No. 37, 30th Street, Defence Housing Authority, Karachi, Pakistan and Palatial bungalow in the hilly area of Noorabad in Karachi mentioned in the listing. The addresses were included in the dossier prepared by India in August last year that had listed nine residences in Pakistan of the mastermind of the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts as evidence to show that he is holed up in Pakistan. In the amendment, the committee struck through the address: Main Property at Margalla Raod F- 6/2 Street No. 22, House No. 07, Islamabad. This address was later found to be similar to that of a residence belonging to Lodhi. The amendment also struck through addresses: 8th Floor of Mehran Square, near Pardesi House-3, Talwar Area, Clifton, Karachi, Pakistan and 6/A Kjauabam Tanzeem, Phase-5, Defence Housing Araea, Karachi, Pakistan. The listing said Dawood held passports (A-717288 and G-866537) issued on August 18, 1985 in Dubai and on August 12, 1991 in Rawalpindi, which were misused. The other passports (C-267185, H-123259, G-869537) were issued in Karachi in July 1996, Rawalpindi in July 2001 and again in Rawalpindi, respectively. Pakistan has consistently denied that Dawood is living in that country after he fled from the law in India. Dawood was listed on November 3, 2003 and the entry has been amended in March and July 2006, July 2007 and March 2010. Being a UN designated terrorist, he is subject to assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo. PTI RICEVILLE Eight hours of heavy rain was blamed for mudslides, evacuations and one death in North Iowa on Wednesday. Starting Tuesday evening, heavy rains dumped several inches of rain across the region. Officials say Mitchell County was particularly hard hit, receiving an estimated 5 inches of rain in nine hours. Floodwaters were high overnight, including at Lake Hendricks Park near Riceville. The entire campground at Lake Hendricks Park was overtaken early Wednesday, said Lake Hendricks Park Ranger Ryan Sindelar. Last night, about 2 oclock in the morning we had to get a couple campers out of there, said Sindelar. There was about 1, 1 feet of water flowing through the entire campground. No one was hurt. Howard County Conservation continued the flood fight into late morning at Vernon Springs Park. A crew placed sandbags near the nature center south of Cresco to protect the facility from the rising Turkey River. Authorities say a man died in flash flooding when his car was swept off the road early Wednesday near Lawler, about 15 miles south of Vernon Springs. The victim, whose name was not released as of Wednesday afternoon, had called 911 about 4:40 a.m. after hitting water over the road from the Little Turkey River and was swept off County Road V-56, said Chickasaw County authorities. Searchers found the car, but at first couldnt locate the man. His body was found around 1 p.m. Wednesday about a third of mile from where the car was found, off County Road V-56. In Mitchell County, the second day of school at Riceville Community Schools was cancelled because of extensive flooding combined with several roads washed out or impassable. Travel south from Riceville, on Addison Avenue, was not possible due to water across the road. At least five roads in Mitchell County were closed due to flooding, including Highway 9 east of Osage. According to Osage Schools Superintendent Barb Schwamman, some roads in the Osage district had issues but nothing which warranted a delay or cancellation of classes. Some parks and nature areas in Cerro Gordo County were also closed or restricted due to flooding. Bengaluru, August 23 Actress-turned-politician Ramya is facing a sedition charge filed against her by a lawyer in Karnataka for praising people in Pakistan, kicking up a controversy today with questions being raised over invoking a colonial-era law to curb free speech. As 33-year-old Ramyas remarks triggered a backlash on the social media and BJP and ABVP workers staged protests terming her remarks anti-national, the actress stood her ground and refused to tender an apology, saying she had not said anything wrong. The private complaint in a court in Somwarpet in Kodagu district sought action on sedition and other charges against her for insulting Indian patriots by her remark that Pakistan is not hell. The complaint has sought a direction to the police to book Ramya, a former Congress MP, under sections 124(a) (sedition), 344 (wrongful confinement for ten or more days) and 511 (punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment) of the Indian Penal Code. Advocate K Vittala Gowda filed the complaint before the Somwarpet Judicial Magistrate court, which yesterday admitted it and posted it for hearing on August 27. Gowda accused the multi-lingual actress of insulting India and provoking people by appreciating Pakistan which is a traditional enemy of India. After a recent visit to Islamabad as part of a SAARC delegation of young lawmakers, Ramya had reportedly said at a meeting in Mandya, which she represented from 2013 to 2014 in Lok Sabha, Pakistan is not hell. People there are just like us. They treated us very well. Her remarks came as a veiled counter to comments of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who while lashing out at Islamabad for promoting terror said last week: Going to Pakistan is same as going to hell. On if she would apologise, Ramya said: I dont think I am wrong. Its freedom of speech, also our duty to speak on inclusiveness and peace. Curbing freedoms is wrong in democracy. This is the state of affairs in this country today. Sedition is being slapped against anyone and anybody who is entitled to an opinion which should not be the case." She accused the BJP of trying to curb freedom of expression. I think as an individual I should be allowed to air or express my thoughts, views and opinions. I think the BJP government is trying to curb that. PTI Box What Ramya had said * After her recent Islamabad visit as part of a SAARC delegation of young lawmakers, actress Ramya who represented Mandya in the 2013-14 Lok Sabha said: Pakistan is not hell. People there are just like us. They treated us very well. * Her remarks were in reference to comments made by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who while lashing out at Islamabad for promoting terror said last week: Going to Pakistan is same as going to hell Tribune News Service Lucknow, August 24 BJP workers today surrounded the Vidhan Sabha leading to a clash with the police following protests over breakdown of law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh. The police resorted lathi-charge and used tear gas shells and water cannon to disperse the protesters who brought the citys traffic to a standstill for more than four hours. Inside the Vidhan Sabha, BJP MLAs forced adjournments, staged a sit-in and stalled the proceedings raising slogans. BJP workers assembled at the party headquarters across the Vidhan Sabha building early in the morning as they attempted to move towards the Assembly despite the area being cordoned off with barricades. Heavy police presence prevented the protesters from trying to tear through the barricading. After hours of face-off, the protesters and police clashed as tear gas shells and water cannons were used to disperse the crowds. Inside the Vidhan Sabha, BJP members squatted in the well of the House as soon as the Assembly convened displaying anti-government banners, shouting slogans against the government and tearing copies of the days agenda. Speaker MP Pandey suspended the question hour. Unruly scenes continued even when the House re-assembled as BJP MLAs protested police high-handedness against the protesting party workers. The Speaker rushed through the days agenda amidst noisy scenes even while the leader of Opposition Gaya Charan Dinkar demanded a debate on the law and order situation. State BJP president Keshav Prasad Maurya said they would continue to protest lawlessness, atrocities against women, corruption and unemployment in Assembly as well as on the streets of the state. Vishav Bharti Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 24 After surfacing of a video clip showing Aam Aadmi Partys Punjab unit convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur allegedly accepting cash, the party has decided to remove Chhotepur from the post, it is learnt. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) AAPs legal cell incharge and candidate from Mohali Himmat Singh Shergill is likely to be the new state convener. A senior AAP leader said the leadership had been getting complaints regarding Chhotepurs conduct over the past few months. However, we didnt have any evidence. But some time back we came across the clip in which he is seen accepting cash, said the senior leader, not wishing to be named. He said the clip showing Chhotepur accepting cash from a party worker was reported first by a Punjabi radio in North America. He said when national convener Arvind Kejriwal, upon his return from a meditation course in Dharamsala, was shown the clip, he was furious and suggested Chhotepurs expulsion. The issue was discussed by AAPs Political Affairs Committee on August 13, which decided to give Chhotepur a chance to defend himself. He said when Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia confronted Chhotepur on August 19, the latter accepted his mistake and assured to not repeat the action. We also have a recording of it. He said a formal announcement will be made within a couple of days. First of all he will be removed from the post and there are provisions to suspend him or cancel his primary membership, he said. Manas Dasgupta Gandhinagar, August 23 All Congress members of the Gujarat state Assembly were suspended for the day and more than 1,800 party workers, including all its top leaders, arrested as the party highlighted the Una Dalit flogging incident inside and outside the Assembly on the only working day of the monsoon session today. Congress members created a ruckus in the Assembly, demanding an inquiry into the case by a sitting high court judge. The party had organised a Jan Akrosh Rally in the state capital to gherao the Assembly building in support of these demands. As soon as the House Assembled for the day and after Chief Minister Vijay Rupani moved a motion congratulating the Olympic medal winners, Leader of Opposition Shankarsinh Vaghela moved a calling attention motion, demanding a discussion on the Una Dalit flogging incident. Even as the debate was on and the CM repeated his assurance that the state government would take all necessary steps to provide protection to Dalits, Congress members started displaying banners and shouted slogans after Minister of State for Home Pradipsinh Jadeja turned down the demand for a judicial inquiry into the July 11 incident claiming the police had already taken all necessary steps. As the ruckus continued and the Congress members rushed to the well of the House, Speaker Ramanlal Vora accepted an official motion suspending all Opposition members, barring Vaghela and party chief whip Balwant Rajput, for the day. Some of the Opposition members had to be physically lifted by House marshals as they refused to walk out of the House on their own. In the absence of the Opposition, the Assembly adopted four Bills, including one ratifying the Goods and Services Tax Bill. The Congress demand for extending the two-day session of the House at least to five days to discuss pending important issues, including the law and order situation in the state, was rejected by the government. Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 24 Indias bid to shore up its naval capabilities and have the tactical edge over rivals has taken a hit with around 22,400 pages of technical data relating to six Scorpene-class submarines having been leaked, compromising abilities of the underwater vessels. The subs are being built for the Navy in collaboration with a French company. Oped: A conspiracy behind the naval leaks? New Delhi launched an internal probe that commenced early today soon after The Australian, a newspaper based out of Sydney, reported about the leaked data and its details. The paper termed it a stunning leak, saying it details the entire secret combat capability of the six Scorpene-class submarines of India. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The Ministry of Defence asked the Indian Navy to send a formal letter to French submarine-maker DCNS asking about the leaked documents. The French Government owns about 62 per cent stake in DCNS, which is building six of the diesel-electric Scorpene-class submarines in Mumbai at a cost of Rs 23,562 crore ($3.46 billion). The first one INS Kalvari is set to be inducted into the naval fleet at the end of the year and the remaining five vessels at periodic intervals till the year 2020. The Indian Navy is confident that no operational data has been compromised. Sources said the hull of the submarine cannot change, its insides and noise reducing feature make the difference. Also since the vessels have not been made operational, the actual noise signatures used by enemy submarine-hunting vessels to track undersea vessels are not known. A spokesperson for the DCNS released a statement in Paris saying: This serious matter is thoroughly being investigated by French national authorities for Defence Security. Probe will determine the exact nature of the leaked papers, potential damages to DCNS customers as well as the responsibilities for this leak. International news agencies quoted the DCNS spokesperson as saying corporate espionage could be behind the leak. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said: The first step is to identify what all is related to us. Anyway its not that 100 per cent data has been leaked, adding it appeared to be a case of hacking. An Indian Navy official statement said: It appears that the source of leak is from overseas and not in India. The Navy asked its specialists, including those working on cyber security, to report for work at 4 am today as they examined the files shown by the newspaper. They reportedly told the MoD the documents did not match with those supplied by the DCNS to India. The newspaper, which claimed to have seen the data, said leaked documents were marked Restricted Scorpene India. These detail most sensitive combat capabilities of Indias new submarine fleet and would provide an intelligence bonanza if obtained by Indias strategic rivals, such as Pakistan or China, it said. The data lists out the frequencies at which the submarines gather intelligence and the levels of noise the subs make at various speeds, the news report said. It also contains information on the submarines diving depths, range, and endurance, besides its magnetic, electromagnetic, and infrared data. The news report claimed the data was most probably leaked not from India but from the DCNS in France as it also includes separate confidential DCNS files on plans to sell French frigates to Chile and the French sale of the Mistral-class amphibious assault ship carrier to Russia. Since these projects of the DCNS have no link to India, there is high probability that the data files were removed from the company in France. The DCNS is also to make 12 similar vessels for Australia, a $38 billion contract it won beating stiff completion from Japanese and German submarine-makers. The contract was signed in April this year. Suresh Dharur Tribune News Service Hyderabad, August 23 Breaking new ground in resolving inter-state water disputes, Telangana and Maharashtra today signed an agreement to build three irrigation projects across the Godavari and its tributaries, benefitting farmers from both states. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and his Maharashtra counterpart Devendra Fadnavis signed three separate agreements in Mumbai during the first meeting of the Godavari Inter-State Board. The irrigation ministers of the two states, MPs and senior officials were present at the historic occasion. Earlier in the day, Rao, accompanied by his cabinet colleagues and top officials, flew down to Mumbai by a special aircraft to sign the agreement to pave the way for the construction of three barrages on the Godavari and its tributariesPenganga and Pranahita. The water pact by the two governments to construct irrigation projects will resolve decades-old dispute on water utilization of the Godavari and its tributaries. The inter-state water board was constituted in March this year, following an in-principle agreement between the two states. The board has 23 members each from both states, including their respective chief ministers. Rao described the agreement as historic and said it would set a new trend at a time when there were water disputes among several states. Fadnavis said the agreements would protect interests of farmers in both states. He said the projects would ensure minimum submergence and ensure irrigation of 30,000 acres in Maharashtra. R Sedhuraman Legal Correspondent New Delhi, August 24 The Supreme Court on Wednesday indicated its willingness to quash the criminal defamation case against Rahul Gandhi for his alleged remark against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in the light of a clarification by the Congress vice-president that he only had blamed RSS people for killing Mahatma Gandhi, not the Sangh as an organisation. A Bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and RF Nariman asked senior advocate UR Lalit, who argued for RSS activist and complainant Rajesh Kunte, as to why the case pending in a magistrate court in Bhiwandi in Thane district of Maharashtra should not be quashed in view of this. Lalit said his client was willing to withdraw the case if Gandhi made the statement before the Bench. Gandhis senior counsel Kapil Sibal, however, pleaded that there was no need for this as his client had already made the assertion in his petition in the Bombay High Court where he had gone for getting the case quashed before coming to the SC. Gandhis statement in the HC could be recorded in the apex court order for quashing the case, Sibal pleaded. At this point, Lalit sought an adjournment so that he could take instructions from his client. The Bench posted the next hearing for September 1 on Gandhis appeal against the HCs refusal to quash the case. During the hearing, Lalit read out Gandhis statement made at an election rally on March 6, 2014: RSS ke logo ne goli mari. Sibal pleaded that it was clear from this also that his client had held RSS people responsible, not the RSS. The Bench also remarked: In that case, the RSS as a body is not affected. At the hearing on July 19, the Bench had remarked that Gandhi should not have made collective denunciation of an organisation for the act of one of its members. Gandhis counsel had not informed the Bench then about his stand in the HC. On November 26, 2015, Sibal had told the apex court that there was no question of Gandhi regretting his remark. The criminal defamation case against his client was based on a frivolous complaint aimed at harassing the Congress leader, Sibal had pleaded. New Delhi, August 24 Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has sought a report from the navy on the alleged leak of sensitive data on Indias Scorpene submarines, as part of the larger expose pertaining to some 22,000 documents of its French designer, DCNS, by the Australian media. The first step is to identify if it relates to us, Parrikar told reporters here, referring to the documents that purportedly reveal details on the subs underwater and above-water sensors, as also combat management, torpedo launch, navigation and communications systems. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The Navy Chief (Admiral Sunil Lanba) has been asked to analyse what exactly has been leaked, the minister said, adding that his first assessment was that it was an act of hacking and not a 100-per cent leak. We do have our final integration and all that, he said. What I can understand--because it came to my knowledge around midnight--is there is hacking. So we will find out all these aspects, he said. Ive told the navy chief to find out all the details. Maybe, in a couple of days Ill be able to share them with you. The Australian media reports, quoting DCNS, said the leak of such technical data could not happen with its proposed submarine for Australia. The French company also alluded that the leak might have occurred at Indias end, rather than from France. Uncontrolled technical data is not possible in the Australian Arrangements, the company said as per a report in The Australian. Multiple and independent controls exist within DCNS to prevent unauthorised access to data and all data movements are encrypted and recorded, it said. In the case of India, where a DCNS design is built by a local company, DCNS is the provider and not the controller of technical data. The first of the Scorpene-class submarines being built in India, INS Kalvari, went for sea trials in May 2016 and is expected to be inducted in the Indian Navy soon. Variants of Scorpene submarines are also used by Malaysia and Chile, with Brazil to join the club soon. IANS Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 24 The Punjab Government has decided to hand over the investigations into the attack on senior RSS leader Brig Jagdish Gagneja (retd) to the CBI in view of the fact that the alleged attackers have links with anti- national forces residing in foreign countries. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Director General of Police Suresh Arora today recommended handing over the case to the CBI. Subsequently, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal held a brief meeting and accepted the suggestion. The SIT probing the case suspected the hand of anti-national elements with links with extremist elements abroad, it was pointed out. The attack, that could have been aimed at disturbing peace in Punjab, also had ramifications at the national and international level. Gagneja, credited with spreading the RSS network across Punjab, was attacked by two bike-borne youths in Jalandhar on August 6. He is being treated at the DMC Hospital, Ludhiana. Sources in the Police Department said investigation in the case had reached a dead-end. Tribune News Service New Delhi, Aug 23 Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will undertake a two-day visit to the Kashmir Valley beginning tomorrow. The visit comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep concern and pain over the situation in the troubled state. Official sources said the Home Minister, who had promised the people in the Valley during his visit last month that he would come again, would meet "all who come forward for talks." An official said: "We are open to talks, but only within the framework of the Constitution, in consonance with insaniyat, jamhuriyat and Kashmiriyat. The Home Minister will also review the security situation in the Valley that has seen unrest ever since the killing of Hizb commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8, resulting in the death of 65 persons, including two policemen, while thousands have been injured. Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, leading a delegation, had met the Prime Minister yesterday, seeking a permanent and lasting solution to the problem. Meanwhile, in an effort to reach out to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre is in the process of providing employment opportunities to 1.40 lakh youths in the state through various means, including skill development training and jobs in the police and paramilitary forces. The sources said 1 lakh youths, mostly under-graduates, would be given training under a centrally sponsored scheme called 'Himayat' in the next five years. They would be provided short-term training for at least three months, in an array of skills. At the end of the training, the youths would be assured of a job. Another programme 'Udaan', launched in 2013, aimedto provide skill development training to 40,000 youths, mostly graduates and postgraduates over a period of five years. The Centre is also in the process of recruiting 5,000 youths in the five newly created India Reserve battalions in Jammu and Kashmir. Bhanu P Lohumi Tribune News Service Shimla, August 23 The fate of four-year-old Yug who was brutally killed a week after being abducted in 2014 would have been different had the Shimla police not limited its search exercise to scouring orphanages in the first week of abduction. Preliminary investigation suggests the victim was tortured, starved and forcibly served liquor before being thrown alive into a water tank tied to a rock. On January 29 this year, some MC employees found the skeleton while cleaning the tank after a jaundice outbreak, but threw it away without alerting the police, presuming it to be of an animal. Abducted from the busy Ram Bazaar area in the heart of the town on June 14, 2014, Yug was killed on June 21, even before the first ransom demand was made. On June 14, 2014, Yujs father Vinod Gupta filed a missing persons complaint at the Sadar police station. A criminal case was registered on June 16, while a letter carrying demand for Rs 3.6 crore ransom was received on June 27. Three more ransom letters were received subsequently. The case was transferred to the state CID on August 14. The mobile location of the three accused Tajender Singh, Vikrant Bakshi and Chander Sharma suggested they were in the same area around the time of the kidnapping, sources in the police said. Tajender, a neighbour who used to give tuitions to Yugs sisters, kept an eye on the developments even as the police installed a CCTV camera on the premises of the victims family, sensing information was reaching the kidnappers. Tajender and Bakshi were caught by the police in a theft case and the forensic examination of their mobiles suggested some photographs of a boy tied with a rope had been deleted. The narco test of Guptas servant revealed neighbour Sharma could have kidnapped Yug for ransom and during search of his rented house, tracing paper similar to the one used in the ransom letter was recovered. After the suspects confessed to the crime, the CID team led by DSP Bhupinder Bragata exhumed a part of the boys remains and the rock from a municipal corporation water tank in the Kaleston area of Bharari on Monday. For one and a half years, residents of Kaleston and other areas, where a large number of VIPs reside, continued to receive water supply from this tank. The Chief Judicial Magistrate has remanded the three in five-day police custody. Looking back June 14, 2014: Yug abducted from bazar in the heart of town June 14: His father Vinod Gupta approaches the police June 16: A case is registered at the Sadar police station June 21: Tied with a stone, Yug was dumped alive in water tank June 17: Ransom letter demanding Rs 3.6 cr received August 14: Case transferred to state CID crime branch Washington, August 24 Encouraging India and Pakistan to engage in talks and exercise restraint for improving strategic stability, the US has asked the two countries to sign and ratify Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). State Department Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner welcomed Pakistans recent proposal to India for a bilateral agreement for not conducting a nuclear testing of atomic weapons. We welcome this high-level dialogue between India and Pakistan, encourage both countries to engage in the dialogue and exercise restraint aimed at improving strategic stability. I think this proposal is something we would leave to Indias consideration, he said at his daily news conference on Tuesday. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) It remains in our view that the most practical way to achieve a legally binding commitment on nuclear explosive testing would be for both states to sign and ratify the CTBT, Toner said. Pakistan on August 12 said it was ready for an agreement with India on a bilateral moratorium on nuclear non-testing. PTI Tribune News Service Amloh, August 23 Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today claimed that the Opposition was projecting false figures of farmer suicide cases in Mansa. Farmers dying of diseases such as cardiac arrests were also being projected as suicides to defame the SAD government, he said. Sukhbir, who was in town to hold a Sangat Darshan programme, said there could be some technical error and the government would review the same as to how more than 100 claim applications against farmer suicides were rejected. He claimed that the SAD Government would hit a hat-trick in the upcoming poll and all the villages would get concrete streets and drains, regarding which a plan worth Rs 30,000 crore was afoot. Sukhbir took a dig at the parties in fray for the 2017 elections on the occasion. He challenged the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi Government to match the achievements of the SAD-BJP Government. He lashed out at Fatehgarh Sahib MP Harinder Singh Khalsa for his failure to bring any development project to the region and urged people not to vote blindly for the new party which did not have any concern for the people of Punjab. Hitting out at the Congress, Sukhbir said the Congress Government of 2002-2007, led by Capt Amarinder Singh, did nothing on the development front and cannot list even a single achievement. Commenting on the Sunil Jakhars claim that SAD MP Sher Singh Gubaya had demanded a separate capital for the state in Parliament in 2015, Sukhbir said Chandigarh belonged to Punjab and the state would get its legitimate right. The Deputy CM also disbursed development grants to 50 panchayats of Amloh. Meanwhile, AAP ticket contender from Amloh, Dr Raghbir Shukla, joined the Akali Dal. Balwant Garg Tribune News Service Faridkot, August 24 As many as 39 nursing colleges in the state are facing the risk of losing affiliation with the medical university. These colleges have not paid annual affiliation fee, inspection fee, endowment funds and many other expenses to the medical university in the past two years. As repeated reminders to these colleges by Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) have failed in getting the mandatory annual funds from these colleges, the university has now made public the names of these defaulter colleges. The total outstanding fee/funds towards these colleges are about Rs 2.68 crore. Sources in the BFUHS revealed that Punjab is facing an unusual position an oversupply of nursing institutions. Among the 109 nursing colleges in the state, many lack rudimentary infrastructure. A large proportion of seats in these colleges are lying vacant, making the running of these colleges economically unviable for the private managements. Out of 109 nursing colleges, BFUHS has identified 84 colleges having numerous deficiencies, indicating that teaching programmes and other facilities in these colleges are inadequate as per the norms of the Indian Nursing Council, New Delhi. BFUHS has identified only eight nursing colleges in the state that the students should opt for to get good quality education. On an average, more than 50 per cent seats in nursing colleges are lying vacant, said HC Rawat, Dean (examination) Nursing in BFUHS. Reflecting the poor standards of nursing education, less than 4 per cent candidates could get 50 per cent marks in the Punjab Staff Nurses Recruitment Test (PSNRT) conducted by BFUHS in April. The result of PSNRT reveals that we need to pay attention to the nursing education in the state, said Dr Raj Bahadur, Vice-Chancellor, BFUHS. Raj Sadosh Abohar, August 23 Some medical specialists who were at the Municipal Council complex in Abohar today to hold a free check-up camp there were in for a shock. They found that dirty water was accumulated around the offices of the civic bodys president, executive officer and Town Hall, which is used to conduct meetings and government functions. Even some visitors said the algae in the water indicated that no efforts were made in the past few days to clean the choked internal sewerage and the conditions were conducive for the spread of dengue. Interestingly, the council has so far not complied with instructions of the state government for taking steps to prevent dengue that had spread last year in some colonies here. The MC had requested the Health Department to organise a special camp today. During the camp, about 178 clerical staff and sanitation workers were examined, free laboratory test facilities were also offered. Dengue prevention officials Tehal Singh and Bharat Sethi minced no words in pulling up the sanitation inspector over the sad situation. They said a notice would be served as the complex had an unhygienic environment. Notably, the state government is yet to appoint a regular Executive Officer here for the past one year even as Abohar is the largest town in Fazilka. Aman Sood Tribune News Service Rajpura/Patiala, August 24 Sale and purchase entries worth crores could not be made in official records early this morning due to a snag in the e-trip server. Hundreds of vehicles loaded with goods remained stranded at various information collection centre (ICC) barriers, resulting in traffic chaos on highways. This was the second snag in less than a week. Traders and vehicle drivers were up in arms against the taxation department for the poor functioning of the e-trip facility. The server remained out of order from 4 am to 7.30 am. By that time, transactions worth crores had been delayed or had to be done manually, said a taxation official. Hundreds of vehicles could be seen parked alongside the national highway near the ICC barrier at Shambhu, even as anxious truck drivers kept pleading with taxation officials to clear their vehicles. Instead of solving our problem, the barrier staff started charging money from us. It was only after 7.30 am, that the system finally came on track and we could manage to cross the barrier, said a truck driver. The server was down and the entire system remained disturbed for a few hours in the morning, said Director (Investigation) Navdeep Bhinder. This happens sometimes when the load is heavy, she said. Thirty-six ICC barriers in the state are controlled through the department server that gets around 80,000 entries everyday. These entries are mandatory for the transportation of goods within and outside the state. If the department website cannot process these many entries, the e-trip scheme should be postponed. Otherwise, such problems will continue to cause loss to our businesses, traders said. Excise and Taxation Commissioner Rajat Agrawal said, The problem is at the end of Wipro (IT firm) for which we have taken up the matter with them. We will deal with them sternly, if they dont improve. As regards the need for a parallel system, he said: There is no need for a parallel system. We need capacity enhancement. Ambala: Hundreds of trucks and other heavy vehicles remained stranded on the NH-1 near Punjab-Haryana border after the server of tax collection centre at Shambhu (Punjab) developed a snag. Ambala ACP Hitesh Yadav had to rush to the spot to make way for the Delhi-Lahore bus, ambulances and other VIP vehicles. Light vehicles were diverted to alternative routes. (Inputs from Suman Bhatnagar) Sarbjit Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 23 All 10 Dalit farmers who were arrested in connection with the Balad Kalan Panchayat land agitation, were released from the jail today. They were lodged in the Sangrur jail for the past three months and had refused to seek bail taking the plea that they had been implicated in a false case. The farmers were booked by the Bhawanigarh police in Sangrur district on May 24 and May 25 under various sections of the IPC. Though cases were registered against about 70 persons, only 10 were arrested and sent to jail. Those released today are Lakhwinder Singh, Surdeep Singh, Ranjit Singh, Satpal, Paramjit Singh, Bhola Singh and Harbhinder, all of Balad Kalan village, Surjan Singh of Jhaneri village and Bhupinder Singh and Pirthi of Longowal village. Dalits have been agitating in various villages of Malwa to take their due share of Panchayat land on lease at reduced rate. However, there was a resistance on the part of the official machinery in this regard. To press the authorities concerned, they had launched an agitation. Of late, Balad Kalan village, where Panchayat owns a vast tract of land, had become the epicentre of the Dalit agitation to get the land rent reduced. The Tribune had carried an in-depth report about the agitation and arrested Dalits on last Sunday. Mukesh Maludh, a leader of Zameen Prapathi Sangrash Committee (ZPSC), the oranisation under the banner of which the agitation was launched, said the district police authorities today completed the necessary formalities and informed the court that they did not want to proceed further in the cases registered against the Dalits of Baland Kalan village. Rampal Singh, a member of the Committee from the Balad Kalan village, said police had recorded statements of certain people from the village yesterday. The villagers had stated that the Dalits had taken part in the dharna but had not resorted to violence. False cases had been registered against them. The statements were made the ground to release the farmers, Rampal said. Meanwhile, the district administration has reduced the lease rate of the panchayat land to Rs 20,500 per acre per annum from Rs 24,000 per acre, which was charged last year, for Dalits of Balad Kalan. About 85 acres of panchayat land has been given to them on the reduced rate this year. Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 23 In a relief for MPs whose family members are keen to contest the Vidhan Sabha elections, PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh today clarified that the rule was restricted to the Assembly elections only. If there is an MP from a family, it will not affect the chances of a deserving family member for the Assembly ticket, he said. He said almost one-third of the ticket seekers were youths in the age group of 25 to 45. Among the youth applicants, 57 have applied through the Youth Congress and the remaining directly. As many as 116 women have applied for the party ticket, one applicant per seat. Amarinder said of 1,661 applicants, 1,025 had applied from the general category and 636 reserved category. All sitting MLAs, except Preneet Kaur and Charanjit Kaur Bajwa, have applied for the party ticket from their respective constituencies. Despite the one family one ticket norm, many senior leaders and their family members have applied. They include senior leader Lal Singh and his son, former CM Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and her son-in-law, and Samrala MLA Amrik Singh Dhillon and his two family members. Archit Watts Tribune News Service Lambi, August 23 A day after a controversy erupted over a question raised by SAD MP Sher Singh Ghubaya in the Lok Sabha last year, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today clarified that Chandigarh was, is and will remain an integral part of Punjab. On Ghubayas question over any proposal of the Centre to establish a new capital or a mini capital at a central place in Punjab, the CM said: Chalo ohna ne aakh ta (Leave it, he might have asked it). Talking to the media on the sidelines of his Sangat Darshan here, Badal said as per the States Reorganisation Act, every parent state had the sole right over its capital city, but grave injustice had been done with Punjab. Till Chandigarh is not given to the state, the decades old practice of appointing Punjab Governor as the UT Administrator should continue, he said. On AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, the CM said he was a non-performer. Nothing good can be expected for the state from Kejriwal who has no sympathy with Punjab or its people, he said. On Congress activists removing government posters from buses, Badal termed it a result of frustration of the Congress. Mohit Khanna Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August An inmate of Central Jail here bludgeoned to death a fellow inmate on Wednesday morning and confessed to the crime bizarrely terming it as human sacrifice. The deceased has been identified as Sanjiv Kumar (28), who was lodged in jail in connection with a murder case that took place at Salem Tabri. The killer has been identified as Arun Kumar (32). He is lodged in jail in a murder that took place at Sarabha Nagar in 2012. He told the police that he is a devout follower of Goddess Kali. He said last night the Goddess came in his dream and demanded a human sacrifice. He also told the police that he had no personal enmity with Sanjiv Kumar. The incident took place around 7am. Arun after reading a path (holy book lesson) in the morning entered the barrack of Sanjiv who was asleep. Arun smashed a brick repeatedly on the head of Sanjiv killing him on the spot. The jail guards rushed to the barrack and were shocked to find Sanjiv lying dead in a pool of blood. SP Khanna, Jail Superintendent, said the police had been informed and higher officials have also been intimated about the incident. ACP Saurav Jindal said that the accused has confessed to committing the murder and also stated a story of human sacrifice. We are verifying the matter and are in the process of registering the case, he said. Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 24 Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has dis-empanelled Mohan Dai Oswal Cancer Hospital, Ludhiana, from the Mukh Mantri Punjab Cancer Rahat Kosh scheme for not providing cashless treatment to cancer patients and violating the guidelines of the scheme. As per government sources, on the basis of complaints received in the department and during Chief Ministers Sangat Darshan, explanation was sought from the hospital. The decision was taken following non-satisfactory reply from the hospital. Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani stated that the state government had empanelled 19 hospitals to provide cashless treatment to cancer patients from the date of diagnosis. However, the above said two hospitals violated the scheme guidelines. Recently, Grecian Hospital was dis-empanelled for charging money from cancer patients instead of providing cashless treatment under the scheme. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 24 In a broad daylight robbery, six armed assailants posing as Gujarat policemen held three members of a family hostage and robbed them of cash and jewellery worth Rs1 crore. According to the victims, the miscreants took away 2 kg gold, Rs10 lakh cash and other valuables. The armed assailants entered the house of telecommunication trader Raj Kumar Agnihotri at Model Town here around 12:10 pm. The accused introduced themselves as policemen from Gujarat and told the security guard deployed outside the house that they came to interrogate Agnihotri in an old case. The accused overpowered the guard, Budhram, and locked in a room. They gathered all family members Agnihotris wife Pushpa Devi and daughters-in-law Hinna and Isshu at one place. The robbers warned them not to raise alarm or they would shoot them. They took away cash and jewellery and a safe, they failed to break open, which contained some valuables. They escaped in a Maruti Swift car. Agnihotri and his family are followers of controversial godman Asaram. They were even questioned by the police for allegedly providing shelter to Asarams son Narayan Sai in December 2013. Jatinder Singh Aulakh, Commissioner of Police, said: During preliminary investigation, we found that someone among the accused was known to the family. They were aware that the family had some pending matter with the Gujarat police during the arrest of Narayan Sai. They were also aware that only women would be in the house during the daytime. We will crack the case soon. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 24 An inmate was bludgeoned to death by a fellow prisoner at the Ludhiana Central Jail this morning. The incident turned out to be a case of human sacrifice. The deceased, identified as Sanjiv Kumar (28), was lodged in the jail in connection with a murder case. He was allegedly killed by Arun Kumar (32). Arun told the police that he was a devout follower of Goddess Kali, who came in his dream last night and demanded a human sacrifice. He said he had no personal enmity with Sanjiv. The incident took place around 7 am when Arun entered the barrack of Sanjiv Kumar after performing a ritual. Arun allegedly attacked Sanjiv while he was asleep. He repeatedly hit him with a brick on his head killing him on the spot. The jail guards rushed to the barrack and found Sanjiv lying in a pool of blood. ACP Saurav Jindal said the accused, who was lodged in the jail for killing a person at Sarabha Nagar in 2012, had confessed to the crime. We are investigating the matter and will register a case accordingly, he said. The victims father demanded action against the jail staff for negligence. He said the accused had a history of committing such crimes, but the jail staff did not confine him. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 24 A day after Team Insaaf supremo and Independent MLA Simarjeet Bains accused the government of being hand in glove with doctors in duping beneficiaries of the Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Bima Yojana, the state government has terminated the services of Aastha Kidney Hospital in Maya Nagar and Garg Hospital in Jawaddi. The private hospitals had allegedly charged money from the patients in lieu of treatment and also availed the monetary benefit from Bhagat Puran Yojana. When confronted, doctors of both hospitals returned the money charged from poor patients. A departmental inquiry has been initiated into the matter and if the owners and doctors of the hospitals are found guilty, further proceedings will be initiated against them, the communique has stated. As per the orders received from Health and Family Welfare Department Principal Secretary Vini Mahajan, Civil Surgeon Dr Renu Chhatwal said the department had taken this issue seriously and an inquiry had been initiated into it. She said for the time being, the services of both hospitals regarding the Bhagat Puran Yojana had been terminated. She said if the hospitals were found guilty in the inquiry, the department might cancel their registration and also take legal action against them. She added that the United India Insurance, the company related to this scheme, had also paused the work on bill claims. Mahajan and Chhatwal said, Bhagat Puran Yojana is a very important scheme which has been started by the state government for the welfare of people. The hospitals will not be allowed to indulge in such malpractices. They also appealed to the people to submit their complaints at toll-free number 104 and assured that timely action would be taken. Among the questions tabled by the Hon'ble Sardar Bahadur Gajjan Singh for the Council meeting of the 2nd proximo is one which is intended to show the number of students from each school and college who have, since the outbreak of the war, enlisted in the army. Some light was thrown on this question by Government in its review of the Education report and the object of the Sikh member in repeating it in the Council is not apparent. Why does he not also ask how many teachers and professors of military age have enlisted? In Scotland, we are told, more than one-third of the men teachers in board schools are on military service. A Calcutta paper invites attention to the fact that two-thirds of the police officers in that city belong to the European and Anglo-Indian communities, and that of 117 Sergeants in the Calcutta police, 66 were Europeans and the rest Anglo-Indians. So not a single Indian is entertained in this class of service. And the paper rightly asks whether the authorities have treated the Indians fairly in this matter and whether it is not right that equal opportunities should be given to the sons of the soil in all departments of service. The Public Services Commission was expected to do justice to similar complaints in all the departments, but its report is said to be disappointing. The people of India have no reasonable opportunities to get into the higher ranks of public service and every defect of the kind pointed ought to open the eyes of the people in England to the necessity of Home rule in India. Jotirmay Thapliyal Tribune News Service Dehradun, August 24 Social activist Dhoom Singh Negi, who has been associated with the world famous Chikpko movement for environment conservation, is unhappy over the current political scenario in Uttarakhand. The septuagenarian, while talking to The Tribune, bewails the politics of opportunism in the state. It hurts. It is against the Gandhian values. This is not what the statehood agitators fought for, he says while he grows pensive. He stressed the need for a clean political system in the country. He said, Soon after Independence, Mahatma Gandhi had said the Congress should be dissolved as the objective of the freedom struggle has been achieved. It should be Lok Sewaks at the helm to govern the country. Dhoom Negi was born in Piplath village in Patti Kunjani in Tehri Garhwal district in 1939. He after completing his graduation, took to teaching in 1962, which he religiously followed till 1974 before getting associated with environmentalist Sundarlal Bahuguna, a Chipko leader. Negi has taken part in several agitations. He took active part in the world famous Chipko movement and was in the forefront of the agitation against the Tehri dam. He mobilised villagers for anti-liquor and anti-quarrying protests. Negi, in order to channel the youth power in a positive direction, set up Yuwak Sangh, which worked for the betterment of society in the Tehri region. The environmentalist rues that the dreams of the statehood agitators are still to be realised. Todays Uttarakhand is not what we fought for. Residents of the hill areas are still struggling to make a living. Development still eludes them, Negi asserted. Those at the helm are yet to learn the definition of development. Some of the public-centric schemes, like Hamara Ped Hamara Dhan and Charghah Yojana, have not yet been implemented fully, thus squandering the opportunity for the sustainable development. Even the pilgrimage tourism that has been the backbone of hill economy for decades has lost its relevance due to faulty policies, he says. The social activist has undertaken padyatra from Kashmir to Kohima in Nagaland to highlight the plight of the Himalayas. He also travelled to Nepal and Bhutan and highlighted the conditions of residents of the Himalayan region. Tribune News Service Dehradun, August 24 Chief Minister Harish Rawat met Union Minister for Road Transport and National Highways Nitin Gadkari in Delhi today and apprised him about the surface transport concerns of the state. Rawat said the state government had sent a detailed project report regarding construction of an underpass at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) and sought its speedy sanction. The Chief Minister said funds were sanctioned for surfacing works of national highways in the state that are part of the Char Dham roads but the work was still to commence. He asked the Union minister to sanction at least a two-lane tunnel at Dat Kali in Dehradun. He also raised the issue of prompt sanctioning of 13 roads in the state that had been under consideration for long. He said the Kotdwar-Laldhang road be developed as a national highway. He expressed gratitude to Gadkari for providing all necessary infrastructural support for the construction of all-weather Char Dham roads. Gadkari assured Harish Rawat of giving due consideration to the issues raised by him. CEDAR RAPIDS When Sean Neilly went to pick up his 5-year-old sons EpiPen at the pharmacy a few weeks ago, he experienced sticker shock. A two pack of EpiPens used to inject lifesaving epinephrine if his son, John Patrick, goes into anaphylactic shock cost more than $600. That was more than a 500 percent increase from the $100 the Cedar Rapids family paid the last time. John Patrick is highly allergic to fish and sesame, Neilly said, adding that sesame can be sneaked into foods and the family has to be very careful about what their son eats. Neilly called the price increase immoral, saying parents who buy EpiPens have to spend all of this on something you hope you wont need. The family, which was getting ready to go on vacation to Florida, decided not to purchase the drug until it could come up with the money. We wouldnt have taken the trip had we known the cost of EpiPens went up this much, he said. Neilly isnt alone. Stories like his prompted U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley to demand answers from Mylan, the pharmaceutical company that sells the medication. When Mylan bought the EpiPen developer nine years ago, the pens were selling for about $57 apiece, a review by Bloomberg found. Grassley heard similar complaints from about 50 Iowa families before writing to Mylan chief executive Heather Bresch saying that the steep increase could limit access to a much-needed medication. Since releasing the letter late Monday, Grassley has heard from about 50 more Iowans, he said. Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has been asked to hold hearings on the price hike. He is first waiting to see if Mylan responds. In a separate letter, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Mylans practices on EpiPen prices. She called for the FTC to look into whether Mylan had done anything to deny competitors access to the market to keep prices up. Mylan spokeswoman Nina Devlin declined to comment to Bloomberg on the letters. The company said it offers several programs to help people afford the drug, including online coupons for $100 off. Ensuring access to epinephrine the only first-line treatment for anaphylaxis is a core part of our mission, she told Bloomberg. The issue is timely as many families are being surprised as they replenish EpiPens as part of back-to-school preparations. They often get hit twice if they have to supply an EpiPen to their childs school as well as have one at home. Thats not $500 just once, Grassley said. They last just a year and then they have to be thrown away and replaced. Given the cost, some families may be tempted to hold on to EpiPens beyond their use by date. But health care professionals warn the potency diminishes. Grassley said the impact of the price increase also has implications for taxpayers because schools are required to have EpiPens on hand. Also concerning to him is the fact that more than 40 percent of children are insured through Medicaid or the Childrens Health Insurance Program. The Iowa version, Hawk-i, covers almost 39,000 children. It follows that many of the children who are prescribed EpiPens are covered by Medicaid, so taxpayers are covering the costs, Grassley wrote in his letter to Mylan. Some emergency responders already are looking into making their own kits with epinephrine vials and syringes as a way to live within their budgets, Grassley said. First-responders in Seattle, for instance, have developed such kits and sold them to public health agencies in five states. In New York, a demonstration project, Check and Inject New York, trains first responders to use syringe epinephrine kits in place of EpiPens. Its one thing for emergency responders to take a do-it-yourself approach, Grassley said, but warned there could be safety implications as people, untrained in medical procedures, are incentivized to make their own kits from raw materials. Yangon, August 24 A powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar today, killing at least three people, including two children, and damaging pagodas in the ancient city of Bagan, officials said. The quake, which the US Geological Survey said hit at a depth of 84 km, was also felt across neighbouring Thailand and Bangladesh, sending panicked residents rushing onto the streets. A fire department official from regional capital Magwe said two young girls were killed when a riverbank gave way in Yenanchaung township, south of Chauk. One person was killed and another injured when a tobacco processing factory collapsed in the town of Pakkoku, to the north, the duty officer at the local fire department said. There were no other confirmed casualties, and early reports suggested limited damage overall. Chauk is about 35 km (20 miles) from Bagan, known as the "City of 4 Million Pagodas" and a major draw for Myanmar's nascent tourism industry. Yangon-based travel agent Amy Saw, who had been in touch with her firm's Bagan office, said some of the pagodas there had been damaged, and the Ministry of Religious Affairs put the number sustaining some kind of damage at 65. The officer, who requested anonymity, said a Spanish tourist was slightly hurt when she fell from a temple while watching the sunset. Scaling Bagan's ancient Buddhist monuments, of which there are more than 2,500, is a daily ritual among tourists and local pilgrims who flock to the site. The temples, built between the 10th and 14th centuries, are revered in the Buddhist-majority country. Myanmar is eager to see the ancient capital designated as a UNESCO world heritage site. AFP Sydney, August 24 A 29-year-old Frenchman shouted Allahu Akbar (God is Greatest) as he stabbed a British woman to death and wounded two persons at a backpackers hotel in northern Queensland, police said on Wednesday. The man was in Australia on a valid tourist visa and had no known links to radical groups such as Islamic State, which has urged its followers to attack civilians with knives or other readily available weapons, police said. A 30-year-old British man was in critical condition in hospital after the attack south of the city of Townsville late on Tuesday night. Police said they were not ruling out any motive. Initial inquiries indicate that comments which may be construed of being of an extremist nature were made by the alleged offender, Queensland Police Service Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski told reporters. This person appears to have acted alone, he said. He is a visitor to Australia and has no known local connections, however investigations are ongoing. About 100 people have left Australia for Syria to fight alongside organisations such as Islamic State, Australias Immigration Minister said earlier this year. Australia, a staunch US ally, has been on heightened alert for attacks by home-grown radicals since 2014 and authorities say they have thwarted a number of plots. The FBI on Tuesday said that it was investigating a similar attack in Virginia, in which the suspect shouted the same words while attacking a man and woman with a knife. Similar attacks have recently occurred in France, Bangladesh and Germany. There have been several lone wolf assaults, including a 2014 cafe siege in Sydney that left two hostages and the gunman dead. Also in 2014, police shot dead a Melbourne teenager after he stabbed two counter-terrorism officers. In 2015, a 15-year-old boy fired on an accountant at a police headquarters in a Sydney suburb and was killed in a gunfight with police. Police did not give details of the third person wounded in the attack, which was captured on video and witnessed by more than a dozen people. There was no ongoing threat to the community, Gollschewski said. A dog was also killed in the attack, he added. Reuters KABUL, August 24 At least two people were killed and five injured after gunmen attacked the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul on Wednesday, with explosions and gunfire reported inside the campus where foreign staff and hundreds of students were trapped, ABC News said quoting police as saying. The senior interior ministry official said elite Afghan forces had surrounded the university compound and gunfire was continuing. Early reports were that several gunmen, some wearing suicide vests, were involved, he said. "Several gunmen attacked the American University in Kabul and there are reports of gunfire and explosions," the official said. "They are inside the compound and there are foreign professors along with hundreds of students." Ahmad Shaheer, a student at the university, said by telephone that he was trapped inside the university. "We are stuck inside our classroom and there are bursts of gunfire," he said. A news agency, Pajhwok Afghan, called the explosion a suicide bombing. Afghanistan's TOLO news agency said unconfirmed reports suggested that some 100 students and staff may have escaped but scores still remain trapped inside. A student stuck inside the university wrote on Twitter about a shooting and a possible explosion. Help we are stuck inside AUAF and shooting flollowed by Explo this maybe my last tweets Massoud Hossaini (@Massoud151) August 24, 2016 No militant group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes as the Taliban step up their summer fighting season against the Western-backed Kabul government. "#AUAF under attack. I along with my friends escaped and several other of my friends and professors trapped inside," Kabul-based journalist Ahmad Mukhtar tweeted. #AUAF under attack. I along with my friends escaped and several other of of my friends and professors trapped inside. Ahmad Mukhtar (@AhMukhtar) August 24, 2016 The Italian-run Emergency Hospital in Kabul tweeted that at least five wounded people had been brought to the facility for treatment. The management of the elite American University of Afghanistan, which opened in 2006 and enrols more than 1,700 students, was not immediately reachable for comment. The private university is usually packed with students in the evening, many of them working professionals doing part-time courses at the facility. It is the second time this month that the university or its staff have been targeted. Two teachers, an American and an Australian, remain missing after being abducted at gunpoint from a road nearby on August 7. Agencies Seoul, August 24 North Korea on Wednesday test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) in waters off its east coast, the South Korean military said. The launch near the port city of Sinpo around 5.30 am (local time) was in an apparent show of defiance against the ongoing military drill between Seoul and Washington, Yonhap news agency quoted Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) as saying. The military said the missile flew about 500 km, which is an improvement compared with past launches. It fell into waters inside Japans air defence identification zone. Tensions are high on the divided peninsula as North Korea threatened on Monday to wage a pre-emptive nuclear strike on South Korea and the US against the allies annual military exercise. IANS Bangkok, August 24 A large car bomb blew up outside a hotel in Thailands insurgency-plagued southern region, killing one and wounding more than 30 people, some of them critically, police said. Although the area is not popular with tourists, the country has been on edge since a string of small but coordinated explosions earlier this month struck resort towns further north, heightening concerns that Thailands southern insurgency may have spread after years of stalled peace talks. The latest bomb struck shortly before midnight outside a hotel on the outskirts of Pattani, one of three Muslim majority southern provinces that have been battered by the 12-year insurgency. So far, there is one killed and more than 30 injured, Major General Thanongsak Wangsupa, Pattani provincial police commander, told AFP on Tuesday. The hotel building was considerably damaged, he added. A staff member at the towns hospital said 32 people were injured, five of them critically. All are Thai nationals, the worker added, asking not to be named. Most embassies warn nationals against all travel to Pattani because of the long-running conflict between the Buddhist-majority state and shadowy Muslim rebels seeking greater autonomy. Near-daily shootings and roadside bombs have left more than 6,500 dead since 2004, most of them civilians. But the violence has largely remained local with militants loathe to spark international outrage by targeting Western tourists. The kingdoms junta leadership has been keen to downplay suggestions that the insurgency may have spread. However, the police investigation into the attacks earlier this month is increasingly pointing southwards with Thailands top officer on Monday saying most of those behind the blasts were believed to be Muslims who hailed from the deep south. The rebels never claim their attacks but factions are known to be frustrated with their lack of progress after more than a decade of fighting. AFP Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 24 In what looks like a major strategic setback to the Indian Navy and New Delhis growing aspirations of being a global player, some 22,400 pages of data related to the six Scorpene-class submarines have been leaked compromising super-secret abilities of the underwater vessels. The Australian, a newspaper based out of Sydney on the South-east coast of that country, has reported about the leak of data and termed it as stunning leak saying it details the entire secret combat capability of the six Scorpene-class submarines. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The French Government owns two-thirds stake in DCNS, the submarine maker. The company is building six of the diesel-electric submarines in Mumbai at a cost of Rs 23,562 crore (approx 3.46 billion US dollars). The first one named Kalvari is set to be inducted into the naval fleet at the end of the year. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been made aware of the data leak and the matter is being taken seriously, an MoD official said on Wednesday morning. India will take up the matter with France and with DCNS. Reacting to the Submarine data leak, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said, The first step is to identify if its related to us. Anyway its not that 100 per cent data has been leaked, adding that it appeared to be a case of hacking data. The Indian Navy, in an official statement, said, The available information is being examined and an analysis is being carried out by the specialists concerned. It appears that the source of leak is from overseas and not in India. Leaked documents were marked Restricted Scorpene India, said the newspaper as it claimed to have seen the data. These detail most sensitive combat capabilities of Indias new submarine fleet and would provide an intelligence bonanza if obtained by Indias strategic rivals, such as Pakistan or China, it said. The data list out the frequencies at which the submarines gather intelligence and the levels of noise the subs make at various speeds, the news report said. They also contain information on the submarines diving depths, range, and endurance, besides its magnetic, electromagnetic, and infrared data. It is not yet clear how, where, and to whom the top-secret information was leaked. As a serious matter pertaining to the Indian Scorpene programme, French national authorities for defence security will formally investigate and determine the exact nature of the leaked documents, a DCNS spokeswoman said in a statement quoted by news agency Reuters. DCNS is also to make 12 similar vessels for Australia, a US $ 38 billion contract it won beating stiff completion from Japanese and German submarine-makers. Washington, August 24 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's campaign is accusing rival Donald Trump of outsourcing his clothing brands overseas, including his coats to India, in a new television commercial set to air this week. In the past, the Clinton Campaign has accused Trump of outsourcing jobs to India and other countries. The latest television commercial is part of a series. The ad 'Shirts' joins a previously released commercial 'Some Place' in spotlighting Trump's long history of making Trump-branded products outside of the US, as part of an effort over the past month to contrast the 70-year-old tycoon's hypocritical business record with Clinton's agenda to "make the economy work for everyone, not just those at the top." Robert Kidder, owner of New England Shirt Company, in the ad released by Clinton Campaign claims: "This factory has been here since 1883. We have over 60 people here making shirts labelled 'Made in America,' but Donald Trump's brand of shirts come from China, his suits from Mexico, his coats from India". "Donald Trump says he'll 'make America great again' while he's taking the shirts right off our backs," Kidder says as he closes the ad. The company is based in Massachusetts, which in the past has been central to America's textile industry. It remains the oldest operating ready-to-wear shirt manufacturer in the US. The new ad follows Clinton's announcement on Tuesday of new plans to jumpstart small business startups and strengthen small business growth. She has accused Trump of making a career out of 'stiffing' small businesses and driving some of them out of business. Citing an independent analysis, the former secretary of state has claimed Trump's ideas would cost 3.4 million jobs while her plan would create over 10 million new jobs. Clinton, the 68-year-old Senator from New York, is leading Trump by considerable margin in several US polls. The general election is scheduled for November 8. PTI Washington, August 24 A day after Pakistan charged MQM chief Altaf Hussain with treason for his inflammatory speech, the US has said in a democracy, critical opinion should be encouraged, not silenced. I would just say in a democratic society, critical opinion should be encouraged, not silenced. We believe that democracies become stronger by allowing free expression from diverse voices within society and we would certainly emphasise that any expression must be peaceful, State Department Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner said on Tuesday. Responding to a question on arrest of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) leaders, he said the US was always concerned when members of a political party were detained or arrested. We obviously believe in the importance of public assembly, freedom of speech as long as its peaceful. We would emphasise that any kind of protest, any kind of demonstrations would need to be conducted peacefully. So I think were still assessing, gathering information about what took place. And well reserve further comment until that time, Toner said. MQM chief Altaf Hussain was on Tuesday charged with treason for his inflammatory speech that incited party workers to attack media outlets here. He was accused of raising anti-Pakistan slogans at a protest rally that turned violent. The MQM remains the single largest party in Karachi for decades now and has dominated the political landscape for years sweeping provincial and national elections, but since the clean-up operation began on the orders of the Centre, the party has come under intense pressure. PTI Washington, August 24 Expressing concern over human rights situation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), the US has called for working out differences peaceably and through a valid political process. We do have concerns about the human rights situation there (PoK), have reported it for several years in our Human Rights report, State Department Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner told reporters at his daily news conference yesterday. We are always urging all parties in Pakistan to work out their differences peaceably and through a valid political process, he said when asked about the human rights situation in PoK. And with respect to Kashmir, our policy there is well known, Toner said without elaborating further. Earlier this month, protesters took to streets in the Gilgit-Baltistan region against rights abuses by Pakistani forces. PTI CLEAR LAKE The 47th annual Opportunity Village Benefit Walk will take place at 1 p.m. Sept. 10 at City Park in Clear Lake. Walkers are encouraged to set up a personal FirstGiving page at www.opportunityvillagebenefitwalk.org and set a fundraising goal. Walkers are encouraged to seek sponsors before attending the walk. Sponsorship packets are available at Tried & True in Mason Citys Willowbrook Mall, the Village General Store in Clear Lake or by contacting Jennifer Pinske at 641-355-1356 or Gordon Peterson at 641-355-1247. Before the walk, the public is invited to Opportunity Villages inaugural Appreciation Picnic at 11 a.m. The organization will pay tribute to its staff, families, friends and community members during the picnic. Those who attend are asked to bring lawn chairs. A catered lunch will be provided. Games for adults and families, as well as live music, will be offered after the walk. MASON CITY A bake sale benefiting the family of Blair Smith will be 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 27. Great Country Motors, 1881 S. Eisenhower, will host the sale, along with a Hot Wheels show. Another benefit will be held Oct. 8, with a 5K run/walk at NIACC. Registration begins at 8 a.m., followed by the run/walk at 9 a.m. A bake sale, live/silent auction, lunch/concession stand and games for kids will be held at St. James Lutheran Church 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. that day. Smith, 8, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in March. Her family travels weekly to the University of Iowa Childrens Hospital for chemotherapy treatments, hospital stays and other testing. Money raised will offset travel and medical expenses. EAGLE GROVE Eagle Grove is taking steps to prepare for Prestage Foods of Iowa after the Wright County Supervisors passed a development agreement with the company Monday. Eagle Grove Mayor Sandy McGrath said she believes the community will embrace change and new citizens. If you want to be a productive citizen, you are welcomed here, McGrath said. I welcome cultural diversity thats our goal. McGrath said she is looking forward to the change and excitement of a new business. When I watched the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, if you notice the huge team the United States has, McGrath said. There were people of all shapes, colors, sizes it was so diverse. Thats what were looking at. In a letter to the editor submitted to the Globe Gazette Wednesday, Ron Prestage highlighted what he saw as three concerns from those opposing the plant, and promised to address each one. He said the concerns were fear of environmental impact, fear of a new labor force and opposition by people who are against meat consumption The Prestage Farms family of employees are racially, religiously, politically, and culturally diverse, but we are all Americans, and we are proud of their contributions in all the communities in which they live, Prestage wrote about the companys labor force. He also said the plant will use technologies to reduce water and energy use, improve air quality and reduce the overall carbon footprint in ways inconceivable just a few years ago. And he said he recognized the right of people to choose not to eat meat, but hopes they would also recognize the rights of people who dont make that choice. McGrath noted that the City Council and utility board did a lot of work before endorsing the proposed pork plant. One thing we looked at was who we are in the United States, who are we in Iowa, in Wright County, McGrath said. Were an agriculture-based community. McGrath said that Eagle Grove has a great group of business owners, bankers and citizens to help with the changes. Eagle Grove Schools is preparing for the expected increase in population, said Superintendent Jess Toliver. Our planning will start immediately on how to meet the needs of a growing community, Toliver said. For many years we have dealt with the effects of population decline; it is exciting to plan for growth in the area. The plan is to spread students among several county school districts rather than have one district have a sharp enrollment increase, county officials said. At full strength, Prestage says it will employ about 1,750 workers. While we know theres going to be growing pains, theyre not insurmountable, McGrath said. One concern mentioned in the public hearings was about housing for incoming workers. Before Prestage was discussed for the county, Eagle Grove created a housing task force to promote growth in the city, McGrath said. We looked at the housing needs, looked at quality of housing and began rental inspections, McGrath said. Two years ago, the City Council looked at abandoned housing and took steps to fix the problem. The council made contact with owners of abandoned properties and urged them to either fix the homes or tear them down. The council wanted to clean up what we have and move forward, McGrath said. In an effort to stop the downward momentum within the area, the council created a commercial incentive program for those wanting to build new homes and businesses who use a local contractor. To do nothing is the wrong thing to do, she said. The program, which McGrath said passed five months ago, will give owners a 20 percent rebate up to $40,000 to build. We just want to market our community, she said. Prestage announced in July it wanted to locate its $240 million pork processing plant near Highway 17 and 320th Street, about 5 miles south of Eagle Grove. The development agreement with the county was approved Monday. McGrath addressed concerns mentioned in the Board of Supervisors hearings when some said the deal was rushed. There was a lot of blood, sweat and tears, she said. Our council and utility board did a lot of homework. Tom Hemphill has high expectations on import-export market for the Tulsa area. Those expectations are so vast that even saying the sky is the limit doesnt fit. Hemphill, Tulsa Global Alliance president and CEO, enthusiastically talks about local companies sending products to foreign countries that could make up three-quarters of their market area. All it will take is getting smaller companies willing to take that big step. Large companies involved in the international trade markets generally have experienced staff dedicated to this work. The Tulsa Global Alliance board of directors told Hemphill that they didnt expect overnight miracles when he was hired to the top position a year ago. However, board members felt the groups global marketplace presence was lacking and that was the direction where the nonprofit organization needed to head. Hemphill, who celebrated his first anniversary with Tulsa Global Alliance in mid-August, said a first major hurdle is to find steady financing for this goal, so more staff energy can be spent in this area. Small- to medium-sized companies might be interested in foreign markets and may have made a few shipments to Canada or Mexico, he said. That brief activity isnt enough to establish a firm marketplace. These companies need support and reassurance that their technical skills are worth expanding into new areas, Hemphill said. It takes real skill to be involved internationally, a process that is both difficult and expensive. Successful companies spend a lot of time seeking out these opportunities. Interest generally develops when a carrot is dangled before a company, Hemphill said. It is just enough get senior management to look beyond current sales boundaries. My approach in helping companies go international is getting them there, he said. They need to know how to get their products in Japan, Africa, Europe or whatever country they have targeted. Hemphill recently talked with a company that was interested in putting its product in a European country. The firm was hesitant out of fear that it would get in trouble by violating local regulations and face heavy fines. The U.S. Trade Office in that country can assist by checking out regulations for firms, he said, but the government cannot endorse a company. Some of the questions companies need to answer involve not only the costs of exporting and shipping, but how to create more than one sale in a potential market. Tulsa Global Alliance may eventually support informational programs for companies interested in exporting, he said. Many government departments can provide information on financing, regulations and tariffs, as well as banks willing to loan money to viable ventures. That stuff is in place, Hemphill said, but what the government cant do is convince a company to take a shot at exporting. Our role at Tulsa Global Alliance is to put on peoples minds there is a real opportunity for new markets. Perhaps it might be like those in the Kids World where the 8-year-olds come home and tell their parents about the real cool experience they had working with their peers from other countries. We want to get people together, help make warm fuzzy things happen, open doors and make handshakes genuine so transactions can move forward. One step is building confidence and trust in international trade. Both sides, domestic and foreign, are hesitant to trust and for good reason, Hemphill said. They have been burned somewhere in their business experience while dealing with foreign companies. Part of the nonprofits job is to assure companies they can be successful and that it is worth a shot. Hemphill brings international experience to his job. He was with the National Cooperative Business Association in Washington, D.C., working with farmers co-ops in southeast Asia. That work often involved getting Americans to go to another country to help solve a problem they had experienced. The work might involve manufacturing, marketing or training. It was during that time when Hemphill realized the importance of international trade. Some were involved in the global marketplace while others were hesitant to take that first step. Now, in the Tulsa Global Alliance leadership role, Hemphill is looking at getting more companies involved in the global marketplace while dealing locally with finances. We dont want to dabble in this marketplace, he said. We need someone in Tulsa who cares passionately enough, has the experience, insight and trustworthiness to make things happen. If we have cool things happening, then many groups who have expressed interest and support will be excited to be on board. Everyone I have talked to said we need this type of program. I am exploring different ideas and dont have a fixed agenda. If someone has something to offer, I would love to hear from them. MASON CITY | A Fort Dodge man was sentenced to up to five years in prison last week for stealing an SUV in Mason City. Duane L. Knowles, 44, took possession of a Kia Sorento from the registered owner under false pretenses on Feb. 9 with the intent to deprive the owner of the vehicle, according to the criminal complaint from the Mason City Police Department. He had been charged with first-degree theft as an habitual felony offender but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree theft. Knowles was ordered to pay $6,000 restitution. A $750 fine was suspended. He was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison in June on a Buena Vista County conviction of first-degree theft. The two sentences are to be served consecutively to each other. -- Mary Pieper Library staff and patrons celebrated the final days of the Librarium during a small closing party Tuesday afternoon. The temporary downtown branch opened in September 2013 as renovation of the Central Library began. The Librarium will close on Sept. 2, and Central Library will reopen Oct. 1. Its kind of a sad day, and its kind of a happy day, Tulsa City-County Library CEO Gary Shaffer told a small crowd of library staff and patrons who gathered for the event. Shaffer said he expected the building, which the library system was leasing, would get new life, but he does not know what it will be. Aside from serving as a temporary downtown location while Central was renovated, the Librarium, 1110 S. Denver Ave., was a testing ground for new ideas. A new service model including new signs, self-checkout machines and library staff that is more accessible on the floor rather than behind a desk was first tested at the Librarium. People responded well, Shaffer said of the model. He said the new model is less intimidating to children, who now dont have to come up to a desk to ask for help. The model has been rolled out to about half the systems branches, and will debut at Central when the library re-opens. Check-out lockers, which held reserved items for patrons, also worked well and will be making an appearance at Central. Things that did not work out include a disk dispenser that too often jammed. Also, Shaffer said the jury is still out on a move to organize books by categories rather than using the Dewey Decimal System. At this point, were staying with the Dewey Decimal System, he said. Shaffer said the Central Library renovation is almost finished, and the opening on Oct. 1 will be a family-friendly event. Heidi Garrett, project manager for the library, was at Tuesdays party. The longtime library employee worked at the Librarium for a year and is a champion of the new service model. I am in absolute awe of it, she said. Garrett said the model allows staff members to dedicate more time to library users. She said the new model and technology that the library system is now using are helping it keep up with the times, as well as with the needs of patrons. Judy Randle, chairwoman of the library commission, said the upcoming opening of Central Library is exciting. She said the renovated building has an open and airy layout, and is energy efficient. Its something Tulsans can be really proud of, Randle said. OKLAHOMA CITY The Department of Public Safety on Wednesday said it is considering furloughs of up to 23 days for employees, including Highway Patrol troopers. The agency has 1,454 employees, of whom about 810 are state troopers, said Oklahoma Highway Patrol Chief Rick Adams. The furloughs would be in response to budget cuts. The agency has submitted a request for a $12 million supplemental appropriation in an effort to avoid the furloughs. Public Safety Commissioner Michael Thompson said he was optimistic that state leaders would move to support public safety. We really need to make a decision soon, Adams said. That is where part of this comes from. We need about a $12 million supplemental just to bring us to the status quo where we currently sit. The agency has already reduced expenditures by offering voluntary buyouts to 50 employees, of whom 32 accepted, Adams said. The agency needs about 950 troopers to be at full strength, Adams said. It currently has about 810 troopers and will not hold a trooper academy this fiscal year due to budget cuts, further reducing the OHPs strength as troopers retire, Adams said. In addition, the agency said it has put a hiring freeze on new employees and has not replaced about 27 outgoing employees. It also has suspended the upgrade of a radio system for statewide emergency responders and delayed the upgrade of its aging computer and technology network. The budget problems could affect drivers license testing and implied consent hearings, according to the agency. The Department of Public Safety is taking necessary steps to cut costs because they were not properly funded for this fiscal year, said Sterling Zearley, Oklahoma Public Employees Association executive director. Oklahoma will be less safe because we will have fewer troopers on our highways, and this is not DPSs fault. The blame lies squarely on legislators and the governor, who passed a budget that does not fund core services. He also cited the $140.8 million in excess funds that has yet to be returned to state agencies, which took two cuts last fiscal year due to budget problems. The second cut was too deep, leaving $140.8 million left when the state closed its books on the 2016 fiscal year. Gov. Mary Fallin is considering calling a special session of the Legislature to use the funds for a teacher pay raise. The money could also be returned to state-appropriated agencies that saw the cuts. Some of those dollars would go to DPS and could help reduce the number of furlough days, Zearley said. Lawmakers had $1.3 billion less to craft the fiscal year 2017 budget due to tax cuts, depressed energy prices and an inability to reduce tax credits and incentives given to generate economic activity. Pressing needs like those faced by DPS are part of the reason the governor initiated special session talks when the $140 million available to return to agencies was confirmed, state Finance Secretary Preston Doerflinger said. Without a special session, the $140.8 million would be returned equally to all agencies, he said. DPS would receive $1.9 million, compared to the $12 million it needs to maintain services. Some of the permanent teacher pay raise proposals my office is preparing for the governor may use the $140 million, and some may not, Doerflinger said. The best-case scenario is we reach agreement with the Legislature on a teacher pay package using none or just some of the $140 million. If that happened, a special session could be held to address teacher pay and distribute that $140 million in a way that sees agencies like DPS with the biggest needs get more funds than they would otherwise. All this is contingent on agreement with the Legislature, and those talks are ongoing. The CEO of Ramps Logistics says he is "really really disappointed" with the Guyana Revenue A He may have departed Top Gear but James May is still appearing on BBC with his new series James May: The Reassembler next week. Captain Slow lives up to his name in this new three-part series reassembling a 1959 Suffolk Colt petrol lawnmower (331 parts), a 1957 GPO British Bakelite telephone (211 parts) and a 1984 Fender electric guitar (147 parts). Although May and Richard Hammond exited Top Gear it was always planned to continue separate projects with BBC. When we look around our homes, sheds and garages, we see an array of objects that spring to life at the click of a button. But what exactly happens when you pull the lever on a petrol lawnmower? How many individual pieces are involved in making blades spin fast enough to delicately cut your grass? In James May: The Reassembler, James reassembles a whole host of objects which have been carefully taken apart to all their hundreds of individual component parts. Each episode focuses on one object and carefully puts it back together, screwing every screw, tightening every bolt and vigilantly rebuilding the object to its complete form, then testing its competency having gone through the process. Mondays at 9.30pm from August 29 on BBC Knowledge. Brynne Edelsten makes her return to TV in ONEs new reality series Clubland, which held its media launch at Bond in Melbourne last night. The series by producer Rob Menzies (Dancing with the Stars, Brynne: My Bedazzled Life) turns the cameras on the staff and patrons of Melbourne nightclubs. Filmed over a 12 month period, it also features Nick Bracks (Dancing with the Stars, Celebrity Splash) trying to secure business deals in the US. The seven part series promises plenty of colourful access to late night revelry, sometimes filmed intimately on an iPhone. If I had a crew and lights, they might not be so (ok with it). And they might think differently when they see it cut, Menzies said. I know that it has been difficult for a lot of people, because they expose themselves. But I tried to honour the faith they had in me. And I hope they like it. Menzies and partner Andrew Sirianni have formed independent production company Universal Corp Media, with Clubland as the first of three projects currently in production. Clubland premieres 10:30pm tonight on ONE. Casting has been announced for upcoming ABC docu-drama, Blue Water Empire which brings to life the history and culture of the Torres Strait Islands. Jack Thompson, Ryan Corr, Damian Walshe-Howling, Aaron FaAoso, Jimi Bani, Roy Billing, Geoff Morrell, Jeremy Lindsay Taylor, Peter Phelps, Merwez Whaleboat, Robert Mammone and Damian de Montemas. The project is produced by Lonestar Company, headed up by actors and producers Aaron FaAoso and Jimi Bani, and Bunya Productions (Mystery Road, Goldstone) led by producers David Jowsey and Greer Simpkin. FaAoso says: Its an honour to be telling the stories of our amazing people and their contribution, over the last two centuries, to the history of Torres Strait Islanders and wider Australia. Blue Water Empire also critically underpins our aspiration to develop the film and television industry in Far North Queensland and the Torres Straits. Sally Riley, ABCs Head of Scripted Content, says: Blue Water Empire is a strikingly original and distinctive dramatised documentary series and we are delighted that so many of Australias finest actors are helping bring to life the fascinating history of the Torres Strait Islands. The series is shooting in Far North Queensland and the Torres Straits, including with local cast and crew. It will screen on ABC in 2017. This exciting series traverses pre-colonisation life through to the pervasive impact of European arrival; from the influence of missionaries to the influx of people from all over the world during the pearling era. The Straits were not immune to the devastation of World War II either, which triggered mass migration to mainland Australia. In more recent times there has been an explosion of social activism, fighting for recognition and acknowledgement of connection to not only land but sea. It is a thrilling and vital piece of our shared history that the ABC is proud to vividly bring to life for Australian audiences. Blue Water Empire is being produced for the ABC with assistance from Screen Australia and Screen Queensland. US actor Steven Hill, best known for Law & Order has died, aged 94. His daughter confirmed his death in Manhattan. Hill joined the original Law & Order in its first season as District Attorney Adam Schiff, which he played for 10 seasons from 1990-2000. He remains the shows fourth-longest serving cast member. Steven was not only one of the truly great actors of his generation, he was one of the most intelligent people I have ever met, said creator and executive producer Dick Wolf in a statement. He is also the only actor Ive known who consistently tried to cut his own lines. He will be missed but fortunately he can be seen ubiquitously on Law & Order reruns. In 1966, he was cast in the role of Daniel Briggs, the leader of the original Mission: Impossible force but left after one season and was replaced by Peter Graves. Other TV credits included Columbo, The Fugitive, Thirtysomething, Dr. Kildare, Ben Casey, Route 66, The Untouchables, Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Film credits include The Goddess, Eyewitness, Yentl, Garbo Talks, Neil Simons Brighton Beach Memoirs, Heartburn, Running on Empty, Billy Bathgate, The Firm, Raw Deal and Legal Eagles. Source: The Wrap MASON CITY | A Mason City was sentenced to prison for up to 10 years last week after having his probation revoked on a 2015 felony conviction of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. James A. Ellingson, 24, also received a 60-day jail sentence and was fined $315 after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of interference with official acts resulting in injury. A Mason City police officer hurt his hand while trying to apprehend Ellingson on June 22. Ellingson fled while an officer collected information about him and three other occupants of a car parked at 813 N. Federal Ave., according to police. The car matched the description of a vehicle spotted driving recklessly through downtown. Ellingson was caught within minutes about three blocks away. -- Mary Pieper MASON CITY A sculpture in honor of a retired Mason City business owners late wife will be unveiled at noon Saturday. Titled Hope, the nearly 4-foot tall sculpture features two hands cast in bronze supporting a stainless steel powder-coated heart. The unveiling will be in the southwest corner of Central Park. Wally Smeby, retired owner of Metalcraft, had the sculpture commissioned to provide hope for people struggling with mental illness. He lost his first wife, Jan, in 1998 to multiple health issues, including depression that led to her suicide. Smeby founded the Jan Again Foundation to bring attention to mental health issues. MASON CITY Madalene K. Fiala, 97, of Mason City, Iowa, died Monday, Aug. 22, 2016, at Heritage Care and Rehabilitation Center. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, at Wesley United Methodist Church with Rev. Steve Hansen officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will take place in Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Madalene Fiala memorial fund in care of the family. Arrangements are with Major Erickson Funeral Home & Crematory, Mason City. The military parade dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Independence of Ukraine has started in Kyiv city center. As an Ukrinform correspondent reports, the parade is attended by President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak, Commander of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Lieutenant-General Serhiy Popko. According to the report of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry, more than 4,000 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, the State Border Guard Service, the National Police of Ukraine, the ATO participants, and more than 200 pieces of military equipment take part in the parade. ol Many Thanks to our Advertisers When choosing between competing products and services, please consider our advertisers, who help support Brand New. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi (centre) talks with a Syrian family at the Lagkadikia site in Northern Greece. UNHCR/Achilleas Zavallis ATHENS, Greece Greece still faces great challenges in managing its refugee crisis, particularly if European Union countries do not step up their relocation and family reunion programmes, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said on Wednesday during an official visit to the country. Greece's shores were the gateway to the EU for more than 856,000 refugees and migrants last year, according to UN Refugee Agency figures. Flows have slowed significantly this year, but some 50,000 people remain in the country, with a small number still arriving daily. Although conditions in reception centres are slowly improving, many people still live in overcrowded and inadequate sites as they await solutions for their future. "The challenges are very serious, and we need to continue to address them together," Grandi said. "Especially the living conditions, security in the refugee sites, and overcrowding on the islands. These are all issues for which we continue to be at the disposal of the Greek government." "The challenges are very serious, and we need to continue to address them together." Grandi's visit to Greece is his second since he took over as head of UNHCR at the start of the year. He stressed the need for EU member states to speed up legal options such as family reunification and relocation through the EU's official relocation programme. So far 3,054 refugees have been relocated from Greece to other EU member states, while another 3,606 are scheduled to depart in the coming months. Still, support lags as member states have pledged only 8,003 spaces out of 66,400 committed. "I will continue to advocate for these programmes to be bigger and accelerated," Grandi said. "It can and must work." Meanwhile, adequate housing is difficult to secure as refugees' stay in Greece becomes long-term. UNHCR and its partners, which include six NGOs as well as the municipalities of Athens and Thessaloniki, have provided accommodation in apartment buildings and hotels for more than 10,300 relocation candidates and vulnerable asylum-seekers. There they are provided with food and healthcare together with psycho-social and legal support in a programme funded by the European Commission. On Wednesday morning, Grandi met with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and President Prokopis Pavlopoulos. Grandi then visited a shelter for unaccompanied children run by Praksis, a Greek NGO supported by UNHCR. He also met with a Syrian family spanning three generations, living in an apartment within the UNHCR/Athens municipality accommodation support scheme. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi visits a children's shelter in Greece. At the Praksis shelter, Grandi met Waris,* a 14-year-old boy from Baghlan, Afghanistan, who fled to Europe four months ago. Though the boy set out with his family his father, mother, and three younger brothers they were separated at the Iran-Turkey border when shots were fired. Waris continued onward through Turkey and to Greece alone, at the urging of a human-smuggler. Since he arrived, Waris has not been able to reach his parents or siblings, and worries that they may have died. "It felt terrible. It is very difficult not knowing if my family was alive," Waris said of his journey. "But in the past few days my lawyer found my uncle in the United Kingdom, and we will do family reunion. So now I can look forward." Unaccompanied children in Greece are a high-priority concern for UNHCR. Some 1,472 are on a waiting list for a safe shelter. UNHCR has so far provided 345 temporary shelter spaces for children alone. Another 245 spaces are planned. "We lost everything in our home country, so we are looking forward to being somewhere safe." Grandi called the Praksis centre a model for care of unaccompanied children. It is home to 21 boys aged seven to 17 from Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan and elsewhere. They receive round-the-clock care, and some attend a neighbourhood school. All arrived in Europe without their parents or relatives, and several spent time locked in detention centres in Greece or living in the streets before coming to the shelter. Afterward, Grandi visited a three-generation Syrian family who fled Aleppo in February, after their home and bakery business were bombed. One family member was killed and another kidnapped. Half the family will be relocated to France, while the others await reunion with their father in Germany. "We lost everything in our home country, so we are looking forward to being somewhere safe," said 58-year-old Mohamed Wafa Barri, the family patriarch. Ahead of his meeting with President Pavlopoulos, Grandi spoke to the media and expressed his gratitude to Greece for the example it has given the world. "I want to thank the people of Greece but also the Greek institutions: the Greek government, the Hellenic Coast Guard, the police, the municipalities, the volunteer organizations that have and continue to help people arriving on the shores of Greece as refugees and sometimes very vulnerable migrants. In a world and in a context that has become very closed and hostile to refugees, Greece has been exemplary." * Name changed for protection reasons A displaced family from Mosul eat lunch at Baharka Camp on the outskirts of Erbil, Iraq. UNHCR/Cengiz Yar GENEVA Displacement in Iraq may be about to worsen dramatically with the focus of military action turning towards retaking Mosul, the countrys second largest city, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, said today. The city in northern Iraq was captured by militants in June 2014, a time when it had an estimated population of 2.5 million people. Iraqi Government forces have turned their attention on the city since successfully retaking Falluja in late May. Mosul is Iraqs second largest city, and the humanitarian impact of a military offensive there is expected to be enormous. Up to 1.2 million people could be affected, UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards told a news briefing in Geneva on Tuesday (August 23). Already, in recent months, some 213,000 people have fled their homes in different parts of Iraq. This includes 48,000 people from the Mosul area, 87,000 from the Falluja region, and 78,000 from Shirqat, Qayyara and surrounds. Mosul is Iraqs second largest city, and the humanitarian impact of an offensive is expected to be enormous." UNHCR provides humanitarian support, including shelter, emergency relief kits and protection services, such as legal aid for displaced families. With the impending situation in Mosul, Edwards said the UN Refugee Agency is now expanding its efforts to be able to assist hundreds of thousands more people. UNHCR is doing what it can amid enormous challenges to build more camps to accommodate people and mitigate suffering, but additional land for camps and funding is still needed, Edwards said. He stressed that contingency plans have been drawn up to provide shelter assistance for up to 120,000 people fleeing conflict in Mosul and surrounding areas, as part of an inter-agency response to the crisis. Across the region a series of camps are in the process of being expanded or established while other shelter options are being prepared. Altogether, UNHCR is looking to set up camps in up to six locations across northern Iraq although progress depends on both the availability of land and of funding. UNHCRs overall appeal for $584m for displaced people including Iraqi refugees in the region was only 38 per cent funded as of August 2. Iraq is already one of the worlds biggest internal displacement situations. Some 3.4 million people have fled their homes since January 2014, among them families who have been displaced multiple times. "Everything possible should be done to ensure the safety and dignity of people affected. UNHCR continues to advocate, in a volatile, fast-evolving and complex conflict, for freedom of movement of civilian populations. Edwards said it is especially critical when it comes to people fleeing combat zones. Everything possible should be done to ensure the safety and dignity of people affected. In Debaga, in Erbil Governorate, two camps were completed in July and August to house displaced Iraqis who fled villages to the east of the River Tigris. Due to the number of daily new arrivals, UNHCR is looking to construct an additional site, and is awaiting land to be made available by the local authorities. Debaga has swollen nearly ten-fold in just a few months from a camp housing 3,500 displaced people in March to several sites now housing more than 34,000. North of Mosul, work is almost completed at Zelekan site, in Sheikhan district, with a capacity for 1,200 tents. Site preparations are also underway at Amalla site, in Telafar district, north-west of Mosul, for a camp with a capacity for 3,000 tents. In Kirkuk, UNHCR is constructing a new camp in Daquq district, with capacity for 1,000 tents, and expanding additional camp capacity at Nazrawa and Laylan, which are now completely full. Edwards said work is also underway in Salah al-Din for a 1,000 tent camp at Tal al-Seebat, while UNHCR is also assessing and identifying other sites across northern Iraq in close consultation with authorities. Edwards said that finding available land for the new camps has become a critical issue. Land is identified and provided by the local authorities and assessed by UNHCR, other UN agencies and humanitarian partners for suitability. However, this issue is fraught with problems. Many private landowners are unwilling to lease land; other land may be unsuitable due its topography, its proximity to the frontline or military operations and the risk of contamination by unexploded ordinance or landmines, or it may be located in areas where the arrival of displaced Iraqis could inflame ethnic, sectarian, religious or tribal tensions, he said. Not all people likely to be displaced from Mosul will find shelter in formal tented camps, and UNHCR and its partners are also pre-positioning emergency shelter kits poles, tools and plastic sheets to distribute as needs arise. UNHCR leads the protection, shelter and non-food items and camp coordination and management response. The agency currently has contingency stocks of tents and other relief items for 20,000 households country-wide. In music class, children learn traditional Brazilian songs with lyrics changed to singing about the dangers of mosquitoes, says Ana Maria Pereira da Silva, Principal of the Maria das Vitorias Municipal School in the impoverished Bairro das Cidades on Campina Grandes outskirts. In science class, they learn to make a traditional, inexpensive mosquito repellent from lemon, rubbing alcohol, cloves and oil. In art class they draw and colour mosquitoes and ways of preventing them from breeding. The classes began taking place, along with weekly school assemblies in which local health agents and doctors speak with children about the danger of mosquitoes. The children also perform skits with some dressed up as mosquitoes and others as health agents, and sing songs, watch videos and answer quizzes about how to prevent mosquitoes from breeding and not be bitten. Seven-year-old Monique is dressed as a mosquito, wearing all black with wings on her back and a large silver stinger covering her face. She had just performed a skit in front of some 100 students in her weekly general assembly. Xo Zika! she shouts, which translates to Get lost, Zika! Spreading the word to stop the virus Knocking on the doors of their neighbours is not only an important community service, but also an excellent learning experience for the children; its a chance for them to teach adults in the neighbourhood, as well as their parents and family members what they have learned at school. Today, accompanied by an adult chaperone, four of the children are visiting homes near their school. Carrying informational pamphlets and stickers, they call out Ola! at the door of one of the small homes. Ms. Edinalia Pereira comes to the door and smiles when she sees the children. Can we talk to you about preventing mosquitoes from breeding in your home? says 11-year-old Miguel. We also want to come in to see if youre doing all the things you need to do to make sure that we get rid of Aedes from our neighbourhood. Yes, of course, says Edinalia. What do I need to know? Biden tells Turkey's Erdogan: only a federal court can extradite Gulen ANKARA, Aug 24 (Reuters) US Vice President Joe Biden told Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan today that only a federal court could extradite Fethullah Gulen, the Muslim cleric Turkey blames for orchestrating last month's failed coup. In statements to reporters in Ankara after meeting Erdogan, Biden said those involved in the coup attempt were terrorists and said the US had more lawyers working on the request for Gulen's extradition than in any other such recent case. Biden said it may be difficult for Turks to understand that President Barack Obama had no constitutional authority to extradite the cleric. He promised that Washington would work closely with the Turkish government on the case. Ukraine to Iran: Stop sending weapons 29 Oct 2022 | 2:40 PM Kyiv, Oct 29 (UNI) Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said he demanded Tehran stop providing Russia with weapons in a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian. see more.. Rushdie: US sanctions Iran-based group 29 Oct 2022 | 2:31 PM Washington, Oct 29 (UNI) The United States has announced sanctions against an Iranian foundation accused of putting out a multimillion-dollar bounty on British-American author Salman Rushdie, who was stabbed at a literary event in New York state in August. see more.. Nasa's 'smiling' sun image compared to Halloween pumpkin 29 Oct 2022 | 2:23 PM Washington, Oct 29 (UNI) A Nasa satellite captured an image of what appears to be a happy face pattern on the sun earlier this week, prompting the US space agency to say the sun was seen smiling. see more.. Dozens killed after Philippines storm 29 Oct 2022 | 2:11 PM Manila, Oct 29 (UNI) A severe tropical storm has killed at least 45 people in the Philippines, unleashing floods and landslides in southern provinces, officials say. Earlier on Saturday officials gave a death toll of 72, but that has been revised down. see more.. You know him for his wit and humor, but did you know that he holds a doctorate degree in Fine Arts? In 2011, Business Insider has it that he gave the commencement speech at his alma mater, Northwestern University. Like Kanye West and other artists that received a doctorate degree, they poked fun and proudly announced that they have officially become doctors. Colbert did the same. In 2006, he aired a sketch during an episode of The Colbert Report that poked fun of the "Dr." title he received from Knox College. He originally wanted to be an actor but he switched to improv when he attended Northwestern University. At a young age, his parents focused on intelligence and his observation of the negative stereotypes of Southerners led him to train himself to suppress his Southern accent, being a South Carolina native. To avoid that stereotype, he taught himself to imitate the speech of American news anchors. He involved himself in theater and performance arts when he was young. He attended the Charleston's Episcopal Porter-Gaud School. There he participated in several school plays and also wrote in his school's newspaper. He wanted to study marine biology but he had inner ear damage. It was enough damage that hindered him from taking up scuba diving - one of the things he needed to do as a marine biologist. He was accepted to Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia and studied philosophy while participating in plays. He then transferred. When he enrolled at Northwestern University, he took it as an opportunity to reinvent himself in a new place because no one knew him. He took theater as a major and graduated from Northwestern's School of Communication in 1986. Now, he is known for his works from The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. He is a favorite of Comedy Central. He is also named as one of Time's 100 most influential people both in 2006 and 2012. Watch Colbert's funny speech at the University of Virginia below: Not only is he the current president of the United States of America, he is also known as an educated man. He graduated from Columbia University and also from Harvard Law School. Did you know that he was the president of the Harvard Law Review? Apparently, according to The Richest, being the president is in his blood! He was a civil rights attorney before he entered politics. In the education field, he also became a professor at the University of Chicago Law school. It was only in 2004 that he gave up a non-political life. Now, he is the 44th president of the United States and the first African American to hold office. He was born in Hawaii, a place rich in culture and diversity. It was particularly opportuned for him, as he has parents from two different cultures. When he was a child, he attended the Punahou School in Hawaii with the aid of a scholarship. Punahou is a private college preparatory school. There he studied from the fifth grade up until high school in 1979. After high school, he moved to Los Angeles. There he enrolled at Occidental College in 1979. He took some time off to visit his mother in Indonesia. In 1981, he transferred as a junior student to Columbia College, Columbia University in New York City. He majored in political science and specialized in International Relations. In 1983, he graduated. But it was in Harvard Law School in 1988 where he made his mark in law and politics. In his tenure as the current U.S president, his main goal is to always pursue affordable healthcare for all Americans. He still continues to do so and urges all states to provide such benefits to the American people. He hopes to have this agenda fulfilled before his term ends. The video below shows President Obama's commencement address at Harvard University: New Zealand leaders are divided on the concept of online education. The nation's political party, known for its charter schools, is very open to the idea. Another leader, though, thinks that it will "damage the state education system most children rely on." News Hub reported that the proposal, named "COOL" (Communities of Online Learning), would allow kids to be taught at a computer at home rather than in a classroom. It will definitely replace going to a traditional school. David Seymour, ACT leader, agrees with it and thinks that it's a brilliant idea. "It's quite possible that you're going to have a person whose particular circumstances are such that they haven't got on very well in the existing school system, and this is the solution that will work with them," he said. "The internet is changing many industries very rapidly, and it will change education too. The question is whether the New Zealand Government is going to be permissive to technological change, or stop it and let us fall behind the rest of the world." On the other hand, the president of the Post-Primary Teachers Association (PPTA), Angela Roberts, disagrees. She believes that the proposal, deemed as the biggest shake-up of the education system since the 1980s, will damage the education system. "Anything that increases privatization and reduces resources and support for the network of state schools is of course going to be damaging," she said. Tracey Martin, New Zealand First MP, also criticized the proposal. According to her, it will devalue teachers and affect the development of social skills. She described it as the "largest social experiment on our children that we've ever seen in this country." "I think it's terrible," Ms. Martin added. "I think they've got a cool catchphrase that they're trying to market an education system on. It's a disaster, an absolute disaster. This is one of the most dangerous things I've ever seen to education. It's the final nail in the coffin devaluing trained and qualified teachers in front of our children." 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. If any election for president needed more than two candidates on the stage for presidential and vice presidential debates, its this one. To this end, we hope to see Libertarian Party presidential nominee Gary Johnson face off with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump and Libertarian vice presidential nominee William Weld stand side by side with Tim Kaine and Mike Pence. The NBC News|SurveyMonkey Weekly Election Tracking Poll released on Tuesday speaks, again, to widespread dissatisfaction with Clinton and Trump, the flawed Democratic and Republican nominees for president. Consider these poll numbers: 59 percent of respondents have an unfavorable view of Clinton and 64 percent have an unfavorable view of Trump. Only 11 percent view Clinton as honest and trustworthy and only 16 percent view Trump as honest and trustworthy. Presidential debates are scheduled for Sept. 26, Oct. 9 and Oct. 19; the vice presidential debate will be Oct. 4. On Monday, the Commission on Presidential Debates said the results of five national polls ABC-Washington Post, CBS-New York Times, CNN-Opinion Research Corp., Fox News and NBC-Wall Street Journal will be averaged to determine who is invited to take part. Any candidate who receives 15 percent support makes the cut. If a candidate is invited to the first presidential debate, that persons vice presidential running mate will be invited to the vice presidential debate, the commission said. The criteria will be reapplied between the first and second presidential debates and the second and third presidential debates. Our suggestion? Lower the threshold to 10 percent, or simply double digits, to increase odds for the inclusion of at least a third voice likely, Johnson and Weld in these important debates. (If Green Party candidate Jill Stein reaches 10 percent support, she should be included, as well.) We arent endorsing the Libertarian Party ticket today, but we believe lukewarm enthusiasm among Americans about the two major party nominees combined with the rising poll numbers and strong resumes of Johnson and Weld whose names may appear on the ballot in all 50 states support the case for putting Johnson, the former governor of New Mexico, and Weld, the former governor of Massachusetts, in these debates. By recognizing the unique realities of this election for president and going the extra mile to accommodate inclusion of someone besides only Clinton/Trump and Kaine/Pence, the Commission on Presidential Debates would provide a valuable service for American voters. By the Sioux City Journal, another Lee Enterprises newspaper. Press Release Nokia completes network upgrade in under three months enabling Ooredoo Myanmar to launch 4G services in major cities Existing managed services agreement extended to include 4G network operations Enhanced network capacity will allow Ooredoo Myanmar to meet increase in mobile traffic and continue to support the country's fast-growing economy August 24, 2016 Yangon, Myanmar - Nokia and Ooredoo Myanmar have completed the roll-out and launch of the first 4G service in Myanmar, meeting the mobile data demands of residents and visitors with increased speeds and capacity. To ensure seamless network operations, the companies have also extended their existing managed services agreement to incorporate the 4G network. Nokia completed the initial 4G roll-out in under three months by upgrading Ooredoo Myanmar's existing 3G network using the Nokia Single RAN and Packet Core platforms. This fast deployment time allowed Ooredoo to launch its high-capacity service in Yangon, Nay Phi Daw, Mandalay, and Bagan and continue the country's digital transformation. Nokia has deployed the network across the Yangon region, the largest and most densely populated region in Myanmar. This has enabled Ooredoo Myanmar to offer high-speed mobile services to subscribers in some areas for the first time while meeting future data demands in a country with a thriving economy and ever-growing tourist industry. Nokia previously provided its Managed Services expertise to Ooredoo Myanmar's 3G network, providing support from its global delivery center in Chennai, India, as well as in-country support in Myanmar. By extending these services to the 4G network, Nokia will provide a simplified management and reporting structure ensuring seamless service for the operator's seven million subscribers. About the solution 4G technology introduced in Ooredoo Myanmar's 2100MHz band on Nokia Flexi Multiradio 10 Base Stations Core network elements - the Nokia Packet Core including the Mobility Manager, Mobile Gateway along with the Home Subscriber Server Nokia network and system integration services for radio access and core network operations Nokia Care Services and Managed Services expertise Rene Meza, Chief Executive Officer, Ooredoo Myanmar, said: "We have come a long way in developing the telecommunications market in Myanmar. Using Nokia's innovative 4G technology and Managed Services expertise we can continue to lead the way in delivering the most advanced high-speed data-intensive services to our customers in the fastest time. We are proud to be the first to launch 4G services in Myanmar and plan to extend the network further in the future. By opening up underserved areas of the country we will offer the vital connectivity that will continue Myanmar's digital transformation and further drive the growth of its economy." John Farhat, Chief Technology and Information Officer, Ooredoo Myanmar, said: "We had a challenging deadline to deploy the 4G network but Nokia's proven expertise in this technology and fast roll-out capabilities enabled us to launch the LTE network in just three months. We are currently using the 2100Mhz frequency band to offer 4G services. However, the increasing popularity of our LTE services will allow us to further invest in procuring spectrum in the 1800Mhz and 2600Mhz frequency band, in the forthcoming auctions." Harald Preiss, head of Asia North at Nokia, said: "The ability to roll-out 4G services mainly via a software upgrade meant that we could complete deployment in the quickest time and in the most cost-effective way, allowing Ooredoo Myanmar to leverage its existing infrastructure. The upgraded network offers superior indoor coverage and increased capacity to meet future demand. And by extending our leading Managed Services expertise, we can ensure transparent operations across the network." Did You Know Myanmar's economy is the fastest growing in Asia and is expected to grow by 8.4 percent in 2016 and early 2017. Resources: Connect with Nokia: About Nokia is a global leader in the technologies that connect people and things. Powered by the innovation of Nokia Bell Labs and Nokia Technologies, the company is at the forefront of creating and licensing the technologies that are increasingly at the heart of our connected lives. With state-of-the-art software, hardware and services for any type of network, Nokia is uniquely positioned to help communication service providers, governments, and large enterprises deliver on the promise of 5G, the Cloud and the Internet of Things. http://nokia.com Media Enquiries Nokia Communications Phone: +358 10 448 4900 Email: press.services@nokia.com Cordia So Phone: +852 9747 5873 E-mail: cordia.so@nokia.com JUAN CARLO/THE STAR Gary Pentis, undersheriff, talks about the details at the news conference five people arrested on suspicion of human trafficking. SHARE Photo courtesy of the Ventura County Sheriff's Office Defung Hu Photo courtesy of the Ventura County Sheriff's Office Yiwen Wang Photo courtesy of the Ventura County Sheriff's Office Jiuyin Cui Photo courtesy of the Ventura County Sheriff's Office Hsin Chieh By Amanda Covarrubias, amanda.covarrubias@vcstar.com A human trafficking ring that forced at least 25 Chinese women into prostitution in motels across Southern California, where they earned millions of dollars for their alleged captors, was busted this month and five people were arrested, the Ventura County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday. Authorities said they launched a six-month investigation into the network after deputies discovered a potential victim of human trafficking during a prostitution sting at the Comfort Inn in Camarillo. Authorities uncovered evidence at the motel of a larger group operating across the region, Undersheriff Gary Pentis said at a news conference in Thousand Oaks. "Commercial sex is nothing short of modern-day slavery," Pentis said, adding that such operations are pervasive. "This is a hideous crime that has an impact on all of us." The illicit operation was run much like a corporation, officials said, and the victims took in about $350,000 a month for the organizers. The alleged ringleader, identified as Hsin Chieh "Jerry" Wang, worked as the network's dispatcher and took calls from hundreds of men each month who answered sexually explicit ads on backpage.com, Pentis said. Another suspect, Defeng Hu, negotiated with the men and directed them to motel rooms occupied by the victims, Pentis said. The transactions ranged from $100 to $160, and proceeds were laundered through as many as 50 accounts at nine banks, Pentis said. Officials said Wang and Hu ran the network, and Wang's sister, Yiwen Wang, used $1.8 million of the illicit money to buy three houses. The Wangs and Hu were arrested Aug. 4 in Los Angeles County, along with Jiuyin Cui and Runan Xia, who allegedly transported the women between the motels in nine counties and maintained the rooms, where the victims were provided with the "bare necessities," officials said, including food, water and toiletries. Hu jumped from a three-story building and broke her leg when authorities showed up to make the arrests, Pentis said. She was carrying ledgers, cellphones and $350,000 in cash, he said. There were 28 victims in nine counties, all identified as Chinese women in their 30s and 40s who were in the country on what appeared to be legitimate work and tourist visas, authorities said. Some relinquished their visas under pressure from the traffickers, authorities said. Most spoke little or no English and were placed in motels in areas unfamiliar to them, Pentis said. They rarely came out of their rooms and were expected to engage in sex acts from early in the morning until late at night every day under orders from Hu, Pentis said. Some were physically abused and robbed by customers, officials said. The women incurred debt because they were forced to pay the drivers, Cui and Xia, for transportation between motels, for their motel rooms and food, and in some cases, the advertisements touting their services, authorities said. They also were repeatedly subjected to verbal abuse by Hu, officials aid. The five suspects were arraigned Aug. 5 in Ventura County, where bail was set at $5 million each. They face sentences ranging from 24 years to just under four years, Ventura County Deputy District Attorney Melissa Suttner said. Eight victims originally discovered by authorities received food, shelter, transportation, clothing and medical services from victim services advocates and law enforcement agencies. Pentis said the women remain fearful and have not been very cooperative, but he believes they will come around and provide information. In addition to the cash, investigators froze bank accounts containing about $730,000, as well as a $30,000 car and the three houses. SHARE FILE PHOTO The Camarillo Public Library will host a session on flipping houses on Aug. 31. Calabasas Symphony presents free outdoor concert New West Symphony will present a free outdoor concert at 6 p.m. Sunday on the Greenbelt at Calabasas Lake, 23400 Park Sorrento. The concert is part of the city's Calabasas Sunsets Concert Series. For more information, visit www.newwestsymphony.org or call 497-5800. Camarillo House flipping focus of library workshop California Flipping Network will present a free workshop for investors and realtors on how to get started finding, fixing and flipping houses from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Camarillo Public Library, 4101 Las Posas Road. Lloyd Segal, author of "Flipping Houses," will speak. Attendance is free but reservations are required. To register, visit www.FlippingWorkshops.com or call 323-365-1004. Thousand Oaks District wraps up concert series The Conejo Recreation & Park District's 2016 Summer Concerts in the Park Series will complete its run with "Hollywood U2: A Tribute to U2" at 5 p.m. Sept. 5 in the natural amphitheater at Conejo Community Park, 1175 Hendrix Ave. Attendance is free. Friends and families are invited to bring picnics and blankets or folding chairs for seating. Conejo Center staff will offer $1 hot dogs and snow cones. For more information, visit www.crpd.org/concerts. Ventura Author will sign book 'Light Runner' Author Philip Brown will sign his book "Light Runner" from 1-3 p.m. Saturday at Bank of Books, 748 E. Main St. For more information, call 643-3154. Westlake Village Workshop helps with side effects The Cancer Support Community Valley/Ventura/Santa Barbara will offer a free workshop from 6-8 p.m. Monday at 530 Hampshire Road. Participants will receive free instruction on coping with the side effects of your treatment. A licensed beauty professional will teach and give suggestions. To register, call 800-227-2345. SHARE Star file photo By Tony Biasotti, Special to The Star The city of Fillmore will go after the $78,000 that it spend defending itself against an unsuccessful lawsuit by the Fillmore Senior Center, the City Council decided Tuesday. When told of the council's action, Patti Walker, the president of the senior center nonprofit, said the group doesn't have any assets approaching $78,000. "It's kind of hard to collect from nothing," she said, adding that the senior center's board meets next week and will talk then about what to do. The city evicted the senior center from a city-owned building last year and opened its own Active Adult and Community Center in the space. The nonprofit sued the city over the eviction, and last week a judge ruled in the city's favor. Under the city's contract with the Fillmore Senior Center, the loser in a suit can be required to pay the winner's legal costs. On Tuesday, the council voted in closed session to seek "the full amount of attorneys' fees and costs," which amount to $78,000, according to a statement read publicly after the vote by Fillmore Mayor Diane McCall. "The City Council would now like to see our taxpayers reimbursed," she said. State law allows elected bodies to meet in closed session for certain purposes, including to discuss litigation. In her statement from the council dais, McCall said the city tried to settle the matter before it went to trial, but the senior center "continually refused the city's settlement efforts and declined to even make counter offers." Walker disputed that. "There were offers on both sides, from us to them and them to us, prior to the trial," she said. The senior center moved to a new location in downtown Fillmore shortly after its eviction. In its lawsuit, the organization claimed that the city did not follow the termination procedure set out in the lease. The group was seeking reimbursement from the city for its moving costs and the $1,500 per month it pays for the new location; it did not pay rent at the city building. In other business on Tuesday, the council awarded a contract to install a traffic light and crosswalk at the intersection of Mountain View Street and Highway 126. The light will be the fifth in Fillmore along the highway and the farthest to the east. It was approved by the council last month and also has a green light from the California Department of Transportation. The low bidder on the project was Taft Electric of Ventura, at around $393,000. That's about 5 percent below the city's pre-bid estimates. "It's a good bid, and it's a good bidder," Roxanne Hughes, Fillmore's city engineer, told the council. "The contractor, Taft Electric, has done work in this area for a long time and has a good reputation with the county and the cities around us." The work is expected to start in September and be finished in November or December. SHARE STOCK PHOTO By Staff Reports A business has donated 55 cases of bottled water to the Simi Valley Police Department, authorities said. The Firehouse Subs in Simi Valley conducted a promotion in which customers who presented a full, unopened case of water got a free sandwich, police said. As a result of that promotion, business owners Tom and Christy Douglass donated 55 cases of water, which will be used in support of the operations of the department, the agency said. Employees and customers helped load the water onto a department vehicle, police said. The agency thanked the business and the public for the donations. SHARE "I'm a journalist who interviews people who I disagree with all the time." Sean Hannity, 2008 "I never claimed to be a journalist." Sean Hannity, 2016 Not since lawmakers diagnosed Terri Schiavo's condition from the Senate floor has there been such medical quackery in the political realm. Last week, Newsweek's Kurt Eichenwald reported that a letter attesting to Donald Trump's magnificent health (he "will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency") was not from an internist but from a gastroenterologist. This belly doctor boasted that "Mr. Trump has had a recent complete medical examination that showed only positive results." Like for giardia? That followed a segment on Sean Hannity's show on Fox News Channel in which the host elicited speculation about Hillary Clinton's neurological health from ... a urologist. The urinary-tract specialist, part of a "Fox News Medical A-Team," speculated for Hannity that a photo of the Democratic presidential nominee being assisted by her Secret Service detail while climbing stairs could indicate dehydration, arthritis, back pain or a fall. (The original photo caption said she merely stumbled and was caught by her agents.) I'm not a doctor, but my brother is a urologist, and I went to night school for bartending. By current standards, therefore, I am qualified to diagnose Hannity as having professional dissociative identity disorder: He can't decide whether he's a journalist or a Trump operative. In Monday's New York Times, the prime-time TV news host admitted to media columnist Jim Rutenberg that he has been privately advising Trump. Hannity, who, according to CNN, paid for a private jet last month to fly Newt Gingrich to meet with Trump, told Rutenberg that his unabashed promotion of Trump isn't a problem because he "never claimed to be a journalist." Except that he had. And he plays a journalist on television for an hour each weeknight. The affliction is common, apparently. Stephen Bannon, the head of Breitbart News, has become the chief executive of Trump's campaign. Fox News founder Roger Ailes, just ousted, is advising the campaign, too. The overt campaigning for Trump by the likes of Hannity, Ailes and Bannon does no favors for conservatism. And Hannity's collusion with the candidate and his peddling of conspiracy theories in support of Trump undermine the many serious journalists at Fox News. But the network has been here before. Remember Glenn Beck? "I tell you all the time: I'm not a journalist," the self-proclaimed "rodeo clown" liked to tell his Fox News audience. Instead of journalism, Beck gave viewers paranoia helping to create the fear and loathing in the electorate that gave rise to Trump. Before Fox finally showed him the door in 2011, Beck urged viewers to hoard food in their homes, spun endless conspiracy theories, and played with anti-Semitic stereotypes and violent imagery. Now Trump has run with Beck's apocalyptic themes alarming even Beck, who has become a fierce critic of Trump. When Beck said recently that the Trump campaign's then-chairman, Paul Manafort, had been illegally soliciting foreign money, Hannity's Fox News colleague Bill O'Reilly, another Trump booster, cautioned Beck that he could "end up in jail" for disparaging Manafort. "That's my point," Beck replied, adding: "Donald Trump has people chanting, 'Put them in jail, put them in jail,' about the press. When is someone's opinion on a public figure something that is jail-worthy and not First Amendment protected?" Such a question might have troubled Hannity during those occasions when he fancied himself a journalist over the years. Instead, he has gone full Grassy Knoll, in a manner reminiscent of Beck. In recent days, he has floated the theories that Clinton's Secret Service agents carried a syringe to administer anti-seizure medicine to her (the "syringe" turned out to be a flashlight) and that a video showing what Hannity claimed were "violent, out-of-control movements" of Clinton's head was evidence of a seizure (she had been joking with reporters). While we're doing conspiracy theories, here's another: Could the highly unpopular Trump have won the GOP nomination if he hadn't had so much help from Fox News and, in particular, from Hannity? A tally in April by the liberal ThinkProgress blog found that Trump appeared on Hannity's show 41 times in the first 10 months of his campaign. Hannity talked up Trump's poll numbers, defended Trump against accusations and asked him questions such as "Is it time for all American politicians to get rid of political correctness?" Now that Hannity acknowledges advising Trump, he needs only a title to make his role official. Maybe he could be Trump's personal physician? Follow Dana Milbank on Twitter, @Milbank. He writes for The Washington Post Writers Group. SHARE Maybe our society should congratulate itself occasionally on how much progress it's made in the past half-century toward equality and individual rights, especially for women, racial minorities and LBGT. Or maybe self-congratulation isn't called for just for doing the right thing. And some of our steps in the right direction have been timid and tentative. Nevertheless, good things have been done. Yet our ambitious, magnificent experiment in democracy, freedom, human rights and the progress of civilization is hampered by our reluctance to abandon a practice that we share only with repressive countries such as China, Saudi Arabia and Iran: the prerogative of the state to put citizens to death. For many, this characteristic of American life is largely invisible. Twenty states have abolished the death penalty already, and many of the others haven't executed anyone in decades. Even in my home state, Texas, which is the nation's most active death penalty state, an execution doesn't draw much attention. Every month or so a short article, buried in the B section of the newspaper, announces that another criminal has been put to death. Even in Texas, executions are generally beyond the public's notice. But a couple of Associated Press articles, literally adjacent in my local newspaper last week, provide the occasion to consider the practice of capital punishment in America in the 21st century. If you were looking for someone who deserves to be executed, John Battaglia would be a good candidate. In 2001, Battaglia murdered his 9-year-old and 6-year-old daughters with gunshots while his ex-wife listened on the phone. The older child, Faith, begged for her life before he pulled the trigger. And indeed, last week a district judge in Dallas set an execution date of Dec. 7. On the other hand, three defense psychiatrists testified at his trial that he has bipolar disorder, which distorts his sense of reality, and he reportedly suffers also from narcissistic personality disorder. The court said Battaglia showed evidence of mental illness and delusions and that his competence is in question. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court has ruled that a criminal may be executed if he understands that he has been condemned to die, and why. In accordance with that low standard, Battaglia will be executed in December. The article just above Battaglia's reports the case of Sheborah Thomas, who faces capital murder charges in Houston for drowning her 7-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter in the bathtub. Apparently, the children fought back, struggling for their lives, but she held their heads under the water until they died. She waited a day and then dumped her children's bodies in a trash container behind her house. Later she tried, unsuccessfully, to bury them and then rolled them under a neighbor's house. To say that a mother who could commit such a crime is mentally unstable seems redundant. In fact, Thomas's attorney says that she has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and severe depression. Don't mistake this column for an effort to generate sympathy for Thomas and Battaglia. On the other hand, anger doesn't feel like the right response, either. How about futility, in two versions? The first is the futility of the principal argument in favor of capital punishment the idea that it serves as a deterrent to crime. Both Battaglia and Thomas already live in an active capital punishment state, and it's impossible to believe that crimes based in mental instability like theirs could be deterred by the threat of execution. The second futility is the one we feel when we try to give people like Thomas and Battaglia what we think they deserve merely by killing them. We'll never succeed as long as we're limited by the "cruel and unusual" language in the Constitution. And since we've neither figured out how to administer the death penalty equitably, without regard to race, gender or economic status, nor how to prevent the occasional execution of innocent people, maybe it's time for the United States to join the rest of the West and abolish a practice whose only real purpose is an essentially unsatisfying feeling of revenge. John M. Crisp, an op-ed columnist for Tribune News Service, teaches in the English Department at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas. Readers may send him email at jcrisp@delmar.edu. SHARE The following editorial appeared in the Chicago Tribune: This summer, city sidewalks are clotted with people gazing in store windows, dodging bikers and skateboarders, and ... bumping into each other. Or colliding with lampposts. Or tripping over curbs. Or wandering into crosswalks against the light. Or, in one case we witnessed, stumbling over a startled beagle's rump, mid-tail-wag. Why? Because the walking wanderers' eyes are riveted to a smartphone. They're thumbing a text or pounding out an email or checking Facebook or blissfully scanning eBay while paying absolutely no attention to obstacles looming right in front of them. We would like to warn of the hazards of texting while walking with a clear conscience, secure in the knowledge that we have never done such a thing and never would. But we can't. Confession time: Like many Americans, we have found our eyes glued to the screen when ... oops! ... we almost collided with someone else. So yes, we understand the mesmerizing power of the glowing cell screen. This summer, Pokemon Go beckons. That adds to the usual distractions: texts and emails from friends and family that must be answered right now. Facebook posts that just have to be viewed. Positively urgent tweet threads. Breaking news alerts. And so on. Texting and walking simultaneously may seem as simple as breathing and walking. But it's not. As one doctor said, "When you're texting, you're not as in control of the complex actions of walking." Just check out the rising number of reported accidents involving distracted pedestrians who increasingly wind up in the doctor's office or hospital emergency room. One famous, if ancient, example: the Pennsylvania woman who lit up the Internet in 2011 by strolling purposefully through a mall, texting furiously, never noticing that she was approaching a large fountain. Never noticing the knee-high wall. Never noticing until ... glub, glub, glub. She was one of many to earn video fame with her accidental exploits while immersed in texting. Those who don't get hurt still manage to irritate fellow pedestrians by veering this way and that, making it difficult to maneuver around them or simply avoid a collision. Researchers say these zombies' altered balance makes them less likely to walk in a straight line. Even if you don't stumble into a fountain, long hours of texting take a toll on you. Physical therapists report a rising number of teens complaining of "text neck" back and neck pain caused by the strain of hours of hunching over a phone. Last year, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons launched a campaign to warn of the dangers of what it dubbed digital deadwalking. The academy released survey results indicating that 78 percent of adults in the United States think distracted walking is a "serious" issue. Trouble is, only 29 percent admitted they did it themselves. Come clean, people. Who among us has never fished out a phone while walking in full head-flop, cruised the web, answered a friend's text, made a dinner reservation, found a movie time or sent a bitmoji. We applaud certain millennials we know who go cold turkey, leaving cellphones behind when they go out to dinner or movies. They want to focus on their friends and family, free of the incessant nagging of the phone and the compulsion to check the screen. Can cell-addicted Americans kick the habit? Sure. It doesn't take 12 steps, just two: Stow the phone. Resume your life. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 24, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Teuton Resources Corp. (Teuton) (TSX-V:TUO) (Frankfurt:TFE) (OTCBB:TEUTF) is pleased to announce that a magnetotelluric (MT) survey is under way at its Del Norte property, located east of Stewart, BC. Simcoe Geoscience Ltd. has been contracted to manage and interpret the survey using Riaz Mirza, a senior geophysicist, the same person who interpreted MT surveys for Seabridge Gold on their KSM property and for Pretium Resources on their Brucejack property. Simcoe is also managing and interpreting a very recently completed MT survey on Teutons joint ventured Treaty Creek property for Tudor Gold and also on Teutons farmed-out Orion property, also for Tudor Gold. All properties are within the Golden Triangle region of northwestern British Columbia. Teuton is running the MT survey on its 100% owned Del Norte property. Recent visual observations of drill core suggest a copper porphyry system may underlie the claims. Holes DN16-03 to 05 inclusive, recently drilled at varying angles from the same pad and with the same azimuth, all intersected extensive intervals containing pyrite and chalcopyrite mineralization. All three holes ended in mineralization. The steepest of the holes was drilled at minus 72 degrees and was stopped at 1338 feet at the limit of the drill. K-feldspar alteration and chalcopyrite content is most prevalent in the deeper sections of the holes. The host appears to be an altered intrusive. Photographs of selected portions from the core will be made available for viewing on the Companys website, www.teuton.com, once logging and diamond sawing of the core has been completed. Samples are expected to be shipped to the assay lab within a week. An MT survey is a geophysical technique that measures fluctuations in naturally occurring electrical and magnetic fields. The most notable example of its successful use in the Golden Triangle has been at Seabridge Golds KSM property where it helped to outline much higher-grade core zones underlying the Kerr and Iron Cap copper-gold, porphyry deposits. It is hoped that the MT survey now being used at the Del Norte can help determine both the zonation of the porphyry system and whether any core zone underlies it. It is likely that the recent drilling in Holes DN16-03 to 05 lies on the periphery of such a system. There can be no guarantee that the MT survey will emulate any of the success achieved elsewhere in the Golden Triangle. D. Cremonese, P.Eng., president of Teuton, commented as follows: Because of the positive visual results from drilling at the second pad at Del Norte, we doubled the drilling allocation at this property. The fact that we are seeing more intense K-feldspar alteration along with increased chalcopyrite at depth is very encouraging. Not many mineralized systems are still open to further extension at almost a thousand feet vertical, so we decided to bring in the MT equipment to help determine whether or not we were onto something big. Update on Exploration Progress at the Big Gold, Pearson, Four Js and Treaty Creek properties Big Gold property--A drill has been mobilized to Teuton 100%-owned Big Gold property. Drilling will proceed today, testing for subsurface continuations of anomalous gold and silver mineralization disclosed on surface. Pearson property--Previous geophysical and geochemical data from work done on the Pearson property by former owner Castle Resources has been turned over to Teuton Resources. Kevin Killin, a senior geophysicist with Simcoe Geoscience Ltd. is reviewing the data and will complete a report detailing drill targets by the end of the month. Based on the findings in the report and additional sampling/mapping, it is expected that the property will be ready for drilling by mid-September. The most likely target is the 2km long North EM Zone geophysical anomaly previously identified by Castle. Four Js property--Rotation Minerals, optionee of Teutons Four Js property, will drill a target lying close to a prominent airborne anomaly within the next two weeks. The agreement between Teuton and Rotation was recently amended to allow more time to carry out work program commitments. Treaty Creek joint venture property--Drilling has now begun on the Treaty Creek joint venture. Tudor Gold, operator of the joint venture, is reportedly moving a second drill into the property. Teuton holds a 20% carried interest in the joint venture. About Teuton Teuton owns interests in more than thirty properties in the prolific Golden Triangle area of northwestern British Columbia and was one of the first companies to adopt what has since become known as the prospect generator model. Ten of its properties are currently under option and cash proceeds from these options have exceeded $1 million in the past twelve months, not including the value of shares received from the optioning companies. Shareholders and other interested parties can access information about Teuton at the Companys website, www.teuton.com. The Qualified Person for this news release is D. Cremonese, P.Eng., who, as President and CEO, is not independent of the Company. Respectfully: Dino Cremonese, P.Eng. President, Teuton Resources Corp. For map of Del Norte property: http://teuton.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/mtsurveymap.pdf For more information contact Investor Relations at 778-430-5680 or barry@teuton.com If you would like to be added to Teutons news distribution list, please send your email address to dino@teuton.com This news release includes certain forward-looking statements concerning the future performance of our business, its operations and its financial performance and condition, as well as managements objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions. Forward-looking statements are frequently identified by such words as may, will, plan, expect, anticipate, estimate, intend and similar words referring to future events and results. Forward-looking statements are based on the current opinions and expectations of management. All forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, fluctuating commodity prices, competitive risks and the availability of financing, as described in more detail in our recent securities filings available at www.sedar.com. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in the forward looking-statements and we caution against placing undue reliance thereon. Teuton Resources Corp. does have an ongoing obligation to disclose material information, as it becomes available. The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein. Amorino, widely considered by Europeans to be one of the best gelato brands in existence and known for its unique flower-shaped gelato and all-natural flavors, is celebrating the opening its U.S. flagship location with a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce and member of Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Nevada. In addition, a representative from County Commissioner District E Chris Giunchiglianis office will be on-site to present Amorino with an official proclamation. Amorino Las Vegas will launch a month-long icon donation drive benefitting the Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada from August 25 through the end of September. Guests who visit either of the two gelato locations and donate at least $1 to the Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada will receive 10% off a gelato cone or cup sized classic or larger. Amorino is known for their unique flower shaped cone, with unlimited flavors available on each creation. Each gelato recipe requires ingredients sourced from worldwide locales so theyre at their peak when used. Inside the shop youll find an assortment of traditional and seasonal flavors think mangos from India, vanilla from Madagascar, chocolate from Ecuador, and Pistachio Bronte from Sicily. The eatery also sells other decadent treats, including gelato-filled macarons, specialty coffee, crepes, waffles, hot cocoa and chocolates. By: Dezan Shira & Associates Editor: Anh Ta Vietnams recent change in leadership with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc taking office has opened the gateway for legislative change. Signed on June 1, 2016 and effective starting July 15, 2016, Decree 50 is one adjustment that investors should be sure to understand. Detailing penalties for administrative violations in a variety of business and investment related situations, the decree covers the administration of public investment projects, investments in Vietnam from domestic and overseas investors, and the bidding process for public investments. More importantly, the decree also sheds light on the business registration process for different business models in Vietnam. Decree 50 seems to be an effort to improve the legal structure and bureaucracy in order to sustain Vietnams attractiveness to foreign investment. Despite its previous successes in attracting FDI, Vietnams weak legal structure and complicated bureaucracy, amongst other factors, have worsened the investment climate and diverted investors to other ASEAN markets. This decree seems to be an attempt to improve the transparency of the business registration and operations processes, through the outlining of possible violations, fines and remedial actions. It should be noted that the majority of penalties involve a monetary fine and mandatory remedial measures to be taken. In all cases, individuals will be faced with fines at half the rate that would be applied to a legal entity found in violation of the same infraction. Violations Relating to the Use of Public Funding Decree 50 outlines penalties for violations in the usage of funding received from the government from the planning to the execution stages of a given project. During the planning and proposal stage of the project, a fine ranging from VND 1 million (US$45) to VND 20 million (US$897) will be imposed when investors do not follow proper procedure, including creating investment guidelines, a pre-feasibility report, a feasibility report or a budget estimate. Inadequate or false information in such documents, or failure to meet the national standards or technical regulations for such documents are also punishable. In the execution stage of the project, failure to report adequate and accurate information on the project progress is subject to a fine between VND 2 million (US$90) to VND 10 million (US$448). Any deliberate attempt to withhold, destroy or falsify information on the project execution or implementation progress is fined at VND 10 million (US$45) to VND 20 million (US$897). At the same time, insufficient supervision and periodical assessment of the project or the lack thereof may subject businesses to a fine between VND 2 million (US$90) to 10 million (US$448). In the case of misusage of public capital, a fine of VND 10 million (US$448) to 20 million (US$897) will be imposed with immediate withdrawal of said capital. When there is construction involved in a project using public capital, any misusage or mishandling of said capital will be fined in according to the regulations on penalties for violations against regulations for construction. The first section of the decree also details fines regarding misusage of official development assistance (ODA) in any stages of planning, execution and supervision, with fines up to VND 30 million (US$1,345) for going against the governments approved decision on the project. Investment Registrations Violations Fines ranging from VND 5 million (US$224) to 80 million (US$3,589) are imposed for failure to adhere to any step of established investment procedures, including obtaining a certificate of investment, registering the investment, planning, executing and supervising the project in Vietnam. In particular, investors should take note of all the investment procedures, as outlined in Vietnams Law on Investment, as a failure to follow these procedures, or to commence the project within 12 months of successful registration can lead to a fine of VND 40 million (US$1,794) to 60 million (US$2,692). For outward investments, a fine of VND 50 million (US$2,243) to 60 million (US$2,692) is imposed for improper registration, and failures to report truthfully on the investment and its progress can incur a fine of 30 million (US$1,345) to 40 million (US$1,794). For foreign investors, tax incentives are available in Vietnam. However, failure to fulfill conditions related to incentives after incentives have been applied can incur a fine of VND 10 million (US$448) to 20 million (US$897). Bidding Management Violations For investments that involve bidding, decree 50 outlines penalties incurred for violations at each step of the process, including the planning, contractor/investor selection, expression of interest, document preparation, bidding organization, contract negotiation, and posting bidding stages. Prior to the bidding process, failure to follow procedures for making, appraising and approving contractor/investor selection plans, or failure to satisfy the technical and procedural requirements of the project can incur a fine of VND 10 million (US$448) to 30 million (US$1,345). A fine of VND 5 million to 15 million (US$672) may also be imposed when documents, such as the request for an expression of interest, prequalification documents and bidding documents are not produced, appraised and approved. A higher fine of VND 15 million (US$672) to 30 million (US$1,345) will be imposed if such documents go against any domestic laws and assessment standards, violate competition laws, or do not follow the approved contractor/investor selection plan. In the organization of bidding, lack of transparency in the verifying, evaluating and notifying bidders can lead to a fine ranging from VND 10 million (US$448) to 20 million (US$897). Going against the approved contractor/investor selection plan or violating the rules of bidding will incur a fine of VND 30 million (US$1,345) to 40 million (US$1,794). Insufficient communication and failure to provide bidders with adequate information is fined between VND 1 million (US$45) to 10 million (US$448). For other violations in administrative matters of bidding, investors can face a fine between VND 5 million (US$224) and 15 million (US$672). RELATED: Vietnam Outlines Customs and Tax Plans to Enhance Competitiveness Business Management Violations This section outlines the penalties for violations in registering, operating and closing down businesses within Vietnam Certification of enterprise registration is required for all businesses seeking to invest within Vietnam, and amendments to this document made behind schedule are punishable under Decree 50. Depending on the tardiness of registration or amendments, a fine between VND 1 million (US$45) and 15 million (US$672) can be imposed. Failure to publish enterprise registration on National Enterprise Registration Portal will also lead to a fine of VND 1 (US$45) million to 2 million(US$90); while failure to publish the enterprise information, business and investment plans, and performance reports can lead to a fine of VND 10 million (US$448) to 15 million (US$672). In the establishment of the enterprise, a fine of VND 2 million (US$90) to 30 million (US$1,345) can be imposed when requirements regarding business type, number of members and value assets assessment are not properly reported. Other report-related offences are fined up to VND 5 million (US$224) and can be found in Articles 30-32 of the decree. In the operation of a business, violations in the organization of the business, appointment of director and the Control Board are fined up to VND 10 million (US$448). In the dissolution of an enterprise or shutdown of branches, a fine of up to VND 10 million (US$448) can be imposed for lack of proper registration and reporting to tax and local authorities, as seen in Articles 37-38. For different business types, the decree also details penalties specific to each category. In particular, violations of social enterprises are fined between VND 15 million (US$672) and 20 million (US$897) for not fulfilling their missions, according to Article 40. For business households, fines up to VND 7 million (US$314) can be imposed for violations in registration, operation and dissolution. Further Support from Dezan Shira & Associates Decree 50 is a step toward greater transparency in Vietnams Investment framework. However, investors need to pay close attention to the added penalties outlined in the decree to avoid incurring unnecessary costs. Our advisors and experts at Dezan Shira have a strong understanding of Vietnams investment climate and are well positioned to help you make the right business decisions. For more information and assistance, please contact us at vietnam@dezshira.com or visit www.dezshira.com. About Us Asia Briefing Ltd. is a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates. Dezan Shira is a specialist foreign direct investment practice, providing corporate establishment, business advisory, tax advisory and compliance, accounting, payroll, due diligence and financial review services to multinationals investing in China, Hong Kong, India, Vietnam, Singapore and the rest of ASEAN. For further information, please email vietnam@dezshira.com or visit www.dezshira.com. Stay up to date with the latest business and investment trends in Asia by subscribing to our complimentary update service featuring news, commentary and regulatory insight. Annual Audit and Compliance in Vietnam 2016 In this issue of Vietnam Briefing, we address pressing changes to audit procedures in 2016, and provide guidance on how to ensure that compliance tasks are completed in an efficient and effective manner. We highlight the continued convergence of VAS with IFRS, discuss the emergence of e-filing, and provide step-by-step instructions on audit and compliance procedures for Foreign Owned Enterprises (FOEs) as well as Representative Offices (ROs). Navigating the Vietnam Supply Chain In this edition of Vietnam Briefing, we discuss the advantages of the Vietnamese market over its regional competition and highlight where and how to implement successful investment projects. We examine tariff reduction schedules within the ACFTA and TPP, highlight considerations with regard to rules of origin, and outline the benefits of investing in Vietnams growing economic zones. Finally, we provide expert insight into the issues surrounding the creation of 100 percent Foreign Owned Enterprise in Vietnam. Tax, Accounting and Audit in Vietnam 2016 (2nd Edition) This edition of Tax, Accounting, and Audit in Vietnam, updated for 2016, offers a comprehensive overview of the major taxes foreign investors are likely to encounter when establishing or operating a business in Vietnam, as well as other tax-relevant obligations. This concise, detailed, yet pragmatic guide is ideal for CFOs, compliance officers and heads of accounting who must navigate Vietnams complex tax and accounting landscape in order to effectively manage and strategically plan their Vietnam operations. The 6th edition exhibits a wide range of power engineering solutions and technologies, including electrical control and distribution systems, backup power generation, manufacturing and process automation, transmission and distribution, wireless security, instrumentation and control, power station hardware and equipment, renewable energy, and other related equipment to name only a few. To date, close to 200 companies from Germany, South Korea, India, Singapore, Taiwan, and Vietnam have confirmed their participation. Notable exhibitors at the show include ABB, AKSAPower Generation, Anh Thy, Honeywell International India, Lim Kim Hai Electric, Rittal, and Thai Son Nam Trading, and the list goes on. This years show also expects large international presence from key technology associations and group pavilions, namely the Korea Electrical Manufacturers Cooperative (KEMC), the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers Association (TEEMA), and many more. The event is expected to attract 4,500 visitors from major power companies as well as industrial production and manufacturing facilities across the nation. Industrial Automation Vietnam 2016, the international factory, plant automation, and process control technology exhibition, will take place alongside Electric and Power Vietnam 2016. The event aims to be a sourcing centre for factory and process automation equipment, as well as software needed to effectively run modern factories and processing plants. The eurozone economy appears to have remained strong in August, despite Britain's decision in June to exit the EU. (Photo: AFP/Arno Burgi) Data monitoring company Markit said the eurozone economy maintained its resilience despite Britain's shock vote to leave the EU, with a strong showing from France as well as powerhouse Germany. Markit said the preliminary August reading for its Composite Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for the eurozone rose to a seven-month-high of 53.3 points, up from 53.2 in July. The PMI measures companies' readiness to spend on their business and so gives a good idea of how the underlying economy is performing before official statistics are compiled and released. Any reading above 50 points indicates the economy is expanding. Markit chief economist Chris Williamson said the eurozone economy "remains on a steady growth path in the third quarter, with no signs of the recovery being derailed by 'Brexit' uncertainty." Williamson said the better-than-expected August figures suggested the eurozone economy was growing at "1.2 per cent (over 12 months), which is similar to that seen on average over the first half of the year." The IMF said last month that eurozone growth this year would hit a stronger-than-expected 1.6 per cent, instead of the previously forecast 1.5 per cent. The fund warned however that growth in the currency bloc would drop to 1.4 per cent next year as the Brexit effects kicked in. Howard Archer of IHS Insight said the "PMI data are pretty reassuring, suggesting that Eurozone economic activity is - for now at least - not being hampered by the UK's shock Brexit vote." Nevertheless, the data "by no means give the all clear on Eurozone growth prospects as there were mixed developments", including slowing employment and lower growth in new orders by businesses, he added. The preliminary German composite index fell to a still strong 54.4 points. France's PMI jumped to 51.6 points, the struggling economy's sharpest rise in 10 months. The survey will also influence policy at the European Central Bank, which has signalled that it could step up stimulus if Brexit headwinds worsened. "The ECB is still likely to ease (policy) eventually, but resilient PMIs should buy them more time until December," said Frederik Ducrozet, economist at Pictet Bank in Geneva. ECB president Mario Draghi said last month that the bank was "ready, willing and able" to intervene if necessary. "There currently does not appear to be a decisive case for September action," said Archer. Big shot Hanoi buyers are looking to spread the wealth to the provinces A range of real estate projects have been introduced to Hanois market from Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Danang and Nha Trang. The projects include The Charm, Sunrise City, Ocean Villas, Hyatt Regency, Olalani, Fusion Alya, Azura and Blooming Park. Talking with VIR at a recent road show to introduce Sunrise City, located in Ho Chi Minh, in Hanoi, Novaland Joint Stock Company marketing deputy director Huynh Du An said many units were sold to Hanoians and those from northern provinces. Meanwhile, a range of other central and southern projects have been rushing into Hanoi. Setia Becamex launched Binh Duong provinces Ecolakes My Phuoc in the capital late last week, a week before TD Group introduced the Costa Nha Trang to Hanoians. This week Singapores Guoco Lands Canary, located at the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park in Binh Duong province, will be unveiled to northern customers. Bringing Ecolakes My Phuoc to Hanois market is one of our key marketing strategies. Hanoians are paying more attention to higher standards of living and are interested in ecological housing, said Khoo Teck Chong, general director of Setia Becamex. VIR was told that for many projects in the central and southern parts, roughly 70 per cent of customers were from Hanoi and other northern provinces. Matthew Koziora, sales director of VinaCapital - developer of the Azura in Danang, said the first 60 units, out of 225, were launched in Hanoi recently. Out of the 40 units sold, 90 per cent of the buyers had come from Hanoi. Hanoi has, according to Koziora, proven itself to be a key market for most new projects in Vietnam, given the demographics of these immediate catchments. While condominium offerings will always be available in Hanoi due to previous pent-up demands, we can see that not all projects will enjoy a healthy sell-through, as was seen 12 months ago. We do see, however, given the price differentials between house and land packages in Hanoi versus Ho Chi Minh City, that this market will be better received in the current marketplace and over the next six months as opposed to condominium project offerings at this time, Koziora said Ngo Huu Truong, managing director of a real estate agency in Ho Chi Minh City, said many customers from Hanoi and Haiphong had come to Ho Chi Minh City to find out information about new projects there. Demand is real and many projects investors have realised this trend and they are coming to Hanoi to promote their projects, Truong said. He also said the jury was still out on how effective the promotions were. I think that these developers [who bring their projects to Hanoi] have at least seen their target to raise their image and brand names in northern customers, Truong said. MOULTRIE, Ga., Aug. 24, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Southwest Georgia Financial Corporation (NYSE MKT:SGB), the parent company of Southwest Georgia Bank, announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.11 per common share, a 10% increase compared with $0.10 per common share paid each quarter since the previous increase in March 2015. The dividend is payable September 16, 2016 to shareholders of record on September 6, 2016. The Company has approximately 2.5 million shares of common stock outstanding. Southwest Georgia Financial Corporation or its predecessor, Southwest Georgia Bank, has paid cash dividends for 88 consecutive years. About Southwest Georgia Financial Corporation Southwest Georgia Financial Corporation is a state-chartered bank holding company with approximately $422 million in assets headquartered in Moultrie, Georgia. Its primary subsidiary, Southwest Georgia Bank, offers comprehensive financial services to consumer, business, and governmental customers. The current banking facilities include the main office located in Colquitt County and branch offices located in Baker County, Worth County, and Lowndes County and a loan production office located in Tift County. In addition to conventional banking services, the bank provides investment planning and management, trust management, and commercial and individual insurance products. Insurance products and advice are provided by Southwest Georgia Insurance Services, which is located in Colquitt County. More information on Southwest Georgia Financial Corp. and Southwest Georgia Bank can be found at its website: www.sgfc.com. What is the unique selling point of Geotec Hanoi as an international conference on geotechnics? Scientific development in Vietnam has not been considered important up to now, especially construction science. The country also lacks professional organisers to host such international conferences. However, Geotec Hanoi, an international geotechnical conference that has been held in Vietnam thrice, is highly appreciated due to its qualified and professionally capable organisers and has great ambitions to become a regular professional conference having great influence on the civil engineering science. Geotechnics is a very broad field which is present everywhere, such as foundation engineering for civil, industry, transport, and infrastructure works, ports, hydropower plants, and irrigation, just to mention a few areas. Plenty of the high-rise buildings under construction are erected on soft soil or have unstable foundations. Complex, large-scale transportation projects are also executed under extremely rigorous geotechnical conditions. Bridges, ports, and irrigation dam projects are also growing bigger and longer. We often hear about destruction wrought by landslides which have claimed numerous lives in Vietnam as well as around the world. These are all related to geotechnics. In many countries over the world, for example Sweden, which are prone to landslides threatening human lives, people often install automatic warning systems using in-situ ground movement monitoring equipment. Another problem that many countries, including Vietnam, have to face is climate change which make geotechnics even more relevant. For example, rising sea levels and salinity issue new and urgent challenges. There is an intensive subcommittee discussing this issue at Geotec Hanoi 2016. The 2016 event received a record number of abstracts. Having been part of the organising committee for the last events, in what ways do you think the conference has grown? To successfully organise international conferences, we have prepared very carefully, meticulously in every stitch. The subcommittees have to run professionally, day and night. For instance, regarding scientific content, we have been preparing for a year. Keynote lectures are one of the key points for the success of a scientific conference. These lectures need to be given by world-leading experts carefully chosen, according to their credentials. From 2011 till now, all keynote lectures at Geotec Hanoi have been given by world-leading experts, such as Prof. Sven Hansbo (Sweden), Kenji Ishihara (Japan), Harry Poulos (Australia), Pieter Vermeer (Netherlands), Alain Guilloux (France), Rolf Katzenbach (Germany), Fumio Tatsuoka (Japan), Kenichi Soga (England), Helmut Schweiger (Australia), Bengt Fellenius (Canada), Buddhima Indraratna (Australia), Kazuya Yasuhara (Japan), Jamie Standing (Britain), and Chang-Yu Ou (Taiwan), just to highlight a few. This year, five scientists hailing from four continents will give lectures at Geotec Hanoi 2016. The call for papers has to be done worldwide and very early in order to get a respectable volume of scientific papers. The preparation needs to be carried out in a professional way from call for abstracts, choosing papers by international experts, to editing, and publishing. Until now, a growing number of international and regional experts have come to share the view that Geotec Hanoi is gradually becoming a prestigious conference and will be a highlight for civil engineering experts around the world. It stands as proof that Geotec Hanoi 2016 has received nearly 200 abstracts from 33 countries and territories all over the world. With your long years of experience of working in the field of geotechnics both in Vietnam and around the world, according to your evaluation, do Vietnamese companies pay enough attention to geotechnics? Most Vietnamese companies have a right evaluation of the importance of science and technology. Some of them pay particular attention to this field, such as Fecon, Telico, and Phan Vu. Perhaps the most outstanding of all is Fecon that has focused investment on science and technology to accelerate the application and transferring of new technologies into Vietnam. There is also a research institute in Fecon, which gives a chance to cultivate a local diaspora of experts. I feel very happy because there is a company like Fecon that considers science and technology as the key to success. You have been one of the key people organising the conferences. How important is the conference to you, as a person? As a scientist, I would love to be always busy organising such big scientific conferences in Vietnam. However, each event of this magnitude requires strong financial foundations that are not at the disposal of scientists. Traditionally, international conferences in the world are often held by professional organisations with high conference fees. As a result, when Fecon approached me and VSSMGE about organising the Geotec Hanoi conferences, we responded immediately. The first successful Geotec Hanoi conference in 2011 has confirmed that together we could make it work in Vietnam. Over the years, many international colleagues who have attended the two previous Geotec Hanoi conferences planned to come back to Geotec Hanoi 2016 because they enjoyed the previous conferences and find it helpful and exciting. Attendants at the Geotec Hanoi events are free to share their academic points of view, as well as access and exchange their experiences with colleagues around the world. The deeper purpose of Geotec Hanoi is to further promote Vietnam and introduce our broad market as well as our geotechnical issues, such as climate change, coastal geotechnics, monitoring, inspection, and maintenance of underground geotechnic facilities. People pay hospital fees with health insurance at the National Hospital of Otorhinolaryngology. Health insurance funds have been misused. VNA/VNS Photo Duong Ngoc In the first half of this year, more than VN30 trillion (US$1.3 billion) was spent, a 40 per cent increase over the same period last year and greatly exceeding this years budget of about VN2.1 trillion ($93.3million). This amount has climbed to nearly VN3trillion ($133.3million) as of July 18, Pham Luong Son, deputy general director of Viet Nams Social Insurance said. Son attributed the overspending to the number of health insurance cardholders increasing 12 per cent in the period. However, the main problem was health insurance cardholders and health facilities trying to make money from the fund, he said. The abuse of health insurance funds is happening in many places, at different levels and becoming more sophisticated, Son said. Some medical facilities take advantage of loopholes in policies or shortages of human resources, supervising measures to abuse the fund, he added. New regulations state that patients can freely choose medical facilities at district level to have medical examinations while enjoying similar benefits at any facility. This change has led to the fact that many cardholders go to different facilities for health check-ups several times in one day. Statistics from Viet Nams Social Insurance showed that in July, some cardholders had medical check-ups 27 times per month. These fraudsters can get prescriptions worth VN200,000 ($9) at each facility they have the check-ups and then sell them to pharmacies for profit. Commercialised health services Son also pointed out that the unnecessary use of CT Scanners, MRIs or expensive medicine prescribed by doctors contributed to the problem. The total spending on testing, ultrasound, and endoscopic exams can reach VN4 billion ($178,000) each month on average, Viet Nams Social Insurance revealed. Viet Nams Social Insurance will figure out the tests were for diagnosis or only for regular health-check-ups, Son said. Representatives from private hospitals also contact local womens associations and veterans associations to get residents to go for health-check-ups or offer discount programmes for second time check-ups as promotional measures to increase health check-ups demand and multiple spending from the fund. Another surprising figure is the surge of expense of distilled water test-tubes in 2014-2015. Many hospitals have switched from using glass distilled water test-tubes to plastic ones, increasing the spending on the tubes by VN15 billion ($667,000). This money could be used for health insurance for the poor, patients with cancer, cardiac diseases, tuberculosis or HIV and save thousands of sick people, Son said. If the spending exceeds 30 per cent of allocated funds, health insurance funds are unable to fill the deficiency, Son said. He said that tightening the fund in the final months of the year is the key task of Viet Nams Social Insurance. Social insurance agencies of localities must analyse fee increases in health check-ups and treatment and co-operate with local departments and sectors to take better control of the fund. Son said that consistent denial of payment must be applied for medical facilities misusing health insurance funds. For example, this year, Phuong Nam Clinic in southern Ca Mau Province was denied health insurance check-ups and treatment payment of VN71 billion ($3.1million) due to alleged abuse of spending. Merkel also urged EU partners to step up to their responsibilities in taking in refugees who had arrived in Greece. (Photo: AFP/Tobias Schwarz) Under the EU-Turkey agreement, Ankara agreed to take back one Syrian who made it to Greece in return for being allowed to send one from its massive refugee camps to the bloc in a more orderly redistribution programme. The deal also pledges billions of euros in EU aid for Turkey, visa-free European travel for Turkish citizens and accelerated EU membership talks. "We must agree on similar deals with other countries, such as in North Africa, in order to get better control over the Mediterranean sea refugee routes," Merkel told regional daily Neue Passauer Zeitung. "Such agreements are also in the interest of the refugees themselves," she said, pointing to the huge risks migrants take in crossing the Mediterranean in rickety vessels, as well as the large sums they have to pay smugglers for the perilous sea passage. "It is safer for them and there are good reasons for them to remain in Turkey, close to their homeland, where the cultural and language barriers are lower," she said, defending the deal with Turkey as "correct, as before". "We should work to ensure that it lasts," she said. But fears are mounting in the EU that the pact with Turkey to curb migrant flows could collapse as a rift deepens over Ankara's crackdown following a failed coup. Turkey angrily rejects EU criticism that its post-putsch purges might violate rights norms Ankara must meet under the agreement in return for visa-free travel for Turks and accelerated negotiations for bloc membership. Meanwhile, Merkel also urged EU partners to step up to their responsibilities in taking in refugees who had arrived in Greece. Before the EU-Turkey deal took effect, some 45,000 refugees had already arrived in Greece as Macedonia closed its borders to the migrants. "That is, if one compares it to the number of residents, as if 360,000 refugees were to arrive in Germany over the course of a few weeks," she said. "That shows what Greece has had to deal with," she said, noting that the 3,000 refugees distributed so far to other EU states falls below the expectations of what the member states should take on. Soldiers guard the gates of a military court in Bangkok, after two Chinese nationals were brought there to stand trial for the Erawan Shrine bombings a year ago, on Aug 23, 2016. (PHoto: AFP/Lillian Suwanrumpha) The delay is the latest snag in a cryptic case that has so far shed little light on the horrific attack in Thailand's capital last year that also left 100 people wounded. More than a dozen ethnic Chinese were among the dead when explosives - apparently left in a backpack - detonated in a Hindu shrine popular with tourists, in August 2015. The blast came weeks after Thailand's military government forcibly repatriated 109 Uighurs to China, where rights activists says the Turkic-speaking Muslim minority face cultural and religious repression. Thailand had long been a transit hub for Uighurs fleeing China, most heading for Turkey. But since the 2014 coup, which sparked criticism from western allies, Thailand's military leaders have grown closer to Beijing. Government authorities have been criticised for a murky investigation that appeared to wind down shortly after the arrest of the two men, leaving more than a dozen key suspects at large. Yusufu Mieraili and Bilal Mohammed have denied all charges, and have accused their jailers of beating them and denying them halal food in the military prison where they have been held for the past year. Authorities deny the two men have been mistreated. Their case was further complicated when their translator, an Uzbek national, fled after he was hit with drug possession charges in June. Sirojiddin Bakhodirov accused police of planting drugs on him as punishment for helping Thailand's Uighur community - a charge officers denied. "He did not come to the court today so the trial needed to be postponed so that we can find a new translator," defence lawyer Schoochart Kanpai told reporters outside the courtroom. The judge agreed to table the proceedings until the next hearing date on 15 September, according to an AFP reporter inside the courtroom. The postponement "reflects poorly on the judiciary's preparations to try these suspects", said Brad Adams, Asia Director at Human Rights Watch. "Everyone knew that there were no other translators immediately available when the previous person was arrested on drug charges. This raises concerns for the suspects' right to justice, fairly and speedily served," he told AFP. Prosecutors accuse Mohammed of placing the bomb inside a backpack at the shrine and say Mieraili was involved in transporting the device. They say the bombing was carried out by a people-smuggling gang angered by a police crackdown. Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu The PM praised the contributions of the Japan-VietNam Economic Committee in improving the business environment in Viet Nam and its role as a bridge for Japanese businesses to pour more investment in Viet Nam, contributing to promoting the two nations Strategic Partnership in all fields. The Vietnamese Government advocates and facilitates Japanese enterprises to launch successful investment in Viet Nam, he asserted, adding that Japan's effective projects in Viet Nam are attributed to the crucial contributions of the Keidanren, which have accelerated economics, trade and investment between the two countries. He affirmed that Viet Nam will continue improving the investment environment, regarding the success of the Japanese investors as its own success. Mr. Takahashi Kyohei said that the number of Japanese investors to Viet Nam was recorded the highest among other Japans destinations in ASEAN over the recent three years. Currently, as many as 1,500 Japanese businesses are launching their investment and operation in Viet Nam, adding that the Keidanren is making efforts to realize the sixth phase of the Viet Nam-Japan Joint Initiative. He suggested the Vietnamese Government further support the Keidanren and Japanese businesses in Viet Nam, expressing his hope that new-generation free trade agreements, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will create new progress in the economic relations between Viet Nam and Japan. The latest arrests come a month after two more deadly attacks in France which had already been rocked by major terror assaults in November. (Photo: AFP/Valery Hache) Cazeneuve said at a press conference that French police had arrested as many people for terror links in the first half of 2016 as for the whole of last year. He gave no details of the latest arrests, however. On Aug 8, a 16-year-old girl from the Paris suburb of Melun was remanded in custody on charges of planning a militant attack. The teenager was an administrator of a group on Telegram, an encrypted messaging app that was used by two militants to plan the murder of a priest in Normandy in July. According to investigators, she "relayed numerous Islamic State group propaganda messages calling for attacks" and also expressed a personal desire to "take action". Cazeneuve and his German counterpart Thomas de Maiziere on Tuesday asked the European Commission to consider legal measures that could be taken against the operators of encrypted messaging services such as Telegram. After a meeting between the two ministers, Cazeneuve said such legislation could "impose obligations on operators who show themselves to be non-cooperative, in particular when it comes to withdrawing illegal content or decrypting messages as part of an investigation." Meanwhile a 19-year-old from the Riviera city of Nice - who was born to a family of Jehovah's Witnesses but converted to Islam - was on Tuesday sentenced to three years in prison for glorifying terrorism. He was sentenced for his regular visits to militant sites on which he posted "nauseating" comments and photos, said a source close to the investigation. French security services are scrambling to prevent further violence after two attacks in July that shocked the country just as it was starting to rebound from the jihadist bloodshed in Paris in November. On Jul 14, a 31-year-old Tunisian rammed a 19-tonne truck into crowds of people celebrating Bastille Day in the Riviera city of Nice, killing 86 people and wounding more than 400. And on July 26, two 19-year-olds stormed a church in the northern town of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray and slit the throat of an elderly priest. Several major cultural and sporting events were cancelled in the wake of the attacks on security grounds. Indian and Vietnamese gem and jewellery companies, which met on August 23 at an event organised by the Indian consulate in HCM City, agreed there is much potential for bilateral co-operation. - Photo thanhnien.vn They discussed the possibility of greater collaboration since India is one of the world's largest manufacturers and exporters of jewellery and polished diamonds. The industry generated revenues of over US$40 billion from exports for India last year. But Vietnamese industry insiders said the value of gold, gems and jewellery imported directly from India is not significant, with most of the imports being routed through middlemen in Hongkong. Cao Thi Ngoc Dung, chairwoman of Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Company (PNJ), said most of her company's diamonds were imported from India through a Hongkong company. She complained about the high import tariffs, saying it was as much as 50 per cent including value added tax. She urged Indian enterprises to sell gems, technologies and software for gem and jewellery trading management to Viet Nam. Nguyen Van Dung, chairman of the Sai Gin Jewellery Association, also blamed the high import tariffs for hindering co-operation between Vietnamese and Indian companies. HCM City has 3,000 manufacturers and traders of gold and jewellery, who produce and sell nearly 40 tonnes of finished gold products a year. Of them, 1,600 are members of the association. HOLLYWOOD, Fla. and MIAMI, Aug. 24, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HEICO CORPORATION (NYSE:HEI.A) (NYSE:HEI) today reported that net income increased 22% to a record $42.0 million, or 62 cents per diluted share, in the third quarter of fiscal 2016, up from $34.4 million, or 51 cents per diluted share, in the third quarter of fiscal 2015. In the first nine months of fiscal 2016, net income increased 18% to a record $111.9 million, or $1.64 per diluted share, up from $95.1 million, or $1.40 per diluted share, in the first nine months of fiscal 2015. Net sales increased 19% to a record $356.1 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2016, up from $300.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2015. In the first nine months of fiscal 2016, net sales increased 18% to a record $1,013.0 million, up from $860.0 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2015. Operating income increased 19% to a record $69.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2016, up from $58.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2015. In the first nine months of fiscal 2016, operating income increased 18% to a record $189.3 million, up from $160.7 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2015. The Company's consolidated operating margin was 19.6% and 19.5% in the third quarter of fiscal 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Company's consolidated operating margin was 18.7% in both the first nine months of fiscal 2016 and 2015. Consolidated Results Laurans A. Mendelson, HEICOs Chairman and CEO, commented on the Company's third quarter results stating, "Our record quarterly results in consolidated net sales, operating income and net income reflect the impact of our profitable fiscal 2016 and 2015 acquisitions, as well as organic growth within both the Flight Support Group and Electronic Technologies Group. Cash flow provided by operating activities was very strong, increasing 42% to $172.4 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2016, representing 154% of net income, as compared to $121.3 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2015. Our net debt to shareholders' equity ratio was 47.7% as of July 31, 2016, with net debt (total debt less cash and cash equivalents) of $482.7 million principally incurred to fund acquisitions in fiscal 2016 and 2015. We have no significant debt maturities until fiscal 2019 and plan to utilize our financial flexibility to aggressively pursue high quality acquisition opportunities to accelerate growth and maximize shareholder returns. As we look ahead to the remainder of fiscal 2016, we anticipate organic growth within our commercial aviation aftermarket replacement parts and specialty products product lines moderated by softer demand for certain component repair and overhaul parts and services. Further, we foresee modest full year organic growth within the Electronic Technologies Group based on current forecasted product demand. During the remainder of fiscal 2016, we plan to continue our focus on new product development, further market penetration, executing our acquisition strategies and maintaining our financial strength. Based on our current economic visibility, we are increasing our estimated consolidated fiscal 2016 year-over-year growth in net income to 13% - 15%, up from our prior growth estimate of 12% - 14%. In addition, we continue to estimate consolidated fiscal 2016 year-over-year growth in net sales to approximate 15% - 17%, our consolidated operating margin to approximate 18.5% - 19.0%, depreciation and amortization expense of approximately $62 million, capital expenditures to approximate $32 million and cash flow from operations to approximate $220 million." Flight Support Group Eric A. Mendelson, HEICO's Co-President and President of HEICO's Flight Support Group, commented on the Flight Support Group's third quarter results stating, "Our record quarterly results in net sales reflect strong growth contributions from our fiscal 2015 acquisitions and organic growth across all of the Flight Support Group's product lines. The Flight Support Group's net sales increased 8% to a record $222.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2016, up from $206.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2015. The Flight Support Group's net sales increased 9% to a record $647.4 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2016, up from $591.4 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2015. The increase in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2016 reflects net sales contributed by our fiscal 2015 acquisitions as well as organic growth of 4% and 3%, respectively. The organic growth in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2016 is principally attributed to increased demand and new product offerings within our aftermarket replacement parts and specialty products product lines. The increase in the first nine months of fiscal 2016 was partially offset by lower organic net sales from our repair and overhaul parts and services product line, principally resulting from the mix of products repaired, which required less extensive repair and overhaul services, as well as softer demand from our South American market. The Flight Support Group experienced organic revenue growth of 5% and 6% in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2016, excluding our repair and overhaul parts and services product line. The Flight Support Group's operating income increased 7% to $42.0 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2016, up from $39.3 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2015. The Flight Support Group's operating margin was 18.9% and 19.0% in the third quarter of fiscal 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Flight Support Group's operating income increased 10% to a record $118.8 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2016, up from $107.5 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2015. The Flight Support Group's operating margin was 18.3% and 18.2% in the first nine months of fiscal 2016 and 2015, respectively. The increase in the Flight Support Group's operating income in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2016 is mainly attributed to the previously mentioned net sales growth and a gross profit margin impact from favorable net sales volumes and product mix within our aftermarket replacement parts and specialty products product lines. These increases were partially offset by a less favorable product mix within our repair and overhaul parts and services product line, higher performance-based compensation expense and changes in the estimated fair value of accrued contingent consideration associated with a prior year acquisition. Additionally, the first nine months of fiscal 2016 reflects an increase in amortization expense of intangible assets. With respect to the remainder of fiscal 2016, we continue to estimate the Flight Support Groups full year net sales growth to be between 8% - 10% and the full year Flight Support Group operating margin to approximate that of fiscal year 2015. Electronic Technologies Group Victor H. Mendelson, HEICO's Co-President and President of HEICOs Electronic Technologies Group, commented on the Electronic Technologies Group's third quarter results stating, "Our record quarterly results in net sales and operating income were driven principally by strong financial contributions from our fiscal 2016 and 2015 acquisitions and increased customer demand for certain products. The Electronic Technologies Group's net sales increased 40% to a record $136.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2016, up from $97.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2015. The Electronic Technologies Group's net sales increased 34% to a record $372.9 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2016, up from $277.4 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2015. The increase in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2016 reflects net sales contributed by our fiscal 2016 and 2015 acquisitions, as well as organic growth of 1% and 6%, respectively. The organic growth in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal '16 resulted mainly from higher net sales of certain space and medical products, with organic growth in the third quarter of fiscal 2016 moderated by lower net sales of certain defense products. The Electronic Technologies Group's operating income increased 38% to a record $33.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2016, up from $24.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2015. The Electronic Technologies Group's operating margin was 24.7% and 25.1% in the third quarter of fiscal 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Electronic Technologies Group's operating income increased 35% to a record $89.3 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2016, up from $66.0 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2015. The Electronic Technologies Group's operating margin was 23.9% and 23.8% in the first nine months of fiscal 2016 and 2015, respectively. The increase in the Electronic Technologies Group's operating income in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2016 is mainly attributed to the previously mentioned net sales growth, partially offset by an increase in amortization expense of intangible assets and higher performance-based compensation expense. With respect to the remainder of fiscal 2016, we continue to estimate the Electronic Technologies Group's full year net sales growth to be between 29% - 32% and our full year operating margin to approximate 24%. (NOTE: HEICO has two classes of common stock traded on the NYSE. Both classes, the Class A Common Stock (HEI.A) and the Common Stock (HEI), are virtually identical in all economic respects. The only difference between the share classes is the voting rights. The Class A Common Stock (HEI.A) has 1/10 vote per share and the Common Stock (HEI) has one vote per share.) There are currently approximately 40.3 million shares of HEICO's Class A Common Stock (HEI.A) outstanding and 27.0 million shares of HEICO's Common Stock (HEI) outstanding. The stock symbols for HEICOs two classes of common stock on most websites are HEI.A and HEI. However, some websites change HEICO's Class A Common Stock trading symbol (HEI.A) to HEI/A or HEIa. As previously announced, HEICO will hold a conference call on Thursday, August 25, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time to discuss its third quarter results. Individuals wishing to participate in the conference call should dial: U.S. and Canada (877) 586-4323, International (706) 679-0934, wait for the conference operator and provide the operator with the Conference ID 60346184. A digital replay will be available two hours after the completion of the conference for 14 days. To access, dial: (404) 537-3406, and enter the Conference ID 60346184. HEICO Corporation is engaged primarily in the design, production, servicing and distribution of products and services to certain niche segments of the aviation, defense, space, medical, telecommunications and electronics industries through its Hollywood, Florida-based Flight Support Group and its Miami, Florida-based Electronic Technologies Group. HEICO's customers include a majority of the world's airlines and overhaul shops, as well as numerous defense and space contractors and military agencies worldwide, in addition to medical, telecommunications and electronics equipment manufacturers. For more information about HEICO, please visit our website at http://www.heico.com. Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks, uncertainties and contingencies. HEICO's actual results may differ materially from those expressed in or implied by those forward-looking statements as a result of factors including: lower demand for commercial air travel or airline fleet changes or airline purchasing decisions, which could cause lower demand for our goods and services; product specification costs and requirements, which could cause an increase to our costs to complete contracts; governmental and regulatory demands, export policies and restrictions, reductions in defense, space or homeland security spending by U.S. and/or foreign customers or competition from existing and new competitors, which could reduce our sales; our ability to introduce new products and services at profitable pricing levels, which could reduce our sales or sales growth; product development or manufacturing difficulties, which could increase our product development costs and delay sales; our ability to make acquisitions and achieve operating synergies from acquired businesses; customer credit risk; interest, foreign currency exchange and income tax rates; economic conditions within and outside of the aviation, defense, space, medical, telecommunications and electronics industries, which could negatively impact our costs and revenues; and defense budget cuts, which could reduce our defense-related revenue. Parties receiving this material are encouraged to review all of HEICO's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to filings on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law. HEICO CORPORATION Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (in thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended July 31, 2016 2015 Net sales $ 356,084 $ 300,370 Cost of sales 222,501 192,278 Selling, general and administrative expenses 63,729 49,582 Operating income 69,854 58,510 Interest expense (2,294 ) (1,088 ) Other income (expense) 16 (184 ) Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interests 67,576 57,238 Income tax expense 20,600 18,300 Net income from consolidated operations 46,976 38,938 Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 4,974 4,569 Net income attributable to HEICO $ 42,002 $ 34,369 Net income per share attributable to HEICO shareholders: Basic $ .63 $ .51 Diluted $ .62 $ .51 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding: Basic 67,126 66,813 Diluted 68,278 67,901 Three Months Ended July 31, 2016 2015 Operating segment information: Net sales: Flight Support Group $ 222,553 $ 206,599 Electronic Technologies Group 136,215 97,223 Intersegment sales (2,684 ) (3,452 ) $ 356,084 $ 300,370 Operating income: Flight Support Group $ 41,969 $ 39,250 Electronic Technologies Group 33,609 24,372 Other, primarily corporate (5,724 ) (5,112 ) $ 69,854 $ 58,510 HEICO CORPORATION Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (in thousands, except per share data) Nine Months Ended July 31, 2016 2015 Net sales $ 1,012,959 $ 859,976 Cost of sales 633,151 552,593 Selling, general and administrative expenses 190,539 146,679 Operating income 189,269 (a) 160,704 Interest expense (6,194 ) (3,346 ) Other income 154 375 Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interests 183,229 157,733 Income tax expense 56,600 48,200 Net income from consolidated operations 126,629 109,533 Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 14,699 14,419 Net income attributable to HEICO $ 111,930 (a) $ 95,114 Net income per share attributable to HEICO shareholders: Basic $ 1.67 (a) $ 1.43 Diluted $ 1.64 (a) $ 1.40 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding: Basic 66,975 66,706 Diluted 68,082 67,790 Nine Months Ended July 31, 2016 2015 Operating segment information: Net sales: Flight Support Group $ 647,419 $ 591,431 Electronic Technologies Group 372,933 277,439 Intersegment sales (7,393 ) (8,894 ) $ 1,012,959 $ 859,976 Operating income: Flight Support Group $ 118,757 $ 107,498 Electronic Technologies Group 89,280 65,996 Other, primarily corporate (18,768 ) (12,790 ) $ 189,269 $ 160,704 HEICO CORPORATION Footnotes to Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (a) During the first nine months of fiscal 2016, the Company incurred $3.1 million of acquisition costs in connection with a fiscal 2016 acquisition. These are one-time nonrecurring costs. These expenses, net of tax, decreased net income attributable to HEICO by $2.0 million, or $.03 per basic and diluted share. HEICO CORPORATION Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (in thousands) July 31, 2016 October 31, 2015 Cash and cash equivalents $ 27,191 $ 33,603 Accounts receivable, net 189,617 181,593 Inventories, net 286,679 243,517 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 50,181 44,899 Total current assets 553,668 503,612 Property, plant and equipment, net 118,935 105,670 Goodwill 865,533 766,639 Intangible assets, net 376,828 272,593 Other assets 102,356 87,873 Total assets $ 2,017,320 $ 1,736,387 Current maturities of long-term debt $ 335 $ 357 Other current liabilities 185,922 168,030 Total current liabilities 186,257 168,387 Long-term debt, net of current maturities 509,570 367,241 Deferred income taxes 107,687 110,588 Other long-term liabilities 113,630 105,618 Total liabilities 917,144 751,834 Redeemable noncontrolling interests 87,906 91,282 Shareholders equity 1,012,270 893,271 Total liabilities and equity $ 2,017,320 $ 1,736,387 HEICO CORPORATION Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (in thousands) Nine Months Ended July 31, 2016 2015 Operating Activities: Net income from consolidated operations $ 126,629 $ 109,533 Depreciation and amortization 44,603 35,066 Employer contributions to HEICO Savings and Investment Plan 5,219 4,482 Share-based compensation expense 4,905 4,394 Increase (decrease) in accrued contingent consideration 2,635 (412 ) Foreign currency transaction adjustments, net 876 (3,981 ) Deferred income tax benefit (6,053 ) (4,909 ) Tax benefit from stock option exercises 867 1,404 Excess tax benefit from stock option exercises (880 ) (1,404 ) (Increase) decrease in accounts receivable (2,974 ) 4,482 Increase in inventories (13,914 ) (10,653 ) Increase (decrease) in current liabilities 14,776 (14,948 ) Other (4,273 ) (1,765 ) Net cash provided by operating activities 172,416 121,289 Investing Activities: Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (263,811 ) (56,198 ) Capital expenditures (23,113 ) (13,767 ) Other (3,005 ) 171 Net cash used in investing activities (289,929 ) (69,794 ) Financing Activities: Borrowings (payments) on revolving credit facility, net 142,000 (26,304 ) Distributions to noncontrolling interests (16,156 ) (7,414 ) Cash dividends paid (10,724 ) (9,343 ) Payment of contingent consideration (6,960 ) Acquisitions of noncontrolling interests (3,599 ) Proceeds from stock option exercises 4,831 3,258 Excess tax benefit from stock option exercises 880 1,404 Other (272 ) (295 ) Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 110,000 (38,694 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 1,101 (1,333 ) Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (6,412 ) 11,468 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 33,603 20,229 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 27,191 $ 31,697 Photo by MIAMI HERALD Tourists take photos at Wynwood Walls on Tuesday in Miamis Wynwood neighborhood. Four new cases of Zika in the neighborhood were announced Tuesday by Gov. Rick Scott. Photo by ASSOCIATED PRESS A supporter of Maryse Narcisse gives out campaign posters promoting the presidential candidate in Port-au-Prince on Tuesday. Parliamentary systems often operate with shadow cabinets so that an effective opposition can be seen to publicly scrutinize the work of government ministries. But suggestions that the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party might be planning to establish shadow cabinet positions was swiftly dismissed by the countrys ruling party. Political analysts, however, say the system would be difficult to implement in Cambodia, but called for the issue to be studied in detail before being rejected by the powers that be. Ou Virak, founder of the Future Forum think tank, encouraged politicians from the major parties to begin frank discussions on the possibility of establishing a shadow cabinet system. I regret [the situation] because politicians in our nation do not consider these things in depth. They just dont go into detail about it. So there are always disputes when you work that way, he said. But the increased public scrutiny that such a system creates would increase democratic competition, he added. Its not hard to figure out. Many nations already serve as a model. When a shadow cabinet is established, the countrys main opposition party selects lawmakers for roles such as shadow defense minister, whose duty it is to monitor the governments defense policy and propose alternatives. The shadow ministers would likely assume the relevant ministerial role if their party wins an election and act as a government-in-waiting. Heng Sreang, a social researcher, said that in a democratic society forming a shadow cabinet should not be a controversial suggestion. The ruling party always distrusts whether the shadow parliament would rally people to overthrow them, he said. I think it could make the situation worse. As I see it, politics in our nation seems not to progress it seems that politicians lack professionalism, he added. Its all about a fight to win in the name of the individual, in the name of the party. Officials, however, said there was no law providing for the establishment of a shadow cabinet nor should one be discussed. Whatever it is, it has to be in accordance with the law, said General Khieu Sopheak, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior. Theres no such thing like Im a shadow committee to observe the government. Thats illegal. Ruling Cambodian Peoples Party spokesman Sok Eysan said making a constitutional amendment to allow for the formation of a shadow cabinet would not be in the interests of the Cambodian people. I think theres no need to even think about any constitutional amendment or law for a shadow government, because it would only lead to problems and does not serve the interests of the people. It only leads to form two forces that oppose each other, with one side legal and another illegal. Thats impossible, he said. Hundreds of long-haul container trucks lined the street or crowded the dusty open yards on both sides of the Wesh-Chaman border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan Wednesday. With no trees nearby, drivers and their staff used their own vehicles to find shelter from the blistering sun. Some passed time by playing board games with their neighbors; others cooked or made tea on makeshift campfires while their colleagues caught some sleep. The nearest shops on the Pakistani side are almost six kilometers away, in the border town Chaman. The drivers took turns to buy food or groceries in Chaman by traveling on the preferred form of local transport a motorcycle-drawn carriage called a ching-chi rickshaw. The Friendship Gate, the official name of the crossing, has been closed since August 19, halting the daily movement of hundreds of containers and thousands of people. Pakistan decided to close the border after angry protesters on the Afghan side burned a Pakistani flag last Thursday. Afghanistans ambassador to Pakistan, Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal, has condemned the act. Whoever burnt the flag was certainly representing neither the government nor the people of Afghanistan. No matter what their reasons for burning the flag, it was a condemnable act, Zakhilwal said on his Facebook page. While the two countries work to resolve their diplomatic differences, local traders said they are losing thousands of dollars daily. Fruit sellers in Pakistan's border towns as well as the provincial capital Quetta were particularly hard hit. Their livelihood depends on fresh fruit imported from Afghanistan almost daily. For those stuck at the border, meanwhile, it was more than an inconvenience. Most truck drivers and their helpers usually work for daily wages. Some have run out of money for the trip. These drivers make only $50 per day, Ali Muhammad, owner of Chaman Transit Yard, said. For others, the actual or potential losses were much higher. Ive brought these goods all the way from Punjab, said Mohammad Naeem. He had two trucks, each with approximately $50,000 worth of goods, and was worried about their safety. We stay up all night guarding our trucks. We dont want to park next to the big trailers because there might be an explosion, he said. His fear of an explosion was not unfounded in a region where violence is common. He was unsure whether to risk waiting or take huge losses. When we call the owner of the goods, he says 'I cant do anything. If you want to take these goods back then take them back,' Naeem said. The closure has also affected those Afghans who come to Pakistan for medical treatment in Quetta's hospitals. When the border was open, movement for locals was relatively easyso much so that some worked or had set up businesses on the other side. They are now in a bind. Local tire dealer Haji Ghafoor works in a border market on the Afghan side. We cant cross the border. If we get close to the border, they beat us up, he said. Another local businessman, Asmatullah Kakar, owns shops on the Afghan side. He said he has not been able to open them since Friday, when the border first closed. My kids are asking for a meal and I am sitting here, he said. Both of them claim they are suffering significant daily losses. Meanwhile, others, like Muhammad, the Transit Yard owner, were more worried about security as they watched the lines of trucks. We have about 10 security guards with Kalashnikovs but we would rather the trucks leave here soon, he said. The Cambodian government has called on long-term ally Vietnam to stop what it called encroachment on its territory. A letter sent to Hanoi by the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation late last week detailed alleged violations of the countrys territory by its Southeast Asian neighbor, including the digging of nine reservoirs, the construction of buildings and roads in the countrys east, and the construction of a military outpost in Kandal province and an alleged gateway on Cambodian land in Takeo province. A meeting on the issue has been scheduled between the countries for August 29. Cambodian foreign affairs spokesman Chum Sounry could not be reached for comment. Va Kim Hong, head of the Cambodian government committee tasked with assessing the border dispute, said the government didnt accept this land encroachment, which he called illegal under international law. He added that Phnom Penh officials decided to go public with the complaint after closed-door discussions between officials representing each country became deadlocked. Va Kim Hong, however, expressed hope that the Vietnamese government would now work to resolve the issue. The letter also showed that the two countries have signed an agreement to call on France to assist them in demarcating the border, the exact location of which has been officially disputed since independence from the former colonial power. Mao Monyvann, an opposition lawmaker with the Cambodia National Rescue Party, welcomed Frances involvement in the dispute, but said discussions most likely would not lead to an amicable resolution, and that Cambodia should take the case to an international court of arbitration. The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Monday sentenced two activists to six days in prison for leading a demonstration in their Boeung Kak Lake neighborhood in the capital last week, according to a local rights group. Tep Vanny and Bov Sorphea were charged with "insulting public civil servants" for the Black Monday campaign protest, which included the cursing of effigies intended to symbolize corruption in the justice system. Black Monday was launched after four rights workers and an election official were jailed on bribery charges earlier this year, in what critics call a politically charged crackdown on supporters of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). After the 90-minute trial concluded, Judge Pich Vichea Thor read out the sentence and then immediately silenced the defense as it attempted to respond, according to a statement from Phnom Penh-based NGO Licadho, a human rights group. Won't 'retreat' Sia Nareth, a 58-year-old activist from the Boeung Kak Lake community, said the activists would "absolutely not retreat" following the ruling. Court representatives could not be reached. The trial also drew criticism from expatriate Cambodians, including Youhorn Chea, president of Australia-based Cambodian Association of Victoria. "If people don't love the government, that government won't last long," said Chea, adding that Prime Minister Hun Sen should be mindful of shifting public opinion following the murder of prominent political analyst and government critic Kem Ley last month. "I think Mr. Hun Sen should consider this point." Ear Kimsrang, a Cambodian living in Australia, said the Black Monday campaign, which has been banned by the government, was a "revolution of words" rather than an attempt to overthrow Hun Sen as officials have claimed. Last week, Human Rights Watch and about 60 local civil society groups called for the charges against Vanny and Sorphea to be dropped. Allegations investigated On Thursday, the same court questioned prominent media figure Pa Nguon Teang as a witness in the ongoing investigation of an alleged affair between CNRP's deputy leader Kem Sokha and a woman named Khom Chandaraty. Sokha has refused to appear in court for questioning in the case. Phnom Penh-based rights workers say Thursdays cross-examination of Teang was an attempt to intimidate civil society. Teang, who is the executive director of the Cambodian Center for Independent Media, had taken part in the banned Black Monday protests. Am Sam Ath, technical supervisor with local human rights group Licadho, said Teang's role in the recent protests and the fact that he had been assisting with funeral arrangements for a leading political analyst, Kem Ley, who was gunned down in Phnom Penh last month meant the court had likely questioned him "related to the upcoming election." It is widely believed in Cambodia that Ley's murder was politically motivated, while the alleged killer claimed it was over an unpaid debt. Ou Virak, founder of the Future Forum think tank, agreed that the court likely had political motivations for summoning Teang for questioning. "The government seemed to show that it is unhappy with his Black Monday campaign and has displayed a swift and strong reaction toward the campaign," Virak said. reply2spg wrote: No nation can long survive unless its people are united by a common tongue. For proof, we need only consider Canada, which is being torn asunder by conflicts between French-speaking Quebec and the other provinces, which are dominated by English speakers. Which of the following, if true, most effectively challenges the authors conclusion? (A) Conflicts over language have led to violent clashes between the Basque-speaking minority in Spain and the Spanish-speaking majority. (B) Proposals to declare English the official language of the United States have met with resistance from members of Hispanic and other minority groups. (C) Economic and political differences, along with linguistic ones, have contributed to the provincial conflicts in Canada. (D) The public of India, in existence sine 1948, has a population that speaks hundreds of different, though related, languages. (E) Switzerland has survived for nearly a thousand years as a home for speakers of three different languages. Focus on how the claim is made. The claim is generalized by basing on a specific case. If you show that there is another one that contradics the claim, you successfully damage the argument.E is the best_________________ Twenty-two-year-old Inuwa Inuwa and his 16-year-old girlfriend Kaishia Yunusa are in love. I met him three years ago when I was 13. Other suitors were coming, but I fell in love with him and now he is the only one, says Kaishia. I liked her because she is very kind and she has a very good upbringing. She upholds the teachings of Islam, Inuwa says. Both are from agrarian families in a rural community in Kano state in northern Nigeria. They were supposed to be married last Saturday, but the event was cancelled. Their families had prepared a wedding banquet. A goat had been slaughtered. Chicken had begun roasting. Bags of rice had been purchased. I had already invited my friends and many of them have come from far away places, only to come to Kano to hear that the wedding will not be taking place, says Inuwa. About 100 couples were supposed to get married there in a single ceremony organized by a state senator. But political tensions between the state governor and the senator resulted in the event being indefinitely postponed. To re-enforce the decision, the state police department said it received intelligence that the mass wedding could be a security threat. Thousands of people were expected to attend, including five governors from other states, according to the organizers. More than 4,000 women have gotten married in the mass wedding program over the past four years. The government pays all the wedding costs - the venue, traditional bridal gifts, the dowry, food for the guests, furniture for the matrimonial home and even some starter cash for the couple. The state governors administration says it will try to organize a mass wedding as soon as possible. The Sharia board says 10,000 women have already registered. The Sharia board plays a central role as a matchmaker and wedding coordinator. A single man or woman can come to the Sharia board office and look through stacks of photos to find an attractive person. Or a couple who cannot afford a wedding can come to the Sharia board to register to get married. The Sharia board ensures that the couples are medically screened. Before the mass weddings, health screenings for potential couples was not common. It was even considered un-Islamic, says Bichi. But the mass wedding program has changed all that. Even wedding certificates, before, there was hardly any such thing like marriage certificate, but under the mass wedding program, couples are given a marriage certificate, which is actually an important document. Abubukar Jiddere, a political scientist with the Aminu Kano Center for Democratic Research and Training, says the wedding program benefits the entire society and enhances a womans social status. It is essentially meant to promote gender equity by providing sustainable lifestyles for the women, Jiddere says. A sustainable lifestyle basically means getting married and staying married. But many divorce. Its becoming a real societal problem because in a predominantly Muslim society, women are not left like that. From the beginning to the end of women, they are supposed to be under a guidance or a protection, explains Jiddere. That protection is supposed to come from a man, in the form of her father, then her husband, then her son once the woman becomes old. But in Kano, many young girls are alone. Nigerias population boom has strained the economy, so many families pressure their daughters into earlier marriage. But many newlyweds find they are incompatible and cannot cope with the financial responsibilities involved in a marriage. In Kano state, there are divorced women as young as 14 or 15. Many people are alarmed by the apparent rise in the divorce rate. Its high, that I know and that is causing women a lot of problems, says Zubaida Nagee, a local womens activist working with a nongovernmental organization. Because a girl gets married and in the next three months, its finished. Its all over. The mass wedding program makes it difficult for couples to get divorced. They must bring marital disputes to the Sharia police and a man married in the program must pay a fine of 250,000 Naira (more than $600) to divorce, Sufi says. Nagee believes the real problem is a lack of education and poverty. There are better ways of taking care of women. For the government to come up with mass wedding, it is only a short term solution to the problem, Nagee says. You are creating more problems for the women because theyre going to have babies and they will be more in number because they will have more mouths to feed and they have no means of livelihood. Women who jump up at this opportunity are desperate. Yaishia and Inuwa admit they were desperate. Yaishia is the sixth of 10 children and did not finish primary school. Inuwa has a job as a driver. He says he can now afford to take care of a wife, but as for a wedding, he will accept any offer for an all-expenses paid wedding. The United Nations waited for more than a decade for Beijing to accept an invitation for its special envoy on extreme poverty and human rights to visit China. But when Beijing finally approved the request and allowed U.N. Special Rapporteur Philip Alston to visit this month, he was tailed by authorities and barred from meeting with academics. Rights advocates said authorities' treatment of Alston during his visit shows a lack of sincerity on the part of authorities. China denies it restricted Alstons activities and has accused him of lying. Interviewees 'On vacation' At a briefing following his nine-day visit, Alston told reporters that he submitted a list of academics he wanted to visit during his trip. When he arrived he was told that many of those people were advised that they should be on vacation. "The Chinese government's understanding, however, is that a special rapporteur is much more like a diplomatic guest and the guest should be given comprehensive security by being followed around everywhere he goes by a security detail, that the guest should be made secure by not being permitted to meet with any private individuals without first notifying the government," Alston said. Alston praised Chinas efforts to alleviate poverty in recent years, calling them extraordinary. He highlighted the unique and tremendous political will that China has at its access to address the problem. At the same time, however, he also expressed concerns about what he called very high levels of inequality in China between urban and rural areas. He warned that if China does not take action, it risks unrest and mass protests. Pincer movement China has been cracking down hard on rights advocates and civil society groups since President Xi Jinping came to power, a move that authorities argue is aimed at stomping out supposed foreign influences. Alston said that although the government officially has expressed support for such organizations and public participation, the reality is the opposite. The unfortunate trend that I have seen is that there are now a number of initiatives that have been taken which are coming together in what I term a pincer movement, Alston said. "What we see is a dramatically shrinking space for civil society actions which would want to facilitate a discussion of government policies with a view to trying to adjust or adapt them rather than simply accepting what has been determined from the top." Shrinking space Alstons visit gave him a small taste of what some of those initiatives are like and what civil society organizations and rights advocates are feeling now in China. The fact that he was tailed and kept from visiting individuals he wanted to meet has tainted his visit, said Patrick Poon, a researcher at Amnesty International. If the Chinese government is genuine and sincere in arranging the visit, then they actually shouldnt have kept him from meeting with the people that he wanted to meet, Poon said. Chinas Communist Party membership accounts for less than 10 percent of the countrys population and yet increasingly it is expanding its control over all forms of public discussion from academics to social media. China is in process of rolling out a new law for foreign non-governmental organizations that will put them under the authority of the public security bureau and apply a long list of strict controls to their operations. Over the weekend, and during Alstons visit, authorities announced another wave of controls over social organizations that will require non-governmental organizations, social groups and trade unions to have party branch offices or liaison cadres. Poon said that such a requirement only adds to the daunting challenges civil society groups face. For civil society groups as a whole [the new rules] send a very clear message that only the party will have control over these organizations in the future." Failed model At a regular briefing on Wednesday, China flatly denied that Aliston had been barred from meeting with academics and said his comments about the trip "do not accord with the facts." Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said that in addition to his official schedule and consultations he met privately with U.N. officials to China, diplomats, NGOs and some individuals. If these people are truly concerned about human rights and the social and economic development and progress of developing countries, then we hope they can objectively view the facts and carefully do some serious thinking, Lu said. Actually some development models they are trying to promote do not bring progress and real human rights to the majority of people in many developing countries." The decision to allow Alston to visit was a rare step for China, but was years in the making. The original request to visit was first made in 2005, according to the United Nations Office of the Human Rights Commissioner. China has about a dozen other outstanding requests for visits by U.N. experts. Democrat Hillary Clinton on Tuesday vowed to make starting a small business in the United States as easy as opening a lemonade stand if elected president, targeting a large economic sector and a significant voting bloc. Her flagship proposal is to establish a standard tax deduction for small businesses, previously only available to individuals, allowing owners to get tax relief without filing additional forms. Clinton would also expand healthcare tax credits in the Affordable Care Act for small businesses that employ up to 50 workers and create new federal incentives for local and state governments to streamline the business licensing process, according to background provided by her campaign. Since launching her campaign in April 2015, Clinton has said she wants to be the "small business president" if she wins the Nov. 8 election against businessman Donald Trump, the Republican nominee. Trump has offered lower tax rates for small businesses and cuts to federal regulations to help "jump-start America." Clinton's campaign held a conference call with small business owners on Tuesday to discuss her proposals and offer ways they could help with the former secretary of state's campaign. "You will always have a seat at the table," Clinton told business owners on the call, taking questions from entrepreneurs in Virginia and Michigan. Small businesses play a vital economic role in the United States, making up 99.7 percent of U.S. employer firms and roviding 49.2 percent of U.S. private-sector jobs, according to the Small Business Administration. The proposals announced by Clinton's campaign on Tuesday fill in details on how the Democratic nominee would fulfill promises to improve access to financing and minimize regulatory burdens that make it difficult to start small businesses. "They tell me more dreams die in the parking lots of banks than anywhere in America," Clinton said of the feedback she has received from small business owners. "I'd like to get rid of the unnecessary red tape," Clinton said of regulations on credit unions and small banks that make it difficult to lend to would-be entrepreneurs. Clinton's campaign said she also wants to guarantee that small businesses with questions about U.S. government regulations receive an answer within 24 hours. Clinton's running mate, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, discussed the new proposals during a Tuesday roundtable with small business owners in Colorado, a battleground state. As the southeastern state of Florida contends with the spread of the Zika virus, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is proposing a new fund to improve the way the federal government responds to Zika and other public health emergencies. Florida officials announced Tuesday a case of Zika has been transmitted by mosquitoes in Floridas Tampa Bay region, some 425 kilometers from Miami, where the first locally spread U.S. cases were discovered. Clinton's proposal calls for the establishment of a Public Health Rapid Response Fund, which would allow the president to quickly release funds in the event of a public health crisis without having to wait for congressional approval. Clinton's campaign did not specify how the program would be funded, but did say it would cost several billion dollars over a 10-year period. Bi-partisan legislation similar to Clinton's proposal has already been introduced by Senators Bill Cassidy (R) and Brian Schatz (D). Last March Clinton unveiled a plan to combat the virus with the allocation of $1.8 billion in emergency funds. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump seemed to agree with his rival that congress should provide funding for Zika. Earlier this month, Trump told the Miami Herald he would "let some of the funds that they're asking for come in" to combat the virus. If the Zika virus worsens, how the crisis is addressed could have political consequences for the candidates in Florida, the nation's largest battleground state with 29 electoral votes up for grabs. Polls indicated Trump recently trailed Clinton in Florida by a narrow margin, but a poll conducted by Monmouth University between August 12 and 15 showed Clinton with a commanding 48 to 39 percent lead. Trump will have an opportunity to address the Zika crisis when he attends a campaign rally in Tampa, Florida Wednesday afternoon. Courting African Americans Later Wednesday, the real estate mogul will speak at a rally in the southern city of Jackson, Mississippi, a state where polls say Trump has a solid lead. The population of Jackson is 80 percent African American. And Jackson is the capital of Mississippi, which has the highest proportion of African Americans than any other state in the U.S. Trump has reached out to African Americans in recent days after rejecting high profile opportunities to speak before groups such as the NAACP, the National Urban League and the National Association of Black Journalists, suggesting a change in strategy by his new campaign leadership. But the Republican presidential candidate has been criticized by some for issuing appeals to African Americans in predominately white communities. Trump initiated his outreach to African Americans last week in Washington County, Wisconsin, where 96 percent of the residents are white. "You live in poverty. Your schools are no good. You have no jobs. Fifty-eight percent of your youth is unemployed? What the hell do you have to lose?" At a campaign stop in Akron, Ohio, Monday night, Trump continued his appeals to African American voters. "Look, it is a disaster the way African Americans are living ... We'll get rid of the crime. You'll be able to walk down the street without getting shot." Brandon Berg, an African American pastor and an undecided Republican, attended Trump's rally in Akron. "He's got to take his arguments to the streets," he said. "Meet them where they are." Calvin Tucker, a 64-year-old from the northeastern city of Philadelphia, is the only African American Republican convention delegate from the state of Pennsylvania. He said Trump's message of entrepreneurship appeals to him. "We need a change agent," he said. "He's breaking down his overall economic platform and relating it to African Americans." Another African American Philadelphia resident, 43-year-old Foluke Bennett, views Trump differently, describing Trump's remarks about African Americans as "racist." Campaign aides say Trump will indeed take his message to minorities in the coming weeks with trips being planned to urban areas and Latino communities, and the development of an empowerment plan that emphasizes education and wealth accumulation. Hot, dry winds whipped through western U.S. states on Tuesday, stoking wildfires that have scorched tens of thousands of hectares of land and forced residents to flee homes in California and Washington state. The National Interagency Fire Center reported 32 fires in Western states, including seven new outbreaks in the past 24 hours. Washington Governor Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency in 20 counties near the smoke-shrouded city of Spokane, as firefighter reinforcements arrived in the area. In comments to reporters, he linked the latest outbreaks to climate change and diseased trees in the region's vast forests. To the south, firefighters in California's San Luis Obispo County have contained about a third of the 15,000-hectare blaze threatening the historic Hearst Castle. By midday Tuesday, authorities said the castle the early 20th-century home of publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst was no longer in danger, after a wind shift pushed the blaze away from the facility. Separately, investigators in Southern California searched for the cause of a huge fire in San Bernardino County that burned for a week, destroying more than 100 homes and 200 buildings. Authorities said the so-called Blue Cut fire was 100 percent contained Tuesday. Elsewhere, smaller fires burned in two popular national parks in northwest Wyoming, closing a main road at the west entrance to Yellowstone Park and a 20-kilometer stretch of road in neighboring Grand Teton Park, where at least one campground was evacuated. Italian officials have raised the death toll from Wednesday's earthquake to at least 247 people and injured more than 360. Rescuers are continuing to search for victims buried in the debris. Earlier Wednesday, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi traveled by helicopter to the affected areas and shook hands with the rescue volunteers. Renzi also spoke with the minister of infrastructure and the head of the civil protection agency. He declined to make any statement to reporters, saying it was "not the time to talk." Earlier, Renzi said, "No family, no city, no town will be left alone.'' The earthquake struck the region just after 3:30 a.m. local time Wednesday, causing extensive damage to three cities near the epicenter. Children were among the dead. The U.S. Geological Survey put the epicenter of the magnitude-6.2 quake about 10 kilometers southeast of the town of Norcia. The shaking was also felt across a large part of the Umbria region, including the capital, Rome, 150 kilometers away. The hardest-hit areas included the towns of Amatrice and Accumoli, which was largely reduced to rubble. "Three-quarters of the town is not there anymore,'' Amatrice Mayor Sergio Pirozzi told state-run broadcaster RAI. "The aim now is to save as many lives as possible. There are voices under the rubble; we have to save the people there." The civil protection agency confirmed that at least 53 of the dead were in Amatrice alone. "The whole ceiling fell but did not hit me," Amatrice resident Maria Gianni said. "I just managed to put a pillow on my head and I wasn't hit luckily, just slightly injured my leg." WATCH: Video of earthquake aftermath Another woman, sitting in front of her destroyed home, said she did not know what might have happened to her loved ones. "It was one of the most beautiful towns of Italy and now there's nothing left,'' she said. The Rev. Savino D'Amelio, a parish priest in Amatrice, called the situation an "immense tragedy." More than 80 aftershocks In the neighboring province of Marche, the earthquake was felt at 3.36 a.m. In Montefiore dell'Aso, about 90 minutes away by car from Norcia, the epicenter, the shock lasted about 30 seconds, VOA's Jamie Dettmer said. Dettmer said residents at the Hotel Magnolia, perched above a picturesque valley running into the Adriatic, were shocked by the quake's strength and duration as they evacuated the building, fearing aftershocks. "The hotel creaked and groaned ... as the prolonged jolt tested the building, which held up well. There was only a slight and small superficial crack in the masonry," he said. Outside the hotel, guests trawled the internet for news and called family and friends to find out if they were all safe. About 45 minutes later, a second, weaker temblor lasted about 20 seconds. And later on, another aftershock was felt, also lasting about 20 seconds. Dettmer said more than 80 aftershocks have been felt since the initial large tremor in different parts of Italy. "Italians in the central provinces of Lazio, Marche and Umbria are on edge," he said. "Many people are fearful of a repeat of the devastation caused in the 2009 earthquake that wrecked the city of L'Aquila, in which 309 people died. So far it is smaller villages that have been mostly affected." Wednesday's quake was not far from L'Aquila. Most of the dead were in the villages of Accumoli and Amatrice. Another village to the southeast of Norcia, Pescara del Tronto, was leveled. Several days earlier, central Italy had experienced slight tremors. At the Vatican, Pope Francis expressed his sorrow for the people and cities affected and canceled part of his general audience to pray for the victims. International aid German leaders have offered condolences and assistance to Italy. France is also offering Italy all the help "that might be necessary" after the deadly earthquake in Umbria. Christos Stylianides, the European Union's crisis management commissioner, said the EU emergency response center is in contact with Italian civil protection authorities to see what additional help might be required. Italy's civil protection agency said several hundred people were injured and many others are in need of temporary housing. "Quakes of this magnitude at this depth in our territory in general create building collapses, which can result in deaths," said the agency's head, Fabrizio Curcio. Rescuers worked after daybreak to try to reach those trapped in the rubble of collapsed buildings. "We need chain saws, shears to cut iron bars, and jacks to remove beams: everything, we need everything," civil protection worker Andrea Gentili told the Associated Press. "We are only hoping there will be the least number of victims possible and that we all have the courage to move on," D'Amelio said. Recent Earthquakes in Italy July 2001 5.2 quake shakes the northern Italy's Alto Adige, killing one woman. October 2002 5.9 quake in Campobasso, kills 30 people, most of them children. April 2009 Powerful quake in Abruzzo kills more than 300 people. May 2012 16 people killed and 350 injured in earthquake around Modena. Ethiopian distance runner Feyisa Lilesa, a silver medal winner at the Rio Olympics, made headlines around the world when he crossed his wrists above his head, making a symbol that has become the rallying cry for protests in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. That political gesture put the runner at grave personal risk, and now some in the Ethiopian diaspora want to help him. Solomon Ungashe of California is one of the three people who co-sponsored a gofundme account for the runner. Gofundme is an online crowdsourcing platform used to raise money for charitable and personal campaigns. Ungashe told VOA the athlete didn't initiate it or ask people to help him, but supporters figured it was necessary and, through the account, they have been able to raise more than $100,000 so far. Separately, they have sent three people who paid out-of-pocket to fly to Rio and provide support. "Feyisa did what he did to raise the bigger issue, but again he left everything that he has. This man is a person who apparently lives a comfortable life at home in Ethiopia, and he left all that behind," Ungashe said. Ungashe added that the money may be used to pay for an immigration lawyer to help the runner get a visa, as well as to facilitate his move to a new country. Ungashe hopes the runner will choose to resettle in the U.S. Whats next The silver medalist is now thinking about what is next for him and his family. He said he didn't celebrate much after crossing the finish line because some of his friends are in prison and some are dead. Government spokesman Getachew Reda, however, downplayed his concerns, saying the country plans a "heroic welcome" for him and his safety was guaranteed. Reda told a state-affiliated news channel that Lilesa will not face any problems for his political stance. "After all, this is an athlete who secured a silver medal for his country," he said, speaking to Fana Broadcasting Corporation. Skeptical of safety Henok Gabisa, a visiting academic fellow at Washington and Lee University School of Law in Lexington, Virginia, said there is reason to doubt the government. He noted that the state-owned TV station in Ethiopia took pains not to show Lilesa's gesture during its Olympic coverage. Gabisa does not believe the government statement assuring Lilesa's safety can be trusted. "People who were killed, more than 500 Oromos and Amhara people who were killed, and maimed and imprisoned for showing the same gesture are still being killed. What unique reason do we have that Feyisa is not going to face the same predicament?" he told VOA. Ungashe shares similar concerns. He noted that after the government spokesman made the statement, the Oromia regional administration branch of the government the Oromo People's Democratic Organization (OPDO), a group that supports the national government used its website to accuse Lilesa of being used by "terrorists, by enemies of peace and enemies of development." "So who do you believe?" Ungashe said. Gawker, an American website that challenged the conventions of journalism with sarcastic coverage of news, celebrities and gossip, is closing down after losing a multimillion-dollar lawsuit over one of its stories. The site debuted in 2002 as a source for "media news and gossip" at a time when American newspapers were struggling to find a business model for publishing online. Gawker thrived with its rambunctious coverage, generating profits for its owners and inspiring scores of imitators, but also drawing fire for stories that critics said could be downright mean and intrusive. In his final post Monday night, CEO Nick Denton wrote: It is a fitting conclusion to this experiment in what happens when you let journalists say what they really think. Denton set out to create a website that prided itself on breaking with mainstream news media over what qualifies as news. That included chasing scandalous news in the private lives of high-profile entertainers, bold opinions published with profane words and merciless takedowns on any institution, person or trend its writers deemed deserving. Some experiments, such as a part of the website that once helped people "stalk" celebrities in real time in Manhattan, were later abandoned after criticism. That edgy approach turned out to be exactly what put Gawker out of business. In 2012, Gawker published a video of Terry Bollea, a professional wrestler and entertainer popularly known as Hulk Hogan, having sex. Gawker refused to remove the video, and Bollea sued for defamation, loss of privacy and emotional pain. A judge ruled against the company with a $140 million judgment, sending the publication into bankruptcy. During the course of the lawsuit, it emerged that Peter Thiel, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur and early Facebook investor, had been paying for Bollea's legal fees because of his own grievances against the site. In 2007, Gawker published an article that discussed Thiel's sexuality. The venture capitalist said he was openly gay at the time, but he took issue with the publication's other articles that he said had "ruined people's lives for no reason." Thiel told the New York Times that he had paid $10 million in legal fees for Bollea and others suing the publication. The multi-million-dollar fine raised questions among Gawkers defenders about the ability of well-funded litigants to, in essence, litigate publications into submission. The other six websites owned by Gawker Media will continue under the auspices of the Spanish-speaking media company, Univision, which bought them for $135 million. No buyer could be found for the Gawker site. Per the sites 13-year run, reaction to Gawkers death has been greeted with grace, gossip and snarky posts on social media. Heres a sampling: Afghan police say at least 13 people are dead and more than 45 wounded after a nearly 10-hour long attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul ended Thursday. Among the dead - seven students, three police officers, two university security guards, and a guard from a nearby school for the blind, Kabul Police Chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi told VOA's Afghan service. He said 36 students and university staff were among the injured. More than 700 staff and students were rescued after being trapped inside the university complex, he added. Eyewitness accounts The attack began with an explosion around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday local time and set off about an hour of gunfire as security forces responded. Officials described the assault as a "complex attack." Police officials said at least two attackers had been killed. One student trapped on campus told the Reuters news agency by phone that he was holed up inside a classroom with some other people. He said they were hearing bursts of gunfire outside. A student who escaped, Massoud Hossaini, told the Associated Press that he, too, had been trapped with some other students in a classroom, where they barricaded themselves inside by pushing chairs and desks against the door. He said they eventually managed to escape through the university's northern emergency gate. Another student, Roman Dehsabzwal, told Radio Free Afghanistan that he was in a classroom when everyone heard a loud bang and the windows shattered. He said he and two other students jumped from a second floor window to escape. Another student, Roman Dehsabzwal, told Radio Free Afghanistan that he was in a classroom when everyone heard a loud bang and the windows shattered. He said he and two other students jumped from a second floor window to escape. A Pentagon spokesman tells VOA that a small number of U.S. advisers assisted their Afghan counterparts in dealing with the attack. Danish journalist Sune Rasmussen spoke to VOA from outside the university. He said some people managed to escape through a wall damaged by an explosion. There are no claims of responsibility from militant groups. WATCH: American University attack aftermath U.S. condemnation The U.S. State Department condemned the violence and called it an "attack on the future of Afghanistan." Earlier this month, an American professor and his Australian colleague were kidnapped at the school. No group claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and the professors' whereabouts remains unknown. The university was built with support from the United States. It opened its doors in 2006. The university is independent, but based on the U.S. model for liberal arts education. From the outside, the Islamic State terror groups self-declared caliphate appears to be unraveling, its cities lost and its fighters fleeing. There is growing concern, however, that what seems to be a fraying proto-state is actually an enemy force that is fanning out, sacrificing territory and battles now so it can wreak havoc on its home turf in years to come. The warning signs for the strategic shift by IS have been visible for months, showing up in the way its fighters have retreated from former strongholds and in the way it appears to be setting up its defense of Mosul, the groups capital in Iraq. While IS fighters there are expected to battle to the very end, the groups best and most effective forces most likely will not be among them. Losing leadership Many of the top commanders have already left, David Witty, a retired U.S. Army Special Forces colonel and former adviser to the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service told VOA. More could soon follow. In previous battles, large numbers of IS fighters have not been captured, Witty said. They will be ready to escape with somewhere around 50 percent of their strength. Atheel Alnujaifi, a former governor of Nineveh province who now heads Iraqs National Mobilization Front and its approximately 4,000 fighters, believes the strategic retreat is well underway. The information coming from inside Mosul says that most of the foreign fighters are leaving, Alnujaifi said during an interview last month. I dont think that more fighters will come. U.S. military officials admit the number of fighters left to protect Mosul, a force once thought to be possibly 12,000-strong, may have been reduced by half. Somewhere between 5,000 or so fighters are inside Mosul, former Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman Colonel Chris Garver told Pentagon reporters earlier this month. Other analysts argue that the number of IS fighters in and around Mosul is higher. Growing IS trend Still, there is growing concern that the overall trend is part of an IS strategy to melt into the background. Theyve had a very long time to ensure their support zones are intact, and they are deeply entrenched, warned Patrick Martin, Iraq research analyst with the Institute for the Study of War. Already, IS has seen success in reigniting its insurgent capabilities in areas it has lost to other military forces. One such example is Iraqs Diyala province, initially cleared of IS in early 2015. But since then, the number of IS terror attacks has steadily increased, forcing Iraqi security to start all over again. The long game is that ISIS is intent on keeping some of these attack-and-support capabilities in recaptured areas without necessarily the intent of controlling terrain, Martin said, using an acronym for the terror group. U.S. officials also worry IS will escape through black market and criminal networks that have already profited from the terror groups exploits. Smuggling networks have been key to their ability to get material in and out of their territory, Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Adam Szubin told the August issue of the CTC Sentinel. Youre talking about smuggling routes that have existed for centuries, in many cases millennia, he said. These middlemen are civilians, and they are not going to be who the military is looking for in terms of striking against ISIL. Civilian population There are also expectations that some IS fighters will try to hide among the civilian Sunni population escaping the conflict into camps and towns around Iraq and Syria. "After significant coalition operations to liberate cities, ISIS fighters often flee in convoys intermixed with civilians, said Nicholas A. Glavin, a senior researcher at the U.S. Naval War Colleges Center in Irregular Warfare and Armed Groups. He said the tactic, whether deliberate or coincidental, prevents coalition airstrikes from eliminating IS fighters as they flee. Once intermingled with the civilian population, it can be nearly impossible to root them out, as ISs predecessor, al-Qaida in Iraq, showed from 2003 to 2011. Even with thousands of U.S. troops on the ground, there were neighborhoods that were never actually cleared of al-Qaida militants. Now, it may be even more difficult. ISF [Iraqi Security Forces] are not good at isolating urban areas, said Witty, the retired Army Special Forces colonel. The option to escape will always be there. And once IS fighters have escaped, officials fear the loose but resilient support networks will enable them to lie dormant and undetected until an opportunity presents itself. Its very difficult to root them out in one sweep, said Martin of the Institute for the Study of War. Islamic State's claim of responsibility for an attack on Russian police in the Moscow region last week raises concerns about the terrorist group's possible plans for targeting the Russian capital. Russian authorities say the two men involved, armed with a gun and two axes, were killed after clashes with police at a traffic post outside the city. Islamic State, via the Amaq news agency, said the attack was revenge for Moscow's yearlong bombing campaign in Syria. "Russia as a target is growing in value as Russia is more deeply involved, and actively involved, in supporting the [Bashar al-] Assad regime, supporting the Iranians in the field there," said Moscow-based defense analyst Pavel Felgenhauer. Russian authorities are playing down the attack's significance and the IS claim. TASS, the official Russian news agency, quoted a law enforcement official as saying links with extremists were being investigated, but no such links had been found. Russian investigators are focusing on two possible explanations for the violent attack, reported TASS: It could have been either an attempt to take the policemen's weapons or an act of revenge because of conflict with the policemen. Moving toward Moscow? Acknowledging an IS attack would mean accepting that Moscow is vulnerable, according to Felgenhauer. "If and when they will be ready, I don't know. But I'm sure they're working on mega terrorist attacks and to try and do it in Moscow not the Russian provinces, not the North Caucasus," Felgenhauer said. "A major terrorist attack in Moscow is going to cause the most possible political splash compared with any attack in any other part of Russia." IS and affiliated groups have claimed attacks on Russia in the past, including the bombing of a passenger plane from Egypt last year that killed more than 200 Russian tourists. Russian media reported at least two fatal bombing attacks on police in Dagestan this year claimed by IS-affiliated groups. But this was the first IS-claimed attack near Moscow. "While the attack was hardly especially significant or successful, the very fact that IS is beginning to have traction with discontented Muslims in Russia is a dangerous sign," said Mark Galeotti, senior research fellow at the Institute of International Relations in Prague. "In some ways, IS tends to spread virally, so once some are affected, others are more likely to follow." Russian IS fighters Russian officials say hundreds of Russian citizens have left the country to fight with Islamic extremist groups in Syria, including IS. Reports that Russian officials helped radicals leave the country to participate in foreign wars seem plausible, Felgenhauer said. "There has been a very noticeable decrease of terrorist attacks in the North Caucasus as the bad guys moved into Syria, were fighting there, many of them killed there, and less of the radicals [are] left here in the Russian Federation," he said. "The kind of extremist philosophies IS espouses have relatively little support amongst Russia's Muslims, outside the North Caucasus," Galeotti noted, "while the country's security apparatus remains formidable. It is inevitably a concern, but not yet at least a serious threat." But there are concerns that Russian fighters could return from Syria with the aim of spreading the violent ideology at home. "This is a definite worry and, to be blunt, one of the reasons why Moscow is so eager to see them killed beforehand in the battlefields of Syria," Galeotti said. While Russian authorities claim they are attacking IS and other terrorists in Syria, they are targeting anyone in opposition to Assad. There is no question that Russian security forces are taking the potential threat from IS seriously, Galeotti said. "It may be that whereas al-Qaida was once these fighters' greatest inspiration, IS will replace it," he said. "There are concerns about wider radicalizations in Tatarstan, among Central Asian migrant workers but these are still largely no more than potential threats. "The fighters of the North Caucasus remain the number one challenge to Moscow today," Galeotti concluded. "If there are no attacks, no major attacks, then they are effective," Felgenhauer said, when asked how prepared Russia's security forces are to prevent further IS attacks. "If there is an attack, God forbid, then there was a lapse in security." The foreign ministers of China, Japan and South Korea made a rare display of unity Wednesday to sharply criticize North Korea's latest submarine missile test. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, who chaired the meeting with China's Wang Yi and South Korea's Yun Byung-se, said the missile launch is a "provocation that simply cannot be tolerated.'' Kishida said the ministers reaffirmed their effort in prompting North Korea to use restraint. "I hope to coordinate closely in order for Japan, China and South Korea to lead the efforts of the international community,'' he said. The three countries have quarreled on a number of issues - notably territorial disputes and wartime history - and their foreign ministers' meetings resumed only last year after a two-year hiatus because of strained Chinese-Japanese relations. Yun said that North Korea's repeated missile tests this year "demonstrated a rapid advancement of capability'' and that he shared the concern over the "urgent situation'' with his counterparts. Wang said the three neighbors, despite problems and difficulties among them, should work together to deal with regional threats like North Korea's missile and nuclear ambitions. "China opposes North Korea's nuclear and missile process, actions that cause tension on the Korean Peninsula,'' Wang said in a joint news conference. Tensions between Tokyo and Beijing remain high over disputed East China Sea islands and undersea gas development, while ties between China and South Korea became frayed after Seoul approved the deployment of a U.S. missile defense system against North Korea's threats that Beijing says will harm its security. During Wednesday's talks, the ministers apparently focused on disaster prevention, the environment and other less-thorny issues. Japanese officials said the U.S. missile deployment in South Korea and their ongoing joint military exercises were not mentioned at the trilateral talks. In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said the ministers agreed to focus on "building up political trust, carrying out pragmatic cooperation, expanding people-to-people exchanges and pushing ahead with sustainable development,'' while supporting responsible roles in economic growth, cooperation as well as peace and stability in the region. Nevertheless, Kishida protested to Wang over China's escalating maritime activity around the Japanese-controlled Senkaku island, which Beijing also claims, demanding China "fully calm the situation'' and avoid tension. An improved East China Sea situation would allow for more dialogue between the two sides, including a bilateral summit during the G-20 meeting next month. Wang said China also hopes to prevent tension in the East China Sea and improve relations with Japan. While expectations for concrete achievements at the talks were low, Japan offered details about the 1 billion yen ($1 million) fund that Tokyo promised as a way to atone for its wartime sexual abuse of South Korean "comfort women.'' Seoul has certified 245 of them - 64 survivors and the relatives of the 199 who died - as eligible recipients. The fund is part of the landmark agreement reached by the two sides last December in a bid to resolve their dispute over Japan's wartime actions. Japan's Cabinet approved details of the provision, to be provided to the women through a South Korean organization launched last month, ahead of Japan-South Korea talks. The survivors are entitled to receive about 10 million yen ($100,000) each for medical and nursing care, and 2 million yen ($20,000) each will cover cost including funeral for those who died and scholarships of their relatives. Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan will head a commission to discuss ethnic conflict and clashes in Myanmar's Rakhine state, the government and the foundation named after him announced Wednesday. A statement issued by the Kofi Annan Foundation said the commission "will initiate a dialogue with political and community leaders in Rakhine with the aim of proposing measures to improve the well-being of all the people of the State." More than 100 people were killed in Rakhine in 2012 and 100,000 remain in camps following clashes between the Rohingya Muslim minority and the Buddhist majority. Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party ended decades of military rule in a landslide vote earlier this year, has been widely criticized by the international community for not doing more to combat institutionalized discrimination, particularly against the Muslim minority. "The Myanmar government wants to find a sustainable solution on the complicated issues in Rakhine State; that's why it has formed an advisory commission," the government said in a statement released by Aung San Suu Kyi's office. The statement did not name the Rohingya, only ambiguously referring to violence in the state. "Today's announcement is a sign that Myanmar's authorities are taking the situation in Rakhine State seriously," said Rafendi Djamin, Amnesty International's director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, in a statement. "But it will only have been a worthwhile exercise if it paves the way for the realization of human rights for all people in the state." The panel of nine comprises six Myanmar citizens and three foreigners and is expected to publish a report within a year of its formation. It does not include a Muslim minority representative. South Sudan said Wednesday said that even though former rebel leader Riek Machar was being treated at a Sudanese hospital for an apparent chest infection and leg injury, it would not affect relations between the two countries. Mawien Makol Ariik, spokesperson for South Sudans Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Juba would continue to work with Khartoum on trade and other issues of bilateral interest. We dont have any reaction as to Riek Machars being in Khartoum," Ariik said. "Khartoum has declared that Riek is there on humanitarian grounds and that is none of our concern, because the visit of the first vice president to Khartoum and the progress in the relations between the two countries [continues], Ariik said. Sudan is a sovereign country. Although Machars presence in Khartoum coincided with this weeks visit of a South Sudanese delegation headed by new First Vice President Taban Deng Gai, who represents a breakaway faction of the SPLM in Opposition, Ariik said Juba was focused on maintaining good relations with Khartoum. That is completely a decision of the Republic of Sudan to announce the presence of Riek Machar whenever and whatever they wanted to announce, and it has nothing to do with our relations here," Ariik said. 'Bad condition' On Tuesday, Sudan Information Minister Ahmed Bilal told VOA's "South Sudan in Focus" that Machar was in what he termed a bad condition. Machar fled from Juba last month shortly after heavy fighting broke out in the capital between Machars forces and South Sudan army forces. Machar, who disappeared just hours after the fighting in Juba erupted, was fired later by President Salva Kiir. Sudanese journalists have reported that Machar is in Al Amal Hospital, a medical facility owned by Sudans national security and intelligence service. No reporters have been allowed to speak with Machar or to the doctors treating him. Machar was secretly moved from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Khartoum earlier this week. Opposition officials in Nairobi have not made any official statement on Machars health. South Sudan in Focus reached out to an appointed SPLM-IO member of parliament for comment, but he declined to speak. Long before there was an Islamic State, Muslim jihadists grappled with a nagging conundrum: how to build authentically Islamic states. While some advocated toppling the near enemy the so-called atheist regimes and their collaborators others pushed for striking the far enemy Western enablers, the United States in particular. In the 1990s, al-Qaida put the debate to rest by taking the fight to the far enemy, a strategy that culminated in the attacks of September 11, 2001. As al-Qaida has diminished in power in recent years, though, and given birth to myriad offspring and permutations with often local agendas, including the so-called Islamic State, the near enemy has borne the brunt of terrorist violence. By far the vast majority of victims of terrorist attacks over the past 15 years has been Muslims killed by Muslims. In the latest instance, an Islamic State suicide bomber struck a Kurdish wedding in southeastern Turkey on Saturday, killing more than 50 people. I understand why the media cover terrorism in the West so closely, and I understand why people who follow these events become so frightened, but objectively speaking the threat of terrorism is not very great, said Richard Bulliet, a professor emeritus of history at Columbia University. Of 167,221 terrorism-related fatalities reported from 2001 to 2015, almost all 163,532 or 98 percent occurred outside the United States and Western Europe, according to the University of Marylands Global Terrorism Database. The U.S. government-funded GTD is the worlds largest public database on terrorist attacks. The database does not sort victims by religious affiliation. But GTD data on 25 Muslim-majority countries from Iraq to Malaysia reveal that these countries account for 75 percent of all fatalities from terrorist attacks from that period. The United States and Western Europe, with a combined 3,689 fatalities including 2,977 from the attacks of September 11, 2001 account for just 2.2 percent of terrorism-related deaths during the period. Not all victims of terrorism in Muslim-majority countries are Muslims. In fact, the fatalities have included Christians, Yazidis and other minorities just as there have been many non-Christians among casualties of terrorism in the U.S. and Western Europe. But it is safe to assume that the majority of victims in Muslim countries are Muslims, according to Michael Jensen, GTD data collection manager. Driven by more than religion The GTD data vary wildly from country to country. While Iraq accounts for more than 50,000 fatalities, Malaysia shows only six deaths for the past 15 years. In many cases, the motive never becomes clear but the discrepancy in terrorism related fatalities among Muslim countries suggests that its not just religion driving it, Jensen said. It has to be something else. Researchers at the Institute for Economics and Peace have combed the GTD data for patterns and identified two features common to countries where terrorism thrives. According to their research, 92 percent of all terrorist attacks in the past 25 years have occurred in countries with widespread state-sponsored political violence, while 88 percent of attacks have occurred in places with violent conflicts. The link between these two factors and terrorism is so strong that less than 0.6 per cent of all terrorist attacks have occurred in countries without any ongoing conflict and any form of political terror, the researchers write in the 2015 Global Terrorism Index Report. In most Muslim-majority countries with a significant level of terrorist activity, one or both of these features are present. Iraq may be the most extreme example of a country with a long history of state-sponsored violence and conflict over political authority. At the other end of the spectrum is Egypt, where authoritarian regimes have long sanctioned violence against political opponents. Categories of targets Historically, terrorism travels in waves. In the 1960s and 1970s, with wars raging in Vietnam and Algeria and a conflict in Northern Ireland, the epicenter of terrorism was Western Europe and to a lesser extent, the U.S. In the 1980s, the focal point shifted to Latin America where insurgencies in Peru, El Salvador and Colombia spawned a wave of terrorism in the region. Since the 1990s, the predominantly Muslim countries of the Middle East, South Asia, and North Africa have served as the hotbed of global terrorism, as jihadists, emboldened by the fall of the Soviet Union, have sought to bring down regional governments. GTDs Jensen said that in Muslim-majority countries, as in most other countries with a history of terrorism, militants often strike three categories of targets: Private citizens and property represent the largest target of terrorist attacks, followed by security forces, and government and diplomatic officials and institutions. In Afghanistan, you have a classic example of a progressive expansion of the categories of targets so that you see not only the Taliban but also other groups ... progressively have begun to target individuals that they feel are associated with government, said Candace Rondeaux, a senior program officer at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington. The victims include teachers and bus drivers so its become a much more expansive category in a lot of cases and you see that replicated in other parts of South Asia, in parts of North Africa and in the Horn of Africa, Rondeaux said. The violence has involved Islamic State militants killing Kurds in Turkey, Sunni suicide bombers targeting Shiite mosques in Pakistan, Shiite extremists assassinating Sunni religious figures, Taliban bombs killing civilians in Afghanistan, Islamic State suicide bombers blow up Shiite shrines and massacring members of the Yazidi minority in Iraq, and Boko Haram militants killing peaceful Muslim worshipers and restaurant guests in Nigeria. I think in a majority of cases where Muslims are victims of terrorism, theyre largely targeted not because theyre Muslim but because theyre police officers or soldiers or happen to be in a public place, said Jensen. Political motivations Nevertheless, he said Sunni-Shiite sectarianism is a big part of it. Proportionally, Shiites, who make up about 10% of the worlds 1.7 billion Muslims, are killed in increasingly large numbers as Sunni extremists from Iraq to Pakistan target members of a minority sect they view as heretical, according to Bulliet. While not all Shiite groups have been targeted by Sunni militants, it is striking how often in Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan, you have terrorist outrages that really focused on Shiites, Bulliet said. At its core, the violence is part of a broader struggle over power in predominantly Sunni societies where questions over political and religious authority as well as the relationship between religion and modernity linger unsettled decades after European colonial rule and the fall of the Ottoman Empire. With Sunnism collapsing as a unifying state institution, Islamists have turned to religion to combat authoritarian regimes, Bulliet said. Sunni Islam is falling apart drastically, and I think this is the source of a great deal of the violence, he said. Ultimately, thats the problem: If you have an entrenched state, can you get rid of it without violence? If you dont believe thats a possibility, then violence becomes the alternative option. A psychology student from the southern U.S. state of Mississippi who tried to travel to Syria with his fiancee to join Islamic State has been sentenced to eight years in prison on federal terrorism charges. Muhammad Dakhlalla, 22, could have faced up to 20 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and lifetime probation on federal terrorism charges after he pleaded guilty to conspiring to join the extremist group. He also was sentenced to 15 years of probation. His fiancee, Jaelyn Young, was sentenced earlier this month to 12 years in prison and 15 years of probation, including mandatory mental health treatment. Prosecutors have portrayed Young, who converted to Islam while studying at Mississippi State University, as the mastermind who talked Dakhlalla into going along. However, prosecutors said, Dakhlalla ultimately agreed to the plan. The couple was arrested in August 2015 at a Mississippi airport while en route to elope in Istanbul. They planned to marry in Turkey and then flee together to Syria, disguising the secret trip as a honeymoon. Mohamed Amiin Ali Roble Also Wednesday, the U.S. Justice Department charged Mohamed Amiin Ali Roble, 20, formerly of the northern U.S. state of Minnesota with providing and conspiring to provide material support to Islamic State. Roble is alleged to have used proceeds from a legal settlement related to a deadly 2007 bridge collapse in Minneapolis to finance his travel to Syria two years ago. He was identified in interviews with other alleged conspirators who have been cooperating with federal investigators, and is still believed to be fighting for Islamic State in Syria. The farmers of Domnak Sokrom commune were fed up with waiting. They had spent more than a decade going back and forth with their CPP ((Cambodian Peoples Party)) commune chief, who had promised them government funds would be available to build an irrigation support network, crucial in monsoonal Cambodia, where wet seasons are extreme and dry seasons can be equally as harsh on agricultural land. Finally, the frustrated villagers from Cambodias Kampot province banded together, pooled their money and built an irrigation gate to help store and control the flow of water into thousands of hectares of rice fields. People agreed with each other that if we didnt build it ourselves and waited for the government, we wouldnt have it, because the commune chief said this water gate couldnt be built using the communes budget, said Ourn Sophal, president of a local farmers association and a local leader for the recently created Grassroots Democracy Party. People heard that we couldnt use the [commune] budget, so they thought theyd better build it by themselves. It is this type of community spirit the Grassroots Democracy Party is seeking to harness. The partys members say they have lost faith in the countrys two dominant parties, and are seeking to turn Cambodias traditional top down politics on its head, empowering rural voters through political education and the development of policies through debate at the local level. Top down politics With Cambodias commune elections to be held next June, Prime Minister Hun Sen appears to have already kicked off the campaign for his Cambodian Peoples Party, which has ruled with a strong arm for more than 30 years, with a nationwide provincial tour, boasting of improvements to roads, bridges and schools under his partys watch. The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, which made significant gains in the closely contested 2013 national election, has long held rallies in the countryside, with the partys top brass traveling to rural areas, aiming to shore up votes for next years local elections, which are expected to act as a barometer for the national vote in 2018. Yet the Cambodia National Rescue Party has come under fire from political analysts and minor parties recently for being more focused on the status of its leaders than developing public policy that would help it govern successfully at the local level. Party leader Sam Rainsy, who is self-exiled in France to avoid defamation charges, has chosen to publicly defend the party from being labeled a one-man show. GDP founders say group decision-making is rare in the provincial areas, as village and commune chiefs are beholden to the rigid hierarchy of Cambodian politics that is directed by leaders in Phnom Penh. Created just last year, the party is taking a long-term view, backing the spread of awareness from village to village, through empowered local leaders. Demanding more from politics Analysts say rural Cambodians are becoming increasingly engaged in politics. Improved livelihoods and greater access to independent media via radio and smartphones in Cambodias rural areas means information is more readily available to people than ever before. When people have slightly more than enough, they can have some time to think about their situation: their future and their children's, their challenges, their government's roles, said independent researcher Srey Chanthy. They don't have to be concerned so much about if they have a plate of rice for tomorrow. With their children migrating to countries like South Korea, Japan, Thailand and Malaysia, many Cambodian farmers, with access to low-cost smartphones and social media, are learning about the political climate in other countries and demanding more from their leaders at home, he added. Many GDP members are judging politicians on the promises made following the 2013 election. I have only seen changes in the garment workers wages, said Doung Pov, a 53-year-old farmer from Takeo province, attributing the salary increase to pressure applied by the opposition. I havent seen any other noticeable changes, she said, echoing the concerns of dozens of converts attending GDP meetings in Takeo and Kampot provinces earlier this month. Bottom up politics Starting in provinces close to the capital, GDP founders are meeting with voters who, they say, have become disenchanted with Cambodias centralized power structures. Party organizers are providing a platform for people to debate party policies, from local economics with a focus on agriculture, to health and education and even foreign relations. In short, our policy is focused on rural development from the grassroots, and decentralization to make sure that each person at the commune level has enough capacity to solve their own problems, and the freedom and resources to solve problems for themselves, said GDP co-founder Yaing Saing Koma. The party has just 2,000 members and is aiming to win outright in 20 of 1,600 communes in 2017, but it expects to have elected councilors in 80 other communes. It is holding forums in more than 200 villages across nine provinces, where it establishes a local platform before bringing in new members. Koma concedes his partys bottom up approach to local policy development and intra-party leadership contests will become unwieldy as membership expands, but is confident its 20-year vision will foster a more politically confident electorate. A history marked with violence But going against the grain is dangerous in a country whose political history is marked with violence. In July, prominent political analyst Kem Ley, whose research contributed to the formation of the GDP, was killed while drinking his regular morning coffee at a gas station cafe in Phnom Penh. A suspect has been arrested and the investigation is ongoing, but the assassination has the hallmarks of political killings of the past, like the murders of union leader Chea Vichea, who was gunned down in the street while reading a newspaper in 2004, and prominent environmental activist Chut Wutty, who was shot dead in 2012 while investigating illegal logging. Friction has also emerged in village life in just the short time the GDP has been active. A former CPP village chief from Kampot, Keat Long, says he was demoted by the Mean Rith commune chief and had his salary suspended after his son joined the GDP. My son knows what is right and what is wrong. And he is going to the right way. I dont know why I should prevent him for doing this? he said. The 72-year-old said that farmers in the area have been drawn to community projects leveraged by the GDP, which, in turn, sparked their interest in policy debate. Mean Rith commune chief Oeum Tan told VOA that Long had his pay cut as he is illiterate and disorganized. Keat Long is old and doesnt have the power to control his son, he said. Self-reliance growing in rural Cambodia Regardless of how people vote in the commune elections next year, many voters in Cambodias countryside are taking matters into their own hands. If we lack water we need to find it by ourselves, said Sok Channa, a Takeo farmer, who said she had not heard of the GDP, but had little time for mainstream political parties. Eying the construction of a community built dam in the neighboring village, where people there had also grown tired of waiting for government funding, Channa said her village was preparing to do the same. They [local authorities] said they cant provide [irrigation] for us, so if we have enough money, we will build it ourselves. After North Korea launched a ballistic missile from a submarine off its east coast early Wednesday, regional leaders and the U.S. condemned the test, with Japan's prime minister calling it "unforgivable." The missile, which was launched from near Sinpo about 5:30 a.m. local time Wednesday (2030 UTC Tuesday), flew about 500 kilometers over and into the Sea of Japan. It was the latest in a series of missile launches in defiance of U.N. Security Council sanctions. Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, in a first, that the missile entered Japan's air defense identification zone. "This poses a grave threat to Japan's security and is an unforgivable act that damages regional peace and stability markedly," Abe said. He added that Tokyo had lodged a protest against North Korea. U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) said the launch was of "a presumed KN-11 submarine launched ballistic missile." "We strongly condemn this and North Korea's other recent missile tests, which violate U.N. Security Council resolutions explicitly prohibiting North Korea's launches using ballistic missile technology," said a statement by the U.S. agency. The launch came amid growing regional concerns about North Korea's missile and nuclear programs. Rocketry experts told Reuters news agency that the distance the missile traveled indicates the North is improving its submarine-launched missile system. "I think it was probably successful," Jeffrey Lewis, of the California-based Middlebury Institute of International Studies, told Reuters. "We don't know the full range, but 500 kilometers is either full range or a full range on a lofted trajectory. Either way, that missile works." The incident also occurred on the same day the foreign ministers of China, Japan and South Korea are scheduled to meet in Tokyo. It also came one day after South Korea and the United States began their annual joint military exercises. About 25,000 U.S. forces and 50,000 South Korean troops are involved in the two-week Operation Ulchi Freedom exercise, which is largely simulated. North Korea threatened military retaliation. A statement issued Monday by the North's military said its first-strike units were ready to turn the United States and Washington "into a heap of ashes through a Korean-style preemptive nuclear strike," if North Korea's sovereignty was threatened. Both South Korea and the U.S. insist the exercises are purely defensive in nature. On Tuesday, the United Nations Command said North Korea has been laying new land mines on its side of its heavily fortified border with South Korea. North Korean soldiers have been spotted planting anti-personnel mines on its side of the so-called Bridge of No Return, a river crossing near the border truce village of Panmunjom. The U.N. Command, which oversees the cease-fire that ended the 1950-53 Korean War, condemned Pyongyang in a statement released Tuesday, saying it "seriously jeopardizes the safety of people on both sides" of the Demilitarized Zone. North Korea has been blamed for planting land mines along the DMZ that detonated last year, maiming two South Korean soldiers patrolling the border. The U.S.-led command would not speculate on why North Korea is taking such action, but South Korea's Yonhap news agency said it was told by a government source that the mines are there to prevent front-line North Korean troops from defecting. North Koreas latest submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) test demonstrated real progress in advancing the militarys ability to launch a nuclear strike on the U.S. mainland or any other target in the world. The missile, fired from near the coastal city of Sinpo early Wednesday morning, travelled about 500 kilometers before falling into the sea inside Japans air defense identification zone (ADIZ). Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the North Korean provocation an unforgivable act in obvious defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions. "This is the first time that North Korea's missile landed in Japan's air defense identification zone. This poses a grave threat to Japan's security, and is an unforgivable act that damages regional peace and stability markedly, said Abe. The foreign ministers from China, Japan and South Korea discussed the Norths missile launch during a trilateral meeting in Tokyo on Wednesday. While the diplomats from Tokyo and Seoul forcefully condemned Pyongyangs actions, Beijings Foreign minister Wang Yi focused on fostering broader cooperation. "It's our responsibility to promote economic development, lead regional cooperation and maintain regional peace and stability," he said. Progress North Korea is considered to be in the early stages of developing submarine based missile launch capability. Pyongyang claimed to have conducted its first successful SLBM test in May of 2015, but analysts later determined the missile was launched from an underwater barge and not from a submarine. In December of 2015, the North test-fired an SLBM that reportedly exploded in midair after traveling for a few kilometers. North Koreas last submarine missile test, in April, travelled only 30 kilometers before falling into the sea. The South Korean military said Wednesdays launch, of what it presumed to be a KN-11 midrange SLBM, indicated a real advancement of the Norths ballistic missile capability. Over the past year or two they have been making rapid progress. I think this progress is faster than most people have expected, said security analyst Daniel Pinkston with Troy University in Seoul. Joshua Pollack, editor of the U.S.-based Nonproliferation Review, noted that only six countries including the United States, Russia and China have mastered SLBM technology. While North Korea claims to have developed a miniature nuclear device to attach to a ballistic missile, it has not yet demonstrated that capability. Submarine fleet North Korea currently maintains one of the world's largest submarine fleets, with approximately 70 underwater vessels. Most of the these submarines are old, built with 1950s technology and powered by diesel-electric engines, which means they can only stay submerged and hidden from radar for a few days at a time. But since Kim Jong Un came to power in 2011, the North Korean military has accelerated efforts to modernize its submarine fleet, according to Janes Intelligence Review, a global security journal. Joint exercises South Koreas Foreign Ministry denounced the latest missile test in a statement and condemned the continuing provocations by the North, including nuclear tests and launches of ballistic missiles, ignoring repeated warnings of the international society and violating resolutions of the U.N. Security Council. The Norths SLBM test was also likely timed to protest the annual South Korean and American joint military exercises currently underway. About 25,000 U.S. forces and 50,000 South Korean troops are involved in the two-week Operation Ulchi Freedom exercise, which is largely simulated. One of the objectives of the SLBM test is to rattle Seoul and Washington and their allies and to throw the exercises off track, said Pinkston. UN The U.S. militarys Pacific Command also issued a statement condemning the Norths missile test, saying the U.S. intends to raise our concerns at the U.N. to bolster international resolve in holding the DPRK accountable for these actions. North Koreas continued and repeated ballistic missile tests violate United Nations resolutions banning the country from developing nuclear weapons and ballistic missile technology. The United Nations Security Council imposed harsh sanctions on North Korea in March for its fourth nuclear test and long range rocket launch earlier this year. But the 15-member Security Council, which includes the U.S., China and Russia, met in July after North Korea launched three land based missiles and were unable to agree to issue an official denouncement. Beijings reported reluctance to further reprimand Pyongyang may be related to its increasingly strained relations with Seoul and Washington over the deployment of the American THAAD missile defense system in South Korea. Pakistan says it has formally asked British authorities to take action against the self-exiled leader of a Pakistani political party for inciting this weeks deadly violence in Karachi. The man in question is Altaf Hussain, a longtime British citizen, who has been running his Muttahida Quami Movement, or MQM, party from London since fleeing the country 24 years ago. The party represents Karachis majority Urdu-speaking community who migrated from India to Pakistan in 1947 when it got independence from Britain. On Monday, MQM activists assaulted offices of three private television stations in the city and clashed with police shortly after Hussain delivered a speech by phone from London that was broadcast through loudspeaker. Hussain ordered followers to stage the violence and chanted Down with Pakistan. The attacks left at least one person dead and seven wounded, including journalists and security personnel. Authorities condemned Hussains speech as anti-state speech and quickly moved to detain party leaders as well as workers for their alleged role in the violence. Paramilitary forces also raided and sealed MQM offices in the city and other urban centers of Sindh Province, of which Karachi is the capital. We have formally asked Britain that Scotland Yard and Metropolitan Police must take action according to the evidence and facts available with them, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told reporters Wednesday in Karachi. He added that Pakistani authorities are sending more evidence to the British government, including video footage of the destruction Hussains followers caused during Mondays mass riots. He said Pakistan hopes and expects British authorities to bring Hussain to justice because he is their citizen and used their soil for inciting violence in Pakistan. The British Foreign Office in a statement deplored Mondays attack on Karachis media. UK laws on incitement of hatred and violence are clear and the police are responsible for the investigation of any allegation of criminal acts, it added. Khan also vowed to take legal and constitutional action at home, giving credence to media reports the government plans to institute a high-treason case against Hussain in absentia. The self-exiled leader, in a statement late Monday, apologized for his anti-Pakistan remarks, saying he was under mental stress during the speech. But on Tuesday, top party leaders in Pakistan in a joint news conference distanced themselves from Hussains speech, condemning it as intolerable and unacceptable. MQM second-in-command, Farook Sattar, a national parliament member, also promised to operate the party from within the country until Hussains mental health issue is addressed, though opponents dismissed the assertions as merely a damage-control attempt. Hussains supporters describe him as the undisputed leader of MQM, though critics and renegade party leaders accuse him of being a terrorist and fanatic. Authorities have long accused MQM of being behind political and ethnic violence in Karachi in its bid to either remain in power or put governing parties under pressure. A London-based party leader, Wasay Jalil, while speaking to media by phone denied the allegations MQM was involved in extremism or used British soil for any such acts. He also dismissed reports of a spilt in the party because of Hussains controversial speech, reiterating he remains the undisputed leader of the Urdu speakers. The controversy did not appear to have undermined MQM's popularity, because one of its imprisoned leaders, Waseem Akhtar, on Wednesday won the election for mayor of Karachi. While Hussains calls for protest strikes in the past paralyzed business in Karachi, home to 20 million people, analysts say a security crackdown on his party since 2013 has weakened MQMs power base. The greatest challenge to a Russian military action would be a massive commitment of U.S. airpower in the region. The U.S. F-16s and F-15s (along with strategic bombers and newer if fewer fighters) were designed to stop a Soviet invasion, albeit a lot farther west. The U.S. still has the ability to impose severe attrition on Russian armor. The United States has close relations with Poland and Romania. It is interesting that the Russians have been creating problems on their border with Poland in Kaliningrad. The U.S. would base its aircraft in these countries, as well as Germany and other countries, if it were to confront Russia. But the needed force is not there yet, and any deployment will take a while. Assuming that diplomacy aligns with the best timeline, this leaves a window for the Russians. The recent shifts in regional alignment also help them. The coup in Turkey has created what appears to be a massive rift between Turkey and the United States, and has drawn Turkey and Russia closer. Russia is withdrawing support from Armenia and forcing a settlement with Azerbaijan. This is valuable to the Turks. The Turks wont join with the Russians over Ukraine, but hostility toward the United States and a debt to Russia will likely keep Turkey from helping the U.S. much. The air base at Incirlik might even be unavailable. Russia has some advantages at this moment. But it is not clear that the Russian military is prepared to undertake an action that might bring it into a confrontation with the United States. While a rapid victory might boost Putins position dramatically, if Russia were to get bogged down or even lose, it would be his end. Such an action would also likely kill Putins attempt to separate Europe from the United States. It would be a Hail Mary and simply doesnt seem worth it. Our model still seems correct. So what is Putin doing? If Putin wanted a satisfactory political settlement, this would be the best strategy. He should create a crisis that makes it appear Russia is on the verge of attacking Ukraine. This would start massive shuttles of dignitaries traveling to and around the region, culminating with an effort to convince the Russians not to go to war. Putin would make absurd demands, enraged at the brutal aggression of the Ukrainians, and just as the talks appear to be collapsing, would generate a deal. Given the American sense of weakness after Ukraine, and Germanys distraction, this would be the ideal time for this move. However, the Russians would also use the same strategy if they made a decision to go to war. Before the Russians go to war, they engage in Maskirovka (a masquerade). They create a massive crisis, and then reach a very reasonable agreement. The Russians stand down, except for a few brigades or divisions that carry out exercises, and everyone relaxes. Then, the Russians strike. This is what the Soviets did in Hungary and Czechoslovakia and what Russia did in Georgia. And they blame the attack on some action by the now cocky target, who thinks the Russians have backed down. The problem is that if the Russians wanted a negotiated settlement or if they were getting ready for war, they would act in exactly the same way. The negotiation requires an opening bluff, and war requires a final bluff. So, as much as I believe this is not going to end up in a war right now, we cant ignore that this looks like the early stages of one. It also looks like the early stages of negotiation. This strategy branches out into two different results only at a later point. There are those who believe that a weak economy precludes war. I will close by saying that generally that isnt true, but with the Russians it certainly isnt true. The Russians have fought all their wars from Napoleon on with an economy in shambles. It is their normal condition. And this would not be a world war, but a local conflict. It might have the Americans involved, but obviously not on a large scale. As for sanctions, they really arent a deterrent on a national security issue, and sanctions are rarely placed on a country that just won a major war and is now perched on the borders of Europe. And thats one of the attractions. In that position, Russian can try to extract economic benefits. I would not be surprised to see this in a year. I am surprised to see it now. But while we know what we are seeing, we dont know what it means. The next thing to watch is whether the Russians increase or decrease their rhetoric. Whatever they are doing, they will either quiet down or get very scary indeed. A young protester was killed Wednesday in an anti-India demonstration in Kashmir as India's home minister began a two-day visit to the Himalayan valley to try to defuse deadly protests that have engulfed the region for more than six weeks. The protester died as troops fired shotguns and tear gas to disperse thousands of people defying a curfew on the streets in Pulwama district. At least 20 civilians and troops were injured. Indian officials described Home Minister Rajnath Singh's visit as an outreach to the troubled region, which is facing its worst unrest in six years. He tweeted that he would interact with civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders. Kashmirs former chief minister, Omar Abdullah, who met with Singh, said he stressed the need for talks to calm the tensions. We believe that it is very important that a political dialogue be initiated with the stakeholders of Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah said. The visit comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for dialogue and a permanent solution to the problems in the restive region. Sixty-seven people have died and hundreds have been injured in massive street protests that erupted after a Kashmiri militant, Burhan Wani, was killed by Indian security forces last month. To control the deteriorating security situation, paramilitary troops, which left the region 12 years ago after a violent separatist insurgency abated, have again been deployed in the valley. Among those who have appealed for calm is Indian army chief Dalbir Singh. On Tuesday, he urged people to help restore peace and said troops had been told to exercise maximum restraint while dealing with protesters. Kashmir has been virtually shut down for the past six weeks, with a curfew clamped on much of the region. Schools and markets remain closed, and there are reports of widespread shortages. Political commentators remained skeptical that Singhs outreach would calm the valley. Manoj Joshi at New Delhis Observer Research Foundation pointed out that the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party has always opposed the Muslim majority region's demand for more autonomy. He said he saw no early end to the unrest in Kashmir, which has always simmered with anti-India sentiment. Burhan Wanis killing was just a trigger of a situation. You will have other triggers down the line, he said. Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, and New Delhi blames the unrest in the region on Islamic militant groups based in Pakistan. The Yazidi girl had been in the safety of a refugee camp in Iraq for two weeks when she imagined she heard the voices of Islamic State fighters outside her tent. Petrified by the thought of again facing rape and abuse at their hands, 17-year-old Yasmin vowed to make herself undesirable. So she doused herself in gasoline and lit a match. The flames burned her hair and face, peeling away her nose, lips and ears. That was her state when German doctor Jan Ilhan Kizilhan found her in a refugee camp in northern Iraq last year, physically disfigured and mentally so scarred that she had falsely thought her former captors were coming for her. Now 18, Yasmin is one of 1,100 women, mainly of the Yazidi religious minority, who have escaped IS captivity and are in Germany for psychological treatment. The pioneering program that Kizilhan helps run, which has attracted international attention, tries to address a basic problem: Long after the women are rescued, the trauma remains. Recalling her ordeal today, Yasmin hunches over in her chair, grips her gnarled hands together and looks down at the floor. But she straightens up and her face brightens as she remembers when Kizilhan first entered her tent in the refugee camp and told her and her mother, in their own language, how he could help in Germany. "I said, of course I want to go there and be safe, and be the old Yasmin again,'' she recounts. She asks that her last name not be used out of ongoing fear of possible reprisal from Islamic State sympathizers. It was on Aug. 3, 2014, that IS fighters swept into the Sinjar region of northern Iraq, home to the majority of the world's Yazidis. They rounded up the Yazidis into three groups: Young boys who were made to fight for IS, older males who were killed if they didn't convert to Islam, and women and girls sold into slavery, like Yasmin. Tens of thousands of Yazidis fled to the mountains, where the militants surrounded them in the scorching summer heat. The U.S., Iraq, Britain, France and Australia flew in water and other supplies, but many Yazidis died before they could be rescued. Following the IS assault, "no free Yazidis remained in the Sinjar region,'' a United Nations expert panel wrote. "The 400,000-strong community had all been displaced, captured or killed.'' An estimated 3,200 are still in IS captivity in Syria, where they were taken after being captured. As the attack unfolded, members of the estimated 100,000-strong Yazidi community in Germany approached politicians in Berlin for help. Winfried Kretschmann, the governor of the prosperous western state of Baden Wuerttemberg, was moved and decided to act. "He asked us, 'what can we do?' We're a state, we don't have an army,'' recalls Michael Blume, the state's expert on minority issues. "We looked into it and said, no state's ever done it, but we could bring a special quota here.'' The state parliament committed 95 million euros ($107 million) over three years to bring women abused by IS, mostly Yazidis but also Christians and Shiite Muslims, to Germany. Blume reached out to Kizilhan, a psychologist specializing in trauma and also a university professor and Mideast expert. Kizilhan, who is of Kurdish background, was born in Turkey and speaks Kurdish, including the Yazidi dialect, German, Turkish, Farsi, English and even some Arabic. From February 2015 to January 2016, small teams of experts, including Blume and Kizilhan, went to refugee camps in northern Iraq. Kizilhan made 14 trips and personally interviewed the women and girls, trying to determine who would benefit best from the limited program. "It was an evil that I had never seen in my life,'' he says. "I'm experienced in trauma, I had already worked with patients from Rwanda, from Bosnia, but this was very different. If you have an 8-year-old girl in front of you and she's saying she was sold eight times by IS and raped 100 times during 10 months, how can humankind be so evil?'' In the end, he decided upon 1,100 women and girls ranging in age today from 4 to 56. Kizilhan and others then met with the head religious leader of the Yazidis, the Baba Sheikh, at the holy site of Lalish. He agreed not to ostracize the victims, despite the perceived affront to honor in their culture. "The Baba Sheikh talked with each one of them, kissed them on the head and said, `You belong to our society, you are still Yazidis and we are very proud of you, that you could come through this kind of horror and torture back to our society,''' Kizilhan says. "Most of the women cried, very shocked but happy to be accepted by the highest priest.'' The women are primarily treated in more than 20 clinics in Baden-Wuerttemberg, though 70 have been sent to Lower Saxony and another 30 to Schleswig Holstein. They are kept at undisclosed locations with extra security out of fears that IS sympathizers may try to target them even in Germany. The last chartered plane with the victims arrived in January. The program is being closely watched, with many queries from other states and countries, Blume said. Kizilhan is also working on establishing a trauma institute in northern Iraq to provide similar services for those not fortunate enough to be brought to Germany. Kizilhan noted that even in refugee camps in Iraq, some 60 Yazidi women have committed suicide. About half the victims now in Germany need help just to stabilize. This means introducing them to the basics like going shopping, visiting doctors, and for children, going to school. Among them is a woman whose 4-year-old daughter was taken away by an IS fighter besotted with her blonde hair and blue eyes, who told her he would "marry'' her when she was 9. The mother escaped, but the daughter, now 6, remains in the clutches of the extremists. The woman cries every time she sees a blonde-haired and blue-eyed girl on the street, Kizilhan says. Another was taken by IS at age 16 with her family and watched as her father and two brothers were killed. She was sold as a sex slave to a fighter from Tunisia, and then re-sold another dozen times or so over the next year. Finally escaping, she walked barefoot and without food east across Syria to the Iraqi border. "In the view of the Islamic State ideology, these people are not human beings,'' Kizilhan says. "We experienced that also in the Nazi regime in Germany, they did the same with the Jews.'' All of the women and girls have permission to remain in Germany for two years. Kizilhan notes that after what they have gone through, they could probably get asylum permanently if they want. For Yasmin, there's no reason to go back. Yasmin was 16 when she and her sister were separated from their family as they fled into the mountains, and spent seven days in IS captivity. Men were killed, and women and children taken, she says. After they escaped, she was still terrified and always crying. She falters when trying to describe what led her to set fire to herself, talking vaguely rather than reliving the memory. "Their voice was in my ears,'' she says. "I could hear their voice, I was so scared.'' Then she heard what she thought was a shell exploding nearby. "I couldn't take it anymore,'' she says. "And this is what happened to me.'' Today she shares a modest single-family home with her parents, sister and two brothers. Her sister, a year older, won't talk about what happened to her, and nor will most of the other women in the program. But for Yasmin, the desire for people to know outweighs her hesitance to dredge up horrific memories. "It is very important to tell our stories because the world should know what happened to us, so that it doesn't happen again,'' she says. Yasmin wears loose-fitting clothing to protect her sensitive skin, and a machine at her bedside helps her breathe because of her damaged nose and airways. She hopes to eventually go to school, improve her German, learn English, and get a job involving computers. Yet she still fears the Islamic State, especially after two recent attacks in Germany claimed by the group. She has somewhere between five and 15 surgeries ahead of her, Kizilhan says. She dreams of going out in public again without turning heads, without children looking at her and crying. "I want to be through the surgeries and be healthy again,'' she says. "My family is here and I want to start a new life.'' At least 100,000 rural Mozambicans are paying the price for the nations stalled peace talks, after armed opposition fighters allegedly attacked and looted at least two health facilities in the past month, depriving patients of basic medical care and supplies. Human Rights Watch said Wednesday armed men linked to Mozambiques main opposition party, Renamo, have stormed emergency rooms, threatened patients and staff and seized basic hospital supplies in the towns of Morrumbala and Mopeia in central Mozambique. The attackers take reportedly included bed sheets, mosquito nets, HIV tests, antibiotics, syringes, vaccines and essential supplies used to deliver babies. Renamo did not confirm or deny responsibility for these attacks, but the partys leader recently ordered attacks across the country amid stalled peace talks with the ruling Frelimo party. The rights watchdog says it also received reports of other hospital and clinic attacks, but could not confirm those incidents. Why attack a hospital? Human Rights Watchs Mozambique researcher, Zenaida Machado, paused when asked: Why attack a hospital? Well, thats a good question for you to ask them, she said, adding that perhaps they needed some of the supplies for their wounded compatriots. In our opinion, those raids are such a repugnant strategy, and the only thing they can do is damage health facilities, loot medicines and prevent people in remote areas who much need health care from accessing the hospital and medical treatment, she said. If that was the strategy, it has worked, she noted. Many patients who fled the attacks said they were afraid to return to the medical facilities. The rights group has called for fighters to immediately cease such attacks, calling that demand non-negotiable. But negotiations are at the heart of this matter. For months now, Renamo and Frelimo have been negotiating to reach a deal that will persuade Frelimo to lay down its weapons for good. The two parties originally opposed each other as armed groups in a bruising civil war. The two forged a peace deal when that war ended in 1992, but the deal has broken down in recent years, especially after Renamo refused to accept the ruling party won the 2014 national elections. Neither local nor international observers said they found strong evidence of large-scale vote manipulation in those polls. 'Military strategy' Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama has often resorted to threats and violence, as he did after the election. When it appeared talks would fail he ordered more attacks and called them a military strategy. Observers have noted other small-scale attacks in the past month in central Mozambique. Several of the attacks targeted public facilities like police stations. Mozambique experts estimate about 4,400 refugees remain in neighboring Malawi because of the violence. Analyst Nelson Alusala of the Institute for Security Studies said he doesnt see the country returning to all-out war. But, he said, unless the two sides forge a deal that includes disarmament and guarantees from international mediators, this low-level violence may continue. What you are seeing, attacks on civilians, attacks on public facilities, attacks on the main highway leading between the north and the south, passing through central Mozambique, are reminiscent of the [civil war]. That will continue for a while until that conflict has a sustainable resolution to it, he said. But that would require compromise, which is one thing the characteristically confident Dhlakama appears uninterested in.In a recent interview with local media, he rejected the idea of being appointed as vice president in a power-sharing government, saying, it is impossible to work with Frelimo. What is the definition of so close, but so far? When astronomers discover a rocky earth-like exoplanet, located in the habitable zone of a star that is not just in our neighborhood, but right next door. Proxima Centauri Ho! An international team of astronomers discovered the planet orbiting Proxima Centauri the closest star, other than the Sun, to the Earth. A mere 4.2 light years away. Their results are being published today in Nature, and this news is changing the world of astronomy, not only because its so close, but because its existence suggests Earth like planets may be literally everywhere in our galaxy. The planet is a little larger than the Earth, and scientists have named it Proxima b. It orbits its red dwarf sun every 11 days, and it's warm enough that if there is water on the planet, it can exist in liquid form. Scientists have long thought that the keys to life are a warm, but not too warm planet, and water. This makes Proxima b a prime candidate in the search for life beyond earth. To get a better idea of what this means, VOA spoke with Alan Boss the Chair of NASA's advisory group for Exoplanet exploration. He says the discovery of Proxima b adds to the mounting and 'astounding' evidence that there are a lot of earth-like planets out there. More than even the most optimistic scientists could have ever hoped for. The Drake Equation A bit of backstory: in 1961 radio astronomer Frank Drake showed some very speculative math to another group of scientists about how many intelligent civilizations should be hanging around in the Milky Way. It's called the Drake equation and it's just a series of estimates that begins with a single number: how many stars are born in the Milky Way each year. Drake said it's about 10 a year, which gives an estimated 250-500 billion stars in the Milky Way. From there Drake suggested that only a tiny fraction of those stars have planets around them, and a tiny fraction of those planets might support life. Each fraction gives a smaller and smaller number until we come to the final value we can use to estimate the number of intelligent civilizations like ours out there in the Milky Way. It's speculative, but astronomers have been using telescopes like NASA's Kepler, and a host of other tools to try to put some flesh on the bones of Drake's list of unknowns. Kepler, for instance measures the tiny decreases of light that happen when a planet goes in front of its star. It's been looking for earth-like planets for years and as recently as 2013 scientists best guesses suggested that there are about a billion "Earths" out there. Scientists refer to the number of possible Earths out there as "eta-earths", and it's one of the factors in the Drake equation. Proxima b not only confirms the discovery of a new planet, but according to Boss jacks up the number of "eta-earths" by a huge amount. "Eta sub Earth is close to unity," Boss told VOA. In math, unity means one. What Boss is saying is that it's possible, even likely that most stars may have at least one earth-like planet orbiting their sun, "which is astounding," he says. "Even the most optimistic of us would never guess 20 years ago that eta sub Earth would be that high." So from early estimates of a billion, this new work suggests there may be as many possible Earths as there are stars in our galaxy, anywhere from 250-500 billion. Which makes the possibility of life increasingly likely. In fact, Boss says he believes human beings will prove that life isn't unique to earth in his lifetime. "I am 65," he told VOA, "but I expect to still be alive when it happens." In that sense it's not just the discovery of Proxima b that's important. According to Paul Butler from the Carnegie Institute "the discovery of Proxima takes us from this vague fuzzy statistical abstraction, where we think potentially habitable planets are common, and makes the case concrete. " The Pale Red Dot Campaign The confirmation of Proxima b was made by a team of astronomers that called themselves The Pale Red Dot Campaign, led by Guillem Anglada-Escude' of Queen Mary University in London. The campaign got its name from Proxima Centauri itself which is a Red Dwarf, a "pale red dot" in the sky. The project looks for planets near Proxima Centauri based on a tiny back-and-forth wobble in the star, possibly caused by the pull of an orbiting planet. VOA spoke with Paul Butler from the Carnegie Institute, who worked with Englada-Escude' on a new program for the HARPS spectrograph on a European Southern Observatorys (ESO) telescope that made the results much more sensitive. Using the new program the team was able to find this wobble in the Red Dwarf. From there Butler says The Red Dot team used the "HARPS to observe Proxima Centauri at the end of the night, every night, from January through March of this year. To get an idea for just how tiny that back-and-forth wobble is, Proxima Centauri approaches the Earth at a leisurely pace of about five kilometers per hour, and then it moves away from Earth at the same speed, repeating the cycle every 11.2 days. Proxima Centauri wobbles about 120 kilometers either towards or away from Earth every 24 hours. Astronomers using the HARPS spectrograph were able to detect that wobble from about 45 trillion kilometers away. But they still weren't sure. The astronomers were afraid the observed wobble could just be the star's natural changes in brightness. So they did more work with the ASH2 telescope in Chile and the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network until they were sure that Proxima b really is there. For Butler, "This is the culmination of 30 years of work." So.. can we visit? So what now? Proxima b is only 45 trillion kilometers away? Can we go and check it out? Boss says we might be able to get a robotic spacecraft there, equipped with a camera in about 50 or so years, if we were to leave tomorrow. Of course, to do that we would need to get a spacecraft moving really fast, about 10 percent of the speed of light. But once the probe is there, the pictures could come back at the speed of light so its possible the next generation might see the first pictures of a planet beyond our solar system. That's a lot of 'ifs.' For the moment, Butler says the discovery of Proxima b is world changing. This work has resulted in the discovery of hundreds of planets around the nearest stars, and now a potentially habitable planet around the nearest star in the sky," he said. "This work confirms, that potentially habitable planets are common, and points the way to the future when such planets will be directly observed with giant ground- and space-based telescopes. In its frenzy to clear Iraq of Islamic State and erase any trace of the extremists' self-declared caliphate, Baghdad is running the risk of laying the foundation for the terror group's resurgence. Human rights groups already have voiced repeated concerns about the treatment of civilians from areas once controlled by IS, and point to a growing anxiety among Iraqi Sunnis living under IS that they will be targeted no matter what. "A large number of people have simply disappeared, who were picked up when they left ISIS," Donatella Rovera, Amnesty International's senior crisis response adviser, told VOA, using an acronym for the terror group. "Pretty much everybody coming out of ISIS areas now is considered to have been there by choice and cooperated," she said. Most of those who have vanished are believed to have been taken by Shi'ite militias that operate parallel to the Iraqi military with the blessing of the Baghdad government. Males suspected to have collaborated with IS have disappeared from checkpoints such as the Hezbollah-controlled point of Razazah, near Karbala or from extrajudicial security screening centers run by Shi'ite militias near Fallujah. And the fear is that human rights abuses and a lack of accountability will only increase as Iraqi federal forces, Kurdish Peshmerga and the coalition further tighten the noose around the IS stronghold of Mosul. Fear of revenge Although Shi'ite militias have stayed away from the Mosul front line so far, there are concerns they may move into the city as it falls to Iraqi forces. "I fear that if the Shi'ite militias play a large role in Mosul, there will be significant revenge and retaliation actions, similar to what happened in Fallujah," said David Witty, a retired U.S. Army Special Forces colonel and former adviser to the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service. As Mosul falls, Iraqi officials increasingly will be forced to decide the fate of many of the more than 1 million civilians who have lived under IS rule for more than two years. "There are questions as to whether the judicial system could cope with these numbers," said Francesco Motta, director of the office of human rights at the U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq, or UNAMI. "No judiciary could handle an influx of possibly thousands of cases," Motta told VOA. Failing system Already, human rights groups say the system is failing. In Anbar province, where the former IS-held cities of Ramadi and Fallujah are located, there are thousands of detainees with very few people conducting interrogations, low-quality lawyers, and few examining magistrates looking at cases, according to Amnesty's Rovera. "Not only did they not have the expertise, the place was like a market house on a busy market day," Rovera said of one processing point that Amnesty visited. "No one can do a good job in those circumstances, even if they had the skills," she added. "With the background of a dysfunctional judiciary, that does not give a good result. "Hopefully, for Iraqi collaborators with IS, they will get turned over to the legal system, but many will probably not make it that far," Witty said. Flood of suspects Making the situation even more treacherous is the lack of resources dedicated to the official screening processes run by the Iraqi government and the Kurdish regional government. Iraqis and foreign fighters suspected of affiliation or of fighting with IS will be transferred immediately to Ministry of Interior detention centers known as tasfiraat, or held in military prisons and charged under Iraq's counterterrorism laws. The problem is there could be thousands of suspects. Tens of thousands of civilians already have fled IS-held areas, and an estimated 1 million additional civilians are in Mosul. Women and children also may be found guilty. "It is a concern that the families will be treated similarly to the fighters," Motta said. "The issue of accountability is becoming extremely important." The U.N. has been advocating for an international tribunal or investigation mechanism and appropriate domestic mechanisms to be put in place to ensure that IS victims are not unfairly charged. Motta also pointed out that IS fighters are not the only people guilty of crimes in the two-year conflict. "Any attempt to limit jurisdiction to one party to the conflict, or to one particular group of victims or to one particular crime, would potentially be highly detrimental in terms of ensuring justice and promoting community reconciliation," he said. IS has tended to lodge itself in Sunni-majority areas, exploiting deep sectarian grievances against Iraq's majority Shi'ite governments. If Sunni fears of sectarian abuses are realized, the future of Iraq could be bleak. "At some point, four or five months down the road, six months down the road, a year down the road, when the governance is not being delivered, services are not being delivered, sectarian violence is taking place [IS will] see an environment in which the conditions are ripe for them to re-establish themselves," warned Patrick Martin, Iraq research analyst with the Institute for the Study of War. More than one million citizens have signed a petition calling for the recognition of Somaliland by the international community, Somaliland President Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo told reporters in Hargeisa Tuesday. It demonstrates the aspirations and the determination of Somaliland people to realize their principles that they believe and to protect their independence, which cannot be taken lightly, resisted or ignored, Silanyo said. Somaliland seceded from Somalia in 1991 after a three-year civil war. The territory functions with relative autonomy, but no nation has recognized its independence. In response to the petition, Somalia reiterated its calls for unity. Somaliland has an important value to us, Somali parliament member Mohamed Omar Dalha told VOA. Somaliland officials say they have collected signatures from 1,021,000 people across Somalilands six regions since April. The person would read a statement calling for the recognition of Somaliland. If they cant read someone would read it to them, Foreign Minister Saad Ali Shire told VOA. We then required them to give their names, telephone number, signature and name of district they live in. We checked their names against a local data base, Shire said. Somaliland has its own currency, armed forces, and constitution, voted on by referendum in 2001. There are claims in many occasions that those who want the international recognition are a few politicians who want to exploit it. This [The petition] contradicts that. It proves the cause of Somaliland is a common cause. Its the peoples cause, Shire said He said the petition will be sent to international bodies including the United Nations and the African Union. The Somali government has always insisted that Somaliland is part of Somalia. Dalha, of the Somali federal parliament, told VOA the Somali government has not done enough to engage Somaliland. The policies by successive government towards our brothers have further driven them away rather than remedy the issues, Dalha said. They have concerns which are logical, understandable. How we tried to convince them has been lots of talk without action. We didnt even try to reach out through cultural connections to cool their anger, he said. In recent years, representatives from Somalia and Somaliland have met in Britain, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey, but all the agreements reached so far have been about issues like collaboration on airspace management. The major thorny issue - unity or secession - and the grievances driving the dispute have been avoided. Troubled Ukraine put on a show of its military strength on independence day on Wednesday and President Petro Poroshenko said the country had to rely on its own might rather than international guarantees. A march-past of army, navy and airforce units and hardware in the capital was intended to highlight the capability of Ukraine's military, which the government has had to overhaul completely since pro-Russian eastern separatists rose up against a new Western-backed leadership in 2014. Fresh tension with Russia over Crimea has reignited fears that the fragile ceasefire deal, brokered in February 2015 with the help of Germany and France, could collapse following the deadliest month of fighting in a year. "From this parade, our international partners will get the message that Ukraine is able to protect itself, but needs further support," Poroshenko told a large crowd of civilians and military personnel. "Our enemy is a country [Russia] which takes up a ninth of the world's land and has a military budget tens and tens of times larger than our own." He said Ukraine's defense depended first and foremost on its own military, referring disparagingly to a 1994 agreement signed in Budapest by Russia, the United States and Britain, where they gave Ukraine security assurances in return for Kiyv giving up its Soviet-era nuclear weapons. "Our main guarantor is the Ukrainian armed forces," he said. His comments echo those of a number of Ukranian lawmakers from across the political spectrum who have lately said Western actions against Russia including economic sanctions failed to protect Ukraine. Ukraine has received billions of dollars in financial aid from Western allies, including the United States, in exchange for promises to root out widespread corruption following its political pivot toward Europe. However, patchy reform progress and signs that vested interests continue to influence policy have prompted warnings from Western backers and delayed the disbursement of loans over the past year. Despite repeated requests, the West has also not given Ukraine any weapons, instead offering non-lethal military assistance such as training and equipment. For its part, Kiyv has ramped up annual military spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product. Poroshenko said it would take more time and money for Ukraine to fully protect itself from what he described as Russia's "imperial ambitions". "We need years and tens of billions of hryvnias until we can sleep soundly," he said. Earlier in August Russia, which denies accusations from Kiyv and NATO that it supports eastern rebels with troops and equipment, said Ukraine was trying to provoke a new conflict over annexed Crimea The U.N. rights chief on Tuesday deplored the death of an opposition party member while in custody in Gambia, urging the authorities to investigate his death along with allegations that detainees are refused medical care. Solo Krummah died in a hospital over the weekend, his United Democratic Party (UDP) said, its second member to lose his life in custody since the start of a crackdown on opposition protests earlier this year. There were no details on what treatment had been needed or how he died, the UDP said. "We deplore the reported death in custody of ... Solo Krummah," U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights spokeswoman Cecile Pouilly said in a statement, citing reports that he had been denied medical care "on several occasions while in detention." "We urge the authorities to investigate the death as well as allegations that detainees are denied access to medical care." It said the allegations came from detainees themselves. The statement followed criticism from the U.S. State Department on Tuesday, which said it was "troubled by reports of the Gambian government's continued mistreatment of detained opposition figures, as evidenced by recent deaths and allegations of torture." Gambia's government spokesman was not immediately available for comment. Foreign powers and rights groups regularly accuse President Yahyah Jammeh, who has ruled the West African nation of 2 million people since taking power in a coup in 1994, of using security forces to stamp out political dissent. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has praised NGOs working in Nigeria for their unwavering commitment to build communities, fight corruption and transform the country. Kerry met with representatives of anti-corruption non-governmental organizations and a group of adolescent girls studying and working on the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) field at the United States embassy in Nigeria's capital Abuja Wednesday. "I salute you for your courage," said Kerry. "I salute you for your vision and your commitment to trying to help to change things and we want to work with you. Anti-corruption groups in Nigeria have asked Kerry to help speed the return of billions of dollars looted from the country's treasury by local officials. They believe the looted money is in banks or their offshore holdings by the United States and Britain, Switzerland and other European countries. Kerry told the group that asset recovery is a lengthy, complicated process but the U.S. government has lawyers and accountants working on it. Kerry also addressed key issues in the development of girls in Nigeria and the challenges they face in the daily life. He said teaching valuable skills such as teamwork, leadership and innovative thinking are some of the keys to ensuring Nigeria attains its full potential as a country. "The work you are engaged in couldn't have been more important. I know some of you are involved in technology, in computers, writing codes and doing different things but I want to hear from you today sort of how we can together work in order to empower everybody to be able to make their own choices," Kerry said. "We long ago learned in our country that you cannot build the community that works leaving half the people in the community on the sidelines. You can't live to your full potential as a nation unless you have you whole society engaged. Kerry said that United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has committed 100 million dollars in efforts to help people make their own choices. In 2014, the U.S. froze nearly half a billion dollars of illicit funds from deceased military dictator Sani Abacha but it remains to be seen how and when the money will be repatriated. President Muhammdu Buhari, who won 2015 elections on a promise to halt graft, has estimated that $150 billion has been stolen by government officials over the past decade. Dozens of current and former officials have been detained since Buhari took office, but anti-corruption NGO officials say that court cases are being delayed by a corrupt justice system. The United States said it had imposed economic sanctions on the Lord's Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony's two sons, saying they were commanders in the rebel group blamed for extreme violence in a large part of central Africa. The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) has been roaming the vast jungles spanning the borders of Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic and South Sudan after being ejected from northern Uganda around 10 years ago. The U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said in a statement late on Tuesday it had designated Salim Kony and Ali Kony as acting on behalf of their father and the LRA and froze all their assets held in the country. "OFAC remains committed to taking aggressive actions that will further diminish the capabilities of the LRA and its affiliates," the statement said. It said the sanctions target the finances of the LRA and its leaders "while also combating their participation in the global illicit ivory trade." Initially aiming to topple the government in Kampala, the LRA battled the Ugandan forces for nearly 20 years in the country's northern fringes before being ejected from the area. The group acquired a notoriety for horrific violence, including abducting boys and girls to act as fighters and sex slaves. Villagers suspected of spying on them were also subjected to extreme violence including hacking their limbs off and being forced to bludgeon colleagues. The LRA abducted 498 civilians in the Central African Republic between January and June, according to a report by The Resolve and Invisible Children, two groups that track LRA violence. The number of kidnappings were a six-year high, according to the two groups, and also coincided with threats by the Uganda government to reduce involvement in an operation to hunt down the LRA in the region. Play "All For You"! (Getty) Sister Hazel was founded in Florida in 1993, spending years in waiting and training until they would eventually swoop in with the rest of the pop acts whose saccharine, empty, movie soundtrack hits took over the radio dials in the latter half of the '90s. It was the death of grunge, and the rebirth of mediocrity in mainstream music. It was in 1997 that Sister Hazel found success with their solid gold hit "All For You"at the time, it charted #11 on the Billboard Hot 100, and next year marks the 20th anniversary of the most successful thing this band will ever do. While you've been going on with your life, experiencing new things and looking to the future while living in the present, Sister Hazel has been performing this song live, multiple times a year, for almost twenty years, because this is what we demand of Sister Hazel. And they'll do it again, as this is their destiny, at '90s Fest this September 10th on Governors Island (with your host Pauly Shore, and performances by Sugar Ray, Bone Thugs N Harmony, C&C Music Factory, and DJ Jazzy Jeff). Click play simultaneously on all of the below videos and you'll hear these men screaming for help. The Obama administration is proposing a ban on swimming with dolphins in Hawaii, a move that would crush vacation dreams of many tourists but would allow the playful nocturnal species to finally get some sleep. The National Marine Fisheries Service says spinner dolphins are being deprived of rest during the day and becoming stressed out. The dolphins, which get their name from their habit of leaping in the air and spinning around, rest half their brains and keep the other half awake so that they can surface and breathe. As a result, they can look awake and active even when asleep. The dolphins hunt at night and gather in shallow bays during the day for protection from predators, making them a popular attraction for tourists. Dozens of companies operate daily dolphin tours on Hawaiian islands. The proposed rule would cover waters out to nearly four nautical kilometers, which is where 98 percent of Hawaii's spinner dolphins rest during the day. The federal agency plans to hold public meetings on the regulations next month and expects to make a final decision next year. The U.S. government has previously passed specific regulations barring people from approaching within 100 yards of humpback whales in Hawaii and Alaska, and killer whales in Puget Sound. This would be the first rule addressing swimming with spinner dolphins. The United States held firm Wednesday in rebuffing Turkey's demand that it immediately extradite Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen whom Ankara blames for last month's failed military coup, saying it has yet to receive any evidence linking him to the putsch. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said the White House is determined to listen to "every scrap of evidence" Turkey provides before deciding if it will extradite the Muslim cleric. Gulen lives in the eastern state of Pennsylvania, and Turkey is demanding his immediate extradition, accusing him of organizing last month's failed military coup -- a charge he denies. Biden met in Ankara Wednesday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He tried to head off Erdogan's impatience by explaining that American courts require firm evidence before a suspect is surrendered to another country. WATCH: Biden assures Turkey of staunch US support "You can't go into the court and say, 'This is a bad guy' ... you have to say, 'This is a guy or woman who committed the following explicit crime,'" Biden said. He said prosecutors need to show a judge probable cause, and that sometimes courts move slowly. Biden noted that U.S. President Barack Obama could be impeached if he orders a foreign national extradited without a proper hearing. During his one-day visit to Ankara, Biden told a news conference that the United States has "no interest in protecting anyone who has done harm to an ally." He said the U.S. is continuing to cooperate with Turkish officials in analyzing claims about Gulen's purported actions linked to the attempted coup that left 240 people dead. But in an article published in Turkey's Milliyet newspaper, Biden said that while Turkey has sent Washington information about the 75-year-old Gulen's "alleged activities predating the attempted coup, we have not yet received an extradition request or any evidence from Turkey relating to the attempted coup." Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has said any delay in sending Gulen back to Turkey could harm U.S.-Turkish relations. Biden told the news conference he understood Turkey's anger at the U.S. delay in handling the extradition request, but said a U.S. court must consider whether there are legitimate legal grounds to arrest him and turn him over to Turkish authorities based on the extradition treaty between the two countries. Turkey has arrested or fired 80,000 government workers, judges, academics and school teachers it believes were sympathetic to Gulen or somehow involved in the coup attempt launched by a group of renegade military officers. Erdogan, on vacation the night of the coup attempt, says he narrowly escaped being captured before government forces loyal to Ankara repelled dissidents looking to overthrow him. Biden sought to dispel any notion of U.S. complicity in the uprising, calling those who carried out the attack "cowardly, treasonous." "We did not have any foreknowledge," he said. "The people of the United States abhor what happened. The people of Turkey have no greater friend than the United States of America." Yildirim said any disputes with the U.S., a NATO ally, should not be allowed to harm their long-term friendship. But Yildirim said he wants the extradition proceedings to be conducted without delay. Biden's visit to the Turkish capital came as Ankara's military forces, working in tandem with U.S. jet fighters, launched their first offensive into Syria to target Islamic State militants and Kurdish fighters in the aftermath of last weekend's suicide bombing of Kurdish wedding in a nearby Turkish town that killed at least 54. Erdogan has blamed Islamic State for the attack. Determined to solve the mysterious riddle of the Russian language, a group of American students and teachers are participating in a total immersion course. The government-funded study is part of a national security initiative. The Americans speak only Russian in class and respond only to Russian names. The adults are taking part in a two-week training course for teachers of Russian, while students are in a four-week immersion program for students from 6th to 12th grade in Fairfax County, Virginia. This language immersion helps students make progress in learning the Russian language in just a few weeks. And for American teachers who teach Russian, it's a chance to meet their colleagues and improve language skills. The event is one of several foreign language courses within STARTALK, a program launched during George W. Bushs presidency as part of a U.S. national security strategy. Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Persian, and Russian were named "critical-need" foreign languages. Charles Byrd, professor of Russian at the University of Georgia and a STARTALK program participant, said that American students are interested in Russian but many find it very hard to learn and master. For Byrd himself, Russian was once forbidden fruit. "My parents were American diplomats, and they always wanted to go to Russia, but they were not allowed to," he said. "Because they could not travel to Russia, I always wanted to go there. I remember during my childhood I often heard about the Evil Empire. I had always the impression that Russia is a mysterious riddle." Joseph Doran, 19, has been to Russia, where he says he ate borscht seven times a week and took walks along the Volga, a symbolic river in Russian culture. Doran is an assistant teacher at STARTALK and students call him by his chosen Russian name, Joseph Timofeyevich. "I love Russian culture, language. I love reading Russian classical literature," said Doran. "It is a very interesting language. Russian people are very nice. I love the opportunities that open to me because I know Russian. Betsy Sandstrom, a program director at STARTALK, says that, for many students, learning a foreign language is an important first step into their future careers. "They have different interests one person wants to become a Russian language teacher, another wants to be a politician," she said. "Knowledge of any foreign language is needed. And Russia is the largest country in the world." The students in the course are not alone in their eagerness to learn the language. According to Forbes magazine, Russian is among the top 10 most popular languages for American college students. The World Health Organization (WHO) and partners are scaling up emergency operations in northeast Nigeria to reach people impacted by the Boko Haram insurgency. Aid groups recently regained access to some 800,000 people who were previously cut off from outside humanitarian aid. The WHO recently declared northeastern Nigeria an organizational grade three emergency. This is the highest emergency level ascribed to a humanitarian crisis, putting this region on a par with the dire situations in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and South Sudan. WHO describes the health conditions and needs of 800,000 people who have only recently become accessible to the outside world as nothing short of catastrophic. It estimates mortality rates in some of the areas are four times higher than the emergency threshold. It says the rate of severe acute malnutrition of 14 percent also exceeds the emergency threshold. This dire situation has been complicated by a polio outbreak. For the first time since 2014, two new cases of this crippling disease were identified among children in Borno State a few weeks ago. In addition, there is an ongoing outbreak of life-threatening measles in the afflicted area. WHO Director of Emergency Risk Management and Humanitarian Response Rick Brennan cites a number of other ongoing risks to public health. In addition to malnutrition, populations have been forced from their homes. They are physically exhausted. Many of them are being housed in overcrowded, unsanitary situations increasing the risk of outbreaks. The vaccination coverage rate among the children is very, very, very low indeed. And, now, we are into the wet seasonand the risks of seeing increased rates of diseases, such as malaria, diarrheal diseases, as well as the vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and so on are very, very substantial, said Brennan. Aid workers could not access parts of Borno and Yobe state for months while fighting raged between Boko Haram and government forces. Brennan said WHO and partners are taking immediate steps to tackle the ongoing problems despite continued security risks. He said the government with the support of U.N. agencies has launched an emergency polio vaccination campaign. He added that the first round targeting one million children soon will be completed. Other rounds will follow. Brennan said the WHO is also sending emergency drugs and supplies to the region. He is appealing to donors to provide the money needed to save thousands of lives. He said WHO has received only 15 percent of its $25 million appeal. He warned many people are likely to die if WHO is unable to close this critical funding gap. A young South African is winning widespread recognition for his unique business in Alexandra, Johannesburg. Jeffrey Mulaudzi takes tourists on bicycle rides through the township that was once home to a young Nelson Mandela, but in recent times has become infamous for violent crime. The streets of Alexandra are a sprawl of shacks in the middle of Johannesburg. As a teenager, Mulaudzi dreamed of owning a bicycle; but his single mother, a domestic worker, couldn't afford to buy him one. "I was arrested for stealing a bike, Mulaudzi said. Luckily, I was released [from jail] earlier than most of my friends." He decided to dedicate himself to his schooling. In 2009, one of his teachers asked him for a tour of Alexandra. "He always wanted to step out of his car, Mulaudzi said. So I had two, of course, stolen bikes that I had with me. I offered him one; I took one. We went around the township and we enjoyed [it]; we had fun. The next day he said, Jeffrey, is it possible that we can bring my friends for a tour, and we have beers, and drink and just have fun in Alexandra?' And we did exactly that and they enjoyed [it], a lot!" That experience sparked Mulaudzis idea for a tour business. In 2010, he began taking tourists on bike rides to landmarks in Alexandra, such as the house Mandela lived in as a law student in the early 1940s. "That was the best salary ever, Mulaudzi said of his success. There was more salary in a day than my mother would earn in a month." Booming business Today, Mulaudzi is 24 and has gone from two stolen bicycles to a fleet of 65 mountain bikes. He employs five guides. "When you are in a township, a very informal place in Johannesburg, with a car, people tend to view you as [if] you are in a zoo, Mulaudzi said. So we encouraged people to hop on a bike. Then you can cover a long distance, but you can still communicate with the community, and be part of the community." Residents welcome Mulaudzi, and thank him for showing visitors the township's positive side. He says crime does happen in Alexandra, but more often than not, it's a safe place. "I felt quite unsafe [at first], because you hear so much about Johannesburg and crime and stuff, said one German tourist, Peter Lehmann. You get the feeling where it is safe, and where it could be unsafe. But I never experienced an unsafe situation." Mulaudzi shows clients taverns, food stalls, barber shops. His mission, he says, is to allow visitors to interact with the people of Alexandra. "The lifestyle is just sitting around with guys and talking, drinking beer and having fun, he said. We then drink umqombothi, that's traditional [maize] beer; we then dance [to] traditional songs. So it's basically not planned; it can be different for every tour." Rave reviews And its a recipe that has found success. The international travel website TripAdvisor recently gave Alexandra Bicycle Tours one of its coveted Excellence Award. Dutch tourist Fritzi van den Boom called her bike ride through Alexandra one of her "top 10" experiences. "It's been very good, and that is mainly because of the people, van den Boom said. From the very beginning, I noticed the difference with Dutch people, that South Africans are generally more generous and hospitable. So I felt very welcome." Mulaudzi says his clients react differently to tasting local fare such as roasted chicken feet and heads, called "walkie talkies" in the township. "The American will be like, Interesting!' Mulaudzi said, laughing. That's usually what the Americans say about the taste. You don't know exactly what they mean. Is it nice, is it bad, it is OK; is it not OK?" He says he's taken top international business people on tours from airline pilots to Olympic athletes to models. Some are now regular clients, like the Spanish male model who once insisted on taking beer from a tour back to his luxury hotel. "He carried three of those bottles back to his hotel, Mulaudzi said. Everyone was just looking at him and he was like, Sharp, sharp! Sharp, sharp is how we usually greet people in the township." Bike-thief-turned-entrepreneur, Mulaudzi says he's living his dream, and hopes to one day own a truck transport company. But bicycles, he says, will always be special to him. A new report finds youth unemployment around the world is set to rise this year and many young people who do find jobs will be receiving a poverty-level wage. The International Labor Organization, which released its World Employment and Social Outlook 2016 report Wednesday, said youth unemployment was expected to reach 13.1 percent in 2016 and remain at that level throughout 2017. The ILO said the number of unemployed youths was expected to rise by 500,000 this year, bringing the total to 71 million. The increase, it said, was the first in three years. Of even greater concern, the ILO said, is the large number of young people who live in extreme or moderate poverty despite having jobs. Most are in emerging or developing countries. It said that more than 156 million employed youths, or 37.7 percent of the total number of working youths, were living on less than $3.10 per day. ILO senior economist Steven Tobin told VOA that the share of young workers living in poverty was above 70 percent in developing countries. The challenge within developing countries is very much a sub-Saharan African story," he said. The report said working poverty rates among young people also were high in Arab states and South Asia. While the numbers are lower in developed countries, the study noted that young people in the more advanced economies were at higher risk of poverty than the elderly. Globally, the ILO said, unemployment is three times higher for youths than for adults. Lawrence Johnson, deputy director of ILO research, said the wide disparities between young women and men in the global labor market were also disturbing. He said nearly 54 percent of young men were employed, compared with 37.3 percent of women. The gender gap in unemployment is particularly high in regions of the Arab states and North Africa, he said, adding that the gap reflected the wider gender inequality that exists in society. ILO economists said the alarming rise in youth unemployment and persistently high working poverty rates would make it very difficult to reach the global goal of ending poverty by 2030. Zambia's ruling Patriotic Front (PF) party says President Edgar Lungu will not meet with main opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema from the United Party for National Development (UPND). Hichilema called for a meeting between the two to resolve "pertinent" national issues, including the ongoing violence in the country following the August 11 general election and referendum. The opposition leader also called on church groups and the international community to organize a meeting between the two men to help resolve the crisis. Frank Bwalya, deputy campaign manager for the ruling PF party, said Lungu will not meet with the opposition leader until Hichilema renounces the violence allegedly perpetrated by supporters of the UPND in the party's strongholds. "President Lungu was very categorical. He says, Let that man abandon his violent ways. Let him choose to walk the path of peace, then I am going to meet him. The president was very clear," Bwalya said. The ruling party insists Hichilemas motive for the meeting is false. Hichilema "wants to present himself to the international community as a reasonable person, Bwalya said, a person who wants to dialogue, a person who has the interest of the country at heart. That is not true." In a letter to the media, the opposition UPND expressed disappointment in Lungus decision not to accept the meeting. "We have made this same request on numerous occasions knowing that dialogue rather than violence is the way to proceed, and that the leaders of our respective parties must lead by example in such matters," said Charles Kakoma, spokesperson for the opposition UPND. Critics say Lungu's refusal to meet the opposition leader stokes tension in the country, instead of demonstrating a desire for unity and cooperation. In addition, UPND supporters blame the PF for the ongoing violence, and accuse police of bias toward the ruling party. "While our calls for a meeting go unanswered, our supporters are beaten for wearing UPND regalia, chased from the markets and driven from the taxi ranks so that they can no longer work and support their families, local media quoted UPND spokesman Kakoma as saying. Is this the Zambia we want for our children? Is this the mark of a Christian nation? When we call for peace, these are the people we are speaking for." Court challenge Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court is considering the UPND's petition challenging the outcome of the presidential election. The Electoral Commission of Zambia declared incumbent Lungu winner of the presidential poll. In its petition, the UPND alleged that Lungu was fraudulently elected and asked the court to annul his status as president-elect. It also called for a nationwide recount of the votes cast. But the PF maintains the elections were free, fair and transparent in accordance with the conclusion of both local and international poll observers who monitored the elections. Police fire water cannons and teargas in Zimbabwes capital, Harare, to disperse an anti-government protest stated by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai. Vice President Phelekezela Mphokos shop has been looted. Anti-riot police have been deployed in Masvingo town in anticipation of a public demonstration to be staged by opposition parties demanding widespread electoral reforms ahead of the 2018 general elections. Zapu led by interim president Dumiso Dabengwa is expected to hold its first congress, a few years after the party left Zanu PF protesting against the marginalization of members of the party, which went into a unity accord with President Robert Mugabes party in 1987 following years of hostilities between the two former liberation movements. And this evening we will be featuring a Zimbabwean living in USA who is growing some crops normally found in the southern African country. Stay tuned for these stories and more coming up on Studio 7 at 7:30 pm on 9-0-9 Medium Wave and on the 4-9-3-0, 5-9-4-0 and 1-5-4-6-0 shortwave frequencies. We also broadcast on www.channelzim.net. Please check us out on Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter. This evening on Livetalk our hosts Jonga Kandemiiri and Chris Gande will be talking with listeners about continuing protests in Zimbabwe amid allegations of police brutality. What are your views on this issue? Participate by sending your messages on our WhatsApp number 001 202 465 0318. Please note that we are livestreaming on all Studio 7 Facebook pages. Stay tuned!!!!!! South Africa's ruling African National Congress is considering holding an early conference to replace its top leaders after its worst election performance since the end of apartheid 22 years ago, it said on Tuesday. The elective conference is due to take place in December 2017 to pick a successor for the party's leader, President Jacob Zuma, but ANC officials said talks were underway to hold it earlier to have more time to repair the damage after big losses in local polls and prepare for national elections in 2019. The party still won the most votes overall during the August 3 local government elections. But, with its reputation bruised by charges of corruption against Zuma, and with unemployment high and the country teetering on the edge of recession, it lost a lot of support, particularly in major cities. However, analysts said it was not yet clear whether the conference would be called to replace Zuma or to remove other top party officials critical of the president. The Youth League, which initiated the idea of an early elective conference, is a bastion of support for Zuma within the party. Zuma has himself said he will not stand for a third term, but the party's constitution does not bar him from doing so. "The idea of an early conference is not a bad idea, because it will give whatever leadership that comes out of the conference a longer period to prepare for 2019," ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe told a news conference though he gave no indication when such a decision could be made. Such an early conference would a clear objective "not just go there and then fight it out there, smash each other, blood on the floor ... we come out of the conference more divided." Analysts cautioned that it would be too hasty to suggest that Zuma's removal would be on the agenda at such a conference. "The Youth League are know for protecting Zuma. If they are behind the call for an early conference it is because they may be looking to support Zuma for a third term, or have him pick a successor," NKC African Economics analyst Gary van Staden said. BNP Paribus Securities South Africa political analyst Nic Borain concurred. "I would be cautious to jump to conclusions on this without further information. The Youth League is a pillar of support for Zuma. Maybe his critics could be on the line," he said. Following the municipal elections, the main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party which has been running the local government in Cape Town now controls Johannesburg, the municipality that includes the capital, Pretoria, and Nelson Mandela Bay, reshaping the political landscape in South Africa. Anti-riot police have been deployed in Masvingo town in anticipation of a public demonstration to be staged by opposition parties on Friday demanding widespread electoral reforms ahead of the 2018 general elections. Local residents expressed dismay over the deployment of the police saying President Robert Mugabes government is attempting to silence dissenting voices. One of the angry residents Paul Rimai Mucheke suburb said the deployment of the police even in high density suburbs is designed to intimidate people intending to join the protest called by the National Electoral Election Agenda (NERA). As residents we are not safe with this situation because we are seeing heavily armed police in a peaceful city and country. Another resident, Samson Gumbo, said the situation is tense but calm in the town. We can no longer walk freely in the streets because police are everywhere, why cant they go and arrest criminals out there. Masvingo Human Rights Trust, Coordinator Masimba, also condemned the deployment of the police in the central business district and residential areas. This is a very clear case of paranoia on the part of the government for they fear that the demonstrations by the opposition parties could spill to the small towns. This is not acceptable because it stifles the peace and freedoms of residents. Police refused to discuss the deployment of its members in Masvingo town. Thirteen opposition parties under the banner of National Electoral Reform Agenda are demanding electoral reforms ahead of the 2018 general elections. Cops are looking for a man who they say attacked a woman with a hammer in Woodside in a botched robbery around 6 a.m. on August 17th. Officers say that the suspect got out of a Toyota 4Runner SUV on 67th Street at 41st Avenue and 66th Street, walked up to the victim, a 28-year-old, tried to snatch her purse, and when she wouldn't give it up, bashed her in the head with a hammer and said something anti-gay. The attacker fled in his vehicle down 66th Street, police said. The victim was transported to Elmhurst Hospital and treated for a cut to the back of her head. Police say the Hate Crime Task Force is investigating. The attack is similar to one that occurred in Crown Heights in 2014, when one man followed another into his apartment building, attacked him with a hammer while yelling anti-gay slurs, and robbed him of his cellphone. Another man, David Baril of the Bronx, was shot by police in Midtown last year as he tried to attack a police officer with a hammer. Baril survived the shooting and is still awaiting trial for attempted murder of the officer, as well as a string of other hammer attacks on strangers. Police ask people with information about the attack to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at (800) 577-8477, or for Spanish, (888) 577-4782. People can also submit tips online here, or by texting tips to 274637 and entering "TIP577". Some Zimbabwean church organisations say they have finally decided to add their voices to the problems affecting the nation by taking to the streets in Harare on Thursday to protest against the current social and economic problems facing the southern African country. The march is organized by Zimbabwe Devine Destiny Church while organisations such as Prayer Network of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Christian Alliance and Christian Voices will be expected to join the protest. Zimbabwe Divine Destiny Church leader Bishop Ancelimo Magaya told VOA Studio 7 that they want to press the government to admit that it has failed and to allow for a national dialogue. Bishop Magaya said they also have plans to petition parliament to call for a motion to impeach President Robert Mugabe. He said they have informed the police about their intended march and will go ahead as planned despite the fact that police have not yet responded to their request to stage it. Zimbabwean police on Wednesday clashed with former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirais main opposition Movement for Democratic Change party supporters who were protesting against police brutality. About 60 people were arrested in the public protest. Business came to a standstill in Harare following a protest against alleged police brutality that was organized by the youth wing of the MDC-T. The youths, who marched from their partys Harvest House headquarters, clashed with police near parliament resulting in the protestors throwing stones and other missiles at the police who retaliated by firing teargas and used water cannons and gunshots to disperse them. Freelance journalist Lucy Yasini was also beaten by the police during the skirmishes. The protestors intended to submit a petition to Home Affairs Minister Ignatious Chombo but failed to do so as a result of the clashes. Chairperson of the MDC-Ts Youth Assembly, Happymore Chidziva, who addressed the protesters before taking to the streets, said time has now come to face President Robert Mugabes administration head on for allegedly failing to run Zimbabwe. The youth wings general secretary, Lovemore Chinoputsa, also complained that Mr. Mugabe had failed to provide the 2.2 million jobs that he promised before his re-election in 2013. Chidziva warned the police against using maximum force on protesters saying their duty was to protect citizens. During the protests, a number of cars, including a police vehicle and another one belonging to the state broadcaster, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, were set on fire. At the same time, Choppies supermarket owned by Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko was looted. Police spokesperson Charity Charamba told Studio 7 by phone that more than 60 people were arrested in connection with the protest. At the time of going on air, there were some running battles between police and some of the protestors while military police had been deployed in the streets of Harare. An army helicopter was also seen flying around the central business district. Todays protests came at a time when opposition parties have announced that they would stage more peaceful marches in Harare on Friday to demand key electoral reforms ahead of the 2018 elections. Video by Jessica Leibowitz. Cookie DeJesus has always wanted to be a mermaid. "I was nine or ten years old, I saw the movie Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid. I fell in love, and I had to be a mermaid," the 54-year-old Harlem resident told us one sunny day in July, while lounging on the Coney Island beach in a sparkly bikini top and matching tail. "Its a freedom, being in the water, and youre one with the sea. There's nothing like it." But for most of her life, DeJesus had to contend with being a mermaid alone, through her computer screen. "I used to Photoshop myself as a mermaid with a fish. Thats as far as I thought it would go," she said. "I thought it was just going to be a phase of mine." Then, DeJesus found the Mermaid School, which is part of the World of Swimming, a Michigan-based swimming program run by national swimmer Elena Nannoshi. Though the school is primarily set up as an engaging way to teach children to swim, Nannoshi offers mermaid classes in Detroit and, occasionally, in New York, for adults. "I saw [the website] and thought, 'Is there actually a mermaid school?'" DeJesus said. "I reached out to Elena and I told her who I was, that I wanted to inspire little girls to become mermaids and that they can be a mermaid no matter what size, what shape, how old. And Elena said, 'Sure, come on down.'" DeJesus showed up at a pool in her tail, made by her husband Ralph (her "mer-wrangler,'" as she calls him), and learned how to swim with it on, a move more difficult than it looks. She learned how to turn properly, and how to breathe. "Im asthmatic, and I have a lot of health issues," DeJesus said. "When I swim, I have no more pain. I dont take any medication for my breathing." Cookie and Ralph DeJesus (Courtesy Cookie DeJesus) It turns out DeJesus, now known professionally as the Harlem Mermaid, isn't the only one out there who dreams of being Ariel in real life. In fact, according to a 2015 Fortune article digging into the "mermaid economy," there are about 1000 women and men who consider themselves professional mermaids. Merle Liivand, a 24-year-old Estonian National swimmer who recently tried out for the Rio Olympics, is one of themshe's an instructor with Nannoshi's mermaid school, and launched her own mermaid tail and fin company, SWIMERA, back in Estonia. She says mermaid instructors help teach kids how to be safe and brave in the water. "We have a saying that 'mermaids never lose sleep over shrimps opinions,'" she told Gothamist. "As an athlete, I was always kind of scared by sports, but I learned by mermaid swimming that we shouldnt be scared, we should be who we are and embrace it." Because swimming with a tail is much harder than using your legs, Liivand believes children (and adults) become much stronger swimmers by learning with it, and develop stronger cores. "Thats what the mermaid swimming is all about. Youre learning how to swim, youre learning how to use your body, youre learning how to overcome your fear of water, and you learn how to become comfortable in your own skin and in water." I joined Liivand, DeJesus, and a few other Mermaid School instructors and students on Coney Island last month as part of a two-day Mermaid Instructor Training event. (Cost: $375 for two days of mermaid instructor lessons, on the beach and in a swimming pool, though typically sessions run $150 for 5 lessons.) Here, I found myself on a very hot, very sweaty beach for a Mermaid Yoga Classled by Head Michigan Mermaid and World Fin Swimming champion Kristina Novichenkowith three people trying to help me pull a tail over my thighs as a bunch of creepy men took photos. It turns out mermaiding is incredibly difficultit takes a significant amount of core strength and balance to move your body with a tail on, plus a certain self-confidence to be able to ignore all the people laughing at you while you wiggle around like a half-fish person. Rebecca the Reluctant Mermaid (Jessica Leibowitz / Gothamist) If I thought fifteen minutes of Mermaid Yoga was hard, I can't imagine the strength it takes to perform as a mermaid in water. Such is the life of the mermaids at Weeki Wachee Springs in Floridathe tourist attraction has been putting on underwater mermaid shows since 1947, paying college students $15-an-hour to act out The Little Mermaid and other merstories in tails and fins. "We're kind of like the mecca of mermaids," Weeki Wachee spokesperson John Athanason told us in an interview. "Most of the mermaids that we have today have grown up in the area, and came here when they were a little girl. They wanted be a world famous Weeki Wachee mermaid when they were growing up." DeJesus isn't quite as accomplished as the Weeki Wachee mermaids, but she has carved out a mercommunity here in New York, gathering with her pod on Coney Island at least once a week. One merfriend, Mermaid Mandi (real name Mandi Saninocencio), traveled from Hudson Valley, NY to the Mermaid Parade this year to meet up with DeJesus & Co. She uploads mermaid videos to YouTube, and says finding a real community has made it easier to battle hateful Internet commenters. "When I first started becoming a mermaid, when I made my first tail, people would send me mean and hurtful messages and comment hurtful things on my videos," Saninocencio, 26, told us. "They'd say I'm too fat to be a mermaid, that I'm a whale." DeJesus "inspired me to grow more as a mermaid than anyone else," Mandi said. Mermaid Mandi (center), with the Harlem Mermaid. (Courtesy Cookie DeJesus) Still, both DeJesus and Saninocencio say the important thing about being a mermaid is feeling like an undersea siren, no matter how other people think you look. "My favorite thing about being a mermaid is swimming in the ocean and wearing my tail. Being such a beautiful creature to protect the ocean, to keep swimming in it, it's a beautiful thing to be," Saninocencio said. "I think the mean commenters are just jealous because I became something beautiful." As for DeJesus, becoming a mermaid taught her how to feel strong and confident, both in her fish and human bodies. "It helps me be me, to be free," she said. "No hangups, I dont think about whether Im fat, Im skinny, Im just a mermaid. And as a mermaid, I feel beautiful." Beck. Illustration: Lauren Tamaki Becks new, as-yet-untitled studio album is his sunniest record in quite some time, but he didnt come by that lightness easily: The 46-year-old musician spent nearly four years tinkering with this collection of songs, shelving the record momentarily after he won the Album of the Year Grammy for his melancholy 2014 album Morning Phase. With a successful tour for that record now put to bed, Beck is ready to make you dance. Earlier this month in Los Angeles, we sat down with him to discuss the 20th anniversary of his album Odelay, the deaths of his musical influences Prince and David Bowie, and performing with Taylor Swift. I heard that for the new record, you really wanted to write up-tempo songs that would be fun to perform on tour. Is that always a consideration of yours? It came a little bit more to the forefront this time. Any record youre making, you want it to be good to play live and for people to be into it. There are dozens of songs you might like a lot, but theyre not good to play at a concert itll just be another tune, you know what I mean? Were looking for stuff that brings up the level of the show a little bit. It feels like a great sunny-afternoon album. Its frustrating that it isnt coming out this summer. Wasnt it supposed to come out last summer? Yeah. What got in the way? There was so much touring on the last record. The last record, I thought, was just gonna be a yearlong thing, but it just kept getting more attention, and then the Grammys happened and we kept getting so many offers for shows. I had to put the new record down for a lot of the time. Thats a quality problem, at least. Yeah, it was a good problem, but it definitely pushed things back. We started the record three or four years ago. So it wasnt ideal, but it is what it is. And I think the time gave us a little bit more perspective. Or maybe too much perspective. I remember that after Midnite Vultures, you intimated that you had enough material to put out an album every few months, but your record label wouldnt let you. Is there anything stopping you from being that prolific now? I think maybe Im a little bit more picky about what I put out. At this point, I dont know if I would put something out just to put it out. Its gotta have legs. How do you determine what has legs? Its something that you want to listen to more than once maybe twice, hopefully four or five times. And you have to want to play it live. I have stuff that Ive been playing for 20 years, and they still get the same reaction. Those are the songs that have life in them. Ive toured with the [Rolling] Stones, Ive toured with Tom Petty, Ive toured with the Police, and theyve created an entire output of songs they can play. I think I came from an era where bands only had two songs. [Laughs.] Are there any of your songs that you resented having to play live so much? I never cared, I was never one of those guys. I put myself in the shoes of someone coming to one of my shows. Im not thinking, like, I dont feel like playing this song for the 100th time. For me, its not about that at all. The song is just a conduit. The thing thats more interesting to me is the dynamic happening in the moment between the audience and the musician. Whatever transpires during that two hours playing a gig well, the songs are just the excuse. The real reason is some sort of communal coming-together. Youve been playing songs from Odelay for 20 years now. Does it feel that long ago to you? It feels like yesterday. I remember that whole period like it was last year. It doesnt feel like ancient times. What was motivating you then? In a way, I was kind of an outsider, because I hadnt had a record deal and I hadnt had the access to make a proper record. My first record, Mellow Gold, a lot of it was four-track recordings. Odelay was the first time I got to work with real equipment in a studio with a producer. Part of me was exhilarated by that, getting to do all the things I ever wanted to do, but I also felt like it could be the last album I was allowed to make. Why did you feel that way? There was a real sentiment at the time that my first record was a one-hit wonder and that I was about to be over. But you must have known you had more to offer than that. Yeah, but you never know. I wasnt going to make another Loser, you know? Other musicians have been good at that they have a big, huge hit and theyre able to extend and expound on that idea and create iterations of something that struck a chord with people. They can ride that for a period of time. I dont know why, but I didnt feel like I could do that. Maybe I didnt think I could, or maybe I felt like it would be cheating to try to replicate that success. So I thought that, with Odelay, I would just try everything I always wanted to try and squeeze as much as I could into one album. After Odelay was a hit, too, did some of that anxiety lift? I dont think it was anxiety, I think it was just realism. Knowing that the writing was on the wall. After that, I was just happy to be able to have my own equipment to record on. No matter what, I knew Id be able to do that. How does it feel to play songs from that album now? Certain songs feel like they exist out of time Where Its At, Devils Haircut. Other songs feel more dated. We just played in Japan and if I play anything from that record, it goes off. Japan goes crazy. But if I play New Pollution in the Midwest, its not really gonna do it for them. There are certain places where certain records really hit hard. Its interesting. Last year at Clive Daviss Grammy party, you performed David Bowies The Man Who Sold the World with the surviving members of Nirvana. How did that come about? Dave [Grohl] called me and asked me to do it. That was a no-brainer yes for you? Oh, of course. Ive known Dave for decades. Ive known Krist [Novoselic] less, but I went to all the early Nirvana shows. I used to see them in bars. That band is such a part of the time I was starting to play music. Was it surreal to front their band for the night? Yeah, but it also felt very comfortable. Theyre such a good band. Ive played with so many musicians, and theyre so good. For me, it was a dream just on a musician level, just as somebody who plays an instrument and sings. Its extremely noticeable and striking how good they are. Its been a brutal year when it comes to musicians weve lost, like David Bowie and Prince. How do you feel now that those major titans of music are gone? Those are two of the biggest for me, of all time. Its jarring and it just rearranges something in your personal world, losing people like that, especially if youre a musician. They feel like suns that a lot of us are revolving around. And they were both huge surprises. Its hard to say anything that hasnt been said, but we were lucky to have them around. Ive had a few conversations about it over the last year with other musicians, that were at a point where we really cant take anybody for granted. Im sure we all assumed that Prince would be here for another 20, 25 years, easily. Bowie, I thought wed have another 10 or 15 years of his music. Its an intense job. Theres a huge physical sacrifice to do this job. Not to say that other jobs arent intense, but I did read an article maybe three or four years ago that I showed to a few friends, breaking down longevity by profession, and musicians were at the very bottom. Did you know Bowie and Prince well? Not really. I hung out with Bowie a few times, and I helped him with some remixes, things like that. Did a photo shoot with him once. Prince, Ive had a lot of run-ins with, but I never sat down with him and spent time with him. There was always something mysterious and unknowable about Prince. Yeah, I kind of kept my distance. I never make any assumptions that a) someone wants to meet me, and b) anybody knows who I am. You know what I mean? I hate to impose. At the Grammys, I did have the opportunity to say hello to him and tell him how much he meant to me, but it was very brief. Did he take it in stride? Well, it was onstage at the Grammys. You know, the musics playing. But I was glad I got to do that, and I gave him a big hug, which I remember thinking at the time was really presumptuous and probably not welcomed by him. But after he passed, I looked for a picture of the hug online, and I found out that he had a huge grin on his face. So that gave me a real pang. How did the invitation to perform with Taylor Swift on her tour come about? She just reached out to me and asked me. Were you surprised? Yeah, I was surprised. Id heard that she was having people onstage every night, but again, I dont assume that people know who I am. Sometimes were all sequestered in our own genres, and I was happy and struck that somebody whos coming from that level of pop success would reach out to St. Vincent or me. In a way, I like it, because I feel like these worlds are all so separated. So was it a kick to come out at the Staples Center and perform with her? Yeah, I have a lot of respect that she brought us out in front of that audience. And I know that a lot of that audience had no idea who I was. [Laughs.] I get it! But yknow, fuck it, thats what its about. Theres a lot of divisiveness and separateness in this industry: What I like is best, and I dont like all that other stuff. After a while of doing this, you start to realize that were all kind of doing the same thing. Maybe the musics produced slightly different, and the artwork and the way its presented is a little different, but when it comes down to it, were doing the same thing, so it becomes more and more ridiculous to me that theres such division in music. Its self-imposed by marketing and business people. As time goes on, as a musician, I dont see myself as separate. But Ive had that feeling forever. In the 90s, Id be hanging out with Busta Rhymes or Kool Keith, but Id also be touring with Pavement and Jesus Lizard. Theres a certain point where you can strip away the other stuff and its just songs. Or, as Tom Waits says, were all making things with the air. *A version of this article appears in the August 22, 2016, issue of New York Magazine. Nicole Kidman starred in the Rouge! one. Photo: Lucasfilm Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, known colloquially as Star Wars: Rogue One or simply The Spinoff With Felicity Jones, is hitting theaters this December. Despite all we know about the films setting and place in the Star Wars universe, weve gotten little information on what a rogue one is. Luckily, director Gareth Edwards explained things in an interview with Empire. What does it mean? Rogue One is a military call sign to some extent, he said, referring to the name of a rebel squadron that attacks the Death Star. But this is the first film thats gone off-piste and is not part of the saga or the Anakin story so its the rogue one, you know? Do you know? We know we took two semesters of Major English Poets in college, and we are here to parse every detail. A rogue, according to Merriam-Webster, is a man who is dishonest or immoral or a man who causes trouble in a playful way. As an adjective, it refers to some person, or some one, who possess those qualities. Here, we get into some double meanings, as the story itself is rogue, as it isnt part of the central saga (how playfully troublesome!), and it centers on a rogue person: Felicity Joness Jyn Erso, a rebel who rebels (how dishonest!). For more on Erso, refer again to Edwards: [The title is] kind of describing her as well in a similar way It has these split, multiple meanings that made it feel like the right choice. So, like Christianitys Holy Trinity, the title incorporates several entities (Rogues) into one (One) whole: the rebels, Jones, the film, and possibly Edwards himself. I dont know, he said. I never see myself that way. But, er thatd be cool! We tried to do things different, for sure. Whoa. When you meet Ryan Ray, played by Manish Dayal, in Halt and Catch Fires season-three premiere, youd be forgiven for thinking he was always on the show. Even if he has trouble communicating his brilliant ideas, Ryan speaks with the same enthusiasm that marks the rest of the shows characters, a bunch of outsiders trying to strike out on their own in the brave new world of Silicon Valley. But while Dayal might be gifted with CW-ready leading man looks and far better communication skills than his character Ryan is more of an outsider than most, especially as he is entering uncharted territory for an immigrant in the nascent tech world of the early 80s, far before South Asian programmer was a recognizable type. In an interview with Vulture, Dayal talked about finding insights into his characters immigrant experience, other projects hes trying to develop, and whether he can still make his characters trademark omelet from The Hundred-Foot Journey (he can). What was it like for you to first audition and come into the show mid-series? I didnt know too much about the character when I got the sides. I just saw him as this crazy guy who goes in so many different tangents. He really has trouble articulating himself. And I thought that was really interesting. Thats what first interested me in the character. His brain was going a mile a minute and he was unable to catch up with the words that were coming out of his mouth. I thought the script was dynamic, because he was introducing some very new ideas and forward-thinking technology to Mutiny. He has this bravado and confidence, and at the same time hes also vulnerable and reserved and withdrawn. He goes to so many different extremes in the show. He anticipates a lot of things about the internet and the way we use technology now, but he cant get it across. He sees the future of a world and a new way of life, really. And he sees it before anybody else does. Hes gifted and hes brilliant and he really believes that this technology will make the world really, really small, but also really dangerous. Hes trying to communicate that to the cast in the show. It falls on deaf ears and some people get it and some people dont get it, but the person who ultimately gets it is Joe. Its a bold and blurry concept really for the 1980s, to predict the dangers of online privacy. Not many people did. But its a real struggle for this guy, because he cant articulate his off-the-wall ideas that buzz around in his head all day long. This is why he needs Joe. Joe is a master communicator, the salesman, this man of the people. Ryan isnt that guy. Hes the brains of the operation. He needs to join forces with him because theres no other way hes gonna be able to get his technology to the world. Joe has the reality distortion field around him, but he has a lot of flaws and hes not a coder himself. Ryan is mystified by this figure who has been such a huge and influential person in the world of technology. Its only when he realizes his abilities that he can figure out how Joe can be useful. They both do that with each other. Its about using your strengths. And I think Joe needs Ryans abilities just as much as Ryan needs Joes when theyre about to launch this new technology. Interestingly, Ryan sort of appears out of the blue. In the premiere, hes already part of Mutiny. Did you talk much about his backstory or where he came from? Thats something I really thought about after I had joined the show and right before we started working, because I really understand where this guy is. Hes unique for the 1980s. To be a South Asian immigrant, a first generation South Asian that age in Silicon Valley, there has to be a very specific backstory to this guy. I imagine that his parents immigrated, and I imagine that they were working-class people. Ryan has the blood of a working-class man. I think that hes trying to navigate himself, figure out his way in this territory where not many people have been there before. This is a guy whos highly intelligent and hes just not always able to relate to everyone around him. He has trouble socializing with people, and thats part of his backstory. He doesnt really get social cues. He cant figure out if somebodys upset with him or happy with him. He acts in his own interest, without understanding social etiquette. I imagine hes an only child. I imagine he didnt grow up around a lot of people like him, or many people his own age. When I talked to the showrunners, they that when they came up with the character that they wanted him to be Indian-American, because that would be someone specific to the tech world in California. He has a chip on his shoulder. Not because hes born that way, but because hes succeeded so far. And hes succeeded in a territory that is somewhat uncharted for people like himself. And thats ultimately what gives him the chip on his shoulder. Its deserved to some extent. Its a unique place to be as a South-Asian first-generation immigrant. In Silicon Valley it wasnt very popular in the 80s and he didnt see very many people like that. Hes paving his own way, which is interesting in the show because Cameron and Donna are also, as women, trying to figure out how to live in this world. Yeah. And thats what makes it so interesting. Because everybody has to find themselves in this really competitive, brilliant world. And everyone has to stand out and be unique and provide something, have a skill. Do you find many roles that are written specifically for Indian-American men, or is this a rare thing to see? I would say its a very rare thing to see. You can always hope that producers and writers become open-minded in the development process and include South Asian people and South Asian actors. For me, its always been a conversation. Its always been a part of my figuring out what roles could be mine and what roles would never come my way. It really has a lot to do with the makeup of the show or the material. I have tons to say on it. A lot of South Asian actors have plenty to say on it. Thats why Im in the process of developing a film at the moment with a South Asian leading man role. Thats something you dont see all the time. And thats why it is important to try to make your own things. Its important that we do that in order to bring about a larger presence for South Asians in film. If you want to see the character you have to find a way to either present a story that isnt being told or to open someones mind, which must be a challenge to have to do over and over again. This film that Im working on now, its basically a story that has very specific South Asian ties to it, but its not about the character being South Asian. Its about a young, ambitious journalist who goes to the Congo to cover the first democratic election and the industry, and what he uncovers along the way. He meets a band of people and they all come together and discover this very dangerous war crime that also touches boardrooms in the West. But ultimately thats a story about a South Asian. Its a true story. So you have been looking into producing and finding your own projects that way? This one in particular is sort of my first big effort. Im gonna be playing this character. His names Anjan Sundaram. Ill be producing it as well. Coming off of The Hundred-Foot Journey, do you still know how to cook? You know, Hundred-Foot Journey, obviously I had to learn how to cook. I had to learn how to navigate a kitchen. I had to learn how to make certain dishes really well and how to prepare all of the vegetables and all of the different foods before they are cooked. And there were a few things that I retained pretty well, like that omelet. Im able to still make that. You talk a little bit about considering his experience as an immigrant. You grew up in South Carolina, is that right? I did. Could you channel that experience in playing Ryan, or was it a whole different world for him? Its different and similar. Growing up in the South is an entirely different experience, because you are ethnically isolated entirely. Those things did carry over in terms of his own isolation as a person and his ability to connect with other people. So he is isolated in that way. But what I think is unique for him is its like hes an Indian guy in this world of technology dominated not by people like him. The show doesnt touch on that too much, but its definitely clear that this is a unique young man who is breaking new boundaries with this world that he is essentially pioneering. Pioneering as an Indian. And now we know that many South Asians dominate the technology space. But this is right when it was first starting. Coding is a language that he understands, he knows how to speak, he knows it so well. Almost better than he does English. Thats how he communicates himself, through this language hes developing. Thats whats going to get him where he wants to go. Exactly. Where he wants to go. And hes smart enough to know that he needs a few other things that he doesnt have in his personality to get there. So he enlists the help of other people. In the beginning youll see that he and Cameron butt heads a little bit, because theyre very similar in terms of their aptitude, but her head is in a different space. Shes territorial in her own way. In her mind, its like, I wrote this code. This is mine. Yeah. And similar to Gordon, Ryan is a man of ideas, who has all of the skills and brains to get there but lacks the salesman approach. We rely on your support to make local news available to all Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2022. Donate today The NYPD is still flouting legal guidelines governing its investigations of political activity, according to a report released Tuesday by the Office of the Inspector General for the department, which is part of the Department of Investigation. The OIG report found the NYPD's Intelligence Unit frequently violates what are known as the Handschu Guidelines, court-ordered rules designed to prevent police from conducting blanket surveillance on political groups in the city. The NYPD has conducted numerous operations in this vein since 9/11particularly targeting Muslim groups. Gothamist documented the department's attempt to infiltrate a Muslim student group at Brooklyn College. "This investigation demonstrates a failure by NYPD to follow rules governing the timing and authorizations of surveillance of political activity," said Mark Peters, commissioner for the Department of Investigation, in a statement accompanying the report. In order to conduct an investigation of political activity (of a group or individual), the NYPD's Intelligence Unit is supposed to seek authorization from senior NYPD officials, including the deputy commissioner for intelligence. Police have an 180-day window in which to conduct an authorized investigation, after which they are supposed to seek re-authorization to continue the investigation. But the OIG found that in more than half of the cases it examined, the NYPD continued its investigation without reauthorization, on average carrying on an unauthorized follow-up investigation for 22 days without receiving the green light from police officials. The OIG also found that requests to extend investigations routinely lacked "fact-specific" reasons describing the need for an extension. The department behaved similarly in its use of confidential informants and undercover officers, failing to provide key information justifying their use. In a contortion that would have made Lon Chaney proud, the NYPD issued its own press release, under the headline "Inspector General's Audit commends NYPD's efforts to protect New York City from terrorism." The release makes no mention of the report's criticisms. The OIG report does note in as-required-by-law-post-9-11 fashion that the NYPD has protected New York from terrorism "with remarkable and commendable success," but it is not a report about the NYPD's efforts to "protect" the city. Here's the full paragraph the "commendable" quote is pulled from: [P]rotecting New York City residents from terrorism is a prime responsibility of NYPD - one it has done with remarkable and commendable success. Terrorism is a real threat that requires constant vigilance; it does not require, however, that NYPD fall short of adhering to well-accepted rules for protecting the rights of the citizens it is sworn to protect. Indeed, there was nothing in the documents that OIG-NYPD reviewed to suggest that adherence to the rules would have harmed the investigations at issue or hindered vigorous anti-terrorism enforcement. The OIG also found that the NYPD kept insufficient records, with filings frequently lacking information like signatures and dates. Because the report was focused on administrative compliance, its authors did not look at who the NYPD is targeting. The authors did note that the cases examined for the report almost exclusively (95 percent of the time) focused on individuals with personal or professional connections to Islam or a Muslim organization. In its response to the report, the NYPD challenged the OIG claim that it engaged in unauthorized investigations, arguing that the agency had only demonstrated that there was a lag between expiration and reauthorization of various investigations, not that the NYPD had continued its investigations while it awaited reauthorization. "At no point during its inquiry did OIG ask the NYPD to determine whether in fact investigative activity had occurred during that time interval," the NYPD said. "Thus, in those cases that they reviewed, OIG had no factual basis for declaring that 'unauthorized activity' or 'unauthorized conduct' inevitably occurred." The NYPD response also notes that the department does not track individuals by religion and criticized the OIG for referencing the religion of the Intelligence Unit's targets as an attempt "to reach for something with uncertain purpose." Nicole Turso, a spokesperson for DOI, stated that DOI had, in fact, determined the NYPD conducted investigations after the expiration of authorization. "The NYPDs assertion is false," she wrote in an email to Gothamist. "DOI specifically asked numerous times, including in writing, whether NYPD engaged in investigative activity after authorizations had expired, and NYPD confirmed that investigative activity did continue during this period. The OIG report includes a range of what seem like no-brainer recommendations, including instituting a formal system for tracking deadlines, processing extension requests before investigation authorizations expire, and providing detailed written justifications for continuing investigations. These policy changes and several others would be consolidated into a "unified handbook," which the department could then continue to ignore. In the NYPD release, Commissioner Bill Bratton offered a unique TL;DR interpretation of the OIG's report. "It has always been our assertion that we will go where the evidence takes us, and we will do so within the guidelines of the law," he said in a statement. "I am very pleased the Inspector General's audit has independently confirmed this to be true." A state law enforcement officer who confronted a family member 15 years after she said he abused her in Louisiana and Texas testified Tuesday that she secretly recorded a conversation in which he implicates himself. Erlis Joseph Chaisson, 47, acknowledges on the recording that he got aroused and made some mistakes, but blamed her, in part, and said he always stopped myself before I went too far. Chaisson is on trial in Wacos 19th State District Court on one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child and four counts of indecency with a child by contact. He is charged with abusing the family member for about three to four years beginning when she was about 7 or 8. If convicted, Chaisson could face an automatic life prison term because of a previous conviction in Louisiana for molesting another child. The woman, who is now 27, testified that Chaisson abused her sexually at their homes in Monroe, Louisiana, and Grand Isle, Louisiana, and it resumed when they moved to a home near China Spring. She said she held her deep, dark secret inward for more than a decade until she got older, became a state law enforcement officer and realized she had to report Chaisson. My job is in law enforcement, she said. Im held to a higher standard. I just want to protect people, and how can I do that if I cant even protect myself? The Tribune-Herald does not identify victims of alleged sexual assault without their permission. She told the jury that the abuse began with innocent cuddle sessions with Chaisson on the couch when he would rub and scratch her back. Later, he started coming into her bedroom at night and climbing into bed with her, she said. Years later, she said she started to realize that she had some issues, as she put it, including obsessive-compulsive disorder and problems with her romantic relationship. She went to a therapist, who opened her eyes that she needed to deal with her abuse issues, she said. After reporting the abuse to McLennan County Sheriffs Investigator Brad Bond, the woman and another friend in law enforcement decided to call Chaisson to see if they could secretly record a confession from him, she said. She said she called him in September 2014 and said she wanted to talk to him. He knew that I was in counseling and he knew I wanted to talk about the abuse, she said. Prosecutors Gabrielle Massey and Andrew Erwin played a 25-minute recording of their telephone conversation. Chaisson kept insisting that he wanted to talk to her but not on the phone. I just want to know why, she said. I guess thats where Im at right now. We need to talk, but not on the phone, Chaisson said. We need to sit down and talk face to face. Then you can explain and I can explain. There are always two sides to every story. How can there be two sides? she asked. Everything has two sides. If you want to meet, maybe we can go through some scenarios and have some closures, Chaisson said. Face-to-face meeting The pair agreed to meet in a city park in Granbury later that day. The woman borrowed a tape recorder from her friend in law enforcement. She said she concealed it in her bra and walked into the park to meet Chaisson, with her friend waiting 75 yards away in her car. Over objections from defense attorneys Christy Jack and Stephen Gordon, prosecutors played one hour of the two-hour recording before Judge Ralph Strother recessed the jury for the day at 6 p.m. The jury will hear the remaining portion of the recording when the trial resumes at 8 a.m. Wednesday. In the portion played late Tuesday afternoon, Chaisson can be heard trying to explain his actions, often in rambling narratives, about how he was young and immature 20 years ago, still getting hit on by women and not ready to settle down and try to raise children. He blamed the woman, in part, for craving attention as a young girl, saying, Id be laying on the couch and then you got that look in your eyes and then you were looking at me and looking at me and Id pull the covers up and youd come run in and jump under there and back up all the way to me. Chaisson tells her on the tape that he cant admit what he did because he wants to save his marriage. And thats the part that you dont understand, Chaisson said on the recording. I mean, it takes two, and its not that I was forcing you, its just, the (penis) has no conscience and theres no explanation for it. You was young, curious, and I should have knew better. I should have never put myself in them positions to even get aroused, and but at least I caught myself before I done something stupid. A wanted man was arrested Tuesday during an early morning Lacy Lakeview bicycle ride after he gave a fake name to officers and police located outstanding Waco warrants for possession of methamphetamine and aggravated sexual assault of a child charges, Lacy Lakeview Police Chief John Truehitt said. Roman Daniel Gatica, 34, was arrested after a Lacy Lakeview officer spotted Gatica riding a bicycle in the 500 block of New Dallas Highway at about 3 a.m. After seeing the man and the bicycle had no reflective markings and no lights, Truehitt said the officer stopped the man to check on his safety. The officer stopped him to make sure he was OK, warn him and try to get him off the road, but when the officer asked him what his name was, he started acting really strange and had a hard time spelling his name, Truehitt said. He had given the officer a fake name and when he finally gave (the officer) his actual name, he turned around, put his hand behind his back and told the officer to go ahead and arrest him. A records check on Gatica revealed he was wanted on an outstanding warrant for possession of methamphetamine and an aggravated sexual assault of a child charge. As the officer attempted to arrest Gatica, he ran, Truehitt said. He broke off an ran about 20 yards, Truehitt said. The officer had to (use a stun gun) on him to be able to detain him. Gatica was later taken to McLennan County Jail on charges of failure to identify and evading arrest. He was also booked in on the outstanding warrants. Gatica remained in custody Tuesday evening in lieu of surety bonds totalling $504,000. Last week some of us met in the rotunda of the McLennan County Courthouse to call on fellow citizens to volunteer to be poll watchers, election judges and clerks. These are very important non-partisan jobs that the county election administrator needs to be able to conduct a smooth, successful election. At the same time, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump called on his supporters to volunteer to monitor polling locations for possible voter fraud. His claims of a rigged election and his harsh rhetoric immediately brought the 1988 presidential election cycle to mind. The place: Orange County, California. In a down-ballot race, Republican state legislative candidate Curt Pringle feared he might lose the election because of illegal Latino voters voting in certain precincts. His campaign hired 20 uniformed guards to monitor the polling places to be sure that no fraudulent votes were cast. These forces carried signs in English and Spanish warning voters about penalties for voting illegally. They asked people in voting lines if they could prove their citizenship. Through their dress, signs and questioning of potential voters, they clearly engaged in voter intimidation. GOP analysts later claimed this tactic set the Republican Party back 20 years in Latino recruitment. I suspect they were right. Today, with the real possibility of volunteer poll watchers, now might be a good time to look at what is required to be a poll watcher in Texas. This position is closely regulated by the Texas Secretary of States Office; requires training; and is very closely monitored by election officials. There is a very clear process where poll watchers can be deployed to polling stations. The poll watcher training manual is 27 pages long. Poll watchers may be appointed by a political candidate, a political party or for purposes of observing referenda or ballot propositions. A sworn affidavit is required. Strict procedures guide completion of the form and submitting it to the election judge in charge of the polling station to be observed. Electronic media/phones/cameras are forbidden. Poll watchers cannot speak to a potential voter, even if the voter asks directions. The poll watcher may only speak to the election judge about matters related to voting processes. Poll watchers typically look for irregularities, then quietly leave the premises, carefully document them and send reports to attorneys who judge the seriousness of any claims of voting irregularities. Ironically, some voters want poll watchers because of instances of voter intimidation in past elections. Others hope that poll watchers will deter voters who might be voting multiple times in one election or otherwise voting illegally. Of course, no significant numbers back any of the hysteria over voter fraud that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Trump and their supporters often speak of. Numerous studies confirm that widespread voter fraud is a myth. Carnegie-Knight News21s research project found that the state attorney general has prosecuted 15 cases of voter fraud since 2012. Heres the catch: None of these cases involved the type of fraud that the states controversial voter ID law specifically addresses. Across the nation, from 2000 to 2012, only 10 cases of actual voter impersonation were found. These impersonation cases are the ones that new voter ID laws are supposed to stop. In short, Texas voter ID law is a law written to protect us from a problem that doesnt exist. In a previous study done by News21, Texas reported 104 cases of voting irregularities from 2000 to 2012. There were at least 35.8 million votes cast during that period. That means that Texas had three cases of alleged voter fraud per 1 million (yes, a million) votes. These numbers hardly suggest that any elections in that time period were rigged. Given these statistically negligible numbers, Texas probably doesnt merit the volunteer poll watchers that Trump is recruiting. As we move closer to the general election in November, we should all take a minute to reflect on the real issues driving this presidential contest. The United States has serious policy concerns: the economy, national security, immigration and education, just to name a few. We should focus on these not unfounded, alarmist talk of voter fraud. Restaurateur Mary Duty is chairwoman of the McLennan County Democratic Party. Photo ID still required in Texas election Due to other commitments, I was unable to attend the last county commissioners meeting to discuss issues surrounding the state voter ID law and ensure both accuracy and clarity in the interview given by my Democratic Party chair counterpart, Mary Duty. Consequently, I am compelled to now respond in order to provide that accuracy and clarity. From the Tribs published article and the interview with Duty, people might conclude that by simply presenting any form of identification, such as a utility bill, with or without a photo, coupled with an affidavit stating they are who they say they are, the person will be allowed to vote. This is not true. This November, the procedure for voting still has the requirement of a photo ID. Acceptable forms of photo ID include a Texas drivers license; a Texas voters identification certificate (now issued free of charge by the Texas Department of Public Safety); a Texas Personal Identification card issued by the Texas DPS; a Texas license to carry a handgun issued by the DPS; a U.S. military identification card; a U.S. citizenship certificate with photo; or a U.S. passport. With the exception of the U.S. citizenship certificate, the document presented must be current or have expired no more than four years before presentation at the polling place. Should someone come to the polling place without any of the above forms of photo ID, that voter will be allowed to vote a provisional ballot. However, the voter must produce a photo ID to the registrar not later than the sixth day after the election for that ballot to be counted. This is the same procedure predating the voter ID court case agreement this month. The new procedure causing concern and confusion centers on the Reasonable Impediment Affidavit. With this impediment affidavit, the voter proves his or her identity by swearing under penalty of perjury (a felony offense with jail time upon conviction) that he or she does not have a photo ID and cannot reasonably obtain one. This is not a simple waiver of the photo ID requirement. It does not simply allow someone to present a utility bill and vote. It does not give a pass to a voter who cannot produce a photo ID. And certainly, it is not to be taken lightly. Duty asserts that the latest appeal decision by our state attorney general is a waste of taxpayer money. She misses the importance of principle. If money is the measure for actions, as Duty suggests, then principle has no place in her concept of society or the voting system. As Republicans, we value the principle of integrity of the ballot box, our voting system, and we believe this principle is worth protecting. Local attorney Jon Ker is chairman of the McLennan County Republican Party. Now were getting somewhere maybe! Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump recently delivered an economic speech in Detroit where he discussed his tax reform plan. There wasnt a lot of detail that would have been out of character. But I like what I see, even if I cant see much. Heres why he gets three cheers. First cheer: Lower income-tax rates. Trump proposes to reform the income tax by reducing the seven current rates ranging from 10 percent to a high of 39.5 percent to just three: 12, 25 and 33 percent. Trump didnt reveal income thresholds for those three brackets or where he might set a standard deduction two critical factors in determining how families would be affected. He also says he would dramatically streamline the process, but how? What that phrase means in conservative circles and presumably what Trump plans to do is reduce the number of tax breaks that make the tax code so complicated. But that effort would face huge obstacles, since those with a vested interest in the current breaks would fight hard to keep them. Second cheer: Lower corporate-tax rates. Trump proposes lowering the corporate income tax rate from 35 percent highest in the developed world to 15 percent, which would be nearly the lowest. Two big thumbs up! Trumps 15 percent corporate income tax rate would jump-start the most sluggish economic recovery since the Great Depression. Business investments and expansions that didnt make economic sense at a 35 percent rate could make a lot of sense at 15 percent. In addition, Trump says that his business tax will also end job-killing corporate inversions, where U.S. companies merge with overseas companies to fall under the foreign countrys lower tax rates. The fact is that companies merge for lots of reasons, not just for tax avoidance, but Trumps plan would lead to fewer inversions and encourage more foreign companies to merge with American companies under American tax law. Third cheer: bringing the money home. An estimated $2.1 trillion of U.S. corporate cash is sitting in offshore banks, precisely because of those high tax rates, plus our global tax system. Most countries rely on a territorial tax system where a company with offshore operations pays the foreign countrys corporate tax and brings whats left home with no additional taxes. By contrast, American companies with overseas operations must pay the taxes of those countries and, if they repatriate the remaining funds, they pay the U.S. government the difference between those foreign taxes paid and the U.S. tax. Trump proposes a 10 percent flat tax on money located offshore, and many companies would jump at that offer. More importantly, Trumps lower corporate tax rate would largely eliminate the problem going forward. Trump also proposes eliminating the death (estate) tax again. The death tax passed away temporarily in 2010, but Democrats want to revive it not because it brings in much money but because it has been a leftist cause since Karl Marx included it in the Communist Manifesto. One estimate of the cost in federal revenue of Trumps earlier tax reform plan was about $10 trillion over 10 years. Changes to this version should lower that estimate. And if Trump were to dramatically slash federal spending, those cuts could offset much of the lost revenue. The biggest problem with Trumps tax reform is that its only an outline, albeit a good one, with less than 80 days till the election. Like so many of the things he says, its more of a platitude than a plan. Merrill Matthews is a scholar with the Institute for Policy Innovation, an independent, nonprofit public policy research organization based in Dallas. Hell or High Water is one of the best movies of the year: Alternately tense and hilarious, this small-scale story of brotherly bank robbers and the Texas Rangers out to stop them stands out in a year of bloated superhero flicks, unnecessary sequels and failed reboots. Its also one of the few artistically successful ventures to examine the lingering effects of the 2008 economic crash and the modest recovery experienced by many normal folks on the ground. Toby Howard (Chris Pine) teams up with his neer-do-well ex-con brother Tanner (Ben Foster) to take down a series of small scores at a local chain of banks in Texas. Hot on their heels are Texas Rangers Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges) and Alberto Parker (Gil Birmingham). The Howards are trying to raise capital to save the family farm; in classic cops and robbers fashion, the Rangers are trying to stop them. Just beyond, or perhaps just behind, this cat-and-mouse game there is an underlying sense of injustice and inequality: As the two pairs of characters travel through the West Texas highways and byways, the background betrays a land that the recovery never reached. Scrapyards dot the sides of the road, symbolic graveyards for dashed dreams. Shuttered Shell stations, marquees outside of businesses with CLOSED stamped on them, signs promising debt relief and quick cash now: This is the landscape the Howard boys are working in. Perhaps unsurprisingly, they find some moral support from the locals. No one joins them in their shootouts. But no one at a local diner seems too perturbed by the duo getting away with a modest score from the bank next door, either theyve seen too many of their friends and neighbors lose their houses. Even Texas Ranger Marcus Hamilton patterned by Bridges and screenwriter Taylor Sheridan after Sheridans cousin, retired U.S. Marshal and now McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara has a wry sense of humor about him. For instance, at one point the Ranger resorts to country wit about having to stick up for the bankers: Ah, that looks like a man who could foreclose on a house, he drawls as a bank manager walks by after one of the robberies. The corresponding tone is set in the films opening moments: Three tours in Iraq but no bailout for people like us, claims some graffiti near the first bank that gets hit. Hell or High Water is the sort of film that Donald Trump supporters might love, were they to give it a chance. In addition to the economic turbulence and the idea that the heartland is slipping away, one crooked banker at a time, Marcus and Alberto engage in very un-PC banter. The elderly white cop ribs Alberto about his Indian and Mexican heritage, while the younger man pushes right back, cracking wise about Marcus age and impending retirement. It captures a very specific brand of Middle American camaraderie and anxiety, one that hasnt shown up too much on the big screen recently. Jeff Nichols, the director of Mud, Take Shelter and Midnight Special, has been the most consistent mainstream chronicler of the white working class in recent years, an undercurrent of economic anxiety swirling just below the surface of all these films. But these are portraits of a people who have long lived on the edge: lower-middle-class to lower-class folks who have always struggled to save up for a family vacation or a needed surgery, as in Take Shelter, or merely put food on the table, as in Mud. Theyre not necessarily tied to the nations recent woes. Andrew Dominik took the financial collapse and the bank bailouts and used them as the central metaphor for economic collapse in his 2012 film, Killing Them Softly. The action and the general incompetence of most everyone involved takes place as George W. Bush and Barack Obama preach about the idea of America even as regular citizens suffer while their wealthy, connected betters cash in. Unsure that this lack of subtlety had failed to drive the point home, Dominik has star Brad Pitt spell it out in a closing speech: This guy (pointing to Obama, speaking on a TV in the background) wants to tell me were living in a community? Dont make me laugh. Im living in America. And in America, youre on your own. Americas not a country. Its just a business. Now (expletive) pay me. The Dark Knight Rises warned of what might happen if such economic anxieties as are at play in Hell or High Water were allowed to fester. While the wealthy throw swanky parties and the politicians ignore the pleas of the populace, a generation of unemployable young people literally goes underground to work for the faux-populist Bane (Tom Hardy). After attacking Wall Street, Bane captures the imagination of the rest of the underclass by denouncing myths of opportunity and asking them to tear down the system. For some reason, he feels strangely familiar this election season. A handful of movies has dealt directly with the subprime mortgage collapse and its fallout, of course: 99 Homes, about a guy buying up foreclosed homes, and The Big Short, based on Michael Lewis book about the crash, spring to mind. Jodie Foster and George Clooneys surprisingly entertaining Money Monster centered on a man who felt cheated out of his life savings after an investment went south thanks to the criminal behavior of an untouchable executive. But these films, along with Killing Them Softly, all feel a bit on-the-nose in a way that Hell or High Water never does. And for that reason, if no other, it could be the first masterpiece about the recent American economy. Sonny Bunch, executive editor of the Washington Free Beacon, writes about culture and politics and reviews movies. Hes a former film critic for the Washington Times and an assistant editor of books and arts for the Weekly Standard. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is now saying of the general electoral process what he once claimed of the Republican nominating system: Its rigged. Well, lets concede that, in the state of Texas, it has been rigged, thanks to a flawed voter ID law passed by the Republican-led Texas Legislature in 2011. But dont take our word for it. And judging from Trumps stated belief that ones ethnicity poses a natural bias in judicial matters, dont take the word of Corpus Christi-based U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos, who ruled in 2014 that state legislators intentionally sought to racially discriminate through Texas voter ID law by making it hard for poor people of whom minorities are a disproportionate number to obtain proper credentials to vote. No, lets take the word of the fiercely conservative U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which also finds the Texas law discriminatory. This court arguably the most conservative in the nation last month, and for the second time, struck down Texas voter ID law. It ordered Gonzales Ramos to come up with a remedy for the fall election. To their credit, state officials and minority-rights advocates dutifully crafted ways that, while not absolving most of us from showing photo ID, allows those who claim hardships or difficulties in obtaining such IDs a regular ballot. Oblivious to all, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has now announced that he will appeal the 5th Circuit Court ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. Whats that definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results? The truism surely applies to state officials who continue pressing a law that anyone with common sense can see penalizes the poor, the elderly and minorities when it comes to voting. The shameful part is our state politicos are pandering, spending millions of our taxpayer dollars propping up a suit that, given the ideological DNA of the 5th Circuit, is unlikely to survive if it even reaches the U.S. Supreme Court. In the November election (beginning with early voting in October), a photo ID is still required in most cases: a Texas drivers license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety; Texas Election Identification Certificate, issued by the DPS; Texas personal identification card, issued by the DPS; Texas license to carry a handgun, issued by the DPS; U.S. military ID card containing the persons photograph; a U.S. citizenship certificate containing the persons photograph; or a U.S. passport. But heres the catch some might not tell you: According to the Texas Secretary of States Office, if a Texas voter cannot obtain or has a reasonable impediment or difficulty in obtaining one of the forms of acceptable photo ID listed above, he or she can present a valid voter registration certificate; certified birth certificate (which must be an original); a copy of or original current utility bill; a copy of or original bank statement; a copy of or original government check; a copy of or original paycheck; or a copy of or original government document with your name and an address (original if it contains a photograph). Such a voter must also sign a document explaining why he or she faces impediments in obtaining a photo ID. Reasons can include lack of transportation, disability or illness, lack of birth certificate or other documents needed to obtain acceptable photo ID, work schedule, family responsibilities, lost or stolen photo ID, or photo ID applied for but not received. And the ballot offered is the regular ballot not a provisional ballot. State officials sincere about a workable and fair photo ID law might tap Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, Trumps running mate, for some advice. His states photo ID law, which survived a challenge before the U.S. Supreme Court, offers some reasonable starting points. We believe Texas can do even better. When Donald Trump did his third campaign shakeup, most of the attention/rubbernecking was given over to the hire of alt-right hero/Breitbart corpse rider Steve Bannon, as compared to pollster Kellyanne Conway's promotion to campaign manager. If Bannon was a sign that Trump would somehow be even more confrontational, Conway was supposed to be a steady, experienced hand at the helm, a pollster who'd worked dark magic for Jack Kemp, Dan Quayle, Todd Akin and Ted Cruz among others, and would now do the same for Trump. Sad(!)ly, it appears Conway has succumbed to whatever brain injury it is that all top-level Trump campaign staff seem to receive when they sign on, as she recently told England's Channel 4 that she's not worried about Trump's polling numbers because online polls show him winning. Conway blasted "cherry-picked polling numbers that are put out by media outlets that are also bent on [Trump's] destruction." She said she wasn't worried about Trump being down across the board because he "consistently performs better in online polling, where a human being isn't talking to another human being." And she's right, you know. Trump won an unprecedented 70% of the vote from an extremely scientific online poll run by ABC, which delighted people who use the phrase "Hitlery." Trump also won a Twitter poll run by Wikileaks, whose press freedom and open access fans overwhelmingly voted for the champion of the free press and radical transparency fan. In other, obviously skewed polling data, Clinton maintains a slight lead over Trump nationally, including a +5 advantage in a poll run by...Breitbart. In state polling, Clinton maintains an advantage in places like Florida, Colorado, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Conway has an answer to that though, telling Channel 4 that she believes there's a huge amount of "undercover Trump" voters just too embarrassed to tell a stranger calling from a polling firm that they're riding the Trump Train. Elsewhere in the Trump fever dream, there's confusion as to whether or not he's about to make a big pivot on immigration. He did meet with a Hispanic Advisors Council in an attempt to pretend he cares what Latinos think, but he also has "Compelling Mexico To Pay For The Wall" on his website. And while he savaged his primary rivals for failing to close America's borders and won the admiration of the Keep America White crowd to the point that they burst out into song, Trump is suddenly not so hot on deporting 11 million people. Or maybe he is, no one is really sure whether he's truly cucked the alt-right or not. GREENWOOD Forty years ago, Keith Ziegenbein hand-drew the plans for the valves that would become the basis of a local business that continues to innovate to meet the needs of its customers and feed the creative passion of its founders. KZCO will celebrate its 40th anniversary with an open house on Friday, Aug. 26 from 3:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. at their facility at 23860 KZ Parkway near the Greenwood Interchange. Keith Ziegenbein and his brother Kevin founded KZCO in 1976. Keith had come up with idea for a hydraulic valve after suffering a near-fatal accident while farming a few years earlier. When a faulty manual valve allowed a cloud of ammonia to escape, Keith jumped off the tractor and narrowly escaped being overcome by the gas. A few years after the accident, Keith put pencil to graph paper and dreamed up the first version of the valve, calling it the Hydra-Halt. At that time, home computers were a thing of the future 40 years ago. And even if he had owned one, Keith said he did not have computer-aided-design (CAD) skills to use one. Instead, he relied on what he knew. I hand drew the first valve, he said. Drawing schematics by hand was not the only old school method used by the Ziegenbeins to build their business. With their first two samples in hand, the brothers went door-to-door to sell the valve to local fertilizer dealers with price sheets printed on a second-hand mimeograph machine. They brought in a wholesaler and sales increased. After a few years in business, they developed electric valves. We had the first motorized electric ball valve in agriculture in the world, Keith said. Today, their KZValve product has eight lines that grew from that first invention, with endless possibilities for future products, Keith said. There are millions of versions we can build out of those eight product lines, he said. The valves range in size from six inches to one-quarter inch, their newest product which will be used in agricultural sprayers to control the amount and location of application. Its going to revolutionize sprayers in the future, Keith said. The company continues to adapt their products to changing needs in agriculture and has expanded outside of the ag market. An electronic trash can opener, the Press-N-Pitch, is still on the market after more than a decade and has recently been adapted for use in automatic chicken coop doors, Keith said. While they are looking to the future, the original Hydra-Halt is still in production. However, they only sell a few a year, Keith said. Well keep it in production until we run out of parts, he added. While Keith and Kevin were creating and selling their early valves using the tools and equipment available at the time, Keiths wife Ardith was taking care of the fledgling business books and accounting the old-fashioned way as well. I hand-typed everything, she said. Computers didnt come into the picture until the early 1990s, when KZCO purchased a computer for Ardith. It sat unused on a desk. I didnt even touch it for several years, she said. Gradually Ardith eased into using the computer. Today, the company has an entire network of computers in its facility. KZCOs many departments are so tied to computers and the Internet that a recent power outage in the building sent everyone home early as there was little they could do, Keith said. In the beginning, Keith relied on his rudimentary engineering knowledge to draft his inventions. Forty years later, he has a team of engineers to take his design from idea to product or come up with their own ideas. I get my graph paper out and start drawing something and give it to an engineer to finish it, he said. KZCO hired its first engineer in 1995. At first it was hard for Keith to hand off his idea to someone else because it was difficult to explain what he had in mind. Communication is not my strength, he said with a smile. After he realized how quickly an engineer could adapt his ideas, Keith came to the realization that perhaps he should have become an engineer himself. But the year he spent in college felt like a waste of time, he said, so he returned to the family farm. And while he sees the role engineers play in his company, Keith also knows that not everyone needs a college degree to be successful at KZCO or in life. We have multiple people in key positions here that dont have a degree, he said. Theyre just as valuable as if they had a degree. The value of all of KZCOs employees will be apparent when the company celebrates its 40th anniversary at the facility they have called home since 1998. The state-of-the-art building houses all aspects of the company, including administrative services, engineering, sales and manufacturing departments and the warehouse. Originally started in a Quonset hut on the Ziegenbein family farm, the company moved to a new building on Keith and Ardiths farm in the early 1990s before settling in near Greenwood. The Ziegenbeins and the entire KZCO family invite the public to their open house, which will include fun treats like an ice shaving machine and tours of the facility. Most importantly, it will highlight the great work the 65 employees who make the 40-year-old company run and who will help it continue on for many more decades to come as current products are adapted new products are invented. And to think it was all started with one little drawing on a piece of graph paper. Our valves are doing things today I never even dreamt they could do, said Keith. LINCOLN Mark Christensen is ready to move from one public service position to another. The Lower Platte South Natural Resources District appointed Christensen to replace David Potter at its Aug. 17 meeting. Christensen will represent the NRDs Subdistrict 1, which includes the Air Park and Yankee Hill neighborhoods in Lincoln and an area west and north of Lincoln, including the towns of Pleasant Dale, Garland, Denton, Raymond, Valparaiso and Brainard. His appointment will expire at the end of 2016, when the successful General Election candidate will take over until the end of the current term, which runs through 2018. Christensen currently represents Ward 1 on the Raymond Central Board of Education and serves on the finance, policy and negotiation committees. He is not running for re-election this fall. The NRDs executive committee met with seven applicants for the board director position, and recommended Christensens appointment to the directors at the Aug. 17 meeting. Other applicants included Ryan Brandt of Raymond, Walter Broer of Raymond, Gary Hellerich of Valparaiso, Bruce Kennedy of Malcolm, Doug Moore of Denton and Paul Spieker of Pleasant Dale. Christensen made his case at the meeting prior to the directors vote. Ive been involved in agriculture my whole life, he told the directors. Christensen grew up on a ranch in the Nebraska panhandle. He said his family that remains actively involved in farming and ranching. He also owns land near Raymond that he farms with his wife. In a letter to the board, he wrote that they have planted more than 100 trees on the property, improved their farm pond, terraced some of the farmland to reduce erosion and have worked to enhance local habitats. Many of the trees planted came from the NRD. I have planted probably tens of thousands of trees that I obtained from the NRD, he said. Christensen also informed NRD directors that, as an attorney of 32 years, he has occasionally handled water law disputes and frequently resolves agricultural disputes as a professional mediator. Receiving the appointment was appreciated, Christensen said last Thursday. Im really gratified, he said. Its a position that I think is well suited to my interests and background and Im looking forward to serving on the board. He said he has enjoyed his time on the Raymond Central Board of Education, but it was time to move on so other school district patrons could become involved. I feel like there ought to be people with kids on the board, he said. My kids are out of school. He wasnt ready to be done with public service, though. The NRD position seemed like the next step. I saw that it was available and I thought it to be a good fit, he said. Stepping down as a board of education member will be bittersweet. I will miss the board, Christensen said. Candidates may still petition onto the Nov. 8 ballot or they may register as a write-in candidate. Cindi Wolfe and Brad Breitkreutz are vying for the Christensens seat on the board of education. EAGLE Pet owners in Eagle should now know that Eagle Fire and Rescue has the tools it needs to save their furry friends in the event of a fire. The department received three sets of oxygen air masks from Eagle couple Bruce and Tammy Faust two months ago. The donation allows the department to provide proper airflow to dogs and cats suffering from smoke inhalation or other breathing problems. This is huge, said Assistant Fire Chief Ben Glantz. While watching television one night, the couple saw a commercial advertising the masks. That gave them an idea. We saw them advertised on TV, said Bruce Faust, who owns Eagle Automotive. I asked Ben if they had them. After learning the department did not have any masks, the Fausts decided they would buy a few and give them to the volunteer organization. Pet-lovers themselves they own three English Mastiffs and a pitbull the Fausts couldnt resist. Pets are so important, Tammy Faust said. Theyre like everybodys kids. To me, these are important to have. The kits were roughly $100 each, but cost wasnt a concern. If it saves just one dogs life, its worth it, she said. The masks work similarly to human oxygen masks, Glantz said. The kits come with three different sizes for small, medium and large animals from Chihuahuas to Great Danes. The masks are fitted with a rubber seal to prevent them from falling off during use. Prior to receiving the animal masks, the department was using pediatric masks to rescue pets. The masks are used more frequently than one might expect. Glantz estimated approximately nine out of 10 fires the department responds to involve pets. Its starting to happen more and more, -- a lot more animals involved than you would probably imagine, he said. During a fire, owners are usually very concerned about the well being of their pets, Glantz said. People are huge pet lovers, and people consider them their children, Glantz said. When you save somebodys dog, you save their family member. The department found the masks useful during a recent house fire, when the donation was used to provide oxygen to a dachshund that was struggling to breathe after being removed from the home. The masks came with lengthy instruction manuals and easy-to-read charts that allow responders to treat animals with the proper amount of oxygen for their size. The donations came in at a time when emergency agencies in the state are putting more consideration into animal rescue, Glantz said. Cass County Emergency Management, for example, is considering building a trailer outfitted with numerous kennels to house animals lost during mass casualty events, such as tornados, fires and other large-scale catastrophes. After the Nebraska town of Pilger was struck by a tornado, many pets were lost or put down because owners couldnt be located. Some are still running wild, Glantz said. The response trailer could make it easier to return animals to their owners. This way we could take a picture of them, put them in a kennel and then wait for hopefully an owner to show up, Glantz said. The department would like to purchase more masks, but getting the purchase approved by the village may be difficult during budget season, Glantz said. Fortunately, residents like the Fausts are around to help. We appreciate it, he said. Theres the needs, the wants and the priorities. And then theres the budget. Beyond providing the means to save pets lives, the Fausts were happy to show support for their local fire department. We have great volunteers, Tammy Faust, a former department volunteer, said. I dont think they get what they deserve. Donations like these bolster volunteer morale, Glantz said. Its an awesome feeling, he said. We run very thin on volunteers and thin on reserve. After all department members are village residents, too. We are your neighbors, we are you friends, we are the person you pass in the gas station, Glantz said. Its refreshing to know that people do care. Aycock The Rockaways are known as a chillaxing spot for many a city escapist during the summer, but things were a little too laid back for the NYPD at one of the area's restaurants, where marijuana was discovered growing in the back yard. Cops arrested Whitney Aycock, pizzaiolo and owner of Whit's End on Rockaway Beach Boulevard, after two "suspicious" plants were observed by officers on Friday evening, according to the criminal complaint provided by the Queens D.A. Aycock allegedly told cops the plants were herbs, like lemon verbena that he used for the restaurant, before pivoting and explaining it was actually catnip. Eventually, Aycock attempted to shift the blame, according to the complaint. "I buy the herb on [the] Nassau Expressway, so if it's anything that it's not supposed to be, then you shouldn't be speaking to me. You should be speaking to the people who sold it to me." Never trust the roadside herb, man. Not one to be taken without a fight, Aycockwho was dubbed the "Pizza Nazi" by locals for his attitude about his piesallegedly "flailed his arms and twisted his body in an attempt to avoid being handcuffed and placed under arrest," according to the arresting officers. As cops hauled him out of the restaurant in handcuffs late Saturday night, restaurant patrons apparently also joined in cursing out the officers, "gather[ing] around police officers, follow[ing] them around and curs[ing] obscenities at them." Aycock has been charged with "growing of the plant known as cannabis by unlicensed person," obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. The arrest was first reported by DNAinfo. As always, the F-bomb-loving eatery has found their own way to cope with the situation, leaving this message on their website: (Whit's End) Professional organizations on base each have different sets of ethos, rules and benefits for participants, but their sole focus is to improve themselves and the Airmen around them. There are five professional organizations offered to the bases current and future leaders, which include the following: Airmans Council for ranks of airman basic to senior airman; Lead 5/6 for staff sergeants and technical sergeants; Top 3 for master sergeant through chief master sergeant; Company Grade Officers Council for second lieutenant to captain; and Air Force Sergeants Association, which any enlisted Airman can join. The 90th Missile Wing Command Chief, Chief Master Sgt. Jeffery Steagall, has been part of multiple private organizations throughout his career and stressed the importance of Airmen joining in. Throughout my career I have had the opportunity to be the president of a unit-level booster club, a Rising 5 and Top 3 Council, and served as the president of an AFSA chapter, Steagall said. I can say without any hesitation that my involvement in these organizations, and the opportunity I had to lead them, catapulted me as a leader, making me who I am today. These professional organizations meet once a month and provide professional development opportunities, community service outings, networking events and even the ability to lobby with Congress. I feel the Airmans Council gives junior Airmen a chance to really get involved and get their voice heard on base, said Airman 1st Class Steven Bryant, 90th Medical Operations Squadron bioenvironmental technician. Its really beneficial for growing as a leader and giving back to the 90th MW, whether its participating in events, volunteering across the base and in the community, or working with other private organizations to bring about change on base. Organizations often work with each other to fulfill their goals and put on events, and members also learn more about different units on base. Understanding how other organizations on base operate is crucial to wing mission success, said 1st Lt. Heather Steed, 90th Security Forces Group safety officer and CGOC president. The CGOC allows us to come together from our different squadrons and helps us understand the struggles and processes of other agencies. The common theme found in all the private organizations is the continual building of Air Force leaders. These organizations are the lifeblood of many of our recognition programs, but more importantly, they are absolutely crucial to developing young Airmen into effective and credible leaders by helping them develop their project management, multi-tasking and communications skills," Steagall said. I highly encourage both officers and enlisted members to get involved and make a difference in our community, while reaping the benefit of expanding their leadership abilities." The following is a breakdown of each organization: Airmans Council The Airmans Council promotes goodwill, fellowship, harmony, morale and welfare among the Airmen of F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. This private organization is the liaison between Airmen and leadership when they do not know who to turn to with questions or ideas, and also serves as a source of recreational and volunteer opportunities to help Airmen grow within the whole Airman concept. The Airmans Council currently meets the third Wednesday of each month. Lead 5/6 Lead 5/6 is an organization that assists new non-commissioned officers, as well as experienced NCOs, by creating a network between members to share ideas and philosophies in order to become better leaders. The organization encourages expression of ideas on mentoring, evaluation and constructive communication. Lead 5/6 creates an environment for improvement within the enlisted force and educates members on changes or issues affecting them in order to improve quality of life both on and off duty. Lead 5/6 currently meets the third Friday of each month. Top 3 The organization takes care of all enlisted Airmen across the 90th MW by communicating concerns and trends seen within the base units. Members of Top 3 communicate those trends to the level of leadership that younger Airmen may feel uncomfortable addressing. Top 3 establishes networking relationships to help members achieve personal goals and mission accomplishment. This organization is composed of committed and dedicated leaders. Top 3 currently meets the second Thursday of each month at 11:30 a.m. Company Grade Officers Council The CGOC serves as a semi-formal atmosphere for networking within the wing and other bases. CGOs grow by networking, professional development, cross-talk, community service, project officer experience and spending time with peers. CGOC currently meets the first Wednesday of the month at 11:30 a.m., in the Hideout room at the Trails End Event Center. Air Force Sergeants Association AFSA's goal is to lobby on behalf of U.S. Air Force veterans. The main focus is ensuring Air Force members have a voice in Congress concerning benefits for service members, past and present. Fundraisers and other events are held throughout the year to spread AFSAs message and to provide fun events for local Airmen. AFSA currently meets every second Thursday of each month. For more details, the following representatives can provide more information for each private organization. Airmans Council: Senior Airman Katelin Reed Lead 5/6: Tech. Sgt. Cory Galaz Top 3: Master Sgt. Karen Harr Company Grade Officers Council: 1st Lt. Heather Steed Air Force Sergeants Association: Master Sgt. Christopher Stokes S&P 500 3,901.06 DOW 32,861.80 QQQ 281.22 Apple Inc. Stock Q4 Results Beat Negative Outlook, Stock Rises Elon Musk takes over Twitter but where will he go from here? McDonalds Stock Sizzles, but Will it Hit a New All-Time High? Why is Amazon Stock Falling? Is the Sell-Off Overdone? Will Ryanair Stock Gains, Strong Estimates Help it Fly? Chevron Gushes More Profits; Is it Time for Investors to Buy? S&P 500 3,901.06 DOW 32,861.80 QQQ 281.22 Apple Inc. Stock Q4 Results Beat Negative Outlook, Stock Rises Elon Musk takes over Twitter but where will he go from here? Why is Amazon Stock Falling? Is the Sell-Off Overdone? McDonalds Stock Sizzles, but Will it Hit a New All-Time High? Chevron Gushes More Profits; Is it Time for Investors to Buy? Will Ryanair Stock Gains, Strong Estimates Help it Fly? A project led by Theatre Royal Waterford has been selected as one of the five arts projects in the country for funding from the... Waterford Fine Gael Senator John Cummins has described the progress which has been made on the purchase of the former Waterford Crystal site for... WATERFORD is the most sunny city in Ireland and the county is second in the sunshine league, being pipped to first place by our... Christmas is such an important time for family reunions, but there are many of us for whom Christmas is also a time when those... Australian Federal Police officers are at Parliament House executing a search warrant as part of an investigation into leaks to Labor related to the National Broadband Network. Investigators arrived at 10am and met with staff of Labor senator Stephen Conroy, the shadow special minister of state and former communications minister, in a room in Parliament's basement. "The AFP can confirm a search warrant will be executed today in relation to its investigation into the alleged unauthorised disclosure of Commonwealth information relating to the NBN Co," an AFP spokesman said in a statement. "A warrant has been lawfully obtained for the execution of this search and will be conducted by consent with the co-operation of the Department of Parliamentary Services and the relative parties involved." French authorities will investigate the leak of thousands of pages of sensitive submarine documents by the French shipbuilder selected to help design and build Australia's next fleet of 12 boats. The Australian reported on Wednesday that the more than 22,000 leaked pages of documents detail combat capability of six Indian Scorpene-class submarines designed by French shipbuilder DCNS. The data was reportedly written in France for the Indian project in 2011 and is suspected of being removed by a former French Navy officer who was a DCNS subcontractor. It was reportedly taken to a south-east Asian company and then to an Australian firm. "As a serious matter pertaining to the Indian Scorpene program, French national authorities for Defence security will formally investigate and determine the exact nature of the leaked documents," a spokesperson for DCNS said in a statement. "The driver builds a relationship with the business just as much as the business does with the driver," Timbs says. "Drivers get rated for their work, and the driver also rates the store. The cream rises to the top; if you're a really good business and you do a great job, you look after your staff, then you get rewarded for that because people want to work with you, and vice versa." Timbs says the business is currently looking to scale up, having recently raised $1.7 million. "We've just opened an office and hired a general manager in Melbourne. We're hiring here in Sydney. We've got big brands on the platform like Mad Pizza and Miss Chu. McDonald's is on board and Menulog has signed up as a partner. We expect a number of other major brands in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane will sign up between now and Christmas." There is currently more than 2000 drivers registered on the platform, with about 50 new drivers signing up and undertaking training every week on things such as food health and safety and safe driving. There's a fantastic mentor and start-up scene in Australia. Everyone's willing to help and give their opinions. David Truong started working as a driver for Drive Yello in March this year. "When I started I was doing one or two shifts a week, now it's three or four and I drive for a couple of restaurants." He is able to work for multiple restaurants in the same shift, and makes about $400 a week, which he uses to supplement his income teaching music production. "There's massive growth opportunities for us here in Australia. We've also been approached by a couple of brands to go to New Zealand and Singapore and even to the States and to Europe," Timbs adds. "There's a lot of opportunity within this marketplace, and I think it's purely based on the fact that we are looking at it from the business rather than the consumer perspective." He says rather than being competitive threats, businesses like UberEATS, foodora, and Deliveroo, which also provide drivers for restaurants, validate his model. "The big brands we work with have the brand power to facilitate their own deliveries. They have their own channels, their own applications. We power the delivery on behalf of them. Whereas, Deliveroo, UberEATS and foodora own the consumer. They have all the payment details, all the consumer details. People are loyal to their brand, so they're loyal to UberEATS, they're loyal to Deliveroo. They're not loyal to McDonald's. "If you're doing a couple of hundred deliveries a week, we can help you manage your existing teams and that process more efficiently. If you're a store that's doing 20 deliveries a week, you're probably better off going with those guys. Once the delivery market has been validated for your business, and you really see it as a great opportunity to bring in a new revenue stream, then Yello empowers you to do that." Vietnamese food delivery outfit Mister Minh is one business that relies on the UberEATS platform as its delivery partner. Minh Chu, who previously owned Vietnamese restaurant Binh Minh, has opened a commercial kitchen, Mister Minh, for the sole purpose of serving meals via the UberEATS platform. "I had a restaurant for 17 years and it was very successful but it was pretty full on. I sold my business two years ago so I could spend more time with my family," says Chu. "Now I've decided to open a commercial kitchen for catering and delivery. I'm addicted to Uber from a customer point of view. I thought it would be great if I could build an app that would allow customers to order my food from anywhere. Now I can concentrate on the quality of the food. I'm pretty excited I can reach customers anywhere." It's still early days for Drive Yello. Timbs says it has generated $200,000 in revenue in the last eight months for its drivers, of which the business takes a cut. He says the company expects to make more than $1 million in revenue within its first 12 months. Technology is the business's major hurdle in achieving that figure. "There's complexity around building a digital product, and building it fast. With technology, nothing's ever going to be perfect all the time. It's just a matter of coming up with solutions to allow our marketplace to be happy," he says. The business will also look to raise between $3 million and $5 million in additional funding in the near future, to help it service the big fast food brands. Australia is set to be flooded with new strains of deadly synthetic designer drugs with new versions entering the market on an almost daily basis, according to international toxicology experts. Professor Marilyn Huestis, a long-term member of the US National Institute of Drug Abuse and the National Commission on Forensic Science, says synthetic cannabis can be up to 100 times more powerful than marijuana and can produce instant seizures, kidney failure, coma and death. Professor Huestis, who is in Melbourne to deliver the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine's Graeme Schofield Oration, says one small vial of the synthetic drug can provide thousands of doses and "blows away" the types of profits made from other illicit drugs. Her warnings are supported by the VIFM chief toxicologist, Dr Dimitri Gerostamoulos, who says there are 640 known "super" synthetic drugs now available. "There is a flood of them; we can't keep up. This is a huge problem." He said the raw product was often produced in China, refined in Europe and then sold on the internet. It won't be a bird's eye view for beginners when an acrobatic pilot flies upside down from Perth to Sydney for charity. Chief Red Baron pilot Joel Haski is aiming to break the Guinness World Record for 'furthest distance flying inverted in 24 hours' and 'longest time flying inverted' during the coast-to-coast trip. Pilot Joel Haski will fly from Perth to Sydney upside down. The journey is close to 4000km, and will take 15 hours, which Haski plans to break down into three-hour legs. The 43-year-old said he was aiming to do the trip at the end of 2017 but has not confirmed a date as he continues to look for a major sponsor. A powerful earthquake in Italy on Wednesday is not likely to force a 200 million euro bond issued to cover such risk into default as the bond has low exposure to the affected region, investors said. Issued last year by insurer UnipolSai, the Azzurro Re bond was the first so-called catastrophe bond to cover earthquake risk in Italy, Reuters report. Investors who buy a catastrophe bond enjoy a high yield but lose the value of the bond if an event occurs within agreed parameters, including factors such as location and severity. Default leaves the bond issuer with capital to help pay insurance claims related to the catastrophe. The U.S. Geological Survey, which measured Wednesday's quake at 6.2 magnitude, said it struck near the Umbrian city of Norcia, while Italy's earthquake institute INGV registered it at 6.0 and put the epicentre further south, closer to Accumoli and Amatrice. Azzurro Re only has a 0.2 percent exposure to Umbria, one catastrophe bond trader said, meaning default was unlikely, though he added that it was too early to be sure. "Initial gut feel is that Azzurro will be OK," he said. Illegal Mexican migrants were rapists and drug dealers - they should be thrown out, en masse. Muslims were terrorists they should be barred from entry, en masse. If there has been a single theme to Trump's obnoxious quest for the Republican presidential nomination, it's been his crude dog-whistle calls on white Americans to rally behind xenophobia and bigotry the 'other' that denies and threatens them had to be confronted and seen off. Washington: If there's to be no mass deportation of illegal migrants and if the 'beautiful' border wall is in doubt, then what's left of Donald Trump's blow-hard policies on immigration and, let's face it, his promises on just about every other aspect of American political life. Is Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump choking on the immigration issue? Credit:AP But these days he looks and sounds more like Donald the Dill as a realisation that [1], what he's talked of doing is not all that practical; and [2], what he's talked of doing is not winning the voter support he needs to get to the White House. So how will he deal with the estimated 12 million illegal migrants in the US? On Monday he told a television interviewer that he's use the laws already on the books, much as Presidents Obama and Bush had done. Surely he'd do is so much better the best he could muster was and the emphasis is mine - "perhaps with a lot more energy." Perhaps? What sort of wuss is Trump becoming? Where is the hard-assed insurrectionist that he promised? Now he's starting to sound pathetically politically correct. This is the guy who promised a 'deportation force;' who insisted time and again, they 'all have to go,' as he spoke admiringly of a 1950s effort at mass deportation that went by the name Operation Wetback. Montevideo, Uruguay, 8-10 August 2016 The WCO, UPU and the General Secretariat of the Postal Union of the Americas, Spain, and Portugal (PUASP), with support from Swiss Post and Correos Spain, organised a Customs-Post Workshop for Latin American countries in Montevideo, Uruguay, from 8 to 10 August 2016. Among other things, the Workshop enhanced participants knowledge of the relevant WCO and UPU instruments and tools in terms of strengthening existing cooperative relationships between Customs and postal operators at the national level, in particular improving the electronic exchange of advance information, and enhancing each others capabilities in facilitating postal items in a growing e-commerce environment whilst ensuring effective compliance with various regulatory requirements. Following up the WCO and UPU joint letter to all Customs administrations and postal operators for the implementation of electronic interface between them at the national level, the workshop examined in detail various ways to implement advance electronic exchange of information (pre-loading/pre-arrival) between posts and Customs by using the UPUs Customs Declaration System (CDS) and/or any other customized solution based on the joint WCO/UPU Customs-Post EDI messaging standards and the WCO Data Model, for an efficient risk management and improved service delivery. Another important aspect of the workshop was the sharing of national experiences where Customs and postal officials delivered joint presentations on the existing situation regarding postal-Customs clearance and potential ways forward including the formalizing of cooperation through a Memorandum of understanding and exploring possibilities of implementation of electronic interface between post and Customs on a priority. The representatives from postal operators and Customs administrations of 17 countries of the region acknowledged the importance of the joint workshop, which provided a common platform to discuss issues of mutual interest and explore potential solutions in achieving shared objectives, besides learning from others working examples and best practices. BATON ROUGE -- Gov. John Bel Edwards visited with President Barack Obama on his Tuesday visit to Louisiana to see first-hand the severe flooding that left 20 parishes with a major federal disaster declaration. Having received the federal disaster declaration, Edwards made several requests of the federal government directly to President Obama. Each request is meant to provide additional assistance to Louisiana residents who have been impacted by this disaster. I would first like to thank you for visiting Louisiana and for the support your administration is giving to our state in this time of great need, Edwards said in the letter. As Louisiana rebuilds from this catastrophic and historic flooding event, our federal partners have been responsive to all of our requests. In particular, I want to express my appreciation for the work done by Administrator Fugate and his team at FEMA. From the very beginning of this event, FEMA has been by our side and I am confident this cooperation will continue through our recovery. As you know, this flood event has been devastating for South Louisiana, Edwards continued. It has resulted in destruction to homes, businesses, and public infrastructure in 26 parishes, with 20 of those parishes being included in the Major Disaster Declaration. Further, this event comes on the heels of the March 2016 flood event which saw flooding in every corner of the state and included 37 parishes in the Major Disaster Declaration. As in previous times of difficulty for Louisiana, our people have risen to meet the challenge and to help their friends, families, and neighbors or even total strangers begin the process of starting anew. While we do not doubt the ability of our citizens to recover, we need the help of the federal government. The areas of Edwards' requests included: State cost share reduction Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds Hazard mitigation funds FHWA Emergency Highway Funding Title 32 status for Louisiana National Guard Waiver of state cost share for Hurricane and Storm Risk Reduction System (HSDRRS) Community Disaster Loan Program Recovery Task Force The full letter from Edwards to President Obama is available by clicking here. MANY -- The Sabine River Authority of Louisiana will meet at 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28 at the Pendleton Bridge Office at 15091 Texas Highway in Many. Here's the panel's agenda: A. Call to order B. Prayer C. Pledge D. Roll Call E. Adoption of Agenda F. Consideration of unapproved minutes of the June 23, 2016, meeting G. Staff Reports 1. TBPJO 2. Shoreline Update 3. Operational Update 4. Financial Report H. Special reports (citizen groups, etc.) I. Public comments J. Old business 1. Encroachment policy K. New business 1. Conveyance record affidavit L. Committee Reports 1. Diversion Canal A. Call to order for election of chairman 2. Parks A. Call to order for election of chairman 3. Leaseback A. Call to order for election of chairman 4. Finance A. Call to order for election of chairman 5. Water Sales A. Call to order for election of chairman 6. Fishery and Lake Management A. Call to order for election of chairman M. Legal report - Executive Session Motion to move into executive session: R.S. 42.6.1(2) Strategy sessions or negotiations with respect to collective bargaining, prospective litigation after formal written demand, or litigation when an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body. US District Court Perry Bonin, Ace Chandler and Michael Manuel, et al Sabine River Authority of Texas and Sabine River Authority of Louisiana Civil Action No: 1:16-CV-0017-RC Item #2: Unit #2, generator repairs Item #3: Power Sales Agreement Motion to reconvene from executive session: Action from executive session, if necessary N. Executive director's report O. Next meeting date: Sept. 22 at 1 p.m., Pendleton Bridge Office, Many P. Adjournment EVANS -- Vernon Parish residents still recovering from the March floods are getting a boost from disaster relief case managers with the Louisiana Conference, United Methodist Church Disaster Relief. Two long-term disaster relief case managers have been assigned to work in Vernon Parish, helping residents who have yet to get back into their homes -- or who have remaining needs. It's an endeavor that includes the Vernon Parish Long-term Recovery Group, a local group. Residents attended a meeting Thursday evening at Evans High School which laid out some of the specifics. The majority of those who attended said they were still not back in their flood-damaged homes. The work left to do at the homes ranges from minor to major. Some of those attending have exhausted their personal and FEMA funds in their rebuilding. Some haven't began and they don't know how far their money will go. Most did not have flood insurance. Leesville United Methodist Church Pastor Angela Bulhof helped secure the Methodist group's presence in the parish. She is also involved in the Vernon Parish Long-term Recovery Group. Case managers will help match unmet needs to available resources. They will also help drum up donations, fundraising and volunteers to help get the work done. A local office has been set up at the Mt. Zion Methodist Church at 807 Simpson Street, in Leesville, for residents to seek assistance and for the group to accept donations. District 3 Vernon Parish Police Juror David Fox said he feels the effort will assist those residents who need help and are uncomfortable asking for it. Many of those who attended Thursday's meeting signed up to participate in the process. "I think having this meeting and them coming here and meeting with case workers, they will provide those case workers with information and then our group, the Vernon Parish Long-term Recovery Group, will be able to take that information, assess it and we'll be able to help them understand, I think, what their unmet needs are," he said. Fox said the local recovery group has various sub-committees with members with expertise in areas like construction. He said having the case managers will benefit the process by filling in the gaps. They'll be involved in all aspects, he said. "They'll be coordinating the different churches, the different groups that will come in and provide materials or provide labor. That will be the direction that they will go," he continued. Jesus M. Perez, a local resident, Mt. Zion Methodist Church pastor and case manager with the Louisiana Conference, United Methodist Church Disaster Relief, said he is hoping the community -- and beyond -- will respond to assist. "People say, 'I only have a ramp to build, are you going to help me?' Of course, we're going to help you. We are going to help people in any capacity that we can, as long as we have the money," he said. Perez said Bulhof and the team have been putting in countless hours. "We want to help this community," he said. "Everybody here tonight has put effort to make this happen and we're not going to stop now. Now, it's game on." Flood-impacted residents wanting more information can call 337-423-5437 or 337-509-8753. Perez said leave a message if someone doesn't answer, and you'll get a return call. Those interested in donating funds, materials or volunteering can also call that number. Online: http://www.la-umc.org/; http://www.umcor.org/ Listen to this story here: MANY -- The Sabine River Authority will meet in executive session Thursday to discuss a lawsuit filed in federal court in Texas against SRA Texas and SRA Louisiana over the March floods along the Sabine River. The lawsuit was filed in May in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. It's before Judge Ron Clark, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District. No court date to hear the suit has been set, according to PACER.gov, the federal court's database. Plaintiffs allege the Sabine River Authorities have negligence in floods, which they claim were deliberate "water releases." The SRA has claimed the March event was due to record rainfall "which dropped 18 inches of water directly over Toledo Bend," a March news release from the Toledo Bend Project Joint Operation states. Officials have said they follow guidelines approved under a license issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which were "developed using historical information which includes lake levels and downstream flood events." When the level rises above normal pool stage, SRA Louisiana and Texas officials release water from the reservoir to relieve pressure on the dam. "Toledo Bend Reservoir, operated by the Sabine River Authority of Texas (SRA-TX) and the Sabine River Authority, State of Louisiana (SRA-LA), reached a record level high of 174.36 feet mean sea level (msl) at 6 a.m. on March 10, 2016 due to the rainfall event," the release states. "During this major flood event, the SRA-TX and SRA-LA were complying with the spillway guide that is part of the Toledo Bend Project license issued by FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)," it continues. The suit involves a list of residents who lost homes, property and businesses in the March floods, mostly from Texas. There are some Louisiana residents as plaintiffs, with some from Vinton, Starks, Merryville and Anacoco, according to court papers. The individuals are listed in the suit. An excerpt from the plaintiffs' complaint states: "Beginning on or about March 9, 2016, the Sabine River Authorities of Texas and Louisiana, each a governmental entity acting in the exercise of the powers granted it by the respective states, caused there to be a deliberate release of water from the Toledo Bend spillway gates into the Sabine River. During the next 24 hours, nine spillway gates had been opened to a measure of twenty-two feet each. It is estimated that at the peak, the amount of water being deliberately released into the Sabine River was over 200,000 cubic feet per second. As a point of comparison, Niagara Falls is said to average approximately 85,000 cubic feet per second of discharge." "By opening the spillway gates in this manner, the Defendants knew, or were substantially certain, that harm would result to the many thousands of homeowners, business owners, churches, and others who owned property downstream. Indeed, the Defendants and others quickly released predictions of the flood levels which would result from this enormous discharge." Court papers go onto state that plaintiffs seek compensation, "in the form of money damages, for all property taken, damaged, or destroyed, pursuant to their rights under the appropriate State Constitution; pre-judgment interest, post judgment interest, and costs of court to the fullest extent allowable by law; and such other and further relief, at law or in equity, as to which plaintiffs are justly entitled." Plaintiffs are being represented by Reaud, Morgan and Quinn LLP, a law firm out of Beaumont, Texas. Texas attorneys Lawrence Louis Germer, Charles W. Goehringer Jr., Kelli Burris Smith and William S. Helfand are listed as representing SRA Texas. SRA Louisiana is being represented by Baton Rouge attorney John Powers Wolff III of the Keogh, Cox & Wilson law firm. State law permits executive sessions, under certain guidelines, when they pertain to "strategy sessions or negotiations with respect to collective bargaining, prospective litigation after formal written demand, or litigation when an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body ..." A lawsuit presents the grievance of one party against others. It does not present both sides of the issue in question. Search of Mayfield home snares alleged meth trafficker and two others Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Aug. 24, 2016 | PADUCAH, KY By West Kentucky Star Staff Aug. 24, 2016 | 09:32 AM | PADUCAH, KY A man has been arrested and charged with a July burglary along Lone Oak Road in Paducah. According to the McCracken County Sheriff's Department, the original burglary happened on July 10 along the 3200 block of Lone Oak Road, at the Superway convenience store. Deputies say they found glass broken out of one of the front doors. After reviewing the security video it appeared a white male wearing a covering over his face entered the store and removed several items before leaving. Deputies say further information led detectives to the area of Delaware Street, a block away, where a person of interest was identified. When deputies tried to contact the person, he apparently fled from the home. A search warrant was obtained, and numerous items were discovered inside that deputies said were directly related to the crime scene. Clothing that matched the description of what the suspect had on during the burglary, a backpack and the items taken were also found. Deputies say an arrest warrant was issued for 23-year-old Andrew Trenton Redford of Delaware Street. He was found on Monday and allegedly confessed to the burglary. He was booked into the McCracken County Regional Jail. By The Associated Press Aug. 24, 2016 | 11:06 AM | FRANKFORT, KY Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin says he has changed his proposal to overhaul the state's Medicaid program and submitted it to the federal government for approval. The new proposal will cover allergy testing and private duty nursing for about 400,000 Kentuckians who have health insurance through the state's expanded Medicaid program under the federal Affordable Care Act. People who are in hospice care, have HIV or AIDS and receive federal disability benefits will also not have to pay premiums or copays. And the elimination of automatic dental and vision benefits will be delayed by three months. People can still get those benefits by earning credits in a "My Rewards Account" by doing things like earning a GED and having a health assessment. Bevin said his administration received nearly 1,350 public comments on the proposal. Rita Redmond was a true lady who felt that every pupil had something to gift to the world Finley, who goes by his middle name Shain, is about 5-feet-8 and weighs about 165 pounds. His last known contact was with his family via his phone, which now goes straight to voicemail. Police say his last residence and place of employment have been checked. A budding relationship between a Ugandan priest, parishioners of the Cathedral of St. Helena and the Carroll College Chapter of Engineers Without Borders is working to help hundreds of Ugandans access clean water. The Rev. Julius Bwowe of the Lady of Assumption Buyege Parish in Kampala, Uganda, visited Helena last week as he has done for nearly a decade. While hosted by Monsignor Kevin O'Neill, he spent his time visiting parishioners and other friends, meeting with Carroll faculty and fundraising for his African communities. We are cementing our relationship in town with the cathedral, with Carroll College, with the Knights of Columbus, with everyone who is interested, Bwowe said of his visit. Im glad there is energy, a lot of energy -- the momentum is growing for Uganda and its wonderful. A chance meeting between Bwowe and Helena parishioner Matt Kuntz in Uganda led to an invitation to visit Helena nine years ago. Father Julius as he is widely known has returned every year since as Helena embraced helping their sister parish which serves 60,000 rural Africans. Weve gone from a few people that were just interested in fathers work when he first started coming nine years ago, said parishioner and board member of The Julius Foundation Marty Heller. We went from that stage to a semi-formal committee, to a formal committee and now we have a foundation set up. The foundation formed more than a year ago facilitating projects including a new roof for the church and a rain water collection system. Now were so blessed that Carroll College has gotten involved with their Engineers Without Boarders program, Heller said. We hope to take it to the next level, which would be the actual implementation of the clean water wells for the area. Access to medical care and education is poor throughout the area, but access to clean water is the primary concern, Bwowe said. Wells have failed and surface water has been linked to sickness, he added. Engineers Without Borders-USA Carroll College made its first trip to Kawango, a community of 350, in May to assess the needs and begin to develop solutions. The chapter already operates in Mexico, St. Lucia and Guatemala, but the relationship with Bwowe and the foundation opened up the opportunity for a project in Uganda, said faculty advisor John Scharf. The ultimate goal is to work with father and the people in the local community to improve quality of life for the people that live there, he said. But immediately the way were going to do that is to work with them to improve their water system. Theres been a calling for us to be with Father Julius in Uganda and the students are excited to develop and work on this long-term relationship. The goal is to supply water to each household and the Holy Trinity School, he said. Between 30 and 40 Carroll students are Engineers Without Borders members. They work with professional mentors and faculty on international projects to learn about different cultures and develop professionally. Many of the student members are not engineering students, Scharf explained, with majors including health care and international studies benefiting from the experience. Political science and international relations senior Colby Smith is the Ugandan project leader. He became interested in the program to gain experience for his career goal of working for the federal Farm Service Agency. Ive been overseas a few times beforehand, but never to east Africa, he said. Seeing the situation of people that live over there and being in position to make a difference was eye opening. The idea of getting in on the ground floor of a project appealed to Smith and working with the professional mentors and faculty including speaking at several town meetings provided value experience, he said. During his visit Smith met excited and courteous people facing massive issues accessing clean water. The May assessment trip will be followed by a second in January as they prepare a list of alternatives for the community to choose from. Although Smith will graduate before the project comes to fruition, he plans to stay updated on the progress. Id really recommend for people to get involved internationally with Engineers Without Borders. Its one of the most life changing things you can do, he said. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/08/2016 (2257 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. SAN FRANCISCO Tesla Motors Chief Executive Elon Musk held a news conference Tuesday to announce the company had shaved a few tenths of a second off its fastest car. A Tesla Model S P100D equipped with Ludicrous mode will now go from zero to 60 miles per hour (zero to 96 km/h) in 2.5 seconds, Musk said. The current model makes that jump in 2.8 seconds. The car costs about US$135,000. Tesla customers who have ordered a P90D Ludicrous but not yet received the cars, can upgrade to a 100-kilowatt-hour battery pack for US$10,000. Existing P90D Ludicrous owners can also upgrade to a 100-kWh pack, but for US$20,000, as their used 90-kWh packs will have to be recycled. The new battery pack also is available for the Model X sport utility vehicle, whose off-the-line time is now said to be 2.9 seconds. A seven-seater, thats nuts, Musk said. The car, even selling in relatively low volumes, will improve free cash flow for Tesla, Musk said. This is an expensive car, but its what is paying for the Model 3, Musk said. In addition to speed, the range of the new model will increase to a maximum of about 500 kilometres from about 480 kilometres although no one will get near that mileage if theyre driving in Ludicrous mode. Los Angeles Times MISSOULA -- The scary fire that broke out Monday evening in upper Grant Creek behaved itself nicely overnight, and a mandatory evacuation order for 25 homes was lifted shortly after 4 p.m. Tuesday. The Colorado Gulch fire, though not deemed controlled, was quiet Tuesday afternoon with barely a wisp of smoke to be seen. Red slurry from air drops in the first few hours of the fire lay on the slope, across Grant Creek Road and into an open hay field. A Missoula County Sheriffs Office spokeswoman said a fifth-wheeler serving as a residence was destroyed, as were several outbuildings and some vehicles. The silver lining, said Brenda Bassett, is that there were no injuries. The fire broke out shortly before 6:30 p.m., mere hours after the weekly Monday meeting of the Missoula County Fire Protective Association, at which the various firefighting, health and emergency services opted to keep Missoulas fire danger at very high but agreed things were pretty quiet around the valley. Many of the same agencies Missoula city and rural fire departments, the Forest Service and the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation were staffing the fire lines and aircraft in the evening, as strong winds pushed the flames and fire eastward up the hill toward the Rattlesnake Recreation Area. Much of Missoula saw the smoke, and firefighters were poised to pounce. A Type 3 helicopter, heavy air tankers and three single-engine air tankers led the impressive aerial attack after the neighborhood was evacuated and traffic was blocked on Grant Creek Road. By Tuesday three 20-man crews were on the ground. We call it dog-piling, said Jordan Koppen, public information officer for the DNRC. The response time was pretty good with this one. They got on it, got a plan and initiated it very quickly. The point of origin appeared to be less than 100 yards above Grant Creek Road and north of Colorado Gulch Road. What we tried to do was flank the fire and box it in, Koppen said. The incident commander wanted to go up both sides of the flanks, and then cut it off at the head of the fire so its not going to go anywhere. The strategy worked, even though firefighters knew shifting wind conditions could easily have dashed it. The fire that broke out at 6:22 p.m. was deemed contained but not controlled at 2:22 a.m. Tuesday. By coincidence the announcement that the evacuation order was lifted was sent to media outlets and others at 4:22 p.m. The latest Colorado Gulch fire happened two years and a couple of weeks after another fire broke out in Colorado Gulch at about 4 p.m. on a Monday. Flames then were pushed eastward up the hill by shifting winds, and the fire went down with the sun. By the next day it was quiet again, with little damage done to houses or a power line that runs through the area. Investigators from the U.S. Forest Service and a contractor from Missoula Rural Fire were on the scene of this years Colorado Gulch fire but hadnt announced a cause. Bassett said a downed power line may be to blame. Koppen was thankful that minimal damage and no casualties were counted, but he called it a huge wake-up call for Missoula. There arent enough people taking this seriously. When you live out in the woods you have a responsibility and you need to act on it, and we havent gotten enough people to have acted on it. Were trying to tell them, they need defensible space around their homes, they need to clear out all the fuels on the different zones from their homes. They need to get rid of the woodpiles under their decks, they need to remove the fuels under their decks, and the pine needles in their gutters and on their roofs. He pointed from a fire camp set up at the Grant Creek Ranch to nearby hillside houses tucked into the trees. See what Im talking about? Pine needles all over that roof. All it takes is one ember to get into that pine bed on the house and the whole thing goes up in flames. The DNRC is constantly urging people who live in the woods to contact their local fire departments. We will come out and do a free evaluation and help you out as much as we possibly can, Koppen said. Bierney Creek fire An evacuation plan remains in the works for 75 to 100 homes west of Lakeside after fire broke out in the Bierney Creek area Monday afternoon. Ali Ulwelling of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation said Tuesday no mandatory evacuations had been called yet. Were just suggesting folks be prepared, probably in the 'set' stage of the ready-set-go evacuation plan, Ulwelling said. The fire was within easy view of this Flathead County town on the northwest shore of Flathead Lake. It remained at 80 acres Tuesday evening, with 70 percent of the perimeter lined. But due to the high number of spot fires, the interior still contained a large amount of unburned fuel and overall containment was considered low. It was reported Monday at around 4 p.m. and spread rapidly in high winds and low relative humidity. Initial attack engines and heavy air tankers and helicopters worked into Monday evening to slow the fire with retardant and water drops. With the help of lighter winds and lower temperatures, the fire was held through the night with minimal spread. An infrared flight Monday night showed numerous spot fires outside the main fire. Those spots were to be among the primary targets on Tuesday. Ulwelling said the Bierney Creek fire was transitioned from initial to extended attack on Tuesday, when the local Type 3 Incident Management team took over. The 20-person Type 1 Flathead Interagency Hotshot crew and a 20-person Type 2 crew were on the scene Tuesday morning, with an additional 20-person crew on order. Evacuation notifications were being coordinated through the Flathead County Sheriffs Department. Copper King fire The Type 1 team under Greg Poncin that took over management of Copper King fire east of Thompson Falls on Tuesday morning consisted of about 70 people in addition to the ground and engine forces. They absorbed the Type 3 team that had been in place for the past two weeks, including incident commander Scott Schrenk. After several map revisions, the fire finally measured out at 21,045 acres a quadrupling in size between Sunday and Monday. Its more than twice the size of the 23-day old Roaring Lion fire near Hamilton, Montanas second-largest active fire. Weather conditions were much better for firefighting Tuesday, as the temperatures and wind speeds lowered while humidity rose. After tearing through some very steep and heavily timbered country, the front of the fire was moving toward more open, roaded country near the northwest corner of the Flathead Indian Reservation north of Plains. What it burned (Monday) was dense timber, said Thompson Falls resident Elizabeth Riffle. I expect there to be smoke on this hillside until the snow flies. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/08/2016 (2257 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. This aint your grandpas McDonalds. The iconic fast food giant loves its brand legacy, but with some very focused innovations, is trying to re-invent itself to take a bite out of the competition. At a cost of more than $200,000 per store, the burger chain is enhancing the customer experience with easy-to-use touch-screen ordering, customizable burgers, and pastries that place those old apple tarts into the same category of memories as black and white TV the olden days. And if its not already obvious that theyre trying to attract people who are not traditional McDonalds patrons, theres also limited table service, if you can believe it. By the end of September, 29 of the 50 Manitoba McDonalds will have the full range of those new services. Some locations will just have the self-order kiosks and new bakery fare but are not large enough for the new work-stations required for the customizable burger offering, which include stainless steel automatic bun-buttering machines (this IS McDonalds after, all). And Ryan McCullough, a McDonalds franchisee who owns 11 locations in Winnipeg, said, its the premium burger business that theyre really going after. RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Candice Schulz and her kids Tristan, 8, and Tegan, 9, enjoy table service at the McDonalds on Regent at one of the newly designed restaurants nationwide. Theres no denying a little guacamole (for 49 cents extra) or carmelized onions or five different cheese selection, two different types of buns (or a lettuce wrap) and about 10 different toppings can make for a different type of burger experience than a Big Mac. (For a limited time, the stores are offering free drinks and french fries with every Create Your Taste burger.) McDonalds is re-creating its brand, heading towards a more guestcentric direction, McCullough said. I think it is a fantastic investment that will launch us into the future offering guests products they really want, including new trending ingredients like guacamole, sriracha sauce and blue cheese. Rolling out the new Create Your Taste offering on top of all-day-breakfast that was launched last year is a mammoth undertaking for a restaurant company with almost 37,000 locations worldwide and more than 1,400 in Canada. While McDonalds Canada has experienced fairly consistent sales growth over the past five years, the company has emerged over the past 12 months after suffering from seven consecutive quarterly declines in same store sales in the U.S. McCullough is bullish on his prospects and the new investment (that is being shared by the corporation and the franchisees). Hes embracing it even though it means significant additional costs. On top of the new equipment self-order kiosks, and a few new pieces of equipment for each kitchen each store is adding 10-to-12 new employees on top of the average 60-to-80 employees per store. (A Western Canadian job fair will be held Sept. 14). Were going to need more people to handle all the new business, McCullough said. martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS McDonalds Guest Experience Leader Ashley Poirier helps Candice Schulz and her kids with their touch-screen order. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/08/2016 (2258 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Federal and provincial energy and mining ministers focused on enhancing public confidence in their two day annual meeting that wrapped up on Tuesday. In a press conference at the close of the meetings, federal Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr and Manitobas Minister of Growth Enterprise and Trade, Cliff Cullen, both emphasized the need for strengthening public confidence through better community engagement, better scientific innovation, a stronger regulatory framework and an improved environmental performance. The mining sector has been in a bad slump for a couple of years due to low commodity prices and in Manitoba that has meant dramatically reduced exploration spending, lower dollar value of shipments and even the closure of one of the provinces handful of producing mines. RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Provincial Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister Cliff Cullen (left) and Federal Minister of Natural Resources Jim Carr at a news conference Tuesday in Winnipeg. By his own account, Cullen said, Our exploration numbers in Manitoba have been abysmal. We are among the lowest among Canadian jurisdictions in the last few years. In fact, in 2015, exploration expenditures in Manitoba was only $35.2 million higher than only the Maritime provinces and Alberta and only 25 per cent of the total expenditures in 2011. Its our job to restore that confidence and to get investment to come back, he said. He said the way to do that is to establish frameworks in three areas the duty to consult indigenous communities, land use planning and the permitting process. Both Cullen and Carr emphasized the significant economic opportunities that exist for Northern indigenous communities in the resource sector and the need for better collaboration. Strengthening relations with indigenous communities is crucial to advancing public confidence, Carr said. The four-month-old Progressive Conservative government in Manitoba is working on a Northern strategy and Cullen said there are plans to have a number of meetings with indigenous leaders about resource development issues. Its our job to restore that confidence and to get investment to come back Cliff Cullen, Minister of Growth Enterprise and Trade Ron Evans, chief of Norway House and co-chairman of Manitobas Mining Advisory Council, is hopeful the new government will continue to support the efforts of the council to establish better working arrangement in the mining sector between industry, the province and indigenous communities. Evans said a meeting between the council and the minister scheduled for the end of August will be the first interaction it has had with the new government. Were not sure about what the province is doing, Evans said. It remains to be seen. For sure theres lots of work and communicating that needs to take place. Every time I turn on the television or pick up a newspaper these days Im told that I need to vote for a politician or I will lose my access to public water. By now we all recognize the pitch, usually couched in terms of class warfare, pitting real Montanans against rich out-of-staters. Its easily digestible political mush, but this is a meat-and-potatoes issue that deserves disciplined reasoning and real leadership. The Montana Stream Access Law (SAL) represents a well-crafted and thoroughly vetted compromise between the public right to access our state waters and the rights of landowners to protect their privacy, property and livelihood. It was carefully drafted by experienced legislators who also happened to be farmers, ranchers, hunters, fishers and conservationists. It may very well be the most equitable stream access law in the nation. Its not public access or landowner rights that need protection in Montana, its the Stream Access Law itself. I am a real Montanan who owns land with public water running through it. I also grew up hunting and fishing in post-SAL Montana with other real Montanans. It never occurred to us that we needed a judge to tell us how to get along with each other. Access was based on mutual respect for the resource and the rights of the other guy. Thats in stark contrast to the recent rhetoric of politicians in Montana promising to lawyer up on our behalf and force others do what the courts say. Nowhere is this more important than in the race for Supreme Court justice. Dirk Sandefur has decided that picking a side on the issue of stream access suits his immediate political needs. Vote for him and hell use his position on the court to make law favoring access over landowner rights. Kristen Juras takes the view of an independent justice, not an opportunistic politician. She says the law is settled and her role as justice is to apply it, not to change it. Montanans figured this out decades ago. We dont need an all-knowing justice legislating from the bench to fix it for us. Im supporting Kristen Juras. I believe she has the experience and the respect for the laws of Montana to be a fair and objective justice. Greg Trangmoe Stevensville Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/08/2016 (2258 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Owners of existing homes could be among the winners if the City of Winnipeg imposes a new growth-development fee of up to $30,000 on new homes built in the city. Two Winnipeg Realtors Association officials president Stewart Elston and residential market analyst Peter Squire say if new houses become too expensive for some move-up buyers, theyll either stay in their current residence or buy a resale home instead. Either way, It will tighten up the supply and create a higher demand for these homes, and therefore we will see some higher prices, Squire predicted. I cant say it will be all across the board, but certainly it will affect resale house prices, in my view. PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS A fee proposed to city council would add $20,000 to $30,000 to the cost of a new residential lot. Elston said history has shown when the cost of new homes goes up, the value of existing homes rises along with it. He and Squire said its hard to say how much resale-home prices might rise, adding it would likely vary from property to property and neighbourhood to neighbourhood. I wouldnt say every resale home is going to go up by 30 grand, but there will be a bump in value, Elston said. That is safe to say. One will cause the other, no question. Mayor Brian Bowman favours a new fee on new developments, saying taxpayers can no longer afford to cover the costs new suburban developments place on city services. The city hired Hemson Consulting to prepare a report that looks at the cost of projected city services over a 25-year period, how much of those costs can be attributed to development growth and how other municipalities have coped with growth-related costs. One of the proposals and its just a proposal at this point being discussed is the introduction of a new growth-development fee that would add $20,000 to $30,000 to the cost of a new residential lot in the city. Jino Distasio, director of the University of Winnipegs Institute of Urban Studies, said resale homes in the more popular neighbourhoods in the city could see the biggest bump in property values if the cost of a new home increases by that much. In some of the more desirable neighbourhoods, weve already seen a real intensity in activity in the resale market, he said. So one would expect some of the traditionally hot neighbourhoods to remain hot or maybe get even hotter. John McCallum, an economist at the University of Manitoba, agreed a big increase in the cost of a new home could increase the demand for existing homes and push up prices. But I think the housing market is much more influenced by the fact that were getting to the point where the debts of a lot of new-housing buyers are very, very large, and the housing sector is kind of losing steam. And the financial institutions are getting tighter on the terms in which they lend, he said. So all of that will have more to do with pricing than this. But its a point. Elston said while owners of existing homes could benefit, theres also a big downside to any big increase in the cost of housing, whether its new homes or resale homes. It makes it harder for people to buy homes, particularly first-time buyers, he said. There will be a bump in value. That is safe to say. One will cause the other, no question Winnipeg Realtors Association president Stewart Elston He also noted while move-up buyers might get more for their home, theyll also likely have to pay more for the next one they buy. So its going to stress a lot of different aspects of the home-buying public. He and Squire said they cant understand why the city would consider introducing a new fee that would drive up the cost of a new home by that much. The number of new units being built in the City of Winnipeg will take a huge dive, Elston said, echoing recent comments from officials from the provinces home-building industry. Eventually, it may come back, Elston said, but thats just such a huge amount to tack onto the cost of a new home that theyre just going to push development outside the city. Its just so counterproductive to what theyre trying to do. Were already seen that in the capital region, Squire added, noting sales of single-family homes in communities outside the city, such as Headingley, Oak Bank, Oak Bluff and LaSalle used to account for 17 per cent of all MLS sales. Now they account for 25 per cent of them, and in February it climbed as high as 28 per cent. Thats the highest Ive ever seen it, he added. What will happen is (they) will just accelerate that trend. murray.mcneill@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/08/2016 (2257 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Gary Doer told first-year medical students Wednesday they are now part of the health care system, and should call the system to account. There are mistakes made when you see them, speak out and speak up, the former NDP premier and former Canadian ambassador to Washington declared. Doer delivered the keynote Alan Klass memorial address to 110 medical students before they ceremonially received their white coats and took the Hippocratic oath. WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Pascal Bogaert is formally cloaked by Dr. Terry Babick (right) at the exercises ceremony for the 110 new medical students from the Max Rady College of Medicine Class of 2020. Premiers from all political parties erred in the 1990s across Canada, he said: The solution to reducing health care costs was to reduce the number of medical students. Waiting lists went up and up and up. Doer said the students may be surprised to learn the U.S. spends far more on health care than Canada and that, even with Obamacare, there are still 20 million Americans without health coverage, said the former NDP premier and Canadian ambassador to Washington. Doer said the U.S. spends 18 per cent of its gross domestic product on health care, compared to 11.6 per cent in Canada. Doer said he got an eye-opener when he went for his first physical examination with an American doctor, and underwent far more tests than he ever experienced in Manitoba. The U.S. medical system is so litigious, Doer said, adding his American doctor told him most of the tests were a precaution against lawsuits and were not medically necessary. Doer noted the science of medicine is changing rapidly, while technological changes are happening at warp speed. When they become doctors, the students can expect to deal frequently with patients who consulted Dr. Google, he said. And while theyre involved in informing the health care debate, Doer encouraged the students to consider a possible political career. Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard is a brain surgeon, he noted. WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Gary Doer, the former ambassador to the United States and former Manitoba premier, was the keynote speaker. Dr. Brian Postl, dean of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, said the current class continues to show increased diversity, and is one of only two medical schools in Canada with a program to educate students from a low-income socioeconomic background. Postl said 107 of the 110 incoming students (97 per cent) are Manitobans, and the class has a gender balance. It includes 12 students of self-declared Indigenous ancestry, three French-speaking bilingual students, and 29 students with rural attributes, meaning that they have rural roots, rural work experience or rural volunteer or leadership experience. The classs diversity reflects changes announced last year to the Max Rady College of Medicines admissions policy. To remove barriers to participation and better reflect the provinces diversity in terms of ethnicity, socio-economic or socio-cultural conditions and sexual orientation, the college now dedicates some places in the class to qualified candidates from traditionally under-represented backgrounds, he said. nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/08/2016 (2257 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A spokesperson for Tolko Industries promised that the company will meet all environmental responsibilities as it ceases operating its pulp-and-paper mill operation in The Pas in early December. We are commited to meeting all our regulatory obligations, said Janice Lockyer, Tolkos communications advisor, told the Free Press on Wednesday. Were going to be there for a long time yet. This process of closure is not an immediate thing. Tolko announced earlier this week that the mill would shut on Dec. 2, laying off 332 employees, a significant loss of good-paying jobs in a community of 5,500. MARC GALLANT / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Logging roads, such as this one in northern Manitoba, pose a threat to wildlife if not properly decommissioned, says the Wilderness Committee. Along with the economic impact of the job losses, a national environmental watchdog agency expressed concerns on Wednesday about the ecological liability of abandoning up to 2,000 kilometres of logging roads overseen by Tolko since the mill was purchased by the Vernon, B.C.-based company in 1997. Having Tolko abruptly put more than 300 people out of work is already painful enough, said Eric Reder, Manitoba campaign director for the Wilderness Committee. The corporation cant be allowed to leave a mess of the northern forests too. We must show corporations that they cant cut and run, leaving the public on the hook for millions of dollars and decades of damages. Reder said if all-weather roads built over vast stretches of the north are abandoned it will negatively impact wildlife, such as moose and woodland caribou. Leaving the roads in place will make it easy for wolves to prey on moose and woodland caribou, as well as provide access for humans into forests that should be off-limits, he added. Some of the communities affected by the mills closure should be given first crack at any decommissioning work, he said. They (Tolko) have this liability, Reder said. Those marks will be on the land for a century. Reder specifically cited Dickstone South Road, a 27-kilometre stretch built through Grass River Provincial Park. The Wilderness Committee tried to block the logging roads construction in court in 2012, but lost. Now Reder said his organization- a registered non-profit society boasting a membership of 60,000 will take the province to court if the road is not decommissioned a process that includes breaking up gravel, pulling out bridges and culverts and hauling in soil. Premier Brian Pallister called Reders call for decommissioning roads untimely and quite premature. We should not assume because Tolko does not wish to continue operations there, that we are forever destined to no more logging, no more pulp and paper or no more industries in that region, Pallister said during a media scrum at the Legislature on Wednesday. That is an ill-conceived question, though I understand the concerns about the committee. I think it is premature. Still, Reder is concerned the Tolko closure impact will mirror the result of the closure of a Tembec mill in 2010, where logging roads were also not decommissioned. They just left, Reder said. They claimed they couldnt act because there was no money. Which is why Reder isnt confident Tolko will not be held financially liable for the roads, either. Theres no chance the company has put up a bond big enough to decommission thousands of kilometres worth of roads, he said. Do I have confidence the government will hold this company accountable? No. In response, Lockyer insisted that although the plant will close on Dec. 2, the process of meeting environmental standards under the Forest Managment Licence issued by the province for crown land will take months. That will include replanting trees, maintaining growth areas and monitoring ground water, among other requirements including decommissioning roads, she said. Theres going to be lots of work thats going to happen yet, Lockyer added, noting that the mill was not closed because of financial constraints on the company, but because the mill that was no longer viable. That doesnt mean we shut down the doors and leave everything. We have obligations we fully intend to meet. Reder conceded his concerns about the roads in light of the loss of jobs and economic impact of the companys closure on The Pas might be considered dispassionate to the community. People dont want to hear about the road right now, he said. Im the bad guy in the north. But putting out the ecological implications.somebody has to do it. with files from Kristin Annable randy.turner@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @randyturner15 Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/08/2016 (2258 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Look up. Look way up. Theres trouble brewing. For the second time this summer, northern Manitoba has been dealt a major economic blow. First, it was a decision by Denver-based Omnitrax to close its grain operations in Churchill and reduce rail service, putting dozens out of work. Then, this week, Tolko Industries Ltd. announced it is closing its kraft paper mill operations in The Pas in December, eliminating more than 300 jobs. THE PAS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PHOTO These two events are a painful reminder that the economy of northern Manitoba is fickle and precarious. And that without notice, it can start unravelling in ways that put the provincial government in a very bad spot indeed. Premier Brian Pallister no doubt understands the vagaries of Manitoba economics. However, it is beginning to look more and more likely that Pallister and his new government have little or no idea about what to do now that precious jobs are evaporating. The provinces response to date has been vague, to say the least. On Tuesday, Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister Cliff Cullen could only say that the mill in The Pas is still owned and operated by Tolko, and thus it is the companys responsibility to find a solution. Cullen did say the Tory government wants the mill to become self-sustaining over the long term, but refused to say what, if any, role the province would play in achieving that goal. Cullens response on the Tolko file is not much different than the one he provided on Omnitrax. In that instance, however, we did learn that Omnitrax asked for subsidies for its operating losses, and the Tory government declined. Tolko has yet to make a specific demand of government. Looking at both files, there is certainly a pattern forming: the Pallister government will not throw money at a problem in northern Manitoba just to maintain jobs that are not, on their own, sustainable. There is something to admire in that approach. The province could have continued to bail out Omnitrax, and could have found money to convince Tolko to keep the mill open, but neither of those gestures would have made for long-term or sustainable economic activity. Both companies, through no fault of their own really, are facing the fact that they are not viable and perhaps never really were. However, the tough-love approach of the Pallister government must be accompanied by some sort of other plan: either a strategic investment in the existing commercial enterprises to help them convert to some other purpose; or strategic investments in other projects that might replace the employment and economic activity generated by Tolko and Omnitrax. Doing nothing is not really acceptable. And right now, the Pallister government has not had much in the way of solutions for whats brewing up north. The north has always been a difficult fit for the Progressive Conservatives. Unlike the NDP, the Tories have not enjoyed much in the way of electoral success north of Dauphin. This has translated into a lack of genuine knowledge and expertise about how to address northern challenges. It is true that in the last election, the Tories had a breakthrough when civil engineer Kelly Bindle won Thompson from Steve Ashton, the NDPs veteran northern czar. However, Pallister showed little interest in using that one victory to build a new northern beachhead. Bindle was left out of the Tories slimmer cabinet, a missed political opportunity if there ever was one. Pallister created more concern when he dropped all reference to the north from rebranded cabinet posts. Dropping a single word from departmental designations is not necessarily evidence the current government cares little for the north, as NDP critics would have us believe. On the other hand, northerners could not have been encouraged that a government with little presence in the north was removing any mention of the expansive region. During the April election campaign, Pallister tried to shed the image of the disinterested Tory by making several trips to the north and unveiling a specific policy dubbed the Yes! North Initiative that promised to build partnerships needed to attract new companies, assist entrepreneurs and facilitate expansion of existing businesses to provide quality jobs and a stronger economy in the North. To be fair, Pallister probably imagined he would have a bit more time to work on developing long-term, sustainable solutions to the norths economic woes; achievements like that are not delivered in a matter of weeks or even months. However, events in the north will not provide the premier with the opportunity for a more leisurely approach. There is little value in continuing the questionable policies of the past, providing taxpayer-funded financial scaffolding to prop up private businesses with precarious prospects. There is some evidence that the Tory government was working on longer-term solutions to northern economic malaise prior to the eruption of these two crises. It is much less clear whether the Tories can deliver a sustainable solution of some sort to limit the short-term pain that northerners now face from the Omnitrax and Tolko decisions. Economically, Pallister and company have been put in an unenviable position. Politically, though, the premier has been provided with a unique opportunity to demonstrate something that many people do not think is part of his plan for the province. Namely, that he is not only concerned about northerners, but that he has a plan to help them through the long term. dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/08/2016 (2257 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A summer English language program that includes parents, kids and outings has been perfect, says a Syrian refugee who arrived in Winnipeg this winter speaking only Arabic. Monday, after Living English wrapped up for the day, Fatma El Ahmar demonstrated its success. She greeted visitors, answered a question about one of her three children, and said thank you when complimented on her English. I learned that here, said El Ahmar, who arrived in Manitoba this winter in a wave of 928 Syrian refugees. Every weekday morning this summer, her entire family has gone to Living English a seven-week program that provides child care for preschoolers and English language classes for adults and children ages six to 12. Its the first time theyve all been offered together at one place, and thats thanks to funding from Canadian Red Cross donations, private donors, government, volunteers and support from post-secondary institutions such as Red River College, where the Living English program is offered downtown. For El Ahmar, its the first English as an Additional Language class shes attended since arriving in Canada nearly half a year ago. People such as her who are on the waiting list for such classes were a priority when Living English was registering its 370 participants, said co-ordinator Jennifer Stadtmiller of the not-for-profit agency Altered Minds Inc. It runs Living English as well as the Entry program and Arabic Express for newcomers soon after they arrive in Canada. Nearly half the Living English students are from Syria, such as El Ahmar, who is still learning the foundations of English and hopes to get into classes this fall. WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Zekariye and Fatma El Ahmar with their children Ahmed (from left), Shahad and Muhammed at the Living English program. The program offers language classes for adults and children at Red River Colleges downtown campus. Zyad al-Owimr a truck driver from Daraa, Syria, who also arrived this winter is a little more fluent. Hes learned the building blocks of the language the Roman alphabet and reading letters left to right rather than right to left as in Arabic. Hes grasping more of the spoken language, too. Al-Owimr credits the Living English program and his wife who taught French in Syria and speaks some English with helping him. The 37-year-old newcomer is driven to get on with his life. He passed his Class 5 road test the first time he took it and now has a Manitoba drivers licence. He and his wife and four children are renting a home in the North End, and hes anxious to get back to work driving truck. The biggest obstacle is mastering English, a determined al-Owimr said through an interpreter. It is the key to getting a job. After another year, I will be ready to work, he said. Both he and El Ahmar attended the Arabic Express program shortly after arriving in Winnipeg this winter. It was a two-week crash course in survival how to buy bus tickets, see a doctor and understand the law. Instead of the usual four-week Entry program taught in English to newcomers from an array of countries and languages, Arabic Express was a condensed two-week version of that program in Arabic offered morning, noon and night to accommodate the major influx of Syrian refugees. Surviving their first winter in Winnipeg was a challenge, said El Ahmar. It was very hard, she said through an interpreter. Although a quick learner who appears sunny and confident, El Ahmar says she feels anxious. I have a lot of fear, she said through an interpreter. WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS A proud Zyad al-Owimr shows his Manitoba drivers licence. The father of four is eager to get a trucking job. At Living English, shes been able to see an Arabic-speaking counsellor with the Aurora Family Therapy Centre who visits the program twice a week. The therapist has helped her to relax, she said. El Ahmar and her family of five live in a two-bedroom apartment near Portage Place. Theyre concerned about getting their son Ahmed to school in his wheelchair in the winter. He was left with just one leg after a bomb hit their home in Aleppo three years ago. Our wish was to come to Canada to make sure that Ahmed would get good treatment, said his mother. In a classroom nearby, eight-year-old Ahmed played board games with a Canadian theme and pictures of things such as moose and bison. Earlier this summer on a Living English field trip to the Manitoba Museum, Ahmed was introduced to another icon of Canada Terry Fox. Seeing the Running to the Heart of Canada exhibit about Foxs 143-day, 5,373-kilometre journey from Newfoundland to Thunder Bay, Ont., had a profound effect on the boy, who knows what its like to have a leg taken from him. At first I didnt believe it, said Ahmed, who has a prosthetic limb but prefers to scoot about in his wheelchair. He ran from one side of Canada to the middle, he said through an interpreter, marvelling at the heroic feat. I still dont believe it. carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS At right, Ahmed El Ahmar and Duaa Almaslmani play a game identifying pictures with english words during the Living English program, a summertime English language classes for parents and kids at Red River College. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/08/2016 (2257 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The wait list for Manitoba child care has never been longer, and a child-care advocate is calling on the province and Ottawa to take action. Pat Wege, executive director of the Manitoba Child Care Association, said the current wait list in the province has reached an all-time high at 14,168 children signed up on the online child-care registry. That number, taken from a Family Services briefing document dated April 19, is actually more than 700 names lower than the most recent provincial count, which sits at 14,872 as of July 31, Families Minister Scott Fielding said. MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS files Pat Wege of the Manitoba Child Care Association: report should be road map Really, in the 21st century, most families need some form of non-parental child care, whether its full-time, part-time, seasonal, occasional, whatever, Wege said. If they cant get it, they cant go to work, they cant find a job. Since the online child-care registry was introduced by the NDP government in 2011, the wait list has continued to climb, Wege said, although how long people actually wait depends on their geographical location, the age of the children and which centre they choose. With not enough new daycares opening to provide a solution, Wege said its necessary provinces and Ottawa work together to find one. The shortage of child care is common right across the country, she said. Were looking to federal and provincial governments to tackle this issue. Its been more than 45 years since the Status of Women commission first recommended a national child-care program and here we are still talking about it, 46 years later. In January, the Manitoba Early Learning and Child Care Commission published its own report with a string of recommendations, including the creation of five childrens councils across the province, a revision of the current subsidy program to a sliding scale based on annual income tax assessment and the immediate funding of all new spaces created by existing child-care centres. Wege said the report and its recommendations should be a road map for Manitobas Progressive Conservative government. We need a comprehensive plan and now its in the hands of the new government, and its up to them to take it forward, she said. In response to a Free Press request for comment, Fielding wrote in an email the province is developing a strategy. Families, child-care providers and other stakeholders have told us that extensive periods of consultation by the previous government failed to deliver solutions, he wrote. Neither did simply throwing money at problems. As a new government, we are in the process of reviewing the (early learning and child-care) framework to develop an implementation plan that is realistic, practical and sustainable to significantly reduce the wait list and keep it down into the future, he added. This is a comprehensive process, and we continue to work collaboratively with experts and front-line workers in this field. Wege said shes optimistic about the future for child care. Were not hearing much from the new government so far, but I have met with the minister, had a good conversation about priorities going forward, she said. aidan.geary@freepress.mb.ca Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/08/2016 (2257 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Aug. 24, 1991, marks the date of Ukraines independence from the former Soviet Union. Ukraines path toward independence and statehood has been long and tedious, and the country recognizes itself as a responsible member within the international community. During the 25 years of its independence, Ukraine has participated in international humanitarian operations under the auspices of the United Nations. Since 1991, the country has been instrumental in portraying itself as a democratic state by existing in a benign geopolitical environment; it is a nation that has inherited a rich history and distinct cultural heritage. Efrem Lukatsky / The Associated Press A soldier shares a tender moment with his girlfriend during a rehearsal of a military parade a few days before the Independence Day in Kiev, Ukraine, Friday. Ukraine marks the 25th anniversary of its independence on Aug. 24. Ukraine has been trying to solve boundary issues by striving to maintain an indirect relationship with Russia, resisting direct intervention. During the years of president Viktor Yanukovych, 2010-2014, there was misrule; a failure to reconstruct the nation or set it on a path that would ensure the development of Ukraines enormous potential. Yanukovych shelved a landmark agreement by not signing with the European Union. This agreement would have tapped into Europes multiple economic resources, set conditions for freer trade activities and created better self-government. The focus would have been based on the needs of the Ukrainian citizens. Also during that time, Ukraine surrendered its sovereignty in the Black Sea area by allowing Russias Black Sea Fleet to be stationed at Sevastopol until 2042. In March 2014, Crimea was illegally annexed from Ukraine. There was the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in July 2014 by pro-Russian rebels. Then in April 2015, Russian separatists invaded eastern Ukraine. Now, Russia is becoming restless, probably planning to boost security within the regions it presently holds and create instability in the Baltic States. For Ukraine, it is not only its future that is at stake, but also that of the European Union. The loss of Ukraine would be an enormous blow. There must be a follow-through to hold stability and deter a further Russian invasion. Ukraine stands at a significant crossroads, and in order to celebrate its 25 years of independence, it cannot become a piece of real estate to be plundered. The country must be strong, respect its native heritage and choose democratic values, not be pressured by Russias medieval, autocratic, imperialist abyss. Ukraine must grow and reform itself economically; this is indispensable to political and national survival. The government is interested in ending the violence in eastern Ukraine. There is a need to restore confidence and bring the country back into one sovereign nation. A withdrawal of pro-Russian supporters from Ukraine with an international monitoring force in place to ensure the sides observe the Minsk agreement would be the ideal solution. There must be continued western aid so the country can recover and become an active member of NATO and the European Union. Presently, Ukraine is totally devastated, and has been isolated from any foreign involvement in order to achieve peace and a place in the world. After 25 years, Ukraine has the opportunity to break out of Russias orbit and to transform itself into a genuinely self-reliant, democratic and prosperous state. The western world must introduce a secure and stabilized far-sighted strategy in order to prevent further catastrophic consequences. It would be a tragedy if, after 25 years of independence, Ukraine sacrificed its statehood, nationhood, and prosperity on the altar of some imagined sacred territorial unity and returned to Russias imperial fold. There is much to be done by Ukraine on a substantive basis to have a place on the international stage and to continue the road of independence. Peter J. Manastyrsky is an active member of the Ukrainian community in Winnipeg. Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/08/2016 (2257 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Earlier this week, finance ministers of Canada, five provinces and Yukon appointed the 15 securities lawyers and bankers who will be directors of Canadas national securities regulator. None of them, however, will speak for Manitoba because the former Greg Selinger government thought Manitobans should not enjoy the protection of such an agency. Brian Pallisters Conservative government, in office 31/2 months, has shown no interest in the matter. The train is leaving the station, and Manitoba is watching slack-jawed from the platform. Canada is the only country among the advanced market economies that has no national securities regulator to protect the public from the scams that proliferate in the securities business and to preserve orderly and efficient markets. The U.S. has its Securities and Exchange Commission. The U.K. has its Financial Conduct Authority, plus the regulatory arm of the Bank of England. Canada has a patchwork of local agencies run by each province, none of them with countrywide scope or jurisdiction. British Columbia, Yukon, Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and the federal government have agreed on creating a Capital Markets Regulatory Authority that will pool federal and provincial powers. Each legislature will pass a uniform Capital Markets Act, and Parliament will pass a Capital Markets Stability Act, which will give the new agency power to protect the public from modern scams. BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS files Finance Minister Cameron Friesen None of this will do Manitoba residents any good, however, because Mr. Selinger fiercely defended the local regulatory monopoly of the Manitoba Securities Commission. Mr. Pallister, up to now, is following suit. Because Manitoba has been sitting this one out, it has not joined in drafting the uniform Capital Markets Act each participating province will pass. If Mr. Pallister and Finance Minister Cameron Friesen wake up in time, they may get a chance to name a candidate for the board in the next round of appointments. They may be stuck, however, with the terms already agreed to among the other provinces for the uniform Capital Markets Act. As with the Canada Pension Plan reform, Manitoba is once again asleep at the switch and must simply ratify what was decided in its absence. Finance ministers of the participating provinces aim to pass the uniform Capital Markets Act through their legislatures by June 30, 2018. They agreed to steps to launch the new co-operative system and assure a smooth transition for market participants. They said they would continue listening to stakeholders and revising the draft legislation. If Mr. Friesen and Mr. Pallister speak up now, they may have a chance to join in shaping the system. But the train is disappearing down the track. If they decide next year Manitobans should have the same protections as people in Saskatchewan and B.C., Manitobans may be out of luck. Companies need to raise money from savers and investors in order to expand their businesses, create jobs and expand the Canadian economy. Manitoba business and the Manitoba job market depend on this system as much as anyone else. Savers and investor should not entrust their money to a market that is not efficiently regulated. Regulation of a kind is provided for the moment because almost all companies trying to raise funds in Canada register with the Ontario Securities Commission, which protects its people as best it can, but Manitoba and its government have no voice in that agency. In an age when money and misinformation slosh around the globe at lightning speed, Canada and half its provinces are trying to keep pace. Manitoba should join the effort. The family of Dan and Samantha Falkner and Kim Bates and Ed Callahan hosted Japanese youth as part of a 4-H cultural exchange program from July 24 to Aug. 20. The Japanese students were part of a 55-member delegation visiting Wisconsin this summer through one of two partnering programs. The Japanese students were hosted by Kora Falkner of Hilltop Climbers 4-H in Mondovi and Jacob Callahan of B-BC 4-H Club in Buffalo City. The programs, coordinated through the University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension, bring Japanese and Korean youth to Wisconsin 4-H homes and send 4-Hers to Japan and Korea on a yearly basis. Through home-stays with residents of various countries, the youth increase their cultural understanding. After an orientation in Wisconsin, the youth went to host families located throughout Wisconsin. Each return to their home country with a unique experience to relate. The programs have the additional benefit of fostering long-term friendships. If you are interested in hosting or traveling to Norway, Finland, Argentina, Costa Rica, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, or many other countries with international 4-H exchange programs, please contact your county extension agent by calling 608-685-6256 or visiting http://buffalo.uwex.edu. Honor, courage and commitment. Those are the words that are ingrained into every Marine that goes through boot camp. A few days ago I saw a group of veterans stand up and say that they want Congressman Zinke to condemn and disavow Donald Trump because of what he said. They lied about Congressman Zinke. There is no honor behind these baseless claims by Sgt. Manning, Diane Carlson-Evans, and the other members that stood in solidarity behind a baseless and dishonorable attack. Zinke did in fact call out both Trump and Clinton to apologize to the families for the atrocious things they both have said. I did not see the courage come out of Manning to call out Clinton. Instead he stayed committed to his political party and tried feebly to make it look like Zinke wasnt leading. The facts are very clear, Zinke is leading, and the Democratic Party is scrambling and shamelessly lying to the people of Montana. The integrity of those veterans has been lost, and its a shame that they chose politics over facts and attacked and lied about Zinke. As a veteran I hope they choose their next political battle a little wiser. Eric Power Helena Area law enforcement agencies are investigating a reported Wednesday-morning road rage incident on Interstate 90. At 6:05 a.m., the Minnesota State Patrol responded to a report of shots fired near I-90 milepost 272 near the Dakota exit, according to dispatch recordings. As reported, the shots were fired from a black Toyota passenger car, toward a second vehicle traveling int he same direction. Winona County recorded deputies confirming the shots fired, but no contact with the shooter. No injuries were reported to the single occupant of the other vehicle, who called law enforcement to report the incident. Authorities continue to investigate the incident. Winona County citizens will have one more opportunity to speak their mind on frac sand mining. The Winona County Board of Commissioners Tuesday night voted to hold a public hearing Oct. 13 on the compromise ordinance forwarded by the county planning commission. Following the public hearing, the board will take up the matter for discussion, possible amendment and a final vote. The board approved a resolution to bring the planning commission recommendation to a public hearing and board consideration on a unanimous vote Tuesday night. The planning commission proposal does not call for a ban on industrial sand production in the county, as called for in the proposal presented to them for consideration. Instead, it limits the number of industrial sand mines allowed to operate in the county to six at any one time and limits the extent of each mine to no more than 40 acres. The proposed ordinance would subject industrial sand mines to additional environmental and operational regulations. The board will have the ultimate say in its final vote to adopt the compromise, make new changes, or re-introduce the ban for further review and a potential vote. Half-cent sales tax discussed The board Tuesday also held a public hearing on a resolution calling for a half-cent county sales tax, which was met with mixed response and limited citizen feedback. Four citizens briefly addressed the advisability of the county levying a tax to help repair and maintain county roads. The speakers were split 2-2 on the issue, with opponents objecting to the added burden on low-income families and the desirability of funding roads and bridges with a gasoline tax. Winona resident Ted Hazelton told the board he was in sympathy with concerns for the impact on low-income citizens. I consider myself low-income, he said. But everyone uses county roads, he pointed out they are major thoroughfares within the city of Winona and in rural areas of the county. its a minimal investment, he said. Everyone benefits. There was no board discussion at the conclusion of the public hearing. The county sales tax is intended to raise about $1.68 million a year to help plug a $3.5 to $4.4 million annual shortfall in county highway funding. In July, the county board approved the resolution authorizing the tax, the measure will be back on the boards Sept. 13 agenda for further discussion. Fritz takes on planning role County Administrator Ken Fritz will temporarily don another administrative hat. On a unanimous vote Tuesday, the commissioners appointed Fritz interim Director of Planning and Environmental Services. The appointment comes on the heels of last weeks announcement that Planning and Environmental Services Director Eric Evenson-Marden was no longer employed by Winona County. The county has not commented further past announcing the change. Evenson-Marden worked for the county for less than a year, coming from central Minnesota. Fritz may be expected to fill the position until a permanent replacement is hired. The planning commission proposal does not call for a ban on industrial sand production in the county, as called for in the proposal presented to them for consideration. LAWLER, Iowa A man who died in flash flooding near here early Wednesday had placed a 911 emergency call to authorities after floodwater swept his car off the road, Chickasaw County authorities said. It was just one development in a night of heavy rain and flash flooding that drenched much of the northern third of the state, closing roads and forcing evacuations in several areas. The mans body was found just before 1 p.m. Wednesday about a third of a mile from where his car was found, off Hwy. V-56 north of Lawler near the Jerico turnoff, said Marty Hemann, a deputy with the Chickasaw County Sheriffs Office. The body was found on ground where floodwaters had subsided. The victim, whose name was not being released pending notification of family, had called 911 about 4:40 a.m. after the driver hit water over the road from the Little Turkey River and was swept off the roadway, authorities said. Authorities found his vehicle but did not immediately locate the driver. They put in a rescue craft and multiple agencies helped with the search. Chickasaw County officials warn motorists many roads may be deteriorated or compromised due to flooding and urged drives to use caution. Spillville isolated The city of Spillville was an island Wednesday morning, Mayor Mike Klimesh said, as the Turkey River approached a record crest. Bridges were under water, preventing people from leaving or entering Spillville, Klimesh reported. He said a tree had damaged one bridge. I never thought Id see water like this again in my life, said Klimesh, who added tourists and sightseers should stay away. Sandbagging efforts were abandoned early Wednesday, said Klimesh, who, like many other Spillville residents had not slept Tuesday night. He reported the historic Inwood Ballroom was under water. We pulled the plug on sandbagging because the water came so fast. We were surprised. We learned a lot about sandbagging in 2008 in certain areas it doesnt make any sense to sandbag, Klimesh said. Nine homes had been evacuated and power was turned off to seven of those homes due to the high water, he said. The Spillville ballroom was unreachable after the Turkey spilled over its banks at a higher crest than the city saw in 2008. Water nearly topped a new highway bridge over the Turkey River. Bill and Steven Kovarik watched as the water rose to enter their fathers home. The 90-year-old homeowner stayed put in the house after the 2008 flood. This is his home, said Bill Kovarik. Its all hes ever known. The water crested midday and began to slowly go down. Thats all you can do, said Kovarik watching the water from the porch. Watch it go up then watch go down. Twenty-four-hour rain totals of 4.3 to 8.46 inches were reported in Winneshiek County Tuesday into Wednesday morning. Storms dropped between 3 and 8 inches of rain on communities from Worth County along Interstate 35 to the Mississippi River. Freeport residents evacuated Decorah, Bluffton and Fort Atkinson also were significantly affected by flooding. Fort Atkinson Mayor Paul Herold said a trailer court north of Iowa Hwy. 24 was evacuated Wednesday morning as the Turkey River overtook roadways into the neighborhood. He said Rogers Creek went up 9 feet in three hours City officials were expecting the Turkey River to crest Wednesday afternoon more than a foot above the 2008 flood. If theyre going to call that a 500-year flood, what are they going to call this? Herold said. The city of Decorah received nearly an inch of rain an hour overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday, causing flash flooding and forcing some residents living along the Upper Iowa River in the adjacent unincorporated community of Freeport to evacuate to nearby Stone Ridge Community Church in Decorah, which served as a shelter and where Salvation Army food and cleaning kits were available. Freeport residents had little warning. When emergency officials swept through the neighborhood at about 5 a.m., water was already up to some residents doors. One homes basement collapsed. Decorah High School wrestlers helped fill sandbags. We received just about 7 inches. It started raining about 7 p.m. last night and didnt stop raining until 4 or 5 this morning, Decorah city manager Chad Bird said. It was a pretty substantial thunderstorm. Bird said some longtime residents told him, in some areas of town, the water was higher today than it was in 08, referring to the historic 2008 flood that ravaged most of eastern Iowa. But that years flood was sustained, he said, and this was due to flash flooding. Fortunately the citys flood control system did its job, Bird said. We have a levee-dike system protecting us from the river, and the internal floodgates that automatically close, he said, with pumps where water ponds up. He noted Luther College has a similar system. The Upper Iowa was cresting about 1.5 feet above flood stage at midday Wednesday. The Decorah, Howard-Winneshiek, Riceville, New Hampton and North Winneshiek school districts called off school Wednesday. HORICON Local residents may notice a flurry of activity in Horicon next week as a camera crew will arrive from Milwaukee to highlight what is unique and interesting about the community. Horicon has been chosen to be a subject for Milwaukee Public Televisions Around the Corner with John McGivern. The show seeks to highlight how people work, play and live in unique small towns across Wisconsin, according to Karen Boersma, former president of the Horicon Chamber of Commerce. The show will be filmed in Horicon from Aug. 29 through Sept. 1 with interviews taking place throughout the city. The show will film 12 full interviews divided into three categories: work, play and live. In the work segment, the show will feature four local businesses including Eberle Produce, W5548 Highway 33; Leroy Meats, 85 Washington St.; John Deere Horicon Works, 300 N. Vine St. and Sure-Fire Furnace and air conditioning, 617 Washington St. In the play segment, Horicon Marsh Boat Tours at Blue Herons Landing, 305 Mill St; the Satterlee Clark Historical House, 322 Winter St.; Rock River Tap Bar and Grill, 110 W Lake St. and Rock River Retreat will be featured. The segment on how people live in Horicon will feature interviews from three local residents including current Fire Chief and John Deere memorabilia collector Jim Bandsma, President of the Horicon Bank Fred F. Schwertferger and father and son chiropractors Drs. Jack and Steve Eidem of Horicon Family Chiropractic. The live segment will also include footage from the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitors Center. Local residents are welcome to come out and watch the show being filmed. On Monday, the camera crew will be at Leroy Meats from 11:45 a.m. until 1 p.m. and then at the Horicon Marsh Boat Tours at Blue Heron Landing from 2:45 until 4:45 p.m. On Tuesday, the crew will begin the day at John Deere before moving to the Satterlee Clark Historical House at 12:15 until 1:15 p.m. Then the crew will travel to the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitors Center, N7725 Highway 28, at 2:30 p.m. The camera crew will end its day at the World Series Training Center, 841 Gray St., where they will feature the softball team from 4 to 5 p.m. On Wednesday, Aug. 31, the camera crew will be conducting interviews at the Horicon Bank, 326 E Lake St., from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. and will interview Mayor Steve Neitzel at the Ice Cream Station, 518 E Lake St., from 4:45 to 5:15 p.m. The final day of shooting on Sept. 1 will include the Rock River Bar and Grill from 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. Other filming will take place throughout town during the week. The show selected which businesses and individuals to highlight thanks to efforts by Boersma. Though she had stepped down as chamber president, Boersma returned to help the show decide what to highlight in Horicon. When she found out that they wanted to film in Horicon, she sent an email to everyone she knew in town to get their perspective. Boersma said, We have some really great stories and they were really particular to get things that were unique about Horicon. The show will air sometime around January but Boersma said there will be a free premiere in Horicon prior to the airing of the show. The time and date of the premiere will be announced at a later date. Boersma said, It has been really fun working with the show. A new program at Green Valley Enterprise is opening doors for those seeking to update or learn new employment skills. LESSONS, a 14-week, pre-vocational skills course, has its second group of participants going through it. We talk about things like what career is for you, personal interests and employable skills, said Lorrie Zwieg, the employment specialist, who instructs the classes. The first group of participants completed the program in May. During the program, participants are immersed in community opportunities to practice team building, dressing for successful employment, resume writing and conducting mock interviews for job development. On Tuesday the participants were enjoying the weather while learning about soft skills at Tahoe Park. They have visited many locations in Beaver Dam including: the YMCA of Dodge County, Beaver Dam Fire Department, Beaver Dam Police Department and Beaver Dam Community Hospital. Zwieg said another important component of the program is volunteer work. Participants have worked as volunteers at Habitat for Humanity ReStore, St. Vincent de Paul, and St. Katharine Drexel. In total the students will go though two other sessions, one about micro-enterprise and another on assessing employment experiences. Zwieg said the program takes between 34 and 36 weeks. It is all employment driven, Zwieg said. Its either to lead to employment or hone employment skills for those who already have employment. Those interested in the program or who have a family member interested in the program can contact Becky Glewen at 887-4282 or rglewen@gveinc.org. Wisconsin Dells police say a drunken driver with a child in her vehicle struck and injured a pedestrian in the parking lot of the Mt. Olympus resort Tuesday. The man was flown by medical helicopter to an area hospital for treatment of what police believed were a compound fracture to one arm as well as cuts on his head. The victim's identity has not been released. Florence Ann Shaffer, 39, of Adams, has been charged with drunken driving as a third offense, as well as drunken driving causing injury with a child in the vehicle. Online court records show Shaffer previously was convicted in 2012 of drunken driving with a child under 16 in her vehicle. According to a news release from Dells Police Chief Jody Ward, upon arrival an injured male was located lying on the pavement with substantial injuries. It was determined that a vehicle driven by (Shaffer) had struck the injured male. Shaffer remained at the scene. Online court records show Shaffer also has unresolved charges of driving with a suspended driver's license and driving without a seat belt from a July 24 incident, as well as a hit-and-run conviction from 2011. Dells-Delton EMS, the Wisconsin State Patrol and the Kilbourn Fire Department responded to the scene immediately after the accident. Kilbourn firefighters prepared and secured a portion of the parking lot for the medical helicopter's landing and takeoff. On the morning of June 13, Maysoun Chablout and her husband decided it was best to stay inside. It was the day after a mass shooting at a nightclub in Orlando and Chablout, a Muslim woman who wears a hijab, feared she would be blamed for the horrific violence if she appeared in public. It felt like 9/11 for us Muslims where you couldnt go outside for three weeks, said Chablout, who was born in Syria and has lived in Madison for three years. She teaches Arabic studies at Madinah Community Center. Although Muslims residing in the United States have publicly condemned such attacks as contrary to the teachings of Islam, those same U.S. residents, many of them American citizens, still fear hostile environments that can result when shooters are identified as Muslims. Anti-Muslim sentiment is suspected by some to be the motive behind the recent shooting death of an Imam and his assistant in Queens, New York, though that has not been confirmed. Local Muslims interviewed say they want people to know that Islam is not confined to a society or geographic location. There are 1.6 billion Muslims residing across the globe. Madison Muslims have migrated from different parts of the world, belong to a wide variety of ethnic groups and are a tightly knit community. They estimate that there are approximately 10,000 Muslims in the Madison area, many of whom attend the area's three mosques, located downtown and on the east and west sides. All of the mosques are former churches. People gather at each of the mosques for Friday afternoon prayers, called Jummah. While many in Madisons Muslim population said they dont experience the same kind of hostility that their Muslim counterparts face in other parts of the country, they point to the media as a primary source of rhetoric that roots Islamophobia among non-Muslims. Media is playing a critical role towards portraying Islam in a negative way and sadly it is the prime source of information for the masses, said Sohail Siraj, owner of Best Brains Learning Center, an academic tutoring business in Madison. Still, Muslims interviewed say they have found a supportive community here. It is important for the whole nation and the city of Madison to know that churches and other organizations reached out to us after all the anti-Islam rhetoric in the media about Muslims to show support, said Gibril Jarjue, president of the Islamic Center of East Madison. There is solidarity between Muslims and other faiths in Madison. Jarjue said the churches signed a letter in support of the Madison Muslim community. I hope other organizations in other cities learn from this kind of unity because we have families and kids here, Jarjue said. They are growing and they are Americans. On a recent Friday, the Imam leading prayers at the Islamic Center of East Madison quoted from the Quran, the main religious text of Islam, and preached about living in harmony with neighbors despite the challenges of the current political climate. It is a common theme in the mosque. During the sermon preceding the prayers, Imam Alhagie Jallow, an Islamic scholar, said terrorist attacks carried out across the globe by those who identify as Muslim are not acts of Islam. Islam should not be judged as a religion based on one persons action, said Jallow, who presides over the Islamic Center of East Madison. If a terrorist has an Islamic name, the entire world blames the rest of the Muslims and it is painful. Islam condemns the killing of human beings, he said. Jallow quoted a verse from the Quran which is translated as: If a person saves one soul, the reward is for saving the whole world. And if you kill one soul, the consequences and punishment for that is as if you killed the whole world. Nizam Nizammuddin, an immigrant from India who has lived in Madison for 45 years, condemned mass shootings such as those in Orlando and San Bernardino, California, calling them barbaric. If their interpretation of Islam triggers a derailed thought process, that is their individual problem and misunderstanding of the religion. It does not mean that Islam allows such actions, Nizammuddin said. There is no room for such kind of violence. Violent acts that the media link with individuals who happen to be Muslim cause shock and grief as well as frustration for local Muslims. I was in shock and frustrated at the (Orlando) shooter at the same time for carrying such an attack when Muslims are already portrayed so negatively, said Akmal Hamid, a University of Wisconsin-Madison student originally from Malaysia. When she first heard about the mass shooting in Florida, Najeeha Khan, another student at UW-Madison originally from Pakistan, hoped that the perpetrator was not a Muslim. Because we have seen it in the past where the media links the attack to Islamic values and we can suffer the consequences and deal with negative comments although we didnt ask for it, Khan said. Khan wears a hijab and prepared herself for negative remarks and more stares than usual after the attack. The traditional headscarf makes it impossible for Muslim women to blend in. It is unnerving when people just blatantly keep staring at you in public if youre wearing a hijab, said another UW-Madison student, Afra Alam, who was born in Waukesha and is of Bangladeshi descent. People have such crazy hairstyles, but thats more acceptable in public than me wearing a scarf over my head. The medias tendency to link Islamic values and terrorism, even indirectly, seems to happen for several reasons, some said. UW-Madison student Hamid believes that by making that connection, journalists think their stories will be more interesting and more people will read them. That is the medias goal, and people who already antagonize Islam including politicians hit the jackpot, Hamid said. Kathleen Bartzen Culver, director of the Center for Journalism Ethics at the UW-Madison, said that when there is a presidential candidate like Donald Trump who establishes narratives against a particular race or religion, it can be hard for journalists to correct that tone. With breaking news, Culver said, the media needs to slow down. They should not immediately make the top question: Is this terrorism? Is this terrorism? Is this terrorism? They need to step back and look at the situation as a whole. Competitiveness, Culver said, can lead to some pretty flawed decision-making. UW-Madison student Alam feels that the media portrays Muslims in a bad light in order to attract a larger audience. The dangerous rhetoric of Islamophobia sparks even more hatred towards Muslims, she said. Culver said a lack of diversity in newsrooms also hurts coverage. We dont have people practicing a rich variety of faiths among newsrooms. The average newsrooms are white males from middle to upper class and we see a lot more men than women, she said. She said the media should be out talking to people in their community and building trust so that they understand situations like Chablouts, who did not feel safe leaving her house. Those are the things we need to pay attention to as news media and also responsibly report on communities, she said. Nihal Ahmad, a professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, said the term fundamentalist Christian is never used in the media when a Christian commits a crime. The media should not call these terrorists Muslim extremists because they are not Muslim in the first place because they are not following Islam, Ahmad said. Imam Jallow thinks the solution is to educate journalists about Islam. The media needs to separate what is Islam and what an individual is doing, Jallow said. We are Americans and we obey the same law as every other U.S. citizen. Focusing on religion neglects real issues behind the crimes, some said. If a person has a Muslim name and brown skin color they are automatically called terrorist, unlike many other instances where the shooter gets away by having a mental disability, said Haddijatou Tunkara, a young Madison Muslim. Media critics are concerned, Culver said, that once the label of terrorism is applied to Islam, it transforms coverage and people lose sight of the situation and its relationship to other social issues like mental illness. When Tunkara learned about the Orlando shooting from a Buzzfeed notification on her phone, she was devastated. The first thing the media mentioned was that he is a Muslim and not the fact that he might have a mental disability, Tunkara said. Tunkara is an advocate for gun control and said that is the issue to focus on: It shouldnt be that easy for someone to get a gun and carry out such a heinous attack. Culver agreed that the role of guns can be overlooked. If you look at cases not just like Orlando or San Bernardino, in fact all cases involving mass killings, we have never really come to terms with as a society to accept the toll of guns in this country, she said. The recent attacks have prompted local Muslims to hold interfaith events to inform people about Islam. Bin Dada, a consultant at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, said Muslims should have been reaching out to the community since 9/11. We shouldnt wait for these attacks to happen in order to realize that we need to be more involved in the community, he said. Local efforts mirror larger initiatives around the country, such as those by the American Friends Service Committee in Washington, D.C. AFSC collaborates with Muslim, Christian and Jewish faith-based organizations to confront and eliminate Islamophobia. Muslim Americans are put in a corner where they are either accused of being terrorists or seen as objects that will be used as insinuating terrorism, said Raed Jarrar, government relations manager in AFSCs office of public policy and advocacy. We try to fight against legislation that will increase discrimination against Muslim Americans, he said. Changing the prevailing narrative about Islam and Muslims in the U.S. is very important about Islam being a foreign religion that is associated with negative values is one of the issues that many organizations are trying to push for. Islam is not a foreign religion to the United States. There is no narrative out there that says Muslims Americans are equal to Americans. We should not be holding them to another bar to prove their American-ness and prove they deserve to be in this country. Best Brains Learning Centers Siraj agrees. We need to show people we are the same human beings as you are, we have the same heart as you do, and we have the same feelings as you do, he said. Imagine snowy driveways getting plowed as homeowners stay cozy and warm in their living rooms. Such comfort, Rio resident Jan Olsen says, doesnt need to be the result of favors or payment not when your snow plow or snow blower is remote-controlled, its work shown on your television or computer. The scenario is one Olsen has imagined for the past six years. Ninety-thousand dollars of his savings have been put into an invention an idea that might just revolutionize Wisconsin winters. I can say robots are coming in all areas of life, Olsen said in a moderately thick Norwegian accent. Olsen moved to Rio in Columbia County from Norway 25 years ago when he married his wife, Jean. Robots will change our world in every way and everywhere. Olsens company Jano Technology LLC is for the moment a one-man show in need of a boost, he said, but if his business plan is approved by the city for a spot in the Portage Business Enterprise Center, his dream might soon be reality. Olsen and, he hopes, at least two other employees one for welding and another for body work would start off building 20 machines for customers who are already waiting. Olsen would find the welding and fabrication expertise he needs in the citys business incubator, said Steve Sobiek, the citys director of business development and planning. PBEC houses six startups right now, and Jano Technology looks ready for prime-time, he said. I find him a very compelling individual, Sobiek said. Ive helped a lot of people get started, and hes definitely up there in terms of potential success. For Baby Boomers, he added, Olsens invention is the type of product just made to order. Sobiek said he is often reminded of how necessity is the mother of invention. That Olsens idea came after a heart attack paves the way for an incredible potential success story. Olsen, retired from construction work, was jogging one day when he felt discomfort in his chest. Hed thought he was in good shape would jog three or four days a week but this days story would end with Olsen being revived after having no pulse for about five minutes. After that, Olsen said, I wanted to learn an easier way for shoveling. Not long after his heart attack Olsen went shopping at a Farm and Fleet when the idea for a motorized plow came like a flash. So he went on to build prototypes, recorded their performance in videos and started a website. That website, though, received so much response, Olsen found he couldnt keep up with the inquiries. So he took it down. Now, Olsen said, he waits for help, short on funds, hoping his business plan will be approved for PBEC. He has all the pieces in place, so I think its a great fit for the Enterprise Center, Sobiek said. Were ready to embrace him and take him in, take him to the next step for production. Its exciting, and its exactly what incubation is all about. The idea Olsen wants to build two remote-controlled machines: a snow plow very powerful and capable of going 10 mph unimpeded, with chains on the wheels that will go through snow like you wouldnt believe and a snow blower, the one most people ask him about, capable of speeds of 2 to 3 mph unimpeded. Whats remarkable about the machinery goes beyond the remote controlling, Olsen said. His machines also excel in performance. The plow can pull my truck and trailer, Olsen said of the power. And so can the blower. Its battery-powered electric so its green, Olsen said, and thats very important no gas. The machines have cameras mounted on top so operators can get a 360-degree view of whats happening outside. The operator controls the machine with a joystick, and if the machine gets stuck, a leg built into the machine lifts it off the ground. Determination of cost will come later, but the general idea is that such machinery would sell for in the neighborhood of $7,000, Olsen said. The machines are built with guards in front of their propellers and would involve sensors that keep the machine from moving anything other than snow. The machines will also be built with kill switches, and, dont forget, the operator is seeing everything from indoors. His venture comes about a decade after a successful career with Jean in teddy bear sales yes, teddy bears. It started as a joke, Olsen said, while he waited for his work permit, but over time we had 80 shops we delivered to. The business, from 1992 to 2006, was a nice time in my life, he added, before the market weakened and the business ended. Enterprise Center Sobiek about three weeks ago attended an Innovations Champions meeting, he said, where 40 or so entrepreneurs and inventors were asked: What is the No. 1 issue you need help with? Financing, Sobiek said of their response. That continues to be the number-one obstacle. And its no surprise when you have a new invention and dont have a pot of money. Portage can help Jano Technology and other startups navigate a myriad of resources, including revolving loan funds, private investors, and maybe even crowdfunding, as is provided through entities like Kickstarter, Sobiek said. We continue to pick his brain to see how much potential control of the company hed be willing to give up, because theres obviously a mix depending on the type of investor brought to the table. PBEC for about two years has been cash flowing paying for itself, in other words after opening thanks to a federal grant that procured after the 2008 flood. PBEC operates at about $150,000 annually, all of it generated at PBEC with no city subsidization. Thats the beauty of it, Sobiek said of PBEC. Were creating revenue and paying for expenses. Potential workers for Jano Technology exist on site already in the Manufacturing Training Center, whether they be instructors, workers or trained students. There are so many people in the building already making welding-related equipment, Sobiek said. Should the city finalize the business plan for Jano Technology, the next step is for discussion of leasing and space in PBEC. Its very close, I would say, Sobiek said. If all goes smoothly, Jano Technology could be in PBEC by early September. This was a chance I was willing to take, Olsen said of his six-year, $90,000 investment. I believe so much in the product. Several months ago, Gov. Scott Walker announced a number of initiatives aimed at promoting open and transparent Executive-branch government in Wisconsin. In addition to OpenBook Wisconsin, the administration has now created a website to share Agency Performance Dashboards. Both resources are free, online and open-to-the public. OpenBook Wisconsin, www.openbook.wi.gov, is a direct view into the checkbook of Wisconsin. It includes more than 25 million entries for payments made by state agencies, the legislature, the courts and the University of Wisconsin System for purchasing goods or services, travel and vendor payments. It also contains the salary information for all state government employees, links to state budget documents and data for economic development programs. Follow this direct link to the salary information for every state employee in 2014: http://openbook.wi.gov/Uploads/State_of_WI_2014_Payroll_Data.pdf. The data is sorted alphabetically by department and name. The data for 2015 is pending. Follow this direct link to the Vendor Contracts for all agencies: http://vendornet.state.wi.us/vendornet/procman/prob2b.asp. Follow this direct link to the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report: http://www.doa.state.wi.us/Divisions/Budget-and-Finance/Financial-Reporting/Comprehensive-Annual-Financial-Reports. This report presents the states financial position in a business-like manner. The creation of OpenBook Wisconsin required state agencies and the legislature to roll-out new accounting, procurement and record-keeping software over the last several years to make the data easier to collect and share. This system, the State Transforming Agency Resources system known as STAR, is a huge asset to our state government in this effort. More recently, Gov. Walker issued Executive Order 189 which, in part, created Agency Performance Dashboards as a portal for all of us to track agency performance in key program areas. Review a snapshot of key metrics and access all of the dashboards at the following link: www.performance.wi.gov. Like most private businesses that measure performance, the Agency Performance Dashboards measure the agencies against specific metrics related to their purposes and goals. This is a great tool for citizens of Wisconsin to review how agencies are serving us, the taxpayers of Wisconsin. Each agency has a unique function within our state government structure. As such, each agency has different goals related to their purpose and mission. For example, the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is measured on the following metrics: Increase/maintain number of targeted meetings with business and industry. Increase export sales as a result of the Wisconsin International Trade Team services. Increase percentage of food inspections performed on schedule. Maintain turnaround time on issuance of certificates required for export of plants and plant products. Increase percentage of animal health inspections performed on time. Increase percentage of feed quality surveillance samples that meet label guarantees. Improved response time to consumers. Decrease number of Consumer Protection hotline calls that go to voicemail. More efficient weights and measures/fuel quality inspections. Clean Sweep collections. For each goal, the department determines if the goal is met or unmet based on measureable data or hard numbers. This is an objective, clean way to measure performance. According to the most recent Performance Dashboard report for DATCP from the second quarter of 2016, the agency has met 50 percent of their goals. The 50 percent that are not met are trending toward meeting the goal; however, there is definitely more work to do. Opportunities for improvement show us where we should dedicate more time, talent and resources. They give us the opportunity to truly understand where we are successful and where we need to refocus our energies. Assessing performance in this way helps all of state government to operate in a more efficient, effective way. I encourage everyone who is interested in the function of our state government to review the OpenBook Wisconsin and Agency Performance Dashboard websites to learn more about the function of our state government. My column in two parts. Donald Trump accused President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton of being the founders of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. He later walked that comment back by claiming he was being sarcastic and blamed the media for all the controversy his comment created. This is not the first time Obama and his, then, Secretary of State Clinton have been blamed for withdrawing troops too soon from Iraq, leaving an unstable and weak Iraqi government unable to cope, leaving opportunity for ISIS to establish itself. But that is not true. With the grandiose title of Agreement Between the United States of America and the Republic of Iraq On the Withdrawal of United States Forces from Iraq and the Organization of Their Activities During Their Temporary Presence in Iraq, this document explains in extreme detail the specifics of American forces leaving Iraq. Key to the document is Article 24, Section 1, which specifically states that, All United States forces shall withdraw from all Iraqi territory no later than Dec. 31, 2011. This document was agreed to, and signed by, the George W. Bush administration. Unless Obama was willing to break the word of the United States, he had no choice but to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq when he did. But playing fast and loose with Arabic territory has been the gist of western countries intentions in the Middle East for the last century. As early as 1916, the Balfour Agreement and the Sykes-Picot Agreement divided up spheres of influence between France and Great Britain in the Middle East. To this day, Arabic countries have a deep suspicion of western motives in the region. It is even more interesting to read today the prescient words of Theodore Lawrence, better known in history as Lawrence of Arabia. An ardent supporter of Arabian nationalism, after World War I, Lawrence wrote in his book, Seven Pillars of Wisdom, All men dream: but not equal. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible So high an aim called out the inherent nobility of their minds, and made them play a generous part in events; but when we won, it was charged against me that the British petrol royalties in Mesopotamia were become dubious, and French Colonial policy ruined in the LevantArabs believe in persons, not institutions. They saw in me a free agent of the British Government, and demanded from me an endorsement of its written promises. So I had to join the conspiracy, and, for what my word was worth, assured the men of their rewardbelieving me and to think my Government sincereinstead of being proud of what we did together I was bitterly ashamed. It was evident from the beginning that if we won the war these promises would be dead paper, and had I been an honest advisor of the Arabs I would have advised them to go home and not risk their lives fighting for such stuff One hundred years of mistakes and an impolitic invasion of Iraq by the U. S. cannot be undone with one administration. Part two Trump, and others like him, quickly blame the liberal media for distorting his comments. Of course they forget sites like Drugde, Infowars, Glenn Beck, Breitbart, and of course Fox News. Trump has now hired Kellyanne Conway to head up his campaign. She is a brilliant and incredibly capable campaign manager. The Clinton people should be worried. If Trump can follow her lead and keep his mouth in check, he can win the election. On the other hand he also hired Stephen Bannon of the news outlet, Breitbart. Some of Breitbarts headlines are, Birth Control Makes Women Unattractive and Crazy, Theres No Hiring Bias Against Women in Tech, They Just {Bleep} At Interviews, and Racist, Pro-Nazi Roots of Planned Parenthood Revealed. Just for the record, super conservative Barry Goldwaters wife, Susan, was one of the founders of Planned Parenthood. Katie McHugh, a Breitbart editor has tweeted Mexicans wrecked Mexico and think invading the USA will magically cure them of their retarded dysfunction and British settlers built the USA. Slaves built the country as cows built McDonalds. So which Trump do we get? Which candidate do we choose? For sure, the Clintons are wheeling, dealing political insiders. Trump is like Jekyll and Hyde. But always better to pick the devil you know rather than the devil you do not know. As with our policies in the Middle East, we now reap what we have sowed. Jozi Book Fair Guest Authors Award-winning artists Kemang Wa Lehulere and Mohale Mashigo are special guests at the 2016 Jozi Book Fair, co-hosted by Khanya College and Wits University The pair are fitting ambassadors for the Fair, themed Youth Rising in recognition of the renewed energy from the youth to shape South Africa. Youth Rising also speaks to the core objective of the Jozi Book Fair (JBF), which is to build a reading culture in South Africa with emphasis on the youth and children. The work of Wa Lehulere and Mashigo speaks volumes about their quest to become change agents and the power of youth. Kemang Wa Lehulere Wa Lehulere was born in 1984 in Gugulethu, Cape Town. He holds a BA Fine Arts degree from Wits University (2011). He is the Standard Bank Young Artist for Visual Art 2015 and the winner of the Deutsche Banks new "Artist of the Year"2017. He has steadily built his career holding solo exhibitions in Gasworks, London (2015), at the Lombard Freid Projects, New York (2013), and his work has featured in Chicago, San Francisco, Amsterdam and Berlin. His work has earned him the Inaugural Spier Contemporary Award (2007), MTN New Contemporaries Award (2010), Tollman Award for Visual Arts (2012), 15th Baloise Art Prize at Art Basel in Switzerland (2013), and the First International Tiberius Art Award Dresden (2014). His self-titled monograph, Kemang Wa Lehulere (2015) was published to coincide with the Standard Bank Young Artist Award and traces his work from 2005 to 2015. The book is interspersed with a collection of his images, drawings, performances, videos and installations, and a collection of his letters with his friend and curator, Khwezi Gule. Wa Lehulere is the co-founder of the Gugulective, an artist-led collective based in Cape Town, and a founding member of the Centre for Historical Re-enactments in Johannesburg. Mohale Mashigo Mashigo was born in Mapetla, Soweto in 1983. She is a multi-disciplinary storyteller who loves exploring the unknown. She is a writer and a musician with two SAMRO Wawela awards for her songwriting compositions. She won the Best Creative Album and the Best Female Composer/co-composer. Mashigo performs under the name Black Porcelain and, with no label or high budget marketing machine, Black Porcelains music was featured on the playlists of radio stations in 36 countries. Mashigos career in music began when she was a singing waitress. Her book, The Yearning, is already making an impact. The novel is about personal strength, courage, pain and love, and traverses both traditional and modern society. Mashigo started writing s in high school. She is passionate about promoting reading and writing at schools. Both guests are not only talented, but committed to promoting education and the arts to youth. The JBF believes that the guests will inspire many youth and the public to read the word and the world, says Maria van Driel, Director of the Jozi Book Fair. The Wits Science Stadium, traditionally a venue for statistics and formulas will be transformed into a creative space filled with words, poetry, theatre and the sounds of jazz and heated debates. The programme offers 150 events ranging from book launches (across SA languages) to poetry, jazz, theatre and films, debates and workshops. More than 30 exhibitors including small and independent publishers will attend the Fair and offer diverse books and locally relevant books. In 2015 the Fair attracted over 6000 visitors. The Fair is free and open to all. Making economies work for women in the South: What will it take? How do we make economies work for women in the South? Women are often marginalised in the world economy. There are few opportunities for them to empower themselves economically due to stringent laws which present challenges for them to access funding or acquire assets. Why is the world economy not working for women? How do we make economies work for women in the South? UN Women ( the United Nations entity working for gender equality and womens empowerment), together with Oxfam and the University of the Witwatersrand held a conference at the Wits Club to tackle these questions and the challenges that women in the informal sector face in the Global South. The event, entitled: Making economies work for women in the South: What will it take? took place on 10-11 August, after Womens Day, it and sought to address the economic disparities women face in the workplace and the entrepreneurial sector. The high-level panel discussions at the event brought together development partners, leading academics, womens rights experts and leaders, including UN Women Executive Director, Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka; Minister for Women in the Presidency of South Africa, Susan Shabangu; the African Development Banks Special Envoy for Gender, Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi; Wits Vice Chancellor and Principal, Professor Adam Habib, and representatives from civil society and the private sector. Speaking on the progress of gender transformation and equality within the academic sphere, Professor Adam Habib, who delivered the opening address, said that Wits had made substantial progress in the last 20 years.Women represent 58 percent of enrollments at Wits and 45 percent of mining engineering students, a previously male-dominated industry are women. Despite this progress, the increased cases of gender-based harm and sexual harassments in the higher education sector are alarming, says Habib. Whilst we have this incredible shift of women, we simultaneously have atrocious cases of sexual harassment. How is it that we have such phenomenal progress, but then we have such atrocious cases of sexual abuse? This is not just a Wits University phenomenon; it is a phenomenon of the higher education sector, says Habib. Habib is a #HeforShe Global University IMPACT Champion. Wits is one of 10 universities around the world committing to taking action to achieve gender equality within and beyond their institutions. Former Deputy President of South Africa and current UN Women Director, Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka emphasized the need for womens economic empowerment in the country, and the role of the sustainable development goals (SDG) in recognising that need and delivering substantial developments for women. What will success look like if the SDG goals are met? How will the economy look for women in business? We need to make sure there is no inequality when the SDGs are being implemented. We should not leave anyone behind, especially those women who fall between the cracks. We need to have shared prosperity, says Mlambo-Ngcuka. According to Mlambo-Ngcuka, the informal economy is measured unequally, social security for women does not exist, and gender blind micro-economic policies have presented challenges for women and impeded their economic empowerment. Minister for Women in the Presidency of South Africa, Susan Shabangu, paid tribute to the women who marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956 and expressed pride in SAs gender inclusive Constitution, which also aims to address gender inequality. We are proud that we have a Constitution that recognises gender equality. When women are united and they have a purpose, they are able to contribute to the transformation of SA. We are proud to be beneficiaries of those women who marched for us, says Shabangu. Shabangu also expressed concern that, despite gender equality advances in the higher education sector, women still lag behind in the work environment (some study in one field but end up working in a different sector). Sipho Mthathi, Executive Director at Oxfam South Africa who delivered a talk entitled: The role of civil society in closing the gender gap in the Global South says we need to look at how we are going to shift power to make it work for women. We need to fix our politics and many other issues to address challenges women face. We cannot take a short cut thinking that we can make the economy work for women. We need to support organisations such as UN Women. We need to make sure that the social reproduction of women is considered. BILLINGS -- Billings serial rapist Toby Eugene Griego lost his appeal to the Montana Supreme Court on Tuesday, but not before the justices admonished police about an investigative practice. In a 5-0 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that pretrial publicity did not derail Griegos chances for a fair Yellowstone County trial. Griego was sentenced in 2014 on 27 counts related to the rape of three women and the attempted rape of a fourth. The rapes involved home invasions. Griego, who is serving 22 consecutive life sentences for the crimes, told the court that his trial should have been moved to a different county to avoid local prejudice stirred by Billings Gazette coverage, including articles that gave women safety tips in the weeks before Griegos capture. The Supreme Court ruled Griegos argument for relocating the trial had no merit. However, the justices did side with Griego on the way police used a recording of his voice to get a victim to identify him. Advertisement (1 of 1): 0:22 One of Griegos victims, a woman he blindfolded and held captive and assaulted for five hours, never got a clear look at his face. But the woman identified his voice when police played her a recording of their interview with Griego. That police didnt produce recordings of several different voices for the woman to listen to was an issue, the Supreme Court ruled. There was enough other incriminating evidence to counter the practice, the justices ruled, but if there hadn't have been the voice identification would have had to have been suppressed. A single-person witness identification procedure is inherently unreliable, and we implore law enforcement to refrain from using this technique, Justice Michael Wheat wrote in the opinion. Griego is being held at Crossroads Correctional Center in Shelby. Chen, Ramer awarded for service work Two members of the William & Mary community will be honored at the universitys Opening Convocation ceremony this afternoon for their service work. Jiajia Chen 18 and Debbie Ramer, an instructor in special education at the William & Mary School of Education, will receive the 2016 Presidents Awards for Service to the Community at the event, which begins at 5:15 p.m. in the Wren Yard. The awards are presented each year to one student and one faculty or staff member, who each receive $500 to donate to the service organization of their choosing. It is meaningful that we honor the exemplary work of our awardees at Convocation, so incoming students can be inspired to learn about our community, create partnerships, and work with others toward justice while they are at William & Mary, said Melody Porter, director of the Office of Community Engagement. Debbie Ramer and Jiajia Chen have developed partnerships across our community, connecting people to offer their best to each other. Chen is being honored for her work with the Food Recovery Network, along with Branch Out Alternative Breaks, Commonwealth Catholic Charities and the Sharpe Community Scholars Program. Her $500 award will go to the food pantry project at the Pineapple Inn & Housing Center. Throughout the past year, Chen has worked to help establish a Food Recovery Network chapter at the university. The organization recovers leftover food from campus dining facilities and transports those leftovers to local people in need at the Pineapple Inn and Feed the Need. Last year, the W&M chapter of the Food Recovery Network recovered 1,205 pounds of food. As a site leader with Branch Out, Jiajia learned about food justice issues and came back to campus to partner in the creation of Food Recovery Network, involving students who were in the Sharpe seminar for which she was a teaching assistant, said Porter. And she plans to translate her experience of leading an alternative break into a longer-term international experience. Jiajia makes connections from one experience to the next, always looking to build on and deepen her work. Chen said that she was honored and humbled to learn that she would receive an award for her service. It is a recognition and celebration of two years worth of collaborative work with the many wonderful peers and communities, Chen said. I hope it will inspire us to expand our efforts to serve our communities. Community service is personally rewarding to me because it allows me as an international student to get a deeper understanding of my local community and make meaningful connections to people here. I am lucky to be able to follow my spirit for service beyond my high school to college, beyond campus to my community and beyond my home country to exciting new corners of the world. Ramer, who is beginning her ninth year of teaching at the university, is being honored for her work with such William & Mary programs as WMSURE and the 1693 Scholars as well as community organizations like the One Child Center for Autism, the Peninsula School for Autism, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Virginia Peninsula, DJ Montague Elementary School and Hampton Roads Academy. She is donating her $500 award to the One Child Center for Autism and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Virginia Peninsula. Debbie's work in the community as an advocate for children, and in particular, people with autism extends into her classroom, said Porter. Through research and teaching, Debbie is working toward systemic change that will make our schools and communities fully inclusive of children with exceptionalities. As part of her work in the community, Ramer has partnered with multiple local school districts to provide free or low-cost professional development to special education teachers and conduct surveys on specialized reading instruction and the retention of special education teachers. "I am honored to receive this award, as I know that many of the faculty, staff and students at the College of William & Mary are engaged in community service and outreach through their research and volunteering their time, Ramer said. One Child Center for Autism and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Virginia Peninsula are both amazing organizations who are doing valuable work for individuals in our community. I am pleased that I am able to highlight their very important work through receiving this award, and hope that the donation will help them accomplish their goals." 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 U.S. Navy Lt. (j.g.) Robert Van Winter, a Cumberland native, is seen on the deck of the USS Anzio, one of the fleets most advanced warships. Van Winter, a Mount St. Charles graduate, serves as a damage controlman assistant, part of the team responsible for fighting fires, controlling flooding and other emergencies. By: Feng Qian A father is furious after a judge refused to grant him custody of his children, but instead, placed them in the care of a registered sex offender. The father, who was not identified, filed for custody of his daughters, who are 15 and 17 years old, after learning that his former wife allowed the registered sex offender to move into her home. The Nebraska Supreme Court heard how the stepfather sexually assaulted a teenage girl for two years while he was married to her mother. The stepfather was convicted of first-degree sexual assault and sexual assault of a child. In 2004, he spent four years behind bars. The mother of the girls told the court that she established aprecautionsa to keep her daughters safe. The rules include a dress code for the girls. They have to change clothes in private, they have shower schedules and she placed locks on bathroom doors. A therapist for the girls, said that although she did not speak to the stepfather, the girls never reported any agrooming behaviorsa from their stepfather. The therapist acknowledged that the girls reported aangry outburstsa from their stepfather. The Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that the sex offender can live with the young girls as the biological father afailed to produce enough evidence to show that the stepfather poses a risk to his daughters.a The judge wrote that the sex offender ahad volunteered for extensive rehabilitation during his incarceration after he was ineligible for parole. The judge took into account that the sex offender has not been investigated for any sexual wrongdoing since his previous offense. aHe expressed remorse and exhibited a highly positive response to treatment,a the judge wrote. BILLINGS -- When not catching crayfish and learning to play guitar, 12-year-old Emma Power has spent the past two years corresponding with her city government. Since age 10, Emma has been writing Billings City officials asking that a section of guard rail be installed along the Alkali Creek Trail to protect cyclists from a drop off. Her determination finally paid off this summer when the guard rail was installed with the help of some Boy Scouts from Troop 7, and $5,000 from the city. Emma, a self-proclaimed future novelist, lives in the Heights near Alkali Creek Road, where the biking trail was finished a few years ago. She bikes often on the trail, with her pink helmet secured over her bright blue hair. Her only worry had been a 15-foot section of the trail that ran along a large drop off. Concerned for the safety of riders who might be unfamiliar with the path, the then-10-year-old Emma wrote to Mayor Tom Hanel and asked if it was something he could help with. He could not. She wrote to the Director of Parks and Recreation, who apologized, but said he also couldn't help. After 12 letters and countless emails, Emma tried a new tactic, getting in touch with her city council representative. First ward Representative Mike Yakawich took an immediate interest. Yakawich's council ward covers the Pioneer Park area all the way to Hilltop in the Heights. He had biked the Alkali Creek Road many times and had noticed the large drop off that caused Emma concern. "There is no better way to know the potholes, cracked sidewalks, creek conditions, trails, cross walks and the general infrastructure of the ward than by either walking or biking," Yakawich said. About a year and a half ago, Yakawich met Emma and her mother, Virginia Power, along the stretch of trail causing Emma's concern. Emma said Yakawich was able to win over Billings Public Works Director David Mumford. Mumford told Emma the path was within city safety regulations, but was something he would look into. He spoke with City Engineer Debi Meling, who contacted Troop 7 Eagle Scout candidate Matthew Charles. The City provided $5,000 in materials for the project and over the weekend of Aug. 6, Charles and his friends and family installed the railing along the bike trail. When Emma came to see the project being done, she said people called out thanks as they drove by. "It's a neat thing how it all came together," Yakawich said. "All because of a young lady who loves her neighborhood and who knows how her city government works." Emma said throughout the process she met people who worked for the city who were "very nice" and others who were "really, really serious." Whenever she and her family cycle the path, they point to the railing, a tangible reminder of Emma's persistence. Emma plans to follow her brothers to Montana State University Billings and said she wants to continue to stay involved with the improvement of Billings. "I love my city," Emma said. Red Arrows Returning to Hawarden Airport & Flying Over Wrexham This Bank Holiday! This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Aug 24th, 2016 Fans of the Red Arrows are in for a treat this Bank Holiday as the team return to north Wales. The aerobatic team will be back in Hawarden on Sunday 28th August ahead of their display at the Rhyl Airshow. Flight plans filed by the team show the Red Arrows are due to arrive at Hawarden Airport on Sunday 28th August at 3:03pm. They will depart from the airport at 5.18pm on Sunday en route to the Rhyl Airshow for a 5.30pm display. The aerobatic team will then fly back into Hawarden landing at 5.59pm. For those who cant make it to Hawarden Airport or the Rhyl Airshow on Sunday, the Red Arrows will be passing directly over Wrexham at 5:25pm. As usual these flight times are subject to change depending on weather conditions. This is the second time this month that the Red Arrows have passed over the Wrexham area. Welsh Ambulance Service Urges Public to Plan Ahead For August Bank Holiday Weekend This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Aug 24th, 2016 The Welsh Ambulance Service is asking members of the public to stay safe and plan ahead in preparation for the upcoming August Bank Holiday weekend. The Trust often experiences an increase in demand during the Bank Holiday period, and is asking people across Wales to help preserve the service for those with genuine life-threatening emergencies. Anyone with a long term health condition for which they are already taking medication is urged to make sure they have enough of their prescription to last them the whole weekend, as pharmacies are likely to be subject to reduced opening hours or closed completely. If youre going away anywhere its important to know the full address youre staying at and check what medical facilities are in the local area. Gordon Roberts, the Welsh Ambulance Services Deputy Director of Operations, said: The Trust is anticipating any increased demand we might experience over the Bank Holiday period. However, we would like to ask for everyones help in making sure that the service is only used by those facing serious medical emergencies. Sending an ambulance to a call that is not an emergency could cause a longer wait to a seriously ill or injured patient, and patients with minor illnesses or injuries who arrive at hospital by ambulance do not receive faster treatment. You can make sure that only appropriate calls are coming through to 999 by choosing well and being aware of the other services available to you. The NHS Direct Wales website has a useful search facility to help you find the nearest Pharmacy, Minor Injury Unit or Emergency Department. They are also available 24 hours a day on 0845 46 47 to provide information if you are feeling ill and are unsure what to do, or for health information on a wide range of conditions, treatments and local health services. Bank Holiday weekends can also see a rise in weather and alcohol related call outs for ambulance crews. Gordon added: Whether youre driving somewhere or down at the beach, its important to check the weather forecast and prepare yourself accordingly. With the weather as unpredictable as it is, that could mean taking sun screen or adjusting your driving distance in wet conditions. Bank Holidays are a popular time for revellers unwinding while theyre off work, and while we want people to enjoy themselves, we would ask them to do so responsibly. Check how many units youre taking in throughout the day and consider spacing out your alcoholic drinks and having some water in between. We would also ask people to look after each other as drinking alcohol can leave you in a vulnerable position. Wrexham Glyndwr University Wins 230k Research Grant This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Aug 24th, 2016 Wrexham Glyndwr University has been awarded a 230,000 research grant to study social enterprise practices across Europe. The project, which will explore practice in successful social enterprises in Spain, Italy, Ireland, Poland, Lithuania and Romania, aims to identify factors that are significant in the development of social enterprises. Professor Chris Fortune, lecturer of project management in Wrexham Glyndwr Universitys North Wales Business School, won the bid to carry out the research and hopes the findings will help internationalise the curriculum for a new BSc Social Enterprise degree the university is launching next year. Prof Fortune said: The results of this two year research project will not only help internationalise the new programmes curriculum but will also develop European links with social entrepreneurs which can only help develop real skills in the students graduating from the new programme. The programme will provide education and training for would be social entrepreneurs and potential managers and leaders of existing social enterprises. The study, Social Enterprise Development Education and Training Tools (SEDETT), is funded by ERASMUS plus and an EU research grant. Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones has congratulated the university on winning the grant and visited the university to discuss the new Social Enterprise degree. Prof Fortune said: Susan has a commitment to the third sector and has recently spoken on support for social investment in the House of Commons, so was very interested in hearing about the universitys new programme and research we will be carrying out. The Clwyd South MP has urged the Government to support the growth of social enterprises, which use business models for social ends, which present a tremendous opportunity. Susan said: The divisions between public, private and voluntary sectors really dont belong in a world where we need to be taking the best aspects of all sectors to improve peoples life chances, create prosperity and tackle the problems facing our local communities, our country and our planet. Thats where social enterprises come in using business methods to improve society. However, so far, we havent seen many universities showing an interest in social enterprises. It is terrific that our local university is doing so and by doing so, offering a pioneering course for people who want to make a real difference. The new degree has been developed under Professor Chris Jones, the head of the North Wales Business School with input from Wrexham Social Enterprise Network (WSEN) and the Association of Voluntary Organisations in Wrexham (AVOW) and has opportunities for work placement. For more information on the business school visit the Wrexham Glyndwr University website. Wrexham Taxi Drivers Issued With Detector Pens to Avoid Counterfeit Cash This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Aug 24th, 2016 Taxi drivers in Wrexham have been issued with detector pens to help avoid counterfeit cash which was found circulating in the town. Licensing officers at Wrexham Council and North Wales Police launched a campaign last week to help taxi and private hire drivers tackle the problem of counterfeit notes. The campaign comes after police officers working in Wrexham found counterfeit 20 and 50 notes in circulation in the town centre, and advised businesses in the area to be vigilant. Taxi and private hire drivers were given detector pens by licensing officers, along with advice on how to avoid illegal notes. The pens, which were given out for free by licensing officers, contain a special ink which writes in yellow and then dries invisible on genuine banknotes but leaves a permanent mark on counterfeit bills. Police and licensing officers have advised drivers to always exercise extra attention when given large-value notes, and always check for watermarks and metallic threads. Councillor David Kelly, Lead Member for Planning and Public Protection said Counterfeit notes have a very detrimental effect on the local economy, and we want to help where we can to prevent their circulation. Also, the majority of Taxi and Private Hire Drivers are self-employed or work for small businesses, so its important that they not become the victims of people using counterfeit notes its effectively a loss of income for them. So Im very pleased that we can work in partnership with North Wales Police to help drivers combat this illegal activity. Sgt Steve Owens added: North Wales Police believes joint working with Wrexham Council and a zero-tolerance approach to this type of criminality is the way forward, so we are glad to be supporting this latest initiative. The pens are paid for by a joint campaign between North Wales Police and Wrexham County Borough Council, and are available for free by contacting the Licensing Service on 01978 315786, or by e-mailing licensingservice@wrexham.gov.uk. Wrexham to Fly the Red Ensign for Merchant Navy Day This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Aug 24th, 2016 The Red Ensign will fly over the Guildhall in Wrexham town centre next month to raise awareness of the UKs on-going dependence of Merchant Navy seafarers. Wrexham Council is supporting a nationwide call from the Seafarers UK charity and the Merchant Navy Association for the UK Merchant Navys official flag to be flown on public buildings and landmark flagstaffs. The flag will fly over the Guildhall on Saturday 3 September. The Charitys president, HRH The Earl of Wessex, has endorsed the campaign saying: On this Merchant Navy Day, I very much hope you will support this campaign to remember the sacrifices, salute the courage and support the future of the often unsung personnel of our Merchant Navy. Cllr David Griffiths, Armed Forces Champion, said: Many Wrexham residents have been or still are serving with the Merchant Navy. Their loyal service is a tribute to the service and the incredible contribution they make to the national economy. On this day every year we pay our respects to them and I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who has or is currently serving with the Merchant Navy. A Message from HRH The Earl of Wessex, adds: On this Merchant Navy Day, I very much hope that you will support this campaign by Seafarers UK to remember the sacrifices, salute the courage and support the future of the often unsung personnel of our Merchant Navy. Too often they are the forgotten or invisible service; by raising the Red Ensign you will ensure that at least on this day they are remembered. Your act will mean so much to their families and to the retired, but most especially to those at sea. PARADISE VALLEY A previously unidentified strain of parasite has grown so prolific in the Yellowstone River that it is overwhelming whitefish, killing thousands and prompting the state last week to close more than 180 miles of the river to all recreation. The sheer parasite loading itself is almost shocking the fish, that thats whats killing them, said Eileen Ryce, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks hatchery section chief, during a Tuesday press conference along the banks of the Yellowstone River south of Livingston. Scientists like Ryce believe that the parasite bloom may be so large and unprecedented in part because the Yellowstone River is experiencing near-record low flows and high water temperatures. We could see varying responses (of the parasite) depending on which river it gets into, said Travis Horton, Region 3 fisheries manager in Bozeman. The nearby Madison River, where flows are dam controlled, may be more resilient to the parasite since the waters temperature is cooler, coming from the bottom of Hebgen Lake, and the flows can be maintained at a steadier rate. Likewise, outbreaks of similar parasites in Idaho that killed whitefish in 2011 and 2012 may have been more limited because some of the streams are dam controlled, Horton said. The FWP officials spoke to a crowd of about 50 people anglers, local lawmakers, the media and business owners at a fishing access site where the stench of dead whitefish rotting on the riverbank wafted through the air. Acknowledging the effect of the rivers closure to anglers, floaters and on all of the many businesses that service such recreationists, Gov. Steve Bullock said the impact goes far beyond the waters edge. Yet he said science needs to guide this. We need to make sure we are not only protecting this watershed and this water but indeed our entire state, he said, noting that the outdoor recreation industry creates about 64,000 jobs and $6 billion in consumer spending annually in Montana. When Rep. Alan Redfield, R-Livingston, asked why certain portions of the river couldnt be open to fishing to ease some of the impact on local businesses, Horton said FWP hopes to contain the parasite outbreak to the Yellowstone and make its duration short-lived. We want to try to minimize this, Horton said. We dont want to make this situation worse by rushing ahead. Horton added that when the Yellowstone Rivers peak water temperatures drop below 55 degrees and stay there, FWP would consider lifting the river closure. Were not looking at it being a permanent closure, said Jeff Hagener, FWP director. He noted the rule to enforce the closure is a temporary emergency closure good for 120 days. After that time the department is forced to re-examine the issue to decide whether the closure should be extended. The fish kill has been documented by FWP crews from the Yellowstone National Park boundary about 100 miles downstream to just west of the town of Big Timber, Horton said. Other public reports of dead whitefish and suckers downstream from Big Timber to Laurel have not been confirmed by FWP. The microscopic parasite that infects the fish needs two hosts to complete its life cycle, Ryce explained. It starts in a Bryozoan, a moss animal similar to a freshwater sponge. The Bryozoan releases the parasite that fish absorb through their gills. Similar parasites have caused internal bleeding and kidney failure in whitefish in other outbreaks, such as the ones in Idaho. But the Yellowstone outbreak is different, Ryce said. There are so many spores being found inside the fish that the scientists are calling it a naive reaction. What we mean by that is that the immune response that the fish are expressing would suggest that they have not been exposed to this parasite previously, she said. That has concerned us since it would suggest its a new infection. At least we havent seen anything on this scale previously. The other thing thats concerning is from the histology results there were high numbers of parasites seen in multiple tissues. That suggests to us that the infective load thats currently out in the river is very high. Why thats a concern is that the sheer volume of parasites thats out there makes it very easy for the parasite to be spread to other waters. Thats the reason FWP took the unusual step to close down much of the upper river to recreation, Horton said, calling it a very dramatic step that we took. Its also why the agency is stressing that the best way to fight the spread of the parasite, along with other aquatic invasive species, is to clean, drain and dry all boats and fishing equipment. FWP crews will continue to search for dead and dying fish in the Yellowstone River and its tributaries like the Stillwater and Boulder rivers to try to determine the extent of the outbreak. I hope we can continue to work together, recognizing that the long-term objective is to protect this valley and the river, Gov. Bullock said. Yet Ryce noted that FWP staff doesnt expect the parasite to disappear, even with colder water temperatures and higher river flows. However, if the fish are given time to adapt they may build up some immunity to the parasite and recover. BHP Billiton, the worlds largest mining company, this month announced a 201516 financial year loss of $US6.4 billion, the second largest on record for an Australian-listed firm. Once known as the Big Australian, before its 2001 merger with Anglo-Dutch giant Billiton, BHPs plight is a symptom of the declining fortunes of Australian capitalism. The result stands in stark contrast to the $21.7 billion in underlying profit for 201011, which was both the peak of BHPs earnings and global mining commodity prices. Back then, the companys shares traded at around $40 a share and the firm had a market value of $200 billion. BHPs shares are now worth just over $20, a loss of almost $100 billion in valuation. Apart from asset write-downs, the companys underlying cash profit for 201516 was $1.2 billion, but this is still a far cry from the 201011 bonanza. This years cash profit was the lowest since the 2001 merger with Billiton, and the overall loss was the first posted since BHP Billiton was formed. BHPs reversal underscores the depth of the world slump and the particular vulnerability of Australias economy, following the implosion of the mining boom. It also highlights the brutalities, and insanities, of the capitalist mode of production. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) business reporter Stephen Letts commented: The wealth destruction has been on an epic scale. Every major decision made by BHP since Chinas slowdown triggered a sudden glut on global mining and energy markets had exacerbated the companys problems. Much of BHPs predicament is directly attributable to the post-2011 rout in the prices of the commoditiessuch as iron ore, coal, copper, uranium, and both conventional and shale oil and gason which the firms super-profits were once based. But the losses were magnified by the companys responses to the downturn, including buying over-priced mining projects as the boom began to unravel, and ramping up production of iron ore. The mounting problems were compounded by a catastrophic dam collapse at the Samarco iron ore mine in Brazil. Worse may be to come. The company booked after-tax charges of $7.7 billion related to the Samarco disaster, global tax issues and the reduced value of its US shale oil assets, but greater write-downs may be necessary. Last Novembers dam collapse at BHPs Samarco joint venture with Brazilian-based firm Vale released 60 million cubic metres of potentially toxic water and waste, causing widespread destruction. At least 19 people were killed and hundreds more made homeless. There was outrage over the lack of warnings given to residents after the dam burst and revelations that Brazilian authorities had issued reports in October 2013, just before renewing the mines licence, of the danger of a dam breach. Because of the slump in global commodities, Vale and BHP had sought to boost their profitability through increased production. Output at the Samarco mine rose by 37 percent during 2014, and prosecutors were reportedly investigating whether that affected the dams volume. According to the Australian Financial Review, the financial markets were heartened by a settlement with the Brazilian government in March that would limit BHPs share of reparations to about $1.35 billion. But the validity of that settlement is being challenged by a $48 billion lawsuit by victims, and the mine remains shut, so the total cost of the disaster remains unclear. As well as making multi-billion losses on US shale projects and other major asset purchases, BHP and its main rivals, such as Rio Tinto, worsened the iron ore price plunge by ramping up production in a bid to eliminate smaller operators with higher production costs. In the four years to December 2014, BHP, Rio and Fortescue, a medium-sized Australian producer, boosted their iron ore outputs by 25 to 40 percent, adding 248 million extra tonnes to already glutted world markets annually. Iron ore prices crashed from $190 a tonne in early 2011 to below $40 earlier this year. They are currently around $60, but investment bank Citi is the latest finance house to warn that such prices are not sustainable, as the latest Chinese stimulus packages abate. Oil likewise dropped more than 75 percent from $125 to $30 a barrel over the same five-year period, before recovering slightly to around $50 with analysts now predicting another slide because worldwide supply exceeds demand. BHP remains badly exposed to commodity and currency swings. On BHPs figures, a $1 a tonne movement in iron ore prices equates to $148 million of profit. For oil, $1 a barrel change delivers a $52 million impact. The companys management is under intense pressure from the financial markets. Standard & Poors cut the companys credit rating to A from A+ this month and warned it might downgrade the rating further if the company failed to take more steps to boost its dividends. Briefing investors and analysts in London, BHP CEO Andrew Mackenzie said he was disappointed, really disappointed by the big loss. He tried to put a positive spin on the year ahead, claiming commodity prices were no longer in free fall. Mackenzie boasted that the company had cut unit cash costs by 16 percent from 201415 and expected to reduce them by another 12 percent in 201617. MacKenzie declared that he was driving a culture of higher collaboration and commitment to get more people coming to work with a real can-do attitude. What this actually means is slashing the jobs and conditions of workers and contractors. In last years annual report, the company said it had eliminated nearly 17,000 employee and contractor jobs, or 14 percent of its global workforce, during 201415, taking the numbers to their lowest levels since 2011. No similar figures were provided during this months profit briefing, but the job destruction has continued, making workers pay the price for BHPs debacle. On June 3, for example, Samarco, the mothballed BHP-Vale joint venture, said it would launch a voluntary layoff program with the aim of cutting 40 percent of its 3,000 employees. This will only add to the immense social cost of the dam disaster. On June 22, without specifying precise job cuts, BHPs coal division told investors it was pushing for a 30 percent improvement in people productivity over the next five years. That would mean output per worker at the groups Australian mines would rise by a third, from 265,000 to 350,000 tonnes a year, by 202021. BHP said it would seek greater workplace flexibility via new enterprise agreements with the trade unions, which have imposed all the companys cuts. In response to MacKenzies commitment to an extreme focus on productivity and cost-cutting, the companys share price rose immediately after the record loss announcement. However, renewed falls in commodity prices could send the shares diving again, throwing BHP Billitons survival into doubt. 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 campaign in Germany for domestic repression and war is assuming ever more openly racist forms. Last Friday, the federal and state interior ministers of the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) spoke out in favour of a partial ban on the burqa and niqab during their so-called Berlin Declaration. Since then, politicians and the media have intensified their agitation against Muslim citizens and refugees. In an interview with Bild am Sonntag, Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere defended the partial burqa ban and other law-and-order measures proposed in the Berlin Declaration, including the expansion of state surveillance, the militarisation of the police and the domestic deployment of the German army (Bundeswehr). We reject the burqa, said de Maiziere, It does not fit in with our cosmopolitan society. The interior ministers of the CDU/CSU were agreed that we want to establish a legal requirement to show your face where it is necessary to coexist in our society. Being fully veiled was an affront to an open society as well as anti-women. He wanted everyone in our country to show their face. If de Maiziere and the state interior ministers have their way, the burqa and niqab will be banned in many spheres of daily life, and violations of the ban would be interpreted as a petty crime. The ban would apply in schools, institutions of higher education, day care facilities, the entire public sector, in the courts, in record and registry offices, at passport and border control, at demonstrations, public transport and anywhere that identification is necessary and required. De Maiziere knows very well that the virtual complete banning of the burqa that he intends is incompatible with the constitutionally-guaranteed rights of freedom of religion and the unhindered practicing of religion. He excluded an all-out ban of the burqa by stating, One cannot just ban everything that one opposes. I dont want my burqa ban to be defeated in the Federal Constitutional Court. The niqab or burqa, like other religious symbols or pieces of clothing, have nothing progressive about them. But anyone who wishes to cover their face for religious reasons has a right to do so. The state is prohibited from evaluating such religious beliefs on the part of its citizens or even to describe them as right or wrong, the Constitutional Court ruled in 2015 in the so-called headscarf ruling. Despite this, German Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) publicly supported the interior minister. In an interview with the newspapers of the Editorial Network Germany, Merkel made clear that she viewed the full veiling of Muslim women as a barrier to integration. From her point of view, a fully-veiled woman hardly has a chance to integrate in Germany. With the partial ban now proposed, the issue is a complex political and legal matter of consideration. The minister of the interior has her full support in his efforts to resolve it, said the Chancellor. Merkel and the interior ministers are being openly supported by sections of the Green Party. The chairman of the Greens parliamentary group in the Saarland state parliament, Klaus Kessler, said he viewed the banning of the full veil in state institutions as the right step. It was in the spirit of integrating people of Islamic belief into our cosmopolitan society, Kessler declared on Monday in Saarbrucken. In the private sphere and in the general public, a legal ban [was] not justifiable. But the burqa was in contradiction with equality between men and women and therefore in contradiction with our value system. While the Left Party officially opposes the burqa ban, it supports the reactionary politics bound up with it. Sahra Wagenknecht, the chair of the Left Partys parliamentary group in the federal parliament (Bundestag), regularly agitates against refugees and calls for more police. That sections of the government and opposition are now openly undermining basic rights and German courts now sanction thison Tuesday a court in Osnabruck refused to allow a Muslim woman to wear her niqab at schoolunderscores the rightward shift of the ruling class. The World Socialist Web Site has long warned that with the return of Germany to an aggressive foreign policy, all of the historical filth would re-emerge: racism, chauvinism and outright hysteria are once again methods of official politics. In a disgusting lead article in Saturdays issue of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, co-editor Berthold Kohler declared the burqa to be the new symbol for a state which has already shown itself to be far too open and powerless when it comes to its borders, whose representatives preach to the citizens that the influx of migrants (including those with strange customs) has to be accepted in a liberal society as the price of an otherwise beneficial globalisation. But ever fewer Germans are prepared to accept this assertion, proclaimed Kohler. Now the state must, especially with such a symbolic issue like the burqa, go to the limits of what is permitted by the constitution. Kohler appealed for a general ban on the veil, as exists in France. But this could not be enforced with fines alone. When confronted with the burqa, and the spiritual views for which it stands, one can be truly safe only when we dont allow them in the country. Tomas Avenarius had already declared in the Suddeutsche Zeitung, The burqa ought to be banned. Unlike Kohler, Avenarius based his attack on basic democratic rights in a supposed struggle for womens rights. The full veil was not a legal problem, according to Avenarius. It was the negation of a modern Islam and the German model of society by one and the same piece of cloth, and it reduced the woman to eyes, uterus, and submission. The comments from Kohler and Avenarius underscore the real target of the hysterical agitation against the burqawhich is only worn by a tiny fraction of Muslims in Germany. Both regularly call for a strong state and the expansion of German military deployments in the Middle East where there is a Muslim majority. The demand for a ban of the burqa, justified by Kohler with racism and by Avenarius on the basis of womens rights, serves these reactionary ends. As the right-wing putsch against him intensifies, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been outlining his economic programme for government. Having won the support of an overwhelming majority of party members and supporters for his stated opposition to austerity and war, Corbyn has been stressing the difference between his policies and those of his opponents. Amongst the Labour right, and the corporate media that unanimously support Corbyns removal, his policy proscriptions are denounced as socialist and extremist. Even before the coup began in earnestimmediately following the Leave vote in Junes referendum on UK membership of the European Unionformer prime minister Tony Blair denounced Corbyns policies saying it would be a very dangerous experiment for a major Western country to get gripped by this type of populist policymaking, left or right. Blair is not alone in presenting the Labour leaders programme in such apocalyptic terms. While this speaks volumes about the hostility of the British bourgeoisie, and especially its Labour bureaucracy, to the working class, it by no means imparts any genuine progressive, much less socialist content, to Corbyns prescriptions. Corbyn routinely proclaims that he is for a new politics, but this amounts to only a handful of limited reformist measures that do nothing to challenge the stranglehold of the super-rich over societythe first necessary step in effecting any real redistribution of wealth towards working people. Despite the claims of his detractors, Corbyn never identifies his policies as either socialist or anti-capitalist. In May, at a state of the economy conference in London, he argued in favour of a genuinely mixed economy of public and social enterprise, alongside a private sector with a long-term private business commitment, which would provide the decent pay, jobs, housing, schools, health and social care of the future. He added, Wealth creation is a good thing: we all want greater prosperity. But let us have a serious debate about how wealth is created, and how that wealth should be shared. The BBC said, Corbyn set out his desire to reform capitalism and said his party needed to deliver the new economy that this country needs. This was underscored by another speaker at the event, Corbyns closest ally and Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, who said Labours aim in government was the fundamental business of reforming capitalism. Since then, in the face of the right-wing onslaught, Corbyn has watered down even this tepid perspective. In an interview this month with the Conservative supporting Sunday Telegraph, Corbyn restricted himself to arguing in favour of a top rate of income tax of 50 pence, the same rate, he said pointedly, as existed under Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Even this was a temporary exigency forced upon the then Labour government in the wake of the 2008 crash, as a means of diverting from the vast sums of taxpayers funds that were being pumped into the banks in the interests of the corporations and super-rich. Even on corporation tax, Corbyn limited himself to favouring a 1 percent rise, which would still leave the UK with one of the lowest rates in the world. The Labour leaders talk of public ownership and democratic social control is similarly vague, and confined to public transport. Privatisation has created a major crisis in this area, especially in rail, where it has been used to hike up fares and push through attacks on workers conditions, while enabling massive public subventions to the private operators. But all Corbyn sets out is a plan of waiting until the numerous rail franchises expire and then bringing them under government control. Even were this policy enacted, it would still leave around two thirds of lines privately run after the first term of a future Labour government. Such has been the calamity resulting from rail privatisation, which has resulted in massive economic disruption to major arteries of the economy, that this move chimes in with the interests of a section of the ruling elite. Corbyn said this month that even some Tory politicians are now joining us in calling for Southern rail [a private franchise] to immediately be brought under public ownership. In the current leadership contest, forced by the right as part of their efforts to remove him, Corbyns main pitch has been a 10-point programme to rebuild and transform Britain. This centres on investing 500 billion in infrastructure, manufacturing and new industries backed up by a publicly owned National Investment Bank and regional banks, for an economy that works for all. The plan would allow good businesses to thrive, and support a new generation of co-operative enterprises. McDonnell boasted that this is endorsed by some business groups, such as the Confederation of British Industry. Such fiscal stimulus policies have gained traction amongst sections of the ruling elite following the surprise vote to Leave the EU. The Bank of England is again pumping vast sums of public money into the economy, while the Conservative government is speaking of abandoning its target for deficit reduction. But the recouping of such investment demands an increase in the exploitation and impoverishment of the working class. This week Corbyn launched further policies, including the abolition of the House of Lords and its replacement with an elected second chamber. Speaking at a rally Sunday, Corbyn proposed citizens assemblies that would extend democracy in every part of public life: in national politics, communities, the economy and the workplaceand in our own party. He described this as a democratic revolution in our politics, communities and workplaces, in contrast to decisions in Britain, which are overwhelmingly taken from the top down. And thats crucial to why our country is run in the interests of a privileged few. Corbyn never explains the class character of the system he describes. Instead of a capitalist class which owns and monopolises the major economic levers of society and who are represented by the political elite in Westminster and political parties which defend capitalism, Corbyn refers only to the millionaires and privileged few at the top, who can be checked via a democratic revolution. Social class, however, is determined not by the scale of wealth, but by the relationship of social layers to the basic economic structure of society. In this, Corbyn echoes US Senator Bernie Sanders, who, before endorsing Hillary Clinton for the presidency, claimed that he was fighting for a political revolution against a billionaire class. The purpose of such terminology was to divert attention from the economic system on which obscene levels of personal wealth are based, so as to channel social opposition behind the Democratic Partythe political representative of this billionaire class. Corbyn himself has described his policies as hardly extremist, Marxist, left stuff. On this basis, some are urging Labours right wing to tone down their attacks on him, and put aside threats to split. This was the substance of the call made this week in the Guardian by Mark Seddon, the former editor of the Labour left Tribune newspaper and a former communications aide to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon. Calling for Labour MPs to back Corbyn if he wins Septembers leadership vote, Seddon reassured them that descriptions of his programme as hard-left were nothing of the sort. It [Corbyns programme] more resembles a mild form of social democracy which has had its echoes in Guardian editorials for almost as long as I have been a reader. Labours right wing and their supporters in the British bourgeoisie are fully aware that this is the case. After all, the Labour Party accommodated him for 30 years on its backbenches without any overt conflict. What is most important from the standpoint of the political education of workers and youth is that even the mildest suggestions of social reform cannot be tolerated. This is because it is not Corbyn that the Labour right, and the likes of media oligarch Rupert Murdoch, fear. Rather they fear the growing discontent among masses of workers and young people of which his election was a product. This is the starkest confirmation that the defence of the most basic social conditions and democratic rights cannot be achieved through Labour, which is a right-wing, bourgeois party, committed to the interests of British capitalism. The central issue placed before the working class is the building of a genuine socialist and internationalist party of the working class that fights for the revolutionary overthrow of capitalism on a global scale, as the necessary basis for a socialist society. Junior doctors remain defiant against the planned imposition by the ruling Conservatives of a regressive contract for all doctors below consultant grade in the National Health Service (NHS) in England. However, this opposition continues to be curtailed by the junior doctors committee (JDC) of the British Medical Association (BMA), under conditions in which the contract is to be enforced from early October. Junior doctors rejected an agreement reached between the BMA and the government on a revised contract in May, after further industrial action was suspended. This followed five rounds of nationwide strikes that started in January. In April, this culminated in doctors walking out in the first ever all-out strike in the nearly 70-year history of the NHS. The result of the ballot, announced on July 6, recorded a 58 percent majority against acceptance. This was based upon a participation rate of over two thirds of those eligible to voteapproximately 37,000 junior doctors. This forced Dr. Johann Malawana, the chair of the JDC, to resign. Malawana had recommended the inferior deal after fraudulently claiming the government had been forced to respond to doctors grievances. Those junior doctors who turned to social media to voice their opposition were accused of scaremongering. The rejection of the deal was a vote of no confidence in the BMA. The BMA used materials jointly agreed with the Department of Health and NHS employers to promote the deal in 120 roadshows held across the country. The agreement between the BMA and government left intact the bulk of the attacks on unsocial payments for weekend working, with Saturday and Sunday between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. reclassified as normal working days and nightshift rates reduced, along with the elimination of automatic pay progression. The removal of these entitlements is aimed at paving the way for the government's seven-day service, without any commitment to additional NHS funding. This can only lead to a further overstretching of services and overworking junior doctors. The response of health secretary Jeremy Hunt to the doctors throwing out the deal was to announce the imposition of the contractthe nuclear optiona threat made consistently throughout the negotiations. Hunt praised Malawana and claimed that the government had achieved a historic settlement in the interests of patients and the NHS. He then put the onus on the BMA to whip junior doctors into line, stating, it had stirred up anger amongst its own members it is now unable to pacify. That such a widely reviled health secretary, most closely associated with the ruling elites mission to privatise the NHS, could make such claims is an indictment of the BMA. It committed itself to ensuring a cost neutral agreement that served to conceal the real implications of the contract and its connection to the undermining of the NHS for patients and health workers. Only after standing down and abandoning junior doctors to their fate has Malawana decided to say anything approximating the truth. In a July open letter to Hunt, he stated that the government is responsible for dismantling the NHS and referred to it being starved of funding, with a population in desperate need of health care. Despite the unprecedented move by the government to impose an inferior contract, Malawanas interim replacement as JDC chair, Ellen McCourt, continues the false narrative that the dispute is not political. McCourt was elected by other JDC members on July 6. In her speech to a BMA conference in late June, she stated, The BMA is an apolitical organisation; we campaign and lobby without political bias attacking individuals on a personal level diminishes our power, our leverage and brings them down to their [politicians] level. McCourt has moved to silence opposition to the capitulation of the BMA, in order to head off a rank-and-file rebellion while invoking the cause of unity. This is why Hunt welcomed her appointment as BMA head, enthusing over the constructive discussions with her during the negotiations. The record of the BMA demonstrates that the only politics that are truly excluded is that based upon the independent interests of the working class and a broader mobilisation against the governments assault on the NHS. The BMA has been unable to placate its membership because Hunt and the government would not retreat on the regressive contract, which is aimed at setting a precedent for tearing up the terms and conditions of over a million NHS workers. The no politics policy is aimed at the disenfranchisement of an oppositional movement that has been provoked by over eight years of non-stop austerity and rising social inequality since the world financial collapse of 2008. The resistance of junior doctors is part of a broader renewal of the class struggle in which workers are coming forward to fight. Many health workers recognise that unless the rot is stopped, future generations will be condemned to a life of social misery. The defence of even the most basic terms and conditions brings workers into conflict with the trade unions, which have completed their transformation into appendages of management, the corporations and government. For all the talk about accountability and putting the interests of BMA members first, the immediate response of McCourt and the JDC was to stall the mandate their members gave to take forward the fight against the government. Instead, the BMA conducted a survey, which closed on July 25, under the pretext of establishing what type of further industrial action would be supported. It included the option, according to McCourt, of whether members wanted to be involved in implementing the new contract. Finally, McCourt announced that on August 11 that the JDC executive had made a formal request for a special meeting of the BMA Council to authorise a rolling programme of industrial action to start in early September. This action is proposed to go ahead just a month before the contract is to be enforced. A vital cover for the BMAs betrayal is provided by a left member of the JDC, Dr. Yannis Gourtsoyannis. He portrays the BMAs belated and token gesture of industrial action as the trade union dispute of this century. Gourtsoyannis is promoted by the pseudo-left Socialist Party and Socialist Workers Party because this empty tub thumping offers a free pass to the Labour and trade union bureaucracy who have refused to lift a finger as the government has taken on the junior doctors. Gourtsoyannis position on the deal in May is thoroughly unprincipled. He, along with fellow left JDC member Pete Campbell, called for the contract to be rejected but sought to counteract any movement by the rank and file. Their joint blog claims that gains had been made, while simultaneously acknowledging that even the minimal standards junior doctors would accept had been reneged upon. They called for junior doctors to get back behind the BMA bureaucracy, stating, By voting No we affirm that there is room for significant improvement to the present offer. We are absolutely confident the BMA, backed by its members, will be able to extract those improvements from the government over the coming months. This has only served to demobilise junior doctors as the government moves closer to imposing the contract. The junior doctors dispute confirms the analysis of the Socialist Equality Party, and its NHS Fightback initiative, that there is no cost neutral solution to austerity or a non-political defence of the NHS for patients and the workers who provide its services. The fight to defend access to health as a social right must be based on a socialist perspective to break the domination of the financial and corporate elite over economic and political life. In November 2010, Haiti held a first round of presidential elections in which no candidate received an absolute majority. The leading candidates were Mirlande Manigat, an academic and widow of politician Leslie Manigat; Jude Celestin of outgoing President Rene Prevals Inite party; and Michel Martelly, a musician with ties to members of the Duvalier regime. Preliminary results showed that Manigat and Celestin would advance to the second round, but there were accusations that Inite, then in power, had committed fraud. The Organization of American States (OAS) and US State Department intervened, and in an equally suspect count of first-round ballots insisted that Martelly had placed second, ahead of Celestin. Then-US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice threatened a cutoff of US aid to Haiti if Celestin did not withdraw from the second round in favor of Martelly, and also threatened Preval with exile. In the March 20 second round, which saw voter turnout of only 23 percent, Martelly beat Manigat. Martellys five-year presidency was characterized by corruption, the reconstitution of the Haitian army, and the de facto cancellation of municipal and legislative elections. Mayors were appointed by Martellys central government instead of being elected, and during his final year, there was no parliament. One of Martellys final acts, in December 2015, was to create by decree an unregulated offshore banking center on the island of La Gonave. The efforts of Hillary Clintons State Department to manipulate the 2010-2011 elections in favor of the comprador Martelly are shown in the e-mails released by the State Department under the Freedom of Information Act. Like the e-mails as a whole, they reveal not extraordinary actions, but ordinary, day-to-day discussions among officials doing the business of US imperialism, in this case, running Haiti like a colonial possession, which it is in all but name. Many of the e-mails are heavily redacted, but nonetheless reveal maneuvering by Cheryl Mills, then-Ambassador to Haiti Kenneth Merten, his predecessor Thomas Adams, US embassy Political Officer Pierre Antoine Louis, embassy political counselor Peter Kujawinski, and others. Among the e-mails is one from Deputy Chief of Mission David Lindwall to Merten and Kujawinski with the subject Out of the box thinking on elections. The State Departments .pdf of this e-mail thread includes large boxes of blanked-out text and a page marked in bold: Page Denied. Merten was an assistant to Condoleezza Rice prior to his appointment as US Ambassador to Haiti by Barack Obama. In an interview this month, he admitted to a reporter from Le Nouvelliste that Martelly turned in his US Legal Permanent Residence card at the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince in 2011. The Haitian electoral law in effect at the time stipulated that candidates had to have lived in the country for five years before being elected; Martelly was therefore ineligible to be president when he was installed by the international community. In a December 8, 2010, e-mail with the subject Private Sector + Mulet: Celestin Should withdraw, Merten wrote to Mills, Adams, and Lindwall that I have called Martelly camp telling them that he needs to get on radio telling people to not pillage. Peaceful demo OK: pillage is not. In an e-mail thread started by a Jean-Lucien Cantave that was forwarded to Merten by Kujawinski, Martelly is said to have declared that his mission was to get Haitis people out of misery by bringing in investments and that he did not intend to stir away from his goal. Martelly was later known for his slogan Haiti is open for business, and one of his prime ministers, Laurent Lamothe, cynically touted the vacations of wealthy tourists as a tourism of solidarity. A May 2015 article in Le Nouvelliste, titled Edmond Mulet, the Proconsul, described the OAS and UN machinations after the first round of voting. Mulet, a Guatemalan diplomat, was at the time the head of MINUSTAH, the UNs occupying force in Haiti. Ricardo Seitenfus, a Brazilian law professor and OAS Special Representative to Haiti, wrote about attending an emergency meeting at Mulets house on the day of the election. Seitenfus wrote that the accusations of fraud, which were announced before noontime, seemed to have been prepared long before the election. In fact, the room at the Hotel Karibe where 12 of 18 opposition candidatesincluding Manigat and Martellyaccused Inite of fraud had been rented well in advance of the election. While waiting for the meeting to start, Mulet told Seitenfus, Ive just telephoned Preval to inform him that a plane will be at his disposition for leaving the country within 48 hours. As the meeting progressed, Seitenfus realized that the position of Mulet was [also] that of several ambassadors of important countries. Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive arrived and, before asking whether Preval would be allowed to finish his term, remarked that it would be interesting if there were at least one Haitian in a conclave that will decide the future of Haiti. The clearest indication of the US role is in a January 29, 2011, e-mail from Laura G. (whose last name and e-mail address are not given) to Cheryl Mills. The e-mail refers several times to the solution of putting Martelly in the second round and allowing Preval to stay in power in the meantime. The writer tells Mills that she needs to counter what appears to be a building up and potential unifying of opposition parties, that this solution is in usg best interest, and that IC [the international community] for many here equals USG. Laura also states that confidentially - i met with Mullet (sic) yesterday andhe thinks that somehow the mms [Michel Martelly] solution and RP [Rene Preval] staying will be accepted by all. She then advises Mills, I think you need enhance message outreach strategy w Haitian surrogates. Mills did just thatenhanced the message outreach strategyby giving Clinton a message frame for a speech the next day, in which reality was turned on its head: Clinton was advised to say that the votes of the people of Haiti must be counted fairly. In a second thread based on the same original e-mail and available in the Wikileaks archive, Kujawinski dismissively calls public opinion the flavor of the month and callously asks, remember when nobody could stop talking about Duvalier? Now, hes barely mentioned even though hes still here. The second round of presidential elections was held on March 20, 2011, and the Clinton e-mails show how closely the State Department monitored the vote counts afterward. In a March 24 e-mail to Mills, Adams, Merten and others, Political Officer Pierre Antoine Louis included such details as: 34.19% of presidential, 24.02% of senatorial, and 35.53% of Chamber of Deputies proces-verbaux had been counted (a proces-verbal, or PV, is a summary of votes from a polling station). Attorneys were taking about 5 minutes to review legislative PVs and 6-7 minutes on each presidential one. In the same chain, Shamim Kazemi in the State Departments Office of the Haiti Special Coordinator wrote that a CEP spokesperson held a press conference today at the CTV: no information unkown to us was presented, but it was a positive step towards having more transparency for the public. Mills then wrote to Kazemi, Louis, Adams, Merten, and others, asking, what is our own sense of what should be done? Louiss response in the same chain is heavily redacted. The Clinton e-mails also document the State Departments and MINUSTAHs manipulation of legislative election results as votes were counted in April 2011. An e-mail from Merten to Mulet on April 21, for example, expresses anger that Haitis Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) had decided in favor of Inite in the vote tallies for 17 seats. Merten coldly writes that it looks like our friends in the CEP may have made another misstep. Mulet responds by offering to arrange a meeting of foreign diplomats that same afternoon. One e-mail that is not redacted is from Mills to the band of conspirators on March 20, as the polls were closing on the second round, gloating that you do great elections. And make us all look good. Controversy erupted last week over the decision of the Vietnamese government to dramatically scale back a planned Australian commemoration at the site of the August 18, 1966 clash that is called the Battle of Long Tan by Australian military historians. The engagement, in which 18 Australian troops and several hundred Vietnamese fighters were killed, has become the focus of annual ceremonies marking Australias involvement in the Vietnam War. In 1987, August 18 was designated Vietnam Memorial Day. Since 1989, Vietnam has allowed small groups of 20 to 40 people, mainly veterans, to gather at a small cross that marks the battlefield in what was once Phuoc Tuy province of South Vietnam. In 2002, it allowed Australian veterans organisation to erect a small monumentone of the only memorials to foreign troops who fought in the country. Vietnam has always insisted, however, that no flags, uniforms or medals be displayed, and that any commemoration be kept low key. It was not until the 40th anniversary in 2006 that Vietnam allowed the playing of the last postthe bugle salute to fallen soldiers. Three million Vietnamese died as a result of the war by US imperialism and its allies, including Australia and New Zealand, to shore up a puppet government in the south of the country against the national liberation movement dominated by the Vietnamese Stalinist party. More bombs were dropped on North and South Vietnam by American aircraft than were used by all sides during the Second World War. Chemical defoliants, including Agent Orange, have left a legacy that includes three million people affected by illness and generations of birth defects. Any hint of Australian imperialism celebrating its alleged victory at Long Tan would be certain to provoke outrage in Vietnam, especially among the families of the war dead. Disregarding Vietnamese sensitivities, the Australian political establishment planned major activities for the 50th anniversary of the battle, as part of the broader four-year glorification of Australian military exploits that began in 2014 around the centenary of World War I. Under conditions in which Australia has participated in the neo-colonial wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and is allied with the United States in escalating preparations for a military confrontation with China and Russia, the Australian population is being subjected to constant propaganda about the heroes who gave their lives for the nation. Attempts are being made to indoctrinate youth in particular to be uncritical of the real motives behind wars and deferential to the military. In regards to Vietnam, the ever-more prominent commemorations of the conflict, in which 521 Australians died and 3,000 were wounded, have been accompanied by systematic attempts to justify the war itself. School text books baldly assert that Australia joined the US intervention to defend Asia from the spread of communism, not the truth that it was assisting Washington to suppress the legitimate anti-colonial struggle by the Vietnamese people. Events marking episodes in the Vietnam War exclude the reality that by the late 1960s, millions of Americans and Australians had come to view it as a shameful, imperialist enterpriseincluding large numbers of the soldiers who had been sent to fight in it. The legacy of the bitter experience was immense public hostility to any involvement in overseas military interventions and operations. The ruling class has had to make strenuous efforts to overcome that anti-war sentiment, especially through the war on terrorism propaganda of the past 15 years. In part reflecting the protracted political rehabilitation of involvement in the conflict, as many as 3,500 Australians and New Zealanders, including hundreds of surviving veterans and the children and grandchildren of veterans, travelled to Vietnam for the 50th anniversary of Long Tan. (New Zealand also had troops involved in the battle.) Crews from Australian television stations were on hand, including a team from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) filming a documentary on the events. In Australia itself, coverage of the anniversary was typified by an ABC feature that gloated How 100 Australians held off 2,000 Viet Cong and hailed the battle as a decisive victory. Organisers intended for a mass gathering at the battlefield monument, which is situated inside a farm and surrounded by corn fields. The service at the site was to coincide with ceremonies at war memorials across Australia and to be followed by a gala dinner and a concert at a luxury hotel. Anniversary caps, badges, T-shirts and even beer mugs, among other souvenirs, were being sold by vendors in the streets of the nearby town of Vung Tau. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the Australian visitors, some of whom had paid thousands of dollars for Long Tan Trek Tours, had packed the towns bars and restaurants. One can only imagine the questions being asked in Vietnam in response to the spectacle. Would speeches be made glorifying the killing of hundreds of Vietnamese fighters? Would the US government be next, demanding to commemorate its purported victories in its war on the Vietnamese people? According to most reports, permission for the commemorations had largely been worked out with local authorities. On August 16, the Vietnamese national government intervened and notified Australian officials that the ceremony would not be allowed to proceed. A Vietnamese source told the Sydney Morning Herald: They dont want to see triumphalism. The actions of the Hanoi authorities were greeted with arrogant indignation by the Australian government. Minister for Veteran Affairs Dan Tehan declared: For us to be given such short notice of the cancellation is, to put it in very frank terms, a kick in the guts. In fact, the Australian government and veterans organisations had known for a considerable time that there was tremendous unease in Vietnam about the scale and character of the commemorations. Harry Smith, who commanded the company at the centre of the battle, D Company of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, told the ABC on August 19: It was mentioned some weeks ago when I was in Canberra that Hanoi was a bit worried about the number of people expectedlike 3,000and it was getting too much, too big, getting out of hand. In comments to the Sydney Morning Herald, Smith expressed sympathy for Vietnams stance: The way its turned out is that Long Tan has been advertised on tickets and advertised on brochures and various things, which is what the Hanoi government said [was] not to happen. Its happened and therefore theyve pulled the blind down. In the end, Vietnam made some limited concessions after frantic appeals by Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. It allowed a wreath to be laid at the cross and groups of up to 100 people to gather at the monument for short periods. Access was sealed off after several hours, however, and the concert was cancelled. The gala dinner proceeded at the upmarket hotel but no speeches were allowed. Malcolm Turnbull complained the following day that only 700 of the Australian and New Zealand visitors had been admitted to the site and asserted that the Vietnamese governments decision to change the rules literally the day before was very unreasonable. In the final analysis, the angst of Turnbull and others in the Australian establishment stems from the fact that Vietnams actions disrupted their plans to exploit the anniversary of Long Tan for contemporary purposes. They were prevented from using imagery of Australian veterans at the battle site in the same way they used the April 25, 2015 Anzac Day commemorations on the beach at Gallipoli in Turkeyas patriotic propaganda about a mythical Australian military prowess and to justify past and present wars. Incredibly, at the main commemoration of Long Tan held at the War Memorial in Canberra on August 18, two US Air Force B-52 bombers were flown over the service. The indiscriminate strategic bombing of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos by B-52s claimed the lives of uncounted numbers of civilians and ranks among the greatest war crimes committed during the conflict by US imperialism and its allies. Following last weeks threats by Washington to attack Syrian government war planes bombing US-backed Kurdish forces in the northern Syrian town of Hasakeh, Turkey has launched artillery barrages against both ISIS fighters and Kurdish militia in and near the Syrian border town of Jarablus. Turkey claims shells that fell Monday on its border towns of Karkamis and Kilis were fired by ISIS forces occupying Jarablus. In addition to retaliatory shelling, Ankara is assembling a force of some 1,500 Syrian rebels in the Turkish city of Gaziantep, which was hit by the suicide bombing of a Kurdish wedding Saturday that killed at least 54 people and wounded dozens more. Turkey has blamed ISIS for the atrocity. The state-run Anadolu Agency reported that Turkey had increased security on its border opposite Jarablus, deploying tanks and armored personnel carriers. The rebel force in Gaziantep is expected to cross into Syria with the aim of breaking ISIS control over Jarablus and at the same time preventing the Kurdish-led, US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces from filling the resulting power vacuum. This latest explosive turn in the tangle of shifting alliances and conflicts among the global powers intervening in Syria threatens to bring Turkey into direct conflict with Washingtons chief proxy force in northern Syria, the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units, or YPG, which is the backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Earlier this month, the SDF, backed by intensive and deadly US air support, drove ISIS out of the strategic town of Manbij. This alarmed the government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which is waging a brutal war against the Kurdish separatist Kurdistan Workers Movement (PKK) within Turkey. It fears that the YPG victory in Manbij will further consolidate a de facto Kurdish enclave in northern Syria that is being set up with the tacit support of the United States. Turkey and the US, NATO allies, are increasingly working at cross purposes in Syria, further frustrating Washingtons central aim in the horrific war it has inflicted on the country, the removal of the pro-Iranian and pro-Russian regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the installation of a US puppet government. The looming confrontation in Jarablus follows Turkeys accusations of US complicity in the failed military coup of July 15, Erdogans turn to a rapprochement with Russia and Iran, and Ankaras softening of its opposition to Assad. It also coincides with the visit today of US Vice President Joseph Biden to meet with top Turkish officials under conditions that were already fraught with tension. The New York Times on Tuesday quoted Nasswer Haj Mansour, an SDF official on the Syrian side of the border, as saying the forces gathering in Turkey included terrorists as well as Turkish Special Forces. A statement from the SDF declared that we are prepared to defend the country against any plans for a direct or indirect occupation. Abdel-Sattar al-Jader, a rebel commander aligned with the SDF, was killed late Monday shortly after broadcasting a statement proclaiming the formation of the Jarablus Military Council and pledging to protect civilians in the town from Turkish aggression. Al-Jader was shot by unidentified gunmen. The Military Council subsequently blamed his murder on Turkish security agents. Haj Mansour said two suspects were in custody but would not reveal their identities. There is an evident convergence between the expanding attack by Turkey on Kurdish forces in Syria and the more aggressive posture of the Assad regime toward the YPG and SDF. Last week, after six days of fighting between the YPG and Syrian troops and pro-government militia in Hasakeh, which has been split between the two camps since the early days of the Syrian civil war, the Syrian Air Force for the first time bombed YPG positions. That move was apparently in response to an attempt by the Kurds to drive the pro-government forces out and take control of the entire city. Just how explosive and potentially catastrophic the situation in Syria is, and how reckless the policy of Washington, was demonstrated by the US response. Claiming that some of its Special Forces troops embedded with the Kurdish militiacompletely illegallywere endangered by the government bombing, the US scrambled jets to confront the Syrian warplanes, setting up a possible military clash with the Russian-backed Syrian forces. Pentagon spokesmen followed with threats of US retaliation in the event of further bombings. Lt. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend, who on Sunday took over command of US and allied operations in Syria and Iraq, told CNN, We will defend ourselves if we feel threatened. That the increasingly conflicted and complex situation in Syria could quickly escalate into a far greater and more bloody conflagration, possibly involving nuclear exchanges between the US and Russia, is shown by the deployment in Hasakeh on the side of the Syrian government of both Iranian and Hezbollah forces, and the presence of British and French, as well as American, Special Forces within the Kurdish-led SDF. On Tuesday, Syrian state media and the Kurdish Hawar News Agency both announced the implementation of a cease-fire in Hasakeh, evidently brokered by Russia. However, while the Kurdish statement said government forces had agreed, as part of the cease-fire terms, to withdraw from the town and leave it under the control of the local Kurdish police force, the Syrian statement made no mention of a withdrawal. There were other indications of a moderation of the animus between the Assad regime and Turkey. On Friday, the Syrian militarys General Command, in an evident concession to Turkey, released a statement referring to the Kurdish Asayesh internal police in Hasakeh as the military wing of the Kurdistan Workers Party. Turkey has long pressed Damascus to declare the Syrian Kurdish forces to be an extension of the PKK. From the other side, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, speaking to foreign media Saturday in Istanbul, spelled out a shift in Turkeys posture toward Assad, saying for the first time that while Assad could not be part of a long-term solution to the crisis in Syria, Ankara was willing to accept a role for him in a transitional government. At the same time, Yildirim stressed that Turkey would intervene more actively in the Syrian crisis and would not permit the country to be divided along ethnic and sectarian linesan implicit criticism of US policy toward the Syrian Kurds. Within this explosive mix of great power brigandage and conflicting geo-political interests, which in general is becoming increasingly unfavorable to the realization of Washingtons imperialist aims, the US is preparing to escalate its military violence. On Monday, the new US commander, General Townsend, said Washington would step up its operations in support of its proxy forces as they prepared offensives to retake Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria from ISIS. He said the escalation would include intensified air and artillery strikes and increased efforts to equip and train local forces. He left open the possibility of an enlargement of the US troop presence in the two countries. Socialist Equality Party (US) presidential candidate Jerry White issued this statement on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Welfare Reform, signed by President Bill Clinton in 1996. SEP presidential candidate Jerry White on impact of Welfare Reform CUBA The big island of Cuba, the last communist bastion in the Western Hemisphere, is an intriguing place. Ernest Hemingway set his glorious 1952 novel The Old Man and the Sea in pretty Cuba. And an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation over the deployment of Soviet missiles there in 1962 between President John. F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev came within a whisker of sparking a nuclear World War III over Fidel Castro's island. Patria o Muerte, Venceremos! (Homeland or Death, we shall overcome!) is still the official state motto. No wonder people want to go visit. Warming relations between Cuba and the United States in the past year have prompted the first tourist cruise ship trip in 50 years when the Fathom vessel Adonia arrived from Miami for a weeklong visit in May. The ship was full of dignitaries, business leaders, Cuban exiles, well-heeled tourists looking for exotic adventure and Decatur's Becky Luka, the owner of the Tour Group Planners travel agency. Luka took the opportunity to go so she could scope out the scene for her clients and offer them tours (Tour Group Planners is launching a Cuba tour in January, prices start at $3,800 for a nine-day cruise.) And so while much of Cuba's native population may be impoverished a typical wage is $20 a month the tourists who travel there from the decadent West won't find the going cheap. But it could be worse. Luka said a sales meeting on the ship to discuss prices and noted an ocean view berth for a couple in peak winter season could run to more than $8,000. I was actually kind of shocked, she said. Some of the pricing reflects the complexities of travel to a destination that is not like booking a week at Disney World. The rules allowing newly permitted tourist visits say they have to fall within certain guidelines, such as having an educational and cultural focus. This limits what visitors can do and where they can go Cuba's beautiful beaches are off limits, so far and commercial players in the island travel market are also limited, which effectively limits hectic competition on price. So is it worth it? The Decatur travel agent said it most definitely is. Visiting Cuba is an experience, Luka said. She said you go back in time to see colonial-era buildings in faded glory and get a sense of what tropical, exotic places looked like before they were carpet-bombed with American fast-food joints and strip malls. Parts of Cuba are dilapidated and crumbling, parts are stunningly beautiful, but it's all authentic. Oh, and those '50s cars in Havana, they were really neat, she added. The American Chevys and other refugees from the era of rock 'n' roll were left behind when former dictator Fidel Castro finally shot his way to power in 1959. His brother Raul Castro now runs the country. And everywhere you go, according to Luka, the people are welcoming. Her closely shepherded tour returned to the boat each night, but they ate in local restaurants and did get a chance to meet some of the native population while putting in at three different ports: Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba. I wasn't sure what to expect, but the people were very friendly, very pleased to see us, Luka said. Once they heard you are from America, they were like 'Oh thank you, thank you, thank you for coming.' Other Decatur travel businesses are also getting their feet wet in the Cuba market, and one of them, Ticket-n-Trips, recently had a couple of clients head out there on a cruise, and they loved it. Yeah, they just had a wonderful time, had a great time, said Stephanie Ramsey, Ticket-n-Trips office manager. They said the people were very friendly, everybody was very accommodating and everything went very smoothly; no complaints. They said it was like taking a step back in time. She thinks the Cuban government will continue to try to limit change and head off any future frontal assault by American name brands and fast-food joints, if only because being quaint and different is Cuba's ace in the hole. That's going to be their appeal, she added. Ordinary Cubans, however, appear more than happy to receive any little bits of the capitalist West visitors might care to bestow on them. Some cruise visitors on that historic and first Adonia trip handed out little wrapped bars of hotel soaps, others distributed pencils with erasers. Luka said some of the locals come up to you expectantly hopeful you might have something for them, and she has some advice for visitors: Take plenty of miniature U.S flags as offerings. She said that when her cruise ship arrived, passengers were given 10-inch Old Glory and Cuban flags to wave at the dockside crowds waving enthusiastically back at them as the vessel docked in Havana. And the Cubans really wanted our U.S flags, she said. Somebody tried to give them the Cuban flag and they said, 'No, no, I want that one, I want your U.S flag.' AUBURNDALE, Fla. (AP) - Authorities say a central Florida man is dead after a woman he met through online dating set him up to be robbed. Local news outlets report that 27-year-old Adam Hilarie was found dead last week at his Auburndale home. Police say Hilarie went on a date last Thursday with 18-year-old Hailey Bustos after the two met on the dating site PlentyOfFish. Hilarie brought the woman back to his apartment that night, but police say she returned the next evening with three other men to steal electronics. Detectives say someone shot Hilarie in the head. Records show Bustos, 26-year-old Andre Warner, 31-year-old Gary Gray and 26-year-old Joshua Ellington each face murder and robbery charges. Jail records didn't list attorneys for them. (Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) DELRAY BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Police have arrested a Florida man they say pushed his girlfriend and cut her with glass after she declined to kiss him goodnight. Records show 59-year-old Rudolph Battaglia was in the Palm Beach County Jail Tuesday following his Aug. 19 arrest on charges of battery and aggravated battery. The Palm Beach Post (http://pbpo.st/2bfiCus ) reports the couple argued after he asked his 54-year-old girlfriend for a goodnight kiss, and she said she'd already kissed him. The arrest report says Battaglia shoved her onto the bed, broke a crystal decoration and held up a piece of glass while threatening her. Deputies say the woman was cut on her left thumb when he slammed the glass on a table. Jail records don't list a lawyer for Battaglia. (Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) MIDLAND, Ga. (AP) - Officials are investigating a school bus crash that left the bus driver dead and several children injured in west Georgia. Multiple news agencies report the crash happened Monday morning near Aaron Cohn Middle School in Midland. Columbus Fire Department spokesman Ricky Shores says the school bus carrying seven children was headed to Mathews Elementary School when it ran off the road and hit a tree. The cause of the crash remains unclear. Major J.D. Hawk said the bus driver, identified as 67-year-old Roy Newman of Columbus, and two students had to be extricated from the bus. Officials say all of the children and Newman were taken to the hospital. Newman later died. An autopsy will be performed. Authorities did not release details about the conditions of the children. (Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) DECATUR, Ga. (AP) - A man convicted of killing another man outside a suburban Atlanta preschool was sentenced at retrial to life in prison without parole. Marcus Garner of the DeKalb County Prosecutor's Office says Hemy Neuman was convicted Tuesday of malice murder and possession of a firearm while committing a felony. Neuman also was sentenced five years, to run consecutively, on the gun charge. Prosecutors said Neuman killed Russell "Rusty" Sneiderman in November 2010 so he could be with Sneiderman's wife Andrea, with whom he was having an affair. Andrea Sneiderman repeatedly denied the claims. Another jury later convicted Sneiderman of perjury and she spent time in prison before being released. Neuman was previously found guilty but mentally ill in Rusty Sneiderman's death, but the Georgia Supreme Court reversed that conviction, citing a violation of attorney-client privilege. (Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - A South Florida boy has survived a brain-eating amoeba that kills most people who contract it. Florida Hospital officials in Orlando said Tuesday that 16-year-old Sebastian DeLeon came to the hospital two weeks ago complaining of a headache and sensitivity to light. Hospital staffers are trained to look for the amoeba since another boy died from it there previously. Officials say the infection has a fatality rate of 97 percent. It's often contracted through the nose when swimming in freshwater. Doctors lowered the teen's body temperature, induced a coma and gave him a drug that isn't readily available at most hospitals. Luck was also on his side since the drug's manufacturer is based in Orlando, and a shipment got to the hospital quickly. He is expected to recover with therapy. (Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) GADSDEN COUNTY (WTXL) - A former hospital employee, accused of brawling with a disabled patient, was arrested Tuesday according to deputies. Attorney General Pam Bondi's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Gadsden County Sheriff's Office said the fight occurred in April when other employees said that 29-year-old Alashi Lurry was in the patient's room talking to another employee. The employees told investigators that the patient was already agitated before Lurry came into the room and her presence only made it worse. The patient told her to leave and both her and the employee she was talking to ignored the patient. According to investigators, the patient got mad and allegedly hit Lurry. Employees managed to restrain the patient when she then ran over to kick and punch the patient in the face. The employees also told investigators that she kept trying to go back into the patient's room to fight multiple times. She was a former employee for Gadsden County Florida State Hospital. Lurry has been charged with one county of abuse of a disabled adult, a third degree felony. LOWNDES COUNTY, GA (WTXL) - Animal services in Lowndes County have started warning pet owners about rabies exposure. Lowndes County Animal Services said that three cases have been reported over the last year. On Aug. 1, two dogs were exposed to rabies by playing with a rabid bat. They also said that vaccinations are vital to prevent rabies infections in your pets. If you come in contact with a bat, you are asked to call the Lowndes County Health Department at (229) 245-2341. DECATUR Richard A. Rodgers, a 33-year-old Effingham man, pleaded guilty Friday in Macon County Circuit Court to one count of aggravated driving under the influence of drugs for causing a head-on collision resulting in the death of Justin L. Baker of Shelbyville, a husband and father of two children. Rodgers, who has been held in the Macon County Jail on $1 million bond since his arrest on Aug. 11, 2015, is facing three to 14 years in prison, to be determined by a judge at his sentencing hearing Oct. 13. The accident occurred at 7:40 p.m. Aug. 6, 2015. 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, 34, a Kroger store manager at Fairview Plaza. Baker was pronounced dead at the scene. Baker's 4-year-old son, a passenger in his car, was transported to HSHS St. John's Hospital in Springfield by medevac helicopter with life-threatening injuries. His spleen was surgically removed, and he suffered a head injury. Several witnesses called in to 911 to report that the SUV Rodgers was driving was all over the roadway, said a police affidavit. Blood drawn from Rodgers revealed the presence of opiates, THC (active marijuana ingredient), barbiturates, oxycodone, tricyclic and Ativan. Assistant Macon County State's Attorney Nichole Kroncke, presenting the factual basis of the case at the hearing, said toxicology report showed Rodgers had a morphine blood concentration of 220 micrograms per liter, more than five times the amount to cause impairment. An Illinois State Police expert witness would have testified at his trial that he had profound impairment due to heroin intoxication. An eyewitness reported that Rodgers' vehicle entered completely into the victim's lane, both vehicles went airborne and spun around before landing. As part of the plea agreement, three felony counts were dismissed: aggravated DUI, causing bodily harm to the child; and two counts of aggravated driving with any amount of drugs in blood or urine, causing death and great bodily harm. Earlier this year, five school districts in Yakima County ESD 105, Sunnyside, Grandview, Mt. Adams, Zillah looked for new superintendents, with the majority hiring outside consultants to aid in the search. Combined, the five spent nearly $50,000 in expenses such as search firm hiring fees, food, hotels, airfare, travel and other expenses. (Photo illustration by SHAWN GUST/Yakima Herald-Republic) You are the owner of this article. Scenes from a brush fire burning on the Yakama Nation reservation near Tule Road southwest of Granger, Wash. on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016. The bla DECATUR The Decatur School District had good news to share on the budget at the school board meeting Tuesday. Chief Operational Officer Todd Covault presented a tentative budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year and the state of Illinois is expected to fund public schools at 100 percent of the general state aid, in contrast to the last several years of prorated funding. The district should receive $45 million in general state aid this year, which is $2.4 million more than last year, he said. We hope for a $2 million surplus (in the budget) this year, he said. The 1-cent sales tax increase that voters approved in 2010 for facilities is not bringing in as much revenue as it was three years ago, but with full state funding, there's a good chance the board can avoid the difficult decisions required by budget cuts this year. The reality of school funding is that we don't know until April, when the state decides if they can pay it all, he said. They might say, 'We don't have enough to pay this because we gave it to somebody else.' However, based on the appropriations, he is hoped that won't happen. Property tax revenues are also expected to be a little higher this year, thanks to quadrennial reassessments, which should be an increase of about $34,000 to the district. Losses due to a decrease in the poverty grant and the corporate personal property replacement tax are offset by the increase in general state aid. Overall the district should be able to expect a $2 million increase. The public hearing on the budget is set for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 27, with a vote on the budget at that day's meeting. In other business, the board formally approved reinstatement of the adult education program, approved the annual budget for the Macon-Piatt Special Education District and the purchase of Apple iPads and MacBooks for students and staff. Due to damage and loss, Ed Moyer, chief instructional officer, the district has about a 10 percent loss rate on the devices since beginning the 1-to-1 computer-to-student program at Eisenhower High School three years ago, which has expanded to students at MacArthur High School. During board discussion time, board member B.A. Buttz asked about the interim co-superintendent situation, which was originally intended to end in August. No motions or votes can be held during discussion time, but the board members present generally agreed to place on the agenda for a future meeting an offer to interim co-superintendents Mike Dugan and Bobbi Williams to remain in their jobs through the school year while a search for a permanent superintendent is conducted. Submit An Obituary Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death. Go to form 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. ROME - A strong earthquake brought down buildings in mountainous central Italy early on Wednesday, trapping residents and sending others fleeing into the streets, with at least 37 people believed killed. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The quake struck in the early hours of the morning when most people were asleep, razing homes and buckling roads in a cluster of towns and villages some 170 km (105 miles) east of Rome. The emergency services released an aerial photograph showing swathes of the town of Amatrice flattened, while debris filled the streets of nearby Accumoli. : X "Now that daylight has come, we see that the situation is even more dreadful than we feared, with buildings collapsed, people trapped under the rubble and no sound of life," said Accumoli mayor Stefano Petrucci. Wide cracks appeared like open wounds on the buildings that were still standing. Residents were sifting through the rubble with their bare hands before emergency services arrived with earth-moving equipment and sniffer dogs. Residents were sifting through the rubble with their bare hands before emergency services arrived with earth-moving equipment and sniffer dogs. The quake hit during the summer when the populations of the towns and villages in the area, normally low during the rest of the year, are swelled by vacationers. The quake hit during the summer when the populations of the towns and villages in the area, normally low during the rest of the year, are swelled by vacationers. Destruction in Amatrice (Photo: AFP) A family of four, including two boys aged 8 months and 9 years, were buried when their house imploded. Rescue teams used heavy equipment to try to clear the wreckage, but there was no indication they had survived the disaster. Police said two people were known to have died in the nearby village of Pescara del Tronto. Some 100 people were still unaccounted for in the village of Arquata del Tronto and two bodies were removed from the debris in Amatrice. "Three quarters of the town is not there anymore," Amatrice mayor Sergio Pirozzi told state broadcaster RAI. "The aim now is to save as many lives as possible. There are voices under the rubble, we have to save the people there." Destruction in Amatrice (Photo: AFP) A Reuters reporter said the town's hospital had been badly damaged by the quake, with patients moved into the streets. RAI reported that two Afghan girls, believed to be asylum-seekers, were also missing in the town. The earthquake caused damage to towns in three regions - Umbria, Lazio and Marche. Destruction in Amatrice (Photo: Reuters) The US Geological Survey, which measured the quake at 6.2 magnitude, said it struck near the Umbrian city of Norcia, while Italy's earthquake institute INGV registered it at 6.0 and put the epicentre closer to Accumoli and Amatrice, the two towns that appeared to be hardest hit. Destruction in Amatrice (Photo: Reuters) The damage was made more severe because the epicentre was at a relatively shallow 4 km below the surface of the earth. Residents of Rome were woken by the quake, which rattled furniture, swayed lights and set off car alarms in most of central Italy. Destruction in Amatrice (Photo: AFP) "It was so strong. It seemed the bed was walking across the room by itself with us on it," Lina Mercantini of Ceselli, Umbria, about 75 km away from the hardest hit area, told Reuters. Olga Urbani, in the nearby town of Scheggino, said: "Dear God it was awful. The walls creaked and all the books fell off the shelves." Destruction in Amatrice (Photo: Reuters) INGV reported 60 aftershocks in the four hours following the initial quake, the strongest measuring 5.5. Italy sits on two fault lines, making it one of the most seismically active countries in Europe. Destruction in Amatrice The last major earthquake to hit the country struck the central city of L'Aquila in 2009, killing more than 300 people. The most deadly since the start of the 20th century came in 1908, when an earthquake followed by a tsunami killed an estimated 80,000 people in the southern regions of Reggio Calabria and Sicily. ISTANBUL -- Turkish Special Forces units and jets, supported by warplanes from the US-led coalition, launched an operation in northern Syria to wipe out ISIS militants along the Turkey-Syria border, Turkish officials said. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The Turkish army began firing artillery rounds into the Syrian border town of Jarablus around 1:00am GMT, while Turkish and US warplanes struck Islamic State targets with airstrikes as part of the operation, Turkish military sources said. Photo: Reuters White and grey plumes of smoke rose from atop hills in northern Syria, Turkey's CNN Turk television showed, in footage broadcast live from the Turkish town of Karkamis across the border from Jarablus. The sounds of artillery fire were clearly audible. Turkish military sources said a ground incursion has yet to start, but a group of Turkish Special Forces had entered Syria under cover of Turkish and US-led coalition jets and Turkish artillery, which has struck more than 60 targets. "The aim of the operation is to ensure border security and Syria's territorial integrity while supporting the US-led coalition against ISIS," one military source said, adding work to open a passage for ground forces was underway. Turkey had vowed on Monday to "completely cleanse" ISIS militants from its border region after a suicide bomber suspected of belonging to the group killed 54 people at a Kurdish wedding in southeastern city of Gaziantep. Turkish air and artillery strikes against ISIS X Turkey is also concerned about the growing influence of Syrian Kurdish militant groups along its border, where they have captured large areas of territory since the start of the Syrian war in 2011. Ankara sees them as tied to the Kurdish militants fighting an insurgency in Turkey. At least nine mortar shells from Jarablus had landed into Turkish border town of Karkamis and nearby on Tuesday, forcing many residents to flee the town, a Reuters witness said. The Syria operation also came as Syrian rebels backed by Turkey had said they were in the final stages of preparing an assault from Turkish territory on Jarablus, aiming to preempt a potential attempt by Syrian Kurdish YPG militia to take it. Pre-empting Kurdish Forces The Kurdish YPG militia, a critical part of the US-backed campaign against ISIS, took near complete control of Hasaka on Tuesday. The group already controls swathes of northern Syria where Kurdish groups have established de facto autonomy since the start of the Syria war. Their growing influence has alarmed Ankara, which is fighting its own insurgency against militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party or PKK, who officials blame for an escalation of attacks in the southeast of Turkey. Ankara is focused on preventing the YPG or its allies from building on recent advances against ISIS by capturing Jarablus. The US-backed Syria Democratic Forces alliance (SDF), including the YPG, captured the city of Manbij, just south of Jarablus, from ISIS earlier this month. Photo: AFP Turkey is still in shock after a failed July coup by rogue solders who tried to overthrow President Tayyip Erdogan and the government, killing 240 people and triggering a purge of suspected coup supporters in the army and civil service. Angered by a perceived lack of Western sympathy over the coup, Turkey has chilled ties with Washington and the European Union while ending a diplomatic row with Russia and proposing more military cooperation with Moscow in fighting ISIS in Syria. Those growing ties between Ankara and Moscow are worrying Turkey's Western allies. Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said this week that northern Syria should not become the domain of one group and that a "secure zone", an internationally policed buffer area Turkey proposed in vain in the past, should be reconsidered. A Syrian rebel with one of the Turkey-backed groups said that fighters were waiting for the signal to enter Jarablus and a second rebel said around 1,500 fighters were now gathered at a location in Turkey to take part. Some 200 tons of crude oil leaked on Tuesday into the Gulf of Eilat from a fuel storage facility at the Aqaba Port, Jordanian media reported. Officials are concerned the oil spill will make its way towards Israel. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter After receiving the report of the spill from its eastern neighbor at around 4pm Tuesday, Israel has offered its assistance to the Jordanians, but so far the kingdom has chosen to handle the spill on its own. Israel's Foreign and Environmental Protection Ministries are in constant contact with the Jordanians and are prepared to provide aid in the form of equipment and manpower, if asked. The oil pipe that burst in Aqaba, causing the spill The winds in the area are currently pushing the oil spill towards Saudi Arabia, but Israel is prepared in case the wind changes direction. Environmental Protection Ministry inspectors are closely monitoring the oil spill and examining the effects it could have on the shores of Israel's southernmost city of Eilat. Environmental Protection Minister Ze'ev Elkin was in Eilat on vacation when the spill occurred, and has been managing the crisis from there. "If you want proof that at this point, everything is fine on our endtomorrow morning you'll find me with the family at the beach here," Elkin said. The chair of the Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company, Erez Halfonwith the help of Minister Elkin and Foreign Ministry Director-General Dore Goldhas offered the help of his company's engineers to the Jordanians. Halfon said that the two nations must join forces in order to mitigate the damage to the Gulf of Eilat, and that his company's engineers have the required knowledge, skill, expertise and equipment to handle such a spill. DECATUR As he talked to people throughout the community, City Librarian Rick Meyer kept hearing the same question: How can the Decatur Public Library help with economic development? On Tuesday, Meyer and representatives from multiple organizations revealed a new tool that could help answer that question. It's called DemographicsNow, and it allows existing and potential business owners to conduct market research they need, for free and on their own schedules. To get this information could cost you thousands of dollars as an individual entrepreneur, Meyer said. Partners in the endeavor include public libraries in Forsyth and Mount Zion, whose cardholders can also access the tool; Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County; city of Decatur; Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce; Millikin University; Richland Community College; the village of Mount Zion; the Mount Zion Chamber of Commerce; and Mount Zion Economic Development Office. The partnership helped spread out the roughly $12,000 cost among multiple entities. It is also meant to help ensure that the database gets used. It helps us promote this resource to the people who need it and can most benefit from it, and hopefully I think it opens doors for us to work together on projects, Meyer said. The database uses Experian and other sources to help answer questions about the demographics and purchasing habits of certain areas. For instance, users can target a specific area to find out how much people living there spent on certain types of goods, such as furniture or breakfast food, in the previous year. The tool is available on the Web for anyone with a library card at the Decatur, Mount Zion or Forsyth libraries, or people can visit the libraries to use it. Richland officials plan to offer training sessions. After Meyer saw a demonstration of the tool last year, he approached EDC President Ryan McCrady, who was excited by the concept. But McCrady thought the benefit could be expanded even further, which led to the involvement of the other libraries, educational and business entities. McCrady said the database provides a great way for budding entrepreneurs to gather the market research they need to present to banks and financial backers, and to design their business plans. It also can allow existing companies to identify target areas to expand or increase promotion. A big plus is that the business owners can use DemographicsNow on their own schedules. During the day, they're busy running their business, and they have to be able to get this information when they have time to look it up. That's what's really nice about this, McCrady said. We'd love for them to come to the libraries but if they can't, they can still get the information and consume it in the way that's easiest for them. Elizabeth Bondie, a sales representative for Cengage Learning, which offers the database, said public libraries across the country are using it to turn outward and build relationships in their communities. For instance, in Phoenix, a police department is using the tool to determine where to station Spanish-speaking officers. In Mount Prospect, Ill., local business owners who attended a recent training were brimming with enthusiasm for the power of the database and detailed information it gave them. It really is such a robust resource, she said. DemographicsNow is one of multiple online educational resources that are available to Decatur Public Library cardholders, Meyer said. Others include the Chilton Library, a database of auto reference manuals for a spectrum of cars, trucks, vans and SUVs; Gale Courses, online classes covering a variety of subjects; and Mango, an online language-learning system. The library's website is decaturlibrary.org. Officials from the Israeli Civil Administration on Tuesday rescued a fawn that was being illegally held by Palestinians near the Qalqilya area in the West Bank. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The fawn was discovered Tuesday afternoon during a patrol near the Eliyahu border crossing. Avichai Yitzhaki, a supervisor with the Samaria Civil Administration, along with soldiers from the 55th Artillery Battalion, found the fawn in the Efrayim district in an illegal structure used by Palestinians for holding sheep. X Yitzhaki knew that holding the animal was against the law as a permit is required to possess wildlife. He contacted the National Parks Authority of the Civil Administration and transferred the startled fawn to them. After an examination of the fawn, it was determined that because it was raised by humans, its chances of survival in the wild are slim. As such, the fawn will be transferred to a petting zoo under veterinary care, where it will undergo further tests to determine proper health. Rescued fawn Rescued fawn undergoing examination "Beyond the fact that this was a violation of the law, this animal was condemned to be raised in a petting zoo as opposed to nature, where it belongs. We are finding more animals that are being held illegally," said Moti Sheffi, director of the Samaria Nature Reserves Department at the Civil Administration. An international charity completed on Wednesday an operation to remove 15 animals rescued from the Gaza Strip's main zoo, dubbed "the worst in the world." Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The Khan Younis zoo X Four Paws, an animal welfare group, will resettle the animals from the Khan Younis zoo abroad, where they will be given a chance to live a better life. The rescue was announced last week. The baby deer died shortly before the exodus (Photo: Four Paws) The removal of the animals precipitated the closure of the zoo. Most of the animals are headed to Jordan while a tiger will be resettled in South Africa. Four Paws received assistance from the Safari in Ramat Gan, which provided the cages used to transfer the tiger, and from Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) and the Israeli border authority. The tiger is heading to South Africa (Photo: Four Paws) The rescued animals include five guenon monkeys, an emu, a pelican, a porcupine, two ostriches, turtles and a deer. The team initially had two deers, but one, a baby deer, died ahead of the evacuation. A guenon monkey heading to his new home (Photo: COGAT) This tragic incident shows how urgent the emergency situation at Khan Younis really is, Four Paws vet and mission leader Dr. Khalil said. The supply situation and infrastructure are in such a bad state that the animals lives are at high risk. We need to get them out of here urgently. The Khan Younis zoo has made headlines in the past for the difficult conditions under which the animals are forced to live. A turtle being removed from the zoo (Photo: COGAT) "Due to their poor condition and the inability to keep the animals at the Khan Younis zoo, we were asked to assist and coordinate the transfer of the animals to zoos abroad," said Uri Madar, the agriculture coordinator in the Coordination and Liaison Administration for Gaza. "Over the past two years, we've transferred five adult lions, young lions, a horse and other animals." Crates carrying the animals being loaded onto trucks (Photo: COGAT) A truck carrying the animals on its way out of Gaza (Photo: COGAT) "In recent years, we transferred dozens of animals from the Gaza zoo to better care elsewhere in Israel and abroad," said Shlomo Zaban, the director of the Erez Border Crossing. "We view this activity as an important mission, and we do this out of the desire to aid these animals, that were not receiving the proper care in their last home." Gilad Paz, an Israeli citizen and human rights activist who openly supports the Boycotts Divestments and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, has applied for asylum in Canada, claiming he was the victim of political persecuted because of his position. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter "I am politically persecuted in Israel. I realized that people like me have no place in the country, so I decided to leave before it's too late," Paz said in an interview with Ynet. Upon landing at the airport in Montreal on August 11 Paz, a lawyer dealing with human rights and labor law, immediately submitted a formal request for political asylum. In addition, he was active in the human rights organization Amnesty Israel as well as left-wing political party Meretz. Gilad Paz An independent lawyer, Paz has represented Arab-Israeli clients and Palestinians from the territories. "I haven't believed in the State of Israel for a long time," said Paz. "I believe that the Zionist idea was a fundamental mistake and we are paying a heavy price for it today. The original sin was the Nakba, and later the despicable occupation of 1967 and the deterioration of the situation. I support BDS because I don't think Israel understands any other language." According to Paz, he decided to leave Israel and apply for asylum in Canada due to pressure from Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan and Interior Minister Aryeh Deri against BDS activists. "I submitted the application as a result of the declaration by Erdan and Deri to deport and refuse entry to BDS activists with foreign citizenship. I decided to turn to Canada because they are the most open to requests for political asylum," explained Paz. "Erdan and Deri don't like people like me as much as they don't like foreigners, but when it comes to a person like me, who is a citizen of Israel by birth, they have a legal problem which makes it difficult for them to deport me by force, he continued. "It's been said that people like me will pay the price, and from what I understand by public statements made by the minister, there is now a legal team at the Ministry of Strategic Affairs which is looking for all sorts of ways to hurt people like me legally whether by criminal or civil methods. I'm very curious, but on the other hand, I am not a masochist. As such, I decided not to wait for Israel to make that decision, but rather took preemptive measures," Paz added. In his asylum application, Paz claims that he suffered political persecution in Israel because he is a BDS activist and he is afraid to go back to Israel with the current political makeup of the country. "My family doesn't really accept my decision. They don't hold the same opinions and don't support my agenda," Paz admitted. Following his request for asylum, Canadian authorities have allowed him to enter the country and set a hearing before a judge at the end of next month. Until then, he is authorized to travel within Canada, but not to leave, as his passport is with local authorities. Addressing the accusation that he is a traitor to his country, Paz replied, "Israel is a democratic country. I am not obliged to adopt the agenda of the State of Israel like some sort of parrot. I understand that there is brainwashing here that the entire world is against us. We all saw the NGO law that targeted friendly countries who support human rights such as the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. Everyone is an anti-Semite, everyone hates us. I am an Israeli that believes there is another way. I left this country and I will only come back when there is a drastic change in policy." Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan (Photo: Moti Kamchi) "In many countries around the world boycotting Israel has been outlawed with trangressors facing a steep price to pay, such as commerce penalties. As such, it is obvious that within Israel, there needs to be a cost to the people who slander Israel around the world and support a boycott," the minister added. Turkey's state-run news agency says Turkish tanks have crossed into Syria as part of a military operation to free a border town held by the Islamic State terror group. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Turkish forces enter Syria (: ) X In its report Wednesday, Anadolu Agency did not say how many tanks had entered Syria. It based its report on unnamed military sources. Turkish forces on Syrian border (Photo: EAP) Private NTV television said as many as 20 tanks had crossed into Syria. It said clashes were taking place at the border. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday afternoon that the objective of the operation was to put an end to the repeated attacks launched against Turkey and to extricate ISIS and the Kurdish PYD from the spheres of combat. The effort comes as part of an operation led by a US-led coalition in northern Syria to wipe out ISIS militants along the Turkey-Syria border. Turkish forces fire mortar shells at ISIS targets (Photo: AFP) Turkish Interior Minister Efkan Ala said that the operation was intended to restore security to Turkey, which has suffered a wave of successive terror attacks, and that Ankara cannot simply sit with its arms folded in the face of escalating violence on the border. It is Turkeys legal right to act. Turkey had vowed on Monday to "completely cleanse" ISIS militants from its border region after a suicide bomber suspected of belonging to the group killed 54 people at a Kurdish wedding in southeastern city of Gaziantep. A soldier was lightly wounded in a stabbing attack at a junction on Highway 60 near Nablus on Wednesday afternoon. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Scene of attack (: ") X Palestinians were hurling stones from a travelling vehicle on a section of the highway between Kedumim and Yitzhar, hitting the windshield of a military vehicle and prompting troops from the IDF's Nahal Brigade to chase after them. Rock thrown suring attack During the chase, the Palestinian car made a U-turn and found itself blocked by the military vehicle, causing it to stop. The soldiers, who got out of the military vehicle, called on the two Palestinians in the car to come out. Scene of the attack (Photo: Judea and Samaria Hatzalah) The driver, who claimed he doesn't speak Hebrew, alighted the vehicle and stabbed a soldier in the neck. The stabbed soldier then shoots the stabber dead, neutralizing him. Rock hurled at military jeep The soldier was treated at the scene and then evacuated to Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva and was released shortly thereafter. That section of the highway was closed following the attack. Scene of the attack (Photo: Judea and Samaria Hatzalah) The attack marks the first terrorist stabbing in a period of relative calm after Israel was beset by a wave of terrorist shooting, knife and vehicular attacks which left dozens of Israeli civilians and soldiers dead or wounded in recent months. Israeli Foreign Ministry Director-General Dore Gold paid a secret visit Monday to a Muslim country in Africa which does not currently have any diplomatic contact with Israel. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Gold conducted the swift visit on his return to Israel from Guineaan African country which recently renewed diplomatic relations with Israel after 49 years. During his visit he also met with Guineas President Alpha Conde and a number of his ministers. Dore Gold with Foreign Minister of Guinea Alpha Conde The visit comes just one month after Gold visited Chadwhich cut off ties with Israel in 1972where he met with President Idriss Deby. The visits to Africa came as part of an effort to reestablish relations with countries which broke off all ties in the aftermath of the 1967 Six Day War. The conversations which took place in Guinea mainly centered on the struggle against terror, agricultural cooperation, health, the struggle against the Ebola disease for which Israel provides assistance, energy and water and mutual assistance in international forum. Gold and the foreign minister concluded an agreement setting the wheels in motion for nominating ambassadors. In July, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu embarked on an historic diplomatic tour of African nations including Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, and Ethiopia. When he was running for mayor, Sadiq Khan was accused of being anti-Israel. Now, he's being accused of being a secret servant of the Jewish state. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter These new accusations began after Khan, London's first Muslim mayor, gave an interview to The Guardian in which he attacked Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, expressing his support for Corbyn's opponent Owen Smith in the currently-underway party leader election campaign. Khan. London's first Muslim mayor is considered a strong opponent of anti-Semitism. (Photo: MCT) In the interview, Khan said Corbyn does not have the necessary qualities to lead a major party. This is not the first time Khan has clashed with his party's leader: He criticized Corbyn for not doing enough to eliminate anti-Semitism among the party's ranks when a number of scandals broke earlier in 2016 Khan's Guardian interview angered some Corbyn supporters, who started attacking the mayor on social media. Some of these attacks were tinged with anti-Semitism. For example, one man posted a photo of Khan wearing a yarmulke during a Passover event held by a British Jewish community, writing, "Who owns you, @SadiqKhan?" Another wrote, "@SadiqKhan was elected to serve the people of London, but instead he spends his time writing articles to help his masters in Tel Aviv." Khan is considered a supporter of Israel, and a tenacious opponent of anti-Semitism. He is opposed to the anti-Israel BDS movement, and attended a Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony on his first day as mayor. Turkey's president said Wednesday he planned to demand the extradition of the cleric accused of masterminding last month's failed coup during his meeting with US Vice President Joe Biden. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated frequent, earlier demands for the extradition of Fethullah Gulen during a speech in Ankara on Wednesday. Turkish authorities claim Gulen, who lives in Pennsylvania, was the mastermind behind the violent coup attempt that killed over 270 people. Gulen denies any involvement. BEIRUT/KARKAMIS - Turkish-backed Syrian rebels entered the Islamic State-held town of Jarablus in northern Syria on Wednesday in an operation supported by Turkish tanks, special forces units and US-led coalition warplanes, rebel sources said. A rebel commander with the Failaq al Sham group, who requested anonymity, told Reuters that most of the ISIS fighters in Jarablus had pulled out, some of them surrendering. Another commander estimated up to 50 percent of the town was now under the control of the Turkish-backed rebels. "Daesh (ISIS) fighters have withdrawn from several villages on the outskirts of Jarablus and are heading south towards the city of al Bab," the Failaq al Sham commander said. Belgian carrier Brussels Airlines has stopped handing out Ahva brand halva snacks on flights following a request by the Palestine Solidarity Movement. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The snack is produced in the Barkan industrial park in the West Bank on land the organization claims is "illegally occupied." The halva snack was discovered by a Palestine Solidarity Movement activist who was travelling from Ben Gurion Interantional Airport to Brussels and saw the product as a dessert option, realized it was produced in Israel, and told fellow activists to take action. The activists complained to the airline which quickly acquiesced to the request. The official reason given by the airline regarding the decision not to serve the product is because the product is produced on illegally occupied land in the West Bank. Brussels Airlines boycotting Israeli made halva "There are many companies which aren't aware of the conditions under which the products they are buying from Israel are produced," movement activists wrote in a statement. "The Belgian foreign ministry must intervene and monitor to make sure that there will be no trade with companies based in the settlements." Brussels airlines responded, saying "our company provides travelers with a vegetarian option, including dessert. On the Tel Aviv-Brussels line, the local catering company accidentally included a dessert called 'vanilla halva' which didn't comply with the food order we gave them." The company added that "the customer who came to us with the complaint brought to our attention that the aforementioned dessert is a controversial product. As a company which serves an international audience full of people from a wide rang of backgrounds and cultures, it is our responsibility to present products which will be amicable to all, and therefore, we decided to change desserts." Yaakov Malach, owner of the Ahva factory which produces the halva, said that "(our factory) is an ingathering of the exiles. Palestinians, Israeli-Arabs, Jews, Samaritans, and settlers all work here. Peace begins here, not from airlines. Peace comes from places where people work shoulder to shoulder. It's true co-existence. We work with most airline companies, and I'm happy that they (Brussels Airlines) is just a small company, and that this won't create a snowball effect. By the way, it's not definite that this company will stop working with us. Just because they told one tourist (that they would stop) doesn't mean that they'll stop buying from us." He continued, saying "those who don't want to buy from us will learn to get by without us. Despite all of the boycotts in Europe - the moment that the consumer decides that they like the product they'll buy it. The fact is that 20% of everything we make is exported, and we export at good prices." The annual Pro Farmer crop tour stepped off Monday with dozens of carloads of volunteer crop scouts wading into Midwestern corn and soybean fields to make their own judgment of the size of the 2016 crop. This perennial exercise draws considerable market attention, which is akin to the results of U.S. Department of Agriculture's monthly crop estimates. While they are amateurs and USDA crop enumerators are professionals, there is still a good opportunity for double checking to discover the relative size of the crop. What size of a crop would farmers like to see? They want record yields on their farm and breakeven yields on the farms of everyone else. Not that they want to out-yield their neighbor, but the potentially giant crop in the offing will result in small prices when it comes to settling up with the elevator manager. So the question that links every farmer and the crop tour participants is: Could this crop get smaller? The USDA has projected a record crop of 15.2 billion bushels of corn and a 4 billion bushel soybean crop. With projected consumption and use of that amount of bushels, the average price is forecast to range from $2.85 to $3.45 for corn and $8.35 to $9.85 for soybeans. While those will be less than the cost of production for most Central Illinois farmers who rent any farmland, the only hope of a higher price is fewer bushels being harvested. So again, could this crop get smaller? Agricultural economist John Newton, formerly of the University of Illinois and now with the American Farm Bureau staff said, While Eastern Corn Belt states represent less than 10 percent of total U.S. corn production, stress in these states increases uncertainty on the magnitude of final yield levels. As a result, a repeat of 2014 where final corn yields eventually retreat from their early harvest USDA estimates remains a possibility. Drought conditions in the Northeast Great Lakes region, and anecdotal reports of tip-back issues in corn, lend support to expectations for an eventual reduction in corn yields. It is too early to tell whether soybean yields will remain at these record high levels. You have read about tip-back here before, so there is no need to reprise that problem here in Central Illinois. But the Pro Farmer crop tour participants reported that problem was widespread in their early field checks in Ohio and South Dakota, where the routes began on Monday. There was no change on Tuesday, as the tour ventured in to Nebraska and Indiana. Knowing that tip-back is an issue in Illinois, they will likely see it today when they visit Illinois and Iowa before heading toward a final report session in Rochester, Minn. on Thursday. The final report will be issued by Pro Farmer on Friday. Newtons suggestion that the widespread drought in Ohio and eastern Indiana is also well documented, and the crop scouts are coming up with similar results as did the USDA crop enumerators at the outset of the month. So a yield reduction in the eastern Corn Belt still puts the USDA and Pro Farmer groups in sync with each other. The USDA calculated weights of corn ears, which were unusually heavy this year, guaranteeing a high test weight when the grain reaches the elevator. Even with the possibility of drying weather for the balance of the growing season, any reduction in ear weights wouldn't reduce the size of the corn crop to any extent, according to the multi-year analysis of University of Illinois agricultural economists Scott Irwin and Darrel Good. So there is no real help there in reducing the size of the crop. In the end, todays large crops will probably remain relatively large, and farmers will have to look to the market for revenue, despite low prices. But as the saying goes, the cure for low prices is low prices. The Israeli Supreme Court rejected the appeal of a Palestinian prisoner Wednesday who has been on a hunger strike for over two months, who asked that he not be attached to his hospital bed. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Bilal Kayed has continued his hunger strike since mid-June in protest against his continued administrative detention without new charges despite having completed his prison sentence. Protest outside Barzilai Medical Center (Photo: Barel Efraim) The 34-year-old Kayed, who was sentenced to 14 years in prison in Israel for activities he carried out for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) at the height of the Second Intifada, has been subsisting solely on water and vitamins. So dire did his situation become that he was taken to Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon where he was attached to a hospital bed by one leg. His defense teams request before the the Israeli Supreme Court that he be detached from the bed was rejected, with the court reasoning that partially hampering a prisoner was standard practice. The Israeli Physicians for Human Rights said that the decision "disappointing." "Bilal Kayed has been attached to his bed for many days now despite being hospitalized in an intensive care unit and despite his life being in danger," said the NGOs in a statement. According to the Palestinian NGO Addameer defending Kayed, he "suffers from respiratory problems and has vision and hearing impairments. He also suffers from severe headaches." Protest outside Barzilai Medical Center (: ) X Kayeds release from prison, which was due to take place in mid-June, was delayed after Israel decided to keep him in prison under administrative detention. As an emergency measure, Israel is legally allowed to suspend habeas Corpus and may detain a prisoner without charge or trial for a period of up to six monthswhich can be indefinitely renewed. Dozens of people turned up to protest outside the Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon a little over a week ago demanding Kayeds release. During the demonstration, participants called him a hero and even attempted to break into the hospital by force. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas recently made the decision to mark October 8th as the date on which Palestinian municipal elections in Gaza and the West Bank will be held. This decision comes at a time in which his popularity in the Palestinian territories is low and Palestinian society is experiencing deep division and despair. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter And Abbas is choosing this point in time to become a guardian of democracy and run against his hated rivals from Hamas, with all signs pointing to a Hamas victory. The Fatah leadership, which is worried about the predicted election hit, are blaming the PA president of handing the West Bank over to Hamas on a silver platter. Abbas is repeating his mistake from 2006, when he was forced by US leadership President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to conduct democratic elections. Hamas' decisive victory led to Abbas' and Fatah's eviction from Gaza and to the destruction of Palestinian society, not to mention the freeze in peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) leadership. The Palestinian people have been paying a heavy price ever since. PA President Abbas. Strange timing. (Photo: AFP) But this time, the US, the West, and the Arab world aren't taking part. This is Abbas' personal decision, over which his partners in the Palestinian leadership are puzzled. Abbas is insisting that the Palestinian people need democracy, but it appears that such a form of rule has a hard time living under the same roof as fundamentalist Islam. Even though the polls show that Hamas would gain strength from this act, and even though he's aware of the fact that his own Fatah party is at a very low point, Abbas is sticking to his guns on this one. Even Hamas' landslide victory in the student council elections at Birzeit University where Palestinian high society studies has not dissuaded him. A Hamas victory in these elections could be devastating to Palestinian society which could be dragged into internal struggles, eroding its strength and solidarity. The Palestinians may also lose international support. Jordan, Egypt, and even Saudi Arabia, which stand beside Abbas, may take a step back from their unwavering support of the Palestinians when it comes to peace negotiations with Israel. Let's not delude ourselves: These elections will not lead to a reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas. Abbas treats the Gaza-based terror organization as an enemy. He doesn't think twice about arresting Hamas political activists in the West Bank, and has even arrested the Hamas representative to the general election commission. Hamas sees Abbas the same way: He's hated by the organization's leadership, and their treatment of Fatah people in Gaza is no better than Abbas' treatment of their people. This rivalry is a zero sum game, and Hamas is currently poised to win big and politically conquer the West Bank. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ministers Lieberman, Bennett, and the rest would actually welcome a Hamas victory, in contrast to the PA president. As far as they're concerned, Abbas' fall would be an opportunity to keep the campaign of fear mongering the Israeli public going. After all, "Hamas and ISIS are the same." This victory would be another justification of the "we have no partner for peace" mantra that's been serving them well for so long. Hamas is expected to strongly win the upcoming elections. (Photo: AFP) The PA president still has time to climb off his high horse. If he desires the good of his people, he should find reasons to stifle Hamas' attempts at "democracy" and cancel these upcoming elections or at least postpone them to an unspecified date. He shouldn't have a hard time finding cause for such a move: A Hamas victory would harm the few connections Israel and the PA still have, as well as the PA's relationships with the more moderate elements of the Arab world. It would also strike a blow against the Palestinians' image as victims of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which would force Abbas to push out the municipal victors from Hamas anyway. He'd be better served stopping this mess from happening in the first place. Dr. Ronni Shaked is a researcher at the the Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. IsraAid, the Israeli international aid organization, will be sending a delegation of aid workers to assist the people affected by the flooding in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The eight person humanitarian delegation is slated to fly out to the areas affected by flooding by the weekend. They will help Louisiana residents return to their homes to collect personal effects, and help to begin the process of rehabilitating flooded out homes so that the Louisianans' lives that have been affected by the flooding can go back to normal. There have been more than 13 deaths attributed to the flooding so far, and over 60,000 homes have been affected by the flooding in the state. Flooding in Louisiana (Photo: AP) The delegation will be led by Naama Gorodischer, who currently serves as one of the heads of IsraAid programming. "We've been following how the storm and flooding have been developing over the last few days." Naama said." With the help of our local partners, we've been able to get a good situation report on the extent of the damage, and the urgent need for assistance and rehabilitation." "Our team will arrive in the field at the exact time that the water levels are expected to lower, which will enable us to start working immediately," she continued. The flooding in Louisiana is the result of a storm system which dumped rain on the state for three consecutive days. Areas surrounding Baton Rouge, the state's capital, were subjected to downpours which dumped between two to three inches of water an hour. The storm, which was trapped in a low pressure system and thus was unable to move, rained down three times more water on Louisiana than Hurricane Katrina did in 2005. Of 64 Louisiana parishes, 20 have been designated federal disaster areas by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Louisiana Flooding (Photo: AP) The storm is considered to be the worst natural disaster to hit the US since Hurricane Sandy devastated New York City in 2012. The IsraAid delegation is coming on the heels of visits by President Barak Obama and US Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump volunteered with a Louisiana aid organization. In addition to assisting in disasters all over the world, IsraAid was on the ground assisting communities in the United States recover from natural disasters such as Hurricane Sandy, Hurricane Katrina, and recovery following an outbreak of tornados in Oklahoma, amongst others. The Palestinian West Bank city of Nablus has been afire for the past few days, following a complex scandal that has become more and more convoluted as it unravels. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter It all started last Thursday afternoon. Palestinian Authority (PA) special forces troops arrived in Nablus' old city to arrest a group of armed militants, apparently belonging to the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades a Fatah aligned group whose members don't always follow the direction of the PA. The operation did not go as planned, and a firefight broke out. Two PA police officers were killed and several were wounded. None of the militants were hurt, and they managed to flee the scene. Protest following Halawa's lynching. X The hit PA forces took to their morale was painful, and it was clear that an operation to apprehend the perpetrators was imminent. PA forces pulled together their resources and managed to find out where several of the militants were staying that same night. PA intelligence ascertained the militants' whereabouts, and pinpointed the location of the apartment they were hiding in. Two of the militants were shot and badly wounded during the subsequent PA raid of the apartment, later dying of their wounds. Earlier this week, the PA arrested Ahmad Halawa, a known Nablus figure who used to be a Palestinian policeman and has since become a major figure in the Fatah affiliated al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades. PA security forces claimed Halawa was the leader of the cell to which the militants who killed the two police officers belonged. They arrested Halawa and took him to Nablus' Junaid jail, which is also the Nablus headquarters of the PA security forces. Nablus Governor Akram Rajoub calims Halawa resisted arrest, screaming and cursing at the officers. He reportedly kept doing so while in custody. At a certain point, members of the unit of the two PA officers killed by Halawa's alleged militants noticed Halawa. They immediately grabbed him and began attacking him in front of fellow PA security officers. Witnesses who were in the area say they heard gunshots coming from inside the prison at the time of the incident. According to Rajoub, these were warning shots by security personnel who wanted to make the offending officers stop. Others say the officers beat Halawa, then shot him dead. Halawa's lynching caused an uproar. The news of Halawa's death caused a public uproar, with vast criticism heaped at PA security forces for abusing their power and murdering a suspect out of revenge. The PA understood the powder keg on which they were sitting may explode, and attempted to quell the anger by announcing that those who participated in the beating will be prosecuted. Nonetheless, the anger continued, with Hamas fanning the fire at their PA opponents. At least one protest saw about 200 people demonstrating against the PA has already taken place. The situation remains tense, and only helps Hamas' chances of winning the upcoming municipal elections in one the Palestinians' most important cities. Bilal Kaid, who is being detained by Israel due to security-related concerns and is currently hospitalized in Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon due to a hunger strike, has apparently reached an understanding with Israeli authorities. Kaid is set to be released in December, and has now agreed to end his hunger strike, which has lasted over two months. Israeli-American former chief executive officer (CEO) of Comverse Technology Inc Jacob "Kobi" Alexander pleaded guilty on Wednesday to securities fraud, a decade after he fled to Namibia from the United States to avoid prosecution. Alexander, the Woodbury, New York-based software developer's founder, entered his plea in federal court in Brooklyn, after ending his fight to avoid extradition to face charges pending since 2006. The case is one of the last open prosecutions arising from government or internal investigations of stock options backdating at over 200 companies, including Comverse, which was acquired in 2013 by former unit Verint Systems Inc (VRNT.O). In backdating, a company retroactively grants stock options on dates when stock prices are lower, making them more valuable. Concealing the practice through improper accounting is illegal, and can inflate earnings. Liberty Wing trains at Patriot Warrior Citizen Airmen from the 512th Civil Engineer Squadron joined other Air Force Reserve Airmen for two weeks in August during the Patriot Warrior exercise, here. Patriot Warrior exercises the wartime skills of several different communities within the Air Force, said Senior Master Sgt. Matthew Hill, Air Force explosive ordnance disposal functional area manager. They come into a bare base environment, have to set up their own tents, in and out process through [Personal Support for Contingency Operations], and they have to operate and work on their [mission essential task list] for their wartime taskings based on what their [unit task code] states. Three Dover Air Force Reserve EOD technicians traveled to Wisconsin to take part in Patriot Warrior. They joined other EOD members from the 914th CES, 442nd CES, and 452nd CES. They try to break up the teams, said Tech. Sgt. John Nelson, EOD technician with the 512th CES. They split us up so that way we can get some cross talk in. It gives us the opportunity to learn what other people have found successful and failures that other people have had as well, so we can learn to avoid those. It just helps us become better EOD technicians. One of Nelsons training scenarios was disarming a suicide-vest that was strapped to an abducted Airman. That operation consists of essentially calming the subject and myself being a team chief, I have to approach and render the device safe and dispose of it once we get her secured and in a safe place, said Nelson. You dont train on it very often, its kind of an infrequent occurrence, so actually getting the opportunity to do it is good. Also, thats a persons life that is at risk and in your hands, so being able to calm that person down, and work methodically and clearly and get her safe in a fast, expedient manner is good for everybody that way we can get her home. This lane was different than normal because rather than working on a manikin, the EOD team was working with Airman 1st Class Ladoris Gooden, the roleplaying Airman. I know its fake, but I was extremely nervous, said Gooden, whos a customer support PERSCO team member from Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia. Sgt. Nelson, he approached me and I was nervous as first, but once he got close to me, made me feel comfortable and asked questions and went throughout the process as he was trying to find any type of explosives, he knew what he was doing. EOD technicians were not the only Dover Airmen there; other members of the 512th CES were also taking part in the exercise. Firefighters worked on extinguishing fires and runway operations while emergency management Airmen trained with the Armys 340th Chemical Company. As part of Patriot Warrior, our primary mission is to maintain safety of the airstrip, said Staff Sgt. Luis Castineiras, 512th CES crew chief. Weve done structural fires, rescue exercises, drafting exercises and pumping operations. Me and my crew specifically, weve done a lot of driving training in the crash rescue trucks which are different from the structural ones. Those are the ones that respond to the airport environment. Their primary mission still allowed for additional training to take place that they cannot complete at their home station and just like the EOD teams, the firefighters came from multiple units to make one team. Always learning something from different people, especially around here, said Senior Airman Ian Gonzalez, 512th CES firefighter. You have different units from different places. You get to learn, you get to train on it and I believe that is the best part about [Patriot Warrior]. I got to actually do what my job title is, crew chief, said Castineiras. As a Staff Sgt., if I get deployed, Im going to be in charge of troops and in this exercise I had the opportunity of actually crewing a truck and also providing them with training. I have a crew of young Airmen that are eager to learn, they want to learn, and it makes it fun for me as a Staff Sgt. to provide them with training. Also learning from them because the majority of Senior Airmen and Airmen 1st Classes we have in the Air Force as firefighters are firefighters on the outside, so you are also learning from them at the same time you are training. While the firefighters were training with other Air Force firefighters, emergency management Airmen were participating in cross-branch training as they worked with the Army across base. Weve been going out on their missions, reconnaissance and decontamination missions, we also have a biological mission, said Senior Master Sgt. Jeff Lafreniere, NCO in charge of the emergency management flight at Homestead Air Reserve Base. Weve been integrated with them and were going out to see how they do business and showing them some tips and tricks that we know and showing them a little bit about what we do as emergency managers and [chemical, biological, radiological, radiation] mostly. This is Staff Sgt. Ian Kings first time interacting with the Army in this type of environment. He has conducted radiation response training with Soldiers and Marines before, but this is his the first time performing in a joint-field condition environment. Patriot Warrior allows our service members to share their strengths within their respective career fields with Airmen from other bases. 512th members are also able to expand their knowledge base and learn from the successes other unit's best practices. You never know when you get deployed, you could be with the Army and they do things a little different than the Air Force, said King. You always want to take away their good points and add our good kind of meet in the middle and you have the best process when you do that. 622nd Airmen vital in EOD warehouse construction in Guam Engineers from the 622nd Civil Engineer Group, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia, deployed for five months and played a key role in the design and construction management plans for a new explosive ordnance disposal warehouse at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The new $915,000 facility was built to store items such as Humvees, bomb suits, EOD robots and sensitive training equipment. The warehouse will be utilized for Silver Flag training, a subject-matter expert exchange of civil engineer-related best practices. As a result of the new facility, EOD concepts will be reincorporated back into Silver Flag and other training opportunities further strengthening partnerships in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. The warehouse is part of the Pacific Regional Training Center, which is a facility used to host and train Airmen and international partners on construction techniques. The warehouse is located near the Silver Flag site, which will make it convenient for future training. The project brought 250 Reservists together from the 556th RHS from Hurlburt Field, Florida, 555th RHS from Nellis AFB, Nevada, 560th RHS from Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, and the 567th RHS from Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina. The teams built the warehouse using the tilt-up construction method. With this method, concrete elements such as walls, columns and structural supports are formed horizontally on a concrete slab. After the concrete has cured, the elements are "tilted" to the vertical position with a crane and braced into position until the roof, floor and walls are secured. One of the big issues on Guam is the hurricane force winds and possible earthquakes, which is why tilt-up construction is key out here, said Maj. Karsten Lipiec, 556th RHS director of operations and project engineer. The 554th RHS has a high proficiency in tilt-up construction and the 622nd CEG wanted us to come to Guam to train on this method. Since the units were away from their home station, the Airmen constructed the building using tools they were not accustomed to. This situation is similar to what some RHS units face in a deployed environment, Lipiec said. These challenges enabled the Airmen to gain the knowledge and necessary skill sets they are unable to receive at their home station, thus bolstering the experience. In addition to training on an alternate construction method, Airmen also interacted with other RHS units they may have never work with previously. Working with Airmen from units and backgrounds different from mine helped us achieve our goal while also teaching us valuable lessons, said Senior Airman Alexandra Pinzone, 556th RHS heavy equipment operator. You meet people from all over the world and come together to learn new things. After a few days of each rotation arriving on site, the project gradually became smoother. Communication improved with the help of site leads and members of the 554th RHS. The most rewarding aspect was seeing each rotation walk away and say it was outstanding training, Lipiec said. Even when we were in strife and trying to work through certain issues, the Airmen embraced the challenges and learned new skills, which goes to show what a valuable project it was for everybody. The next facility to be constructed will be the EOD training building, which will also be used for Silver Flag to further educate and strengthen bonds between Airmen and regional partners. President proclaims Aug. 21-27 National ESGR Week A PROCLAMATION For more than two centuries, brave patriots have given of themselves to secure our fundamental rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness -- and in times of both war and peace, members of the National Guard and Reserve have stood ready to don our uniform, answer our Nation's call, and protect our way of life. This week, we recognize the important role played by the families, employers, and communities of these men and women in ensuring they can step forward and serve our country when they are needed most. There are more than one million members of our National Guard and Reserve. Throughout the year, they dutifully train and prepare so that when they are called at a moment's notice to serve their Nation, they are able to serve with the honor and dedication that have long been hallmarks of our Armed Forces. Balancing their lives as civilians with their responsibilities in uniform, they defend and protect our people at home and abroad. In the face of natural disasters and humanitarian crises, they are quick to respond and offer assistance; during periods of conflict and strife, they help keep us safe and protect our national interests. These citizen-Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen deserve the full backing of their civilian employers and the promise of a secure and stable life here at home. From the businesses that seek to recruit and retain these patriots in the workplace to the supporters who provide leadership and resources, this unconditional care for our Guardsmen and Reservists and their families is part of what makes our military the greatest fighting force the world has ever known. Americans who volunteer to serve their country should always be able to partake in its opportunities. First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden's Joining Forces initiative has worked to make it easier for military spouses and veterans to find employment and ensure they are supported in the workforce. And my Administration has worked across all sectors to encourage communities to hire veterans and match members of the Guard and Reserve to the jobs they deserve. We must never waver in our commitment to fight for those who have fought for us, and we must continue striving to connect each of them with opportunities to keep their families strong and our country competitive. During National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week, let us honor the members of our Guard and Reserve for their steadfast dedication to us all -- both in and out of uniform. And let us acknowledge the families, employers, and businesses whose encouragement and flexibility have enabled our military to thrive, and whose support has been vital to the success, stability, and security of our Nation. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim August 21 through August 27, 2016, as National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week. I call upon all Americans to join me in expressing our heartfelt thanks to the members of the National Guard and Reserve and their civilian employers. I also call on State and local officials, private organizations, and all military commanders to observe this week with appropriate ceremonies and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this nineteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-first. BARACK OBAMA This Account has been suspended. New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today A mix of clouds and sun. High 72F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear. Low 51F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. According to the HIAs latest National Outlook forecast, the current construction cycle is set to slow after peaking this year which will coincide with growth in the renovation sector. The current new home building boom is unlike any other that has come before it. It is the longest and largest in Australias history and has provided an unprecedented economic boost to the nation, without which domestic demand would be in or close to recession, HIA chief economist Harley Dale said. This cycle is marked by substantial regional divergences in the levels of activity in various markets around the country; and the mix of dwelling types being built has changed dramatically. As the down cycle in new home building unfolds, the record pipeline of medium/high density dwellings in particular creates considerable uncertainty as to the timing and magnitude of the decline in construction, Dr Dale said. According to the HIA, new home commencements likely peaked over the 2015/16 financial year 232,500 and will fall away for the next three years. Commencements are set to bottom out over 2018/19 at 166,500. While this year may be the beginning of the end for the new home construction cycle, it is set to be the year growth in the renovation sector kicks into gear. The HIA expects this year will see the strongest growth in renovation spending in more than 10 years as annual spending on renovations is set to grow past $33bn per year. Just as new home building activity seems to be reaching its peak, the recovery in the home renovations market has started to gather pace, Dr Dale said. National renovations investment got off to a great start in 2016, growing by 2.2 per cent in the March quarter. HIA expects that renovations activity grew by 4.2 per cent in 2015/16 the fastest rate of increase in over a decade. Further growth over subsequent years is forecast to take renovations activity to a value of nearly $33.2 billion by 2018/19. The figures from the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA) show the three-month period saw a decline in rental rates and the number of properties leased, while the time taken for a property to find a tenant increased. According to REIWAs figures, the number of properties leased in Perth over the quarter declined 5.2% compared to the previous three-month period, with the citys Central sub-region the worst hit with an 8.5% decline. While the quarter was not a strong one overall for Perth in terms of leasing, REIWA president Hayden Groves said on the positive there were pockets of the city that did improve. There was a notable lift in activity in the North East sub-region, and we also saw signs of strength in the South West sub-region with activity lifting 0.2%, Groves said. The North East sub-regions 4.7% increase in leasings was largest seen across the across the city in the quarter. In terms of rental rates, the June quarter saw Perths overall weekly median rent drop $15 to $380, though Groves again said there were areas of the city that at least held their ground over the quarter. As with leasing activity, the North East and South East sub-regions median rent price held steady over the quarter with no change, Groves said. Thirty per cent of the 124 suburbs in the Central sub-region experienced either an increase in their median rent prices or had stable rents. June quarter best performing suburbs by sub-region. Source: REIWA Over the quarter, the average time taken for a property to rent in Perth increased by a day compared to the March quarter, which Groves said wasnt overly surprising. Average leasing days for the three months to June sits at 50 days, which isnt surprising given that the volume of rental properties available for lease on the market pushed past 11,000 in the three months to June, he said. As a homeowner, you probably already know that you should be working to maintain your home. But, chances are, you Read More Armenias Deputy Minister of Nature Protection Khachik Hakobyan employed legalese to argue that the ministry could play no part in the case involving two Armenian brothers arrested on March 23 in Tanzania when they attempted to smuggle 61 monkeys out of the country. When this reporter asked Hakobyan, who was speaking at a CITES meeting/seminar in Yerevan, if the ministry was involved in any way in the case of Artyom and Edward Vardanyan, the deputy minister answered: The case deals with a specific physical person and his commercial activities, in which illegalities were uncovered. The case received a corresponding legal response. Naturally, Armenias Ministry of Nature Protection, or any other body, I believe, has nothing to do here. Meeting in Yerevan from August 24-26, Armenias CITES coordinators are gearing up for the CITES annual conference to be held in Johannesburg in September. Armenia as a signatory to CITES will be participating. The Yerevan meeting also seeks to create greater cooperation regarding animal protection amongst Eurasian countries. When this reporter asked if the Johannesburg conference would discuss any issues related to Armenia, IFAW-Russia representative Maria Vorontsova said she could think of no such issue. Ruben Khachatryan, Director of the Yerevan Zoo, noted that of late Armenia has been associated with the illegal trafficking of wild animals. He confessed that the zoo also engaged in the practice prior to 2011. This isnt a local problem, but a global one, both in Armenia and outside, said Khachatryan. Photo (from left): Ruben Khachatryan, Khachik Hakobyan, Maria Vorontsova Photo credit: Hrant Galstyan News Norfolk, Virginia - Navy Warfare Development Command (NWDC) is supporting execution of the U.S. Fleet Forces (USFF) Command and U.S. Marine Forces Command (MARFORCOM) co-sponsored exercise Bold Alligator 2016 (BA16). NWDC is hosting the BA16 Joint Exercise Control Group and cells from the Combined Forces Maritime Component Commander (CFMCC) in its Navy Center for Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NCAMS) facility and administrative spaces. This year's 11-day synthetic, scenario-based simulation exercise began Aug. 15. The exercise scenario is based on joint forcible entry operations (JFEO) in a medium-threat environment. Exercise participants include major U.S. Navy and Marine Corps staffs along with coalition partners. NWDC, together with USFF and MARFORCOM, is coordinating the observations and analysis (O&A) activities of more than 30 Navy and Marine Corps personnel who are closely monitoring staff functions in NCAMS, the USFF Maritime Operations Center (MOC), Tactical Training Group Atlantic (TTGL), Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Atlantic (EWTGLANT), II Marine Expeditionary Force Simulation Center, and aboard amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD-5) and SS Wright (T-AVB 3). Observation teams deployed across the force during the exercise include subject matter experts from USFF, MARFORCOM, NWDC, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 4, Expeditionary Warfighting Development Center (EXWDC), II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), Expeditionary Warfare Collaborative Team (EWCT), TTGL, Marine Corps Warfighting Lab (MCWL), and the Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Centre of Excellence (CJOS-COE). "During the exercise, observation teams are monitoring United States and coalition force participants' communications and actions to capture salient lessons learned and further enhance U.S. and coalition combat effectiveness," said Capt. William Minter, NWDC department head for Doctrine, Future Concepts and Concepts of Operation (CONOPS), Analysis and Navy Lessons Learned. "The BA16 O&A effort will culminate in an exercise final report delivered by commander, Navy Warfare Development Command to COMUSFF and COMMARFORCOM. Our observations will also be used to improve Bold Alligator series exercise design and control in preparation for live exercise BA17." First conducted in 2011, the Bold Alligator series of amphibious warfare exercises is revitalizing and reinforcing the Navy and Marine Corps' traditional role as "fighters from the sea." This year, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 2 and Second Marine Expeditionary Brigade (2d MEB) staffs are planning and executing a MEB-sized amphibious assault from a sea base in a medium-land and maritime threat environment and anti-access/area denial (A2AD) environment. The final exercise report will capture significant observations and lessons learned, document successful initiatives, and identify gaps and/or shortfalls across the spectrum of doctrine, organization, training, material, leadership and education, personnel, facilities and policy (DOTMLPF-P). Minter said BA16 participants are highly encouraged to submit their own observations via the Navy or Marine Corps lessons learned systems. Exercise participants will also take part in post-exercise events to help capture insights and prepare detailed documentation for inclusion as appendices in the final exercise report. After the exercise, NWDC will host a Waterfront Symposium organized by CSG-4 to bring together participants to discuss outcomes. The next full-scale, live Bold Alligator exercise is scheduled for 2017. Arizona News Bisbee, Arizona - Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced a jury convicted Edith and James Hughes of multiple felony counts involving financial exploitation of an 86 year old woman. They were both found guilty of Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices, Theft from a Vulnerable Adult, Misuse of a Credit Card, and Unlawful Use of Power of Attorney. Within 60 days of meeting the victim, Edith Hughes acquired complete financial and physical control of the victim while working as her caregiver in 2014. Edith Hughes and her husband James were also named 80% beneficiaries of the victims estate. A review of the victims bank records showed that she lived frugally and spent very little each month. The amount taken from her accounts after the defendants took over her financial accounts was 6.5 times greater than previously spent. Records also showed the victims money paid for family trips for the defendants, truck payments, and thousands of dollars in groceries, gas, and other living expenses. Edith Hughes was arrested when she tried to intervene in a psychological evaluation of the victim. The victim was deemed vulnerable to financial exploitation and a Cochise County Judge granted a conservatorship to the Cochise County Public Fiduciarys office to assist the victim in her financial affairs. The victim currently is happy and well-settled in an assisted living facility. Edith Hughes faces a sentence up to 47.5 years in prison. Her sentencing is set for September 15, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. before the Honorable Wallace Hoggatt in Bisbee, AZ. James Hughes faces a sentence up to 88.1 years in prison. His sentencing is set for October 14, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. before the Honorable Wallace Hoggatt in Bisbee, AZ. Assistant Attorney General Douglas Clark prosecuted this case. Latest News Washington, DC - Vice President Biden met today with Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia Maris Kucinskis in Riga. The Vice President emphasized the unshakable U.S. commitment to the security of the Baltic states and welcomed the steps Latvia is taking to strengthen its national defense, including by increasing defense spending to 2 percent of GDP by 2018. The two leaders agreed on the importance of expanding trade and investment ties between the United States and Latvia. The Vice President congratulated the Prime Minister on Latvias accession to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and welcomed Prime Minister Kucinskis commitment to continue implementing OECD recommendations, including reform of Latvias state-owned enterprises. Underscoring the progress Latvia has made in tightening regulation of its banking sector and cracking down on money laundering, the Vice President encouraged Prime Minister Kucinskis to take further steps to improve Latvias investment climate. The Vice President urged comprehensive reform to improve transparency, reduce corruption, and regain public confidence. The Vice President also encouraged Prime Minister Kucinskis to pursue reforms to increase the efficiency and transparency of the judicial system, noting that slow and opaque court proceedings are a significant obstacle to greater investment by U. S. companies in Latvia. Yuma News Yuma, Arizona - Aspiring entrepreneurs are invited to attend the following sessions at the Coworking Oasis, Yumas first coworking space! The Coworking Oasis is located on the second floor of the Main Library, 2951 S 21st Drive. Please note, the library will be closed Monday, September 5th, in observance of Labor Day. Tuesday, September 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th 1:00- 3:00 p.m. SBDC Mentoring Counselors from the AWC Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will be onsite to provide evaluation and guidance. If you have an idea and dont know where to start, mentoring can help you fast-track your plans! Saturday, September 17th 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Introduction to WordPress Workshop Business Librarian Andrew Zollman shares tips for building a website in WordPress. Participants will create a basic webpage during the workshop. Space is limited to 12 people. Wednesday, September 21st 1:00-3:00 p.m. Online Business Video Training Watch online webinars, video training, and resources covering a variety of business topics in the Coworking Oasis media center. To register, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Saturday, September 24th 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Introduction to Entrepreneurship: From Idea to Profit This class will provide an overview of Startup School and help attendees understand the basics of entrepreneurship. Topics covered include an explanation of startup school and how it helps participants, local and digital resources, problem vs. need for services/products and Why? statements. Wednesday, September 28th 1:00-3:00 p.m. Drop-In Job Help Get help with online searches, resume writing, and other job search tools. Requests for specific topics can be e-mailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. For more information, contact Andrew Zollman, Business Librarian, at (928) 373-6480 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. There is no charge to attend any program. The Coworking Oasis was funded in part by the State Grants in Aid Program through the Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records Agency. New Delhi: Afghan security forces combed the American University in Kabul in the early hours of Thursday for suspected gunmen who might be still at large, following an attack on the compound that sent students fleeing in panic. The assault at around 6:30 p.m. local time (1400 GMT) on Wednesday began with a large explosion that officials said was a car bomb followed by gunfire, as suspected militants battled into the complex where foreign staff and dozens of pupils were working. Details of casualties are still scarce, but one person, reportedly a guard, was killed and at least 14 students were wounded. It was not clear whether foreigners were among those hurt. Elite Afghan forces surrounded the walled compound and eventually worked their way inside, according to a senior interior ministry official. The ministry`s spokesman, Sediq Sediqqi, said late on Wednesday that two gunmen were hiding in the university building. Early on Thursday, Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi told Reuters that the area was quiet and that security forces were looking to flush out any remaining gunmen. "We are inside buildings and a clearance operation is ongoing. We do not know if any attacker or attackers are still alive." He declined to speak further, saying the light from his cell phone could make him a target for any assailants at large. DESPERATE ESCAPES Terrified students recounted barricading themselves in classrooms or jumping from the second floor in order to escape. Most appeared to have got away. "Many students jumped from the second floor, some broke their legs and some hurt their head trying to escape," Abdullah Fahimi, a student who escaped, told Reuters. He injured his ankle making the leap. "We were in the class when we heard a loud explosion followed by gunfire. It was very close. Some students were crying, others were screaming." Ahmad Mukhtar, who also fled, said the gunmen had got into the university buildings despite security measures including armed guards and watchtowers. "I finished my class and was about to leave when I heard a few gunshots and a huge explosion, followed by more gunfire," he said. "I ran toward the emergency exit with other students, climbed the wall and jumped outside." Islamist militant groups, mainly the Afghan Taliban and a local offshoot of Islamic State, have claimed a string of recent bomb attacks aimed at destabilising the country and toppling the Western-backed government of President Ashraf Ghani. No one has taken responsibility for the university raid. It was the second time this month that the university or its staff had been targeted. Two teachers, an American and an Australian, remain missing after being abducted at gunpoint from a road nearby on Aug. 7. The American University of Afghanistan has about 1,700 students and advertises itself as the country`s only not-for-profit, "non-partisan", co-educational university. It opened in 2006 and caters to full-time and part-time students. Taliban insurgents control large swathes of Afghanistan, and local armed forces are struggling to contain them, especially in the provinces of Helmand to the south and Kunduz to the north. NATO ended its combat mission in December 2014, but thousands of troops remain to train and assist Afghan forces, while several thousand more U.S. soldiers are engaged in a separate mission focusing on al Qaeda and Islamic State. The United States said it was closely monitoring the situation in Kabul following the university attack, and that forces from the U.S.-led coalition were involved in the response in an advise and assist role. State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said the U.S. Embassy was working to account for all of its personnel and to locate and assist any U.S. citizens affected by the attack. State of New York: Donald Trump on Tuesday stepped up his attacks on Hillary Clinton, accusing her of "Third World"-style corruption over her family`s charitable foundation and calling her unfit to hold office. "It is a total embarrassment if our secretary of state can be bought or bribed or sold," he told a rally in Austin, Texas after a damaging Associated Press report raised questions about whether donors to the Clinton Foundation paid cash for access to America`s top diplomat. "It`s a disgrace, this is a threat to the foundation of democracy," said Trump. "This is what happens in Third World countries." The Associated Press reported that more than half the people outside government who met Clinton while she was secretary of state donated money to the Clinton Foundation. "Hillary Clinton is totally unfit to hold public office. It is impossible to figure out where the Clinton Foundation ends and the State Department begins," Trump said. "It is now abundantly clear that the Clintons set up a business to profit from public office, they sold access," he said. "This is corruption and this is why I have called for a special prosecutor to look into this mess," he said. The Associated Press reported that at least 85 of 154 people from private interests who met or had telephone conversations scheduled with Clinton while she led the State Department donated to her family charity or pledged commitments to its international programs. Those 85 donors contributed a combined USD 156 million, the AP said. The Associated Press said the meetings between Clinton and donors did not appear to violate legal agreements she and her husband, former president Bill Clinton, signed before she joined the State Department. "But the frequency of the overlaps shows the intermingling of access and donations, and fuels perceptions that giving the foundation money was a price of admission for face time with Clinton," the AP reported. London/Islamabad: MQM leader Altaf Hussain has given up control over the party after coming under widespread criticism for calling Pakistan a "cancer", the media reported on Wednesday. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief has handed over all powers of party reorganisation as well as policy-making to the Coordination Committee, MQM spokesman Wasay Jalil said. Hussain said: "Keeping in view the statements by MQM leader Farooq Sattar and other MQM members, I hand over powers of reorganisation, policy making and decision making to the Raabita Committee. "I will continue to focus on improving my health in line with the Coordination Committee's suggestions," Hussain tweeted. The MQM chief, who for decades has held sway over the Urdu speaking population of Karachi and Sindh, claimed he was "under acute stress" due to back-to-back "incidents", upsetting news and day-and-night work. He also apologised for hurting the sentiments of Pakistanis with his earlier anti-Pakistan remarks. Hussain lost his cool on Monday while addressing MQM activists in Karachi over telephone from London -- the usual way he keeps contacts -- after violence broke out in the city's southern districts. The MQM workers were protesting outside the Karachi Press Club against "enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of workers". A livid Hussain then said: "Pakistan is cancer for entire world. Pakistan is headache for the entire world. "Pakistan is the epicentre of terrorism for the entire world. Who says long live Pakistan... It's down with Pakistan." On Tuesday, Khwaja Izahrul Hassan, leader of the opposition in the Sindh assembly, told Dawn that the MQM leadership in London had not been consulted before holding the press conference -- to indicate that the MQM in Pakistan was beginning to act on its own. Sattar said: "From now onwards, decisions will be made in Pakistan. This message is for the London office as well as for Pakistan office-bearers." Dawn reported that Sattar, after being released from the custody of Rangers, spoke to party leaders, lawmakers including some who were abroad and communicated his decision to disown Hussain's statement and take over the MQM. Hussain has run the day-to-day organisational affairs of the party over phone from the confines of his palatial London residence for a long time although he does not hold any office in the MQM. The MQM is a political party registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan in the name of Farooq Sattar. But Sattar's announcement failed to cut any ice with other political parties which continued to denounce Hussain for his anti-Pakistan remarks. Pakistan Sunni Tehrik leaders Maulana Noor Ahmed Qasmi and Khalid Hassan Attari and others insisted that the MQM must be banned and sedition cases registered against all those who raised anti-Pakistan slogans. They accused Hussain of being an Indian spy who was out to destabilise Pakistan. Patna: Protests by flood victims continued across Bihar for the third day on Wednesday against inadequate assistance provided to them by the state government. The protesters blocked roads and heckled district officials, expressing their anger over the quality and quantity of government aid. At several places in Patna district, protesters gave vent to their anguish. "There are reports of protests by flood victims demanding relief in Barh sub-division, Bakhtiarpur, Mokamah, Bihta, Maner and Danapur," an official said. According to the official, protesters demanded food and cattle fodder at the relief camps. "Flood victims have blocked the National Highway-80 in Mokamah and NH-30 near Maner in Patna," an official said. In Barh sub-division, flood victims staged a dharna on Wednesday to protest lack of relief. The protesters blocked the road in Bachwara in Begusarai district, demanding adequate relief. They also protested in Munger and Bhojpur districts. In the last few days, block development officers and circle officers have faced the fury of flood victims. Hundreds of flood victims gheraoed the circle officer in Raghopur in Vaishali district. The flood-hit people in Nathnagar in Bhagalpur staged a protest as well. Similar protests were staged in Samastipur, Khagaria and Aurangabad. Vayasji, Principal Secretary of the Bihar Disaster Management Department, said the water level in the Ganga may rise and that will affect people in the lowlands along the river. The government has alerted officials to keep a close watch on the situation. Till date, floods have claimed 23 lives, including 11 in Bhojpur alone. About 900 officials of the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force have been deployed in the flood-hit districts. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered cancellation of leave of police, administrative officials and engineers. The Chief Minister also directed officials to speed up rescue and relief operations. Patna: The BJP on Wednesday claimed there is no scientific evidence to prove that floods occurred in Bihar due to Farakka Dam and alleged Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is raising the barrage issue and silt management policy to hide lacunae in providing relief to the marooned people. "Senior officials of the Water Resources Ministry in Delhi said there is no scientific evidence to prove that floods occurred in Bihar due to the Farakka Dam," senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said in a statement. Modi, who is in the national capital, said officials of the ministry told him this during an interaction. "The fact is that the Bihar government had not made any preparation beforehand for relief and rehabilitation in the event of floods. The Chief Minister through confusing statements is trying to divert people's attention from this shortcoming," he alleged. The BJP leader's statement came after Kumar yesterday drew the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi blaming the floods in Bihar to silt deposition in the Ganga river due to Farraka Dam and demanded removal of the barrage. Sushil Modi also contested Nitish Kumar's assertion that gates of Farakka Dam were opened for discharge of excess water of the Ganga river on request of the Bihar government. "Fact is, during the monsoons, all gates of the barrage are opened," the Leader of Opposition in state Legislative Council said. "The Chief Minister who himself is an engineer by degree, instead of giving confusing statements, he should have waited for the report of the WAPCOS study which the Bihar government has authorised to conduct on effects of Farakka barrage and silt deposit," he said. In April, the Centre had constituted a committee under the Director of CWPRS (Central Water Power Research) to study siltation in the Ganga and the Brahmaputra rivers. "Before advising demolition of Farakka Dam, Nitish Kumar should have asked his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee," Modi said. Farakka Dam was constructed in 1975 to divert water in the Hooghly river through a 38-km-long feeder canal to ensure smooth traffic of Kolkata Port, he said. Washington: The US State Department warned travelers to France that they should obey local laws Wednesday after several beach towns imposed a ban on swimwear incorporating Muslim veils. Dozens of French resorts have banned beachwear that "conspicuously" shows a person's religion such as a "burkini" -- a full-body swimsuit for Muslim women. In response to a query from AFP as to whether the United States would update its travel advice to warn Muslim Americans, a US official advised them to obey the rules. "In the country specific information for France that we provide on our website... We inform US citizen travelers that they are subject to local laws," he said. "And if they violate local laws, even unknowingly, they may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned," he warned. The United States has expressed concern about French attitudes to Muslim dress in the past, in particular its ban on full-face veils in public spaces. Raipur: A naxal was today gunned down in an exchange of fire with security forces in the dense forests of Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, police said. The skirmish took place this morning near Ponga Bhejji village when a joint team of?Special Task Force (STF) and district force was out on an anti-Maoist operation in Dornapal police station area, Sukma Superintendent of Police Indira Kalyan Elesela told PTI. Based on specific inputs that Kerlapal Area Committee of Maoists had planned to carry out an attack on security forces, the composite squad involving 70 personnel launched the operation from Dornapal to the interior forest last night, the SP said. While security forces were advancing to Ponga Bhejji village, located around 450 km away from here this morning, a group of armed rebels opened fire on them following which a gun-battle broke out between both the sides, he added. However, ultras soon escaped into the dense forests, he said. "During searches, the body of a male Maoist clad in a 'uniform' was recovered along with?one?automatic pistol and one muzzle loading gun," the SP said. The identity of the Maoist is yet to be established as operation is still underway in the region, he added. New Delhi: In the wake of a spurt in dengue and chikungunya cases in Delhi, AAP legislators today accused the three BJP-controlled civic bodies of making the city's sanitation facilities a "mess" which they claimed was the major factor behind the spike. Taking a dig at the MCD authorities, Health Minister Satyendra Jain said their "failure" to maintain cleanliness, desilting sewers have effectively "tarnished" the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and hit his ambitious Swachh Bharat Mission in the national capital. Jain said all the three civic bodies have primary responsibility to take preventive measures to control these diseases while the Delhi government has curative responsibility. Legislators demanded from the minister to hand over the list of sanitation workers to them so that they have details of cleaning staff for their constituencies. MLA Jagdish Singh said despite the Delhi government releasing funds to MCD, they have failed to clean the city due to their alleged corruption leading to spurt in numbers of chikungunya and dengue cases. Okhla MLA Amanatulla Khan said in his constituency, 80 per cent of areas are unauthorised so there is no sanitation work there, adding that one can easily see dump of garbage everywhere which was often not lifted by MCD. Raju Dhingan, who is MLA from Trilokpuri, alleged that every councillor has 5-6 sanitation workers for cleaning their offices and houses that is why staff is not available for cleaning colonies. "Drains have not desilted by MCD which is leading to spike in dengue and chikungunya cases in Delhi. MCD has duty to prevent these diseases from increasing. They have not hired regular staff for 20 years. House should seek details of purchase of fogging machines, medicines," Laxmi Nagar MLA Nitin Tyagi said. Responding to discussion, the Health Minister said they (civic bodies) are "expert" in making money, but they are not paying attention towards cleaning the national capital. "Delhi Government is fully prepared to deal with increasing numbers of dengue and chikungunya. Government has set up 355 fever clinics to attend patients. Councillors do not have immunity and that they may be diagnosed with these disease," Jain said. There is no need for chikungunya patient to be admitted at hospital, the health minister said. There has been a sudden increase in chikunguniya cases in the national capital, with 362 blood samples testing positive for this mosquito-borne disease in the last one-and-a-half-months at the AIIMS itself. Dengue claimed its first victim on July 21 when a girl from Jafrabad in northeast Delhi died at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital. Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan's sister-in-law died of dengue on August 12 at Apollo Hospital here, though the municipal authorities have not officially acknowledged these two deaths. New Delhi: A revenue official, posted in the South West district Deputy Commissioner's office, was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Branch for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 5 lakh from a farm house owner. "A case has been registered by the Anti-Corruption Branch against a Patwari, who was working in Deputy Commissioner, South West's office, after he was caught accepting a bribe yesterday, " Special Commissioner of Police, ACB, M K Meena said. The ACB had received a complaint from one Navin Jain, who alleged that Patwari Sanjay Kumar Solanki had demanded a bribe of Rs 5 lakh in connection with handling a complaint against his farmhouse. He alleged that Solanki had been frequently visiting their farmhouse and threatening to get it demolished on the pretext of a complaint of misuse of agricultural land and illegal construction. The patwari demanded Rs 5 lakh but later reduced the amount to Rs 3.5 lakh, the complainant alleged. The complainant then called Solanki to his office at Nehru Place to give him the first instalment of Rs 2 lakh, when he was arrested by the ACB officials and a case was registered, official said. New Delhi: A man died and a French woman was injured in a fire that broke out in a house in south Delhi's Hauz Khas area on Wednesday, police said. The fire on the roof of a house was reported by a neighbour around 5.45 a.m. It was doused within an hour but fire fighters found a 36-year-old man dead and a 24-year-old woman injured inside the house. The deceased has been identified as Gaurav Taneja, police said. A senior police officer told IANS: "He died due to suffocation while Anklora, who is from France, got injured in the fire incident." "Anklora was admitted to Safdarjung Hospital in semi-conscious condition," the officer added. According to the police officer, the fire erupted in the house due to an electrical short-circuit. "Three fire tenders were rushed to the spot. A shed at the top of the house caught fire," a fire official told IANS. The neighbour who reported the fire said the residents tried to douse the fire by using fire extinguishers and throwing water over the blaze. "Before the fire tenders arrived, we tried to control the fire using whatever resources we had," a neighbour said. An official from the fire department said the fire was bought under control by 6.50 a.m. New Delhi: A house in Hauz Khas Village gutted in fire early Wednesday. One person was found dead while another injured, an official said. The fire at the roof of a house was reported by a neighbour around 5.45 a.m. It was doused off within an hour, however, the fire fighters found a man, 36, dead and a women, 24, injured inside the house. "Three fire tenders were rushed to the spot. A shed at the top of the house caught fire. The women was found unconscious and rushed to the Safdarjung hospital," a fire official told IANS. The neighbour who reported the fire said the residents tried to douse it off by using water and fire extinguishers. "Before the fire tenders arrived, we tried to control the fire through whatever resources we had," a neighbour said. An Official from fire department said the fire was bought under control by 6.50 a.m. New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Anmol Ratan, who is accused of raping a 28-year-old Ph.D student, on Wednesday surrendered before police, media report said. Anmol surrendered before police around 10.15 p.m. at Vasant Kunj north police station in south Delhi, the police said. Ratan will be sent for medical examination and put under formal arrest, police said, adding he will be produced before Patiala House court on Thursday. Earlier in the day, the victim, who has alleged that she was raped by Ratan, an AISA activist, recorded her statement before a magistrate. "The woman stood by the charges in the statement recorded before the magistrate," Prasad said. Recently, a 28-year-old JNU student filed a rape case against an AISA activist accusing him of raping her in a hostel room on the university campus. The girl in her complaint alleged that Anmol assaulted her sexually after luring her to his hostel room on the pretext of giving her the copy of a movie she wanted and then giving her a drink spiked with a sedative. An activist of the All India Student Association (AISA), Anmol was expelled from leftist student outfit after the allegations against him. Details of complaint According to the complaint filed by her at Vasant Kunj (North) police station, she had posted on her Facebook profile that she wanted to watch 'Sairat' movie and asked if anyone had a CD of it. It said Ratan apparently messaged her saying that he had a copy. Thereafter, he picked her up on Saturday on the pretext of giving her a CD of the film and took her to Brahamputra Hostel, where he spiked her drink and raped her. Bratislava: Justice Ministers from European Union (EU) member states cautioned against growing radicalisation in Europe here on Tuesday. "The problems that present-day Europe has are not only economic or security ones. The inclination of a portion of the population towards anti-system and extremist groups, as a result of many processes where each and every one plays a certain role, is also a problem," Xinhua news agency quoted Slovak Justice Minister Lucia Zitnanska, who chaired the panel discussion of EU Justice Ministers, as saying. The delegations from 27 EU member states participating in the conference adopted a joint statement in which they stressed their determination to protect democracy, the rule of law and human rights. Aware of the reasons leading to growing radicalisation, they agreed that society should stay alert to the intrusion of extremist tendencies and attitudes into politics, which may threaten Europe`s democracies and the rule of law. "It is very important to talk about these issues and try to find a solution so that the situation of the past century, when external and internal factors led to the creation of totalitarian regimes with the more or less tacit consent of the democratic majority, will not be repeated," stressed Zitnanska. Accumoli: A powerful pre-dawn earthquake devastated mountain villages in central Italy on Wednesday, leaving at least 73 people dead, dozens more injured or trapped under the rubble and thousands temporarily homeless. Scores of buildings were reduced to dusty piles of masonry in communities close to the epicentre of the pre-dawn quake, which had a magnitude of between 6.0 and 6.2, according to monitors. It hit a remote area straddling Umbria, Marche and Lazio, to the north of a region devastated by a quake in 2009, rousing villagers and vacationers in terrifying fashion. Italy`s civil protection unit confirmed 73 fatalities in and around the villages of Amatrice, Accumoli and Arquata del Tronto. "My sister and her husband are under the rubble, we`re waiting for diggers but they can`t get up here," Guido Bordo, 69, told AFP in the tiny village of Illica, near Accumoli. "There`s no sound from them, we only heard their cats. I wasn`t here, as soon as the quake happened I rushed here. They managed to pull my sister`s children out, they`re in hospital now," he added, wringing his hands in anguish. Other victims included a nine-month-old baby girl whose parents survived. Two boys aged four and seven were saved by their quick-thinking grandmother, who ushered them under a bed as soon as the shaking began, according to reports. She also survived but lost her husband.It was Italy`s most powerful earthquake since 2009, when some 300 people died in and around the city of L`Aquila, just to the south of the area hit on Wednesday. "Half the village has disappeared," said Amatrice mayor Sergio Pirozzi, surveying a town centre that looked as if had been subjected to a bombing raid. Pope Francis interrupted his weekly audience in St Peter`s Square to express his shock. "To hear the mayor of Amatrice say his village no longer exists and knowing that there are children among the victims, is very upsetting for me," he said. Civil Protection chief Fabrizio Curcio classed the quake as "severe". The shocks were strong enough to be felt 150 kilometres (90 miles) away in Rome, where authorities ordered structural tests on the Colosseum. Some of the worst damage was suffered by Pescara del Tronto, a hamlet near Arquata in the Marche region which "just completely disintegrated" according to local mayor Aleandro Petrucci. At least 10 bodies were recovered there. Accumoli mayor Stefano Petrucci fought back tears as he described the scenes in his village as "a tragedy." "There are people under the ruins, it is not a good situation." With residents advised not to go back into their homes, temporary campsites were being established in Amatrice and Accumoli as authorities looked to find emergency accommodation for more than 2,000 people. Amatrice is a hilltop beauty spot famed as the home of amatriciana, one of Italy`s favourite pasta sauces, and is a popular destination for Romans seeking cool mountain air at the height of the summer. It was packed with visitors when the quake struck at 3.36 a.m. (0136 GMT). Three minutes later the clock on the village`s 13th-century tower stopped. The first quake measured 6.2, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), which said it occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres (six miles). It measured 6.0 according to Italian monitors, who put the depth at only four km. A 5.4-magnitude aftershock followed an hour later. Italy is often shaken by earthquakes, usually centred on the mountainous spine of the boot-shaped country. In 2009, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck close to the university city of L`Aquila in the Abruzzo region and left more than 300 people dead. That disaster led to lengthy recriminations over lax building controls and the failure of authorities to warn residents that a quake could be imminent. David Rothery, Professor of Planetary Geosciences at Britain`s Open University, said Wednesday`s quake had been similar to the 2009 one. "Both occurred at a shallow depth, which exacerbates the shaking at the surface," he said. "Unlike the L`Aquila quake, which was preceded by swarms of smaller quakes and led to claims -- unjustified in my view -- that the eventual big quake should have been predicted, this one appears to have struck out of the blue." Rome: Central Italy was hit by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake on Wednesday, triggering the collapse of dozens of buildings and a red alert for the possibility of casualties and further damage. At least 14 people have died so far. As per reports, the first quake struck shortly after 3.30 am (0130 GMT), according to the United States Geological Survey. USGS PAGER system, which predicts the impact of earthquakes, however, issued a red alert -- suggesting casualties and damage based on previous quake data. A resident of the Rieti region, which is between Rome and the epicentre of the quake, told the Rainews24 channel that she and most of her neighbours had come out onto the street after feeling very strong shaking. The mayor of Amatrice near Rieti, Sergio Pirozzi, told state-run RAI radio that there were downed buildings in the city centre and that the lights had gone out. He said access to the Amatrice had been blocked, making it impossible for rescue services to get through. The roads in and out of town are cut off. Half the town is gone, Sergio Pirozzi, mayor of Amatrice, told RAI state television. There are people under the rubble... Theres been a landslide and a bridge might collapse. Amatrice is famous in Italy as a beauty spot and is a popular holiday destination for Romans seeking cool mountain air at the height of the summer. Italys Civil Protection agency said the earthquake was severe and there had been reports of damage, while a refuge on Gran Sasso mountain said on its Facebook page that a large piece of rock collapsed in the quake. The hardest-hit towns were reported as Amatrice, Accumoli and Norcia. The European Mediterranean Seismological Center has put the magnitude at 6.1 and said the epicentre was northeast of Rome, near Rieti. A 2009, 6.3-magnitude earthquake in the Aquila region, which was also felt in the Italian capital, left more than 300 dead. Italy is often shaken by earthquakes. Another quake hit the northern Emilia Romagna region in May 2012, when two violent shocks 10 days apart left 23 people dead and 14,000 others homeless. London: The hijab or the headscarf has been made optional part of Police Scotland's uniform in an attempt to attract more women Muslim recruits to the force, which currently has less black and Asian representation. Previously officers could wear the religious headscarf with approval but it is now formally part of the police uniform. Police Scotland said it is working to make the force "representative of the communities we serve". Chief Constable Phil Gormley said, "I am delighted to make this announcement and welcome the support from both the Muslim community and the wider community, as well as police officers and staff." "Like many other employers, especially in the public sector, we are working towards ensuring our service is representative of the communities we serve," he was quoted as saying by The Sun. "I hope that this addition to our uniform options will contribute to making our staff mix more diverse and adds to the life skills, experiences, and personal qualities that our officers and staff bring to policing the communities of Scotland," he said. A report earlier this year showed just 2.6 per cent of applicants to join Police Scotland were from ethnic minorities. In order to reflect the 4 per cent figure across Scottish society, the force said it would need to recruit an additional 650 ethnic minority candidates. There are currently six female Muslim officers working for Police Scotland - but none of them wear the hijab either on duty or outside the force, BBC reported. The most recent figure for the overall strength of the force -- released at the end of June --- was 17,242. Official figures showed that there were 127 applications from black, Asian and ethnic minority candidates in 2015-16. Shimla: A candlelight vigial was taken out by the residents of Shimla Wednesday to express solidarity with the family of four-year-old Yug, whose skeletal remains were recently recovered after being kidnapped two years ago. Activists of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) unit of ABVP also took out a candle march from the Vice Chancellor office to Summer Hill Chowk protesting against the killing and raised questions on the working of police and MC. The district unit of BJP led by vice President Rajiv Sood also lodged their protest against the gruesome killing and failure of the police to take prompt action and also the failure on the part of Municipal Corporation to ensure supply of clean water to residents. The CPIM demanded hanging of the three accused and action against the erring officials of the MC who were entrusted with the responsibility of cleaning the water tanks from where the skeleton was recovered. New Delhi: The Jawaharlal Nehru University panel, which heard the pleas of 21 students in connection with February 09 event, has found all of them guilty of indiscipline. The 21 students were slapped with varied punishments ranging from rustication, hostel debarment to financial penalty on basis of the probe by the HLEC which found them guilty of violation of disciplinary norms. While the appellate authority granted relief to some students by reducing the financial penalty, The punishment granted to Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya remained same. There was no word on JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar. Khalid, Bhattacharya and Kumar were arrested in a sedition case over the event on campus against hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised and are now out on bail. On February 9, an event was organised on the JNU campus to commemorate the third anniversary of Parliament terror attack convict Afzal Guru's execution. After anti-India slogans were raised at the event, Kumar was arrested on charge of sedition. He was granted bail for six months by the Delhi High Court on March 2. Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Wednesday said any proposed talks on Jammu and Kashmir should involve all stakeholders including Pakistan. Terming the unrest in the Kashmir Valley a "political problem" which requires a "political solution", the Mirwaiz told CNN News18 that all stakeholders, including Pakistan, should be included in any proposed talks over the Kashmir issue. Home Minister Rajnath Singh is on a two-day visit to Kashmir to interact with political leaders and people in a bid to restore normalcy in the valley. Mirwaiz, who is leader of moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference, said Indian authorities had got into the habit of blaming separatists for any trouble in the valley. "It's always separatists, Pakistan or traitors who are blamed (for problems in the valley) and never the Indian establishment," he said. Over 65 people have died in clashes with security forces since the July 8 killing of Hizbul leader Burhan Wani. Washington: It's a shot in the arm for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the US State Department, Wednesday, sharing concerns on the atrocities committed by the Pakistani Army in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. While voicing its concerns, the US said, We do have concerns about the human rights situation in PoK. The US State Department appealed to all parties in Pakistan to work out their differences peaceably and through a valid political process. US State Department spokesperson Mark C Toner said that Pakistan was well aware of the US policy on the Kashmir issue. He made the remarks while responding to a question about Pakistan Army's oppression in Pakistan-held Kashmir and Balochistan. In his address from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of 70th Independence Day, PM Modi hit out Pakistan for "glorifying" terrorists. PM Modi in his Independence Day speech came out openly in support of "freedom" for Balochistan and "PoK." Modi's controversial statement sparked protests across Balochistan, with large numbers of tribesmen taking to the streets in protest in Dera Bugti, Khuzdar, Quetta, Chaman and other parts of the province. The disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir was split between India and Pakistan in 1948, after they fought a brief war over it. It remains at the heart of animosity between the nuclear-armed neighbours. Last year reports had emerged that residents of PoK were openly advocating to be a part of India. They were said to be impressed with PM Narendra Modi's style of governance. Chairman of the Anjuman Minhaj-e-Rasool, Moulana Syed Athar Hussain Dehlavi, who had toured PoK had said that people residing in the region want to be a part of India. According to Dehlavi, the people of the region are distressed with growing extremism in Pakistan and want to lead a peaceful life. Given the opportunity, they would want a referendum so that they can vote to join back India. New Delhi: The Congress Party on Wednesday demanded a proper explanation from the government and swift punishment against culprits involved in the reported leak of sensitive data related to India`s Scorpene submarines. Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi told ANI that the leak of papers is a very serious matter as the national security is paramount. "It is not a question of this or that. It is a question that the fundamentals of security for purposes of national security, national safety how they can be possible leaked?" he said. "The government owes a very proper explanation and a strict punishment in the swiftest possible time. This should not go through a bureaucratic legalese with people trying to save their skin and passing the buck," he added. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar earlier today said he has asked Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba to analyse the extent of the leak and find out whether it is related to India or not.Parrikar further asserted that the leak is not 100 percent. "I have asked the naval chief to conduct full analysis of the incident as to what is the leak and what has been leaked about us. The first step is to identify, the second step is to identify the extent of unwarranted, but it is not all 100 percent, because we do have our final integration," Parrikar said. "It came to my knowledge at around 12 last night, and what I understand is that there is a hacking. So, we will find out all these aspects," he added. Parrikar further said that in the next couple of days they will come out with more information. On Tuesday, a report in Australian media revealed that sensitive information related to India`s Scorpene submarines has been leaked, with French shipbuilder DCNS, which designed the submarine, facing a leak of documents spreading over 22,000 pages. According to The Australian, the leak details the entire secret combat capability of the six Scorpene-class submarines that French shipbuilder DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy. As per reports, the leak includes details of the submarine`s underwater sensors, above-water sensors, combat management system, torpedo launch system and specifications, communications system and navigation systems. New Delhi: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi took a complete U-turn on Wednesday over his reported statement in which he had allegedly blamed the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh for Mahatma Gandhi's assassination. Appearing on behalf of Rahul Gandhi, noted lawyer Kapil Sibal told the Supreme Court that his client never blamed RSS as an institution, but those associated with it who killed Mahatma Gandhi. "Rahul Gandhi had never accused RSS as an institution for the crime,'' Sibal reiterated. Senior counsel Sibal made these observations before a bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice RF Nariman while referring to an affidavit filed by Gandhi before the Bombay High Court challenging the defamation proceedings against him by a RSS worker. The bench, while taking note of Gandhi's statement before the High Court, said that it can dispose off the matter after the Congress leader's unequivocal statement that he had not blamed the RSS as an organisation for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, but only the people linked with it, However, the court deferred the hearing till September 1 as senior counsel Umesh Lalit, appearing for the RSS worker, wanted some time to take instructions from his client. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had earlier moved the apex court requesting it to quash the defamation case filed by the RSS worker. In 2014, while addressing a rally in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra, Gandhi had alleged that members of the RSS had assassinated Mahatma Gandhi. "RSS people killed Gandhiji. They opposed Sardar Patel and Gandhi ji," Rahul had reportedly said. His comment kicked up a controversy, following which Rajesh Kunte, the secretary of Bhiwandi unit of RSS, filed a defamation suit in a Maharashtra court. Following the suit, he was summoned by the trial court on January 6, 2015. Rahul Gandhi then sought an exemption for appearing before the court and appealed that the case should be quashed. In May 2015, Rahul Gandhi moved the Supreme Court, seeking a dismissal of the criminal case. Later, on July 19, 2016 the Supreme Court said that making a 'collective denunciation' against an organisation is wrong. The SC asked him to either apologise or face trial. As reported earlier, a bench led by Justice Dipak Misra said, Why did you make a sweeping statement against the RSS branding everyone associated with the organisation in the same brush? You cannot collectively denounce a group. Citing a judgement of Punjab and Haryana High Court, the SC bench said it only says that Nathuram Godse was an RSS worker and added that Godse killed Gandhi and RSS killed Gandhi are two different things. New Delhi: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi will visit India at the invitation of President Pranab Mukherjee from September 1 to 3, it was announced on Wednesday. Al Sisi will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising ministers, officials and business leaders, according to a statement issued by the External Affairs Ministry. During the course of his visit, the Egyptian President will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mukherjee will receive Al Sisi and host a banquet in his honour. Vice President Hamid Ansari and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will also call on the Egyptian leader. Al Sisi will meet both Indian and Egyptian business leaders during the visit. India and Egypt enjoy excellent relations marked by strong, traditional and civilizational ties and contribute towards peace and development in the world, the ministry statement said. The last presidential visit from Egypt to India was in 2013 when then President Mohamed Morsi visited New Delhi. Balochistan: Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about atrocities being carried out on the people of Balochistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), Baloch 'freedom fighters' on Wednesday held a protest in support of PM Modi's statement. On Wednesday, several freedom fighters raised the Indian national flag and held a demonstration in support of Indian PM Modi's stand on human rights violations in Balochistan. The protestors were seen carrying pictures of Narendra Modi and deceased Baloch martyr and freedom fighter Akbar Bugti. The masked protesters carried placards reading 'Stop Baloch Genocide' and were also seen trampling the Pakistani flag. Protests have been continuing in the region for the past four days in Sui, Dera Bugti, Jafarabad and Nasirabad among other locations in Balochistan. Protests going on for past 4 days in Sui, Dera Bugti, Jafarabad & Nasirabad among other locations in Balochistan pic.twitter.com/CAzQ6b3BXe ANI (@ANI_news) August 24, 2016 Last week, Balochistan chief minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri and commander of southern command Lieutenant General Aamir Riaz said that they would welcome Baloch leaders' return to the country, according to a report published in Dawn. The invite was extended at the national flag-hoisting ceremony at the Quaid-i-Azam Residency in Ziarat, a district in Balochistan, on the occasion of the 70th Independence Day celebrations of Pakistan on Sunday. Zehri also invited the self-exiled Baloch leaders to come back to Pakistan. On August 15, in a first for any Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi referred to human rights abuses in Balochistan+ and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. "The world is watching. People of Balochistan, Gilgit, Baltistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir have thanked me a lot in the past few days. I am grateful to them," Modi said, referring to his comments last week on excesses in Pakistan's Balochistan and PoK. He said the way people from these Pakistani regions "wished me well, gives me great joy". Watch video here: Pulwama: At least 18 policemen were injured in two grenade attacks in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama on Wednesday. Reportedly, militants hurled a grenade, followed by firing, at security personnel who were on duty near the Degree College in Pulwama town. A Dy SP was also injured in the attack. The area was immediately cordoned off and an operation was launched to track down the assailants. Earlier, in the day, Home Minister Rajnath Singh paid a visit to Srinagar amid heightened security and strict curfew almost all over the Kashmir Valley. Also, an 18-year-old boy was killed in firing by security forces in a south Kashmir village on Wednesday. A police officer said Amir Gul Mir was killed after he sustained pellet injuries in a clash between protesters and security forces in Pinglina village of Pulwama, some 30 km south of Srinagar. The teenager was removed to a hospital where he succumbed, the officer said. With Mir's death, the toll in the ongoing Kashmir unrest has risen to 69 - including two policemen. United Nations: India has asserted that focus by the international community on preventing non-state actors from acquiring weapons of mass destruction should not in any way "diminish" a nation's accountability in combating terror, an apparent reference to Pakistan. "The focus on non-state actors should in no way diminish State accountability in combating terrorism and dismantling its support infrastructure and its linkages with Weapons of Mass Destruction," India's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Tanmaya Lal said here. Lal underscored India's belief that the primary responsibility for ensuring nuclear security rests at the national level and national responsibility must be accompanied by responsible behaviour as well as sustained and effective international cooperation. He said India is fully cognisant of the "catastrophic dangers" that the transfer of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) to non-state actors and terrorists could entail. "Clandestine proliferation networks must be rolled back and their resurgence prevented. The global community must join hands in eliminating the risks related to sensitive materials and technologies falling into the hands of terrorists and non-state actors," he said at the Security Council open debate yesterday on challenges in addressing the proliferation of WMDs. He reiterated that as a responsible nuclear power, India's nuclear doctrine continues to stress a policy of credible minimum deterrence with a posture of no-first-use and non-use against non-nuclear weapon states. "We remain committed to maintaining a unilateral and voluntary moratorium on nuclear explosive testing," he said, adding that all states possessing nuclear weapons can make a contribution by engaging in a meaningful dialogue to build trust and confidence, by reducing the salience of nuclear weapons in international affairs and security doctrines. "We believe that increasing the restraints on the use of nuclear weapons is not only an essential first step but is also necessary for the current complex international environment in enhancing strategic trust globally," he said. Pakistan's envoy to the UN Maleeha Lodhi slammed the "discriminatory waivers" given to some nations, saying this poses a key challenge to non-proliferation norms. She said the global disarmament landscape presents a "gloomy" picture due to the lack of progress made by nuclear weapons States in fulfilling their legal nuclear disarmament obligations that have "negatively impacted" on the non-proliferation regime. "Disarmament and non-proliferation are inextricably linked. It is unrealistic to expect progress on one without movement on the other. A key challenge to long-held non-proliferation norms and rules is the grant of discriminatory waivers to some, and making exceptions out of power or profit considerations. Grant of such waivers carries obvious proliferation risks," she said. Lodhi added that these special arrangements are not only discriminatory and denote nuclear double standards but also opened the possibility of diverting material intended for peaceful use to military purposes. "We have also declared a unilateral moratorium on further nuclear testing and have reiterated our willingness to translate this unilateral moratorium into a bilateral arrangement on non-testing with India," she said, adding that Pakistan expected that a non-discriminatory and criteria-based approach would be followed for extending membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Lal said India has enacted a number of effective laws and regulations and has put in place institutionalised administrative mechanisms to prohibit access to Weapons of Mass Destruction by terrorists and non-State actors. Earlier this year, India joined the Missile Technology Control Regime and the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation. India participated in the Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) held in Washington earlier this year and welcomed the outcome of the Summit, he said, adding that India sees the NSS process as having catalysed significant progress on nuclear security through international cooperation. "The goal of the complete elimination of nuclear weapons can be achieved by a step-by-step process, underwritten by a universal commitment and an agreed multilateral framework that is global and non-discriminatory," Lal said. London: Three Indian-origin Muslim siblings have alleged that they were ordered off a plane and interrogated on the tarmac by the British Police after a fellow passenger accused them of being members of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) group. Sakina Dharas, 24, her sister Maryam, 19, and their brother Ali, 21, were on board easyJet flight EZY3249 from London`s Stansted Airport to the Italian city of Naples on August 17 when the incident took place. The trio were approached by a cabin crew member and asked to accompany her off the aircraft without explanation, media reports said. The siblings from northwest London were hauled off the plane and grilled for an hour by officers, who first asked them, "Do you speak English?", according to Sakina, who narrated the ordeal writing in The Independent and in a Facebook post. They were asked by one of the officers, "Right, we have to speak with you. A passenger on your flight has claimed that you three are members of ISIS," Sakina said. "They saw you with Arabic or praise be to Allah on your phone," the officer was quoted as saying by Sakina. In their reply, the siblings said, "Firstly, that's part of the Quran, our religious text, so even if we did have it, it wouldn't signify that we're a part of ISIS at all." "Regardless, we've had nothing on our phone remotely Arabic related this morning. Also, we're Indian by ethnicity, so we wouldn't even have Arabic in conversation with anyone," they told the officers, according to Sakina. During their one-hour interrogation on the tarmac, Sakina said she was asked to explain the details of various entry stamps on her passport. She also showed a MI5 agent recent WhatsApp messages. The siblings provided answers relating to their personal lives and were questioned on their home addresses, workplaces, social media history and parents' professions, Sakina wrote in her post. "The MI5 and police officers apologised for the 'inconvenience' and assure(d) us that, at a time where we are all 'on edge', they have to respond to threats such as these. Our accusers, we are told, were very 'frightened'," Sakina wrote. "We were only allowed back on that plane, to continue our journey, because there wasn't a shred of doubt on the part of investigators that we were innocent of the crimes accused -- but somebody has been lying and misleading the authorities. Why weren't those passengers who made the false claim about us removed from the plane for wasting valuable police time?" she asked. They returned from their holiday on August 20. A spokesman for easyJet said the three had been taken off the flight "following concerns raised by a passenger". "The police then confirmed to the captain that the passengers were cleared to complete their journey and they re-boarded the aircraft and the flight departed to Naples," the spokesman was quoted as saying by The Telegraph. "The safety and security of its passengers and crew is our highest priority which means that if a security concern is raised we will always investigate it as a precautionary measure. We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused to the passengers," he said. (With Agency inputs) Washington: The US Secretary of State John Kerry would travel to New Delhi to attend the second India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue, the State Department announced Wednesday. "On August 29-31, Secretary Kerry will travel to New Delhi, India, for meetings with senior Indian officials," the State Department spokesperson Elizabeth Trudeau said. On August 30, Kerry and US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker will co-chair the second US-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue (S&CD), she said. Kerry and Pritzker will be joined by their respective Indian co-chairs, Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman, along with members of the US delegation and their Indian counterparts. "The S&CD is the signature mechanism for advancing the United States' and India's shared priorities of generating sustainable economic growth, creating jobs, improving the business and investment climate, enhancing livelihoods, and sustaining the rules-based global order," Trudeau said. Kerry, however would begin his visit to South Asia by travelling to Bangladesh, she said. This will highlight the longstanding and broad US- Bangladesh relationship, she added. "Secretary Kerry will meet with government officials to discuss our growing cooperation on global issues. He will also focus on strengthening our long-standing bilateral partnership on democracy, development, security and human rights," Trudeau said. In January 2015, the US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had elevated the existing US-India Strategic Dialogue to the Strategic and Commercial Dialogue to reflect the growing significance of the US-India economic relationship. This is the first time the S&CD will be held in India. In New Delhi, Pritzker will also co-chair the second US- India CEO Forum alongside Jeff Zients, the Director of the National Economic Council and Assistant to the President for Economic Policy. The US-India CEO Forum brings together CEOs and government representatives from both countries to discuss opportunities for increasing bilateral trade and investment. During this event, the CEOs will communicate their joint recommendations to the US and Indian governments, the Department of Commerce said. While in New Delhi, Pritzker will also meet with Indian entrepreneurs and participate in an event celebrating US-India cooperation on travel and tourism. In June 2016, President Obama and Prime Minister Modi had announced that the US and India will be Travel and Tourism Partner Countries in 2017. New Delhi: The leaked data on the Scorpene submarine may threaten its stealth element, former Indian Navy chief, Admiral Arun Prakash said on Wednesday, adding it has to be first established how relevant the leaked information is. Asked about the threat posed by the leak, he said: "It`s difficult to say how big a threat it is...we have to ascertain that this is related to our submarines." "The threat would be that they would be able to detect you sooner. When a submarine goes out in the sea, ships are sent to listen to and to record its signature. All navies are eager to find out the parameters. Even otherwise, when the submarine would have gone to a coast, or while crossing someplace like the Malacca strait, the signatures would have been studied," Admiral Prakash said. Stealth is considered the most important attribute of a submarine. He added that if genuine, the leaked documents may have simplified the work for those wanting to record these parameters of the Scorpene class submarines. "It is a corporate war between the French company and its competitors, whether it actually relates to Indian submarines is to be established," Admiral Prakash told IANS. He said naval headquarters has said the leaked document is of 2001, and if that is true the information may well be old. "If the information is valid, it is a concern for the submarine. Maybe we need to make some changes in the design," he said. Six Scorpene submarines designed by DCNS are being constructed at Mumbai`s Mazgaon Dockyard at a cost of around $3.5 billion, one of which is undergoing sea trials and the second one is under construction. Admiral Prakash suggested changes can be made in the remaining four submarines in case the leaked data is found relevant. The over 22,000 pages that have been leaked from DCNS, however, contain information on different aspects of the boat including its underwater sensors, above-water sensors, combat management system, torpedo launch system and specifications, communications system and navigation systems. While the leaked information is still being analysed to gauge the extent of damage, there is fear that it may compromise with the submarine`s detectability. Lahore: A Pakistani court on Wednesday reserved its verdict on the maintainability of a petition filed by Mumbai attack mastermind and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed seeking directives for the government to take up the Kashmir issue at the UN Security Council and other international fora. Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief Saeed had filed the petition in the Lahore High Court on August 12 seeking directives for the Nawaz Sharif-led government. Lahore High Court Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali heard the petition and reserved the judgement after hearing arguments from Saeed's counsel advocate AK Dogar. Filed through his counsel Dogar, Saeed in his petition alleged that India had been committing "atrocities" on Kashmiris and "violating" the resolutions passed by the UN. He claimed that Indian forces were "killing innocent Kashmiris" and had "ruined their daily life". The petition alleged that India also did not give Kashmiris their right to self- determination. "For the last more than one month, the Indian forces have been violating the human rights by continuously torturing Kashmiri people," Saeed is quoted as saying in the petition. He claimed that peace had been put on a stake in the entire region. Saeed, through the petition, sought from the court an order for the federal government to take up the Kashmir issue at the Security Council in order to force India to obey the Security Council's resolution passed in April 1948, and to highlight the issue at the international level. Citing different judgements, Dogar said if an issue involves public interest, the court can interfere in political and foreign issues. "Indian Army is killing innocent Kashmiris but Pakistan government is doing nothing practically except issuing statements," he said. After hearing Dogar's arguments, the Chief Justice reserved the verdict on the maintainability of the petition. New Delhi: Congress on Wednesday wondered as to why RSS has not filed defamation cases against people including scholars who like Rahul Gandhi have held that those associated with the Sangh were responsible for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. Party spokesman Kapil Sibal, who as senior advocate is defending Rahul in the Supreme Court in the case, asked the RSS why it has not filed a case against Gopal, brother of Nathuram Godse, who had insisted that all the four brothers including the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi, were in the RSS. Noting that when L K Advani denied Nathuram's link with RSS, Gopal Godse had rebuked him saying it was cowardice to say that, Sibal told reporters that Gopal had said "you can say RSS did not pass a resolution, but hatched conspiracy to kill Gandhiji". "All the brothers were in RSS. You can say we grew up in the RSS...He said he left the RSS. He said it because Golwalkar and RSS were in a lot of trouble after the murder of Gandhi. But, he did not leave the RSS," Sibal quoted Gopal as saying. Besides, he said a February 4, 1948 government communique said "Undesirable, even dangerous activities are carried by the Sangh. It has been found that...In several parts of the country individual members of the RSS have indulged in acts of violence, arson, robbery & murder". Sibal said that a book written by Shyam Chand titled "Saffron Fascism" refers to a letter by Jawaharlal Nehru in which he wrote that the murder of Gandhiji was part of a wider campaign organised by the RSS. In the book, it is also mentioned that Sardar Patel said it was a fanatical wing of the Hindu Mahasabha, under Savarkar that hatched the conspiracy and saw it through. "It has also been written that when Gandhiji died the RSS distributed sweets. It is a part of historical facts....How is it Rahul Gandhi is sought to be prosecuted for defamation?" he wondered. New Delhi: A probe panel constituted by the HRD Ministry to probe into the suicide of University of Hyderabad scholar Rohith Vemula has now concluded that the administration and its vice-chancellor P Appa Rao cannot be held responsible for his death. The report has exonerated the authorities and the vice-chancellor, Hindustan Times quoted a HRD Ministry source as saying. The investigation carried out by former Allahabad HC judge Ashok Kumar Roopanwal also reportedly raised questions about Vemula's caste and being a Dalit. Vemulas death in January had triggered a wave of protests against the NDA government and then HRD minister Smriti Irani. Hyderabad University, which agitated over the issue, said that Vemula was pushed to suicide by a suspension ordered by the V-C upon a prodding from Union minister Bandaru Dattatreya. However, there has been no confirmation regarding the same from the HRD ministry. Roopanwals report was expected on August 1 but it was ostensibly delayed over fears that it may have derail the Parliament session. a New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India will on Wednesday hear an appeal by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi to quash the defamation case filed by the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh. In 2014, while addressing a rally in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra, Gandhi had alleged that members of the RSS had assassinated Mahatma Gandhi, as reported earlier. "RSS people killed Gandhiji. They opposed Sardar Patel and Gandhi ji," Rahul had reportedly said. His comment kicked up a controversy, following which Rajesh Kunte, the secretary of Bhiwandi unit of RSS, filed a defamation suit in a Maharashtra court. Following the suit, he was summoned by the trial court on January 6, 2015. Rahul Gandhi sought an exemption for appearing before the court and appealed that the case should be quashed. In May 2015, Rahul Gandhi moved the Supreme Court, seeking a dismissal of the criminal case. Later, on July 19, 2016 the Supreme Court said that making a 'collective denunciation' agianst an organisation is wrong. The SC asked him to either apologise or face trial. As reported earlier, a bench led by Justice Dipak Misra said, Why did you make a sweeping statement against the RSS branding everyone associated with the organisation in the same brush? You cannot collectively denounce a group. Citing a judgement of Punjab and Haryana High Court, the SC bench said it only says that Nathuram Godse was an RSS worker and added that Godse killed Gandhi and RSS killed Gandhi are two different things. With ANI inputs New Delhi/Melbourne: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday sought a report from the Navy on the leakage of more than 22,000 pages of top secret data on the capabilities of six highly advanced submarines being built in Mumbai in collaboration with a French company. The combat capability of the Scorpene submarines being built at Mazagon dock at a cost of USD 3.5 billion by French shipbuilder DCNS, went public when an Australian newspaper, 'The Australian', put the details on the website. The details leaked included what frequencies the submarines gather intelligence at, what levels of noise they make at various speeds and their diving depths, range and endurance all sensitive information that is highly classified, the Daily said. It said that 'Marked "Restricted Scorpene India", the DCNS documents detail the most sensitive combat capabilities of India's submarine fleet and would provide an intelligence bonanza if obtained by India's strategic rivals, such as Pakistan or China.' While the leaked information is still being analysed to gauge the extent of damage, there is fear that it may compromise the submarine's detectability. Remaining hidden or stealth, is considered the most important attribute of a submarine. Parrikar seeks report from Navy Reacting with alacrity to the development, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who learnt about the leak at midnight, ordered Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lamba to go into the 'entire issue". A detailed report is also being sought by the Indian government from DCNS. "The first step is to identify if it relates to us," Parrikar told reporters in the national capital. "The Navy Chief (Admiral Sunil Lanba) has been asked to analyse what exactly has been leaked," the Minister said, adding his first assessment was that it was an act of hacking and not a 100 percent leak. "We do have our final integration and all that," he said, as per IANS. "What I can understand - because it came to my knowledge around 12 am - there is a hacking. So we will find out all these aspects," he said. "I've told the navy chief to find out all the details. Maybe, in a couple of days I'll be able share with you." Leak did not happen in India: Navy Meanwhile, the Indian Navy, in a statement issued shortly after the Minister spoke, stressed the leak did not happen in India. "The available information is being examined at Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy) and an analysis is being carried out by the concerned specialists." "It appears that the source of leak is from overseas and not in India," the statement said. Leak of documents relating to Scorpene submarines serious matter: DCNS On the other hans, terming the leak as a 'serious matter', French defence major DCNS today said the issue is being thoroughly investigated by the French national authorities for defence security. "We have been made aware of articles published in the Australian press related to the leakage of sensitive data about Indian Scorpene. This serious matter is thoroughly investigated by the proper French national authorities for Defence Security, a statement by DCNS headquarters in Paris said, as per PTI. "This investigation will determine the exact nature of the leaked documents, the potential damages to DCNS customers as well as the responsibilities for this leakage," it added. Will cooperate with India, says France Amidst all this, France today said that it had taken 'very seriously' the issue of leak of sensitive documents on advanced submarines being built for the Indian Navy and would work with India very closely with transparency. As the Scorpene data leak report broke out shaking the Indian defence establishment, French Ambassador Alexandre Ziegler said in Bengaluru that French authorities were trying to assess the extent, nature and sensitivity of information that may have been leaked. "Well, I have seen the report in the press. What can I tell you is that the French authorities are taking the matter very very seriously and working very seriously with DCNS, the? French ship building company," he told reporters at an event organised at Alliance Francaise. (With Agency inputs) Srinagar: An 18-year-old boy was killed in firing by security forces in a south Kashmir village on Wednesday as Home Minister Rajnath Singh arrived here to review the situation after weeks of unrest in the valley. A police officer said Amir Gul Mir was killed after he sustained pellet injuries in a clash between protesters and security forces in Pinglina village of Pulwama, some 30 km south of Srinagar. The teenager was removed to a hospital where he succumbed, the officer said. With Mir's death, the toll in the ongoing Kashmir unrest has risen to 69 -- including two policemen. Thousands, including civilians and security personnel, have been injured since the violence erupted after the July 8 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. The fresh killing came as Rajnath Singh reached Kashmir to review security and hold talks with civil society members as well as politicians of Jammu and Kashmir. New Delhi: In the first of its kind, 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' slogans were raised in the council meeting of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in the national capital. The council members not only raised the slogans during the meet but also paid tribute to martyrs, who had lost their lives serving for the country. It is to be noted that to celebrate India's 70 years of independence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had flagged off a Tiranga Yatra on August 9 from Bhavra in Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh. The yatra, which has been operated throughout the country, was scheduled to end on August 23 and therefore, the annual meeting of the IIT Council could not remain away from it. Held on August 23, the IIT council meet was chaired by HRD minister Prakash Javedkar. At the meeting, IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Roorkee including 40 associated members of the IIT board Governors were present. The meet began with National Anthem. Suddenly, one of the IIT directors chanted 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' slogan after which the entire senate hall reverberated with it. Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar, who was present at the event chanted Bharat Mata Ki Jai slogan along with Minister of State for HRD Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey and all directors and newly appointed members of the IIT council. After the conclusion of the meeting, several IIT directors made it clear that they have no objections about 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' slogans being raised at the campus. One of the directors told media that the National Anthem is always played during IIT council meet; however, this was the first time when the 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' slogan was raised at the meet. 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. New Delhi: Islamic State launched a bomb and gun attack on a Western-backed Syrian rebel camp near the Jordanian border on Wednesday, according to the rebels, who said they had killed at least 30 of the attackers and suffered at least three casualties themselves. A suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the camp belonging to the Forces of Martyr Ahmad al-Abdo rebel group in a sparsely populated desert area near where the borders of Syria, Jordan and Iraq meet, the rebels` spokesman, Saeed Saif, said. They then attacked several rebel outposts. "We repelled the attack by Daesh (Islamic State) on several areas, and they failed to make any progress and have retreated," Saif told Reuters. The Force of Martyr Ahmed al-Abdo was one of the earliest Free Syrian Army (FSA) groups to get U.S.-made anti-tank missiles and is one of the groups aligned on the so-called Southern Front that a coalition of Western and Arab countries support. That backing is part of a strategy of preventing opposition-held southern Syria and the southeastern desert area from falling into the hands of radical jihadist groups. The group`s leader, Saleem Bakour, was killed in June by a suspected Islamic State militant.[nL8N1914IU ] Islamic State later said in a statement by its Damascus province that a suicide bomber named Abu Hafs al-Damashi had driven his car into the headquarters of those who it called Sahwat, a term used for forces backed by the West who are viewed as apostates by the ultra-hardline Sunni militants, killing at least 19 of them. The group said simultaneous attacks on several locations within the camp also killed another seven FSA fighters and were also able seize weapons before ending their operation. Islamic State claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack launched from the same area in June when a car crossed into Jordan and killed seven Jordanian border guards. U.S.-backed rebels based in the Syrian border town of al-Tanf, further northeast, periodically clash with Islamic State militants who have a presence in the vast sparsely populated southeastern Syria desert. Srinagar: As Kashmir continues to remain tense, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Wednesday, arrived here on a two-day visit to hold talks with civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders. Singh, accompanied by Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and other officials were driven through a tense Srinagar amid heightened security and strict curfew almost all over the Kashmir Valley. In an attempt to reach out to the locals, the senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader took to twitter account saying, "I will be staying at the Nehru Guest House. Those who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat are welcome." The Home Minister asked his cavalcade to drive through the stretch of 12 km through uptown areas of Srinagar "to get a feel of the ground situation". Singh's visit comes a day after Army Chief Dalbir Singh visited Kashmir and asked the forces to exercise maximum possible restraint while dealing with mobs and uphold human rights. At least 68 people, including 66 civilians and two policemen, have died in the violence in the valley since July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani was killed by security forces. Rajnath Singh's visit, his second to Jammu and Kashmir capital in a month, follows a series of meetings the opposition leaders of the state held in New Delhi last week, including ones with President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi. The opposition leaders warned the leadership here that a continuing unrest in the state will further alienate the people of Kashmir. Srinagar: A teenager was killed and dozens were injured in scattered clashes on Wednesday as Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh met leaders of the main political parties in a bid to break the cycle of violence in the Kashmir Valley raging for over six weeks. Police said an 18-year-old boy was killed in firing by security forces in a south Kashmir village after he sustained pellet injuries in a clash with police in Pinglina village of Pulwama, some 30 km south of Srinagar. At least 40 people were injured in the clash. Hours later, a suspected militant from a crowd hurled a bomb at security personnel in Pulwama town - a few kilometres further south of the Pinglina village. Nine policemen, including a superintendent of police, a deputy superintendent and a station house officer, were injured in the attack. Demonstrations were also held in parts of Srinagar and north Kashmir despite a strict curfew and arrest of dozens of youths participating in stone-throwing protests triggered by the July 8 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen 'commander' Burhan Wani. At least 69 people have been killed and thousands injured in the violence that has crippled normal life in the Kashmir Valley for 46 days. There seemed no end in sight to the unrest even as the Home Minister arrived here to meet a cross-section of Kashmiri people and seek ways on how to break the logjam. This is his second visit in a month. Rajnath Singh met delegations of various political parties, including the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, the opposition National Conference and the Congress. The mainstream politicians, according to informed sources, pressed the central government for a dialogue involving all stakeholders, including separatist leaders. However, government sources in Srinagar ruled out any possibility of the minister meeting with separatist groups, who have been spearheading the agitation, seeking the right to self-determination in Jammu and Kashmir. The separatist leaders also said there was no possibility of talks with the government "within the framework of Indian constitution", Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said. He demanded a trilateral dialogue between India, Pakistan and the people of Jammu and Kashmir from across the state divided between India and Pakistan. The minister also chaired a meeting with top police, military and paramilitary commanders and officials of intelligence agencies in the troubled state. The sources said Rajnath Singh advised maximum restraint while dealing with civilian protests, but sought stiff action against militants mingling with crowds - as happened in Pulwama. Earlier, on his arrival, the minister was driven through a tense Srinagar amid heightened security and a strict curfew. Before leaving from Delhi, he tweeted that he "shall interact with civil society groups, political parties, and other stakeholders" during stay in Srinagar. The minister extended an open invitation to all "who believe in Kashmiriyat, insaniyat, and jamhooriyat", expressing his willingness to talk with those who have faith in the spirit of Kashmir, humaneness, and democracy. Rajnath Singh, accompanied by Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and other senior officials, flew in by a special plane into the technical area of the Srinagar international airport. The minister is staying at the historic Nehru Guest House, on the Zabarwan Hills near the eastern shore of Dal Lake, where the government held talks with the moderate faction of the pro-Pakistan Hizbul Mujahideen militant group in August 2000. The talks, however, broke down after the leader of the faction, Majeed Dar, was gunned down by militants. Jammu: Police tonight arrested a man with heroin in Jammu, winter capital city of Jammu and Kashmir. Mohmmad Taj, a resident of border district of Poonch was arrested with 10 grams of heroin following a chase near Dogra hall area here, a police officer said. A case has been registered against him, the officer said. Srinagar: A six-member delegation of Opposition National Conference on Wednesday met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and demanded immediate ban on use of pellet guns and initiation of dialogue with all stakeholders on Kashmir. The National Conference delegation was led by former chief minister Omar Abdullah and interacted with Singh for 45 minutes, official sources said. They said the delegation urged the Home Minister to immediately ban use of pellet guns as a crowd control means in Kashmir. "They also demanded that Centre initiate a dialogue with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir to find a lasting solution to the problems faced by the state," a source said. Omar had led a delegation of Opposition parties to New Delhi last week where they called on President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi to apprise them about the ground situation in Kashmir. Omar thanked Singh for promptness of the Centre in exhibiting "seriousness" about the suggestions made by the Opposition parties during their visit to Delhi. Singh arrived here to review the security situation in the wake of clashes between protestors and security forces that have left 66 people dead, including two police personnel. Among them is a youth who was killed in fresh clashes in Pulwama today. The clashes erupted a day after terrorist Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces on July 8. Singh's visit to Kashmir is apparently a follow up to Modi's interaction with the Omar-led delegation of Opposition parties in the union capital on Monday. Singh, who is accompanied by Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, said he was open to meet anyone "who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat" during his stay in Srinagar. "Leaving New Delhi for Srinagar on a two-day visit. Shall interact with civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders," the Home minister tweeted before heading for Kashmir. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it would clarify whether its verdict, which found 634 medical students guilty of adopting unfair means in Vyapam tests, can be relooked afresh or a larger bench should restrict itself to the quantum of sentence only. A bench of Justices J Chelameswar and A Sapre had concurred with regard to the guilt of adopting unfair means by the medical aspirants but differed on the quantum of sentence. As a result, Chief Justice TS Thakur had referred the matter to a three-judge bench headed by Justice JS Khehar which, in turn, referred it back to the bench of Justices Chelameswar and Sapre seeking a clarification as to whether it can go into the entire matter afresh or should restrict itself to the quantum of sentence. While Justice Chelameswar had wanted the students to serve as doctors for five years in Army before being granted a licence to practice as doctors, Justice Sapre had ordered them to take the entrance test afresh. The medicos had challenged two verdicts, delivered in 2014, of the Madhya Pradesh High Court dismissing their pleas against cancellation of the results in the entrance examinations held between 2008 and 2013 by the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB), also known as VYAPAM. In its inquiry, the examination board had concluded that the exam process was "tampered with" and these 634 medicos were the beneficiaries of the "manipulated examination process". Referring the divergent verdicts to the Chief Justice for "further orders", Justice J Chelameswar had said that he favoured permitting students to complete studies and "compensate" the society by serving in Army without any claim. Justice Sapre had said it is the collective responsibility of the central and state governments and educational institutions to ponder over and evolve a uniform policy in a comprehensive manner to firmly deal with such activities in the larger public good. Aurangabad: A special court has sentenced four men to life imprisonment for robbing and gangraping a woman defence official from Pune in 2010. The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court Judge S S Gosavi yesterday held the four -- Deepak Jawale, Abhay Purey, Vijay Bade and Sunil Ekhande -- guilty and slapped a fine of Rs five lakh on each one of them. According to the prosecution, the victim, her husband, their son, and two others had gone to Parli Vaijnath temple in Beed district on April 9, 2010 in their car. On their way back, they made a brief halt at a village in Beed district and continued towards Pune at night. The four convicts chased them in their car and stopped them near Chindhori village in the district. They forced the occupants out of the car and beat them. Then they took the woman official into their car and drove away. After snatching ornaments and other valuables from her, they raped her in the running car and dumped her in a secluded area. The passers-by later rescued the woman and reunited her with the family, the prosecution said. A case had been registered with Ambhore police in Beed district. The accused were later arrested and booked under charges of gangrape, kidnapping and robbery. Total 34 witnesses were examined in the case. Rabat: A Moroccan court Wednesday handed down a 20-year jail term to an assailant in the gang rape of a teenage girl who later burnt herself alive, a rights group said. Omar Arbib of the Moroccan Association of Human Rights told AFP that the accused on trial in the city of Marrakesh was found guilty of raping a minor and of group violence. The verdict on six other defendants was to be announced on August 31. At the end of last year, a group of young men abducted Khadija Souidi, who was then 16, from her hometown in Ben Guerir, north of Marrakesh, "and then took turns to rape her", Arbib said last week. The girl`s family lodged a complaint and police arrested several suspects, although the prosecutor granted them a provisional release. Arbib said that after being freed they threatened the girl, saying they would "publish pictures of the rape which they had taken with their mobile phones unless she drops the complaint against them". "This is the reason why... she set herself on fire" in a street of Ben Guerir at the end of July, Arbib said. Souidi suffered third degree burns and died the next day in hospital, he said, adding that the autopsy showed that she was pregnant. Her death prompted the prosecutor to order the arrests. Sexual harassment is commonplace in Morocco, despite the adoption of a new constitution in 2011 that enshrines gender equality and urges the state to promote it. Moroccan NGOs say 80 percent of sexual attacks affect children, aged mostly between five and 14, and that in a high percentage of cases the assailants are family members. In January 2014, Morocco scrapped a controversial law that allowed rapists of children to escape punishment if they marry their victims. The article made international headlines in March 2012 when Amina Filali, 16, killed herself after being forced to marry the man who had raped her and who remained free. District of Columbia: NATO military advisers are helping Afghan forces respond to an attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul on Wednesday, a US official said. Explosions and gunfire rocked the university when it came under fire from militants. No one has immediately claimed responsibility. "A small number of advisers from the Resolute Support mission is currently assisting Afghan forces as they respond," US military spokesman Colonel Michael Lawhorn said in a statement. NATO has about 13,000 service members in Afghanistan under its Resolute Support training mission. The majority of them are American. "These advisers are not in a combat role; they are advising their Afghan counterparts," Lawhorn said, without specifying how many troops were involved. Afghan security forces have since the start of 2015 been in charge of their country`s security, but have often struggled to control a resurgent Taliban and still need frequent help from US and NATO forces. Dozens of Afghan special forces cordoned off the area after the attack started Wednesday evening, when the private university is usually packed with students, many of them working professionals doing part-time courses. The attack comes after two professors at the university -- an American and Australian -- were kidnapped in the heart of Kabul earlier this month, the latest in a series of abductions of foreigners in the conflict-torn country. District of Columbia: A US-led coalition air strike on an Islamic State weapons factory near the jihadists` Syria stronghold Raqa may have killed civilians, the Pentagon said Wednesday. "Reports indicate that what appeared to be a non-military vehicle drove into the target area after the weapon was released from the aircraft," the US military`s Central Command said in a statement. "The vehicle`s occupants may have perished as a result of the strike." Chandigarh: With former BJP leader Navjot Singh Sidhu's talks with Aam Aadmi Party failing to materialise, Congress party has made a fresh offer to him, saying the Grand Old Party's doors are always open for him. If Sidhu is still unsure which way he should head politically after quitting the BJP, the doors of Congress are always open for him, Punjab chief Amarinder Singh was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times. "Sidhu has the Congress in his DNA. His father was a general secretary of the party and remains a member. I know him since he was a boy," Amrinder Singh said. Singh also reiterated that his party is ready to welcome him if he is interested. Sidhu had last month declared his disenchantment with the BJP and has since been in talks to join the Aam Aadmi Party ahead of the crucial assembly elections in Punjab. Those talks have reportedly faltered on a few demands that Sidhu is said to have made, though Delhi chief minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal clarified that his party is waiting for the 52-year-old commentator to make up his mind. "He met me last week. Didn't put any pre-condition. He needs time to think. Let's respect that," Kejriwal had tweeted last week. Sources have said that if Sidhu's talks with AAP come to naught, he will seriously consider the Congress as a political option, though that party too is unlikely to meet his alleged demands. During his negotiations, Sidhu has reportedly asked the AAP leadership to project him as Punjab's presumptive chief minister. He also wants a package deal that includes fielding his wife in the Punjab elections. Sidhu's wife, who shares his first name, is a BJP lawmaker in the Punjab assembly. Moscow: Russian special forces were dispatched to a bank in downtown Moscow late Wednesday where a man had taken four people hostage, local police said. Moscow police said they were able to negotiate the release of two of the hostages, both employees of the bank, shortly after 1700 GMT, but did not reveal how they were freed. According to police the drama began when a man entered a Citibank branch, located just one kilometre away from the Kremlin, shortly before 1600 GMT and was understood to have taken four people hostage -- three bank employees and one customer. An unnamed sourced in law enforcement told Russian news agencies that the hostage taker, whose identity has not been disclosed, was apparently inebriated and had threatened to blow up the bank. Police told RIA Novosti state news agency that the hostage taker had an "unidentified object" attached to his neck. Investigators said they had opened a criminal probe into the incident and that the two freed hostages were being questioned. Karkamis: Turkish tanks and hundreds of opposition fighters thrust deep inside Syrian territory Wednesday in a lightning operation that within hours ousted Islamic State jihadists from a key Syrian border town. The air and ground offensive -- the most ambitious launched by Ankara in the Syria conflict -- made rapid progress towards Jarabulus with rebel fighters already proclaiming victory by the late afternoon just 14 hours after it started. "Jarabulus is completely liberated," Ahmad Othman, a commander of the Sultan Mourad rebel group, told AFP from the scene, while another rebel spokesman said IS fighters had fled towards Al-Bab to the southwest. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is hosting US Vice President Joe Biden in Ankara, said Syrian fighters in Jarabulus had "taken it back" from IS. Turkey`s state-run Anadolu news agency reported that just one Syrian rebel fighter killed and 10 wounded. No Turkish forces lost their lives. Erdogan had earlier emphasised the operation was also targeting Kurdish militia fighters strongly opposed by Ankara -- but backed by the US as a key ally against IS -- who had also been closing in on Jarabulus. Biden reassured Turkey that Washington had told the Kurdish fighters under no circumstances to cross west of the Euphrates River or face the total loss of American support. The operation -- named "Euphrates Shield" -- began at around 4:00 am (0100 GMT) with Turkish artillery pounding dozens of IS targets around Jarabulus. Turkish F-16 fighter jets also hit targets inside Syria. A dozen Turkish tanks then rolled into Syria along with hundreds of Syrian opposition fighters in pick-ups who then moved south towards Jarabulus. US A-10s and F-16s warplanes also hit IS targets in Syria in support of the offensive, a US official said. The speed of the advance was stunning and stood in stark contrast to the long, grinding battles required for Kurdish forces to recapture towns from IS in northern Syria, such as Kobane and Manbij. Turkey`s NTV television said that IS militants had shown little resistance to the advancing forces. The Dogan news agency said 46 jihadists were killed but this was not confirmed by officials. Syrian fighter reconnaissance teams have begun working in the centre of Jarabulus to check for any explosives left behind by the jihadists. A Turkish official, who declined to be named, said: "Turkey will continue operations until we are convinced that imminent threats against the country`s national security have been neutralised." Turkey wants to show it is serious about taking on IS, which has been blamed for a string of attacks inside the country -- the latest a weekend attack on a Kurdish wedding in Gaziantep that left 54 people dead, many of them children. Ankara has in the past been accused of turning a blind eye to the rise of IS in Syria and even aiding it logistically, claims the government had always vehemently denied. Turkey has long been alarmed about the activities inside Syria of the People`s Protection Units (YPG) militia, which Washington sees as an ally but Ankara regards as a terror group. Biden on Wednesday said Washington had made clear to pro-Kurdish forces in Syria that they must not cross west of the Euphrates River. "They cannot, will not and under no circumstances (will) get American support if they do not keep that commitment. Period," he said. Saleh Moslem, head of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the YPG`s political wing, tweeted that Turkey was now in the "Syrian quagmire" and would be "defeated" like IS.Erdogan said the operation was aimed against both IS and PYD -- "terror groups that continuously threaten our country in northern Syria". "We have said `enough is enough`... This now needs to be resolved," he said. The Turkish air strikes were the first since a November diplomatic crisis with Russia sparked when the Turkish air force downed one of Moscow`s warplanes. The developments have come at a critical juncture for Turkey in Syria`s five-and-a-half-year war, with signs growing it is on the verge of a landmark policy shift. Ankara has always called for the removal of President Bashar al-Assad, putting Turkey at odds with his main supporters Iran and Russia. However Prime Minister Binali Yildirim acknowledged at the weekend for the first time that Assad was one of the "actors" in Syria and may need to stay on as part of a transition. But in a note of discord, Russia said it was "deeply concerned" at the situation on the border warning of a "further degeneration of the situation". Assad`s government condemned the incursion as a "flagrant violation" of Syria`s sovereignty. Erode: There has been no movement of Maoists or Naxalites in Erode district, but special police teams are scouring forest areas as a precautionary measure, a senior police official said here Wednesday. "There is no movement of Maoists or Naxals in Erode district. But as a precautionary measure a special team of police personnel are going round Burgur, Sathyamangalam and other forest arras in the district", Dr R Sivakumar, Superintendent of Police, told reporters. The SP said that all precautionary measures were taken in the district to prevent crimes and day and night police beats have been strengthened. He launched a special whatsapp number 9514500100 and wanted the public to use it to give information with pictures about accidents or any other traffic problem in a particular area. Details of road blocks or other problems could also be given, but not memorandum or grievances petitions, he said. New Delhi: Coming down hard on Tamil Nadu Chief Minster J Jayalalithaa, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said, you are a public figure and must face criticism. Issuing fresh notice to Jayalalithaa on a plea alleging abuse of power by her, a bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice C Nagappan said, slapping of defamation cases against people for criticising government policies is not the way a healthy democracy functions. Issuing notice on the plea of DMDK leader Vijaykant, the apex court said, "No other state misuses the state machinery like Tamil Nadu state government," adding, "defamation cases can't be slapped for merely reporting on CM's health condition". Vijaykant had filed a petition challenging the filing of several defamation cases against him by the State for criticising Jayalalithaa and her policies. The top court's tough words came after, Jayalalithaa-led government informed SC that 131 defamation cases were filed against the people for criticising the government and its policies. Rebuking Jayalalithaa, SC said, questioning policy decisions can't be ground for filing a defamation suit. The apex court said defamation suit is not a weapon and it cannot be used to throttle democracy. Paris: Burkinis banned on dozens of beaches, no veils in schools, no niqabs in the neighbourhood: in staunchly secular France, the law imposes an array of restrictions on anything denoting religious affiliation. In 2010, France became the first country in Europe to ban the full-veil with a law banning "the covering of the face in public spaces" which was adopted in October 2010 and applied in April a year later. The ban, which applies everywhere from the street to public transport, targeted both the burka, a voluminous garment which covers the whole body and hides the eyes behind a mesh-like fabric, and the more common niqab face veil. With non-compliance punishable by a fine of up to 150 euros ($170), the law was challenged at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on grounds it breached religious freedom. But in 2014, the court rejected the challenge, and upheld the ban. In the first five years of the law`s application, French officials imposed just over 1,500 fines. Under terms of an earlier law passed in 2004, pupils in the public school system are not allowed to wear any symbols or clothing demonstrating any "conspicuous" sign of religious affiliation, which includes crosses or the kippa Jewish skullcap. The secularisation of France`s system of public education is written into the constitution, the text which has the greatest authority within French law. What is ostensibly behind the various laws is France`s commitment to the principle of `laicite` or secularism -- the separation of Church and state -- which was enshrined in a flagship 1905 law. The ban on wearing headscarves does not extend to universities but the question regularly comes up. "We must do it," Prime Minister Manuel Valls in July. In the public sphere, the law requires public sector workers to respect a "strict neutrality" but the question of wearing a veil within a place of business has not been settled legally. Nothing forbids it in principle, but some employers oppose it, particularly when it affects their commercial activity. A veiled engineer who refused to take off her headscarf despite the protests of a client was dismissed for gross misconduct. The case has now been taken to the European Union`s Court of Justice (CJEU) which is based in Luxembourg. Debate over the issue has once again made global headlines after a number of towns and villages, mostly along the Cote d`Azur, decided to institute a ban on their beaches of garments which "conspicuously" display religious affiliation. Such decrees insist on the wearing of "proper attire, which is respectful of good morality and the principle of secularism" -- wording which effectively refers to the `burkini` a full body swimsuit covering the hair down to the ankles which is worn by very few women. The move, which comes after months of deadly jihadists attacks across France, including a grisly hit-and-run attack in Nice last month which killed 86 people, was initiated by a handful of local mayors on grounds it would prevent public order offences. France`s administrative court initially gave its stamp of approval, but on Thursday, the Council of State, the nation`s highest administrative court, will examine a challenge to the ban on grounds it stigmatises Muslims. Port Blair: Amidst concerns that drones are being flown in the strategically-important Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Army has asked the Union Territory administration to investigate the matter. An official of the tri-service Andaman and Nicobar Command said they have recently written to the police informing them of such reports and asking to take action. "On February 9 and 10, it was reported that someone was flying a drone near the Veer Savarkar International Airport here in Port Blair. And just recently we came across an advertisement in a local daily where someone was trying to sell drone," he told PTI. The official said if drones are being sold that means there is a possibility that someone might be flying it too. "There has been a report of an incident earlier too. So we have asked the police to investigate if drones are being used around sensitive zones like airports and other such sensitive establishments," he said. Guided by a remote control device, drones have the capacity to fly few meters above the ground and click photos and record videos. Varanasi: In a shocking incident, a male student of Banaras Hindu University was abducted and gang-raped. The alleged victim is a first-year student of MA (Hindi) in the prestigious university. Doctors have confirmed the sexual assault of the 19-year-old boy. The incident happened earlier this month. The case has been filed at Lanka police station. Vice-Chancellor of BHU Girish Chandra Tripathi has kept complete silence on the matter. BHU authorities claim that police is not expediting its investigation. The alleged victim's brother said, the whole family was shocked about the shameful incident, which happened at the one of the most reputed institutes of the country. Lucknow: Normal life was thrown out of gear here on Wednesday as BJP workers protested against alleged deterioration in law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh, even as the issue was raised vociferously in the state Legislature leading to washout of Question Hour in both the Houses. BJP workers were lathi-charged by police, who also used water cannons when the workers rushed menacingly to gherao Vidhan Bhawan where the proceedings of the Legislature were on. Outside the Legislature complex, party workers virtually laid siege to the arterial thoroughfares creating massive traffic snarls and affecting the movement of ambulances and school vans. The heavy police force and barricading were seen in and around Hazratganj, the busy commercial area in the state capital, and GPO complex close to the Assembly building. However, determined BJP workers, led by some party MPs and MLAs, broke the security cordon forcing police to use water cannons to disperse them. The issue had an echo in both state Assembly and Council where the Question Hour was stalled amid uproar created by BJP members, who stormed the Well to raise law and order and other issues. As soon as the Assembly met at 11 am, BJP members trooped into the Well raising slogans against the Samajwadi Party government. They held placards and banners highlighting issues like "poor" law and order, power crisis and sugarcane dues of farmers. BSP Legislature Party leader Gaya Charan Dinkar also sought to corner the state government on the law and order front. Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey tried to pacify the members and asked them to return to their seats but as his plea went unheeded, he adjourned the House till 12.20 pm. When the House reassembled, similar scenes were witnessed and in the prevailing commotion, the Chair took up the supplementary budget and the related appropriation bill. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, in his speech, accused the Centre of not providing adequate funds to the state. "BJP members should gherao Parliament as the Centre is not giving due share to UP," he said. After the Budget was passed by voice vote, the Speaker adjourned the House for the day. The Council too witnessed turmoil as BJP members stormed into the Well and raised anti-government slogans, leading to its adjournment initially for one hour, then till 3 pm and finally for the day. Amid the uproar, the supplementary budget, as passed by the Assembly was tabled and later returned without discussion. Lucknow: The four accused in the Bulandshahr gang-rape case on Wednesday pleaded not guilty in a Bulandshahr court and demanded a narco-analysis test to prove their innocence. Salim Chamar and his three accomplices -- who said they were falsely implicated by police in the case -- were presented in the court by the Central Bureau of Investigation at the end of their remand. Manju Sharma, the counsel for the accused, said they demanded that the court order a narco-analysis test on them. The counsel said the CBI did not present before the court the items the police claimed to have found from the crime scene. The police had claimed seizing jewellery and other valuables looted from the victims but these were not presented in the court on Wednesday. The court asked that these items be presented before it on Thursday, to which the CBI agreed. On August 19, the CBI took over the probe into the case following an Allahabad High Court order. The CBI registered a case under Sections 395 (punishment for dacoity), 397 (robbery), 376D (unlawful sexual contact), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement) of the Indian Penal Code and 4 of POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act. A 34-year-old woman and her teenaged daughter were gang-raped in the fields in Dostpur village in Bulandshahr district on the intervening night of July 29 and 30 after their car carrying six members of the family from Noida was stopped by criminals on National Highway-91 in Bulandshahr. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday reached out to the people in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi and said all assistance is being provided to tackle the flood situation. Incessant rains have forced over 100,000 people to vacate their homes in northern Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring Bihar. According to reports, around 30 people have been killed in the two states from the floods. Deeply concerned by the flood situation in Varanasi. PMO is closely monitoring the situation & is in touch with with local authorities. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 24, 2016 NDRF teams are present at Varanasi for rescue & relief work. The MP office there is working round the clock to provide all assistance. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 24, 2016 A total of 130,000 people are sheltering in relief camps across the two states and additional emergency workers have been deployed to help with rescue and relief efforts. Mathura: Security has been stepped up in and around Mathura ahead of the Krishna Janmashtami festivities during which lakhs of pilgrims would visit the city. Heavy police force would be deployed at the two main shrines -- Lord Krishna's birth place and Dwarkadhish temple, besides 160 CCTV cameras will be installed at strategic points during the festival tomorrow, SSP Babloo Kumar said. 160 CCTV has been installed, 13 PAC companies, four CRPF companies, 1,500 police personnels and 500 Homeguards have been deployed at the two shrines, he said. Entire area in and around Lord Krishna's Janmasthan has been divided into three zones and 14 sectors. SWAT teams and police personnels in plain clothes have also been deployed at various places, Kumar said. Fifty-seven barriers and 16 watch towers have been put up in and around the Janmasthan, the district police chief said. "The security personnel on duty at Lord Krishna's birth place will only be allowed to enter the shrine premises after thorough checking," he said. Movement of vehicle, 50 meters around the Janmasthan and Dwarkadhish, temple has been banned, he said. "Pilgrims will be allowed to enter the Janmasthan from Govindnagar gate while exit would be from the main gate," he said. Lost and found centre and medical camp has been set up at entry and exit gates, 16 parking areas would be available for pilgrims' vehicles, the SSP added. Saharanpur: A vehicle, allegedly carrying beef, was Tuesday set on fire by a group of people in Rampur Maniharan area here. The mob went on a rampage after they intercepted a pick-up vehicle, allegedly carrying beef, SP Sanjay Singh said Police had to lathicharge to disperse the crowd, Singh said. A case of beef smuggling has been registered in this connection and investigation is on, he added. Lucknow: A step-mom in Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh has been accused of strangulating her six-year-old son after he asked for food, police said on Wednesday. Five months ago, 25-year-old Tabassum had married Shahid Khan, a widower with two children. On Tuesday, the body of the older child, Saif, was found in their home in the Bithra area of the city. Shahid, who is a mason by profession, has accused Tabassum of strangulating his six-year-old child. The police have sent the body for autopsy and has detained the stepmother. A police officer told media that the accused killed the child in a fit of rage as he woke her up from her afternoon nap after his return from school and asked for food. Saif's four-year-old younger sister was at home when the incident happened. She narrated the entire episode to her grandmother when she returned home, who later repeated the shocking tale to the police team. However, as per the report, Saif's sister's statement could not be recorded as she is a minor. For now, the Uttar Pradesh Police, who have detained the accused and have kept her at women's police station, are waiting for the postmortem examination report. Kolkata: In a major crackdown on the 'Narayani Sena', a private army of the erstwhile Maharaja of Coochbehar, the Trinamool Congress government on Wednesday banned all training centres where its volunteers were given arms training. According to reports, the move comes a day after TMC accused the central government of trying to disrupt smooth functioning of the state government. The party alo alleged that the BSF was providing "training" to 'Narayani Sena', a private army of the erstwhile Maharaja of Coochbehar. The BSF, however, denied the allegation and termed it as "baseless". "It is a deep-rooted conspiracy against the state government. How come BSF is giving training to Narayani Sena and other elements who are involved in smuggling?" senior TMC leader and state parliamentary affairs minister Partha Chatterjee had told reporters. "We have officially expressed our grievances and lodged a complaint with the highest quarters of the central government," he said. Chatterjee said this was being done by keeping the state government in the "dark". Chatterjee made the remark following a recent probe report submitted by the DIG, Jalpaiguri Range at the state secretariat which said BSF officials in Mathabhanga area of Cooch Behar in north Bengal "imparted training to volunteers of the Narayani Sena". Narayani Sena is an alleged militia which is being raised by the Greater Cooch Behar People's Association or GCPA in support of their demand for a separate state of Greater Cooch Behar on "ethnic grounds". Beijing: The Chinese Army is all set to discard erstwhile Soviet-style bulky military and opt for lean US-style forces for quick deployment with plans to retrench three lakh troops as part of reorganising the world's largest military. The People's Liberation Army (PLA), which together with Navy and Air Forces constitutes 2.3 million strong forces, the world's largest, will phase out its Army corps as it tries to mould a more nimble fighting force, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported. The move will also impact the military deployment along the India-China borders, the PLA now plans to turn its 18 Army Corps into 25 to 30 divisions. The size of a corp varies from 30,000 to a lakh of soldiers. The current approach was inherited from the Soviet Union, but it's a bulky model no longer suited to the demands of modern warfare, which prizes modularity, a retired senior colonel based in Beijing said. Instead, the style of the US 101st Airborne Division is the best example that the PLA land forces will study, he said. "This is the main trend in modern warfare. Even the Russian Army has tried to learn from the US Army by reducing the size of their troops, making land forces become more nimble and quick-response," the veteran said. "The style of the US 101st Airborne Division is the best example that the (People's Liberation Army's) land forces will study, especially its quick deployment, equipment and logistic supplies, as well as other supporting networks, which reflect the success of its nimble and efficient system," he said. A Chinese defence white paper last year highlighted the importance of building small, multifunctional and modular units that could take on different purposes for joint operations. As part of the overall military reforms initiated by President Xi Jinping, who also heads the decision-making Central Military Commission, the PLA has dissolved the four general headquarters and instead set up 15 new organisations including the Headquarters of the Joint Force. The seven military commands were reshaped into five theatre commands. Also, Xi has proposed to cut three lakh troops by next year. It was only a matter of time for the army corps units to be either downsized or scrapped, although the change would inevitably encounter strong opposition from the ground force, the report said. Wellington: The Fijian military head arrived in New Zealand on Wednesday to continue the rebuilding of links between the armed forces of the two countries. Commander Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto would be holding talks with New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and Ministry of Defence officials during his four-day visit, said NZDF Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Tim Keating. "There has been a good momentum in the defence relationship, this visit builds on that," Keating said in a statement, Xinhua news agency reported. "I am pleased to be hosting Rear Admiral Naupoto. This is the first visit to New Zealand by a Commander of the RFMF since many years." The defence cooperation was formally resumed between the two military forces in late 2014, following a normalizing of relations Keating visited Fiji at the end of June for talks with Naupoto on defence and security cooperation. The NZDF was heavily involved in the response to the Tropical Cyclone Winston in February, sending its biggest peacetime deployment to the Pacific, involving ships, aircrafts and more than 500 personnel. The cyclone killed at least 42 people, and damaged or destroyed thousands of homes and other buildings. Also in June, John Key became the first New Zealand Prime Minister to visit Fiji in 10-years, and held talks with his counterpart - Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama Other Pacific nations imposed sanctions on Fiji after Bainimarama seized power in a military coup in 2006. Relations were normalised after elections in September 2014, when Bainimarama was elected Fiji's Prime Minister with about 60 per cent of the vote. Washington: US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton holds a lead over her Republican rival Donald Trump by eight percentage points, according to a new NBC News/SurveyMonkey Weekly Election Online Tracking Poll issued on Tuesday. The former Secretary of State, who has been consistently polling ahead of Trump in national polls since the end of July, is now favoured by 50 per cent of registered voters, while Trump is backed by 42 per cent, the poll finds. In a four-way matchup, Clinton holds a 5-point lead over Trump, 43 per cent to 38 per cent. Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson has 11 per cent support while Green Party leader Jill Stein has 5 per cent. Among black voters, Clinton holds a huge lead -- 87 per cent of black voters said they will support her, while the New York billionaire only enjoys the support of 8 per cent. Clinton also leads over Trump among Hispanic voters, 73 per cent to 22 per cent and with Asian-American voters, 66 per cent to 23 per cent. However, she trails Trump among white voters, 41 per cent to 50 per cent. The poll found that 65 per cent of registered voters polled said race relations are getting worse in the country, and only 10 per cent hold the opposite opinion. Another 24 per cent said they were staying the same. More than half of registered voters polled also said men and women still don`t enjoy equal opportunities. The survey was conducted on Aug 15-21 among 17,459 adults who said they are registered to vote. The margin of error is 1.1 per cent. Kirkuk: Iraqi forces on Wednesday closed in on the centre of Qayyarah, officials said, on the second day of an operation to recapture the town from jihadists. Qayyarah lies on the western bank of the Tigris river, about 60 kilometres (35 miles) south of Mosul, the Islamic State group`s last major urban stronghold in Iraq. Brigadier General Najm al-Juburi from the operations command for Nineveh, the province in which both Qayyarah and Mosul are located, said the town was now encircled. "There are only a few metres left before troops advancing from the west and troops coming from the east meet and complete the siege around Qayyarah," he told AFP. He said the vast majority of villages around Qayyarah had been retaken since special forces launched the operation on Tuesday. Juburi and other military officials in the area confirmed the progress and said that a nearby oil field and refinery had also been recaptured from IS. "Liberating Qayyarah will mean cutting off Mosul from the southern areas, which will make liberating Mosul much easier," Juburi said. "This is a blow to the organisation of Daesh (IS) because it affects their economy, and this after we retook an air base that is now going to be used to attack them," he said. Iraqi security forces have been operating in the area for weeks, as part of shaping operations for a major offensive on the city of Mosul in the coming weeks or months. They had already retaken the Qayyarah air field, which IS was not using because it has no air force but which Iraqi aircraft will soon be using against the jihadists. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Tuesday reiterated his promise that Mosul would be retaken and the country rid of IS by the end of 2016. IS has suffered a string of setbacks in Iraq and the "caliphate" it proclaimed two years ago has been shrinking steadily for a year. Its fighters are vastly outnumbered in Nineveh but one of the toughest challenges for Iraq will be the mass displacement a broad offensive on Mosul is expected to trigger. The United Nations` refugee agency on Tuesday warned that it could spark displacement on a scale not seen globally in years. Baghdad: Iraq's ambassador to Portugal has been summoned to Baghdad after the envoy's twin sons were arrested on suspicion of assaulting a 15-year-old boy, the foreign ministry has said. The incident happened last week in Ponte de Sor, central Portugal, following a brawl between locals and pupils at a nearby flight school where one of the twins is enrolled, according to Portuguese media yesterday. A source close to the investigation said the 17-year-old sons of the Iraqi ambassador in Lisbon, Saad Mohamed Ridha, were arrested but then released because they had diplomatic immunity. Portugal's Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva said his country may request that Iraq remove the diplomatic immunity so that the pair can be prosecuted. The 15-year-old boy suffered a fractured skull and other extensive injuries and has been placed in a medically-induced coma, local media said. The Iraqi twin brothers, Haider and Ridha Ali, were interviewed on the Portuguese television channel SIC, with the former expressing remorse while the latter claimed to have been defending himself from attack. "I am ready to fully accept the responsibility of my actions, I don't know what is the Iraqi government's reaction. I am not hiding under the umbrella of the diplomatic immunity," Haider Ali said, offering his "deepest apologies" and insisting he wouldn't leave Portugal. His brother Ridha said the pair had been "attacked by five or six persons". "They passed me around like a ball. I was trying to fight but I couldn't do much, they were too many people," he said. Ridha Ali added that "Ruben" saw them a little later and spoke in "a very aggressive tone... He hit me again in the face and on my shoulder". "I felt insulted and couldn't take it anymore... So I ran after him, I punched him and a minute later, he was down on the ground. I kicked him a few times when he was down on the ground." The Iraqi foreign ministry said it was following the case "with close concern" and had launched a probe to gather "details concerning this incident and gather information from mass media". "The ministry of foreign affairs has summoned the Iraqi ambassador to Portugal to discuss the incident his sons are accused of," spokesman Ahmad Jamal said. The foreign ministry added it was keen to maintain "its good reputation" and the solid relations it enjoys with Portugal. Tokyo: Foreign ministers from Japan, China and South Korea held their first talks in more than a year Wednesday just hours after North Korea fired a ballistic missile from a submarine towards Japan. The apparently successful launch, which Japan said marked the first time a North Korean sub-launched missile had entered its air defence identification zone, was likely to top the agenda. The meeting, the first since March 2015, comes as Tokyo, Seoul and Beijing have struggled to find common ground on how to deal with North Korea. Japan and South Korea regularly condemn Pyongyang for its nuclear and missile development, but are frustrated by what they see as a lack of pressure on the country by the North`s economic lifeline China. Japanese foreign minister Fumio Kishida said the launch was "absolutely unacceptable," in his opening remarks, adding that the three countries should closely cooperate and lead the global effort to deal with North Korea. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi earlier called for calm. "We hope that (the situation) will not become more tense and complicated," he told reporters in Tokyo ahead of the trilateral talks, Jiji Press reported. The talks also start as Japan, China and South Korea are themselves at odds over territorial disputes and a US missile defence system. The ministers -- China`s Wang, host Kishida and South Korea`s Yun Byung-Se -- held hands for photographs at the start of the meeting. They met for dinner at a Tokyo hotel Tuesday ahead of the talks, which come in the run-up to a Group of 20 summit in China early next month. Sino-Japanese tensions over a territorial dispute have risen this month, while China and South Korea have sparred over the planned deployment in the latter country of a US anti-missile system. Japan and China are locked in a long-running dispute over uninhabited islets in the East China Sea called the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China. Tokyo has lodged more than two dozen protests through diplomatic channels since August 5, saying there have been about 30 intrusions by Chinese vessels into its territorial waters. Separately, China has complained about the planned deployment of the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea, arguing the missile shield damages its own security interests and will heighten regional tension. South Korea, wary of offending China, had wavered about the installation but went ahead in the face of North Korea`s continued missile development. China is "resolutely opposed", Wang told reporters after holding a bilateral meeting with South Korea`s Yun, Jiji reported. Tokyo: Japan told China on Wednesday its ships must stop violating Japanese territory in the East China Sea after a long-standing maritime row intensified this month. The admonition came during a meeting between Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. The two countries are locked in a dispute over uninhabited islands controlled by Japan as the Senkakus but claimed by China as the Diaoyus. Tensions have waxed and waned though rose this month as Japan grew angry over what it said were numerous incursions into waters around the islets by Chinese ships. Tokyo has lodged more than two dozen protests through diplomatic channels since August 5, saying there have been repeated "intrusions" by Chinese coastguard vessels. "I strongly asked him to completely quieten the situation, prevent it from occurring again and improve the overall environment in the East China Sea," Kishida told reporters after meeting Wang. At one point Japan reported more than 200 Chinese fishing boats operating near the islands and said there was cooperation between some of them and coastguard vessels. Kishida quoted Wang as saying that China would control the situation. Wang, however, in separate remarks to reporters, said he and Kishida had extensive talks but suggested the issue had been blown out of proportion. "It is related both to the fishing season, but also hyped by the media," said Wang, a former Chinese ambassador to Japan. "The situation has now returned to normal." He added that the two sides agreed to "make efforts to resolve our maritime dispute" as well as launch "as soon as possible" a previously discussed mechanism to prevent accidents at sea and air. Increased patrols by ships and aircraft from the two sides around the rocky islets have periodically raised fears of accidental armed clashes. Tokyo and Beijing in November 2014 agreed on a four-point accord to improve their relationship, which had soured to its worst in years over the island dispute and other issues. Contacts have increased but relations remain marked largely by tension and distrust. Kishida also said that if the situation in the East China Sea improves, Japan would like to step up a dialogue with China -- including at next month`s G20 summit in Hangzhou to be attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Wang`s visit is the first by a Chinese foreign minister to Japan since Xi became president in March 2013. "We have to work to improve the Sino-Japanese relationship," he said upon arrival. Earlier on Wednesday, Wang, Kishida and South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-Se held trilateral talks at which they discussed regional issues such as North Korea. They also reaffirmed a leaders` summit would be held later this year in Japan, though no date was announced. Kabul: At least one person was killed and 14 others injured on Wednesday in a gun and bomb attack at American University in Kabul, Fox news reported. Five people were taken to Emergency Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, CNN said citing hospital's tweet. Eyewitnesses said they heard gunshots and a blast at 7:50 p.m. local time when students were gathering and eating together. Ambulances, security forces and rescue teams were on the premises of the university. According to the Afghan news channel TOLOnews, the gunfire erupted again shortly after the units entered the campus. "Security forces have cordoned off the area. Officials confirm dozens of students and staff trapped inside," TOLOnews tweeted. Moscow: Russia might use Iran's Hamedan airbase again to carry out attacks on terror targets in Syria, authorities said on Wednesday. Moscow and Tehran would reach agreements on some specific issues soon, including the use of the airbase by the Russian military to strike extremist groups in Syria, Xinhua news agency quoted Vladimir Komoedov, chairman of the Defence Committee, as saying. An agreement between the two countries over the issue is "only a matter of time", Komoedov said. Russian bombers took off from the airbase on August 16 for three consecutive days to strike the Islamic State militant group hideouts in Syria. It was the first time Russia has used the territory of another nation, apart from Syria itself, to launch such strikes since Moscow started a bombing campaign against the IS in September last year. Earlier this week, Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said the military had accomplished its targets against the IS forces in Syria. Canberra: Australian authorities have not ruled out terror motivations after a French national allegedly attacked three people in a northern Australian hostel, said a police official on Wednesday. The 29-year-old man allegedly uttered 'Allahu Akbar' during the stabbing attack on late Tuesday night at a backpacker hostel near Townsville in northern Queensland state, leaving a 21-year-old British woman dead and two men with severe injuries, Xinhua news agency reported. While investigations revealed comments that could point to extremist Islamic motivations, it was not yet fully determined if the attack was terror-related, Steve Gollschewski, Deputy Commissioner of Queensland Police, said on Wednesday. "While this information will be factored into the investigation, we are not ruling out any motivations at this stage, whether they be political or criminal," Gollschewski said. "Investigators will also consider whether mental health or drug misuse factors are involved in this incident," he said. The authorities have conducted 16 counter-terror operations since 2014, arresting 44 alleged home-grown terrorists. The French national had entered Australia lawfully in March on a temporary visa, and was not on any watch lists, Gollschewski said. "While this matter is being treated as a homicide, the Queensland Police Service will continue to work with its federal counterparts in relation to the investigation," he said. Australian Federal Police commander Sharon Cowden said authorities are working with international law enforcement agencies. Authorities said they are not searching for any other suspect in connection to the attack "at this time", reaffirming there is no ongoing threat from the incident. "This is not about race or religion. It is individual criminal behaviour," Gollschewski added. Australia has been on high alert for terror attacks since September 2014, suffering several attacks including the lone wolf-style murder of Police accountant Curtis Cheng at a Western Sydney police station in 2015. Tokyo: The Foreign Ministers of Japan, South Korea and China began a trilateral summit in Tokyo on Wednesday to discuss the launch of a ballistic missile by a North Korean submarine hours earlier that fell into the sea, off the Japanese coast. Japanese Foreign minister Fumio Kishida, and his counterparts -- Yun Byung-se and Wang Yi, the South Korean and Chinese Foreign Ministers, respectively -- are attending the meeting, Efe news reported. The missile launched by a North Korean submarine from the country's eastern coast around 5.00 a.m. on Wednesday, flew around 500 km (311 miles) before falling into the sea, 500 km from the Japanese coast, making it Pyongyang's most successful ballistic missile test till date. The latest launch that underlines the progress in North Korea's weapons development programme will take priority in the agenda of the meeting, ahead of discussions on economic cooperation, disaster management as also a possible trilateral summit between the leaders. Japan is also expected to convey its displeasure to China over Beijing's actions around the disputed Senkaku islands in recent months. Since 2012, the dispute between the two, over the sovereignty of these Tokyo-administered islands, has worsened and played a significant role in stalling the trilateral meets. Meanwhile, Tokyo and Seoul are also locked in a dispute over the ownership of the Dokdo islands, and also over the role of the Japanese imperial forces during their occupation of the Korean peninsula before and during the Second World War. The summit is also expected to pave the way for a meeting between the Japanese Prime Minister and the Chinese president on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, China, between the 4th and 5th of September. Karkamis: Turkish tanks and hundreds of opposition fighters thrust deep inside Syrian territory on Wednesday in a lightning operation that within hours ousted Islamic State jihadists from a key Syrian border town. The air and ground offensive -- the most ambitious launched by Ankara in the Syria conflict -- made rapid progress towards Jarabulus with rebel fighters already proclaiming victory by the late afternoon just 14 hours after it started. "Jarabulus is completely liberated," Ahmad Othman, commander of the Sultan Mourad rebel group, told AFP from the scene, while another rebel spokesman said IS fighters had fled towards Al-Bab to the southwest. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasised the operation was also targeting Kurdish militia fighters strongly opposed by Ankara -- but backed by the US as a key ally against IS -- who had also been closing in on Jarabulus. But visiting US Vice President Joe Biden reassured Turkey that Washington had told the Kurdish fighters under no circumstances to cross west of the Euphrates River or face the total loss of American support. The operation -- named "Euphrates Shield" -- began at around 4:00 AM (0100 GMT) with Turkish artillery pounding dozens of IS targets around Jarabulus. Turkish F-16 fighter jets, backed by US-led coalition war planes, also hit targets inside Syria. A dozen Turkish tanks then rolled into Syria in support of Syrian opposition fighters who had also crossed, with 1,500 of them now in the area according to state media. The rapidity of the advance was stunning and in complete contrast to the long-grinding battles where Kurdish forces had taken towns in northern Syria like Kobane and Manbij from IS. As well as tanks, an AFP photographer in the area of Karkamis opposite Jarabulus saw several smaller military vehicles believed to be carrying the pro-Ankara Syrian rebels. Security sources quoted by Turkish television said a small contingent of special forces had travelled into Syria to secure the area before the larger ground operation. The effects of one air raid on the northern outskirts of Jarabulus were easily visible, sending up a cloud of black smoke and sand. Turkey wants to show it is serious about taking on IS, which has been blamed for a string of attacks inside the country -- the latest a weekend attack on a Kurdish wedding in Gaziantep that left 54 people dead, many of them children. Ankara was long accused of turning a blind eye to the rise of IS in Syria and even aiding its movements to-and-fro across the border, claims the government had always vehemently denied. District of Columbia: Turkey has submitted four extradition requests for the US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen but offered no evidence tying him to last month`s failed coup, a senior US official said on Wednesday. "They have not provided extradition requests on anything related to Gulen`s involvement in the coup attempt," he told reporters of the Turkish authorities, adding that the four requests are "all related to allegations of criminal behavior that predated the coup." Ankara accuses Gulen, an erstwhile ally turned bitter foe of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, of masterminding the bloody putsch attempt from rural Pennsylvania, where he has lived in self-imposed exile since 1999. Turkey has demanded that he be placed in provisional detention and returned to Turkey to face charges, but Washington insists that any evidence be brought before a US court under normal extradition proceedings. The senior US official was traveling with US Vice President Joe Biden, who arrived in Turkey on Wednesday for meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim in an effort to help improve relations strained by the coup attempt. The highest-ranking US official to visit the NATO ally since the coup attempt, Biden is expected to come under intense pressure over Gulen`s fate. The Turkish authorities "have provided no evidence to us at all of Gulen`s possible connections to the coup," the US official said, adding that any extradition decision would be made under judicial process with no White House interference. "We can work with the Turks to present evidence to court, but the court decides," he said. "And if we are perceived as politicizing this, it could be counter-productive." Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday said he would tell US Vice President Joe Biden that Washington has "no excuse" for not handing over the Pennsylvania-based cleric blamed for last month`s failed coup. Erdogan, who is due to meet with Biden in Ankara later on Wednesday, said Turkey would continue to provide US officials with documents to demand the extradition of Fethullah Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since 1999. Gulen, once an Erdogan ally, denies any involvement in the July 15 coup attempt and has condemned it. But Turkish officials say a network of Gulen supporters for years infiltrated Turkey`s military and public offices to create a "parallel state". "We will tell him that FETO`s leader is in your country," Erdogan said, using an acronym for "Gulenist Terror Organisation", the name Ankara has given Gulen`s network. "If a country wants a criminal in your country to be extradited, you have no rights to argue with that." Erdogan said Turkey and Washington were strategic partners and keeping Gulen would not benefit the United States. Biden, who arrived in Turkey on Wednesday, was guided by Turkish officials around the parliament, which was damaged during the coup attempt. He is also expected to meet with the prime minister. Rogue troops commandeered tanks, jets and helicopters to attack state institutions in Istanbul and Ankara last month in the failed coup bid that killed 240 people and triggered a massive purge of thousands of suspected Gulen followers in Turkey`s armed forces and civil service. Washington has said it needs clear evidence to extradite Gulen. Its failure to do so - and the perception of a slow response to the coup from Western allies - has angered Erdogan and chilled relations with Washington and the European Union. The US State Department has confirmed documents submitted by Ankara constituted a formal extradition request, although not on issues related to the coup. Hours before Biden`s arrival, Turkish forces launched a major operation inside Syria to clear Islamic State militants out of the Syrian frontier town Jarablus, backed by US-led coalition warplanes. Turkey is both a NATO member and part of the US coalition in the fight against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. But US-Ankara relations have been complicated by that conflict. Washington backs the Syrian Kurdish YPG rebels against Islamic State. Ankara is worried the YPG`s advance emboldens Kurdish insurgents in its mainly Kurdish southeast. State Debate: Brace yourself for Scott Walker's worst budget yet, warns James Rowen; Bloggers debate cause of Milwaukee unrest United Nations: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on the international community to renew its commitment to eliminate weapons of mass destruction as technological advances make it cheaper and easier for terrorist groups to produce and deliver materials for making the weapons. Ban, speaking at a high-level meeting of the UN Security Council yesterday, said much good work has been done to curb the production of WMDs, including the landmark Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and Security Council Resolution 1540 in 2004, which legally obligates UN member states to enforce measures against the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. But he said technological advances have made it easier for terrorist groups to gain access to the materials needed for making such weapons. "Vicious non-state actors that target civilians for carnage are actively seeking chemical, biological and nuclear weapons," he said. In fact, the possibility of the use of such weapons by terrorist groups, criminals and other non-state actors has become one of the most significant challenges to nations around the world, said Emmanuel Roux, INTERPOL's special representative to the UN INTERPOL works to facilitate police cooperation around the world. "Organisations such as al-Qaeda, (Japanese doomsday cult) Aum Shinrikyo, and other extremist groups have, in the past, expressly announced their intention backed by real attempts to develop, acquire, and deploy weapons of mass destruction against civilian populations," he told the Council. Roux said the threat of WMDs is more imminent than ever because terrorist organizations have become more complex, with more movement of fighters across borders in recent years, giving them more access to recruits who have expertise in WMDs. For example, he said that in 2014 INTERPOL seized an Islamic State group laptop owned by a Tunisian chemistry and physics student that contained a 19-page document on how to develop biological weapons. The document also included instructions on how to test the weapons on mice. Washington: The US today strongly condemned North Korea's test firing of a submarine-launched ballistic missile, describing it as a "provocation" in violation of the UN Security Council resolutions. "We strongly condemn this and North Korea's other recent missile tests, which violate UN Security Council Resolutions explicitly prohibiting North Korea's launches using ballistic missile technology," said Pentagon spokesman Gary Ross. Strongly condemning this missile test in violation of the UN Security Council resolutions, the Pentagon termed the development as a "provocation". "This provocation only serves to increase the international community's resolve to counter the DPRK's prohibited activities, including through implementing existing UN Security Council sanctions. "Multiple UN Security Council resolutions require the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile programme," he said. The US intends to raise its concerns at the UN to bolster international resolve in holding the DPRK accountable for these actions, Ross said. "Our commitment to the defence of our allies, including the Republic of Korea and Japan, in the face of these threats, is ironclad. We remain prepared to defend ourselves and our allies from any attack or provocation," he said. "We call on North Korea to refrain from actions that further raise tensions in the region and focus instead on taking concrete steps toward fulfilling its commitments and international obligations," Ross said. The US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) late last night said its systems detected and tracked what was assessed as a North Korean submarine missile launch at 3:29 PM CDT on August 23, 2016. The launch of a presumed KN-11 submarine-launched ballistic missile occurred off the coast of Sinpo, it said adding, it "did not pose a threat to North America". The missile was tracked over and into the Sea of Japan, around 480 kilometres off the coast of North Korea. It comes amid threats from North Korea of nuclear retaliation in response to large-scale US-South Korean military drills. District of Columbia: The United States is providing Turkey`s military with air cover, intelligence and advisers in its offensive against the Islamic State (IS) group inside Syria, a senior US official said on Wednesday. "We want to help the Turks get ISIL off the border" between the two countries, the official told reporters, using an alternative acronym for the IS group. The official was traveling with US Vice President Joe Biden, who arrived in Turkey on Wednesday for meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, in an effort to help improve relations strained by Turkey`s coup d`etat attempt last month. US advisers are communicating with the Turkish military about a plan to take the Syrian border town of Jarabulus, a key IS stronghold that is a primary objective of the Turkish offensive, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The United States is "syncing up with them, our advisers are in the planning cell with them," he said. "We`ll have close air support if there`s an operation" in Jarabulus. Washington is also helping ensure that Kurdish fighters further south do not provoke a conflict with Turkish forces by moving north toward Jarabulus, the official said. The United States has made it clear to the Syrian Democratic Forces, a US-backed Kurdish and Arab alliance, that "we don`t and won`t support them going north, and they can`t without our air cover, so we`ve put a lid on them moving north," he said. "I think we`ve put a lid on the Turks` biggest concern (which) gives us breathing space to make sure the Jarabulus operation is done the right way." The Turkish operation -- named "Euphrates Shield" -- began early Wednesday with Turkish artillery pounding dozens of IS group targets around Jarabulus, according to the Turkish prime minister`s office. Turkish tanks and special forces accompanied by pro-Ankara Syrian rebels then rolled across the border in an unprecedented operation to drive the IS group out of the town from which it has fired rockets into Turkey. Pro-Ankara Syrian rebels took the village of Keklijah three miles (five kilometers) west of Jarabulus and two miles from the border, Turkish state media said, in the operation`s first reported military success. Plain Talk: UW System can't afford another double whammy from Walker and Co. S&P 500 3,901.06 DOW 32,861.80 QQQ 281.22 Apple Inc. Stock Q4 Results Beat Negative Outlook, Stock Rises Elon Musk takes over Twitter but where will he go from here? McDonalds Stock Sizzles, but Will it Hit a New All-Time High? Why is Amazon Stock Falling? Is the Sell-Off Overdone? Chevron Gushes More Profits; Is it Time for Investors to Buy? Will Ryanair Stock Gains, Strong Estimates Help it Fly? An introduction to Reinforcement Learning and a look of two of the most important papers Mylan Pharmaceuticals has come under fire for raising the price of epinephrine injectors from $100 to $500 over the course of five years The American Medical Association urged the maker of the EpiPen, a life-saving device that counteracts severe allergies, to drop its price Wednesday as public outrage mounted over a soaring cost hike. Mylan Pharmaceuticals has come under fire for raising the price of epinephrine injectors from $100 to $500 over the course of five years, a price tag critics say puts it out of reach for many parents. EpiPens are used when those suffering severe allergies are stung by bees or accidentally ingest peanuts to ward off potentially deadly reactions. "Although the product is unchanged since 2009, the cost has skyrocketed by more than 400 percent during that period," AMA President Andrew Gurman said in a statement. "The AMA has long urged the pharmaceutical industry to exercise reasonable restraint in drug pricing, and, with lives on the line, we urge the manufacturer to do all it can to rein in these exorbitant costs." A petition on MoveOn.org calling on Mylan CEO Heather Bresch to "stop price-gouging" has garnered more than 129,000 signatures. A pair of EpiPens costs just $85 in France, the petition notes. "Mylan, which has a near monopoly in the US, has seen its profits from the EpiPen alone skyrocket to $1.2 billion a year," it says. - 'Moral questions' - Asked at a White House press briefing about the EpiPen price hike, spokesman Josh Earnest declined to comment specifically on the company's strategy. "I will observe, however, that pharmaceutical companies that often try to portray themselves as the inventors of lifesaving medication often do real damage to their reputation by being greedy and jacking up prices in a way that victimizes vulnerable Americans," he told reporters. "And I think it raises significant questions, even moral questions, in the minds of a lot of people." Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton also called for the EpiPen price to come down, noting that millions of people rely on the epinephrine injectors, which must be replaced every 12-18 months. Story continues She called the price hike "outrageous -- and it's just the latest troubling example of a company taking advantage of its consumers," in a statement on Facebook. "It's wrong when drug companies put profits ahead of patients, raising prices without justifying the value behind them," added Clinton. She said if elected, her plan would be to require pharmaceutical manufacturers "to explain significant price increases, and prove that any additional costs are linked to additional patient benefits and better value. "Since there is no apparent justification in this case, I am calling on Mylan to immediately reduce the price of EpiPens." Members of Congress have also expressed concern about the price hike, and some have called for hearings on Capitol Hill to force Mylan executives to explain themselves. Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar, whose daughter relies on EpiPen to protect her from the effects of anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction, has called on the Federal Trade Commission to launch an anti-trust investigation. "There does not appear to be any justification for the continual price increases of EpiPen," she said in a letter to the FTC. World Bank Group's president Jim Yong Kim takes part in a meeting with European Union Council President at the European Union Council building in Brussels on June 15, 2016 World Bank chief Jim Yong Kim will seek a second term of office, the global development lender said Tuesday as it announced the start of a selection process for the presidency. Kim's bid to remain as president comes in the face a rare public rebuke from the Bank's rank-and-file, who earlier this month declared that the institution faced a "crisis of leadership." "The executive directors expressed unanimous support for an open, merit-based and transparent selection, with nominations open to all member countries," the executive board said in a statement. Kim's five-year term ends on June 30. Following an unwritten rule, the United States, the Bank's largest shareholder, has always chosen its president, while the International Monetary Fund leader has been drawn from Europe. The World Bank staff association said in an open letter on August 8 that this tradition flew in the face of principles of transparency, diversity and merit-based selection, given that the process had always selected an American man. The executive board said Kim had been selected in 2012 according to new principles meant to ensure an "open and transparent" process and that the next president would be as well. Kim was the first American candidate to face competition when Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala also contended for the presidency. The latest selection process begins at midnight on Thursday, launching a three-week window for nominations. Kim's current term is not due to expire for more than 10 months, meaning the pending selection process begins significantly earlier than the previous one, which was conducted and concluded in the quarter prior to Kim taking office. A medical doctor and former president of Dartmouth College, Kim was the first Bank president not to be drawn from the financial or political worlds. After taking office in 2012, Kim announced a new goal of eradicating extreme poverty by 2030 and a sweeping internal reorganization to foster collaboration across the Bank. However, the reforms appear to have alienated many staff members, who in employee surveys have reported feeling detached from senior management and unsure of the direction of policy. The Bank currently faces questions about its continuing relevance on the world stage as developing countries can now turn to a growing number of other lenders -- such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, founded at China's initiative, which held its first annual meeting in June. Most states have no maximum temperature standards for their prisons: combine that with a succession of hottest-months-on-record and a prison system that provides less water than is medically recommended even when it's not hotter than blazes, and you've got a carceral state that is roasting prisoners alive. Of course, it's worse in Texas, where there's little sympathy for prisoners from the free population, who are prone to viewing prison as a punishment rather than a rehabilitation process. At the Price Daniel Unit, temperatures reach 140' and prisoners are given one 8oz cup of warm water every four hours half the National Academy of Medicine recommendation for adults under normal temperatures. At least 14 prisoners have died of heat in Texas prisons since 2007 a certain undercount, and a circumstance blamed on Texas authorities "reckless indifference," according to reports from University of Texas School of Law's Human Rights Clinic (the clinic believe that the true count is more in the "several dozens" range, and they are working to get more data out of the prison system). Earlier this summer, a federal judge certified a class action after inmates at another Texas prison the Wallace Pack Unit, which houses sick, disabled, and elderly prisoners serving time for nonviolent crimes sued TDCJ officials in an effort to keep the temperature below 88 degrees and prevent heat-stroke deaths. Plaintiffs in that case, originally filed in 2014, described sleeping on the floor to get some relief from the heat, metal walls trapping heat "like a parked car," and metal tables that "get so heated that prisoners have to lay towels on them to rest their elbows on." Fred Wallace, a 72-year old plaintiff who is clinically obese and suffers from high blood pressure, said in a statement read by his lawyer that one day he felt he was going to pass out from the heat and asked a guard if he could go to the prison's barber shop, a cooler area. He was denied permission. "I felt so sick that I sat down on the floor," he said in his testimony. "Only when the guard returned 15 minutes later and said, 'You look like you're going to die' did he allow me to enter the barber shop." "DEADLY HEAT" IN U.S. PRISONS IS KILLING INMATES AND SPAWNING LAWSUITS [Alice Speri/The Intercept] [From Facebook] Its been a devastating month for flood-ravaged Baton Rouge, La. but moments like this when even the tiniest animal victim gets rescued offer a glimmer of hope. Scott Black was finally leaving work after rising floodwaters had kept him in the pharmacist office for nearly 14 hours. As he was leaving, Black captured a baby deer wrapped up in towels that was rescued from the floods. It was amazing to see this tiny fawn just lying in someones lap, Black told The Dodo. He snapped away and captured some wonderful photos of the fawn, who seemed both exhausted and also amazingly content, Black said. There have been plenty of moments like this one where residents rise to the occasion helping their displaced neighbours and animals too. Among them was Louisiana police, who recently saved a fawn as floods pushed wildlife into town, PEOPLE reports. I had family, friends and employees that had been flooded so the mood was somber at best, Black told Dodo about the latest rescue. But seeing that fawn lying there was such a sign of peace and hope. As for the baby deer, Black said the fawn was taken to a local farm where it was being bottle feed and doing well so far. Tampon use isnt the only cause of toxic shock syndrome. (Photo: Getty) Three-year-old Reuben Harvey-Smith first visited the hospital last year after accidentally burning himself at his home. When his mom took him back three days later, doctors said he had tonsillitis, although he actually had a case of potentially deadly toxic shock syndrome (TSS). The toddler wound up losing both of his legs and seven of his fingers after the misdiagnosis, according to a report in the Sun. Because Harvey-Smiths amputations would have been preventable had the TSS been caught earlier, his mother, Lou, is now doing everything in her power to raise awareness for a condition you can develop in more ways than you might be aware some of which are completely unrelated to tampon use. According to Alejandro Jordan-Villegas, M.D., a pediatric infectious disease expert at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, roughly 50 percent of cases of toxic shock syndrome arise from tampon use and 50 percent can be attributed to other sources. In the past, TSS was almost always ascribed to menstruation, he tells Yahoo Beauty. But you can develop it by way of skin wounds or infections, or if youve had recent surgery. Toxic shock syndrome develops as a rare complication of a bacterial infection, either from toxins created by the Staphylococcus aureus (staph) or group A streptococcus (strep) bacteria. Men, women, and children who have had recent surgery or a recent deep wound or skin infection should be cognizant of the symptoms. Look for high fever, skin rash like a sunburn, multi-organ system dysfunction, vomiting, and diarrhea, Jordan-Villegas says. Menstruating women still have to be the most aware of TSS, making sure to change tampons frequently. At most, leave a tampon in for just a few hours and use the lowest possible absorbency. But everyone should be getting skin infections and sunburn-like rashes checked out and treated right away. Immediately visit a doctor if youve had a recent surgery and start developing symptoms of toxic shock. Story continues Jordan-Villegas says that recurrence of toxic shock syndrome is possible; if youve had TSS, or a severe case of staph or strep, dont use tampons. Or if you develop the syndrome and its treated, doctors can test to see if your blood has the antibody that will reduce the risk of developing it again, he says. This will tell you if you can safely use tampons. Harvey-Smiths family has filed a lawsuit against Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust, which misdiagnosed him with tonsillitis. According to the Sun, the hospital said in a statement: We are now working with the family to ensure that lessons are learnt from Reubens case and further training has been provided to A&E staff on recognizing the warning signs of septic shock treatment. The Trust are committed to ensuring that Reuben is appropriately compensated so that he has the care, prostheses and equipment that he needs throughout his life. The family is trying to move forward. Despite all that her son has been through, Harvey-Smiths mother still calls him Mr. Positive. I try not to waste energy getting angry because at the end of the day Ive still got my son, she says, but what I have got to do now is make sure it doesnt happen to anyone else. Lets keep in touch! Follow Yahoo Beauty on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and, Pinterest. Computer Science Harvey Mudd College Triples Female CS Graduation Rates More than half of HMCs most recent graduating class were women, surpassing the national average. A California-based private college has tripled its rates of female computer science graduates over the last 10 years. Harvey Mudd College (HMC) has transformed its Department of Computer Science graduation rates by removing obstacles that have traditionally held back women and making the curriculum more inclusive. For starters, Quartz reports that HMC redesigned the introductory course taken by all first-year students to emphasize practical uses for programming and team-based projects. Instead of placing Java as the core programming language, the course switched to Python. HMC President Maria Klawe, who was formerly the dean of engineering at Princeton University, told Quartz that professors were also instructed to be aware of students who dominate class conversations, in order to maintain an inclusive learning environment. Additionally, the college administration targeted efforts to appoint and promote women in leadership roles. Next year, for example, six of seven of HMCs department chairs and 38 percent of professors throughout the school will be women, Quartz reports. These changes, among others, have resulted in 55 percent of undergraduate CS majors being women, compared to the national average of 16 percent. More importantly, HMCs female graduates are entering careers in tech, with 64 percent of last years female graduates leaving the college with full-time jobs in tech, up from 30 percent in 2011. HMC reports that its female graduates have taken positions at top employers like Google, LinkedIn and Intel. Other college and universities noticed HMCs efforts to promote diversity in computer science and have joined in. In September 2014, HMC and the Anita Borg Institute launched an initiative to help other institutions develop their computer science programs to include women and minorities. The BRAID (Building, Recruiting and Inclusion for Diversity) Initiative provides funds for 15 universities across the nation to send female students to women-in-computing conferences. Participating institutions include Arizona State, University of Vermont and Missouri University of Science and Technology. To learn about other efforts from the Department of Computer Science, visit the HMC site. The state-owned Caiza Geral de Depositos, a branch of which is seen in Lisbon in 2014, will retain its current head Antonio Domingues, who announced his resignation from the bank November 27, 2016, until the end of December (AFP Photo/Patricia de Melo Moreira) (AFP/File) Lisbon (AFP) - The European Commission and Portugal said Wednesday they have agreed on a 5-billion-euro deal to recapitalise the state-owned Caixa Geral de Depositos (CGD) bank, including through a 2.7-billion-euro injection of state funds. The deal was provisionally approved by European Union competition chief Margrethe Vestager to meet the 28-nation bloc's tough rules on preventing unfair government aid for businesses. Portugal's banks have been under huge stress after the collapse of the country's major lender Banco Espirito Santo in 2014 due to years of risky lending. "Commissioner Vestager has last night reached an agreement in principle with the Portuguese authorities on the way forward to enable a recapitalisation of CGD on market terms," a European Commission spokeswoman said. The fact that the deal would be on market terms means it does not qualify as illegal state aid, the spokeswoman said. Under the deal, the Portuguese government will inject up to 2.7 billion euros ($3.0 billion) of capital into CGD, while the bank itself has promised to raise one billion of capital of subordinated debts. CGD will also convert into capital between 900 and 960 million euros worth of bonds, received as state aid in 2012. Additionally, the Portuguese finance ministry said in a statement that it would transfer 500 million euros worth of shares in the state-owned ParCaixa holding company to CGD. Altogether, the measures amount to a recapitalisation of more than 5 billion euros. "This is good news for Caixa and for the whole Portuguese banking sector," Finance Minister Mario Centeno told reporters in Lisbon. The European Commission will now formally take a decision on the agreement. First Product Approved for ME/CFS Indication Anywhere in the World Breakthrough Approval Provides Clear Path for Growth in Latin America and the European Union PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 24, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. (NYSE MKT:HEB) (the Company or Hemispherx), announced that it has received approval of its New Drug Application (NDA) from Administracion Nacional de Medicamentos, Alimentos y Tecnologia Medica (ANMAT) for commercial sale of rintatolimod (U.S. tradename: Ampligen) in the Argentine Republic for the treatment of severe myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The product will be marketed by GP Pharm, Hemispherxs commercial partner in Latin America. We believe that rintatolimod is the first drug to receive approval for this indication anywhere in the world. We also believe that there are no other products in the pipeline for approval, worldwide, for this debilitating disease. A copy of the official approval from ANMAT, translated in English, is available on the Companys website at http://ir.hemispherx.net/Events_Presentations. The approval was based on submission of two pivotal studies, AMP-502 and AMP-516. Safety data also included additional CFS and non-CFS studies for a total of over 800 subjects including over 100 subjects with severe CFS who received Ampligen for one year or longer. Several post-approval activities are required to be completed before product launch, including manufacturing site inspections and reimbursement evaluation by the Health Services Authority (SSS), the central health authority in Argentina. Working closely with our partner in this effort, GP Pharm, our team at Hemispherx addressed all medical and scientific issues presented by ANMAT and deserves great credit for this major success. At Hemispherx, we may be small by big pharma standards, but our commitment to addressing this dire unmet medical need makes us mighty, stated Hemispherx CEO Tom Equels. Approval for commercial sale in Argentina provides a platform for potential commercial sales in certain countries within the European Union under regulations that support cross-border pharmaceutical sales of licensed drugs. Hemispherx and GP Pharm are now working to expand the approval of rintatolimod to additional countries with a focus on Latin America. In Europe, approval in a country with a stringent regulatory process in place, such as Argentina, adds further validation for the product as the Early Access Program (EAP) is launched in Europe. In Argentina, rintatolimod (Ampligen) has just been commercially approved for the severe disabling form of ME/CFS. The number of patients with ME/CFS is estimated to be over three million worldwide, however, only a portion of these have the severe and disabling form of the disease which we are targeting with this drug, stated Tom Equels. Until now, there has been no commercially available effective treatment and there are no advanced clinical candidates, other than rintatolimod, that we are aware of. This commercial approval in Argentina will dramatically improve our ability to treat patients suffering from severe ME/CFS in Latin America. We continue to work aggressively to clarify a path toward approval for those with severe ME/CFS in the United States, where we have Orphan Drug status, and therefore seven years of product exclusivity upon approval. We are greatly encouraged by this new regulatory approval in Argentina. This is the most significant accomplishment to date in Hemispherxs plan to bring our drug to severe sufferers of ME/CFS worldwide. We have worked diligently with Hemispherx to get to this point, and are now preparing for the commercial launch of rintatolimod for ME/CFS in Argentina, commented Jorge Braver, chief executive officer of GP Pharm Latin America. Looking ahead, we will continue to seek approval in additional Latin American countries. About Hemispherx Biopharma Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. is an advanced specialty pharmaceutical company engaged in the manufacture and clinical development of new drug entities for treatment of seriously debilitating disorders. Hemispherxs flagship products include Alferon N Injection and the experimental therapeutics rintatolimod (tradenames Ampligen or Rintamod) and Alferon LDO. Rintatolimod is an experimental RNA nucleic acid being developed for globally important debilitating diseases and disorders of the immune system, including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Hemispherxs platform technology includes components for potential treatment of various severely debilitating and life threatening diseases. Because both rintatolimod and Alferon LDO are experimental in nature, they are not designated safe and effective by a regulatory authority for general use and are legally available only through clinical trials. Hemispherx has patents comprising its core intellectual property estate and a fully commercialized product (Alferon N Injection), approved for sale in the U.S. and Argentina. The Companys Alferon N approval in Argentina includes the use of Alferon N Injection (under the pending brand name Naturaferon) for use in any patients who fail or become intolerant to recombinant interferon, including patients with chronic active hepatitis C infection. The Company wholly owns and exclusively operates a GMP certified manufacturing facility in the United States for commercial products. For more information please visit www.hemispherx.net. Forward-Looking Statements To the extent that statements in this press release are not strictly historical, all such statements are forward-looking, and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as intends, plans, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Hemispherx that any of its plans will be achieved. These forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees of future performance, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Hemispherxs control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. Examples of such risks and uncertainties include those set forth in the Disclosure Notice, below, as well as the risks described in Hemispherxs filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the most recent reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and Hemispherx undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise revise or update this release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. Disclosure Notice The information in this press release includes certain "forward-looking statements including without limitation statements about additional steps which the FDA may require and Hemispherx may take in continuing to seek commercial approval of the Ampligen NDA for the treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in the United States. The final results of these and other ongoing activities could vary materially from Hemispherxs expectations and could adversely affect the chances for approval of the Ampligen NDA in the United States and other countries. The clinical studies referenced herein have been previously reviewed by the FDA and are not, in and of themselves, a sufficient basis for approval in the United States. Any failure to satisfy the FDA regulatory requirements or the requirements of other countries could significantly delay, or preclude outright, approval of the Ampligen NDA in the United States and other countries. Information contained in this news release, other than historical information, should be considered forward-looking and is subject to various risk factors and uncertainties including, but not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors; the Companys ability to adequately fund its projects; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and healthcare legislation in the United States and internationally; trends toward healthcare cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the Companys ability to accurately predict the future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; dependence on the effectiveness of the Companys patents and other protections for products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions; and numerous other factors discussed in this release and in the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The final results of these efforts and/or any other activities could vary materially from Hemispherxs expectations. Approval of Ampligen for CFS in the Argentine Republic does not in any way suggest that the Ampligen NDA in the United States will obtain commercial approval. Also, it is noted that ANMAT approval is only an initial, but important, step in the overall successful commercialization. Namely, additional steps required for commercialization in Argentina will require, among others, an appropriate reimbursement level, appropriate marketing strategies, completion of manufacturing preparations for launch including possible requirements for approval of final manufacturing, etc., and there are no assurances as to whether or when such multiple subsequent steps will be successfully performed to result in an overall successful commercialization and product launch. 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 FOND DU LAC After a jury failed to come to a verdict in the homicide trial of Dennis J. Brantner, the 62-year-old Kenosha man accused of killing Berit Beck in 1990, the state is hoping a circuit court judge will give them the green light to retry the case. Brantners homicide trial ended in a virtual mistrial on June 29, shaking the family of the slain Sturtevant teen and leaving the case in limbo. After 2 days of exhaustive deliberations that included jurors twice asking to review audio recordings of Brantner police interviews, jurors were dismissed after their foreman told the court there was no reasonable probability they would reach a verdict. Still facing a charge of first-degree intentional homicide, Brantner was returned to the Fond du Lac County Jail, his $1 million bond still intact. In the hours, days and weeks immediately following that dismissal, Fond Du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney had remained mum about his plans going forward, including whether his office would seek to retry Brantner. On Tuesday, however, Toney confirmed that his office is taking the steps necessary to retry the defendant. We are seeking to re-try Mr. Brantner, and we filed a motion reflecting that, Toney said. The motion is essentially asking the court to declare Brantners first trial a mistrial. Once thats done the state can retry the defendant. We consulted with the Beck family; we reviewed the anticipated evidence we would present and what we thought that would entail and we believe we have sufficient evidence to put in front of a jury, Toney said of the states decision to seek a new trial. We also spoke with some of the jurors from the previous trial. Motion for acquittal While the state prepares for a new trial, Branters defense attorney Craig Powell has asked the court to acquit his client. In a motion filed last week, Powell argues that the evidence presented at the trial in June was insufficient to support a conviction for Brantner, and that a second trial would be prohibited by the Double Jeopardy clauses in both U.S. and Wisconsin constitutions. Beck was abducted and murdered on July 17, 1990, somewhere near Fond Du Lac while en route to a computer seminar in Appleton. Her body was discovered about five weeks later in a ditch about 5 miles west of Waupun. In 2014, investigators identified nine fingerprints in the van Beck was driving as belonging to Brantner. Prosecutors argued the presence of those fingerprints meant Brantner killed Beck. But Powell argued the prints could only show Brantner was in the van and were not proof that he played a role in her death. There was absolutely no direct evidence connecting Brantner to Becks death, Powell writes in support of his motion to acquit, and the chain of inferences properly made from the circumstantial evidence presented was too tenuous to avoid a lapse into speculation. A hearing on the recent court filings is expected take place at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 6 in Fond Du Lac County Circuit Court. RACINE A Racine man is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 7 to answer charges after his house was searched in connection to a robbery he allegedly committed. In searching the house, in the 1400 block of W. Sixth Street, investigators reported finding $22,978 in cash, along with 22.6 grams of marijuana and counterfeit $100 bills. Most of these items were found in the bedroom of Tory Harris, 27, who was taken into custody for allegedly attempting to rob a man on May 16 outside the victims mothers house in the 200 block of Virginia Street, according to a criminal complaint. The victim was allegedly moving his car from the driveway on his mothers orders when he was confronted by a group of four men, including Harris, the complaint said. Harris reportedly stuck his arm out implying that he had a gun, so the victim drove away. The four men pursued in two cars and chased the victim until the victim stopped to try and resolve the dispute. Harris then allegedly pulled a gun and the victim fled again. A gunshot was heard as the victim fled, according to the complaint. The chase continued at high rates of speed until officers arrived, the complaint said. After police arrived, the victim made a call to one of the suspects and the victim put the phone on speaker so an officer could listen. The suspect on the phone was asked by the victim why they had guns, to which the suspect allegedly responded, It wasnt supposed to get to that; if you had just given me the money, according to the complaint. As they entered the Sixth Street house, where three of the suspects lived including Harris officers reportedly smelled an odor of marijuana, the complaint said. While waiting for a search warrant, two people arrived at the home. One of them was Harris. Police said they believe that the marijuana that was uncovered was being held for resale, according to the complaint. Harris faces a felony charge for maintaining a drug trafficking place and a felony charge for possession of marijuana. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Sept. 7 at 8:30 a.m. at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave. A man was killed Monday afternoon in what the Chippewa County Sheriff's Office is calling an industrial accident at a Lake Hallie business. Otto D. Kolpien, 47, died as a result of the accident, which was reported at 3:57 p.m. Monday at Huffcutt Concrete, Inc., 4154 123rd St. Upon arrival, Chippewa Fire District personnel determined that Kolpien had suffered life-threatening injuries as a result of the accident. Those injuries resulted from Kolpien being pinned under a heavy piece of industrial equipment, according to the sheriff's office, which along with the Chippewa County coroners office and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration responded to investigate the accident. The cause of the accident was still under investigation Tuesday. Around $16,000 in scrip cards were taken from local churches during burglaries reported Monday morning, authorities reported. The Beaver Dam Police Department is investigating break-ins at two churches and an attempted break-in at another. Lt. Detective Terrance Gebhardt said scrip cards valued at $16,000 were missing from Grace Presbyterian, 215 Gould St., and First Lutheran Church, 311 W. Mackie St. Trinity Methodist Church, 308 Oneida St., was not broken into, but according to the police briefing, it appeared the doors had by tampered with. Scrip cards are sold to churches, schools and non-profits by local vendors at a reduced rate. People then buy the cards at face value and the non-profit group makes a small profit. The cards are similar to pre-paid debit cards. According to the police briefing, safes at Grace Presbyterian and First Lutheran were accessed. Besides the cards, nothing else was reported stolen. Gebhardt said he isnt aware of any suspicious activity in the area of the three churches. However, he said that it is an active investigation. Polco, a Madison online platform for citizens to vote and comment on public policy issues, will take its case to Silicon Valley investors. Its suitcase, that is a golden one. Polco won the Pressure Chamber pitch competition Tuesday night at Monona Terrace. The prizes: An all-expenses-paid trip to California to meet with representatives of Silicon Valley venture capital firms, and a consulting package with the Lindsay, Stone & Briggs advertising agency in Madison. They will be a big boost for Polco, said Nick Mastronardi, founder and CEO. We live and die with getting the word out to citizens, Mastronardi said. This (means) the world to us to continue to grow. Polco was one of five young companies that put on their best faces before about 250 people, including four out-of-state investors who served as judges. Mastronardi said he wants to see more citizen participation on important issues so public policy decisions are not left up to those four squeaky wheels who show up at government meetings. We empower citizens; we help government get the data they need to enact public policy, he told the crowd. AkitaBox, whose software is used for mapping, operating and maintaining buildings, was runner-up. Luke Perkerwicz, vice president of sales and marketing, said the technology is being used in more than 900 buildings in at least 10 states, with clients that include Edgewood College and J.H. Findorff & Son, in Madison; and Baylor University, Waco, Texas. AkitaBox raised more than $1 million from investors earlier this year. The other Pressure Chamber contenders were: Lynx Biosciences, which tests blood cancer patients to see which treatment is most likely to help them. Rigbot, whose software makes truck shipments more efficient. Manifestly, with team-based task checklists. Each company made a five-minute presentation and then fielded questions from the judges. Both the judges and the audience chose their favorites and their scores were combined to come up with the winners. Pressure Chamber is part of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerces neXXpo business expo that was held in conjunction with Forward Festival. Polco will be one of five companies that will make the trek to California on Oct. 10-11; the other four have not yet been chosen, chamber vice president Kevin Little said. We select companies believed to be at the right stage, the right fit and the right time, Little said. This is the third year for Pressure Chamber. Little said last years six finalists have since raised more than $17 million from investors. For Polco, Pressure Chamber was just the latest in a string of victories. The company won in the information technology division in the Wisconsin Governors Business Plan competition; won two awards in Notre Dame Universitys McCloskey Business Plan Competition; and won the Peoples Choice award from the Wisconsin Innovation Awards. The Greater Madison Chamber also introduced a new competition Tuesday for Madisons Most Innovative Company. They will make presentations on Dec. 14 at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, 227 State St. The application process is now open, and the administration says the forms should take five minutes to complete. Get more info on that and more recent business news here. Eugene Robinson Eugene Robinson is an Associate Editor and twice-weekly columnist for The Washington Post. His column appears on Tuesdays and Fridays. In a 25-year career at The Post, Robinson has been city hall reporter, city editor, foreign correspondent in Buenos Aires and London, foreign editor, and assistant managing editor in charge of the paper's award-winning Style section. In 2005, he started writing a column for the Op-Ed page. He is the author of "Coal to Cream: A Black Man's Journey Beyond Color to an Affirmation of Race" (1999) and "Last Dance in Havana" (2004). Robinson is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and has received numerous journalism awards. ISRAEL - LIGHT TO THE NATIONS It's not exactly what you think. Because the world secretly is a fucking beautiful place, we have this little morsel of joy for you all. The Royal Norwegian Guard has paid a visit to the Edinburgh Zoo, in order to promote the nations most highly decorated penguin, who goes by the name of Sir Nils Olav III, to the rank of brigadier in a stirring official ceremony held overnight. The rank is the fourth highest position in the hierarchy of Norways army and air force, and was bestowed upon the mighty bird as he inspected a line of 50 soldiers sent from His Majesty the King of Norways Guard. Sir Nils now assumes the official title of Brigadier Sir Nils Olav III. We are honoured to host the Royal Norwegian Guard this morning, who are here to bestow a unique honour upon our resident king penguin Sir Nils Olav. Already a knight, the most famous king penguin in the world is to be given the new title of Brigadier Sir Nils Olav. The prestigious title is to be awarded during a special ceremony, attended by around 50 uniformed soldiers of His Majesty the King of Norways Guard. Find out more about Sir Nils on our website: http://www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/animals-and-attractions/sir-nils-olav/ Posted by Edinburgh Zoo on Monday, 22 August 2016 Sir Nils Olav III serves as the official mascot of the Kings Royal Guard, and is the third penguin to assume that position. The first Nils Olav was adopted in 1972 by the unit by Lieutenant Nils Egelien, who named the penguin for then-King Olav V. Since then, the guard has periodically visited Edinburgh Zoo every few years whilst in town for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, each time bestowing a new honour and rank onto Nils as a reward and recognition of his tireless efforts for the Norwegian military. After starting as a mascot, Nils was promoted to Corporal in 1982, before attaining the rank of Sergeant in 1987, Regimental Sergeant Major in 1993, Honourable Regimental Sergeant Major in 2001, Colonel-in-Chief in 2005, before the current Nils Olav took over in 2008 and was honoured with an official knighthood. Barbara Smith, the acting CEO of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, spoke of the ceremony with great reverence. We are honoured to host His Majesty the King of Norways Guard as they bestow a prestigious new title upon our king penguin, Sir Nils Olav. It is a very proud moment and represents the close collaboration between our two countries, Scotland and Norway. Such a majestic, stately bird. So poised and awe inspiring. I hereby renounce all national citizenships and declare undying allegiance to Brigadier Sir Nils Olav III and his everlasting glory. Sic parvis magna. Seriously though we can barely keep our shit together and yet Norways over the doing hella cute shit like knighting penguins on their days off? We have got to sort out our priorities quick sticks. Source: Edinburgh Zoo. Photo: Edinburgh Zoo/Facebook. Iran has yet to take any decision on whether to set a ceiling on oil production or take part in a planned OPEC meeting in Algeria, an oil ministry source told AFP Wednesday. "It is too early to talk of a decision from Iran concerning a freeze in the level of production," said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity. The comments followed rumours that Iran would take part in an informal OPEC meeting in September on the margins of an energy forum. Oil prices jumped after reports that Iran had sent "positive signals" that it might support a move by OPEC and Russia to freeze production in order to boost prices. But the oil ministry source in Tehran said it was only "speculation" that Iran would take part in the meeting. A previous OPEC attempt to freeze production collapsed earlier this year largely because of a refusal by Iran, which had just emerged from international sanctions and was keen to maximise its oil revenues. Tensions have also spiked in recent months with regional rival Saudi Arabia, the dominant member of OPEC. Iran says it has doubled its exports of oil and gas to 2.7 million barrels per day (bpd) since signing an accord with world powers in July 2015 that removed sanctions in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme. Oil production has risen from 2.7 million bpd to 3.85 million bpd in that time, close to the level before international sanctions were imposed in 2012. BARABOO Tom Gaukel knew he was picking up a quilt. He just didnt know hed get to keep it. The Baraboo American Legion member was dispatched to Ho-Chunk Gaming in Madison on Aug. 20, ostensibly to fetch a quilt. When he and wife, Ann, arrived, they quickly realized their mission had been cloaked in deception. They were invited to sit on a stage, where they got a front-row view of an Operation Badger Base event celebrating Wisconsin veterans military service. Gaukel was awarded the blanket from the Quilt of Valor organization and a certificate. He was one of about a dozen vets honored. I was kind of dumbfounded, really, he said. Gaukel thought to himself, Oh my gosh, this isnt just picking up a blanket. We didnt expect it, his wife said. A native of the Sauk Prairie area, Gaukel joined the U.S. Army after high school in 1952. He trained in artillery and became a jumper with the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was deployed to Japan during the Korean War, and spent two years there. Gaukel jokingly takes credit for a cease-fire being signed upon his arrival. Gaukel made 33 jumps in training exercises before leaving the Army in 1955. From there he married Ann and started college. He went on to become a special education teacher and school administrator, retiring in 1999. Thats when he got involved with the American Legion in Baraboo, where he lives, and the VFW in his native Sauk Prairie. He also joined the Badger State chapter of the 82nd Airborne Division. I thought, What the heck, Im retired, he said. He served as that chapters chairman for six years. Closer to home, he has written articles for local posts newsletters and has handled media relations. Gaukel was the only Korean War vet honored during the Aug. 20 event, as most fought during the Vietnam War. I dont need more reminders that Im old, he said with a smile. The Quilt of Valor organization was founded in 2003 by a mother whose son had been deployed to Iraq. The organizations mission is to comfort soldiers touched by war. More than 140,000 quilts have been awarded nationwide. Operation Badger Base is a traveling memorial to Vietnam veterans. The three-day event last weekend included the quilt presentation, displays honoring casualties of war and performances by Ho-Chunk musicians and dancers. Gaukel said he was surprised by all the attention. He said he feels I didnt really do anything. But he appreciated the gesture of thanks. This is kind of neat, he said. A Russian court on Wednesday sentenced ultranationalist politician Alexander Belov, a former leader of a banned anti-immigration movement, to seven and a half years in prison for extremism and money laundering. Belov was formerly coordinator of the populist Movement Against Illegal Immigrants, or DPNI, which had the slogan "Russia for (ethnic) Russians" and was banned as extremist in 2011. Its leaders then formed a new nationalist movement called "Russians" that was banned last year. Moscow's Meshchansky district court found Belov, whose real surname is Potkin, guilty of forming an "extremist" group and inciting ethnic hatred as well as perpetrating financial crimes, Russia's prosecutor general's office said. The financial crime accusations relate to Belov's alleged ties with exiled Kazakh oligarch Mukhtar Ablyazov, who is currently awaiting extradition from France on embezzlement charges. Belov was found guilty of seeking to whip up ethnic tensions in Kazakhstan, a key Russia ally, on Ablyazov's pay. Belov pleaded not guilty and told journalists in court Wednesday that the case was "blatantly flimsy," RIA Novosti state news agency reported. Belov was formerly one of the organisers of an annual "Russian March" rally in Moscow, an officially sanctioned event that attracted tens of thousands at the height of its popularity, including skinheads throwing Nazi salutes. In 2011 anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny, a more moderate nationalist who rallied the liberal opposition against President Vladimir Putin's re-election, was a co-organiser of the march with Belov. The Kremlin has since sought to appeal to the ultranationalists' support base and co-opt their message of patriotic jingoism. Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Black Sea peninsula of Crimea in 2014 prompted an explosion of national pride summed up by the slogan "Crimea is ours" and saw Putin's approval rating soar. Investors would want to minimise risks. The two-year Singapore government securities auction will be closing on August 29 and may nip a large demand barring possible impact by hawkish comments from the US Federal Reserve. DBS Group Research fears demand may be eroded following US Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellens hawkish language during her speech at Jackson Hole. A hawkish Fed may temporarily dampen demand for two-year Singapore government securities as investors either head to the very front of the curve, minimising duration risks, or to the back of the curve where the yield pickup over comparable US Treasuries is still sizable, DBS Group Research explained. Notably, the net issuance size is $2 billion, compared to a Singapore government securities maturity amount of $7.7 billion on September 1, DBS Group Research said. Two-year to five-year Singapore government securities, whose yields are trading below the fitted curve, may be more vulnerable to a Fed re-pricing, it added. More From Singapore Business Review Staying competitive in a constantly evolving marketplace is no easy feat for any professional, especially small business leaders. We need to be aggressive in establishing our market dominance but simultaneously be ready to pivot at a moments notice in response to economic uncertainty. Plus, we need to juggle roles from marketing to accounting to custodial staff, sometimes all in one day. Thats a lot for any one person! While the majority of small business owners are optimistic about future business prospects, they admit facing technology challenges, reports Chases 2016 Business Leaders Outlook survey. Ground zero for these problems: small business websites. Business owners continue to struggle when it comes to conversion optimization, social media marketing and building brand loyalty. The right set of tools can take your business website to the next level, and that starts with your site. You dont have to spend a fortune on your website to boost sales and customer retention. In fact, simple WordPress site upgrades can make a huge difference for your business without costing a pretty penny. These are three of the best upgrades Ive made to my website, and I highly recommend them to all small business owners: Tips for Optimizing WordPress Simplify Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Meta tags, keywords, breadcrumbs, XML sitemaps these details may be small, but they all matter for SEO. Just reviewing Search Engine Lands excellent and comprehensive Periodic Table of SEO success factors is enough to leave some small business owners feeling downright overwhelmed! Dont go it alone. If you cant afford professional digital marketing support or simply arent ready to invest in this a simple SEO plugin to your WordPress site will hit most of these elements. While a plugin is no substitute for professional support, a great plugin like Yoast SEO for WordPress can go a long way to simplifying many of these little SEO needs. The Yoast plugin includes post titles and meta descriptions, robots meta configuration, canonical link elements and breadcrumbs code, permalink clean up and XML sitemaps so you can cover all your basic onsite optimization needs. Improve Functionality Bounce rate is one of those metrics that gets tossed around a lot in SEO circles. Youve probably read at least once that a high bounce rate is a red flag for SEO problems but what kind of problems exactly? In general, a high bounce rate means youre either attracting the wrong kind of visitors to your site (e.g., a PPC campaign message doesnt align with the landing page content) or visitors arrive on your site but cant find the information they need. Once youve covered some design basics, like using intuitive navigation for website menus, the next step is to consider whether bigger functionality issues could be driving up your bounce rate. I recommend using a service like Crazy Egg to test where visitors click (and dont click) on your website. Heat maps results can help you better understand where visitors go for information, what they read and what they ignore. Next, based on these findings, consider ways to improve your website. For example, would an online job board improve client management? From my personal experience, Ive found the WPJobBoard to be a reliable, easy-to-use option for enhancing client job board functionality. The job board sends automatic payment reminds to customers, allows users to subscribe to job alerts and distributes tasks to job aggregation sites and Twitter. Sometimes, the simplest changes make the biggest functionality impact. Case in point: a more powerful search plugin. I recently recommended a client add the SearchWP plugin to his site. He had a ton of useful industry-specific information, but the information is hard to find and thus going unused. Since adding the plugin, hes already noted a decrease in bounce rate now that critical information can easily be accessed. Speed Up Your Site Is slow site speed a sales killer? Absolutely. Nearly half of all web users expect sites to load in two seconds or less, reports Kissmetrics. Users tend to abandon sites that take longer than three seconds to load. Worse, 79 percent of online shoppers who have trouble with site load time say they wont shop that website again. Decreasing page load time can drastically increase conversions. Is your site slow? First, check with Googles PageSpeed Insights test, which will analyze the content of your web page and then offer suggestions to speed up your page. You can also fire up your WordPress site with plugins like W3 Total Cache, which claims to improve overall site speed by at least 10 times. This popular plugin serves compressed and cached files to your visitors, reducing the load on your server, so your website loads faster. The site also offers 80 percent bandwidth savings via minify and HTTP compression of HTML, CSS, JavaScript and feeds. Bottom Line Slow site speed, a high bounce rate and poor on-site optimization make it more difficult for customers to find the information they need on your website. If you love your site design, and its mobile-friendly, then theres no reason to start over from scratch. Simple WordPress site upgrades cost next to nothing and can supercharge your website for professional success. Dane County Board members illegally discussed whether to renew a lease for three billboards that stand on county land along Aberg Avenue near the Dane County Regional Airport, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday against the county by Adams Outdoor Advertising. The lawsuit over the billboards alleges that Sup. Paul Rusk, whose district includes the land where the billboards are located, violated the state open meetings law and its prohibition on walking quorums by emailing colleagues urging them not to approve the lease renewal, telling one of them at one point that he was trying to do a vote count. Adams is asking a judge to overturn the County Boards 18-16 vote on April 7 against the lease and order a new vote by the board. Rusk said he has been told by county lawyers not to comment, saying only that the lawsuit is without merit or legal basis. Dane County Corporation Counsel Marcia MacKenzie also said the lawsuit is baseless. If you examine the statutes that are cited in the complaint you will see that the law they cite does not support any of their allegations that any laws were violated, she said. That said, we will not comment further, as litigation has commenced. In an email to County Board members on Friday, Adams general manager Todd McWilliams wrote that the then-anticipated filing of the lawsuit was simply a requirement to preserve Adams rights to pursue litigation, if we cant work something out with the board in the next month or two. McWilliams said Tuesday that was still the case. All hes asking, he said, is for another vote by the board, under the right conditions, without people abusing the rules. We just want to be treated fairly. I dont think we were. Dane County would not be the first local municipality Adams has sued in recent years. In February, a Dane County judge rejected Adams lawsuit against the city of Madison that claimed a bike path bridge that blocked the view of one of its billboards was a taking of private property. Adams has appealed. A similar suit against the city of Fitchburg is pending. Billboard companies have leased space in the area on the north side of Aberg Avenue, on Madisons North Side, since 1966. Adams took over the billboards in 1987, when it purchased Hansen Advertising. The signs currently in place have been there since 1984. The last lease expired in December. Since then, various county government committees have approved a new lease, in which Adams agreed to pay the county $35,000 per year or 28 percent of gross revenue from the billboards, whichever was greater. Revenues go to the Dane County Regional Airport. Then on April 7, the County Board voted down the new lease. Adams has not had to take down the billboards because it says it still has a holdover lease that extends the existing agreement until Dec. 31. The county, however, told Adams that it needed to take down the billboards by July 29, the lawsuit states. The county allowed Adams to keep the billboards up through December after Adams threatened to sue, according to the lawsuit. In the meantime, Adams requested and received records that it says show that the County Boards vote was tainted by violations of the state open meetings law and by some board members personal bias against Adams. Rusk, in particular, urged colleagues to vote against the new lease for Adams, the lawsuit states. Based on the email correspondence received, it appears as if Mr. Rusk was lobbying as many supervisors as possible to ensure that the Dane County Board voted down the successor lease, the lawsuit states. Rusk created a walking quorum of enough board members to violate the state open meetings law, Adams lawsuit states. The lawsuit also claims that Rusk was biased against Adams because as executive director of the Alzheimers and Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin, he was dissatisfied with advertising obtained from Adams in 2008 and 2010 and expressed that dissatisfaction to board colleagues. It also accuses Rusk of incorrectly telling colleagues that the current neighborhood plan advocates removing the billboards when it does not. Sup. Dorothy Krause, who is also a member of the Fitchburg City Council, also took part in the vote and the email discussions, the lawsuit states, even though Adams has a lawsuit pending against Fitchburg over a bike path bridge that blocks one of Adams billboards on Highway PD. Krause and Rusk should not have voted on the lease, the lawsuit states. * A look at the day ahead from EMEA Economics and Politics Desk Chief Jeremy Gaunt and EMEA Markets Editor Mike Dolan. Views expressed are their own. LONDON, Aug 24 (Reuters) - After a summer hiatus, Austria's presidential run-off is getting underway. Yesterday, former Greens leader Alexander Van der Bellen focused his campaign on the fact that he is pro-EU and that (he says) European Union leaders want him to win. Today, the campaign posters for anti-immigration Freedom Party candidate Norbert Hofer will be unveiled. Hofer is a eurosceptic and has said that in some cases Austria should consider leaving the EU. This is exactly the kind of noise that has German Chancellor Angela Merkel on a tour to meet other EU leaders this week. She (Munich: SOQ.MU - news) is trying to shore up things in the Baltics today before heading off south to Prague. The job of president of Austria is not, in itself, important. But very few of Europe's elite would want to see a far-rightist like Hofer win. Van der Bellen is probably right that there was a "sigh of relief" from Brussels when he won the previous run-off, only have to have it overturned. Meanwhile the real EU exit, Britain's, continues to haunt, even if the true political and economic impact is probably some way off. Olli Rehn, Finland's economy minister who was the EU's top economic official in the midst of the euro zone debt crisis, is speaking on the subject in Helsinki, and Norway's industry minister is checking in with local businesses. And Merkel will be talking about Brexit to her counterparts in depth, of course. Would she be on this cross Europe jaunt if Britain had voted "Remain"? MARKETS (AS OF 0645 GMT) The numbers are starting to paint a fairly clear picture of the immediate economic impact of the Brexit vote in the UK, Europe and the elsewhere -- mainly that there has been surprisingly little damage at all to date, especially outside the UK itself but also within. A whole stream of reports on Tuesday pointed to a fairly resilient response to the referendum during July and August, with even areas touted as most exposed, such as the UK housing market, holding up well. The UK real estate stock index has returned to its highest level since the vote as housebuilder Persimmon (Other OTC: PSMMF - news) 's stock rallied on its report of a jump in interest from new buyers since the referendum. The UK's CBI said manufacturing export orders rose to their highest level in two years since the vote. Euro zone flash PMIs for August showed barely a flinch, with French readings surprisingly robust given the torrid summer there. And US new home sales rose to their highest in 9 years last month too. Story continues So, Brexit? What Brexit? To the extent that Brexit fears drove policy and market thinking for the past couple of months, then there may well be a big reappraisal. There may well be economic turbulence to come, but it's very hard to detect anything like a shock so far. All of which plays into world markets in several ways. It makes the record outstanding short positions in sterling very uncomfortable for a start, with the pound testing levels above $1.32 on Tuesday before falling back. It suggests to many, including JPMorgan (LSE: JPIU.L - news) yesterday, that further ECB easing is off the agenda for now. And it ups the ante for the Fed, where chair Yellen's speech at Jackson Hole on Friday is likely to tilt hawkish again in line with other recent Fed noises. The risk at least of a bombshell there is already seeing market adjust -- nowhere clearer than in emerging markets, where MSCI (NYSE: MSCI - news) 's main stock index is now off 2.5 percent from the mid-August peaks. Elsewhere, Brent crude oil prices continue to struggle for air above $50, with skepticism about talk of an OPEC output freeze combining with hefty inventory data and the firmer dollar. Brent is down as low as $49.22 this morning again. Wall St and the ViX were flat overnight. Upcoming events/data/themes for market reports on Wednesday: - European corporate events: Carillion (Other OTC: CIOIF - news) , Polymetal. WPP (LSE: WPP.L - news) , Glencore (Xetra: A1JAGV - news) earnings - German Q2 detailed GDP - Germany sells five-year bonds - UK July BBA mortgage approvals - Iceland, Paraguay rate decisions - U.S (Other OTC: UBGXF - news) . Aug Markit flash manufacturing PMI - U.S. July existing home sales - U.S. sells 5-year notes (Editing by Sonya Hepinstall) Oxfam will today accuse the Government of being in "denial and disarray" over weapons sales to Saudi Arabia. There are concerns the weapons are being used in the country's intervention in Yemen, where Saudi Arabia is supporting the Yemeni government in its war with Shia Houthi rebels. The UK Government has faced repeated calls to ban the sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia amid concerns that international humanitarian law (IHL) is being broken in the conflict. Saudi Arabia, whose offensive includes airstrikes, has said it takes care to minimise civilian casualties but the UN says more than 6,000 people have died in the conflict. Britain's apparent reluctance to halt arms sales has prompted Oxfam to claim the Government has switched from being an enthusiastic backer of the Arms Trade Treaty to "one of the most significant violators". The treaty, of which the UK is a signatory, seeks to regulate the international weapons trade. :: Exclusive: UK Helping Saudi's Yemen Campaign The charity will use the second conference of states party to the treaty in Geneva later on Tuesday to attack the Government's stance. Penny Lawrence, deputy chief executive of Oxfam GB, will say: "UK arms and military support are fuelling a brutal war in Yemen, harming the very people the Arms Trade Treaty is designed to protect. "Schools, hospitals and homes have been bombed in contravention of the rules of war. "The UK government is in denial and disarray over its arms sales to the Saudi-led coalition bombing campaign in Yemen. "It has misled its own parliament about its oversight of arms sales and its international credibility is in jeopardy as it commits to action on paper but does the opposite in reality. :: Concerns Raised About UK's Role In Yemen War "How can the Government insist that others abide by a treaty it helped set up if it flagrantly ignores it?" Oxfam estimates more than 21 million people in Yemen need humanitarian aid - more than any other country. Story continues The Government said earlier this year it was confident Saudi Arabia's intervention in Yemen was not breaking international humanitarian law. But it later corrected those statements and said assessments to verify such a claim had not been carried out. It said the original statements were made in error and were not a deliberate attempt to mislead. A Government spokeswoman said: "The UK Government takes its arms export responsibilities very seriously and operates one of the most robust arms export control regimes in the world. "The Government is satisfied that extant licences for Saudi Arabia are compliant with the UK's export licensing criteria. "The key test for our continued arms exports to Saudi Arabia in relation to international humanitarian law (IHL) is whether there is a clear risk that those weapons might be used in a serious violation of IHL. "The situation is kept under careful and continual review." Rank Group Looking For Acquisitions After Withdrawing From William Hill Race August 24 2016 Matthew Pitt Editor The proposed takeover of William Hill by 888 Holdings and Rank Group Plc is dead in the water after the interested parties pulled the plug on the deal, and announcing to the London Stock Exchange that they do not intend to make any offer for their British gambling rival. Henry Birch, CEO of Rank, said: We strongly believe that the transaction would have created significant value for all three sets of shareholders. We and 888 are grateful for the shareholder support we have received throughout this process. 888 Holdings CEO, Itai Friebergers statement pointed the finger at the board of William Hill as the reason no deal discussions will take place: We are disappointed that the board of William Hill did not share our vision of the combined businesses. We believe that there was compelling industrial logic for the combination of these highly complementary businesses, which in our view would have brought scale, diversification, and strong revenue and cost synergies, from which all shareholders would have benefitted. Rank Looking at Potential Mergers and Acquisitions Earlier this week, Rank Group Plc, owners of the Mecca Bingo and Grosvenor Casinos brands, released its full year financial figures for the 12 months to June 30, 2016, which showed continued like-for-like growth across all of its brands and channels. Group Revenue increased 2 percent to 753.0 million, with Profit before taxation and exceptional items rising 15 percent to 85.5 million. More good news for investors followed when the results revealed net debt has reduced by 22 percent to 41.2 million despite continued investment in the form of refurbishment of its casinos. Birch revealed to Reuters that Rank is looking to improve its digital arm, and is actively looking for potential merger or acquisition targets. The company has been looking at M&A for the last 18 months and continues to do so and there is definitely a focus on the digital arena for that. Rank Financial Highlights for the 12 Months to June 30, 2016 Key Performance Indicator 2015/16 2014/15 Change Group Revenue 753.0m 738.3m 2% Group EBITDA before exceptional items 128.2m 126.3m 2% Group EBITDA before exceptional items and Remote Gaming Duty 139.8m 132.9m 5% Group operating profit before exceptional items 82.4m 84.0m (2%) Group operating profit before exceptional items and Remote Gaming Duty 94.0m 90.6m 4% Adjusted profit before tax 77.4m 74.1m 4% Adjusted earnings per share 15.4p 14.6p 4% Net Debt 41.2m 52.9m 22% Dividend per share 6.50p 5.60p 16% Get all the latest PokerNews updates on your social media outlets. Follow us on Twitter and find us on both Facebook and Google+! We can help you make sense of the agribusiness industry, extending from chemicals and fertilizers used as inputs into agriculture, to the commodities, food and by-products that are an output to farming, with policy and regulation applied at every step of the value chain. Global private equity firm KKR is reportedly looking to expand its Southeast Asian business with the hire of Ashish Shas Madison police are investigating a battery after a man was punched while jogging on the East Side Tuesday evening. Police said the 26-year-old victim was running along 2000 block of Winnebago Street shortly before 9 p.m. when he was randomly punched by a stranger. The male assailant did not speak and did not attempt to rob the victim before fleeing. A 20-year-old man, who was out on bail after pleading guilty to first-degree reckless homicide less than two weeks ago, was arrested on new tentative charges Friday, the Dane County Sheriff's Office said. Wyatt A. Staff, of Stoughton, tentatively faces charges of delivery of heroin and three counts of bail jumping, said sheriff's office spokeswoman Elise Schaffer. In February, Staff purchased heroin for two other men, which resulted in one man dying from an overdose. In June, Staff testified that he bought heroin from 36-year-old Christopher T. Jenkins at a Far East Side motel on Feb. 10. He testified he brought it to a van where it was used by two Waupun men, Joshua M. Strate, 32, and David J. Beloungy, 21, which resulted in Beloungy becoming unconscious and Strate's death. Staff's new tentative charges come as he was on a bail monitoring program for the previous charge, and he was taken to the Dane County Jail after his arrest, Schaffer said. He had testified that in the February incident he became scared and drove the van to the town of Pleasant Springs near his parents house. The van with the two men in it was seen by a passer-by the next morning. Staff has an initial hearing for the new tentative charges scheduled for this Friday, Schaffer said. Jenkins, the man who sold Staff the heroin, was convicted of first-degree reckless homicide, delivery of heroin and second-degree reckless endangerment after Staff cooperated with police to purchase more heroin from Jenkins. Beloungy pleaded guilty earlier this month to a heroin possession charge. He was sentenced to two years probation, but also received three years in prison for two earlier cases. With an impending ban on so-called special registration deputies, Madison officials have taken a step to allow more city employees to register voters. The city announced this week that residents will be offered a chance to register whenever they present documents that could be used as proof of residence at any city office. Voter registration has been offered at public library locations for decades, but clerks office staff has been training employees from other offices to register voters since the City Council adopted a resolution in June outlining the new policy. The resolution took aim at Republicans for an online voting bill signed by Gov. Scott Walker in March that included a ban on special registration deputies. For years, election clerks have been allowed to train special registration deputies to help civic groups conduct registration drives at senior centers, college campuses and public events. Opponents argue the ban would halt voter registration drives, but supporters contend that with online registration as an option, special registration deputies will no longer be needed because anyone could help a voter register online using tablets or other mobile devices. The City Council resolution said manual voter registration remains a crucial part of our electoral process and called recent changes to Wisconsin voting law a shift to more closely reflect an unethical legacy of voter registration suppression. The ban doesnt go into effect until after the state implements its online voter registration system. State Elections Commission spokesman Reid Magney said the system is currently scheduled to be in place in January. Madison officials have pushed back against other Republican changes to voting law. Last week, the clerks office announced it would begin in-person absentee voting for the Nov. 8 election on Sept. 26. On Monday, a three-judge panel of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals denied a request by the Wisconsin Department of Justice to put early voting in Madison and Milwaukee on hold during an appeal of U.S. District Judge James Petersons ruling, which overturned several Republican changes to Wisconsin voting law. Peterson ruled against limiting early in-person voting to one location per municipality and weekdays two weeks before an election, between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Dane County insurance companies participating in the Affordable Care Act exchange are proposing double-digit premium increases for next year as they adjust to the realities of the federal online marketplace. But federal health officials say most consumers wont face steep hikes because the vast majority receive tax credits to help pay premiums, they can shop around for cheaper plans and proposed rate increases are sometimes reduced when approved in the fall. Headline rate increases do not reflect what consumers actually pay, Kathryn Martin, acting assistant secretary for planning and evaluation with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said Wednesday. Even in a scenario where all plans saw double-digit rate increases, consumers in each state will continue to have affordable options. Even if rates go up 25 percent in Wisconsin next year, 69 percent of people using the exchange could find a plan for $75 a month or less, according to a new report by the federal health department. Many insurers set rates low during the first two years of the exchange, in 2014 and 2015, but the people who signed up for plans ended up being sicker than projected, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. That led many companies to boost rates for this year. With open enrollment for next year set to begin Nov. 1, many insurers have proposed significant increases again for the fourth year of the exchange. One reason is that a government reinsurance program, which helped protect insurers with high medical expenses, expires this year. It reduced premiums by about 5 percent, Kaiser experts said. About 224,000 people in Wisconsin were insured through the exchange as of March, with 85 percent receiving tax credits. The average monthly premium of $455 was reduced to $125 for those with tax credits. The premiums dont take into account deductibles, which can be thousands of dollars for some plans. This year, the median deductible is $850, federal health officials said. Though the national carriers Anthem and UnitedHealthcare have left the exchange in many places, the main plans in Dane County remain the same. Proposed rate increases next year for individual plans on the exchange for plans based in Dane County range from 5.4 percent to 37.9 percent. Rates for Unity Health Insurances three plans could go up by 28.3 percent to 37.9 percent. Our price reflects the underlying risk in the pool, changes in the population, health status and claims, spokeswoman Jennifer Dinehart said. Unity initially proposed increases of 18.3 percent and 10.3 percent for its two plans this year, but the actual increases were 11 percent and 3.8 percent. Rates for Dean Health Plans two policies next year might go up 20.9 percent and 16.2 percent. Dean Health Plan values all our members, and we are committed to providing sustainable plan options and rates utilizing our integrated health delivery system, spokeswoman Mary Carr Lee said. Deans rates this year decreased 10.3 percent and 3.9 percent. WPS Health Plans proposed rate increases for its two plans, offered outside of Dane County and marketed as Arise Health Plan, are 36.4 percent and 32.4 percent. We are filing for a rate change to account for continued increased cost in providing medical care, increased utilization of services by consumers, and the impact of numerous additional taxes and fees imposed upon our plan, a WPS statement said. The WPS plans went up 10.5 percent this year. Physicians Plus proposed a rate increase of 18.7 percent for its individual plan off the exchange next year. It is withdrawing from the individual exchange next year. This decision was based on several important factors, including low enrollment in this product line, as well as the high administrative costs to maintain our participation in the exchange, spokeswoman Leah Huibregtse said. Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin submitted a rate increase of 5.4 percent for its plan next year. The plan went up 10.9 percent this year. For more information, go to ratereview.healthcare.gov. Irish workers report that when faced between two similar job offers, they would be swayed by the company that can prove they are making a charitable contribution and giving back in some way. This is according to latest research from flexible workspace provider, Regus. Of the almost 40,000 Regus survey respondents, almost half reported it is important to them that their employer is involved in charity work, whilst 59% of Irish respondents agreed. In fact, CSR is also an area of consideration when choosing a place to work. A significant 43% said that when presented with two equal jobs, they would give preference to the more charitable company. Businesses with a proven involvement in society are therefore better able to attract and retain top staff. Furthermore, a third of respondents would like to be directly involved in their companys charity schemes and 34% would like to be better informed. Ireland Country Manager at Regus, Gearoid Collins commented, "Businesses should grasp this willingness to contribute to society and ensure that their workers know about charity and CSR projects, and are offered the opportunity to get involved directly." He added, "Workers who are aware of their companys philanthropic activities are more likely to feel fulfilled and motivated by their work. In addition, charitable initiatives create opportunities for management and employees to team up and work together." Source: www.businessworld.ie About us NAFCU President and CEO Dan Berger applauded the inclusion of credit unions in Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clintons small business platform, released yesterday, which reaffirmed her past statements about cutting red tape so credit unions can continue providing capital for small businesses. We applaud Secretary Clintons recognition of the importance of credit unions as a resource for capital for small businesses, Berger said. Credit unions proved their mettle throughout the crisis providing much-needed capital to small business. Today, they want to continue to help small business and all their members achieve their financial dreams but nearly a credit union a day is disappearing due in large part to the overwhelming regulatory burden. Clinton said she wants to streamline regulations and cut red tape for community banks and credit unions, which are the backbone of small business lending in America. During an economic speech earlier this month, Clinton made similar remarks. I am proud to be a credit union professional who also volunteers as a board member its my sixth year on the board of directors for the $1.03 billion Firefly Credit Union, based in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, and my second year as Board Chair. Meanwhile, my day job for the past 10 years has been to serve as an executive with MEMBERS Development Company (MDC), an R&D CUSO owned by more than 40 of the nations top-tier credit unions. Speaking for myself, my role on Firefly CUs board has given me a well-rounded understanding of the issues facing credit unions today. By helping to steer a large credit union through todays financial, technology and competitive challenges, Ive gained an acute awareness of what MDCs owners face and a better understanding of their R&D needs. Board service also develops leadership skills. Leading a two-hour, monthly meeting comprised of other directors and supported by senior management involves much more than just showing up. How can you improve board performance? Theres no doubt that my dual experience in credit unions has made me more effective at both roles, leading me to share some recommendations about how to have a powerful credit union board of directors. Get rid of board elections. Well, not exactly. Credit unions democratic structure is at the heart of what sets us apart from for-profit financial institutions. But typically less than 5% of the membership vote without knowing anything at all about a candidate (except, perhaps, that s/he is an incumbent), and most others know little about candidates relevant experience. If you want the most qualified people serving your credit union, put the power of selecting board volunteers in the hands of those who understand the role best your board. Since Firefly CU changed our bylaws to give our nominating committee the responsibility of identifying, interviewing, and recommending highly qualified board members, the strength and depth of our volunteers has increased dramatically. Board members must be vetted to avoid simply re-electing incumbents who may not be the best candidates for the job, either because they lack the qualifications or dont respect the requirements and expectations that go with serving as a director. Make no mistake about it serving on a credit union board is a job, a very serious one, in fact. Trust thisyour board knows much better than the average member who is best qualified to fulfill these obligations. Identify specific qualifications, as well as expectations, for board service. To avoid nominating candidates who are unqualified or unprepared to meet the requirements, the board should set out specific qualifications and expectations for volunteer service. For example, directors need a basic level of financial skills, including understanding of financial statements and key ratios (or make and follow through on a commitment to attend financial training). Board members must be prepared before meetings, reading and reviewing board packet materials so they are able to discuss serious issues and make key decisions. It wastes everyones time to have to bring a negligent board member up to speed during the meeting. And they must make meeting attendance a priority (with the understanding that only a limited number of unexcused absences will be allowed). Board members serving on the nominating committee should also consider the following points: Are there skills gaps on our board that need to be addressed? Are our membership demographics accurately represented at the table? Do we have candidates running for another term who regularly miss meetings, are consistently late or ask questions that make it obvious they didnt prepare? Is there feedback on board evaluations we should consider? What knowledge requirements should we set? Only after the committee has established sound criteria, approved by the full board, should it develop a slate of nominees. Dont hide behind term limits. Chances are, there are disengaged or unqualified board members who are dragging down your boards overall performance. Credit unions are complex financial institutions we are asked to guide; there is simply no room for slackers who see board service as a hobby or way to gain prestige. Many boards view term limits as a way to weed out ineffective directors. Instead, have the courage to let people know when its time to move on. Its our responsibility as board members to take that charge seriously and not only get the right people on the bus, but to have the hard conversations and ask the wrong people to step aside. Term limits can be useful for getting fresh perspectives on your board; but they also can work against you if it means you must release effective, diligent directors. At Firefly CU, it would have meant eliminating two of our most experienced, engaged, and passionate directors, leaving a huge leadership hole on our board. Term limits are not always the answer strong leadership is. What makes an effective director? Many credit union CEOs I talk with bemoan the fact that their board members are mostly retired, unwilling to learn new technologies, and/or disengaged from their credit unions desired demographics;. So, who is the perfect candidate? It isnt about age or gender (although a cross-section of both is certainly healthy). Instead, boards need volunteers who are engaged with the credit unions success, interested in current market and economic issues, and willing to put in the time and effort to be effective. As someone who has drunk the credit union Kool-Aid, I didnt think it was possible to become more committed to our industry. But by serving on my own credit unions board, Ive become a stronger supporter of our cooperative movement, and the benefits we offer everyday Americans. I have seen our board members transform into a diverse, passionate, financially educated, and powerful group of volunteers, and Im proud to work with them. It can be done it just requires time, focus, and strong leadership. Its exciting to participate in activities that directly affect the success of regular people and its also a bit of a thrill to be addressed as Madam Chair. UnityPoint Health-Meriter plans to resume sedation dentistry for special needs patients next month, at least partly replacing a service lost when Meriter closed its Max Pohle Dental Clinic in June 2015. A community dentist will provide care in a Meriter operating room for patients who require general anesthesia for teeth cleaning and dental exams because their developmental disabilities or other conditions cause them to move or react when dentists work on their teeth. The care will be part of a new partnership among Meriter and St. Marys and UW hospitals, Meriter spokeswoman Leah Huibregtse said. She declined to name the dentist who will participate. Its good news that there will be an option in Madison for people who need sedation for their dental care, said Kim Turner, chairwoman of the Developmental Disabilities Coalition of Dane County. Before closing Max Pohle, Meriter said it lost nearly $600,000 a year from the clinic. Under the new partnership, the three hospitals will share the cost, Huibregtse said. Its not clear if the new arrangement will be able to handle all of the sedation patients who used the Max Pohle clinic. The focus will be on Medicaid patients in Dane, Rock, Iowa, Sauk and Columbia counties, Huibregtse said. About 95 of the former clinics 1,800 annual patients required sedation dentistry, some from various parts of the state. Were unsure at this time what the full capacity will be, Huibregtse said. Many former Max Pohle patients not needing anesthesia have been able to go to Access Community Health Centers, which received $1 million from Meriter last year to expand its dental services. Access cant offer dental care with anesthesia because it doesnt have an operating room. Meriter said last year that special needs patients could go to the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in Minneapolis, which agreed to take Wisconsin patients even though it had a waiting list. Advocates for disabled people said its difficult for patients requiring sedation dental care to go that far. Meanwhile, a new dental clinic only for special needs patients is opening next week in Milwaukee. The clinic, at the St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care, will offer only partial sedation initially, using medications such as Valium and nitrous oxide, said Laura Cherek, director of dental services at St. Ann. Within a year, the clinic hopes to make arrangements with hospitals in Milwaukee to provide anesthesia to patients requiring full sedation, Cherek said. The clinic will take patients from around Wisconsin, she said. St. Ann received $270,000 from the state Department of Health Services for the clinic over three years, along with a grant from Delta Dental and donations from other groups. The center plans to rely on fundraising to remain viable, Cherek said. Recently retired Justice David Prosser understands well the negative influence special interest money is having on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Unfortunately, hes not embracing a solution. Prosser told WISN-TV (Ch. 12) on Sundays Upfront with Mike Gousha hes quite uncomfortable with the money and tone of judicial elections, tracing the problem back to the 1990s. People decided they wanted utter predictability from Supreme Court justices, Prosser said, and they start to pour money on behalf of candidates they were certain they knew how they were going to vote. Thats a mistake. Hes right. Prosser narrowly survived a bitter re-election in spring 2011. Instead of focusing on judicial experience and independence, the race turned into a referendum on Gov. Scott Walkers Act 10 union restrictions. Special interest groups poured millions of dollars into negative ads tarnishing the reputations of both candidates. Prosser only made matters worse when he later put his hands around the neck of Justice Ann Walsh Bradley during a dispute related to Act 10. The tone of the campaign is really rather unfortunate, Prosser said. You want people who really are going to be impartial and not totally predictable on the court. Prosser didnt create the problem of nasty high court elections. Yet his 2011 race and national attention to what Bradley described as kind of a choke hold by Prosser only led to further acrimony and diminished public trust. Attempts to control or even identify the money fueling judicial elections hasnt worked. The ultimate solution is to stop electing Wisconsins top judges, which turns them into the worst of politicians. Elections force judges, who are supposed to be insulated from political and public pressure, to shill for special interest and partisan favor. Former Justice Janine Geske favors merit selection. Instead of electing high court members, Wisconsin would appoint them based on merit. The governor would pick a nominee from a list of the most qualified and experienced legal minds in the state. He wouldnt get unilateral power, as he does now to fill court vacancies. Merit selection isnt perfect. But it does a much better job of protecting judicial independence while eliminating the influence of expensive campaigns, which produce glaring conflicts of interest when big campaign donors seek favorable rulings from judges they financially supported. Prosser dismissed merit selection Sunday, noting citizens here have always voted for judges. He also rejected limiting justices to single 16-year terms, as the State Bar has proposed. That would at least free justices from looking over their shoulders when making decisions. Prosser said single terms would only encourage special interest groups to spend more on fewer elections. So whats the solution? I dont know the exact answer, Prosser replied. Maybe not. But doing nothing wont help. I have learned the hard way not to put my personal life on the Internet. But suffice it to say that, God willing, things should be pretty much back to norm... 2 weeks ago Last weeks trip to Barrow, Alaska with a stop at Deadhorse was not a business trip. We werent looking for transit, or even really for a town. We were looking for landscapes, plants, birds, indigenous art, an unfamiliar sea, and of course latitude. Still, on news that I was going, a prominent figure in the microtransit world tweeted me this: @humantransit Jarret [sic] can I request a blog post on Barrow transit options? rural transit doesnt get enough press. Matthew George (@NotMattGeorge) August 14, 2016 So with him in mind, I snapped this pic at the Inupiat Cultural Centre. A small bus with several riders arrived and dropped off a man, who went into the adjacent library. Barrows a small town (<5000) and this is a typical small-town transit bus except for the lack of markings, which doesnt surprise me. Barrow is a largely indigenous community with locally-oriented problem-solving networks that arent going to be visible to an outsider, and theres no reason they should be. It was my only sighting of that bus all day, not that I was looking for it. Mostly, people get around Barrow in pickup trucks, SUVs, and deafening little ATVs. Not much on two wheels. And people walk. Like many Alaskan towns, including the capital, Barrow has no connections to the larger road network. It might as well be an island. Owning a car, then, lacks one of its main attractions you cant hit the open road.. Here, the roads dont go out of town. In a car, youre as trapped in town as youd be as a pedestrian. Well, one road ended at a lake, but it had a surprising amount of traffic, as though everyone who wanted to get out of town had only that one place to go. And you can drive to Point Barrow, but only if that track to the left, in very deep wet sand, looks safe to you. We were wimps. To be fair, being trapped in town is a summer problem, because what surrounds the town then is either open ocean or bog-like tundra, the latter hard to walk across. The winter freeze expands Barrows horizons, as both ocean and tundra become hard surfaces, easier to explore. It is an interesting town, especially when you consider that absolutely everything you see got here on a boat or an airplane. Its on stilts, as its built on permafrost that turns into bogs in the summer. Mostly wood, although the nearest tree is several hundred miles away. And mostly not trying to impress us, which is fine. Earlier this year, in the wake of the recent bout of terrorist attacks, France made the decision to ban the burqini (also spelled burkini). The creator of the burqini, however, aint so fazed. Why? Because sales are goooooooooooood, son! Aussie designer and creative mastermind of the burqini Aheda Zanetti has told media that since the ban, her online sales soared to a whopping 200%. France made the decision to ban the burqini after this years multiple attacks by extremists, citing that beachwear which ostentatiously displays religious affiliation, when France and places of worship are currently the target of terrorist attacks, is liable to create risks of disrupting public order. The fine for publicly wearing the swimwear garment is 38 (approx. $56 AUD). The Sydney-based designer said that her swimsuits were created so Muslim women who chose to wear the burqa could also enjoy Australias dope beach lifestyle. Im an Aussie chick, Ive been here all my life. I know what hijab means. I know what veil means. I know what Islam means. And I know who I am. Zanetti said that her swimsuits represent health and freedom of choice, not oppression. I wanted my girls to grow up to have that freedom of choice. I dont care if they want to have a bikini. Its their choice. No man in this entire world can tell us what to wear or what not to wear. Source: BBC. Photo: Matt King / Getty. *** Include a contact email address if you want a response *** Please tell us about the problem you are having... See your usage details You will also be sending us basic usage details to help us fix this problem. Details about your session Javascript: not enabled. Submit my Problem Please tell us about your problem before you click submit. Thank you for flagging this problem, we very much appreciate your time and helping us improve the site. Guides include - The Budget Wine Tasting Guide, Cheap Wine Tasting in Napa and The Ultimate Guide to a Girls' Weekend in Wine Country Plan Your Wine Country Travel End -- Wine country travel continues to grow in popularity. Wineries are driving this trend by expanding on the traditional wine tasting room. New wine tasting "experiences", on site restaurants, wine education classes and even concert venues are being used to entice visitors and wine buyers.This is attracting a new kind of tourism in California's wine country. Gone are the days of traveling a well worn wine trail and stopping at the winery with the most appealing sign. Wineries from Napa to Santa Barbara are introducing reservation only tastings, private seated tastings and other "enhanced" wine tasting options. A visitor to wine country needs to do more research and planning in order to enjoy the best experiences.California Winery Advisor recently released three new resources to help wine lovers plan their escapes to wine country. California Wine Tasting on a Budget provides tips on how to save when visiting any wine region in California. This is a great guide to use to plan your trip before you get to wine country. Cheap Napa Wine Tasting is a great resource for anyone planning a trip to Napa Valley. We provide a list of wineries with free tastings. We also provide resources to help you save at many of the top wineries in the valley. The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Girls Weekend in Wine Country will help anyone in charge of coordinating trips like a bachelorette weekend or a moms' outing in wine country. We cover the major areas you need to consider and offer tips and tools to make it an amazing weekend.Use these guides in combination with our comprehensive list of California wineries and wine regions. We will help you plan your escape to wine country from the Napa Wineries to Temecula and all the amazing wine regions in between.Come visit us at www.californiainwineryadvisor.com to learn more. The Arizona Master Franchise of Husse specialty pet food company will be accepting grant applications through September. By: Husse Arizona Husse show Contact Laurie Anderson ***@prexperts.com Photo: https://www.prlog.org/ 12581905/1 Laurie Anderson End -- Are you an Arizona veteran who would like to start a business but lack money to get it going? Air Force Disabled Veteran Wayne Borelli and his wife Samantha of Scottsdale plan to help a local veteran realize the dream of having their own business.The Borellis are the Arizona Master Franchisee of Husse (Hoo-Sah), an international specialty pet food franchise, and will be granting an Arizona veteran a franchise unit completely free. The person who receives the grant will be announced on Nov. 10 at the Phoenix Veterans Summit."As a veteran-owned business, we understand the unique challenges our fellow veterans face when it comes to finding a job or starting a business, and we decided to do something about it," said Samantha. "Owning a business is a dream of many veterans, but the initial investment needed is often an insurmountable challenge. We wanted to do our part by removing this hurdle. The value of the franchise is greater than $15,000 and it includes everything needed to successfully launch the veteran's new career and serve customers from day one!"Husse franchise owners can run the business from their home and do not need not to have a store front or employees. They sell and home-deliver high-quality pet food, and they educate their customers about healthy pet nutrition. Husse franchise owners are continuously trained and educated about the latest in pet nutrition and are provided with local support to run their business. A unit franchise territory of up to 50,000 residents will be awarded as part of the grant. The license, starter inventory, apparel, exhibition tent, and cost of vehicle wrap (up to $2000) will be included at no cost to the winning grantee.The Husse grant was also vetted and is supported by The Veterans Directory, and the organization has produced a short video about the opportunity. https://vimeo.com/ 168087038 Husse Arizona is now accepting applications for the grant through the Sept. 30, 2016 deadline, and veterans of all ages are encouraged to apply. Information about the grant as well an easy to fill out online application are available at: http://www.husseaz.com/ veteran-grant- program . "Veterans who have any questions about filling out the application should call us at 480-498-8754,"Samantha adds.Husse was founded in Sweden in 1987. Today, Husse has licensed franchisees delivering a range of premium quality pet food, cat litter and various accessories to the doorstep of its customers around the world with no additional charge. In 2015, this healthy Swedish food came to the U.S.Owning a Husse franchise in Arizona (www.husseaz.com)offers an opportunity for a pet lover to become a business owner in the booming industry of specialty pet food. Husse Arizona provides its franchisees with their own exclusive territory and just about everything needed to start a business, including practical expert training regarding pet nutrition. By: Strategic Book Publishing and Rights Co, LLC Sigmund End -- This unforgettable war story honours the brave and selfless people who overcame obstacles during wartime, and found love in the most unlikely of places.In 1941, Nicole du Bois, a young Anglo/French woman, sets out for France as a patriot to help the French Resistance during World War II. Her old family home in Blois becomes her base. Blois is occupied by the SS and the Gestapo, so Nicole befriends a handsome, high-ranking SS Officer named Sigmund, hoping she can glean information from him to pass on to the Allies.Nicole's relationship becomes a passionate affair, and the union of these two opposites results in a like mind. The novel shows that some Germans were not cruel and unfeeling, and Sigmund was one of the few who aided the enemy. Her time as a member of the resistance enables Nicole to save many lives, but she must also make the ultimate sacrifice. For everyone who enjoys a rousing war story as well as a great romance, Sigmund is the perfect read.Watch the video at: https://youtu.be/ xPml6srQQR4 "This compelling novel of war is laced with bravery, selflessness, and a woman's love for the enemy. It ends in an intense relationship that will be seared in your memory. We are thrilled to announce its release," said Robert Fletcher, CEO of Strategic Book Publishing and Rights Agency.SIGMUND (ISBN: 978-1-68181-391-2) is now available for $27.95 and can be ordered through the publisher's website: http://sbprabooks.com/ ValerieBaxter or at www.amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com.WHOLESALERS:This book is distributed by Ingram Books and other wholesale distributors. Contact your representative with the ISBN for purchase. Wholesale purchase for retailers, universities, libraries, and other organizations is also available through the publisher; please email bookorder@sbpra.net.About the Author: Valerie Baxter was born in 1942 in Gravesend, Kent, England. Gravesend is situated on the River Thames and is where Pocahontas is buried. She was inspired to write this story by the brave troops who have given their lives in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the two World Wars.Strategic Book Publishing and Rights Co, LLCwww.SBPRA.net (http://www.strategicbookclub.com/)www.AuthorMarketingIdeas.com www.PublishOnDemandGlobal.com*About our book publishing, marketing, and distribution team We have provided services to over 10,000 authors around the world in the last eight years. We have hybrid-published over 6,500 authors, (about 500+ in a "traditional style" contract and the remainder in a self-publishing style), and their books are for sale in all the normal Ingram distribution channels, and Amazon and B&N (US, UK, Australia, Europe), plus China, India, Malaysia and almost every country in the world. We have attended and exhibited at over 30 of the largest book fairs in the world including London, New York, Beijing, Frankfurt, Guadalajara, New Delhi, Taiwan, and more. We have been instrumental in the adoption of POD in mainland China and Korea. For our author-clients we have produced over 1,000 press releases, video book trailers and other marketing materials for authors around the world. We have created over 7,500 author websites with extended capabilities, we have over 1,200 multi-format eBooks available on Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and other eBook platforms around the world. We look forward to assisting you to the best of our ability.https://www.facebook.com/sbpra.ushttp://pinterest.com/sbpra/https://twitter.com/SBPRAhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/sbpra Media Contact Tom Neal Nebraska Organ Recovery ***@nedonation.org 402-281-4729 Tom NealNebraska Organ Recovery402-281-4729 End -- Bryan Clauson started 2016 in pursuit of an unprecedented goalto run a schedule consisting of 200 races. Although Bryan died August 7th following an accident at the Belleville High Banks, "The Chasing 200 Tour: Circular Insanity," continues on. As a registered organ and tissue donor, Bryan saved five lives and will help heal dozens more who suffer from debilitating injuries and illnesses.Inspired by Bryan's generosity, his family is continuing The Chasing 200 Tour with a new goal in mindto register 200 organ and tissue donor in Bryan's memory."This has been such a bittersweet moment for our family," said Tim Clauson, father of Bryan Clauson. "We miss our son terribly. However, what has kept us going is the outpouring of support from the community and Bryan's decision to be an organ donor. We have always been proud of him for the generous person he was. Being a donor saves lives and gives us hope to see Bryan continue to live on in the lives he has helped."Bryan's fans will have the opportunity to register in person at the Celebration of Life honoring him Wednesday at Kokomo Speedway. Individuals can also register online at http://www.registerme.org/ campaign/bryanclauson Each donor has the potential to save eight lives and heal 60 others. If the Chasing 200 goal is reached, up to 1,600 lives could be saved."Over 120,000 Americans are waiting for a life-saving transplant,"said Tom Neal, Public Relations Coordinator with Nebraska Organ Recovery, the organization that coordinated Bryan's donation. "Another is added to the waiting list every 10 minutes and 22 die each day because they did not get a transplant in time.""We have been overwhelmed by the support for Bryan and all those that have already committed to donating in his honor," Neal continued. "It's a true testament to who Bryan was and the impact he had on all who knew him.""Everybody we met from the Nebraska Organ Recovery treated us with so much compassion and appreciation,"said Lauren Stewart, fiance to Bryan Clauson, "We really want to pay this forward for Bryan and for all the donor networks across the United States, including the Indiana Donor Network. Hitting our goal of 200 new donors in Bryan's name would be an amazing accomplishment for the racing community"The Bryan Clauson Celebration of Life begins at 1 pm at the Kokomo Speedway. Hot Laps start at 6:30, and the Tim Duggar concert will begin right after the completion of the night's races.Nebraska Organ Recovery ( http://www.nedonation.org/ ) is the federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) for Nebraska and Pottawattamie County in Iowa. Formed in 1977, Nebraska Organ Recovery is a not-for-profit agency that is independent of any hospital or transplant center. Nebraska Organ Recovery is responsible for the evaluation, recovery, preservation, coordination, and distribution of all organs as well as the recovery of bone, tendon, heart valves, and connective tissue for transplantation. Additionally, Nebraska Organ Recovery provides public and professional education regarding donation throughout the state and Pottawattamie County, IA. Parents share photos with #cartooncuts25; and company donates $5 per share to build a school in Guatemala. Contact Contact: Adam Eglin Cartoon Cuts ***@cartooncuts.com Contact: Adam EglinCartoon Cuts End -- With mall traffic down, and retailers planning massive store closures, it is difficult to find a recession-proof business that stands the test of time. Enter Cartoon Cuts, the EXPERTS in kids' hair."You cannot get a haircut online," said Kathleen Perkal, the company's founder. "And, this simple truth, combined with a problem-solving purpose, has enabled Cartoon Cuts to cut 6,000,000 little heads over the past 25 years." Moms and Dads, who themselves were Cartoon Cuts customers, are now bringing their children in for haircuts.For the company's 25Back-to-School season, Cartoon Cuts has partnered with Pencils of Promise to raise funds to build a school in Guatemala. What better time to think about kids who do not have a school? The goal is $25K, and they have already raised over $20K. For parents who share a photo of their child with the giant birthday card in each salon, Cartoon Cuts will donate $5 to the cause.The company's month-long celebration, features a giant birthday card, for all the children to sign. There are balloons and bright primary colors, and lots of stickers and lollipops. There is Ellie, the friendly elephant shampoo station. There are distracting videos at every styling station. And, for Baby's First Haircut, there is a commemorative certificate along with a keepsake lock of hair.Cartoon Cuts has special pricing for big families, as well as parent/child combos. Walk-ins are always welcome, and the price of a kid's haircut is less than $20 in all markets. There are 12 company-owned Cartoon Cuts salons, in Florida, Maryland and Virginia. SMARTPro enhances disk activity monitoring and back-end server management MemxPros SMARTPro 2.0 with SMARTPro server supports Digital Industry 4.0 Contact MemxPro Inc. info@memxpro.com MemxPro Inc. End -- MemxPro, the industrial SSD total solution provider, launches SMARTPro 2.0 upgrade version with significant function enhancements, including instant disk activity monitoring on the local and backend server side. Following the movement from "Industrial Automation" to "Smart Factories", and with flexible manufacturing and a tight IT budget in mind, MemxPro makes available storage disk data to help customers efficiently conduct detailed data analysis to help streamline their business. MemxPro also announced that all its SSD and flash modules will be able to run its SMARTPro device monitoring management software with disk status information, problem detection, and data acquisition features.The fuel driving this digital transformation of IoT and Industry 4.0 is big data. Aside from a series of feature-rich industrial SSDs, various form factor embedded flash storage solutions, and industrial memory cards such as CFast and CF, MemxPro emphasizes its expertise on software development and hardware integration, introducing new functions in SMARTPro that sense disk status and collect product information for device management, facilitating optimized decision-making for production planning and process flow management. MemxPro's new enhanced SMARTPro 2.0 version is able to show read/write speeds and total disk activity, as well as helping to trace and manage disk utilization. Another enhancement is back-end server side system monitoring. Integrated with an enterprise database, the system will record SSD status and store data logs to benefit big data analysis and other applications.To satisfy the need for employing monitoring tools on various computing devices, even portable devices, MemxPro's SMARTPro supports Windows, Linux and Android platforms. After checking the serial number of MemxPro's storage products, users quickly receive SSD information, including health status, device temperatures, and estimated lifecycles. At the same time, all S.M.A.R.T log information is visualized in a clear graphical format. This makes it easier for users to read their information, and helps save on development time and cost.MemxPro has expertise in product development, design for manufacturing and industrial storage devices, and understands that software is critical to future intelligent system applications. In addition to SMARTPro, the company put a lot of resources intoSoftPro development to build a comprehensive software offering, from pre-installed OS, SSD related SDK, SMARTPro, SaveOS for system backup and recovery, and a cloning tool to simplify software solution development. MemxPro also provides customization services for various OS platforms to meet customers' specific requirements, accelerating product development and shortening time to market. MemxPro SMARTPro helps customers ride the wave of the Industry 4.0 digital transformation. For more information contact your local sales office or visit the website.MemxPro provides reliable industrial flash memory and storage solutions with integrated design services to cater for the highly customized needs of industrial OEM customers and products are used in a variety of applications including automation and manufacturing, environmental control, military and aerospace, network and communications, automotive and transportation, medical & healthcare, gaming, retail and more. At present, MemxPro's main product lines focus on flash memory storage devices through PCI Express, SATA and USB high-speed storage interfaces, and support various capacities in 2.5" SSD, mSATA, Slim SATA, SATA Module, CFast, USB module, and memory card form factors. MemxPro strives to deliver high-quality products and unsurpassed service, becoming one of the leading brands for industrial memory solutions around the world. For more information, please visit www.memxpro.com or email us at info@memxpro.com Policy clarity in key markets provides near-term boost to the global outlook, but also impacts long-term growth negatively Contact MAKE ***@consultmake.com MAKE End -- MAKE's Q3/2016 Global Wind Power Market Outlook Update presents an analysis of global and regional wind power installation forecasts through 2025.Policy clarity in several key global markets since June has impacted growth projections both positively and negatively in those markets, but the adjustments balance out over the 10-year outlook, with a net upgrade of less than 600MW.MAKE upgrades the 2016 to 2018 global outlook by 1%, due largely to a 23% upgrade in the outlook for India and a 9% upgrade in the outlook for Germany over this period. Project timeline adjustments in developing markets temper the overall upgrade.A 2GW downgrade from 2019 to 2025 is primarily attributed to policy announcements in the UK and in Poland. The downgrade, however, does not have a significant impact on the global outlook as the 10-year CAGR is maintained from the outlook in Q2.There was minimal change to the outlook for the Americas from the Q2 analysis, with adjustments exclusively caused by dynamics in Latin America, representing a downgrade of less than 1%. Wind power in Latin America's top marketsBrazil and Mexicofaces increasingly strong competition from solar, putting pressure on winning in upcoming auctions. In North America, new offshore policy in the US state of Massachusetts provides greater certainty and results in an upgrade to the offshore outlook.Europe had a high concentration of adjustments in the Q3 analysis, led by policy-driven downgrades in the UK and in Poland. Despite the negative impact and lingering uncertainty in the UK caused by Brexit, upgrades in Northern Europe (+4% QoQ over the outlook period) offset the overall impact of downgrades across markets in Europe. Markets in Scandinavia continue to surge, as policy clarity and subsequent development efforts in Norway and Sweden lead to positive adjustments.Troubling policies from Poland's PiS government result in an 11% downgrade in Eastern Europe compared to the Q2 analysis. Positive developmentsin smaller markets in the sub-region (e.g., Croatia, Macedonia and Serbia) do not carry enough weight to have a significant impact.Downward adjustments in Egypt and in Saudi Arabia yield a 1% downgrade QoQ in MEA. However, increasing long-term confidence in Iran helps to offset the long-term impact. The near-term impact is more significant (-8%), as Egypt's FIT program is still maturing and Iran continues to recover economically.MAKE keeps the outlook in China consistent with the Q2 analysis. China's central government introduced a mechanism to encourage more rational investment in wind projects. This has motivated developers in heavily curtailed regions in the north to pursue opportunities in southern regions, which will offset a near-term decline in growth in northern regions.Growth prospects in India continue to be a focal point for the industry, with the latest policy announcements triggering a 6% upgrade to the Q2 analysis. A short-term boost in India is dampened modestly by project adjustments in the rest of the sub-region, but overall the outlook for Asia Pacific excluding China is upgraded by 3% QoQ over the 10-year period.Firm order intake decreased 15% YoY in Q2/2016 to nearly 12GW, primarily due to a pause in orders placed for projects in the US market as developers re-evaluated project timelines following IRS guidance on PTC qualification. Order volume in APAC stayed consistent YoY, as developers in India rushed to capitalize on full incentive levels in 2016 and developers in China direct focus to southern regions.For more information, check out MAKE's website at http://www.consultmake.com/ By: Turkish Tourism End -- In the lead up to the public holidays marking Eid Al Adha in September, the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism is looking to visitors from Gulf countries to offset the recent slump in the nation's tourist numbers. Tourism is a critical source of Turkey's GDP the sector generated USD 35.1 billion in revenues in 2015 but recent events have taken a toll on the sector. The ministry is therefore turning to visitors from the Gulf region for support, in particular visitors from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain, which have in the past represented the highest volume of visitors to the nation."In spite of recent events, there are no security concerns in tourist destinations in Turkey. These facilities are, and will continue to be, completely safe. Hospitality services remain undisrupted and the comfort of foreign citizens visiting the nation continues to be a priority to us," notes Salih Ozer, Attache of Culture and Information from Turkey to the UAE.In recent years, the influx of tourists from the Gulf region into Turkey has surged; visitors from the region are estimated to contribute as much as six per cent to the Turkey's average annual tourism revenue. In fact, an impressive 582,698 Gulf tourists visited Turkey in 2014."Generally, the period from June to September marks a peak season for Gulf visitors travelling to Turkey. The summer months are an excellent time for tourist destinations, and the inbound traffic creates numerous jobs. We hope that the upcoming Eid Al Adha holidays will help boost tourist revenue. Especially, since the safety and comfort of tourists is being handled with the utmost care," adds Ozer.As per the World Travel and Tourism Council, tourism created 580,000 jobs directly in 2014 in Turkey, which translates to 2.2 per cent of the nation's total employment. Antananarivo, Madagascar - "Lalatiana Rahariniaina" is proud to offer "Please Help Us Save Our School" project on indiegogo. By: Please Help Us Save Our School Media Contact Lalatiana Rahariniaina ***@gmail.com Lalatiana Rahariniaina End --My sister and I have a school where we try to offer good education to poor kids of our neighborhood. Now, the owner of the place that we rent wants us to leave. This has happened already twice since 2013. This time we may have to close the school unless we buy a land and a house. But we cannot afford them. That is why we call on you to assist us. Please, help us buy a land and a house so we can keep the school open for the poor kids of our local community. Thank you so much for your support."Les Roitelets" is a school based in Antananarivo, Madagascar, in a district named Analamahitsy. Created in 1995, it has now a record of more than 1,400 schoolchildren."My mother said that educating is like building a house. You need to make sure the base is strong enough for the walls raised to be strong as well. It is our motto." The school wants to give access to good education to everyone; especially children from low-income households.Now, the existence of the school is endangered. The landlord wants us to leave. We have tried to look for another place to rent without success. Meanwhile, we have found a place for sale. We now realize that this is the only solution we have. Unfortunately, we cannot afford it.The school's survival is very important for the neighborhood. Besides, we cannot give up on our late mother's dream and good work.your support is urgently needed! Please look at all the rewards they have for those who make a contribution. Please consider getting involved, at whatever level you can, and helpget funded!If you can't afford to donate, don't worry - there are plenty of other ways you can help. Please take some time to share our campaign across your social networks and encourage your friends and family to donate.For more information, contact us on: rlalatiana@gmail.comLink to the project: https://www.indiegogo.com/ projects/please- help-us-save- ou... Raffaele Puppio trial attorney presented on professionalism and ethics to future law students By: Raffaele Puppio Contact Rose Strong ***@furiarubel.com Rose Strong End -- Raffaele Puppio partner J. Patrick Hickey recently spoke to law students at Drexel University's Thomas R. Kline School of Law on professionalism and ethics in the practice of law. Hickey heads the litigation department at Raffaele Puppio, one of the largest full-service law firms in Delaware County.Hickey led a student breakout session focusing on the fundamentals of practicing law and the importance of maintaining the highest degree of professionalism and ethics at all times. With a passion for teaching and mentoring law students, Hickey for years has served as an adjunct professor at Drexel, teaching on topics including interviewing, counseling and negotiation. He also participates as a judge in the Appellate Moot Court Advocacy Program at Drexel University to help further the practical education of future trial lawyers.Hickey's litigation practice includes personal injury, automobile liability, construction accidents, workers' compensation and criminal defense. Throughout his career, he has handled hundreds of cases and has served as lead counsel in approximately 50 jury trials. He has appeared in front of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, as well as the Superior Court of Pennsylvania and has secured multi-million dollar recoveries for his clients.After graduating from Boston College with a bachelor's degree in economics, Hickey went on to earn his law degree from the Penn State Dickinson School of Law. He is admitted to practice in front of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Delaware County Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association.About Raffaele Puppio Raffaele Puppio is one of the largest and most established full-service law firms in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Attorneys within the firm are known for their legal prowess among the bench and bar in Delaware County, having decades of experience representing school districts, municipalities, businesses and individual clients, helping to solve legal problems while avoiding future legal issues. The attorneys provide sound legal counsel in the areas of education law, government and municipal services, family law, general litigation, personal injury, commercial real estate and business transactions, elder law, estate administration and planning, and criminal law. The conditions for the acquisition of a portfolio of eight senior housing sites in Belgium, as announced in the press release of 24 May 2016 , have been fulfilled. Aedifica took control of seven sites through the acquisition of real estate companies, and of one site through an asset [] The Bern train station is the top-selling Swiss shopping center. Last year, per m business area, almost 25,000 were converted. In second place - with a respectable distance ( 21.88 per m) is the Zurich main station; third is the Geneva train station Geneva-Cornavin. According to a ranking of [] Dhirendra Mishra, 35, driver of Ness Wadia has lodged a complaint with MRA Marg Police Station at 2 am on March 19, 2016. He alleges that his boss forced him to cover a distance from Worli to Fort in 10 minutes, a task which was virtually impossible considering the peak hour traffic. A non cognizable complaint has been lodged against Wadia and he is booked for both assault and for intimidating his driver. The cops have filed a non-cognizable complaint and not an FIR, u/s 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 506 (Criminal intimidation) of IPC against Wadia. Dhirendra Mishra has been driver of Ness Wadias car for 2 years. The driver states that he was thrashed by Wadia for not driving fast enough while he was even forced to break traffic signals. In his complaint, Mishra also stated that he used to be regularly beaten and assaulted by his boss and repeatedly forced to break traffic regulations. Mishra has been working as a driver with Wadia for the past two and half years. On 18th May, Mishra picked up Wadia at 1.30 pm from Bombay Dyeing office in Worli and was asked to drive him to Fort in a matter of 10 minutes. He was forced to break 4 traffic signals during the journey and even paid a fine of INR 100 at one point despite which Wadia continued with his threats. An officer at the MRA Marg police station stated that they have taken note of the complaint but there was no need to call Wadia to the police station. The officer also stated that the alleged assault only demands an NC complaint and not an FIR. In another case involving Ness Wadia, he has finally recorded his statement with the police, two years after the case was filed against him by his then fiancee, Priety Zinta. via mid-day Popular Youtuber Jasminder Singh of JS Films has done what very few bikers have ever done before. He has not only managed to ride a Suzuki Hayabusa to worlds highest motorable road, but has also completed the Leh circuit Delhi Srinagar Kargil Leh Nubra Pangong Leh Manali Delhi. This is the third time Jasminder has been to Leh, Ladakh region. He was also part of the group in 2016, which became the first to reach Khardung La on a Hayabusa. At that time, it was biker Naveen Jangid who rode to Khardung La on Hayabusa. In 2018, it was Jasminder who was on a Hayabusa. He did this along with 4 other bikers, in all there were 5 in the group. Two were riding KTM Duke 390, while other two were on Bajaj Avenger and Pulsar. The ride started on 24th June. The 1340cc Suzuki Hayabusa was put to the real test as this bike is not built to tackle such terrain or such high altitudes but proved its stance over the road trip. Jasminder was told by friends that the Hayabusa was not a bike to be taken on this treacherous journey. However he stood by his decision and prepared the bike for set off with sufficient fuel and supplies. The 12 day ride started from Delhi. After crossing Chandigarh, the team headed towards Srinagar, and from there to Kargil and finally Leh. Next day the team headed out towards Nubra Valley, but not before crossing one of the highest motorable roads in the world Khardung La, located at over 18,000 feet above sea level. At Khardung La, people took photos and danced with joy at the achievement of Jasminder, proving that the Hayabusa can actually take on the most challenging of terrains and weather conditions without any hitch. From Khardung La, the team headed towards Nubra valley, where the plan was to do the old silk route. Here, on the Agham Shyok road the team faced everything from bad roads to smooth roads from no roads to a gigantic river crossing. Jasminder also performed a wheelie on this road, which is located at over 14,000 feet above sea level making it probably the highest superbike wheelie in the world. Watch the video below. Jasminder met with a host of bikers from across India who were amazed to see the Hayabusa superbike in action in a region that is otherwise tough for normal bikes, and complete the journey without any major breakdowns. In an email to Rushlane, Jasminder shares a brief description below I am really glad to share with you all that I have accomplished the feat of becoming the first person on a Hayabusa to complete the Delhi-Srinagar-Leh-Manali-Delhi circuit. (Navin rode Hayabusa from Jammu to Khardung La and back to Jammu). Stops Day 01: Delhi to Jammu Day 02 Jammu (Sightseen and Dukes Service) Day 03: Jammu to Srinagar Day 04: Srinagar to Kargil Day 05: Kargil to Leh (challenge: full day ride in the rain) Day 06: Leh (exploring the city: magnetic hill and gurudwara pathar saheb) Day 07: Leh to Nubra via Khardunga Top Day 08: Nubra to Pangong via Agham Shyok Road ( massive river crossings, Highest wheelie) Day 09: Pangong to Leh Day 10: Leh to Jispa ( Snowfall at tanglang la, All fogged out (zero visibility) at baralacha la) Day 11: Jispa to Manali ( full of slush and broken roads after keylong and before rohtang pass, one of the most difficult stretches of the trip.. due to thick slush approx 1 feet of slush at some points) Day 12: Manali to Delhi UK deaths from heart disease and stroke have plummeted by almost 70% over the past 30 years, but these improvements have not been equally distributed among all four countries, or between men and women, finds an analysis of the available data, published online in the journal Heart. Furthermore, the prevalence of cardiovascular disease hasn't budged during this period, but drug and surgical treatments have increased, particularly over the past decade, adding up to a "substantial burden" for the UK, say the researchers. In a bid to gauge the overall burden of heart disease and stroke, the researchers examined information from national annual datasets to assess trends in deaths, ill health, and treatment for cardiovascular disease (CVD) as a whole, and individually for coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke, from 1979 up to 2013. They used data provided by the 2015 Cardiovascular Disease Statistics report published by the British Heart Foundation; the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) incentive scheme for family doctors in England; the Health Surveys for England and Scotland; and the General Lifestyle Survey, an annual cross sectional survey for Great Britain, which ended in 2011. They also scrutinised NHS data on hospital admissions. Their analysis showed that, when standardised for age, deaths from CVD, CHD, and stroke fell by around 70% across the UK during this timeframe -- with even larger declines in premature death before the age of 75, of around 80%. advertisement The largest falls across all three indicators occurred in Northern Ireland, with premature CVD and CHD deaths among women falling by 83% and 87%, respectively, and premature stroke deaths among men plunging by 77%. Overall, the prevalence of CVD hasn't budged, however, remaining at 3% in England, and 4% elsewhere. The prevalence of stroke hasn't changed either, staying put at 2%, although the data indicate that there has been an increase among the over 75s, and for men aged 65-74, and a small decrease among 45-64 year old women. Trends in treatment reveal gender disparities. Across the UK admissions to hospital for CVD rose by 46,000 between 2010-11 and 2013-14, most of which (36,000) were among men. During this period, admissions among men for coronary heart disease rose by almost 3000, but fell by around 5000 among women. And while admissions for stroke didn't change among men, they fell by 4500 among women. Between 2005-6 and 2013-14, the overall number of admissions for CVD rose by 11% in England and by 15% in Wales. But the patterns for CHD and stroke were different. advertisement In Wales, CHD admissions rose by 4% -- almost entirely driven by those among men as these admissions fell by 6% among women. In England CHD admissions fell by 6%, overall, but the fall among women was 11% compared with 4% for men. Admissions for stroke rose by 13% in England among men, but by 6% among women, while in Wales, stroke admissions rose by 7% among women but by 17% among men. England topped the UK league table for drug prescriptions for diseases of the circulatory system, which includes CVD. Between 1991 and 2014 these soared by 243 million -- 78%. Between 2005 and 2014 they rose by 5.5 million (23%) in Wales, by 2.3 million (9%) in Scotland, and by 2.5 million (28%) in Northern Ireland. Surgical treatments also rose: seven times as many PCIs (percutaneous coronary interventions) were carried out in 2013 as in 1993, while there were a third fewer coronary artery bypass grafts in 2013 compared with the 1990s. "Despite large reductions in mortality from CVD, CHD, and stroke, these conditions have remained a substantial burden to the UK, with rises in treatment and hospital admissions for all CVD," conclude the researchers. "There is some evidence that improvements have not occurred equally for men and women or between the countries of the UK," they write, adding: "Although these are promising trends for mortality and stroke admissions in women, prevalence and treatment are increasing over time for all CVD and stroke." Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School have designed a nanoparticle that mimics the bacterium Salmonella and may help to counteract a major mechanism of chemotherapy resistance. Working with mouse models of colon and breast cancer, Beth McCormick, Ph.D., and her colleagues demonstrated that when combined with chemotherapy, the nanoparticle reduced tumor growth substantially more than chemotherapy alone. The results of their research were published July 25 in Nature Communications. Chemotherapy Resistance A membrane protein called P-glycoprotein (P-gp) acts like a garbage chute that pumps waste, foreign particles, and toxins out of cells. P-gp is a member of a large family of transporters, called ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, that are active in normal cells but also have roles in cancer and other diseases. For instance, cancer cells can co-opt P-gp to rid themselves of chemotherapeutic agents, severely limiting the efficacy of these drugs. In previous work, Dr. McCormick and her colleagues serendipitously discovered that Salmonella enterica, a bacterium that causes food poisoning, decreases the amount of P-gp on the surface of intestinal cells. Because Salmonella has the capacity to grow selectively in cancer cells, the researchers wondered whether there was a way to use the bacterium to counteract chemotherapy resistance caused by P-gp. advertisement "While trying to understand how Salmonella invades the human host, we made this other observation that may be relevant to cancer therapeutics and multidrug resistance," explained Dr. McCormick. Salmonella and Cancer Cells To determine the specific bacterial component responsible for reducing P-gp levels, the researchers engineered multiple Salmonella mutant strains and tested their effect on P-gp levels in colon cells. They found that a Salmonella strain lacking the bacterial protein SipA was unable to reduce P-gp levels in the colon of mice or in a human colon cancer cell line. Salmonella secretes SipA, along with other proteins, to help the bacterium invade human cells. The researchers then showed that treatment with SipA protein alone decreased P-gp levels in cell lines of human colon cancer, breast cancer, bladder cancer, and lymphoma. Because P-gp can pump drugs out of cells, the researchers next sought to determine whether SipA treatment would prevent cancer cells from expelling chemotherapy drugs. advertisement When they treated human colon cancer cells with the chemotherapy agents doxorubicin or vinblastine, with or without SipA, they found that the addition of SipA increased drug retention inside the cells. SipA also increased the cancer cells' sensitivity to both drugs, suggesting that it could possibly be used to enhance chemotherapy. "Through millions of years of co-evolution, Salmonella has figured out a way to remove this transporter from the surface of intestinal cells to facilitate host infection," said Dr. McCormick. "We capitalized on the organism's ability to perform that function." A Nanoparticle Mimic It would not be feasible to infect people with the bacterium, and SipA on its own will likely deteriorate quickly in the bloodstream, coauthor Gang Han, Ph.D., of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, explained. The researchers therefore fused SipA to gold nanoparticles, generating what they refer to as a nanoparticle mimic of Salmonella. They designed the nanoparticle to enhance the stability of SipA, while retaining its ability to interact with other proteins. In an effort to target tumors without harming healthy tissues, the researchers used a nanoparticle of specific size that should only be able to access the tumor tissue due to its "leaky" architecture. "Because of this property, we are hoping to be able to avoid negative effects to healthy tissues," said Dr. McCormick. Another benefit of this technology is that the nanoparticle can be modified to enhance tumor targeting and minimize the potential for side effects, she added. The researchers showed that this nanoparticle was 100 times more effective than SipA protein alone at reducing P-gp levels in a human colon cancer cell line. The enhanced function of the nanoparticle is likely due to stabilization of SipA, explained the researchers. The team then tested the nanoparticle in a mouse model of colon cancer, because this cancer type is known to express high levels of P-gp. When they treated tumor-bearing mice with the nanoparticle plus doxorubicin, P-gp levels dropped and the tumors grew substantially less than in mice treated with the nanoparticle or doxorubicin alone. The researchers observed similar results in a mouse model of human breast cancer. There are concerns about the potential effect of nanoparticles on normal tissues. "P-gp has evolved as a defense mechanism" to rid healthy cells of toxic molecules, said Suresh Ambudkar, Ph.D., deputy chief of the Laboratory of Cell Biology in NCI's Center for Cancer Research. It plays an important role in protecting cells of the blood-brain barrier, liver, testes, and kidney. "So when you try to interfere with that, you may create problems," he said. The researchers, however, found no evidence of nanoparticle accumulation in the brain, heart, kidney, or lungs of mice, nor did it appear to cause toxicity. They did observe that the nanoparticles accumulated in the liver and spleen, though this was expected because these organs filter the blood, said Dr. McCormick. Moving Forward The research team is moving forward with preclinical studies of the SipA nanoparticle to test its safety and toxicity, and to establish appropriate dosage levels. However, Dr. Ambudkar noted, "the development of drug resistance in cancer cells is a multifactorial process. In addition to the ABC transporters, other phenomena are involved, such as drug metabolism." And because there is a large family of ABC transporters, one transporter can compensate if another is blocked, he explained. For the last 25 years, clinical trials with drugs that inhibit P-gp have failed to overcome chemotherapy resistance, Dr. Ambudkar said. Tackling the issue of multidrug resistance in cancer, he continued, "is not something that can be solved easily." Dr. McCormick and her team are also pursuing research to better characterize and understand the biology of SipA. "We are not naive about the complexity of the problem," she said. "However, if we know more about the biology, we believe we can ultimately make a better drug." For people with weight problems, news headlines in recent years may have brought relief, as researchers studying the microscopic creatures inside our bodies reported possible links between obesity and an out-of-whack balance of microbes. But a new study, done by pooling data from most of those studies, throws cold water on the idea that extra pounds may stem from an imbalance of the bacteria inside us. In fact, the study published in the journal mBio finds, there's no clear common characteristic of the microbe populations, or microbiomes, in the digestive systems of obese people that makes them different from the microbiomes of those with a healthy weight. This lack of a clear 'signature' across more than 1,000 volunteers in 10 of the largest studies done to date may not please overweight people. It may also disappoint the companies that sell them products aimed at altering the gut's microscopic population through fiber, nutrients and 'good' bacteria. Still, according to the researchers from the University of Michigan Medical School, this finding's actually exciting. It means that there's much more complexity -- and therefore much more to learn -- when it comes to the relationship between our microbiome and our health. The researchers have created an open online site where other researchers can see how they did what they did, and add more data from gut microbiome studies in obese and non-obese people to continue the search for any links. advertisement As more data gets added, the trustworthiness of the findings will only grow. And perhaps specific linkages and signatures will be found in future. Marc Sze, Ph.D., the U-M postdoctoral research fellow who published the analysis with his mentor, U-M microbiology professor Patrick Schloss, Ph.D., says the scale of the obesity problem means it's that much more important to be certain about the science. "Obesity is currently a health risk of epidemic proportions, and many have suggested that the bacterial microbiome is not only different between obese and non-obese but also can predict obesity," says Sze. "We wanted to see if this was really what the existing literature suggested, since these claims could have a lot of positive impact on the management of this epidemic if true." Adds Schloss, "In the end, we found that there are no clear signatures or predictors of obesity across the microbiome data reported thus far, and that if there is any signature at all, related to diversity of microbes it's not biologically useful. This is a cautionary tale that points to the need to do more work to clarify what we know and don't know." Pooling the data The idea that obesity and imbalanced microbiomes are linked started with research in animals, and the observation that obese animals tended to have a certain ratio of two groups of bacteria species. That led to the studies in humans -- some of them with just a few dozen participants -- that grabbed headlines in recent years. advertisement But people and rodents bred for laboratory use are very different, and large samples of people are needed to say anything definitive about human health and its link to the microbiome. Sze and Schloss used machine-learning computing tools developed in Schloss's lab over recent years to perform the analysis. This included a program called mothur that gives microbiome researchers a free open-source tool for studying the vast amount of data that can emerge from microbiome studies. They created a classification model that takes into account all the data about the different microbe species present in an individual's microbiome, and other information. They then tried to use it to predict whether that individual was obese or not. While the tool worked somewhat when they used it on data from one of the 10 studies done by others, it no longer predicted obesity well at all when they used it on data from the other studies. "There really is no one 'healthy' microbiome," says Schloss. "You could look at hundreds of people and they could all have very different populations of microbes in their guts. So the idea that we can correct your microbiome by doing one simple thing also doesn't hold up." That said, generally accepted healthy eating habits that give gut microbes lots of fiber and nutrients to chew on can't hurt, he adds. The team is developing a similar tool for use in evaluating the gut microbiome's possible links to colon cancer. Earlier this year, they published results from an analysis of several hundred people, and showed that their tool has reasonable accuracy in detecting microbiome signatures that are more common in people with colon cancer than those without. "We will continue to apply these approaches to look at the microbiome and colorectal cancer," says Sze. "We also want to take the lessons that we earned from working with large data sets and apply them to our research on how the bacterial microbiome in families might have an impact on inherited colorectal cancers." Ultimately, the goal of this work could be a new diagnostic tool to detect colon cancer or cancer risk from a stool sample. Another potential area for study is not the diversity of microbes present in the gut, but rather the extent to which they are producing the breakdown products of their role in the digestive process. These molecules, called metabolites, may form a more meaningful signature of microbe activity. No matter what, Schloss says, the important thing in all microbiome work is to not take exciting initial results as the final word. "We need to move the science forward and think more critically about the results we get," he says of all microbiome scientists. "There's a need to cross-validate, and to understand that we might get different results with different populations." The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health (AI2425501, DK034933, and GM116149). Schloss is a member of the Host Microbiome Initiative at the U-M Medical School. Guaranteed-tuition laws, touted by lawmakers as protecting college affordability and ensuring access to higher education for low-income students, have received failing grades from two experts in higher education finance. While guaranteed-tuition laws such as the one in Illinois may provide predictability for incoming in-state students for their first four years, these mandates inadvertently trigger substantial tuition and fee increases, making higher education more costly and possibly unaffordable for some students, say University of Illinois researchers Jennifer A. Delaney and Tyler D. Kearney. Illinois is one of three states, along with Oklahoma and Texas, to implement guaranteed-tuition laws. The Illinois law requires all 12 of the state's public colleges and universities to freeze tuition rates for incoming resident freshmen for their first four years. However, public institutions in Oklahoma and Texas are required only to offer undergraduate students the option of fixed tuition rates, according to the researchers. In the current study, published in the September/October issue of the Journal of Higher Education, Delaney and Kearney examined guaranteed-tuition laws' impact on mandatory student fees and out-of-state student enrollments, two alternative revenue streams that are not subject to the laws. Between 2000 and 2012, public colleges and universities in the states that were subject to state guaranteed-tuition laws increased their mandatory student fees by 40 percent and their tuition rates for out-of-state students by 28 percent, Delaney and Kearney found. During that time, enrollments of out-of-state students at these institutions dropped 23 percent, the researchers found. advertisement The impact of flat-rate tuition was even more significant at doctoral/research universities, triggering 50 percent increases in required fees and 29 percent reductions in out-of-state student enrollments, according to the study. Since Illinois enacted its truth-in-tuition law with the fall 2004 semester, tuition rates for nonresident students at Illinois' 12 public institutions jumped an average of $3,645, or about 28 percent. Mandatory student fees also increased by $610, or about 40 percent, the study indicated. Since the law's implementation, out-of-state student enrollments at Illinois' public colleges and universities have dropped 23 percent, the data indicated. "These findings suggest that guaranteed-tuition programs are not beneficial for either in-state or out-of-state students," said Delaney, a professor of education. "Institutions that are required to freeze in-state students' tuition rates for four years may use alternative revenue streams such as required fees and nonresident tuition to offset the loss of flexibility inherent in guaranteed-tuition programs." These findings add to a growing body of work by Delaney and Kearney that indicates guaranteed-tuition laws make college less -- rather than more -- affordable. In a study published last year in the journal Economics of Education Review, Delaney and Kearney found that since the Illinois law's implementation, the 12 public colleges and universities that are subject to the law increased their annual tuition rates by 28 percent to 30 percent -- and their aggregate four-year tuition rates by 6 percent to 7 percent -- compared with other institutions in Illinois. "The tuition and fee increases triggered by the truth-in-tuition legislation may be making Illinois' public colleges and universities less competitive with peer institutions and diminishing their abilities to attract and retain students," said Kearney, the director of planning and analysis in the Office for Planning and Budgeting. "Lawmakers who are concerned about developing a highly skilled workforce in their state should balance this evidence against any perceived benefit of tuition guarantees," Delaney said. "This may be particularly important in states where public institutions comprise a large percentage of overall higher education enrollments." A study led by Loyola Medicine researchers found that female triathletes are at higher risk for pelvic floor disorders, among other health issues. The study, published in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, found that female triathletes suffered from a high rate of stress urinary and anal incontinence. "We expected the high rates of urinary incontinence, but did not expect to find such high rates of anal incontinence," said senior author, Colleen Fitzgerald, MD, MS. Dr. Fitzgerald is the medical director of the Chronic Pelvic Pain program and an associate professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. "These findings generate a new question as to address the mechanism of injury for why this is occurring, whether it is metabolic or digestive, or due to prolonged impact on the pelvic floor from biking or other unexplained causes," Dr. Fitzgerald said. Researchers conducted an internet survey of 311 self-identified female triathletes. Results showed a significant prevalence of pelvic floor disorders, with urinary incontinences (37.4 percent) and anal incontinence (28.0 percent) being the most common. Urgency urinary incontinence (16.0 percent) and pelvic organ prolapse (5.0 percent) were less common. Pelvic girdle pain was noted in 18 percent of these triathletes, but was not indicated as disabling or preventing exercise. Nearly a quarter of respondents also screened positive for at least one arm of the female athlete triad, a condition characterized by decreased energy, menstrual irregularities and abnormal bone density from excessive exercise and inadequate nutrition. Loyola researchers conducted a similar study on female athletes in 2014, focusing on runners. In that study, researchers found a similarly high percentage of women complained of urinary incontinence symptoms. The goal of this study was to expand on previous results, incorporating the low impact sport of swimming. Along with Fitzgerald, co-authors on the study were Johnny Yi, MD, FACOG, then a urogynecology fellow at Loyola and now with Mayo Clinic Arizona, Sandi Tenfelde, PhD, RN, APN, Dina Tell, PhD, and Cynthia Brincat, MD, PhD, FACOG. "Our goal of this study was not to deter triathletes from participating in their training," Dr. Fitzgerald said. "Exercise in all forms can be healthy and should be encouraged. However, we would recommend that if women are bothered by these symptoms, they should seek medical care from a urogynecologist or female pelvic reconstructive surgery specialist." Dutch biologists have discovered that seagrass seed is killed by waterborne fungi that are related to the well-known potato blight. These fungi, which have not previously been found in seawater, hinder seed germination and thus prevent the restoration of seagrass. The biologists, including Laura Govers of Radboud University, published their results in Proceedings of the Royal Society B. The seawater fungi that are to blame (Phytophthora gemini and Halo Phytophthora sp. Zostera) have been identified as members of the large Phytophthora family, which also includes the fungus that causes potato blight. Fungi in this family cause severe damage in agriculture and horticulture, affecting potatoes, grapes and oak trees in California and eucalyptus trees in Australia. The findings in the above article came to light during seagrass restoration trials in the Wadden Sea and the Grevelingen area, but the fungi turned out to be present at many other locations in Europe and America. The widespread presence of these pathogens therefore threatens the global recovery of seagrass. This problem deserves attention because these coastal ecosystems are just as important as coral reefs: they provide breeding grounds for various species, increase biodiversity, and contribute to coastal protection by damping the force of waves. Nearly all seagrass seed is infected This investigation was prompted by disappointing germination of sea grass seed that was collected for the restoration project on the North Sea island of Sylt. Nearly all this seed was found to be infected with Phytophthora. Lead researcher Laura Govers, who works at Radboud University and the University of Groningen, tested the germination of the infected seed. "This proved to be six times less likely to germinate than non-infected seed. Only three to four percent of all infected seeds germinated." Copper treatment In recent decades, many fields of seagrass have deteriorated worldwide. In the Netherlands, the vast seagrass beds that were originally present in the Wadden Sea disappeared after 1930 and never recovered. These fields were important breeding grounds for fish such as herring, and they contributed to the high biodiversity of the area. They also made the water clearer and contributed to coastal protection by damping the force of the waves. That's why biologists are investigating whether seagrass restoration in the Dutch Wadden Sea is possible. One way to improve the chances for seagrass restoration is by treating the seeds during storage with a copper solution. This method has been used in farming since the 19th century to combat Phytophthora infection and appears to be promising for seagrass seed. The research project is the result of a collaboration between Radboud University, the University of Groningen, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, the Fieldwork Company and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, and was funded by Natuurmonumenten, Rijkswaterstaat (Department of Public Works) and the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). Fertility experts are calling on the companies who make the solutions in which embryos are cultured during in vitro fertilisation (IVF) to give a clear list of ingredients following publication of a trial that shows that the composition of these laboratory cultures affects the outcomes of the resulting embryos and babies. The first randomised controlled trial (RCT) to look at the effect on perinatal outcomes of different IVF culture media found that they affected the numbers of viable embryos created, the rates of successful implantation in the womb, the pregnancy rates and the babies' birthweights. The research is published today (Wednesday) in Human Reproduction, one of the world's leading reproductive medicine journals, together with a second paper that reviews what is currently known about embryo culture media and which concludes "there is a strong case for demanding full transparency concerning the compositions of and scientific rationale behind the composition of embryo culture media." In an accompanying editorial, the journal's editor-in-chief, Professor Hans Evers, calls for urgent action by industry and regulators in the wake of these findings, saying that, just as with foods such as peanut butter, the exact composition of the culture media should be listed. He writes that the results from the clinical trial show that "floating an embryo for only a few days in a culture medium affects the birthweight of IVF children nine months later. The Barker hypothesis (Developmental Origins of Health and Disease) proposes that events in early life affect cardiovascular and metabolic health at an adult age. Small differences in birthweight may reflect more subtle disturbances that only will manifest themselves later in life. As of today, after publication of this RCT, not knowing the exact composition of their IVF culture media is no longer an option for clinical embryologists." Dr John Dumoulin, the IVF laboratory director in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology at Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands, and his colleagues recruited 836 couples who were scheduled for IVF or ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) treatment at one of ten IVF centres in The Netherlands between July 2010 and May 2012. They randomised them to have their embryos cultured in one of two culture media: human tubal fluid (HTF) or G5. The randomisation was "double-blind" so that the patients, their gynaecologists, fertility doctors or outcome assessors did not know which medium was being used. Blinding of the embryologists was not possible as they performed the laboratory procedures. The researchers followed the progress of the couples for a year after randomisation or, in the cases where there were ongoing pregnancies, until birth. A total of 383 babies were born alive, of which 300 were singletons and 80 were twin children. The researchers found that birthweight was lower in the G5 group compared with the HTF group, with an average difference of 158g. More singleton babies were born prematurely in the G5 group (8.6% versus 2.2%), and even when the researchers adjusted for gestational age at birth and gender, the average birthweight was still lower in the G5 group. advertisement There was a greater number of embryos cultured in the G5 medium that were good enough to be implanted compared to those cultured in the HTF medium (2.8 versus 2.3). In the G5 group implantation rates when using fresh embryos (rather than ones that had previously been frozen) were significantly higher (20.2% versus 15.3%) and pregnancy rates were significantly higher (47.7% versus 40.1%) than in the HTF group. There was a slightly higher (6%) live birth rate in couples assigned to G5 than those assigned to HTF (44% versus 38%), although this was not statistically significant. Dr Dumoulin said: "For the first time, by means of a large randomised controlled trial, we have shown that human embryos that are cultured in vivo are sensitive to their environment and that something is programmed into these embryos during those few days before transfer to the womb that still has an effect nine months later. This being the case, we must be aware that David Barker hypothesised that the environment in early life, from foetus to the first two years of life, can have a significant effect on long-term health. This means that we should be careful and we should no longer blindly accept new culture media, or other alterations in laboratory or clinical procedures, without first rigorously studying effectiveness and safety." However, he explained that his results are not as simple to interpret as saying that one medium was better than another, and that, for instance, the lower birthweight seen in the G5 group did not necessarily mean it was better or worse than HTF. "It has already been shown that birthweight of children born to sub-fertile couples who were conceived naturally is lower than of children in the general population. There must be some patient-related factors in play resulting in a lower birthweight in these particular couples. So, perhaps in our study, the G5 babies are the 'normal' ones, with a birthweight that is correct for their particular origin from sub-fertile couples, while the HTF babies are too heavy. We just know too little at the moment." One of the differences between the two culture media is that G5 medium contains certain amino acids that are not in the HTF medium. There are also about 20 other embryo culture media commercially available. Dr Dumoulin and his colleagues say that should be a greater level of scrutiny of them, with further randomised trials, that their full composition should be made publicly available by the companies that produce them and should have a scientific rationale; new formulations should only be introduced after properly conducted trials. In the second paper, a working group of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, led by Professor Arne Sunde, head of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University Hospital in Trondheim, Norway, made the same recommendations. Their research showed that culture media vary widely, their composition is usually unknown by the end users (the embryologists, clinicians and patients), and data about the influence of the media on outcomes are conflicting. Prof Sunde said: "The key issue is that we must know the composition of the culture media we use, since it seems to induce differences in the make-up of the children born. We have no information about long-term consequences of this, but we cannot rule out that the composition of the culture media may affect the health of children as they grow up and become adults." At present, there is no uniform regulation of embryo culture media. In Europe, the majority of media approved for use carry the CE mark, but other non-CE media can still be used. In the USA media must obtain approval from the Food and Drug Administration before being marketed. Overall, fertility centres choose the media they want to use according to their own preferences. Manufacturers differ on whether and how they give information on the composition of the culture media and the scientific rationale. Usually they notify end users, such as embryologists, of any changes and the scientific data that support those changes, but not always. "It is not obligatory to declare changes and the information we might get is far from sufficient," said Prof Sunde. "We want to know in detail what changes have been made and the scientific basis for the changes, including animal and human clinical data backing the change." Canada's tissue manufacturers are now much closer to producing the perfect paper, thanks to new UBC research. A team working with UBC mechanical engineering professors Sheldon Green and Srikanth Phani have created what is likely the first complete mathematical model of creping, the crinkling process that helps make tissue paper soft and resilient. "The new model provides a significantly better understanding of the dynamics of the creping process, allowing manufacturers to tailor the process to a greater degree than before," said Green. "It's the most accurate model of creping to date." During tissue manufacture, pulp is dried on a chemical-coated rotating drum until it's 95 per cent dry. It's then pushed off at very high speeds by a sharp creping blade, creating hundreds of microscopic folds that give tissue its softness, flexibility, tearing resistance and strength. "With our model, manufacturers can better manipulate the different elements -- the chemicals, the pulp, the creping blade angle, the paper speed and so on -- to produce the exact product grade they want, from standard grade toilet paper to ultra-premium bathroom rolls," said Green. "Previous simulation models were static and didn't consider the velocity and impact of the dryer," said Kui Pan, the PhD student who led the mathematical analysis. The search for the ideal tissue paper is a top concern for the paper industry. Pan's supervisor, Srikanth Phani, believes their discovery can help paper firms in this quest. "Canada is a strong player in the billion-dollar global market for tissue products including bathroom rolls, facial tissues, and hygiene products. This new research can contribute to the growth of that industry," added Phani. RELATED STORIES In late March 2019, researchers performing annual whale and dolphin research surveys discovered the first ever record of killer whales hunting and killing an adult blue whale. Just two weeks later a ... A newly discovered fossil whale represents a new species and an important step in the evolution of whale ... Cetaceans, the group including whales and dolphins, originated in south Asia more than 50 million years ago from a small, four-legged, hoofed ancestor. Now, researchers reporting the discovery of an ... Little Foot is the only known virtually complete Australopithecus fossil discovered to date. It is by far the most complete skeleton of a human ancestor older than 1.5 million years ever found. It is ... While even the best wines eventually peak and turn to vinegar, a new study by researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine suggests a paradoxical trend in the mental health of aging adults: They seem to consistently get better over time. "Their improved sense of psychological well-being was linear and substantial," said senior author Dilip Jeste, MD, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Neurosciences and director of the Center on Healthy Aging at UC San Diego. "Participants reported that they felt better about themselves and their lives year upon year, decade after decade." The findings are published in the August 2016 issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. Conversely, Jeste and colleagues noted high levels of perceived stress and symptoms of depression and anxiety among adults in their 20s and 30s participating in the study. "This 'fountain of youth' period is associated with far worse levels of psychological well-being than any other period of adulthood," he said. Conventional notions of aging have largely described it as an ongoing process of physical and cognitive decline, with little discussion about mental health except in the context of decline. It has been broadly assumed that the mental health of older people mirrors their worsening physical and cognitive function. But Jeste, who has long studied the phenomenon as the Estelle and Edgar Levi Chair in Aging and director of the Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, both at UC San Diego, said actual research, though limited, produces mixed findings. advertisement "Some investigators have reported a U-shaped curve of well-being across the lifespan, with declines from early adulthood to middle age followed by an improvement in later adulthood. The nadir of mental health in this model occurs during middle age, roughly 45 to 55. However, we did not find such a mid-life dip in well-being." The reasons for these differences in results aren't obvious. There is measurement variation across studies, with different researchers emphasizing different indicators that, ultimately, produce different conclusions. Nonetheless, the commonality is in finding improved well-being in the second half of life. Jeste emphasized that this study was not restricted to psychological well-being, but included "mental health," which is broader in definition and also includes satisfaction with life, and low levels of perceived stress, anxiety, and depression. Most epidemiologic studies report lower prevalence of all mental illnesses in older adults, except for dementias. "Some cognitive decline over time is inevitable," said Jeste, "but its effect is clearly not uniform and in many people, not clinically significant -- at least in terms of impacting their sense of well-being and enjoyment of life." In the latest study, Jeste and colleagues examined the physical health, cognitive function, and other measures of mental health in 1,546 adults, ages 21 to 100 years, living in San Diego County, who were selected using random digit dialing. Participants were almost evenly split by gender, stratified by age decade, with an oversampling of adults over age 75. The linear nature of the findings was surprising, said Jeste, particularly in magnitude. The oldest cohort had mental health scores significantly better than the youngest cohort, though the former's physical and cognitive function was measurably poorer than the latter's. The reasons for improved positive mental health in old age are not clear. Some previous research has shown older adults become more adept at coping with stressful changes. They learn, said Jeste, "not to sweat out the little things. And a lot of previously big things become little." However, another important explanation may be increased wisdom with age. A number of studies have shown that older individuals tend to be more skilled at emotional regulation and complex social decision-making. They also experience and retain fewer negative emotions and memories. These are all collective elements of wisdom, as defined by the researchers. Michael L. Thomas, PhD, first author of the paper and assistant research scientist in psychiatry at UC San Diego School of Medicine, cautioned that "like many other investigations of this type, it was a cross-sectional study, and thus a snapshot of data. Also, there may have been a survivor bias -- i.e., less healthy adults do not survive into old age." Yet, he also pointed out that older adults in this study were physically more disabled than younger ones -- so this was not a sample of super-normal healthy adults. Jeste expressed concern that the rates of psychological distress and mental illness in younger persons seem to be rising. "Inadequate attention has been paid to mental health issues that continue or get exacerbated post-adolescence. We need to understand mechanisms underlying better mental health in older age in spite of more physical ailments. That would help develop broad-based interventions to promote mental health in all age groups, including youth." Star spent her life pulling a cart for an Amish family. When she got too old to work anymore, Star's family found her a retirement home. They didn't want to do what many farmers do - hand her over to an auction house, where people buy old farm animals to send them to slaughter. Last week, Star was loaded into a trailer and taken away from her home of many years. When she got out, Star found herself at Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary, in Ravenna, Ohio. Dodo Shows Odd Couples Kitten Isn't Sure About His Pittie Brother At First Happy Trails runs the Amish Horse Retirement Program, which works to rescue unwanted workhorses just like Star. "We have done some outreach with the Amish community, so Amish families may contact us when they are ready to retire a horse, which saves the horse from going to auction," Shawnna Lemerise of Happy Trails told The Dodo. "We wish to help families so that they can see their horses live out their retirement rather than be auctioned, where horses are sold for meat and transported to foreign slaughterhouses." The retired Amish workhorses Happy Trails rescues are often in rough shape after lives of working so hard. "Though usually shy around people at first, the horses are well-trained and well-mannered from their experience as a workhorse," Lemerise said. "Star is a little sad," the sanctuary wrote on Monday, when she first arrived. "She is very thin, and will be evaluated by a veterinarian later this week ... Star also will be put on a refeeding program to help her put on weight." But just a few days after her arrival, Star seems to have bucked up a bit after meeting a new friend. "Her stall neighbor, Dharma, is already helping to give her a warm welcome," the sanctuary wrote. Two famous octogenarian recruits are set to join the ranks of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Mickey and Minnie Mouse will don the Mounties red uniform, although neither has the required Canadian citizenship. Stuffed animal versions of the Disney characters made by a Toronto toy company, 2 blue ducks, are due to hit the shelves of mom-and-pop, airport and souvenir stores across the country in a few months. The dolls are the fruits of more that two years of negotiations between the toy company, RCMP Foundation and Disney to ensure that the characters and uniform look just right, said Michael Glina, the companys managing director. The toy company needed special permission from the RCMP Foundation to add a red bow with white polka dots to Minnies standard-issue hat, Glina said. Normally, the hat is iconic. You cant really mess with it, but we needed a distinguishable characteristic between Mickey and Minnie. The RCMP Foundation, a nationally registered charity, also suggested that the text on Mickey and Minnie Mouses shoulder patch be in both official languages. Everything from the way the hat looks, to the jacket, the boots, the eyes, the nose and mouth every single thing has been painstakingly reviewed, Glina said. The Mountie outfit has evolved since the late 19th century into a Canadian symbol. The Norfolk jacket, or red serge, was chosen to mimic British army uniforms. Before the wide-brimmed hat became part of the official uniform in 1902, officers wore pith helmets or pillbox hats, RCMP Sgt. Penny Hermann said. There was no particular reason to dress Mickey and Minnie in Mountie garb, but Glina says Canadas 150th anniversary next year is as good an occasion as any. The contract was a big score for the Toronto company with two full-time employees, Glina and his wife Jenna plus a product tester, their 18-month-old son Cooper. They plan to ship about 2,000 stuffies to Canada before Christmas. The couple considered making the toys domestically, but found that manufacturing them in Canada would be too expensive, Glina said. To bring the retail cost down to around $30, the dolls are being made in China. Mickey and Minnie arent the only kids icons who have embarked on a side career in Canadian law enforcement. Cookie Monster and Elmo once wore the red serge, but are no longer for sale via the Mountie Shop website. The licensing fees go toward funding mentorship, nutrition and education programs for youth, said the foundations president and CEO Hope Henderson. SHARE: CHICAGOA lawsuit that accused Starbucks of misrepresenting the sizes of its cold drinks has been dismissed by a California judge, who issued a written tongue-lashing of the plaintiffs claims. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of plaintiff Alexander Forouzesh in a California federal district court, argued that Starbucks misled customers about the size of its iced drinks because it lists their sizes as the total liquid volume of drink and ice, not just the beverage itself. A similar case is pending in a federal court in Chicago. In dismissing the case in California last week, U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson said that a reasonable consumer would know that the stated ounces for an iced drink, well, contain ice. As young children learn, they can increase the amount of beverage they receive if they order no ice, the judge said. If children have figured out that including ice in a cold beverage decreases the amount of liquid they will receive, the court has no difficulty concluding that a reasonable consumer would not be deceived into thinking that when they order an iced tea, that the drink they receive will include both ice and tea and that for a given size cup, some portion of the drink will be ice rather than whatever liquid beverage the consumer ordered. In a statement, Starbucks said it was pleased with the courts decision and the judges comments on the matter. The lawsuit in Chicago, filed in May, is still pending, but with a new plaintiff. Attorneys for Starbucks have until Thursday to file a motion to dismiss the case. The lead attorney representing the coffee giant in the case wasnt immediately available to comment. Read more about: SHARE: Torontos Nuit Blanche organizers announced the program for the 2016 version of the annual overnight contemporary art spectacle this week. While the event is a little leaner than last year 90 versus 110 projects over its four zones its also a few syllables lighter. Scotiabank, the title sponsor of the event for the last decade over that time, it insisted the festival be referred to as Scotiabank Nuit Blanche dropped its support just days after the 2015 instalment, saying in a statement that it no longer aligns with our sponsorship strategy. It declined to elaborate, though its a safe bet to suggest that its not the cultural content with which it failed to find accord Scotia is an aggressive sponsor of such things as the Giller Prize leaving many to speculate whether it was the unruly late-night behaviour for which the event has become known that prompted the withdrawal. (For the record, the bank has denied this.) Whatever the case, a leaner-looking Nuit Blanche website, minus the banks corporate red, debuted Tuesday morning the city has said that Scotia made up 50 per cent of the festivals revenue detailing this years event in four zones. While the absence of a title sponsor is notable the event is simply called Nuit Blanche for the first time in almost a decade the city, vaguely, said this years funding model remains the same, including significant contributions from corporate sponsors, according to city programming manager Kristine Germann. However, an overall contraction in the budget appears due at least in part to Scotias absence. In 2015, 72 per cent of the $2.9-million budget came from government grants and sponsors, including Scotia, with $1.1 million from the citys net funding budget making up the balance. This year, despite adding sponsors Shiseido and Crystal Fountains, the budget, to be calculated post-event, is estimated at $2.6 million, with 68 per cent coming from grants and sponsors, and the city contributing the balance of $1.2 million. It amounts to $400,000 less in total revenue generated, with the city throwing in $100,000 more. That being the case, Tuesday morning at the studio of architect Philip Beesley, the city unveiled one of the signature projects of this years event: Beesleys Ocean, a thicket of tiny, high-powered LED lights dangling from long strips of fabric. It will hang in the rotunda of Toronto City Hall, stretching around two-thirds of cavernous space. Janine Marchessault, a professor at York University and co-curator, with Michael Prokopow, of Oblivion, the Nuit Blanche zone of which Ocean will be part, called Beesleys installation an immersive experience. In the full light of a summer morning, the small sampling of Ocean dangling from the soaring ceiling of Beesleys Sterling Rd. studio provided only the slightest glimpse, but Beesleys more than capable of filling in the blanks. The thousands of dangling lights, intermittently flashing and swept into patterns by high-powered fans providing erratic breezes, will build out of a chorus of whispers into this overwhelming sense of oblivion, Beesley said. He likened the experience to being amid a forest of sea kelp, ominous but organic, that might provide some common ground. I like to think of it as a collective chant, he said. A profoundly simple thing built up into something overwhelming. For the quick over-and-done that Nuit Blanches 12 or so hours offer, its a well-tailored goal. A few more speculative highlights from the citys four official zones: Oblivion Made up of just three monumental projects (Ocean being one of them), curators Marchessault and Prokopow revisit their city hall location from 2012 (their program that year, The Museum at the End of the World, featured such artists as Douglas Coupland and An Te Liu) with both optimism and unrest. One of the projects, Director Xs Death of the Sun, presents viewers with a changing multimedia sculpture that tracks the suns cycle from birth to death, while Floria Sigismondis Pneuma, a video installation in the water between the Freedom Arches in Nathan Phillips Square, looks to portray the connection, as imagined by the ancient Greeks, between the head and the heart; a sometimes-futile reconciliation, as most of us know all too well. All three works will remain after the sun comes up. Theyre part of the now annual extended program, which keeps some pieces in place until Oct. 10. Militant Nostalgia Curated by Madrid-based Paco Barragan, Militant Nostalgia is as disillusioned as it sounds works with titles like Scenes of Failure (Enrique Marty) or 100 Plastic Containers for Human Corpses (Santiago Sierra) are as bleak as they appear but with purpose. Amid the disconnects of the information era, Barragan says, hes steering toward a more hopeful future. Let us know when you find it but, in the meantime, performances by Anishinaabe legend Rebecca Belmore at the Art Gallery of Ontario and Colombias Maria Jose Arjona look to provide some dynamic experience, however dour. Projects are clustered along John St., between Dundas and Front. And the Transformation Reveals New York-based curator Camille Hong Xin riffs on the classical notion of metamorphosis in her program, centred around Bay St. between Dundas and Front and her projects hew close to it. Lisa Parks Eunoia uses commercial brainwave headsets, a real thing, to transform electrical impulses produced by thought into sound waves that move pools of water to shudder, while Vertigo Sea, by virtuosic British filmmaker John Akomfrah and a hit at last years Venice Biennale, conflates over three screens the majesty of enormous migrating whales with the terrifying voyages of African migrants braving oceanic crossings in a quest for freedom. Akomfrahs inclusion of the whaling industry hunting, butchering and disposing of their majestic quarry suggest a point of view not to be ignored in this era of refugees. Facing the Sky Louise Dery, a legendary Montreal curator, offers a thoughtful frame through which to view the heavens, both figuratively and literally: an enormous video installation by Montreals Pascal Grandmaison and Marie-Claire Blais that alternately portrays the twinkle of Torontos skyline and the darkness of Lake Ontario; or the Academy of the Distrustful, from Joan Fontcuberta, which casts conspiracy-theory doubt on mans ascent whether Sputnik or Apollo to the heavens. The works are gathered along the waterfront near York St. SHARE: HALIFAXThe disturbing death of a Cape Breton man who was pepper sprayed four times in the face in rapid succession raises concerns about both how guards restrain inmates and the quality of health care afterwards, says Canadas correctional investigator. Howard Sapers said in an interview his office is delving further into the circumstances surrounding the death of 33-year-old Matthew Hines after the release of a board of investigation report into his death last May following a struggle with guards at Dorchester Penitentiary in New Brunswick. When we took a look at the circumstances surrounding his death it raised some concerns ... around the use of force and the medical response to his situation, said the federal watchdog, who has access to full, uncensored accounts of the deaths. The report prepared for Correctional Service Canada says correctional officers used five blasts of pepper spray, including four administered to Hines face just seconds apart at about 10:23 p.m. on May 26, after the 33-year-old inmate refused to return to his cell. The three-person panel says the use of force was inappropriate, noting that Hines was under sufficient control of the staff at the time of the repeated spraying. The report, provided to The Canadian Press by the family, also says that when Hines was taken to a shower to remove the pepper spray, he fell backwards while still handcuffed and with his shirt over his head. As an officer tried to remove Hines shirt the inmate said, Please Im begging you, and kicked with his right leg. The report says Hines had a seizure at 10:29 p.m. and he was taken to the prison health wing where the nurse appeared to have conducted no assessments (vital signs, neuro-vitals, oxygen saturation) nor provided any treatment. He was transported to hospital in Moncton and died just after midnight. Sapers said he is still in the process of investigating, and his office hasnt yet decided whether to issue a public report once its work is complete. He also said hes awaiting a report on the cause of death from the New Brunswicks coroners office. The provinces Department of Public Safety said the coroner has yet to decide whether to order an inquest into the case that would examine its circumstances and make recommendations. The details of the struggle with guards and the lack of medical attention has drawn sharp criticism from siblings who say they were initially given scant and inaccurate information about how their brother died. We were devastated when we read the report. What he went through, there was no need of it, said Helen MacLeod, Hines sister, in an interview. You wouldnt treat anyone that way. MacLeod said the familys anguish has been deepened by the hope theyd held out that Hines would receive treatment in the federal prison for drug addiction and undiagnosed mental health issues. The report says Hines was on parole and staying with his elderly parents when his mother called 911 late on April 18, 2015. She reported what appeared to them to be a psychotic episode, saying Hines was having hallucinations and was convinced someone was watching him. Hines was arrested, taken to a provincial facility and then later transferred to the federal prison, where he was serving a five-year sentence for robbery. The report says his prison health care records showed he had abnormal blood pressure and was continuing to receive a medication that can contribute to seizures if taken in excessive amounts. In addition to the incident at his parents home ... Hines had experienced previous incidents of psychotic symptoms and seizures, sometimes simultaneously, says the report. When guards asked him to leave his cousins cell on the night of May 26, the report says that Hines made comments such as Dont let them kill me, and appeared paranoid. After he refused to enter his cell, guards struggled with the 150-kilogram man, and he was struck several times and kneed as handcuffs were applied, says the report. Eventually, 13 correctional officers were involved and one delivered an initial blast of pepper spray. As Hines was taken to a segregation unit he received the rapid-fire series of four more blasts of pepper spray to his face. The report says when they reached the shower cell, with Hines shirt pulled over his head, Hines repeatedly said, Im begging you, Stop, No you guys, Dont and at several times what sounded like I cant breathe. Sapers said his office was aware of 65 non-natural deaths in federal penitentiaries last year, and he has a deepening concern about the instances of poor medical care both before and after the deaths. In too many of these deaths were dealing with people with known mental health disorders ... These people are at risk and its very disturbing to find those similar sets of facts in so many of these deaths, he said. It really does suggest that the Correctional Service of Canada has to make some changes in how it responds to the health needs to ... that part of its population. A spokeswoman for Correctional Service Canada said the agency was unable to comment on Sapers or the familys concerns by deadline. The agency also hasnt yet answered inquiries about what measures it has taken in response to the board of inquiry report. SHARE: REVELSTOKE, B.C.Residents of a Rocky Mountain community are being chastised after nine black bears were killed in a single week for raiding garbage cans and becoming too accustomed to humans. The Conservation Officers Service in British Columbia euthanized the problem animals in and around Revelstoke last week, where one animal was brazen enough to approach the downtown. Gordon Hitchcock, a 28-year-veteran with the conservation service, said its very unusual for so many bears to be killed in such a short time period. But he insisted the deaths are unnecessary. Its avoidable. Thats the key message, Hitchcock said Tuesday. Its pretty much around managing food attractants. Once theyre conditioned to eating garbage, bears become indifferent to people and can no longer simply be transported further into the wild, he said. Maggie Spizzirri of the Revelstoke Bear Aware Society said its always a little devastating to see an animal be put down and that its the communitys responsibility to deal properly with items that typically entice bears, such as garbage and fallen fruit. Its up to the people to make sure their attractants are secure. Its up to the people to maybe nudge their neighbours to do the same. And its up to the city to make sure theyre enforcing these things as well, she said. Spizzirri said compliance with proper bear-aware practices appears to be on the rise in Revelstoke because residents know there has been more bear activity than usual this year. We just have to make sure that that momentum continues in the future so this doesnt happen again, she said. The animals killed around Revelstoke were all solitary black bears, and the challenge of problem animals isnt restricted to the Rocky Mountains. Its an issue thats across most British Columbia, particularly places like Revelstoke that have a natural wildlife corridor, Hitchcock said. He said residents in the community of about 7,000 people need more of a heightened realization that theyre in a wildlife corridor, particularly for bears. Bears have a built-in fear of humans, but their strong instinct to feed can sometimes override that fear and weaken that natural suspicion, said Hitchcock. Public education and bylaw enforcement are the two main tools used by the Conservation Officers Service to minimize the threats posed by problem animals. Hitchcock said he hopes the media attention last weeks killings have garnered will make people more aware of the need to secure bear attractants. He also commended the work of groups like Bear Aware and WildSafeBC for their efforts in raising awareness around how to interact safely with wildlife. The bottom line is keeping communities safe and bears wild, Hitchcock said. Read more about: SHARE: The City of Sarnia shelled out just over $8,000 to rescue and ship the roughly 1,500 partygoers on the Port Huron Float-Down back to the land of the free last Sunday. A team of unnamed staffers pegged the estimated cost as $8,181.77, in a post on the southern Ontario citys website which accounts for everything from police and fire service rescue services, to cleanup of the community where the Float-Down partygoers landed. Ten Sarnia Transit buses also had to ferry them to the U.S. side of the Bluewater Bridge in 19 trips, according to the site, while the citys public works department had to close off streets for the purpose of convening U.S. citizens. Its like any other emergency that happens to a community. You deal with it, and you take care of it, said Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley. He isnt pleased about the bill, but said it was necessary to handle what he called an emergency situation. And according to Bradley, the bill doesnt include expenses incurred by the OPP, RCMP, or Coast Guard who also helped local rescuers. But he pointed out that rescuers and police would have been on duty, Float-Down or no Float-Down. This is what theyre doing anyhow on a Sunday afternoon, Bradley said. Expenses and hassle aside, Bradley remained fairly optimistic about the whole episode. He was even approached Tuesday by someone involved in local tourism with an idea: welcome future Float-Downers to visit Sarnia, and perhaps spend a little money during their stay. And Bradley isnt inherently opposed. This has been going on for years, and no one wants to stop that, Bradley said of the festival. Its just that its getting out of hand, and at one point, theres going to be some sort of tragedy. Unfortunately, theyve happened before. According to the Sarnia Observer, 19-year-old Bradley Morton drowned on the U.S. side of the river during 2014s Float-Down. Risks aside, Bradley said it wouldnt be possible to prevent Float-Downers from having fun. You also cant legislate IQ levels and if people want to go out on a very dangerous river in the middle of a storm pattern and drink, and be on a little life raft or a floatation device thats their choice, Bradley observed. Locals arent pleased with Sundays Float-Down. While some have wondered whether a U.S. municipality could be billed, Bradley said it probably wouldnt work there isnt a specified organizer in charge of the Float-Down each year. If anything, Bradley suggested, Americans landing in Canada might have been a better scenario than the reverse. Keep in perspective that if the same situation had happened on the American side, having dealt with Homeland Security for many years, I would suggest that the reception would have been not as friendly, Bradley said. Having watched the Floaters land from his yard, Bradley said the rescuers and local eyewitnesses took a very caring approach to it all. It wasnt reactionary, he said. They took care of the people in need, and they got them back home safely. With files from Laura Beeston. SHARE: SAGUENAY, QUE.Liberal MPs began catching up on vacation stories and other tales from outside the political bubble Wednesday evening as they began arriving for a summer retreat to get ready for a year of tough choices as the government figures out how to deliver on its long list of promises. Its good for all of us to get together, talk about what issues are coming up in our constituencies, so we can filter it in to the fall agenda, Veterans Affairs Minister Kent Hehr said as he greeted his Liberal caucus colleagues in the lobby of a hotel in Saguenay, Que., about 210 km north of Quebec City. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is scheduled to arrive Thursday morning, when the meetings begin in earnest, where he will address the national caucus after they have gathered in smaller regional groups. The Liberals are being encouraged to spend their free time in the area, with a community event promising a chance for local residents to mingle with Trudeau and the MPs scheduled for Thursday evening. The details of what will take precedence on the fall legislative agenda beyond vague assertions the middle class will remain a priority have yet to be shared, but Liberal MPs headed into two days of closed-door meetings said they hope for substantial discussions on everything from electoral reform to a review of anti-terror legislation. Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia, the national caucus chair, rhymed off his list of expected topics: the economy, the environment, national security, health care the big issues that Canadians are expecting us to continue to move forward on. The summer caucus meeting comes on the heels of a cabinet retreat in Sudbury, Ont., where the stagnant economy provided the context for a message that the second year in power will require some patience and acceptance of the fact that the government cannot please everyone all of the time. Status of Women Minister Patricia Hajdu said she thinks the wider caucus will understand the message. I think our job is to do the best that we can to advocate for what we think are the best interests of our constituents, or what the evidence says, and then understand that we wont win every argument, Hajdu said Wednesday evening before joining the womens Liberal caucus for a meeting. Conservative finance critic Lisa Raitt, meanwhile, argued it was time for the Liberals to recognize that their efforts to boost the middle class through a tax cut and the new Canada Child Benefit and infrastructure spending have not yet delivered their promised kick-start to the economy. Enough with the consultations, special meetings and navel-gazing, she said. Liberal MPs are returning from their summer breaks with local concerns, arising from the numerous town halls cabinet ministers asked them to conduct in their ridings, the canvassing the Liberal party has asked them to keep up and their own ties to the regions. The question of what to do about Bombardier, for example, will undoubtedly come up during a breakout gathering of the Quebec caucus. The new Supreme Court of Canada appointments process and whether it will mean the Liberal government breaks with the convention of appointing a judge from the Atlantic region to replace retiring Nova Scotia Justice Thomas Cromwell will likely be a hot topic for the 32 East Coast MPs. The talk of staying the course also comes amid some recent changes, including a big one that moved Small Business Minister Bardish Chagger into the job formerly held by Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc. The Liberals had a tough time getting their legislative agenda on track this spring helping to create a bitterly partisan atmosphere that played a role in the so-called elbowgate controversy in May. The choice of Chagger, a rookie MP, is seen as a way to bring down the temperature. In an interview Tuesday, Chagger said she was looking forward to building upon LeBlancs work, but also stressed that she looked forward to working collaboratively with other parties in the House. I sincerely do believe that we can work together, she said. SHARE: A savvy seal outwitted a troop of orcas on the hunt off the coast of B.C. this week, flopping onto a whale-watching boat for safety as the killer whales circled below. Nick Templeman, a veteran whale-watching guide, revved up the double-outboard motor Monday morning to take out a family of whale viewers north of Powell River, B.C. Around 4:30 p.m. Templeman, 43, spotted a pod of orcas speeding south. They started doing sort of circles and little lunges you can tell theyre beginning to get into hunting mode. Fifteen minutes later a wet, whiskered head popped out of the water 150 metres from the boat. That was our buddy. The young seal had been dodging thrusts and tail-kicks from the whales, said Templeman, head of Campbell River Whale & Bear Excursions. Hed duck underwater and eventually come back up. I guess he caught sight of our boat and then just took off like a rocket, Templeman said. A chase ensued. At points the whales werent more than six inches from the back of the seal. It was pretty intense. The hitchhiking seal didnt wait for a welcome. It hopped right onto the low-lying stern. Or tried to. He had a bit of a struggle the first time, but got it on the second, Templeman said. Templeman dropped his waterproofed GoPro camera below the waters surface, capturing the calls and squeaks of the killer whales. Eventually, the orcas glided off. The seal plopped back into the Strait of Georgia once the coast was clear, ducked between the twin-outboard engines and vanished. I felt kind of bad for the orcas actually, Templeman said. In my 20 years, I tell you, its probably the craziest thing thats happened to me. Andrew Trites, professor of marine mammalogy at the University of British Columbia, said the incident is extremely rare. Its very unusual, but youre dealing with a life-or-death situation, he said. The Strait of Georgia hosts the highest-density population of harbour seals in the world, Trites said. The marine mammal is also the number-one preferred prey of the transient killer whales. Transient killer whales keep on the move in search of marine mammal prey, while resident killer whales eat mainly fish. That seal had probably not been on a boat in its entire life, Trites said, adding that it was probably terrified near humans. It leapt back into the water twice, but quickly fled back to the boat, Templeman said. If it was me looking at the jaws of death, Id be out of the water in a flash, Trites said. It came within a hair length of being dinner and escaped just because the boat happened to be present. Theyre not good jumpers, but with enough thrust they can haul themselves up onto a dock, he added. The seal was likely under two years old, he said. He could not determine the seals sex from the video. Everyday, right here on the shores of Vancouver, there are life and death dramas being played out, he said. SHARE: OTTAWAThe son of a Canadian man jailed in China on espionage charges is hoping Justin Trudeaus upcoming visit to the East Asian country will help his fathers case but Simeon Garratt is not getting his hopes up. The prime minister has vowed to raise the case of Kevin and Julia Garratt, who were arrested in China just over two years ago. Julia was released on bail about six months later. Their son Simeon told The Canadian Press hes hopeful Trudeaus first official visit to China next week will somehow move his fathers all-but-stagnant case forward. But he said he has no reason to believe anything significant will happen. We hope something actually happens its kind of just been going around in circles for quite a while, said Garratt, whose parents were arrested in August 2014. But I really have no reason above and beyond (that) to think that something drastic is going to happen. Trudeau will spend eight days in China to hold bilateral talks with Chinese leaders and to participate in the G20 leaders summit. In June, Trudeau said he raised Kevin Garratts case during a meeting in Ottawa with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Every time I have had an opportunity to meet with any representatives of the Chinese government, or of China in general, I have highlighted our concerns around human rights and specifically brought up the case of Kevin Garratt, a Canadian citizen imprisoned for espionage without any evidence to support the allegations and accusations, Trudeau said at the time. Simeon Garratt said hes grown frustrated with the situation, adding that his family has only been in touch with his father through consular officials. He has denied his parents were involved in espionage. The Garratts lived in China for about 30 years, conducted Christian aid work and ran a popular coffee shop near Chinas border with North Korea. In January, Garratt was indicted on accusations of spying for Canada and stealing Chinese state secrets. A report by Chinas official news agency Xinhua said an investigation by Chinese authorities found evidence that implicated Garratt in accepting tasks from Canadian espionage agencies to gather intelligence in China. Since then, little has changed, Simeon Garratt said. Just extensions, extensions, extensions thats all, he said. There havent been any movements on either side to be honest. A spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion says the government is in contact with Chinese authorities and monitoring developments closely. Canadian consular officials are providing regular and active assistance to Kevin and Julia Garratt, Joseph Pickerill wrote in an email. In the interests of the family, we are not sharing further details at this time. Former prime minister Stephen Harper also made a point of noting he personally raised the case with Chinese leaders. In November 2014, three months after the Garratts arrest, Harper brought up his concerns during a closed-door meeting in Beijing with Premier Li Keqiang, a spokesman for the then-prime minister said at the time. Li later referenced the Garratts as he addressed reporters: As for individual cases, I want to reiterate that as China continues to build a country under the rule of law. I believe that judicial authorities should be able to handle cases in accordance with the law. With files from The Associated Press Read more about: SHARE: Fifteen hours into a demonstration outside the headquarters of Ontarios police watchdog, protesters showed no sign of tiring on Wednesday night. But even if their rally dissipates by morning as expected, they will have left their mark. On a large rock at the front doors of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), written in large block letters, a message: Black Lives Matter. Your SIU is absolutely broken, Rinaldo Walcott, associate professor at the University of Torontos department of sociology and equity studies, told more than a hundred assembled in Mississauga on Wednesday evening to protest last months police-involved death of Somali-Canadian man Abdirahman Abdi. It needs a serious dismantling and remaking. Our lives depend on it, Walcott said. Simultaneous demonstrations across the country including in Edmonton, Winnipeg and Hamilton were planned by Black Lives Matter groups to decry Abdis death, which followed what witnesses called a violent encounter with Ottawa police. Eyewitnesses have stated that unnecessary force was used by two Ottawa police officers against Abdi, a 37-year-old man with an intellectual disability. His family said officers failed to get him immediate medical attention, alleging he was dead for 45 minutes before being taken to hospital. Abdis encounter with police and its aftermath video of his unmoving, bleeding body was posted online soon after his death has become a rallying point nationwide this summer, with Black Lives Matter protesters and policing experts saying it highlights the dire need for increased police accountability. The level of public trust is at an all-time low, and not just in Ottawa but across Canada and elsewhere, Darryl Davies, a criminology instructor at Carleton University, told the Star in a phone interview. Its triggered by the failure of our politicians to make sure proper oversight of police is in place. Ontarios SIU, an arms-length police investigative agency, has taken over the probe of the two officers involved in Abdis death, identified by Ottawa media as Const. Daniel Montsion and Const. Dave Weir. On Wednesday morning, as two dozen protesters blocked the driveway into the SIU headquarters throughout the day, watchdog spokesperson Jason Gennaro released a statement, saying: all Canadians enjoy the right to protest and express their opinions in a peaceful manner. The Special Investigations Unit respects this right. The SIU has faced increased scrutiny in the wake of recent cases of black men killed by police, including Andrew Loku, the South Sudanese mentally ill man shot by Toronto police last summer, while holding a hammer. In March, the SIU announced it would not lay charges against the unnamed officer who killed Loku, concluding he fired his weapon in self defense. The decision prompted a two-week protest by Black Lives Matter outside of Toronto police headquarters, with demonstrators calling for increased transparency from the SIU. The watchdog keeps the SIU directors report on any investigation secret; it is sent only to Ontarios Attorney General. In the case of Loku, the only information provided to the public about the decision not to charge the officer in Lokus death was a short news release containing the basic details of the incident and why the officer was not charged. After weeks of calls for more information about the SIUs investigation into Loku, then-attorney general Madeleine Meilleur made the unprecedented move of releasing a copy of the SIU directors report into Lokus death though the heavily censored document left out vital information, including the bulk of witness testimony. Among Black Lives Matters Torontos protest current demands is the public release of the full SIU directors report into Abdis death. (The SIU) is the one thing we got, and it doesnt protect us, said Alexandria Williams, one of the co-founders of the Toronto chapter of Black Lives Matter, during Wednesday nights rally. Its up to us to make sure that they stand for us. The protests surrounding Lokus death earlier this year also prompted a review of police oversight agencies in Ontario, including the SIU, the Office of the Independent Police Review Director, and the Ontario Civilian Police Commission. With its practice of releasing bare-bones public statements about the results of its investigations, the SIU lags behind some other provincial oversight bodies, which release much greater amounts of information about their investigations. Earlier this week, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, that provinces police watchdog, announced it was not laying charges against a Calgary police officer who fatally shot a man inside a hotel room. Though that watchdog did not name the officer who killed Anthony Heffernan, it released a four-page document explaining its decision. Albertas Crown Prosecution Service also took the rare step of releasing a lengthy explanation of the legal issues present in the case. Speaking on a regular call-in show on CP24 on Wednesday night, Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders has been far from stagnant when it comes to transparency and training over the last two decades. When a narrative comes out that we havent done anything in 20 years and nobodys listening, I would beg to differ with that, Saunders said, citing ongoing efforts by the police to solicit feedback from various communities, as well as anti-bias training and preliminary testing of body-cameras by officers. Wendy Gillis can be reached at wgillis@thestar.ca SHARE: Five times in one year Vitaliy Golyak has resorted to measures no parent ever wants to consider. Fearing for his familys safety, Golyak called Toronto police to help subdue his son Tomer diagnosed with autism, an intellectual disability and depression after the teenager became distraught and aggressive, throwing things and threatening to hit. On each occasion, between June 2015 and late April of this year, police took Tomer, 19, to hospital emergency rooms. On four of those trips, he was admitted to psychiatric wards for weeks at a time, sedated and sent home with no strategy, says his father. Then the cycle would repeat. My heart is almost broken, says Golyak, who quit his job in landscaping seven years ago to care for his son while his wife works to support the family. My situation is crisis all the time. There is no plan. Golyak feels he has no other choice. Tomer has broken chairs and plates and been increasingly explosive, Golyak says. His father puts knives, scissors and other sharp objects out of sight in their North York apartment and says that during the worst meltdowns he restrains Tomer while his wife calls 911. Since Tomer turned 18, he has been unable to find a physician equipped to deal with both his autism and mental health needs. Im scared what hell do. Im scared for the future, Golyak says. The situation is one example of the circumstances faced by some families of adults with developmental disabilities like autism or multiple diagnoses that include anxiety and other mental health conditions. Once adolescents age out of childrens services at 18 and leave high school at 21, they enter an adult system with limited day programs and assisted housing options, and waiting lists that can last years. A surge in complaints from families in crisis prompted the Ontario ombudsman in November 2012 to launch an investigation into the provinces developmental services. The move followed a series of headlines about desperate parents who, because of advancing age or illness, had left their adult children at short-term care centres for good, saying they could no longer cope with the demands of 24-hour care. Ombudsman Paul Dube is set to release that long-awaited report Wednesday at Queens Park. Last year, the ombudsmans 2014-2015 annual report revealed the investigation had drawn more than 1,300 complaints, including urgent, disturbing cases where adults with severe special needs were ending up in jail, homeless shelters and hospitals because no care or services were available for them. According to police, crisis workers and those who work with adults with special needs, cases like the Golyaks are becoming more common. This is sadly familiar to the police, says deputy chief Michael Federico of Toronto Police Services, who oversees the community safety command. There are many examples where were called back to assist somebody in crisis repeatedly, he said in an interview. Beyond the role of intervening to prevent injury or harm, officers have few options beyond taking a distraught person to hospital or jail. I think we all agree thats hardly the response this complex issue needs, he said. These situations are a symptom of a larger societal issue and a gap in societys care for its community members. Golyak says the last time he called emergency services, in late April, Tomer spent a month in the psychiatric unit at North York General Hospital. Since his discharge at the end of May, two crisis workers have simultaneously been coming to the familys apartment for up to nine hours a day, five days a week, through the Griffin Centre, which provides short-term crisis intervention for adults with developmental disabilities and mental illness. But those services are limited to 90 days, and Golyak is nervous about what happens in September when Tomer returns for his final year at a special needs high school he attends for half-days. Last year, 50 cases in Toronto were designated as urgent response including situations where there is risk of violence or a caregiver dies, leaving the disabled adult with no care, says Gabby Cappelletti, Griffin Centres director of transitional support services. Tomer was diagnosed with autism at age 5, almost three years after his parents, who are originally from Ukraine and then lived in Israel, immigrated to Canada in 1999. They applied three times for intensive behavioural treatment covered by the province, but Tomer was considered too old, said his father. Tomer attended special needs schools, and received Special Services at Home funding, which helped cover costs of recreation programs and respite care. He also had some occupational therapy, attended social skills groups and went to subsidized day camps every summer. Those supports disappeared on his 18th birthday. Almost two years later, Tomer is still on the waiting list for Passport, the direct funding program for adults that provides up to $35,000 a year for services like respite care, recreation programs and personal support workers. Tomer is on wait lists for group homes, which are more than a decade long, as an option down the road. But his parents want him at home with them, with appropriate supports in place. Two years ago, the province announced an investment of $810 million to eliminate wait lists of 21,000 children and adults awaiting direct funding, add 1,400 spaces for residential care, and ease the transition for adolescents leaving school. But according to Ministry of Community and Social Services, there are still 5,800 adults on the wait list for Passport and 9,700 awaiting residential care. Passport funds could make a difference if Golyak could find programs that would engage Tomer in activities he likes or teach basic skills. Tomer loves to draw and is fascinated with aviation, proudly showing a visitor his sketch of an aircraft. But when agitated, things can quickly escalate. These days its hard for Golyak to think beyond the next crisis. But he hasnt given up on a future for his son. Everybody has hopes. More stories After 18, special needs adults have few options Ask Geoffrey Sherwood what his favourite course was in high school and he immediately taps math on his iPad. I like learning, types Sherwood, 22, who has cerebral palsy and a mild intellectual disability and graduated in 2015. Attending Monarch Park Collegiates independent living program also provided a chance to learn computer skills, spend time in a retail workplace and socialize with classmates. He loved school, says his mother, Joanne Jaynes. He never missed a day. Today Sherwoods days are much different. His routine is gone. He uses a wheelchair, needs assistance for all personal care from eating to getting dressed, and has limited verbal ability. So Jaynes cares for him full time in their Toronto apartment, and scours the city for the programs that might accommodate both his physical and developmental needs. The dearth of options means the single mother, who has three older children and six grandkids, is unable to work in her profession as a community worker. When Sherwood turned 18, the family lost Special Services at Home funding for children, the Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities and Jaynes child tax credit, so there is no money to pay costs of a personal support worker. He has been on the wait list for adult Passport funding since 2013, which provides up to $35,000 a year for services like respite care, recreation programs and personal support workers. Without money, you are stuck where you are, says Jaynes. You cant plan. She takes Sherwood swimming, lifting him in and out of the pool herself, and to his volunteer job at a long-term care facility. At the Toronto Parks and Recreation program he attends two days a week during the winter, she arrives at midday to feed him and tend to his personal care. I fight so hard because I literally fear for Geoffreys emotional well-being if hes stuck at home, says Jaynes. I have a responsibility to him to make the best life for him. With little to look forward to he becomes sad and agitated, she says, sometimes scratching himself until he bleeds. Sherwood says his goal is to take more courses at the City Adult Learning Centre in Toronto. Jaynes hope is that with caregiving support, hell eventually live in an independent living space. Young adults like him have a right to aspirations and a role in their communities, she says. Support the families supporting their children, its as simple as that. Taking it one year at a time Donna Taylor says she could write a survivors guide on how to transition a young adult with special needs into the community. It would be the story of her life over the last few years preparing Joshua, 22, and Naomi, 19, for leaving high school. When she and her husband Don adopted two infants with Down syndrome and other disabilities, they were determined both would lead fulfilling lives and be involved in their neighbourhoods. Both kids loved school and activities such as swimming, horseback riding and volunteering, made possible through direct funding they received until age 18. But the Taylors didnt anticipate the chaos and devastation of moving into the adult system. Thats the phrase Taylor used in a letter to the Ontario ombudsman in 2013 after he launched an investigation into the crisis surrounding developmental services for young adults. Three-and-a-half years later, she has been so preoccupied with horrendous wait lists and trying to find quality programs that shed forgotten the ombudsman's report was still to come. It will be released Wednesday. Naomi and Joshua both have limited verbal ability and need constant care and supervision. So Taylor, a former nurse, is at home full time dealing with their health issues, ferrying them to volunteer roles and organizing social activities such as bowling. Shes thankful they are receiving Passport funding to help cover those costs. But its a full-time job finding the right support workers, managing paperwork and budgets and ensuring they have enough activities, she says. Taylor is 66 and her husband is 72, which means its hard for them not to worry about the future. Taylor has heard the stories of children with aging parents having no choice but to move into long-term care facilities. And she cant imagine her kids plunged into unfamiliar circumstances with people they dont know. Im not even going that far down the road yet, its too painful, she says. Were going to take it one year at a time for now. SHARE: Rookie cabinet minister Indira Naidoo-Harris is being shuffled from pensions to pre-schoolers. Premier Kathleen Wynne announced Wednesday that Naidoo-Harris, who had been charged with overseeing the soon-to-be-defunct Ontario Retirement Pension Plan, is getting new responsibilities. Access to high-quality, affordable child care is essential to Ontario families, Wynne told reporters at a downtown YMCA day care facility. This new role in cabinet demonstrates our continued commitment to building a child care and early years system that will make life easier for parents and give children the chance to flourish, she said. With the Liberals spending $120 million over three years in new funding to create 4,000 licensed day-care spaces in schools across Ontario, Naidoo-Harris could have her hands full as associate minister of education, early years and child care. In June, the first-term Halton MPP was elevated to cabinet as associate minister of finance for the Ontario pension plan. But a national deal with the premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to enhance the Canada Pension Plan negated the need for a separate Ontario retirement scheme. Wynnes government spent $70 million on the ORPP, including severance packages for people hired to administer the plan. Read more about: SHARE: SEOUL, KOREA, REPUBLIC OFNorth Korea on Wednesday fired a ballistic missile from a submarine off its east coast into the sea, the South Korean military said, at a time of heightened tensions between the two Koreas. North Korea launched the missile from a submarine off the eastern coastal town of Sinpo on Wednesday morning, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. The launch comes just two days after the U.S. and South Korea began their annual joint military exercises that the North considers a rehearsal for an invasion. South Korean defence officials said it wasnt immediately known whether the launch was successful or not. North Korea has previously fired several submarine-launched ballistic missiles into the sea, but outside experts said the North has yet to acquire operational submarine-launched missiles capable of striking distant targets like the mainland U.S. The Norths acquiring the ability to launch missiles from submarines would be an alarming development because missiles fired from submerged vessels are harder to detect in advance. The Norths latest missile launch comes at a time of intensified animosities between the rival Koreas over the defection of a senior North Korean diplomat in London and a U.S. plan to install a sophisticated missile defence system in South Korea. On Monday, South Korea and the United States also kicked off the annual Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercises, prompting North Korean threats of retaliation. About 28,500 U.S. troops are based in South Korea to help deter potential aggression from North Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. North Korea usually responds to the regular South Korea-U.S. military drills with weapons tests and fiery warlike rhetoric. Read more about: SHARE: WASHINGTONNoise, traffic, parking, the usual. When residents of Atlanta-area Newton County found out that imam Mohammad Islam was planning to build a mosque and cemetery on vacant land near a rural highway, they cited the standard list of benign objections. Then Mondays public meeting began, and the hundreds of people jammed into the old brick courthouse confirmed what the Muslims of Georgia already knew. The real issue was their religion. I dont want these people and these teachings in our community. Were we not watching our TV on Sept. 11, 2001? Have we lost our mind? a man said. Could be an ISIS (Daesh) training camp, a woman said. We have the right to protect ourselves and our country, said a second woman. Eight years ago, said a third woman, our U.S. government got a Muslim president who has put Muslims in power. Mosques have been built in the U.S. since at least 1929. Most of them have gone up with little fuss. But, for the last six years, since the time of the outcry over a planned Islamic centre, two blocks from Manhattans Ground Zero, mosque proposals around the country have regularly been greeted with fear and fury. In Fredericksburg, Va., last year, police had to end a public meeting after opponents called Muslims terrorists and Islam an evil cult. In Bayonne, N.J., this summer, residents have displayed Save Bayonne! signs and published a newspaper ad reading Remember 9/11! In Mukilteo, Wash., this spring, the head of an aerospace company started a mosque watch-group before apologizing. And in Kennesaw, Ga., an hour and a half away from Newton County, the council voted in 2014 to reject a mosque amid concerns about terror and Islamic law. Facing a legal threat, it flip-flopped two weeks later. I think its recognized now that any time theres a new proposal for a mosque or an Islamic school or a cemetery, anything to do with Islam in America, youre going to get some degree of bigoted opposition. Sometimes small, sometimes great, said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). The intensity of the most recent uproars is the product of a perfect demographic and political storm. The rapid growth of Americas Islamic community of three million is driving demand for mosques in suburbs and exurbs where residents lack personal experience with Muslims. At the same time, attacks inspired by Daesh, also known as ISIS and ISIL, have stoked suspicion of average believers. And Republican politicians, most notably Donald Trump, have whipped up Islamophobia by suggesting that mosques are dens of nefarious activity. A Facebook group for Newton County mosque opponents is filled with virulent anti-Muslim sentiment. In a message to the Star, though, the person behind the group, who did not give their name, insisted their main concerns are transparency, fairness, and the proposed facilitys massive impact on local infrastructure. Its not about their religion or how they pray, they said. And then, immediately, the person added: We dont know these people. Maybe they ARE peaceful. But maybe not. There is no indication whatsoever that they are not. Mohammad Islam, 50, is a soft-spoken immigrant from Bangladesh who moved to Atlanta in 1994, had two American-born children, and opened a mosque in nearby DeKalb County. Over time, he managed to build a friendly relationship with Tom Owens, an aggressive conservative critic of the mosque who happens to live next door. I love the imam, Owens said in an interview. We get along good. Islam said he is confident he can win over Newton County, too. I believe we can work it out, he said, if we show our tolerance, that we have a positive attitude, we dont have any ill feelings, we dont have any grudge toward anyone. If we love and if we care for each other and we respect each other, I think we can overcome these challenges for both communities. The existing mosque usually draws 200 to 300 for Friday prayers, most of them low- to middle-income Bangladeshis. The Newton outrage is normal, Islam said, given the natural human fear of the stranger. We gotta calm down. Myself, Im talking about: we, the Muslims, our community. We should calm down and just be patient, and show that we dont want to fight. With anyone. We want peace. Even if somebody hits us, were not going to hit back. Islam noted that many of Newtons 100,000 people are supportive. And he emphasized that the 370-square-metre mosque is actually a secondary component of his plan for the 55-hectare site which is across the street from a Baptist church and cemetery. The main goal, he said, is to build a body-preparation facility attached to a cemetery, which would eliminate the hassle and expense of renting space in non-Muslim funeral homes and then transporting the dead for burial. The mosque, itself, he said, would only be used when someone dies, and even then only for five minutes. His reassurances have so far been ignored. Although Newton zoning allows for a mosque and a cemetery on the site, and although federal law prohibits local governments from using land rules to infringe on religious freedom, county officials have imposed a five-week moratorium on permits for all places of worship after concern was expressed that a mosque would make Newton a prime area for Arab refugees. CAIR has alerted the federal Justice Department. We have the law on our side, Hooper said, and the opposition generally has nothing but intolerance on their side. Seeking to start a dialogue, Islam met Tuesday with a group of Newton residents and leaders. And CAIRs Georgia staff plan to go to the county next weekend to run an education session on their faith. Im hoping to do it at a church, said executive director Edward Ahmed Mitchell. I think that will keep people a little calmer. AMERICAS MOSQUE CONTROVERSIES New York City, N.Y.: Conservative media outlets helped to turn a 2009 proposal for an Islamic community centre and mosque in Manhattan, two blocks from the former site of the Twin Towers, into a national controversy over a so-called Ground Zero mosque. Although Mayor Michael Bloomberg supported the project, it was abandoned in 2011. Murfreesboro, Tenn.: Local officials were bombarded by anti-Muslim sentiment after a mosque was approved in the Nashville-area city in 2010. Opponents filed a lawsuit, an arsonist set fire to the construction site, a man was arrested for a bomb threat, and the state lieutenant-governor said Islam might be considered a cult. A federal judge finally allowed the mosque to open in 2012. Sterling Heights, Mich.: The planning board voted 9-0 in September against a proposed mosque the city planner said was a bad fit for its location. The strongest opposition came from the citys large community of Christian Iraqi-Americans, some of whom expressed anti-Muslim sentiment. This case also prompted a lawsuit and a Justice Department investigation. Bernards Township, N.J.: The wealthy suburb of New York City voted in December to reject a mosque proposed by an Islamic group led by a former mayor of the township. Although the current mayor said the decision was strictly about land use, the group sued and the Justice Department opened a civil rights investigation. Culpeper County, Va.: The county board voted 4-3 in April to reject a permit for the pump-and-haul septic system needed for a proposed mosque to be used by 15 people for twice-weekly prayer meetings. The board had approved 18 of the 19 previous pump-and-haul applications since 1995, including five for churches. Daniel Dale SHARE: AMATRICE, ITALYRescue crews using bulldozers and their bare hands raced to dig out survivors from a strong earthquake that reduced three central Italian towns to rubble Wednesday. The death toll stands at 159, but the number of dead and missing was uncertain given the huge number of vacationers in the area for summers final days. The civil protection agency gave the updated death toll shortly before midnight in Italy, some 20 hours after the earthquake struck. The tremors reduced three towns to rubble and sparked urgent search efforts. Residents woken before dawn emerged from their crumbled homes to find what they described as apocalyptic scenes like Dantes Inferno, with entire blocks of buildings turned into piles of sand and rock, thick dust choking the air and a putrid smell of gas. The town isnt here anymore, said Sergio Pirozzi, the mayor of the hardest-hit town, Amatrice. I believe the toll will rise. The magnitude 6 quake struck at 3:36 a.m. (8:36 p.m. EDT) and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including Rome, where residents woke to a long swaying followed by aftershocks. The temblor shook the Lazio region and Umbria and Le Marche on the Adriatic coast. Premier Matteo Renzi visited the zone Wednesday, greeted rescue teams and survivors and said the casualty toll stood at 120 dead and was likely to rise. Another at least 368 were injured. He promised the quake-prone area that No family, no city, no hamlet will be left behind. Hardest hit were the tiny towns of Amatrice and Accumoli near Rieti, some 100 kilometres northeast of Rome, and Pescara del Tronto, some 25 kilometres further east. Italys civil protection agency, which was co-ordinating the rescue and care for survivors, said dozens were injured and thousands in need of temporary housing, though it stressed the numbers were fluid. Italys health minister, Beatrice Lorenzin, visiting the devastated area, said many of the victims were children: The quake zone is a popular spot for Romans with second homes, and the population swells in August when most Italians take their summer holiday before school resumes. The medieval centre of Amatrice was devastated, with the hardest-hit half of the city cut off by rescue crews digging by hand to get to trapped residents. The birthplace of the famed spaghetti allamatriciana bacon and tomato sauce, it is made up of 69 hamlets that teams from around Italy were working to reach with sniffer dogs, earth movers and other heavy equipment. Rocks and metal tumbled onto the streets of the city centre and dazed residents huddled in piazzas as more than 200 aftershocks jolted the region into the early morning hours, some as strong as magnitude 5.1. The whole ceiling fell but did not hit me, marvelled resident Maria Gianni. I just managed to put a pillow on my head and I wasnt hit, luckily, just slightly injured my leg. Another woman, sitting in front of her destroyed home with a blanket over her shoulders, said she didnt know what had become of her loved ones. It was one of the most beautiful towns of Italy and now theres nothing left, she said, too distraught to give her name. I dont know what well do. As the August sun bore down, residents, civil protection workers and even priests dug with shovels, bulldozers and their bare hands to reach survivors. Dozens were pulled out alive: There was relief as a woman emerged on a stretcher from one building, followed by a dog. Shes alive! two women cheered as they ran up the street in Pescara del Tronto, after an 8-year-old girl was pulled from the rubble after nightfall. And there were wails when bodies emerged. Unfortunately, 90 per cent we pull out are dead, but some make it, thats why we are here, said Christian Bianchetti, a volunteer from Rieti who was working in Amatrice. A steady column of dump trucks brought tons of twisted metal, rock and cement down the hill and onto the highway toward Rome, along with a handful of ambulances bringing the injured to Rome hospitals. We need chainsaws, shears to cut iron bars and jacks to remove beams. Everything, we need everything, civil protection worker Andrea Gentili told The Associated Press in the early hours of the recovery. Italys national blood drive association appealed for donations to Rietis hospital. Despite a massive rescue and relief effort with army, Alpine crews, carabinieri, firefighters, Red Cross crews and volunteers, it wasnt enough: A few kilometres north of Amatrice, in Illica, residents complained that rescue workers were slow to arrive and that loved ones were trapped. We are waiting for the military, said resident Alessandra Cappellanti. There is a base in Ascoli, one in Rieti, and in LAquila. And we have not seen a single soldier. We pay! Its disgusting! Agostino Severo, a Rome resident visiting Illica, said workers eventually arrived after an hour or so. We came out to the piazza, and it looked like Dantes Inferno, he said. People crying for help, help. The magnitude 6 quakes epicentre was located near Accumoli and Arquata del Tronto and had a shallow depth of just four kilometres, Italys geological institute said. Generally, shallow earthquakes pack a bigger punch and tend to be more damaging than deeper quakes. The Apennine Mountains in central Italy have the highest seismic hazard in Western Europe and earthquakes of this magnitude are common, noted Dr Richard Walters, a lecturer in Earth sciences at Durham University in Britain. The head of Italys civil protection service, Fabrizio Curcio, noted that the region is popular with Romans escaping the heat of the capital to their country houses, swelling the population during the summer months. This weekend, Amatrice was due to celebrate its annual festival honouring its native pasta dish, possibly adding to the number of people in town. The devastation harked back to the 2009 quake that killed more than 300 people in and around LAquila, about 90 kilometres south of the latest quake. The town, which still hasnt fully recovered, sent emergency teams Wednesday to help with the rescue and set up tent camps for residents unwilling to stay indoors because of aftershocks. I dont know what to say. We are living this immense tragedy, said a tearful Rev. Savino DAmelio, a parish priest in Amatrice. We are only hoping there will be the least number of victims possible and that we all have the courage to move on. Another hard-hit town was Pescara del Tronto, in the Le Marche region, where the main road was covered in debris. Residents were digging their neighbours out by hand since emergency crews hadnt yet arrived in force. Aerial photos taken by regional firefighters showed the town essentially flattened and under a thick grey coat of dust; Italy requested EU satellite images of the whole area to get the scope of the damage. There are broken liquor bottles all over the place, said Gino Petrucci, owner of a bar in nearby Arquata Del Tronto where he was beginning the long cleanup. One rescue was particularly delicate as a ranger in Capodacqua, in the Marche province of Ascoli Piceno, diplomatically tried to keep an 80-year-old woman calm as she begged to get to a toilet, even though she was trapped in the rubble. Listen, I know its not nice to say but if you need to pee you just do it, he said. Now I move away a little bit and you do pee, please. The mayor of Accumoli, Stefano Petrucci, said a family of four had died there, one of the few young families who had decided to stay in the area. He wept as he noted that the tiny hamlet of 700 swells to 2,000 in the summer months, and that he feared for the future of the town. I hope they dont forget us, he told Sky TG24. A 1997 quake killed a dozen people in central Italy and severely damaged one of the jewels of Umbria, the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, filled with Giotto frescoes. The Franciscan friars who are the custodians of the basilica reported no immediate damage from Wednesdays temblor. Pope Francis skipped his traditional catechism for his Wednesday general audience and instead invited the thousands of pilgrims in St. Peters Square to recite the rosary with him. He also sent a six-man squad from the Vaticans fire department to help with the rescue. SHARE: A Muslim mother from France says shes going to challenge a fine for wearing a burkini on the Riviera. The woman who gave her name only as Siam was ordered to remove her covering by French police officers carrying pepper spray and batons on August 16 in Nice. The fine was for 11 euros, which is about $16. Also Wednesday, images circulated of at least four police officers standing around a woman just metres from the towns Promenade des Anglais, the scene of last months Bastille Day truck attack which killed 86 people. More than a dozen French communities along the Riviera have banned the burkini, which is much like a wetsuit but with a head covering. Last week, Nice became the latest French resort city to ban the burkini. In Siams case, she was sitting on the beach in a flower-patterned veil, tunic and leggings. Enforcement of burkini rules have triggered a fierce debate about the beachwear, Even French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has weighed in, calling the burkini a symbol of womens enslavement. It is the expression of a political project, a countersociety, based notably on the enslavement of women, Valls said. The French newspaper Le Figaro reports that the 34-year-old mother was fined for not wearing a respectful dress code of morality and secularism. She was described as a former air-hostess from Toulouse whose family members have been French citizens for at least three generations. I was sitting on the beach with my family, she told the French news agency AFP. I was wearing a traditional scarf, a flower hijab. I was not there to make provocation, she said. I did not intend to swim, Siam said. When asked why she was dressed inappropriately, Siam replied: I didnt know exactly what was going on, I hadnt really followed the controversy. Witness Mathilde Cusin reportedly said: I saw three police officers watching the beach. One of them had his finger on the trigger of his tear gas device, no doubt containing pepper. The sad thing is that people were screaming (to the mother) go home!, Cusin said. Some bystanders applauded the police as her daughter cried, Cusin said. The ban on the Islamic burkini swimsuit by several French towns will go to court on Thursday. The Human Rights League (LDH) is appealing a decision by a lower court in the Riviera city of Nice which upheld a ban on the outfit by the town of Villeneuve-Loubet. The Nice tribunal ruled on Monday that the ban in the nearby community of Villeneuve-Loubet was necessary, appropriate and proportionate to prevent public disorder after a succession of jihadists attacks in France, including one in Nice on July 14. The burkini was liable to offend the religious convictions or (religious) non-convictions of other users of the beach, and be felt as a defiance or a provocation exacerbating tensions felt by the community, it added. Islamic dress has long been a subject of debate in France, which was the first European country to ban the Islamic face veil in public in 2010, six years after outlawing the head scarf and other conspicuous religious symbols in state schools. However other citizens are allowed to wear the head scarf in public. With files from AFP, Le Figaro SHARE: DILLWYN, VA. A German diplomats son convicted of murder is petitioning Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe for an absolute pardon and parole based largely on blood analysis. Jens Soering is serving two life terms for the 1985 slayings of his ex-girlfriends parents. Soerings petition this week says a blood analysis concludes that Soering, who has Type O blood, was not the source of at least some of the Type O blood found at the scene, The Washington Post reported. Investigators said his claim was not new. This is no longer about believing me, Soering, 50, told the newspaper from Buckingham Correctional Center in Virginia. Unless youre a climate-change denier and creationist and you dont believe in DNA, then you have to believe Im innocent. The only other option is I did it with somebody else, whom Ive been protecting for 31 years. Soering initially confessed to killing the couple but recanted and has insisted he is innocent. He said his then-girlfriend, Elizabeth Haysom, killed her parents and told him afterward. Haysom testified against Soering and is serving a 90-year sentence. In the absence of hair or fingerprints, prosecutors relied heavily on the presence of the Type O blood to link Soering to the crime. Maj. Ricky Gardner of the Bedford County Sheriffs Office, who led the investigation, said Soerings latest claim is nothing new. These results have been publicly known for several years, Gardner wrote in an email to the paper. Based upon the totality of evidence that was presented in Jens trial in June 1990, I remain confident that he perpetrated these heinous crimes. The blood tests are decades old: a 1985 blood typing test and a 2009 DNA test. Soerings attorney Steven D. Rosenfield said what is new is a belated comparison of the two tests. No one compared the 1985 blood type report with the DNA report until July, when Rosenfield began preparing to file a petition with McAuliffe on other grounds, including unrelated revelations in a forthcoming German documentary, The Promise, about Soerings case. The film suggests that Haysom, an admitted drug user, committed the murders with help from a now-deceased man who had supplied her with heroin. Soerings defence had also raised that scenario in his trial. An analysis by an expert Soering hired said that put side by side, the test results indicate that a male other than Soering was the source of the Type O blood. The only way the commonwealth can now argue for Jens guilt is to assert that he committed the crime with an unknown accomplice, who was injured and left Type O blood at the scene, he said. The accomplice cannot be Ms. Haysom, who has Type B blood. Until now, there has been no suggestion by the commonwealth that there was a third murderer involved. The commonwealths position has always been that Jens acted alone, committed this crime and left his Type O blood at the crime scene. SHARE: VILLINGEN-SCHWENNINGEN, GERMANYThe Yazidi girl had been in the safety of a refugee camp in Iraq for two weeks when she imagined she heard the voices of Daesh fighters, also known as ISIS or ISIL, outside her tent. Petrified by the thought of again facing rape and abuse at their hands, 17-year-old Yasmin vowed to make herself undesirable. So she doused herself in gasoline and lit a match. The flames burned her hair and face, peeling away her nose, lips and ears. It was in that state, physically disfigured and mentally so scarred that she had falsely thought her former captors were coming for her, that German doctor Jan Ilhan Kizilhan found her in a refugee camp in northern Iraq last year. Now 18, Yasmin is one of 1,100 women, mainly of the Yazidi religious minority, who have escaped Daesh captivity and are in Germany for psychological treatment. The pioneering program that Kizilhan helps run, which has attracted international attention, tries to address a basic problem: Long after the women are rescued, the trauma remains. Even in refugee camps in Iraq, Kizilhan noted some 60 cases where Yazidi women committed suicide. Recalling her ordeal today, Yasmin hunches over in her chair, grips her gnarled hands together and looks down at the floor. But she straightens up and her face brightens as she remembers Kizilhan entering her tent in the refugee camp. He told her and her mother, in their own language, how he could help in Germany. I said, of course I want to go there and be safe, and be the old Yasmin again, she recounts. She asks that her last name not be used out of ongoing fear of possible reprisal from Daesh sympathizers. It was on Aug. 3, 2014, that Daesh fighters swept into the Sinjar region of northern Iraq, home to the majority of the worlds Yazidis. They killed the men and took some of the boys, women and girls. An estimated 3,200 Yazidis are still in Daesh captivity in Syria. As the attack unfolded, members of the estimated 100,000-strong Yazidi community in Germany approached politicians in Berlin for help. Winfried Kretschmann, the governor of the prosperous western state of Baden Wuerttemberg, was moved and decided to take action. State parliament across party lines committed 95 million euros over three years to bring women abused by Daesh most Yazidis but also Christians and Shiite Muslims to Germany. Blume reached out to Kizilhan, a psychologist specializing in trauma. Kizilhan, who is of Kurdish background, was born in Turkey and speaks Kurdish, including the Yazidi dialect, German, Turkish, Farsi, English and even some Arabic. From February 2015 to January 2016, small teams of experts including Blume and Kizilhan went to refugee camps in northern Iraq. Kizilhan made 14 trips himself and personally interviewed all 1,400 women and girls found, trying to determine who would benefit best from the limited program. It was an evil that I had never seen in my life, he says. Im experienced in trauma, I had already worked with patients from Rwanda, from Bosnia, but this was very different. If you have an eight-year-old girl in front of you and shes saying she was sold eight times by Daesh and raped 100 times during 10 months, how can humankind be so evil? In the end, he decided upon 1,100 women and girls ranging in age today from 4 to 56, rejecting only those whom he didnt think psychotherapy could help. Kizilhan and others then met with the head religious leader of the Yazidis, the Baba Sheikh, at the holy site of Lalish. He agreed not to ostracize the victims, despite the perceived affront to honour in their culture. Instead, he kissed each one on the head and told them their community was very proud of them. Most of the women cried, very shocked but happy to be accepted by the highest priest, Kizilhan says. Yasmin was 16 when she and her sister were separated from their family as they fled into the mountains, and spent seven days in Daesh captivity. After they escaped, she was still terrified and always crying. Their voice was in my ears, she says. I could hear their voice, I was so scared. Then she heard what she thought was a shell exploding nearby. I couldnt take it anymore, she says. And this is what happened to me. Today, Yasmin shares a modest single-family home with her parents, sister and two brothers, who joined her later. Her sister, a year older, wont talk about what happened to her, and nor will most of the other women in the program. But for Yasmin, the desire for the world to know outweighs her hesitance to dredge up horrific memories. It is very important to tell our stories because the world should know what happened to us, so that it doesnt happen again, she says. Read more about: SHARE: KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA STRIPThe last tiger in Gaza departed the coastal enclave at dawn on Wednesday, travelling in a wooden crate, cooled by chunks of ice placed on top of his temporary transport. The tiger was high, perhaps thankfully. He was given a sedative by his new keepers to help him deal with the strangeness of his trip. The Bengal tiger was rescued from a painfully small cage here in the now-shuttered amusement park dubbed by animal rights advocates the worst zoo in the world. Truth be told, there are probably worse. It is a big world and there are many miserable zoos. But the Khan Younis facility was unique. Its owner displayed the mummified corpses of animals that had died at his zoo of stress, disease and starvation. The last tiger in Gaza, renamed Laziz, meaning delicious in Arabic, passed from the besieged Gaza Strip into Israel at the Erez crossing early Wednesday. He was scheduled to visit Hebrew Universitys Koret veterinary hospital and then continue on to Ben Gurion Airport to make El Als evening Flight 71 to Johannesburg. Laziz was travelling with 14 fellow survivors of the Khan Younis zoo. These were the lucky onesout of 220 inhabitants at the zoo during its peak. In crates beside the tiger was a little ark: Two porcupines, which last week escaped but had been recaptured. Two long-legged buzzards. A pelican which had lived in a waterless world in his aviary. Two tortoises which barely had room enough to turn around in their enclosure. There was a mother deer, too. She had lost her fawn, which died of wounds sustained struggling to escape her cage a few weeks ago. And an emu, which finally went into his shipping crate after putting up a helluva fight. Then there were the monkeystwo macaques and three vervets. The monkeys had to be sedated before they could be examined and placed in their dog-kennel style travelling crates. The last to be loaded on the truck Tuesday night was the tiger. He weighs more than 400 pounds, plus his crate. Strong men could barely lift him. Finally, a local with a motorbike attached to a trailer arrived to help. Before departing Wednesday morning, the animals and their new caregivers, from the international animal charity and rescue group called Four Paws, spent the night in the parking lot of the Marna House Hotel in Gaza City. Passersby peered into the truck and tried to capture images on their smartphones. The tiger has lived an impossible life. The zoos owner and patriarch, Ziad Awaida, said he purchased two tiger cubs from black-market traders providing animals for an Egyptian zoo. The cubs, Awaida said in an interview, were smuggled into Egypt from Senegal. For the flight and to pass Egyptian customs, they were disguised as ordinary house cats. They painted them black to cover the stripes, Awaida said. He admits this is an incredible detail. This is what I was told. Where the tigers were born, Awaida said, he does not know. When he bought them in Egypt in 2007, they were still nursing on milk. The tigers were smuggled into Gaza through the tunnels from the frontier town of Rafah. This may sound extraordinary, until you learn that they have used the tunnels to smuggle Mercedes-Benz sedans, orders of Kentucky Fried Chicken and Grad rockets from Iran. The tigers grew up in their cage in Khan Younis and were the zoos most popular attraction. Tickets to enter the park cost 50 cents for children, almost a buck for adults. The pair survived wars in 2008 and 2012 between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist militant organization that controls the Gaza Strip. In the aftermath of the third and most costly war in the summer of 2014, the female tiger diedalong with more than 2,100 Palestinians and 72 Israelis. Awaida said he could not reach the zoo for 17 days because of the shelling and airstrikes from Israel and rocket and mortar attacks by Hamas. Many animals died during the conflict and afterward. The zoo owner used his rudimentary taxidermy skills, along with formaldehyde and sawdust, to mummify the dead and display them. In addition to the tiger, visitors could look at desiccated carcasses of a baboon, lion and crocodile, and the scattered skeletons of other animals. The zookeepers morbid display was both a financial and political decision. He had bought the animals, and people would pay to see them, dead or alive; he also wanted to show Palestinians what the Gaza wars and Israeli siege had wrought. The tiger is headed to Lionsrock, a big cat preserve in South Africa, where he will be free to roam a large natural enclosure. He is 8 or 9 years old. Tigers in the wild live around 17 years but those in captivity can survive longer, so maybe the story ends well for him. He will have a good life in Africa, promised Amir Khalil, a veterinarian for Four Paws. SHARE: The urge to find and woo mates has led many a creature down strange paths. A bird called the blue-capped cordon-bleu dances a suggestive finchy dance at lightning speed. For hours on end, tiny Darwins bark spiders will use their fangs and spit to stimulate the sensitive parts of much bigger female spiders. When the male deep-sea angler fish cozies up to a female fish he bites through her skin, melts his mouth into her body with a digestive enzyme and spends the rest of his life leeching her nutrients in exchange for providing his sperm. And cocky University of Pittsburgh students may leap between tall buildings in Pittsburghs Oakland neighbourhood. At least one of them did, anyway, though he failed in his stunt early Tuesday morning. Police extracted Grant Birdsong, a 22-year-old college senior from Indiana Township, Pa., out of a 60-centimetre-wide gap between a Qdoba Mexican Grill and a Brueggers Bagels around 6 a.m. The student had a few bloody wounds and a broken ankle, but was otherwise healthy enough to offer a thumbs-up to Pittsburgh Action News 4 cameras. How Birdsong ended up between two restaurant chains is a story that began only hours before. At some point during the night, close to 2 a.m., Birdsong and a woman he had met earlier in the evening decided to scale a fire escape to the rooftop above Qdoba. Its roof is taller than the one over the bagel store, as the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. To Birdsong, apparently, the contours of the rooftop topography were an invitation to impress his date. So he prepared to leap. And he promptly missed his mark, plummeting between the two buildings. He came to rest after a three-story descent, wedged some 1.5 metres above the ground. In sum, said Sonya Toler, a Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety representative, the young man met a girl, brought her up to a rooftop and decided to impress her by leaping from one roof to the next, according to The Associated Press. Birdsongs companion phoned the University of Pittsburgh campus police, who in turn contacted the city department. Thus began the delicate operation of removing the student. Paramedics and police worked for four hours. Rescuers punched a few exploratory holes to locate Birdsong, before sending a medic rappelling down the wall to find him. Then they broke out a jackhammer to carve a hole in earnest, cutting through Qbodas interior and brick. By dawn, three layers of wall would be destroyed. A reporter for Pittsburghs WTAE documented the resulting destruction on Twitter. During the rescue the police blocked off the avenue where the buildings are located. The bagel store was forced to delay its opening. Chad Brooks, owner of the Qdoba franchise, was dismayed by the ordeal the Mexican restaurant caters to the collegiate crowd, which had only just begun to come back to campus. He told CBS Pittsburgh that the Qdoba location will likely be closed for weeks while the entire wall is replaced. Birdsong was communicative with authorities throughout the ordeal, though by the end he was described as numb by Wendell Hissrich, director of Pittsburghs public safety department, to CBSs KDKA 2. Paramedics extracted him via the hole and carted him away by stretcher. He remained in stable condition, an official told CBS Pittsburgh, later that afternoon. It is amazing, and fortunately he didnt land on his head, Hissrich told WTAE, otherwise it would have been more serious and more of an urgency to get him out. As for the unnamed woman, it is unclear how impressive she found Birdsongs Keanu Reeves impression. Nicole Ferres, who works at the Brueggers Bagels, told the Post-Gazette she had heard the unnamed woman stuck around for the duration of the rescue. A University of Pittsburgh student told CBS Birdsong was an idiot but seemed convinced the 22-year-old had successfully wooed his companion. When asked on Twitter if the guy got the girl, Pittsburgh Public Safety Department replied, That is something that we do not know. The police are also mulling if Birdsong will face charges, according to The Associated Press. SHARE: ISTANBUL Turkey mounted its largest military effort yet in the Syrian conflict on Wednesday, sending tanks, warplanes and special operations forces over the border in a U.S.-backed drive to capture a Daesh stronghold in Syria. The joint offensive on the city of Jarabulus, one of the last border strongholds of Daesh, also known as ISIS and ISIL, began hours before Vice-President Joe Biden was to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, the Turkish capital. The timing seemed aimed at easing tensions between the two countries raised by the failed coup in Turkey last month. The operation, clearing the way for a force of about 500 Syrian rebels to take the border town, represented a significant escalation of Turkeys role in the fight against Daesh. But it also seemed as much about containing the territorial ambitions of Syrian Kurdish militias, which Turkey sees as its primary enemy in the conflict and which were poised to move against Jarabulus. Biden addressed those concerns at a news conference after his meeting with Erdogan, saying the Syrian Kurds, a U.S. ally in the fight against Daesh militants, would have to withdraw to the eastern side of the Euphrates River. We have made it clear to Kurdish forces that they must move back across the river, he said. They cannot and will not get American support if they do not keep that commitment. Period. Turkey has signalled in recent days that it is prepared to take a more aggressive diplomatic role in Syria, working alongside Iran, Russia and the United States to seek an end to the war. Ankara has long insisted that the Syrian president, Bashar Assad who is backed by Iran and Russia would have to step down before peace talks could be held. But lately, Turkey has softened its stance, signalling that it would accept a role for Assad during a peaceful transition. While some analysts initially thought the operation on Wednesday had been carried out with Assads assent, in the early afternoon, the Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned it as a breach of Syrias sovereignty. Although U.S. warplanes joined the Turkish forces in Jarabulus, the operation masked deep tensions between the two NATO allies over Syria. Turkish officials, including the foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, warned that their country could ultimately end up fighting the Syrian Kurds. Recently, the Americans backed a group of fighters, mostly Syrian Kurds, in retaking the town of Manbij, not far from Jarabulus but west of the Euphrates. To allay Turkish concerns, U.S. officials warned the Kurds against advancing on Jarabulus, and said they would not support a move on the city with U.S. air power. Turkish officials indicated that the operation on Wednesday sought, in part, to warn Kurds working in Syria alongside U.S. Special Operations Forces against marching on Jarabulus. Cavusoglu said the Kurdish militias must move east of the Euphrates River, away from the Turkish border, and back to where they had long controlled a stretch of territory. If they fail to do so, we will do what is necessary, he warned. The operation started at 4 a.m., officials said, with Turkish and U.S. warplanes pounding Daesh positions in Jarabulus. The special operations troops entered Syria to clear a passage for a ground operation by Turkish-backed rebel groups, the state broadcaster TRT reported. The assault came days after Turkey vowed to cleanse its borders of Daesh, after a deadly suicide attack at a Kurdish wedding, which killed at least 54 people. The militant group was blamed for the attack. Jarabulus is a vital supply line for Daesh and one of its last remaining strongholds on the border. Before Wednesdays operation, Cavusoglu pledged to give every kind of support for operations against Daesh across the border. Turkeys NATO allies have long sought its greater involvement in Syria. Daesh should be completely cleansed from our borders, and we are ready to do what it takes for that, Cavusoglu said on Tuesday at a news conference in Ankara. Turkish officials voiced their concerns on Wednesday about the growing influence of the U.S.-backed Syrian Kurds, because of their links to Kurdish insurgents in Turkey. Officials in Ankara consider them a threat to national security. The Kurdish militias have captured large areas across the border, and analysts say that a Kurdish advance toward Jarabulus could lead to a confrontation with Turkey. Turkey is determined for Syria to retain its territorial integrity and will take matters into its own hands if required to protect that territorial unity, Erdogan said in a speech in Ankara on Wednesday. We have only ever sought to help the people of Syria and have no other intentions. Turkey also moved to increase security measures on its border with Syria, establishing a special security zone and urging residents to evacuate their homes, after at least nine mortar shells from Jarabulus landed in the Turkish border town of Karkamis. The timing of the operation could ease some of the tensions between the United States and Turkey over the recent failed coup, which have reduced relations to one of their lowest points since the Second World War. Anti-American sentiment has reached a fever pitch in Turkey, as pro-government news outlets and government officials have sought to link the United States with the coup plot. Further inflaming relations is the status of Fethullah Gulen, a Muslim cleric in self-exile in Pennsylvania whom Turkey accuses of leading the coup plot. Turkey has sought Gulens extradition, and lawyers from the Justice Department arrived in Ankara this week to work with their Turkish counterparts on the process. But a decision on extradition will take time, and the Turks do not want to wait. We would like to see an acceleration of this process, said Turkeys prime minister, Binali Yildirim, in a meeting with journalists on Saturday. Its so obvious that he was the leader of all this. He said if things were turned the other way around if a person that the United States believed was a terrorist was residing in Turkey Ankara would act immediately. The enemy of our friend is our enemy, he said. That is our principle. If the U.S. implemented this principle, wed be fine. Also on Wednesday, the Turkish counterterrorism police carried out dawn raids against people believed to be Daesh militants, the local media reported. The group has been blamed for a string of major assaults on Turkish soil over the past year, including a suicide attack at Istanbuls main airport in June that killed over 40 people. Read more about: SHARE: Justin Trudeaus Liberals are wading back into the temporary foreign workers mess. That program caused plenty of grief for the former Conservative government, particularly when it was revealed that some employers were using the scheme to replace Canadian workers with cheaper foreign help. The Liberals are hoping to do better. If press reports are any guide, the government will use a parliamentary committee report set to be released next month as a template for relaxing the rules around the hiring of temporary foreign workers. That report is still unpublished. But on a recent trip to China, Immigration Minister John McCallum gave some hint as to the governments thinking, saying Canada still needs temporary foreign workers to solve labour shortages in areas such as fish-processing and meat-packing. According to a Globe and Mail report, McCallum said he wanted to make it easier for Canadian firms to bring in short-term foreign workers, noting that in some areas, the rules are silly. But he also held out the possibility that, in return, the government would make it easier for temporary foreign workers to become permanent residents and ultimately Canadian citizens. This week, the Calgary Herald reported that during a close-door meeting with Alberta labour leaders, McCallum floated the idea of eliminating, for high-tech firms and some kinds of service-sector companies, the requirement that employers planning to hire foreigners first prove they cant find qualified Canadians. This so-called labour market impact assessment requirement has been a cornerstone of the temporary foreign workers program. In theory, it is designed to ensure that employers dont use alleged labour shortages as an excuse to bring in foreigners willing to work for less. In practice, it has had mixed results. Under Stephen Harpers Conservative government these assessments didnt prevent fast food outlets in Alberta and small factories in Ontario from bringing in massive numbers of temporary foreign workers this at a time when Canadian unemployment was high. When the Conservatives toughened the requirements in response to complaints that foreigners were displacing Canadian workers, business complained mightily. The Liberals are looking to find a happy medium. The problem the Trudeau government faces is that the temporary foreign workers program in any guise is a low-wage strategy. When businesses say they cant find qualified labour what they usually mean is that they cant find anyone at the wage they are willing or able to pay. Appearing before the Commons human resources committee this spring, representatives of the meat packing industry said they must bring in foreign workers because native-born Canadians just arent interested in such tough jobs. What they didnt dwell on was the fact that native-born Canadians are quite willing to work in other tough manual jobs such as the oil rigs that pay more. Christopher Smillie of the Canadian Building Trades Unions put the problem succinctly. If employers cant entice Canadians to take certain jobs (they should) raise wages, he told the committee. Former Conservative minister Jason Kenney made the same point when he tightened up the temporary foreign workers program in 2014. And he was right. This low-wage aspect of the temporary foreign workers program is particularly evident in areas such as the restaurant industry that do not face foreign competition. Canadian tomato farmers competing with Mexico in world markets may feel pressured to pay Mexican-level wages. Toronto eateries do not. No one is going to fly from Toronto to Tijuana just to buy a cheaper taco. So what will the Liberals do? At one level, their problem is a practical one. Even if they are opposed to using temporary migration as a wage suppressant, they live in a world where this is the norm. Thats why, in an attempt to pander to East Coast fish plants, they lifted the ceiling this year on the number of temporary foreign workers seasonal employers may bring in. At the Commons committee hearings, plenty of criticisms were levelled against the temporary foreign workers program. But not even the trade unionists appearing before the committee suggested that it be eliminated. Thomas Walkom's column appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday. SHARE: How does a little American boy born hillbilly escape the hills heartlands of drug abuse, hair-trigger tempers, flatlined expectations, ill health, and in his case five stepfathers and a mother who tried to kill him when he was 11 and make something of himself? J.D. Vance, Yale-educated lawyer and author of an extraordinary new memoir, Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis, is 31 and I still worry his past will catch up with him. Will this good man make old bones? He writes with cordite. His book is devoid of the quality I most distrust, sentimentality. He indicts his people, the Scots-Irish who left Appalachia and took the hillbilly highway to the Midwest (Ohio, Indiana, Michigan) for jobs after the Second World War. There he was raised, savagely, in Middletown, Ohio. Vance helps answer one newsy question: who are these poor and angry whites who threaten to vote for Donald Trump? And he studies another question that has always plagued me: why did a younger generation lose themselves to drugs while their parents generally did not? Vance loved his grandparents, Mamaw and Papaw, who rescued him in the way large multi-generational families do, by offering refuge. Papaw was a violent drunk until 1983; Mamaw, who suffered terribly at his hands, once set him on fire. They repaired their lives in time to save J.D. but he makes it clear that Mamaw, who nearly killed a man when she was 12, was a foul-mouthed scary woman. She was also her grandchildrens salvation. Its hard to pick the lowest point in Vances life. It may have been the day his mother came home demanding a cup of his fresh urine so she could pass a drug test. Then again, Harvard was pretty raw too. An ex-Marine with a state university degree and no social skills, he was asked at a moneyed dinner if he wanted still or sparkling water. He ordered sparkling though it sounded ludicrous, and then spit it out. Somethings wrong with that water, he protested. The waitress apologized and said shed get another San Pellegrino. He was humiliated. But there are different levels of pain. What hurts more, saying your mothers a nurse when in fact she lost her job for stealing drugs from patients and rollerblading though the hospital while high, or the constant state of terrified alertness in childhood that will make his heart race for the rest of his life? Or is it the sneering of a Yale professor about remedial education for primitives like him? Hillbillies dont succeed, Vance writes. He credits his grandparents, teachers, his aunts happy marriage, Marine-taught self-discipline, and books. I would also mention his ability to be very hard on himself. Hillbillies tend not to do this, Vance writes. And here he says harsh things that might alienate generous Canadians, but its his story to tell. Too many young men [are] immune to hard work, he writes, and they lie to themselves about their sparse work ethic. They disparage girls. Kids dont try to succeed in school and parents dont push them. His mothers generation let themselves be told that drug addiction and alcoholism are a disease but Vance says much of it is a choice, a terrible choice. For why did Papaw quit drinking while Vances mother moved on to heroin? They call themselves God-fearing but they dont go to church, and churches stopped providing the social supports (jobs, friendship and food) they need. Detached from society, they have little understanding of the norm and are animated by a frenetic stress that makes them behave irrationally. In November, Vance wrote in The Atlantic last month, Trump will offer them a social opioid, simple answers, an easy escape from pain. No single book, or expert, or field could fully explain the problems of hillbillies in modern America, Vance writes. His elegy is sociological, he writes, but also about psychology, community, culture and faith. His grandparents were faithful, self-reliant and hardworking but his mothers cohort was consumerist, isolated, angry and distrustful. Vance says there is no Rubiks Cube solution to the problems of the American poor and quotes one White House expert: But maybe you can put your thumb on the scale a little for the people at the margins. I disagree, but then Im Canadian and I give up on nothing and no one. But hes right that the time to help is in childhood. We hillbillies must wake the hell up. Read more about: SHARE: Ontarios Liberal government has done well in lowering what individual donors are allowed to give a political party. With annual contributions limited to a maximum of $1,200 down from almost $10,000 it will be harder for the rich to buy influence in the halls of power. This makes for a healthier democracy. Unfortunately, an otherwise commendable package of election finance and political advertising reforms contains some significant loopholes. For a start, controversial cash-for-access fundraisers would still be allowed under the governments proposed amendments to Bill 201. Its difficult to excuse. To fully repair the publics battered trust in the fairness of political fundraising in Ontario, Premier Kathleen Wynne would do well to stop this dubious practice. When corporate elites pay for the privilege of privately wining and dining key political leaders, such as the premier and cabinet ministers, it feeds a perception that decision-makers are available for hire. This is especially the case for members of Wynnes administration, given her partys record of repeatedly cashing in at exclusive dinners hosted by corporate interests seeking to influence government. Its true that Ontarios other political parties have also indulged in fundraising dinners or private meetings with big-money donors. But New Democrats and Progressive Conservatives are both seeking amendments to the governments election finance bill that would stop such fundraising. Its the correct way forward. The governments steadfast refusal to ban cash-for-access fundraisers is difficult to explain other than in terms of rank self-interest; as the party in power, the Liberals understandably attract considerable attention from those hoping to buy influence. That, however, represents a poor basis for meaningful change. Another area where government reforms fall short lies in the realm of advertising. Several welcome improvements are proposed, including firm spending limits on political advertising done by so-called third party interest groups, such as business organizations and the union-funded Working Families coalition. In addition, as reported by the Stars Robert Benzie, government advertising would be banned in the 60 days before the start of a scheduled election. Thats fair, as far as it goes. Whats missing is a move to restore the Ontario auditor generals power to veto any government ad deemed partisan in nature. As the Star has noted in the past, the Wynne administration made a serious mistake when it changed the provinces landmark Government Advertising Act to remove the auditors ability to block taxpayer-funded partisan pitches. Again, rank self-interest looms as the inescapable motive for watering down the auditors oversight. Theres still time to get this right. Bill 201 is to go before a legislative committee for clause-by-clause debate next week and the opposition parties will be pushing for additional reform. By banning cash-for-access fundraisers and restoring the auditor generals veto on partisan government ads the Wynne administration would effectively defuse critics accusations that self-interest guides these proposed new rules. Conversely, by continuing to allow big-money donors to sway politicians, and governments to keep spending taxpayers dollars on ads deemed partisan by an independent auditor, Wynne risks sapping public confidence in her reforms. Given the great deal thats good in Bill 201, it would be an immense shame if it were perceived as a partisan half-measure. Read more about: SHARE: If the eight U.S. states adjoining the Great Lakes go ahead with a plan to allow Waukesha, Wis., population 70,000, to divert water from Lake Michigan, the small city could pose a big threat to the future of the Great Lakes. Waukesha recently became the first city outside of the Great Lakes Basin to get permission to draw from the freshwater bodies. Its an exception to a 2008 compact between the Great Lakes states and Ontario and Quebec a decision that environmentalists and politicians worry will set a dangerous precedent. After all, the Great Lakes, which hold 20 per cent of the worlds fresh water, are not a renewable source. Only 1 per cent of the lakes water is replenished through snow melt and rain. The other 99 per cent was left behind by melting glaciers more than 12,000 years ago and is irreplaceable. Thats why the compact bans populations outside of the basin from drawing water from any of the Great Lakes. The eight states, however, approved Waukeshas request after the city argued that even though it is not in the basin, its in a county that is. (Ontario and Quebec sadly dont get a vote on U.S. diversions.) Now, 123 mayors from cities bordering the Great Lakes in Canada and the U.S., members of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, are rightly fighting back. This decision opens the door to every neighboring city and county to the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Basin in the U.S. and Canada to get water from the basin without meeting the conditions of the compact, Mayor Paul Dyster of Niagara Falls, N.Y., cautions. Experts have been warning of such a slippery slope for decades. The mayors have asked for a hearing with the eight states, called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Barack Obama to intervene, and appealed to the International Joint Commission, which settles trans-boundary water disputes between Canada and the U.S. Policy-makers should heed their call. After all, as one Ontario mayor said, the results of the decision could be catastrophic. It may even signal the end of the Great Lakes as we know them, as another warned. That should worry everyone, not least Ontarians. If water levels in the lakes get drawn down, 90 per cent of the population of Ontario - not to mention 40 per cent of Canada's economic activity - could be affected. Given the stakes for us and others in the basin, it hardly seems fair that the only public hearing held on the issue took place in Waukesha. It was only two years ago that the water levels of Lakes Michigan and Huron hit historic lows. Environmentalists warn that with climate change there will be yet more evaporation. The Great Lakes mayors, who represent over 17 million people, are right to demand that the decision be reversed. Once the water is gone, we can never get it back. Read more about: SHARE: Editors' pick: Originally published August 23. A federal judge turned down a request on Monday by three University of Texas faculty members for a preliminary injunction that would have kept concealed guns out of their classrooms. A state concealed carry law went into effect on August 1 that allows licensed gun owners to bring their weapons to campuses at public universities in Texas. The ruling, by Judge Lee Yeakel of the U.S. District Court in Austin, came just two days before the start of fall classes at the state's flagship campus, University of Texas-Austin. The university has been reeling in response to the law. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit Jennifer Lynn Glass, the Barbara Bush Professor of Liberal Arts in the Sociology Department and English professors Lisa Moore, and Mia Carter, all of UT Austin assert that allowing guns in classrooms will violate their First Amendment free-speech and their 14th Amendment equal-protection rights. All three teach courses that touch on controversial topics, such as reproductive rights and issues concerning gender, race and lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender individuals. The suit's defendant was UT-Austin President Gregory Fennes. Judge Yeakel wrote that he had denied their injunction request because the professors had "failed to establish a substantial likelihood of ultimate success on the merits of their asserted claims." Whether by accident or by design, Yeakel's ruling appears to identify an area where the First and Second Amendments overlap. In his 11-page ruling, Yeakel noted that the plaintiffs' assertion that classroom discussion will be 'circumscribed by the near-certain presence of loaded guns' and that their ability to 'make [their classrooms] truly a marketplace for the robust exchange of ideas will be impaired.' Yeakel also noted their belief that they are now "incentivized to err on the side of 'trimming their sails,' academically speaking, when they push for classroom debate." Yeakel didn't flatly reject the plaintiffs' argument, even stating that "[p]erhaps they are correct," but ultimately concluded that, "the Campus Carry Law and Policy do not direct plaintiffs either toward or away from any particular subject or point of view. The provisions do not prohibit, require, or even mention any form of speech by professors of the university. The burden of which plaintiffs complain therefore does not fit within any recognized right of academic freedom." Max Renea Hicks, the plaintiff's Austin-based attorney could not be reached for comment. Since Judge Yeakel ruled only on a request for a preliminary injunction, the lawsuit has not been thrown out of court, but the next steps were not clear. Although the case went before a federal court, the ruling is limited only to the Lone Star State's campus gun law. Meanwhile a UT Austin-based group planned to protest the ruling by carrying sex toys to campus instead of guns. Under the hashtag #cocksnotglocks, UT-Austin alumna and marketing consultant Jessica Jin set August 24 as a date for an anti-guns-on-campus demonstration. In an effort to compare one phallic symbol with another, her group of activists and she plan to hand out thousands of dildos as a protest against a law that allows concealed handguns on campus, but is less tolerant of dildos. Jin's organization is not new. The San Antonio native told the Houston Chronicle on October 12 that she formed the group after discovering that it was against University of Texas policy to wave dildos on campus. An October protest drew about 2,000 people--and threats against Jin's life. Glencore (GLNCY) , the world's No.3 mining company by market value, posted first-half earnings per share of $0.02, down from $0.07 year-on-year as weak commodity prices led to a 66% decline in first half income. The results were largely in line with analyst expectations but failed to impress the market despite. Glencore shares fell in early trading on Wednesday to 184.8 pence ($2.44), down 5 pence or 2.6%. Income before exceptional items for the six months to June 30 was $300 million, down from $882 million, while adjusted Ebitda for the period was $4.02 billion, down 13%. The results squared with analysts expectations, which had been adjusted downward after Glencore reported weaker than expected production figures earlier this month. Analysts had tipped EPS of $0.01 to $0.02, and Ebitda of $3.8 billion, according to forecasts collated by FactSet. Glencore's mining operations, which it calls industrial assets, posted first-half Ebitda of $2.74 billion, down 20% from $3.43 billion. The price of almost all of Glencore's major mine outputs were lower in the first-half compared to a year earlier, with zinc down 16%, nickel off 37% and iron ore down 13%. Glencore's commodity trading operation, or marketing business, bucked the earnings decline, posting Ebitda of just under $1.29 billion, up 9% from $1.18 billion a year earlier. "Our industrial assets are demonstrating industry leading cost and cash flow performance, while the resilience of our marketing business has again been demonstrated," said Glencore's billionaire CEO Ivan Glasenberg in a statement. Glencore's funds from operation fell 21% to $2.8 billion over the first half but were more than offset by a 51% reduction in capital expenditure, which fell to $1.6 billion. The Swiss company also provided an update on efforts to ease its onerous debt burden, announcing it had trimmed net debt by $2.3 billion during the first half to $23.58 billion. The company now expects to end the year with between $16.5 billion and $17.5 billion of net debt, down from an earlier target of $17 billion to $18 billion. "Overall, we expect the stock to outperform today (despite financials being inline) on better than expected performance on net debt," noted Goldman Sachs analysts Euegene King and Abhinandan Agarwal. Glencore's debt reduction efforts are being led by a disposals program that aims to raise between $4 billion and $5 billion by the end of the year. The company said Wednesday it had agreed to offload a 30% stake in Australian copper mine Ernest Henry Mine to Evolution Mining forA$880 million ($671 million). Under the terms of the deal, Evolution will secure 100% of the mine's gold output and be entitled to cash payments from Glencore equivalent to the value of 30% of the mine's copper and silver output. The latest sale builds on April's $2.5 billion disposal of a 40% stake in Glencore's agricultural business to Canada Pension Plan Investment board, taking total disposals this year to $3.9 billion. "We have already largely achieved our asset disposal target...with a diverse material pool of asset sales' processes also on-going," said Glasenberg. Glencore is thought to be in talks to sell its Cobar copper mine in Australia, which is expected to bring in about $400 million. It may also be seeking to sell Chilean copper assets and Australian rail operations according to analysts. Southwest Airlines (LUV) is shuffling its cockpit crew, announcing that its head of labor relations would retire amid growing animosity between the airline and its major unions. Randy Babbitt, a 50-year industry veteran who has led Southwest's labor relations team since 2012, is set to retire this fall after what the airline said will be an "orderly" transition. Babbitt, 70, started with Eastern Air Lines in 1966 and his career included a term heading up the Federal Aviation Administration under President Obama. The announcement comes barely a month removed from four of Southwest's most important unions issuing a call for the airline's CEO and other executives to resign. The company's pilots, flight attendants and mechanics have all been in contract talks for more than three years, with the Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association organizing a major demonstration involving more than 1,000 pilots at the airline's Dallas Love Field home base on Wednesday. The unions complain that the airline has spent recent years more focused on buying back stock, revamping the product and expansion than on compensating employees. Labor acrimony is nothing new in the airline industry but relatively new for Southwest, which for most of its existence has enjoyed a cordial relationship with its workers. The current tension is due in part to Southwest's changing role in the industry, with the airline no longer the plucky-startup invading new markets to take on legacy airlines. Southwest, thanks in part to its 2011 acquisition of AirTran, now controls about 18% of the domestic market and faces competition from a group of new upstart discounters led by Spirit Airlines. Meanwhile, its traditional cost advantages against the likes of United Continental, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines have been eroded by a round of industry bankruptcies. The airline's challenge is to avoid being squeezed on one side by those newer, lower-cost discounters and the remaining legacies that can still extract higher fares from business customers by offering a global route network and better in-flight amenities. That pressure has led to Southwest's focus on areas other than labor, investing instead in areas like new computer systems, while trying to hold the line on costs and demand more lax work rules in new contracts. But as Wednesday's pilot rally reminds, the labor issues are becoming an increasing distraction for the company and a drain on its operations. Southwest shares dropped more than 10% during a single trading session last month after the airline reported disappointing second-quarter results and, more importantly, offered only nonchalant guidance on how management hopes to fix its issues. A number of analysts attributed Southwest's vague forecast for the future to uncertainty surrounding its labor deals, and predicted that once Southwest is able to get new contracts in place the airline would begin to aggressively take some of the steps its competitors have taken to boost profitability. It remains to be seen whether Babbitt's departure further prolongs the process, or will be the spark needed to restart talks and reach a compromise. 08/23/2016 By Ed Brennen One week after arriving in Portugal this summer for lecturer Neil Shortlands Terrorism and Security Studies study abroad course, Michael Grimmer and 14 of his fellow criminal justice majors started getting news alerts on their phones: A terrorist attack at the Istanbul airport in Turkey had killed 45 people and wounded hundreds more. While the attack was all over the news back home, Grimmer was struck by how slowly word of the event spread among students at the University of Minho in Braga, the UMass Lowell partner institution where the study abroad program was hosted. We were hanging out with a lot of the local students and we found out about it a lot faster than they did, says Grimmer, a rising senior from Reading. It wasnt really talked about. We would discuss it with them and theyd go Google it. It was kind of like how we were in America prior to 9/11. Indeed, the detached reaction to the attack, and to other recent attacks across Europe, was a key takeaway for many of the students participating in the three-week course run by UMass Lowells Center for Terrorism and Security Studies (CTSS). The mood about global terror threats was very relaxed in Portugal, says Christopher Calendra, a rising senior from Long Island, N.Y. In other parts of Europe, they view it differently and see it as more of a threat. The Portuguese people see Portugal as a safe haven. And for good reason. According to the 2016 Global Peace Index, Portugal ranks as the fifth-safest country in the world (Iceland is first while the United States is 103rd). Immersed in that setting, students were able develop an understanding of the differences between European and American approaches to terrorism and counterterrorism. The three-credit course combined classroom learning, guest speakers and applied experiences such as a tour of a local prison and a visit to the U.S. Embassy in Lisbon, where students received a briefing from U.S. Ambassador to Portugal Robert Sherman. In February, Sherman visited UMass Lowell and gave a lecture on U.S.-Portugal relations at University Crossing. Most of the students also participated in a concurrent three-credit internship program that gave them experience collecting, coding and analyzing data on terrorist offenders. Shortland, who led the trip for the first time, says it was an ideal way for students to examine the roots of terrorism and current research trends through an entirely new lens. Its nice to break out of the U.S.-centric way of thinking and to learn from other countries, says Shortland, the CTSS program manager. For me, studying abroad is such a unique environment. It is more intense and theres far more independence. Students were able to reflect on the differences between Portuguese and American culture and think about how they can learn from this. Participation in UMass Lowells faculty-led study abroad programs has increased for the past five years. According to Fern MacKinnon, director of the Office of Study Abroad and International Experiences, 78 students participated in faculty-led programs this summer, while another 33 traveled with a partner program. For the 2015-16 academic year, 109 students participated in faculty-led programs. For students, experiencing the Portuguese culture was a universal highlight of the trip. On their second night in Braga they attended the Festa de Sao Joao (the Festival of St. John the Baptist), a celebration of food and music where thousands of revelers tap each other on the head with small, plastic toy hammers that make a squeaking sound. Students in lecturer Neil Shortland's study abroad course enjoy a group dinner out in Portugal. Every time someone would do it to me, I wanted to thank them for involving me in their traditions and being so nice, says rising senior Victoria Beauchesne. It was an eye-opening, once-in-a-lifetime experience that Im so excited I had the opportunity to enjoy. Other highlights included a hike to the top of Bom Jesus do Monte, a religious sanctuary overlooking Braga, and a home-cooked dinner with a local family. The study abroad experience probably changed Grimmer more than anyone. I fell in love with the place, says Grimmer, who before the trip was unsure what he wanted to do following graduation. He had planned on a career in the National Guard but was recently medically discharged. Now hes making plans to pursue his masters degree with a semester abroad back in Portugal. This gave me a direction of where I want to go, says Grimmer, who hopes to one day work in Portugal for the Department of Defense. I cant wait to go back. Gorely is a young and very active shield volcano in southern Kamchatka. It is one of Kamchatka's easiest volcanoes to climb and offers stunning views into vast craters and the surrounding landscape. Fewer homes are coming onto the market, putting a cap on the sales growth enjoyed earlier this year thanks in part to a low mortgage rate and brightening job market. (Steven Senne/AP) HOUSING Existing-home sales drop 3.2% in July U.S. home buyers pulled back in July, as sales declined amid a shortage of available properties and steadily rising prices. Sales of existing homes fell 3.2 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.39 million, the National Association of Realtors said Wednesday. The decline marks a reversal from rising demand that pushed sales in June to their highest level since February 2007. Fewer homes are coming onto the market, putting a cap on the sales growth enjoyed earlier this year thanks in part to a low mortgage rate and brightening job market. Rising demand for homes is a positive. But the dwindling supply of listings has pushed up prices. The number of listings has tumbled 5.8 percent from a year ago to 2.13 million. That decline has corresponded with home values rising at more than double the pace of average hourly earnings. The median home sale price was $244,100 in July, up 5.3 percent from a year ago. Associated Press LABOR Coal states to get federal job grants Communities in nine U.S. states hit hard by coal-industry layoffs are being promised more than 3,000 jobs in several industries through a multimillion-dollar federal grant. Officials for the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and other agencies announced Wednesday the 29 projects totaling nearly $39 million. The funds are expected to create or retain more than 3,400 jobs in agriculture, health care, manufacturing, technology and other industries. The projects are intended to help communities in Texas and in eight Appalachian states: Alabama, Kentucky, Ohio, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Tennessee and Virginia. Some of the grants will enable laid-off coal miners to get job retraining. The commission says about 23,000 Appalachian coal jobs were lost from 2011 to 2015. Other grants would fund programs to tackle prescription-drug abuse and bring broadband Internet service to rural communities. Associated Press Also in Business From news services Coming Today From news services Protesters stand outside the Department of Finance in Dublin in 2015, where they called for an investigation of tax rulings favorable to Apple and other multinational corporations. (Niall Carson/PA Wire/PA Images) The U.S. Treasury took the unusual step Wednesday of publishing a detailed critique of the European Commissions investigations into alleged tax avoidance schemes by a group of U.S. firms, including Apple, Starbucks and Amazon. Treasury said the commissions probes into whether U.S. firms unfairly benefited from low corporate tax rates in Europe undermine agreements on international tax law and could hurt U.S. taxpayers. These investigations have major implications for the United States, wrote Robert Stack, deputy assistant secretary for international tax affairs at Treasury, in a blog post explaining the agencys position. Treasurys actions are not a defense of these U.S. companies actions, but rather signal a disagreement with European authorities over how to resolve the delicate matter of who benefits from overseas profits. It also comes amid President Obamas push to discourage U.S. companies from moving their tax residences overseas to avoid U.S. taxes, a ploy known as corporate inversions. Treasury is touting its tax policy concerns ahead of a verdict from the commission, anticipated this fall, on whether Apples tax dealings in Ireland violate European rules. Apple could be ordered to repay $8 billion and perhaps much more in back taxes. Apple, based in Cupertino, Calif., has been pilloried for years both at home and abroad for how it handles its overseas profits parking billions of dollars in its subsidiary in Cork, Ireland, where the corporate tax rate is 12.5 percent. In contrast, the U.S. statutory corporate rate is 35 percent. Apple chief executive Tim Cook defended the companys actions in a Washington Post interview published this month, denying that Apple was a tax dodger and that the company would happily bring back those profits home once U.S. tax law is reformed and the rate lowered to be more in line with other countries. In Europe, the commission already has announced decisions unfavorable to other U.S. firms. Last year, it said a tax deal between Amazon and Luxembourg appeared to amount to unfair state aid by allowing the company to underpay its taxes. Amazon has since changed its tax structure. (Amazon chief executive Jeffrey P. Bezos owns The Washington Post.) The commission also ruled that Fiat owed back taxes in Luxembourg, and Starbucks owed them in the Netherlands, ordering the companies to repay millions of dollars. While Europes handling of corporate tax policy has worried the Treasury, a commission spokeswoman said European regulators are only trying to ensure that no company receives an unfair advantage in taxation. The spokeswoman also said the commission has taken note of the Treasurys opposition, which was published as a white paper, adding that there is no bias against U.S. companies. The Treasury on Wednesday said any repayments ordered by Europe could reduce the amount U.S. firms pay in taxes at home, calling such an outcome deeply troubling because it would effectively leave American taxpayers footing the bill. The federal agency also warned that if the commission brought more tax cases against U.S. firms, it may lead to a growing chilling effect on U.S.-EU cross-border investment. We noticed youre blocking ads! Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. In this Feb. 12, 2015 photo, a student works on math problems as part of a trial run of a new state assessment test at Annapolis Middle School in Annapolis, Md. (Patrick Semansky/AP) A majority of Marylands students failed to meet academic benchmarks on state standardized tests linked to the Common Core this year, a disappointing result for educators and state officials who had hoped to see major upticks as teachers and students become familiar with the exams. New data released this week showed that many grade levels saw overall passing rates of about 40 percent in the second year of testing using PARCC exams, which are intended to measure readiness for college and careers. Maryland students in grades three through eight showed gains in math, but English scores remained flat. Were sure not seeing a heck of a rise on these results, said Chester E. Finn Jr., a member of the Maryland State Board of Education and president emeritus of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. Forty percent is nowhere near good enough, and the gains, where there are some, are small. State data showed that most grade levels saw improvement in math, with proficiency inching up nearly three points in seventh grade and almost eight points in third grade. Third-graders did best, with 44 percent meeting or exceeding expectations, and eighth-graders lagged, with just 22 percent meeting or exceeding expectations. There was little change in English scores in third through eighth grades, with 37 to 40 percent of students reaching performance targets. On the high school level, student scores improved by more than four percentage points in Algebra 1, with 36 percent of students deemed college-ready, and English 10, with 44 percent reaching that level. The results came with little official analysis; state officials said they would have more comment and more detailed data including district and school results in late September. Were pleased that the math scores showed some improvement, said Bill Reinhard, spokesman for the Maryland State Department of Education. [New Md. tests show 20 percent to 31 percent score college-ready in algebra] As with previous tests, there were stark gaps in achievement by race and ethnicity, as well as for students in special education and those learning English. In third-grade reading, for example, 64 percent of Asian students reached benchmarks compared with 52 percent of white students, 23 percent of black students, and 22 percent of Hispanic students. PARCC tests are given in seven states and the District, and they were meant to set common benchmarks that would allow for direct comparisons. Maryland is the fourth jurisdiction to release results, said PARCC spokeswoman Heather Reams. Rhode Island is expected to do so Thursday, and others are expected to follow in coming weeks, she said. Maryland ranks in the middle of the pack among states that have released results. New Jerseys scores were stronger overall, and New Mexicos were weaker. Colorado did a little better in English and not as well in math. Betty Weller, president of the Maryland State Education Association, the states largest teachers union, cautioned against drawing strong conclusions, noting that the tests are in their infancy. PARCC is still in the very early stages, so we dont have a lot of trend data yet or strong validity at this point, she said. Its hard to extract meaning. Weller also said the test results come as only one of many measures that assess how students are doing. [Most Maryland students in grades 3 to 8 not on track in math, new tests show] Finn, of the Maryland State Board of Education, said Maryland tends toward complacency in evaluating its educational performance. There is a persistent narrative in Maryland that everything is hunky-dory and the state can just rest on its laurels, he said. But thats just not right. More than 90 percent of Maryland students took the test online, using computers or tablets, state officials said. With the tests still relatively new, they are not yet linked to accountability measures such as teacher evaluations or graduation requirements. Boris Karloff in Bride of Frankenstein. The novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley was written 200 years ago. It was on a dreary night of November that I beheld the accomplishment of my toils . . . the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open Victor Frankenstein. On a similar night in the summer of 1816, a gloomy season darkened by the ash of a distant volcano, 18-year-old Mary Shelley lay in bed, closed her eyes, and envisioned a tale of a madman who builds a monster from human body parts. My imagination, unbidden, possessed and guided me, she recalled later. Her reverie would become Frankenstein, the Gothic horror story of mans botched attempt at creation. And this summer marks the 200th anniversary of the night the young English intellectual came up with the idea while on vacation with her lover in Switzerland. Its always been enormously popular, said Bernard Welt, former professor of arts and humanities at George Washington Universitys Corcoran School of the Arts and Design, who has taught courses on Frankenstein. Its one of the two or three most-ordered texts at American colleges and universities, and has never been out of print, he said. Shelley wrote later that it was a wet, ungenial summer, and incessant rain often confined us for days to the house. A year earlier, in April 1815, Mount Tambora, a volcano on the island of Sumbawa in Indonesia, erupted in a massive explosion that blasted ash into the atmosphere and resulted in a volcanic winter. Partly as a result, 1816 became the Year Without a Summer, with unusually cold temperatures in North America and cold and rain in a Europe still recovering from the NapoleonicWars. Crops failed, and there were summer frosts and starvation. Theres a lot of evidence that there were messianic cults and prophesies, and people thinking it was the end of the world, Welt said. [The epic volcano eruption that led to the Year Without a Summer] Amid the dismal weather, Shelley and her future husband, the Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, passed the time with poet George Gordon Byron and Byrons physician, John William Polidori, vying to make up ghost stories. I busied myself to think of a story, she wrote years later. One which would speak to the mysterious fears of our nature, and awaken thrilling horror one to make the reader dread to look around. But she thought in vain, she wrote. Then one night in bed, after a discussion with her friends about the nature of life and the possibility of reanimating the dead, a story came to her. I saw with shut eyes, but acute mental vision . . . the pale student of unhallowed arts kneeling beside the thing he had put together . . . the hideous phantasm of a man, she recalled. It was a disturbing thought. But the next morning she told her friends she had her story, and wrote a quick draft. Mary Shelley has a kind of genius, Welt said. She actually takes on the burning, philosophical questions of her time . . . Shes asking questions about the nature of life, and giving life. She and her circle were very, very interested in everything going on in science at the time, he said. She talks about the experiments in electricity and the notion that it could animate lifeless matter. Mary Shelley wondered: Perhaps a corpse could be re-animated . . . Perhaps the component parts of a creature might be manufactured, brought together, and endued with vital warmth. She referred to galvanism, the idea named for the Italian biologist Luigi Galvani that an electric current might resuscitate dead tissue. A famous demonstration had occurred in 1803 when a current was applied to the body of a hanged criminal. On the first application . . . the jaws of the deceased criminal began to quiver, and the adjoining muscles were horribly contorted, and one eye was actually opened, according to a prison bulletin that carried an account of the experiment. In the subsequent part of the process the right hand was raised and clenched, and the legs and thighs were set in motion, the account continued. Bystanders thought that the wretched man was on the eve of being restored to life. Inspired, Mary Shelley would have her protagonist Victor Frankenstein say: Who shall conceive the horrors of my secret toil, as I dabbled among the unhallowed damps of the grave? I collected bones from charnel houses; and disturbed, with profane fingers, the tremendous secrets of the human frame. The dissecting room and the slaughterhouse furnished many of my materials; and often did my human nature turn with loathing from my occupation. [Its alive! scene from 1931 Frankenstein movie.] The novel was published in 1818, and Shelleys idea has endured for two centuries as one of Western literatures great horror tales. It also gave birth to films such as Son of Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, and House, Curse, Evil, Ghost, and Revenge of Frankenstein, to name a few. In the introduction to an 1831 edition of the book, Shelley wrote that she had affection for her hideous progeny. It was the offspring of happy days, when death and grief were but words, which found no true echo in my heart, she wrote. Nine years earlier, in 1822, her husband had drowned when a boat he was in sank in a storm in Italys Gulf of La Spezia. He was 29. She was 24. Frankensteins pages, she wrote, speak of many a walk, many a drive, and many a conversation when I was not alone, and my companion was one who, in this world, I shall never see more. John Benisek, left, and Steve Shapiro, are two of the three Maryland residents who initially sued, claiming the states congressional districts violated the First Amendment. (Jessica Gresko/AP) A lawsuit challenging Marylands contorted congressional district map on First Amendment grounds has merit and should go forward, a three-judge federal panel ruled Wednesday. The map, drawn by Marylands Democratic lawmakers following the 2010 Census, essentially ensured that seven of the states eight congressional seats would be under their partys control. According to the lawsuit, the redistricting specifically targeted western Marylands 6th District, where lines were altered to help unseat 10-term incumbent Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett (R). Bartlett was defeated by John Delaney (D) in 2012. The suit, brought by Steve Shapiro, an American University law student, presents a novel argument: that the gerrymandered map violated the rights of 6th District Republican voters to political association and expression. It asks that the state be barred from using the map in any future elections. [Supreme Court says challenge to Maryland district lines may proceed] The suit was thrown out by a federal judge in 2014. But the Supreme Court ruled in December that Shapiro should have gotten a hearing before a three-judge panel. The case was sent back to federal district court and heard last month in Baltimore. Wednesdays 2-to-1 decision will have no impact on Novembers congressional elections. The three-judge panel denied the states motion to dismiss the case, which will be tried sometime in the next several months, before the same judicial trio. Michael Kimberly, Shapiros attorney, said that if his client prevails at trial, and the case ends up back in the Supreme Court, it could eventually bring sweeping changes to redistricting across the country. This could be the biggest gerrymandering case in a generation, Kimberly said. It could have enormous impact. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), who has called for a nonpartisan commission to draw congressional and state legislative districts, called the ruling a tremendous step forward in the fight for free and fair elections. Redistricting reform is not a partisan issue but an issue that all Marylanders Democrats, Republicans, and Independents should embrace and actively push to enact, the governor said in a statement. While the Supreme Court has been active in enforcing the Voting Rights Act, which bars racial gerrymandering, it has not definitively addressed partisan gerrymandering. The reason, Justice Antonin Scalia said in writing for the majority in the 2004 case Vieth v. Jubelirer, is that it is difficult to devise a test to determine when lawmakers have gone too far in adjusting district boundaries for partisan advantage. In a concurring opinion, Justice Anthony M. Kennedy left the door ajar for a challenge to redistricting based on the First Amendment, if plaintiffs can prove that redistricting created disfavored treatment of groups because of their voting preferences. Shapiro and Kimberly picked up on Kennedys suggestion. [D.C. law student takes case against gerrymandering to Supreme Court] Fourth Circuit Judge Paul V. Niemeyer, writing for the majority in Wednesdays ruling, said the First Amendment argument has never been rejected by the Supreme Court in past gerrymandering cases. He said that the complaint adequately employs First Amendment jurisprudence to state a plausible claim for relief. U.S. District Judge George L. Russell III also sided with Shapiro. U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar, who threw out the case in 2014, remained opposed to the lawsuit. At trial, Shapiro and Kimberly will have to present hard evidence that Maryland officials looked at party affiliation and voting histories of 6th District voters and took that information into account in drawing the map. Kimberly said Wednesday that members of the General Assembly and the redistricting committee created by then-Gov. Martin OMalley (D) were quite transparent about their goals. All of the major actors in this case were all pretty straightforward on the public record about what they did, and how they did what they did, Kimberly said. Tom Moore former candidate in Montgomery County Council for District 3, heads campaign against term limits. (Courtesy of Tom Moore Campaign/Courtesy of Tom Moore Campaign) The leader of a group seeking to block a term-limits proposal from Montgomery Countys November ballot charged Wednesday that the county board of elections improperly denied his request to waive $600 in copying costs for petition signature pages. Former Rockville City Council member Tom Moore called the agencys decision legally unsupportable and asked the Maryland attorney generals office to intervene. Election officials announced Tuesday that Republican activist Robin Ficker had presented more than the required 10,000 valid signatures for the ballot question, which would ask Montgomery voters whether the county executive and members of the County Council should be limited to three consecutive terms. [Anti-illegal immigrant group gathered hundreds of term limits signatures ] Moore had asked the elections board for an electronic copy of the signatures in order to prepare for a possible court challenge. Once signatures are certified by the elections board, the law allows a 10-day window for review in circuit court. Moore said the intent would be to take sample of the signatures to check their validity. Government agencies often waive costs to research and produce information requests if they are deemed to be in the public interest. But in a letter Tuesday to Moore, election director Margaret Jurgensen said the $600 fee was well within the means of any possible litigant who seeks to file a Petition for Judicial Review. Jurgensen said it will cost $600 for K-Tap, an outside document imaging firm, to scan up to 4,000 two-sided 8 1/2 -by-14 petition sheets, and convert them to a PDF that can be burned to a CD. She also said a fee waiver might trigger a wide-range of other similar potential requests from any number of organizations. Late Wednesday, however, the board appeared to back away from its stance. Board attorney Kevin Karpinski said in an e-mail to Moore that since the agency would need to provide the court with a copy of the petitions in the event of a lawsuit, he was willing to burn a disc to provide it to you and anyone else who decides to participate in the proceedings. Moore said he would still seek review of the fee issue from Public Information Act Compliance Board, operated by the attorney generals office. He said he currently lacked the resources to pay $600 for the copies, although he plans to soon create a formal committee to raise money for the anti-term limits campaign. Moore also cited a provision of state law that says the first two hours of search and production time be free of charge. The document imaging should fall within that period, he said. Fickers term-limits proposal was also the subject of a public hearing Wednesday before the county board that recommends changes in the Montgomery charter to the County Council . The 11-member Charter Review Commission is scheduled to vote on term limits in September. But since the measure is already likely to be on the November ballot, its decision wont have much consequence. County Council member Roger Berliner (D-Bethesda) speaking for the council, told the commission that term limits were appealing but ultimately of little value. It combines the surface appeal of good government with the increasing dissatisfaction with government, said Berliner, one of five council members who would be barred from running for reelection in 2018 if the measure was approved by voters. Berliner said there was no credible evidence that the quality of government has improved in states or localities that have adopted term limits. Hessie Harris, a retired Silver Spring attorney, said term limits would focus politicians attention where it belongs, Public service ceases to be such when the servants primary focus is not on service to the citizens but [on whether] he or she is doing whats deemed necessary to remain in office, she said. Small fires broke out Tuesday and Monday in two major public buildings in the District, authorities said. On Tuesday, a fire was put out around 3 p.m. in a first floor wall in the D.C. Superior Court building in the 500 block of Indiana Avenue NW. Firefighters opened the wall to ensure that the fire had not spread. No information on a cause was immediately available. On Monday fire broke out in a room at the Smithsonian Institutions National Air and Space Museum. It was quickly extinguished. Neither building was evacuated, according to the DC Fire and EMS department. A man who attacked two people in Roanoke County with a knife Saturday night told police he was hearing voices telling him to do so, according to authorities. Wasil Farooqui, 20, was arrested Saturday and charged with malicious wounding. Witnesses told police the Roanoke County resident shouted Allahu Akbar during the attack, and the FBI is helping investigate. [FBI investigating knife attack in Roanoke County] According to a search warrant filed in local court, Farooqui told police he left his home Saturday evening with a large butcher knife and stopped at the Pines Apartments. He said that he was hearing voices telling him that he was stupid but they also told him to attack someone. He said he saw a man and woman leave the complex pool, according to the document, and attacked them as they went into their apartment. Both were stabbed multiple times, and the mans throat was cut. This image obtained Aug. 23 from the Western Virginia Regional Jail in Salem, Va., shows Wasil Farooqui. (AFP/Getty Images) He doesnt know who they are or why he attacked them, Detective John Musser wrote. Farooqui said he then went to his fathers tobacco store, and his father took him to the hospital because Farooqui was also injured in the attack. When officers were called to the complex, they found the man and woman on the ground in a large pool of blood. The bloody butchers knife was on the stairwell outside the apartment, the court file shows. Roanoke County Police had said they followed the victims to the hospital; Farooqui arrived there soon after and was apprehended. The victims were identified by police as Karin Rezai and Taramati Harold. Rezai was released Tuesday, but Harold remains hospitalized. Sheila Moheb, Farooquis defense attorney, did not respond to a request for comment. She told a local television station that her client had no connection to any terrorist organization. In a statement, the local Masjid An Nur Islamic Center condemned the horrendous attack but cautioned that it should not be used to vilify and stereotype the peaceful and law abiding Muslim community in Roanoke and beyond. United States Concerned by the Death of Gambian Opposition Member Ibrima Solo Krummah Washington, DC - The United States is deeply concerned by the death of Gambian opposition member Ibrima Solo Krummah, who reportedly died on August 20 while in government custody. We remain troubled by reports of the Gambian governments continued mistreatment of detained opposition figures, as evidenced by recent deaths and allegations of torture. We call for an independent investigation of all credible allegations of torture and abuse, and for the Gambian government to provide for the humane treatment of all prisoners. We again call on the government of The Gambia to immediately release all political prisoners, including the 30 individuals sentenced last month and those arrested during the April and May demonstrations. We further urge the government of The Gambia to cease its sustained crackdown on political opposition members and supporters, and to respect the rights of all citizens to freedoms of expression and association without fear of retribution. Fernando Hernandez , 3, left, and Deibi Morales, 8, were among the victims of the Silver Spring, Md., apartment explosion. (Montgomery County Department of Police; Rossy Morales) An 8-year-old boy, Deibi Morales wanted an amiguito a little buddy. And this summer he got one. Fernando Hernandez, 3, and his mother moved into the second-floor, two-bedroom apartment in Silver Spring where Deibi lived with his mother. The two boys soon began holding hands, even as they were sent off to sleep. They had become good friends, said Deibis mother, Rossy Morales. 1 of 28 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad The scene after a massive explosion and fire leveled an apartment complex in Md. View Photos At least six were killed after a blast destroyed an apartment complex in Silver Spring. Caption At least 6 were killed after a blast destroyed an apartment complex in Silver Spring. Aug. 16, 2016 The search continues for a seventh missing person at the scene of the explosion of an apartment building in Silver Spring, Md. Bill OLeary/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue. Deibi was a Minions guy when it came to his cartoons, and Fernando favored Spider-Man. Deibis family should be getting him ready for school this week. Fernandos should be thinking about how to celebrate his next birthday, said Grace Rivera-Oven, a community activist who has been working with the families. Instead, theyre making funeral arrangements. Minutes before midnight on Aug. 10, a monstrous natural-gas explosion erupted two floors below the boys in a utility room of the apartment complex, shooting flames into the building. Residents stumbled down a crumbling stairwell and leapt from balconies. Seven people didnt make it out: Five adults, ages 34 to 65; and two children: Deibi and Fernando. The sound of the explosion on Arliss Street woke Deibis mother. She tried to reach her boy but was knocked unconscious before being pulled to safety by neighbors who recalled hearing her wails. I lost everything, she said. I lost my child. Deibi was born in the United States, according to his mother, who migrated from Honduras. She works as a janitor for a large shopping mall in Montgomery County. Fernando was born in El Salvador, where he had older siblings. He and his mother migrated to the United States about a year ago, according to a family friend, to escape the violence of that country. She worked at a local food truck a pupusa truck that parked near the apartment complex off Piney Branch Road, about 1.5 miles east of downtown Silver Spring. She moved again and again and again and finally, she was fine there. She felt comfortable there, said Nelson Acevedo, who owns the truck. The severity of the explosion and fire has made identifying victims difficult. Investigators have found the remains of seven in the rubble. Working with a list of seven apartment residents known to be missing, officials have matched remains with five of the residents. The boys were the latest victims to be positively identified, officials said in a statement Tuesday. Federal pipeline investigators are continuing to probe the natural gas explosion to try to pinpoint the source of the leak and what ignited the gas. In an interview last week, Morales Deibis mother spoke fondly of the party in April for her sons eighth birthday. It was, hed told her, the best. Morales decorated their apartment with colorful balloons and invited about 50 friends. The surprise for her son: a two-tier cake featuring Minion characters. Dressed in a tie and dark suit, Deibi had danced with girls from the neighborhood. The boy liked to read so much that when he didnt want to return a book to the library, his mother called the library to see if they could buy it. He read and laughed and kept reading and laughed again, Morales said. I want to be president, he had told his mother. Fernandos mother had moved several times since coming to the United States, trying to find a safe place for them, Acevedo said. He said the two mothers shared a bedroom in the apartment. As for the boys, one recently had gotten a new bed. It had arrived, Acevedo said, one day before the fire. When Fernando, known as Josue, was not at his babysitters home, his mother would bring him to the pupusa truck. Hed just run up to me and gave me a hug, Acevedo said. There was something special about Josue, he said. He was just a child full of joy. A woman was shot and wounded Tuesday afternoon during what appeared to be an attempted robbery, the D.C. police said. She was conscious and breathing after the attack, said Officer Sean Hickman, a police spokesman. Another police spokesman, Officer Hugh Carew, said she was apparently shot during an attempt to rob her in the 4600 block of Benning Road SE. It was not clear just why she was shot. After being wounded, the woman was driven in a truck to Oklahoma Avenue and Benning Road NE, where a police officer was flagged down, Carew said. It is not clear why no ambulance was summoned at the shooting site. The distance from the scene of the shooting to Oklahoma and Benning is about two miles. The woman was taken to a hospital, police said. It appeared that both the woman and the driver of the vehicle, a pickup truck, were targets of the robbery, but that only the woman was hit by the would-be robbers shots. A man was assaulted and robbed while riding his bike in Woodbridge on Sunday, police said. About 4 p.m., officers responded to the 14000 block of Jefferson Davis Highway to investigate a robbery, Prince William County police said in a statement. There, a 46-year-old Woodbridge man reported that he was riding his bicycle when he was struck in the back of the head by an unknown man, causing him to fall down, the statement said. Once the victim was knocked from his bike, his attacker continued his assault, rendering the victim unconscious. The assailant took the victims wallet before fleeing in a vehicle parked nearby, according to the statement. Police said the victim was taken to a hospital with serious injuries, but they were not life-threatening. The suspect was described as a black man, about 20 to 25 years old, 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 165 pounds, with short black hair, according to police. He was last seen wearing a black shirt and blue jeans. Police asked anyone with information about the assault to contact Prince William Crime Solvers at 703-670-3700 or 1-866-411-TIPS. Thursday, Aug. 25 Solomons Island farmers market Local vendors sell fresh produce, baked goods, wine, meat, seafood and flowers. 3-6:30 p.m. Solomons Island Riverwalk, Solomons Island Road, Solomons. 410-535-4583. Fall Citizens Academy program Get an inside look at the day-to-day operations at the sheriffs office. Sessions run on Thursday nights for eight weeks. Must be 18 and older and submit an application. 6-9 p.m. St. Marys County Sheriffs Office, 23150 Leonard Hall Rd., Leonardtown. 301-475-4200, Ext. 1910. Kelly.Castle@stmarysmd.com. firstsheriff.com. Free. Life-size games program Play life-size Angry Birds. 6-7 p.m. Charles County Public Library, Potomac Branch, 3225 Ruth B. Swann Dr., Indian Head. 301-375-7375. Free. Citizens Police Academy applications available For anyone interested in learning more about law enforcement with the Charles County Sheriffs Office. Includes patrol procedures, criminal law, search and seizure and more. The 10-week program begins Sept. 26 from 6-9 p.m. at the District 3 station, 3670 Leonardtown Rd., Waldorf. Charles County Sheriffs Office, 6915 Crain Hwy., La Plata. 301-609-6400. ccso.us/cpa. Free. Friday, Aug. 26 North Beach farmers market Local vendors sell fresh produce, baked goods, wine, meat, seafood and flowers. 6-9 p.m. North Beach Boardwalk, Bay Avenue and Fifth Street, North Beach. 410-535-4583. College of Southern Maryland alumni night at the ballpark Includes games, prizes, raffles and other events. Southern Maryland Blue Crabs take on the Sugar Land Skeeters. 6:30 p.m. Regency Furniture Stadium, 11765 St. Linus Dr., Waldorf. 301-934-7647. eabell1@csmd.edu. somdbluecrabs.com. $15, use promo code CSM2016. Saturday, Aug. 27 Barstow farmers market Fresh local produce, baked goods, wine, meat, seafood and flowers. 7:30 a.m.-noon, Calvert County Fairgrounds, 140 Calvert Fair Dr., Barstow. 410-535-4583 or 410-535-0026. Poetry-writing workshop Bring your work to share or get help getting started. 2-4 p.m. Waldorf West Library, 10405 ODonnell Pl., Waldorf. 301-645-1395. Free. Hollywood steak dinner Includes steak cooked to order, salad, baked potato, green beans and beets. Desserts available for purchase. 4-7 p.m. Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad, 43256 Rescue Lane, Hollywood. 301-904-3767. 301-373-3131. hvrs.org. $16, ages 12 and younger $12, ages 4 and younger free. Year-round open skate For all ages. Saturdays at 6-9 p.m. Leonard Hall Recreation Center, 23145 Leonard Hall Dr., Leonardtown. 301-475-4200, Ext. 1800. $5, skate rental $2.50. Annual Christ Church jousting festival Bazaar opens at 9 a.m.; jousting begins at noon; concerts at 1 p.m. and country supper 2-6 p.m. Christ Church, 3100 Broomes Island Rd., Port Republic. 410-586-0565. christchurchcalvert.org. Admission, free. Sunday, Aug. 28 Annual community kickball tournament Sponsored by the Community Foundation of Southern Maryland. 2 p.m. Hallowing Point Park, Hallowing Point Rd., Prince Frederick. 240-670-4483. somdgiving.org. Admission, free. Monday, Aug. 29 Green crafting program Make crafts from recycled materials. Includes crocheting, needlework and other crafts. 2-4 p.m. Calvert Library Southern branch, 13920 H.G. Trueman Rd., Solomons. 410-326-5289. calvert.lib.md.us/southern.html. Free. Tuesday, Aug. 30 Teen Tech Space program Ages 11-18. Play games in the open computer lab and make crafts. 4-6 p.m. Lexington Park Library, 21677 FDR Blvd., Lexington Park. 301-863-8188. Free. Teen Advisory Board meeting Ages 12-18. Discuss teen issues at the library and how to improve them. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Waldorf West Library, 10405 ODonnell Pl., Waldorf. 301-645-1395. Free. Thursday, Sept. 1 Annual Calvert County job fair Sponsored by Calvert County Department of Economic Development, Chamber of Commerce, Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland and College of Southern Maryland. 1-5 p.m. College of Southern Maryland, 115 J.W. Williams Rd., Prince Frederick. 410-535-4583. slaglckr@co.cal.md.us. ecalvert.com. Free. Clark Center book discussion For ages 55 and older. My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You Shes Sorry, by Fredrik Backman. 1-2 p.m. Charles County Public Library, La Plata Branch, 2 Garrett Ave., La Plata. 301-934-9001. Free. Prince Frederick town hall meeting Includes an outline of the budget process by the Calvert County Department of Finance and Budget. View the budget online at co.cal.md.us/budget. 7 p.m. Calvert Pines Senior Center, 450 W. Dares Beach Rd., Prince Frederick. 410-535-1600, Ext. 2286. Free. Compiled by Bonnie Smith To submit an event Email: smliving@washpost.com Details: Announcements are accepted from public and nonprofit organizations only and must be received at least 14 days before the Thursday publication date. Include dates, times, address, prices and a publishable contact phone number. Calvert County These were among reports received by the Calvert County Sheriffs Office and the Maryland State Police. Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to call the Criminal Investigation Division at 410-535-2800 or 301-855-1194, the Crime Solvers line at 410-535-2880 or the state police Prince Frederick Barrack at 410-535-1400. DUNKIRK AREA THEFTS/BREAK-INS Taney Ct., 11:15 p.m. Aug. 10. A person was seen tampering with a vehicle. Nothing was reported stolen. HUNTINGTOWN AREA THEFTS/BREAK-INS Huntingtown, Aug. 15. A man ordered a pizza using someone elses credit card number. A Huntingtown man, 20, was charged with theft less than $1,000, theft scheme less than $1,000 and fraud identity less than $1,000. LUSBY AREA THEFTS/BREAK-INS Chestnut Dr., 5 p.m. Aug. 4 to 8:30 a.m. Aug. 6. A concrete lawn decoration was stolen from a yard. Chisolm Trail, 3:30 p.m. Aug. 9. Several pieces of delivered mail were found on the ground near a mailbox. Dillon Dr., Aug. 9. Mail that had been delivered to several residential mailboxes was found on the ground. Spur Rd., 3:45 a.m. Aug. 8. A cellphone was stolen from a vehicle. PORT REPUBLIC AREA THEFTS/BREAK-INS Alexander Ct., Aug. 8. A purse was stolen from a vehicle. Howard Dr., 10 p.m. Aug. 7 to 10:30 a.m. Aug. 8. A drivers license, credit cards and cash were stolen from two vehicles. PRINCE FREDERICK AREA THEFTS/BREAK-INS Costley Way, Aug. 19. A pair of keys left on the counter at an eatery disappeared while the owner placed an order. The keys were not turned in or found. Hallowing Point Rd., Aug. 12. The contents of a delivered package were stolen and the ripped-open box was left in the front yard of a home. Solomons Island Rd., Aug. 8 to 8 a.m. Aug. 9. Two banking bags and cash were stolen from a substance-abuse center. Solomons Island Rd., Aug. 10. Identification cards were stolen from a purse while the female owner was shopping at a store. VANDALISM Chinquapin Ridge Ct., Aug. 11. Eggshells and stains were found on the roof, a front window and the front of a home. Charles County These were among reports received by the Charles County Sheriffs Office and the Maryland State Police. For information, call 301-932-2222 or 301-870-3232. The website ccso.us has crime statistics and information on crime prevention programs. REWARDS FOR INFORMATION Crime Solvers will pay a reward for information leading to an arrest and indictment. The 24-hour hotline is 866-411-8477. Callers may remain anonymous. INDIAN HEAD AREA THEFTS/BREAK-INS Oakside Lane, 9 a.m. Aug. 18. Wheels were stolen from a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu. LA PLATA AREA THEFTS/BREAK-INS Charles St., 1 p.m. Aug. 14 to 9 a.m. Aug. 16. A keyboard and TV were stolen from a church. WALDORF AREA THEFTS/BREAK-INS Deerwood Ct., 6200 block, 7:05 a.m. Aug. 14. Several items were stolen from vehicles. A man, 31, of no fixed address, was charged with several counts of theft. Portobello Ct., 2800 block, Aug. 11 to Aug. 12. Wheels were stolen from a 2005 Chevrolet Suburban. Spikerush Ct., 15000 block, 9:30 p.m. Aug. 9. A woman was found in a home that had just been put on the market for sale. She stated she had bought the house, but her papers were in storage. A woman, 51, from Washington, D.C., was charged with first- and fourth-degree burglary, theft and destruction of property. St. Marys County These w ere among reports received by the St. Marys County Sheriffs Office and the Maryland State Police. For information, call 301-475-8008. To submit a tip, call Crime Solvers at 301-475-3333. The Leonardtown Barrack of the state police has an anonymous tip line at 301-475-2936. AVENUE AREA THEFTS/BREAK-INS Mattingly Rd., Aug. 12-Aug. 15. Property was stolen from a home. CALIFORNIA AREA THEFTS/BREAK-INS Three Notch Rd., Aug. 11. A male stole gift and phone cards while he was employed at a store. A Lexington Park man, 18, was charged with theft $1,000 to less than $10,000. CHARLOTTE HALL AREA THEFTS/BREAK-INS Charlotte Hall, Aug. 12-Aug. 15. Property was stolen from a vehicleparked at a store. Three Notch Rd., Aug. 12-Aug. 15. Items were stolen from a home. GREAT MILLS AREA THEFTS/BREAK-INS Charles Way, Aug. 12-Aug. 15. Property was stolen from a home. LEONARDTOWN AREA ROBBERIES Duke St., 11:15 a.m. Aug. 8. An 84-year-old man was robbed of his wallet and assaulted. THEFTS/BREAK-INS Park Ave., 6:50 p.m. July 31. A picnic table was stolen from a store and used as a skateboarding ramp. LEXINGTON PARK AREA ASSAULTS N. Essex Dr., Aug. 7. During an argument, a male assaulted an acquaintance and made threats. A Lexington Park man, 27, was charged with second-degree assault. MECHANICSVILLE AREA ASSAULTS Dogwood Ct., Aug. 12-Aug. 15. An assault occurred. Lindsey Way, Aug. 10. A woman punched and scratched an acquaintance in the face. A Mechanicsville woman, 31, was charged with second-degree assault. PARK HALL AREA THEFTS/BREAK-INS Manor Dr., Aug. 17. Property was stolen from a home. RIDGE AREA ASSAULTS Evergreen Estates Lane, Aug. 16. In an argument, a woman punched an acquaintance in the face and stole cash from her purse. A Ridge woman, 32, was charged with second-degree assault and theft less than $100. VALLEY LEE AREA THEFTS/BREAK-INS Flat Iron Rd., July 31. A man entered a home and used tools inside to dismantle an air conditioner. A Valley Lee man, 45, was charged with first- and third-degree burglary, malicious destruction of property, theft between $1,000 t o $10,000 and fourth-degree burglary. Joseph Duff of Silver Spring visits the Washingtoniana division at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in January 2014. The downtown D.C. building will be closed in 2017 for a three-year-long renovation. (John Kelly/The Washington Post) Theres nothing worse than home renovation. Its expensive, dirty and inconvenient. Where are you supposed to make your dinner while your kitchen is being remodeled? Now imagine that the renovation is going to take three years. You might starve in that time. That, figuratively speaking, is what some aficionados of Washington history are worried about. In 2017, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library will close for a much-needed facelift that will take 33 to 36 months. While some of the stuff it houses books, public computers can be found at other D.C. libraries, something cant: Washingtoniana, the vast collection devoted to the citys history. [The District librarys Washingtoniana division is a treasure trove of D.C. history] Washingtoniana is part of the D.C. Public Librarys special collections department, and its holdings include historic District newspapers on microfilm, the Washington Star photograph collection, vertical clipping files on hundreds of different subjects, reference books . . . Real estate maps, tax assessments, building permits, city directories, said Brian Kraft, a researcher and fixture at Washingtoniana, ticking off some of the resources he uses regularly. Brian was among Washingtoniana patrons who last week delivered a letter to the librarys board of directors urging them to make as much of the collection as possible accessible while the MLK Library is being transformed. Theyre concerned that no specifics have been released by the library on what the next few years will be like. Washingtoniana is pretty essential for all the work that we do, said Sarah Shoenfeld, a historian at Prologue DC, a company that prepares histories of District neighborhoods, companies and organizations. Shes currently researching Bloomingdale, as residents there work toward applying for historic district status. That sort of thing is happening more and more as old, intact rowhouse neighborhoods are feeling threatened by condos and pop-ups, she said. Being able to really delve into the neighborhood history is important for writing the nomination. Washingtoniana is critical for that work. (And for writing a certain newspaper column. I visit Washingtoniana a few times each month myself. The staff is incredibly helpful.) Richard Reyes-Gavilan, the library systems executive director, said specific plans are still in development. This being Washington, there are many hoops to jump through while getting approval for the $208 million modernization of the Ludwig Mies van der Rohe-designed building at Ninth and G streets NW. [Meet the man who is turning D.C. libraries into a national model] We will be looking to make access to those [Washingtoniana] collections used most frequently, Richard said. He isnt sure what percentage of the overall collection that will represent. We just dont have that information yet, he said. Richard said some Washingtoniana material will probably be pageable, which in the library biz means stored offsite and delivered upon request. Some patrons may find what they need at the Peabody Room in the Georgetown branch library, already home to materials on that neighborhoods history. Richard said the Historical Society of Washington, just a few blocks from the MLK Library, will pick up some of the slack. The materials in its Kiplinger Research Library duplicate some at Washingtoniana. While we dont have a written [memorandum of understanding] in place, they are as excited as we are about the possibility of having the Historical Society serve as a temporary location for some of our staff, Richard said. Said John Suau, the historical societys executive director: A lot of times researchers get bounced back and forth. This particular opportunity is something that were excited about because it provides an opportunity for us to work with his staff more closely and to identify overlaps in our collections. Its also a chance to look at the big picture, long-term. Every special collection in this country has some kind of backlog that needs working on, Richard said. Three years should give staff breathing room to process more of the collection, create finding aids and digitize. There seems to be more interest than ever in D.C. history, with local bloggers and authors digging hungrily into the citys past. The D.C. Archives is set to get a new building, rescuing it from its cramped home in Naylor Court. Richard said the redesign calls for nearly all of the fourth floor to be used for special collections, making the library kind of a destination for local history. Of course, what local researchers are focused on are the mechanics of the here and now. Washingtoniana is open six days a week, the Historical Society of Washington four days a week, plus one Saturday a month. John said its too early to tell whether that might change. As for the non-Washingtoniana aspect of the library, when the building closes, there will be an interim space at 1990 K St. NW housing a small collection of books, a computer training classroom, about a dozen public PCs, and space for adult literacy and Center for Accessibility. It will also be a place library patrons can pick up holds. I dont envy Richard and his staff the next few years. Im looking forward to when the disruptions to Washingtoniana are, well, history. Twitter: @johnkelly For previous columns, visit washingtonpost.com/johnkelly. In preparation for Thursdays emergency Metro Board meeting, Chairman Jack Evans has told General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld that there are three answers that he doesnt want to hear: Well get back to you. Its under investigation. Were looking into it. We want as many details as possible, Evans said. We have to get to the bottom of how these things are able to happen. The special board meeting called by Evans after the July 29 derailment at East Falls Church is meant to be an all-around accounting for the streak of mishaps and embarrassments that have befallen Metro this summer. But its also an opportunity for board members a majority of whom are relatively new to flex at a gathering that wouldnt be happening without insistence from the panel. Typically, the board takes a vacation from meeting in August; its next scheduled meeting is Sept. 8. But many of the issues of concern probably would not come up until the panels next Safety Committee meeting on Sept. 22. Evans, supported by other board members, said that the problems that had come up in recent weeks are so pressing that they could not wait. I hope it sends a message that the board is engaged and focused on swift reforms, said board member Leif A. Dormsjo, who also is director of the D.C. Department of Transportation. Dormsjo added that Evans indicated that he has a very distinct view of what he wants this meeting to convey in terms of accountability. [After shocking derailment report, Metro chair Jack Evans calls for emergency meeting] Chief on their list of questions: Whats going on with the track inspection process including the maintenance vehicle that is operated only twice a year but could have prevented the July 29 derailment? How does Wiedefeld intend to improve personnel management and training, and ensure that employees assigned to complete particular tasks have adequate experience and relevant instruction? What kind of communication is taking place among safety staff, especially between track inspection teams and track maintenance teams? How does Wiedefeld intend to improve the pace and effectiveness of the SafeTrack maintenance program and capital improvement plans? And what findings led Wiedefeld to call in federal prosecutors to conduct an investigation into last months derailment? [Metro opens police investigation into East Falls Church derailment] There will be other topics, too: questions about red-signal violations, the potential permanent cancellation of late-night service, agency finances, and the transit police officer who allegedly aided the Islamic State. Wiedefeld is expected to begin the meeting with an opening statement, after which each board member will have five minutes to ask questions about Metros investigation into and response to the summers events. If board members have more questions after that first round, Evans said, theyll do another. Wiedefeld is expected to be joined by other top members of his staff: Chief Safety Officer Patrick Lavin, Chief Operating Officer Joseph Leader and General Counsel Patricia Lee all of whom were hired in the last few months. [Metro GM Paul J. Wiedefeld continues management shake-up with new general counsel] In addition to answering questions about recent events, Wiedefeld also may update the board on his latest efforts to improve professionalism and accountability among employees, including recently announced plans to revamp the agencys ethics policy and reacquaint workers with the existing code of conduct. In a memo sent Tuesday to staff members, Wiedefeld announced he is beefing up the agencys nepotism policy and code of ethics, and is releasing new policies on social media use by employees, as well as on procurement and financial integrity. He also reminded employees about the agencys policy against sexual harassment. The policies, our standards of conduct, will be strictly and consistently enforced by every member of the executive team, Wiedefeld said in the memo. Not knowing the policies will not be a defense. Discipline for violating Metros standards of conduct include tough consequences up to and including termination of employment. [Read Wiedefelds memo to Metro employees] The meeting comes as board members and critics of Metro said they may soon begin to lose patience with Wiedefeld, who took over as general manager in November, if they dont start to see more signs of a turnaround. The honeymoon will be over fairly quickly as a result of this, board member Corbett A. Price said this month, after the release of a report from the Federal Transit Administration that painted a picture of incompetence and disarray in Metros track inspection and repair department. (Price is on vacation and does not plan to attend Thursdays meeting.) [In scathing report, FTA blasts Metro track maintenance program] Board member Christian Dorsey said he is increasingly concerned about Metros tendency toward secrecy and its resistance to openness and transparency about the transit agencys problems and plans. Its been a consistent issue, Dorsey said. Its something that needs to be fixed with [the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority]. Even so, some board members say they continue to be pleased with Wiedefelds performance. Paul J. Wiedefeld absolutely has my support, said Jim Corcoran, a board member who represents Virginia. Everything hes been doing are things that have probably been delayed for too long. We are dependent upon his professional management, and hes doing things in the best and most efficient way possible. And to symbolize the panels more hands-on approach, Evans said he has decided to hold this meeting, and all upcoming Metro Board meetings, in the tight committee room adjacent to the more expansive, imposing boardroom where the group usually gathers. He wants board members to be up close and personal with members of Metros staff. Its like the Imperial Room you can barely see across the thing, Evans said of the boardroom. I want everybody to see the members. Were responsible for this thing. This isnt just: Come to the board meeting and spend a couple minutes and leave. The Washington Post's Brian Fung takes a look at the pros and cons of the rise of the self-driving cars. (Whitney Leaming/The Washington Post) The Washington Post's Brian Fung takes a look at the pros and cons of the rise of the self-driving cars. (Whitney Leaming/The Washington Post) Cars capable of driving themselves may be on the showroom floor sooner than you think, but whether they should come with all the current essentials including a steering wheel and pedals on the floor has the auto industry at a fork in the road. Ford sided with the pioneering engineers at Google last week in announcing plans to introduce limited-use vehicles without traditional controls within five years. Some other major automakers and virtually all of them are well along in their work on self-driving vehicles say they will introduce automated elements one step at a time, until drivers accept that they no longer need to control their cars. The different approaches are rooted in conflicting views of safety and what the public is willing to accept. Its almost like asking people before they even really knew what an iPhone was, how the iPhone might change their lives, said Johanna Zmud, senior research scientist at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute. Tesla, which has been aggressive in rolling out limited automated steering and similar features, made headlines worldwide this year when one of its cars was involved in a fatal crash with a tractor-trailer. Although the vehicles autopilot system was far from fully autonomous, and the crash is still being investigated, the death of its driver seemed to underscore worries about the transition to self-driving cars. This undated photo provided by Mercedes-Benz USA shows the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300 Sedan. Mercedes charges $11,250 for a package of semi-autonomous features on the 2017 E-Class that also includes keyless entry, satellite radio and cabin air filtration. The E-Class starts at $52,150. (Mercedes-Benz Usa/AP) Tesla said neither autopilot nor the driver noticed the white side of the tractor-trailer against a brightly lit sky, so the brake was not applied. [NTSB says Tesla test car was on autopilot and speeding in fatal crash] This to me is the crux of the problem, said Raj Rajkumar, a Carnegie Mellon University professor who has been on the leading edge of autonomous-vehicle technology. On one side, you have humans who become too comfortable and stop paying attention. The other side of the equation is that the technology for vehicles to drive themselves is just not mature enough. Google decided on the no-wheel, no-pedals approach after allowing its employees to drive the companys test cars. Despite plenty of warnings, the experiment did not go well. There was a brief period when people would be a little nervous and monitor the car very carefully, said Google engineer Nathaniel Fairfield, and then they would start to relax and they would sort of trust the system, and really over-trust the system, and start to get distracted. After watching one driver rummage around in his back seat in search of a phone-charging cord, Google engineers decided it was too risky to create a system in which drivers would be expected to take control of the car at a critical moment. If youve got an autonomous system thats working almost all the time, the only time when it doesnt work is when something is really ambiguous or confusing, Fairfield said. The worst thing in the world, almost, is for someone to hear a klaxon go off, freak out, grab the steering wheel and do something wrong. A self-driving Ford Fusion hybrid car is test-driven in Pittsburgh. (Jared Wickerham/AP) [As driverless cars grow closer, a delicate balance between rules and guidelines] The dangers caused by drivers who become distracted or fall asleep are well established. In 2014, 3,179 people were killed and 431,000 injured in distracted-driving crashes. That same year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that 7 percent of all crashes and almost 17 percent of fatal crashes involved drowsy driving. When it comes to self-driving cars, a Stanford University study indicated that distraction may make transitions to driver control more difficult and that drivers may sleep for significant periods on long journeys, increasing the difficulty of rousing them and having immediate engagement. Rajkumar, who brought Carnegie Mellons autonomous SUV to Capitol Hill two years ago for members of Congress to test-ride, said he is more convinced than ever that introducing safe-driving features lane-departure warnings, cameras and sensors gradually is the prudent path. We are able to drive only because we have common sense when it comes to things weve never seen before, he said. But computer software does not have that level of cognitive abilities to deal with things it has never seen before. While Google is trying to go straight to a fully autonomous vehicle, many companies that actually sell cars today are embracing a more gradual transition. Audi says it will sell piloted driving systems in some models starting in 2018. And they will be more restrictive than Teslas autopilot of today. The 2018 Audi A8 will be able to operate hands-free, but only on controlled-access highways and only until the car reaches 35 mph. This would allow a driver to safely fumble around on an iPhone while behind the wheel in a Capital Beltway traffic jam, company officials said. But it would not allow the car to drive itself on the Florida highway with cross streets where the Tesla was going 74 mph when it crashed. (Tesla says using the autopilot tools in conjunction with driver oversight is safer than driving manually.) Our approach has always been step by step, said Brad Stertz, Audis director of government affairs. With the cars headed to market soon, we dont think its wise to throw drivers into an environment they dont completely understand or trust. That just invites misuse. [Driverless vehicles? An autonomous car takes a capital test run.] Initially, Audi envisions steering wheels as remaining critical components in the cars it sells. I think the difference between what Googles talking about and what were taking about is, we believe the driver is still responsible, just like an airline pilot is still responsible for an airliner on autopilot, Stertz said. Theyre still situationally aware. Theyre still able and responsive and capable of taking over if needed. To avoid the tuning-out phenomenon that so concerned Google engineers and many others, the Audi will have a driver-availability system, Stertz said, that simply monitors, are their eyes open? Are they occasionally looking up and out the front of the car, out the front windshield? In other words, are they available to potentially take over? The highway traffic jam pilot,slated to be released in 2018, will be followed, in 2020 or 2021, by a full-speed highway pilot system, which will also work only on controlled-access highways and when other conditions are met, such as drivers wearing seat belts. Audi is simultaneously developing fully automated technology that may not require driver controls and could be used for a variety of on-demand services, Stertz said, though the company has not put a date on when such a car might be released. It also remains unclear what will become of federal regulations that currently require driver controls in vehicles. Ultimately, were all converging in the next decade into a very similar location, Stertz said of carmakers and tech companies such as Google. General Motors is trying to frame the challenges differently. It says a driver will be provided with its driverless car. The company invested $500 million in Ubers smaller ride-hailing cousin, Lyft, and sees that as a way to thread the tricky human and technical issues. While a fully autonomous car is on the horizon, thats not GMs goal out of the gate. Right now, were looking at what we call an on-demand, autonomous ride-sharing network, said Kevin Kelly, senior manager of advanced technology communications. There would still be a steering wheel and acceleration and brake pedals, and there would be a safety driver or pilot in the vehicle. Uber, meanwhile, announced last week that it will begin ferrying customers around Pittsburgh by months end in self-driving vehicles with a chaperone ready to take over when necessary. It hopes to remove costly human drivers in the long run. [You can ride in a driverless Uber in Pittsburgh. Youll have a chaperone though.] Kelly, commenting on GMs similar approach, said, We think its probably the right solution for getting the customer familiar with the technology. Using the technology in such a context, he said, would be more comfortable for the consumers. But what does comfortable mean? Thats a key question as automakers and other players head down divergent paths. Are people ready to trust a car without a steering wheel and pedals right off the bat? Or would they feel more comfortable being eased along with a step-by-step approach? In an online survey in April, researchers at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute presented 618 people, in various age groups, with three visions: Completely self-driving, partially self-driving and no self-driving. Two-thirds of people reported being moderately or very concerned about riding in a fully self-driving car. In answer to the question, Would you prefer that a completely self-driving vehicle still have a steering wheel plus gas and brake pedals (or some other controls) to enable a driver to take control if desired? the results were overwhelming: 94.5 percent wanted a wheel; 5.5 percent did not. While 37 percent of those surveyed were very concerned about being in a completely self-driving vehicle, 17 percent had that same level of concern about riding in a partially self-driving one. We think it should be the opposite. . . . We feel that peoples concern is misplaced, said Brandon Schoettle, project manager for sustainable worldwide transportation at the Michigan institute. This is a bit of a public relations issue for these companies as you move ahead. Given how little experience people have with autonomous cars, Schoettle said it is understandable that they feel more secure being able to jump back in and drive. They view it as a vehicle they can take control of when they want, Schoettle said. But he added, There are major safety implications of that transfer of control back and forth. Zmud, the Texas A&M scientist, did surveys and interviews in Austin and found a 50-50 split between those who intended to use driverless cars and those who did not. They are thinking about the car I have now, but sometimes it can drive itself, without thinking this will be a brand-new vehicle and it will be very different, she said. The Michigan study indicated that drivers 45 and older were significantly more likely to be very concerned about riding in a fully self-driving car. Zmud, following up her Austin online survey with interviews, found that regardless of age, people identified as early adopters were more open. Ford said its initial generation of cars without steering wheels or pedals would be used by ride-hailing and package-delivery services in cities where they could be geo-fenced, or restricted to operate in specific geographic zones. Asked whether the no-steering-wheel approach or a more incremental one will win wider public acceptance, Zmud said: I think its really too early to tell. I think were probably going to see both things happening at the same time. At the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Paul Gardullo, a museum curator with the Smithsonian, is seen next to an early log cabin that housed freed slaves. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post) The vacant house outside Poolesville was slated for demolition. The windows were boarded up. The exterior was covered in tattered siding. And inside, the place was so crammed with junk it was hard to walk around. But underneath the bedraggled carpet were handmade wooden steps worn smooth by generations of African Americans climbing the stairs to the novelty of a second floor. And behind the walls were the pine, poplar and oak timbers that had been cut and notched in the Maryland woods and stacked two stories high in the days after slavery 130 years before. Eight years ago, the Smithsonian Institution discovered the house, realized its role as a symbol of pride for former slaves fresh from bondage and had most of it rebuilt inside the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The house, constructed in rural Montgomery County around 1875, was cleaned out, stripped down to its original frame and disassembled like an old Lincoln Log set, as one curator said. TheJones-Hall-Sims House, near Poolesville, Md., is dismantled in preparation for its trek to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, where it would be reassembled. (Paul Gardullo/National Museum of African American History and Culture) Reconstructed, it will be unveiled when the museum opens Sept. 24 on the Mall in Washington. [Haunting relics of a slave ship come to the Smithsonian] Its timbers still bear the adz marks of the builders. And the first floor still has the crude storage closet under the steps that was typical of the time. Although humble, the four-room house marked the crucial transition from slavery to freedom, said George W. McDaniel, a scholar who has studied the old African American communities of Montgomery County. Before the Civil War, the county had 5,400 slaves, about 40 percent of the population. In bondage, their typical dwelling was a one-story log slave cabin, he said. With freedom came the ability to buy land and build their own houses. But not just a one-story house, McDaniel said. Since they owned land, they could build two-stories. To provide more room for their families, and also make a statement. The Jones-Hall-Sims House, around 1978, near Poolesville, Md. (Courtesy of George W. McDaniel) Theyre out from slavery, he said. Now they have this second floor, so they can look out over their own land. [Muralist Hale Woodruff captured the Amistad slave drama in bold color] Setting eyes on the house The recent story of what is being called Freedom House began in late 2008, when museum curator Paul Gardullo got a call from a colleague in Montgomery. The museum had not yet started assembling its collection on a large scale, Gardullo said. His friend and former graduate school classmate Scott Whipple, a county historic preservation officer, asked whether Gardullo might be interested in doing some kind of oral history project about the house before it was torn down. Whipple said the house was in the countys old African American enclave of Jonesville. It was being purchased by a couple who wanted to tear it down and build a new house, he said. [Black towns, founded by ex-slaves, are slowly dying out] The old house, while historic, had been modified so much over the years that it didnt qualify for preservation under county regulations, he said. Scott, Im interested in the oral history, Gardullo said he replied. But Im interested in the house. Whipple said he replied, Are you kidding me? Gardullo wasnt. The house project would supersede oral history. When youre tasked with building a museum from the ground up . . . theres an amazing amount of freedom and possibility, he said. He said the museum was intent on finding a slave cabin to exhibit, and it eventually did so. But he realized that the Jonesville house was an incredible evocation of freedom after slavery, he said. Its a tangible symbol of this period . . . where theres great aspiration and equal amounts of limitation, he said. I was convinced we needed to collect it. The era of Reconstruction after the Civil War, during which the house was built, was turbulent and complex, Gardullo said. Its hard to understand what it meant for . . . African Americans to come out of slavery, to begin to pull themselves together, he said. This house, to me, epitomizes that in a single structure. The treasures within The first time Kerry Shackelford, of Museum Resources Construction and Millwork, entered the house, it was quite an adventure, he said. The house had not been lived in for several years and was absolutely full. You had to climb over the top of the stuff to get in it, said Shackelford, whose Virginia company had the job of dismantling the house. From clothing to furniture to everything you could think of, he said in a recent telephone interview. We took 10 40-yard dumpster-loads of stuff away before we ever started working on taking the building apart. Ive never seen as much stuff stuffed into a building, he said. We did our best to sort through . . . but it was phenomenal. There were some treasures: an old suitcase filled with Masonic regalia that seemed to be from the early 1900s, an empty blanket chest that seemed to be from the early 1800s, a weathered Bible, an old hurricane lamp. The house had several additions that disguised it. Often times, these [historic] buildings are buried within a number of additions and re-sidings and that sort of thing, Shackelford said. It wasnt difficult to sort out the first period of the building, he said. You can tell by the materials, the methods of joinery, the types of nails, the stylistic design. On the inside, it was covered with drywall, he said. The outside was covered in multiple layers of siding. There was considerable termite and fungal damage, and some timbers needed to be replaced. Gardullo, of the Smithsonian, said: The house was a mess. . . . We took another leap of faith to deconstruct the home, to really find out how much of the original structure was intact. We really didnt know what we were going to find until we started pulling it apart, he said. Growing up in Jonesville The dwelling technically the Jones-Hall-Sims House, for the various families that lived there over the years is believed to have been built by Richard Jones, one of the founders of Jonesville in the 1870s. Jonesville had been part of the local Aix la Chapelle plantation, once a gigantic spread of 1,700 acres. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, it was subdivided and sold off in parcels. One of the owners, a Dr. William Brewer, on his death in 1861 bequeathed land, money and slaves to his heirs, stipulating that all slaves unable to work were to be supported by the heirs, according to Maryland Historical Trust files. Jonesville was named after Erasmus Jones and Richard Jones, who may have been brothers, according to historian McDaniels research. The first parcel in the community, 9 1 /8 acres, was purchased by Erasmus Jones in 1866, the year after the Civil War ended. Eight years later, Richard Jones purchased nine acres and built his now-famous house. Jonesville was one of the many small African American hamlets that grew up across Montgomery after Emancipation, according to an exhaustive study McDaniel did in the late 1970s. They were places such as Jerusalem, Martinsburg, Sugarland and Turnertown, many now almost gone. Bernard Harper, 80, grew up in Jerusalem, just down the road from Jonesville, and attended Jerusalem Baptist Church, founded in 1874. Half of the people [in the area] were Methodist, and the other half of the community was Baptist, he said. People went to church three times on Sundays. As a kid growing up, we knew everybody in the community, he said in a recent telephone interview. Many people were related to one another. But there were few jobs around, and men had to carpool to Rockville, Bethesda or Washington for work. Many entered the military, he said, and settled elsewhere. Now a resident of Fayetteville, N.C., Harper was one of them. He said he joined the Army, served for 30 years and seldom returned to Maryland. Following in others footsteps The most haunting details in Freedom House may be the ancient steps to the second floor. They are the original pine, and countless footfalls over 130 years have worn grooves in the wood, which is so smooth it looks like its been sanded down by a carpenter. To think that youre walking on the stairs that have been there all that time, Shackelford said. How many people and how many lives have walked up and down those stairs? The house timbers also had some of the early lime wash and some of the original chinking between the logs, he said. The chinking was, in part, made of small, flat stones that were carefully arranged like books leaning on a bookshelf. Such finds are exciting, he said. Its kind of like the archaeologists moment of uncovering the artifact, and there it is looking at you. Shackelfords crew photographed, catalogued and labeled each piece of the structure as it came apart. It was easily disassembled. This entire building stairs, the whole nine yards was loaded onto a 24-by-8-foot trailer to bring back, he said. The pieces were stored in his firms warehouse while the museum was being built, and it was reassembled in the museum over the past few months. All these structures have tremendous stories to tell, he said. And you cant help but feel like youre in the middle of that story when you sort of peel back everything. This is the first home that this individual . . . could call his own, that he could have dominion over, he said. And thats a pretty big deal. A petition submitted to Gov. Terry McAuliffe this week tries to cast doubt on the guilt of Jens Soering, a German national convicted of murdering his girlfriends parents in central Virginia more than 30 years ago in a sensational case with ties to the 2016 presidential race. Soering asks McAuliffe (D) for an absolute pardon and parole based largely on an analysis that concludes that Soering, who has type-O blood, was not the source of at least some of the type-O blood found at the scene. This is no longer about believing me, Soering, 50, said in a phone interview with The Washington Post from Buckingham Correctional Center outside Dillwyn, Va. Unless youre a climate-change denier and creationist and you dont believe in DNA, then you have to believe Im innocent. The only other option is I did it with somebody else, whom Ive been protecting for 31 years. In the absence of hair or fingerprints, prosecutors relied heavily on the presence of the type-O blood to link Soering to the crime. Convicted of two counts of murder in June 1990, and sentenced to two consecutive life terms, he long ago exhausted his legal appeals. He has been denied parole 11 times. This 2011 file photo shows Jens Soering speaking during an interview at the Buckingham Correctional Center in Dillwyn, Va. (Steve Helber/ASSOCIATED PRESS) Soering has repeatedly asked Virginia governors to send him back to his native Germany. He had success in 2010 with then-Gov. Tim Kaine, who is now the running mate of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. As he was leaving office, Kaine granted the request on the condition that Germany keep Soering incarcerated for at least two more years. But Kaines action which he later justified as a way to save the commonwealth incarceration costs caused an uproar and was reversed by his Republican successor, Robert F. McDonnell. McAuliffe denied a transfer request from Soering as recently as December. We have not seen any new application yet and thus cant comment, Brian Coy, McAuliffes spokesman, said Tuesday. [Soering calls role in slaying major mistake of his life] Earlier this month, after Kaine joined Clintons ticket, Republicans offered the Soering case as evidence of Kaines poor judgment. Kaine has never suggested that he thought Soering had been wrongly convicted, so Soerings new claim of innocence may do little to blunt GOP criticism. A 1985 photo of Elizabeth Haysom, daughter of murder victims Derek and Nancy Haysom. (AP) Maj. Ricky Gardner of the Bedford County Sheriffs Office, who led the investigation of the double murder, said Soerings latest claim is nothing new. These results have been publicly known for several years, Gardner wrote in an email. Based upon the totality of evidence that was presented in Jens trial in June 1990, I remain confident that he perpetrated these heinous crimes. The blood tests underlying that claim are, in fact, quite old: a blood typing test performed in 1985 and a DNA test conducted in 2009. What is new is a belated comparison of the two tests, said Soerings attorney, Steven D. Rosenfield of Charlottesville. Put side by side, the test results indicate that a male other than Soering was the source of the type-O blood, according to an analysis by an expert Soering hired. Rosenfield said the comparison is not only new but incontrovertible scientific proof of absolute innocence. Soering was convicted in the killings of his then-girlfriends parents, Derek and Nancy Haysom of Bedford County. They were stabbed multiple times and their throats were cut from ear to ear. Prosecutors said they were killed because they disapproved of their daughters relationship with Soering. Soering and Elizabeth Haysom, his girlfriend and fellow University of Virginia honors student, fled overseas and eventually were arrested in England. Haysom agreed to return to Virginia, but Soering fought extradition. A diplomatic agreement reduced the charges against him from capital murder, for which he could have been sentenced to death, to first-degree murder. Haysom is serving a 90-year sentence for her role in the killings. She testified against Soering, who has insisted that he is innocent. The son of a German diplomat, Soering initially confessed to killing the couple but soon recanted, saying Haysom killed her parents and told him afterward. He said he only helped her run away. Soering said he initially took the blame to spare his girlfriend Virginias electric chair, assuming incorrectly that he was covered by diplomatic immunity because of his fathers position. In a trial that drew international attention and gavel-to-gavel coverage on local cable TV, prosecutors relied heavily on the fact that type-O blood had been found at the scene. It is a common blood type, but Elizabeth Haysom did not have it, nor did her parents. The only other physical evidence presented at the trial was a bloody sock print, which Soerings supporters have dismissed as junk science. DNA testing was not widely in use at the time of the trial. But in 2009, the Virginia Department of Forensic Science conducted DNA tests from the case as part of a broad post-conviction testing program. Forty-two samples were tested, but 31 were too small or degraded to yield results. The 11 samples successfully tested excluded Soering and Elizabeth Haysom. But the report issued afterward suggested that those samples could have belonged to one or both of the victims; a notation said the victims could not be eliminated as sources because the lab had no reference samples of their blood. The DNA report did not note the blood type of the samples. It identified the samples by where they were discovered in the Haysoms house. No one compared the 1985 blood-type report with the DNA report until July, when Rosenfield began preparing to file a petition with McAuliffe on other grounds including unrelated revelations in a forthcoming German documentary, The Promise, about Soerings case. Some of Soerings case files were in storage in Germany, because he has limited space in his cell. A friend who keeps the files for him mailed the 1985 serology report back to the United States. It showed five samples of type-O blood found at the scene. The DNA report showed that two of those five both located at the front entrance, labeled 2FE and 6FE were successfully tested for DNA. Rosenfield said that Shelley S. Edler, who conducted the 2009 test at the state lab, confirmed in a telephone call with him that, as a matter of science, Soering was eliminated as a possible source of the samples. Edler did not respond to a request for comment, but a department spokeswoman called The Post to say that Edler is prohibited as a matter of policy from publicly discussing her work. Rosenfields petition includes copies of the serology and DNA reports. It also includes a statement from Kenneth H. Brasfield, an assistant professor in Virginia Commonwealth Universitys School of Pharmacy and an expert witness in federal and state trials. Jens Soering has been eliminated as the type-O contributor of evidence identified as 2FE and 6FE, Brasfield wrote. Brasfield said he could not elaborate. There is nothing more I can say than what is in my report, he told The Post in an email. Rosenfield said the finding is compelling evidence of Soerings innocence. The only way the commonwealth can now argue for Jens guilt is to assert that he committed the crime with an unknown accomplice, who was injured and left type O blood at the scene, he said. The accomplice cannot be Ms. Haysom, who has type B blood. Until now, there has been no suggestion by the commonwealth that there was a third murderer involved. The commonwealths position has always been that Jens acted alone, committed this crime and left his type O blood at the crime scene. In his petition to the governor, Rosenfield also presents the findings of the German documentary. The film suggests that Elizabeth Haysom, who admitted to drug use in court, committed the murders with help from a now-deceased man who had supplied her with heroin. Soerings defense had raised that scenario in his trial, but the film fleshes out the theory. The film includes a conversation with an FBI profiler who said he worked on the case and concluded that the killer was a woman. His report was never provided to the defense. Gardner, who appeared in the film, said no profiler was ever involved. But another investigator involved at the start of the case confirmed the profilers account. Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) will announce a larger-than-expected shortfall in the Virginia state budget Friday, possibly in the range of $1.5 billion, according to several people familiar with the figures. Two people with knowledge of the budget situation said the governor was expected to announce a projected shortfall of about $1.5 billion in its current two-year, $105 billion budget. Both people spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose the projected shortfall. One of the two said the budget hole is expected to be at least that big. The shortfall would be among the biggest in state history. The worst was in 2010, when the General Assembly had to confront a $4.5 billion hole. Virginia braced for an expected $2.4 billion shortfall under McAuliffe in 2014, but the revenue projections turned out to be more than $500 million too pessimistic. The actual shortfall that year was about $1.9 billion. The shortfall expected this year will force the state into making tough choices, one of the two people familiar with the situation said. We are going to try to hold teachers salaries, but other than that, everything is on the table, that person said. I have been briefed on the shortfall, said S. Chris Jones (R-Suffolk), chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, who did not disclose the specific number. And as we did two years ago, well be working cooperatively through the cuts and adjustments to the budget that need to be made. Sen. Charles William Bill Carrico Sr. (R-Grayson), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, said he had no official word on the size of the shortfall but that he understood that McAuliffe would be unveiling a very large number. I think theyre finally admitting what we have been saying all along: Youre going around announcing youve brought more jobs to Virginia, yet youre losing more high-paying jobs than any governor, Carrico said. And thats where you see a decline in income-tax revenue and you see a decline in spending [through lower sales-tax revenue]. Brian Coy, a spokesman for McAuliffe, said the governors office is still working on the numbers. The governor will deliver the year-end financial report to the General Assembly on Friday, he said. But Coy acknowledged that the state is grappling with difficult economic conditions in which growth isnt translating into as much revenue as it might have in the past. Were in a position where the governor has said we need to continue to diversify our economy and generate new economic activity so we can grow our way past things like the recession and sequestration, Coy said, referring to the federal governments limits on spending, which has hit Virginias government contracting industry. Were making progress, but there is still work to be done, Coy said. In July, McAuliffe announced a shortfall of $266 million in the budget for the past fiscal year, which ended June 30. He noted that payroll- and sales-tax receipts came in below expectations even as the state took in a record $18.3 billion in revenue. That amount was a 1.7 percent increase in revenue, far less than the 3.2 percent increase the state budget office anticipated. The problem, experts say, is that while Virginias economy is growing faster than the national rate, the jobs being created are not necessarily full-time or as high-paying as those that were lost in the recent recession. And as the federal government has tightened spending, the states government-contracting sector has not enjoyed the same boom times it once experienced. The good news is that the professional and business-services sector, the part of the economy most tied to government work, has resumed healthy growth after a period of uncharacteristic decline, said Ann Macheras, an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. It has come back. There is some stability in federal government contracting, but not a lot of growth, said Macheras, who also has served on the governors Joint Advisory Board of Economists. That board advised McAuliffe on the projections he will cite Friday, although Macheras was speaking broadly about the state economy and not the governors announcement. McAuliffe will release his budget projection to a joint meeting of the House and Senate Money Committees. Jerry Falwell Jr.s Aug. 21 op-ed, Trump is the Churchillian leader we need, in suggesting that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is a Churchillian leader, was an insult to both Winston Churchill and Mr. Trump. Churchill was a war hero with immense personal courage who spent most of his adult life in government. He studied and wrote about history and was an expert in military matters. Mr. Trump doesnt spend his life helping anyone other than himself, and he has no experience as a leader, has no experience serving his country and has insulted the families of fallen heroes. Mr. Trump is likely a better businessman than Churchill was, but that doesnt necessarily translate into Mr. Trump being a leader. Churchill left Parliament and volunteered to fight in the trenches in World War I; could anyone see Mr. Trump doing that? David Lewis, Chevy Chase Jerry Falwell Jr. compared Donald Trump to Winston Churchill. This comparison does a profound injustice to that British patriot and statesman, who was among the greatest leaders of the 20th century, along with Franklin D. Roosevelt. Mr. Trump is hardly Churchillian, possesses no policy or political experience, has never served in a time of war and exhibits none of Churchills eloquence or inspiring leadership. Mr. Falwell should go back to the history books to come up with more appropriate comparisons. Carol V. OShaughnessy, Alexandria Comparing Donald Trump to Winston Churchill is insulting and bizarre. Mr. Trump has no known policy for defeating the Islamic State or terrorism. Jerry Falwell Jr. didnt note that President Obama wanted to leave troops in Iraq but the Iraqi government vetoed the effort. The payment made to Iran was giving Iran its own money back, in return for which the International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran offloaded at least 90 percent of its fissionable material. One thing: It would be delightful if gun regulations were strengthened to ban assault rifles and sales to felons or others who ought not to have guns. I think Mr. Falwell is right to worry about gun limitations ensuing. In a time of epidemic drug use, poor educational achievement and widening rich-poor splits, Mr. Trump and his cronies have been sphinxlike. Is he like Churchill? No . David Silber, Bethesda Unable to stick to his topic of illustrating how Donald Trump is like Winston Churchill, to the point of never quoting either of them on any subject, Jerry Falwell Jr. simply meandered through countless opinions, ill-supported all. Using fear-mongering of the lowest sort, he compared the present world to that of Hitlers time. Typically, he claimed our noble law enforcement has been demonized by the Obama administration, while the simplest amount of research would reveal that the National Association of Police Organizations endorsed Obama four years ago, noting, This administrations unwavering support for law enforcement has meant that men and women in uniform across the country have the resources they need to do their jobs safely and efficiently. An endorsement of Mr. Trump by Mr. Falwell should be seen for what it is: a paean saluting narcissistic, dangerous and ill-spirited naivete. James R. Catlette, Silver Spring Jerry Falwell Jr. wrote, The policies of [President] Obama and [Hillary] Clinton have made the world unstable and unsafe and created a world stage eerily similar to that of the late 1930s. We could be on the precipice of international conflict like nothing we have seen since World War II. I agree that the world is perilous and that we must act carefully to avoid the rise of international powers and players that could precipitate a global catastrophe. But the United States could very well be the cause of such a global catastrophe. A man with Donald Trumps temperament and his propensity to strike out at those who slight him could very well turn out to be whom Mr. Falwell fears. Bob McClure, Silver City, N.M. The public perception of Donald Trump is created not by the media but by Mr. Trump. His words and actions over decades speak for themselves. People have no trouble understanding the man and deciding whether to embrace him or worry about him. The misleading op-ed by Jerry Falwell Jr. made it clear why he supports the cynical Trump candidacy: simplistic either-or thinking, silly analogies (Mr. Trump as Churchill?), absurd inductive leaps (global respect? Has Mr. Falwell been overseas lately?), Freudian projection (calling others naive and deceptive) and unrealistic promises (we can expect amazing results!). If things are bad now, what will happen if Mr. Trump gets elected, when the unfairly raised hopes go up in smoke? Tom Bateman, Charlottesville Here's what you need to know about the Breitbart News chairman who just became Donald Trump's new campaign CEO. (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post) Here's what you need to know about the Breitbart News chairman who just became Donald Trump's new campaign CEO. (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post) In choosing Stephen Bannon to be the CEO of his campaign, Donald Trump has accomplished the extraordinary: He has found somebody as outrageous as he is. Bannon, who had been publisher of the far-right website Breitbart, has called the pope a commie and said Catholics are trying to boost Hispanic immigration because their church is dying. He called Gabby Giffords, a former congresswoman who was shot in the head, a human shield and the mayor of London a radical Muslim. Hillary Clinton, in Bannons telling, is a grifter who would take the country to the last days of Sodom. The new Trump adviser calls himself a populist nationalist his hiring has been cheered by white supremacists and calls his fellow believers a small, crazy wing of the conservative movement. He has referred to the Civil War as the war of Southern Independence fought over economic development. He found zero evidence of racial motives in the Trayvon Martin shooting and warned that cities could be washed away in an orgy of de-gentrification. The Trump campaigns chief executive believes the Obama administration is importing more hating Muslims and asks whether Clinton is complicit in a fifth column. He doesnt think Huma Abedin, a Muslim aide to Clinton, should have a security clearance, and he has alleged that Clintons vice-presidential nominee, Sen. Tim Kaine (Va.), has an affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood. He argued that Gretchen Carlsons sexual harassment case, which forced the ouster of Roger Ailes at Fox News Channel, was a total dud, and he alleged the existence of a militant-feminist legal wrecking crew. Fox News, in Bannons view, is a centrist outlet and compared to Breitbart, it most certainly is. The site, which was closer to the mainstream under its late founder, Andrew Breitbart, has run these headlines under Bannons leadership: Birth Control Makes Women Unattractive and Crazy. Political Correctness Protects Muslim Rape Culture. Suck It Up Buttercups: Dangerous Faggot Tour Returns to Colleges in September. The Solution to Online Harassment Is Simple: Women Should Log Off. Two Months Left Until Obama Gives Dictators Control of Internet. Theres No Hiring Bias Against Women in Tech, They Just Suck at Interviews. Trannies Whine About Hilarious Bruce Jenner Billboard. 1 of 60 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad What Donald Trump is doing on the campaign trail View Photos The GOP presidential nominee is out on the trail ahead of the general election in November. Caption The GOP presidential nominee is pressing his case ahead of Election Day. Nov. 7, 2016 Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event at SNHU Arena in Manchester, N.H. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue. Khizr Khan Believes the Constitution Must Always Be Subordinated to the Sharia. Bannons Breitbart said the gay-pride flag is viewed as a symbol of anti-Christian hate and said birth control makes a woman into a slut and a hideous monster, arguing: Your birth control injection will add on pounds that will prevent the injection you really want of man meat. Trump echoes conspiracy theories proposed by Breitbart, and Breitbart has relentlessly promoted Trump. In short, Trump found in Bannon a character like himself: a bully who targets racial and religious minorities, immigrants and women. After Trumps campaign manager was caught on tape roughing up Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields at an event, Fields and other staffers quit, complaining that Bannons management team sided with Trump. In his writings and broadcast commentary, Bannon, a veteran and former banker, has argued that immigrants legal as well as illegal are to blame for crime, terrorism and disease. He disparages anchor babies and says FBI Director James Comeys recommendation not to prosecute Clinton is inextricably linked to anti-police violence. He speaks of Megyn Kellys blonde ambition and alleges that the military is trying to eradicate Christianity. To counter the Islamization of the United States, he believes authorities should be going into mosques to find bad guys and rounding them up. Breitbart has a tag for black crime and stokes fear of race wars with headlines such as Race Murder in Virginia, Black Suspects Stalk Robbery Victim in Philadelphia, Career Criminal Accused of Assaulting Victim, Calling Her White Bitch, Black Rape Gangs Violate Two Detroit Women and Black Mob Swarms Georgia Walmart to See How Much Damage They Could Do. The Southern Poverty Law Center protests that Breitbart has been openly promoting the core issues of the Alt-Right, introducing these racist ideas to its readership. Breitbart had a lengthy defense of white nationalists that ignored their openly racist views, the SPLC said. Breitbart likened Pamela Gellers Muhammad Cartoon Contest to the Selma-to-Montgomery march. The outlet has gone after the big gay hate machine and suggested that the next step for marriage equality is likely polygamy. Breitbart ran a doctored photo showing House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi in a bikini on all fours with her tongue out. It reported that Planned Parenthood was comfortably surpassing Hitler in its body count. It said Trumps bogus claim that thousands of New Jersey Muslims celebrated the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, had been 100 percent vindicated, and it alleged a smoking gun connecting the 9/11 hijackers to a Bush family friend. There is more, but you dont need to read it here. Just wait for Trump to say it. Twitter: @Milbank Read more from Dana Milbanks archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. Australia has a split personality when it comes to China: Government officials stress the importance of their strategic alliance with the United States, even if it upsets Beijing. But business leaders argue that Australia must accommodate the reality of Chinas overwhelming economic power in Asia. Its an awkward straddle for Australia, as its security and economic interests diverge. It has often been noted that this is the first time in our history that our No. 1 trading partner is not an ally, notes Foreign Minister Julie Bishop in an interview here. The Chinese have raised scenarios where Australia could be forced to choose between the U.S. and China, Bishop explains. This is generally accompanied by warnings that Australia will need to choose its friends carefully, implying that economic partners may be more important than strategic allies. A visitor here encounters the debate about how to deal with Chinas growing power in almost every conversation. Its a painful dilemma: Australia has profited enormously from Chinas rise, posting 25 years of uninterrupted economic growth, fueled partly by its exports to China. But Australia also has a deep affinity for America and prides itself on an unblemished record of supporting the United States militarily, in good times and bad. This balancing act became more prominent this month when the government decided to block, on national-security grounds, Chinese companies proposed purchase of Ausgrid, the utility that provides power in the state of New South Wales, which includes Sydney. The Chinese Embassy gave a tart statement to the newspaper the Australian saying that it was highly concerned that its investment had been rejected. Many Australian business leaders are unhappy, too, about spurning the regions economic superpower. At a dinner here Monday that included some prominent executives, there was near-universal criticism of the governments Ausgrid decision, which several argued was driven by needless fear among the intelligence establishment about Chinese ownership of part of Australias power grid. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull illustrates the twin pull: In his business career as a lawyer, he worked on many lucrative deals in China. But since taking over last September as leader of the governing Liberal Party (which is conservative, in U.S. terms), he has been a critic of Chinese actions in the South China Sea. Turnbull argues that the prosperity-security split is a false dichotomy, because Australia cant have the former without the latter. Our relationship with the United States is becoming more important, not less, as the center of global economic gravity shifts relentlessly towards Asia, Turnbull said in a recent speech. For officials across the Australian government, the potential danger from China is clear. They see a China that, under President Xi Jinping, has increasingly sought regional hegemony. Despite a rejection of its claims in the South China Sea last month by an international arbitration panel, Beijing has essentially won its campaign to create potential military bases on reclaimed islands. Australian government officials fear that China wants to treat the Asia-Pacific region in the same arbitrary way it deals with its own people. One Australian expert likens Chinas military rise to the issue of climate change. Its a gradual and probably unstoppable process; the question is whether to try to mitigate its effects, by taking tough measures, or simply adapt to the inevitable. The Turnbull governments willingness to challenge China seems based on two important assumptions. First, Beijings continued rise isnt as inexorable as it has seemed in recent years. Chinese economic growth is slowing, and leaders are having trouble implementing economic reforms and creating the consumer-driven economy Beijing says it wants. Second, other Asian nations are becoming powerhouses, too. The Indian economy is now growing faster than Chinas; Indonesias per capita GDP has increased 50 percent in the past decade; and Japan is making a slow comeback. What we need to ensure is that the rise of China . . . [is] conducted in a manner that does not disturb the security and the relative harmony of the region upon which Chinas prosperity depends, Turnbull said last year in his first major interview after becoming prime minister. A poll released this year by the Lowy Institute, a foreign policy think tank that organized my visit to Australia, showed the conflicting pulls on the country. Asked which relationship was more important, 43 percent named the United States, and 43 percent said China. Australias heart and its wallet are in different places. The split may be manageable, but only if the United States remains a strong and reliable ally an issue that many Australians fear is up for grabs in our November presidential election. Read more from David Ignatiuss archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. Joel Dreyfuss is a Washington Post Global Opinions contributing columnist. Haiti won a rare victory on the international stage last week. After five years of evading accountability, the United Nations finally admitted that its peacekeepers were responsible for a deadly cholera epidemic that killed 10,000 men, women and children and sickened 700,000. Long after scientists traced the disease to the poor sanitation practices of Nepalese troops stationed in Haiti, the U.N. rejected the findings, claimed diplomatic immunity and enlisted Obama administration support to block efforts by Haitians to hold the agency accountable in U.S. courts. The U.N. backed down after a report by New York University law professor Philip Alston, an adviser on legal and human rights, became public. Alston called the U.N.s stonewalling morally unconscionable, legally indefensible and politically self-defeating. The U.N.s arrogant stance was just the latest example of how Haitis friends are so often its worst enemies. The U.N. military mission has been in Haiti since 2004, presumably to stabilize the country and nurture its fragile democracy. Yet that democracy is barely breathing, with a provisional president and a group of dubiously elected officials who can barely agree on a date for presidential elections. Consider the aftermath of the massive earthquake that killed 200,000 to 300,000 Haitians on Jan. 12, 2010. The international community did responded generously. Former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush presided over a reconstruction commission that won $14 billion in international pledges and posed to help transform Haiti into a modern nation. However, what money was actually delivered was sucked into a morass of Beltway consultants, failed projects and nongovernmental organizations. Valuable studies and assessments conducted by Haitians themselves were largely ignored, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development reported in a postmortem study. Six years later, the rubble in downtown Port-au-Prince has been cleared, but little has been rebuilt. The nations center of commercial activity has moved to suburban Petionville. Plans to revive the capital remain as vague as the early-morning fog that drifts across the majestic mountains that serve as a backdrop to Haitis tortured history. The Clintons have expressed a fondness for Haiti ever since they honeymooned there in 1975. Bill and Hillary have been up to their elbows in Haiti ever since 1994, when President Clinton used U.S. military power to restore Haitis first democratically elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Clinton, whose home state of Arkansas is the No. 1 rice producer in the United States, extracted an agreement from Aristide in 1995 to drop tariffs on imported rice. The resulting influx of cheap American rice destroyed Haitians near-self-sufficiency in food and sent thousands of poor farmers and their families into the overcrowded capital. Clinton has since apologized for his devils bargain. Fast-forward to today, and Haitians know that the United States presidential elections will have a profound effect on their future: A Hillary Clinton victory could mean more interference in Haitis affairs. The current political crisis was precipitated by the heavy-handed manipulation of Haitian politics by the Core Group, (the United States, Canada, France, Spain, Brazil, the European Union and the Organization of American States). In 2011, they excluded the most popular political party from presidential elections and discarded one of the top vote-getters, and Haitians ended up with former bandleader Michel Martelly as president. They tried the same tactics this year, putting heavy pressure on Haitians to complete a tainted second round of ballots. Fed up, thousands of Haitians took to the streets to reject that advice and force a new round of elections over strong American objections. Haitian identity at home and abroad is tightly linked to our native countrys status as the worlds first free black republic. Every August UNESCO commemorates the secret ceremony in Haitis Bois-Caiman in 1791 that triggered a successful slave uprising, which in turn fomented the revolution that led to its independence. I know I will offend many of my fellow Haitians by saying this out loud but I wonder if Haiti will ever truly regain its independence. The reality is that Haiti, more than 200 years after it gained its freedom, has spent large chunks of its existence under the military, political or economic control of foreign powers. Haiti paid twice for its freedom, first with blood and then with money. Haitians handed Napoleon his first significant military defeat by repelling the 50,000 troops he sent to restore slavery. But fearing a new invasion, Haiti signed an agreement with Frances Charles X in 1825 to pay former owners of plantations and slaves tens of millions of francs (variously estimated by historians at between $3 billion to $25 billion in todays dollars) as the price for recognition. The deal doomed Haiti to 80 years of distorted budgets focused on paying off foreign debt and starving its people of the infrastructure and educational facilities that might have set the young nation on a more prosperous path. The United States began its military occupation of Haiti in 1915 and remained there for 19 years. But even before American Marines landed in the country, Haitis many authoritarian and corrupt leaders plunged the country into debt and exacerbated the domination of the many by the few. Rosalvo Bobo, an early-20th-century Haitian politician, noted that Haitian leaders had replaced the liberating achievement of their ancestors for slavery of blacks by blacks. The ultimate challenge for Haiti and many other small countries is how to gain a measure of control over their own destinies, especially when they are in the back yard of powerful nations, dependent on foreign aid and are forced to deal with internal divisions. One way the U.N. could make restitution is to fulfill its pledge to rebuild Haitis sanitation system and begin planning a removal of the peacekeeping force. Those who want to help Haiti should begin consulting and involving Haitians at home and abroad in their grand plans. But the best incentive for change will come from Haiti itself. A new chapter for the embattled nation will come only when Haitis rapacious business and political elites and its masses of neglected poor learn the lessons from 200 years ago that no one is coming to save them. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) is a big fan of Donald Trump and he's said some strange things while campaigning for the Republican nominee. (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post) Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) is a big fan of Donald Trump and he's said some strange things while campaigning for the Republican nominee. (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post) WE ARE a little worried about Rudy Giuliani, the Republican former mayor of New York. Is Americas mayor okay? During his 15-minute speech at the GOP convention last month in Cleveland, it was notable that when he said Donald Trump loves all people, from the top to the bottom, Mr. Giuliani animatedly gestured toward his knees as he said top, and above his head as he said bottom. Also, why did he say that he and his wife, Judith, have been friends with Mr. Trump for 30 years, though he met his wife in 1999, only 17 years ago? Also were noting this purely out of concern during his speech he often licked his lips, indicating dry mouth, which, according to the Mayo Clinic, can be a symptom of nerve damage, stroke or Alzheimers disease. At the end of his address, beads of sweat were visible on his pate did that not suggest heart disease? Mr. Giuliani is just 72, but he seemed slightly stooped as he walked to the lectern, where his wide stance made us wonder if hes unsteady on his feet. Then there was his slurred diction, as when he referred to jushtified police shootings and Syrian refyoongees. More evidence of a stroke? Yes, all of the above is ludicrous as ludicrous as Mr. Giulianis own loathsome smears and innuendo about Hillary Clintons health, which follow Mr. Trumps. In recent days, indulging a grudge he has evidently held for years, he has urged people to watch Internet videos that purport to prove Ms. Clinton is ill. He doubled down after that, saying the Democratic presidential nominee appeared tired and sick. Of course, Mr. Giuliani hasnt a speck of evidence for his blather, a damning fact considering he was once a federal prosecutor, and proof positive of his impaired character, if not health. Voters have a right to relevant facts about both presidential candidates health and are correct to question the degree to which each (or, more accurately, neither) has been sufficiently forthcoming about his and her medical history. In fact, Ms. Clinton has released more (and more relevant) information than Mr. Trump, whose own physician, Harold Bornstein, a gastroenterologist, quackishly asserted that, If elected, Mr. Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency. (One can only imagine the detailed study Dr. Bornstein has devoted to every previous presidents health, including that of Theodore Roosevelt, an accomplished boxer, hunter and outdoorsman who, when he became president, was 28 years younger than Mr. Trump.) Unfortunately, Mr. Trump, 70, has taken the same nondisclosure stance on his health records as he has on his taxes, asserting there is nothing to hide while hiding everything. Ms. Clinton, by contrast, has released some test results, which, as far as they go, indicate good health. That hasnt stopped Mr. Giuliani from trading in scurrilous and debunked theories about the Democratic candidate. Come to think of it, he should see a doctor. Regarding the Aug. 21 editorial If not the TPP, then what?: The leading alternative to reducing trade barriers in Asia is the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. The RCEP negotiations exclude the United States, just as the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations exclude China. Rival powers Japan and China are cooperating in RCEP negotiations. The trade liberalization objectives in the RCEP are less ambitious than those of the TPP. The TPP originated as negotiations among Chile, New Zealand, Singapore and Brunei, but the United States joined the negotiations nearly a decade ago and immediately challenged the participants to aim for an ultra-deep degree of trade and investment liberalization along with high standards in environment, labor and food safety. These high standards are keeping China out of the TPP and giving other participants in the negotiations headaches. Surely an agreement including both the United States and China would be best. The compromise is clear: a lower standard than the TPP and a higher standard than the RCEP. The corporate, labor and nongovernmental organizations that have pushed the TPP to the brink of failure would have to settle for less than they want for the benefit of more cooperation and less tension among the Asia-Pacific nations. Any my way or the highway strategy is likely to see the United States lose friends and influence in Asia. Lex Rieffel, Washington The writer is a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. The National Park Service is celebrating its 100th birthday this year. This video gives a quick history of how the park system originated. (National Park Service) The National Park Service is celebrating its 100th birthday this year. This video gives a quick history of how the park system originated. (National Park Service) Jonathan B. Jarvis is director of the National Park Service. In 1914, Stephen Mather, a wealthy director of a borax mining company in California, observed the deteriorating conditions of some of Americas national parks and wrote a letter of protest to Interior Secretary Franklin Lane. Lane responded: Dear Steve, if you dont like the way the parks are being run, come on down to Washington and run them yourself. Such challenges have launched many political careers in Washington, including my own. I started in the National Park Service during the nations bicentennial in 1976, and a similar call brought me to Washington in 2009 to lead the agency through its centennial this year. One hundred years ago Thursday, on Aug. 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the act creating the National Park Service with Mather as its first director. The Organic Act states that the fundamental purpose of the NPS is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations. For the past century, the National Park Service has been providing for the enjoyment of our most beautiful, treasured and historic places, put into our stewardship by Congress and both Democratic and Republican presidents. A large number of NPS employees join the service for life, because this work is more than a career; it is a mission. That mission is unlike that of any other federal agency: We serve as keepers of the nations cultural memory. The 413 units of the national park system are a collective expression of who we are as a people, and in the words of historian John Hope Franklin, the public looks upon national parks almost as a metaphor for America itself. The parks deliver messages to current and future generations about the foundational experiences that have made the United States a symbol of democracys greatest achievements for the rest of the world. The Obama administration has worked to ensure that the parks tell the story of the United States cultural history. Among the 22 sites that President Obama has added to the national park system are places that will ensure that the memories of Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, Col. Charles Young and the Buffalo Soldiers, and Cesar Chavez endure. One of our newest sites, the Stonewall National Monument in New York, will memorialize the struggles that the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community has faced over the years, along with one of its major victories. But the National Park Services enabling legislation requires that these places and ideas are not just preserved but enjoyed. This leads me to believe that we are the only federal agency with a mandate to ensure that the American people have some fun. In 1956, when planning for our 50th anniversary, the National Park Service invited World War II veterans to come and see what they had fought for. In partnership with the growing automobile industry, the service invited them to See the USA in your Chevrolet. Veterans came out in droves with their children in the back seats of their station wagons, and from those experiences grew a groundswell of support for conservation and historic preservation. Those children today are the baby boomers, now with millennial children and grandchildren. For our 100th anniversary, in partnership with the National Park Foundation, we invited everyone to Find Your Park, to foster the creation of a new generation of park visitors, supporters and advocates reflecting the diversity of our nation. The result of this effort has been record-setting visitation and a surge of sharing on social media about extraordinary park experiences. But this anniversary is much more than a celebration. It also calls for introspection and a forward-looking vision recommitting to the ideals and aspirations that bind us as a nation and to the institution tasked with their stewardship the National Park Service. Filmmaker Ken Burns said that national parks are the Declaration of Independence applied to the land. Regardless of ethnicity, social status or level of wealth, Americans appreciate the beauty of grand landscapes. Our national parks provide the opportunity for all to experience that beauty as equals. The National Park Service turns 100 this week. See how it started and visit some of its more scenic spots, bears and all. (Lee Powell/The Washington Post) It is pretty hard to not feel a wash of pride for our country when you stand at the rim of the Grand Canyon National Park, in the alpine glow of Grand Teton National Park, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial or on the bloodstained fields of Gettysburg National Military Park. These are our American cathedrals, and they belong to you. Come and enjoy them and refresh your memory of what it means to be an American. In his Aug. 20 op-ed, The grim pace of D.C. juvenile crime, Colbert I. King correctly noted that responsibility for controlling youth-related violence in the District does not rest with the police department. He suggested that city officials and other D.C. public leaders are at fault. Surely, the root causes of youth violence in the District, in particular, and in the nation lie in the failure of the parents of these youngsters to instill in their children a sense and practice of morality. This failure is aggravated by popular culture that sensationalizes killing in movies, television and video games. And it is abetted by the practice of the media to publicize in extensive detail the lives of those individuals who initiate the most horrific instances of murder and mayhem. Blaming government and officials for the scourge of juvenile crime deflects attention from the true source of the problem and of the need for families to be more responsible for the conduct of their young and for society to begin to turn away from the culture of violence that is so pervasive. Dennis Kubicki, Mercersburg, Pa. GROUND ZERO for the Zika virus in the United States is now South Florida. The virus, which can cause severe fetal birth defects and other neural disorders, is spreading in a 20-block area of Miami Beach and another section of Miami known as Wynwood. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a warning to pregnant women to avoid both areas and to people more generally to be aware of the risks. Zika is a mosquito-borne virus that can also be transmitted through sex and blood. Although the symptoms may be mild in most people, a new report suggests that it may also affect adult brain cells. In the United States and its territories, chiefly Puerto Rico, there are now more than 10,000 reported cases of Zika, including 1,220 pregnant women with lab-confirmed infections. Many of these were brought into the United States by travelers, but local transmission is underway in Florida. The children of pregnant women who contract Zika may develop a severe form of brain damage called microcephaly, and in adults the virus may lead to Guillain-Barre syndrome. For months, experts have not been shy about calling this a public-health emergency, which should be a clarion call to change behavior. For individuals, that means avoiding mosquitoes, and possibly postponing pregnancy. For Congress, it should mean providing the resources to combat the virus. Local governments and public-health agencies are scrambling to control the spread, provide diagnostics, educate the public and search for a vaccine. But instead of acting, Republican majorities in Congress have taken the emergency as another occasion to grandstand and squabble. After President Obama asked in February for nearly $1.9 billion in additional federal funding to fight the virus, or about $5.80 per person in the United States, a partisan fight broke out on Capitol Hill that stalled legislation. Republicans delayed, then approved a far smaller amount with conditions they knew Democrats would not accept. Then Congress went on its long summer recess. Without the new money, the administration has been reprogramming existing funds intended for other vital public-health purposes. The delays on Capitol Hill are evidence of deep dysfunction. Could not a Congress that annually votes $580 billion a year for defense, and more than $40 billion for homeland security, approve a small fraction of those sums for the health and welfare of thousands of pregnant women and their babies? Isnt health security part of national security? The money will be particularly important for vaccine development, which requires clinical trials that can be costly and take time. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases this month launched a Phase 1 clinical trial on an experimental DNA vaccine; the results are expected in January and, if all goes well, a Phase 2 trial in Zika-endemic countries could begin next year. D.A. Henderson, who led the successful drive to eliminate smallpox, and who died last week, attributed his success to the development of a stable, freeze-dried vaccine that could be easily administered, and a strategy of focusing vaccinations in a ring around an outbreak, rather than a more expansive mass vaccination. His innovative thinking and determination saved millions of lives. His legacy ought to inspire researchers now racing to develop a Zika vaccine. And Congress ought to be embarrassed for starving the Zika budget in a purely political tiff. The GOP presidential nominee is out on the trail ahead of the general election in November. The GOP presidential nominee is out on the trail ahead of the general election in November. What Donald Trump is doing on the campaign trail What Donald Trump is doing on the campaign trail Donald Trump touched down in this ruby-red state Wednesday, returning to a region where he experienced an outburst of support that he has so far been unable to transfer to the battlegrounds up for grabs in November. To many, his evening rally here was a head-scratching stop at a time when he is trailing Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the key states that stand to decide the election in November. But Trumps campaign sees a benefit to returning to the heart of the Deep South, where he started drawing massive crowds last year, showed early signs that he would shake up the race and went on to rack up big primary wins. Hes going after every voter and every vote, said Trump senior adviser Karen Giorno. I dont think that the strategies that everyone has relied upon in past presidential elections apply here. Trump appeared in Jackson, a majority black city, at a moment when he has increasingly encouraged African Americans to vote for him by arguing that they have nothing to lose by doing so a pitch Democrats say is insulting. Trump has been making his appeals in front of predominantly white crowds. We have given Mr. Trump an opportunity to be presidential. And thus far, with respect to diversity, with respect to tolerance, he has not demonstrated that hes there yet, said Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), a Clinton supporter who is African American. So we believe that if people of good will dont step forward, they might be bamboozled by the Trump campaign. Journalist Richard Morgan traveled to Altoona, PA with a simple goal, get a sense of what drives a Trump supporter firsthand. This is who he met. (Adriana Usero/The Washington Post) Trumps fiercely populist, anti-immigrant, anti-establishment rhetoric has resonated among white, blue-collar voters in the South, one of the countrys most conservative strongholds. But with fewer than 11 weeks to go until the election, he has failed to catch fire in battlegrounds where recent presidential elections have been decided. In his remarks, Trump nodded to the support Mississippi showed him from the early days of his campaign, saying he would not forget it. He also argued that Democrats have failed and betrayed the African American community. He called Clinton a bigot who only sees minorities as votes. Speaking off a teleprompter, Trump offered a broad and somewhat vague populist pitch, calling for a new American future and comparing his campaign to the effort to remove Britain from the European Union. He brought onstage former U.K. Independence Party leader Nigel Farage, a leading proponent of Brexit. No one will be left behind anymore, Trump said. [Inside Trumps new strategy to counter the view that he is racist] The decision to campaign in Mississippi is in line with the Republican nominees habit of stumping in states that lean heavily conservative or liberal and that dont appear to be in play. Earlier this summer, Trump made a lengthy swing through left-leaning California. A week and a half ago, he was in Connecticut, a largely Democratic state. He appeared in safely Republican Texas on Tuesday. But Trump was also campaigning Wednesday afternoon in central Florida, a swing area in a battleground state. Giorno, who focuses primarily on Florida, said the campaign plans to launch three RV units to serve as mobile offices in the state, the first of which debuted at Trumps afternoon rally in Tampa. She said the campaign plans to have more than two dozen offices across the state. These 10 states are in play in the 2016 election. Here is where they're polling as of August and how much weight they'll have in November. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post) After Florida, Trump headed to Mississippi for a fundraiser and addressed an evening rally at an arena here in Jackson. Some Republicans question the decision to spend extended time in Mississippi, which last voted for a Democratic presidential candidate in 1976 when it went for Jimmy Carter of Georgia. There are no signs of a Democratic upset here this year. Every day that you are not spending in a crucial battleground is potentially a wasted opportunity, because what you can do when you are in a battleground state is guarantee coverage in media markets that are going to be crucial to winning that state, said Kevin Madden, a senior adviser to Mitt Romney in 2012 who is not supporting Trump. The candidate has dug himself into a deep hole since the Republican and Democratic conventions this summer after he picked fights with party leaders and criticized the Muslim family of a U.S. Army captain who was killed in Iraq. The chance to project strength though big vibrant crowds in an area where he is popular is not a bad idea, some Republicans say. Holding a rally while fundraising is not going to hinder Trump and [running mate Mike] Pence from hitting the battleground states hard, said Keith Appell, a Republican strategist who supports Trump. [The Daily 202: Trumps time management problem] Trump won Mississippi by a comfortable margin in the GOP primary race, and he swept the rest of the Deep South, despite intense efforts by his top rival, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. Trump campaigned heavily on his hard-line opposition to illegal immigration and as a political outsider. One key moment when Trump served notice to Republican leaders that his appeal in the party was not going to fade came about a year ago in Mobile, Ala., when a large and enthusiastic stadium crowd came to see him speak on a Friday night. Many establishment Republicans at the time were skeptical of his ability to compete for the GOP nomination, even though he was attracting much larger audiences than his rivals. The frenzy of that period was captured by a viral photograph taken at the event of a woman with a massive smile on her face as Trump touched the cheek of her baby. Even as Trumps appeal in the most conservative pockets of the South remains strong, Florida a diverse mix of deeply conservative areas, liberal turf and swing terrain remains an uphill climb for him. Meanwhile, some recent polls have shown a competitive race in Georgia, a state Republicans have been able to count on at the presidential level in recent elections. In battleground states such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and North Carolina, polls show Trump trailing Clinton in some cases by double digits. Trump spokesman Jason Miller issued a statement Tuesday saying that the candidate will visit key battlegrounds such as Iowa and Nevada in the coming days. The statement did not mention Mississippi. Ahead of Trumps visit, Thompson joined other African American leaders at a news conference in Jackson to highlight the problems they see with the GOP nominees rhetoric on minorities. The congressman cast Trumps visit to Jackson as a unique chance for him to speak about African American issues in an urban area, as opposed to other places not like Jackson where Trump has been visiting. This is his first opportunity to change the rhetoric that hes given in suburban communities about people of color, Thompson said. Donald Trump is rapidly trying to turn around his presidential campaign with a vigorous and at times strained effort to shed a label applied to him by a substantial portion of the electorate: racist. Guided by his new campaign leadership, the Republican nominee has ordered a full-fledged strategy to court black and Latino voters and is mobilizing scores of minority figures to advocate publicly for his candidacy. Trump is planning trips to urban areas with stops at churches, charter schools and small businesses in black and Latino communities and is developing an empowerment agenda based on the economy and education, aides said. Under consideration is an early September visit to Detroit, where retired neurosurgeon and former Republican primary rival Ben Carson would guide him on a tour of the impoverished neighborhoods where he grew up. Trumps team also hopes to exploit what the campaigns internal poll of black voters nationally shows to be a potential vulnerability for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton once voters are informed of the crime policy record of former president Bill Clinton, according to two Trump associates. At his rallies, meanwhile, Trump has been spotlighting black supporters and making a blunt pitch to minorities. He has described blacks in sweeping and categorical language, suggesting that they are mired in poverty, living in dangerous neighborhoods and have nothing to lose by giving him a chance. He also has changed his tone on immigration by saying he would swiftly deport the bad ones living in the country illegally but would use the existing legal process for others after vowing for more than a year that he would deport them all. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump repeated his pitch to minority voters in Ohio on Aug. 22, asking them "What do you have to lose?" and promising to "straighten it out" in inner cities. (The Washington Post) Asked Tuesday whether he might change his hard-line deportation policy to accommodate immigrants who contribute positively to society, Trump told Fox News Channel anchor Sean Hannity, There certainly can be a softening because were not looking to hurt people. [Trumps deportation plan: Do what Obama is doing but with a lot more energy] For Trump, the objective is twofold, according to his aides and allies. He wants to make inroads with minority voters, who polls show overwhelmingly support Clinton. He also believes that a more measured approach on race can convince white voters now shunning him especially women that he is not the racist that his inflammatory rhetoric might indicate. What youre seeing here is the real Donald Trump: Somebody who wants to make sure that his record of inclusion, his views on keeping all Americans safe, on improving the economy of all Americans comes across, said Jason Miller, Trumps senior communications adviser. Its very much something that he believes in personally and he wants to make sure that folks realize that he will be an inclusive president for all Americans. The challenge for Trump is daunting. Sixty-five percent of all American adults believe the word racist applies to Trump at least slightly well, and 35 percent say it applies very well, according to an Associated Press-GfK Knowledge Networks poll in July. A Washington Post-ABC News poll this month found that 56 percent of registered voters believe Trump is biased against women and minorities. Clinton led Trump by 91 percent to 3 percent among blacks and 70 percent to 25 percent among Hispanics in an average of July and August Post-ABC polls. After 15 months of denigrating every nonwhite minority in sight, its hard to believe that he can actually do significantly better among nonwhites, Republican pollster Whit Ayres said. But he may be able to soften his image a bit with some Republican and maybe a few independent whites who have been put off by his harshness thus far. 1 of 60 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad What Donald Trump is doing on the campaign trail View Photos The GOP presidential nominee is out on the trail ahead of the general election in November. Caption The GOP presidential nominee is pressing his case ahead of Election Day. Nov. 7, 2016 Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event at SNHU Arena in Manchester, N.H. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue. Trump made an overture to black voters early last week in Wisconsin and repeated it at subsequent rallies in North Carolina, Michigan, Virginia and Ohio. The crowds at each event were overwhelmingly white. [Racialists are cheered by Trumps latest strategy] On Monday night at a rally in Akron, Ohio, Trump described the minority experience as: Poverty. Rejection. Horrible education. No housing, no homes, no ownership. Crime at levels that nobody has seen. You can go to war zones in countries that we are fighting and its safer than living in some of our inner cities that are run by the Democrats. Look, he added, it is a disaster the way African Americans are living, in many cases, and, in many cases the way Hispanics are living, and I say it with such a deep-felt feeling. What do you have to lose? Clintons campaign released a video on Tuesday that accused Trump of having built his candidacy on demonizing immigrants and that featured more than a dozen of Trumps most incendiary comments. The campaign also organized a conference call with reporters featuring black and Hispanic politicians. Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), who chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, said that after a career spent insulting and ignoring our community, he has decided now to finally reach out . . . . But he is not talking to us, he is talking at us. Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (D-N.Y.) said Trump is stereotyping: To him, we are all poor, we are all uneducated, we are all unemployed. . . . Donald Trump has repeatedly proved himself to be a bigot. Trumps advisers said his message should be seen as an opening play in a robust push. Its wise before you start going into these places to put things out there for people to cogitate about, and not just walk into an environment where people might be so hostile they wont listen to you, Carson said. Thats what he has been doing: prepping the ground for whats to come. So far, Trump has declined appearances before minority audiences that many past Republican nominees have made, such as the NAACP convention. Trumps former campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, said on CNN on Monday that Trump stopped trying to address such large gatherings after he canceled a March rally at the University of Illinois at Chicago because so many protesters showed up. You know what happened? Lewandowski said. The campus was overrun, and it was not a safe environment. [In the latest shift, Donald Trumps campaign seems to waver on mass deportations] Carson said he has had several conversations with Trump about his upbringing in a poor, mostly black section of Detroit, which led to discussions about Trump visiting there. Carson said Trump intends to develop and promote policies on school choice and vouchers, public aid programs that can help keep families together, and potentially prison reform. He recognizes that whats been going on for the last 50 years in major cities has not uplifted anybody, Carson said. Hes going to talk about a different way, about empowering people through education in the inner cities, where failing schools have been protected by politicians. Last Thursday, the Republican National Committee hosted a conference call with nearly 100 black leaders, RNC chief strategist Sean Spicer said. On the call, Trumps director of African American outreach, Omarosa Manigault a former contestant on The Apprentice, the NBC reality television show that starred Trump outlined a plan to boost the GOP nominee. The Democrats continue to take the African-American community for granted, Manigault said in a statement provided by the campaign. It is disconcerting that they would rather pander than formulate substantive policy plans that would actually improve conditions as opposed to continue down the current path of the last eight years. In 2012, Republican Mitt Romney won just 6 percent of the black vote, according to exit polls. We have to do better, said Spicer, who now spends a few days a week in New York working in concert with Trumps senior staff. Luckily this is something the campaign is on board with, and youre going to see a lot more engagement down the stretch. [Clinton plans to tie Trump to the alt-right and the worst of the Web] One variable is how Trumps mostly white base of fervent supporters, who were drawn to his candidacy in the primaries because of his politically incorrect rhetoric, might react to his latest positioning. Michael Steele, a former RNC chairman who has advised Trump and his team to visit historically black colleges or hold town-hall meetings in cities like Baltimore, said public and private polls this summer showing Trumps low support among nonwhite voters served as stark warning signs. Those numbers will force you to get smart, Steele said. They said to each other, Were going to be active in getting that vote. Trumps new posture is being influenced by his new campaign captains, chief executive Steve Bannon and campaign manager Kellyanne Conway, who were brought in last week amid a staff shake-up. He also has been motivated by a private poll of black voters conducted by campaign adviser Tony Fabrizio. The survey found that blacks have a lesser affinity for Hillary Clinton than they did for her husband and that their support dips once they learn about her advocacy for a 1994 crime bill signed by Bill Clinton, according to two people briefed on the polls findings. Roger Stone, a longtime Trump confidant, has urged Trump to exploit Bill Clintons crime record, arguing that an entire generation of young black men are incarcerated because of the law, which imposed tougher prison sentences for a range of drug-related crimes. Black voters have no affinity for Hillary Clinton, Stone said. Shes done nothing for them. . . . Bill Clinton has an affinity to black voters, and its stylistic: He slips on the shades, plays the saxophone, how cool. But most black voters dont know about the 1994 crime bill, and they need to be educated. Both Clintons have since said they regretted the crime bill. [The Fix: Dear educated white America, Donald Trump is really trying to reach you] When Trump began his campaign, he was confident he would do better with black voters than Romney mostly because African Americans form part of his commercial base for The Apprentice and his casinos. People who have helped manage the Trump Organizations brand said the companys private research over the past decades showed that many black people admired Trumps ostentatious lifestyle. But that image changed once Trump became a political figure in 2011 by making himself the face of the birther movement, which sought to delegitimize President Obama by questioning his birth in Hawaii. Now, Trump is turning to a cast of black surrogates for rehabilitation. At a rally last Thursday in Charlotte, Clarence Henderson, a civil rights activist who participated in the 1960 Woolworths sit-in in Greensboro, N.C., led the crowd in prayer. Then sisters Lynnette Hardaway and Rochelle Richardson YouTube stars who go by the names Diamond and Silk gave an enthusiastic endorsement. Hardaway exhorted, I want to say to all of my black brothers and sisters: It is time for you to make a change and join the Trump train, baby. Emily Guskin and Anne Gearan contributed to this report. Correction: An earlier version of this report wrongly characterized a finding from a Washington Post-ABC News poll. The survey found that 56 percent of registered voters, not all American adults, believe Donald Trump is biased against women and minorities. The GOP presidential nominee is out on the trail ahead of the general election in November. The GOP presidential nominee is out on the trail ahead of the general election in November. As prominent Republicans try to determine whether Donald Trump has changed his mind about mass deportations, Babs Buffington is confident that the GOP presidential nominee hasnt shifted at all but its not a big deal if he has, as long as he builds a wall along the southern border. Hes calmed it down, a little bit, but hes still going, said Buffington, 75, who attended Trumps campaign rally here Wednesday afternoon. Hes still going to build the wall. Her daughter agreed. Thats the most important thing, said Krista Kosier, 51. Hes still going to build the wall. Hes still going to get rid of the murderers and rapists and those wreaking havoc in our country. Trump has been signaling for days that he might be open to a softening of one of his most extreme immigration positions and no longer call for the deportation of an estimated 11 million immigrants who are living in the United States illegally. He and his aides seemed to be testing the waters, setting off alarm bells among some conservatives who have rallied around his hard-line immigration stance. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said over and over he would force undocumented immigrants to leave the country as president. Now a meeting with a Hispanic advisory panel and statements from his surrogates are calling into question whether that's still the plan. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post) But judging from many rally-goers here in Tampa on Wednesday and at an event Tuesday in Austin, many rank-and-file voters will give Trump relatively broad latitude to alter the parameters of his immigration policies. He always said that as he got closer to November hed get into more details. Now were seeing that, said Ahava Van Camp, who attended the Tampa rally with her husband, Tom, and Bevo, their Maltese-poodle mix, who sat in a purple push cart. Its not a pivot. Hes on second base and getting closer to home. [Inside Trumps new strategy to counter the view that he is racist] Tom Van Camp mentioned the candidates appearance on Bill OReillys Fox News Channel program Monday night, when Trump said that he would do the same thing that President Obama has done when it comes to illegal immigrants who have not committed crimes. These existing laws which can be enforced will do the same thing as Trump has been calling for, Tom Van Camp said. Itll still kick people out. Starting with the dangerous folks is smart, he added. Its not going to be easy. In fact, I predict itll take the full length of his first term to get it done. Trumps shifting signals come months after he clinched the GOP nomination in large part by going further than any of his rivals on immigration, declaring that all undocumented immigrants have to go and that he would create a deportation force to carry out the task. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump invited the mothers of victims killed by illegal immigrants on stage with him at a rally in Austin on Aug. 23. "Your children did not die in vain because we are not going to allow it to happen to others," he said. (Jenny Starrs/Video: The Washington Post / Photo: Getty) The idea, however, was never part of the formal immigration policy that Trump released a year ago, and he has rarely mentioned the topic at his rallies. Instead, he describes in great detail the wall that he would build along the U.S.-Mexico border and warns that many illegal immigrants are violent criminals or terrorists emotional appeals that sound tough and dont require him to get into details. Trump also continues to bob and weave on specifics. At a town hall meeting Tuesday hosted by Fox News in Austin, he said he is open to softening laws to help immigrants already living in the United States illegally but peacefully. At the same time, when asked how he would respond to visa-holders who stay longer than allowed one of the largest categories of illegal immigrants he responded: You have to get them out. You have to get them out. [Behind in the polls, Trump returns to friendly ground in the South] Trump added further to the confusion in an interview with Fox News released Wednesday, when he said that there would be no amnesty for undocumented immigrants with good records but that we [would] work with them to presumably stay in the country. The softening comment in particular which followed several days of other signals by Trump and his advisers that changes were afoot alarmed some of his most prominent conservative supporters. Did he use the word soften? Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) asked reporters during Trumps Austin rally as he struggled to formulate a response. Donald Trump is wrestling with that issue, said Sessions, who has been advising the candidate for months. I fundamentally believe that the first and foremost priority is to fix the unlawful immigration. Thats got to stop and only once thats done, then you can begin to talk about what we should do in a proper way for people whove been here a long time. I think thats what he was suggesting today. Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), who has made controversial comments about illegal immigrants, said that he doesnt think Trump has altered his position and that it would be a mistake for him to do so. By crossing the border illegally, theyre, by definition, criminals. And he has said he wants to remove the criminals in this country, King said Wednesday on CNN, giving his interpretation of Trumps comment. So I would say that it would be tantamount to amnesty to reward people that break the law. Trumps murmur of a softening came the same day that conservative columnist Ann Coulter released her new book, In Trump We Trust: E Pluribus Awesome! During an interview on MSNBC, Coulter said that if Trump actually softens his deportation stance, this could become the shortest book tour ever for her. Why are we talking about softening the lives of lawbreakers? she said. I think this is a mistake. This sounds like its coming from consultants. [The Daily 202: Trumps time management problem] Former Florida governor Jeb Bush, who railed against Trumps divisive rhetoric during the bitter GOP primary, declined to comment directly on Trumps change in tone. But spokeswoman Kristy Campbell said, It is unsurprising that Donald Trump is finally faced with reconciling his immigration policy with reality, something Governor Bush predicted last year. Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez (D-Ill.), one of the most passionate advocates of immigration reform, said Trumps attempts to change his views will be futile. Its baked in. He cant change it. He should have thought of this earlier, Gutierrez said. Its too late. Trump didnt mention deportations during his rally in a cavernous event space on the grounds of the Florida State Fairgrounds on Wednesday afternoon and only briefly touched on the issue of immigration, promising to protect American jobs and target illegal immigrants who commit crimes. He urged Hispanic voters to support him and bragged that in the past three weeks his polls with African American folks and Spanish-speaking folks, the Hispanics, Latinos, have gone way up, an assertion that is not backed up by any scientific public polls. With about 24 hours of public notice, the venue was barely half full, with movable bleachers four rows high packed mostly with a mix of older and middle-aged supporters, most of them white. As Trump warned the crowd that Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton would accept more Middle Eastern refugees, a few people screamed out, Build that wall! It didnt fit with what he was saying, but he went with it anyway. Were going to build a wall, dont you worry about it, Trump said. Were going to build a wall. Were going to build the wall, and Mexico is going to pay for the wall, 100 percent. And its going to be a big wall. Its going to be a real wall. Its going to be as beautiful as a wall can be, but its going to be a wall. And were going to have protection for tunnels so that people cant tunnel under. We can easily have protection. But were going to have protection for tunnels. Trump then recapped his formal immigration position: Were going to have a real border. Were going to have a real wall. Mexico is going to pay for it. Johnson reported from Washington. Eva Ruth Moravec in Austin contributed to this report. The Obama administration will cut all U.S. support for its Syrian Kurdish allies, considered the most competent rebel force fighting the Islamic State, if they do not comply with Turkish demands that they withdraw to the east of the Euphrates River, Vice President Biden said here Wednesday. Biden said the Kurds, who Turkey claims intend to establish a separate state along a border corridor in conjunction with Turkeys own Kurdish population, cannot, will not, and under no circumstances will get American support if they do not keep what he said was a commitment to return to the east. The primary goal of Bidens day-long visit here was to convince Turkey that the United States had no role in, and did not condone, a July 15 coup attempt that has sent the country into a whirlwind of conspiracy theories, mass arrests and estrangement from Washington at a key moment in the campaign against the Islamic State. [How Turkish government regained control after failed coup] In statements and news conferences following lengthy separate meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, Biden, the first senior U.S. official to visit Turkey since the coup attempt, said he understood how some of your countrymen feel the world didnt respond . . . rapidly enough or with the appropriate amount of solidarity and empathy. A handout photo provided by the Turkish Presidential Press Office on Aug. 24, 2016, showsf Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) shaking hands with Vice President Biden. EPA/TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS OFFICE (Turkish Presidential Press Office/Handout/EPA) I personally, [President Obama] personally, and the American people stand in awe at the courage of your people in standing up to the plotters, Biden said, as Erdogan sat stone-faced beside him. Obama, Biden said in a news conference with Yildirim, had asked him to come today in order to remind the world of the paramount importance that we place on the relationship between our two nations, as allies, as partners and friends. Let me be clear, as clear as I possibly can, Biden said, raising his voice to a near-shout. I want to ease any speculation, some of which I have heard. . . . The United States of America did not have any foreknowledge of what befell you on the 15th. The United States of America, the people of the United States of America, abhor what happened and under no circumstances would support anything remotely approaching the cowardly act of the treasonous members of your military. We did not have prior knowledge, we did not support, we immediately condemned, and we continue as we did before the coup to stand shoulder to shoulder not only with the government of Turkey but with the people of Turkey. The people of Turkey have no greater friend . . . than the United States of America. Biden said the administration is acting expeditiously to process Turkeys request to extradite cleric Fethullah Gulen, a U.S. resident who Ankara says was the mastermind of the coup attempt. He made no mention of U.S. concerns, stated by Obama and others, that Turkey is diluting the rule of law and its democratic norms with the arrests and detentions of tens of thousands of alleged supporters of the plot. A Justice Department team arrived here Tuesday to clarify some of the information contained in four separate Turkish requests, all of which refer to alleged criminal activity by Gulen predating the coup attempt. But officials have said that the required steps including an Obama administration determination of whether the evidence crosses the legal threshold for extradition, followed by an extended court process may take years. [Turkey says this frail cleric is a coup mastermind ] In response to a question, Biden said he believed the Turks when they said they would uphold democracy and human rights. Citing what he called the confusion in the United States after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, he said, Lets give this some time. Neither Erdogan nor Yildirim gave much public ground in response to Bidens comments. Asked directly whether his government, which has issued thinly veiled allegations of U.S. complicity with the coup plotters, now believed in American innocence, Yildirim said that speedy extradition of Gulen would help the Turkish people get over their suspicions. Erdogan suggested that Gulen be immediately arrested while extradition was being processed. Biden responded that, just as extradition is a matter for the courts and not the executive branch, a court would have to decide whether there is probable cause to detain Gulen. But it was Bidens remarks about the Kurds that held the most potential for a substantive U.S. policy change. The comments are likely to provoke a negative response from U.S. critics who already think that Obamas approach to Turkey, a country long accused of sympathizing with Islamist extremists in Syria, has been too conciliatory. The Kurdish force has been instrumental, along with airstrikes, in what the administration has claimed as a series of rebel victories against the militants over the past year in Syria, including the retaking this month of the northern city of Manbij and other key towns west of the Euphrates River. Turkey, Yildirim said, considers the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units, or YPG, a terrorist organization. It says, and the administration has not disputed, that the United States promised it would not allow YPG forces to expand the border area they now control from the Euphrates east to the Iraqi border. Bidens arrival here came only hours after Turkish forces, with U.S. air support, crossed into Syria to eject the Islamic State from the town of Jarabulus, the militants last remaining stronghold along the Syrian-Turkish border. Yildirim said Turkeys motivation was to vanquish the Islamic State and to ensure that Kurdish fighters did not move into position there from nearby Manbij. A senior administration official traveling with Biden acknowledged that the Kurds had begun to head north from outside Manbij over the weekend and that they were met with cross-border Turkish shelling. The official said the United States had informed Turkey well before the Manbij operation that the Kurds were under strict instructions to return to the east side of the Euphrates after the city was captured. In a terse but unambiguous response to a question about the Kurdish moves, Biden ruled out a Kurdish border enclave. There will be no [Kurdish] corridor, he said. Period. No separate entity on the border. A united Syria. We have made it absolutely clear to . . . the YPG that participated in the taking of Manbij and other towns that they must move back across the river, he said. They cannot, will not, and under no circumstances will get American support if they do not keep that commitment. Period. Read more: Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos speaks during the campaign "Pedagogy for Peace" to inform people about the peace talks between the government and the FARC guerrillas. (Luis Robayo/AFP/Getty Images) After 52 years of fighting and nearly four years of grinding negotiations, the Colombian government and the countrys FARC rebel group declared Wednesday that they had reached an agreement to end the longest-running armed conflict in the Americas. The war is over, said Humberto de la Calle, the governments lead negotiator, after signing the accord with his guerrilla counterparts. The two sides made the announcement in Cuba, where the negotiations began in 2012 and where Fidel Castro launched a communist revolution that inspired guerrilla insurgencies across the hemisphere. Colombia, a nation of 50 million that is among the closest U.S. allies in Latin America, is the one place where war has yet to end. We have finished fighting with weapons and will now do battle with ideas, said FARCs chief negotiator, Ivan Marquez, a former member of Congress who took up arms after many other leftist Colombian politicians were assassinated by right-wing groups in the 1980s. In their statements, the two negotiators described the accord as a road map for the transformation of Colombia, ending a sordid history of political violence and creating a more democratic society in a country long dominated by a well-to-do elite. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos followed the announcement with a nationally televised address, summarizing the deals main points for a Colombian public that retains a large measure of skepticism and confusion about the agreement. Today is the beginning of the end of suffering, pain and tragedy of the war, he said. Although the reaction to the accord was subdued in Colombia, images of some Colombians celebrating in the streets began circulating on social media. More than 220,000 Colombians have been killed in fighting over the past half-century, and nearly 7 million have been driven from their homes. But one major obstacle remains for the peace deal to stick. Colombian voters must ratify the accord in a vote that Santos said would take place Oct. 2. That plebiscite is shaping up as a showdown between Santos and his biggest political rival. Santos will be campaigning for the accords approval. His nemesis, former president Alvaro Uribe, is leading the drive to sink the deal. He and other critics say it is too favorable to FARC leaders, whose guerrilla war tactics included kidnapping, drug trafficking and killings. Opinion polls have yielded mixed results on whether Colombians are likely to approve the peace deal. [Biggest obstacle to peace in Colombia may not be FARC, but an ex-president] One element of the accord that was made public for the first time Wednesday and that is likely to stir controversy governs the FARCs return to representative politics. The FARC will be given a limited number of representatives in Congress as part of its transition to a political party. Those representatives will function as spokesmen, with no voting rights, and will be involved exclusively in matters pertaining to the implementation of the peace deal, Santos said. Rebel commanders will eventually be permitted to run for political office as full representatives if they are cleared of war crimes and other criminal charges. If approved at the ballot box, the peace agreement would become law, and the FARC would begin demobilizing its 7,000 fighters at designated camps and protected zones with monitors from the United Nations. The rebel group whose full name is the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia would have 180 days to fully disarm under the terms of the agreement. This is the final chapter of the Cold War in the hemisphere, said Bernard Aronson, the U.S. envoy to the peace talks, in an interview before the announcement. Aronson said he expected the Colombian government to publish a final text of the treaty within days. FARC commanders are planning to return to their remote camps in the mountains and jungles of Colombia, where they will hold a FARC congress to build support for the deal among rank-and-file rebels and prepare for disarmament and demobilization. Wednesdays announcement follows days of marathon negotiations between the government team and the guerrilla commanders. A final sticking point was the timing of a blanket amnesty that will be offered to lower-ranking guerrillas who face only charges of rebellion, in contrast with more-senior FARC members accused of committing more-serious crimes. Under the terms of the accord, the higher-ranking FARC members will be able to avoid prison if they fully disclose their role in the war and make reparations as part of a truth-and-reconciliation process. A matter of concern for FARC commanders has been the timing of their fighters move from their mountain redoubts into U.N. camps. The commanders have been reluctant to commit to that move before the plebiscite is completed, fearing that if it fails, the rebels would be stuck in the camps and partly disarmed, even though fighting could resume. Neither side said Wednesday when the guerrillas would begin their demobilization. Santos did not travel to Havana for Wednesdays ceremony, which did not occur with the same fanfare as a cease-fire announcement in June attended by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and several countries leaders. [Colombia announces cease-fire deal to end conflict with rebels] Santos has acknowledged that peace with the FARC would end Colombias longest war but not all of its armed conflicts. His government has struggled to make progress in talks with a smaller guerrilla group known as the National Liberation Army, or ELN, which will be looking to enlarge its estimated force of 1,500 fighters with disaffected FARC soldiers who reject a transition to peaceful civilian life. Julia Symmes Cobb in Bogota, Colombia, contributed to this report. Read more: Peace may be coming, so Colombias farmers are on a massive coca binge Colombias peace process: Whats next and whats at stake An end to Colombias war seems close except in rebel territory Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world For a spectacle designed to celebrate a countrys break from its Soviet past, the military parade here Wednesday felt peculiarly, impeccably, Soviet. Huge columns of army, air force and navy units marched through central Kiev, followed by scores of military vehicles and rocket-launch systems, as Ukraine marked a quarter of a century of independence from Moscow and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The brash display of military might was intended to boost morale and highlight the renewed potency of Ukraines once-beleaguered armed forces in the face of tensions over Russias annexation of Crimea and escalating violence in Ukraines war-torn east. Ahead of Ukraines largest military procession since the collapse of communism, President Petro Poroshenko told a crowd of thousands that the country must rely on its own strength rather than external help a swipe at the West for not doing more to protect Ukraine from a separatist insurgency and a perceived covert Russian invasion. Independence has given us democracy and freedom, the feeling of civic dignity and national unity, Poroshenko said in the Maidan, or Independence Square, the hub of the protests that ousted then-President Viktor Yanukovych in 2014. Our main guarantor is the Ukrainian armed forces. . . . This parade will signal to our international partners that Ukraine is capable of defending itself but requires further support. He spoke scornfully of Russian President Vladimir Putins imperial appetite and warned that Ukraine would need years and tens of billions of hryvnias until it can sleep soundly. The Ukrainian hryvnia is worth about four U.S. cents. Among the crowd were men in traditional embroidered shirts, women adorned with flower garlands, children draped in Ukrainian flags and young couples taking selfies in front of the rolling mass of tanks, towed guns and missile batteries. Chants of Glory to Ukraine! and Death to enemies met generals saluting the president from armored vehicles while a commentators voice boomed from loudspeakers, hailing the weapons range and explosive capabilities. Hundreds of servicemen and veterans turned out to witness the ostentatious parade. This is the birthday of my nation. I want to see my colleagues taking part, said Yurii Kozlovskiy, 33, a former border guard who lost a leg in a grenade explosion during a training accident and now uses a wheelchair. Im proud of my people and my army. Im proud of Ukraine. Spyrydon Tseromonokh, 42, a former fighter with a volunteer battalion in Donbas, the eastern region riven by separatist conflict, said: Im here to honor the men who are fighting to defend our country. He was clad in military fatigues, with a large metal crucifix dangling beneath his bushy, salt-and-pepper beard. But now Ive left all that behind me to study astronomy. Others were less reassured by the vast quantities of hardware that rumbled down Kievs central boulevard, Khreshchatyk. Mary Gavuysevych, an 18-year-old student, said: I cant understand why everyone is cheering. They are too proud of these weapons. I love my country, but this scene scares me. President Obama congratulated Ukrainians, saying: This day is particularly important in light of the threats posed to Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. . . . The United States remains resolute in our commitment to stand with Ukraine as you confront Russian aggression. The Soviet Union crumbled in the wake of a failed August 1991 putsch by communist hard-liners. The Ukrainian republics parliament voted to declare independence on Aug. 24, 1991, a move that was confirmed by referendum that December. But many in Ukraine think the fight to defend their sovereignty is not yet over as Moscow wages a campaign of destabilization. The parade coincided with shelling hundreds of miles away in the troubled east, where violence between government forces and Kremlin-backed separatists has surged over the past week. The deadliest month of fighting in a year has brought an increase in the use of destructive, notoriously inaccurate grad rockets and other heavy weapons banned under last years Minsk cease-fire deal. Local reports this week showed rebel forces conducting marine landing drills near Mariupol, a key government-held industrial city on the Sea of Azov. Russia this month claimed to have caught Ukrainian saboteurs in Crimea, sending tensions around the annexed peninsula soaring and prompting Poroshenko to put troops on full alert. Despite the saber-rattling, analysts say a return to all-out warfare is unlikely. Moscow is thought to be using a controlled escalation to reformat upcoming peace negotiations, to pressure Ukraine and the West into accepting a peace settlement on Russias terms, to bait Ukrainian forces into an offensive to further weaken Kievs diplomatic position and to pave the way for the removal of sanctions, according to Alex Kokcharov, a Ukraine and Russia analyst at IHS Markit, a consulting firm. The independence day celebrations come amid Ukraines wider push to eliminate its communist past. Last month, a statue of Vladimir Lenin in Kiev was the latest to be pulled off its pedestal as part of a nationwide drive to remove all monuments and symbols linked to the Soviet era. Read more Tensions mount between Russia and Ukraine ahead of military drills How Paul Manafort revived his career and business fortunes in Ukraine Russia accuses Ukraine of igniting border clash in Crimea Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Afghan men sit in an ambulance after being rescued from a Taliban attack on the campus of the American University in Kabul. Aug. 24, 2016 Afghan men sit in an ambulance after being rescued from a Taliban attack on the campus of the American University in Kabul. Omar Sobhani/Reuters Militants attacked the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, killing at least 11 people and wounding at least 30. Militants attacked the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, killing at least 11 people and wounding at least 30. Militants attacked the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, killing at least 11 people and wounding at least 30. Gunmen stormed the American University of Afghanistan here Wednesday evening after setting off a powerful explosion nearby, sending panicked studentsscrambling for safety on the highly guarded campus in the Afghan capital. Early Thursday, Kabul police reported that the gun battle had ended shortly before dawn, with all attackers killed. They said 11 people had died in the campus assault, including seven students, and that 30 more people had been injured. Most of them were killed from the attackers firing, police spokesman Basir Mujahid said shortly after 6 a.m. I saw the bodies of female students. A couple of students died when they threw themselves from buildings. He said three police officers and one guard died in the nine-hour battle at the Kabul campus, where some students were trapped all night. He did not say what the total number of attackers had been. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. The explosion and gun battle occurred less than three weeks after two foreign professors at the elite university, one American and one Australian, were kidnapped at gunpoint just outside the campus. There has been no news of them since, and no group has asserted responsibility for their abduction. [American University in Kabul reopens after kidnappings, but campuses feel chill] As news of the explosion circulated quickly on social media, students tweeted that they were hearing gunfire close by and feared that the assailants had entered the campus. There were conflicting reports on whether the gunmen had breached the compound, as well as unconfirmed reports of students being taken hostage. One Afghan who spoke by phone with friends on campus said that the gunmen were holed up at a nearby eye hospital and that many students had taken shelter in a safe room on campus. Another report said wounded students were trapped inside. Afghan police and special security forces converged on the campus, which is surrounded by high walls and is in a remote area of Kabul. A spokesman for the Interior Ministry said a special operations force was being sent inside to search for attackers. Ambulances and other emergency vehicles rushed to the scene. A Defense Department official in Washington said a small contingent from the U.S. military advisory mission based in Kabul was assisting and advising Afghan forces as they responded to the chaos. U.S. forces in Afghanistan are not permitted to engage in combat. One of the first alerts about the attack came from Massoud Hossaini, a Pulitzer-winning photojournalist from the Associated Press who was inside the campus at the time. At 7:23 p.m. local time, he tweeted, Help we are stuck inside AUAF and shooting followed by explo this may be my last tweets. But the AP bureau chief in Kabul, Lynne ODonnell, tweeted soon afterward that all her staff members were safe, and Hossaini deleted his tweets. Other Twitter users on and off campus sent a flurry of emotional messages after the explosion, which was loud enough to be heard across the capital. Many friends and relatives sought news or tried to console and reassure one another. Rafi Fazil messaged his friends on campus: Praying for your safety. Make sure you find somewhere safe to take cover. Hikmatullah Noori tweeted that a friend had been injured and was rushed to the hospital. Please pray for his recovery, Noori tweeted. The campus was crowded Wednesday night because many studentswork during the day. All courses are taught in English. Many students who need help improving their English skills also take special courses in the evening. About 1,300 students attend undergraduate and graduate programs at the university. The private nonprofit university, founded in 2006, was briefly shut down after the two professors were abducted Aug. 7, but it opened again for the final days of its fall semester. In a message at the time, Mark English, its American president, said, AUAF is a lasting legacy of the U.S. in Afghanistan, and we will not be deterred. In a separate statement, he said university officials will remain vigilant to insure the safety and security of all personnel and students. After the kidnappings, numerous students interviewed said that they felt safe on the highly secure campus and were accustomed to living amid violence and conflict but that they worried that foreign instructors would be deterred from returning or taking new positions. No group has asserted responsibility for the violence Wednesday, but the two-pronged assault was typical of the complex attacks periodically carried out by Taliban insurgents against government and foreign facilities in Afghanistan. On Aug. 1, a powerful truck bomb was detonated outside a guesthouse for foreign nationals, followed by a firefight that killed a police officer. Missy Ryan in Washington contributed to this report. 8 For more photos, visit wapo.st/UniversityAttack. Read more: U.S. widens war in Afghanistan, authorizes new action against Taliban Taliban strikes in heart of Kabul in deadly attack on elite agency Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world A tiger which was evacuated from a zoo in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip is carried after being treated before being transported to South Africa. (Menahem Kahana/AFP/Getty Images) The last tiger in Gaza departed the coastal enclave at dawn on Wednesday, traveling in a wooden crate, cooled by chunks of ice placed on top of his temporary transport. The tiger was high, perhaps thankfully. He was given a sedative by his new keepers to help him deal with the long, strange trip to come. The Bengal tiger was rescued from a painfully small cage here in the now-shuttered amusement park dubbed by animal rights advocates the worst zoo in the world. Truth be told, there are probably worse. It is a big world and there are many miserable zoos. The zoo in Khan Younis gained notoriety when its owner began mummifying and displaying animals that died from disease, stress and starvation. Now, the facility is closing and the remaining 14 animals, including a 400-pound tiger, are being rescued. (Jason Aldag,William Booth/The Washington Post) But the Khan Younis facility was unique. Its owner displayed the mummified corpses of animals that had died at his zoo of stress, disease and starvation. The last tiger in Gaza, renamed Laziz, meaning delicious in Arabic, passed from the Gaza Strip into Israel at the Erez crossing early Wednesday. He was scheduled to visit Hebrew Universitys Koret veterinary hospital and then continue on to Ben Gurion Airport to make El Als evening Flight 71 to Johannesburg. Laziz was traveling with 14 fellow survivors of the Khan Younis zoo. These were the lucky ones out of 220 inhabitants at the zoo during its peak. In crates beside the tiger was a little ark: Two porcupines, which last week escaped but had been recaptured. Two long-legged buzzards. A pelican that had lived in a waterless world in his aviary. Two tortoises that barely had room enough to turn around in their enclosure. There was a mother deer, too. She had lost her fawn, which died of wounds sustained struggling to escape her cage a few weeks ago. And an emu, which finally went into his shipping crate after putting up a fight. Then there were the monkeys two macaques and three vervets. The monkeys had to be sedated before they could be examined and placed in their dog-kennel-style traveling crates. It is not easy to hit an angry monkey in its cage with a syringed dart fired from a blowgun as a dozen journalists with cameras watch. Not easy at all. Two of the monkeys were discovered to be pregnant. The last to be loaded on the truck Tuesday night was the tiger. He weighs more than 400 pounds, plus his crate. Strong men could barely lift him. Finally, a local with a motorbike attached to a trailer arrived to help. As the animals were being subdued and put into their crates, the local Palestinians at the zoo joked that they would be happy to trade places to get out of Gaza, which suffers from a partial trade and travel blockade, enforced by Israel and Egypt. One guy said the Palestinians should strip off their clothes and pretend to be Tarzan so they could go along with their animal friends. There are almost 2 million Palestinians living in Gaza. There is no airport, no seaport and only limited access to the outside world. Israel mostly allows only traders, the sick and elderly to enter Israel on limited permits. Egypts crossing at Rafah has been closed more than it has been open in the past three years. Before departing Wednesday morning, the animals and their new caregivers, from the international animal charity and rescue group called Four Paws, spent the night in the parking lot of the Marna House Hotel in Gaza City. Passersby peered into the truck and tried to capture images on their smartphones. The tiger has lived an impossible life. The zoos owner and patriarch, Ziad Awaida, said he purchased two tiger cubs from black-market traders providing animals for an Egyptian zoo. The cubs, Awaida said in an interview, were smuggled into Egypt from Senegal. For the flight and to pass Egyptian customs, they were disguised as ordinary house cats. They painted them black to cover the stripes, Awaida said. He admits this is an incredible detail. This is what I was told. Where the tigers were born, Awaida said, he does not know. When he bought them in Egypt in 2007, they were still nursing on milk. The tigers were smuggled into Gaza through the tunnels from Rafah. This may sound extraordinary, until you learn that people have used the tunnels to smuggle Mercedes-Benz sedans, orders of Kentucky Fried Chicken and Grad rockets from Iran. The tigers grew up in their cage in Khan Younis and were the zoos most popular attraction. Tickets to enter the park cost 50 cents for children, almost a buck for adults. The pair survived wars in 2008 and 2012 between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist militant organization that controls the Gaza Strip. In the aftermath of the third and most costly war, in the summer of 2014, the female tiger died along with more than 2,100 Palestinians and 72 Israelis. Awaida said he could not reach the zoo for 17 days because of the shelling and airstrikes from Israel, and rocket and mortar attacks by Hamas. Many animals died during the conflict and afterward. The zoo owner used formaldehyde and sawdust to mummify the dead. In addition to the tiger, visitors could look at desiccated carcasses of a baboon, a lion and a crocodile, and the scattered skeletons of other animals. The zookeepers morbid display was both a financial and political decision. He had bought the animals, and people would pay to see them, dead or alive; he also wanted to show Palestinians what the Gaza wars and Israeli siege had wrought. What will happen to the animals now? The zoo is closed. Four Paws is transporting the birds, deer and porcupines to animal reserves in Jordan. The five monkeys will live out their days at a primate sanctuary in Israel. The tiger is headed to Lionsrock, a big-cat preserve in South Africa, where he will be free to roam a large natural enclosure. He is 8 or 9 years old. Tigers in the wild live around 17 years, but those in captivity can survive longer, so maybe the story ends well for him. He will have a good life in Africa, promised Amir Khalil, a veterinarian for Four Paws. The story of the tiger rescue was not top news in Gaza. The media at the zoo were mostly from the international press and news services. On Facebook, locals commenting on photographs of the scene were mostly unmoved. Akram Radi wrote in his post, Hey, they treated the animals and freed them from the zoo? Now who is going to free the humans from the worlds biggest zoo, Gaza? Hazem Balousha contributed to this report. Read more The military operation in Gaza that still haunts Israel one year later Israel and Hamas using rocket language again in new escalation Israel wants someone to build a $5 billion island off Gaza Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Rescue workers search for victims in the town of Amatrice in central Italy. Authorities said that two more bodies were pulled out of the hill towns rubble, raising the overall death toll to 292. Aug. 29, 2016 Rescue workers search for victims in the town of Amatrice in central Italy. Authorities said that two more bodies were pulled out of the hill towns rubble, raising the overall death toll to 292. Massimo Percossi/European Pressphoto Agency Nearly 300 people have died after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake and strong aftershocks struck the region. At least 120 people were killed after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake and a series of strong aftershocks struck the region. At least 120 people were killed after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake and a series of strong aftershocks struck the region. In this ancient town laid waste in seconds, Sister Mariana Lleshi, 35, walked the rubble-strewn streets in a daze. A patch of white gauze was taped to her forehead. Behind her stood the ruins of her convent flattened by the 6.2-magnitude earthquake that slammed Italys heartland on Wednesday. Twenty women mostly nuns, and a few lay residents went to bed there Tuesday. By late Wednesday, seven were still missing, part of a far larger tragedy unfolding in this Mediterranean nation. As rescuers searched the debris with dogs, a police officer nearby shook his head. Just look at it, he said, shrugging at the devastation in lost hope. The quake struck at 3:36 a.m. as townspeople across central Italy slept. I remember hearing something, a loud noise, and then hiding under my bed, Lleshi said. I was screaming, and I got out and started running when the ceiling started coming down. A young man who was staying overnight at the convent found her in the chaos and guided her to safety. All I could see was destruction around me, she said. I had lost all hope to get out of this alive, but God sent me his messenger. On Wednesday, many others across a vast swath of quake-prone Italy were not as fortunate. Early Thursday, Italian authorities said at least 247 people died in the quake, a toll that could jump as search crews rake through the rubble in cities, towns and villages across the regions of Lazio, Umbria and the Marches. Hundreds were injured and missing. Thousands were left homeless. A powerful 6.2-magnitude earthquake ripped through towns in central Italy in the middle of the night on Aug. 24, leaving fatalities and rubble in its wake. Rescuers are frantically working to reach survivors trapped in collapsed buildings and beyond blocked roads. (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post) Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, speaking from northern Lazio, looked beyond the rescue operation to the huge task of rebuilding. The credibility and honor of us all will be in granting a true reconstruction that allows the residents to live and restart, he said. [The worlds deadliest earthquakes since 2000] This part of Italy known for its gently sloping vineyards and olive groves, and its precious towns of cobblestone streets was already confronting a plague of economic stagnation, its population aging and decreasing. Not as rich as Italys north or as aid-worthy as its poorer south, it is a part of the country where investment in infrastructure lags. Yet the vacation month of August is when the areas towns come alive with part-time residents and tourists a fact that officials said could drive the death toll up. Buildings swayed from Rome to Venice. But large parts of Amatrice a town of 2,700 known for supplying the chefs of popes and the recipe for one of Italys greatest pasta dishes were left in total ruin. Amatrice was among the worst hit, part of a list of unlucky towns including Accumoli, Posta and Arquata del Tronto. This weekend, Amatrice was to host the 50th annual Spaghetti Amatriciana Festival a celebration of its famous tomato-and-pork-jowl pasta dish that was scheduled for the town square. That square is now a pile of rubble, and Amatrice is counting its dead. The 15th-century main gate to the town which resisted invasions and past earthquakes crumbled. Two churches, from the 14th and 15th centuries, collapsed. We were used to earthquakes, but now the town is no more, said Amatrice Mayor Sergio Pirozzi. We will keep on digging. Hope is the last to go. In town, people draped in white blankets stood shell-shocked next to destroyed buildings. Before-and-after aerial pictures showed the magnitude of the destruction. On the towns dusty, devastated streets Wednesday, the bell-tower clock was stuck at 3:36. Three women walked on restlessly, one of them in a panicked search for a family friend. All around, rescuers plucked away at rubble with heavy machinery, pickaxes and bare hands. At one point, 10 men with a search dog pinpointed a possible survivor or body buried in the rubble. They labored feverishly in the debris of a ruined building. There were moments of relief and joy several survivors, including a small girl, were pulled alive from debris. But random scenes of tragedy also unfolded. One rescue worker ran across a street, for instance, telling another in resignation about the fate of a possible survivor. He simply said, Marco, hes dead. And there were heroics. My brother, he risked his life to try to save his wife, said a distraught visitor, Nunzia Onori, 59. He ran back into the house to save her while it was collapsing. He tried so hard. But she did not make it. It makes you want to cry. Yet many here mourned for the town itself for so much history lost. Its horrific, horrific. Everything has been stolen from us from an economic perspective, a social perspective and a cultural perspective, said Luca Faccenda, 65. [Why the earthquake in Italy was so destructive] The main earthquake, a shallow six miles below ground, was centered about 106 miles northeast of Rome. A string of aftershocks as strong as magnitude 5.5 continued to hit the affected zone, and the damage was far-flung, with some of the worst devastation in Lazio. In Accumoli, another hard-hit town in Lazio, Mayor Stefano Petrucci described extensive damage and casualties. Four people are under the rubble, but they are not showing any sign of life, two parents and two children, the mayor told the RAI news outlet. Authorities called on residents in affected provinces to avoid congesting roadways to help rescue workers. Appeals were issued for blood as hospitals dealt with a rush of earthquake victims. The Vatican dispatched its fire brigade. Speaking in St. Peters Square in Vatican City, Pope Francis said: I cannot but express my great pain and say I am with the people in all the places stricken by this earthquake. The quake evoked memories of 2009, when a 6.3-magnitude quake struck farther south, killing more than 300 people. That quake was centered around LAquila, about 54 miles south of the latest quake. Remy Bossu, head of the European-Mediterranean Seismological Center in France, said shallow earthquakes of this magnitude are not highly unusual in the zone hit Wednesday. In addition to the LAquila earthquake, another hit Umbria and the Marches in 1997 that severely damaged the famous Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. He said the main problem in the area was the large number of older buildings that cannot withstand earthquakes of this magnitude. The problem is that the [earthquake-proof] building code only applies to new buildings, Bossu said. To retrofit an old building is a very complex and costly operation. So its only done for key buildings, such as hospitals. In Amatrice, many of the buildings were not reinforced to withstand earthquakes of this size including the 1940s convent with the missing residents. Even as the search continued at the convent late into the night, there were no immediate signs of hope. Church officials said many women had still not been found. Humans are fragile, vulnerable to danger, said Domenico Pompili, the local bishop. This is a time of challenge, a time for rescue and a time for prayer. Faiola reported from London. Stephanie Kirchner in Berlin and James McAuley in Paris contributed to this report. Read more A year after Italys earthquake, residents rebuild on their own Why Italy is facing a looming crisis Powerful quake hits central Burma Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Turkish troops and tanks crossed into Syria on Wednesday in support of a new U.S.-backed offensive against the Islamic State, helping Syrian rebels to swiftly recapture an important border town but also adding another layer of complexity to Syrias deeply complicated war. By late afternoon, rebel units with the Free Syrian Army had swept into the center of the Syrian town of Jarabulus, the Islamic States last foothold on the Turkish border. The rebels encountered almost no resistance from Islamic State fighters, who fled ahead of the advancing force, according to rebel commanders in the area. Photographs posted on social media showed rebels posing in front of deserted government buildings in the towns central square and raising the flags of Turkey and the Free Syrian Army over the gates to the town. There wasnt much resistance at all from ISIS forces and they retreated even faster after Turkish troops marched across the border, said Ahmed al-Gader, a rebel fighter speaking from Jarabulus. We have taken over the main buildings of the town, and things are very quiet now. The offensive coincided with a crucial visit to Ankara by Vice President Biden and seemed timed to demonstrate that Turkey and the United States remain close allies in the war against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, despite the tensions that have erupted in their relationship since last months coup attempt in Turkey. [Biden warns Kurds not to seek separate enclave on Turkish-Syrian border] The move drew condemnations from the Syrian government and Russia, as well as Syrian Kurds, who have been regarded as the United States most reliable and effective partner in the war against the Islamic State but now risk being usurped by their arch enemy, Turkey. The offensive was spearheaded by Turkey, which sent tanks, troops and warplanes into Syria for the first time in the countrys five-year-old war, to help a force estimated to comprise between 1,000 and 1,500 Syrian rebels. U.S. advisers assisted the operation from inside Turkey, while U.S. warplanes conducted airstrikes alongside Turkish ones in support of the offensive, according to U.S. officials. Jarabulus was the last of the once many Syrian-Turkish border crossings controlled by the Islamic State, and its loss will significantly curtail the flow of foreign fighters and supplies to its territories elsewhere, including its self-styled capital of Raqqa, said Col. John Dorrian, a U.S. military spokesman. Further setbacks in northern Syria continue to set the stage for the liberation of Raqqa, he said. Using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State, he said, Interdicting Daesh in Jarabulus reduces their ability to bring foreign fighters into Syria and Iraq, it reduces their ability to export terror from the region and makes it much more difficult to resupply and control terrain. The recapture of Jarabulus is just the latest in an expanding list of defeats inflicted on the militants, and their failure to defend it illustrates the Islamic States dwindling capacity to put up a fight, he added. The capture of the town came a day after the group was ejected by Iraqi forces from the northern Iraq town of Qayyarah and just days after it lost control of the nearby Syrian town of Manbij, which was captured by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces last week. The presence of Turkish troops in Syria will also, however, raise the stakes in Syrias war, recalibrating the battlefield in northern Syria and potentially pushing Turkey closer toward conflict with the U.S.-backed Syrian Kurds battling the Islamic State in the area. [Turkeys Syria offensive is as much about the Kurds as the Islamic State] Turkey has long warned that it will not tolerate continued Kurdish advances in northeastern Syria, and Turkish leaders stated that the dispatch of Turkish troops into the country was aimed as much at blunting Kurdish advances as rolling back the militants. The Turkish incursion drew immediate criticism from Syrias Kurds, who have made no secret of their ambition to forge a new autonomous Kurdish region in northern Syria adjoining the Turkish border. One top Kurdish leader warned Turkey that it is entering a quagmire in Syria. Turkey . . . will be defeated, as Daesh, Saleh Muslim, the leader of the main Kurdish political party, the PYD (Democratic Union Party), said on his Twitter account. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan responded that the Jarabulus operation was aimed as much at the Kurdish group as at the Islamic State, saying its target was terror organizations such as Daesh and the PYD. Those who have challenged Turkey should think about what will happen, Erdogan added, referring to the PYD, in a speech at the presidential palace in Ankara. Biden made it clear that the United States supports the Turkish presence in Syria. He delivered a blunt warning to the Kurds that the United States will not tolerate the creation of a separate Kurdish entity in northern Syria. No [Kurdish] corridor. Period. No separate entity on the border. A united Syria, he said at a joint news conference with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. Biden also warned that unless the Kurds comply with a prior agreement with the United States to withdraw from the Syrian town of Manbij after capturing it, they will no longer receive U.S. support. They cannot, will not and under no circumstances will get American support if they do not keep that commitment. Period, he said. Bidens threat could significantly curb the Kurds ambitions, which have been fueled by the support they have received from the U.S military. Manbij, an Arab city, lies to the west of the Euphrates River and had appeared to offer the Kurds a springboard that would enable them to link the areas of northeastern Syria already administered by Kurds with a separate Kurdish enclave farther west in the province of Aleppo, creating a vast Kurdish region that would also span many Arab areas. U.S. Special Operations forces had joined in the battle for Manbij alongside the Syrian Kurds, on the condition that Kurdish forces would withdraw back across the river after the city was won something that has not happened yet. The deployment of Turkish troops in Jarabulus may have permanently thwarted the Kurdish goal, said Soner Cagaptay of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. If the PYD was hoping to keep Manbij in its hands to use the city as a linchpin, he said, now this is a distant prospect for the Syrian Kurdish group. The Turkish deployment prompted an angry response from the Syrian government, which condemned the presence of Turkish troops as a blatant violation of Syrian sovereignty. Whats happening in Jarabulus now isnt fighting terrorism as Turkey claims; rather it is replacing one type of terrorism with another, said an unidentified Foreign Ministry official quoted by the official Syrian news agency SANA. Russia also expressed concerns about the incursion, saying it was deeply worried by an offensive that may increase the possibility of civilian casualties and cause tensions between Arabs and Kurds, according to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry. Sly reported from Beirut. DeYoung reported from Ankara. Heba Habib in Stockholm and Zakaria Zakaria in Istanbul contributed to this report. Read more U.S. jets scramble as Syrians bomb near American forces Suicide bombing shows how Turkeys Kurds are getting hit from all sides Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Nepals parliament in Kathmandu elected Pushpa Kamal Dahal, or Prachanda, the chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist-Centre (CPN-MC), as the prime minister of a newly-formed coalition government early this month. The previous government headed by K. P. Oli was ousted in a regime-change operation backed by India, which opposed his growing relationship with China. The turmoil in the small landlocked country, wedged between India and China, has been driven by rising geo-political tensions across Asia, as the United States enlists countries to diplomatically isolate and militarily encircle China. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is supporting the American pivot against China, intended to establish US hegemony throughout the region. At the same time, New Delhi in supporting the toppling of Oli also sought to strengthen its own strategic interests. Under Olis government, relations between Kathmandu and New Delhi were bitterly strained and Oli tried to promote ties with Beijing in order to avert Indian pressure. The Maoist CPN-MC was the main partner in Olis Communist Party of Nepal-UML (CPN-UML)-led government, but withdrew its support and struck a power-sharing agreement with the right-wing Nepal Congress (NC). Under the deal, Prachanda will be prime minister for nine months, then NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba will replace him. Prachanda first became prime minister in August 2008 after his party joined Nepals political establishment, abandoning a guerrilla war, under an Indian-brokered deal in 2006 to derail the intense popular opposition to the countrys monarchy. Prachanda was compelled to resign in May 2009 due to opposition within the political and military establishment to his sacking of the then army chief, General Rookmangud Katawal. Having returned to the premiership, Prachanda boasted in parliament about his credentials for stabilising capitalist rule amid growing opposition from working people and rural toilers. He declared: As someone who raised guns, I feel I am the person that history has moved forward to work for this country. The CPN-MC and NC also signed a three-point agreement with the Madeshi-based parties, promising some concessions for the Madeshi elites, which claim to represent the population in the southern areas of Nepal bordering India. The deal includes redrawing Madeshi provincial borders through constitutional amendments. The Oli government confronted a serious political crisis due to protests led by the Madeshi parties, which included a five-month Indian-backed blockade of supply routes from India. New Delhi supported the Madeshi campaign as a mean of exerting pressure on Kathmandu to keep it within Indias strategic orbit. The Indian government also calculated that a stronger presence of the Madeshi elites, who have ethnic ties to India, in Nepals political establishment would boost Indias influence. In order to strengthen his own eroded political base among CPN-MC members, Prachanda also wants the withdrawal of criminal cases against them for their role in the armed Maoist rebellion from 1996 to 2006. However, like the Madeshi constitutional amendments, that would require a two-thirds majority in parliament, where the CPN-MUL is the second largest party, holding 175 out of 601 seats. The NC and CPN-MC have 196 and 80 seats respectively, with the remaining seats divided among smaller parties, including the Madeshi Front. In this fragile political situation, the Indian government quickly indicated its support for the new coalition. According to Prime Minister Modis tweet message, Modi immediately spoke to Prachanda, congratulated him and assured him of our full support & invited him to India. Washington also welcomed the shift. The US Embassy in Kathmandu said: The United States looks forward to continuing to partner with the people and government of Nepal to build a more democratic, prosperous, and stable nation that can carry out the important tasks of constitutional implementation, reconstruction, and economic development. With the Indian governments assistance, Washington is clearly seeking to integrate Kathmandu into its strategic orbit in the Asia-Pacific region, undercutting Chinas influence. At the same time, while aligning more with New Delhi, Prachanda is still trying to balance between India and China. Prachanda assured Beijing that he would honour the understandings and agreements that Oli signed with China. One of the poorest countries in the world, Nepal has been compelled to depend on both of its large neighbours. On top of experiencing decades of civil war and political instability, the country faces a deepening economic crisis because of the world slump. Annual growth is expected not to exceed 1.5 percent this year. A quarter of Nepals population is living in extreme poverty, existing on less than $US2 a day. Under these conditions, Nepalese governments have turned to China for investment. After taking office, Prachanda immediately sent his two deputy prime ministers to China and India. On August 15, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara arrived in China with an invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit Nepal. Xi accepted, resuming plans for a visit that was being prepared when Olis government was toppled. The Oli government had signed several economic agreements with China, including on trade and transit. Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang told Mahara that China was ready to deepen cooperation with Nepal on trade, investment, connectivity and infrastructure, and offer greater assistance. Beijing is obviously anxious to maintain what it regards as strategically significant opportunities in Nepal opened up under Oli, in order to counter Washingtons sweeping offensive. Bimalendra Nidhi, the other deputy prime minister, arrived in India on August 18 to prepare for a visit to Nepal by Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, and trips to India by Prachanda and Nepals President Bidya Devi Bhandari. Despite such efforts, Prachanda and the new coalition government will not bring political stability to Nepal. Instead, the country is increasingly being dragged into the maelstrom of geo-political rivalry between China, India and the US. On Tuesday, US Vice President Joseph Biden traveled to Latvia to reaffirm the commitment of the United States to go to war with Russia in the event of a conflict between Moscow and the Baltic states. I want to make it absolutely clear to all the people in the Baltic states: we have pledged our sacred honor, the United States of America to the NATO treaty and Article 5, Biden said, after meeting with Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite and other Baltic leaders. The plain meaning of Bidens words is this: Should any one of these tiny states, headed by fanatically anti-Russian regimes, stage a provocation against Russia leading to a border clash, the sacred honor of the United States requires that the American people be plunged into war against the worlds second largest nuclear power. What is this sacred honor invoked by Mr. Biden? Is it the same honor that has led the US to illegally invade Iraq and Afghanistan and turn them into infernos of death and destruction? Is it the high-mindedness demonstrated by the fomenting of proxy wars that have destroyed Libya and Syria? Or did the vice president have in mind the incineration of a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz, the obliteration of women and children in drone strikes, the sadistic torture carried out at CIA black sites and the gulags of Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay? The war criminal Biden calls it a matter of honor to prepare the greatest of all war crimes: hurling the worlds population into a war between countries whose nuclear arsenals are capable of wiping out human civilization many times over. To the extent that there is any discussion in the media or political establishment of a military conflict with Russia, it is presented from the fraudulent standpoint of defending human rights or upholding the sovereignty of US allies. No examination of the real causes of war or its consequences is permitted. What would a war between the United States and Russia look like? What is the likelihood that such a conflict would entail the use of nuclear arms, given the fact that the US maintains its right to the first strike use of nuclear weapons, and Russia has stated it will respond to incursions into its territory by all means at its disposal, including the use of its nuclear arsenal? How many millions of people in Russia, the US, Europe and beyond will die in such a conflict? None of this is even mentioned in the 2016 election campaign. Such is the degree of control exercised by the American military and the US financial oligarchy over the press and political life in the United States, and the lack of genuine democratic content in the electoral process. As for the collective defense provision of the NATO charter (Article 5), the Baltic states are part of the military alliance only due to the relentless eastward extension of NATOs borders since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, carried out with the specific aim of encircling Russia. The three states in questionLatvia, Lithuania and Estoniahave a combined population of some six million people, roughly equivalent to the US state of Missouri. They were part of the Russian empire prior to the 1917 Russian Revolution and were incorporated into the USSR after the 1939 Stalin-Hitler Pact, before declaring independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. NATO was expanded to include the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland in 1999; the Baltic states, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia in 2004; and Albania and Croatia in 2009. Most of these countries were members of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. These expansions have shifted the borders of NATO by over 800 miles, bringing its military forces to within 100 miles of St. Petersburgless than five minutes travel time by supersonic jet. Backed by the US, the Baltic countries are arming themselves at a breakneck pace. Between 2014 and 2015, Estonia increased its defense budget by 6.6 percent, Latvia by 13.7 percent, and Lithuania by 32.7 percent. The day before Bidens visit, Lithuania made the largest arms purchase in its history, spending a half billion dollars to buy 88 armored fighting vehicles. The pro-US puppet governments of these highly unstable countries, riven by social and ethnic tensions, are characterized by their embrace of anti-Russian jingoism and militarism. Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite, referred to as the Lithuanian Iron Lady, has called Russia a terrorist state and compared Russian President Vladimir Putin to Adolf Hitler. Grybauskaite studied in Washington DC and served as the plenipotentiary minister in the Lithuanian embassy there. Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis, previously the minister of defense, has been a vociferous advocate of militarizing the Russian border, declaring last year: If something happens, we cant wait days or weeks for more equipment. We need to react immediately. In perhaps the most significant section of his remarks on Tuesday, Biden declared that the outcome of the 2016 presidential election will not affect US policy with regard to the Baltics. Biden was referring to statements by Republican candidate Donald Trump questioning Washingtons commitment to go to war in defense of the Baltic states. This is unacceptable to Biden and the military/intelligence apparatus for which he speaks. The vice president declared on Tuesday that Trumps comments are nothing that should be taken seriously. The Republican candidate knows not of what he speaks, Biden said, adding, I dont even think he understands what Article 5 is. While Bidens statements were nominally directed against Trump, their real content is the assertion that regardless the outcome of the election, it is the intelligence agencies that will dictate policy. These statements shed further light on the attempts by the media and the political establishment to cast Trump as the Siberian candidate of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The aim is to frame popular hostility to the fascistic Trump as a mandate for war. This sets the stage for a major escalation of Washingtons conflict with Moscow. By Lin Taylor LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The French authorities have misunderstood why the burkini was created and should not turn it into a symbol of division, the Australian designer of the swimsuit said on Wednesday. The burkini swimsuit made international headlines after the mayors of Cannes, Villeneuve-Loubet and the Corsican seaside resort of Sisco banned it last week, arguing the burkini, which leaves only the face, hands and feet exposed, defies French laws on secularism. "They have misunderstood what the burkini is all about," said Aheda Zanetti, adding that anyone, no matter their religion, could wear it. "I hope that they understand that it's not something that symbolises anything - that anyone can wear it, that it's not harming anything in any way." With the sun and surf an integral part of the Australian lifestyle, Zanetti designed the swimsuit in 2004 so Muslim women, who choose to wear a head covering like the hijab, could participate in water activities and other sports. "The burkini was designed for freedom, flexibility and confidence. It was designed to integrate into Australian society," she said in a phone interview with the Thomson Reuters Foundation from Sydney. Zanetti said she is perplexed the burkini has attracted so much attention, given its normalcy in Australia. "Look what's happening in Syria or in Italy," she said, referring to the ongoing Syrian conflict and an earthquake that killed more than 70 people in Italy on Wednesday. "I don't understand why a piece of fabric is taking over all of these really important issues?" Lebanese-born Zanetti said. "Why do women have to be punished for wearing something that represents freedom, and health, fitness and enjoyment?" The burkini debate is particularly sensitive in France, where the full face niqab and burqa veils were banned in 2010. Tensions between communities have heightened following deadly attacks by Islamist militants. Last month, a Tunisian killed 85 people when he drove a truck into crowds in Nice and a Roman Catholic priest had his throat cut in church by two French Muslims. And in November, 130 people were killed by bombings and shootings in Paris. Zanetti, who has lived in Australia for more than 40 years, designed the burkini after watching her niece, who chose to wear a hijab, struggle to find lightweight clothes for her school netball games. By using a hood to cover the head, rather than a burqa veil, Zanetti said the burkini had become an option for non-Muslim women. The designer estimated that 40 percent of her sales come from non-Muslim women, with cancer survivors, body conscious mothers or women who want to protect their skin from the sun among the buyers. (Reporting by Lin Taylor @linnytayls, Editing by Katie Nguyen.; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters that covers humanitarian issues, conflicts, global land and property rights, modern slavery and human trafficking, women's rights, and climate change. Visit http://news.trust.org to see more stories) Barakah Meets Barakah, Saudi Arabia's first-ever romantic comedy, has been chosen as the country's official entry for the 2017 foreign-language film Oscar race. The debut feature from writer-director Mahmoud Sabbagh is only the second-ever foreign-language Oscar contender from Saudi Arabia, following an Academy Award entry for Haifaa Al Mansour's Wadjda in 2013. Wadjda wasn't nominated for the Oscars but did pick up a BAFTA nomination for best foreign-language film. Filmmaking was more or less banned in Saudi Arabia until only recently, but the country has embraced its up-and-coming talent. "Mahmoud Sabbagh is a representative of a new generation who will soon be pioneers in the history of filmmaking in Saudi Arabia," Sultan Al Bazie, head of the Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts and chairman of the nominating committee, said Wednesday in a statement. Noting that the third annual Saudi Film Festival in March had more than 70 submissions, Al Bazie said he was "optimistic that the next years will have more entries from Saudi Arabia" for the Oscars. Barakah Meets Barakah follows the unlikely (and in the strict Islamic state, forbidden) romance between Bibi, a rich girl brought up on Western-style luxury, and Barakah, a working-class police man, who meet-cute at a photo shoot. The film premiered in February at the Berlin International Film Festival, where it was a crowd-pleaser and critical favorite. "This easygoing charmer conceals some sharp political barbs," wrote The Hollywood Reporter's Neil Young in his review. Barakah Meets Barakah is more conventional than many entering the foreign-language race, something that could work for or against it among Academy voters. Read more: Berlin Hidden Gems: 'Barakah Meets Barakah' Is Love, Saudi Arabian Style Want to be like a Kardashian? They pitch these brands. The Kardashian clan always seems to find itself at the center of attention, but not always for the right reasons. According to the nonprofit consumer advocacy group Truth in Advertising, members of the Kardashian and Jenner dynasty have been using their fame for (gasp!) personal profit. TINA.org alleges they've been promoting products illegally through their Instagram pages by failing to reveal their posts as paid promotions. TINA is even threatening to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. So what products do the Kardashians get paid to shill? Here are some of their favorites, as pitched by Kim Kardashian West, Khloe Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Kylie Jenner and Kendall Jenner. Puma Kylie Jenner got 1.2 million likes when she posted a picture of herself in Puma Fierce training gear in April, some claw marks casually gracing the worn gray wall behind her. According to TINA.org, Puma was the most frequently promoted but not disclosed brand the Kardashians touted, with 13 such Instagram posts to its name. It doesn't take much sleuthing, however, to see that the youngest of the Kardashian/Jenner sisters has an endorsement deal with Puma. The Puma Fierce website is a never-ending slideshow of Kylie posing, adjusting her hair and pedaling a fake bicycle in training apparel made by the German company. Calvin Klein Kendall Jenner sure seems to love her some Calvin Klein, in a commercial love affair that's lasted longer than some of her own relationships. Jenner has been posting scantily clad pics of herself in Calvin Klein undergarments since she was 18. Calvin Klein's parent company, PVH Corp (PVH), also owns brands like IZOD and Tommy Hilfiger, but Jenner only has her eye on Calvin Klein. TINA.org claims the FTC will have its eyes on Kendall, however, if her and her siblings don't amend their posts to reveal "clearly and conspicuously" that they're paid ads. Story continues Estee Lauder Companies (EL) Kendall is also a big fan of Estee Lauder makeup, and why shouldn't she be? She's literally been the face of Estee Lauder since 2014, so you've got to imagine she's got truckloads of free powder on call -- not that she needs it. When she was initially crowned as the new face of the company less than two years ago, the company's Instagram follower count reportedly jumped by nearly 25 percent. Revenue at the beauty products giant is expected to grow more than 5 percent to $11.9 billion this year; who knows how much of that revenue will come from Kendall's 64 million followers? JetSmarter The de facto leader of the Kardashian clan, Kim, is absolutely cuckoo for JetSmarter, and she's not afraid to show it. "I'm truly obsessed with the @letsjetsmarter app! I'm a member and it has changed my traveling life! Download the app! #ReadyJetGo #JetSmarter" read a June 4 post on the socialite's Instagram. Given her notoriously expensive taste and high profile, Kardashian West fits perfectly with the JetSmarter brand, a company that's raised money from Jay Z, a close friend of Kim's husband, Kanye West. The 99 percent don't have much use for JetSmarter, which is essentially the Uber for private planes and fancies itself an "international country club in the sky." Foxy Locks Ltd. Khloe Kardashian's tastes are a bit more down to earth, but like most of her sisters, she has a taste for looking glamorous, and that's where Foxy Locks comes in. Foxy Locks is a U.K.-based hair extensions-maker that also traffics in lashes, hair buns, brushes and clips. Although TINA.org may have quarrels with Khloe for not explicitly labeling this post as an #ad, a recent Instagram pic and caption could've been plucked from the pages of Vogue. "So in love with my @foxylocks Clip in Hair Extensions!" it reads. "The quality of the hair is amazing and so thick!" Thick, indeed. Fit Tea Fitness Tea is just what it sounds like: a tea designed to help you stay fit, burn fat and lose weight. The Kardashian sisters, it's fair to say, are concerned with their looks, so it's also not surprising that three of them -- Kylie, Khloe and Kourtney -- have posed with Fit Tea products on Instagram. An expertly timed Instagram post from eldest sister Kourtney Kardashian last year pushed the product at a time many Americans were looking to lose weight: "After Thanksgiving Fit Tea detox starts now," read the Nov. 30, 2015, post. Waist Gang Society While the company's name may (or may not) incite fear, this company has no outward interest in starting a turf war. Instead, it makes simple products with an innocuous goal: "Waist trainers that keep you sexy and confident." Khloe Kardashian posted a picture of her, Kourtney and Kylie all wearing Waist Gang Society trainers last holiday season, less than two weeks before Christmas. "Sisters who waist train together stay fit together!!" the post says. It's not just waist trainers that the company sells, though -- it also hawks anti-wrinkle cream, compression stockings, wigs and "butt lifters." SugarBearHair Kardashian sisters Khloe and Kim are big fans of the enigmatic company SugarBearHair, which makes tasty gummy vitamins designed to improve the quality of your hair. In a note on its website, the company mascot, SugarBear, says, "I know how to make your hair stronger, longer, and shinier." And "I made sure to make these vitamins so easy and enjoyable to eat that you'll look forward to taking them every day." A one-month supply of 60 bears costs you $29.99. A six-month supply -- with a free hair brush! -- costs $161.99. Balmain Kim Kardashian West is bonkers for the luxury fashion house Balmain -- perhaps because she gets to wear gorgeous designer dresses personally styled for her while the world oohs and aahs. On July 29, Kim posted a picture of herself in an opulent glittering Balmain outfit, hubby Kanye West adjusting her sleeves as photographers snapped pictures. "My MET Gala @balmain fitting pics are all on KimKardashianWest.com today! And YESSSS I still have those extra pieces & cannot wait to wear them!!!" the Instagram post read. LuMee LLC LuMee makes a niche product, but it's catered brilliantly to today's me-first, selfie-obsessed millennial. The company makes a front-lit smartphone case that's "changing the way people shoot and share social media," per its website. And could there be a more perfect product ambassador than Kim Kardashian West? In January, Kim posted a selfie on her Instagram page (it now has over 80 million followers) with the following text: "Selfies about to be LIT! Today on my app I talk about the perfect selfie lighting! The secret to my selfies Lumee.com". More From US News & World Report Want to be like a Kardashian? They pitch these brands. The Kardashian clan always seems to find itself at the center of attention, but not always for the right reasons. According to the nonprofit consumer advocacy group Truth in Advertising, members of the Kardashian and Jenner dynasty have been using their fame for (gasp!) personal profit. TINA.org alleges they've been promoting products illegally through their Instagram pages by failing to reveal their posts as paid promotions. TINA is even threatening to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. So what products do the Kardashians get paid to shill? Here are some of their favorites, as pitched by Kim Kardashian West, Khloe Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Kylie Jenner and Kendall Jenner. Puma Kylie Jenner got 1.2 million likes when she posted a picture of herself in Puma Fierce training gear in April, some claw marks casually gracing the worn gray wall behind her. According to TINA.org, Puma was the most frequently promoted but not disclosed brand the Kardashians touted, with 13 such Instagram posts to its name. It doesn't take much sleuthing, however, to see that the youngest of the Kardashian/Jenner sisters has an endorsement deal with Puma. The Puma Fierce website is a never-ending slideshow of Kylie posing, adjusting her hair and pedaling a fake bicycle in training apparel made by the German company. Calvin Klein Kendall Jenner sure seems to love her some Calvin Klein, in a commercial love affair that's lasted longer than some of her own relationships. Jenner has been posting scantily clad pics of herself in Calvin Klein undergarments since she was 18. Calvin Klein's parent company, PVH Corp (ticker: PVH), also owns brands like IZOD and Tommy Hilfiger, but Jenner only has her eye on Calvin Klein. TINA.org claims the FTC will have its eyes on Kendall, however, if her and her siblings don't amend their posts to reveal "clearly and conspicuously" that they're paid ads. Story continues Estee Lauder Companies (EL) Kendall is also a big fan of Estee Lauder makeup, and why shouldn't she be? She's literally been the face of Estee Lauder since 2014, so you've got to imagine she's got truckloads of free powder on call -- not that she needs it. When she was initially crowned as the new face of the company less than two years ago, the company's Instagram follower count reportedly jumped by nearly 25 percent. Revenue at the beauty products giant is expected to grow more than 5 percent to $11.9 billion this year; who knows how much of that revenue will come from Kendall's 64 million followers? JetSmarter The de facto leader of the Kardashian clan, Kim, is absolutely cuckoo for JetSmarter, and she's not afraid to show it. "I'm truly obsessed with the @letsjetsmarter app! I'm a member and it has changed my traveling life! Download the app! #ReadyJetGo #JetSmarter" read a June 4 post on the socialite's Instagram. Given her notoriously expensive taste and high profile, Kardashian West fits perfectly with the JetSmarter brand, a company that's raised money from Jay Z, a close friend of Kim's husband, Kanye West. The 99 percent don't have much use for JetSmarter, which is essentially the Uber for private planes and fancies itself an "international country club in the sky." Foxy Locks Ltd. Khloe Kardashian's tastes are a bit more down to earth, but like most of her sisters, she has a taste for looking glamorous, and that's where Foxy Locks comes in. Foxy Locks is a U.K.-based hair extensions-maker that also traffics in lashes, hair buns, brushes and clips. Although TINA.org may have quarrels with Khloe for not explicitly labeling this post as an #ad, a recent Instagram pic and caption could've been plucked from the pages of Vogue. "So in love with my @foxylocks Clip in Hair Extensions!" it reads. "The quality of the hair is amazing and so thick!" Thick, indeed. Fit Tea Fitness Tea is just what it sounds like: a tea designed to help you stay fit, burn fat and lose weight. The Kardashian sisters, it's fair to say, are concerned with their looks, so it's also not surprising that three of them -- Kylie, Khloe and Kourtney -- have posed with Fit Tea products on Instagram. An expertly timed Instagram post from eldest sister Kourtney Kardashian last year pushed the product at a time many Americans were looking to lose weight: "After Thanksgiving Fit Tea detox starts now," read the Nov. 30, 2015, post. Waist Gang Society While the company's name may (or may not) incite fear, this company has no outward interest in starting a turf war. Instead, it makes simple products with an innocuous goal: "Waist trainers that keep you sexy and confident." Khloe Kardashian posted a picture of her, Kourtney and Kylie all wearing Waist Gang Society trainers last holiday season, less than two weeks before Christmas. "Sisters who waist train together stay fit together!!" the post says. It's not just waist trainers that the company sells, though -- it also hawks anti-wrinkle cream, compression stockings, wigs and "butt lifters." SugarBearHair Kardashian sisters Khloe and Kim are big fans of the enigmatic company SugarBearHair, which makes tasty gummy vitamins designed to improve the quality of your hair. In a note on its website, the company mascot, SugarBear, says, "I know how to make your hair stronger, longer, and shinier." And "I made sure to make these vitamins so easy and enjoyable to eat that you'll look forward to taking them every day." A one-month supply of 60 bears costs you $29.99. A six-month supply -- with a free hair brush! -- costs $161.99. Balmain Kim Kardashian West is bonkers for the luxury fashion house Balmain -- perhaps because she gets to wear gorgeous designer dresses personally styled for her while the world oohs and aahs. On July 29, Kim posted a picture of herself in an opulent glittering Balmain outfit, hubby Kanye West adjusting her sleeves as photographers snapped pictures. "My MET Gala @balmain fitting pics are all on KimKardashianWest.com today! And YESSSS I still have those extra pieces & cannot wait to wear them!!!" the Instagram post read. LuMee LLC LuMee makes a niche product, but it's catered brilliantly to today's me-first, selfie-obsessed millennial. The company makes a front-lit smartphone case that's "changing the way people shoot and share social media," per its website. And could there be a more perfect product ambassador than Kim Kardashian West? In January, Kim posted a selfie on her Instagram page (it now has over 80 million followers) with the following text: "Selfies about to be LIT! Today on my app I talk about the perfect selfie lighting! The secret to my selfies Lumee.com". John Divine is a staff writer for U.S. News & World Report. He is also a longtime investor, and has previously written about investing and the markets for InvestorPlace and The Motley Fool. You can follow him on Twitter @divinebizkid or give him the Tip of the Century at jdivine@usnews.com. From Cosmopolitan Despite the current student loan debt crisis, it has been ingrained in this generation that college is the clearest path to a successful career. Last fall, the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 69.2 percent of 2015 high school graduates were enrolled in a college or university. But there are still a lot of people who can't answer the ever-popular question: "Where are you going to school in the fall?" That doesn't mean their post-graduation decisions are any less valid, or that they'll be any worse off. Cosmopolitan.com spoke to ten 18-year-old women about why they won't be headed to college this fall. 1. "I would love to open my own flea market stand. I'm not really concerned about getting a degree in order to do what I want to do." Photo credit: Hannah Stewart I never had a bad experience in school, but I felt very out of place in the classroom. It's not that I'm not smart, but I didn't like how structured the learning and assignments were. I'm definitely more of a hands-on learner, and I always enjoyed art and classes like that. I helped my grandparents with their flea market stand, and I got really into vintage markets and antiques, and realized that's what I wanted to do. I thought about going to college, and I applied last minute to a local community college and the Art Institute of Philadelphia, but the Art Institute didn't have exactly the program I was looking for - you can't get a degree to work at flea markets. I live with my parents, and I work as a waitress to earn money until I can support myself by working and selling antiques at markets. I would love to open my own flea market stand and then eventually travel with it, and then maybe one day, open my own vintage marketplace. I'm not really concerned about getting a degree in order to do what I want to do. It's a concern if that doesn't work out, because I don't want to be waitressing forever. But I've thought about it a lot, and I really can't see myself going back to school. -Hannah Stewart from Glen Rock, Pennsylvania Story continues 2. "[Joining a ballet company] is an opportunity I wouldn't get if I was going to college." Photo credit: Timothy Van Poucke I started ballet at age 4, and I started training to become a professional ballet dancer at age 9. I never even thought about college or applied. I started off at a smaller studio in Maryland, and then after middle school, I went to the Rock School for Dance Education, a boarding school in Philadelphia, where I completed high school in three years. After that, I moved to Amsterdam to train with the Dutch National Ballet. My main goal was to join the company there, but I wasn't initially accepted into their junior company, so I accepted an apprentice position at the National Ballet of Canada. It's important for me to be in a company because ballet means a lot to me, and you learn so much from being able to dance on the stage with other professional dancers, performing for people, and doing all of these different ballets. It's an opportunity I wouldn't get if I was going to college. I've taken a few online college classes to build up credits in case I decide to go to college for something like physical therapy after my ballet career. But I could teach ballet classes without a college degree, and that's what I would prefer to do when I eventually retire. -Taylor Ciampi from Toronto, Ontario 3. "I didn't want to go and waste my money if I wasn't sure what my goal was." Photo credit: Courtesy of Tatiyana I looked into college, but I didn't really find anything I was really interested in studying. I didn't want to go and waste my money if I wasn't sure what my goal was. I had a friend going into the Marines, and that led me to look into joining the Navy. It seemed like a better fit for me because I wasn't going to have to pay to figure out what I wanted to do. But I'm not just doing it for the money - I like the idea of being on a ship and getting to travel, and I'll be learning navigation and oceanography. Sometimes I do question if it's what I really want to do. I think I'm scared to be away from my home and family and friends, but I'm excited to see the world and see what I can do on my own. -Tatiyana from Kenosha, Wisconsin 4. "I chose to go into the Marines because I wanted to know that I was making a difference." Photo credit: Courtesy of Krystal I chose to go into the Marines because I wanted to know that I was making a difference from the moment I get up in the morning. I looked into college because my family wanted me to, but nothing really caught my attention. For me, college felt like I wouldn't get any real experience, but in the Marines, I would get direct training in whatever job I choose, and immediately start working and traveling to different places and meeting a lot of different people. I'm not American - I was born in Jamaica. My family questioned why I would put myself into any type of situation for a country that isn't my own. But I'm doing it for the people in this country, and, after I listed the benefits, they started to see it as an opportunity and said they would support me in whatever way they could. -Krystal Reid from Landover, Maryland 5. "Working this job is helping me figure out what I eventually might want to go to college for." Photo credit: Courtesy of Sarah Murphy I have not ruled out college for the rest of my life; I just don't know what I want to do yet or who I am as a person, really. I feel like I'm very young to be making this decision, and I don't have enough experience in actual adulthood to decide what I'm going to be as an adult. I don't want to spend a bunch of money and be in debt forever to possibly end up doing something I don't want to do to. Right now, I'm working as a manager at a fast-food restaurant. I really enjoy learning about how the business runs, and having people with different experiences and who are both younger and older than me look up to me. Working this job is helping me figure out what I eventually might want to go to college for. -Sarah Murphy from Fayetteville, Arkansas 6. "[College was] in the cards for me, but then I got into music." Photo credit: Courtesy of Annelle Staal I've been an all-As, honor-roll student my whole life. I love school, and I wanted to go to college because I really appreciate what an education can get you. Both my parents have PhDs, and so I've been raised with the culture of going to college. It was all in the cards for me, but then I got into music. I played in the orchestra, and did a lot of musical theater in middle and high school, and I also started writing songs and taught myself to play the piano. I started doing open mic nights, which turned into paid gigs that eventually led to me being discovered by someone in the music industry, and I was signed to a record label. I think if I hadn't signed with the company, I would have gone to college because then I could have still pursued my dream and gone to college at the same time. But this is a really big opportunity that I couldn't have taken full advantage of if I went to college. It's never too early to start working for something you want to achieve, and if you can make a career out of it instead of going to school, then you should do just that. -Annelle Staal from Southern Pines, North Carolina 7. "I definitely will go to college and study what I'm interested in, but I'm not sure exactly when." Photo credit: Courtesy of Genera Fields I did well in school, but I wasn't a huge fan of the way the academic world is structured. You get good grades so you can go to college, you go to college so you can get a good job so you can get a good house, and then you die. I didn't really like that perspective. Last spring, I participated in a poetry slam, and I advanced to a citywide team, which ultimately took me to an international competition. I saw that as an opening to pursue something else. I'm living with my godmother, and working a retail job to support myself as I explore the possibilities of poetry and writing for a year. I definitely will go to college and study what I'm interested in, but I'm not sure exactly when. I could see myself putting it off if I got the opportunity to go abroad for a job. But education is important to me, and I care about going to college so I can learn - I don't want to just get a degree because it would get me a job. It's much more relaxing to have a framework of what you want to do but but to be OK with whatever the world throws at you. -Genera Fields from Ann Arbor, Michigan 8. "I heard of a program for 18- to 22-year-olds to do mission work in third-world countries." Photo credit: Courtesy of Lizzie Hrycyniak I kind of always had the idea of going to college right after high school, because that's what everyone's plan is. My senior year of high school, all of my classmates were applying to schools. We even worked on college essays in my English class. So I applied for a few schools and was accepted, even though I had no intention of going. I was sucked into this mind-set of "you have to go to school." But, halfway through the year, I heard of a program for 18- to 22-year-olds to do mission work - like building homes and churches, and helping orphans and victims of sex-trafficking - in third-world countries. I applied for the program and I got accepted, and that's what I'm going to do for nine months. I think I'll learn so much being abroad rather than in a classroom studying. I get back next May, but after that, I'm still confused on what I'm going to do. I'm hoping for clarity on this trip. I'm also a photographer and writer, so maybe I can just continue that when I come back. Everyone has this idea that you have to know what you want to do, but you don't. I have no clue what I'm doing, and I kind of like it like that. -Lizzie Hrycyniak from Kenosha, Wisconsin 9. "I like the idea of a job that requires more physical labor." Photo credit: Courtesy of Kira Sands I was on a pretty normal track in high school. I had good grades, I applied to college, and it felt like things were going exactly as planed. When May 1 came around, which is the deadline to accept a college, I just didn't do it. I realized it wasn't what I wanted at this point in my life, because I'm not sure what my passion is, and I didn't know what I wanted to do quite yet. I felt that if I took some time to get a job and actually get assimilated into the world outside of school in more than just two-month breaks, I could be more prepared for life, and if I did eventually go to college. I'm currently working as a delivery driver, but I've thought about going to trade school to become a mechanic instead of going to college. I like the idea of a job that requires more physical labor. But I also want something where I could move up instead of leveling out in a job after two years, and that's where I feel like I would need a college degree. So I'm working on figuring out what direction I want to go in. -Kira Sands from Atlanta, Georgia 10. "I started exploring things that I actually wanted to do, like photography, art, and writing. I currently make an income from photography." Photo credit: Courtesy of Meghan Faulkner I left high school when I was a sophomore, and I decided to homeschool for my last two years. I've never worked well in a classroom, not because of the academics but because of the social environment. I was bullied at school when I was younger, and that had a big effect on how I perceived going to school - that, along with having general social anxiety and depression. After that transition, I found I learned so much better and I was able to absorb more information. Seeing that change in me and how much I grew, I decided that maybe college, which I had originally planned on attending, wasn't a good fit for me. I'm just so much happier following what I want to do instead of what society has deemed appropriate or acceptable. I had a lot more free time when I began homeschooling, so I started exploring things that I actually wanted to do, like photography, art, and writing. I currently make an income from photography. I still live with my mom, but I eventually want to be able to support myself fully with a career in photography. -Meghan Faulkner from Spring Grove, Illinois Follow Kate on Twitter. About 150 people attended the funeral for Shannon Vincel, the 46-year-old breast cancer patient from Missouri who police say was beaten to death Monday night outside a Zion, Illinois, hospital, after receiving treatment. James Francis, director of Lupton Chapel in St. Louis, where Vincel was laid to rest, tells PEOPLE the occasion was somber as mourners "express[ed] sentiments of how tragic and senseless it was." Vincel's stepfather, Eugene Adam, delivered a eulogy, describing her as a person who "loved people and people loved her," Francis says. Vincel's family also issued a statement to the Chicago Tribune, writing: "Shannon was an outgoing, bubbly, kind-hearted free spirit. Always up, always smiling. Just wanted to laugh and have fun." 150 Attend Funeral for Cancer Patient Killed Outside Treatment Center an 'Outgoing, Bubbly, Kind-Hearted Free Spirit'| Crime & Courts, Murder, True Crime "She made friends wherever she went," her family said. "This certainly was the case in the last few months of her life undergoing treatment for breast cancer. She faced cancer head on with a smile and positive attitude. It was her mission to uplift and inspire fellow patients." According to the statement, Vincel lived in Springfield, Missouri, and worked as a hairstylist specializing in braids and updos. She had attended Drury University in Springfield. According to Francis, many friends of Vincel's traveled the three-plus hours from Springfield to St. Louis for her funeral. "That was very gratifying to the family," he says. Matt Pylant, a friend who attended Drury with Vincel, tells PEOPLE Vincel was "a kind person" who accepted him when others ostracized him for being gay. Pylant wrote on his Facebook page, "Shannon Vincel was my BFF my freshman year of college. When I was ostracized for being gay, Shannon gave everyone the middle finger.... I hope she knows how much she meant to me." 150 Attend Funeral for Cancer Patient Killed Outside Treatment Center an 'Outgoing, Bubbly, Kind-Hearted Free Spirit'| Crime & Courts, Murder, True Crime Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. Vincel had traveled to Zion to receive medical care for breast cancer from the Cancer Treatment Centers of America. She and another patient were waiting for a hospital shuttle to pick them up from their hospital residence when they were attacked by an unidentified man, Zion police told PEOPLE. The suspect approached the pair and started hitting Vincel with a blunt object, police said. Vincel sustained severe head trauma and was taken to a local hospital where she died hours later, officials told PEOPLE. Vincel was not robbed and police say there is no clear motive for the attack. Witnesses described the suspect as a black male wearing dark clothes, police said. 150 Attend Funeral for Cancer Patient Killed Outside Treatment Center an 'Outgoing, Bubbly, Kind-Hearted Free Spirit'| Crime & Courts, Murder, True Crime In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, the Cancer Treatment Centers of America offered their condolences to the Vincel family and said they have increased their security presence. Vincel's death has received national attention. Andrea Radar, of the Susan G. Komen Foundation told PEOPLE, "I think its fair to say that breast cancer diagnosis and treatment is hard enough. "To go through the roller coaster of feeling well and being treated for this terrible cancer and then to be attacked and die this way, it's dreadful." More than 60 years after a World War II-era aircraft carrier sunk to the bottom of the sea, the word "Independence" could still be made out on its surface. By exploring the wreck with robotic subs, scientists are getting their first look at this decades-old ship, which was a target during atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll in the Pacific in the 1940s. The exploration is already revealing secrets: Scientists operating the underwater robot discovered a fighter plane within the sunken aircraft carrier that, according to records, should not have been there. In addition, atomic blasts had caused significant damage to the carrier, which scientists mapped on this underwater mission. The USS Independence was the lead ship of its class of light aircraft carriers that were critical during the American naval offensive in the Pacific during World War II. The vessel operated in the central and western Pacific between November 1943 and August 1945; torpedoes from Japanese aircraft demanded a stint away for repairs from January to July 1944 in San Francisco. [See Photos of the Sunken USS Independence Aircraft Carrier] Blasted by atom bombs The Independence was later one of more than 90 vessels assembled as a target fleetfor the Bikini Atoll atomic bomb testsin 1946. The ship was placed within a half mile (800 meters) of ground zero for the first test there and, while damaged by shock waves, heat and radiation, the veteran ship did not sink. The highly radioactive Independence and dozens of other ships from the tests were then taken to Pearl Harbor and San Francisco for decontamination studies. [Video of the Robot Sub Dive] After the Independence returned to the United States, the blast-damaged vessel was sunk deliberately in 1951 near San Francisco. "It was scuttled in a weapons test to determine the efficiency of two new types of torpedo warhead," James Delgado, director of maritime heritage at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), said in a phone interview with Live Science from on board the exploration vessel Nautilus. Story continues The Independence should no longer be significantly radioactive, according to Kai Vetter, a nuclear physicist at the University of California, Berkeley, Delgado said. Although the steel of Independence was radioactive after the atomic bomb tests, "steel has a seven-year half-life," Delgado said, meaning that about half of all the radioactive steel should have decayed after seven years. "The tests were about 70 years ago, which is 10 generations of half-lives, so at this point, it's less than 1 percent the original radioactivity. Vetter strongly feels that Independence poses no radiological risk to anyone, or the environment, or the equipment we're employing." A 2015 survey found that the Independence was resting upright in 2,600 feet (790 meters) of water off California's Farallon Islands. Sonar images of the sunken carrier even suggested that a plane might be stuck inside the carrier's hangar bay. First look at the Independence On Aug. 22, scientists on board the Nautilus directed robot subs to analyze the wreck of the Independence. The vessel is currently on a four-month expedition to explore the eastern Pacific Ocean. Past expeditions have discovered other previously unseen shipwrecks, sea creatures and more. Nautilus is operated by the Ocean Exploration Trust, a nonprofit organization founded by oceanographer Robert Ballard. Many scientists and other experts taking part in Nautilus expeditions have done so online in real time instead of crowding on board the ship. "It's like giving remote control over the starship Enterprise on a science mission," Delgado told Live Science. "We're able to connect not only with scientists, but also the public, interacting with them in real time, getting questions and getting feedback from them. At one point last night, there were people from 36 separate countries logged on as we were streaming live." The Independence was amazingly intact, NOAA researchers said. "There have been some changes to it since it went to the bottom 65 years ago, but what we have been seeing very closely resembles the ship she was before she went underwater," Delgado said. "At the stern, we were still able to read, in traces of paint, 'Independence.'" The scientists mapped the Independence. "First and foremost, we mapped atomic blast damage," Delgado said. "There were initially photographs and hand-drawn pictures of the damage after the tests, but our work gives us a more detailed sense of the damage." The scientists confirmed that an airplane an F6F-5N Hellcat fighter craft was stuck inside the forward elevator of the Independence. "That's a plane that shouldn't be there," Delgado said. "Records indicated that all the aircraft on Independence were jettisoned except for two, which were presumably left on board during the atom bomb tests. The records said the two aircraft on Independence were studied and disposed of, but clearly, one was not, and perhaps the other is inside, too." [Photos: The 11 Fastest Military Aircraft] The Hellcat "shows powerful signs of atom bomb damage," Delgado said. "Its wings are folded and broken. But you can still see the star painted on its wing. It's an interesting and welcome surprise to see." The researchers also saw the aftermath of the torpedoes used to scuttle the Independence. "We could see the holes where torpedoes blasted in and through," Delgado said. The Independence is the deepest of more than 400 shipwrecks in the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. The Nautilus is cruising around the rest of the 3,295-square-mile (8,534 square kilometers) sanctuary this week, which is largely unexplored in its deepest portions, the researchers said. The sanctuary is home to deep-sea coral and sponges, and investigating them may help scientists better understand the increasing acidification of the oceans. Viewers can watch the work of the Nautilus live online at nautiluslive.org. Original article on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The most powerful raging bull ever produced is now topless. The Lamborghini Centenario Roadster was revealed at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering on August 19 as part of Monterey Car Week in Carmel, Calif. The convertible completes the extremely limited-edition Centenario model line, which debuted with a coupe at the Geneva International Motor Show in March as a way to commemorate late founder Ferruccio Lamborghinis 100th birthday. With carbon-fiber body components, monocoque construction, and a 770 hp, V-12 engine, the vehicle carries a weight-to-power ratio of 4.49 pounds per hp. The result is the ability to race from zero to 62 mph in 2.9 seconds and top out at 217 mph. Bridling that speed are carbon-ceramic brakes capable of bringing the car from 62 mph to a complete stop in only 102 feet. Aerodynamics are accentuated by the rear wing, which can extend up to nearly 6 inches and rotate 15 degrees for increased downforce. Air flow optimization is also provided by the front splitter, wheel arches, side skirts, and rear diffuser. And improved cooling for the rear radiators comes from integrated air ducts throughout. Performance has been fine-tuned with recently introduced rear-wheel steering. The system bolsters turning and tightens the radius at slower speeds while synching rear tires with the steering angle at high speed to simulate a longer wheelbase for greater control and enhanced handling. Dialing in the experience even further is the marques magneto rheological suspension, Lamborghini Dynamic Steering, Independent Shifting Rod transmission, and three driving modes (Strada, Sport, and Corsa). And adding to a stance that states ready to charge are Pirelli P Zero tires on aluminum rims (20-inch front and 21-inch rear). The cars cabin is available in bespoke upholstery selections and detailing. It also features a 10.1-inch touchscreen displaying a top-of-the line infotainment system, satellite navigation, iPhone connectivity, and telemetry analysis. Story continues As with the coupe, only 20 Centenario Roadsters will be produced and each has already been sold for over $2.2 million. Deliveries are scheduled through 2017. (lamborghini.com) More From Robbreport.com Take a Wild Mountain Ride in This Driving Video of a 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO Celebrity Jeweler Martin Katz Highlights Your Jewelry Must-Haves Jacob & Co.s New Watch with Star Chart Is Out of This World Sunseeker Introduces Yet Another New Yacht Fashion Mogul Tom Ford Is Selling His Spectacular New Mexico Ranch These Gorgeous Gems Come with a Custom Jewelry Box From Cosmopolitan Donald Trump is poised to win the GOP's presidential nomination, and his unexpected rise in politics had alarmed conservatives and liberals alike. Every day, more politicians, activists, and experts are coming forward to vocally condemn the candidate as bigoted, racist, and misogynistic. While he is quick to call women fat pigs, Mexicans rapists, and virtually everyone else a loser, journalists, politicians, and celebrities have labeled him as a dangerous fascist who will send America backward. The Philadelphia Daily News plainly called him the New Furor and the Huffington Post began adding an editor's note to Trump posts calling him "a serial liar, rampant xenophobe, racist,misogynist, birther and bully who has repeatedly pledged to ban all Muslims - 1.6 billion members of an entire religion - from entering the U.S." With so many experts calling it like they see it, it's worth highlighting the most inspired insults used against Trump during the 2016 election season. Media 1. "Donald Trump, a carnivorous plant watered with irradiated bat urine, has a slight polling problem with about half of the female voting public, who have a 'very unfavorable' view of him." -Anna Merlan in Jezebel, March 2016 2. "He is a childish man running for a job that requires maturity. He is an insecure boasting little boy whose desires were somehow arrested at age 12." -David Brooks in the New York Times, March 2016 3. "On Twitter, I suggested that Trump was pugnacious, pugilistic, preening and puerile, and asked for other P words to describe him." -Nick Kristof in the New York Times, March 2016 What are good P words to describe Trump, beside pugnacious, pugilistic, pusillanimous, preening, pontificating and puerile? #VocabBulding - Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) March 4, 2016 4. "By now, there's no level of crass, contemptuous shitbaggery that should be surprising coming from prominent golem Donald Trump, a man who once withheld medication from his sick baby nephew." -Jia Tolentino in Jezebel, February 2016 Story continues 5. "Donald Trump is the Lex Luthor of our time" -Sam Schube in GQ, February 2016 6. "Dead clown walking" -The cover of the New York Daily News, February 2016 Stop the presses! A new front page... DEAD CLOWN WALKING: https://t.co/WwqZSN0nBn pic.twitter.com/ZpoZ1Wvpzj - New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) February 2, 2016 7. "It started out as a joke: Donald Trump running for president! What better way to spoof the thinness of the Republican field than to shove a bombastic reality star with orange hair, a sixth-grade vocabulary and no behavioral filter onto the debate stage with the likes of Ted Cruz, Rick Santorum, Scott Walker and Lindsey Graham?" -Matt Taibbi in Rolling Stone, December 2015 8. "Cranial bee sting victim Donald Trump is a leading presidential candidate, despite the fact that he is clearly a stupid, racist clown," -Hamilton Nolan in Gawker, October 2015 Politicians 9. "Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud. His promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University." -former GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney in a speech at the University of Utah, March 2016 10. "And so to Mr Trump, the Donald, the orange prince of American self-publicity - more public now than usual because he will be running for President if he wins the nomination as Republican candidate, and possibly be close to the Presidency should Bernie Sanders and not Hillary Clinton be selected as the Democrat candidate." -British politician Marcus Fysh in a column in the Western Gazette-Crewkern, January 2016 11. "Let no one be mistaken Donald Trump's candidacy is a cancer on conservatism and it must be clearly diagnosed, excised, and discarded ... He offers a barking carnival act that can be best described as 'Trumpism': a toxic mix of demagoguery, mean-spiritedness and nonsense that will lead the Republican Party to perdition if pursued." -former Republican Texas Gov. Rick Perry's comments at the Opportunity and Freedom PAC Forum, July 2015 12. "You know, the Donald is not really a plans guy. He's not really a facts guy, either." President Obama, during a speech at the Democratic National Convention, July 2016 13. "Trump says he wants to run the nation like he's running his business? God help us. I am a New Yorker, and I know a con when I see one." Former Republican New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, during a speech at the Democratic National Convention, July 2016 14. "Donald, Donald, you're so vain, you probably think this speech is about you." Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, during a speech at the Democratic National Convention, July 2016 Celebrities 15. "The GOP establishment is in a pickle because the only guy within striking distance of Casino Mussolini is someone they hate just as much." -Samantha Bee, comparing Trump to Italian dictator Benito Mussolini in a Full Frontal segment mocking Sen. Ted Cruz, March 2016 16. "Trump is kind of like the movie Snakes on a Plane. Sure, the idea is entertaining. But an actual snake on your plane would be terrifying. And that's what's happening now. The plane is American democracy. And the snake is Trump." -Seth Meyers on Late Night With Seth Meyers, March 2016 17. "Donald Trump is America's back mole. It may have seemed harmless a year ago, but now that it's become frighteningly bigger, it's no longer wise to ignore it." -John Oliver on Last Week Tonight, February 2016 18. "Voldemort was nowhere near as bad," -J.K. Rowling in a tweet responding to people comparing Trump Lord Voldemort, December 2015 How horrible. Voldemort was nowhere near as bad. https://t.co/hFO0XmOpPH - J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 8, 2015 19. "Dissonant bagpipe powered by farts." -one of many delightful descriptors @midnight hostChris Hardwick brainstormed for media to use against Trump, December 2015 20. "That's a good dig from a man who looks like a microwaved circus peanut. Like a honey-glazed tiger testicle. Like a catheter bag full of candy corn," -Stephen Colbert on The Late Show, mocking Trump's weak rebuttal to Sen. Rand Paul in a debate, September 2015 21. "It has been a disastrous few days for Donald Trump's fake presidential campaign. As you may have heard, on Saturday, Trump appeared at something called the Family Leadership Summit in Iowa, where he had some very unkind words for Arizona Senator John McCain ... Can you imagine being tortured for 5.5 years in a Vietnamese prison camp, the Vietnamese offer to release you, and you say, 'No, not until you release the other Americans who've been here longer than I have,' and then 42 years later, the host of Celebrity Apprentice - a man who, the closest he ever got to battle was a fight with Rosie O'Donnell, a man whose greatest wartime accomplishment was brokering a peace treaty between Gary Busey and Meatloaf - belittles you and calls you a loser?" -Jimmy Kimmel on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, July 2015 22. "Donald Trump's ego is So inflated,he mightAs well be the Hindenburg !In Dictionary next to'Obnoxious asshole'See Photo of 'THE DONALD'" -Cher in one of her numerous tweets against Trump, June 2015 Donald Trump's ego is So inflated,he might As well be the Hindenburg ! In Dictionary next to "Obnoxious asshole" See Photo of "THE DONALD" - Cher (@cher) June 17, 2015 23. "Donald Trump just replaced bed bugs as America's number one pest" -Daily Show co-creator Lizz Winstead reacting to Trump's candidacy announcement, June 2015 24. "Hello everyone. I'm Michael Jordan and I'm here with Hillary. I said that because I know that Donald Trump couldn't tell the difference." Kareem Abdul Jabbar, This post was updated August 23, 2016. Follow Prachi on Twitter. From Seventeen At the age of 13, I made my first app. At the age of 18, almost two years ago, I started my first job at Facebook. I'm a first-generation citizen in the U.S. My parents immigrated from Peru to find opportunity in the United States, despite not having college degrees. They started a small Peruvian chicken restaurant, and, through long hours of work, sustained our family of four - my mom, dad, sister, and me. Photo credit: Michael Sayman Being a Hispanic teen has its perks. I learned Spanish before I ever learned English in school, the family is always ready to party and dance, and I never miss a single episode of Al Fondo Hay Sitio, a Peruvian novella on TV running for almost 10 years. But in addition to that comes the courage and determination that is built into my family, and myself. I went through elementary school knowing that my parents built their business on their own. I would always see my mom working late at night and not getting much sleep. I grew up learning that I wasn't going to get anything in life unless I made it for myself. From there, I developed a sense of curiosity and drive for success that many of my friends share with me. But as a teenager, sometimes, people don't take us seriously. Many adults will dismiss our thoughts as "hormonal." Often times our teachers will assume we don't have the attention span to hold a meaningful conversation. And if we ever try to dispute a claim or attempt to explain how to do something that might work differently than someone older than us thinks it would, we could get dismissed before even opening our mouths. But that's going to change. We're living in 2016. In the world today, there are millions of teens building incredible careers - starting YouTube channels, creating clothing lines, building mobile apps, games, and more. How? Are these kids super geniuses? Are they the exception? No. The important thing to realize is that these example teenagers aren't any more genius than the average teenager today. Story continues Most teens in this generation are fully capable of doing all of this and more. Ask any teenager if they know how to setup a YouTube channel. Ask them if they know how to edit videos on their computer/phone. Chances are they'll know how and have probably done so at least once, and chances are they've known how to do it before the age of 12! This is hardwired into each of us. We were born with the Internet in our pockets since preschool. Facebook and YouTube since elementary school. Our first phones were iPhones / touchscreen smartphones. Photo credit: Michael Sayman You see, our potential for impact has only been increasing in the past decades. Our capability to mine through petabytes of data with our mobile devices much faster than our parents ever could at our age makes us valuable. And while we lack plenty of experience compared to someone in their 30s, the diversity in knowledge that we can provide to the world, and the impact that we are already starting to make as a generation today, is what makes us so critical. So whenever you see a teenager planning to build something that seems impossible, or even ridiculous, remember that while they lack the experience, they arm themselves with something just as powerful - the ability to navigate the largest collection of information and content that the human race has ever built: The Internet. Don't underestimate us teens. We're doing far more in far less time, and we're just getting started. Michael Sayman is a 19-year-old product manager at Facebook. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter. BlackRock Inc. BLK is the worlds largest asset management corporation with over $238 billion worth of assets under management (excluding money market assets). It caters to institutional, intermediary and individual investors through a wide range of products and services. It offers an array of risk management, strategic advisor and enterprise investment system services. BlackRocks offerings range from individual and institutional separate accounts to mutual funds and other pooled investment options. In order to strike a balance between risk and opportunities, BlackRock aims to provide a wide range of investment solutions to its clients. Below we share with you three top-rated BlackRock funds. Each has earned a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and is expected to outperform its peers in the future. Investors can click here to see the complete list of BlackRock funds, their Zacks Rank and past performance. BlackRock Large Cap Growth Investor C MCLHX invests the majority of its assets in domestic large capitalization companies through Master Growth Portfolio. MCLHX invests in those companies that are selected by BlackRock from the Russell 1000 Growth Index. BlackRock Large Cap Growth Investor C has a three-year annualized return of 11.3%. Peter Stournaras is the portfolio manager of MCLHX since 2010. BlackRock LifePath Index 2020 K LIMKX seeks to provide retirement outcomes based on quantitatively measured risk. LIMKX invests its assets in a series of Master Investment Portfolio that allocates its assets in a combination of equity and bond index funds along with money market funds. BlackRock LifePath Index 2020 K has a three-year annualized return of 6.3%. LIMKX has an expense ratio of 0.11% compared with the category average of 0.4%. Managed Account Mid Cap Value Opportunities MMCVX invests a major portion of its assets in equities of companies having a market capitalization within the universe of the S&P MidCap 400 Value Index. MMCVX may invest not more than 30% in non-U.S. firms. The fund may also consider non-dollar denominated securities for investment. Managed Account Mid Cap Value Opportunities has a three-year annualized return of 8.9%. Story continues As of July 2016, MMCVX held 124 issues with 1.62% of its assets invested in LTC Properties Inc. To view the Zacks Rank and past performance of all BlackRock funds, investors can click here to see the complete list of funds. Want key mutual fund info delivered straight to your inbox? Zacks free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing mutual funds, each week. Get it free >> 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 BLACKROCK INC (BLK): Free Stock Analysis Report Get Your Free (MCLHX): Fund Analysis Report Get Your Free (MMCVX): Fund Analysis Report Get Your Free (LIMKX): Fund Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research One of the strongest industries on the market this year has been the semiconductors business. Throughout the industry, companies have successfully adapted to the changing needs of the consumer, including an increased demand for small, high-powered chips that enable Internet of Things (IoT) devices. For those that dont know, the Internet of Things refers to the growing world of interconnected household and industrial devices. Everyday products and machines can now be embedded with sensor technology to process data or interact with other electronic devices. For example, consumer-level IoT products include things like Amazons AMZN Echo smart speaker, wearable motion and activity tracking products, and advanced in-car technology. On the commercial side of the IoT market, industrial manufacturers have begun implementing sensors into machines to track performance and efficiency. (Also Read: How to Invest in the "Internet of Things") As demand for the microchips that power these IoT devices continues to grow, semiconductor manufacturers with a focus on IoT products will continue to benefit. With that said, weve found three already-strong stocks that are looking to benefit even more from further IoT growth. 1. Intel Corp. INTC Intel is one of the worlds largest semiconductor companies, and it has proven to be a leader in the Internet of Things chip business. In its latest earnings report, Intel said that its Internet of Things Group saw revenue grow 2% year-over-year to $572 million. Through the first six months, Intels IoT Group has grown 12.5% and is on pace to do $2 billion in revenue this year. Currently, Intel has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). 2. Texas Instruments TXN Although you might recognize the brand because of its calculators, Texas Instruments is also one of the leading suppliers of advanced semiconductors in the world. The companys IoT profile falls under its Embedded Processors division, which includes the Connectivity, Microcontrollers, and Processors categories. In its latest earnings report, Texas Instruments reported 9% growth in Embedded Processors revenue. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Story continues 3. Nvidia Corp. NVDA Another one of the most recognizable names in the industry, Nvidia has proven to be one of the strongest stocks on the market recently. The company has seen strong growth in its Gaming and Data Centers divisions, but it is also increasing its Internet of Things presence with its Tegra automotive systems brand. Tegra recently saw quarterly revenues of $160 million, which was up 30% year-over-year and 4% sequentially. Bottom Line As you might notice, the Internet of Things business for these giant semiconductor companies makes up just a small sliver of overall revenue. However, all of these brands are seeing strong growth in their IoT divisions, and that growth should continue to remain strong as the overall demand for IoT products increases. Its also important to note that these stocks are at the top of a semiconductor industry which has shown incredible performance this year. For our full analysis on the state of the market, check out our latest guide: Should You Be Buying Semiconductor Stocks Right Now? 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 AMAZON.COM INC (AMZN): Free Stock Analysis Report INTEL CORP (INTC): Free Stock Analysis Report TEXAS INSTRS (TXN): Free Stock Analysis Report NVIDIA CORP (NVDA): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Many investors like to look for value in stocks, but this can be very tough to define. There is great debate regarding which metrics are the best to focus on in this regard, and which are not really quality indicators of future performance. Fortunately, with our new style score system we have identified the key statistics to pay close attention to and thus which stocks might be the best for value investors in the near term. This method discovered several great candidates for value-oriented investors, but today lets focus on Fibria Celulose S.A. FBR as this stock is looking especially impressive right now. And while there are numerous reasons why this is the case, we have highlighted three of the most vital reasons for FBRs status as a solid value stock below: Price to Forward Sales for Fibria Celulose One of the most underrated ratios for value investors is the price/forward sales metric. This ratio shows investors how much they are paying for each dollar of revenues generated. In other words, a lower number is better here while a price to sales ratio of 1 means that you are paying one dollar for each dollar in sales. With a P/S ratio of 1.22, FBR investors are paying $1.22 in stock price for each dollar of revenue generated by the company. Compare this to the industry average of 0.76, and it is safe to say that FBR is undervalued compared to many of its peers on this important metric. FIBRIA CELULOSE PS Ratio (TTM) FIBRIA CELULOSE PS Ratio (TTM) | FIBRIA CELULOSE Quote Price/Cash Flow for Fibria Celulose Stock An often overlooked ratio that can still be a great indicator of value is the price/cash flow metric. This reading is preferred by some since it avoids amortization and depreciation concerns and can give a more accurate picture of the financial health in a business. The P/CF ratio for FBR comes in at 2.67, and since investors are generally looking for a reading under 20 here, this is pretty good news. Meanwhile, we should also point out that the industry average for this metric is 5.19, so Fibria Celulose has its peers beat in this regard too. Story continues FBR Earnings Estimate Revisions Moving in the Right Direction The solid value ratios outlined in the preceding paragraphs might be enough for some investors, but we should also note that the earnings estimate revisions have been trending in a positive direction as well. Analysts who follow FBR stock have been raising their estimates for the company lately, meaning that the EPS picture is looking a bit more favorably for Fibria Celulose now. Over the past 60 days, 2 earnings estimates have gone higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions have helped to boost the consensus estimate as 60 days ago FBR was expected to post earnings of $1.07 per share for the full year though today it looks to have EPS of $1.32 for the full year. Bottom Line For the reasons detailed above, investors shouldnt be surprised to read that we have FBR as a stock with a Value Score of A and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). So if you are a value investor, definitely keep FBR on your short list as this looks to be a stock that is very well-positioned for gains in the near term. 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 FIBRIA CELULOSE (FBR): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research NextShark Jahrah, who only has a first name as customary in Indonesia, went out to collect rubber on Sunday morning in the forest in Jambi Province on Sumatra Island, Indonesia. The search parties only found success a day later, on Monday, when they discovered a 22-foot-long (6.7-meters-long) python with a bulging stomach resting in the woods. Her family then reported her missing to the local authorities, and a search has been carried out since then, Anto, the local villages chief, said. Mapping out a Caribbean cruise itinerary -- and selecting how to spend your time ashore -- can be overwhelming. After all, beyond breathtaking beaches and scenic trails, the Caribbean's diverse isles offer an array of port activities and shore excursions you can -- and should -- partake in if you have time to spare. You can book shore excursions directly with your cruise line, through a reputable tour outfitter or explore on your own. Still, some Caribbean excursions are more popular than others, and for good reason. Here are five Caribbean excursions and daytrips you should try at least once in your lifetime. [See: 9 Top Experiences to Consider for Your Next Caribbean Vacation.] Stingray City Grand Cayman Imagine enjoying a relaxing boat ride along the shores of the Cayman Islands. When the boat stops over a sand bar, however, your boat is surrounded quickly by giant stingrays. This is exactly how a visit Stingray City in the Cayman Islands plays out. Because the stingrays are used to being fed, they happily greet visitors. If you venture off your boat and onto the soft sand below, they'll gladly swim around you and underneath you -- and even let you hold them. The best part about Stingray City is that these creatures are absolutely wild. So unlike a visit to a SeaWorld Adventure Park, you don't have to feel guilty about enjoying the company of these amazing creatures. Trips out to Stingray City start at around $30 from Grand Cayman, but you can pay more for a private or semi-private boat tour. Maho Beach St. Maarten St. Maarten's Princess Juliana International Airport hangs on a stretch of land right next to the open ocean, yet a thin strip of beach stands between the short runway and the surrounding turquoise waters. Every year, thousands of people flock to this beach to watch enormous planes take off and land. And if you position yourself against the fence near Runway 10, you can feel the engine power push you toward the beach. Best of all, the experience is absolutely free. And if you need a place to rest while you watch, the bars adjacent to the airport offer prime viewing locations and cold drinks. Story continues [Read: Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean.] Trunk Bay St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands St. John offers a wide range of lodging options, with a mix of high-end and budget-friendly resorts. Still, thanks to the island's convenient location and proximity to other Caribbean isles, St. John makes for a great daytrip, whether you're arriving on the car barge from St. Thomas or taking a private boat. Trunk Bay in St. John offers turquoise waters and world-renowned sands. Consistently named one of the most beautiful places in the world, Trunk Bay is worth a trip all on its own. A variety of reputable tour operators offer daytrips to St. John, but f you want to explore on your own and take the car barge from St. Thomas to St. John, expect to pay around $50 round-trip. Swim with Whale Sharks Belize Certain times of the year -- most notably, June through September -- intrepid travelers can experience up-close encounters with whale sharks. Most whale shark swimming excursions depart from the Riviera Maya near Cancun, but you can also partake in this expedition from Belize. This once-in-a-lifetime excursion typically costs around $200 per person, but affords the chance to swim along the giant animal and watch it feed on plankton. And after all, how often do you get to see an animal of mythic proportions in its natural ocean habitat? Swim with Sea Turtles St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands St. Thomas is well known for it's inspiring island scenery and fascinating wildlife. In nearby Turtle Cove, for example, you can swim alongside magical sea turtles. Watch these captivating creatures feed on the sea floor and effortlessly glide through the surf, all while keeping an eye out for other interesting aquatic life that could be nearby. If you want to tack on a few days to your cruise vacation, Bolongo Bay Beach Resort in St. Thomas offers guests an opportunity to book this excursion as part of their vacation package, though you can also book individual turtle watching excursions elsewhere. A half-day snorkel trip from Bolongo Bay Beach Resort starts at $75 for adults and $55 for children. [See: The 10 Most Affordable Caribbean Destinations.] The Bottom Line While the Caribbean is known for its crystal clear waters, white-sand beaches and picturesque scenery, there are plenty of action-packed and worthwhile excursions to try. You just need to know where to look. Next time you're heading on a Caribbean cruise, consider a guided excursion to enjoy can't-miss sights and attractions across different isles. Nashville, Tennessee Nashville, Tennessee Photos from top left: Imogene + Willie, Exit/In, Urban Cowboy Fitbit Nashville, home to legendary honky-tonks, dive bars and hot chicken may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of a chic, up-and-coming city. However, in recent years Tennessees capital has earned increasing cred as an It destination thanks to a plethora of amazing restaurants, stylish boutique hotels and, of course, a lively music scene. So whether youre scouting for a girls weekend or are simply looking to explore a new vibe, read on for five ways to visit the city in style. The abduction, sexual assault and strangling death of 5-year-old Alayna Ertl has shattered her small town Minnesota community a shock made more severe by the subsequent arrest of a family friend accused of the crime. At a candlelit vigil for Alayna on Tuesday night, one relative said, "It's been hell. This is just senseless. There are no words." Here are five things you need to know about the case. 1. Alayna Was Abducted from Her Home On Friday, the last night Alayna was seen alive, her father, Matthew Ertl, and suspect Zachary Anderson, 25, went to play softball before going out with friends, according to the court documents. The two stayed up talking until 4 a.m., when Matthew went to bed. Alayna's mother, Kayla, said she last saw her young daughter at about 2:30 a.m. in her bedroom, where she had carried her after she fell asleep on the couch, according to the documents. Kayla tucked Alayna in with the pink Princess Elsa blanket from the Disney movie Frozen that she sleeps with, according to the court documents. The next morning, at 8:30 a.m., Alayna's parents discovered her missing. They also realized that Anderson was also gone, along with Matthew's work truck and his cell phone. The Ertls called police at 9:56 a.m., and authorities searched for Alayna before issuing an Amber Alert at 1:12 p.m. 5 Things to Know About the Case of Alayna Ertl, 5-Year-Old Allegedly Murdered by Family Friend| Crime & Courts, Murder, True Crime 2. The Suspect Was Turned in by His Father and He Left an Apparent Suicide Note Later Saturday afternoon, Anderson's father called the Cass County Sheriff's Office, saying he believed his son was the subject of the statewide Amber Alert, according to the court documents. He said that his son had allegedly called him earlier that day asking for permission to go to the family's cabin in Motley; Anderson's father gave police permission to enter the cabin in their search. Cass County Sheriff's deputies allegedly located the truck stolen from Matthew Ertl in a ravine on Anderson's family's property, positioned in an apparent attempt to conceal its location, the court documents state. Deputies who entered the cabin allegedly found a shotgun on the kitchen table with ammunition "spilled about" and "an apparent suicide note with apparent blood on the upper corner," according to the court documents. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. K-9 officers allegedly found Anderson at about 4:23 p.m. about a quarter of a mile from a cabin on the property, standing "in knee-deep water in a swampy area" and with "fresh lacerations to his left wrist," the court documents state. He was arrested without incident. When asked for the location of "the girl," he allegedly responded, "What girl?" Shortly after, Anderson allegedly told police Alayna's remains were hidden in the swamp under some debris. While looking for her, police first found her pink Elsa blanket. Shortly after, they found Alayna's naked body, which was completely submerged in the water and hidden under brush and debris, the court documents state. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Story continues 5 Things to Know About the Case of Alayna Ertl, 5-Year-Old Allegedly Murdered by Family Friend| Crime & Courts, Murder, True Crime 3. The Suspect Was a Family Friend Anderson, a friend and co-worker of Alayna's father, "had previously been to that residence and spent a night here and there, so he's not a stranger and not new to the residence, but was just there for the night," Meeker County Sheriff Brian Cruze told reporters Saturday night. On Tuesday, Anderson was charged with second-degree intentional murder, first-degree criminal sexual conduct, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and two counts of kidnapping in Alayna's death, according to a probable cause statement filed in Cass County Court. 4. No Public Motive Anderson has been held in the Crow Wing County Jail in Brainerd, Minnesota, since Saturday, and appeared in Cass County Court Tuesday to face his charges. He has not entered a plea and is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 10. The judge set bail at $2 million with conditions. Authorities have said nothing about motive. "I just feel helpless," kindergarten teacher Lori Rippentrop told the Pioneer Press at Tuesday's vigil. "And I think everyone in the whole state is in shock. Small-town, central Minnesota. That can't be happening." 5 Things to Know About the Case of Alayna Ertl, 5-Year-Old Allegedly Murdered by Family Friend| Crime & Courts, Murder, True Crime 5. Alayna 'Always Had a Smile on Her Face and a Hug for Everybody' "Today we remember a little girl who was given to us as a gift," Rev. Aaron Nett said at Tuesday's vigil, according to the Press. "She had a love for others which was free and innocent." Alayna's mother, Kayla, echoed that in an earlier interview with 5 Eyewitness News, saying, "She was always our little peanut. She was loved by many and she always had a smile on her face and a hug for everybody." And according to her obituary, Alayna "gave joy to our lives by always having a smile and kind words to say. She loved learning from her brother and always gave the best hugs." Alayna's funeral will be held Friday. A GoFundMe has been set up for her family. Forget the investing style of your parents and grandparents. As times have changed, so have attitudes. Thematic investing is trending upward as more millennials and everyday investors look to change up their portfolio. "It's a paradigm shift," says Peter Krull, president of Krull & Co., a socially and environmentally responsible investment firm in Asheville, North Carolina. "The new, younger millennial investors want to have a hand in picking what they are investing in and they want interactive tools. They want to be more intentional about their investment strategy. They want to be the change makers and they don't like the old school Wall Street way of doing things." Although thematic investing has been around for a long time, it has traditionally been used as a tilt on one's portfolio, say for oil price fluctuations to actively manage a passive model with diversification while still being as low cost as possible, says Hardeep Walia, co-founder and CEO of Motif, an online investment broker in San Mateo, California, that offers investors the opportunity to create themes around stocks. [See: 7 Global Goats That Could Bring Market Mayhem.] After the market crashed in 2008 many investors wanted to understand what they were investing in and began caring more about the types of investments, he says. "If I were to buy a mutual fund and wanted exposure to technology, in general mutual fund companies don't necessarily tell me a lot about these products," says Walia, whose company creates indexes of up to 30 securities within each of its more than 250,000 motifs. "But if you know you've invested in a connected car or 3D printing, then all of sudden it's a very intuitive." That has bred interest around investing in everything from robotics and female-led companies to high-yield dividends. It is more than just impact investing -- investments made with a social or environmental focus. "A lot of the rise is because of social media," says Kirsty Peev, a portfolio manager for Halpern Financial in Ashburn, Virginia. "We are all armchair activists. We can now make bold statements online. Companies are very smart and they see people wanting to make a statement with their investments so they've built a niche." Story continues Here's how you can create theme-based investments. Invest in what you know. Walia points to his father, a retired vascular surgeon who knew nothing about investing, but understood the nuances around a minimally invasive surgery-themed index fund. "If you are starting to do thematic investing, start with something you understand," Walia says. "Everyone knows something about something." Keep in mind your risk tolerance and time horizon, since a climate change themed fund may take longer to grow or investing in shale oil will be sensitive to market volatility, he says. Pick a broad-based theme and stay diversified. Avoid being too heavily concentrated in one industry. Minimize investment risks by making sure you are not overweighting certain sectors in your portfolio while remaining properly diversified, says Matt Hylland, an investment advisor for Hylland Capital Management in Virginia Beach, Virginia. "We all like to think that we can read the news and predict things," says Peev, who typically cautions against theme-based investing. "In reality, investors' predictive skills aren't very strong if you look at the history." Instead, she recommends allocating less than 10 percent of your portfolio toward a particular sector or theme. Look at themed-based exchange-traded funds. Consider creating value-based or dividend themed portfolios with less expensive companies. Vanguard Large Cap Value (VTV) ETF, which invests in large companies, and the Vanguard Small Cap Value (VBR), which invests in smaller companies, both trade at a cheap price compared to their net worth, Hylland says. [See: 10 Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Financial Advisor.] For investors looking for dividend appreciation, Hylland recommends Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG), which invests in companies that have increased their dividends over the last 10 years, or Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM), which invests in stocks that currently have a high yield. Make sure to review the expense ratio. The lower the better, but aim for less than 0.3 percent, Hylland says. Try a theme that minimizes volatility but still offers equity exposure. Many investors who pick themes are doing rule-based investing that focuses on low volatility via "smart beta." "It's less trendy and sector chasing than most people think of theme investing," Peev says. "They'll take a particular index, say an emerging index, and instead of buying the whole index you buy only the stocks with the lowest volatility within that index." Consider the future economy. Use what Krull calls the "what's the next economy" philosophy. Ask yourself what the economy will look like a decade from now. Consider what companies may be providing energy and consumer goods. Look for companies that are doing innovative research and development that are open to trying new things. "Companies that aren't afraid to make educated risks on new products and services have every chance," he says. Avoid what's trending. "Five years ago we had clients who wanted to invest in gold, because everyone was talking about it," says Stuart Blair director of research for Canterbury Consulting in Newport Beach, California. "We counseled them not to make an unnatural tactical play because if you get caught up in the excitement it becomes a problem. Shortly after that gold dropped off and equity markets took off like a rocket ship." Conversely, he says many investors are overlooking emerging markets which have slowed their growth, but are still growing at a rate far greater than the rest of the world. "We aren't saying that this is the year emerging markets are going to do well," he says. "But we believe long-term the emerging markets are going to return more than U.S. and international developed markets." Know that it is harder to exclude something than include it. Especially for investors who looking for socially responsible investing, it may take more work to create a customized equity-based portfolio. Most socially responsible investing mutual funds are not going to exclude everything, such as animal testing and big pharma, as one of Krull's clients requested. It's not easy to hit those specifics, which means you have to look individual stock portfolios, he says. Or if an investor is trying to remove guns from their portfolio, they may settle with eliminating gun manufacturers versus not buying any securities tied to guns since copper, which is used in bullets and a large part of the U.S. economy as well as emerging markets. [Read: Pros and Cons of Real Estate Crowdfunding for Retirement.] "You don't want to make it so broad you exclude a whole part of the market," Blair says. More From US News & World Report Allowing ages on casting websites only encourages age discrimination, especially for women, says former Beverly Hills, 90210 star and current SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris. In a guest column for the Hollywood Reporter, Carteris, 55, is pushing lawmakers to pass legislation that would remove actors' ages from casting websites like IMdB and StudioSystem. "It is time to stop the ageism that permeates Hollywood's casting process," she writes. "This problem exists for all performers, but most distinctly for women. Performers create characters and often employ illusion to do so. That's acting." Carteris says that if the casting websites that studios use today existed back in 1990, she never would've had the chance to earn her role on Beverly Hills, 90210. Though she was 29 at the time, Carteris was asked to audition and won the role of 16-year-old Andrea Zuckerman. "What worries me is that my fellow actors are not being afforded the same opportunities today actors who are trying to make a living and find their big break," she says. "They face blatant age discrimination every day as websites routinely used for casting talent a force birthdates and ages on casting decision-makers without their even realizing it." RELATED VIDEO: Can You Believe That Ashley Benson Wasn't Picked for Roles Because She Was Too Heavy? 90210's Gabrielle Carteris Pushes for Law to Remove Ages from Casting Websites" data-ad-channel="peoplenow" data-ad-subchannel="" data-auto-play="no"> SAG-AFTRA already has the support of a piece of legislation in the works California's AB 1687, which would require websites to take down birthdates of actors who subscribe to the site and request it. Carteris says AB 1687 is already through both houses in the California legislature, and just needs Governor Jerry Brown's signature. "I was allowed the opportunity to create a signature character on an iconic television show," Carteris says. "That changed the trajectory of my life and career, and I am forever grateful. Enacting this law in California will benefit performers around the country and media consumers who want to see movie and television roles played by the very best people for the job." AECOM ACM recently announced that its Tishman Construction unit has become a joint general contractor of Phase 1A of Gramercy District. This unit will be one of the two general contractors in the project, TRINITY Group Construction being the other. Work on this project is expected to commence from 2017 and be completed by late 2018. Spreading over 2.5 million square foot, Gramercy District is a technology-focused mixed-use development in Loudoun County, VA. Global private equity firm 22 Capital Partners is the lead investor and master developer of the project. This is the first smart city of the country aiming at effortless integration of technology and real estate infrastructure from the very onset of construction. The project aims to develop a highly efficient, sustainable and economically viable Smart City In-a-Box that can serve as the role model of upcoming future projects. Phase 1A of the project entails development of a 268-unit, seven-story luxury apartment building, 26,000 square feet retail area, rooftop amenities and five stories parking space. Sustainable land use and community transformation are other major programs under this project. Development of smart cities has gained pace in the contemporary digital age. AECOM believes it is well-equipped to make the most of this industry uptrend.. Tishman Construction has been a key growth driver for the company, clinching major deals including One Vanderbilt in Manhattan area and Brookfields One Manhattan West, situated in New York City. AECOM Price AECOM Price | AECOM Quote AECOMs diversified portfolio comprises both designing and construction services. In addition, the companys business is spread across a number of vital markets that mitigate operating risks. The Design and Consulting Services segment is currently bolstering the companys growth. The recently passed five-year transportation bill known as the FAST Act has improved the companys visibility. It now expects this bill to fuel $60 billion worth of projects, going forward. Story continues During the third-quarter of fiscal 2016, this bill has contributed to a 12% increase in backlog on a year-over-year basis. As a matter of fact, organic revenue growth accelerated by 14% in third-quarter fiscal 2016 in building construction business, mirroring the companys underlying strength. We believe positive industry trends, along with the companys dominant position in each market, bode well for long-term growth. AECOM currently holds Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the industry include Willdan Group, Inc. WLDN, A. O. Smith Corp. AOS and EnerSys ENS. All three stocks carry 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 AECOM (ACM): Free Stock Analysis Report WILLDAN GROUP (WLDN): Free Stock Analysis Report SMITH (AO) CORP (AOS): Free Stock Analysis Report ENERSYS INC (ENS): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research By Natalie Schachar and Alizeh Kohari MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Heavy storms earlier this year hammered the forests that North America's monarch butterflies migrate to in central Mexico, a study showed on Tuesday, fuelling fears the habitat could eventually become untenable. Conservationists said storms and strong winds in March uprooted more than 20,000 trees in Mexico's Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, which lies west of the capital on the border of the states of Mexico and Michoacan. Nearly 54 hectares (135 acres) of the core of the reserve were hit, the most significant impact since storms during the 2009-10 season ravaged more than 100 hectares (250 acres), said Omar Vidal, director-general of the Mexican arm of the World Wildlife Fund. That represents a small portion of the 13,551-hectare (34,000-acre) area of the reserve's core. But Vidal said: "It's worrying because this may indicate that the weather will continue to become more extreme." Butterflies fell to the ground during the storms, were hit by rains and froze to death, he said. "It's a large amount of trees, it's a large amount of forest, so essentially we're losing habitat for the monarch in this sanctuary," he added. "We need to restore areas that have been deforested, either by illegal logging or violent winds, so that the monarch continues visiting these areas in the long run." The black and orange monarch, the world's farthest-migrating butterfly, travels every November from Canada and the United States to the temperate forests of the states of Mexico and Michoacan to hibernate for five months. Erratic weather accounted for more than four times the amount of damage as illegal logging this season, which declined by 40 percent from the previous year, the study noted. The study was carried out by the WWF in partnership with Mexico's National Autonomous University, the National Commission for Natural Protected Areas and others. Earlier this year, surveys indicated that the monarch was on the rebound and that numbers could soon reach about 150 million, although well below the 1 billion range seen two decades ago. The increase was attributed to favourable weather at the time and a concerted effort to plant more milkweed, where the butterflies lay their eggs. (Editing by Simon Gardner and Peter Cooney) The past week saw Chicago-based United Continental Holdings UAL shaking up its management team by appointing a new chief financial officer and chief commercial officer. A couple of updates emanated from Southwest Airlines Co. LUV over the past week. Apart from announcing the retirement of its Labor Relations Chief, the low-cost carrier also revealed its intention to operate flights connecting Los Angeles and three Mexican destinations. Delta Air Lines DAL also featured in the news as it attempts to reach a pay-related agreement with its pilots. Meanwhile, according to the employment data for passenger airlines, there was a substantial year-over-year increase in full-time equivalent (FTE) employment this June. TRANSPORTATION-AIRLINE Industry Price Index TRANSPORTATION-AIRLINE Industry Price Index (Read the last Airline Stock Roundup for Aug 17, 2016). Recap of the Past Weeks Most Important Stories 1. According to data released by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, there was a 3.9% increase in the number of workers employed by U.S. scheduled passenger airlines in June. This marked the 32nd consecutive month of year-over-year increase. The report also stated that the number of FTEs (412,333) for June 2016 was the highest since June 2008. According to the update, the most number of FTEs in the month were employed by the American Airlines Group AAL, among the network airlines. Southwest Airlines and SkyWest SKYW took the honors in the low-cost and regional carrier categories respectively. 2. Delta Air Lines has been facing tough time with an ongoing dispute related to the salary of its pilots. Delta has offered a 27% hike in salary to the pilots, over a period of four years. Contrary to Deltas offer, the pilots are demanding a raise of around 37% over three years (read more: Delta Air Lines, Pilots Struggle to Reach Salary Agreement). 3. In an attempt to expand further, Southwest Airlines announced that it plans to launch new flights to Mexico later this year. The flights will operate between Los Angeles and three Mexican destinations Cancun, San Jose del Cabo and Puerto Vallarta. The flights are expected to start from Dec 4, subject to approval from the government of Mexico (read more: Southwest Airlines Announces New Flights to Mexico). Story continues On a separate note, Southwest Airlines declared that Randy Babbitt, Senior Vice President of Labor Relations will be retiring this fall. Babbitt is a veteran in the field of aviation with 50 years of experience. Babbitt had joined the Dallas-based low-cost carrier in 2012. Babbitt will be leaving at a time when Southwest Airlines is embroiled in a labor-related dispute, with some of its labor groups demanding the removal of the carriers top executives 4. United Continental Holdings announced changes to its managerial team. The company appointed Andrew Levy as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Levy, who has had leadership experience of more than 13 years at Allegiant Travel Company ALGT, will replace the acting CFO Gerry Laderman. Laderman will go back to his position as the senior vice president, finance, procurement and treasurer. Meanwhile, Julia Haywood has been appointed as executive vice president and chief commercial officer. The chief revenue officer and vice chairman of the company, Jim Compton, is expected to retire after the transition by the end of 2016. The new appointments are one of the several major decisions undertaken by Oscar Munoz, as he strives to bring about a turnaround at United Continental. 5. According to an Associated Press report, air travel between the US and Mexico will become more accessible with majority of the restrictions being removed. A liberalized aviation treaty between the two countries was inked last year. This will allow freedom to the carriers to operate on any route (with limitless frequency) of their choice between the neighboring countries. With competition likely to intensify across the cross-border routes, once operational, the deal should help make airfares across the routes more pocket friendly. Performance The following table shows the price movement of the major airline players over the past week and during the last 6 months. Company Past Week Last 6 months HA 2.32% 6.43% UAL -0.69% -15.59% GOL 0.65% 310.82% DAL -0.89% -25.03% JBLU -4.30% -31.71% AAL -1.14% -10.48% SAVE -0.28% -15.16% LUV 1.07% -11.29% VA 0.27% 81.49% ALK 2.80% -8.49% The table above shows that airline stocks exhibited a mixed trend over the past week. Consequently, the NYSE ARCA Airline index declined marginally to $88.41 over the past 5 trading days. Over the course of six months, the NYSE ARCA Airline index depreciated marginally despite huge gains at GOL Linhas and Virgin America . Shares of JetBlue Airways Corp. JBLU depreciated the most (31.71%) over the period. What's Next in the Airline Space? We anticipate further updates on Deltas ongoing pay-related dispute with its pilots. Moreover, stay tuned for usual news updates in the space. 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 SOUTHWEST AIR (LUV): Free Stock Analysis Report JETBLUE AIRWAYS (JBLU): Free Stock Analysis Report DELTA AIR LINES (DAL): Free Stock Analysis Report SKYWEST INC (SKYW): Free Stock Analysis Report ALLEGIANT TRAVL (ALGT): Free Stock Analysis Report UNITED CONT HLD (UAL): Free Stock Analysis Report AMER AIRLINES (AAL): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Albemarle Corporation ALB said that it has inked a deal to buy the lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate conversion assets and supporting business functions currently operated by Jiangxi Jiangli New Materials Science and Technology Co. Ltd. The transaction, which is subject regulatory clearances and other customary closing conditions, is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2017. The deal includes manufacturing assets located in both Jiangxi and Sichuan, in China, where these assets are aimed at the production of battery-grade lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide. Jiangli New Materials currently tolls lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate for Albemarle, using spodumene from Albemarle's Talison joint venture in Australia. Collectively, the Jiangli New Material assets have an aggregate lithium salts capacity of 15,000 MT/year, with the ability to increase capacity as required to support Albemarle's growth strategy. The deal will enable Albermarle to strengthen its position in the lithium industry, and enhance its ability to meet its strategic goal of capturing half of the growth in the lithium industry. This transaction will enable the company to supply premium lithium salts to an increased global customer base. On the other hand, with the deal, Jiangli can create additional value for the lithium industry in Asia Pacific and abroad. ALBEMARLE CORP Price ALBEMARLE CORP Price | ALBEMARLE CORP Quote Albemarle is a global specialty chemicals company with its holding leading positions in lithium, bromine, refining catalysts and applied surface treatments. Albemarle currently holds a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). Better-ranked companies in the chemical space include Innospec Inc. IOSP, The Chemours Company CC and Innophos Holdings Inc IPHS. All of them hold a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong 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 ALBEMARLE CORP (ALB): Free Stock Analysis Report INNOPHOS HLDGS (IPHS): Free Stock Analysis Report INNOSPEC INC (IOSP): Free Stock Analysis Report CHEMOURS COMPNY (CC): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research From Cosmopolitan "Aliana definitely doesn't want to breathe life into Lindsay's personal happenings." This is Michael Lohan Jr. politely declining a request for a follow-up interview with his younger sister Aliana. I'd spoken to her at a coffee shop in Los Angeles a week prior to Lindsay's 30th birthday extravaganza in Mykonos, Greece. But a lot had happened since then: Lindsay and her Russian business heir fiance Egor Tarabasov broke up, Michael Lohan Sr. told tabloids Lindsay was pregnant (she's not), and Lindsay accused Egor of physically attacking her. Of course, none of those incidents have anything to do with Aliana's music career, which she's determined to launch once and for all later this year - and, yet, they have everything to do with it. When you're the sibling of one of the world's most famous ingenues-turned-cautionary-tales, how do you survive both her spotlight and her shadow? How do you make it in Hollywood yourself? That's what I'm trying to figure out when I meet Aliana at Verve in June. "I'm so sorry I'm late!" she says when she arrives. I look at my phone; she's five minutes early. Her punctuality aside, Aliana is very much a Lohan. She has the throaty voice, the freckles, and it isn't long before she mentions that her mom Dina is one of her best friends ("my strength"). In my memory, she was still a tween, frozen at the peak of Lindsay's fame, accompanying her sister on the red carpet, starring in Lindsay's "Confessions of a Broken Heart (Daughter to Father)" music video, and nervously chatting with David Letterman to promote her short-lived reality show Living Lohan, when she was just 14 and still going by Ali. But here she is now, a 22-year-old woman making another go of it in music. "This is what I wanted to do since I was 8 years old," she says. Photo credit: Sami Drasin She moved to L.A. from New York in early May, and has since spent her days in a recording studio with a writing partner (whose name she's reluctant to share until the album's complete) and working with a producer to nail down her sound, which she describes as "Western emo," citing Nancy Sinatra and Johnny Cash as inspirations. This new EP won't be Aliana's musical debut: She was 10 when she recorded her first album, Lohan Holiday. For many people trying to launch a music career, having songs called "I Like Christmas" and "Santa's Reindeer Ride" available to stream on Spotify would be mortifying. But Aliana congenially shuts me down when I suggest as much. "I believe everything happens for a reason," she says. "Like, everything." Here's what you need to know about Aliana: Blanket positivity is her general M.O. If I turned our conversation into a word cloud, "blessed" and "grateful" would be prominently featured; so would the phrase "on my path." "I've never done therapy in my entire life," she says when I ask. "Nothing against therapists. I think it's extraordinary what they do for people. I just, I have a deep sense of faith and spirituality, so I think that's my grounding." Buddhism and meditation are "a big part" of her life. And she mentions her affinity for Wayne Dyer, the spiritual self-help guru who wrote Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life. ("My mom was like, 'Read this book, it's amazing, you'll love it,'" she says.) Even when she peripherally acknowledges the difficulties of growing up Lohan, she is quick to put a gracious spin on it. "It's just crazy how things can get out, and be twisted and completely fabricated," she says. "That was mind-blowing to me." She's vague and tends to backpedal on anything that might be negatively misconstrued, suggesting a general wariness of the media. When I mention the live video chat Lindsay did with fans just days before our meeting - during which Lindsay said she's holding off on releasing new music because "as much as I want to sing every day, I don't want my sister to hate me" - Aliana gasps. "I think some things were twisted around," she says, taking a sip of her iced coffee. Photo credit: Sami Drasin "Being born in a family that's public, that's just been my life," she says. "I've never gone out of my way for attention." (When I bring up her sister in the first place, she suggests that we move to a more secluded table, blaming the sun that's started to beat down on us.) The only time in recent memory she seems to have knowingly courted headlines was in December 2015, after Jennifer Lawrence made a joke about her busy filming schedule on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert: "I get Lindsay Lohan-grade exhaustion but without any drugs or alcohol," she said. Aliana responded with a pointed tweet ("I never breathe life into negativity but I stand by my family. Disappointed in Jennifer Lawrence. You lost a fan"). "That was literally something that came over me where I was like, 'You know what, that's my sister. I gotta say something,'" she explains. "At first, I was like, 'Shit. Are people gonna jump on this?' I'm like, 'You know what? It's OK.' Because I just wanted her to know that you should stand up for other women, you should help people and not put them down, ever." That drama aside, she says, "I'm a very focused person. All my family knows, 'Aliana's singing.'" Her first break in music came at the hands of a producer named Chris Christian, who ran into Dina Lohan, whom he knew through his friend Robert Kardashian (yes), at the Four Seasons swimming pool in Beverly Hills in 2006. Chris was hoping Lindsay, who was at the peak of her record career at the time, would cut a holiday album for his new media company. Her schedule was packed with movie obligations, but Dina told him that 10-year-old Aliana, who was swimming in the pool nearby, could sing, and asked if he wanted to work with her instead. "Ali swam over and Dina said, 'Hey, you wanna make a Christmas album?'" Chris recounts over the phone. "Ali goes, 'Sure!' And then she swam off. One of the more unique courting artists deals that I've ever been involved in." Chris, whose history in the music business dates back to the '70s, when he worked with Elvis Presley, has nothing but fond memories to share of the experience. "She had a good voice and she could sing," he says, comparing her "gravelly" tone to that of Elvis himself. "But she was more interested in going back in the lobby and continuing to play her video games on the phone," he adds with a laugh. Music took a backseat to modeling for Aliana in the years that followed. She'd booked campaigns on and off throughout her childhood (she made an adorable appearance with Lindsay in this Calvin Klein ad), but at 17, she moved to South Korea for eight months to model full time. "I was modeling using just my first name in the beginning - I didn't want to be taken a different way," she tells me. "When I was there, I was alone, so I was just getting to experience another place around the world and really taking that in. I was like, 'Wow. This is cool' - free bird." When I ask later if she ever did the party thing, her emphatic frown says it all. "Never," she says, shaking her head. "Wasn't for me. I've never done drugs or anything, thank god. I did not like that scene." Photo credit: Sami Drasin In some respects, Aliana seems older than her 22 years - something she says people always tell her. But she's got a childlike enthusiasm too, and a nervous, goofy streak. She affects funny voices and does an Elvis impression ("Thankyouverymuch") when I call her choice of words ("music just ignites my soul") poetic. When she pulls her hair back, I can see the tiny music note tattooed behind her left ear, and the star tattoo on her wrist matches ones that both Dina and Lindsay have too. As frustrating as her willful positive-thinking is at times - surely you have more to say about the downside of fame, Aliana Lohan! - I can't help but marvel at her sunny disposition. By the end of our time together, I even find I've adopted it. Cut to the inside of my shitty 2003 Honda CR-V, where Aliana has managed to overlook my assorted driving detritus - Lara bar wrappers, empty iced coffee cups, half-filled water bottles - and notice only my collection of '90s tapes. "Oh my god, you play cassettes?" she says, hopping into the passenger side. We're headed to a housing project in Watts; Aliana has spent most of her Saturdays there volunteering for a youth mentoring program run by a family friend, and we're taking my car at her request. ("We probably shouldn't roll up in a Mercedes," she says, calling the driver of the waiting luxury car to tell him we no longer need his service.) "I have to Snapchat this," she says, panning her iPhone over my collection. She pops Willie Nelson's greatest hits into the tape player and we sing along with the windows down. Photo credit: Sami Drasin When we arrive at the rec center, the outside area is in full swing. The Bee Gees' "Staying Alive" blasts from a portable speaker, a tug-of-war game is just getting started, and a picnic table is cluttered with tiny wooden birdhouses that a handful of kids are painting and personalizing. Aliana gets right in the fray; before long, a girl named Trinity is correcting her dabbing technique. "Like this," she says, her missing front teeth causing a slight lisp. These kids don't know who Aliana is, and although I haven't totally managed to answer my original question - how will Aliana carve out a name for herself when her name already comes with so much baggage? - it's clear the anonymity is a relief. I think about something she mentioned earlier, about how any hardships she's faced have only allowed her to be of service to other people. "I'm not scared of anything," she said. "I think it's because I've just seen so much and been public at such a young age. Really, I'm like Iron Woman." Follow Lisa on Twitter. You might remember Aliana Lohan as Ali, the tween-aged younger sister of Lindsay Lohan, but the aspiring musician is all grown up now and she's ready to forge her own career outside of her sister's shadow. The 22-year-old opened up to Cosmopolitan about growing up Lohan, calling out Jennifer Lawrence on Twitter and almost everything except Lindsay. Aliana grew up in the public eye as Lindsay's career soared and stumbled. "Being born in a family that's public, that's just been my life," she told Cosmo. "I've never gone out of my way for attention." WATCH: Lindsay Lohan Is Still Showing Off Her Engagement Ring on a Different Finger But when you're a Lohan, sometimes you can't escape the attention, as was the case when Jennifer Lawrence joked in a Dec. 2015 interview that she gets "Lindsay Lohan-grade exhaustion but without any drugs or alcohol." Aliana shot back on Twitter: "I never breathe life into negativity. But I stand by my family. Disappointed in Jennifer Lawrence. Not cool." I never breathe life into negativity. But I stand by my family. Disappointed in Jennifer Lawrence..Not cool. @lindsaylohan ALIANA (@aliana) December 15, 2015 "That was literally something that came over me where I was like, 'You know what, that's my sister. I gotta say something,'" she explained. "At first, I was like, 'Sh*t. Are people gonna jump on this?' I'm like, 'You know what? It's OK.' Because I just wanted her to know that you should stand up for other women, you should help people and not put them down, ever." Aliana also revealed that, at 17, she moved to South Korea for eight months to pursue her modeling career full time -- leaving her famous last name behind. "I was modeling using just my first name in the beginning -- I didn't want to be taken a different way," she said. "When I was there, I was alone, so I was just getting to experience another place around the world and really taking that in. I was like, 'Wow. This is cool' -- free bird." Story continues Now Aliana is back in the U.S. and has moved from New York to Los Angeles to work on her music career and record an album. She describes her sound as "Western emo" and says her influences include Nancy Sinatra and Johnny Cash. "This is what I wanted to do since I was eight years old," she said. But even though Aliana is reinventing herself as a serious musician, she's not embarrassed about her prior foray into the pop world -- her 2006 album, Lohan Holiday, recorded when she was 10. It's all part of the journey. "I believe everything happens for a reason," she said. "Like, everything." NEWS: Lindsay Lohan at 30: After a Decade of Turmoil, We're Ready for a Comeback Although the subject of Lindsay hovers over the interview, Aliana is -- perhaps understandably -- quiet on the matter. She brushed off a question about Lindsay's recent live chat announcement that new music was being delayed because, "as much as I want to sing every day, I don't want my sister to hate me." Aliana's response: "I think some things were twisted around." Meanwhile, Lindsay is back in the news lately for her on-again, off-again relationship with estranged fiance Egor Tarabasov. Find out the latest in the video below. Related Articles In one of its biggest international TV deals to date, Amazon has snatched up rights to Starz's epic fantasy series American Gods in multiple territories, including the U.K., Germany, Austria and Japan. The deal, announced Wednesday by Amazon and sales group FremantleMedia International, will see American Gods launch exclusively on the Amazon Prime streaming service in those countries in 2017. Based on the best-selling novel by cult author Neil Gaiman (The Sandman, Coraline), American Gods is one of the most hotly anticipated new shows among fantasy fans. The plot is centered on a war brewing between the old gods, including their leader Mr. Wednesday (Ian McShane), and the new gods, headed by Media (Gillian Anderson). Ricky Whittle stars as Shadow Moon, an ex-con who gets caught up in the epic battle. Emily Browning co-stars as Shadow's wife, Laura Moon. FremantleMedia North America is producing American Gods for Starz with Heroes veterans Bryan Fuller and Michael Green as writers and showrunners. David Slade (Hannibal) is directing the series pilot and additional episodes. Fuller, Green, Slade and Gaiman are executive producers along with FremantleMedia North America's Craig Cegielski and Stefanie Berk. FremantleMedia International is handling worldwide sales. Read more: A Crash Course in 'American Gods,' Starz's Epic New Fantasy Brad Beale, vp worldwide television acquisition for Amazon, called American Gods "one of the most ambitious new television series coming out in 2017" and said the show fits nicely among Amazon Prime's roster of original and, in select territories, exclusively acquired content, which includes the likes of Mr. Robot, Preacher and The Man in the High Castle. While Amazon Prime does not yet have the global reach of Netflix, the streaming service is strong in several select territories. In German-speaking Europe, where it launched ahead of Netflix, Amazon is the market leader in subscription VOD services. Read more: 'American Gods:' 11 Key Takeaways From the Starz Drama's TCA Panel Sources have reported that American International Group Inc. AIG is contemplating the sale of its insurance operations related to Lloyd's of London to The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, the largest pension fund of Canada. We believe the divestiture is aimed at turning AIG into a leaner and more-focused company as urged by investors Carl Icahn and John Paulson. In Nov 2015, in a letter addressed to Peter Hancock, Carl Icahn had asked for a split of the mammoth company into three parts property and casualty, life and mortgage insurance. According to Icahn, American Internationals diverse businesses have little strategic fit between them and may unlock greater value if they are segregated. He pointed out that the companys behemoth size has become a hindrance in its own path toward progress. The investor also pointed out that this too big to succeed company is lagging its peers with sub-par returns. Constraints such as size and capital are its primary culprits. The company faces stringent capital restriction that hampers its competitiveness. Icahn also held American Internationals inadequate expense management responsible for its downfall. Having digested American Internationals underperformance for long, Icahn was unwilling to wait any further for slow reforms from the company. He, in fact, wanted American International to take aggressive steps to expedite the process of unlocking massive value tied within it. And the best course of action would be to cut it into three parts. Hancock, however, was not convinced with the idea of a split-up as he did not see much financial sense in it. To work a way out, the American International's chief had instead promised to take steps that would lead to higher returns. AMER INTL GRP Price AMER INTL GRP Price | AMER INTL GRP Quote Some of the recent moves made in this regard: Last week, the company took one of the biggest strategic restructuring measures by announcing the sale of its mortgage insurance unit United Guaranty Corporation to Arch Capital Group Ltd. ACGL for $3.4 billion. This move is in sync with Icahns suggestion to speed up reforms at the company. The other steps taken recently by American International to drive up returns include the announcement of a new share buyback plan earlier this month. The company authorized the repurchase of additional shares with an aggregate purchase price of up to $3.0 billion. In Feb 2016, it had authorized an additional $5 billion in share repurchases. The company also raised its quarterly dividend by 14%. Moreover, the company formed a new Executive Leadership Team structure, comprising 10 heads all veterans in their respective fields to work toward attaining its strategic priorities. The company also slashed several jobs, including senior positions in order save cost. Story continues In May, the company completed the sale of Advisor Group to investment funds affiliated with Lightyear Capital LLC. These moves were part of the commitment it announced at the start of the year to return $25 billion to shareholders over two years. The recent developments at American International show that it is vigorously considering asset disposals since it has been warned to buck up its speed to show performance. American International carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks from the insurance space are James River Group Holdings, Ltd. JRVR and Swiss Re Ltd. SSREY . Both these stocks carry hold 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 AMER INTL GRP (AIG): Free Stock Analysis Report JAMES RIVER GRP (JRVR): Free Stock Analysis Report ARCH CAP GP LTD (ACGL): Free Stock Analysis Report SWISS RE LTD (SSREY): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Tim Cook Apple is buying more companies than we thought. Eddy Cue, Apple's head of internet services, told Backchannel how Apple buys smaller companies primarily for their talent at a relatively prolific rate. A large portion of Apple's talent in artificial intelligence comes from acquisitions. "We've recently been buying 20 to 30 companies a year that are relatively small, really hiring the manpower," says Cue. Apple has bought a lot of artificial-intelligence companies. Apple recently bought Turi, a Seattle-based machine-learning startup founded by a University of Washington professor, for a reported $200 million. But it's not the only one we know about. Other AI companies that Apple has bought recently include Emollient, Perceptio, and VocalIQ. More than every 4 weeks Apple CEO Tim Cook has been forthright about how acquisitive Apple is. "We have been buying companies on average every three to four weeks or so, and we continue to do that," he said during Apple's earnings call in July. "We've made 15 acquisitions in the last four quarters to accelerate our product and services roadmaps, and we're always on the lookout for companies with great technology, talent, and strategic fit," he said in April. But that's still a long way off from "20 to 30 companies a year." Apple doesn't buy companies for revenue, according to Cook. It's looking for talent and intellectual property, he told The Washington Post. And because it tends to buy small, technology-focused startups, the deals are usually small enough that it doesn't have to report the acquisitions to the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Often the acquisitions go unnoticed for months. Earlier this week, Fast Company reported that Apple had bought Gliimpse, a health-data company. The funny thing is, Gliimpse was bought in February, months before anyone outside of Cupertino knew about it. There could be a lot of other Gliimpses out there that Apple has already bought especially startups working in hot fields like deep learning or health technology. Story continues NOW WATCH: Apple retail boss Angela Ahrendts told us how Apple Stores are changing More From Business Insider Tim Cook Congress The European Commission is expected to levy a judgment against Apple in the next few months that could total in the billions of euros. JPMorgan has estimated that Apple could be on the hook for as much as $19 billion or about 17 billion euros the Financial Times reports. The commission is accusing Apple of striking a sweetheart tax deal with Ireland, in which the iPhone maker would move its profits to wholly owned Irish subsidiaries to reduce its corporate taxes. Apple has one major defender in its corner, though: the US Treasury Department and, by extension, the Obama administration. The Treasury released a white paper on Wednesday, commissioned by Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, that did not mince words while defending American companies, including Apple, Starbucks, and Amazon. It says that the Brussels-based investigation of Apple is "supranational" and essentially accused the European Commission of executing a power grab and unfairly targeting American companies. Here's the money quote from the paper (emphasis added): "The U.S. Treasury Department continues to consider potential responses should the Commission continue its present course. A strongly preferred and mutually beneficial outcome would be a return to the system and practice of international tax cooperation that has long fostered cross-border investment between the United States and EU Member States." Tax is one of the biggest and most touchy policy issues for Apple. Congress investigated Apple's tax arrangements in 2013, which led to CEO Tim Cook testifying before a US Senate subcommittee. Apple has billions of dollars held offshore that it would love to bring back to the US, but Cook has said that he thinks the system is unfair. "The money that's in Ireland that he's probably referring to is money that is subject to U.S. taxes. The tax law right now says we can keep that in Ireland or we can bring it back," Cook told The Washington Post. "We've said at 40 percent, we're not going to bring it back until there's a fair rate. There's no debate about it. Is that legal to do or not legal to do? It is legal to do. It is the current tax law." Story continues "It's important for everyone to understand that the allegation made in the E.U. is that Ireland gave us a special deal. Ireland denies that," Cook said. Based on the release of Wednesday's paper, it sounds as if Apple can continue to rely on the Treasury's support while navigating this multibillion transatlantic spat. NOW WATCH: Apple retail boss Angela Ahrendts told us how Apple Stores are changing More From Business Insider The U.S. Army has pulled a slide from a training presentation that described Hillary Clinton as an insider threat to national security. The slide, which was used in a PowerPoint presentation at Missouris Fort Leonard Wood, included the image of the Democratic nominee alongside pictures of disgraced retired Gen. David Petraeus, Chelsea Manning, Edward Snowden, Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan and Washington Navy Yard gunman Aaron Alexis and described them as insiders who were careless or disgruntled government employees. An image of the slide, which had been used in local training presentations at the outpost since early 2015, was posted to Facebook on Sunday. According to Maj. Thomas Campbell, a U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command spokesman, the slide has since been removed from the presentation. An image of the slide. (U.S. Army W.T.F! Moments via Facebook) As is common with Army training requirements, the local unit was given latitude to develop their own training products to accomplish the overall training objective, Campbell said in a statement to the Army Times. This particular presentation had not been reviewed or approved by the units leadership and does not reflect the position of the Army. Petraeus, who served 37 years in the Army, resigned as CIA director in 2012 over reports he provided Paula Broadwell, his biographer turned mistress, with classified information. Manning, a former Army soldier, was convicted in 2013 of disclosing thousands of classified documents to WikiLeaks. Snowden, a former National Security Agency contractor turned whistleblower, disclosed classified information that revealed the spy agencys controversial domestic surveillance program before fleeing the United States in 2013 and ending up in Russia. Clintons use of a private email server for State Department business was investigated by the FBI, which declined to pursue criminal charges. However, FBI Director James Comey did say there was evidence that Clinton and her colleagues were extremely careless while handling some classified information. According to the Army Times article, military officials recently strengthened its insider-threat training protocols, requiring more soldiers to receive in-person presentations. SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Jake Arrieta might be starting a late-season push for an NL Cy Young Award. He's done it before. Arrieta threw eight scoreless innings of two-hit ball to become the NL's first 16-game winner and Kris Bryant and Addison Russell homered, lifting the Chicago Cubs over the San Diego Padres 5-3 on Tuesday night. ''The story line is Jake,'' Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. ''He hardly ever lost the plate and his fastball command kept getting better as the game progressed. That was really reminiscent of last year.'' Arrieta (16-5) allowed a single to Alex Dickerson in the second and Christian Bethancourt's double in the eighth. The defending NL Cy Young winner has two no-hitters in the past year, including one while he went 11-0 with an 0.41 ERA over his final 12 starts last season. ''It's hard to replicate what he did last year,'' Maddon said. ''He just nailed it. So if he gets hot over these last couple of weeks you could see more of what you just saw tonight.'' The Padres brought the go-ahead run to the plate in the ninth, but Aroldis Chapman got the last two outs for his 28th save after Felix Pena was charged with three runs. ''I was mad at Joe for taking me out,'' Arrieta said. ''But at the same time he said, 'remember last year?' Let's conserve some things for October and late September. That is our game plan. ''We want to be as strong and dominant as we can be but still in the back of our mind that is that late September, early October, mid-October, is really the most important thing for the ball club. Could I have finished the game? Yes. But does it play in our favor to maybe conserve that for later? Yes.'' Bryant's 33rd home run tied him with Colorado's Nolan Arenado for the NL lead. Russell smacked his fifth homer in five games, a two-run shot that put the Cubs ahead 4-0 in the fifth. Story continues Arrieta won for the fourth straight start. He had six strikeouts and three walks. The major league-leading Cubs are 21-5 in their last 26 games and 35 games over .500 for the first time since Sept. 25, 2008. Chicago has scored at least three runs in 22 straight games and has hit a minimum of two home runs in each of its last seven outings. Christian Friedrich (4-10) lost his eighth consecutive decision. He lasted 5 1/3 innings, giving up five runs and seven hits. He walked four and struck out two. Bryant got his second RBI in the sixth when his sacrifice fly scored Arrieta, who was aboard on a one-out triple. In the Cubs' three-run fifth, Ben Zobrist stroked a run-scoring double which preceded Russell's long fly. Zobrist had three hits. ''I definitely made some bad pitches,'' Friedrich said. ''It kind of got away from me.'' Bryant, who won the Golden Spikes Award at the University of San Diego, hit his second home run in two games in the third. His one-out blast put the Cubs ahead 1-0. The Padres blew several chances early. Travis Jankowski was picked off third in the first, and Arrieta, who is 27-5 since the beginning of last August, wiggled from jams in the next two innings thanks to two double plays, the first of three for the Cubs. ''The pickoff at third was rather large and the double plays, those are demoralizing for the other side,'' Maddon said. TRAINER'S ROOM Cubs: RHP John Lackey (right shoulder strain) is progressing with his throwing program and will have a bullpen session this weekend in Los Angeles. Padres: RHP Tyson Ross (right shoulder strain) will have a 45-pitch outing on Thursday for Class A Lake Elsinore. Ross was the Padres' opening day starter and hasn't pitched since. UP NEXT Cubs: RHP Kyle Hendricks (11-7, 21.6) has 16 straight starts in which he's allowed three runs or fewer, the longest streak in the majors this season. He's 2-0 with a 1.26 ERA in four starts against the Padres. Hendricks has won all but three road games this year. Padres: Paul Clemens (2-2, 4.82), who was claimed off waivers last month, worked five innings in his last outing on Thursday but didn't figure in the decision. He surrendered three runs on eight hits and three walks to the Arizona Diamondbacks. This report is part of a project on voting rights in America produced by the Carnegie-Knight News21 program. Correction, Aug. 24, 2016: An earlier version of this story about the Asian-American voting bloc inaccurately described Jerry Vattamalas title on second and third reference. He is the director of the Democracy Program at Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund in New York. ST. PAUL, Minn. Beth Vang grew up with a conflicted view of civic life. Vang, a 21-year-old college student, lives near St. Paul, Minnesota, in one of the largest Hmong communities in the U.S. In traditional Hmong culture, Vang said only the elite discuss politics and government. Young people conform to their parent's ideologies. And personal politics take a backseat to community harmony. But Vang is American. Her parents immigrated to the U.S. the year before she was born. In school, she learned the importance of political education, the value of individualism and the significance of issues affecting the public sphere. She considers herself caught between the old world and the new. In America, its OK to do certain things that its not OK to do in the Hmong heritage, Vang said. Thats something that we need to overcome if we want to make it in the U.S. and if we want to adapt to how the U.S. political world works. Vang said she personally has overcome some of those cultural barriers, and she does plan to vote in the upcoming presidential election: Luckily, I grew up with exposure to American culture and therefore knew that I should pay attention to politics and elections. This story is part of Accountability. The latest investigations about waste, fraud, corruption, abuse and mismanagement. Click here to read more stories in this topic. Don't miss another Accountability investigation: Sign up for the Center for Public Integrity's Watchdog email. St. Pauls Hmong, who largely immigrated to the U.S. as refugees after civil war in Southeast Asia, are among the nearly 20 million Asian-Americans living in the U.S. For the upcoming presidential election, Asian-American voters are projected to make up 4 percent of eligible voters. This percentage may seem small, but the population has grown rapidly since just 2012. Story continues Besides being the fastest-growing racial group in the U.S., Asian-Americans have the highest income and are the best educated both factors that have traditionally produced high voter turnout. However, as a voting bloc, Asian-Americans dont. In fact, they have the lowest voter participation of any demographic group. Why? Many Asian-Americans, mostly first-generation immigrants, dont speak English well or might not be familiar with the democratic process. But experts and advocates said even those more familiar with American culture say they feel neglected by political candidates who dont reach out or understand their issues. Some say theyve faced discrimination when theyve gone to vote. Karthick Ramakrishnan, founder of the political research group AAPI Data, said parties are less likely to reach out to Asian-Americans than any other race. Theyre your quintessential swing voter because their party identification tends to not be as strong, he said. And right now, there's a big missed opportunity for Republicans as well as Democrats to reach that population. Language creates barriers to voting One in 3 Asian-Americans speaks limited English, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. From Bengali to Tagalog, their native tongues and dialects are numerous and varied. This can thwart prospective voters from reading or filling out a ballot. Were talking about many, many, many different languages, many different cultures, many different experiences with voting and political processes, said Sundrop Carter, director of the Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition. Even people who maybe do their day-to-day business in English dont feel completely comfortable doing something as important as voting in a second language. The national Voting Rights Act has two clauses designed to protect minority language voters. The first, Section 203, requires that voting divisions translate their ballots when their population has more than 5 percent or 10,000 limited-English speakers who share the same native tongue. Currently, only 22 counties or cities in the U.S. meet that requirement for any Asian language. Another minority protection in the voting law, Section 208, allows voters to bring translators into a voting booth with them. But this isnt always allowed. Jerry Vattamala, director of the Democracy Program at Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund in New York, said its not uncommon for his office to hear about poll workers refusing to allow translators into the booths. The U.S. Department of Justice has sued 12 counties for violating Section 208 since 1998. Asian-Americans are part of the rapidly changing demographics of U.S. cities. For example, between 1990 and 2010, Philadelphias white population fell by a third the Hispanic and Asian populations have filled that gap. Between 2000 and 2010, Philadelphias Asian-American population grew around 40 percent. Today, they make up 7 percent of the city. Pockets of Asian-Americans have sprouted up in areas that used to be predominantly white. Former residents of industrial Chinatown, priced out by gentrification, have spread out. Ethnic grocery stores and Vietnamese bakeries have cropped up along Washington Avenue, a southern strip that runs the width of the city. As the immigrant population grows, Philadelphia officials are trying to meet their needs at the polls. Spanish translation is federally required at Philadelphias polls, and the city will provide translators for other languages if polling places find translators willing to do the work. In the 2016 primaries, the city hired and trained 41 Asian-language translators. But city officials say that the low pay $105 max for a 13-hour day doesnt provide much incentive. The city also has a phone-in translation service available to second-language citizens who need help with any government interaction. At voting booths, instruction cards tell people how to reach the language hotline. But advocates said those language cards arent always present, or that poll workers arent always trained to refer the hotline to second-language voters. City Commissioner Lisa Deeley, one of three Philadelphia officials who oversees voting in the city, wants the city to require language translation cards at every polling place. The cards are currently translated into more than 20 languages. Theres an election every six months in Philadelphia. We need to make sure that everybody is taking advantage of their right to vote whether its in English or Chinese or Vietnamese, Deeley said. Residents who need assistance should be able to get it with as much ease as possible. Vang, the student from St. Paul, said language issues go beyond translation. Directly translating words such as president and democracy into Hmong can seem impolite and harsh. Words that have a relation to politics sound very, very powerful. It sounds like something you should never talk about, she said. You cant just say those specific words in Hmong and not get away (without) an argument or something like that. About half of the citizens who speak Hmong in St. Paul speak English less than very well, according to U.S. Census data. These limited-English voters, like Wang Mua, Yolanda Loura, Nou Moua and Yer Yang, rely on translators, who are federally required in St. Paul, to help them vote. Each of the four women said they vote every time theres a presidential election. Behind the row of food stands at the annual Fourth of July weekend Hmong festival, these women sliced fruit in a circle amid smoke from nearby grills. To communicate with English speakers, they relied on translator Kaohly Her. Society does not find any value in us anymore because we are old, and we are useless, but we can still vote and our voice still matters, they said through Her. We fought our way to this country, we made it here and this is the least we can do. Although a translator may help them read the ballot at the polls, the service doesnt necessarily help them prepare. This election, for example, the women said they were planning to vote for President Barack Obama. They dont always get the information that they need in a way that they can process the information, Her said. They rely a lot on the rest of us who do speak the language to be able to tell them. Related: The growing Asian electorate Don't miss another Accountability investigation: Sign up for the Center for Public Integrity's Watchdog email. Cultural issues may thwart voting When David Oh won his seat on the Philadelphia City Council in 2011, Oh, a Korean-American, became the first Asian-American elected to local office in Philadelphia. In those five years, Asian-American voter registration in the city has roughly doubled from 5,000 to nearly 10,000. He and his associates have gone door to door in the citys Asian neighborhoods to register voters. Many of them really never knew that you could vote for your elected officials, Oh said of Asians in Philadelphia. Many of them are from China. You dont vote in China. Its kind of a new thing, and they sign up, and theyre quite happy about it. He said it also helps that he and his associates speak to residents in their heritage languages, which makes people feel more at ease. Chancee Martorell, executive director of the Thai Community Development Center in Los Angeles, uses a similar tactic when calling voters to remind them of upcoming elections. She said theyre more likely to respond to someone speaking their native tongue. When someone with some kind of modicum of authority or legitimacy or credibility asks Thais to do something, they automatically feel obligated, she said. But American democracy can be overwhelming, even frightening for immigrants. The Fresno Center for New Americans Lue Yang, a Hmong who came to the United States in 1976, said speaking up is valued here an uncomfortable concept for some. Back in the country of Laos under the communist control, the more you say, the more bad (things would) come back and harm you, he said. The varied and complex systems at the polls can even confound those who did not flee authoritarianism. The first time I voted in Pennsylvania was very different than where I had voted before and as a fluent, very well-educated person, (I) walked in and was like, Whoa, which buttons? There were all these flashing lights. I voted in New York before, which has a very arcane lever system, said Carter, of Pennsylvanias immigration coalition. It can be confusing. And imagine if this is your first time ever voting, youre not super confident with English, and no one has ever told you what a voting machine looks like. It can be a hugely intimidating process. Martorell, of the Thai center in Los Angeles, explained that most Thai immigrants since the 1980s have come from the countrys poor, rural corners, and many have little education or work skills. Politics arent a part of their lives. Oftentimes, they ask her staff members for help, which nonprofits arent legally allowed to give. They dont know the difference between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, she said. They dont know the difference between liberal and conservative. In San Francisco, the Chinatown Community Development Center hosts monthly town halls to increase voter participation. It addresses a variety of topics, from health department regulations to voter education. Staff members also can help register them to vote, said the organizations executive director, Norman Fong. Fong, 65, is one of the neighborhoods biggest advocates. His mother was a San Francisco native. His father came to the U.S. in 1919 but was detained for years just offshore at Angel Island, ensnared by the Chinese Exclusion Act. In 1990, Fong began working for the community center, housed in a modest, 105-year-old walk-up a few blocks from the citys famed Pier 39. At that time, many residents, old-timers included, didnt vote, he said. His parents didnt care much for politics, either. He credits grassroots outreach for drumming up engagement. According to the citys elections department, Chinatown voter turnout has increased at roughly the same rate as voter participation citywide over the past five presidential elections. Weve gotten to that stage, Fong said. The residents of Chinatown know that their vote makes a difference. Many Asian-Americans say theyre not treated equally In 2014, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund received more than 340 complaints from Asian-Americans reporting problems voting. More than 1 in 5 of these grievances involved being asked to prove their U.S. citizenship in states that dont require ID to vote. Generally, only a few people in those states would have to provide proof of citizenship. Vattamala, the democracy programs defense funds director, said another common problem among Asian-American voters is mistakes with their names, causing them to not show up correctly on voter rolls. He said Asian-American names may be unusual to people entering the voter roll data. (The people entering the voter registration data may) see three names and dont know which one is the first or last name. There might be a space added or deleted or a couple letters screwed up when the data entry is taking place, he said. And then its up to the poll worker to say if the names substantially match up to each other. Vattamala also said Asian-American voters may have Western nicknames on their licenses but not on the voter rolls. If poll workers determine the names do not match, they must give the voters provisional ballots. He said some poll workers do not know this, so they turn the voters away. (It) happens a lot to Asian-Americans, unfortunately, he said. Other Asian-Americans may be targeted based on how they look or where they were born. Twenty-year-old Thanh Mai said she tried to register three times in Louisiana and was denied. Mais family moved to the U.S. from Vietnam when she was about a year old. She became a citizen when she was in her teens. I assumed since I was a U.S. citizen, I could vote and didnt realize there could ever be a time or place where I couldnt, Mai said. Ive been living in the U.S. basically my whole life. But at the time, Louisiana had a 142-year-old statute requiring naturalized citizens to prove their U.S. citizenship to register to vote. Voters born in the U.S. were not required to do so. Mai tried to register during her freshman year at Loyola University New Orleans in 2014. Once she discovered she wasnt on the voter roll during the 2015 governors election, she registered again at her school and online early in 2016. She said she received a letter from Jefferson Parish officials saying she needed to prove her citizenship to register to vote. Mai only had 10 days to do so and she said she didnt see the time constraint. Her name did briefly appear on the online voter rolls, but the parish sent Mai a letter saying its office had reason to believe she was not a U.S. citizen, so she could not register to vote. The letter said Mai had 21 days to prove her citizenship, but it did not include instructions on how to do so, according to her attorney. Officials removed Mai's name from the online voter rolls. The Southern Poverty Law Center and the Fair Elections Legal Network filed a lawsuit over the Louisiana law on May 4, with Mai and two other naturalized citizens as plaintiffs. Collectively, the three citizens tried to register to vote eight times. The lawsuit detailed how the state law violated the 14th Amendment by illegally targeting naturalized citizens in the registration process. There are more than 72,000 naturalized citizens living in Louisiana. The state law was not documented on the states voter registration form or the secretary of states website, the center alleged. Less than a month after the center filed the suit, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards signed legislation repealing the law, and the advocacy groups withdrew the lawsuit. Im just really relieved because I worked so much, I registered so many times, Ive been disappointed so many times, Mai said. Now that I can register to vote, I appreciate my right to vote much more now than before. Even though it was a horrible experience, the fact that I can now vote and partook in this lawsuit makes me really want to get more people to vote. Don't miss another Accountability investigation: Sign up for the Center for Public Integrity's Watchdog email. Expert: Asians must become part of 'machine' Andy Toy, a spokesman for Philadelphias chapter of the Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Associations Coalition, said theres still work to be done in his city. Its a machine town, where the white machine and black machine are well-established political players, he said. There is no Asian machine. Toy compared these machines to old boys networks or fraternities. Asian-Americans havent developed those long-standing political dynamics, he said. At least not in Philadelphia. Machines often come with a promise of a job or a connection to something to get something done, he said. (They) havent been around enough to have the sense that you have to kiss somebodys ring to do something. And its not always bad, but thats the way it is. Toy said the machines show the strength of those particular demographics. To become a political player, Asian-Americans must increase their population or increase voter turnout. The group is increasing its population, largely thanks to its immigrant population. According to the Pew Research Center, Asians make up the largest group of recent immigrants. Seventy-four percent of Asian-American adults were born outside the U.S. And thats one potential reason this demographic hasnt seen big bumps in voter turnout. More than half of the respondents in the Pew survey said they see themselves as different from typical Americans. Vattamala, the democracy programs defense funds director, said his organization started exit polling to articulate the issues important to Asian-Americans. For the first time, people are starting to ask what issues are important and how theyre voting, he said. Things have gotten slightly better. Some media outlets are asking now. But data show its not necessarily easy to nail down how Asian-Americans think because so much depends on their individual background, their individual culture. In 2012, the defense fund polled about 9,000 Asian-American voters in 14 states. Although 65 percent strongly supported immigration reform, responses varied within ethnicity groups. For example, 78 percent of Bangladeshi respondents supported reform while only 49 percent of Vietnamese respondents did. David Ryu, a Los Angeles city councilman, said politicians didnt pay much attention to Asian-Americans voters during campaigns, but thats starting to change. Ryu is the first Korean-American elected to the council. After my election, many people are looking towards Asian-Americans as being that swing vote, he said. And as we saw in the last presidential election, where Asian-Americans overwhelmingly supported Obama and the Democrats. Obama received about 70 percent of Asian-American votes in 2012. There is hope for the future, Ryu said. Politicians are getting better at removing Asian-American voting barriers. Its not a rocket science, he said. Its just doing it and simply going out and asking. Rep. Judy Chu, congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus chairwoman, said people are starting to pay attention to the Asian vote because it could affect certain swing areas. (My group is) pushing very hard to target the swing votes in the swing states for this presidential election, she said. Thats Nevada, thats Virginia and even includes Pennsylvania. So we need to make sure that we concentrate on those particular states and ensure that we register those (Asian-Americans), and we motivate them to go out to vote. Related: News 21 Asian-American voting perspective This story is part of Accountability. The latest investigations about waste, fraud, corruption, abuse and mismanagement. Click here to read more stories in this topic. Related stories Copyright 2016 The Center for Public Integrity. This story was published by The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news organization in Washington, D.C. LONDON, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca said it had agreed to sell its small molecule antibiotics business to Pfizer in a deal that could reach more than $1.5 billion. The portfolio includes approved antibiotics Merrem, Zinforo and Zavicefta, and ATM-AVI and CXL, which are in clinical development, it said. Pfizer will pay $550 million upon completion and a further unconditional $175 million in January 2019, AstraZeneca said, plus up to $250 million in milestones, up to $600 million in sales-related payments and recurring, double-digit royalties on future sales of Zavicefta and ATM-AVI in certain markets. The British company said the agreement did not impact its financial guidance for 2016. (Reporting by Paul Sandle; editing by Kate Holton) Today in 5 Lines President Obama visited Louisiana to tour neighborhoods hit with historic flooding that displaced thousands of residents and claimed the lives of at least 17 people. A federal court said that Ohio has the right to get rid of Golden Week, a period of time during which people can register and vote early. The National Labor Relations Board ruled that graduate students working as research or teaching assistants at private universities can unionize. The FBI is reportedly investigating a possible Russian hack targeting several New York Times reporters and other news organizations. Firefighters are working to protect the historic Hearst Castle in California, which could suffer damage from the Chimney wildfire that has raged through thousands of acres for days. Today on The Atlantic Take Me to Church: A new survey from the Pew Research Center found that one of the reasons fewer Americans are going to church is due to the practicality of getting there, which suggests church services are no longer the focal point of social and cultural life. For many today, services are optional. (Emma Green) Mission Impossible: It has been 20 years since Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda declared war on the U.S. After trillions of dollars spent and hundreds of thousands of lives lost, the extremist group met some of its goals. Ultimately, however, neither side has won. (Dominic Tierney) Congress Is Not an Easy Fix: Women in Congress are more likely to cooperate across party lines, according to a National Bureau of Economic Research working paper. While there are caveats, it raises the question: Would electing more female representatives lead to more bipartisanship? (Andrew McGill) Follow stories throughout the day with our Politics & Policy portal. Snapshot President Obama talks with Quincy Snowden as he tours Castle Place, a flood-damaged area of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Tuesday. Susan Walsh / AP Recommended: How Obama Is Enabling the Next President to Launch Illegal Wars What Were Reading The Liberal Takeover: If Hillary Clinton becomes president, then the U.S. Supreme Court would become majority liberal for the first time in nearly 50 years. Heres how that shift in power could potentially reshape several controversial American policies. (Dylan Matthews, Vox) Story continues The Election Is Mostly Trumps to Lose: The American public is so dissatisfied with President Obamas handling of national security and Hillary Clintons lies, argues National Reviews Victor Davis Hanson, that if Trump can focus on policy, he might still nab the presidency. A Revolution on the Rocks: Bernie Sanderss new political group is struggling with internal drama before it has even officially launched. Will the group succeed in pushing its progressive agenda, or will it succumb to liberal infighting? (Edward-Isaac Dovere and Gabriel Debenedetti, Politico) The Rent Is Too Damn High: Now that Donald Trump is accepting donor contributions, he has nearly quintupled his campaigns monthly rent for space at Trump Tower, located in Manhattan, according to a Huffington Post report, a move that stands to benefit him directly. (S.V. Date) A Community Still in Mourning: Cleveland plans to remove the gazebo where 12-year-old Tamir Rice was shot and killed by police nearly two years ago. The decision has sparked discussions between the city, activists, and historians over how to best preserve the memory of the child and the national movement the gazebo symbolizes. (Daniel McGraw, The Undefeated) Visualized Feelin Hot, Hot, Hot: This year will mostly likely be the warmest on record, but if climate change continues at its current rate, its only going to get hotter. Check out these maps to see how many 100-degree-days your state will have by 2100. (Heidi Cullen, The New York Times) Question of the Week Hillary Clinton is reportedly struggling to find a Donald Trump stand-in to prepare for the upcoming presidential debates. Strategist James Carville, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, and even billionaire Mark Cuban have been suggested as possible sparring partners. But who do you think could artfully play Trump in a debate rehearsal? Send your answers to hello@theatlantic.com or tweet us @TheAtlPolitics, and our favorites will be featured in Fridays Politics & Policy Daily. -Written by Elaine Godfrey (@elainejgodfrey) and Candice Norwood (@cjnorwoodwrites) Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. Australians have found an efficient if brutal solution for getting rid of asylum seekers: send them to offshore detention facilities, hire a shadowy private company to watch over them, and then force them to settle elsewhere once the U.N. recognizes them as refugees. Controversial as it may be, the Australian model has one apparent taker: The Danish government. This week, a delegation of Danish parliamentarians secured a rare opportunity to visit Australias largest offshore detention center, on the tiny island-nation of Nauru, and find out whether a similar approach could work for Europe, which is dealing with its own influx of refugees and asylum-seekers. The approval for their visas came a few weeks after the Guardian published a cache of leaked documents detailing rampant human rights abuses, sexual assaults, and incidents of self-harm at the facility, with women and children bearing the brunt of wrongdoing. The reports document abuse from security guards allegedly slapping children in the face, to teachers exchanging privileges for sexual favors from students, to bus drivers taking voyeuristic photos of female detainees. The asylum-seekers must wait months if not years for the U.N. refugee agency to assess their claims. Once their claims are approved, and most of them are, they can either resettle in Cambodia or remain on the impoverished island, in an area one-tenth the size of Washington, D.C. In 2015, Cambodia agreed to take refugees from Nauru in return for $40 million in aid from Australia. Since then, only five refugees have accepted the offer, and three of those five a married Iranian couple as well as a Rohingya Muslim from Myanmar eventually returned to their homelands despite the risks. Australia has found an interesting model, said Martin Henriksen, one of six Danish politicians who will visit Nauru and a member of the anti-immigration Danish Peoples Party. He suggested on Danish radio that Denmark could maintain offsite refugee camps in Kenya or Greenland. Story continues Other politicians in the delegation are more skeptical that Australias approach, widely condemned by human rights groups, is worth replicating. We are really worried by the reports about conditions on Nauru and Manus Island, said Johanne Schmidt-Nielsen, another member of the delegation who belongs to a socialist-green party. Another delegate, Jacob Mark, a member of the Socialist Peoples Party, emphasized that the delegation is going to Nauru to learn, and not to endorse Australian policy. In April, the supreme court of Papua New Guinea ordered the closure of Australias other big offshore detention facility, on the island of Manus, after ruling it unconstitutional. The government of Nauru tightly regulates access to the detention facility, and bars all but the most sympathetic journalists from visiting. Journalists from the Guardian, Australias public television network SBS, ABC, and Al Jazeera have all applied for visas, at a cost of $8,000, to no avail. On Wednesday, one of Australias most vocal opponents of offshore detentions revealed that her application to visit the Nauru facility was denied as well. Real journalists arent allowed anywhere near the island and now members of Parliament arent allowed to inspect the detention camp or meet with people that have been sent there, Sarah Hanson-Young, an Australian senator and member of the left-wing Greens party, said. It appears that she may have spoken too soon. As the Danish delegations visit suggests, all it takes is one open mind to get access. Photo credit: TORSTEN BLACKWOOD/AFP/Getty Images Bangladesh police said on Wednesday they had arrested six members of banned Islamist groups blamed for a series of deadly attacks, including the main suspect in the gruesome killing of a secular publisher. Moinul Islam Shamim was arrested on Tuesday night just outside the capital Dhaka for allegedly leading the fatal hacking attack on publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan in his office last year. "Shamim is the main accused in the Dipan murder. Police had announced a reward for any information leading to his arrest," deputy commissioner of Dhaka police Masruk Khaled told AFP. Shamim "admitted during interrogation" to his involvement in the October murder of Dipan who was a known publisher of books in Bangladesh by secular and atheist writers, Khaled said. Shamim is a suspected member of homegrown extremist group Ansarullah Bangla Team, which swears allegiance to a local branch of Al-Qaeda and has claimed responsibility for similar murders of about a dozen secular activists. The elite Rapid Action Battalion also stormed two hideouts on Dhaka's outskirts and arrested five suspected members of banned Islamist outfit Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), including one of its leaders who used to study in Canada. "They include Rasheduzzaman who took over as the JMB's regional chief recently. He studied in a Canadian university between 2006-2012," RAB spokesman Mufti Mahmud Khan told AFP of those arrested. The government has blamed the JMB for the July 1 attack on an upmarket cafe in Dhaka in which 20 hostages, including 18 foreigners, were killed along with two policemen. Police have said Tamim Chowdhury, another senior JMB figure and a Canadian citizen of Bangladesh origin, masterminded the siege and a deadly attack on Bangladesh's largest Eid congregation a few days later. A reward has been offered for his capture. Khan, however, could not say whether Rasheduzzaman was a Canadian citizen. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the siege, releasing photos from inside the cafe during the attack and of the five men who carried out the deadly assault and were shot dead at its finale. Story continues Authorities have rejected the claim, saying international jihadist networks have no presence in the world's third largest Muslim majority nation. Bangladesh has been reeling from a deadly wave of attacks in the last three years, including on foreigners, rights activists and members of religious minorities. Critics say Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's administration is in denial about the nature of the threat posed by Islamist extremists, and accuse her of trying to exploit the attacks to demonise her domestic opponents. ADRs of Bank of Montreal BMO gained nearly 2.9% following the release of its third-quarter fiscal 2016 (ended Jul 31) results before the opening bell on Tuesday. Adjusted earnings of C$1.94 per share compared favorably with C$1.86 earned in the prior-year quarter. Moreover, adjusted net income came in at C$1.3 billion ($1 billion), up 5.3% year over year. Results benefited primarily from robust growth in the top line. However, rise in expenses and higher provisions continued to weigh on the results. Profitability ratios also showed weakness. Nonetheless, growth in loans and total assets remained impressive. Results reflected solid performance by Personal and Commercial Banking as well as the Capital Market segments. Notably, profits in the Canadian and U.S. Personal and Commercial Banking segments jumped 1% and 22% year over year, respectively while the profits were up 18% year over year in the Capital Market segment. After considering certain non-recurring items, net income summed C$1.25 billion ($0.96 billion), up 4.4% year over year. Revenues, Expenses & Provisions Depict A Rise Total revenue (on an adjusted basis), net of insurance claims, commissions and changes in policy benefit liabilities (CCPB), amounted to C$4.94 billion ($3.81 billion), up 7.2% year over year. The rise was driven by growth in net interest income as well as non-interest income. Net interest income rose 11.1% year over year to C$2.5 billion ($1.93 billion). Non-interest income came in at C$3.2 billion ($2.47 billion), up 21.5% year over year. Adjusted non-interest expenses climbed 3.5% year over year to C$3.03 billion ($2.34 billion). Adjusted efficiency ratio, net of CCPB, stood at 61.2% at the quarter-end compared with 63.4% as of Jul 31, 2015. Fall in efficiency ratio indicates a rise in profitability. Total provision for credit losses grew 60.6% year over year to C$257 million ($198.4 million). Strong Balance Sheet Total assets rose 1.5% sequentially to C$691.7 billion ($530.2 billion) as of Jul 31, 2016. Further, net loans and acceptances rose 2.9% from the prior month to C$364.1 billion ($279.1 billion), while deposits increased 5.2% sequentially to C$467.8 billion ($358.6 billion). Profitability Declines While Capital Ratios Improve Return on equity, as adjusted, came in at 13.5% in the reported quarter, down marginally from 14.0% as of Jul 31, 2015. As of Jul 31, 2016, common equity Tier I ratio came in at 10.5% while the Tier I capital ratio was reported at 11.8%, both rising 10 basis points year over year. Our Viewpoint Bank of Montreal exhibited a strong quarterly performance. Focus and efforts were aligned with the companys organic and inorganic growth strategies, and are expected to boost revenues, going forward. Also, the stocks steady capital-deployment activities will help it gain investors confidence. However, mounting expenses and a stringent regulatory environment continue to strain the companys profitability. Story continues BANK MONTREAL Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise BANK MONTREAL Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | BANK MONTREAL Quote Bank of Montreal currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Other Foreign Banks Among other foreign banks, The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc RBS reported second-quarter 2016 (ended Jun 30) loss attributable to its shareholders of 1.08 billion ($1.55 billion). The company had posted a profit of 280 million in the prior-year quarter. Reduced net interest and non-interest income was a major drag. However, adjusted operating expenses decreased due to prudent expense management. Deutsche Bank AG DB reported net income of 20 million ($22.6 million) in the second quarter of 2016, significantly down on a year-over-year basis. Lower revenues and higher provisions negatively impacted the results. However, the reduction in non-interest expenses was a positive factor. Brazils ItauUnibanco Holding S.A. ITUB posted second-quarter 2016 recurring earnings of R$5.58 billion ($1.59 billion), down 9% year over year. Including non-recurring items, net income came in at R$5.52 billion ($1.57 billion), down 7.7% year over year. Results displayed decreased managerial financial margin along with lower revenues from insurance, pension plans and capitalization operations. Additionally, the increase in non-interest expenses was a headwind. 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 DEUTSCHE BK AG (DB): Free Stock Analysis Report ROYAL BK SC-ADR (RBS): Free Stock Analysis Report BANK MONTREAL (BMO): Free Stock Analysis Report BANCO ITAU -ADR (ITUB): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research WARSAW, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Eastern Europe's biggest insurer PZU plans to increase its banking arm's contribution to its net profit to 450 million zlotys ($117.98 million) in 2020, the company said on Wednesday in its new strategy. PZU owns mid-tier lender Alior Bank which recently bought General Electric's Polish arm BPH. The insurer is planning to also buy Poland's No.2 lender Bank Pekao SA from its Italian owner UniCredit. PZU also said in its strategy that it wants to retain some of its profits to finance the growth strategy as well as acquisitions. If no acquisitions are conducted, money will be returned to shareholders, the state-run firm said. PZU also said it aimed to cut costs in its insurance business by 400 million zlotys within three years. ($1 = 3.8141 zlotys) (Reporting by Marcin Goclowski; Editing by Biju Dwarakanath) By Crispian Balmer ROME (Reuters) - Central Italy is one of the most active earthquake zones in world, with tremors regularly shaking the country's mountainous backbone. Most of the quakes are so negligible they are barely felt in the centuries-old communities that dot the landscape, registering only on electronic sensors. But on Wednesday a deadly tremor struck, killing at least 73 people and flattening hundreds of buildings. With other such disasters seen as inevitable in the future, experts say Italy could do more to protect life and property. "Italy can expect an earthquake with a magnitude above 6.3 every 15 years on average. That should encourage a greater culture of seismic prevention and civil protection," said Fabio Tortorici, head of studies at Italy's Geological Institute. Wednesday's quake measured 6.2 and hit just 6 miles (10 km) beneath the surface of the earth, a shallow depth that multiplied its destructive force, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. "The Apennine mountain belt which runs down the spine of Italy is gradually being stretched in a northeast-southwest direction by tectonic forces at a rate of around 3 mm (0.12 inches) per year," said Richard Walters, lecturer in Earth Sciences at Britain's Durham University. "This slow stretching causes stress to build up in the earth's crust, which is then released in earthquakes just like this one," he said. It was the most destructive such disaster in Italy since 2009, when a quake killed more than 300 people, left 55,000 homeless and devastated the 13th century city of L'Aquila. That tragedy once again revealed the fragility of Italy's infrastructure, with both modern and ancient buildings, including churches, hospitals and a college dormitory in the area ravaged by the shaking earth. SAFETY NORMS A 2008 survey by civil protection experts said only 14 percent of buildings in the most vulnerable swathe of the country met seismic-safety standards. That same year, new norms were brought in demanding a much higher standard of construction for new buildings, but that still left the vast majority of homes and offices exposed to seismic activity. A report released last month by Italy's national insurance association said two-thirds of the country's municipalities were in earthquake zones, with a similar proportion of its buildings built without any earthquake protection. "Some things have changed, but more could be done," the Geology Institute's Tortorici told Reuters. "The real problem lies with properties built before the 1970s when there were zero earthquake norms. The country was covered in cement which has a very finite life," he said. Any measures to strengthen older buildings across Italy and make them safer would meet fierce resistance given the huge cost of reinforcing every medieval hamlet and Renaissance palace without stripping them of their charm. Tortorici said the government could offer incentives to encourage a nationwide safety drive. However, groaning under the biggest debt mountain in Europe, Italy can ill-afford generous enticements to the private sector, or the sort of massive investment needed to make all public buildings safe. Surrounded by rubble in the village of Arquata di Tronto, 65-year-old Altiero Cinaglia sounded fatalistic about bringing Japanese-style safety standards to creaking Italy. "What are we supposed to do? You can't tear down all the old buildings for new ones. These towns live for tourism in the summer time and tourists want to see the old beautiful buildings," he said. "There is nothing to be done." (Additional reporting by Steve Scherer in Arquata di Tronto and Giulia Secreti in Rome; editing by Giles Elgood) By Nandita Bose and Douglas Busvine CHICAGO/NEW DELHI (Reuters) - U.S. retailer Bed Bath & Beyond (BBB.O) on Wednesday said it ordered an external audit of textiles from Welspun India (WLSP.N), after Target Corp (TGT.N) last week accused the Indian manufacturer of passing off cheap sheets as premium Egyptian cotton for two years. This could compound the woes of Welspun, which supplies to several large U.S. retailers and has seen its shares plummet nearly 43 percent since Target's announcement on Friday. The incident highlights the problems large retailers face with quality control and compliance when procuring from suppliers spread around the world. It also harms Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to spur global companies to increase manufacturing in India. Bed Bath & Beyond spokeswoman Leah Drill said the retailer will pursue an investigation and take appropriate action. Bed Bath & Beyond's announcement comes after the world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N), this week said it is reviewing Welspun's cotton certification records. Department store JC Penney (JCP.N) is also conducting an investigation "to ensure the integrity of Welspun's product claims." Macy's Inc (M.N) on Wednesday said it is monitoring the situation. Target on Wednesday said it is in the process of taking out all products manufactured by Welspun under the 'Fieldcrest' label, and has already removed 750,000 Fieldcrest bedding products from stores and its website. Those were sold between 2014 and 2016, and Welspun claimed they were made from Egyptian cotton, spokeswoman Molly Snyder said. The investigation at Target, which routinely audits its products, finished at the end of July, Snyder said. She declined to provide details about what triggered the investigation. Target is offering a refund, in the form of a gift card, to affected customers who either have a loyalty card or purchased the products online. Target declined to comment on how this kind of product quality issue was missed by their internal buying team for such a long period. Story continues However, Snyder said that Target had taken no action against its employees and blamed Welspun for leading them to believe that what they were supplying was, in fact, Egyptian cotton. "This was 100 percent a Welspun issue," she said. On Monday, Welspun said it was investigating the product specification issue and would hire a Big Four accounting firm to review its supply processes. Some retailers such as Swedish home furnishing giant IKEA AB [IKEA.UL] said they would continue doing business with Welspun while awaiting the outcome of the Indian textile manufacturer's probe. (Reporting by Nandita Bose in Chicago and Douglas Busvine in New Delhi, Additional reporting by Sruthi Ramakrishnan in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Crosby) Ben Carson says elderly presidential candidates like Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton should disclose their current medical records to voters before the election. I think that somebody who is running for president of the United States, particularly if theyre elderly and that would include both major candidates should disclose their medical history, Carson, a retired neurosurgeon and former Republican presidential hopeful, said on MSNBCs Morning Joe on Wednesday. And Im not talking about from a year ago or two years ago. Im talking about currently. I think that is common sense, Carson, who turns 65 next month, continued. Because as people get older, things begin to happen to them. .@RealBenCarson says 'elderly' candidates Trump and Clinton should disclose their medical history https://t.co/4kZjR2z7E2 Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) August 24, 2016 Both Trump and Clinton have each released statements from their doctors stating that they have a clean bill of health. Last month, the Clinton campaign released a letter from her doctor showing results of a March 21 physical. She is in excellent physical condition and fit to serve as president of the United States, her doctor stated. In December, the Trump campaign released a one-page letter filled with hyperbolic language, declaring the Republican hopeful would be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency. Trump, 70, would be the oldest newly elected president in U.S. history. (Ronald Reagan was just two weeks shy of 70 when he was inaugurated in 1981.) Clinton, who turns 69 in October, would be the second oldest. Ben Carson and Donald Trump speak at a campaign event in Palm Beach, Fla., on March 11, 2016. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters) Carson, one of Trumps surrogates, also tossed some shade on recent claims by former New York City Rudy Giuliani about Clintons health. Many conspiracy theorists on the right have accused the Democratic nominee of hiding a severe illness from the public. Story continues All youve got to do is go online, Giuliani said Sunday on Fox News. Go online and put down Hillary Clinton illness and take a look at the videos for yourself. As a physician, physicians and scientists generally will not make a diagnosis based on something they see from a long distance, Carson said Wednesday, smiling. They want to have the facts. My diagnosis would be that anybody that is elderly should expose their records, he added. And we the people should know what they are. Ben Carson Ben Carson said Wednesday that "elderly" presidential nominees Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton owe it to the American public to release their current medical records. The former 2016 presidential hopeful and retired neurosurgeon was asked specifically on "Morning Joe" about Clinton as questions about her health have swirled in right-wing circles for the past few weeks. "I think that somebody who is running for President of the United States particularly if they're elderly and that would include both major candidates should disclose their medical history," he said. "And I'm not talking about from a year ago or two years ago, I'm talking about currently." MSNBC commentator Mike Barnicle asked Carson about former New York mayor and Trump surrogate Rudy Giuliani saying that everything about Clinton's health can be found with a simple internet search. "Well you know as a physician, physicians and scientists generally will not make a diagnosis based on something that they see from a long distance," he said, adding a laugh. "They want to have the facts." Carson said he had no diagnosis for Clinton himself. "My diagnosis would be that anybody who is elderly should expose their records," he said. "And we the people should know what they are. Because it's a very stressful job. It's not an eight-hour a day job, it's 24/7 and we need to make sure that that is taken care of." He said Trump needs to "absolutely" be held to the same standard. "Without question," he said. NOW WATCH: Why you won't find a garbage can near the 9/11 memorial More From Business Insider Lisbon (AFP) - Benfica Lisbon have loaned out Dutch striker Ola John to English side Wolverhampton on a one year deal and have also loaned Brazilian Talisca to Besiktas, the Portuguese champions announced. "Ola John has extended his contract for another season," said Benfica, adding that the loan deal had gone through. The 24-year-old has one international cap with the Netherlands had signed a five year deal with the Portuguese outfit when he joined from Twente. Besiktas will have the opportunity to buy Talisca at the end of the loan period, Benfica added.. The 22-year-old had joined them in 2014 from his childhood club Bahia. Rome (AFP) - Silvio Berlusconi's Fininvest holding company said Tuesday it was suing media giant Vivendi for 570 million euros ($645 million) in damages over the French group's refusal to go through with a pay-tv deal. The damages and interest are being claimed over losses Fininvest says it incurred as a result of Vivendi pulling out of a deal to buy 100 percent of Mediaset Premium, the pay-tv arm of Berlusconi's company Mediaset. The suit follows similar legal action by Mediaset, which is seeking 50 million euros per month for non-application of the deal, which Vivendi backed out of last month, offering instead to take a 20 percent stake in Premium and a 15 percent stake in Mediaset via a bond convertible into equity. The two companies had agreed in April to take a 3.5 percent cross shareholding and that Vivendi would acquire 100 percent of Premium with the aim of building it into a platform capable of rivalling Netflix. Vivendi had second thoughts however after Premium recorded losses of 37.1 million euros in the second quarter after having posted a 63.7 million loss in the first. Ankara (Turkey) (AFP) - US Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Turkey on Wednesday for critical talks with its leadership as Ankara launched a military operation to drive Islamic State jihadists out of a key Syrian border town. In the highest-ranking visit by a Western official since Turkey's July 15 failed coup, Biden will seek to repair relations with its NATO ally after the putsch, which Ankara blames on Pennsylvania-based preacher Fethullah Gulen. Turkey has repeatedly called on the US to extradite Gulen, who vehemently denies Ankara's claims that he ordered the attempt to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Washington confirmed on Tuesday that Turkey had made a formal request for the extradition of the cleric who has lived in self-imposed exile in the US since 1999. "We can confirm now that Turkey has requested the extradition of Mr Gulen. But I wouldn't characterise the request as relating to the coup attempt," deputy State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters. Relations between Ankara and Washington have been strained because the US says it needs evidence rather than allegations of Gulen's involvement. Turkish officials warn that if he is not extradited, relations will suffer further and anti-American sentiment will deepen in the country. Biden will hold talks with Erdogan as well as Prime Minister Binali Yildirim but his first meeting will be with parliament speaker Ismail Kahraman, the White House said. The US number two is the only senior figure in the administration of President Barack Obama to have built a close personal relationship with Erdogan, after two face-to-face meetings in Turkey in the last two years alone. Biden's visit came as Turkey launched its most ambitious operation involving fighter jets and elite ground troops from the Syrian town of Jarabulus which lies directly opposite the Turkish town of Karkamis. Ankara (AFP) - US Vice President Joe Biden on Wednesday personally apologised to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for not coming to Turkey sooner to express solidarity in the wake of the failed July 15 coup bid. "The American people stand with you," said Biden, sitting next to Erdogan in a press statement at his presidential palace in Ankara. "But I do apologise. I wish I could have been here earlier." Vice President Joe Biden traveled to Turkey on Wednesday to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other top officials, in hopes of conciliating relations with the U.S. ally. This comes as the U.S. joins Turkey in the fight against ISIS in Syria. Retired U.S. Marine Corps. General Anthony Zinni, whose operational experience includes Operation Desert Fox, joined the FOX Business Network and discussed the U.S. decision to join Turkish forces. This offensive is a reaction to the terrorist attacks inside Turkey, too, Zinni said. I think one thing we have to be very careful about though, we have Kurdish allies that are fighting against ISIS and they arent necessarily friendly with Turks. And their efforts inside Syria may turn in that direction. So, I think its very important since we probably have U.S. Special Forces with them, that this is carefully coordinated and I think that that might be another message that Vice President Biden is bringing to Erdogan. On national security concerns, General Zinni, an Honorary Chairman at the Middle East Institute, said Americans should worry about top leaders and their handling of classified materials. He commented on the controversy surrounding Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server for confidential, government-related emails. I think theres been too much of a cavalier attitude in responding to these charges, said Zinni. This is serious. Dismissing these things as not important, somebody else did it in the past, little small Cs in front of the paragraph dont mean anything. This is ridiculous. This is our national security thats at risk. Zinni also explained the importance of controlling and securing American borders. As weve seen here and as our European allies and others have seen, the lack of control of your borders and access to your country creates vulnerabilities and you could pay a big price for this, he said. I think we need to take the advice of our border patrol, of those that are responsible for maintaining this security. Give them the resources, the assets, and the procedures and processes and political support they need to construct the right kind of security. Whether thats physical barriers or thats greater intelligence, thats more border patrol personnel that are patrolling. That should be determined by the experts. But its an essentially critical for us to have that kind of control. Related Articles ANKARA (Reuters) - The United States has made it clear to Syrian Kurdish forces that they must return to east of the Euphrates river after seizing control of the Syrian town of Manbij to retain U.S. support, Vice President Joe Biden said on Wednesday. Biden was speaking during a visit to Turkey. Ankara has said it expects Syrian Kurdish fighters to withdraw across the river after the Manbij victory by the U.S.-backed Syria Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters. Ankara considers the Kurdish YPG in Syria as a hostile force. Biden also said Turkish officials made clear that the rule of law will prevail during an investigation into the July 15 failed coup. Turkey has detained and arrested tens of thousands after the coup, worrying Western allies who fear a crackdown on dissent. (Reporting Jeff Mason; Writing by Patrick Markey; Editing by David Dolan) Bleeding Fingers Custom Music Shop cut its ribbon three years ago, partnering with Oscar winner Hans Zimmer to mass-produce scores for unscripted, reality, and documentary TV series that include Survivor and Alaskan Bush People. Its latest and biggest catch is BBCs upcoming Planet Earth II. The shops origins go back to 1982, when Russell Emanuel was working in the mailroom of London music library Bruton Music. He was invited to record an album of sound-alike songs, corresponding to such bands as Duran Duran, and while he spent the next 15 years in the rock world, steady royalty checks from that first album kept rolling in. Entering the music library world, then, seemed like a good way to get off the tour bus, so Emanuel formed Extreme Music with a partner in 1997 catering mostly fresh EDM music to such clients as the BBC and ITV. Top Gear was an early adopter. There was a real weariness to the old-school way libraries had been turning out copycat music, Emanuel says. We were actually committed not to doing that. They grew from a two-man operation to a dominant player in the market, with offices around the world and a library containing tracks by such notables as Quincy Jones, George Martin, and Snoop Dogg for 15,000 original copyrights. Emanuel who sold the company to Sony/ATV for $110 million in 2008, but remains CEO is proud of that number. Were very surgical about what we put in the catalog, he says. Our biggest competition, who we outperform, have a million copyrights. Zimmer began contributing to Extremes library in the late 90s, and when the company spread to the U.S. in 2001, it set up shop at his Remote Control Productions campus in Santa Monica. Id like to see us doing a scripted drama. Thats what wed really love to do. Russell Emanuel A growing demand for custom music from Extremes clients catalyzed the launch of Bleeding Fingers in August 2014. It was an organic, natural fit, Emanuel says of the launch. Story continues The shop occupies a 7,500-sq.-ft. building on Zimmers campus, with 11 full-time composers on staff, many of them former Zimmer apprentices. You get more bandwidth, he says. Our composers all collaborate with each other, all of them have a different strong point, and its getting the score to [clients] much quicker. Representing one of the shops biggest coups, Bleeding Fingers beat out 13 bidding competitors, including three fellow music shops, to score the docu-series Planet Earth II. Zimmer wrote the main theme and staff composers Jacob Shea and Jasha Klebe wrote the score proper, which was recorded by an 80-piece orchestra Bleeding Fingers biggest band to date at Londons Air Studios. The original Planet Earth, which won four Emmys, reached a worldwide audience of 100 million people in 2007. Emanuel believes the gig will lend his company extra validity. Composers can tune into each other pretty easily, I find, he says. If anything, its given them much more varied score, but still within the same sound palette. There are talks of a concert tour, and Emanuel hopes Planet Earth II will open new doors. Id like to see us doing a scripted drama, he says. Theyre always fun, and they stretch us creatively. Thats what wed really love to do. Related stories 'Pirates of the Caribbean' Taps Composer Geoff Zanelli Composer Hans Zimmer Retires From 'Superhero Business' After 'Batman v Superman' Heitor Pereira Coaxes Emotion Out of Music It's now time for a new round in the legal saga surrounding "Blurred Lines," the monster hit by Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams that was condemned as a copyright infringement of Marvin Gaye's "Got to Give It Up" by a California jury in March 2015. On Wednesday, Williams, Thicke and rapper T.I (aka Clifford Harris Jr.) filed their opening brief at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals with the hopes of overturning a judgment awarding $5.3 million in actual damages and profits plus a running royalty of 50 percent of songwriter and publishing revenues. The appellants tell the 9th Circuit, "This outcome created international press coverage and widespread expressions of concern by members of the music community that, if left to stand, the 'Blurred Lines' verdict would chill musical creativity and inhibit the process by which later artists draw inspiration from earlier artists to create new popular music." The key to understanding the issues on appeal is appreciating that until copyright law was revised in the mid-1970s, sound recordings weren't covered under federal law. Gaye's "Got to Give It Up" was one of the last songs before a legislative change went into effect, and as a result, only what was deposited with the U.S. Copyright Office was protected. In other words, the sheet music, or the compositional elements. The "Blurred Lines" creators insist that when U.S. District Judge John Kronstadt took a look at the two songs and what the musicologists had to say before trial, he should have found there was no substantial similarity as a matter of law. Instead, the judge ruled that there was a triable issue. Williams' camp believes that if one only examines the melody, lyrics and chords, filtering out the non-copyrighted percussion, keyboard parts, backup vocals and bass lines, the outcome should be different,. "What happened instead was a cascade of legal errors warranting this Court's reversal or vacatur for new trial," states the opening appellate brief. "At summary judgment, the district court entertained expert testimony by musicologists for the Gayes who based their opinions entirely on the sound recording, not the deposit copy. The court correctly filtered out non-deposit-copy and generic musical features from their testimony, but then erroneously failed to compare what remained to 'Blurred Lines.' At trial, the district court made things worse. While correctly excluding the 'Got To Give It Up' sound recording itself, the court erroneously allowed the Gayes' experts to testify about the sound recording anyway, including by playing their own musical excerpts based on the sound recording. The court then instructed the jury that it could consider all this testimony in its substantial-similarity analysis, failing to instruct them to consider only the protectable elements of the copyrighted work and indeed pointing them explicitly to elements omitted from the deposit copy." Story continues As a result of all of this, the "Blurred Lines" creators believe they got an unjust result - one that has caused such concern in the musical community. Had the judge been more stern in not letting the non-protectable elements into the trial in any way, Williams and Thicke suggest they would have escaped a finding of copyright infringement. In fact, in a footnote, the appellants point to what happened in the recent case involving creation of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven." "The importance of instructions that correctly filter out unprotected elements in popular music cases is illustrated by the jury's non-infringement verdict in the recent case involving Led Zeppelin's song 'Stairway to Heaven,'" argues the brief. "There, unlike here, the district court identified specific musical elements that were not protected by the plaintiff's copyright (e.g., 'descending chromatic scales, arpeggios or short sequences of three notes'), and directed the jury to 'disregard' such elements in assessing similarity." One of the objectionable jury instructions at the "Blurred Lines" trial, say the appellants, was the judge's allowance of a finding of infringement based on "subconscious copying" by Williams and Thicke. Although the appeal doesn't mention the case, George Harrison was famously ruled to have subconsciously plagiarized The Chiffons' "He's So Fine" to create "My Sweet Lord." At the "Blurred Lines" trial, perhaps because of this opening, there was focus on whether Williams and Thicke went into the studio thinking about Marvin Gaye with some sort of intent to copy, but the "Blurred Lines" artists argue on appeal that this "subconscious" directive was erroneous given the limitations on what was really protectable. If the "Blurred Lines" creators can't get the 9th Circuit to reverse (and challenging a trial verdict is always an uphill climb), they at least want the appeals court to do something about the millions of dollars awarded in this case. They contend that the award of actual damages and profits is not supported by competent evidence nor should they be forced to pay an ongoing royalty rate. On the latter front, they say that the district court premised this award on "the same hypothetical license negotiation that it held supported the jury's actual damages award," but argue that it's excessive and should be reduced to no more than five percent of future publishing revenues. Find the entire brief below. The Gaye family will soon have their own opportunity to weigh in and likely will present a different story about the judge's limitation of opinions and evidence related to elements found on the sound recording. The appeals process will also provide others with interest in this case - perhaps record labels and other musicians - an opportunity to weigh in with amicus briefs. Bob Odenkirk's first book of personal essays has been acquired by Random House, the publisher announced Wednesday. The essays will be a comic exploration of Odenkirk's life and career from his discovering a love of comedy and improv as boy to working at Chicago's Second City and Saturday Night Live and on to his starring turn as Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. In his uniquely quirky style, Odenkirk calls it a "comic bildungsroman," adding "defined by Webster's Dictionary as 'a novel about the moral and psychological growth of the main character' - except, this will be more memoir and the main character, Bob Odenkirk (actor, writer, comedian, gadabout), doesn't grow morally or psychologically." No title or release date was announced. Random House executive editor Ben Greenberg said in the statement announcing the deal, "I've been a fan of Bob's since he 'shook the crime stick' on Mr. Show," and it's been remarkably satisfying to watch him break through as Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman. This book will give Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul fans who might not know Bob's past life a look at the remarkable writer and comedic mind hiding just beneath that character." Odenkirk is currently up for the lead actor Emmy for playing Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman on Better Call Saul. He is the winner of two previous Emmys and a SAG Award. Greenberg acquired the book for Random House. Odenkirk was repped by WME on the book deal. He is repped by WME, Odenkirk-Provissiero, Ziffren Brittenham LLC and 42 West. By Panarat Thepgumpanat and Pracha Hariraksapitak BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's military government said on Wednesday there was no connection between two bombings overnight that killed one person in the southern town of Pattani and a wave of deadly attacks on tourist spots this month. One Thai person was killed and 30 wounded when two bombs exploded late on Tuesday at a hotel in the deep-south town of Pattani, less than two weeks after a wave of bombings hit towns in seven provinces in the central south. No group has claimed responsibility for the tourist-town bombings, which killed four and wounded dozens, including foreigners, but suspicion has centered on Muslim separatists based in the deep south of the predominantly Buddhist country. Security experts say the ethnic Malay, Muslim insurgents have a record of coordinated bomb attacks, which they usually do not claim. Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, however, ruled out any link between the earlier attacks and the twin bombs in Pattani, which is near the Malaysian border and has for years been plagued by separatist violence, particularly since an intensification of the decades-old insurgency from 2004. "I am sure that the incident in Pattani last night has nothing to do with the seven provinces attacks," Prawit told reporters without elaborating. Tourist towns in the central south have for years been spared any spill-over of violence from the deep south and analysts say the government is loath to blame the coordinated bombings this month on southern insurgents because of fear of damaging the tourist industry. No arrests have been made in connection with the attacks in the tourist towns but warrants for three suspects have been issued. Authorities have given few details of the suspects. Police said the first explosion in Pattani was in a carpark at the back of the hotel and caused no casualties. The second bomb at hotel's front entrance appeared to have been in a stolen hospital pick-up truck. The war between government troops and insurgents has killed more than 6,500 people in the three southern-most provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, over the past 12 years. FRUSTRATION OVER STALLED TALKS? Talks between the government and a handful of shadowy insurgent groups began in 2013 under the civilian government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, but have stalled since the military overthrew her in 2014. Prawit said the military government would not talk with separatists until there was peace. Experts say the spate of attacks would appear to reflect frustration over the stalled negotiations. "It's possible that it is related to uncertainty about the peace talks," said Srisompop Jitpiromsri, an expert on the conflict who runs the Pattani-based Deep South Watch, which monitors violence. Rungrawee Chalermsripinyorat, an independent analyst who has written two books on the conflict, said the blasts this month were likely the work of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (National Revolutionary Front, or BRN), which has carried out "similar patterns of attack" in the past. "They could be sending a message to the government to take the peace dialogue more seriously," she said. Still, the military insists security in the south has improved. The number of soldiers in the south is due to be cut to about 60,000 from 70,000 in 2011, a military spokesman said. There is deep distrust between Muslims and authorities in the region, which rights groups say is partly due to decades of government neglect and a culture of impunity among military officials operating there. The three provinces soundly rejected a referendum this month on a new military-backed constitution, which passed convincingly in most of the rest of Thailand. (Additional reporting by Amy Sawitta Lefevre, Aukkarapon Niyomyat, Cod Satrusayang and Patpicha Tanakasempipat; Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Paul Tait, Robert Birsel) SARAJEVO (Reuters) - Bosnia's Bosniak president on Wednesday asked the constitutional court to halt a vote planned by Bosnian Serbs on whether to continue marking their national day on an Orthodox Christian holiday, a date the court ruled as discriminatory to non-Serbs. On Jan. 9, Bosnian Serbs hang out flags and broadcast Orthodox Christian ceremonies to mark the anniversary of the day in 1992 when they declared independence from Bosnia before a three-year war claimed 100,000 lives. But non-Serbs -- Catholic Croats and in particular Bosniak Muslims -- say that holding the celebration of Statehood Day on a religious holiday violates their country's principle of secularism and pluralism. This led the Constitutional Court to order the date to be moved. In July, the Serb Republic parliament decided to hold a referendum on Sept. 25 to declare their Statehood Day on Jan. 9, its current date which falls on a Orthodox Christian holiday. On Wednesday, Bakir Izetbegovic, the Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) member of the tripartite presidency asked the Constitutional Court to force the Serb Republic to annul the decision and halt all activities related to its organization. "I ask the court the declare the Serb Republic National Assembly's decision unconstitutional, to annul it and to oblige the assembly to abandon temporarily all decisions and activities related to the referendum organization until the court delivers its final opinion on this request," Izetbegovic said. But Bosnian Serb Prime Minister Zeljka Cvijanovic challenged the authority of the Constitutional Court and said Izetbegovic's request will not stop the region from holding the vote. "This is an attack on the Serb Republic institutions and an attempt to degrade it and take away its authorities," said Cvijanovic. Bosnian Serb President Milorad Dodik had also threatened to push for referendum on the authority of the national court which he says is biased against Bosnian Serbs. (Reporting by Maja Zuvela; Editing by Ivana and Raissa Kasolowsky) All's shell that ends well for a boy in Florida whose random act of kindness led him to save the lives of three baby sea turtles. Four-year-old Aiden was recently taking a stroll down a Florida street during a family vacation when he spotted a trio of baby sea turtles trapped inside a storm drain. Read: Dedicated Volunteers Rescue Stranded Sea Turtle and Return Her to Sea He said, I think I see a crab! Oh no its not a crab its a turtle! his dad, Hunter Henson, told InsideEdition.com. He counted each one and said, Theres three! Theres three! Little Aiden alerted his dad, who called the Wildlife, Inc. Education & Rehabilitation Center for help. According to Ed Straight, president of the rehabilitation center, turtle rescues are rare. The center that usually does turtle rescues was unavailable, said Straight. They asked us if we could take care of it. Straight, with the help of his grandson and officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, traveled to the scene and, at first, struggled to pull the grate off due to its weight. Read: Sea Turtle is Pulled From the Water So Beachgoers Can Take Selfies After a few moments of concentration and strength, they were able to free the animals. Young Aiden stood by their side the whole time to make sure the sea turtles were in good hands. "If he hadnt seen them, they probably would have died," Straight said. Rescuers believed that the turtles may have drifted away and gotten lost from their mother upon hatching. If Aiden and his family kept walking, they would have died from dehydration and humidity. After much needed treatment and TLC, the sea turtles will soon be released back into the ocean, thanks to Aiden. We wouldn't have found them without that little boy, said Straight. Watch: Man Jumps Into Ocean to Save 700-Pound Sea Turtle Being Chocked By Kelp Story continues Related Articles: Brasilia (AFP) - Brazil's Supreme Court chief justice has rejected a request from suspended president Dilma Rousseff to annul the session at which senators voted to open an impeachment trial against her. Rousseff's lawyers had argued that some of the procedures used at the session, held August 10, violated her rights. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Ricardo Lewandowski, who will preside over the trial, said Tuesday that neither he nor the Supreme Court could rule on the matter, as it was a decision made in Congress, according to a statement by the court. Even if the court were to weigh in, he said, in his opinion the procedures used at the session "did not harm the accused." Rousseff's defense team has already filed several appeals to stop the process, which have all been rejected. Rousseff was suspended from office in May over accusations that she fiddled with state accounts to make the numbers look better in an election year. Senators will vote on whether to remove her from office for good after an impeachment trial starting Thursday. Rousseff has been allotted time to testify at the trial, during which she will try to convince senators she is innocent and the victim of a "coup" by her opponents. Senators are expected to remove her from office for good, with polls indicating she does not have the votes needed to return to the presidency. If Rousseff is removed from office, her former vice president Michel Temer will be president until the next elections in 2018. London - Polish migrants across Britain took part in a campaign to donate blood this week (August 20-27), in an attempt to show unity and solidarity with Britons post-Brexit. The social media campaign, and its hashtag Polish Blood, developed last August, as an alternative to a then mooted strike by Polish migrants who at the time felt unappreciated and victims of xenephobia in Britain. A year later, thousands more Poles are donating blood at blood banks across the country after a wave of xenephobic attacks on migrants following Britain's vote to leave the European Union in June. Chef consultant Damian Wawrzyniak donated blood in central London. "It's all about bringing communities together. Making us not only workers, helpers, because somebody says; you work good when you get paid. Here you don't get paid. It's like giving something," he said. The Polish Blood campaign is running in conjunction with Give Blood UK's "Missing Type" blood drive campaign, an international effort to obtain rarer blood types from donors across the world. London (AFP) - A British marine was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of terror offences as part of an investigation into Northern Ireland-related terrorism, police and security sources said. The 30-year-old was arrested in Somerset, southwest England, on suspicion of being involved in the preparation for acts of terrorism, police said in a statement. Contacted by AFP, security sources confirmed reports that the man is a member of the Royal Marines, an elite infantry unit, and the arrest is linked to the discovery of two arms caches in Northern Ireland earlier this year. An armour-piercing improvised rocket and two anti-personnel mines were among the cache recovered in those raids, as well as bomb-making items. "Today's arrest was pre-planned and intelligence-led as part of an investigation into Northern Ireland-related terrorism," the police statement said. No armed police were involved and there was "no intelligence to suggest an immediate threat". Searches were under way at an address and a wooded area in Devon, southwest England, and in Northern Ireland. Bomb disposal units attended during one raid on Wednesday in Larne, a port in Northern Ireland, where one of the arms caches was found. The Ministry of Defence said it was aware of the arrest and would assist the investigation. The 1998 Good Friday peace accords largely ended the three decades of deadly violence in Northern Ireland, known as the Troubles, in which 3,500 people were killed. However, the threat level for Northern Ireland-related terrorism within the province has been set at severe -- the second-highest of five levels -- since it was first set in 2010. The level, determined by the MI5 domestic security service, means an attack is considered highly likely. The threat level for Northern Ireland-related terrorism in the rest of the United Kingdom was raised one level from moderate to substantial -- the third-highest level -- in May this year, meaning an attack is considered a strong possibility. A young British woman died and a man was critically injured when a French national allegedly stabbed three people while saying "Allahu Akbar" at an Australian backpacker's hostel, police said Wednesday. Police are investigating the murder, which occurred late Tuesday in Home Hill, a rural town south of Townsville in far north Queensland state, but could not say whether the alleged attacker had been radicalised. The motivations behind the stabbings, which left a 30-year-old British man in a critical condition and a local man with non-life threatening injuries, were still unknown, Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said. "Initial inquiries indicate that comments which may be construed of being of an extremist nature were made by the alleged offender," he said. It is alleged that the suspect used the phrase 'Allahu Akbar' during the attack and when arrested by police, he said. "While this information will be factored into the investigation we are not ruling out any motivations at this stage, whether they be political or criminal," he added. Gollschewski said investigators would also consider whether mental health or drug misuse were factors in the incident in which a dog was also fatally injured. Police said the Frenchman, who had been in Australia since March, allegedly said "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest) both during the attack and his arrest, which were reportedly witnessed by about 30 people at the hostel. When asked if the 29-year-old had links to the so-called Islamic State group, Gollschewski said "no" and added that there was no ongoing threat to the community. "At this stage there's no indications... other than the fact he was acting alone," Australian Federal Police Commander Sharon Cowden added at the same press conference. "It is a shocking incident and the community should remain vigilant. He was lawfully in Australia and at this stage he is not known to any authorities." Story continues -- Extremism concerns -- Canberra has been increasingly concerned about extremism in the country, and in particular about home-grown radicalisation, and raised the terror threat alert level to high in September 2014. Authorities have conducted a series of counter-terrorism raids in various cities, while the government has passed new national security laws. Police said that the British woman's family had been contacted, as had the relatives of the 30-year-old British man who was taken to Townsville Base Hospital in a critical condition. "We are working with local authorities and providing support to the families of a British national who was killed and another critically injured in an incident in Australia," a spokesman for Britain's Foreign Office said. "Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time". A 46-year-old Australian man injured in the incident sustained non-life threatening injuries and has since been released from hospital. Police have yet to lay charges against the French man who was taken into custody at the scene and since transported to hospital for treatment to what are believed to be non-life threatening injuries sustained in this incident. "This is not about race or religion. It is individual criminal behaviour," Gollschewski said. Police did not name the deceased woman, but local media reported that she had been working in a bar on Queensland's Gold Coast and had recently swapped over to farming work to extend her working holiday visa. By Matt Siegel SYDNEY (Reuters) - A 29-year-old Frenchman shouted "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest) as he stabbed a British woman to death and wounded two people at a backpackers' hotel in Australia, police said on Wednesday. The man was in Australia on a valid tourist visa and had no known links to radical groups such as Islamic State, which has urged its followers to carry out attacks with knives or other readily available weapons, police said. British and Australian media identified the dead woman as Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, from the English county of Derbyshire. The Australian Broadcasting Corp said that she was in the country on a working holiday. A 30-year-old British man was in critical condition in hospital after the late Tuesday attack in Queensland state, south of the city of Townsville. Police said they were not ruling out any motive. "Initial inquiries indicate that comments which may be construed of being of an extremist nature were made by the alleged offender," Queensland Police Service Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski told reporters. "This person appears to have acted alone," he said. "He is a visitor to Australia and has no known local connections, however investigations are ongoing." Australia, a staunch U.S. ally, has been on heightened alert for attacks by home-grown Islamist radicals since 2014 and authorities say they have thwarted a number of plots. About 100 people have left Australia for Syria to fight alongside organisations such as Islamic State, Australia's Immigration Minister said this year. The FBI on Tuesday said it was investigating a similar attack in Virginia, in which a suspect shouted the same words while attacking a man and woman with a knife. Similar attacks have recently occurred in France, Bangladesh and Germany. There have been several "lone wolf" assaults in Australia, including a 2014 cafe siege in Sydney that left two hostages and the gunman dead. Also in 2014, police shot dead a Melbourne teenager after he stabbed two counter-terrorism officers. In 2015, a 15-year-old boy fired on an accountant at a police headquarters in a Sydney suburb and was killed in a gunfight with police. Police did not give details of the third person wounded in the attack, which was captured on video and witnessed by more than a dozen people. There was no ongoing threat to the community, Gollschewski said. A dog was also killed in the attack, he said. (Additional reporting by; Editing by Nick Macfie, Robert Birsel) By Joseph Ax NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Brooklyn district attorney has agreed to pay a $15,000 fine to settle allegations that he violated New York City's conflicts of interest law by using office funds to pay for meals. The city's ethics watchdog, the Conflicts of Interest Board, said Ken Thompson had spent more than $3,500 of his office's money on personal meals between January 2014 and February 2015. He repaid the expenses last year. Thompson also had members of his security detail pay for some of his meals using their own money. The employees were later reimbursed. In a statement, Thompson said "I accept complete responsibility for this violation and regret that it occurred." Thompson, a former federal prosecutor, became Brooklyn's first black district attorney when he defeated longtime incumbent Charles Hynes in 2013. While in private practice, he made headlines in 2011 as the attorney for Nafissatou Diallo, the hotel maid who accused former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn of sexual assault. The Brooklyn district attorney's office is one of the largest prosecutorial agencies in the country. The board said it had taken into account the fact that Thompson reimbursed all funds as well as the "high level of accountability required of the chief prosecutor of Brooklyn" in determining the amount of the penalty. (Reporting by Joseph Ax; Editing by Tom Brown) Washington (AFP) - The United States said Wednesday it does not support bans by French resorts on Muslim swimwear but warned American travelers that they should obey local laws Dozens of French resorts have banned beachwear that "conspicuously" shows a person's religion, an order targeting the "burkini" -- a full-body swimsuit worn by some Muslim women. In response to a reporter's question as to whether the United States would update its travel advice to warn Muslim Americans, a US official advised them to obey the rules. "Of course we believe in the ability of people to express their religious views as they see fit, and we believe that in this case as well," State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau told reporters. "US citizens are advised to comply with local law regardless of what country they visit. But on this particular very local ordinance, I would refer you to the French." The United States has expressed concern about French attitudes to religious dress in the past, in particular its national legal ban on full-face veils in public spaces. Paris (AFP) - Burkinis banned on dozens of beaches, no veils in schools, no niqabs in the neighbourhood: in staunchly secular France, the law imposes an array of restrictions on anything denoting religious affiliation. In 2010, France became the first country in Europe to ban the full-veil with a law banning "the covering of the face in public spaces" which was adopted in October 2010 and applied in April a year later. The ban, which applies everywhere from the street to public transport, targeted both the burka, a voluminous garment which covers the whole body and hides the eyes behind a mesh-like fabric, and the more common niqab face veil. With non-compliance punishable by a fine of up to 150 euros ($170), the law was challenged at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on grounds it breached religious freedom. But in 2014, the court rejected the challenge, and upheld the ban. In the first five years of the law's application, French officials imposed just over 1,500 fines. - Symbols banned from school - Under terms of an earlier law passed in 2004, pupils in the public school system are not allowed to wear any symbols or clothing demonstrating any "conspicuous" sign of religious affiliation, which includes crosses or the kippa Jewish skullcap. The secularisation of France's system of public education is written into the constitution, the text which has the greatest authority within French law. What is ostensibly behind the various laws is France's commitment to the principle of 'laicite' or secularism -- the separation of Church and state -- which was enshrined in a flagship 1905 law. The ban on wearing headscarves does not extend to universities but the question regularly comes up. "We must do it," Prime Minister Manuel Valls in July. In the public sphere, the law requires public sector workers to respect a "strict neutrality" but the question of wearing a veil within a place of business has not been settled legally. Story continues Nothing forbids it in principle, but some employers oppose it, particularly when it affects their commercial activity. A veiled engineer who refused to take off her headscarf despite the protests of a client was dismissed for gross misconduct. The case has now been taken to the European Union's Court of Justice (CJEU) which is based in Luxembourg. - 'Respectful of secularism' - Debate over the issue has once again made global headlines after a number of towns and villages, mostly along the Cote d'Azur, decided to institute a ban on their beaches of garments which "conspicuously" display religious affiliation. Such decrees insist on the wearing of "proper attire, which is respectful of good morality and the principle of secularism" -- wording which effectively refers to the 'burkini' a full body swimsuit covering the hair down to the ankles which is worn by very few women. The move, which comes after months of deadly jihadists attacks across France, including a grisly hit-and-run attack in Nice last month which killed 86 people, was initiated by a handful of local mayors on grounds it would prevent public order offences. France's administrative court initially gave its stamp of approval, but on Thursday, the Council of State, the nation's highest administrative court, will examine a challenge to the ban on grounds it stigmatises Muslims. On Aug. 11, CAA President Richard Lovett convened the agency's monthly staff meeting not with an update on top-priority clients but by addressing a sizable elephant in the room. "This book was not sanctioned by CAA," Lovett told the troops gathered at the company's Century City headquarters, according to two sources who were there. The new "book" in question is James Andrew Miller's Powerhouse: The Untold Story of Hollywood's Creative Artists Agency, which has revealed embarrassing financial details about the company and its leadership and has led to some rank-and-file morale issues at the storied agency. The book, which CAA did not initiate but did participate in extensively, reports that the agency's top three partners - Lovett, Bryan Lourd and Kevin Huvane - each earned $20 million when TPG Capital made its second investment in the agency in 2014, plus $20 million for each of the three men that came out of a discretionary proceeds fund controlled by Lovett and Lourd. That previously undisclosed windfall came at a time when, according to sources, many staff members were told their own bonuses and expense accounts were being trimmed thanks to the private equity firm's now-majority stake in the agency. Read more: CAA Book's Lack of Index Frustrates Hollywood Readers CAA is downplaying the impact of the book, but several sources say the disclosures have caused anger, especially among midlevel agents who are not part of the management team, and have prompted rival agencies to ramp up poaching efforts. On Aug. 10, as a phalanx of high-profile agents converged at Brett Ratner's estate for an event honoring United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Powerhouse's details dominated the conversations. The book also arrives as CAA's litigation heats up with rival UTA over the 2015 defection of a dozen comedy agents. The agencies are fighting over whether a so-called "LLC agreement" many CAA agents signed when TPG made its second investment supersedes their individual employment contracts with the agency and, as a result, would allow CAA agents to leave with 30 days' notice regardless of the term left on their original deals. If the court sides with UTA (there are hurdles, including an alleged carve-out in the LLC agreement for existing contracts), CAA's exit door could swing wide open at a time when staff is pouting - specifically about Lovett, Lourd and Huvane's 2014 payout, which came on top of about $90 million the three Young Turks split when TPG made its first investment (though staffers largely were aware of that payment and also shared in the TPG proceeds on the initial investment). At the same time, Miller and his publisher, Custom House, are said to be furious at the rampant piracy of the book. Searchable PDFs have careened around Hollywood since the 700-page oral history was released Aug. 9, prompting the publisher and Miller's ICM agents to threaten websites posting the book, according to sources. For its part, CAA, which declined to comment, has acted quickly to warn its own employees against passing Powerhouse around via email. A version of this story first appeared in the Sept. 9 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters) - California lawmakers on Tuesday sent a bill to end state sales taxes on feminine hygiene products to Democratic Governor Jerry Brown, the latest success for a nationwide bipartisan effort to end the so-called tampon tax. The bill, which would add tampons, sanitary napkins and other menstrual products to a list of necessities like food and prescription medicines that are not taxed, won unanimous support in the state Assembly on Tuesday, Democratic Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia said. "Fundamentally, this is about gender equity and leveling the field," Garcia, who represents parts of suburban Los Angeles, said in a news release. "Every month, for 40 years of our lives, we are taxed for being born women." At least 15 states have introduced legislation to repeal sales taxes on menstrual products. New York repealed its tax in June, joining Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and New Jersey. The movement appeals to Republicans because it repeals a tax and is favored by Democrats, who say it eliminates an unfair burden on women. "It's great to see both Democrats and Republicans coming together on this important effort all across the country," said Republican Assemblywoman Ling-Ling Chang, who represents the Los Angeles suburb of Diamond Bar. If Brown signs the bill, the state will lose about $20 million in tax revenue, according to a legislative analysis. (Reporting by Sharon Bernstein; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) From Town & Country The destructive Chimney wildfire in California is now putting Hearst Castle at risk. For days, firefighters have been guarding the historic San Simon estate of media magnate William Randolph Hearst, which now serves as both a museum and a California State Park. (Hearst founded the company that owns Town & Country.) Simultaneously, staff inside the landmark have been working to protect the extensive art collection, which includes works ranging from 3rd-century Roman marbles to 19th century Tiffany glass vases. "We really don't expect the fire to really come any closer than it has with the fire lines that have been cut," Roger Colligan, supervising ranger at California State Park, told the LA Times. "We're pretty optimistic." But winds can change quickly, and as a precaution, the house will be closed through Sunday, August 28th, though the visitors center will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., barring any significant changes. As of Monday afternoon, no artwork has been removed from the site, and there is no reported damage to the collection, but a plan is in place, should there be the need to evacuate. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Brian Steiger says the fire is 35 percent contained after destroying 36 homes and 16 other buildings. It is just one of several major wildfires in California this summer. The Associated Press contributed to this story. The ADSUM Conference will Take Place in Aspen, Colorado from December 2-7, 2016 LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 24, 2016 / John Jensen, CEO of Cambridge Commerce, is pleased to announce that his company will have a booth at the upcoming ADSUM conference this December in Aspen, CO. To learn more about Cambridge Commerce, a payment processor that is focused on the advertiser market and takes a proactive approach with all of their clients, please visit http://www.cambridgecommerce.com/. As Jensen noted, he is thrilled that Cambridge Commerce will be included as part of the total solutions approach of ADSUM. "Advertisers need conferences that provide solutions and vendors that work like partners. We are sponsors of ADSUM because we believe in the concepts of helping advertisers be all they can be and because we know the importance of merchant processing to their success," Jensen noted. Every day at Cambridge Commerce, Jensen said his team assists their clients in achieving success through an effective combination of partnership, service and value. The company offers both domestic and offshore accounts that last for years, and Jensen said he and his team take their clients' companies and their performance personally by providing high-quality proactive support to ensure that they running at peak performance. Nate Lind, ADSUM Founder, said he is delighted that Cambridge Commerce will be present at the conference. "John has been a big supporter of the event from the moment it was just an idea in my head," he said. "Cambridge Commerce is a respected name in the industry; they provide outstanding service to the advertisers they work with. I think they are a wonderful addition to the event and am looking forward to their participation." Jensen said he is eager to travel to beautiful Aspen this December to be part of the innovative ADSUM conference. "We are honored to be included as part of the total solutions approach of ADSUM," Jensen said. Story continues "Finally, there's a show and community that's focused exclusively for the benefit of brands and companies that use affiliate marketing. We're thrilled to support Nate Lind and ADSUM, Aspen 2016 as he delivers real insights and real solutions, all while having real fun.' About ADSUM and Cambridge Commerce: ADSUM is a conference for online advertisers, merchants, and retailers to cultivate networking and collaboration to enhance the performance marketing industry. Cambridge Commerce has been in the payment processing industry since 1999. They are experienced at building sales and brands to success using partnership, service and value. For more information, please visit http://www.adsum.net/ and http://www.cambridgecommerce.com/ Contact: Alvin Davies admin@rocketfactor.com (949) 555-2861 SOURCE: ADSUM By Ethan Lou TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada may ask oil companies to contribute to the hundreds of millions of dollars or more the country has to pay to an international body if they drill far offshore, according to an internal government memo. If that happens, it could make the operations more expensive and strain talks that companies will have with provincial governments, which already require them to pay royalties. A United Nations convention, which Canada ratified in 2003, says signatories need to pay the International Seabed Authority (ISA) if companies drill on the "extended continental shelf," the seabed part of a country's landmass, but more than 200 nautical miles (230 miles) offshore. It was never clear from where that money should come. The ISA said only that Canada, where Norway's Statoil ASA has done such far-offshore explorations, is close to a position that warrants payments under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. In the Feb. 19 memo obtained by Reuters under the access-to-information laws, an official from Global Affairs Canada, the country's foreign department, said the agency was reviewing how to fund the payments. Statoil's proposed Bay du Nord project 270 nautical miles off the eastern province of Newfoundland and Labrador, in its northern region, will likely be the first to trigger such payment obligations, then-Deputy Minister Daniel Jean wrote to Foreign Minister Stephane Dion in the memo. While Statoil holds exploration licenses for Bay du Nord and the surrounding Flemish Pass basin, it is not clear when it might reach a production agreement with Newfoundland. Talks stalled last year as the province instituted a new royalty program. Payments are not due until five years after production, but the issue represents a looming quagmire. The federal government is responsible for making the payments, but receives no money from the oil activity, with the province taking all royalties, the memo says. It does not estimate projected fees, but they would likely be hundreds of millions of dollars. Statoil said in June that Bay du Nord has at least 300 million barrels of oil, worth more than $14 billion at current prices. Fees would be up to 7 percent of the annual production value. "Whether and by how much the operators will be implicated in the sourcing for monies for Canada's ... (payment) obligations is a key part of the analysis," read the memo. Global Affairs spokesman John Babcock said the agency has not yet determined who would pay the fees, noting that such payments won't be required "for many years to come." Statoil spokesman Alex Collins said the company has no position on the issue while the government studies it. Newfoundland's Department of Natural Resources said payment details are "under development." (Reporting by Ethan Lou; Editing by Jim Finkle and Jeffrey Benkoe) By David Ljunggren OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada hardened its line with China on Wednesday in a dispute over Canadian canola exports, saying bilateral relations could not improve until Beijing took action to settle the matter. Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland made the remarks in an interview just days before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is due to visit Beijing on a trip designed to deepen economic and political ties. China says that starting on Sept. 1, it will toughen its inspection standard for canola over concerns about the crop disease blackleg, threatening C$2 billion (1.2 billion) in Canadian exports of the oilseed. Freeland, stressing she felt Ottawa had addressed Beijing's concerns, said she was "pushing very hard on this" and would be raising the matter with Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng by phone later on Wednesday. "It's important ... the Chinese understand this is not some side issue. This is a priority issue for Canada," she said, noting that when the Liberal government came to power last year, Trudeau instructed her to expand trade with China. "We cannot take the next step in our relationship with China until the canola issue is resolved. ... We expect some action from China. Our canola is absolutely safe," she added. Canada is the world's biggest exporter of canola, used mainly to produce vegetable oil. Exporters, including Richardson International, Viterra Inc [VILC.UL] (GLEN.L) and Cargill Ltd [CARGIL.UL], stand to lose sales to Canada's biggest canola export market. Freeland said she did not know whether the dispute could be settled by the Sept. 1 deadline. A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa said it could not immediately comment on the canola discussions The matter threatens to overshadow the visit of Trudeau, who is promising to improve Canada's relationship with China after a rocky 10-year period under the former Conservative government. China has raised concerns for years about blackleg spreading from Canadian canola into Chinese crops of rapeseed, another name for the oilseed. Traders suggest China's real reason for a higher standard is that its domestic rapeseed oil stocks are high. Story continues The issue is a personal one for Freeland, whose father is a Canadian canola farmer. "I have asked my dad today to send me a jar of canola he has just combined, which I'm going to take with me to China and I'm going to give it to Minister Gao," she said. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Peter Cooney) By David Ljunggren OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada hardened its line with China on Wednesday in a dispute over Canadian canola exports, saying bilateral relations could not improve until Beijing took action to settle the matter. Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland made the remarks in an interview just days before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is due to visit Beijing on a trip designed to deepen economic and political ties. China says that starting on Sept. 1, it will toughen its inspection standard for canola over concerns about the crop disease blackleg, threatening C$2 billion ($1.6 billion) in Canadian exports of the oilseed. Freeland, stressing she felt Ottawa had addressed Beijing's concerns, said she was "pushing very hard on this" and would be raising the matter with Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng by phone later on Wednesday. "It's important ... the Chinese understand this is not some side issue. This is a priority issue for Canada," she said, noting that when the Liberal government came to power last year, Trudeau instructed her to expand trade with China. "We cannot take the next step in our relationship with China until the canola issue is resolved. ... We expect some action from China. Our canola is absolutely safe," she added. Canada is the world's biggest exporter of canola, used mainly to produce vegetable oil. Exporters, including Richardson International, Viterra Inc [VILC.UL] and Cargill Ltd [CARGIL.UL], stand to lose sales to Canada's biggest canola export market. Freeland said she did not know whether the dispute could be settled by the Sept. 1 deadline. A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa said it could not immediately comment on the canola discussions The matter threatens to overshadow the visit of Trudeau, who is promising to improve Canada's relationship with China after a rocky 10-year period under the former Conservative government. China has raised concerns for years about blackleg spreading from Canadian canola into Chinese crops of rapeseed, another name for the oilseed. Traders suggest China's real reason for a higher standard is that its domestic rapeseed oil stocks are high. The issue is a personal one for Freeland, whose father is a Canadian canola farmer. "I have asked my dad today to send me a jar of canola he has just combined, which I'm going to take with me to China and I'm going to give it to Minister Gao," she said. ($1=$1.29 Canadian) (Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Peter Cooney) Watch tons of trailers, plus free full-length movies and TV shows on Yahoo View. Heres the affecting first trailer for Manchester by the Sea, a Sundance favorite that appears destined to be an Oscar contender this winter. Casey Affleck stars as a suburban Boston janitor whose older brother (Kyle Chandler) dies unexpectedly, forcing him to return to his hometown (the Massachusetts fishing village of the title) to take care of his teenage nephew. Watch the first trailer for the emotional drama, above. Related: Sundance Report: Kenneth Lonergan Goes Deep on Manchester by the Sea Written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan (a critical favorite who has only directed three films in the past 16 years), Manchester by the Sea immediately generated awards talk for stars Affleck and Michelle Williams when it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January. (It probably helps that Williams seems due for an Academy Award: shes been nominated three times, to Afflecks one.) Up-and-comer Lucas Hedges also received praise for his performance as the nephew who tries to maintain normalcy after his fathers death. The film will play at both the Toronto International Film Festival and the New York Film Festival this fall, building up the buzz before it opens in theaters on Nov. 18. Despite the hateful hack of her website and attack on her privacy, Leslie Jones has a lot of love on her side. Hollywood is speaking out after the hacking on Wednesday revealed the Ghostbusters star's personal identification as well as multiple nude photos of what appears to be the comedian, expressing their outrage and disappointment over the situation. WATCH: Leslie Jones' Website Hacked, Nude Photos and Personal Information Leaked Octavia Spencer was quick to chime in on the hack, calling out the "rampant racism percolating in society." "This @Lesdoggg attack is troubling. The rampant racism percolating in society right now is shameful and sad. She made a movie, that's it!" she wrote. "Karma always finds a way to right a wrong. Don't hate someone b/c of their ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion or gender #KarmaWins." This @Lesdoggg attack is troubling. The rampant racism percolating in society right now is shameful and sad. She made a movie, that's it! octavia spencer (@octaviaspencer) August 24, 2016 Jones' Ghostbusters director, Paul Feig, expressed similar sentiments. "What's happening to @Lesdoggg is an absolute outrage," he tweeted. "Alt right, haters, trolls, 'comedians,' whoever the f**k you all are, you're just sad." What's happening to @Lesdoggg is an absolute outrage. Alt right, haters, trolls, "comedians," whoever the fuck you all are, you're just sad. Paul Feig (@paulfeig) August 24, 2016 NEWS: Leslie Jones Talks Twitter Bullying in 'Time' Cover Story: 'I Felt Trapped' Many others followed suit. Do not give your eyeballs to this racist, hate-filled, misogynoir crime. I #StandWithLeslie KATY PERRY (@katyperry) August 24, 2016 Do me a favor? Please don't share or view the Leslie Jones personal info/photos. Support Leslie by not supporting the assholes that did this Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) August 24, 2016 Why on earth? Such venom. I'm so sorry @Lesdoggg. It's misplaced sadness and anger and you don't deserve any of it. https://t.co/YvseMovx3K Sara Bareilles (@SaraBareilles) August 24, 2016 these acts against leslie jones....are sickening. its racist & sexist. it's disgusting. this is hate crimes. this aint "kids joshing round" Questlove Gomez (@questlove) August 24, 2016 and y'all making side comments and jokes and not speaking out is not cool y'all Questlove Gomez (@questlove) August 24, 2016 If 101% of pop culture catered to white nerds instead of only 98.1% then the cyber attacks like the one on Leslie Jones wouldn't happen. Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) August 24, 2016 She's great!!RT @hauntedscully: #LeslieJones doing things she loves and worked hard for. These r the pics WE share pic.twitter.com/wCpv2g1oWn Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) August 24, 2016 Of course I support @LesDoggg If ur a woman in #comedy, trust me, all you want to do is make people laugh, not this BS #equality Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) August 24, 2016 Let's turn our anger at trolls into love for Leslie Jones and into strategies to protect all the heroines who don't deserve this bullshit Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) August 24, 2016 May many (more) bad things befall the cowards who've attacked my friend, @Lesdoggg. They are the worst of humanity, where she is the best. Taran Killam (@TaranKillam) August 24, 2016 so angry, disgusted and sad about this racist violent assault on leslie. Aidy Bryant (@aidybryant) August 24, 2016 We're with you @Lesdoggg, you are strong, the parents' basement trolls are not. Nia Vardalos (@NiaVardalos) August 24, 2016 I truly don't know why people are so hateful towards @Lesdoggg. Why? She's talented and wonderful. Why are people so pressed to be awful? Gabby SidiBae (@GabbySidibe) August 24, 2016 FYI sharing stolen intimate photos like @Lesdoggg 's is illegal. You are participating in a sex crime. Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) August 24, 2016 This rise of online harassment, racism & sexual harassment is a sign that we have lost empathy. We need to right this course. #LostWorld Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) August 24, 2016 #TeamLeslie What she has to deal with is mortifying. You kick ass, @Lesdoggg Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) August 24, 2016 WATCH: Leslie Jones Claps Back at Racist Twitter Trolls Following 'Ghostbusters' Opening Weekend: 'Some People on Here are F**king Disgusting' Story continues This isn't the first time celebs have rallied around the 48-year-old actress. Jones was a target of vicious, racist harassment from online trolls just last month, which forced her to delete her account on Twitter. The Saturday Night Live star returned to the social media site after receiving an outpouring of support from celebs like Feig, Dan Aykroyd, and Chrissy Teigen. "Unfortunately I'm used to the insults," Jones told Seth Meyers during an appearance on Late Night last month. "But what scared me was the injustice of a gang of people jumping against you for such a sick cause Like, it's so gross and mean and unnecessary." See more on Jones' Twitter harassment in the video below. Related Articles Before Chance The Rapper became the admirable family man that he is today, he was just the average budding star in his 20s, trying to find himself. Like many other rising artists, Chance moved himself to L.A.into a huge house he would briefly share with James Blakeand found himself in an unfulfilling cycle of girls, drugs, and music. During his recent interview with GQ, Chance took a moment to reflect on the time when he used to live in Los Angeles. A time much different from now where he explains he would be "Xanned out every fucking day." In time, he would make some notable local friendslike BJ The Chicago KidJ. Cole, Jeremih, and Frank Oceanwho would soon be more help than he'd realize. "A lot of those people would be at my house constantly," Chance explains. "I was on a date one time at the crib, and we're sitting in the front room, maybe rolling up some weed or something. And then Frank just comes up and starts playing the piano and lightly singing in the background of our date. Obviously, that scored me a lot of points with this female." Though this sounds like the exact picture of what many might consider an ideal date, Chance admits, "it wasn't where I was supposed to be." More than a year later, Chance is back in Chicago constantly looking happier than ever and working on strengthening his faith. He made his new change of attitude the most apparent as he explained a lyric from Coloring Book's opening track "All We Got." He explained that he originally had a lyric that went: Life was never perfect. "And for the first, like, the last two months, before the project came out, that was the line." However, soon before the release date, Chance had a change of heart and fixed it to say: Man, I swear my life is perfect. "Because I don't know if I really want people repeating that and thinking that and shouting that to me from the crowd on a stage," he admits. "'Life was never perfect.' Life is perfect! You know?" Read more about Chance's new outlook on life here. Continue Reading On Complex Consumer outrage over EpiPens $600 price tag reached a fever pitch yesterday, prompting action from Congress members, including Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who issued a letter to its manufacturer, Mylan, demanding that the company lower the price of the life-saving device. In a separate letter, Iowa Senator Charles Grassley, citing consumer concerns, asked the company to provide justification for the price increasemore than 400 percent since 2007by no later than September 6, 2016. And Senators Susan Collins and Claire McCaskill of the Senate Special Aging Committee, in a letter today to Mylan requested an explanation and a briefing on EpiPen pricing within two weeks. "We are concerned that these drastic price increases could have a serious effect on the health and well-being of every day Americans," the senators wrote. Even the American Medical Association jumped in and released a statement today urging Mylan to lower the cost. EpiPen is an auto-injector syringe filled with an inexpensive drug called epinephrine. It treats allergic reactions so severe that some people cant breathe, a condition known as anaphylaxis. Meanwhile, if youre looking for a low-cost alternative to the EpiPen, we recently recommended generic Adrenaclick, also referred to as an "epinephrine auto-injector." Using a GoodRx coupon, you could get it for as low as $140 at Walmart or $205 at Rite-Aid. You might have heard its hard to get, but here's how to procure it. Ask Your Doctor for an Epinephrine Auto-Injector Prescription In most states, to get the low-cost, EpiPen alternative, you can't use a prescription for "EpiPen" from your doctor. That's because pharmacists at your drugstore likely won't be able to automatically substitute the low-cost version if your prescription is written for EpiPen. Instead, ask your doctor to write a prescription for an "epinephrine auto-injector" or "generic Adrenaclick." Thats what Adrienne Balkany of Austin, Texas, did after her out-of-pocket cost for EpiPen shot up to $400 two years ago. Balkany carries emergency epinephrine due to a severe allergy to bee stings. Seeking an alternative to EpiPen, she came across a mention of generic Adrenaclick online, and after finding that she'd only have a $60 co-pay after insurance, her doctor eventually switched her prescription to the generic. But doing so required some persistence on her part and several discussions with her doctor, says Balkany. The hardest part of switching was convincing my doctor to write the prescription because he had never heard of the drug. Story continues Since Mylan purchased EpiPen in 2007, it poured billions of dollars into a robust marketing campaign aimed at making EpiPen a household name. Last year, doctors wrote 3.6 million prescriptions for EpiPen and EpiPen Jr, according to healthcare data company IMS Health7 percent more than in 2014. Given EpiPens reputation as the leading treatment for life-threatening anaphylaxis, coupled with last year's recall of its main competitor, Auvi Q, and the otherwise low profile of alternative options, skepticism about non-EpiPen auto-injectors from consumers and doctors alike is not all that surprising. But while EpiPen and generic Adrenaclick are not the same device or delivery system, they both contain the drug epinephrine in the same dosage. The good news is that pharmacists in more than a dozen states, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Vermont, and Washington can fill an EpiPen prescription with generic Adrenaclickwithout returning to their physician for a new prescription, according to the drug's manufacturer, Impax Laboratories. Ask Your Pharmacist to Order the Generic Because prices can vary from one pharmacy to the next, shop around before filling the prescription. Pharmacies may have a limited supply or might need to order it. A spokesperson from Impax told us that the supply of generic Adrenaclick is somewhat limited but that the company is working on increasing the availability. Several stores, including Costco, told us that if the generic auto-injectors weren't currently in stock, they could easily be ordered and would be available for pick up within the next day or two. "Call the pharmacy before you go to see if it's in stock," advises Victor Curtis, R.Ph., senior vice president of pharmacy at Costco. Otherwise, the pharmacy can order it for next-day pick-up. A Walgreens spokesperson told us: "Epinephrine auto injector is available in our stores and we have daily replenishment from our wholesaler if product needs to be ordered, which generally arrives the next business day. A CVS spokesperson told us they also stock the low-cost epinephrine auto injector. If the generic Adrenaclick price is higher than you expected, ask about discounts. A Walmart pharmacy in White Plains, N.Y. told our secret shopper that a two-pack of generic Adrenaclick would cost $606, but when we asked about discounts, they told us they would accept the GoodRx coupon, bringing the out-of-pocket cost down to $140. CVS said it would also accept discounted coupons. The manufacturer offers a co-pay coupon to lower the price if you use your insurance. A note on safety: If you switch devices, dont wait until you need the Adrenaclick to learn how to use it. Each injector requires a different set of instructions, so people might use it incorrectly during an emergency, says Barbara Young, Pharm.D., of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. To prevent that, Young says to make sure you know how to properly use it before leaving the pharmacyand consider scheduling a training session. As you would with all medications, read your injectors package insert thoroughly. You can also watch a training video on epinephrine autoinjections website. More from Consumer Reports: Top pick tires for 2016 Best used cars for $25,000 and less 7 best mattresses for couples Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright 2006-2016 Consumers Union of U.S. Consumer outrage over EpiPens $600 price tag reached a fever pitch yesterday, prompting action from Congress members, including Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who issued a letter to its manufacturer, Mylan, demanding that the company lower the price of the life-saving device. In a separate letter, Iowa Senator Charles Grassley, citing consumer concerns, asked the company to provide justification for the price increasemore than 400 percent since 2007by no later than September 6, 2016. And Senators Susan Collins and Claire McCaskill of the Senate Special Aging Committee, in a letter today to Mylan requested an explanation and a briefing on EpiPen pricing within two weeks. "We are concerned that these drastic price increases could have a serious effect on the health and well-being of every day Americans," the senators wrote. Even the American Medical Association jumped in and released a statement today urging Mylan to lower the cost. EpiPen is an auto-injector syringe filled with an inexpensive drug called epinephrine. It treats allergic reactions so severe that some people cant breathe, a condition known as anaphylaxis. Meanwhile, if youre looking for a low-cost alternative to the EpiPen, we recently recommended generic Adrenaclick, also referred to as an "epinephrine auto-injector." Using a GoodRx coupon, you could get it for as low as $140 at Walmart or $205 at Rite-Aid. You might have heard its hard to get, but here's how to procure it. Ask Your Doctor for an Epinephrine Auto-Injector Prescription In most states, to get the low-cost, EpiPen alternative, you can't use a prescription for "EpiPen" from your doctor. That's because pharmacists at your drugstore likely won't be able to automatically substitute the low-cost version if your prescription is written for EpiPen. Instead, ask your doctor to write a prescription for an "epinephrine auto-injector" or "generic Adrenaclick." Story continues Thats what Adrienne Balkany of Austin, Texas, did after her out-of-pocket cost for EpiPen shot up to $400 two years ago. Balkany carries emergency epinephrine due to a severe allergy to bee stings. Seeking an alternative to EpiPen, she came across a mention of generic Adrenaclick online, and after finding that she'd only have a $60 co-pay after insurance, her doctor eventually switched her prescription to the generic. But doing so required some persistence on her part and several discussions with her doctor, says Balkany. The hardest part of switching was convincing my doctor to write the prescription because he had never heard of the drug. Since Mylan purchased EpiPen in 2007, it poured billions of dollars into a robust marketing campaign aimed at making EpiPen a household name. Last year, doctors wrote 3.6 million prescriptions for EpiPen and EpiPen Jr, according to healthcare data company IMS Health7 percent more than in 2014. Given EpiPens reputation as the leading treatment for life-threatening anaphylaxis, coupled with last year's recall of its main competitor, Auvi Q, and the otherwise low profile of alternative options, skepticism about non-EpiPen auto-injectors from consumers and doctors alike is not all that surprising. But while EpiPen and generic Adrenaclick are not the same device or delivery system, they both contain the drug epinephrine in the same dosage. The good news is that pharmacists in more than a dozen states, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Vermont, and Washington can fill an EpiPen prescription with generic Adrenaclickwithout returning to their physician for a new prescription, according to the drug's manufacturer, Impax Laboratories. Ask Your Pharmacist to Order the Generic Because prices can vary from one pharmacy to the next, shop around before filling the prescription. Pharmacies may have a limited supply or might need to order it. A spokesperson from Impax told us that the supply of generic Adrenaclick is somewhat limited but that the company is working on increasing the availability. Several stores, including Costco, told us that if the generic auto-injectors weren't currently in stock, they could easily be ordered and would be available for pick up within the next day or two. "Call the pharmacy before you go to see if it's in stock," advises Victor Curtis, R.Ph., senior vice president of pharmacy at Costco. Otherwise, the pharmacy can order it for next-day pick-up. A Walgreens spokesperson told us: "Epinephrine auto injector is available in our stores and we have daily replenishment from our wholesaler if product needs to be ordered, which generally arrives the next business day. A CVS spokesperson told us they also stock the low-cost epinephrine auto injector. If the generic Adrenaclick price is higher than you expected, ask about discounts. A Walmart pharmacy in White Plains, N.Y. told our secret shopper that a two-pack of generic Adrenaclick would cost $606, but when we asked about discounts, they told us they would accept the GoodRx coupon, bringing the out-of-pocket cost down to $140. CVS said it would also accept discounted coupons. The manufacturer offers a co-pay coupon to lower the price if you use your insurance. A note on safety: If you switch devices, dont wait until you need the Adrenaclick to learn how to use it. Each injector requires a different set of instructions, so people might use it incorrectly during an emergency, says Barbara Young, Pharm.D., of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. To prevent that, Young says to make sure you know how to properly use it before leaving the pharmacyand consider scheduling a training session. As you would with all medications, read your injectors package insert thoroughly. You can also watch a training video on epinephrine autoinjections website. More from Consumer Reports: Top pick tires for 2016 Best used cars for $25,000 and less 7 best mattresses for couples Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright 2006-2016 Consumers Union of U.S. Britney Spears' Instagram is filled with pictures of her adorable kids, masterful yoga skills, inspirational quotes, and her bomb-ass body. Britney Spears' 'Glory' Is Another Comeback Album -- And This Time, It Might Be For Good Her new album, Glory, drops Friday (Aug. 26), and includes sexier-than-ever tracks like "Private Show," "Do You Wanna Come Over?" and "Clumsy." In anticipation Glory, scroll through our list of Britney Jean's best bikini instas to see what dancing through a Vegas show three nights a week does to your body. Still dreaming a mile a minute... -- A photo posted by Britney Spears (@britneyspears) on Aug 6, 2016 at 3:27pm PDT Another great day! A video posted by Britney Spears (@britneyspears) on Aug 4, 2016 at 5:05pm PDT Hurricane Harbor whoop whoop! A photo posted by Britney Spears (@britneyspears) on Jul 18, 2016 at 8:42pm PDT A photo posted by Britney Spears (@britneyspears) on Jul 18, 2016 at 7:10pm PDT Cowabunga Vegas, Part 3 -- A video posted by Britney Spears (@britneyspears) on Jun 23, 2016 at 7:50pm PDT #tbt A photo posted by Britney Spears (@britneyspears) on Jun 23, 2016 at 1:35pm PDT My head is melting it's so hot in Vegas!! A photo posted by Britney Spears (@britneyspears) on Jun 22, 2016 at 6:12pm PDT Bought three new swimsuits today -- This one is my favorite! A photo posted by Britney Spears (@britneyspears) on May 3, 2016 at 5:53pm PDT The paps actually got a cool pic of me -------- A photo posted by Britney Spears (@britneyspears) on Apr 1, 2016 at 4:02pm PDT Never want to leave this place... A photo posted by Britney Spears (@britneyspears) on Mar 31, 2016 at 5:22pm PDT ---- A photo posted by Britney Spears (@britneyspears) on Mar 27, 2016 at 7:35pm PDT Just chilling A photo posted by Britney Spears (@britneyspears) on Mar 20, 2016 at 2:41pm PDT Happy Friday! A video posted by Britney Spears (@britneyspears) on Mar 4, 2016 at 12:28pm PST Aloha! ---- Story continues A photo posted by Britney Spears (@britneyspears) on Jul 23, 2015 at 12:45pm PDT So nice to be home! Nothing like Louisiana boys A photo posted by Britney Spears (@britneyspears) on Jun 21, 2015 at 2:55pm PDT Gonna get my tan on in the desert in between shots on the #WorkBitch set today. It's HOT out here people!!!! #desert #heatwave #WorkBitchDay2 A photo posted by Britney Spears (@britneyspears) on Sep 8, 2013 at 4:29pm PDT BEIJING/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China took aggressive steps on Wednesday to head off signs of growing risks in its financial and banking system, unveiling detailed rules to curb an unruly peer-to-peer (P2P) lending sector and intervening in its money markets. In the past year, Chinese policymakers have been moving levers to try to keep credit growing at a reasonable pace to underpin the economy, while addressing vulnerable aspects of the financial and banking system. But sharply increasing debt levels have raised alarm bells, most lately from the International Monetary Fund, about the health of the financial system. The countrys stock market crash last year is still fresh in investors' minds. This year, officials have expressed concern about the unravelling of Chinese peer-to-peer (P2P) online lending platforms that they had once hoped would provide a new channel of funding to spur the economys growth. On Wednesday, the banking regulator and other government entities issued measures to curb a sector that has produced a raft of scandals. Almost half of the 4,000-odd lending platforms are "problematic", the China Banking Regulatory Commission warned. The measures will probably leave about 200-300 P2P platforms by this time next year, said James Zheng, chief financial officer of Lufax, the top lending platform in China. "That's okay because they're cracking down on all the bad guys," he said at a conference in Hong Kong. "What doesn't kill will make you stronger. That's the case for us." The $93 billion P2P lending sector has been a source of funds for individuals and small businesses overlooked by the country's traditional financial services that prefer big borrowers with better credit history and collateral and links to the government. But Beijing's hands-off approach to promote the sector as a form of financial innovation led to a rash of high-profile P2P scandals and frauds. Ezubao, once China's biggest P2P lending platform, folded earlier this year after it turned out to be a Ponzi scheme that solicited 50 billion yuan in less than two years from more than 900,000 retail investors through savvy marketing. Retail investors have been unable to get their money back. Story continues Under the new rules, P2P firms cannot sell wealth management products or issue asset-backed securities. They must use third-party banks as custodians of investor funds and will not be permitted to take deposits. The banking regulator also set a ceiling for borrowers on P2P platforms. Outstanding loans issued on P2P platforms had reached 621.3 billion yuan ($93.6 billion), data from the regulator showed. MONEY MARKET SQUEEZE China's overall debt has risen rapidly since the global financial crisis. Outstanding debt was $26.56 trillion, or 255 percent of gross domestic product at the end of 2015, according to the Bank for International Settlements. While debt has played a key role in stimulating and shoring up economic growth, policymakers in China are not unaware of the risks. The central bank is holding off on cutting bank reserve requirements or interest rates for fear such moves could fuel more cheaper credit, put downward pressure on the yuan and fuel outflows from its mountain of more than $3 trillion in foreign reserves. That view was solidified in financial markets this week, prompting a sharp selloff in bond futures following a summer rally. In turn, that appears to have worried the central bank that too many small banks had jumped on the bond rally using short-term borrowing to fund purchases, traders said. So on Wednesday, it injected cash into money markets through 14-day reverse repurchases agreements for the first time in six months to show its concern about the rising leverage. For most of 2016, the Peoples Bank of China (PBOC), the central bank, had used the lower interest seven-day rate, with cash injections nearly every day. "The PBOC appears to be signalling to banks to move away from a reliance on short-term liquidity and head towards more longer-term liquidity," Jonas Short, head of NSBO Policy Research in Beijing, said in a note. He said if short-term interest rates continue to tighten, it could hurt Chinas small banks. There may be potential for a liquidity squeeze for small banks on the horizon," he said. The central banks injection of money into the financial system using 14-day reverse repos was also taken as a signal by financial markets that further cuts to bank required reserve ratios were unlikely. Chinese five- and 10-year treasury futures fell on Wednesday. The yuan and the benchmark CSI300 equities index both edged lower. (Reporting by Nathaniel Taplin, Winni Zhou and the Shanghai Newsroom; Shu Zhang in BEIJING and the Beijing Newsroom; Additional reporting by Elzio Barreto in HONG KONG; Writing by Ryan Woo; Editing by Neil Fullick) BEIJING (Reuters) - China denied on Wednesday that the government had restricted the activities of a visiting United Nations-appointed human rights envoy. Philip Alston, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, said the Chinese government interfered with his work during a visit to China by blocking access to individuals whom he had hoped to meet. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said China and the envoy had reached agreement on the schedule for the visit through consultations. The suggestion that Alston was restricted in his activities "completely does not accord with the facts", Lu told a daily news briefing. He said Alston had praised China for its success at poverty alleviation and economic and social development. "If these people are truly concerned about human rights and the social and economic development of developing countries, then we hope they can objectively view the facts and do some serious thinking," Lu said. "The development model they are trying to promote does not bring progress and human rights to the majority of people in many developing countries." Since taking office more than three years ago, President Xi Jinping has cracked down on dissent, reining in the media and civil society and detaining dozens of rights activists. The government routinely rejects criticism of its human rights record, saying that people it jails are lawbreakers. Special rapporteurs work on a voluntary basis, are not U.N. staff and do not get paid for their work. (Reporting by Michael Martina; Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Nick Macfie) BEIJING (Reuters) - China has showed off its first images of a rover it plans to sent to Mars in mid-2020, which is designed to explore the planet surface for three months, state media said, the latest aim of China's ambitious space program. China in 2003 became the third country to put a man in space with its own rocket after the former Soviet Union and the United States. It has touted its plans for moon exploration and in late 2013 completed the first lunar "soft landing" since 1976 with the Chang'e-3 craft and its Jade Rabbit rover. China's latest manned space mission is due in October and is aiming for a manned moon landing by 2036. State news agency Xinhua, in a report late on Tuesday, said the 200 kg (441 lb) rover would have six wheels and be powered by four solar panels, two more than the rover China shot to the moon and 60 kg (132 lb) heavier. "The challenges we face are unprecedented," Zhang Rongqiao, chief architect of the Mars mission, said, according to Xinhua. The probe would carry 13 payloads including a remote sensing camera and a ground penetrating radar, on what is expected to be a three-month exploration mission blasting off in July or August 2020, the report added. "The lander will separate from the orbiter at the end of a journey of around seven months and touch down in a low latitude area in the northern hemisphere of Mars where the rover will explore the surface," it said. The Beijing News added that the northern hemisphere was not as good a place to utilize solar power as the equator, but that the geographic conditions were better. Advancing China's space program is a priority for Beijing, with President Xi Jinping calling for the country to establish itself as a space power. China insists its program is for peaceful purposes, but the U.S. Defense Department has highlighted China's increasing space capabilities, saying it is pursuing activities aimed to prevent adversaries from using space-based assets in a crisis. Apart from its civilian ambitions, Beijing has tested anti-satellite missiles, and the U.S. Congress has banned NASA from engaging in cooperation with its Chinese counterpart due to security concerns. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Gao Liangping; Editing by Nick Macfie) China's state-owned grain giant COFCO will buy out minority shareholders in Netherlands-based commodity trader Nidera and take full ownership of the company, it said, as it seeks to become an agribusiness powerhouse. COFCO's deal to buy out the remaining 49 percent of Nidera, which trades grains and soybeans among other agricultural commodities, comes two years after it bought just over half of the company for $1.2 billion. It is the latest in a string of major overseas investments by Chinese companies seeking to meet rising demand for food and energy in the world's second-largest economy. The deal would give China greater control over pricing on the world's grain markets, as well as better access to major grain-growing regions, such as Latin America and Russia. Financial terms of the new COFCO-Nidera deal, which awaits regulatory approval, were not disclosed. "This significantly accelerates the progress we have made in building a global leader in the international agricultural and food products industries," Matt Jansen, CEO of COFCO International, said in the company announcement late Tuesday. Nidera's strengths, including its seeds business and trading networks, will help the Chinese firm become "a global leader in the international agricultural and food products industries", he said. As China's population grows wealthier, foreign products are widely seen by consumers as being safer and higher quality, in contrast to a litany of food safety scares in the Asian giant. The Chinese government has encouraged the nation's companies to invest overseas to secure natural resources, open new markets and gain access to foreign technology, especially as economic growth has slowed at home. Chinese corporates have been on an overseas acquisition binge this year, as the weak global economy has presented new, attractive targets. State-owned China National Chemical Corp. (ChemChina) in February offered $43 billion for Swiss pesticide and seed giant Syngenta, which will be the biggest-ever overseas acquisition by a Chinese firm if completed. By Anshuman Daga and Tommy Wilkes SINGAPORE/ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Chinese state-backed firms are frontrunners to buy a $1.5 billion (1 billion pounds) controlling stake in Pakistani utility K-Electric, sources said, as they bet the benefits of a Beijing-led economic corridor will trump the risks of investing in Pakistan. State-backed Shanghai Electric Power and China Southern Power Grid are among Chinese firms leading the pack of about half a dozen bidders in K-Electric (KELA.KA), one person familiar with the matter said. Shanghai-headquartered Golden Concord Holdings is also among the bidders, as are some local Pakistani and other companies, according to people who know about the process. Chinese companies' interest comes after China last year announced energy and infrastructure projects worth $46 billion in the South Asian nation, with a view to opening a trade corridor linking western China with the Arabian Sea. "The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the main driver, with a lot of Chinese funding flowing into Pakistan," said one person aware of the K-Electric deal. That demand underpins President Xi Jinping's ambitious "One Belt, One Road" initiative, under which Beijing is seeking to open new trade routes and markets as the domestic economy slows. Under the programme, Chinese companies invested nearly $15 billion in participating countries last year, up one fifth from 2014. If successful, the K-Electric deal would be the biggest M&A agreement in Pakistan in a decade. Large tracts of Pakistan's economy remain nationalized or held by private businessmen with little interest in selling to new investors. Chinese firms are eyeing new Pakistan power projects, roads and some engineering contracts but investing in a large private company that deals directly with consumers would be a first, a senior Karachi-based financial adviser said. NO GUARANTEE Dubai-based private equity firm Abraaj Group, whose 66-percent stake in K-Electric has a market value of about $1.5 billion, is seeking final bids for its stake by the end of August. Story continues Sources cautioned that although talks between the parties are advanced, there is no certainty of a deal being clinched. The Pakistani government owns about 24 percent, but a spokesman for the water and power ministry said it was not in talks to sell. CPEC envisages the construction of roads, pipelines and power plants across Pakistan that run south to Gwadar port and should mean more business for distribution companies like K-Electric that sell the electricity to users. China and Pakistan call each other "all-weather friends" and their ties have been underpinned by long-standing wariness of their common neighbour, India, and a desire to hedge against U.S. influence in the region. Islamabad wants Chinese funding to reinvigorate an economy hurt by militant violence and weak productivity, to provide new jobs and to ease chronic power shortages. For China, markets like Pakistan and Malaysia are opening up new frontiers, just as it faces hurdles in countries including Australia. "CHINESE ARE COMING" "We are getting a lot more enquiries from Chinese investors about Pakistan in the last couple of years," said Muhammad Sohail, CEO at Karachi-based brokerage Topline Securities. "Before it was always U.S. and Europe. The Chinese are coming," Sohail added. Still, foreign investment in Pakistan remains relatively muted as it struggles to shake off a reputation for violence, corruption and instability, and despite the $250 billion economy growing at its fastest pace in eight years. Inbound M&A into Pakistan has risen more than six times in the past five years, totalling $516 million so far this year, according to Thomson Reuters data. K-Electric, Pakistan's biggest electricity company, supplies power to over 2.2 million customers in and around Karachi, the country's biggest and wealthiest city. The utility has undergone a turnaround since Abraaj bought it; K-Electric has cut down on electricity theft and reduced outages. "Abraaj has done a good job but for a newcomer to get involved in a city like Karachi is not easy," said the Karachi-based adviser, referring to a city where power theft, violence and political turmoil have scared investors away. "The Chinese are looking at a lot of things but they are also very cautious." Sources said some Pakistani firms were also bidding, but it was not clear how keen they were, and they would likely find it tough to match the Chinese in an auction which could go as high as $2 billion. China Southern Power Grid declined comment, while Shanghai Electric Power confirmed it was bidding but gave no details. A K-Electric spokeswoman said the company had not been notified about any transaction or acquisition. "We dismiss these rumours as speculative," she said. A spokeswoman at Abraaj declined comment. Though Pakistan is courting Chinese investment, some deals have faced roadblocks. In 2005, an Etisalat-led consortium agreed to pay $2.6 billion for 26 percent of Pakistan Telecommunication Co, but the Abu Dhabi-listed operator has withheld some money due to differences with the government on outstanding ownership of properties. (Additional reporting by Saeed Azhar in SINGAPORE and Julie Zhu in HONG KONG; Editing by Denny Thomas and Mike Collett-White) Chopped Junior is no stranger to having adorable contestants and on occasion it also has contestants with adorable hearts. On Tuesday's episode we met 12-year-old Nadjah Brown from Cincinnati, Ohio, who is a great cook but also a great big sister to autistic twin brothers. Brown said she got into cooking to help her family deal with the added stress of having children with unique needs. When asked what she would should she win the $10,000 grand prize, Brown replied, "It's hard to have younger siblings with autism because it's hard to communicate with them sometimes. I want to win $10,000 because I want to make a website for older siblings that have younger siblings with autism, and I just want to help other kids out there if they're going through what I went through." Brown did end up winning the competition, thanks to her excellent cooking skills, and it seems clear that she's got a bright future ahead of her. Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston know how to spend their down time like real life heroes. The on-screen brothers and mortal frenemies took time out from shooting Thor: Ragnarok in Australia to visit sick kids at the Lady Cliento Childrens Hospital in South Brisbane. WATCH: Chris Hemsworth Shows Off On-Set Perks as Filming on Thor 3 Begins Hiddleston, who plays the villainously mischievous Loki, was decked out in his characters all-black wardrobe, but couldnt keep from smiling as he shook hands and met fans alongside Hemsworth, who brought along his long blonde locks and Thors mighty battle hammer, Mjolnir. The superstars met with kids, posed for photos, and hung out with the medical staff during their visit. The nurses, doctors and office staff could not have been more excited to snap selfies with the superstars, which they shared to the Lady Cliento Childrens Hospital Facebook page. WATCH: Chris Hemsworth Surprises His Biggest Fan at Work, Gives Her a Back Rub and Throws a Wild Office Party This wasnt Hiddlestons first time paying a visit to the hospital, either. The 35-year-old Emmy nominee dropped in back in July, before filming on Ragnarok began, and was accompanied by his girlfriend, 10-time GRAMMY Award winner Taylor Swift. Credit Card Sales This story was delivered to BI Intelligence "Payments Briefing" subscribers. To learn more and subscribe, please click here. Citigroup is still experiencing hurdles after purchasing the roughly 11 million cardholder Costco portfolio from American Express earlier this summer. Last week, the firm mistakenly emailed a small portion of Costco members telling them that their membership had ended and their cards would be canceled, according to Business Insider. Citigroup has since notified the affected consumers that the message occurred as a result of a systematic error. The error marks another in a series of problems that Citigroup has faced managing the transition. In the week following the transition, the company fielded multiple complaints from consumers who hadnt received new cards or were struggling to activate them and couldnt get the necessary support. Despite that, the portfolio has been performing well, giving Citi $5.7 billion in purchases made on Citi Costco cards in its first three-and-a-half weeks. But ongoing errors could begin to turn off consumers and increase cardholder attrition, particularly since Costco now accepts any Visa card, not just the Citigroup-branded Costco card. That would limit the potential financial impact of the portfolio, which could give Citi over $80 billion in annual billed business and help it further establish separation as the third largest US card issuer this year. Citigroup is just one piece of the larger payments ecosystem, which contains card issuers, processors, merchants, gateways, and more. Evan Bakker and John Heggestuen, analysts at BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, have compiled a detailed report on the payments ecosystem that drills into the industry to explain how a broad range of transactions are processed, including prepaid and store cards, as well as revealing which types of companies are in the best and worst position to capitalize on the latest industry trends. Story continues Here are some key takeaways from the report: 2016 will be a watershed year for the payments industry. Payments companies are improving security, expanding their mobile offerings, and building commerce capabilities that will give consumers a more compelling reason to make purchases using digital devices. Payments is an extremely complex industry. To understand the next big digital opportunity lies, it's critical to understand how the traditional credit- and debit-processing chain works and what roles acquirers, processors, issuing banks, card networks, independent sales organizations, gateways, and software and hardware providers play. Alternative technologies could disrupt the processing ecosystem. Devices ranging from refrigerators to smartwatches now feature payment capabilities, which will spur changes in consumer payment behaviors. Likewise, blockchain technology, the protocol that underlies Bitcoin, could one day change how consumer card payments are verified. In full, the report: Uncovers the key themes and trends affecting the payments industry in 2016 and beyond. Gives a detailed description of the stakeholders involved in a payment transaction, along with hardware and software providers. Offers diagrams and infographics explaining how card transactions are processed and which players are involved in each step. Provides charts on our latest forecasts, key company growth, survey results, and more. Analyzes the alternative technologies, including blockchain, which could further disrupt the ecosystem. To get your copy of this invaluable guide, choose one of these options: Subscribe to an ALL-ACCESS Membership with BI Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report AND over 100 other expertly researched deep-dive reports, subscriptions to all of our daily newsletters, and much more. >> START A MEMBERSHIP Purchase the report and download it immediately from our research store. >> BUY THE REPORT The choice is yours. But however you decide to acquire this report, youve given yourself a powerful advantage in your understanding of the payments ecosystem. More From Business Insider (Adds senators asking FDA about alternatives, paragraphs 13-14) By Ginger Gibson WASHINGTON, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton called on pharmaceutical company Mylan NV to voluntarily drop the price of its severe allergy treatment drug EpiPen, which has increased in price by more than 400 percent in the past decade. "That's outrageous - and it's just the latest troubling example of a company taking advantage of its consumers," Clinton said in a statement. "It's wrong when drug companies put profits ahead of patients, raising prices without justifying the value behind them." Clinton frequently said during the primary that she would fight pharmaceutical companies - part of an attempt to counter criticism that she was too closely tied to the insurance industry. She has released a proposal that she says will lower drug costs for consumers. Mylan spokeswoman Nina Devlin did not respond to inquiries about Clinton's criticism of the company. Mylan acquired the product in 2007, and the price increased from $100 in 2008 to its current cost of $600. Shares of Mylan closed down more than 5 percent at $43.15 on the Nasdaq. "The price of EpiPen is outrageous," said Robert Weissman, president of consumer watchdog group Public Citizen. "Mylan is endangering lives and ripping off the country." Weissman said EpiPen's U.S. price should be rolled back sharply, noting the product is available for as little as $112 in Canada. Many other drugmakers also routinely raise prices of their prescription drugs by 10 percent or more each year, and U.S. legislation is needed to prevent such "price spikes," he added. The White House took a more cautious tone in criticizing rising drug costs, refusing to comment on the decisions of an individual company. "I will observe, however, that pharmaceutical companies that often try to portray themselves as the inventors of life-saving medication often do real damage to their reputation by being greedy and jacking up prices in a way that victimizes," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said at a news briefing. Story continues Clinton joins a bipartisan group of lawmakers who are calling for investigations into the price increase of EpiPens, which are preloaded injections of epinephrine (adrenaline) that people use if they are having a dangerous allergic reaction that untreated could result in death. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, wrote Mylan earlier in the week to ask for an explanation of the price change. Senator Amy Klobuchar, the top Democrat on the committee's antitrust subcommittee, called for an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission. On Wednesday, Republican Senator Susan Collins and Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill requested that Mylan provide a briefing for the Senate to explain the price change. Grassley and Klobuchar, along with Democratic Senators Patrick Leahy and Richard Blumenthal and Republican Senator Ron Johnson, on Wednesday said they had written to the Food and Drug Administration to ask about its approval process for alternatives to the EpiPen. "Given the importance of this topic, it is imperative to understand the FDA's role with respect to EpiPens and its approval of generic equivalents that could help to increase competition and lower prices if introduced," the senators said in a statement. "We have reached out to every member of Congress who has sent us a letter, and we look forward to meeting with them and responding to their questions as soon as possible," Devlin said. In January, Clinton admonished Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc, which raised the price of a heart drug. In the wake of a Clinton campaign blog post targeting Valeant, the company's stock fell. In March, she released a campaign ad vowing to target the company specifically. Clinton also criticized Turing Pharmaceuticals in the fall of 2015 when public ire rose after it decided to raise the price of an antiviral medication commonly used by AIDS patients and pregnant women from $13.50 a tablet to $750 each. After a single post by Clinton on the social media website Twitter critical of Turing, the company's stock price tumbled. At that time, Clinton released a comprehensive drug price plan that she says would reduce costs. Her proposal includes capping monthly out-of-pocket costs, expanding generic drug access and allowing Americans to buy pharmaceuticals abroad. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said little about lowering drug prices. He has proposed increasing the amount of negotiations permitted by Medicare in order to lower prices for those using the program. (Additional reporting by Ransdell Pierson; Editing by Bernard Orr and Jonathan Oatis) New York (AFP) - Donald Trump stepped up his attacks on Hillary Clinton as her campaign battled to silence suggestions that donors to her family's charity paid for access when she was America's top diplomat. The Democratic nominee, looking to make history as America's first female commander-in-chief, is polling well ahead of her Republican rival but has hit choppy waters this week as the Trump campaign has fought to rebound from a series of damaging self-inflicted wounds. "Hillary Clinton is totally unfit to hold public office," Trump told a rally in Austin, Texas interrupted several times by protesters. "It is impossible to figure out where the Clinton Foundation ends and the State Department begins," he added. Hours earlier the Associated Press reported that more than half the people outside government who met Clinton while she was secretary of state donated money to the Clinton Foundation. "It is now abundantly clear that the Clintons set up a business to profit from public office, they sold access," he said. "This is corruption and this is why I have called for a special prosecutor to look into this mess," he said. The Trump campaign demanded an independent prosecutor investigate after nearly 15,000 emails that Clinton sent from her private server while secretary of state were released by Judicial Watch. The conservative group has targeted Clinton for years. Among the emails are some purporting to show that donors to the Foundation lobbied one of her top aides, Huma Abedin, for access to Clinton. Clinton, who on Tuesday attended a Hollywood fundraiser at the home of Justin Timberlake and his wife Jessica Biel, has so far not commented publicly on the report. But her campaign spokesman dismissed the AP analysis as based on "utterly flawed data" that "cherry-picked" from her schedule. - Misrepresent - "The data does not account for more than half of her tenure as secretary," Brian Fallon said in a statement. Story continues "Just taking the subset of meetings arbitrarily selected by the AP, it is outrageous to misrepresent Secretary Clinton's basis for meeting with these individuals," he added. The charity has raised some $2 billion since it was founded in 2001 after Bill Clinton stepped down as president and disburses funds domestically and overseas, handing out some $218 million in 2014. Bill Clinton announced this week that if his wife is elected, the foundation will accept only US contributions, that he will step down from the board and will no longer raise funds for the charity. With Clinton now leading 47 percent to Trump's 41.5 percent, according to an average of national polls from Real Clear Politics, it is unclear to what extent the new reports can damage her standing. US voters remain alarmed by Trump's lack of experience, question whether he has the temperament for the job and a series of high-profile blunders have chipped away at his populist appeal. Trump used the rest of his speech in Texas to make another sustained pitch for African-American voters -- who vote overwhelmingly Democrat -- and highlight poor border security in Texas. He reiterated calls to build a wall on the southern US border with Mexico in a bid to stop illegal immigration, a structure which he said Mexico would pay for. He also repeated his calls for "extreme vetting" of immigrants, saying "hundreds of immigrants and their children" had been charged with terrorism in the United States since the September 11, 2001 attacks. He promised to create safe zones in the Middle East, funded by Gulf States for refugees fleeing conflict and for visas to be suspended "when we can't perform effective screening." He was joined briefly on stage by mothers whose children were killed by illegal immigrants. "Your children did not die in vain, because we're not going to allow it to happen to others," he told them. Hillary Clinton will make the case in a speech Thursday that Donald Trumps campaign is led by people who propagate extreme and racist viewpoints that belie Trumps recent attempts to pivot to the center ahead of the election. [Trump] is taking a hate movement mainstream, Clinton said in an interview with CNN Wednesday. Hes brought it into his campaign. Hes bringing it to our communities and our country. Clinton said Trump has courted white supremacists and is very much peddling bigotry and prejudice and paranoia. Ahead of the speech, the campaign released a video showing white supremacists and members of the KKK praising Trump. The Trump campaign released a statement from campaign surrogate Pastor Mark Burns, who is black, calling the ad repulsive for using horrific racial images. Clinton campaign officials say the speech will call out Trumps embrace of an alt-right political philosophy propagated by his new campaign chair, Stephen Bannon, the executive chairman of the conservative website Breitbart News. Trumps newly installed brain trust of Steve Bannon, Roger Ailes and Roger Stone completes Donald Trumps disturbing takeover of the Republican Party, said John Podesta, Clintons campaign chair, in a statement to Yahoo News. We intend to call out this alt-right shift, and the divisive and dystopian vision of America they put forth, because it tells voters everything they need to know about Donald Trump himself. Clintons speech, scheduled for Thursday afternoon at a rally in Reno, Nev., will paint Trumps views and advisers as outside mainstream conservatism. Republicans up and down the ticket are going to have to choose whether they want to be complicit in this lurch toward extremism or stand with the voters who cant stomach it, Podesta said. Although most voters probably have no idea what alt-right means, the Clinton campaign has been attempting to associate Trump with the political movement since he announced his staff shakeup last week. Alt-right stands for the Alternative Right, and is defined by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a set of far-right ideologies, groups and individuals whose core belief is that white identity is under attack by multicultural forces using political correctness and social justice to undermine white people and their civilization. Bannon recently told a Mother Jones reporter that Breitbart News is the platform for the alt-right, though he insisted that the movement is nationalist, not racist. Story continues The Clinton campaign suggests that Bannons hiring confirms the Trump campaigns embrace of Breitbarts racially tinged worldview. Last week, Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook accused Bannons Breitbart News of peddling divisive, at-times racist, anti-Muslim, anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, including birther attacks that claim that President Obama was not born in the United States. We absolutely expect with this change for Donald Trump to double down on more hateful and divisive rhetoric, more conspiracy theories, Mook said. Clintons speech will broadly focus on Trumps hateful rhetoric in general, a campaign aide said. Since Bannon joined the campaign together with Republican pollster Kellyanne Conway as campaign manager, Trump has made some gestures toward moderating his tone. He made a surprising admission of regret at a rally in Charlotte, N.C., apologizing for any of his past statements that may have caused personal pain. He also began making a direct appeal to black voters, saying that voting for Democrats had not improved their economic standing. What the hell do you have to lose? he asked, addressing African-Americans, although speaking before a mostly white crowd in Michigan last week. Trump even appeared to walk back his hardline stance on immigration, saying he might be open to softening his plan to deport every undocumented immigrant from the United States. By focusing on his campaign leadership, Clinton is trying to ensure that voters dont forget the original Trump, who is on display, cursing and sneering, in TV ads by Clinton-supporting PACs. The candidate has insisted that Trump cannot change his stripes. There is no new Donald Trump. This is it, she told supporters at an Ohio rally last week. Stephen Bannon and Donald Trump (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Gerald Herbert/AP [2]) They are trying to keep Trump from pivoting to the center by tying him not only to his past statements but to the nature of his current team, David Axelrod, a former top adviser to Barack Obama, told Yahoo News. Clintons speech may also mention Roger Ailes, who was ousted as Fox News chair amid sexual harassment lawsuits, and is reportedly now advising Trump. Clinton surrogates are already tying Trump to the alt-right as a way to call into question Trumps new tone. Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., said Tuesday on a call organized by the Clinton campaign that the black community would not be fooled by his outreach. I think the nation is awakening to the dynamics of the Trump campaign that includes a healthy embrace of the alt-right through Breitbart and a whole host of signals that were sent by his campaign through the past year and a half, she said. She added that the alt-right shows disrespect toward communities of color. No matter what the overture and what form it comes in, it is not emblematic of where he stands with respect to his philosophy regarding communities of color, Clarke said of Trumps outreach to black voters. Clintons remarks may also appeal to Republicans and independents who are alienated by Trump by making the case that he and his team represent a fringe ideology. The Clinton campaign has announced several dozen conservative endorsements in the past month and is making a play for some traditionally Republican states, such as Georgia, in November. Liz Mair, a conservative political strategist, said she thinks the speech could serve as outreach to Republicans who feel loyal to the party but deeply uncomfortable with Trump. Defining Trump as out of the mainstream GOP may make it easier for conservatives to feel that they can remain true to the Republican Party while voting for a Democrat at the top of the ticket. Mair added that focusing Trumps staff could provoke the real estate tycoon into saying and doing really stupid, counterproductive, damaging stuff in response. There's no better way to celebrate the uplifting communal power of music than a giant, weekend-spanning festival. You're out in the sun with friends old and new, and when the stars come out, you're front and center. You dance to favorite anthems, discover new obsessions, and hopefully, you leave with a giant smile on your face and a head full of memories you'll never forget. That's the ideal Codeko captures in his song "Walking With Lions," which means Electric Zoo in New York City believes it's a perfect fit for the festival's first-ever official anthem. Listen to Big Gigantic's Curated Spotify Playlist for Electric Zoo: Exclusive "We have always wanted to produce a festival anthem that represents the theme of our festival that would resonate with our fans," says Electric Zoo Festival Director Adam Richman. "There is no question Codeko's 'Walking With Lions' does exactly that." It opens low and cool with a swinging horn line and staccato synths but quickly builds into a confetti blast of bright notes and balanced bass. Raphaela sings a story of coming together in strength and excitement, echoing the best moments of any festival. Of course, the animal theme conjures the Zoo motif rather well. "I am honored to have been selected to create this year's Electric Zoo anthem," Codeko says, "and can't wait to drop it on the mainstage" By Nelson Acosta HAVANA (Reuters) - Colombia's government and leftist FARC rebels unveiled a final peace deal on Wednesday to end a 50-year-old guerrilla war, one of the world's longest conflicts which took the resource-rich country to the brink of being a failed state. The two sides said they had reached an agreement to end the conflict and build a stable peace, in a joint statement read out by representatives of Cuba and Norway, who are mediators in the talks. The historic agreement foresees the demobilization of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), whose cocaine-funded rebels fought the government in a war that killed at least 220,000 people. Tens of thousands disappeared and millions fled their homes because of the violence. The deal, opposed by two former Colombian presidents, still needs to be voted on in a referendum and signed. (Additional reporting by Marc Frank in Havana and Julia Symmes-Cobb in Bogota; Editing by Andrew Hay) Cuba Colombia Farc peace deal Colombia's years-long effort to end the civil conflict that has plagued the country for 52 years reached an important milestone on Wednesday, with the country's government and the left-wing Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) coming to an agreement on a peace deal. "They have a definitive accord to end the war," Bernard Aronson, the US envoy to the talks, told reporters early on Wednesday, according to The Washington Post. The agreement was announced on Wednesday evening, and though it has been the culmination of years of work, one significant hurdle remains: Getting the approval of the Colombian population in a nationwide plebiscite, a referendum on the deal. Those opposed to and in support of the deal have mounted campaigns to win over Colombians, but sentiments remain mixed. While many support an end to the conflict, others disagree with specific elements of the deal or doubt that it can be successfully implemented. Getting to yes The Colombian government must now secure approval from the public in a plebiscite, which must take place between one and four months of Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos' announcement to Congress that he intends to have it. In order for the plebiscite to pass, it must get the support of 13% of Colombia's registered voters, or some 4.5 million people, and the yes votes must outnumber votes for no. While a yes victory would not change Colombian law, it would ensure legitimacy for the accord, show popular support, and provide strong assurances that what was agreed upon will be implemented. Colombia FARC rebels peace deal civil war The plebiscite would be binding on only the president, and while its failure would not mean that the peace process has to end, a no victory could be a debilitating blow to peace efforts, according to the Washington Office on Latin America. Story continues The government still has to formally tell Congress of its intention to convene a plebiscite, but Santos said on Wednesday night that it will be held on October 2, likely in an effort to see it passed before his administration sends to Congress a tax-reform proposal seen as essential for financing post-conflict programs. In order to hold the plebiscite on this timetable, which is still uncertain, the government will be obligated to release the details to the public as soon as possible. Several issues have become sticking points for the timing of the vote. FARC leadership still has to present the deal to the group's members for ratification. The rebels are expected to approve, but they have been reluctant to begin disarming and moving into designated concentration zones before a national vote is held, out of fears that if it is voted down they could be left vulnerable. Colombia FARC peace deal rebels guerrillas Moreover, the sides have haggled over the timing of an amnesty law that would apply to the rebel group. FARC leaders have said that there will be no final deal without it, while the Colombian Congress must still decide what crimes the amnesty applies to. The government has been working to inform the public about the deal, relying in large part on the country's TV and media companies. Colombia Reports, an English-language Colombian news outlet, has called the news and opinion segments of said media companies "notoriously inaccurate and biased, and could end up confusing rather than informing the public." Polls regarding the plebiscite have largely shown public support for the deal, but have not dispelled doubt about the outcome. A survey conducted earlier this summer found that 80% of respondents knew little or nothing about several central components of the deal. Polls conducted earlier this summer found the yes side with a solid lead, but that margin has slimmed in recent weeks. Some surveys conducted throughout the first half of August found yes and no votes roughly tied, with no leading in some cases. A Gallup poll released on August 17 found yes voters well ahead, with more than two-thirds of respondents who said that they would or would likely vote telling pollsters that they would vote yes. Colombia FARC peace deal plebiscite guerrilla war Anna Szterenfeld, the regional manager for Latin America at the Economist Intelligence Unit, has remained optimistic. "We still believe that negotiations will be concluded soon, and that this, along with the government's significant campaign resources, will be enough to secure approval of the peace agreement in the plebiscite," Szterenfeld told Business Insider in early August. "The logistics of the plebiscite that only 13% of the electorate need vote 'yes' for the agreement to be approved will also make this easier," Szterenfeld added. ' A lot of people are not happy' The government of Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, who leaves office in 2018, will have to overcome a number of hurdles to secure the yes vote it needs to implement the peace deal. The government will have to win over Colombians who doubt that the FARC will adhere to its commitments or that the government can eliminate the social and economic conditions that led to the conflict. Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos speaks on the podium during a panel discussion at the Anti-Corruption Summit in London, Thursday, May 12, 2016. REUTERS/Frank Augstein/Pool It must also sway those Colombians in urban areas, largely unaffected by the conflict, who have been more focused on economic conditions and have proven ambivalent about the peace process. Santos has had low approval ratings in recent months, with his support falling to an all-time low in May. An August survey found that 65% of Colombians disapproved of his management of the peace process and that 76% of his countrymen did not back his management during the first two years of his second term in office. Dissatisfaction with Santos, the underperformance of the economy, and a vociferous no campaign have helped push down public support for the deal in recent weeks. "A lot of people are not happy with either ... some portion of the peace agreement and the condition of the economy," Szterenfeld told Business Insider in July. "Confidence is very low. So it's not so surprising that his approval ratings are so low." ' Yes to peace, but not like this' While many signs indicate that the yes vote on the peace deal has the advantage, those opposed to the deal have made a concerted effort to defeat it at the ballot box. The central figure in the campaign to defeat the referendum has been Alvaro Uribe, Colombia's president from 2002 to 2010, under whom Santos served as defense minister and constructed the campaign against the FARC that helped force the rebel group to the negotiating table in 2012. Colombia FARC peace deal protest Alvaro Uribe Uribe has argued that the deal made by Santos' government will allow FARC leadership guilty of crimes like child recruitment, terrorism, and murder to largely avoid punishment. Uribe has led a "civil resistance" campaign that has launched signature drives in Colombian cities. The opposition campaign has zeroed in on the potential for FARC leaders to avoid jail time as a talking point, with some senators saying that they'll continue to fight the deal even if yes wins the plebiscite. Uribe has said that Santos is "handing the country over to terrorists," and the no campaign has been using the slogan, "Yes to peace, but not like this." "We cannot accept impunity for these crimes," Rodrigo Quinonez, a retired general opposed to the deal, told The Christian Science Monitor in June. "They have to submit to Colombian law and pay for what they have done." Colombia's former president Alvaro Uribe speaks to the media after casting his vote in Bogota June 15, 2014. REUTERS/Jose Miguel Gomez Uribe's critics and proponents of the peace deal have charged him with hypocrisy, as he presided over an administration that not only saw rampant human-rights abuses by the military go unpunished, but also allowed the demobilization of right-wing paramilitary groups with relative impunity for the crimes that they committed. (Uribe could also face jail time for his role in fighting the FARC in the 1990s and 2000s.) Another concession that opponents have seized on is the plan to allow former FARC members to hold seats in Congress. The details of that are yet to be decided and rebel groups have been allowed to hold office in the past but Santos has referred to it as a "toad to swallow." The possibility that opponents could make the voting a referendum on Santos, or that confusion, pessimism, and ambivalence among Colombians could drive down turnout, leave open a chance that the accord could fail to be ratified. ' Its like jumping off a cliff' Colombia peace deal FARC rebels plebiscite Among the public, sentiment about the deal and prospects for peace is mixed. Santos, who wants to get a deal and plebiscite done before the end of the year, has proposed delaying the final resolution of some issues until after the voting. That, coupled with some demands made by the FARC, has cost the peace process some credibility, Szterenfeld told Business Insider. "The subsequent timeframe for the implementation of the agreements is now more uncertain ... raising more risks for the sustainability of the peace settlement," Szterenfeld added. "The plebiscite campaign is also likely to deepen social polarisation and political divisions surrounding the process." Some victims of the war have been vocal supporters of the deal. "The reason for this is victims don't want what happened to them to happen to others. You wouldn't want anyone to go through what you've had to suffer," Alan Jara, who was held for more than seven years by FARC rebels and now leads the government body tasked with reparations for victims, told the Associated Press. Others who have suffered during the conflict are not content to take the deal in question. Colombia FARC peace deal protests "But the FARC are a bunch of assassins and jail is the very least the guerrillas should get for all the suffering they have caused to so many people," said Alba Gomez, one of the roughly 7 million Colombians displaced by the fighting. "Without that, there's no peace." Despite solid support for peace among Colombians, for some of them, imagining peace after 52 years of war is a struggle. "It's like jumping off a cliff," Gonzalo Sanchez, director of Colombia's National Center for Historic Memory, told The Christian Science Monitor. "Colombians have never known their country at peace so they can't imagine it." NOW WATCH: Colombian authorities seized 3 tons of cocaine bound for the US hidden in a 'narco-submarine' More From Business Insider Conservationists are filling condoms with chili powder and firecrackers to keep elephants away. This scare tactic, part of a multistep alarm system, has been developed to protect farmland and villages from elephants, without harming the animals. Honeyguide Foundation, with support from The Nature Conservancy, has been training villagers to use the alarm system, and though unconventional, the chili condoms have already shown promise. In northern Tanzania, the area around Tarangire National Park where elephants live has seen substantial civilization growth since the park was established in 1970. According to Matthew Brown, Africa region conservation director for The Nature Conservancy, the population density has more than doubled and much of the grasslands surrounding the park are being converted to farmland. [Elephant Images: The Biggest Beasts on Land] "The issue is [the elephants] leave some of these parks, like Tarangire National Park, and go into these community areas that are farmed," Brown told Live Science. "It's not an ivory issue, it's human-wildlife conflict around a response, because they're raiding the crops." Success of chili Before the program started in October 2013, villagers would use spears to move the elephants out of the crop fields, injuring and potentially killing the animals. Even so, the elephants were damaging up to 70 percent of crops in the area. This led Damian Bell, executive director of Honeyguide, to research alternative options for keeping the elephants away. Bell had heard that some communities found success with firecrackers, the loud noise scaring the elephants and prompting the animals to move. Communities had also used bright lights from headlights on a vehicle or flashlights to push the elephants away. In addition, for years, farmers have used chilies planting peppers as a "fence" or dispersing powder to ward off the elephants. As very few animals like chili, the peppers (or powder) have also been used to keep other animals, like monkeys, from crops. Story continues "I thought, 'Let's mix these together let's have a firecracker that's wrapped up in chili. So that when we chuck it at them, there's a bang and there's the smoke,'" Bell told Live Science. "So we started working on the chili bomb, chili cloud kind of thing, and that was working well." The so-called chili bombs are a mixture of chili powder and soil, packed with a firecracker, into a condom. Brown said in order for the chili bomb to work, it needed to be in a balloon that could expand to the shape of the firecracker and would burst from the firecracker's fuse. Condoms are also readily available at local markets, making for the perfect container. However, while the chili bombs were succuessful in one community, and the use of bright flashlights worked in another, no single tactic saw complete success. "So I thought, 'Let's work on the senses, the eyes, the ears and the nose, the smell,'" Bell said of developing a four-step system. 4-pronged approach In order to attack four of the animals' senses, while also escalating each tactic in order to create a complete alarm system, Honeyguide trained villagers to use a multipronged approach. First the bright flashlight, which Bell said has a 60 percent success rate in turning the elephants around. A loud horn is used next to encourage the remaining 40 percent of elephants to move. If that still doesn't work, then the chili powder and firecracker condom "bombs" are thrown. Finally, in a few cases in which the elephant still has not budged, a Roman candle firework is thrown. Though the firework is very effective, it's expense and intensity make it the last effort to move the animals. "The Roman candle is something that is quite intense. It has lots of bangs, lots of flashes, lots of light. That Roman candle is 99.9 percent effective, and we've only used it nine times by June," Bell said, referring to the tactics used this crop season, from November to July. "So the chili bombs we've used a lot, the flashlights and horns uncountable times." Despite bad weather and low rainfall this growing season, Bell said farmers expect this to be their most successful harvest year, because they lost so little of their crops to wildlife. Conservationist Tim Davenport, who is not involved in the alarm-system project, said this particular technique is noteworthy in that it uses elephants' intelligence and trains them over time. "Elephants are pretty smart, and that's why this sort of tactic is an interesting one," Davenport, who is the country director for the Wildlife Conservation Society in Tanzania, told Live Science. "The real aim here is to almost sensitize the elephants not so much to the chili but to a flashlight first." In human-wildlife conflict management, Davenport said, it is as much about the animals' behavior as it is the humans'. As the elephants become conditioned to respond to the flashlight, because they learn that what comes after the light is worse, the villagers are also learning to relate to the elephants differently. As the villagers become more confident that they can move an elephant off their land in a non-harmful manner, Brown said they no longer see the need in killing in the animals. The project's collaborative effort with park rangers has also changed the communities' behavior toward rangers. "The community are now seeing the rangers as providing support and are in frequent communication with them," Brown said. "Meaning they are now more likely to provide information on any possible poaching activity." Original article on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. By Aaron Ross KINSHASA (Reuters) - Opponents of Congolese President Joseph Kabila went on strike on Tuesday to demand that he step down when his constitutional mandate expires in December. In the commercial centre of the capital Kinshasa, home to 12 million people, rush hour seemed lighter than usual. Many shops were shuttered in the city's surrounding districts, especially opposition strongholds such as Limete. Police fired teargas to disperse dozens of protesters from opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi's UDPS party, who threw stones and erected barricades near the party headquarters in Limete, a Reuters witness said. But the strike appeared to have significantly less uptake than one in February over the same issue. In the eastern city of Goma and southern mining hub of Lubumbashi, where foreign firms have big investments, residents said that activity largely carried on as usual. "I really regret seeing our Congolese brothers and sisters open their stores," said Samuel Kazadi, a motorbike taxi driver on Kinshasa's Avenue de Commerce, where several shops had their metal doors locked. But he added: "We are waiting for Dec. 19 ... Kabila won't stay in power. The population will be in the street every day." Elections were due to be held in November, before Kabila's mandate runs out on Dec. 19, but will be delayed as authorities enroll millions of new voters. Kabila's opponents accuse him of dragging his feet on holding the election in order to cling to power in Democratic Republic of Congo, a country that has not seen a peaceful change of government since independence from Belgium in 1960. Western powers are leaning on him to honour the constitution, which limits a president to two terms in office, and step down. They fear political tensions could reignite a regional war in the country's mineral-rich east that killed millions of people between 1996 and 2003. U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement that Washington was monitoring the situation and was concerned "the window to reach consensus on an electoral timeline and plan for transition is narrowing". Toner urged government and opposition leaders to try to advance a national political dialogue that began on Tuesday with Edem Kodjo, a Togolese diplomat and African Union-appointed facilitator, who is working with the parties on a timetable for the vote. The main opposition alliance, led by Etienne Tshisekedi, is boycotting the talks, which it sees as a delaying tactic. The talks, expected to last until Saturday, are only meant to set a schedule for further talks whose aim will eventually be to set an election timetable. In an olive branch to the opposition, the government agreed to free several democracy activists on Friday to try to ease tensions, but Tshisekedi called it insufficient. Some opposition leaders did show up for the opening session, including Tshisekedi's former chief of staff Albert Moleka and Jean-Lucien Bussa, president of the CDER party. "Our doors remain wide open. Today or tomorrow, they can join us at any time," Kodjo said in his opening remarks. Kabila took power when his father was assassinated in 2001, then won his first election in 2006. (Additional reporting by Amedee Mwarabu Kiboko and David Alexander; writing by Tim Cocks; editing by Alison Williams and G Crosse) National Constitution Center Supreme Court correspondent Lyle Denniston looks at a new equality pursuit that may wind up at the Supreme Court, involving due process and unmarried couples. THE STATEMENTS AT ISSUE: What is importantis that the balancing of the relevant public policy considerations is for the legislature, not the courts. Indeed, now that the centrality of the marriage has been recognized [by the Supreme Court] as a fundamental right for all, it is perhaps more imperative than before that we leave it to the legislative branch to determine whether and under what circumstances a change in the public policy governing the rights of parties in non-marital relationships is necessary.Since marriage is a legal relationship that all individuals may or may not enter into, Illinois does not act irrationally or discriminatorily in refusing to grant benefits and protections under [its marriage law] to those who do not participate in the institution of marriage. Excerpt from a 5-to-2 ruling by the Illinois Supreme Court on August 18, reaffirming a decision it had issued in 1979 that refused to allow an individual who had been in a lengthy, same-sex marriage-like relationship without being legally married to file a claim for equal ownership of the couples property when they split up. Lawyers for the former partner who lost the case are considering whether to challenge that decision in the U.S. Supreme Court under the federal Constitution. We hold that pre-marital co-habitation is a factor that a court may consider in divorce proceedings when determining whether to depart from the presumption [under New Hampshire law] that an equal division is an equitable distribution of [the couples] property.Although, until now, we have not expressly held that pre-marital co-habitation may be considered a factor under [state divorce law], we conclude that, by not taking this into account, the [lower] court did not exercise the full breadth of its discretion under the statute. Story continues Excerpt from a unanimous decision of the New Hampshire Supreme Court on August 19 in the case of a lesbian couple who had lived together and shared their property and obligations for 18 years before same-sex marriage was allowed. They did marry, but that ended in divorce after three years, and a lower court had ruled that the marriage was too short to allow an equal split of their property. The state Supreme Court ruling requires that their lengthy pre-martial relationship be added to the time that counted. The decision appears to conflict with the ruling noted above of Illinois highest court. WE CHECKED THE CONSTITUTION, AND Last year, the Supreme Court removed any lingering doubt that same-sex couples across America had an equal constitutional right to marry. That, however, was only the start of a continuing series of sequels about what else the Justices decision in Obergefell v. Hodges could lead to in family law. While resistance to the courts ruling has continued in various forms, many based upon objections to same-sex marriage because of religious beliefs, lawyers representing gays and lesbians have been attempting to gain new guarantees of equality for them. One of the more fascinating developments has been on the rights of unmarried couples. Before same-sex marriage became a firm constitutional right, many gay and lesbian couples had lived for years in committed relationships. For many of those couples, they chose to blend their lives fully, almost as if they were legally married: living together, becoming economically interdependent, raising children, adopting the same family name. They assumed that their ties were lasting, and sought to make their family lives stable. As recently as 2010, the Census Bureau found that there were about 646,000-plus same-sex households in the country, at a time when only a few states had legalized same-sex marriage. Of course, there were many more households of opposite-sex couples living in unmarried relationships, and melding their lives. If it were to turn out that unmarried co-habitation were a legal situation that actually conferred rights on the partners in such relationships, that would not be a gain solely for gays and lesbians. But the cultural reality is that such relationships do end, just as divorces end many marriages every year. And, the legal reality is that it is often the case that one does not fully realize what rights were built up during a relationship married or unmarried until it comes to an end. Some states had been reluctant, over many decades, to recognize common-law marriage as a valid legal status. Couples recognized as being in common law marriages are not married in the full legal sense, but acquire a status somewhat like that by continuing to remain together as if married. The state of Illinois continues to refuse to recognize such marriages, a policy on which its state Supreme Court recently relied in refusing to recognize equal rights to property when a same-sex couple broke up after a lengthy relationship. Gradually, some states began conferring legal rights on unmarried couples, as the cultural norms of the nation changed and such relationships lost some of their stigma. Into that process of change entered civil rights lawyers and family law specialists, seeking to expand the rights of unmarried couples while they remain together, and when they choose to split up. Such efforts are not always aimed at equalizing the rights to property that had been accumulated during such a relationship; that would depend upon the extent to which a given couple had decided to make themselves economically interdependent. Underlying those efforts was the perception that unmarried co-habitation was an entirely acceptable human condition, in moral and other dimensions, and thus should be recognized as eligible for some of the same state-conferred benefits that go with marriage. Predictably, the efforts have met resistance, on the premise that full legal recognition of non-marital ties would actually work to undermine the institution of marriage itself. That is a kind of zero sum argument that had long been used to counter the campaign to legalize same-sex marriage, but it was an argument that ultimately did not prevail. The continuing efforts to expand the rights that develop within an unmarried relationship are playing out largely in state courts, because of the primary role of state law in determining marriage and family relationships. But those efforts also implicate constitutional concepts of equality and due process, and those implications may at some point put this new equality pursuit before the Supreme Court. Legendary journalist Lyle Denniston is Constitution Dailys Supreme Court correspondent. Denniston has written for us as a contributor since June 2011. Denniston has covered the Supreme Court since 1958. His work also appears on lyldenlawnews.com. Recent Stories on Constitution Daily Constitution Check: Has the U.S. war against ISIS in Syria been illegal from the start? FEC may ask cat, teen to prove presidential qualifications On this day, the British set fire to Washington, D.C. James Brey/iStock Most renters have certainly heard of evictionthe dreaded process in which a landlord kicks out a tenant for not paying rent or some other major infraction. But what is a constructive eviction? Thats a whole different ballgame, where a landlord essentially evicts a tenant by not fixing an uninhabitable rental. And while constructive may sound like a positive word, its not. It means the landlord is failing to fulfill his legal duty. Constructive eviction is rare, but tenants who face this dire scenario should know their rights, and how to fight back. How constructive evictions work A common way landlords attempt to force out tenants would be by failing to provide heat in the winter, says Brooklyn Law School professor David Reiss. Other ways a landlord could run into constructive eviction territory include turning off the water supply or failing to clean up flaking lead paint or toxic mold. Constructive evictions are uncommon, because most landlords will usually help tenants with an issue. Or, if they are reluctant at first, theyll eventually reach a compromise with a tenant through the court system, says Boston attorney Robert Pellegrini. As such, tenants should attempt to work through any problems with the landlord first. That said, if a property owner wont budge and the living environment puts a renter in harms way, a tenant can pursue a constructive eviction claim. How to file a constructive eviction claim Unfortunately, tenants cant file a constructive eviction claim if their floors creak or if their walls are painted a hideous shade of avocado green. More minor conditions like peeling (nonlead) paint, stuck windows, and drafty doors would be weak bases for a claim, says Reiss. Pellegrini agrees, adding, The standards are very high for this, because youre basically asking the court to conclude that the landlord essentially evicted you when he hasnt. Story continues Here are five things a tenant must demonstrate to an attorney to prove a constructive eviction: Your landlord owed you (the tenant) a duty, such as providing heat in the winter or a residence free from toxic mold. The landlord neglected the duty. The apartment became uninhabitable as a result of the neglect. You gave the landlord notice of the neglect and time to take care of it. You left the apartment within a reasonable amount of time after the landlords failure to fix the issue. The tenant must give the landlord only one notice of any issues at hand. If youre talking about a toxic situation, you should ask once and seek immediate removal from the apartment, storage of your things, and an alternate place to live, says Pellegrini. To file a successful claim of constructive eviction, tenants should gather all evidence of the issue. Make sure to document everything, including photos, videos, statements from health inspectors, and all communication with the landlord regarding the issue. Its also important to note that you have to leave the premises in order to prove a constructive eviction. And while it may be possible to withhold rent after youve moved out, you may have to pay it later if you dont win your claim. If you do win, however, you will be able to terminate your lease and move on to more livable quarters. To weigh whether a construction eviction lawsuit is the right avenue for you, consult the housing courts in your area. You can also call the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developments Multifamily Housing Complaint Line toll-free at (800) MULTI-70. Watch: Is It Smarter to Rent or Buy? The post What Is a Constructive Eviction? A Rental Gone Very, Very Wrong appeared first on Real Estate News and Advice - realtor.com. Its prices dropped by 4.3%. It seems like the housing & utilities category is keeping Singapore's consumer price index below the surface water as the country hit its 21st consecutive dip in consumer price index for the month of July, registering a decline of 0.7% YoY. Prices declined by 0.3% from the previous month with the weak prices of housing & utilities as the main culprit. Based on the data produced by the Department of Statistics, consumer prices for housing & utilities category fell 4.3% YoY. According to MayBank Kim Eng, this could be brought about by persistently weak rental cost and imputed rentals on owner-occupied accommodation on the back of a continued soft property market. "Costs have been falling for 24 consecutive months and we expect costs to remain volatile going forward," Maybank Kim Eng said in a report. Private residential property prices, on the other hand, posed its tenth consecutive quarter of decline on a yearly basis, posing a dip of 2.9%. The rental division was still in the red, with prices sitting at -3.7% Maybank also noted that the drop in prices for the Accommodation sub-component of Housing & Utilities category was mainly due to the lower cost of Housing Maintenance and Repairs. "This was attributed to the lower cost of housing maintenance & repairs as the Service & Conservancy Charges (S&CC) rebates were disbursed to households in Apr, July and Oct last year. This year, the rebates are to be disbursed in May, Jul and Oct, which creates a base-effect and keep the sub-components volatile on YoY change basis," it said. Meanwhile, the Fuel and Utilities sub-component still bled red even with a slight ease. Its -8.9% drop is relatively better than its -9.4% drop the previous month. Maybank stressed that this is due to a higher tariff as a direct effect from higher global natural gas prices. Electricity tariffs were increased in 3Q 2016 by an average +9.2% vis-a-vis 2Q 2016 (2Q 2016: -9.3% QoQ), attributed to the rise in the cost of natural gas for electricity generation, which rose +26.0% compared to 2Q 2016 but this was partly offset by lower non-fuel costs." it said. More From Singapore Business Review Courteney Cox admits that she regrets having plastic surgery and has now adopted the motto just let it be. (Photo: Getty Images) Courteney Cox has had to endure aging in the most public way possible, starting on one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time, in front of millions of viewers, and then under a spotlight that followed her afterward. When Friends ended, you might have noticed some changes to her physical appearance changes she now regrets, according to an appearance on a new episode of Running Wild With Bear Grylls. During her Ireland adventure with Grylls, the actress admits to having cosmetic procedures she regrets in an effort to turn back the hands of time. I think theres a pressure to maintain [your looks], not just because of fame, but just, you know, being a woman in this business, Cox explains, according to USA Today. Getting older has not been I dont think its the easiest thing. She continues: Sometimes you find yourself trying, and then you look at a picture of yourself and go, Oh, God. Like, you look horrible. I have done things that I regret, and luckily theyre things that dissolve and go away. So, um, thats good, because its not always been my best look. Cox in 2007 and then in 2016, after having several cosmetic treatments. (Photo: Getty Images) Cox says she now has a healthy new motto, Just let it be. Karla Ivankovich, a counselor and adjunct professor of psychology at the University of Illinois, Springfield, says we live in a culture that is both judgmental and perfectionist for women in the public eye. This constant scrutiny trickles down from Hollywood to the masses, and women feel the need to search for the fountain of youth. Societys standards are unforgiving, Ivankovich tells Yahoo Beauty. Women are objectified and made to feel less if they dont meet the unrealistic expectations that society has placed on appearance. At some point, we all start believing beauty is defined by mass media. It feels completely out of a womans control. Story continues Ivankovich says she sees women struggle with their appearance at several key times, usually beginning in their early 30s and reemerging in their 40s. The 30s signifies a sudden loss of vitality for some, because 20s are so associated with youth and beauty, she explains. In the 40s, metabolism begins to change, and that often results in a change in appearance once again. Like Cox, Ivankovich says many women typically start considering cosmetic surgery and procedures to regain lost youth roughly somewhere in their late 30s or early 40s. I have seen lots of regret after procedures, rather than improvements, she explains. Oftentimes, though, if women wait on surgery, they begin to see the aging process as inevitable, and come to a realization that everyone is aging all the time. As time goes on, women usually grow comfortable in their skin and learn to enjoy life regardless. With patients, Ivankovich will ask them, If you were to die tomorrow, would the size of your waist, the shape of your breasts, or the wrinkles you have matter? The answer is usually no. As you get older, you have to start asking yourself what you want your legacy to be, she says. For most, its more important to be someone so engulfed in the enjoyment of life rather than someone in constant search of the fountain of youth. But that can be hard to remember in a world full of appearance-based pressures. If you realize you are hyperfocused on a perceived flaw a less-than-tiny waist, thighs that dont gap you may have body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). The hallmark of BDD is having a real or imagined flaw that becomes an obsession, Ivankovich explains. This person will usually try dramatic things to correct it, like plastic surgery or even compulsive exercise. Its truly an exaggerated perception that they will go to any length to fix. If you feel this way about your body or appearance, Ivankovich recommends talking to your doctor or a therapist. I would encourage people to sit down with a counselor or psychologist, and hash out their feelings and reasons for surgery before having it, she explains. For some, an enhancement could be an incredible self-esteem booster, but the individual really has to have a solid sense of self-esteem across the board. However, its important to remember that bodies change and feelings can pass; often an appearance-related worry will simply dissipate with time. So try to learn from Coxs lesson: Focus on the good in your life and just let it be. Lets keep in touch! Follow Yahoo Beauty on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. Correction appended: Aug. 24, 2016 Courteney Cox opened up about aging in Hollywood while on a rugged outdoor adventure. The actress was on a trek through Ireland while filming Running Wild with Bear Grylls in an episode that aired Monday when things got raw. I have done things that I regret, and luckily theyre things that dissolve and go away, so thats good, because thats not always been my best look, she said in reference to cosmetic procedures that shes undergone. Cox played Monica on the television series Friends from 1994 to 2004 and said she had trouble aging in Hollywood. Was there pressure to look a certain way, or not? Grylls asked. Just being a woman in this business getting older is not the easiest thing, she told the survivalist. But I have learned lessons. I think I was trying to keep up with being older. Correction: The original version of this article misspelled Courteney Coxs name. Two Vietnamese cousins have been convicted for spreading anti-state "propaganda", state media reported, a ruling condemned by rights groups as the authoritarian country's latest crackdown on dissent. Nguyen Huu Quoc Duy, 31 and his cousin Nguyen Huu Thien An, 21, were convicted of "propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam," at a closed one-day trial, state-run Vietnam News Agency (VNA) said late Tuesday. Duy was found guilty of sharing "dozens of articles with wrongful viewpoints... distorting the party and state policy" on his Facebook page, VNA reported, citing the verdict from the court in Vietnam's southern Khanh Hoa province. He was also accused of "requesting the elimination of the Communist Party leadership and state management", it added. An was convicted for "regularly logging onto reactionary web pages with information defaming the Socialist Republic of Vietnam", the report said. Duy was handed a three-year sentence, while An was given two years in jail. Their charges fall under the controversial Article 88 of Vietnam's criminal code, which rights groups say is vaguely worded and routinely used to silence critics of the regime. Human Rights Watch slammed the verdict and said the law allowed the government to "criminalise just about any comment that it wants to". "It's hard to find a violation of freedom of expression more blatant than this one, in which Vietnam authorities are sending these two men to prison just because they posted critical comments on Facebook," HRW's Asia deputy director Phil Robertson said in a statement. The United Nations' human rights body in Asia also expressed concern over the verdict and the use of Article 88 to "restrict peaceful exercise of fundamental rights." Communist Vietnam is regularly criticised for its intolerance of dissent and prosecution of regime critics. Lawyers, bloggers and activists are routinely subject to arbitrary arrests and detention in the country where private media banned and all newspapers and television channels are state-run. Jim Cramer is done worrying about a decline in retail. "I am a big believer in skepticism, but it is possible to be too skeptical. Time and time again we have seen investors write off the American consumer enough with the emotional rollercoaster," the " Mad Money " host said. Second-quarter earnings produced strong numbers for many brick-and-mortar companies, which led Cramer to believe that the consumer never went away in the first place. Shoppers just became pickier about where they shop. While some retailers like Macy's (NYSE: M) and Target (TGT) have work to do, Cramer interpreted the broad strength of the group in the past few weeks as a good sign for the entire stock market. He turned to Bob Lang to take a look at the retail charts to figure out where these stocks could be headed. Lang is the founder of ExplosiveOptions.net and a colleague of Cramer's for RealMoney.com. In Lang's perspective, the recent strength in retail suggests that the U.S. economy could be doing better than many think. The daily chart of the SPDR S&P Retail ETF (NYSE Arca: XRT), known as the XRT (NYSE Arca: XRT), encompasses the largest retail names in the sector. Lang noted that the ETF made a W-shaped bottom pattern in May and June, which gave it a springboard to launch the recent rally. In fact, the XRT displayed a textbook bullish pattern just two weeks ago when it made a golden cross. That is when the short-term 50-day moving average crosses above the long-term 200-day moving average. The retail ETF now trades within 10 percent of its all-time high last year. Cramer thinks it could be consolidating this week to get ready for the next leg of the rally. "While the S&P retail ETF is useful for taking the industry's temperature, regular viewers know that I am not a fan of sector-based ETFs," Cramer said. "I prefer to pick best-of-breed stocks, rather than owning everything in a group." Two individual stocks that Cramer likes are Nike (NKE) and Nordstrom (JWN). Story continues Nike was in the doghouse back in March and managed to turn things around when it reported a strong quarter in June. Lang found that the stock's recent move higher was on heavy volume, which suggested that big institutional money managers are once again buying it. He could easily see the stock headed to around $65. Lang then looked at the Nordstrom (JWN) daily chart, which also made a W-shaped bottom in the end of June, and has since been climbing higher. Nordstrom is now in the middle of a bullish pennant pattern, Lang said, where the stock creates a pattern that looks like a flagpole, and then trades sideways in a narrow range. This pattern suggested to Lang that Nordstrom is digesting recent gains and could take another leg higher. While the stock is facing resistance at $54, once it breaks out of that ceiling, Lang thinks it could move into the $70s. Even Gap (GPS), which has been in the house of pain for years, is showing bullish action. Still, even with the chart on fire, Lang expects that it could be tough for it to break through its resistance ceiling at $30. Ultimately Lang said the charts are showing that Nike and Nordstrom could have a lot more room to run. "You've got my blessing to buy both of them because they are terrific companies. But honestly, the fact that even a laggard like the Gap can be a winner in this market tells you everything you need to know about the rotation back into retail," Cramer said. Questions for Cramer? Call Cramer: 1-800-743-CNBC Want to take a deep dive into Cramer's world? Hit him up! Mad Money Twitter - Jim Cramer Twitter - Facebook - Instagram - Vine Questions, comments, suggestions for the "Mad Money" website? madcap@cnbc.com SAN DIEGO -- With a rotation featuring Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester it's easy for Kyle Hendricks to get overlooked. But not by Chicago Cubs manager Joe Madden. "Everybody talks about everybody else by Kyle leads the National League in ERA right now," Madden said. "If we would score him some runs, this guy would have a tremendous won-loss record. No one has pitched better than him. No one." It's the right-handed Hendricks (11-7, 2.16) on the hill for the Cubs against the San Diego Padres. The Cubs go for the three-game sweep before motoring north to play the Los Angeles Dodgers in what could be a playoff preview. Chicago will have to battle LA's mind-numbing traffic after the matinee, getaway game. But Madden is seldom stressed when Hendricks in on the mound. He's allowed three or fewer runs in 16 straight starts, the longest streak this year in the majors. And since June 19, Hendricks is 7-1 with a nifty 1.24 ERA. "He has command of his pitches, he's added a few wrinkles and his confidence could not be higher," Madden said. "Impossible." While the Cubs have the NL ERA leader in Hendricks the Padres counter with Paul Clemens (2-2, 4.82). Clemens will attempt to navigate the potent Cubs lineup by leaning on his curveball and hoping he can pinpoint his fastball. The right-handed Clemens needs to trust his offspeed offering, according to Padres manager Andy Green. "We want him to rip the curve ball off a little bit more," Green said. "When you look at the velo on his curve, when it is effective, it is upper 70s. "Early in his last number of starts he is flipping it in there at 70, 71, and it just doesn't have the aggression, doesn't have the bite to get the swings and misses it can get." Clemens, who was claimed off waivers on July 1, didn't figure in the Padres win in his last outing. He worked five innings and allowed three runs on eight hits and three walks against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Story continues Green said Clemens is also tinkering with his fastball. "Just continuing to refine his fastball command; that is something that is going to be a journey for him his entire career," Green said. "He's not the only pitcher to have that." Instead Clemens' money pitch is his curveball but he has to throw it with conviction. "If he rips it off more effectively he is going to have the opportunity to use it more," Green said. "If he kind of flips it up there he doesn't have quite the command of it." Green compared Clemens to the lefty Drew Pomeranz, the Padres' All-Star this summer before he was peddled to the Boston Red Sox. "That was one of the things Pomeranz was able to do," Green said. "If he wanted it in the strikes zone he put it there. If he didn't want it in the strikes zone, he would put it there. That is the next step of the curveball development for Paul." ZDIKOV, Czech Republic (Reuters) - Frantisek Hadrava thought driving to work for 14 minutes was too much, so he built an plane to cut the commute by half. Hadrava, a 45-year old locksmith from the south-western Czech village of Zdikov, took about two years of his spare time to built his Vampira, an ultralight plane based on the U.S.-design of light planes called Mini-Max. The plane has an open cockpit, propeller powered by a 3-cylinder engine made by Czech firm Verner, and maximum speed of 146 km (91 miles) an hour. It cost about 3,700 euros ($4,200) to build, Hadrava said. Early on Wednesday morning, Hadrava flew his usual path through the forested, hilly foothills of the Sumava mountains for his 6 a.m. shift at Drevostroj, a small factory in the town of Ckyne making machine tools for the forestry industry. He lands on a meadow across the road from the factory. He then needs to push the plane across the road, leading to the German border, to a parking lot outside the factory. "It takes me about 12-14 minutes by car," Hadrava said. "By plane, it would take around 4-5 minutes if I flew directly, but I take a bit of a detour so that I dont disturb people early in the morning. So it takes about 7 minutes." Hadrava has also build a replica of the German World War One triplane Fokker Dr. I, and his next plan is to construct another historical plane, the French Deperdussin. (Reporting by Jiri Skacel; Writing by Jan Lopatka Editing by Jeremy Gaunt) Prague (AFP) - Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said Tuesday he does not want a "large Muslim community" and that each EU member should be able to choose how many migrants to accept. "We don't have a large Muslim community here," Sobotka said of the estimated 10,000 to 20,000 Muslims who live in the Central European country of 10.5 million people. "And to be honest, we don't want a large Muslim community to form here, given the problems we're seeing," Sobotka told the Pravo daily. Sobotka spoke ahead of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's visit to Prague on Thursday, saying their "views diverge" on how to solve Europe's migrant crisis. Merkel has urged countries to take in a greater share of refugees, while the Czech Republic staunchly opposes the contested EU quota system devised to distribute refugees across the bloc. "I've been convinced since the start of the migration debate that the member states need to have sovereignty regarding the choice of the number of refugees (to welcome)," Sobotka said. "It's the national governments that ultimately have to ensure people's security." The leftist premier however cautioned against casting refugees as terrorists. "It's not possible to put an equal sign between refugees and terrorists. But at the same time, it's not possible to have the same approach as Germany last year, namely to authorise the influx of a huge number of people without any oversight," he said. Merkel will also on Thursday meet with Czech President Milos Zeman, who earlier this month said he opposed taking in any migrants at all. He recently described Merkel's migration policy -- which saw Germany take in 1.1 million migrants and refugees last year -- as "absurd". Damascus (AFP) - Syria condemned Wednesday's Turkish incursion into an Islamic State group-held border area as a "flagrant violation" of its sovereignty as Kurdish authorities said the action amounted to a "declaration of war". The foreign ministry in Damascus said it "condemns the crossing of the Turkey-Syria border by Turkish tanks and armoured vehicles towards the Jarabulus area with air cover from the US-led coalition and considers it a flagrant violation of Syrian sovereignty". The Syrian opposition in exile, however, welcomed the intervention. The operation -- named "Euphrates Shield" -- began around 4:00 am (0100 GMT) with Turkish artillery pounding dozens of targets of the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group around Jarabulus, the Turkish prime minister's office said. Turkish tanks and special forces accompanied by pro-Ankara Syrian rebels then rolled across the border in an unprecedented operation to drive IS out of Jarabulus, from which it has fired rockets into Turkey. "Syria demands the end of this aggression," the foreign ministry said. "Any party conducting a battle against terrorism on Syrian soil must do so in coordination with the Syrian government and the Syrian army who have been fighting this war for five years. "Chasing out IS and replacing them with terrorist groups backed by Turkey is not fighting terrorism." Turkish state media later reported that pro-Ankara Syrian rebels had reached the edge of central Jarabulus as part of the Turkey-led operation. The semi-autonomous Kurdish administration, which controls much of the border regions in north and northeast Syria, angrily branded Turkey's intervention a "declaration of war". "The Turkish government has abandoned its policy regarding the (Syrian) regime and now finds itself on the same side," it said in a statement. The Istanbul-based opposition National Coalition, however, hailed the Turkish intervention and stressed that rebel forces were doing the fighting on the ground. Story continues It issued a statement welcoming "the support of Turkey and the international coalition for the military operation in Jarabulus", in which "the rebels are carrying out the combat operations". Turkey's incursion is its first into Syria since February 2015, when hundreds of Turkish troops crossed the border to move the relics of the grandfather of the founder of the Ottoman Empire. In Ankara on Wednesday, visiting US Vice President Joe Biden said Washington had made it clear that Kurdish-led forces in Syria must not deploy west of the Euphrates River. "We have made it absolutely clear... that they must go back across the river," Biden said at a news conference with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. "They cannot, will not and under no circumstances (will) get American support if they do not keep that commitment. Period." Turkey fears that Syrian Kurds may have designs on Jarabulus after seizing the strategic Manbij area in northern Syria from IS. Turkey sees the Syrian Democratic Forces (PYD) and its armed wing YPG as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) which has waged a bloody campaign against the Turkish state. Danny Trejo may play one badass after another on screen, but it is all clean living in real life thanks to a promise he made 48 years ago Tuesday. "Everybody asks me, 'How do you stay so young?' I consider myself 48 years old. That's when my life started," the 72-year-old actor tells Heat Vision. Trejo, who has appeared in dozens and dozens of films, including Heat, Con Air, Desperado, From Dusk Till Dawn, Reindeer Games and Machete, got his break as an actor playing a boxer in the 1985 film Runaway Train. His decision to live sober occurred years prior. An admitted hell-raiser in his youth, Trejo says while he was incarcerated, he and a group of others were accused of starting a massive prison riot. Guards were hurt. That was May 5, 1968. "We went to the hole and were facing the gas chamber," Trejo says solemnly. "And I remember asking God, 'Let me die with dignity. Just let me say goodbye. And if you do, I will say your name every day, and I will do whatever I can for my fellow man.'" Trejo did not get the gas chamber. In fact, he was released from prison the following year, on Aug. 3 1969. With God fulfilling that end of their agreement, it was time for Trejo to live up to his side, he says. "I have been keeping that promise," Trejo says. Since that time, the actor has been giving back by living clean and sober and trying to instill values into wayward youth. Becoming a movie star was a happy accident, Trejo insists. And that mind-set is how he has been able to remain sober and grounded. "I don't think I am a big Hollywood star," he says. "I won't let myself. I can't, because I've seen too many actors with the feeling of entitlement, and I want to slap the shit out of them." However, being a household name and recognizable face has allowed Trejo to do an enormous amount of good, he says. "I help at-risk kids. I go to high schools. I do whatever I can," he says. "That's what I do. In many ways, that is my job. I am still a drug counselor." He adds, "I will get their attention before you or a doctor or a nurse or a plumber or anybody. It helps me with what I love doing." Story continues Today marks the 48th year of my sobriety. If i can do it so can you! pic.twitter.com/cuVNZdkQ0J - Danny Trejo (@officialDannyT) August 23, 2016 The United States capital of Washington, D.C., burned 202 years ago today, but it may have been an act of nature that forced the British from the besieged city. The story of the brief British occupation of an undefended Washington, D.C., in 1814 is well-known. During the War of 1812, the British were urged to attack something in the former colonies after American troops attacked Canada and burned some government buildings. Washington was picked as the target because of its symbolic importance, its easy access from the sea, and the inability of American troops to defend it. President James Madison and his wife, Dolley, were aware of the threat, and they made prearranged plans to escape the city if the British attacked. On August 24, 1814, troops from both armies met outside of Washington, and the British Army easily defeated an inexperienced volunteer American force. President Madison and Secretary of State James Monroe were nearly captured. As the British troops moved onward, Dolley Madison gathered belongings from the White House, including a copy of the iconic Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington, and she fled to safety along with others. The British troops set fire to the Capitol, the White House and other government buildings that day. They also took time to finish off a meal at the White House before torching the building. On the next morning, the British invaders sought out ammunition and other supplies to burn. The decision had been made to leave Washington soon, especially after an accident the previous night had led to the death of 30 British soldiers who were seeking out a gunpowder supply. There were also rumors that the Americans had amassed a much larger militia and were returning to confront the British forces. Then an act of nature became involved: There is anecdotal evidence of a tornado, which apparently touched down in the middle of the city on August 25, 1814, from the National Weather Service. In the early afternoon, a strong tornado struck northwest Washington and downtown, says the NWS. The tornado did major structural damage to the residential section of the city. More British soldiers were killed by the tornados flying debris than by the guns of the American resistance. Story continues George Robert Gleig, a British soldier on the scene, detailed the scene in his memoirs as the severe thunderstorm rolled into the city in the afternoon. Of the prodigious force of the wind it is impossible for you to form any conception. Roofs of houses were torn off by it, and whisked into the air like sheets of paper, while the rain which accompanied it resembled the rushing of a mighty cataract rather than the dropping of a shower, Gleig wrote. He said the incident produced the most appalling effect I had ever, or probably shall ever witness. The severe weather lasted for two hours, he said, dumping torrential rain on the city. At least two British troops were killed, and Gleig was knocked off his horse. He also said two cannons were picked up in the air and tossed around during the most violent part of the storm. According to other accounts, part of the storm seemed tornado-like. The winds tore the roofs off the General Post Office and Patent Office buildings, and trees were uprooted. Michael Shiner, who was then a young slave in Washington, recounted the storm in memoirs published after he had gained his freedom. Shiner said that during the event, houses were picked up by the winds and landed on their foundations. Gleig recalled that as the rains doused the fires set by the British, they were able to use the confusion caused by the storm to cover their quick withdrawal from Washington that night. In the storms aftermath and subsequent British departure, Madison and the American forces returned to Washington to see the destruction. The White House and Capitol were rebuilt, and Thomas Jefferson donated his book collection to restock the Library of Congress. On September 1, Madison said in a proclamation that the attack showed a deliberate disregard of the principles of humanity and the rules of civilized warfare, and which must give to the existing war a character of extended devastation and barbarism. He also noted that the invasion happened at the same time the British invited the Americans to start peace talks. Two weeks later, the British failed to invade Baltimore in a similar attack that is best remembered today for its connection to the nations anthem, The Star Spangled Banner. Major General Robert Ross, who led the British attack on Washington, was killed by American snipers in Baltimore as the battle again. History 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 From Seventeen Are you all caught up on the apocalyptic events that went down between Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez on Instagram over the past 24 hours? No? Well, here is the bullet-points version. 1) Justin threatened to go private on Insta over hate flung at his new bae, Sofia Richie. 2) Fans freaked out. 3) Selena stepped in, telling him not to post pictures with Sofia if he can't handle the hate and to appreciate his fans more. 4) Justin responded, accusing her of using him for attention. 5) Selena reportedly clapped right back, accusing him of cheating and not appreciating his supporters enough. While all of this was going down, Twitter threw a #SelenaEndedJustinParty on Twitter, joyously celebrating Justin's downfall, and all of this kind of has me scratching my head wondering what the heck Justin Bieber did wrong in this situation. Don't get me wrong - this isn't an essay about how Justin is a great guy and doesn't deserve to be criticized. Based on what we know of Jelena's relationship, Justin wasn't a great boyfriend. And if his hit single "Sorry" is anything to go by, he'd probably admit that. Plus, Justin's rocky past, including run-ins with the law, erratic behavior, and refusing to take pics with his fans, makes it easy to imagine him as the bad guy in this situation. Based on what we know of Jelena's relationship, Justin wasn't a great boyfriend. And if his hit single "Sorry" is anything to go by, he'd probably admit that. But does standing up for Sofia really make him a villain? Isn't Justin allowed to have his honeymoon phase with a new girlfriend/friend/fling/bae/whatever Sofia is to him? Celeb couples post pictures together all the time. These days, it feels like not a day goes by when Chloe Moretz and Brooklyn Beckham don't share a new hopelessly adorable picture together. And even Selena posted a ton of pictures with Zedd when they were a thing last year. That's what two people do when they're exploring the beginning of a relationship - post pics together. Story continues Even if the scandal is really about Justin's shade toward his fans, he isn't the first celebrity to threaten to quit Instagram and he won't be the last. Demi Lovato quit Twitter and Instagram back in June and came back a day later. Even Selena threatened to quit Instagram earlier this year when fans created unnecessary drama over a joke she made about having a bad boyfriend. She didn't quit, though. She was just responding in the heat of the moment. Posturing, if you will. And the same can be said for Justin. While I can't say with certainty that Justin actually appreciates his fans or not, Justin's threat to quit Instagram in defense of someone he cares about shouldn't be damning in the eyes of Beliebers or Selenators. If anything, isn't it something you'd encourage him to do for a prospective girlfriend - a sign he's possibly turning a new leaf? Of course, Justin's jab that Selena needed him for attention is laughable. She had a successful career before Jelena was a thing and will continue to slay long after Jelena is forgotten. Yes, she's written songs about him in the past that have garnered a ton of media attention ("The Heart Wants What It Wants", "Same Old Love"), but the same can be said for him ("Sorry", "Where Are U Now?"). Sure, it's pretty likely that Selena doesn't like seeing pictures of Sofia Richie plastered all over her ex's timeline, and who can blame her? No girl wants to see their ex bae'd up and happy with a new girl, especially when that ex never treated you right. But responding to the situation publicly and cosigning fans' belief that Justin doesn't appreciate them wasn't necessarily fair to him, especially considering she could have DM'ed him privately. It's not hard to understand why Justin lashed out with a response that wasn't fair to Selena. And it's easy to get why Selena got the last word, dragging Justin's indiscretions in their relationship into the drama (if that last comment is real). Jelena's endless relationship roller coaster - from trying to be supportive exes one day to taking jabs at one another the next - is probably the most relatable thing about them. They were each other's first loves, which explains why cutting each other out of their respective lives completely has been challenging. And I guess that's the thing about Justin and Selena - at the end of the day, these two still care about each other deeply, for better or for worse. That's the thing about Justin and Selena - at the end of the day, these two still care about each other deeply, for better or for worse. But in the end, Justin shouldn't be made out to be a bad guy for liking someone new and treating her well - it's what we all wanted for Selena, and what we should all want for Sofia, too. You don't have to love Justin Bieber. You don't have to forgive him for how he treated Selena when they dated. You can even be skeptical about whether or not he's actually changed his ways - he's certainly done a lot in the past to warrant some skepticism. But don't vilify him when he treats the new girl he's dating with respect. It's not fair. Sometimes good relationships just don't work out. It's easier to make sense of the confusion when you have someone to blame. But nothing about this is easy. Sometimes, nobody is the bad guy. By Suzanne Barlyn DOVER, Delaware, (Reuters) - In 2009, a global coalition was pressing governments to lift the veil on corporate secrecy. Its members U.S. President Barack Obamas administration, influential senators, international law enforcement agencies, anti-corruption activists and major American allies -- presented a formidable front in their campaign against money laundering and tax evasion. The United States, championing the cause abroad, was also pursuing legislation for stronger disclosure rules at home. Then along came Jeffrey Bullock, the newly appointed secretary of state for Delaware. His tiny East Coast state was in crisis, heading toward an $800 million budget deficit. Delawares second-biggest biggest source of revenue was fees from few-questions-asked company registrations and other corporate services. That cash cow was in danger. A proposed U.S. law would have required states to track the true owners of the companies they register. The global pushback against shell companies was threatening to dim Delawares longstanding appeal as a secretive corporate domicile. Seven years later, the proposed law continues to languish, thanks in part to Bullock. He was neither the first nor the only official to take up the fight, but became a leader in defending the status quo as worldwide support for change gained traction. Its as easy as ever to register a company in Delaware with scant disclosure of the real owner, making the state a magnet for anonymous shell companies that law enforcement says can be used to avoid taxes, launder money from drug-trafficking or conceal terrorist financing. Were viewed as hypocrites, said Carl Levin, the now-retired Michigan senator who sponsored the legislation and an advocate of corporate transparency in his 36 years on Capitol Hill. We go after tax havens and people who launder money but then we become a haven. His bill received fresh support this month, in a letter from a coalition of the worlds largest banks to U.S. lawmakers. The legislations prospects remain unclear. Delaware, meanwhile, is doing much better. Since Bullock started his job, the number of companies registered in Delaware has jumped 34 percent, to 1,181,000 as of last year. Revenue from the states corporations unit surpassed the $1 billion mark for the first time in 2015. In 2010, the state budget deficit was $800 million; as of this July, it was zero. Rising fee income from registrations, which surged during Bullocks tenure, helped plug the gap. Even before Bullock was appointed, officials from several states were working to address the growing sentiment against corporate secrecy. And Delaware took some steps to curb secrecy, such as tightening oversight of registered agents, third parties who act on behalf of companies. But Bullock helped outmaneuver foes of the status quo by tapping his political connections, drumming up support among other states and hiring a Washington lobbying firm. In an interview, Bullock said corporate secrecy in the United States is a problem and that law enforcement needs tools to uncover the identities of company owners. He opposed past efforts to deal with the problem, he said, because they would have placed undue burdens on individual states. The federal government, not states, should be responsible for making the system more transparent, he said. THE COST OF OPACITY Leaving states to collect ownership information, Bullock said, could leave weak links in the system by creating a patchwork of different approaches and financial resources for collecting those details. And criminals can find the weakest link, he said. The vast majority of Delaware-registered companies are legitimate enterprises. More than 50 percent of all U.S. publicly traded companies and 66 percent of the Fortune 500 call Delaware home, according to the Delaware Division of Corporations. Still, the opacity championed by Delaware and other states has allowed some notorious criminals to carry out their deeds and hide ill-gotten gains. Lobbyist Jack Abramoff laundered money defrauded from clients through a Delaware shell company run by a lifeguard out of a beach house. Mexico cartel kingpin Joaquin El Chapo Guzman allegedly used a Delaware-based tequila business to launder drug money. Former Zambia strongman Frederick Chiluba siphoned off millions from state coffers into Delaware shell companies. The list goes on. Bullocks reach extends into the offices of his counterparts in other states who, at Delawares direction, lobby their U.S. representatives to fight transparency, said Heather Lowe, director of government affairs at Global Financial Integrity, an anti-corruption advocacy group in Washington, D.C. Bullocks influence is astoundingly frustrating, Lowe said. Its impossible for authorities to determine exactly how much dirty money is tucked away in havens. Based on an analysis of International Monetary Fund data, Global Financial Integrity says that roughly $1.1 trillion in illicit funds were transferred out of developing countries in 2013. WHERE COMPANIES WANT TO BE Corporate America has long favored Delaware as a domicile because of statutes that give directors broad discretion in how they run companies, a dedicated court for corporate disputes that dates to 1792, and a business-friendly legislature. Delaware was the first state to let stockholders limit the liability of corporate directors. Delaware is also one of the worlds easiest places to set up a company. The state charges as little as $90 to register a limited liability corporation, or LLC. All thats needed is the name of a registered agent, which can be bought from an outside company for $50. Approximately 200 agents represent Delawares 1.2 million companies. Form Your Delaware Company in Just Minutes, touts the website for one of them, Harvard Business Services Inc. When law enforcement officials, or anyone else, search Delawares corporate registry online to see who owns a company, all they get is the name and address of the agent. The true owner, also known as the beneficial owner, doesnt have to be disclosed. The Corporations Division of Delawares Department of State comprises a warren of cubicles in the basement of a government building in Dover, the state capital. The divisions 111 employees man two shifts, working until midnight to accommodate urgent corporate filings. For $1,000, the office will vet a corporate registration application in an hour, taking requests as late as 9 p.m. Bullock was raised in Claymont, a steel town whose fortunes fell with the collapse of the U.S. steel industry. He came up in local politics, landing a gig as chief of staff to then-Governor Tom Carper in the 1990s. Delawares current governor, Jack Markell, appointed Bullock secretary of state in 2009. It was a bleak time for Delaware, in the wake of the global financial crisis. By 2010, the states budget was deep in the red. State leaders were wrestling with the equally unappealing prospects of deep spending cuts and steep tax hikes. Worse, Delawares corporate registry franchise, its biggest revenue driver after personal income tax, was in jeopardy. AMERICA THE OUTLIER In 2006, the Financial Action Task Force, or FATF, a group of some three dozen nations formed to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, noted significant shortcomings in the United States. The group declared Washington non-compliant in four of 40 categories for anti-money-laundering compliance. Among the failures: Authorities could not obtain timely information about a companys real owners, FATF said. The task force demanded that the United States fix the problem. For Washington, which was pressing allies to crack down on terror financing, it was an embarrassing critique. The same year, the U.S. Government Accountability Office, Congresss auditing arm, concluded that federal law made it too easy for individuals to anonymously form companies. Delaware was a favored destination for such companies, the report said. As anti-secrecy momentum built, Senator Levin and then-Senator Barack Obama joined forces with Senator Norm Coleman of Minnesota to make it tougher to register new companies without identifying the owners. They issued a bill in 2008 that would pare back secrecy laws in Delaware and other states by forcing them to collect information about the true owners of companies, thereby making the facts more accessible to law enforcement. In 2009, the Department of Justice, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Manhattan District Attorneys office each testified to a Senate committee that corporate secrecy was a growing problem and impeding law enforcement. CHAMPIONING THE CAUSE By then, Bullock had been appointed secretary of state. Trim and friendly, he became a popular figure, tasked with praising the states founders in speeches on Delaware Day and flanking the governor at bill-signing ceremonies. He pursued a weightier agenda behind the scenes. By May 2009, he had hired Washington lobbying firm Peck Madigan Jones to sway lawmakers and administration officials against Levins bill. One of the partners, Jonathon Jones, had served as Governor Carpers chief of staff after Bullock. Bullock is the only secretary of state in the country with a taxpayer-funded lobbying firm, according to lobbying disclosures. Bullock said the firms main role was to lobby on the Dodd-Frank financial regulatory reforms. Peck Madigan didnt return calls seeking comment. Bullock then hit back against FATF, the multinational group that had slammed Delaware as a secrecy haven. He co-wrote a Sept. 16, 2011, letter to FATF on behalf of the National Association of Secretaries of State in which he called the groups recommendations impractical, warning it not to meddle with the core principle of Constitutional state sovereignty. Such letters from association leaders are not unusual, a NASS spokesperson said. Meanwhile, Levin made a tactical misstep. He introduced his bill in the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, where an influential member was Delaware Senator Tom Carper - Bullocks old chum and former boss. The bill was the subject of two hearings in 2009, tying it up for six months. Carper testified against it, saying states shouldnt be burdened with more work. I have long believed it should be easier for law enforcement to access identity information about criminals who manipulate our corporate laws, Carper said in a statement to Reuters. But new rules to ease access should preserve a nurturing business environment, he said. STUCK IN THE SENATE Levin reintroduced a more detailed bill in late 2011 with ramped-up identification checks. The Treasury endorsed it. This time, according to a former congressional staffer, Carper pressed Senator Joe Lieberman, the committee chairman, to let the bill languish. When the bill was scheduled for a markup, the final step before going to the full Senate for debate and a possible vote, it never came to pass, the staffer said. Lieberman, in an email, said Carper and other committee senators voiced concerns about the bill. It was my impression that they were hearing from their states secretaries, Lieberman said. Lieberman said he asked the senators to compromise. They tried but were never able to find the sweet spot of an agreement. And thats where it ended, said Lieberman, now a lawyer in private practice. In June 2013, pressure rose on Washington to act. The Group of Eight industrialized nations issued a declaration demanding that members curtail anonymous shell companies. The plan called for creating ownership registries to aid authorities. That month, President Obama issued a national plan to address the G8 concerns, including a call for the Treasury Department and other agencies to back measures against anonymous shells. Levin retooled his bill yet again in August 2013. It had yet to make it to the Senate floor for debate, five years after it was introduced. This time, he crafted it for consideration by the Senate Judiciary Committee, hoping for a better reception. By then, NASS, where Bullock had become a dominant voice, was pushing a counterproposal. It advocated addressing the issue by relying on information the Internal Revenue Service collects from companies. That wouldnt work, critics said. The IRS has long restricted the information it gives law enforcement, they said. Further, the IRS requires only that companies register responsible parties, a term that could include anyone -- even a lawyer duty-bound to hide the real owners identity. It was a cover to oppose a bill thats presumably aimed at the true owners of corporations, Levin told Reuters. Its a dodge. AGENTS FOR CHANGE NASS spokeswoman Kay Stimson said the IRS collects the same kind of information described in the Levin bill. Law enforcement officials, she said, have told NASS that the IRS data is sufficient. In 2013, two retired FBI special agents took up the cause against secrecy, serving as unofficial spokespeople for active agents. Dennis Lormel and Theodore Greenberg, with decades of experience working anti-money laundering cases between them, visited Bullock in his offices in mid-2013. Too often, they told Bullock, the FBIs trail went cold at the addresses of Delaware incorporation agents. Sometimes that happened when foreign law enforcement agencies sought FBI assistance chasing the money trail of a suspected criminal. Such cases, they said, frayed relations with foreign agencies, which were expected to cough up the goods whenever the FBI was hunting terrorist cash flow. The two agents walked Bullock through a form and protocols used by banks in Switzerland, long one of the worlds most secretive financial hubs. If Delaware could simply meet the same minimal transparency standards as the Swiss, everyone would be happy. Bullock told them Delaware would not tighten requirements because companies would flee to other states with lax laws, according to the agents. Bullock told them the resulting blow to the state treasury could harm his chances of winning higher office, the agents said. I was pleasantly surprised that he was at least being honest, Lormel said. Bullock said he didnt recall all the details of his meeting with the former FBI agents. He said he does not have future political aspirations. The anonymity that is possible when using shell companies can lead to difficulties in federal investigations, an FBI spokeswoman said. She declined to comment on the legislation. AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN That July, NASS held its annual convention in Anchorage, Alaska. A report about shell companies, prepared in part by Bullocks office, was circulated among the groups shell company task force. It discussed, among other things, IRS changes that could simplify collecting ownership details. Afterward, other secretaries of state, including Vermonts James Condos, entered the fray. Condos was a critical link to Senator Patrick Leahy, Democrat of Vermont, then chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, where Levins bill would soon be pending. Levins bill would leave companies, especially small businesses, with additional costly and confusing layers of bureaucratic red tape, Condos wrote in an Aug. 8, 2013, letter to Leahy, days after returning from Anchorage. The bill never left the Judiciary Committee. Condos said that Bullock did not encourage him to write to Leahy. Bullock and NASS say he didnt play the lead in rallying opposition to Levins bill. The cause had been taken up much earlier by officials in other states, he said, and by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Bar Association. NASS says secretaries of state have unanimously opposed Levins legislation from the start. This issue was already hot and heavy when I entered the scene, he said. By 2014, some Delawareans were growing concerned about the states reputation as a secrecy haven. A group of state legislators began circulating a draft public letter opposing Bullock and supporting Levins bill. REBELLION AT HOME Bullock tried to quash the letter before it went public. I am writing to urge you to not sign on, he wrote in an email to state Representative Paul Baumbach on July 10, 2014. To support this kind of legislation sends the wrong message to the 1,050,000 legal entities incorporated in Delaware, he said. Baumbach signed anyway. He said he has stopped following the issue. Bullock told Reuters that he emailed the lawmakers out of concern that the registration business would simply move to other states if Delaware changed policies unilaterally. Thirty-one of Delawares 62 elected state legislators signed the letter opposing Bullock and supporting Levins bill. Taking action will help ensure that individuals cannot use our states incorporation laws for illicit purposes, the legislators wrote. The resistance failed. In March 2014, a senior U.S. Treasury official told Lormel, the former FBI agent, that the Obama administration was conceding defeat. There was too much opposition to the bill. A month later, an item on the White House blog reported Obamas support for the alternative proposal centering on IRS data. Asked about the change of tack, a senior administration official said: The Obama administration wants to work with Congress to pass meaningful legislation that would require companies to know and report accurate beneficial ownership information at the time of a companys creation, so that the information can be made available to law enforcement. Lormel, the former FBI agent, said the IRS approach may yield some useful information for law enforcement, but noted that identities of real owners might still be missing. LEVIN AND LIMBO Levin retired in 2014. Other legislators took up his cause. Similar bills have struggled to gain traction. In May, the U.S. Treasury unveiled a new rule that, starting in 2018, will require banks to more thoroughly vet the real owners of potential corporate customers. Levin says the Treasurys definition of beneficial owner is loose and allows the reporting of managers instead of actual owners. On July 14, Delawares Senator Carper introduced yet another alternative - a bill that would codify the IRS approach supported by Bullock. This legislation, crafted by Bullocks office and Delawares senators, would require every U.S. company to get an IRS identification number. Companies would provide responsible party information to the IRS that law enforcement officers could use in money-laundering and terrorism cases, according to the bill. The bill also outlines a new process for federal law enforcement to obtain that information from the IRS, a step that has required a court order and often led to dead ends. Proponents of transparency think it falls short. These are half-measures that largely serve to deflect political opposition rather than tackle the problem, said Mark Hays, a senior adviser at Global Witness, an anti-corruption group. Two days after Carper introduced the bill, Bullock unveiled it at a NASS conference in Nashville, Tennessee. He suggested the bill would help cast secretaries of state in a more positive light after years of fighting the Levin bill. I know how people portray us, Bullock told the conclave. I dont want to be against things, I want to be for things. (Additional reporting by Francisco Vara-Orta in Columbia, Missouri. Edited by Charles Levinson and John Blanton.) NEWS BRIEF In 1991, Enrique Pena Nieto was not yet the president of Mexico. He was a student with a 200-page undergraduate law thesis to turn inone he is now accused of plagiarizing. One of Mexicos top investigative journalists, Carmen Aristegui, published an article Sunday that says Pena Nieto lifted nearly one-third of his thesis. A group of academics reviewed all 682 paragraphs of the piece, titled Mexican Presidentialism and Alvaro Obregon, and found Pena Nieto plagiarized 197 paragraphs from 10 authors, and incorrectly cited them in 57 more. In 20 of these instances, he lifted sentences word-for-word, including from a book written by a former president. Here are examples, which Aristegui provided in her article. For his 1991 thesis, Pena Nieto wrote: For a book published in 1977, former Mexican President Miguel de la Madrid wrote: Even if you dont read Spanish, you can at least see all the words are the same. Aristeguis report comes at a time when the Mexican public is calling for a corruption investigation of the president, and when murders are rising in the country for the first time since he took office in 2012. Recommended: From Whitewater to Benghazi: A Clinton-Scandal Primer Pena Nieto has already faced media ridicule for not being the countrys smartest president; during his presidential campaign in 2011, he failed to name a single book that had influenced his life, except the Bible. The moment was especially notable because it happened while he gave a speech at an international book festival. He then confused the name of two authors, one of whom was well-known historian Enrique Krauzean author Pena Nieto is now accused of plagiarizing. Aristegui was one of the countrys most famous radio personalities until she lost her job last year after publishing a critical investigation on Pena Nieto and his wife. At the time, Aristegui worked at a popular Mexico City radio station, where she and a team of reporters uncovered the story of a mansion built for Pena Nietos wife by a company that received hundreds of millions of dollars in government contracts. The report implied a conflict of interest at best, and outright corruption at worst. Aristegui lost her job soon after the news broke, which raised suspicion that shed been fired because of pressure from the Mexican government. But the radio station said it dismissed her because of her connection to a site called Mexicoleaks, a platform that allows people to submit complaints of government corruption that journalists could potentially investigate. Story continues Since then, Aristegui has published some of her work on her own website, where the article accusing Pena Nieto of plagiarism appears. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. Disney Channel has greenlit a supernatural comedy pilot starring the boy band Forever In Your Mind, Variety has learned exclusively. The pilot, titled Forever Boys, will star the three members of the Hollywood Records band, Ricky Garcia, Emery Kelly and Liam Attridge. The potential series follows three brothers, played by the band, who were bitten by a vampire during their debut concert in 1957. After living in the shadows for over half a century to keep their vampire-identities a secret, they meet a music producer who convinces them to reemerge as a vampire boy band. Now, on track to become stars, the boys are excited to breathe new life into their music career while trying to live as normal teenagers. The pilot is seamless synergy for the Mouse House, as Forever In Your Mind is signed with Disney Music Groups record label Hollywood Records. The trio has been in business with Disney Channel before, as they sing the theme song for the networks sitcom Best Friends Whenever plus, Garcia is a series regular on the show, and Kelly has had a guest part. Between the members of the band, they have also had small roles on Disneys Girl Meets World, Disneys Dog With A Blog and Disney XDs Lab Rats. This summer, the band headlined Radio Disneys Sounds of Summer concert, and recorded the DC Classic Medley for the alum Your Favorite Songs From 100 Disney Channel Original Movies. The bands videos have over 10 million views on Vevo. The Forever Boys pilot hails from Bob Smiley (Yes, Dear) who will write the pilot and serve as co-exec producer. Other writers are David Light, Joseph Raso and Stephen Engel. Jimmy Kimmel Live director Adam Stein will direct the pilot. The pilot heads into production in Los Angeles next month. If picked up to series, the show would debut in 2017. Related stories Disney Channel Orders New Series 'Andi Mack' From 'Lizzie McGuire' Creator Disney Channel Launching 12 Short-Form Movies Online (EXCLUSIVE) 'Boy Meets World' Cast Reunites for 'Girl Meets World' Finale By Lisa Rapaport (Reuters Health) - African-American and Latino children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be much less likely to receive a diagnosis or treatment than their white peers, a small U.S. study suggests. Researchers examined data on almost 4,300 children whose parents participated in surveys about ADHD symptoms, diagnosis and treatment when the kids were in fifth, seventh and tenth grades. When kids had symptoms of ADHD, parents of white kids were more likely to report that children took medication, researchers report in Pediatrics. While the study didnt explore the reason for the racial disparities in ADHD treatment, its possible that non-white parents had more difficulty with access or affordability of mental health services or perceived discrimination that discouraged them from seeking treatment for their kids, said lead study author Dr. Tumaini Coker, a pediatrics researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles. Our findings suggest that these disparities are more likely from under-diagnosis or under-treatment of African-American and Latino children than over-diagnosis or overtreatment of white children, Tumaini said by email. It may be that African-American and Latino children are less likely to report taking a medication for ADHD because they are less likely to be diagnosed, or have their symptoms recognized, or because when diagnosed, they are less like to receive or accept a medication for ADHD, Tumaini added. Overall 8 percent of parents reported that their child had symptoms or a diagnosis of ADHD in fifth grade, with 7 percent of the kids taking medication at some point that year. By tenth grade, the parents reported 9 percent of kids had ADHD symptoms or a diagnosis, and 8 percent had taken drugs. In that last survey during tenth grade, parents reported symptoms for 13 percent of African-American children and roughly 9 percent of white and Latino children. White children were also more likely than other kids to have a formal ADHD diagnosis. One limitation of the study is that it relied on parents to accurately recall and report any symptoms, diagnosis or treatment, the authors note. This study lacked an objective diagnosis or treatment for ADHD and more detailed information on prescribed medications and adherence to treatment protocols, which precludes more definitive support for the hypothesis that black and Latino youth are undertreated, Sean Cleary, a public health researcher at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. who wasnt involved in the study, said by email. Part of the challenge, too, is theres no simple lab test to diagnose ADHD, noted Joseph Raiker, a researcher at the Florida International University Center for Children and Families in Miami. Instead, doctors rely in part on subjective reports from parents and teachers to diagnose ADHD in kids, Raiker, who wasnt involved in the study, said by email. We know that the extent to which individuals present for assessment and treatment as well these parent and teacher reports can be impacted by a host of factors such as the use of culturally insensitive measures and bias in referral patterns for assessment and treatment, Raiker said. These factors, in turn, impact the extent to which a child is likely to receive a diagnosis of ADHD or some other disorder such as an anxiety or mood disorder, which ultimately impacts treatment, he said. Shereen El Feki might have the best job ever. In the process of her research, she explains vibrators to Arab women. To prove the point that womens sexual pleasure has been acknowledged for centuries, she studies medieval texts about orgasms and dogs performing oral sex on humans. And to elucidate the way womens virginity is a priority, she talks to doctors about the growing trend in anal. (Anecdotally, they say, its all the rage.) No shame, she cries! Rather, she sees this work as crucial, especially in the Arab world. El Fekis research led her to write the 2013 ethnography and Orwell Prize nominee Sex and the Citadel, which has been translated into four languages Arabic and Spanish coming soon. Shes also served as vice chairwoman for the United Nations Global Commission on HIV and the Law and as a healthcare correspondent for The Economist. Shes led weekly shows on Al Jazeera International. Her next project, currently in progress: a companion, in a way, to Sex and the Citadel. Shes teamed up with Promundo and UN Women, funded by the Swedish government, to research men and masculinity in the Arab region, which she says will be the largest survey ever done on the subject. The four-country study, which will publish next year, tries to grasp whats happening with men in Morocco, Palestinian regions, Lebanon and Egypt. Shes interviewing nearly 10,000 men and women about the changing world of gender relations asking men about their roles at home, at work and as sons, husbands and fathers. El Feki says, We know little about [men] because of the focus on women and girls. El Feki is trying to nudge private conversations into the public domain. Her strategy: She uses Islamic texts from centuries past to argue that expressions of sexuality are not so foreign to traditional Islam. And she believes theyre urgent ideas worth, um, spreading. We have HIV. We have sexual violence that we need to talk about, she says. But not necessarily in a Western way. We have a history of talking frankly about sex. Some authors who interest her are Ahmad Al-tifashi and Ali Ibn Nasr al-Katib, men who wrote no-holds-barred, honest and sometimes amusing books about sexuality in the 10th and 12th centuries. Story continues In interviews, shes elicited frank, kinky conversations most wouldnt associate with the Arab worlds stereotypes, like when a woman and her circle of friends admitted to feeling dissatisfied in their sex lives. El Feki talked vibrators, lingerie and instructional DVDs; romance, foreplay and short-lived, five-minute sex. Stephen Lewis, a former member of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law, remembers her adroit and consummate ease when having difficult conversations in front of panels that knew little about HIV or felt uncomfortable about sex. She has made an important difference, he says. While writing Sex and the Citadel, the Canadian-raised, half-Welsh, half-Egyptian says, I was writing more for the people inside the region, struggling in silence, not aware there were people across town who were, indeed, also struggling with these issues. Soon the subjects of her work will be able to read the book in Arabic (there have been sales in the region, in English and French). When asked why other tongues came first, El Feki cited censorship in many of the key markets as a key factor that hindered finding a publisher. So far, mostly those outside the region have taken note, which allows El-Feki a platform to tout her future UN results. The topic feels timely in the West: The stories these days of Arab male culture are dominated by the mass sexual assault in Germany on New Years Eve and, of course, ISIS. El Feki hopes to inject nuance and specificity into the discussion. But the fact that her work speaks to the West raises questions about whether or not it can also speak to the Arab world well have to see how the Arabic translation fares. Growing up in Waterloo, a hub of technology and universities, El Feki was exposed to students of sundry ethnic backgrounds who spoke different languages in the school hallways. She says she personally has not experienced Islamophobia. But she has seen how hostility toward Muslims has changed over time. After 9/11, the racism now has taken on political overtones, she says. She picked up degree after degree in the sciences (never journalism); eventually, perhaps inspired by her neurosurgeon father, immunology won her heart, culminating in a Ph.D. from Cambridge University. She describes her path as discontinuous evolution she was an intern at the Economist covering science, and technology brought her to the venerable newspaper for less than a year. But just as she was about to be rudely booted out (shed been told they werent hiring long-term), Nature was publishing a report on Dolly, the first cloned sheep. She was part of the team that was responsible for covering the issue, and because of her unusual background in molecular biology, the piece eventually landed her a job offer. El Feki encourages wider sexuality conversations in the Arab world. There are others: Safa Tamish, who advocates for sex education in Palestinian communities. Mosaic (Lebanon) and Chouf (Tunisia) do LGBT rights. HarassMap in Egypt works on sexual harassment. Change is slow and often difficult to come by, Noora Flinkman, head of communications for HarassMap, says. One major obstacle in the culture is victim blaming. But she has noticed support in Egypt for HarassMaps cause. The times have seen some a-changin in the arena of sexual awareness: Moroccos abortion laws now recognize incest and rape as valid grounds for termination, and in Mozambique, questions about HIV can be asked and answered via SMS. You dont get change through confrontation but a gradual process of negotiation, El Feki says, underlining one of her major arguments shes pro cultural conversations, not violent protesting. And her work is importantly not grounded in Western secularism she sees her choice to build on the Islamic framework as a pragmatic one, building the future by way of the past and present. Related Articles On Aug 23, 2016, we issued an updated research report on Dominion Resources Inc. D. Dominions expansion of electric transmission, natural gas facilities and midstream assets are strong positives. Its investments in green energy have also been commendable. However, the companys dependence on third parties for natural gas supply and risks associated with the timely completion of major capital projects are some of the headwinds. Dominion reported second-quarter 2016 operating earnings of 71 cents per share, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate but down 2.3% year over year. The decline was due to the impact of a milder weather, a planned refueling outage at Millstone, and share dilution. Moreover, total revenue of $2,598 million missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.1% and decreased 5.4% from the year-ago quarter. Dominion has decided to invest nearly $15.7 billion in various growth projects during the 20162020 timeframe. Secure earnings from regulated assets will drive bottom-line growth at the company. Of this budget, the company has allocated $3.6 billion for the electric transmission business and $2.5 billion for the electric distribution business. Such systematic investments will help Dominion strengthen its existing infrastructure and enable it to provide uninterrupted service to customers. Meanwhile, Dominions renewable projects for 2016 include two joint ventures in Utah with a capacity of 530 MW. The company has long-term power purchase agreements for these projects and they are expected to begin service in the third quarter. These solar projects are expected to add 4 cents to Dominions earnings in 2016. The company also received an approval from the Virginia State Corporation Commission for the construction of three solar facilities in the state. With a total capacity of 56 MW, these projects are scheduled to commence operations later this year. DOMINION RES VA Price Story continues DOMINION RES VA Price | DOMINION RES VA Quote On the flip side, Dominions gas unit depends heavily on third-party producers for the supply of natural gas. If a producer refuses or fails to deliver a specific quantity of natural gas or natural gas liquids (NGL), it would reduce the volume of natural gas and NGL available for the companys pipelines and other assets. Moreover, risks associated with the operation of nuclear facilities and unplanned outages at power stations in which Dominion has an ownership interest might derail managements planned production goal and adversely impact its earnings. Zacks Rank & Key Picks Dominion currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the utility sector include CMS Energy CMS, NiSource Inc. NI and DTE Energy DTE. Each of these stocks currently 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 CMS ENERGY (CMS): Free Stock Analysis Report NISOURCE INC (NI): Free Stock Analysis Report DTE ENERGY CO (DTE): Free Stock Analysis Report DOMINION RES VA (D): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. You can certainly tell its not only getting to be the dog days of summer but also the summer movie season, which is going out with a whimper at least as far as this years obligatory cheapie Screen Gems end-of-August release goes. Dont Breathe is a pretty good title for an ultra-violent, ultra-derivative and ultra-nauseating suspense thriller in which a blind old ex-military man (Stephen Lang) squares off against a trio of young thieves out to rob him. But the movie is more of an assault than a sharp example of a genre that has been turned over to directors with nothing but blood and carnage on their minds. As I say in my video review above, this one comes from Uruguayan director Fede Alvarez, whose 2013 debut was an ill-considered remake of the Sam Raimi horror classic Evil Dead. Raimi must have appreciated it though as he is one of the producers of this thing, which rather shockingly got fairly unanimous good reviews when it premiered at SXSW in March. I guess I am not the target audience, which even with a strong R rating is basically teenagers. The plot is simply an excuse for the bloodletting, but it revolves around this trio of young toughs: a woman Rocky (Jane Levy) out for a better life for her sister, and needing cash to do it; her hot-headed BF Money (Daniel Zovatto); and the other friend Alex (Dylan Minnette), who goes along with their plan to rob this innocent blind man of the money they know is stashed somewhere in his large dilapidated house in the outskirts of Detroit. The man and his ferocious dog are sleeping when our trio breaks in to try to find their buried treasure, as it were. Knowing he is blind and that he received a handsome settlement over the tragic accidental death of his daughter, they think he should be easy prey. In fact, the plan is to sneak in, take the loot, and never wake him up. Of course things go terribly wrong and in no time they realize they are in way over their empty heads with this guy, who has fighting skills second to none. (And when he is incapacitated, his dog does clean-up.) They realize after taking him on that the best thing would be to get out of there, but like most movies of this ilk, that just doesnt happen. Let the fun really begin. Where these contemporary non-stop carnivals of kill always lose me is that the characters can go crashing through glass ceilings, be tossed out of buildings and pummeled to near-certain death but still get up to fight in another scene like it was just a harmless punch. Oy. This movie, though competently directed by Alvarez, gave me a headache. Thank god for Lang, who lends a certain dignity to the proceedings even as he lets the blood run. There is a twist midway designed to make our thugs a little more sympathetic, and our blind man a little more maniacal, but it is so contrived it completely lost me. I still was rooting for the blind man. SPOILER ALERT: Think of the Oscar Best Picture nominee Room and you will get the idea. I liked the dog a lot. He (actually it is a trio of dogs taking on the role) is worth the price of admission. Two paws up for him. Alvarez and Raimi are producers along with Rob Tapert. Sony releases this Friday. Do you plan to see Dont Breathe? Let us know what you think. Related stories 'Don't Breathe' Could Suffocate 'Suicide Squad' During Sluggish Summer Weekend: Box Office Preview 'StartUp' Review: Crackle Drama Gritty But Not A Great Investment 'Southside With You' Review: Date Night With The Obamas Sweet & Enlightening Donald Trump meets with his Hispanic advisory council at Trump Tower in Manhattan on Aug. 20. (Photo: Carlo Allegri/Reuters) Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is planning a Thursday morning meeting with Latino and African-American activists at his Manhattan headquarters in Trump Tower. The activists are fellows from the Queens, N.Y., office of the Republican Leadership Initiative, a program designed to train young, diverse recruits to be campaign field operatives. Multiple GOP sources confirmed plans for the meeting and characterized it as part of Trumps outreach efforts in the African-American and Latino communities. While the initiative is not solely focused on training minority activists, a source said the Queens office of the program is in a predominantly African-American and Latino area and has attracted its participants from the community. An email circulated earlier in the day Tuesday indicated that former U.S. Rep. Bob Turner, current chairman of the Queens County Republican Party, was helping to organize the event, which was initially set to take place in Queens. Turner told Yahoo News the event had subsequently shifted to Trump Tower and described it as part of Trumps efforts to court Latino voters. This is part of his Hispanic outreach, and I think he wanted to explain where he is and why he is a benefit to the Hispanic community, Turner said. Trumps speeches have recently included direct appeals to African-American and Latino voters, two Democratic-leaning groups in which Trump is deeply unpopular, according to polls. The brash real estate developer has sparked several controversies with his provocative comments and policy proposals on race-related topics. Trump initially planned to give a speech in Denver this week on immigration policy, but it was reportedly canceled. Last weekend, Trump met with members of a Hispanic advisory council at Trump Tower. People who attended the event told BuzzFeed and Univision that Trump had softened one of his hard-line immigration positions, but the Trump campaign dismissed the reports and said Trump hadnt altered his stance. The Trump campaign declined to comment about his plans for the meeting on Thursday. One source said the roundtable would include Pierry Benjamin, the New York state director for the Republican Leadership Initiative. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump signaled a reversal on one of his key policy issues Tuesday, suggesting he would be open to a softening of his positions on illegal immigration. His comments, in a town hall taped in Austin, Texas, with Fox News host and avowed supporter Sean Hannity, are a remarkable about-face for the candidate, whose hardline stance on the issue propelled him to the GOP nomination in the first place. When Hannity, who like Trump has railed against amnesty for those in the U.S. illegally, asked whether Trump would support changing the law to accommodate those people that contribute to society, have been law-abiding, have kids here, Trump replied in the affirmative. There certainly can be a softening because were not looking to hurt people, Trump said. We want peoplewe have some great people in this country. Trump, who has previously called for a deportation force, suggested he would not try to toughen the existing immigration statutes, calling the lawmaking process brutal. We want to follow the laws, you know, we have very strong laws in this country, Trump said. And you know Bush, and even Obama, sends people back. Now we can be more aggressive on that but we want to follow the laws. If you start going around trying to make new laws in this country its a process thats brutal. We want to follow the laws of this country, and if we follow the laws we can do what we have to do. Trumps new position appears to be an embrace of the status quo, in which those in the U.S. illegally with criminal histories are prioritized for deportation, but no action is taken to push forward with comprehensive reform. In a June tweet, Trump maintained his support for the deportation of the 11 million people in the U.S. illegally. I have never liked the media term mass deportation but we must enforce the laws of the land! he said. Story continues The apparent shift comes days after Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said Trumps position on mass deportation was to be determined, indicating a forthcoming campaign shift. Trump also cancelled a planned immigration speech in Colorado on Wednesday on account of the policy uncertainty. Its the second such softening in recent weeks, as Trump appeared to move away from his proposed ban on Muslim immigration, seeking to replace it with an ideological test for immigrants and a temporary ban on immigration from countries with active Islamic extremist elements. But both Trumps original policy on immigration and the Muslim ban remain on his campaign website. Several Trump surrogates spent Tuesday on cable television arguing that Trumps new positionhe said this week that hed prioritize the removal of those with criminal recordsis similar to President Barack Obamas, who has sought to deprioritize the removal of those in the U.S. illegally but have broken no other laws. But Obama has called for comprehensive immigration reform legislation to provide a path to citizenship for the majority of those in the U.S. illegallya position held by many Republicans but repeatedly rejected by Trump over the course of the campaign. During the GOP primary, Trump ran a television ad accusing Texas Sen. Ted Cruz of supporting amnesty. The spot concluded with Trump telling an interviewer: People want to take back our country. We have to do it in a humane way, but we have to have a country. During the town hall, Trump reiterated his support for a border wall between the U.S. and Mexicoa frequent call-and-response line from his stump speechadding that he would force Mexico to pay for it, despite that countrys leaders stating they wouldnt do so under any circumstances. Donald Trump said that Hillary Clintons supporters are mostly Hollywood celebrities who arent very hot anymore, during a rally in Tampa on Wednesday. Taking a shot at the Clintons campaigns momentum, Trump said, Her supporters have very little enthusiasm. He continued, The only people enthusiastic about her campaign are Hollywood celebrities in many cases celebrities that arent very hot anymore and Wall Street donors, special interests, lobbyists, etcetera that want to control government, not to the benefit of our country, but to the benefit of their wallet. This comes after Trump said that he would bring showbiz to the Republican National Convention, but failed to impress with a lineup that highlighted Antonio Sabato Jr. and Scott Baio during its opening night. Sabato Jr. said that he was bullied after speaking at the RNC, and said that Hollywood directors have blacklisted him. The actor is best known for appearing in the soap opera General Hospital in the mid-90s. Baio is known for his role in Happy Days which ran from 1977 until 1984. Meanwhile, celebrities including Kerry Washington and Mark Ruffalo are included in a long list of actors who have rallied against Trump. Katy Perry, Meryl Streep and Elizabeth Banks are some of her other notable celebrity supporters. Barbra Streisand, who has criticized Trump during her concert tour, is headlining a Clinton event in New York next month. Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel hosted an event for Clinton at their home in Los Angeles on Monday. Trump: "The only people enthusiastic about her campaign are Hollywood celebrities. In many cases celebrities that arent very hot anymore." Nick Corasaniti (@NYTnickc) August 24, 2016 Trump says Clinton is supported by, "in many cases, celebrities that aren't very hot anymore." Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) August 24, 2016 Related stories Story continues 'Celebrity Apprentice': Arnold Schwarzenegger Replaces Donald Trump in First Teaser Hillary Clinton Tells Jimmy Kimmel Health Rumors Are 'Wacky Strategy' Against Her Donald Trump Slams 'Morning Joe' Hosts as 'Neurotic,' 'Clowns' By David Beasley ATLANTA (Reuters) - The mother of the only giant panda twins in the United States may soon deliver a second set of twins, Zoo Atlanta said on Tuesday, capping off an eventful month for lovers of the fluffy black and white bears across the globe. Three years ago, mother bear Lun Lun gave birth to female cubs Mei Lun and Mei Huan, who are still at the Georgia zoo but could be returned this fall to China, which owns them, zoo spokeswoman Rachel Davis said. An ultrasound on Monday confirmed that Lun Lun, who turns 19 years old on Thursday, is once again pregnant with twins, the zoo said. Delivery of the new twins could be in the next few weeks, Davis said, calling the pregnancy a surprise. Panda pregnancies, famously rare in captivity and outside of China, are notoriously hard to establish or predict. The rarest member of the bear family with roughly 1,864 in the wild, pandas live mainly in bamboo forests high in the mountains of western China, where they subsist almost entirely on bamboo leaves. News of the pregnancy comes as twin panda cubs born at a zoo in Vienna, Austria, turned 16 days old on Tuesday and were said to be fit and healthy - and very cute. In China, twin panda cubs, a male and a female, were born at a breeding research base in southwest Sichuan province on Aug. 9, state broadcaster CCTV reported. In Atlanta, Lun Lun was impregnated by artificial insemination on March 28, the zoo said. There is no guarantee the birth will be successful since a condition known as fetal resorption, or Vanishing Twin Syndrome, in which a fetus dies before it is born, is "not uncommon" in pandas, the zoo said. If Lun Lun's second set of twins survive, they will be her sixth and seventh cubs, Davis said. Newborn panda cubs are very vulnerable, being about the size of a stick of butter, according to the World Wildlife Fund. They can grow to up to 330 pounds (149.69 kg) as an adult. While about half of all panda deliveries are twins, mothers in the wild typically only care for one cub, Zoo Atlanta said. "Advances in animal care and veterinary care in zoos have resulted in successful rearing of twins both in the zoological population in China and in zoos outside China," Zoo Atlanta said in a statement. While the zoo will be closely watching Lun Lun, the rest of the world can also keep an eye on her and perhaps watch her give birth over a live camera streamed at www.zooatlanta.org. (Reporting by David Beasley; Editing by Eric M. Johnson and Sandra Maler) SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Dozens of wildfires raged in the arid U.S. West on Tuesday, blackening hundreds of square miles of land and forcing residents from homes in California and Washington state. At least six people have died in Western wildfires this summer. Seven new large fires have flared up since Monday, bringing the total number of blazes burning in the region to 32, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Combined, the wildfires have charred more than 500,000 acres (200,000 hectares), the agency said. In California's San Luis Obispo County, firefighters have been able to carve containment lines around about a third of the 37,100-acre (15,000-hectare) Chimney Fire by Tuesday morning. That blaze, which started in the county's rugged coastal hills on Aug. 13, has destroyed 36 homes and continued to threaten nearly 1,900 more, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Evacuation orders were in effect for about 6,000 residents on Tuesday, according to Cal Fire spokesman Aladdin Morgan, up from just 2,500 on Monday. The historic Hearst Castle, a major tourist attraction on California's central coast, will be closed to the public through the week as a safety precaution due to the blaze. The monumental estate, built in the early 20th century for publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst, was no longer in immediate danger, but the Chimney Fire had crept within three miles (5 km) of the castle over the weekend before shifting direction, authorities said. To the north, firefighters were battling a cluster of blazes that have blackened about 8,000 acres of dry brush, grass and timber in the Spokane, Washington, area. Washington state Governor Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency for 20 Washington state counties on Tuesday as he toured the Spokane area, his office said. Authorities said on Monday that, due to limited resources, they had to enlist the help of local farmers to help battle flames that had destroyed more than a dozen buildings in the area. Those blazes all erupted on Sunday, stoked by extremely hot, dry weather and gusty winds. Lower temperatures, rising humidity and diminished winds were expected to help crews gain some ground on Monday, as firefighting reinforcements arrived. As of Tuesday, the so-called Hart Fire had been 10 percent contained while officials were hopeful that a pair of fires, dubbed the Spokane Complex, could be contained within their existing footprints. (Reporting by Curtis Skinner in San Francisco; Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Christian Schmollinger) Aden (AFP) - Drone strikes killed seven Al-Qaeda suspects travelling in cars in provinces of southern and eastern Yemen on Wednesday, security sources said. Three people died when a rocket fired from a drone struck their vehicle in a desert area of Marib province, east of Yemen's rebel-held capital Sanaa, a security source said. Another security official said a separate drone attack in the southern province of Shabwa killed four suspects in a car on a road leading from provincial capital Ataq to nearby Nisab. The United States has carried out numerous drone strikes against Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) operatives in Yemen. American officials said this month that the US military had killed three AQAP fighters in a strike, also in Shabwa. AQAP has exploited a power vacuum created by a conflict between the government and Shiite rebels to expand its presence in south and southeast Yemen. But the US has vowed to continue its campaign against the group, which it considers to be the Al-Qaeda network's deadliest franchise. A Saudi-led Arab military coalition that backs the Yemeni government has also turned its sights on AQAP, targeting it with air strikes. The coalition is supporting pro-government forces which launched an offensive this year to retake several towns from AQAP. In April, the jihadists seized provincial capital Mukalla in southeast Yemen, and this month loyalists recaptured the capital of the southern Abyan province, Zinjibar. From Harper's BAZAAR To say that Chef Francis Mallman has gained notoriety for his style of cooking would be an understatement. Many first encountered the chef on an episode of the Netflix original 'Chef's Table,' which features top chefs around the world and gives an inside look at their daily lives and culinary styles. Mallmann just isn't your average top chef; the native Patagonian prefers to be outdoors, one with his surroundings, drawing upon the Earth's elements for his dishes. Photo credit: Briana Marie Mallmann acts as a sort of father figure for what open fire cooking has become (read: a catering style for corporate events and weddings and a more authentic riff on classic American BBQ), and his fascination with fire holds a cinematic quality. "I live for the visuals," he told me. "It's all about bringing together the elements of the land, the food, the music. It's about colors and romance." Mallmann doesn't just cook a meal; he creates an experience. Anyone who has the pleasure of watching him cook can attest to this performance-like cookery. Think massive fire pits splayed across expanses of land, displaying roasted meats and vegetables on spits while simply seasoned seafood is cooking slowly in underground pits. Photo credit: Briana Marie When I asked Mallmann about what it is about fire that he finds so fascinating, he told me about growing up in Patagonia, and the idea of wanting to get back to his roots. For him, fire represents our most primal state, the most basic form of light, warmth, and cooking. He described to me the charred quality fire gives food, and the smoky flavors that can only come from the ashes. "Entire cultures developed around the fire; it's not just a way of cooking, it's a way of life." Photo credit: Briana Marie Photo credit: Briana Marie This seems to shine some light on why open fire cooking has become such a recent trend. It's this perfect way to create a dinner party that combines base elements with a more refined sensibility. Big open fires, set alongside chic tablescapes, grilling chicken, seafood, meats and vegetables, expertly charred from the fire, served on dainty, curated dinnerware. It's this idea of merging high and low, old and new, that comes into play with open fire cooking. Chef Mallmann reiterated, "before Picasso did Cubism he drew straight lines; Whether it's drawing or cooking, you need the old to go into the new." We're not alone in our obsession with Mallmann's cooking style and the new rustic meets refined era of entertaining he's ushered in. Caterers like Fire Roasted Catering and Smoke Open Fire, along with the Bay Area's Cotogna and Penrose are only some of the options popping up across the country. For Mallmann's food, visit him at Frances Mallmann 1884 (named one of the World's 50 Best Restaurants), Garzon, Siete Fuegos or Patagonia Sur in Argentina, or head down to Miami to sample his newly opened Los Fuegos at Faena Miami Beach. Story continues Photo credit: Briana Marie Throw your own open fire dinner party with these chic essentials: Photo credit: Courtesy From top, clockwise: Sirocco salad servers, $35, onekingslane.com; Kim Seybert napkin ring, $29 each, bloomingdales.com; Porcelain plates, $110 for set of 7, onekingslane.com; Open Fire 'Grillworks' grill, $13,975, grillery.com; Faux green hydrangeas, $50, jossandmain.com; Potlatch seasoning, $9, williams-sonoma.com; Kim Seybert napkins, $38, bloomingdales.com. You Might Also Like Eek! There are going to be seven new Agatha Christie adaptations coming to the BBC Eek! There are going to be seven new Agatha Christie adaptations coming to the BBC Reading Agatha Christie books was almost a childhood right they were perfect for mystery lovers who wanted a bit more of an adult edge in their literature. It seems like her novels still have quite the draw, as well. After the BBC aired an adaptation of one of her most popular books, And Then There Were None, and found it to be wildly popular, theyve decided to go ahead and greenlight seven more movies based on her timeless stories. These adaptations are set to air within the next four years. agatha So far, only three titles have been confirmed: Death Comes as the End, which takes place in Egypt; The ABC Murders, which focuses around a serial killer; and Ordeal By Innocence, which focuses around a murder in the family. It seems as if the latter will be the first one to finish production. When asked about the new Christie titles in the works, Charlotte Moore, who is the director for BBC One Content, was definitely enthusiastic. Our combined creative ambition to reinvent Christies novels for a modern audience promises to bring event television of the highest quality to a new generation enjoyed by fans old and new, she said in a statement. We know that Agatha Christie would be incredibly proud right now. The post Eek! There are going to be seven new Agatha Christie adaptations coming to the BBC appeared first on HelloGiggles. Developing countries and emerging market exchange traded funds have experienced high inflows and delivered a strong performance in recent weeks, but investors should still pick their spots as the various economies can exhibit uneven growth. A number of factors helped support the emerging market play, including signs of stabilization in China, leveling of commodity prices and a depreciating U.S. dollar, according to a BlackRock research note. Moreover, investors may have been looking for alternatives as developed markets exhibited greater volatility. The Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO) and the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) , the two largest emerging market ETFs by assets,up 18.2% and 17.7% year-to-date, respectively. SEE MORE: Emerging Market ETFs Still Vulnerable to Fed Speculation As more investors look to the emerging markets, people should be aware that the various economies will produce varying levels of growth. Although we see further potential upside, not all EMs offer attractive outlooks, and therefore selectivity remains our approach to emerging market equities, BlackRock said. We favor countries that are committed to structural reforms as well as those that are better positioned to benefit from the current environment such as India and ASEAN countries. Trending on ETF Trends Millennials Market Segment is Now the Basis of a New Index/ETF Small-Cap Bank ETFs Could Win This Election Season A Targeted REIT ETF Strategy to Capitalize on Rising Rents, Shifting D... Sector Transition may Already be Baked Into REITs, ETFs Oil Could be the Commodity to Play In 2017 BlackRock is currently overweight India, arguing that while the market is not cheap, it is not expensive either, with valuations hovering near historical levels. A combination of economic improvement, potentially stronger earnings and progress on reform makes us favorable to the country, BlackRock said. Investors can access these areas through targeted ETF options. For instance, the WisdomTree India Earnings Fund (EPI) , PowerShares India Portfolio (PIN) and iShares India 50 ETF (INDY) provide broad India exposure. Story continues ETF investors can also look at ASEAN or emerging Southeast Asia options through the Global X FTSE ASEAN 40 ETF (ASEA) . ASEA leans toward southeast Asian economies, including Singapore 32.1%, Malaysia 25.5%, Indonesia 19.8%, Thailand 14.7% and Philippines 7.9%. SEE MORE: EPHE: Philippines ETF Up 19% Year-to-Date Among the notable stand outs in the Southeast Asia, the iShares MSCI Philippines ETF (EPHE) is higher by nearly 19% year-to-date, giving it a decent advantage over the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, but EPHE has been somewhat overlooked this year compared to other high-flying emerging markets single-country exchange traded funds. For more information on the developing economies, visit our emerging markets category. mother trader woman baby frankfurt stock exchange You're taking your parental leave, just settling in with the newest addition to the family, and then the unthinkable happens you find out that you no longer have a job to return to. This scenario, while jarring to think about, isn't unheard of, and perhaps more surprisingly, it's perfectly legal. When we heard the news that this may have recently happened to Michelle Tan, who was editor in chief of Seventeen Magazine before she was reportedly let go while on maternity leave (Business Insider reached out to Hearst for confirmation but has not heard back yet), it left us wondering: Can you legally get fired while on maternity or paternity leave? So we asked Ryan Park, a lawyer with law firm Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP, in Washington, DC. Park has a background in employment law and last year represented CNN reporter Josh Levs in the settlement of his suit alleging CNN's paternal leave policy discriminated based on gender. According to Park, you can get fired while you're on leave, but there are a few caveats. He points to a wide array of laws that protect employees from discrimination based on their parental status, including the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. The first clause of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, for example, specifies that Title VII's prohibition against sex discrimination applies to discrimination "because of or on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions." "Under these and other laws, an employer can fire an employee while they are on parental leave or pregnant, but they cannot fire an employee because they are on parental leave or pregnant," Park explains. In other words, you can be fired for something you would have been fired for had you not been on leave, like if you committed a fireable offense, there were mass layoffs, or your department or job were being eliminated. Story continues But Park notes that even if an employer comes up with a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for letting someone go while they're on leave, that action may still be illegal if the employer's stated reason seems pretextual. "One common way of showing that the employer's stated reason is just a cover for its true, discriminatory motive is if similarly situated employees are treated differently," Park says. An example of this came in 2014, when the Supreme Court held that UPS could have violated the Pregnancy Discrimination Act when it told Peggy Young, a pregnant UPS driver, that she couldn't work during her pregnancy, Park says. "UPS has a reasonable policy that its drivers be able to lift 70 pounds, and Ms. Young could not during her pregnancy," he explains. "But because UPS accommodated other, non-pregnant employees who could no longer lift 70 pounds, such as those who suffered a temporary on-the-job injury, the Court held that UPS's treatment of Ms. Young may have been illegal." If you believe you have been the victim of discrimination, Park advises contacting an attorney. "It is a daunting task to challenge an adverse employment action without legal representation because an employer can almost always come up with a legitimate-sounding rationale for its discrimination," he says. Proving pretext is almost always the most important issue in an employment discrimination case. Beyond this, he says you should also immediately contact and file a federal charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the federal agency charged with enforcing federal antidiscrimination law, as well as any similar state or local agencies. Contacting the EEOC is not optional, he says, as you may lose your right to sue your employer for discrimination after a certain time. Lastly, Park suggests meticulously documenting the circumstances surrounding the adverse employment action, prior work performance, and anything else that indicates the employer's stated reasons for its actions may be suspect. NOW WATCH: Ivanka Trump reveals 3 things you should avoid when negotiating More From Business Insider Mylan Labs (NYSE:MYL), the Pittsburgh-based pharmaceutical giant at the center of a major drug pricing storm over the EpiPen, managed to pull off a tax-ducking corporate inversion just a year and a half ago. And now the FOX Business Network has learned that allergy advocates are preparing to use the inversion strategy to convince lawmakers to investigate the companys EpiPen. I definitely think Congress needs to get involved. There needs to be an investigation, Robyn OBrien, founder of Allergy Kids Foundation told FOX Business Network. OBrien represents millions of families in America who depend on EpiPens to save lives in the case of deadly exposure to allergens. The EpiPen is an auto-injector device that delivers epinephrine, the drug that counters the effects of a fatal allergic reaction. When Mylan bought the company that manufactures the EpiPen back in 2007, the cost for a single EpiPen was $57 dollars. Today, just 9 years later, the cost has skyrocketed to as much as $700 for a pack of two. Many insurance companies cover some or most of the cost; however, millions of children of families who cannot afford insurance must be covered by Medicare which is paid for by the American taxpayer. Others saddled with high deductibles find themselves shelling out thousands of dollars for just a few packs of the device. Rage Over Tax Trick Mylans corporate inversion could now be used as a weapon against it. Known officially as Mylan N.V., Mylan bought the small generic specialty drug arm of Abbott Labs (NYSE:ABT) in early 2014. That estimated $5 billion dollar purchase enabled the much larger Mylan (which has a current market cap of $24 billion dollars) to move its headquarters to the Netherlands, a more tax-friendly country. Mylan was able to complete one of the last corporate inversions before Congress, President Obama and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump launched a full court press to demonize the practice which involves Company A (in this case Mylan) buying Company B (usually based in a foreign country with a lower tax rate) in order to lower Company As tax bill. Story continues In Mylans case, it appears the company moved its corporate address to the Netherlands, but still maintains most of its offices in a suburb of Pittsburgh, PA, enjoying the benefits of taxpayer-funded police, fire and other city services. President Obama has lashed out against the practice of inversion, calling it one of the most insidious tax loopholes out there. Trump, too, has ripped corporate inversions, calling them a huge problem. What makes the Mylan case so problematic is that the company CEO Heather Bresch is the daughter of Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia. Democrats, led by Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, have loudly denounced corporate inversions. Theyve built the business model on the backs of our kids, moving the headquarters to the Netherlands to avoid paying taxes into the US and as her own father said, something like that should be illegal, said OBrien. Calls by FOX Business to Mylans press department were not returned. Complaints about onerous price hikes in the pharmaceutical industry are age-old and often go unanswered by the companies who hold the patents. As patents expire, generic drug companies often jump in. But oddly, Israeli-based Teva Pharmaceuticals (NYSE:TEVA) attempted to present a generic version but was soundly swatted down by the FDA which cited certain major deficiencies to Tevas product. OBrien smells a rat. There is no competition. They have a monopoly. The barriers to entry are really high and right now theres a low cost alternative trying to work its way through the FDA. Ive been in this for 11 years. Weve seen Twin-ject come and go, Auvi-Q (by Sanofi US) come and go.. Auvi-Q was recalled because of 26 unconfirmed reports. There needs to be an investigation into how (Mylan) has been able to maintain this monopoly that it has and yes, these are life saving devices but they can come in a lot of different forms and a healthy marketplace means healthy competition, said OBrien. For now, Mylan has remained relatively silent after issuing an initial statement blaming insurance companies, co-pays and deductibles while offering coupons of $100 for the device. Investors, however, have done anything but remain silent. Milan shares fell 4.7% during Tuesdays session and have lost 11% over the past 12-months. Related Articles The Turkish secular elite who have long feared an Iranian-style theocracy in their own country may finally be seeing the worst of their fears come true. The widespread purges under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan following last months failed coup attempt against his government suggest the Turkish state is moving toward authoritarian Islamist rule of the sort that Iran introduced in 1979. There are many differences, but also striking similarities, between the current state of affairs in Turkey and the 1979 revolution in Iran that established the Islamic Republic. Irans pre-revolutionary political scene, like Turkeys today, was relatively dynamic and made up of competing parties and factions from across the political spectrum, from Marxist groups to secular nationalist parties. True, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi reigned supreme, but millions of Iranians who marched in the streets against him were animated by a variety of interests and ideologies. The theocracy that replaced him managed to crush all that stood in its way. Although Irans revolution was not entirely Islamist in nature, it was effectively captured by Islamist forces under the direction of a strong, self-assured, and charismatic leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Turkey faces the same precipice today with Erdogan emerging as Turkeys divinely sanctioned leader. Khomeinis Islamist faction viewed secularism and nationalism as forces of Westoxification that had infected Muslim Iran, which motivated its post-revolutionary mass arrests, executions, and purging of state institutions. The military was a prime target for these Islamists. The nascent Islamic Republic executed thousands of military officers loyal to the shah, neutering the Artesh, or conventional military, as an effective fighting force. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the paramilitary Basij were created not only to fight the war with Iraq, which the Artesh could no longer conduct effectively, but to guard the Islamic Republic from internal challenges, especially potential military coups. Erdogan has likewise used the coup which he has described as a gift from god as an opportunity to dismantle Turkeys secular state and to imprison thousands of opponents. They include a wide swath of the civil service; indeed, its now clear that the Erdogan government had prepared, prior to the coup, a list of his suspected opponents throughout the government. But, as in Iran, the Turkish military has been at the center of his purging campaign. The purges are not the only reason the Turkish military now seems to have been neutered as a bulwark against the countrys Islamization. The popular opposition to the coup, which Erdogan has since rallied for his own benefit, has made it impossible for the military to resist the presidents grab for absolute power. Its also worth considering how the Iranian revolution led to the elimination of all the countrys opposition parties. Ayatollah Khomeini had claimed a role as a figurehead in the early years of the revolution but exploited public frustration with the shah and Iranian grievances against the United States and the West in order to assume great power; he created the position of supreme leader for himself, guaranteeing his role as Irans undisputed religious, political, and military leader. His successor, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, likes to see Irans political system less like an Islamic republic and more like an Islamic government following the laws of God as interpreted by him and his followers and not Irans post-revolutionary constitution and legal system. Turkeys organized political opposition has likewise found itself in a vulnerable spot since the coup. All major Turkish parties opposed the coup, but a hard push against Erdogan could now lead to accusations against anyone of disloyalty to the Turkish state. This could be particularly true of the more liberal and Kurdish-dominated Peoples Democratic Party (HDP), which has been accused of siding with the armed and rebellious Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Erdogan could soon use the fight against the PKK insurgency to further tighten his grip on power by linking the coup to internal national security threats and the forces of secularism. Furthermore, Erdogan could use the attempted coup as an excuse to create a powerful presidency that bypasses other elected institutions such as the parliament. Before the coup, Erdogans effort to amend the constitution seemed uncertain; but he may now push for constitutional amendments that could effectively make him president for a long time, if not for life. Increasingly, Turkey is witnessing a personality cult being built around Erdogan, who now portrays himself as a savior to the nation. Even the once powerful Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its senior leaders, many of them sidelined, appear to be becoming a vehicle for Erdogans power grab. Finally, its important to note that the Islamist attempt to consolidate power in Iran has never entirely stopped. It has been a gradual process that continues even today, especially in the countrys educational institutions. Irans current supreme leader has always been particularly eager to rid the countrys massive university system of secular educators. His efforts to do so were particularly successful under former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who fired thousands of university professors and deans and even expelled students deemed political opponents. The purging of Irans schools has largely stopped under current President Hassan Rouhani, but the security establishment, especially the IRGC and Basij, continues to view the educational system as a source of perpetual opposition. The Erdogan government has sought in similar fashion to purge Turkeys educational system, with thousands of professors and deans suspected of being Gulenists having been dismissed. The Turkish government has also introduced religious classes into the public school system and may even be trying to create a separate religious educational system funded by a new state-controlled foundation. The analogy between Islamist Iran and a possibly soon-to-be Islamist Turkey is not perfect. Erdogan and the AKP have won repeated elections; Turkey has not witnessed a popular revolution; and the current crisis was triggered by the coup against Turkeys elected government. Secular institutions such as the military, while much diminished, have not been completely crushed. It is also possible that the Gulenist movement that supposedly organized the coup and has been the main target of the subsequent purges does pose a major threat to Erdogans rule, as the president has repeatedly claimed. And even despite his use of similar authoritarian tactics, such as suppressing forces that once helped his rise to power, Erdogan is no Khomeini; he does not possess Khomeinis massive national following and unsurpassed religious authority But, like in the Islamic Republic, Erdogan treats the Islamization of the state and society as a gradual process dependent on opportune moments and, like in the Islamic Republic, Erdogan has undermined all institutions, such as the media and academia, that can challenge his authority. Most disconcerting for Washington, Erdogan has relied on anti-Americanism to burnish his credentials, thus undermining a crucial alliance in the fight against the self-proclaimed Islamic State and other regional threats. It may be difficult to imagine now, but Iran was once a close U.S. ally in the region before becoming Washingtons foremost opponent. Turkey and Iran may differ, but the most striking similarity cannot be missed: Millions of Turks and Iranians once saw their nations as escaping the confines of military and monarchic rule, only to see themselves in the clutches of authoritarian religious regimes. Irans tragedy began in 1979; Turkey has now started its own perilous journey. Photo credit: AFP PHOTO/STR/Getty Images; CHRIS MCGRATH/Getty Images Brussels (AFP) - The EU insisted Wednesday that Greek economic data were reliable after Greece's top court reopened a case against the ex-head of the state statistics agency for exaggerating deficit figures. Marianne Thyssen, the European Commissioner for social affairs, urged the Greek government to "challenge the false impression" that the figures were fiddled under Andreas Georgiou. "It is absolutely clear that data on Greek government debt during 2010-2015 have been fully reliable and accurately reported to Eurostat," said Thyssen, the commissioner in charge of the EU's statistics agency. "The Commission now calls upon the Greek authorities to actively and publicly challenge the false impression that data were manipulated during (that period)," she told a news conference in Brussels. Greek government spokeswoman Olga Gerovassili said Athens was "surprised" by the Commission's comments, especially as Brussels makes a point of not commenting on legal proceedings. As such, the admonition to lay off Georgiou appears "contradictory," she said. - Moral obligation - "If the Commission has a privileged scientific position to judge the case...then it is morally bound to give evidence to Greek justice," Gerovassili added. Former IMF executive Georgiou stepped down last year amid claims that the data during his 2010-2015 mandate exaggerated Greek overspending and contributed to the punishing austerity measures that Athens has been forced to accept. Georgiou and two colleagues are now to face trial on criminal charges of hurting the national interest, according to a ruling earlier this month by the Greek supreme court that overturned a dismissal by a lower court. No trial date has been set. Georgiou faces a 20-year maximum sentence if convicted but is more likely to receive a suspended small term. Particularly galling for Brussels have been recent statements by key ministers raising doubts about the agency's work under Georgiou's mandate. Story continues A day after the Supreme Court reopened the case, the Greek minister of state -- and a close advisor to leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras -- said the affair "opened a wound that must be investigated in depth." Nikos Pappas, a key member of Tsipras's radical Syriza party, said answers were sought on "how and if deficits were inflated in order to expedite pre-planned political decisions for bringing Greece into a (bailout agreement)." The issue is particularly sensitive given the history of unreliable statistics in Greece. The 2009 revelation that Greece's public deficit was actually more than double the previous official estimate of six percent precipitated the country's descent into economic crisis that would eventually require three bailouts. During Georgiou's 2010-15 mandate, the statistics agency drastically overhauled its data-gathering criteria, bringing them in line with EU norms, but drawing fury in Athens. Georgiou in 2010 stepped into office with the firm backing of Greece's EU-IMF creditors and a mission to clean up the shop. Under his tutelage, Greece's public deficit was revised from 13.6 percent to 15.4 percent of output, while the debt went from 115.1 percent to 126.8 percent. When he stepped down in 2015, Georgiou said he had carried out his duties at "huge personal and professional cost." In a Sunday interview, Georgiou said he felt like a scapegoat for the errors of Greek politicians. He claimed that a conviction could have an impact on the future reporting of accurate data in Greece and abroad. "Statisticians who ought to work under scientific independence, impartiality and objectivity will see what happens to someone who followed this path," he told To Vima weekly. VIENNA (Reuters) - EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn has called on Turkey to address the "open question" of whether it was willing to meet the criteria to join the European Union since the uncertainty was straining its relations with the bloc. In an interview with the Austrian daily Die Presse published on Wednesday, Hahn said the arrests in Turkey of thousands of people after a coup attempt in early July had irked some EU members. "The situation as it is today in Turkey, is not such as it would contribute to our need for stability, " he told the paper. Developments after the coup "caused considerable irritation in large parts of Europe regarding the extent and speed of the wave of arrests," he said. Hahn said he was nevertheless against halting accession talks with Turkey, a measure some politicians, including Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern, have called for. Faced with Europe's criticism, Turkey has accused the EU of being fueled by anti-Turkish sentiment and hostility to President Tayyip Erdogan, saying the bloc was making grave mistakes in its response to the coup. "If you want to join (the EU) you have to fulfil the criteria. The rules are not negotiable," Hahn told the paper. "Turkey should soon make clear, whether it can and wants to accept those conditions. This open question puts a strain on the relations (with the EU)," Hahn said. He added that he was in favor of continuing the accession talks. Asked about Turkey's threats to open its borders and let migrants transit to Europe - which would end a migration deal that has helped stem a major influx of people to Greece by sea - - Hahn said that disarming of words and emotions was needed. "I do not think that Turkey can or wants to do without the EU's financial support in the migrant crisis." (Reporting by Kirsti Knolle; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) Lisbon (AFP) - The European Commission and Portugal said Wednesday they have agreed on a 5-billion-euro deal to recapitalise the state-owned Caixa Geral de Depositos (CGD) bank, including through a 2.7-billion-euro injection of state funds. The deal was provisionally approved by European Union competition chief Margrethe Vestager to meet the 28-nation bloc's tough rules on preventing unfair government aid for businesses. Portugal's banks have been under huge stress after the collapse of the country's major lender Banco Espirito Santo in 2014 due to years of risky lending. "Commissioner Vestager has last night reached an agreement in principle with the Portuguese authorities on the way forward to enable a recapitalisation of CGD on market terms," a European Commission spokeswoman said. The fact that the deal would be on market terms means it does not qualify as illegal state aid, the spokeswoman said. Under the deal, the Portuguese government will inject up to 2.7 billion euros ($3.0 billion) of capital into CGD, while the bank itself has promised to raise one billion of capital of subordinated debts. CGD will also convert into capital between 900 and 960 million euros worth of bonds, received as state aid in 2012. Additionally, the Portuguese finance ministry said in a statement that it would transfer 500 million euros worth of shares in the state-owned ParCaixa holding company to CGD. Altogether, the measures amount to a recapitalisation of more than 5 billion euros. "This is good news for Caixa and for the whole Portuguese banking sector," Finance Minister Mario Centeno told reporters in Lisbon. The European Commission will now formally take a decision on the agreement. By Andrei Khalip and Robert-Jan Bartunek LISBON/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission and Portugal have agreed in principle on the recapitalization, on market terms, of ailing state-owned bank CGD, envisaging an injection of up to 2.7 billion euros ($3 billion) in state funds and nearly as much in debt and equity. Portugal is still reeling from two bank rescues in 2014 and 2015 that have undermined investor confidence. Caixa Geral de Depositos, or CGD, its largest bank by assets, needs to bolster its capital because of massive bad loans on its books. The government has been negotiating with Brussels for months so that any injection is not considered state aid and does not count towards the budget deficit, which Lisbon has promised to cut to 2.5 percent of GDP in 2016 from last year's 4.5 percent. "This is an innovative deal in Europe...This is good news not only for CGD but for the whole Portuguese banking system," Finance Minister Mario Centeno told a news conference, adding that he expected that there would be no impact on the deficit. A spokeswoman for the European Commission said the planned recapitalization would have sufficiently high expected returns for the state to mean it would not be considered state aid. The plan, agreed in principle late on Tuesday between Centeno and European Union Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager is aimed at returning the bank to long-term health through cost cuts, improved efficiency and de-risking measures. The plan is yet to be formalized and approved by the College of Commissioners. Under the terms of the deal, Portugal will inject up to 2.7 billion euros of capital into CGD, transfer 500 million euros worth of its ParCaixa shares to CGD and convert 960 million euros of contingent convertible (CoCo) bonds into equity. CGD has also committed to raise 1 billion euros of capital through subordinated debt, which means private investors can help to increase the bank's equity without becoming shareholders. Story continues CGD last received state funds in 2012 when 1.65 billion euros were injected via CoCo bonds. Other Portuguese banks that also received state help via CoCos then have repaid most of the loans to the government. The bank posted a net loss of 205 million euros in the first half of the year due to provisions for bad loans. The government in June ordered an independent audit of CGD, after allegations of irregularities in granting loans. ($1 = 0.8881 euros) (Reporting by Robert-Jan Bartunek and Andrei Khalip; Editing by Mark Potter and David Evans) ANKARA (Reuters) - The European Union has to provide the 3 billion euro in funds promised to Turkey under a migrant deal, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday. Erdogan made the comment in a speech in Ankara. Under a landmark deal between the European Union and Ankara, Turkey has agreed to help stem the tide of illegal migrants into the bloc in exchange for aid and visa-free travel to Europe for Turks. Erdogan has repeatedly said that European leaders are not living up to their side of the pact. (Reporting by Daren Butler and Ayla Jean Yackley; Writing by David Dolan) Evan McMullin Independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin told Business Insider in a Wednesday interview his first thoughts when hearing names such as Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, and billionaire business mogul Mark Cuban. McMullin decided to recently embark on his independent candidacy after being dissatisfied by Trump and Clinton. He said that he's the only true conservative in the race. He previously worked as a CIA operative and as a policy director for the House Republican Conference. Here were his thoughts on nine people, asked to him in rapid-fire style: Trump: "I cannot do just one word. I will say he is bigoted and terribly unqualified." Clinton: "Corrupt." House Speaker Paul Ryan: "Patriot and a statesman." Republican vice-presidential nominee Mike Pence: "Uh, I, I, I'm confused at the moment by him. I'm not sure I have a one-word synopsis for him." Former 2016 presidential hopeful Jeb Bush: "A statesman and a patriot." Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Kaine: "A good man. Statesman." Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont: "Honest." Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson: "Nice man." Cuban: "Colorful and truth-speaking." Watch Business Insider's full interview with McMullin below: More From Business Insider barack obama Oscar, the $2.8 billion health-insurance startup, is pulling out of some Obamacare exchanges. According to a release from the company on Tuesday, the firm will no longer offer individual market plans through the Affordable Care Act in Dallas, Texas, and New Jersey. The release said there were "uncertainties in those two markets that will make it challenging for us to operate effectively and continue to deliver access to quality healthcare to all of our members across the country." "We hope to return to these markets as we carry on with our mission to change healthcare in the US," it added. The company has set out to revolutionize the way people get their health insurance by simplifying the offerings and making them easily accessible in its online platform. It offers all of its plans through the individual market, though it plans to begin small-group coverage soon, and the firm has embraced the Obamacare exchanges since its inception. Despite the attempts at disruption and focus on Obamacare exchanges, it appears to be facing the same challenges that the largest insurance providers such as UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, and Humana are facing in the ACA exchanges. Each of those insurers has rolled back a significant chunk of its Obamacare business this year. In an interview with Bloomberg's Zachary Tracer, Oscar CEO Mario Schlosser said problems with the exchanges were forcing the firm to focus only on markets the company was comfortable with. "The individual market isn't working as intended, and there are weaknesses in the way it's been set up," Schlosser told Tracer. "We want to focus on the markets we understand well. We want to focus on the markets where we have our own model in place." Oscar currently covers 7,000 people in Dallas and 26,000 in New Jersey. In the release, Schlosser said the company would assist those it currently covers in the two markets to find new plans and expressed concerns over prices in the exchanges. Story continues "We do not reach these decisions lightly, and will do our utmost to help our members in the affected regions find coverage for 2017," the release said. "We also look forward to seeing the individual market stabilize, allowing us to serve more people across the US in a meaningful way, while maintaining affordable pricing for consumers." The company said it still planned to expand its offerings to the San Francisco market in 2017. The firm also will continue to offer coverage in New York, San Antonio, Los Angeles, and Orange County, California. NOW WATCH: This animated map shows the most probable path to a Trump victory More From Business Insider A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck the Apennine regions of central Italy on Wednesday, killing an estimated 159 people and causing apocalyptic scenes near the epicenter. Amatrice, a small town of about 2,600, was worst hit by the quake. Early Wednesday residents gathered in the town center to await word of survivors, while others stood among the rubble of their former homes, looking out for aid workers coming to bring them food and basic supplies. Although earthquakes arent uncommon in this region, the latest quake to hit the country was a particularly bad one. Heres what we know about it: When and where did the earthquake occur? The first, 6.2-magnitude quake hit 100 km (65 miles) northeast of Rome, in the Apennine regions, at 3:36 a.m. local time. A second 5.4-magnitude quake followed at 4:33 a.m. The Lazio village Accumoli and the town of Amatrice, as well as Pescara del Tronto, in the Marches region bordering Umbria, were particularly affected due to their close proximity to the epicenter. The worst-hit towns are believed to be Accumoli, Amatrice, Posta and Arquata del Tronto, but even residents in Rome, some 170 km (105 miles) from the registered epicenter, were woken by the quake, which rattled furniture and swayed lights in most of central Italy, Reuters reports. How big is 6.2 magnitude? To contextualize the size of Wednesdays larger quake, civil-protection authorities have said it is comparable in intensity to the 2009 LAquila earthquake, in which over 300 people died. Italys civil-protection agency has described the earthquake as severe. Story continues Lina Mercantini of Ceselli, Umbria, told Reuters that the earthquake was so strong that it seemed the bed was walking across the room by itself with us on it. Olga Urbani, in the nearby town of Scheggino, said her walls creaked and all the books fell off the shelves. What is the death toll? Italys civil-protection agency said Wednesday that the death toll had risen to 159, according to the AP. Stefano Petrucci, the mayor of Accumoli, has said that an unquantifiable number of people are certainly buried under rubble, including a family of four with two young children in the town. In Amatrice, at least five people have died, while 10 people, including an elderly married couple, died in Pescara del Tronto. There are tens of victims, so many under the rubble. Were preparing a place for the bodies, Sergio Pirozzi, the mayor of Amatrice a beauty spot and popular holiday destination told reporters. The Rieti provincial chapter of Italian blood-donation charity AVIS has put out a call for people to donate blood for the injured. ANSAs estimate includes 11 people confirmed to be killed in Accumoli. Around 150 people are feared missing, including two Afghani refugees called Sultana and Hahmed, aged 26 and 27, and three nuns and four elderly guests at a local boarding house, all from Amatrice. Several dead as powerful earthquake rocks central Italy https://t.co/tCezZjTp7S pic.twitter.com/Lyt0AGi9Na BILLOUARD Serge (@SergioBill75) August 24, 2016 How did the buildings hold up? Not well. Half the town is gone, Mayor Pirozzi told reporters. There are people under the rubble. Theres been a landslide and a bridge might collapse, he added. Rescuers have had difficulty accessing areas due to landslides and damaged infrastructure. The main street through Amatrice has been devastated and emergency workers are trying to reach six people in a collapsed building. The hospital in the mountain town also had to be evacuated because of structural damage and was declared non-operational, but none of the patients were reported injured. A refuge on the Gran Sasso mountain, a popular area for hikers and climbers, said on its Facebook page that a large piece of rock had collapsed in Wednesdays quake, Reuters said. A 6.2 magnitude earthquake rattles central Italy. At least 20 people have been killed. @CBS6 #RVA pic.twitter.com/reQG7N0Ter Reba Hollingsworth (@RebaCBS6) August 24, 2016 Are earthquakes common in Italy? Yes. According to the BBC, seismic activity in the region is frequent owing to the great collision between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates nearby. In May 2012, a 5.5-magnitude quake hit the northern Emilia Romagna region, when two violent shocks 10 days apart left 23 people dead and 14,000 others homeless, the Guardian reports. The last major earthquake to hit Italy struck the central city of LAquila in 2009, killing more than 300 people. This temblor was of a similar magnitude. #Terremoto, il bilancio ufficiale e di 37 morti. Ma e un numero destinato a salire https://t.co/W1olbG1LhW pic.twitter.com/ovPwkj3PkY Rainews (@RaiNews) August 24, 2016 What next? Seismologist Andrea Tertulliani told the BBC that there are sure to be further, numerous shocks that would probably diminish in intensity. But he added that another shock on the same scale as the main one couldnt be ruled out. In the meantime, LAquila Mayor Massimo Cialente has made 250 temporary homes built after the 2009 earthquake available for the newly displaced. NEW YORK, Aug 24 (Reuters) - The former chief executive officer of Comverse Technology Inc pleaded guilty on Wednesday to securities fraud, a decade after he fled to Namibia from the United States to avoid prosecution. Jacob "Kobi" Alexander, the Woodbury, New York-based software developer's founder, entered his plea in federal court in Brooklyn, after ending his fight to avoid extradition to face charges pending since 2006. The case is one of the last open prosecutions arising from government or internal investigations of stock options backdating at over 200 companies, including Comverse, which was acquired in 2013 by former unit Verint Systems Inc. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; Editing by Peter Cooney) By Nate Raymond NEW YORK (Reuters) - The former chief executive officer of Comverse Technology Inc pleaded guilty to securities fraud on Wednesday and was ordered detained a decade after fleeing the United States for Namibia to avoid prosecution. Jacob "Kobi" Alexander, the Woodbury, New York-based software developer's founder, entered the plea in federal court in Brooklyn, after ending his fight to avoid extradition. Following his plea, the 64-year-old Israeli citizen's lawyers sought his release on a $25 million bond pending his Dec. 16 sentencing. But U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis ordered Alexander detained, calling him a flight risk. "His intelligence and his guile are a clear indication that he can't be trusted," Garaufis said. Benjamin Brafman, Alexander's lawyer, said he was "bitterly disappointed." It was unclear if Alexander would appeal. The case was one of the last open U.S. prosecutions arising from government or internal investigations of stock options backdating at over 200 companies, including Comverse, which was acquired in 2013 by former unit Verint Systems Inc (VRNT.O). In backdating, a company retroactively grants stock options on dates when stock prices are lower, making them more valuable. Concealing the practice through improper accounting is illegal, and can inflate earnings. In court, Alexander admitted he and other executives from 1998 to 2001 used "hindsight" to select the effective dates for granting options for employees, resulting in misleading statements to investors. "I deeply regret having participated in this conduct," said Alexander, who faces up to 10 years in prison. Alexander fled to Namibia with his family in July 2006 amid the investigation, prosecutors said. Charges were announced that August against himself, William Sorin, Comverse's general counsel, and David Kreinberg, its finance chief. Extradition proceedings were still pending when Alexander reached a deal in May to return to the United States to plead guilty to the single count. He had faced 35 counts. Story continues In court, Brafman said Alexander returned "so he would have this nightmare behind him." Alexander's effective exile forced him to attended his parents' funerals by Skype, he said. Sorin pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year in prison. Kreinberg was spared prison after pleading guilty. While abroad, Alexander agreed in 2009 to pay $60 million to Comverse in connection with shareholder litigation, and to waive over $72 million in claims he had against Comverse. He settled related civil government lawsuits in 2010, resulting in a $6 million penalty by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The case is U.S. v. Alexander, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, No. 06-cr-00628. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; editing by Alan Crosby and Tom Brown) By Marc Jones LONDON (Reuters) - German rating firm Scope says it is in talks to become one of the European Central Bank's recognised sovereign credit agencies, though tough requirements mean the process could take at least three years. Scope would become the first agency based in continental Europe to rate assets included in the ECB's purchase programme, and its acceptance might offer an extra lifeline to some euro zone governments currently struggling to maintain their debt at investment grade. Scope's chief executive Torsten Hinrichs told Reuters that joining Standard and Poor's, Moody's, Fitch and DBRS as agencies in carrying the ECB stamp of approval was key to its ambitions. "We are in regular discussions with the ECB, and since we are investing strategically and with a long-term horizon we are confident that we will fulfil their eligibility criteria in due time," Hinrichs said. Berlin-based Scope, which became an EU-approved agency in 2011, has just acquired German rival Feri EuroRating to give it a sovereign ratings arm. That acquisition had brought ECB approval a "step closer" Hinrichs said, but acknowledged this was still some way off. "We are still several years from meeting all the stringent criteria," he said citing particularly the ECB's requirement to have a three-year track record on key ratings. The wait will make attracting new business from the companies and governments that are its main customers that much harder, and will also be a potential frustration for some euro zone governments, for example in Lisbon. Feri, which will be folded into Scope, rates Portugal at BBB. That is a notch higher than DBRS whose BBB (low) grade is the only rating keeping the country's bonds within the ECB's 1.5 trillion euro purchase programme. The ECB only buys a government's debt if it has at least one investment grade rating or is in a formal bailout programme. So if Feri was already recognised by the central bank, Lisbon would have a bit more breathing space. Story continues Italy is also beholden to Toronto-based DBRS. It put Rome's A (low) rating under review last month and if it downgrades, that will pile additional pressure on the country's struggling banks. In that event, the ECB would trim as much as 8.5 percent of the value of Italian bonds that many of the country's banks swap for zero-interest ECB loans. The lenders would then face a scramble to fill the gap with other suitable assets. Feri's rating for Italy is on a par with DBRS at A-, which again would have provided an additional buffer. CHICKEN AND EGG An ECB spokeswoman declined to comment on the status of discussions with Scope but said the central bank "accepts all rating agencies that are appropriate for the specific purpose of monetary policy operations." A crucial prerequisite was "well-established and diversified credit risk expertise across asset classes and euro area countries." The ECB laid out fuller details last year, stating any new agency must rate at least three out of four of covered bonds, uncovered bonds, corporate bonds and asset-backed securities, and two-thirds of the euro zone's 19 countries. (click https://www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/pdf/other/eb201601_focus03.en.pdf) Hinrichs said the demand for a three-year rating track record was the biggest hurdle. "ECB eligibility requirements create a 'chicken and egg' problem for any European credit rating agency which wants to challenge the oligopoly of the big three (S&P, Moody's, Fitch)." "Lack of ECB recognition makes it harder to win new clients. At the same time, comprehensive coverage of European credit assets is a key ECB requirement." (Additional reporting by John Geddie; editing by John Stonestreet) By Mayank Bhardwaj NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Monsanto Co has withdrawn an application seeking approval for its next generation of genetically modified cotton seeds in India, a major escalation in a long-running dispute between New Delhi and the world's biggest seed maker. A letter sent by Monsanto's local partner in India, the conglomerate's biggest market outside the Americas, strongly objects to a government proposal that would force Monsanto to share its technology with local seed companies. The company is also at loggerheads with India over how much it can charge for its genetically modified cotton seeds, costing it tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue every year. The unprecedented decision to pull the application, which has not previously been reported, could set back Monsanto's efforts to introduce its new seed, called Bollgard II Roundup Ready Flex technology, for years and lead to further losses. It will also ratchet up pressure on the Indian government, as it undermines Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to make the country look more attractive to foreign investors. It could also hurt Indian cotton farmers. The new seed variety helps fight against weeds, which sap the cotton crop of vital nutrients and depress yields. A Monsanto spokesman declined to comment on the withdrawal. A spokesman for the environment ministry, which had the application before it, was not available for comment. In a letter, dated July 5, Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Co Ltd (Mahyco), Monsanto's technology partner in India, singled out a government proposal, mooted in May, that would require Monsanto to share its proprietary technology. After protests by Monsanto and other global seed companies, the government temporarily withdrew the order and decided to seek feedback from stakeholders. It is now evaluating the feedback. Mahyco said in the letter, a copy of which was seen by Reuters, that the proposal "alarmed us and raised serious concerns about the protection of intellectual property rights." Story continues Mahyco also asked the regulator, Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), to return data and other material submitted by it as part of the application. The regulator has done that, a government official said. LOST OPPORTUNITY India first allowed GM cotton cultivation in 2002 by approving Monsanto's single gene Bollgard I technology. New Delhi approved the double gene Bollgard II in 2006, helping transform India into the world's top producer and second-largest exporter of the fibre as output jumped fourfold. Bollgard II Roundup Ready Flex would have been the first technological breakthrough since the launch of Bollgard II, potentially pushing up crop yields at a time when some farmers have said the existing variety was losing its effectiveness. Bollgard II, introduced in 2006, is slowly becoming vulnerable to bollworms, experts say, and, as any technology, has a limited shelf life. Still, more than 41 million GM cotton seed packets were sold last year, earning royalties of 6.5 billion Indian rupees ($97 million) for Monsanto. Mahyco applied to the GEAC for approval of the new GM seed some time in 2007. The application was in the final stages of a tedious and time-consuming process, which included years of field trials. In its letter to the GEAC, Mahyco said it would seek to revive the application for Bollgard II Roundup Ready Flex "at a suitable time." But the government official said there were no guarantees it would be allowed to do so if it changed its mind in the future and would likely have to start afresh. ($1 = 67.11 rupees) (Editing by Paritosh Bansal and Mike Collett-White) clean and clear cleanser Soaps with microbeads those tiny pieces of plastic that help exfoliate your skin can keep you clean, but they also harm the environment. Microbeads don't dissolve, so they enter water streams by the billions. In 2015, the US passed a law that will ban soaps, toothpastes, and body washes that contain microbeads. The law calls for a phasing out of the beads from cosmetics beginning July 1, 2017. But now members of Britain's Parliament are calling for a worldwide ban on all products containing the beads. "Trillions of tiny pieces of plastic are accumulating in the worlds oceans, lakes and estuaries, harming marine life and entering the food chain," Committee Chair Mary Creagh told the BBC. "A single shower can result in 100,000 plastic particles entering the ocean." Because they're so small, microbeads don't get filtered out by wastewater treatment plants. Instead, they are discharged directly into rivers, lakes, and the ocean. A 2013 study found as many as 1.7 million of the tiny plastic particles per square kilometer in Lake Erie, one of the bodies of water in the Great Lakes region where much of our debris ends up. In New York state alone, 19 tons of microbeads are washed down the drain each year, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society. "Microbeads are highly damaging to the natural environment and the wildlife that live there," the Wildlife Conservation Society said in a press release. "Because natural alternatives already exist, a ban on their use in personal care products makes perfect sense." In waterways, over 250 species of marine animals mistake the tiny scraps of plastic for food, according to a 2013 study. And harmful pollutants like DDT can also stick to the beads as they pass through the pipes. When fish, turtles, and other aquatic wildlife feed on the tiny bits of plastic, the microbeads can become lodged in the animals' stomachs or intestines. When this happens, the animals often suffer health problems or stop eating and die of starvation. Story continues "We have the evidence that the micro plastics do cause harm," Marcus Eriksen, executive director of the 5 Gyres Institute, a research group that led the 2013 study, told Scientific American at the time. "I am hoping we can translate that research into some positive action." If the proposed ban is implemented worldwide, Eriksen would certainly get his wish. Gyres plastic microbead detail Johnson & Johnson, Unilever, and Procter & Gamble have made pledges to phase out the most common kind of microbead from all products, regardless of where they're sold. The International Campaign Against Microbeads in Cosmetics has compiled a helpful list of the products that most likely contain microbeads, which will be banned in the US starting in 2017. Here are the products: products with microbeads products with microbeads products with microbeads products that contain microbeads NOW WATCH: The best logo changes of 2015 More From Business Insider * Government opens up new front on bank as conflict stalls * Bank guarantees food imports for country nearing famine * New rival bank in violent Aden would face uphill battle By Sami Aboudi and Noah Browning DUBAI, Aug 24 (Reuters) - In Yemen's war of attrition, the Saudi-backed exiled government has now decided that the central bank is an easier target than the capital, shielded from its troops by 60 kilometres (40 miles) of daunting mountains teeming with fighters. A decree this month to cut the bank from the outside world is aimed at using economic pressure to vanquish the Houthi fighters of the Zaydi branch of Shi'ite Islam, who have ruled the capital and most of northern Yemen for nearly two years. It means the Houthis may struggle to pay state employees, including teachers, doctors and the soldiers from an army that mostly fights on their side in the civil war. But it also means that millions of people in territory controlled by both sides will become poorer, and a country that imports 90 percent of its food may have no way to feed itself. Diplomats, economic experts and employees of the central bank itself say the move risks destroying the lifeline for millions of impoverished Yemenis and pushing the Arabian Peninsula's poorest country to the edge of starvation. "There is a trend ... that what could not have been achieved by military means can be achieved through the economy, through an economic war," Rafat al-Akhali, a former cabinet minister, told Reuters. The moves against the central bank were part of a new strategy: to "allow the economy to fail, and that's going to put more pressure on the Houthis" and their ally, ousted former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, he said. LIFELINE Yemen's central bank, under veteran governor Mohamed Bin Humam, is one of the last state institutions to survive the rift that split the country when the Houthis took over the capital and forced President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to flee. Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies accuse the Houthis of being pawns of Iran and launched a military intervention to restore Hadi to power. The Houthis have held on, having made an alliance with Hadi's predecessor Saleh, who enjoys the support of most of the military. Story continues Despite meagre means, the bank has continued to provide lines of credit guaranteeing imports and to pay the salaries of state employees, including troops in units that have fought on both sides of the conflict. However, with the Houthis in control of most population centres and state organs, and enjoying the support of most of the army, the bank's activities disproportionately benefit them. Hadi's own hastily recruited forces, paid largely by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, have struggled to push back the Houthi-allied forces as frontlines have barely budged in more than a year. Sources in Hadi's administration have said the president was looking to name a new board for the central bank and a new governor to replace Bin Humam, and to relocate the bank to the southern port city of Aden, which is under government control. Farea al-Muslimi, an analyst with the Middle East Institute in Washington DC, said action against the central bank would cut "the only artery" holding the country together. "It is ridiculous to think that you can clone the central bank so quickly in Aden," Muslimi said. The security situation in the city, which had seen repeated suicide bombings targeting senior officials, including the city governor and police chief, makes Aden unsuitable for the bank, he said. A spokesman for Hadi's government did not reply to a question on the issue. The government has said in the past its decisions over the bank are guided by the need to protect public funds that rightly belong to the Yemeni people. PLUNGING RESERVES Hadi's government asked international financial institutions on August 6 to block the central bank from accessing state funds abroad, accusing it of guiding $4 billion in foreign exchange reserves toward the Houthi war effort. The bank denies that. Diplomats say Yemen's foreign exchange reserves are kept abroad and could not be readily pilfered or paid out to fighters in the country. Nevertheless, the bank's reserves have eroded as the war has ground on, eliminating revenue from oil sales and other sources. According to an internal document seen by Reuters, the gross reserve balance had fallen as low as $1.318 billion by the end of June 2016 from $2.085 billion at the end of December 2015. A central bank official in Sanaa argued in June that the bank remained independent in its effort to mitigate the economic fallout of the conflict and accused the exiled government of seeking to foment instability and even revolt in Houthi areas. "If there were no central bank in Yemen operating like this, the effects of the war could be much worse, and that's what they (the exiled government) want," the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters. "They want people to be angry inside Yemen, they want people to go out on the streets and try to push them to change the Houthis." STRANGLING Hadi's government has already started to shun the central bank. The government announced over the weekend that it would no longer cooperate with the bank, and would withhold customs revenues and revenues from oil exports that resumed this month. "We have seen senseless attempts to delegitimise the central bank governor," a senior Western diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of criticising an exiled government that foreign states still recognise. "Why would a truly patriotic government do something like this?" the diplomat said. The diplomat said the government should put the interests of Yemen's citizens before its war aims: "This is even more valid given how poor Yemen is and the humanitarian situation." Poor and dry, Yemen imports more than 90 percent of its food, including most of its wheat and all its rice. Some 21 million of Yemen's 28 million people need some form of humanitarian aid and more than half the population suffers from malnutrition. Running short of cash, the bank was forced to shed its guarantees of vital staples like rice and sugar. Muslimi, the analyst, said any measures against the central bank would be more dangerous than the decision to go to war itself. "The president may think he will be strangling the Houthis, but he will be strangling Yemen." (Editing by William Maclean and Peter Graff) By Subrat Patnaik (Reuters) - Express Inc lost more than a quarter of its market value on Wednesday as its lower-than-expected results belied a recent uptick in apparel sales that has helped most retailers. Express, which had outperformed many of its peers in a weak apparel market last year, also slashed same-store sales and profit forecasts for the year. "Earnings were below our guidance, reflecting challenging store traffic," Chief Executive David Kornberg said on a conference call. Kornberg also cited a "lack of clarity" across the company's assortment as there were too many choices, particularly in the women's line. Shares of the Columbus, Ohio-based company fell as much as 25.8 percent to $11.90, setting up the stock for its worst day in more than four years. Most apparel retailers and department stores reported largely better-than-expected results for the second quarter, helped by favorable weather and targeted promotions. "Express diverged from the pack in 2Q as the company was unable to take advantage of an improved mall apparel backdrop, in our view, reporting a deeply underwhelming comp," Deutsche Bank analyst Paul Trussell wrote in a note. Sales at Express stores open for more than a year fell 8 percent in the second quarter ended July 30, much steeper than the 4.7 percent decline expected by analysts on average, according to research firm Consensus Metrix. Express and larger rival American Eagle Outfitters were the rare bright spots among store-based apparel retailers last year as competition from online and off-price retailers intensified. Express's sales growth, however, has lost its momentum this year as its mall-based stores failed to attract more shoppers. "Results continue to support the belief that Express is a mall-dependent volatile fashion retailer," Nomura analyst Simeon Siegel wrote in a note. The company's net income more than halved to $10.1 million, or 13 cents per share, in the quarter, as the company increased markdowns on products as it prepared for the fall season. Story continues Net sales fell 5.8 percent to $504.8 million, down for the first time in nearly two years. Analysts on average had expected a profit of 17 cents per share and sales of $520.95 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. The company also slashed its full-year adjusted earning forecast to $1.00-$1.14 per share, from $1.41-$1.54, as it expects traffic to remain challenging. (Reporting by Subrat Patnaik in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty) 1 1 Facebook's new app, Lifestage, is a social network specifically for high schoolers. But you don't have to actually be a high schooler to use it. The app, which was created by 19-year-old Facebook employee Michael Sayman, is designed for teens to find and connect with other people who go to their school. Instead of directly messaging each other, high schoolers are supposed to use the app to share selfies and videos that all of their classmates can watch. Lifestage is so focused on reaching high schoolers that it blocks people who list their age as over 21 in the app from joining a school or looking up other accounts. But there's one catch: you can easily fake your age in the app and pretend to be a high schooler. Lifestage Facebook app When you first open Lifestage, it asks you to create an account with a phone number and enter your age. Even though the app is owned by Facebook, there's no option to sign in with a Facebook account. A Facebook spokesperson told Business Insider that it created Lifestage after hearing feedback from teenagers who said there wasn't a good social network for finding who went to their school. The spokesperson also said that requiring only a phone number was meant to encourage teens without Facebook accounts to use the app. While testing Lifestage, I created one account that said I was 124 years old. I wasn't able to add myself to a high school or search for any accounts. Then I created another account that said I was 18 years old. In a matter of seconds, I could easily choose from a list of nearby high schools I wanted to join. i created another account and said i was 18 then i was able to add a nearby high school If it seems odd to you that an app that's specifically designed for and aimed at minors doesn't have any safeguards to prevent adults from posing as minors, you're not alone. Story continues Lifestage's lack of age authentication and visibility settings pose serious privacy concerns, according to Common Sense Media, a non-profit organization that educates families about internet safety for children. Our view is that parents should most certainly pay attention," Common Sense Media president Amy Guggenheim Shenkan told Business Insider in an interview. There are some features in the app that are concerning. Shenkan said that, because Lifestage doesn't show you who watches your videos, it could give "kids a false sense of security" that they're only being watched by their peers. When Facebook first launched its social network for college students in 2004, users were required to provide a college email address in order to sign up. High school students don't typically have a school-provided email address, which makes it tougher to implement a similar system for Lifestage. But Facebook would not say why the service doesn't include some kind of system to prevent adults from posing as high school students. A Facebook spokesperson told Business Insider that users can report "concerning activity" in the app and that the company will investigate reports like it does for normal Facebook accounts. The spokesperson also said that a Lifestage account can only be tied to one phone number as "an additional level of protection and enforcement." Here's Facebook's full statement: "We are releasing Lifestage to a limited number of high schools. Lifestage will not provide access to content from other people for users who list an age above 21. We encourage anyone using the app who experiences or witnesses any concerning activity to report it to us through the reporting options built into the app. We take these reports seriously. Unlike other places on the web, Lifestage is tied to a person's phone number and only one account is allowed per phone number this provides an additional level of protection and enforcement." NOW WATCH: How to stop videos from auto-playing on your Facebook feed More From Business Insider As technology advances inexorably, the domination of wearables seems increasingly inevitable. And it seems that the mainstream fashion industry is gradually waking up to the necessity to embrace the trend, teaming up with tech brands to ensuring that their trackers, smart devices and other connected items acquiesce with the rules of stylish design. With tech brands such as Fitbit and Jawbone straining to streamline and polish their products in order to reposition themselves as stylish accessories, several retail brands are also embracing the strategy of incorporating connected items into their collections. This week British clothing giant Topshop unveiled the winner of its 'Top Pitch' competition, a wearable tech bootcamp program aimed at encouraging entrepreneurs and gaining exposure for them in the fashion industry. The retailer will now work with the winner, The Crated, on designing a prototype for a heated garment, Gadgets and Wearables reports. The two additional finalists, Luma Legacy and Pins Collective, which produce memory-sharing charms and digital badges respectively, will continue to receive mentoring from the high street chain. New York label Kate Spade also got on board with the trend this week, announcing plans to unveil a debut collection of connected wearables for the fall. According to WWD, the brand has been working on a hybrid smartwatch, a bangle-inspired tracker and a silicone tracker designed specifically for women, with features including sleep tracking, music control and time zone updates. September will see the release of Hugo Boss's first collection of smart watches, which will be available in two different men's styles, while the MIT Media Lab and Microsoft Research are already thinking one step ahead and are moving their experiments into the realm of the beauty industry. On the back of the success of metallic flash tattoos, the two design giants have created 'DuoSkin', an on-skin device that resembles a temporary gold or silver leaf transfer but transforms the skin into an interactive interface. It is a measure of just how far the wearable tech concept has come since its debut -- and although it is hard to predict its future, one thing looks certain: being connected is about to get a lot more fashionable. The 19-year-old Florida State University sophomore accused of fatally stabbing a couple and trying to eat one victim's face is suffering organ failure, his father tells PEOPLE. Since his alleged August 15 attack, Austin Harrouff has been a patient at St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, where he remains in critical but stable condition, the Martin County sheriff's office tells PEOPLE. Reached by phone Tuesday, Dr. Wade Harrouff, a dentist, tells PEOPLE his son's liver is failing, his lungs are filling with fluid and he is experiencing esophageal bleeding. Doctors are planning to do an MRI on Harrouff Wednesday afternoon, after which "we should know more," the elder Harrouff adds. When asked whether his son is expected to recover, Harrouff says, "I can't get a prognosis from anybody, so I just don't know. His organs are shutting down, and I'm hoping we learn a lot more about his condition today." Police allege that after the killings, Harrouff consumed unspecified chemicals he found in the couple's garage. Doctors say he has injuries consistent with caustic chemical consumption. His father also tells PEOPLE that Harrouff's current medical condition likely resulted from his alleged ingestion of the hazardous materials. Police have speculated that Harrouff may have been under the influence of the synthetic drug flakka at the time of the alleged attack. Harrouff tested negative for common street drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and marijuana, but more extensive testing, which might take up to three weeks, is being performed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine whether Harrouff was under the influence of bath salts or flakka. In YouTube videos uploaded four days prior to the incident, Harrouff, a former high school athlete, is seen discussing steroid use without saying he takes them. In other clips, Harrouff appears to lift weights and makes references to himself as "The God of Fitness." Harrouff wrote on YouTube page believed to be his, "I've got a psycho side and a normal side," and "I've lost my mind help me find it." His father insists his son didn't do steroids, saying, "He always took pride in not being on steroids." The elder Harrouff adds his son's legal bills have surpassed $100,000. Story continues Father: FSU Student Who Allegedly Tried to Eat Man's Face Suffering Organ Failure After Drinking Chemicals| Crime & Courts, Murder, True Crime John Stevens, 59, and Michelle Mishcon, 53, were found dead after the alleged attack in the garage of their Tequesta home. Officers allegedly had to pull Harrouff off of Stevens. As he was allegedly biting Stevens, officers kicked Harrouff in the face several times, with no effect, police said. According to police, Harrouff was allegedly biting Stevens' face and had bitten into his abdomen. Stevens' garage contained several solvents and other dangerous solutions, such as paint thinners and chemical cleansers. Police say they don't know why Harrouff might have allegedly consumed the chemicals. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. Once he is released from the hospital, Harrouff will be charged with two counts of first-degree murder as well as attempted first-degree murder for allegedly stabbing the coupleas neighbor, 47-year-old Jeff Fisher, who tried fending off the couple's alleged attacker, police say. He also faces burglary and resisting arrest charges, police say. Police say they are still trying to determine a motive for Harrouff's alleged attack. During a press briefing Tuesday, Martin County Sheriff William Snyder confirmed Harrouff sustained an "extremely deep" laceration to his right hand that nearly severed his thumb during the alleged attack. He said it appears the injury allegedly occurred as Harrouff's hand slipped and slid down a knife as he plunged it into one of his victims. Harrouff's parents issued a statement over the weekend, expressing their condolences to the victims. "There are no words we can offer to give any real comfort for this tragic loss," the statement reads. "There are no words we can offer that we can make up for the injury sustained by Jeff Fisher who is doing what we would want all good neighbors to do which was to try to help innocent people from being hurt or killed." On Friday, the Martin County Sheriff's Office released video showing Harrouff walking out of the Duffy's Restaurant in Jupiter, Florida, the night of the attack. It is unclear whether Harrouff has retained legal counsel. Getty Image The FBI is investigating a cybersecurity breach of the New York Times and other U.S. news outlets by hackers thought to be working for Russian intelligence organizations. According to CNN, investigators suspect Russian intelligence is likely behind the attacks and that Russian hackers are targeting news organizations as part of a broader series of hacks that also have focused on Democratic Party organizations. The FBI and the Times declined to confirm the attacks or subsequent investigation. Like most news organizations, we are vigilant about guarding against attempts to hack into our systems, New York Times spokesperson Eileen Murphy said in a statement. There are a variety of approaches we take up to and including working with outside investigators and law enforcement. We wont comment on any specific attempt to gain unauthorized access to The Times. There is already ample evidence connecting the Russian government to widespread cyber attacks targeting the DNC, DCCC, and Hillary Clinton campaign. Authorities are concerned that the Kremlin may be attempting to meddle in the U.S. election and help propel Donald Trump to victory. Trumps relationship with Russian president Vladimir Putin has raised eyebrows since before the real estate tycoon clinched the Republican presidential nomination. Trump has said that he does and does not have a relationship with Putin at different times over the last few years. (Via CNN) By Larry Fine NEW YORK (Reuters) - Roger Federer, who is sidelined for the rest of the year, said on Wednesday he plans to return to competition in Australia in January at the Hopman Cup and the Australian Open. The record 17-times grand slam singles winner announced last month that he would be missing the Rio Olympics, the U.S. Open and the remainder of the 2016 schedule in order to properly recover after having knee surgery earlier this year. The Swiss world number four said he was taking a positive outlook. "I don't see it as the end of something. I see it as a beginning to something I'm working for, and when I come back to the Hopman Cup and then to the Australian Open ... that's what I'm working for now," said the 35-year-old Federer. Federer was speaking at a news conference where it was announced that he and Rafa Nadal were committing to play for Team Europe in the inaugural Laver Cup matches next year against a rest of the world team in Prague on Sept. 22-24. "I'm doing well and I've been training as much as I possibly could to restrengthen my quad and my body to keep it in shape," said Federer, who had surgery on his left knee in February. "So when I head back into the gym for full on fitness in the next couple of months, then I'm ready for it. I just hope to be super strong when I come back in January." (Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes) The frigid waters off Japans eastern coast teem with sardines, mackerel, anchovy and scallop. They are some of Asias most fertile fishing grounds, inspiring an exquisite seafood-rich national cuisine, and supporting a domestic fishing industry worth some $9 billion each year. Today, though, this natural bounty is under threat from a stealthy interloper: an armada of up to 200 Chinese fishing boats, which recently set up camp at the edge of Japans Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The boats are allegedly using destructive fishing practices like drift nets to vacuum up all manner of sea life, one Japanese official reveals to TIME. This area is a breading ground so they are catching lots of juveniles, says the official, speaking on condition of anonymity. It has had a massive impact on Japanese fisheries. Some Chinese vessels have even entered Japanese waters, raising regional tensions and prompting Japans Foreign Minister to summon the Chinese ambassador for an explanation. But Japan is only the latest country to feel the brunt of Chinas bloated fishing industry, which suffers from overcapacity owing in part to huge government subsidies. Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) Chinese fishing is reaching crisis point for some of the worlds most vulnerable communities, say environmentalists, exacerbated by Chinas own chronically depleted coastal waters. Last week, Chinas Ministry of Agriculture said 13 million tons of fish are caught in Chinese territorial waters each year 4 million to 5 million tons more than whats sustainable. Read More: The Pacific Bluefin Tuna Is Going, Going Growing concern in Beijing over local waters may spell bad news for far-flung fishing grounds, as Chinese fleets turn their attention to bountiful seas across the developing world. New data from environmental groups indicates that Chinas several hundred-strong distant water fleet is increasingly employing IUU tactics to plunder millions of dollars of seafood disguising their true location via cloaking devices, employing destructive fishing techniques and flouting the territorial boundaries of sovereign nations. A significant proportion of this is destined for American dinner tables; one study estimates that 20% to 32% of all wild-caught seafood imported to the U.S. in 2011 was illegally procured. China is the No. 1 exporter of seafood to American homes. Story continues Environmentalists warn that without action we could face mass extinction on the seas. In addition, IUU fishing endangers the livelihoods of millions of people and threatens global security, prompting calls for better enforcement of regulations to compliment new state of the art vessel-tracking tools. West Africa, which boasts some of the worlds most fertile and productive fishing grounds, is particularly vulnerable, as local governments suffer from poor enforcement capabilities and endemic corruption. Today, one-third of all seafood caught off West Africa is illegally obtained by Chinese fishermen, says Steve Trent, executive director of the London-based NGO Environmental Justice Foundation. Its happening on an alarming scale and bigger than weve ever seen before. Much of impoverished West Africa relies on fishing for income and sustenance. However, Chinese fishing vessels, using illegal techniques like large drift nets banned by the U.N. in 1992 because of their indiscriminate killing have lead to a precipitous decline in the number and size of fish caught. Drift nets uncovered by environmentalists range from 10 to over 100 nautical miles in length, plunging from buoys at the surface to lead weights some 40 ft. deep. Traditional fishermen, paddling dugout wooden canoes and hand-casting nets, cannot compete with these insidious curtains of death, as they have been dubbed by one environmental group. Sharks, turtles and porpoises are routinely snared as bycatch. Two or three industrial vessels can clear the near coastal waters of Sierra Leone, for example, in a very short period of time if they use destructive fishing gear and practices, says Trent. Its not about hundreds or thousands; relatively few boats can wreak havoc. Read More: The Environment Is the Silent Casualty of Beijings Ambitions in the South China Sea Five years ago, most boats targeting West Africa were Taiwanese or South Korean; now nearly all are Chinese. As well as corruption and poor enforcement, efforts to stop IUU fishing are deliberately hampered by Chinese vessels concealing their identities. Often they simply change the names painted on the side, unlawfully adopt the flags of the host nation, or simply flee to international waters if challenged by the local coast guard. Increasingly, though, boats are concealing their true whereabouts by tampering with Automatic Identification System (AIS) devices. AIS are global satellite positioning beacons that display a vessels location. They can be picked up by various monitoring systems, including satellites and handheld receivers. However, coverage is piecemeal and different nations have contrasting AIS regulations. For the past three years, Skytruth, a U.S. NGO, has been working with Google and other partners to develop a global AIS monitoring system, Global Fishing Watch, to allow real-time tracking of vessels in a bid to combat IUU fishing. It is due to go live next month. In the course of his research, one of Skytruths top researchers, Bjorn Bergman, noticed something curious. He saw that a Chinese vessel with an AIS reading in international waters off New Zealand was adopting a curious, though somewhat familiar, route. We moved its track over and saw it fitted exactly against the coast of South America, he tells TIME. It was pretty clear that the Straits of Magellan was the real location of the boat. Since then, Skytruth says that by contrasting AIS with visual or other forms of data it has proved that at least 40 Chinese vessels are transmitting consistently false locations. There have been boats claiming to be off the coast of Mexico but really in the Guinea EEZ, and some even bizarrely purporting to be in the center of landmasses. It is almost exclusively Chinese vessels that we have found spoofing, he says. Read More: Oceans: From Climate Change to Overfishing, Bad News for the Deep Blue Most of the vessels involved belong to the Fu Yuan Yu fleet. According to official records, there are 29 long-range fishing companies in Chinas southern Fujian province, sending out 500 boats, the majority of which use the name Fu Yuan Yu with a number attached. Fu Yuan Yu ships also comprise most of those currently operating off the coast of Japans EEZ. Some of these are also falsifying AIS data, says the same Japanese official. (TIME contacted several of the specific companies involved but failed to get a response from any.) A Foreign Ministry spokesperson tells TIME that no Chinese vessels were transmitting false locations, using illegal fishing methods and that China abided by international maritime laws. We received one complaint from Japan and have investigated, he says. A spokesperson for Chinas Fisheries department adds that AIS systems on fishing boats are strictly checked when installing and regularly examined by authorities. Fishing tools are subject to Chinese law, any violation will be punished, he says. Chinas new five-year plan flags fishing overcapacity as a significant problem, and state media on Wednesday trumpeted a joint operation with the U.S. Coast Guard in the Pacific, which it says snared hundreds of illegal fishing boats since July 21 of them using drift nets. However, top-level policy appears estranged from implementation. We protest a lot to the Chinese government but they just ignore us, says the Japanese official. Environmentalists are calling on the Beijing authorities to better regulate the activities of all Chinese vessels, scale back overcapacity and end the state subsidies fishing operations enjoy. They also want China and all world governments to make AIS systems obligatory and companies legally culpable should their readings not be correct. Unique vessel identifiers a permanent code equivalent to a car vehicle-identification number etched into the engine block should also be made mandatory for all vessels around the globe, they say. Read More: Inside the International Contest Over the Most Important Waterway In the World Making AIS mandatory would also aid the ability of Skytruths Global Fishing Watch system to track all vessels around the world, flagging those that appear to be using destructive fishing techniques, like drift nets. Vessels exhibit certain characteristics depending on their purpose. Container ships, for example, always take the straightest possible route between two ports to reduce fuel costs. Skytruth is developing an algorithm that would automatically flag vessels that betray classic drift net fishing behavior essentially, sailing in large loops with lengthy pauses at each end via their AIS readings. That way, when retailers such as Walmart or Costco are sourcing seafood, they can choose those fishing vessels that have satellite data definitely showing where, when and how they have been operating. When the market starts rewarding operators that are transparent and trackable, and penalizing those that arent, then were really going start shrinking down the dark fleet, says Skytruth president John Amos. Combining responsible consumption, satellite technology and enhanced enforcement will help protect the worlds seas, and those that live by them, from creeping ruin. With reporting by Zhang Chi / Beijing HELSINKI (Reuters) - Finnish police has arrested Iraqi man on suspicion of taking part in a 2014 mass killing of Iraqi soldiers by Islamic State militants at former U.S. military base Camp Speicher north of Baghdad, the authorities said on Wednesday. As many as 1,700 mainly Shi'ite Muslim soldiers were killed after they fled the base when it was overrun by Islamic State, the ultra-hardline Sunni militant group. He was likely a member of Islamic State or another militant group, police said. Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said the 24-year-old man had entered Finland in August 2015. It did not say whether the person has sought asylum. Most of the 32,500 people who sought asylum in Finland last year came from Iraq. Finnish police is also investigating two Iraqi men shooting 11 unarmed prisoners at Camp Speicher, that were filmed by Islamic State. Iraq hanged 36 militants on Sunday over the mass killing at the base. (Reporting by Tuomas Forsell; Editing by Jussi Rosendahl and Raissa Kasolowsky) JOHANNESBURG, Aug 24 (Reuters) - South Africa's economy, the most developed on the continent, will be destroyed if President Jacob Zuma fires Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, ex-finance minister Trevor Manuel said on Wednesday. The Hawks police unit asked Gordhan and other former officials at the South African Revenue Service to report on Thursday in relation to contravention of surveillance regulations, fuelling speculation of a plot to oust him. "Such action (firing Gordhan) will destroy this economy," Manuel told ENCA television. "The next move is actually up to the head of state to call them (Hawks) in and say: if you have compelling evidence let's see what it is." (Reporting by Tiisetso Motsoeneng; writing by Joe Brock; editing by Mark Heinrich) JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's economy, the most developed on the continent, will be destroyed if President Jacob Zuma fires Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, ex-finance minister Trevor Manuel said on Wednesday. The Hawks police unit asked Gordhan and other former officials at the South African Revenue Service to report on Thursday in relation to contravention of surveillance regulations, fuelling speculation of a plot to oust him. "Such action (firing Gordhan) will destroy this economy," Manuel told ENCA television. "The next move is actually up to the head of state to call them (Hawks) in and say: if you have compelling evidence let's see what it is." (Reporting by Tiisetso Motsoeneng; writing by Joe Brock; editing by Mark Heinrich) By Julie Steenhuysen CHICAGO (Reuters) - Florida Governor Rick Scott on Wednesday said the federal government has so far not delivered all of the Zika antibody tests and laboratory support he has requested as the state battles the spread of the virus. The complaint comes as Zika cases mount in some of the most popular tourist destinations in the state. On Wednesday, the Florida Department of Health reported a second non-travel related case of Zika in Palm Beach County, bringing the state's total to 43 cases. That followed Tuesday's announcement of Florida's first case of Zika transmitted by mosquitoes in Pinellas County, some 265 miles (425 km) from Miami where the first locally transmitted U.S. cases were reported. Federal health officials last week warned pregnant women not to travel to Miami Beach after Florida confirmed that the mosquito-borne Zika virus was active there, becoming the second area in Miami to be affected after Wynwood. The Zika virus was first detected in Brazil last year and has since spread across the Americas. The virus poses a risk to pregnant women because it can cause severe birth defects. It has been linked to more than 1,800 cases of microcephaly in Brazil. In a teleconference on Wednesday, Scott made a plea for more support in fighting Zika, complaining that "Congress and the White House have not been good partners." Scott said he asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for 5,000 Zika antibody tests last week, but so far has only received less than 1,200. He had also asked for additional lab support personnel to speed testing. Scott also said the state has asked the CDC for 10,000 Zika prevention kits for pregnant women, which have not been provided. And it has asked the White House for a detailed plan on how to work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which he said has not been provided. CDC spokesman Tom Skinner said in a statement the agency has been responding to Floridas requests. Story continues CDC has and will continue to provide the support to Florida to address the Zika outbreak. We've provided millions in federal funds, deployed personnel and we've shipped materials for testing and more for testing still to come, Skinner said in an email. Scott made some of the same complaints about the CDC last week, including the request for 10,000 Zika Prevention Kits. Asked about delays in delivering the kits in a conference call on Friday, CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden said the agency has already provided 10,000 products containing the insect repellant DEET for use in Florida. Frieden said the Zika Prevention Kits contain a number of products that would not necessarily be useful in Florida. In addition to insect repellent, the kits include bed nets, larvicide tablets and condoms. "We sent the state of Florida more than $35 million for Zika and other emergencies. That includes funds to purchase the other products they might want in a Zika prevention kit," he said. As for the request on Friday of 5,000 antibody test kits, Frieden said, "We've already arranged for them and they will begin shipping on Tuesday." He also said that the CDC has provided Florida laboratories with some technical support. As for the new case in Palm Beach County, Scott said he believed it was not related to an earlier non-travel related case announced earlier in the same county. He said state health officials have been doing aggressive mosquito abatement and have begun sampling individuals in the area to look for more cases. "At this point we still believe we only have non-travel related local transmission of Zika in two areas," Scott said, referring to the Wynwood neighborhood in Miami-Dade county, and a section of Miami Beach. (Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen; additonal reporting by Anna Driver in New York; Editing by Bernard Orr) From the moment he walked into Orlando's Florida Hospital for Children with a headache so severe that he couldn't tolerate the slightest touch, the odds of survival were stacked against 16-year-old Sebastian DeLeon. But thanks to a sharp-eyed laboratory coordinator and the quick delivery of a drug not yet approved for treatment of his condition, the South Florida teen is on the mend and his case may prove a precedent for emergency room protocols nationwide. DeLeon, who had recently worked as a camp counselor in Broward County, was vacationing with his family in Orlando when he experienced a pounding headache on Friday, August 7 and went to the emergency room. His symptoms, including signs of meningitis, worsened the next day and on Sunday, he was admitted to the hospital. Doctors initially suspected meningitis, an infection of the fluid and membranes around the brain and spinal cord that can cause brain damage in a matter of hours and prove fatal within 24 hours. But a test of his spinal fluid turned up something different primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), caused by the brain-eating naegleria fowleri amoeba and fatal in 97 percent of cases. At first, Laboratory Coordinator Sheila Black didn't notice the amoeba's presence. When lying still, these single-cell organisms resemble white blood cells under a microscope. But after reading DeLeon's medical chart, noting his age and the fact that he had recently swam in a warm, freshwater lake a key environment for the amoeba she took a second look. "I went back and studied it for a while," Black told reporters during a Tuesday media conference, reports CBS Miami. "The amoeba aren't always necessarily very active, so you literally have to look and watch. And that's when I saw the pseudopods moving on the amoeba." That second look set off a flurry of phone calls between the hospital pharmacist, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), the Florida Health Department and Todd MacLaughlin, CEO of Profounda, Inc. The Orlando pharmaceutical firm distributes a hard-to-get drug called miltefosine, launched under the trade name Impavido in March. Originally developed in the 1980s as an experimental cancer treatment, it was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of leishmaniasis parasites, spread by the bite of certain types of sandflies, in 2014. But since 2013, CDC officials have recommended miltefosine as a treatment for PAM and a related condition called granulomatous amoebic encephalitis. RELATED VIDEO: What You Need to Know: Naegleria Fowleri, The Brain-Eating Bacteria MacLaughlin's first call came Sunday afternoon while he was in Boston for a medical conference. On the line was the hospital pharmacist, who confirmed a patient with the amoeba. MacLaughlin immediately called his son Michael, who works as Profounda's operations manager and is the only other person with the passcode to open a safe that guards the drug. Just five minutes home from a trip to Tampa to see rock band Blink-182 perform, Michael, set out immediately. "I knew that minutes counted," he tells PEOPLE, noting that the Profounda office is a six-minute drive from his home and 12 minutes from the hospital. "I may or may not have sped a little. The pharmacist said it felt like a drug deal because I pulled up in my car still in my pajamas, hadn't shaved, and just handed off the package. She said, 'Do we need any paperwork?' I said 'I'll bring that later.' "It was a mix of fear and excitement," he continued. "Fear because the death rate is 97 percent. Excitement because they were close and I knew I could get it to them quickly." Less than an hour after the first phone call to Todd MacLaughlin, DeLeon became the first patient in history to take the drug orally for treatment of PAM. In order to slow the amoeba's activity and stall potential brain damage, doctors typically place patients in a chemically-induced coma and drop their body temperature, literally stopping the warmth-loving amoeba in its tracks. Because few hospitals keep miltefosine on hand, the drug generally must be shipped on demand, which can take hours or even days, depending on the location. So, by the time the drug arrives, doctors are forced to grind the tablets into powder form, mix it with water and administer it intravenously. Miltefosine is effective for treating PAM in large part because it's able to cross the blood-brain barrier, which means it enters the brain and kills the amoeba, despite the body's natural defenses that work to keep foreign agents out. But because more than 30 hours had passed since DeLeon first experienced symptoms, his condition was tenuous. "When the family came to me, I had to tell them to say their goodbyes," said Dr. Humberto Liriano, who treated DeLeon and choked back tears as he described the case at Tuesday's media conference. "I had to tell them, 'Tell him everything you would want to tell your child because I don't know if he will wake up.' " "This infection can be rapidly fatal," added Dr. Federico Laham, a hospital pediatrician specializing in infectious diseases. "Minutes count and having the drug rapidly at hand ... is crucial." After taking the drug, DeLeon was placed in coma and his temperature dropped to just 33 degrees. Doctors monitored his condition over the next three days before waking him. Against tremendous odds, DeLeon emerged only the fourth person in the U.S. in 50 years to survive the naegleria fowleri amoeba. A patient survived the condition in 1962. And a California patient beat the odds in 1978. Miltefosine proved effective for 12-year-old Kali Hardig of Arkansas, infected while swimming at a water park in 2013. That same summer, an 8-year-old Texas boy also survived, though he suffered brain damage and lost vision in one eye because of the days-long delay in treatment after his symptoms began. "It is so rare that a lot of times we don't think of it and that's where a delay occurs in starting a treatment," Dr. Dennis Hernandez, head of the hospital's emergency department, told reporters. "It wasn't very clear-cut and I'm still shaking about the whole case." Because PAM symptoms mimic those of bacterial and viral meningitis, patients often are sent home, only to return too late for treatment to be effective, Todd MacLaughlin tells PEOPLE. "That story is repeated time and time again," he said. MacLaughlin is pinning his hopes on awareness of the outcome in DeLeon's case to bring about change on the federal level and in hospital protocols nationwide. The naegleria fowleri amoeba, which enters the brain via water forced through the nasal cavity, is the world's second-leading cause of parasitic death, killing upward of 30,000 a year. But it is far less prevalent here in the U.S., where only about 30 cases per year are reported and 80 percent of those occur in Florida and Texas. MacLaughlin suspects misdiagnosis makes the true number of cases significantly higher. So, based on CDC data that illustrates effectiveness and its success in DeLeon's case, he says he'll lobby the FDA for an "orphan indication" approval of miltefosine as a treatment for the condition. Such approvals are reserved for cases in which rapid mortality makes clinical trials of drugs for certain conditions impossible. He's also working in tandem with the Kyle Cares Foundation and the Jordan Smelski Foundation for Amoeba Awareness, established in honor of children lost to the naegleria fowleri amoeba, to bring about change in hospitals nationwide. Together, they're encouraging hospitals to improve emergency room protocols, making it standard practice to ask patients presenting with the common symptoms whether they've been in fresh water in the recent past a move that the Florida Hospital for Children made only months ago, after a training session with the Jordan Smelski Foundation and to have doses of miltefosine on hand at all times. "If you manufacture a drug, you have to make a minimal quantity of it anyway," he tells PEOPLE. "But even if you combine the approved indications and non-approved amoeba indication, it's still less than 50 cases each year. So, what happens is you order a product, put it in your warehouse, watch it expire and hope you get it shipped out in time when someone does need it. That model doesn't work. My model says, 'What if we're able to get the inventory into as many hospitals as possible knowing that 90 percent of them won't ever use it, but if it is ever needed, it's beneficial?' What has happened in Orlando shows that if you can get the drug on time, you can save a life. We know that the drug works and we know that time matters." Meanwhile, DeLeon is talking, moving around with the help of a walker and expected to make a full recovery with therapy. "We are so thankful that God has given us this miracle through this medical team ... to have our son back and having him full of life," his mother, Brunilda Gonzalez, said during the media conference before hurrying back to her son's room. "He's a very energetic, adventurous, wonderful teen. We are so thankful for the gift of life." Former UN chief Kofi Annan will advise Myanmar's new government on resolving conflicts in Rakhine, a region divided on religious grounds and home to the stateless Muslim Rohingya, it was announced Wednesday. The country's western state is deeply scarred by bouts of sectarian bloodshed in 2012 that forced more than 100,000 Rohingya into squalid displacement camps. The Rohingya, a minority in overwhelmingly Buddhist Myanmar, are denied citizenship and face severe restrictions on their movements and access to health care and other basic services. Finding a solution for the group, who are reviled by Buddhist nationalists, has posed a tough challenge to the new civilian administration led by Aung San Suu Kyi. The veteran democracy activist has come under fire from international rights groups for failing publicly to address the plight of the Rohingya as she seeks to avoid stoking further unrest over the sensitive issue. On Wednesday her office announced the formation of an advisory panel that will be chaired by former UN secretary general Annan and focus on "finding lasting solutions to the complex and delicate issues in the Rakhine State". A spokesman for the Kofi Annan Foundation confirmed the news and said the nobel laureate would travel to Myanmar in early September. The nine-member commission will submit recommendations to the government on "conflict prevention, humanitarian assistance, rights and reconciliation, institution-building and promotion of development of Rakhine State," said a statement from Suu Kyi's office. It did not mention the Rohingya by name. Hardline Buddhists reject the term and insist the nearly one-million strong group are illegal immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh, even though many have lived in Myanmar for generations. In June Suu Kyi tried to placate Buddhist nationalists by ordering officials to refer to the group only as "Muslims of Rakhine State". But even that order sparked mass protests in Rakhine, with local Buddhists demanding the government call them "Bengalis". Story continues During a July visit to the former junta-run country, UN envoy Yanghee Lee urged Suu Kyi's government to make ending "institutionalised discrimination" against Muslims in Rakhine an urgent priority. Amnesty International hailed the commission, which it said would have three international members and six from Myanmar, as a "welcome step". The commission should investigate decades of discrimination against minorities in Rakhine state, ensure accountability, recommend reparations and lead efforts at reconciliation, Rafendi Djamin, Amnesty's director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said in a statement. Myanmar also announced this week that current UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon would attend a peace conference at the end of the month. The five-day talks, an effort to end a host of long-running ethnic minority insurgencies, will begin on August 31. PARIS (Reuters) - France will deploy about 3,000 reserve troops, train school authorities and ramp up school anti-terror drills in case of attacks, its education and security ministers announced on Wednesday, a week before the start of a new academic year. The French government has heightened security across the country following a series on Islamist militant attacks since January last year that has left people on the edge, with schools a feared target. About 12 million students are expected to head back to school across France from on Sept. 1. "The threat is high, it is real," Education Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, said during a joint news conference in Paris with security minister Bernard Cazeneuve. "This is not about ceding to panic or paranoia," she added. The ministers said most security measures put in place after the Nov. 13 attack in Paris such as carrying out anti-terror drills in schools will be ramped up to three from two during the school year. Around 500 school administrators will be trained every year at the national gendarme training center to manage crisis centers and act as liaisons with security officials, while some 1.2 million students in the fourth year of secondary school are expected to be trained in first aid. Cazeneuve said security forces will be focusing on school surroundings and that 3,000 gendarme reservists will be deployed to reinforce other forces including the police. "Throughout the year, particular attention will be put around schools. Active surveillance around schools, high-schools and universities will be reinforced by roving patrols," Cazeneuve said. (Reporting by Gerard Bon and Bate Felix; editing by Richard Lough and Toby Chopra) Nice (France) (AFP) - French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve warned Wednesday against stigmatising Muslims, as a furore over the banning of burkinis grew with the emergence of pictures showing police surrounding a veiled woman on a beach. Speaking after a meeting with the head of the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM), Cazeneuve said: "The implementation of secularism, and the option of adopting such decrees must not lead to stigmatisation or the creation of hostility between French people." Dozens of French towns and villages, mostly on the Cote d'Azur, have banned beachwear that "conspicuously" shows a person's religion -- a measure aimed at the full-body Islamic swimsuit but which has also been used against women wearing long clothes and a headscarf. CFCM president Anouar Kbibech requested an urgent meeting with Cazeneuve after pictures emerged of a veiled woman sitting on a beach in Nice removing her tunic, watched by four policemen. The images, which went viral on social media, were interpreted as showing the woman being pressured by police into removing the garment. "We have seen images of police officers forcing a woman on a Nice beach to remove her tunic when she wasn't even wearing a burkini," the CFCM said indignantly. Nice mayor's office, however, denied she had been forced to remove clothing, telling AFP the woman was showing police the swimsuit she was wearing under her tunic, over a pair of leggings, when the picture was taken. The police issued her with a fine and she then left the beach, the officials added. The bans, which follow a string of jihadist attacks around France, including a massacre in Nice on Bastille Day last month, have sparked a heated debate about Muslim integration and French secular values. While presented by the mayors as necessary to defend secularism and public order faced with rare sightings of burkinis on French beaches, police have also fined women for being fully clothed and having their heads covered, out of the water. Story continues On Tuesday, a 34-year-old mother, who gave her name only as Siam, told AFP she was fined on the beach for wearing leggings, a tunic and a headscarf. "I had no intention of swimming," the woman, who was accompanied by her children at the time, said. A witness to the scene, journalist Mathilde Cusin, said some onlookers had applauded the police and shouted at Siam to "go home". Kbibech referred to her case in a statement ahead of his meeting with Cazeneuve. The CFCM was "concerned over the direction the public debate is taking," citing the "growing fear of stigmatisation of Muslims in France", he said. - Appeal before top court - The photos of the woman on the beach in Nice, first published by Britain's Daily Mail, caused a furore on Twitter, with the hashtag #WTFFrance becoming a top trending topic. "Just let this sink in. Men with guns forcing a women to undress, with the weight of the law behind them," read a tweet by user Abdel-Azim, who is described as the editor of a religious magazine, which was retweeted more than 26,000 times. "I am so ashamed," French feminist Caroline De Haas tweeted. On Thursday, France's highest administrative court, the Council of State, will on Thursday examine a request by the Human Rights League (LDH) to scrap the ban. Lower courts have upheld the bans, with a tribunal in Nice -- where a Tunisian radical used a truck to mow down a crowd of Bastille Day revellers on July 14 -- said the burkini could "be felt as a defiance or a provocation exacerbating tensions felt by" the community. France enforces a strict form of secularism, aimed at keeping religion out of public life. Islamic dress has long been a subject of debate in the country, which was the first in Europe to ban the Islamic face veil in public in 2010, six years after outlawing the headscarf and other conspicuous religious symbols in state schools. However, ordinary citizens are allowed to wear the headscarf in public. France's recent burkini ban has triggered an international debate that reaches far beyond the beaches of Nice, Cannes and Corsica. The ban, which has so far been implemented in 15 towns in France, stemmed from politicians who claimed that the distinctive dress could incite violence, a sentiment that was particularly resonant after the July 14 jihadist attacks in Nice. Ironically, burkini inventor and Australia native Aheed Zanetti, who trademarked the burkini (as well as the alternative spelling, burquini) when she came up with the modest swimwear design in 2004, has seen a 200 percent spike in orders thanks to the international publicity. However, in an interesting twist, Zanetti reports that all of the orders have come from non-Muslim women who discovered the style through recent press coverage. Their motive to cover up? Skin cancer. Read more: Chris Pine on Style, Grooming and His New Country-Western Vibe: "Anything That Makes Me Smile, You Know?" "A lot of the correspondence ... was that they are survivors of skin cancer and they've always been looking for something like this, saying, 'Thank god we've found someone like this producing such a swimsuit,'" she told the AFP. Considering that Zanetti's sun-drenched home country has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world, it makes sense that Australian women would seek out protective beach attire, and the burkini offers a swim-ready alternative to bulky, non-waterproof cover-ups. However, skin cancer is not simply an Aussie issue - awareness also has spiked in the U.S., where the CDC reported that incidences of deadly melanoma have doubled in the past 30 years. Which begs the question, could the burkini be Los Angeles' next big beach fad? As more women make skin protection a priority over the bronzed look, beaches have already seen an increase in popularity of rash guards worn not only for surfing, but for increased coverage and sun protection. Story continues Read more: Courteney Cox Says She Regrets Cosmetic Procedures The original burkini can be ordered from Zanetti's Sydney-based online shop (priced between $40-$100), which ships internationally, as well as at a few select Islamic clothing retailers. While they're few and far between in Los Angeles, there are a handful of stores a short drive down the I-5 in Orange County, which happens to be home to about 120,000 of Southern California's 500,000 Muslim residents. Two Anaheim-based stores, Al-Farah Islamic Fashion and Al-Anwar Islamic Fashion, stock the swim style. Al-Farah carries a selection of modest, full-body swimsuits by local brand Geta, which produces them in a wide array of colors and patterns. Store manager Terry Awad noted that though burkini sales have grown steadily since the store began carrying them 10 years ago, there has not been a noticeable surge in demand following France's burkini ban. In addition to Southern California, beach goers in Canada also are free to sport the modest dress. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated Monday that for its part, Canada will not carry out any such ban on its public beaches - despite the efforts of some politicians in the French-speaking territory of Quebec, who reportedly sought to institute the ban on its beaches. "In Canada, can we speak of acceptance, openness, friendship, understanding?" he said. "It is about where we are going and what we are going through every day in our diverse and rich communities." Read more: Did NBA Player's Signature Unibrow Net Him Fashion Collab? That being said, on the other side of the spectrum are the less-is-more ladies who prefer cheekier swim styles. Brazilian bikinis have seen a spike in popularity in the post-Kim Kardashian booty-appreciation era, allowing women to push the limits of local nudity laws, which vary by county. (A breach of Los Angeles' strict anti-nudity law will result in a citation and a $1,000 fine.) The bottom line? Women should have the right to choose what they do (or do not) wear. Noted Zanetti in an op-ed for The Guardian, "[The burkini] has given women freedom, and they want to take that freedom away." By Matt Siegel and John Irish SYDNEY/PARIS (Reuters) - French naval contractor DCNS said on Wednesday it may have been the victim of "economic warfare" after secrets about its Scorpene submarines being built in India were leaked. India opened an investigation after The Australian newspaper published documents relating to the submarine's combat capabilities, raising concerns over another major contract with Australia. The leak contains more than 22,000 pages outlining the details of six submarines that DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy. "I understand there has been a case of hacking," Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told reporters. "We will find out what has happened." The submarines are being built at a state-run shipyard in Mumbai and the first one was expected to go into service by the end of the year, the first step in the Indian navy's effort to rebuild its dwindling fleet. The leak has raised doubts about the security of DCNS's submarine project in Australia where it is locked in exclusive negotiations after seeing off rivals for a A$50 billion ($38 billion) contract to build the Barracuda next generation of submarines. DCNS, which is 35 percent owned by Thales, said it was working to determine if any harm had been caused to clients with a view to drawing up an action plan. Asked if the leak could affect other contracts, a company spokeswoman said it had come against a difficult commercial backdrop and that corporate espionage could be to blame. "Competition is getting tougher and tougher, and all means can be used in this context," she said. "There is India, Australia and other prospects, and other countries could raise legitimate questions over DCNS. It's part of the tools in economic warfare." DCNS, which is also vying for submarine contracts in Norway and Poland, beat Germany's ThyssenKrupp AG and a Japanese-government backed bid by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Australia. That was a major blow to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's push to develop defence export capabilities as part of a more muscular security agenda. Story continues The leaked documents cover the Scorpene-class model and do not contain any details of the vessel currently being designed for the Australian fleet. Thales, whose shares fell 3 percent before paring back some of the losses, declined to comment. French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who finalised the Australian deal, also declined to comment. MAJOR STRATEGIC PROBLEM The breadth of detail in the documents creates a strategic problem for India, Malaysia and Chile, all of which operate the same submarine, an Australian political source with decades of experience in the global arms industry told Reuters. Excerpts published in redacted form on the newspaper's website contained highly sensitive details of the submarine including technical manuals and models of the boat's antennae. "If it's 22,400 pages, it's a major stuff-up," the source said. "It's a huge deal. "It allows them to understand everything about the submarines. What speeds it can do; how noisy it is; what speeds the mast can be raised at ... all of that is just devastating." A French source close to the matter tried to play down the severity of the leak, saying the documents appeared to be "sensitive but neither critical nor confidential". The Indian Defence Ministry said in a statement it was investigating the impact of the leak on the submarine programme which it said had occurred from abroad. It gave no details. Uday Bhaskar, a former naval officer, said that if the leak was established, it would amount to a significant compromise of the credibility of the submarines. India has a fleet of 13 ageing submarines, only half of which are operational at any time, opening up a gap with China which is expanding its maritime presence in the Indian Ocean. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull sought to deflect concern about the leak, touting the high security standards in Australia, where the submarine will be built. The Australian reported that the leak occurred in France in 2011. "But clearly, it is a reminder that, particularly in this digital world, cyber security is of critical importance," he told the Seven TV network. (Additional reporting by Gwenaelle Barzic in Paris, Michel Rose and John Irish; Editing by Richard Lough and David Stamp) By Matt Siegel and John Irish SYDNEY/PARIS (Reuters) - French naval contractor DCNS said on Wednesday it may have been the victim of "economic warfare" after secrets about its Scorpene submarines being built in India were leaked. India opened an investigation after The Australian newspaper published documents relating to the submarine's combat capabilities, raising concerns over another major contract with Australia. The leak contains more than 22,000 pages outlining the details of six submarines that DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy. "I understand there has been a case of hacking," Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told reporters. "We will find out what has happened." The submarines are being built at a state-run shipyard in Mumbai and the first one was expected to go into service by the end of the year, the first step in the Indian navy's effort to rebuild its dwindling fleet. The leak has raised doubts about the security of DCNS's submarine project in Australia where it is locked in exclusive negotiations after seeing off rivals for a A$50 billion ($38 billion) contract to build the Barracuda next generation of submarines. DCNS, which is 35 percent owned by Thales , said it was working to determine if any harm had been caused to clients with a view to drawing up an action plan. Asked if the leak could affect other contracts, a company spokeswoman said it had come against a difficult commercial backdrop and that corporate espionage could be to blame. "Competition is getting tougher and tougher, and all means can be used in this context," she said. "There is India, Australia and other prospects, and other countries could raise legitimate questions over DCNS. It's part of the tools in economic warfare." DCNS, which is also vying for submarine contracts in Norway and Poland, beat Germany's ThyssenKrupp AG and a Japanese-government backed bid by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries <7011.T> and Kawasaki Heavy Industries <7012.T> in Australia. That was a major blow to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's push to develop defense export capabilities as part of a more muscular security agenda. The leaked documents cover the Scorpene-class model and do not contain any details of the vessel currently being designed for the Australian fleet. Thales , whose shares fell 3 percent before paring back some of the losses, declined to comment. French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who finalised the Australian deal, also declined to comment. MAJOR STRATEGIC PROBLEM The breadth of detail in the documents creates a strategic problem for India, Malaysia and Chile, all of which operate the same submarine, an Australian political source with decades of experience in the global arms industry told Reuters. Excerpts published in redacted form on the newspaper's website contained highly sensitive details of the submarine including technical manuals and models of the boat's antennae. "If it's 22,400 pages, it's a major stuff-up," the source said. "It's a huge deal. "It allows them to understand everything about the submarines. What speeds it can do; how noisy it is; what speeds the mast can be raised at ... all of that is just devastating." A French source close to the matter tried to play down the severity of the leak, saying the documents appeared to be "sensitive but neither critical nor confidential". The Indian Defence Ministry said in a statement it was investigating the impact of the leak on the submarine program which it said had occurred from abroad. It gave no details. Uday Bhaskar, a former naval officer, said that if the leak was established, it would amount to a significant compromise of the credibility of the submarines. India has a fleet of 13 aging submarines, only half of which are operational at any time, opening up a gap with China which is expanding its maritime presence in the Indian Ocean. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull sought to deflect concern about the leak, touting the high security standards in Australia, where the submarine will be built. The Australian reported that the leak occurred in France in 2011. "But clearly, it is a reminder that, particularly in this digital world, cyber security is of critical importance," he told the Seven TV network. (Additional reporting by Gwenaelle Barzic in Paris, Michel Rose and John Irish; Editing by Richard Lough and David Stamp) * India investigates leak of Scorpene submarine documents * DCNS says leak could be industrial espionage * French firm in talks with Australia for $38 bln submarine deal (Recasts with DCNS, adds source, defence minister declining comment) By Matt Siegel and John Irish SYDNEY/PARIS, Aug 24 (Reuters) - French naval contractor DCNS said on Wednesday it may have been the victim of "economic warfare" after secrets about its Scorpene submarines being built in India were leaked. India opened an investigation after The Australian newspaper published documents relating to the submarine's combat capabilities, raising concerns over another major contract with Australia. The leak contains more than 22,000 pages outlining the details of six submarines that DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy. "I understand there has been a case of hacking," Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told reporters. "We will find out what has happened." The submarines are being built at a state-run shipyard in Mumbai and the first one was expected to go into service by the end of the year, the first step in the Indian navy's effort to rebuild its dwindling fleet. The leak has raised doubts about the security of DCNS's submarine project in Australia where it is locked in exclusive negotiations after seeing off rivals for a A$50 billion ($38 billion) contract to build the Barracuda next generation of submarines. DCNS, which is 35 percent owned by Thales, said it was working to determine if any harm had been caused to clients with a view to drawing up an action plan. Asked if the leak could affect other contracts, a company spokeswoman said it had come against a difficult commercial backdrop and that corporate espionage could be to blame. "Competition is getting tougher and tougher, and all means can be used in this context," she said. "There is India, Australia and other prospects, and other countries could raise legitimate questions over DCNS. It's part of the tools in economic warfare." Story continues DCNS, which is also vying for submarine contracts in Norway and Poland, beat Germany's ThyssenKrupp AG and a Japanese-government backed bid by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Australia. That was a major blow to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's push to develop defence export capabilities as part of a more muscular security agenda. The leaked documents cover the Scorpene-class model and do not contain any details of the vessel currently being designed for the Australian fleet. Thales, whose shares fell 3 percent before paring back some of the losses, declined to comment. French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who finalised the Australian deal, also declined to comment. MAJOR STRATEGIC PROBLEM The breadth of detail in the documents creates a strategic problem for India, Malaysia and Chile, all of which operate the same submarine, an Australian political source with decades of experience in the global arms industry told Reuters. Excerpts published in redacted form on the newspaper's website contained highly sensitive details of the submarine including technical manuals and models of the boat's antennae. "If it's 22,400 pages, it's a major stuff-up," the source said. "It's a huge deal. "It allows them to understand everything about the submarines. What speeds it can do; how noisy it is; what speeds the mast can be raised at ... all of that is just devastating." A French source close to the matter tried to play down the severity of the leak, saying the documents appeared to be "sensitive but neither critical nor confidential". The Indian Defence Ministry said in a statement it was investigating the impact of the leak on the submarine programme which it said had occurred from abroad. It gave no details. Uday Bhaskar, a former naval officer, said that if the leak was established, it would amount to a significant compromise of the credibility of the submarines. India has a fleet of 13 ageing submarines, only half of which are operational at any time, opening up a gap with China which is expanding its maritime presence in the Indian Ocean. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull sought to deflect concern about the leak, touting the high security standards in Australia, where the submarine will be built. The Australian reported that the leak occurred in France in 2011. "But clearly, it is a reminder that, particularly in this digital world, cyber security is of critical importance," he told the Seven TV network. (Additional reporting by Gwenaelle Barzic in Paris, Michel Rose and John Irish; Editing by Richard Lough and David Stamp) Frankfurt (AFP) - The marketing team of Frankfurt never expected its English-language dummy website to attract new businesses would actually go live after Britain's European Union referendum. "We hadn't really assumed that we would need the site at all," spokeswoman Michaela Kahle told AFP, as the team thought Britons would surely vote "Remain". But as it turned out, the Welcome to FrankfurtRheinMain site was not only put to good use, but has become a hit, with 27,000 views since Britain stunned the world by deciding to leave the bloc. Quickly recovering from the shock, Kahle and her colleagues kicked into action, fielding inquiries from firms ranging from big banks to tiny financial technology start-ups looking at the possibility of relocating to the German financial capital. While Britain has yet to trigger the two-year exit negotiations, corporations wary of the impact of Brexit have begun scouting for alternative European headquarters. "It's the very beginning, and the firms themselves don't know yet when, or whether at all, they will move," Kahle said. But they are asking questions about German law on immigrant workers, the talent pool in Frankfurt, banking licences and regulation, and how easy it is to do business here in English. Home to the European Central Bank, the EU's insurance regulator EIOPA and 198 banks, Frankfurt is a natural contender in the battle to lure the City of London's financial behemoths. But the city on the Main has never truly challenged London for pre-eminence in Europe. Britain's capital prospered thanks to factors including the English language, its cosmopolitan history at the heart of a world-spanning empire, and the "big bang" financial liberalisation of the 1980s. - Competition - As London cemented its status as a financial centre, its attractiveness only grew, as opening an office in the City meant direct access to a powerful network of expertise. Story continues But Brexit may force many financial services providers to look at moving as they will need a place to do business inside the eurozone should they lose "passporting" rights that allow them to carry out euro-denominated trades outside the single currency area. A delegation of politicians from Frankfurt and its federal state of Hesse made a trip to London in early August to meet bank executives and talk up their town. With an eye on the City's firms, Germany's Bankenverband (banking federation) has launched a broadside of reform demands it says will help attract new companies. Although Frankfurt has many advantages -- including its physical and digital infrastructure, ease of doing business in English and reliable German legal system -- it's far from a given that it will beat competition from Paris, Amsterdam and Dublin, Bankenverband managing director Michael Kemmer warned. The government must do more to support financial start-ups and make business and the law more accessible in English, among others, he said. Kemmer acknowledged with a chuckle the suggestion that his proposals -- including loosening some regulations and abandoning plans for a financial transaction tax -- were well-worn themes for banking lobbyists. But he insisted that "the need now is greater, as we're looking at real competition between cities as places to do business". Bank lobbyists also want the European Banking Authority (EBA) relocated from London to Frankfurt. - Big commitment - While calling on the government to begin laying the groundwork immediately, Kemmer says he would be "surprised if banks don't wait until everything is cleared up" on a political level before deciding how to respond to Brexit. Most companies may opt for a wait-and-see approach, but at least one firm has already made a big commitment to the city on the Main, managing partner Ralph Schonder of real estate consultancy Knight Frank told AFP. "We've had a big rental of 10,000 square metres" since the vote, he said. "At this speed, and given the location, it wouldn't have happened without Brexit." Schonder acknowledged that such deals remain the exception -- matching what other people familiar with the real estate market say. Deals are being "talked about, considered, but we're expecting it to happen later when the situation is clearer", managing partner Matthias Stanke at consultancy Colliers International said. German financial regulator BaFin also confirmed "a slightly rising trend" of inquiries about the legal environment and possibilities available in Germany. But there was no corresponding increase in the number of actual applications for a banking licence, said BaFin's spokesman. With much of the sector biding its time before acting, it is unlikely commercial rents in Frankfurt will suddenly spike or that the city's international schools will suddenly fill up with the children of relocated bankers. None of the schools spoken to by AFP had experienced a surge in applications in the weeks since the referendum result. But in the long term, while "no-one welcomed Brexit," Bankenverband director Kemmer said, "we can do everything possible to strengthen Frankfurt as a financial centre". Paris (AFP) - The head of the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) will meet Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve on Wednesday to discuss the burkini bans at the centre of a bitter row over Muslim integration. The CFCM "is concerned over the direction the public debate is taking," the president of the body, Anouar Kbibech, said in a statement calling for an urgent meeting with Cazeneuve, citing the "growing fear of stigmatisation of Muslims in France". The interior ministry later announced the meeting would take place on Wednesday afternoon. Kbibech noted that a few days ago a woman was fined on a beach in Cannes while wearing a simple headscarf and accompanied by her children. The 34-year-old mother, who gave her name only as Siam, told AFP she had been sitting on the beach in leggings, a tunic and a headscarf, when she was fined. "I had no intention of swimming," she said. The CFCM said it was also worried about the photos that have emerged of a Muslim woman removing her tunic on a beach in Nice while surrounded by four police officers. The images, which have gone viral, have widely been interpreted as the woman being ordered to remove her tunic by police, although the circumstances remain unclear. She was wearing a sleeveless shirt underneath. "We have seen images of police officers forcing a woman on a Nice beach to remove her tunic when she wasn't even wearing a burkini," said the statement from the CFCM. "With the difficult and critical situation France is facing after the tragic attacks which deeply affected the country, the CFCM calls for wisdom and responsibility from everyone. "Today, we need more acts of peace and tolerance," said Kbibech. France's highest administrative court, the State Council, will on Thursday examine a request by the Human Rights League (LDH) to scrap the bans adopted by some 15 towns and cities across the country. Lower courts have supported the decision by French mayors, with a tribunal in the Riviera city of Nice -- where a crowd was mowed down in July in a grisly truck attack -- said the burkini could "be felt as a defiance or a provocation exacerbating tensions felt by" the community. Paris (AFP) - The French government has reached agreement on paying compensation to state-owned energy giant EDF to shut down the Fessenheim nuclear site, the ministry of energy said Wednesday. Paris announced in March that work would begin this year to close the country's oldest nuclear power plant in eastern France which at the centre of a row with neighbouring Germany and Switzerland. "An agreement has been reached with EDF providing for staggered compensation with a first stage of 100 million euros ($114 million)," a ministry spokesman said. A source close to the discussions told AFP that a second "fixed" payment of 300 million dollars would be made meaning EDF will receive at least 400 million euros. The ministry spokesman said several payments would follow the initial one, their schedule depending on several factors including the price of energy in the coming years. In May the government initially offered around 100 million euros in compensation, but EDF, which did not initially comment on Wednesday's deal, had been holding out for more. Fessenheim, a two-reactor site located just 1.5 kilometres (1 mile) from the German border, is France's oldest nuclear plant having been commissioned in 1977. Nuclear power currently accounts for some 70 percent of electricity generation in France but the government is resolved to bring it down to 50 percent over the next decade. Fessenheim, located on a seismic fault line, has worried French, German and Swiss environmentalists for years. President Francois Hollande pledged to close the site in his manifesto ahead of his election in 2012. The shuttering of Fessenheim is due to go ahead by the time the new Flamanville 3 reactor on France's northwest coast comes on stream by 2018. Wednesday's deal will be presented to the EDF board for approval on September 14. With their agreement EDF chairman Jean-Bernard Levy will be able to sign it off, probably by the end of the year. Story continues The government will then be able to finalise the closure. France and Germany are close EU partners but have taken vastly different approaches to power generation. Germany -- where the public mood swung against nuclear power following the 1986 Chernobyl disaster -- decided to phase out nuclear power following Japan's Fukushima meltdown in 2011. From ELLE I met Jason when I was 22. We were paired as scene partners at an audition for Medea, but as soon as I saw him-tall, blond, brooding-I lost all interest in the script. I followed him out into the cold night, and asked to bum a cigarette, even though I didn't smoke. I just wanted to prolong the time we spent outside. Soon, Jason and I were seeing each other every night. I had been saving money to go to theater school in Montreal, but this dream paled in comparison to the electric charge I felt in his company. He was intensely charismatic, darkly funny, and completely unpredictable. When he told me he usually only had sex with virgins, I saw my opportunity. "No," he said, at first. "Then you'll just get really attached to me. Believe me." "No, I won't," I lied. The next morning I emailed my friend Julia: Photo credit: Courtesy Leigh Stein Julia and I were awkward teens who met on an online blogging platform called LiveJournal in the early aughts. We met for the first time IRL when I was 19 and had just moved to New York to go to acting school. I told her to meet me in the lobby of my dormitory, and that I would be wearing a polka-dotted blouse. Julia, who was 15, lied to her parents about what she was doing that afternoon, and took the bus in from New Jersey. We went up to my dorm room and watched Funny Girl on my laptop. Since we hadn't grown up together, we worked hard to recap the history of our young lives for each other, like a serialized novel unfolding every time we met. Julia is an intensely curious listener, more likely to interrogate than offer advice or judgment. There is nothing I've ever withheld from her. I cringe now, reading my reply to Julia's email: "He is entirely out of my league in attractiveness, but really fucked up. He shows affection through physical violence, but at the same time there's something magnetically irresistible about him. I really don't know what he sees in me at all other than I put up with him." Story continues Photo credit: Courtesy Leigh Stein The signs were right there-the cruelty, the violence, my own insecurity, which all fueled the attraction. But it would be years before I recognized them myself. It wasn't until Jason's unexpected death in 2011 that I started to put together the pieces of what our relationship had truly been. A few months after Jason and I had started dating (by which point I had moved into his apartment), I bought us flights to New York. He'd never been there before, and I wanted to show off the city that I loved. We were going to stay with Julia at her boyfriend's parents' house. More than showing off the city, I really wanted to show off Jason. There was a lot I put up with at home-his volatile moods, minor public humiliations, the feeling that I was never quite doing or saying the right thing-but in public, I liked being the girl by his side. When he wanted to be, he was smart, funny, and charming. That's the person I thought I would be introducing to Julia. The three of us went to the Museum of Natural History. On the subway ride uptown, Jason began picking fights with me, and as soon as we got to the museum, he said he wanted to explore on his own. We separated, promising to meet up later. But we never found each other, and our cell phones had no reception inside the museum. For over an hour, I dragged Julia around, worrying about what had happened to him and how mad he would be when we reconnected. Julia got quiet. When we finally found Jason, she left us alone, and it was just like being back at home-without someone to watch us, we could fight on another level. Jason was hurt that I had abandoned him just like everyone else in his life (a common theme) but he bought me a necklace in the gift shop and we made up. I texted Julia to let her know everything was okay, not realizing she had been calling me for almost an hour from inside the museum, wondering what had happened to me. I called Julia back later that night. She had gone to her parents' house. "You're in New Jersey? Why?" I didn't get it. Daily drama with Jason was so routine that I was oblivious to how uncomfortable it was for other people. "Is there something you're not telling me?" I asked. "There's nothing I'm not telling you," she said. So passive aggressive, I remember thinking. Why can't she just tell me the truth? But at the time I couldn't even imagine what that truth might have been. Today, when I ask her to revisit that day at the museum, Julia says if it were to happen now, she would say, "Hey Leigh, I'm concerned for you and this dynamic. And I love you and I want to voice some concerns." I don't blame her for not knowing the exact right thing to say. Instead, Julia had given me subtle hints that what was going on in my relationship was not okay, and that she would wait until I saw that for myself. Shortly after our New York trip, Jason and I used the rest of my savings to move to Albuquerque, New Mexico. It had been his idea. I agreed it sounded romantic: He would work and I would write a novel in a state called the "Land of Enchantment." Once we were isolated from friends and family on the other side of the country, Jason's behavior became increasingly controlling, erratic, and violent. Once we were isolated from friends and family on the other side of the country, Jason's behavior became increasingly controlling, erratic, and violent. He had promised to teach me how to drive his stick-shift car when we got there, but then changed his mind. He told me he wanted to open up our relationship so he could sleep with other women. I was upset, but he told he it wasn't sexy when I cried-and why should I expect him to want to have sex with me if I was crying all the time? Though it went against all my instincts, I agreed that he could sleep with other women if I could still be his girlfriend. I drank and smoked pot every night to numb the shame I felt. One night, Jason told me he was going to a party with his new friends and I wasn't allowed to come. He rolled me a joint and told me to go to sleep. Instead, I took a taxi to the airport and escaped home to Chicago. I remember when you flew back," Julia says now. "You called me and said, 'I left Jason.' And I said, 'Oh my God, that's great news!' And you started to cry, because you had just broken up with your boyfriend. I remember feeling like, This is not helpful. I realized that what I had done for years-telling people to break up with their boyfriends-was the least helpful thing." Julia's childhood best friend had a "real fucking monster" of a boyfriend in high school. "I hated him and we didn't get along," she tells me. "I would talk shit about him to her all the time. She and I were still best friends. All that happened was that she wouldn't tell me about what was going on with him." When I was with Jason, Julia says she realized that I wouldn't be her friend anymore if she did the same thing again: "So I thought, I'll wait. That moment was a huge experience for me on how to be a better friend." While many people would naturally want to do what Julia did with her childhood friend-speak up aggressively, name the abuse, and urge breaking up with the abuser-Julia's later instinct to let me know she was concerned, and then wait for me to choose to leave the relationship on my own can be closer to what experts advise in certain situations. Sarah Rothe, a social worker with Shalom Bayit, says, "My advice is usually to support and listen to that friend, and validate their experience. Listen to what they're sharing and remind them that it's not their fault. A lot of times, women in abusive relationships get told, 'I wouldn't have exploded, if you hadn't pushed me...' And then they start to believe that it's true." As for encouraging someone to leave an abusive relationship, Rothe says, "Leave it up to your friend, who has maybe not been able to make decisions because of the dynamic of control in their relationship. Let them decide their own future." You've got to walk that line between letting them know that you care about them and will support them, but also know that they might not leave the relationship right away Dr. Robert Eckstein, who leads bystander intervention programs at the University of New Hampshire, agrees that the more aggressive route can be counterproductive: "What we generally tell concerned friends is to be patient. You've got to walk that line between letting them know that you care about them and will support them, but also know that they might not leave the relationship right away and, if you push too hard, might isolate from you." His advice: leave it open-ended. Say, "I just want you to know, no matter what happens, I'm always here for you." I would love to say that I saw the light and stayed with my parents, but within 24 hours of leaving Jason, I flew back to Albuquerque. He'd promised to change, and I was not yet able to admit that our relationship was toxic. When our lease ended, Julia called with a lead on a job for me. ("60% was because you were perfect for the job, 40% was to get you away from Jason," she said later.) I got the position and slept on her futon in Harlem for a month. Though I was physically apart from Jason, and we were technically broken up, I still obsessed over him for years, like a drug I couldn't quit. I don't know how Julia had the patience to watch me repeat the same patterns over and over again, but without her steady support-from finding me a job and offering me a place to live, to listening to my stories and waiting outside the bathroom door while I took a pregnancy test-I may never have believed that one day I would finally be done. Today Julia is a volunteer emergency room advocate for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. She's learned that "it doesn't make someone feel better and it doesn't restore normalcy in a trauma situation to make decisions for the victim-because that's the root of the problem in the first place, that their agency has been taken away. You can't ride like a white knight into someone else's life." In the end, there was no dramatic intervention that saved me. It took seeing Jason one last time, when I was 26, to realize that we were a nightmare together, and that I was naive to keep waiting for him to become a different person. I was the one who had to change. The National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233) provides confidential, one-on-one support to people affected by domestic violence, and to concerned friends, family, and others seeking information and guidance on how to help someone they know. When Costco began transitioning from American Express to Visa as its exclusive credit card partner in June, delays and confusion had customers threatening to cancel their memberships. Now, two months later, some Costco members say that major problems remain and that Citi, the card issuer, and Costco arent doing enough to fix them. In addition to making Visa the only credit card customers can use at Costco, the transition meant that 11 million of Costcos 81 million members worldwide with Costco cobranded credit cards had to switch from the TrueEarnings American Express Costco card to the Costco Anywhere Visa. Initial issues ranged from general confusion to customers not receiving their new cards to difficulty getting a customer service representative on the phone. Roughly 50 Costco cardholders reached out to Business Insider with stories of their experiences regarding the transition. While a handful described positive experiences, most were horror stories. Citi CEO Michael Corbat responded to the complaints in July, saying that concerns were something we can fix in the short order. But Costco members are saying the fix never came. Instead, many say theyve spent hours on the phone over the last two months waiting to talk to customer service representatives. I am no longer a Costco member. The credit card fiasco is the reason, Blaine Holbrook said in an email to Business Insider. Holbrook said he called Citi and Costco four times in an effort to get Citi to send his wife a functioning cobranded credit card, but that never happened. Finally, Holbrook canceled his Costco membership as well as all of his Citi credit cards. Citi, which has taken the primary role in managing the transition as the credit card issuer, maintains that the switch has been a success, with nearly 900,000 new applications for credit cards. The angry customers, according to Citi, represent a small minority. Persistent problems (REUTERS/John Gress JG/GN) Story continues The most common complaints from Costco members involved getting the new credit card. Many said Citi mailed them unauthorized cards, credit cards with incorrect member numbers, or simply nothing at all. Neikya Morris told Business Insider she made five calls to Citi over two months in an attempt to get a Visa-Costco card. Morris said both she and her husband were deployed to Afghanistan before the issue was resolved. I was leaving for Afghanistan the next day and decided that I had had enough of the foolishness and incompetency of this entire process, she said in an email. We are loyal customers of Costco, so we continue to hold the membership, but we will rethink this we when return home from our deployments. (The Costco Anywhere Visa.Citi Costco) Problems with automatic payments were another issue Costco members reported to Business Insider. In a number of cases, automatic payment setups failed something some customers didnt discover until Citi charged interest on unpaid balances or canceled users credit cards. Ernest Garcia, from Amelia Island, Florida, said he was speaking with Citi on the phone two to three times a week for the last three to four weeks trying to figure out an issue with automatic payments. The problem came to a head last weekend when his wifes card was canceled, despite the companys promise that that wouldnt happen. She was visiting family in Georgia and took them for lunch she got the biggest embarrassment anyone could have in front of all these people. She was told by the waiter that Citi/Visa had cancelled her card, Garcia wrote in an email. I have been a customer since they were known as Price Club in the 1990s and now Costco and I was getting ready to dump them Im retired and life is [too] short to be going through this. Other problems include confusion regarding Citis website, unexpected pending charges, and roadblocks for international travelers. Certain payments made around the time of the transition seem to have not transferred from American Express to Citi, and other members expressed confusion about the cards APR. No matter the cardholders initial problems, long wait times to speak with customer service representatives were a common source of frustration. Some customers eventually hung up before they could receive a response. @Kate_H_Taylor Attempted @Citi call Saturday night. Finally reached some1 Sunday. Card reactivated 2day #fail pic.twitter.com/sVbwLqcZ1Z Several Costco members reported frustrating back-and-forths with Citi via phone calls, text messages, emails, and mail, lasting anywhere from several days to more than a month. More than one Costco member said the confusion is ongoing and that they would have to wait to receive their next credit card bill to see if Costco had solved the issues. Costco and Citis successes (Tim Boyle / Staff / Getty Images) From Citis perspective, however, the transition has been a success and the company has data to prove it. Citi told Business Insider that it has received almost 900,000 new applications for the Visa credit card since June 20. The bank had anticipated some problems because of the magnitude of the switch. With a conversion of this magnitude one of the single largest portfolio conversions in history (11 million cards) and a brand as beloved as Costco, call volumes were unprecedented, Jennifer Bombardier, a Citi spokesperson, told Business Insider. With a portfolio of this size and eight months of pent-up demand during which time we couldnt address questions on the new product or existing accounts as the portfolio was with a different issuer, the call volume was groundbreaking as of June 20. After a few days of long wait times, however, Bombardier said that Citi worked to address the problem. We have apologized for that inconvenience, and while we had staffed up to prepare for the conversion, we swiftly took additional actions to better meet the demand for the new cards, she said in an email. Since then average call wait times have lessened significantly. For example, this weekend, average call wait times were in the seconds. While the average may have been just a few seconds, Costco members told Business Insider they waited for more than half an hour to speak to representatives last week, after Citi erroneously sent emails to Costco members saying their credit card accounts had been closed. (Citi said the incident only affected a small percentage of customers.) Costco has increased staffing in stores, with about 20 or more employees at each location to help customers sign up for cards and answer questions, Bombardier said. Citi similarly increased staffing at call centers. It also& updated its FAQs with information about the switch, and will not apply late fees for payments on Costco accounts on or before the end of July. A report from Lightspeed Financial Services Group, released in late July, reveals that 5% of customers reported a negative experience with Costco surrounding the new card launch. One month after the new cards were issued, 80% of customers had used the new card an experience that 90% considered to be positive. YouGovs Brand Index data similarly indicates that customer perception of the retailer has been unchanged by the transition. We looked at Costco and Visa, and there is absolutely nothing in the data that suggests anything like the disaster this is being portrayed to be, YouGov spokesperson Drew Kerr told Business Insider. Its not even statistically significant enough to even merit a significant blip. The data is very accurate at this point, having accumulated it daily. In the first three and a half weeks after the transition, $5.7 billion in purchases were made on Citi Costco cards. Taking on the Costco credit cards meant that Citis North American credit cards segment grew 13% in the second quarter. Costco did not respond to Business Insiders request to comment for this article. The solution if Costco needs one (Items from Costcos food court.Hollis Johnson) In the age of social media, when stories travel quickly online, tales of bad customer service can carry a lot of weight. Lightspeed began its report by noting that media coverage of Costcos credit card transition was primarily negative even if most members didnt see it that way. Costco is a retailer that relies heavily on customer loyalty. Last year, Deutsche Bank cited that loyalty as a reason Costco is Amazon-proof. And its paying off now. Many Costco members critical of the credit card debacle told Business Insider they would continue to shop there. It was poorly transitioned, but I think that big companies always allow for fallout and I am sure would offer something to draw the shoppers back in, Carol Whitaker, a Costco member who encountered issues receiving a credit card, told Business Insider. It might be a nice gesture if Costco offered something to all their customers as a sign of goodwill that they appreciate their shoppers. Maybe someone should give that CEO a nudge on how to treat his loyal shoppers. Even if it was a free apple pie it would go a long way. NOW WATCH: We tried the Costco food court and it totally blew us away More From Business Insider PITTSBURGH (AP) -- A solid road trip kept the Houston Astros on the right path toward a playoff spot. Evan Gattis hit his 20th home run and Carlos Correa got two hits and scored twice, leading Collin McHugh and the Astros over the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4. The Astros won the interleague matchup between wild-card contenders. They went 5-2 on a trip that began in Baltimore. ''I'm really proud of our guys. We have a small margin of error these days and we've responded by playing well,'' manager A.J. Hinch said. McHugh (8-10) gave up three runs in five innings, ending an 0-4 rut in his last five starts. Ken Giles closed for his fifth save. Gerrit Cole (7-9) allowed five runs in five innings. He has a 6.07 ERA through five August starts. Pittsburgh has lost five of six. ''I've been trying to look at approaches and maybe see how I can use my stuff better. I thought today there were some good steps in the right direction: some good sliders, some good curveballs for strikes,'' he said. ''Miss over the plate, and I'm getting punished. That's the bottom line,'' he said. Gattis homered in the second, connecting after a single by Correa. ''We did a pretty good job of executing some at-bats,'' Hinch said. ''(Cole) has some really good stuff and we stayed enough inside the strike zone. Gattis delivers the big blow. I think that relaxed the dugout a little bit.'' Correa reached on an infield single in the fourth and scored on a triple by Marwin Gonzalez. George Springer singled to begin the fifth and Alex Bregman followed with a double, setting up sacrifice flies by Jose Altuve and Correa for a 5-1 lead. Jordy Mercer homered in the Pittsburgh third. The Pirates closed to 5-3 in the fifth on RBI singles by Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco. Polanco, who hit two home runs Tuesday, tripled home Marte in the seventh. ''He's continued to find a way to plate runs for us. Using all of the field, doing some nice things,'' Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. Story continues ''It speaks to his mentality to hit the ball hard where it's pitched. He's not just up there trying to yank or drill something into the water. He's up there trying to do some damage, trying to hit the ball hard and he's been doing it quite frequently lately,'' he said. TRAINER'S ROOM Astros: Correa was back at shortstop a day after making an early exit because of an illness. Hinch said roughly half of the Astros' roster is currently sick. UP NEXT Astros: Following a day off, Houston will begin a three-game series at home against Tampa Bay on Friday. After allowing one run through seven innings in his last outing, RHP Mike Fiers (9-6, 4.48) will try to repeat that performance against Tampa Bay. Pirates: Will travel to Milwaukee for the start of a four-game series against the Brewers on Thursday. RHP Chad Kuhl (3-1, 3.62) will look to bounce back from his first major league loss. By Marc Jones LONDON (Reuters) - German rating firm Scope says it is in talks to become one of the European Central Bank's recognised sovereign credit agencies, though tough requirements mean the process could take at least three years. Scope would become the first agency based in continental Europe to rate assets included in the ECB's purchase programme, and its acceptance might offer an extra lifeline to some euro zone governments currently struggling to maintain their debt at investment grade. Scope's chief executive Torsten Hinrichs told Reuters that joining Standard and Poor's, Moody's, Fitch and DBRS as agencies in carrying the ECB stamp of approval was key to its ambitions. "We are in regular discussions with the ECB, and since we are investing strategically and with a long-term horizon we are confident that we will fulfill their eligibility criteria in due time," Hinrichs said. Berlin-based Scope, which became an EU-approved agency in 2011, has just acquired German rival Feri EuroRating to give it a sovereign ratings arm. That acquisition had brought ECB approval a "step closer" Hinrichs said, but acknowledged this was still some way off. "We are still several years from meeting all the stringent criteria," he said citing particularly the ECB's requirement to have a three-year track record on key ratings. The wait will make attracting new business from the companies and governments that are its main customers that much harder, and will also be a potential frustration for some euro zone governments, for example in Lisbon. Feri, which will be folded into Scope, rates Portugal at BBB. That is a notch higher than DBRS whose BBB (low) grade is the only rating keeping the country's bonds within the ECB's 1.5 trillion euro purchase programme. The ECB only buys a government's debt if it has at least one investment grade rating or is in a formal bailout programme. So if Feri was already recognized by the central bank, Lisbon would have a bit more breathing space. Italy is also beholden to Toronto-based DBRS. It put Rome's A (low) rating under review last month and if it downgrades, that will pile additional pressure on the country's struggling banks. In that event, the ECB would trim as much as 8.5 percent of the value of Italian bonds that many of the country's banks swap for zero-interest ECB loans. The lenders would then face a scramble to fill the gap with other suitable assets. Feri's rating for Italy is on a par with DBRS at A-, which again would have provided an additional buffer. CHICKEN AND EGG An ECB spokeswoman declined to comment on the status of discussions with Scope but said the central bank "accepts all rating agencies that are appropriate for the specific purpose of monetary policy operations." A crucial prerequisite was "well-established and diversified credit risk expertise across asset classes and euro area countries." The ECB laid out fuller details last year, stating any new agency must rate at least three out of four of covered bonds, uncovered bonds, corporate bonds and asset-backed securities, and two-thirds of the euro zone's 19 countries. (click https://www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/pdf/other/eb201601_focus03.en.pdf) Hinrichs said the demand for a three-year rating track record was the biggest hurdle. "ECB eligibility requirements create a 'chicken and egg' problem for any European credit rating agency which wants to challenge the oligopoly of the big three (S&P, Moody's, Fitch)." "Lack of ECB recognition makes it harder to win new clients. At the same time, comprehensive coverage of European credit assets is a key ECB requirement." (Additional reporting by John Geddie; editing by John Stonestreet) A woman wearing a traditional niqab. (Photo: Getty) An 18-year-old Muslim student in Germany can no longer legally wear the veil that aligns with her religious beliefs , according to the U.K.s Independent. When her school, the Sophie Scholl Evening Gymnasium, prohibited her from wearing the garment to class, the teen tried to sue but her appeal was struck down by a German court after the case was taken to an administrative court in Osnabruck. The school had argued that it could not ensure the educational development of [the] student, says the Independent. The reason? School officials claim they could not identify the student, as her niqab obscures her face, leaving clearance only for her eyes, according to a description on the BBCs website. It is usually accompanied by a headscarf. Attempting to compromise, the student suggested that a teacher verify her identity at the beginning of class, while allowing her to wear her garment. But the school argued that the niqab hindered effective communication, which relies not only on the spoken word, but also on non-verbal elements and body language, according to the Independent. The publication says that this ruling is one of the first of its kind. Ironically, the niqab originated as a practice that would help Muslim women fit into society, according to the BBC. Contrary to the belief that niqabs and other religious head coverings are imposed on Muslim women as an act of repression, Facing History says that many female Western defendants of Muslim tradition argue that face veils are a self-imposed and respected form of piety even a form of self-expression. The German scandal follows a disturbing pattern, as the publication reports that a Muslim student in Bavaria has also been banned from wearing her niqab to her secondary school. According to Sputnik News, the economic minister of the German region of Bavaria supports a ban on both niqabs and burqas, a related, even more conservative garment worn by some Muslim women. The burqa covers the entire body, and German ministers feel it prevents newcomers from integrating. Story continues Germanys interior minister, Thomas de Maiziere, has warned members of the ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU) that such a law [banning burqas] would contravene Germanys laws on religious freedom, according to the Independent. But Die Welt newspaper quotes German politician Jens Spahn as saying, Anyone who is on their way to Germany [from another country] must be aware that life here will be very different than that at home. They should be even more careful if they really want to live in this Western culture. These incidents of niqab- and burqa-related discrimination coincide with a third scandal, this one involving the burkini, a conservative swimsuit worn by Muslim women. France has made headlines recently by outlawing the burkini, and less than 24 hours ago, a woman lounging on the beach in Nice was forced by four armed French police officers to remove her burkini, according to the Mirror. The woman was also slapped with a fine for breaking the countrys burkini ban. According to the Independent, the European Court of Human Rights confirmed it was legal for France to ban full-body veils after a 24-year-old Muslim woman in France claimed that the ban on wearing burqas in public violated her freedom of religion and expression. The woman also argued that the law encourages discrimination based on gender, religion and ethnic origin, to the detriment of women who wear the full-face veil. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany has told its citizens to stock up on water and food in the event of a terrorist attack or national catastrophe and be ready to support the military in the country's first overhaul of civil defenses for two decades. Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet approved the 70-page plan at a time when Germans are particularly on edge after two Islamist militant attacks in July and several much larger-scale, deadly assaults in France and Belgium this year. The German word for stocking up on provisions in case of an emergency is "Hamsterkaeufe" and some media have mocked the plan for encouraging Germans to hoard like the small, furry animals. Although the plan was commissioned in 2012, security is shaping up into a major campaign issue before two regional votes next month and next year's federal election. Proposed measures include boosting spending on police and a ban on the burqa, the all-concealing garment worn by some Muslim women. The strategy unveiled on Wednesday outlines precautionary steps for scenarios such as terrorism and chemical weapons and cyber attacks. Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere rejected suggestions that the report, last published in 1995, was scaremongering and said it was not linked to an immediate threat. "It is responsible politics to prepare appropriately, with a cool head, for catastrophe scenarios even if the likelihood of them occurring is improbable," he told reporters. The plan recommends Germans buy five days' worth of water and 10 days' worth of food in the event of a national crisis. It also outlines the need for a more extensive alarm system to alert people when there is an emergency, improved protection for buildings and medical care. Civilians should also be ready to help the military with tasks such as directing traffic, finding accommodation and providing fuel. The report also raises the possibility of reintroducing conscription in the case of national emergency. That idea has caused controversy in Germany, which suspended compulsory military service only in 2011. "Conscription must not be brought back, there is no reason to do that, it is absolute nonsense," Social Democrat lawmaker Eva Hoegl told rbb radio. Asked about it at a news conference, a defense ministry spokesman said there were no plans to reintroduce conscription. (Reporting by Madeline Chambers and Thorsten Severin; editing by Mark Heinrich) (Adds quote, detail on conscription) BERLIN, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Germany has told its citizens to stock up on water and food in the event of a terrorist attack or national catastrophe and be ready to support the military in the country's first overhaul of civil defences for two decades. Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet approved the 70-page plan at a time when Germans are particularly on edge after two Islamist militant attacks in July and several much larger-scale, deadly assaults in France and Belgium this year. The German word for stocking up on provisions in case of an emergency is "Hamsterkaeufe" and some media have mocked the plan for encouraging Germans to hoard like the small, furry animals. Although the plan was commissioned in 2012, security is shaping up into a major campaign issue before two regional votes next month and next year's federal election. Proposed measures include boosting spending on police and a ban on the burqa, the all-concealing garment worn by some Muslim women. The strategy unveiled on Wednesday outlines precautionary steps for scenarios such as terrorism and chemical weapons and cyber attacks. Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere rejected suggestions that the report, last published in 1995, was scaremongering and said it was not linked to an immediate threat. "It is responsible politics to prepare appropriately, with a cool head, for catastrophe scenarios even if the likelihood of them occurring is improbable," he told reporters. The plan recommends Germans buy five days' worth of water and 10 days' worth of food in the event of a national crisis. It also outlines the need for a more extensive alarm system to alert people when there is an emergency, improved protection for buildings and medical care. Civilians should also be ready to help the military with tasks such as directing traffic, finding accommodation and providing fuel. The report also raises the possibility of reintroducing conscription in the case of national emergency. Story continues That idea has caused controversy in Germany, which suspended compulsory military service only in 2011. "Conscription must not be brought back, there is no reason to do that, it is absolute nonsense," Social Democrat lawmaker Eva Hoegl told rbb radio. Asked about it at a news conference, a defence ministry spokesman said there were no plans to reintroduce conscription. (Reporting by Madeline Chambers and Thorsten Severin; editing by Mark Heinrich) (Adds minister reaction, context) KINSHASA, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Mining and trading giant Glencore Plc will delay resuming production at its Katanga Mining unit to early 2018 due to stubbornly low copper prices, Chief Executive Ivan Glasenberg said on Wednesday. Katanga announced an 18-month suspension of operations last September at the mine, which accounted for about 15 percent of Democratic Republic of Congo's copper production in 2014. The company said in June that progress on $880 million in upgrades aimed at cutting costs was on track. However, Glasenberg said in a call with analysts that Glencore was in no rush to add to already oversupplied global markets. Congo's mines minister Martin Kabwelulu told Reuters that Glencore's announcement was made without consulting the government and "will lead the government to ask Glencore for explanations". The suspension and other cuts in Congo's mining sector due to low prices have cost more than 13,000 jobs since last year in Africa's top copper producer and caused output of the metal to fall 14 percent in the first half of this year. Mining and the smaller oil industry account for some 95 percent of Congo's export earnings. The government slashed its 2016 budget by 22 percent in June and has cut its annual growth forecast from 9 percent to 4.3 percent. (Reporting by Mamidipudi Soumithri in Bengaluru and Aaron Ross in Kinshasa; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg and Dale Hudson) SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 24, 2016 / Global Payout, Inc. August, 2016 (GOHE) is excited to announce four new members to the Board of Directors. These new members will be in addition to our CEO James Hancock, President and VP of Sales and Marketing Bill Rochfort, and CFO Joseph Sebo. For more information about them please visit our website at http://www.globalpayout.com/letter-ceo.html. Ron Meyers: CEO Denovo Formations: Mr. Meyers has been in the Denovo (New) banking community and commercial banking industry for over 30 years. During that time, he has provided critical development services to over Eighty-five (85) new start-up banks. Those services included branch construction, secure data systems integration, executive bank management searches, bank vendor selection services, capital raising and mergers and acquisitions. In addition, Mr. Meyers has consulted with many of the top twenty-five world banks assisting them with the development and expansion of their markets. For more on Mr. Meyers, please visit - http://www.denovoformations.com/team.html. Ted Morgan: Managing Director ATI Capital Partners, LLC: Mr. Morgan is a former Xerox Corp. Executive who became an entrepreneur, now with over 25 years of experience as a founder, financier, and C Level executive of venture capital and private equity financed ventures. He is the Founder of Office Club, which merged with Office Depot (NYSE:ODP) in the 90's. He has also founded and financed a number of other technology companies including software, medical equipment, retail, and electric vehicle ventures. He is experienced in all aspects of corporate development, from start-up to exit. He also has extensive international business experience. Ted has a BS degree in Business Admin & Production Mgmt. from CSU East Bay and pursued MBA studies at UC Berkeley. For more information on Mr. Morgan, please visit - http://ati-capital.com/aboutprinciples.html. Ronald Askew: Managing Director Askew Kabala: Mr. Askew has significant experience in commercial banking and investment banking, with an emphasis on capital markets, management, consulting, financial restructuring and most other facets of commercial and Investment banking. Prior to becoming a founding member of the Askew Kabala Firm, Mr. Askew was a Managing Director and Partner of a prominent national investment banking firm, headquartered in Los Angeles and was executive vice president of Benefit Capital Company. Mr. Askew has also served as Chairman and CEO of several banking institutions adding to his significant Banking and Investment Management experience. For more information on Mr. Askew, please visit - http://www.askewkabala.com/biographical-information.html. Douglas Miller: CEO Capital Growth Planning, Inc.: Mr. Miller is the Chief Executive Officer for Capital Growth Planning, Inc. (CGP) and the interim CEO for ISBC Holdings Ltd. Mr. Miller began his association with CGP in August of 1988, after graduating from Fresno State with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration - Financial Services. Mr. Miller is directly involved in the management, development, and marketing of the Company's proprietary insurance and investment products, programs, and structures for commercial banking, wealth management and yield enhancement. Several of these product structures were listed with the United States Patent Office for Patent approval and are designated for domestic and international product syndication. Mr. Miller has been a member of the National Investment Bankers Association (NIBA) and Financial Services Exchange (FSX) since the late nineties. Mr. Miller holds a Real Estate & Life Insurance license with the State of California. For more information on Mr. Miller, please visit - http://www.capplan.com/Management.3.htm. About Global Payout, Inc. Global Payout, Inc., www.globalpayout.com, headquartered in San Diego, California, is a Program Manager providing both project management advisory services and direct account provisioning systems that can be offered through Global's eWallet platforms, digital currency management, and prepaid debit card bank programs located throughout the world. This enables end-users of the platform to maximize an expanded suite of financial services and minimize operational costs through integration of state-of- the-art FinTech applications and platforms. About ISBC Holdings Ltd. ISBC Holdings, Ltd. (ISBC Holdings) is a domestic and international bank management company acting as the sole manager of International Sovereign Bank Corporation (ISBC), a private international bank. ISBC is a privately owned Sovereign Nation Bank to be held on the Sovereign Tribal land of the Wakpamni Lake Community, Oglala Sioux Tribe located at the Pine Ridge Tribal Reservation in South Dakota. ISBC Holdings has entered into an irrevocable Operations Management Services Agreement with International Sovereign Bank Corporation for a term of 100 years to manage bank products, services and operations. ISBC Holdings has been established as an off-shore company based in Hong Kong and domestically in Nevada, with administrative offices in San Diego and Orange County, California. SOURCE: Global Payout, Inc. By Allison Martell, Frank Jack Daniel and Noe Torres TORONTO/MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican regulators said they are examining whether mining company Goldcorp Inc broke any regulations in its handling of a long-running leak of contaminated water at Mexico's biggest gold mine. The move follows questions from Reuters about the leak, which until now has not been disclosed to the public. Levels of the mineral selenium rose in one groundwater monitoring well near Goldcorps Penasquito mine as early as October 2013, Goldcorp data reviewed by Reuters shows. The Canadian company reported a rise in selenium levels in groundwater to the Mexican government in October 2014, after which the contamination near its mine waste facility intensified, according to internal company documents seen by Reuters, and interviews with government officials. Two weeks ago, the company told Mexican regulators that contaminated water had also been found in other areas of its property. There is no evidence that the leaks at the mine have endangered public health or caused environmental damage, Goldcorp and regulators say. Goldcorp said it has not informed villagers living near the mine because its tests showed the leak had not affected groundwater beyond its property line or contaminated the local drinking water. (Graphic: http://tmsnrt.rs/2b3A4lt) The company was not legally required to tell the community, Mexican regulators said. The head of the industrial inspection unit at Mexico's environmental prosecutor Profepa, Arturo Rodriguez Abitia, said it would have been preferable for Goldcorp to inform the local community about the leaks, but that it was not obliged to do so if the problem had not spread beyond its boundaries. The company said its monitoring program worked as intended and helped quickly identify the problem at the mine, which lies in a semi-desert region of the northern state of Zacatecas and which in 2015 produced 860,300 ounces of gold, a quarter of Goldcorp's total production. "We have managed the issue within the confines of our property and continue to monitor and operate our tailings management system to prevent any external impacts," Goldcorp said when asked when the leak was discovered and whether it was ongoing. Selenium is sometimes released into the environment by mining and can be present in waste stored in what are known as tailings ponds. High concentrations in water can damage human health and cause deformities in wildlife. In recent years its effect on fish and waterbirds has led to successful lawsuits against North American miners including U.S.-based Patriot Coal, which filed for bankruptcy in 2012 under $443 million of selenium water treatment liabilities. Vancouver-based Goldcorp declined to disclose how much it was spending to monitor and fix the leak, saying only that there was a "sufficient allocation of resources. This issue is one that we have taken seriously and we are taking the necessary measures to resolve, said Michael Harvey, the miners Latin America director for corporate affairs and security. Two weeks ago, after receiving questions from Reuters, Goldcorp met with Mexican regulators in Zacatecas. A presentation dated March 2016 but delivered at that meeting said one of the steps the company was taking to address the leak was to relocate a pond that reclaims water from the tailings. The company told Reuters that project should be completed next year. HIGH SELENIUM LEVELS Selenium levels in the well rose for months after the miner alerted authorities in October 2014, the company data seen by Reuters shows. The concentration began falling in April 2015 and from September at least through January it was steady at 0.01 mg/liter. Canadian province British Columbia, where Goldcorp is headquartered, and Mexico both establish maximum selenium concentrations of 0.01 mg per liter in drinking water. Mexico sets maximum concentrations of 0.008 mg/l in fresh water bodies and 0.02 mg/l in water for agricultural use. Levels in the groundwater at Penasquito rose to more than five times that level, the data shows. A September 2015 internal Goldcorp presentation -- which was released onto the Internet by unidentified hackers earlier this year -- laid out "key risks and opportunities" associated with the spill. One risk, according to the presentation, was that "community knowledge and understanding of potential groundwater contamination may raise national and international attention." The presentation also warned of the risk of "long term impacts to human health and the environment if the plume is not adequately mitigated." Profepa's Rodriguez told Reuters his unit was examining the case to see whether Goldcorp had downplayed or not fully disclosed relevant information. He did not specify which regulations Goldcorp could have violated. Goldcorp says it has complied with all Mexican requirements for notifying regulatory authorities. Mexico's Conagua water regulator did not conduct its own tests of water quality around the mine in response to the leak, but said its regular monitoring of the aquifer through its own network of pumping stations had not shown a change in water quality. After receiving questions from Reuters, the regulator said at least two new wells would be built near the mine to monitor water quality. Villagers in the area around the mine have previously made at least two complaints to environmental authorities about alleged seepage from the wall of the tailings dam. Inspectors from the state unit of Profepa reported that there was nothing out of the ordinary in both cases. At the meeting with Profepa two weeks ago, Goldcorp described leaks in three other areas to the west and south of the facility, in addition to the original well. The companys presentation, seen by Reuters, showed that two of the leaks were just to the north of Las Mesas, a community of about 90 families who mostly raise cattle or grow corn and beans. Authorities in Las Mesas could not be reached for comment. (Editing by Stuart Grudgings) CHICAGO, IL / ACCESSWIRE / August 24, 2016 / Good Gaming, Inc. and CMG Holdings Group, Inc. (OTC PINK: GMER & OTC PINK: CMGO): Good Gaming, Inc. ("GG") is pleased to announce it has obtained a sponsorship from Celsius Holdings, Inc. (www.celsius.com) for its upcoming jackpot Hearthstone tournament slated for August 27-28 (https://twitter.com/GoodGamingInc). Kevin Harrington, a member of Good Gaming's Advisory Board and a Director of Celsius Holdings, made the introduction as part of his commitment to steer the Company towards new relationships for growth. Celsius Holdings provides healthy energy drinks, both carbonated and non-carbonated, that have been scientifically researched and tested. Celsius has received numerous endorsements from celebrities in a variety of fields and is growing its distribution channels and customer base worldwide. Said Vik Grover, CEO of Good Gaming, "We are thrilled to forge this agreement with Celsius, as we think our targeted demographic of 15-35-year-old gamers are well suited to become customers of their healthy energy beverages and future products. We think it is a win-win for both Companies. We will promote Celsius through our own social media channels and awareness campaigns, such as F2K, which encompass a total of one million gamers worldwide. Additionally, we will offer Celsius products on our e-commerce site to promote awareness of their goods to our own customers. This first sponsorship by Celsius is a step towards what we believe can become a long lasting partnership." Good Gaming is owner and operator of the world's most scalable, automated tournament platform for eSports. Additionally, the company has deployed a social network for the over 200 million amateur online gamers worldwide, giving them a destination site where they can interact, compete, learn, buy/sell/trade virtual goods and services, and hone their skills as they seek to move to the semi-pro or pro-levels. The tournament platform runs flawlessly, and is now capable of hosting team formats as evidenced by its perfect execution of the KONTROLFREEK-sponsored Overwatch tournament two weekends ago (www.kontrolfreek.com). The Company hired shout casters, who covered the semi-finals and finals of the event and added a level of professionalism typically associated with professional competitions. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEaK4rc3IGg&feature=youtu.be). With regard to the social network, the site is now out of beta, and the majority of modules are online and open for business. The Company is continuing to host servers for ARK and Minecraft and is now the number three ARK server in North America, which is driving traffic to the GG site. Story continues To drive revenues, GG has deployed video advertising on the social network, initially partnering with Dashbid.com, which is bringing 100 buyers to the site for existing inventory. Looking ahead, GG is in discussions with other ad providers to waterfall from one platform to another, which will maximize utilization of inventory and drive revenues. GG also intends to deploy banner advertising once the video advertising format has been fully vetted and deployed. Separately, Good Gaming would like to update shareholders regarding its tournament schedule and go-forward plans. Based on the success of the initial Overwatch tournament, Good Gaming plans to launch a much more sizable Overwatch competition in the next few weeks. The Company will partner with KONTROLFREEK on that event, and intends to offer cash prizes and KONTROLFREEK goods such as high-end controllers, thumb sticks, and other gear that can give gamers an edge over their competition. GG will continue to offer tournaments for Hearthstone and intends to launch a Call of Duty tournament this fall, a title that has sold over 175 million copies worldwide. Besides Blizzard, the Company is in discussions with other publishers, some of which offer one to two titles with tens of thousands of gamers, all the way to larger entities with multiple titles and tens of millions of gamers on PC and console platforms (i.e., XBOX, PlayStation). These relationships, which were generated by GG's Advisory Board member Sean Stalzer, have long sales cycles but are expected to bear fruit in the next several weeks. They have the potential to fully prove GG's vision to become a cross-publisher, cross-platform social network with a massively scalable tournament platform. Sadly, on a somber note, Good Gaming wants to take this opportunity to notify shareholders that one of its founders, Michael Beckford, passed away roughly two weeks ago. The Company would like to send its condolences to the Beckford family. Said Vik Grover, "We intend to take Good Gaming to the next level and deliver on Mike's vision for eSports. I continue to believe we have invented something unique and extraordinary based on Mike's passion for this gaming world. His dream will be fulfilled by our organization in the coming months." About Good Gaming Good Gaming, Inc. is a leading tournament gaming platform and online destination targeting the over 200 million eSports players and participants worldwide that want to compete at the high school or college level. Register now to join the Good Gaming community and make sure to sign up to all the awesome events, like the next tournament offering amazing prize pools! https://www.good-gaming.com Forward-Looking Statements Statements not historical in nature, are intended, and are hereby identified as, "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements may be identified by words including "anticipate," "believe," "intends," "estimates," "expect," and similar expressions. The Company cautions readers that forward-looking statements including, without limitation, those relating to future business prospects are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from projections, estimates or aspirations, due to factors such as those relating to economic, governmental, technological, and any risks and factors identified from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the SEC. Contact Information Good Gaming, Inc. Vik Grover CEO (708) 400-9050 corporate@good-gaming.com SOURCE: Good Gaming, Inc. Google Chrome This story was delivered to BI Intelligence Apps and Platforms Briefing subscribers. To learn more and subscribe, please click here. Google announced on Friday that it plans to stop supporting Chrome apps on Windows, Mac, and Linux over the next two years. Beginning in late 2016, new Chrome apps will be available only to users on Chrome OS. This means that app developers will need to begin shifting their apps to web interfaces, where they'll continue to run as apps but load in web browsers. The next part of the Chrome-apps shift will begin in the second half of 2017, when the Chrome Web Store will no longer display Chrome apps on non-Chrome operating systems. Finally, in 2018, Windows, Mac, and Linux users will not be able to access Chrome apps at all. The announcement comes as web technology continues to fill in the holes that Chrome apps originally patched, Google notes. In essence, Chrome apps are those built for the web, but they can be used outside of the Chrome browser, giving web users better functionality. Chrome apps enable services like working offline, sending notifications, and connecting to hardware. By shuttering access to Chrome apps, Google is encouraging developers to look at new ways to build more engaging and better-performing web content. This includes using more powerful APIs, Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP), and Progressive Web Apps (PWA), which is quickly distorting the line between web and apps. In doing so, Google is likely hoping to create a more enjoyable web experience. To receive stories like this one directly to your inbox every morning, sign up for the Apps and Platforms Briefing newsletter. Click here to learn more about how you can gain risk-free access today. NOW WATCH: Chrome has a ton of hidden features heres how to find and enable them More From Business Insider Paris (AFP) - Scientists Wednesday announced the discovery of an Earth-sized planet orbiting the star nearest our Sun, opening up the glittering prospect of a habitable world that may one day be explored by robots. Named Proxima b, the planet is in a "temperate" zone compatible with the presence of liquid water -- a key ingredient for life. The findings, based on data collected over 16 years, were reported in the peer-reviewed journal Nature. "We have finally succeeded in showing that a small-mass planet, most likely rocky, is orbiting the star closest to our solar system," said co-author Julien Morin, an astrophysicist at the University of Montpellier in southern France. "Proxima b would probably be the first exoplanet visited by a probe made by humans," he told AFP. An exoplanet is any planet outside our Solar System. Lead author Guillem Anglada-Escude, an astronomer at Queen Mary University London, described the find as the "experience of a lifetime". Working with European Southern Observatory telescopes in the north Chilean desert, his team used the so-called Doppler method to detect Proxima b and describe its properties. The professional star-gazers spent 60 consecutive days earlier this year looking for signs of gravitational pull on its host star, Proxima Centauri. Regular shifts in the star's light spectrum -- repeating every 11.2 days -- gave a tantalising clue. They revealed that the star alternately moved towards and away from our Solar System at the pace of a leisurely stroll, about five kilometres (three miles) per hour. - Goldilocks zone - After cross-checking an inconclusive 2000-2014 dataset and eliminating other possible causes, the researchers determined that the tug of an orbiting planet was responsible for this tiny to-and-fro. "Statistically, there is no doubt," Anglada-Escude told journalists in a briefing. "We have found a planet around Proxima Centauri." Story continues Proxima b is a mere four light years from the Solar System, meaning that it is essentially in our back yard on the scale of our galaxy, the Milky Way. It has a mass around 1.3 times that of Earth, and orbits about seven million kilometres (4.35 million miles) from its star. A planet so near to our Sun -- 21 times closer than Earth -- would be an unlivable white-hot ball of fire. But Proxima Centauri is a so-called red dwarf, meaning a star that burns at a lower temperature. As a result, the newly discovered planet is in a "Goldilocks" sweet spot: neither so hot that water evaporates, nor so cold that it freezes solid. But liquid water is not the only essential ingredient for the emergence of life. An atmosphere is also required, and on that score the researchers are still in the dark. It all depends, they say, on how Proxima b evolved as a planet. "You can come up with formation scenarios that end up with and Earth-like atmosphere, a Venus-like atmosphere" -- 96 percent carbon dioxide -- "or no atmosphere at all," said co-author Ansgar Reiners, an expert on "cold" stars at the University of Goettingen's Institute of Astrophysics in Germany. Computer models suggest the planet's temperature, with an atmosphere, could be "in the range of minus 30 Celsius (-22 Fahrenheit) on the dark side, and 30C (80F) on the light side," Reiners told journalists. Like the Moon in relation to Earth, Proxima b is "tidally locked," with one face always exposed to its star and the other perpetually in shadow. Emerging life forms would also have to cope with ultraviolet and X-rays bombarding Proxima b 100 times more intensely than on Earth. - Search for life - An atmosphere would help deflect these rays, as would a strong magnetic field. But even high doses of radiation do not preclude life, especially if we think outside the box, scientists say. "We have to be very open-minded as to what we call 'life'," Jean Schneider, an expert on exoplanets at the Observatoire de Paris, told AFP. Some 3,500 exoplanets have been discovered since the first confirmed sighting in 1995. Most of these distant worlds -- like our own Jupiter and Neptune -- are composed of gas, an inhospitable environment for life. Even the 10 percent that do have rocky surfaces are mostly too cold or too hot to host water in liquid form. And -- until today -- the handful that are in a temperate zone are effectively beyond reach. Last year, for example, NASA unveiled Kepler 452b, a planet about 60 percent larger than Earth that could have active volcanoes, oceans, sunshine like ours, and a year lasting 385 days. But at a distance of 1,400 light-years, humankind would have little hope of reaching this Earth-twin any time soon. By comparison, Proxima b is a stone's throw away, though still too far away for humans to visit with present-generation chemical rockets. "This is a dream for astronomers if we think about follow up observations," said Reiners. London (AFP) - West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic has hinted the injury-hit Premier League club could make a move for Manchester City striker Wilfried Bony. Bilic had been looking for a new forward throughout the close-season, but his need has grown more urgent after injuries to three of his main attacking options. Club-record signing Andre Ayew was injured on his debut at Chelsea in the opening Premier League game of the campaign and faces a four-month lay-off. Then last weekend Bilic learnt former Liverpool targetman Andy Carroll could miss up to six weeks with a knee problem sustained in a Europa League tie, while Diafra Sakho is also currently sidelined. Bilic desperately needs a striker before the transfer window closes and Bony is on his wanted list. Bony has struggled for playing time since his move to City in 2015 and the 27-year-old Ivory Coast international is available for transfer after he was recently omitted from Pep Guardiola's Champions League squad for the qualifier against Steaua Bucharest. Asked on Wednesday about a potential move for the former Swansea City star, Bilic told reporters: "He is a good player. He is an option because he plays in the position where, even before the injuries, we tried to sign a player -- he is a centre-forward. "I don't negotiate. I'm just the manager. I just say to the chairmen and (chief scout) Tony Henry, we talk and then they do it." Beirut (AFP) - Kurdish fighters and Syrian government forces had clashed heavily for a week in the battle for the northeastern city of Hasakeh before agreeing to a ceasefire on Tuesday. The fighting was the most intense between the two sides since the start of the Syria war five years ago, and it drew in both Russian military officials and the US-led coalition. Why is Hasakeh so important and what is likely to happen next? - Who's who in Hasakeh? - Kurdish fighters in the city belong to the Asayesh police force and the powerful People's Protection Units (YPG), which functions more like an army and has scored key victories against the Islamic State jihadist group. Facing off against them were fighters from the pro-government National Defence Forces (NDF) militia, as well as a small contingent of traditional army soldiers. Analysts say few regular soldiers were involved in the battle because they are spread too thin on other fronts. The US-led coalition bombing IS in Syria has backed the YPG in its operations against jihadists with air support and military advisers. After Syrian air strikes on YPG positions in Hasakeh last week, the coalition scrambled aircraft and warned Damascus against endangering coalition advisers. Steadfast regime ally Russia has strengthened its relationship with Syria's Kurds and mediated Tuesday's ceasefire agreement. - A week of clashes - Fighting erupted last Wednesday initially between the Asayesh and the NDF -- before the YPG and Syria's military, including its air force, joined the battle. The majority of Hasakeh's population is Arab but Kurdish forces controlled two-thirds of the city even before the recent round of fighting broke out. On the eve of the truce agreement, the Kurds were in control of 90 percent of the city, with regime forces regrouping in the centre where government administrative buildings are located. The ceasefire was reached after several days of Russian mediation, including at the coastal Hmeimim air base. Story continues The deal also called for the "withdrawal of all armed forces from the city," according to a statement distributed by a Kurdish official. Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the truce agreement was "a defeat for the regime and a victory for the Kurds". - Why is Hasakeh important? - Hasakeh province shares borders with Turkey to the north and Iraq to the east. It was known as Syria's breadbasket before the war because of its fertile land and was also a major source of cotton. There are also oil fields in the province, and recently Kurdish authorities began refining their own supplies for consumption in areas under their control. Most of the province is held by the Kurds, but the regime has a small presence in Hasakeh city, Qamishli to the north, and some Arab-majority villages. IS jihadists still hold some territory on the southern edges of the province, which borders Deir Ezzor. "Ultimately, a strategic province of Syria bordering the Kurdish-speaking regions of Turkey and Iraq is out of government control," said a Syrian political source close to the Damascus regime. "This will strengthen the Kurds' desire for autonomy if not full independence," said the source. Washington-based analyst Mutlu Civiroglu told AFP that Hasakeh could serve as "a hub to secure a broader Kurdish region". - What next? - Since Syria's conflict broke out in March 2011, the country's Kurds have tried to walk a fine line of neutrality, siding with neither the regime nor the uprising. In mid-2012, government forces withdrew from Kurdish-majority areas in Syria's north and Kurds began establishing their own autonomous administration. In March, Kurdish parties and their allies announced a federal region that would unite the three autonomous "cantons" already in place in northern Syria. The declaration was fiercely criticised by Syrian officials in Damascus, and tensions began to rise in Hasakeh and elsewhere. "The regime needs to recognise the autonomous administration as a fait accompli," said Meskin Ahmed, a Kurdish official inside Hasakeh. Civiroglu said Hasakeh could be a good place to experiment with power-sharing arrangements particularly as Kurds lay the groundwork for a federal region. He said Kurds see Hasakeh as "a point that the regime needs to be cleared from". But Civiroglu said he expected further confrontations in Qamishli further north, as well as in the city of Aleppo, where Kurds control one neighbourhood wedged between rebel and regime forces. "As of now, the (ceasefire) agreement shows that the Kurds got what they wanted with minimal casualties," Civiroglu said. I was immediately captured by the characters they were people I knew or had even met. And it was a timeless story, about universally human values, although it takes place more than 100 years ago, said Norwegian writer-director Vibeke Idse of The Lion Woman, her period drama that had its world premiere Aug. 21 at the opening of the 44th Norwegian Intl. Film Festival in Haugesund. Most people have at some stage of their lives felt they were different, and beyond the usual scope of being loved or thought they were. Here is a woman who certainly looks odd, and she knows it will never change; but will she stand up against it, or will it destroy her? This woman decides to fight, Idse said. Adapted from Norwegian author Erik Fosnes Hansens international bestseller, The Lion Woman is set between 1912-1937 and follows Eva, the daughter of the stationmaster in a small Norwegian community, who is born with hair covering her entire body. Her mother dies when giving birth, and in the beginning her father tries to hide her. But she manages to face and overcome the challenges she is facing due to her appearance, and her exceptional intelligence (especially in mathematics) takes her from the little Norwegian village to the world. When she returns to attend her fathers funeral, she is a professor lecturing at the Sorbonne in Paris. Produced by Idses husband John M. Jacobsen, of Oslos Filmkameratene, The Lion Woman stars Swedish actor Rolf Lassgard as the father, while Aurora Lindseth-Lkka (9), Mathilde Hummervoll Storm (16) and Ida Ursin-Holm (25) share role as Eva. Cast also includes Kjersti Tveteras, Rolf Kristian Larsen and Connie Nielsen. Educated at the New York University-Tisch School of Arts, Idse is both an author and writer-director, and made her first film in 1996 from her own childrens book, Body Troopers, which won several awards, including an Amanda, Norways national film prize, for best debut. In 2005 she made her first feature targeting adult audiences, 37, a comedy about a woman approaching 40. Story continues When she took over The Lion Woman production four years ago, she wrote a screenplay and sent it to Fosnes Hansen, the author of the 2006 novel, whom she knew, and suggested another ending than in the book: What really happened to the woman? Hansen came up with the idea used in the film. The advantage of getting older is knowing that it is not so important who suggests the solution of a problem, as long as it is the right one. The novel is a 415-page book, and I would hate to meet him coming out from the premiere declaring he wouldnt lend his name to that crap, said Idse. In Haugesund they were both at the world premiere, still talking. I had sent the script to Rolf Lassgard, he was interested, so I went to Stockholm, very well prepared, but he liked both the role and the story. The three actresses for the lead were found at regular castings, although it was a little complicated to select three who could he the same person, even with hair all over her body, said Idse. Most of the finance was delivered by German co-producers and funds with a $10 million budget the film is the second-most expensive Norwegian feature ever made so out of the 50 shooting days, only seven took place in Norway, and 43 in Germany, where one of the main locations, the train station, was built near Bocchum. But there were difficulties. German crews are much bigger than Norwegian ones, and in Germany children must only work six hours a day. Two of them would go for make-up, so it was a bit of a puzzle we actually filmed scenes with the youngest lion girl in the morning, and with the slightly older in the afternoon. Their families accompanied them and were a great support,said Idse. Her latest film as a director was released 11 years ago; yet she does not expect wait another 11 to make her next. I have several projects I am considering, but it is too early to talk about them. But in 2005 I had not been ready to make The Lion Woman. Today I feel much safer in my work, Idse concluded. Pictured: Director Vibeke Idse and Swedish actor Lars Passgard on the set of The Lion Woman (ends) Related stories Nordic Co-Production Market Adds Heft With Eurimages Selection 'Lion Woman' Producer Jacobsen Sets New Slate of Features Strong Slate of Norwegian Films Fuels Festival's Selection Delicate work These hands have been making traditional candies in Kyoto for 60 years. (Photo: Instagram) Henry Winkler is on a trip that definitely doesn't involve a motorcycle. The former Fonzie is backpacking through Asia with an unlikely posse William Shatner, George Foreman, Terry Bradshaw, and comedian Jeff Dye for the new travel-themed show Better Late Than Never. Ahead of the premiere of the NBC reality show, we handed over our Instagram account to Winkler, who showed us some of the things he has now checked off his bucket list. Related: 'Better Late Than Never' Sends William Shatner, Henry Winkler, Terry Bradshaw, George Foreman on a Riotous Far East Road Trip In addition to sharing snaps of the breathtaking scenery in Japan and Korea, Winkler gave us a peek at the culture he and his motley crew came across on their cross-Asia trek. The Happy Days star also showed us that it's never too late to chill with a cobra, hang with a monkey, get kissed by an elephant, and, perhaps most important, be part of a K-pop band. Click through this slideshow to see all of Winkler's photos, but be advised: He had a way cooler summer vacation than you did. Better Late Than Never airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on NBC. Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fstory%2fthumbnail%2f18703%2f24ba72a2bf2146cdb19485c9b1b14982 With a name like Tyra, it's no surprise that this student has mad modeling skills. Tyra Hunt, a senior at East Kentwood High School in Michigan, got creative when taking her school ID picture this year by skillfully recreating her hilarious kindergarten school photo. SEE ALSO: Students paint a patchwork of pop culture in parking lot Hunt's choice to recreate her cringing expression and green outfit was a no-brainer. "My kindergarten picture sits in our living room," she wrote in an email to Mashable. "I picked that photo because it's huge in my family! That day in kindergarten, I refused to take my school pictures, so the principal called my mom to make her come up to help me get it over with," she said. "They took a few photos of me crying and they called me back in for retakes and they finally got a good one!" East Kentwood High School is full of creative students, and they are allowed to "do funny things" for their school IDs, Hunt told Mashable. She mentioned that one of her friends dressed as Harley Quinn from Suicide Squad. So, Hunt went all out when styling herself for her new ID. "We thought it would be funny to iron on USA letters to a green hoodie," she said. Even more impressive than Hunt's sweatshirt handiwork is that she managed to find green hair bobbles. Hopefully security will recognize her without the pigtails. BONUS: 10 Awkward Things Parents Do on Snapchat and Facebook clinton fundraising Hillary Clinton on Wednesday called the skyrocketing price of the EpiPen "the latest troubling example of a company taking advantage of its consumers," sending drugmakers' stocks tumbling in the afternoon. EpiPen auto-injectors are life-saving devices for people who have severe allergies that could lead to anaphylactic shock. While the drug contained in EpiPens is cheap, the device itself, which is designed to be user-friendly and immediately dispense the correct dosage of the drug, is exorbitantly expensive. The list price for a two-pack of the pens is more than $600, according to Truven Health Analytics, up from $93.88 in 2007. "Over the last several years, Mylan Pharmaceuticals has increased the price of EpiPens by more than 400%," Clinton noted in the statement. "They're now charging up to $600 for a two-EpiPen set that must be replaced every 12-18 months. This both increases out-of-pocket costs for families and first responders, and contributes to higher premiums for all Americans and their employers." The statement called the price hikes "outrageous." Senators including Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, along with members from the Senate Special Committee on Aging have all chimed in over the past few days to ask for more information about how the drug's price has been set. Since Clinton issued the statement on Wednesday afternoon, the Biotechnology Index has fallen more than 3%, while Mylan was down more than 5%. ibb pt 2 This is similar to what happened last year, when Clinton tweeted out an article regarding the sudden 5,000% price increase of the drug Daraprim. Biotech companies and investors have been waiting to see how this election plays out to see what kind of pressure the next president places on drugmakers to control prices. "I believe that our pharmaceutical and biotech industries can be an incredible source of American innovation, giving us revolutionary treatments for debilitating diseases," Clinton said. "But it's wrong when drug companies put profits ahead of patients, raising prices without justifying the value behind them." Story continues Clinton called on Mylan to "immediately reduce the price of EpiPens," and noted her plan to require pharmaceutical manufacturers to "prove that any additional costs are linked to additional patient benefits and better value." Clinton said that there was "no apparent justification" for the high price of EpiPens. Price increases have helped transform the EpiPen into a billion-dollar business despite it being a decades-old product. A lack of competition has allowed the rapid increase in price because patients simply don't have many other options. NOW WATCH: 'PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DIE': James Carville goes on an impassioned rant in defense of the Clinton Foundation More From Business Insider By Nelson Renteria SAN SALVADOR (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Farmer Abelardo Ayala took a tough decision on his estate in San Juan Tepezontes, a traditional coffee-producing region of El Salvador: to swap his coffee trees for cocoa as a warming climate hit his crop. Ayala said his plantation - situated between 600 and 1,000 metres (1,969-3,281 feet) above sea level in the south-central department of La Paz - had been ideal for growing coffee. But with rising temperatures, production became difficult. In the last four years, recurring drought, a plague of coffee borer beetles, and other problems linked to climate shifts put his coffee plantation on the ropes. The farmer tried sowing varieties resistant to a widespread fungus called roya (coffee rust), which affects the leaves and harms bean production, but that failed to protect his harvest. In low-lying areas, many producers have abandoned their crops, or sold their land to urban developers. But Ayala started to study the benefits of cocoa, including its low cost of production, good price on international markets, and environmental value such as protecting water basins and wildlife. People here are starting to cultivate cocoa in zones where before there was coffee, the farmer told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Drought and climate change are making it impossible to work with coffee, so we produce cocoa now. Mexico and Central America, which together produce one fifth of the worlds Arabica coffee beans, have been hit hard by roya and the volatility of coffee prices in the last few years. "The situation has led many producers to change from coffee to cocoa. It is happening step by step, said Nicaraguan farmer Luis Moreno, referring to growers in Jinotega department, one of the countrys principal coffee regions. Where they have coffee, they get a harvest and then take out (the plant) so now they are left only with cocoa cultivation, he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. MORE PROFITABLE Moreno is technical coordinator for the Peoples Community Action Association (APAC), which has been giving cocoa plants and technical help to small producers since 2014. He says the program has been a success so far. The farmers find it cheaper to grow cocoa because it needs fewer workers and around 40 percent less investment in inputs than coffee, while international prices are buoyant. It is more profitable, Moreno said. According to VECO, a Belgium-based NGO that works with small-scale farmers in developing countries, Central America has around 25,000 cocoa producers, spread across Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador, growing cocoa on roughly 12,700 hectares (31,382 acres). VECO estimates cocoa production will expand to around 25,500 hectares in 2019. Many studies prove that coffee production will move higher up because of global warming, said Karen Janssens, regional director of VECO. For this reason, cocoa could be an alternative for producers whose estates are in lower zones. ANCESTRAL COCOA When the Spanish arrived in Mesoamerica in the early 1500s, they observed that indigenous people used cocoa seeds like currency. Cocoa is a species native to the region, and was cultivated by the Aztec, Mayan and Pipil people until the 19th century when coffee was introduced from Africa, largely replacing cocoa. Nestor Perez, a member of the Salvadoran National Indigenous Coordinating Council (CCNIS), said indigenous communities began re-introducing cocoa trees on their lands in 2014. We can see (this trend) not only from an economic or environmental point of view, but we can also link it with our cultural identity, because our people grew cocoa traditionally, Perez said. Indigenous peoples use cocoa to make chocolate, or in ceremonies where they burn cocoa seeds and chocolate in a wood fire to express gratitude to Mother Earth for the harvest. But while cocoa production may be better suited to low altitudes in a warmer world, the writing is not yet on the wall for coffee. Experts predict farmers will continue to produce coffee in mountainous areas, or adapt the way they cultivate it as the climate changes. Some coffee producers are making an effort to revive their crop. Francisco Flores Recinos, for example, has started planting cocoa and other fruit trees among his coffee plants to diversify production on his estate in Jayaque in central El Salvador. Flores Recinos is growing around 4 hectares of cocoa interspersed with coffee as part of a project supported by the Salvadoran Agriculture Ministry, which is helping more than 300 farmers cope with climate shifts. I thought of mixing cocoa and coffee in some areas of my estate where there was water nearby, before roya attacked, the producer explained. If his coffee trees do suffer from roya, the profit from his cocoa crop will help cushion any losses, he added. (Reporting by Nelson Renteria; editing by Megan Rowling. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights and climate change. Visit http://news.trust.org) * $2.4 mln fine for failure to avoid conflict of interest * Bank agrees to hire a firm to review controls - regulator * Morgan Stanley declines to comment (Adds Morgan Stanley comment, details from SFC order) HONG KONG, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Hong Kong's securities regulator said it fined and reprimanded the local securities unit of Morgan Stanley for internal control failures related to disclosure of short-selling orders and comprehensive documentation of electronic trading services. Morgan Stanley Hong Kong Securities Ltd was fined HK$18.5 million ($2.4 million) related to internal control failures between 2013 and 2016, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) said in an e-mailed statement on Wednesday. The breaches of Hong Kong's code of conduct included failure to avoid "conflicts of interest between principal and agency trading" and non-compliance with certain disclosures in short-selling orders, the SFC said, as well as failure to properly document its electronic trading systems. Morgan Stanley declined to comment. The SFC said the U.S. bank cooperated with the watchdog in resolution of its concerns, and had agreed to hire an outside firm to review its internal controls. The regulator said during an investigation of irregular price movements of two stocks on June 21, 2013, it found the bank's Hong Kong securities unit traders responsible for agency trade - or external clients - also dealt in the stocks on a principal basis, which refers to the firm's own holding. Under SFC rules, a firm should avoid "apparent and potential conflicts of interest by establishing and maintaining adequate 'Chinese Walls'", separating dealers handling discretionary orders from those handling principal accounts, it said. SFC has been aggressively clamping down on operational and control failures in banks' trading businesses over the past year. The latest action comes two months after the Hong Kong regulator publicly censured two units of Bank of America for breaches of the city's takeover codes in two deals last year. In February, the SFC also censured Goldman Sachs for infringing parts of the takeover code while acting as financial adviser to Wing Hang Bank Ltd in a $5 billion offer for the Hong Kong lender in 2014. ($1 = 7.7531 Hong Kong dollars) (Reporting by Elzio Barreto and Sumeet Chatterjee; Additional reporting by Michelle Price; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Kenneth Maxwell) Armchair cryptographers, rejoice: A Spanish publisher plans to release replicas of the Voynich Manuscript, a book that no one knows how to read. Discovered by an antique bookseller in 1912 by the name of Wilfrid Voynich, the 600-year-old Voynich Manuscript is housed today in Yale University's Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library. It's filled with script in a language that's never been seen in any other known text which, depending on whom you talk to, means it's nonsense or a secret code just waiting to be cracked. According to AFP, a publisher called Siloe based in Burgos, Spain, will produce 898 copies of the Voynich manuscript, replicating every detail down to the pages'stains and tears. The publisher reportedly plans to sell each of the facsimiles for 7,000 to 8,000 euros (about $7,900 to $9,000). [See Images of the Mysterious Voynich Manuscript] "It's a book that has such an aura of mystery that when you see it for the first time it fills you with an emotion that is very hard to describe," Juan Jose Garcia, the editor of Siloe, told AFP. Many pages of the puzzling script include equally puzzling illustrations. The elaborate ink drawings depict astrological symbols, figural scenes and plants, including over 100 unidentified botanical species. As Yale writes in its description of the manuscript, there is one section full of "drawings of miniature female nudes, most with swelled abdomens, immersed or wading in fluids and oddly interacting with interconnecting tubes and capsules." A few years ago, a radiocarbon analysis of the book's vellum pages proved that it dates back to the 15th century. But even if the book is genuinely old, some researchers have dismissed the manuscript as a Renaissance-era hoax text, intentionally filled with gibberish. (Or, as one paper published by the American Botanical Council succinctly put it, "Many scholars consider research into the Voynich manuscript to be academic suicide.") Others think the manuscript is a cipher that just hasn't been cracked, and theories about the text's contents and origins abound. Story continues A 2013 study published in the journal PLOS ONE claimed that "Voynichese"statistically adhered to linguistic rules. The authors of that study couldn't decode any words, but they could at least tell that the pattern of letters followed Zipf's Law, which holds that the most commonword in a language will appear about twice as often as the second most common word and three times as much as the third most common word and so on. A few years ago, some scholars claimed the text must have come from Mexico, not central Europe as is traditionally believed, because it contained drawings of plants that look similar to Mesoamerican species. Another linguist claimed he deciphered a handful of words, including the word for Taurus, by looking for proper nouns next to their corresponding illustrations. For now, you can peruse a digital copy of the book on the Beinecke Library's website. Original article on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Moscow (AFP) - A man who took four people hostage at a bank in central Moscow late Wednesday has surrendered to police, local authorities said. Russian special forces were deployed to the Citibank branch, located just one kilometre (mile) away from the Kremlin, after reports that a man had seized four hostages -- three bank employees and one customer. Moscow police said they were able to negotiate the release of two of the bank staff shortly after 1700 GMT. The two remaining hostages were released later, the police told RIA Novosti state-run news agency. An unnamed source in law enforcement told Russian news agencies that the hostage taker was apparently drunk and had threatened to blow up the bank. Police told RIA Novosti state news agency that the hostage taker had an "unidentified object" attached to his neck. The alleged hostage taker apparently posted a video online in which he claimed that the siege was intended to draw attention to corporate and personal bankruptcy in Russia, Interfax news agency reported. "Why am I doing this?" a man said in a video uploaded to YouTube on Wednesday, the source of which could not be independently verified. "Because there is no other way for you, for the general public to see that there is a huge problem in Russia," he added, referring to bankruptcy. "I have nothing to lose. I have already lost everything that I had." The man also demanded that authorities recognise bankruptcy as a "disease" and tackle the issue. The Kremlin's business ombudsman Boris Titov said in an interview with a local radio station that he would assess the hostage taker's demands, RIA Novosti reported. The Russian economy has been battered by a recession caused by low oil prices and Western sanctions over the Ukraine crisis. Hundreds of Pokemon Go enthusiasts caused a stampede in Taipei on Sunday (August 21) in a rush to 'catch' rare Pokemons. The streets in Beitou were packed with people playing the location-based game and hunting for the virtual monsters through their smartphones. Many rushed to the spot where the characters apparently appeared. "There is Snorlax, Gyarados... Aerodactyl is a bit more common," said one player, naming the characters that caused the commotion. So-called Pokestops are often established in parks, causing many to gather there. "Very cool, I think I have strong ones (Pokemons)," said one young player who was satisfied with the night's outcome. Players in Taiwan have been known to be especially enthusiastic - police have been ramping up fines for playing in traffic while riding a scooter. dead-peanut-bunker-new-jersey Thousands of dead fish have washed up onto the Waackaack Creek and a nearby beach in Keansburg, New Jersey since Monday, making the area's coast smell like a sewer. Wildlife officials are calling it a natural occurrence, suggesting that unusually high water temperatures and a lack of water movement in the creek led to low oxygen concentrations there. The fish likely were fleeing from predators when they got stuck in stagnant waters, where they suffocated. Thousands of dead fish wash ashore in Keansburg,New Jersey. Whole town smells like a sewer @CarrascoTV pic.twitter.com/SN849R6Hnu Eric Anderson (@Skipfliggins) August 23, 2016 Pollution was also to blame. "This is primarily a natural phenomenon, but it is exacerbated by polluted runoff, including fertilizers from lawns, which is why preserving stream corridors and buffers is important, Greg Remaud, deputy director of the NY/NJ Baykeeper told PIX11, a local news channel. That runoff promotes algae growth, which also makes water less oxygenated. Bob Considine, a spokesman for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, told Reuters that the fish kill is the second to occur in the waterway this week. Most of the fish that washed up are Atlantic menhaden also known as peanut bunkers when they're young which are often used in bait or fertilizer. As eggs, the fish are carried to estuaries via ocean currents. They spend their first year in the estuary, then move back to the ocean, according to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Officials say the fish should be washed out of beaches in two tide cycles, and response teams are currently clearing them out. NOW WATCH: This fisherman caught a massive 400-pound fish while straddling a paddleboard More From Business Insider SEOUL (Reuters) - Hyundai Motor reached a tentative wage pact with its South Korean labour union on Wednesday, potentially avoiding more strikes and production losses at its biggest manufacturing base. The agreement, which is much less generous than last year's package, is subject to a vote by about 48,000 union members on Friday, a spokesman for the company's in-house union said. Workers at Hyundai Motor's plants in South Korea staged sporadic walkouts between July and August over annual wage demands, leading to a production loss of 65,500 vehicles worth 1.47 trillion won ($1.3 billion). Under the agreement reached on Wednesday, Hyundai will increase workers' basic monthly pay by 58,000 won; give each worker a one-off payment of 3.3 million won as well as bonus and incentives payments worth 3.5 times their basic monthly wage; and each worker will also receive 10 Hyundai shares, the company said. Hyundai, the world's fifth-biggest carmaker together with affiliate Kia Motors, said the union had agreed to cut bonuses this year and refrain from excessive wage rises due to the difficult business environment. Last year the carmaker raised basic pay by 85,000 won a month, offered 20 shares per worker and bonus and incentive payments of four times the basic wage, and a one-off payment of 4 million won. The union had threatened more strikes if there was no agreement on this year's package, risking more damage to Hyundai, which reported its 10th consecutive drop in quarterly net profit in April-June. The carmaker has been hit by strikes in all but four of the union's 29-year history although it usually makes up for lost output by the end of each year. (Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin, editing by David Evans and Susan Fenton) The Hague (AFP) - A Malian jihadist who admitted to razing ancient tombs in the fabled city of Timbuktu is "an honest man" who briefly took the wrong path in life, his lawyer pleaded Wednesday, as prosecutors urged a jail term of up to 11 years. "For just over three months he lost his way," Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi's attorney said at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. "He wanted to give advice to apply Sharia (Islamic) law, which was a terrible mistake that led to his guilt," lawyer Jean-Louis Gilissen told judges. He is "an honest man," Gilissen said. Mahdi admitted at the start of his trial Monday to ransacking some of the west African city's most historic mausoleums during a two-week wave of destruction in 2012. He is the first Islamic extremist charged by the ICC and the first charged with crimes arising out of the conflict in Mali. Sentencing will be handed down on September 27. - Global outrage - The wanton destruction by jihadists, who considered the mausoleums idolatrous, triggered a global outcry. But Mahdi's lawyers said Wednesday he acted out of the belief that what he was doing was right, based on an interpretation of Sharia law. Mahdi, who is aged about 40, had lived in Timbuktu for 11 years before armed groups arrived. His defence described him as "a generous man with an extremely sociable character" who worked for reconciliation between Muslim groups, founded an NGO and facilitated dialogue between white and black Tuaregs. Ansar Dine -- a mainly Tuareg movement that in 2012 took control of Timbuktu some 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) northeast of Bamako, along with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) -- picked out Mahdi to head its "Hisbah" or "Manners" brigade, his lawyers said. Mahdi "was not a decision-maker, but headed those who carried out orders," the defence said. ICC prosecutors under a deal made with the defence asked for a sentence of between nine to 11 years. Story continues The sentence should serve as an "effective deterrent" that plundering the world's heritage would not go unpunished, they added. The sentence should "fully reflect his guilt, serve as an effective deterrent and give justice to the victims," prosecutor Gilles Dutertre urged. "It cannot be tolerated that world heritage can be deliberately destroyed, with disdain for the importance that it has to other people." - Ancient myth destroyed - A former teacher and Islamic scholar, Mahdi admitted to the sole war crimes charge of "intentionally directing attacks" against nine of Timbuktu's famous mausoleums as well as the ancient door of the Sidi Yahia mosque between June 30 and July 11, 2012. Mahdi on Monday begged for "forgiveness" for his role in the destruction that shocked the world as he urged other Muslims not to follow such "evil" ways. Founded between the fifth and the 12th centuries by Tuareg tribes, Timbuktu's very name evokes centuries of history and has been dubbed "the city of 333 saints" for the number of Muslim sages buried there. Revered as a centre of Islamic learning during its golden age in the 15th and 16th centuries Timbuktu, also known as the "Pearl of the Desert", has been designated as a UNESCO world heritage site. Earlier speaking on behalf of victims, lawyer Mayombo Kassongo told the judges that "the mausoleums of Timbuktu is a symbol of the identity of the people." "For Africa it's like the Eiffel Tower in France or the pyramids of Egypt." "When a symbol is attacked and destroyed... it is something that denies Timbuktu of its golden age and deprives it of its myth. Its victims deserve to be compensated," he said. Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f188928%2fd8a886eba8994cb8a665e4fa5e1717ae LONDON A British artist has created an illustration highlighting the hypocrisy of the burkini ban in parts of France. SEE ALSO: This burkini illustration highlights the double standards women face Amy Clancy's illustration shows three women wearing three different items of swimwear. One wears a bikini and swim cap and stands atop the word "oui" ("yes" in French). The next woman is wearing a wetsuit with her head exposed, and is again accompanied by the word "oui". The third woman, however, is wearing a full-body swimsuit, also known as a burkini. The text below reads "non" ("no" in French). The illustration comes after photos emerged of French armed police making a woman remove some of her beach wear (which bore a resemblance to a burkini) while she sat on a beach in Nice. Authorities in several towns on France's Mediterranean coast have begun introducing burkini bans on the grounds that the garment contravenes "good morals and secularism." Officials also say that one reason for the bans is to prevent the possible violence that such garments may incite. Clancy told Mashable that she read an article about police confronting the woman on the beach which prompted her to create the illustration. "I like to represent ideas visually, and this clear example of double standards lent itself well to a very simple illustration," Clancy told Mashable. "It was a small act of protest before I left for work. I only wish I had included a nun as well," Clancy continued. DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / August 24, 2016 / IMPERALIS HOLDING CORP (IMHC) entered into a Letter of Intent Term Sheet on April 14, 2016 for the proposed acquisition of MAXD SOUND (MAX) audio technology. IMHC subsequently engaged independent audio engineers and audio industry professionals to provide due diligence on the technology, patent verification, development requirements and analysis to explore the future market applications and potential transaction. After significant consideration, IMHC and MAXD have concluded not to proceed with the transaction contemplated at this time. The companies have both left open the opportunity for a potential future transaction for the MAXD audio technology. IMHC wishes to thank Mr. Robin Sibucao, who served as the company's Chief Executive Officer while this acquisition was explored, providing his expertise as an audio industry professional in concert with a team of independent audio engineers. Mr. Sibucao has now resigned this post at IMHC to return to the helm of his own company, BIG NOISE HALO FOUNDATION, a company dedicated to the education and development of audio and sound engineering talent, located in St. Petersburg, Florida. Exploration with complimentary companies in the technology sector are continuing by IMHC. Further announcements will be released as these intended transactions come to finalization. Mr. Walter Stock Chief Financial Officer IMPERALIS HOLDING CORP Contact: Walter Stock 214-696-9269 SOURCE: Imperalis Holding Corp. By Rajendra Jadhav and Mayank Bhardwaj MUMBAI/NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India will receive normal rainfall over the 2016 monsoon season, not surplus as previously expected, with the chances of a La Nina weather pattern emerging over the period seen as unlikely, three senior officials at state-run weather department said. A forecast for above-average rains had stoked fears of crop damage during harvest, but with normal rainfall farmers can reap bumper crops. The June-September monsoon is crucial for India's rain-fed farm sector that accounts for nearly 15 percent of its $2 trillion economy - Asia's third biggest. "Rainfall is likely to remain in the normal range," a senior official at India Meteorological Department (IMD) told Reuters on Wednesday. India's weather office defines average, or normal, rainfall as between 96 percent and 104 percent of a 50-year average of 89 cm for the entire four-month season. Earlier this month, the IMD had forecast monsoon rains at 106 percent or above normal. "We are assessing weather models and based on it, we may release a revised forecast next week," the official said. Another IMD official attributed the revision in forecast to the absence of La Nina, a weather phenomenon that typically causes stronger monsoons across Asia. "The La Nina is unlikely to develop during monsoon season," D. S. Pai, head of Long Range Forecast at IMD, told Reuters. "Even if it develops in October, it will be a weak La Nina." A U.S. government weather forecaster has said there is a 55-60 percent chance that La Nina would develop during the fall and winter of 2016/17. The agency's expectations have dropped substantially since June, when it said there was a 75 percent chance of a La Nina developing. India has so far received 2 percent lower rainfall than normal since the start of the monsoon season on June 1. The monsoon, which delivers 70 percent of India's annual rainfall, is critical for the country's 263 million farmers and their rice, cane, corn, cotton and soybean crops because nearly half of its farmland lacks irrigation. As on Aug. 19, farmers had cultivated summer-sown crops on 99.3 million hectares, up 5.8 percent from a year ago, farm ministry data showed. (Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav and Mayank Bhardwaj; Editing by Himani Sarkar) Here are a few fun facts about Pakistan: Its a country in South Asia, it is home to more than 180 million people, and although parts of it do reach excruciatingly hot temperatures, it is, inarguably, not the same place as Hell the inferno where some believe sinners are destined to spend their afterlives burning for eternity. Ask Indian Defense Manohar Parrikar about that last part and he may disagree. Earlier this month he said that going to Pakistan is same as going to hell. And now that Indian actor and former lawmaker Divya Ramya Spandana came out in defense of Pakistan, claiming that it is not Hell, shes facing sedition charges, filed against her by a lawyer in Karnataka, in Indias southwest. Ramya complimented the hospitality of Pakistanis after returning from a visit there, during which she said she was welcomed wholeheartedly and found Pakistanis and Indians to be very much the same. (The two countries split during the 1947 partition of what was then British India; the move sparked religiously-motivated violence and uprooting that left more than a million dead and prompted the mass migration of 10 million people between the two countries.) With a complaint of sedition filed against me, I stand by my remarks that Pakistan is not hell and I see no reason to withdraw or apologize for it, she wrote in a blog post for Indian Express. Its ironical that in a country where people get away with crimes such as a murder, those that seek peace are targeted. Members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party called her complimentary tone toward Pakistan anti-nationalist, and held protests against her this week. K. Vittal Gowda, the lawyer who filed the sedition case, said she should be charged because she publicly appreciated a traditional Indian enemy. On Saturday, a court will decide whether he can go forward with the charges, which carry a maximum penalty of life in prison. Photo credit: Visual News/Getty Images MUMBAI, Aug 24 (Reuters) - India's Piramal Enterprises Ltd said it would partner Bain Capital to invest in distressed assets, becoming the latest entrant in the space as the nation's banks are on a drive to clean up $120 billion of sour debt. "Once finalized, the platform will invest capital directly into businesses and/or acquire debt of such businesses to drive sensible restructurings," the two sides said in a joint statement late on Tuesday, adding that the sponsors believed there was an opportunity to invest more than $1 billion in this space over the next few years. The diversified company, headed by billionaire Ajay Piramal, has previously talked about plans to set up a distressed assets fund with an investment of up to $1 billion. India's banks are cleaning up their books after an order by their regulator Reserve Bank of India, creating more opportunity for investors in distressed assets. In July, Canada's Brookfield Asset Management Inc and top Indian lender State Bank of India announced plans to set up a joint venture to invest about $1 billion in Indian distressed assets. Earlier this month, India's biggest private lender ICICI Bank Ltd and private equity firm Apollo Global Management LLC said they would set up an asset reconstruction company in India to buy into troubled loans held by banks. ($1 = 67.1100 Indian rupees) (Reporting by Devidutta Tripathy; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips) By Fransiska Nangoy JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesian stocks are on a roll - with 18 percent gains this year and a boost from President Joko Widodo's economic reforms - and yet, investors worry about buying more of a market hitting historic peaks. The Jakarta Composite Index <.JKSE> is Asia's second-best performer in dollar terms this year but its winning streak has turned share valuations uncomfortably rich. The ratio of the average price to 12-month forward earnings for Indonesia's MSCI index <.MIID00000PID>, or the PE ratio, is 16.44 - well above its historical average of 12.4 and at its highest since 1999. The rally has come at a time when policymakers are more conservative about growth projections for Southeast Asia's largest economy even though the economy surprised on the upside in the second quarter helped by solid consumption. Lower fiscal spending, weak corporate earnings and uncertainties over the success of the government's tax amnesty program aimed at improving state revenue are now clouding Indonesia's growth prospects. "Everybody is nervous because of that, and valuation has peaked for now," said Ivan Chamdani, fund manager with Maybank Asset Management in Jakarta. "As a relative fund manager, I think it's wise to reduce volatility due to climbing valuation, but no reason yet to raise your cash levels." The stock market PE ratio is trading well above the first standard deviation of its historical mean, which hints at it being overbought, and above levels at which it reversed trend in 2007, 2013 and 2015. The stock run has been encouraged by a stable currency, expectations the tax amnesty will bring home billions of dollars, appointment of a reformist finance minister and a delay in the U.S. Federal Reserve's possible rate rises. Foreigners bought a net 39.47 trillion rupiah ($2.98 billion) of Indonesian stocks in the year to Aug. 23, their purchases jumping threefold in the weeks after the tax amnesty bill was passed in late June. Yet, memories of the shock market sell-off in 2013, when the Fed first raised the possibility of tapering its stimulus, and China's surprise yuan devaluation in 2015, are making investors chary. Earnings too have not kept pace with expectations. Conglomerate PT Astra International , the fifth-largest by size on the Jakarta index, has been posting profit declines since 2014 and its profit in the first half of 2016 fell 12 percent. Property firm PT Lippo Karawaci's first-half profit fell 36 percent. Indonesia's growth this year has been around 5 percent. Newly-appointed Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has warned that reaching a targeted 5.2 percent growth this year would be tough, while the central bank lowered its growth estimate. Investors are waiting for clarity. "The market should move within a narrow range as long as there's no significant headwind," Chamdani said. Bharat Joshi, director at PT Aberdeen Asset Management in Jakarta, said he would like to see some recovery in motorbike sales and instant noodles sales, which would indicate a pick-up in domestic consumption. Motorbike sales in August fell 28 percent from a year earlier. "Earnings have to deliver. I'm going to look for another credible earnings improvement," Joshi said. "Otherwise, if the third quarter disappoints, maybe the market will be bound for a crash." ($1 = 13,240 rupiah) (Editing by Vidya Ranganathan and Jacqueline Wong) A security guard died and at least 21 people were wounded in an attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul on Wednesday, August 24, according to reports. This video shows emergency workers rescuing the injured, who were taken to a nearby Italian-run hospital. Witnesses said on social media that a large explosion took place before gunmen stormed into the facility. Many students and faculty were rushed out an exit leading to the nearby United Nations compound. Among the wounded was Associated Press photographer and 2012 Pulitzer Prize Winner Massoud Hossaini. At the time of writing, no group had claimed responsibility for the attack, and the Afghan government has yet to issue a formal statement on the incident. Credit: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Double and joint degree programs weren't really on Mexican national Elena Campos' radar. But her interest was piqued after she learned about a double master's program in global communication and international journalism offered jointly by Free University of Berlin in Germany and Saint Petersburg State University in Russia. She says the former's reputation in communication studies convinced her to join the four-semester program. "I was eager to experience a different type of education abroad, and a degree in two different universities and cities was the best option," says Campos, who received a scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service as well as funding from the Russian government. [Discover how an international approach can help your degree.] Global universities are increasingly offering double and joint degree programs, with double degrees being more common. A joint degree is a single degree that two or more partner universities offer, while a double degree, also referred to as a dual degree, is two degrees that two universities award. Either can prove a good option for international students seeking a bit more from their studies, experts say. Korean national Woongsup Jung's interest in computer programming and his desire to learn Chinese led him to pursue the undergraduate computing science dual degree program at Simon Fraser University in Canada and Zhejiang University in China. Grads receive a Bachelor of Science in computing science from Simon Fraser and a Bachelor of Engineering from Zhejiang. "Tuition was a big concern for me and I found out that Simon Fraser University is relatively cheaper for international students than any other good universities based on my research," says Jung. "Also, receiving two degrees in five years seemed like an excellent deal." [See global universities where tuition is low or free.] Matthias Kuder, deputy director of the Center for International Cooperation at Free University of Berlin, says while double and joint degrees originated in Europe in the 1980s and 1990s, the trend has gained momentum in the last 15 years around the world, becoming "a part of the standard at many institutions." Story continues Kuder says by working in partnership, universities "can pool educational resources and use complementary teaching expertise to build study programs that they otherwise wouldn't be able to offer." He says this also helps schools attract talented international students and improve global visibility and prestige. Numerous global universities offer double and joint degree programs at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels, with master's being the most common. Kuder says while the degrees are offered in broad subject areas, they are most often in fields like business and management, engineering and social sciences. He says his institution currently offers dual degrees at the bachelor's and master's levels and joint doctoral degrees -- and is planning more. [Learn six things about earning an undergraduate degree in Germany.] U.S. universities are also increasingly establishing such programs. Dale LaFleur, director of institutional relations at the University of Arizona Office of Global Initiatives, says she has helped develop more than 20 international dual degree programs -- with several more in development -- in collaboration with campus faculty members and staff at partner institutions abroad. For international students, dual and joint degree programs can allow them access to research opportunities at two institutions and to diversify and specialize their education. French national Jean-Philippe Hicke, for example, is pursuing the National University of Singapore-Sciences Po double degree program. The four-year program grants students a Bachelor of Arts/Social Sciences (honors) from NUS and a Bachelor of Arts from Sciences Po in France. Hicke says the dual degree allowed him to specialize in economics, complementing his first two years at Sciences Po's Le Havre campus in Normandy, France, which he says focuses on Euro-Asian relations. Hicke, now in Singapore starting his third year of the program, says the country's economic transformation and "position as a pioneer and leader in the region" convinced him that Singapore was the best choice. He adds, "I believed, and I still do, that we have a lot to learn from Singapore." Dual and joint degree programs give students the "best of both worlds," says NUS Professor Bernard Tan, vice provost, undergraduate education. He says NUS offers 45 double degree programs and six joint degree programs at the undergraduate level. The programs can also provide students a competitive edge and bolster employability, says Danyu Zhao, student affairs coordinator at Simon Fraser University's Faculty of Applied Sciences. For example, she says the nature of science, technology, engineering and math careers "involves high mobility and often requires STEM professionals to work in a multicultural collaborative environment and lead on an international scale." Zhao says many international grads from the computing science dual degree program "have been hired by major IT companies that include Google, Microsoft, IBM and Facebook." For students considering the dual or joint degree route, University of Arizona's LaFleur advises they do their homework. Prospective students should ask about the longevity of the program, which is "a reflection of the sustainability of the program over time," she says, and about study or research opportunities and scholarships. They should talk to current students about the program; ask recent grads where they are employed; and speak with the faculty or coordinator of the program. Mexican student Campos, who will graduate this September, says her two years in Germany and Russia gave her "more personal development" than standard programs would. "I had the chance to experience life and learn from it," says Campos. "Moving from different countries and facing different cultures has made me a more mature and sensible person." See the complete rankings of the Best Global Universities. Anayat Durrani is a Los Angeles-based freelance education reporter for U.S. News, covering global universities, including those in the Arab region. IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 23, 2016 / Khang & Khang LLP (the "Firm") announces a class action lawsuit was filed against The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. ("Hain" or the "Company") (HAIN). Investors who purchased or otherwise acquired shares between November 9, 2015 and August 15, 2016 inclusive (the "Class Period"), are encouraged to contact the Firm prior to the October 17, 2016 lead plaintiff motion deadline. If you purchased Hain shares during the Class Period, please contact Joon M. Khang, Esquire, of Khang & Khang, 18101 Von Karman Avenue, 3rd Floor, Irvine, CA 92612, by telephone: (949) 419-3834, or by e-mail at joon@khanglaw.com. There has been no class certification in this case. Until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. You may choose to take no action and remain a passive class member. According to the complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose: that Hain lacked effective internal control over financial reporting; that the Company failed to properly account for revenue associated with concessions that were granted to certain distributors in the United States; and a result of the above, Hain's statements about its business, operations and prospects, were false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. If you wish to learn more about this lawsuit, or if you have any questions concerning this notice or your rights, please contact Joon M. Khang, a prominent litigator for almost two decades, by telephone: (949) 419-3834, or by e-mail at joon@khanglaw.com. This press release may constitute Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions. Contacts Joon M. Khang, Esq. Telephone: 949-419-3834 Facsimile: 949-225-4474 joon@khanglaw.com SOURCE: Khang & Khang LLP OSLO, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Investors managing more than $13 trillion of assets urged leaders of the Group of 20 on Wednesday to ratify a global climate deal by the end of 2016 and to step up efforts to shift from fossil fuels. A total of 130 investors, grouped in six coalitions, wrote a letter to G20 leaders and also called on them to double global investment in clean energy, develop carbon pricing and phase out fossil fuel subsidies. Among backers were the California Public Employees' Retirement System, Swedish National pension funds, Aegon, AustralianSuper, the Church of England Pensions Board and the New York City Comptroller, it said. "The Paris Agreement provides a clear signal to investors that the transition to the low-carbon clean energy economy is inevitable and already under way," the investors wrote to G20 leaders before a Sept. 4-5 summit in China. The letter called on the G20 to "complete your process for joining/ratifying the Paris Agreement in 2016 if possible." Many major emitters of greenhouse gases, led by China and the United States, have said they will formally join up to last December's Paris Agreement on climate change this year. But no G20 nation has yet completed the process. France has ratified but is waiting to submit documents with other European Union nations. As of Tuesday, the United Nations says that 23 small nations representing only 1.1 percent of global emissions have completed the formalities. The deal requires at least 55 nations representing 55 percent of global emissions to become law. The investors said that countries ratifying the Paris Agreement quickly would be "better able to attract investment in low and zero carbon energy solutions." (Reporting By Alister Doyle; Editing by Richard Balmforth) By Alexandra Valencia QUITO (Reuters) - Iran and Ecuador on Wednesday discussed ways that the two countries can strengthen oil prices as Iran signals it may support joint efforts by exporters to prop up flagging crude. Iran has been boosting output since Western sanctions were eased in January. Tehran refused to join a previous attempt this year by OPEC plus non-members such as Russia to stabilize production, and talks collapsed in April. But Reuters reported on Tuesday that sources in OPEC and the oil industry said Iran is sending positive signals on taking joint action, which could help revive a deal on freezing output levels at talks next month. "We have held conversations on strengthening our position in oil markets," Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said through an interpreter after a meeting with Ecuador's President Rafael Correa. Zarif added that the two countries have agreed to continue talks within the framework of OPEC, without providing further details. Ecuador Foreign Minister Guillaume Long said they discussed establishing a common position with regards to strengthening oil prices. Ecuador, OPEC's smallest member, has consistently supported calls by ideological ally and oil price hawk Venezuela to boost crude prices. Since the 2014 collapse in oil markets, the group has remained more focused on retaining market share. (Reporting by Alexandra Valencia, writing by Brian Ellsworth, editing by Grant McCool) Managua (AFP) - Iranian firms want to participate in the construction of a massive canal across Nicaragua that a Chinese company has vowed to build, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif said Wednesday. Representatives of private Iranian construction companies accompanying Zarif on a visit to Nicaragua's capital discussed the possibility of getting a slice of the $50 billion project, the minister told a news conference. The ambitious plan calls for a waterway linking the Pacific and Atlantic oceans that would rival the century-old one in Panama, which has recently been expanded to take bigger ships. Yet work on Nicaragua's canal, meant to have started two years ago, has not begun. HKND, the Chinese group tasked with the huge job, now says it should start at the end of this year. Iran has enjoyed good relations with Nicaragua, one of the poorest states in the Americas, and particularly its leftwing president, former rebel Daniel Ortega, who returned to power in 2007. Both countries share an antipathy towards the United States. Zarif made Nicaragua the second stop of a Latin American tour that began Monday in Cuba and which was to include Ecuador, Venezuela, Bolivia and Chile. Nicaragua's government spokeswoman and First Lady, Rosario Murillo, said officials discussed investment opportunities with the Iranian delegation in the canal and other areas. Ortega is running for re-election in November and has named his wife as future vice-president if he wins. His victory looks likely after courts in recent months ordered opposition lawmakers and a party chief be replaced with figures hewing to Ortega's positions. By Idrees Ali WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Four of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) vessels "harassed" a U.S. warship on Tuesday near the Strait of Hormuz, a U.S. defense official said, amid Washington's concerns about Iran's posture in the Gulf and in the Syrian civil war. The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said on Wednesday that two of the Iranian vessels came within 300 yards of the USS Nitze in an incident that was "unsafe and unprofessional." The vessels harassed the destroyer by "conducting a high speed intercept and closing within a short distance of Nitze, despite repeated warnings," the official said. IRGC, the Islamic Republic's praetorian guard, is suspicious of U.S. military activity near Iran's borders and appears to be sticking to a familiar posture in the Gulf that predates last year's nuclear accord between Iran and six world powers, including the United States. The United States and other countries are concerned about Iran's support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, its ballistic missile program, and its backing for Shiite militias that have abused civilians in Iraq. The U.S. defense official said that in Tuesday's incident the USS Nitze tried to communicate with the Iranian vessels 12 times, but received no response. It also fired 10 flares in the direction of two of the Iranian vessels. "The Iranian high rate of closure... created a dangerous, harassing situation that could have led to further escalation, including additional defensive measures by Nitze," the official said. USS Nitze had to change course in order to distance itself from the Iranian vessels, the official said, adding that the incident could have led to a diplomatic protest, but the United States does not have diplomatic relations with Iran. In January, 10 U.S. sailors aboard two patrol craft were detained by the IRGC when they inadvertently entered Iranian territorial waters. They were released the next day after being held for about 15 hours. The Gulf separates Iran from its regional rival Saudi Arabia and a U.S. naval base in Bahrain. (Reporting by Idrees Ali; editing by Grant McCool) Kirkuk (Iraq) (AFP) - Iraqi forces on Wednesday took key positions in the centre Qayyarah, officials said, on the second day of an operation to recapture the northern town from jihadists. Qayyarah lies on the western bank of the Tigris river, about 60 kilometres (35 miles) south of Mosul, the Islamic State group's last major urban stronghold in Iraq. The operation launched on Tuesday is led by Iraq's elite counter-terrorism service (CTS), which broke into the town centre Wednesday and secured several neighbourhoods. "Our forces managed to seize the government compound and the main police station," CTS spokesman Sabah al-Noman told AFP. He said the special forces were involved in street battles, faced significant resistance from IS and had to advance with caution because many buildings were booby-trapped. "Almost half the city is under our control by now... but it is hard to say how long the full liberation of Qayyarah will take," Noman said. Iraqi forces earlier retook neighbouring villages, an oil field and refinery, and encircled the town to set the stage for an assault into the centre. "Liberating Qayyarah will mean cutting off Mosul from the southern areas, which will make liberating Mosul much easier," Najm al-Juburi, who heads the provincial operations command, said. "This is a blow to the organisation of Daesh (IS) because it affects their economy, and this after we retook an air base that is now going to be used to attack them," he said. Iraqi security forces have been operating in the area for weeks, as part of shaping operations for a major offensive on the city of Mosul in the coming weeks or months. They had already retaken the Qayyarah air field, which IS was not using because it has no air force but which Iraqi aircraft will soon be using against the jihadists. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Tuesday reiterated his promise that Mosul would be retaken and the country rid of IS by the end of 2016. Story continues IS has suffered a string of setbacks in Iraq and the "caliphate" it proclaimed two years ago has been shrinking steadily for a year. Its fighters are vastly outnumbered in Nineveh province but one of the toughest challenges for Iraq will be the mass displacement a broad offensive on Mosul is expected to trigger. The United Nations' refugee agency on Tuesday warned that it could spark displacement on a scale not seen globally in years. Dublin (AFP) - More people came to live in Ireland in the year to the end of April than emigrated for the first time since 2009, with thousands of Irish citizens returning to the Emerald Isle, official figures showed on Tuesday. The state agency reported a 14.4-percent increase in net immigration to 79,300, compared with 69,300 the previous year, the countrys Central Statistics Office (CSO) said. Of this figure, 12,100 were recorded as Irish nationals. Many of them had emigrated during the economic downturn following the 2008 financial crisis that virtually bankrupted the country, leading to an international bailout. Since then Ireland's economy has recovered and has now recorded 15 consecutive quarters of growth. The rise in immigration reflects the commensurate fall in unemployment. The jobless figure has fallen from 14.8 percent in 2012 to 8.4 percent. Coincidentally, the CSO also published figures showing more than two million people were now employed in Ireland for the first time since the first quarter of 2009. In a statement, business lobby group IBEC described the employment figures as clear evidence of further strong domestic growth but cautioned that the information was collated prior to the Brexit vote. Ireland's economy is closely intertwined with Britain's. It will take some time before we know the full impact of the vote on the economy, Director of Policy Fergal OBrien said. Clearly some sectors, particularly those exporting to the UK, are feeling intense pressure from the fall in sterling and other Brexit-related factors, he added. AMMAN (Reuters) - Islamic State launched a bomb and gun attack on a Western-backed Syrian rebel camp near the Jordanian border on Wednesday, according to the rebels who said they had killed at least 30 of the attackers and suffered at least three casualties themselves. A suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the camp belonging to the Forces of Martyrs Ahmad al-Abdo rebel group in a sparsely populated desert area near where the borders of Syria, Jordan and Iraq meet, the rebels' spokesman, Saeed Saif, said. They then attacked several rebel outposts. "We repelled the attack by Daesh (Islamic State) on several areas and they failed to make any progress and have retreated," Saif told Reuters. The Force of Martyrs Ahmed al-Abdo was one of the earliest Free Syrian Army (FSA) groups to get U.S.-made anti-tank missiles and is one of the groups aligned on the so-called Southern Front that a coalition of Western and Arab countries support. That backing is part of a strategy of preventing opposition-held southern Syria and the south-eastern desert area falling into the hands of radical jihadist groups. The group's leader, Saleem Bakour, was killed in June by a suspected Islamic State militant.[nL8N1914IU ] Islamic State claimed a suicide bomb attack launched from the same area in June when a car crossed into Jordan and killed seven Jordanian border guards. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Editing by Robin Pomeroy) Jerusalem (AFP) - A jazz festival within rocket range of jihadist fighters might sound offbeat but organisers of Israel's Red Sea Jazz Festival are confident no missiles will rain on their parade. For the first time in its 30-year existence, the four-day event, starting Saturday in the seaside resort of Eilat, will be mainly comprised of combos led by Israelis, for whom a security threat is almost part of normal life. The exception will be American keyboard great Chick Corea, who has in the past played the Red Sea festival with Israeli bassist Avishai Cohen and will reunite with him on the same stage in Eilat. "Even if 100 rockets fly this way, nobody will cancel," the festival's artistic director Eli Degibri told AFP. Calm in Israel's southernmost city has in the past been shattered by rockets fired from neighbouring Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, where jihadists are at war with Egyptian security forces but have also targeted Israel, most recently in July 2014. An attack by gunmen on Israelis on a road just 20 kilometres (12 miles) north of Eilat in August 2011 caused some international artists to cancel performances that year. This year's 30 acts, mostly by Israeli musicians, is expected to attract more than 12,000 people, way above the normal attendance of around 7,500. "This is an artistic concept and out of respect for Israeli jazz," said Degibri, himself a saxophonist who played with some of America's greatest musicians before returning to Israel. "It occurred to me it would be much more special to have this concept," with a heavy reliance on homegrown talent, he said. The Israeli jazz scene has been gaining steam. Some of the musicians at this year's festival -- pianist Shai Maestro, Cohen, trumpeter Avishai Cohen (no relation), guitarist Gilad Hekselman and Degibri himself -- are acclaimed worldwide. "That's the beauty of it, that nowadays Israeli musicians are international musicians," Degibri said. Nablus (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - A Palestinian imprisoned in Israel without trial has ended a 71-day hunger strike, his family told AFP on Wednesday. Suha Kayed said her brother Bilal, 35, had called off his protest after Israeli authorities said his current six-month term of internment would not be extended. "He has ended his strike after an agreement to end his detention," she told AFP from her home in the northern West Bank city of Nablus. Bilal Kayed's lawyer, Farah Bayadsi, confirmed the deal. "He suspended his hunger strike after we consulted with him and he gave his approval," he told AFP. Kayed was meant to be freed from prison in June after serving a 14-and-a-half-year sentence for activities in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, labelled a terrorist organisation by Israel, the European Union and the United States. Instead, Israeli authorities ordered that he remain in custody for a further six months. A PFLP spokesman told AFP that under the agreement he would be freed on December 12. Amnesty International has called on Israel to either charge or release him and the United Nations says it is "deeply concerned" at his deteriorating health. "On 13 June 2016, the day of his scheduled release, a six-month administrative detention order was issued against him on unspecified security grounds and relying on secret evidence," Cecile Pouilly, spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said on Tuesday. "Mr. Kayed is reported to be in a critical condition and doctors have informed him that he may suffer irreversible damage to his health," she said. In Jerusalem on Wednesday Palestinian protesters demonstrated for Kayed's release, holding posters with his photo and calling for his release and an end to internment without trial, known by Israel as "administrative detention". Israel says the practice allows authorities to hold suspects while continuing to gather evidence, while Palestinians, human rights groups and members of the international community have condemn the system. Story continues Of more than 7,500 Palestinians currently in Israeli jails, about 700 are being held in administrative detention, Palestinian rights groups say. "This is the highest number of administrative detainees at a given time since early 2008," the UN said. Palestinian prisoners have regularly gone on hunger strike in protest. Bilal Kayed is currently chained by the leg to his bed in the intensive care unit of an Israeli hospital. Israel's Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to rule on a petition to unchain him, saying the matter was still before a lower court and it could not intervene for now. JERUSALEM (Reuters) - An Israeli soldier on Wednesday shot dead a Palestinian motorist who had stabbed him and also threw rocks from his car at a military vehicle in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli army said. An Israeli army spokeswoman said the assailant hurled rocks from his moving car at an oncoming military patrol vehicle, which then gave chase, forcing the car to a standstill shortly afterwards. When the Israeli soldier approached the vehicle, the assailant stabbed him, inflicting light wounds, she said. The soldier responded by pushing the assailant backwards and shooting him, an Israeli army statement said. A picture of the dead assailant circulated on social media and seen by Reuters showed him sitting in the driver's seat. An Islamic Jihad militant source named the driver as Sari Abu Ghrab, 26, from the northern West Bank village of Qabatia. Since October, Palestinians, many of them acting alone and with rudimentary weapons, have killed at least 33 Israelis and two visiting Americans. At least 208 Palestinians have been killed, 141 of whom Israel said were assailants. Others died during clashes and protests. Palestinian leaders say assailants have acted out of desperation over the collapse of peace talks in 2014 and Israeli settlement expansion in Israeli-occupied territory that Palestinians seek for an independent state. Most countries view the settlements as illegal. Israel disputes this. Israel says incitement in the Palestinian media and personal problems at home have been important factors that have spurred assailants, often teenagers, to carry out attacks. (Additional reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi; writing by Ori Lewis; editing by Mark Heinrich) RAMAT GAN, Israel (Reuters) - A wildlife park in Israel is celebrating a new arrival for one of its species - a baby white rhino. Female Tanda this week gave birth to a male calf at the Ramat Gan safari park zoo near Tel Aviv. "She is nursing him and taking very good care of him," said Gali Berkovich, an enrichment coordinator and animal trainer at the park. "Rhinos are highly endangered animals ... so this is why every birth is very important not just to us but for the entire species." (Reporting by Reuters Television; Editing by Mark Potter) ROME (Reuters) - The central Italian town of Amatrice was badly damaged by a 6.2 magnitude earthquake that struck early on Wednesday, with people trapped under the rubble, the town's mayor said. "The roads in and out of town are cut off. Half the town is gone," Sergio Pirozzi, mayor of Amatrice, told RAI state television. "There are people under the rubble... There's been a landslide and a bridge might collapse." Italy's Civil Protection agency said the earthquake was "severe" and there had been reports of damage, while a refuge on Gran Sasso mountain said on its Facebook page that a large piece of rock collapsed in the quake. (Reporting by Steve Scherer; Editing by Crispian Balmer) Powerful earthquakes like the 6.2-magnitude temblor that rocked central Italy early this morning (Aug. 24) are surprisingly common in the region, geologists say. The shaking was caused by movement in the Tyrrhenian Basin, a seismically active area beneath the Mediterranean Sea. Here, the ground is actually spreading apart, said Julie Dutton, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey. The same underlying geology was responsible for the devastating 2009 earthquake in the city of L'Aquila, just 34 miles (55 kilometers) away from todays quake. That earthquake killed more than 300 people. "It's a pretty complicated or complex area for earthquakes," Dutton told Live Science. "In this area, they have sizable earthquakes that cause destruction every so many years." [Photos of This Millennium's Most Destructive Earthquakes] Complex damaging geology The epicenter of today's quake, which hit around 3:30 a.m. local time, was about 6.2 miles (10 km) southeast of the historic tourist town of Norcia. The earthquake killed at least 73 people and turned scores of charming medieval buildings into rubble. The shaking was felt all the way in Rome, about 70 miles (112 km) southwest of the city. The temblor was caused by complicated geology. In northeastern Italy, the slow-motion collision of the African and Eurasian plates has pushed up the ground beneath the Alps. In fact, many of the quakes have occurred in towns fringing the Appenine Mountains, along the northeastern coast of Italy. However, the quakes themselves are not caused directly by this uplift process. Instead, because the continental plate collision zone is drifting southeast, it is stretching the crust beneath a region of the Mediterranean Sea. This ground extension, which occurs at a 90-degree angle relative to the mountain range, is what was behind both the current earthquake and the 2009 L'Aquila temblor, Dutton said. "It's a normal fault earthquake and it's an expression of the east-west extensional tectonics where the Tyrrhenian Basin is being opened up," Dutton said. Normal faults occur when the ground on one side of the fault slides down relative to the other side, and the motion goes in the direction expected based on the pull of gravity on the Earth, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Story continues This region is no stranger to ground shaking. In 2009, the 6.3-magnitude-6.3 that struck L'Aquila led to a trial in which the seismologists in the area were convicted of manslaughter for failing to predict the quake. (The guilty verdict against the scientists was later overturned.) In 1997, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake killed more than 100 people and damaged 80,000 homes. And records going back nearly 700 years document terrifying earthquakes in central Italy that caused people to abandon towns during the Middle Ages. Original article on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. What we know Friday afternoon: A 4.7-magnitude aftershock struck central Italy, and the president has declared a state of emergency. The death toll from the magnitude-6 earthquake in central Italy has risen to 290. The worst-affected areas are the villages of Arquata and Pescara del Tronto in the Marche region, and Accumoli and Amatrice, which are in Lazio. Amatrice Mayor Sergio Pirozzi warned the city could be isolated if key access roads damaged during the aftershock were not quickly cleared. Were live-blogging the major updates. All updates are in Eastern Daylight Time (GMT -4). August 27 at 3:46 p.m. Italy's Civile Protezione says the death toll has risen to 290 as of Saturday afternoon. The day was set aside as a national day of mourning. Grieving families in Ascoli Pisceno began to bury the dead in a state funeral on Saturday, while President Sergio Mattarella and Premier Matteo Renzi toured the region. August 26 at 5:46 p.m. Recommended: 174 Heroin Overdoses in Six Days in Cincinnati The death toll rose to 281 as of Friday afternoon. In Amatrice, where a magnitude-4.7 aftershock hit early Friday morning, two key access bridges were damaged, threatening to isolate the city at a time when emergency responders are needed most. With the aftershocks yesterday but especially this morning the situation has worsened considerably," Sergio Pirozzi, the mayor of Amatrice, said Friday. "We have to make sure Amatrice does not become isolated, or risk further help being unable to get through." August 26 at 9:45 a.m. Aftershocks continued to hit central Italy on Friday morning as rescuers searched through the flattened houses and rubble looking for survivors. Matteo Renzi, the prime minister, declared a state of emergency. In one of the most devastated towns, Amatrice, a magnitude-4.7 aftershock hit just after dawn and damaged two access roads, nearly isolating the hilltop town. It was the largest of more than 50 overnight aftershocks in the Appenine Mountain region, and more than 500 temblors have shook the area since the magnitude-6.2 quake hit Wednesday. As of Friday morning, 267 people have died. Story continues Renzis state-of-emergency announcement authorized about $56 million in relief, much of it going to Amatrice, where the majority of people have died. Firefighters have pulled more than 215 people from the rubble, and 360 are being treated at hospitals. August 25 at 7:16 a.m. The death toll in Wednesdays earthquake in central Italy has risen to 247; 190 people died in Rieti province and 57 in Ascoli Piceno. Rescue workers, thousands of them, are going through the rubble in the villages of Arquata, Pescara del Tronto, Accumoli, and Amatrice in the hope of finding survivors. Dozens are still believed to be trapped. Many of the dead were children, Italys health minister said, and scores of people are still missing so the toll could rise. Recommended: The Many Scandals of Donald Trump: A Cheat Sheet Amid dozens of tremors and an aftershock, rescue workers looked for survivors through the night. 5:59 p.m. Italy's Civil Protection Department says at least 159 people have now died in the earthquake, the AP reports. 4:24 p.m. President Obama spoke with his Italian counterpart, Sergio Mattarella, to offer his condolences and assistance on Wednesday, the White House said in a statement. The President spoke by phone today with President Sergio Mattarella of Italy to offer his deepest condolences on behalf of the American people to the people of Italy following the devastating earthquake that struck central Italy overnight. President Obama saluted the quick action of first responders and volunteers who have been working to save lives. Reaffirming the strong bonds of friendship between the United States and Italy, the President underscored that the United States stands ready to provide any assistance needed during this difficult time. 2:55 p.m. In an article on Italy's notoriously lax building standards, the Guardians John Hooper notes the earthquakes timing could keep its death toll lower compared to a similar temblor that struck the peninsula in 2009. The casualty tally will nevertheless be far higher than it should be in a country of Italys wealth but much lower than it might have been. The 6.2-magnitude earthquake, like the one that devastated LAquila, struck at night. Had people been at work, in shops or at school, the outcome would have been much worse. Two years ago, Gian Vito Graziano, president of Italys National Council of Geologists, said that according to some estimates, if the LAquila earthquake had struck when students were in their classrooms, the number of victims would have been thousands, not hundreds. 1:45 p.m. Recommended: Steve Bannon's Bad Day: Allegations of Voter Fraud and Domestic Violence Some of the images coming out of Italy show the extent of damage. Amatrice especially seems to have been flattened. (Gregorio Borgia / AP) 1:29 p.m. Matteo Renzi, the Italian prime minister, has raised the death toll to 120. He said more than 300 others are missing. #Terremoto Renzi: al momento almeno 120 morti, 368 feriti. Emergenza avra lunga gestione, garantiremo ricostruzione https://t.co/GdRnpgxfSy Agenzia ANSA (@Agenzia_Ansa) August 24, 2016 Rescuers are looking for survivors in the areas affected. 10:21 a.m. ANSA has more on the breakdown of the toll: Of the victims, 35 were counted in the Lazio village of Amatrice, 11 in the nearby village of Accumoli, and 17 confirmed in a hospital morgue in the city of Ascoli Piceno. These include fatalities from the villages of Arquata and Pescara del Tronto, plus a little girl from Amatrice who was extracted from the rubble alive but died in hospital. 10:03 a.m. Italys Civil Protection Department, which is dispatched during crises like this one, says the death toll stands at 73. + NEWS/ Protezione Civile, #terremoto: 73 morti nuovo bilancio. + Rai Radio1 (@Radio1Rai) August 24, 2016 10:01 a.m. Italian state police have released aerial footage of the affected area. #terremoto le immagini dei paesi colpiti dal sisma dagli elicotteri della #poliziadistato pic.twitter.com/UIn5HawgO1 Polizia di Stato (@poliziadistato) August 24, 2016 9:10 a.m. ANSA, the Italian news agency, is reporting that the death toll has risen to 63. The number isnt official, but is based on the news agencys reporting from the area devastated by the quake, as well as from counts from local officials. Heres more: Of these, 35 were counted in the Lazio village of Amatrice, 11 in the nearby village of Accumoli, and 17 confirmed in a hospital morgue in the city of Ascoli Piceno. These include fatalities from the villages of Arquata and Pescara del Tronto, plus a little girl from Amatrice who was extracted from the rubble alive but died in hospital. 8:34 a.m. The death toll is likely to rise. Rai, the Italian broadcaster, says the death toll in Amatrice alone is 35. 7:57 a.m. Were getting images now of the damage in Pescara del Tronto, which is located on a hillside. It looks as if much of the village has been reduced to rubble. #Terremoto Pescara del Tronto. Il paese e raso al suolo. Macerie e soccorsi. Video @NicoleRamadori pic.twitter.com/TTFeslcZ1H Rai Radio1 (@Radio1Rai) August 24, 2016 Prime Minister Matteo Renzi told the nation he will visit the area Wednesday afternoon. 7:33 a.m. The U.S. Geological Survey, which tracks quakes around the world, says the quake had a magnitude of 6.2. Heres the region where it struck: 7:17 a.m. Italian authorities say a magnitude-6 earthquake in the central part of the country has killed at least 38 people. Dozens more are missing in the quake that struck in the early hour of Wednesday morning. The death toll so far is confined to four villages: Arquata and Pescara del Tronto (10 dead), which are in Marche, and Accumoli and Amatrice (28 dead), which are in Lazio. Heres more on the quake from ANSA, the Italian news agency: The earthquake, which struck at 03:36 local time and was followed by a second, 5.4 magnitude seism at 04:33 between Umbria and the Marche, was said by civil protection authorities to be "comparable in intensity" to the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake in which over 300 people died. There were reports of "apocalyptic scenes" with many collapsed buildings in the towns and villages affected. Rescuers had difficulty accessing the area due to landslides and damaged infrastructure. This is a developing story and well update it as we learn more. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. Each week, Prattle Analytics provide analysis and forecasting on the most important upcoming central bank communications. Federal Reserve Forecast: Yellen to avoid market signalling; September possible, December likely Analysis: Every year the Kansas City Fed holds its annual Economic Symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Although we dont expect to see Janet Yellen in chest-waders casting for trout as Paul Volcker famously did, we do expect a number of headlines from the speeches on this years topic: Designing Resilient Monetary Policy Frameworks for the Future. Janet Yellen will undoubtedly be the events highlight, speaking at 11 AM Eastern on the 26th. This is her first speech in two months, and, although many hoped she would clarify her thoughts on the Feds rate path and the possibility of a September hike, the speech title The Federal Reserves Monetary Policy Toolkit suggests she will stick to the conference topic. It is highly likely that Yellens speech will echo a recent paper by John Williams (residual**0.13) and possibly last weeks speech by Jim Bullard (residual -0.15), yielding a nearly neutral sentiment score. That said, if Yellen chooses to insert a discussion about policy, she will likely echo the recent interview by Bill Dudley (residual 1.75) and speech by John Williams (residual 0.49), indicating a more gradual rate path...but still strongly signalling at least one hike before year end. 8.22.16-fed-graph-1024x683.png European Central Bank Forecast: Speech to signal slight hawkishness Analysis: This weeks speech by Benoit Coeure is the first from the ECB since July. With the bank and Coeure trending upward (momentum 0.28 and 0.32 respectively), we expect it to be a somewhat hawkish communication. Bank of Japan Forecast: Likely to weakly signal further stimulus, eventually Analysis: Speaking the same day as Coeure, the BOJs Kuroda will have a chance to explain last months lackluster stimulus and indicate whether more aggressive action is around the bend. The BOJs trend has dipped recently, but its momentum remains roughly neutral (0.07). This sentiment suggests that Kuroda will give a modestly dovish speech expressing willingness to act...but little to no interest in further stimulus. Story continues Bank of Turkey Forecast: Likely to hold rates Analysis: In the only policy meeting of the week, the Bank of Turkey is likely to hold. The turmoil caused by the recent (failed) coup is dying down, and the banks momentum is on an upward swing. That being said, its likely the bank will emphasize its willingness to act, when necessary, to bolster the economy. 8.22.16-table_large-1024x389.png See more from Benzinga 2016 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Courtesy Harris County Public Library(CLEAR LAKE, Texas) A 5-year-old girl in Texas who was born without the lower part of her left arm received a custom 3-D printed prosthetic from a local public library. "She is a very happy child, but let's just say she has never smiled so big in her life," Kimberly Vincik said of her daughter Katelyn. "Her face lit up with pure and utter happiness. It was a priceless moment to say the least." Vincik told ABC News that Katelyn had never let her disability stop her from doing new things but she had been longing for an arm for years. Vincik, who describes her daughter as "a social butterfly," said Katelyn had been on the wait list for a prosthetic for about a year. The concerned mother turned to the internet to start researching other options. That's when she found out about 3-D printing technology, and reached out to the Harris County Public Library, who had a 3-D printer available to the public. Jim Johnson, the Clear Lake City-County Freeman Branch librarian, told ABC News that the library was able to obtain the 3-D printer after a donation from a deceased patron. Johnson said the library had never used the 3-D printer to make a prosthetic limb before; it had mainly been used for "trinkets," "tinkering" and "science fair projects." Patrick Ferrell, who works at the Innovation Lab in the public library, said the Vinciks drove two hours from their home to meet with Ferrell and other staff. "We were upfront with the family that we hadn't ever done this before," Ferrell said. "They were happy to go on this adventure with us." Ferrell said a volunteer group called "Enabling the Future," which designs and tests prosthetic arms, was able to use one of its designs for Katelyn's arm. It took 22 hours of printing to put together the prosthetic. When it was finished, Ferrell wrapped it up and brought it to Katelyn's house. "She put it on like she knew what she was doing, and then she told her sister, 'Now we can hold hands,'" Ferrell said. "I had the honor and privilege of delivering the arm, but our volunteers did the bulk of the work," Ferrell added. "It really was a community effort." The group would also be available to tweak or modify the arm as Katelyn grows. "Maybe one day we can bring Katelyn in for a class and she can design her own arm," Ferrell noted. "We are just one of many libraries across the country that do something like this," Johnson said, adding, "There are so many public libraries out there that are doing amazing things." Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. James Franco is developing three movies based on novels by crime fiction writer Tom Franklin Smonk, Poachers, and Hell at the Breech, Variety has learned exclusively. Franco and partner Vince Jolivette are producing through their Rabbit Bandini Productions, which recently obtained the movie rights in a deal put in place by Joel Gotler of Intellectual Property Group on behalf of Nat Sobel of Sobel Weber Associates. The company has tapped screenwriters for each project. We plan on shooting all three of them in the next one to three years, Jolivette told Variety. There are no plans at this point for James to act or direct, just for us to produce. We feel the material is rich enough to attract A-level talent. Playwright David Van Asselt is working on a script for Poachers and Franklin will write the Smonk script. Ian Olds and Paul Felton are penning the adaptation of Hell at the Breech. Were labeling these as our gritty Southern Gothic series of films, Jolivette said. Poachers, Franklins first book, is a collection of short stories. The title story, which won the Edgar Award for best mystery short story, focuses on three wild boys confronting a mythic game warden as mysterious and deadly as the river they haunt. Smonk is set in 1911 in Old Texas, Ala., where every Saturday night for a year, E.O. Smonk has been destroying property, killing livestock, seducing women, and beating men. Hell at the Breech takes place in 1897. When an aspiring politician is mysteriously murdered in a rural area of Alabama, outraged friends mostly poor cotton farmers form a secret society, Hell-at-the-Breech, to punish the townspeople they believe responsible. Franco has starred in and Jolivette has produced two adaptations of William Faulkner novels about the rural South in the early 20th Century The Sound and the Fury, which premiered at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, and As I Lay Dying, which debuted at the 2014 Venice Film Festival. Story continues Franco has been producing, co-directing, and co-starring in the post-apocalyptic thriller Future World with Milla Jovovich, Suki Waterhouse, Snoop Dogg, and Method Man. Francos recently completed projects include The Adderall Diaries, I Am Michael, In Dubious Battle, The Long Hour, Palo Alto, and The Masterpiece. Franco also directed and co-produced The Masterpiece, which centers on the making of Tommy Wiseaus 2003 cult film The Room. Rabbit Bandini, Point Grey, and Good Universe are producing the New Line film. Franco plays Wiseau. His brother Dave Franco, Seth Rogen, Josh Hutcherson, Ari Graynor, Jackie Weaver, and Bryan Cranston also star. James Franco is also starring with Cranston in Foxs upcoming comedy Why Him?, which opens on Dec. 25. Related stories Toronto Film Festival Adds Movies From James Franco, Terrence Malick, Ken Loach IFC Buys James Franco's Gay Porn Drama 'King Cobra' James Franco, Sundance's John Cooper Tapped for Outfest Awards By Kiyoshi Takenaka and Xiao Yu TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan, China and South Korea agreed to urge North Korea to refrain from provocation and follow U.N. Security Council resolutions, after its latest missile launch towards Japan early on Wednesday. Foreign ministers from the three Asian neighbours also sought to soothe their often-testy relations, and have reached an understanding on a trilateral summit meeting in Japan this year, a Japanese official said. "We have confirmed that we will urge North Korea to exercise self-restraint regarding its provocative action, and to observe the U.N. Security Council's resolutions," Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told a news conference after hosting the meeting with his Chinese and South Korean counterparts. A North Korean submarine fired a ballistic missile on Wednesday that flew about 500 km (300 miles) towards Japan, a show of improving technological capability for the isolated country that has conducted a nuclear test and as series of missile launches this year in defiance of UN sanctions. In the face of the North Korean threat, cooperation among Japan, China and South Korea was more important than ever, Kishida said after his meeting with China's Wang Yi and South Korea's Yun Byung-se. Yun promised South Korea's support to realise a trilateral summit by year's end, as well as to cooperate economically and to achieve a successful summit of the Group of 20 big economies next month in China. Wang said China opposed North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes and any "words or actions" that cause tension on the Korean peninsula, China's foreign ministry said in a statement. China will continue to push for the peninsula's denuclearisation, seek a resolution through talks and uphold regional peace and stability, Wang added. The three ministers share the understanding that Japan will host a trilateral summit this year, though dates have yet to be worked out, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official told reporters. 'MANY PROBLEMS' Relations between the three big Asian economies are often difficult with the legacy of Japan's wartime aggression affecting ties between it and China and South Korea, territorial disputes hurting links between Japan and China, and Japan and South Korea, and China suspicious of the others' U.S. ties.The meeting marked the first visit to Japan by a Chinese foreign minister since the Japanese government took over three of the tiny islands at the centre of a dispute with China, from private Japanese owners in September 2012. "Trilateral cooperation is a very important part of East Asian cooperation," Wang told his counterparts at the beginning of the meeting. "There are many problems existing between the three countries, but China, Japan and South Korea are the three biggest economy entities in Asia. It's our responsibility to promote economic development, lead regional cooperation and maintain regional peace and stability." China's state-run Xinhua news agency said Wang's willingness to go to Tokyo showed "China's sufficient sincerity to cooperate with Japan and South Korea". At the same time, it warned Japan and South Korea to "abandon the Cold War mentality and view the peaceful rise of China as vigour to regional development", while avoiding "being the tools for some countries outside the region to undermine regional stability." Wednesday's meeting had earlier appeared in doubt after a flare-up in Sino-Japanese tension over their dispute over tiny islands in the East China Sea. South Korea and Japan have a territorial dispute over small islands about half way between their mainlands. Tensions have also been escalating between South Korea and China over a decision by Seoul and Washington to deploy an advanced anti-missile defence, which the allies say is meant to counter growing threats from North Korea. (Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka and Xiao Yu; Additional reporting by Nobuhiro Kubo in Tokyo and Ben Blanchard and David Stanway in Beijing; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim, Robert Birsel) Red Bull Athletes Darryl Snake Eyez Lewis and Masato Bonchan Takahashi at TGS 2015 (Michael Martin) If youre planning on taking a trip to Tokyo to play Street Fighter V in the Capcom Pro Tour Premier Event Japan Cup, you definitely want to register now, but you might want to hold off on booking the trip. On Monday, BEast of the East opened registration for Japan Cup, which will take place at Tokyo Game Show. The good news is the tournament which used to be sponsored by Mad Catz isnt as exclusive as it was in years past. Japan Cup will feature a 256-player bracket, but theres a catch: a crazy number of registrants has wreaked havoc on the event, forcing the organizers to hold a lottery to fill the 256 slots. Japan Cups organizers told Yahoo Esports there would be no preferential treatment for any players. Within an hour after opening registration, Japan Cup reportedly had well over 100 players signed up. By Tuesday afternoon, the 256-player cap had been reached. Just a few hours later, Capcom announced registration would end and the lottery will occur on Thursday, August 25 at 12:00 pm JST (8:00 pm PT), which is sooner than expected due to high demand. Over 256 players have already signed up for #cptjc2016 ! Sign up now for a chance to enter ! https://t.co/JnoDR1D3yO Capcom Fighters (@CapcomFighters) August 22, 2016 Due to overwhelming response, we will end registration & begin lottery selection at 8/25 Thu 12:00 noon JST (+9 GMT) https://t.co/JnoDR1D3yO Capcom Fighters (@CapcomFighters) August 24, 2016 Last year, the exclusivity of the tournament led to players like Evo 2011 runner-up Abdullatif Latif Alhmili being unable to register in time and missing out on the tournament, despite making the trip to Japan. Story continues This year, quite a few U.S. players have expressed interest in attending Japan Cup at Tokyo Game Show, including Evo 2016 hero Joe LI Joe Ciaramelli, Patrick DaFeetLee Lee, and Leah Gllty Hayes. Im going to japan! Leaving September 9th. Will be attending TGS and training with the best! Joe (@thisislijoe) August 8, 2016 @FightingGameESL tgs and sea with korea somewhere in there gllty (@gllty) July 19, 2016 Most Street Fighter players dont get the chance to travel to Japan to play and it can be an invaluable experience as they try to level up their game against some of the best players in the world. Michael Martin went to Japan for TGS last year and would do almost anything to go back. Follow him on Twitter @Bizarro_Mike. Tokyo (AFP) - Japan takes its aid show to Africa this weekend, with a huge development conference in Kenya, hoping quality will trump quantity in the battle for influence against cash-rich China. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe -- fresh from an appearance as Super Mario at the Olympic Games in Rio -- will meet with dozens of leaders from across Africa in Nairobi. Officials say the Japanese premier will use the two-day gathering to unveil aid and investment projects, including those related to healthcare. Tokyo has a well-established presence in Africa, but its financial importance to the continent has long-since been eclipsed by regional rival China. The world's second-largest economy -- a resource-hungry giant -- recorded total trade with Africa of about $179 billion in 2015, dwarfing Japan's approximately $24 billion. "Japan has a sense of rivalry with China, which has provided large-sized assistance," said Koichi Sakamoto, professor of regional development studies at Toyo University. "Since Japan can't fight China in terms of amounts of cash, it needs to stress quality," Sakamoto added. This weekend's meeting, which will be attended by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and South Africa's Jacob Zuma, amongst others, is the sixth edition of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, or TICAD. The forum was first convened in 1993 and, until now, has always been held in Japan. The move to Africa this year came at the behest of the host continent, but reflects a drive to bolster Japanese clout as the modern-day Scramble for Africa gathers momentum. The European Union, China, India, South Korea, and Turkey have similar aid ventures to court African leaders as they look for a slice of the continent's resources and its burgeoning markets. But as a relatively early entrant, Tokyo's role has proved invaluable to Africa. - Security concerns - TICAD -- co-organised by Japan, the United Nations, the World Bank and the African Union -- "paved the way" among aid programmes because it was among the first of such efforts, a senior Kenyan government official, who declined to be named, told AFP. Story continues Aid and infrastructure projects offered by Tokyo and its rivals, are not, of course, a one way street; Japanese firms often stand to benefit from the vast sums of cash consumed in the construction of roads, ports and railways half a world away. Projects under tender at the moment include the $250 million first phase of expansion at the congested Kenyan port of Mombasa, as well as the resurfacing, widening and construction of roads in cities and on rural highways. As well as diplomats and politicians, TICAD will also gather business executives and other participants from Japan and Africa in what Abe hopes will be a boost to two-way trade. But enthusiasm may be dampened by the security concerns over some of Africa's more lawless areas. Such danger was driven home in 2013 when a gas plant in Algeria built by a Japanese company was overrun by Islamist gunmen, who killed 40 people, including 10 Japanese. Shu Nakagawa, a foreign ministry official in charge of the forum, said Japanese companies are "rather cautious" over mounting challenges on the continent. That includes the growing threat from radical Islamist groupings, such as Boko Haram and the Shabaab group -- which is active in Kenya. John Krasinski cooks dinner once a week for his wife, Golden Globe winner Emily Blunt, and -- as he revealed on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday night -- it's all because he lost a bet over Leonardo DiCaprio. Apparently Krasinski didn't believe his wife when she told him the Oscar-winning Revenant actor was 41 years old. WATCH: John Krasinski Dishes on Baby No. 2 and Wife Emily Blunt's 'Mary Poppins' Prep "I said, 'How dare you! That cherub of a man -- that cherub of a talent -- can't be more than 28,'" the Aloha star said. DiCaprio turns 42 in November. Blunt suggested a bet to settle things. "She said 'If I'm right, you have to cook for me every Sunday. And if you're right, you get to play Call of Duty once a week.'" Obviously Krasinski lost. However, when Kimmel pointed out that he was at the actor's house on a recent Sunday and it was Blunt doing the cooking, the 36-year-old actor and director admitted he's not above doing a little Jedi mind trick to get out of the job. "You know, with the new Star Wars trailer out, I was like, 'I'm not going to cook tonight,'" he said, waving his hand like Obi Wan Kenobi. NEWS: John Krasinski to Star in 'Jack Ryan,' Amazon's New Action-Packed Series Let's hope the Force isn't too strong with him on that one. With two young daughters -- Hazel, 2, and baby Violet born in June -- as well as a full work schedule including upcoming filming for Mary Poppins Returns -- we're sure Blunt is happy for all the nights off she can get! But the father of two, who was on Kimmel to promote his new film, The Hollars, may have only himself to blame for Blunt's enthusiasm for his cooking. Krasinski said he tackled making his wife's favorite meal, a British style roast dinner, for Mother's Day -- despite her warnings against it. "'What are you going to cook?'" Krasinski recalls her asking. When Blunt made a face in response to his answer, he asked what was wrong. "She goes, 'It's really difficult. You should do something else.'" Story continues It all turned out well, though. "I made one mean roast!" he boasted. NEWS: Emily Blunt Makes Flawless First Red Carpet Appearance Since Giving Birth to Daughter Violet ET caught up with Krasinski at the New York premiere of The Hollars earlier this month, where he dished on the impact that being a father made on the film. "We started shooting the movie when my daughter [Hazel] was 4-and-half-months-old, and I've got to say that, had I shot this five months before, that it would have been a totally different movie," he said. Find out more in this video. Related Articles Jorge Ramos has warned Judgement Day is coming for those supporting Donald Trump in any form, including those not speaking out against the GOP presidential candidate. It doesnt matter who you are a journalist, a politician or a voter well all be judged by how we responded to Donald Trump, the Univision and Fusion anchor wrote in a Time op-ed. The day after the election will be too late. Ramos continued: Regardless of whether Donald Trump wins or loses, we will be asked on November 9th: What did you do? Did you support him? Were you brave enough, ethical enough, to challenge him when he insulted immigrants, Muslims, women, war heroes and people with disabilities? Are you on the record correcting his lies? Did you discuss with your friends and family that in a democracy like ours there is no room for racism and discrimination? Or did you just seat idly, silently, allowing others to decide the future of the United States? Also Read: Donald Trump Rips MSNBC's 'Morning Joe' Co-Hosts for Being 'Unwatchable' He wrote that Trump has forced journalists to revisit rules of objectivity and fairness because, if a candidate is making racist and sexist remarks, we cannot hide in the principle of neutrality. Thats a false equivalence. Ramos called for voters to take a stand against racism, discrimination, corruption, public lies, dictatorships and the violation of human rights. The Univision star then mentioned two crucial moments in which even Trump supporters couldnt defend their own candidate, pointing to comments about judge Gonzalo Curiels Mexican heritage and the comments made about the silence of a Muslim-American woman, Ghazala Khan. Also Read: 17 Billionaires and Celebrities Who Could Run for President in 2020 (Photos) Trump, really, is no laughing matter. But he could be the next president. Thats how democracy works, Ramos wrote to end the op-ed. Judgment day is coming. Will you have peace of mind come November 9th? Story continues One year ago, Ramos was famously booted from a Trump campaign press conference in Dubuque, Iowa before returning to engage in a heated exchange about illegal immigration with the GOP frontrunner. The feud began in August 2015 when the popular anchor of the Spanish-language network attempted to ask Trump a question, to which the candidate responded, You havent been called. He then told Ramos, Go back to Univision! Also Read: Bill O'Reilly Battles Jorge Ramos: 'You're an Activist!' (Video) Ramos was then escorted out of the room at Trumps request by a security guard. Trump later told reporters Ramos was out of order but that he had no problem if Ramos wanted to return. The journalist was soon seen back in the room and began a heated on-camera exchange with Trump over his proposal to expel undocumented immigrants and to deny U.S. citizenship to children born in the country to non-citizens. Related stories from TheWrap: John Oliver, John Legend, Jorge Ramos Among Greatest World Leaders Bill O'Reilly Battles Jorge Ramos: 'You're an Activist!' (Video) Jorge Ramos Doubles Down Against Donald Trump: He's 'Fomenting Hatred' Though India lags behind China in terms of deploying and manufacturing state-of-the-art submarines indigenously, the diesel-electric submarine is still seen as a force multiplier by the Navy. By India Today Web Desk: The Indian Navy's ambitious Scorpene programme has been hit by another scandal - the leak of its top secret data. The leak has come as a major blow to the Navy which is inching towards inducting its first diesel-electric attack submarine in nearly two decades after several delays. Though India lags behind its neighbour China in terms of deploying and manufacturing state-of-the-art submarines indigenously, the diesel-electric submarine is still seen as a force multiplier by the Navy. advertisement Here are 10 things to know about the lethal weapon platform: In October 2005, India placed an order for six Scorpene-class attack submarines. Currently, the submarines are being built at the Mazagon dockyard in Mumbai, with technical help and equipment from French companies DCN and Thales. Construction of the first Scorpene submarine began in December 2006. The total cost of the submarines is estimated to be Rs 235.6 billion ($3.75bn). The diesel-electric attack submarine can stay out to sea for 50 days. The Scorpene has two diesel engines (that generates 1,250kW of power) and electric motor (which generates 2,900kW of power). The submarine, a scaled-down version of France's 4,700-tonne Barracuda submarine, is equipped with full rescue and safety systems. The nearly 1600-tonne sub can hold a total company of 31 men. Two variants of Scorpene submarine are currently available: the CM-2000 with the conventional propulsion system, and the AM-2000 equipped with air independent propulsion. French Navy, Brazilian Navy, Malaysian Navy and Chilean Navy operate SSK Scorpene class attack submarines. : Exclusive: Handicapped by red tape, Indian Navy to fit old weapons on brand new submarine Over 20,000 pages of classified data on India's Scorpene submarine leaked, says report --- ENDS --- From Popular Mechanics Assault rifles and airports might not sound like a good match, but at Moscow's international airport, the two are paired nonetheless. Russia's largest gunmaker has opened a souvenir shop at the international travel hub, selling model versions of its iconic assault weapons. Kalashnikov Concern, which borrows its name from gun inventor Mikhail Kalashnikov, opened up a souvenir store at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport. The shop sells t-shirts that say "I Love AK," as well as pens, bags, and even realistic-looking copies of AK-47 series rifles. The copies are cannot be made to fire, but still look like functional weapons. One model on the wall, that of an AK-74, appears to sell for 34,500 rubles-approximately $535 dollars. More than one hundred million versions of the AK-47 have been produced since the weapon's adoption by the Soviet Army in 1979. The assault rifle is in service with 106 countries. The Russian Army, meanwhile, is currently outfitted with the AK-74M, an updated version that fires a smaller 5.45-millimeter bullet. The new Moscow store won't just sell merchandise with the iconic AK-47 profile. By the end of this year it plans to introduce more than 200 items, including eyewear and headphones designed for target shooters. It makes sense; Kalashikov is an umbrella company that not only makes military rifles but also sporting arms under the Baikal label-and civilian versions of assault rifles under the Izmash line. With Russia's economy mired in recession, the 31 million passengers that pass through Sheremetyevo Airport every year represent a huge sales opportunity. If you do end up buying a model AK-47 at the Moscow Airport, check local laws first as customs may not take it kindly. Model guns can pass U.S. Customs so long as you paint the barrel bright orange but whatever you do, don't put it in your carry-on luggage. Source: Reuters You Might Also Like Categories Celebrity Style / Shopping Kate Middleton is known for her affinity for affordable brands, regularly donning polished pieces that look far more expensive than they are. Even more relatable is that the Duchess of Cambridge, like many of us, shamelessly wears items more than once, pulling off a poppy-printed frock by L.K. Bennett (one of her designer favorites) at a charity event for Youthscape for the second timethe first wear was during a 2014 visit to Australia. In this case, Kates practical approach to the outfit repeat demonstrates how an otherwise prim silhouette can feel fresh when rendered in a playful pattern. Since her sheath is sadly sold out (you can add yourself to the wait list here), we culled four floral dresses below that embody her elegant style. You too can shop, wear and repeat like a royal. Photo: Getty Images Get The Look Tamara Blue Floral Dress L.K. Bennett, $425 Daisy Flippy Dress Warehouse, $87 Floral Cap Sleeve Midi Dress Boohoo, $35 Apple and Pears Bodycon Whistles, $300 Abuja (AFP) - US Secretary of State John Kerry will meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Geneva on Friday for talks on Syria and Ukraine, his spokesman said Wednesday. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed the meeting. Kerry, currently on a visit to Nigeria, had said Monday that he hoped to meet Lavrov this week. Washington and Moscow have been in contact for weeks over establishing military cooperation to fight the Islamic State jihadist group in Syria. "Other issues" will also be on the agenda, spokesman John Kirby said, without elaborating. Lavrov and Kerry spoke by phone on Wednesday and discussed Syria, specifically the surge of violence in the second city of Aleppo, the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement. The two men discussed "the prospects of coordinating Russian and US actions to fight terrorism" and "the need to draw a boundary line between Syrian opposition forces orientated towards Washington and terrorist groups that hide behind them," it said. Russia and the United States are on opposite sides of the conflict in Syria, but have a common foe in the Islamic State group. The situation in Syria has been further complicated by the launch of an offensive by Turkey -- a US NATO ally opposed to the regime in Damascus -- aimed at pushing the jihadists out of the Syrian border town of Jarabulus. On Ukraine, the United States supports the pro-Western government in Kiev and has led sanctions against Moscow for annexing Crimea in 2014 and supporting pro-Russian separatists in the east. Tensions between Russia and Ukraine soared this month after Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Kiev of attempting an armed incursion into Crimea. Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko warned of a possible "full-scale" Russian invasion. Speaking to Kerry on Wednesday, Lavrov "urged the US to use its influence on Kiev to warn it against provocations and incite it to dialogue" with the rebels in eastern Ukraine, the Russian foreign ministry said. Elon Musk Finance Insider is Business Insider's 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. The rise of passive investing is the money management world's biggest trend of the last generation. Earlier this year, Business Insider highlighted data from Vanguard that showed that money parked in funds seeking to meet rather than beat a benchmark index had risen to $4 trillion in 2015 from $11 million 40 years ago. Analysts at Bernstein led by Inigo Fraser-Jenkins, however, argue forcefully in a new note to clients that the rise of passive investing presents some seriously dangerous real-world barriers to the efficient allocation of capital in the economy. In related news, one brutal table explains everything that is going on in money management right now. Elsewhere on Wall Street, the smart money is making big bets on the energy sector, and a wave of activist hedge funds are shaking up Japan. In more macro news, a "potentially significant market shift" is happening in housing, Saudi Arabia is facing a 'squeeze,' and these 3 trends are a guide to China's future. There's a lot of news on Tesla and Elon Musk to get through. Here are the highlights: In other news, an MIT trained-engineer and hedge fund trader is trying to get men to finally take care of their skin, and a VC firm redesigned their website to say "F*ck Trump." Finally, this feature in the Rolls-Royce Phantom blew us away. Here are the top Wall Street headlines at midday: Uber has handed a hot finance Wall Street startup a huge boost - Uber has struck a deal with one of the largest independent robo-advisers in the world to help its drivers better manage their money. Story continues Furious Costco customers are still threatening to cancel memberships over a credit card 'fiasco' - When Costco began transitioning from American Express to Visa as its exclusive credit card partner in June, delays and confusion had customers threatening to cancel their memberships. VIDEO: Top fintech CEOs talk Brexit, blockchain hype, and the LendingClub crisis - Anthemis, a fintech VC and strategic advisory firm with offices in London and New York, recently held its fifth annual "Hacking Finance Retreat," a get together of fintech founders, big institutions, regulators, academics, and more. 'Mistakes will be made:' Here's the memo the CEO of Lloyds sent to staff over extra-marital affair claims - Antonio Horta-Osorio, CEO of Lloyds Bank, told staff of his regret for being the source of "adverse publicity" that could damage the bank's reputation, following media reports of his extra-marital affair. Nigeria's central bank suspended 9 banks from the FX market - Nigeria's central bank has suspended nine banks from the interbank currency market for failing to remit money owed to the government. 30 iconic American hotel bars everyone should have a drink at - Once a watering hole of last resort filled with business travelers and tourists, the hotel bar is back with a vengeance. More From Business Insider The Kraft Heinz Company KHC, one of the leading global food and beverage companies, recently introduced a new line of coffee called Special Reserve under its brand Gevalia Kaffe. Priced at $6.99, Special Reserve includes four premium coffee varieties of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Kenya and Papua New Guinea. Notably, Special Reserve coffees are 100% Arabica, single-origin coffees and each is sourced uniquely from its respective country. Costa Rica Coarse Ground is a medium-bodied coffee that has fruit and citrus undertones to its dark roast. Guatemala Coarse Ground is also a medium-bodied cup of coffee that offers earthy, smoky notes with a hint of cocoa. Both Costa Rica Coarse Ground and Guatemala Coarse Ground are best for French Press brewing. On the other hand, Kenya Fine Ground is an intensely-flavored coffee that incorporates a balance of acidity and wine-esque undertones. This coffee is perfect for specialty brewing. Papua New Guinea Fine Ground is a complex rare coffee that has a delicate sweet flavor with a hint of acidity. Notably, coffee is a big market, worth about $85 billion worldwide, and is growing at nearly 6% a year. Thus, we believe the introduction of the Special Reserve line of premium coffee will help Kraft Heinz to capitalize on the strong demand for premium coffee and contribute to the companys top line. Kraft Heinz, formed last year, was the result of the merger between packaged food company, Kraft Foods and ketchup maker, H.J. Heinz Company. Previously known as H.J. Heinz Holding Corporation, the company changed its name to Kraft Heinz post the completion of the merger on Jul 2, 2015. The company started trading on Jul 6. Kraft Heinz has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Stocks to Consider Some better-ranked stocks in the consumer staples sector include Primo Water Corp. PRMW, Constellation Brands Inc. STZ and Craft Brew Alliance, Inc. BREW. All the three companies carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Story continues 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 PRIMO WATER CP (PRMW): Free Stock Analysis Report CONSTELLATN BRD (STZ): Free Stock Analysis Report CRAFT BREW ALLN (BREW): Free Stock Analysis Report KRAFT HEINZ CO (KHC): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research A 105-year-old woman asked for hot firefighters on her birthday and her wish was fulfilled. By India Today Web Desk: A 105-year-old woman had a quirky wish for her birthday. She asked for hot firefighters to be part of her birthday guests and that's exactly what she got. A woman named Ivy Smailes in Crawcrook, England, requested a group of "hunky firefighters" to show up for her birthday party at the nursing home she was in. advertisement One firefighter even climbed a ladder and made his entry through a window exactly the way firefighters get inside a burning building. Watch the full video here The Addison Court Care Home where Ivy lives says that each year she asks for something special on her birthday. And for 106th birthday, she wants Prince Harry to come and meet her. --- ENDS --- When tropical house sensation Kygo (Kyrre Grvell-Dahll) first stepped onto the dance scene in 2013, he propelled his career from college producer to global stage sensation thanks to viral, piano-infused remixes of songs like Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing." Now in 2016, the 24 year-old, classically trained pianist is ready for his next challenge: fashion designer. Billboard Cover: Kygo on His Rise to Fame -- 'I Have to Enjoy It While It Lasts' "I didn't want to wear anything that I was selling if it had big logos," Kygo tells Billboard in an exclusive interview. "I didn't think it was cool for me to walk around with a huge Kygo logo on myself." Hoping to offer cooler clothing options he'd want to wear, the DJ teamed up with a design crew in his native Norway to start Kygo Life, his main apparel and electronics line, along with Kygo Vibe, a sporty-meets-urban collection. Pieces from both lines, available on his new online store, include a men's relaxed-fit hoodie made of 94 percent bamboo viscose ($147), an olive green women's T-shirt with a white palm tree on the front ($79) and black headphones ($226). Rio Olympics 2016 Closing Ceremony Highlights: Kygo and Julia Michaels Perform 'Carry Me,' Simone Biles Makes History & More Billboard Dance spoke with Kygo, who just closed out the Olympics with a stunning performance of "Carry Me," about his new business endeavor, finding inspiration in Yeezy collections, and his search for the perfect T-shirt. Where did your artistic design influence come from? I find inspiration in what artists and regular people on the street wear, but I'm also very influenced by what I like to wear since I style myself. What kind of clothes do you like to wear? For me, fit is very important. When I go into a store and find a T-shirt that's well-designed with a great fabric but the fit is all wrong, the T-shirt is ruined for me. We've been working on making small, super fine adjustments to our T-shirts and sweaters ensuring they fit perfectly. Story continues How did you select the fabric and materials for the clothing? Well, the guy I'm working with in Norway has done a couple of other clothing brands before and he recommended I try out some different fabrics. Some of my favorite T-shirts in the collection are made with 70 percent bamboo or organic cotton -- both materials just make the shirt super soft. I'm very excited to announce that I'll be launching a fashion line in one week! Stay tuned for more info-- #kygolife A photo posted by Kygo (@kygomusic) on Aug 11, 2016 at 12:08pm PDT Which designers influence you? I don't really know too many designers. I like a lot of what Kanye West has does with Yeezy, but I think it's a bit too, how you say, elevated; it's a little bit too special. Like he's trying to make something that's kind of a little bit too cool sometimes. I find some inspiration in what they're doing, but I want to make Kygo Life more accessible to regular people on the street. By accessible do you mean cost-wise or mass production-wise? I guess both. But for me, quality is extremely important and you need to pay more for quality if you want it. Yeezy has the quality, but the design is sometimes too "out there" for regular people on the street to wear. So I'd like to strike a balance. Kygo: The Billboard Cover Shoot Your line has men's and women's wear. How is your design approach different when designing for either gender? The men's collection and the women's collection incorporates the same ideas and design aesthetic, but they fit differently. I started off with the men's collection and then designed the women's, asking designers, my girlfriend, and my sisters for advice on fit. What is an example of men's design was incorporated into the women's collection? I have a T-shirt with a paintbrush stroke on the back from my Cloud Nine album cover, and we offer the same one for men and women. For sweaters, we were playing around with unisex concepts, like making them a bit longer in the back and shorter in the front. -> Aarhus---- A photo posted by Kygo (@kygomusic) on Aug 4, 2016 at 8:20am PDT Your line has a distinct Scandinavian vibe. Definitely has a Scandinavian look -- kind of simple, elegant; like what I like to wear myself. Right now the collection is kind of basic because I wanted to introduce people to T-shirts and sweaters with the right fit, but I'll play around with more designs in the future. How can your music be felt in the products? Pretty literally. One of my T-shirts has a piano-inspired design on the front, another one has my album cover on the back, and then, of course, we've created headphones. That process has been incredibly involved because we keep adjusting the sound so it's perfect. We've done a lot of samples on the headphones and have been sending notes back like, "Make the bass a little bit lower." Small adjustments like that. After enjoying their Bora Bora honeymoon and July wedding, Robert Herjavec and Kym Johnson are back to work. "We had the best time and now we're back to reality and it's still great," Johnson told PEOPLE at the Stars Usher In the 68th Emmy Awards Season at Television Academy's Performers Peer Group Celebration event in Beverly Hills on Monday. As for how newlywed life is, the 39-year-old ballroom dancing champ admits she and her new husband feel like "an old married couple now." "It's funny," the Dancing with the Stars pro added. "I feel like we've been married for ages." And the couple who fell in love during DWTS rehearsals in 2015 admits that they're still learning new things about each other. "I've learned Kym is an amazing cook," says Herjavec, 53, who adds his favorite dish from Johnson so far is an "incredible wrap" she made for lunch. "I'm taking my wife duties and cooking more," says Johnson, adding that she's "trying." Along with wraps, Johnson has a few other dishes she wants to make for her Shark Tank husband including crepes and one recipe the couple found while soaking up the sun on their honeymoon: "I got a recipe from a local French Polynesian man as well so I'll be trying that one out," shared Johnson. Erez (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - Gaza's last tiger left the war-ravaged Palestinian enclave Wednesday with monkeys, emus, a porcupine and other animals from a zoo dubbed the "world's worst", heading for a new life in South Africa and elsewhere. Laziz (Cutey in Arabic) the tiger and the 15 other remaining animals from the Khan Yunis zoo were driven on a trailer in cages to the Erez crossing before dawn, an AFP journalist said. The animals crossed the border en route to sanctuaries and zoos in South Africa, Jordan and Israel for "a better quality of life", the Israeli army said in a statement. As well as Laziz, five monkeys, two emus, two deer, two eagles, two turtles, a pelican and a porcupine were transferred, the Four Paws charity ensuring the animals' welfare said. For months vets from Four Paws had been visiting the zoo in southern Gaza to treat the animals and transfer them out after international outcry at photos of their conditions. Dozens of animals had died in the zoo, some of starvation, and badly stuffed bodies of dead crocodiles, lions and others were left in the open, surrounded by piles of bones. The NGO says on its website that Khan Yunis had "been known as the 'worst zoo in the world' since it became public last year that the zoo was crudely mummifying the animals that died in their care and displaying them." Wednesday's transfer leaves the zoo empty and it will now be closed. - Smuggled in through tunnels - "So many people have followed the progress of our mission eagerly and shown their solidarity with Laziz and the other animals," Four Paws vet Amir Khalil said in a statement. "We are happy that we were finally able to close down Khan Yunis zoo." Laziz's case attracted particular attention, after it was revealed the near-starving tiger had originally been brought to Gaza from Senegal via Egypt, where he was smuggled through tunnels into the enclave. Story continues He will now be transferred to the Lionsrock refuge for big cats in South Africa. "We were quite worried if Laziz would go into his transport crate without any issues," Khalil said. "But the tiger just went straight into the box as if he knew that we will bring him to a nice home." In the years after its 2007 opening there were more than 100 animals housed at the zoo, but they were decimated by repeated wars and shortages of customers. The owners were unable to afford enough food, with some animals starving. "I am very sad," lamented owner Ziad Aweda. "I brought these animals from Libya, Sudan, Egypt and even South Africa to Gaza." The nearly two million residents of Gaza are also suffering and find it difficult to get permits to travel to Israel, which has maintained a blockade on the enclave for a decade. More than two-thirds of Gazans are reliant on some form of aid, according to the United Nations. Hamas, which runs Gaza, has fought three wars with Israel since 2008, the most recent in 2014 in which 2,251 Palestinians died, the majority civilians, according to the United Nations. Seventy-three Israelis, including 67 soldiers, were also killed. The Israeli blockade of the enclave and Egypt's closed border have suffocated the economy, making it increasingly hard for Gazans to find money for leisure. For the second time in just more than a month, Ghostbusters and Saturday Night Live star Leslie Jones has been attacked online, with her personal website allegedly being hacked and now down. Early Wednesday, the hackers seemingly snagged personal information including Jones passport and drivers license and also posted private photos via iCloud. That material then was posted on her JustLeslie.com. With the photos and other info now removed, a GoDaddy holding page has replaced that site. Also, on her Twitter page, a previous link to the site is gone. Reps for Jones and SNL did not respond to Deadlines requests for comment. Jones has not posted anything on Twitter since last Tuesday evening. What's happening to @Lesdoggg is an absolute outrage. Alt right, haters, trolls, "comedians," whoever the fuck you all are, you're just sad. Paul Feig (@paulfeig) August 24, 2016 Having just returned from a stint as an enthusiastic online and sometimes on-air correspondent for NBC at the Rio Olympics, Jones is expected to be joining her fellow SNL cast members when the shows 42nd season debuts in the fall. Todays alleged hack isnt the first time this summer that Jones has been the subject of online abuse. In July, the actress was attacked on Twitter by negative reviews of the Paul Feig-directed all-female Ghostbusters. That escalated to the point where, after trying to expose the hateful posts and complaining to Twitter, Jones went off the social media platform July 18. I leave Twitter tonight with tears and a very sad heart.All this cause I did a movie.You can hate the movie but the shit I got todaywrong Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016 Jones returned to Twitter a few days later and would tweet up an Olympics storm in early August before being invited by NBC to join them in the Brazilian metropolis. However, Breitbart columnist Milo Yiannopoulos was banned from the microblogging site permanently soon afterward for his part in the attacks on Jones and breaking the platforms policy on such behavior. Story continues No one has been identified as responsible for todays alleged hack. Related stories Leslie Jones Hack Now A Homeland Security Investigation Hollywood Rallies In Support Of Leslie Jones Following Hack Michael Phelps Dives Into 'America's Got Talent' Co-Hosting Gig Tonight 24 Aug Hollywood seems to have a simple solution to the problem of Fan Bingbing's withdrawal from the upcoming shark thriller, "Meg". Just replace the surname Fan with 'Li'. As reported on Empire Online, another Chinese actress, Li Bingbing, is currently in talks to replace her countrywoman in the movie, after Fan announced her departure from the project due to her hectic schedule. Li, who has worked in various Hollywood movies including the "Transformers" and "Resident Evil" franchise, will play the role of Dr. Zhang Suyin, the lead oceanographer who works together with a former Naval Captain to rescue the deep-sea submersible trapped at the bottom of the Mariana Trench before it succumbs to the attacks of a giant Megaladon. Jason Statham is set to star as the former Naval Captain, Jonas Taylor. Also part of the confirmed cast are Australian actresses Jessica McNamee and Ruby Rose and Japanese American actor Masi Oka. "Meg" is scheduled to begin filming in September. Meanwhile, former cast Fan Bingbing will be focusing on the promotional events of her new movies in the same month. (Photo source: Business Insider Australia) Tripoli (AFP) - Libya's presidential council will present a new government line-up in an attempt to secure the backing of the country's parliament, it said Wednesday. The parliament, which rejected a previous unity government in a confidence vote on Monday, gave the council a "final chance" and 10 days to propose a new cabinet. In a statement published on Wednesday on the website of the Government of National Accord (GNA), the council called on Libya's parliament, based in the eastern city of Tobruk, to endorse the new cabinet. The council said it would work with political actors, civil society and the parliament to select a broad base of members for the new cabinet. The nine-member council, headed by prime minister-designate Fayez al-Sarraj, was formed under a UN-backed accord between Libya's rival governments. UN envoy Martin Kobler tweeted on Wednesday that he "fully supports" the council's statement and its decision to work with the parliament, saying it was "urgent" to implement the accord. Libya's parliament, which was forced to flee to Tobruk after a coalition of militias seized Tripoli two years ago, is recognised by the international community. However instead of supporting the internationally backed GNA, the parliament backs a rival executive in Baida, also in the east. Under the deal signed in December, the GNA needs to pass a confidence vote in parliament in order to take office. The parliament on Monday passed a vote of no confidence in Sarraj's government, in a blow to efforts to end the country's political chaos. It later gave the council a "last chance" to propose a new cabinet. The GNA is struggling to assert its authority in Libya, which has been riven by turmoil since the 2011 overthrow of dictator Moamer Kadhafi. National support for the GNA is seen as crucial to restoring stability and to tackling the Libyan branch of the Islamic State group, which pro-GNA forces are battling in the jihadists' coastal stronghold of Sirte. The council said its ministers would stay in office "to guarantee continuity in the institutions of the state" until parliament could vote on a new government. By PTI: New Delhi, Aug 24 (PTI) Two women have been arrested and over three kg of cocaine worth around Rs 25 crore seized after a joint operation by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) sleuths and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) troopers along the Indo-Nepal border at Sonauli in Uttar Pradesh, officials said today. A woman, identified as R Kashung from Manipur, coming from Nepal on a bus late last night was arrested and 3.12 kg of cocaine was seized from her possession. The value of the contraband is estimated at Rs 25 crore, they said. advertisement The drug consignment was destined for Delhi. Kashung led the sleuths to another woman from her state, identified as Moi, who lives near Safdarjung Enclave area in the national capital. Moi was also arrested and she told the sleuths that she used to live with a Nigerian national who was the "kingpin" of this racket, they said, adding, "The NCB is looking for the Nigerain identified as O G Nnanna." NCB officials suspects that drug syndicates originating in African and South American countries are routing the drugs to India via the open Indo-Nepal border. The SSB on August 20 seized synthetic drugs worth Rs 15 crore along the Indo-Nepal border in Siliguri of West Bengal. PTI NES NSD RG NSD --- ENDS --- Lockheed Martin Corp. LMT won a contract for the U.S. Navys frigate ship program. The five-year contract is worth up to $79.5 million and covers fiscal years 2016 to 2021. LOCKHEED MARTIN Price LOCKHEED MARTIN Price | LOCKHEED MARTIN Quote Per the contract, the U.S. Navy will use Lockheed Martins COMBATSS-21 or COMponent-BAsed Total-Ship System21st Century as the combat management system for the program. COMBATSS-21 is the combat management system that is currently deployed on the Freedom variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). Manufactured from the Aegis Common Source Library (CSL), COMBATSS-21 shares a pedigree with the Aegis Baseline 9 software developed for the Aegis cruiser and destroyer fleet, as well as international ships, the Aegis Ashore system, LCS and the Coast Guard National Security Cutters. Being an Aegis Combat System Engineering Agent, Lockheed Martin supplies advanced combat management systems and conducts the entire combat system integration life-cycle. This allows navies around the world to meet their most critical mission objectives. Lockheed Martin has already delivered and integrated Aegis and Aegis-based products on 126 platforms in eight nations, with an additional 23 under construction or planned. The U.S. Navy cruisers, destroyers, LCS, Coast Guard National Security Cutters and Aegis Ashore sites are currently operating Aegis and Aegis-derived systems. The navies of Japan, Spain, Norway, the Republic of Korea as well as Australia have also chosen Aegis to safe guard their nations. Zacks Rank & Key Picks Lockheed Martin currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Better-ranked stocks in the same space include Engility Holdings, Inc. EGL, Ducommun Inc. DCO and General Dynamics Corp. GD. While Engility Holdings and Ducommun sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), General Dynamics 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 GENL DYNAMICS (GD): Free Stock Analysis Report LOCKHEED MARTIN (LMT): Free Stock Analysis Report DUCOMMUN INC DE (DCO): Free Stock Analysis Report ENGILITY HLDGS (EGL): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Viacoms long-time corporate communications chief, Carl Folta, is leaving the company, newly seated CEO Tom Dooley informed employees in an email Tuesday. Foltas departure was announced to employees at the media conglomerate just three days after Philippe Dauman stepped down as chief executive and was replaced by Dooley. Dooley thanked the communications executive for guiding Viacoms communications and public relations strategy and expertly bridging the era of manual typewriters and teletype, to data insights and Snapchat. Folta began his time with the conglomerate as an employee of the old Gulf+Western, joining Viacom in 1994 when it merged with Paramount Communications. Since then, he has been on the front lines of every major initiative and transaction in the history of our company, Dooley wrote to employees. Nobody fought harder for Viacom and all of us. Dooley credited Folta with helping to turn chairman emeritus Sumner Redstone into one of the most recognized and globally acclaimed media executives in history. The communications chief also led Viacoms push into many philanthropic ventures, including an annual volunteer day; a public education program about HIV/AIDS; and the companys partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Get Schooled, a multi-year program to bolster education in America. Related stories After Philippe Dauman's Exit, Will Viacom and CBS Merge Again? Viacom Discloses Details of Philippe Dauman's $72 Million Settlement Deal Sumner Redstone's Granddaughter Challenges Philippe Dauman Settlement Delhi-based Zamarrud Parveen talks about how she became a student-cum-cab driver, and describes her experiences as a woman driving in a city as unsafe as Delhi. By Somya Abrol: "I moved to Delhi 13 years ago, with family in tow, at the age of 9. Actually, it was Abba who decided to shift the family's base from a little village in UP to the capital of the country--like many others, for better job opportunities. He's a daily wage earner, working at construction sites. Thanks to him, I started studying at Jamia Millia Islamia Class 9 onward--till Class 12. I knew then that I wanted to study further--much further. Needless to say, the money situation at home wasn't exactly easy. advertisement How driving came into the picture It was always Ammi's dream to drive a vehicle by herself. We got to know of this NGO called Azad Foundation, which teaches underprivileged women to drive. So, Ammi said, 'Since I always wanted to drive, I really want you to learn.' One thing led to another, we went to Azad Foundation, and both of us learnt how to drive, together, for six months. As soon as I turned 18, I got my driver's licence. It wasn't too long before I started driving. I worked for a private company for the first three years, and have been driving an Uber just for a year now. Allah has been kind--both my parents have been very supportive. I have three younger siblings that my parents are taking care of, but the support they've provided me with so far has been my backbone. Zamarrud with her sisters and mother. The best gift The best thing driving gave me was the gift of education--I'm now in my third year of graduation (BA from Jamia Millia Islamia). This line of work thankfully gives me enough time to study and do whatever else I want to, while generating enough money for my livelihood and studies. Anyone would think it'd be difficult, being a girl, driving around a city like Delhi even at odd hours, but honestly, people have been nothing but nice to me in the past four years. In fact, when people ask me how old I am and what I'm doing in life, they usually wish me the best of luck at the end of their ride. Yes, there are a lot of pre-conceived notions about this city, and how unsafe it is, but it's always better if we approach any situation in life without prejudice. Where do I see myself in 10 years? As a professor of Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia." --- ENDS --- Donald Trump Donald Trump has been a bit light on policy proposals, especially when it comes to the economy. He has said, however, that as president he would raise tariffs on Chinese goods (he's tossed around the number 45%) because the country is "cheating" with its low prices in the global marketplace. So what would this look like? What would be the consequences of aggressive tariffs on global goods? There's at least one place where we can see how a trade war with China would play out for the US: the steel industry. For over a year it has been ravaged by anemic demand and rock-bottom prices. China's incredible output of steel hasn't helped matters, and the world has been asking the country to slow its production. In fact, the US has been taking measures to shore up the price of domestic steel since President George W. Bush was in office. Results have been muted. Last month the US Senate held a hearing on the Chinese economy called "Evaluating the Financial Risks of China," and it focused largely on what China's low steel prices coupled with that country's own economic slowdown had done to American steel. I'll spare you some reading: It hasn't been good. "The damage that has been done to the industry has been extreme," Thomas Gibson, the president of the American Iron and Steel Institute, said at the hearing. This after US Steel, in April, announced that it would be laying off 25% of its nonunion workforce. Action None of this is to say that the US hasn't taken any recent action. In May the US hiked duties on Chinese steel by 500%. The European Union is also taking measures to slow the flow of Chinese steel into its market. But of course that isn't the end of it by any means. China is in a precarious position. The country grew its economy by selling steel (among other commodities) to the world and also by using steel to build its massive cities (both empty and filled). But now the Chinese economy is slowing down. The government also wants to depend less on industry and manufacturing and grow its services sector, things like banking and retail. Story continues But it still has a huge steel industry that employs millions of people. The government has said it will fire millions in the coming years as the industry winds down. That will be painful, though, and the Chinese government has not shown that it has a tolerance for pain. Its steel mills are still operational, and its steel workers are still employed. The country has said it will reduce steel capacity, but those promised reductions don't always materialize. Steel Construction China At the congressional hearing, Gibson said the Chinese government claimed that 90 million tons of overcapacity in its steel market had been taken care of from 2011 to 2015. In reality, 300 million tons had been added to China's steel output. "They don't use the word 'net,'" he said. After the US slapped on that 500% tariff, China said it would continue a controversial tax rebate for its steel exporters. So this is it people. We've got ourselves a nice little trade war on our hands. What would Donald do? And how's the war going? The Australian bank Macquarie published a note on that on Wednesday. "July's global steel crude output data, as released by worldsteel yesterday, shows world ex-China output to have recovered to positive YoY territory for the first time in over 18 months," analysts wrote. "This, coupled with China's relative resilience reinforces the view that the global industrial recovery is gathering some momentum." Sounds good, right? It sounds as if global steel demand is starting to come back. The bank says Asia is leading the recovery with increased Korean and Japanese steel consumption. Smaller countries are doing better too, though they might be getting force-fed steel by China (and that can't last). The problem is that steel demand isn't coming back in the US, and Macquarie blamed "tariff-induced higher prices" for this, even though the US economy is stable. "While output has been carefully managed by US producers to help maintain the tariff-driven price premium over other regions, apparent demand is clearly not good at -10% YoY over 2016 to date," analysts wrote. "While destocking can explain part of this, we would reiterate our concern that higher steel prices are hurting US manufacturing competitiveness (and thus steel demand). As our recent note showed, the US is the biggest negative drag on global industrial production at the present time." US steel demand So while higher prices are helping the US steel industry to some degree, they are hurting manufacturers who have to buy that steel. "There's grumbling that the US mills are taking advantage of a tight market, and the price hikes are too much, too fast," Lisa Goldenberg, the president of Delaware Steel Co. of Pennsylvania, a steel trading and processing company, told The Wall Street Journal. Trade battles, it turns out, are less like war and more like whack-a-mole. You bring the hammer down on one problem, and another arises soon after. Meanwhile, some in the steel industry would prefer Trump change his part of the conversation on tariffs and steel. "I don't think he does our issue any favors by making it so incredibly jingoistic and bombastic," said Scott Paul, the president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, a group that allies domestic steelmakers and other manufacturers with the United Steelworkers union, told Reuters. Perhaps someone should let Trump know that. NOW WATCH: Donald Trump's 'strange' morning habit tells you everything you need to know about him More From Business Insider UPDATE, 2:04 P.M. PT: A journalist for the HTR News tweeted, The # ManitowocCounty Clerks office has reported that nothing with the Avery case was filed today. Courthouse is only open until 430p. UPDATE, 11:59 A.M. PT: Carla Chase, Avery family spokesperson and niece of Steven Avery, just posted the following tweet: No news till tomorrow.. please have patience.. @ ZellnerLaw has got this.. Previously: A commotion at the Manitowoc County courthouse has Making a Murderer fans in a frenzy, with many saying Steven Averys lawyer might present an alternate theory to Teresa Halbachs death on Wednesday. According to NBC26, the deadline to present new evidence in the case is Monday, but users on Twitter are saying that time might be coming early. Local journalists are at the courthouse, keeping followers updated on Twitter while NBC26 livestreames from the courthouse. No one on site has yet been able to confirm whether Averys lawyer Kathleen Zellner is at the courthouse or not, but NBC26 reporter Raquel Lamal tweeted, there is no court today. Weve just heard @ZellnerLaw is expected to drop off alternate theory paperwork in Avery case. Also Read: 'Making a Murderer': Steven Avery's Lawyer Cites New Suspect, Plans New DNA Testing In January, the Illinois-based attorney said theres new evidence to present, stating that shes confident Averys murder conviction will be overturned. In a statement provided to TheWrap, Zellner said, We are continuing to examine every aspect of Mr. Averys case and all of his legal options. We are confident Mr. Averys conviction will be vacated when we present the new evidence and results of our work to the appropriate court. Last week, Zellner said shed unearthed another suspect in the murder of the photographer. She also told the New York Times that she plans to file a motion for access to DNA evidence from the crime scene for new testing. Also Read: 'Making a Murderer' Prosecutor Gives 9 Reasons Steven Avery Is Guilty Story continues There is evidence that already exists in the case that points to a different location and a different suspect, Zellner, who began representing Avery in January, said. Weve got a combination of forensic evidence and a tip from somebody that weve interviewed multiple times that we think is credible. Avery and his nephew Brendan Dassey were convicted in the 2005 murder of Halbach. Decembers release of Making a Murderer had the nation split over whether the two were actually guilty of the crime or the Manitowoc Sheriffs Department planted evidence. Earlier this month, U.S. Magistrate Judge William E. Duffin granted Dasseys writ of habeas corpus, finding that his confession at age 16 while suffering from certain intellectual deficits at the time of his questioning, was involuntary. At the time of the decision, the judge said Dassey would be released from custody in 90 days unless the state decides to retry him. Related stories from TheWrap: 'Making a Murderer': Prosecutor Who Backed Steven Avery in 1st Case Says Filmmakers 'Distort the Truth' 'Making a Murderer': Steven Avery Speaks Out on Brendan Dassey's Overturned Conviction When male termites are single, and no female mates can be found, the guys tend to form homosexual couples in order to survive, a new study finds. These homosexual pairings may give male Japanese termites an evolutionary edge, according to new research. Scientists found that when female mates are lacking, male termites will pair up and nest together. These same-sex pairs will even take over a heterosexual couple's nest, killing the resident male so that one can member of the male-male pair can mate with the female, the researchers said. Scientists previously thought homosexual pairings for invertebrates like insects were the result of misrecognition of males as females. However, in the new study, researchers at Kyoto University in Japan found that the male termites in same-sex couplings did not act as if they had mistaken their partner as female. [Gay Animals: Alternate Lifestyles in the Wild] "Japanese termites usually make nests in monogamous, heterosexual pairs," study lead scientist Nobuaki Mizumoto, an insect ecologist at Kyoto University, said in a statement. "In theory, misrecognizing a female for a male in a monogamous mating system should incur considerable costs for reproduction. There had to be some sort of benefit if this were a common behavior." Male termites do not survive long on their own, but those who nested with another male survived much longer, according to the study. Male-male pairings were also beneficial when searching for female termites, Mizumoto said, a time when the risk of becoming prey is higher. The researchers monitored the homosexual termites' behavior and saw the insects build nests together, just as heterosexual couples did. Once a heterosexual couple completed its nest and began digging tunnels surrounding it, a male-male pair would travel through the tunnel to invade, killing the male occupant of the nest. Genetic analysis of the subsequent offspring showed that one of the invading males was able to successfully mate with the female. Story continues Though pairing with another male is not the best option, as only one of the termites can mate once a female is found, the researchers noted that the behavior does give single termites a better chance at survival. "It's clear that male-male pairing is a strategy for survival," Mizumoto said. The new study was published online Aug. 9 in the journal Animal Behaviour. Original article on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. From Cosmopolitan A 25-year-old man from Coon Rapids, Minnesota, was arrested Saturday after allegedly kidnapping, sexually assaulting, then strangling his family friends 5-year-old daughter to death. According to People, Zachary Todd Anderson has been charged with second-degree intentional murder, first-degree criminal sexual conduct, two counts of kidnapping, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. He has not requested a plea deal at this time. According to the statement of probable cause released by the Cass County Attorneys Office, the parents of Alayna Jeanne Ertl first discovered their daughter was missing early Saturday morning after putting her to bed the night before with her favorite Princess Elsa blanket. By around 8:30 a.m., both Ertl and her blanket were gone. The pair soon realized Ertls fathers truck was missing, as well, and Anderson, who had stayed at the house until at least 4:00 a.m., was nowhere to be found. Matthew and Kayla Ertl quickly alerted police, and authorities issued an Amber Alert a few hours later. Shortly after, Andersons father called the Cass County Sheriffs Office to report he believed his son might be who they were looking for. He explained Anderson had called and asked his permission to use the family cabin earlier that day, and that it might be where he had taken the girl. Police rushed to the cabin and found the stolen truck parked nearby, pulled into the ravine and into a brushy, wooded area in an apparent attempt to conceal its location. Once they entered the home, they found what appeared to be a suicide note with apparent blood on the upper corner on the kitchen table, alongside a shotgun. Authorities later found Anderson in a swampy area nearby, standing knee-deep in water with fresh lacerations to his left wrist. While he, at first, denied knowing Ertls whereabouts, he later admitted hed hidden her somewhere in the swamp. Following what appeared to be a trail of freshly trampled swamp grass, police first discovered Ertls Frozen blanket before finding her naked body, completely submerged underwater, and hidden with some debris. Ertl was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy later revealed her cause of death was strangulation, but that shed also received blunt head trauma. There was also evidence of sexual assault including sexual penetration. Story continues Anderson is currently being held at Crow Wing County Jail with bail set at $2 million. Follow Gina on Twitter. For more news videos visit Yahoo View. By PTI: Dhaka, Aug 24 (PTI) Bangladesh today arrested five suspected militants of the banned homegrown JMB blamed for a series of deadly attacks, including the trainer of its women wing, in twin raids here during which firearms and explosives in large quantities were also recovered from their posession. Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) stormed two hideouts in Dhakas Gazipur district, arresting Rasheduzzaman Rose, a Canadian expatriate who is also the acting southern- region chief of Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), the Dhaka Tribune reported. advertisement Major Ajam, second-in-command of RAB-1, said a team conducted a drive in Tongi Station Road area around 12.30 AM. Rasheduzzaman, who took over as the JMBs regional chief recently, was among those arrested, reports quoted RABs legal and media wing Director Mufti Mahmud Khan as saying. The other persons arrested were identified as Sahabuddin, Firoz, and Saiful, members of the same outfit, and Abul Hye, a leader of another militant outfit Ahl al-Hadith. RAB have also seized a large number of explosives, firearms and improvised bombs from the hideouts, Khan added. Bangladesh police have blamed JMB for the two recent terror attacks, including the Dhaka cafe siege on July 1 in Gulshan area in which 22 people, including 17 foreigners, were killed in the brutal late-night attack. The Islamic State group had claimed responsibility for the Gulshan attack, releasing photos from inside the cafe during the siege and of the five men who carried out the deadly assault and were shot dead at its finale. Bangladeshi authorities had dismissed ISIS claims over the deadly assaults, saying international jihadist networks have no presence in the worlds third largest Muslim majority nation. PTI KJ SAI KJ --- ENDS --- A man's craving for metal that led him to swallow 40 knives may sound bizarre, but such strange cravings can be symptoms of an eating disorder in which people ingest anything from dirt to talcum powder. The 42-year-old man in India said he had consumed the knives over a 2-month period, according to CNN. Some of the knives were folded up when the man ingested them, but some were unfolded, and extended to about 7 inches (18 centimeters) long. The man required a 5-hour operation to remove the knives. Because some of the knives were open, the man was bleeding profusely and couldn't have survived for much longer before his operation, according to the Washington Post. But now he should be able to leave the hospital in a few days. The man told CNN that he wasn't sure why he swallowed the knives, but that he liked the way they tasted. "I just enjoyed its taste, and I was addicted ... how people get addicted to alcohol and other things, my situation was similar," the man was quoted as saying. [7 Weird Things People Have Swallowed] People who eat nonfood materials for at least one month may have an eating disorder called pica, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). People with the condition have been known to consume a variety of substances, including dirt, clay, hair, paint, sand, soap, metal and paper. Up to a third of young children may show symptoms of pica at some point, the NIH said. Pica is also more common in pregnant women, particularly those from certain cultures. One study found that 44 percent of Mexican-born women living in Southern and Baja California had symptoms of pica during pregnancy. Exactly what causes pica in a given case is not always known, but the disorder may be a sign of a medical or psychological problem, said Dr. Gilda Moreno, a clinical psychologist at Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami, who was not involved with the Indian man's case. For instance, a lack of certain minerals in the body, such as iron or zinc, may trigger pica in some people, Moreno said. In these cases, people could crave an unusual substance the way that thirsty people crave water, she said. That the Indian man said he liked the taste of metal, and even equated it with an addiction, "almost tells you that there must be some nutritional component to it," Moreno told Live Science. Story continues Still, pica is also linked to a number of mental disorders, including autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder and schizophrenia, Moreno said. In cases of people with schizophrenia, the patients may consume nonfood substances because they are unaware of their surroundings, she said. In 2011, researchers from the United Kingdom reported a case of a 19-year-old woman who had the mental health condition called borderline personality disorder. She swallowed a number of objects in order to deliberately harm herself, including knives, razors and 6-inch (15 cm) sewing pins. People who have pica need to be assessed for medical problems that might result from their unusual eating patterns, including intestinal blockages, tears in the esophagus, infections and poisoning, Moreno said. With various treatments, pica usually goes away over time, particularly if it's caused by a nutritional deficiency, Moreno said. But some people, particularly those with compulsions, might struggle with the disorder their whole lives, she said. Original article on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Butembo (DR Congo) (AFP) - An angry lynch mob burnt to death two people Wednesday who were suspected of links to rebels accused of murdering villagers in northeast Congo. "I condemn the death of these two people who were lynched then burned by the crowd," Sikuli Uvasaka Makala, mayor of Butembo where the lynching took place, told AFP. "You are killing innocent people," he told the crowd. Around 100 troops were dispatched to Butembo "to re-establish order", General Marcel Mbangu, who headed the contingent, told AFP. Residents told AFP that Butembo had been tense all day, with protesters barricading roads and searching vehicles from areas where Rwandan Hutu rebels from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) are active. Soldiers fired warning shots to disperse the crowd and detained a group of suspected ringleaders, officers said. A young resident in the town who refused to be named said the pair were killed while on their way to the nearby town of Beni, where 51 people were slaughtered earlier this month in a massacre blamed on rebels. That killing was blamed on a partly Islamist armed group of Ugandan origin, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). The gruesome bloodshed in Beni touched off mass street protests against the government for failing to protect the population from armed rebel groups that plague the region. Tension between the Nande and Hutu peoples are also high in the restive east, shaken by two decades of fighting over land, ethnic tensions and mineral riches. Lugo (Spain) (AFP) - Belgian Gianni Meersman won stage five of the Vuelta on Wednesday, his second victory after triumphing on stage two, both wins coming on flat terrain. Meersman won the sprint finish in the 171.3km stage from Viveiro to Lugo in a time of 4hr 16min 42sec, while Colombian Darwin Atapuma retained the overall lead. Etixx-Quick Step rider Meersman finished ahead of Luxembourg's Fabio Felline of Trek-Segafredo in second and France's Kevin Reza of FDJ in third after being set up well by his team and sprinting fastest on the uphill run to the line. Because of a crash in the last kilometre, overall leader Atapuma lost more than a minute and the stage results had Spain's Alejandro Valverde first, but the three kilometre rule was applied and the Colombian kept his red jersey, leading by 29 seconds. "I was scared a little because the fall was in front of me, but luckily it didn't involve me and I was able to continue without problems," said Atapuma. "For my sporting career and the team, this is a great happiness. I came to the tour with good feelings and we will keep fighting, with the help of my team." Meersman said on Eurosport: "I was very happy with the first win, it gave me a lot of confidence and I started today with no stress. "The lead-out from (Zdenek) Stybar was incredible and when I saw the 200 metres to go sign I just went because I knew if I stopped the others would come from behind. In the end nobody passed me and I'm very happy." BMC's Philippe Gilbert and Cannondale-Drapac's Simon Clarke made a late attack with the peloton chasing but due to tricky narrow roads there were various incidents. Steven Kruijswijk of LottoNL-Jumbo went down and had to receive medical attention, while another crash nearly involved Chris Froome, who managed to dodge it late on, eventually finishing in 14th place. Kruijswijk's race appears to be over with team director Steven de Jongh saying: "We know he's hurt his teeth because he was complaining a lot about that, as well as his collarbone. "He thought his collarbone was broken but we couldn't see if it was. He finished and we will take an x-ray and see how he is." On Thursday the sixth stage from Monforte de Lemos to Luintra takes place on hilly terrain running for 163.2km. Melissa Leo will star in Charlene deGuzmans low-budget film Unlovable, which is being funded with a Kickstarter campaign. Patton Oswalt has also joined the project as an associate producer for Unlovable, a story about a womans struggle with sex and love addiction. The project topped its $50,000 fundraising goal Tuesday with four days left in the campaign. Unlovable follows character named Joy, based on deGuzmans own experiences which include entering a 12-step program in 2014. Leo will be playing Maddie, Joys fearless sponsor, according to the site. DeGuzman developed the story with independent film stalwart Mark Duplass, whose credits include Jeff Who Lives at Home, The Skeleton Twins, Creep, The Do-Deca-Pentathlon and HBOs Togetherness . Jen Roskind in producing. Yoonessi is directing from a script by deGuzman and Sarah Adina Smith. Yoonesi and Leo previously teamed on the shorts Dear Lemon Lima, Bomb and No Shoulder. DeGuzmans short film I Forgot My Phone has been viewed nearly 50 million times on her YouTube channel, Charstarlene TV. Duplass recently announced that he was matching funds to help Unlovable meet its funding goal. We're matching funds this week to get @charstarlene's UNLOVABLE to it's @kickstarter goal of $50k! Pls give and RT! https://t.co/sKngsJnEst Mark Duplass (@MarkDuplass) August 20, 2016 Related stories Film Review: 'Never' Kickstarter Claims Creative Projects Have Reaped $5.3 Billion From Its Crowdfunding Platform Chuck Paluhniuk's 'Lullaby' Movie Reaches $250,000 Kickstarter Goal LONDON (Reuters) - A serving member of the British armed forces was arrested in England on Wednesday as part of an investigation into Northern Ireland-related terrorism, London's Metropolitan Police said. The 30-year-old was arrested in Somerset, southwest England, on suspicion of being involved in preparation for acts of terrorism, police said in a statement. "Today's arrest was pre-planned and intelligence-led as part of an investigation into Northern Ireland related terrorism," the statement said, adding that no armed police were involved in the arrest. Police said there was no intelligence to suggest an immediate threat, and that an address and a wooded area in south Devon were being searched in connection with the inquiry. A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: "We are aware of a police investigation involving the arrest of a member of the Armed Forces under the 2000 Terrorism Act and will assist this investigation fully." (Reporting by Kylie MacLellan; editing by Stephen Addison) By PTI: Kolkata, Aug 24 (PTI) A group of 62 Bangladeshi fishermen, who were rescued last week by Indian Coast Guard, were handed over to Bangladesh Coast Guard today. Four Bangladeshi fishing boats - Allardan, Farhad, Nahim and Ma Ganga - got adrift in Indian waters due to mechanical failure post-depression in northern Bay of Bengal on August 17 and 18. advertisement Two of the four stranded boats were sighted at 35 nautical miles south of Sagar lighthouse by a Coast Guard aircraft, officials said. The other two fishing boats were sighted stranded inside the creek by a Coast Guard surveillance aircraft on Aug 18. The fishing boats had departed from Maipur and Cox Bazaar in Bangladesh and were caught in the cyclonic winds that hit the Bay of Bengal. Two fishing boats were towed to Coast Guard station Frazerganj. The marooned crew was provided with medical treatment, food and additional clothing during their stay. "All Bangladeshi fishermen were provided with necessary logistics and medical treatment," Coast Guard commander (North East Headquarters) Inspector General K R Nautiyal said. Joint interrogation by Coast Guard, marine police and SIB were also carried out to confirm the authenticity of the fishermen on arrival at the fishing port. FB Allardan and FB Farhad were handed over today while the remaining two boats will be handed over post repairs that are being carried out locally, officials said. Four fishermen have stayed back to oversee the repair work. PTI NIK CR DV --- ENDS --- There are so many things to love about Michelle Obama's epic appearance on Carpool Karaoke last month. But for the first lady herself, ditching the Secret Service to film the segment is at the top of her list. "First of all, I was riding in a car with someone else, without the Secret Service," Obama tells Variety in her new cover story for the magazine's Aug. 23 issue. "So right there, [I was like], 'Let's keep driving!' I think we drove around the South Lawn about 100 times." Her appearance on the popular segment of James Corden's The Late Late Show which has generated more than 40 million views on YouTube also gave the first lady an opportunity to highlight one of her key initiatives, Let Girls Learn, a worldwide push to promote girls' access to education. Michelle Obama Dishes on Ditching the Secret Service for Carpool Karaoke| politics, The Late Late Show with James Corden, Variety, TV News, James Corden, Michelle Obama, Missy Elliott During their ride around the South Lawn, Obama, 52, and Corden, 37, sang along to "This Is For My Girls" a track written by songwriter Diane Warren several years ago that was later recorded as an anthem for Let Girls Learn by Missy Elliott, Kelly Clarkson, Janelle Monae and other stars. Related Video: Missy Elliott Reveals What It Was Like to Watch Michelle Obama Rap 'Get Ur Freak On' for Carpool Karaoke Obama tells Variety it was Warren who encouraged her and Corden to do a segment. "What better way?" the first lady says. "The hottest way that music is being heard is in the car with James." Are you planning on voting in this year's election? We want to know! Take our survey: https://t.co/b6KMj1ZeAt a People Magazine (@people) August 15, 2016 Obama, who calls herself a "product of pop culture," says she isn't afraid to use its influence to reach a wider audience and spread the word about her signature issues, like helping military families and promoting girls' education and healthy eating and exercise. Michelle Obama Dishes on Ditching the Secret Service for Carpool Karaoke| politics, The Late Late Show with James Corden, Variety, TV News, James Corden, Michelle Obama, Missy Elliott And if that means singing "Get Ur Freak On" and "Single Ladies" in a car with James Corden and Missy Elliott she's game. "What I have never been afraid of is to be a little silly, and you can engage people that way," Obama says. "My view is, first you get them to laugh, then you get them to listen. So I'm always game for a good joke, and I'm not so formal in this role that there's very little that we can't do that people won't appreciate." Microsemi Corporation MSCC continues to support engineering excellence at the University of Limerick, Ennis, Ireland. It recently renewed its current 50,000 euros scholarship program. The company also unveiled the "Microsemi Women in Engineering" scholarship award and announced its first recipient. Details of the Programs The 50,000 euros scholarship program was launched back in 2012. Under this program, a first-year engineering student of the University receives 3,000 euros per academic year or 12000 euros in total. The company also declared an annual cash price to a student for each of the four academic years from 2012/13 to 2015/16. Under the renewed program beginning Dec 2016, four new engineering students will receive this cash price each December for four years. Selection will be based on the scores in the Leaving Certificate. Under the new "Microsemi Women in Engineering" scholarship program, the best performing female student graduating with a Bachelor of Engineering in Design and Manufacture, Bachelor of Engineering in Electronic and Computer Engineering or Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering, will receive a one-time 2,000 euros award. This year, Eimear O'Sullivan graduating with a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronic and Computer Engineering degree, with a First Class Honours will receive this award in late August. MICROSEMI CORP Price and EPS Surprise MICROSEMI CORP Price and EPS Surprise | MICROSEMI CORP Quote A Reflection of Responsibility The initiatives underscore Microsemis continuous commitment toward development of students and its strengthening bond with the University of Limerick. The two organizations have worked together for long, offering real world education and training to engineering students to prepare them for in-demand technology careers. It seems that the company is taking yet another step ahead with its corporate social responsibility initiatives by developing these unique scholarship programs for the University. Story continues Microsemi is one of the largest employers in the Ennis area and continues to hire engineers and other technical professionals from Ireland. Zacks Rank Currently Microsemi shares carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the wider technology sector include Inphi Corporation IPHI, Datawatch Corporation DWCH and DST Systems Inc. DST, each carrying 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 DST SYSTEMS (DST): Free Stock Analysis Report DATAWATCH CORP (DWCH): Free Stock Analysis Report MICROSEMI CORP (MSCC): Free Stock Analysis Report INPHI CORP (IPHI): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Kabul (AFP) - Explosions and gunfire rang out as militants stormed the elite American University of Afghanistan in Kabul Wednesday, prompting desperate calls for help from students trapped inside classrooms, in the latest attack in the Afghan capital. At least one person was killed and 26 others were wounded in the assault, which comes just weeks after two university professors -- an American and an Australian -- were kidnapped at gunpoint near the school. Dozens of heavily-armed troops cordoned off the area after the attack started on Wednesday evening, when the private university is usually packed with students, many of them working professionals doing part-time courses. "I heard explosions and gunfire is going on close by... our classroom is filled with smoke and dust," said an anxious student. "We are stuck inside and very afraid," she told AFP by telephone. Many other trapped students were tweeting desperate messages for help, with some using classroom furniture to barricade the doors. Among them was Associated Press photojournalist Massoud Hossaini, who was said to be wounded and later managed to escape with some fellow students. "Many students have been evacuated," said interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi, adding that special forces were still carrying out clearance operations more than five hours after the attack began. "We are not sure about the number of attackers," Sediqqi told AFP, refusing to confirm whether any hostages had been taken. NATO military advisers were helping Afghan forces to respond to the attack, a US official said, without specifying how many troops were involved. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the assault, but the attack comes as Taliban insurgents step up their summer fighting season against the Western-backed Kabul government. Kabul-based journalist Ahmad Mukhtar, a university student, tweeted that he managed to escape but "several of my friends and professors (are) trapped inside". Story continues Many of the wounded were rushed into waiting ambulances outside the university on stretchers, as erratic gunshots rang out from inside the campus. Some of the 26 wounded were in serious condition, said health ministry spokesman Waheed Majroh, who also reported one fatality. - Taliban offensive - The American University of Afghanistan, which opened in 2006 and enrols more than 1,700 students, is seen as a high-profile target for militants partly because it attracts foreign faculty members. The two foreign professors at the university were seized from their vehicle on August 7, as the kidnappers smashed the passenger window and hauled them away at gunpoint. It appeared to be the first reported abduction related to a private university in Afghanistan. Their whereabouts are still unknown and no group so far has publicly claimed responsibility for the abductions, the latest in a series of kidnappings in the conflict-torn country. The Afghan capital is infested with organised criminal gangs who stage kidnappings for ransom, often targeting foreigners and wealthy Afghans, and sometimes handing them over to insurgent groups. The uptick in violence comes as the Taliban escalate nationwide attacks, underscoring the worsening security situation in Afghanistan. Afghan forces backed by US troops are seeking to head off a potential Taliban takeover of Lashkar Gah, the capital of the southern opium-rich province of Helmand. The turmoil convulsing Helmand, blighted by a huge opium harvest that helps fund the insurgency, has left thousands of people displaced, sparking a humanitarian crisis as officials report food and water shortages. The Taliban have also closed in on Kunduz -- the northern city they briefly seized last year in their biggest military victory so far -- leaving Afghan forces stretched on multiple fronts. But coalition forces have insisted that neither Kunduz nor Lashkar Gah are at risk of falling to the insurgents. (Adds Welspun's share drop, background) By Nandita Bose and Douglas Busvine CHICAGO/NEW DELHI, Aug 24 (Reuters) - U.S. retailer Bed Bath & Beyond on Wednesday said it ordered an external audit of textiles from Welspun India, after Target Corp last week accused the Indian manufacturer of passing off cheap sheets as premium Egyptian cotton for two years. This could compound the woes of Welspun, which supplies to several large U.S. retailers and has seen its shares plummet nearly 43 percent since Target's announcement on Friday. The incident highlights the problems large retailers face with quality control and compliance when procuring from suppliers spread around the world. It also harms Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to spur global companies to increase manufacturing in India. Bed Bath & Beyond spokeswoman Leah Drill said the retailer will pursue an investigation and take appropriate action. Bed Bath & Beyond's announcement comes after the world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart Stores Inc, this week said it is reviewing Welspun's cotton certification records. Department store JC Penney is also conducting an investigation "to ensure the integrity of Welspun's product claims." Macy's Inc on Wednesday said it is monitoring the situation. Target on Wednesday said it is in the process of taking out all products manufactured by Welspun under the 'Fieldcrest' label, and has already removed 750,000 Fieldcrest bedding products from stores and its website. Those were sold between 2014 and 2016, and Welspun claimed they were made from Egyptian cotton, spokeswoman Molly Snyder said. The investigation at Target, which routinely audits its products, finished at the end of July, Snyder said. She declined to provide details about what triggered the investigation. Target is offering a refund, in the form of a gift card, to affected customers who either have a loyalty card or purchased the products online. Target declined to comment on how this kind of product quality issue was missed by their internal buying team for such a long period. Story continues However, Snyder said that Target had taken no action against its employees and blamed Welspun for leading them to believe that what they were supplying was, in fact, Egyptian cotton. "This was 100 percent a Welspun issue," she said. On Monday, Welspun said it was investigating the product specification issue and would hire a Big Four accounting firm to review its supply processes. Some retailers such as Swedish home furnishing giant IKEA AB said they would continue doing business with Welspun while awaiting the outcome of the Indian textile manufacturer's probe. (Reporting by Nandita Bose in Chicago and Douglas Busvine in New Delhi, Additional reporting by Sruthi Ramakrishnan in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Crosby) Aam Aadmi Mohalla clinic gets a mini-medicine vending machine that can dispense 50 different types of prescribed medicines. By India Today Web Desk: For the first time, a state-of-the-art mini vending machine was set up at an Aam Aadmi Mohalla clinic in Todapur, Delhi, yesterday. The mini-medicine shop has the capacity to dispense up to 50 different types of prescribed medicines, including tablets and bottles. The automatic vending machine uses sensor technology to dispense medicines based on doctor's prescription. USAID and WISH, under the project SCALE, have jointly funded the manufacturing of this unique machine. They also aim to setup similar machines in nine other Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinics across the state. advertisement The Hindustan Times quoted a government official as saying, 'earlier, the medicines were being distributed by the helper, directly under the supervision of the doctor. With the installation of the machine, the patients would be able to collect their medicines directly. This new mechanism saves the need for a full-time pharmacist and helps doctors keep a tab on the medicines that are being distributed off the counter. What is the Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinic? Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinic (AAMC) is the Delhi government's flagship health program which aims to make health care accessible to all and reduce crowding at government hospitals. Under the AAP Mohalla clinic project there are about 105 Mohalla clinics running across Delhi, the clinic provides primary healthcare like basic consultations and medicines. While a government dispensary takes close to 3 crores to build, a Mohalla clinic can be set in just 20 lakhs and can be easily assembled anywhere. The Kejriwal government has an aim of setting up 1,000 Mohalla clinics by the end of this year. They are also planning to set up Mohalla clinics in the city's commercial hubs including Nehru Place, Bhikaji Cama Place, and Subhash Place in order to provide medical facility for the working class. --- ENDS --- Rabat (AFP) - A Moroccan court Wednesday handed down a 20-year jail term to an assailant in the gang rape of a teenage girl who later burnt herself alive, a rights group said. Omar Arbib of the Moroccan Association of Human Rights told AFP that the accused on trial in the city of Marrakesh was found guilty of raping a minor and of group violence. The verdict on six other defendants was to be announced on August 31. At the end of last year, a group of young men abducted Khadija Souidi, who was then 16, from her hometown in Ben Guerir, north of Marrakesh, "and then took turns to rape her", Arbib said last week. The girl's family lodged a complaint and police arrested several suspects, although the prosecutor granted them a provisional release. Arbib said that after being freed they threatened the girl, saying they would "publish pictures of the rape which they had taken with their mobile phones unless she drops the complaint against them". "This is the reason why... she set herself on fire" in a street of Ben Guerir at the end of July, Arbib said. Souidi suffered third degree burns and died the next day in hospital, he said, adding that the autopsy showed that she was pregnant. Her death prompted the prosecutor to order the arrests. Sexual harassment is commonplace in Morocco, despite the adoption of a new constitution in 2011 that enshrines gender equality and urges the state to promote it. Moroccan NGOs say 80 percent of sexual attacks affect children, aged mostly between five and 14, and that in a high percentage of cases the assailants are family members. In January 2014, Morocco scrapped a controversial law that allowed rapists of children to escape punishment if they marry their victims. The article made international headlines in March 2012 when Amina Filali, 16, killed herself after being forced to marry the man who had raped her and who remained free. Thanks to her charming turns in Mrs. Doubtfire and Matilda, Mara Wilson became one of the most beloved child stars of the '90s but the actress says the pressures of a "toxic," image-obsessed industry were so heavy she had to retire as a tween. "I've had people tell me, 'The way that you judge yourself, looks-wise, is on this really strange level.' Well, it's because I grew up in Hollywood," Wilson, now 29, tells PEOPLE. "I had good experiences there, but I always knew there were girls much prettier than I was, and I knew that I was always competing with them. That has followed me my whole life. The one-time scene-stealer is now chronicling her rise to (and escape from) the spotlight in her witty debut memoir, Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame and PEOPLE has an exclusive excerpt and interview in the magazine's new issue. Mrs. Doubtfire's Mara Wilson Reveals How She Quit Hollywood over Painful Scrutiny of Her Looks| Hilary Duff, Kristen Stewart, Lacey Chabert, Mara Wilson, Scarlett Johansson Wilson began stealing hearts opposite Robin Williams in Mrs. Doubtfire and on Melrose Place in 1993; nabbed her first leading role the next year, starring in the Miracle on 34th Street reboot; sang the opening number at the Oscars in 1995; and was a bona fide national treasure by '96 after playing the precocious title character with telekinetic powers in Matilda. But by the time she'd hit puberty around the turn of the millennium, "I wasn't getting any parts," Wilson writes in Where Am I Now? (out Sept. 13). "Something didn't make sense at least until I was called for a role in a pilot. I would be auditioning for the 'fat girl,' " Wilson writes. It was shortly after that audition that Wilson whose mother Suzie died of cancer when Wilson was 8 decided with her dad she would begin to focus on school instead of acting. "I realized, 'I don't fit their idea of what a Hollywood actress looks like, so there's no room for me here,' " says Wilson. "It's hard to come out of that sane and without some serious doubts about yourself." Wilson discovered a passion for theater and writing in high school and college, but those doubts continued to haunt her. For more on Wilson, including the full excerpt of her memoir, pick up the new issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday Mrs. Doubtfire's Mara Wilson Reveals How She Quit Hollywood over Painful Scrutiny of Her Looks| Hilary Duff, Kristen Stewart, Lacey Chabert, Mara Wilson, Scarlett Johansson She saw her onetime friends and peers, such as Lacey Chabert, Hilary Duff, Scarlett Johansson and Kristen Stewart, on magazine covers. "Even though part of me knew I wouldn't go back to film acting, sometimes I wished I'd be in an accident where I'd injure my nose and jaw so I could get reconstruction guilt-free," Wilson writes. "As I saw it, I had three choices: get cosmetic surgery and go out on auditions for the cute and funny best friend characters, stay the way I was and go out for the meager character actor roles for young women, or accept myself and give up the idea of a Hollywood film acting career for good." Since graduating college, Wilson has made a name for herself in the New York comedy and storytelling scene. "Things have gotten a lot better since I left Hollywood a great weight lifted," Wilson says. These days, she lives with her two cats, Milo and Theo, in Queens, where she writes comedy. Wilson came out as bisexual following the Orlando gay nightclub massacre in June. And she's aware her book is putting her back in the public eye. "This time," she says, "it's on my terms." MTV on Wednesday invited fans around the world to cover hit songs, with the winner set to earn fame by starring in an original video. The pioneering music network announced the contest ahead of Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards in New York and geared the initiative toward viewers in the network's more than 120 markets outside the United States. The network will announce a song each month. To enter the competition, international viewers will need to upload cover versions on YouTube and submit them online to be the "MTV Cover of the Month." MTV International will recognize each month's winner through a recurring spot on television as well as a trophy. The network will also pick a winner of the year, who will star in an original music video to be produced and promoted by MTV. The first song in the contest, which will open after Sunday's awards gala, is Mike Posner's global hit "I Took a Pill in Ibiza." The track has already gone through a musical transformation. Posner wrote it as a pop song with light guitar but -- true to the sound of the Spanish resort of Ibiza -- it climbed the charts as an electronic dance track mixed by Norwegian duo Seeb. "I'm all about anything that supports creativity and self-expression," Posner, who will personally select the winner, said in a statement. MTV International senior vice president Kerry Taylor said that the contest was part of the network's approach of preserving its well-known global brand identity while encouraging a local flavor. "Our focus is very much about being a global brand with local resonance," Taylor told AFP. Taylor said that MTV was open to covers from all around the world including with strong regional adaptations. "When you look at the kind of success of people doing covers on YouTube and just knowing how much our audiences universally love music, this felt like a contest that would work as well in Asia as it would in the Americas," she said. Story continues MTV revolutionized the music industry from its launch in 1981 by intertwining a visual component with pop songs but the network has come to focus more broadly on youth culture. MTV International rebranded itself last year in part due to youth culture's rapid embrace of social media and the growing world of YouTube sensations. As part of the change, MTV International airs user-generated content -- labeled with the hashtag #mtvbump -- thousands of times per week. MTV has also produced international spinoffs of its popular series "Jersey Shore" and "Ridiculousness." UPDATED: 4:37 p.m. EDT U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton on Wednesday afternoon tweeted her support for the victims of the Myanmar earthquake as well as those in Italy, where a magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck hours ahead of the one in the southeast Asian nation. Clinton's tweet followed one hours earlier from her Republican counterpart Donald Trump. But those two instances were seemingly the only acknowledgement of the disaster in Myanmar from the U.S. politicians. U.S. Department of State Secretary John Kerry spoke Wednesday with Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni and offered his condolences to the Italian people in the aftermath of an earthquake that has claimed at least 120 lives. Kerry "made clear the American people stand with Italians in this difficult time and offered any U.S. assistance that Italy might require," a State Department press release said. "The Secretary pledged to stay in close contact as search, rescue and recovery efforts continue." It was not immediately clear if Kerry or a spokesperson from the State Department reached out to any officials in Myanmar, where at least four people were reported dead from Wednesday's 6.8 magnitude earthquake that triggered landslides and damaged centuries-old Buddhist temples. A spokesperson for United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also offered condolences to the people of Myanmar and Italy. UPDATED: 12:18 p.m. EDT More than 170 Buddhist temples in central Myanmar sustained considerable damage Wednesday after a massive earthquake there triggered multiple landslides, the New York Times reported. The Myanmar Fire Service Department announced that an 18-year-old woman and a 6-year-old girl died in a landslide about 40 miles from the earthquake's epicenter. Story continues Elsewhere, a man died after a tobacco processing plant collapsed. Pakistan TV news outlet SAMAA reported that mas was 22 years old. The death toll was holding steady with at least four people killed. Social media videos showed the extent of the damage the earthquake which was felt as far away as Bangkok, Thailand inflicted on the region. UPDATED: 12:18 p.m. EDT More details have been released about some of the fatal victims of Wednesday magnitude 6.8 earthquake that struck Myanmar Wednesday afternoon, local time, Pakistan news channel SAMAA reported. Two girls, a woman and a man were reportedly among those killed in the powerful earthquake. A 7-year-old and a 15-year-old died in Magway region, which is nearly 100 miles away from the epicenter near the town of Bagan, Myanmars Ministry of Information said. Bagan is frequented by tourists because of an archaeology site and centuries-old Buddhist temples, of which more than 60 had been considerably damaged in the earthquake. UPDATED: 11:36 a.m. EDT Wednesday's 6.8 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar and a deadly earthquake in Italy hours earlier are not related to each other despite the timing of each, a geophysicist has told USA Today. "They are in two completely different seismic zones," John Bellinni of the U.S. Geological Survey said. The earthquake in central Italy struck shortly after 3:30 a.m. and Myanmar's earthquake hit about 5:30 p.m. the same day, local time. UPDATED: 10:08 a.m. EDT At least four people were killed as a result of the 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on Wednesday, according to a new report from the Myanmar Times. In addition to the death toll, more details emerged about the status of the country's Buddhist monuments and the damage they sustained from the earthquake. The earthquake's epicenter was near the town of Chauk, which is nearly 19 miles from Bagan, where the country's most well known archaeological site is as well as more than 2,500 pagodas. UPDATED: 9:31 a.m. EDT While no deaths have been officially announced following Wednesday's powerful earthquake in central Myanmar, the Associated Press reported a firefighter in the town of Pakokku said a woman there was killed. The BBC is reporting the death of a 22-year-old man in that town. The People's Daily China has reported that at least three people were killed from the earthquake. Nearly 70 brick pagodas whose existences date back centuries were damaged Wednesday afternoon in Myanmar after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake stuck the central part of the southeast Asian country, the Independent reported. Both the Myanmar Ministry of Religious and Cultural Affairs and the Myanmar Earthquake Committee made the announcement before revealing that may have been the extent of the more serious damage the earthquake caused. UPDATED: 9:09 a.m. EDT Residents in Yangon Myanmar's most populous city evacuated tall buildings in the midst of Wednesday's magnitude 6.8 earthquake in what the U.S. Geological Survey has called "one of the most seismically hazardous regions on Earth." UPDATED: 8:45 a.m. EDT The powerful earthquake that rocked Myanmar Wednesday shook high rise buildings in Thailand's capital city, which is located nearly 800 miles away, the Bangkok Post reported. "My office is shaking," an unidentified person who works on the 22nd floor of an office building told the Bangkok Post. "All my work colleagues stood up." However, like in Myanmar, there were no immediate reports of deaths suffered from Wednesday's earthquake. No Thais in Myanmar were apparently injured, either. UPDATED: 8:28 a.m. EDT Eyewitnesses to Wednesday's powerful earthquake that shook Myanmar were speaking out following the seismic event that did not immediately leave any deaths. Officials were still surveying the damage, reported Channel News Asia. "My house shook during the quake. Many people were scared and they ran out of the buildings," local official Maung Maung Kyaw said. "I went outside to check the situation in the town. Some of the buildings are split and nearly collapsed, but I don't see any people affected by the quake." Other officials were checking pagodas as public transportation in nearby India was brought to a temporary halt, Myanmar Times reported. "Services of the underground railway have been suspended fearing aftershocks of the quake," a railroad spokesperson said in the Indian city of Kolkata. Original story: A magnitude 6.8 earthquake rocked central Myanmar Wednesday, according to multiple news reports. The closest city to the earthquake's epicenter is Chauk, which is located more than 15 miles away, the BBC reported. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the earthquake hit nearly 89 miles west of the city of Meiktila and ran more than 52 miles deep, according to Agence France-Presse. The southeast Asian country, formerly known as Burma, did not report any immediate cases of casualties or injuries, but the earthquake was powerful enough to have been felt as far as Bangkok, which is nearly 800 miles away, the Associated Press reported. Photos from various locations across Myanmar were surfacing on social media and showed the extent of the type of damage the roads and structures sustained from the earthquake. A local elected official told AFP the earthquake and subsequent tremors went on for minutes. "There was also some sound as well. A pagoda collapsed in Salay and a building also collapsed," reported the Guardian. Scientists predicted last month that a major earthquake could soon strike in a number of places in Asia, including Myanmar along with Bangladesh and India. The lead author of the study that prompted the prediction cited GPS data as evidence. "Some of us have long suspected this hazard, but we didn't have the data and a model, said Michael Steckler. "Now we have the data and a model, and we can estimate the size." The last major earthquake to strike Myanmar was earlier this year in April, when a magnitude 6.9 left dozens injured, mostly from being trampled after people were left scurrying for cover. At least twelve people died in 2012 after a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Myanmar then Burma destroying homes, schools and other structures such as bridges and even a goldmine, the Associated Press reported at the time. This is a developing story. Related Articles Seoul (AFP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un declared a recent submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) test the "greatest success", Pyongyang's state media said Thursday. The results of Wednesday's launch proved the North had joined the "front rank of the military powers fully equipped with nuclear attack capability" and that the US mainland and the operational theatre in the Pacific were now "within the striking range" of the North's army, KCNA news agency reported Kim as saying. The missile flew 500 kilometres (around 300 miles) towards Japan, marking what weapons analysts called a clear step forward for North Korea's nuclear strike ambitions. A proven SLBM system would take North Korea's nuclear strike threat to a new level, allowing deployment far beyond the Korean peninsula and a "second-strike" capability in the event of an attack on its military bases. Kim stressed the need for stepped-up efforts to mount nuclear warheads on ballistic missiles and to develop means to deliver them in order "to cope with the unpredicted total war and nuclear war with the US imperialists", KCNA said. "I do not guess what ridiculous remarks the US and its followers will make about this test-fire, but I can say their rash acts will only precipitate their self-destruction," Kim was quoted as saying by KCNA. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement following the launch that the North was clearly bent on escalating tensions and said the SLBM test posed a "serious challenge" to security on the Korean peninsula. "We will deal strongly and sternly with any provocation by the North," it said. Current UN resolutions prohibit North Korea from any use of ballistic missile technology, but Pyongyang has continued to carry out numerous launches following its fourth nuclear test in January. NASA astronauts, scientists and engineers will join "Star Trek" actors at the Star Trek: Mission New York convention on Labor Day weekend for a series of talks about alien planets, the franchise's influence on space-age technology and how to make first contact. The series of "Trek Talks" are free for attendees at the convention, which will be held Sept. 2-4 at the Javits Center in New York City. You can purchase tickets here. On Sept. 4 at 1:30 p.m. EDT, a NASA panel on the convention's main stage will discuss how the "Star Trek" ethos and technologies have inspired real NASA developments, and how the future of spaceflight will mirror and differ from the "Star Trek" version. The panel will feature Kjell Lindgren, NASA astronaut; Michelle Thaller, NASA's deputy director of science communications; Dave Lavery, a program executive for solar system exploration at NASA; Jeffrey Sheehy, a senior technical officer at NASA; and Adam Nimoy, TV director and son of Leonard Nimoy (aka Spock). It will be moderated by "Star Trek: Voyager" actor Robert Picardo. On Sept. 3 at 12:15 p.m. EDT, in a talk called "Ugly Bags of Mostly Water," NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientist Bobak Ferdowsi, of "Mohawk Guy" fame, and Phil Plait (writer of Slate's "Bad Astronomy" blog), will discuss what real aliens might look like. Then, at 3:30 p.m. EDT, NASA scientists Matt Ritsko and Jeff Volosin will discuss different ways to find alien planets. Both Ritsko and Volosin work on the agency's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) project, which is currently in development. On Sept. 4 at 11:45 a.m. EDT, the two will return to discuss TESS in more detail, including how it will spot faraway planets and how its spacecraft will be built and managed. On Sept. 4 at 10:30 a.m. EDT, Dan Werthimer, chief scientist for SETI (search for extraterrestrial intelligence) at the University of California, Berkeley, and Ferdowsi will talk about first contact and the search for life in the universe. Story continues Other "Trek Talks" will focus on health care, literary references, fashion in the series and more. Email Sarah Lewin at slewin@space.com or follow her @SarahExplains. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. Editor's Recommendations Copyright 2016 SPACE.com, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Nashville officially has a return date. The country music drama, led by Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere, will make its CMT debut on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, at 9 p.m. ET/PT, the network announced on Wednesday. The upcoming fifth season will consist of 22 episodes. RELATED: Connie Britton Credits 'Nashville' Fans for Bringing the Show Back Britton and Panettiere will reprise their roles as Rayna James and Juliette Barnes, respectively, along with series regulars Charles Esten, Sam Palladio, Jonathan Jackson, Clare Bowen, Lennon Stella, Maisy Stella and Chris Carmack. CMT rescued Nashville in June, just weeks after ABC canceled the series after four seasons, announcing a joint partnership with Lionsgate TV, Hulu -- which will stream the episodes the day after they air -- and ABC Studios. ET caught up with Britton at the ATX Television Festival in Austin, Texas, where she praised Nashville fans for keeping the show alive. RELATED: 'Nashville' Finale Ends on Major Cliffhanger, Putting One Character's Fate in Limbo "That was an example of fans being really enthusiastic and we really owe that all to the fans," Britton said in June. "The same [happened] with Friday Night Lights and Nashville is experiencing the same good fortune." That same month, Bowen was enthusiastic about Nashville's revival, telling ET at the CMT Music Awards, "I'm really excited for whatever happens." In addition to Nashville, CMT will roll out the new season of Still the King, starring Billy Ray Cyrus and Joey Lauren Adams, in the spring, and the premiere of civil rights drama Million Dollar Quartet, led by Chad Michael Murray, in March. RELATED: 'Nashville' Is Back From the Dead -- on CMT! Related Articles RTI activist Bhaskaran alleges that Jadhav, along with some IAS and KAS officers, is involved in the land grabbing case and he tried to forge the documents. By Rohini Swamy: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has decided to crack the whip against the state's Cheif Secretary Arvind Jadhav over allegations of nepotism in allotment of government land to his mother in Anekal on the outskirts of Bangalore. RTI activist Bhaskaran has filed a complaint with the state's Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB) against Jadhav and other officials for allegedly manipulating government documents with regards to the sale of 8 acres and 30 gunths of land to his mother Tarabai Jadhav. advertisement JADHAV, SOME IAS AND KAS OFFICERS FORGED DOCUMENTS? Bhaskaran alleges that Jadhav, along with some IAS and KAS officers, is involved in the land grabbing case and he tried to forge the documents. Siddaramaiah has sought a report from the revenue officials in this regard. "I have asked the revenue officials to examine the allegations and submit a report at the earliest", said Siddaramaiah. The CM further said that Jadhav had not submitted any report on the irregularities in land transfer. Jadhav has been allegedly accused of exerting pressure on officials to create a new file of records on the sale of 76 acres of land in Anekal which was said to have been purchased by his mother 15 years ago. TOP KARNATAKA OFFICERS INVOLVED IN LAND ALLOTMENT CASE? The letter, that has been addressed to ADGP KV Gagandeep of the ACB, has named Bengaluru Urban Deputy-Commissioner V Shankar, Assistant Commissioner of Anekal and the Tahsildar of Anekal, along with Jadhav, to have been involved in the land grabbing case. The complaint says, "8.3 acres out of the 73 acres of government land in survey no 29 of Ramanayakanahalli in Anekal talk have been illegally granted to Jadhav's mother Tara Bai Maruthi Rai Jadhav". The complaint further mentions that Jadhav's mother further sold the land to another individual which is in violation of the Land revenue act of 1964 which prohibits sale of government land . "I request you not to dismiss my complaint without any proper justification And not ask me any further documents which are not in my possession", RTI activist Bhaskaran said. KARNATAKA CHIEF SECRETARY ARVIND JADHAV'S CLARIFICATION Defending himself, Jadhav says the land was purchased well after the expiry of 15-year-period according to the non-alienation clause. In the last 14 years nothing regarding the land deal, stating irregularity, has been questioned and also goes on to say there is nothing illegal in that transaction. "The decision to sell the land was taken independently by my mother in 2002 when I was not in the state government nor in Bangalore," he said. ALSO READ: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah to use ESMA if cops go on mass strike --- ENDS --- mcgregor-gun Getty Image/20th Century FOX Nate Diaz lost a really close decision to Conor McGregor. Thats not going to change. He lost. The judges scorecards read 48-47, 47-47 and 48-47. Conor knocked down Nate three times, Nate punched Conor at least seventy times more than Conor punched him. It was a close fight. As we know, Nate and Conor have huge fanbases, and there was a lot riding on this battle. Mostly pride. But there was more pride riding on this fight than most other fights that dont have a belt on the line, so naturally, you can expect fans to react with some serious rage. But who knew the most serious post-fight fan outburst in MMA history would happen after UFC 202? Related Links: According to Missouris KZRG, Ulysses Liaina was arrested for unlawful use of a weapon. When he learned of Conor eeking out a majority decision, the 25-year-old Nate Diaz fan pulled out his Ruger 9mm, (possibly) started screaming, then unleashed fury in the form of 13 shots into the night sky. Speaking with KZRG, Captain Bob Higginbotham explained that everything was okay beyond the overreaction. Witnesses and friends all said he just pointed it straight up in the air. And so he wasnt aiming at anybody, it was apparently his method of venting. It probably went down exactly like this: Looking back, the original Point Break might be foreshadowing the whole Diaz/McGregor feud. You can even hear Keanu scream out, Diaz! after he unloads his weapon into the clouds. Keanu gets it. Majority decisions suck and Conor was running! 209! (Via BloodyElbow) Naya Rivera isn't holding anything back. In her upcoming memoir, Sorry Not Sorry, the Glee actress gets candid on everything from her past relationships, to battling anorexia as a teen and undergoing an abortion. WATCH: Naya Rivera Flashes Major Cleavage Months After Giving Birth "I've done a lot of living," the California native tells People. "I'm a 79-year-old trapped in a 29-year-old's body." The tell-all officially hits book shelves on Sept. 13, but an excerpt published in the latest issue of People gives fans a glimpse of Rivera's lighthearted, truthful writing. On suffering from anorexia, Rivera reveals she "started feeling that what had begun as a game had maybe gone too far" by the time she was a sophomore in high school. "I just avoided food at all costs," she writes. "If my mom had packed a lunch for me, I'd either trash it or find some excuse to give it away." WATCH: Naya Rivera Gives Birth to First Child With Ryan Dorsey "I was so young and it just seemed to be the norm. Everyone was going through similar stuff," she continues. "I had no way of knowing if I was going through it worse. I was juggling my feelings and it makes me sad that there are girls still going through that 15 years after I went through it." Back in late 2010, Rivera called it quits with her now-husband, Ryan Dorsey, in order to focus on her career. Just a few weeks after the breakup, she found out she was pregnant with the actor's child. She decided to keep the news to herself and scheduled an abortion during a day off from filming Glee. "It was very scary to open up about everything," Rivera explains. "It's not something a lot of people talk about, but I think they should. I know some people might read it and say, 'What the hell?' But I hope someone out there gets something out of it." The brunette beauty eventually got back together with Dorsey, and the two said "I do" in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, in July 2014, just months after Rivera called off her engagement to rapper Big Sean. The pair is now parents to son Josey, who will celebrate his 1-year birthday on Sept. 17. Story continues "I hope Josey will read it one day," Rivera adds. "I hope it gives him a better perspective on the issues women face." WATCH: Naya Rivera Reveals She Gained 60 Pounds During Pregnancy Related Articles reed hastings netflix Netflix (the real one) isn't too worried about the so-called "Netflix of North Korea" that was announced last week. State-run North Korean media unveiled a new set-top box last Tuesday called "Manbang" which translates to "everywhere" or "every direction" that purportedly beams propaganda-on-demand to homes inside the Hermit Kingdom. It's basically like an Apple TV with the Netflix app installed, except Manbang has far fewer viewing options with only five channels, none of which include the hit "Stranger Things." There's some debate among North Korea-watchers as to whether the device simply streams live television channels, or if it actually plays what a user requests on demand. Still, Netflix doesn't seem to mind the somewhat spurious comparison. When asked what the service thought of its new competitor, Netflix told Business Insider: "We are bummed we didn't think of that name first." It also changed its Twitter bio on Wednesday to give all credit to Manbang for its innovation: netflix bio manbang NOW WATCH: The best way to use incense in 'Pokemon GO' More From Business Insider Netflix, Inc.NFLX is apparently poised to gain significantly from its rapid international expansion. A report from data analytics firm, IHS Markit Ltd. INFO predicts that by 2018, the video streaming giants international subscribers will outpace the number of domestic subscribers. Total subscribers are projected to cross the 100 million mark. The report stated By 2018, international subscribers will overtake the number of subscribers in the US for the first time, and by 2020, Netflix will have 75 million international subscribers. This is in comparison to the companys current subscriber base of 79.9 million. The analyst further projected that Netflix will be raking in $13 billion in global revenues by 2020. Of this, the International markets will account for nearly 53% with approximately $7 billion in revenues. On the other hand, Netflix will generate about $6.2 billion from the U.S.. International expansion has been Netflixs priority for some time now as it battles slowing domestic subscriber growth. At CES 2016, the company announced the launch of its services in 130 countries simultaneously, thus taking its total presence to 190 countries worldwide. The IHS report forecasts that as a result of this expansion, the company will add 2.8 million new subscribers, leading to a 38% rise in the number of international subscribers in 2016. Netflix is also planning on localization and development of new territories, beginning with Poland and Turkey in 2016. The IHS analyst expects these new territories to result in subscriber growth of 133% and 62% in 2017 and 2018, respectively. However, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company will have to fend off stiff competition from the likes of Alphabets Google GOOGL, Amazon AMZN, Hulu and others. In addition, it has not been able to break through the China Wall owing to stringent regulations, which have proved to be an impediment. NETFLIX INC Price and Consensus Story continues NETFLIX INC Price and Consensus | NETFLIX INC Quote 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 AMAZON.COM INC (AMZN): Free Stock Analysis Report NETFLIX INC (NFLX): Free Stock Analysis Report ALPHABET INC-A (GOOGL): Free Stock Analysis Report IHS MARKIT LTD (INFO): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Donald Trump Independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin told Business Insider in a Wednesday interview that members of Republican nominee Donald Trump's campaign have told him that the Manhattan billionaire has times where he "hides in his apartment" and they're growing "frustrated." Trump recently restructured his campaign, bringing on Breitbart News executive chairman Steve Bannon and pollster Kellyanne Conway to run it. Previous campaign chair Paul Manafort stepped down last week after reports tied him to cash from pro-Russia entities in Ukraine. McMullin said that it's "unclear" whether Trump "will make it through this campaign." "He's taken some desperate measures with firing his campaign manager and hiring another one, wild swings in his policy positioning," he said. "I mean, he's desperate." "I'm hearing from people inside his campaign that there are times now when he hides in his apartment and doesn't meet with any people," he continued. "When he campaigns he goes out to a place he has to fly back home to New York. This is a fragile man and a fragile campaign and I'm not quite sure what's going to happen in the days and weeks ahead of him. I'm not sure the [Republican National Committee] can continue to support him given his weakness as a man and as a politician and as a candidate for the presidency." He added that his contacts within the Trump campaign, which he did not name, told him that they're "frustrated" with "the candidacy, with the organization, with Donald Trump's failure to stay on message." Over the past week, Trump has read prepared speeches during his rallies, a switch from the free-wheeling style that he previously employed. Business Insider reached out to Trump's campaign for comment, but they did not immediately respond. McMullin recently decided to embark on an independent candidacy after being dissatisfied by Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. He said that he's the only true conservative in the race. McMullin previously worked as a CIA operative and a policy director for the House Republican Conference. Story continues Watch Business Insider's full interview with McMullin below: More From Business Insider The army has been after Shekau for years. Nigerias army says it has killed high-value target commanders of terrorist sect, Boko Haram. In a statement, Sani Usman, the armys spokesman, said after interdiction efforts by the Nigerian Air Force on Friday (Aug. 19) some key leaders of the Boko Haram terrorists have been killed. Usman also said that a number of other terrorists, including Abubakar Shekau, former leader of the group, were fatally wounded. BREAKING NEWS: NIGERIAN AIR FORCE RAID KILLS BOKO HARAM TERRORISTS COMMANDERS ABUBAKAR SHEKAU FATALLY WOUNDED! Nigerian Army (@HQNigerianArmy) August 23, 2016 The air force strike targeted a village within Sambisa forest, a long known Boko Haram stronghold. According to an Al Jazeera report, the terrorist groups commanders had gathered for some sort of ceremony. For the army, successfully locating and killing such high-value targets is a triumph for its intelligence gathering efforts which have often been overshadowed by its seeming adoption of excessive force against locals in the troubled northeast as part of efforts to fight Boko Haram. The armys brutal tactics in the area have seen it accused of mass violation of human rights by activist group, Amnesty International. But while news of a major airstrike killing Boko Harams leaders follows the recent trend as the army has gained ground on the sect, its not the first time Nigerias army has claimed to have killed Shekau. In the past, the Boko Haram leader has often come out weeks later to debunk claims of his death through video and audio messages. As a result, the latest claim has been received with some skepticism. If true, the armys announcement signals an end to a long chase. Shekau has been hunted for years since Boko Haram, under his leadership, notably became more violent, killing over 20,000 people. In 2012, he was added to the US State Departments specially designated global terrorists list with a bounty of $7 million placed on him. Story continues His influence in the group was undercut at the start of August after Islamic State announced Abu Musab al-Barnawi as the new leader of Boko Haram. In response, Shekau is believed to have led a breakaway faction of Boko Haram. 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: By Eromo Egbejule LAGOS (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A year before his wedding, Jude Egharevba was overjoyed when he bought a plot of land to build a house for him and his fiancee on the outskirts of Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital. But his joy was short-lived, after a group of young men stormed his land and demanded cash to leave peacefully. The same men and other gangs visited his land several times and disrupted the building work, forcing Egharevba, an oil and gas executive, to pay them off with one million naira ($3,175) over the course of a year in order to finish the construction. These men, known as the Omo Onile, which means "Sons of the Soil" in the local Yoruba language, roam Lagos looking for land owners and property developers to dupe and extort for money. "They milk you at every stage, and beat up your workers if you don't pay," said Egharevba, 28, who had to postpone his wedding due to the constant setbacks to the construction of his house. The menace of the Omo Onile, whose numbers have swelled in recent years amid rising unemployment in Nigeria, is discouraging investors, hindering businesses and holding back development in Lagos state, government officials say. Earlier this year, the governor of Lagos, Akinwunmi Ambode, vowed to crack down on those who extort landowners or take over their property, and set up a task force to tackle the problem. The state's assembly followed his lead, and on Aug. 15 the Lagos State Properties Protection Law was enacted. The law punishes land theft and a range of related offences with fines and a jail term of between five and 21 years. "These hoodlums were becoming embarrassing, and were frustrating companies," Akinjide Bakare, chairman of the Omo Onile task force, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone. "Lagos was losing investments to other states, and the government decided to step in and act," Bakare added. "SONS OF THE SOIL" Land disputes and theft have long been a contentious issue in Lagos, and across Nigeria, according to land rights experts. Dating back to the 1920s, most disputes within society and customary court cases have been about land, said a staff member at the National Archives of Nigeria, who asked to remain anonymous because he was not permitted to speak to the media. In 1978, Nigeria passed the Land Use Act, which nationalised all land, and was intended to override customary land rights - where people have traditional rights but no legal recognition or protection of their land. This aimed to make land more accessible, improve tenure security, and boost development. But the act made allocating land discretionary, fuelling state corruption, and contributed to Nigeria's large informal land market, academics and development experts say. "Some Omo Onile believe the land was originally theirs and so act as if government ownership does not count," said Matthew Ottah, a Lagos-based lawyer and also a victim of the Omo Onile. While there are no estimates of the number of Omo Onile, their ranks are believed to be growing as Nigeria's unemployment rate has reached a seven-year high - 12 percent - and Lagos state's population continues to grow past 20 million people. Across Lagos, the Omo Onile idle in their communities, often drinking and smoking, but always on the lookout for abandoned projects, land purchases and deals struck by construction firms. "There are no jobs from the government and vulcaniser (local rubber) work does not pay so this is better than stealing," said Jamiu Alao, a young man who scouts out potential victims for the Omo Omile in Ajah, an area still under development in Lagos. Some have set up small, bogus offices to bait prospective landowners, sometimes with illegible or misspelt signage and flyers, where they pose as genuine real estate developers. They issue fake certificates of occupancy, collect money from landlords overseeing renovations, and conspire with some local traditional leaders to fleece property developers. "Those who have money for land must settle with those who are keeping the land safe," Alao added. "The new people must show respect to the old people - the sons of the soil." BATTLE FAR FROM OVER When construction boss Kunle Adigun decided to take on the Omo Onile years ago, and press charges against the intruders, he arrived at his building site to find all his workers had quit. "Eventually, I had to pay up," the 32-year-old said. "It is no good arguing with them or bringing police into the matter, because even they want to get money from land deals." Previously, forcibly entering a person's land or seizing that land was punishable under the Lagos Criminal Law by two years in jail, yet it was rarely enforced, experts say. Frustrated by the impunity of the Omo Onile, lawyer Ottah, who has been supporting their victims for over a decade, set up a start-up for land verification, identifying "risky lands", detailing a history of land cases, and selling land. "For unsuspecting buyers, I recommend a trustworthy lawyer, a quantity surveyor ... and prayers," Ottah said with a smile. The new Properties Protection Law, which criminalises a range of offences from the illegal occupation of property and the use of land agents to selling property without authority, has been hailed by Lagos residents and activists alike. Yet the battle against the Omo Omile and land theft is far from over, according to Samuel Oloyede, a professor of estate management at Covenant University, just outside of Lagos. "There is no way to completely eliminate this issue - the land is vast and there are no official records in many cases." "The new law will minimise disputes because no one wants to go to jail. But it can not stop the problem completely because people will always find a way to cheat the system," he said. ($1 = 315.0000 naira) (Reporting By Eromo Egbejule, Writing by Kieran Guilbert, Editing by Jo Griffin.; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, corruption and climate change. Visit news.trust.org) General Dalbir Singh appreciated the professionalism with which the troops had been operating in full synergy with other security and civil agencies to keep the situation under control. By Ashraf Wani: Following his previous visit only a month ago, the Chief of Army Staff Gen Dalbir Singh was in the Valley again for review of the security situation on Tuesday. Accompanied by the Northern Army Commander Lt Gen DS Hooda and the Chinar Corps Commander Lt Gen Satish Dua, the Army Chief today visited LC formations and units in North Kashmir where he was briefed on the operational preparedness besides the recent successful counter-infiltration operations in which over ten terrorists have been eliminated over the past one month. Commending the alertness of all troops deployed along the LC in foiling the nefarious designs of inimical forces, Gen Dalbir stressed upon the need to continue high degree of vigil and operational focus. advertisement ARMY CHIEF VISITS VICTOR FORCE HEADQUARTERS The Chief also visited the Victor Force Headquarters at Awantipur where he was apprised of the latest situation in South Kashmir. He appreciated the professionalism with which the troops had been operating in full synergy with other security and civil agencies to keep the situation under control. He impressed upon everyone to uphold human rights and exercise maximum possible restraint while dealing with the protesting mobs. The General also directed to ensure measures to prevent armed militants who jeopardise the lives of innocent civilians from moving with impunity. GEN. LAUDS ARMY EFFORTS TO BRING BACK NORMALCY IN KASHMIR Later, the Army Chief also came to BB Cantt, Srinagar where he was briefed by the Northern Army and Chinar Corps Commanders on inter alia, the numerous initiatives undertaken by the Army all across the Valley to constructively engage with the Awaam towards their well being and an early return of normalcy. Lauding such humanitarian steps, Gen Dalbir reinforced the need to synergise efforts with all the other stakeholders. He also made an ernest appeal to the people to eschew violence and help restore peace and calm at the earliest. ALSO READ: Kashmir unrest: Clashes take a toll on education in the Valley --- ENDS --- ONITSHA, Nigeria (Reuters) - A Nigerian man is being charged for provoking people and "breach of peace" by naming his dog after President Muhammadu Buhari and painting the name twice on the pet, police said on Wednesday. "The man bought a dog, named it Buhari, wrote Buhari on both sides of the dog and paraded it" in front of people from the north, said Abimbola Oyeyemi, police spokesman in the southern Ogun state where the man lives. He was arrested after a citizen from the north reported him to police but released by a court on bail until his trial starts, the spokesman said, without naming the man. "His action is provocative and capable of breaching the peace, as you know the volatility of Nigeria now," said Oyeyemi. Nigeria is in the middle of its worst economic crisis in decades as a slump in oil prices boosts unemployment. Tensions sometimes erupt between northerners, who are Muslims, and people from the predominantly Christian south. Buhari is a Muslim from the north. (Reporting by Anamesere Igboeroteonwu, writing by Ulf Laessing) Norman Lear thinks his sitcom The Jeffersons is better than The Cosby Show, and he expounded on the reasons why in a recent interview with CNBC. "I like more what we did with The Jeffersons for the 'moving on up' African-Americans, than Mr. [Bill] Cosby did with The Cosby Show," the veteran TV producer said in a segment from CNBC's show Binge. "I preferred the way we handled things over the way he handled things, and I even think that now," Lear added with a chuckle. When asked what, specifically, he preferred about his own show, Lear responded, "We got the humor in life far more than I think he pontificated." Lear said he doesn't want to hit Cosby when he's "down," alluding to the many allegations of sexual assault recently leveled against the comedian, and that he thought The Cosby Show was "wonderful." "But I thought our show was wonderful plus," he added. Lear said he felt that actor Sherman Hemsley was a "gift from the gods" and called him "one of the great clowns of the last century." He also shared a story of receiving a visit from the Black Panthers, who asked Lear to depict African-American characters with more successful jobs than the ones his characters on Good Times had. Read more: Appeals Court Adds an Interesting Footnote to Bill Cosby Scandal (SEOUL, South Korea) North Korea on Wednesday fired a ballistic missile from a submarine into the sea in an apparent protest against the start of annual South Korea-U.S. military drills, Seouls military said. The missile fired from a submarine off the eastern coastal town of Sinpo flew about 500 kilometers (310 miles), the longest flight of a North Korean submarine-launched missile, Seouls Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. U.S. Strategic Command said it had tracked the North Korean submarine launch of the presumed KN-11 missile over and into the Sea of Japan. North Korea fired two other missiles from submarines earlier this year but they were believed to have exploded in midair after flying several or 30 kilometers (18 miles), according to South Korean defense officials. The Norths acquiring the ability to launch missiles from submarines would be an alarming development because missiles fired from submerged vessels are harder to detect in advance. The U.S. Strategic Command statement said the North Korean launch did not pose a threat to North America but that the U.S. military remains vigilant in the face of North Korean provocations. North Koreas missile and nuclear programs are a source of regional security concerns. Outside experts say the North doesnt yet have a reliable long-range nuclear missile capable of reaching the continental U.S. but they acknowledge the North has been making steady progress on its weapons programs and could one day acquire such a weapon. Some civilian experts said they believe the North already has the technology to put warheads on shorter-range missiles that can strike South Korea and Japan. Wednesdays launch comes two days after the U.S. and South Korea began their 12-day Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercises, prompting North Korean threats of retaliation. The South Korean military statement said it considers the North Korean missile launch as an armed protest against the military drills and a challenge to peace on the Korean Peninsula. It also noted that the launch violated U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban any ballistic missile activities by North Korea. Story continues The launch also comes at a time of intensified animosities between the rival Koreas over the defection of a senior North Korean diplomat in London and a U.S. plan to install a sophisticated missile defense system in South Korea. About 28,500 U.S. troops are based in South Korea to help deter potential aggression from North Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. North Korea usually responds to the regular South Korea-U.S. military drills with weapons tests and fiery warlike rhetoric. By Ju-min Park and Jack Kim SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea fired a submarine-launched missile on Wednesday that flew about 500 km (311 miles) towards Japan, a show of improving technological capability for the isolated country that has conducted a series of launches in defiance of UN sanctions. Having the ability to fire a missile from a submarine could help North Korea evade a new anti-missile system planned for South Korea and pose a threat even if nuclear-armed North Korea's land-based arsenal was destroyed, experts said. The ballistic missile was fired at around 5:30 a.m. (2030 GMT) from near the coastal city of Sinpo, where a submarine base is located, officials at South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Defence Ministry told Reuters. The projectile reached Japan's air defence identification zone (ADIZ) for the first time, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a briefing, referring to an area of control designated by countries to help maintain air security. The missile was fired at a high angle, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported, an indication that its full range would be 1,000 km (620 miles) at an ordinary trajectory. The distance indicated the North's push to develop a submarine-launched missile system was paying off, officials and experts said. North Korea's "SLBM (submarine-launched ballistic missile) technology appears to have progressed," a South Korean military official told Reuters. Jeffrey Lewis of the California-based Middlebury Institute of International Studies said the test appeared to be a success. "We don't know the full range, but 500 km is either full range or a full range on a lofted trajectory. Either way, that missile works." The launch came two days after rival South Korea and the United States began annual military exercises in the South that North Korea condemns as a preparation for invasion, and has threatened retaliation. Beijing is Pyongyang's main ally but has joined past U.N. Security Council resolutions against the North. It has been angered by what it views as provocative moves by the United States and South Korea, including their July decision to base the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defence) anti-missile system in South Korea. China opposes North Korea's nuclear and missile programme as well as any words or deeds that cause tension on the Korean peninsula, its foreign minister, Wang Yi, said on Wednesday at previously scheduled meeting with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts in Tokyo. South Korea's Foreign Ministry condemned the launch and warned of more sanctions and isolation for its rival that "will only speed up its self-destruction." "This poses a grave threat to Japan's security, and is an unforgivable act that damages regional peace and stability markedly," Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters, adding that Japan had lodged a stern protest. GROWING ISOLATION North Korea has become further isolated after a January nuclear test, its fourth, and the launch of a long-range rocket in February which brought tightened UN sanctions. It has launched numerous missiles of various types this year, including one this month that landed in or near Japanese-controlled waters. Joshua Pollack, editor of the U.S.-based Nonproliferation Review, said claiming to have mastered SLBM technology is as much about prestige as a military breakthrough, a status enjoyed only by six countries including the United States, Russia and China. "I think it's meant foremost as a demonstration of sheer technical capability and a demand for status and respect," Pollack said. South Korea believes the North has a fleet of more than 70 ageing, limited-range submarines - a mix of Chinese, Russian and locally made boats. Acquiring a fleet of submarines large and quiet enough and with a longer range would be a next step for the North, experts said. "They keep conducting nuclear tests and SLBMs together which means they are showing they can arm SLBMs with miniaturised nuclear warheads," said Moon Keun-sik, a retired South Korean navy officer and an expert in submarine warfare. North Korea said this year it had miniaturised a nuclear warhead to fit on a ballistic missile but outside experts have said there is yet to be firm evidence to back up the claim. Tensions on the Korean peninsula were exacerbated by the recent defection of North Korea's deputy ambassador in London to South Korea, an embarrassing setback to the regime of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. (Additional reporting by James Pearson and Yun Hwan Chae in Seoul, Phil Stewart and David Alexander in Washington, Ben Blanchard in Beijing and Kiyoshi Takenaka in Tokyo; Writing by Tony Munroe; Editing by Lincoln Feast) By Ju-min Park and Jack Kim SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile off its east coast early on Wednesday, South Korea's military said, the latest in a string of missile launches by the isolated country in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions. The missile was fired at around 5:30 a.m. (2030 GMT) from near the coastal city of Sinpo, where satellite imagery shows a submarine base to be located, and travelled about 500 kilometres (311 miles), officials at South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Defence Ministry told Reuters. The projectile landed in Japan's air defence identification zone (ADIZ), an area of control designated by countries to help maintain air security, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported. North Korea's "SLBM (submarine-launched ballistic missile) technology appears to have progressed," a South Korean military official told Reuters. The launch comes two days after rival South Korea and the United States began annual military exercises in the South that North Korea condemns as a preparation for invasion, and has threatened retaliation. South Korea's presidential office had said it planned to hold a national security council meeting at 7:30 a.m. Seoul time to discuss the missile test. North Korea has become further isolated after a January nuclear test, its fourth, and the launch of a long-range rocket in February which brought tightened UN sanctions. It has launched numerous missiles of various types this year, including one this month that landed in or near Japanese-controlled waters. Tensions on the Korean peninsula were exacerbated by the recent defection of North Korea's deputy ambassador in London to South Korea, an embarrassing setback to the regime of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The North's missile tests this year include a launch from a submarine last month that appeared to have failed, according to South Korea's military. The July launch came a day after South Korea and the United States announced plans for the South to host a sophisticated U.S. anti-missile system. (Additional reporting by Yun Hwan Chae; Writing by Tony Munroe; Editing by James Dalgleish and Lincoln Feast) north korea missile tests The defiant ballistic-missile tests from the Hermit Kingdom continue. On Wednesday at approximately 5:30 a.m. local time, North Korea fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) near the coastal city of Sinpo. US Strategic Command (STRATCOM) detected and tracked the presumed KN-11 missile over the Sea of Japan. "The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) determined the missile launch from North Korea did not pose a threat to North America," STRATCOM said in a statement. This is the first time a North Korean missile reached Japan's air defence identification zone (ADIZ), Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said during a briefing. nk launch According to Jeffrey Lewis of the California-based Middlebury Institute of International Studies and founder of Arms Control Wonk, the rogue nation's latest test appears to be a success. "We don't know the full range, but 500 km is either full range or a full range on a lofted trajectory. Either way, that missile works," Lewis told Reuters. The North first attempted a submarine-based missile launch last year and again at the end of April this year. A South Korean military official told Reuters that North Korea's "SLBM technology appears to have progressed." South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launch appears to be an apparent protest against the annual Ulchi Freedom Guardian military drill between Seoul and Washington. Earlier this month, Pyongyang simultaneously launched two "No Dong" intermediate-range ballistic missiles near the western city of Hwangju. norte According to STRATCOM, one of the missiles exploded immediately after launch, while the other was tracked over North Korea before ultimately landing in the Sea of Japan. Notably, that was the first time that the rogue nation had ever targeted Japan. Story continues Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe described the launch as a "grave threat" to Japan and said that Tokyo "strongly protested." Japan also said that its self-defense force would remain on alert in case of further defiant launches from the North. According to Oh Joon, South Korea's UN ambassador, North Korea has conducted 13 rounds of ballistic-missile tests and has fired 29 various rockets. Meanwhile, China, Pyongyang's closest ally, said that North Korean missile tests have expanded since the bilateral decision between Seoul and Washington to deploy THAAD. Mad about THAAD In July, the South Korean defense ministry announced that the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile-defense system would be deployed to Seongju in order to counter North Korean threats. Following that announcement, the Hermit Kingdom fired three ballistic missiles that had a range between 300 and 360 miles capable of reaching all of South Korea. As one of the most advanced missile-defense systems in the world, THAAD interceptors are able to identify and obliterate incoming enemy threats inside and outside of the atmosphere. In conjunction with the approximately 28,500 US forces in South Korea, Seoul plans to have the unique air-defense system operational by the end of 2017. Pressure to deploy THAAD was spurred after Pyongyang tested its fourth nuclear bomb on January 6 and then launched a long-range rocket on February 7. US Army Gen. Charles Jacoby, former commander of NORAD stressed the importance of deploying THAAD to protect the Korean Peninsula and US interests during a Hudson Institute discussion. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "The truth of the matter is THAAD was really the logical choice, and after intense debate and trying to assess what the complexities of the environment might hold ... we really can't get in a world where we refuse to defend ourselves," Jacoby said. "There is still US forces there, they are playing a defense role, and they are at risk every day to a host of threats that now include the potential for ballistic-missile-carried weapons of mass destruction ... We cannot not act," Jacoby added. Similarly, during a discussion at the Brookings Institution, CIA Director John Brennan said that the deployment of THAAD to the region was an "obligation" on behalf of the US. "We have certain obligations to our partners and the region so that the appropriate steps are taken to reassure our friends, partners, and allies of US commitment to the security of that area," Brennan told Business Insider. NOW WATCH: Meet THAAD: Americas answer to North Korean threats More From Business Insider The incident happened on Wednesday afternoon when 18 persons belonging to Kalen village under Obra assembly constituency were returning to their village. By Rohit Kumar Singh: At least 9 persons were feared dead after a boat in which they were returning to their village capsized in Punpun river in Aurangabad district of Bihar. Some of the people on the boat were coming back home after purchasing basic items of necessity from nearby Khundwa market on the other side of the river when the boat capsized in swollen Punpun river. The incident happened on Wednesday afternoon when 18 persons belonging to Kalen village under Obra assembly constituency were aboard a boat and returning to their village. There were few school children also on the boat who were returning home after school. advertisement SDRF TEAMS RUSHED In the last few days the rivers in Bihar are flowing in its full fury with water level in rivers like Ganga, Sone and Punpun wreacking havoc in at least 12 district of Bihar which are flood hit. As the information regarding boat capsizing in Punpun river reached district headquarters, SDRF teams were rushed in for rescuing the persons. As the rescue operation began, the SDRF team managed to save 9 person. The rescue team also managed to fish out a body of a woman. Remaining 8 persons are still missing and feared to have met a watery grave. The persons who were rescued said that the boat in which they were returning was about to crash against a thorny tree. In order to save themselves, people on the boat came on one side of the boat leading it to overturn. RESCUE OPERATION ON "Rescue operation is going on. We have managed to save 9 persons and searches are going on to find remaining persons who are missing", said Kanwal Tanuj, DM Aurangabad. Search operation which was suspended after sunset on Tuesday has again resumed on Wednesday morning. However, chances of remaining people surviving apoeara bleak. At least 20 lives have been lost in Bihar floods till date and flood situation doesn't seem to be improving as water level in the river are flowing above danger level. More than 22 lakh people have been displaced in these floods. ALSO READ: Oops! When Ram Kripal Yadav's boat got stuck in Ganga during Bihar flood inspection --- ENDS --- By Ayesha Rascoe WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Wednesday designated 87,500 acres in Maine's North Woods as a national monument, as the administration prepares to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. The new monument includes mountains, forests, and the East Branch of the Penobscot River and will serve as a protected area. The White House said the designation was completed in honor of the centennial anniversary of the Park Service, which will be officially observed on Thursday. "The President is quite proud that this piece of beautiful land in the United States will be protected for generations to come," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said at a press briefing. The monument was donated to the federal government by conservation philanthropist Roxanne Quimby's foundation. Quimby co-founded natural care product company Burt's Bees. Obama has protected more than 265 million acres of public lands and waters during his time in office, more than any other president in history. But, Republican lawmakers have criticized his use of executive authority to set aside land as national monuments. They argue he has circumvented Congress and local groups, who should have more say in the process. Rob Bishop, the Republican chairman of the House natural resources committee, blasted the establishment of the Maine monument. "The only votes taken on this proposal, at the local and state level, have demonstrated opposition from Mainers," Bishop said in a statement. "If the president cared about local voices and improving our National Park system, he would have done this through the public process and not behind closed doors." Critics of the monument argue the designation could open the door to more federal restrictions on use of the land and eventually threaten neighboring logging operations. The White House defended the decision to protect the area in Maine. "The administration worked very closely with the officials in Maine, both to reach this determination and to make sure that the concerns that were raised by Mainers in the area were addressed," Earnest said. (Reporting by Ayesha Rascoe; Editing by Andrew Hay) President Barack Obama deflected recent political criticism in flood-ravaged Louisiana on Tuesday, instead praising officials for their response to the disaster and calling on private citizens to help. Obama said federal assistance to Louisiana flood recovery has already reached $127 million and more than 100,000 people have already applied for federal disaster aid. The flooding, which the American Red Cross said is the worst U.S. natural disaster since Superstorm Sandy in 2012, has killed 13 people and displaced tens of thousands. "You're not alone on this even after the TV cameras leave. The whole country is going to support you," Obama said from the flood-ravaged state. The Obama administration declared a federal disaster more than a week ago, and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate and Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson have visited the state. Obama praised FEMA and state and local officials for their response, and said his priority is long-term help for people whose families or businesses were displaced by the flooding. The $127 million distributed by the government includes "temporary rental assistance, essential home repairs and flood insurance payments," Obama added. For comparison, FEMA had given more than $11 billion to state, local and tribal governments for Sandy aid as of last fall. The Red Cross said Monday that donations have come nowhere close to covering its costs in Louisiana. It has received about $7.8 million in donations and pledges, but estimates costs of about $30 million, it said in a statement. Obama drew some criticism for not appearing in Louisiana until now, as he was on vacation in Martha's Vineyard. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump , who went to the state last week, has repeatedly bashed Obama for his delay in traveling there. "One of the benefits of being five months short of leaving here is I don't worry too much about politics," Obama said about his dwindling time in office. Obama said nobody affected by the floods "gives a hoot if you're a Democrat or a Republican." Washington (AFP) - President Barack Obama marked the 25th anniversary of Ukrainian independence from the Soviet Union Wednesday, voicing solidarity as the country struggles with the Russian annexation of territory. "We have been reminded in recent years, Ukraine's path has not always been easy," Obama said in a written statement. In 2014, Moscow seized Ukraine's Crimea region. A month later pro-Russian militias began seizing territory in the east of the country. More than 9,500 people have died, two million have been forced from their homes in the fighting and Ukraine's economy badly hit. "Today, we reaffirm that the United States will continue to stand with the Ukrainian people as they protect their sovereignty and territorial integrity," Obama said. Unlike his two immediate predecessors, Obama has not to visited Ukraine as president. The White House has been frustrated by Kiev's inability to stamp out corruption and form a stable government. Obama pointedly noted that the United States would also stand with Ukrainians as they "deepen their commitment to democracy, anti-corruption, and respect for human rights." The Middle East remains the most dangerous, most complicated, and perhaps most controversial element in the Obama administrations conduct of world affairs. In an interview with Foreign Policy contributor Aaron David Miller, Robert Malley, special assistant to the president and coordinator for the Middle East on the National Security Council staff, discussed President Barack Obamas Middle East policies in depth. It is not only a polished, sober assessment of the actions and interests of the Obama administration, its a surprising one, too its rare that a White House insider and counsel to the president gives us such insight into how off-base much of Obamas approach to the region is. As ambassador to Turkey and Iraq during the Obama administrations first term, I had a front row seat as much of that approach developed. To be fair, I have few quibbles with Malleys rendition of Obamas actions. His account of the Syrian chemical weapons denouement gives more credit to the administrations decisiveness and less to pure chance Putin compromising to thwart U.S. military action that Obama had essentially ruled out than the public record justifies. Malley is basically right, however, in his assessment of the Iran nuclear deal, and the role of tough multilateral diplomacy and threat of force in achieving a breakthrough. But a list of American actions does not alone make a coherent mosaic. What gives context are the objectives that underlie activity. Malley, in the two he stresses, and the one he basically ignores, reveals why as Miller noted many believe the Middle East is going to look a lot worse when Barack Obama leaves office than when he arrived. For Malley, the core administration objectives are 1) avoiding attacks, particularly terrorist, on Americans (the presidents priority must be to defend Americas security) and, 2) avoiding disastrous military adventures (costly, open-ended conflicts; getting bogged down in military adventures; and avoiding the myth that military victory invariably translates into lasting political success). The problem is that these objectives do not add up to a coherent policy at best, they are things to be careful about when doing foreign policy. But Malley insists these are the standards by which to measure the administration. He has half a point with the first. Since Sept. 11, 2001, the American people have been fixated on avoiding any terrorist attack on U.S. soil. In fact, a recent poll found that 42 percent of Americans say they are less safe from terrorism than before 9/11. But that persistent fear can lead us to ignore what was long thought vital: that if America does not deal with the broader threats to peace that so devastated Europe and Asia in the past century, it places its own security at existential risk. To emphasize the importance of avoiding unsuccessful military operations his second core objective Malley inflates the dangers. His target, as often with this administration, is the last administration: nor should one forget that when Obama took office, the United States had roughly 150,000 troops in Iraq, an unsustainable allocation of human and material resources that was harming our global security posture. Iran also was steadily advancing its nuclear program, presenting the threat of a dangerous military confrontation. We forget this, of course, because it didnt actually happen as Malley describes: Obama became president not in 2003, but 2009. By then, almost all fighting had ceased in Iraq, President George W. Bush had begun withdrawing forces and had committed to pull out all troops before 2012. Likewise, Bush had opted not to confront Iran militarily over nuclear programs, begun the P5+1 negotiations with Tehran, mobilized the international community with four Security Council resolutions, and negotiated with the Iranians in Baghdad to avoid tensions over Iraq. Even more troubling is Malleys lack of emphasis on the classic U.S. foreign policy objective since the 1940s: the maintenance of a global security order based on liberal values, international law, and trade and finance all enabled by collective security centered on Americas readiness to defend these goals; not only against ideological rivals but also regional hegemons seeking to subjugate neighbors and carve out no-go zones against us. Malley touches on this objective in describing the Obama administrations balancing act, but does not dwell on what seemingly should be a central objective. Thats understandable, perhaps, as the administration put little emphasis on its role in maintaining global order in the Middle East. Initially Obamas White House team did not have to prioritize these issues, as the focus was apart from Irans nukes nonstate actors and the Arab Spring. But recently weve witnessed serious challenges to that order: the rise of the Islamic State; the Bashar al-Assad regimes slaughter of its population and subsequent fallout; the refugee tidal wave across the Middle East and into Europe; Irans infiltration of four Arab states; and Russias military return. None of these threats apart from the Islamic State, and then only recently has generated a robust American response: Washington was inactive (against the Islamic State, initially, and in countering Russias moves), responded inadequately (in supporting the moderate Syrian opposition), or acted contradictorily and weakly (with Iran in regard to missile tests, downplaying the seizure of U.S. sailors, a curious $400 million payment, and so on.) All of this, Miller notes, is alarming Americas partners. In response, Malley makes the point that Washingtons partners are aware that the United States is supportive of them, but he also is in turn defensive and admonishing: America sells our friends lots of weapons and uses military force. Those opposing Americas Iran policies cant overcome their conventional wisdom. Dont assume the United States will support allies if their actions work against American interests, say in fomenting a Sunni-Shia confrontation. But perceptions in the region are quite different from Malleys presentation. In fact, no-risk, no-casualty American aerial campaigns against terrorists convince no one that Uncle Sam will be there when things get rough. Ducking military challenges that carry risks is what our partners see. The administration may want to dismiss those unhappy with Washingtons Iran policy as hopeless opponents of a reasonable (and here I agree with Malley) nuclear deal. But aside from Israels Benjamin Netanyahu, nobody in the region opposes that agreement explicitly. Rather, understanding that this agreement will give Iran financial and diplomatic benefits useful for its hegemonic agenda, they expected America to understand these concerns and many thought they got Washingtons commitment to do just that at two summits with the president. But instead of reassurance, they get warnings about unleashing a Sunni-Shiite confrontation. One explanation for Obamas failure to respond effectively to threats to the regional order by Iran, the Islamic State, and now the Russians is the administrations obsession with Malleys two objectives, especially avoiding military missteps. Running a deterrence policy always risks military setbacks. But if minimizing risk is job one, deterrence necessarily gets short shrift. Even worse might come. Malleys emphasis on testing the Russians, his assumptions that Putin could bog down in Syria where Assad cant win, his hope for a better relationship with Iran, and his disparaging tone toward partners together suggest that perhaps the administration does have a Middle East grand strategy, albeit one not vetted publicly: to share (the presidents word, not Malleys) the region with those anti-status quo forces now helping turn it into a nightmare. In this regard, Malleys most worrisome words refer to the end of Obamas time in the White House: six months is a long time there is still so much to be done. Photo credit: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images Its going to be a lot easier for people to pick an Obamacare plan in 2017, if only because there will be fewer to choose from. One of the biggest drivers of increased healthcare costs is the lack of competition in some markets. This problem is acutely present for the Affordable Care Acts public insurance exchanges, according to a new study by Avalere Health. According to the healthcare consulting firm, the high-profile exits of large insurers such as Aetna, United Healthcare, and Humana have eliminated a significant amount of competition within the exchange market. Nearly 36 percent of exchange market rating regions may have only one participating insurance carrier offering plans for the 2017 plan year and there may be some sub-region counties where no plans are available, Avalere President Dan Mendelson wrote in a post on the study. Nearly 55 percent of exchange market rating regions may have two or fewer carriers. (Avalere Health) Avalere went through each of the coverage regions (the size of which can vary by state) and analyzed the current offerings by health insurers in 2016 and the so-far announced offerings for 2017. The firm found that there are seven states Alaska, Alabama, Kansas, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Wyoming in which every coverage region has only one participating insurer. This essentially gives the insurer a monopoly and forces patients in that region to accept the premium that company offers. Competition in the health insurance market has been a focus of government regulators for some time. One of the main reasons cited by the Department of Justice for blocking the mergers of Anthem and Cigna as well as Aetna and Humana was concern about decreased competition. This analysis only takes into account the announced moves from the three companies that plan to roll back their offerings, so there is a chance some insurers may step into the underserved markets. As it stands now, however, it appears one of the largest drivers of high healthcare costs for the Affordable Care Acts public exchanges is only getting worse. Story continues NOW WATCH: Heres what Rios uninhabitable Olympic Village looks like More From Business Insider Pattani (Thailand) (AFP) - A car bomb exploded in a nightlife district in Thailand's deep south, killing one and wounding more than 30, in a nation already on edge after a bombing spree that targeted tourist towns. The latest blast struck late Tuesday outside a hotel in Pattani, one of three Muslim-majority southern provinces battered by a long-running and shadowy rebellion against the Buddhist-majority state. "So far there is one killed and more than 30 injured," Major General Thanongsak Wangsupa, Pattani provincial police commander, told AFP Wednesday. "The hotel building was considerably damaged." Pictures showed fires burning on the road outside the hotel's shattered facade, with police picking through the rubble. Nearby a car was destroyed, with karaoke bars, massage parlours and restaurants also damaged. Pattani is not popular with tourists, but analysts said the militants were sending a message after coordinated bomb and arson attacks struck multiple resort towns on August 11-12, leaving four dead and 37 injured including Europeans. Those attacks heightened concerns Thailand's southern insurgency may have spread north after years of stalled peace talks -- a theory the country's junta has downplayed given the importance of tourism to the economy. The entertainment district hit by the car bomb is one of only a handful in the restive south, offering bars, a disco and prostitution, said Don Pathan, a security analyst based in the region. "It's the type of place that society around here frowns upon," he said. The southern rebels focus most of their attacks on security officers and symbols of the state, but they do occasionally strike nightlife venues. "The campaign against social evil is not very high on the agenda of the insurgents here. Their strategy right now is to make the area as ungovernable as possible," Pathan told AFP. Speaking to reporters after the Pattani hotel blast, Thailand's deputy junta leader Prawit Wongsuwan again dismissed any link between the tourist town attacks earlier this month and the southern insurgency. Story continues He also said any negotiations with the rebels would be shelved until violence subsides. "All violence must first stop before we can set the terms of reference for talks. They need to show their sincerity," he said. The 90-kilogramme bomb was hidden inside a stolen hospital vehicle and detonated shortly after a smaller explosive at a nearby bar. The first blast did not cause any injuries. "The car was parked in front of the hotel lobby for a few minutes after first bomb went off and people were not suspicious because it was a hospital vehicle," said Colonel Pramote Prom-in, a southern army spokesman. The so-called "double tap" tactic is often adopted by the southern insurgents and was used in many of the recent attacks on tourist sites further north. A staff member at Pattani's local hospital said 32 people were injured, five of them critically. All are Thai nationals, the worker added, asking not to be named. - Violent history - Zachary Abuza, an expert on Southeast Asian militant groups, said car bombs are a standard insurgent tactic but Tuesday night's blast was the largest he had seen in recent months. "They're clearly trying to send a signal that with the post-Mothers' Day bombing spree they are able to hit major urban areas," he told AFP, referring to the recent attacks on tourist sites that he believes were the work of the insurgents. Most embassies warn nationals against all travel to Pattani because of the long-running rebellion. Thailand annexed the culturally distinct zone bordering Malaysia over a century ago. Near-daily shootings and roadside bombs have left more than 6,500 dead since 2004, most of them civilians. But the violence has largely remained local and rarely makes international headlines. The rebels never claim their attacks but factions are known to be frustrated with their lack of progress after more than a decade of fighting. The region is awash with state troops who rights groups accuse of widespread abuses, including torturing detainees and extrajudicial killings. After months of relative calm that saw violence dip to a record low last year, there has been a palpable increase in attacks over the past few months, particularly around a recent referendum on a new charter penned by the junta that seized power in 2014. The charter, which critics say will make Thailand less democratic, was approved by a majority of voters but rejected in the three insurgency-wracked provinces. For two years, the film Academy has been hit with fiery criticism over its all-white Oscar acting nominees. So when Nate Parker's The Birth of a Nation premiered to cheers at the Sundance Film Festival in January and sold for a record $17.5 million to Fox Searchlight, it looked like a savior Academy voters could embrace, in part to rectify past wrongs. Birth of a Nation seemingly had everything going for it. The film could claim historical importance - it tells the story of the slave rebellion led by Nat Turner in 1831. It had the imprimatur of the Sundance Institute, where it had been developed. Parker himself had the kind of personal story that often resonates with Oscar voters, since he'd temporarily set aside a promising acting career to pursue his passion project, which marks his directorial debut. And, in the months since its debut, as the Black Lives Matter movement has gained momentum, Birth, rather than just revisiting the past, looked as if it could become an important part of the national conversation about how black men are treated in America. But now the film is seen as tainted after details resurfaced from a 2001 rape trial in which Parker, now 36, was acquitted but accused of reprehensible acts (his friend Jean Celestin, who shares a story credit on Birth, was found guilty, but the conviction was overturned), and it was revealed Aug. 16 that Parker's alleged victim killed herself in 2012. "Personally, I find it really hard to separate the man from the film when he wrote, directed and starred in it," says Marcia Nasatir, an Academy member in the executives branch. "Do I want to see a movie from someone who has committed an assault against a woman and who I do not think recognizes his guilt? Right now, based on what I've read, I would not go to the movie." Birth, with Parker (right) and co-star Armie Hammer, still is set for a Toronto screening. The question is whether other Academy members will respond similarly. Among those surveyed, few had previously known of Parker and most are first learning about him via the media coverage of the resurfaced rape claims. Most have not yet seen the film, which has screened only at select festivals and private tastemaker events since Sundance. Story continues Fox Searchlight maintains it is charging ahead with an Oct. 7 wide release plan and a rollout that will include a high-profile screening at the Toronto Film Festival and a "road show" with Parker visiting college campuses. A planned screening and Q&A with Parker on Friday at the American Film Institute was canceled late Tuesday, and others could follow. The backlash means rival campaigns for films dealing with black subject matter likely will press their cases even harder. And unlike past seasons, this year there are a half-dozen films that, at least on paper, deserve serious consideration. Most prominent among them are Loving (Nov. 4), writer-director Jeff Nichols' look at the landmark 1967 Supreme Court case Loving v. Virginia, which struck down laws prohibiting interracial marriage; Denzel Washington's Fences (Dec. 25), his adaptation of August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play about a black family in 1950s Pittsburgh; and Theodore Melfi's Hidden Figures (Jan. 13, following an Oscar-qualifying run), starring Taraji P. Henson and Octavia Spencer as real-life math whizzes who worked for NASA during the 1960s. Other contenders: Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o stars as the mother of a young Ugandan chess phenom in Mira Nair's Queen of Katwe (Sept. 23); Barry Jenkins' Moonlight (Oct. 21), about a young man coming to terms with his sexuality; Southside With You (Aug. 26), in which Tika Sumpter and Parker Sawyers play Michelle and Barack Obama on their first date; and Will Smith, who plays a man trying to rebuild his life in December's Collateral Beauty. Spike Lee hosted a Birth screening with Parker in Martha's Vineyard in early August. Read more: 'Hunting Ground' Producer on Nate Parker and the Past: The Cost of Giving Up the Ghost (Guest Column) In an effort to avoid another #OscarsSoWhite flap, Academy PR consultants and the awards media likely will shine a spotlight on such movies, but the campaigns also risk pitting "black" films against one another. Even before Parker's rape case re-emerged, strategists quietly were laying the groundwork to position their movies as more palatable alternatives to the violent, R-rated Birth. Despite the welcome crop of black movies that will jostle for attention, there's a question whether each will be judged on its own merits. The risk is that because of all the focus on race, the films will be forced to contend with an unspoken quota system, with each competing to fill a limited number of slots. "I'm already prepared for the backlash of any film that centers on marginalized communities being thought of as an affirmative action or a quota pic," says April Reign, the activist who coined #OscarsSoWhite. In an ideal world, each of these films would be judged separately from one another and their backstories. Mitchell Block, an Oscar voter in the documentary branch, who serves on an Academy committee with Parker, says, "I understand it's an extraordinary movie and I'm looking forward to seeing it. The court found Parker not guilty, and they set aside the Celestin conviction, but that's almost beside the point. I think you have to separate the work from the person. Hollywood continues to embrace the work of Woody Allen and Roman Polanski." Parker won the grand jury and audience awards at Sundance in January and was honored Aug. 11 by the Sundance Institute. But that's not always the way the awards game is played. Voters also pass judgment on filmmakers, whose personal stories become part of the awards calculus as voters decide whom to reward and whom to spurn. And because there will be no separating Parker from Birth of a Nation, no matter what strategy Searchlight ultimately employs, the film now has to be considered very problematic. Says Nasatir: "This is going to set off a thing in this town the likes of which we've never seen." *** Will You Give Birth a Chance? Two longtime Oscar voters offer opposing views on a tainted contender "He wasn't found guilty, and even if he was, we're not voting for the man - we're voting for his film. I've never met a Hollywood star who hasn't had some sensational thing said about him - and many of them won Academy Awards. In Hollywood, people love to see other people fail, but we should judge films on their merits. From what I hear, the picture's really good. I think it's a shame people have to bring things like this up to try to hurt it." - Tab Hunter (Damn Yankees), actors branch "I've been following the case. I read the transcripts and the comments of the girl who died. When I was having my hair done last week, even my hairdresser was livid. Other people haven't heard about it yet, but it's going to unfold in a very big way. They need a Ray Donovan guy in there to fix this because there's so much money invested in this movie. I will probably see it because I try to see everything. But I have to admit, I'm going to go in with a very biased attitude toward this guy because I think what he and the co-writer did to this girl was terrible - especially how they harassed her after she reported their behavior. They got off, but they are not innocent. Parker stands behind his wife and his five daughters, but that doesn't wash with me. The only thing that would make this better for me would be for him to say, 'I'm gonna serve my six months in jail.' Otherwise, it will be very hard for me to vote for this movie. What is the life of a woman worth?" - Rutanya Alda (Mommie Dearest), actors branch A version of this story first appeared in the Sept. 9 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe. Read more: Al Sharpton Backs Nate Parker, Takes Aim at Hollywood and Right-Wing Media By PTI: From Anisur Rahman Dhaka, Aug 24 (PTI) Six Islamist militants responsible for a series of deadly attacks in Bangladesh, including one behind the brutal killing of a secular publisher last year, have been arrested, police said today. Police said Moinul Islam Shamim, the prime suspect in the murder of publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan, has been arrested. advertisement Shamim has been described as key organiser of Ansar Al Islam, also known as Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) which has presumed ideological links to al-Qaeda. "We arrested him (Shamim) last night from Tongi area (on the outskirts of the capital)," the spokesman said, adding Shamim was the trainer of the assailants of Dipan, who was stabbed dead inside his office at Dhakas Shahbagh area on October 31 last year, the day when suspected ABT activists also attacked another publisher leaving him critically wounded. Rahman said during initial interrogations, Shamim said fugitive key-ABT leader Ziaul Haque was also involved in Dipans murder while the banned outfit had targeted him for publishing books of slain Bangladeshi-born US blogger and science writer Avijit Roy. "But we suspect him (Shamim) to be involved also in the murder of a university student in January this year," the spokesman said. Roy was hacked to death on the campus of premier Dhaka University on February 26 last year, when he was coming out of an annual book fair while the assailants also attacked his wife, who narrowly survived. The five others were arrested in overnight raids from different areas of the capital by the elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), which described them as operatives of Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), the outfit is said to be inclined to the ideology of the Islamic State militant group. ABT is blamed for a series of attacks on individuals, including secular writers and activists, followers of minority religious faiths while independent security analysts believe they are inclined to al-Qaeda. PTI AR/KJ UZM --- ENDS --- PARIS (Reuters) - More than 14,000 pregnant women in France took Sanofi's anti-epilepsy drug Depakine between 2007 and 2014 even though the risk of fetus malformation was known, according to a study released by France on Wednesday. Health Minister Marisol Touraine said in a statement that a second part of the study, yet to be released, would focus on the impact on children whose mothers took the drug. Its active ingredient is sodium valproate and it has been sold under different brand names. It can increase the risk of autism, arrested development and deformation of facial features. Touraine said parliament would vote on a compensation mechanism for victims by the end of this year. Parents of victims say Sanofi and the French state have been too slow in warning about the side effects of the drug. Victims association APESAC estimates that Depakine could have affected more than 50,000 people since it was first sold in 1967. "It is a sanitary scandal at the Sanofi laboratories with state complicity," APESAC President Marine Martin told Reuters. Sanofi said in a statement it would study the results of the report but it had had no access to the information so far. It said between 2007 and 2014 the information for doctors and patients indicated that the drug was not suitable for pregnant women because of the risk of malformation of the fetus and slower neurological development. Touraine said a pictogram would be added to the drug's packaging within the next six months to warn clearly about the danger to pregnant women. In a report published in February, French social affairs inspection agency IGAS criticized the slow response of French health authorities and Sanofi with regard to the risks related to Depakine and its derivatives. IGAS estimates that between 2006 and 2014 some 425 to 450 babies suffered congenital birth defects or were still born following exposure to the drug. It said the drug has been on the market since 1967 and the risk of fetus malformation was established in the early 1980s. Despite those risks, the drug continued to be prescribed because of its effectiveness against epileptic seizures and bipolar disorder. In October, the Paris prosecutor launched a preliminary investigation into the authorization and marketing of the drug. (Reporting by Marine Pennetier and Geert De Clercq; editing by David Clarke) Schoolgirls in Pakistan will be given poultry to care for in an initiative partly aimed at teaching them about the kitchen, officials said, raising the eyebrows of women's activists in the deeply patriarchal country. Punjab officials said the government in Pakistan's wealthiest province will initially be providing girls in 1,000 primary schools with four hens, one cock, and a cage. Naseem Sadiq, head of the Punjab government's livestock department, told AFP the aim was to promote poultry and educate about nutrition, citing World Bank figures showing Pakistan ranks among the top countries in the world for protein deficiency. He also said the programme would "train these small girls about kitchen waste" as they feed their charges leftover food from lunch. "We preferred girls' schools for this project to boys because girls, mostly, have to deal with the kitchen and they are more responsible and caring than boys," Sadiq said. Women in conservative Pakistan have fought for their rights for decades, in a country where so-called "honour killings" and other violence against women remains commonplace. Women's rights activist Farzana Bari criticised the project this week for reinforcing stereotypes by telling girls their role is "limited to the kitchen only". "It would be very good if the government focused on boys' schools more to create ... responsibility and equality," she told AFP. "The government should give (women) new confidence, not make them a typical woman by putting in their minds that they are for the kitchen only. "By starting such projects in boys' schools they would also learn about what to do in a kitchen and helping women," she said. The programme is due to begin next month, Sadiq said. The Pakistani port megacity of Karachi Wednesday elected as mayor a politician who is currently in jail on sedition and terrorism charges, a day after the leader of his party was charged with treason. Waseem Akhtar, a former minister and parliamentarian of the influential Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), won the mayoral poll by a landslide with 196 of the total 294 votes cast by the city's municipal authorities. Akhtar was arrested in July and accused of ordering a crackdown on city riots in 2007, when he was serving as provincial home minister, that resulted in a bloody massacre. Later he was also booked on sedition and terrorism charges. The MQM has long dominated Karachis politics, largely thanks to the support of Mohajirs, a group of well-off Muslims who migrated from India in the 1940s. The movement has a stranglehold on the council of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, which elected Akhtar, the MQM's chosen candidate, from among its members. "I have been languishing in jail for the past month on false charges, but the people have voted for me," Akhtar told media outside the historic Karachi Metropolitan Corporation building before being escorted by police to a prison van. He vowed to seek his freedom in court -- but said if he is denied, he will "solve the public's problems from jail". - Highly influential figure - Akhtar was elected after a turbulent two days in Karachi politics that centred on his party's exiled leader, Altaf Hussain. MQM activists clashed with police and ransacked a private television station in the southern city Monday, leaving at least one man dead and seven injured, after Hussain gave a telephone address to supporters from London in which he castigated the media for their coverage. Security forces arrested some of his party leaders and shut down their headquarters before charging Hussain with treason and inciting terrorism Tuesday. His own second-in-command, Farooq Sattar, disowned him at a press conference later that day, accusing him of repeatedly embarrassing the party and vowing the MQM should be run from Pakistan. Story continues Akhtar appeared to be trying to distance himself from the furore Wednesday. "I am not the mayor of MQM. I am the mayor of Karachi," he said. The MQM, run by Hussain from London, has long been blamed for ethnic violence in Karachi, and accused of using extortion and murder to cement its grip on power. It has clashed repeatedly with authorities who, according to rights groups, have resorted to hundreds of extra-judicial killings during a "clean-up" operation that began in 2013 in a city already plagued by violence. Last year Pakistani police registered a case under terrorism laws against Hussain over a speech criticising the country's powerful military establishment. Previous charges have not resulted in action or extradition requests against Hussain, who has lived in London since fleeing a military operation against his party in 1992 and is a British citizen. Hussain remains a highly influential figure in Karachi, Pakistan's economic centre and main port, though observers believe his grip on power is gradually diminishing in his absence and his party is no longer the force it once was. Jerusalem (AFP) - A Palestinian stabbed an Israeli soldier in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday and was shot dead, the army said. An army statement said Israeli forces had been chasing a group of alleged rock throwers who were in a car. "One of the assailants exited the vehicle and stabbed a soldier," it said. "Responding, the soldier fired towards the perpetrator, resulting in his death." The soldier was taken to hospital for treatment, the statement said, without giving details on his condition. The attack took place close to the Israeli settlement of Ariel, near the Palestinian city of Nablus in the northern West Bank. A wave of violence since October has killed 221 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, an Eritrean and a Sudanese, according to an AFP tally. Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, Israeli authorities say, with the majority of them from the West Bank. Paul Rudd was almost fighting for the OTHER team during Captain America: Civil War Paul Rudd was almost fighting for the OTHER team during Captain America: Civil War Earlier this year, we were asked to pick a side: Team Captain America, or Team Iron Man? It was all in good fun, and all in good promotion leading up to Captain America: Civil War, a movie that pitted Avenger against Avenger as they fought for their rights to save the worldhowever they want to save the world. Captain America, aka Steve Rogers, didnt want any ~accords~ imposed on his team and his methods, while Iron Man, aka Tony Stark, was all for rules and regulations. In the end, while neither side truly came to an agreement, Steve and Tony agreed to let bygones be bygones, and realized theres more important things out there than fighting over who gets to save the world and HOW. But before that ever happened, the two had a pretty epic fight that saw them joined by many characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe we know and love. Like, a one Scott Lange, aka Ant-Man, aka Paul Rudd, aka Forever Dreamboat. 200 Though his role in Civil War was small (WORDPLAY), Ant-Man joined forces with Team Cap in hopes of stopping the regulations put on the Avengers. And since theres no such thing as actual small parts when it comes to Avengers movies, Ant-Man actually became Giant Man, and it was one of the best moments of the movie. ant man Now, as weve just learned, this whole thing was almost entirely different. Once upon a time, Ant-Man really teamed up withIron Man. Andy Parker, an artist with Marvel, just revealed that at one point, Ant-Man was actually set to fight Captain America, and were so happy we never actually saw this battle happen. It does kinda make sense that at one point, Ant-Man was Team Iron Man. Like we saw during Ant-Man, Scott loves his daughter SO MUCH, and will do anything for her, and probably felt a strong pull to stick to the right side of the law. But instead, he went rogue, joined up with Cap, became Giant Man, was outwitted by Spider-Man, was captured, was sent to S.H.I.E.L.D. jail, and eventually freed by Cap. All in a days work, right? The post Paul Rudd was almost fighting for the OTHER team during Captain America: Civil War appeared first on HelloGiggles. Washington (AFP) - A US-led coalition air strike on an Islamic State weapons factory near the jihadists' Syria stronghold Raqa may have killed civilians, the Pentagon said Wednesday. "Reports indicate that what appeared to be a non-military vehicle drove into the target area after the weapon was released from the aircraft," the US military's Central Command said. "The vehicle's occupants may have perished as a result of the strike." CENTCOM said it had referred the August 23 strike for an initial internal investigation. It did not provide additional details. "Every report of civilian casualties, from either internal or external sources, is scrutinized regarding possible casualties and collateral damage," the statement said. It is not uncommon for civilians to move into the blast radius of a bomb after it has been released by a drone or a plane pilot, because it can take as long as 45 seconds for the missile to hone in on a target. Drone operators are sometimes able to change a missile's trajectory in the last seconds before impact, sending the weapon crashing into a field or deserted area. In total, the US military has acknowledged killing 55 civilians since launching a coalition air war against the IS group in Syria and Iraq two years ago, though critics say that is a dramatic underestimate. [Photo: Pexels] At the scene of a physical crime, tiny bits of forensic evidence are often left behind, such as hair, soil or blood, that can help to crack the case. And now, according to a group of London scientists, perfume traces could be added to that list. They not only discovered that a fragrances chemical components can easily transfer from one persons clothing to another, but that it can stick there for days. Its this attribute which means that perfume could also be used as trace evidence along with these other materials. Scientists wrote in the journal Science and Justice that analysing fragrances could be particularly useful in cases where a crime has involved close physical contact, such as a sexual assault. [Photo: Pexels] We thought there was a lot of potential with perfume because a lot of people use it, lead researcher Simona Gherghel from University College London told Stylist. We know about 90% of women and 60% of men use perfume on a regular basis. She explained that while lots of studies have focused on materials such as fibres or gunshot residue, this is the first bit of research into perfumes. [Photo: Giphy] Weve shown that first, perfume does transfer, and second, we can identify when that transfer has happened, said director of the UCL Centre for the Forensic Sciences Dr Ruth Morgan. In the future there could well be situations where contact between two individuals is made and this is a way of discerning what kind of contact is made and when it was made. Do you think studying perfume could help solve physical crimes? Tweet us at @YahooStyleUK. MPs Call For Beauty Companies To Ban Microbeads Scientists Have Now Developed Edible Cling Film West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Damodar Valley Corporation of causing a man-made disaster and warned the DVC of legal action if they did not stop releasing water. Thousands of people have been stranded in South Bengal due to the floods. By Manogya Loiwal : Even as several parts of South Bengal in Burdwan, Bankura and West Midnapore continue to reel under severe deluge, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Damodar Valley Corporation(DVC) of causing man-made floods and warned them of taking legal action if they did not stop releasing water. Incessant rainfall, along with the release of water through the DVC dams and barrages, has turned the situation grim in South Bengal, leaving thousands stranded and causing severe damage to property. advertisement WATER RELEASED BY DVC ADD TO WOES According to state officials, parts of South Bengal were inundated as the DVC released nearly 80 per cent of the water from Panchet and Maithon dams even though the former had requested the corporation to release the water in phases. Major areas in Howrah, West Midnapore, Burdwan and Bankura got submerged since the DVC released excessive water. In West Midnapore, Chandrakona town and Ghatal remain the worst affected due to the floods. The Keshpur block in Midnapore Sadar town has also been severely inundated. At least two persons were killed after being washed away by the flood waters. Also Read: In flooded Bengal, tragic tales of people swept away, homes lost PEOPLE STRANDED, HOUSES DAMAGED, CROPLAND SUBMERGED Rescue teams from NDRF have been deployed. Several hectares of cropland have also been inundated due to rain water. Mud houses have been damaged due to the long standing water and the affected people have been shifted to the relief camps. In several parts of Chandrakona and Khirpai, commutation on the state highway has also been disrupted. Torrential rainfall over two days has affected Bankura the worst, with local rivers Gandheswari, Darakeshwar, Silavati and Kangshabati flowing above the danger level. SHALI RIVER BEARS THE BRUNT However, the local Shali river received the brunt of the released water by DVC, flooding its nearby areas. Three blocks on the river banks, including Sonamukhi, Patrasayer and Indus, have been badly affected by the water. While over a thousand houses in numerous villages have been partially destroyed, more than 10,000 hectares of paddy fields are submerged. Parts of Asansol and Durgapur have also been severely affected due to the deluge. Poor drainage system has further aggravated the situation. Water released from the Durgapur barrage and the Maithon dam also added to the woes of the locals. Also read: Over 300 dead, 6 million hit as floods submerge villages, destroy roads in 5 states Bengal blames DVC for floods, Goyal calls for system relook --- ENDS --- advertisement With Breaking Bad and Mad Men finally out of the way in the Outstanding Drama Series category, the field is more fluid and slightly less predictable than it has been. Although the new voting rules allowing a wider field of Academy members to vote in the finals tend to favor popularity, which might explain how Game Of Thrones finally rose to the top last year in its fifth try. Its haul of 12 Emmysan Academy record for a series in a single seasonwas so imposing, it seems like everyone else might be an underdog this time around. But there are different scenarios here, with FXs The Americans finally making the cut after being passed over for three seasons. There is the House Of Cards factor, a show that has never won despite being nominated each year; and this is a political election year, which could help. Theres Homeland, trying to come back after its only win in 2012, Downton Abbey in its final season, and AMC hoping the Breaking Bad magic rubs off on its spinoff Better Call Saul which has now been nominated two years in a row. Finally, there is the unknown factor of newbie Mr. Robot in its first try. The Americans FX This critical favorite has been grossly overlooked for its first three seasons, and now suddenly it has received its first ever nomination in this category. What gives? I think the critical fraternity practically shamed the Academy into paying attention to this show. When they finally did, voila! It helps that it had a terrific season. The drawback may be that it only has five nominations, most of them in the acting categories, so its widespread appeal across all branches is still a question mark. Better Call Saul AMC After owning this category for six of the past eight years with four wins for Mad Men and two for Breaking Bad, AMCs only hope to keep its streak is that sophomore nominee Better Call Saul is getting better as it goes on, and pleasing fans and critics who loved Breaking Bad. This isnt always the case for spinoffs, but this show seems to be firing on all cylinders now and finding its own feet. The fact that it was nominated first time out last season shows Emmy voters are paying attention. Story continues Downton Abbey PBS The stalwart British entry has been nominated every year of its run, or at least since Season 2, when it switched from the Miniseries contest (where it won) to Drama Series. It is still searching for its first win here, and this is its last chance. The show ended on an upbeat note, which could only make voters feel good about it, so sentiment could prevail and give it the elusive prize this final time around. Game Of Thrones HBO What can you say about this juggernaut? After four consecutive years of playing bridesmaid it finally won on its fifth try. But it didnt just win: it crushed the competition with 12 Emmys; a gigantic haul for a Drama Series. With 23 nominations this year, it leads the Emmy parade, and there is no reason to believe momentum is not on its side. Since the nominations, HBO has announced the show wont be an Emmy player next season. That could give it impetus. Plus it was a killer season. Homeland Showtime This durable drama series came out of the box with a big win in its first time ever in 2012, but it has failed to repeat, especially after a couple of spotty seasons slowed its momentum. With only four nominations this year, it has a hill to climb to become that rare drama series that could come back and manage a bookend Emmy for that first years win. House Of Cards Netflix A staple here ever since its groundbreaking Netflix debut in 2013. It has never won, but this is an election year, and that could mean voters are in the mood. This, after all, is the first Presidential race that House Of Cards has shared the air with, and that could get the Academy jazzed. Although sometimes sailing over the top, the show has always been true to itself, and that should count for something. Mr. Robot USA USA has finally cracked this category with the innovative and instantly popular Mr. Robot, a show right in with the times when hacking is in the headlines seemingly every day. Its intriguing lead character, played by Rami Malekalso nominatedmakes this must-watch new TV, and as the only first-season series that made the cut here, it is the great mystery entry. PETES PICK: Game Of Thrones is on a roll. This post was originally published August 24, 2016. Related stories 'Veep' EP David Mandel's Advice On How To Keep Donald Trump Out Of The Oval Office: Emmys Backstage Emmys: 'Grease: Live' Directors Address Bizarre Sandy Fan Theory Emmys By The Numbers: Wins By Program & Network * British firm sells non-core antibiotics unit to Pfizer * Says deal fits strategy of focusing on cancer and other areas * Pfizer will pay $550 mln on completion and $175 mln in 2019 * Will also pay sales-related payments and royalties (Adds details, shares) LONDON, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has agreed to sell its small molecule antibiotics business to Pfizer Inc in a deal that could be valued at more than $1.5 billion. AstraZeneca, which saw off a $120 billion takeover attempt by Pfizer in 2014, said the sale would allow it to focus on developing new medicines in its main areas of cancer, and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The U.S. company, which on Monday bought cancer drug firm Medivation for $14 billion in cash, said the antibiotics would enhance its portfolio of more than 60 anti-infective and anti-fungal medicines. The medicines include approved antibiotics Merrem, Zinforo and Zavicefta, and ATM-AVI and CXL, which are in clinical development, AstraZeneca said. Pfizer will pay $550 million upon completion and a further unconditional $175 million in January 2019, AstraZeneca said. It will also pay up to $250 million in milestone fees, up to $600 million in sales-related payments and recurring, double-digit royalties on future sales of Zavicefta and ATM-AVI in certain markets. The two established medicines in the deal --- Merrem, used to treat serious infections in hospitalised patients, and Zinforo, an intravenous antibiotic used for skin and soft tissue infections and pneumonia -- generated sales of $250 million in 2015, AstraZeneca said. The British company said the agreement did not impact its financial guidance for 2016. Its shares were trading down 0.2 percent in early deals on Wednesday, broadly in line with the market. (Reporting by Paul Sandle; editing by Kate Holton/Keith Weir) By Manolo Serapio Jr and Enrico Dela Cruz MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines could suspend more mines in a crackdown on environmental abuses that has halted operations of 10 miners, a minister said on Wednesday, dismissing a claim by mineral producers the review was a "demolition campaign" against them. "Yes," Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Regina Lopez told Reuters, when asked if there was a risk of more mines being suspended. Lopez launched a review of all mines on July 8 and has suspended 10 so far, eight of them nickel ore producers. The move, and the risk of more being shuttered in the world's top nickel ore supplier, has lifted global nickel prices to a one-year high above $11,000 a tonne. Philippine miners believe the crackdown is a "demolition campaign" against them and are seeking to meet with President Rodrigo Duterte, Benjamin Philip Romualdez, president of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines, said earlier on Wednesday. "What I have seen with the mines that we have suspended is that the quality of life of the present and future generations have in fact been jeopardized," Lopez said, citing silt buildup in rivers and destroyed farmlands around mining sites. "And any succeeding mines that we will suspend will only be for that reason," she said. Lopez reiterated she was not against the mining industry and was following the rule of law in conducting the review expected to be completed this month. "When mines are suspended because rivers are silted, farmlands are gone and fish ponds have disappeared, that's not a demolition campaign," she said. "That's a statement of fact backed by science, by lab tests." Lopez, an environmentalist who thinks open-pit mining is "madness", spoke after a Senate hearing tackling the 2017 budget of the environment agency. Her stance on mining is backed by President Duterte who has previously warned miners to strictly follow tighter environmental rules or shut down, saying the nation could survive without a mining industry. (Reporting by Manolo Serapio Jr. and Enrico dela Cruz; Editing by David Goodman and Mark Potter) MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines has banned Pokemon Go in government offices following similar decisions by Southeast Asian neighbors to limit the blockbuster smartphone game because of its impact on productivity. The Civil Service Commission (CSC), in a report by broadcast network ABS-CBN, said it will no longer allow play during office hours and will request the Pokemon Go developer to remove government offices from the list of Poke Stops and gyms. Vietnam and Thailand have taken similar measures. "It affects work. Employees might not be able to fulfill their duties at that time," said Maria Luisa Agamata, public assistance and information officer of the commission. A building in the lawmakers' complex and the Quezon City Hall, both at the heart of the capital Manila, are designated Poke Stops, places where gamers can collect new items. The augmented reality game was launched early this month in the Philippines, one of the fastest growing smartphone markets in Asia. Pokemon Go, developed by Niantic and an affiliate of Japan's Nintendo Co Ltd, marries a classic 20-year old franchise with augmented reality. Players walk around real-life neighborhoods to hunt down virtual cartoon characters visible only on their smartphone screens. The global hit prompted gamers to leave the couch and explore, but it has been blamed for a rash of car accidents and a slew of mishaps stemming from distracted players. (Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales) President Rodrigo Duterte has said his threat to pull the Philippines out of the United Nations for criticising his deadly crime war was just a "joke", while attempting a light-hearted wordplay on genocide. Duterte on Sunday said he may withdraw the Philippines from the world body after a UN human rights expert said last week his encouragement of security forces to kill drug suspects violated international law. "Can't you take a joke," Duterte told reporters on Tuesday when asked if he was serious. Nearly 2,000 people have been killed since Duterte was sworn into office on June 30 and immediately launched his war on crime, according to the national police chief. Duterte has insisted most of the 756 people confirmed killed by police were drug suspects who resisted arrest, while the others died due to gang members waging warfare against each other. However rights groups, some lawmakers and others have said security forces are engaging in unprecedented extrajudicial killings. The US State Department also this week said it was "deeply concerned" about reports of extrajudicial killings. Duterte on Tuesday criticised Agnes Callamard, the UN special rapporteur on summary executions who said he was violating international law, branding her "ambitious" and "brainless". Duterte also said Callamard had accused him of genocide, which she did not. "That's the invention of a woman who wants to commit suicide," Duterte said, before offering his wordplay. "You can think of genocide, suicide or what, side by side, upper side, whatever, what if upper side or even upside?" A local reporter then joined in, offering "sunny side". Duterte smiled and said: "You reporters say that and then we will be the ones accused of saying that. You added something there." Duterte and his aides have previously cautioned reporters not to take everything the president says at face value. Story continues Duterte once promised 100,000 people would die in his war on crime with so many bodies dumped in Manila Bay that fish would grow fat from feeding on them. He also told a reporter he had personally killed three people. During the election campaign, Duterte attracted criticism for saying he wanted to rape a "beautiful" Australian missionary who was sexually assaulted and murdered in a Philippine prison. He later said it was not a joke, and refused to apologise. However when pressed on the issue this month in an interview with Al Jazeera, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said the rape comment was a joke. Abella sought to explain that Duterte's humour and abusive comments were because he was Cebuano, referring to people from the central and southern Philippines. "The Cebuano subculture speaks in a very rough kind of humour," Abella said. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte warned Wednesday of a "reckoning" with China if there was no resolution to a tense dispute over rival claims to the South China Sea. An international tribunal ruled last month that China's claims to most of the strategically vital waters had no legal basis, in what was seen as a sweeping victory for the Philippines, which filed the case. Duterte repeatedly had said he did not want to anger China with an aggressive response, and sent an envoy to ease tensions, but on Wednesday signalled he was prepared to adopt a more confrontational approach. "We will not raise hell now because of the judgement but there will come a time that we will have to do some reckoning about this," Duterte said in a speech to soldiers at a military camp. China, which has in recent years undertaken giant land reclamation works in disputed parts of the sea, has vowed to ignore the ruling. It has called for direct talks with the Philippines, but insisted it will not compromise on its claims. Duterte said the Philippines had not "insisted" on the judgement, but signalled that stance would change. "They (China) better come up with what they really want. Because whether we like it or not, that arbitral judgement would be insisted (on) not only by the Philippines but by the whole countries here in Southeast Asia," he said. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have claims to the sea, which is believed to sit atop vast gas reserves and through which more than $5 trillion in annual shipping trade passes. Duterte also warned China, which has a vastly superior armed forces, against attacking the Philippines. "I guarantee to them, if you are the ones who enter here, it will be bloody and we will not give it to them easily. It will be the bones of our soldiers and even my own," said Duterte. In his first cabinet meeting after being sworn into office on June 30, Duterte said he would not "taunt or flaunt" a successful verdict, which was handed down about a fortnight later. Duterte sent ex-president Fidel Ramos to Hong Kong for an ice-breaking meeting this month with Fu Ying, chair of the foreign affairs committee of the National People's Congress, China's communist-controlled legislature. Duterte said on Tuesday he hoped to have formal talks with China this year. By Manolo Serapio Jr MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines' territorial dispute with China over the South China Sea has not caused Manila to rebalance diplomatic ties with either its ally, the United States, or neighboring China, Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay said on Wednesday. An arbitration court in the Hague infuriated China in July by ruling that China had no historical title over the South China Sea and that it had breached the Philippines' sovereign rights with various actions there. "We want to make close friendship with China. It does not mean that we'll weaken our friendship with the United States," Yasay told Reuters during a break in a meeting of the senate foreign relations committee. "We're just saying that in spite of our disputes, as regards China on the South China Sea, there are other aspects of our relationship that can proceed without having to touch upon the South China Sea issue." On Tuesday evening, President Rodrigo Duterte said he expects talks with China over the maritime dispute within a year. Duterte, who has been in office for seven weeks, said the Philippines will not raise the issues next month at a summit in Laos of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which the Chinese foreign ministry welcomed. "We look forward to China and the Philippines conducting dialogue at an early date." China's foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Wednesday. "We believe the two sides have the ability and the wisdom to appropriately discuss and resolve problems, promote the return of relations to a track of healthy development, and bring benefits to both countries' people. Speaking at an army base south of Manila on Wednesday, however, Duterte said he expected all ASEAN members to support the arbitration court's ruling on the maritime dispute, regardless of whether the Philippines raised the matter at the summit. China claims almost the entire South China Sea through which about $5 trillion worth of sea-borne trade passes every year. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims to parts of the sea believed to be rich in oil and gas. China has made seven artificial islands in the disputed waters, three of them had airfields that can accommodate fighters, bombers and tankers to refuel aircraft. At the senate hearing, Yasay said the United States will not allow China to reclaim Scarborough Shoal, a rocky outcrop near its former US Navy base in the Philippines, because it will impede in the freedom of navigation. In 2012, China seized Scarborough Shoal after a three-month standoff with the Philippines' coast guard. (Additional Reporting by Michael Martina in BEIJING; Writing by Manuel Mogato; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines government said on Wednesday it had summoned the Chinese ambassador earlier this week to explain reports that traffickers were bringing in narcotics from China, opening a new front in President Rodrigo Duterte's controversial war on drugs. On Tuesday, the country's police chief told a Senate hearing that China, Taiwan and Hong Kong were major sources of illegal drugs, and Chinese triads were involved in trafficking. Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay told a Senate hearing on Wednesday that the Chinese ambassador had been summoned for an explanation, and the government would also send a diplomatic communication to Beijing to "pursue this in a more aggressive note." Speaking to Reuters, Yasay recounted his exchange with the envoy. "(The ambassador) said that this is not true and I told him these reports are based on intelligence information, they have been validated so far as we are concerned, so I wanted a clarification from him," Yasay said. More than 1,900 people have been killed in the anti-drugs campaign since Duterte, nicknamed "the Punisher", came to office seven weeks ago, according to the police, and nearly 700,000 drug users and drug peddlers have turned themselves in to escape the crackdown. Speaking at a military base outside Manila on Wednesday, Duterte said China has offered to build rehabilitation centers for drug addicts in military camps and has invited the Philippine police chief to visit Beijing to see what equipment Chinese police use to fight drugs. China imposes capital punishment on drug offences. (Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales and Manolo Serapio Jr.; Writing by Karen Lema; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) By Tom Polansek CHICAGO (Reuters) - Meat processor Beef Products Inc has dropped more than half the defendants from a lawsuit over its allegations that TV network ABC and others defamed a meat filler critics have dubbed "pink slime." The company, known as BPI, removed ABC's news division, reporter David Kerley, two former U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists and a former BPI employee from the lawsuit, according to documents signed by a South Dakota Circuit Court judge on Wednesday. The ABC network, its former news anchor Diane Sawyer and reporter Jim Avila remain in the case. Family-owned BPI sued in 2012 over news reports about its "lean finely textured beef" product, a meat filler made from fatty trimmings sprayed with ammonia to kill bacteria. The lawsuit said they falsely told viewers the product was not safe, not healthy and not even meat, causing BPI to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in profits and roughly half its employees. A trial on the lawsuit is scheduled to begin in June 2017. Beef Products Inc is seeking $1.2 billion in damages. Representatives of Walt Disney Co, which owns ABC, could not immediately be reached for comment. Lawyers for ABC, Sawyer, Avila and Kerley also could not immediately be reached. ABC has previously said the lawsuit is without merit. BPI voluntarily dropped defendants from the lawsuit in an effort to streamline and concentrate its case," Dan Webb, a Winston & Strawn law firm co-chairman representing the company, said in a statement. The statement called ABC, Sawyer and Avila "the primary targets of the litigation" and said dropping defendants was unrelated to the merits of the case. In particular, it said BPI dismissed ABC News because "ABC is the corporate entity that published the defamatory reports." BPI dropped litigation against Gerald Zirnstein, a former USDA microbiologist credited with using the term "pink slime" to describe the beef product. Former USDA employee Carl Custer and former BPI employee Kit Foshee also were dismissed from the lawsuit. Story continues All appeared or were quoted in ABC's reports. Bill Marler, a lawyer for Marler Clark who represented Zirnstein and Custer, said they were glad to be out of the lawsuit. "This whole case is an attack on the media's responsibility to have discussions about controversial topics," Marler said. Foshee's attorney, Steven Sanford of Cadwell Sanford Deibert & Garry, said the dismissal "should have happened a couple years ago." The case is Beef Products Inc et al v. American Broadcasting Cos et al, Circuit Court of South Dakota, Union County, No. 12-292. (Reporting by Tom Polansek; editing by Grant McCool) MUMBAI (Reuters) - Piramal Enterprises Ltd said it would partner Bain Capital to invest in distressed assets, becoming the latest entrant in the space as the nation's banks are on a drive to clean up $120 billion of sour debt. "Once finalized, the platform will invest capital directly into businesses and/or acquire debt of such businesses to drive sensible restructurings," the two sides said in a joint statement late on Tuesday, adding that the sponsors believed there was an opportunity to invest more than $1 billion in this space over the next few years. The diversified company, headed by billionaire Ajay Piramal, has previously talked about plans to set up a distressed assets fund with an investment of up to $1 billion. India's banks are cleaning up their books after an order by their regulator Reserve Bank of India, creating more opportunity for investors in distressed assets. In July, Canada's Brookfield Asset Management Inc and top Indian lender State Bank of India announced plans to set up a joint venture to invest about $1 billion in Indian distressed assets. Earlier this month, India's biggest private lender ICICI Bank Ltd and private equity firm Apollo Global Management LLC said they would set up an asset reconstruction company in India to buy into troubled loans held by banks. ($1 = 67.1100 Indian rupees) (Reporting by Devidutta Tripathy; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips) By Pratiba Raman: BJP workers assembled at Town Hall around 11.30 am on Wednesday to protest against Amnesty India. It's 11 days now since the August 13 event regarding the Kashmir unrest. And the protesters, led by the state president BS Yeddyurappa , demanded a probe by the national investigating agency. "I have lost faith in the state's agency with the state home minister's statement," Yeddyurappa said. Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwar had earlier said that the groups were not involved in any anti-national activities. Later, retracted saying he gave no clean chit. advertisement "I have written to the union home minister to take our demand seriously. How can our Indian soldiers be insulted?" Yeddyurappa said. The protest that lasted for an hour saw about 500 of the BJP workers raising slogans against the state government's inability to handle this case. ALSO READ: Bengaluru: Kashmiri Pandits seek ban on Amnesty International Bengaluru sedition case: US backs Amnesty, freedom of expression --- ENDS --- WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's Internal Security Agency (ABW) has asked prosecutors to investigate copper miner KGHM (KGH.WA) over the purchase of a Canadian firm with metal deposits in Chile, the secret services minister said on Wednesday. Minister Mariusz Kaminski said people who managed state-run KGHM from December 2010 until March 2012 may have inflicted a large loss upon the company, a crime punishable in Poland by up to 10 years in prison. KGHM bought Quadra FNX for C$2.87 billion ($2.2 billion) in 2011, the largest ever foreign acquisition by a Polish company, gaining partial ownership of the Chilean Sierra Gorda copper mine. Kaminski did not name Quadra but gave details that identified it. Herbert Wirth, KGHM chief executive at the time of Quadra purchase, told Reuters the board had conducted the transaction with due diligence. "This transaction had already been checked by the state treasury," Wirth said. KGHM's purchase of Quadra, intended to boost output and help it become a global player, was questioned by the conservative Law and Justice party (PiS) which won last year's election. The new treasury minister launched an audit into whether KGHM's investment in Sierra Gorda was justified. A KGHM spokeswoman said she would not comment on the case which was being handled by the prosecutor's office. The spokeswoman for the regional prosecutor's office in Wroclaw said she did not have information on whether the ABW's request has been delivered. Kaminski said in a statement that ABW has collected "material indicating a justified suspicion that a crime was committed in relation to the purchase of a Canadian company owning metal deposits in Chile". Kaminski said the AWB had documents that suggested KGHM made errors which led to it signing a "disadvantageous" deal. A plunge in copper prices drove KGHM to a record loss of 5.01 billion zlotys ($1.3 billion) last year, much of it due to an impairment loss on Quadra's Sierra Gorda copper mine, which KGHM co-owns with Japan's Sumitomo (5713.T). ($1 = 3.8294 zlotys) (Reporting by Marcin Goettig; Editing by Ruth Pitchford) JAWORZNO, Poland (Reuters) - Four homeless men and a priest have set out on a tractor-powered pilgrimage from Poland to France, inspired by another journey in director David Lynch's film 1999 film "The Straight Story". The Polish men plan to ride their mini-tractors - with trailers and a top speed of 15 km/hour - all the way from the southern Polish town of Jaworzno to the basilica of St Therese in Lisieux. The 1,700km (1,000 miles) trek is meant to mirror the film, which tells the story of an elderly man's journey on a lawn mower tractor from Iowa to Wisconsin to visit his sick brother. The Polish men, accompanied by the priest who runs their homeless center, said they wanted to prove themselves after battling with addiction and exclusion. "While we have this time on earth, this is a time for reflection and this is what the movie is about," one of the men, Jacek Baczynski, said. "The most important thing for me in this pilgrimage is to be there and pray ... to be with family, people, for good relations, for love, for honesty, for meetings," another pilgrim, Kazimierz Lara, added. Before they set off on Sunday, Lynch sent the men a good luck message for what he called a journey for "forgiveness, for love, for freedom and for peace". The journey is expected to last several weeks. (Reporting By Reuters Television; Editing by Andrew Heavens) VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Wednesday dispatched one-sixth of the Vatican's tiny fire department to join rescue efforts following the earthquake that has devastated parts of central Italy. The Vatican said six of its firefighters traveled to the town of Amatrice to help civil protection workers look for survivors still under the rubble and assist those already rescued. The total force of the 108-acre city-state's fire department numbers 37. Amatrice was one of the small mountain towns wrecked by the quake. At least 73 people have died in the disaster, with many dozens still missing. Earlier on Wednesday, the pope canceled a scheduled speech at his weekly general audience on religious teachings and instead prayed with the crowd for victims and survivors. "Hearing the mayor of Amatrice say that the town no longer exists and learning that there are children among the victims, I am deeply saddened," he told tens of thousands of people gathered in St. Peter's Square. (Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Gavin Jones) A man who spent many years collecting metal artifacts from the ocean near the power plant where he worked in Israel secretly amassed a huge collection of valuable and ancient treasures. Archaeologists were recently given the trove of artifacts after the man, who had worked for years at the Orot Rabin Power Station in Hadera, on the coast of Israel, passed away and his family began sorting through his belongings. They found a remarkable collection of valuable and ancient items. "The finds include a toggle pin and the head of a knife from the Middle Bronze Age," which are more than 3,500 years old, Ayala Lester, a curator with the Israel Antiquities Authority, said in a statement. [The Holy Land: 7 Amazing Archaeological Finds] The man's collection also included valuable mortars and pestles, candlestick fragments and other goods manufactured during the Fatimid Dynasty from the 11th century. The items were probably made in Syria. "The finds are evidence of the metal trade that was conducted during this period," Lester said. Amateur collector The power plant worker, Marcel Mazliah, had been employed at the Orot Rabin Power Station since it was first constructed in 1973. The coal-fired plant, which is Israel's largest, lies on the banks of the Mediterranean, and over the years, Mazliah had been quietly collecting objects washed up from the sea. After Mazliah's death, his family asked representatives from the Israel Antiquities Authority to look at his treasure collection. As it turned out, the collection contained genuine artifacts that were likely lost from a metal merchant's ship at some point in the past. In addition to the stunning Bronze Age pin and the Fatimid-era treasures, the collection also included an ancient hand grenade of a type used by the Crusaders, Ayyubids and the Mamluks hundreds of years ago. Mazliah's family will receive a certificate of appreciation for handing over the artifacts to the Israel Antiquities Authority. Story continues With hundreds of civilizations occupying the region over the millennia, Israel is full of ancient artifacts, many of which have been discovered by accident by ordinary citizens. For instance, in 2015, cavers found a trove of ancient coins and jewelry, while that same year an unsuspecting Israeli family found a historic ritual bath lurking beneath the floorboards of their apartment. Original article on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. (WASHINGTON) President Barack Obama on Wednesday declared a new national monument in Maine on 87,000 acres donated by the founder of Burts Bees, fulfilling conservationist Roxanne Quimbys goal of gifting the land during the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. The announcement of the Katahdin Woods and Waters monument came a day after media reports that the foundation created by Quimby had transferred the land to federal ownership. Supporters say the move will create hundreds of jobs in a region that needs it after the closing of paper mills in Millinocket and East Millinocket. But many in the Katahdin region have opposed the move, mostly over concerns of federal government intrusion. Critics fear a National Park Service-maintained property adjacent to Baxter State Park would hinder efforts to rebuild a forest-based economy. Independent U.S. Sen. Angus King, Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins and Republican U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin last fall wrote a letter to Obama outlining serious reservations about the proposal. Kings position evolved, however, and he said he was open to exploring the idea. This spring, Maines legislature passed a symbolic bill saying the legislature doesnt consent to the federal government acquiring land for a monument. Republican Gov. Paul LePage actively opposed the proposal, calling it an ego play, and characterized key supporters as out-of-state conservationists and environmental groups. Its sad that rich, out-of-state liberals can team up with President Obama to force a national monument on rural Mainers who do not want it, he said in a statement. Quimbys son, Lucas St. Clair, whos marshaled the effort, brushed aside the criticism. Many parks over the history of the park system have been criticized upon creation. Gov. LePage is not the first governor to oppose the creation of a new park. But when we look to the future, we see huge amounts of success, St. Clair told The Associated Press. Story continues Quimby began buying land in the 1990s with earnings from the Burts Bees line of natural care products and went public with her bold plan in 2011. She wanted to see it become a reality this year during the centennial anniversary of the National Park Service. On Wednesday, workers were poised to install National Park Service signs on the property, and the monument was already touted on the National Park Service website. A park superintendent was ready to assume his duties, brochures were printed and office space was acquired in Millinocket and Patten. Quimby initially aimed for a national park designation, but that would have required an act of Congress. The national monument designation required only an act by the president. Many national parks like Maines Acadia National Park and the Grand Canyon National Park started with monument status. Quimbys proposal called for donating the land valued at $60 million along with $20 million to get it started. Another $20 million would be raised within three years. Obama has utilized his power under the 1906 Antiquities Act to protect more land and water using national monument designations than any other president. Hes created two dozen national monuments during his presidency. Aug 24 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in the Wall Street Journal. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. - Two former Goldman Sachs Group traders snapped up beaten-down mortgage bonds, wagering that unusual wording in their contracts would net them millions when a bank settlement paid out. http://on.wsj.com/2bdZ62x - The U.S. is considering providing military support for hundreds of Turkish-backed rebels massing at the border with Syria for a major offensive meant to sever Islamic State supply routes. http://on.wsj.com/2bfbrxZ - A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck central Italy early Wednesday, levelling buildings in several towns as residents slept. The mayor of hard-hit Amatrice said "The town isn't here anymore." http://on.wsj.com/2bAGrgW - Consumption of soda and other sugary drinks fell by more than a fifth in low-income neighborhoods of Berkeley after the California city became the first in the U.S. to introduce a special tax last year, according to a study published Tuesday. http://on.wsj.com/2bdoAgC - Best Buy Co posted results for the latest quarter that reversed a sales slump, easing fears about its ability to lure shoppers amid a long battle with Amazon.com Inc and other online rivals. http://on.wsj.com/2bMfbsT - As Spotify AB gears up for a potential initial public offering next year, the music-streaming service is missing one key component in its pitch to investors: rights to play the music in years to come. http://on.wsj.com/2bLUkoL - Gillette, the largest seller of shavers, filed a lawsuit against Edgewell Personal Care Co, maker of Schick brand razors and Edge shave gels, alleging patent infringement and saying its closest competitor made misleading claims against the Procter & Gamble Co unit. http://on.wsj.com/2bcMJUo - Anbang Insurance Group plans an initial public offering of its life-insurance unit, a move that could increase disclosure at the opaque Chinese insurer that made an aborted $14 billion bid for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc this year. http://on.wsj.com/2bEO1Gc - Postal Savings Bank of China, the world's biggest initial public offering planned this year at more than $7 billion, is setting sail with a $2 billion backing from another Chinese state firm. http://on.wsj.com/2buIAZY (Compiled by Shivam Srivastava in Bengaluru) In his 1945 article The Economic Organisation of a P.O.W. Camp, the British economist R.A. Radford recounted his experiences within the informal system of barter among prisoners at Stalag VII-A, a German camp on the outskirts of Munich during the Second World War. Using supplies delivered by the Red Cross, some prisoners moved between different nationalities encampments, buying tea for cheap from the French (who tended to prefer coffee) and then selling it to the British (whose affection for tea is a matter of centuries-old lore). Meanwhile, imprisoned Gurkha soldiers from South Asia sought out tins of vegetables and bartered them for corned beef. Radfords account, which was compellingly retold by Ray Fisman and Tim Sullivan in their recent book The Inner Lives of Markets, explains that, in the absence of paper money, prisoners had to pick another currency to enable their transactions: cigarettes. A ration of margarine might be bought for seven cigarettes, the equivalent, for instance, of one and a half chocolate bars, and so on, Fisman and Sullivan write. For the most part, prices were well known and consistent among the camps many huts that acted as local markets. Recommended: The Plight of the Overworked Nonprofit Employee Be they in wartime Bavaria or modern-day America, a surprising number of prisoners have lived in systems whose internal economies have centered on tobacco. However, according to a study released on Monday by Michael Gibson-Light, a doctoral candidate in the University of Arizonas school of sociology, cigarettes have been supplanted in the United States by instant ramen. Gibson-Light argues that this dynamic has less to do with the national drop in smoking rates or the banning of cigarettes in some prisons and more to do with prisons finances. At the state prison where he conducted his study, budget cuts led to a reduction of the caliber and total number of meals that prisoners received, which meant that the practical value of ramen skyrocketed. Prisoners are so unhappy with the quality and quantity of prison food that they receive that they have begun relying on ramen noodlesa cheap, durable food productas a form of money in the underground economy, he wrote in a press release accompanying his paper, which was presented at the American Sociological Associations convention, in Seattle. In the study, Gibson-Light chronicles how a package of ramen, which costs 59 cents at the prisons commissary, commands far greater value than its actual worth as it gets exchanged for different items. For example, thermal clothing, which runs over $11 in the commissary, is worth six packs of ramen, or a total value of $3.54, in a trade. Whats to stop prisoners from stocking up on ramen from the commissary and trading it for items that are worth more in dollars? It can be a shortage of fundssome prisoners simply dont have access to that amount of cashbut it also is the case that the prisoners Gibson-Light studied had access to the commissary only once a week, and even then could lose commissary privileges as a disciplinary measure. Recommended: Good School, Rich School; Bad School, Poor School And besides, it might be dangerous to sit on a cache of such a valuable item: Gibson-Light also traces the accumulation of debt over borrowed ramen, which leads to disputes and violence. Ive seen fights over ramen, one prisoner told him. Who the fuck gonna fight about ramen noodles? Thats 15 cents on the outs! Gibson-Light added that other investigations into prison exchanges have indicated a trend away from tobacco and toward noodles. In his study, he brings up a dynamic of whats called punitive frugality, in which prisons, in saving money by serving lower-quality food, pass the burden and cost of nutrition and other needs on to inmates and their families by compelling prisoners to seek out alternate forms of sustenance. Citing data from the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, Gibson-Lights report highlights a 5.6 dip in prison spending between 2009 and 2010, in the wake of the Great Recession, as well an overall failure to match corrections spending with the increasing ranks of inmates since the early 1980s. At the prison where the study took place, wages for prison work also havent risen since the 1970s, making money a limiting factor. Whats striking is that the most sought-after item in American prisons has shifted from cigarettes, coffee, envelopes, or stampsnone of which are essentialto food, a necessity. Speaking of punitive frugality, prison food in the United States already has a controversial history as a sanctioned form of punishment. Late last year, New York State announced that it would cease feeding Nutraloaf, or Disciplinary Loaf to prisoners in solitary confinement after activists campaigned against the starchy and maligned foodstuff. As of 2014, Nutraloaf was thought to be a disciplinary staple on the state and local levels in over a dozen states. Recommended: Why Millennials Aren't Buying Houses Before it became prisoners currency or the cliche fare of college students, instant ramen was created with the goal of feeding starving citizens in postwar Japan. Peace will come to the world when all its people have enough to eat," said its inventor, Momofuku Ando. And, as Karen Leibowitz noted in 2011, over the myriad possibilities, a poll conducted in Japan in 2000 concluded that instant ramen was the most important invention of the 20th century. Dispiritingly, ramen is proving to be an invention crucial to life in many 21st-century American prisons, too. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. According to former BBMP commissioner, Siddaiah, the plan to construct Orion mall should not have been sanctioned in the first place. By Rohini Swamy: Amid the ongoing demolition of illegal structures built close to stormwater drains, two popular malls in Bengaluru have now come under the scanner of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials. Orion Mall in Rajajinagar and Gopalan Arcade in Rajarajeshwarinagar are likely to face the hammer for allegedly encroaching on stormwater drains. The civic body will conduct a survey before taking the next step. advertisement According to former BBMP commissioner, Siddaiah, the plan to construct Orion mall should not have been sanctioned in the first place. However, issuing a clarification, Vishal Mirchandani, CEO of Orion Mall said that the land was acquired by Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), the predecessor to Bangalore Development Authority (BDA). He also said that the Department of Survey Settlement and Land Records in 1995 had showed that there were not stormwater drains on the plot. Bengaluru Mayor, B N Manjunath has ordered fresh surveys to avoid any legal complications. Depending on the survey, the BBMP will decide on the demolition. "I have ordered a probe as to how the building has come up despite the direction," the mayor said. The probe comes on the wake of the Karnataka High Court's order to BBMP to not demolish multi-storeyed buildings built on stormwater drains without assessing the plan as per law. The court also directed officials not to take action against complexes whose plans were found to be valid. Meanwhile, a shortage of surveyors in the revenue department is making it difficult to assess the situation and mark the encroachment areas. --- ENDS --- marsha blackburn After years of setbacks in battles with conservative state legislatures, one women's health group is going back on the offensive. This month, NARAL, one of the country's most prominent reproductive-rights groups, launched Tennessee Total Access, the first of a potential series of programs aimed at organizing pockets of pro-choice support in deeply conservative states. Earlier this month, NARAL dispatched national staffers to the state to help establish a network of potential members and supporters who can be called to action to support like-minded candidates or oppose candidates in the state whom the organization sees as antiabortion. The group launched the project hoping to capitalize on a favorable ruling in the Supreme Court's Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt decision, which found that Texas' laws requiring abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at hospitals within 30 miles placed an undue burden on abortion access. Tennessee has similar laws on the books that abortion-rights activists and groups like Planned Parenthood are looking to challenge. Groups like NARAL are hoping that June's high-court decision represented a sea change that will allow them to permanently roll back laws in conservative states that effectively limit the number of abortion providers across the country. Tennessee is a heavily Republican state that easily passed a series of abortion restrictions between 2012 and 2014. It will serve as a laboratory for NARAL to test reproductive-health messaging in red states, where activists say conservative antiabortion proponents have been able to overwhelm disorganized pockets of opposition. It remains unclear whether the Supreme Court's ruling in the Texas case will affect Tennessee. The court ruled on Texas' law. Similar Tennessee laws require that doctors performing abortions have admitting privileges with hospitals within a county. Story continues Still, NARAL hopes that its efforts will help push states in its direction. NARAL's effort will focus on expanding support in blue pockets in the state, primarily around large cities like Nashville and Memphis. If the effort succeeds at broadening the organization's membership and exerting pressure on lawmakers, then the organization plans to use it as the model for organizing in similar deep-red states. In Tennessee, the program also aims to make an example of one lawmaker in particular: US Rep. Marsha Blackburn. The congresswoman enraged groups like NARAL as the chair of the House of Representatives' Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives. It was convened to investigate a series of videos by antiabortion activists that purported to show Planned Parenthood officials profiting from the sale of tissue from aborted fetuses. No investigation has turned up any wrongdoing by Planned Parenthood. NARAL is paying for mobile billboards in her district and running paid digital ads highlighting Blackburn's opposition to equal-pay legislation. The organization has no illusions about hampering Blackburn's chances of reelection the congresswoman won 70% of the vote in 2014, where her Democratic opponent garnered 26% of the district's support. The plan is aimed more at making noise and organizing statewide opposition to Blackburn's positions. "Marsha Blackburn is the perfect example of just how out of touch antichoice members of Congress are with the majority of Americans on the issue of abortion access," Kaylie Hanson Long, NARAL's communications director, told Business Insider. She added: "When we talk to Tennesseans and they become aware of just how out of step she is, the outrage is palpable, and frankly, inspires them to organize in support of abortion access. Our goal around Congressman Blackburn is to educate people about how extreme she is on the issue of abortion access and ultimately organize them in support of a reproductive freedom agenda." Blackburn's office did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment. Limited public polling in Tennessee shows that most Tennesseans still disapprove of abortion. A poll released late last year by Middle Tennessee State University showed that 56% of state residents believed that abortion should be illegal, while 36% of respondents said that it should be legal in most cases. NARAL disputes many public polls, which the organization asserts do not adequately distinguish between respondents' beliefs about the morality and legality of abortion. A poll that the group commissioned in 2014, for example, showed that a significant percentage of Americans believe that abortion should be legal, despite the fact that many of the same respondents disapprove of the practice. NARAL's step into red states comes at a time when Democratic-aligned groups are using Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's middling support as an opportunity to lay the groundwork now for future elections. Groups like Emily's List, which helps to elect pro-choice female Democratic lawmakers, already have eyes on the 2018 midterm elections, when the map will be considerably more difficult for Democrats. The Clinton campaign is involved in a multipronged effort aimed at building off potential success in 2016 for future races. Multiple Democratic staffers involved in Clinton's Arizona campaign have told Business Insider that, while it may be difficult for the former secretary of state to win the state in 2016, her campaign's recent investment in the state's voter turnout efforts could prove valuable for the 2018 midterm races, when Democrats are looking to hold on to House seats. NOW WATCH: Possible Trump VP pick gave us his 3rd different answer on abortion in 2 days More From Business Insider One protester was killed on Wednesday in fresh clashes with security forces armed with shotguns in Indian-administered Kashmir which is reeling from weeks of deadly violence, police said. As Home Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in the disputed region to discuss the unrest with local political, business and other leaders, thousands of residents rallied in Pulwama in southern Kashmir. Security forces fired tear gas and shotguns to disperse the crowd which had defied a curfew to gather on the streets, said local police superintendent Rayees Mohammad Bhat. "This youth died of (shotgun) pellet injuries," Bhat told AFP. At least 14 other protesters were injured in the clashes, said a doctor at a leading hospital in the main city of Srinagar where they were taken for treatment. Kashmir has been under a curfew since protests broke out over the death of popular young rebel leader Burhan Wani on July 8 in a gunfight with security forces. Some 66 civilians have been killed in clashes between protesters and security forces, and thousands more injured in the worst violence to hit the Himalayan region since 2010. Many of those injured have been hit in the eyes with pellets, causing partial or complete blindness. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for an end to the violence, stressing the need for dialogue with political parties to find a solution. Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British colonial rule in August 1947 but both claim the territory in full. Tens of thousands, mostly civilians, have been killed since 1989 when an armed revolt against Indian rule began. Rebel groups are seeking either independence or a merger with Pakistan. Proxima Centauri b The rumors youve heard are mostly true: Scientists say the star thats closest to our solar system has a planet that could be at the right temperature for liquid water and life. The star is called Proxima Centauri, a red dwarf thats part of the Alpha Centauri system, 4.2 light-years away. The planet is called Proxima Centauri b, and its a terrestrial world whose existence has now been confirmed after 16 years of study. Its not yet known whether Proxima b has an atmosphere, or liquid water. But the computer models dont rule out the possibility. That would make it the closest known exoplanet and the closest known exoplanet with the potential for life. As such, it could be the nearest haven for humanity in case things go horribly wrong in our own solar system. And it just so happens that scientists are working on a robotic mission to the Alpha Centauri system: The Breakthrough Starshot initiative received a $100 million kick-start from Russian billionaire Yuri Milner in April. We expect either to characterize it, if we get lucky, or maybe visit it in a couple of centuries, Guillem Anglada-Escude, an astronomer at Queen Mary University of London, told reporters. Word about Proxima b started leaking out earlier this month, sparked by a report in the German magazine Der Spiegel. Anglada-Escude and his colleagues held off on confirming Der Spiegels claims, but today the details came out in the journal Nature. The planet is at least 30 percent more massive than Earth, and makes one circuit around Proxima Centauri every 11.2 Earth days. Those figures imply that the planet comes as close as 4.6 million miles to its parent star. If Proxima Centauri were like our sun, the planet would be blazingly hot. But because red dwarfs are much dimmer, scientists say Proxima b should have an Earthlike range of temperatures, from 22 degrees below zero Fahrenheit (-30 degrees Celsius) on its dark side to 86 degrees F (30 degrees C) on its light side. Story continues That would make it possible for water to exist in liquid form, which astrobiologists regard as a key requirement for life. The scientists calculations assume that the planet has an Earthlike, heat-trapping atmosphere, and that the planets rotation is tidally locked so that one side is constantly facing the star. Because the scientists have to make such assumptions without the data to back them up, they also have to hedge their bets as to the planets habitability. As a result, the rumors claiming that Proxima b could be inhabited by, say, Avatar-like space travelers arent supported by the facts. Proxima Centauri b terrain Do we know anything about the atmosphere or the water? We dont, said the University of Gottingens Ansgar Reiners, a co-author of the study. We have no further information about this planet, but of course we can calculate probabilities, whether there is an atmosphere or water. This has been done intensively as well and from what we know, at least, there is a non-zero probability that there is an atmosphere. He said the biggest question is whether the planet has liquid water on its surface, like Earth, or is totally dry. The answer depends on the details of the planets formation, and also whether its reservoirs of water were fed by comets and icy asteroids, as was the case for Earth. Reiners acknowledged that Proxima b receives much more high-energy radiation than Earth does. That comes with the territory for red dwarfs, also known as M-dwarfs, which are the most common stars in our Milky Way galaxy. The radiation question led Artie Hatzes of the Thuringian State Observatory to lay out some caveats in a commentary also published by Nature today. Its not yet known whether Proxima b has a protective magnetic field, for example. The X-ray flux from Proxima Centauri may have eroded the planets atmosphere, or hindered the development of life, Hatzes said. Until we understand what makes a planet habitable, it is better to say that Proxima Centauri b lies in a temperate zone (the right temperature) rather than a habitable zone (the right conditions to support life), he wrote. Habitable zone for Proxima Centauri b Anglada-Escude said he and his colleagues think Hatzes assessment is too pessimistic. For sure the difference between Earth and this planet is that this is receiving much more high-energy radiation, but we dont think its a showstopper here, he said. Proxima bs detection demonstrates how exacting the planet-hunting business has become. The initial rounds of observations were made by two telescopes at the European Southern Observatory in Chile between 2000 and 2014. Those readings pointed to a faint Doppler wobble in the spectral signature of the light from Proxima Centauri. The back-and-forth effect suggested that the gravitational influence of a planet might be pulling the star to and fro, but the effect was so subtle that astronomers couldnt confirm that a planet existed. Then, from January to March of this year, the astronomers conducted an intensive 60-night round of Pale Red Dot observations, using the ESOs High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher, or HARPS. When they combined the older data with this years Pale Red Dot data, they came up with the hoped-for confirmation. They made additional spectroscopic observations to make sure the effect they were seeing was caused by a planets influence and not by stellar activity. The significance of the detection goes sky-high, Anglada-Escude said. Telescope and stars Now the Pale Red Dot campaign is finished, and astronomers will have to use other methods to learn more about Proxima b. Theres a slight chance that NASAs James Webb Space Telescope, due for launch in 2018, could gather data about the planets atmosphere. But Reiners said a mission customized for Proxima b is more likely to provide insights. Physics allows you to actually image the planet itself, and this is certainly something that will be going on over the next years, the next decades, he said. We are quite far from it right now. This weeks announcement could heighten interest in the Breakthrough Starshot project as well. But because of the distances involved, the Starshot nano-probes wont get to the Alpha Centauri system for decades, even under the best-case scenario. And using current propulsion technology, it would take tens of thousands of years to send humans to Proxima B. Does that sound like a long time? In his commentary, Hatzes observed that if life forms exist on Proxima b, theres no need for us to hurry on their account. Interestingly, M-dwarf stars are long-lived, and Proxima Centauri will exist for several hundreds or thousands of times longer than the sun, he wrote. Any life on the planet could still be evolving long after our sun has died. Anglada-Escude and Reiners are among 31 authors of the paper published in Nature, titled A Terrestrial Planet Candidate in a Temperate Orbit Around Proxima Centauri. More from GeekWire: From America's prescription drug abuse epidemic to the Zika virus, the world is facing ever-changing public health issues. But current physicians aren't the only ones who need to pay attention to these issues -- lifelong learning about public health is everyone's responsibility. Medical schools have been adapting their curriculum to better educate physicians about these crises, and states like Vermont and Ohio are requiring a number of physicians to complete continuing education courses on prescribing opioids. And prospective medical students need to understand the world's current public health issues and be prepared to discuss these topics during medical school interviews. [Explore four ways medical industry changes are shaping school curriculums.] Like other drugs, health care providers must learn not only indications but all the negative consequences that can occur to the patient or others around them. Our school, for example, requests students attend a 12-step group to hear individuals talk about their experience and its impact on their lives. Online courses also abound. There may be modules from online resources like our Center for Technology-Enhanced Knowledge and Instruction required for health care providers that are also required of students. Stanford University also has online continuing education courses, including a free one on prescription drug addiction, for example. The Association of American Medical Colleges MedEdPORTAL's Public Health Collection CE Directory shares continuing education course outlines, objectives and outcomes and is available to students and the general public who are interested in seeing offerings from faculty and staff at different institutions or even presenting their own. Other public health issues in the news are fair game for medical school applicants to discuss in applications or interviews, so start paying attention. One of the most prevalent right now is the threat of Zika virus infection. Story continues [Learn to be authentic and thoughtful during medical school interviews.] On Aug. 2, more than a dozen locally acquired cases of Zika virus were reported in Florida, just north of Miami, resulting in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issuing a travel warning. While much is still unknown about the Zika virus, we do know that the Aedes species mosquito will continue to travel and spread the virus to those who have not protected themselves or taken sexual precautions. Vaccines are still in development. Hopefully, you have been paying attention over the past few months and recognize how many countries have identified cases. The map on the CDC website illustrates how many countries -- far beyond Brazil, where many of the cases began in late 2015 -- have confirmed Zika infections. Knowing that infection occurs from either a mosquito bite or a sexual encounter with someone who was infected is critical knowledge; so is knowing that birth defects -- such as microcephaly -- cognitive and motor delays and a higher risk for cerebral palsy can occur in infants whose mothers have been infected. [Understand the factors behind medical school admissions.] The CDC and the World Health Organization have excellent websites that they regularly update, and anyone can sign up to receive their email updates. Radio stations, newspapers, blogs and many websites are addressing our educational needs about Zika. I was impressed by the educational packages available to teachers to incorporate into their lesson plans. Know that you will be asked about public health issues as you interview this season for medical school. You will be expected to have some knowledge and reflections on what the Zika virus means to your community and the world. Be prepared for these interview questions, as well as questions on other public health concerns. Kathleen Franco, M.D., is associate dean of admissions and student affairs at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University. She previously served both as director of residency training and director of medical student training in psychiatry at Cleveland Clinic. She is board-certified in psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine and attended Medical College of Ohio -- Toledo. The Writers Guild of America has reached agreement on a new three-year public television contract, which has been unanimously ratified by the members. The deal covers about 200 employees working on shows such as Nova, Frontline, American Experience and American Masters. The new contract negotiated jointly by the WGA East and WGA West provides a 3% increase in all minimums retroactive to July 1, with 0.5% of that amount diverted to the Writers Guild Industry Health Fund. Other increases to all minimums will be effective on July 1, 2017, and July 1, 2018, and will be the same as those negotiated next year for the successor deal for the WGAs master contract, which expires May 1. All other terms in the previous Public Television contract will remain in effect. The WGA has not yet scheduled negotiations on a successor deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The WGA-PBS negotiating committee authorized the union to pursue a cut through negotiation with the the signatory employers principally WGBH and WNET over wages and benefits. WNET and WGBH are members of and program providers to the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). Our members create some of the most compelling and award-winning shows on public television, including Frontline, Nova, American Experience and episodes of American Masters,' said Lowell Peterson, executive director of the WGA East. Their creative vision, their dedication to craft, and in many cases their contribution to raising money, directing and producing, make it possible for WGBH, WNET and other signatory producers to present shows that inform our national dialogue about the vital political, cultural, economic and scientific issues of our times, he added. We are very pleased that the producers have agreed to adopt the percentage increases that are negotiated in the Guilds contract with the major networks and studios. Related stories Boxee Founder Avner Ronen Launches Public, an App to Broadcast Text Chats (EXCLUSIVE) Story continues Writers Guild Seeking 'Fair Share' of Media Conglomerate Profits of $49 Billion Introducing a New Way to Think About Female Characters in TV and Film (Adds statement from Wal-Mart) NEW YORK, Aug 24 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday said cash-strapped Puerto Rico cannot force Wal-Mart Stores Inc's affiliate on the island to pay a special corporate tax that the retailer claimed was discriminatory and violated the U.S. Constitution. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston upheld a lower court order blocking Puerto Rico from imposing its alternative minimum tax against Wal-Mart Puerto Rico Inc. The decision complicates the U.S. territory's efforts to reduce a $70 billion debt load and restart an economy that has been stalled for a decade with a 45 percent poverty rate. The 2015 tax legislation had raised to 6.5 percent from 2.0 percent the tax for on-island companies with more than $2.75 billion in revenues that buy goods from off-island "related parties." Wal-Mart argued it was the only company that fit that description and effectively taxed on items from its own distribution centers but not those bought from Puerto Rican vendors. A federal court in Puerto Rico sided with Wal-Mart in March. On Wednesday, the appeals panel called the tax "facially discriminatory," saying it taxes only cross-border transactions between a Puerto Rico corporate taxpayer and a related entity located elsewhere. This violated the so-called "dormant" Commerce Clause in the constitution, the court ruled. "Because we want to remain in business in Puerto Rico and to be part of the solution to the current fiscal crisis, we are grateful that the First Circuit affirmed the District Court's decision to strike down this unconstitutional tax," Lorenzo Lopez, a Wal-Mart spokesman said in a statement emailed to Reuters. Puerto Rico's financial problems, spurred by years of borrowing to try to combat economic stagnation, reached a crisis in recent months, as cash reserves dwindled and the island's own fiscal agent, the Government Development Bank, faced insolvency. In July, the territory defaulted on $779 million of its most senior debt. Story continues The appeals court admitted Puerto Rico is in "dire financial straits," but called the tax "blunt and unnecessarily over-inclusive." "It essentially establishes an irrebuttable presumption that all inter-corporate transfers to a Puerto Rico branch from related mainland entities are fraudulently priced to evade taxes," the court reasoned. The island's outgoing governor, Alejandro Garcia Padilla, has called Puerto Rico's financial situation a "humanitarian crisis," while U.S. Congress earlier this year passed legislation bringing the island's finances under a federal oversight board. Board members are expected to be appointed in September. Among the board's powers is the ability to force talks between the island and its creditors to negotiate cuts to Puerto Rico's debt. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel and Nick Brown in New York; editing by Daniel Bases and Grant McCool) The past few years of music consumption have been a never-ending battle between music streaming services. As new services emerge, and others continuously try to re-invent their platforms, this battle has seemed to only get more intense with time. In the past year, Apple Music, TIDAL, and Spotify had ruled the streaming game, mainly due to various exclusive perks on each platform. Exclusive perks that may soon come to an end. Though Pandora has seemingly been on the back burner as other services offered personalized radio stations and then some, the company is ready to branch out on an exciting new endeavor with Questlove at their side. Today it has been announced that Questlove is partnering with Pandora to premiere his new radio show Questlove Supreme. Questlove Supreme will be a three hour, weekly music showall curated and produced by himselfon a station by the same name. The show will mirror his New York University course, as it will be an extensive guide through global music selections and feature in-depth discussions as well as interviews. Questlove Supreme is set to premiere on September 7 at 1p.m. EST. The show will replay for 48 hours each week for those who miss the first airing. The three hour show is just one part of Questlove's new relationship with Pandora, Questlove will also serve as Pandora's first Artist Ambassador and also act as a Strategic Advisor. "Questlove is one of the most talented and influential artists of our time," said Tim Westergren, founder and CEO of Pandora. "His near encyclopedic knowledge of the theory and history of music and his abiding passion for supporting artists of all kinds is a perfect match for our mission. We're thrilled to have his expertise and counsel, and to share his talents, insights and love of music with our over 78 million listeners." About this new partnership, Questlove says he sees "a deep respect for the craft of music and a commitment to the musicians that make it their living" in Pandora's business strategy. "When Tim introduced me to the Music Genome Project, and explained its origin and how he and his team developed it, I was blown away. Pandora is a company born of a musician's experience, and I'm very excited to join them in their mission to create a healthy and vibrant industry for artists and fans alike. Story continues Pandora subscribers can currently listen to a special mix on the Questlove Supreme station right here. Continue Reading On Complex A new group of critically endangered primates has been spotted in Vietnam, raising hopes the rare creatures may not be wiped out in the next decade as scientists had feared. The Delacour's langur, black and white with a full face of whiskers, is indigenous to Vietnam, but their numbers have dwindled in recent years because of poaching and mining activity in the country's northern forests. A team of scientists from Fauna and Flora International spotted a group of about 40 of the primates, mostly juveniles and infants, bringing their total population to less than 250. "It's great news for this particular species because had we not found this new population, they were in grave danger of being wiped out within a decade," spokeswoman for FFI in Vietnam, Akofa Wallace, told AFP Tuesday. "The fact that they are breeding is brilliant news," she added. FFI did not say where scientists spotted the langurs, whose habitat is threatened by mining activity in the area, including charcoal production. They are also targeted by poachers who hunt them for meat, with their bones used for traditional medicine and their pelts for decoration. The primate was discovered in northern Vietnam in the 1930s by French scientist Jean Theodore Delacour, and are only found in Vietnam. FFI country director Benjamin Rawson said urgent interventions were needed to protect the species, which numbered about 300 in the early 1990s. "We continue to work alongside officials and local communities to ensure the Delacour's langur doesn't become this century's first primate extinction," Rawson said in a statement. The rare animals are protected under Vietnam's conservation laws, but critics say the legislation is not effectively enforced and poaching of rare or endangered species continues unchecked. Vietnam is home to some of world's most endangered species, including the mountainous antelope Saola, the Red River giant soft-shell turtle and the Tonkin snub-nosed monkey. Wild animals are under constant threat in the country, with their body parts in high demand for both food and traditional medicine. Lalu Prasad Yadav, while taking stock of the flood situation in Bihar, told flood victims in his state that they are lucky as not everybody gets Gangajal in his home. Lalu Prasad Yadav told the flood victims that they are fortunate that the Ganga has reached their homes. By India Today Web Desk: With Bihar battling floods despite receiving less than normal rains and the Ganga flowing 23 cm above the extreme danger level, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, in an utterly insensitive remark, said, "it's fortunate and welcome sight to find the Ganga at one's doorsteps". Lalu Prasad Yadav on Monday told flood victims in his state that they are lucky as not everybody gets Gangajal in his home. advertisement READ| Bihar floods: Situation worsens, Lalu Prasad seeks Modi's attention after Nitish Kumar meets PM "You are fortunate that the Ganga has reached your homes. It does not always happen. In most cases you go to it," he told reporters. LALU TAKES A JIBE AT BJP It is believed that Lalu's jibe was aimed at the BJP, which recently came up with a scheme for making Gangajal available to people at their doorsteps through post offices. Though Bihar has received 14 per cent less rains than normal during the monsoons, the flood situation has remained grim in the state for last two days and is likely to worsen as water discharged from Ban Sagar dam in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday has now reached Bihar, which has again swelled Sone and Ganga river. Large parts of the state have been flooded due to high rain fall in Nepal besides states like Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand. READ| Oops! When Ram Kripal Yadav's boat got stuck in Ganga during Bihar flood inspection Districts like Buxar, Arrah, Chapra, Vaishali, Patna, Begisarai, Khagaria, Samastipur, Munger and Bhagalpur, which are along the Ganga basin, are witnessing an increase in the water level. Around 135 houses were washed away today due to erosion in river Ganga while 20 villages were submerged in flood waters with the rising water level of the river having crossed the extreme danger level in Malda district. The former Bihar chief minister's comment came on the day when flood victims held demonstrations across the state, expressing anger over the type and amount of government aid that has been provided to them so far. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking the Centre's intervention as he insisted that desilting the river Ganga is the only solution to avoid the almost annual occurrence of floods. Also Read: Bihar floods: DM, minister provides healing touch, share meal with flood victims at relief camps Bihar floods: Villagers camp on Patna-Bakhtiyarpur Expressway over lack of aid from government advertisement Bihar flood crisis: Army and air force on alert, Nitish holds emergency meeting --- ENDS --- By Elias Biryabarema KAMPALA (Reuters) - Raw sugar production by Uganda's three main processors fell 14 percent in the first half of the year versus a similar period last year hurt by a shortage of mature cane, an industry official told Reuters on Wednesday. The east African country has a small but thriving sugar production sector mostly dominated by the three producers - Kakira Sugar Works, Sugar Corporation of Uganda Ltd and Kinyara Sugar Works. Full-year output from the three producers is seen reaching 330,000 tonnes, down from last year's 341,879 tonnes. Wilberforce Mubiru, secretariat manager at industry body Uganda Sugar Manufacturers Association (USMA) told Reuters the three plants produced 154,501 tonnes in the first six months of 2016. In the same period last year the three processors produced 178,761 tonnes of raw sugar. Mubiru said the decline in production was due to the "unavailability of mature cane for milling". Each of the three big producers typically owns a large nucleus estate which accounts for the bulk of the cane supply but is usually surrounded by communities of outgrower farmers contracted to supplement supplies of the raw material. Mubiru said eight new smaller processors who lacked a nucleus estate or outgrower schemes of their own were "poaching" on cane supplies of the three large plants and causing a shortage of the raw cane. Combined production from all the smaller producers this year is likely to reach 100,000 tonnes which could push Uganda's overall output to 430,000 tonnes, Mubiru said. Uganda's consumption of raw sugar this year is projected at 370,000 tonnes and the government has said it is keen to attract investment into the sector to meet growing demand, which is forecast by USCTA to hit 700,000 tonnes by 2030. (Reporting by Elias Biryabarema; editing by George Obulutsa and Jason Neely) The last James Bond movie, Spectre, made more than $880 million globally, but the car he drove may be priceless. Across 24 films and 39 movies (or 22 and 14, respectively, for purists) 007 has driven a wide variety of vehicles. Still, he may be best known for a proclivity toward Aston Martins. And so when pre-production began on Spectre, director Sam Mendes went to the chief creative director of the 103-year-old automaker, Marek Reichman. Yahoo Finance caught up with him at Monterey Car Week where he recounted his run-in with the Oscar-winning director. Mendes came into my design studio, met the design team. We were presenting a car that already existed to Sam as the next car for James Bond, and he loved it. But as he was walking out of the studio he saw a sketch on the wall and asked me what that was and I said, thats a car that doesnt exist. So instantly he then said, Great. So thats the car we need to do for James Bond. DB10-Front-three-Quarter-3-932x524 That was April of 2014. By September of that year Reichman and the Aston Martin team had taken that sketch and turned it into 10 real-life, running Aston Martins. Following the companys existing naming convention they were called DB10s. Just one of the 10 made is in the hands of a private owner. It went up for auction earlier this year and was expected to fetch between $1.4 million and $2.1 million. It sold for $3.5 million. * H1 budget surplus hits 1.2 pct of GDP * Europe's biggest economy grew 0.4 pct q/q in Q2 * Trade, state spending, consumers driving expansion * Weaker investment in construction, equipment * Govt split over whether to boost investment or cut taxes (releads with broader debate about tax cuts versus investment) By Michael Nienaber BERLIN, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Solid economic growth generated a record budget surplus for Germany in the first half of this year, stoking a debate within government about whether the country should use its spare revenue to cut taxes or increase spending. The budget has been running a surplus since 2014, but that increased between January and June to 18.5 billion euros ($20.8 billion), or 1.2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), the Federal Statistics Office said on Wednesday. With tax revenues rising as the economy revives and debt costs pegged at unprecedentedly low levels, the gap was the highest since current records began with the country's reunification in 1990. The run of surpluses has allowed Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble to increase state spending on roads, housing and digital infrastructure ahead of federal elections in 2017, while sticking to his goal of running a balanced budget. But the International Monetary Fund and other euro zone governments have urged Berlin to do more and hike investment in education and infrastructure, as a means of helping to boost the currency bloc's anaemic growth rate. Germany's economy grew 0.4 percent in the second quarter from the first, final data also released by Statistics Office on Wednesday showed. That marked a slowdown from 0.7 percent in the first quarter but matched a preliminary reading and beat average rate of 0.3 percent in the euro zone as a whole. Higher state spending and strong private consumption more than compensated for weaker investment in construction and equipment between April and June. Exports - less of a growth driver than domestic demand in recent quarters - also bounced back after a weak performance at the start of the year, rising 1.2 percent. Story continues With imports slipping 0.1 percent, net foreign trade added 0.6 percentage points to overall economic growth. The government expects domestic demand to drive economic growth of 1.7 percent this year, which would be on a par with 2015 when the economy grew by its fastest rate in four years. ACHILLES' HEEL Nordea Bank economist Holger Sandte said Germany's economic prospects were decent. While higher energy prices were likely to dampen private consumption in coming months, the large surplus "creates room ...to further increase investment by the state," he said. Wednesday's data appeared to add weight to that argument. While state spending and private consumption contributed 0.1 percentage points each to GDP, investment in plant and equipment fell more than 2 percent, subtracting 0.4 percentage points. "The economy's Achilles' heel ... remains the lack of new investment," ING Bank economist Carsten Brzeski said. "To kick-start investment in an ageing economy, some government support is needed." Chancellor Angela Merkel's government remains at odds over what to do with the extra money. The Social Democrats, junior partner in the ruling coalition, advocate more investment on education, housing and social integration, while Merkel's conservatives want to slash income taxes for families. "We must have the courage to give citizens real tax relief and reward the working people," said Hans Michelbach, budget expert in the conservative CDU/CSU parliamentary group. A Finance Ministry spokesman said it was too early to speculate or draw conclusions on the basis of the first six months' data. "We'll have the final figures only at the end of the year. We'll have to wait and see how things develop," he added. A Economy Ministry spokeswoman said the solid figures created room for investment in important areas such as digital infrastructure. ($1 = 0.8877 euros) (Reporting by Michael Nienaber; Additional reporting by Rene Wagner; Editing by Madeline Chambers and John Stonestreet) Lesbos (Greece) (AFP) - Standing on a pebbled beach on the Greek island of Lesbos, Mehdi Salehi searches for a good spot to set his drone loose. Far from being a hobby flight, this is a project to save the lives of drowning refugees, designed by a 33-year-old Afghan who was once one of them. Fifteen years after fleeing his home to escape the Taliban, this drone expert wants to help others like him survive the perilous crossing of the Aegean and Mediterranean seas that has claimed thousands of lives. Founded by Salehi, "Drones for Refugees" is a project designed to enable rescuers to swiftly locate and reach migrant boats in difficulty, slashing time to reach them in a way that can mean the difference between life and death. The sea route between Turkey and the Greek Islands has always been a favourite with smugglers, but in 2015, the numbers crossing that waterway exploded due to the Syrian conflict. From his home in New York, where he lectures at Parsons School of Design, Mehdi saw dramatic news footage of dinghies packed to the brim. He also saw the images of those who did not make it and decided to do something about it using his skills. With the support of Parsons alumni and faculty, Mehdi and his partner Kristen Kersh bought and customised the drone tested on Lesbos. They added cameras, sensors, data-sharing points and designed an web platform. Footage from the cameras and the infrared sensors can be streamed live to websites as well as to mobile devices used by coastguards, search and rescue teams and merchant ships. "It is very important that we work with them. We need to know how they work to better customise the drones and the data-sharing platform," says Mehdi, whose project is still in its pilot phase. - Avoidable tragedies - Often portrayed as the eye in the sky of modern warfare, drone technology has tended to make the headlines for all the wrong reasons, notably when military strikes go awry claiming innocent lives. Story continues But Mehdi insists the technology should used for saving lives. "Drones can be used for the common good not just for military purposes. "With the technology that we have today, people shouldn't be dying at sea. When I crossed, we had to buy a paper map to find the closest point to Greece on the Turkish seashore," he says. "In 2016, with smartphones and drones already available to civilians, these sort of tragedies could be avoided." Esther Camps, Lesbos coordinator of Spanish lifeguard group Pro-Activa, says the project could provide vital information on what rescuers need to expect ahead of time: "If they need medical assistance, how many people are on board, if they have life-jackets on them," she says. "It's quite difficult. You have to sail three or four hours until you arrive at the area where you are supposed to see the refugee boats," Camps told AFP. - 'We couldn't swim' - When Salehi crossed the Aegean from Turkey in 2001, he arrived on Chios island with a friend in a children's plastic boat bought for $20 in Izmir. "It was a dumb decision and we were very dumb kids," he says with a wry smile. "We didn't have money to pay smugglers but I was going crazy in Istanbul. Living conditions were inhuman. We couldn't swim, it was in fact my first time at sea but I convinced myself that if I had survived so far, I could also live through this." Salehi and his friend were arrested and thrown in jail for five months. Then, a random encounter changed his luck. Isabelle, a Greek doctor working for Amnesty International, visited the prison where they were being held and Salehi asked her for help in filling out his Greek asylum application. She found him a lawyer and he got his papers. "I was very lucky. I got a lot of support from people that met me along the way, especially in Greece. They encouraged me and believed in me. Refugees and migrants, that's what we need: an opportunity to thrive," Salehi says. "It's a very harsh change for us, a different country, different environment but we can study and work and create wealth and jobs if they let us," he explains. - Bigger, better drones - Drones for Refugees plans to build bigger drones, able to fly over larger areas of the Mediterranean where the survival of refugees and migrants depends on being spotted and rescued by a ship. Hopefully, the final and bigger prototype will be ready by the end of this year, Salehi says. Until now, the group has been funding itself but Salehi and his team will need an extra injection of cash if they are to build larger drones with longer flight autonomy. After being granted asylum in Greece, Salehi obtained a master's degree in architecture from the University of Volos in 2011. Moving to the United States, he received a second master's in design and technology from Parson's School of Design in New York. He is now a part-time lecturer at Parsons, part of the progressive New School which counts among its alumni Tennessee Williams, Marlon Brando and Donna Karan. The number of people injured in an attack against the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul has risen to 24, with at least one person dead. As the day progressed, more details about the assault were revealed. The attackers it remains unclear how many blew open an outer wall, giving them access to the heavily-guarded campus. This trapped students and staff in classrooms as explosions and gunfire rang out. The person killed in the attack, which took place around 7:00 pm Kabul time, was a university guard. No one has yet to claim responsibility for the assault. Updated at 4:16 EST. The number of people injured in the attack has risen from 14 to 18, according to the Associated Press. Updated at 3:03 EST. At least one student was killed, on top of at least 14 others who were injured, during an attack at the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul on Wednesday, Mohammad Saleem Rasouly, head of the citys hospitals, told Reuters. Updated at 2:47 EST. The Afghan Ministry of the Interior said two assailants are still believed to be inside the university compound, according to FP contributor Andrew Quilty, who is in Kabul. Quilty said there are no hostages, and that Afghan special forces are taking out survivors as they find them. He said a clearance operation is underway, and that he heard no more than six to eight gunshots over the last two hours. Complicating matters is that electricity to the compound is out. He described the scene as pitch black. Updated at 2:10 EST. The attack wounded one woman and 13 men, a spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Health told the Wall Street Journal. No group has yet to claim responsibility for the attack. Updated at 1:40 EST. Attackers at the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul have not penetrated the campus security perimeter, security officials told the New York Times. Meanwhile, FP contributor Andrew Quilty, who is in Kabul, said that there are no signs of fighting, but lots of special forces activity. He also reports civilians are being evacuated from the school by Afghan security forces. Story continues CNN is now reporting at least five were injured in the attack. Updated at 1:05 EST. The American University of Afghanistan in Kabul is reportedly under attack, according to journalists, Afghan officials, and students at the school. Several gunmen attacked the American University in Kabul and there are reports of gunfire and explosions, an Afghan interior ministry official told France 24. They are inside the compound and there are foreign professors along with hundreds of students. CBS News Ahmad Mukhtar, reporting from Afghanistan, said several American professors are inside the school, and that some had escaped through emergency doors. Pulitzer Prize-winning Associated Press photographer Massoud Hossaini had also tweeted that he is trapped inside with others, but the message has since been deleted. Mustafa Kazemi, a journalist based in Kabul, tweeted the photo below reportedly showing an explosion at the university. Photo attributed to the attack on American University of Afghanistan in Kabul pic.twitter.com/EVunzOpyd3 KAZEMI, Mustafa (@CombatJourno) August 24, 2016 Hes also reported that students inside the schools complex are posting on social media that they are under attack, and that there have been explosions and gunfire. One student told AFP, We are stuck inside my class with other students. I heard explosions and gunfire is going on close by. Student from inside American University of Afghanistan posted this on Facebook a while ago: pic.twitter.com/62J9Grnmw3 KAZEMI, Mustafa (@CombatJourno) August 24, 2016 Other reporters in the area said police and special forces have responded to the attack, and that ambulances are carrying the wounded to a nearby hospital. We have been notified of a complex attack on the American University on Darul-Aman Road, the commander of Kabul polices quick reaction force told NBC News, adding, We still dont know the exact nature of the attack. Its not clear who is responsible for the attack. Two professors at the school Kevin King, an American, and Timothy Weeks from Australia were kidnapped by five men wearing Afghan military uniforms earlier this month; their whereabouts are unknown. The university opened in 2006. It has approximately 1,700 students. Photo credit: WAKIL KOHSAR/Getty Images Rescue workers searched among debris in the rural town of Capodacqua on Wednesday, August 24, after an earthquake that struck central Italy devastated the town. Italys State Forestry Corp released this video showing a rescue worker trying to calm a woman who had been trapped under the rubble of her home. She was later rescued and taken to hospital in Ascoli Piceno. The quake, which struck in the early hours of Wednesday morning while many were still asleep, left dozens of people dead and over a hundred missing, according to Il Giornale. Aerial photographs released be emergency services show the widespread destruction in the town of Amatrice, about 100 km northwest of Capodacqua. Sergio Pirozzi, Mayor of Amatrice, told state broadcaster RAI that three quarters of the town is not there any more. Italys earthquake institute INGV registered the quake at 6.0 and reported its epicenter near Accumoli and Amatrice, two of the hardest hit towns. The US Geological Survey measured the quake at 6.2 magnitude, and said it struck closer to Norcia, in southeastern Umbria. Credit: Twitter/Corpo Forestale By PTI: says its Hindutva ploy Mumbai, Aug 24 (PTI) The Sena-BJP ruled Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has approved a proposal making yoga and Surya Namaskar mandatory in all civic schools here, drawing ire of opposition parties which today dubbed the move as a ploy to "promote Hindutva" and "saffronise" education. BMCs general body cleared the proposal tabled by BJP corporator Samita Kamble yesterday with an aim to improve overall health of students by incorporating the ancient exercise regime into their daily routine. advertisement The ruling allies rejected the amendment demanded by Congress and Samajwadi Party (SP) to make yoga optional for schools. They also struck down SPs demand for removal of Surya Namaskar (sun salutation) from the proposal terming it as a "form of Hindu worship". "Making Surya Namaskar compulsory in schools is a way to promote Hindutva as the origin of Surya Namaskar lies in Hindu God Surya (Sun)," Samajwadi corporator Rais Sheikh alleged. Sheikh said Muslim parents would stop sending their wards to school if BMC goes ahead with the proposal. Former minister and state unit Congress vice-president Naseem Khan said the move is "unconstitutional" and will be opposed tooth and nail. "This is another case of saffronisation of our education system and it is in complete contravention of fundamental rights prescribed in Constitution which allows every citizen to live and educate themselves as per their own religious thoughts," he said. Questioning the timing of the proposal, Khan said, "Since BMC elections are near and sensing their defeat, they (Sena and BJP) have now played this saffronisation card for political gains, which could have very unwarranted consequences. Why didnt Sena and BJP combine, which has been ruling the BMC for last 20 years, bring the proposal earlier?" A number of Muslim bodies and their representatives, including Mohammad Saeed Noorie, the founder of Raza Academy and Noorie Mehfil, met Khan separately and apprised him about the reaction in the community against the move. "Muslims, Jain, Christians, Dalits..all are dismayed by this act of imposing Surya Namaskars and Chief Minister should take a serious note of it and undo it," Khan demanded. BMC runs 1,188 primary and 49 secondary schools in Mumbai. This includes nearly 400 Urdu-medium schools. About 4.85 lakh students study in primary schools while another 55,000 study in secondary schools. The proposal passed by the House of the civic body, will now be sent to Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta who will take a final call on the issue. Defending the move, BJP corporator Dilip Patel said, "Now yoga has been internationally accepted as the best form of exercise. Bringing yoga into the religious ambit is a political tactic by opposition parties". advertisement Another BJP corporator said that "Surya Namaskar is a form of meditation, and if practised regularly, it will help children progress, both mentally and physically". PTI APM DK NSK GSN --- ENDS --- By Nidal al-Mughrabi GAZA (Reuters) - The last survivors of a Gaza zoo, where dozens of animals died of starvation and children petted stuffed carcasses, left on Wednesday for sanctuary outside the Palestinian territory. Economic hardship deepened by war with Israel brought death to most of the menagerie of 200 at the privately owned complex in Khan Younis, in the southern part of the enclave. The 15 remaining animals rescued by the Four Paws international animal welfare group included a tiger, porcupines, an emu and five monkeys. A baby deer that was to have made the journey died in "a desolate cage" last week, the organization said. "'Worst zoo in the world' now history," Four Paws declared in a statement announcing the zoo's closure. Israel, which maintains tight restrictions on its border with Hamas Islamist-run Gaza, allowed the animals through the frontier and dubbed the transfer "Operation Safari". Some were destined for new homes in sanctuaries in Israel and Jordan, and the tiger will be flown to Four Paws' Lionsrock Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa. Four Paws said Gaza mission leader, veterinarian Amir Khalil, had now trained local colleagues in caring for wild animals. "We hope they will use their gained know-how in the future to better help animals in need in Gaza," Khalil said. The zoo's owner, Mohammad Oweida, once hosted family and school outings at the facility. But a seven-week war between Israel and Palestinian militants in 2014 prevented him getting enough food for the animals, many of which had been smuggled to the Gaza Strip through tunnels from Egypt. Oweida stuffed 15 of the animals that died, including a lion and a chimpanzee - and put them on display in what Gaza residents called the "Jungle of the South". "I have lived and worked nine years in this zoo. I was connected to the animals more than I was to people. Today I am forced to let them go so they can live better," Oweida, 26, told Reuters. He said he will particularly miss eight-year-old tiger Laziz, whom he had raised since the animal was a cub. "I feel as if my soul has been taken away," Oweida said. (Editing by Jeffrey Heller in Jerusalem and Dominic Evans) By Dmitry Solovyov MOSCOW (Reuters) - Stalingrad, a name that conjours memories both of the Soviet Union's World War Two sacrifice and the murderous rule of dictator Josef Stalin, is making a comeback. A Russian regional governor has backed a proposal to name the local airport Stalingrad, angering some Russians who say the country should not honor Stalin, who oversaw millions of deaths. It was not clear if the initiative had the support of the Kremlin, but it would fit in with a pattern under President Vladimir Putin for officials to tap into nostalgia for a period of Soviet rule when the country was a global superpower. Andrei Bocharov, who runs the Volgograd Region in southern Russia, approved a proposal from war veterans to rename the local international airport Stalingrad, though he said "more work still has to be done on this issue", his official site said. Stalingrad was the name given to Volgograd in 1925 in honor of Stalin. It was changed back to Volgograd in 1961, when Stalin's successor denounced him. The city became a symbol of Soviet resistance during World War Two, when the battle of Stalingrad stopped the German advance into the Soviet Union and marked the turning of the tide of war in favor of the Allies. Svetlana Gannushkina, a senior member of Russian human rights group Memorial, told Reuters: "Airport Stalingrad is a disgrace. It would imply justifying Stalin's repressions, which is indamissible. "I am overwhelmed with sadness, because we are returning to our past; we do not remember those pages of our history that we should be proud of, but rather the most shameful ones; we restore the names which indeed must be remembered - but remembered as villains." LEGACY The way Russia views Stalin's legacy has gone through several shifts since he died in 1953. In 1961, Nikita Khruschev, who took over as Soviet leader after Stalin's death, had his preserved body removed from the Red Square mausoleum, where it lay alongside Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin, and ordered that Stalingrad be renamed Volgograd. A loosening of political restrictions in the 1980s allowed Russians for the first time to freely discuss the millions of people who died during his forced collectivization of farmers and his bloody purges of the 1930s. By the time the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, most Russians viewed Stalin as an odious figure. That changed as many Russians grew disenchanted with capitalist Russia, lamenting the gap that emerged between rich and poor, a collapse in public order, and a decline in Russia's standing in the world. More people began to see Stalin as an efficient manager who implemented an industrialization drive that transformed a peasant nation into a nuclear superpower, and as a national leader who defeated Nazi Germany. His grave, now alongside other senior Soviet officials next to the Kremlin wall, is sometimes bedecked with flowers. Exploiting nostalgia for the Soviet era, Russia's Communist Party - the second largest faction in the legislature - is widely using Stalin's image in its campaign in the run-up to the Sept. 18 parliamentary polls. Putin, who worked as a Soviet spy in eastern Germany during Communist rule, has said that he saw the collapse of the Soviet Union as a tragedy. He has said repression carried out under Stalin was unacceptable, but that his legacy was not all bad. There have been some proposals for the city of Volgograd itself to be renamed Stalingrad. Commenting on this in 2014, Putin said residents should hold a referendum on the issue, and that the Kremlin would respect the outcome. (Reporting by Dmitry Solovyov; Editing by Jermey Gaunt) Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f188485%2f9ab020b0d2164c30a7bbaf277818bf46 Most athletes seemed to have a really fun time at the Rio Olympics, especially with the hordes of condoms and what not, but now that they're home, they're being told it's probably best if they play it safe, especially sexually. That's the advice of Australia's Minister for Health, Sussan Ley, as the country's athletes touched down on Wednesday morning. SEE ALSO: Here's how Team Refugees fared at the Olympics She's told athletes and visitors to Rio alike that they should most definitely slip one on for the next eight weeks, to avoid transmission of the Zika virus. "There is a small chance that Zika is transmitted through sexual activity, so Australians returning from Brazil should use condoms or avoid unprotected sex for at least eight weeks," Ley told ABC News. Those who are feeling unwell on their return home should contact a doctor (obviously) and inform them of one's recent travel history, especially if pregnant or planning to fall pregnant soon. So far in Australia, there have been 44 confirmed cases of Zika virus this year which have been all acquired overseas. Zika is transmitted primarily via mosquitoes. "We are absolutely vigilant with every aircraft coming in that may be carrying mosquitoes," Ley told the news outlet. Aircraft arriving in Australia are subject to disinfection, with vector monitoring and control activities at the border, plus mandatory treatments of high-risk cargo. The Australian government has also warned people travelling home from Brazil to be conscious of fever, rash, red eyes or joint pain. And remember kids, zika threats aside if it's not on, it's not on. Die Young With Me by Rob Rufus (Touchstone) Agency: Intellectual Property Group The punk drummer's Me and Earl and the Dying Girl-esque memoir recounts his teenage days pursuing rock star dreams with his twin brother, Nat. When Rob is diagnosed with cancer, his journey is diverted to nightmarish treatments and the devastating effect on their friends and family. Farewell Havana by Chanel Dolz Cleeton (Berkley) Agencies: Marsal Lyon Literary, ICM With the end of the embargo, Cuban stories like this dual-timeline saga about a Cuban-American woman who returns to scatter her grandmother's ashes on the island and discovers a forgotten love affair during the Revolution are generating buzz. This story first appeared in the Sept. 9 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe. Read more: Rights Available! The Hit Man Next Door Tourists are low-yielding players. Rising tourist arrivals could have hyped up Genting Singapores gross gambling revenue (GGR) amidst a sluggish Chinese economy and a negative effect from O&G industry. Muted impact on gaming revenues, however, suggests tourists are low-yielding players. UOB Kay Hian revealed that Singapores tourist arrivals rose 11% YoY in 2Q16, thanks to tourists from mainland China (+65%). Except for Malaysia, all Southeast Asian countries sent tourists to the city-state, helping Southeast Asian arrivals inch up 4% in the quarter. Analysts, however, believes these figures did not help improve the mass market. Gentings Singapores mass market GGR has been on a steady climb until 2Q16 until when both Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands surprisingly shrunk. Consequently, Singapores mass market GGR (tables and slots) dropped by an estimated 7.6% yoy, the most severe quantum drop since the opening of the dual casinos in 2010, UOB Kay Hian said. More From Singapore Business Review the rock fast and furious universal Just when you think there's a break in the "Fast and Furious" franchise news, Vin Diesel gets on social media and drops a bombshell. While doing a Facebook Live chat (outside with lovely wind chimes ringing in the background), the actor revealed that Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson was not the first choice to play the Hobbs character. Back in the fifth film, when I was asking, Who should I work with? the reason why we brought Dwayne Johnson into Fast Five was because of you [the fans], Diesel said in the video. There was a girl named Jen Kelly who said, I would love to see you guys work together on-screen, and so we gave a role, that was initially written for Tommy Lee Jones, but we gave it to Dwayne, and he shined in it. Johnson recently called out unnamed male actors as being unprofessional on the set of the upcoming "Fast and Furious" movie, "Fast 8," though days later he walked back those comments. He's been a major addition to the franchise since coming on in 2011's "Fast Five." It's hard to imagine Jones bringing to the table what The Rock has. But it's fun to imagine. "Fast 8" will feature newcomers to the franchise: Helen Mirren, Scott Eastwood, and Charlize Theron. The movie opens April 2017. Watch Diesel's entire Facebook Live chat. NOW WATCH: The directors of 'Catfish' and 'Nerve' reveal how to make it in Hollywood without going to film school More From Business Insider Rosie ODonnell took issue with Hillary Clintons appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Monday night, saying she was disappointed to see the Democratic nominee reading one of Donald Trumps mean tweets about her. In a tweet to Gay Star News on Tuesday, ODonnell said, She read it disappointing. During their sit-down, Kimmel asked Clinton to read some of Trumps mean tweets, which she picked randomly out of a bowl. One of them was the now-infamous tweet he wrote about ODonnell. Also Read: Hillary Clinton Can't Bring Herself to Read This One Trump Quote for Kimmel (Video) If were running TheView, Id fire Rosie ODonnell. I mean, Id look at her right in that fat ugly face of hers (and) Id say, Rosie, youre fired.' Clinton read the tweet without laughing and then said, Thats not funny. Thats not funny. The tweet was sent by Trump in 2006 after ODonnell slammed him by calling him a snake oil salesman, for the way he handled a controversy surrounding his Miss USA pageant. Trump held a news conference announcing he would not fire then-Miss USA Tara Conner, following reports of alleged drug and alcohol abuse. Trumps tweet made national headlines during a Fox News debate last year when moderator Megan Kelly asked him about his disparaging comments toward women. Youve called women fat pigs, dogs, slobs, disgusting animals. Your Twitter account has several Kelly said. Trump, raising his finger, interrupted her: Only Rosie ODonnell, he said with a smirk. Related stories from TheWrap: Justin Timberlake, Jessica Biel Get Rave Reviews as Last-Minute Hillary Clinton Fundraiser Hosts Seth Meyers Matches Hillary Clinton's Appearance on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' in TV Ratings Hillary Clinton Proves to Jimmy Kimmel That She's Not Dying (Video) One Thai national was killed and 30 others injured after two bombs exploded near a hotel in Pattani. By Reuters: One Thai person was killed and 30 wounded when two bombs exploded late on Tuesday near a hotel in the southern Thai coastal town of Pattani, police said, less than two weeks after a series of unexplained blasts hit the south. FIRST BLAST CAUSES NO CASUALTIES The first blast in a parking lot behind the Southern Hotel caused no casualties, Police Lieutenant Colonel Winyu Tiamraj told Reuters on Wednesday. advertisement "The second explosion came from a truck parked at the hotel entrance, opposite a karaoke bar and a massage parlor, resulting in one death and 30 injuries," he said. All the casualties were Thai nationals. COMES LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AFTER THREE BLASTS IN POPULAR THAI RESORTS The blasts came less than two weeks after a series of explosions hit three of Thailand's most popular tourist resorts and a town in the south of the country, killing four people and wounding dozens. Tourism is one of the only growth sectors in Thailand, and accounts for 10 percent of an economy that has struggled under the stewardship of a military government that seized power two years ago. SOUTHERN INSURGENT GROUPS SUSPECTED No group has claimed responsibility for the wave of bombings, but some security experts noted at the time that southern insurgent groups have a track record of carrying out coordinated bombing attacks. Since 2004, a low-intensity but brutal war between government troops and insurgents has killed more than 6,500 people in the southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat that border Malaysia. EARLIER BLAST-STRICKEN PROVINCES HAD REJECTED MEMORANDUM The three provinces soundly rejected a referendum earlier this month on the new military-backed constitution, which passed convincingly in most of the rest of the country. The latest bombings came a year after an attack on a Hindu shrine, crowded with tourists in central Bangkok, killed 20 people and wounded more than 120. Police have accused two ethnic Uighur Muslims from China of the August 17, 2015, attack. --- ENDS --- (James Saft is a Reuters columnist. The opinions expressed are his own) By James Saft Aug 24 (Reuters) - Trendiness might be a good way to gain popularity in high school but it is a terrible way to pick a mutual fund, particularly a newly launched one. Like in every area of human activity, fashion plays a role in investment management, both in terms of where people choose to put their money, and, in consequence, in what kinds of products the industry creates. Mutual fund companies, ever alert to a new way to attract investors, try to ride the waves of trends. This has been going on for a long time, in varying guises, from the large-cap funds of the early 1970s "Nifty Fifty" boom to the technology and internet funds of the late 1990s right through to today's "low-volatility" offerings. And while there is nothing wrong with fund companies wanting to make profits, the question for investors is how well they will do out of the deal. On the evidence of a new study, following the creation of more than 6,000 mutual funds over more than 20 years, not so well at all. "The incentives to launch trendy funds exist regardless of whether the fund sponsor is skilled or expects future outperformance. Newly launched trendy funds generate significant additional inflows in their first twelve months, yet underperform over their first five years compared to non-trendy funds," Jason Greene of the University of Alabama Huntsville and Jeffrey Stark of Bridgewater State University write. (http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2826677) "Our results suggest that mutual fund launches appear to be motivated by considerations other than skill." There are two broad motivations for launching a fund, the authors posit. The first is skill, the belief that the manager has a particular skill or advantage which will create good results and thus attracts funds. The second, and here we enter the realm of the trendy, is demand-motivated funds: those which are created because the manager thinks there is an appetite for a particular strategy. Story continues The authors sort funds by trendiness, using fund names as a proxy and grouping them by how often descriptive words in a name are used in new funds. So, a fund with the word "Internet" in its name launched in a year with many other similarly named funds gets a higher score. So with "dividend" or "cautious" or any other given term. A GOOD BUSINESS, BUT WHERE ARE THE CUSTOMERS' YACHTS? What they found was firstly that the business of launching trendy mutual funds is a good one. The trendiest new funds reap additional inflows of $180.25 million, equal to almost 75 percent of net assets, over their first year. Interestingly, it is only the trendiest names which get much by way of extra flows. Sadly, however, starting a fund in a hot or trendy area seems to be a recipe for underperformance. Looked at over the first five years after launch, the trendiest funds lag the least trendy by 1.03 percentage points annually on a standard measure of alpha, or outperformance. In raw terms, the least trendy fifth of funds make 6.85 percent a year while the most trendy return only 5.28 percent. In fact, using various measures of alpha, only the funds in the least trendy quintile show a positive alpha. And guess what? The trendiest funds also carry higher fees. Annual expense ratios for trendy funds are 20 basis points per year higher than those which are not trendy, a difference which is as much as the entire expense ratio of some passive mutual funds. Two questions arise: why does this happen; and what should an investor do? The study proposes that fund firms which lack a skill advantage are drawn to areas which are sexy and therefore will help to attract flows. That's certainly possible and is very likely part of the story. There is also the fact that trendy areas go hand in hand with high valuations and the creation of not just sub-par investment vehicles but sub-par financial assets. Part of what we are seeing here may simply be that if you buy into an internet fund in 1999 you are not just getting a mediocre manager but asking him to buy you expensive and doubtful assets. Or take the current vogue for low-volatility stocks and funds. Demand has been so great that low-vol stocks are now as richly priced compared to high-volatility ones as they have been since the 1990s. In other words, the study may partly simply show a weakness in momentum investment - buying what has just gone up - as a long-term strategy. As for what one should do? That seems simple. Give trendy new funds a miss and go for the ones with out-of-fashion names and approaches. Their fees are lower, and their results are better. (Editing by James Dalgleish) By Se Young Lee SEOUL (Reuters) - Better-than-expected demand for Samsung Electronics Co Ltd's new Galaxy Note 7 is causing supply constraints globally, the South Korean tech giant said on Wednesday, suggesting strong initial sales for the new premium smartphone. While robust demand could help deliver another solid quarter of earnings, Samsung also risks missing out on potential sales if it cannot boost supply quickly. Rivals such as Apple Inc (AAPL.O) are poised to launch new phones which could pull customers away from Samsung if a shortage persists. "As pre-order results for the Galaxy Note 7 have far exceeded our estimates, its release date in some markets has been adjusted," Samsung told Reuters in a statement without commenting on where launch delays could occur. Production problems for the curved displays for the Galaxy S6 edge phone resulted in disappointing sales last year, and some investors fear a repeat if the world's top smartphone maker does not move quickly to meet Note 7 demand. Samsung shares were down 2 percent as of 0339 GMT Wednesday after hitting a record high on Tuesday, while the broader market was down 0.3 percent (.KS11). Samsung said it was trying to boost production at the secret locations where the Notes are made, and aimed to meet demand "as early as possible". It gave no further details. A person familiar with the matter told Reuters there was no production issue for the curved screens used on the Galaxy Note 7 and that the shortage would not be a long-term problem. "The party got more visitors than Samsung expected, so they just need to put more food out," said Nomura analyst C.W. Chung, who said the supply situation was not a major risk given that Samsung made key parts such as displays and chips in-house. Samsung could sell as many as 15 million Galaxy Note 7 phones this year, Chung said, compared with an estimated 9 million Galaxy Note 5 phones sold last year. The phone went on sale on Aug. 19 in countries including the United States and South Korea, where it retails for 988,900 won ($882). Story continues Samsung hopes it helps maintain sales and earnings momentum in the second half. Some analysts raised their profit forecasts for Samsung after the phone received favorable reviews. "There could be a temporary issue but Samsung has almost never had prolonged production misses," said IBK Asset Management fund manager Kim Hyun-su, adding that the share price decline appeared to be profit-taking after a recent rally. "It's a problem from selling well, so I don't think there is a need to worry too much." ($1 = 1,121.1700 won) (Editing by Tony Munroe and Stephen Coates) By Nichola Saminather SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Tencent Holdings Ltd and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd are racing to be crowned Asia's most valuable company as expectations for robust earnings growth push their share prices to record highs. Their surge - both have gained by a third this year - has made them the world's best performing large-cap tech stocks and highlights how these nimble Asian firms are thriving while rivals Apple Inc and Alibaba have struggled. "These companies can grow earnings despite weaker global growth," said Andrew Gillan, head of Asia ex-Japan equities at fund managing firm Henderson Global Investors, which is overweight on Asian technology firms. "The operating fundamentals of the Chinese internet sector particularly have surprised positively in the most recent quarterly results." While many investors remain upbeat about Samsung and Tencent, some caution the firms are vulnerable to rapid swings in sentiment on any sign of slowing momentum. Samsung and Tencent have been more volatile than the Asia tech sector and the broader market this year. On Wednesday, Samsung said sales of its latest flagship smartphone were out-stripping supply, but second-half profits could still take a hit if production shortfalls are not fixed and a recovery in components demand fails to eventuate. Moodys Investor Service also warned that Samsungs profit margins might narrow in the second half because of seasonal factors in the consumer electronics business and competitive pressures. For Tencent, the market expectations that are driving shares higher are themselves a risk, according to Nomura. A faster-than-expected slowdown in personal computer game revenue, aggressive spending and new products or business models from competitors could weigh on earnings, the bank warned. THE NUMBERS Samsung and Tencent have added about $30 billion in market value since Thursday, surging to all-time highs. Tencent is valued at $249 billion, only 4 percent smaller than the most valuable Asian firm, China Mobile, at $259 billion. Samsung is now worth $239 billion. Story continues Tencent is now the world's 12th-biggest company by market value and Samsung the 17th-largest, Thomson Reuters data shows. That's up from Nos. 26 and 33 respectively just five months ago, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers ranking released March 31. Samsung shares' have significantly outperformed Apple's - the Korean firm has leapt 50 percent over the past year, while the U.S. company has gained 3 percent amid concern about weak sales in China. The gap between Samsung's price-to-earnings ratio of 12.4 and Apple's 12.7 is now the narrowest since late 2011, although Samsung is still worth less than half the $586 billion Apple, according to Thomson Reuters data. Samsung's share price growth spurt comes after years of struggle in its smartphone business which left investors impatient for higher returns. The firm revived mobile profits by restructuring its product line-up this year and is seeking ways to sustain earnings momentum. Buybacks and higher dividends have also boosted shares. Tencent is significantly more expensive than Samsung. The Chinese internet firm, whose popular WeChat and Weixin messaging apps in China saw active monthly user numbers jump 34 percent in the second quarter, trades at 46.8 times earnings, closing in on Facebook's 59. China's slowest economic growth in 25 years and some questionable acquisitions have clouded the outlook for Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, but Tencent has managed to thrive thanks in part to its focus on rapidly growing mobile gaming. Tencent outshone peers including Baidu with a forecast-beating 47 percent jump in second-quarter profit, after it diversified into areas such as music, video and advertising. HSBC expects further earnings growth, driven by new income streams such as advertising, premium content, cloud services and finance. (Reporting by Nichola Saminather; Additional reporting by Dahee Kim; Editing by Miyoung Kim and Stephen Coates) MADRID Ethan Hawke will receive a 2016 Donostia Lifetime Achievement Award at Septembers 64th San Sebastian Festival, the highest-profile fest in the Spanish-speaking world. Hawke will be honored Sept. 17 at a ceremony prior to San Sebastians gala screening of Antoine Fuquas remake of classic western The Magnificent Seven, in which Hawke co-stars alongside Denzel Washington. The film will close the Venice Festival and then segues to Toronto, where it opens the festival. Hawkes career, spanning thirty years and four Academy Award nominations, has solidified his reputation as a truly multifaceted artist, challenging himself as a screenwriter, director, novelist and actor of the stage and screen, the San Sebastian Festival said in a statement. An actor who has also leveraged his fame to give more prominence to high-profile independent titles as with his fruitful partnership with Richard Linklater which takes in titles such as Boyhood, Before Midnight and Before Sunset Hawke enjoys a broad base of fans and a wide industry respect in and outside Spain. Rather like Mexicos Gael Garcia Bernal, who will also be honoured at San Sebastian with a new San Sebastian prize, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Latin Cinema Award, Hawke has also doubled up as a director helming 2006 music drama The Hottest State and 2015s documentary Seymour: An Introduction. He also served as a producer of Antoine Fuquas 2015 TV movie Exit Strategy, for Fox, which he also toplined. In 2002, Hawke received his first Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor for his work in Fuquas Training Day. His additional credits include Dead Poets Society, Good Kill, Reality Bites, Great Expectations, Hamlet, Gattaca, Brooklyns Finest, The Purge, and Before The Devil Knows Youre Dead. As previously announced, Sigourney Weaver will receive another Donostia Award at the San Sebastian Festivals 64th edition, which runs Sept. 16-24. Story continues Related stories Sigourney Weaver Set For San Sebastian Donostia Award Kino Lorber Nabs U.S. Rights to Jour2fete's 'Steak (R)evolution' (EXCLUSIVE) 'Magical Girl' Tops San Sebastian Fest Approached by a Canadian television producer for a variety sketch series back in the early 1970s, production designer Eugene Lee couldnt have realized then that hed stumbled on the job of a lifetime. That series, Saturday Night Live, has left an indelible, singular mark on popular culture, while keeping the designer employed for the past 41 years. With over 470 episodes of SNL under his belt, and only a handful of his original collaborators still on board at 30 Rock, Lees creative responsibilities dont end with SNL. Astonishingly, at age 77, the 12-time Emmy nominee has taken on a load that many production designers would surely find unimaginable, moving seamlessly between SNL, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Myers and other series. And thats not all: a multi-Tony Award winner, Lee designed the sets for Wicked and Stephen Sondheims Sweeney Todd, and remains active in the theater community. Below, Lee discusses his most recent Emmy nod, his process on SNL, and the unique legacy of SNLa show that had never been seen before and, in its eventual conclusion, will never be seen again. How did it feel to receive your 12th Emmy nomination this year for Saturday Night Live? I dont think much about awards. As far as Saturday Night goes, as far as it goes, Ive done it since the beginning, and initially, everyone on Saturday Night won. Everyone won, you know, except us. I remember Chevy Chase saying to me, Wow, you guys didnt win. I was like, No, not today, you know? Thats kind of the story, always, but Ive won plenty of other things. Were a very easy-going, happy design department; whatever they want, we give them. And its a pleasurethere wont be another show like Saturday Night when Saturday Night goes away, whatever happens to it. Lorne [Michaels] always says hes doing it as long as he can. Theres nothing like it. You are one of only a handful of creatives still involved with the series who were there in 1975. Is there a strong kinship among the SNL stalwarts? Come on, were just a big, dysfunctional family. I love Lornehes always been really, really good to me. Ive been particularly busy lately, being as I did the renovation of the studio for Jimmy [Fallon], for The Tonight Showand a set I rather like, and am proud of. I have a set in almost every NBC studio at 30 Rock. Story continues One rarely works on a show so long as we have worked on Saturday Night. I cant walk from one end of the building to the other without ten people stopping me in the hallway and saying hi. From your beginnings in small town Wisconsin to your work at the Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, how did you originally come to work on this historic series? My identical twin brother went to West Point, and I tried to go off into the theaterbut no one could tell you anything, being from Wisconsin. You say to your high school people, Id like to be a set designertheyd just look at you like youre crazy. They dont know what it all means. I saw Helen Hayes talking on PBS about this school in Pittsburgh, Carnegie Tech, and I just thought, Hey, I should be there. So I jumped in my Volkswagen and drove to Pittsburgh, walked in the front door, and said, Here I am. I [later] got a call from my friend Roger Morgan, who was a lighting designer, saying, Im in Providence working for this director, Adrian Hallhes a little strange, but hes unhappy. Hes looking for a new set designer. Maybe you guys would hit it off. So, I came to Providence, and Ive been here for 50 years. We did hundreds of shows, and I was living out of a 50-foot sailboat in Rhode Island. Then one day, I got a callI was out rowing around, and the phone went off. It was some guy from NBC saying this Canadian producer was doing this new comedy variety show, and hed like to talk. I didnt know anything about television, so I went, knocked on his doornice guy, very casualI bring some work along to show him, he doesnt want to see any of that. He talks about the show a bit, says, Im going out to this comedy club. Why dont you guys come out tonight? The next day, we walked down to NBC, and that was that, you know? RCA owned it at the time, and they ran the whole thing like it was an opera company. It turns out that Lorne had seen a show on Broadway that I didCandide, the Leonard Bernstein musicalwhich was a big hit at the time. Anyway, I dont know; Saturday Night of course became a big hit. Who could predict? What does your average week look like on the set of SNL? Its very simple. It kind of runs like a theater, so these days, we have a read-through on Wednesday, three oclock. We gather together on the 17th floor, in an office that we picked the first day we walked down to NBC. We read out the scripteveryones there, the cast, the guest for that week, okay? Thats kind of fun, and then after that, the producers decide what they would like to produce. Then we meet with the directorDon [Roy] King at the moment, nice guyand with him, we talk through how the studio gets laid out. After that, we talk to everyone, because the writers produce the pieces. For scenery, they have to come talk to us and tell us what they want. Suddenly, its quiet, and the design department, we pick on different things. We decide whos drawing what, and we sit right down and do it, however long it takes. Sometimes we dont start drafting before ten oclock in the evening, and were just lucky if we get out by the next day. A person comes from the shop that evening, and we take the drawings that weve done, and we hand it to them. They go back to the shop in Brooklyn and start working on it, pulling pieces of scenery that we might use. We try to save things, but it doesnt usually work. If you save it, you never get to use it again, you know? And its expensive to store scenery, so sometimes its better just to rebuild it. On Thursday, we rehearse the music. We go on camera, one oclock, and rehearse the music. Then they do promos, and we rehearse whatever we can. If theres no scenery therewhich there isnt, by the waythen we have to make it up. its made up. Overnight, some scenery has come; and on Friday, we once again go on camera at one. Were trying to work together in the studioits kind of hard sometimes. Theres a lot of stage managers saying, Quiet, quiet. On Friday, Lorne likes to have a meeting at the end of the day, and that meeting can be any time. It can be midnight, you know? I always go to that meeting on Friday night, and then sometimes, they try to do a layout of what the show is going to kind of look like. It often changesbut I mean, thats the point. By Saturday, weve finished painting the scenery in the studio, were dressing itand then, just like theater, we do a technical. At eight oclock, we do a dress rehearsal with an audience, and that is usually long. Things get cut. They didnt used to record it, but now we record this dress rehearsal, and then we do it live. After the dress rehearsal, because I live in Rhode Island, I have a driver who picks me up at 30 Rock at 11 oclock sharp. Theres always someone left in the design department, if theres some incredible emergency. You know, they decide, like, wait, that whole set is being hurt because the color is wrong, they dont like the wallpaperGod knows what the story is, and no problem. We come down, the audience is coming in, weve painted the thing; we bring out the big fans to dry it. You just dont have a show done like this anymore, you know? And plus, theres all the crazy stuff that makes it kind of sentimental. I mean, we go out into the hallway, right outside the studio, which we do from time to time. We always have Abe Lincoln, a llama, and a chorus girl somewhere in the shot, lurking in the background. Why? We cant remember anymore why we do it. But sometimes, like last year, we brought in the llama, and he was the wrong color. This was very upsetting, you know what I mean? Who else does this kind of stuff? Would you say that series like 30 Rock and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip accurately reflect your frenetic creative environment? My friend Keith [Raywood], who is a set decorator on Saturday Night, did 30 Rock. So, yeah, they get it; and from time to time, when 30 Rock was on, they shot in and around the building. Its kind of great, actually. I feel particularly lucky with the whole thing, because as it turns out with Lorne, I ended up doing The Tonight Show; we just did Maya & Marty. I dont know whats happening with thatwe did six shows. We were using Studio 6A, which is right across the hall from Jimmy [Fallon]. Its such an extraordinarily interesting, nice place to work, 30 Rock. I dont know if you remember, but there was a time when NBC, they were going to move everything to Fort Lee [New Jersey], and forget the city. What a disaster that wouldve been. The look of New York City in the 70s was influential in your initial designs for the show. Over these 40 years, as the city has changed dramatically, how has this affected your work? I think the way New York has evolved, everything is hipper, you know? Every club is, and I think the show is that way. I think the film unit used to do just parody commercials, but we dont do many parody commercials anymore. The film unit is doing whole little movies, which is kind of great, actually. Hey, theyre all going to go into the movies sooner or later. This being a highly scrutinized election year, and having been through so many election years with the series, what is your experience in dealing with this sort of material? You cant make up what were doing nowcome on. We actually proposed a show with Mr. Trump called Trump Follies. It never went anyplace, but we had fascinating meetings over at his office. And I found him a fascinating guy, you know? Darrell Hammond was going to play him; it was going to be a Broadway show. It was a fascinating little side thing that never happened. How do you feel when looking at the legacy of this show, and the tremendous mark it has made on popular culture throughout its run? Heres the deal. Just recently, the people who did Titanic and King Tut did an exhibit on Saturday Night, which weve been talking about for a long time. It played for a year, and it forced me to go back and look at the show in entirety. I had a chance to go back, and rebuild the first Saturday Night, which was meant to be kind of a little club in the cellar. I dont know. Its a little like my Wicked. It goes on and on. Related stories 'All The Way' Writer-Director Team On The 2016 Presidential Election, Politics As War & Their Road To Emmys Leslie Jones Attacked Online Again As Website Hacked, Info Exposed 'The Wiz Live!' EPs Discuss The Upcoming 'Hairspray Live!' And The Return Of The Live TV Musical Saudi Arabia has backed Mahmoud Sabbaghs Barakah Meets Barakah as its 2017 Academy Awards entry for best foreign language film. The movie marks the second-ever Saudi film to be submitted for consideration. Mahmoud Sabbagh is a representative of a new generation who will soon be a pioneer in the history of filmmaking in Saudi Arabia, said Sultan Al Bazie, head of the Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts and chairman of the nominating committee. This generation, who submitted more than 70 films in the third Saudi Film Festival organized by SASCA last March, are showing a lot of creativity and determination to express themselves and their culture through cinema, he added. We feel proud to nominate Barakah Meets Barakah as our countrys second entry to the Oscars and we are optimistic that the next years will have more entries from Saudi Arabia. Barakah Meets Barakah made its debut at this years Berlin Film Festival, where it received positive reviews. The film follows a young couple on a first date in a society where public unchaperoned meetings are prohibited. It is a clash between the traditional societal values of Saudi Arabia and the modern world. This movie is about hope and making change. Even in the most challenging filmmaking conditions, there should be a voice that represents the normal stories of the people in Saudi Arabia, said writer/director Sabbagh. Barakah Meets Barakah will make its North American debut next month at the Toronto International Film Festival. MPM Films is handling worldwide sales but the film is still looking for North American distribution. Related stories Berlin: Saudi Rom-Com 'Barakah' Set for Arab Distribution Via Mad Solutions And Fortress Film Clinic (EXCLUSIVE) By Wilda Asmarini JAKARTA (Reuters) - Oil and gas giant Saudi Aramco [IPO-ARMO.SE] may reduce its stake in a proposed $5.5 billion (4.17 billion pounds) refinery project in Indonesia, the country's energy minister said on Wednesday. Aramco has asked to cut its share of the project to upgrade a refinery in Cilacap in the province of Central Java to 30 percent from 45 percent, interim energy minister Luhut Pandjaitan told reporters. Such a move could be a setback to President Joko Widodo's plans to overhaul the creaking energy infrastructure in Southeast Asia's largest economy. Pandjaitan added that state energy company Pertamina [PERTM.UL], which is jointly developing the facility, would likely absorb the difference. "Aramco's progress has been rather slow. We want to chase this, not just talk. We want something concrete now," he said. Indonesia hopes to formalise a joint venture and other details of the partnership between Aramco and Pertamina during a visit from Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz to the archipelago in October. "We will finalise this as best we can first, and we hope this will have a positive impact for everyone, primarily the Indonesian public," Pertamina spokeswoman Wianda Pusponegoro told Reuters, referring to the partnership with Aramco. However, Pusponegoro noted that the company had not received official notification of any Aramco proposal to reduce its proposed stake. Aramco declined to comment. Forecasting growing crude oil demand, Aramco has been looking to invest further in Indonesia's refining and petrochemicals sector, part of broader expansion plans in China, India, Vietnam and the United States. The Cilacap upgrade is expected to increase the refinery's crude processing capacity to 370,000 barrels per day (bpd) from 348,000 bpd at present, and is targetted for completion by the end of 2022. (Writing by Fergus Jensen; Editing by Joseph Radford) By Irene Klotz (Reuters) - Scientists have discovered a planet that appears to be similar to Earth circling the star closest to the sun, potentially a major step in the quest to find out if life exists elsewhere in the universe, research published on Wednesday showed. The relative proximity of the planet, known as Proxima b, gives scientists a better chance to eventually capture an image of it, to help them establish whether it has an atmosphere and water, which is believed to be necessary for life. Future studies may reveal if any atmosphere contains tell-tale chemicals of biological life, such as methane, according to a paper published in this week's issue of the journal Nature. "The key question of our initiative was whether there were potentially life-bearing planets orbiting these stars. We know now there is at least one planet with some characteristics similar to the Earth," said Pete Worden, a former top NASA manager, who was speaking at a European Southern Observatory webcast news conference to announce the find. The planet, located about 4.2 light-years from Earth, or 25 trillion miles (40 trillion km), is the closest of some 3,500 planets that have been discovered beyond the solar system since 1995, according to the paper. "This planetary system is much closer than any other that we know so detailed investigation is easier," astronomer Ansgar Reiners, with the University of Gottingen in Germany, told reporters on a conference call. Astronomers got their first hint of a planet circling the sun's small dim neighbor star in 2013. But they needed additional observations, using more precise instruments, to make a definitive call. An international team of 31 scientists found the planet after careful and repeated measurements of slight shifts in the color of the light coming from its host star, Proxima Centauri, which is a small, dim star in the Alpha Centauri system. The shifts, which astronomers call "wobbles," are caused by the gravitational tugging of a planet roughly 1.3 times the size of Earth on the parent star. Based on the timing of wobbles, scientists determined that the planet circles its host star in just 11 days, compared to Earth's 365-day orbit around the sun. That puts the planet far closer to its parent star than Earth orbits the sun. However, Proxima Centauri is so much smaller and dimmer than the sun that its planet's orbit is suitably positioned for liquid water despite being just 4.4 million miles away. EARTH-LIKE PLANET "Chances are good that it's a viable, Earth-like planet today," said astronomer Pedro Amado, with the Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia in Granada, Spain. But scientists are unsure if red dwarf stars like Proxima Centauri are good hosts for life. Planets orbiting close enough to keep water liquid would be blasted with 100 times more high-energy radiation than Earth receives from the sun, though what impact that would have on life is a matter of scientific debate. "We don't think it's a show-stopper," Amado said. Magnetic fields and an atmosphere offer a planet some protection. It is unknown if Proxima b has either. Before the discovery of Proxima b, the nearest Earth-like planet to the sun was circling a star known as Wolf 1061, located about 14 light-years away. Proxima b may not be flying solo. "We have some suspicions that there is another signal around the star," Reiners said. More research is needed to determine if there are multiple planets circling Proxima Centauri. The discovery announced on Wednesday is expected to bolster a $100 million project unveiled in April and backed by Russian billionaire Yuri Milner to develop a miniature laser-powered spacecraft that can make the trip to the Alpha Centauri system in about 20 years. "We hope to build a whole system that will send nanocraft to Proxima Centauri and Alpha Centauri within a generation," said Worden, the executive director of Breakthrough Starshot, an initiative that aims to deploy thousands of tiny spacecraft to travel to our nearest neighboring star system and send back pictures. (Reporting by Irene Klotz in Sydney, Australia; Additional reporting by Rosalba O'Brien in Santiago; Editing by Bill Rigby and Alistair Bell) Scientists are researching mouthwash as a surprising cure for this common STD Scientists are researching mouthwash as a surprising cure for this common STD Earlier this summer, medical researchers found evidence that gonorrhea was becoming resistant to the drugs that typically cure it resulting in concerns that the increasingly diagnosed sexually transmitted disease may soon be untreatable. Neisseria Gonorrhoeae But scientists may have discovered a surprising new oral gonorrhea cure that you probably already have on your bathroom counter: mouthwash. Professor Christopher Fairley from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia is currently working with 58 men who test positive for oral gonorrhea. The men are given either mouthwash or salt water rinses, and then Professor Fairley tests for detectable levels of the STD in the mens throats. When the patients used mouthwash, Professor Fairley found it had reduced the levels of gonorrhea. J&J Pharmaceutical Success Drives Increase In 2014 Forecast Professor Fairley explains that a lot more testing is necessary to confirm these results, as well as to find out how long the gonorrhea levels stay reduced and if they can be eliminated from the body completely. But considering how bleak things looked for gonorrhea treatment just a little while ago, this is a very important development. Plus, as TeenVogue notes, condoms, when used correctly, can successfully prevent gonorrhea transmission, but a lot of folks dont use condoms when performing oral sex just another reason why a new cure for oral gonorrhea is so important. Hopefully this study ends with a new, researched cure for gonorrhea, and helps us all continue to stay healthy and practice safe sex. The post Scientists are researching mouthwash as a surprising cure for this common STD appeared first on HelloGiggles. In a reckless incident, a three-year-old boy was crushed under his school van after getting off in Delhi. The incident brings the issue of unregulated school transport in the spotlight. By Mail Today Bureau: A three-year-old school child was crushed to death by his own school van in north Delhi's Civil Line area on Tuesday afternoon. The death has once again brought about the issue of unregulated school transport in Delhi-NCR. Though the state transport department has laid down stringent guidelines concerning school vehicles, these are rarely followed on the ground. advertisement HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED Eye-witnesses said the victim, Aviral, got off his school van and was moving towards his home when the reversing vehicle hit him. Aviral's parents saw the accident from the terrace of their house and rushed the child to the hospital in the same cab. He was declared brought dead. Police have arrested the driver, Rahul Kumar for causing death due to negligent driving under Section 304A. IS THE SCHOOL TRANSPORT RELIABLE? The tragic incident has renewed the debate on school transport system. School vans crammed with students driving recklessly are a common sight in the city. The Delhi government has also mandated educational institutes to keep a check on illegal cabs but it has brought little improvement. "Traffic police should man the school roads during the opening and closing of the school hours," said Ameeta Wattal, principal of Springadales school at Pusa Road. WHAT IS GOING WRONG? Wattal said her school had written a lot of letters to Delhi government and police authorities regarding the traffic management outside the schools. "The traffic is constantly flowing and there are no speed breakers. At the time of dispersal, the children are running around to reach out to their parents and other vehicles. The school staff cannot stand outside and organize the traffic." Several teachers that Mail Today spoke with admitted that most of the cabs in their schools were operating without the required permit. Packed in overcrowded cabs, school-going children are often left to the mercy of errant drivers. WHAT DO THE GUIDELINES SAY? As per the government guidelines, only drivers having five years of experience will be allowed to drive school buses and vans. A driver who has been challaned more than twice in a calendar year on account of violations like overtaking, jumping of red light and parking regulations, cannot be allowed to drive school buses. The guidelines also mention that the drivers are mandated to wear a uniform of grey trousers and jacket and they must display their identity card visibly while driving the vehicles. The name of the owner of the vehicle must also figure in the card. advertisement Police claims that all the transport vehicles buses or cabs must pick the students from the premises of the school facility and drop them at designated stop. School buses and cabs must display prominently that they are being used for ferrying school children. All the vehicles must be equipped with a first-aid box, fire extinguisher and must have provision for bag racks. SCHOOLS, PARENTS SHOULD PARTICIPATE FOR WARDS SAFETY: POLICE According to the police, huge traffic jams are witnessed outside all the school in Delhi and NCR. Despite several guidelines to the school they have failed to make provisions to park buses, cabs and cars brought by parents to pick their wards. "We do continuous drive against errant drivers and also against those who are found recklessly driving and parking their vehicles. Schools and parents should also actively come forwards for the safety for students," senior officer said. PROPER MECHANISM FOR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT REQUIRED However, school management claims that they alone cannot manage traffic menace outside the school. "We have a few teachers and staff who manages the traffic outside the school. In Noida, the number of traffic constables are not sufficient. So as a part of our social responsibility, we help them. But there has to be a proper mechanism for the traffic management outside all the schools," said Asha Prabhakar, principal of Bal Bharti School in Noida. advertisement PREVIOUS INCIDENTS Meanwhile, accidents continue unabated. One similar case is of seven-year-old Jiya Juneja, who died four months back after remaining in coma for nine days. Jiya was hit by a speeding van after she was allegedly dropped on the wrong side of the road by her school bus in Gurgaon on May 9. Jiya's father Pankaj Juneja too had accused the school of not following safety norms and alleged that the bus that dropped Jiya had neither a conductor nor an attendant. Also read - Bhadohi tragedy: School van driver's love for speed and music claims 9 innocent lives --- ENDS --- London (AFP) - North Sea oil revenues for Scotland have plunged, according to official data out on Wednesday that unionists said undermined the case for independence following Britain's vote to leave the European Union. Revenues fell to A60 million (71 million euros, $79 million) in the 2015-2016 financial year from A1.8 billion in the previous 12 months -- a 97-percent drop due to the dip in oil prices, the data showed. Scotland's public deficit also rose to A14.8 billion, up from A14.3 billion in the 2014-2015 financial year. "The lower oil price has, of course, reduced offshore revenues, with a corresponding impact on our fiscal position," Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said. "However, Scotland's long-term economic success is now being directly threatened by the likely impact of Brexit," she added. The Scottish government on Tuesday warned of the heavy financial burden from Britain exiting the European Union, claiming an annual cost to the economy of up to A11.2 billion. At the same time however, the cost could be much lower at A1.7 billion a year in lost gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030, it added in a statement. "This paper shows, in the starkest possible terms, the potentially huge cost to Scotland of being taken out of the European Union and the single market," Sturgeon said. "It is simply unacceptable that Scotland faces the prospect risk being dragged out of the EU against its will,a she added. Following the shock outcome of the June 23 referendum, Sturgeon earlier this month announced plans for increased infrastructure spending to boost the Scottish economy. The devolved Scottish administration said it would invest an extra A100 million on health and other infrastructure projects in Scotland this year. Prime Minister Theresa May must now decide when to activate Article 50, which formally triggers the country's departure from the European Union. Sturgeon campaigned for Britain to stay in the European Union and has said she wants to preserve close EU ties even if Britain leaves, which could include a new bid for independence. Scotland voted against separating from the rest of the United Kingdom in a 2014 referendum. EDINBURGH, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Scotland's fiscal deficit stood at about a tenth of its economy in the year to March 2016, hammered by a slump in oil and gas revenues and potentially dampening arguments for Scottish independence. Scotland's share of North Sea oil revenues crashed 97 percent to 60 million pounds in the year to March from 1.8 billion pounds a year ago and 8.2 billion ten years earlier. Data released by the Scottish government on Wednesday showed lower oil prices -- which reduce government tax revenues -- and higher public spending mean that the country still needs to address how to expand its economy beyond oil, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said. She said Britain's decision to leave the European Union in a referendum in June, which was not supported by voters in Scotland, was threatening prospects for the Scottish economy. The 9.5 percent gap in Scottish public finances as a percentage of its economy is more than twice the size of Britain's overall 4 percent deficit, including North Sea oil, and is up from a gap of 9.1 percent in the previous year. The data also showed growing onshore revenues offset by increased spending on heath and education -- one of the key tenets of the devolved nationalist government's campaign to offer a contrast to austerity in the rest of Britain. "Scotland's challenge is to continue to grow our onshore economy. However, Scotland's long-term economic success is now being directly threatened by the likely impact of Brexit," Sturgeon said. Scotland voted against independence in 2014, and one of the reasons behind that is thought to be fears of unhooking its economy from the rest of the UK, where the tax take helps fund Scottish public services. However Britain's vote to leave the European Union, known as Brexit, has rekindled the cause of independence once again because Scotland as a single nation voted to stick with the EU. Including a geographical share of North Sea revenue, the net fiscal balance -- the balance of all that is spent and received by public departments -- stood at 14.8 billion pounds ($19.6 billion) in the twelve months to March 2016. Story continues The Scottish government argues that the economic uncertainty caused by Brexit means that it can no longer be said that the UK as a constitutional structure provides stability. However the UK government's minister for Scotland, David Mundell, noted that Scotland was able to withstand the economic cycle because of the strength of the overall UK economy. "Scotland weathered a dramatic slump in oil revenues last year because we are part of a United Kingdom that has at its heart a system for pooling and sharing resources across the country as a whole," he said in a statement. Britain has now to map out the terms of its new trade agreement with the rest of the world following the Brexit vote. It is not expected to formally start the process until the end of the year. Sturgeon is not ruling out another Scottish independence referendum as part of efforts to keep Scotland in the EU. The Scottish Greens said the figures would be seized on to back arguments for and against independence but the data really showed the economy needed to reduce its dependence on oil. "In truth, the figures show what has been clear for years - that a strong future for Scotland's economy will depend on ending our reliance on oil and gas, and investing in the industries of the 21st century instead," said party leader Patrick Harvey. ($1 = 0.7563 pounds) (Reporting by Elisabeth O'Leary; editing by Giles Elgood) By Koh Gui Qing (Reuters) - Billionaire investor Wilbur Ross' investment firm WL Ross & Co agreed on Wednesday to pay a $2.3 million fine to the Securities and Exchange Commission to settle charges that it did not properly disclose some fees it charged investors. The fine is the latest in a string of actions taken by the SEC against the private equity sector, as it seeks to improve transparency and crack down on undisclosed fee collection by some fund managers. In exchange for promises to deliver annual returns higher than 15 percent, U.S. buyout firms typically charge their investors an array of fees for their services. For instance, private equity firms usually charge a management fee worth around 1.5 percent of the total cash managed. Private equity firms often also charge companies they invest in transaction and monitoring fees. In a statement on Wednesday, the SEC said WL Ross had failed to disclose how it calculates its fees for some funds, which led to investors paying roughly $10.4 million of management fees that they should not have in the decade leading up to 2011. WL Ross had initially agreed with its investors to discount its quarterly management fees by between 50 percent and 80 percent of any transaction fee it had collected the previous quarter from its funds, the SEC said. However, between 2001 and 2011, WL Ross used a fee calculation formula that allowed it to keep a "significant" part of the transaction fees for itself, instead of assigning them to funds to offset the management fee as agreed, the SEC said. WL Ross' investors were not told of the fee calculation methodology, the SEC said, adding that WL Ross had created "ambiguous provisions" in its agreement with investors that led to a deal favoring the firm over its investors. WL Ross has "voluntarily" agreed to return the excess fees collected, along with interest, to investors, the SEC said. The SEC earlier this week also slapped a $52.7 million fine on buyout firm Apollo Global Management LLC for misleading investors about fees, among other violations. Wilbur Ross, whose net worth is pegged by Forbes at $2.9 billion, started his eponymous private equity firm in 2000 and sold the firm to investment manager Invesco in 2006 for as much as $375 million. An adviser to Republican U.S. Presidential nominee Donald Trump, Ross, 78, remains chairman of the firm. (Reporting by Koh Gui Qing in New York; Editing by Bernard Orr) Brandy Young might be onto something huge. On Tuesday, August 16, the second-grade teacher at Godley Elementary School in Godley, Texas, sent out a letter to parents explaining her no homework-policy. After much research this summer, Im trying something new. Homework will only consist of work that your student did not finish during the school day, Young wrote. Research has been unable to prove that homework improves student performances. Rather, I ask that you spend your evenings doing things that are proven to correlate with student success. Eat dinner as a family, read together, play outside and get your child to bed early. PHOTOS: Back-to-School Buzzzz-o-meter: Gift Guide The letter went viral, with more than 72,000 shares on Facebook, after a parent, Samantha Gallagher, posted it to her page that evening. Young, who has been an educator for eight years, tells Us Weekly she is excited about the new routine and that the school board has been supportive. The students obviously love it. However, they understand that going away with the weekly homework packet is not an excuse to end learning outside of the classroom, she says. Students may still have projects and opportunities to develop their knowledge at home, but it will be engaging, relevant and meaningful. PHOTOS: Viral Stars: 2016's Biggest Internet Celebrities And Gallagher, whose daughter Brooke is in Youngs class, feels the same way. I adore the fact that after eight hours of school, my 7-year-old gets to come home, unwind and just be a kid, she tells Us. I do believe we need to be reinforcing what they learn at school at home. However, I also believe the lessons they learn at home through creative play and family time are equally important. Tell Us: What do you think of Youngs progressive homework policy? Related Content: Senator Amy Klobuchar knows firsthand what it feels like to watch your child gasping for air, in need of medicine, after an allergic reaction. Her daughter requires an EpiPen for her allergies, like millions of Americans, and Klobuchar was one of the many parents shocked to see Mylan Pharmaceuticals raise the price of the EpiPen to over $500. "I had this experience myself, when we were in a remote part of Minnesota on vacation, of giving my child a cashew, and the 30 minute drive to the hospital where you don't know if she's going to make it or not, and she can't breathe," the Democrat senator from Minnesota recalls of the day she discovered her daughter, Abigail, was allergic. "It was something I'll never forget." After that day, Klobuchar made sure to have an EpiPen ready for Abigail as a precaution. "She's allergic to cashews and pistachios, and that's sounds like it's easy to deal with, but it shows up surprisingly in fruits and you don't know it, so we've always been told by every doctor to have an EpiPen with us at all times," Klobuchar explains. "And the fact that they've gone from $100 in 2009 for a pack of two, to between $500 and $600 this year is just outrageous." Klobuchar, the Ranking Member of the Antitrust Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced Saturday that she's calling for a judiciary hearing and investigation into Mylan's price hike. "If you look at the facts here, when Mylan controls 85 percent of the market, to quote Bloomberg News, and they had this monopoly power drop in their laps and they went for it that's what I see," she says. "They say they've made some improvements, but there's no way their improvements should be five times more the value of the item itself." Senator Amy Klobuchar Pushes EpiPen Makers to Explain Their 400 Percent Price Hike| Health, Bodywatch In a statement shared with PEOPLE, Lauren Kashtan, Mylan's head of North America communications, said they're raising prices to stay in line with insurance costs. "With changes in the healthcare insurance landscape, an increasing number of people and families are enrolled in high deductible health plans, and deductible amounts continue to rise," Kashtan says. "This shift has presented new challenges for consumers, and they are bearing more of the cost. This change to the industry is not an easy challenge to address, but we recognize the need and are committed to working with customers and payors to find solutions to meet the needs of the patients and families we serve." Along with her push for judicial hearings with the support of Senator Charles Grassley, the head of the Judiciary Committee, Klobuchar also introduced four bills, three of which are bipartisan, in the attempts of stopping Mylan's monopoly on epinephrine auto-injectables. One would allow the drugs to come in from Canada, where EpiPens are still priced around $100, and another would stop pharmaceutical companies and the generic medicine companies to create a monopoly. But Klobuchar says that all of the bills have been opposed, largely from pharmaceutical lobbyists. RELATED VIDEO: Find Out Why Martin Shkreli Claims He Lost 15 Million Dollars Over Kanye Album She says that the one positive of the outrage is that it's calling attention to the problem. "This is so outrageous, and parents and patients are supposed to be buying this every year because it expires," Klobuchar explains. "So you're asking all of 3.6 million that's how many prescriptions are written each year families to just keep this on hand, probably not use it, and then pay escalating prices each year. And that's what's pissing people off." "I'm hopeful that so much pressure on Mylan gets them to change the price of the drug." seth meyers hillary clinton emails donald trump late night nbc Even though there's some pretty damning information revealed in the newly discovered batch of Hillary Clinton emails, Seth Meyers says the Democratic presidential candidate should feel lucky. Earlier this week, the FBI uncovered about 15,000 emails that Clinton didn't hand over to investigators. Meyers joked, "How many emails does Hillary Clinton have that she can just miss 15,000? Oh no, is she one of those weirdos who has them unread on her phone? Because Trump may be a demagogue, but I cant vote for a sociopath who doesnt clean out their inbox. That is not okay. The biggest revelation of the recently released emails is how Clinton's foundation had used its access to the State Department to provide favors for supporters and donors. "Words like 'favor' and 'take care of' shouldn't be in the State Department's emails," Meyers argued. "They should be in the last five minutes of a 'Sopranos' episode." Meyers pointed to other emails showing the Clinton Foundation's further abuse of its connections. One involved the prince of Bahrain. The host really got a kick out of one email that referenced U2 frontman Bono's request to link up with the International Space Station from each show on the band's tour. "Here's an idea, Bono," Meyers offered. "You gotta let people decide for themselves when they want to listen to your music... Look, if I were in space, I'd happily put on U2, but it has to be my choice." Ultimately, the emails have led to the Foundation announcing it would stop taking donations from corporations and foreign entities if Clinton were elected president. With Trump's poll numbers falling and his campaign losing key members, Meyers says that Clinton's email scandal has been greatly overshadowed. In any other year, all of this would be so much more politically damaging to Hillary, he said. Watch Meyers take a closer look at Clinton's email scandal and Trump's struggling campaign below: NOW WATCH: 'PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DIE': James Carville goes on an impassioned rant in defense of the Clinton Foundation More From Business Insider NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 24, 2016 / The following statement is being issued by Levi & Korsinsky, LLP: To: All Persons or Entities who purchased Commercial Bancshares, Inc. ("Commercial Bancshares") (CMOH) stock prior to August 24, 2016 . You are hereby notified that Levi & Korsinsky, LLP has commenced an investigation into the fairness of the sale of Commercial Bancshares to First Defiance Financial Corp. (FDEF). Under the terms of the transaction, Commercial Bancshares shareholders may elect to receive either 1.1808 shares of First Defiance common stock or cash in the amount of $51.00 for each Commercial Bancshares share they own. To learn more about the action and your rights, go to: http://zlk.9nl.com/commercial-bancshares-cmoh or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at jlevi@zlk.com or by telephone at (212) 363-7500, toll-free: (877) 363-5972. There is no cost or obligation to you. Levi & Korsinsky is a national firm with offices in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California, and Washington D.C. The firm's attorneys have extensive expertise in prosecuting securities litigation involving financial fraud, representing investors throughout the nation in securities lawsuits and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders. For more information, please feel free to contact any of the attorneys listed below. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Levi & Korsinsky, LLP Joseph E. Levi, Esq. Eduard Korsinsky, Esq. 30 Broad Street - 24th Floor New York, NY 10004 Tel: (212) 363-7500 Toll Free: (877) 363-5972 Fax: (212) 363-7171 www.zlk.com SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP Members of the public can pay their respects to the late S R Nathan from 10am to 10pm on Thursday (25 August), as the body of the former president lies in state at Parliament House. Vigil guards, the highest form of respect accorded to a deceased dignitary, will be mounted. It will be performed by officers from the army, navy, air force and police force. Singapores sixth and longest serving president died on Monday evening (22 August), almost a month after suffering a debilitating stroke. Various ministers and public figures have paid fulsome tributes to him since. At 8.45am on Tuesday, a private hearse carrying the casket will make its way from Nathans residence at Ceylon Road to Parliament House. The hearse will be received by Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob. (Photo: Ministry of Communications and Information) At Parliament House, the state flag will be draped over the casket in the presence of Nathans family. The draping of the state flag is the highest state honour accorded to a leader. President Tony Tan and Mrs Tan will then pay their respects to the late Nathan. Those who wish to bid farewell to the late former president should enter the Padang via St Andrews Road from City Hall MRT Station. Turks, Americans, Hit ISIS. Just before dawn on Wednesday morning, American and Turkish jets swooped down on Islamic State positions around the town of Jarabulus in Syria, kicking off a joint mission to push the extremist group away from the Turkish border. The strikes were supported on the ground by Turkish special forces, over 300 artillery strikes, and tanks, according to the state-run Anadolu News Agency. Turkish-backed Syrian rebels from the Ahrar al Sham militant group are also part of the assault. The operation is aimed almost as much at the Kurds as it is ISIS. Turkey has kept a wary eye on recent movements by Kurdish forces to inch north toward Jarabulus from Manbij, which the U.S.-backed (and mostly Kurdish) Syrian Democratic Forces took from ISIS last week. A senior administration official, traveling with Vice President Joe Biden in Turkey, told reporters Wednesday that the U.S. has warned the Kurds to stop where they are and not strike out any further north. The Turks agreed to allow the SDF to take Manbij on the condition that the Kurds retreat across the Euphrates River to the East, once the operation was complete, the Institute for the Study of Wars Jennifer Cafarella told SitRep. But the SDF have so far failed to move East, and are leaning forward in a way that is making the Turks nervous, she added. Turkeys Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Wednesday that the SDF must cross back over the Euphrates, adding: the U.S. also supports this. Otherwise, I am saying very clearly that we will do what is necessary. Forever war claims another American. Four American servicemembers have died in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan this year. The fourth died on Tuesday and another was wounded along with six Afghan troops when a roadside bomb hit a vehicle they were traveling in near the city of Lashkar Gah in the embattled Helmand province. The American military command rushed 100 troops to the city on Monday, which is one of the last government strongholds in the province which has been mostly overrun by the Taliban, but U.S. military officials said the commandos killed and wounded were part of another mission in the province. Story continues Syrias chemical stockpiles. The worlds chemical weapons watchdog has repeatedly found traces of deadly nerve agents in laboratories that Syria insisted were never part of its chemical weapons program, FPs Colum Lynch and David Kenner report in an exclusive new story. In a confidential two-page summary of the report obtained by FP, OPCW Director-General Ahmet Uzumcu writes that the majority of 122 samples taken at multiple locations in Syria indicate potentially undeclared chemical weapons-related activities. Many of Syrias explanations for the presence of undeclared agents, he added, are not scientifically or technically plausible, and the presence of several undeclared chemical warfare agents is still to be clarified. Shiite militias causing trouble. More than 700 Sunni men and boys remain unaccounted for more than two months after Iraqi government forces pushed ISIS out of Fallujah, raising concerns that Shiite militias have them. Reuters reports that all told, Shiite militia fighters killed at least 66 Sunni males and abused at least 1,500 others fleeing the Fallujah area, according to interviews with more than 20 survivors, tribal leaders, Iraqi politicians and Western diplomats. The militias were mostly kept out of the fighting inside the city, but stayed on the outskirts, where they rounded up the Sunni men who were fleeing. Good morning and as always, if you have any thoughts, announcements, tips, or national security-related events to share, please pass them along to SitRep HQ. Best way is to send them to: paul.mcleary@foreignpolicy.com or on Twitter: @paulmcleary or @arawnsley Cybersecurity Add New York Times reporters to the list of people that may have been in the crosshairs of hackers. An anonymous official tell the AP that the FBI is investigating an attempt by hackers linked to Russian intelligence agencies. Targeting and succeeding at breaching, however, are two different things. The Times says its seen no evidence hackers have made it into its networks. Whether Russian intelligence managed to compromise the personal devices and accounts of Times reporters remains unclear. FPs Elias Groll has more. North Korea Another day, another ballistic missile test for the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff say North Korea carried out a test of its submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) off its eastern coast, splashing down into the Sea of Japan, according to Yonhap News Agency. In previous tests, the SLBM, dubbed KN-11, flew for only 10 to 30 kilometers but Tuesdays test launch reached a record 300 kilometers. Turkey Turkey says its open to the idea of hosting Russian jets at Incirlik Air Base, home to American B-61 tactical nuclear weapons and U.S. warplanes carrying out an air war against the Islamic State. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said this weekend that Moscow could use the base if necessary. The comments follow and effort by Turkey to heal its rift with Russia following the November 2015 shootdown of a Russian fighter jet by Turkish F-16s. Turkish officials have also grown increasingly frustrated with the countrys European and American allies for what they believe to be a less than immediate and enthusiastic response to the July coup attempt from within the Turkish military. France Frances new submarine export has sprung a leak. Defense News reports on the growing controversy after an Australian newspaper got its hands on restricted information about the Scorpene-class submarine that France is selling to India. The Australian managed to secure documents from French defense contractor DCNS with details about the Scorpenes sensors and its weapons, communications, and navigation systems. Australia recently chose DCNS over Japans Mitsubishi and Kawasaki Heavy Industries for a $38 billion deal to build the countrys Shortfin Barracuda submarines, but Australian officials say the leak will have no bearing on DCNSs submarine contract. South Sudan The United Nations is pushing forward with an investigation following reports that aid workers who were raped and beaten by South Sudanese troops in Juba last month had their pleas for help ignored by U.N. peacekeepers who were just minutes away. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon appointed Maj. Gen. Patrick Cammaert, a retired Dutch military officer with experience as a U.N. peacekeeper, to lead an investigation into the allegations. The South Sudanese troops also reportedly shot and killed a local reporter during the July rampage at a hotel in Juba. South Sudans Vice President Riek Machar has surfaced farther north in Sudan, after a brief disappearance, according to the AP. The Sudanese government says hes receiving medical care for an unspecified urgent condition. Machar disappeared shortly after fighting broke out in July that killed some of the vice presidents bodyguards. Guns and gear The State Department has okayed a deal to sell Qatar patrol boats, .50 caliber machine guns, 27 mm cannons, and radar systems. The boats are used primarily by special operations units like the Navy SEALs. The contracts are worth an estimated $124 million. Russias Armata Universal Combat Platform, which will form the basis for the Russian militarys next generation armored vehicles, is getting an armor upgrade. UPI reports that Armata tanks are being fitted with plate shields along its sides to defense against grenades and anti-tank weapons. And finally You best call that penguin sir and salute him; hes earned it. Photo Credit: Kutluhan Cucel/Getty Images By PTI: From Natasha Chaku Melbourne, Aug 25 (PTI) A French man stabbed a 21-year-old British woman to death and wounded two others in a backpackers hostel in northeast Australia, police said today. The29-year-old Frenchman, who was living with the victims at the hostel and had been in Australia on a temporary visa for about a year, is accused of carrying out the knife attack in Queensland. advertisement The suspect did not have any known links to the dreaded ISIS group and appeared to have acted alone, Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said, adding that police were trying to determine whether the man had been motivated by extremism. Mia Ayliffe-Chung was killed in the attack that took place in front of a crowd at Shelleys Backpackers in Home Hill, South of Townsville, after 11 PM last night. Adog from the hostel was also killed. Two men who suffered injuries include a 30-year-old Briton, who is said to be in a critical condition. The suspect is in custody in a hospital and is yet to be charged over the knife attack in Queensland, media reported. "Investigators will also consider whether mental health or drug misuse factors are involved in this incident," he said. Gollschewski said the accusedused the Arabic phrase "Allahu Akbar" both during the attack and his arrest. "While this information will be factored into the investigation we are not ruling out any motivations at this stage, whether they be political or criminal," he said. "Were working closely with our partner agencies to make sure if there is any indication that it has an extremist slant, or this person had been radicalised, we can discover that," he said. Police were treating the attack as a homicide, rather than a terrorism-related incident, Gollschewski said. PTI NC AQS SAI AQS --- ENDS --- * Country to buy back dollar bonds, issue new euro debt * Second such tender this year * Widens pool of bonds eligible for ECB purchase * ECB purchases lagging in Slovenia and other states By John Geddie LONDON, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Slovenia's borrowing costs touched a new record low on Wednesday after the country announced a debt management plan that will widen the pool of assets eligible for purchase by the European Central Bank. In its second such exercise this year, Slovenia joins another of the bloc's new members Latvia in buying back old dollar debt that is not eligible for ECB purchase and replacing it with new euro bonds. This will help assuage concerns that the ECB is running out of Slovenian bonds to buy, while having minimal impact on the country's overall debt levels. Thomson Reuters' markets news service IFR reported on Tuesday that Barclays, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan are arranging the tender which expires on Aug. 30. Slovenia's 10-year bond yields, an indication of the rate at which the country can borrow on financial markets, touched a record low of 0.731 percent early on Wednesday, before edging slightly higher on the day. Most other euro zone bond yields were up Wednesday. "These new bonds will be immediately absorbed by the central bank's bond buying...and that is a strong supporting factor," ING strategist Martin van Vliet said. "But even based on fundamentals, I think Slovenian bonds offer some good value." Funds have been investing in dollar debt from some of the euro zone's newest members for some time in anticipation of these swaps, and are likely to have reaped handsome profits. Latvia -- which joined the monetary union in 2014 -- did such an exercise in December last year, while Slovenia -- a euro zone member since 2007 -- swapped $1.25bn of dollar bonds for 1.25 billion euros of new euro debt in May. Lithuania, which joined in 2015 is also seen as a candidate for such a deal. Before these countries joined the euro area, they found it more cost-effective to sell dollar debt that attracted a large number of global investors because it was eligible for emerging markets indices. Story continues But since the ECB added government bonds to its 1.7 trillion euro stimulus scheme in March 2015, they have had an added incentive to make sure they have euro-denominated debt eligible for purchase. ECB bond-buying is weighted to the size of each countries' contribution to the central bank's capital, but data in July showed that purchases of Slovenian, Slovakian, Lithuanian and Latvian debt were struggling to keep pace. It has stopped buying altogether in Estonia. This comes against the backdrop of widespread concerns about bond scarcity that, if left unaddressed, could throw the ECB's stimulus scheme off track. For Reuters new Live Markets blog on European and UK stock markets see reuters://realtime/verb=Open/url=http://emea1.apps.cp.extranet.thomsonreuters.biz/cms/?pageId=livemarkets (Additional reporting by Francesco Canepa in Frankfurt; Editing by Toby Chopra) By Dasha Afanasieva ANKARA (Reuters) - Their faces so burned by a rocket blast they cannot fully close their eyes, 13-year-old Gheis Mekansi and his sister Limar, both Syrian refugees, wait in limbo in Turkey for surgery they need to return to life and school. A year and a half after they were caught in the attack on an opposition-controlled area of Damascus, the siblings may become victims again as 3 billion euros ($3.4 billion) in aid promised by the European Union has been held up by political wrangling and red tape. Gheis has six months to wait for facial reconstruction and needs prosthetic fingers available in Europe but not in Turkey. Until then, he and his sister stay indoors, unwilling to go outside where others laugh and stare at their disfigured faces. "I just want to get my real face back," Gheis said sitting next to his mother and sister in the small apartment they share in an Ankara suburb filled with Syrian refugee families. In return for billions in cash for refugees taken in from Syria, visa liberalization and revitalized EU accession, Turkey has agreed to cooperate in stopping migrants crossing the Aegean Sea to Greece and take back those who do not qualify for asylum. However, months after the deal was signed the EU now expects 182 million euros will have been disbursed by the end of August. Asked why so little money had been put to use, an EU official pointed to the vast scale of the program, as well as the need to ensure that NGOs earmarked to receive the aid are up to the task. But last month's attempted coup in Turkey has also heightened tensions between Ankara and Brussels. Angry Turkish officials perceive a lack of sympathy from Western officials and last month President Tayyip Erdogan questioned the EU's commitment to promises made in the migrant deal. One Turkish NGO director who did not want to be named said disagreements between the EU and Turkey were partly to blame for delays in payments. "The government's perception is that the EU side is using this money as a political tool instead of wanting it to go to refugees," he said, adding that the government does not trust the NGOs partnered with the EU. Two government officials declined to comment, while a presidency official said only that it was important for the EU to live up to its side of the deal. MONEY WAITING TO BE SPENT Turkey says it is now host to 2.72 million Syrian refugees, plus tens of thousands of asylum seekers, including Iraqis and Afghans who are fleeing violence in their homelands. It has argued it would be easier to give the money directly to the government - something the EU rejects, saying it always channels humanitarian aid through specialized agencies and non-governmental institutions so it goes directly to those in need. However the EU official said that some NGOs in Turkey are unused to the needs and extraordinary scope of the current refugee crisis, and may lack capacity, meaning that extra checks and preparation are needed before the money is disbursed. In the past ECHO, the European Commission's aid arm, would typically spends around 1 billion euros backing humanitarian projects globally every year. This year it may spend that in Turkey alone. Far from EU and Turkish bureaucracy and diplomatic tensions, Gheis and his six-year old sister Limar look at a photograph of their brother Muhammed, who died after an agonizing 10 days in hospital following the rocket attack. Photographs showing the children building a snowman in happier times are stark contrast to their lives since the blast. In the three months Limar and Gheis were in hospital they underwent four operations each but are still unrecognizable. Gheis has no fingers and Limar can't breathe properly. Kerem Kinik, president of the Turkish Red Crescent, told Reuters he expected EU funds would allow children like Gheis and Limar to go to special schools and get treatment faster. "We were expecting UN agencies and Europe to build up new capacities for at least primary health care but unfortunately we could not receive contributions." While Gheis' family is getting some support from a local NGO, aid workers say there are thousands of devastated families with serious medical problems not receiving adequate help. Muhammed Elhacmansur and his wife Meryem Elseyh hope to get their four-year-old son Ali, who was blinded by a landmine as the family fled Islamic State, to Europe for an operation to give him back his sight. Four of Ali's siblings were killed in the explosions. "We didn't have any time to even bury them and gather their pieces on the field," 42-year old Muhammed said. While Turkey does not officially grant Syrians refugee status, a temporary protection status, in theory, allows them access to healthcare and education for children at least in Turkish. But these efforts cannot make Ali see. "I don't need food or clothes or any things," Ali's mother said. "I just want my son to recover." ($1 = 0.8833 euros) (Additional reporting by Gabriela Baczynska in Brussels and Orhan Coskun in Ankara; editing by Patrick Markey and Dominic Evans) NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's defense ministry said on Wednesday that the source of secret documents detailing the capabilities of the French-designed Scorpene submarine being built for the Indian navy appeared to be "from overseas and not from India". Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said earlier the security breach appeared to have been the work of hackers. The leak, first reported in The Australian newspaper, contains more than 22,000 pages outlining the secret combat capability of six submarines that DCNS of France has designed for the Indian Navy. (Reporting by Douglas Busvine; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani) Dark times for the ANC as it loses Johannesburg. On his first day on the job, Johannesburgs new mayor ordered a skills audit and performance review of the citys staff, assuring anyone who was competent that they would keep their jobs. Herman Mashaba was elected mayor of South Africas largest city late on Aug. 22, promising to end corruption and ushering in a new political era for the countrys economic capital. Mashaba is no politician. The entrepreneur made his name after founding the Black Like Me hair care line in the late 1980s, specializing in straighteners and perm products. While his journey from grocery store clerk to leading businessman has been described as inspirational, his ability to navigate contentious city politics has been called into question. He only formally became involved in politics in December. Never before has South Africas mayoral races and local ward councilor elections been more important. While national elections hold more power, local governments have a direct effect on voters, from faulty traffic lights to clean water. This time, voters seem to have used their ballot to send a message to the ruling party about its failures at all levels of government. But the ruling partys foundering, means Mashaba and the opposition are now in power. Mashaba is one of three new mayors in South Africa who belong to the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance. The party beat out the ruling African National Congress in the local government elections in major urban areas. In Pretoria and Johannesburg, the Democratic Alliance didnt win an outright majority, but secured the backing of the recently formed third largest political party, the Economic Freedom Fighters. The two opposition parties are on the opposite ends of the political spectrum. The DA is a liberal party that favors a smaller government, scaled back social welfare with a focus on boosting small business. But the party has struggled to shed the image that it protects the interests of white South Africans and only elected its first black leader last year. The EFF are firmly placed on the left of the spectrum, their most prominent political policy the expropriation of land and natural resources to the custodianship of the state. Story continues They do, however, share common ground in their quest to remove the ANC. The two parties could not come to a formal coalition, but a loose agreement saw the EFFs councilors vote with the DAs councilors to wrest control from Nelson Mandelas party. The 104-year old liberation movement was unable to secure a majority in the three major cities, making it vulnerable to opposition party collaboration. The ANC remains the strongest party, winning an absolute majority in 161 councils with 5,163 elected seats compared to the DAs 24 councils and 1,776 councilors, according to data from the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy. But the ANCs loss of 468 seats has been larger than the DAs gain of 221 seats since 2011, pointing to an electorate disillusioned with the many scandals of the ruling party and president Jacob Zuma. The ANC has not only shed votes in urban areas, but also increasingly in rural parts of the country, with analyst predicting that a significant chunk of the ANCs traditional voter base simply decided to stay home on Aug. 3. In the meantime, the DA has gained support among first time voters and has seen growth (although well below the national level) among black voters, according to the institute. The ANC say they have taken collective responsibility for their historic election losses. Rather than blaming Zuma, the partys executive say they will re-engineer the organization to root out corruption and inefficiency after an election that saw national issues weaken the partys grassroots support. 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: * Gordhan says will not see police on Thursday morning * Rand, banking stocks, bonds all slump on investor fears * Summons relates to alleged rogue spy unit at tax agency (Adds Gordhan, opposition leader, ex-finance minister, analysts' quotes) By Mfuneko Toyana JOHANNESBURG, Aug 24 (Reuters) - South African assets slumped further on Wednesday after Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said he would not appear before police who had requested him to meet them over an investigation into a suspected rogue spy unit in the tax service. The police had on Monday asked Gordhan and other top officials at the South African Revenue Service (SARS) to meet an officer of the elite unit Hawks on Thursday in relation to contravention of surveillance regulations. News of Gordhan's summons compounded investors' worries of a leadership wrangle over the Finance Ministry as Africa's most industrialised country teeters near a recession and credit rating agencies consider downgrading it to "junk" by year-end. Analysts speculated that there was a plot to remove Gordhan, and his decision not to meet the police as requested appeared to set the stage for what could likely be a prolonged tussle that could rock markets further. Political pundits have said since February, when he was first asked questions by the Hawks about the unit he set up while at SARS, that Gordhan is a target of political pressure from a faction allied to President Jacob Zuma. The president's office said in May that Zuma was not warring with Gordhan. Zuma's office has not commented on the latest developments. The rand extended its losses, falling 1.5 percent to 14.21 against the dollar, extending its losses to almost 5 percent since the news about Gordhan became public late on Tuesday. Bonds also tumbled. Gordhan said he had been advised by his lawyers that he was under no legal obligation to present himself to the police, and that the head of the Hawks had in the past told him that he was not a suspect in the investigations. Story continues He said that he had already provided a comprehensive statement on the issue to the police and reiterated that the investigative unit set up while he was head of SARS was lawful. "I am advised by my legal team that the assertions of law made by the Hawks in their letter of 21 August 2016 are wholly unfounded on any version of the facts," he said in a statement. "I therefore, do not intend to present myself," he said. "I have a job to do in a difficult economic environment and serve South Africa as best I can. Let me do my job." Hawks spokesman Hangwani Mulaudzi said he could not comment on what the next move by the police could be. NKC political analyst Gary van Staden said Gordhan's refusal to meet the police showed that he had reached his limit. "It implies that Mr Gordhan is now sick and tired of this stuff, he's sick and tired of the harassment, he's sick and tired of the intimidation and sick and tired of the implied treats and has now said, 'if you are serious then come and arrest me because I am not playing this game anymore'," he said. NEXT MOVE A former finance minister, Trevor Manuel, said the economy would be "destroyed" if Zuma fired Gordhan after he changed finance ministers twice in one week in December. Investors and rating agencies back Gordhan's plans to rein in government spending in an economy forecast by the central bank to grow at zero percent this year. Analysts are worried that a replacement could likely be coerced to abandon such plans, destabilising an economy hammered by falling prices for commodities that range from coal to gold. Zuma raised concern among investors in December by replacing then finance minister Nhlanhla Nene with relatively unknown lawmaker David van Rooyen. After markets tumbled, Zuma appointed Gordhan, in his second stint in the job. "Such action (removing Gordhan) will destroy this economy," Manuel told eNCA television. "The next move is actually up to the head of state to call them (Hawks) in and say: if you have compelling evidence let's see what it is." Opposition leader Mmusi Maimane, whose Democratic Alliance party took control of major cities following Aug. 3 local government polls, said in a statement that "the Gordhan witch-hunt is Zuma's road to the Treasury's keys". A Zuma-backed plan to build a fleet of nuclear power plants, at a cost of as much as $60 billion, has been a cause of tension with the Treasury for months and is likely adding to pressure on Gordhan's position, analysts say. Russian state-backed companies are the favourites to win the nuclear bid, industry sources say. Nene's refusal to sign-off on the nuclear deal led to his downfall, government sources said at the time. Gordhan has refused to be drawn publicly on whether he supports the nuclear project but has said South Africa will only enter agreements it can afford. "This is all part of a plot to oust Gordhan," political analyst Prince Mashele said. "Gordhan refuses to sign-off on the Russian nuclear deal." (Additional reporting by Joe Brock and Tanisha Heiberg; Writing by James Macharia; Editing by Alison Williams) JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan will not present himself to police on Thursday as he had nothing further to say about the matters under investigations, his lawyers said in a statement on Wednesday. Gordhan's lawyers were responding to summons from an elite police unit that had requested Gordhan present himself to them over an investigation into a suspected rogue spy unit in the tax service, fuelling speculation that there was a plot to oust him. (Reporting by Mfuneko Toyana and James Macharia; Editing by Joe Brock) JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said on Wednesday he was under no obligation to present himself to police because he was not a suspect in an investigation into a covert unit in the revenue service. Gordhan confirmed receipt of a letter from Directorate of Priority Crimes, or the Hawks, asking him to present himself on Thursday but said his lawyers had advised him that he did not need to attend. (Reporting by Tiisetso Motsoeneng; Writing Mfuneko Toyana; Editing by Joe Brock) JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African engineering and construction group Murray and Roberts (M&R) said on Wednesday it was in talks to sell its infrastructure and building business as part of its drive to focus on projects for the global natural resources sector. The company, which is transforming from being predominantly a South African building company to an international engineering and construction group, said in a statement negotiations with prospective buyers were at an advanced stage. "The decision to dispose of the Infrastructure & Building businesses supports the group's long-term strategy to focus its business on the global natural resources markets, and follows an extended period of careful planning and consideration," said Group Chief Executive Henry Laas. The company, which also reported a 10 percent drop in diluted continuing headline earnings per share (HEPS) to 175 cents for the year to end June and warned of lower operating earnings in its new financial year, gave no further details. South Africa's construction industry has slowed sharply as government contracts, which big companies depend on, stall and weak commodity prices hit demand from the mining industry. M&R shares, which have surged 80 percent this year, fell 2.17 percent to close at 14.40 rand. The company also said it would dispose of Genrec, its only remaining manufacturing business. In its half-year results released in February, revenue at the infrastructure and building business fell to 3 billion rand from 3.5 billion a year earlier, while operating profit declined to 15 million rand from 66 million. Reporting its full-year results, M&R said: "The weakness of the oil price and its resulting global ripple effect has had a significant impact on the group's earnings." The oil and gas division, the group's largest, saw revenue fall to 11.2 billion rand from 11.8 billion, while the order book dropped to 6.4 billion rand from 8.4 billion. M&R declared a gross annual dividend of 45 cents compared with 50 cents a year earlier. "The Group expects a decline in operational earnings for FY2017, when compared to FY2016, mainly due to the lack of opportunity for the Oil & Gas platform, as the full impact of the oil price collapse and global oversupply is felt in this market," it said. (Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by Adrian Croft and Mark Potter) CAIRO (Reuters) - South Sudan opposition leader, Riek Machar, is in Khartoum for medical treatment, a Sudanese minister told the state news agency SUNA on Tuesday, after he left the country to escape government forces. President Salva Kiir sacked Machar from his post as vice president after renewed fighting in South Sudan's capital Juba last month between forces loyal to the long-time rivals. The clashes forced tens of thousands of people to flee. Machar withdrew to the bush during the fighting in Juba and was picked up this month by U.N. peacekeepers in Democratic Republic of Congo with a leg injury. His spokesman earlier said Machar had left South Sudan to evade Kiir's forces and had said his injury was not serious enough to require medical attention. However, on Tuesday, Sudan said he was receiving treatment. "Sudan has received, lately, Dr. Riek Machar, for pure humanitarian reasons, especially his need for treatment and medical care," Information Minister Ahmed Bilal Osman said. "Dr. Riek Machar's health is stable currently and he will remain in the country under comprehensive healthcare until he leaves to a destination of his choice to complete his treatment," he added. Machar's spokesman in Nairobi, James Gatdet Dak, could not immediately confirm he had traveled to Khartoum. He said Machar's original plan had been to travel to Addis Ababa, which has previously hosted South Sudan's troubled peace process. Machar and Kiir have long been rivals, even before South Sudan's independence in 2011 when they were both commanders in the SPLA force that fought Sudan's Khartoum-based government. Machar, at one point in the two-decade-long conflict, led a splinter group that signed a unilateral peace deal with the Khartoum government in 1997 that give him an official post in Sudan. Sudan's government and the SPLA finally signed a peace deal in 2005, which led to South Sudan's independence in 2011. But by December 2013, the political rivalry between Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, and Machar, a Nuer, had again boiled over into a civil conflict, which often followed ethnic lines. The two men signed a peace deal in August 2015. Under that deal, Machar returned to Juba in April to resume his role as vice president. But fighting flared last month and he was then sacked. During a visit to Kenya, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry urged South Sudan's leaders to "get the job done" by fully implementing the peace deal or face a U.N. arms embargo and sanctions. The U.N. Security Council voted on Friday to authorize sending an extra 4,000 troops to the country to bolster the existing U.N. mission, which South Sudan said it was considering. (This changes the date of the final peace deal from 1995 to 2005 in paragraph 9) (Reporting by Ali Abdelaty; Writing by Asma Alsharif and Edmund Blair; Editing by Alison Williams) By Tom Polansek CHICAGO, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Two of the world's biggest agricultural trading houses bungled crop sales they made on behalf of U.S. farmers this year because of what one described as "unique" price moves for soybeans, prompting both to take rare steps to keep disgruntled customers. Every year, hundreds of U.S. farmers trust major grain traders, including privately held Cargill Inc and Bunge Ltd, to sell parts of their harvests on their behalf for a fee. They hope the global reach and expertise of these companies will secure the best price and profits. But this spring, a 37 percent surge in U.S. soybean futures caught many traders and veteran agriculture economists off guard. Large supplies were expected to keep prices low, but flooding in Argentina sparked heavy buying instead. Cargill and Bunge separately sold most of the soybeans they were trading on behalf of farmers at about $9 a bushel, well below the rally's peak near $12 in June, five farmers who used the services told Reuters. This month, Cargill reported that the surge hurt quarterly earnings because its traders in May had made wrong-way bets that prices would fall. Bunge, too, reported weaker quarterly results for oilseed trading, while Wilmar International Ltd posted its first-ever quarterly loss because of untimely purchases of soybeans. "We're all trying to figure out exactly what went on," University of Illinois agricultural economist Scott Irwin said about the market's moves. Cargill Chief Financial Officer Marcel Smits and Bunge Chief Executive Officer Soren Schroder said in separate interviews that their trading programs have worked well for farmers over the long run. They said they did not have details about the programs' results so far in 2016. It is not clear exactly how many farmers take part in the programs or how much money they feel was left on the table. The large grain companies rarely reveal how and where they make money inside their trading businesses. Last year, about half of Bunge's earnings came from a large division of the company that includes soybean trading. Cargill does not detail how much of its profits come from trading. Story continues MISSING PEAK PRICES This year's trades on soybeans have raised questions among some farmers about the value of using the grain companies to trade. "This year I can say honestly is the worst job they have done regarding soybeans," said Brad Orr, an Illinois farmer who has used Cargill's trading service for about 7 years. "The bean market rallied $3, and they didn't capture any of it." Orr said he had 30,000 bushels of soybeans in the company's crop program. That means Cargill's trades may have cost him up to about $90,000. Making poor trading decisions hits bottom line profits for the big traders because they regularly buy and sell grain to keep their businesses running. When they affect farmers' incomes, it threatens the close relationship between the companies and the customers who ultimately provide the crops that they move around the world. In June, Bunge wrote to farmers offering a one-off chance to re-do soybean sales, according to a letter sent to customers and seen by Reuters. It said the company had faced "unique soybean price action" and thanked participants for their trust. A company spokeswoman did not respond to requests for comment. "They know they missed the boat," said Tennessee farmer Lyn Stacey, who used Bunge's service. "They've given us an option to increase our bottom line." That same month, Cargill's corn merchandising manager, Randy Christy, told clients the company had "missed the market" trading soybeans, in a web cast seen by Reuters. He said in a subsequent web cast that Cargill was exploring options strategies to increase the value of its positions. Cargill spokeswoman Antonella Bellman told Reuters that a team of experts trade on behalf of farmers in its ProPricing program. The company's "first priority is to deliver the best overall level of performance and risk management on behalf of our ProPricing customers," she said. "The results of our current ProPricing contracts, just like any other ProPricing contract, are addressed directly with participating customers," she said. Missteps are rare for Cargill's program, which has outperformed on one-year soybean contracts for seven of the past eight years through to 2015. Graphic: http://tmsnrt.rs/2bBAX2T And the company has taken tough action in the past when trading goes awry. After a wrong-way trade threw up a $100 million loss at Cargill's North American energy arm in 2014, the company exited a number of markets and made management changes. Historically, advisers on trading have struggled to consistently beat agricultural markets, according to a University of Illinois analysis of trading recommendations from 1995 to 2004. The review included dozens of firms, though not programs run by the major grain handlers. Brett Wong, a senior research analyst for Piper Jaffray who tracks Bunge, said farmers often want to delay sales for what they consider the optimum price, while grain handlers aim to sell consistently for smaller margins. "What the farmer needs is not, in my view, the same as what Bunge and Cargill and Louis Dreyfus are doing," Wong said. "The farmer needs the third-party guy who is working specifically on the farmer's behalf." Stacey, the farmer from Tennessee, said he accepted Bunge's offer to sell soybeans for a higher price this summer. Ohio farmer Nathan Fortkamp, another participant, declined. He said he was reluctant to allow Bunge to trade his crops again in 2017 as part of the deal. "I think I'll be doing it all myself," he said. "That way I don't have anyone to blame but me." (Additional reporting by Karl Plume in Chicago; editing by Jo Winterbottom and Edward Tobin) The draft Surrogacy Bill, 2016 aims at regulating commissioning of surrogacy in the country in a proper manner. By Brijesh Pandey: A draft bill which aims to safeguard the rights of surrogate mothers and make parentage of such children legal was today cleared by the Union Cabinet. According to the Health Ministry proposal, the draft Surrogacy Bill, 2016 aims at regulating commissioning of surrogacy in the country in a proper manner. Official sources said the Cabinet gave its green signal to the Bill to be introduced in Parliament. advertisement TOTAL BAN ON COMMERCIAL SURROGACY A Group of Ministers (GoM) had recently cleared the bill and had referred it to the Union Cabinet for a final call. The GoM was constituted at the behest of the Prime Ministers Office. Apart from Health Minister J P Nadda, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal were among those part of the GoM. The government had recently admitted that in the absence of a statutory mechanism to control commissioning of surrogacy at present, there have been cases of pregnancies by way of surrogacy, including in rural and tribal areas, leading to possible exploitation of women by unscrupulous elements. The bill was to be taken up by the Union Cabinet on April 27, but it was dropped from the agenda at the last moment. To prevent exploitation of women, especially those in rural and tribal areas, the government has prohibited foreigners from commissioning surrogacy in the country and has drafted this comprehensive legislation, the sources said. The government had recently said in Parliament that provisions are being made in the draft Bill to make parentage of children born out of surrogacy "legal and transparent". SUSHMA SWARAJ HITS OUT AT CELEBRITY COUPLES Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj has condemned the misuse of altruistic surrogacy. Swaraj hit out at star actors and celebrities saying that there are celebrity couples who have two kids and are going for surrogacy which is reprehensible. "Big celebrities who not only have one but two children, a son and a daughter, even then they went ahead with surrogacy. Just because their wife doesn't want to suffer pain you can't go for this," she said. Here is what Sushma Swaraj said: Cabinet has given approval to a bill to ban commercial surrogacy. It is an important bill and it will be revolutionary in improving the condition of females. In the last few years, a new business of renting a womb has come, where a poor woman's womb is used to produce a child and then the woman to left to her misery. According to reports, more than 2000 surrogate clinics are currently working in India. There is a complete ban on commercial surrogacy. There was also an angle that there are couples who are not able to produce kids but their relatives are willing to help then why should the government come in between. This is what is called altruistic surrogacy and this the main point of this bill. National surrogacy board will be constituted under the chairmanship of health minister. Three female MPs will be member of the board and two MPs will be form Lok Sabha. Only Indian nationals will be allowed for altruistic surrogacy. Foreign nationals or even NRI or OIC will not be allowed. Only married couples will allowed to opt of surrogacy. Gay, single, live-in couples are not allowed. The marriage should be minimum of five years and the age of the woman should be from 23-50 and for the man 26-55. There should be a medical certificate that the couple is not able to produce their own child. Parents who have their own child or have an adopted one will not be eligible to go for surrogacy. Also a woman can be a surrogate mother only once. The surrogate child will have all the rights at par with the biological child including property. It would be mandatory for surrogacy clinic to maintain the record of that child for 25 years. If the clinic violates any rule then they will face 10 years of imprisonment. advertisement Also Read: advertisement Good news: Women to get 26 weeks maternity leave soon after RS green light -With inputs from PTI --- ENDS --- (Reuters) - Spanish and Italian police seized 3,300 kilograms of hashish worth $1.98 million from a boat off the Italian coast and arrested 19 Polish members of an international drug smuggling ring, Spanish authorities said on Wednesday. The operation, carried out jointly by police from Spain, Poland, Italy and Britain, targeted a organization that was based in the Spanish province of Granada that trafficked drugs between Morocco and mainland Europe, a statement said. The 19 men were from one of four major crime groups in Poland, which police said had been involved in assassinations, theft and extortion. The group's leader was among those arrested, the statement said. The Europol-coordinated operation followed a series of anti-drug raids earlier in August in southern Spain that resulted in 23 arrests and over 1,000 kilograms of hashish seized. Among those arrested were another 12 Poles, seven Spaniards and two Ukrainians. (Reporting by Catherine Bennett; editing by Angus Berwick/Mark Heinrich) Madrid (AFP) - A prominent former ETA member credited with helping to move the armed Basque separatist group away from violence was barred Wednesday from running in Spanish regional elections next month. A Spanish electoral commission declared Arnaldo Otegi "unelectable" over a previous conviction on terrorism charges for trying to resurrect Batasuna, ETA's outlawed political wing. He was released from prison in March after serving more than six years but the court argued that the sentence barred him from holding office until February 2021. Otegi joined ETA as a teenager and was also previously jailed for the kidnapping of a factory director. The 58-year-old Otegi had been chosen by EH Bildu, a coalition of left-wing Basque separatist parties, to stand as its candidate for leader of the Basque Country in a September 25 regional election. In a television interview, he said the decision was "a serious mistake because from a legal standpoint, we're completely convinced that we're in the right". EH Bildu later said it would appeal the decision. The coalition has 21 seats in the Basque Country's outgoing 75-seat parliament, making it the second force behind the ruling conservative Basque Nationalist Party. Otegi's candidacy was seen as a major boost for the party, which faces a stiff challenge from new far-left anti-austerity party Podemos. ETA is blamed for more than 800 killings in its long campaign of bombings and shootings to create an independent homeland in the Basque Country, which straddles part of northern Spain and southwestern France. Although for many Spaniards he represents ETA terror, Otegi is seen as a key figure in moving the Basque separatist left away from violence in its quest for an independent Basque homeland and he now urges democratic, peaceful means. In 2004, he became one of the first ETA members to call publicly for disarmament. Two years later, he was one of the main architects of failed peace negotiations between ETA and the Spanish government. ETA declared a permanent ceasefire in 2011 but refuses to dissolve and turn over its arms as demanded by the French and Spanish governments. Statoil ASA STO has entered into a Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with Jersey Oil and Gas plc and CIECO Exploration and Production (UK) Limited. According to the deal, Statoil will gain 70% ownership as well as operatorship of the P.2170 license on the U.K. Continental Shelf (UKCS). Located in the Buchan Graben in the Outer Moray Firth region, the P.2170 license lies in an area containing the Buchan, Buzzard and Ettrick oil discoveries. Statoil is expected to pay $2 million as transaction cost. Notably, the equity ownership of Jersey Oil and Gas and CIECO Exploration and Production in the license is 18% and 12%, respectively. The closure of the agreement is subject to approval by the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA). The Mariner field, which is operated by Statoil is currently under development. Statoil aims to be an active explorer on the UKCS as it believes that substantial hydrocarbon resource remains unexplored in the area. Statoils endeavor to improve recovery of resources in mature fields is commendable. The company has operations in all major hydrocarbon-producing regions of the world, with an emphasis on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS). We believe that Statoil is well positioned to sustain its steady production growth over the next few years on the back of its large resource base at NCS. STATOIL ASA-ADR Price STATOIL ASA-ADR Price | STATOIL ASA-ADR Quote In recent times, Statoil has delivered strong exploration results and added significantly to its resource base by making several high impact discoveries. The latest finds give the company access to new regions of Norway, Russia, Azerbaijan, Tanzania as well as Australia, thereby paving the way for long-term growth. Statoil carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked players from the energy sector are Devon Energy Corporation DVN, NGL Energy Partners LP NGL and Enbridge Energy Partners L.P. EEP. All these stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong 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 ENBRIDGE EGY PT (EEP): Free Stock Analysis Report STATOIL ASA-ADR (STO): Free Stock Analysis Report DEVON ENERGY (DVN): Free Stock Analysis Report NGL ENERGY PART (NGL): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Director, writer and producer Steve McQueen will be awarded the British Film Institute's BFI Fellowship, the establishment's highest honor, reports Variety. McQueen will receive the award on October 15 at London's Banqueting House during the BFI London Film Festival's awards ceremony. Festival organizers say the fellowship is being awarded to McQueen for his "outstanding contribution" to film culture. McQueen's "12 Years a Slave" won three Academy Awards in 2013, including Best Picture, while "Hunger" (2008) won the Camera d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and actor Michael Fassbender won Best Actor for "Shame" (2011) at the Venice Film Festival. Previous winners of the BFI Fellowship include Cate Blanchett, Tim Burton, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes and, most recently, Hugh Grant. Berlin (AFP) - Germany on Wednesday urged its population to stockpile food and water to prepare for possible terrorist or cyber attacks, as it adopted its first civil defence strategy since the end of the Cold War. The plan marks the first broad update since 1995, when a dismantling of federal civil defence structures was advocated as security policies were eased in the wake of German reunification. But the 69-page document warned that "the security policy environment has changed again" -- and said Germany should be ready in case of an "existence-threatening development". Critics however accused Chancellor Angela Merkel's "grand" right-left coalition of scaremongering ahead of key state elections in September. And the population took to social media to mock the strategy, with the hashtag #hamsterkaeufe (squirrelling away) and photos of the furry rodent widely circulating on Twitter. Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere rejected the criticism, saying that "while we all hope that we will be spared from major crisis, we must be prepared" should disaster strike. "It's only responsible, sensible and appropriate to make cool-headed preparations for a catastrophe scenario," he said, stressing that "every country in the world does that". He also challenged charges of electioneering, arguing that the strategy is the result of a long reflection process that had been in 2012. While acknowledging that "an attack on German territory requiring conventional defence is unlikely," Europe's biggest economy should be "sufficiently prepared in case of an existence-threatening development in the future that cannot be ruled out," the strategy document said. "The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems, conflict driven by terrorist means and cyberspace attacks can be a direct threat to Germany and its allies," it said. Story continues Pointing to the people and government's dependence on both the power and IT networks, de Maiziere said the strategy advocates emergency plans for any breakdown in key energy and water infrastructures. They encourage people to stockpile sufficient food for 10 days, and water to last five. A string of attacks at home in July -- including two claimed by the Islamic State group -- has sparked a fierce debate about internal security. The defence ministry is looking at training the military to respond to major terror assaults, while de Maiziere announced tough new anti-terror measures including a controversial proposal to strip jihadist fighters of their German nationality. Haunted by its Nazi past, Europe's most populous country has for decades been particularly cautious about military and defence issues. But this year it set out a new roadmap outlining Germany's ambition to assume a bigger security role abroad, within the frameworks of NATO and the European Union. Amatrice (Italy) (AFP) - A powerful 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck central Italy in the early hours of Wednesday, devastating mountain villages and leaving at least five people dead. Numerous buildings collapsed in small communities close to the epicentre of the quake in a remote, thinly-populated area straddling the regions of Umbria, Marche and Lazio. As dawn broke, residents and emergency services were scrambling to rescue people trapped in rubble. Local officials indicated that the death toll was likely to rise. Fabrizio Curcio, the head of Italy's civil protection service, classed the quake as "severe". The shocks were strong enough to wake residents of central Rome, some 150 kilometres (90 miles) away. The first two confirmed victims were an elderly couple whose home collapsed in Pescara del Tronto in the Marche region, according to local police. Aleandro Petrucci, the mayor of nearby Arquata del Tronto, said Pescara was one of "two or three hamlets that have just completely disintegrated." Another person died and a family of four including two young children were trapped, feared dead, in their collapsed house in Accumoli, according to its mayor. "We have a tragedy here," the mayor, Stefano Petrucci, said. "For the moment one death is confirmed but there are another four people under the rubble and they are not responding. "It is a disaster, we have no light, no telephones, the rescue services have not got here yet." A resident of the village told Rai that she had been woken by the shaking in time to witness the wall of her bedroom cracking open. She was able to escape into the street with her children. - Voices under rubble - Two corpses were recovered from rubble in Amatrice, a mountain village in neighbouring Lazio that was packed with visitors at the peak of the summer season. "Half the village has disappeared," said Sergio Pirozzi, Amatrice's mayor. He said access to the village had been blocked, making it impossible for emergency services to get through. Story continues "There is a landslide on one road, a bridge is about to collapse on the other one," he said, according to the AGI news agency. "We can hear voices under the rubble." Amatrice is famous in Italy as a beauty spot and is a popular holiday destination for Romans seeking cool mountain air at the height of the summer. The first quake struck shortly after 3.30 am (0130 GMT), according to the United States Geological Survey, and a 5.4 magnitude aftershock followed an hour later. USGS's PAGER system, which predicts the impact of earthquakes, issued a red alert -- suggesting significant casualties and damage based on previous quake data. A resident of the Rieti region, which is between Rome and the epicentre of the quake, told the Rainews24 channel that she and most of her neighbours had come out onto the street after feeling "very strong shaking". In 2009 a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck close to the city of Aquila in the Abruzzo region and left more than 300 people dead. That disaster led to lengthy recriminations over lax building controls and the failure of authorities to warn residents that a quake could be imminent. Italy is often shaken by earthquakes, usually centred on the mountainous spine of the boot-shaped country. Another quake hit the northern Emilia Romagna region in May 2012, when two violent shocks 10 days apart left 23 people dead and 14,000 others homeless. By PTI: New Delhi, Aug 24 (PTI) The Cabinet today approved signing of a new air services agreement between India and Fiji that would allow Indian airlines to fly to any point in the island nation. The pact is for revising the ASA, which was entered into in January 1974. The updation is being done as per the latest ICAO template with an objective to improve air connectivity between the two countries, an official release said. advertisement It was cleared during the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The existing route schedule annex to the ASA has also been revised and new points of call have been added for enhanced connectivity. "Now Indian carriers can operate to any points in Fiji from points in India whereas the carriers of Fiji can establish direct operation to Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai in India and by code share with Indian carriers to Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad apart from points given for direct operation," the release said. Further, Kochi, Varanasi, Ahmedabad and Amritsar can be served through domestic code share operations. Among others, the designated airlines of both countries would have the right to establish offices in each others the territory for promotion and sale of air services. Routes and frequencies of the designated airlines would be decided subsequently. The pact also has provisions relating to "revocation or suspension of operating authorisation, principles governing operations of agreed services, commercial opportunities, safety related clause etc. that were incorporated in the line of Indian model ASA", the release said. Draft text of the ASA has been finalised in consultation with Ministries of Law & Justice, Finance, External Affairs, Tourism and Department of Commerce, it added. PTI RAM ABK --- ENDS --- NEWS BRIEF A chunk of Maine is the newest national monument. President Obama on Wednesday designated 87,500 acres of forests and rivers filled with moose, bears, and rare birds as the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in Maines North Woods. The announcement comes a day before the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, the government agency that manages national parks and monuments. Theresa Pierno, president and chief executive of the National Parks Conservation Association, told The Washington Post this may be one of the last, large national parks that we see in our lifetime. But getting here has been a challenge for the people donating the land, Burts Bees co-founder Roxanne Quimby and her son Lucas St. Clair. As the Portland Press Herald reported last week: The family had initially hoped to create a North Woods national park but switched their short-term focus to a national monument because presidents can make such designations by executive action. National parks require an act of Congress. St. Clair has been unable to win support from all of Maines congressional delegation because of outspoken opposition to the national parkand to the national monumentby some Katahdin region residents and representatives of the states forest products industry. They were eventually able to donate the $60 million worth of land to create the countrys 413th national park site. They also added hunting and snowmobile protections to appease local residents, making the monument the only one in the U.S. to allow hunting. Quimby has pledged $20 million toward operations and maintenance, along with an agreement to raise an additional $20 million for the new monument. The designation comes 100 years after President Woodrow Wilson established the Sieur de Monts National Monument, which today is Acadia, Maines only national park. Quimby last week donated an additional 100 acres to Acadia, valued at around $2 million. Story continues Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. Taco Bell Police officers were not welcome at an Kentucky Taco Bell last week the second time in a little over a month law-enforcement officers have been turned away at the chain. Last Thursday, an employee refused to take the lunch orders of five Louisville Metro Police officers, reports The Courier-Journal. While the officers' orders were eventually taken, other employees were also hostile towards the police. "Another employee stated to a co-worker 'I want to mess with them. I want to mess with them. Im going to mess with them. Im going to mess with them,'" Sgt. Dave Mutchler wrote in an email to The Courier-Journal. In July, a cashier at a Taco Bell in Phenix City was fired after turning away two sheriff's deputies because of their status as law-enforcement officers. At the time, Taco Bell said the action is not a restaurant policy nationally or locally but instead the act of a single employee. (Taco Bell did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment on the most recent incident.) Taco Bell isn't the only chain where restaurant employees have refused to serve customers in recent months. In June, a Cook Out employee was fired for being unwilling to serve Donald Trump supporters, and in July, McDonald's fired an employee for refusing to serve a police officer. NOW WATCH: This police officer has become a social-media star by promoting community policing More From Business Insider (Backlash over Targets bathroom policy is costing the retailer more than anyone expected.Joe Raedle / Getty) A boycott against Target over its bathroom policy seems to be costing the retailer more than anyone expected. The boycott started in April after Target announced that it would welcome transgender customers to use any bathroom or fitting room that matched their gender identity. The announcement triggered an immediate backlash. Critics said the policy opened the door for sexual predators to victimize women and children inside the retailers bathrooms, and more than 1.4 million people signed a pledge to stop shopping at Target unless it reversed the policy. But Target didnt back down. Related: Krazy Coupon Ladys all-time favorite store hacks at Target, Costco, Ikea and more Now shopper traffic is declining for the first time in years, and the company is installing single-occupancy bathrooms in all of its stores to give critics of the policy more privacy. The new bathrooms, which already exist in a majority of Target stores, are costing Target $20 million to install, Fortune reports. The company revealed its traffic declines last week when it reported second-quarter earnings. Targets same-store transactions, which is how traffic is measured, fell 2.2% in the second quarter. Overall, sales fell 7.2% to $16.2 billion. In the second quarter, our No. 1 challenge was traffic, which affected sales in all of our merchandise categories, Target CEO Brian Cornell said last week on a call with analysts. (Joe Raedle / Staff / Getty Images) Cathy Smith, the companys chief financial officer, added: Traffic performance showed a meaningful change from prior trend. I want to pause and make it clear that we are not satisfied with our second-quarter traffic and sales performance. In the past, even the most widespread calls for company boycotts have tended to blow over within a matter of weeks to months. Chick-fil-A, for example, faced a nationwide boycott in 2012 after Dan Cathy, the son of Chick-fil-As founder, S. Truett Cathy, set off a fury among gay-rights supporters when he told Baptist Press that the company was guilty as charged for backing the biblical definition of a family. Story continues Following Cathys remarks, reports emerged detailing Chick-fil-As many charitable donations to organizations opposed to same-sex marriage. Despite the backlash, Chick-fil-As sales soared 14% in 2012. Investors seem unsure of the long-term impact of the boycott on Targets sales, however. The retailers stock is down 1% since the start of the year. NOW WATCH: 140 Sports Authority stores are closing find out if yours is one of them More From Business Insider A Florida teen has beaten the odds to become only the fourth person ever to survive a brain-eating amoeba infection. Sebastian DeLeon, 16, of South Florida, was vacationing with family in the Orlando area when the rare but deadly disease struck. Nearly everyone dies after being infected with Naegleria fowleri. But a series of miraculous events and a lot of luck saved the teen's life. Sebastian's saga began when he complained of a serious headache. When the headache grew worse, his parents found Florida Hospital through an online search, He was admitted to its Children's Emergency Department on August 7. Read: Teen Dies From Brain-Eating Amoeba After Rafting Trip With Her Church Doctors initially believed Sebastian was suffering from meningitis and ordered a spinal tap. While the test was negative for meningitis, something told a pathologist named Sheila Black to study the microscope slide further. "I went back and studied it for a while," Black told WKMG. "The amoebas aren't very active so you have to look and watch. And that's when I saw the pseudopods moving on the amoeba." The moment the deadly little single-celled organisms were spotted, Sebastian's caregivers had a diagnosis. In any area outside Orlando, the next step would have been to waste precious hours waiting for an uncommon medication that's prescribed off-label to kill Naegleria to be delivered. Thankfully, the only manufacturer of the drug is located in Orlando. Within 12 minutes of their call to a pharmacist, Sebastian's caregivers had their drug. Along with the medication, doctors lowered Sebastian's body temperature, induced a coma and gave him steroids to reduce inflammation. While they waited and prayed, doctors had no choice but to tell Sebastian's parents to say their last goodbyes. Miraculously, Sebastian fought off the amoeba. "Im so grateful that the staff at Florida Hospital for Children were able to catch this rare infection so quickly, and even heal my son. We were fortunate to be so close," said Brunilda Gonzalez, Sebastians mother. "Thank you to everyone on the staff. And thank you to God, who guided them. I truly believe this was a miracle." Story continues Read: 14-Year-Old Athlete Fights For His Life After Contracting Deadly Brain-Eating Amoeba From Lake Naegleria infections are extremely rare. In the past 50 years, only four people have survived the countrys reported 138 cases, according to the CDC. "For two years, Florida Hospital has placed special emphasis on knowing the signs and symptoms of this deadly infection," said Dr. Rajan Wadhawan, chief medical officer of Florida Hospital for Children. "We believe this concerted effort to educate our medical teams led to the quick thinking and action that saved Sebastians life." Sebastian was the fourth person to be diagnosed with a Naegleria fowleri in the United States this year. Hannah Katherine Collins, 11, became infected with the parasite while swimming a river in South Carolina in July. In June, an Ohio woman died after becoming infected while visiting a water park in North Carolina during a church group vacation. The Texas Department of Health also confirmed a Naegleria death this summer. Watch: Baby Born with Brain Outside of Skull Gets Life-Changing Surgery Related Articles: New York (AFP) - A 19-year-old Indian woman whose face was brutally disfigured in an acid attack will walk the catwalk in New York next month in her first trip overseas. Reshma Qureshi, who lives in Mumbai, was attacked by her brother-in-law and pinned down by his friends who doused her face in acid in 2014. Her features were horribly damaged and she lost sight in one eye, but Qureshi has been determined to build a life for herself. She is the face of a campaign to end the open sale of acid in India and appears in videos on YouTube offering beauty tips and make-up advice. FTL Moda, a fashion production company, invited her to take part in New York Fashion Week, the bi-annual style frenzy that brings together models, fashion editors, buyers and designers from across the world. She is scheduled to walk the runway on September 8 in two shows during New York Fashion Week, FTL Moda told AFP. The daughter of a taxi driver, she was filmed wiping away tears and smiling when told by the charity Make Love Not Scars that she would be flying to New York. The London-based charity Acid Survivors Trust International estimates there are 500 to 1,000 acid attacks each year in India. Acid attacks rarely kill but leave severe physical, psychological and social scars. They are a particular problem in Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, the West Indies and the Middle East. The overwhelming number of victims are women and children. FTL Moda is committed to challenging norms of beauty in the fashion world and last year invited Madeline Stuart, an Australian teenager with Down syndrome, to walk the runway, garnering rave reviews. Tennessees Obamacare market is in serious trouble, according to the person who runs the states exchanges. Julie Mix McPeak, the commissioner for Tennessees Department of Commerce and Insurance, told Nashvilles The Tennessean on Tuesday that increases in premium prices and the dwindling number of insurers in the state are causing serious stress in the states Affordable Care Act exchanges. I would characterize the exchange market in Tennessee as very near collapse and that all of our efforts are really focused on making sure we have as many writers in the areas as possible, knowing that might be one, McPeak said in an interview with The Tennesseans Holly Fletcher. Im doing everything I can to prevent a situation where that turns to zero. For more news videos visit Yahoo View. Parts of Tennessee have seen the number of insurers offering plans drop significantly, with four of the states eight exchange rating regions having one or zero choices for insurance companies, according to an analysis from healthcare consulting firm Avalere. McPeak is trying to avoid something similar to what is happening in Pinal County, Arizona. After health insurance giant Aetna left the county, it has zero insurers offering plans on the countys ACA exchange. In Pinal Countys case, many people who rely on subsidized ACA plans may be left without insurance entirely. Like many insurers across the country, those offering plans in Tennessee are losing serious amounts of money on the exchanges, leading to significant premium increases for patients and substantial losses for insurers. According to The Tennessean, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee the only insurer to offer plans statewide has lost roughly $500 million from the states exchanges in the three years since it entered them. Essentially, the people signing up for insurance in the exchanges like in Tennessee have been sicker and more expensive to cover than health insurance companies predicted, leading to large losses. Story continues To avoid these losses, many insurance companies have increased prices dramatically in the state, with BCBST requesting a 62% increase for premiums in 2017 after a 36.3% hike in 2016. Both of the big-five insurers that do business in the state, Humana and Cigna, are also requesting premium increases of over 40% for next year. While regulators told The Tennessean that they plan to use a number of tax breaks and other strategies to keep patients monthly costs from skyrocketing in the state, the huge jumps in the requested headline premiums are hard to ignore. Of note, requests must be approved by McPeaks office at the Department of Commerce and Insurance, so the numbers for 2017 are projections. While many states face challenges, based on the comments by McPeak, the situation seems to be dire in Tennessee. Read the full breakdown of Tennessees situation at The Tennessean NOW WATCH: Watch the Air Force drop 8 armored Humvees out of a plane from 5,000 feet More From Business Insider * Production drying up at big zinc mines * That is curbing oversupply, boosting prices * Zinc market up nearly 50 pct this year * Miners rushing to invest in new zinc output * But some analysts caution that demand could ease in second-half By James Regan SYDNEY, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Resource companies are racing to dig zinc mines, betting that markets for the metal used to rust-proof steel and protect noses from sunburn have finally turned after a decade in the doldrums. A supply glut is evaporating as big zinc mines run dry, commodity analysts say, helping drive up prices by nearly half this year and triggering investments in new and long-dormant projects from Greenland to Africa. "There is a sense of urgency that the zinc price will continue to appreciate in coming years and we want to start construction as soon as possible to take advantage of that," said Simon Smith, finance manager of Heron Resources, which is spending A$190 million to return a landfill site in Australia to its former life as a zinc mine. The global supply pool has been contracting as reserves are exhausted at huge mines in Australia, Canada and Ireland, while other major producing nations such as Peru have seen output drop as richer ores are mined out. Macquarie Bank calculates that global supply has plunged by as much as 14.5 percent in the first half of 2016 alone. "There is no doubt the supply side of this market is declining and supporting the case for new mines," said commodities analyst Daniel Morgan of UBS, adding that companies that buy zinc to refine had become "panicky" about supply. Not everybody is sure zinc prices will keep going up. Analysts at Capital Economics caution that zinc's upcycle could be clipped, if, as it predicts, Chinese steel prices weaken again in the second half of the year, reducing demand in the biggest consumer of the base metal. And investment bank Liberum warns that high prices may tempt China's miners to dig more metal, leaving little room for further upward price moves. Story continues Chinese zinc output has been running around 1.3 million tonnes below its 2014 peak, with local media reports that mines have been shuttered as part of a government crackdown on pollution. MOVING QUICKLY Miners remain optimistic on the long-term outlook for prices, however. "We were looking very hard for zinc, which is offering some of the greatest opportunities for growth, and wanted to move quickly," said Craig Mackay, managing director at Golden Rim Resources. Golden Rim last month paid $2.29 million for the Paguanta zinc project, a 40-mile expanse of exploration ground near Chile's border with Bolivia. Andrew Michelmore, chief executive of China's MMG Ltd , said the company was digging a new mine in Australia costing $1.5 billion, with up to $550 million in loans from China Development Bank Corp and Bank of China. "The supply crunch has finally come," he said, adding that few opportunities exist to acquire operating zinc mines anywhere in the world. "Most of our focus is: how do we find it ourselves?" After years of exploring for copper in Mongolia, Ivanhoe Mines chairman Robert Friedland wants to restart the long-dormant Kipushi zinc mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo. "We believe that market conditions are ideal as we evaluate the available options to return Kipushi to production," Friedland said in a statement announcing the prospect of restarting the mine at a cost of $409 million. Meanwhile, Jonathan Downes, chief executive of Australia's Ironbark Zinc, said he is closer than ever to developing a mine in Greenland discovered 23 years ago. China Non Ferrous (NFC) has already agreed to construct the mine and provide 70 percent of the debt funding in exchange for 30 percent of the zinc. Separately, Ironbark has entered into a $50 million funding and supply arrangement with mining giant Glencore, its biggest shareholder. "With zinc inventories down and the price up, our stars are starting to align," Downes said. (Reporting by James Regan; Additional reporting by Mitra Taj in Lima and Ruby Lian in Shanghai; Editing by Joseph Radford) Long-term, epic proposals that take months or even a year to plan are becoming a trend. (Photo: Getty Images) Grab some tissues, romantics, because the latest proposal video to go viral will certainly activate those tear ducts. Josh Schmitz of Chicago wrote out proposals and love notes to girlfriend Danielle Roesch on a whiteboard every day for a year. He showed the edited video of messages to her last Friday in front of family and friends at the Adler Planetarium, according to WGNtv.com. The last message in the video directs her to meet him at Lake Michigan, in the same place shed taken the Tinder profile pic that first attracted him, where he got down on one knee on rose-petal-strewn pavement and proposed one more time. One of the elements that strikes us as most romantic about this 21-minute video is the fact that often Schmitz is in his grubby work clothes, pausing in the middle of operating heavy machinery to show the board with notes like, Will you be the girl to grow old with me? Youre the most amazing person I know! and Will you marry me? The contrast of macho setting and sweet sentiment especially if you imagine him asking co-workers for help filming makes this effort seem even more personal. My intentions were never for anything to ever come of this, Schmitz told NBC Chicago of the videos sudden fame. It was for her to see and for me to show her how much I love her and how much I think about her. Its nice to see people who appreciate a good story. Maybe itll inspire somebody to have the next very creative proposal. Schmitz isnt the first to propose this way. In January 2015, Dean Smith made a similar video, featuring the same whiteboard concept and similar shots of himself eating breakfast or getting ready for work. He cut the video with footage of his girlfriend, Jennifer, watching it in front of her family on her birthday trip to Aruba, to much Internet approval. Also last year, Ray Smith of Grimsby, U.K., used a similar concept, taking 148 selfies with his girlfriend, who couldnt see his hidden notes asking her to marry him. Story continues What makes [these proposals] seem romantic to some people is that you know their significant other was planning and putting in an effort for their marriage proposal for 365 days, Michele Velazquez, owner of the marriage proposal planning company the Heart Bandits, tells Yahoo Style. Most people dont plan that long. At the same time, one wonders if the recipients of these proposals might be privately wishing their boyfriends had just asked them immediately. I do feel the same effect on someone can be done with a proposal that took only 30 days or so to plan, Velazquez notes. Some women will probably certainly be thinking OMG, I wish he proposed a year ago. But not everyone is in a rush to get engaged either. Velazquez had a client who spent three-and-a-half years folding 1,000 paper cranes before finally asking his girlfriend to marry him, so shes familiar with this long game. One thing future proposers might consider is hiring a better editor for their videos, however. My only complaint is that the video is over 20 minutes long, and no proposal should last that long, Velazquez says. When youre watching that, you are going to feel like, 'OK, you can propose now, at about two minutes. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. The Congress tried to woo the Muslim voters in Malerkotla, the only Muslim dominated town in Punjab, which was recently in the news for the sacrilege of holy Quran. By Manjeet Sehgal: With eyes on the minority vote bank, the Congress on Wednesday tried to woo the Muslim voters in Malerkotla, the only Muslim dominated town in Punjab, which was recently in the news for the sacrilege of holy Quran. Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh while addressing the people of Malerkotla promised that this town will be made a district after Congress forms the government. He also announced that the medical college he had promised in Malerkotla during his previous regime, will be set up. advertisement "Industry will be encouraged to set up projects so that the local youth get the jobs. Our government will provide equal opportunities to everyone and due representation will be given to the members of the Shia-Muslim community. There will be a gazetted holiday on Moharram," Captain Amrinder Singh said. Captain reiterated that the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has orchestrated every incident of sacrilege in Punjab to polarise people for his vested partisan interests without realising the disastrous repercussions it can have on the state. HOW THE SACRILEGE WAS DONE While addressing a public gathering at Malerkotla assembly segment during the 'Halke vich programme' today, Capt Amarinder said, "There was a pattern in these incidents starting from the desecration of Guru Granth Sahab in Bargadi, followed by the desecration of Gita in Ludhiana and the Quran in Malerkotla. Besides, he pointed out, there was a well planned attack on Sant Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale and no action has been taken against the culprits. He pointed out, even after so many weeks of murderous attack on RSS leader in Jalandhar no culprit had been identified, leave aside arrested. "It is impossible for the culprits to go scottfree if they are not enjoying the government patronage", he remarked. He said, once the Congress forms government each and every case will be investigated. "And I am sure every incident will lead us to the Badal's door as he is quite capable of getting such things done", he said. The PCC president shared the concern of the farmers about the procurement of paddy and the right prices for the basmati rice and hence asked the Chief Minister to clarify his plans about paddy procurement which looks so uncertain. A number of people complained that they were slapped with false cases at the behest of local MLA's husband Azhar Alam. Some of them wanted that the Congress workers should also be allowed to seek vengeance against the Akalis after party formed the government in the state. To this Capt Amarinder said, not only will he cancel all the fake FIRs, but those responsible for getting them registered, including Alam will be brought to book. "You don't need to take law into your own hands, I will take your revenge lawfully after forming the government", he said. --- ENDS --- Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f188388%2f7efc04dba9bb4f85bf167fef4d127b75 So Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston have done a pretty great job of thrilling the people of Brisbane, Australia. The duo have been in town filming the latest instalment of Thor, wowing crowds and casually helping raise tons of money for charity while at work. SEE ALSO: Twitter goes HAM at Hemsworth as Aussie city turns into NYC for 'Thor' Now they've also raised the spirits of sick kids, paying a visit to the Lady Cilento Children's Hospital Tuesday and bringing along the famous Thor hammer for good measure. Lady Cilento seems to be a magnet for celebrities it's the same place Taylor Swift visited back in July. "Met the real superheroes of the world at Lady Cilento Children's Hospital. A huge shout out to these brave kids," Hemsworth wrote on Twitter. And yep, these photos of Thor and Loki are totally heartwarming. On August 12, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) issued its annual report card on Chinas economy and gave the country mixed grades, finding that its economic transition will continue to be complex, challenging, and potentially bumpy. In particular, the report emphasized the need for China to get its corporate debt under control. That sounds sensible enough. But it does not reflect a consensus among or within the China-watching community. In fact, Western China analysts are caught up in such a long-running debate about Chinas trajectory that even a weighty conclusion like the IMFs are unlikely to change their views at all. The conflict over Chinas trajectory pits three camps against each other: optimists, debt hawks, and policy critics. Their disagreements turn on their varying confidence in the Chinese governments ability to manage the economy and alternative assessments about the threat that rising debt levels pose to the economy. Those outside the China-watching community often ascribe these competing conclusions to the opacity of Chinas system the assumption being that it leads to limited and perhaps differing sources of information for analysts, who become like the proverbial blind men touching different parts of an elephant. In fact, China analysts are awash in more data than ever before. Chinas official statistics system has improved substantially, and there are alternative sources of information that allow for triangulation. As a result, the stark differences that continue to persist are primarily the result of competing assumptions and analytical frameworks. Alas, although observers of Chinas economy in any given camp occasionally critique the other, they rarely engage in extended head-on arguments. Their debate is instead akin to art critics looking at a landscape painting, with some focused on the rivers, others on the mountains, and still others on the sky. They may nitpick at the brush strokes of other parts of the painting or even admit to their limited beauty, but they generally dont avert their eyes from what they have decided is most important. The Good There is not a single analyst that does not recognize both how far China has come and the monumental challenges it still faces. No country has grown as fast for as long. Yet the old sources of growth an expanding, well educated workforce, extensive investment in industry, and exports can no longer be sustained or generate the returns they once did. China cant just pump out more stuff, or make even shinier hi-tech products; it needs to produce at a much more efficient clip and raise domestic consumption. Its not only Chinese officials and Chinese think tanks who believe the country can pull it off. Some veteran independent and highly respected analysts believe that the key to relatively high-speed growth lays in restructuring the economy, from investment toward consumption, from industry toward services, and within industry, from low-value added assembly and manufacturing to high value-added advanced manufacturing and innovation. They highlight all of the current policies geared to promote this transformation, including reducing overcapacity, encouraging movement into high-tech sectors and greater innovation, promoting household consumption (for example, by encouraging greater mortgage lending), and developing green technologies. And they point to data on the rapid expansion of services and consumption indicating that progress is well underway. To this camp, everything else stock market volatility, foreign exchange outflows, trade disputes, and elite political intrigue are all just noise distracting observers from what really matters. The Bad This optimism resembles naivete to those who focus on an entirely different set of data points: Chinas massive debt. Chinese red ink has grown far more rapidly than its economy. Even official data place total debt at around 250 percent of GDP, while some independent estimates put the figure at over 300 percent. Credit is still expanding quickly, and a disproportionate amount is still funneled to state-owned enterprises, or SOEs. Its not just that corporate debt is astronomical, with state-owned banks continuing to funnel cash to SOEs to stay afloat. Its that the underreporting of bad debt (by rolling over loans and bonds and moving debt off balance sheets), the ambiguity of local government finances, the spread of sketchy wealth management products, and the emergence of online financing all mean that the true extent of leverage is sketchy and that official data on bad loans under 2 percent is likely a gross understatement of systemic risk. The debt hawk camp gained additional adherents in 2015 and early 2016 as a result of serious gyrations in both Chinas stock market and the value of its currency, the renminbi, partly due to the backfiring of ill-advised circuit breaker policies that actually sent Chinas bourses and foreign exchange reserves reeling. Although the volatility has subsided, debt hawks believe China is enjoying only a superficial calm and has, in fact, passed the point of no return. One adherent of this position recently asked: How much Chinese debt is too much? The amount that helps prevent painful reforms? In this light, there is already too much. Debt has grown so much so quickly that people in this camp believe there is essentially little the government can do to stave off the day of reckoning. China is most likely either to suffer a financial crisis or descend into a long-term anemic growth stupor, much like Japan, albeit at a lower level of development and more unequal distribution of income. After all, countries with similar levels of debt have rarely avoided a financial crisis, and according to one observer, similar efforts taken at this late stage to restructure or stimulate the economy have all failed to reduce the debt burden and ward off a hard landing. To pessimists, a massive bailout and hard budget constraints on borrowers and lenders going forward is the only way to address the problem; but as they know, that is a step the Chinese government has been unwilling to take. The Ugly The final camp is convinced the current Chinese leadership has chalked up a long and growing list of policy mistakes. Some of these mistakes are not economic on their face, but in aggregate they have left Chinas economy far short of its potential. Unlike debt hawks, policy critics think theres still time to save it. According to policy critics, while China has long intervened in the economy, the greater centralization of authority under Xi Jinping, including his signature anti-corruption campaign, has affected the extent, duration, and effect of this intervention. It has meant the quieting of alternative viewpoints in the national bureaucracy and local governments, giving potentially liberal advocates less of a voice when policies are being drafted. There are fewer bottom-up initiatives, and the leadership has a shorter learning curve when policies run into difficulty during implementation because the political atmosphere has clogged feedback loops. Then of course, theres the bungled management of the stock market, the ambiguous adjustments to the exchange rate regime, the timidity of SOE governance, a new five-year plan that stresses massive state support for a wide range of advanced technologies, and dozens of other policy initiatives which all leave the clear impression that strengthening China, Inc. is a higher priority than nurturing a more efficient market economy. Policy critics agree with optimists that China still has enormous growth potential, but they disagree that restructuring is sufficient or that current measures add up to a genuine commitment to market reforms. Critics of expanded intervention disagree with debt hawks in four ways. First, they place as much blame for economic slowdown on Xis policies as they do on Chinas debt overhang. Second, whereas debt hawks believe the die has already been cast and that debt is invariably bringing the economy to its knees, policy critics believe Chinas leaders could still resuscitate the economy if they would only adopt liberalizing reforms. Third, policy critics view a meltdown as relatively unlikely because of Chinas growth potential and the economic and political tools China has to ward off a crisis, including massive savings deposits and the ability to open or close Chinas capital accounts and banks at will. And finally, although they believe a financial crisis or hard landing is possible, policy critics also envision an alternative scenario of relatively high but volatile growth, in which the economy remains inefficient but in which investments supported by subsidized state funding help China move forcefully into high tech sectors. In such a scenario, China would maintain its current growth and governance model, with most of the costs being borne by other countries in the form of lost market share, price volatility, and macroeconomic shocks. Which of the three lenses one chooses to view China can affect conclusions on a remarkable variety of issues, from Chinas supply-side reforms to reduce overcapacity in infrastructure to intensive efforts to build capabilities in high tech sectors such as semiconductors to Chinas foreign economic policy. Take, for example, Chinas signature Belt & Road (OBOR) initiative to build trade and investment ties over land and sea linking China to the rest of Asia, Europe, and Africa. Optimists view the plan as integral to helping China shed low value-added and polluting industries, move up the value chain, and expand healthy trade and investment ties. By contrast, debt hawks are concerned that OBOR is motivated more by political vanity than market logic. To them, the result is likely to be billions in wasted investments, with Chinas ghost cities being joined by ghost countries to Chinas west littered with empty buildings and unused highways. Finally, policy hawks worry that without sufficient buy-in from market actors, OBOR is actually serving as a disincentive to the central and local governments from liberalizing Chinas economy by giving a lifeline to politically connected financial institutions and companies that ought to be shuttered or forced to move into more profitable businesses. As the G20 leaders prepare to meet in the prosperous Chinese city of Hangzhou in early September, now is a particularly good time for the three camps to compare notes and see if they might adopt a common posture. If optimists are right, the international community should be patient and give Xi the time and space that he needs to carry out a complicated reform agenda that must overcome special interests and other domestic opponents. But if debt hawks are right, the most appropriate response would be to press for debt restructuring and marketization of Chinas financial system while at the same time insulating global financial markets from the potential spillover effects of a Chinese economy heading toward a crisis or extended recession. On the other hand, if policy critics are correct and the main story is Chinas mistaken commitment to interventionism then patience is no longer a virtue, and every manner of carrot and stick should be used to move China back toward a genuinely reformist path. For example, G20 members could insist that China massive supply in infrastructure-related sectors is Chinas own fault caused by wasteful spending and not a global problem partly caused by low demand abroad. Countries could bolster their fair trade laws to reduce the damage from China exporting that excess capacity. And the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), they would argue, should be ratified and bilateral investment treaties negotiated with China in part because they can serve as tools to incentivize China to liberalize its economy in a way that not only benefits its trading partners but also raises its own productivity. In other words, the signals that China analysts are sending to policymakers are conflicted, and sometimes contradictory. One can only hope that China analysts from the opposing camps will step up their dialogue to hash out differences and set clearer yardsticks by which to judge Chinas economic performance. Its time to look at the rivers, the mountain, and the sky all at once. The stakes are too high to continue talking past one another. Kevin Frayer/Getty Images With Hollywood weathering a slew of horrible nanny stories, The Doctors call on an expert to find out what to look for when deciding who should care for your little ones. Celebrity couples whose relationships crumbled after alleged affairs with their nannies include Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale, Sienna Miller and Jude Law and Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck. The Nanny Doctor Lindsay Heller joins the show to share how you can avoid the nanny hiring pitfalls that so many in Hollywood have fallen into. Watch: Would You Hire a "Manny?" Is There A Solid Background & Future? When youre interviewing, find someone who is planning to be a caregiver long-term, that this is their profession, that they have respect and pride in what they do, Lindsay recommends. Watch: Will Cheating Improve Your Marriage? Establish Boundaries Clear boundaries are also huge, on both [the employee and the employer] sides. So, if we start a relationship where the parents are sharing intimate information or different things, or even just become sort of friendly with them, then thats inviting to the nanny to then share her personal information which can become a mess, she says. Check Your Marriage See where youre at. If [your marriage] is not in good standing, dont leave your significant other, husband or wife with someone who is hot, she adds. Watch: Signs Of Relationship Infidelity Lindsay also tells The Doctors that, these hot nannies are giving a bad name to all nannies. The Doctors recommend when hiring someone to care of your children checking references is key. In case it wasnt clear before, its officially OK for Starbucks to carry on with its current ice-to-product ratio in its cold drinks. A federal judge has dismissed a proposed class action a disgruntled Starbucks (SBUX) customer filed against the company in May. That lawsuit claimed that Starbucks advertising practices are clearly meant to mislead customers when combined with the standard practice of filling a cold drink cup with far less liquid than the cup can hold. Putting it in Starbucks-centric terms, the lawsuit specified that when a Venti Cold Drink cup is filled up to the top black line they are only pouring about 14 fluid ounces of Cold Drink into the cup, not 24 fluid ounces, because of the excess amount of ice. In dismissing the case, Judge Percy Anderson likened the plaintiff to a child: If children have figured out that including ice in a cold beverage decreases the amount of liquid they will receive, the Court has no difficulty concluding that a reasonable consumer would not be deceived into thinking that when they order an iced tea, that the drink they receive will include both ice and tea and that for a given size cup, some portion of the drink will be ice rather than whatever liquid beverage the consumer ordered. THE CASE OF THE HOT COFFEE Theres no shortage of lawsuits involving beverages, but perhaps the most famous was Liebeck v. McDonalds, frequently referred to as the hot coffee lawsuit. The plaintiff was awarded $2.9 million dollars after she spilled hot McDonalds (MCD) coffee on her lap (later reduced to $500,000, as The New York Times Retro Report has noted). The case subsequently triggered a flurry of responses, with people claiming it was frivolous. But in fact, hundreds of customers have filed complaints against McDonalds (MCD) because of the coffees scalding hot temperature, as the Consumer Attorneys of California notes. Beyond coffee, passionate customers have filed lawsuits against a bevy of food and beverage giants, often unsuccessfully. Story continues BOOZY DREAM Richard Overton sued Anheuser-Busch for $10,000 in 1991, claiming the company was falsely advertising its beer and the magical effects it would have on his dating life. Anheuser-Busch (BUD) had a series of ads that depicted men drinking beer and surrounded by throngs of beautiful women. He claimed that these ads caused him emotional distress, mental injury and financial loss. Needless to say, this case was dismissed. PHONY FINGER FOOD In 2005, Anna Ayala claimed to bite into a 1 inch crunchy finger while chowing on a cup of Wendys (WEN) chili. However, lab tests determined there were no traces of saliva on the finger AND that the finger quote was not consistent with an object that had been cooked in chili at 170 degrees for three hours. After further investigation, it turned out that Ayalas husband had bought the finger from a co-worker who had lost it in an accident for $100. Wendys claimed that Ayalas claims inflicted more than $2.5 million in lost revenue for the company and ultimately, Ayala was sentenced to nine years in prison, of which she served four. KFCS FALSE RUMOR MILL And sometimes its not the fast food companies that are under fire theyre the targets. Last summer, there were false rumors circulating that KFC was genetically modifying its meat and manufacturing an 8-legged, 6-winged chicken to its customers. KFCs parent company, Yum Brands (YUM), sued three Chinese companies that were spreading the rumors on social media. Each of the firms have been ordered to pay KFC a combined 600,000 yuan, or a little under $100,000. KFC had originally sought 1.5 million yuan from each company. What are the strangest lawsuits against fast food franchises youve ever heard of? Have you ever filed one yourself? Tweet me at @melodyhahm! Melody Hahm is a writer & reporter at Yahoo Finance, covering entrepreneurship, innovation and technology. Read more from Melody: Manbang is North Koreas Netflix How this entrepreneur became the shoe designer for Beyonce and Lady Gaga 34-year-old Facebook employee sees better investment opportunities than stocks I checked out WeWorks communal housing, and now Im considering a move Miami (AFP) - The American Medical Association urged the maker of the EpiPen, a life-saving device that counteracts severe allergies, to drop its price Wednesday as public outrage mounted over a soaring cost hike. Mylan Pharmaceuticals has come under fire for raising the price of epinephrine injectors from $100 to $500 over the course of five years, a price tag critics say puts it out of reach for many parents. EpiPens are used when those suffering severe allergies are stung by bees or accidentally ingest peanuts to ward off potentially deadly reactions. "Although the product is unchanged since 2009, the cost has skyrocketed by more than 400 percent during that period," AMA President Andrew Gurman said in a statement. "The AMA has long urged the pharmaceutical industry to exercise reasonable restraint in drug pricing, and, with lives on the line, we urge the manufacturer to do all it can to rein in these exorbitant costs." A petition on MoveOn.org calling on Mylan CEO Heather Bresch to "stop price-gouging" has garnered more than 129,000 signatures. A pair of EpiPens costs just $85 in France, the petition notes. "Mylan, which has a near monopoly in the US, has seen its profits from the EpiPen alone skyrocket to $1.2 billion a year," it says. - 'Moral questions' - Asked at a White House press briefing about the EpiPen price hike, spokesman Josh Earnest declined to comment specifically on the company's strategy. "I will observe, however, that pharmaceutical companies that often try to portray themselves as the inventors of lifesaving medication often do real damage to their reputation by being greedy and jacking up prices in a way that victimizes vulnerable Americans," he told reporters. "And I think it raises significant questions, even moral questions, in the minds of a lot of people." Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton also called for the EpiPen price to come down, noting that millions of people rely on the epinephrine injectors, which must be replaced every 12-18 months. Story continues She called the price hike "outrageous -- and it's just the latest troubling example of a company taking advantage of its consumers," in a statement on Facebook. "It's wrong when drug companies put profits ahead of patients, raising prices without justifying the value behind them," added Clinton. She said if elected, her plan would be to require pharmaceutical manufacturers "to explain significant price increases, and prove that any additional costs are linked to additional patient benefits and better value. "Since there is no apparent justification in this case, I am calling on Mylan to immediately reduce the price of EpiPens." Members of Congress have also expressed concern about the price hike, and some have called for hearings on Capitol Hill to force Mylan executives to explain themselves. Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar, whose daughter relies on EpiPen to protect her from the effects of anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction, has called on the Federal Trade Commission to launch an anti-trust investigation. "There does not appear to be any justification for the continual price increases of EpiPen," she said in a letter to the FTC. The accused is believed to be a repeat offender. Sources say that she was arrested a couple of years ago for the same and was later released by after paying a fine. By Pramod Madhav: A 28-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly running a illegal prenatal sex determination clinic in Tiruvannamalai in Chennai. Anandhi Tamilselvan alias Thilagavathi, residing at Somavarakulam, was arrested for conducting medical terminations of pregnancies. Based on a tip-off, Tamil Nadu health department officials conducted a raid in the area where they found six pregnant women who had come for abortion. advertisement The women, including one teenager, had consumed abortion pills given by the accused. The women were sent to Tiruvannamali government hospital for immediate treatment. An ultrasound machine, equipment and pills were also recovered. The accused is believed to be a repeat offender. Sources say that she was arrested a couple of years ago for the same and was later released by after paying a fine. Police are likely to file book the accused under Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act 1994 and Medical Temination of Pregnancy Act 1971. --- ENDS --- By Joachim Dagenborg OSLO (Reuters) - Norway wants to maintain a good relationship with Britain after it leaves the European Union but it may take a long time for a new trade agreement to be established, the EU affairs minister in Oslo said on Wednesday. Elisabeth Aspaker told a meeting that ministers would soon meet their London counterparts, later adding to Reuters that she expected negotiations with Norway to be a priority for Britain. Prime Minister Erna Solberg told Reuters last week she saw some advantages if Britain joined the four-nation European Free Trade Association (EFTA) after quitting the EU, qualifying past doubts about membership. Britain is Norway's third-biggest destination for goods produced by its mainland economy, which excludes the oil and shipping sector, with an 8 percent share. Mainland exports are primarily seafood, including salmon, but Norway is also Britain's top foreign gas supplier, accounting for some 40 percent of all supplies in 2015. Its $896-billion wealth fund, the world's largest, is a major foreign investor. "We want to maintain at least as near a relationship with Britain as we have today," Aspaker told the meeting on the implications of Brexit with business and trade union officials. "Our goal is to have a well-functioning solution with Britain in place as soon as possible ... (But) we must be prepared to the fact that it could take a long time and that it may not be in place the moment Britain leaves the EU." The Nordic country is not an EU state but pays hundreds of millions of euros to access the European internal market. It has been touted by some referendum campaigners as a potential model for post-Brexit Britain to follow. Citing gas trading and bilateral security links, Aspaker told Reuters she expected Norway to be "quite high up in the queue of countries it is important to have good relationships with". (Writing by Gwladys Fouche; Editing by Alison Williams) Travel in style this summer [Photo: Getty] We might not all be Olympic champions flying in first class but, if youre headed to the airport this summer, make sure youre taking advantage of the services available to you. Many of us are on airport autopilot - checking in, getting fed and heading to the gate with barely a glance at Duty Free (only if we have time!). Theres a huge range of services that will get your holiday started in style and it might surprise you that many of them are actually free. [Photo: Heathrow] Personal Shopping VIP shopping is no longer for the uber-rich or famous. Heathrow was the first international airport to introduce personal shopping, allowing passengers to book a free style consultation with an accredited stylist, and now most major airports offer a personal shopping service. Appointments are individually tailored and if you book online before you arrive, you can detail exactly what youre looking for. If you are looking for all the fashion without the fuss, theres also an exclusive personal shopping lounge at Heathrow Terminal 2, where passengers can sip on champagne whilst they browse a number of luxurious brands in the privacy of their own exclusive lounge. [Photo: Heathrow] Plane Picnics Not a fan of airplane food? Many of us are dubious at the twice-cooked courses on offer in-flight but many airport restaurants now offer in-flight picnics - beautifully packed meals that you can take on board. Whether its Wagamama or Gordon Ramsey, they come packed in a cool bag with all your essentials included. We definitely recommend picking up one from Fortnum & Mason. The mini Hamperling picnics start at 15 and give you a little touch of first class, without the price tag. The Personal Shopping Lounge [Photo: Heathrow] Send It Home Its easy to go a bit overboard when youre buying bargains and you may hold back knowing that youll have to carry your purchases with you throughout your trip. Fortunately, if youre travelling within the EU, some airports can arrange to have big purchases delivered back home for you. Story continues This service is great for celebrating birthdays with a shopping spree or even planning a big Christmas shop in advance. You can take advantage of tax free prices, without having to take it all you on your travels. Just stock up and then get it all sent home, waiting for you on your return. . Or Collect On Your Return Alternatively, if youre only buying a few things, most airports offer a shop and collect service which allows you to buy in store when you fly before picking up purchases from a convenient collection point on your return. Store staff will make the arrangements and your purchases will be waiting for you in Arrivals when you come back. Perfect if youre travelling light but cant resist the price on that litre bottle of Vodka. [Photo: World Duty Free] Get Pampered Pre-Flight Its a little known fact that World Duty Free offers free beauty services. Whether its a relaxing Jo Malone hand and arm massage, or a luxury facial at La Prairie, its a really good way to try out products for free. You can also opt for mini makeovers and styling at brands like NARS or GHD, so youll step on board looking fabulous. These services are available free, without booking and without having to be redeemed against a purchase - just ask at the counter. Shop In Advance If youre short on time or would rather spend your time making the most of your lounge access, you should see if your airport offers a reserve and collect service - any airport with a World Duty Free branch will do it. Reserve and Collect is a free service available to all passengers, all you need to do is shop online, reserve the items youve got your eye on and theyll be ready for you to collect before you fly. Singapore Airport [Photo: Getty] Research Before You Fly Some airports have incredible features that you will wish youd known about. Singapore Airport has a rooftop pool which is less than 10 for anyone to enter. Vancouver airport has a 30,000 gallon aquarium and another tank solely dedicated to jellyfish. If you get to the airport with enough time, San Francisco International has a 24-hour complimentary yoga room to use. Have a quick look into the airports youre flying from as you may find a few reasons to go early. [Photo: Getty] Get VIP Lounge Access Lounge access is no longer just for those in Business or First class. Paid-for lounge access is increasingly available and offer the perfect environment for you to unwind before you fly. The Escape Lounge at Manchester & Stansted, offers complimentary food and drink (including alcoholic drinks), Wi-Fi, charging points, TVs, newspapers and magazines. Its a lovely idea if youre celebrating a special occasion or wanting to surprise someone. Prices start from 21 in advance or 25 for walk-ins. Do you normally leave time to explore the airport or do you have an flying routine that you stick to? Tweet us your thoughts and experiences @YahooStyleUK. The Worlds Most Incredible Bucket-List Wildlife Holidays The Rise Of The Lifestyle Festival: Why Wilderness Needs To Be On Your Radar Ed Feulner, former president of The Heritage Foundation. (Photo: Cliff Owen/AP) Ed Feulner, former president of the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank, has joined Donald Trumps transition team to help prepare for the possibility of a win by the Republican presidential candidate this fall. Feulner, 75, is the first major figure with deep credibility in the conservative movement to join the Trump transition effort, which is being run by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Two sources with direct knowledge of Feulners involvement confirmed his role. Contacted by phone, Feulner confirmed that he is working for Trumps transition team but declined to comment and referred questions to the Trump campaign. Feulner is credited with building the Heritage Foundation from a small, struggling policy think tank in the 1970s to the influential behemoth it became during the presidency of Ronald Reagan and beyond. He retired as president in 2013, when former U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, a South Carolina Republican, took the reins of the organization. The addition of Feulner has great symbolic value for Trump, who is viewed with intense suspicion by many conservatives who doubt his commitment to their ideology. However, despite the addition of Feulner, Christie is having trouble finding people to fill many of the slots needed to run a successful transition team, according to one conservative policy expert in Washington, D.C. When asked about the lack of names announced so far, Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks argued that the transition effort has a great team and tremendous, overwhelming interest, but the campaign is focused on connecting with voters and Mr. Trumps message and vision for the country. Hicks added that Hillary Clinton may put an inordinate amount of focus on her transition team because she is relying on a rigged system that has propelled her thus far. Clinton has several high-profile Democrats led by former interior secretary and Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar running her transition. Both Trump and Clinton have taxpayer-funded office space provided for a transition effort, the result of a 2010 law that moved up the availability of such money to just after the party conventions, rather than after the election. In 2012, Republican nominee Mitt Romney was the first presidential candidate to take advantage of the new law, and his transition effort cost taxpayers nearly $9 million. The degree to which Russia has taken center stage in the U.S. presidential election hasnt been seen since the height of the Cold War. Whether its the strange and disturbing details of an apparent Kremlin-sponsored Democratic National Committee email hack or the Donald Trump campaigns curious and convoluted links to the former Soviet region, Russia and its strongman president Vladimir Putin have emerged as a top U.S. national security concern. But so far, polarizing campaign rhetoric and media sensationalism have largely overshadowed all this attention on Russia. We may not know the full extent to which Moscow is directly meddling in American campaign affairs, but the U.S. political elite is in an uproar over the possibility. Meanwhile, the still-swirling speculation around the Trump campaigns links to Russia and Ukraine, and allegedly even the Kremlin, has gained new traction with the revelation that Paul Manafort (Trumps recently resigned campaign chairman) may have received more than $12 million in cash from parties close to Ukraines disgraced former President Viktor Yanukovych. Furthering the speculation is the news that two of Trumps foreign policy advisors retired Army Gen. Michael Flynn and investment banker Carter Page have had financial dealings with state-owned Russian companies, though neither has disclosed the full extent of those arrangements. Trumps own comments in which hes praised Putin, calling him a strong leader a powerful leader, and then his call to the Russians to hack into other potentially classified material, have garnered the most concern. Both current and former U.S. officials have said this type of Russian intervention in U.S. politics sets a dangerous precedent. But this political feeding frenzy unleashed by Russian jabs at the U.S. presidential election underscores a far deeper problem for Americas national interests. Despite ample rhetoric bashing Russias muscle flexing foreign policy or impugning the White House for failing to explore avenues of cooperation, neither presidential candidate seems to have given much thought to what a coherent U.S. policy toward Russia would actually look like. Story continues Love Putin or hate him, both the Russian president and his country arent going anywhere. Moscow is one of a small handful of powerful governments that has both the capability and the ambition to challenge U.S. interests not only by defying Washingtons preferences for human rights within Russia, but by intervening in neighboring states and even projecting power far beyond its borders. It should be obvious, then, that Washington needs a better Russia policy. And it will be incumbent on the next president to develop an approach that advances vital U.S. national interests while taking into account Russias objectives and capabilities on its periphery and globally. What we have heard from the candidates so far falls short of that mark. Trump has mostly touted his skill as a negotiator and insisted that he will get along very well with Putin, as if U.S.-Russia relations boil down to chemistry between two macho executives. Hillary Clinton has taken the opposite approach, branding Putin a bully and comparing him to Hitler in his treatment of neighboring Ukraine. By depicting Putin in this cartoonish way, as either a dastardly villain or a strong leader awaiting more enthusiastic courtship, both candidates are avoiding much harder, and more important, questions about fixing a U.S.-Russia relationship that has become dangerously dysfunctional. Whats at stake transcends campaign rhetoric and will have repercussions well beyond the 2016 election. U.S. policymakers, politicians, and the Russia expert community were caught off guard by the apparent ease with which the Kremlin has hijacked the geopolitical agenda, shifting attention from its areas of weakness to those with better prospects for Russia. The role of Russian-backed hackers in focusing public attention on corruption and hypocrisy within core U.S. political institutions is only one example. Russia has also exploited close ties with Europes far-right and far-left opposition parties to keep disaffection with the European Union, NATO, and the Western-led global financial system front and center in Europes political debate. Russias intervention in Syria, coming on the heels of a deeper crisis triggered by the Kremlins annexation of Crimea and its meddling in eastern Ukraine, has put coordination with Moscow if not outright partnership back on the table for U.S. and European policymakers. So far, Russia has been unable to break free of Western financial and trade sanctions, but some observers on both sides now expect to see those sanctions gradually reduced in the coming year. The Kremlins apparent success in these endeavors has little to do with U.S. politics, and everything to do with geopolitical realities that will not change regardless of who wins in November. Yet so far, neither candidate has offered anything resembling a strategy for managing the U.S.-Russia relationship for which one of them will become responsible starting Jan. 20, 2017. As secretary of state, Clinton presided over considerable accomplishments during the reset period of 2009 to 2011, and famously presented a literal reset button (mislabeled with the Russian word for overcharge) to her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in 2009. During this brief period, President Barack Obama and then-President Dmitry Medvedev agreed to practical cooperation on nuclear arms control, trade promotion, and supplying NATO forces in Afghanistan. But by 2012, nearing the end of Clintons tenure at Foggy Bottom, this short productive stretch soon gave way to escalating confrontation, with both sides eventually denouncing each other as existential threats. As the Democratic nominee, Clinton seems content to continue the muddled approach of seeking to both isolate Russia and engage with it, depending on the issue. Her campaign platform touts her ability to stand up to Vladimir Putin, and Putin himself has said that Clinton gave the signal for massive public protests against him in 2011, so there is not much basis for future cooperation between the two. Clinton is also likely to court U.S. voters of Polish, Ukrainian, and Baltic descent based predominantly in the Midwest by reminding them of her long-standing support for NATO enlargement in Central and Eastern Europe. The Democratic nominee is already seeking to win over traditionally Republican-leaning national security voters with her emphasis on using U.S. power to advance freedom and human rights globally, an echo of George W. Bushs freedom agenda. If Clinton doubles down on U.S. involvement in proxy conflicts over Syria and Ukraine, as her comments on the campaign trail have suggested, the Russians are almost certain to respond in kind, and direct U.S.-Russia confrontation could spiral quickly out of either sides control. For his part, Trump has suggested he would pursue better relations with Putin, whom he has called a better leader than Obama, and who in turn has called Trump colorful (mistranslated in the Western press as brilliant). Other Trump comments indicate he would be willing to reverse or at least roll back Washingtons current support for Kiev, anti-Assad rebel groups in Syria, and even European NATO members whom he has castigated for failing to pay their fair share of the costs for their own security. These changes, according to Trump, would be justified by the prospect of enlisting Russias support in the greater struggle against the Islamic State and radical Islam globally. But experienced national security hands doubt Trump could cut a favorable deal with Putin, and worry that he would only eviscerate U.S. relations with its key European allies in his attempt. Both candidates disorganized approaches to the Kremlin stand in contrast to Washingtons historical relations with Moscow. During the Cold War, American presidents from Harry S. Truman to Ronald Reagan defined the challenge from the Soviet Union in terms of defeating the ideology of Communism, but they also identified concrete U.S. interests around the world jeopardized by Soviet policies and defined the resources necessary to defend them. Trumans eponymous doctrine entailed a historic commitment to rebuilding war-torn European economies via the Marshall Plan and committed the United States to Europes stability and territorial integrity under the 1949 North Atlantic Treaty, which created NATO. At the most dangerous phase of the Cold War, following the Cuban Missile Crisis, the building of the Berlin Wall, and proxy wars in the Middle East and Vietnam, Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger redefined U.S. strategy by negotiating with the Kremlin for limitations on nuclear testing and deployment, and successfully exploiting rivalries among Communist governments, especially between Moscow and Beijing. Reagan famously entered office determined to challenge the Soviet Union both morally and militarily, denouncing the Soviet evil empire and committing to a vast new military buildup. But by 1986, Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev had agreed to dramatically reduce tensions, and even discussed the then-inconceivable and still-elusive goal of eliminating all nuclear weapons in the world. These examples may seem quaint or even irrelevant in light of the vastly different circumstances of the globalized world in the early 21st century. Yet in their own time, each previous U.S. administration was faced with quickly evolving technological, political, and economic developments on the home front, as well as unpredictable global security crises that demanded scarce U.S. resources and attention. In each case, clearly defining the challenge posed by the Soviet Union to American interests, and the steps necessary to secure those interests, helped set a standard against which competing priorities could be weighed and difficult choices made. The simple fact is that Russia is a major player in regions of great strategic importance to the United States and its closest European allies, from the Baltic and Black Seas to the Middle East and the Arctic. It is nowhere near the superpower and rival to the United States that it was during the Cold War, but Russia is still a major force, with 145 million people, one of the worlds largest economies, increasingly potent conventional military capabilities, and a vast strategic nuclear arsenal. These facts may fuel campaign broadsides about the threat from Putin and Russia over the coming months, but paranoia and demonization should not obscure the fundamental challenge Russia poses for U.S. foreign policy. Thinking through a comprehensive, interests-based approach to managing U.S.-Russia competition and confrontation in 2017 and beyond is not an academic exercise. The next U.S. administration is certain to face recurring trade-offs between confronting the Kremlin over its bullying of neighboring states like Ukraine and Georgia or its abuse of its own citizens, versus securing Russian cooperation on global challenges like maintaining the nuclear nonproliferation regime and countering the terrorist threat that both countries face. Consider just a few of the Russia-related problems the next administration will face: The conflicts in Syria and Ukraine cannot be resolved without Russian cooperation, yet Russias interventions so far have clearly been designed to weaken U.S. proxies and increase pressure on Washington. Russian participation was critical to achieving the breakthrough agreement to halt Irans nuclear program, but as relations with Washington deteriorate further, Moscow could easily back Tehran if it is found cheating. And, although low oil and gas prices have dealt a blow to Russias export-dependent economy, Moscow can still turn off the tap during Europes cold winter months to punish neighbors for cozying up to the West. In dealing with smaller, weaker states more inclined to defer to U.S. preferences, it may be smart for a candidate to talk tough on the campaign trail but once elected, shift to experienced career officials and talented diplomats to actually manage productive relations with the Kremlin. Russia, however, will require presidential attention from day one and coordinating efforts across the vast U.S. bureaucracy will demand a strategy. Its not too early for the candidates to stop bashing each other with caricatures of Putin and Russia and start developing a clear vision of the challenge Moscow poses to Washingtons interests and the steps needed to defend them. Photo credit: NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP/Getty Images New York (AFP) - Donald Trump stepped up his attacks on Hillary Clinton, accusing her of "Third World"-style corruption over her family's charitable foundation and calling her unfit to hold office. "It is a total embarrassment if our secretary of state can be bought or bribed or sold," he told a rally in Austin, Texas after a damaging Associated Press report raised questions about whether donors to the Clinton Foundation paid cash for access to America's top diplomat. "It's a disgrace, this is a threat to the foundation of democracy," said Trump. "This is what happens in Third World countries." The Associated Press reported that more than half the people outside government who met Clinton while she was secretary of state donated money to the Clinton Foundation. "Hillary Clinton is totally unfit to hold public office. It is impossible to figure out where the Clinton Foundation ends and the State Department begins," Trump said. "It is now abundantly clear that the Clintons set up a business to profit from public office, they sold access," he said. "This is corruption and this is why I have called for a special prosecutor to look into this mess," he said. The Associated Press reported that at least 85 of 154 people from private interests who met or had telephone conversations scheduled with Clinton while she led the State Department donated to her family charity or pledged commitments to its international programs. Those 85 donors contributed a combined $156 million, the AP said. The Associated Press said the meetings between Clinton and donors did not appear to violate legal agreements she and her husband, former president Bill Clinton, signed before she joined the State Department. "But the frequency of the overlaps shows the intermingling of access and donations, and fuels perceptions that giving the foundation money was a price of admission for face time with Clinton," the AP reported. By Steve Holland AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump held out the possibility on Tuesday of a softening of his hardline position on illegal immigration, a move that could help move him to the political center but hurt him with his most ardent supporters. In an immigration town hall event with Fox News anchor Sean Hannity, Trump was asked whether he would be willing to change U.S. law to accommodate those illegal immigrants who have been contributing to American society, obeyed laws and have children. "There certainly can be a softening because we're not looking to hurt people," Trump replied, insisting there were some "great people" among the immigrant population. It was the latest example of Trump appearing to waver on his long-held stance he would deport all illegal immigrants back to their home countries. His new campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, told CNN on Sunday that Trump's proposed "deportation force" for the 11 million people in the United States illegally was "to be determined." Later on Tuesday, at a rally in Austin, Trump appeared to shift his emphasis to dealing with illegal immigrants who commit crimes in the United States. He brought on stage eight mothers whose children were killed by illegal immigrants. Trump ticked off a series of statistics about crimes committed by some illegal immigrants and vowed that would be stopped under his presidency. "Not going to happen, folks," he said. "We're not going to let it happen to our country." Trump, who postponed an immigration speech originally planned for Thursday in Denver, said he would stop some major cities' practice of providing sanctuary for illegal immigrants and stop immigrants from overstaying their visas. A move by Trump to modify his stance on immigration could help him attract more support among moderate voters in his uphill drive to win the Nov. 8 election. The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll showed Democrat Hillary Clinton expanding her lead over Trump to 12 points among likely voters, with 45 percent support to 33 percent for Trump. But a change in Trump's position could prove to be dispiriting to some of his strongest supporters. Trump defeated 16 rivals for the Republican presidential nomination and one factor that helped him was being the most hardline candidate on immigration. "Why would anyone be surprised that Trump has pivoted to becoming the 'amnesty' candidate?" said Republican strategist Rick Tyler, a former spokesman for U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, a conservative. "When you have no governing philosophy, pivots are par for the course. Guess we won't need Mexico to build that wall." 'FOLLOW THE LAWS' At his Austin event, attended by thousands who packed a rodeo arena, some were shouting: "Build the wall" long before Trump even showed up, a reference to the New York businessman's oft-stated promise to build a wall along the U.S. with Mexico and make Mexico pay for it. Some of those attending the event, however, liked that Trump might be offering a more expansive view on immigration. "I think he's saying the law needs to be looked at," said Barbara Thomas, a Trump supporter from the Austin area. "I think it would be very hard for all of them to be deported. I think the system needs to be fixed. It has some problems." Immigration politics have long divided American voters. Then-President George W. Bush, a Republican, fought for changes to U.S. immigration laws in 2007 but the effort fizzled in the U.S. Congress. Democratic President Barack Obama's attempts have failed to bear fruit amid partisan gridlock. Trump insisted in the Hannity appearance he would "follow the law." "We have very strong laws in this country. And you know Bush, and even Obama, sends people back. Now, we can be more aggressive on that but we want to follow the laws," he said. His vice presidential running mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, said in a CBS News interview that Trump would be "tough but fair" in dealing with illegal immigrants. "People who have run afoul of the law gotta leave immediately," Pence said. When pressed, he said the details would need to be worked out with Congress. (Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Peter Cooney) By PTI: From K J M Varma Beijing, Aug 24 (PTI) China today said it expects to hold talks with the Philippines on the tense dispute over the South China Sea at an early date, after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said that discussions might happen "within the year". Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said they hoped that the talks will happen at an early date. advertisement Lu was responding to the remark yesterday by Duterte, who said the talks over the South China Sea dispute might happen "within the year". Chinese official media quoted Duterte as saying that he had no plan to take the South China Sea arbitration to the East Asia Summit next month, and would rather talk about the dispute with China face-to-face. An international tribunal last month adjudicating on a Philippine petition struck down Chinas claims over almost all of the SCS and upheld Manilas right in the area claimed by it. China, which has undertaken giant land reclamation works in disputed parts of the sea, has vowed to ignore the ruling. It has called for direct talks with the Philippines, but asserted it will not compromise on its claims. Besides the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims over the South China Sea, through which USD 5 trillion of annual shipping trade passes. Welcoming Dutertes remarks, Lu said China will always work with countries directly concerned, including the Philippines, to resolve any dispute through peaceful negotiation and consultation. China and the Philippines, as friendly neighbours, have the ability and wisdom to settle the issue through consultation and restore friendly relations, Lu said. Former Philippine President Fidel Ramos visited Hong Kong as Dutertes special envoy earlier this month to pave way for talks with Beijing. PTI KJV ABH --- ENDS --- Tunis (AFP) - Tunisia's proposed unity government line-up will remain unchanged despite reservations among several allied parties ahead of a vote of confidence, a source close to premier-designate Youssef Chahed said Wednesday. The North African country's parliament is to meet on Friday to hold the vote of confidence on the unity government announced at the weekend by Chahed. Since the announcement, many have voiced criticism about some ministerial candidates, with media reports raising the possibility of last-minute changes. "There will be no changes," a source close to the prime minister-designate told AFP. "He will go ahead and accept responsibility," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. One of the most critical allied parties, Afek Tounes, which was already part of the previous coalition, also announced in the evening, after a vote, that its 10 members would back the new line-up. "We were divided. There are reservations about some names and we are not alone in this," said its president, Yassine Brahim. "But the country is in a difficult situation and cannot wait any longer," he said, adding that his party, which has two ministers in the new team, would keep a "critical distance". The leading political force in the parliament, the Islamist Ennahda party is also set to vote in favour of the new government, despite saying on Sunday that it had "some reservations" about the line-up. If parliament confirms his cabinet, Chahed, 40, would become Tunisia's youngest prime minister since the North African country won independence from France in 1956. Chahed was appointed by President Beji Caid Essebsi on August 3 after lawmakers passed a vote of no confidence in premier Habib Essid's government after just 18 months in office. On Saturday, Chahed -- a member of Essebsi's Nidaa Tounes party -- said he would head a 27-member cabinet that includes 14 ministers of state, eight women and 14 "young" ministers. The new government would have to tackle the economic and social crises gripping the country since the 2011 revolution that toppled longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Chahed would also have to address security after a wave of jihadist attacks, including two that killed dozens of foreign tourists last year. ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey-backed rebels took control of the Syrian town of Jarablus on Wednesday, state-run Anadolu Agency said, sweeping Islamic State from one its last strongholds on the Syrian-Turkish border. Turkish forces did not sustain any casualties in the operation, which was launched early on Wednesday morning, but one Syrian rebel was killed, Anadolu said. The Syrian rebels were backed by Turkish special forces, tanks and warplanes. The operation marked Turkey's first major U.S.-backed incursion into its southern neighbor. (Reporting by Ece Toksabay; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Nick Tattersall) ANKARA, Turkey After a pre-dawn barrage of heavy artillery and airstrikes, Turkey sent tanks and special forces into Syria on Wednesday to help clear a border town of ISIS militants, marking the NATO members most significant military involvement so far in the Syria conflict. Hundreds of Syrian opposition fighters were also part of the cross-border incursion to oust the militants from Jarablus, which was reported by both Turkish state media and Syrian opposition activists. Hours after the start of the operation, Turkeys state-run news agency and a Syrian opposition media activist said the rebels captured Kaklijeh an ISIS-held village near Jarablus with the support of Turkish armored units. The village is some 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from the Turkish border, the Anadolu Agency said. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the military operation aims to prevent threats from terror groups, including the Islamic State and a U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish militia that is affiliated with Turkeys outlawed Kurdish rebels. Erdogan said the operation was in response to a string of attacks in Turkey, including a suicide bombing at a wedding party near the border that killed 54 people. Wednesdays dual-purpose operation puts Turkey on track for a confrontation with the U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters in Syria, the most effective fighting force against ISIS in the area. Turkey is concerned about the growing clout of the group, which it says is linked to Kurdish groups waging an insurgency in southeastern Turkey. A senior official with Syrias largest Kurdish group suggested Turkey will pay the price. Saleh Muslim, the co-president of the Democratic Union Party or PYD, tweeted that Turkey is in Syrian Quagmire. Will be defeated as Daesh will be. He used the Arabic language acronym for ISIS. The latest developments have thrust Jarablus into the spotlight. The town, which lies on the western bank of the Euphrates River where it crosses from Turkey into Syria, is one of the last important ISIS-held towns between Kurdish-controlled areas in northern Syria. It is located 20 miles (33 kilometers) from the town of Manbij, liberated from IS by Kurdish-led forces earlier this month. Story continues Taking Jarablus and ISIS-held town of al-Bab to the south would be a significant step toward linking up border areas under Kurdish control on both sides of the Euphrates. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Syrian Kurdish forces must as soon as possible cross to the east of the Euphrates. Thats what the United States promised. That was our agreement, he added. Otherwise, and I say this clearly, we will do what is necessary. Turkeys private NTV television, which said that up to 20 Turkish tanks crossed the border, earlier Wednesday reported that a small number of Turkish special forces had crossed into Syria as part of the operation. NTV called it an intruder mission meant for pinpoint operations against ISIS in Jarablus. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirims office said the operation, carried out by Turkish and U.S.-backed coalition forces, began at 4 a.m. (0100 GMT), with Turkish artillery launching intense cross-border fire on Jarablus, followed by Turkish warplanes bombing ISIS targets in the town, Anadolu said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition activist group that monitors the civil war, said Syrian rebels who were amassed at the Turkish border crossed into Syria, preceded by Turkish tanks and mine sweepers. Ahmad al-Khatib, a Syrian opposition media activist embedded with the rebels who crossed into Syria, said some 1,500 opposition fighters were involved. He said the fighters come from the U.S.-backed Hamza brigade, as well as rebel groups fighting government forces in Aleppo, such as the Nour el-Din el Zinki brigade, the Levant Front, and Failaq al-Sham. Fighters from the powerful and ultraconservative Ahrar al-Sham brigade are also present, he said and confirmed Anadolus report that the rebels seized the ISIS-held village of Kaklijeh near Jarablus. Just a few hours after the operation started, Vice President Joe Biden landed in Ankara for talks that include developments in Syria. Bidens visit comes at a difficult time for ties between the two NATO allies Turkey is demanding that Washington quickly extradite a U.S.-based cleric blamed for orchestrating last months failed coup while the United States is asking for evidence against the cleric and that Turkey allow the extradition process to take its course. Turkish Interior Minister Efkan Ala said that Wednesdays operation was being carried out in coordination with the U.S.-led coalition forces. Turkeys Hurriyet newspaper quoted Turkish sources as saying Turkish Howitzers and rocket launchers had fired 224 rounds at 63 targets within an hour and 45 minutes, and that the Turkish air raids started just after 6 a.m. Turkey had declared the border area a special security zone, and asked journalists not to try access it, citing safety concerns and threats posed by the ISIS. In recent days, Turkey increased security measures on its border with Syria, deploying tanks and armored personnel carriers. On Tuesday, residents of the Turkish town of Karkamis, across the border from Jarablus, were told to evacuate after three mortars believed to be fired by ISIS militants landed there, Turkeys Dogan news agency said. Turkey has vowed to fight ISIS militants at home and to cleanse the group from its borders after a weekend suicide bombing at a Kurdish wedding in southern Turkey killed at least 54 people, many of them children. Turkish officials have blamed ISIS for the attack. The Kurdish-led group known as the Syria Democratic Forces, or SDF, recaptured the town of Manbij from IS earlier this month, triggering concerns in Ankara that Kurdish forces would seize the entire border strip with Turkey. The U.S. says it has embedded some 300 special forces with the SDF, and British special forces have also been spotted advising the group. The Kurds outsized role in the Syrian civil war is a source of concern for the Syrian government as well. Fierce clashes erupted between the two sides over control of the northeastern province of Hasakeh last week, and Syrian warplanes bombed Kurdish positions for the first time, prompting the U.S. to scramble its jets to protect American troops in the area. The Syrian government and the Kurds agreed on a cease-fire Tuesday, six days after the clashes erupted. The Kurdish Hawar News Agency said government forces agreed to withdraw from Hasakeh as part of the truce. Syrian state media did not mention any withdrawal, saying only that the two sides had agreed to evacuate the wounded and exchange detainees. Government and Kurdish forces have shared control of Hasakeh since the early years of the Syrian war. Russia bombing syria iran russia After Russia's short-lived air campaign out of Iran's Hamedan air base, Turkey's prime minister has said that the Russian air force could possibly operate out of Turkey's Incirlik base, where US and NATO forces are stationed, "if necessary." Iran cut Russia's engagement at Hamedan shortly after Russia demonstrated a "kind of show-off and ungentlemanly" attitude in publicizing the event, according to Iran's defense minister, when Moscow televised video of bombs dropping from Tu-22s over Syria. Now a Russian senator, Igor Morozov, told a state-run media outlet that "it just remains to come to an agreement with Erdogan that we get the NATO base Incirlik as our primary air base ... You'll see, the next base will be Incirlik." For NATO, it seems such a move would be untenable. "In 2014, we suspended all practical civilian and military cooperation between NATO and Russia following Russia's illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea," a NATO official told Business Insider. "This decision was reconfirmed at the NATO Summit in Warsaw in July 2016." However, Incirlik is not a NATO base. "Incirlik air base is a Turkish air base, and any foreign nation's operations from there would need to be coordinated with the Turkish government," an official from US Army Europe told Business Insider. Six U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons from Aviano Air Base, Italy, are seen at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, after being deployed, in this U.S. Air Force handout picture taken August 9, 2015. REUTERS/U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Michael Battles/Handout Meanwhile, US Vice President Joe Biden, who is visiting Turkey on Wednesday, said Syrian Kurds would need to withdraw from the area immediately across the Turkish border in Syria, back across the Euphrates river, to receive US support. Ankara, for its part, views the Kurdish People's Protection Units, or YPG, as a terrorist organization and immediately set out on a sweeping military campaign into Syria, unlike any seen from it before, once the Kurds started operations aimed at taking the ISIS-held border city of Jarablus. For the US, however, Syrian Kurds have been some of the most effective allies on the ground. Story continues U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (L) meets with Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan at Beylerbeyi Palace in Istanbul November 22, 2014. REUTERS/Murad Sezer Biden also said he was confident that the rule of law would prevail in Turkey in regard to the failed coup in July, after which the government, media, and military were purged of thousands of employees, with tens of thousands arrested. Yet according to Amnesty International, "the coup attempt unleashed appalling violence and those responsible for unlawful killings and other human rights abuses," a far cry from the "rule of law" heralded by Biden. NATO and US European Command officials did not respond to inquires about the effect of a possible Russian presence at Incirlik. For now, it seems the US may be toeing Turkey's line to possibly prevent Russia, which has different objectives in Syria, from setting up camp at Incirlik. State Department deputy spokesperson Mark Toner said at a press briefing on Tuesday that the US focuses on fighting ISIS in Syria, whereas Russia's focus is on supporting the Assad regime, which often leads to civilian casualties. "Aleppo is a perfect example of that, where you still see strikes hitting civilian targets and certainly moderate opposition targets," Toner said. "And that is not helping the overall situation in Syria." NOW WATCH: EX-PENTAGON CHIEF: These are the 2 main reasons ISIS was born More From Business Insider Backed by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, political strategist Prashant Kishor is authoring the party's blueprint for next year's assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. By Kumar Vikrant Singh: Communication gaps between the party's political strategist, Prashant Kishor, and leaders and functionaries on the ground threaten to hurt the Congress campaign in Uttar Pradesh, insiders warned. Backed by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Kishor is authoring the party's blueprint for next year's assembly elections in the key state. But senior leaders of the Congress' new UP team are worried about what they say are widening communication gaps between them and the chief planner. advertisement GAP BETWEEN PARTY LEADERS AND KISHOR Several members of the Uttar Pradesh Congress have found their election programs divorced from ground realities, party sources said. Election rallies, for example, have been scheduled on religious holidays, such as on Eid in September, the sources revealed. "How can you expect people to attend political programs on such occasions? We would have advised a better date if we were consulted," said a state party leader, who requested not to be named. Wary of raising their concerns with Gandhi because of his overwhelming support to Kishor, several UP Congress leaders privately complain they are not being kept in the loop about party programs. COMPLAINS Leaders allege they aren't even given sufficient time to execute Kishor's plans. On August 18, the party's political strategist issued a directive for the UP Congress to take out two state-wide yatras starting August 21 from Lucknow, an AICC functionary linked to Uttar Pradesh disclosed. "You need at least five days to pull such big programs off. But we had to accept his deadline out of compulsion," a party leader insisted. Some UP leaders also alleged that Kishor had been deciding what they should promise to voters in their constituencies. Some others claimed their Uttar Pradesh yatras had been haphazardly planned. "The routes could have been optimally utilized, but they aren't," said a member of the UP Congress team. "Any experienced politician will hold as many programs in his day-long campaign itinerary. But this is not happening in our yatras. We skip many districts along our routes," he explained. A group of state leaders discussed the campaign issues with Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is in charge of the party's affairs in Uttar Pradesh. Azad, insiders said, downplayed the matter as teething troubles. "He (Azad) assured them that everything would smoothen in due course," said a UP Congress member. Kishor may have convinced Priyanka Gandhi to campaign in UP --- ENDS --- ANKARA (Reuters) - Countries that support terror groups are doing the equivalent of holding on to live grenades with the pins pulled, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday, in an apparent reference to the United States' support of Syrian Kurdish fighters. Turkey, a member of the U.S.-backed coalition against Islamic State disagrees with its NATO ally's support for Syrian Kurdish rebels in the fight against Islamic State. Turkey considers the Syrian Kurdish YPG as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), considered a terror organization by the United States, Ankara and the European Union. (Reporting by Ayla Jean Yackley; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Daren Butler) ANKARA (Reuters) - The United States should reassess its support for the Syrian Kurdish YPG to prevent an increase in danger, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Wednesday, adding Washington agreed the rebels should not go west of the Euphrates river. Yildirim made the comments at a joint news conference in Ankara with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, who is on a one-day visit to Turkey. The United States backs the YPG in the fight against Islamic State in Syria, a policy that has drawn criticism from Turkey, which sees the fighters as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has carried out a three-decade insurgency in Turkey's largely Kurdish southeast. (Reporting by Ercan Gurses; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Daren Butler) CAIRO (Reuters) - Turkish Airlines will resume flights next month to Sharm al-Sheikh, nearly a year after they were suspended following the bombing of a Russian jet which took off from the Egyptian resort, the Turkish embassy in Cairo said on Wednesday. "Turkish Airlines will be the first of the companies that halted flights after October 31, 2015 to resume activities," the embassy said in a statement. It said the airline would operate four flights a week. British and Russian governments banned their airlines from flying to Sharm al-Sheikh, a popular winter sun destination, because of concerns about security at the airport after the October 2015 bombing which killed all 224 people on board. Tourism is a key source of income for Egypt but the number of tourists fell 40 percent in the first quarter of 2016. It is also one of the main sources of foreign currency reserves - which have more than halved since 2011, to reach $15.536 billion in July - in a country that heavily depends on imports. Egypt's efforts to revive its tourism industry suffered a fresh blow in May when an EgyptAir plane crashed into the Mediterranean, killing all 66 people on board. The cause of the crash is still unknown. (Reporting by Amina Ismail; Editing by Dominic Evans) ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish authorities fired more than 2,800 judges and prosecutors on Wednesday, in the latest purge related to the July 15 coup, broadcaster CNN Turk reported. Turkey has sacked or suspended some 80,000 people from the civil service, judiciary, police and courts following the attempted putsch, which it blames on followers of the U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen. The government says Gulen's followers spent years infiltrating institutions with the goal of overthrowing the state. The cleric, who has lived in self-imposed exile in rural Pennsylvania since 1999, denies the charge and has condemned the coup. (Reporting by Can Sezer and Ece Toksabay; Writing by David Dolan; editing by Patrick Markey) BEIRUT/KARKAMIS, Turkey (Reuters) - Turkish-backed Syrian rebels entered the Islamic State-held town of Jarablus in northern Syria on Wednesday in an operation supported by Turkish tanks, special forces units and U.S.-led coalition warplanes, rebel sources said. A rebel commander with the Failaq al Sham group, who requested anonymity, told Reuters that most of the Islamic State fighters in Jarablus had pulled out, some of them surrendering. Another commander estimated up to 50 percent of the town was now under the control of the Turkish-backed rebels. "Daesh (Islamic State) fighters have withdrawn from several villages on the outskirts of Jarablus and are heading south toward the city of al Bab," the Failaq al Sham commander said. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi in Beirut and Humeyra Pamuk in Karkamis; Writing by Nick Tattersall) ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Three Turkish soldiers were wounded on Wednesday in an armed attack on their military vehicle near the southern resort city of Antalya, Dogan news agency said. It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack that occurred in the Beldibi region west of Antalya, Dogan said. Beldibi, situated along the Mediterranean coast, is a key tourist area full of dozens of hotels and resorts. Kurdish militants frequently target security forces in Turkey. On Wednesday, Turkey launched air strikes against Islamic State across the border in Syria in a bid to cleanse the militant group from its borders. (Reporting by Ayla Jean Yackley; Editing by Dasha Afanasieva) ANKARA (Reuters) - A group of Turkish special forces units have crossed into northern Syria but the ground incursion has not yet begun and work to open a passage way is continuing, a senior Turkish official and military sources said on Wednesday. Turkish warplanes and U.S.-led coalition aircraft have carried out four strikes on Islamic State targets, Turkish military sources said, as part of a joint operation to wipe out Islamic State from the Syrian border town of Jarablus. A total of 63 targets have been fired at 224 times with Turkish artillery and shelling. "The aim of the operation is to ensure border security and Syria's territorial integrity while supporting the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State," one of the military sources said. (Reporting by Orhan Coskun; Writing by Humeyra Pamuk; editing by Patrick Markey) By India Today Web Desk: Two men managed to slyly secure bail through court by providing fake documents that were signed by nonexistent police officers and guarantors. Mohammed Lukman Shaikh, 48, and Bashir Mulla, 62, were sent to prison for making false passports and other government documents. During the time of hearing, the court warned the police to recheck the documents submitted as the duo was involved in fabricating papers earlier as well. advertisement The two were released on bail a month back and now they are untraceable. Even their lawyer is suspected to be an impostor. It was only recently that Vijay Sanap, constable, working at Shrinagar police station in Thane found out that the documents were fake. Sanap's job is to keep a record of the cases filed at the Thane Sessions Court. From maintaining a record of the accused, who was granted bail by the court, to verification of witnesses, he takes care of everything. He knew about the duo getting a bail order from the court but they could not be released until the time verification of the guarantors was done. The bail hearing took place on July 20. He recently came across a paper that read both the accused had been released. The document was signed by senior inspector Kaarkar of Shrinagar police station and submitted by one constable RS Patil. This was when Sanap knew something was fishy. Since he is from the same police station he knew there was no one called Patil there and the name of the senior inspector was different. After inquiring with the Shrinagar police station he found out that the verification order had not yet reached them. They had not even approved the release order yet and did not know that the two accused were released. After the police checked the papers, they figured that the two guarantors who had signed the document were fake. Santosh Dongre and Sakharam Khude, the two guarantors, were nonexistent and so were the constable and the senior inspector who signed the release documents. Lawyer or imposter? After it was found that the two accused faked the documents, a search for the lawyer who represented them was launched. Even the lawyer could not be identified. The court has asked constable Sanap to file an FIR in the Thane Nagar police station. The two accused were booked for cheating and forgery. It is suspected that an insider from the court might have helped the duo. --- ENDS --- ABOARD AIR FORCE TWO (Reuters) - The United States will provide air cover for Turkey's operation against Islamic State in the northern Syrian town of Jarablus, a senior U.S. official said on Wednesday, adding that Washington was "in synch" with its NATO ally on plans. The official made the comment in a briefing to reporters who were traveling on U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's plane en route to Turkey, where he is due to meet both President Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. Turkish special forces units and jets supported by warplanes from the U.S.-led coalition launched an operation in northern Syria on Wednesday to wipe out Islamic State militants along the border with Turkey. (Reporting by Jeff Mason, Writing by David Dolan; editing by Patrick Markey) By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recommended on Wednesday that the world body appoint an eminent person to review any new information uncovered about a 1961 plane crash that killed then U.N. chief Dag Hammarskjold. Hammarskjold - a Swede elected as the world body's second chief in 1953 - was killed along with 15 others while on his way to broker a truce in Katanga in what is now Democratic Republic of Congo. The plane crashed in Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia. Ban told the General Assembly in July last year that a U.N. inquiry by an independent panel of experts found new information pointing to an aerial attack or other interference as the possible cause and that it warranted further investigation. In a note to the General Assembly, released on Wednesday, Ban said the U.N. legal counsel had written to Belgium, the United States, Britain and South Africa to follow up on unfulfilled requests for information by the panel of experts. Ban said responses from Belgium, the United States and Britain "do not appear to alter the conclusions reached by the panel, in particular in respect of its assessment that sufficient probative value exists to continue to pursue aerial attack or other interference as a hypothesis of the cause of the crash." He said South Africa had ordered that a search be undertaken for any relevant information, such as original documents that "apparently related to a purported 'Operation Celeste,' the stated objective of which was to 'remove' Hammarskjold." According to the three-member U.N. inquiry, copies of these documents were made public by the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Aug. 19, 1998, but they were unable to be authenticated. "If it is the case that original documents may now be available from South Africa, it may be possible to conduct forensic or other analyses to make a determination of their authenticity," Ban said. He recommended that an eminent person or persons be appointed by the U.N. to review any new information, including that which may be available from South Africa. "Thereupon, the eminent person or persons would be in a position to determine the scope that any further inquiry or investigation should take," Ban said. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Tom Brown) By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Syrian government troops were responsible for two toxic gas attacks and Islamic State militants used sulfur mustard gas, a joint investigation by the United Nations and the global chemical weapons watchdog found on Wednesday, according to a confidential report seen by Reuters. The year-long U.N. and Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) inquiry - unanimously authorized by the U.N. Security Council - focused on nine attacks in seven areas of Syria, where a separate OPCW fact-finding investigation had already determined that chemical weapons had likely been used. Eight of the attacks investigated involved the use of chlorine. The inquiry was unable to reach a conclusion in six cases, though it said that three of those cases warranted further investigation. The results set the stage for a Security Council showdown between the five veto-wielding powers, likely pitting Russia and China against the United States, Britain and France over whether sanctions should be imposed in the wake of the inquiry. "It is essential that the members of the Security Council come together to ensure consequences for those who have used chemical weapons in Syria," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power said in a statement. "We strongly urge all states to support strong and swift action by the Security Council." The 15-member Security Council is due to discuss the report next week. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the report would be made public after that meeting. The inquiry found there was sufficient information to conclude that Syrian Arab Air Force helicopters dropped devices that then released toxic substances in Talmenes on April 21, 2014 and Sarmin on March 16, 2015, both in Idlib governorate. Both cases involved the use of chlorine. The Syrian mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the finding of the report. It also determined there was sufficient information to conclude that Islamic State militants were the "only entity with the ability, capability, motive and the means to use sulfur mustard gas in Marea on 21 August, 2015." Syria agreed to destroy its chemical weapons in 2013 under a deal brokered by Moscow and Washington. The Security Council backed that deal with a resolution that said in the event of non-compliance, "including unauthorized transfer of chemical weapons, or any use of chemical weapons by anyone" in Syria, it would impose measures under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter. Chapter 7 deals with sanctions and authorization of military force by the Security Council. The body would need to adopt another resolution to impose targeted sanctions - a travel ban and asset freeze - on people or entities linked to the attacks. However, Russia - a close Syrian ally - and China have previously protected the Syrian government from council action by blocking several resolutions, including a bid to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court. "The use of these weapons is abhorrent and we unequivocally condemn those who unleash them," British U.N. Ambassador Matthew Rycroft told the council on Monday. "This council must stand ready to demonstrate a robust response to this report." In the case of the attack in Sarmin, the U.N./OPCW inquiry found that the remnants of the device dropped "are consistent with the construction of a barrel bomb." Barrel bombs are steel drums full of shrapnel and explosives dropped from the air. It said attacks in Kafr Zita in Hama governorate on April 18, 2014, Qmenas, in Idlib governorate on March 16, 2015, and Binnish in Idlib governorate on March 24, 2015, merit further investigation. Power said she expected the U.N./OPCW inquiry to continue its investigation into those cases and any other chemical weapons attacks confirmed and referred by the OPCW fact-finding investigation. The inquiry did not recommend further investigation of the remaining three cases in Kafr Zita on April 11, 2014, and Al-Tamanah on April 29-30, 2014, and May 25-26, 2014. The separate OPCW fact-finding investigation had found chlorine has been "systematically and repeatedly" used as a weapon during the Syrian conflict. Government and opposition forces have denied using chlorine. Chlorine's use as a weapon is prohibited under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention, which Syria joined in 2013. If inhaled, chlorine gas turns to hydrochloric acid in the lungs and can kill by burning lungs and drowning victims in the resulting body fluids. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Editing by James Dalgleish) By Karolina Tagaris ATHENS (Reuters) - A European Union scheme to relocate refugees from frontline countries Greece and Italy to other member states must be bigger and move faster, the U.N. refugee chief said in Athens on Wednesday. The program, devised last year, was intended to relocate 160,000 from Greece and Italy to other European countries over two years but fewer than 4,000 people have moved so far. Some central European member had fought the scheme, with Hungary and Slovakia challenging the decision in EU courts. "I will certainly continue to advocate on behalf of the refugees, on behalf of the states hosting them - Italy and Greece principally - for this program to be bigger and to be accelerated," U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi told reporters. "It is one example of European solidarity and cooperation that can and must work so we need to put all our energy in trying to make it work." Only refugees - specifically those from Syria, Iraq and Eritrea - are considered for the program. Migrants and failed asylum seekers are not relocated but repatriated to their countries of origin. Italy's interior minister said on Tuesday that Germany had agreed to take in hundreds of people who are blocked in Italy. Asked if the program could still work, Grandi said: "I hope that it will. Because in fact it must work." Grandi was speaking after a visit to a Syrian family from Aleppo, living in an Athens apartment under a scheme launched by the UNHCR and EU Commission. The family of seven - a mother, two grandparents and four children - were displaced for years inside Syria before fleeing to Europe this summer. They are all relocation candidates. "They left behind a good life to come here and to escape from the war," said Sofia, whose family owns the apartment and who lives with her own family in the flat above, urging other Greeks to open their homes to refugees and migrants. "We could have be in their shoes," she said. She declined to give her family name. The family are among more than 58,000 refugees and migrants, mostly from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, who have arrived in Greece since March hoping to move further north through Europe but who ended up stranded by border closures in the Balkans. Most live in difficult, unsanitary camps across the country. Greece is also seeking new facilities to alleviate overcrowding at centers on five islands. During his three-day visit to Athens, the second this year, Grandi said the UNHCR would keep pushing the EU for more support. But he also underlined that efforts to end the conflict in Syria and other war-torn countries should be stepped up. "Refugees are mostly the result of unresolved conflict and until and unless we solve those conflicts the risk of new influxes and new emergencies cannot be excluded," he said. (Additional reporting by Gina Kalovyrna; Editing by Alison Williams) (This version of the August 16 story corrects title of U.S. Customs and Border Protection from U.S. Customs and Border Patrol in ninth paragraph) By Julia Edwards WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Washington is seeking closer coordination with several Latin American countries to tackle a jump in migrants from Asia, Africa and the Middle East who it believes are trying to reach the United States from the south on an arduous route by plane, boat and through jungle on foot. U.S. agents deployed to an immigration facility on Mexico's southern border have vetted the more than 640 migrants from countries outside the Americas who have been detained at the center since October 2015, according to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) documents reviewed by Reuters. The migrants often fly to Brazil, obtain fake passports there, and are smuggled to Panama before heading through Central America to Mexico's porous southern border, according to transcripts of 14 interviews conducted at the center and other internal briefing documents seen by Reuters. (Graphic: From Brazil to the north: http://tmsnrt.rs/2b8JIDI) The U.S. agents' findings come as Mexican immigration data show 6,342 Asian, African and Middle Eastern migrants were apprehended trying to enter Mexico in the first six months of this year. That was up from 4,261 in all of 2015, and 1,831 in 2014. U.S. border apprehensions point to the same trend. Between October 2015 and May 2016, U.S. agents apprehended 5,350 African and Asian migrants at the U.S. Southwest border. That's up from 6,126 in all of fiscal year 2015 and 4,172 in all of fiscal year 2014. U.S. concerns about potential security risks from migrants using the unusual and circuitous southern route have been growing in recent years, following a string of Islamic State-inspired attacks in the West and the surge in Syrian refugees fleeing that country's civil war. Five Syrian nationals detained in Honduras last November were part of a wider group of seven Syrians who acquired forged passports in Brazil and then went by land to Argentina on their way north, a U.S. government source familiar with that case said. There was no evidence to suggest the men were militants. Story continues The reality is that the vast majority of the people that Mexico encounters that are extra-continental will eventually end up on our border," a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official said. At the detention camp in Tapachula, near Mexico's border with Guatemala, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents have been training their Mexican counterparts on interview techniques, and using U.S. criminal databases to investigate detainees, according to internal documents seen by Reuters. Two to three U.S. agents have been stationed there since at least October, according to the documents and U.S. officials. Mexican officials have previously acknowledged the presence of U.S. agents at Mexico's southern border, but few details of the cooperation have been reported. U.S. Customs and Border Protection began a pilot program for a similar operation in Panama earlier this fiscal year, according to an internal memo sent in May that has not previously been reported. Homeland Security officials told Reuters that Panama requested U.S. training. A spokesman for Panama's National Migration Service said Panama accepted an offer from the U.S. embassy for training on subjects like "defense techniques" and "management of persons." U.S. proponents of the program have pushed for a greater U.S. footprint to build a "comprehensive intelligence picture" of migration patterns across the Colombia-Panama border, according to the memo sent in May. Panama is leading the effort in Central America to detain illegal migrants, DHS assistant secretary for international affairs Alan Bersin told a House committee in March, but it stymied by lack of detention space and the difficulty of deporting migrants to countries with whom they have no diplomatic ties. As a result, most are released after 30 days. Bersin acknowledged the rise in migrants from outside the Americas and the potential security threat they pose. "While many citizens of these countries migrate for economic reasons or because they are fleeing persecution in their home countries, this group may include migrants who are affiliated with foreign terrorist organizations, intelligence agencies, and organized criminal syndicates," Bersin told the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. DHS has deployed additional "mentor" teams throughout South and Central America to professionalize immigration authorities and gain intelligence about potentially threatening migrants, said DHS officials, who declined to specify which countries host U.S. agents. Another DHS official said the agency is asking Brazil through diplomatic channels to put a stop to fake passport manufacturing. Brazilian officials did not respond to Reuters' request for comment. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a unit of DHS, is "actively working to enhance regional collaboration with border and customs authorities from Mexico all the way down to Argentina," a DHS official said. ON FOOT IN THE JUNGLE The apprehension documents from the Tapachula center show how migrants are willing and able to pay thousands of dollars to obtain flights and fake passports and then make grueling journeys on buses, boats and on foot. It was not clear how many of those apprehended at the center were deported, claimed asylum or simply released. Several of the 14 migrants -- in testimony given from May 18-23 this year -- said they paid more than $10,000 to smugglers, walked for days through jungles, and were temporarily detained by various countries before being stopped in Tapachula. Six of the men -- who included Pakistanis, Syrians and Afghans-- had obtained fake passports, claiming to be from Israel, Morocco, Belgium or Britain. In Panama, several of the men said they were kept in a migration detention camp for about a month. From Panama, the migrants described traveling in larger groups, sometimes as many as 50 men. One Pakistani national -- whose identity U.S. officials asked not to be revealed because he is still under investigation -- told U.S. and Mexican officials that he paid a smuggler in Pakistan $9,000 to be smuggled to Brazil where he received a fake Belgian passport. In Brazil, he paid $4,000 to a woman to be taken on bus, boat and on foot through across Colombia and into Panama. He said he was detained in Panama but then released. From there, a smuggler from Lebanon took the man and 35 other migrants of different nationalities to Honduras, where he said he was robbed of all of his belongings. His family wired him more money from Pakistan and the man was able to pay $40 to be smuggled into Guatemala. He paid $5 to be taken by raft into Mexico. There he got a taxi, which was halted by authorities who took him to the Tapachula center. SENSITIVE TOPIC FOR MEXICO Accepting U.S. help on immigration issues is politically sensitive for Mexico, said Adam Isacson, a security and border policy analyst at The Washington Office on Latin America, a non-profit human rights advocacy group. "But the Mexicans have quietly been open to the equipment and training they have received," he said. A CBP spokesman said the agency deployed to Tapachula at the Mexican government's request. Mexico's immigration agency is the Instituto Nacional de Migracion (INM). "CBP personnel train INM officers in the collection of biometric information, and review and share biometric information on people of interest," the spokesman said. INM declined Reuters' request for comment and access to the Tapachula facility. In testimony before the Mexican Senate on Aug. 3, Mexico's chief immigration officer Ardelio Vargas Fosado said his agency was aware of the influx of migrants from outside the Americas. But the lack of diplomatic relationships between Mexico and many African countries has made it difficult to deport those apprehended, he said. Under law, U.S. agents cannot arrest or deport migrants from other countries, but as foreign-based trainers, they can gather intelligence on who may be headed for the U.S. border. Isacson said most of the migrants taking the Latin American path northward are seeking economic opportunity in the United States. But DHS is focused on security risks. "The Tapachula area is along a permeable border. DHS views it as one of the areas where a terrorist group that wants to do harm on U.S. soil would be most likely to come in," he said. (Reporting by Julia Edwards, Additional reporting by Richard Cowan in Washington, Frank Jack Daniel, Enrique Andres Pretel and Joanna Bernstein in Mexico; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and Stuart Grudgings) By Martinne Geller LONDON (Reuters) - SABMiller shareholders can be treated as two separate groups when they vote on the brewer's 79 billion pound takeover by Anheuser Busch InBev, a court in London ruled on Tuesday, granting a request from SAB aimed at making the vote as fair as possible. The marriage of the world's largest beer makers was agreed last year with an offer of 44 pounds per share in cash for general shareholders and a discounted cash-and-stock offer aimed at the largest two - Altria Group and Bevco - to help them avoid large tax bills. The agreement grew contentious this summer after a fall in the British currency increased the value of the cash-and-stock offer above that of the cash offer. AB InBev sweetened its offer in July after several shareholders, including activist hedge funds, pressured SABMiller to seek a new deal. Both brewers' boards have recommended AB InBev's "final" offer, and SAB requested that Altria and Bevco -- which have already signalled their support -- be treated as a separate class. Justice Richard Snowden said on Tuesday it was an understandable request since it lowered the risk of delays or challenges from dissenting shareholders who might have challenged the vote as unfair given that Altria and Bevco has agreed to a different offer arrangement. With the judge's ruling, the deal will require 75 percent approval by SAB shareholders, excluding Altria and Bevco, which together control about 40 percent of the shares. "I have jurisdiction to order a meeting of public shareholders to be summoned that does not include Altria and BevCo," Snowden told the court. Altria and Bevco, a vehicle of Colombia's Santo Domingo family, will therefore give their support separately, SABMiller and AB InBev said. Prominent investor Aberdeen Asset Management had voiced opposition to the revised offer, saying it still undervalued the brewer of beers including Castle Lager, which has a strong presence in fast-growing markets of Latin America and Africa. SAB also said more details about the implementation of the deal were expected to be published along with transaction documents on Aug. 26. There are planned meetings of shareholders of each company on Sept. 28. If approved, the deal is expected to close on Oct. 10. The new entity will be almost wholly controlled by executives from AB InBev, maker of beers including Budweiser and Stella Artois. SAB's shares were down marginally at 4,375 pence at 1159 GMT while AB InBev's stock was up 1 percent at 112.10 euros. (Reporting by Martinne Geller in London; additional reporting by Noor Zainab) LONDON, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Britain should ban the use of plastic microbeads in cosmetics and toiletries, a group of lawmakers has recommended, saying companies' voluntary efforts to phase them out were not enough. Microbeads are tiny plastic particles used as exfoliants in toothpastes, face washes, scrubs and shower gels. After rinsing, the plastic beads pollute waterways and oceans, where they can be eaten by marine life and end up in the human food chain. "A single shower can result in 100,000 plastic particles entering the ocean," said Mary Creagh, chair of the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, which delivered its recommendation on Wednesday to the government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The department will respond within a few months, the committee said. Many large companies such as Procter & Gamble, Colgate, Unilever, L'Oreal and Beiersdorf have either stopped using microbeads or are in the process of phasing them out. Yet the report says industry's commitment to phasing them out is inconsistent and that some companies will not complete the process until 2020. It says cosmetic microbeads make up less than 4 percent of microplastics entering oceans, but they are an avoidable problem about which much is known. Other sources of microplastics include synthetic fibres from clothing and the breakdown of large plastic waste. The UK government has been working toward a ban on microbeads by the European Union, but the country's decision to leave the bloc means its influence in the process will be reduced, the report said. It recommends that the British ban is aligned as closely as possible to international measures. (Reporting by Martinne Geller; Editing by Alison Williams) To tackle the menace of midnight road accidents, Madhya Pradesh police are sticking orange reflective bands on the horns of stray cattle. By India Today Web Desk: Stray cattle are a huge traffic menace, especially during at night when the visibility is low. But now, Madhya Pradesh police has come up with an innovative solution to solve this problem faced by motorists. The traffic police in Balaghat district, Madhya Pradesh are sticking neon reflective bands on the horns of cows and bulls. So far, 300 stray cattle have been adorned with this glow band. Photo:Facebook/Manas Kumar advertisement With these glow-in-the-dark bands, the officials hope that commuters will be able to spot the cows at night and evade accidents. Neighboring districts have followed suit after the success of this new initiative, but the only problem is that the population of the cattle trumps the manpower needed to fit glow bands on each one of them. Photo:Facebook/Manas Kumar Kailash Chauhan, a traffic police in Balaghat, said that they hope to buy "permanent radium paint" to replace the stickers which don't last very long. They are also urging farmers in the district to fix glow-in-the-dark bands on their own cattle. --- ENDS --- Kiev (AFP) - Tanks rumbled across Kiev on Tuesday as Ukraine marked 25 years of independence with a show of force against an increasingly assertive Russia and a war simmering in the pro-Kremlin separatist east. Thousands of soldiers saluted Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on the same square where a pro-EU revolution in 2014 ousted a Moscow-backed leader and left former master Russia fuming. Poroshenko used Wednesday's event to take a dig at Russian President Vladimir Putin for famous calling the Soviet Union's 1991 collapse "the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century". "We were the ones who created what Putin later called the 'greatest geopolitical catastrophe'," Poroshenko declared in a speech to the nation as hundreds of Ukrainian blue and yellow flags fluttered in the damp wind. "Looking back at more than two years of war, we can confidently say that our enemy failed to achieve a single goal -- it was not able to bring Ukraine to its knees." More than 9,500 people have died and two million forced from their homes in fighting between government forces and pro-Russian militias in two major industrial regions in the east that rebels have partially controlled since April 2014. Ukraine on Wednesday reported the death of one soldier in what has recently turned into increasingly intense warfare. Kiev also lost its strategic Black Sea peninsula of Crimea when it was seized by Russian soldiers on Putin's orders and annexed in March 2014. Putin's actions plunged the Kremlin's relations with the West to a post-Cold War low that has complicated global attempts to find solutions to raging crises like the Syrian war. But Russia has only ramped up its campaign to prop up Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and this month escalated tensions with Ukraine by accusing it of plotting an incursion into Crimea. Putin has repeatedly denied involvement in the separatist conflict and described Russians captured or spotted in the war zone as off duty soldiers and volunteers who were "following the call of their heart". Story continues - 'Perseverance and sacrifice' - But Kiev and the West accuse Russia of backing the insurgency in order to keep the Ukrainian leaders off balance and constantly dependent on the Kremlin's whims. Both the United States and the European Union have imposed stiff economic sanctions on Kremlin-linked companies and members of Putin's inner circle that helped push Russia into an 18-month recession. US Secretary of State John Kerry said in a message that "despite Russia's aggression in eastern Ukraine and its illegal occupation of Crimea, you have worked steadily to build stronger and more effective political, economic, and cultural institutions. "These efforts have required perseverance and sacrifice, for which I applaud you," he said. Poroshenko also thanked visiting Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda for sending some of his soldiers to the Kiev parade in a show of resolve against Putin's increasingly militant stance. Yet Ukraine remains mired in state graft that has delayed the release of IMF funding and still suffers from the domination by a handful of shadowy tycoons whose control of politics stretches back into the 1990s. The Soviet Union crumbled in the wake of a failed August 1991 putsch by Communist hardliners who were trying to suppress the independence movements launched in the three Baltic states in 1990. A domino effect followed that saw Ukraine break from Russia on August 24. The Soviet Union continued to unravel until Kazakhstan became the last of the 15 former socialist republics to declare its independence on December 16 -- four days after Russia did so. By Natalia Zinets KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine put on a show of military strength on independence day on Wednesday amid fresh tension with Russia over Crimea and President Petro Poroshenko said the country had to rely on its own might rather than international guarantees. A march-past of army, navy and airforce units and hardware in the capital was intended to highlight the capability of Ukraine's military, which the government has had to overhaul since pro-Russian eastern separatists rose up against a new Western-backed leadership in 2014. The fresh tension over Crimea, which Russia annexed in March 2014, has reignited fears that a fragile ceasefire deal brokered in February 2015 with the help of Germany and France, could collapse following the deadliest month of fighting in eastern Ukraine in a year. "From this parade, our international partners will get the message that Ukraine is able to protect itself, but needs further support," Poroshenko told a large crowd of civilians and military personnel. He warned that Ukraine was losing the attention of the international community. "Every country is sometimes more preoccupied with its own problems ... International pressure on Russia must remain until Russia implements the Minsk (ceasefire) agreements," he later told diplomats. His comments echoed those of several Ukrainian lawmakers from across the political spectrum who are now saying that Western actions against Russia - including economic sanctions - have failed to protect Ukraine. "Our main guarantor is the Ukrainian armed forces," Poroshenko said. Ukraine has received billions of dollars in financial aid from Western allies, including the United States, in exchange for promises to root out widespread corruption following its political tilt toward Europe. However, patchy reform progress and signs that vested interests continue to influence policy have prompted warnings from Western backers and delayed the disbursement of loans over the past year. Despite repeated requests, the West has also not given Ukraine any weapons, instead offering non-lethal military assistance such as training and equipment. For its part, Kiev has ramped up annual military spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product. Poroshenko said it would take more time and money for Ukraine to fully protect itself from what he described as Russia's "imperial ambitions". "We need years and tens of billions of hryvnias until we can sleep soundly," he said. Earlier in August Russia, which denies accusations from Kiev and NATO that it supports eastern rebels with troops and equipment, said Ukraine was trying to provoke a new conflict over annexed Crimea. (Reporting by Natalia Zinets; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Richard Balmforth) Kinshasa (AFP) - The United Nations condemned Wednesday the arrests of 32 people in DR Congo after a nationwide opposition-led strike call gripped parts of the country, calling some of them "arbitrary". The arrests happened Tuesday in the capital Kinshasa and in Mbuji-Mayi in the centre of the country, said Jose Maria Aranaz, who heads the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO). Eleven of those arrested by police and the national intelligence agency (ANR) remain in custody in Mbuji-Mayi, while the rest were subsequently released, he added. Some of those arrested were accused of "acting against a peaceful protest" while others were "arbitrary arrests", said Aranaz. Those being held threw stones, damaged property and erected barricades, said Alphonse Ngoy Kasanji, governor of Kasai-Oriental which includes Mbuji-Mayi. Their cases have been referred to prosecutors, he added. Business slowed in Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Tuesday after the opposition called for a national strike to demand President Joseph Kabila end his 15-year rule when his mandate runs out in December. The call for a nationwide shutdown was issued by new opposition coalition, "Rassemblement" ("Gathering"), headed by veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, to protest against a delay in this year's scheduled presidential election. The country's highest court earlier this year ruled that Kabila could stay in office beyond December if no election were held. Otis Elevator a unit of United Technologies Corp. UTX, was recently awarded a contract to provide its Gen2 elevator services for a luxurious hotel in China. The new Curio A Collection of Hilton hotel, under the flagship of the Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. HLT, is built in Xiamen, southeast China. Founded in 2014, Curio chain of hotels is supported by Hilton, but retain their individual branding. At present Curio has approximately 20 hotels spread across 4 countries which include the U.S., Jamaica, Argentina and Germany. To date, Otis has worked in various projects of the company. Such projects enhance the companys goodwill and prove its reliability. Per the deal, Otis will provide 24 Gen2 elevators which are integrated with the advanced ReGen technology and will ensure energy savings of approximately 75%. The elevators will be provided by Otis Elevators (China). UTD TECHS CORP Price UTD TECHS CORP Price | UTD TECHS CORP Quote Xiamen is a prime tourist location in China and the new hotel in this area is likely to be a profitable venture for the company. Earlier this month, Otis procured a contract from Marriott International, Inc. MAR, to provide 30 elevators and escalators, including 7 of Otiss SkyRise elevators, in Xiamen. As a worlds leading provider of safe and innovative elevator technology, Otis continues working on improving its elevator and escalator services for which it keeps winning such contracts. The company has provided its expertise in iconic high-rise buildings across the globe, some of which include the 828-meter Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the 599-meter Ping'An Financial Center in Shenzhen, the 555-meter Lotte World Tower in Seoul, 553-meter CN Tower in Toronto and one of the Seven Wonders of the World the 324-meter high Eiffel Tower. Otis is likely to procure more such prime contracts in the near future, given its focus on innovation and expansion. Since it is already one of the most trusted elevator and escalator companies in the world, its sustained R&D focus will augment top-line growth. Story continues The company offers its services to over 200 countries and territories. Alongside, it maintains more than 1.9 million elevators and escalators worldwide. United Technologies, the parent firm of Otis, currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A better-ranked stock in the industry includes Crane Co. CR, carrying 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 UTD TECHS CORP (UTX): Free Stock Analysis Report CRANE CO (CR): Free Stock Analysis Report MARRIOTT INTL-A (MAR): Free Stock Analysis Report HILTON WW HLDG (HLT): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. From Country Living Losing a best friend is always a struggle, even for animals. According to his owner Jacquie Litton, George the dog was heartbroken when his friend Blackie, a black lab, passed away after12 years of friendship. Litton says that during the two years after Blackie's passing, George was stricken with grief and anxiety-until an unexpected friend showed up, that is. The duck appeared on the Litton's front porch in Tennessee the same week that marked the two-year anniversary of Blackie's death, she wrote on Facebook. Litton says she has no idea where the duck came from, but since his arrival, George hasn't cried once. The two are now inseparable. Litton told reporters at WKOW that even though "they're totally different species, they found company and comfort in each other." (h/t The Dodo) Sydney (AFP) - Greyhound racing has been outlawed in Australia's most populous state despite fierce resistance from dog owners, with the New South Wales opposition leader dubbing the ban a "cruel ambush" of working class people. The ban, which will take effect from July 1st 2017, was passed in an overnight session by the New South Wales parliament in Sydney, state Premier Mike Baird said. Although opposed by the dog racing industry and sparking heated debate within his right-leaning coalition government, the ban is intended to save thousands of dogs. "I'm proud of the decision we have made to save thousands upon thousands of dogs from cruelty and death," Baird said in a statement Wednesday. "It wasn't an easy decision, but it was the right decision," he said, adding that the government would help trainers and breeders whose livelihoods were impacted. Australia has one of the world's largest greyhound racing industries, but Baird introduced the ban following a string of scandals including "live baiting" and the slaughter of tens of thousands of dogs. Live baiting has been banned for decades in Australia but the national broadcaster revealed in 2015 that live animals including piglets, rabbits and possums were still being used as bait to train some of the nation's most successful dogs. A subsequent state government inquiry found evidence of systematic animal cruelty, including the mass killing of dogs considered too slow to pay their way. Animal protection society RSPCA New South Wales welcomed the ban as a "historic turning point for animal welfare", but several members of Baird's coalition government crossed the floor to vote against the legislation. One of them, Nationals lawmaker Katrina Hodgkinson, said the decision to ban the industry had upset people in her rural constituency. "When people have something involuntarily taken from them, when it's their passion and the reason for getting out of bed in the morning, it is natural for them to get upset or depressed or both, and wonder what's the point of it all," she told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Story continues "These people are not criminals," she added. State opposition leader Luke Foley said the ban was "breaking the hearts of thousands of good men and women across the state". Foley said the ban would "criminalise an industry, a sport and an Australian way of life". "We have the uncivilised and cruel ambush of working people," he said during the debate. New York (AFP) - A US firefighter who received a face transplant a year ago said Wednesday that he feels normal again and even managed to swim for the first time in 15 years. Patrick Hardison, 42, from Senatobia, Mississippi, was horribly disfigured when the roof of a burning home collapsed on top of him in 2001. He underwent the complex surgery in New York in August 2015, when doctors told him that he faced only a 50:50 chance of success. "My family and I took a trip to Disney World this past June and I swam in the pool with them. That's something I had not done in 15 years!" he told a news conference to mark the anniversary. His new eyelids and ability to blink mean that his sight has improved and he can "once again drive a car" and sleep more soundly. "No more stares from strangers. I'm pretty much back to being a normal guy, doing normal activities," Hardison said. He thanked his medical team and his family, saying that he wanted to encourage other people to explore the possibility of getting a face transplant. More than 100 doctors, nurses and medical support staff took part in the 26-hour transplant last August at the NYU Langone Medical Center. His donor was David Rodebaugh, a 26-year-old award-winning BMX cyclist from Brooklyn, who died in a road accident. His mother agreed to organ donation. Hardison has had several follow-up procedures over the last year, mainly to adjust his eyelids and lips, and to remove feeding and breathing tubes. He is scheduled to meet Rodebaugh's family in the fall, the hospital said. Eduardo Rodriquez, who led the surgery, said he was amazed by his patient's recovery, saying it had "surpassed all of our expectations." Face transplants have become increasingly common since the first, partial face transplant was carried out by doctors in France in 2005 on a woman who had been mauled by her dog. Hardison will remain on immune suppressants for the rest of his life and still undergoes monthly check-ups in New York. United Nations (United States) (AFP) - North Korea's test-firing of a missile from a submarine towards Japan is "deeply troubling" and undermines stability on the Korean peninsula, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday. The UN Security Council scheduled urgent consultations on the latest test-firing, at the request of the United States and Japan. The emergency talks are to be held around 2100 GMT. North Korea is barred under UN resolutions from any use of ballistic-missile technology, but Pyongyang has carried out several launches following its fourth nuclear test in January. Ban said North Korea had carried out the launch "in defiance of the united call of the international community to reverse its course." "Not only are such actions a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions but they also undermine peace and stability in the Korean peninsula," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric. The UN chief renewed his appeal to Pyongyang to de-escalate the situation and return to talks on denuclearization. South Korea's military said the missile, launched in the early morning from a submarine in the East Sea (Sea of Japan), flew about 500 kilometers (310 miles) -- a substantial improvement on similar tests in the past. Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the missile breached his country's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) and condemned what he called an "unforgivable, reckless act" and a grave threat to Japan's security. Earlier this month, North Korea fired a land-launched ballistic missile directly into Japanese-controlled waters for the first time, drawing an outraged response from Tokyo. But the council failed to condemn that August 2 launch after China sought to include language in a statement opposing the THAAD missile defense system that the United States plans to deploy in South Korea. North Korea has been hit by five sets of UN sanctions since it first tested a nuclear device in 2006. Chicago (AFP) - In a court case with repercussions for the art world and millions of dollars at stake, a US judge ruled Tuesday in favor of an artist who was sued for denying a painting was his. A US District Court judge in Chicago decided that Peter Doig, a world-famous artist who insists he did not create a desert landscape painting, is telling the truth. The man who owns the disputed piece of art, a retired Canadian corrections officer by the name of Robert Fletcher, sued Doig for refusing to acknowledge that the painting is one of his works -- which means its value is significantly diminished. Judge Gary Feinerman ruled that there was "conclusive" evidence that Doig did not paint the disputed work, and that he had the right to say a painting was not his. The facts surrounding the case date back to Canada in the 1970s, when Fletcher met a man named Peter Doige -- spelled with an e -- and watched him study art while jailed for a drug offense. Fletcher says he remembers being impressed by one of Doige's paintings of a desert landscape in golden hues -- an acrylic painting on linen. He bought it for $100 in the hopes of keeping Doige from going back to selling drugs. Decades later, a friend saw the painting hanging in Fletcher's home and said it was in fact the work of Peter Doig, whose creations can command $10 million at auction. Fletcher spoke with Chicago-based art dealer Peter Bartlow, who agreed to sell the work. But Doig denied every element of Fletcher's story -- painting the work, meeting Fletcher or being incarcerated in Canada. Doig's lawyers pointed to a Canadian man named Peter Doige, who was a carpenter and amateur painter. He died in 2012 but his life story seemed to closely match the circumstances surrounding the painting's creation. Feinerman concluded that "an artist is well within his rights to ensure that works that he did not create are not sold or offered under his name. The artist has a right to protect his reputation." Story continues Fletcher and Bartlow said they did not know yet whether they would appeal their case, but they remain convinced that their painting is a Doig. - 'Relieved' by decision - Those in the art world have raised concerns that the case could be a green light for wealthy patrons to sue artists if they disavow a work or -- as has happened in the past -- disown a work that they had previously acknowledged creating. "I'm relieved to see the judge's decision in this case," Amy Whitaker, professor of art business at New York University, told AFP. "It is not the job of artists to guarantee or authenticate their work." But the damage may have already been done, because the lawsuit was allowed to proceed to trial, said Michael Bennett, a professor at Arizona State University and a previous legal advisor to arts organizations. "In the future, top tier artists may be extorted into authenticating a work they did not create," Bennett told AFP. "The threat of a suit, and all the time, stress and money that's called for to win one, can be just that strong." Fletcher's attorney William Zieske dismissed such concerns as "apocalyptic," saying the case was not precedent-setting, because a 1990 law already protects artists. Known as the Visual Artists Rights Act, the US law allows artists to claim ownership of a painting or prevent their name from being associated with a work they did not create. But it mostly protects works made in 1990 or later, and only some works from years prior. "This painting is an oddball case. It's from the 1970s," Zieske said. By PTI: New Delhi, Aug 24 (PTI) Leading architecture firm CP Kukreja today said it has been selected to design the master plan for Bandar Malaysia, an upcoming business district in Greater Kuala Lumpur, and expects to earn a fee of about USD 60 million (about Rs 400 crore) over the next 10 years. Bandar Malaysia will cover 200 million sq ft of gross floor area, spread over 500 acres. advertisement "We are the only Indian firm among the five international architecture firms selected to design Bandar Malaysia," CP Kukreja Architects (CPKA) Principal Architect Dikshu C Kukreja told PTI. Stating that the selection was done by the Malaysian government, Kukreja said this development will open doors for other architects in the country. Asked about the value of the contract, he said: "We estimate to earn a fee of about USD 60 million over the next 10 years". Kukreja said the mega project is estimated to cost over USD 30 billion. "This project is notable not only for its breathtaking scale, but also for its focus on the seamless transportation between one place to another," he said. Kukreja said the work for this project has already started and the company will also open a local new office in Kuala Lumpur in October. CPKA will deploy about 100 people, both in India and Kuala Lumpur, for this assignment. The other four firms selected to design this business capitals are SOM (the architecture firm that has designed the Burj Khalifa), world famous architect Zaha Hadid, Atkins, the architecture firm behind Burjal Arab, and UK-based firm Ove Arup, the company said. Earlier this year, CPKA was awarded the mandate to design a 15-lakh square feet interim government complex in Amaravati, the new capital of Andhra Pradesh. The company had in the past designed Gautam Buddha University in Greater Noida and international airport (T3) in Delhi through a consortium. PTI MJH SA --- ENDS --- Washington (AFP) - The United States is providing Turkey's military with air cover, intelligence and advisers in its offensive against the Islamic State (IS) group inside Syria, a senior US official said on Wednesday. "We want to help the Turks get ISIL off the border" between the two countries, the official told reporters, using an alternative acronym for the IS group. The official was traveling with US Vice President Joe Biden, who arrived in Turkey on Wednesday for meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, in an effort to help improve relations strained by Turkey's coup d'etat attempt last month. US advisers are communicating with the Turkish military about a plan to take the Syrian border town of Jarabulus, a key IS stronghold that is a primary objective of the Turkish offensive, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The United States is "syncing up with them, our advisers are in the planning cell with them," he said. "We'll have close air support if there's an operation" in Jarabulus. Washington is also helping ensure that Kurdish fighters further south do not provoke a conflict with Turkish forces by moving north toward Jarabulus, the official said. The United States has made it clear to the Syrian Democratic Forces, a US-backed Kurdish and Arab alliance, that "we don't and won't support them going north, and they can't without our air cover, so we've put a lid on them moving north," he said. "I think we've put a lid on the Turks' biggest concern (which) gives us breathing space to make sure the Jarabulus operation is done the right way." The Turkish operation -- named "Euphrates Shield" -- began early Wednesday with Turkish artillery pounding dozens of IS group targets around Jarabulus, according to the Turkish prime minister's office. Turkish tanks and special forces accompanied by pro-Ankara Syrian rebels then rolled across the border in an unprecedented operation to drive the IS group out of the town from which it has fired rockets into Turkey. Pro-Ankara Syrian rebels took the village of Keklijah three miles (five kilometers) west of Jarabulus and two miles from the border, Turkish state media said, in the operation's first reported military success. Washington (AFP) - The US military confirmed that North Korea has test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile, condemning the hermit state's latest "provocation" and vowing to raise concerns at the United Nations. US Strategic Command said the launch of what was believed to be a KN-11 missile off the coast of Sinpo, North Korea, "did not pose a threat to North America," citing analysis by the North American Aerospace Defense Command. The missile, launched at 2029 GMT Tuesday (4:59 am Wednesday local time), fell into the Sea of Japan some 300 miles (480 kilometers) off the coast of North Korea. "Our commitment to the defense of our allies, including the Republic of Korea and Japan, in the face of these threats, is ironclad," said Commander Gary Ross, a Pentagon spokesman. "We remain prepared to defend ourselves and our allies from any attack or provocation. "We call on North Korea to refrain from actions that further raise tensions in the region and focus instead on taking concrete steps toward fulfilling its commitments and international obligations." Several UN Security Council resolutions demand that Pyongyang suspend all of its ballistic missile program activities. "We intend to raise our concerns at the UN to bolster international resolve in holding the DPRK accountable for these actions," Ross said, using an acronym for the North's formal name. The State Department issued a similar statement. Washington (AFP) - US military aircraft on Wednesday pounded the northern Syrian border town of Jarabulus as part of a Turkish-led effort to push Islamic State group jihadists from the key crossing point. Speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing operations, a US defense official said the US-led coalition against IS had deployed American A-10 "Warthog" ground-attack planes and F-16 fighters to hit jihadist targets. We "are currently conducting air strikes in support of Turkish and vetted Syrian opposition operations against ISIL in Jarabulus," the official said, using an alternate IS acronym. The planes would most likely have flown from Incirlik, a nearby Turkish air base that the coalition uses. By Wednesday evening in Syria, rebels said they had seized full control of Jarabulus, which had been held by IS since 2014 and was a key transit point for IS fighters flowing between Syria and Turkey. A second US defense official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said some IS fighters appeared to be attempting to flee Jarabulus, and would be targeted from the air if they are confirmed to be jihadists. Pentagon spokesman Major Adrian Rankine-Galloway added that US surveillance drones were monitoring the region. Earlier Wednesday, a senior official traveling with US Vice President Joe Biden, who arrived in Turkey for meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, spoke to reporters about US involvement in operations. The United States is "syncing up with them, our advisers are in the planning cell with them," he said. Biden is in Turkey in an effort to help improve relations strained by the country's coup d'etat attempt last month. - Kurdish caution - Washington is also helping ensure Kurdish fighters further south do not provoke a conflict with Turkish forces by moving north toward Jarabulus, the official said. The United States has made it clear to the Syrian Democratic Forces, a US-backed Kurdish and Arab alliance, that "we don't and won't support them going north, and they can't without our air cover, so we've put a lid on them moving north," the official traveling with Biden said. Story continues "I think we've put a lid on the Turks' biggest concern (which) gives us breathing space to make sure the Jarabulus operation is done the right way." The Turkish operation -- named "Euphrates Shield" -- began early Wednesday with Turkish artillery pounding dozens of IS group targets around Jarabulus, according to the Turkish prime minister's office. "The United States encourages all parties to focus their efforts on ISIL, and we are working with our Turkish allies and our partnered forces in Syria to ensure that ISIL remains everyone's focus," Rankine-Galloway said. Turkish tanks and special forces accompanied by pro-Ankara Syrian rebels then rolled across the border in an unprecedented operation to drive the IS group out of the town from which it has fired rockets into Turkey. Jarabulus had a population of 30,000, half of them displaced from other parts of war-torn Syria, according to Fabrice Balanche, a French expert on the political geography of Syria. Washington (AFP) - The United States reiterated its recommendation that Americans in Gaza leave the territory controlled by Hamas, which Washington calls a terrorist group, "as soon as possible." The warning came after the Israeli army said it bombed dozens of targets in Gaza from Sunday to Monday, in response to rocket fire from the strip. Palestinian medical officials said four people were wounded. Washington regularly updates warning notices to Americans traveling to and living in countries around the world. In the case of Gaza, the State Department warned against "all travel" to the territory and "urges those present to depart as soon as possible when border crossings are open." It had issued a similar warning in December 2015. Since January, 14 rockets fired from Gaza have hit Israeli territory, the military said. The border area has remained tense since the July-August 2014 war between Israel and Gaza militants that killed more than 2,200 Palestinians and 73 people on the Israeli side. "Gaza is under the control of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization. The security environment within Gaza and on its borders is dangerous and volatile," the State Department said in its warning Tuesday. As for Israel and the West Bank, a wave of violence there since October 2015 has left Americans dead and wounded, the department said. However, "there is no indication that US citizens were specifically targeted based on nationality." The violence has eased in recent weeks, but an AFP count shows 220 Palestinians and 34 Israelis killed since October 1, 2015 in the Palestinian territories, Jerusalem and Israel. Most of the Palestinians killed were attackers or suspected attackers. A number were killed in clashes with the Israeli army. The State Department on Tuesday also condemned plans, reported by Israeli media, to expand a Jewish military compound in the West Bank city of Hebron by building homes for settlers. Story continues "If these reports are true... that would represent a deeply concerning step of settlement expansion on land that is at least partially owned by Palestinians," department spokesman Mark Toner said at a press briefing. "We strongly oppose all settlement activity, which is corrosive to the cause of peace. And we've said repeatedly such moves are not consistent with Israel's stated desire to achieve a two-state solution," Toner added. Washington regularly condemns its ally Israel for "illegitimate" settlements in the Palestinian territories. DailyFX.com - Talking Points: - USD/CAD trading above the 1.29 handle after a reprieve on declining Crude Oil Prices - EIA Crude Oil inventory data is ahead and might induce a sharp reaction for the pair - 20-day USD/CAD and Crude Oil correlation at -0.87 at the time of writing The USD/CAD is trading above 1.29 at the time of writing, after the US Dollar managed to recoup some of its losses as the Crude Oil Prices rally came to a stall. 20-day USD/CAD and Crude Oil correlation sites at -0.87 at the time of writing, suggesting that the EIA inventory data ahead might see a sharp reaction from the pair. Against this backdrop we will form our outlook and look to find short term trading opportunities using different tools such as the Grid Sight Index (GSI) indicator. USD/CAD in Focus as Crude Oil Prices Edge Lower, Inventories Data Ahead Click Here for the DailyFX Calendar The official EIA weekly Crude Oil Inventories figure is set to hit the wires 14:30 GMT, and seems like the most likely candidate for USD/CAD volatility. Economists are expecting a -850K decline coming into today, higher than the prior -2508K figure. With that said, API estimates suggested stockpiles rose by 4.46 million barrels last week, which might imply a surprise rise in the figures today. This scenario could see further Crude Oil selling pressure, which may pressure the Canadian Dollar as well. US Dollar traders might hold back from fully committing before the Yellen speech this Friday, which could imply that the US housing data may have subdued effects unless a significant deviation from expectations hits the wires. The probability of a Fed rate hike in December is slowly edging higher, which could potentially see the US Dollar strengthen on pre-positioning to the main event on Friday. USD/CAD Technical Levels: USD/CAD in Focus as Crude Oil Prices Edge Lower, Inventories Data Ahead Click here for the DailyFX Support & Resistance tool We use volatility measures as a way to better fit our strategy to market conditions. The USD/CAD is seeing the lowest levels of volatility since December 2015 based on 20-day ATR readings. 1-week implied volatility measures are quite subdued as well. Story continues In turn, this may suggest that range bound trading plays might be appropriate in the short term, but caution is warranted on the EIA data. USD/CAD 30-Min Chart (With the GSI Indicator): August 24, 2016 USD/CAD in Focus as Crude Oil Prices Edge Lower, Inventories Data Ahead (Click to Enlarge) The USD/CAD is trading slightly above a potential support zone between 1.2920 and 1.29 at the time of writing, with GSI calculating higher percentage of past movement to the upside in the short term. The GSI indicator above calculates the distribution of past event outcomes given certain momentum patterns. By matching events in the past, GSI describes how often the price moved in a certain direction. You can learn more about the GSI here, and download the Trade Station version here. Further levels of support might be 1.28675, followed by 1.2800, 1.2766 and the 1.27 handle. Levels of resistance might be 1.2950, 1.2965 and the 1.30 handle. We generally want to see GSI with the historical patterns significantly shifted in one direction, which alongside a pre-determined bias and other technical tools could provide a solid trading idea that offer a proper way to define risk. We studied over 43 million real trades and found that traders who successfully define risk were three times more likely to turn a profit. Read more on the Traits of Successful Traders research. Meanwhile, the DailyFX Speculative Sentiment Index (SSI) is showing that about 59.5% of FXCMs traders are long the USD/CAD at the time of writing. The SSI is mainly used as a contrarian indicator implying a slight short bias. You can find more info about the DailyFX SSI indicator here --- Written by Oded Shimoni, Junior Currency Analyst for DailyFX.com To contact Oded Shimoni, e-mail oshimoni@dailyfx.com Follow him on Twitter at @OdedShimoni original source DailyFX provides forex news and technical analysis on the trends that influence the global currency markets. Learn forex trading with a free practice account and trading charts from FXCM. Good Afternoon, There is so much to be proud of at this company, and nothing makes me more proud than the people I get to work with every day. Today we say farewell to one of the best. After masterfully representing our company for 32 years, my long-time friend and colleague and our head of corporate communications Carl Folta has decided to move on to the next adventure in his successful and ever-eventful career. Carl began his time with us in 1984 at Gulf+Western and joined Viacom in 1994 with the Paramount Communications merger. Since then, he has been on the front lines of every major initiative and transaction in the history of our company. Nobody fought harder for Viacom and all of us. Not only did Carl guide the company through some of the most active and challenging periods in the media industry, but he also helped Sumner Redstone become one of the most recognized and globally acclaimed media executives in history. Day in and day out, he literally had the hardest job in the companyand he handled it all with grace, skill and a smile. Philippe and I and every one on our senior team relied on and trusted Carl every step of the way. It is hard to imagine anyone else who could have navigated so much change so well and retained his sanity and good humor. He always found the best in us and made sure that others did too. As a professional communicator and strategist, he is second to none, and in an era of specialists, Carl can literally do it all. He is as comfortable communicating about financial transactions and results as he is pitching the media on our latest innovation or programming slate. He has been at the forefront of his craft for decadesexpertly bridging the era of manual typewriters and teletype, to data insights and Snapchat. Along the way he found time to recruit and mentor many of the brightest and most accomplished communicators in our company and even teach an occasional graduate class at NYU. I know that Carl takes great satisfaction in his leadership of our corporate social responsibility and philanthropy activities. Just as he is an ambassador for our company at large, he also embodies our spirit of giving and volunteerism. In fact, 20 years ago, he was one of the architects with me of our annual Viacommunity Day, which he has nurtured and grown to this day. Carl was also responsible for our most impactful work in supporting our communities. Among the many initiatives, he championed the creation ofKNOW HIV/Aids, the Peabody and Emmy Award-winning cross-platform public education partnership with the Kaiser Family Foundation, which we launched in 2003 (yes, those are real Emmys in his office). He was also the driving force behind the companys current partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on Get Schooled, a groundbreaking multi-year program to renew the promise of education in America and empower young people with tools and inspiration to get the education they need to succeed. Whatever is next, I have no doubt he will do it with his usual energy and style. I look forward to continuing our friendship for many years to come. Sincerely, Tom (Adds details from decision, comments, case citation, byline) By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK, Aug 24 (Reuters) - A U.S. court on Wednesday rejected an appeal by victims of Hezbollah rocket attacks in Israel who sought to hold Lebanese Canadian Bank SAL liable for financing Hezbollah through its New York account with American Express Bank. By a 3-0 vote, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York said it lacked jurisdiction over the Lebanese bank because customary international law immunized corporations from liability from claims under the federal Alien Tort Statute (ATS). Circuit Judge Richard Wesley said the panel was bound by a December ruling from another 2nd Circuit panel upholding the dismissal of a similar case against Arab Bank Plc . The court is deeply divided over whether it should adhere to its 2010 ruling barring ATS lawsuits against corporations. Several of its judges urged unsuccessfully in May that the Arab Bank case be reargued. Lebanese Canadian Bank (LCB) has been sued by dozens of American, Canadian and Israeli citizens injured by Hezbollah rocket attacks in 2006, or who had family members killed in those attacks. The plaintiffs said LCB, which has no U.S. offices or employees, made it easier for Hezbollah to attack Jewish civilians in Israel by wiring millions of dollars on behalf of the group's Shahid (Martyrs) Foundation affiliate. The U.S. statute lets non-U.S. citizens seek damages in U.S. courts for human rights violations abroad. But the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013 narrowed its reach in Kiobel v Royal Dutch Petroleum, saying claims must sufficiently "touch and concern" the United States to displace the presumption that the ATS does not cover foreign conduct. Wesley said the claims against the bank did so. He said its wire transfer services in New York had "a substantial effect on Hezbollah's actions insofar as they 'enabled' and 'facilitated' terrorist rocket attacks harming or killing plaintiffs and their decedents." Story continues But he said "we are not free" to reconsider the Arab Bank panel's conclusion that banning ATS lawsuits against corporations, adopted in an earlier part of the Kiobel case, remained good law. Robert Tolchin, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said he plans to appeal. "It is plain that the panel is not happy with the decision of the Arab Bank panel," he said. "Every other circuit court has ruled that corporations can be sued under the Alien Tort Statute." Douglas Mateyaschuk, a lawyer for LCB, declined immediate comment. The case is Licci et al v. Lebanese Canadian Bank SAL, 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 15-1580. (Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe) Photo: Courtesy of Victorias Secret Pink Zuri Tibby is living the American dream. Discovered at a mall in Florida, the 20-year-old who turns 21 on Sept. 1 is the new face of Victorias Secret Pink. The West Palm Beach native will join fellow model Rachel Hilbert in upcoming Victorias Secret Pink campaigns and at future events for the brand, Yahoo Style has exclusively learned. The two women are in good company. Previous VS Pink superstars Alessandra Ambrosio, Behati Prinsloo, and Elsa Hosk have since earned their wings as VS Angels. Its an honor especially to be following in the footsteps of such amazing women, says Tibby. Ive always looked up to them. Theyre beautiful women who do great things. To be in that same category feels amazing. And Tibby, who already has more than 18,000 Instagram followers, is ready for the spotlight and is still pinching herself over the news. Im still in shock and in awe. I dont think that feeling will ever go away, she says. It means a lot to me. Its something that Ive always wanted to do. Im representing a brand thats really cool. We caught up with the 5-foot-10 beauty, who told us what it was like being discovered while shopping, why Jonah Hill is her celeb crush, and what it was like working with Rihanna on her Stance campaign. Yahoo Style: Congratulations on being the new face of VS Pink. How did you learn the news? Zuri Tibby: I learned the news through my agent. He called me in. I had no idea about it. He told me very casually. I didnt know if it was a joke or what. It was so surreal because Ive been wanting it for such a long time. As soon as I found out, I FaceTimed my mom. That was the first thing I did. She freaked out. She was screaming. She was at work. We were all so happy. Its one of my favorite memories to date. What did your friends say when they found out? I have a lot of friends who are models, and theyre super-excited. And some of my friends from back home are obviously so excited as well. Everyone is happy for me. I keep in contact with a lot of people from my high school. Its really fun. Story continues Does this mean youll be walking in the Victorias Secret show in November? Are you ready to wear wings? Thats always been a really big dream of mine. But well see. Stay tuned. As soon as I find out, youll find out too. How did you become a model? I was discovered when I was really young. I was 15. I was walking around the mall after work and [someone from my now] agency came up to me. They were kinda following me around a little bit. I was a little scared and shy when they came up to me and gave me their card. Id never been approached and asked to model before, so it was a shock. They gave me their card, and we set up a meeting. Everything happened from there. What was your moms initial reaction when you told her you were approached? She was, of course, a skeptical parent, trying to look out for me. But she was super-supportive, and she still is now. Im thankful for that. You mentioned youd just left work. What were you doing before you were discovered? I was working at a kids playground. The place that I worked at also had food and stuff. They had a little cafe. But the rules were you had to wear socks [inside the cafe], so my funniest memory of it is chasing people, making sure they were wearing socks at all times. I would chase them with socks in my hands trying to give socks to people. I worked there for probably two months during the summer. Im assuming you havent looked back since. Did you always have modeling aspirations? Or is the whole thing a fluke? I had dreamed of being a model, but I wasnt expecting it at that time because I was still in school. That wasnt really the first thing on my mind, but when it happened, I was super for it. What was your first major modeling job? My first job was for Teen Vogue, and I was super-nervous. My mom actually came with me to set and to New York. It was a good experience. Id never experienced anything like that before the whole production and hair and makeup. I loved it from that first shoot. Photo: Courtesy of Victorias Secret Pink How did your life change from that moment on? I would fly back and forth from Florida, where Im from, to New York. I would go to castings and I would learn more and more about the business in developing as a model. I started to grow into it and learn more about it. Im still learning. Who are some icons you admire? In the modeling industry? I really, really look up to Naomi Campbell of course. Shes, like, amazing. I also look up to Jasmine Tookes. Shes been one of my favorite, favorite girls forever. Shes so nice. I worked with her back in 2012, and shes still my favorite Angel. Beyond modeling, I love Rihanna her style, everything about her. Speaking of, you modeled in a series of promotional campaign images for Rihannas Stance line. What was that like? She is the coolest person I have ever met. She lights up a room. Shes totally down-to-earth. Shes funny. Shes professional. She was on time. She had the coolest personality ever. She was taking selfies. She was dancing. I love Rihanna. As a model who often wears bathing suits and/or lingerie, what kind of pressure do you feel to stay in shape? Is it nerve-racking to pose in so little? Working with the same team for such a long time has definitely helped. I think that [its a matter of] staying balanced. Ive always been very active and fit. That helps. I used to run track back in middle school. What does your routine consist of these days? I Rollerblade a lot. Im always looking for classes to do. I like barre class. Anything that has to do with getting my heart going, I love it. I understand you enjoy cooking. Whats your specialty? I was always around my grandmother, and shes an amazing cook. I watched her and I started making what she would make, but I would tweak [her recipes] a little bit and made them my own. I really like cooking vegan recipes. I dont know why, but I think its awesome to make things without a lot of ingredients. My favorite thing to make is this two-ingredient pancake. Its banana and almond milk. Its the yummiest thing ever. Are you actually vegan yourself? Im not vegan. I try to maybe have like one or two meals that are. But I think its interesting to cook without certain things that people think you need. Whats something else people would be surprised to know about you? People would be surprised to know that I actually never sleep. I am always up by 7 or 7:30. By choice. I never take naps. I think sleeping is a waste of time. Id rather be out doing something. If I take a nap, Ill wake up and feel so confused. I rarely take naps. Maybe twice a year. I try to get six [hours of sleep a night], but Im always up by 7 or 7:30. No matter what. I dont even have to set alarms for work anymore. Im up, have a cup of coffee. Ill maybe work out. Or maybe Ill watch [TV]. I like to watch cartoons in the morning, and thats the only time that theyre on. VS models seem to always meet the coolest people. Who is your celebrity crush? My celebrity crush is definitely Jonah Hill. I think when I first saw him in Superbad, that was when I was like, Oh my gosh. I love him. I know its funny, but its true. If you met, would you get starstruck? Do you ever get starstruck? I do get starstruck. When I first saw Rihanna, I was incredibly starstruck, but I try not to be. Whats the biggest misconception people seem to have about models? I think the biggest misconception people have about models is that were all very lucky to be able to do this job. But people dont realize the work that goes into it. It is a job. It is hard. It is tough. Just like any other job there are hard days, there are good days, there are bad days. Its not just one big party. Theres a lot of hard work, and theres a team behind it. I have a lot of hardworking people behind me my agent and a lot of other people at my agency, my family. Its something that you have to put work into every day. Youve clearly got a great gig. But what would be your ultimate goal from here? I would love to maybe start a cosmetics line because Im so into makeup. I have a YouTube channel. I do makeup tutorials. I love makeup anything with that. One of the Victoria Secret Pink photos that you posed for features you wearing a tank top that says American Dream. In what way are you living the American dream yourself? I feel like Im living the American dream because I am able to live in one of the best cities New York City. Its my favorite city. Im able to do a dream job. I love getting up in the morning and saying I love what I do. Thats my version of the American dream. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. France and other countries should help to keep the peace in the disputed South China Sea, Vietnam's president told AFP Wednesday, as unease grows over China's increasingly muscular approach in the key waterway. China claims most of the sea where it has built up reefs capable of hosting military equipment, sparking ire from competing claimants, including Vietnam, and raising fears of potential armed conflict. Speaking to AFP ahead of a visit by French leader Francois Hollande next month, Vietnam's President Tran Dai Quang said he hopes France and others will help to diffuse regional tensions in the waterway, which it calls the East Sea. "We highly welcome the cooperation from France and other nations in the process of maintaining peace and stability in the region and the world and on the East Sea," he said, speaking from the presidential palace, the former residence of the Indochina governor during French colonial rule. Hanoi and Beijing have traded diplomatic barbs over disputed island chains and waters in the South China Sea and in 2014 China moved a controversial oil rig into contested territory, prompting riots in Vietnam. The strategic waterway, also claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan, is rich in energy reserves, fishery resources and is a busy shipping route. Quang's comments come after French Defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in June he would ask European countries to conduct coordinated patrols in the South China Sea. France and the United States have sent naval ships to the sea in recent months and have vowed to send more, angering Beijing. The Vietnamese president, whose role is mostly ceremonial, said Hollande's visit would help to boost military ties between the former colonial foes, as Hanoi has rapidly increased its defence budget in the last decade. "Several directions for cooperation will be strengthened and opened, like... ensuring security, safety and freedom of maritime and aviation," Quang said in a statement to AFP after the interview. Story continues He added that Vietnam wants more unity in the regional 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which has failed to forge a unified front against Beijing's militarisation in the sea. "We have been active together with countries in the ASEAN community to increase unity, considering this an important structure to contribute to maintaining regional peace," he said. Last month Manila won its case against Beijing at a UN-backed tribunal in the Hague which rejected China's claims to most of the sea. Beijing boycotted the hearing, and has refused to recognise the ruling, and ASEAN has sidestepped the issue, failing to comment directly on it at a meeting of ministers last month. Diplomats say Beijing has deftly courted Laos and Cambodia to split the bloc and blunt unified criticism. France and Vietnam signed a strategic partnership agreement in 2013, which included boosted defence cooperation. The apex court today refused to lift the restrictions on 20-feet high human pyramids during the Dahi Handi festival. By India Today Web Desk: The Supreme Court today refused to lift the restrictions on 20-feet high human pyramids during the Dahi Handi festival, to be held on Thursday. The apex court was ruling on a plea filed by Mumbai-based Jai Jawan Krida Mandal Govinda Pathak, which had argued that since young men below 18 were barred from participating in the Dahi Handi ritual, the cap on the height of the human pyramid should be relaxed as adventure is part of every sport. advertisement Last week, the apex court bench of Justice Anil R Dave and Justice L Nageswara Rao had ruled that the height of the human pyramid should not exceed 20 feet, observing that on the grounds of religious feeling acrobatics could not be permitted. The apex court had also said nobody under the age of 18 will be allowed to participate in the human pyramid formation on Janmashtami, which is celebrated with a huge fervour in Maharashtra. It however expressed its misgivings over the authorities being able to "control or supervise" that children below 18 do not participate. Last week's decision had come after the Supreme Court restored the 2014 petition by some Dahi Handi organisers challenging the High Court order holding that youngsters below the age of 18 would not participate in the human pyramid formation and the same too would not be more than 20 feet. --- ENDS --- (Viral photo included in videos above and below.)Nice (France) (AFP) - An angry debate over a ban on burkinis in France was further stoked Wednesday as images of a veiled woman surrounded by police on a beach in Nice went viral. The series of photos published by British media showed a woman dressed in leggings, a tunic and headscarf lying on a beach surrounded by four police officers. At one point the woman removes her tunic it is unclear if she was ordered to do so or did so of her own accord while a policeman appears to write out a fine. The photos, whose source is not clear, caused a furore on Twitter, where many interpreted them as the woman being forced to undress by police. Underneath the tunic, she was wearing a sleeveless top. This Muslim woman was forced to undress by armed French police. Social media reacted with #WTFFrance.https://t.co/RcC5mMIfX9 AJ+ (@ajplus) August 24, 2016 Question of the day: How many armed policemen does it take to force a woman to strip in public? Andrew Stroehlein, European Media Director of Human Rights Watch, wrote on Twitter. A comment by an activist named Sihame Assbague, retweeted more than 7,000 times, said the scene has made France the laughing stock of the world. I am so ashamed, wrote French feminist Caroline De Haas. The hashtag #WTFFrance was trending on French Twitter. Nice is one of about 15 French towns which has banned the wearing of the burkini a full-body Islamic swimsuit which covers the head on beaches, with authorities declaring it to contravene French secular values and threaten public order. But the vague wording of the bans, which refer to beachwear that conspicuously demonstrate a persons religion has created confusion. Beachgoers have been left to puzzle over whether it refers solely to head-to-toe swimwear, which some non-Muslims wear for protection from the sun, or to being fully clothed and having ones head covered on the seashore. Story continues A mother of two told AFP on Tuesday she had been fined on the beach in the resort of Cannes for wearing leggings, a tunic and a headscarf. I was sitting on a beach with my family. I was wearing a classic headscarf. I had no intention of swimming, said the 34-year-old who gave only her first name, Siam. Frances highest administrative court, the State Council, will on Thursday examine a request by the Human Rights League (LDH) to scrap the ban. Lower courts have supported the decision by French mayors, with a tribunal in the Riviera city of Nice where a crowd was mowed down in July in a grisly truck attack said the burkini could be felt as a defiance or a provocation exacerbating tensions felt by the community. Black students and students with disabilities are disciplined more harshly than their classmates in Richmond, Va.s public schools, according to a complaint filed Wednesday with the U.S. Department of Educations Office of Civil Rights. The anti-discrimination complaint, filed against Richmond Public Schools, was brought by two black students with disabilities and the Richmond branch of the NAACP. During the 2014-15 school year, African-American students received 93% of short-term suspensions, 98% of long-term suspensions and 97% of expulsions, according to the complaint. African-American students make up about 76% of the total student population in Richmond Public Schools. Black students with disabilities were also nearly 13 times more likely than white students without disabilities to receive a short-term suspension, the complaint said, citing data from the Virginia Department of Education. The data includes mental, emotional and physical disabilities. These disparities cannot be explained by differences in student behavior, Rachael Deane, an attorney with the Legal Aid Justice Center, said in a statement. Rather, there is overwhelming evidence that the school divisions discipline policies are excessively punitive and lack clear standards for application, leading to subjective interpretation and selective enforcement. A spokeswoman for Richmond Public Schools, which serves 24,000 students, said the district will fully cooperate with the Office of Civil Rights investigation. It is important to note that Richmond Public Schools is working diligently to ensure that all disciplinary actions are fair and consistent, she said in a statement, adding that the school system has made efforts to clearly define what constitutes appropriate disciplinary action and to move away from zero-tolerance policies. Our goal is to find disciplinary measures that balance safety and instruction, so we welcome any dialogue that promotes both equity and quality in the education of our students. Story continues The JustChildren Program of the Legal Aid Justice Centerwhich filed the Richmond complaintpublished a report in May, showing that black students were 3.6 times more likely than white students to be suspended in Virginia during the 2014-15 school year. Concerns about disproportionate disciplinary practices in schools extend across state lines. A report published last year by the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania examined disciplinary action in 13 states, finding that black students, on average, made up 24% of school district populations but were suspended and expelled at much higher rates. For example, in 132 Southern school districts, black students were suspended at rates five times higher than their percentage of the student population. The Richmond complaint called for alternative disciplinary approaches with clearer standards for application. The school division must conduct an unflinching examination of these disparities and adopt strategies to improve school climate and ensure that discipline policies are fair for all students, Lynetta Thompson, president of the Richmond NAACP, said in a statement. Christmas came four months early as Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band played for nearly four hours Tuesday night (Aug. 23) at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Springsteen got into the holiday spirit after taking the request from a sign in the audience, dubbing it "the perfect summer song". In all, Springsteen treated the hometown crowd to 35 songs, opening with a gorgeous version of "New York City Serenade" as he kicked off a three-night stand at the stadium, the first dates of the band's North American stadium tour. Bruce Springsteen to Release 'Chapter and Verse' Companion Album with Autobiography Launch Backed by a string section, the 66-year old rocker set the tone for a special night that paid homage to his home state with a set that included "Sprit in the Night," "Growin' Up," "Wrecking Ball," "My Hometown," "Because the Night" (with a scorching guitar solo courtesy of Nils Lofgren) and "Mansion on the Hill," a song he said was about his days as a child growing up in Freehold getting ice cream at Jersey Freeze, and his mother telling him a radio tower with "red lights" by the ice cream parlor was a "giant." As he got older, he explained he saw the tower as a mansion on a hill, and proceeded to perform a moving version of the song that brought Patti Scialfa front and center, creating a nice on stage moment. Springsteen told several tales, including one about his father prior to "Independence Day" and playing bars until 3 a.m., then eating at a diner afterwards. Those late nights, with the thick, humid Jersey air, inspired "Something in the Night." Bruce Springsteen Manager Jon Landau Talks 'The River' Tour, Forthcoming 'Expansive' Solo Album There were party songs, too, and "Sherry Darling" provided the perfect backdrop for a summer night, as did "Out in the Street" (bonus points to The Boss for playing the song with his mic in his mouth when he couldn't get it back into his pocket) and "Darlington County," with Springsteen adding a lick of The Rolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Woman" for good measure. Story continues After a rousing rave-up of "Shout"-- with Springsteen donning a cape in an ode to James Brown -- an impromptu band meeting center stage rewarded the audience with "one more song for Jersey" -- "Jersey Girl" -- as fireworks filled the night. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band return to MetLife Stadium for two more shows Thursday (Aug. 25) and Tuesday (Aug. 30). Watch video, shot by Michelle Galerkin, below: Setlist: 1. New York City Serenade (with strings) 2. Wrecking Ball 3. Badlands 4. Something In The Night 5. The Ties That Bind 6. Sherry Darling 7. Spirit In The Night 8. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town 9. Independence Day 10. Hungry Heart 11. Out In The Street 12. Growing Up 13. You Can Look But You Better Not Touch 14. Death To My Hometown 15. Mansion On The Hill 16. Jack of All Trades (with string section) 17. My Hometown 18. The River 19. American Skin (41 Shots) 20. The Promised Land 21. Working On The Highway 22. Darlington County 23. Because The Night 24. She's The One 25. Brilliant Disguise 26. The Rising 27. Land Of Hope And Dreams Encores: 28. Jungleland 29. Born To Run 30. Dancing In The Dark 31. Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) 32. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out 33. Shout 34. Bobby Jean 35. Jersey Girl The new trailer for the upcoming third and final season of The Fall has been released. The cryptic clip shows actress Gillian Anderson, as Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson, swimming as she recalls a chilling conversation with serial killer Paul Spector, played by 50 Shades of Gray star Jamie Dornan. Youre under arrest. Youre going to prison. In what sense are you free? she can be heard saying. I live at a level of intensity unknown to you and others of your type. You will never know the almost God-like power that I feel when that last bit of breath leaves a body. That feeling of complete possession, he replies. The BBC hit crime drama first aired in 2013 and became available for viewing on Netflix last year. It follows the detectives hunt for the mass murderer, who attacks successful, career-oriented women in Belfast. The show returns this coming autumn, although there is no set date yet. Watch the clip above. A watchdog group that advocates balanced, sensitive and positive depiction and coverage of Asian Americans is calling out producer Laika, and by extension distributor Focus Features, for using mostly white actors to voice Japanese characters in Kubo and the Two Strings, the animated feature that bowed Friday. The Media Action Network for Asian Americans, which has been battling the issue for decades, noted that even though the movie takes place in ancient Japan, the voice actors getting the most time onscreen and playing the most important characters are white. The film centers on a young boy (Art Parkinson) who makes an honest living telling tales to the people of his seaside town until his humble existence is interrupted by a spirit from the past that has returned to enforce an age-old vendetta. Charlize Theron, Matthew McConaughey, Rooney Mara, Ralph Fiennes, and Brenda Vaccaro also star. MANAA noted that although he is listed relatively high in the credits, George Takeis lines could probably fit on a single page. These white actors would be appropriate for probably 95% of the movies out there, MANAA founding president Guy Aoki said in a statement. For something specific to the Asian/Japanese culture, why not give Asian American actors who are rarely considered for significant parts in movies the opportunity to be part of a prestigious project that could bolster their careers? Why is the title character played by a 14-year-old white boy from Ireland? In fact, why are white actors playing an entire extended Japanese family? RelatedKubo And The Two Strings Review: Epic Toon Adventure Combines Art With Heart Laika president and CEO Travis Knight, who also directed Kubo, said in a statement to Deadline: The critical conversation around diversity is one that Laika cares very deeply about. We have been at the forefront of issues around gender equality, sexual orientation, and complex family issues. We are proud of the diversity of experiences both on screen and behind the camera with our creative team and actors working on Kubo and the Two Strings. I look forward to further conversations about how we can continue to create even more opportunities in our films. Story continues Kubo and the Two Strings is just the latest target for MANAA, which has called out such films as The Martian, Aloha, 21, The Last Airbender and the upcoming Dr. Strange, Ghost in the Shell and The Great Wall that its says have white-washed Asian American characters by casting white or non-Asian actors. Related stories The Perils Of Remakes Like 'Ben-Hur' As Moviegoers Continue To Worship 'Suicide Squad' - Monday Final B.O. 'Ben-Hur's Weekend Apocalypse: Is There Redemption For Faith-Based Epics At The B.O.? - Saturday Update 'Suicide Squad' & 'Sausage Party' To Squash 'War Dogs', 'Ben-Hur' & 'Kubo' - Box Office Preview London (AFP) - Watford have signed Netherlands defender Daryl Janmaat from Newcastle United, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday. Janmaat agreed a four-year contract with the Hornets, who are reported to have paid a fee of 7.5 million ($9.9 million, 8.8 million euros) as he returns to the Premier League following Newcastle's relegation last season. The 27-year-old right-back, who joined Newcastle in 2014 from Feyenoord, admitted he was delighted to be back in the top flight. "I'm really happy to be here, it's a new adventure for me. I was really pleased that Watford showed interest in me because I wanted to play in the Premier League," Janmaat told Watford's website. "We (Newcastle) lost three times to Watford last season. They had a good season and I hope we can do the same again this year. "The club is showing great ambition and wants to improve and I want to be part of that." Janmaat made 77 appearances in all competitions for Newcastle, scoring four goals. The UN has confirmed New Delhi's suspicion on 'global terrorist' Dawood Ibrahim enjoying safe spots within Pakistan. UN has also attested to six out of nine addresses of Dawood's in Pakistan provided by New Delhi. The mobster is wanted for orchestrating the 1993 Mumbai blasts that killed over 250 people. By Abhishek Bhalla : The United Nations has vindicated India's stand on fugitive mafia boss Dawood Ibrahim enjoying Pakistan's hospitality with the world body confirming half a dozen addresses submitted by New Delhi including an ISI safe house. Top intelligence sources said the gangster has not been in good health over the past few years and one of the locations tagged by Indian agencies was next to a hospital in Karachi. advertisement The site was listed as one of the new properties purchased in 2013 in the dossier prepared last year but the exact address- in Shireen Jinnah colony near Ziauddin Hospital in the posh Clifton area- was not known. Mail Today was the first to report last year on August 18 that ahead of NSA-level talks between the two countries that were later cancelled, India prepared a dossier with a list of new Dawood hideouts in Pakistan. FUGITIVE, WANTED MOBSTER The mobster is wanted for orchestrating the 1993 Mumbai blasts that killed over 250 people and has been running his underworld empire from Pakistan since his escape from India 23 years ago. He has been on the United Nations Security Council's sanctions list since 2003. Last week, he joined his family via Skype in the celebrations of the wedding of his nephew to the daughter of a Mumbai businessman. 'GLOBAL TERRORIST' Dawood has also been declared a "Global Terrorist" by the US Treasury Department. He has also been included in the UN Security Sanctions List as an associate of al-Qaeda, which obligates member countries to take action, the latest India dossier on him said. PAK'S DENIAL Pakistan has always denied that Dawood is in the country. 6 ADDRESSES OF DAWOOD CONFIRMED New Delhi handed over nine addresses to the UN of which six have been confirmed and three struck off. One of the three addresses that have been dropped by the committee from its list was found similar to that of a residence of Islamabad's envoy to the UN Maleeha Lodhi. The son of a police constable, Dawood was reportedly a police informant from a young age. By the 1980s and 1990s, he had graduated from petty crime to become one of Mumbai's most feared gangsters, with a billion dollar vice empire spanning gambling, drugs and prostitution. INDIA'S EFFORTS TO TRACE DAWOOD SO FAR Details of Dawood's Pakistani passports have also been provided by India. These include passport nos G-866537 and G-886357 issued from Rawalpindi as well as C-267186 and KC-285901 issued from Karachi. Information on his family members' Pakistani passports was also submitted. The fresh information based on latest intelligence gathered by Indian agencies was put together soon after the Home Ministry's goof-up in Parliament in June last year stating that the government was not aware of his location. The then Minister of State for Home Affairs Haribhai Pathibhai Chaudhary had said in Parliament that Dawood had not been located, leading to a controversy that embarrassed the government. advertisement Intelligence inputs also indicate that the security of India's most wanted fugitive has been enhanced in Pakistan with elite commandos of the army The dossier sent to Pakistan on Dawood in 2012 had specific addresses of three locations and details of three Pakistani passports held by him. Intelligence inputs also indicate that the security of India's most wanted fugitive has been enhanced in Pakistan with elite commandos of the army deployed at his safe houses in Islamabad and Karachi. Indian agencies were tipped off by a foreign counterpart about the Pakistani army intensifying its efforts to keep Dawood safe. PAKISTAN'S INACTION DESPITE UNSC RESOLUTIONS Despite the information made available to Pakistan regarding his whereabouts, the neighbouring country failed to execute a red corner notice as well as discharge its obligations under UNSC resolutions. advertisement New Delhi maintains that though there is no extradition treaty with Islamabad, nothing should prevent it from deporting Dawood since he is an Indian national. Also read: Dawood Ibrahim won't skip nephew's Mumbai wedding, he'll Skype it --- ENDS --- When looking at schools, Kelly Alexander loved everything about Wellesley College -- the faculty, campus, small classes and more -- but she was apprehensive about one thing. "I kept saying to people, 'I just wish there were boys there,'" she says. But now, four years later, the 22-year-old recent graduate says she is an evangelist for women's colleges and would attend Wellesley again because it's an all-female school -- not in spite of it. Alexander , who studied economics and Spanish, joins a network of women's college graduates that includes many notable female leaders. Hillary Clinton, the first female presidential nominee of a major U.S. party, went to Wellesley. [See where the Forbes 10 most powerful women went to college.] "We've been so important in terms of developing women for these historic roles," says Joy St. John, dean of admission and financial aid at Wellesley, on the role of women's colleges. While there aren't as many women's colleges as there were in 1960 -- about 230 existed -- a few dozen remain and may be the right fit for some students. Families should consider the following benefits and drawbacks of women's colleges when weighing their options. Pro: Women are supported and represented in all occupations and areas of study. "A women's college is an area where all types of women are celebrated in all their glory," says Jasmine Ponder, a 21-year-old senior studying economics at Agnes Scott College in Georgia. Whatever it is she wants to do, there is someone affiliated with the school doing it -- and that's inspiring, she says. The psychological benefits of attending an institution where everything is solely for women are huge, says Alexander, the recent Wellesley grad. Women hold all the leadership positions, the resources are dedicated to women and these schools were built for women -- not men. Con: Alumnae may not be ready to take on men at work. The women's college environment Irnande Altema, a 2007 graduate of Notre Dame of Maryland University, experienced during her undergraduate years was almost too comfortable. Now 31 and the chief of staff for Maryland State Senator Kathy Klausmeier, Altema says everyone was caring at Notre Dame, the students, faculty and security, but the world of work isn't always like that -- especially in her industry. Story continues While competition amongst women at the school was always friendly, sometimes competing with men can be truly intense, says Altema, who is also an attorney. It would have been helpful to learn some tactics of male competitors, such as how men talk up their accomplishments and the way they seek a promotion. Men use the word "I" more often than "we" and are quicker than women to seek a promotion, she says. [Where to net scholarships for women at all levels of higher education.] She also didn't realize the value of a male mentor until she went to law school. Altema 's had several male mentors since and says they're helpful to have in her line of work. Pro: Students can build a network of supportive female peers. Alexander says she struggled to have close relationships with women in high school. She was surprised at how she immediately liked the women at Wellesley. "People think that a bunch of women in one place, it's just going to be like ripping each other's eyes out all the time," she says. That's a false stereotype, she says; women like each other. Alexander says sometimes people are skeptical when they learn she attended a women's college. "They think that we are convents," she says. "Either that or they think we are like lesbian, feminist paradises." Studies show women's colleges are among the most diverse higher education institutions in the country, says Elizabeth Kiss, president of Agnes Scott College and chairwoman of the Women's College Coalition. Many are very inclusive of transgender students as well, she says, though admissions policies vary. [Consider college options carefully as a transgender student.] Con: The social scene is not for everyone. Heterosexual women will need to put slightly more effort into dating, says Alexander, since there aren't many men around. Because of this, Alexander says she didn't experience the so called "hookup culture" found at other college campuses. Students looking for a "party school" atmosphere probably aren't going to find it at women's colleges, says Kiss. Families should be aware that in recent years, some women's colleges have gone coed -- Sweet Briar College in Virginia notably risked closure amid financial pressures and dwindling enrollments. While it is a good idea for families to do their homework and ask questions when vetting schools, Kiss says parents don't need to be overly concerned about schools closing or going coed. The number of schools struggling is small -- and it's likely they have been for a while. And it's likely schools struggling have issues that stem from being small, private colleges -- not necessarily because they are women's institutions, Kiss says. Four women's colleges, including Agnes Scott, saw their highest enrollment in the fall of 2015, Kiss says. To get a better understanding of a college's financial situation, Kiss says families could ask whether enrollment has been growing or declining over the past three years and inquire about fundraising, levels of alumnae giving and endowment. Alexander says women's colleges are known for helping women develop confidence. While that holds true, she says, there is a place for women at these schools who already possess this trait. "You don't have to be like a timid wallflower to go to a place like Wellesley and get an enormous benefit from it." Searching for a college? Get our complete rankings of Best Colleges. Alexandra Pannoni is an education Web producer at U.S. News. You can follow her on Twitter or email her at apannoni@usnews.com. thinking emoji Google announced on Tuesday it will punish websites that serve "intrusive" full-page ads and pop-ups on their mobile sites by downgrading them in its mobile search rankings. "Pages that show intrusive interstitials provide a poorer experience to users than other pages where content is immediately accessible," the company said in a blog post about the change, which will come into effect in January 2017. This seems fair enough. It's frustrating when you're reading an article on your mobile and the text is suddenly obstructed with an ad. Sometimes you'll click away from that site altogether. It also follows Google's move last year to downgrade mobile sites that serve annoying full-page ads that ask users to download an app. But what's kind of strange is that Google actually serves full-page interstitial ads itself. Back in 2014, Google announced three new mobile app ad units designed to take over the entire screen. At the time, Google's director of product management Jonathan Alferness explained the format would be welcomed by users and advertisers because they were similar to what people expect from TV. He told AdAge: "This idea that a user's in the middle of some environment [and] at a logical break point they should see or will see advertising is not particularly jarring to users." Google still continues to offer interstitial ads on its AdMob mobile app advertising network now, which seems a little odd. Is a full-page interstitial ad less intrusive you see it in an app compared to the mobile web? Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Jonathan Beeston, managing director at UK based digital advertising agency Croud, has a theory on why this might be. He told Business Insider: "I guess Google sees high bounce rates [people clicking into a site, then almost immediately 'bouncing' away from it] from sites with interstitials, and that makes for a bad consumer experience for search. It's not the same thing as in-app, as Google search hasn't sent the user there." Story continues Whether this is the case or not, it's certainly inconsistent. NOW WATCH: New guidelines have led to a big change for uniforms at the Rio Olympics More From Business Insider The WGA East and West have reached an agreement with public television stations WGBH Boston and WNET New York on terms for a new three-year contract covering writers employed on such shows such as Frontline, Nova, American Experience and American Masters. The new contract provides for a 3% increase in all minimums, retroactive to July 1, with 0.5% of that amount diverted to the Writers Guild Industry Health Fund. Two other increases, effective July 1, 2017, and July 1, 2018, will be tied to the deal negotiated next year during the guilds talks for a new film and TV contract. Our members create some of the most compelling and award-winning shows on public television, said WGA East executive director Lowell Peterson. Their creative vision, their dedication to craft and in many cases their contribution to raising money, directing and producing make it possible for WGBH, WNET and other signatory producers to present shows that inform our national dialogue about the vital political, cultural, economic and scientific issues of our times. We are very pleased that the producers have agreed to adopt the percentage increases that are negotiated in the Guilds contract with the major networks and studios. Related stories Hollywood Has Collected More Than $860M In Foreign Levies WGA West Earnings Top $1B In 2015 Thanks To TV Wanted: 'Late Show' Staff Writer And Lots Of Free Work To Become One WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday condemned the use of chemical weapons by Syria, after a probe by the United Nations found that Syrian government troops were responsible for two toxic gas attacks. "It is now impossible to deny that the Syrian regime has repeatedly used industrial chlorine as a weapon against its own people," U.S. National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said in a statement. "The United States will work with our international partners to seek accountability through appropriate diplomatic mechanisms," Price said. "We urge all UN member states and parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention, including Russia and Iran, to participate in this effort." (Reporting by Roberta Rampton and Ayesha Rascoe; Editing by Peter Cooney) Hell or High Water CBS Films If you're looking at the movies coming out and you're not into a horror flick ("Don't Breathe"), a Jason Statham vehicle ("Mechanic: Resurrection"), or a movie about Barack and Michelle Obama's first date ("Southside With You"), then let me suggest the best movie I saw all summer. "Hell or High Water," currently in theaters, is a modern-day Western that not only pays off with great writing and acting, but also has one of the best motives for a bank heist I've ever seen. Hell or High Water CBS Films Chris Pine and Ben Foster play brothers who devise a clever bank-robbing scheme to help save the family farm. On their trail is a Texas Ranger (Jeff Bridges) who is days away from retirement. But instead of phoning it in, he dives headfirst with his partner (Gil Birmingham) to track them down. Yes, it sounds like dozens of Westerns or heist movies you've seen, but what sets this one apart is its refusal to fall into cliches that are rampant in both genres. First, there are the lead creatives behind the movie: director David Mackenzie, who already wowed audiences with his prison drama, "Starred Up," a few years back, and writer Taylor Sheridan, coming off his incredible debut script for "Sicario." (The screenplay for "Hell or High Water" is an original work, in case you're also exhausted by franchises.) From the opening scene (a beautiful, long, single take of the brothers cruising by the first bank they are to rob) to the ingenious way the brothers launder the money so it won't be traced (I won't give it away, but I have never see this hustle done in a movie), "Hell or High Water" just has a feel of originality and anticipation for how things will turn out that you don't get often these days especially in the dog days of summer. hell or high water 2 CBS Films And then there's the acting. You already know that Foster is going to bring his A-game, and Bridges, when given the right material, can still knock it out of the park. Story continues But it's the performance by Pine that really is eye-opening. As the soft-spoken Toby, Pine delivers the best performance of his career. What sealed it for me was the movie's ending. The subtle work between Pine and Bridges in the final scene is more powerful than any shootout can deliver. (The last line of the movie gave me chills.) The setting of the movie also lingers. The West Texas we see, a barren landscape that's filled with signs of poverty, explains the brothers' motivation. And that Old West feel is evident when later in the movie, as the community is fed up with the robberies, the region's open-carry law is put on display as many citizens fire handguns and rifles to ward off the brothers. The best part, though, is simply that "Hell or High Water" is now playing nationwide so if you need something different from the constant superhero movies and lousy sequels, this is the movie for you. NOW WATCH: 7 things you missed in the new Star Wars Rogue One trailer More From Business Insider From Cosmopolitan Three weeks after Caleb Schwab, the 10-year-old son of a Kansas lawmaker, was decapitated while riding Verruckt, the world's tallest waterslide, experts are still trying to figure out how exactly the ride killed him. While many believe an uneven weight distribution on the ride may have caused Schwab's end of the boat to catapult upward, the official findings may not be released when concluded, the Kansas City Star reports. Taking cases like these to trial can often be so expensive, families end up settling privately. Schwab's family (and the women who were severely injured on the same raft as Schwab) have not yet decided whether or not they will sue Schlitterbahn Water Parks, but, if they do, they will not only likely settle because of the cost of trials, but also because Kansas puts a relatively low limit on personal injury and wrongful death cases. According to the City Star, the Kansas limit for non-economic damages in a personal injury case is $300,000, and in wrongful death cases, it's $250,000; settlements in both types of cases "typically come with agreements to keep any findings secret." Because of these monetary limitations, the women who were injured on Schwab's raft might actually end up receiving more money than the Schwab family should they decide to go to trial. The final theory as to how the horrific incident occurred could be released if the Schwabs go to trial, and Texas lawyers defend Schlitterbahn - the park system is a Texas company and, therefore, could be tried under Texas law, despite the fact that the event happened in Kansas. Because Texas does not put a cap on how much money can be rewarded in personal injury and wrongful death cases like Kansas does, the Schwabs would be less likely to settle if Schlitterbahn were defended under Texan law. In that case, the results of the trial would be on public record. Authorities continue to investigate in the meantime, reviewing Schwab's autopsy, Verruckt's safety inspections, and the water park's employee training procedure. The Kansas City Police Department told the paper, regardless of what they find, if Schwab's death is ruled an accident, their investigation is over, and they don't have to figure out what exactly went wrong. If they conclude the death was a crime, the investigation continues. Follow Tess on Twitter. The United States may finally have a professional military ally against the Islamic State in Syria. The Turkish-led assault on the northern Syria town of Jarablus, which was held by the Islamic State for two-and-a-half years but was re-captured Wednesday with little resistance, will shape the war on the extremist group to Washingtons advantage. Turkey entered the Syrian war directly for the first time Wednesday morning, sending tanks and special forces to support a rebel offensive on the Islamic States only remaining stronghold on the Turkish border. U.S. aircraft also backed the offensive, providing close air support against Islamic State targets a crucial indication that the Turkish intervention had received Washingtons acceptance. Rebels declared victory within hours, suffering no significant casualties. Turkey has thus quickly achieved its immediate objective of taking Jarablus and has now signaled its attempt to push westward to cleanse the border area of the Islamic State. The campaign itself may launch a new era of U.S.-Turkish cooperation in Syria. Its true that Ankaras motives for directly entering the Syrian war do not cleanly overlap with Washingtons and are in direct conflict with those of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), which is a U.S. ally in the fight against the Islamic State but is considered a terrorist group by Turkey. Overall, however, Wednesdays events mark a change for the better for the United States, its alliance with Turkey, and the war on the Islamic State. Every actor in the Jarablus operation is fighting for its own reasons. Turkey certainly sought to weaken the Islamic State, which has shelled Turkish territory and carried out a series of terrorist attacks including a suicide bombing in the southern city of Gaziantep just last weekend, which killed 54 people at a wedding. More importantly, Ankara is responding rather belatedly to territorial acquisitions in northern Syria by the PYD-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which aims to connect different cantons to form a contiguous Kurdish territory along the Turkish border. As Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Wednesday, Turkey will not accept a Kurdish entity on its border. But why now? The SDF has been expanding for months, and the Turkish response had been rather muted until Wednesday. Ankara may have hoped the United States, which supports the SDF, would pressure the group to respect territorial red lines, such as staying east of the Euphrates River. This, however, did not happen, as the SDF crossed the Euphrates and eventually took the town of Manbij on Aug. 12 and seemed intent on continuing west to link up with the farthest Kurdish canton in Efrin. The SDFs growing momentum seems to have changed Ankaras calculations, leading to the Jarablus operation. Turkey had already been fighting a rebel proxy war to clear other border areas of the Islamic State and preempt SDF expansion, using local militias but resisting the deployment of Turkish troops into Syria. In taking Jarablus, groups including the Sultan Murad Division, Faylaq al-Sham, Liwa al-Mutasim, and the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement were moved from other rebel areas farther west, through Turkish territory, and over the border into the Jarablus fight. This is Turkeys most dramatic move in its otherwise inconsistent war on the Islamic State, and it could provide a blueprint for cooperation with the United States going forward. Washington has been hesitant to ally with Turkish-backed rebel groups focused on fighting Damascus, fearing it could be dragged into a war against President Bashar al-Assads regime. This has left the United States heavily dependent on the PYD, an affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) a U.S.-designated terrorist group and a sworn enemy of Turkey. The United States desperately needs an ally that can deliver results against the Islamic State, work with local Arab citizens who are suspicious of Kurdish groups, and serve as a strategic international partner rather than a local militia. While Turkey was focused exclusively on defeating the Assad regime and containing the PYD, none of this was possible. But if Ankara calculates that playing a central role against the Islamic State is its best chance to bolster viable Arab partners in northern Syria while countering the possibility of a united, hostile Kurdish entity that would change. The Jarablus operation is therefore the culmination of a strategic Turkish adaptation, PYD overreach, and U.S. eagerness to expand its operations and partners against the Islamic State. Turkey will leave the town in rebel hands, though it may also choose to keep its own troops there to deter or defend against Islamic State counterattacks. If Turkey and its allies can hold it, Jarablus could serve as a springboard for further Turkish-backed expansion of an anti-Islamic State buffer zone. This will cement a new partnership between Turkey and an array of Syrian rebels, with U.S. backing. These dynamics have potentially enormous implications for the war in northern Syria. They may raise Turkish-PYD tensions in the short term, which the United States will have to manage and factor into its anti-Islamic State strategy. On balance, however, Washington has little choice but to embrace Ankara, a NATO ally, over a controversial militia that is Turkeys enemy. Having Turkey as a full-fledged partner in the anti-Islamic State fight also will give Washington greater leverage with its Kurdish allies. In Ankara Wednesday, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden called for Kurdish forces to withdraw from areas west of the Euphrates, which is the very region Turkish-backed rebels hope to expand into. Kurdish forces will likely have little choice but to comply or risk losing U.S. military support. Thus, a curb on Kurdish expansion may actually de-escalate Turkish-Kurdish tensions, so long as the United States remains engaged in the war. If built upon, the Jarablus operation could lay the basis for much-needed U.S.-Turkish cooperation, facilitate an Arab-Kurdish balance of power in northern Syria, and substantially strengthen the war on the Islamic State. And if Washington and Ankara remain closely engaged, they should be able to secure the border area. South of that strip of land, however, things get complicated, as the rebels will eventually run into PYD and regime forces. Their respective foreign backers Turkey, the United States, Russia, and Iran will have to work very hard to avoid an escalation. For now, however, Washington has plenty to gain from Ankaras newfound enthusiasm and aggression against the Islamic State. Photo credit: BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images By PTI: New Delhi, Aug 24 (PTI) Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das will represent India in the two-day SAARC Finance Ministers meeting beginning tomorrow in Islamabad. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who was scheduled to attend the conference, sources said, has cancelled the participation due to "political reasons". The conference is scheduled on August 25-26 in Islamabad. Das will be attending the meeting in place of the Finance Minister, government sources said. advertisement Earlier this month, barbs were exchanged between Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Pakistan Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, who only had a tense and uneasy handshake during the 7th SAARC Home Ministers Meeting in Islamabad. Pakistani authorities did not allow entry of Indian mediapersons, including those from PTI and Doordarshan, inside the venue of Home Ministers Meeting. Singh had informed Rajya Sabha that after the meeting was over, Pakistans Home Minister, who was the host, invited the participants for lunch but left in a car soon thereafter. "Keeping in mind the countrys prestige, I did what I should have done. I have no complaints. I had not gone there for lunch," he had said. That apart, in his Independence Day address to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that India will not bow before terrorism, and also brought up Pakistani atrocities on people of Baluchistan and PoK, saying that they have thanked him for doing so. Though Modi did not make any reference to Kashmir Valley, which is witnessing violence after the killing of Hizbul Commander Burhan Wani, he accused Pakistan of glorifying terrorists and celebrating killings in India. Pakistans Finance Ministry in a recent statement had said the country would play the role of a "good host" and try to keep the overall ambiance positive. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation. Its member states include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. PTI DP NKD CS ABK --- ENDS --- By Ruffin Prevost CODY, Wyo. (Reuters) - Burning trees and thick smoke from a large Wyoming wildfire have prompted authorities to close the main connecting road between the south end of Yellowstone National Park and the northern border of Grand Teton National Park. The closure order, which was made earlier this week and remained in effect on Wednesday, means throngs of peak summer season vacationers will have to make a detour of at least 150 miles (241 km) to move between the neighboring parks. Officials in Grand Teton closed U.S. Highway 89 because of active burning in trees along the roadside and heavy smoke from the so-called Berry Fire, which officials said was sparked by lightning on July 25 and has grown to cover some 6,800 acres (2,751 hectares). The fire led to the closure of the south gate to Yellowstone, which last month saw an average of more than 2,400 vehicles each day carrying visitors between the two parks. Four other entrances into the park remain open. Three Grand Teton trails, a campground and a lodging complex near the fire have also been closed, a move that could last several days, depending on fire activity, weather and other factors, fire officials said. Traffic is being rerouted to West Yellowstone, where crews are working to contain the so-called Maple Fire, which has burned more than 27,000 acres (10,926 hectares) and moved to within four miles of the town of West Yellowstone, Montana. The west gate remains open, and firefighters say they are confident they can prevent the Maple Fire from reaching the road between West Yellowstone, the park's busiest entrance, and the Old Faithful geyser, the most popular attraction at the national park. Despite the complications, traffic entering the west gate was moving smoothly and without delay on Wednesday afternoon. The Maple Fire, along with two other fires burning in more remote areas of Yellowstone, were all caused by lightning, and are burning in timber and undergrowth primed by a dry spring and summer. Many fires in the 2.2 million acre (890,308 hectares) Yellowstone National Park are allowed to largely burn themselves out, so long as they do not threaten buildings, roads or developed areas. The blazes come at the height of the summer tourist season and as officials in both parks prepare for celebrations set for Thursday marking the 100th anniversary of the creation of the National Park Service. (Reporting by Ruffin Prevost in Cody, Wyoming; Editing by Curtis Skinner and Bill Rigby) From Cosmopolitan A 27-year-old woman in Chester, South Carolina, was arrested and charged with homicide by child abuse Monday after allegedly putting her 4-day-old son in her home's refrigerator for several hours. According to an autopsy, the child died from hypothermia and asphyxiation. Authorities say Angela Blackwell placed her infant son, William David Blackwell, in the refrigerator, and shut the door for three hours before removing him and calling for help Feb. 27. The infant was pronounced dead at the hospital, although they "initially detected a faint heartbeat," WSOC reports. At the time of the incident, there were several other people present at Angela Blackwell's home, which led to a lengthy investigation in order to ensure the boy's mother was the most viable suspect. The deceased infant's father, however, still believes she is innocent. "She's a good mother," Jeff Lewis told Channel 9. "I think it's all bullshit. She didn't hurt the child. She didn't do nothing to cause it to die." Blackwell is currently being held at Chester County Jail. On Tuesday, she was denied bail. If convicted, she faces 20 years to life in prison. Additional reporting from the Associated Press. Follow Gina on Twitter. The Hawaii woman once suspected of killing her twin sister pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to multiple charges in connection to a drunken driving arrest in upstate New York, authorities said. Alexandria Duval, 37, appeared in Stamford Town Court one week after she allegedly came close to hitting a New York State Police investigators vehicle as she swerved on State Route 23. After being pulled over as she drove onto Main Street in the Village of Stamford, Duval took a breathalyzer test that showed she had a blood alcohol content of 0.26 more than three times the legal limit, police said. She was not wearing a seat belt and refused to be fingerprinted, photographed, or say where she lives, cops said. Read: Woman Once Suspected of Killing Twin Busted for DWI After Nearly Striking Cop Car: Police Duval pleaded not guilty to aggravated driving while intoxicated, obstruction of justice and numerous traffic violations. A judge approved tripling Duvals bail from $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond to $15,000 cash or $30,000 bond after authorities learned a warrant was out for the former yoga instructors arrest following a DWI charge in Summit County, Utah. Duval allegedly paid her bail in that case and then fled the state, Delaware County Assistant District Attorney John Hubbard told WBNG. Duval made headlines in May when the Ford Explorer she was driving on Mauis Hana Highway slammed into a rock wall and plummeted 200 feet to a rocky shoreline below the road, killing her twin sister, Anastasia, who was sitting in the passenger seat. Witnesses claimed the two women had been violently arguing before the car careened off the road. Investigators alleged Duval deliberately caused her sisters death and she was charged with second-degree murder. A judge later ordered her release due to a lack of evidence. Read: Money Troubles and Anger Issues May Have Led Woman to Kill Twin Sister - 'They Had a Rage Problem' Prosecutors in Hawaii said they planned to search for further evidence in the case. Story continues The twins did most things together including running two successful Twin Power yoga studios in Palm Beach County, Florida from 2008 to 2014 but were reportedly often at odds. They had a rage problem, an anger problem [and] were arrested several times with anger incidents involving even the police, gossip columnist Jose Lambiet told Inside Edition at the time. Duval, who suffered injuries in the crash, returned to her hometown in upstate New York to recover. She remained in Delaware County Jail on Wednesday. She is next expected in court on August 30. Watch: Woman Once Suspected Of Killing Her Identical Twin Sister Is Now Busetd for DWI Related Articles: The documentary Three Days in Auschwitz, produced by filmmaker Philippe Mora and musician Eric Clapton, has been set for a Sept. 9 release in North America by Vision Films, Variety has learned exclusively. Australian filmmaker Mora was a second-generation holocaust survivor who lost eight members of his family at Auschwitz. For many years, he was unaware of the role his father played in the French Resistance and the story of how his mother had evaded certain death at Auschwitz. In the film, Mora traces the people who lived through the horrors of concentration camps and discovers how his own life might have been ended before he was even born. Clapton co-produced, composed and performed the original score, which is not available for sale and can only be heard by viewing the film. I thought it better to make a very personal film so that people could relate to it rather than try to make an objective documentary, which would have been impossible, Mora said. Moras credits include Howling II & III, Death of a Soldier, Brother Can You Spare A Dime, Swastika and Mad Dog Morgan. Three Days in Auschwitz will be released in about a dozen markets on Sept. 9 along with a VOD and DVD release. The screening events will also include a selection of short film segments from Moras other films on the subject, Monsieur Mayonnaise and German Sons and a Q&A. Related stories Blues Legend B.B. King Dies at 89 A Farewell to the Soul of Cream, Jack Bruce Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Score First No. 1 Album with 'Hypnotic Eye' London (AFP) - The world's largest aircraft suffered cockpit damage on Wednesday after nosediving while landing on its second test flight, but there were no injuries, according to the craft's manufacturer. The 92-metre-long Airlander 10, part helicopter and part airship, came down at Cardington Airfield in Bedfordshire, south east England. "Airlander sustained damage on landing during today's flight," said Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV). "All crew are safe and well and there are no injuries." Amateur footage of the landing showed the craft suddenly pitching forward and landing on its cockpit, which was visibly damaged. An eyewitness quoted by the BBC said that a line hanging down from the plane "hit the telegraph pole about two fields away," but Hybrid Air Vehicles later said that "no damage was sustained mid-air or as a result of a telegraph pole as reported." The aircraft was initially developed by the US government as a surveillance vehicle, but production was shelved as part of government cutbacks. HAV launched a campaign to get the aircraft in the skies, and the Airlander 10 made its first test flight from the airfield on August 17 following a 25 million ($33 million, 29.4 million euros) overhaul. HAV hopes to have the craft in production by 2021, saying that it could be used for surveillance, communications and potentially passenger travel. NAIROBI (Reuters) - The weighted average yield on Kenya's 364-day Treasury bill rose to 11.982 percent in auction on Wednesday from 11.865 percent last week, the central bank said. The yield of the six-month bill also headed higher to 11.182 percent from 11.020 at last week's sale. The bank raised a combined 13.26 billion shillings ($130.83 million) from the sale of both bills, against a target of 12 billion shillings. Next week, the bank will sell Treasury bills of all maturities worth a total of 16 billion shillings at two separate auctions, it said. ($1 = 101.3500 Kenyan shillings) (Reporting by Duncan Miriri; editing by Mark Heinrich) (Recasts with New York Times confirming hack attempt) WASHINGTON, Aug 23 (Reuters) - The New York Times said on Tuesday its Moscow bureau was targeted by a cyber attack this month but that there was no evidence the hackers, believed to be Russian, were successful. "We are constantly monitoring our systems with the latest available intelligence and tools," Times spokeswoman Eileen Murphy told the newspaper. "We have seen no evidence that any of our internal systems, including our systems in the Moscow bureau, have been breached or compromised." Earlier on Tuesday, CNN, citing unnamed U.S. officials, reported that the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other U.S. security agencies were investigating cyber breaches targeting reporters at the Times and other U.S. news organizations that were thought to have been carried out by hackers working for Russian intelligence. "Investigators so far believe that Russian intelligence is likely behind the attacks and that Russian hackers are targeting news organizations as part of a broader series of hacks that also have focused on Democratic Party organizations, the officials said," CNN reported. The FBI declined a Reuters' request for comment. Representatives for the U.S. Secret Service, which has a role in protecting the country from cyber crime, did not reply to a request for comment. A government official briefed on the inquiry told the Times the FBI was looking into the attempted cyber attack but was not carrying out similar investigations at other news organizations. The Times had not hired outside firms to investigate the attempted intrusion, contrary to the CNN report, Murphy said. News of the cyber attack comes amid a wave of similar attacks targeting major U.S. political parties that have surfaced in recent weeks ahead of the Nov. 8 presidential election. The Democratic National Committee, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's campaign and the party's congressional fundraising committee have all been affected. Story continues Hackers have also targeted the computer systems of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Republican Party organizations, sources have told Reuters. A breach at the Times would not be the first time foreign hackers infiltrated a news organization. Media are frequently targeted in order to glean insights into U.S. policies or to spy on journalists. In 2013, a group of hackers known as the Syrian Electronic Army attacked the Times and other media outlets. Chinese attackers also infiltrated the Times that year. (Reporting by Dustin Volz, John Walcott, Mohammad Zargham and Eric Walsh in Washington, and Jessica Toonkel in New York; Writing by Susan Heavey and Eric Walsh; Editing by Frances Kerry and Peter Cooney) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The New York Times said on Tuesday its Moscow bureau was targeted by a cyber attack this month but that there was no evidence the hackers, believed to be Russian, were successful. "We are constantly monitoring our systems with the latest available intelligence and tools," Times spokeswoman Eileen Murphy told the newspaper. "We have seen no evidence that any of our internal systems, including our systems in the Moscow bureau, have been breached or compromised." Earlier on Tuesday, CNN, citing unnamed U.S. officials, reported that the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other U.S. security agencies were investigating cyber breaches targeting reporters at the Times and other U.S. news organizations that were thought to have been carried out by hackers working for Russian intelligence. "Investigators so far believe that Russian intelligence is likely behind the attacks and that Russian hackers are targeting news organizations as part of a broader series of hacks that also have focused on Democratic Party organizations, the officials said," CNN reported. The FBI declined a Reuters' request for comment. Representatives for the U.S. Secret Service, which has a role in protecting the country from cyber crime, did not reply to a request for comment. A government official briefed on the inquiry told the Times the FBI was looking into the attempted cyber attack but was not carrying out similar investigations at other news organizations. The Times had not hired outside firms to investigate the attempted intrusion, contrary to the CNN report, Murphy said. News of the cyber attack comes amid a wave of similar attacks targeting major U.S. political parties that have surfaced in recent weeks ahead of the Nov. 8 presidential election. The Democratic National Committee, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's campaign and the party's congressional fundraising committee have all been affected. Hackers have also targeted the computer systems of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Republican Party organizations, sources have told Reuters. Story continues A breach at the Times would not be the first time foreign hackers infiltrated a news organization. Media are frequently targeted in order to glean insights into U.S. policies or to spy on journalists. In 2013, a group of hackers known as the Syrian Electronic Army attacked the Times and other media outlets. Chinese attackers also infiltrated the Times that year. (Reporting by Dustin Volz, John Walcott, Mohammad Zargham and Eric Walsh in Washington, and Jessica Toonkel in New York; Writing by Susan Heavey and Eric Walsh; Editing by Frances Kerry and Peter Cooney) By PTI: New Delhi, Aug 24 (PTI) Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone, who herself battled depression, has joined hands with the Indian Psychiatric Society as its brand ambassador to spread awareness about mental health and help reduce the stigma associated with its ailments. The Society, founded in 1947, today said it recently entered into a partnership with Deepikas Bengaluru-based non-profit foundation, the Live Love Laugh Foundation (TLLLF), and they would jointly develop outreach programmes to highlight the urgent mental health challenges that India faces. advertisement "Mental health of Indian citizens is a large and growing challenge for the country and the more resources we have to combat this issue, the better the chances that those who need help can secure the support they need. "The Live Love Laugh Foundation and Indian Psychiatric Society have a shared vision to make mental health a priority for the government and for society at large. I am very pleased to support the activities of the Indian Psychiatric Society in my role as their brand ambassador," Deepika said. She has offered her support on "pro bono basis", the foundation quoted her as saying in a statement. The 30-year-old actress has been vocal about her struggle with mental anxiety and depression a few years ago, and last year had shared the experiences with media. "We needed a person who could advocate the issues associated with mental health especially the stigma, and we are happy that Deepika has agreed to become our brand ambassador, which would help take the Societys mission forward, ie to spread awareness and reduce societal stigma," Indian Psychiatric Society President Dr G Prasad Rao told PTI. "As per a latest published study, in India, about 5 per cent of the total population suffers from major or minor depression, 2-2.5 per cent from bipolar disorder and about 1 per cent from schizophrenia, while 15 per cent are suffering from mental anxiety disorder," Rao said. He said that as part of the agreement with TLLLF, the Indian Psychiatric Society will assist it in the nationwide roll-out of a sensitisation program on mental health for doctors called Together Against Depression. "The programme, conducted in collaboration with the Indian Medical Association, commenced in May with a webinar for doctors, from various specialities, and had nearly 2,000 participating doctors. The aim is to expand it to 5,000 doctors, by the end of this financial year," he said. Rao said "most of the psychiatric disorders are found in the adolescent age group, and we hope Deepikas presence would give a boost to our drive". advertisement India is home to the largest number of mental health patients in the world with at least 50 million Indians estimated to be undergoing depression at any one point in time, Rao claimed. PTI KND RT TRK --- ENDS --- WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The New York Times said on Tuesday its Moscow bureau was targeted by a cyber attack this month but that there was no evidence the hackers, believed to be Russian, were successful. "We are constantly monitoring our systems with the latest available intelligence and tools," Times spokeswoman Eileen Murphy told the newspaper. "We have seen no evidence that any of our internal systems, including our systems in the Moscow bureau, have been breached or compromised." Earlier on Tuesday, CNN, citing unnamed U.S. officials, reported that the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other U.S. security agencies were investigating cyber breaches targeting reporters at the Times and other U.S. news organizations that were thought to have been carried out by hackers working for Russian intelligence. "Investigators so far believe that Russian intelligence is likely behind the attacks and that Russian hackers are targeting news organizations as part of a broader series of hacks that also have focused on Democratic Party organizations, the officials said," CNN reported. The FBI declined a Reuters' request for comment. Representatives for the U.S. Secret Service, which has a role in protecting the country from cyber crime, did not reply to a request for comment. A government official briefed on the inquiry told the Times the FBI was looking into the attempted cyber attack but was not carrying out similar investigations at other news organizations. The Times had not hired outside firms to investigate the attempted intrusion, contrary to the CNN report, Murphy said. News of the cyber attack comes amid a wave of similar attacks targeting major U.S. political parties that have surfaced in recent weeks ahead of the Nov. 8 presidential election. The Democratic National Committee, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's campaign and the party's congressional fundraising committee have all been affected. Hackers have also targeted the computer systems of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Republican Party organizations, sources have told Reuters. A breach at the Times would not be the first time foreign hackers infiltrated a news organization. Media are frequently targeted in order to glean insights into U.S. policies or to spy on journalists. In 2013, a group of hackers known as the Syrian Electronic Army attacked the Times and other media outlets. Chinese attackers also infiltrated the Times that year. (Reporting by Dustin Volz, John Walcott, Mohammad Zargham and Eric Walsh in Washington, and Jessica Toonkel in New York; Writing by Susan Heavey and Eric Walsh; Editing by Frances Kerry and Peter Cooney) For Immediate Release Chicago, IL August 24, 2016 Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM), Chevron Corp. (CVX), Hess Corp. (HES), Continental Resources Inc. ( CLR) and Valero Energy Corp. (VLO). Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free. Here are highlights from Tuesdays Analyst Blog: Oil & Gas Stock Roundup It was a week which saw oil prices rise to their highest level since Jun 22. But natural gas futures barely moved. On the news front, oil giants Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM ), Chevron Corp. (CVX) and Hess Corp. (HES) have joined forces to bid for deepwater drilling rights in Mexico. Overall, it was a mixed week for the sector. While West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures jumped 9.1% to close at $48.52 per barrel, natural gas prices remained essentially unmoved to end the week at $2.584 per million Btu (MMBtu). (See the last Oil & Gas Stock Roundup here: Petrobras Q2 Earnings Plummet, Suncor Buys North Sea Project Stake .) Oil prices logged its largest weekly gain in five months on expectations of a production freeze from the 14-member OPEC bloc and Russia. Things further brightened with the release of U.S. Energy Department's report showing big drawdowns in domestic crude and gasoline stocks. A weaker dollar that made the greenback-priced crude cheap for investors holding foreign currency provided further support. Oils-Energy Sector Price Index Natural gas, on the other hand, could not make much headway and stayed flat despite a smaller-than-expected storage addition. This is because with inventories still 14% above the 5-year average for this time of year, the market remains oversupplied. Story continues Recap of the Weeks Most Important Stories 1. Oil majors Exxon Mobil Corp., Chevron Corp. and Hess Corp. have joined forces to bid for rights to explore for crude in Mexicos deepwater oil areas, per sources with direct knowledge of the plans. According to the sources, the companies have reached a Joint Operating Agreement that facilitates the consortium to bid for oil production in the 10 areas that will be auctioned on Dec 5. A Joint Operating Agreement is a contract that ascertains the role and obligation of each participant as well as designates the company that will act as the operator of a production area in case it is awarded in the auction. This is the first time since 1938 that foreign crude producers have been allowed to operate in Mexico after the country approved final legislation with respect to the same in 2014. This is an attempt to reverse an 11-year decline in production in the nation. Mexico expects to raise $44 billion through its first-ever sale of deepwater drilling rights in the Gulf of Mexico. (Read more: Exxon Mobil, Hess & Chevron Team Up for Mexican Oil Auction .) 2. Oklahoma-based upstream energy player Continental Resources Inc. ( CLR) declared a definitive purchase and sale agreement with an undisclosed buyer to divest non-strategic assets in Montana and North Dakota. The transaction is valued at $222 million but its completion is dependent on certain adjustments and customary closing conditions. The to-be-sold properties include 68,000 net acres of leasehold located in western Williams County, ND along with 12,000 leasehold acres in Roosevelt County, MT. It is to be noted that those resources have a production capacity of 2,800 barrels of oil equivalent every day. Harold Hamm, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the company revealed that the proceeds will likely help to lower debt and thereby strengthen balance sheet. Most importantly, the divestiture marks the companys third non-strategic property sale this year which helped to draw more than $600 million in proceeds. (Read more: Continental Resources to Divest Non-Strategic Assets Again .) 3. Downstream operator Valero Energy Corp.s (VLO) board of directors has approved its partnership Valero Energy Partners L.P. to acquire the Meraux and Three Rivers Terminal Services Business from one of the companys subsidiaries. The transaction is valued at about $325 million and is expected to close on Sep 1. Per estimations, the business to be purchased by the partnership will contribute about $25 million of net income and about $39 million of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) within the first year of operation. The proposed acquisition comprises terminals that support Valeros Meraux and Three Rivers refineries. The Meraux assets include 24 tanks with a storage capacity of 3.9 million barrels for crude oil, intermediates, and refined petroleum products. The Three Rivers assets consist of 62 tanks with a storage capacity of 2.25 million barrels for crude oil, intermediates, and refined petroleum products. 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 >> Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free. About Zacks Equity Research Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term. Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons. Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter provides highlights of the latest analysis from Zacks Equity Research. Subscribe to this free newsletter today. About Zacks Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978. The later formation of the Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock picking system; continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment Research is through our free daily email newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Register for your free subscription to Profit from the Pros. Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zacksresearch Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates. Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@zacks.com https://www.zacks.com Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. 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 EXXON MOBIL CRP (XOM): Free Stock Analysis Report CHEVRON CORP (CVX): Free Stock Analysis Report HESS CORP (HES): Free Stock Analysis Report CONTL RESOURCES (CLR): Free Stock Analysis Report VALERO ENERGY (VLO): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. For Immediate Release Chicago, IL August 24, 2016 - Stocks in this weeks article include: Commercial Vehicle Group Inc. (CVGI), Boise Cascade Company (BCC), Datalink Corporation (DTLK), DXP Enterprises, Inc. ( DXPE) and Global Brass & Copper Holdings, Inc. (BRSS). Screen of the Week of Zacks Investment Research: Top 5 Stocks That Brokers Favor Right Now Broker ratings are often the driving force behind a stocks performance. This is because, its not easy for an individual investor to identify the underlying factors that could help or hurt a stock. And the perception that brokers being the specialists have the knowhow leads individual investors following them. So, adding broker rating upgrades to ones stock screening criteria could optimize returns. For an individual investor, identifying a stocks driving force is akin to searching for a needle in a haystack. This is where the role of broker ratings comes in handy. Of the three types of brokers/analysts (sell-side, buy-side and independent) present in the investment world, sell-side analysts are most common. Various brokerage firms employ them to provide unbiased opinion to investors after thorough research. Buy-side analysts are employed by hedge funds, mutual funds etc. while the independent ones simply sell their reports to investors. Brokers, not only scrutinize the publicly available financial documents, but also attend company conference calls and other presentations. Naturally, it is in the best interest of investors to pay heed to such well-researched information as they aim to generate maximum returns from their portfolio. Earnings Estimate Revisions Since brokers arrive at their recommendation (buy, sell or hold) on a stock after thoroughly analyzing the nitty-gritties associated with the company, it is natural that for investors to be guided by the direction of estimate revisions while deciding their course of action on a particular stock. The estimate revisions serve as an important pointer regarding the price of a stock. In fact, a rating upgrade generally leads to stock price appreciation. Similarly, the price of a stock may plummet following a rating downgrade. Story continues One of the well-accepted winning strategies is to maintain a diversified portfolio to generate handsome returns irrespective of the surrounding market conditions. For example, in a regime of extremely low oil prices, analysts become bullish on airline stocks and consequently raise estimates. Naturally, adding such stocks to ones portfolio in such a scenario might prove to be a winning strategy. Similarly, analysts might trim estimates and downgrade a stock following some adverse events like lackluster earnings performance or pipeline failure (for a biotech player). Naturally, investors would look to off load such stocks from their portfolio based on brokers stance. Making the Most of What Analysts Say We have designed a screen to shortlist stocks based on improving analyst recommendation and upward revisions to earnings estimates over the last four weeks. Also, since the price/sales ratio is a strong complementary valuation metric in the presence of analyst information, it has also been included. The price/sales ratio takes care of the companys top line thereby making the strategy foolproof. Screening Criteria # (Up- Down Rating)/ Total (4 weeks) =Top #75 (This gives the list of top 75 companies that have witnessed net upgrades over the last 4 weeks). % change in Q (1) est. (4 weeks) = Top #10 (This gives the top 10 stocks that have witnessed earnings estimate revisions over the past 4 weeks for the upcoming quarter). We have also added the following screening parameters to ensure that the strategy is a winning one: Price-to-Sales = Bot%10 (The lower the ratio the better, companies meeting this criteria are in bottom 10% of our universe of over 7,700 stocks with respect to this ratio). Price greater than 5 (as a stock trading below $5 will not likely create significant interest for most of the investors). Average Daily Volume greater than 100,000 shares over the last 20 trading days (Volume has to be significant to ensure that these are easily traded). Market value ($ mil) = Top #3000 (This gives us stocks that are the top 3000 in terms of market capitalization). Com/ADR/Canadian= Com (This takes out the ADR and Canadian stocks). Here are five of the 10 stocks that made it through the screen: Commercial Vehicle Group Inc. (CVGI), based in New Albany, Ohio, provides interior systems, vision safety solutions, and other services to the commercial vehicle industry. The company has delivered massive earnings surprises (in excess of 100%) in each of the last two quarters. The 2016 Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings has increased 61.5% to 21 cents per share over the last 60 days. Boise Cascade Company (BCC), based in Boise, ID, operates as a wood products manufacturer and building materials distributor. The company has an impressive track with respect to earnings, having surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the last four quarters by an average in excess of 100%. Datalink Corporation (DTLK) , based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, is a provider of data center services and solutions. The companys expected earnings growth rate, over the next 3-5 years, is well over 100%. The 2016 Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings has increased 22.6% to 38 cents per share over the last 60 days. DXP Enterprises, Inc. (DXPE), based in Houston, Texas, engages in distributing, maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) products, equipment, and services to industrial customers in the U.S. The company has surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the last four quarters. The 2016 Zacks Consensus Estimate has improved significantly over the 60 days and currently hints at an earnings of 30 cents per share compared with a loss of 38 cents 2 months ago. Global Brass & Copper Holdings, Inc. (BRSS): The company, based in Schaumburg, IL, is a converter, fabricator, distributor and processor of copper and brass products primarily in North America. The company also engages in metal melting and casting, rolling, drawing, extruding and stamping to fabricate finished and semi-finished alloy products. The 2016 Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings has increased 4.2% to $2.24 per share over the last 60 days. The companys 2016 earnings are projected to grow at 8%, which compares favorably to the industry average of a loss of 1.6%. You can get the rest of the stocks on this list by signing up now for your 2-week free trial to the Research Wizard and start using this screen in your own trading. Further, you can also create your own strategies and test them first before taking the investment plunge. The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your Research Wizard trial today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in, and see what gems come out. Click here to sign up for a free trial to the Research Wizard today . Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. Disclosure: Performance information for Zacks portfolios and strategies are available at: https://www.zacks.com/performance. Zacks Restaurant Recommendations: In addition to dining at these special places, you can feast on their stock shares. A Zacks Special Report spotlights 5 recent IPOs to watch plus 2 stocks that offer immediate promise in a booming sector. Download it free Sign up now for your free trial today and start picking better stocks immediately. And with the backtesting feature, you can test your ideas to see how you can improve your trading in both up markets and down markets. Dont wait for the market to get better before you decide to do better. Start learning how to be a better trader today: https://at.zacks.com/?id=111 Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. About Screen of the Week Zacks.com created the first and best screening system on the web earning the distinction as the "#1 site for screening stocks" by Money Magazine. But powerful screening tools is just the start. That is why Zacks created the Screen of the Week to highlight profitable stock picking strategies that investors can actively use. Each week, Zacks Profit from the Pros free email newsletter shares a new screening strategy. Learn more about it here https://at.zacks.com/?id=112 About Zacks Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978. The later formation of the Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock picking system; continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment Research is through our free daily email newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Click here for your free subscription to Profit from the Pros. Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zacksresearch Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZacksInvestmentResearch Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates. Contact: Jim Giaquinto Company: Zacks.com Phone: 312-265-9268 Email: pr@zacks.com Visit: https://www.zacks.com/performance Zacks.com provides investment resources and informs you of these resources, which you may choose to use in making your own investment decisions. Zacks is providing information on this resource to you subject to the Zacks "Terms and Conditions of Service" disclaimer. www.zacks.com/disclaimer . Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. 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 COMML VEHICLE (CVGI): Free Stock Analysis Report BOISE CASCADE (BCC): Free Stock Analysis Report DATALINK CORP (DTLK): Free Stock Analysis Report DXP ENTERPRISES (DXPE): Free Stock Analysis Report GLOBAL B&C HLD (BRSS): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. For Immediate Release Chicago, IL August 24, 2016 Zacks Market Edge is a podcast hosted weekly by Zacks Stock Strategist Tracey Ryniec. Every week, Tracey will be joined by guests to discuss the hottest investing topics in stocks, bonds and ETFs and how it impacts your life. To listen to the podcast, click here: ( https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/229056/time-to-take-a-chance-on-the-fertilizer-stocks ) Time to Take a Chance on Fertilizer Stocks? Welcome to Episode #46 of the Zacks Market Edge Podcast. Every week, host and Zacks stock strategist, Tracey Ryniec, will be joined by guests to discuss the hottest investing topics in stocks, bonds and ETFs and how it impacts your life. In this episode, Tracey is joined by Jeremy Mullin, editor of Zacks Counterstrike portfolio service. Tracey and Jeremy have covered commodities and commodity stocks several times on the Market Edge but this week they cover one of the most beaten down areas in the commodity sector: the fertilizer stocks. Remember those stocks? Investors have abandoned this industry over the last several years as the prices of the fertilizers have plunged. Combined with the downturn in farming, and with farming incomes, and it has been a tough couple of years for this industry. But is there some hope heading into the second half of 2016 and into 2017? And are the stocks now undervalued? Tracey and Jeremy take a look at the big, pure fertilizer plays in the United States and Canada. Outlook for the Industry Giants 1. CF Industries (CF): Nitrogen producer. Earnings will be down 66% in 2016. 2. Mosaic (MOS): Worlds largest supplier of phosphates and potash. Earnings expected to plunge 81% this year. 3. Potash (POT): Large potash producer. Earnings forecast to decline 63% in 2016. All three companies pay a dividend and the yields are high. Tracey and Jeremy discuss how safe these dividends are and talk about which company has already cut its dividend not just once, but twice. Story continues Additionally, the agribusiness companies, such as Agrium (AGU) and The Andersons (ANDE) which also produce fertilizers, are also feeling the pain. But does their diverse business model help them to ride out the storm? Fertilizers used to be Wall Street darlings. Tune in to this weeks podcast to find out if they can get back to that place again. Tracey Ryniec is the Value Stock Strategist for Zacks.com. She is also the Editor of theInsider Trader andValue Investor services. You can follow her on twitter at@TraceyRyniec and she also hosts the Zacks Market Edge Podcast on iTunes. About Zacks Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978. The later formation of the Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock picking system; continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment Research is through our free daily email newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Click here for your free subscription to Profit from the Pros. Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zacksresearch Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates. Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@zacks.com https://www.zacks.com/performance Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. 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 CF INDUS HLDGS (CF): Free Stock Analysis Report MOSAIC CO/THE (MOS): Free Stock Analysis Report POTASH SASK (POT): Free Stock Analysis Report AGRIUM INC (AGU): Free Stock Analysis Report ANDERSONS INC (ANDE): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Harare (AFP) - Zimbabwe police on Wednesday fired teargas and water cannon and beat up opposition activists protesting against police brutality, witnesses said. According to an AFP photographer at the scene, around 200 supporters of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) clashed with police who tried to stop the march. "Violence broke out when people retaliated to police beatings by throwing stones at riot police," said an eyewitness who did not want to be named. "I saw police beating protesters and firing teargas and water canons." An AFP photographer saw two police cars being torched. Another car belonging to the national broadcaster, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, was also burned. Police in Zimbabwe often use force to break up protests, beating up civilians and journalists covering demonstrations. On Wednesday, one journalist was injured after being beaten up by police. Zimbabwe has seen an increase in violent protests over the past weeks, with demonstrators calling on veteran President Robert Mugabe to step down. Mugabe, who has been in power since 1980, has overseen an economic collapse that has caused food and cash shortages, with the country battling to pay public servants. A major strike last month spearheaded by an online "ThisFlag" movement led by pastor Evan Mawarire shut down businesses, as protesters voice anger of the economic crisis. On Wednesday, the state-owned Herald newspaper reported that 8,000 jobs would be cut in the agriculture ministry, alongside a freeze in recruitment and promotions of government employees. The lay-offs are like to fuel discontent among a population battling high unemployment and poverty. Zimbabwe spends at least 80 percent of its revenues on state workers' wages, according to officials, while about 90 percent of the population has no formal employment. From Good Housekeeping A breast cancer patient undergoing radiation treatment at a hospital was beaten to death as she sat outside her hotel room, WLS-TV reports. The killing of Shannon Vincel, 46, was seemingly random, and police are still scrambling to find a suspect or a motive in her death. Vincel, who lived in Springfield, Missouri, had traveled to Zion, Illinois to be treated at the Cancer Treatment Center of America, a trip she made every two weeks. According to KSDK-TV, she was waiting for a shuttle bus to take her to a nearby treatment center late Monday night alongside another patient. Then, all of a sudden, a man dressed in dark clothing approached, started hitting Vincel on the head with an unknown object, and then ran off, the Associated Press reports. She was taken to the hospital with a severe head injury, and her family took her off life support. Police are investigating the case, and are looking at surveillance video and interviewing fellow residents at the hospital. Her family said it was not a robbery, and police reportedly do not have any leads. The Cancer Treatment Centers of America is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for her death. They also released the following statement: "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the victim involved in the tragic incident outside of Guest Quarters West, one of our hotel accommodations located at 1911 27th Street, Zion, Ill. We continue to support the ongoing investigation of the Zion Police Department in support of the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force. Our number one priority remains the safety and wellbeing of our patients, guests and employees." Vincel's mother said that her daughter was staying optimistic through her treatments and was excited to get her life back to normal. She had already finished chemotherapy and was in the middle of radiation treatments. "She certainly was looking forward to being Shannon again," Anita Adam, 86, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "She'd lost all her hair, but she dealt with it so well. She just accepted it: 'This is what I've been dealt, I'm going to take care of it and get better. She was a girl unto herself." Story continues Matt Pylant, a friend of Vincel's from college, remembers her as a "free spirit" who was always smiling and singing. "I am trying not to be enraged, because as odd as it sounds, Shannon was a kind person and would want to know 'why' instead of seeking immediate revenge," he told GoodHousekeeping.com. "I hope she knows how much she meant to me. And I hope they catch the piece of garbage that did this for, what? A purse? An iPhone?" A funeral will be held today at St. Clement of Rome Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family is asking for donations to the Opera Theatre of St. Louis or Stray Rescue in St. Louis. If you have any information about the killing, you're encouraged to call police at (847) 872-8000 or Lake County Crime Stoppers at (847) 662-2222. Stephanie Shore Fisher contributed reporting to this piece. From Delish We already knew that Starbucks drinks around the world put American frappuccinos to shame. There's the amazing orange-honeycomb frapp in Indonesia and the lemon meringue frapp from the U.K. But there's a brand new international drink that's going viral on social media because it tastes exactly like the dessert that inspired it. It's the cinnamon-y churro frappuccino and it's only available in Latin America. Most Starbucks fans that have gotten their hands on the coveted drink have done so in Mexico-and have professed their love obsession on Twitter and Instagram. @Starbucks #MexicoCity Churro flavored Frappuccino! Maybe the most delicious beverage of all time! pic.twitter.com/miGT9Jq1DG - Sam Adonis (@SamElias89) July 12, 2016 Why does the churro frapp not exist in the US?! pic.twitter.com/mYENblGAoW - Alyssa (@alyssaxponce) July 10, 2016 Great question, Alyssa. If you ask us, this drink should be available at Starbucks locations worldwide. Because yes, it's that good. But we have some good news: We figured out how to hack this frapp so you can order it no matter what country you're in. Here's the secret behind the coveted churro frappuccino: Order a vanilla bean frappuccino with pumps of cinnamon dolce syrup and white mocha syrup-plus powdered cinnamon-blended into it. Ask for whipped cream with both a caramel drizzle on top and a dusting of cinnamon. Instagram it and tag #churrofrappuccino. Because obviously. There are other ways to jazz up this frappuccino if your location happens to be stocked with extra ingredients. Starbucks Melody suggests getting the cinnamon ribbon crunch blended into the vanilla bean as well and also asking for cinnamon dolce sprinkles on top instead of straight powdered cinnamon. Story continues Oh, and just so you know, you might get handed a cup with what looks like a convoluted math equation scrawled on it. Photo credit: Rheanna O'Neil Bellomo Follow Delish on Instagram. Violent extremist and hate groups continue to get their materials posted onto social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, despite strong efforts to block it, a US Senate panel was told (AFP Photo/TOBIAS SCHWARZ) London (AFP) - Facebook, Twitter and Google are not doing enough to prevent their social networks from being used by extremists for a recruitment drive, a panel of British MPs said Thursday. Failure to act would lead to the sites becoming "the 'Wild West' of the internet," the Home Affairs Committee warned. The companies defended themselves against claims that they were failing in their duty. The report was published after the number of counter-terrorism arrests in Britain increased 35 percent between 2010 and 2015, although the country has not seen a mass casualty extremist attack since 2005's London bombings. An estimated 800 people with links to Britain have travelled to fight in Syria and Iraq. Britain's official international terrorism threat level is currently set at "severe", meaning an attack is considered highly likely. Keith Vaz, a senior MP from the main opposition Labour party who chairs the committee, called the internet "the lifeblood of Daesh and other terrorist groups". Daesh is another term for Islamic State jihadists, also known by the acronyms of ISIS and ISIL. "Huge corporations like Google, Facebook and Twitter with their billion-dollar incomes are consciously failing to target this threat and passing the buck by hiding behind their supranational legal status, despite knowing that their sites are being used by the instigators of terror," Vaz said. The committee added: "These companies have teams of only a few hundred employees to monitor networks of billions of accounts and Twitter does not even proactively report extremist content to law enforcement agencies. "If they continue to fail to tackle this issue and allow their platforms to become the 'Wild West' of the internet, it will erode their reputations." A spokesman for YouTube, which is owned by Google, said it would keep working with Britain's government to see what more can be done. Story continues "We remove content that incites violence, terminate accounts run by terrorist organisations and respond to legal requests to remove content that breaks UK law," the spokesman added. Simon Milner of Facebook UK, said: "Terrorists and the support of terrorist activity are not allowed on Facebook and we deal swiftly and robustly with reports of terrorism-related content." Twitter said last week that it had cut off 235,000 accounts in the last six months, raising the overall figure it had suspended to 360,000 since mid-2015. Vaz called for top talent from the video games industry to be recruited to help "counter-terrorist propaganda". The committee also described as "lamentable" the amount of support available to the families of those who travel to fight in Syria and Iraq. It called for the government's controversial Prevent strategy, which aims to address the root causes of extremism in Britain, to be renamed Engage "to remove its already 'toxic' associations in the Muslim community". Critics say Prevent's approach encourages people to view the whole Muslim community with suspicion and risks fuelling Islamophobia. Puneet Anand has confessed to the daring robbery in broad daylight, saying that shortage of money led him to commit the crime. By Tanseem Haider: A Delhi Police special team arrested Puneet Anand from Karala, Delhi. Puneet was an accused in a case of daylight robbery of Rs 80 lakhs at Punjabi Bagh on July 28. POLICE RECEIVES COMPLAINT OF DAYLIGHT ROBBERY On July 28, the police received a complaint from Aman Mittal, an employee of Mayur Sales Corporation. Mittal was on his way to deposit money collected from retail purchasers in the firm's account at ICICI Bank. He, along with another employee, was on a Scooty taking the bag of cash to the bank. advertisement At around 10.30 AM, they were intercepted by four boys on two motorcycles near Punjabi Bagh flyover, forcing them to stop. One of them pointed a pistol at Mittal and another boy took the key out of his Scooty. They then escaped with the bag of money containing Rs 80 lakhs. SPECIAL STAFF TEAM NAB ACCUSED A special staff team was constituted to identify all the robbers and those involved in planning the robbery. They arrested three accused - Ajit, Ashu and Mukesh. Ajit was an employee of the ICICI Bank branch where the money was going to be deposited. Investigations revealed that Susheel, Monty and Puneet were also involved. After committing the robbery, Susheel, Monty and Puneet had absconded from the spot with their share of robbed money. The money was recovered with their arrest. ACCUSED CONFESSES TO CRIME On August 23, a police team saw a young man carrying a black bag trying to hide himself behind the JD Block bus stand in Pitampura. He was identified by the police informer as the accused, Puneet Anand. During interrogation, Anand confessed to committing the robbery along with his friends Mukesh, Susheel and Monty. He had to resort to the crime due to shortage of money, he said. --- ENDS --- Hundreds of Pokemon Go enthusiasts caused a stampede in Taipei on Sunday (August 21) in a rush to 'catch' rare Pokemons. The streets in Beitou were packed with people playing the location-based game and hunting for the virtual monsters through their smartphones. Many rushed to the spot where the characters apparently appeared. "There is Snorlax, Gyarados... Aerodactyl is a bit more common," said one player, naming the characters that caused the commotion. So-called Pokestops are often established in parks, causing many to gather there. "Very cool, I think I have strong ones (Pokemons)," said one young player who was satisfied with the night's outcome. Players in Taiwan have been known to be especially enthusiastic - police have been ramping up fines for playing in traffic while riding a scooter. By Nichola Saminather SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Tencent Holdings Ltd and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd are racing to be crowned Asia's most valuable company as expectations for robust earnings growth push their share prices to record highs. Their surge - both have gained by a third this year - has made them the world's best performing large-cap tech stocks and highlights how these nimble Asian firms are thriving while rivals Apple Inc and Alibaba have struggled. "These companies can grow earnings despite weaker global growth," said Andrew Gillan, head of Asia ex-Japan equities at fund managing firm Henderson Global Investors, which is overweight on Asian technology firms. "The operating fundamentals of the Chinese internet sector particularly have surprised positively in the most recent quarterly results." While many investors remain upbeat about Samsung and Tencent, some caution the firms are vulnerable to rapid swings in sentiment on any sign of slowing momentum. Samsung and Tencent have been more volatile than the Asia tech sector and the broader market this year. On Wednesday, Samsung said sales of its latest flagship smartphone were out-stripping supply, but second-half profits could still take a hit if production shortfalls are not fixed and a recovery in components demand fails to eventuate. Moodys Investor Service also warned that Samsungs profit margins might narrow in the second half because of seasonal factors in the consumer electronics business and competitive pressures. For Tencent, the market expectations that are driving shares higher are themselves a risk, according to Nomura. A faster-than-expected slowdown in personal computer game revenue, aggressive spending and new products or business models from competitors could weigh on earnings, the bank warned. THE NUMBERS Samsung and Tencent have added about $30 billion in market value since Thursday, surging to all-time highs. Tencent is valued at $249 billion, only 4 percent smaller than the most valuable Asian firm, China Mobile, at $259 billion. Samsung is now worth $239 billion. Tencent is now the world's 12th-biggest company by market value and Samsung the 17th-largest, Thomson Reuters data shows. That's up from Nos. 26 and 33 respectively just five months ago, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers ranking released March 31. Samsung shares' have significantly outperformed Apple's - the Korean firm has leapt 50 percent over the past year, while the U.S. company has gained 3 percent amid concern about weak sales in China. The gap between Samsung's price-to-earnings ratio of 12.4 and Apple's 12.7 is now the narrowest since late 2011, although Samsung is still worth less than half the $586 billion Apple, according to Thomson Reuters data. Samsung's share price growth spurt comes after years of struggle in its smartphone business which left investors impatient for higher returns. The firm revived mobile profits by restructuring its product line-up this year and is seeking ways to sustain earnings momentum. Buybacks and higher dividends have also boosted shares. Tencent is significantly more expensive than Samsung. The Chinese internet firm, whose popular WeChat and Weixin messaging apps in China saw active monthly user numbers jump 34 percent in the second quarter, trades at 46.8 times earnings, closing in on Facebook's 59. China's slowest economic growth in 25 years and some questionable acquisitions have clouded the outlook for Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, but Tencent has managed to thrive thanks in part to its focus on rapidly growing mobile gaming. Tencent outshone peers including Baidu with a forecast-beating 47 percent jump in second-quarter profit, after it diversified into areas such as music, video and advertising. HSBC expects further earnings growth, driven by new income streams such as advertising, premium content, cloud services and finance. (Reporting by Nichola Saminather; Additional reporting by Dahee Kim; Editing by Miyoung Kim and Stephen Coates) Master of None co-creator Alan Yang (Credit: Netflix) How did the minds behind Master of None celebrate the acclaimed Netflix comedys four Emmy nominations? With their usual vice of choice: Food. During a recent Facebook Live chat with Yahoo TV, Master of None co-creator Alan Yang revealed that he and his collaborator, star Aziz Ansari, treated the writers and crew to a feast at the renowned New York eatery The Spotted Pig after learning that their show had scored a nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series, as well as nods in the Lead Actor, Directing, and Writing categories. Its just another example of how seriously these two collaborators who first met on the late, great NBC series Parks and Recreation take their eating habits. Its so crazy; during lunch breaks [when were shooting], well be talking about where we might go and Yelping places, Yang says, laughing. Im shocked Im not overweight. Its hard to begrudge them their celebratory chow sessions; during its first season, which is currently streaming on Netflix, Master of None instantly distinguished itself from the cluttered TV comedy landscape by telling thoughtful, hilarious stories that expertly balance cultural specificity and universal appeal. Drawing on its creators shared backgrounds as second-generation immigrants Ansaris India-born parents moved to South Carolina in the early 80s, while Yangs mother and father hailed from Taiwan before emigrating to California the series repeatedly disproves the prevailing Hollywood mindset that a mass (re: predominantly white) audience wont be able to relate to the experiences of characters hailing from different ethnic backgrounds. At the same time, what makes Master of None a particularly effective statement about the importance of diversity on television is that it doesnt go out of its way to make that statement. I dont think it was ever our intent to make a statement, Yang says. Were just doing the stories that are interesting and natural to us. And that, to me, makes a case for putting different people behind the camera. By that very nature, [the message] comes across in the show. You can watch our full interview with Yang below, and scroll down for some other highlights from the conversation. Story continues *One of Master of Nones standout episodes is Parents, which Yang and Ansari wrote together and incorporated their own biographical details into the script. (They share a nomination for Outstanding Writing, and Ansari, who made his directorial debut with that episode, is also an Outstanding Director nominee.) Thats one of the very first episodes we wrote and it broke open what the show could be to us, Yang explains. To make the episode even more of a family affair, Ansari ended up casting his real-life mom and dad as his fictional counterparts parents. While Yangs father didnt make a similar cameo, the details about his hardscrabble life in Taiwan including a time when he was forced to kill his own pet chicken for a family meal are faithfully preserved. That entire flashback is my dads real story, Yang says. L to R: Clem Cheung and Kelvin Yu play the lightly fictionalized versions of Yangs father and Yang in the Parents episode of Master of None (Credit: Netflix) *Real life provided the inspiration for another memorable episode, Nashville, where Ansaris struggling actor, Dev Shah, invites the girl he likes (Noel Wells) on a memorable first date trip to Music City. Thats based on a real story involving one of our writers, Yang reveals. We were there for maybe two days, shooting guerilla style on the streets. Theres also great food there. We ate our faces off! Related: Emmy Talk: Master of None Co-Creators Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang on Parents and Indians on TV *Parks and Recreation marked Yangs first full-time writing gig, and he couldnt have asked for a better introduction to the business. I feel like I won the lottery, he says of that seven season wonder. Aziz and I always say that one of the lessons we learned from that show was to keep it positive [on set]. Being on set was so great; you want to talk about strife and conflict and drama, but honestly I still remember the only problem was that when we had all the actors in a scene together they just wanted to hang out and talk. Which is a great problem to have! Youre like, Hey guys, can you stop being so nice? *Yang and Ansari are making like J.J. Abrams and keeping what they have planned for Season 2 in a tightly shut Mystery Box. I think that one of the things that people enjoyed about Season 1 was that it was unpredictable, so we want to continue that this season, he says. That said, he will let one detail slip: Ansaris parents will be back by popular demand. Azizs dad has been clamoring for another appearance! Season 1 of Master of None is streaming on Netflix. Read more Emmy Talks: Veep Showrunner David Mandel on Season 5s Defining Moments Tony Hale on His Emmy-Nominated Veep Meltdown Rob Corddry and Rob Huebels Emmy-Nominated Scene Breakdowns End in Violence Drunk History Co-Creator Derek Waters Talks Emmy Nom, Teases Season 4s Hamilton and Stshows Episodes The Delhi Police busted two highway truck robberies and arrested three in connection with the same. It was revealed that both the robberies were committed by the same gang in exactly same manner. By Tanseem Haider: Delhi Police Crime Branch finally arrested three interstate highway truck robbers- Trilok Singh, Anil and Ramji Lal- and recovered three mobiles used in the crimes. With their arrest, two cases of highway truck robbery of Delhi have been solved. A reward of Rs 50,000 was declared on their arrest by the Commissioner of Police, Delhi. TWO ROBBERIES- SAME ACCUSED, SIMILAR MANNER advertisement On February 17 this year, one Dilbag Singh, a truck driver, reported that on February 13, he left for Jammu in a truck loaded with utensils and kitchen items worth Rs 8 lakh. In transit, near a petrol pump at Narela, Delhi, while refilling diesel in truck, he met a stranger (accused Trilok) who sought lift on some pretext. he complainant agreed to give him lift. On the way, the stranger offered him some water and after drinking that, the complainant got unconscious and was revived after 4 days, only to find that his truck containing goods had been stolen by the stranger. Again on March 3, one Madan Singh, a truck driver, reported that he left for Himachal Pradesh with a truck loaded with raw material for ceiling fans worth Rs 18 lakh. In transit, near a petrol pump at Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar, Delhi, he met with one stranger (the same accused Trilok) who requested him to give lift in the truck for Baddi, Himachal Pradesh. The driver agreed. They both ate dinner at Murthal, Haryana and after eating, the driver got unconscious. He too woke up to realise that this truck was stolen. NOT JUST ONE PERSON, BUT A GANG During preliminary investigation, it was revealed that a well-organized gang was involved in these crimes and that these criminals were active in Delhi NCR, Rajasthan, Haryana and other northern states of India. Sensing the gravity, a reward of Rs 50,000 was declared by CP, Delhi on these criminals. The police got specific information on August 17 that Trilok, who was involved in the above highway robberies, would come at Dhaula Kuan bus stand to meet his associates to whom he had sold the stolen articles. Acting on the information, a trap was laid and three persons, who were later identified as Trilok Singh, Anil and Ramji Lal, were apprehended. On sustained interrogation, Trilok disclosed that he used to work as a truck driver earlier but he left the job due to low income. advertisement Thereafter, he indulged in criminal activities and started highway truck robberies. GANG HAS A UNIQUE MODUS OPERANDI The gang has a unique modus operandi. Trilok would carefully target a truck destined to other states like Haryana, Himachal and Rajasthan. He would take a lift from the truck driver expressing some urgency. On the way, Trilok would gain the confidence of truck driver and would offer poisonous food/water to the driver. After consuming the same, the driver would fall unconscious. Once that happens, Trilok would drive the loaded truck to Jaipur, Rajasthan with the help of Anil and Ramji Lal (receiver of the robbed articles) and the truck drivers were thrown away in unconscious state at some place in Delhi to deceive investigations. The goods in the truck were unloaded in the godown at Jaipur and the empty truck was left abandoned at distant location. Accused Anil and Ramji Lal after receiving the robbed/stolen articles would further sell the same to one Ramesh, whose godown is in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Also Read: Assam Rifles Commandant or highway robber? How jawans stole Rs 15 crore worth of gold Interstate gang of highway robbers busted --- ENDS --- advertisement By Manjeet Sehgal: July 19 was just another regular day for employees of Shri Dhanvantari Herbals, an Amritsar-based company making Ayurvedic pharmaceutical products. They reached the office in morning, ready to resume their work. But when they switched on their computers, they were in for a shock. The computers were taken over by cyber criminals and all the employees were logged out, with their login details rendered null and void. advertisement Instead of showing the regular login prompt, the computers showed a cryptic message in a foreign language. All that the employees could make out was an email address published under the message. IT engineers of the company were called and they went to work, figuring out what was wrong. They found that the main server of the company was hacked and locked. The company had fallen prey to what a few cyber experts call "digital kidnapping" NEW TO INDIA Although often reported in America and Europe, where private companies have found themselves at the mercy cyber criminals sitting in eastern European or Asian countries, for India - and particular for Punjab - the case is unique. The modus operandi and the aims of these cyber criminals instances are clear. They get into the computers of a company, put in a malware or virus and then lock the data with strong encryption. Their next move is to demand money in lieu of the data that they have captured. Shri Dhanvantari Herbals too soon received the demand for ransom. The cyber criminals wanted the company to pay them using Bitcoins, the digital currency with current exchange rate of around Rs 40,000 for one Bitcoin. This currency, which is moved using P2P channels, leaves little trace and it is almost impossible for most law enforcement agencies to connect senders and receivers of Bitcoins. This is one of the reasons why it is the favourite way to trade for cybercriminals, especially in the dark net. The emails that demand ransom too are sent using several layers of proxies and in some cases even Tor network, which makes it very difficult to trace them. The companies that fall prey to ransomware don't have many options but to pay, especially the smaller companies that do not have skilled IT engineers who can fight off the cyber criminals. The executives of Shri Dhanvantari Herbals made contact with the cyber criminals using the email ID that was provided and they tried to negotiate the ransom amount. However, that was unsuccessful. The cyber criminals refused to budge. SMALL FIRMS, BIG TARGET Although originally these ransomware targeted the financial institutes that not only held more critical data but also had more money to pay. But of late, cyber criminals have started targeting smaller firms, realising that these companies have poor IT security. advertisement According to cyber security firm Kaspersky Lab's IT Security Risks 2016 survey released on August 10, nearly 42 per cent of SMBs fell victim to ransomware in the last 12 months. 34 per cent of these paid the ransom and one in five weren't able to recover their data, even after the demands of cybercriminals were met. The security firm has said that now it was releasing a free tool that may help the victims of ransomware. "In 2015 Kaspersky Lab's solutions protected 443,920 users and corporate customers worldwide from crypto-ransomware, depriving cybercriminals of nearly $53 million in illegal earnings? now we are releasing a free tool that may help businesses guard against this threat," said a Kaspersky Lab spokesperson. CLUELESS COPS Meanwhile the cyber-crime cell of Punjab Police is burning the midnight oil to trace the location of criminals. Chief of Cyber Crime Cell IGP Praveen Kumar Sinha said the police has no solution to tackle the cyber criminals in this case at this stage. "The criminals are probably in a foreign country and it is not easy to break the encryption they are using. The police has registered an FIR and has started the investigations. If necessary the help of Interpol will be taken," said Sinha. advertisement Punjab Police has also contacted the I-T department of the Union government, besides consulting the Mumbai Police and private cyber experts. Cops have also advised people not to go to prohibited websites, download illegal software and click on suspicious advertisements. --- ENDS --- Diya Aur Baati Hum actress Rishina Kandhari intended to beat the heat by taking a dip, but raised temperatures instead with her hot bikini pic. By India Today Web Desk: Rishina Kandhari, who's better known as IPS Arpita Khanna of Diya Aur Baati Hum, recently took a short weekend vacation within Mumbai to beat the killing heat. Since the lady did not have enough time at hand to head to the tranquil beaches of Goa, she decided to take a short water vacation in the city itself. Flaunting her fab body in a hot bikini, Rishina relaxed and enjoyed her time. advertisement Look at the Instagram pic she posted. "After the back-to-back shoots, I had Saturday and Sunday off. Even this small weekend vacation in the city itself was bliss. And yes though its rainy season and the heat is tremendous, I just relaxed and enjoyed myself as if I was on some beach in Goa. I got back to work last evening and the shoot craziness restarts. This small break has been rejuvenating and I am all charged up to shoot nonstop," Rishina told a daily. We must say, it was a good decision Rishina! --- ENDS --- This adorable 9-year-old pooch has won his third term as mayor of Cormorant, Minnesota, in a landslide victory. By India Today Web Desk: Duke, the fluffy little ball of joy, is definitely America's most adorable mayor and he is going places. The 9-year-old Great Pyrenees made national headlines after a landslide victory in Cormorant, Minnesota elections. He has been elected as honorary mayor for the third time in a row. He was first elected in a write-in vote in 2014. advertisement The shaggy white dog won an overwhelming majority in the voting that took place during the annual "Cormorant Daze" festival, a fund raiser annual event. Anyone could pay a dollar and cast a vote. Cormorant resident Karen Nelson says Duke "greets everyone" who comes to the village of about 20 people nestled among lakes about 180 miles northwest of Minneapolis. Duke, already a local celebrity, has also been featured in National Geographic publications and has his own Facebook page. Nelson says the canine mayor also is popular with children. She says Duke "can have 10 kids on him, and he don't care." Check out some of the aww-dorable pictures of the newly elected fluffy town mayor : Photo: AP Photo: AP Photo:Facebook/Duke the Dog Mayor Photo:Facebook/Duke the Dog Mayor ALSO READ: The Arctic knight: Penguin in Norway promoted to brigadier, officers salute Watch: Seal escapes killer whale by jumping onto boat --- ENDS --- Tremors were also felt in parts of eastern India including Ranchi, West Bengal, Guwahati, Tripura, Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. By India Today Web Desk: An earthquake of 6.8 magnitude struck central Myanmar on Wednesday, US Geological Survey (USGS) said, shaking buildings across the country and the region. The quake struck 143 km (88 miles) west of the city of Meiktila at a depth of 84 km (52 miles), the agency said. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. advertisement The quake shook buildings in buildings in Myanmar's biggest city of Yangon and in other towns and cities, witnesses said. Office buildings in the Thai capital of Bangkok, to the east of Myanmar, shook for a few seconds, residents there said. The quake was also felt in Bangladesh, to the west of Myanmar, residents said. TREMORS FELT IN INDIA However, tremors were also felt in parts of eastern India including Ranchi, West Bengal, Guwahati, Tripura, Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. QUAKE IN IN ITALY A powerful earthquake devastated a string of mountainous towns in central Italy on Wednesday, trapping residents under piles of rubble, killing at least 38 people and leaving thousands homeless. The quake struck in the early hours of the morning when most residents were asleep, razing homes and buckling roads in a cluster of communities some 140 km (85 miles) east of Rome. TUESDAY EARTHQUAKE A 5.5-magnitude earthquake in the Myanmar-India border region had rocked Assam, Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya and some other parts of northeast India on Tuesday. But there was no report of major damage, officials said. Seismologists consider India's mountainous northeast region as the sixth major earthquake-prone belt in the world. The northeast has seen some of the biggest quakes in history. In 1897, the Shillong-epicentred quake measured --- ENDS --- Join Simran Rastogi and Dhruv Paliwal, as they embark on a breath-taking drive in a special Maruti Suzuki Ertiga to explore the Seven Wonders of India. After getting done with our photography engagements at Bodh Gaya, we head towards the ruins of Nalanda University. By Dhruv Paliwal: Day 3 For the previous two days, Simran had been behind the wheel in the morning shift while I would take over from him in the second half. Today we decided to reverse things and I started off in the driving seat of the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. (ALSO READ: Exploring Seven Wonders of India in Maruti Suzuki Ertiga- DAY 1) advertisement After getting done with our photography engagements at Bodh Gaya, we head towards the ruins of Nalanda University. Instead of taking the regular highway to Nalanda, we decided to take a shorter route, courtesy of Google Maps. Our risk paid off in spectacular style, as it not only reduced our distance, but we also encountered zilch traffic. The winding dual-carriageway road through the countryside was so good, that Simran sitting beside me jealous at my good fortune. The Archaeological Survey of India has restored the ruins of Nalanda University 3 times in the past #7WondersDrive pic.twitter.com/okCHVyK0fp AUTO TODAY (@AUTOTODAYMAG) August 19, 2016 We reached Nalanda by around 10 in the morning, and after buying the necessary tickets, we headed for the ruins. Again the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga had to be left behind as cars are not allowed beyond the first gate of the historic Nalanda University. By 12 noon, we were done exploring the ruins, and clicked enough pictures, before heading towards Jamshedpur, via NH20. Soon we entered Jharkhand, and the highlight of my day was a 15 km patch of road in the ghats, before entering the town of Barhi. The twisty and turning roads gave me a good opportunity to check out Ertiga's mettle, and the MPV did not let us down. 1500 teachers and 10000 students were once a part of Nalanda University in 5th century AD. #7WondersDrive pic.twitter.com/XvLgf4wVpr AUTO TODAY (@AUTOTODAYMAG) August 19, 2016 What impressed me most was the suspension setup of the car, which is not too soft to allow body roll, and not too hard to make the ride uncomfortable. Maruti Suzuki has hit the sweet spot in this department.(ALSO READ: Exploring Seven Wonders of India in Maruti Suzuki Ertiga- DAY 2) At Barhi, we changed driving duties with Simran taking over the wheel. Post Barhi, we came across a mix of roads throughout the day, with some roads in Bihar having two feet deep potholes. As Simran took over, we hit NH19 and then took NH18 to reach Jamshedpur. Road conditions deteriorated all through the day, and by the time we reached Jamshedpur by midnight, broken roads had become a regular feature. The @Ertigabymaruti visits the Palyul Namdroling monastery in Bodh Gaya, recently inaugurated #7WondersDrive pic.twitter.com/IGoJALyObu AUTO TODAY (@AUTOTODAYMAG) August 19, 2016 advertisement Tomorrow, we head to Konark in Odisha where we visit the third wonder in our list, the Sun Temple with the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. Keep reading for Day 4&5. (ALSO READ: Exploring Seven Wonders of India in Maruti Suzuki Ertiga- DAY 1) (ALSO READ: Exploring Seven Wonders of India in Maruti Suzuki Ertiga- DAY 2) Follow Auto Today on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook to get all the live action as we explore India like never before. Also follow the #7WondersDrive on Twitter to know about our journey. --- ENDS --- The man who created fake Facebook ids to befriend girls and then harassed them has been arrested by the cyber cell of the Delhi police. Akhilesh broke down during interrogation and confessed to have indulged in such activities for the last one and half years. By Tanseem Haider: A man, who created fake Facebook IDs to befriend girls and then harassed and blackmailed them by creating fake Facebook pages in their names, has been arrested. The Cyber cell of the North-West district police apprehended Akhilesh from Bakkarwala, Delhi. A complaint was received at the Maurya Enclave police station where the complainant alleged that her minor daughter was being harassed and blackmailed through Facebook messenger by an unknown person. advertisement WHAT THE COMPLAINT AGAINST AKHILESH SAID The complaint read that the accused also created a fake Facebook page with her daughter's name, mobile number and photograph and an obscene title. A cyber cell team immediately worked through the case with technical assistance and surveillance and tracked down a person named Akhilesh from Bakkarwala. He was arrested on Monday. Akhilesh broke down during interrogation and confessed to have indulged in such activities for the last one-and-half years. He said he had created fake Facebook profiles/pages of many girls and had also harassed few of them. He used different email ids and SIM cards for creating fake ids. A mobile phone containing contact numbers of around 100 girls was recovered. HOW HE WORKED Akhilesh used to create fake profile posing as a girl. He then sent random friend requests through those ids to other girls posing as a common friend. He created the fake ids by using name and pictures from other girls' Facebook id. Once the friend request was accepted, he would send friendly messages and seek personal details of the girl. He would also try to meet those girls. He revealed that he met a few of them, after disclosing his identity. Now, if the friend request was not accepted or meeting did not happen, he would create another fake profile or page of girls and post their pictures and mobile numbers with obscene comments and titles to defame and malign them. He would then blackmail/threaten them on the pretext of putting the girl's fake Facebook profile on school Facebook page or circulate that among her friends. He had even demanded money in some cases. A few of his fake ids were 'Saloni xxx', 'Ridhim.xxx' and 'Badshah King'. Also Read: Karnataka: Girl accuses Facebook friend of raping on pretext of marriage Salem: Morphed Facebook images drive woman to suicide Delhi honey trap: Gang extorted money after luring men to dating sites --- ENDS --- Heavy monsoon rains have caused rivers, including the Ganga and its tributaries, to burst their banks forcing people into relief camps in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. A boy climbs a partially submerged electric pole as he plays with others on the flooded banks of the Ganga, in Allahabad. Photo: Reuters By Reuters: At least 300 people have died and more than six million others have been affected by floods that have submerged villages, washed away crops, destroyed roads and disrupted power and phone lines across eastern and central India. Heavy monsoon rains have caused rivers, including the Ganga and its tributaries, to burst their banks forcing people into relief camps in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. advertisement Government officials in Bihar, which has seen some of the worst flooding this year with almost 120 dead and more than five million affected, said the situation was serious. "The flood waters have engulfed low-lying areas, homes and fields of crops," said Zafar Rakib, a district magistrate of Katihar, one of 24 districts out of Bihar's 38 districts which have been hit by the deluge. An IAF official drops relief material to people affected by floods in Allahabad. Photo: AP RESCUE OPERATIONS ON "We have shifted people to higher ground and they are being provided with cooked rice, clean drinking water, and polythene sheets," he said. In neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, where 43 people have died and over one million are affected, schools were closed in Varanasi and Allahabad as both Ganga and Yamuna crossed danger levels and flood waters continued to rise. Varanasi was also forced to halt cremations along the banks of the Ganga, forcing families to cremate their relatives on the terrace roofs of nearby houses, officials said. Television pictures showed villagers wading waist deep in floodwaters with their livestock, mud-and-brick homes collapsing and people climbing into wooden boats to get to relief camps. People watch from the upper floor of their flooded house in Allahabad. Photo: AP LACK OF FOOD "We are all worried about what we should do. For the last four days we have living like this. We don't even have any food to eat," 42-year-old villager Doda Yadav told a news channel from Ballia district in Uttar Pradesh. In the central state of Madhya Pradesh, where at least 70 have died since the onset of the monsoons in June and more than 40,000 homes partially or fully destroyed, almost 20,000 people have been evacuated to relief camps. Officials said villagers would return home when water levels receded, although the Indian Meteorological Department has forecast more rains for central India over the next two days. Men sit on the roof of a partially submerged shop in a flooded residential colony in Allahabad. Photo: Reuters MODI OFFERS SUPPORT Officials said the fast-flowing waters had breached embankments and eroded dykes in some areas, leaving some roads inaccessible, compounding efforts to rescue marooned villagers. advertisement National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed in the five states, rescuing more than 33,000 people stranded in remote villages. The NDRF has also distributed relief and provided medical assistance to over 9,000 survivors. The devastation prompted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday to offer additional support from the Centre. "I pray for the safety and well-being of those in areas affected by floods," said Modi in a statement. "The Centre assures total support in the rescue and relief operations." Rescue workers lift a boat with the help of a crane at the Sabarmati river after a flood alert in Ahmedabad. Photo: Reuters CHRONIC ISSUE Aid agencies responding in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh said it was critical to be better prepared to minimise the deaths, displacement and devastation which is caused every year. "Nowadays, floods are seen as a chronic problem and are viewed quite differently from other emergencies - so they often no longer attract adequate attention from either the media or donors," said Thomas Chandy, CEO of Save the Children in India. advertisement "In such a scenario, therefore, it is critical that we develop better, more effective, long-term solutions to cater to the plight of people and children in preparedness for floods." Also read: In flooded Bengal, tragic tales of people swept away, homes lost Aurangabad tragedy: 9 feared dead as boat capsizes in Punpun river Monsoon mayhem in north West Bengal, 4 killed --- ENDS --- By PTI: New Delhi, Aug 24 (PTI) Former Governor of Bihar and West Bengal A R Kidwai died here today after brief illness. He was 96. Kidwai is survived by two sons and four daughters. His funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon at the Jamia Burial Grounds. Prime Minister Narendra Modi mourning his death, tweeted, "My condolences on the passing away of Dr AR Kidwai. His long career in public life included many roles & responsibilities." advertisement "Dr AR Kidwai distinguished himself in the fields of education and social welfare. May his soul rest in peace," he said. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi expressing his condolences, tweeted, "Deeply saddened by the passing away of Dr AR Kidwai former Gov of Bihar, Bengal & Haryana. A scholar & a humanist his loss will be deeply mourned." Born in 1920, Akhlaq ur Rahman Kidwai served as Governor of several states for a record period of 17 years -- in Bihar (twice), West Bengal and Haryana, in addition to holding temporary charge of Governor of Punjab and of Rajasthan and Administrator of Delhi and of Chandigarh. Besides, being a member of the Rajya Sabha from 2000-2004, he also served as the Chairman of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) from 1974-78. He had taken active part in the 1942 Quit India movement. On January 25, 2011 Kidwai was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, the countrys second highest civilian award for his outstanding contribution towards public affairs. Kidwai received an MS degree in Organic Chemistry with Biochemistry from the University of lllinois and completed his PhD from Cornell University in 1950. He was a distinguished scientist and a researcher in the field of organic chemistry. A renowned educationist, he was also member and patron of the Delhi Public School Society and president of the South Delhi Womens Polytechnic. He had also served as the chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University. PTI KND SPG ACB RG DIP --- ENDS --- By Rahul Noronha: The Madhya Pradesh Assembly today unanimously passed the Constitution (122nd amendment) Bill, 2014 that would enable the imposition of the GST (Goods and Services Tax) regime throughout the country. The bill was passed during a specially convened session after a discussion of nearly 3 hours. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan speaking just before the bill was put to vote said that PM Narendra Modi is a man of ideas who ensured the passage of the GST regime in Parliament. He said that former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee had initiated the process of GST imposition in 2000. He also praised Congress president Sonia Gandhi, former PM Manmohan Singh, former finance ministers Pranab Mukherjee and P Chidambaram for their role in the passage of the GST bill forward. There are some decisions that are taken in the interest of the country in which everyone participates,?? he said. advertisement Earlier, Chouhan said that India is an ancient civilisation but the political unification of India was achieved by Sardar Patel. Similarly the economic unification of India would be achieved by GST, he said. Congress members who spoke in the Assembly before Chouhan said that GST was the brain child of the UPA government and the BJP including its governments in the states had opposed it without reason. Clarifying this, Chouhan said that when the initial meetings on GST took place, there was no clarification on how states would be compensated for revenue loss. We had already lost due to Central Sales Taxes so were very worried,?? he said. In later meetings, states were told that their losses would be covered for 3 years by the union government and now the Act contains a provision for compensating revenue loss of states for 5 years after imposition of GST,?? he said, explaining the change of stance by the state government on GST. He assured the House that the interests of the state would be kept in mind by the Finance Minister at the meeting of the GST council of which he is a part. Congress MLA Ramniwas Rawat while speaking on the subject said that petroleum products have been kept out of the ambit of GST. He said that they should also be included otherwise the MP government continues to impose heavy taxes on them, burdening the consumer and not allowing the benefit of low prices of crude to be passed on to the consumer. What is the GST bill? Here's all you need to know about India's biggest tax reform --- ENDS --- After Siddhant Karnick and Megha Gupta, Hina Khan might be the next TV personality to tie the knot. By India Today Web Desk: Popular television actress Hina Khan, more popularly known by her screen name Akshara, of Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai might be getting married soon. But before you guys jump to conclusions, we want to clear the air by stating that nothing has been confirmed yet. Also read:Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai's Akshara aka Hina Khan hospitalised advertisement According to a recent report in India Forums, the talented actress--who is known for keeping a rather low profile--is apparently dating the Supervising Producer of Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Jaywant Jaiswal aka Rocky. Hina Khan in a still from Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. Picture courtesy: Instagram/officialhinakhan The rumours of them seeing each other have been doing the rounds for quite a while now. According to India Forums, the two might be tying the knot this year itself. However, Rocky denied the rumours and told India Forums, "It's not true, nothing like that." The actress dancing on the sets of the show. Picture courtesy: Instagram/officialhinakhan Other telly couples who got married this year are Divyanka Tripathi and Vivek Dahiya, Sambhavna Seth and Avinash Dwivedi, and last but not the least, Siddhant Karnick and Megha Gupta. --- ENDS --- By PTI: Kathmandu, Aug 24 (PTI) India today donated 18 fire fighting engines to Nepal to be utilised mostly by newly established municipalities in and around the Kathmandu valley. Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae handed over the keys of the fire engines to Minister for Federal Affairs Hitraj Pandey at a function here. These firefighters will be utilised mostly by newly- established municipalities in and around Kathmandu Valley for controlling fire. advertisement One of the fire fighting engine will be used by the Kathmandu Metropolitan City. The fire engines gifted by India will play an important role in saving life and property during the time of emergency, Pandey said while addressing the gathering at the function as he thanked the Indian government for its help. Ambassador Rae said Nepal and India enjoy close ties and during the time of disasters they extend help to each other. PTI SBP ASK ASK --- ENDS --- By PTI: London, Aug 24 (PTI) Three Indian-origin Muslim siblings, including two hijab-clad girls, have claimed that they were hauled off a plane at an airport here and questioned on the tarmac by British policemen after a passenger accused them of being members of ISIS. Sakina Dharas, 24, Maryam Dharas, 19, and Ali Dharas, 21, had boarded the easyJet flight from Stansted to the Italian city of Naples last week when they were approached by a cabin crew member and asked to accompany her off the aircraft without explanation, media reports said. advertisement The trio, born and raised in London, were hauled off the plane and grilled for an hour by officers, who first asked them, "Do you speak English?", according to Sakina, who narrated the ordeal writing in The Independent. According to her, they were asked by one of the officers, "Right, we have to speak with you. A passenger on your flight has claimed that you three are members of ISIS." "They saw you with Arabic or praise be to Allah on your phone," the officer was quoted as saying by Sakina. In their reply, the siblings said, "Firstly, thats part of the Quran, our religious text, so even if we did have it, it wouldnt signify that were a part of ISIS at all." "Regardless, weve had nothing on our phone remotely Arabic related this morning. Also, were Indian by ethnicity, so we wouldnt even have Arabic in conversation with anyone," they told the officers, according to Sakina. During their one-hour interrogation on the tarmac, Sakina said she was asked to explain the details of various entry stamps on her passport. She also showed a MI5 agent recent WhatsApp messages. The siblings provided answers relating to their personal lives and were questioned on their home addresses, workplaces, social media history and parents professions, Sakina wrote in her post. "The MI5 and police officers apologised for the inconvenience and assure(d) us that, at a time where we are all on edge, they have to respond to threats such as these. Our accusers, we are told, were very frightened," Sakina wrote. They incident took place on August 17 and the siblings returned from their holiday on August 20. A spokesman for easyJet said the three had been taken off the flight "following concerns raised by a passenger". "The police then confirmed to the captain that the passengers were cleared to complete their journey and they re-boarded the aircraft and the flight departed to Naples," the spokesman was quoted as saying by The Telegraph. "We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused to the passengers," he said. Essex Police, in charge of Stansted Airport security, said, "Essex Police were contacted with reports of concern regarding the behaviour of three people who were looking at their mobile phones. Officers at the airport spoke to them and examined their phones with their consent." advertisement "They were quickly able to establish that no offences had been committed and the women boarded their flight. We are satisfied the call was of good intent," it said. PTI ASK AK PYK ASK --- ENDS --- Indore's Shrishti Patidar played drums non-stop for 31 hours and broke the existing world record of 24-hour world record. By India Today Web Desk: Indore's Shrishti Patidar, with her passion for music, broke a world record in drumming. Inspired by the recent performances of India's women athletes at the Rio Olympics, 24-year-old Shrishti promised that she would break the 24-hour world record in drumming that was made by Sophia from Mexico. Patidar belongs to a small village in Neemach district of Madhya Pradesh and entered the Guinness Book of World Records by drumming non-stop for 31 hours. advertisement She started drumming at 11 AM on August 22 at Gandhi Hall and continued till 7 PM the next day. Photo: ANI Shristhi learned how to play drums from Babloo Sharma, a noted drummer, known for his brilliant performances. --- ENDS --- The death toll stood at 159 on late Wednesday but the number of dead and missing was uncertain given the huge number of vacationers in the area for summer's final days. By AP: Rescue crews using bulldozers and their bare hands raced to dig out survivors from a strong earthquake that reduced three central Italian towns to rubble early Wednesday. The death toll stood at 159 but the number of dead and missing was uncertain given the huge number of vacationers in the area for summer's final days. IN PICS Residents wakened before dawn by the temblor emerged from their crumbled homes to find what they described as apocalyptic scenes "like Dante's Inferno," with entire blocks of buildings turned into piles of sand and rock, thick dust choking the air and a putrid smell of gas. A man is pulled out of the rubble after the earthquake reduced towns to rubble. Photo: AP advertisement "The town isn't here anymore," said Sergio Pirozzi, the mayor of the hardest-hit town, Amatrice. "I believe the toll will rise." The magnitude 6 quake struck at 3:36 am and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including Rome, where residents woke to a long swaying followed by aftershocks. The temblor shook the Lazio region and Umbria and Le Marche on the Adriatic coast. Premier Matteo Renzi visited the zone Wednesday, greeted rescue teams and survivors and announced the toll stood at 120. He promised the quake-prone area that "No family, no city, no hamlet will be left behind." A nun checks her mobile phone as she lies near a ladder following an earthquake in Amatrice, Italy. Photo: AP Hardest hit were the tiny towns of Amatrice and Accumoli near Rieti, some 100 kilometers (80 miles) northeast of Rome, and Pescara del Tronto, some 25 kilometers further east. Italy's civil protection agency, which was coordinating the rescue and care for survivors, dozens were injured and thousands in need of temporary housing, though it stressed the numbers were fluid. The medieval center of Amatrice was devastated, with the hardest-hit half of the city cut off by rescue crews digging by hand to get to trapped residents. The birthplace of the famed spaghetti all'amatriciana bacon and tomato sauce, it is made up of 69 hamlets that teams from around Italy were working to reach with sniffer dogs, earth movers and other heavy equipment. A woman holds a child as they stand in the street following an earthquake, in Amatrice. Photo: AP Rocks and metal tumbled onto the streets of the city center and dazed residents huddled in piazzas as more than 200 aftershocks jolted the region into the early morning hours, some as strong as magnitude 5.1. "The whole ceiling fell but did not hit me," marveled resident Maria Gianni. "I just managed to put a pillow on my head and I wasn't hit, luckily, just slightly injured my leg." Another woman, sitting in front of her destroyed home with a blanket over her shoulders, said she didn't know what had become of her loved ones. "It was one of the most beautiful towns of Italy and now there's nothing left," she said, too distraught to give her name. "I don't know what we'll do." advertisement As the August sun bore down, residents, civil protection workers and even priests dug with shovels, bulldozers and their bare hands to reach survivors. Dozens were pulled out alive: There was relief as a woman emerged on a stretcher from one building, followed by a dog. And wails when a corpse was extracted. A steady column of dump trucks brought tons of twisted metal, rock and cement down the hill and onto the highway toward Rome, along with a handful of ambulances bringing the injured to Rome hospitals. "We need chain saws, shears to cut iron bars and jacks to remove beams. Everything, we need everything," civil protection worker Andrea Gentili told The Associated Press in the early hours of the recovery. Italy's national blood drive association appealed for donations to Rieti's hospital. Despite a massive relief effort - with army, Alpine crews, carabineri, firefighters, Red Cross crews and volunteers, it wasn't enough: A few miles (kilometers) north of Amatrice, in Illica, residents complained that rescue workers were slow to arrive and that loved ones were trapped. "We are waiting for the military," said resident Alessandra Cappellanti. "There is a base in Ascoli, one in Rieti, and in L'Aquila. And we have not seen a single soldier. We pay! It's disgusting!" A man is rescued alive from the ruins following an earthquake in Amatrice. Photo: Reuters advertisement Agostino Severo, a Rome resident visiting Illica, said workers eventually arrived after an hour or so. "We came out to the piazza, and it looked like Dante's Inferno," he said. "People crying for help, help." The magnitude 6 quake's epicenter was located near Accumoli and Arquata del Tronto and had a shallow depth of just four kilometers, Italy's geological institute said. Generally, shallow earthquakes pack a bigger punch and tend to be more damaging than deeper quakes. "The Apennine mountains in central Italy have the highest seismic hazard in Western Europe and earthquakes of this magnitude are common," noted Dr Richard Walters, a lecturer in Earth sciences at Durham University in Britain. The head of Italy's civil protection service, Fabrizio Curcio, noted that the region is popular with Romans escaping the heat of the capital to their country houses, swelling the population during the summer months. This weekend, Amatrice was due to celebrate its annual festival honoring its native pasta dish, possibly adding to the number of people in town. The devastation harked back to the 2009 quake that killed more than 300 people in and around L'Aquila, about 90 kilometers (55 miles) south of the latest quake. The town, which still hasn't fully recovered, sent emergency teams Wednesday to help with the rescue and set up tent camps for residents unwilling to stay indoors because of aftershocks. advertisement "I don't know what to say. We are living this immense tragedy," said a tearful Rev. Savino D'Amelio, a parish priest in Amatrice. "We are only hoping there will be the least number of victims possible and that we all have the courage to move on." Another hard-hit town was Pescara del Tronto, in the Le Marche region, where the main road was covered in debris. Residents were digging their neighbors out by hand since emergency crews hadn't yet arrived in force. Aerial photos taken by regional firefighters showed the town essentially flattened and under a thick gray coat of dust; Italy requested EU satellite images of the whole area to get the scope of the damage. "There are broken liquor bottles all over the place," said Gino Petrucci, owner of a bar in nearby Arquata Del Tronto where he was beginning the long cleanup. One rescue was particularly delicate as a ranger in Capodacqua, in the Marche province of Ascoli Piceno, diplomatically tried to keep an 80-year-old woman calm as she begged to get to a toilet, even though she was trapped in the rubble. "Listen, I know it's not nice to say but if you need to pee you just do it," he said. "Now I move away a little bit and you do pee, please." The mayor of Accumoli, Stefano Petrucci, said a family of four had died there, one of the few young families who had decided to stay in the area. He wept as he noted that the tiny hamlet of 700 swells to 2,000 in the summer months, and that he feared for the future of the town. "I hope they don't forget us," he told Sky TG24. In Amatrice, the Rev. Fabio Gammarota, priest of a nearby parish, said he had blessed seven bodies extracted so far. "One was a friend of mine," he said. A 1997 quake killed a dozen people in central Italy and severely damaged one of the jewels of Umbria, the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, filled with Giotto frescoes. The Franciscan friars who are the custodians of the basilica reported no immediate damage from Wednesday's temblor. Pope Francis skipped his traditional catechism for his Wednesday general audience and instead invited the thousands of pilgrims in St. Peter's Square to recite the rosary with him. He also sent a six-man squad from the Vatican's fire department to help with the rescue. --- ENDS --- The 12-year-old boy was stabbed to death with a kitchen knife by his father just because he didn't finish his homework. By India Today Web Desk: A Japanese man stabbed his 12-year-old son to death because he didn't study for a private school entrance exam. The 48-year-old father, Kengo Satake, in a fit of anger, took a kitchen knife and jabbed it onto his son Ryota Satake's chest. According to a report in RT, the father told the police that he "argued with his son for not studying" for a school entrance test in Japan's Aichi prefecture. advertisement Cut-throat competition across schools in Japan often force parents to put unwarranted pressure on their children. Many do it merely to 'maintain' their dignity and prestige in the society. Well, that didn't sound much different from what's happening in India, eh? Ryota Satake was immediately rushed to a hospital but succumbed to his injury. Kengo Satake was taken into custody only after a hospital staff informed the police about the episode. Throughout the inquiry, Satake said that he jabbed the knife by mistake, while his wife was at work. Local media reports state that Satake often chided his son for not working hard enough to get admitted to one of the premier private schools. Just a few months ago, another Japanese family made headlines after they abandoned Yamato Tanooka, 7, in a mountain forest to teach him a lesson for bad behaviour. The parents initially told the police they lost Tanooka while hiking to gather wild vegetables. Later, they admitted to have punished him for throwing stones at other cars and people. After being missing for six days in the bear-inhabited forests of northern Japan, 7-year-old was found alive by military personnel who rescued him from a hut 5 km away from where he went missing. ALSO READ: Father throws scissors at daughter for not focusing on homework Japanese boy goes missing in woods after parents abandon him 'as punishment' Japanese boy left by parents in the woods found alive after 6 days Yamato Tanooka, the Japanese boy left in the forest, forgives father --- ENDS --- The Jaipur Development Authority's action has become the talk of the town, especially given that the royal family was considered close to Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. By Rohit Parihar : In a drastic and unexpected action, Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) on Wednesday morning sealed the main entrance to the royal family's Raj Mahal Palace at the posh C-scheme location bordering Civil Lines. This comes as a shock since the Jaipur royal family was until today considered close to Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. The action seems to be aimed at demolishing clout of the royal family by seeking to have the JDA take possession of the land whose market value could well run into hundreds of crores if not thousands. advertisement JDA COMMISSIONER PERSONALLY LED OPERATION Diya Kumari, whose family owns the palace, is the erstwhile princess and a BJP MLA from Swai Madhopur. She was given the ticket for assembly at Raje's behest. She and her mother Padmini Devi, the Rajmata, rushed to the palace grounds and confronted the adamant JDA commissioner Shikhar Aggarwal who himself led the operation and got the sign boards of JDA property on a huge chunk of land around the palace within its boundary wall. HISTORY OF THE PALACE The Palace was gifted to late Jaipur Maharaja Bhawani Singh by his father Swai Man Singh and in 2014, was leased to Sujan, a group of luxury hotels owned by Jaisal Singh who has family ties with Raje. The royal family was managing the hotel before it was heavily renovated for the lease. In 1993, the royals lost a case in the Supreme Court contesting the state government's acquisition of half of 125 bigha of land around the palace. A part of that land was auctioned by the JDA for purposes different from those for which it was acquired, the royal family has informally pointed out. This land is largely used to park vehicles during functions and marriages for which Raj Mahal rents out its own land. STRUCTURE DEMOLISHED, FAMILIES THROWN OUT The morning swoop had hundreds of policemen, officials and demolition men entering the ground around the palace and demolishing one old structure,throwing out the families living there. The office of Jai Singh, estranged younger brother of Bhawani Singh and an uncle of Diya Kumari, too was sealed. Incidentally, immediately after Raje came to power in December 2013, JDA had demolished marriage palaces being run on the premises of prestigious Ram Bagh Palace that is again run by the Jaipur royal family but with larger holding of brothers Jai Singh and Prithvi Singh. RAJE'S RELATIONSHIP WITH ROYAL FAMILY Raje, who herself is erstwhile princess of Gwalior and Maharani of Dholpur, has been a frequent visitor to the palace, residence of Diya Kumari and Padmini Devi where they have lunches and dinners together. Even during the past one month, Raje and Padmini have had dined together at least four times. advertisement RAJE IGNORED RAJMATA'S CALL Officially, the bone of contention is made out to be a road - almost 300 long - from the main entrance till the Raj Mahal. The JDA insists the road is on its land but royals say that it, along with a fifteen feet stretch on the both sides, has been endorsed by courts by theirs. The JDA had put up a notice at the Raj Mahal to remove encroachments on its land on the night of August 22 which the royals got to know of on August 23. Padmini Devi had a word with Raje on this but the action shows that the chief minister did not intervene. Raje was on her way to Bhutan to attend the literature festival there. WILL SEEK LEGAL ACTION: ERSTWHILE PRINCESS DIYA KUMARI Diya Kumari told India Today that she and her entire family was shocked in the manner in which entire operation was carried out. "It was unwarranted and not the civilized way. We have never questioned ownership of JDA land but they have committed illegality in sealing our right to a road that is on our land, and demolished houses that again were on ours," she said. advertisement She said such humiliating action could have been avoided, had they been asked to present their side and that she had no intention to enter into any confrontation. "But while we were showing JDA officials records that the road was ours, the JDA did not have anything to show us there. I wonder why officials did not sit with us?" She said she would seek legal recourse. JDA COMMISSIONER SAYS HE NIXED SNEAKY PLAN ON GOVERNMENT LAND JDA commissioner Shikhar Aggarwal told India Today that entire land was the JDA's. "Jai Singh wanted a week's time but I refused. He demanded in writing this denial which I gave. We removed the furniture and gave them four days to take away the records," he told India Today. What was provocation for such an action? Aggarwal said the Raj Mahal people had carried out a new construction on JDA land and were also getting approved a project on JDA land from the Jaipur Municipal Corporation quietly. "This was a provocative step where our jurisdiction on our land was being surpassed. Whatever action I have taken will earn JDA some money only once we put the land for auction," he said. advertisement INTERPRETATION OF THE ACTION However, the ruthless action that was the talk of the state and dominated conversations amongst erstwhile royals sent more than one message. One, that whoever appeared however close to Raje could face such an action anytime. The second one has given oxygen to near dead rumours that Raje had a certain interest in the Raj Mahal and she was unhappy with Diya over her change in the commitment made to Jaisal Singh. Diya's husband Narendra Singh insisted today as he had a few times to India Today that Raje has never ever shown any intention to buy or have any share in the hotel and her interest was confined to a few visits to see how well a palace could be renovated. ALL NOT WELL BETWEEN ROYAL FAMILY AND RAJE? Sometime last year too, there were talks of something going wrong between Raje, the royals and Jaisal. First, Adil Ahmed, an interior decorator, who once had very close family ties with Raje, was entrusted with the renovation of Raj Mahal but was shown the door by the royal family who felt that his charges were exorbitant. Subsequently, the name Sujan that was put before Raj Mahal, was removed too. RUMOURS OF RIFT HAD DIED DOWN AS RAJE HONOURED PADMINI DEVI Yet, all talks of strained relations died down once Raje gave Padmini special honour as they flew together for a meeting of Heritage Hotels Association at Swai Madhopur last year, a little after Diya and other erstwhile royals had strongly protested against a proposed heritage bill that allowed the government a quick takeover of heritage properties. They called it draconian, forcing Raje to withdraw it. Padmini was also brought on board of a council related to heritage and tourism and shared the dais with Raje at an official function too. SPECULATION OVER INTENT OF JDA ACTION That is why just everyone in the state has been wondering what precisely made JDA act this way. Yet another speculation is that there could be some investor keen to have that land, but given that Raje has kept herself off any one approaching her for land deals, does not give credence to this either. So was it a purely administrative step in which Raje refused to intervene? That's the million dollar question. --- ENDS --- KCR dared Congress to public document related to Tammidi-Hatti project where in the Congress leader claimed that there was corruption. By Ashish Pandey: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao received rousing welcome after his return from Mumbai signing MoU on irrigation projects with his counterpart Devendra Fadnavis. Traffic restriction were imposed in Begumpet area covering airport to chief minister's camp office from 3 pm to 5 pm because of the grand rally of TRS with thousand of party workers along with state minister received CM KCr at Begumpet Airport. advertisement KCR and his Maharashtra counterpart Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday signed a pact for construction of irrigation projects across Godavari river, ending the inter-state water dispute. Touted as the historic pact, the latest agreement of both the states will pave way for construction of three barrages on Godavari and its tributaries Penganga and Pranahita solving the irrigation problems in various part of Telangana which is hit by drought. I WILL QUIT IF PROVEN CORRUPTION Addressing the massive gathering Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao slammed the opposition Congress for observing Tuesday as black day when the Telangana government signed the MoU with Maharashtra. KCR dared Congress to public document related to Tammidi-Hatti project where in the Congress leader claimed that the agreement was already made to built the project at the height of 152 ft. "I request Uttam Kumar Reddy to bring the agreement copy to Begumpet, I would straight away reach Raj Bhavan and tender my resignation papers" TELANGANA FACED 60 YEARS OF UNJUST BECAUSE OF CONGRESS Slamming Congress and it's state leadership Telangana CM blamed that Congress had forcefully merged the Telangana into erstwhile Andhra State 60 years ago and because of that the state faced sever injustice. Terming the agreement as historic in the history of Telangana State, KCR said the event should be written with gold lining marking its significance. --- ENDS --- Dr. Yathindra lives in Mysuru with his mother and he told the local media that he would visit his father's constituency Varuna once every week and interact with the voters. By Mail Today: Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is likely to draft his eldest son Dr. Yathindra into politics, as he needs someone to take care of the concerns of his constituency in Mysuru. SON RISE IN KARNATAKA POLITICS Dr. Yathindra lives in Mysuru with his mother and he told the local media that he would visit his father's constituency Varuna once every week and interact with the voters. But he maintained that he was unsure of his future in politics. advertisement TO STEP INTO RAKESH'S SHOES Though Siddaramaiah has appointed several representatives to listen to the grievances of the voters of his constituency, his younger son, Rakesh Siddaramaiah, who passed away recently, was the common link between the two. Now, the responsibility has been given to Dr. Yathindra, a healthcare professional. It is said that Yathindra decided to take care of Varuna at the insistence of his mother. Rakesh was supposed to take a plunge into politics once Siddaramaiah completed his tenure as the CM. But it is not clear whether Yathindra will enter electoral politics. ALSO READ: Anekal land row: CM Siddaramaiah cracks whip against Chief Secretary Arvind Jadhav --- ENDS --- A Mangaluru-based girl accuses Facebook friend of raping her under the pretext of marrying. By Mail Today: A bridegroom is facing arrest in the coastal city of Mangaluru in Karnataka after a girl, who he befriended on Facebook, accused him of raping her under the pretext of marrying. Pervez Musharraf (29) befriended a Mangaluru-based girl (26) on Facebook last year and the two developed intimate relationship. The duo decided to get married and their relationship turned physical. However, since the last 4 months, Pervez allegedly avoided meeting his girlfriend. advertisement Recently, the girl learnt about Pervez's marriage plans, as he was set to marry his close relative. Shocked by Pervez abandoning her, she confronted him and he allegedly asked her to end their relationship. The next week, Pervez started distributing his wedding cards and the girl decided to approach the police. Earlier this week, she filed a police complaint on the basis of which they have commenced a probe. ALSO READ | 4 women raped, 9 harassed everyday in 2012-2015: Report --- ENDS --- A grenade was hurled at the security forces from a crowd of protesters in Pulwama today, which led to the death of one civilian. At least 9 policemen and 5 civilians were injured. By India Today Web Desk: Atleast nine policemen and five civilians were injured when a grenade was hurled at the security forces today by protesters in the Pulawama town of Kashmir. One of the injured civilians later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. With his death, the death toll in the Valley has risen to 70 during the 47 days of unrest in Kashmir. advertisement WHAT HAPPENED The militants hurled a grenade at the security forces near Degree College in Pulwama district today in south Kashmir. The grande blast was followed by firing. It has also been reported that after the grenade blast and firing, unknwn gunmen again opened fire in the hospital premises where the injured were being treated. The police officers were then airlifted to the Army Hospital, Srinagar for treatment. The nine policemen injured includes three officers- an Additional Superintendent of Police, Deputy Superintendent of Police and a Station House Officer. Reportedly, a protest demonstration was going on and the police was trying to foil the protest in Pulwama when the grande was thrown at them. Also Read: Kashmir unrest: Situation remains tense as curfew continues for 46th day, BSF deployed CLASHES EARLIER IN THE DAY TOO Earlier in the day, a local boy from Pulwama died when clashes broke out between protesters and security forces in the town. Thirty others were injured in the clash. The grenade attack comes at a day when Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Valley to review the situation and find solution to the ongoing unrest. (With inputs from Ashraf Wani, PTI ) Also Read: Kashmir unrest: Clashes take a toll on education in the Valley Kashmir unrest: Army facing shortage of important ammunition to fight terrorists No Governor's rule, solve Kashmir issue politically: Supreme Court --- ENDS --- By India Today Web Desk: Ranbir Kapoor, who remained tight-lipped about his break-up with long-time girlfriend Katrina Kaif all this while, finally broke his silence in an interview to CNN News 18's Rajeev Masand. The Tamasha actor, who holds nothing against Katrina, had only good things to say about his ex-girlfriend. ALSO READ: Ranbir Kapoor opens up on Katrina Kaif, says I haven't even said I've broken up advertisement In fact, he revealed that Katrina was one of the motivational and inspirational people in his life. "I've not even said that I've broken up you know, don't feel the need to talk about it. My personal life is very dear to me and what my relationship with Katrina is, was and will always be very influential in my life. Whatever I shared with her, I hold it very dear to me, there is no sense of bitterness, no negativity," he said during the interview. But it seems this very statement hasn't gone down too well with the Baar Baar Dekho actor. According to a report in Deccan Chronicle, Katrina is miffed with Ranbir over that statement. A source was quoted as telling the daily, "He calls Katrina motivational whereas in reality he took her for granted to a large extent. She put everything including her career on hold for the sake of this relationship and was all set to change her life completely. She stopped signing films and was preparing to become Mrs Ranbir Kapoor. What did she get in return?" "At the end of their seven-year relationship, Ranbir treated Katrina rather badly and left her in a lurch," the source added. Interestingly, the two will be seen together in Anurag Basu's Jagga Jasoos. In fact, buzz has it that the two have decided to amicably promote the film. Jagga Jasoos is set to hit the screens in April next year. --- ENDS --- By PTI: Coimbatore, Aug 24 (PTI) A university in Latvia has entered into an agreement with a city-based pharmacy and Ministry of AYUSH to introduce short-term courses in Ayurveda. Professor Valdis Pirags of University of Latvia told reporters here that many people in foreign countries were switching over to Ayurveda, seeking solutions to chronic problems. Arya Vaidya Pharmacy (AVP) Managaing Director P R Krishnakumar said he had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Commerce Minister Nirmala Seetharaman and made a representation to promote Ayurvedic medicine. advertisement Krishnakumar said due to efforts taken by the AVP in Europe, collaborative research had been taken up in the field of diabetes, other metabolic disorders and in duchenne muscular dystrophy, a genetic disorder causing muscle weakness. Director of Swiss Ayurveda Medical Academy Simone Hunzikar, who was also present, said there was a need to bring in regulation in countries to permit Ayurvedic medicine in health care sector. The acceptance level in many counties was very high in recent times considering the fact that Ayurveda can cure chronic ailments with traditional formulation of medicine, she said. PTI NVM ROH VS MRJ TRK --- ENDS --- The proposed draft of the Maharashtra Protection of Internal Security Act has been put up on government's website for public discussion and suggestions. Assistant Chief Secretary of Home Department AP Bakshi tried clearing the air around the draft bill. Photo: ANI By Mayuresh Ganapatye: After talks and debate over the proposed draft of Maharashtra Protection of Internal Security Act (MPISA), the Assistant Chief Secretary of Home Department today tried clearing the air around it. In a media interaction at Mantralay, ACS (Home) KP Bakshi said, "The draft of this bill has been put up on government's website so that the people can read it and put forward their suggestions." advertisement According to the Home Department, the state has a large coastal area and many important government installations. The bill has been proposed to protect these and deal with the challenges of terrorism, insurgency, communalism and caste violence. Bakshi said "It's not as if the bill will give more power to police and that will be someone overlooking the police's action too." Also Read: Maharashtra first state to draft Internal Security Act: Know all about the MPISA 2016 WHAT THE PROPOSED DRAFT SAYS According to this draft, there will be no police permission needed for private functions at private place (marriages, birthday parties). But the functions happening at public places would require a permission. The government will be carrying out security audit of important installations and will be providing them with adequate security. The Home department is confident that there will be no duplication while providing security to important installations. The security forces, under the law, will be working on different standard operating procedures- one step ahead of existing security forces. After incorporating appropriate suggestions by the public, the Home department will make a presentation to the Home Minister and only then this draft will got to the Cabinet for its nod. NOT EVERYONE IS HAPPY However, the opposition Congress criticised the draft. "This draft gives unbridled powers to the police and the intention behind such a law is to muzzle democratic dissent and not terror or crime," the Congress spokesperson said. Congress demanded that the entire draft should be taken back. --- ENDS --- Families will be requested to name saplings after their girl child in order to raise awareness about the environment and also highlight the need to nurture the girl child. By Indrajit Kundu: The Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal has devised a new strategy to raise awareness about the environment and also the need to save the girl child. The government has decided to gift saplings to the families of every newborn girl child in the state. "We came up with this innovative scheme to raise awareness about the girl child. We will gift a saplings to the parents of every newborn girl in the state. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has herself named to project 'Sabujshree'. The child's parents would also be urged to name the sapling on the name of the new born girl," informed state forest minster Binay Krishna Barman. advertisement SAPLING TO BE NAMED AFTER GIRL CHILD A brainchild of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, under the scheme, forest department will distribute saplings to parents of every new born girl child in the state. Subsequently, parents would be requested to name the sapling based on the names given to their new born girl child. The forest department plans to distribute the saplings at the time the mother and her child get released from various state-run hospitals after delivery. The forest department is working closely with the chief medical health officer's (CMHO) of every district and Superintendents of government run hospitals for smooth implementation of the project. Officials say, they aim to achieve two goals at the same time - create awareness about the environment and also teach the importance of planting trees to nurture the environment just as they nurture their girl child. According to the minister, the project will boost the government's forestation drive as estimated 15 lakh saplings are likely to be distributed across the state. Also Read: In flooded Bengal, tragic tales of people swept away, homes lost Over 300 dead, 6 million hit as floods submerge villages, destroy roads in 5 states Bengal blames DVC for floods, Goyal calls for system relook --- ENDS --- The MNS has passed a notice of motion to make Surya Namaskars mandatory for municipal corporators. This comes a day after BJP, Shiv Sena made Surya Namaskars compulsory in BMC-run schools. By Sahil Joshi: The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) wants to teach a lessoon to the BJP and the Shiv Sena. The MNS now wants Surya Namaskars to be made mandatory for corporators too. MNS, which vehemently opposed BJP and Shiv Sena's move to make Surya Namaskars mandatory in BMC-run schools, has now brought in a notice of motion which states that even the municipal cooperators should take part in the Surya Namaskar programme with the BMC school kids. advertisement Not only this, the corporators should also perform Surya Namaskar themselves atleast five days a week. A UNIQUE OPPOSITION The notice of motion, brought by the MNS group leader in BMC, said that now that the BMC has passed the resolution making suryanamaskar mandatory in the BMC schools, it should also make sure that corporators too participate. He said that even the corporaters should be fit and healthy and should take part in the Surya Namaskars The proposal of making Surya Namaskar mandatory in BMC schools was brought in by BJP corporater Samita Kamble on Tuesday. It was passed with the backing of BJP and Shivsena corporators, whereas the proposal saw stiff opposition from Congress, MNS and SP. While MNS was strictly against making the practice mandatory, the SP opposed it saying that it was a move towards safforanization. Also Read: Introducing Surya Namaskar in BMC schools BJP's Hindutva agenda: Samajwadi Party It seems that the notice brought by MNS is to make fun of BJP and Shiv Sena. This notice of motion also states that those corporators who would not perform Surya Namaskars should be disqualified. "If the corporaters are making it mandatory for the school going children to perform yoga and Surya Namaskars, then it should be mandatory for the corporators too," said MNS group leader Sandeep Deshpande. Also Read: BMC's proposal to make Surya Namaskar mandatory in civic schools sparks yet another controversy --- ENDS --- The Centre today announced enhanced compensation for civilian victims of terror and said that Pakistan Occupied Kashmiris could apply too. By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: The Modi government has announced enhanced compensation for civilian victims of terror and have said that Pakistan Occupied Kashmiris, who are also our people, can claim this compensation too. This comes days after Narendra Modi raised the issue of Balochistan, Gilgit and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir in his Independence Day speech. Also Read: Modi stumps Pakistan, refers to Balochistan, Gilgit and PoK from Red Fort advertisement ANOTHER BOLD MOVE Minister of state for PMO, Jitendra Singh, announced compensation for civilian victims and said "Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmiris are an important part of India and they can also claim such a compensation." He said, "By the virtue of the Constitution of India, rules also apply in that part of the country which is occupied by Pakistan. Those residents are also our people and are victims of similar condition." The statement comes after Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Modi, gave its approval to enhance the grant of compensation to the civilian victims under the scheme titled "Central Scheme for Assistance to Civilian Victims of Terrorist/ Communal/Left Wing Extremist (LWE), Cross Border Firing and Mine/IED blasts on Indian Territory". The compensation had been increased from Rs 3 lakhs to Rs 5 lakhs. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SCHEME For the first time, civilian victims of cross border firing along the Indo-Pak border will be given a compensation of Rs 5 lakh similar to those who die due to terrorism or LWE violence. The decision to give compensation to the victims of cross border firing and enhancing the amount was taken by the government today. From now on, any civilian who dies anywhere in the country due to terror attack, LWE violence, firing from across the border, shelling or IED explosion will be given Rs5 lakh as compensation uniformly. The amount will be given to the next of kin of the victim. Rs 5 lakh will also be given to those who receive 50 per cent or more disability or incapacitation due to the same reasons. The compensation amount will be given subject to the condition that no employment has been provided to any of the family members of the victims by state or Central Government. So far, the government has disbursed Rs 35.89 crore as compensation to civilian victims since the inception of this scheme first came in 2008. Also Read: Baloch leaders booked in Pakistan for supporting Modi's comments advertisement Pakistan says Modi crossed red line by mentioning Balochistan, India says it's your own fault --- ENDS --- On the fifth and last day of his stay in Agra, RSS chief Mohan Bhagat reached Dalit activist Chaudhary Rajendra Singh's house and had lunch with his family. By Rajat Rai: Close on the heels of BJP president Amit Shah dining with his Dalit MP Kaushal Kishor at his house in Lucknow a few days ago, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) supremo Mohan Bhagwat visited the house of a Dalit activist in Agra to share Wednesday's lunch. Though opposition parties termed the visit to be a propaganda ahead of the upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections, RSS office bearers claimed it to be a routine event of the group. advertisement On the fifth and last day of his stay in Agra, Bhagat reached RSS activist Chaudhary Rajendra Singh's house on Wednesday afternoon and had lunch with his family. 'HAD SIMPLE NON-OILY FOOD' However, it was a entirely private affair and the media was not allowed to enter the house during the lunch. Bhagwat, who stayed there for over an hour, left Singh's house amidst questions hurling from the media about the purpose of the visit. However, Singh later told the media that it was routine affair. "We activists (Pracharak Nandhu) have lunch and dinner at each others house and it a routine practice. There is nothing new in this", Singh who is the owner of a shoe manufacturing unit, said. Elaborating further, he said that they had a simple non - oily food and before leaving he blessed his family. "RSS is a firm believer in a no - caste, no - creed and a no - discrimination society. We are all like brothers and work for the development of the country. There is no politics in this," RSS Prant Pracharak Pradeep said. BSP supremo Mayawati, who held a rally in Agra on Sunday slammed BJP and its ideological mentor RSS by accusing them of raising issues of cow slaughter and `love jihad' to keep the minorities in fear and of being anti - Dalit. MAYAWATI SLAMS BHAGWAT Mayawati also slammed Bhagwat and said "The RSS chief wants Hindus to produce more than two children. They cannot even provide for two. Who will look after them?". While addressing a public rally in Agra on Saturday, Bhagwat reportedly asked Hindus to produce more children. The ruling Samajwadi Party also criticised the move. "This is sheer hypocrisy. They (RSS) has no affection for anyone specially Dalits and minorities. They are doing this barely for the political gains of the BJP", SP spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said. --- ENDS --- By PTI: New Delhi/Nay Pyi Daw, Aug 24 (PTI) President of Myanmar U Htin Kyaw will pay a four-day state visit to India beginning Saturday with an aim to further expand the traditionally close relations between the two countries by stepping up engagement in diverse areas. It will be his first State visit after the assumption of office in March by the new government of Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy, bringing down curtains on five decades of military rule. advertisement The Myanmar President will be accompanied by his wife, Daw Su Su Lwin, several key ministers and senior officials. Myanmar, considered one of Indias strategic neighbours, shares a 1,640-km-long border with a number of northeastern states including militancy-infested Nagaland and Manipur. "During his visit to India, the Myanmar President will have official engagements in New Delhi and also visit places of historical and cultural importance in India," the Ministry of External Affairs said. It said the visit will help to further strengthen and expand traditionally close ties between the two countries. In Myanmarese capital Nay Pyi Daw, Htin Kyaws office also issued a statement about his visit to India without specifying the dates for it. The announcement of the visit of the Myanmarese President came three days after External Affairs Minister paid a day- long visit to the Southeast Asian nation. During her visit, Myanmars leaders had assured Swaraj that they would not allow any insurgent group to use its territory against India. On her part, Swaraj had conveyed to Myanmarese leaders that India was ready to extend "all help" to the new government. Htin Kyaws is coming to India at the invitation of President Pranab Mukherjee. PTI SAI/MPB ZMN --- ENDS --- National eHealth Authority (NeHA) being set up by the Union Health Ministry will enable the interoperability of health records in any corner of the country through an Integrated Health Information Platform. By Neetu Chandra Sharma: In a bid to tackle the increasing antibiotic resistance, the Centre would soon start keeping a strict check on all the doses of antibiotics, prescribed by doctors or consumed by patients. National eHealth Authority (NeHA) being set up by the Union Health Ministry will enable the interoperability of health records in any corner of the country through an Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) and would also keep a check on antibiotic prescriptions. advertisement ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS HELPED DECREASE ANTIBIOTIC MISUSE In a recent National Consultation meeting regarding setting up of NeHA, Health Ministry took a cue from the fact that how electronic health records maintained by All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi helped in decreasing antibiotic misuse. Nowadays patients all over the country are generally misusing antibiotics by taking antibiotics without consultation from doctors. The existing electronic system in place at AIIMS enables to track antibiotic usage by the patients undergoing treatment at the hospital,?? Dr M C Mishra, Director AIIMS, New Delhi said during the consultation meeting. SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF HMIS SYSTEM BY AIIMS Dr Mishra said that with such a system in place, they have been able to bring down misuse of antibiotics. The premier medical institute is one of the few government hospitals that have implemented a hospital management information system (HMIS) and maintains the electronic medical record of patients. Interestingly, doctors analyzed medicine prescriptions and found cases of over-prescription of antibiotics. AIIMS has made a team that reached out to the doctors who prescribed antibiotics without any requirement. Gradually, the usage of antibiotics decreased. ROLE OF NeHA NeHA will allow healthcare professionals access to complete and accurate health history for better diagnosis and treatment without compromising on patient confidentiality. All the patients health records will be centrally digitalized and made accessible by doctors and laboratories. With regular counseling, doctors will get to know the doses of antibiotics consumed by the patient. They will also be told about antibiotic resistance,?? said a senior official. In a study, the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research found a major antibiotic resistance in Acne strains. Antibiotic use is a major driver of resistance. In 2010, India was the worlds largest consumer of antibiotics. WHO has called for urgent collaboration to slow down antimicrobial resistance and avoid a post-antibiotic era - in which minor wounds and injuries could be life- threatening, and treatments longer and more costly, causing economic hardships to families, societies and countries. ALSO READ: Your bread may cause cancer, says CSE study; health ministry orders probe --- ENDS --- By PTI: From Shirish B Pradhan Kathmandu, Aug 24 (PTI) Nepals new government today came under attack from main opposition CPN-UML over reports that Premier Prachanda sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that discusses the countrys "internal" matters including a constitutional amendment to address the demands of Madhesis. The CPN-UML of former prime minister KP Sharma Oli, viewed by many as pro-China, raised objections over the letter allegedly carried by Deputy Prime Minister Bimalendra Nidhi, who was on a visit to India as Prachandas special envoy from August 17 to 22. advertisement "There are reports about sending a letter by PM Prachanda to Prime Minister Modi through the Deputy Prime Minister that discusses matters of our internal issues including Constitution amendment," the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist?Leninist) alleged in a statement after the conclusion of its 43rd Central Committee meeting here. "Such incident has intervened our national sovereignty and independent decision making authority, which was a blunder and objectionable matter," it said. The main opposition party demanded the government to "make public the reported letter". It warned the government "not to do anything that would undermine the practice of shaping the future of Nepalese people by themselves, and the dignity of Nepalese people." Some reports have suggested that Nidhi, during his meeting with Modi, discussed issues relating to the agitation by Madhesis - who share strong cultural and family bonds with Indians - and amendment to the Constitution to address their demands, including more political representation. The Madhesi people had blocked trade transit points with India, creating a huge shortage of essential goods and fuel in the landlocked Nepal. The Constitution was promulgated in September last year. "Constitution is a dynamic document, which is subject to amendments from time to time. However, the way in which the matter was discussed at some specific place for amendment to the Constitution is objectionable and absurd," the party said. "The fundamental law of the country cannot be amended on the basis of specific concern shown by any other country. This will only complicate the situation and only creates new problems," it said. The UML has also protested the way Prachanda had sent special envoys to India and China when his government is yet to take full shape and appoint a Minister for Foreign Affairs. Prachanda, who is also the Maoist chief, assumed office earlier this month for a second term as Prime Minister. PTI SBP ABH --- ENDS --- By PTI: New Delhi, Aug 24 (PTI) The National Green Tribunal today questioned state governments and Union Territories on top appointments in state pollution control boards and directed them to fill the vacancies with persons with requisite qualification within three months. The green panel, which also issued a slew of guidelines for appointments to the posts of Chairman and Member Secretary, said the nominations should be of persons who have "special knowledge, practical experience or qualification in environment protection studies" and not on the ground of their association with state government. advertisement "The State Governments/Union Territories shall constitute the Pollution Control Boards strictly in accordance to Section 4 of the Water Act and Section 5 of the Air Act, and the eligibility criteria...for appointment of Chairman/Member Secretary of the Board. "State governments are to notify the rules under Water and Air Act expeditiously specifying the qualifications and experiences required for post of Chairman/Member Secretary. The post of Chairman/Member Secretary should be advertised and thrown open for all candidates irrespective of the fact whether they are in the government, academia or in private sector, so as to attract the best talent," a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said. The judgement came on a plea by Uttarakhand resident Rajendra Singh Bhandari, who had challenged the constitution of state pollution control boards on the ground that people who did not qualify were appointed as Chairman, Member Secretary and Members of these boards. According to the plea, these appointments are bound to affect environmental issues seriously in as much as the grant of consents under Prevention and Control of Pollution Act and the entire regulatory regime depended on the effective working of these boards. The tribunal said the Chairman or Member Secretary should have a fixed term, which should not be extended for more than one term. Such persons should not hold office in the Board in accordance to their tenure in State Government. "The State Government and all competent Authorities shall proceed to make appointment/ nomination of the Members of the Board as per categorisation and subject to the limitations of number provided under Section 4 and 5 of the Act of 1974 and 1981 respectively as expeditiously as possible, in any case not later than three months from the date of pronouncement of this judgment," the bench also comprising Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore said. (More) PTI PKS ARC --- ENDS --- A man was trapped for about four hours after falling awkwardly between two buildings and all of this just to impress his lady love. By India Today Web Desk: When cupid strikes people even cross the line of control. In one such case a man from Oakland tried to impress his date by jumping from one rooftop to another, but it ended pretty badly. The man got wedged between two buildings and an entire rescue team was called in for help. The Pittsburg Emergency crew had to dig a hole through the wall to reach the man. Public Works has arrived with heavier equipment to break through the thick walls @PghEMS #teamwork pic.twitter.com/LLHDAaJDXZ Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) August 23, 2016 advertisement The unidentified man was trapped in a narrow crevice for about four hours before he was freed at the break of dawn. Photo: TwitterPghPublicSafety According to reports, the man and woman reached the roof by climbing a fire escape route, when suddenly the brave (or stupid) man decided to display his courage by jumping over to the next roof. Photo source: TwitterPghPublicSafety The Pittsburgh Public Safety Department posted about the entire rescue efforts from their Twitter handle. Here's a photo of the crevice he got stuck in. Photo: Facebookkatelyinsykes Photo: Facebookkatelyinsykes And a restaurant had to pause its operations till 7 AM next morning because of the fiasco. They put up this notice. Photo: TwitterkatelynsWTAE Here's a video of the man being taken to an ambulance after being rescued. VIDEO: Two thumbs up! Man stuck for hours b/w Oakland buildings rescued #wtae pic.twitter.com/Mb5a6SoHSo Katelyn Sykes (@KatelynsWTAE) August 23, 2016 --- ENDS --- By Siraj Qureshi: Ever since the Bhartiya Janta Party became a political rival of the Congress, the party's manifesto has always listed implementing Common Civil Code in India according to Article 44 of the Constitution as one of its electoral promises. However, due to vehement opposition from the Muslim community which is staunchly against any meddling with the community's internal affairs, this much-anticipated code was never developed or implemented in the country, making the code a much-vaunted yet unfulfilled electoral promise of the BJP. advertisement Every time the party or any Hindu outfit raises the issue of implementing this code, the Muslim community unitedly opposes any such attempt as they consider this civil code as an interference with the Islamic law. So when Oxford University Press released a book "Uniform Civil Code for India: Proposed Blueprint for Scholarly Discourse" written by two renowned Israeli scholars, Shimon Shetreet and Hiram E Chodosh, the anger of the Muslim community boiled over and some community leaders even termed it as Modi government's 'wicked plan' to end Islamic law in India, in connivance with Israel, which is a traditional enemy state of all Islamic countries. WHAT THE BOOK SAYS According to Oxford University Press, "this book provides a blueprint for alternative frameworks and courses of action, drawing on lessons from comparative context to develop a Uniform Civil Code for India. It explores the interplay between issues of law, culture and religion in light of various intra-community and inter-community disputes. The book proposes a series of guidelines and considerations to inform this process." While the book has been clearly labelled 'for scholarly discourse', the local Muslim community is treating it as an official 'blueprint' for destroying 'Islamic law' in India, as was evident from the alarming statements issued by Muslim clerics in a seminar on 'Muslim Personal Law's relevance and conformity with natural law', recently held at Aligarh Muslim University under the aegis of All India Muslim Personal Law Board and Sir Syed Awareness Forum. WHY THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY IS UPSET Addressing the seminar, Islamic scholar and Rector of Jamia Hidaya of Jaipur Maulana Fazl-ur-Rahim Muzaddi said that this was a blueprint to end Islamic law which has been prepared by Israel at the behest of the BJP at Oxford University and this blueprint has now reached India so the community needs to beware that their rights, that have been bestowed to them by the Holy Quran, are in the process of being usurped soon. He said that there is a conspiracy to impose European civilisation over Muslims in India and the Muslims should oppose any such attempt with full power. Interestingly, the so-called blueprint that is said to have reached India, is a publicly available book by Oxford University Press, which is available in open market for $49.95 (Rs 3,500 approximately). Although, this fact was conveniently obscured by all the speakers who raised this issue, resulting in widespread outrage in the Muslim community of this region. advertisement "MUSLIMS WILL ONLY FOLLOW ISLAMIC LAW" Talking to India Today, Mufti Mudassar Ali Qadri said that the Muslims will only follow the Islamic law as the Holy Quran postulates each and every law and any attempt to impose any other law on them will not be tolerated and opposed with all might. He said that the Muslims are living in this country as equal partners and are entitled to have their own law, just like Hindus. This was merely the BJP's attempt to gain votes for the 2017 UP assembly elections and the Muslims are aware of the futility of such attempts as the Hindus and Muslims in this region have always remained united and will remain that way, despite what the BJP says. Also read: How Modi government set wheels of uniform civil code in motion Uniform Civil Code soon? Modi government writes to Law Commission Time for Uniform Civil Code? 50,000 Muslims sign up against triple talaq --- ENDS --- advertisement Home Ministry has constituted committee to expedite the procedures required to place Masood Azhar and his brother Abdul Rauf among 10 others on the United Nations list of proscribed terrorists. By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: After China put a technical hold on designating Masood Azhar as an international terrorist in April this year, India has decided to give a fresh proposal to the United Nation. The Home Ministry has constituted a three-member committee to expedite the procedures required to place Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar and his brother Abdul Rauf among 10 others on the United Nations list of proscribed terrorists. advertisement PANEL TO SEND REPORT TO MEA IN 15 DAYS A three-member committee comprising IB, NIA and Home Ministry officials has been formed, and they have been asked to send a final report to the MEA in the next 15 days. The move comes after several rounds of file movement between the Home and the External Affairs Ministries blaming each other for the delay in sending the proposal to the 1267 Taliban/al Qaeda sanctions committee. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) was of the view that the proposal sent by the Home Ministry was not strong enough. Following this, it was decided that a fresh proposal would be sent after incorporating further inputs from the National Investigation Agency and the intelligence wings. The NIA, which is probing the Pathankot terror attack, had been asked to furnish details gathered by it of Azhar's role in the entire conspiracy. India will use this information to renew its bid to put Azhar's name on the UN list.ABDUL RAUF'S ROLE Azhar's younger brother Abdul Rauf, who was directing the Jaish terrorists on the phone when they attacked the Pathankot airbase on January 2 this year, also features on the list. Rauf's role in the hijack of IC-814 in 1999, which led to the release of Azhar, will also be incorporated. NIA investigation into the case is almost over with agency ready to file chargesheet in the case in the next two months. The evidence is not only physical but also digital and technical, with assistance coming from FBI. The effort is to make a fool-proof case which can withstand international scrutiny. Also read: Pathankot attack: Interpol issues Red Corner notice against Masood Azhar Pathankot terror attack: NIA gathers proof against mastermind Maulana Masood Azhar, Abdul Rauf --- ENDS --- By PTI: From Lalit K Jha Washington, Aug 24 (PTI) Amid reports that donors to the Clinton Foundation met Hillary Clinton at the state department when she was the secretary of state, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has alleged that the "scandal" is a "threat to the foundation of democracy". "She (Hillary Clinton) is bought-and-paid-for by the special interests. This corruption relates closely to another corruption scandal that strikes at the heart of our Democracy. Every day more and more alarming facts come out," 70-year-old Trump said at an election rally in Austin, Texas. advertisement "The scandal I speak of is the State Departments Pay-for-Play Scandal under Hillary Clinton. If our Secretary of State can be bought, or bribed, or sell or trade government favors, then the whole American system is threatened," he said. "It is a threat to the foundation of Democracy itself. This is what happens in a Third World country ? its the failed conditions people flee when they come to America," Trump alleged. "America can never elect a candidate who, like Clinton, did government favors for those giving her family and her foundation massive amounts of cash. The new revelations about Clintons email scandal make clear we have only seen the tip of the iceberg," he said. Trump alleged that 68-year-old Clinton is "desperate" to cover-up her crimes and that is the reason why she deleted 33,000 emails. Thats also why she lied repeatedly to Congress and the public. "She said she never sent or received classified materials. That was a lie, proved over and over again. She claimed she used an insecure email server for the convenience of using only one device. But she used multiple devices. Another lie," he said. "She said her server was secure, and had no breaches. But we know now it was completely unsecure, and the FBI Director said it could easily be hacked by our foreign enemies. Clinton said her lawyers reviewed all of her emails before destroying them," he said. A day after Trump sought investigation by special prosecutor for alleged wrongdoings by Clinton, Former New York City Mayor and US Attorney Rudy Giuliani joined the chorus of voices calling for action against the former secretary of state. "In other words, they merged the two into the Clinton Family racketeering enterprise. The need for a Special Prosecutor to investigate these apparent crimes mounts with every passing day and each new revelation of e-mails and phone logs. "Im sure all weve seen is the tip of the iceberg and there will be more to follow," alleged Giuliani. (MORE) PTI LKJ AMS --- ENDS --- By PTI: London, Aug 24 (PTI) The hijab or the headscarf has been made optional part of Police Scotlands uniform in an attempt to attract more women Muslim recruits to the force, which currently has less black and Asian representation. Previously officers could wear the religious headscarf with approval but it is now formally part of the police uniform. advertisement Police Scotland said it is working to make the force "representative of the communities we serve". Chief Constable Phil Gormley said, "I am delighted to make this announcement and welcome the support from both the Muslim community, and the wider community, as well as police officers and staff." "Like many other employers, especially in the public sector, we are working towards ensuring our service is representative of the communities we serve," he was quoted as saying by The Sun. "I hope that this addition to our uniform options will contribute to making our staff mix more diverse and adds to the life skills, experiences and personal qualities that our officers and staff bring to policing the communities of Scotland," he said. A report earlier this year showed just 2.6 per cent of applicants to join Police Scotland were from ethnic minorities. In order to reflect the 4 per cent figure across Scottish society, the force said it would need to recruit an additional 650 ethnic minority candidates. There are currently six female Muslim officers working for Police Scotland - but none of them wear the hijab either on duty or outside the force, BBC reported. The most recent figure for the overall strength of the force -- released at the end of June --- was 17,242. Official figures showed that there were 127 applications from black, Asian and ethnic minority candidates in 2015-16. PTI ASK ASK --- ENDS --- During the hearing today, Rahul's lawyer Kapil Sibal told the apex court the Congress vice-president never accused the RSS as institution for Mahatma Gandhi's killing. By Anusha Soni: Rahul Gandhi has told the Supreme Court he never blamed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, a statement that might relieve him of the defamation suit filed by the BJP's ideological fountainhead. During the hearing today in the apex court, Rahul's lawyer Kapil Sibal told the court, "Rahul Gandhi never accused the RSS as institution for the crime (Gandhi's killing)." advertisement The court, in response, said the inference can be drawn that Rahul never accused the RSS of the assassination in 1948 and set September 1 as the next date of hearing, when the case is likely to be disposed off. Senior lawyer UR Lalit, appearing for petitioner Ram Madhav Kunte, said he needed time to seek further instructions from the RSS if the petition against Rahul can be disposed off. The case pertains to Rahul's appeal before the apex court to quash the defamation suit filed by the RSS against the Congress vice-president for his remarks that it had killed Gandhi. Last month, the Supreme Court had ordered the 46-year-old leader to either apologise or face trial for the remark, an offer the Congress leader had then rejected. "You must either apologise or face trial. The case must be decided on merit, whether what you spoke was for public good or not. You can't make wholesale denunciation of an organisation. The purpose of law is not to turn citizens into litigants. History is the biggest enemy of privacy," the Supreme Court had observed. At an election rally in March last year, Rahul had accused the RSS of killing Gandhi, who was gunned down by Nathuram Godse.ALSO READ : Defamation case: Rahul Gandhi summoned by Guwahati court for remark against RSS Rahul Gandhi will not tender apology, Congress to present historical facts to back claims Rahul Gandhi is a driver who lives in Ghaziabad, verifies UP police post The Supreme Court today said that it agrees with the contention of Rahul Gandhi that he did not accuse RSS as an organisation for the assassination of Mahatama Gandhi. 'We are inclined to infer that Gandhi did not accuse RSS as an organisation,' the apex court said in its order. Rahul Gandhi was facing defamation proceedings in Maharashtra for allegedly blaming RSS for the assassination of Mahatama Gandhi. However, before the Bombay High Court Rahul Gandhi had said in his defence that he meant to accuse only some people of RSS not the entire organisation. Senior lawyer UR Lalit appearing for Petitioner Ram Madhav Kunte said he need time to seek further instructions from RSS if the petition can be disposed off. Earlier, Rahul Gandhi had refused to apologise for his comments and had maintained his stand that he only meant to accuse some people. With the apex court agreeing with the contention of Rahul Gandhi the case may be disposed off on September 1 depending on the stand of RSS. advertisement --- ENDS --- By PTI: New Delhi, Aug 23 (PTI) Facing shortfall in freight loading, Railways today rationalised coal tariff by reducing the rate for long-distance transportation and increasing it for short distance while imposing Rs 55 per ton coal terminal surcharge at loading and unloading for distance beyond 100 km. "We have rationalised the rate by changing the distance slabs for coal transportation after discussing it with Coal Ministry. The new coal loading rate effective from today will be less by 4 per cent to 13 per cent for coal transportation beyond 700 km," Railway Board Member (Traffic) Mohd Jamshed told PTI. advertisement However, he said the rate has been hiked by 7 per cent to 13 per cent for transportation between between 200 km and 700 km distance. There will be no change for transportation up to 200 km. As per the new rate, coal loading would cost Rs 712 per ton for transportation upto 497 km now as against Rs 702. It will be Rs 2,138 per ton for 1,807 km transportation now as against the existing rate of Rs 2,348. Coal loading witnessed a decline in the last four months. While the coal loading target was 200 million tons for April- July period, Railways has carried only 177 MT during this period. "The aim is to increase the coal loading volume so we have reduced the rate for the long distance transportation," Jamshed said, adding, "Coal rakes are lying idle so there is a need for rate rationalisation." Describing the move as "revenue neutral", he said, "We will be losing about Rs 700 crore in a year for the concession being given in the long distance transportation. But we are expecting to gain the same amount through increase in the volume and also from the hike in the short distance transportation." He said the levy of coal terminal surcharge at the rate of Rs 55 per ton at both loading and unloading terminals would be applicable for the distance beyond 100 km. PTI ARU AAR ZMN AAR --- ENDS --- By Kamlesh Damodar Sutar: After openly appealing his followers to defy the Supreme Court orders restricting the height of Dahi Handi, Maharashra Navnirman Sena Chief Raj Thackeray today threatened Mumbai Police for interfering in the dahi handi celebrations in the state. The MNS Supremo was speaking to reporters at his Dadar Residence said, "There is a lot of doubt about the intentions of the court as it did not hear both sides before giving verdict. Rather than the courts, the state governmnet should have framed rules and regulations for dahi handi celebrations. But the state is non-committal about this." advertisement Raj attacked the state government saying it should pay more attention to ISIS than dahi handi celebrations. Saying that he is least bothered about a contempt notice, Raj said the court should have heard the side of govinda mandals before taking any action against them. He said, "If they take action against dahi handi mandals, matters will escalate. If they want us to keep our heads calm, then they should keep their as well. It's the government's duty to maintain law and order." Several MNS leaders have organised dahi handi celebrations with huge prize money in Mumbai and Thane. Meanwhile, Mumbai Police has also decided to videograph the revelries as proof of any violation by organisers. Mumbai Police have even handed over notices to 3387 dahi handi organisers. However, the state administration has put its foot down saying no one breaking the law will be spared. 20-ft restriction for Dahi Handi human pyramids to stay, says Supreme Court Dahi Handi world record holder Govinda group to return their award to President protesting SC ruling --- ENDS --- Ex-lovers Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif will have to spend a lot of time together if the need to promote their upcoming film Jagga Jasoos really well. By India Today Web Desk: Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif's much publicised break up had a terrible effect on the shooting of their upcoming film Jagga Jasoos. Their hot-and-cold relationship grabbed headlines throughout the year and was reportedly a major deterrent to the shooting of the film. Well, according to latest reports, the two actors have agreed to come together to promote Jagga Jasoos without creating any problems. advertisement ALSO READ: Is Katrina Kaif angry with Ranbir Kapoor calling her an 'influential entity'? ALSO READ: I was heartbroken when Natalie Portman asked me to 'get lost' A report in SpotboyE.com states that Jagga Jasoos distributor asked Ranbir and Katrina to cooperate for the film's promotional strategy. As such, they cannot avoid each other anymore on promotional tours. Disney UTV and director Anurag Basu has already spent a huge chunk of money over the film. Anurag is to be blamed partly because he has taken a lot of time to complete the project. Jagga Jasoos went on floors in early 2014 and was scheduled to release in 2015. From there, it was pushed to a 2016 release and now, it has a release date of April 7 next year. Ranbir and Katrina's refusal to rehearse scenes also played a part in delaying the project. These news added negative buzz around the film. Disney UTV is reportedly very worried about the negative publicity around the film. In order to save the sinking boat, Disney UTV's executives apparently had a meeting with Ranbir, Katrina and Anurag. "A meeting was held between Disney UTV, Ranbir, Katrina and Anurag. The lead actors were asked to fully cooperate during promotions. Right from embarking on city tours to attending various shows, they have been entrusted with the task of creating a positive vibe about Jagga Jasoos. Ranbir and Katrina behaved like mature professionals and agreed to do everything in their capacity," a source told the web portal. Meanwhile, Ranbir Kapoor will be soon seen in Karan Johar's Ae Dil Hai Mushkil which also stars Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Anushka Sharma. The film is scheduled to release on October 28 this year. --- ENDS --- By PTI: Kolkata, Aug 24 (PTI) The rift in West Bengal Congress today came out in the open as a section of senior leaders demanded the ouster of state unit chief Adhir Chowdhury, accusing him of "damaging the party by his arbitrary way of functioning". Led by state Congress general secretary Kanak Debnath and other loyalists of senior party leader Manas Bhunia, the anti-Adhir section lashed out at him and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Abdul Mannan. advertisement They accused the duo of destroying the party and cautioned that it would cease to exist politically if they remained at the helm of the state unit. They have also decided to write to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi regarding their grievances against the duo. "The functioning and management of West Bengal Congress is in a sorry state. Chowdhury, who is unaware of the history and sacrifice of the party, has destroyed its organisational structure. He is not at all interested in running the unit under a collective leadership and improving our organisational base in the state," Debnath told reporters. He termed forging an alliance with the Left a "political harakiri" and claimed that Congress MLAs and other elected representatives were leaving the party and joining the Trinamool Congress (TMC) due to the decision. "During the Assembly election, the entire situation was a mess. The process of negotiation was faulty, the number of seats allotted to the Congress was very less and the selection of candidates was not even discussed at the PCC-level. Also, most of the candidates did not get the full fund allotted by the AICC for the election and the reason was best known to Chowdhury," Debnath alleged. "We appeal to every Congress leader to come out of the clutches of the Left-oriented policies being followed by Chowdhury and Mannan or else, the Congress in Bengal cannot be saved. We feel, Chowdhury should take moral responsibility and step down as the state unit chief," he said. When contacted, Chowdhury said it was the AICC that had appointed him as the state unit chief. "I do not wish to comment on these baseless allegations. It is the AICC and our partys top leadership that had appointed me the state unit chief," he said. PTI PNT SUS RC --- ENDS --- A probe panel appointed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development has concluded that the research scholar was not a Dalit. By India Today Web Desk: The Justice (retd) AK Roopanwal Commission - constituted by the Human Resource Development Ministry to look into the circumstances leading to the death of Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad Central University - has concluded that the research scholar was not a Dalit. In its report submitted to UGC on Tuesday, the commission has also claimed that senior officials at the university were not to blame for Vemula's death, effectively exonerating vice-chancellor P Appa Rao. advertisement A PTI report on the commission's findings said any official confirmation is still awaited - while HRD minister Prakash Javadekar said he was yet to receive the report, Higher Education Secretary VS Oberoi refused to either confirm or deny it. The Roopanwal Commission was formed by the HRD Ministry to look into the circumstances leading to Vemula's suicide. He had committed killed himself by hanging from the ceiling fan in his hostel room at the university. Vemula's suicide triggered a huge political storm with opposition parties launching a scathing attack on the Union Government over the issue. University authorities of were also accused of mishandling the situation. --- ENDS --- The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) may consider a claim of the Russian Paralympians, banned from the upcoming games in Rio, according to an official statement. By Indo-Asian News Service: The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) may consider a claim of the Russian Paralympians, banned from the upcoming games in Rio, according to an official statement. ECHR would consider the claim of the Russian Paralympians should they file it, the court said in a statement on Tuesday, reports Sputnik. (Also read: Russian team banned from competing in Rio Paralympics) advertisement The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has rejected the Russian Paralympic Committee's (RPC) appeal against its ban from the upcoming Rio Olympics. Russian Senator Tatiana Lebedeva suggested that Moscow could file a lawsuit with ECHR. (Also read: Russia loses appeal against Paralympics ban) "All properly submitted claims are examined by the court which will examine whether the claim meets the conditions of admissibility defined by the European Convention on Human Rights before it may be considered substantially," the court said. --- ENDS --- ...seems like Salman Khan is taking things in his own stride, and is in no hurry to tie the knot with Romanian beauty Iulia Vantur. By India Today Web Desk: Salman Khan and girlfriend Iulia Vantur have been painting the town red for a while now, by choosing to be snapped together wherever they go. From the Ladakh schedule of Kabir Khan's Tubelight to the Raksha Bandhan celebrations with Salman's family, Iulia is going the extra mile to be with the superstar. PHOTOS: Salman Khan, with girlfriend Iulia Vantur by him, Being Bhai for his sisters advertisement PHOTOS: Salman Khan and Iulia Vantur meet the Dalai Lama in Ladakh ALSO READ: Salman Khan's girlfriend Iulia Vantur is already Mrs Khan. Not joking! The recent developments in Salman-Iulia's life have come across as quite a surprise for the Bajrangi Bhaijaan star's fans. People all over the country are finding it a bit hard to digest the nonchalance with which Bhai and his ladylove are being seen everywhere. Especially given that Khan's stand on Iulia Vantur and their marriage has always been more to do with 'we're good friends' than anything else. However, after numerous relationships, seems like Salman is finally deciding to settle down with the Romanian beauty. The press in her country, Romania, has already been calling her Doamna Khan, which rougly translates in English to the 'Royal Mrs Khan'. A source informed Bollywood Life, "Iulia is not from India. She's still taking her time to get used to all this attention on her. Initially she would get irritated and angry on all the news stories surrounding her and Salman. But she has finally made her peace with it. She has realised that this is the price she will have to pay for being close to Salman." If reports are to be believed, Salman is taking the plunge soon, but not yet. The grapevine might be going into a tizzy deciding a wedding date for Salman; the actor, however is taking everything easy. The source told the website, "Iulia is someone special and he's definitely investing a lot in this relationship. They both are taking baby steps and being careful as to not let this fizzle out by making the mistakes they might have made in their previous relationships. She is very close to his family and inner circle of friends. Iulia doesn't take this for granted and is committed to make this work." Only last week, we saw Iulia accompanying Salman to Leh, where Khan met the Dalai Lama on the sidelines of his Tubelight shoot. On Raksha Bandhan, the lenses captured Iulia along with Salman's family to celebrate the occasion. --- ENDS --- advertisement 35-year-old Afsa has been arrested in charge of stealing cash and gold worth Rs 3.25 lakh from Salman Khan's sister, Arpita Khan Sharma's house in Bandra (West). By India Today Web Desk: According to latest developments, Afsa, the 35-year-old help working at Salman Khan's sister, Arpita Khan Sharma's house, has been detained for allegedly stealing cash and gold worth Rs 3.25 lakh from Arpita's house in Bandra (West). The crime happened when Arpita and her husband Aayush Sharma were away from their house on a holiday. ALSO READ: Theft at Salman's sister Aayush Khan Sharma's house, goods worth Rs 3.25 lakh stolen advertisement ALSO READ: Salman's next Tubelight is not original but copy of Hollywood film Little Boy? Arpita and Aayush understood that a theft had taken place only when they returned home from a holiday on Sunday (August 21). Afsa Khan, the domestic help, became a suspect when she stopped reporting to work since as far back as July 30. Afsa, a resident for Nalasopara, was arrested after a complaint was registered on Sunday. A case has already been registered against the culprits under the Indian Penal Code Section 381 (Theft by clerk or servant of property in possession of master) "During the course of investigations we realised that the theft must have taken place much earlier than Sunday. We arrested Afsa from Nalasopara after which she was produced in Bandra court. She has been remanded in police custody till 25th of August for further investigation," said an official from Khar police station. The total loot, according to the cops, included cash worth Rs 2.25 lakh, a 10 gram gold coin and designer clothes. --- ENDS --- "It appears that the source of leak is from overseas and not in India," a statement released by the Indian Navy said. By India Today Web Desk: The Defence Ministry today said the source of the leak of over 20,000 top secret documents detailing the capabilities of the French-designed Scorpene submarine being built for the Indian Navy appeared to be "from overseas and not from India". "It appears that the source of leak is from overseas and not in India," a statement released by the Navy said. advertisement Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had earlier said the security breach appeared to be the work of hackers. "This came to my knowledge at 12 midnight. It is a case of hacking," Parrikar had said in his first reaction to the Scorpene submarine leak. "It is not a 100 per cent leak. The Navy chief has been asked to analyse what exactly has been leaked," he had said. The leak, first reported in The Australian newspaper, contains more than 22,000 pages outlining the secret combat capability of six submarines that DCNS of France has designed for the Indian Navy. ALSO READ | Over 20,000 pages of classified data on India's Scorpene submarine leaked, says report --- ENDS --- French firm DCNS told Australian press the leak which hit the Scorpene program would not recur in the country's submarine contract, but this information was not passed to the Indian side. By Jugal R Purohit: Notwithstanding the close ties between India and France, French firm DCNS which is helping India build constructing six Scorpene submarines in Mumbai, chose to not inform the Indian Navy (IN) or the Ministry of Defence (MoD) about the leak of nearly 22,400 sensitive documents pertaining to the submarine program and its secret features. Top sources in the Indian establishment have informed INDIA TODAY that they learnt the matter from the Australian press reports. advertisement What makes this significant is that DCNS while replying to the Australian press tried to reassure, saying the leak which hit the Scorpene program would not recur in the Australian submarine contract it has recently secured. However, this information was not passed to the Indian side. It was reported by the 'The Australian', "The company also implied - but did not say directly - that the leak might have occurred at India's end, rather than from France. 'Uncontrolled technical data is not possible in the Australian arrangements,' the company said". FORMER NAVAL OFFICER LEAKED VITAL DATA: DCNS The report then quoted DCNS saying, "Multiple and independent controls exist within DCNS to prevent unauthorised access to data and all data movements are encrypted and recorded. In the case of India, where a DCNS design is built by a local company, DCNS is the provider and not the controller of technical data. In the case of Australia, and unlike India, DCNS is both the provider and in-country controller of technical data for the full chain of transmission and usage over the life of the submarines". It was also mentioned that the needle of suspicion, for the alleged theft, was on a former French naval officer who was a part of DCNS in 2011. While it may not have been possible to avert the theft, but information shared earlier could have help react sooner and more effectively. GROPING IN THE DARK "Our biggest problem is that we just don't know how much we have lost. We are only taking baby steps in our effort to understand what has hit us," said a senior source. When asked if it was incumbent on the DCNS to keep its Indian partner in the loop, Vice Admiral KN Sushil (Retd), a submariner said, "If they can reply to the Australian media they should well have informed us about this leak as well. Perhaps they may have thought that they would obliquely be admitting to the leak if they informed us". The DCNS and Navantia of Spain are the technology providers who are overseeing India's Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) build these six submarines for a total cost of $3.5 billion. Armaris is the main French contracting firm which overlooks the MDL's efforts. PARRIKAR SEEKS REPORTS FROM NAVY CHIEF While Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar termed the leaks as a result of 'hacking' and said he had sought a report from the navy chief, the Indian Navy in an official statement said, "The available information is being examined at Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy) and an analysis is being carried out by the concerned specialists. It appears that the source of leak is from overseas and not in India." advertisement A spokesperson for DCNS India was approached for a comment but there was none provided till the time this article was written. - Writer is a senior special correspondent with India Today TV and tweets @JRPUR ALSO READ: Over 20,000 pages of classified data on India's Scorpene submarine leaked, says report Exclusive: Handicapped by red tape, Indian Navy to fit old weapons on brand new submarine --- ENDS --- Actor-turned-politician Ramya has been embroiled in controversy since her remark on Saturday that Pakistanis were good human beings. Upholding her right to freedom of speech, she has refused to apologise. By Mail Today Bureau: A day after a private complaint was filed in a court in Karnataka against actor-turned-politician Ramya for her comments on Pakistan, the veteran superstar refused to tender an apology contending that she was entitled to express her views. The court, which admitted the complaint, on Tuesday decided to hear the case on Saturday. REMARKS AT SAARC STIR CONTROVERSY advertisement The former Congress MP, who was in Pakistan recently for a meeting of the SAARC members, invoked the wrath of the BJP when she disputed Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar's statement that "visiting Pakistan was like going to hell." During her recent trip to her home constituency Mandya on August 20, Ramya said that Pakistanis were good human beings like Indians. Since then, protests by the BJP members have become common with some of her arch enemies even terming her a "brand ambassador" of Pakistan. COMPLAINT FILED ACCUSING HER OF SEDITION On Monday evening, advocate Katmane Vittal Gowda, who headed the Praja Ranga Vedike (Kodagu district unit) filed a private complaint in the Somawarpete Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Court accusing her of sedition and provocation. "It's really sad but such is the situation in country today. Everybody is entitled to their views and that is what democracy is about. I stand by my statement," Ramya said. ALSO READ: Indian Sedition Law: What is it and what does it say --- ENDS --- The leak, which could prove to be a bonanza for India's rival countries, contains exhaustive secret information on the stealth capabilities of six new Indian submarines designed by French shipbuilder DCNS. The leak, which could prove to be a bonanza for India's rival countries, contains exhaustive secret information on the stealth capabilities of six new Indian submarines. Photo: Reuters By India Today Web Desk: More than 20,000 pages of highly classified information detailing the technical and stealth capabilities of India's Scorpene submarines have been leaked, an Australian newspaper reported on Tuesday. The leak, which could prove to be a bonanza for India's rival countries, contains exhaustive secret information on the stealth capabilities of six new Indian submarines designed by French shipbuilder DCNS, including what frequencies they gather intelligence at, what levels of noise they make at various speeds and their diving depths, range and endurance. advertisement "A case of suspected leak of documents related to Scorpene submarines has been reported by a foreign media house. The available information is being examined at Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy) and an analysis is being carried out by the concerned specialists," the Navy said in a statement. "It appears that the source of leak is from overseas and not in India," the Navy added. The leaked data provides information on areas where the submarine crew can speak safely to avoid (sonar) detection by the enemy. It also discloses magnetic, electromagnetic and infra-red data as well as specifications of the submarine's torpedo launch system and combat systems. The damaging leak also puts into public domain the speed and conditions needed for using the periscope, the noise specifications of the propeller and the radiated noise levels that occur when the submarine surfaces. The data, accessed by the paper, includes 4,457 pages on the submarines underwater sensors, 4,209 pages on its above-water sensors, 4,301 pages on its combat management system, 493 pages on its torpedo launch system and specifications, 6,841 pages on the sub's communications system and 2,138 pages on its navigation systems. "As a serious matter pertaining to the Indian Scorpene programme, French national authorities for defence security will formally investigate and determine the exact nature of the leaked documents," a DCNS spokeswoman said in a statement. "The matters in connection to India have no bearing on the Australian submarine programme which operates under the Australian government's arrangements for the protection of sensitive data," the shipbuilder added. Also read: 10 things to know about India's most lethal Scorpene submarines --- ENDS --- Seoul officials condemned the launch as an "armed protest" against the start of annual South Korean-U.S. military drills that North Korean calls an invasion rehearsal. By AP: A North Korean ballistic missile fired from a submarine on Wednesday flew about 500 kilometers (310 miles) in the longest flight by that type of weapon, Seoul officials said, a range that can place much of South Korea within its striking distance. Seoul officials condemned the launch as an "armed protest" against the start of annual South Korean-U.S. military drills that North Korean calls an invasion rehearsal. The launch was also the latest in a series of missile, rocket and other weapon tests by North Korea, which is openly pushing to acquire a reliable weapon capable striking targets as far away as the continental U.S. advertisement The missile fired from a submarine off the eastern North Korean coastal town of Sinpo reached into Japan's air defense identification zone, according to Seoul and Tokyo officials. The U.S. Strategic Command said it tracked the North Korean submarine launch of the presumed KN-11 missile into the Sea of Japan. "This is an impermissible and outrageous act that represents a grave threat to the security of Japan and seriously undermines the peace and stability of the region," Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said. Key Highlights South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launch showed an "improvement" in ability over previous similar missile tests. The 500-kilometer distance is longer than ones recorded by other submarine-launched missiles launched by North Korea, and puts most of South Korea within its range if it is fired near the border, although North Korea already has a variety of land-based missiles that can strike South Korea and Japan. The North's acquiring the ability to launch missiles from submarines would be an alarming development because missiles fired from submerged vessels are harder to detect in advance. The U.S. Strategic Command statement said the North Korean launch did not pose a threat to North America but that the U.S. military "remains vigilant in the face of North Korean provocations." North Korea fired two missiles from submarines earlier this year but South Korean defense officials believe they exploded in mid-air after flying fewer than 30 kilometers (18 miles). North Korea's missile and nuclear programs are a source of regional security concerns. Many outside experts say the North doesn't yet have a reliable long-range nuclear missile capable of reaching the continental U.S., but they acknowledge the North has been making steady progress on its weapons programs and could one day acquire such a weapon. Some civilian experts said they believe the North already has the technology to put warheads on shorter-range missiles that can strike South Korea and Japan. South Korean defense officials believe North Korea has about 70 operational submarines and appears to be mainly imitating Russian designs to develop submarine-launched missiles. It is believed the North obtained several Soviet-era Golf-class ballistic missile submarines in the mid-1990s. Wednesday's launch comes two days after the U.S. and South Korea began their 12-day Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercises, prompting North Korean threats of retaliation. Before the launch, North Korea warned that the joint military exercises were pushing the Korean Peninsula "to the brink of a war" and asked for an urgent meeting of the U.N. Security Council. South Korea's Foreign Ministry warned the North's pursuit of weapons programs would only invite more sanctions, deepen its international isolation, and eventually speed up its collapse. The South's Joint Chiefs of Staff noted the launch violated U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban any ballistic missile activities by North Korea. The launch also comes at a time of intensified animosities between the rival Koreas over the defection of a senior North Korean diplomat in London and a U.S. plan to install a sophisticated missile defense system in South Korea. About 28,500 U.S. troops are based in South Korea to help deter potential aggression from North Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. North Korea usually responds to the regular South Korea-U.S. military drills with weapons tests and fiery warlike rhetoric. The American-led U.N. Command in South Korea on Tuesday accused North Korea of planting land mines near a truce village inside the Demilitarized Zone that divides the two Koreas. Much of the border, one of the world's most dangerous flashpoints, is strewn with land mines and laced with barbed wire. South Korean media said no land mines had been planted in the area of the truce village of Panmunjom until North Korea placed an unspecified number there last week. ALSO READ: China warns India against deploying BrahMos cruise missile in Arunachal --- ENDS --- Shahid Kapoor's latest photo with pregnant wife Mira Rajput is the best thing you'll see today. By India Today Web Desk: Come September, and Shahid Kapoor and wife Mira Rajput will enter a new phase in the lives. The parents-to-be are all excited to embrace parenthood. And the 35-year-old actor, who tied the knot with Mira in July last year, is playing the perfect husband by being besides his wife all the time. ALSO READ: Shahid Kapoor confirms Mira Rajput's pregnancy, says haan main baap banne vaala hoon advertisement ALSO READ: Shahid Kapoor finally opens up on wife Mira Rajput's health So much so that the Udta Punjab actor hasn't taken up any project till the time Mira delivers the baby. Moreover, the doting husband gave a glimpse into their perfect moment when he posted an adorable picture with pregnant wife Mira. Mira, who is expected to deliver the baby in mid-September, is seen flaunting her baby bump, while Shahid is seen lying on her lap. Moments A photo posted by Shahid Kapoor (@shahidkapoor) on Aug 23, 2016 at 8:32am PDT Ever since the time Shahid married Mira, he hasn't be making any attempts to hide his personal life. From posting pictures from his holidays to making announcement about his wife's pregnancy, the Haider actor has been active on social media. And with just few days left for his wife to deliver the baby, he yet again shared this perfect moment on Instagram. On the work front, Shahid will be next seen in Vishal Bhardwaj's period drama Rangoon. The film, which also stars Kangana Ranaut and Saif Ali Khan, is set to hit the screens in February 2017. --- ENDS --- The two actresses stole the limelight with their performance to all-time chartbuster 'Aa Dekhein Zara'. By Mail Today Bureau: Sonakshi Sinha turned out to record a special episode for promoting an upcoming film at a reality dance show that has Jacqueline Fernandez as one of its judges. The focus, though, very soon shifted to a dance face-off between the two ladies, and which star would put her best foot forward. DANCE-OFF REVEALS HINT OF RIVALRY advertisement Although both the heroines seemed to enjoy every moment of the playful contest of matching rhythm, one perhaps spotted a hint of the merry old B-Town cat wars somewhere. Sonakshi looked gorgeous in a killer white short number, the appeal accentuated by designer high boots, on the particular episode of Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa, scheduled to be aired over the weekend. SONAKSHI CAME TO PROMOTE AKIRA She was on the show as part of the publicity campaign of her new film Akira, and was warmly greeted by Jacqueline, along with her co-judges, filmmaker Karan Johar and choreographer Ganesh Hegde. When two of B-town's hottest girls - both known for their dancing skills - get together on a dance reality show, however, film promotion and dance contests are bound to take a backseat. Just as contestants Shakti Arora and Arjun Bijlani finished a dance-off as part of their performances on this weekend's theme on show, host Manish Paul challenged Sona and Jackie to take the stage and match their skills. AA DEKHEIN ZARA... The two stars sportingly took up the challenge, and got down to matching steps to the all-time blockbuster number, 'Aa dekhein zara kis mein kitna hai dum'. While Jacqueline showed off a few cool westernised moves, Sonakshi tried interpreting the song to a more traditionally oomphy andaaz. Host Manish Paul then cheekily threw the ball in the court of Johar and Hegde, asking them to declare a 'winner' among Sonakshi and Jacqueline. Hardly a duo to get into a spot over such situations, Karan Johar praised Jacqueline's style while Ganesh Hegde said he loved Sonakshi's rendition. Talk of diplomacy on the dance floor. AKIRA MARKS SHIFT FROM SONAKSHI'S USUAL Sonakshi's new film Akira sees her make an attempt to go for an image makeover. The actor has been caught in an image trap playing the traditional beauty opposite aging superstars in Bollywood ever since she made her debut in Dabangg in 2010 opposite Salman Khan. Akira is a heroine-oriented action flick directed by Ghajini maker AR Murugadoss that lets Sonakshi play the avenging heroine and engage in heavy-duty violence. The film also features Konkona Sen Sharma while filmmaker Anurag Kashyap makes an appearance as the villain. advertisement ALSO READ: Sonakshi Sinha, Bunty Sajdeh not getting married. Period. --- ENDS --- By PTI: New Delhi, Aug 23 (PTI) Shares of Tata Power fell by over 3 per cent today after the companys consolidated net profit tumbled 76 per cent for the quarter ended June 30, 2016. The scrip went down by 3.24 per cent to end at Rs 74.75 on BSE. During the day, it lost 4.46 per cent to Rs 73.80. advertisement On NSE, shares of the company declined by 2.92 per cent to settle at Rs 74.80. The companys market valuation fell by Rs 675.9 crore to Rs 20,217.10 crore. Tata Powers consolidated net profit tumbled 76 per cent to Rs 72.49 crore for the quarter ended June 30, 2016 on account of one-time regulatory expense of Rs 272 crore and forex losses of Rs 160 crore. The company had posted a consolidated net profit after taxes, minority interest and share of profit of associates of Rs 303.14 crore in the year-ago period, Tata Power said in a filing to BSE. However, in a statement the company said "PAT stood at Rs 72 crore mainly due to one off items as well as first time impact on account of IndAS (Indian Accounting Standards)". The consolidated total income from operations (net) during April-June quarter was at Rs 6,838.30 crore, registering a decline of 4.8 per cent. PTI SUM ABI --- ENDS --- The Telangana state has become the first south-Indian state to have dedicated children court. By Ashish Pandey: The Telangana state has become the first south-Indian state to have dedicated children court. After Goa and national capital Delhi, Telangana is the third state of the country which has a child-friendly court with features like separate waiting rooms video camera trial for the accused, mandated under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act-2012. The 'child-friendly' courtroom was jointly inaugurated at the Nampally Criminal Courts Complex in Hyderabad by Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan of High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad and Director General of Telangana Police Anurag Sharma. advertisement POCSO stipulates child-friendly court rooms be put in place across all states at the earliest in the interest of children in need of care. Speaking at the inauguration, Metropolitan Sessions Judge T Rajani said "This is for the first time in South India and the sixth court in the country to be child friendly," "At present, there are over 1640 cases under POCSO Act that were pending at various stages in different district courts of Telangana till 2015" added the learned judge. She also said "The child (witness/victim) will be allowed direct interaction with the judge, while the accused (who will be at a different location) will be able to view and hear the proceedings via two-way video conferencing in the courtroom." Making it more friendly the judge and the police personnel will be in plain clothes in the children's court and unlike a normal court set-up, the child will not be allowed to come face to face with the alleged offenders to make sure he/she is not intimidated while the court proceedings are on. The DGP of Telangana Anurag Sharma said "The child-friendly space for recording the witness and testimony of the child will aid in improving the conviction rates for the crimes against children." --- ENDS --- The band is in Mumbai for a show that will also feature music duo, Vishal-Shekhar. By India Today Web Desk: After their recent collaboration with musicians Vishal Dadlani and Shekhar Ravjiani, British band The Vamps is in no mood to let go of their association with India. The popular boy band whose latest track, Beliya with the Indian music duo has been raking in positive reviews is in Mumbai for a performance at Hard Rock Cafe, Andheri. The band recently collaborated with music duo Vishal-Shekhar. Picture courtesy: Twitter/Vishal Dadlani advertisement But before that much-awaited show does come into being, the band's members seem to be making the most of their time in Mumbai. Comprised of Bradley Simpson, Connor Ball, James McVey and Tristan Evans, the band reportedly landed in the country on Monday evening where they were spotted signing autographs and posing for the shutterbugs. Also Read: Update: Is Coldplay really performing in India? Cryptic tweet sparks confusion Not just Vishal-Shekhar, the band also had a tryst with Bollywood actor Boman Irani and eminent Indian choreographer Farah Khan who also posted a selfie with the band. The band spotted outside Mumbai airport. Photo: Yogen Shah Bollywood star Ajay Devgn also hinted at a possible collaboration with the band by posting a picture with the band's members alongside music composer Mithoon. "Guess where this association is heading??" Devgn wrote. The picture posted by Ajay Devgn. Picture courtesy: Twitter/AjayDevgn Here's hoping this musical treat reaches us soon enough. --- ENDS --- By PTI: Gurdaspur (Pb), Aug 24 (PTI) Police today carried out a search operation in Dinanagar area here after an 11-year-old boy claimed to have spotted two suspicious armed men. However, they ruled out the possibility of their presence following the search. "We have launched a search operation after a boy saw two suspicious men who were carrying arms," Gurdaspur Police, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Surendra Lamba said. advertisement The boy, a student of Little Flower Convent School here, told his class teacher that he spotted two men in black clothes around 10:30 AM who jumped the wall of his school. The school then informed police about the incident. As many as 250 policemen were deployed to carry out search operation in Dinanagar and the operation was later extended to the whole district, he said, adding that area domination exercise was also conducted in the city. Policement led by Guradspur SSP Jasdeep Singh visited the school and went through the footage of the CCTV camera. After going through CCTV footage and circumstantial evidence, they ruled out the possibility of the presence of suspicious men in the area as reported by boy. "But as a precaution, we are sill carrying out the search which will go on till tomorrow," the ASP said. An alert was sounded few days ago in the border districts of Gurdaspur and Pathankot after a call from Pakistan was intercepted by security agencies suggesting movement of some suspects. Police along with army had then conducted massive search operation. Significantly, terrorists who had sneaked from across the border had attacked Pathankot air base on the intervening night of January 1-2 while Dinanagar in Gurdaspur was targeted on July 27 last year. PTI CHS MNG ZMN MNG --- ENDS --- By PTI: New Delhi, Aug 24 (PTI) In another major step in fight against tax evasion, the Cabinet today gave its approval to the revised DTAA between India and Cyprus that provides for source-based taxation of capital gains on transfer of shares instead of one based on residence. "The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval to signing of an agreement and the protocol between India and Cyprus for avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to taxes on income," an official statement said. Noting that this step follows the recent amendment of the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with Mauritius, the statement said the treaty with Cyprus had provided for residence-based taxation of capital gains as in the case of Mauritius. "With the revision of the treaty now approved by the Cabinet, capital gains will be taxed in India for entities resident in Cyprus, subject to double tax relief," it added. In other words, India will have the right to tax capital gains arising in the country. advertisement The provisions in the earlier treaty for residence-based taxation were leading to distortions in funds flows through artificial diversion of various investments from their true countries of origin for the sake of avoiding tax. "As in the case of Mauritius, this amendment will deter such activities. Negotiations with Singapore are also under way for similar changes," the statement said. An official-level meeting between India and Cyprus was held here in June to finalise the new India-Cyprus DTAA, wherein all pending issues, including taxation of capital gains, were discussed, and an in-principle agreement was reached. "It was agreed to provide for source-based taxation of capital gains on transfer of shares. However, a grand-fathering clause would be provided for investments made prior to April 1, 2017, in respect of which capital gains would be taxed in the country of which taxpayer is a resident," the ministry had said in a statement earlier. India and Cyprus have a DTAA since 1994. Cyprus is a major source of foreign funds flows into the country. From April 2000 till March 2016, India received foreign direct investment to the tune of Rs 42,680.76 crore from Cyprus. The completion of negotiation on avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion has paved the way for removal of Cyprus from the list of Notified Jurisdictional Areas retrospectively from November 2013. PTI BKS ARD --- ENDS --- The 20-year-old Brazilian student Usain Bolt was spotted with on the night of his 30th birthday has opened about the events of the night. By India Today Web Desk: Unless you've been living under a rock, you know by now of Olympian Usain Bolt's off-track adventures (pun intended) on the occasion of his 30th birthday. After breaking the internet with in-bed pictures featuring a young Brazilian woman named Jady Duarte, the sprinter was spotted partying--rather hard--in London for two nights in a row. advertisement Now, the 20-year-old Brazilian student whose pictures with Bolt went viral has spoken about how the night (they spent together) transpired. According to what she's told DailyMail.com, Usain Bolt lured her into bed by baring his six-pack abs and pulling his famous victory pose. "He stood in front of us and suddenly he pulled up his shirt and showed us his six pack," Duarte told daily Mail, and added, "I had never seen anything like it. I just had to reach out and stroke it. It felt incredible. The muscles were as hard as stone. But I was paying so much attention to his abs that at first I didn't even notice it was Usain Bolt." Picture courtesy: Instagram/duarte_jady "I knew who he was from TV. My mother has been screaming during all his races because she's such a huge fan," said she. "He's dark, tall, muscley--just my type--but there were so many beautiful girls there I never imagined I would be the one. The bodyguard said Bolt wants you to come over. I didn't go at first because I was playing hard to get. Most girls would go over there like a shot but I wanted to make him work. When I was waiting in line to pay at the end of the night he sent the bodyguard over again. He said, 'Why are you not following him? This is Usain Bolt'." "Finally we were waiting in line for a taxi and he smiled at me and did the famous victory pose, so I was in no doubt who he was. That's was when I decided it was time to give in to him. He pulled me into the taxi and gave me an incredible kiss." Picture courtesy: Instagram/duarte_jady The two of them then made their way back to the Rio 2016 Athletes' Village, where the entry for non-competitors was strictly barred after 9pm. But they reportedly bypassed security by hopping on to an official bus. "They never asked me for any sort of pass or my ID," said the student. "They didn't even question him, I guess, because he's Bolt. We had two other guys with us and I think they were athletes because they also had muscley, fit bodies. I was surprised that he didn't take me to an expensive hotel but I didn't pay much attention because we were kissing the entire way. The room was tidy but he had two single beds and they were so small that his feet must have been poking out the end when he slept," Daily Mail quoted her as saying. --- ENDS --- advertisement Mahfooz Yar Khan, Akhtar's lawyer, told reporters outside the council building as his client voted inside that "He can run Karachi via video link for five years." By Reuters: The imprisoned politician who is almost certain to be the next mayor of Pakistan's largest city of Karachi will run the teeming metropolis via "video link" from his prison cell, his lawyer said on Wednesday. Waseem Akhtar, who was arrested last month on suspicion of aiding alleged militants, arrived in an armoured police vehicle at the British-era Karachi Metropolitan Corporation building to cast his vote in the final round of elections that has his party in an unassailable lead. advertisement MQM COMTROLS COUNCIL Akhtar is a member of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), which swept local elections in December, but he could not take office because of legal challenges that prevented members of the city council from casting their vote. MQM controls the council. "He will open an office in jail and via video link he will conduct council sessions," Mahfooz Yar Khan, Akhtar's lawyer, told reporters outside the council building as his client voted inside. "He can run Karachi via video link for five years." SYMBOLIC FOR POWER STRUGGLE IN KARACHI The election of an imprisoned politician as mayor is symbolic of the ongoing power struggle for control of Karachi, a port city that is home to 20 million people, the stock exchange, central bank, as well as militants and gangsters. Akhtar's secular MQM has dominated politics and commerce in the city for decades, but a paramilitary crackdown on crime since 2013 has undermined its power base. On Tuesday, police lodged a case of treason against MQM's firebrand London-based leader, Altaf Hussain, and sealed the party's headquarters after Hussain had incited supporters to attack the office of a TV channel in clashes that left one dead. How Akhtar will manage to run the city is far from clear, with the courts not expected to release him before he likely takes oath on August 30. MQM officials have said they will ask authorities to provide him with a well-furnished office. Police will escort him to any meetings he is allowed to attend on the outside. VARIOUS CHARGES SLAPPED ON AKHTAR Security forces have arrested scores of MQM members in the last year and accuse them of torture, murder and racketeering in a bid to keep their grip on the city. MQM denies any link to crime and accuses paramilitary forces of a series of extra-judicial killings of its members. Akhtar was arrested on July 19 on suspicion of sheltering and providing medical treatment to alleged militants and criminals. He also faces earlier charges of inciting riots. advertisement Also Read: It's official! UN confirms Dawood Ibrahim is in Pakistan --- ENDS --- By PTI: New Delhi, Aug 24 (PTI) Extending its downtrend for the third straight session today, shares of Welspun India tanked 10 per cent as the US-based retailer Target Corp has decided to terminate its contract with the company for alleged lapses in products supplied to it. The scrip plummeted 9.95 per cent to Rs 59.30 - its lowest trading permissible limit for the day - on BSE. advertisement On NSE, shares of the company plunged 9.98 per cent to hit the lower circuit of Rs 59.50. In the previous two trading sessions, the stock declined by 40 per cent. In three days, the company has lost Rs 4,374.98 crore to Rs 5,958 crore in market valuation. The Indian textiles manufacturer said it is investigating the root cause and in the process of appointing an external auditor to audit its supply systems and processes. Target Corporation is the second largest retailer in the US after Walmart and is a major customer for Welspun. "We refer to a product specification issue with one client programme of our subsidiary WGBL. We have initiated immediate actions to investigate the root cause. We are appointing an external auditor (one of the Big Four) to audit our supply systems and processes," Welspun India had said in a BSE filing. Target Corp said it has confirmed after an extensive investigation that Welspun, which uses Egyptian cotton to make bedsheets and pillowcases sold by the retailer, substituted another type of non-Egyptian cotton while producing these sheets between August 2014 and July 2016. "As soon as our investigation confirmed the substitution, we pulled all remaining products from Target stores and Target.com. We have informed Welspun that, due to this conduct, we are in the process of terminating our relationship with them," Target Corp had said in a statement last week. PTI SUM BAL ANU --- ENDS --- News Lifestyle Fashion After 20 years in the fashion world, designer Wendell Rodricks says goodbye Ireland's draconian abortion law is no secret. So, what is one to do when abortion is the only personal choice? By India Today Web Desk: Remember Savita Halappanavar--the Indian-origin woman from Ireland, who was 17 weeks pregnant when she developed back pain and tests revealed that she would lose her baby? Despite the medical complication, Savita was refused an abortion at an Irish hospital, stating that "it's a catholic country," which eventually led to her death. The struggle is real for women living in Ireland, who are not ready to be a mother yet or those who are facing problems with their pregnancy. They can't simply drive to the nearest clinic, because abortions have been illegal in the country since 1983. advertisement This is the story of one such woman, who, accompanied by a friend, made a trip to Manchester to get the simple procedure done. Also read: 8 safe exercises for you to practise if you're pregnant On Saturday at 6 am, the two women departed for Manchester, England. This, however, is not unusual--an estimated 165,000 women have travelled out of their home country to have the procedure done, with an estimated 5,000 making the trip each year-- according to the United Kingdom's Department of Health. The woman live-tweeted her journey to the UK, which began early on August 20, with her posting this early Saturday morning from the Twitter account--Two Women Travel. They described their voyage as "Two women, one procedure, 48 hours away from home." Also read: Not getting pregnant? Here 5 possible causes that are affecting your fertility The women then went on to post some more updates from the waiting room of the clinic, the stressful lunch and the aftermath (a blood-stained bed sheet). The companion tweeted late afternoon, "Friend is out and safe. Procedure was quick and staff very warm." Soon after they posted their story on Twitter, it went viral and overnight, the account raked up thousands of followers. Celebrities like James Corden also tweeted in solidarity. Although Ireland's health minister tweeted his thanks to the women "for telling the story of reality which faces many(sic)." There has been no response from Prime Minister Enda Kenny, who was mentioned in almost all their tweets. --- ENDS --- In a series of five tweets a woman described what constitutes as rape and it is going viral for all the right reasons. By India Today Web Desk: Earlier this month, a New Zealand-based comedian -- Alice Brine -- explained the importance of consent, and slammed the culture of victim blaming after rape. Her post went viral with 89,000 shares and 176,425 lies. Now, a Twitter user, Nafisa Ahmed, used a perfect analogy to describe what constitutes as rape. In a series of tweets, she reinforces the importance of consent and describes why manipulation, threat or any kind of violence is not acceptable. advertisement Check out how she uses a 5-dollar note to explain the importance on consent: Photo: Twitter/Nafisa Ahmed Photo: Twitter/Nafisa Ahmed Photo: Twitter/Nafisa Ahmed Photo: Twitter/Nafisa Ahmed Photo: Twitter/Nafisa Ahmed Photo: Twitter/Nafisa Ahmed Photo: Twitter/Nafisa Ahmed Photo: Twitter/Nafisa Ahmed Her $5 analogy has gone viral with more than 11,000 retweets and nearly 10,000 likes. --- ENDS --- It took 25 people, 200 kg of potato and bread, and 3 hours to make this 145 feet-long wonder. By Shreya Goswami: Some challenges are totally worth it, and when it comes to vada pav, the sky is the limit. You might think 'how many vada pav can you eat in a minute' is a tough challenge, but 25 people in Gurgaon just proved that there are bigger dares you can take up, and accomplish. Nukkadwala, a chain of restaurants that is well-known for selling authentic Indian street food varieties, decided to mark the very special occasion of World Vada Pav Day by creating the World's Longest Vada Pav. The event took place yesterday, at Vatika Business Park, Sector 49, Gurgaon. advertisement It took three days to prepare for the final assembly of this 145 feet-long edible wonder. The final plating was done in a record time of three hours yesterday. Over 2,500 people attended this event, and finally feasted on the vada pav. Of course, there was more than enough to go around! Also read: India's oldest Parle factory in Mumbai shuts down after 87 years Take a look at this video, and you'll know that the vada pav was really that long: #nukkadvala #vadapav #day ??? A video posted by Pransh Sharma (@17pransh02) on Aug 23, 2016 at 12:07pm PDT Gaurav Bhalla, Managing Director, Nukkadwala, said: "I think we take our street food like Vada Pav for granted. We wanted people to know about the World Vada Pav Day, so we decided to celebrate it in our very own unique Nukkadwala style." Bhalla also confirmed that their grand vada pav success is being considered for Limca Book of Records' 2018 edition. Vada pav is a popular street food from Maharashtra, and many restaurants and cafes across the country sell their adaptations of the dish as well. While Nukkadwala will continue selling street food varieties like vada pav, and the Gujarati dabeli among other delectable goodies, we hope more people take up challenges like these to celebrate food. With inputs from IANS. --- ENDS --- ABC/Randy HolmesIggy Pop will make a special appearance at the U.S. premiere of Gimme Danger, the new Jim Jarmusch-directed documentary about Pop's influential proto-punk band The Stooges, which will take place October 1 at the New York Film Festival. The screening will be held at Alice Tully Hall in New York City at 9:15 p.m. ET, and Jarmusch also will take part in the event. Gimme Danger traces the history of the unpredictable and volatile group from its late-1960s formation in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to the present day. The film features new interviews, archival photos and concert footage, and animation and graphics created by artist James Kerr. Gimme Danger got its world premiere in May at France's Cannes Film Festival, and also will be shown at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Yet the same Reuters report focused on recent claims that Iran might be nearing readiness to participate in an oil freeze arrangement with Saudi Arabia, the rest of OPEC, and a handful of non-OPEC nations. Those countries gathered together in April to explore the possibility of such an arrangement, but it was never finalized because the Saudis demanded participation from all parties involved, including Iran. Meanwhile, Iran reiterated that it would not freeze or cut its own production until it regained the market share lost during the long period of economic sanctions. Now that most of those sanctions have been lifted following Januarys implementation of the Iran nuclear agreement, the Islamic Republic is reportedly nearing the anticipated level of recovery. According to Reuters, Iran pumped 3.6 million barrels of oil per day in the month of July, and aspires to levels of approximately four million barrels. With that level of recovery apparently within reach, Iranian officials have reportedly indicated to visiting foreign counterparts that they are preparing to cooperate with multilateral plans. Furthermore, the other countries involved in this arrangement appear to have already begun revisiting the formerly scuttled plans. On the other hand, the Wall Street Journal emphasized that there is a great deal of skepticisms surrounding the claims of nascent Iranian cooperation. Not only is it unclear whether all parties involved will be able to coordinate their plans, it is also not certain whether those parties are being entirely honest in the narratives that they are presenting to the media. In the first place, Iranian-Saudi animosity is arguably at a high point, thus casting doubt about whether either country will be willing to give the appearance of ceding power to the other. And in the second place, the mere suggestion of possible cooperation at a later date is possibly sufficient to make markets respond with higher short-term prices. Interestingly, the implication that Iran is manipulating the global media is reminiscent of another recent, major story regarding Irans international relations. On Monday, Iran News Update discussed the announcement that an arrangement for Russian use of Iranian air bases had been brought to an end, with the Iranian Defense Minister citing Russias excessive boasting about the arrangement. Iran News Update emphasized that Iran and Russia both stood to benefit from their own narratives about the arrangement and its cancellation. The article also highlighted contrasting interests on Irans part, since Iranian officials need the support of foreign powers like Russia but also thrive on presenting a powerful, independent picture of the Islamic Republic. Irans arguably contradictory impulses were brought into sharper focus on Tuesday when it was widely reported that the end of the air base sharing arrangement could not be independently verified. Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty pointed out that the US State Department had declared that the arrangement might still be ongoing. Soon thereafter, Ali Larijani, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament made an identical claim, accusing Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan of having been dishonest when he claimed that the agreement had been called off. The Associated Press also reported upon Larijanis commentary, but it focused on his apparent perception of the original arrangement as a subversion of parliamentary authority by the Iranian military. This supposedly reflects a longstanding conflict between political and military structures, but it also encourages uncertainty about the parliaments views about the Russian partnership itself. At the same time that Larijani spoke critically about the way the Defense Ministry entered into its agreement with the Russians, he also spoke highly of Iranian-Russian unity in the defense of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The likely explanation for Larijanis inconsistent tone is that the Iranian parliament wishes to challenge military officials power without opposing their actual policies. And where those policies concern Russia, they seem to favor the ongoing pursuit of partnership, but in a way that does not make Iran seem dependent upon or beholden to Moscow. Even if this is not reflected in the secret preservation of the air base sharing arrangement, there are numerous other ways in which the Iranians and Russians have been pulling closer together and deliberately making the international press aware of that fact. For instance, on Tuesday UPI quoted an Iranian envoy for business interests in Russia as saying that monetary transactions between two Iranian and Russian banks will start soon. Although the sanctions relief under the Iran nuclear deal technically opened up the Islamic Republic to formerly excluded foreign financial relations, the Iranians have had a hard time securing European investment and regaining access to international banking institutions. However, direct financial relations with partners states like Russia represent smaller steps toward reintegration. Although Tehran has failed to take measures to alleviate international concerns about money laundering and financial instability, the Iranian leadership has made numerous statements blaming the US for obstructing investment and scaring off the banks. Those statements are certainly aimed at pressuring the West into making more concerted efforts to open up Iran to the world. Now, the teasing of new Russian financial ties may serve as an alternative source of that pressure, in that it sends the message that adversaries to the West could gain an upper hand on American and European institutions. But whereas these sorts of Iranian statements may constitute an indirect threat to Western interests, other indications of Iranian-Russian cooperation are more explicitly threats to Western security. That is to say, the burgeoning Iranian-Russian alliance has potential military dimensions that extend beyond their mutual support for the Assad regime. The Washington Times reports that the Iranian Defense Ministry recently declared its intention to purchase Russian Sukhoi fighter jets, and also to license Russian T-90 tanks for domestic production inside of Iran. And these claims coincide with the imminent completion of the long-anticipated transfer of the Russian S-300 missile defense system. But in the interest of maintaining the aforementioned image of strong Iranian independence, the Defense Ministrys comments emerged only after Iranian military and political leaders announced the premier of the countrys first domestically produced long-range missile defense system. Not only that, but The Iran Project reported on Tuesday that Defense Minister Dehqan and others, as part of a ceremony marking National Defense Industry Day, had made other claims of advancement in domestically produced military technology. Among those claims was that Iran had become one of only eight countries in the world capable of producing a jet engine that could be used on aircraft up to 10 tons in weight. Dehqan also insisted that the Iranian military had doubled and tripled the range of existing missiles, including foreign-supplied cruise missiles, and that it was on the verge of being able to produce its own supersonic cruise missiles. The Free Republic added that such missiles could pose a significant threat to US ships operating in the Persian Gulf and indeed that that was their intention. Dehqans claims are certain to meet with skepticism, as Iran is known for exaggerating its own military capabilities. But the Free Republic explains, While the Iranian claims are fantastical, the countrys missile arsenal is large, diverse and poses a very real threat to US ships. Much of the Islamic Republics commentary on its military strength is expressed in terms of readiness for conflict with the US and its allies, and this trend has not diminished in the wake of the Iran nuclear agreement, which some Western policymakers viewed as a potential starting point for better relations. The Iran-Russia alliance is an indirect sign of the evasiveness of such improvement, but there are many other factors that are more direct indicators of ongoing Iranian animosity. Although the Obama administration appears to still be pursuing friendlier relations, some elements of that administration have acknowledged the danger that Iran still poses to Western nationals, especially those who choose to travel to the Islamic Republic. Fox News reported on Tuesday that the State Department had issued new travel warnings for Americans and especially Iranian-Americans, in response to the continuing arrest and persecution of dual nationals in Iran. Still, there was no immediate indication that this had affected White House policy. Meanwhile, previous examples of that policy came under newfound scrutiny on Monday, according to The Tower, when the chief foreign correspondent for the Wall Street Journal claimed that both American and Iranian sources had indicated that Iranian influence was a factor in President Obamas controversial decision in 2013 to not follow through on threats to take action in Syria following Assads sarin gas attack on Syrian civilians. Shocking audio was released recently on the Internet in the Persian language. Immediately, Iranian officials ordered its removal. The audio clearly shows that the so-called moderate Iranian leaders are in fact world-class criminals based on every legal or humanitarian standard. The audio sheds light on horrific crimes against humanity that are not that distinct from those egregious crimes committed by the Nazis. Bearing in mind that in reality this regime is neither Islamic nor a Republic and recounting the higher religious position of Montazeri, the article elucidates: In the audio, Ayatollah Hussein Ali Montazeri, the ex-heir of Irans Supreme Leader, reveals the true character of the Islamic Republic and crimes committed by it in the name of Islam. Montazeri was born in Esfahan, Iran, and was one of the founding fathers of the Islamic Republic. He was an Islamic theologian and the designated successor to the Islamic revolutions Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Rooh Allah Khomeini, until the very last moments of Khomeinis life. His pictures were posted next to Khomeinis in the streets. Nevertheless, Montazeris fate changed dramatically, as he could not stay silent and felt compelled to speak out. Dr Rafizadeh also points out: Many members of those who were executed were from the opposition group, MEK, Amnesty International estimates that in the summer of 1988, the total number of people executed was 4,500. Some estimates reach as high as over 30,000 people, and he concludes The International Criminal Court, the UN, human rights originations and liberal institutions and activists should push to bring these officials to justice the way the international community did for some members of the Nazi Party. Finally, we should remember that these are world-class criminals and we are easing sanctions against a brutal regime, giving them more money from taxpayers, shaking hands with them, and calling them the moderates. How are we going to respond to millions of families whose members have been executed and tortured? What are we going to say in the future when asked why we allied with such criminals, appeased them, and gave them billions of dollars? She paid tribute to the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of Paris and compared their fight to that faced by the Iranian Resistance today. She said: It was not the military force, but the power of faith in human values that liberated Paris. Such faith will also be the force to liberate my country which is enchained by a religious dictatorship. She discussed the recent release of audio footage, which proves the Iranian Regimes guilt in the hideous genocide. Montazeri, the then heir to the Ayatollah, addressed the officials responsible for the massacre, calling it the greatest crime committed during the Islamic Republic and stating that the Ayatollah would go down in history as a bloodthirsty and brutal figure. In the summer of 1988, Ayatollah Khomeini decreed that any prisoner affiliated with the opposition group Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) who would not renounce their beliefs, should be executed, including those who had already been tried and sentenced to jail term. The audio revealed that- as long suspected by the Resistance- the massacre had been extensively planned in advance and made no exceptions for pregnant women (which violates even the Regimes penal code) and minors. Rajavi said: It was because of such protests that Montazeri was ousted from his position and remained under house arrest until the end of his life. She also confirmed that many of those responsible for the massacre were still in high-level governmental positions today. She said: We have organized a movement, both inside Iran and on the international level, to obtain justice. This litigation is part of a national movement for Irans freedom. The martyrs families, as well as this movement, demand that the names of the victims, addresses of their graves and names of the perpetrators of this crime be published. By Lauren McCauley on 23 August 2016 for Common Dreams - Image above: Standing Rock spokesman Steven Sitting Bear said he's received notifications from tribes all over the country that have caravans in route to this demonstration that recognizes that "Water is Life". Photo by 350.org. From original article. One has the ominous sense of grim history about to be reenacted at Standing Rock. North Dakota authoritieswho are in essence a subsidiary of the fossil fuel industryhave insisted that the Sioux are violent, that they have "pipe bombs." There are rumors about calling in the National Guard. The possibility for renewed tragedy is very real. But the possibility for a new outcome is there as well. The Army Corps of Engineers might back off. The president might decide, as he did with Keystone, that this pipeline would "exacerbate" climate change and hence should be reviewed more carefully. We might, after five centuries, actually listen to the only people who've ever successfully inhabited this continent for the long term. . SUBHEAD: Officials pull water supply as Dakota Access Pipeline protesters swell in numbers and spirit.Thousands join protest camp as supporters are holding a rally in Washington D.C. on Wednesday outside of Army Corps hearing.Growing in number and spirit, the Standing Rock Sioux protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline is swiftly gaining strength ahead of a federal hearing on the controversial project. Support has spread across the country, and thousands have descended on the peaceful " prayer camps " in recent days, prompting state officials on Monday to remove the demonstrators' drinking water supply.North Dakota homeland security director Greg Wilz ordered the removal of state-owned trailers and water tanks from the protest encampment, despite the sweltering heat, because of alleged disorderly conduct, according to the, including reports of laser pointers aimed at surveillance aircraft."People are getting overheated now already," said Johnelle Leingang, the tribe's emergency response coordinator, as temperatures hovered around 90 F on Monday. "It's very hurtful."Tribal activists say the state's response, which includes surveillance, road blockades with military checkpoints, and a state of emergency declaration , has been overly aggressive and manipulative."It is deeply ironic that the Governor would release emergency funds under the guise of public health and safety, but then remove the infrastructure that helps ensure health and safety in the camp," said Tara Houska, national campaigns director for Honor the Earth.The supplies were provided last week by the North Dakota Department of Health at the tribe's request to support the roughly 2,500 people now gathered along the Standing Rock reservation's border on the Cannonball River, near where the pipeline is slated to cross.LaDonna Allard, director of one of the prayer camps, said, "The gathering here remains 100 percent peaceful and ceremonial, as it has from day one. We are standing together in prayer...Why is a gathering of Indians so inherently threatening and frightening to some people?""This is nothing but repression of our growing movement to protect our water and future generations," Houska added.Standing Rock spokesman Steven Sitting Bear said he's received "notifications from tribes all over the country that have caravans in route, so its continuing to grow."On Wednesday, high profile activists and supporters are rallying in Washington D.C. outside the U.S. District Court, where members of the Standing Rock Sioux will argue that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers granted Energy Transfer Corporation approval for the 1,172-mile pipeline without tribal consent.The tribe says that the pipelinewhich will carry up to 570,000 barrels of fracked Bakken oil daily across four states to a market hub in Illinoisputs the sacred waters of the Missouri River at great risk.Climate campaigner and 350.org co-founder Bill McKibben penned an op-ed on Monday offering a vision of "what it might mean if the if the Army Corps, or the Obama administration, simply said: 'You know what, you're right. We dont need to build this pipeline.'""It would mean that after 525 years, someone had actually paid attention to the good sense that Native Americans have been offering almost from the start," he continues:Construction on the pipeline remains halted after developers paused the project last week in anticipation of the Wednesday hearing.Meanwhile, a U.S. District Court hearing on whether a preliminary injunction should be issued against the protesters has been rescheduled from Thursday to Sept. 8, although a restraining order against the demonstrators has also been extended until then. Filing the order on Monday, U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland wrote that factions are '"strongly encouraged to meet and confer in good faith' to try and resolve the dispute out of court," theUpdates are being shared on social media with the hashtags #NoDAPL and #RezpectOurWater [August 23, 2016] SailPoint Kicks off Navigate '16, the Identity Governance Conference, in Sydney; Announces Speakers for Navigate '16 in Europe SailPoint, the leader in identity and access management (IAM), today kicked off the second Navigate '16 in Sydney, Australia. Navigate '16 is the industry's top identity governance conference, and offers the sold out crowds of customers, partners and prospects an opportunity to explore the future of the IAM market and learn more about SailPoint's open IAM platform. "Identity governance and user-driven security continue to be hot topics that many enterprises around the world want to learn more about," said Kevin Cunningham, president and co-founder of SailPoint. "This market is growing so quickly that we realized it was necessary to extend our flagship Navigate conference to reach a global audience. In our first year alone of a truly global event, Navigate '16 will host more than 1,200 customers, partners and prospects across North America, Asia-Pacific and Europe. We're looking forward to fostering the knowledge sharing and networking that organizations need." SailPoint will host the third and final Navigate '16 in Europe in Berlin on October 10-12, featuring keynote addresses from award-winning security experts Graham Cluley and Mikko Hypponen discussing the latest trends in user-centric security for businesses, how to defend against security threats, and predictions for the future of cybersecurity. To register for Navigate Europe, visit: https://sailpoint.com/navigate. Graham Cluley is an award-winning security blogger, researcher and public speaker. He has given talks about computer security for some of the world's largest companies, worked with law enforcement agencies on investigations into hacking groups, and regularly appears on TV and radio. Cluley was inducted into the InfoSecurity Europe Hall of Fame in 2011. Mikko Hypponen is an award-winning security expert and Chief Research Officer of F-Secure (News - Alert). He has written for the New York Times, Wired and Scientific American, and he appears frequently on international TV. Hypponen also delivered the most watched computer security talk on the Internet. He is a member of the board of the Nordic Business Forum and a member of the advisory board of T2. Global Navigate attendees can expect to hear the latest in identity governance from the world's leading identity experts, including pre-conference training sessions and content-rich conference sessions for all attendees, no matter where they are in their identity governance journey, discussing the trends and tools related to today's user-centric security challenges. To stay up-to-date on Navigate '16 as it travels the globe, follow SailPoint on Twitter; the official hashtag for Navigate is #SPNav16. About SailPoint As the fastest-growing, independent identity and access management (IAM) provider, SailPoint helps hundreds of global organizations securely and effectively deliver and manage user access from any device to data and applications residing in the datacenter, on mobile devices, and in the cloud. The company's innovative product portfolio offers customers an integrated set of core services including identity governance, provisioning, and access management delivered on-premises or from the cloud (IAM-as-a-service). Stay up-to-date on SailPoint by following us on Twitter and LinkedIn and by subscribing to the SailPoint blog. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160823005153/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 23, 2016] VanDyke Software Introduces SecureCRT SSH client for Apple iPhone ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Aug. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- VanDyke Software, a developer of multi-platform secure terminal emulation and secure file transfer software, today announced the availability of SecureCRT for iPhone, the company's iOS-based SSH client for remote IT administration. This new release adds iPhone support to the SecureCRT for iOS app. SecureCRT is also available for the desktop on Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms. "Network administrators and IT managers have a growing need to be able to work from anywhere on a variety of mobile devices," said Maureen Jett, product director for SecureCRT at VanDyke Software. "With SecureCRT on their iPad or iPhone, IT professionals have the freedom to be on-the-go, securely accessing data and performing IT administration tasks without compromising enterprise security." Since 1995, VanDyke Software has ben developing secure access software that saves time for IT professionals, while allowing them to manage "anywhere access" for enterprise employees who need to work remotely and securely "tunnel" email, web, and corporate applications data. SecureCRT for iOS enables remote access away from the desk and away from the office, increasing network administrators' productivity, flexibility, and mobilitymajor benefits for busy IT professionals. With SecureCRT for iOS, IT professionals can: Customize session settings for emulation, appearance, logon, authentication, and more. Organize sessions into folders. Import sessions from SecureCRT for Windows, Mac, or Linux. Run multiple sessions at the same time. Connect to the same session or host multiple times. Choose from emulations like VT100/102/220, ANSI, SCO ANSI , Wyse 50/60, Xterm, and Linux console. All emulations supported on SecureCRT for Windows, Mac, and Linux are supported on iOS. , Wyse 50/60, Xterm, and Linux console. All emulations supported on SecureCRT for Windows, Mac, and Linux are supported on iOS. Troubleshoot connections with trace options. Availability of SecureCRT for iOS SecureCRT for iOS is available for download from the Apple App store at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id911124130. For more information about VanDyke Software and SecureCRT for iOS, visit the VanDyke Software website at https://www.vandyke.com/products/securecrt/securecrt_ios.html. About VanDyke Software, Inc. Busy IT professionals depend on VanDyke Software to deliver rock-solid, easy-to-configure software for secure remote access, secure file transfer, terminal emulation, and remote administration. VanDyke Software offers a fully-supported 30-day evaluation of its Windows, Mac, and Linux products prior to purchase, providing both evaluators and customers with a higher level of service. The company's product offerings include the SecureCRT Secure Shell terminal emulator, the SecureFX secure file transfer client, the VanDyke ClientPack, and the VShell Secure Shell server. The company also offers a mobile app, SecureCRT for iOS, which is available for purchase from the Apple App store. For more information about VanDyke Software, visit the company's website at https://www.vandyke.com/. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160823/400694 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vandyke-software-introduces-securecrt-ssh-client-for-apple-iphone-300317396.html SOURCE VanDyke Software, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 24, 2016] Onapsis Releases SAP Security In-Depth Publication for SAP HANA Onapsis, the global experts in business-critical application security, today released SAP (News - Alert) HANA System Security Review Part 2. This publication analyzes SAP HANA Internal Communication Channels, details associated risk, and identifies how to properly audit an SAP HANA system. As the 13th edition in the SAP Security In-Depth series, SAP HANA System Security Review Part 2 describes how to update the SAP HANA platform, noting new improvements in each Support Package. SAP HANA is regarded by SAP as the absolute in-memory database for its products and, more recently, as a standalone platform. The vast majority of companies who have already adopted SAP HANA are leveraging its capabilities to support business-critical applications. Due to its nature, SAP HANA stores an organization's most important assets, including customer data, product pricing, financial statements, employee information, supply chains, business intelligence, budgeting, planning and forecasting. "Improperly configuring SAP HANA has a huge impact on security, as there are many aspects of this product that by default, in certain versions, do not have the most effective security measures in place. For example, Internal Communication Interfaces were not designed to be used by the end user and, therefore, do not include security measures such as encryption or authentication in versions prior to SPS10. If left unsecured, an attacker could access any communication ports to perform espionage, sabotage, and fraud attacks," said Nahuel D. Sanchez, Author and SAP Security Researcher, Onapsis. Within SAP HANA are Internal Communication Channels that allow communication between different processes that comprise the SAP HANA platform as well as between hosts and systems. The specific purpose of each internal communication channel depends on the quantity of host deployments, as well as system replication scenarios. Onapsis SAP Security In-Depth (SSID) publications detail innovative security aspects of business-critical applications as identified by the Onapsis Research Labs. Each release analyzes the unique risks introduced to these applications and the different mitigation strategies that allow organizations to protect their SAP implementations. Following SAP HANA System Security Review Part 1, which focuses on understanding the HANA layout, this new edition takes a deep-dive into technical concepts to fully explain how to properly confgure critical aspects of SAP HANA. SAP HANA System Security Review Part 2 is available for download at: https://www.onapsis.com/research/publications/volume-xii-sap-hana-system-security-review-part-2. About Onapsis Research Labs SAP and Oracle (News - Alert) Security Threat Intelligence is produced by Onapsis Research Labs, a team of leading security experts who combine in-depth knowledge and experience to deliver technical analysis with business context, and provide sound security judgment to the market. The team works closely with SAP and Oracle product security teams to responsibly deliver the information to customers and has released over 150 advisories to date, with over 35 affecting SAP HANA; has consulted on impact with over 180 Onapsis enterprise customers; and regularly presents at leading security and SAP conferences around the world. Onapsis was the first to deliver "SAP Security In-Depth" publications that provide detailed analysis on security risks impacting SAP and SAP HANA. About Onapsis Onapsis provides the most comprehensive solutions for securing SAP and Oracle enterprise applications. As the leading experts in SAP and Oracle cyber-security, Onapsis' patented solutions enable security and audit teams to have visibility, confidence and control of advanced threats, cyber-risks and compliance gaps affecting their enterprise applications. Headquartered in Boston, MA, Onapsis serves over 200 customers, including many of the Global 2000. Onapsis' solutions are also the de-facto standard for leading consulting and audit firms such as Accenture, Deloitte, E&Y, IBM (News - Alert), KPMG and PwC. Onapsis solutions include the Onapsis Security Platform, which is the most widely-used SAP-certified cyber-security solution in the market. Unlike generic security products, Onapsis' context-aware solutions deliver both preventative vulnerability and compliance controls, as well as real-time detection and incident response capabilities to reduce risks affecting critical business processes and data. Through open interfaces, the platform can be integrated with leading SIEM, GRC and network security products, seamlessly incorporating enterprise applications into existing vulnerability, risk and incident response management programs. These solutions are powered by the Onapsis Research Labs, which continuously provide leading intelligence on security threats affecting SAP and Oracle enterprise applications. Experts of the Onapsis Research Labs were the first to lecture on SAP cyber-attacks and have uncovered and helped fix hundreds of security vulnerabilities to-date affecting SAP Business Suite, SAP HANA, SAP Cloud and SAP Mobile applications, as well as Oracle JD Edwards and Oracle E-Business Suite platforms. Onapsis has been issued U.S. Patent No. 9,009,837 entitled "Automated Security Assessment of Business-Critical Systems and Applications," which describes certain algorithms and capabilities behind the technology powering the Onapsis Security Platform and Onapsis X1 software platforms. This patented technology is recognized industry wide and has gained Onapsis the recognition as a 2015 SINET 16 Innovator. For more information, please visit www.onapsis.com, or connect with us on Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Onapsis and Onapsis Research Labs are registered trademarks of Onapsis, Inc. All other company or product names may be the registered trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160824005235/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 24, 2016] PowerVision Launches PowerEgg - the World's Most Intuitive Consumer Drone SAN MATEO, Calif., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- PowerEgg, the first consumer drone developed by PowerVision Technology Group, a worldwide leader in robotics and big data technologies, is now available for global pre-order. With its unique egg-shaped robotic design and the industry's first gesture recognition remote control, PowerEgg is the world's most intuitive drone designed for both enthusiasts and first time drone owners. PowerEgg global pre-orders are now being taken at the PowerVision Online Store (https://store.powervision.me) with shipping scheduled in mid-October 2016. Pre-order customers will receive a PowerEgg backpack valued at more than $200. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160823/400720 Fly PowerEgg Right Out of the Box PowerEgg takes the consumer drone market to the next level with the world's first gesture-based one-handed drone controller PowerEgg Maestro. With PowerEgg Maestro, takeoff and landing can be done with the push of a button so that anyone can fly PowerEgg right out of the box. The one-handed remote has motion sensing capabilities, allowing the user to interact with and manipulate the drone in flight via gesture recognition through advanced, integrated accelerometers and gyroscopes. Users can control up-down, left-right, and near-far motions. PowerVision separated the flight processor and base station from within PowerEgg Maestro to enable its one-handed gesture-based capability. This allows for future PowerEgg and potentially third party controller and upgrade options. For users that require enhanced control, PowerEgg also comes with a traditional two-handed remote control. "As an established innovator in the commercial drone industry, our goal was to take PowerVision's technology expertise and package it in a form factor that everyone interested in flying a drone could relate with and enjoy immediately," said Wally Zheng, Founder & Global CEO of PowerVision Technology Group. "We designed PowerEgg to be the consumer drone for everyone. It's sleek, compact and portable but also easy to operate, making it simple for anyone to launch and capture special moments on camera." Feature-Rich in a Sleek and Smart Design PowerEgg's sleek and innovative design addresses user demand for easy drone portability with its pack-and-go features. It delivers long distance real-time video transmission up to five kilometers (approximately 3.1 miles), is equipped with HD video transmission and has a maximum flight time of approximately 23 minutes. With its optical positioning system, PowerEgg can fly indoors, low to the ground and in GPS-free areas. PowerEgg's visual and ultrasonic sensrs scan the ground beneath it for patterns, enabling it to identify its position and move accurately. PowerEgg's integrated 4K UHD camera can produce professional-grade photographs and videos with panoramic 360 degree views on a 3-axis gimbal, delivering stabilized aerial views with an immersive "spherical" experience. In addition, PowerEgg's flight software includes multiple automated flight modes that let the user easily frame their shots while the PowerEgg automatically manages its flight path. These PowerModes include Follow Me, Orbit, WayPoint, and Selfie mode, and are easily accessed through the iOS or Android user interface. "With the power to enhance anyone's lifestyle, PowerEgg is truly revolutionary. For the first time a consumer drone delivers three key elements: stunning design, powerful features and operational simplicity," said Chih-Che Tsai, CEO of PowerVision Robot Corporation, the U.S. subsidiary of PowerVision Technology Group. "Ideal for family fun or for professional use, PowerEgg is a one-of-a-kind flying camera for capturing special moments, unique experiences and your greatest adventures." Key Product Specifications Weight - 4.6 lbs (Battery and propellers included) Maximum Flight Speed - 13 m/s (Professional mode) Maximum Ascent/Descent Speed - 5 m/s ascending; 2 m/s descending (Professional mode) Maximum Flight Time - Approx. 23 mins Optical Positioning System Range - Altitude Range: 0.66 13.12 ft / Surface with clear pattern and adequate light (Lux >15) Hover Accuracy - Vertical: +/- 0.1m (When optical positioning is active, 0.2 4 m); +/- 1 m / Horizontal: +/- 0.2m (Surface with clear pattern and adequate lighting); +/- 1.5 m Digital Image Resolution - UHD: 3,840 x 2,160 30p / FHD: 1,920 x 1,080 30/60/120p / HD: 1,280 x 720 60/120/240p / Photo: 4,254 x 3,264 Maximum Transmission Distance - Maximum 3.1 mi (Subject to regulation and local operating conditions). Distance will be shorter for CE. PowerEgg Flight Battery Capacity - 6400mAh Pricing and Availability PowerEgg is available worldwide in white and priced at $1,288 USD MSRP through the PowerVision Online Store (https://store.powervision.me). Users who order PowerEgg during the pre-order period (Aug. 24, 2016 through Sept. 30, 2016) will receive the standard package and a PowerEgg backpack (MSRP $218 USD). The standard package includes the PowerEgg aircraft, PowerEgg Maestro remote control, two-hand remote control, base station, PowerEgg smart battery and battery charger. About PowerVision PowerVision Technology Group is a worldwide leader in UAV technologies, products, and services with a corporate mission to innovate the future. PowerVision's lineup ranges from smart drones and robots, data visualization and forecasting, and virtual reality. Founded in 2009, PowerVision Technology Group comprises nearly 500 employees in China, the U.S., Canada, Australia, Germany, and Finland. PowerVision Robot Corporation, based in San Mateo, Calif., is the U.S. subsidiary of PowerVision Technology Group. To learn more about PowerVision Technology Group or PowerVision Robot Corporation, please visit www.powervision.me. You may also connect with PowerVision Robot Corporation on Facebook (www.facebook.com/powervisionme/) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/c/PowerVisionRobot). Media Contact Vivian Yang 650.435.5982 [email protected] Mei Antonio 408.369.7200 x 1063 [email protected] Related Files PowerEgg Product Specs.pdf Related Images image1.jpg image2.gif image3.jpg image4.jpg Related Links PowerVision Online Store PowerEgg 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/powervision-launches-poweregg---the-worlds-most-intuitive-consumer-drone-300317440.html SOURCE PowerVision Technology Group [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 24, 2016] RetailNext Drives Retail IoT Market Expansion in APAC Region with Singapore Investments SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- RetailNext Inc., the worldwide expert and market leader in IoT retail analytics for optimizing shopper experiences at brick-and-mortar retail stores, today announced new organizational investments and a continuation of its expansive growth in the Asia-Pacific region. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140113/CL44102LOGO Strategic Equity Investment As a critical enabler in driving business in the Asia-Pacific region, RetailNext has secured a strategic equity investment from EDBI, headquartered in Singapore. "RetailNext is privileged to include EDBI among its equity growth investors," said Alexei Agratchev, co-founder and chief executive officer of RetailNext. "The opportunity to bring EDBI into our business allows us to leverage not only its deep understanding of the Singapore and APAC regional operating environment, but also its extensive technology expertise and industry knowledge as RetailNext aggressively captures new business opportunities in the region's retail industry." "As a leading player in its industry, RetailNext enables consumer business owners to gain valuable insights on their customers while providing them with suerior shopping experiences," said Swee-Yeok CHU, chief executive officer and president of EDBI. "Their integrated full-suite platform with advanced real-time monitoring analytics solutions will help improve businesses' sales performance, productivity and operational efficiency. EDBI is pleased to support RetailNext's growth strategies to extend its footprint in Asia as it builds its data innovation and software development activities in Singapore." Expanded Operations in Singapore In partnership with Newstead, RetailNext has added @Notebook to its rapidly growing portfolio of retailing customers in the Asian-Pacific region. @Notebook operates a chain of IT concept stores across Singapore for brands like Asus, Dell, Lenovo and HP. "RetailNext is one of the most comprehensive retail in-store analytic solutions we've seen, and we're proud to be RetailNext's strategic partner in this region," said Mindy Tan, chief executive officer at Newstead. "RetailNext is strategically focused and committed to delivering its IoT solutions to retailers in the rapidly expanding Asia-Pacific region," said Sin Hin Wong, head of APAC at RetailNext. "Store deployments have grown over 300 percent in the last twelve months, and the expansion opportunities have led RetailNext to more than double the size of its regional offices headquartered in Singapore." About RetailNext The first retail vertical IoT platform to bring e-commerce style shopper analytics to brick-and-mortar stores, brands and malls, RetailNext is a pioneer in focusing entirely on optimizing the shopper experience. Through its centralized SaaS platform, RetailNext automatically collects and analyzes shopper behavior data, providing retailers with insight to improve the shopper experience real time. More than 300 retailers in over 60 countries have adopted RetailNext's analytics software and retail expertise to better understand the shopper journey in order to increase same-store sales, reduce theft and eliminate unnecessary costs. RetailNext is headquartered in San Jose, CA. Learn more at www.retailnext.net. About EDBI As a premier Asian investor with over 25 years of experience, EDBI invests in knowledge and innovation-intensive sectors covering Smart & Sustainable Technology (SST), Biomedical Sciences (BMS), Information & Communication Technology (ICT) and select industry clusters under its Strategy Growth Programme (SGP). Under SST, EDBI is interested in frontier technologies like Internet-of-Things, Robotics, Augmented/Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence. EDBI helps to grow companies in Asia and globally through Singapore. www.edbi.com RetailNext Inc. and RetailNext are trademarks of RetailNext Inc. in the United States. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 24, 2016] Mobile Biometrics Market Worth 49.33 Billion USD by 2022 PUNE, India, August 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Mobile Biometrics Market by Component (Fingerprint Readers, Scanners, Cameras, Software), Authentication Mode (Single factor (Fingerprint, Voice, Face, Iris, Vein, & Retina Scan) and Multifactor), Industry, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2022", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 29.3% to reach USD 49.33 Billion by 2022. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 ) Browse 61 market data Tables and 60 Figures spread through 142 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Mobile Biometrics Market". http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/mobile-biometric-market-255843667.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report. The growing penetration of mobile devices and increasing number of mobile transactions are driving the growth of the mobile biometrics market. Over the last few years, the number of online transactions and e-commerce has gradually gone up and has created a huge opportunity for the companies to invest in the biometric industry to secure these transactions. A shift from traditional commerce to smart commerce using biometric-enabled mobile devices would save time and provide high security for transactions. Market in healthcare industry is expected to grow at a high rate during the forecast period The market in the healthcare industry is expected to grow at the highest rate between 2016 and 2022. The proliferation of electronic health records (EHRs) and the transition of data across health information exchanges (HIEs) created a huge demand for mobile biometrics as it is essential to secure and protect these digital records. Healthcare providers are using biometric patient identification systems to ensure patient safety by ensuring that patients are accurately identified prior to treatment. Fingerprint recognition is expected to dominate the single-factor authentication mode during the forecast period The fingerprint recognition technology is the most prominent biometrics technology that is being used at present. Most of the smartphone manufacturers such as Apple and Samsung use fingerprint recognition technology in their offerings. This strategy is being followed by emerging companies across the world. As fingerprint recognition is the most convenient technology in terms of investment and market acceptance, it is expected to lead the market during the forecast period. North Amrica holds the largest share of the mobile biometrics market; APAC is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period The adoption of mobile biometric technologies in passports & visas, banking & finance, large-scale funded programs, and employee access monitoring in buildings is driving the growth of the mobile biometrics market in North America. Inquiry Before Buying: http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=255843667 The market in APAC is expected to grow at the highest CAGR between 2016 and 2022. Many countries in the Asia-Pacific region have started adopting mobile biometric technologies in national IDs and e-passports. Moreover, the government in Asian countries is actively promoting and adopting biometric technologies. India has introduced biometric-based unique identification (UID) which is likely to cover 1.25 billion Indians. In 2012, China introduced the new China Resident Identity Card Law which requires Chinese citizens to have their fingerprints scanned and recorded. Large-scale township projects in Japan have also started adopting biometrics as a standard security device. The major companies in the mobile biometrics market that are profiled in this report include: Apple Inc. (U.S.) Nuance Communications, Inc. (U.S.) Safran SA ( France ) M2SYS Technology (U.S.) 3M Cogent, Inc. (U.S.) Precise Biometric ( Sweden ) Crossmatch (U.S.) BIO-key (U.S.) Aware Inc. (U.S.) Applied Recognition, Inc. ( Canada ) EyeVerify, Inc. (U.S.) Fulcrum Biometrics, LLC (U.S.) Browse Related Report Fingerprint Sensors Market by Type (Swipe, Area & Touch), Technology (Capacitive, Thermal, Optical), Application (Mobile Devices, Travel & Immigration, Government, Military & Defense, Banking & Finance) and Geography - Global Forecast to 2022 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/fingerprint-sensors-market-169519533.html Biometric System Market by Application (Government, Military & Defense, Healthcare, Banking & Finance, Consumer Electronics, Travel & Immigration, and Security), Technology (Face Recognition, Fingerprint Recognition, Iris Recognition, Palm Recognition, Voice Recognition, Signature Recognition, Vein Recognition, and Others), Function (Contact and Non-Contact) & Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, Row) - Global Forecast to 2020 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/next-generation-biometric-technologies-market-697.html About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is the largest market research firm worldwide 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 [email protected] http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/market-reports/electronics-and-semiconductors Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets SOURCE MarketsandMarkets [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 24, 2016] Comcast Expands Fiber Network Capable of 100-Gigabit Speeds Designed to Support Tallahassee's Business Community Comcast Business announced today that it has expanded its fiber network in Tallahassee to offer local businesses Ethernet services with speeds up to 100 Gigabits-per-second (Gbps) and a variety of other Comcast (News - Alert) Business services, including, internet, Voice, TV services and cloud-based computing solutions. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160824005704/en/ Comcast Business is expanding its fiber network to Tallahassee, which is capable of delivering internet speeds of up to 100 Gigabits-per-second (Gbps) to local businesses. (Photo: Business Wire) These expanded service offerings will support Tallahassee's developing business climate, which landed it among the top 200 U.S. cities on the Forbes Magazine List for "Best Places for Businesses and Careers." "In today's increasingly digital world, internet access and speed are critical to operations for businesses of all sizes and across all industries," said Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum. "The expansion of Comcast's high-speed network will serve as a strong contributor to the continued business and job growth we are seeing in our City, and overall the development of Tallahassee's new economy." Comcat's advanced network is ideal for businesses that need bandwidth to move large amounts of data for operations like video conferencing, streaming, multiple users on a Wi-Fi network, file sharing and back-up, and cloud-based applications. In addition, the network is capable of connecting multiple locations of one company to provide the same level of service across its network. Comcast's services can also be used by businesses that need a redundant or second network for business continuity and to provide file access, back-up and recovery in the event of a disaster. This can be particularly critical to Florida businesses during hurricane season when severe weather can cause power outages or make office buildings inaccessible. "Our network not only delivers the highest speed and capacity to Tallahassee businesses, it's also built to easily accommodate future growth," said Reggie Scales, Vice President, Business Services for the Comcast Florida Region. "Multi-gigabit speeds and reliability are critical for business today, and those needs are growing exponentially." Comcast Business serves schools, businesses, hospitals, and other organizations that require large amounts of bandwidth, are looking to link multiple locations, or that plan to connect their offices to a third-party data center. Services offered include: Ethernet Private Line: point-to-point connectivity between two customer sites for bandwidth-intensive applications. Ethernet Virtual Private Line: point-to-multipoint connection to enable customers to tailor bandwidth, performance characteristics, and cost. Ethernet Network Service: multipoint-to-multipoint connectivity to connect organizations with high-bandwidth requirements and multiple locations across Comcast's network. Ethernet Dedicated Internet: continuous, high-bandwidth connectivity between customers' LANs and the public Internet. Comcast has been delivering multi-gig (up to 10 Gbps) Ethernet service to businesses in Florida since 2011, and last year began offering Gigabit Pro, a residential multi-gigabit broadband service for consumers in the Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Jacksonville areas. In April, Comcast announced that it will offer DOCSIS 3.1-powered gigabit internet service in Florida using connections that are already in customers' homes. Nationally, Comcast Business's Ethernet services are delivered over an advanced network that spans 140,000 miles and features a 100 Gbps backbone and expanded local footprint through Ethernet over HFC. Bandwidth (News - Alert) is available up to 100 Gbps and can be scaled in increments and offered in three different classes of service, backed by strict service level agreements and monitored 24x7x365 from Comcast's dedicated Network Operations Centers. About Comcast Business: Comcast Business offers Ethernet, Internet, Wi-Fi, Voice, TV and Managed Enterprise Solutions to help organizations of all sizes transform their business. Powered by a next-generation, advanced network, and backed by 24/7 technical support, Comcast Business is one of the largest contributors to the growth of Comcast Cable. Comcast Business is the nation's largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and has emerged as a force in the Enterprise market; recognized over the last two years by leading industry associations as one of the fastest growing provider of Ethernet services. For more information, call 866-429-3085. Follow on Twitter (News - Alert) @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160824005704/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 24, 2016] CompTIA Channel Chief Giving Circle Progressing Toward $200,000 Giving Goal SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 75 organizations have received donations from the Channel Chief Giving Circle, a philanthropic effort led by technology industry leaders and CompTIA, the nonprofit association for the technology industry. As of mid-August, 95 senior executives from technology product vendors, distributors, solution providers, industry associations and other organizations have signed on to the Channel Chief Giving Circle, which is committed to donating $200,000 this year to worthy charities. CompTIA President and CEO Todd Thibodeaux shared an update on the Channel Chief Giving Circle in remarks Tuesday at XChange 2016, a gathering of the IT channel's premiere solution providers and technology vendors. "Thank you for leading by example, inspiring change and helping ensure those less fortunate or in need of assistance can look to our industry for a helping hand," Thibodeaux said. "The breadth and variety of chaities we have supported is amazing and is only growing day by day." "It is an honor to participate in this incredible giving program," said Nick Heddy, vice president of sales for Pax8, a leading value-added cloud distributor based in Lone Tree, Colo. "Giving back to the community is an important part of our culture at Pax8," Heddy continued. "Through this opportunity with CompTIA, we are excited to contribute to the American Cancer Society. We want to thank CompTIA for their leadership, and we look forward to the impact this program will have on communities throughout the country." Each member the Channel Chief Giving Circle is eligible to select a charity to receive a donation of $1,000. Organizations selected so far include groups committed to helping children, including the STAR House Foundation (selected by Frank Vitagliano of Dell); Byte Night (Dave Sobel, LogicNow); iUrban Teen (Aaron Woods, Xerox); the Federation of Galaxy Explorers (Earl Madison, Lockheed Martin); and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (Jeff Davis, D&H Distributing). Several schools have also been recipients of donations, including Shaker High School in Latham, N.Y. (Len Dicostanzo, Autotask); Central Middle School in Stoneham, Mass. (Scott Barlow, Sophos); the Daraja Academy in Kenya (Larry Disenhoff, Cadence Design Systems); West Philadelphia High School in Pennsylvania (Carmen Sorice III, Sungard Availability Services); Westlake High School in Austin, Texas (Jon Peterson, Amazon); and the Robotics Club at Mountlake Terrace High School in Washington (Gavriella Schuster, Microsoft). For a complete list of charities receiving donations from the Channel Chief Giving Circle, and their benefactors, visit https://www.comptia.org/about-us/channel-chief-giving-circle. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130107/DC38135LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comptia-channel-chief-giving-circle-progressing-toward-200000-giving-goal-300317531.html SOURCE CompTIA [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 24, 2016] Fitch Affirms Paris ISD, TX's ULT Bonds at 'AA-'; Outlook Stable Fitch Ratings has affirmed the following ratings for Paris Independent School District, Texas (the district) at 'AA-': -- $48.6 million unlimited tax (ULT) bonds (accreted basis); -- Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR). The Rating Outlook is Stable. SECURITY The bonds are payable from an unlimited property tax levied against all taxable property within the district. The bonds are further backed by the Texas Permanent School Fund bond guaranty program, rated 'AAA' by Fitch. (For more information on the Texas PSF bond guaranty program see 'Fitch Affirms Texas PSF Rating at 'AAA'; Outlook Stable', dated Aug. 5, 2015). KEY RATING DRIVERS The 'AA-' IDR reflects the district's limited economic growth prospects, given its remote location and sound financial profile. Population, enrollment and unemployment have been relatively flat over the past decade. The district's operating profile is characterized by solid expenditure flexibility, low expectations for revenue growth, and high reserve levels. Flat enrollment projections in the near-term limit capital needs and associated borrowing. Economic Resource Base Serving a population of roughly 22,000, the district's enrollment of approximately 3,500 has seen slow decline and is at a lower level now than in 2005. The mainly built-out district has had flat taxable assessed value growth in recent years, but exhibits a diversified employment base, with the top 10 taxpayers including manufacturing, utilities, and financial services. Revenue Framework: 'bbb' factor assessment A combination of local property taxes and state aid supports district operations. The natural pace of revenue growth is expected to remain modest, given historical performance and continued flat to declining enrollment. The district's legal ability to raise revenues is limited. Expenditure Framework: 'aa' factor assessment The natural pace of spending growth is expected to remain in line with or modestly above that of revenues, given limited capital needs and current enrollment trends. The district regularly budgets for pay-go capital spending, providing expenditure flexibility. The district's very low carrying costs reflect state support for retiree benefits, bolstering spending flexibility, while slow debt amortization tempers flexibility. Long-Term Liability Burden: 'aa' factor assessment The combined burden of long-term debt and pension liabilities is moderate as a share of local personal income. Fitch expects debt levels to decrease in the near-term, given the district's limited enrollment growth and lack of debt plans. Retiree benefit obligations do not represent a significant burden. Operating Performance: 'aaa' factor assessment The 'aaa' operating performance assessment reflects the district's ample reserve funding levels and ample level of spending flexibility in the event of revenue declines. RATING SENSITIVITIES Maintenance of Financial Flexibility: The rating is sensitive to material changes in the district's expenditure flexibility and healthy reserve levels, which have indicated rating stability. CREDIT PROFILE The district serves most of the city of Paris, the county seat of Lamar County, and is located in the Northeast corner of the state. The district's remote population and recent population trends limit economic prospects. District per capita personal income lags county, state, and national averages. Revenue Framework Funding for public schools in Texas is provided by a combination of local (property tax), state and federal resources. The state budgets the majority of instructional activity through the Foundation School Program (FSP), which uses a statutory formula to allocate school aid taking into account each district's property taxes, projected enrollment, and amounts appropriated by the legislature in the biennial budget process. The majority of districts are funded using a target revenue approach, whereby the combination of local and state funding for operations meets a predetermined per pupil amount (which varies from district to district). Approximately 70% of fiscal 2015 district revenues cae from state aid, with the remainder generated largely by property tax revenues. Enrollment trends drive revenue performance, as any variations in property tax revenues due to TAV performance will be offset by state aid adjustments. Enrollment increased by approximately 100 students in 2016, but decreased in nine of the prior 11 years. District revenues have grown at a compounded annual growth rate of 1.6% over the last decade, performing below both national CPI and GDP growth. Fitch expects the natural pace of district revenue growth in future years to track this below average historical performance, given that enrollment is expected to continue its flat to declining trends and revenues are driven by enrollment. Fitch's expectations for strong state revenue growth somewhat offsets concerns related to potential enrollment declines, as state aid is tied to overall state revenue performance. The district's independent legal ability to raise revenues is limited, as the fiscal 2015 maintenance and operations (M&O) tax rate is at the legal limit of $1.17 per $100 TAV. The district levies a separate unlimited debt service tax rate of $0.285 per $100 TAV, below the statutory cap of $0.50 per $100 TAV for new debt issuances. Expenditure Framework The district spends the majority of its operating budget on instruction, consistent with most school districts. The district does not face any pressure related to enrollment, compensation, or capital spending, given the district's current enrollment profile, limited capital needs, and favorable labor environment. Fitch expects the natural pace of spending growth to remain commensurate with revenues absent policy action, given current expenditure trends, capital needs and the enrollment-based state funding formula. The district's solid expenditure flexibility reflects a large degree of control over workforce costs and affordable carrying costs for debt service, pension and other post-employment benefits (OPEB) of 7.6% of fiscal 2015 governmental spending. Carrying costs benefit from state support for debt service, district pension and OPEB costs. Long-Term Liability Burden The district's long-term liability burden is moderate at 11.4% of total personal income, and is comprised mainly of the district's slowly amortizing debt. Capital needs are limited and funded on a pay-go basis. The district has no near-term debt issuance plans. The district participates in the Texas Teachers Retirement System (TRS), a cost-sharing multiple employer pension system. Under GASB 67 and 68, TRS' assets covered 83.3% of liabilities as of fiscal 2015, a ratio that falls to 75% using a more conservative 7% return assumption. The state assumes the majority of TRS' employer contributions and net pension liability on behalf of school districts, except for small amounts which state statute requires districts to assume. Like all Texas school districts, the district is vulnerable to future policy changes that shift more of the contributions and liabilities onto districts as evidenced by a relatively modest 1.5% of salary contribution requirement, effective in fiscal year 2015. The proportionate share of the system's net pension liability paid by the district is minimal. Operating Performance The district's financial cushion remains well above the level Fitch views as necessary for a 'aaa' assessment and is expected to remains strong under a moderate economic stress. Fitch believes the district would use a combination of its solid expenditure flexibility, conservative budgeting and very strong reserves to maintain a healthy reserve safety margin in a moderate economic decline scenario. The district consistently budgets conservatively on both the revenue and expenditure sides and expects break-even results for fiscal 2016. The district has added to fund balance in each year following the recession. Fiscal 2017 budget is balanced without the use of reserves and includes modest pay-go capital expenditures for maintenance. Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'. In addition to the sources of information identified in the applicable criteria specified below, this action was informed by information from Lumesis and InvestorTools. Applicable Criteria U.S. Tax-Supported Rating Criteria (pub. 18 Apr 2016) https://www.fitchratings.com/site/re/879478 Additional Disclosures Dodd-Frank Rating Information Disclosure Form https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/press_releases/content/ridf_frame.cfm?pr_id=1010750 Solicitation Status https://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=1010750 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/20160824006042/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 24, 2016] National Geographic Channel Announces Commemorative Programming Event to Honor 15th Anniversary of Sept. 11 On the 15th anniversary of Sept. 11, the National Geographic Channel will commemorate the tragic events of that fateful day, and the ongoing war that followed, with a daylong television tribute culled from 10 consecutive years of critically acclaimed 9/11 programming and the world premiere of a new compilation special, 9/11: The Longest War. The programming event begins Sunday, Sept. 11, at 12/11c with encores of Giuliani's 9/11, CIA Confidential: Hunt for Bin Laden, CIA Confidential: 9/11 Mastermind, Witness: D.C. 9/11, 9/11: The Firemen's Story, the Emmy-nominated miniseries Inside 9/11 and a special encore presentation of George W. Bush: The 9/11 Interview, followed by the world premiere of a powerful new compilation special, 9/11: The Longest War, airing at 9/8c. "Beginning in 2005 with our critically acclaimed series Inside 9/11, National Geographic Channel has covered the Sept. 11 attacks through unprecedented access, exclusive interviews and in-depth storytelling in a way that no other network has," said Tim Pastore, president of original programming and production. "9/11: The Longest War brings together the best of National Geographic's coverage as we continue our commitment to go beyond what's been widely reported and reveal a clearer picture of the events that shaped our nation and the years that followed." The new two-hour special provides a comprehensive look at the past 15 years - from the buildup to the attacks as the devastating events unfolded, to the military response in the years that followed - leading up to the present day. 9/11: The Longest War draws from a wide range of sources, including over 40 original National Geographic interviews with survivors, first responders, experts, journalists, politicians and military leaders; news footage and eyewitness videos culled from a rarely seen 400-hour archive; and chilling audio recordings from on board the doomed planes and inside air traffic control. Hear from those who worked inside the World Trade Center, whose snap decisions resulted in narrow misses of the attack. Footage from the Pentagon crash site taken shortly after impact captures a raw view of the devastating aftermath. Confronted by a city on its knees, New York City's then Mayor Rudy Giuliani opens up about his own emotions in the midst of crisis, even as word reached him of the deaths of personal friends and the very colleagues he would have turned to for counsel. While some of the nation's top military leaders also weigh in, both Gen. David Petraeus and Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal reflect on the events that forever changed America. Drawing from National Geographic Channel's extensive and critically acclaimed library of series and specials, 9/11: The Longest War offers a 360-degree perspective of the deadliest attack on American soil and the ongoing war on terror that followed. Full Schedule of Sept. 11, 15th Anniversary Commemorative Programming Includes: Giuliani's 9/11 Airing Sunday, Sept. 11, at 12/11c Unique insights and personal reflections from Rudy Giuliani, the world-famous mayor, recall the day America suffered the worst terrorist attack in its history. I Giuliani's 9/11, archive footage and high-end graphics support compelling interview material in presenting a behind-the-scenes look at the shocking events that would permanently leave their mark on New York. CIA Confidential: Hunt for Bin Laden Airing Sunday, Sept. 11, at 1/12c Just days after the horrific attacks of 9/11, a team of seven CIA agents snuck into northern Afghanistan and began to lay the groundwork for war. The goal of the operation, dubbed "Jawbreaker," was to take out al-Qaida, break the Taliban, and find and kill Osama bin Laden. NGC tells the story of this dangerous covert mission from the point of view of the CIA officers and top-secret Delta Force operators involved. CIA Confidential: 9/11 Mastermind Airing Sunday, Sept. 11, at 2/1c The bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993 sets off one of the biggest manhunts the world has ever known. The CIA and its intelligence partners around the world follow a chain of evidence from the Philippines to rural Pakistan to capture the man behind the plot: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. But before they can find him, he engineers the biggest terrorist strike on America in history: the attacks of 9/11. Witness: D.C. 9/11 Airing Sunday, Sept. 11, at 3/2c Using raw video and audio, Witness: D.C. 9/11 reconstructs the events of Sept. 11, 2001, in and around Washington, D.C., as first the nation, and then the nation's capital, came under assault. From the Pentagon to the White House, from Air Force One to air traffic control, this one-hour documentary captures the mix of confusion, fear, panic and chaos that shook the city and, in turn, profoundly affected America's response to the day's events. 9/11: The Firemen's Story Airing Sunday, Sept. 11, at 4/3c Follow the story of several of the firefighters whose courage and sacrifice made them national heroes. This is the inside story of the firemen of 9/11 and how the New York Fire Department survived the worst day in its history. Inside 9/11: The War Continues Airing Sunday, Sept. 11, at 5/4c NGC tells the evolving story of radical Islam's war against the West. Osama bin Laden has finally been brought to justice, but al-Qaida is still going strong. For bin Laden, 9/11 was just the beginning. The attack was designed to spark a revolution and create a whole new generation of men willing to wage jihad against America. But 10 years later, these same men have eclipsed bin Laden on the global stage. And their call to jihad has gone viral, with terror groups using the Internet to recruit and radicalize future attackers in the name of Allah. Inside 9/11: War on America Airing Sunday, Sept. 11, at 6/5c War on America takes viewers into the secret world of al-Qaida and traces the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, beginning with the 1979 Soviet-Afghan War and the transformation of Osama bin Laden from fundraiser to terrorist mastermind. Delve into the inner workings of al-Qaida as its members plot and execute the 1998 embassy bombings and the bombing of the USS Cole. Inside 9/11 follows the timeline that spanned decades, circled the globe and ultimately led to the horrific morning of Sept. 11, 2001. George W. Bush: The 9/11 Interview Airing Sunday, Sept. 11, at 8/7c In his most in-depth and intimate interview on the topic to date, the former president tells his first-person story, starting with his morning jog before the school visit where he first learned the nation was under attack. He opens up with candid details and personal experiences on the grueling hours and pressure-packed days that followed the attacks. 9/11: The Longest War Airing Sunday, Sept. 11, at 9/8c Drawing from NGC's extensive and critically acclaimed library of series and specials, 9/11: The Longest War reflects on the years leading up to and following the attacks. 9/11: The Longest War is produced by National Geographic Channel. Executive producer is Erik Nelson, producers are Robert Zakin and Erin Reuss, and president of original programming and production is Tim Pastore. National Geographic Channels The National Geographic Channels (The Channels) form the television and production arm of National Geographic Partners, a joint venture between 21st Century Fox and the National Geographic Society. As a global leader in premium science, adventure and exploration programming, the Channels include: National Geographic Channel (NGC), Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo People and Nat Geo MUNDO. Additionally, the Channels also run the in-house television production unit, National Geographic Studios. The Channels contribute to the National Geographic Society's commitment to exploration, conservation and education with entertaining, innovative programming from A-level talent around the world, and with profits that help support the society's mission. Globally, NGC is available in more than 440 million homes in 171 countries and 45 languages, and Nat Geo WILD is available in 131 countries and 38 languages. National Geographic Partners is also a leader in social media, with a fan base of 250 million people across all of its social pages. NGC contributes over 55 million social media fans globally on Facebook (News - Alert) alone. For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com and www.natgeowild.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160824006046/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [Provisional Translation] REPORTER: North Korea launched a missile at around 5:29 AM today. Can you please comment on the situation and explain the Governments responses? PRIME MINISTER ABE: This is the first time that a North Korean missile launched from a submarine reached into Japans Air Defense Identification Zone. This is an impermissible and outrageous act that represents a grave threat to the security of Japan and seriously undermines the peace and stability of the region. It is a clear violation of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, and the Government of Japan issued a strong protest to North Korea. Japan will take resolute measures, including at the United Nations, in close coordination with the United States, the Republic of Korea, and the rest of the international community. MATTOON -- Lake Land College has begun its 2016-17 school year with a mixture of new and returning administrators, plus a new position, in place on the president's cabinet. Jim Hull filled the new post of vice president for workforce solutions and community education this summer after previously serving as Lake Land's vice president for academic services for eight years. Jon Althaus was then promoted to this academic services position after having served as chair of the agriculture division. President Josh Bullock's cabinet also includes Tina Stovall, vice president for student services; Bryan Gleckler, vice president for business services; and Jean Anne Grunloh, senior executive to the president. Bullock said the hiring of Gleckler completed the recent changes in these administrative positions. "We are very excited. It's a good team," Bullock said of his cabinet. The academic services post had covered a "broad spectrum" of responsibilities, Bullock said. Part of these responsibilities have been broken off into a new position that is focused on building workforce training partnerships with businesses and government organization in Lake Land's district and beyond, he said. Bullock said Lake Lake aims to help meet the needs of manufacturers, health care providers and other industries to have skilled workforces available. He said tuition revenue from workforce training partnerships also will help decrease the college's reliance on uncertain state funding. Hull said partnerships that started being developed before the position change have already started coming to fruition. He said these new partnerships include Lake Land offering post-secondary education, vocational courses at two Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice's facilities starting this year. "Lake Land has a tremendous history of innovation" Bullock said, adding that the college is an "agile" organization. "We have the ability to try new things and find ways to make it work." Althaus said, as vice president for academic services, his responsibilities will include helping develop new curriculum and helping work with industry to identify high-impact curriculum programs for workforce ready positions. Though he is new to this post, Althaus said he is already very familiar with Lake Land's academic divisions through his 24 years of service there. The college reported that, as agriculture division chair, he grew this division by networking with prospective students, instructors and industry leaders from throughout the Midwest. As the new vice president for business services, Gleckler will serve as the colleges chief financial officer and lead all business services operations of the college, including the physical plant and human resources. Gleckler said his 17-year career with the Illinois Department of Corrections, which included serving as chief of staff, has given him valuable experience for filling his new role at Lake Land and helping the college work with state government. Regarding finances, Bullock said Lake Land began preparing a few years ago for anticipated state funding cuts by budgeting accordingly. He said the state funding that Lake Land has budgeted for in 2016-17 is what the state has appropriated. He said if the state follows through, the college will have a balanced budget. Grunloh, as senior executive to the president, said she has worked closely with Lake Land's ongoing strategic planning for the coming years. She said their goals are focused on supporting the success of students, meeting the training needs of area business, and ensuring that opportunities for affordable education area available. Prior to joining Lake Land in 2014, Grunloh served as the executive director of the East Central Illinois Development Corp. 11-county, regional economic development group. Grunloh said this experience has helped her be part of the college's efforts to network and build partnerships throughout its multi-county district. As vice president for student services, Stovall said she has enjoyed working with area school districts to expand the number of college dual credit courses that are available to their students. She has served in this position since 2006, and has worked at Lake Land in past years as director of counseling. Stovall said some of the college's other outreach efforts have included recently rolling out a new website at http://www.lakelandcollege.edu, developing new adult education programs, and building an academic honors experience for students in the Presidential Scholarship program that started last fall. Enrollment of the recent high school graduates that comprise the Presidential Scholarship program has increased from 140 last fall to more than 160 this fall, Stovall said. "There are a lot of good things going on," Stovall said of Lake Land. If my house had a few feet of floodwater in it, I don't think I'd give a darn if the president of the United States planned to stop by for a photo op. I'd be wondering how I was going to clean up, and I'd be mourning the keepsakes I'd lost ... never mind wondering how on earth I'd afford replacing key appliances and other modern living necessities, insurance or not. It wouldn't impress me if a presidential candidate came by for a we-helped-unload-a-truck photo op, either. I'd be interested in FEMA being in the neighborhood to help out, and I'd be wondering about the weather forecast going forward. I wouldn't give two hoots about politicians and how they handle the crisis in the public eye. I don't think I'd even give one hoot about that. I bet the folks in Louisiana and Mississippi aren't giving much thought to which politicians are stopping by for a couple of hours, either. They're wondering what help they can get through the government -- especially if they had no flood insurance -- and they're grieving lives lost and sentimental treasures ruined. Good grief. Does everything have to be political? Oh. I forgot. It does. I bet I can come up with some non-political stuff this week. Watch me. Men who shave their heads, and the Fu Manchu type of mustache. I'm kind over this trend of men shaving their heads. I like neatness and appreciate the tidiness of it all, but it's a movement that's overstayed its welcome. It just doesn't work for every person. I know -- y'all with shaved heads might want to tell me how to have my hair cut too; or you just don't give a darn what I think. Point taken. Yet the combination of the shaved head and the Fu Manchu-style facial hair is so common now that it's gotten old. Actually, in working on this column, I found it's not truly a Fu Manchu. The aforementioned is a "full, straight moustache that originates on the corners of the mouth and grows downward past the clean-shaven lips and chin in two tapered 'tendrils,' often extending past the jawline," or so says Wikipedia. This is not to be confused with the "horseshoe moustache," also known as a biker moustache, which, according to Wikipedia: "is a full moustache with vertical extensions grown on the corners of the lips and down the sides of the mouth to the jawline, resembling an upside-down U or a horseshoe. The whiskers grown along the sides of the mouth in the horseshoe are sometimes referred to as 'pipes.'" Think of Hulk Hogan here. Actually, neither of those are what's most popular. What I'm talking about is the facial hair that basically is a modified "horseshoe" with scruff also connecting the "pipes" across the chin. It's almost a circle around a guy's mouth, except that it's more square shaped. Now, who would have thought that, in trying to describe this look that has gotten old to see, at least in my book, I'd discover just how many moustache styles and names there are? That Adolf Hitler facial hair? It's called a "toothbrush" moustache. I've heard of the "pencil" style, but I didn't know the names of the "Dali" or the "imperial." I guess you learn something new every day. My original question remains, though: What happened to a plain old haircut and clean-shaven face? Well, you men out there can cut your hair and shave your face the way *I* want you to when I change my hairstyle to one that you'd all approve of, OK? So we're even. Just consider this a little "venting" from me. And speaking of "venting..." Just how many deaths of children in hot cars do there have to be before all parents take note and it never happens again? I'm not a parent, and I'm not going to say how idiotic it is to leave your kid in the car -- OK, I guess I am, yet that kind of goes without saying. But I imagine it's surprisingly easy, having so much on your mind as a working mom or dad and trying to keep up in this fast-paced society of ours. But stop and think. Just stop and think. Children should be the first thing on the mind of caregivers, whether it's Mom and Dad or Grandma and Grandpa or Great Uncle Charlie. I'm suspecting that part of the problem is that it's safer to put car seats in the back of a vehicle, and a distracted parent up in the driver's seat can forget that a sleeping or quiet child is there. But I have to admit: I still can't imagine forgetting my child in the car. The rest of us can help. Keep an eye out for a child or car seat in vehicles as you walk down the sidewalk or in your neighborhood. A little vigilance might prevent a tragedy. And, pet owners -- never leave your pet in a vehicle. Just don't do it. That way, you'll never have to wonder if it's too hot, or if you spend more than "just five minutes" in the store while Fido awaits. Human children shouldn't be left in a car alone for any period of time, and neither should animal companions. Just don't do it in the first place, and you'll never have to worry about what might happen. Well, here we are, near the end of another column, and I've told you all what to do as if I have all the answers. Trust me -- I don't. I can barely figure out what clothes to wear each day, let alone anything else. Thank goodness I'm not a guy, 'cause I'd never figure out how to wear my facial hair. Would my male twin stick with my female ramblings and remain clean shaven? Would the teen-age male me let all the fuzz grow that can, like my ever-growing nephews are doing? I mean, it's got to be cool to have that facial hair for the first time in a guy's life. Maybe if I still had a pet, I'd decide it's fine to leave him or her in a running vehicle with the air conditioning going while I go into the local department store to pick up my Preparation H. Perhaps I'd want a photo of myself and President Whomever standing in hip boots in front of my flooded home. Actually, a politician in hip boots seems strangely apropos ... I guess everything really is political. I think I'll write to Barack Obama and suggest he try the "handlebar" moustache. A facial hair change helped Lincoln, or so the story is told ... who knows where such a trend could go? 1. Comments must not be racist, misogynistic, homophobic, or otherwise bigoted. 2. Comments must not involve little more than name-calling and insulting remarks. 3. Comments must not be made by "anonymous" or "unknown". 4. Comments must not try to sneak in some free advertising for themselves (like spam). I invite anyone who wishes to comment on this blog to do so. I enjoy the comments, whether you agree with what I have said or not. But some people want to abuse the right to comment, and since this is my blog, I have decided to lay down the following rules. If your comment violates these rules, it will not be published. Jeanette Marjorie DeBoer, 94, of Holland/Firth died August 22, 2016. Jeanette was born November 15,1921, to her parents, John and Frances Bouma Hietbrink. She grew up with her brother, Clyde, in a typical farm family near the community of Holland and learned to work, play, and enjoy the rural life and wonders of God's beautiful earth. She received all of her education from kindergarten through tenth grade at the Holland School District 12. She graduated from Hickman High School in 1939 where she was active as a student in all high school sports. She and her brother appreciated the sacrifices their parents made to provide a high school education. On May 1, 1941, Jeanette was married to Orville DeBoer at the Holland Reformed Church, and they began life together on a farm east of Pella. In her youth, she enjoyed playing softball and provided leadership for some local 4-H clubs. Later, she worked at the Hickman Jack and Jill and devoted many years to serving children through the Norris Public Schools lunch program and later as the secretary to the principal. All of her Christian education was given by her parents and grandparents, Henry and Jane Hietbrink and Dave and Martha Bouma. She made public confession of her faith in 1938 and became a member of the Holland Reformed Church where she attended faithfully. She taught Sunday school and catechism classes for many years and was also active with the choir, Women's Ministries and served as a sponsor of Girl's League until she and her husband moved to the Firth community where they later transferred their church membership to the Firth Reformed Church in 1983-1984. She continued serving the Lord there through choir ministry, God's Kids Club, Women's ministry and Sunday school teacher for the young married couples until her health prevented her from doing so. She also contributed to her community through volunteer work by reading with children at the Norris Elementary School, entertaining and leading Bible studies at the Lakeview Rest Home, and helped with mailing at the Lincoln City Mission. In addition, many years were spent serving as hostess and guide for neighborhood Friendship Bible coffees. As her health failed, she continued to use her talents and spiritual gifts through offering hospitality, generosity, prayer ministry and writing notes of encouragement as well as stories for the great-grandchildren and poetry for special occasions. She was a devoted and faithful daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother. She loved books and encouraged a love for learning and personal growth in those around her. Next to her relationship with God, her family and friends were her greatest treasures. Survived by: son, Phillip Lynn DeBoer and his wife, Diane, Fort Worth, Texas; daughter, Jane Louise Schmutte and her husband, Jerry, Lincoln; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter. Preceded in death by: husband, Orville; brother, Clyde Hietbrink; parents, John and Francis Hietbrink. Services: 2 p.m., Thursday, Firth Reformed Church Firth. Officiating: Rev. Mark Star. Viewing: 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Wednesday with family present 6-8 p.m., Butherus, Maser & Love Funeral Home, 211 East First St., Hickman. Burial: Holland Cemetery. Memorials: Holland or Firth Reformed Church. Arrangements by Butherus ,Maser & Love Funeral Home. Condolences may be left at www.bmlfh.com. The secret to a great waffle is in the batter. Thats according to Lincoln Slim Chickens owner Bill Hooks. Wednesday is National Waffle Day, commemorating the 1869 U.S. Patent for Cornelius Swartwouts fabulous invention -- the waffle maker. The very first waffles date back to 13th century Greece, where flat cakes called obelios were cooked between two metal pans held over a fire. Wafles, as they were called by the Dutch, arrived in America with the pilgrims in 1620. In 1735, the word waffle -- with two "f"s -- appears in English print for the first time, according to a history by MrBreakfast.com. In the late 1700s, Thomas Jefferson returned from Amsterdam with a long handled, patterned waffle iron. Then in 1869, Swarthout patented his version of the waffle iron. While we like our waffles with maple syrup, butter and fruit, early Americans adorned theirs with chicken. The Pennsylvania Dutch used pulled, stewed chicken and then topped it with gravy. But down south, African Americans served their waffles with a topping of fried chicken, maple syrup and butter. Soul food. Down south, chicken and waffles go together like chili and cinnamon rolls in Nebraska, said Hooks. A native of North Carolina, Hooks grew up with chicken and waffles, and today eats it at least once a week, he said. A little bit of sweet. A little bit of salt. And a whole lot of yum. When Lincoln's first Slim Chickens opened in 2015, people were a bit apprehensive, Hooks said. But today, chicken and waffles is a huge hit, with people putting their own spin on the dish -- marinating the chicken in hot sauce before frying. Hot and sweet, Hooks said. The key to good waffles -- and good chicken and waffles -- are fresh ingredients, dense yet fluffy batter, and a good clean and hot waffle iron, Hooks said. Hooks offered these waffle tips: * For fluffier waffles, substitute milk when the recipe calls for water. * Stir just enough to blend the ingredients and get out the lumps. Avoid over mixing. * Use the batter right away, or refrigerate it. If you wait too long, the ingredients break down and separate. * Do yourself a favor and read the waffle iron manual before you start cooking. Every iron is different. * Clean your waffle iron between waffles. Remove leftover crumbs, and spray the iron with an oil/conditioner. And if this sounds like too much work, chicken and waffles are on sale for $5 a plate on National Waffle Day (Aug. 24) at Slim Chickens, 5805 S. 85th St. and 1601 Pine Lake Road. Other foods we celebrate in the week ahead: Aug. 25: National Banana Split Day. Stricklers Drug Store in Pennsylvania gets the credit for splitting a banana lengthwise and topping it with vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice creams, syrups, whipped cream and a maraschino cherry in 1904. Aug. 26: National Cherry Popsicle Day. Another flavor and another day honoring 11-year-old Frank Epperson for his 1905 accidental invention. Aug. 27: National Pots de Creme Day. A day celebrating the loose French dessert custard. Aug. 28: National Cherry Turnover Day. Last month we celebrated the apple turnover. Now it's the cherry's turn. Aug. 29: National Chop Suey Day. Although this dish has Chinese influence, it is strictly an American food, according to Foodimentary.com Aug. 30: National Toasted Marshmallow Day. Long before we toasted marshmallows for a treat, people were consuming them for medicinal purposes. The original marshmallows came from Althaea officinalis, aka the marshmallow plant, according to Foodimentary.com. Nebraska law enforcement and health officials will host a summit on opioid abuse Oct. 14 in Omaha. The goal of Charting the Road to Recovery: Nebraskas Response to Opioid Abuse is a collaboration between public health, medical and law enforcement to stem the national problem. Since 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that more than 165,000 people have died from prescription opioid overdoses, according to a news release from Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson. Last year, opioids contributed to 52 of 145 drug overdose deaths in the state. Peterson's office, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the U.S. Attorney and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services are co-sponsoring the summit. Speakers will include Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel, former Florida Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John H. Armstrong, Jeff Stamm, who directs the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and Scott Collier, who manages the DEA Diversion Program. The summit is free, but registration is required by Oct. 7 at unmc.edu/cce/opioid. Cindy Lange-Kubick Columnist Cindy Lange-Kubick has loved writing columns about life in her hometown since 1994. She had hoped to become a people person by now, nonetheless she would love to hear your tales of fascinating neighbors and interesting places. Follow Cindy Lange-Kubick 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 This story originally ran on Aug. 25, 2016. I don't collect salt and pepper shakers or decorative plates that say things like Brainerd, Minnesota, Home of Paul Bunyan. I mean, I do own that plate; but I found it at a garage sale on Sumner Street instead of a tourist trap up north. I do collect rocks. I keep them on the window sill outside my kitchen -- shoutouts to summer vacations found in meadows and on mountain trails, in river beds and on beaches, stacked like cairns. Occasionally, the wind (or my leaf blower) sends them tumbling. It happened again last month, a few of my lighter souvenirs crashing to the patio, where they remained through a rainstorm or two, leaving rust-colored splotches on the concrete like orange smoke bombs on the Fourth of July. It was the first time Id thought about what those geologic tschotskes were actually made of -- and what that meant beyond their limited decorative purposes and sentimental value. How this rock and that one point to place like a geological GPS. How our planet is literally shaped by their composition, our rock marble and its many outcroppings and caverns. Most of my rocks are pocket rocks, flat skipping stones and river rocks worn smooth, rocks whose colors called out to me, or whose shapes I searched out, hearts and ovals, a bear-shaped chunk from Canada, another that resembles a rabbit if you look at it just right, or a revolver if you dont. I found my favorite rock while walking up an Arizona mountain trail with my sister and mom. I was looking for souvenir to cart home in my suitcase and the Nebraska-shaped rock appeared at my feet, beckoning me from the sage and the yellow-blooming cactus. It seemed meant to be -- my state in this state at this exact moment in our 4.5 billion-year-long gem and mineral show. Hello, Universe. I picked it up, took it home and displayed it prominently on the sill. When my errant vacation rock had blown off the ledge and dissolved -- Dear Heloise, Whats the best way to remove an iron stain from cement? -- it made me think of the rest of my collection and how they were made. How long theyd been around. It made me think of Mr. Ekdahl and 10th-grade earth science. The rock classifications we memorized for tests -- igneous and sedimentary and metamorphic -- and how fascinated Id been by my college geology class, too, and how quickly Id forgotten nearly everything Id learned, except the ridiculously unfair grading scale. It made me think of a lifetime of walks around lakes and through national parks, skimming the educational signs and then explaining to my children how mountains are formed, without really getting it. Well, the tectonic plates push the rocks up and it takes a really, really, really long time. No, longer than that. (No, we cant go to McDonalds again.) It made me think just how astounding rocks are. Which is how I ended up standing in Tracy Franks office in Bessey Hall with a bag of rocks Wednesday afternoon, feeling sort of silly. No worries, said the chairwoman of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. Youre in a building full of people who like rocks. The professor with a 2.2 billion-year-old rock on her desk -- and who used the words geeked out to talk about it -- happily examined my windowsill art. She told me I had sandstone and an igneous rock with quartz in it, and that my Nebraska rock (which she said might also look like Oklahoma or Utah, depending on the viewer) is a type of metamorphic rock called schist. (She also said: Be careful how you say that.) She and Lynne Elkins, an assistant professor of geography, patiently explained the planet to me, too. Obviously, the atmosphere isnt made of rock, Elkins said. And obviously the oceans arent made of rock. But otherwise, almost everything on earth is rocks. The crust? Pretty much all rock. Under the crust? Rock. The mantel? Rock. The core (except for the center)? Rock. People have spent hundreds of years studying rocks, she said. Piecing together stories about how the whole earth is functioning as a dynamic system. The professors talked about the formation of mountains and isotopes and deep time and I felt smaller and smaller. After I closed my notebook, I felt like I knew just enough about rocks to be dangerous, but also pretty happy about a new term I learned: crystalline basement. (Look it up.) I collected rocks again this summer, during a week in Colorado in the shadow of ski slopes. One afternoon, my great niece Lily and I climbed to a nearby lake, both of us peering into brush and squatting at the edge of an icy cold creek to gather treasures. Later, Lily set up shop in the hallway, and I bought back my rocks with nickels and dimes. She had her own shiny collection of agates and crystals and other glittery rocks purchased at a shop in town, and we marveled over their beauty. I headed home a few days later, my backpack weighted with the memory of a July day with a freckled 7-year-old in love with the Earth. And found spots for my Summer of 2016 souvenirs on my window sill, alongside my non-scientific sampling of North American rocks. Remnants of a long-ago time, and of a not-so-long ago day in Arizona, walking gingerly down a mountain trail, holding Nebraska in one hand, and my moms hand in the other. Nebraska high school graduates performance on the ACT exam dipped slightly last year but remains the highest among states where at least 80 percent of students took the test. During the 2015-16 school year 88 percent of Nebraskas high school students 18,598 of them -- took the exam. The test includes sections on English, math, reading and science reasoning. Nebraskas average composite score for 2016 graduates was 21.4, compared to last years 21.5. That compares with the national average of 20.8, down from 21 a year ago. A perfect score is 36. Lincoln Public Schools was among eight districts in the state to participate in a pilot project to give the test to all juniors for the past four years, and since then some other districts have begun doing so voluntarily. LPS graduates had a composite score of 20.7, which held steady for the third year. Keeping the score steady as the number of students taking the test increases is a good sign, said Jane Stavem, LPS associate superintendent of instruction. We always want that composite score to get higher, but we dont look at staying steady as a negative, she said. Juniors throughout the state will all be taking the ACT -- or a similar college entrance exam -- next year. The Legislature passed a law requiring that a college admissions test replace the battery of statewide tests now given to all high school juniors. Both the ACT and the SAT have submitted proposals and the education department is expected to make a recommendation to the board at its September meeting. For LPS, having all students take the ACT has been a game changer, Stavem said. For one thing students want to take the test and juniors show up to school in record numbers on test day. Having all students take the test can also encourage those students who may not have considered college to do so. But LPS officials say they aren't sure how it will work to replace statewide tests with a college entrance exam since it will not be as closely aligned to the curriculum. At LPS, composite scores at four high schools went down slightly; Southwest's and Lincoln High's both increased. Lincoln High saw the biggest jump, from a composite score of 18.5 to 19.2 for 2016 graduates. Officials said some of that may be growing enrollment in the International Baccalaureate program there, but also attributed it to efforts to help struggling students. For instance, said Sarah Salem, director of continuous improvement and professional development, one of Lincoln High's goals over the past few years has been to improve students' reading skills. From 2013 to 2016, the school's composite score on the reading portion of the ACT increased from 18.7 to 19.8. Nationwide, 18 states give all juniors the ACT. Another three, including Nebraska, now give it to 80 percent or more. Among those states, Nebraskas composite score is the highest. Nebraska also has a greater percentage of students who meet college benchmarks in all subjects than the national percentage. ACT set benchmark scores it says indicate when students have a 50 percent chance of getting at least a B in a college-level course and a 75 percent chance of getting at least a C. Just 28 percent of Nebraska students met benchmarks in all four subjects. That compares to 26 percent nationally. In English, 68 percent of Nebraska students meet the college-ready benchmarks, compared to 61 percent nationally. In reading 48 percent in Nebraska met the benchmarks, 43 percent did in math and 40 in science. The state's minority students also lag significantly behind white students in their performance on the ACT. The composite score for white students in Nebraska was 22.3, compared to 18.3 for Hispanic students, 17.2 for African-American students and 17.1 for Native students. In the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections, American voters were forced to choose between a liberal Democrat and weak establishment Republicans. Democrats won both times. In the 2010 and 2014 midterms, tired of the leftist agenda, voters sent an unmistakable message to Washington: Republicans took control of the Senate and filled more seats in the House than at any time since 1929. Still, nothing changed. In 2016, we have a clear choice. This moment is historic because Donald Trump is not another establishment Republican. We have lived through nearly eight years of weak leadership from a president who did not sign the charter to create the Islamic State but whose policies had the intended or unintended effect (we will be debating that for decades) of breathing life into the lungs of the terrorist group. President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton most definitely signaled to Islamic State leaders that they had no intention of seriously challenging them, or even of calling radical Islamic terrorism by its name. Instead, Obama and Clinton pulled our troops out of Iraq, drew and then quickly erased a red line in Syria and tried to convince us that unverifiable pinpoint drone strikes (after leaflet warnings) would win the war against the Islamic State. All of this was enabled by a feckless establishment Republican Congress. The policies of Obama and Clinton have made the world unstable and unsafe and created a world stage eerily similar to that of the late 1930s. We could be on the precipice of international conflict like nothing we have seen since World War II. Obama and Clinton are the Neville Chamberlains of our time. The deal to make $150 billion available to Iran, the leading state sponsor of terrorism in the world and a nation committed to the destruction of Israel, clearing the way for Iran to become a nuclear power, reminds me of Chamberlain's deal with Hitler in 1938, when the British prime minister declared "peace for our time." Domestically, Obama and Clinton have pushed to $19 trillion the debt that our children and grandchildren will somehow have to find a way to repay. Even our noble law enforcement has been demonized by the Obama administration, and anarchy is erupting in our cities. Thank God we now have the opportunity to elect a strong leader, one who is not afraid to call the enemy by its name and to take the battle to that enemy if necessary. We need fresh and bold leadership. Continuing the policies of Obama and Clinton internationally and domestically would be the definition of insanity: repeating the same mistakes over and over and expecting a different result. I chose to personally support Donald Trump for president early on and referred to him as America's blue-collar billionaire at the Republican National Convention because of his love for ordinary Americans and his kindness, generosity and bold leadership qualities. My family has grown to love all of the Trumps because they are wonderful people willing to sacrifice much for their country. The public perception of Trump that has been created by the media is simply false. We are at a crossroads where our first priority must be saving our nation. We need a leader with qualities that resemble those of Winston Churchill, and I believe that leader is Donald Trump. As Churchill did, Trump possesses the resolve to put his country first and to never give up in a world that is increasingly hostile to our values. Despite our differences, Americans from all walks of life must unite behind Trump and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence or suffer dire consequences. If Clinton appoints the next few Supreme Court justices, not only will the Second Amendment right to bear arms be effectively lost, but also activist judges will rewrite our Constitution in ways that would make it unrecognizable to our founders. And this country will have as its president a person who jeopardized our national security by negligently sending and receiving classified emails on a private server and then repeatedly making inaccurate statements about it, all while her family's foundation accepted millions of dollars in donations from foreign countries. Will time reveal the quid pro quo? Our nation's future truly hangs in the balance. Republicans such as Sen. Susan Collins (Maine) need to stop whining about Trump's temperament and start focusing on Clinton's corruption. (As far as I am concerned, the credibility of anyone who ignores Clinton's temperament while attacking Trump's is suspect anyhow.) It is naive or deceptive for conservatives to claim that a write-in vote or a third-party vote will not benefit Clinton. A vote for Donald Trump and Mike Pence is a vote for more freedom and less government, a vote for national security and responsible immigration policy, a vote to finally fight radical Islamic terrorism. It is a vote to rebuild America's respect overseas and a vote for strict-constructionist and pro-life Supreme Court justices. Remember when Iran held American hostages for 444 days, only to release them the day Ronald Reagan took office? Expect those kinds of results under Donald Trump's leadership. Many Nebraskans would describe themselves as being in favor of small government. But, as the saying goes, be careful what you wish for. You might get it. In Omaha small government has come to the suburbs in the form of dirt roads. The city does not have enough money to fix asphalt roads, so it has been dispatching crews to grind up the paving, leaving miles of dirt road in areas in which the homes are sometimes worth several hundred thousand dollars. "No letter, no notice. We just came home on a Tuesday, and our street was ground up," Joe Skradski told the Associated Press. "Since then, it's been nothing short of a nightmare," "the dentist said about his neighborhood, where a dozen $400,000-and-up houses now line a dirt path. Lincoln-area residents have no right to feel smug. Much the same thing is happening in rural Lancaster County. Just last week County Engineer Pam Dingman closed another three bridges when cumulative damage from storms washed away dirt from abutments, making them unsafe. One of those bridges is made of materials that are probably a century old, Dingman said. The county bought the bridge from the state in 1932 and moved it first to Emerald. In 1968 the county moved it to its spot between Waverly and Bluff roads, where it crossed Camp Creek. Erosion has widened the creek channel and the bridge is not long enough, which poses a challenge that Dingman has not yet solved. A new bridge would cost $1.2 million. In the other two cases the engineer is doing the same thing she did with bridges she had to close earlier. Shes putting in place a relatively inexpensive short-term fix at a price tag of $25,000 each. The dirt roads in Omaha and the road-closed signs in Lancaster County are a local manifestation of a national problem. Earlier this year the American Society of Civil Engineers said the nation needs to double its spending on roads, bridges and other infrastructure. Other infrastructure spending gaps, including for water, sewer, electricity, airports and ports, also are a growing, the organization said. Judging from the size of our tax bills its hard to believe that government isnt big enough. But when it comes to infrastructure, theres no doubt that elected officials are thinking small. Unfortunately for the countrys long-term interests the anti-tax activists seem to be having their biggest success in choking off spending on roads, bridges, etc. Remember when anti-tax activist Grover Norquist said he wanted to reduce government to a size small enough to drag to the bathroom and drown in the bathtub? That wailing sound you hear from homeowners with dirt roads and rural residents with long detours due to closed roads might mean that Norquist has achieved his dream. In spite of the media's never-ending marginalization of Donald Trump, we Trumpers will stand strong. We know that the media's plan is to unleash the dogs of hell upon Trump while ignoring "lying Hillary Clinton" completely. Because of Hillary's countless "misstatements," she can't run on her record, so she, through the left-leaning media, must tear down Trump in every way she can. I am a Christian and a very conservative Republican. I have no problem with Donald Trump. I will not stoop to Clinton's level by ripping her apart, which could easily be done. The United States needs new leadership, and that means in today's world we need a war leader. The US is at war, both foreign and domestically. A leader such as the biblical Joshua is needed, one who will fight the enemy where they are found and who will stop them from coming into our country by any means necessary. We need a war leader who will name our enemies, Muslim jihadists and Mexican drug lords, without fear of political correctness or sympathizing. So, democrats and media, write your false editorials and letters about Trump and his hatred of women, Mexicans, Muslims, the disabled, Gold Star parents, the Constitution and even babies. We know that you know it is all hooey and is done to marginalize and dispirit. The US needs a war leader now, one who will make America great and greater again and that will never happen with "lying Hillary" and her old establishment ways. For you who will dispute this letter, please do yourself the courtesy of defending Clinton not by castigating Trump with the same old tired rhetoric; it is beneath you. Argue your case by saying something positive about Hillary. I dare you. David Stempson, Lincoln With colorful signs, songs and prayer, local Natives, Nebraska tribal leaders and others gathered at the Capitol Wednesday to show support for protesters hundreds of miles to the north. Renee Sans Souci and her niece Mechelle Sky Walker organized the rally that drew about 30 people. Sans Souci said the rally was meant to show solidarity with protesters gathering south of Bismarck to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline from crossing the Missouri River. Standing Rock Sioux tribal members say they fear the pipeline near their reservations boundary could rupture and contaminate their water and disrupt sacred historic sites. Pipelines break. We know that, Sans Souci told people gathered at Wednesdays rally. That is why were here today. A federal judge in Washington, D.C., postponed a hearing Wednesday that was set to consider a request by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to temporarily stop construction of the $3.8 billion pipeline. Judge James E. Boarsberg said he plans to issue a ruling by Sept. 9. Sans Souci and Sky Walker went to North Dakota last weekend to deliver a van full of supplies collected in Lincoln for the protesters. Sky Walker said it was inspiring to see nearly 3,000 people from almost 65 different tribes gathered for one purpose. Its a moving gathering to have that many nations up there, she said. Leaders from two Nebraska tribes, the Ponca and Santee Sioux, spoke at Wednesdays rally in Lincoln. Stuart Redwing, secretary for the Santee Sioux Tribe, said he fears a rupture of the pipeline could affect his tribes sacred sites and ancient burial grounds. We condemn the pipeline companies and governments and all those who support these threats against our people, he said. Larry Wright Jr., president of Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, said all Nebraskans should be concerned about the Dakota Access Pipeline and its potential impact on the Missouri River. Its incumbent upon us to protest these things in any way we can, he said. We all live downstream. RACINE A Chicago couple was arrested Monday after allegedly committing financial fraud at two local Metro PCS stores. Dennis G. Oglesby, 31, and Monica L. Bell, 25, both of the Chicago area, were arrested with a 6-year-old child in the car at the time of the arrests, according to the criminal complaint. Officers initially responded to a Metro PCS store, 2308 Lathrop Avenue, where a fraudulent transaction was reportedly completed earlier in the day. Upon arrival, the owner of the store told the officer the suspect was attempting to complete a similar transaction at another Metro PCS location, 1923 Taylor Ave., the complaint said. At the first store, Oglesby reportedly attempted to purchase four cell phones and a cell phone plan totaling $876. Oglesby at the time identified himself as John Harris, the complaint said. Oglesbys card was initially declined, but he said he had a pre-authorized code that would let the transaction go through. He typed in the code and it appeared the transaction was approved. Oglesby left the store and the employee later discovered the transaction was actually not approved, according to the complaint. At the Taylor Avenue location, Oglesby was questioned by officers. He again said he had a pre-authorization code from his bank for the transactions. Oglesby told officers the code shows that you can pay for the transaction, the complaint said. Oglesby was detained and his car was searched. The car was parked a block from the store and inside was Oglesbys girlfriend. An officer approached the car and Bell introduced herself as Finola Moore, according to the complaint. Bell said she was with Oglesby but only knew him as O. Bell told the officer she wanted to go for a ride with Oglesby and didnt know where they were going. The officer then noticed a 6-year-old boy in the back seat, the complaint said. The boy was in a booster seat that was not secured, according to the complaint. There were couch-style pillows around him so he would be sitting directly on the stamped steel tub where the bench seat would normally have been, according to the complaint. The officer also smelled an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Bell was was told to exit the vehicle and did. In the car, the officer found Oglesbys wallet. Bell told the officer she used the wallet to get into clubs, the complaint said. When questioned, Bell eventually gave her proper identification and told the officer that she had marijuana on her. The marijuana blunt was found in Bells left sock, according to the complaint. Both Oglesby and Bell were arrested at the scene. Oglesby faces a felony charge for misappropriation of identity information to obtain money, and three misdemeanor charges for fraudulent data alteration, theft and bail jumping. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing 8:30 a.m. Sept. 1 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave. Bell faces two misdemeanor charges for possession of marijuana and resisting or obstructing an officer. She is scheduled for a pre-trial conference September 22 at 3:15 p.m. at the Law Enforcement Center. Both remained in custody as of Tuesday night at the Racine County Jail, online records showed. MOUNT PLEASANT Mount Pleasant Police are investigating four burglaries that have taken place in the municipality and one across the border in the City of Racine. The five burglaries took place over the past month and a half in the area of Lathrop Avenue and Chicory Road, according to a Mount Pleasant Police Department press release. The area the burglaries were reported was south of Taylor Avenue and east of Meachem Road. Similar tactics were used to gain entry. Suspects reportedly entered through front doors, garage service doors or windows, the release said. Mount Pleasant Police are asking residents to secure their vehicles and homes and to be vigilant when coming and going from their residences. They also advised residents to check outside lights to make sure they are in working condition and left on during night hours, according to the release. Mount Pleasant Police and the Racine Police Department are investigating the burglaries. RACINE A Kenosha man was robbed at gunpoint Saturday after traveling to Racine hoping to meet a woman he had conversed with on a dating site. Darquis Delancy Byers, 20, and Ricardo Perez-Davila, 24, both of the 1200 block of North Villa Street, reportedly lured the man to a backyard in the same block of North Villa Street, according to a criminal complaint. Byers' girlfriend reportedly told officers investigating the incident that she was chatting with the victim on the dating website Plenty of Fish and that Byers stole her phone. The girlfriend told police that Byers messaged the contact to come to the backyard of a nearby house, the complaint said. The victim told officers that when he arrived in the backyard, he was approached by Byers and Perez-Davila. Byers allegedly had a gun, which was later discovered to be a BB gun. The two suspects stole the victim's cell phone, according to the complaint. After the incident, the victim witnessed the suspects go into a home in the 1200 block of North Villa Street, the complaint said. Byers and Perez-Davila were charged on Tuesday with being a party to the crime of felony armed robbery with use of force. Both are scheduled for preliminary hearings at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 31 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave. Both were in custody as of Tuesday night at the Racine County Jail, online records indicated. Editorially we have supported the increasing use of body cameras for police officers including here in Racine County as a means of boosting both safety and accountability for officers and the public. Their use can protect officers and police agencies from frivolous claims of officer wrongdoing and also give investigators and the public solid evidence where the facts of a situation are in dispute. But, as with all new technologies, the deployment of these cameras also brings issues as was demonstrated in the recent Milwaukee rioting after the police shooting of a man in the Sherman Park area. There are two police videos of that shooting, but to date they have not been released. Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn has described one video, saying the slain man, Sylville Smith, 23, was turning toward the officer with a gun in his hand when he was shot, but because there was no audio that he was not able to determine when the shot was fired. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said he saw a still frame from that video that showed a gun in Smiths hands. And, for good measure, GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump chimed in with his take at a Wisconsin campaign stop, saying, The gun was pointed at his (the police officers) head supposedly ready to be fired. Who can have a problem with that? Maybe its not true. If it is true, people shouldnt be rioting. That account, of course, may just be campaign trail hyperbole. The Wisconsin Department of Justices Division of Criminal Investigation is in charge of investigating the shooting in accordance with a new state law requiring outside investigation of officer-involved deaths. That investigation, of course, will take time. But, meanwhile, suspicions in the community over exactly what happened remain high. Those fears could be allayed by the release of the video, but so far despite pledges from the state Justice Department to provide a transparent view of what went on the agency said it is not ready to release the footage. Attorney General Brad Schimel said Monday that wont be done until after the full investigation is complete and the county prosecutor decides whether any charges should be filed. Schimel should reconsider and release the videos and do so shortly. Delayed release of footage from police body cameras and from police squad car cameras can only undercut confidence in our police agencies and our government. For evidence of that, we have only to look to Chicago, which is still being roiled by the delayed release, for more than a year, of a police video of the shooting of a black teenager, LaQuan McDonald, in October 2014. That video was released only after a judge ordered it, and the footage contradicted police accounts that the teen who was shot 16 times was charging the officer with a knife. The officer has been indicted for murder. Last week, the Chicago police superintendent asked for the firing of seven officers involved in covering up the fatal shooting. The case triggered allegations that Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel, who allegedly had a copy of the video shortly after the shooting, sat on its release because it might have hurt his chances in a run-off election. Chicago has since changed its policy to provide prompt release of such videos. That should be the course in Wisconsin as well. We believe that 90-plus percent of the time, such timely release of camera footage will support the actions of our police force, give the public more confidence that police are doing their jobs professionally and quell potentially inflammatory situations like the one that rocked Milwaukee. Even if the Department of Justice adopted a policy of having a cooling off period before the release of police-shooting-related videos whether it be a week, two weeks or 30 days it would provide citizens with the assurance that the information is going to be made public and not hidden in a dark hole as it was in Chicago. We back the badge and appreciate the professional and often dangerous work our police officers do day in and day out. We also back the camera and the right of the community to monitor that work and to be able to do so in a timely fashion. That should be the standard in Wisconsin and the state attorney general should make that the policy of the state Department of Justice. Auto dealers rue lack of bigger exhibition halls As the 11th edition of the Nada Auto Show is set to kick off at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu from August 30, automobile dealers have complained about the lack of bigger exhibition halls. Banks providing education loans against certificates Commercial banks have started providing education loans against academic certificates in limited numbers to engineering students by signing agreements with the concerned engineering colleges. Banks do not have a policy to issue such loans to all students. Congress for holding interim local polls A meeting of the Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party on Tuesday concluded that the government should hold interim local elections under the existing structure in view of confusion over the number of local units in the federal set-up. Director Khanals new venture launched While Chapali Height 2 has been receiving mixed-reviews from audiences nationwide, its director, Dipendra K Khanal, is all set to come up with another feature, titled Love Love Love. DPMs visits to India, China fruitful: Govt The government has claimed that recent visits by two deputy prime ministers to India and China were fruitful and highly successful. Fuel woes Recurring gasoline shortages in the Capital call for a durable solution Golden handshake set to start next session In a bid to resolve the long festering issue of temporary teachers, the government has come up with two packages for themfight in the internal competition or take golden handshake. Govt to allow DoED to issue licences to mid-sized hydros The government is all set to authorise the Department of Electricity Development (DoED) to award licences to mid-sized hydropower projects in a bid to cut down procedural hassles. Hundreds fall ill due to water contamination Hundreds of people have been taken ill with fever and typhoid in Ramechhap after drinking contaminated water. Implementing federalisation People want sincere effort from political parties, government and bureaucracy to implement the constitution and end the transition Intellectual heritage The emergence of hill stations in India has some interesting stories behind it Korala border closes on 12th day due to low biz volume The Nepal-China border point at Mustangs Korala, which was opened for a local trade fair for 15 days, has been closed on the 12th day. Locals want social harmony, justice A year after the deadly incident in Tikapur of Kailali, in which nine lives were lost, socio-communal harmony is gradually returning to normalcy, but victims say they are still awaiting justice. Native language teaching fails to impress Tharu community The government plan to provide mother tongue-based multilingual education to the school children has failed to succeed. Nepal Airlines in stake sales talks with Middle East carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) in on the lookout for a foreign strategic partner who will buy at least 51 percent of its shares. Nepali Congress fails to pick its ministers The ruling coalition Nepali Congress on Wednesday failed to pick its ministers owing to mounting dispute within the party. North Korea submarine fires ballistic missile North Korea has fired a ballistic missile from a submarine off its east coast, say the US and South Korea. NRA completes assessment of 50,000 Valley households The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has completed detailed assessment of around 50,000 houses of Kathmandu Valley that were damaged by earthquakes last year. Oppn parties gather to form an alliance Opposition parties, including the main opposition CPN-UML, are preparing to form a separate alliance to safeguard the national interest. The trouble with teachers My sister was mumbling to herself one fine evening. Now there is nothing to be excited about her mumbling; for that is a norm rather than an exceptionfussing about every possible topic she can think of. The only difference was that on that particular day, she seemed more disturbed than usual. Business WireJohn Legend and Tika Sumpter are joining forces to bring another important moment in black history to the forefront. The Southside with You producers are creating a new series for WGN based on Tulsa, Oklahoma's Greenwood neighborhood, which was known as "Black Wall Street." According to Deadline, the series, set in Tulsa, will focus on the affluent African-American community that emerged in the divided city during the early 1920s, and the massacre that happened after several white attackers burned the neighborhood to the ground. Legend's Get Lifted partner, Mike Jackson, confirmed the news to Deadline. Were so excited to continue to grow our relationship with WGN America," he says. "Our experience working with them on Underground has been fantastic. Additionally, were looking forward to working with our friend Tika Sumpter to help tell this incredible story that many people know nothing about. Black Wall Street is still in its beginning stage, but is slated to be released in 2018, provided the series is picked up. Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Update: Earthquake in central Italy leaves dozens dead At least 73 people have been killed in an earthquake that hit a mountainous area of central Italy, authorities say. 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 Col Felix Kulayigye has been suspended from office of Chief Political Commissar over his alleged involvement in a gold business scandal. This has been confirmed by the UPDF Spokesperson Lt Col Paddy Ankunda who says Kulaigye will be out of office pending further inquiries about his conduct. The senior army officer came on the spot in June this year for allegedly kidnapping employees of a private company and ransacking its premises after a gold transaction went bad. He was reported to the army leadership by one Richard Kamugisha, the managing director of the Ntinda-based company, for what his lawyers claim was kidnap of employees and theft of properties. The three employees of Matrich Holdings Limited, a company which deals in minerals, were earlier detained with 600 grammes of gold worth Shs70m, office equipment worth over Shs66m and two vehicles yet to be recovered after a transaction involving a business lady identified as Brenda Murungi and an unidentified Congolese gold dealer hit a snag. Col Kulayigye has, however, refuted the claims but confirmed that his niece contacted him reporting theft of her gold from the company premises in Ntinda, a suburb in Kampala. The Japanese government on Wednesday approved a plan to contribute 1 billion yen ($9.97 million) to help victims who were used as sexual slaves by Japanese troops during World War II, a local media report said. According to Kyodo News, the Japanese government held a Cabinet meeting earlier in the day and endorsed the contribution plan that was pledged late last year. The money will go to a foundation launched in South Korea for the victims, euphemistically called comfort women. The decision is expected to be delivered to South Korea at a bilateral meeting to be held in Tokyo in the afternoon between Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and his South Korean counterpart, Yun Byung-se. The contribution was promised at a landmark deal reached on Dec. 28 between South Korea and Japan, under which Tokyo expressed an apology for its colonial-era atrocities and agreed to launch a foundation dedicated to supporting the surviving victims. Japan, however, has been avoiding calling the money that it promised to contribute to the foundation as "reparation" causing doubt here about the sincerity of its apology. AUBURN Hoosier voters could hold the fate of the U.S. Senate in their hands this November, U.S. Sen. Dan Coats said Tuesday in Auburn. This race, with Evan Bayhs re-entry has basically positioned Indiana as maybe a game-changer for control of the United States Senate, said Coats, a Republican whose retirement leaves the seat up for grabs. Bayh, a Democratic former U.S. senator and Indiana governor, is running against Republican U.S. Rep. Todd Young for the crucial Senate seat. Control of the Senate is essential, win or lose at the presidential level, Coats said. If we win, Donald Trump and Mike Pence are going to need support from a Republican Senate. If we dont win, were going to need a stopper to block Hillary Clintons agenda. Coats predicts the Bayh-Young race will be a wing-dinger. This is going to be horribly expensive, because literally the Senate control is up for grabs, and therell be national money pouring in, Coats said. The Democrats are desperately trying to regain control. They will put every ounce of effort and every dollar they can round up into this race. If Todd can get the resources to make it competitive, I think hes got a very compelling message and very compelling resume. Coats and Bayh traded places in the Senate seat over the last 28 years without ever running against each other. Neither has ever lost an election. Coats said he tried to make a Coats-Bayh showdown happen in 2010, when he made a comeback 12 years after his first retirement. He thought he would be challenging Bayh for the seat, but Bayh dropped out a couple of weeks later. In 2010, Coats said, a Republican senatorial committee asked him: Were trying to retake the Senate. Is there any way you would consider running again? In response, he said, Given my concerns about the direction of the country, I thought, I cant say no and sit around and complain that were going in the wrong direction. With Bayh sitting out, Coats won easily over U.S. Rep. Brad Ellsworth in 2010. This year, Coats said, he would not have retired if he knew Bayh would be Democratic candidate. Had he announced that he was running back in February, when you had to file, I would have felt obligated to run to hold the seat, Coats said. Instead, Bayh did not become a candidate until after the May primary election, when Democratic nominee Baron Hill withdrew. In the Bayh-Young race, Coats said, I think the issue is very basic: If people want more of what weve just had over the last eight years under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and Evan Bayh for two of those years theyll vote or Evan. But f they want a change, a true change from what has happened over this administration, theyll vote for Todd. In the race for president, Coats said, This is a year unlike any other year I have ever seen in my life. Its almost a surprise every day. You have two flawed candidates. On the Republican side, Coats said, The best thing that happened to Donald Trump is Mike Pence. I think hes having a very significant influence on him. Coats said voters have simply had it with the establishment. They want something new, and theyre willing to take that risk of an unknown someone whos a game-changer, which Donald Trump clearly is. He added, How Donald Trump communicates to the American people over the next three months will play a very important role in whether Democrats can portray Trump as unstable. Coats visited Auburn Tuesday for an informal lunch with Republican supporters. He delivered an official U.S. Senate Republican necktie that local supporter Ron Dicke purchased with his winning bid at a Republican event last spring. Control of the Senate is essential, win or lose at the presidential level, U.S. Sen. Dan Coats The American Red Cross, with assistance from Partners of Black River Memorial Hospital, has scheduled a blood drive on Tuesday, Sept. 6 at the Comfort Inn & Suites at W10170 Highway 54, Black River Falls. The drive will run from noon to 5:30 p.m. The date was switched from Aug. 31. The American Red Cross welcomes new and returning donors to help meet the need for blood donations. The process is simple and donor preparation includes drinking plenty of fluids on the day of donation, wearing comfortable clothing, bringing a list of medications and an ID. LA CROSSE Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said last week America needs a president with a strong temperament and firm tone, and, despite widespread criticism, he is the candidate who has it. I think temperament is one of my greatest assets. Ive won all my life, Ive been winning, Trump said during an interview with the La Crosse Tribune. I always thought that temperament I mean I have always felt and been told that my single greatest strength is temperament. Trump critics including some prominent Republicans have said he doesnt have the temperament to be president. Only 17 percent of respondents to an NBC News poll released last week thought he had the personality and temperament to serve. Among those who identified as Republicans, 19 percent thought he was fit to serve. The real estate mogul who in recent weeks lashed out at the parents of a Muslim soldier who died in Iraq and engaged in public feuds with Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and other members of his party suggested his Democratic rival lacks a steady hand. I actually think that Hillary Clinton doesnt have a good temperament. I thinks shes very unstable in certain ways, he said. I dont think she has what it takes to make our country into and turn our country into a winner again. Trump was in La Crosse Tuesday for a $2,700 per-plate fundraiser at the Riverside Center. Earlier in the day he met with former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson and Logistics Health founder Don Weber at Webers Charmant Hotel. Mary Jo Werner, a partner with the consulting, tax and accounting firm WIPFLI, said about 100 people attended the lunch, where Trump spoke for about 15 minutes about the economy, immigration and law and order. Werner, who said she supported Trump before the event, went to hear what he had to say with my own ears, unedited. It was not loud and outspoken, she said. It was very businesslike. Tuesday marked Trumps first visit to La Crosse since April 4, when he rallied supporters ahead of the GOP primary. Sen. Ted Cruz won the state, though Trump carried the western part. A Marquette Law School poll released last week showed Trump trailing Clinton by 15 points among likely voters. He fares worse with female voters. Trump is confident he can win over those women in the 83 days before the November election. All I can do is talk about safety, talk about security, talk about womens issues, which Im very happy to do, he said. But I think were going to do very well. I think in the end were going to come out very nicely. Tax plan to have immediate impact Trump said his tax plan, which the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center has estimated would reduce federal revenues by $9.5 trillion over the first decade would not require cuts to balance the budget because it would spur immediate economic growth. I think it will be very close to immediate, he said. Right now companies are leaving because the taxes are so high. Were the highest industrialized nation in the world in taxes. And I think its going to have an immediate effect. But he promised to trim the $3.8 trillion budget anyway. Im not talking about the cuts. Of course Im going to make cuts, he said. In many different ways, the country is very fat with waste. Its waste, fraud and abuse. Trump suggested the Department of Education, which this year has a $70.7 billion discretionary budget, and the Environmental Protection Agency which runs on about $8.6 billion. For comparison, the nation spends about $615 billion on defense and $590 billion on Medicare. If you look at the Department of Education, if you look at the department of environmental protection, these are massive bureaucracies that have tremendous room for cutting. Tremendous. Better times? Trump, whose campaign slogan is Make America Great Again! said he views the 1980s as the time when things were good for the nation, though he also hearkened back to the late 1700s and early 1800s. The industrial revolution was certainly in terms of economically that was when we started to grow, Trump said. I liked the Ronald Reagan years. I thought the country had a wonderful, strong image. Incumbent Republican Congressman Sean Duffy and Democrat Mary Hoeft will square off in the November election for Wisconsins 7th Congressional District seat after prevailing in the August primary. Duffy and Hoeft appeared to defeat their primary challengers by more than 4-to-1 margins, according to vote totals available the day after the Aug. 9 election. They now begin the campaign for the Nov. 8 election. Duffy, seeking his fourth term, garnered approximately 89 percent of the vote (26,451) over challenger Don Raihala, who took 11 percent (3,112), according to unofficial totals with 663 of 706 precincts reporting. Hoeft took 81 percent of the vote (25,240) to opponent Joel Lewis 19 percent (6,016), according to the same unofficial results. Im very excited. Im thankful to the people of the 7th Congressional District. I tried to get to as many people as I could to hear my message, and it sounded like they approved of me and thats good, said Hoeft, a teacher at UW-Barron County. Im also very proud of Joel Lewis, my opponent he ran a very good campaign, and he made me a better candidate because of that. Duffy, Raihala and Lewis could not be reached for comment. Hoeft said she looks forward to the race against Duffy, who she hopes to debate several times as November approaches. Im excited to get out there and meet as many more people as I can, she said. I look forward to debating Sean Duffy. Lets let the people of the 7th Congressional District know clearly where we each stand on the issues that concern them. The Associated Press contributed to this story. The Internal Revenue Service is warning taxpayers against telephone scammers targeting students and parents during the back-to-school season and demanding payments for non-existent taxes, such as the Federal Student Tax. People should be on the lookout for IRS impersonators calling students and demanding that they wire money immediately to pay a fake federal student tax. If the person does not comply, the scammer becomes aggressive and threatens to report the student to the police to be arrested. As schools around the nation prepare to re-open, it is important for taxpayers to be particularly aware of this scheme going after students and parents. Although variations of the IRS impersonation scam continue year-round, they tend to peak when scammers find prime opportunities to strike, said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. As students and parents enter the new school year, they should remain alert to bogus calls, including those demanding fake tax payments from students. The IRS encourages college and school communities to share this information so that students, parents and their families are aware of these scams. Scammers are constantly identifying new tactics to carry out their crimes in new and unsuspecting ways. This year, the IRS has seen scammers use a variety of schemes to fool taxpayers into paying money or giving up personal information. Some of these include: Altering the caller ID on incoming phone calls in a spoofing attempt to make it seem like the IRS, the local police or another agency is calling; Imitating software providers to trick tax professionals IR-2016-103; Demanding fake tax payments using iTunes gift cards IR-2016-99; Soliciting W-2 information from payroll and human resources professionals IR-2016-34; Verifying tax return information over the phone IR-2016-40; Pretending to be from the tax preparation industry IR-2016-28. If you receive an unexpected call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, here are some of the telltale signs. The IRS will never: Call to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer. Generally, the IRS will first mail you a bill if you owe any taxes. Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying. Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe. Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone. If you get a suspicious phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS and asking for money, heres what you should do: Do not give out any information. Hang up immediately. Search the web for telephone numbers scammers leave in your voicemail asking you to call back. Some of the phone numbers may be published online and linked to criminal activity. Contact TIGTA to report the call. Use their IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting web page or call 800-366-4484. Report it to the Federal Trade Commission. Use the FTC Complaint Assistant on FTC.gov. Please add IRS Telephone Scam in the notes. If you think you might owe taxes, call the IRS directly at 800-829-1040. A non-profit organization is kicking off efforts to bring a specially adapted home for an injured veteran to Jackson County. Homes for Our Troops will hold a public kickoff event this Saturday for the project for Marine Cpl. Kevin Hanrahan, who was injured while serving in Afghanistan in 2011. The home, to be built in rural Black River Falls, will assist Hanrahan, who lost his left leg, back of his right thigh and sustained a traumatic brain injury after stepping on an improvised explosive device. We do not consider giving an injured veteran a home a charity but a moral obligation of our society, said Teresa Verity, a marketing coordinator for Homes for Our Troops. By giving veterans like Kevin a specially adapted home, we are restoring some of the independence and freedom they lost while defending ours. Homes for Our Troops, founded in 2004, builds mortgage-free, adapted homes for veterans who were severely injured after Sept. 11, 2001. The home for Hanrahan, which will be one of more than 200 the organization has built, will feature more than 40 major special adaptations, including widened doorways for wheelchair access, a roll-in shower and kitchen amenities like pull-down shelving and lowered countertops. It also will alleviate mobility and safety issues associated with traditional homes. Saturdays community kickoff signifies the start of the build process and will introduce Hanrahan to the community. The event, open to the public, will be held at the Lunda Community Center in Black River Falls. Jackson County Board Chair Ray Ransom, who has been invited to give remarks at the event, said hes honored take part and looks forward to welcoming Hanrahan to the community. Im very pleased to be able to do that and be able to welcome him with open arms to Jackson County, he said. I cant think of a more deserving manner to show our appreciation for individuals who have made sacrifices for our country and for us. Jackson County Veterans Service Officer Randy Bjerke said hes pleased that Hanrahan will receive a home, and he hopes community members and organizations will step forward to help fundraise and donate. I think its great. These guys come back from war and some of them, like Kevin, have suffered a lot, and I think this goes a long way to show them that the nation supports them, and get them in a place where its going to be easier for them to do their activities of daily living, Bjerke said. They are fundraising for this I think its going to be a great community effort to get this thing off the ground. Im really glad to see that its coming. Members of the public interested in attending the kickoff event are asked to RSVP by visiting www.hfotusa.org/building-homes/veterans/hanrahan/ and clicking on the link on the right side of the page. Registration is at 9:30 a.m. and the event begins at 10 a.m. Bette Cahill, 95, of La Crosse passed away Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016, at Benedictine Manor, La Crosse. She was born July 11, 1921, in La Crosse to George and Mary E. (Dickson) Wright. In 1930, her father died and she went to live with her Grandmother Dickson on a small farm in Rudolph, Wis. There she formed a lasting bond with her older cousin Bill Stout. The family did not have very much but Bill always found a way to place a candy bar in her lunch every Friday. Early in World War II she met James Cahill at an Army dance at Fort McCoy. The relationship blossomed and they were married Sept. 8, 1948, after he returned from the European theater. He preceded her in death March 30, 1992. Bette worked at St Francis School of Nursing for 43 years, and thoroughly enjoyed being with the students. She retired in 1983, to enjoy her retirement with her husband, Jim. Bette was a longtime member of both Cathedral and Holy Trinity parishes and a supporter of Aquinas High School, her alma mater. She enjoyed playing cards with her close friends, cheering at Aquinas sporting events, knitting for family, and fishing with her husband Jim. She is survived by her sister, Mary Alice Kerrigan (Scott) of Corrales, N.M.; sons, Michael (Judy) of Morrison, Colo., and James Thomas (Ann); and grandchildren, Katherine, Cassandra, Gavin, Haley, and MacKenzie. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 26, at Holy Trinity Church, 1333 S. 13th St., La Crosse. The Rev. Rick Roberts will officiate, and burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, La Crosse. Family and friends may visit9 a.m. until the time of Mass Friday at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. The family would like to express their profound gratitude to the staff of Benedictine Manor for enabling our mother to maintain her dignity and independence during the last 12 and one half years of her life. We are truly grateful to you. Online condolences may be made at www.blaschkeschneider.com. BANGOR A 15-year-old boy and 16-year-old girl were responsible for last weeks vandalism to numerous private and public properties in Bangor, according to police. The incident first caught the attention of residents on Aug. 18, when parishioners discovered references to the Black Lives Matter movement and a swastika spray-painted at the entrance of St. Marys Catholic Church. The church was far from the only building hit. Also vandalized were the stone park shelter in Veterans Memorial Park and two residents homes. In the park, vandals scrawled the words We are inhuman, and on the homes of the residents the words We are insane and -- -12. According to Bangor Police Chief Scott Alo, the latter is a term directed toward police. He said both suspects have given full confessions, and the symbols used were chosen to get the attention of the public and the media. I think they were just trying to get attention, he said. The Rev. Douglas Robertson of St. Marys agreed with Alo. I think its just local vandals just being mischievous, he said, adding that it was unfortunate the vandals chose such powerful symbols. A swastika and Black Lives Matter are really antithetical, he said. They dont go together. Robertson added that the combination showed the ignorance of the teens responsible. The church has already begun work to repair the damages. Robertson said the swastika was relatively easy to clean off the glass, but the damage to the churchs landing will take a little more time to repair. He said, thankfully, the damage was done before the steps were resurfaced as part of a larger repair project. The case has been closed. The juveniles face citations that include graffiti, destruction of property and trespassing. In addition, the male will face additional charges of theft of the spray paint used. The case will be handled in municipal court. Village president Gary Althoff applauded the Bangor Police Department for solving the case so quickly. The local unemployment rate ticked downward last month, as typically happens in July, but La Crosse again lagged behind the states other metro areas in year-over-year improvement. The 3.9 percent jobless rate not seasonally adjusted was down 0.3 points from June but just 0.1 point below the mark set in July 2015, according to numbers released Wednesday by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. Unemployment rates were down in each of the states 12 metro areas compared with a year ago. Janesville saw the largest drop a full percentage point while La Crosse had the smallest. The statewide unemployment rate for July was a seasonally-adjusted 4.2 percent. La Crosse has traditionally had one of the lowest unemployment rates in the state, but in the past two months has slipped to seventh out of 12. After the recession of 2009, La Crosses unemployment rate dropped steadily until November 2015. Of the past nine months, only two have shown year-over-year improvement. That may have more to do with other metro areas making gains than La Crosses economy faltering, said Bill Brockmiller, a regional labor market analyst with the DWD. Its not that were slipping, he said. Its that others are continuing to catch up. Brockmiller notes that the number of non-farm jobs has continued to grow, as has the work force. Its hard to argue the economy isnt continuing to improve in La Crosse, he said. Compared with the same month in 2015, the area, which encompasses La Crosse and Houston counties, had about 1,400 more people in the workforce and about 1,200 more jobs. Wholesale trade and hospitality posted the largest gains of 400 jobs each, followed by retail, transportation and manufacturing. The professional services and healthcare sectors shed a combined 300 jobs. Brockmiller said those 3,000-some unemployed workers increasingly lack the skills employers are looking for, which could lead to trouble. The remaining people who are still unemployed in many cases are going to have a skills mis-match, Brockmiller said. Theres appearance to me that at this point were going to start to run into constrained growth by the labor force. WINONA, Minn. Richard Gordon Deppe will spend the next 20 years with the Minnesota Department of Corrections looking over his shoulder. Deppe, 24, pleaded guilty to a single count of aiding and abetting an offender after the fact in connection with the October 2015 shooting death of Adam Tylor Fort in Winona. He was sentenced Wednesday. Winona County District Court Judge Mary Leahy stayed execution of a 42-month prison sentence, placing Deppe on probation for 20 years, and specifically warning him away from association with people drinking or using drugs. Thats always been your downfall, Leahy said, hooking up with the wrong bunch of folks. According to court documents and testimony, Deppe accompanied accused shooter Lonnie Hudson and Reginald Burnett Jr. to Forts apartment as the go-between on a marijuana purchase on the afternoon of Oct. 18, 2015. Once inside, Hudson pulled a gun and the drug deal became a robbery, culminating in murder when he fired a single shot, killing Fort in his bedroom, according to court records. Burnett pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree assault. He remains in the Winona County Jail and is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 20. Hudson is the last of the seven individuals indicted by a Winona County grand jury in connection with Forts murder. He remains in custody in lieu of $5 million bond, charged with first- and second-degree murder, aggravated robbery, three counts of second-degree assault, and illegal possession of a firearm. No trial date has been set for Hudson. Three other defendants in the case Kayla Mae Clay, Cornelius Dunnigan and Ashleigh Ann Bye have pleaded guilty to various charges and have been sentenced. Charges were dismissed against a 24-year-old La Crosse woman who had been indicted on three counts of aiding an offender after the fact. At 6:05 a.m., the Minnesota State Patrol responded to a report of shots fired near I-90 milepost 272, near the Dakota exit, according to dispatch recordings. As reported, the shots were fired from an eastbound black Toyota Camry. The Black Swan Barrel company in Park Rapids is not a quiet place. Industrial wood planers shape white oak into staves. Workers bind them with steel rings, submerge them in hot water, then sear the inside with fire. According to business owner Heidi Karasch, its especially loud right now. Her workers are rushing just to meet the rapidly growing demand for whiskey barrels. Were over 10 months behind right now, she said. So if you wanted to place an order today, youd have to wait. As many as 40 barrels leave the shop every day, and Karaschs 15 employees, known as coopers in the industry, are always trying to improve that number. But it wasnt always so busy. When Karasch first started the business in 2009, it was something of a gamble. Barrel making as an industry has had some hard times. Black Swan is one of only a few dozen producers left in the whole country. There used to be dozens just in Minneapolis. They were as common as mechanics, or concrete layers. These days, the whole state has just two. But as a student at Ridgewater College in Willmar, Minn., back in 2007, Karasch noticed a steep rise in hipsters growing large beards and buying craft beer. Small artisan breweries were popping up all over the place. She figured, the craft distilling industry wouldnt be far behind, and theyd need barrels. The craft distilling industry was still very young at that point, she said. But we knew there was something coming and something good. Her father, Russ Karasch used to make barrels for a cooperage in the metro area before it went out of business. He knew the trade and had some machinery. So when Karasch graduated, she went back home, rented a small building and got to work. She was right about the craft distilleries. There were just a handful in the state when she started Black Swan. Now there are at least 14. Across the country, Russ said the industry is growing even faster. He said the number of small distilleries has quadrupled in the last year. The drinking populations of China and India are also developing a taste for American whiskey. Major producers like Jack Daniels and Makers Mark are shipping thousands of barrels overseas. Demand is rising, but he said there arent many new barrel makers starting up. Thats because a whiskey barrel is really hard to get right. I know of a few cabinet makers that tried to move into barrels, he said. They couldnt make it. A barrel has to hold liquid for many years without using any glue, or gaskets. And it has to taste good. At the center of the workshop is the toasting room. Its dark and smoky and incredibly warm. Karasch said, thats where the most important work is done by one of her best coopers Dan Lehmkuhler. Lehmkuhler explained the process while stoking a dozen small fires inside as many new barrels. He said its the toasting of the barrel that gives a whiskey its flavor. Its his job to keep them over the flame just long enough to bring out the oaks natural sweetness. I like a sort of brown sugar smell, he said. You know, almost like a cake that just came out of the oven. Thats what Im looking for. A few seconds can mean the difference between bitter and smooth whiskey. Its a hard job, but between the exports and craft movement, Karasch said its a good time to be a cooper. People who make a living helping others hunt and fish on the Upper Mississippi River are upset about new fees for commercial users being proposed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under the proposed rules, commercial fishing floats and professional guides will have to pay $500 or 3 percent of their gross revenue whichever is greater in addition to a $100 administrative fee to receive a special-use permit for the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, which stretches more than 261 miles between Wabasha, Minn., and Rock Island, Ill. Ted Peck, who has worked for 35 years as a fishing guide in Pool 9, is angered by the fee, which he considers an unauthorized tax. Refuge manager Sabrina Chandler said the fees are one of several options the agency has for administering commercial activities on federal land. Its not a tax, she said, noting the revenue will allow the agency to direct more resources toward its mission of conservation. Peck said hes not seen any evidence of the Fish and Wildlife Service improving the river. Theres not one tangible example of any benefit to the resource. It doesnt benefit the resource at all, not one tangible benefit to the user, he said. The sole beneficiary of this proposed regulation is the government. Mark Clements owns Clements Fishing Barge in Genoa, one of three such fishing floats permitted on the refuge, and said the proposed fee 3 percent of gross revenues amounts to 10 to 15 percent of net profits, which he likens to extortion. The Fish and Wildlife Service says the existing $100 fee, which has not been increased in 45 years, is not enough to cover the cost of administration and enforcement. Clements said wildlife officials have visited his barge only four times in 20 years, leading him to question the need for more revenue. Here you have an organization thats going to create more government regulations, he said. And they want to charge you for creating regulations. Chandler said revenues from the proposed fee schedule would still not cover the full cost of reviewing permits and conducting periodic evaluations. The proposed regulations, outlined in draft compatibility determinations, cover nearly two dozen uses, including professional fishing tournaments and fur trapping. The Fish and Wildlife Service last month released draft determinations on non-commercial uses, including camping and boating. The determinations are an update to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services 10-year-old Comprehensive Conservation Plan. Adopted in 2006 after four years of planning and significant public controversy, the CCP was an attempt to balance the needs of wildlife and the 3.7 million people who use the 240,000-acre refuge each year for fun, sport and commerce. The Fish and Wildlife Service is hosting public meetings this week in cities along the river. The Fish and Wildlife Service said oversight will ease tension between a growing number of professional guides and other refuge users and will ensure guides are qualified, but Peck said he is already subject to regulation by the Coast Guard and state wildlife agencies. Theres nobody in the federal government that can certify my ability as a guide, he said. If I didnt know what I was doing Id be out of business in a very short time. Matt Ellis is a part-time hunting guide out of Stoddard who feels the regulations represent a general dislike for commercial users of the refuge. Basically I dont think they want guiding on the river, he said. Tony Toye has been guiding hunters on Pool 9 since 1996. He concedes that some locals dont like professional guides, but he fears an erosion of hunting rights on the river. Whats next? Now what are they going after? Toye said. Theres only a few national wildlife refuges that allow hunting. But Chandler notes that commercial activities are generally prohibited on national park and refuge land but were outlined as uses in the 2006 CCP. We could deny the use, she said. Thats not something were trying to do. We understand theres an important role for those folks on the river. Were not out to remove these activities. Were just following the rule of the law. John Riepl, who owns the Best Dam Fishing Float in Dresbach, Minn., said hes not worried about the additional cost, which would result in a small price increase. His greatest concern is additional paperwork that might deter people who come to fish from his pier. Its not going to cost the fishing float a dime, he said. Does this money really help the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or is it just putting further restrictions on the use of the refuge? LA CROSSE A former La Crosse woman convicted of driving with a 0.45 percent alcohol level was ordered to serve two years on probation and fined $1,200. Erin Ersted, 40, spent more than one year undergoing in-patient alcohol treatment and completed 300 hours of community service since her arrest more than three years ago, defense attorney Jim Koby said. The Erin Ersted that came into court on June 24, 2013, is a totally different person than the person who is here today, Koby said. When youre a 0.45, youre off the chart. The fact that shes alive is miraculous. A witness saw Ersted fall from her moped and continue driving at 30 to 35 mph with an officer pursing her until she reached her home, according to the complaint filed in La Crosse County Circuit Court. Police found an unopened vodka bottle in the back of the moped. Ersted pleaded no contest to fifth-offense operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration, while a charge of fifth-offense operating while intoxicated was dismissed but considered by the judge at sentencing earlier this month. She has drunken driving convictions in Minnesota and Wisconsin in 1994, 1998, 2006 and 2009. Ersted cannot drive and must undergo random alcohol testing while on probation, a sentence jointly recommended by attorneys. Circuit Judge Ramona Gonzalez also imposed a stayed two-year prison sentence. If you choose to go back to drinking and driving, then thats where you belong, she said. Deep Rooted Organics of Westby is hosting its first annual Tasty Tomato Festival, Sunday, Sept. 4, from 1 to 7 p.m. to celebrate all things tomato. Attendees will have the chance to enter and vote in a locally grown tomato tasting contest, plus taste Deep Rooteds line of tomato products including their new Bloody Mary Mix. The festival will include live music, workshops, greenhouse tours, local food, plus local wine tasting by Branches Winery. In addition, a taco bar featuring local food items will benefit the Vernon County Farm to School program. Admission is free and children are welcome. Owners Tiffany Cade and Jimmy Fackert are said they are anxious to welcome visitors to their Certified Organic farm and greenhouses which are located 3 miles east of Westby. Its a chance for our vibrant local food community to shine, Cade said. The customers we meet at the local farmers markets and at our commercial accounts are always anxious to learn more about growing tomatoes and the many varieties that are available. This is a chance to learn, taste, shop, and just have fun. A highlight of the Tasty Tomato Festival is a tomato contest open to both backyard and commercial growers. Guests can taste many tomato varieties and vote on their favorite. Its a chance for growers to enter their prize tomatoes, plus taste numerous varieties that they may want to grow in the future, Cade said. To register tomatoes in the contest, visit deeprootedorganics.com. Growing heirloom tomatoes and seed saving are two of the topics well cover in informal presentations, Fackert said. Driftless Folk School will also be presenting a workshop on tomato preservation. He explained that the festival will provide insight into Deep Rooted Organics operation and their plans for the future. We clearly have an opportunity to grow. Investing in additional infrastructure and converting to solar energy are key parts of our plans. Were anxious to share our story. Live music organized by the Wisconsin Roots Music Cooperative will include performances by Dan and Mary Sebranek, Ed Danger, Jamie Wagner and Whiskey Chicken. For more information about Deep Rooted and their events, visit www.deeprootedorganics.com or Facebook.com/deeprootedwestby. The farm and greenhouses are located at E8975 East Ridge Rd., Westby and is easily found by traveling 3 miles east of Hwy. 14/61 via East Park Street. Deep Rooted is currently open for retail sales on Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through October. continued from last week... The Ardennes The battalion saw its heaviest combat in the Battle of the Bulge, when it was reinforced with tank destroyers and armored infantry and sent to hold Malmedy against the 150th Panzer Brigade. Germany launched its Ardennes Offensive on 16 December and on the 17th the 99th Battalion was ordered into defensive positions south of Malmedy, Belgium. The battalion was part of Task Force Hanson, named after the 99ths commander, and it consisted of the 99th, the 526th Armored Infantry Bn., and the 825th Tank Destroyer Bn. The unit occupied a strong defensive position 1000 meters wide, with a 500 meter field of fire from the top of a 15 foot high railroad embankment. On the night of 21 December, at about 10:30, the 99ths position was attacked by Panzer Brigade 150 in what must have been one of the strangest looking attacks of the war. This German unit was commanded by SS Colonel Otto Skorzeny, Hitlers most daring commando leader. The brigades initial mission was to pose as American soldiers, infiltrate American rear areas and cause as much damage and confusion as possible. Most of the soldiers were dressed in full or partial American uniforms and many of the vehicles were captured American vehicles, or were German vehicles disguised to look like American vehicles. By 20 December Skorzeny realized that his infiltration mission had failed and he requested permission to employ his brigade as a regular armor unit. On the night of December 20th he was assigned the mission of capturing Malmedy, and attacking the rear of the Americans who were preventing the advance of the 1st SS Panzer Corp at Elsenborn Ridge. Skorzanys attacks appeared to consist of Americans attacking Americans, but thanks to the defensive efforts of the 99th Battalion and units of the 30th Infantry Division, all of Panzer Brigade 150s efforts failed with heavy losses. The Germans did, however, succeed in one effort. Because many of the 99th soldiers had Norwegian accents, they were regularly arrested or detained when mistaken for some of the German infiltrators of Skorzenys brigade. The Norwegians smashed the SS attack, and held the crossroads for most of January before being sent back to France for re-training as part of the 474th Infantry Regiment, a unit made up of the 1st Special Service Force (the so-called Devils Brigade). The new unit never saw serious combat, and in June, the 99th went to Oslo for ceremonial duties before returning to the U.S. in October. The Norwegian unit became surplus as soon as it was sent to France. Though it had specialized training and fought very well during its brief commitments to battle, but commanders seemed to consider the Norwegians an eight-ball outfit that didnt really fit into the battle plans in the flatlands. They were trained as mountain commando fighters. This was definitely an unfair assessment, but there werent a lot of missions calling for Norwegian skiers in Belgium. Why the battalion was not attached to the 10th Mountain Division in Italy, despite having trained with the 10th in Colorado, is not clear. Historians say they would have been better used if attached to the 10th Mountain division that fought in the mountains of Italy. Just another example of bungled military use of the training and skills these men had. The original purpose of 99th, was to participate in Operation Plough the concept of advanced sabotage actions in Norway, and men from this unit were the only Americans ever to operate on Norwegian soil during World War II. That particular operation was Operation Rype in the Trondelag area. The Rype group consisted of 15 men. They were transported in two groups. The first group, however, jumped out over Swedish territory, and got imprisoned for a period. This operations main target was the railway, and took place during the autumn of 1944. It consisted of a group of saboteurs led by Major William Colby. They stayed in the border areas between Norway and Sweden disrupting rail traffic as the Germans tried to get soldiers out of Norway on trains to join their depleted army in Germany. The Rype group continued those operations until the liberation of Norway. To Norway at Last The war in Europe ended on 7 May 1945. Two days later, the 99th Battalion finally received the mission that many hoped for. They would move to Norway to assist in the disarming and demobilization of Germanys 300,000-man army there. They finally left LeHavre, France, or Oslo via LSTs on 4 June. After a delightful cruise on a smooth sea, under a sunny sky, they arrived in Oslo on 8 June. Needless to say, this must have been a very special moment for the 2nd and 3rd generation Norwegians. They stayed in the Oslo Drammen area, and their task was guard duties during the repatriation of the 375 000 Germans. The 99th was garrisoned in Camp Smestad, a beautiful former German log cabin camp just outside of Oslo. By late July preparations were completed for German demobilization and troop transportation back to Germany. Throughout August the battalion assisted in the processing and movement back to Germany of nearly 100,000 German military personnel. When Norways King Haakon returned to Norway he was greeted by an honor guard from the 99th Battalion, and in turn the King honored the 99th by designating it as his personnel honor guard unit. The 99th also participated in several large parades honoring the allied victory, allied military forces, and Americas Independence Day. All the parades were greeted by huge crowds of Norwegians eager to celebrate their liberation, and eager to thank the allied liberators. Despite an influx of many replacements for casualties received in European battles, the 99th retained a strong Norwegian element. In Norway a generous leave and pass policy was implemented which the men eagerly utilized. Many of the native Norwegian members of the 99th were reunited with families who had received no word of their loved one for five years, and had no idea if their relative was dead or alive. Many Norwegian-Americans were able to find and meet their Norwegian relatives for the first time. There were many romantic encounters with Norwegian women, and a number of weddings took place or were planned. More than 50 men came home with a new Norwegian wife. In almost every case the occupation of Norway was a joyful time for the men of the 99th Infantry Battalion. Home Their mission completed, the 99th Battalion was ordered home for demobilization. On 16 October 1945, the 99th boarded the SS Bienville in Oslo harbor and set sail for the United States on the next day. Arriving in Boston on 1 November 1945, the battalion was sent to camp Miles Standish and demobilized on 2 November. The 99th Infantry Battalion with its strong Norwegian roots, remains one of the most unique units in the history of the United States Army. The Wisconsin DMV is reaching out to the public to confirm the process for obtaining an identification card for voting purposes. If you will be at least 18 years old by the next election, if you are a U.S. citizen, and you are eligible to vote in Wisconsin, you may apply for a free ID card for voting purposes. Here are the steps to be followed to receive a document that can be used for voting: 1. Make one trip to any DMV location and bring proof of residence (example: a utility bill), your Social Security number (if available), and proof of name and date of birth (example: a birth certificate). 2. Fill out the identification card application. If you have the necessary documents, you will receive your identification card within 10 business days via U.S. mail. 3. If you do not have proof of name and date of birth, proof of U.S. citizenship, or proof of a legal name change, DMV will assist you by initiating the petition process. You must fill out the DMV Petition Administrator application (in addition to the identification card application). Once you enter the process, you will receive a receipt that may be used to vote. Simply present the receipt at the polls when you vote, and you will have produced the required identification to vote. 4. The receipt is good for 60 days and will be automatically renewed as long as your petition is pending. 5. You will receive your receipt via U.S. mail within six working days, so please make sure you apply far enough in advance of the November elections to make sure you receive your receipt or identification card in time for the election. See the DMVs website at wisconsindmv.gov for more details. Dear reader, we're asking for your help to keep local reporting available for all today during our fall fundraiser. Your financial support keeps stories like this one free to read, instead of hidden behind paywalls. We believe when reliable local reporting is widely available, the entire community benefits. Thank you for investing in your neighborhood. Start your day with LAist Sign up for How To LA, delivered weekday mornings. Subscribe This sounds bad.Caltrans has announced that both the northbound and southbound lanes of the 101 freeway through Hollywood will be closed partially closed for four nights in a row starting this Sunday, in order for crews to do some road improvements. According to a release from Caltrans, portions of both the southbound and northbound lanes of the Hollywood Freeway between Glendale Boulevard and Cahuenga Boulevard will be closed during the early morning hours from midnight to 5 a.m., Sunday through Wednesday. Caltrans spokesman Patrick Chandler told LAist there could "possibly" be a second week of closures affecting Labor Day weekend. Crews will be installing loop detectors in the roadway during the closure as part of a $19 million repaving project of the freeway. The loop detectors are used to collect real-time traffic data. Similar work was done on the northbound section of the freeway earlier this month. Even though the closures will be in effect during the wee hours, any Angeleno knows that traffic can be brutal at any time of the day (or night). The closures could make getting back home from FYF Fest pretty bad, so we'd recommend you #GoMetro and take the Expo Line! Update [10:50 a.m., 8/24]: Patrick Chandler has clarified to LAist that the work will not involve a complete shutdown, but instead a series of partial closures that can affect both directions. Either way, he advises drivers to avoid the freeway during the affected hours. The story has been clarified to reflect this. Here's a handy map to show you the stretch that will be affected: Avoid the red area. 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19 (4) May 18 (3) May 17 (4) May 16 (5) May 15 (6) May 14 (4) May 13 (9) May 12 (4) May 11 (5) May 10 (5) May 09 (4) May 08 (3) May 07 (5) May 06 (3) May 05 (4) May 04 (5) May 03 (1) May 02 (5) May 01 (7) Apr 30 (4) Apr 29 (5) Apr 28 (4) Apr 27 (1) Apr 26 (4) Apr 25 (4) Apr 24 (4) Apr 23 (4) Apr 22 (3) Apr 21 (4) Apr 20 (4) Apr 19 (3) Apr 18 (4) Apr 17 (3) Apr 16 (4) Apr 15 (3) Apr 14 (4) Apr 13 (3) Apr 12 (5) Apr 11 (6) Apr 10 (1) Apr 09 (4) Apr 08 (3) Apr 07 (3) Apr 06 (4) Apr 05 (5) Apr 04 (1) Apr 03 (3) Apr 02 (4) Apr 01 (3) Mar 31 (1) Mar 30 (3) Mar 29 (4) Mar 28 (3) Mar 27 (4) Mar 26 (2) Mar 25 (4) Mar 24 (6) Mar 23 (5) Mar 22 (5) Mar 21 (4) Mar 20 (6) Mar 19 (5) Mar 18 (4) Mar 17 (4) Mar 16 (4) Mar 15 (4) Mar 14 (3) Mar 13 (4) Mar 12 (4) Mar 11 (5) Mar 10 (4) Mar 09 (5) Mar 08 (5) Mar 07 (5) Mar 06 (3) Mar 05 (4) Mar 04 (3) Mar 03 (3) Mar 02 (5) Mar 01 (4) Feb 28 (2) Feb 27 (3) Feb 26 (3) Feb 25 (3) Feb 24 (4) Feb 23 (4) Feb 22 (3) Feb 21 (4) Feb 20 (4) Feb 19 (3) Feb 18 (3) Feb 17 (3) Feb 16 (5) Feb 15 (4) Feb 14 (3) Feb 13 (4) Feb 12 (3) Feb 11 (3) Feb 10 (4) Feb 09 (4) Feb 08 (3) Feb 07 (4) Feb 06 (3) Feb 05 (3) Feb 04 (3) Feb 03 (5) Feb 02 (4) Feb 01 (3) Jan 31 (3) Jan 30 (3) Jan 29 (4) Jan 28 (3) Jan 27 (2) Jan 26 (4) Jan 25 (3) Jan 24 (5) Jan 23 (4) Jan 22 (4) Jan 21 (3) Jan 20 (3) Jan 19 (6) Jan 18 (4) Jan 17 (3) Jan 16 (4) Jan 15 (3) Jan 14 (4) Jan 13 (3) Jan 12 (6) Jan 11 (4) Jan 10 (4) Jan 09 (3) Jan 08 (4) Jan 07 (3) Jan 06 (4) Jan 05 (3) Jan 04 (4) Jan 03 (5) Jan 02 (4) Jan 01 (3) Dec 31 (2) Dec 30 (2) Dec 29 (2) Dec 28 (3) Dec 27 (3) Dec 26 (2) Dec 25 (2) Dec 24 (3) Dec 23 (3) Dec 22 (3) Dec 21 (3) Dec 20 (4) Dec 19 (4) Dec 18 (5) Dec 17 (3) Dec 16 (3) Dec 15 (3) Dec 14 (3) Dec 13 (3) Dec 12 (2) Dec 11 (6) Dec 10 (4) Dec 09 (4) Dec 08 (6) Dec 07 (5) Dec 06 (3) Dec 05 (3) Dec 04 (4) Dec 03 (3) Dec 02 (3) Dec 01 (4) Nov 30 (2) Nov 29 (3) Nov 28 (3) Nov 27 (2) Nov 26 (3) Nov 25 (5) Nov 24 (4) Nov 23 (6) Nov 22 (5) Nov 21 (4) Nov 20 (2) Nov 19 (5) Nov 18 (7) Nov 17 (5) Nov 16 (4) Nov 15 (6) Nov 14 (3) Nov 13 (3) Nov 12 (4) Nov 11 (3) Nov 10 (3) Nov 09 (4) Nov 08 (3) Nov 07 (2) Nov 06 (2) Nov 05 (2) Nov 04 (4) Nov 03 (4) Nov 02 (4) Nov 01 (2) Oct 31 (3) Oct 30 (4) Oct 29 (3) Oct 28 (2) Oct 27 (3) Oct 26 (3) Oct 25 (2) Oct 24 (2) Oct 23 (2) Oct 22 (3) Oct 21 (2) Oct 20 (3) Oct 19 (3) Oct 18 (2) Oct 17 (2) Oct 16 (2) Oct 15 (2) Oct 14 (4) Oct 13 (2) Oct 12 (3) Oct 11 (2) Oct 10 (2) Oct 09 (4) Oct 08 (4) Oct 07 (4) Oct 06 (3) Oct 05 (4) Oct 04 (5) Oct 03 (3) Oct 02 (6) Oct 01 (6) Sep 30 (5) Sep 29 (3) Sep 28 (3) Sep 27 (7) Sep 26 (4) Sep 25 (3) Sep 24 (5) Sep 23 (8) Sep 22 (3) Sep 21 (3) Sep 20 (6) Sep 19 (3) Sep 18 (3) Sep 17 (5) Sep 16 (7) Sep 15 (3) Sep 14 (4) Sep 13 (3) Sep 12 (5) Sep 11 (5) Sep 10 (5) Sep 09 (7) Sep 08 (5) Sep 07 (2) Sep 06 (7) Sep 05 (4) Sep 04 (4) Sep 03 (2) Sep 02 (2) Sep 01 (2) Aug 31 (3) Aug 30 (3) Aug 29 (3) Aug 28 (3) Aug 27 (3) Aug 26 (4) Aug 25 (3) Aug 24 (3) Aug 23 (3) Aug 22 (4) Aug 21 (4) Aug 20 (4) Aug 19 (4) Aug 18 (3) Aug 17 (2) Aug 16 (2) Aug 15 (5) Aug 14 (3) Aug 13 (5) Aug 12 (10) Aug 11 (5) Aug 10 (4) Aug 09 (5) Aug 08 (3) Aug 07 (4) Aug 06 (6) Aug 05 (5) Aug 04 (5) Aug 03 (3) Aug 02 (5) Aug 01 (7) Jul 31 (5) Jul 30 (4) Jul 29 (4) Jul 28 (3) Jul 27 (3) Jul 26 (5) Jul 25 (4) Jul 24 (5) Jul 23 (5) Jul 22 (7) Jul 21 (5) Jul 20 (4) Jul 19 (5) Jul 18 (6) Jul 17 (5) Jul 16 (5) Jul 15 (6) Jul 14 (4) Jul 13 (3) Jul 12 (2) Jul 11 (2) Jul 10 (2) Jul 09 (2) Jul 08 (2) Jul 07 (3) Jul 06 (2) Jul 05 (2) Jul 04 (4) Jul 03 (3) Jul 02 (2) Jul 01 (8) Jun 30 (6) Jun 29 (4) Jun 28 (6) Jun 27 (6) Jun 26 (6) Jun 25 (6) Jun 24 (6) Jun 23 (4) Jun 22 (4) Jun 21 (5) Jun 20 (4) Jun 19 (5) Jun 18 (8) Jun 17 (6) Jun 16 (5) Jun 15 (5) Jun 14 (5) Jun 13 (4) Jun 12 (4) Jun 11 (6) Jun 10 (4) Jun 09 (3) Jun 08 (5) Jun 07 (4) Jun 06 (3) Jun 05 (3) Jun 04 (3) Jun 03 (3) Jun 02 (3) Jun 01 (4) May 31 (2) May 30 (2) May 29 (2) May 28 (2) May 27 (4) May 26 (4) May 25 (3) May 24 (2) May 23 (2) May 22 (3) May 21 (5) May 20 (4) May 19 (2) May 18 (3) May 17 (3) May 16 (3) May 15 (4) May 14 (5) May 13 (3) May 12 (4) May 11 (3) May 10 (4) May 09 (4) May 08 (4) May 07 (3) May 06 (2) May 05 (3) May 04 (4) May 03 (2) May 02 (3) May 01 (3) Apr 30 (3) Apr 29 (4) Apr 28 (2) Apr 27 (3) Apr 26 (4) Apr 25 (2) Apr 24 (3) Apr 23 (2) Apr 22 (2) Apr 21 (4) Apr 20 (4) Apr 19 (5) Apr 18 (7) Apr 17 (6) Apr 16 (10) Apr 15 (5) Apr 14 (3) Apr 13 (4) Apr 12 (5) Apr 11 (4) Apr 10 (4) Apr 09 (7) Apr 08 (4) Apr 07 (7) Apr 06 (4) Apr 05 (7) Apr 04 (5) Apr 03 (4) Apr 02 (5) Apr 01 (5) Mar 31 (5) Mar 30 (5) Mar 29 (7) Mar 28 (6) Mar 27 (5) Mar 26 (5) Mar 25 (6) Mar 24 (5) Mar 23 (5) Mar 22 (5) Mar 21 (4) Mar 20 (3) Mar 19 (6) Mar 18 (6) Mar 17 (2) Mar 16 (4) Mar 15 (5) Mar 14 (4) Mar 13 (5) Mar 12 (5) Mar 11 (4) Mar 10 (4) Mar 09 (2) Mar 08 (5) Mar 07 (4) Mar 06 (3) Mar 05 (4) Mar 04 (6) Mar 03 (4) Mar 02 (4) Mar 01 (5) Feb 28 (6) Feb 27 (4) Feb 26 (4) Feb 25 (6) Feb 24 (2) Feb 23 (3) Feb 22 (4) Feb 21 (6) Feb 20 (2) Feb 19 (6) Feb 18 (4) Feb 17 (2) Feb 16 (3) Feb 15 (6) Feb 14 (6) Feb 13 (6) Feb 12 (9) Feb 11 (5) Feb 10 (3) Feb 09 (4) Feb 08 (4) Feb 07 (7) Feb 06 (3) Feb 05 (4) Feb 04 (5) Feb 03 (4) Feb 02 (3) Feb 01 (3) Jan 31 (4) Jan 30 (4) Jan 29 (3) Jan 28 (2) Jan 27 (2) Jan 26 (3) Jan 25 (4) Jan 24 (4) Jan 23 (2) Jan 22 (2) Jan 21 (5) Jan 20 (4) Jan 19 (5) Jan 18 (4) Jan 17 (4) Jan 16 (3) Jan 15 (4) Jan 14 (3) Jan 13 (3) Jan 12 (3) Jan 11 (2) Jan 10 (8) Jan 09 (6) Jan 08 (2) Jan 07 (2) Jan 06 (3) Jan 05 (2) Jan 04 (2) Jan 03 (2) Jan 02 (2) Jan 01 (2) Dec 31 (2) Dec 30 (3) Dec 29 (3) Dec 28 (3) Dec 27 (2) Dec 26 (2) Dec 25 (2) Dec 24 (2) Dec 23 (2) Dec 22 (2) Dec 21 (2) Dec 20 (3) Dec 19 (2) Dec 18 (3) Dec 17 (2) Dec 16 (2) Dec 15 (3) Dec 14 (2) Dec 13 (3) Dec 12 (3) Dec 11 (3) Dec 10 (5) Dec 09 (3) Dec 08 (3) Dec 07 (2) Dec 06 (3) Dec 05 (3) Dec 04 (5) Dec 03 (4) Dec 02 (3) Dec 01 (3) Nov 30 (4) Nov 29 (4) Nov 28 (2) Nov 27 (2) Nov 26 (2) Nov 25 (3) Nov 24 (2) Nov 23 (2) Nov 22 (2) Nov 21 (2) Nov 20 (3) Nov 19 (3) Nov 18 (2) Nov 17 (2) Nov 16 (5) Nov 15 (5) Nov 14 (4) Nov 13 (2) Nov 12 (2) Nov 11 (2) Nov 10 (2) Nov 09 (2) Nov 08 (2) Nov 07 (3) Nov 06 (6) Nov 05 (4) Nov 04 (5) Nov 03 (5) Nov 02 (3) Nov 01 (5) Oct 31 (7) Oct 30 (5) Oct 29 (4) Oct 28 (3) Oct 27 (2) Oct 26 (4) Oct 25 (4) Oct 24 (4) Oct 23 (4) Oct 22 (3) Oct 21 (2) Oct 20 (3) Oct 19 (2) Oct 18 (2) Oct 17 (3) Oct 16 (5) Oct 15 (4) Oct 14 (2) Oct 13 (2) Oct 12 (4) Oct 11 (5) Oct 10 (4) Oct 09 (3) Oct 08 (3) Oct 07 (3) Oct 06 (2) Oct 05 (5) Oct 04 (5) Oct 03 (4) Oct 02 (4) Oct 01 (5) Sep 30 (2) Sep 29 (2) Sep 28 (3) Sep 27 (6) Sep 26 (2) Sep 25 (3) Sep 24 (3) Sep 23 (2) Sep 22 (2) Sep 21 (2) Sep 20 (2) Sep 19 (3) Sep 18 (3) Sep 17 (3) Sep 16 (2) Sep 15 (4) Sep 14 (3) Sep 13 (5) Sep 12 (4) Sep 11 (6) Sep 10 (2) Sep 09 (5) Sep 08 (5) Sep 07 (5) Sep 06 (4) Sep 05 (4) Sep 04 (3) Sep 03 (2) Sep 02 (3) Sep 01 (3) Aug 31 (2) Aug 30 (2) Aug 29 (3) Aug 28 (6) Aug 27 (3) Aug 26 (2) Aug 25 (2) Aug 24 (3) Aug 23 (2) Aug 22 (3) Aug 21 (5) Aug 20 (4) Aug 19 (3) Aug 18 (2) Aug 17 (5) Aug 16 (3) Aug 15 (4) Aug 14 (5) Aug 13 (2) Aug 12 (2) Aug 11 (2) Aug 10 (2) Aug 09 (2) Aug 08 (5) Aug 07 (5) Aug 06 (6) Aug 05 (2) Aug 04 (5) Aug 03 (2) Aug 02 (3) Aug 01 (2) Jul 31 (4) Jul 30 (2) Jul 29 (2) Jul 28 (2) Jul 27 (2) Jul 26 (3) Jul 25 (4) Jul 24 (2) Jul 23 (3) Jul 22 (2) Jul 21 (3) Jul 20 (4) Jul 19 (2) Jul 18 (3) Jul 17 (4) Jul 16 (5) Jul 15 (2) Jul 14 (3) Jul 13 (2) Jul 12 (3) Jul 11 (2) Jul 10 (2) Jul 09 (2) Jul 08 (2) Jul 07 (2) Jul 06 (2) Jul 05 (2) Jul 04 (2) Jul 03 (2) Jul 02 (2) Jul 01 (3) Jun 30 (3) Jun 29 (7) Jun 28 (3) Jun 27 (2) Jun 26 (3) Jun 25 (1) Jun 24 (2) Jun 23 (3) Jun 22 (5) Jun 21 (3) Jun 20 (2) Jun 19 (2) Jun 18 (2) Jun 17 (2) Jun 16 (2) Jun 15 (2) Jun 14 (2) Jun 13 (3) Jun 12 (3) Jun 11 (3) Jun 10 (2) Jun 09 (4) Jun 08 (2) Jun 07 (4) Jun 06 (5) Jun 05 (3) Jun 04 (3) Jun 03 (2) Jun 02 (2) Jun 01 (4) May 31 (2) May 30 (3) May 29 (3) May 28 (3) May 27 (2) May 26 (2) May 25 (2) May 24 (2) May 23 (2) May 22 (3) May 21 (3) May 20 (2) May 19 (2) May 18 (4) May 17 (7) May 16 (2) May 15 (2) May 14 (4) May 13 (3) May 12 (4) May 11 (4) May 10 (4) May 09 (3) May 08 (2) May 07 (2) May 06 (2) May 05 (1) May 04 (2) May 03 (4) May 02 (3) May 01 (4) Apr 30 (1) Apr 29 (3) Apr 28 (2) Apr 27 (3) Apr 26 (2) Apr 25 (2) Apr 24 (4) Apr 23 (2) Apr 22 (2) Apr 21 (2) Apr 20 (3) Apr 19 (3) Apr 18 (4) Apr 17 (5) Apr 16 (4) Apr 15 (4) Apr 14 (3) Apr 13 (3) Apr 12 (3) Apr 11 (3) Apr 10 (4) Apr 09 (4) Apr 08 (3) Apr 07 (2) Apr 06 (3) Apr 05 (3) Apr 04 (1) Apr 03 (1) Apr 02 (1) Apr 01 (2) Mar 31 (2) Mar 30 (3) Mar 29 (2) Mar 28 (3) Mar 27 (3) Mar 26 (3) Mar 25 (3) Mar 24 (2) Mar 23 (3) Mar 22 (3) Mar 21 (4) Mar 20 (2) Mar 19 (3) Mar 18 (1) Mar 17 (2) Mar 16 (2) Mar 15 (1) Mar 14 (3) Mar 13 (1) Mar 12 (2) Mar 11 (1) Mar 10 (3) Mar 09 (2) Mar 08 (1) Mar 07 (1) Mar 04 (2) Mar 02 (2) Feb 28 (1) Feb 24 (1) Dec 31 (4) Dec 30 (4) Dec 29 (4) Dec 28 (5) Dec 27 (3) Dec 26 (3) Dec 25 (4) Dec 24 (3) Dec 23 (3) Dec 22 (4) Dec 21 (3) Dec 20 (3) Dec 19 (3) Dec 18 (3) Dec 17 (3) Dec 16 (3) Dec 15 (3) Dec 14 (3) Dec 13 (3) Dec 12 (3) Dec 11 (3) Dec 10 (3) Dec 09 (3) Dec 08 (3) Dec 07 (3) Dec 06 (3) Dec 05 (3) Dec 04 (3) Dec 03 (4) Dec 02 (3) Dec 01 (3) Nov 30 (3) Nov 29 (3) Nov 28 (3) Nov 27 (3) Nov 26 (3) Nov 25 (3) Nov 24 (3) Nov 23 (3) Nov 22 (3) Nov 21 (3) Nov 20 (3) Nov 19 (3) Nov 18 (3) Nov 17 (3) Nov 16 (2) Nov 15 (3) Nov 14 (3) Nov 13 (3) Nov 12 (4) Nov 11 (3) Nov 10 (4) Nov 09 (4) Nov 08 (4) Nov 07 (3) Nov 06 (3) Nov 05 (5) Nov 04 (4) Nov 03 (3) Nov 02 (4) Nov 01 (4) Oct 31 (4) Oct 30 (3) Oct 29 (3) Oct 28 (2) Oct 27 (4) Oct 26 (4) Oct 25 (4) Oct 24 (3) Oct 23 (3) Oct 22 (3) Oct 21 (4) Oct 20 (4) Oct 19 (3) Oct 18 (4) Oct 17 (4) Oct 16 (3) Oct 15 (3) Oct 14 (3) Oct 13 (3) Oct 12 (3) Oct 11 (3) Oct 10 (4) Oct 09 (3) Oct 08 (3) Oct 07 (4) Oct 06 (3) Oct 05 (4) Oct 04 (3) Oct 03 (4) Oct 02 (5) Oct 01 (3) Sep 30 (4) Sep 29 (3) Sep 28 (3) Sep 27 (4) Sep 26 (3) Sep 25 (3) Sep 24 (3) Sep 23 (3) Sep 22 (3) Sep 21 (3) Sep 20 (3) Sep 19 (4) Sep 18 (3) Sep 17 (3) Sep 16 (4) Sep 15 (3) Sep 14 (3) Sep 13 (3) Sep 12 (4) Sep 11 (4) Sep 10 (4) Sep 09 (4) Sep 08 (4) Sep 07 (3) Sep 06 (3) Sep 05 (3) Sep 04 (3) Sep 03 (3) Sep 02 (4) Sep 01 (3) Aug 31 (3) Aug 30 (4) Aug 29 (3) Aug 28 (3) Aug 27 (3) Aug 26 (3) Aug 25 (4) Aug 24 (4) Aug 23 (5) Aug 22 (3) Aug 21 (3) Aug 20 (3) Aug 19 (3) Aug 18 (3) Aug 17 (3) Aug 16 (3) Aug 15 (3) Aug 14 (3) Aug 13 (3) Aug 12 (3) Aug 11 (4) Aug 10 (5) Aug 09 (3) Aug 08 (3) Aug 07 (4) Aug 06 (5) Aug 05 (4) Aug 04 (3) Aug 03 (3) Aug 02 (3) Aug 01 (3) Jul 31 (3) Jul 30 (4) Jul 29 (3) Jul 28 (5) Jul 27 (3) Jul 26 (3) Jul 25 (3) Jul 24 (3) Jul 23 (4) Jul 22 (3) Jul 21 (4) Jul 20 (3) Jul 19 (3) Jul 18 (4) Jul 17 (4) Jul 16 (4) Jul 15 (3) Jul 14 (3) Jul 13 (4) Jul 12 (5) Jul 11 (4) Jul 10 (4) Jul 09 (3) Jul 08 (3) Jul 07 (3) Jul 06 (5) Jul 05 (3) Jul 04 (3) Jul 03 (4) Jul 02 (3) Jul 01 (6) Jun 30 (4) Jun 29 (4) Jun 28 (3) Jun 27 (4) Jun 26 (4) Jun 25 (5) Jun 24 (4) Jun 23 (3) Jun 22 (5) Jun 21 (5) Jun 20 (4) Jun 19 (4) Jun 18 (5) Jun 17 (4) Jun 16 (5) Jun 15 (5) Jun 14 (3) Jun 13 (3) Jun 12 (3) Jun 11 (3) Jun 10 (5) Jun 09 (3) Jun 08 (4) Jun 07 (4) Jun 06 (5) Jun 05 (4) Jun 04 (3) Jun 03 (4) Jun 02 (5) Jun 01 (3) May 31 (4) May 30 (3) May 29 (3) May 28 (3) May 27 (3) May 26 (4) May 25 (4) May 24 (4) May 23 (4) May 22 (3) May 21 (3) May 20 (4) May 19 (3) May 18 (3) May 17 (4) May 16 (3) May 15 (4) May 14 (3) May 13 (4) May 12 (1) May 11 (3) May 10 (3) May 09 (3) May 08 (3) May 07 (4) May 06 (3) May 05 (4) May 04 (4) May 03 (3) May 02 (3) May 01 (6) Apr 30 (3) Apr 29 (3) Apr 28 (3) Apr 27 (5) Apr 26 (3) Apr 25 (3) Apr 24 (3) Apr 23 (3) Apr 22 (3) Apr 21 (3) Apr 20 (3) Apr 19 (3) Apr 18 (3) Apr 17 (4) Apr 16 (3) Apr 15 (4) Apr 14 (3) Apr 13 (3) Apr 12 (3) Apr 11 (3) Apr 10 (3) Apr 09 (3) Apr 08 (3) Apr 07 (3) Apr 06 (3) Apr 05 (3) Apr 04 (3) Apr 03 (3) Apr 02 (3) Apr 01 (3) Mar 31 (3) Mar 30 (3) Mar 29 (3) Mar 28 (4) Mar 27 (3) Mar 26 (3) Mar 25 (3) Mar 24 (3) Mar 23 (3) Mar 22 (3) Mar 21 (3) Mar 20 (3) Mar 19 (3) Mar 18 (3) Mar 17 (3) Mar 16 (4) Mar 15 (3) Mar 14 (3) Mar 13 (3) Mar 12 (4) Mar 11 (3) Mar 10 (4) Mar 09 (4) Mar 08 (3) Mar 07 (3) Mar 06 (4) Mar 05 (4) Mar 04 (3) Mar 03 (3) Mar 02 (3) Mar 01 (3) Feb 28 (3) Feb 27 (3) Feb 26 (3) Feb 25 (3) Feb 24 (2) Feb 23 (3) Feb 22 (3) Feb 21 (3) Feb 20 (3) Feb 19 (3) Feb 18 (3) Feb 17 (3) Feb 16 (3) Feb 15 (3) Feb 14 (3) Feb 13 (3) Feb 12 (3) Feb 11 (4) Feb 10 (3) Feb 09 (3) Feb 08 (3) Feb 07 (4) Feb 06 (3) Feb 05 (3) Feb 04 (4) Feb 03 (4) Feb 02 (4) Feb 01 (4) Jan 31 (3) Jan 30 (3) Jan 29 (3) Jan 28 (5) Jan 27 (4) Jan 26 (5) Jan 25 (5) Jan 24 (5) Jan 23 (4) Jan 22 (3) Jan 21 (4) Jan 20 (3) Jan 19 (5) Jan 18 (5) Jan 17 (4) Jan 16 (3) Jan 15 (4) Jan 14 (3) Jan 13 (5) Jan 12 (5) Jan 11 (4) Jan 10 (4) Jan 09 (3) Jan 08 (3) Jan 07 (3) Jan 06 (3) Jan 05 (3) Jan 04 (4) Jan 03 (3) Jan 02 (3) Jan 01 (4) Dec 31 (3) Dec 30 (3) Dec 29 (3) Dec 28 (3) Dec 27 (3) Dec 26 (3) Dec 25 (3) Dec 24 (3) Dec 23 (4) Dec 22 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(1) Mar 11 (1) Mar 10 (1) iStock/Thinkstock(EAST LONGMEADOW, Mass.) -- An 18-year-old accused of sexually assaulting two high school classmates is facing two years of probation despite the district attorney's office's recommendation of two years in prison. David Becker, of East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, was charged with two counts of rape and one count of indecent assault and battery, according to court documents, after an April 2 incident in which he was accused of digitally penetrating two girls who were sleeping in a bed after a house party. Becker and the alleged victims, who are not being identified, were all seniors. On Aug. 15, Becker's case was ordered continued without a finding for two years by Palmer District Court Judge Thomas Estes. As a part of his probation, Becker must remain drug- and alcohol-free and not contact the victims, the court documents state. He also has to undergo an evaluation for sex offender treatment, according to the Hampden District Attorneys Office. In a continuance without a finding, the court agrees to continue a case without a guilty finding for a certain period, as long as the defendant adheres to the terms of his or her probation. If the probation is successfully completed, the case is dismissed. In this case, if Becker completes his probation, he will not have to register as a sex offender, according to the district attorney's office. According to police reports, Becker told investigators that when one of the girls "didn't protest," he assumed it was "OK." Becker denied to police having any physical contact with the other alleged victim. A clerk for Estes' office told ABC News he could not comment on his decision to continue the case without a finding. The Hampden District Attorneys Office recommended two years of prison time for Becker, a recommendation it considered "appropriate and fair, based on the facts and circumstances of the case," according to a district attorney's office spokesman. Scott Berkowitz, the president of the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, was disappointed by the decision. "It's really discouraging when everyone in the process does their job and ... then you see a sentence like this," he told ABC News Tuesday. He said the judge's decision in this case is probably "discouraging for the victims" and likely "deters other people from reporting their crimes" and "putting themselves through this entire criminal justice process" because they will wonder, "Is it worth it?" Berkowitz said sexual assault should be taken seriously, even with an 18-year-old. "I don't think it would ever occur to a judge or lawyer that after someone [was] convicted of a murder, that they [would] just get probation because they deserve a second chance," he said. "There would be a universal understanding that there are consequences for committing a crime that bad." Becker's defense attorney, Thomas Rooke, did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment, but he told The Republican that his client "can now look forward to a productive life without being burdened with the stigma of having to register as a sex offender." Becker's case comes just months following the outrage after former Stanford swimmer Brock Turner, who was found guilty of the assault of an unconscious woman, was given just six months in jail. Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Chinese companies have begun competing with Western companies in the cloud computing and data storage market. The cloud war is taking place as the dispute between the United States and China about data hacking and computer network security grows stronger. Chinese companies such as Alibaba, Baidu and Huawei are expanding within their country and gaining customers in other countries. At the same time, regulations against foreign companies in China make competing with those businesses difficult. Security concerns The increasing competition in cloud computing and storage worries some experts. They are concerned about the security of information. After all, companies often use the cloud to store important, confidential information and to operate such activities as data-driven machinery, telecommunications, banking and transport systems -- including plans for driverless vehicles. Lee Branstetter is an associate professor of economics at the Heinz School of Policy and Management of the Carnegie Mellon University. He told VOA that many multi-national companies have serious concerns about the protection of their intellectual property in China. Branstetter said some of these large companies already believe they have lost valuable information. All of this would give non-Chinese multinationals pause before entrusting their critical data to Chinese cloud computing service providers, Branstetter said. But experts say some companies simply do not have enough money to pay for the higher-cost cloud computing services sold outside China. Sheila Jasanoff is the director of the program on science, technology and society at Harvards Kennedy School. She called the cloud computing industry unruly. In other words, the industry is not strictly governed. People (in the business) are making rules as they go along or taking advantage of the lack of rules, Jasanoff said. She said cloud computing companies are not clear about what security measures they are promising customers. She is worried that a major accident may happen before governments realize the need for stronger rules in the cloud computing industry. I would think a big tragedy might happen in a large airport or other facility -- like a hospital system -- and it would result in loss of life, she said. She believes there should be internationally-accepted rules on data security. But she does not believe an international agreement will be reached anytime soon. Competition for U.S. businesses? Chinese companies are creating data centers in multiple countries and trying to sell data management services throughout the world. For example, Alibaba has created data centers in the United States, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. However, Professor Branstetter does not believe Chinese companies selling cloud services can compete with companies such as Google, Microsoft and Amazon. He said China is an unusual country because it tries to keep out foreign data companies -- or, in his words, digital players. For this reason, I expect Chinese digital players to continue to be dominant at home, but I do not expect them to be very successful abroad, Branstetter said. Chinas limits on foreign data companies means Chinese companies have been able to sell their services locally with little competition. As a result, these Chinese companies have captured a lot of business -- more than one-fifth of the worlds largest companies are in China, as measured by Forbes Magazine. If foreign companies want to work in China, the government requires them to work with a Chinese company. And they must place their computer servers in China. Some foreign companies have agreed to these restrictions because of the large size of the Chinese market. Im Christopher Jones-Cruise. Correspondent Saibal Dasgupta reported this story from Beijing. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly 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 cloud n. the large computers (called servers) that you can connect to on the Internet and use for storing data hack v. to secretly get access to the files on a computer or network in order to get information, cause damage, etc. intellectual property n. something (such as an idea, invention, or process) that comes from a person's mind critical adj. extremely important dominant adj. more important, powerful, or successful than most or all others abroad adj. in or to a foreign country Here's a look at how bike lanes are changing to make them safer in light of fatal crashes involving cyclists and cars: Particularly during my sojourns in South Africa, it may not be possible for me to perform the moderation function speedily. I regret the necessity of moderation but it has been rendered inevitable by the behaviour of a particular commentator whose contributions will always and without exception be rejected. No correspondence will be entered into regarding moderation decisions. Readers are invited to comment on blog posts. All comments require to be pre-moderated by me, and I shall reject all (a) that are not related to the Lockerbie disaster or (b) that fail to meet my -- perhaps idiosyncratic -- standards of courtesy towards other contributors. Comments will not be rejected simply because I disagree with them or because I, or other contributors, find them irritating. But comments will be rejected if they distort or misrepresent the evidence; are defamatory; or if they risk embroiling me, as publisher, in defamation proceedings. I am perfectly relaxed about being sued in respect of material which I personally have posted -- but not in respect of material that others wish to post as comments and which, in any case, I often strongly disagree with. When in July 1991, fresh after the collapse of the Soviet Union, 150 Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries representing Europe and Russia convened in Russia, local Jews were still afraid. In the annals of Chabad-Lubavitch, which had been operating under the radar during more than seven brutal decades of communist persecution, it was a watershed moment. Communisms fall was presaged by the Lubavitcher Rebbe who was deeply invested in Russias Jews, and in honor of the euphoric occasion, Lubavitch News Service, now lubavitch.com, issued a press release that was reviewed by the Rebbe and marked with his handwritten editorial changes before it was released to the media. A quarter of a century later, 500 Chabad representatives from former Soviet countries and Europe convene in Russia once again. A homecoming to the Rebbes shluchim, the conferences itinerary which began Monday in Moscow, takes participants on a trip down memory lane to the cities in Russia and Belarus where Chabad was born: Liozna, Liadi, Lubavitch. This is a day of true joy, said Rabbi Yitzchak Kogan, a legendary Soviet refusenik, speaking from Lubavitch. It is now 100 years since Chabad-Lubavitch left this small town and became a powerful force of Jewish life worldwide. It is our great privilege as Chabad Chasidim to bear witness to this. Indeed, as Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, Vice Chairman of Chabads educational division who was instrumental in facilitating this conference, noted, this would indeed be the first time in 100 years that Lubavitch would see such a large gathering of Jews. In 1915, the fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Sholom Dovber, fleeing the German army during WWI, evacuated his family from Lubavitch, and resettled the movements center in Rostov. For Chabad Chasidim whose leaders, parents and grandparents suffered and died under the stranglehold of communism, the conference in Lubavitch in 2016 still rings surreal, the sense of triumph prompting spontaneous outbursts of dance and song. Further underscoring the changed attitude of once fearsome authorities, Belaruss top brass rolled out the red carpet for the rabbis at a welcoming event. Speaking for the President of Belarus, a government official reflected on the positive impact of Chabad and its activities in Belarus and beyond. A representative for the ministry of religious affairs spoke with emotion, moved by the rabbis who came to Liozna, the place where the Alter Rebbe [referring to Rabbi Schneur Zalman as Chabad Chasidim do] founded Chabad Chasidism. Russias Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar spoke to lubavitch.com during the conference, reflecting on the change that has transpired over the last quarter century. Back in 1991 when, inspired by the Rebbe, we met for the first conference in Russia, Jews had yet to shake off the fear that they had known for so many years. The communist mindset still prevailed and people were absolutely incredulous to see such an open celebration of Jewish identity. Today, after 25 years of Chabads activities in the FSU, the sense of fear that has so gripped our people for 70 years here has given way to Jewish pride. Today, Jews in Russia enjoy a quality of life that is often better, and safer than in many European countries. On Wednesday, the yahrzeit of the Rebbes father, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, the delegation will visit Almaty, in Kazakhstan, where they will pray at his resting place. They will conclude the conference in Moscow before returning to their respective cities. A woman wanted in connection with a California murder investigation was arrested in Flagstaff Tuesday. The arrest happened shortly after noon in a wooded area near Herold Ranch Road. According to officials at Flagstaff Police Department, an investigator with the San Francisco District Attorney's Office informed them earlier in the day that they were looking for a suspect in a homicide that occurred in San Francisco on May 24. The suspect had made a post on Facebook saying her vehicle had broken down and she was stuck in Flagstaff. The San Francisco District Attorney's Office identified the suspect as 19-year-old Sahmanntha Rundstrom. FPD Cpl. Odis Brockman recognized the last name. He had contacted a young woman going by the name Shauntilley Lace Rundstrom this past Wednesday after receiving a complaint she was camping behind a set of dumpsters on South Milton Road. He learned she was panhandling throughout the city, according to FPD officials. FPD sent a still image of the woman from body camera footage to the investigator in San Francisco, who confirmed that she looked like the homicide suspect he was seeking. Meanwhile, Brockman learned that several other FPD officers had also spoken with Rundstrom recently. According to FPD, she provided false identifying information that returned to the legitimate record of another person every time police contacted her. Brockman sent out an attempt-to-locate notification to other officers and law enforcement agencies in the area. A task force that included FPD, the U.S. Marshals Service and Homeland Security Investigations searched the Flagstaff area for the suspect. They found her camping in the woods near Herold Ranch Road in southeast Flagstaff at about noon. After verifying her identity, officers arrested Rundstrom on the homicide warrant. She as booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility. FPD did not release details of the San Francisco homicide investigation and the San Francisco District Attorney's Office was unavailable for comment at the time of publishing. St. Petersburg police are investigating an early-morning shooting involving two men. Two men shot overnight in St. Petersburg Both expected to survive Police investigating According to police, a man showed up at Bayfront Health St. Petersburg just after 3 a.m. with a gunshot wound. A short time later, another man was found with a gunshot wound by authorities at Bay Vista Park on Pinellas Point Drive South. Major Crimes detectives are investigating if the shootings are related. The men, ages 25 and 29, are both expected to survive. Authorities have not released any other information. Janet Acerra, a teacher at Forest Lakes Elementary school in Oldsmar is being recognized as one of the best teachers in the country. Forest Lakes Elementary teacher to receive prestigious award Janet Acerra recognized for work in science education Teacher will get to meet Pres. Obama at award ceremony in Sept. The educator of 32 years will be awarded the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. "I come to work every day with one goal, I strive to lift the spirits of children, said Acerra, if I do that job nothing else matters." Acerra is one of 213 math and science teacher to be honored. She will be recognized for her work in science education. "It is a real affirmation for me, said Acerra. I find it as a means of saying, Janet youre doing the right thing by keeping your passion in science alive." Acerra's students said she makes learning fun. "(What) I like most about her is that she always makes everything fun and like a game," said 5th grader Jacob Sledd. "She tells us all sorts of stories that do relate to what were learning about," said 5th grade student Katie Horton. The award will be presented September 8th in Washington, D.C., where the teachers will meet President Barack Obama. "It is amazing to think that a little girl born in an orphanage in Germany, brought to America as a little baby and given a lifetime of love and support is going to meet the President." Its an honor of presidential proportions for an educator still passionate about teaching. "When I took on the job of being a teacher 32 years ago it was my only desire, it was my goal its what I wanted to do," said Acerra. "So, if my students leave every day feeling better than when they walked in and if they feel happy when theyre learning, then I am a success and thats really the best award. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said a detective fired a shot at a suspect Wednesday afternoon. He missed, though, and the suspect was safely taken into custody. The incident occurred around the intersection of Alcazar Way South and Alhambra Way Street South in St. Petersburg. Incident occurred in St. Petersburg Authorities went to home to serve warrant to Xavier Williams, 25 Suspect tried to escape, threatened deputies and presented a weapon Authorities went to the home of Xavier Williams with multiple warrants, including two counts of armed robbery, two counts of kidnapping, fleeing the scene and a domestic battery charge. They believe that the 25-year-old's crime spree ran from February 2015 through this summer. Deputies say he was 'army crawling' when he pulled a hand gun out of his waistband. Once officers saw the weapon, a detective fired at least one shot. The bullet didn't hit Williams but deputies said the near-miss inspired him to surrender. Williams remained on the ground and was taken into custody. &amp;amp;nbsp; More details Investigators said when they arrived at the home, William's father, Earl Alston, emerged from the house and explained that his son was hiding inside. Investigators then made a perimeter around the house. They said they tried to convince Williams to come out over a megaphone. Right around that time is when Detective Chris Cramer saw the back door open. According to reports, Cramer saw Williams crawling out of the house, army style, and instructed him to hold up his hands. That didn't happen, though, and deputies said Williams proceeded to pull out a 9 mm glock -- presumably stolen from an armed robbery in April -- and pointed it at Cramer. The detective fired at Williams, missing him. The suspect fell to the ground on top of his gun, and investigators took him into custody. Williams father was also arrested for harboring a fugitive following a month of what investigators are calling a 'cat and mouse game.' They believe he's been helping his son elude authorties by hiding out at various motels. An 'extensive marijuana grow house' was found inside the home once authorities were able to secure the scene, charges for which are forthcoming. This investigation is on going. Check back soon for updates. Deepavali is the second most important festival in Tamil Nadu after Pongal. As per tradition, watching a new film is a must on Deepavali day. In the good old days, when there were around 100 releases a year, at least seven or eight big and small Tamil films used to release on the festival day. For Tamil cinema superstars, a Deepavali release is a prestige issue that ensures a 5 to 10 % extra collections at the box-office. Fans in 80s and 90s used to eagerly look forward to epic Deepavali clashes between Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. The situation has not changed much, though 2016 will not have any top stars like Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Vijay or Ajith films in the race for a release on the festival. However, fireworks have already started in Kollywood, as stars like Dhanush (Kodi), Karthi (Kaashmora), Vishal (Kathi Sandai) have officially announced their Deepavali releases through their Twitter handle. That makes it three films on one day. To add to the suspense, one of the Twitter handles connected to Suriyas S3, also known as Singam3, has said it will definitely be a Deepavali release. There is tension in Tamil film trade, as it is impossible to accommodate all the four biggies. The prediction is that atleast two of them will not release on Deepavali or will be shifted. There was a time when it was possible for many films to release simultaneously. In the 90s, a Rajinikanth blockbuster like Baasha used to release in maximum 175 screens, when film prints were used for screening. Today, in the digital age, Kabali released in 700 odd screens in Tamil Nadu alone. Tamil Nadu has around 1160 screens, out of which only 950 are fit for new releases. Now a normal film releases in 350 to 400 screens, depending on the heros star power, and it would be virtually impossible to have four big releases on the same day. In fact, trade sources say ideally they prefer one big hero film and three small films, but this Deepavali can accommodate two big hero films. What is intriguing though, is that Suriyas S3 has thrown in its hat in the Deepavali ring, at a time when his brother Karthis costliest film Kaashmora had announced its release date two months back. Trade experts say that the clash wont take place as there will be an understanding between the brothers. Sources say S3 is backing up in case the graphics and special effects laden period fantasy horror Kaashmora post-production work gets delayed. The shoot of Hari-directed franchise S3, will be over in the first week of September and it will be ready for a Deepavali release on 29 October. The producer of Kaashmora, SR Prabhu of Dream Warrior Pictures, said, We are on track for a big Deepavali release, as all our post production work will get over by September end and we are trying to censor the film by October first week. Many areas have been sold out as the bilingual in Tamil and Telugu will release on Deepavali day. The entire shoot of Dhanushs Kodi, a political thriller set against a rural milieu, has been complete. The producers of the film say that they are on schedule for a Deepavali release as well. Vishal, who is the 'Nadigar Sangam' (actors association) chief also reiterated his film, Kathi Sandai, will make it to theatres on the promised day. All the four films are backed by powerful production houses and there is buzz that the actors involved have been heard talking in private about how this is a prestige issue. Neither want to back off. We're all waiting to see who will blink first, as it will be a cracker of a Deepavali 2016 in Kollywood. Salman Khan's sister Arpita Khan Sharma and husband Ayush Sharma have been robbed from their home in Sherly Rajan Road, Bandra, Mumbai. Cash worth over Rs 3 Lakhs and other valuables have been stolen. Hindustan Times reports that Mumbai police have arrested their domestic help for the robbery. The couple were not in India at the time, and the incident came to light when then domestic help failed to turn for work for a couple of days. She was responsible of taking care of all household chores. After an FIR was registeed, the police traced her by speaking to drivers and other domestic help in the building. She was finally found at her home in Nalasopara, in suburban Mumbai. She had not gotten her police verification done. Apart from cash, a 10g gold coin and designer clothes were also stolen. New Delhi: Following complaints by offline players on advertisements given by e-retailers in media announcing sale, the Commerce and Industry Ministry today said a grievance redressal mechanism is being set up to look into the issues. Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said after getting representation from traders bodies like, CAIT, a meeting was convened to discuss the issue. The meeting was attended by Enforcement Directorate officials, Niti Aayog, Consumer Affairs and the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP). She said on the lines of the 'twitter seva' of this ministry, "there is now going to be grievance redressal akin to the (hashtag) '#mociseva' which will have the consumer affairs people on board". The minister said people can raise their issues on this and the ministry's team along with the officials of the consumer affairs would respond to those complaints. The DIPP would train the staff of the consumer affairs on handling such grievances taking on board the e-commerce companies alleged to have hurt the traders. Further she said DIPP Secretary Ramesh Abhishek has also discussed the matter with e-commerce companies and has asked them not to violate e-commerce guidelines. "Some companies responded that they are not giving those discounts. We are still a marketplace model, the companies (vendors) whose products are coming on their (platform) are giving that and it is not violative of the policy," she said adding the e-commerce would also nominate a officer who would respond to such grievances. She added the grievance redressal will temporarily be part of '#mociseva' and after that the consumer affairs officials will go back and start operating themselves. The Consumer Affairs Ministry should actually be attending to such grievances coming on the issue of e-commerce because its a commercial transaction between a consumer and a company, she said. The minister also said "At this stage, we do not think that there is a case for ED". The DIPP has asked online retailers to strictly comply with the e-commerce guidelines. The ministry has received lot of complaints by stakeholders including traders body Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT). Demanding immediate action, CAIT had filed a complaint with DIPP alleging that major e-tailers are blatantly violating FDI norms. It has stated that during the past few days companies have given big advertisements in media announcing sale on their online platform which is a violation of FDI guidelines on e-commerce. In March, the government had allowed 100 per cent FDI through automatic route in the marketplace format of e-commerce retailing. As per the guidelines issued by the DIPP, foreign direct investment (FDI) has not been permitted in inventory-based model of e-commerce. The guidelines also states that such entities will not directly or indirectly influence the sale price of goods and services and shall maintain level playing field. India will receive normal rainfall over the 2016 monsoon season, not surplus as previously expected, with the chances of a La Nina weather pattern emerging over the period seen as unlikely, three senior officials at state-run weather department said. A forecast for above-average rains had stoked fears of crop damage during harvest, but with normal rainfall farmers can reap bumper crops. The June-September monsoon is crucial for India's rain-fed farm sector that accounts for nearly 15 percent of its $2 trillion economy - Asia's third biggest. "Rainfall is likely to remain in the normal range," a senior official at India Meteorological Department (IMD) told Reuters on Wednesday. India's weather office defines average or normal rainfall as between 96 percent and 104 percent of a 50-year average of 89 cm for the entire four-month season. Earlier this month, the IMD had forecast monsoon rains at 106 percent or above normal. "We are assessing weather models and based on it, we may release a revised forecast next week," the official said. Another IMD official attributed the revision in forecast to the absence of La Nina, a weather phenomenon that typically causes stronger monsoons across Asia. "The La Nina is unlikely to develop during monsoon season," D. S. Pai, head of Long Range Forecast at IMD, told Reuters. "Even if it develops in October, it will be a weak La Nina." A U.S. government weather forecaster has said there is a 55-60 percent chance that La Nina would develop during the fall and winter of 2016-17. The agency's expectations have dropped substantially since June, when it said there was a 75 percent chance of a La Nina developing. India has so far received 2 percent lower rainfall than normal since the start of the monsoon season on 1 June. The monsoon, which delivers 70 percent of India's annual rainfall, is critical for the country's 263 million farmers and their rice, cane, corn, cotton and soybean crops because nearly half of its farmland lacks irrigation. As on 19 August, farmers had cultivated summer-sown crops on 99.3 million hectares, up 5.8 percent from a year ago, farm ministry data showed. Bhubaneswar: Odisha government approved a new policy on Tuesday with a target of making the state home to at least 1,000 start-ups over the next five years. The Odisha Start-up Policy (OSP), 2016, will be unveiled by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at an investors meet in Bengaluru next month. OSP envisages Odisha being among the top three start-up hubs in the country by 2020 through strategic partnerships, conducive ecosystem, investments and policy intervention. "The policy will be implemented within five years and comprises of three Is - Institutions, Industry and Incubation," Chief Secretary A P Padhi told reporters. The implementation of the policy would be monitored by a Start-up Council headed by the Chief Secretary and a Review Committee headed by Principal Secretary MSME, he said. The policy envisages ushering in an innovative start-up ecosystem through creation of world class incubation centres,funding and supporting incentives structure at par with other states. He said a Start-up Capital Infrastructure Fund (up to Rs 25 crore) would be provided by the state government to the Department of MSME through budgetary provision. He added that the state government would participate in private state specific funds for start-ups to set up operations in the state, such as seed/VC funds, limited to 1/4th of the total size. Institutions like universities and colleges would be eligible for one time capital grant of 50 per cent of capital cost, excluding the cost of building, up to a maximum of Rs 1 crore to set up an incubation facility. "Rs 10,000 per month will be provided to a start-up for a period of one year only if the start-up has got the seed round funding approval," he said. Reimbursement of up to Rs 1 lakh per year for three years would be provided to institutions/incubators/industry for providing free internet, electricity and mentoring services as per the policy. The approved incubators would be eligible for a performance capital grant of Rs 5 lakh for each successful start-up they incubate. Marketing/publicity assistance up to Rs 5 lakh shall be reimbursed for introduction of a product in the market after Series A funding, the policy said. Need-based assistance would be considered on case-to-case basis to certified start-ups for reimbursement of the cost of raw material/ components and other related equipment, based on recommendation of the Startup Council, Padhi said. New Delhi: In more trouble for businessman Vijay Mallya, the ED has registered a fresh money laundering case against him and his associates to investigate the alleged loan default of Rs 6,027 crore availed from a consortium of nationalised banks, a case taken over by CBI recently. Officials said the agency has filed the second criminal case under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after it recently obtained details of the case from CBI which has filed its FIR after getting a complaint from the State Bank of India (SBI). The CBI had early this month filed a fresh case under IPC sections related to criminal conspiracy and cheating against Mallya on the basis of a complaint received from SBI on behalf of the consortium of lenders for allegedly causing a loss of Rs 6,027 crore to them by not keeping repayment commitments of loan taken during 2005-10. By registering the fresh case, ED wants to strengthen its probe against the beleagured liquor baron and expedite a slew of actions it has initiated against him, including getting issued a global arrest warrant by Interpol and attaching more of his assets under the stringent PMLA. Besides these steps, it also wants to invoke the India-UK Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) to force the businessman to return and join the investigation. Besides Mallya, his companies Kingfisher Airlines (KFA) and United Breweries Holdings Limited have also been named as accused in the CBI FIR which is now part of the ED case. Both the central probe agencies had earlier filed cases of alleged default by the now-defunct KFA in repayment of loans obtained from IDBI Bank. ED is also preparing to soon start the second round of assets attachments under PMLA after the embattled businessman early this month skipped appearance before a special PMLA court in Mumbai. The agency, sources said, has identified some pledged shares, associated immovable and movable assets of Mallya and his family members that would be seized and frozen as part of its action plan. It is also in the process of getting a 'proclaimed person' order issued by the special court which will be sent to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in order to execute the India-UK MLAT to bring Mallya back here to join the probe. ED has already attached his properties worth about Rs 1,411 crore under PMLA in this case a few months ago. The agency wants Mallya to join the investigation in the PMLA case "in person" in the Rs 900 crore alleged loan fraud case relating to IDBI Bank and has virtually exhausted all legal remedies like seeking an Interpol arrest warrant and getting his passport revoked. Mallya and others are alleged to have diverted a part of the loan to some of their offshore businesses. Welspun India's shares were locked in the lower circuit limit for the third day in a row on Wednesday, after investors dumped the stock on fears that there is more bad news in store for the company, one of the world's largest textile manufacturers. In early trades on Thursday, the stock was down more than 1 percent. The stock has fallen about 42 percent in the last four days after Target Corp's decision to terminate business with the firm for passing off cheap sheets as premium Egyptian cotton. Welspun India's market capitalisation as of Wednesday eroded by a whopping Rs 4,376 crore from Rs 10,335 crore on 21 August to Rs 5958 crore on 24 August. Target said on Friday that it was severing ties with Welspun after its extensive investigation had confirmed that the Indian company, which purportedly used Egyptian cottons to make sheets and pillowcases sold to the retailer, substituted non-Egyptian cotton instead. Target is Welspun India's biggest customer after Bed Bath and Beyond. It accounted for about $90 million, or 10 percent of the company's total business in the financial year through March, Welspun executives said on a conference call on Monday. Welspun said on the call that it was investigating the product specification issue and would hire one of the Big Four accountancy firms to review its supply processes. Wal-Mart Stores Inc, Welspun's third-biggest customer, is also reviewing the company's cotton certification records, a report in the Wall Street Journal said. "We are currently reviewing Welspun cotton certification records and plan to have additional conversations with Welspun. If we discover an issue, we will handle it appropriately," a PTI report quoted a Walmart spokesperson as saying. A spokesman for Welspun said the company did not wish to comment on the reported Wal-Mart review. The US retail giant accounts for about 8-9 percent of Welspun's revenues, according to Elara Capital analyst Sumant Kumar. "The risk is there as these are still early stages, so we need to wait and see," Kumar said. Sales of Egyptian cotton bedding account for only about 6 percent of Welspun's total sales, according to Kumar, but the loss to the company's credibility means other customers could withdraw all their business as Target has done. According to a report in the Fortune magazine, retail giant JC Penny too is conducting a probe into the company's products. JCPenney is conducting a thorough investigation of its Welspun textiles to ensure the integrity of its product claims. It is too early in our review process to determine what actions may be necessary, a company has been quoted as saying in the Fortune report. A PTI report, meanwhile, quoted JCPenney spokesperson as saying that suppliers of private and exclusive brand products to the company are required to certify the quality compliance of any raw materials used. When sourcing Egyptian cotton, manufacturers must provide a certificate issued by the Cotton Egyptian Association as an additional measure of authenticity, the report said. Swedish furniture retailer Ikea, however, has said that it will continue its ties with Welspun but is keenly watching the outcome of the investigations of other companies. Even as Welspun is reeling under a "domino effect", as the Fortune puts it, after Target's decision, analysts have said Welspun did not provide clear answers during Monday's conference call, when asked whether other customers could follow Target's move to cut ties. "We are actively engaged with our clients," Welspun's Managing Director Rajesh Mandawewala said, in response to that query on the call. Kumar, in his note, said Welspun executives were vague on facts during the call, which threw up more questions than answers. With Reuters Early this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing an all-party meeting to discuss the volatile situation in Kashmir vowed to take up the issue of alleged atrocities by the Pakistani government on the people of Balochistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to the global community. It hinted at tactical shift in Indias positioning on Indo-Pak relations. Again during his Independence Day speech on 15 August, Modi expressed his concern for the people of Balochistan, Gilgit and PoK. Was this a one-off response to Pakistans meddling in Kashmir issue, following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideens Burhan Wani or was it long-term shift in Indias strategy in dealing with Pakistan? During the tenure of former foreign secretary Shyam Saran, India had given two statements on Gilgit Baltistan. It was when the Pakistan army was conducting military operations against Baloch rebels and had killed the tallest Baloch leader, Akbar Bugti. The idea, in Saran's words, was to build some pressure points. Firstpost spoke to Shyam Saran to understand the reason behind this shift and its long-term implications. Saran also dwelled on other important aspects of Indias foreign policy. Below is the excerpt of the interview: You recently stated that PMs remark on Balochistan aims at changing the strategic calculus. At the same time, you also posed an important question as to whether it was thought through. Can you please elaborate on that? For the last several years, we have not really been able to find an answer to the use of asymmetrical warfare by Pakistan, which is engaging in cross-border terrorism against India; something which Pakistan thinks is low-risk and high gain strategy. Now, as they have nuclear weapon capability, they believe that the threat of retaliation with India is far less and that it has inhibited India from reacting to such provocation from Pakistan. In a situation like that of the Mumbai terror attack, the leadership appears to have only two options: One is military retaliation which has a danger of escalating to nuclear war or two, not doing anything at all, except calling off dialogue and condemning the attack. This is not deterrence at all. You need something between the two ends of this spectrum: One being only a rhetorical response and two being a risky and potentially dangerous military response. So you should have a number of pressure points which used singly or in combination can be used to deter the other side in engaging in provocative behaviour and to make it clear to them that there will be a cost of following such a policy. The idea is that you should have a more diversified kind of diplomatic toolkit that is placed between these two extremes. There should be a number of pressure points that could be deployed to change the strategic calculus in Pakistan. These pressures points may act as a kind of deterrence against Pakistan. Therefore, you have to look at what can be the possible vulnerabilities on Pakistan's side. Balochistan (where there have been very serious human rights violations) or PoK can be built as pressure points against Pakistan by drawing international attention to it. This is what I meant by saying why we should try to change their strategic calculus. But of course, there is a difference between the Balochistan issue and PoK issue. PoK issue is a sovereignty issue. It is about this territory that belongs to India and should be returned to India and should be under Indian sovereignty. So this is a different situation. Since 1971 there seem to have been an assumption that the LoC could eventually become an international boundary. We have not actually pressed our claim to PoK with any degree of vigour or any degree of application because at the back of our minds there has been this thought that we are going to settle for LoC as an international boundary. This has not been changed, despite the assurance given in 1971 by Bhutto, which was never kept. Soon it became clear that there was no such intention on part of the Pakistan leadership. But even after this became clear we did not go back to our original stand. Even though formally our stand is that the whole of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India, but in our practical diplomacy, we have not been assertive that this territory must return to India. We did not take practical steps to assert our claim to this region. This is a sovereignty issue and can very well become a pressure point. Now we can begin with the process of highlighting our claim to this region, reaching out to the people of this region who in a sense are Indian citizens. The other aspect is that in Balochistan we are not questioning the territorial aspect, but drawing attention to human rights violations which could be another pressure point. How effective this assumed equivalence between Kashmir issue and that of Balochistan will be for India? The point is how consistent you are with this particular part of your policy in the future. If it is a one-off response, then obviously it would not have much impact. This is an important step forward if this is something which becomes part of your projection in the future. We have made statements regarding Balochistan earlier, but we did not follow up on that, therefore it has not been effective. It should not be that if relationship with Pakistan improves we drop it. After all when relationship with Pakistan improves, Pakistan does not drop Kashmir issue. So this is a question of how consistent we are in this respect. What can be the major pressure points that can be used in relation to Pakistan? Balochistan is itself a pressure point. Having a more assertive position on return of Gilgit-Baltistan and what Pakistan calls Azad Kashmir can be the pressure points. We already have a very close relationship with Afghanistan, strengthening that relationship; giving it a higher security dimension, can be a pressure point too. Raising the issue of terrorism in international fora can be another. There are number of things, each may not be a big thing, but taken together can have an impact. You have also talked about the existence of many imponderables. What are the most pressing ones? When we are talking about Balochistan or talking about the return of PoK to India and if we intend to raise it to a higher profile in terms of our diplomacy, then it also has implications beyond just the bilateral. There would be no China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) if there is no PoK. If we go beyond the articulation of support for the people in Balochistan who are being persecuted, if we offer some kind of political or other support to those people, then it will also have an impact with regard to the China-Pakistan economic corridor which is a long-term project. Therefore, there is a dimension beyond bilateral. Then there is the question of what will be the reaction of the international community, for example, the US or Europeans or what impact it will have on our relationship with Iran which also has a stake in Balochistan as it has a large Balochi minority in its country. There are parts of Balochistan that are claimed by Afghanistan, as there are Pashtuns also in Balochsitan. There are a number of other stakeholders who also will be impacted by a significant departure in our posture on these issues. All I am saying is that these dimensions must be thought through. How do you see the United States reacting to this whole issue? I would say that the general interest that the US has is that there should not be the heightening of tensions between India and Pakistan. That has been the record in the past as there has been fear that rising tensions between Pakistan and India might escalate to the nuclear level. That will not be in the interest of the US or the international community. They would not like any increase in tensions between India and Pakistan. During your tenure as foreign secretary, India had given two statements on Gilgit-Baltistan when the Pakistan army was conducting military operations against Baloch rebels and had killed Akbar Bugti. The idea was in your words to build some pressure points. Why was it not followed? It was not followed because soon after we had a peace process going between India and Pakistan. Pervez Musharraf had taken certain initiatives to improve relations between the two countries. There was also talk of some possible understanding on Jammu and Kashmir. At the time, there may have been a feeling that if we continue with such statements this might not be conducive to the ongoing peace process. Do you think that once again with the normalisation of relations with Pakistan this issue will become redundant? These things require certain kind of consistency or otherwise it becomes just one-of-a-kind move which is not very effective. A statement has been made this time and that too at a very high level. It has been made by the Prime Minister so the expectation is that this posture would continue. If it is a mere reaction to Pakistan meddling in Kashmir, then later when the situation in Kashmir becomes normal again, we might forget it and it will be of not much use. Do you think it is just a reaction to Pakistans meddling in Kashmir issue? I dont know what the thinking behind this is. As I have mentioned, since the statement has been made by the Prime Minister on Independence Day, I feel the intention appears to be to send the message that this is something that we attach a lot of importance to. Former US President Bill Clinton once called that LoC as the the most dangerous place in the world. In the existing situation, with such shift, do you think it will bring Kashmir again to the spotlight. What ramifications it can have for India. This has always been the case. Any sort of unrest in Kashmir, like reports of alleged human rights violations because of security operation being carried out by the Indian forces, leads to international focus on Kashmir, whether we like it or not. Pakistan will make as much of this as possible in the international fora. It is in our interest that Kashmir does not become a serious case of internal turmoil. What we can do is to energise political process, so that this level of violence and disaffection that we are seeing currently among a section of populace, is reduced. There may be some genuine grievances of the people that need to be addressed. More peaceful the situation is in Kashmir, there will be less likelihood of external meddling in Kashmir In what way Indias recent gambit will define the relations with countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia and other Islamic states? Whatever be our intention and whatever be the motivation behind what we are saying now needs to be made clear. At least, we need to take these countries into confidence. There is a need to engage with countries like Afghanistan and Iran and with the US, to give them a sense of what is driving us to signal this shift in our position. It should not come as a surprise to our friends who are not certain as to what this means. It might create an atmosphere of uncertainty. We should separate these two things. One is PoK, which is a sovereignty issue and this has been our formal position. We should be able to articulate that this is not a new position, but that this is something that we need to bring to the attention of the international community. This is a part of India which is illegally occupied by Pakistan that should be returned to India. There is a perception that Prime Minister Modi lacks consistency in his foreign policy that is reflected in the way he dealt with Pakistan ever since he assumed office. Do you see this inconsistency as part of diplomacy? To be fair to the Prime Minister, when he assumed office he made it very clear that he would attach the highest priority to our relations with neighbours and that includes Pakistan. There is recognition not just at political leadership level here, but also among foreign policy professionals that if India needs to play any credible regional or global role, then unless it has a peaceful periphery, unless it has positive relationships with its neighbours, it cannot do so. Modi cannot be faulted for making an effort to reach out to our neighbours and to establish a positive kind of relationship. At least one can say that with Pakistan, he has shown a willingness to take initiatives even if those initiatives seemed unconventional, like his visit to Lahore. I think he wanted to change the parameters of our relationship with our neighbourhood. There is no inconsistency in that. One can say that having tried that and not received a constructive response, what he is trying to signal is that if we cannot move in that direction then we are left with no other option but to confront what is an adverse challenge . As I said, what we have to watch out for is to see how consistent this will be. Therefore, I cannot say that there has been inconsistency. Continuity has been a major defining feature of Indias foreign policy? Do you observe any rupture in this continuity? No, in fact, what we see in the unfolding of Modi's foreign policy, there has been remarkable continuity. It may be that he has taken up certain aspects of India foreign policy and has pursued them with greater vigour. There is, for instance, not much change in pursuing a much closer relationship with the United States. That has been the policy of previous governments and remains same for the Modi government. What you can say is that he is pursuing it with greater vigour than what has been done in the past. What you see is not so much a departure from the past, but may be a change in emphasis and nuance. Saarc is a forum which did not work well. Pakistan was one of the big impediments. Can there be Saarc without Pakistan? In a sense we already have sub-regional cooperation which have been far more successful like BBIN which has Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal as its members. There is already an energy grid which is being put in place. India is selling power to Bangladesh and Nepal and buying power from Bhutan. India has also agreed that Bhutans energy can flow to Bangladesh through India. We have motor vehicle and railway agreements which have been signed among Saarc countries with only Pakistan holding out on implementation. Sub-regional cooperation among countries that are willing to engage is taking place. Even bilaterally a lot is happening. There is an actual process of economic integration that is taking place like the one between southern states of India and Sri Lanka. While the Pakistan dimension is disappointing, other sub-regional dimensions within Saarc have been successful. In one of your articles you talk about how the setting for managing India-China relations has become more complex and risky. You write that "With Mr. Modi now explicitly committed to the return of PoK including Gilgit and Baltistan to India, how would the Chinese react?" In this context how do you see India-China relationship shaping up? Essentially, so far in India-China relationship we have been able to work on those areas where we have convergences, areas where we can see constructive cooptation. We have encouraged trade between the two countries; we have focused on investment relations. There have been international issues on which we have similar positions, like we have worked together in G20 and we are part of BRICS. We are a member of SCO. There are number of fora where India and China have been working together. Wherever we have been able to work together constructively, we have not hesitated to do so even though there are areas where we have major differences. This has helped us to keep the relationship on an even keel. Regular summit meetings between our leaders have helped us to ensure that this relationship does not deteriorate. There has been a new vigour in foreign policy in the last two years. What areas do you think have been ignored or did not receive the required focus? It is now not so much policy, but execution that is an issue now. The state does not have delivery capacity that it needs to have so that commitments we make are fulfilled. So one area which we have to try and strengthen is delivery. Secondly, human resources that are available are not adequate. For a much more expanded international engagement, those human resources are very small as we have very small foreign service. We don't have as much specialised skill as required since you have to deal with energy issues, climate change issues. There are a number of complex issues. The subjects of international negotiations have multiplied. We dont have the kind of expertise that is required to deal with a very much expanded international agenda. And if there are certain gaps we should try and fill them. We are not investing as much as we should in our relationship with Russia. Also, we have invested a great deal in Africa, but need to see how to maintain and expand this as it is going to be a critical factor. 2009 India-Pakistan joint statement in Sharm el-Sheik which has the reference of Balochistan is being compared to PM's reference. Do you find the comparison valid? These are two completely different things. The statement, which was made in Sharm el-Sheik was a joint statement in which Pakistans PM remark that they are concerned about what is happening in Balochistan was included with an oblique, therefore pointer to India's interference. That is very different from the current situation. Here we are drawing attention to the human rights violations by the Pakistani state against its own citizens in Balochistan. Jammu: BJP on Tuesday appealed to the youths of Kashmir to come under the national tricolour and hold it aloft to defeat the designs of separatist forces who are "disturbing peace" in Jammu and Kashmir. "The youth should not fall prey into the trap of these separatist leaders and rather come under the national tricolour and hold it aloft to make it clear that Kashmiri youths are as nationalists as those from Jammu, Ladakh or any other state of the country," BJP state Vice President Yudhvir Sethi told reporters here. "BJP will not allow disturbing of the social fabric and give a befitting replay to all such forces which are posing threat to the unity and integrity of the country," he said. Sethi said that the recent 'Tiranga Yatra', initiated on the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah, has not only received overwhelming response but also succeeded in bringing enthusiasm and inducing the feelings of patriotism among the people. Sethi said peace and development of Jammu and Kashmir was not possible without the participation of Kashmiri youths. Lucknow: The four accused in the Bulandshahr gang-rape case on Wednesday pleaded not guilty in a Bulandshahr court and demanded a narco-analysis test to prove their innocence. Salim Chamar and his three accomplices who said they were falsely implicated by police in the case were presented in the court by the Central Bureau of Investigation at the end of their remand. Manju Sharma, the counsel for the accused, said they demanded that the court order a narco-analysis test on them. The counsel said the CBI did not present before the court the items the police claimed to have found from the crime scene. The police had claimed seizing jewellery and other valuables looted from the victims but these were not presented in the court on Wednesday. The court asked that these items be presented before it on Thursday, to which the CBI agreed. On 19 August, the CBI took over the probe into the case following an Allahabad High Court order. The CBI registered a case under Sections 395 (punishment for dacoity), 397 (robbery), 376D (unlawful sexual contact), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement) of the Indian Penal Code and 4 of POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act. A 34-year-old woman and her teenaged daughter were gang-raped in the fields in Dostpur village in Bulandshahr district on the intervening night of 29 and 30 July after their car carrying six members of the family from Noida was stopped by criminals on National Highway-91 in Bulandshahr. New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Nalini Chidambaram, wife of former Finance Minister P Chidamabram, in connection with its money laundering probe in the Saradha chit fund scam case. Officials said Nalini has been asked to appear before the Investigating Officer of the case early next month in Kolkata where her statement is expected to be recorded under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The particular matter with Nalini, a Supreme Court lawyer, pertains to the legal fee paid to her by the Saradha group, official sources said. The amount in question is Rs 1.26 crore, sources said, and the Enforcement Directorate wants to understand the exact flow of funds to her from Saradha company accounts and the contract made therein. She had earlier been questioned by the ED and CBI in this regard but sources claimed she has been summoned on the "light of new evidence." Saradha Chairman Sudipta Sen, at present in jail, had mentioned about hiring Nalini as a lawyer at the request of Manoranjana Sinh, estranged wife of Congress leader Mantang Sinh. Nalini represented Manoranjana and, therefore, was asked to offer her professional advice in her negotiations with Sen in connection with plans by the group to acquire a TV channel in the northeast. The lawyer is believed to have advised her client against the Rs 42-crore investment by the group to acquire the TV channel. ED has filed a chargesheet in this case in a special PMLA court in Kolkata early this year and it is working to file more similar complaints in the future. New Delhi: Congress leader and former Defence Minister AK Antony on Wednesday demanded a "high-level inquiry" into the alleged leak of sensitive information related to combat and stealth aspects of India's Scorpene submarines. "I request the Union government to immediately order a high-level inquiry to find out the truth about the leak," Antony said here. "Is the leak something serious? What is the extent of the leak and whether it is true? That is more important," the former Defence Minister said. He also asked the government to take action in the matter on a war-footing. A report in Australian media had revealed on Tuesday that sensitive data related to Scorpene submarines has been leaked from French shipbuilder DCNS, which designed the submarine, comprising documents over 22,000 pages. The Scorpene submarines, being manufactured at the Mazgaon Dockyard in Mumbai at a cost of around $3.5 billion, are conventional diesel vessels that boast of advanced stealth capabilities. The over 22,000 pages that have been leaked from DCNS contain information on different aspects of the boat, including its underwater sensors, above-water sensors, combat management system, torpedo launch system and specifications, communications system and navigation systems. The Indian Navy has said that the source of the leak was not in India. Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Wednesday said any proposed talks on Jammu and Kashmir should involve all stakeholders including Pakistan. Terming the unrest in the Kashmir Valley a "political problem" which requires a "political solution", the Mirwaiz told CNN-News18 that all stakeholders, including Pakistan, should be included in any proposed talks over the Kashmir issue. Home Minister Rajnath Singh is on a two-day visit to Kashmir to interact with political leaders and people in a bid to restore normalcy in the valley. Mirwaiz, who is leader of moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference, said Indian authorities had got into the habit of blaming separatists for any trouble in the valley. "It's always separatists, Pakistan or traitors who are blamed (for problems in the valley) and never the Indian establishment," he said. Over 65 people have died in clashes with security forces since the 8 July killing of Hizbul leader Burhan Wani. Srinagar: Curfew remained in force in some areas of Srinagar and two towns of south Kashmir on Wednesday, while restrictions on the assembly of people in rest of the Valley continued for the 47th consecutive day in the wake of violence following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. Curfew is in force in five police station areas of downtown city and Batamaloo and Maisuma areas in the uptown, a police official said. He said in south Kashmir, curfew continued in Anantnag town and was imposed in Pampore town on Wednesday to maintain law and order. On Tuesday, the authorities lifted curfew from most areas of Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, in view of the improving situation. The lifting of the curbs allowed movement of people in the city as there was increased traffic of private cars and auto-rickshaws in and around Lal Chowk city centre on Tuesday. However, the official said, restrictions on the assembly of four or more people under Section 144 of the CrPC will continue in the rest of the Valley to maintain law and order. Meanwhile, normal life remained paralysed for the 47th consecutive day due to curfew, restrictions and separatist sponsored strike. Shops, private offices, educational institutions and petrol pumps remained closed while public transport continued to be off roads. The attendance in government offices and banks was also affected, the official said. Mobile Internet also continued to remain suspended in the entire Valley, where the outgoing facility on prepaid mobiles remained barred. The separatist camp, which is spearheading the agitation in the Valley over the civilian killings during the protests against Wani's killing, has asked people to hold an assessment drive in all villages and localities on Wednesday to prepare a list of the needy. As many as 65 persons, including two cops, have been killed and several thousands injured in the clashes that began on 9 July, a day after Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kokernag area of south Kashmir's Anantnag district. The separatist camp, headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, has extended the agitation till 25 August. Srinagar: The separatists on Wednesday extended their strike call and agitation till 1 September and announced a new calendar of protests, including a march to Srinagar-based army headquarters on the weekend. The separatists also called for a joint march to Eidgah in downtown Srinagar on Friday, according to a statement. They also asked people to lock down all routes to their localities and villages by "every means" during night to "protect" people in general and youth in particular from the raids and arrests by security forces and police. The separatists also asked women to occupy chowks in their vicinities and stage peaceful protests on 30 August. It also asked people to block all roads near Doordarshan, Radio Kashmir (AIR) and Information Department to ensure that "no employee is allowed to enter the premises" on September 1. "Lock down all government offices except essential services on August," it said and warned of "social boycott" of divisional commissioner, deputy commissioners and heads of all departments if they issue threats to the employees for reporting to duties. The separatist camp, which is spearheading the agitation in the Valley over the civilian killings during the protests against Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani's killing on 8 July, had earlier called for strike till tomorrow. New Delhi: The Indian Navy said on Wednesday the leaked documents on the Scorpene submarine not impact its stealth and operational capabilities as the details are "old" and that the vessel's "signature" will be known only once it heads for the open sea. The documents from DCNS, the French company that designed the boats being built in India, were leaked, triggering fear that it may compromise the stealth aspect of the submarine. "Details in the leaked documents regarding Scorpene submarine are not valid because the signature can be known only once the boat goes to sea," an Indian Navy source said, adding that the specifications mentioned in the document are hypothetical. "The signature of boats of the same class can also be different. It also depends on the temperature and salinity, geographical location and other factors," the source said. The Navy, nonetheless holds the leak as an issue of concern. "The documents should not have been leaked, but there is nothing to be alarmed about," said the source. The allegedly leaked information related to Scorpene submarines has presentations and technical manuals of the boat, including details like the acoustic signature, noise level and radiated noise of the boat. Sources from the Naval Headquarters, where the documents are being analysed, however said that the document, one of which is dated January 2011, is old. Even as CM Nitish Kumar's government is fighting tooth and nail to enforce prohibition in Bihar, West Bengal's CM Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday gave a green signal to clubs and hotels to serve liquor 365 days a year in her state and reduced the number of annual dry days to four and half instead of 12. According to a report in The Huffington Post, the sate government will now restrict the dry days to Independence Day, Republic Day,the tenth day of Muharram, Dol Jatra until 2:00 pm and Gandhi Jayanti. Industrialists have hailed the state government's decision as "pragmatic" in the light of the festive season, The Telegraph reported. "Fewer dry days would not have much revenue impact... At most, the state's earning would go up by around Rs 100 crore. But what's important in the announcement is a change in attitude and that's encouraging," a liquor industry veteran told The Telegraph. Currently, liquor ban is enforced in Bihar, Gujarat, Mizoram and Nagaland. In a bid to boost its military preparedness, India's defence ministry has chalked out an ambitious modernisation plan over the next 10 years at an estimated cost of Rs 15 lakh crore. India will induct 500 helicopters, 12 submarines, over 100 single-engine and 120 twin-engine fighter aircraft as part of defence ministry's Long Term Integrated Perspective Planning a medium term road-map for a time frame of 2012 to 2027. India is already gearing up to induct ingenious aircraft carriers and artillery guns. The LLIPP is the first ever detailed financial projection by the ministry, though it has always worked on the basis of such roadmaps. According to NDTV, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has asked his ministry's officials to project the estimate cost for the LLIPP. The ministry expects eight percent hike in the annual budget in order to procure new military hardware for the armed forces, the report added. "A projected growth of 8 percent is a realistic figure to work with," a ministry official told NDTV. The ministry is likely to get about Rs 13 lakh crore for capital acquisition over the next decade which would lead to a shortfall of between Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh crore, the official further added. The ministry is, however, planning to scale down its revenue cost in a bid to plug the gap, the report said. "Our estimates suggest that we will be able to save about Rs 5,000 crore which will be enough tide over the shortfall," NDTV quoted the official as saying. Home Minister Rajnath Singh is unlikely to achieve any breakthrough in his efforts to defuse the present crises in Kashmir through talks, as key players seem to be highly reluctant to meet him this time. Singhs two-day visit comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked on the ongoing unrest in Kashmir and sought permanent solution to the problems in the Valley within the ambit of Indian Constitution. However, the first major setback to home minister's mission Kashmir came after Kashmir Inc decided to not to meet him. They said nothing will change unless New Delhi took 'concrete steps to resolve the Kashmir issue' keeping the aspirations of Kashmiris in mind. Barring a few mainstream political parties in Jammu and Kashmir, almost all the trade blocks in the Valley and the major civic society players have refused to meet Rajnath. When Kashmir witnessed an uprising in 2010, groups of people from business, civic society and politics had met the parliamentary delegation-led by the then Union Home Minister P Chidambaram because it was an outreach program from the Centre, and not a conditional dialogue unlike this one where Prime Minister Modi has called for finding a permanent solution to the problem. A businessman, who was approached by the delegation last time, said they have no interest in meeting Rajnath Singh and his team because such exercises have proved to be futile in the past. "We had received the invitation from divisional commissioner's office to meet Rajnath Singh, but the executive committee of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) decided not to meet him because of the ground decision. There has not been any change since his last visit, so why waste time," KCCI president, Mushat Wani, told Firstpost. "Civilian killings continue unabated. Pellet guns are used to blind Kashmiri people. How can we talk under such circumstances?" KCCI President, added. Singh, who arrived in the Valley on Wednesday, is accompanied by bureaucrats and officers of the home ministry, tweeted: I will be staying at the Nehru Guest House. Those who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat are welcome. Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 24, 2016 Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq told Firstpost that what is happening in Kashmir is not a law and order problem and rejected the assertion that talk can take place 'under the ambit of Constitution.' The home minister has not extended an invitation to the separatist leaders but according to the home ministry officials, anyone is welcome to meet him during his two-day stay at the Nehru Guest House in Srinagar. Last time, Singh meet 23 delegations, comprising of retired government officials, clerics, businessmen, office-bearers of tourism and trade bodies, the secretariat employees' union and fruit growers. But the important players in the Valley, including trade and civil society players, had stayed away. Those who came to meet Rajnath, did so but covered their faces, not wishing to be identified given the resentment over the crackdown by security forces on those who took to streets to protest the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. Kashmir is under curfew for more than 45 days now and close to 70 people have been killed in the ongoing unrest. During Rajnath's last visit, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had alleged that people were ferried in ambulances to meet the home minister. Omar had tweeted, "By all means organise transport for them but when the state government uses ambulances for this it invites trouble!!" The Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA), a major trade body said that the government of India should instead engage in a dialogue with the Hurriyat leadership instead of wasting their time meeting their own people. "The state government is asking for a solution and so are the Hurriyat Conference and the people of Kashmir. The exercise would be complete if the real stake holders are consulted and are engaged in a dialogue. Is Mehbooba Mufti agitating on the streets? She is not. The truth is you cant continue killing people and hold a dialogue with them. This a plan to sabotage the freedom movement in Kashmir," chairman of Kashmir Economic Alliance, Yasin Khan told Firstpost. Who said I am meeting him? I am with the people of Kashmir. This government has crossed all the limits of cruelty," Farooq Rinzu Shah, a former bureaucrat and a member of civil society told Firstpost. Sources said a PDP delegation is meeting with the home minister at 4.00 pm on Wednesday but National Conference spokesperson Junaid Matoo told Firstpost that they have not decided yet whether to meet the home minister or not. New Delhi: The Justice (retd.) AK Roopanwal Commission, which was constituted by the HRD Ministry to look into the circumstances leading to the death of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad Central University, is learnt to have submitted its report. Sources said the one-member Commission has submitted its report to UGC officials, though there was no official confirmation. Top officials in the HRD Ministry, when contacted, remained mum on the development. Higher Education Secretary V S Oberoi refused to either confirm or deny that the report has been submitted. HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar, when contacted, said that the report has not reached him yet. The Roopanwal Commission had been formed by the HRD Ministry to look into the circumstances leading to the death of Vemula. He had committed suicide by hanging himself from the ceiling of a hostel room in the university. The suicide by Vemula had triggered a huge political storm with opposition parties launching a massive attack on the Union Government over the issue. They also accused the University authorities of mishandling the situation, which led to Vemula's suicide. The Commission report, it was learnt, has, however, not put the blame on the senior varsity officials. A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court of India headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi last week referred a matter relating to the purview of the Right to Information Act, 2005, vis-a- vis the apex court to a larger Constitution Bench. This has raised certain concerns. No one ideally should take exception to the stand taken by the Justice Gogoi bench. After all, if a larger constitutional issue is sought to be resolved, then the matter has to be heard by at least a five-judge bench. But then what causes unease is the unconscionable delay in dealing with the current issue. Let us examine the facts. In January 2009, Subhash Chandra Agrawal, the well-known RTI activist, requested the chief public information officer (CPIO) of the Supreme Court to provide him with "complete file\s (only as available in Supreme Court) inclusive of copies of complete correspondence exchanged between concerned constitutional authorities with file notings relating to said appointment of Mr Justice HL Dattu, Mr Justice AK Ganguly and Mr Justice RM Lodha superseding seniority of Mr Justice AP Shah, Mr Justice AK Patnaik and Mr Justice VK Gupta". The CPIO informed Agrawal that "the appointments of Honble Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts are made by the President of India as per the procedure prescribed by law and the matters relating thereto are not dealt with and handled by the Registry of the Supreme Court of India." Agrawal was told that the information sought by him was "neither maintained nor available in the Registry". Agrawal then filed the first appeal before the appellate authority of the Supreme Court of India challenging the CPIOs contention. But the appellate authority endorsed the response of the CPIO and dismissed the appeal. Agrawal then moved his second appeal in the Central Information Commission (CIC) which set aside the order of the Registry of the Supreme Court of India and directed the CPIO of the apex court to furnish the information sought by Agrawal. The Registry of the Supreme Court of India decided to challenge the CIC order in the Supreme Court itself. It was indeed a strange situation that the Supreme Court, acting in its judicial capacity, was to consider a matter filed by the same Courts administrative wing! After all, the head of the administrative as well as the judicial wing of the Supreme Court is the same person the Chief Justice of India. So any decision to appeal against the CIC order could not have been taken by the Registry of the Supreme Court without the approval of the Chief Justice of India. So the appellant was the Judge! That was an anomaly, a travesty of justice, so to say. But let that pass. A two-judge bench of the apex court headed by Justice B Sudershan Reddy considered the Special Leave Petition filed by the Secretary General of the Supreme Court of India. In its judgement delivered on 26 November, 2010, the Justice Reddy bench framed three questions: "Following substantial questions of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution arise for consideration: 1) Whether the concept of independence of judiciary requires and demands the prohibition of furnishing of the information sought? Whether the information sought for amounts to interference in the functioning of the judiciary? 2) Whether the information sought for cannot be furnished to avoid any erosion in the credibility of the decisions and to ensure a free and frank expression of honest opinion by all the constitutional functionaries, which is essential for effective consultation and for taking the right decision? 3) Whether the information sought for is exempt under Section 8(i)(j) of the Right to Information Act? The above questions involve the interpretation of the Constitution for the aforesaid reasons, we direct the Registry to place this matter before Honble the Chief Justice of India for constitution of a Bench of appropriate strength," Under Article 145(3) of the Constitution, the minimum number of judges for deciding any case involving a substantial question of law which amounts to the interpretation of the Constitution shall be five. But the then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India in his wisdom despite the express desire of a two-judge bench for a Constitution Bench decided to constitute a three-judge bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi to consider the matter. And, lo and behold, this three-judge bench directed the Registry of the Supreme Court last week (17 August) that since the issue involved a substantial question of law, the matter be placed before the Chief Justice of India for the constitution of a five-judge bench. Can one see the distance travelled between 26 November, 2010 (when the two-judge bench headed by Justice Sudershan Reddy recommended the formation of a Constitution Bench to consider essentially the question if the Supreme Court of India would come under the purview of the RTI Act) and 17 August, 2016 (when a three-judge bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi reiterated the same recommendation in the same case)? After almost six years, the matter is back to square one. If there is a further delay in setting up a five-judge bench, that will be unfortunate. It would be worse if a five-judge Constitution bench sits over the matter for another five years and then makes a recommendation that, given the significance of the issue, the case be deliberated upon by a nine-judge bench! The Supreme Court of India needs to take an urgent call on the matter to ensure that the great trust the people of India have in this institution of final dispenser of justice is not eroded. The issue of the radicalisation of Indian Muslims is one that has been gaining momentum for a while now. While some continue to swim in the 'this only happens in other country' sea of denial, others are beginning to grasp the gravity of the situation and suggesting ways to counter it. In an exclusive four-part series on radicalisation in India, Tufail Ahmad examines a variety of conditions and scenarios that have made it possible to radicalise youths in Maharashtra, Hyderabad, Kerala and indeed, India as a whole. You can read the first part of the series titled 'Radicalisation of Muslim youths in India' and the second part titled 'Radicalisation of Muslim youths in Maharashtra' here. The third part follows: Along with Maharashtra state, India's Hyderabad region has attracted international news headlines for radicalisation of Muslim youths over the past three years. One of the reasons why Maharashtra has witnessed radicalisation is the fact that it is on a transit route linking it to Hyderabad, a Muslim city that has been ideologically connected to the global idea of Caliphate since the Ottoman era to the present times dominated by the Islamic State, or the IS. Dozens of youths from Hyderabad have been arrested or prevented from leaving India for joining the IS in recent years. The Islamist Nizam of Hyderabad had supported the idea of Pakistan as Madina-e-Saani, the second Islamic state after Medina, where Prophet Muhammad established the first Islamic state. Also, the Nizam had earlier financially bank-rolled Sultan Abdul Majeed II, the fallen caliph of the Ottoman caliphate. Women from the Sultan family were married into the Nizam family. In the early 1920s, more than 18,000 Indian Muslims, including those from Hyderabad, migrated to Turkey to defend the Ottoman caliphate. Writing in the Pakistani Urdu daily Roznama Express of 20 July this year, Pakistani writer Abdul Qader Hassan noted that during the Khilafat Movement Muslim women of India sent jewellery as gifts for Turks to wage jihad. Hyderabad is the vortex of Islamist politics practiced by the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi and his brother Akbaruddin Owaisi. It is not surprising that Asaduddin offered legal aid to IS suspects detained by Hyderabad police. Elsewhere, this writer has argued that Asaduddin Owaisiis the MA Jinnah of modern India. Like Jinnah demanded a separate territory for Indian Muslims, the Owaisi brothers demand separate quota for Muslims. While the lower castes among Indian Muslims already benefit from the quota policy, Owaisi politics demand that believers of Islam, not just the poor but all of them, should get these welfare benefits. Not people, Islam is the criterion for Owaisi, as it was for Jinnah in the run-up to the Partition. There are also Islamic clerics who cultivate Islamism among Hyderabad's youths. For example, after the attack on the office of Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris, Islamic cleric Maulana Naseeruddin led a funeral prayer in Hyderabad on 13 January, 2015 for the two brothers, Said Kouachi and Cherif Kouachi, who had shot dead the editors of the French magazine. The cleric told the people at the funeral prayer: "May Allah forgive Said and Cherif, the two boys who were martyred while taking revenge on the enemies of the Prophet Muhammad." The word "forgive" in this context does not mean forgive the attack but sins, if any, the attackers might have committed earlier in life. It's unsurprising then that Hyderabad has witnessed major pro-IS radicalisation of Muslims, which has not ceased since it first emerged in 2014. On 29 June, five suspects were arrested in raids at 10 places in Hyderabad. They include: Abdullah Bin Ahmed Al-Amoodi, Habeeb Mohammed, Mohammed Ibrahim Yazdani alias Ibbu, Mohammed Ilyas Yazdani and Muzaffar Hussain Rizwan. They were in a plot to attack malls and religious places in Hyderabad on behalf of the IS. Two persons also detained on 29 June were arrested on 12 July: Naimathullah Hussaini alias Abu Darda, the emir of IS's Hyderabad chapter; Mohammed Ataullah Rehman, who administered the baiy'a (oath of allegiance) for Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi. Security officials carried out raids at three locations in Hyderabad on 5 July. The 29 June arrests revealed a major terror plot since the countrywide raids on the eve of the Republic Day this year. At least 14 individuals were arrested in the Republic Day raids. They were part of Junood-ul-Khalifa-e-Hind (Army of the Caliph of India), billed as the Indian arm of IS. Among them, and of the four detained in Hyderabad, two were formally arrested: Nafeez Khan (an unemployed youth) and Mohammed Shareef Moinuddin Khan. While most terror suspects arrested in India in recent years are below 35 years of age, radicalisation is not limited to any age group. For example, Moinuddin Khan, an electrician, is 54 years old. Arrests across India, as also elsewhere, reveal that jihadis use kuniyat (aliases), making it difficult for police to catch and prosecute them. Jihadi groups play on the existing sensibilities of Muslims. During the 20th Century, an offshoot of the Khilafat Movement emerged and was called the Hijrat Movement. A number of Islamic leaders like Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Maulana Abdul Bari, Maulana Muhammad Ali and Maulana Abdul Majeed Sindhihad issued a fatwa declaring India as Dar-ul-Harb (House of War), urging Muslims to move to the Dar-ul-Islam (House of Islam), the nearest of which was Afghanistan. For the same theological reason, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi proclaimed the Islamic State, thereby urging Muslims from across the world to migrate to Syria. Between July and September of 2014, at least 15 youths including a girl from the region of Hyderabad and nearby Karimnagar were stopped in Kolkata as they attempted to leave India to go to Syria. Several cases of radicalisation were reported during 2015. In January 2015, Salman Mohiuddin was arrested as he attempted to board a flight to Dubai on way to join the IS in Syria. Mohiuddin, an engineering graduate, was radicalised through social media by Afsha Jabeen aka Nicky Joseph, originally from Hyderabad but based in the UAE. Jabeen, a mother of three children and wife of a Hindu convert to Islam, was extradited to India and arrested upon arrival at the Hyderabad airport in September 2015. A youth from Hyderabad who had joined the IS was killed in March 2015 by the Syrian army. A former Google employee was arrested while more than a dozen youths were stopped at Hyderabad airport from leaving India to join the IS. Three youths from Hyderabad Abdulla Basith, Maaz Hasan Farooq and Syed Omer Farooq Hussaini were arrested on 27 December, 2015 for planning to join the IS. They were stopped in Nagpur from where they were headed to Srinagar. As per a report, Hyderabad's senior police officer T Prabhakar Rao said: "They claim that their ultimate aim is to see Dar-ul-Islam and believe that either Asiya Andrabi or (Pakistan-based Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed) Salahuddin can help them reach Afghanistan and from there onwards to Iraq. They believe that Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi is their supreme leader under whom they could achieve Dar-ul-Islam." A key point about the trio is this: They were among the 15 youths who were stopped in Kolkata in 2014 and freed after counselling. Speaking in the context of the three arrests, Telangana director-general of police Anurag Sharma, on 30 December last year said: A total of 20 youths who were attracted to anti-national activities were counselled during the year. The figure is in addition to those who were stopped in Kolkata. With regard to Hyderabad, one must also mention that there is a feeling of grievance among Muslims for the fact that dozens of innocent Muslims were arrested by the police after the 2007 Mecca masjid blasts which was carried out by Hindus. But radicalisation emerges essentially from religious scholars, the Urdu press and grievances nurtured by politicians. Stay tuned for the other parts of the series: Part One: Radicalisation of Muslim youths in India Part Two: Radicalisation of Muslim youths in Maharashtra Part Four: Radicalisation of Muslim youths in Kerala Former BBC journalist Tufail Ahmad is a contributing editor at Firstpost, and executive director of the Open Source Institute, New Delhi. He tweets @tufailelif Ahmedabad: Three persons were on Wednesday arrested in connection with the murder of a journalist at a newspaper office in Gujarat's Junagadh district with a police probe finding that dispute over money led to the crime. Kishore Dave (53), the bureau chief of Gujarati daily 'Jai Hind-Sanjh Samachar', published from Rajkot, was stabbed to death by sharp weapons at the newspaper's office in Vanjari chowk area of Junagadh on Monday night. "We have arrested three persons involved in the murder of journalist Kishore Dave. "From investigation, it was revealed that Dave was a partner in transport business with the accused, and was murdered due to disputes arising out of payment of money," Junagadh B-division police inspector M M Makwana said. The arrested persons have been identified as - Firoz Kasambhai Hala, Sanjay Rama Rathod and Arif Alam Saiyed. Dave was involved in transport business along with the three accused since about last five years, Makwana said. "They had purchased a mini bus and Dave had to make payment in that connection, and was murdered after he failed to make the payment," he said. Following the murder, separate teams of local police, local crime branch, and special operations group were formed to crack the case. They also took the help of a CCTV camera footage in which the murderers were apparently seen riding two motorcycles towards Dave's office, which assisted in solving the case, police said. As Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh embarks on his second visit over the last one month to the troubled Kashmir valley, it is worth pondering over the political approach that many Opposition parties, here in Delhi and there in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, are advocating for. The so-called liberal intelligentsia is also for such an approach. However, the fact remains that while the idea of a political approach (some term it as a part of political solution) is eminently desirable, the devil lies in the details. Former Union Home Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram in an interview to Karan Thapar on India Today TV has said, We have ignored the grand bargain under which Kashmir acceded to India. I think we broke faith, we broke promises and therefore we have paid a heavy priceWe look at Kashmir as an issue of land, but it's a problem of people instead. Let the people of Kashmir frame their laws within the ambit of the Constitution. We have to assure that we will respect identity, history, culture, religion. In effect, what Chidambaram is suggesting that Kashmiris should have complete autonomy in every respect except in the areas of defence, foreign affairs and communications. However, it is not clear whether these are Chidambarams personal views or that of the Congress party as a whole. As a party, the Congress has openly backed the relatively minor points made by Chidambaram that there must be a visit of an all-party delegation to the valley, that there should be no use of the pellet guns against the violent protestors and that Armed Forces Special Act (AFSA) should be selectively withdrawn. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, who has emerged as the vocal critic of the governments handling of the Kashmir issue of late and recently led a delegation of Opposition parties in the state and met President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also talks of a political solution, that among others, includes talks with all the stakeholders, including the separatist groups like the Hurriyat. Omar does not believe that pro-people administrative measures and economic development will solve the problem in the state. The tried and tested formulations of dealing with the issue in Kashmir administratively rather than politically have further exacerbated the situation and created an unprecedented sense of disaffection and disenchantment, especially among the youth. We are of the firm opinion that the central government should waste no further time in initiating a credible and meaningful political dialogue with all stakeholders to address the unrest in the state," he argues. Political dialogue for what that will end the impasse? Will it be for azadi from India? Will it be for a referendum to determine the will of the people that the separatists are demanding in the name of self-determination? Omar Abdullah does not provide any clue to these questions, particularly after rejecting the need for economic development and people-oriented good governance. In the absence of this clarity, what one can argue is that the likes of Omar Abdullah love to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds. He is comfortable with Chidambarams thesis of the complete autonomy, sans defence, foreign affairs and communications. But, at the same time he wants talks with those who say that they have nothing to do with the Indian constitution but everything for seceding from India to join Pakistan (the so-called third option of remaining independent of both India and Pakistan is no longer the talking point even among the so-called moderate Hurriyat leaders; devout Sunni Muslims that they are, they do not believe in the religious co-existence as propagated through Sufism or the Kashmiriyat. They all now want to join Muslims-led Pakistan). It may be noted that, when in 2010, Omar was the Chief Minister and Chadambaram the Union Home Minister, Kashmir had a similar months-long agitation by the stone throwers that had taken away more than 120 lives, the figure was much higher than what has been the case so far. Following this agitation, the central government had appointed three eminent individuals as interlocutors for Jammu and Kashmir. Journalist Dilip Padgaonkar was the chairman and the two members were academicians Radha Kumar and MM Ansari. The interlocutors toured 22 districts of Jammu and Kashmir, interacted with 700 delegates and addressed three public meetings. On the basis of their experience, they had prepared a report, which, in essence, recommended a Constitution Committee to examine retention or otherwise of central laws extended to the State since 1953. The interlocutors were of the opinion that after this examination was completed, Clauses 1 and 3 of Article 371 of the Constitution be deleted so that in future no central law can be extended to Jammu and Kashmir. They also recommended that Article 370 should no longer be temporary and be changed to Special, thus making it permanent. The report of the interlocutors proved to be very controversial because it also suggested the legitimisation of the areas under Pakistans occupation. Significantly, the three interlocutors were boycotted by the separatists of all hue, who at the moment are at the forefront in engaging the youth to fight against the security forces. And equally significantly, neither Chidambaram, who is now talking of the implementation of the recommendation of the three interlocutors nor Omar, who headed the state government till 2014, bothered to implement the report of the Padgaonkar-led committee. The point that one is making that restoration of the pre-1953 status is easier said than done. As it is, thanks to the Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir has a separate constitution of its own. The sum and substance of this Article is that with regard to Jammu and Kashmir, the Union parliament cannot make any laws in the central and concurrent lists. Apart from in the areas of defence, foreign affairs and communications. Laws passed by it will be applicable to the State only if the State government concurs with them. Thus there are many significant central laws that are not applicable in Jammu and Kashmir. These include the anti-defection laws (in the state ligilslator can be unseated by the party-President, not the Assembly Speaker), equal rights of sons and daughters in the matters of property and citizenships etc. Article 360 that empowers the President to impose financial emergency in the country does not extend to Jammu and Kashmir. The only significant central laws that have been extended after 1953 to cover Jammu and Kashmir are Article 356 (imposition of the central rule, called Governors rule in the state) and the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, the Election Commission and the Comptroller and Auditor General. Now, if one goes by the likes of Chiudambaram, Omar Abdullah and Dileep Padgaonkar, all these central powers, acquitted after 1953, need to be withdrawn from Jammu and Kashmir for a political solution of the ongoing impasse. But can any central government afford to do that? Let us see the consequences. Suppose, for the sake of defence, the Army needs base there in the state but the state government refuses to give the required land, as it knows pretty well that in the absence of the Article 356, it cannot be dismissed by the Governor. Similarly, in the absence of the writs of the Supreme Court and Election Commission, imagine what will happen when it is well established that the Kashmir valley dominates in resources, powers and representations over Jammu and Ladakh? People of Jammu and Ladakh have legitimate grievances when they point out that over the years the power-structure in the state has permanently tilted in favour of the valley-elites. For instance, Jammu is 70 percent larger in are than Kashmir and has 45 percent of the states population. But Jammu has only 32 seats in the state Assembly, while Kashmir has 42. In fact, if one adds the areas of Jammu and Ladakh together, and here the people have no quarrels with Delhi-establishment, and leave the Shias living in the Kashmir valley, the valley-based agitators turn out to be the least-representatives of the people of the state as a whole. Likewise, given the quantum of the central funds that goes to Jammu and Kashmir every year, imagine what will happen to the concept of accountability and probity if the CAG has no job in the state. According to a recent analysis by the Hindu newspaper, Jammu and Kashmir has received 10 per cent of all Central grants given to states over the 2000-2016 period, despite having only one per cent of the countrys population. In contrast, Uttar Pradesh makes up about 13 percent of the countrys population but received only 8.2 percent of Central grants in 2000-16. That means Jammu and Kashmir, with a population of 12.55 million according to the 2011 Census, received Rs 91,300 per person over the last sixteen years while Uttar Pradesh only received Rs 4,300 per person over the same period, said the paper, adding, Even among the special category states, Jammu and Kashmir receives a disproportionate amount of Central assistance. The state received Rs 1.14 lakh crore in grants over the sixteen years under review, according to the Union Finance Ministrys data, which is more than a quarter of the Central funds disbursed to the 11 special category states in that period. Broadly speaking, nearly 75 percent Jammu and Kashmirs revenue comes by way of the transfers from the central government in some form or the other year after year. But the valley-based elites will not like a single question from Delhi as to how the money is being spent. Nearly 75 percent Jammu and Kashmirs revenue comes by way of the transfers from the central government in some form or the other year after year. And that brings me to the final point of talking to the separatists as stakeholders in the state. As pointed out, they all now want to join Pakistan under the veneer of self-determination or plebiscite. Let me quote an article that appeared in The Economist which wrote as far back as 1 November, 1947, Would he (the UN Plebiscite Administrator) be able to prevent communal massacres and fresh fighting after a plebiscite for whichever side wins will tend to take drastic action to settle account with losers? All told, as Sir Owen Dixon, who wrote a report on Kashmir for the UN, observed, Jammu and Kashmir is not really a unit geographically, demographically or economically. It is an agglomeration of territories brought under the political power of one Maharaja. Let me quote yet another UN official Josef Korbel, who has authored a book titled Danger in Kashmir. Based on discouraging experiences in Europe and elsewhere, he was of the opinion that plebiscites did not solve a problem anywhere as these had turned into mere instruments of propaganda, pressures and falsification. What we are witnessing today in the valley is the result of such propaganda and falsifications by the elites of the Valley and their myriad supporters in Delhi. Those hoping for a turnaround in Kashmir's situation following the two-day visit of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, to Srinagar beginning on Wednesday, will find their high expectations belied sooner than later. There are indications to suggest that Singh would only play it by ear without making any commitment on the issue at hand. Though officials of the home ministry have drawn a hectic schedule for the minister, his meetings with political, social representatives would primarily be confined to groups that repose faith in the Indian Constitution and are not deviant. In effect, the separatist Hurriyat leaders and others who seek involvement of Pakistan in the resolution of Kashmir's problems are not welcome. Therein lies the rub. Independent reports coming from the valley are quite alarming. Nearly 50 percent of police posts have been vacated by the regular policemen, and the streets are manned by young boys whose craving for martyrdom for a cause effectively neutralises their fear of law and the state. People of Kashmir have been walking on the edge. This is in stark contrast to the mood in the valley before the 2014 Lok Sabha election, when Narendra Modi clearly emerged as the choice for the countrys prime minister. Though people in the valley did not vote for BJP, they were expecting that a powerful government at the Centre and a strongman as prime minister would make a substantial difference in the lives of average Kashmiris. In the subsequent State elections as well, the dominant mood in the valley was not hostile towards the BJP, and Modi. Far from it, Modis outreach to the valley during the floods was seen as consistent with peoples hope. Like any other state, Jammu and Kashmir has been yearning for development which can provide jobs for the youth. The State Assembly elections, however, threw up a bizarre combination of the PDP-BJP which assumed power under a seasoned leader like Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. And with Muftis death, the incompatibility of the PDP-BJP combine only became more prominent, and has been bursting at the seams since, in Mehbooba Mufti Sayeed's tenure as chief minister. Look at the contrast both the parties present. The PDPs espousal of Kashmir's cause has often bordered on soft-separatism, while the BJP refuses to recognise Kashmir as an international issue. The PDP pedals the approach of the healing touch, while the BJP with the ideological underpinning of RSS-inspired Hindutva favours a muscular approach to problems which are innately fissiparous. Given a choice, the BJP would like to resettle the Kashmiri Pandits who were displaced in the recent past. But with the gradual radicalisation of the Kashmiri struggle on religious lines, such a move would evoke strong hostility among the people and would create a 'siege mentality'. https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/768351972089012224 It is precisely in this context that idioms like Kashmiriyat, Jamhooriyat and Insaniyat thrown randomly at the people of Kashmir by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh have lost their meaning. As Rajnath Singh had told Firstpost, that "Modi's Kashmir policy is a continuation of Atal Bihari Vajpayee's", it will be interesting to contrast it with the present scenario. Gone are the days when Vajpayee's innovative phraseology of viewing the Kashmiri problem from the prism - Insaaniyat ke dayere mein (within the boundary of humanity), had won accolades from people of the valley. There are all indications that political grievances got mutated into a religious war, one in which dialogues are often rendered futile. Indian diplomats are quite alarmed at signals emanating from Pakistans army headquarter in Rawalpindi that indicate a grand preparation for a decisive battle on Kashmir. They feel that in terms of psy-ops, Pakistan has gained a distinct edge. What appears to have complicated the issue further is the proclivity of the Indian state to pursue a muscular approach at the expense of political dialogue. Contrast this scenario with Atal Bihari Vajpayees regime and you will understand the difference. During Vajpayees tenure, the flamboyant Farooq Abdullah was effectively used by the PMO and the home ministry to manage contradictions in the valley. Though there existed a trust deficit between the national conference and the BJP, Abdullah was suitably humoured to toe Vajpayees line. In the meantime, Vajpayee initiated a bold move by roping in Hizbul Mujahideen leader Abdul Majeed Dar, and by initiating a dialogue with the powerful militant group. But the initiative was hampered because of the failure of the Indian state to protect Abdul Majeed Dar, who was later killed by rival militants. It is quite unlikely that Rajnath Singh, in his two-day visit to Srinagar, can make bold initiatives on his own. Given the ideological predilection of the RSS-BJP, to see Kashmir from the prism of 'nationalism', the space for manoeuvring will be quite constricted for the home minister. This is the precise reason why Rajnath Singhs visit is unlikely to cut much ice with the people of Kashmir, in the present situation. It will only be deemed a success if an even ground is prepared for political dialogue; with those who represent neither the mainstream parties nor the Jihadist mindset, those who can articulate the voice of a silent majority. London: Mars had a warm and wet climate about four billion years ago and provided a more favourable environment for life, say scientists who have discovered fossilised riverbeds on an ancient region of the red planet. The study identified over 17,000 km of former river channels on a northern plain called Arabia Terra, providing further evidence of water once flowing on Mars. "Climate models of early Mars predict rain in Arabia Terra and until now there was little geological evidence on the surface to support this theory," said Joel Davis from University College London. "This led some to believe that Mars was never warm and wet but was a largely frozen planet, covered in ice-sheets and glaciers," said Davis. "We've now found evidence of extensive river systems in the area which supports the idea that Mars was warm and wet, providing a more favourable environment for life than a cold, dry planet," he said. Since the 1970s, scientists have identified valleys and channels on Mars which they think were carved out and eroded by rain and surface runoff, just like on Earth. Similar structures had not been seen on Arabia Terra until the team analysed high resolution imagery from Nasa's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) spacecraft. The new study examined images covering an area roughly the size of Brazil at a much higher resolution than was previously possible 6 metres per pixel compared to 100 metres per pixel. While a few valleys were identified, the team found the existence of many systems of fossilised riverbeds which are visible as inverted channels spread across the Arabia Terra plain. The inverted channels are similar to those found elsewhere on Mars and Earth. They are made of sand and gravel deposited by a river and when the river becomes dry, the channels are left upstanding as the surrounding material erodes. On Earth, inverted channels often occur in dry, desert environments like Oman, Egypt, or Utah, where erosion rates are low - in most other environments, the channels are worn away before they can become inverted. "The networks of inverted channels in Arabia Terra are about 30m high and up to 1-2km wide, so we think they are probably the remains of giant rivers that flowed billions of years ago," said Davis. "Arabia Terra was essentially one massive flood plain bordering the highlands and lowlands of Mars," he said. "We think the rivers were active 3.9-3.7 billion years ago, but gradually dried up before being rapidly buried and protected for billions of years, potentially preserving any ancient biological material that might have been present," he added. "These ancient Martian flood plains would be great places to explore to search for evidence of past life," said Matthew Balme, from The Open University in UK. The research appears in the journal Geology. Remember that Aam Aadmi Party ad on TV where a Delhi homemaker was seen peeling a lauki (bottle gourd) with vicious abandon? Residents in Delhi must be going through that lauki feeling right now, of being skinned off their hard-earned cash so that the self-proclaimed messiah Arvind Kejriwal can splurge it on a nationwide advertisement blitzkrieg. In a yet-to-tabled report, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has rapped the AAP government for spending crores of Delhi taxpayers' money to fund a sustained publicity campaign in media outside the NCR. Simply put, without their even realising it, Delhiites have been sponsoring Kejriwal so that their elected Chief Minister can leave for greener pastures and fulfill his national ambitions. After all, who wants to remain a glorified mayor when all powers are with Najeeb Jung? According to TimesNow, which quotes the CAG India report on Social Sector (Non-Public Sector Undertakings), Delhi government has incurred an expenditure of Rs 24.29 crore on advertisements and publicity campaigns that were not in conformity with the accepted principles. The CAG report further states that 85 percent of the amount of Rs 33.40 crore was incurred in the publicity campaign pertaining to advertisements released outside the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. Delhi government is answerable to the taxpayer of Delhi and should target the people of Delhi through advertisements. Advertisements all over India show imprudent expenditure of the Delhi taxpayer money, says CAG on the expenditure of Rs 18.47 crore Rs 11.93 crore for city editions of national newspapers and Rs 6.54 crore for regional ones. The following is a break-up of Kejriwal government's publicity budget as reported by the channel: Rs 18.47cr on nationwide advertisement to mark AAP's first anniversary Rs 14.5cr on advertisement in 26 national newspapers in February Rs 2.5cr on Delhi editions and Rs 12cr for other cities Rs 6.5cr on advertorials in regional newspapers Rs 33.52 lakh on Hindi advertisements in English newspapers These "irregular" and "unjustified" expenses go against the "basic financial tenets of public expenditure", said the auditor general in a scathing indictment of the Kejriwal government. Some additional points have also been made. There was "no prior exercise conducted to identify the target audiences". Economising expenditure on advertisements was not achieved. There was no assurance of the accuracy of expenditure incurred and the liabilities created on advertisements and publicity and finally, instructions relating to the inclusion of cost estimates in proposals for release of advertisement and publicity campaigns while seeking approval of the competent authority were not adhered to. Debobrat Ghose writes in Firstpost that a draft copy of the audit findings was sent to the Delhi government on 8 July and they were supposed to get back by 16 August. So far, there has been no response. Not just the CAG, Kejriwal's penchant for blowing own trumpet at taxpayers' expense setting aside Rs 526 crore from annual budget for publicity, for instance has raised eyebrows in all quarters. A three-member committee, headed by former chief election commissioner BB Tandon to see that guidelines set for government advertisements by the Supreme Court are followed, has taken a serious note of Delhi government's ad expenses. The panel, which was constituted by the Centre following an order by the Supreme Court on 13 May, 2015, was asked to look into AAP government's alleged misuse of public funds by the Delhi High Court on 10 August. A Delhi HC bench comprising of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal, while disposing of four PILs seeking action against the Kejriwal-led government for allegedly wasting taxpayers money in violation of Supreme Court guidelines said: The issue of content regulation with regards to government advertising will be taken up by central governments committee and addressed in a timely manner." Delhi government seems to have not only abused the public exchequer in trying to increase AAP's national footprint and boost Kejriwal's image, the nature of the publicity is also interesting. Very often, these advertisements have veered off from listing the achievements of Delhi government (which are anyway not relevant to readers in Gujarat, Goa or Punjab) to taking on AAP's political rivals and sermonising the people against voting for them. The AAP, for instance, received a lot of stick from all political parties recently for a full-page advertisement published in various newspapers on 10 March this year condemning the violence in Haryana during the recent Jat agitation. The ad was actually a letter, issued by Kejriwal and addressed to people of Haryana against the violence and an appeal to Haryana CM to quickly release compensation funds. Through it, Kejriwal targeted both the Congress and the BJP. Needless to say, this ad was also paid for by Delhi residents. This follows a pattern. In July this year, in a full-page advertisement published in several newspapers, Delhi government took on the Centre over the recent "undemocratic transfers" of nine officers. Last year, in a series of posters all across Delhi, Kejriwal had asked Prime Minister Modi to "let him work", citing interference. To be sure, carrying political messages against rivals is not a crime. The Constitution gives all political parties the right to propagate their ideas and criticize those of their rivals. But these must be done at the concerned party's expense. An elected government cannot dip into taxpayers' money to run a publicity campaign against political rivals, much less do so across several states and various publications and in multiple languages. This flouts all norms and sets a dangerous precedent. If all political parties were to similarly indulge in exchequer-driven ad campaigns against each other, that will leave very little money to carry out the work all governments have been elected to do. Remember, these are not unaccounted-for funds but money collected through taxes. The legitimate question to ask is, why can't the AAP carry out this publicity blitzkrieg at its own expense instead of forcing Delhi residents to foot the bill of their Chief Minister's ambition? The AAP has an answer. During a public rally on Monday in Goa, where the AAP has very ambitious plans of opening its account, Kejriwal said his party is broke. "It would look odd but it is true that despite a one-and-half year of governance in Delhi, AAP does not have money to fight election. I can show you my bank account, even the party does not have money," the Delhi CM said while speaking to a group of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes members in South Goa. The trouble is, Election Commission figures speak otherwise. AAP is right now India's fourth-largest political party in terms of receiving contributions. In 2014-15, Kejriwal's party received contributions worth Rs 37.45 crore. As the India Today report points quoting EC data, only three parties and all of them national ones had received larger contributions than the AAP. The BJP (Rs 437.35 crore), Congress (Rs 141.55 crore) and the NCP (Rs 38.82 crore). Not just that, AAP has the distinction of receiving the highest contribution among all regional parties, even those who are ruling other states. There are two more problems with AAP's approach. One, it completely erodes the trust between the government and the taxpayer. This mistrust leads to acts like tax evasions. A citizen of Delhi may legitimately feel cheated because her money is not being put to proper use. For a government which has failed to install CCTV cameras in public places and buses, free Wi-Fi in public places, expanding healthcare infrastructure among a host of other tall promises, how can it splurge on tax-payer funded publicity? Finally, for a party whose shtick was clean politics and accountability in public sphere, Kejriwal's unethical and morally obnoxious acts are a bitter betrayal. Instead of a 'saviour of aam admi', Kejriwal resembles tinpot dictators in trying to further his personality cult at the expense of his "subjects." It's a fall steeper than even Lucifer. Gandhinagar: The CAG has observed that even though the Gujarat government has powers to entrust 29 functions to panchayati raj institutions (PRIs), it was yet to transfer 10 of these functions, including land improvement and land reforms, to these local self-governing bodies. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in its audit report for 2014-15 on local bodies, tabled on Tuesday in the Assembly, also said that despite the formation of district planning committees (DPCs) in 23 districts, not a single meeting was held during the year. Citing the 73rd amendment to the Constitution, the CAG said it was made in order to transfer 29 functions listed in the 11th schedule of the Constitution to the PRIs. "Article 243G of the Constitution empowered the state legislature to decide and confer powers and responsibilities to the PRIs. As per the Gujarat Panchayats Act, the state government may entrust 29 functions to the PRIs to prepare and implement schemes relating to economic development and social justice," the report said. "However, the government has devolved 14 functions fully and five functions partially to PRIs. Ten functions have not been devolved, as on February 2016," the report said. These 14 functions include, agriculture, minor irrigation, family welfare and rural housing. Partially devolved functions include primary and secondary education, adult and non-formal education and social welfare. Functions, which have not yet been conferred to the PRIs include land improvement and land reforms, small scale industry, rural electrification, technical training, libraries, Khadi, village and cottage industry and public distribution system, among others. "This way, the spirit of the Constitutional amendment for the PRIs to function as grass root level local self government institutions has not been fulfilled in substantial measure," the report said. Thiruvananthapuram: The battle for Hindu votes in Kerala has intensified with major political parties pitting forgotten renaissance leaders against Hindu gods and god men that the Sangh Parivar uses to make political inroads into the southern Indian state, which is known for its secular traditions. The two ruling communist parties and the opposition Congress have selected highly revered renaissance icons like Chattambi Swamikal, Ayyankali and Sree Narayana Guru to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that shocked them by garnering about 16 percent of votes in the Assembly elections on 16 May. While the Communist Party of India (Marxist) that heads the ruling Left Democratic Front, and its main ally, the Communist Party of India (CPI), have already evolved a movement against communal forces based on the messages of these renaissance icons, the Congress is still working on its strategy. The CPM and the CPI kicked off the movement on the Sree Krishna Jayanthi day on Wednesday by celebrating the birth anniversary of Chattambi Swamikal, who had strove hard to reform the late 19th century ritualistic and caste-ridden Hindu society. Though the birth day of the Swamikal falls on 25 September, the CPM and the CPI celebrated the anniversary a day before by organising various programmes, including childrens processions. The Congress confined its programmes to the state capital and some select centres. The programme was advanced apparently to wean away children participating in the Shobha Yatras being organised by Sangh Parivar under the aegis of their childrens outfit, Balagokulam. The main focus of the programme was Kannur district, where rival parties are engaged in a physical battle for political supremacy. The CPM organized processions in 206 centres and the BJP in 300 centres in the district. Members of feeder organisations of both the parties and senior leaders had entered the field to make the programme a show of strength. They sought to rally children by distributing sweets and staging cultural programmes. The organisers of the processions kept the police on their feet in the district, which is still reeling under the post-poll clashes, by vying each other in attracting the children. The police had deployed additional forces throughout the politically volatile district to ensure that the different processions did not overlap and create law and order issues. The CPM, which had opposed the Shobha Yatra in the past saying it amounted to torturing the tiny tots, joined the bandwagon last year after it found that the BJP was using it to lure the children into its fold. The party had organised the processions in 2015 in Kannur district under the guise of the week-long celebrations on the occasion of the harvest festival of Onam. The CPM shed the pretensions and extended the programme throughout the state this year as a campaign against communalism in the wake of the sudden rise in the BJP votes. The programme named Nammulonnu (we are one) will continue till the birth anniversary of Ayyankali on 28 August. CPI Kannur district secretary P Jayarajan said that the programme was not aimed at countering the BJP-sponsored Sree Krishna Jayanthi celebrations but to instil the secular values in the minds of the children. Secular forces cannot remain a mute spectator when efforts are being made to divide the society on the basis of religion and castes. As a party upholding secularism, we are trying to counter the communal forces by spreading the messages of the social reformers, he said. Jayarajan said that the party had also drawn up elaborate programme to celebrate the birth anniversary of Narayana Guru on 16 September. The main highlight of the campaign will be commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Gurus proclamation We have no caste. The party will be spreading the message during a week-long programme across the state. The CPI has also chalked out a six-day programme from 20 September to highlight the messages of Narayana Guru, whos legacy has already been hijacked by the BJP by forging an alliance with Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), political outfit of Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam, which was founded by Guru based on his one religion, one caste and one god philosophy. Even though the alliance did not affect the LDF in the last Assembly polls as many feared it would, the CPM as well as its allies fear that the BJPs bid to consolidate the Hindu votes by attracting more Hindu organisations into its fold will lead to erosion in their support base in future. They also feel that the weakening of the United Democratic Front (UDF) in the wake of the exit of Kerala Congress (M) and the growing disenchantment among its other allies may help the BJP to grow further in the state. This, the LDF fears, could hasten the flight of their cadres to the BJP. The communist parties have turned to renaissance leaders to stem the flow as they have limitations in directly reaching out to believers due to their atheistic moorings. Though the CPM has relaxed norms and allowed comrades to associate with religious events, the party has been witnessing a steady flight of cadres to the Sangh Parivar. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has alleged deliberate attempts by rival parties to distance the Left parties from believers. Referring to the recent controversy over his suggestion for throwing open the Sabarimala hill shrine to devotees throughout the year, he said that the partys political opponents were using the atheistic ideology followed by the party to scare the believers. Our political rivals, who did not want the party to grow in the country, had unleashed campaign that the communists will demolish places of worship if they come to power. We have survived it as people belonging to different faiths had realized this as a false propaganda and placed their hope and faith on out party, he said. In a Facebook post, the Chief Minister said that the LDF government was trying to improve facilities for Ayyappa devotees at Sabarimala and help Haj pilgrims to undertake a hassle-free pilgrimage as it viewed all human beings as one irrespective of religion and caste barriers. BJP state president Kummanam Rajashekharan has welcomed the CPM concern towards the believers. Rajashekharan said that it would be good for the people in the state if it marks a transformation from Marxism to Mahirshi. Making a complete U-turn, Rahul Gandhi's counsel and senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that Gandhi never accused Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as an institution that killed Mahatma Gandhi.The court deferred the hearing till 1 September as senior counsel Umesh Lalit, appearing for the RSS worker, wanted time to take instructions from his client. Earlier in July, the Supreme Court had told Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi that he must either apologise or face trial for his remarks accusing that the RSS was responsible for Mahatma Gandhi's assassination. In May 2015, the Congress vice president had moved the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the Bombay High Court order dismissing his plea for quashing a defamation case against him for allegedly blaming RSS for the assassination of The Mahatma. At a rally in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra, in 2014, Gandhi reportedly took on the RSS saying that "RSS people killed Gandhiji. They opposed Sardar Patel and Gandhiji". Rajesh Kunte, the secretary of Bhiwandi unit of RSS, alleged that Rahul at an election rally blamed the RSS for Gandhi's death. Kunte, according to PTI, said that the Congress leader had sought to tarnish the reputation of the Sangh through his speech. Kunte then filed the defamation suit in a Maharashtra court Following the complaint, the magistrate's court had initiated proceedings and issued a notice to Rahul directing him to appear before it. RSS and the BJP have always maintained that Nathuram Godse, the Hindu militant who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi, had no connection with the RSS. "Godse had nothing to do with RSS. The attempt to link Godse to RSS was politically motivated. It was an attempt to defame RSS," BJP leader GVL Narsimha Rao told CNN-News 18. Rahul Gandhi defamation case- RG's counsel Kapil Sibal tells SC, "RG never accused RSS as institution for crime(assassinated Mahatma Gandhi) ANI (@ANI_news) August 24, 2016 Next hearing in SC in connection with appeal filed by Rahul Gandhi to quash defamation case filed against him by RSS scheduled for 1st Sep. ANI (@ANI_news) August 24, 2016 With Inputs from PTI and IANS On Wednesday, Congress vice-president, Rahul Gandhi conveniently backtracked from one of the most controversial statements he ever made in his political careerthe alleged role of Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS) in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhis lawyer, another veteran Congressman Kapil Sibal told the Supreme Court that Gandhi never blamed the RSS but the people associated with it for the assassination of the Mahatma. The purpose of Gandhis U-turn logically was to get the defamation case slapped against him by RSS activist Mahadev Kunte, quashed. Given the nature of Gandhis statement and the preliminary assessment by the country's highest judicial institution, in most likelihood, the apex court will quash the defamation case against the Congress scion. But thats a temporary relief for Rahul. The bigger question here is why, in the first place, Rahul made a public statement without having conviction or full information (as his U-turn suggests). At a rally in Thane during the 2014 election campaign, Rahul had said, RSS people killed Gandhiji and today their people (BJP) talk of him They opposed Sardar Patel and Gandhiji. All the courage, conviction and personal integrity Rahul exhibited then and the determination he showed subsequently when he ruled out an apology is vanishing in thin air with this U-turn. Its nothing but a technical excuse when Rahul says he didnt blame RSS but the persons associated with it. The question is what is RSS if not the people associated with it? What was Rahul trying to prove here? Rahul was referring to Nathuram Godse, Mahatmas murderer, who had alleged links with RSS. Here lies the problem for him. All along, both Rahul and the Congress party have maintained that Godse was a member of RSS. Since there is no dispute on the fact that Godse is the man who shot Mahatma, Gandhi could have argued that RSS cannot completely wash its hands of the act. After Rahuls first comment and his subsequent refusal to tender apology to RSS, Congress had strongly maintained this stance. AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh, had backed Rahul and even accused RSS then. "Nathuram Godse (the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi) was a RSS supporter. It was the RSS ideology that inspired Godse to kill Mahatma Gandhi. The Congress shall never compromise in its fight against RSS ideology," Singh had said. Here, both Rahul and the Congress party are finding themselves in deeper mess. Rahul might have saved himself from the court trouble for now, but he has let his opponents to question his personal integrity with this major U-turn. As Firstposts senior editor, Sandipan Sharma argued in his piece, Rahul should have stood by his statement and proved his point in the court instead of saving himself by a shameless U-turn. Rahul is not the first one to link RSS to Mahatmas murder. Nathuram Godses brother, in a February, 2013 in an interview to the Frontline had said that Nathuram Godse was indeed a member of RSS. All the brothers were in the RSS. Nathuram, Dattatreya, myself and Govind. You can say we grew up in the RSS rather than in our home. It was like a family to us. Nathuram had become a baudhik karyavah [intellectual worker] in the RSS. He has said in his statement that he left the RSS. He said it because Golwalkar and the RSS were in a lot of trouble after the murder of Gandhi. But he did not leave the RSS, Gopal Godse said in the interview. That apart, Hindu Mahasabha, too have said in clear words that Godse and RSS had mutual links to the Mahatma's murder. There were supporting arguments for Rahul to make his case. The point is this: it was a major opportunity for Rahul to prove his strength and conviction as a leader by fighting to make his point in the court. But clearly, Rahul has lost that opportunity with this U-turn. That will cost him badly. Ahmedabad: In an apparent attack on Congress, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Wednesday appealed the people of the state to unite against "elements" who are creating rift between various communities. Rupani's statement comes in the backdrop of the opposition party's support to the ongoing stirs by Dalits and Patel community in the state. While inaugurating a 'Shahid Van', a mini-forest created at the historical place of Bhuchar Mori in Jamnagar district, Rupani urged the people to stay away from those who are doing vote bank politics, an official release said. "I appeal people to get united against those elements who are creating rift between various communities to acquire power through their vote bank politics. We all should come together to walk the path of development," the Chief Minister said. The war of Bhuchar Mori was all about providing protection to those who sought asylum and helping the needy, Rupani said, adding people need to take forward this high tradition by rejecting those who are trying to create war between various communities. "Some people only think about themselves to acquire power by hook or crook. But, we belong to a land where people think about the community first before themselves. I am confident that six crore people of Gujarat will not let these elements succeed in their intentions," Rupani said. The Gujarat Congress has stepped up attack on state BJP and the government over the issue of Una dalit flogging case and Thangadh police firing case of 2012. Before that, Congress leaders came out in support of Patel quota agitators and accused the BJP government of suppressing the voice of the community. The state Congress had on Tuesday organised a protest rally in Gandhinagar demanding justice for dalits and termed the BJP government as "oppressive". Canberra: The Australian-led search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is expected to wrap up in December, the Joint Agency Co-ordination Centre (JACC) said on Wednesday. Initially expected to conclude in August, the search for the missing Boeing 777 jet was hampered by bad weather and unexpected search vessel maintenance, but the latest release from the JACC in conjunction with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said the hunt would be suspended indefinitely if no new evidence is found once the search concludes in December, Xinhua news agency reported. According to the latest statement, more than 110,000 sq km of the 120,000 km search zone has been thoroughly explored. Once the search is completed, efforts will turn to pin-point drift modelling -- using the locations of washed up debris such as the flaperon found on La Reunion island in Indian Ocean last year, scientists will painstakingly map accurate drift patterns in order to determine a new "precise location" for a search zone. "Thirty years of real life Global Drifter Programme data will be used to model the drift of the flaperon," the statement said. "This information will not be able to identify the precise location of the aircraft on its own. It is hoped, however, that when added to our existing knowledge and any future learnings, a specific location of the aircraft will be able to be identified." Flight MH370 was carrying 239 passengers and crew from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing when it disappeared on 8 March, 2014. Bangkok: A large car bomb blew up outside a hotel in Thailand's insurgency-plagued southern region, killing one and wounding more than 30 people, some of them critically, police said. Although the area is not popular with tourists, the country has been on edge since a string of small but coordinated explosions earlier this month struck resort towns further north, heightening concerns that Thailand's southern insurgency may have spread after years of stalled peace talks. The latest bomb struck shortly before midnight outside a hotel on the outskirts of Pattani, one of three Muslim majority southern provinces that have been battered by the 12-year insurgency. "So far there is one killed and more than 30 injured," Major General Thanongsak Wangsupa, Pattani provincial police commander, told AFP on Tuesday. "The hotel building was considerably damaged," he added. A staff member at the town's hospital said 32 people were injured, five of them critically. All are Thai nationals, the worker added, asking not to be named. Most embassies warn nationals against all travel to Pattani because of the long-running conflict between the Buddhist-majority state and shadowy Muslim rebels seeking greater autonomy. Near-daily shootings and roadside bombs have left more than 6,500 dead since 2004, most of them civilians. But the violence has largely remained local with militants loathe to spark international outrage by targeting Western tourists. The kingdom's junta leadership has been keen to downplay suggestions that the insurgency may have spread. However the police investigation into the attacks earlier this month is increasingly pointing southwards with Thailand's top officer on Monday saying most of those behind the blasts were believed to be Muslims who hailed from the deep south. The rebels never claim their attacks but factions are known to be frustrated with their lack of progress after more than a decade of fighting. Rome: Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours on Wednesday, leaving at least three people dead and devastating dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicentre of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. The tremors were sufficiently strong to wake residents of central Rome, some 150 km away. The first two confirmed victims were an elderly couple whose home collapsed in Pescara del Tronto in the Marche region, east of the epicentre, according to national broadcaster Rai. Another person died and a family of four including two young children were trapped, feared dead, in their collapsed house in Accumoli, a village close to the epicentre, according to its mayor. "We have a tragedy here," Stefano Petrucci told Rai. "For the moment one death is confirmed but there are another four people under the rubble and they are not responding. "It is a disaster, we have no light, no telephones, the rescue services have not got here yet." "Half the village has disappeared," said Sergio Pirozzi, mayor of Amatrice, a mountain village in neighbouring Lazio that was packed with visitors at the peak of the summer season. He said access to the village had been blocked, making it impossible for rescue services to get through. "There is a landslide on one road, a bridge is about to collapse on the other one," he said, according to the AGI news agency. Amatrice is famous in Italy as a beauty spot and is a popular holiday destination for Romans seeking cool mountain air at the height of the summer. The first quake struck shortly after 3.30 am, according to the United States Geological Survey, and a 5.4 magnitude aftershock followed an hour later. USGS's PAGER system, which predicts the impact of earthquakes, issued a red alert suggesting significant casualties and damage based on previous quake data. A resident of the Rieti region, which is between Rome and the epicentre of the quake, told the Rainews24 channel that she and most of her neighbours had come out onto the street after feeling "very strong shaking". In 2009, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake in the Aquila region, which was also felt in the Italian capital, left more than 300 dead. Cairo: Egyptian authorities on Tuesday said they are asking foreign countries to unfreeze the assets of a close associate of former president Hosni Mubarak after he paid back three quarters of his wealth. Egypt asked Spain, Switzerland and Hong Kong to unblock tycoon Hussein Salem's foreign-held assets after he handed over 75 percent of his and his family's wealth in exchange for dropping corruption cases against him. Salem, once a close associate of Mubarak, fled to Spain after the January 2011 uprising that overthrew Mubarak. He has already been sentenced to 15 years in prison in another corruption trial. The decision by a committee tasked with retrieving illicit funds and assets followed Egypt's retrieval of Salem's assets and funds totalling 5.3 billion pounds (USD 600 million, 530 million euros), the Egyptian prosecutor general said in a statement on Tuesday. The decision also called on Interpol to remove Salem's name from its "Red Notice" list and to lift travel bans on him and his family. Salem is one of the founders of a company that exported Egyptian natural gas to Israel under Mubarak. Corruption charges against Salem alleged that the company sold gas to Israel below market prices. Spanish authorities arrested Salem in June 2011 after a request from Egypt though he was released on bail a few days later. He has been banned from leaving Spain since then. Several other Mubarak-era officials have sought to cut a deal with the state in corruption cases including Mubarak's longtime chief-of-staff Zakaria Azmi and former trade minister Rasheed Mohammed Rasheed. Washington: The FBI is investigating attempted cyber intrusions targeting reporters of The New York Times and is looking into whether Russian intelligence agencies are responsible for the acts, a US official said Tuesday. The Times reported on Tuesday evening that the attempted cyber attack targeted the newspaper's Moscow bureau, and that there was no evidence that it was successful. No internal systems at the newspaper have been compromised, a Times spokeswoman said. "We are constantly monitoring our systems with the latest available intelligence and tools," Times spokeswoman Eileen Murphy said in a statement. "We have seen no evidence that any of our internal systems, including our systems in the Moscow bureau, have been breached or compromised." CNN first reported the FBI's investigation. A US official who was not authorised to discuss the matter by name and spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed that an investigation was underway. The news comes as federal authorities continue to investigate a breach of the Democratic National Committee that outside cybersecurity experts have attributed to Russian intelligence agencies and that led to the posting of embarrassing internal emails. Though the Obama administration has not publicly blamed the attack on the Russians, President Barack Obama has noted that outside experts have blamed Russia and suggested Russian President Vladimir Putin may have reason to facilitate the attack. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and other Democratic entities have also been affected. Earlier this month, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi advised fellow Democrats not to allow family members to answer their phones or read incoming texts after a mix of personal and official information of Democratic members and hundreds of congressional staff purportedly from a hack of the DCCC was posted online. Washington: Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, has made a career of 'stiffing' small businesses, choosing not to pay them and driving some of them out of business, Democratic rival Hillary Clinton has alleged. Citing an independent analysis, she also claimed Trump's ideas would cost 3.4 million jobs while her plan would create over 10 million new jobs. "Donald Trump has made a career of stiffing small businesses, driving some of them actually out of business. He refused to pay them for the work they'd already done not because he couldn't pay them, but because he chose not to pay them," the 68-year-old former secretary of state said on Wednesday in a tele-town hall with small business owners. She also discussed her new comprehensive plan to jumpstart small business startup and strengthen small business growth. "I believe when you succeed, families thrive and our nation prospers. But I also know that in lot of ways, the odds are stacked against too many of you too many times. It's clear that big corporations get a lot of the breaks. It's much harder for you to get a loan, to file taxes, to offer health care to your workers," she added. "You want commonsense policies that will make life a little bit easier, and that's why I am releasing our plan today," Clinton said. She said according to an independent analysis, Trump's ideas would result in a prolonged recession that would cost 3.4 million jobs. "That same analyst analyzed my plan and found that the economy would create more than 10 million new jobs." Clinton's vice presidential running mate Tim Kaine also held a roundtable with local small business leaders in Colorado and laid out their plan to strengthen small businesses that seeks to streamline the start-up process, expand access to capital, and simplify tax filing practices to make it easier for entrepreneurs to turn their dreams into reality and become economic engines for local communities. "It's the taxpayer subsidising their debt toward the investment. That would be a massive mistake, to provide a negative tax rate for the biggest companies in the country if they're debt-fueling real estate or other investments. "We call this the King of Debt loophole, since Trump likes to brag that he's the king of debt," Kaine said. The Virginia Senator said 70-year-old Trump has highly unusual expenditures, even in this campaign. "So, as an example, Trump is renting space in one of his buildings to his campaign, and the campaign is paying Donald Trump personally for the space," he said. "Once he started to fundraise dramatically he was self-funding a while, but once he started fundraising dramatically, he immediately tripled the rent payment that his campaign was paying him personally. So once donors were writing checks to the campaign, Trump said, 'Wow, I can get more money personally out of this'," he alleged. Los Angeles: Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton says the way US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump talks, it indirectly supports terrorists. Clinton, who made her third appearance on the popular talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live!, spattered with humour and witty comebacks and discussed the ongoing presidential elections with the show's host Kimmel, putting to rest rumours about her poor health, reports mic.com. There's enough evidence now that when Trump talks the way he talks, it actually helps the terrorists because they make a case as they make with this comment - Oh well, see, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, they created ISIS. We heard this from Donald Trump who is running for President, Clinton said when questioned about Trump's allegations that Clinton and her party support ISIS. He is it eh Republican nominee!' So I think it's crazy but I also think it's harmful, she added. Clinton also said she would prefer to be running against somebody who she thought was qualified to be President and temperamentally fit. When Kimmel questioned Clinton about what she felt the Republican party's reaction was to Trump, she stated that a number of Republicans are in fact endorsing her and writing letters to her too. Jimmy Kimmel Live! is aired on Star World and Star World HD. Explosions and gunfire rocked the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul on Wednesday, an official and students trapped inside classrooms told AFP. So far, 14 students injured in the attack have been shifted to hospital, Afghan health officials told VOA Afghanistan. 14 individuals wounded in Kabul #AUAF attack have been taken to hospital so far, health officials told us VOA Afghanistan (@VOAPashto) August 24, 2016 "I heard explosions and gunfire is going on close by... our class is filled with smoke and dust," a desperate student told AFP by telephone. "We are stuck inside and very afraid." Many other trapped students were tweeting desperate messages for help. Among them was Associated Press photojournalist Massoud Hossaini, who later managed to escape with nine other students, reported The Telegraph. No militant group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes as the Taliban step up their summer fighting season against the Western-backed Kabul government. "#AUAF under attack. I along with my friends escaped and several other of my friends and professors trapped inside," Kabul-based journalist Ahmad Mukhtar tweeted. The Italian-run Emergency Hospital in Kabul tweeted that at least five wounded people had been brought to the facility for treatment. The management of the elite American University of Afghanistan, which opened in 2006 and enrols more than 1,700 students, was not immediately reachable for comment. The private university is usually packed with students in the evening, many of them working professionals doing part-time courses at the facility. The assault comes after two professors at the university -- an American and Australian -- were kidnapped in the heart of Kabul earlier this month, the latest in a series of abductions of foreigners in the conflict-torn country. No group has publicly claimed the abductions so far. The Afghan capital is infested with organised criminal gangs who stage kidnappings for ransom, often targeting foreigners and wealthy Afghans, and sometimes handing them over to insurgent groups. It appeared to be the first reported abduction related to a private university in Afghanistan. The Taliban have stepped up nationwide attacks. Afghan forces backed by US troops are seeking to head off a potential Taliban takeover of Lashkar Gah, the capital of the southern opium-rich province of Helmand as fighting intensifies. #AUAF under attack. I along with my friends escaped and several other of of my friends and professors trapped inside. Ahmad Mukhtar (@AhMukhtar) August 24, 2016 A roadside bomb killed an American soldier on Tuesday near the city, and left another American and six Afghan soldiers wounded, the US-led NATO coalition said. The turmoil convulsing Helmand, blighted by a huge opium harvest that helps fund the insurgency, underscores a rapidly unravelling security situation in Afghanistan. Fighting has left thousands of people displaced in Helmand in recent weeks, sparking a humanitarian crisis as officials report food and water shortages. Younger brother, a #AUAF student, stuck inside campus. Some students escaped via the adjacent UN office through backdoor. #AUAFAttack Javid Ahmad (@ahmadjavid) August 24, 2016 #Ambulances getting inside #AUAF to help out injured. Roads are still blocked. No shooting is heard as of now. #Afghanistan Ramin Anwari (@raminanwari) August 24, 2016 TOLO News reported that security personnel have cordoned off the area. #AUAF - security forces have cordoned off the area. Officials confirm dozens of students & staff trapped inside. #Kabul TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) August 24, 2016 The Taliban have also closed in on Kunduz -- the northern city they briefly seized last year in their biggest military victory so far -- leaving Afghan forces stretched on multiple fronts. But coalition forces have insisted that neither Kunduz nor Lashkar Gah are at risk of falling to the insurgents. The attack comes two weeks after two university staff were kidnapped from their car by unknown gunmen. Their whereabouts are still unknown. The Taliban have been fighting to overthrow the Kabul government for 15 years, and regard foreign civilians as legitimate targets. With inputs from agencies. Karachi: Jailed leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement in Pakistan was on Wednesday elected as Karachi's new mayor by a big margin with his party sweeping the local municipal elections. The MQM nominees grabbed the Mayor and deputy Mayor's positions in the two major cities of southern Sindh province, Karachi and Hyderabad by big margins and also grabbed sizeable seats in the municipal corporations in other districts of the province underlining the party's strong roots and popularity among the urdu-speaking population in Sindh. Waseem Akhtar who is facing a trial and is in jail custody in a case pertaining to the violent clashes among different political workers on 12 May, 2012 on the streets of Karachi in a conciliatory tone said bygones should be bygones. He also asked the commander of the paramilitary Rangers in Sindh to work with the MQM in restoring law and order and peace in the province and Karachi. The MQM has come under intense pressure this week after a diatribe by its leader, Altaf Hussain at a hunger strike camp outside the Karachi press club led to violence and nationwide condemnation over his anti-Pakistan comments. Shortly after Hussain's speech, the Rangers cracked down on the party, arresting and detaining senior leaders of the MQM which its detractors claim is ethnic based party. One day after Hussain's speech, senior leaders of the party including Farooq Sattar in whose name the party is registered with the election commission distanced themselves from the coordination committee headed by Hussain which operates from London. Sattar made it clear that in future all policy decisions would be made from Pakistan and not from London prompting Hussain to also distance himself from party affairs in a statement on Wednesday. Akhtar one of the most recognisable and senior leaders of the MQM said enough blood had been shed in Karachi. "Its enough, we have fought enough and enough blood has been shed, we need to stop that and we want to follow the guidelines of Jinnah," he said. Karachi's newly elected mayor vowed to work alongside other political parties to solve the issues facing the metropolis. "I am not a mayor of MQM. I will work for Karachi, I am Karachi's mayor," he said. During his speech, Akhtar requested Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah to help and guide him. He also described himself as a political prisoner and said cases against him were unjustified. Akhtar was first detained and shifted to jail last month after a court rejected him extension in interim bail in terror case against former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain. Interestingly his deputy, Saleem Vohra could be heard whispering to him when Akhtar spoke to the media persons that he should refrain from mentioning Hussain. Akhtar also requested the Chief Minister to provide him an office in the central jail to help him fulfill his duties as Mayor. Yangon: Myanmar's government has set up an advisory panel headed by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to find "lasting solutions" to the conflict in Rakhine state, where human rights groups have documented widespread abuses against the minority Rohingya Muslims. A statement on Tuesday by the office of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi said an agreement will be signed between her office and the Kofi Annan Foundation to set up a nine-member advisory commission to resolve "protracted issues in the region." The council will comprise three international and six national experts. Rohingya Muslims have lived in the northwestern state of Rakhine for generations but are denied citizenship because they are considered outsiders. More than 100 people, mostly Rohingya, were killed in clashes with members of Myanmar's Buddhist majority in 2012. Tens of thousands of Rohingya have fled in rickety boats to seek refuge in other Southeast Asian countries, and many have perished in the perilous journeys or fallen victim to human traffickers. Many displaced Rohingya are now sheltering in refugee camps within the country in squalid conditions with little medical care. In a reflection of how sensitive the Rohingya issue is, the statement did not name the community in the entire text, only describing it as "the complex and delicate issues in the Rakhine state." The closest it came to acknowledging the Rohingya was by saying that the commission will "examine international aspects of the situation, including the background of those seeking refugee status abroad." It said the commission will "consider humanitarian and development issues, access to basic services, the assurance of basic rights, and the security of the people of Rakhine." The commission will make recommendations on conflict prevention, humanitarian assistance, rights and reconciliation, institution building and promotion of development of Rakhine state. The commission will submit its findings and recommendations within 12 months of its establishment. The recommendations will be given to Suu Kyi, who holds the dual titles of state counselor and foreign minister. She is barred by the constitution from becoming president, but for all intent and purposes has been the country's leader since her party won elections in November 2015 and replaced a quasi-civilian government controlled by the military. Kofi Annan was the UN chief from 1997 to 2006, when he was replaced by Ban Ki-moon. He shared the Nobel Peace Prize with the United Nations in 2001. Naypyidaw: Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw will visit India soon at the invitation of counterpart Pranab Mukherjee, according to an official announcement. "U Htin Kyaw, President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and wife Daw Su Su Lwin will pay a State Visit to the Republic of India in the near future at the invitation of His Excellency Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, President of the Republic of India," the President Office here said in a statement without specifying the date of his visit. The announcement came a day after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's one-day visit to the country to hold talks with Myanmarese leaders on key bilateral issues during which it was assured that Myanmar will not allow any insurgent group to use its territory against India. The assurance came in the backdrop of certain insurgent groups from northeastern states using Myanmar for launching attacks against India. In the first high-level visit from India after the civilian government assumed office here, Swaraj had called on the president and held extensive talks with State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi during which she conveyed India's commitment of "all help" to the new government. Lets get one thing clear. By training our guns against actress-turned politician Ramya, for her views on the people of Pakistan, were making fools of ourselves. This is akin to giving Pakistan and its media an opportunity to question the fundamental freedom our democracy offers to its citizens to express their views. More critically, if we dont stop doing this, well be giving the neighborhoods politicians a chance to to probe where the real hell is. The Pakistani media is already celebrating (read here and here) the Ramya episode, describing her words as pro-Pakistan comments. Now, just what are these pro-Pakistan comments Ramya made? By beating our head on this non-issue, we have actually given an opportunity to Pakistan to twist the story. Lets look at this episode in bit detail. Pakistan isnt a hell and people there are just like us. They treated us very well, she said. The context in which these statements were made was her recent visit to Pakistan (as part of a Saarc delegation of young lawmakers). Now, lets ask ourselves a simple question. Is there any serious issue here, at all? Ramya has every right to express her opinion as long as it doesnt go against the Constitution and law of the land. And what she said was absolutely right. Pakistan is not hell, in fact, no country is. Also, the people there are just like us is another statement that isn't an issue. Every individual in Pakistan doesnt wake up in the morning thinking How do I find stuff today to make a bomb to use against India?" or "How will I manage my daily quota of killing 10 Indians each day? Most of them are just like us, Indians. They wake up in the morning worrying about things not very different from those that worry us. They too think about their days work, about sending their children to schools or finding money to buy stuff for that day. Not all of them are terrorists, ISI agents or probationary officers of the Taliban. The common man of Pakistan too wonders, Im sure, about why politicians and religious fanatics make speeches of hate and as a result, make their lives difficult and unsafe. In short, the people in Pakistan arent aliens from a hostile planet. The country is not 'hell' and the people arent the devils offspring. In fact, the people of Pakistan deserve as much mercy as the poor in our country. The economy of Pakistan is in much worse shape than ours, with no food, basic education and shelter for a significant chunk of its population. According to reports that quote Pakistans first-ever official report on multidimensional poverty, four out of every 10 Pakistanis are living in acute poverty with the people in the Balochistan area suffering the most. The report states that 38.8 percent of Pakistans population lives in poverty. It further says a majority of the rural population (54.6 pe cent) lives in acute poverty while this ratio is only 9.4 percent in urban areas. This is certainly worse than the state of the poor in India (although the poverty estimates vary between official and private estimates, India's numbers are still much lower than those of Pakistan). But, one neednt be surprised if the governments and the politicians of both countries engage in a war of words calling each other names. Thats what politicians do. Hell is one such word. Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikars comment on Pakistan can be seen in that context. Indeed, Pakistans political ideology and its covert support to export terrorism to India have always carried devilish designs, and deserve contempt. There can be no argument on the fact that ISIs strategy of using militant elements to disturb our piece and provoke conflict needs to be handled with an iron hand, and not kid gloves, especially considering that Pakistan remains a weak state, controlled more by the military and the idea of religious fundamentalism than principles of democracy. But, the point here is India isnt like Pakistan. We are a strong democracy and a secular one Our citizens do not need to fear being beheaded or caned for expressing their opinions. Thats the fundamental strength and beauty of democracy. By training our guns at one of our citizens who made her observation on what she thinks about a foreign country, we are making ourselves vulnerable to questions about the very strength of the democratic establishment of which we always boast. If we start doing this, there isnt any difference between us and an illiberal, narrow-minded political establishment that Pakistan's leadership represents. Also, there is a lack of logic in the BJP leaders questioning Ramyas comments. Lets not forget that some of or top leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have been to this hell and back not so long back. Why did they choose to go if the government had this belief that that country is indeed hell? The best thing our politicians could have done on Ramya episode was to simply ignore it. Bottom line: Do Ramya's comments amount to an act of sedition? Certainly not. To be sure, at the time of writing, no court has ruled against her accusing her of this. Let's be honest, anyone can take anyone to court with accusations. By making an issue out of a non-issue an individuals view on a neighboring country we are making nothing but fools of the highest order out of ourselves. The melting ice sheet in Greenland and the Arctic due to global warming is a now common knowledge. In what can be seen as more scary information on the climate change front, scientists have discovered a significant growth in an already huge crack on the Larsen C ice shelf in the Antarctic Peninsula region. The study was published by the scientists at Project MIDAS a UK-based Antarctic research project working on the effects of the warming of the climate on the Larsen C ice shelf in the continent for the past two years. The rift is likely to lead to an iceberg breaking off, which will remove about 10 percent of the ice shelfs area pic.twitter.com/uu1KKWG0WP Project MIDAS (@MIDASOnIce) August 18, 2016 According to the project findings, this crack may threaten the stability of Larsen C the largest ice shelf in the Antarctic Peninsula region and has grown significantly and rapidly during the Antarctic polar night. As of August 2016, the crack has now grown 22-kilometres longer than when satellites were last able to observe it in March this year. However, in 2015, a study published in the journal Cryosphere had predicted the calving event as the largest since the 1980s. The study read: An established rift in the Larsen C Ice Shelf, formerly constrained by a suture zone containing marine ice, grew rapidly during 2014 and is likely in the near future to generate the largest calving event since the 1980s and result in a new minimum area for the ice shelf. It seems inevitable that this rift will lead to a major calving event which will remove between 9 and 12 percent of the ice shelf area and leave the ice front at its most retreated observed position. Nasa had published a study in May last year explaining how Antarctica's Larsen B ice shelf is suffering the same fate and is likely to shatter into hundreds of icebergs before the end of the decade. According to the study, the last remaining section of Larsen B ice shelf, which partially collapsed in 2002, is flowing faster, becoming increasingly fragmented and developing large cracks. Two of its tributary glaciers also are flowing faster and thinning rapidly. Terming it as a bad news for our planet, Ala Khazendar of Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, was quoted as saying: "Although it's scientifically fascinating to have a front-row seat to watch the ice shelf becoming unstable and breaking up, it's bad news for our planet. This ice shelf has existed for at least 10,000 years, and soon it will be gone." The Guardian had quoted Paul Holland, a climate scientist at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), as saying that the loss of the ice shelves would speed the complete collapse of the west Antarctic ice sheet. It would eventually cause the sea level to rise up to 3.5m. However, the scientist said that it was highly unlikely that the event would occur in this century. What is an ice shelf and will happen if it melts? An ice shelf is a floating sheet of ice permanently attached to a land mass. According to a study published the journal Science in 2015, the floating ice shelves around Antarctica are thinning at faster rates. "It buttresses ice streams from the continent and slows their discharge into the sea. With no ice shelves, glacial ice would to collapse and melt into the ocean faster and accelerate the pace of global sea level rise," says the study. Here is a visual representation of the data, from nearly two decades of satellite missions, that show how the ice volume decline is accelerating. Istanbul: Turkey on Tuesday vowed to give full support to efforts to free a key Syrian border town from the control of Islamic State (IS) jihadists as anticipation grew of a major Ankara-backed offensive against the group. Turkish forces also pounded jihadists in Syria with new artillery strikes after a deadly suicide bombing in the city of Gaziantep at the weekend and repeated rocket fire across the border. Activists have said hundreds of Ankara-backed rebels were preparing an offensive against the IS group to seize control of the Syrian town of Jarabulus, which lies opposite the town of Karkamis in Turkey. Without confirming the operation, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu pledged to give "all kinds of support" to push the jihadists out of Jarabulus. "We do not want Daesh (IS) to exist in Iraq and Syria," he told reporters. The pledge came a day before US Vice-President Joe Biden was due in Ankara to meet Turkey's leadership, with agreeing a unified strategy on Syria set to be a crucial issue. He is by far the highest-ranking Western official to visit Turkey since the coup attempt to unseat President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In an interview with private NTV television, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said Turkey saw Jarabulus "as a national security matter". "What we have said, since the beginning, is that having Jarabulus or any other city held by IS is unacceptable," he said. The authorities also ordered residents to vacate Karkamis and the surrounding area for safety reasons after the rocket fire, although there was no indication this was linked to the impending operation. "Residents of the town centre and six neighbourhoods (are) advised to relocate to more secure areas," the local governor's office said in a statement. Nine mortar rounds fired from Jarabulus hit the centre of the town while two more hit another neighbourhood, it added. No casualties or injuries were reported. Turkish artillery responded by shelling IS positions around Jarabulus. 'May begin any time' Abdulkadir Selvi, a well-connected columnist for the Hurriyet daily, said the Turkey-backed offensive "could begin at any moment". The move by Ankara-backed rebels could potentially put them on a collision course with the militia of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), which Ankara vehemently opposes and which also has designs on Jarabulus after seizing the strategic Manbij area in northern Syria from IS. Rami Abdul Rahman, the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the "Turkish shelling in Syria aimed to prevent the advance of troops backed by Kurds from Manbij towards Jarabulus". He told AFP the commander of Kurdish-dominated forces headed to Jarablus, Abdel Satar al-Jader, was also "assassinated" on Monday after announcing he planned to resist the Turkish advance. There was no confirmation from Turkish sources. Turkey regards the PYD as a terror group, although Washington sees its People's Protection Units (YPG) militia as the most effective fighting force against the jihadists. The movements have come at a critical juncture for Turkey in Syria's five-and-a-half-year war, with signs growing it is on the verge of a landmark policy shift. Ankara has always called for the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad as the key to ending the conflict, putting Turkey at odds with his main supporters Iran and Russia. However Prime Minister Binali Yildirim at the weekend for the first time acknowledged that Assad was one of the "actors" in Syria and may need to stay on as part of a transition. 'The last song' Turkey has been shaken by one of the bloodiest years in its modern history, with a string of attacks by IS jihadists and Kurdish militants and the botched 15 July coup. The attack in Gaziantep on a Kurdish wedding party for a young couple has horrified the country, with the majority of the 54 victims aged under 18 and including children as young as four. But there is confusion as to who was behind the attack, with Erdogan initially saying the suicide bomber was a child aged 12-14 acting on the orders of IS. However Yildirim on Monday said Turkey still had no clue who carried out the attack and said all "rumours" over the age and affiliation of the bomber should be taken with a pinch of salt. One guest, Emine Ayhan, lost four of her five children in the blast. "To finish off the evening the young guys wanted one last song. It was in the middle of this song that the bomb went off," Hurriyet quoted her as saying. Los Angeles: A growing number of wildfires were threatening people and property in the western United States, with the governor of Washington state declaring a state of emergency in 20 counties. "These fires threaten people, property and the natural resources of eastern Washington," Governor Jay Inslee said in a statement. "This proclamation frees up state resources so we can provide the assistance that these communities might need. This is a time for all Washingtonians to come together," the statement said on Tuesday. The fires in the largely rural areas have destroyed more than 25 buildings and threatened hundreds more, triggering evacuations, Inslee said. They included the Cherry Road Fire, which has charred 31,660 acres and is 50 per cent contained, while the Kahlotus Fire has burned 20,000 acres and was 19 per cent contained, according to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center. The 3,750-acre Spokane Complex fire was threatening 167 residences, with two damaged and 12 destroyed. Inslee noted weather conditions in the next seven days will be hot and windy, hampering efforts by firefighters who are already short-handed. Further south along the Pacific coast, 10,000 firefighters were battling six gigantic wildfires in California. In some positive news, the Blue Cut Fire in San Bernardino County, just 100 kilometres east of Los Angeles, was contained on Tuesday morning. It has forced the evacuation of more than 82,000 people, snarling traffic as highways across the region were closed. The monster blaze has burned through 36,274 acres, destroying 321 buildings including 105 homes. That makes it the 20th most destructive fire in California history, according to Cal Fire. The Chimney Fire, which has burned 37,101 acres in California's San Luis Obispo wine region, was raging just two miles east of the iconic Hearst Castle mansion, which remains shuttered, the Los Angeles Times said. Also known as San Simeon, the castle once owned by newspaper baron William Randolph Hearst is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the state, drawing millions of visitors each year, according to local tourism officials. The fire has already charred 52 buildings and threatened 1,900 others. Across the country, 18,000 firefighters were fighting 32 huge fires, according to the National Interagency Fire Center, mainly in western states. Theatrical production company Blue Man Group will present new performance elements in its first tour of Asia, some of which will be introduced in Macau. During Tuesdays exclusive backstage media tour, the groups musical director Tony Aguirre told the press that the current world tour is the newest version of the show. Theres a lot of new content [in] this world tour. [Its] the most updated, most recent, most awesome version of the show, so I would say theres at least 30-40 percent new content that you wont find in any other of the shows; not Berlin, not even New York, revealed Aguirre. Youd be the first audience [to see] the [new] content, he affirmed. The latest iteration of the show uses 50 gallons of paint for splashing, as well as 32 pounds of Jell-O and several boxes of Capn Crunch cereal. The group will fire 240 marshmallows across the stage and consume 40 boxes of Twinkies. The group even has its own proprietary makeup color, Blue Man Blue, and finishes nine large containers of it every week. The show is staffed by some 12 crew members across the wardrobe, props, video, sound, electrics, deck and stage management departments. During the tour, Blue Man and Blue Man captain Meridian explained how some of the props and equipment are used. All the stuff, the unique instruments that we have, the unique way we play the instruments, it all just comes out of a desire to connect and to take people on a journey theyve never been on before, he said. When asked why the show was named after the color blue, Meridian explained that it was because the founders of the company had a creative impulse that resonated with the group and was developed from there. Since launching in 2010, the Blue Man Group has logged 150,000 miles on tour, the equivalent of circling the globe six times. The group will perform in the region until Sunday. North Korea on Tuesday warned that joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States are pushing the situation on the Korean Peninsula to the brink of a war and asked for an urgent meeting of the U.N. Security Council. In a letter to the council president, North Koreas U.N. Ambassador Jan Song Nam accused the United States of creating the danger of war with the annual drills which began Monday. North Korea has threatened nuclear strikes in response to the exercises, which it calls an invasion rehearsal. This kind of fiery rhetoric by Pyongyang is not unusual but the warning comes at a time of more tension following the defection of a senior North Korean diplomat and a U.S. plan to place a high-tech missile defense system in South Korea. Jan said in the letter that the situation on the Korean Peninsula has become unprecedentedly instable [sic] due to the introduction of nuclear strategic bombers, anti- ballistic missile system of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and other strategic assets by the U.S. to the Korean Peninsula and its vicinity. He said the Security Council had previously unjustifiably ignored several requests by the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea the countrys official name to put the U.S.-South Korean exercises on its agenda. The ambassador warned that if the council again ignored the Norths request to discuss the exercises, it will not only give up its responsibility for maintaining international peace and security but become a political tool of the United States. It is the consistent stand of the DPRK government to fundamentally terminate the danger of a nuclear war posed by the U.S. by dint of the powerful nuclear deterrence and defend the regional and global peace, Jan said. MDT/AP The Pakistan political party that runs Karachi said it would operate independently of its London-based chief after he made a speech that sparked deadly clashes in the financial capital and a security clampdown on the groups offices. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement, an ethnic party that has held a decades- long grip on Pakistans biggest city, announced that its local leaders would now make important decisions, not self-exiled founder Altaf Hussain. In an address delivered by phone to supporters in Karachi on Monday, Hussain had denounced the government in remarks branded as anti-Pakistan. Activists fired up by Hussains comments unleashed a wave of violence, including an attack on a leading television channel in the city. One person was killed and about a dozen injured. We are the MQM. It exists in Pakistan. Its registered in Pakistan. So well take decisions, the partys top official in Karachi, Farooq Sattar, told a news conference on Tuesday. Even out of emotion, anti-Pakistan slogans are unjustified, unacceptable and intolerable. Paramilitary troops detained MQM leaders and sealed its offices, extending a crackdown that began in 2013 as security forces sought to restore order in a city that generates almost half of Pakistans revenue. The MQM aims to represent descendants of Muslims who moved from India to Pakistan after their independence from Britain in 1947. Protests by its followers often triggered by statements by Hussain, who has lived in London since 1992 have over the years triggered stock-market gyrations and political upheaval. The benchmark equity index was little changed at the close of trading on Tuesday, after swinging between small gains and losses during the day. The market seems off color as political uncertainty rises, said Muhammad Rameez, international equity sales trader at Foundation Securities Ltd. in Karachi. Offices and shops were open in the city. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned Hussains remarks. We cant tolerate any word against Pakistan nor spare anyone who speaks against it, he said in a statement from Islamabad late on Monday. The MQM, part of the federal opposition to Sharifs government, regained power in Karachi in local elections last year. Its top candidate for mayor is in jail and is yet to assume office. The partys often-fatal feuds with rivals, and the gangs that thrived amid general lawlessness, came to symbolize life in the port city before the 2013 security offensive delivered safer streets. Hussain sought to row back his comments, saying he had been distressed by extra-judicial killings and arrests of party workers. Im ashamed of the words I used against the establishment, including army chief General Raheel Sharif, General Bilal Akbar, who leads the paramilitary Rangers force in Sindh, and Pakistan, he said. Faseeh Mangi, Kamran Haider, Bloomberg In a bid to boost public awareness of the regions heritage sites and historic center, Sands China has launched its first creative arts competition in partnership with local associations. The Macaos Past and Present Creative Arts Competition, which accepts artwork submissions from today, hopes to attract the citys art enthusiasts to submit art pieces that may eventually be transformed into commercial products for Sands China. In a press conference yesterday, Sands Chinas president Wilfred Wong expressed hope that the competition would inspire local artists to create homages to the city. This competition is one of our companys initiatives to promote the local art scene in Macau, he said, adding that this has the potential to boost the peninsulas cultural tourism. Wong also recalled that the company has been supporting various local arts and culture events including the documentary film, Behind the Scenes of Gaming Practitioners, which started shooting recently. The conference outlined the three categories of the competition: drawing and painting, photography, and sculpture/3D arts. The organizer said the work must be closely related to the people, events and sights of Macau, and it should capture the changes over the regions development. The artworks may feature the citys World Heritage Sites, innovative architecture, large-scale integrated resorts, folk costumes, festival celebrations and mega events. Streets, alleys and the everyday life of local residents could also be included to showcase local characteristics and social dimensions of the MSAR. Winners will be chosen in each category including a special award, The Parisian Macao Design Award, for entries themed on the resort that is due to open on September 13, in addition to ten Awards of Merit. Winners will receive prizes totaling to over MOP150,000 with winning works to be displayed across all Sands China properties. The competition is only open to MSAR residents, and the organizer stressed that Sands China employees are not eligible to join. Entries will be accepted at the Macau Design Center until October 23, with no limit to the number of submissions per contestant. Macaos Past and Present Creative Arts Competition is co-organized by the Macau Artist Society, Macao Multimedia Photographic Association, and Macao Designers Association, along with the Cultural Affairs Bureau and the Macao Government Tourism Office as supporting entities. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday he expects talks with China on a long-simmering territorial dispute to start possibly this year, and urged Beijing to allow Filipinos to fish at a disputed shoal. Duterte told reporters he preferred to engage China in a diplomatic dialogue rather than take a more aggressive stance that could anger Chinese officials into calling off possible talks. Former President Fidel Ramos, a key political backer of Duterte, met Chinese intermediaries recently to pave the way for the talks, to be held in Beijing. An international arbitration tribunal ruled last month that Chinas massive territorial claims in the South China Sea based on historical grounds were invalid under a 1982 U.N. treaty, in a major setback for Beijing, which has ignored the decision. Dutertes predecessor, Benigno Aquino III, initiated the arbitration case against China. Duterte, however, has not pressed for Chinese compliance and does not plan to raise the decision at an annual summit of Southeast Asian leaders with their Chinese counterpart in Laos next month. Its better to continually engage China in a diplomatic dialogue rather than anger whoever the officials there and they cut completely, Duterte said, adding that possible talks on maritime and security issues would be undermined if ties are strained. China should be hearing us out now, about time that you lift the bans on tourists and allow the Filipinos to fish there, Duterte said, referring to past Chinese restrictions on tourism and on access for Filipino fishermen to Chinese-controlled Scarborough Shoal, which Beijing seized in 2012. Aside from China and the Philippines, four other governments are contesting ownership of parts of the South China Sea, a busy passageway for shipping. The region is also believed to sit atop sizable deposits of gas and oil. Jim Gomez, Manila, AP ABC News (NEW YORK) Donald Trump has said that he would meet with the president of Mexico. During a Fox News town hall Tuesday night, the Republican nominee was asked about recent reports of the Mexican president saying he would meet with the next president of the United States regardless of who it is. "Id meet with him," Trump said. "Absolutely, Id meet with him." Over the course of his campaign for the White House, Trump has time and time again vowed to build a wall separating Mexico from the U.S., adding Mexico will pay for the wall. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto previously said in March that he would not pay for a wall under any circumstances. "We send them practically nothing and Mexico is the new China. I hate to say it. The Mexican leaders are so much smarter than our leaders, Trump said during a rally last January in New Hampshire. ABC Breaking News | Latest News Videos Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. A devastating earthquake rocked central Italy yesterday morning, collapsing homes on top of residents as they slept. At least 73 people were reported dead in three hard-hit towns where rescue crews raced to dig survivors out of the rubble, but the toll was expected to rise as crews reached homes in more remote hamlets. The town isnt here anymore, said Sergio Pirozzi, the mayor of Amatrice. The magnitude 6 quake struck at 3:36 a.m. [local time] and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including Rome, where residents felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. The temblor was felt from the Lazio region into Umbria and Le Marche on the Adriatic coast. The hardest-hit towns were Amatrice, Accumoli near near Rieti, some 100 kilometers northeast of Rome, and Pescara del Tronto further east. Officials in Amatrice and Accumoli reported at least 13 dead, while the ANSA news agency said another 10 were dead in Pescara del Tronto. The center of Amatrice was devastated, with entire buildings razed and the air thick with dust and smelling strongly of gas. Rocks and metal tumbled onto the streets and dazed residents huddled in piazzas as some 39 aftershocks jolted the region into the early morning hours, some as strong as 5.1. The whole ceiling fell but did not hit me, marveled resident Maria Gianni. I just managed to put a pillow on my head and I wasnt hit luckily, just slightly injured my leg. Another woman, sitting in front of her destroyed home with a blanket over her shoulders, said she didnt know what had become of her loved ones. It was one of the most beautiful towns of Italy and now theres nothing left, she said, too distraught to give her name. I dont know what well do. As daylight dawned, residents, civil protection workers and even priests began digging out with shovels, bulldozers and their bare hands, trying to reach survivors. There was relief as a woman was pulled out alive from one building, followed by a dog. We need chain saws, shears to cut iron bars, and jacks to remove beams: everything, we need everything, civil protection worker Andrea Gentili told The Associated Press. Italys national blood drive association appealed for donations to Rietis hospital. The devastation harked back to the 2009 quake that killed more than 300 people in and around LAquila, about 90 kilometers south of the latest quake. The town sent emergency teams yesterday to help with the rescue. I dont know what to say. We are living this immense tragedy, said the Rev. Savino DAmelio, a parish priest in Amatrice. We are only hoping there will be the least number of victims possible and that we all have the courage to move on. Another hard-hit town was Pescara del Tronto, in the Le Marche region, where the main road was covered in debris. The ANSA news agency reported 10 dead there without citing the source, but there was no confirmation. Residents were digging their neighbors out by hand since emergency crews hadnt yet arrived in force. Photos taken from the air by regional firefighters showed the town essentially flattened. The Italian geological service put the magnitude at 6.0; the U.S. Geological Survey reported 6.2 with the epicenter at Norcia, about 170 kilometers northeast of Rome, and with a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometers. Quakes with this magnitude at this depth in our territory in general create building collapses, which can result in deaths, said the head of Italys civil protection service, Fabrizio Curcio. He added that the region is popular with tourists escaping the heat of Rome, with more residents than at other times of the year, and that a single building collapse could raise the toll significantly. The mayor of Accumoli, Stefano Petrucci, said six people had died there, including a family of four, and two others. He wept as he noted that the tiny hamlet of 700 swells to 2,000 in the summer months, and that he feared for the future of the town. I hope they dont forget us, he told Sky TG24. Premier Matteo Renzis office tweeted that heavy equipment was arriving. A 1997 quake killed a dozen people in the area and severely damaged one of the jewels of Umbria, the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, filled with Giotto frescoes. The Franciscan friars who are the custodians of the basilica reported no immediate damage from yesterdays temblor. MDT/AP ggct paying close attention to incident The Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT) is paying close attention to the earthquake that struck yesterday in the Italian province of Perugia, and is maintaining close contact with the Macau travel industry for further developments. As of last night, there has been no indication that any Macau tour groups or Macau residents have been affected by the incident. Additionally, GGCT has not received any requests for information or assistance. GGCT says that Macau residents can call the 24-hour tourism hotline on 2833 3000 for more information. The renovation of the five Taipa Houses-Museum as announced by the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis Tam, has finally begun. The works are expected to last for approximately one month, costing a total of MOP6.4 million, the president of Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), Ung Vai Meng, announced yesterday afternoon in a press conference that sought to provide further details on the project. Ung justified the revamp as a project that will promote Portuguese and Macanese culture. In addition, he noted that these venues have never been subject to major repairs or renovations. The purpose of the renovations is to provide a fresh look and include new elements while also maintaining the atmosphere and feeling of the museum complex, said Ung. The works, having a confirmed end date in September, will target the outer and inner walls for repair and repainting, as well as restore windows , renovate furniture and oversee the installation of floor lighting. As the IC president noted, the renovations have four goals: to maintain the comfort and attractiveness of the space; to introduce Portuguese and Macanese traditional cuisine; to improve walking routes and include cultural and creative industry elements; and to seek cooperation from external entities. In order to fulfill those goals the IC will cancel the entry fee that until recently was charged for visitors of the museum complex. One of the houses will display cultural and creative products, specifically the works of young local creators. Another will seek the cooperation of the consulates of several countries in order to showcase exhibitions and events. The director of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), Helena de Senna Fernandes, stated that we are also seeking the cooperation [of groups and residents] for small projects regarding performances that would be in line with the project. Namely for music, folk dance and sketching activities, among others, [that] will [strengthen] the Portuguese atmosphere, adding that the MGTO will take charge of the spaces promotion. As has been previously publicized, one of the chosen methods for this cultural promotion is through gastronomy, with the inclusion of a restaurant in one of the houses that will serve Portuguese food and drinks. As Fanny Vong, the president of the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) said, the institute will be in charge of supervising the food and beverage element, insuring that all runs as planned. We will introduce suitable operators and we will also manage their performance, she said. When questioned on the choice of operator, Vong said, [It] is not yet confirmed, but she affirmed that the theme [of Portuguese cuisine] will be a must. Vong also clarified that the house to be transformed into a restaurant venue already possesses a large number of facilities since it was planned from the start to be that way. She remarked that the aforementioned idea to have a restaurant in the houses-museum comes from the 1999 original project that was never implemented. This food and beverage venue will occupy an additional multi-purpose space within another of the five houses, which was envisioned to include a Portuguese cultural art display. With regards to the concession for the restaurant, Vong stated that there are three options being considered: public tender, direct attribution or consultancy method. Vong also said that the venue will commence operations as soon as possible after the renovations works are completed. Ung clarified that out of the five houses, aside from the two that will be used as food and beverage venue and supporting space, three will be signposted for other purposes: one for showcasing cultural and creative products; another for exhibitions and activities; and the final one will remain as a display of a traditional Macanese house. When questioned if the repurposing of the house formerly dedicated to the Portuguese regions will be a substitution of Portuguese cultural heritage with food and beverage products, the president of the IC remarked that Portuguese cuisine has an important role in the creation of local culture, highlighting also that there will an increase in the area of the museum dedicated to this end. When before we only two houses dedicated to Portugal and to Macau, now there will be three, he said. His comment suggests that this alteration was a decision reached by consensus together with the Portuguese consulate-general in Macau, other Portuguese associations and local cultural authorities. The current way of presenting the Portuguese regions doesnt make sense anymore, he added. It was too outdated. When questioned on the expected results of such an initiative, the director of MGTO said, it is expected to increase the number of visitors of that area by 10 to 15 percent, remarking that the council formed to implement the project is not targeting large tour groups, but is instead focusing on individuals and small groups. Taiwans financial regulator is investigating Mega Financial Holding Co. after New York state ordered its banking unit to pay a USD180 million penalty and install an independent monitor for violating the states laws against money laundering. The investigation comes as regulators across the globe step up financial scrutiny following the leak of a trove of data about offshore accounts set up by a Panamanian law firm. Taiwans Financial Supervisory Commission said in a statement seen yesterday that it was looking over records at the bank, and investigating possible violations. New Yorks Department of Financial Services announced the fine for Mega International Commercial Bank last Friday. It ordered the bank to beef up compliance after finding its staff, unfamiliar with U.S. regulations, failed to conduct reviews meant to detect suspicious transactions. U.S. regulators expressed strong concern given that Mega International has two branches in Panama, which they described in a consent order as a high-risk area for money laundering. They did not say if the bank had been implicated in money laundering but chastised it for failing to report fraud, dishonesty, making of false entries and omission of true entries and other misconduct. The government-appointed chairman of Mega Financial Holding, Chen Sung-hsin, told reporters in Taiwan that the bank was not engaged in money laundering, but had failed to keep up with regulatory requirements. The regulations are much tighter than in the past and we could not manage to meet them, he said. Concern over offshore companies intensified after the Washington-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists published a slew of stories based on the leak of documents belonging to Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca. The reports detailed how world leaders, celebrities and businesses were using offshore companies to hide money. AP A Thai military court yesterday rejected allegations by two Uighur defendants that they were tortured in custody to confess to bombing a popular Hindu shrine in Bangkok last year that left 20 people dead. The court then postponed the rest of the hearing to next month because no Uighur-language translator was available. In previous preliminary hearings, the two men who are from the Uighur-speaking region of China have said they were tortured and mistreated by their jailors in military detention, and yesterday pleaded to be moved to a different correctional facility. After investigating these claims, the court finds them to be false and the defendants will remain where they are since this is a case of national security, one of the three judges on the panel ruled. The judges, who have not been identified in keeping with protocol in military trials, said the defendants safety may be at risk in a regular correctional facility because of the high-profile nature of the case, and that they were safer in military detention. The ruling came on what was to be the first day of the trial of the two ethnic Uighurs of Chinese nationality. But the opening day, which was set aside for recording witness testimonies, got off to a shaky start when the court realized that there was no Uighur-language translator available. The makeshift translator in previous hearings was also a Uighur, who was arrested in a separate criminal case. Defense lawyers said he had apparently skipped bail and disappeared. The hearings scheduled for today were then postponed to Sept. 15-16 while authorities try to bring a new translator. The two defendants Mieraili Yusufu and Bilal Mohammad, also known as Adem Karadag have pleaded not guilty. At a recent pre-trial appearance they broke down in tears alleging mistreatment and torture by Thai authorities. They are the only two men in custody out of the 17 people that authorities say were responsible for the Aug. 17, 2015, bombing of the Erawan shrine in Bangkoks most famous shopping district of Ratchaprasong. It was one of the deadliest acts of violence in Thailand in decades. The Erawan shrine, dedicated to Hindu god Brahma, is popular among Chinese and other tourists. Of the dead, 14 were tourists. Many Chinese were among the 120 people injured. Thai authorities have said the bombing was revenge by a people-smuggling gang whose activities were disrupted by a crackdown. However, some analysts suspected it might have been the work of Uighur separatists angry that Thailand in July had forcibly repatriated scores of Uighurs to China, where they may be persecuted. Chuchart Kanpai, the lawyer for one of the defendants, has told reporters in the past that Bilal had been tortured to admit that he was the person seen in surveillance video planting the bomb. Bilal says his captors poured cold water into his nose, threatened to send him back to China and had a barking dog frighten him. Police say the case against the two men is supported by closed-circuit television footage, witnesses, DNA matching and physical evidence, in addition to their confessions. Police believe Yusufu detonated the bomb minutes after a backpack containing the device was left at the shrine by Bilal. Since a May 2014 coup installed the military in power, its courts in Thailand have handed criminal cases deemed to involve national security. The two men have been held at an army base since their arrest in late August and early September 2015. No other details of their interrogation have been revealed. Some of the 15 other suspects are Turks, with whom Uighurs share ethnic bonds, and Turkey is home to a large Uighur community. Beijing charges that some Uighurs are Islamist terrorists and that some have been smuggled out of China to join Islamic State fighters in Syria via Turkey. Natnicha Chuwiruch, Bangkok, AP Chinas efforts to reduce poverty have improved the lives of hundreds of millions of people, but they could be undermined in the future without efforts to root out corruption and better address public complaints, a United Nations representative for human rights warned yesterday. Unless it takes action, China risks sparking mass protests and unrest, said Philip Alston, the U.N.s special rapporteur for extreme poverty and human rights. Alston visited China for nine days and presented his preliminary findings at the U.N. mission in Beijing. Alston cited estimates that say China has lifted 700 million people out of poverty in the last several decades thanks to its roaring economy and what he described as genuine political will to help the poor. Authorities have said they aim to lift all Chinese out of extreme poverty by 2020. Alston says he believes China will meet that goal. But China also has deep income inequality, particularly between urban and rural areas, as well as a lack of means for people to report corruption and misconduct. Authorities have waged a wide and public crackdown on lawyers who have pursued corruption and human rights cases, as part of a widespread campaign against supposed foreign influences under Chinese President Xi Jinping. While Xi has also mounted an anti-corruption drive snaring hundreds of officials, Alston called it a top-down effort that hasnt given citizens a true voice. There are no dedicated institutions for dealing with public complaints, and government regulations going into effect next year target foreign nongovernmental organizations that advocate for human rights. The absence of those institutions will be felt greatly as more people are lifted out of extreme poverty and begin to demand more from their government, Alston said. That will leave public protests as Chinas main safety valve, he said. While some protests do lead to government action, participants and organizers risk being arrested and prosecuted on broadly defined charges such as stirring up troubles. We cannot rely for the vindication of rights just upon governmental action from the top, at the time when it suits the government, when it seems politically appropriate, Alston said. There must be ways for those whose rights are violated to initiate action. Alston is a lawyer and professor at New York University who studies human rights for the U.N. as a volunteer. Hes expected to submit a final report on his visit to China before the U.N.s Human Rights Council next year. But Alston acknowledged that his report will not be binding, nor does he expect it to spark immediate change within China. He said Chinese officials refused to let him meet with several academics he had requested to see, and that a government security detail tailed him throughout his visit. The Chinese arranged for him to visit a village in Yunnan province, where he received what he called an abysmal tour staged by authorities. Officials claimed they never get any complaints from ethnic minority communities, nor were they aware of any protests. This is a wonderful achievement, but of course it cant be true, because its not in any other country of the world, Alston said. Nomaan Merchant, Beijing, AP Revived appetite for emerging market stocks and bonds is starting to include China and even its embattled currency. China Asset Management Co. has seen more inflows into equity funds that invest offshore yuan into mainland equities since Britains June 23 vote to leave the European Union. CSOP Asset Management Ltd. had its strongest inflows in 14 months in June to an exchange-traded fund that pumps yuan held abroad into Chinas sovereign bonds. A net USD604 million has flowed into China via the Renminbi Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors (RQFII) program in the first seven months, versus an outflow of $4.1 billion last year, Z-Ben Advisors estimates. Inflows into stocks have dominated this year at about $880 million. People are looking again at the emerging markets, which were undervalued, China for example, said Freddie Chen, Hong Kong-based managing director at China Asset, which has used just over half of its RQFII quota of 21.8 billion yuan ($3.3 billion) and allocated 80 percent to equity with the rest in fixed income. We have seen a lot more interest after the Brexit vote highlighted developed nation risks, he said. The inflows will help slow the decline in Chinas foreign-exchange reserves and support the yuan, which dropped 3.7 percent in the past 12 months in Asias worst performance. They may also add fuel to a rally in the Shanghai Composite Index, which is up 5.3 percent this quarter but still down 13 percent for 2016. While the nations sovereign bond yields have plunged this year, they are still high compared with negative rates in Japan and Europe, prompting global funds to boost holdings by the most in two years in June. Our overseas clients have shown more interest in RQFII lately, said Melody He, head of exchange-traded funds and index solutions in Hong Kong at CSOP, which said on Aug. 11 its China 5-Year Treasury Bond ETF tripled assets to 2 billion yuan this year. The two main reasons behind it are falling yields in developed markets and a stabilizing yuan. Morgan Stanley wrote in an Aug. 20 note there could be a powerful catch-up rally in Chinese stocks as global investors are again targeting developing nations. While the Shanghai benchmark climbed 16 percent from a low on Jan. 28, that trails a 24 percent rise for the MSCI Emerging Markets index. The best-performing bond fund in China has also said government economic stimulus means money may flow from onshore corporate debt into stocks. Since RQFII licenses were first awarded in 2011 to promote the global use of the yuan, official data show China has granted 508.4 billion yuan in quotes to 169 financial institutions. The products suffered heavy redemptions since the currencys devaluation last August. This year, China offered a quota of 250 billion yuan to U.S. institutions, which will lead to more demand for yuan products, according to Li Liuyang, a senior analyst at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ China Ltd. One thing that could derail the momentum is a stronger dollar. Federal Reserve vice chairman Stanley Fischer on Sunday signaled that a 2016 rate hike is still under consideration. The yuan, which closed at 6.6499 per dollar today, is forecast to weaken to 6.75 by year-end, according to a survey of economists by Bloomberg. Yields on the nations 10-year sovereign bonds have fallen 10 basis points this year to 2.72 percent. That compares with a 50 basis point drop in average yields for the Bloomberg Emerging Market Local Sovereign Index. Although yields have come down in China as well, the Chinese market still looks attractive on a relative basis, said Raymond Gui, a Hong Kong-based senior portfolio manager at Income Partners Asset Management Ltd., which runs an RQFII bond fund. Bloomberg TWIN FALLS With two careers and six children, Robert and Amy Starr werent in the market for a new business venture. But one day, Robert saw a story that caught his attention. It was about a nationwide food truck franchise, Kona Ice, that serves shaved ice. And giving back to communities is a large focus for the company. The more he researched, I was talking myself and Amy into it, Robert said. Five weeks later, they were in Kentucky buying a shaved ice truck and learning about the company. After arriving back in Twin Falls around the Fourth of July, they waited a couple of weeks to receive their license before launching their business. Now, they drive around Twin Falls neighborhoods and go to events to sell snow cones. Amy said she likes having their children participate in the business venture. As a child, she grew up helping her grandparents at Fredericksons Fine Candies. And with evening hours, Amy said, it doesnt take away from their family time. But as the business grows, they may eventually hire employees to help out. The couple has day jobs, too. Robert owns Canyon Starr Promotions and Amy is a speech pathologist at St. Lukes Magic Valley Medical Center. Their shaved ice truck offers 10 basic flavors. After customers buy a snow cone, they add their own flavoring using spigots on the side of the truck. The truck is colorful and Hawaiian themed, with tropical music playing instead of the usual high-pitched ice cream truck tunes. It also offers vita-blend options for snow cones that add vitamins to the frosty treat. Robert said their main goal is to be able to get into more schools. Theyve already sold snow cones at three schools for fundraisers and donated a percentage of the proceeds. For parent teacher associations, for example, groups dont have to buy supplies or clean up, Amy said. We try to make it was easy for them as possible. In addition to schools, the couple is open to doing fundraisers for other nonprofit organizations. Nationwide, Kona Ice has donated more than $35 million to community-based organizations since its inception in 2007. Here in Twin Falls, the Starrs drive around neighborhoods on weeknights selling snow cones. We pretty much go from one end to the other, Amy said. Occasionally, they drive to Kimberly and they want to reach out to Jerome, too. The Starrs are also available to book for private events such as birthday parties and corporate events. Pretty much anytime (theres) a party, we can be there, Amy said. TWIN FALLS A psychiatric evaluator has finally submitted a report on the mental health of an 87-year-old Twin Falls man charged with murder, more than six months after the evaluation was ordered. Whether Paul Robert Welch is mentally competent to stand trial will likely be decided next month. Welch appeared in court Monday for a status hearing the first time since February in his now year-old murder case. Hes accused of shooting and killing 81-year-old Barbara Sue Chitwood Aug. 21, 2015, at the home they shared on Lacasa Loop. District Judge Richard Bevan ordered the mental-competency evaluation in January, but through a series of errors and miscommunications, the evaluation took almost six months to be completed. As Welchs attorney, Keith Roark, described during a hearing in May, the Department of Health and Welfare initially lost the order, and then the evaluation was delayed further when staff at a Jerome hospital, where Welch was staying because of a hip injury, had security qualms. The evaluators report, a sealed document, was filed with the court July 12. The psychiatrist has finished the evaluation and submitted a written report, and now the attorneys and the court are analyzing it, Twin Falls County Prosecutor Grant Loebs said Tuesday. All parties are due back in court Sep. 19, at which time a decision should be made whether Welch is mentally competent to stand trial. Dressed in a grey sweater with colorful stripes, Welch seemed to be in a much better state than the last time he appeared in court in February. In contrast to that hearing, when his hair and beard were long and scraggly, on Monday Welch was clean-shaven and seemed alert and coherent. Roark said during the February hearing that Welch was hard of hearing and very confused by the proceedings against him, but on Monday, seated in a wheelchair at the defense table, Welch conversed with a bailiff before the hearing began, then shook hands with Roark as he answered his attorneys questions. According to the indictment, Welch shot and killed Chitwood with a .22-caliber pistol in a pre-planned attack last August. Chitwoods will, her estate being the subject of a civil court case, described Welch as a good friend and bequeathed to him her pickup truck and the right to reside in the house for the duration of his life. SHOSHONE Chief of Police Marshall Emerson announced Wednesday he is leaving the department after accepting a police chief position in Nevada. Shoshone Police Sgt. Rene Rodriguez, whos expected to become Lincoln County Sheriff after he beat four other Republican hopefuls in the GOP primary election earlier this year, will take over as interim chief. Rodriguez is expected to be confirmed by the Shoshone City Council as the interim chief Sep. 6. He said the appointment will not affect his plans to take over as sheriff of Lincoln County, providing he wins the election in November. One independent candidate has filed to run so far. Its extra training prior to the transition, Rodriguez said Wednesday. As for Emerson, he announced in his weekly message on Facebook that hell be the new police chief of the Fallon Paiute Shoshone Indian Colony and Reservation in Churchill County, Nev. It has been my privilege and honor serving as your chief of police, Emerson wrote in his message. I have enjoyed the many interactions I have had with members of this community and the numerous friendships I have made. The chief also thanked Shoshones mayor and city council, the business community and the schools for supporting the many initiatives that together we have forged. Finally, I would like to thank the outstanding officers, deputies and troopers I have had the honor of serving with since I came to Idaho, Emerson wrote. I can only ask that the level and spirit of cooperation we have created continues and grows. Our community is a safer and better place because of your dedication to duty. You are and always will be my brothers and sisters. TWIN FALLS Idaho school districts and charter schools may be eligible to host volunteer career advisers. A grant administered by the Idaho Department of Labors Career Information System allows for advisers to be in schools from October 2016 through October 2017. Idahos Future in Action AmeriCorps program, funded by a Corporation for National and Community Service grant, was created to increase the number of rural, low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. Across Idaho, 20 schools will host an AmeriCorps career adviser who will work with guidance counselors and other school staff to create a college-going culture school-wide. Theyll also provide targeted services to assist students grades 8-12 and families with high school to college and career transitions. Each adviser will provide academic, career and financial aid mentoring; communication and parent/family advising; a summer exploration program; and student life, college and career workshops. Qualifying host schools are required to provide a cash match based on enrollment and in-kind match. Examples include providing administrative support, a designated college and career lab, equipment and supplies. Host schools will also have an active role in recruitment and interviewing for the advisers. The AmeriCorps career advisers will help schools implement legislation that requires each district to deliver college and career planning to students in grades 812. The legislation was proposed by Gov. C.L. Butch Otters administration, passed by the legislature in 2015 and funded by a $5 million appropriation in 2016. The application deadline is 5 p.m. Sept. 7. To request an application, visit http://labor.idaho.gov/dnn/idl/IdahoCareerInformation/AmeriCorps.aspx or email idahocis@labor.idaho.gov. TWIN FALLS In an era of mass consolidation and rapidly evolving airlines, Bill Carberry, manager of the Twin Falls airport, expects more changes ahead. But the reasoning behind the airport remodeling and expansion project of Joslin Field Magic Valley Regional Airport Manager is two-fold: first, to get up to speed with airline and Transportation Security Administration processes, and then to handle future growth. The $4.3 million, 10-month project was on track and on budget as of Tuesday, but wont be completed until the first quarter of next year. Its good to know we have the infrastructure in place to handle whatever does come, Carberry said. Project Superintendent Andrew DiPietro, with general contractor Peterson Brothers Construction, said 26 subcontractors and nearly 100 workers have already put in 8,285 hours. On Tuesday, work continued on the HVAC and fire suppression systems inside, while stucco was added to the exterior. DiPietro estimated that by the end of September, the building expansion should be sealed off for more interior work to be completed. Itll right-size us for TSA operations, Carberry said. A new screening area, holding room with bathrooms, and baggage conveyor belt screening system are all part of the work. City spokesman Joshua Palmer said the expansion will give the airport an opportunity to bring in another airline or more routes, and the city will continue to have discussions to see what options are viable. It really comes down to market and demand for the airlines, Palmer said. The airport is running two 50-seat commercial flights a day, with an average capacity of 90 to 100 passengers per day, Carberry said. The airport usually sees flights about two-thirds or more full, with morning outgoing flights and evening incoming flights being more popular. Joslin Field Magic Valley Regional Airport was constructed in 1996, so the expansion comes a little more than 20 years from that date. Its a good time for this expansion, Carberry said. The new holding room will seat about 150 to 160 people comfortably, compared to 80 to 90 now. It will contain bathrooms, and the TSA screening line before the secure area will be relocated from the lobby. The airport is also working with the citys information technology department to secure wireless internet. Carberry hopes the improvements will encourage people to move through security sooner. A lot of travelers would stay in the common area as long as possible, he said. The project is about 96-percent funded through the Federal Aviation Administration. TWIN FALLS The Pyleses light blue Ford Edge with Blubd vanity plates bounced along the gravel road leading into the South Hills near Rogerson. Eugene Pyles slowed the vehicle when it approached a rocky dirt road just past a red and yellow no campfires sign on a fence. His wife, Joan, sat in the passenger seat and their collie, Knit, in the back seat. Knit always likes the ride to see the bluebirds. The bluebirds were gone on Friday, but the couple and their dog still love to drive the road through bluebird haven. Theres a box there, Eugene said. He pointed to a small wooden box on top of a stake on the right side of the road. Thats not ours, Joan replied. Well, it was ours, he said. It was ours, she repeated softly, looking out the window. For the past 12 years, the Pyleses have often left their Twin Falls home to drive nearly two hours south. All those years they have been keepers of the bluebirds that nest in the sagebrush landscape. In those years, they have built and maintained more than 50 wooden nesting boxes. But now at 84, they realize are getting too old to make the trek like they once did. They dont want to give it up, but they know their children are right. I dont want to give it up at all, Joan said. But I also dont want to fall and break a hip. And Knits as ready as we are. Years prior, the Pyleses would travel the dusty, washboard roads six or seven times. This year they have visited the bluebird trail four times. The last time they visited was two weeks ago. It was around then they passed the responsibility for the bluebirds to another. It isnt the first time theyve had others take over sections of the bluebird trail, but this recent one is for good. The Pyleses moved to the Magic Valley 28 years ago when Eugene was named the superintendent of the Buhl School District. He led the district from 1988 to 1994. The couple have been married since 1957 and have four children who live in other states. They met in junior high and were high school sweethearts while growing up in Vancouver, Wash. They broke up once, Eugene said, because he kissed her. She got mad at me, he said. Joan told him not to take it personally. She once broke up with a boy just because he held her hand. Over the years, Eugene has given bluebird presentations to Buhl Elementarys fourth-grade Idaho state history class. Hes also visited schools in Wendell and Kimberly. Hes a real good talker, Joan said. Well, I was a teacher, he replied. An educator most of his life, Eugene said he enjoyed teaching children about the states bird, the Mountain Bluebird. Eugene has bachelors and masters degrees in history from the University of Washington. The couple used to live in Seattle, where Eugene worked as a teacher for 12 years. In his career hes been a vice-principal, principal and counselor. When Eugene stopped to check on a nesting box, Joan and Knit stayed back at the vehicle. Knit, 11, didnt move from her spot in the back seat, even though Joan left the door open. You gonna get out? Joan asked the dog. You got to give her room to jump, honey, Eugene told her, as he walked down a hill toward a nesting box. In Knits younger years, she would chase roaming cows that got too close. It used to be you open the door and she jumped out like crazy, Joan said. Time goes by. The couple was introduced to the bluebird trails by their friend John Meyer. They met Meyer at a bird watching meeting. He is the one who started the bluebird trails and turned it over to the Pyleses. Meyer died last year. Why build these little houses for the bluebirds? Bluebirds are cavity nesters, Eugene explained, they assemble nests inside fence post holes and trees. The nesting boxes give the bluebirds more options. This year, they raised 95 baby bluebirds. Babies are born in April and leave in mid-July to winter in Arizona and New Mexico. Joan said you have to be careful when opening the boxes. Because as soon as you open the box, those baby bluebirds are ready to fly. They have held baby bluebirds and even their mothers in their hands. We are usually so excited, she said. When we do that, when you hold a baby bird in your hand, its pretty exciting. Eugene said bluebirds dont have a good sense of smell and wont reject young handled by humans. Sometimes wrens will get into the boxes. And sometimes, Joan said, trailing off. What are they called? We are getting so old. Swallows, Eugene replied, after a few seconds of silence. Yeah, swallows, she said. As the Pyleses approached a spot popular with campers, they pulled over to get out of the vehicle. A bluebird nesting box stood next to a glen of aspen trees. As a warm breeze pushed out of the north, the leaves shook and Eugene looked across the span of land before him. Joan would often pack them picnics of bologna and cheese or egg sandwiches when they visited the bluebirds. She wore a bluebird blouse during their outing, and with her hands in her jeans pockets, she paused for a moment near the aspen trees. I like it better than Seattle, Joan said. There are so many trees there. Here you can see for miles. I loved it up there, but I love it here more. The past couple of years, their children have been encouraging them to get a new hobby. One that is closer to home. They got stuck once last year while driving to see the bluebirds. A friend came up with his truck and a tow rope and pulled them out. Now they try and wait until the snow is gone. It made Eugene uneasy and they finally decided maybe their children were right. You should do something else, Joan said they were told. I felt the same way. The couple submitted a letter to the editor and it ran in the Times-News Aug. 7. They were seeking someone to take over the bird nesting boxes. The first person to call them was Raymond Higgins, a man who works by running cattle in the South Hills. They received a total of 10 inquiries, but they decided on Higgins. His duties will include maintenance of the houses. The bird boxes get knocked over from time to time. Sometimes it cows who like to rub them or people who like to shoot them. Last year all their boxes were shot with rifles. I dont know how people can do that, she said. Higgins, 54, plans to maintain the bluebird nesting boxes with his wife, Wendy. The Higginses live south of Kimberly. Im up there in the Hills all the time, Higgins said. We see the boxes. We live pretty close. We drive up there quite often. He said they are interested in birds and have hummingbirds in their yard. He also knows of other places in the South Hills where bluebirds roam that dont have nesting boxes. We just recently became grandparents, and we see stuff disappearing all the time, Higgins said. If we can help, maybe someday our grandkids can see this, too. On Friday, the Pyleses didnt pack a lunch, and they stopped at the campground just to stretch their legs. When the two got back into their little blue Ford, they contemplated going farther up the road. Joan wanted to see the creek, but the sun was starting to hang low in the sky. So instead they turned around and started the drive back into town. Its the end of an era, Eugene said. For the Pyleses, there will be fewer trips like this to visit the bluebirds. If their love for their work could keep them going, they would be here every day. But they are happy knowing their passion continues on in the work of others. U.S. military Tuesday revealed it deployed gunships to deal precise blows to the Islamic State (IS) militant position in Sirte. The U.S. African Command providing help to Misrata forces fighting under the banner of Libyas Government of National Accord (GNA) indicated that they have, over the weekend, flown Marine Corps AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters over Sirte; IS last stronghold in the North African country. Some Marine Corps AH-1W SuperCobra gunships were used between Friday and Sunday to destroy 25 enemy fighting positions and two supply trucks, Libyan Express reports. Battle gunships were launched from the USS Wasp, an amphibious assault ship in the Mediterranean. The U.S. has joined the campaign against IS since August 1. More than 70 airstrikes have been launched against IS by unmanned aircrafts and Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers since the start of the U.S. Operation Odyssey Lighting campaign. The U.S. Defense department said that it entered the campaign at the request of the GNA and that the campaign will take months. The Washington Post citing US official sources earlier this month revealed that US ground commandos are present in Libya, assisting Misrata military operation rooms set up by the GNA. New Jersey-based company Nano PV Global is planning to invest $181 million in solar energy in the port city of Tangier, on the Strait of Gibraltar, reports say. The American company is planning to set up a solar energy plant in Tangier by the end of the year, Moroccan LEconomiste newspaper reports. The future plant to cost $182 million will generate 660 jobs by it full completion. Nano PV Global is a leading global company specialized in making solar panels and highest energy delivery. The company, according to LEconomiste, has chosen the city of Tangier for specific reasons namely the citys logistical assets, such as the Tanger-Med port, known as one of the largest ports on the Mediterranean and in Africa. Morocco is a suitable investment environment for Nano PV Global for its orientation towards promoting green and sustainable energy. Nano PV Global is not the only company targeting Moroccos market and the city of Tanger. Siemens earlier this year announced construction of solar energy plant of wind-generator blades, to cost 110 million. Morocco, major ally of the West in North Africa, has teamed up with Belgian Mecar Company and British Chemring defense group to set up a military plant, according to Moroccan daily Akhbar Al Yaoum. Dubbed MCR Technologies, the joint-venture plant will manufacture weapons and ammunition of all types which will enable the North African country to avoid imports of ammunition. Chemring Group is a global business that specializes in the manufacturing of high technology products and the provision of services to the aerospace, defense and security markets. Employing approximately 3,000 people worldwide, Chemring has customers in more than fifty countries. It makes countermeasures products (air/naval decoys, special flares) sensors & electronic equipment, energetic systems products. Chemring has a diverse portfolio of products that deliver high reliability solutions to protect people, platforms, missions and information against constantly changing threats. It supplies US-standard and non-standard ammunition, weapons, pyrotechnics, and platforms to the US and Allied Armed forces. As to Mecar Company, based in Belgium since 1938, it has built a worldwide reputation for weapon systems and for a comprehensive range of ammunition. It produces direct fire ammunition (ranging from 25mm to 120mm) for LAVs, tanks and infantry, as well as mortar & artillery ammunition, rifle & hand grenades. Mecar is a supplier of the Belgian Army, NATO and numerous countries around the world. Mecar is a wholly owned subsidiary of NEXTER Systems S.A., a French Defense Systems Company. The United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, is expected in Kenya, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia this week on a tour focused on counterterrorism. The top US diplomat arrives in Nairobi on Monday for talks with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on regional security issues and counterterrorism cooperation, as well as bilateral issues, State Department spokesman John Kirby said. During his visit, Kerry is to meet with participants in the Young African Leaders Initiative and the Mandela Washington Fellows programs. He would travel to two states in Nigeria, the administrative capital of Abuja where he will meet with President Buhari to discuss counter terrorism efforts, the Nigerian economy, the fight against corruption, and human rights issues. In Abuja, the Secretary will meet with a group of adolescent girls working to change community perceptions that devalue the role of girls in society, the statement added. He will later travel to Sokoto in the north where he will deliver a speech on how resilient communities and religious tolerance can help in the fight against violent extremism. On Wednesday, Kerry is expected in Saudi Arabia, where he will visit Jeddah to meet with his counterparts from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council as well as British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson and UN special envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed. Visiting Chadian president Idriss Deby Itno discussed with French president Francois Hollande at the Elysee Palace over the weekend the fight against Boko Haram and the Lake Chad regions security. According to the French presidency, the two leaders discussed the fight against Boko Haram and current operations by the Joint Multinational Force, which includes the neighboring states of Lake Chad. Francois Hollande confirmed the support of France to the African force, whether logistical support, supply of information, donation of equipment and training, and the two presidents agreed to work closely to this end, the Elysee said. The French head of state also confirmed that France would boost its solidarity with the people living in the region, through the initiative for Lake Chad carried by the French Development Agency. Chad has one of the most capable armies in the region and Deby has played a key role in efforts backed by the West to combat neighboring Nigerias Islamic State-affiliated Boko Haram fighters as well as al Qaeda militants. A former French colony, Chad also hosts the headquarters of Paris 3,000-troop strong regional anti-militant operation, known as Barkhane. Deby, 63, argued during the presidential campaign in April that only his government was capable of ensuring security amid a rising wave of extremist violence. He has been re-elected for a fifth term in office in a landslide first-round victory. The opposition is denouncing Debys regime, describing it as dictatorial and accused it of rigging the April 2016 election. The Party for Justice and Development, at the helm of the Moroccan Government since 2011, and its religious and ideological arm, the Movement for Unification and Reform (MUR,) found themselves in a sticky situation after a sexual scandal shattered them. Actually, shocking revelations surfaced over the weekend when two Vice-Presidents of MUR were caught Saturday at dawn by a police patrol having sexual intercourse in a car, parked near the Mansouriah beach, at a few KMs from Casablanca. They are facing charges of marital infidelity and adultery, that Moroccan law punishes from one month to one year in prison. The MUR two executives were brought to justice, the day following their arrest. The attorney released them on bail pending their trial set for September 1, 2016. The case of the two lovers, Moulay Omar Benhamad and Mrs Fatima Nejjar, respectively first and second Vice-President of MUR, triggered an uproar on social networks, not because Moroccans are prudish, but because the culprits incarnate Tartuffe, Molieres religious hypocrite. Social networks users circulated a video of Fatima Nejjar, dating back to 2011, showing her advising young students to be virtuous and not to yield to temptation and vice. Fatima Nejjar, a 62-year old widow and mother to six, was also filmed giving religious lectures, wherein she criticizes extra-marital love affairs and advises her audience to be virtuous. After her own adultery affair surfaced, several videos of her righteous lectures were posted on social networks. Other users recalled Benhamad s equally orthodox stands, as when he published a fatwa on the official website of the MUR in 2013 declaring that The exaggerated exchange of words of love between a husband and wife on social networks, mainly Facebook, is not recommended and could even be considered haram (a sin). According to the hypocritical philosophy of this university professor and PhD.holder in Islamic Studies, exchange of words of love between legitimately married couples is a sin, but having an extra-marital affair is not. Benhamad, 63, married and father to seven children, who doubles as a Friday prayers preacher, was also recorded strongly denouncing, in a sermon in 2003, the proliferation of depravity on beaches and the spread of prostitution. In other sermons, he fiercely denounced adultery and praised moral rectitude and probity that all good Muslims should observe. What is even more scandalous in the attitude of this good Muslim is that his lover is the widow of his close friend, Abdeljalil Al Jasni, who passed away in 2015. This goes beyond understanding! In their attempt to escape legal pursuits, the two lovers told the investigators that they were actually husband and wife under a customary marriage contract, an undocumented marriage that is not recognized under Moroccan laws. The judge can add lying charges to cheating and adultery. According to an analyst, this sex scandal has exposed the duplicity of the moralizing discourse of the MUR and PJD leaders and revealed that their righteousness is just a window dressing through which the Islamist movement seeks to gain undue respect. What is sure is that these Islamists have become proponent of Do as I say, not as I do. Opposition parties in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have asked Congolese to observe a nationwide shutdown to protest false and non-inclusive dialogue in the country. According to a statement released by leading opposition candidate, Moise Katumbi, the national shutdown was one of four points that the opposition put forth after an August 20 meeting. Other points were for political prisoners to be freed, the need for the government to adhere to international resolutions and also to respect the central African nations constitution. Opposition parties in Africas biggest copper-producing nation ordered a similar strike in February, with mixed results. The move came after the opposition coalition refused over the weekend to attend a dialogue with President Kabila, sponsored by the African Union and facilitated by former Togolese Prime Minister Edem Kodjo. The opposition coalition, headed by veteran politician Etienne Tshisekedi, said that it would not take part in a national dialogue on a new electoral timeline. On Saturday, the Electoral body disclosed that presidential elections in the country will be delayed until at least July 2017. The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) cited lack of funding and delays in voter registration as the major factors behind the postponement. Opposition politicians fear that Kabila may seek to amend the countrys constitution in order to be allowed to stand for a third term in power. Solo Krummah, a member of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) in Gambia, died while in custody, the party announced on Monday. According to the party, Solo died shortly after surgery for an undisclosed ailment at the Edward Franciss Small Teaching Hospital in the capital, Banjul. Solo is the second United Democratic Party (UDP) member to die while in detention since a security crackdown by the Yahya Jammeh government started in May this year. He was arrested on May 9 during protests that called for electoral reforms and the resignation of Gambian President, Yahya Jammeh, who has ruled the West African nation of 2 million people since 1994. Both the government and the Edward Francis Hospital have not yet commented on UDPs claims. The US government in a statement called for an independent investigation of all credible allegations of torture and abuse in the country. It also urged the Gambian authorities to provide humane treatment to all inmates and immediately release all political prisoners, including the 30 individuals sentenced last month and those arrested during the April and May demonstrations. West powers and rights groups have regularly accused Jammeh of stamping out dissent. Earlier in May, Samsudeen Sarr, Gambias deputy ambassador to the UN in New York was recorded while saying he would open fire on protesters in Banjul. Ghanas President John Mahama on Monday remitted prison sentences handed by the Supreme Court to a journalist and two panelists who threatened to kill judges on a local radio station, in the capital Accra. The trio were initially supposed to serve a four-month jail term after they were sentenced by the Supreme Court on July 27, 2016. The apex court has been lauded for putting members of the media landscape in check with its sentencing especially with the increasing rate of foul language on the airwaves as the political season heats up. According to the Ministry of Communications, the three, radio program host Salifu Maase (alias Mugabe) and his two panelists, Alistair Nelson and Ako Gunn, were to be released this Friday, 26th August 2016. President Mahama came under intense pressure to pardon the trio after their incarceration. Some Ministers and deputy ministers of state signed a petition calling President Mahama to pardon the trio. The ministry further notes that the presidents decision was in consultation with the Council of State, the highest constitutional advisory body to the president. Islamist militant Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi on Monday pleaded guilty at the International Criminal Court and expressed deep regret for destroying historic mausoleums and cultural sites in the Malian desert city of Timbuktu. Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi has allegedly been head of the Hesbah or what some call the manners brigade which enforced strict Islamist law in Timbuktu during the unrest that rocked Mali in 2012 and 2013, and involved in executing the decisions of the so-called Islamic Court of Timbuktu. During the occupation of Timbuktu, the militants vandalized and destroyed mosques and mausoleums, and burnt tens of thousands of ancient manuscripts. The city which is listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco was considered the center of Islamic learning from the 13th to the 17th Centuries. Appearing at The Hague on Monday, after al Mahdi was told the details of the charges against him, he told the judge: Your honor, regrettably I have to say that what I heard so far is accurate and reflects the events. Mahdi asked for forgiveness and said he had been swept up in an evil wave by al-Qaeda and the Ansar Dine groups, which briefly seized control of the northern city in 2012. This is the first and last wrongful act I will ever commit, Mahdi told the court in a measured and grave opening address. I regret what I have caused to my family, my community in Timbuktu, what I have caused to my home nation Mali, he added. Al Mahdi, who was handed to the ICC by Niger late last year, has previously told the court he is a graduate of the teachers institute in Timbuktu and had been a civil servant in the education department from 2011. Al Mahdi was the first suspect to face an ICC charge of deliberately attacking religious or historical monuments and became the first person to plead guilty at the court since its establishment in 2002. Entercom Acquires Podcorn Platform matches brands with the most relevant podcast creators to scale native branded content and drive higher ROI for advertisers. Read more David Field Joins Cheddar Entercom Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer discusses interest in audio from consumers and advertisers, and the rise of social audio platforms. Read more Entercom Launches BetQL Audio Network Network to Serve as Home of Companys Sports-gambling Content, Will Launch Companion Broadcast Distribution Channels in Denver and Los Angeles. Learn more Power, People and Politics Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer bring listeners inside Washington for an unfiltered, non-partisan look at every major issue of the day. Learn more RADIO.COM The Long Shot A new Cadence13 and ThreeFourTwo Productions podcast with Miami Heat Forward Duncan Robinson. Learn more Entercom Teams up with the Ad Council on Coping-19 Mental Health Campaign Providing bilingual audio assets with resources to help Americans address mental health challenges. Learn more INSIGHTS Industry Trends In Streaming Audio & Podcast Performance Learn more about setting goals, measuring success with data and benchmarking KPIs across multiple industries. Download eBook OUR PLATFORM 24/7 sports conversation from coast to coast As the nations #1 local sports platform, we give fans access to teams they cant get anywhere else. Visit our stations Creating the industrys most compelling, curated content. Connecting through the influential voices and conversation keepers our communities trust and love. Leveraging our integrated broadcast, digital, podcast and experiential platform every day, in every major market across the U.S. Delivering better engagement through audio. This is Entercom. 170 Million Monthly Broadcast Listeners 2 Billion Yearly Podcast Downloads 60+ Million Monthly Digital Reach 500+ Per Year Events and Concerts A platform of influence We are leading the way in helping advertisers connect with audiences in meaningful, engaging ways across our integrated platform of iconic broadcast brands, expansive digital assets, premium podcast network and live events and experiences. Our capabilities Serving our communities We are committed to supporting the health and success of the communities at the heart of our business. We use our voice to unite listeners, brands, and employees, and create positive impact around key causes. Learn more An infographic highlighting health trends in the Eastern Mediterranean Region from 1990 to 2013. Credit: IHME Improved health conditions and life expectancy over the past 20 years in the Eastern Mediterranean Region are being subverted by wars and civil unrest, according to a new scientific study. Conflicts have destroyed infrastructures in several nations, and with inadequate water and sanitation systems in some countries, there is "an immediate need" to ensure outbreaks and illnesses are properly controlled. Moreover, many physicians and health professionals are fleeing their home countries in search of stability and safety, taking their talent and expertise needed to help rebuild inadequate health systems. The study points to a critical need to address these issues so that people affected receive adequate health and medical services, and that infrastructures are rebuilt to prevent disease-spreading conditions. "The Eastern Mediterranean Region needs attention in this critical health phase," said IHME Director for Middle Eastern Initiatives Dr. Ali Mokdad. "In the past decade the region has experienced improved health and life expectancy, but recent distress in the region will result in deteriorating health conditions in these countries for many years to come." Uprisings in Syria, Yemen, Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia caused a drop in life expectancy from 2010 onward. Specifically, in Syria life expectancy would have been six years higher without the war. Moreover, Syria saw an increase in infant and maternal mortality, the only country in the region to see this trend. In addition, conflicts in the region have displaced millions of people. Outbreaks of infectious diseases in camps with poor sanitation and lack of immunization services burden the health of refugees and pose major obstacles to public health efforts, Dr. Mokdad said. Frequent attacks on vaccination teams have greatly slowed immunization campaigns, and polio has again become a major concern, especially in refugee camps, at a time when the region was close to eradicating it. The study examines 22 nations in Central Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa between 1990 and 2013. It is based on findings from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) coordinated by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington in Seattle. With more than 1,700 collaborators in 124 countries, the GBD is the largest and most comprehensive effort measuring epidemiological levels and trends worldwide. The paper, published today in The Lancet Global Health, also finds that chronic diseases, such as ischemic heart disease and diabetes, cause a greater burden to health in the region overall than communicable diseases like diarrheal diseases and tuberculosis. Years of good health lost to communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional disorders dropped from 109 million to 73 million from 1990 to 2013. This is consistent with a similar global shift. Childhood wasting was cited as the leading health risk in low-income countries, such as Somalia, Afghanistan, and Yemen. In the region's high- and middle-income countries, non-communicable diseases were the leading factors. Overall life expectancy increased from 65 years in 1990 to 71 years in 2013, a sign of general progress in the region. Qatar revealed the highest life expectancy at 81 years for men and 83 years for women, but not all countries showed such promising results, especially in areas riven by conflict. The study also notes annual mass pilgrimages by Muslims to Saudi Arabia and Iraq as sources of outbreaks. This year, Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, begins September 9, bringing with it opportunity for outbreaks due to the number of travelers. Moreover, the region has seen new emerging infectious diseases such as the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, in which patients develop severe acute respiratory illness. Across the region, mental health and drug use disorders have increased significantly since 1990 and have taken a greater toll. In 2013, they caused 7.3% of premature death and illness, nearly doubling from 3.9% in 1990. Unfortunately, this rise has not been met with investment in prevention by most countries; it is largely overlooked by domestic health ministries, international agencies, and insurance systems, Dr. Mokdad said. "The rise of non-communicable diseases and challenges like mental health and drug use disorders requires new approaches, skills, and prevention efforts," he said. "Nations must invest in health infrastructure and information systems now to stave off even worse health conditions in the future. These investments would impact not only the region but the rest of the world." Finally, traffic injuries represent a "worrisome trend," and in high-income countries they are the leading cause of years lost or lived with disabilities. "This bears grave economic implications, as men in this part of the world tend to be the primary breadwinners of the family," the report states. In lower-income countries, where such injuries also pose serious problems, families often are impoverished from the loss of household income. The report, "Health in times of uncertainty: Burden of diseases, injuries, and risk factors in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 1990-2013," also notes environmental challenges in the region. Climate change has resulted in increased temperatures, and a major portion of the area is projected to be uninhabitable in the future. In addition, water shortages are a major threat to health and security in many Eastern Mediterranean countries. The study examines Afghanistan, Arab Republic of Egypt, Bahrain, Djibouti, Iraq, Islamic Republic of Iran, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Republic of Yemen, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates. Explore further Lifestyle disorders top health issues in Arab world More information: The Lancet Global Health, DOI: 10.1016/S2214-109X(16)30168-1 One-month-old conjoined twins evacuated from a besieged area near Damascus died Wednesday in the capital, despite a campaign to send them abroad for surgery, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent said. "The twins died on Wednesday and they will be buried tomorrow in Damascus in the presence of their mother," spokeswoman Mona Kourdi told AFP. The two boys, Moaz and Nawras, were joined at the chest. They were evacuated on August 12 from Eastern Ghouta, which is besieged by Syrian government forces, after a campaign on Twitter under the hashtag #Evacuatethetwins. Born in the rebel-held district of Hammuriyeh, the twins were admitted to hospital in Damascus awaiting their transfer abroad for possible life-saving surgery. "They suffered from heart and liver defects and... were in a severe state of health," the Red Crescent said in a statement. Katoub Mohamad of the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) charity accused the Syrian authorities of delaying their transfer. "We received several offers from hospitals and physicians... to help the twins... but the problem was the transfer," Mohamad told AFP from Turkey. "The foreign ministry did not authorise the babies to travel without passports, while SAMS was informed by the State Department that the US was ready to receive them without documents," he said. Kourdi denied this, saying "the delay was due to their health condition". The Red Crescent said the passports had been delivered to those caring for them and "that official approval was secured after an Italian hospital had agreed to receive them." Syria's five-year conflict has taken a heavy toll on children, with thousands living in besieged areas subject to air strikes and shortages of food and other essentials. Last week, the image of four-year-old Omran covered in blood and dust went viral online after his rescue from a bombed-out building, symbolising the fate of children in the devastating war. Explore further WHO gets green light to deliver medicine to Aleppo, other areas 2016 AFP Rwanda's couples voluntary HIV counseling and testing (CVCT) initiative has been coordinated through Project San Francisco, established in Kigali in 1986. Credit: RZHRG A 30-year HIV prevention and research initiative in Rwanda has resulted in the prevention of more than 70 percent of new HIV infections in that country. Rwanda is the first African country to implement Couples' Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing (CVCT) as a nationwide intervention and a social norm. The program includes the Rwanda Ministry of Health, Emory University, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An article published online in the Journal of AIDS reports on the 30-year history of CVCT in Rwanda and Zambia. In Rwanda, more than 90 percent of new infections occur in cohabiting couples. CVCT provides both partners with the opportunity to share their HIV test results, jointly address issues related to HIV transmission and family planning, and support each other if one or both are infected. CVCT is also associated with an increase in interventions to reduce mother-to-child transmission and a lower risk of HIV infection in infants born to HIV-positive mothers. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends CVCT as an intervention for prevention of heterosexual HIV transmission. Approximately 70 percent of the 35.3 million adults and children living with HIV worldwide as of 2012 reside in sub-Saharan Africa, where the majority of new adult infections occur through heterosexual transmission. However, outside of Rwanda very few African couples have received CVCT as an intervention. "The majority of adults are either unaware of their own HIV status and/or that of their partner, and in many cases adults do not know that it is possible to have a long-standing partner with a different HIV status," says author Etienne Karita, MD, MSPH, director of Project San Francisco. Rwanda is the first African country to have established CVCT as standard of care, with approximately 88-90 percent of married men and women tested as couples. More than 20 countries have sent providers to Rwanda for CVCT training. The CVCT initiative has been coordinated through Project San Francisco, a research organization established in Kigali, Rwanda in 1986 as a collaborative program with the Biomedical Center of the Ministry of Health. Together with its sister organization, the Zambia Emory HIV Research Project, it forms the Rwanda Zambia HIV Research Group, headquartered at Emory University. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) office in Rwanda funded the training and technical assistance components of nationwide CVCT implementation. "Through research, collaboration among international organizations, government, and academia, and despite the challenges of war and poverty, our consortium has persevered to implement CVCT, thus preventing HIV, saving lives, and changing public health practice in Rwanda," says Susan Allen, MD, MPH, professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at Emory University School of Medicine and Rwanda Zambia HIV Research Group. "Now we must take the steps required to expand this success throughout sub-Saharan Africa." The authors note: "Separate HIV testing of women and their partners is a missed opportunity. It is notable that International agencies tasked with HIV prevention programs in Africa still do not include CVCT among their indicators. In Zambia, 9 of 10 new infections in women come from their spouses. Testing pregnant women with partners at the first ANC visit has the advantage of identifying discordant couples and thus likely preventing infections in mothers and fathers. In contrast, individual testing targets prevention only to newborns." To duplicate Rwanda's success, they say, training and technical assistance must be part of a coordinated effort to set national targets, timelines, indicators and budgets. Governments, bilateral and multilateral funding agencies must jointly prioritize CVCT for prevention of new HIV infections. Government support and collegial relationships among research, government and implementation sectors have been important factors in Rwanda's success in coordinating policy, funding, promotion and service. In addition, Rwanda's small size, dense population, good transportation and communication infrastructure, and homogeneous language have helped facilitate rapid implantation of CVCT. Despite demonstration projects and advocacy in Zambia supported by international development agencies from Canada and the United Kingdom, the effort has never reached widespread success as it has in Rwanda. Possible logistical factors cited by the authors are larger surface area, diversity of languages, lack of knowledge of HIV discordancy, and lack of disclosure of test results to cohabiting partners in Zambia. Most importantly, endorsements from the Government of Zambia have not led to adequate and consistent funding for CVCT. The authors conclude: "Although since 2013 the WHO has recommended treating all HIV positive people in discordant partnerships with antiretroviral drugs to prevent transmission to partners, this recommendation cannot be successful until CVCT is effectively promoted and adopted in HIV prevention programs, with adequate funding, say the authors. But even in areas where ART is not available, CVCT can have a considerable impact with low cost." Explore further Testing African couples for HIV is cost-effective prevention strategy More information: Evolution of Couples Voluntary Counseling and Testing for HIV in Rwanda: From Research to Public Health Practice. Evolution of Couples Voluntary Counseling and Testing for HIV in Rwanda: From Research to Public Health Practice. DOI: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000001138 Special RNA molecules called long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are key controllers for maintaining immune health when fighting infection or preventing inflammatory disorders, according to research led by Jorge Henao-Mejia, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The discovery offers a potential drug target for several inflammatory disorders characterized by an abnormal lifespan in a group of white blood cells, which can lead to organ damage. The gene for a lncRNA called Morrbid was identified in 2013 by Henao-Mejia when he was a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of the present study's coauthor, Richard Flavell, PhD, FRS, at Yale University in collaboration with another coauthor, Adam Williams, of The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Bar Harbor, Maine. After Henao-Mejia established his lab at Penn in 2014, he and his students led the team that eventually identified the immune cells in which Morrbid is expressed and illuminated its role and mechanism by which it regulates immune cell lifespan. This current study appears as an advance online publication in Nature this month. Long non-coding RNAs are transcribed from genes and are often abundant in cells, yet they do not code for proteins. The human genome contains about 20,000 protein-coding genes - less than 2 percent of the total genome - but 70 percent of the human genome actively produces about 10,000 lncRNAs and the function of the majority of them is unknown. The team found that Morrbid controls the life span of circulating myeloid cells, which are key to maintaining the proper balance between fighting infection and inflammation. The gene for Morrbid is conserved across species, including mice and humans, and is specific to certain immune cellsneutrophils, eosinophils, and monocytes. These cell types comprise 70 percent of all circulating white blood cells, however, they are very potent in their reaction and sometimes so strong that they can cause much damage to surrounding, healthy tissue. The active system is akin to the first responders to a crisis or an invader of all immune cells. But, how does the body keep this initial over-zealous-guard-dog response in check? How does the body know when and how to tell the cells to back off? "These cells are extremely short-lived - less than one dayand their life span is tightly regulated to meet the demands of an organism," Henao-Mejia said. "If we understand the molecular mechanisms by which their life span is tightly regulated, perhaps we could correct it when the control goes awry or power it up, when needed." Morrbid regulates cell lifespan by controlling the expression of Bim, a nearby gene that in turn controls programmed cell death in response to the abundance of pro-survival cytokines and metabolites in the surrounding environment outside cells. Morrbid essentially overrides a signaling mechanism that prevents premature immune cell death. By deleting Morrbid in mice, the team instigated a drastic reduction in the frequency of immune cells that normally express Morrbid. Therefore, the mice had less ability to fight infection but gained protection against inflammation. The expression of the human version of the gene, MORRBID, is impaired in patients with hypereosinophilic syndrome, in which the lifespan of some immune cells is not kept in check, causing inflammation and organ damage. "Knowing this, Morrbid might be a good drug target for this uncommon disease and maybe even has a potential role for chronic diseases like asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, or cancer, all of which have an errant inflammatory component to their symptoms," Henao-Mejia said. "In the near future, we would like to concentrate our efforts to develop strategies to modulate the function of MORRBID in human cells as an effective therapeutic tool against inflammatory disease." Explore further Long noncoding RNA found to quell inflammation More information: Jonathan J. Kotzin et al, The long non-coding RNA Morrbid regulates Bim and short-lived myeloid cell lifespan, Nature (2016). Journal information: Nature Jonathan J. Kotzin et al, The long non-coding RNA Morrbid regulates Bim and short-lived myeloid cell lifespan,(2016). DOI: 10.1038/nature19346 Are there any ways of preventing or delaying the development of Alzheimer's disease or other forms of age-associated dementia? While several previously published studies have suggested a protective effect for cognitive activities such as reading, playing games or attending cultural events, questions have been raised about whether these studies reveal a real cause-and-effect relationship or if the associations could result from unmeasured factors. To address this question, a Boston-based research team conducted a formal bias analysis and concluded that, while potentially confounding factors might have affected previous studies' results, it is doubtful that such factors totally account for observed associations between cognitive activities and a reduced risk of dementia. "Our paper lends support to a potential role for late-in-life cognitive activity in prevention of Alzheimer's disease," says Deborah Blacker MD, ScD, director of the Gerontology Research Unit in the Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Psychiatry and senior author of the report in the September issue of the journal Epidemiology. "While it is possible that socioeconomic factors such as educational level might contribute to the association between cognitive activity and reduced risk, any bias introduced by such factors is probably not strong enough to fully account for the observed association." Blacker and her colleagues from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health maintain a database on the Alzheimer's Research Forum website cataloging evidence from observational studies and some clinical trials about known and proposed risk and protective factors for the devastating neurologic disorder. The current paper was developed from the database's systematic review of studies examining the impact of cognitive activity, conducted by lead author Guatam Sajeev, ScD, as part of his Harvard Chan school dissertation. The research team analyzed 12 peer-reviewed epidemiologic studies that examined the relationship between late-in-life cognitive activities and the incidence of Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia. The studies were selected on the basis of prespecified criteria for the AlzRisk database, included almost 14,000 individual participants and consistently showed a benefit, sometimes substantial, for cognitive activity. Since any observational studies are likely to be confounded by unmeasured factors - such as participants' socioeconomic level or the presence of conditions like depression - the researchers also conducted a bias analysis designed to evaluate how much such factors might influence reported associations between the amount of cognitive activity and dementia risk. This analysis indicated that bias due to unmeasured factors was unlikely to account for all of the association because the impact of such factors is likely to be considerably smaller than the observed effect. The group also investigated the possible role of reverse causation - whether a reduction in cognitive activity among those already in the long phase of cognitive decline that precedes Alzheimer's dementia might have led to an apparent rather than a real causal relationship. The findings of that analysis could not rule out the possibility that reverse causation contributed substantially to the observed associations, but analyses restricted to studies with longer term follow-up might be better able to address this question, the authors note. "Ultimately, clinical trials with long-term follow-up are the surest way to definitively address reverse causation," says co-author and AlzRisk co-director Jennifer Weuve, MPH, ScD, of Boston University School of Public Health. "Trials could also confront the vexing question of whether training to improve specific cognitive skills has benefits that extend into everyday functions. But not every question about cognitive activity is well-suited for a trial. To fill those gaps, innovations in epidemiology, such as the analytic techniques used in this study, should help us get even greater insights from available observational data." Blacker adds, "Cognitive activity looks like it may offer some modest protection, and based on our bias analysis, I am somewhat less skeptical than I was previously. But remember that any impact will be relative, not absolute. I typically advise people to engage in cognitive activities that they find interesting and enjoyable for their own sake. There is no evidence that one kind of activity is better than another, so I would advise against spending money on programs claiming to protect against dementia." Explore further Exercise results in larger brain size and lowered dementia risk More information: Gautam Sajeev et al, Late-life Cognitive Activity and Dementia, Epidemiology (2016). Journal information: Epidemiology Gautam Sajeev et al, Late-life Cognitive Activity and Dementia,(2016). DOI: 10.1097/EDE.0000000000000513 Dilip Jeste, M.D., Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Neurosciences and director of the Center on Healthy Aging at UC San Diego. Credit: UC San Diego Health While even the best wines eventually peak and turn to vinegar, a new study by researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine suggests a paradoxical trend in the mental health of aging adults: They seem to consistently get better over time. "Their improved sense of psychological well-being was linear and substantial," said senior author Dilip Jeste, MD, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Neurosciences and director of the Center on Healthy Aging at UC San Diego. "Participants reported that they felt better about themselves and their lives year upon year, decade after decade." The findings are published in the August 2016 issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. Conversely, Jeste and colleagues noted high levels of perceived stress and symptoms of depression and anxiety among adults in their 20s and 30s participating in the study. "This 'fountain of youth' period is associated with far worse levels of psychological well-being than any other period of adulthood," he said. Conventional notions of aging have largely described it as an ongoing process of physical and cognitive decline, with little discussion about mental health except in the context of decline. It has been broadly assumed that the mental health of older people mirrors their worsening physical and cognitive function. But Jeste, who has long studied the phenomenon as the Estelle and Edgar Levi Chair in Aging and director of the Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, both at UC San Diego, said actual research, though limited, produces mixed findings. "Some investigators have reported a U-shaped curve of well-being across the lifespan, with declines from early adulthood to middle age followed by an improvement in later adulthood. The nadir of mental health in this model occurs during middle age, roughly 45 to 55. However, we did not find such a mid-life dip in well-being." The reasons for these differences in results aren't obvious. There is measurement variation across studies, with different researchers emphasizing different indicators that, ultimately, produce different conclusions. Nonetheless, the commonality is in finding improved well-being in the second half of life. Jeste emphasized that this study was not restricted to psychological well-being, but included "mental health", which is broader in definition and also includes satisfaction with life, and low levels of perceived stress, anxiety, and depression. Most epidemiologic studies report lower prevalence of all mental illnesses in older adults, except for dementias. "Some cognitive decline over time is inevitable," said Jeste, "but its effect is clearly not uniform and in many people, not clinically significantat least in terms of impacting their sense of well-being and enjoyment of life." In the latest study, Jeste and colleagues examined the physical health, cognitive function, and other measures of mental health in 1,546 adults, ages 21 to 100 years, living in San Diego County, who were selected using random digit dialing. Participants were almost evenly split by gender, stratified by age decade, with an oversampling of adults over age 75. The linear nature of the findings was surprising, said Jeste, particularly in magnitude. The oldest cohort had mental health scores significantly better than the youngest cohort, though the former's physical and cognitive function was measurably poorer than the latter's. The reasons for improved positive mental health in old age are not clear. Some previous research has shown older adults become more adept at coping with stressful changes. They learn, said Jeste, "not to sweat out the little things. And a lot of previously big things become little." However, another important explanation may be increased wisdom with age. A number of studies have shown that older individuals tend to be more skilled at emotional regulation and complex social decision-making. They also experience and retain fewer negative emotions and memories. These are all collective elements of wisdom, as defined by the researchers. Michael L. Thomas, PhD, first author of the paper and assistant research scientist in psychiatry at UC San Diego School of Medicine, cautioned that "like many other investigations of this type, it was a cross-sectional study, and thus a snapshot of data. Also, there may have been a survivor biasi.e., less healthy adults do not survive into old age". Yet, he also pointed out that older adults in this study were physically more disabled than younger onesso this was not a sample of super-normal healthy adults. Jeste expressed concern that the rates of psychological distress and mental illness in younger persons seem to be rising. "Inadequate attention has been paid to mental health issues that continue or get exacerbated post-adolescence. We need to understand mechanisms underlying better mental health in older age in spite of more physical ailments. That would help develop broad-based interventions to promote mental health in all age groups, including youth." More information: Michael L. Thomas et al, Paradoxical Trend for Improvement in Mental Health With Aging, The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry (2016). Journal information: Journal of Clinical Psychiatry Michael L. Thomas et al, Paradoxical Trend for Improvement in Mental Health With Aging,(2016). DOI: 10.4088/JCP.16m10671 Kazakshtan discovers Georgias cash management system Georgia is sharing with Kazakhstan its valuable experience with the countrys unique cash management system, which helps ensure the countrys financial sector operates as efficiently as possible.The Central Bank of Kazakhstan expressed interest in learning about the Cash Centre of the National Bank of Georgia (NBG). The Banks Cash Centre is the only one of its kind in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region.The Centre is fitted with modern technologies that simplify the performance of Georgias financial sector, and at the same time, offers the highest possible security. The Cash Centres cash vaults, implemented control and safety systems completely meet top international standards.To learn more about the Cash Centre, a delegation from Kazakhstans Central Bank led by its deputy governor, Dina Galieva, is visiting Georgia. The aim of the visit was to learn more about the facility so Kazakshtan could establish a similar centre in their nation.According to NBG, the Cash Centre controlled cash management and other values using latest technologies that controls cash circulation throughout the whole territory of Georgia.The process of withdrawal of worn-out and counterfeit money from circulation has been improved following the introduction of the Cash Centre in 2012.Furthermore, labour conditions of staff involved in cash operations has changed and since been adjusted to meet international standards.While the Kazakhstani delegation is in Georgia, the Georgian side will share its experience about establishing the Cash Centre, its operations and other important aspects that will be beneficial for the country to successfully implement its own centre.Official delegations from countries in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and the CIS have already visited Georgia to learn about Georgias successful establishment of its Cash Centre with most parties visiting Georgia upon the recommendation of the World Bank. Geostat: 2015 FDI USD 1.56 bln Georgias foreign direct investment in 2015 stood at USD 1.56 billion, an 11% decline compared to previous year, according to final figures released by the state statistics office, Geostat, on August 15.The final data has been revised upwards from Geostats preliminary 2015 FDI figures released in March, which stood at USD 1.35 billion.FDI stood at USD 291.4 million in the first quarter of 2015, going up to USD 462.7 million in the second quarter, increasing further to USD 483.2 million in the third one and going down to USD 327.1 million in the final three months of 2015.Transport and communications received the largest share of FDI in 2015 with USD 585 million, up from USD 434 million in 2014, followed by the financial sector at USD 179 million; healthcare sector at USD 140 million; hotels and restaurants at USD 139 million; energy sector at USD 124 million; construction at USD 111 million; real estate at USD 90 million; mining at USD 88 million and manufacturing at USD 67 million.Most of the FDI in 2015 came from Azerbaijan with USD 550 million, followed by companies registered in the UK, the Netherlands and Luxemburg with USD 386 million, USD 155 million and USD 106 million, respectively. There was USD 73 million foreign direct investment from Turkey, followed by China USD 67 million, and Russia USD 46 million.According to preliminary data, FDI in the first quarter of 2016 reached 376.3 million, more than double compared to final figures of the same period of 2015. 'Your Voice - Our Future' By Messenger Staff President Giorgi Margvelashvili has met with summer school students in Kobuleti within the framework of his campaign "Your Voice - Our Future".The President talked about the importance of the students participation in the elections.If you do not go to polls, you cannot punish politicians and cannot change the way our country is run, said the President.He also made a comment on Georgia's success at the Rio Olympic Games."I want to congratulate the Georgian Olympians on their victories. We are very excited. I would like to congratulate you all too, I saw how you were supporting them, Margvelashvili told the students.Georgia has already won one gold, one silver and three bronze medals at the Rio Olympic Games.Together, we are creating democracy. Democracy is at its best when it has everyone's participation, everyone's involvement. Democracy means that all citizens are equal participants and co-creators of our life, said Margvelashvili.The Presidents campaign is aimed at increasing the participation of young people in the elections. It is underway in nine cities of Georgia.This type of campaign is very important for people to understand how important each vote can be.Speaking about electoral issues with the younger generations means investing in the future, as Georgia requires generations with responsibility and awareness of their civil rights and responsibilities.Motivating young people also means motivating some of their family members as the young people very frequently promote their views at home and are more critical of various issues than previous generations.Nihilism is characteristic for the Georgian people, as generally they have high expectations and believe the Governments must do everything to change their lives.If they see a Government fails they do not have any motivation to go and vote, when their indifference might lead to worse consequences in the future.All in all, those leaders and organisations who are eager to change the public mentality to should indulge in this style of communication. The News in Brief Russia begins military exercises in South Ossetia involving 5000 troops The Russian military launched exercises in Georgias breakaway region of South Ossetia on Monday, which involve 5,000 soldiers, armoured vehicles and artillery. The pro-government news agency RES reports that the exercises are taking place at seven different training grounds. The theme of the tactical exercise is reconnaissance behind enemy lines, RES writes. The soldiers taking part are stationed in the North Caucasus and South Ossetia itself. The exercises will end on September 16. (DF WATCH) One of organizers of Turkish coup attempt may be in Georgia - Turkish media A Turkish citizen suspected of being involved in the recent coup attempt may be hiding in Georgia, Turkish media reports. According to the Daily Sabah, Adil Oskuz had consultations with Fethullah Gulen in the US. He devised a coup plan together with a number of Turkish generals. 49-year-old Adil Oskuz worked as a theology lecturer. After the coup attempt, he was arrested, though was soon released, after which he escaped abroad. Adil Oskuz is now declared wanted. According to the Daily Sabah, some Turkish outlets report that Adil Oskuz might be in Georgia. They also report that famous Turkish prosecutor Zakaria Ozi, also suspected of having ties with Gulen, is in Georgia too. Reports say Zakaria Ozi and Adil Oskuz were seen together in a Georgian restaurant, though the Turkish government has denied the reports. (ipn) Free Democrats bring garbage as gift to Tbilisi Mayor Gldani majoritarian candidate of the Free Democrats Amiran Giguashvili and representatives of the partys youth organization have brought a box full of garbage as a gift to the Tbilisi Mayor. The box was decorated and had an inscription, reading as: A gift from Gldani to Tbilisi's Mayor. The gift was not accepted by City Hall. The guard at the entrance explained that protest could be expressed in many other forms, but this garage must be put in the garbage bin by the protesters. According to Amiran Giguashvili, the garbage was collected by representatives of the partys youth organization near Gldani Lake. He said the Gldani population had repeatedly appealed to the City Hall to solve the area's rubbish problem, though in vain. He promised that the situation would be changed after the Free Democrats win the 8 October parliamentary elections. (IPN) Govt announces tender to upgrade two regional airports Construction companies and project developers in Georgia and abroad are invited to apply for a tender to develop Georgias airfield infrastructure by upgrading two of the countrys regional airports. An electronic tender will soon be announced wherein interested companies are invited to express their interest in developing Kutaisi International Airport and the Ambrolauri airfield in western Georgia. Georgias Economy Minister Dimitry Kumsishvili announced the development projects and encouraged interested companies to apply for the tender. The winning company will be responsible for developing both airports, he clarified. The tender will be announced for the Ambrolauri airfield where a 1,100 metre-long runway and a terminal should be built, while Kutaisi Airport needs general infrastructural development, said Kumsishvili. Modernising the terminal and general infrastructure at Kutaisi International Airport was deemed necessary due to growing services and tourists who use the facilities. In February, Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air opened its 24th base at the central Georgian airport and upgraded infrastructure would ensure the provision of service for growing tourist numbers. Earlier this week, Georgias Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili spoke about plans to develop Ambrolauri airfield, and said the upgraded airport was expected to be operational by the end of this year. Read Agenda.ge's article Come to Georgia on a budget: Fly Europe to Georgia for 69 (Agenda.ge) Mountain goats and hikers are meeting in dangerously close proximity at Heart Lake in the Bitterroot Mountains. The goats near the popular backpacking destination south of Superior, Montana, have given up the safety of the state-line cliffs, lured by human-related salts and foods around the mountain lake. The attraction away from the cliffs has left the mountain goats more vulnerable to predators such as wolves and mountain lions. Campers also are at risk. A backpacker's dog was injured by a mountain goat last week, according to Liz Bradley, Missoula wildlife biologist with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Bradley heard about the incident as she made the 3-mile hike to the lake after posting warning signs at the Heart Lake trailhead and up at road at the Idaho-Montana Stateline Trail on Hoodoo Pass. "I ran into several groups of hikers that had talked to another hiker who was carrying his small dog back down the trail to take to the vet because of an unfortunate encounter with a nanny who was likely defending her kid," she said. "Sounds like the nanny charged and gored the dog." Bradley was responding to a report by Colville backpacker Jim Groth, who encountered the mountain goats in the last week of July. Groth and a friend arrived in midafternoon and found a campsite on the southwest end of the lake. "Around 4 p.m., we encountered four goats nearby, and soon two ran through our campsite and nine or 10 were along the shore of the lake to the south," he said. For the next couple of days, "the goats were almost constantly present nearby, from one to several at any one time," he added. "They moved a lot, traveling along the hiking trail and into the five or six sites there. "Only one other site to the south was occupied, and they had more constant goat presence than we did." The goats were not wary of the hikers, he said. "It was difficult keeping a decent distance from them when they invaded the camp area. We could keep them back with motion and noise or by charging them with loud steps and shouts. On the third day, the two backpackers hiked up the drainage to Pearl Lake where they found two campers who said they'd been "besieged" by 14 mountain goats. "We stopped near the lake farther up at a campsite with a fire ring to fish, and we experienced the same kind of invasion of five animals," he said. "The goats were eating the lush vegetation in the area around Heart Lake. But they were also clearly interested in the campsites. "This area has heavy use, and there is a lot of human waste around the campsites. I think this was most important in bringing them into the immediate areas of campers. I saw two animals rooting around in the dirt." The goat education signs provided by Fish, Wildlife & Parks recommends urinating away from trails and campsites and stay at least 150 feet from mountain goats. "I realize that it is a bit different to have goats coming into your camp, and therefore difficult to give them space when they're invading yours," Bradley said. "But I still thought it was an appropriate message to send. "It is certainly concerning to hear about these reports of increased habituation in the Heart Lake area," she said, noting that the agency had received no recent reports until she heard from Groth. "This is a small and fairly isolated population of native goats and we want to do all we can to encourage their persistence in that area and to keep hikers and campers safe." She said Thursday that Fish, Wildlife & Parks will be monitoring the situation. "We want people and goats to stay safe," she said. "Hopefully the signage will help bring some more awareness to hikers and give them some things to think about to help decrease conflict." Aggressive mountain goats that have lost any fear of humans have been an issue in several areas in recent years, including Olympic National Park. The trail to Scotchman Peak, a popular hiking destination overlooking Clark Fork, Idaho, was closed by the Forest Service last year after a hiker was injured by a goat. The Friends of the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness have posted educational signs. They've also enlisted volunteer mountain goat ambassadors to try to inform hikers about the dangers to them as well as the goats if they continue to offer the animals food and let them lick their sweaty skin. The goal is to convince hikers to keep away from the goats and scare them away if they come close, said ambassador Mary Franzel. "I'd rather see a goat get hit with a rock than see it get shot because it's become dangerous," she said. HELENA A Flathead County judge has denied a request to put an initiative on the November ballot that would let Montanans vote to repeal the states Medical Marijuana Act. Anti-marijuana group Safe Montana, led by Billings businessman Steve Zabawa, argued it collected enough signatures to bring I-176 to voters, but the Secretary of States office said the group fell more than 4,000 short. I-176 would have made all drugs listed on Schedule I of the federal Controlled Substances Act illegal in Montana, eliminating differences between state and federal law with regards to the possession of marijuana. Zabawa claimed the Flathead County Clerk and Recorders office didnt submit 2,500 signatures it received this spring and 3,500 signatures were denied in error. Judge Heidi Ulbrichts ruling only dealt with the signatures Zabawa claimed were missing. On Friday, Zabawa said the decision marks the end of the road for the initiative this election. Ballots are certified Thursday. Thats not enough time to appeal, Zabawa said. He had also asked Ulbricht to put the initiative on the 2018 ballot if it couldnt make this years; the judge denied that as well. Zabawa said when Ulbricht decided Friday she would only rule on the missing signatures and not the 3,500 he said were incorrectly rejected, he knew voters wouldnt see the I-176 this fall. We needed both to get to the ballot, he said. A group must get 5 percent of registered voters in at least half of the states counties and at least 5 percent of total registered voters statewide to get an initiative on the ballot. The judges decision provides some insight into how Safe Montana believed signatures could have been lost. According to court documents, a signature gatherer named Jordan Loyda, who worked for LC Staffing in Kalispell, collected signatures for the group from Jan. 12-June 17. In an affidavit Loyda said his visits to drop off signatures at the county elections offices blended together and he had trouble recalling specific dates. Loyda recalled in a court document he had at least eight signature gatherer affidavits notarized on April 27 and put on a temporary table at the county elections office. He didnt say in court documents when these signatures were collected or how many signatures were included details he could provide the court for other signature drop-offs. At the end of April, Loyda said he asked the elections office why the signatures he dropped off earlier that month were not accounted for at the state level. He claims an election worker told him the petitions had not been processed or certified. Safe Montana claimed 2,588 signatures were collected between Feb. 26 and April 18. Loyda said in an affidavit for the court he collected 2,038 signatures in all of March and April. During the period when signatures would have been submitted, the Flathead County elections office changed locations several times. Election workers said in court documents that all items were reviewed, boxed, labeled and sealed during the moves and no documents were left behind. According to court documents, Flathead County elections employees searched for but could not find any missing pages. Zabawa spent three or four hours in July auditing signatures at the election office but also couldnt find the signatures he claimed were missing. The judge said it must be presumed election officials did their job correctly and Zabawa didnt show enough evidence that they didnt. She also said the officials had already conducted an exhaustive search, which didnt turn up the documents. Finally, Ulbricht said Safe Montana also failed to show that it collected enough signatures to make the November ballot. In a news release late Monday, Zabawa said Safe Montana will continue to make sure medical marijuana is handled by the FDA, doctors, pharmacists and hospitals and not by unregulated pot shops, though the release didnt lay out how the group will proceed. The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula will host the grand opening of its Alien Detention Center interpretive trail on Wednesday. The event will feature hourlong living history tours on the hour starting at 2 p.m. The last one will begin at 7 p.m. All living history tours will begin at museum headquarters, 3400 Captain Rawn Way. The ADC interpretive trail is a walk of roughly a mile that stretches across multiple ownerships at Fort Missoula, with signs on adjoining properties belonging to the University of Montana, the Lolo National Forest, Northern Rockies Heritage Center and Western Montana Mental Health Center. The interpretive trail features signs that interpret Fort Missoulas history at the time it was used as an internment camp for Italian and Japanese nationals during World War II. In total nearly 2,200 men were held at Fort Missoula during this dark time in American history. This project is made possible with the support of the Greater Montana Foundation, the National Parks Services Japanese American Confinement Sites grant program, and the Montana Department of Commerces Tourism Infrastructure Investment Program. Dozens of Missoula residents have reported windows in their cars being shot out over the past week, according to law enforcement. After receiving more than 20 reports last week in which vehicle windows were shot out with a BB or pellet gun, public information officer Sgt. Travis Welsh said more than 10 additional cases were reported over the weekend and several more on Monday and Tuesday. Welsh said in some cases owners reported broken windows, in others only that their vehicles had been vandalized. He added the most recent reports don't appear to be new damage, but rather owners finally discovering and reporting the vandalism. Brenda Bassett, public information officer with the Missoula County Sheriff's Office, said they received around 20 similar reports from county residents last week, although there have not been new cases since the weekend. The incidents in city limits are focused around the south side of town, with Bassett saying broken windows reported to the sheriff's office were primarily in the Target Range and Miller Creek areas. Nothing appears to have been taken from the vehicles with broken windows. The situation is under investigation, and anyone with information is asked to call police at 406-552-6300, or Crime Stoppers at 406-721-4444. LOLO If Lolo students get sick or hurt during the school day this year, there's a chance they'll run to the school secretary or go home because the school nurse may not be there. For the past four years, Lolo's school nurse was funded by a four-year $120,000 anonymous grant. It was intended for three years, but superintendent Mike Magone said the school district added "very little" school funding to stretch the grant over four. Before the grant, Lolo did not have a school nurse. The district knew the grant would sunset, so put a $110,000 levy request on the May 3 ballot to fund a full-time nurse, as well as reading curriculum materials and a part-time art and music instructor. But it failed, with 57 percent voting against the measure. DawnPat Metzker has been Lolo School's full-time nurse for two years. Starting this school year, she's been cut to four hours a day. The district planned her hours strategically 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. so she's around for morning and lunch recesses. But when she clocks out, the duties will pile on secretary Jessica Olson. And if she is unable handle it, they'll call home or in extreme situations, 911. "We know safety-wise it's not an option to not have a school nurse in our facilities, so we obviously could not pull off having a full-time position, but we were able to pull out enough to be able to do four hours a day at some limited coverage," said elementary principal Shawna Kientz. Yet for many Montana school districts, there is only one option: no school nurse. *** Montana law does not require school nurses. Therefore, there's no state funding. Delaware is the only state requiring at least one nurse per school. In 2015, half of Montana's 56 counties had no RN school nurse. That's up from 19 without a school nurse in 2009. The national standard is one school nurse to every 750 students, according to the National Association of School Nurses. Last year, 6 percent of Montana students lived in a school district that met that standard in Glacier, Mineral, Park and Sweet Grass counties. The average ratio in Montana last year was one school nurse for every 1,728 students, an improvement from one to 2,300 in 2009. In Missoula County last year, it was one to 1,821. "I can't imagine not having a school nurse at all," Kientz said. Lolo has about 550 students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Last school year, Metzker said she dealt with a lot of viruses, with children spiking high fevers and having to go home. Those came in waves; at one point, she had eight sick kids in her office needing to go home. She handles the same illnesses that every other school district battles, as well: colds, influenza. But Kientz said there are also the children who need "consistent medical care," such as blood sugar checks for diabetes or medication administration two to three times a day. Some of that will now fall on Olson, "which is difficult, because she's essentially doing her position (secretary) as well as taking on these added duties," Kientz said. In a presentation at the MEA-MFT conference last fall, NASN director Sue Buswell said Montana school nurses reported the following as the most prevalent chronic health conditions in their school districts: asthma, life-threatening allergies, seizure disorders, and Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. *** Money from May's levy request in Lolo would have supported the general fund "for the purpose of school safety and instructional programs," according to the ballot. It would have increased annual taxes on a $200,000 assessed home by about $40.42. Magone said the district won't know exactly what needs to be cut from the budget, or moved around, until the spring. "If we have a light winter and lower utility bills than expected, then we may be able to use some of those funds," he said in an email. "If not, then we may have to whittle away from our funds for curriculum supplies or some other combination of areas." Because a nurse won't be available half of the time, the district said it will rely on parents more so than in the past. With Metzker there, a student who's not feeling well could go rest in her office and she could monitor them to see if they could return to class. Now, they may have to go home. The district has asked families to prepare for this shift: Update your emergency contact information (phone numbers, emails, a list of people authorized to respond to the student's needs if a parent or guardian isn't available). And of course, don't send a sick child to school. "I won't be able to see as many students, but I'll still be able to plan care and set implements in motion for these children to be well taken care of while I'm not there," Metzker said. Couples looking to get hitched in Missoula County have a new, more convenient way to file a marriage license application. The Clerk of the District Court's office announced Tuesday that it launched an online application. In a news release, Clerk of Court Shirley Faust said she believes the new software will shorten the time spent at the clerks office from 30 minutes to 5 minutes, and will reduce errors because couples will have more time to collect all of the personal information they need. This process will also allow those folks who live elsewhere but who want to marry in Montana complete the application before arriving in Montana, Faust said. Filing the paperwork online is an easy way to check one box off their pre-wedding checklist. Couples still will be required to come to the clerk's office to show identification, sign and verify their application and pay the $53 fee before receiving their license. The online marriage application service is available at webapps.missoulacounty.us/marriageapplication. As educators, we are around a lot of bells and alarms - from school bells in the hall to school board meetings where parents sound the alarm on critical issues. Lately, we see a lot of warning signs in the overall state of our schools. Chronic underfunding means we are not keeping up with maintenance in the way thats needed. You can look around and see that too many children attend schools with leaking roofs, failing heating systems and outdated technology. This is a huge and growing problem given the importance of a strong education system to Montanas economic future and the well-being of our children. Most Montana taxpayers do their part to support our schools. But not everyone is pulling their weight. A new report released by the Montana Budget and Policy Center shows that over the last decade, the wealthy and big corporations have an unfair advantage in Montanas tax structure. According to the report, in 2003 the legislature passed a major tax cut that ended up benefitting the super wealthy and costing the state nearly a billion dollars in lost revenue. This money could have been used to fix Montanas bridges, schools and roads, or for new investments in Montanas future, such as early childhood education. We know how much Montanans care about our schools. You can see it every day by how much parents care about the health of our schools and how many volunteers help out every year. We know that when we all work together, our schools and community to thrive. At least two-thirds of Montana schools were built before 1970. If you own an older home, you know that it needs serious updates. Our schools do too. Many need new roofs, electrical systems, and heating and cooling systems. Want to know exactly what that lost $1 billion would have funded? It could have covered the entire costs of deferred maintenance at every school in our state. Imagine that - every school would be updated. Lawmakers spearheading the 2003 law said that these tax cuts would benefit everyone; however, it is clear now that the majority of Montana families saw little or no benefit. In 2006, workers earning between $20,000 and $65,000 received an average tax cut of just $23. Nearly one in five actually saw their taxes increase. That same year, households making more than $500,000 received an average tax cut of $30,500, which is about the median wage in Montana. We are happy to support our schools and other state needs because we know that we all benefit when our communities thrive. We need to fix our tax system so we all pay our fair share including the top 1 percent. We need to do more as a state to invest in our communities to fix our crumbling infrastructure, to provide an affordable college education, and support public education system to provide the 21st century learning experience our children need and deserve. Although diehard Republicans despise Barack Obama, many of us are savoring the last five months of his presidency. It didnt quite hit me what a good president hes been, until I stumped three people critical of his policies with this simple question: name one president better than Obama during the last 50 years. That led me to make a 50-year list of best-to-worst presidents. This wasnt an easy task, as its as much a reflection of ones values as it is of the effectiveness of the president. For me, being an environmentalist author and civil rights supporter, I naturally gave higher marks to presidents strong in those areas. With that in mind, heres my list: 1. Barack Obama: He rescued the economy after George W. Bush crashed it and stopped the Bush-Cheney torture program. He saved the American auto industry. He made major steps on civil rightsgay marriage is now legal. He improved international relations by signing a nuclear agreement with Iran and re-establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba. Hes been one of the most effective environmental presidents everrenewable energy is booming, the Keystone XL pipeline has been stopped, and the Paris agreement has been signed. He also made health care available for all. Most impressively, hes been successful despite a Republican Congress determined to put party before country and oppose him at every turn. 2. Jimmy Carter: While few would rate Carter as high as I do, the military didnt fire a shot or drop a bomb during his presidency. We need more peace presidents like him. Carter was also far ahead of his time on conservation. Imagine where wed be today if we had heeded the advice from his Address to the Nation on Energy. 3. Richard Nixon: Say what you want about Watergate and his personality issues, but Nixon was the last Republican environmental president. He created the Environmental Protection Agency, signed the Clean Air Act Extension of 1970, signed the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and signed the Endangered Species Act of 1973. 4. Bill Clinton: Because I admire Clinton, I feel like I should rate him higher, but NAFTA, the Defense of Marriage Act, and Dont Ask Dont Tell knock him down a few notches. His positive accomplishments include signing the federal assault weapons ban, the Brady Bill, the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Telecommunications Act of 1996. He also balanced the budget and deactivated 1,700 nuclear warheads from the former Soviet Union. 5. Lyndon B. Johnson: He signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act and the Freedom of Information Act. His support of the Vietnam War was a major negative, however. 6. Gerald Ford: He signed the Safe Drinking Water Act and was the ideal man to take over after Nixon resigned. Because he wasnt elected, he governed from the middle. He also laughed with America, as Chevy Chase opened Saturday Night Live each week with a Gerald Ford fall. 7. George H.W. Bush: He was a better president than his son, but he appointed ideology-before-law judge Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court and vetoed congressional attempts to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine. The latter made Fox News and AM hate radio possible, which in turn led to the rise of bigoted demagogue and national embarrassment Donald Trump. 8. Ronald Reagan: He appointed activist judge Antonin Scalia to the Supreme Court. His trickle-down economics policy was a horrible failure. He traded arms for hostages and repealed the Fairness Doctrine. Even worse, he ripped the solar panels off the White House and started the Republicans on an anti-environmental, global-warming-denying crusade that continues to this day. 9. George W. Bush: He did the worst thing any president could dohe lied to get our country into a war. He also became the torture president and crashed the economy. And if that wasnt enough to earn the bottom spot, he was also responsible for his running mate, Dick Cheney, who is easily the most evil nationally elected politician in American history. With the above in mind, I hope youll cherish these final months of the Obama presidency. We may not have another president like him for a long time. A community meeting to review the Copper King fire will be held at 7 tonight at the Sanders County Fairgrounds Pavilion, 30 River Road, Plains. Fire officials will give an update on the status of the fire burning east of Thompson Falls, according to the release from the Lolo National Forest. The fire remained active during the night because of high winds, low relative humidity and high temperatures, according to information posted on InciWeb. Fire behavior was "minimal" overnight on the Bierney Creek fire outside Lakeside, which remained at about 80 acres, according to InciWeb. The scary fire that broke out Monday evening in upper Grant Creek behaved itself nicely overnight, and a mandatory evacuation order for 25 homes was lifted shortly after 4 p.m. Tuesday. The Colorado Gulch fire, though not deemed controlled, was quiet Tuesday afternoon with barely a wisp of smoke to be seen. Red slurry from air drops in the first few hours of the fire lay on the slope, across Grant Creek Road and into an open hay field. A Missoula County Sheriffs Office spokeswoman said a fifth-wheeler serving as a residence was destroyed, as were several outbuildings and some vehicles. The silver lining, said Brenda Bassett, is that there were no injuries. The fire broke out shortly before 6:30 p.m., mere hours after the weekly Monday meeting of the Missoula County Fire Protective Association, at which the various firefighting, health and emergency services opted to keep Missoulas fire danger at very high but agreed things were pretty quiet around the valley. Many of the same agencies Missoula city and rural fire departments, the Forest Service and the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation were staffing the fire lines and aircraft in the evening, as strong winds pushed the flames and fire eastward up the hill toward the Rattlesnake Recreation Area. Much of Missoula saw the smoke, and firefighters were poised to pounce. A Type 3 helicopter, heavy air tankers and three single-engine air tankers led the impressive aerial attack after the neighborhood was evacuated and traffic was blocked on Grant Creek Road. By Tuesday three 20-man crews were on the ground. We call it dog-piling, said Jordan Koppen, public information officer for the DNRC. The response time was pretty good with this one. They got on it, got a plan and initiated it very quickly. The point of origin appeared to be less than 100 yards above Grant Creek Road and north of Colorado Gulch Road. What we tried to do was flank the fire and box it in, Koppen said. The incident commander wanted to go up both sides of the flanks, and then cut it off at the head of the fire so its not going to go anywhere. The strategy worked, even though firefighters knew shifting wind conditions could easily have dashed it. The fire that broke out at 6:22 p.m. was deemed contained but not controlled at 2:22 a.m. Tuesday. By coincidence the announcement that the evacuation order was lifted was sent to media outlets and others at 4:22 p.m. The latest Colorado Gulch fire happened two years and a couple of weeks after another fire broke out in Colorado Gulch at about 4 p.m. on a Monday. Flames then were pushed eastward up the hill by shifting winds, and the fire went down with the sun. By the next day it was quiet again, with little damage done to houses or a power line that runs through the area. Investigators from the U.S. Forest Service and a contractor from Missoula Rural Fire were on the scene of this years Colorado Gulch fire but hadnt announced a cause. Bassett said a downed power line may be to blame. Koppen was thankful that minimal damage and no casualties were counted, but he called it a huge wake-up call for Missoula. There arent enough people taking this seriously. When you live out in the woods you have a responsibility and you need to act on it, and we havent gotten enough people to have acted on it. Were trying to tell them, they need defensible space around their homes, they need to clear out all the fuels on the different zones from their homes. They need to get rid of the woodpiles under their decks, they need to remove the fuels under their decks, and the pine needles in their gutters and on their roofs. He pointed from a fire camp set up at the Grant Creek Ranch to nearby hillside houses tucked into the trees. See what Im talking about? Pine needles all over that roof. All it takes is one ember to get into that pine bed on the house and the whole thing goes up in flames. The DNRC is constantly urging people who live in the woods to contact their local fire departments. We will come out and do a free evaluation and help you out as much as we possibly can, Koppen said. *** Bierney Creek fire: An evacuation plan remains in the works for 75 to 100 homes west of Lakeside after fire broke out in the Bierney Creek area Monday afternoon. Ali Ulwelling of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation said Tuesday no mandatory evacuations had been called yet. Were just suggesting folks be prepared, probably in the 'set' stage of the ready-set-go evacuation plan, Ulwelling said. The fire was within easy view of this Flathead County town on the northwest shore of Flathead Lake. It remained at 80 acres Tuesday evening, with 70 percent of the perimeter lined. But due to the high number of spot fires, the interior still contained a large amount of unburned fuel and overall containment was considered low. It was reported Monday at around 4 p.m. and spread rapidly in high winds and low relative humidity. Initial attack engines and heavy air tankers and helicopters worked into Monday evening to slow the fire with retardant and water drops. With the help of lighter winds and lower temperatures, the fire was held through the night with minimal spread. An infrared flight Monday night showed numerous spot fires outside the main fire. Those spots were to be among the primary targets on Tuesday. Ulwelling said the Bierney Creek fire was transitioned from initial to extended attack on Tuesday, when the local Type 3 Incident Management team took over. The 20-person Type 1 Flathead Interagency Hotshot crew and a 20-person Type 2 crew were on the scene Tuesday morning, with an additional 20-person crew on order. Evacuation notifications were being coordinated through the Flathead County Sheriffs Department. *** Copper King fire: The Type 1 team under Greg Poncin that took over management of Copper King fire east of Thompson Falls on Tuesday morning consisted of about 70 people in addition to the ground and engine forces. They absorbed the Type 3 team that had been in place for the past two weeks, including incident commander Scott Schrenk. After several map revisions, the fire finally measured out at 21,045 acres a quadrupling in size between Sunday and Monday. Its more than twice the size of the 23-day old Roaring Lion fire near Hamilton, Montanas second-largest active fire. Weather conditions were much better for firefighting Tuesday, as the temperatures and wind speeds lowered while humidity rose. After tearing through some very steep and heavily timbered country, the front of the fire was moving toward more open, roaded country near the northwest corner of the Flathead Indian Reservation north of Plains. What it burned (Monday) was dense timber, said Thompson Falls resident Elizabeth Riffle. I expect there to be smoke on this hillside until the snow flies. HAMILTON A Ravalli County judicial candidate has filed a defamation suit against a woman who once worked as his childrens nanny. Robert Myers and wife, Jennifer Feighner, of Hamilton filed the lawsuit in a San Diego, California, court in July against Madison Alexander and up to 100 others who have yet to be identified. Myers seeks to unseat Ravalli County District Court Judge Jeffrey Langton in the November election. The lawsuit stems from a letter from Alexander published in the Bitterroot Star in May that challenged Myers as a viable candidate for district judge. In her letter, Alexander claimed Myers humiliated her, used profanity and made her feel so uncomfortable during a vacation trip to California that she hid in her bedroom before being sent home by the Myers family. Before the trip, Alexander wrote that Myers told her about his sex life while sitting in a hot tub with her after giving her wine. At the time, she was 19. Im writing about all of this now because I believe Rob Myers is the last person who should ever serve as a judge in any county, Alexander wrote. In an accompanying letter, Alexanders mother Stacy Coulter of Hamilton wrote that she attempted to reach out to Myers and his wife after receiving a call from her distraught daughter during the California trip. She said her calls werent returned. After Alexander returned home, she told her parents about those stories from Myers about his sex life, Coulter said. Madisons account of all of this has never changed or wavered, Coulter wrote. In his lawsuit, Myers disputed all of Alexanders claims and alleged that he and his wife had hired her as a nanny despite the fact that they had learned she had been kidnapped and taken out of state by her former stepfather. The lawsuit stated the Myers opened their home to (Alexander) as their nanny, entrusting (Alexander) to their home, their valuables, their privacy, and, most importantly, their children. They treated her kindly and lavished special benefits and privileges on her. Myers lawsuit claimed that Alexander asked him for advice about boys, sex and relationships. On the trip to California, Myers lawsuit claimed that Alexander developed a sense of entitlement and a growing, self-centered petulance that eventually led Myers telling her she would have to find new employment when she returned to Montana. The lawsuit said the family paid more than $1,000 to get Alexander a last-minute plane ticket home, and hotel room the night before her flight. Myers lawsuit seeks damages for defamation, invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, breach of confidential relationship, conspiracy to commit defamation, conspiracy to commit invasion of privacy, and aiding and abetting. The lawsuit seeks both general and punitive damages to be determined at the time of trial. If theres one thing many Montanans can agree on its a love for beer. And if Anaconda resident Luke Carlson gets his way, Anaconda could get its own brewery as early as late December. If everything goes smoothly, were kind of pushing for Christmas time, said Carlson, who recently applied for funding from the citys Tax Increment Financing District. Anacondas TIF board reviews the brewerys application Wednesday afternoon. The brewery will be dubbed Smelter City Brewing, and Carlson, 36, along with his parents Gary and Kathy Carlson, are the driving force behind the project. For months a sign on the historic Electric Light Building at 101 Main Street has been alerting Anaconda residents that Smelter City Brewing is coming soon. And while the sign may be new, the project is not. It started growing legs in 2014 when the Carlsons received a $17,615 grant from the states Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund to compose a feasibility study. Since the 2014 study said Carlson, who restores historic homes for a living hes been devoting his weekends toward renovating the property, which consists of two stories and 10,000 square feet of usable space. But now that an end is in sight, Carlson said, hes been working on the building full time. He said renovations include new water, plumbing and heating and a roof replacement. But of all the renovations, those that bring the building close to its original condition are the most important to him, said Carlson. Built in 1895, the building once boasted 14- and 16-foot ceilings and is included on the National Register of Historic Places. The Anaconda Co. purchased the building in 1910 and used it to house its payroll, electric light and railway department and water department. The building got its namesake after Anaconda Co. decorated the facade with a row of lights, advertising the Smelter City as one of the first electrified towns in the state of Montana. Aside from being known as the Electric Light Building, 101 Main Street was also known for its industrial features. A heavy metal cornice, cast-iron columns, and metal frieze still embellish this building, the buildings placard reads. Two cast-iron oriel windows once also graced the upper story. The Anaconda Companys foundry produced the decorative metal front, a prime example of the many iron fronts that once ornamented Anacondas business blocks. But time always seems to change things including cast-iron metal. In the 1940s the buildings ceilings were lowered and many of its iron columns were covered with drywall or wood. In addition, before the Carlsons purchased the building in 2014, it sat vacant for several years to the point that people didnt notice it anymore, Carlson said, adding that many of its windows were boarded up as the roof fell into disrepair. But thanks to the new project, several of the original features of the Electric Light Building will be restored. Carlson plans to raise the ceilings to their original height and replace the boarded windows. Whats more, Carlson has recovered 19 of the buildings cast-iron columns. At first, Carson said, he wasnt sure if of the iron columns still existed beneath the drywall, and so he broke a hole in the white, plaster-like material and stuck his hand inside. Sure enough, you could feel them still inside, said Carlson When all is said and done, the building will include a brewery with five fermenters and five serving tanks, a lobby and an art gallery operated by Carlsons girlfriend Katie Sletton. Development on the second floor wont happen until phase two of his project, Carlson said, but in a 2014 interview with The Montana Standard, Gary Carlson said the family wanted to build apartments on the second story. When asked whether he thinks Anaconda a town of about 9,300 can sustain a brewery, Carlson said he believes that Smelter City Brewing can serve as a tourist destination and contribute to the vitality of Anacondas downtown district. A thriving business is a great way to contribute to the local economy, he said. And plus, he said, Montanans have a passion for beer himself included. Carlson has been home brewing for about 10 years, but once Smelter City Brewing opens he plans to hire a head brewer to help him with the heavy lifting. All-in-all, Carlson said, hes encourage by the success of breweries like Philipsburg Brewing Company in nearby Philipsburg and is excited to put Anaconda on the map of Montana beer havens. When you wonder whether a business can be successful, you definitely look at the success stories around you. Construction has officially started on the new terminal and parking lot at Buttes Bert Mooney Airport. On Wednesday local, national and state officials celebrated the $13 million project as they recited the Pledge of Allegiance and plunged golden shovels into the ground during a formal groundbreaking ceremony. This is truly a great day for Butte, said U.S. Department of Agriculture Acting Deputy Secretary Michael Scuse during a speech he gave to an audience of about 40 residents and community leaders. U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., spoke on the increasing importance of air transportation for the viability of Montanas cities and towns. As we look at ways to create economic development and create jobs, transportation is so, so important, said Tester. And in a state like Montana its very, very, very important that we have that air service, and this new air terminal will do exactly that. Bert Mooneys current terminal was built in 1961, and was later remodeled in 1991 and 1992. The new terminal will consist of 27,000 square feet of main floor space and will include a lobby area, airline ticketing area, administration offices and conference space, TSA passenger screening, bar and concession area, baggage carousel, rental car space, and restrooms. The building will also boast a lower level with more space for baggage screening and handling equipment. Construction is expected to take 14 to 16 months, officials said. Mining City native Paul Powers is the architect for the project. Butte-based Markovich Construction is the general contractor and Morrison-Maierle Inc. is the engineering firm. David Holman, a member of the Airport Authority Board, expressed enthusiasm for the project and listed some of the new terminals perks, including free Wi-Fi, continued free parking and restrooms both inside and outside security checkpoint screening areas. Also, travelers will see greater reliability. Holman said the airport is getting lower landing minimums in January 2017. He described landing minimums as the value that a plane can land when bad weather moves in. Currently the airport boasts a landing minimum of 3 miles of visibility with a 1,200-foot cloud ceiling, but as of January pilots will be able to land with just 1.25 miles of visibility and a 600-foot cloud ceiling. He said the new landing minimum will increase reliability by 50 percent for commercial aircrafts. But greater efficiency comes with a cost. The projects $13 million price tag has more than doubled from where it was a year ago, and much of that money is coming from public sources. In March, Butte-Silver Bows Council of Commissioners approved a $1 million allocation from the countys Hard Rock Mine Trust for the project. The federal government, meanwhile, is supplying about $9.2 million. During the groundbreaking Tester provided a more detailed breakdown of the federal funding. He said it will include $4.5 million from the USDA Rural and Community Development program, and $3.5 million from the Federal Aviation Administration. Regardless of the funding sources, the increased price tag hasnt sat well with critics, but backers say the new terminal will be good for Buttes economy. Butte-Silver Bow Chief executive Matt Vincent said at the groundbreaking the airport will be a cornerstone in the countys efforts to revitalize Butte. He said other infrastructure improvements have been made in Butte over the last couple of years just two days ago we broke ground on a $7.5 million parking structure, said Vincent but added that he sees the new terminal as among the most important. This is going to give us a great foundation to further improve our air services that allows us to grow as a community. Tester seemed to agree. He told the audience that the airport employs over 100 people and provides service to over 30,000 passengers, numbers he anticipates will grow after the construction of the new terminal. Tester also stressed the importance of keeping ticket prices affordable, pointing out that more affordable prices can make Montanas towns more competitive in terms of attracting visitors, businesses and new residents. He later told The Montana Standard that air travels economic impact is all about saving a precious resource that, arguably, we could all use more of. Well, its time. Time is money in business and time is money if you recreate too, said Tester, noting Montanas large size. At 147,000 square miles, it is the fourth largest state in the U.S. Air travel is the most efficient way to get there and if you dont have the infrastructure to support air travel it really is a negative for your economic growth moving forward both from a business standpoint and even from a tourism standpoint. Police reports JEEP STOLEN, RECOVERED A Butte woman is facing a felony possession of stolen property charge after police found her early Tuesday in a vehicle that was reported stolen. Butte's Mile High Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM Kia reported the new 2015 orange Jeep Rubicon stolen from a trade show at the Civic Center between 3 and 8 p.m. Monday. Police had no suspects, but an officer noticed a vehicle matching the stolen Jeep's description driving near Atlantic and Oregon at 3 a.m. Tuesday. When the officer ran the Jeep's plates, they came up as matching a Honda. When a woman exited the vehicle, police stopped her. The Jeep's ID number was run, and matched the stolen vehicle. Laci Henderson, 46, of Butte, was charged with felony possession of stolen property, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia when jailers found a small glass pipe. AGGRAVATED DUI A Butte man was arrested just before 2 a.m. Tuesday after being pulled over for speeding down Main Street in Uptown Butte. Police said Kenneth Andrade, 27, gave officers a false name when pulled over for driving 40 mph in a 25 mph zone. Andrade failed a field sobriety test, and at the detention center blew twice the legal limit, according to police reports. Andrade was charged with misdemeanors for speeding, driving with a suspended or revoked license, failing to provide proof of insurance, aggravated DUI and obstructing a peace officer. BURGLARIES A 50-inch TV, Xbox, PlayStation 2 and a Nintendo 64 went missing from a home under renovation on the 1700 block of Thornton Avenue between Wednesday and Saturday. Entry was made through a window screen that was cut. The value of the items was $650. An electric guitar and white coffin-shaped case valued at $1,100 were taken from a residence on the 800 block of Placer Street between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday. The guitar has a brown neck and black body. The back door may have been unlocked. A flat-screen TV, LG cellphone and Blu-ray with six speakers was stolen from a home on the 1800 row of Silver Bow Homes between Friday and Sunday. The items were valued at more than $500. There was no forced entry. Looking at Butte, some may see environmental disaster, but artist David Burke sees a work of art. The Oakland, California-based artist has been making paintings haunted by iconic images of the old mining town this summer. Its part of a month-long artist residency through the Montana Preservation Alliance's Reimagine Montana Residency Program to celebrate the National Park Services centennial anniversary. Burke is the only artist of six in the program working in Butte. Burke, 40, and two other Butte-inspired artists, Ebon Goff and Kathryn W. Schmidt, will hold a presentation Wednesday at the Imagine Butte Resource Center to talk about what Butte has meant to their art. It makes sense that Burkes art acrylic paint on light boxes and acrylic panels looks like visions of a haunted space. After touring the Anselmo Mine yard, Burke was so entranced by the hoist house, where miners were lowered deep into the mine, he asked if he could turn it into his temporary studio. Its like sitting amongst the ghosts in this space, Burke said Tuesday. When the wind blows through here, this place really talks. Painting among the old workings, Burke is mindful of the hundreds of men who toiled underground at the Anselmo for decades, criss-crossing beneath Butte with pick and ax, and, up until 1912, candles to light their way. Burke is drawn to Butte because he specializes in fractured landscapes and the raw, physical impact of the citys mining history has created such a backdrop. Chere Jiusto, who heads the Helena-based Montana Preservation Alliance, said Tuesday that Burke takes inspiration from the contrast of the natural world juxtaposed with the industrial history imposed upon the landscape. He sees beauty in the way the environment has been manipulated, Jiusto said. Mary McCormick, Butte-Silver Bows preservation officer, who has been Burkes local contact, agreed with Jiusto that he is drawn to industrial themes. When he first arrived, McCormick showed him different mine sites. I could tell immediately he was inspired, McCormick said. Burke said he finds inspiration in how the natural world, despite what humans have done to it, comes roaring back in its own way. He is particularly interested in how the tunnels underneath the Butte Hill are filling with water and contain a forest of timber from wood used to build and stabilize the shafts. We have an insatiable appetite for natural resources. Im curious about the overlap the confrontation between man and nature, Burke said. Perhaps because of that, he originally thought he would focus on the Berkeley Pit. He created an acrylic painting of the pit on a light box. When backlit, the environmental degradation takes on new layers of meaning and becomes a thing of beauty. But Burke soon found himself drawn more to the history of Butte underground mining. When he entered the Anselmo hoist house, he fell in love. "The first thing I noticed was the smell," Burke said. "Every morning it hits me; it sets the tone." Odors of oil and other lubricants still linger inside the cavernous hoist house along with a pungent, earthy smell. "These (the paintings) are born out of this space. They couldn't have been made anywhere else," Burke said. In a sense, the month-long artist residency has been a homecoming for Burke. He started painting landscapes 10 years ago on a camping trip through Montana. Hes been trying to get back to the Treasure State ever since. But in the intervening years, his work has altered into how the landscape can be carved by the telltale signs of mankind. Not surprisingly, Burke felt an immediate connection to Butte and to the story of Buttes past. Its a powerful place to make art, Burke said. Man pleads guilty to varied crimes DEER LODGE A man who ransacked a vehicle and shed and vandalized a bus camper, among other crimes, pleaded guilty recently to felony burglary and misdemeanor charges of theft, and two counts of criminal mischief. Colter Charles Reistad admitted that on Feb. 20, he broke into the Powell County Ambulance training center where on-call emergency medical technicians were sleeping and took an EMT coat. He ransacked an EMT's vehicle and a shed at the Deer Lodge Care and Rehabilitation Center. He also admitted breaking into a bus camper and broke windows, seats and benches and ripped out wiring. Old-time country music concert set DILLON Old-time country music will be featured at the Harkness Family and Friends concert at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, in the Old Depot Theater in Dillon. A benefit for the Beaverhead County Museum, this concert follows a number of performances at the theater in past years by members of the group and multiple appearances at Bannack Days. Songs include San Antonio Rose, Amazing Grace and Your Cheating Heart. Admittance is by donation. Max Harkness and Leila Kelley, brother and sister, have been playing since they were 9 and 10. Von Glasgo, guitarist, plays lead along with Leila Kelley. In addition, Gary Kelley keeps rhythm on bass guitar, Lisa Messick and Max Harkness are on the fiddle and Bill Roesener plays guitar and sings. The group is rounded out with Bea Harkness on the rhythm guitar. Most of the band members belong to the Gem State Fiddlers and donate time to play at retirement centers. Anaconda Elks picnic set Friday ANACONDA The Anaconda Elks Lodge annual picnic will be Friday, Aug. 26, starting at 5:30 p.m. at Benny Goodman Park. Members' family and guests are welcome. Cost is $7 per person for the dinner of chicken, spaghetti and salads. Dedication ceremony planned Aug. 28 The St. Marys Neighborhoods Reunion Committee will have a dedication of the interpretive signage for the Lost Neighborhoods of Anaconda Road, Dublin Gulch, Corktown and Muckerville from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28, at the Original Mine on North Main Street. Father Patrick Beretta will give a benediction at 1:30 p.m. The signs were made possible with the money from book sales from Buttes Irish Heart and two historic preservation grants. The committee designed and installed signs that through photos and text tell the story of the neighborhoods and the people who gave them life. The nine signs are located along the BA&P Walking Trail and two other points of interest. Butte High frosh orientation set Aug. 29 Butte High School freshmen and new student orientation will be held Monday, Aug. 29, at 10 a.m. in the new gym. Schedules and student ID cards will be given to freshmen at orientation. Details: Butte High School at 406-533-2200 for further information. Church rummage sale this weekend The Mountain View/Trinity United Methodist women will hold their annual rummage and bake sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Aug. 26 -27. Due to the closure of both churches, the sale will be held at the Trinity Community Center and Chapel, (former Trinity UMC), on North Main Street. Proceeds from the sale help in our missions, which are primarily local nonprofits. Diabetes prevention program set Sept. 12 The Diabetes Prevention Program will begin Healthy Lifestyle Classes Sept. 12. The class is held weekly for 16 weeks. There are daytime and an evening offerings. The class includes a free gym membership, lab work and support services. The class costs $100 and scholarships are available. Details: Ida Reighard, RN, CDE at 406-723-2960. Deer Lodge parade winners announced DEER LODGE The Avon Grange Food Pantry Project float proclaiming the need to fight hunger won top prize at the Tri-County Fair Parade on Saturday. The theme Freedom Flies Over Montana Skies was epitomized with bunting, flags and other patriotic themes throughout the week. Second place First Security Bank float featured an airplane and clouds, and third place winner was the patriotic themed Deer Lodge Care float with toddlers and other youngsters. People of all ages gathered along Main Street Saturday to watch the parade of 70 entries that included veterans, emergency responders, business, organization and political entries as well as antique and demolition derby cars and horses from Deer Lodge, Butte, Anaconda and the Bitterroot. Psychology of aging to be discussed Montana Techs Public Lecture Series will host Dr. Elyse Dnn Lovell of Highlands College, at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, in the Chemistry/Biology Building, Room 102. Lovells presentation is titled People Around Me are Getting Older: Engaging Undergraduates in Gerontological Research. The purpose of this study was to engage undergraduate Psychology of Aging students in a qualitative inquiry with field experiences in an effort to improve students communication skills, connectedness to learning and understanding of aging concepts. Her credentials include a masters in psychology-gerontology from the University of Central Oklahoma, and a doctorate in higher education. Uptown Toasters list winners This weeks competition winners for the Uptown Toasters, Toastmaster Club # 9765 include Ellen Crain, best speaker and Dan Matteucci, best evaluator. The next meeting is at noon Tuesday, Sept. 13, at the Butte Archives. The public is welcome to attend. Details: 406-782-3280. Animal Control impounds listed These are animals that have been picked up by Butte Animal Control. Details: Call Chelsea Bailey Butte-Silver Bow Animal Shelter at 406-497-6528 or stop by 699 Centennial Ave. from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Dogs: One-year-old female Aussie cross, longer hair, picked up Wednesday on Centennial Avenue Four-year-old male Lab cross, neutered, picked up Tuesday on Wathena Drive Cats: Nine-month-old brown and black tabby, shorthaired, picked up Tuesday on Little Basin Creek Road Two-year-old male Siamese, seal point, picked up Aug. 19 on German Gulch Road Montanans are hunters and anglers. Its what we do. Its how we fill our freezers, and some of the best time we spend all year with family and friends. Here in Granite, Powell, Butte-Silver Bow and Anaconda-Deer Lodge Counties we are no different and maybe have more at stake. Montana has the highest number of people in the country who buy a hunting and/or fishing license. Its helped us maintain our world-class wildlife populations and fisheries. Were truly blessed In our area. Our public resources are an asset that not only benefit locals but attract visitors from all over the world. Any Montana hunter or angler will say that our public lands play a huge role in our outdoor heritage. We enjoy these world class fish and wildlife populations in the mountains, forests, prairies and streams of our incredible state. Georgetown Lake, Rock Creek, The Big Hole, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest and the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness are all crowning jewels of our public lands and they are right in our backyard. Thats why Gov. Bullocks public lands and access agenda is so important to our future as Montana hunters and anglers. The plan calls for protecting our public lands from efforts to takeover and eventually sell it off, ensuring the public can get to public lands, and encouraging others to come enjoy our natural wonders. At the same time, Bullock supports sound forest management and has stepped up with efforts like the Forests in Focus initiative to conduct thinning and restoration in key areas near communities. First and foremost is protecting our federal public lands. Proponents of the idea to transfer these lands to state management paint a rosy picture of generating revenue for state coffers, continued public access for hunting and fishing, and better forest health. Sounds too good to be true because it is. Our national forests have a mandate for multiple use and that includes considering wildlife habitat and clean streams, along with resource development. State lands have a mandate to generate revenue for our public education system. We dont want federal lands managed like state lands. And of course, a big fire year would be a budget buster for the state - and require either massive state tax increases or a sale of lands. Bullock has consistently stood up against these efforts and pledged to continue to do so. Without these lands, everyday Montanans would lose their favorite elk hunting spot or trout streams. We need to open our eyes now, we are currently losing public access. Montana has struggled in recent years as some people have gated public roads that lead to public land. It cuts off large swaths of public land for hunters, anglers and hikers, turning some of these areas into exclusive playgrounds for a few. To address the problem, Bullock has proposed to create an access specialist position who can investigate cases of people blocking public roads that access public land. This can help when these closures are challenged. Bullock steps up and finds solutions to these problems. He has proposed to fully restore the popular Habitat Montana program, which uses hunter license dollars to buy or protect through easement vital wildlife habitat throughout the state. The program is one of our greatest conservation success stories, yet the last Legislature restricted its use to projects already in the works. We need Habitat Montana to protect habitat as well as provide access for hunters, wildlife watchers and others. Bullock also has proposed to create a position to promote our outdoor recreation economy. As Montanans we know that our public lands add incredibly to our quality of life. But they also help bring people to our state, adding an important element to our states overall economy. Governor Bullocks plan will help us maintain our incredibly outdoor heritage in Southwest Montana and across the state while boosting our economy. Future generations will thank us for having such foresight. -- Mark Sweeney is a lifelong hunter and public lands advocate from Philipsburg, a two-term commissioner from Anaconda/Deer Lodge County, a board member of the Montana Wildlife Federation, and sits on the Western Montana BLM Resource Advisory Council. WEST GLACIER The Secretary of the Interior will spend the 100th anniversary of the founding of the National Park Service in Montana. Sally Jewell will tour Glacier National Park Thursday morning and be in Gardiner Thursday night for a celebration and concert at Yellowstone National Parks Roosevelt Arch. The park service is in the midst of a yearlong celebration of its centennial, but Thursday is the actual birthday of the federal agency overseen by the Department of Interior. On Aug. 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the bill creating the National Park Service. The bill gave NPS its increasingly difficult marching orders, given the growing popularity of Americas national parks: to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wildlife therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations. Both Glacier and Yellowstone were designated as national parks before the National Park Service existed Glacier in 1910, when William Howard Taft was president, and Yellowstone way back in 1872, when President Ulysses S. Grant signed the law creating Americas first national park. Jewell will join Glacier Superintendent Jeff Mow, scientists and stakeholders to learn more about how climate change is affecting the park, where glaciers are disappearing. The group will depart Lake McDonald Lodge early Thursday morning on Going-to-the-Sun Road for Logan Pass, and hike a trail in the vicinity of the Continental Divide. Thursday evening, the secretary will speak at the Roosevelt Arch event, which is expected to draw 6,000 people. An Evening at the Arch will also feature a concert by Grammy Award winners Emmylou Harris and John Prine. Also scheduled to attend the Yellowstone celebration: National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis; Montana Gov. Steve Bullock and Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead; Theodore Roosevelt V, the great-great grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt; Steven Mather McPherson, grandson of Stephen Mather, the first director of NPS; Christy Goldfuss, managing director of the White House Council on Environmental Quality; Al Baldwin, chairman of the National Park Foundation Board; and, of course, Yellowstone Park Superintendent Dan Wenk. BILLINGS When not catching crayfish and learning to play guitar, 12-year-old Emma Power has spent the past two years corresponding with her city government. Since age 10, Emma has been writing Billings City officials asking that a section of guard rail be installed along the Alkali Creek Trail to protect cyclists from a drop off. Her determination finally paid off this summer when the guard rail was installed with the help of some Boy Scouts from Troop 7, and $5,000 from the city. Emma, a self-proclaimed future novelist, lives in the Heights near Alkali Creek Road, where the biking trail was finished a few years ago. She bikes often on the trail, with her pink helmet secured over her bright blue hair. Her only worry had been a 15-feet section of the trail that ran along a large drop off. Concerned for the safety of riders who might be unfamiliar with the path, the then-10-year-old Emma wrote to Mayor Tom Hanel and asked if it was something he could help with. He could not. She wrote to the Director of Parks and Recreation, who apologized, but said he also couldn't help. After 12 letters and countless emails, Emma tried a new tactic, getting in touch with her city council representative. First ward Representative Mike Yakawich took an immediate interest. Yakawich's council ward covers the Pioneer Park area all the way to Hilltop in the Heights. He had biked the Alkali Creek Road many times and had noticed the large drop off that caused Emma concern. "There is no better way to know the potholes, cracked sidewalks, creek conditions, trails, cross walks and the general infrastructure of the ward than by either walking or biking," Yakawich said. About a year and a half ago, Yakawich met Emma and her mother, Virginia Power, along the stretch of trail causing Emma's concern. Emma said Yakawich was able to win over Billings Public Works Director David Mumford. Mumford told Emma the path was within city safety regulations, but was something he would look into. He spoke with City Engineer Debi Meling who contacted Troop 7 Eagle Scout candidate Matthew Charles. The City provided $5,000 in materials for the project and over the weekend of Aug. 6, Charles and his friends and family installed the railing along the bike trail. When Emma came to see the project being done, she said people called out thanks as they drove by. "It's a neat thing how it all came together," Yakawich said. "All because of a young lady who loves her neighborhood and who knows how her city government works." Emma said throughout the process she met people who worked for the city who were "very nice" and others who were "really, really serious." Whenever she and her family cycle the path, they point to the railing, a tangible reminder of Emma's persistence. Emma plans to follow her brothers to Montana State University Billings and said she wants to continue to stay involved with the improvement of Billings. "I love my city," Emma said. MUSCATINE, Iowa The Diversity Service Center of Iowa (DSCI) in Muscatine will be hosting the Fourth Annual International Fair on the Muscatine riverfront. The event will be held from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Pearl City Station, 100 Harbor Drive. Aracely Martinez, an administrative assistant for the DSCI, said the event will showcase the diversity of different cultures in Muscatine. We want to be able to show what Muscatine has to offer, the richness and diversity in our community through the performing arts, Martinez said. Performers from Muscatine and the surrounding area will include the Champagne Irish Academy of Irish Dance, the White Swan Native American Dance Troupe, Master Storyteller Mama Katambwa, belly dancer Janae Nelson, the Liberian Womens Group, and QC Ballet Folklorico. Food and other vendors will be at the event. There will also be childrens activities including a bounce house. Martinez said she hopes the event will help create unity in the Muscatine community. Sometimes it can be easy to separate into little groups but if we can get that to come together and show what we have to offer and really create more unity in the community, I think thats our biggest goal here, she said. Growing up in Muscatine, Martinez said she has always appreciated the sense of community the city offers. So we want to show that Muscatine is welcoming and appreciative of what we have here and welcome our visitors to come and see that, she said. The first year the event was held, Martinez said around 200 people attended, and last year around 800 people were at the event. She hopes those numbers continue to grow. I think its important to see how we can benefit from the different cultures that we have in the area and what they can bring to the community, she said. For more information, or to volunteer for the event contact Rosa Mendoza or Aracely Martinez at dscimuscatine@gmail.com or call the Diversity Service Center at (563) 264-8883. WAPELLO, Iowa - Louisa County department heads reported mainly routine issues and activities in their departments during the Louisa County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday. While the majority of the reports were given during the monthly department head session, three provided additional reports on their departments later in the meeting including General Assistance Director Cyndi Mears, Mental Health/Disability Services Director Bobbi Wulf, and County Sheriff Brad Turner. Wulf told the board her office was continuing to discuss a $47,426 claim from the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS). According to Wulf, the DHS claims it is owed the money from debts that extend back to 2001. Wulf said the county was disputing those claims. We are communicating with (DHS) on these and obviously we are not in agreement with them, she said, adding the DHS was also claiming past debts with other county programs. Every county is going through this, she reported. County officials indicated that if the DHS succeeds in proving its claims, the debts could be paid through a special reserve that was set up earlier. Wulf also reported additional staff that will handle mental health advocacy in the region and an expanded jail transition program had been hired. She said two mental health advocates and two transition staffers were either already on the job or soon will be. Meanwhile, Mears said most of the activity in her department was routine. Mears did report she was interested in participating in an upcoming Louisa Leadership class, but was concerned about the timing. She said the class was scheduled to be held over an extended noon period on the same day the area food pantry was open. Since some food pantry users must be certified from the general assistance office, Mears said she was concerned about missing some of the leadership class. Mears said she would talk with food pantry officials to try and work out a solution. During Turners report, he asked if anything new had developed on naming a new medical examiner (ME) for the county. Dr. Robin Plattenberger, who is currently shared as a medical examiner with Washington County, announced a few months she would retire at the end of this year. Supervisor Randy Griffin said he had told Washington County officials that Louisa County wished to continue sharing, but Washington County had not yet settled on selecting a new ME. In other action, the supervisors approved a fireworks permit for Circle of Pride and agreed to its annual routine transfer of local option sales tax revenue to the countys General Basic account. Auditor Sandi Elliott said around $300,000 would be transferred this year. The supervisors also approved an application from Eastern Iowa Light and Power Cooperative to build new overhead line and install other underground lines under Louisa County Road G28 on T Avenue. In final action, the county agreed to abate $818 in property taxes on three parcels of property northwest of Grandview. According to county officials, the property is currently owned by the state of Iowa through an eminent domain case arising from the U.S. Highway 61 realignment. The officials said the previous owners challenged the state over compensation. The case was recently settled allowing the state to seek the abatement. 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 [] The results of the annual Sunday Times Top Brands survey were announced at an awards event in Sandton, recognising those brands that had earned top consumer sentiment in South Africa. The Sunday Times Top Brands survey, conducted by TNS, is the leading barometer of consumer sentiment in the country. 3500 consumers and 502 corporate decision-makers were polled in this years Sunday Times Top Brands survey. The economic climate has meant that people are making smarter, more traditional brand choices, said Nuala Harris-Morele from TNS. Vodacom was awarded the Overall Top Brands Grand Prix as the best regarded brand in 2016, and triumphed in the telecommunications providers category as well. Samsung was selected as the favourite cellphone brand, and DStv Compact as the top TV service provider, knocking SABC1 down into second place. Grand Prix and Multiple Award Winners Vodacom 3 awards including 1 Grand Prix Overall Top Brands Grand Prix (Business) KOO 2 awards including 1 Grand Prix Top Brands Overall Favourite Grand Prix (Consumer) Coca-Cola 3 awards including 2 Grand Prix Top Brands Community Upliftment Grand Prix (Consumer) Top Brands Green Grand Prix (Consumer) Nedbank 1 Grand Prix Top Brands Green Grand Prix (Consumer) Woolworths 1 Grand Prix Top Brands Community Upliftment Grand Prix (Business) Old Mutual 2 awards Santam 2 awards Times Media 2 awards Samsung 2 awards Capitec 2 awards Johnnie Walker 2 awards More on brands Best-selling smartphone brands in the world Most reliable car brands in the world for 2016 A sovereign credit rating downgrade to junk status in December 2016, or even earlier, is highly probable if finance minister Pravin Gordhan suffers a similar or worse fate than his predecessor, Nhlanhla Nene. This is according to Dr. Conrad Beyers from the Department of Actuarial Science at the University of Pretoria. Yesterday reports emerged that Gordhan and other former SARS officials have been ordered to present themselves at the Hawks offices to receive warning statements. This news sent the rand plummeting against hard currencies, weakening to its lowest levels in weeks. Some commentators see the Hawks investigation into Gordhan as a political move, masterminded by President Jacob Zumas camp. This political instability, especially in the finance department, is not welcome in South Africas struggling economy. It is clear that credit rating agencies regard politically-related risks as the single major factor that may influence their ratings decisions for South Africa, said Beyers. If you scrutinise rating agency reports on South Africa, as well as public statements and assessments by rating agencies, political risk currently vastly overshadows all other risks, he said. It is, however, not all doom and gloom. On the positive side, the importance of political risks in South Africa implies that positive Government action can contribute significantly to create confidence, Beyers said. He said that such positive action by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, Gordhan, and prominent business figures the so-called Team South Africa helped avert a seemingly inevitable ratings downgrade earlier this year However, the opposite is also true. According to Beyers, a second major shock to the Treasury will likely confirm rating agency fears that there is a willingness in key government circles to sacrifice the countrys economic well-being for ulterior motives. Team South Africa convinced credit ratings agencies that the chaotic exit of Nene in December 2015 was a once-off event that will not be repeated, said Beyers. The rating agencies apparently gave South Africa the benefit of the doubt. However, a similar chaotic exit of Gordhan will illustrate that the Nenegate event was not once-off, and that more such shocks are likely in store for the future. More on finance Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan takes on the Guptas, SABC Pravin Gordhan appointed as new minister of finance One of Southern Africas leading academic booksellers, Van Schaik Bookstore, has been announced as the grand prize winner of the Acer Grow Your Business sales driven competition. We are very fortunate to receive this prize and thankful to our suppliers and customers for their support. The Acer laptop we stock is very popular with our customers, because its good value for money. says Stephan Erasmus, MD of Van Schaik Bookstore. With more than 100 years of experience in the industry, Van Schaik has an African footprint of more than 70 stores in South Africa, Botswana, Swaziland and Namibia, including four stores under a different brand, Bookmark at the University of Pretoria. They provide products and services that support institutions, lecturers, other professionals and students. Their products include academic and general books in electronic and print format, as well as reference material, lifestyle products, electronics and stationery. The services they offer are done through their bookstores, call centre, Direct Sales Unit, Library Division, and online store, vanschaik.com. This is in line with the companys mission to service their clients in Africa with quality education material in order for them to achieve their educational goals, which in turn uplifts the greater communitys standard of living. Their excellence has been recognized by the garnering of industry awards such as the prestigious Sefika Academic Bookseller of the Year Award from 2012 2015. In 2013 Van Schaik added an e-textbook solution to its offerings, using Ingrams VitalSource Bookshelf platform. E-textbooks are a growing and important part of the future of education, and working with an international market leader like VitalSource, Van Schaik has the resources to meet the digital needs of the academic community today and into the future. More digital offers are rapidly expanding including platforms like Snapplify. As technology evolves, new solutions are sourced for customers in different industries. This include offerings for libraries like MyiLibrary. Van Schaik is more than just a bookstore, it evolves with its customers taking you places. Research by Professor Rudolph Zinn and Brigadier Piet Byleveld has revealed how criminals plan and execute a house robbery in South Africa. They also detail what you can do to prevent this. Their research found that the best way to prevent a house robbery includes keeping small dogs inside your home, electric fences, alarms and security sensors, and employing an armed response service. The National Home Security Month (NHSM) is an initiative which punt the steps listed above, and has partnered with safety authorities like ER24, ADT, Yale Security, Union, and Mul-T-Lock. MyBroadband asked the NHSM what a super-secure home looks like in South Africa its answer is detailed below. CCTV on the perimeter of your home The perimeter of your home is the first element you must secure. Smart security creates convenience, but traditional solid, mechanical security is still important. CCTV cameras should monitor your driveway and perimeter. Using an electric fence to deter intruders The next step is an electric fence. The electric fence should follow industry guidelines to ensure it is not easily penetrated. The fence bracket must be at least an eight-strand square tubing. 5, 6, 7, and 8-string flat and round bar fences are easily breached. The electrification wire should be highly-conductive. These offer little resistance and deliver the right amount of energy. Check your fence is always on and working. Make sure the fence is correctly installed, without loose wires. Criminals lift the bottom strands of fences to slip through. Use a strong wall to keep criminals out. Dont install an electric fence on a precast wall. Install batteries to protect against load shedding or electricity outages. Do not switch the fence off when the alarm goes off repeatedly. Criminals can create a short in the fence, hoping it will malfunction or that the owner will switch it off. Have a good-quality driveway gate Your gate should have an anti-lift device to ensure it cannot be taken off its rails, while the gate motor should be secured with an anti-theft bracket. Pedestrian access gates and doors should be locked with a cylinder lock or four-lever mortice lock. If you use a hasp and staple, the padlock should be the right size. A security gate as well as a door are ideal here. Have another layer of perimeter security Apart from an electric fence, have another security layer in place like exterior beams. Exterior beams can pick up movement and activate an alarm system, warning you of an intrusion. Burglar-proof windows Windows must be burglar-proof. Burglar bars on all windows are essential. Make sure theyre made of solid or strong steel and built into the wall, not the wooden window frame. Strong doors with good locks Doors must be solid, not hollow, with a four-lever mortice or cylinder lock. A multi-point lock, which locks at the top, middle, and bottom, is an excellent idea for main doors. A deadbolt or nightlatch will also offer a point of resistance. A long metal strip should also be welded over any gap that a crowbar can fit through. An intercom system An intercom lets you buzz people in while youre inside the house, and view them from a monitor. A mobile viewing app lets see guests or tradesmen and control their access from the safety of your home. A CCTV system in the home A CCTV system recording permanently or one which records when movement is detected keeps track of all that happens in a home. Check the size of linked hard drives to make sure you know how many days of recording it allows. Identifying criminals will also require decent-quality equipment. Use smart elements The smartest way of securing your home right now is online and app driven. A home-automation system incorporating smart security lets you unlock your door with a smart door lock and an app. Unlocking the door alerts the system that you are home, which deactivates the smart alarm system and simultaneously switches on the CCTV system. A smart alarm system A smart alarm system, with door and window contacts, activates an alarm if any entry is detected. Vibration sensors can be included to activate the alarm in the case of a window breakage. All entrance points should be covered by the alarm system. Smoke and gas detectors Smoke detectors, gas detectors, and fire extinguishers or blankets should be installed in homes to ensure safety in the event of fire or gas leaks. All detectors need to be checked regularly to ensure they are operational. Certain detectors can be connected to an alarm system. Using a reputable security company A reputable security company can work with homeowners to protect their home and react to intrusions. Alerting companies about emergencies If the house is home to a senior citizen or someone with a medical condition, an app like ER24s IDMe can alert ER24 in the event of an emergency. A mobile panic button is also available through ADTs FindU service. A vigorous shake of the mobile phone sends out an alert to the nearest response officer and simultaneously films the event. More on crime How to make sure criminals do not get through your electric fence Cape Town crime hotspots may be declared disaster zones Beware the electric fence you install Mobile data remains very expensive in South Africa, and with data hungry applications and websites, data can become a costly monthly item. Good news is that you can cut down on your data bill by making a few small changes on how you use your smartphone. Google has provided five simple tips for Android users to worry less about exceeding your data limit. Turn on Chrome Data Saver Mode Reduce the amount of data used by your Android mobile device or computer by turning on Chrome Data Saver Mode. From compressing web pages to removing images when loading a page on a slow connection, youre able to save up to 70% more data. Use offline YouTube videos Use offline YouTube videos and watch them as often as you like without using data or buffering each time with YouTube Offline. Use Google Maps without using any data Whether its your neighborhood or a weekend getaway destination, theres a way to use Google Maps without using any data. Download an area of the world and seamlessly use Maps features like turn-by-turn navigation and access useful location information without a network connection using Google Maps Offline. Identify and remove data intensive apps Identify and remove data intensive apps by going to Settings > Data Usage on your Android device. You may be surprised to see data being used by apps you hardly touch. Disable auto-updating apps Disable auto-updating apps on your Android device by opening Google Play and tapping the hamburger icon (three horizontal lines) on the top left of the screen. Go to Settings > tap Auto-update apps > select Do not auto-update apps or Auto-update apps over Wi-Fi. More on Android Android 7.0 Nougat launched First smartphone to get Android 7.0 Nougat N is for Nougat Stockbyte/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) One lucky seal narrowly avoided feeding time for a pod of orca whales by jumping aboard a boat off the coast of British Columbia. Kirk Fraser was out whale watching with family when he captured an incredible moment on camera, a seal scrambling onto his boat to escape killer whales. The seal jumped onto the boat and squeezed its way between the engines to avoid the jaws on the killer whales. Watch incredible footage as seal escapes hunting orcas by hopping onto a boat https://t.co/AoRmlLlKwh pic.twitter.com/Xo4t9Z8MbT ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) August 23, 2016 Fraser says they saw the seal's head pop up above the water and initially thought it was injured. "All of a sudden it is between the engines with whales all around under the boat. Then the seal jumped on the boat. It was madness," he said. The seal fell off two times, but scrambled back on. Fraser said he was concerned the whales would nudge the boat. The orcas circled the boat for about 30 minutes, leaving everyone on board soaked from the spray coming off of their blowholes. Once they gave up and left the area, the seal hopped off back in the water, but kept "hanging around the boat just in case," Fraser said. ABC Breaking News | Latest News Videos Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. NAPA Unionized registered nurses at Queen of the Valley Medical Center have voted overwhelmingly to accept their first contract that will give them wage increases averaging 25 percent over the next three years. Contract acceptance ends three years of contentious negotiations between the nurses and the hospital. In April 2013, the Queens nurses voted to join the California Nurses Association (CNA). However, an agreement about a contract, including pay, benefits and other issues, could not be reached. Queen nurses held a one-day strike in 2014 to protest the stalled talks and had planned a one-day strike for this week until negotiators reached a tentative settlement a week ago. The hospitals RNs voted 97 percent approval on Tuesday night, the union reported. RNs did not get raises during the three years of bargaining, which contributed to wages at Queen of the Valley falling farther behind neighboring Bay Area hospitals, the union said. With wages going up 25 percent over the next three years, the Queen will be in a better position to retain its RNs, nurses said. This has been a hard battle, said Queen registered nurse Karen McNair. Weve hung in there and weve ended up with a very, very good first contract. We are pleased we have reached an agreement our nurses support and are proud of, said Queen CEO Walt Mickens. The teamwork and commitment from both bargaining teams made this positive outcome possible. Together, we look forward to continuing to provide compassionate, quality care to our neighbors, Mickens said in a statement. The contract is a huge victory, three years in the making, said Mary Lou Bahn, an RN at the Queen. We won important protections for our patients, for safe staffing, and for recruiting and retaining experienced nurses for our community, she said. Our RNs can be very proud of what we accomplished. Highlights of the Queens contract, the CNA reported, include: Wage increases and a new wage scale that will result in an overall average increase of 25 percent over the three years of the agreement. Neither the Queen nor the CNA was able to respond last Thursday to requests to provide new wage ranges or estimates for Queen nurses. Staffing according to patients severity of illness or injury. Establishment of a Professional Practice Committee of nurses to track staffing and better advocate for patients. Guaranteed meal and rest breaks to fight nurse fatigue. Its an amazing contract, said Queen RN Leigh Glasgow. Im very pleased with the work our nurses did, and I think its to going to help us ensure patients are proud to come here. In July, St. Joseph Health, the parent company of the Queen, formed a new organization with Providence Health to become Providence St. Joseph Health. The CNA represents nearly 4,000 Providence St. Joseph Health nurses and nearly 100,000 RNs throughout the state. RNs at St. Mary Medical Center in Apple Valley, a sister Providence St. Joseph Health hospital, voted this week to accept a contract, the CNA reported. Contract votes were scheduled Thursday at two more Providence St. Joseph Health hospitals: Redwood Memorial Hospital in Fortuna and St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka. Collabria Care, formerly Napa Valley Hospice & Adult Day Services, hosts its 10th annual gala, Cheers! Celebrating the Past, Toasting the Future, on Friday, Sept. 9, at Castello di Amorosa in Calistoga. Cheers! will honor the long-term commitment and philanthropic support of the Rombauer family. The Rombauer family knows and trusts Collabria Care, said K.R. Rombauer. Collabria Care helped our family to understand the end of life, with comfort and grace. The highlight of the evening will be a live auction featuring a barrel of Rombauer wine together with Napa Valley experiences for three couples. Other lots include a dinner for four at the San Francisco home of Jean-Charles Boisset and Gina Gallo-Boisset, with accommodations at the Ritz-Carlton; an Alaskan Adventure with salmon fishing, whale watching, and glacier exploration; a week at a luxury property in Manzanillo, Mexico, with a chef, housekeeper and private beach included; and a collection of magnums of premium wine. Proxy bidding is available for those who wish to participate, but are unable to attend the auction. Tickets for the event are $375 per person, and are available at gala.collabriacare.org. AMERICAN CANYON Labor leaders used last weeks City Council meeting to publicly complain about the creation of a new job involving water conservation, saying it would amount to a slap in the face to Teamsters negotiating a new contract with City Hall. Don Garcia, secretary-treasurer for Teamsters Local 315, told the council before it got down to business on Aug. 16 that it was inappropriate to approve a new sustainability coordinator in the Public Works Department until a new labor agreement has been reached. The three-year contract between the city and the Teamsters, who represent American Canyons public workers, expired on June 30. Negotiations to forge a new deal, ongoing since early in the year, have not yet yielded an agreement between the two sides. Given the current status of the ongoing contract negotiations, Garcia told the council, the incredibly bad timing in adding this non-essential position could not be overstated. Garcia also took the opportunity to tell council members that city workers had spent most of this decade without receiving a serious raise. Take a moment to reflect as I ask you to recall the majority of employees who will be under the new agreement have not received a cost of living raise of any significance in over six years, said Garcia. The previous contract for 2013-2016 provided workers with a half-percent raise at three stages: after Jan. 1 and July 1, 2015, and after Jan. 1, 2016. Prior to that contract, city employees worked without a union-approved deal after the Teamsters refused to accept the citys budget cuts brought on by the Great Recession. The 2010-2013 period included layoffs, furloughs and other austerity measures. Another Teamster representative, Dustin Baumbach, told the council that the talks could be jeopardized by adding the new position. You will rarely hear me speak negatively regarding expanding or hiring bargaining unit positions, said Baumbach, a business agent for Local 315. The new sustainability coordinator position is union eligible. But under the circumstances, weve been in negotiations for several months now, he added. Weve made a lot of progress and are trying to close the gap on where were at. Filling a position now that may or may not be necessary at this particular time of year, said Baumbach, would drive a wedge into what weve accomplished. The labor leaders did not elaborate on the status of the talks. City Manager Dana Shigley also declined to discuss the specifics of negotiations. But Shigley repeatedly told the City Council that the approval of the job classification for the new sustainability coordinator, which was on the meetings agenda, had nothing to do with the labor talks. City Attorney William Ross affirmed Shigleys point, saying the item on the agenda was separate from the issue of whether or not there are adequate progress being made in labor negotiations. The Teamsters concerns seemed to catch the City Council off guard. Were somewhat perplexed as to what is happening right now? said Councilmember Belia Ramos. Councilmember Kenneth Leary seemed flustered by the union leaders grievances, saying: I dont know what the end game is here. I feel like Im getting hijacked, said Leary. Id like to do this fairly. And if we have a process thats set up for this [labor talks], then that should be the process. The ongoing talks with the Teamsters have been handled by the citys special counsel for labor negotiations, Gage Dungy, with the firm Liebert Cassidy Whitmore in Sacramento. Dungy told the Eagle that he last briefed the City Council on July 26 during closed session. Councilmember Joan Bennett asked Garcia to explain why he was objecting to the sustainability coordinator. You want me to do this publicly? Garcia replied. If I answer your question I have to get into some of the stuff from negotiations. Instead of discussing details from the talks, Garcia reiterated that the timing was bad to add a new position before a new contract is reached. Well, to us, thats almost a slap in the face, he said. This could wait until were done. Shigley disagreed with Garcia that the city should postpone approving the new job until a new contract has been reached. I dont know how waiting a few weeks will make a difference, said Shigley. The position is funded, and youve agreed to put it in the budget. Public Works Director Jason Holley supported Shigley, and pointed out that the labor talks could continue to drag on. There is no guarantee that these negotiations will continue for two weeks or two months or six months, said Holley. Despite Shigleys urging to act, the council chose not to approve the new position. The matter will be added to the councils next meeting scheduled for Sept. 6. Council members are expected to be briefed again by Dungy on the status of labor talks before that meeting. For lack of competitors, Yountvilles November election has become a non-election and its Town Council is now in place for the next two years. At a special meeting Tuesday afternoon, the council canceled its electoral race and returned two members, Margie Mohler and Jeffrey Durham, appointing them to new four-year terms. The sole newcomer on the ballot, Kerri Dorman, also won appointment to complete the two years left in the term of former Vice Mayor Richard Hall, who left the council after moving to Napa last month. Dorman will not be appointed until the Dec. 6 meeting, and the council will continue operating with four members through the election on Nov. 8. Canceling the election should save Yountville between $10,000 and $15,000, Town Manager Steve Rogers said Monday. This fall will become the second election cycle in the past four years to become a no-contest in Yountville. In 2012, Mohler and then-Vice Mayor Lewis Chilton retained their council seats in walkovers when no other candidates registered by the August deadline a first for Yountville since it incorporated in 1965. Mohler, a consultant to pharmaceutical companies, first won election to the Town Council in 2008. Durham, a longtime hospitality executive, was appointed to the council in May 2015 after Chilton moved with his family to Southern California. Dorman, who moved to Yountville three years ago, is a public law attorney advising water, sanitation and other special districts. She spent a year on the Napa County grand jury and currently is vice chairwoman of the Yountville Zoning and Design Review Board, the towns land-use authority. After Chiltons move away from Yountville last year, Dorman was one of three finalists for the council opening that was eventually filled by Durham. Only one contested race has appeared on Yountville ballots in the last three election cycles. In 2014, Jerome J. Ghigliotti, a resident of the Veterans Home of California, ran against incumbents Hall and Marita Dorenbecher but finished third, and Mayor John Dunbar gained another term unopposed. The quiet election seasons of recent years mark a sharp break from the atmosphere in the previous decade, when disputes over funding the Yountville Community Center bulked up the roll of council candidates. The $12 million meeting hall and public library opened in 2009, but at far above the original cost estimate and plagued by roof leaks, foundation cracks and other glitches that eventually led the town and its lead contractor to sue each other. A 2006 mayoral run by Renate Halliday in opposition to the Community Center fell short, but garnered 44 percent of the vote. Four years later, eight people competed for council seats, including Robert Stryk, a former staff member to Republican presidential candidates Bob Dole and John McCain, who ran for mayor on a platform of fiscal conservatism. Young people today represent one of the safest generations in Californias history. Arrest rates are falling and juvenile halls across the state sit half empty. But Napa County has learned the wrong lessons from this success. Rather than reinvest in community-based alternatives that improve public safety, the county is considering an expansion of incarceration for young adults. State Senate Bill 1004 would confine 18- to 20-year-olds in juvenile halls for up to a year taking them away from their homes and families and placing them behind bars and under constant threat of a felony conviction. Despite concerns from justice advocates, the bills misleading language has allowed it to clear each legislative hurdle and near the end of its journey to the governors desk. Research shows that youth and young adults fare better when they are served in their communities near meaningful opportunities for education, employment, or treatment. Community-based services reduce recidivism and expand opportunities for systems-impacted people and their families. By contrast, services administered behind bars are simply less effective because the institutional setting can reinforce a young persons trauma. Unfortunately, Senate Bill 1004 disregards the research on what works best for low-risk young adults. It recommends incarceration for those who would be, and have been, better served in their communities. Senate Bill 1004 aims to capitalize on empty juvenile beds by creating an unnecessary reason to fill them. Californias local juvenile facilities are operating at far below capacity, reflecting the steep, sustained declines in youth arrest over the last several decades, as well as recent state investment in new juvenile hall construction. Currently, Napa Countys juvenile facilities are three-fourths empty. But empty beds are an indication of progress, not a justification for new commitments and expanded detention. While making Napa County more reliant on its juvenile hall, Senate Bill 1004 would fail to address concerns over Napas damaged jail facility and would incarcerate young people who should never face a jail sentence. As a condition of participation in the Senate Bill 1004 program, young adults must be charged with a non-serious, nonviolent offense a requirement that ensures many of the participants will be low-risk. In the absence of Senate Bill 1004, many of these low-risk young adults could be placed under community supervision and receive proven community-based services. As an approach not grounded in research, Senate Bill 1004 poses unjustifiable risk to Napa County and its young people. If Gov. Brown signs Senate Bill 1004 into law, Napa County may be left grappling with an untested model - one that would expand incarceration, drive up costs, and limit opportunities for evidence-based alternatives to incarceration. We must urge the State Assembly and Gov. Brown to resist the appeal of reimagined incarceration and reject Senate Bill 1004. What a privilege to live in a country where I can vote. Considering candidates for city council, county supervisor, state governor or president of the United States -- all require devotion to the needs of their constituents. At all levels, citizens come first. The last few months in Washington, congressional activity -- or shall we say lack of activity -- has made the population somewhat angry and has led to the emphasis for a change. Its the Congress that needs to change, not necessarily the president. In addressing the public, meaning you other voters, please consider carefully the candidates and their sincerity to the people. Let's all remember that we are supporting a government of the people, by the people and for ALL the people. David Garden, Sr. St. Helena A fundraiser is being held from 2 to 10 p.m. on Sept. 17 at the Native Sons Hall, 1313 Spring St., to raise money for the village of Navuloa, Fiji, which was wiped out by Cyclone Winston in February. This fundraiser is specifically for the village of Navuloa, according to David Bush of Sebastopol. It has come about as a tribute to a caregiver named Jake Kuruleca who helped longtime St. Helena resident James Heinemann. Heinemann passed away in April. Kuruleca originated from Navuloa in Fiji and returned to his village in the aftermath of the storm. According to Kuruleca, the government of Fiji is doing some rebuilding, but residents are left to rebuild their homes without assistance. In his village alone, 36 of 40 homes were destroyed. Cyclone Winston had wind speeds up to 185 miles per hour with gusts estimated up to 225 miles per hour, according to the Fiji Meteorological Service. On May 24, the prime minister of Fiji reported to the United Nations World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul that Winston had killed 44 people, damaged or destroyed 40,000 homes and devastated the infrastructure of the island nation, including 229 schools. Bush came to know Kuruleca during the final months of Heinemanns life. Jake was simply a miracle, he wrote to the Star. The things he did for James could not have been accomplished by a mere mortal. Everyone recognized what Jake was doing was beyond description. He made James comfortable when no one else could so we decided to do this fundraiser to give back. According to Bush, the fundraiser will feature live music, Fijian dancers, a roast pig, curries and silent auction. Money raised will be given directly to the village of Navuloa, though 10 percent will go to a local St. Helena charity. Everything is included in the admission price except drinks. Tickets are $40 per person, $10 per child (under 6 years of age are free). They are available at brownpapertickets.com/event/2588597. Tuesday, Aug. 16 0856 -- A car parked on Pine Street had its side window broken. Nothing seemed to be missing. 1451 -- Report of a disabled car on Main Street. 1612 -- A high school administrator requested extra patrol, since seniors often play a prank on the eve of the first day of school. 1835 -- A silver flip phone was found in a shopping cart on Hunt Avenue. The store collected it for safekeeping. 1904 -- Juvenile probation officers asked police to look for a juvenile who appeared to have tampered with his GPS monitor. 1915 -- Medical aid on Park Street for a Lifeline alarm. 2021 -- Report of an ongoing problem with noisy neighbors on Hunt Avenue. Wednesday, Aug. 17 0157 -- Medical aid on Main Street. 0951 -- Several irrigation lines in a Fulton Lane vineyard were deliberately cut. Damaged irrigation lines can potentially cause major damage to a vineyard. If you see any suspicious behavior near vineyards, immediately call the police at 967-2850. 1242 -- Report of a man and a woman walking down Stockton Street yelling at each other. Police checked the area. 1336 -- A caller reported her son and daughter, both middle school students, were being followed from school to a store by an unknown adult male. Police took a report. 1416 -- Non-injury rear-end accident in the northbound lane of Main Street. One car had to be towed. Police arrested one of the drivers, a 26-year-old Petaluma man, on suspicion of DUI. 1508 -- A cell phone was reported lost or stolen. 1514 -- Report of a suspicious man watching three young girl enter a business while he hid behind a parked car near Spring Street and Money Way. He was wearing jeans, a light orange plaid shirt and sandals. 2312 -- Report of a dog barking for the third night in a row near Fulton Lane. Thursday, Aug. 18 0249 -- Report of a car alarm sounding on Fir Hill Drive. Police checked the area. 0749 -- Report of a jackhammer that started up at 7:15 a.m. 1411 -- While walking this morning behind Vineyard Valley, a citizen came across another man walking three somewhat aggressive unleashed dogs. 1643 -- A cars axle was reportedly damaged by an unmarked trench plate near Tainter and Kearney streets. 1822 -- Police checked on a possible verbal disturbance at Lyman Park. 1946 -- Non-injury hit-and-run involving a parked car on Main Street. Friday, Aug. 19 0718 -- A driver reported needing help after her car stopped in the roadway on Silverado Trail near Deer Park Road, possibly because it ran out of gas. 1202 -- Medical aid on Adams Street for a man who was very dizzy and unsteady on his feet. 1224 -- A high school sophomore was caught with marijuana at school. 1529 -- Police were notified of a child custody issue. 1651 -- Report of a continual problem with dogs barking on North Crane Avenue on the weekends. 1936 -- Medical aid on Park Street. 2007 -- Report of an ongoing problem with dogs barking at multiple houses on Chablis Circle. 2027 -- Garbage had been dumped on the shoulder of Silverado Trail south of Pope Street. Saturday, Aug. 20 1033 -- Police were asked to check on the well-being of a St. Helena man who was reportedly walking along Highway 128 in Sonoma County saying he was leaving St. Helena for good. 1257 -- Report of a black pick-up peeling out and driving recklessly on Oak Avenue. 1601 -- A driver reported being side-swiped by another car near Main Street and Saint Andrews Court. Nobody was hurt. Police issued a citation. 1930 -- Medical aid on Harvest Lane. 2032 -- Police were asked to check on the well-being of a man whod just been released from the hospital. 2123 -- Report of a possible drunk driver traveling at 20 mph under the speed limit and hitting several construction zones on Highway 29 near Zinfandel Lane. Police checked the area. 2137 -- Police were asked to be present when a vehicle owner showed up at a Dowdell Lane business to pick up his impounded car. He had reportedly been hostile with an employee over the phone. 2149 -- A Silverado Trail resident reported that people were trying to break into her home. Police transferred the report to the sheriffs office. Sunday, Aug. 21 0124 -- Report of a possible drunk driver near Main and Spring streets. Police arrested the 35-year-old San Francisco man on suspicion of DUI. 1008 -- Bikers were being forced to swerve to avoid a dead opossum on College Avenue. 1013 -- A citizen said her car had been damaged by a pothole near the construction zone on Main Street. 1108 -- Report of seven young kids playing without adult supervision on a playground on Crane Avenue. 1203 -- Medical aid on Pope Street for an elderly person whod fallen. 1327 -- A Hunt Avenue resident said shed discovered on Saturday night that one of the windows in her garage had been left ajar. 1631 -- Police took a report on identity theft. 2012 -- Report of six dogs barking at three houses on Chablis Circle. 2236 -- A baby skunk was found in a garage on Mariposa Lane. The resident left the doors partially open in hopes that the animal would leave on its own. In the meantime, the resident requested extra patrol due to the open doors. Monday, Aug. 22 1023 -- A students cell phone was stolen on Grayson Avenue. 1127 -- A bike was stolen from in front of a College Avenue home on Aug. 18. 1151 -- Report of domestic violence occurring in Branson, Missouri. Police referred the call to local authorities. 1332 -- A driver reported that a pot hole had popped his tire on Main Street. 1733 -- A tree fell on Spring Mountain Road, blocking both lanes of traffic. 2041 -- Medical aid on Hunt Avenue for a man with chest pains. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will explore the lives and careers of award-winning country music group Alabama in Alabama: Song of the South. The exhibition, which opens Aug. 25, 2016, and runs through July 16, 2017, will detail the groups journey to success through childhood mementos, musical instruments, tour memorabilia, awards, photographs, and more. In conjunction with the exhibit, the Museum will publish an exhibit companion book, which will be available for purchase in the Museum Store starting August 25, 2016. Exhibition highlights include: Jeff Cooks first electric guitar, a 1960s Silvertone U-1, that he played in his first band Randy Owens Music Man Sting Ray I, used to write hits such as Mountain Music. and played by Brad Paisley when he recorded his tribute to the group, Old Alabama Original, handwritten manuscript for Born Country, by Byron Hill and John Schweers Table-top radio that belonged to Teddy Gentrys grandfather, Paw Paw, on which Gentry heard country music growing up Numerous awards, including Grammy, ACM, and CMA trophies presented to Alabama Gibson J-50 acoustic guitar that belonged to Randy Owens father, used by Owen on early recordings Gibson J-50 acoustic guitar that belonged to Randy Owens father, used by Owen on early recordings Brocade suit, one of Jeff Cooks first stage costumes. Fringed suede shirt, given to Gentry by William Lee Golden of the Oak Ridge Boys at Alabamas first June Jam, 1982. Their songs are some of the most memorable in country music. Their musical talents are monumental. The longevity of their career speaks volumes, said Museum CEO Kyle Young. Were thrilled to welcome these Country Music Hall of Fame members into their home, the museum, and to share their story through this exhibition. Alabama: Song of the South will trace the musical beginnings, trials and successes of the band. Cousins Jeff Cook, Teddy Gentry, and Randy Owen formed their first band as teenagers in small-town Fort Payne, Alabama. For a decade, the band honed its unique, crowd-pleasing blend of country music and Southern rock, playing at nightclubs in the Southeast. In 1979, the group recruited Massachusetts-born Mark Herndon to become their drummer, and the band signed with RCA in 1980. Alabama would go on to become one of the most loved bands in the country, in any genre, scoring dozens of chart-topping singles, selling tens of millions of albums, and setting concert attendance records. The band widened countrys appeal to young listeners and earned an array of awards, including CMA Entertainer of the Year honors for 1982, 1983, and 1984. Alabama was named Artist of the Decade, for the 1980s, by the ACM. By 1993 Alabama had released thirty-two #1 Billboard singles for RCA, including Mountain Music, Dixieland Delight, Love in the First Degree, Song of the South, and other classics, often referencing their Southern roots. They were among the first crossover country acts to play large performance venues, incorporating arena-rock-style production and stage movements into their shows. Singing, playing their instruments, and writing many of their songs, Alabama inspired a trend toward the formation and promotion of other self-contained bands in country music. Alabama joined the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005. Founding members Cook, Gentry, and Owen continue to record and tour. In 2014 Alabama returned to its Southern gospel roots with Angels Among Us: Hymns & Gospel Favorites, earning a Dove award from the Gospel Music Association. Last year Alabama reached #2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart with Southern Drawl, their first album of new material since 2001. For more information about the exhibit, visit www.countrymusichalloffame.org General information At the invitation of the Georgian authorities, the North Atlantic Council (NAC) chaired by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will visit Georgia on 7 and 8 September 2016. On 7 September, the Secretary General will chair a meeting of the NATO-Georgia Commission in Tbilisi, with the participation of the Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili. On 8 September, in Tbilisi, the NATO Ambassadors and the Secretary General will also meet the President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili and Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia David Usupashvili and members of the Parliament. They will have a meeting with The Minister of Defence of Georgia Levan Izoria and the Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze. Outreach activities will be organized, during which the NATO Ambassadors will engage with members of the opposition parties, media and NGOs. During the visit, the NATO Secretary General will deliver a speech at the National Library. Media coverage The media program will be communicated at a later stage on both NATO website (www.nato.int/) and the website of the Office of the State Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Georgia (www.eu-nato.gov.ge), and handed to media representatives upon accreditation. It will include restricted access by selected visual media to some of the scheduled events. The opening of the meetings, and unrestricted access to press conferences. Some of the key events will be as below. On the first day: Coverage of the opening remarks of the NATO-Georgia Commission meeting Joint press conference of the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the Prime Minister of Georgia, H.E. Mr. Giorgi Kvirikashvili (Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel). Inauguration of the new premises of the Information Centre on NATO and EU with the participation of the Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow and the State minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration David Bakradze. During the second day, the following main events are open for media coverage: Opening remarks at the meetings with members of the Parliament and the President of Georgia NATO Secretary Generals speech Press Conference by the President of Georgia and the NATO Secretary General Precise timings and locations will be provided upon accreditation. Live coverage of the media events is foreseen and will be made available by NATO on web streaming and via satellite. The NATO TV/Radio Office in Brussels will make available video and still photographic material via the NATO website and upon request in broadcast quality. Media accreditation Prior accreditation is required and must be made through this website: http://mfa.gov.ge/NAC/form.aspx. The submission of applications for accreditation is now open and will close of business on 1 September (Tbilisi time). Applications received after that deadline might not be considered. Media can pick up their accreditation passes on 6 September from 11 a.m. at the Radisson Blu Iveria. Media passes must be picked up in person upon presentation of a valid I.D. card or passport. Media center A media centre with appropriate facilities will be set up at the Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel, Tbilisi. It will include work space, complimentary Wi-Fi and LAN internet connections, printers, a CCTV system broadcasting in English, French, Georgian and Russian, telephone (local) and fax lines, photocopiers. The media center will be open as follows: 06 September from 11h until 21h 07 September from 10h 21h 08 September from 7h 20h Security access Security screening will take place upon entering the venues, which frequently results in long lines and delays. Media representatives should time their arrival on site accordingly. Those media representatives wishing to bring in TV, photo or large recording equipment (including SNGs or OB vans) must arrive at the venues ahead of time for security checks. Transport / accommodation Media representatives interested in covering the events should make their own arrangements regarding transport to Tbilisi, accommodation and / or visa. Contact Armenia PM: Im ready to sign document, accept that Russian peacekeepers term in Karabakh be extended 10-20 years Armenias Pashinyan: We are ready to delegate border guard service operation to Russian border guards Finland, Sweden promise to join NATO together European Parliament calls on Armenia to consider diversifying its security partnerships Visiting Armenia MPs brief Canada lawmaker on recent Azerbaijan military aggression Armenia PM at ruling party congress: We declared repairing states foundation our primary task Karabakh President: Russia leaders statement inspires certain hopes Armenia ruling party congress kicks off Man breaks into US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's home, demands to speak with her, beats husband with hammer EU-Armenia Joint Committee on Research and Innovation first meeting to be held in November Provincial governor of Armenias Gegharkunik: EU monitoring mission already started US accuses Russia of disinformation regarding Washington intentions towards Armenia, Azerbaijan Mexico fully legalizes gay marriage Newspaper: Azerbaijan not inclined to sign anything with Armenia in Russias Sochi Armenia ruling party convening closed convention Italian prime minister demands that she be addressed as prime minister in masculine form Pentagon to send Ukraine new aid package worth $275 million Europe will ban sale of one type of car European Commission head announces new aid and investments for Serbia Biden calls Putin's rhetoric on nuclear weapons 'dangerous' Lukashenko on Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict: What are you fighting for in these mountains, where not even goats walk? Swedish authorities offer to create united northern army Lukashenko: Conflict issue between Armenia and Azerbaijan must be resolved now - with Ilham Aliyev Lukashenko about situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border: Where are we racing horses, where are we rushing to? Pashinyan: Armenia-Diaspora relations undergo profound substantive changes Lukashenko to Pashinyan: Sit down with Aliyev and make a decision, if you don't make it today, it will be worse Bulgarian interim government urges to speed up transition to euro zone President of Karabakh: It is necessary to unite all national potential and efforts IMF: China's sharp and uncharacteristic economic slowdown will stall growth in Asia by the end of 2023 Iran: Riots in country were planned by the intelligence services of the USA, England, Israel and the KSA Steinmeier: Ukraine war caused 'epochal break' in Germany's relations with Russia Gas prices in Europe remain high in coming years Ararat Mirzoyan and Toivo Klaar stress importance of hosting EU civilian mission in Armenia Armenia's ambassador-at-large: Daily false propaganda can't cover up Azerbaijani war crimes Taiwan MFA outraged by Putin's speech on his status and Pelosi's visit Armenia gives no response to peace treaty proposals, Bayramov says Netanyahu expects return to power after 5th Israeli election in 4 years Armenian gravestone found in Trabzon, Turkey neighborhood Pashinyan: CSTO Secretary General's report mainly reflects existing realities Azerbaijan talks possible deliveries of its gas to international Turkish hub CSTO leaders to meet in late November: Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border will be discussed Dollar, euro continue falling in Armenia Pelosi's house attacked, her husband injured Russias Putin to have private talks with Armenias Pashinyan, Azerbaijans Aliyev Mher Grigoryan: CIS needs a new scientific and technical agreement Pentagon strategy doesn't rule out use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear threats French National Assembly plans to pass resolution proposing certain sanctions against Azerbaijan Mher Grigoryan: There are no other corridors in the trilateral statement other than Lachin's Konstantin Zatulin: Russia should have made maximum efforts so that there would be no war in Karabakh The Hill: The American people deserve to know how the war in Ukraine will end Sochi to host trilateral talks of Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders on October 31 Poland receives first Turkish drones Hungarian government may extend price limits on fuel and some basic foodstuffs Armenias Simonyan attends meeting of heads of EEU countries parliaments Polish general appointed as head of EU mission to train Ukrainian troops Russia MP: Karabakh status decision is in fact its Armenians safety guarantee Zatulin: West seeks to push Russia out of negotiation process at any cost Legislature head proposes to organize, under CIS auspices, return of Armenians detained in Azerbaijan Iran prevents bomb explosion in Shiraz crowded street Iraqi parliament expresses vote of confidence in new cabinet France lawmakers visit Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan Putin: Moscow is doing everything possible to normalize relations between Yerevan and Baku Annual shopping festival kicks off in Dubai on December 15 Lazarevsky Club: Minute of silence held in memory of fallen Russian and Armenian soldiers Bayramov and US Assistant Secretary of State discuss Yerevan-Baku relations Expansion of cooperation with Interpol is important, Armenia PM says Armenia defense minister briefs Austria envoy on situation due to recent Azerbaijan military aggression (PHOTOS) Australia can't rule out energy price caps Armenia parliament speaker: Use, threat of force undermine processes aimed at establishing peace Garo Paylan is in Yerevan Barack Obama tries to help Democrats win midterm elections Azerbaijan president, Russia first deputy PM discuss North-South transport corridor project PM Pashinyan receives France-Armenia friendship group delegation from French parliament Taiwan urges China to start talking Armen Grigoryan and Toivo Klaar discuss Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiation process Matviyenko: Russia will continue mediation for signing Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty Politico: Scholz and Macron threaten U.S. trade retaliation CIS premiers sign several agreements at Kazakhstan meeting Konstantin Zatulin: Nagorno-Karabakh peoples right to self-determination must be respected Armenia legislature head: Policy of threats, coercion is unacceptable to us U.S. must strengthen its defense against growing threats from both China, Russia Karabakh ex-President: Necessary to rule out mistakes, miscalculations which will have irreversible consequences EU reaches agreement to ban new cars with internal combustion engine by 2035 Benny Gantz: Future of Israel and Turkey is promising EU Special Representative for South Caucasus arrives in Armenia Lazarevsky Club meeting underway in Yerevan, Moscow Yellen sees no sign of recession in U.S. economy in near future Cannes palm trees promenade named after Charles Aznavour Pashinyan: Armenia agrees to work on basis of main principles proposed by Russia CIS prime ministers meeting kicks off in Kazakhstan Newspaper: Karabakh people to make appeal to Armenia authorities Viking swords embedded in mound 1,200 years ago discovered in Sweden Residents of Moldova asked not to go out into street in dark Bloomberg reports fuel shortages in some parts of Europe British schoolboy writes book that became bestseller Lebanon, Israel sign deal on maritime border demarcation Spanish prime minister twice mistakes Kenya for Senegal during his speech Peskov: CSTO meeting to be held before Armenia-Azerbaijan-Russia summit Putin says he is ready to negotiate with Ukraine Putin compares Indian Prime Minister Modi to icebreaker Armenia Development Fund (ADF) Director Karen Mkrtichian informed that an investment forum devoted to the attracting of foreign investments in Armenias economy will be held in New York City, on October 10 and 11, according to the Voice of America Armenian service. In his words, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, senior officials from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, and executives of companies will deliver remarks at the event that will take place at Wall Street. This is the first such event in 15 years, noted Mkrtichian. We will introduce eight domains of Armenias economy, and the state programs aimed at assisting them. As per the ADF executive, Armenias economy may be of interest for foreign investors. Armenia has the potential to become a platform for European and American companies, which can then transport their products to Russia and other countries of the Eurasian Economic Union, without customs duties. Her body was found on the side of a roadway on February 9, 2016hands and feet bound and a plastic bag over her head. Only two days earlier, Anabel Flores Salazar, mother of two, had been snatched from her home in the state of Veracruz, Mexico, by armed assailants. Now she was dead. Murdered. And her story was a familiar one: A crime-beat reporter for the newspaper El Sol de Orizaba, Salazar had suffered the same fate of scores of Mexican journalists killed over the past few years for covering news about crime, corruption, and drug cartels in their country. How has an almost-certain death sentence for simply reporting the truth affected the way Mexican journalists practice their craft? That is at the heart of a first-of-its-kind study by a University of Miami scholar and research partners in Mexico who spent nearly three years studying the problem. Sallie Hughes, Associate Professor, Department of Journalism and Media Management and Latin American Studies Program, School of Communication, University of Miami Sallie Hughes, an associate professor in UMs School of Communication, and her colleagues Mireya Marquez-Ramirez of the Iberoamerican University in Mexico City and Marco Lara Klahr of the Media and Violence Program of the non-profit Instituto de Justicia Procesal Penal in Mexico City, surveyed nearly 380 Mexican journalists, asking them to report on the types of measures they use to reduce the risk of reprisals and direct threats carried out against them for covering certain types of news stories. Among their findings: Nearly 68 percent of the journalists surveyed had practiced self-censorship, more than 64 percent abandon street reporting, and over 57 percent adhere to their media organizations censorship policies. Half (50.3 percent) of the Mexican journalists surveyed reported hiding sensitive information from suspicious people or untrustworthy colleagues in their own newsrooms, according to the study. The study was presented at the UNESCO Conference on Journalist Safety last May in Helsinki, Finland, at the United Nations World Press Freedom Day ceremonies, and will appear in a UNESCO book on journalist safety expected next year. In Mexico, 81 journalists were murdered and 18 disappeared between 2000 and 2014, according to the Mexico City office of the London-based free expression advocate Article 19, with the numbers continuing to increase. Article 19 has also reported that 2016 has been one of the deadliest years for journalists on record. In recent years, media headquarters have been attacked with grenades or gunfire with widespread impunity. I have always been impressed and humbled by journalists in Mexico and Latin America and the conditions they work in, said Hughes, author of Newsrooms in Conflict: Journalism and the Democratization of Mexico. Its a vocation, a passion for many of these journalists, but at some point the violence and threats become too much. For Marcos Hernandez Bautista, his sensitive reporting in Oaxaca that included covering cacicazgos, local strongmen who rule parts of the region, came at a high price. The 38-year-old reporter for the daily Noticias, Voz e Imagen de Oaxaca was fatally shot as he climbed into his car last January. His friends told police that he often lived in fear. The collaborative study by Hughes, Marquez-Ramirez and Lara Klahr also found that some Mexican journalists, in an attempt to avoid the same fate suffered by Hernandez Bautista, publish stories important for their communities anonymously on social media platforms, hoping they will not be tracked down. Others in states such as Veracruz and Guerrerotwo of the worst regions in Mexico because of the prevalence of violent drug cartels and hardline local politiciansreport the news by sticking to what official police reports say. And in some instances, journalists do not publish anything at all, according to the study. Aside from anti-press violence, economic pressures also force journalists to silence critical stories and voices. Journalists who support norms of using their profession to promote social change for the public good feel the pressures the most, according to the study. Marquez-Ramirez said the study could spur other researchers to conduct their own investigations and help Mexican journalists determine what changes they need to make to their profession. "It can help policymakers and civil society organizations to better understand complex phenomena such as the decline of free press and the vulnerability of journalists in some areas, said Marquez-Ramirez, who coordinates Programa PRENDE in the Department of Communications at Universidad Iberoamericana Mexico City, an initiative in which local journalists attend a semester of studies in their field. The general public can have a glimpse into the other side of media content and the world of journalists in Mexico. These are people who face a great deal of pressure and difficulty on a daily basis. Mexico is not the only country where journalists are deliberately targeted. So far in 2016, 17 journalists have been murdered worldwide, but many of those killings, points out Hughes, occurred in war-torn countries such as Iraq and Syria. Mexico and some other countries in Latin America, notably Honduras, Brazil and Colombia, stand out, she said, because they are democracies and have a free press that struggles to work autonomously while facing high levels of threat and risk. While the situation has improved somewhat for journalists in Colombia, the danger in Mexico continues unabated. And those who murder journalists in Mexico seem to carry out their deeds with absolute impunity, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists in New York. Hughes, Marquez-Ramirez, and Lara Klahrs collaborative research study took almost three years to conduct, with interviews being conducted in person and via Skype. The researchers compiled a 1200-plus directory of media outlets from across the country and drew a stratified random sample of 130 media outlets. From there 377 journalists were selected systematically and interviewed. Winning the trust of the journalists took time, but once the study was explained very few declined to participate, said Hughes. Read this story in Spanish. Professor Wole Soyinka has been chosen by the Niger Delta Avengers to represent the group in its proposed dialogue with the federal government. Mr. Ballantyne Agiri, the spokesman for the Dialogue Group,hinted that the militants had set up a dialogue group to engage the Federal Government in meaningful dialogue as part of the initiatives to end the crisis rocking the Niger Delta region. He added that Professor Wole Soyinka was chosen because of the track records as a freedom fighter. "I was on my own when they invited me to work for them. "But I told them that one person cannot hold dialogue with the government, that we should look for eminent Nigerians who have the pedigree to do a good job. "The moment I mentioned Professor Wole Soyinka, they became interested because, according to them, he is somebody who is not from the Niger Delta, but has a credible and detribalized personality." "Right now, we are constituting the dialogue team, we are putting logistics in place. Some of the members of the team are coming from outside the country. "When you see some of them, you will even be shocked. Some of them are people who have served this country in different capacities. We are in the process. You know, this thing is not one man's business. Most of those we have contacted do not want us to disclose their names yet. "I only mentioned Soyinka to you because you remember that recently he went to Aso Rock to meet with Mr President to brief him and he said that Mr. President was happy with our proposal for peace," he added. The requested page is currently unavailable on this server. Back to [RTHK News Homepage] BENGALURU: Recently, a new warning message displayed on torrent websites startled internet users across India. Reports suggest that the Department of Telecommunications has instructed the Internet Service Providers in India to effectively start blocking access to almost all torrent websites and issue strict warnings for the website visitors. The new warning is applicable to all internet users across the country, and if found guilty, they will have to bear a penalty of Rs 3 lacs along with imprisonment of up to three years. The new warning is reads: This URL has been blocked under the instructions of the Competent Government Authority or in compliance with the orders of a Court of competent jurisdiction. Viewing, downloading, exhibiting or duplicating an illicit copy of the contents under this URL is punishable as an offence under the laws of India, including but not limited to under Sections 63, 63-A, 65 and 65-A of the Copyright Act, 1957 which prescribe imprisonment for 3 years and also fine of upto 3,00,000/-. Any person aggrieved by any such blocking of this URL may contact at urlblock@tatacommunications.com who will, within 48 hours, provide you the details of relevant proceedings under which you can approach the relevant High Court or Authority for redressal of your grievance. As clearly mentioned above, the warning imposes restrictions on viewing, exhibiting, downloading or duplicating a copy of the content. The most tragic and ridiculous part about the message is that even viewing the content is termed as illegal. Additionally, it also hinders several legal uses of torrent websites, which happens to be a confusing factor for users. For instance, Ubuntu, a widely used version of Linux alternatively distributes its operating system via torrent websites. Making torrents illegal in all aspects, the new rule will effectively put a halt on the process of downloading Ubuntu. Read Also: New 'Smart' Windows To Cut Your Power Bills! Now Get Paid For Using Microsoft's Edge Browser Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) Hitting Converted Resistance Source: Stock Traders Daily Technical Summary Term Near Mid Long Rating Neutral Weak Neutral P1 87.05 83.71 87.83 P2 87.94 89.25 93.62 P3 88.63 94.59 99.02 Get Notified When our Ratings Change: Take a Trial Long Term Trading Plans for XOM August 24, 2016, 8:59 am ET The technical Summary and associated Trading Plans for XOM listed below will help you make important timing decisions for your trades. This data is based on our proprietary analysis for XOM. In addition we offer Market Timing Models and Stock Filters in the links above which may increase the proficiency of the decisions you make. XOM - (Long) Support Plan There is no current Support Plan to trigger a buy of this stock at this time. This usually means that there are no clear support levels at this time, so buying the stock as it falls could be considered catching a falling knife. Buy signals only exist if resistance breask higher. This often is a signal that the stock you are watching is weak. Waiting for a turn higher may be more intelligent than trying to catch a falling knife. In any case, new support levels are usually revised to the database at the beginning of the next trading session. XOM - (Short) Resistance Plan Short under 87.83, target n/a, stop loss @ 88.09. The technical summary data is suggesting a short of XOM as it gets near 87.83, but the downside target is not available from the current data. This tells us to hold that position if it is triggered until a new downside target has been established (updates occur at the beginning of every trading session) or until the position has been stopped. The summary data tells us to have a stop loss in place at 88.09. 87.83 is the first level of resistance above 87.72, and by rule, any test of resistance is a short signal. In this case, if resistance 87.83 is being tested, so a short signal would exist. Our observations suggest that Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) is testing a level of longer term converted resistance, which defines a former level of support that had broken. Converted resistance levels are just as important, sometimes more important, than solidified support or resistance levels might be, so this is important. Furthermore, on a fundamental basis, our in-house consensus observations suggest that analysts are looking for significant improvement in EPS growth in the year to come. Although TTM Q/Q growth rates are still expected o be negative next quarter, they too are expected to improve, but not until 2017 will meaningful repatriation of lost EPS b expected to be realized. In fact, in 2017 our in-house consensus estimates suggest a 79.59% increase in EPS, and if that's true the PE multiple, which is expected to press 35x next quarter, will drop to 20x. We are not placing a value-factor on 20x at this time, but suggest that investors respect the technicals. These also update periodically and we would suggest monitoring them for changes over time. They will change as the trading channels change of course. Non-travel Zika cases in Fla. could approach 400 by summers end Nearly 400 non travel-related Zika infections will occur in Florida before the end of the summer, according to new projections by biostatisticians at the University of Florida and other institutions. In addition, the virus is projected to spread to several other Southeastern states with handfuls of cases projected to pop up from Texas to South Carolina and even Oklahoma. The projections come weeks after the Florida Department of Health identified the nations first locally acquired cases of the Zika virus in Miami-Dade County. UF researchers had already produced projections for other countries, which have experienced local Zika virus transmission for months and in some cases, years. Though the virus has been in South America for more than a year, some scientists doubted that it would ever come to the United States. It wasnt clear at first whether mosquito densities were high enough to sustain an outbreak in the U.S., said Dr.Ira Longini, a professor of biostatistics in the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions and the College of Medicine. Once the first cases of locally transmitted Zika fever were identified in Miami, however, Longini and his colleagues felt more comfortable publishing 2016 estimates projecting the number of locally transmitted cases that they expect will occur in Florida. The model projects 395 Zika infections in Florida by Sept. 15 due to local transmission and 79 symptomatic cases by the same date. In addition, they forecast that a median of eight of the infections will be in pregnant women during their first trimester. Other states expected to see locally acquired Zika are below, followed by the number of locally acquired cases and the number of symptomatic cases: Alabama 11, 2 Arkansas 3, 1 Georgia 6, 1 Louisiana 4, 1 Mississippi 10, 2 Oklahoma 12, 2 South Carolina 16, 3 Texas 5, 1 While many researchers have performed retrospective analyses of Zika infection outcomes using data from Brazil and elsewhere in Latin America, none to date have involved prospective cohorts. This cohort will allow investigators to follow pregnant mothers through time, measuring the pregnancy outcomes of those who were likely infected in the in the first trimester of their pregnancy. The results of the research will help Longini and others further codify the range of birth defects that fall under congenital Zika syndrome, as well as the likelihood of microcephaly and other birth defects. As many of the prospective mothers began their pregnancies during late 2015 and early 2016, Longini expects to begin learning about their pregnancy outcomes in the fall. Much of the analysis presented on the website was published last July in bioRxiv. Longini, a senior researcher at UFs Emerging Pathogens Institute, partnered with Dr. Alessandro Vespignani at Northeastern University, Dr. Elizabeth Halloran at the University of Washington, and scientists from several other institutions to produce a website showing how Zika virus has spread through Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America, and projecting how it might spread in the future. At UF, Longini worked with Dr. Natalie Dean, a postdoctoral fellow in the department of biostatistics, and Dr. Diana Patricia Rojas, a third-year graduate student in the department of epidemiology, to contribute to the publication. The three also collaborated with UF biostatisticians Dr. Yang Yang and Dr. Eben Kenah to produce an article in Eurosurveillance on Zika epidemiology and transmissibility in Colombia. In Colombia, were trying to estimate the proportion of women infected in the first trimester who get microcephaly and other birth defects, Longini said. The researchers are partnering with the Colombia National Institute of Health, which has assembled a cohort of 15,000 pregnant women who are either known to have been infected with Zika virus while pregnant or who suspect they were infected. Thats the largest cohort in all of Latin America, Rojas said. It will give very good information about the exact proportion of pregnant women infected with Zika that can develop birth defects. India's leading auto portal CarDekho.com has launched Digital Loan Platform for Used Car Dealers to provide hassle-free loan experience to their customers. A potential car buyer can simply ask their dealer for loan offers on any pre-inspected car and with a few click partner dealers can check their eligibility on the spot with multiple banking partners. They can also start the loan application process in seconds by uploading their KYC and basic documents on the platform. Every year more than three million used cars are sold in India. However, finance penetration on these transactions remains low due to limited process innovation in this space. Lenders need to assess quality of the underlying car, along with the creditworthiness of a buyer and manage the title transfer process. This makes the entire used car loan process cumbersome for both customers and dealers. Naturally, dealers often end up discouraging loans to their customers to encourage faster inventory turnover on their used car stock. CarDekho.com has partnered with leading banks, including HDFC Bank, Axis, Tata Capital, Mahindra Finance etc, to promote penetration through digital innovation. The company has developed deep tech integrations with these banks to generate instant and customized EMI quotes and enable instant applications. Through its proprietary tech systems the company plans to cut down loan processing time to 72 hours as compared to average 10-15 days currently. Its CarDekho.com Trustmark certification report ensures assessment of car quality, and thus avoiding post processing delays. "It is a hassle for a used car buyer to apply for a loan due to the lack of clarity on loan amount, higher rates of interest and delays in processing time. Right now, 70 percent of new car buyers opt for a loan while only under 15 percent of used car buyers end up financing their car. With our new solution, we plan to change this drastically," said CEO-Used Cars CarDekho.com, Rajat Sahni. According to a customer survey, more than a third of respondents ended up buying a car in a higher segment than the one they began their search after having clarity on loan amount. "That's why it is important to find loan offers and show EMI tags. We aim to revolutionize the service levels in used car finance and make it as easy as new car finance," added Rajat. "We are delighted to partner with CarDekho.com to offer the whole gamut of our product offerings. As a market leader in this category along with our wide distribution network in the urban, semi-urban and rural areas, our association with cardekho.com will help customer discover HDFC Bank's latest offers on used car finance and am sure we will be able to fulfill their demand," said Business Manager Auto Loans HDFC Bank, Nitish Nagori. CarDekho.com has already facilitated annualized loan GMV of USD 20+ million since the launch of the pilot in Delhi NCR. CarDekho.com will extend this service to multiple dealer partners across the country in the coming months. CarDekho.com currently runs one of India's largest used car classifieds platform helping customers discover a used car of their choice and enabling sellers to reach out to more buyers. It also launched CarDekho Trustmark certification and warranty to ensure buyers can purchase car with complete peace of mind and has inspected over two lakh plus vehicles till now. The launch of digital used car loan platform is another step to create a more robust used car ecosystem in the India. (ANI) Virtual Reality films seem to be the future of film-making and one Indian film-maker has already made us proud in the same. 'Right to Pray', a documentary film by filmmaker Khushboo Ranka, which is made the new medium of Virtual Reality (VR), has become one of the five VR films to be premiered at Toronto International Film Festival 2016 (TIFF). The documentary film is the first VR film from India and is also one of the first VR narrative documentaries in the world. Produced by Memesys Culture Lab, a cinema and new media studio founded by filmmaker Anand Gandhi, the film is part of the first batch of VR documentaries made in India. The VR experience will premiere next month at what has been described as the most important and influential film festival in the world. "We want to use VR to help collapse the barrier of 'otherness' between the viewer and the audiences," says the Executive Producer of the VR film, Anand Gandhi, "because, after all, in a deeply interconnected world, there is no 'other'." Despite a High Court directive upholding women's right to enter the sanctum sanctorum of Hindu temples, conservative forces were still obstructing women from entering the inner premises. A group of women activists decided to combat the regressive patriarchy and stormed into the inner chamber of the temple of Trimbakeshwar in Nashik, India, in April this year. Challenging the notion of the impurity of women, and an archaic 450-year-old tradition based on it, they were seeking to exercise their right to pray against the will of the system and the people. "I felt certain that we just have to capture this historical moment in VR", says director of Right to Pray, Khushboo Ranka. "I am an atheist but I was drawn to this story, and I wondered why I cared if women were not being allowed in the sanctum sanctorum? I kept thinking about what was motivating these women. They wanted to touch, consecrate and author sacredness for themselves. And they were facing intense resistance from some very decent people. Is this where it all begins then? If "god" doesn't want to be touched by women, and prefers the "purity of men", it is only natural for people to follow suit and do the same in their own homes and families. After all, they are only human." Right to Pray is the first of a series that Memesys plans to release as a part of its mixed reality magazine ElseVR. To be published online as a quarterly, the magazine will feature essays and stories powered by Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality, giving the viewers the ability to go inside the story. It will bring together the comprehensive quality of prose and the immediacy of film with the intimacy of VR. To this end, the magazine aims to bring together formidable filmmakers and writers. Khushboo Ranka, who is also the Editor-in-chief of ElseVR, will have two of her films premiered at TIFF this year (a first for an Indian filmmaker) - 'Right to Pray' and the long-awaited non-fiction political thriller An Insignificant Man. Directed by Ranka and VinayShukla, 'An Insignificant Man' chronicles the spectacular rise of Arvind Kejriwal from a social activist to a controversial politician. (ANI) Defence Expert Commodore (Retd.) C. Uday Bhaskar on Tuesday cornered Pakistan for booking Baloch leaders-in-exile for siding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said Islamabad is now on the back foot as the global community is becoming aware of the atrocities that have been committed in Balochistan. Commodore (Retd.) Bhaskar told ANI that Pakistan's next step would be to use the offices of organisation of Islamic countries to try and draw attention towards Kashmir. "Clearly, Pakistan I think is trying to draw attention to what they thought would be a trump card namely to draw international attention to developments in Kashmir particularly the kind of protest and turbulence that we have seen after the killing of Burhan Wani by the Indian security forces," Commodore (Retd.) Bhaskar said. "Now, this is a political reality that the Indian Government is addressing in its own way and as in the past Pakistan has tried to derive maximum benefit in the International arena based on this development. And I think in the manner in which India has now drawn attention to Balochistan and to Pakistan occupied Kashmir has put Pakistan on the back foot because for the first time we are seeing that the global community is becoming aware of the atrocities that have been committed in Balochistan," he added. Commodore (Retd.) Bhaskar said Pakistan has now compelled India, which was aware of it in the past but had chosen not to use this particular option, to take this particular path. "I think the reaction of the Pakistani Government and strategy that they will adopt is in a way predictable. And the next step we will see is that they will try and use offices of the organisation of Islamic countries to try and draw attention towards Kashmir," he added. The defence expert further said the police case registered against the Baloch leaders by the Pakistani Government is at one level predictable. "The fact that these leaders in exile had welcomed and supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi's observations about the denial of basic political rights and the deplorable human rights condition of the citizen of Balochistan is something that has clearly irked the Pakistani Government and hence they have filed this particular non-bailable warrant against these Baloch leaders," Commodore (Retd.) Bhaskar said. "And in many ways what this will do is only to reiterate the point being made by India namely the Baloch are being treated as less than second class citizens in their own country and that this is something that has to be addressed and redressed by the Pakistani Government," he added. Five cases, including that of sedition, have been registered against three top Baloch nationalist leaders in Pakistan for allegedly backing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's supportive words on Balochistan in his August 15 Independence Day address. As per reports, Brahamdagh Bugti, Harbiyar Marri and Banuk Karima Baloch were booked under Sections 120, 121, 123 and 353 of the Pakistan Penal Code at five police stations in the Khuzdar area in the restive province following complaints lodged against them. On India's Independence Day, Prime Minister Modi had said that the people from areas like Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Balochistan have thanked him for flagging the human rights abuses of their people by Pakistan's security forces. The Prime Minister's comments were criticised as "crossing a red line" by the Pakistan Government, a charge New Delhi rejected. (ANI) Urging the government to initiate dialogue with Pakistan, Azad said the situation in Jammu and Kashmir will not improve unless the government takes a step forward. "They have not started the talks. He must have at least made an announcement and started the dialogue. It has been 46 days of curfew now. The Prime Minister should initiate talks. Unless they take a step forward, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir won't improve," he added. The former chief minister also demanded that the use of pellet guns must be stopped at the earliest. Azad also welcomed Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to Jammu and Kashmir tomorrow to take stock of the situation. (ANI) Condemning the United States for supporting Amnesty International after a sedition case was registered against it; the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) on Wednesday said the former is no one to interfere in India's internal matter. "Who is USA to support Amnesty in our internal matter? Weather it is Amnesty or any other, we will not tolerate anyone raising anti-national slogans against our country. No matter who supports them, whether it is America, Russia or Japan, or any other country. We will not want any other country supporting anti-national people to interfere in our internal issues," JD-U leader Ajay Alok told ANI. The United States yesterday backed Amnesty International after a case of sedition was filed against it in Bengaluru for hosting a Kashmir event where 'anti-India' slogans were raised. Mark Toner, the U.S. State Department's Deputy Spokesperson, said Washington supports the right to freedom of expression of anyone, including Amnesty. (ANI) Before proceeding to Srinagar, the Home Minister expressed his intent on social networking site Twitter. Mr Singh tweeted, "Leaving New Delhi for Srinagar on a two-day visit..,..Shall interact with civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders". "I will be staying at the Nehru Guest House....Those who believe in Kashmiriyat(culture & heritage) Insaniyat(humanity) and Jamhooriyat(politics) are welcome". The visit-second in a month- to the protests-rocked state, is being undertaken close on the heels of PrimeMinister Narendra Modi's meeting with a delegation of leaders of the opposition parties from the statehere on Monday. The PM at the meeting had expressed his concern over prevailing situation in the valley. The state has been witnessing protests since July 8 following Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani's killing in an encounter. The protests were marred by violence and frequent police firing at someplaces in the valley that had so far killed 67 people. Many towns and areas in the valley are under curfew since July 8.UNI SS SB 1236 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0089-901333.Xml President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice-President M Hamid Ansari have greeted the people on the eve of Janmashtami. The President in his message said, "I convey warm greetings and good wishes to all my fellow countrymen on the joyous occasion of Janmashtami. Lord Krishna's life and teachings emphasise the importance of performing one's duty without thought of reward, of different paths leading to the same goal and of the importance of ethical and moral values to society," "On this auspicious day celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna, let us commit ourselves to follow the path of virtue and righteousness in thought, word and deed," he said. The Vice-President in his message said, "I extend my warm greetings and good wishes to the people of our country on the auspicious occasion of Janmashtami. Celebrated across the country with traditional fervour and enthusiasm, Janmashtami marks the birth of Lord Krishna. The eternal message of performing our duties with sincerity without attachment to the results bestowed by Lord Krishna in the 'Bhagwad Geeta' has been a source of inspiration for the entire humanity". "May this auspicious day bring peace, amity, harmony and prosperity in our lives, "Mr Ansari said.Janmashtami, the birth of Lord Krishna, would be celebrated with traditional fervour and enthusiasm tomorrow across the country. UNI RBE CJ ADG 1250 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0427-901334.Xml The situation in Agartala continued to be tense for the second day today following a clash triggered from a rally organised by tribal based Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT). While 23 people, including policemen, were hospitalised with serious injuries, another 30 managed to flee from the spot after being beaten up by violent mob yesterday. Most of the schools in Agartala observed an undeclared holiday today with markets and shopping complexes in the city almost closed. A very few vehicles were seen plying on the street. Attendance in the government offices was also very thin. Panic gripped the city dwellers since last night when police cordoned off a few hundred IPFT supporters who participated in the rally in Swami Vivekananda stadium till 2300 hrs with their vehicles. The promulgation of 144 CrPC prohibiting unlawful assembly has been extended.. Damaged two-wheelers and cars and stones and bricks were seen lying on the streets in multiple locations as paramilitary forces captured major parts of the city. However, there was no official statement so far on the incident. According to reports, tension in mixed populated parts of the state has been continuing and normal life was affected across the state. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has been informed by the state BJP over the situation and 'failure' of the Left Front government to handle it. Meanwhile, Opposition Congress, Trinamool Congress, BJP and tribal based Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT) accused the government of its 'failure and deliberately instigating people for their existence' in tribal areas. "CPI-M took the advantage of IPFT's emotion from its previous experience and created clash and they wanted to make IPFT as scapegoat. We demand a judicial inquiry into the incident by a sitting High Court judge to reveal the conspiracy," alleged Trinamool Congress leader Ashis Saha. '' Whenever CPI-M faces tough challenge in hills they use communal card and this was also not an exception. The Chief Minister must step down accepting his failure to maintain communal harmony,'' alleged Congress president Birajit Sinha. The BJP alleged that it was a deliberate move of CPI(M) to create tension. However, the ruling CPI(M) held BJP and Trinamool Congress responsible for the incident. The BJP held rallies in several parts of the state condemning the incident and calling for restoration of peace. Trinamool Congress has announced to hold a peace rally in the afternoon in the city. UNI BB RN ADG 1344 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0311-901274.Xml "A CRPF jawan got buried under the debris when a landslide hit near Gate Number 3 at Bhawan this afternoon," police sources here said. They said that police and troops of para-military forces rushed to the spot and started the rescue operation. "The evacuation operation is still in progress, while the deceased jawan has been identified as Head Constable Harinder Singh of the 6 Battalion," they added.UNI VBH CJ SB 1339 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0400-901419.Xml "I'm so happy & proud that Ms @SakshiMalik is our new Brand Ambassador for Beti Bachao Beti Padhao in Haryana. #BBBP," the Minister tweeted. "She's a true inspiration for all the parents, who would now desire to be blessed with a girl child," she added. Earlier in the day, Sakshi landed in the national capital to a grand welcome by her parents, fans and the state Ministers of Haryana. Later, at a felicitation function in Bahadurgarh, she was handed a cheque of Rs 2.5 crore by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, beside being appointed as the state's brand ambassador for 'Beti Padhao-Beti Bachao' programme. ''It is a proud moment for us that girls of the country have done so well. Our two daughters, Sakshi Malik and P V Sindhu, have made the nation proud,'' Mr Khattar said. Thanking the nation for their support, Sakshi said, ''I want everyone to support me in future as well, so that I can win more medals for the country."UNI KU RJ 1435 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0348-901522.Xml Aiming to attract investments to the tuneof Rs 1.73 lakh crore by 2019-20, as targetted in its IndustrialPolicy Resolution-2015, the Odisha State government will be holdingan Investors' Meet in the city on August 26. Odisha Chief Minsiter Naveen Patnaik will be addressing topinvestors during the meet, while Karnataka Chief MinisterSiddaramaiah, former Prime Minister and JD(S) national President H DDevegowda and Union Minister Anant Kumar would also be present asguest of honours, Odisha Industry Minister Debi Prasad Mishra today said. Speaking to reporters here, he said the Odisha government hadinvited around 250 leaders of large and medium industries fromsectors like engineering, IT, hardware, aviation, textiles, medicaldevices, lubricants, aerospace, beverages, telecom, defence,transport and consumer durables to have interaction with the Chief Minister. He said Odisha government would also host a celebration in thecity on the same day, to commemorate the 80 years of completion offormation of Odisha State and a blood donation camp will also beheld on the occasion which will be attended by over 5000 peoplehailing from the eastern state who are residing in Karnataka. Odisha government in association with Biju Patnaik BirthCentenary Celebration Organising Committee and all Odishaassociation of Bengaluru will be organising the event, Mr Mishra added.UNI RS MSP RSS1505 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-901581.Xml As Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh reached Kashmir today to take stock of the situation in the crisis-hit state, the government today said doors of talks were open to everyone ''who is an Indian''. ''The integrity of Kashmir is non-negotiable, but otherwise the government is ready to talk to anyone who is an Indian,'' Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said here talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event. Earlier in the morning before leaving for Srinagar, the Home Minister had tweeted, ''I will be staying at the Nehru Guest House. Those who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat are welcome.'' Mr Naidu said this was the second visit of the Home Minister to Kashmir in a month in a fresh attempt to establish dialogue with the people, an opportunity which they should utilise. He said there was an elected government in Kashmir, and the people could take their grievances to it. When asked about the Kashmiri people's demand for withdrawal of the Army and security forces from the state, Mr Naidu said the forces were sent to the state not for fancy, and it was for the people there to create circumstances under which forces could be withdrawn. Meanwhile, the Home Minister today held a number of meetings in Srinagar in a bid to bring peace to the Valley which has been on the boil since July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) commander Burhan Wani and two other militants were killed in an encounter in Anantnag. So far, 68 civilians have lost their lives and over 5,500 others have been injured in security force action. Union Home Minister's visit to the Valley comes close on the heels of a delegation of Opposition parties meeting President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, seeking their intervention to bring back peace and normalcy in the Valley. Mr Modi, after meeting the delegation in New Delhi, had called for finding permanent and lasting solution to Kashmir problem within the framework of Indian Constitution for which he asked all political parties to work together in Jammu and Kashmir.UNI NAZ RSA RJ 1814 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0432-902179.Xml The protesters blocked roads and heckled district officials, expressing their anger over the quality and quantity of government aid. At several places in Patna district, protesters gave vent to their anguish. "There are reports of protests by flood victims demanding relief in Barh sub-division, Bakhtiarpur, Mokamah, Bihta, Maner and Danapur," an official said. According to the official, protesters demanded food and cattle fodder at the relief camps. "Flood victims have blocked the National Highway-80 in Mokamah and NH-30 near Maner in Patna," an official said. In Barh sub-division, flood victims staged a dharna on Wednesday to protest lack of relief. The protesters blocked the road in Bachwara in Begusarai district, demanding adequate relief. They also protested in Munger and Bhojpur districts. In the last few days, block development officers and circle officers have faced the fury of flood victims. Hundreds of flood victims gheraoed the circle officer in Raghopur in Vaishali district. The flood-hit people in Nathnagar in Bhagalpur staged a protest as well. Similar protests were staged in Samastipur, Khagaria and Aurangabad. Vayasji, Principal Secretary of the Bihar Disaster Management Department, said the water level in the Ganga may rise and that will affect people in the lowlands along the river. The government has alerted officials to keep a close watch on the situation. Till date, floods have claimed 23 lives, including 11 in Bhojpur alone. About 900 officials of the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force have been deployed in the flood-hit districts. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered cancellation of leave of police, administrative officials and engineers. The Chief Minister also directed officials to speed up rescue and relief operations. --IANS ik/bim/bg ( 312 Words) 2016-08-24-19:29:56 (IANS) Appearing on behalf of Mr Gandhi, senior counsel Kapil Sibal clarified that the petitioner hadnever accused the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh as (an) institution for the crime. "My client meant to point at individuals associated with the RSS", Mr Sibal said. The apex court observed that it appeared from the statement of the appellant that he hadnever accused RSS as an institution. However, on request from complainant Rajesh Kunte's counsel, the court granted him one week to respond to the clarification. According to reports, Mr Gandhi had made the accusations during a Thane rally in March 2014saying "RSS people killed Gandhiji and today their people(BJP) talk of him...They opposed Sardar Patel and Gandhiji." Mr Kunte, an RSS activist, had filed a defamation case against Mr Gandhi before a local courtin Bhiwandi. The Bombay High Court had declined to quash the proceedings. The Congress leader, subsequently, filed an appeal against the High Court order.UNI SS RP1935 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0089-902433.Xml The MoU will provide structured framework for cooperation between the two countries for promotion of AYUSH/Traditional Systems of Medicine in Myanmar. It will boost the importance of AYUSH systems of medicine and conservation, production and standardisation, Ms Swaraj added.UNI AR RSA RJ 1902 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0092-902307.Xml Uttar Pradesh Assembly Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey will hear the disqualification petition against Bahujan Samaj Party rebel leader Swami Prasad Maurya here, on August 31. Maurya, former leader of opposition in UP assembly had quit the BSP on June 21 and later he joined the BJP this month. State assembly secretariat sources here today said Swami Prasad Maurya has now defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party and has so far been given two opportunities to present his case. However, he failed to turn up before the Speaker on both the occasions, citing various reasons. In an application filed yesterday, Maurya has sought another extension for one week. Maurya, however, has filed a written reply to the Speaker on the petition seeking his disqualification as a member of the House filed by the Bahujan Samaj Party. Gaya Charan Dinkar, BSP leader who has replaced Maurya as the leader of opposition in UP assembly has urged the Speaker to take an early decision over the issue so that Maurya could be disqualified at the earliest. Maurya had quit the BSP in July, accusing the party chief Mayawati of selling party tickets to rich people at a price and not considering loyalty towards the party as a criterion. He had also levelled serious charges of corruption against Mayawati.BSP has also filed the petition for the disqualification of its two more MLAs Bala Prasad Awasthi and Rajesh Tripathi who had defected to the BJP. The assembly secretariat sources said the notices to both the MLAs have already been issued by the assembly Speaker. However, both the MLAs denied the receipt of the notice.The state assembly secretariat has also issued notice to the Six Congress MLAs against whom the Congress has filed petition before the Speaker of the assembly seeking their disqualification. The MLAs had cross voted during the Rajya Sabha elections in June last. The Congress had also expelled these six MLAs. Official sources said the notice to the six Congress MLAs was issued today and the MLAs have one week's time to respond.The Congress MLAs were expelled for six years are Sanjay Pratap Jaiswal (Basti), Madhuri Verma (Bahraich), Vijay Dube (Kushinagar), Mohammed Muslim (Tiloi-Amethi), Dil Nawaz Khan (Bulandshahar) and Nawab Kasim Ali Khan (Rampur). Of the six Congress MLAs three Mohammed Muslim, Dil Nawaz Khan and Nawab Kazim Ali Khan joined the BSP, while three others joined the BJP. Six MLAs, including three from the Congress, two from BSP and one from the ruling SP, have so far joined the BJP.UNI MB AKC RJ 1956 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0432-902513.Xml The arrested man, Akhilesh is a resident of Bhind district in Madhya Pradesh and is working as a driver, police said. "Akhilesh was arrested on August 22 from J.J. Colony area of north-west Delhi after a complaint against him by a minor girl's father for threatening and blackmailing her," Deputy Commissioner of Police (North-West) Vijay Singh told reporters. The complainant said his daughter was harassed and blackmailed through Facebook Messenger by an unknown person who created a fake Facebook page in her name. "He created fake profiles of girls and then sent friend requests randomly to other girls. Once they accepted his friend request, the accused exchanged mobile numbers and personal information." "If he could not meet a girl or his friendship request was not accepted, he created her fake Facebook profile or page and posted her picture and mobile number with obscene comments or title to defame and malign her," the officer added. The officer said Akhilesh blackmailed a few girls by threatening to create fake Facebook profiles or circulating these in her friends circle or locality. "He even demanded money in some cases," Singh added. The police has found around 100 mobile phone numbers of girls whom he had harassed. Akhilesh was booked under Sections 354-D (stalking), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 12 of the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act, the police said. --IANS aks/tsb/vt ( 290 Words) 2016-08-24-21:23:57 (IANS) Alleging that the Uttar Pradesh government had not provided any funds for renovation of ancient monuments like Imambara and mosques, UP Waqf Development Board chairman Abid Raza resigned from his post today. In a letter addressing to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Mr Raza said the state government has not provided any funds for renovation of mosques, dargah and Imambara. Mr Raza said the government has disappointed Muslims of the state. Muslims have always supported Samajwadi Party but by not providing any funds, the government has hurt their emotions. The Badaun cantonment MLA said he is resigning from the post for public welfare. Earlier, Mr Raza had raised severe allegation against Badaun MP Dharmendra Yadav.UNI JDM MB SHS SW 2132 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0329-902636.Xml Balagokulam', an initiative for imbuing patriotic skills and moral concerns among children by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), today celebrated Sri Krishna Jayanti all across Kerala with devotion. Thousands of children were dressed up like the child krishna, gopikas and other similar characters from Krishna's life, were seen on the streets. Huge processions of children, their parents and other devotees accompanied by beautiful tableaus and 'Chendamelam' (a typical Kerala style drum set) were taken out in many places. Traditional art forms, bhajans and band troupes lent colour to the yatra. Large number of people lined up on either side of the roads here to see the colourful procession held in the evening.UNI DS SHS SW 2231 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0329-902751.Xml Bihar government has extended the cut-off date for non-loanee farmers to insure their crops up to August 31. State Cooperative Minister Alok Kumar Mehta said here that non-loanee farmers could insure their crops by visiting any nearest commercial, rural or cooperative bank. He said farmers in flood-hit areas should insure their paddy crops within the stipulated timeframe so that they could be compensated for crop losses due to flood water. Farmers could contact district coordinators if they faced any difficulty in insuring their crops, he added. Mr Mehta said farmers who had taken loan from banks through Kisan Credit Cards during the current Kharif season, their crops would be insured automatically. He said both loanee farmers and non-loanee farmers could insure their crops up to August 31.UNI DH RL SHS SW 2258 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0329-902759.Xml Dispelling reports that Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had toned down on his stand on the RSS, the party today said Mr Gandhi had only said that Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi was killed by a person who was associated with the RSS. Talking to mediapersons here, AICC media incharge Randeep Surjewala said, "A careful reading of the relevant portion of the petition filed by Mr Gandhi indicates that as per the petitioner i.e. Congress Vice-President -- the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi was a result of destructive philosophy of the persons associated with RSS. It was also clearly suggested that the assassins were associated or affiliated with the RSS. He never accused RSS as an institution of the crime. "So, clear cut, unequivocally and clearly Mr Gandhi and the Congress party stands by the viewpoint that he had spoken about in his speech and that people affiliated to RSS killed Mahatma Gandhi." People who followed that ideology killed the Bapu of the Nation. That has been reiterated by Mr Gandhi on a sworn affidavit before the Supreme Court that was stated by him. There is no question of retraction. So, anyone who is trying to spread a rumour or untruth about there being either a toning down or a compromise on the clear-cut stands is absolutely wrong," he added. Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal, who is arguing the case for Mr Gandhi in the court, quoted the book 'Saffron Fascism' written by Shyam Chand to state that Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse was a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) supporter. "Nehru wrote a letter to Home Minister Sardar Patel on February 26, 1948, suggesting that Mahatma Gandhi's murder was part of a much wider campaign organised chiefly by the RSS. Mr Patel sent a letter to Nehru the very next day informing him that it was a fanatical wing of the Hindu Mahasabha directly under Savarkar and hatched the conspiracy and saw it through. Savarkar was not found guilty by the court. Golwalkar somehow went scot-free," Mr Sibal said. He also quoted Gopal Godse, the brother of Nathuram Godse, as saying that the latter was a part of the RSS. Mr Sibal said Gopal Godse even countered BJP patriarch for saying that Nathuram did not belong to the RSS. "Pretender to Sardar legacy L K Advani denied Godse's links with RSS. Godse's brother Gopal Godse rebuked Advani. Gopal countered Advani by saying and I quote what the brother said, "It was cowardice to say that". He said that to Advaniji. Mr Gopal says "all the brothers were in RSS" not said by Mr Gandhi said by the brother of Godse. "All the brothers were in the RSS - Nathuram, Dattatray, Govind and myself. You can say we grew up in RSS rather than in our Home. It was like a family to us. Nathuram had become a 'Buddhi karyavahak' 'intellectual' worker in the RSS". He (Gopal Godse) said in a statement that "he left the RSS. He said it because Golwalkar and the RSS were in a lot of trouble after the murder of Gandhi but he did not leave the RSS." That is his brother,'' Mr Sibal said. Mr Sibal asked how the Congress vice-president can now sought to be prosecuted for defamation when may leaders earlier had attributed the murder of Gandhi ji to an organisation. "When all these quotes and I'm saying from 1942 by various people who have directly attributed the murder of Gandhi ji to an organisation. Nobody has filed a case against them. Why have the RSS not file a case against all these authors? Why have they not filed the case against the brother of Nathuram who said we were all in the RSS? So, why this hypocrisy? Only for politics? "So, if you really are honest and you believe in what you say then you should file defamation cases against all these people, against the brother and we know for a fact, also written in books, that when Gandhi ji died they distributed sweets. It is part of literature, part of historical facts and these are matters of public debate. Now, you want to play politics then we shall see. So, let us see what the response is. I just want to clarify this so that the twitterati which is belonging to a particular mindset is going amok and we want to just state the facts and set the matter on rest," Mr Sibal said.UNI AR SHS SW 2357 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0329-902790.Xml The launch near the port city of Sinpo around 5.30 a.m. (local time) was in an apparent show of defiance against the ongoing military drill between Seoul and Washington, Yonhap news agency quoted Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) as saying. The military said the missile flew about 500 km, which is an improvement compared with past launches. It fell into waters inside Japan's air defence identification zone. Tensions are high on the divided peninsula as North Korea threatened on Monday to wage a "pre-emptive nuclear strike" on South Korea and the US against the allies' annual military exercise. --IANS py/ ( 130 Words) 2016-08-24-08:27:56 (IANS) US Vice President Joe Biden told Baltic leaders today not to take seriously comments by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump that called into question the US commitment to protect NATO allies in the face of Russian aggression.On a trip to Latvia, Biden suggested Trump, who has never held elected office, did not understand NATO's mutual defense guarantee, known as Article Five."I want to make it absolutely clear to all the people in Baltic states: we have pledged our sacred honour, the United States of America ... to the NATO treaty and Article Five," Biden, a Democrat, said in the Latvian capital."The fact that you occasionally hear something from a presidential candidate in the other party, it's ... nothing that should be taken seriously," Biden said.Biden's visit comes amid heightened tensions with Russia in the region and some nervousness among allies about Trump, who has suggested he might abandon NATO's pledge to defend all alliance members automatically if elected.Both Democrats and Republicans supported the NATO pledge, said Biden, who made his remarks during an appearance with the leaders of all three Baltic states in Riga."There is continued overwhelming bipartisan commitment in the United States of America in both political parties to maintain our commitment to NATO," he said.During a speech later in the day, Biden reiterated his point, painting Trump as uninformed about the issue."Don't listen to that other fellow. He knows not of what he speaks," Biden said.Trump is running against Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, who has also affirmed her commitment to NATO. Clinton is ahead in polls.Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, the three Baltic states, regained independence in the early 1990s, a half century after being annexed by the Soviet Union. They see themselves on the frontline of any potential conflict with Russia.NATO leaders agreed last month to deploy military forces to the Baltic states and eastern Poland for the first time and increase air and sea patrols to reassure allies in the region worried about the threat from Moscow."It is important for us that we are ready, all parties, to confirm our strategic partnership ... and we are sure that no matter what changes will be after the elections in (the) United States, their commitments ... to NATO, to (the) Baltic region, will stay," said Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite, speaking after Biden.Russia often depicts NATO as an aggressor whose members are moving troops and military hardware further into former Soviet territory, which it regards as its sphere of influence.Tomorrow, Biden travels to Turkey where he will meet President Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim before visiting Sweden to discuss Europe's asylum crisis. REUTERS DS0037 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0177-901050.Xml The FBI is investigating a double stabbing by a Virginia man who shouted the Muslim phrase "Allah Akbar," while authorities today denied media reports that the attack may have been an attempted beheading.The suspect, Wasil Farooqui, 20, of Roanoke, is charged with randomly attacking a man and woman with a knife on Saturday when they entered a Roanoke apartment building, Roanoke County police said.The man and woman were severely injured. The man fought off the attacker, who was shouting "Allah Akbar," police said. The phrase means "God is greatest" in Arabic.Farooqui is being held without bond at the Western Virginia Regional Jail near Roanoke, about (320 km) southwest of Washington.Police contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation about the attack. Adam Lee, special agent in charge of the FBI's Richmond Division, said the agency was working with police."While I cannot discuss details of the investigation at this time, I do want to reassure the community that we are working to determine the nature of the incident," he said in a statement.NBC News quoted federal law enforcement sources as saying that there was no evidence that the attack was linked to the militant Islamic State.Amy Whittaker, a spokeswoman for Roanoke County, denied reports by Fox News, ABC and others that the attack may have been an attempted beheading."I'm not sure where that information came from but it is not accurate," she said in an email.NBC said Farooqui told authorities he heard voices and investigators believed the most likely explanation was that he was mentally disturbed rather than terrorist-inspired.Police arrested Farooqui when he showed up injured at a hospital emergency room. He is charged with two counts of aggravated malicious wounding.NBC News reported that Farooqui was known to the FBI, which had earlier looked into his travel. He may have tried to get to Syria, where the Islamic State is recruiting sympathizers, but was not charged with anything after the FBI examined his travel.Federal law enforcement officials say both victims in the attack are Muslim, though the attacker may not have known that, NBC said. A spokeswoman for the FBI declined to comment. REUTERS DS0040 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0177-901051.Xml US Secretary of State John Kerry made "very strong commitments" on ways to ramp up military assistance to help Nigeria defeat the extremist group Boko Haram, a senior US official said today.In talks with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, Kerry "made very, very strong commitments to the government that we are going to look at what we can do differently," the official said, adding that Kerry had told his staff to look at ways to boost military cooperation with Nigeria.The official said Kerry had stressed that more needed to be done in working with neighboring countries, as well as Britain and France, "so we can ramp up and bring this fight to closure."The US is currently considering the sale of attack aircraft to Nigeria, which is subject to review by Congress."We have been working with them to make sure they can afford it, and they know how to use it," the official said.The official said a large part of the conversation during the one-hour meeting at the presidential villa in Abuja was dedicated to ways of boosting economic growth in Nigeria.Nigeria is in the middle of its worst economic slump in decades. Falling oil revenues have hit public finances and the value of the naira, Nigeria's currency.The United States has long pushed Nigeria to loosen its grip on the currency to help boost private investment."It was a huge topic," the official said of the discussions about the economy during the meeting. The US has previously offered to send experts to work with Nigeria's treasury."The Secretary made offers to provide additional assistance on the economy," the official added.Buhari noted during the talks that the situation in the Niger River Delta, where Nigeria faces violent unrest from local militants, was "making it hard for the government to continue to address the broader problems."REUTERS DS0116 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0177-901059.Xml Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said today he expects talks with China on their South China Sea dispute within a year and he would not raise an international ruling rejecting China's claims there when he attends a regional summit next month.An arbitration court in the Hague infuriated China in July when it ruled that China had no historical title over the South China Sea and it had breached the Philippines' sovereign rights with various actions there.Raising the issue at a summit in Laos of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, together with its "dialogue partners" including China, the United States and Japan, would inevitably compound China's anger.Duterte, speaking to reporters at the presidential palace in Manila, said it was "better to continually engage China in a diplomatic dialogue rather than anger officials there".Asked about a date for bilateral talks, he said: "Within the year."The United States, a treaty ally of the Philippines that has been concerned about China's pursuit of territory in the South China Sea, said it welcomed efforts by rival claimants to manage and resolve differences peacefully.At the same time, a spokeswoman for the US State Department, Anna Richey-Allen, said Washington "urge(d) that negotiation should be undertaken on terms acceptable to all parties, free from coercion or the use or threat of force."Washington was a strong backer of the case the Philippines brought against China, but has sought unsuccessfully to forge a unified position among Southeast Asia countries on the issue.Richey-Allen did not comment on Duterte's comment that he would not raise the issue at September 6-8 Laos summit, which US President Barack Obama is due to attend.China claims almost the entire South China Sea, through which about 5 trillion dollars worth of sea-borne trade passes every year. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam have rival claims to parts of the sea.Duterte said the Philippines had no intention of raising the arbitration ruling during the summit, although he added: "If somebody dwells on it, we will discuss, but for the Philippines, we have talks."If formal negotiations with China were to fall through, "where do we go?" he asked.A former Philippine president, Fidel Ramos, traveled to Hong Kong this month in an effort to rekindle damaged ties with Beijing.While there, Ramos said the Philippines wanted talks with China to explore a path to peace and cooperation.Duterte said his government wanted to talk to China so Philippine fishermen could return to the disputed Scarborough Shoal fishing ground.In 2012, China seized the shoal, denying Philippine fishermen access and prompting Manila to file the arbitration case.China has ignored the court's ruling that none of its claims in the Spratly Islands entitled it to a (320 km) exclusive economic zone. Its construction work on reefs there has alarmed other claimants, as well the United States and Japan.China says its aims are peaceful and it has the right to do what it wants on its territory. REUTERS DS0133 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0177-901062.Xml Syrian Kurdish forces took near complete control of Hasaka city today as a ceasefire ended a week of fighting with the government, consolidating the Kurds' grip on Syria's northeast as Turkey increased its efforts to check their influence.The Kurdish YPG militia, a critical part of the US-backed campaign against Islamic State, already controls swathes of northern Syria where Kurdish groups have established de facto autonomy since the start of the Syria war in 2011.Their growing sway has alarmed Turkey, which is fighting an insurgency among its own Kurdish minority.Syrian rebels backed by Turkey said they were in the final stages of preparing an assault from Turkish territory on the Islamic State-held Syrian border town of Jarablus, aiming to preempt any YPG attempt to take it."We will give every kind of support to the Jarablus operation. This is important for our own security," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told a news conference.The battle over Hasaka marked the most violent confrontation between the YPG and Damascus in more than five years of civil war, with the Syrian air force used against the US-backed Kurdish forces for the first time last week.Today, Hasaka's remaining government officials were confined to a few buildings known as the security quarter, while the rest of the city was under Kurdish control. The Kurds held around 70 percent of Hasaka prior to the latest fighting."Even if they (pro-government militias) keep a symbolic presence, it is a big defeat for the regime in Hasaka," said Rami Abdulrahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which reports on the war.The terms of the ceasefire that came into effect at 2 pm day included the withdrawal of the Syrian army and allied militia from Hasaka city, Kurdish officials said.The YPG would hand over all seized areas to an affiliated Kurdish police force, the Asayish. Government policemen would be left to secure the one remaining area under state control.Details reported by state TV included a prisoner swap, handing over the wounded and bodies of the dead, and opening the roads to Syrian army positions inside and outside the city.Reuters could not immediately obtain a full text of the agreement. One of the Kurdish officials said the deal was concluded yesterday evening "via international parties".In Washington, the US State Department said US-Russian talks about establishing a separate, nation-wide cessation of hostilities in Syria were making progress."We continue to make headway. We're not quite there yet," department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters, offering a more upbeat view than Secretary of State John Kerry gave yesterday.Speaking at a news conference in Nairobi, Kerry had said "it is my hope that we are reaching the end of those discussions one way or another" but added he was voicing hope, not optimism.REBELS READY ATTACKYPG-controlled areas of northern Syria include an uninterrupted 400 km stretch of the Syrian-Turkish border from the eastern frontier with Iraq to the Euphrates river, and a pocket of territory in northwestern Syria.Turkey is focused on preventing the YPG or its allies building on recent advances against Islamic State by capturing the town of Jarablus. The US-backed Syria Democratic Forces alliance (SDF), including the YPG, captured the city of Manbij, just south of Jarablus, from Islamic State earlier this month.Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus told broadcaster NTV that northern Syria should not become the domain of one group alone and that a "secure zone", an internationally policed buffer area Turkey has proposed in vain in the past, should be reconsidered.Turkey has been shelling Islamic State positions in Jarablus as part of an effort to help allied Syrian rebels secure it. Rebel sources say they have been mobilising in Turkey, ready to cross into Jarablus.Authorities in Karkamis, the Turkish town across from Jarablus, offered residents free transport to leave after repeated shelling from the Syrian side of the border.At least seven mortars landed in the town, a Reuters witness said, while a drone hovered overhead and armoured military vehicles patrolled the border. Broadcaster CNN Turk showed live footage of people leaving Karkamis, which the correspondent described as a ghost town.A Syrian rebel with one of the Turkey-backed groups said the fighters were waiting for the signal to enter Jarablus."The Turkish artillery has not stopped ... this is to create the right atmosphere to start the battle of liberating Jarablus," said the rebel, who declined to be identified.A second rebel familiar with the preparations said around 1,500 fighters were now gathered at a location in Turkey to take part. "The plan is to take Jarablus and expand south ... so as to abort any attempt by the Kurds to move north ... and so that Kurds don't take more villages," he said.The leader of the newly declared "Jarablus military council", set up with the aim of mounting its own campaign to seize Jarablus with SDF support, was assassinated today, the Observatory said. A Kurdish official said two "agents of Turkey" had been detained over the killing. REUTERS DS0152 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0177-901064.Xml When US Vice President Joe Biden visited Turkey in January, he struck a difficult balance between showing support for a NATO ally faced with multiple security threats while criticising its record on free speech and dissent.Now with relations between Washington and Ankara going through one of their testiest periods in recent memory, he may find it even tougher to get those dual messages across when he visits on Wednesday.Biden will be the most senior US official to visit Turkey since the failed July 15 coup, when a group of rogue soldiers tried to overthrow the government and killed at least 240 people.Turkey says the failed putsch was orchestrated by the Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania for 17 years. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has called on the United States to extradite Gulen.Washington has yet to do so, but the US State Department confirmed for the first time today that documents submitted by Ankara constituted a formal extradition request, though not on issues related to the attempted coup this year.The perception of a slow response by Washington has angered Erdogan and sparked an outpouring of anti-Americanism from pro-government media.The West, for its part, is worried by the widespread purges that followed the coup, in which some 40,000 people have been detained and 20,000 formally arrested.Around 80,000 people have been sacked or suspended from the military, civil service, police and judiciary. Turkey says those institutions were infiltrated by Gulen's followers years ago in a bid to take over the state. Gulen denies this.Biden, who visited Latvia today, will look to show support with Turkey, while raising concern about the extent of the crackdown, according to officials. Turkey will press its case for Gulen's extradition."The vice president will also reaffirm that the United States is doing everything we can to support Turkey's ongoing efforts to hold accountable those responsible for the coup attempt while ensuring the rule of law is respected during the process," a senior Obama administration official told reporters, briefing ahead of Biden's visit on condition of anonymity.WESTERN INSENSITIVITYTurkey is both a NATO member and part of the US coalition in the fight against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq - as well as a frequent target for the militant group. More than 50 people were killed in a suicide bombing over the weekend in the southeastern city of Gaziantep that may have been orchestrated by Islamic State.US relations have been complicated by that fight, in which Washington backs the Syrian Kurdish YPG rebels against Islamic State. Ankara is worried the YPG's advance emboldens Kurdish insurgents in its mainly Kurdish southeast. Yesterday, Turkish artillery shelled YPG positions in northern Syria.Erdogan has complained about what he sees as insensitivity from the West, saying Western countries have expressed more concern over the post-coup crackdown than the coup itself and Western leaders have been slow to voice support.Erdogan has lashed out at Washington for failing to extradite Gulen. Some Erdogan supporters have tried to blame the United States for the coup. One newspaper said the attempt was financed by the CIA and directed by a retired US army general. Both charges were vigorously denied.A day after the failed putsch, the labour minister said it was clear "America is behind it", although Erdogan's spokesman later said he had spoken "in the heat of the moment".Biden, who is due to meet with both Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim during his one-day visit to Ankara, is widely seen as making the trip because of his ability to balance tough talk with messages of support."Unhelpfully, there have been some kind of off-the-record Turkish officials asserting that somehow the United States may have had some role. But as the vice president would say, all of that is malarkey," the US official said. "We'll make that clear during the meetings and in our engagements with Turkish people."SEMI-SWEET RELATIONSAt a weekend briefing with reporters in Istanbul, Prime Minister Yildirim said that while Gulen's extradition would top the discussion, Biden was also coming to improve relations."Why is Mr Biden coming? To make our semi-sweet relations sweet," he said, in a reference to Turkish coffee.He said he wanted to see the extradition process sped up, and Gulen put under temporary arrest in the meantime.Before the July 15 coup, Turkey had already submitted 84 dossiers on Gulen and his movement to US authorities, and has since sent another four since the coup, Yildirim said.A team from the United States was due to arrive in Turkey ahead of Biden's visit and meet with judicial institutions about the extradition, he said.However, the US official said Turkey had so far only submitted extradition requests based on events before the coup."Turkish authorities have put forward a number of extradition requests through our State Department and Department of Justice for Mr Gulen," he said. "As of now, the Turkish authorities have not come forward with a formal extradition request for Gulen based on the coup itself." REUTERS DS0157 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0177-901066.Xml Opponents of Congolese President Joseph Kabila went on strike to demand that he step down when his constitutional mandate expires in December.In the commercial centre of the capital Kinshasa, home to 12 million people, rush hour seemed lighter than usual. Many shops were shuttered in the city's surrounding districts, especially opposition strongholds such as Limete.Police fired teargas to disperse dozens of protesters from opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi's UDPS party, who threw stones and erected barricades near the party headquarters in Limete, a Reuters witness said.But the strike appeared to have significantly less uptake than one in February over the same issue. In the eastern city of Goma and southern mining hub of Lubumbashi, where foreign firms have big investments, residents said that activity largely carried on as usual."I really regret seeing our Congolese brothers and sisters open their stores," said Samuel Kazadi, a motorbike taxi driver on Kinshasa's Avenue de Commerce, where several shops had their metal doors locked.But he added: "We are waiting for December 19 ... Kabila won't stay in power. The population will be in the street every day."Elections were due to be held in November, before Kabila's mandate runs out on December 19, but will be delayed as authorities enroll millions of new voters.Kabila's opponents accuse him of dragging his feet on holding the election in order to cling to power in Democratic Republic of Congo, a country that has not seen a peaceful change of government since independence from Belgium in 1960.Western powers are leaning on him to honour the constitution, which limits a president to two terms in office, and step down. They fear political tensions could reignite a regional war in the country's mineral-rich east that killed millions of people between 1996 and 2003.US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement that Washington was monitoring the situation and was concerned "the window to reach consensus on an electoral timeline and plan for transition is narrowing".Toner urged government and opposition leaders to try to advance a national political dialogue that began on Tuesday with Edem Kodjo, a Togolese diplomat and African Union-appointed facilitator, who is working with the parties on a timetable for the vote.The main opposition alliance, led by Etienne Tshisekedi, is boycotting the talks, which it sees as a delaying tactic. The talks, expected to last until Saturday, are only meant to set a schedule for further talks whose aim will eventually be to set an election timetable.In an olive branch to the opposition, the government agreed to free several democracy activists on Friday to try to ease tensions, but Tshisekedi called it insufficient.Some opposition leaders did show up for the opening session, including Tshisekedi's former chief of staff Albert Moleka and Jean-Lucien Bussa, president of the CDER party."Our doors remain wide open. Today or tomorrow, they can join us at any time," Kodjo said in his opening remarks.Kabila took power when his father was assassinated in 2001, then won his first election in 2006.REUTERS DS0410 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0177-901078.Xml Kansas asked a US appeals court to reinstate rules requiring proof of US citizenship from people registering to vote, the latest political battle over stringent identification laws enacted in Republican-led states ahead of the 2016 presidential election.The mandate that Kansans present passports, birth certificates or other proof of citizenship when registering to vote while obtaining driver's licenses was challenged by a US District Court judge in May.Her ruling restored the right to vote in the November 8 election for thousands of people who were asked if they wanted to register while at motor vehicle offices, but not required to submit the additional documentation. Judge Julie Robinson ordered those people to be re-registered. She said that Kansas could identify only three non-citizens who voted between 2003 and the onset of the law in 2013.Kansas' law is one of the strictest voter identification statutes in the country, making the state a symbol for mostly Republican Party supporters who say the rules are meant to prevent voter fraud. Opponents, mostly Democrats, say they discriminate against minorities."Every time a noncitizen votes, it effectively cancels out the vote of a citizen," Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach said in court filings ahead of yesterday's oral arguments.In arguments before the Denver-based US 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, Kobach said, "We don't need to be authorized by the federal government" to set up rules to manage state and local elections.Arguing for the lower court's decision to be upheld, the American Civil Liberties Union specifically targeted a portion of Kansas law that deals with people who register to vote at motor vehicle department offices.The ACLU argued that the requirement conflicts with a federal law from 1993 aimed at making it easier for people to register to vote by doing so when they apply for a driver's license.Because that law does not require people to bring more documentation than they would need to get a driver's license, Robinson ruled that about 18,000 people whose registration had been invalidated by the state should be re-registered.Republican Party presidential candidate Donald Trump, who earlier this month said that voters who opposed his candidacy are "going to vote 10 times," is asking supporters to volunteer to be election observers at the polls. He routinely calls Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton "crooked" and has said that if he loses, it will be because the system is rigged against him.Led by lawyers from the ACLU, opponents of the voter identification laws have filed lawsuits in several states, successfully overturning or delaying implementation of some statutes.Last month, a federal judge in Wisconsin ruled that voters who do not have photo identification will be able to vote in the presidential election, and the Fourth US Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a North Carolina law requiring voters to bring a photo ID to the polls.Seventeen states have put new voting restrictions in place since the last presidential contest, according to the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law. REUTERS DS0451 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0177-901080.Xml Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said today North Korea's latest missile launch was "unforgivable" and posed a grave threat to Japan's security, adding his government had lodged a stern protest against its isolated neighbour."This poses a grave threat to Japan's security, and is an unforgivable act that damages regional peace and stability markedly," Abe told reporters at the prime minister's residence.North Korea fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile off its east coast early today, South Korea's military said, the latest in a string of missile launches in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions. REUTERS DS0552 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0177-901090.Xml A British woman was stabbed to death today at a backpackers' hostel in Australia and two people were injured, one seriously, in what police say may have been an "extremist" attack.A spokesman for Queensland state police said the suspected attacker, in Australia on a tourist visa, was a 29-year-old French national who had yelled "Allahu Akbar" (God is great) when arrested.A 21-year-old British woman died at the scene of the attack, south of Townsville, police said. A 30-year-old British man was taken to hospital and was in critical condition.REUTERS DS0806 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0177-901113.Xml Close on the heels of India's fresh assertions of stance over the issue of Balochistan, the United States has categorically assured Pakistan that it did not support Independence for this Southwestern province of the country. In an earlier statement too, the US State Department had conveyed of its 'general commitment' to Pakistan's territorial integrity and distanced itself from India's "effort to stir an international controversy" over Balochistan, Daily Dawn reported today. Yesterday, the State Department shared another statement with Dawn, removing all ambiguities about its stance on an issue that many Pakistanis fear can be exploited to endanger the very existence of their country, the report said. "The US government respects the unity and territorial integrity of Pakistan, and we do not support Independence for Balochistan", the newspaper quoted a State Department official as saying. However, the official also expressed US concerns about the human rights situation in the province where Pakistan is fighting a simmering insurgency by both separatists and religious extremists. International monitors claim that both insurgents and security forces commit human rights violations in Balochistan. "We do have concerns about the human rights situation there, and have reported that for several years in our Human Rights Report," the US official was quoted further in the report. "However, we have consistently urged all parties in Pakistan to work out their differences peaceably and through a valid political process," the official added. Hundreds of people have been killed in Balochistan in attacks on sectarian and ethnic minorities while scores of people have disappeared. Sometimes, tortured bodies of those who disappear are found abandoned in remote areas. Baloch nationalists blame the security forces for those disappearances, a charge the government rejects as incorrect and accuses the militants of kidnapping people and killing them when they fail to get ransom. In a speech on India's Independence Day last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about the situation in Balochistan and urged Indian diplomats and the media to highlight this issue. Pakistan reacted angrily to the speech, calling it a breach of international norms and intrusion in the country's sovereignty. But the Indian effort to internationalise the situation in Balochistan received support from the Bangladesh Government and former Afghan President Hamid Karzai. During a visit to New Delhi earlier this week, Bangladesh Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu said Bangladesh supported Mr Modi's stand on Balochistan and Dhaka would soon make a policy declaration on this issue. Mr Karzai, who was also in New Delhi this week, said that Mr Modi's remarks should make the Pakistan Government "see the gravity of the situation".UNI XC ADG SS -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0400-901150.Xml Even as India's Home Minister Rajnath Singh began a significant two-day visit of the Kashmir Valley from Wednesday, accompanied by a delegation of senior ministry officials, where he will take stock of the situation in the state and hold talks with a cross section of people, analysts in Washington have cautioned Pakistan not to attempt to internationalise the recent Kashmir protests. They have said that such attempts are most likely to fail, as the unrest in the valley has "not registered significantly" in the West, and they also hold the view that there is no reason for Kashmir to get back on the global map in any meaningful way. "The Pakistanis have tried it for years, lobbying in the UN, Washington and elsewhere trying to get key western capitals to focus on Kashmir and they have largely failed," says Michael Kugelman, Senior Associate for South Asia at the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars in Washington DC. Ahead of his second visit to the Kashmir Valley in a month, the Indian Home Minister said he will use his two-day visit to interact with civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders in Kashmir. He said those who believe in "Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat" are welcome to meet him. He added that the government at the Centre is very concerned and pained over the violence in Kashmir and is keen on having and promoting an emotional connect with the people of the state. Singh is likely to emphasize the various development projects and employment schemes undertaken for the youth in the valley. Analysts in the United States believe that Pakistani attempts to involve the United States will not work as the focus in Washington is on the presidential campaign and on other foreign policy issues that are seen as having a more direct bearing on U.S. interests such as ISIS, the Middle East, Russia and so forth. The United States is more likely to offer the usual platitudes for the two countries to talk very generally avoiding specific Kashmir references as there is a strong desire in Washington to de-hyphenate its relations with Pakistan and India, which includes maintaining a workable relationship with the Pakistanis while developing deeper relationship with India. "For now, at least, the U.S. government's muted remarks on Kashmir suggest a recognition of the tough circumstances under which India is trying to maintain law and order and constitutional democracy," says Sadanand Dhume, Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. However Kugelman points out that the measures used by Indian security forces against protesters in Kashmir "seem to be out of proportion with reality on the ground" and, if the violence continues over the next few weeks, international media attention will intensify and may affect India's image. Protests in the valley that began after security forces gunned down Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani have left over 56 dead and 4000 injured. Both India and Pakistan have blamed each other for instigating the violence, resulting in a diplomatic war of words, and the Indian Prime Minister including references to Balochistan in his Independence Day speech. Some analysts are looking at the latest round of tension between the two nations as part of the cycle of a war of words that has so often dominated this relationship when it comes to Kashmir. However the present war of words is seen as a reflection of a very "inconsistent even incoherent policy" of the Modi government. "There has never been a clear cut policy in the Modi government towards Pakistan and, I think, Modi in some ways was trying to test the waters. He wanted to see what the results are when he tries to take some small conciliatory steps", says Kugelman. But after the Lahore visit was followed by the Pathankot attacks, analysts believe, Modi might have concluded that now is not the time for conciliatory gestures as the public messaging from Pakistan about the willingness to talk isn't backed by any significant level of support to getting closer to India in a big way. Analysts also believe that the Indian side may have concluded that the generals hold so much control behind the scenes in Pakistan that it's not worth trying to engage in conciliatory moves at this point, and therefore, now is the right time to up the ante and make some pretty bold proclamations. In this context, the mention of Baluchistan in the Independence Day speech of the Indian Prime Minister can be seen as a signal that the country is not going to be afraid to take measures that previously have been avoided by the Indians for fear of provoking the Pakistanis. "Modi's remarks appear to be a thinly veiled warning to Pakistan. He's effectively saying, 'be careful of stirring up trouble in Indian Kashmir lest India return the favor in Baluchistan'," says Dhume. While it is too soon to tell if the mention of Baluchistan in the Independence Day speech reflects a policy change in India, analysts feel that it certainly marks "a rhetorical shift" and undoubtedly gives the troubled Pakistani province "a prominence that it did not enjoy before in India." However there is also the view that by mentioning Baluchistan in his speech, the Indian Prime Minister was simply trying to deflect international attention from Kashmir. The views expressed in the above article are that of Mr. Anshul Rana. (ANI) Thailand's military government said today there was no connection between two bombings overnight that killed one person in the southern town of Pattani and a wave of deadly attacks on tourist spots this month.One Thai person was killed and 30 wounded when two bombs exploded late yesterday at a hotel in the deep-south town of Pattani, less than two weeks after a wave of bombings hit towns in seven provinces in the central south.No group has claimed responsibility for the tourist-town bombings, which killed four and wounded dozens, including foreigners, but suspicion has centred on Muslim separatists based in the deep south of the predominantly Buddhist country.Security experts say the ethnic Malay, Muslim insurgents have a record of coordinated bomb attacks, which they usually do not claim.Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, however, ruled out any link between the earlier attacks and the twin bombs in Pattani, which is near the Malaysian border and has for years been plagued by separatist violence, particularly since an intensification of the decades-old insurgency from 2004."I am sure that the incident in Pattani last night has nothing to do with the seven provinces attacks," Prawit told reporters without elaborating.Tourist towns in the central south have for years been spared any spill-over of violence from the deep south and analysts say the government is loath to blame the coordinated bombings this month on southern insurgents because of fear of damaging the tourist industry.Police said the first explosion in Pattani was in a carpark at the back of the hotel and caused no casualties. The second bomb at hotel's front entrance appeared to have been in a stolen hospital pick-up truck.The war between government troops and insurgents has killed more than 6,500 people in the three southern-most provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, over the past 12 years.FRUSTRATION OVER STALLED TALKS?Talks between the government and a handful of shadowy insurgent groups began in 2013 under the civilian government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, but have stalled since the military overthrew her in 2014.Prawit said the military government would not talk with separatists until there was peace.Experts say the latest attacks would appear to reflect frustration over the stalled negotiations."It's possible that it is related to uncertainty about the peace talks," said Srisompop Jitpiromsri, an expert on the conflict who runs the Pattani-based Deep South Watch, which monitors violence.Rungrawee Chalermsripinyorat, an independent analyst who has written two books on the conflict, said the blasts this month were likely the work of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (National Revolutionary Front, or BRN), which has carried out "similar patterns of attack" in the past."They could be sending a message to the government to take the peace dialogue more seriously," she said.Still, the military insists security in the south has improved. The number of soldiers in the south is due to be cut to about 60,000 from 70,000 in 2011, a military spokesman said.There is deep distrust between Muslims and authorities in the region, which rights groups say is partly due to decades of government neglect and a culture of impunity among military officials operating there.The three provinces soundly rejected a referendum this month on a new military-backed constitution, which passed convincingly in most of the rest of Thailand.REUTERS SDR AS1557 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0431-901695.Xml The joint operation with Europol also led to the discovery of 400,000 archives, including videos and photographs, showing minors of all ages being sexually abused, Xinhua news agency reported. The Civil Guard said some of the scenes contained a "high-level" of sexual violence against the victims. The arrests in Spain were carried out across the country and resulted in the seizure of 65 hard drives, 36 USB Flash Drives, six laptops, a router, 17 memory cards, 69 DVDs, a camera and three tablets. The operation was set up on the basis of information received by the Swiss police who identified people involved in file-sharing in several countries, including Spain. This is the second major operation against child pornography announced in Spain this month after seven persons were arrested for similar offences, including plans to offer holidays to paedophiles in North Africa. --IANS sm/dg ( 184 Words) 2016-08-24-17:54:01 (IANS) Norway wants to maintain a good relationship with Britain after it leaves the European Union but it may take a long time for a new trade agreement to be established, the EU affairs minister in Oslo said today.Elisabeth Aspaker told a meeting that ministers would soon meet their London counterparts, later adding to Reuters that she expected negotiations with Norway to be a priority for Britain.Prime Minister Erna Solberg told Reuters last week she saw some advantages if Britain joined the four-nation European Free Trade Association (EFTA) after quitting the EU, qualifying past doubts about membership.Britain is Norway's third-biggest destination for goods produced by its mainland economy, which excludes the oil and shipping sector, with an 8 per cent share.Mainland exports are primarily seafood, including salmon, but Norway is also a major gas supplier to Britain and its 896-billion dollar wealth fund, the world's largest, is a major foreign investor."We want to maintain at least as near a relationship with Britain as we have today," Aspaker told a meeting on the implications of Brexit with business and trade union officials."Our goal is to have a well-functioning solution with Britain in place as soon as possible.... (But) we must be prepared to the fact that it could take a long time and that it may not be in place the moment Britain leaves the EU."The Nordic country is not an EU state but pays hundreds of millions of euros to access the European internal market. It has been touted by some referendum campaigners as a potential model for post-Brexit Britain to follow.Also citing important bilateral security and gas trading links, Aspaker told Reuters she expected Norway to be "quite high up in the queue of countries it is important to have good relationships with.REUTERS SDR VN1737 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0431-902043.Xml Algerian forces have cleared out Islamic State-affiliated militants from the mountains east of Algiers, two years after they kidnapped and beheaded a French tourist in the former al Qaeda stronghold, senior security sources said.Algeria, emerging from a 1990s war with armed Islamists, has been carrying out operations to flush out remnants of militants from Jund al-Khilafa, or "Soldiers of the Caliphate", who had declared themselves allied with Islamic State.Bombings and attacks are rarer in Algeria since it ended its decade-long war, but al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb is still active and a small group of rival militants tied to Islamic State also began operating east of the capital.Algeria's clearing out Islamic State allies comes as the group battles to hold its North Africa base in the Libyan city of Sirte. Tunisian militants with Islamic State in the Libyan city of Sabratha were hit by a US air strike in February.Since Frenchman Herve Gourdel was killed in September 2014 in Algeria, troops have swept through the Kabilye region, a mountainous and heavily forested area once known as part of the "Triangle of Death" during Algeria's bloody 1990s war."The group has been dismantled, most of its commanders were killed or arrested. It is over," one senior security source told Reuters, asking his name not be used because he was not authorised to speak to media.Mopping up Islamic State in the north will allow Algeria's army to focus on southern borders with Libya, Mali and Niger where fleeing militants may try to slip across its frontiers, the source familiar with the operations said.A second security source said Jund al-Khilafa has been militarily defeated over the past few months in regions including Bouira, Boumerdes and Tizi Ouzou, all the east of the capital.Most of its commanders had been killed or arrested and its structure has been dismantled, the source said."Most of those killed or arrested in the northern regions of Algeria, including Tizi Ouzou, Boumerdes and Bouira belonged to Jund Al-Khilafa," the source said.While security forces pursue Jund al-Khilafa, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has been little visible in the area east of Algiers in the past two years, leading to questions whether AQIM commander Abdelmalek Droudkel fled the region usually considered his base of operations.FORCES "CLEARING THE REGION"Algerian forces killed 157 armed Islamists in 2015, and 99 were killed and 50 arrested in the first half of 2016, according to a defence ministry release which did not identify the groups to which those militants belonged.The first leader of Jund al-Khilafa was Abdelmalek Gouri who was killed six months after the kidnapping of Gourdel. Gouri was a senior Algerian militant and later a fighter with Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb."We are now in the second phase that includes clearing the region, de-mining, opening roads so life can come back to normal," another senior security source told Reuters.A resident near Tigzirt said people were returning to the area and construction was increasing as security had improved dramatically."Although Algeria may not have defeated the Islamic State entirely, even the Islamic State is not claiming to have even a covert presence in Algeria," said Geoff Porter, with North Africa Risk Consulting. "AQIM remains the main threat in the country and even then it is hugely reduced."Militants can still strike. In 2013, fighters allied to veteran jihadist Mokhtar Belmokhtar attacked the In Amenas gas plant, and 40 oil workers were killed in the attack and the siege that followed.At least nine Algerian soldiers were killed when Islamist militants ambushed their patrol west of Algiers last year, and rockets were fired at another gas plant in the Sahara operated by BP and Statoil though no damage was caused.REUTERS SHS PR2031 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-902625.Xml Zimbabwean police used teargas, water cannon and batons today to disperse opposition youths who demonstrated in the capital against alleged brutality by security agents.More than 200 youths from the main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), took to the streets two days before a planned march by all opposition parties to try to force President Robert Mugabe to implement electoral reforms ahead of the 2018 vote.Police intercepted them and fired teargas at the protesters who were planning to hand in a petition at the offices of the Ministry of Home Affairs, which is in charge of the police.Two pick-up trucks belonging to state broadcaster ZBC and police were burned, according to a Reuters witness, but it was not clear who had torched the cars or whether anyone was hurt.Riot police blocked streets around the MDC headquarters and used water cannon against some youths in downtown Harare.Some protesters threw back teargas canisters, as well as rocks, towards the police, who fired more teargas outside the MDC offices, forcing pedestrians and people standing in nearby bank queues to flee.The youths had marched through the streets of the capital denouncing the police for beating up protesters and called on Mugabe to step down, accusing him of running a dictatorship."We have been seeing a deliberate attempt by the police to intimidate, harass and silence the people of Zimbabwe," MDC Youth Assembly secretary general Lovemore Chinoputsa told Reuters TV during the march.Chinoputsa said police had refused to sanction the march, saying that it would degenerate into violence.Police spokeswoman Charity Charamba said she could not comment because she was in a meeting. The police routinely deny charges of brutality and instead accuse the opposition of using "hooligans" during protests to attack officers.The southern African nation has a history of violence against opponents of Mugabe, where police have in the last few months crushed demonstrations against high unemployment, acute cash shortages and corruption.A trauma clinic in Harare last month recorded a list of cases of people who had been caught up in a police crackdown during anti-government protests.The MDC's leader Morgan Tsvangirai and former vice president Joice Mujuru are expected to lead Friday's march.REUTERS SDR PR2007 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0431-902549.Xml A powerful 6.2 magnitude earthquake ripped through the mountains in central Italy on Wednesday, claiming at least 73 lives as it flattened several villages and towns. Many people are reported missing and the toll is expected to rise, officials said. A series of aftershocks struck towns in the region, toppling scores of buildings, according to reports. Many persons are still believed trapped beneath building debris, while rescuers were struggling to reach remote villages and towns levelled in the quake. Italy Prime Minister Matteo Renzi paid tribute to the volunteers and civil defence officials who rushed to the scene in the middle of the night and used their bare hands to dig for survivors. The earthquake struck at a shallow depth of 10 km. The epicentre of the quake was in Norcia in Umbria, about 170 km north-east of Rome, while the hardest hit were the towns of Amatrice, Accumoli and Pescara del Tronto. Much of the town of Amatrice was reduced to rubble. "Half of the town doesnt exist anymore, Sergio Pirozzi, the Mayor of Amatrice, told RAI-TV. People are stuck underneath the rubble. Houses are no longer there. Two boys aged four and seven were pulled out alive from the debris of the house they had been staying in with their grandmother in the town. According to La Repubblica, a witness named Marco, a sanitation worker from Amatrice, saw how everything "fell apart" in an instant. "It was a miracle for me to survive... I just woke up when suddenly everything collapsed. Ten seconds were enough to destroy everything," he said. A witness in Configno, near Amatrice, recalled: "It was a nightmare. We woke up at 3.35 a.m. (local time), the furniture falling down, walls moving more than a metre. We rushed out, many are still in their underpants here, in the street. We did some bonfires in the square and went to help old people to get out from their houses," ANSA reported. Amatrice is known for its traditional all'amatriciana pasta sauce, and was gearing up to hold a festival celebrating the recipe this weekend, CNN reported. In Accumoli, a local photographer spoke of 15 rescuers digging with their bare hands trying to reach a family. "They can hear the screams of the mum and one of the children," the photographer said. Rescuers in Accumoli were trying to dig out a 58-year-old man who was trapped in his home and several more were missing. The town is popular with holidaymakers and most of the 2,500 people left displaced by the earthquake were said to be visitors. "The roads in and out of town are cut off. Half the town is gone. There are people under the rubble. There's been a landslide and a bridge might collapse," said Mayor Sergio Pirozzi. "There are tens of victims, so many under the rubble. We are preparing a place for the bodies," he said. According to the Mirror, devastated residents were seen in tears amid the wreckage as they took in what was left of their homes. Lina Mercantini of Ceselli, Umbria, added: "It was so strong. It seemed the bed was walking across the room by itself with us on it." Officials in Pescara del Tronto and Arquata del Tronto were unsure of the full extent of casualties, but said at least 11 persons were reported dead including children. An elderly couple and a boy were among the victims. The Italian branch of the Red Cross sent at least 20 ambulances and sniffer dogs to affected areas alongside the Italian Defence Ministry. --IANS ask/rn/vt ( 606 Words) 2016-08-24-21:29:57 (IANS) US Secretary of State John Kerry will present proposals on ending Yemen's conflict and resuming peace talks in meetings with Saudi leaders over the next two days, a senior US official said today.As Kerry landed in Jeddah for the talks with Saudi leaders and other Gulf Arab states, the US official said he would update them on US meetings with Russia addressing military cooperation in Syria. REUTERS SHS PR2151 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-902702.Xml Syrian rebels backed by Turkish special forces, tanks and warplanes entered one of Islamic State's last strongholds on the Turkish-Syrian border today, in Turkey's first major US-backed incursion into its southern neighbour.A column of at least nine Turkish tanks crossed into Syria with the group of largely Arab and Turkmen rebels to drive Islamic State out of Jarablus and surrounding villages. A Reuters reporter at the border witnessed intense bombardments, with palls of black smoke rising around the town.President Tayyip Erdogan said the operation was targeting both Islamic State and the Kurdish PYD party, whose gains in northern Syria have alarmed Turkey. Ankara views the PYD as an extension of Kurdish militants fighting an insurgency on its own soil, putting it at odds with Washington, which sees the group as an ally in the fight against Islamic State."This morning at 4 a.m.an operation started in northern Syria against terror groups which constantly threaten our country, like Daesh (Islamic State) and the PYD," Erdogan said in a speech in Ankara.US Vice President Joe Biden, who arrived in Turkey, a key NATO ally with its second biggest armed forces, on a pre-planned trip hours after the operation began, tried to soothe Turkish concerns about Kurdish territorial gains in Syria.Biden said Washington had made clear to Kurdish militia fighters that they should return east of the Euphrates river again - a red line for Turkey - after helping to capture the city of Manbij south of Jarablus from Islamic State this month."They must go back across the river. They cannot, will not, and under no circumstances get American support if they do not keep that commitment. Period," he told a joint news conference in Ankara with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim.The offensive, dubbed "Euphrates Shield", is Turkey's first major military operation since a failed July 15 coup shook confidence in its ability to step up the fight against Islamic State. It comes four days after a suicide bomber suspected of links to the group killed 54 people at a wedding in the southeastern city of Gaziantep.Syria's foreign ministry condemned what it said was a breach of its sovereignty and accused Ankara of launching the incursion to replace Islamic State with "other terrorist groups". Russia, which backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, said it was deeply worried by the escalation of tension after Turkey's move.LITTLE RESISTANCEA rebel commander with the Failaq al Sham group, who requested anonymity, told Reuters that most of the Islamic State fighters in Jarablus had pulled out, some of them surrendering. A second rebel commander estimated up to 50 percent of the town was now under control of the Turkish-backed rebels."Daesh fighters have withdrawn from several villages on the outskirts of Jarablus and are heading south towards the city of al Bab," the Failaq al Sham commander said.Many of the rebels were from Jarablus itself and were jubilant over what they saw as a long overdue intervention. Amateur video footage from one rebel source seen by Reuters showed little sign of heavy fighting in the town centre, suggesting Islamic State had pulled out with little resistance. Reuters could not independently authenticate the video.A senior US official travelling with Biden said the United States wanted to help Turkey to get Islamic State away from the border, and was providing air cover and "synching up" with the Turks on their plans for Jarablus. The shelling was hitting Islamic State, not Kurdish forces, he said.TESTING TIMEBiden's visit comes at a testing time for Turkish-US relations. Erdogan wants the United States to extradite Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish cleric who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania for 17 years and whose religious movement he blames for staging last month's failed coup.Washington says it needs clear evidence of Gulen's involvement in the putsch, sparking an outpouring of anti-Americanism from Turkey's pro-government media. Gulen denies any involvement in the coup attempt.Biden said the United States was cooperating in evaluating evidence against Gulen but that legal standards must be met.Despite their differences, Turkey and the United States hope that by removing Islamic State from the border, they can deprive it of a smuggling route which long saw its ranks swollen with foreign fighters and its coffers boosted by illicit trade."Euphrates Shield" was the first time Turkish warplanes have struck in Syria since November, when Turkey downed a Russian jet near the border, and the first significant incursion by Turkish special forces since a brief operation to relocate the tomb of Suleyman Shah, a revered Ottoman figure, in February 2015.But for Turkey, it also preempts any attempt by Syrian Kurdish militia fighters, who play a critical part of the U.S.-backed campaign against Islamic State, to take Jarablus.Kurdish fighters have captured large areas of territory since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011, and Ankara has long declared the Euphrates river, which runs just east of Jarablus, a red line which it does not want them to cross.Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Kurdish fighters must return east of the Euphrates or Turkey would "do what is necessary". He said the operation was a turning point and would accelerate removing Islamic State from Syria's Aleppo region.ENTERING A "QUAGMIRE"Plumes of smoke rose from the hills around Jarablus, visible from the Turkish town of Karkamis across the border. The boom of artillery rounds was audible as advancing Turkish tanks fired.Saleh Muslim, head of the Kurdish PYD, wrote in a tweet that Turkey was entering a "quagmire" in Syria and faced defeat there like Islamic State. Redur Xelil, spokesman for the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, said the intervention was a "blatant aggression in Syrian internal affairs".Kurdish groups control swathes of northern Syria where they established de facto autonomy. The YPG, armed wing of the PYD, took control of most of Hasaka city yesterday, about 250 km east of Jarablus.That growing Kurdish influence has alarmed Ankara, which is fighting its own insurgency with militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), blamed by the government for an escalation of attacks in the southeast of Turkey.Turkey had vowed on Monday to "completely cleanse" Islamic State militants from its border region after the Gaziantep bombing. Operation "Euphrates Shield" also comes after at least 10 mortar shells from Jarablus landed in and around Karkamis in recent days, forcing many residents to flee."I wholeheartedly support this operation ... I want all of them off my border, be it Islamic State, be it PYD," said Samir Tin, 67, a farmer and one of few residents still in the town.REUTERS SHS PR2216 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-902733.Xml A powerful earthquake shook central Myanmar today, killing at least three people including two children, and damaging scores of centuries-old Buddhist pagodas around the ancient capital of Bagan.The 6.8 magnitude quake shook buildings across the Southeast Asian country, with tremors felt as far away as Thailand - where witnesses reported high rise towers swaying in Bangkok - Bangladesh and eastern India."We felt quite heavy shaking for about 10 seconds and started to evacuate the building when there was another strong tremor," said Vincent Panzani of charity Save the Children.He spoke from Pakkoku, a small town about 25 km northeast of Bagan, the centrepiece of Myanmar's rapidly expanding tourism industry.The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake struck near the town of Chauk, on the Ayeyarwaddy River south of Bagan and about 175 km southwest of the country's second city Mandalay, just after 5 p.m.Fire department and Red Cross officials said two children were killed in the small town of Yenanchaung, south of Chauk."Two young girls died when a pagoda collapsed on a river bank," said Moe Thidar Win, deputy director of the disaster management team at the Myanmar Red Cross Society."One man died in a Pakokku tobacco factory when the roof collapsed on him."In Bagan, known as the "City of 4 Million Pagodas", one female tourist was injured at a pagoda, said local official Khin Mya Lwin.The Ministry of Information said nearly 100 of Bagan's famed pagodas, mostly built between the 11th and 13th centuries, had been damaged.Bagan has around 2,000-3,000 pagodas and temples, spread over a 42-sq km plain ringed by mist-covered mountains. It rivals Cambodia's Angkor Wat and Borobudur in Indonesia as Asia's premier archaeological site.SCENES OF PANICElsewhere, damage appeared to have been relatively light, although reports were still filtering through as night fell."My house shook during the quake. Many people were scared and they ran out of the buildings," said Maung Maung Kyaw, a local official of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party in Chauk."Some of the old buildings have cracks. The biggest damage is to the bank building in the town."The quake struck at a relatively deep 84 km, the USGS said."Most of the reports of damage have been to the pagodas in the area, with dozens impacted, particularly around Bagan," said Save the Children's Panzani in Pakkoku."There have also been reports of damage to smaller, more basic buildings... Several of our staff who've lived in this part of Myanmar their whole lives said it was the strongest earthquake they've ever felt."The quake shook buildings in Myanmar's biggest city, Yangon, and in other towns and cities, witnesses said.Office buildings in the Thai capital Bangkok, to the east of Myanmar, shook for a few seconds, residents there said.The quake was also felt in Bangladesh, to the west of Myanmar, where some people ran out into the street as buildings shook, residents said.Myanmar is in a seismically active part of the world where the Indo-Australian Plate runs up against the Eurasian Plate.In March, 2011, at least 74 people were killed in an earthquake near its borders with Thailand and Laos.More than half of Bagan's pagodas were seriously damaged in a July 1975 earthquake that sent the landmark Buphaya Pagoda tumbling into the Ayeyarwaddy. REUTERS SHS PR2216 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-902736.Xml Foreign staff and dozens of students were trapped inside the campus of the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul today after suspected militants attacked it with explosives and gunfire, a senior government official said.The interior ministry official said that elite Afghan forces had surrounded the university compound, where shooting lasted for more than an hour after the assault began at around 6.30 p.m.Witnesses at the scene said gunfire had since stopped, and special forces had made their way into the compound.News on casualties was sketchy, but Mohammad Saleem Rasouly, head of hospitals in the Afghan capital, told Reuters that at least one student had been killed and 14 wounded.Islamist militant groups, mainly the Afghan Taliban and a local offshoot of Islamic State, have claimed a string of atrocities aimed at destabilising the country and toppling the Western-backed government of President Ashraf Ghani.No one has claimed the university attack yet.Early reports suggested that several gunmen, some wearing suicide vests, were involved, the official said."Several gunmen attacked the American University in Kabul and there are reports of gunfire and explosions," he said. "They are inside the compound and there are foreign professors along with hundreds of students."Ahmad Shaheer, a student, told Reuters by telephone that he was trapped inside the university. "We are stuck inside our classroom and there are bursts of gunfire," he said.It is the second time this month that the university or its staff have been targeted.Two teachers, an American and an Australian, remain missing after being abducted at gunpoint from a road nearby on August 7.Taliban insurgents control large swathes of Afghanistan, and local armed forces are struggling to contain them, especially in the provinces of Helmand to the south and Kunduz to the north.NATO ended its combat mission in December 2014, but thousands of troops remain to train and assist Afghan forces, while several thousand more US soldiers are engaged in a separate mission focusing on al Qaeda and Islamic State. REUTERS SHS PR2327 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-902770.Xml US Vice President Joe Biden told Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan today that only a federal court could extradite Fethullah Gulen, the Muslim cleric Turkey blames for orchestrating last month's failed coup.In statements to reporters in Ankara after meeting Erdogan, Biden said those involved in the coup attempt were terrorists and said the US had more lawyers working on the request for Gulen's extradition than in any other such recent case.Biden said it may be difficult for Turks to understand that President Barack Obama had no constitutional authority to extradite the cleric. He promised that Washington would work closely with the Turkish government on the case.REUTERS SHS PR2328 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-902772.Xml TEHRAN, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- A forum titled "Silk Road Economic Belt" kicked off in Iran's capital Tehran on Tuesday with its focus on the friendly exchanges and cooperation between China and the Islamic republic. China and Iran are both countries with great civilization, and the long history of friendly exchanges between them has laid a solid foundation for the Silk Road Economic Belt initiative, He Xingliang, counselor of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, said at the forum held in Tehran's Niavaran Cultural Center. There are great potential and broad prospects in bilateral cooperation, especially in the fields of resources and technology, the Chinese official said. For his part, Head of Iran-China Friendship Association Ahmad Mohammadi hailed the role of China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative in the interaction between Iran and China. Mohammadi said the interaction between the two countries has long existed, but has taken new dimensions with the initiative. "The proposal has been well received in Iran, and the Islamic republic is preparing to accept the proposal," Mohammadi said. In order to implement the project, the first step is to establish a secretariat of the project in China, he said, adding that it can be followed by sessions of the secretariat with the representatives from the participation states. Meanwhile, deputy head of the faculty of international relations of Iran's Foreign Ministry, Mohammad Reza Dehshiri, said the Belt and Road Initiative is aimed at creating a friendly environment for better neighborhood in terms of political, economical and security dimensions. The Islamic republic is determined to actively participate in the project, and believes that joining the plan would help the regional and international economic development, Dehshiri said. On Tuesday, a Chinese cultural festival opened in Tehran with the aim to promote China-Iran exchange and cooperation. The one-week event, titled "2016 Experience China in Iran," features China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region through a photo exhibition and cultural activities. VIENTIANE, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Lao health officials have intensified inspections to ensure hygienic foods served to thousands of delegates and media personnel planning to attend the ASEAN summit and its related summits to be held in Lao capital Vientiane early next month. Director of the Vientiane Health Department Phonepaseuth Ounaphom said Tuesday that at the end of this month the health officials plan to award food safety certificates to restaurants meeting food safety criteria. "Those failing to meet the criteria we set will not be given the certificates," Lao state-run online newspaper Vientiane Times reported Tuesday. Recently, Lao officials met with operators of hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, drinking water and ice factories to discuss and demand them to pay special attention in their operations to meet the hygienic standard. District health officials are in charge of inspecting food safety in street food vendors, Phonepaseuth said. The director stated that health officials are increasing their inspection routines adding to their regular inspection, especially in the four main districts in the city center to ensure the foods meet hygienic standards. In addition, Lao health officials are also intensifying their inspections in local markets to make sure that there is no food or ingredients contaminated with unsafe substances sold. The Director of the Vientiane Agriculture and Forestry Department Linkham Douangsavanh said his officials have also carried out similar inspections in local markets to prevent contaminated foods from being sold. "We have paid special attention to the inspections these days," he said, adding that veterinarians are stationed at slaughtering houses to check the hygiene of meats. In addition, officials in charge of plant and animal quarantine have put greater attention on checking imported foods to prevent unsafe or contaminated foods from entering the country, Linkham said. KATHMANDU, Aug. 23 (Xinhua)--The Nepalese government said Tuesday that recent visits of two deputy prime ministers as special envoys to China and India were fruitful in taking the bilateral relationships with neighboring countries to a new height. A meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Nepalese government has concluded that bilateral ties with China and India have been enhanced following the recent visits of special envoys to the two neighboring countries. Deputy Prime Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara, who is the in-charge of finance of the government, paid a visit to China from August 15 to 20. Another Deputy Prime Minister Bimalendra Nidhi, who is the in-charge of home affairs of the government, visited India from August 18 to 23. During the meeting, the two deputy prime ministers briefed the prime minister and cabinet colleagues about the outcomes of their visits to neighboring countries. "The government believes that relationships with China and India have been enhanced to a new height following the visits," government spokesman Ram Karki, who is also the information minister, told reporters after the meeting, on Tuesday. The government spokesman said that top officials of both China and India had shown interest over the priorities of the new government in Nepal during meetings with special envoys in Beijing and New Delhi. "Neighboring countries China and India have positive concerns toward the priorities set by the new government in Nepal," the spokesman added. During the meeting, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal expressed hope that there will be high level exchange of visits from China and India to Nepal in near future. Addressing a program in the Capital recently, Dahal said that the incumbent government wants having cordial and balanced relationship with both neighboring countries China and India as per the changed context. The government had decided to send special envoys to China and India on August 11, a week after CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Dahal was appointed as the prime minister. ACCRA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Ghana's National Labor Commission (NLC) on Tuesday filed a suit at Accra High Court to compel striking members of the Ghana Association of Biomedical Laboratory Scientists (GABMLS) to return to work. Charles Adongo Bawa Duah, Executive Secretary of the NLC, told the media the action of the workers violated the dictates of Ghana's labor laws. The biomedical scientists began an industrial action on Monday to highlight their displeasure with government's non-implementation of the National Health Laboratory Policy meant to raise the quality of laboratory science practice. The NLC had earlier ordered the association not to embark on its proposed strike "because it was illegal". "If you look at the provisions of the law, it is very clear that where the Commission has made directives and the parties do not comply, the Commission ought to apply to the high court to enforce this," Duah stated. He said it was very clear that persons engaged in essential services were prohibited by law to undertake a strike action and therefore members of the association were "acting in gross violation of the provisions of the law". Ignatius Awimibumo, president of the GABMLS, told a press conference on Monday that they were "hesitant at striking for fear of possible deaths, but his outfit now believed the only way to persuade the Health Ministry was to resolve their issues is a strike action". Enditem COPENHAGEN, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- More vehicles have been set on fire in the Danish capital city of Copenhagen in the early hours of Tuesday as police are investigating a series of car arson cases since Saturday night. Three mopeds and a car were set ablaze in Norrebro district of the city just past midnight, according to the Danish newspaper The Copenhagen Post on Tuesday. Police said a lack of evidence is making the investigation difficult. "There are no witnesses, and by the time we arrived on the scene, there was little left to find," Henrik Stormer from the Copenhagen Police was quoted by the paper as saying. Previously, over 20 vehicles have been burnt out on Saturday and Sunday nights, also in downtown areas. The arson cases came after over 70 cars have been burnt out in the southern Swedish city of Malmo, the country's third largest city linked to Copenhagen via the Oresund Bridge, since July. However, the police are cautious to link the fire cases in Denmark and Sweden as there is no evidence yet to indicate a connection. Police spokesman Rasmus Skovsgaard said earlier in a press release that the systematic burning of cars in the streets of Copenhagen will not be tolerated. An investigation into the arson cases by the police is under way. Enditem UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Tuesday called on political stakeholders in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to engage in an inclusive dialogue to overcome the impasse in the country's electoral process. Ban stressed the importance of a credible political dialogue to ensure peaceful and timely presidential and legislative elections in line with constitution, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told a daily briefing. The UN chief noted that "there is no alternative to a credible political dialogue in the DRC," and he further urged all actors to refrain from any action that could increase tensions or lead to violence. The register of voters in DRC started in July this year, and the country's electoral commission said the review of electoral register will take 16 months and will be concluded in September 2017. DRC President Joseph Kabila has said the elections will be held after the operation of registering voters. According to the DRC constitution, Kabila's second five-year term is supposed to end on Dec. 19, 2016. The country's opposition parties have been calling for the elections to be held before the end of the year when Kabila's term ends. ROME, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The refugee crisis was always a crucial issue for Europe, and even more so after Britain's decision to leave the European Union(EU), which made it necessary to launch a new path for the bloc, Italian media on Tuesday reported Interior Minister Angelino Alfano as saying. "Europe is facing now two crucial challenges: one concerns the economy over a lack of substantial growth, and the other one is the refugee crisis," Alfano told La Repubblica newspaper in an interview on Monday. "We have to be careful in addressing both of them, because if we care only about economy and neglect the migrant issue, European people will feel insecure and scared. On the refugee crisis in particular, Italy sticks with its proposal: the so-called Migration Compact," he added. In September last year, the EU Commission unveiled a refugee relocation plan aimed at distributing some 120,000 people from Italy, Greece, and Hungary across the bloc. Syrians, Eritreans, and Iraqis were supposed to benefit the most from the plan, since they constitute the large majority of those fleeing towards Europe to escape wars or persecution. Previously, the Commission had already proposed to relocate some 40,000 people from Italy and Greece over two years. The scheme was based on the principle of shared responsibility, meaning the number of refugees each EU state should take would be based on objective criteria, such as population size, total wealth of the country, and unemployment rate. Yet, several EU member states refused to comply with the plan. Some 24 EU member states have offered 12,990 available places for hosting the 160,000 refugees up to Aug. 22, according to latest EU figures. Only 961 refugees out of 39,600 were relocated from Italy to other countries; some 3,016 out of 66,400 were relocated from Greece. The refugee relocation plan suggested increasing cooperation with key African countries to deter migrant departures, welcoming refugees fleeing wars and persecution and distributing them equally among EU countries, and repatriating irregular migrants, but after rescuing them if in danger. "At the same time, Europe needs a tougher approach with those African countries that benefit from international cooperation funds (by EU members), but do not fulfill their promises with respects to migrant departures," Alfano said. KIEV, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine's beet sugar exports are expected to hit a new record high of 250,000 tons this year, the country's sugar producers' union Ukrtsukor said in a statement on Tuesday. According to the statement, the exports will rise due to a good beet harvest of 13 million tons, high carry-over stocks and a projected strong demand on the Ukrainian sweetener on the global market. Ukraine's refiners are expected to produce about 2 million tons of sugar in the 2016-2017 marketing year, while the country's carry-over stocks are estimated to stand at 300,000 tons at the start of the new marketing season in September. In 2016, Georgia, Israel, Azerbaijan and China's Hong Kong will be the main exports destinations for the sweetener from Ukraine. Last year, Ukraine's shipments of sugar overseas rose 94.8 percent year-on-year to 114,818 tons, while the exports in January through July of 2016 have reached 88,800 tons. RABAT, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Morocco and Nigeria vowed here on Tuesday to deepen cooperation to fight climate change, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Nigerian Minister of the Environment Amina Mohammed told the press following a meeting with her Moroccan counterpart, Hakima El Haite, that Nigeria aims to further develop the bilateral cooperation in environment. "We have a lot to learn from the Moroccan pioneering experience in fighting climate change and greenhouse gas emissions," she said. The Moroccan Minister highlighted the importance of this visit which is part of preparations for the Conference of Parties to the UN framework Convention on Climate change climate (COP22), which will be held from Nov. 7 to 18 in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh. She added that the meeting was an opportunity to learn from Nigeria's "Green Bonds" experience, and to tackle the priorities of the African continent, especially in sub-Saharan countries in terms of the environment. Enditem BRATISLAVA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Norwegian model could serve as an inspiration for cooperation between Britain and the European Union (EU) following Brexit, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said at a press conference after meeting Norway's Prime Minister Erna Solberg here on Tuesday. Fico said he was pleased that Slovakia appears to be attractive for Norwegian students, as there are more than 700 of them studying medicine and veterinary in Martin and Kosice, for example. At the same time, he appreciated Norway for creating good labour conditions for Slovaks in Norway. Solberg said the two countries are cooperating in many sectors, even though Norway isn't a member state of EU. However, both Norway and Slovakia are NATO member states. "Small countries, such as ours, must cooperate - otherwise big countries will decide for them," said Solberg. Norway's population stands at about 5.2 million, compared to Slovakia's 5.4 million. "We feel strongly about seeing proper relations between Norway and the EU," stressed Solberg, adding that her country prefers continuing in dialogue with the bloc as part of the existing Norway-EU partnership. Slovakia has acquired 113.1 million euros (127.9 million U.S. dollars) for various projects from the Norwegian funds, while the contribution for 2009-14 represented more than 80 million euros, official figures show. JOHANNESBURG, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Newly elected Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba on Tuesday vowed to correct the mismanagement and decay that has resulted in worsening service delivery in South Africa's economic powerhouse. Mashaba, a member of the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), became Johannesburg's mayor after the ruling African National Congress (ANC) failed to get support from smaller parties to form a coalition government in the city. This is the first time that the ANC lost Johannesburg, South Africa's largest metro, to the opposition since 1994 when apartheid was brought to an end. In the August 3 local government elections, the ANC failed to get more than 50 percent of the votes to govern Johannesburg. This led to the DA working with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and other political parties unseating the ANC from governing the metro. "The new administration has partners, and I thank them for their support. I especially thank the EFF for placing their trust in me to lead this City," Mashaba said in his inaugural address. "Now is not the time for political squabbles. We face great challenges that no party can confront on its own. It is time for all of us to roll up our sleeves and get working," Mashaba said. The DA has a positive vision and plan for this City, with a focus to create jobs, deliver better services and eliminate corruption from this administration, according to Mashaba. No one can deny that the biggest challenge facing the city is the soaring unemployment confronting over 800, 000 people, he said, adding that job creation will be the number one priority of the new administration. The city will conduct a full forensic audit of the its finances and administrative structures in a bid to fight corruption, added Mashaba. Enditem CAPE TOWN, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's opposition party Democratic Alliance (DA) warned on Tuesday that the arrest of Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan would be a disaster for South Africa. The arrest of Gordhan would shatter investor confidence, risk a sovereign ratings downgrade and be a disaster for the already fragile zero growth, zero jobs economy in South Africa, the DA said. The Daily Maverick reported that Gordhan has been requested to report to special anti-crime unit, the Hawks, on Thursday in connection with allegations relating to the so-called "rogue unit" at the South African Revenue Services (SARS). The report has raised concern that Gordhan may be informed about possible charges and may face arrest. "The only option to get to the bottom of the allegations relating to the SARS 'rogue unit' is the appointment of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry in terms of Section 84 of the Constitution," the DA said. The Hawks wants Gordhan to be prosecuted for "espionage" in a case related to the activities of the SARS "rogue unit" established while he was the tax agency's commissioner between 1999 and 2009 The unit has been accused of illegally gathering intelligence and spying on taxpayers, including VIPs. According to senior Hawks sources, the unit has handed over a case docket to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for a decision to prosecute Gordhan and eight other former SARS officials said to have been involved in or have had knowledge of the unit's activities. The Sunday Times reported earlier that some of Gordhan's cabinet colleagues had been informed of his imminent arrest. Enditem JUBA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Sudan and South Sudan have agreed to reopen their common border and extend an oil transit agreement that allows landlocked South Sudan to use Sudan's pipelines to export its oil, South Sudan's officials said on Tuesday. The agreements were reached during the visit by a delegation from South Sudan headed by First Vice President Taban Deng Gai to Sudan. Gai held talks with Sudan's President Omar Al-Bashir on Monday on issues regarding security, bilateral ties and the oil agreement. Defence Minister Kuol Manyang Juk said the neighboring countries agreed to reopen their common border within 21 days, and that South Sudan assured Sudan that it would not allow Sudanese rebels in its territory. Strained relations between Sudan and South Sudan have long kept their common border closed since South Sudan's breakaway from Sudan in July 2011. The two nations have disputes over several issues including the status of disputed oil-rich Abyei area and the alleged South Sudan's support to Sudanese rebels. Juk said that Sudan also pledged 250,000 bags of grains in humanitarian aid to support people in need in South Sudan. Petroleum Minister Ezekiel Lul Gatkuoth said the two countries agreed to extend the oil transit agreement, which was signed in 2012 and is due to expire in November. "The details will be worked out by a technical team because one of the concerns has been on the transit fee... And we have agreed to meet again within 30 days to finalize it," Gatkuoth said. Gatkuoth said the extended agreement would allow the resumption of oil production in Unity state and an increase in oil production in Paloch oil fields, Upper Nile state. South Sudan's oil production plummeted after the outbreak of a civil war in December 2013. The South Sudanese government depends on oil revenue to finance some 98 percent of its budget. Enditem UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced that an inter-agency humanitarian convoy is delivering humanitarian assistance on Tuesday for 35,000 people in Al Waer in the Homs area in western Syria, a UN spokesman told reporters here. "It is comprised of food, health, nutrition and non-food items," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here. "This is the first such inter-agency convoy to deliver life-saving assistance this month to any besieged or hard-to reach area in Syria." A second convoy is planned for later this week, he said. In the northeastern city of Hasakeh, the United Nations is extremely concerned, as some 40,000 people are reported to have been displaced from the city toward suburban neighborhoods and nearby villages, the spokesman said. In addition, more than 25,000 people have been displaced from Hasakeh to cities and villages north of the city since Aug. 18, following clashes between government and Kurdish forces, he noted. "Given the scale and pace of displacement, not all needs can be met yet and the UN urges all parties, and those with influence over them, to facilitate permanent and unhindered access by all humanitarian actors to people in need," he added. NEW DELHI, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations has finally accepted what India has long been insisting -- this country's most wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim lives in Pakistan. A UN committee Tuesday endorsed six of the nine addresses that India had provided as Ibrahim's hideouts in the Pakistani city of Karachi. However, the terrorist's other three addresses provided by India have been found to be incorrect. Pakistan has refuted the claims, saying the information given by India to the UN is "false" and India is aimed maligning Islamabad and undermining its efforts to curb terrorism. Experts have termed the validation of the six addresses of the 59-year-old mafia don in Pakistan as a big diplomatic victory for India, as Islamabad has all along denied giving Ibrahim shelter. India accuses Ibrahim of masterminding the 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai, which left 250 people dead and more than 700 others injured. NEW DELHI, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Believe it or not, doctors in India have removed some 40 knives from the stomach of a man who had swallowed them in the past three months. A team of doctors, led by Dr. Jatinder Malholtra, carried out a surgery on the 42-year-old man at a hospital in the northern Indian state of Punjab's Amritsar town and got the knives out successfully. "The patient did not tell us that he had swallowed the knives. He came to us with stomach pain. Then we found out that he had been literally eating knives after diagnostic tests," he told the media Tuesday. "It was a complex procedure and we had to really plan well to ensure a successful operation," the doctor said. Local TV channels reported that the man survived the surgery and was recovering at the hospital, though did not disclose his identity. Doctors were trying to find out if the man was suffering from physiological disorder. "He is getting counselling. He has promised that he will never touch a knife again," Malholtra said. NEW DELHI, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked his party leaders to focus on pro-poor agenda, saying that nationalism is the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's strength and "the bed rock of our ideology." "Create an image of the party and government in the hearts of the poorest of poor. Emerge not just as a political force by winning polls, but also as a social force," Modi told a gathering of his party's top 400 leaders in the capital on Tuesday. Urging party leaders to shed the party's negtaive image that it has failed to protect the weaker sections of society, the prime minister said: "Nearly 80 percent of party workers are not from a privileged background. Don't let the misinformation succeed." "When the BJP speaks of the poor and reaches out to them, our opponents get rattled," he told the gathering, flanked by party chief and close confidante Amit Shah and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley by his side. Modi's statements came at a time when the party is eyeing on assembly polls in the politically crucial Uttar Pradesh and the PM's home state of Gujarat next year, but has been blamed for atrocities on lower-caste people like the public shaming of four Dalits by cow protectors. WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. has received a formal extradition request from Turkey for U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, the U.S. State Department said Tuesday. However, the extradition request is not related to the failed coup attempt last month in Turkey, State Department spokesperson Mark Toner said at a regular press briefing. "Obviously, it's related to other reasons for which they want him extradited for," Toner said. "But I don't know the specifics on that." The spokesperson said once the U.S. makes a full assessment of the documents, it will make a determination on the extradition case. A delegation of U.S. officials from the Justice and State Department arrived in Ankara on Monday to discuss developments following the failed coup. The four U.S. officials are expected to discuss with their Turkish counterparts on Tuesday and Wednesday the extradition of Gulen, whom Ankara has blamed for masterminding the failed July 15 coup attempt. Tensions brewed after Ankara expressed its discontent over lack of support from Washington in the wake of the failed coup. Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag warned that the relationship between both countries could be negatively affected if Gulen is not extradited. However, the U.S. insists that the cleric will only be extradited following legal procedures according to relevant legislature and treaties. This picture taken on February 4, 2016 shows a student trying to counter a cyber-attack at the National engineering elite school of Bretagne-Sud cybersecurity center in Vannes, western France. (AFP/File Photo) WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. law enforcement agencies are currently investigating a series of cyber breaches targeting The New York Times and other U.S. media outlets, according to CNN. Citing U.S. officials briefed on the probe, CNN reported that investigators so far believed that Russian intelligence was likely behind the attacks. The New York Times did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Citing U.S. officials, CNN said the Times had already hired private security investigators to work with U.S. federal officials in assessing the breach. According to CNN, investigators believed the intrusions targeting U.S. media were part of a broader series of hacks that also had targeted U.S. Democratic Party organizations. The news came about a month after a breach of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) revealed internal email communications within the committee that indicated DNC's bias against former Democratic presidential contender Bernie Sanders. by Larry Neild LIVERPOOL, Britain, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Tribal chiefs stood on the banks of the famous River Mersey here on Tuesday as Liverpool led commemorations to mark UNESCO's International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. Dressed in traditional costumes, they cast flowers onto the river where, in the 1700s, ships left Liverpool for estimated 5,000 voyages that would transport around 1.5 million slaves from Africa to the Americas. National Museums Liverpool, who run the International Slavery Museum on the city's waterfront, has organized three days of events to mark the city's links with the slave trade. A public libation, an ancient spiritual ceremony which involves an offering to commemorate and pay tribute to those affected by slavery, was the main event. Hundreds gathered, watched by tourists milling around the restored dockland area. Many people from various ethnic communities also cast flowers onto the river. Earlier, a Walk of Remembrance took place through downtown Liverpool to honor and remember ancestors who, deprived of their liberty, enabled the port of Liverpool to thrive. The procession, led by an African band, passed the site of the historic old dock where slaver ships once moored to prepare for journeys to transport their human cargoes. Dr. Richard Benjamin, head of the International Slavery Museum, said: "Slavery Remembrance Day is a vital event not only for the International Slavery Museum but for Liverpool and the country as a whole. It not only commemorates the lives and deaths of millions of Africans enslaved during the period of the transatlantic slave trade, but recognizes their resilience and resistance too." "We also live with the legacies of transatlantic slavery and enslavement, such as racism and discrimination and ongoing inequalities, injustices and exploitation and that is why the International Slavery Museum is a campaigning museum - promoting social justice through its work." In 1999, Liverpool became one of the first cities in the world to formally and unreservedly apologize for its part in the slave trade and the continual effect of slavery on Liverpool's black communities. Enditem CHICAGO, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) grains futures closed lower Tuesday, weighed down by signs that U.S. crops are still in prime health as the fall harvest nears. The most active corn contract for December delivery was down 5.25 cents, or 1.53 percent, to 3.3725 dollars per bushel. December wheat delivery fell 7.75 cents, or 1.78 percent, to 4.2725 dollars per bushel. November soybeans fell 2.25 cents, or 0.22 percent, to 10.135 dollars per bushel. Corn prices fell for a second consecutive session, pressured in part by federal data showing conditions for the nation's grain crop improved last week, which added to optimism over the government's recent forecast for a record harvest. The U.S. Department of Agriculture earlier this month predicted U.S. farmers would raise 15.2 billion bushels of corn in 2016 after benevolent weather blessed much of the Midwest during the growing season. Soybeans prices slipped, buffeted by unusually strong crop ratings. Seventy-two percent of U.S. soybeans were rated good to excellent as of Sunday, according to the USDA, and analysts say this would mark the second highest rating for this time period in the past 30 years. Grain analysts also believe the USDA could revise upward its forecast for soybean output this year thanks to good growing conditions and favorable August weather. Still, robust demand for the oilseeds is preventing further declines in the market, they said. Enditem MANAGUA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Nicaraguan legislators on Tuesday met with visiting Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to bolster political ties between the two countries. After meeting with the Nicaragua-Iran Friendship Group of the Nicaraguan parliament, Zarif, who heads a sizeable business delegation, called the encounter "quite fruitful." "Political ties between the two countries are excellent and given that, I hope we can extend economic and trade ties between the two peoples," said Zarif, adding "that's why I am accompanied by a delegation from the state and private sectors." Iran is looking to "expand ties in all fields," including construction, industry, mining, agriculture, medicine and science, especially nanotechnology," said Zarif. Iran's top diplomat also met with representatives of ProNicaragua, the country's export promotion agency; the Finance Ministry; and Nicaragua's Grand Interoceanic Canal project, according to state news website El 19 Digital. The Iranian delegation comprised more than 60 private-sector representatives and more than 20 public-sector envoys, "a reflection of the interest in expanding ties with Nicaragua," the news agency said. Iran's business delegation included representatives from an array of sectors, including oil and gas, land and maritime transport, the automobile industry and dairy foods, as well as private-sector financing agencies and "the development bank," said Zarif. Nicaragua and Iran have both undergone revolutionary processes to free themselves from dominating powers, Zarif noted, adding "I hope this marks a new chapter between our two countries." Zarif is on a six-nation tour of Latin America that first took him to Cuba. He will also head to Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador and Venezuela. Visitors watch a promotional video on China's Shanghai during a tourism promotion event in New York, the United States , Aug. 23, 2016. China's city of Shanghai launched Tuesday a tourism campaign in New York City with the debut of the first VR promotional video showcasing a panoramic view of the beauty of the metropolitan city. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) NEW YORK, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- China's city of Shanghai launched Tuesday a tourism campaign in New York City with the debut of the first VR promotional video showcasing a panoramic view of the beauty of the metropolitan city. The campaign was led by a delegation from the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration, who introduced new tourism products and latest policy updates of Shanghai to a room of more than a hundred New York City travel industry insiders. The updates include new direct air routes, new landmark skyscrapers, the opening of Shanghai Disneyland, 144-hour visa-free entry for transit passengers, and the new tax refund policies. "Shanghai is a city of rich and unique details," said Meihong Cheng, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration, "there is so much to explore in the city and we encourage tourists from the U.S. to come and experience it first-hand." The event also featured the debut of a promotional video powered by virtual reality technology. Starring Shanghai's tourism ambassador, actor Hu Ge and the rising bel canto band named Vocal Force, the video presents Shanghai as a wonderful and charming city from multiple aspects. The U.S. is one of the largest sources of inbound visitors to Shanghai, and it's important to promote Shanghai to potential tourists in the U.S., Cheng said. Shanghai saw more than 636,000 tourists from the United States in 2015, up 0.61 percent from 2014. As a part of the "China-U.S. Tourism Year" programs, Shanghai and New York City had signed an agreement for a two-year tourism partnership on July 14. Under the agreement, both cities would promote each other and provide tailored travel products. "Shanghai and New York City play important roles as gateways for airlift, but also as leaders for the (tourism) industry in general," said Fred Dixon, CEO of NYC & Company, the agency responsible for promoting New York City. "We share best practices, we assist in promoting each other," said Dixon, "it makes a lot of sense and is just great to work with." SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) test-fired a ballistic missile from a submarine off its east coast into the sea, South Korea's military said on Wednesday. A South Korean defense ministry official told Xinhua that the DPRK test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) at about 5:30 a.m. local time (2030 GMT Tuesday) off the eastern coastal town of Sinpo in South Hamgyeong province into the East Sea. The official said the DPRK's SLBM technology appeared to have advanced compared with previous launches as the ballistic missile flew about 500 km. The launch came after South Korea and the United States began their annual military drills on Monday. The tourism promotion event also featured the debut of a promotional video powered by virtual reality technology. (Xinhua/Photo) NEW YORK, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- China's city of Shanghai launched Tuesday a tourism campaign in New York City with the debut of the first VR promotional video showcasing a panoramic view of the beauty of the metropolitan city. The campaign was led by a delegation from the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration, who introduced new tourism products and latest policy updates of Shanghai to a room of more than a hundred New York City travel industry insiders. The updates include new direct air routes, new landmark skyscrapers, the opening of Shanghai Disneyland, 144-hour visa-free entry for transit passengers, and the new tax refund policies. "Shanghai is a city of rich and unique details," said Meihong Cheng, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration, "there is so much to explore in the city and we encourage tourists from the U.S. to come and experience it first-hand." The event also featured the debut of a promotional video powered by virtual reality technology. Starring Shanghai's tourism ambassador, actor Hu Ge and the rising bel canto band named Vocal Force, the video presents Shanghai as a wonderful and charming city from multiple aspects. The U.S. is one of the largest sources of inbound visitors to Shanghai, and it's important to promote Shanghai to potential tourists in the U.S., Cheng said. Shanghai saw more than 636,000 tourists from the United States in 2015, up 0.61 percent from 2014. As a part of the "China-U.S. Tourism Year" programs, Shanghai and New York City had signed an agreement for a two-year tourism partnership on July 14. Under the agreement, both cities would promote each other and provide tailored travel products. "Shanghai and New York City play important roles as gateways for airlift, but also as leaders for the (tourism) industry in general," said Fred Dixon, CEO of NYC & Company, the agency responsible for promoting New York City. "We share best practices, we assist in promoting each other," said Dixon, "it makes a lot of sense and is just great to work with." BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- As foreign ministers of China, Japan and South Korea are to meet in Tokyo Wednesday, the three major Asian powers should work together to make their differences controllable. The final date of the eighth trilateral foreign ministers' meeting, the second gathering since the talks resumed in March 2015 after a three-year hiatus, was not released until Monday afternoon. Although high-ranking diplomats of the three countries had met in Tokyo for final deliberations about whether to hold such a trilateral meeting this month, there has been pessimism until Monday that the meeting could be postponed. The tortuous process of nailing down a trilateral foreign ministers' meeting nine years after the first of its kind was held in 2007 implies that differences on regional issues have been haunting relations among China, Japan and South Korea. Tokyo's illegal claim for the ownership of the China-owned Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, its interference in the disputes over South China Sea islands, as well as its unrepentant attitude toward the crimes it committed in World War II, have gravely damaged its relations with Beijing. Besides, Seoul's acceptance of U.S. deploying a missile defense system, whose X-band radar can peer deep into China and Russia, on its soil has greatly threatened the strategic interests of the two countries and undermined regional stability. Against such a backdrop, the fact that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi still came to Tokyo since he took office in 2013 has shown China's sufficient sincerity to cooperate with Japan and South Korea. China, Japan and South Korea are neighbors and important countries in East Asia. Trilateral cooperation between them exerts great influence on peace and stability, development and prosperity in the region and the world. With their total economy accounting for one fifth of the global economy and 70 percent of the Asian economy, the three countries have started the 10th round of negotiations on a free trade zone among them, which is expected to enhance industrial complementarity, explore potential in trade and investment and further integrate regional value chain. However, cooperation in economy and trade should be built on the basis of mutual political trust among the three parties. Both Tokyo and Seoul should abandon the Cold War mentality and view the peaceful rise of China as vigor to regional development. They also should avoid being the tools for some countries outside the region to undermine regional stability. Facing the complex trilateral relations among the three neighbors, the best solution is to seek common interests while reserving differences. That is the reason why the Tokyo meeting can finally take place. Only through maintaining the trilateral mechanism for dialogue and cooperation, can China, Japan and South Korea avoid strategic misunderstanding and make their differences controllable, so as to safeguard regional security and stability. Related: Chinese FM arrives in Tokyo for trilateral meeting TOKYO, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Tokyo on Tuesday to take part in a trilateral meeting with his counterparts from Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) the following day, Japan's Foreign Ministry said. TOKYO, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese government on Wednesday strongly condemned the the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) test-firing of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe described the launch as a grave threat to security and an unforgivable act Abe said a strong protest to the launch has been made with Pyongyang through certain diplomatic channels. UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Igor Luksic of Montenegro decided to pull himself out of the race for the next UN secretary-general, bringing down the total number of candidates vying for the world's top diplomat to 10, the president of the UN General Assembly said here Tuesday. by Matt Walsh CANBERRA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has on Wednesday downplayed concerns that its future submarine program could be at risk, after the French shipbuilder contracted to built its 12 next-generation subs suffered a massive internal leak. The leak was reported by Australian media on Wednesday and includes more than 22,000 pages of information, including details on the six Scorpene-class submarines the French company, DCNS, designed for India. The leak of the Scorpene-class subs also affects Malaysia, Chile and Brazil - nations which ordered those submarines from DCNS, however Australia has ordered 12 Barracuda-class subs from the shipbuilder. DCNS won the 40 billion U.S dollar contract to build the submarines earlier this year, beating out bids from the Japanese government and from a German firm, and while Australian officials have said the leaks were concerning, they were not relevant to Australia's model. "It is a completely different model, it is a different submarine," Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told the Seven Network on Wednesday. Meanwhile Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne said the damning, 22,400-page report has "no bearing" on the government's Future Submarine Program. "(The) program operates under stringent security requirements that govern the manner in which all information and technical data is managed now and into the future," the statement, released on Wednesday, said. "The same requirements apply to the protection of all sensitive information and technical data for the Collins class submarines, and have operated successfully for decades." Despite the government's bullish outlook regarding the leak, the Australian newspaper reported the U.S government could be concerned by the details of the leak; it is set to install state-of-the-art stealth and combat systems into the Australian submarines. If the U.S government feels the details of its revolutionary technology cannot be adequately protected, it may redact its offer to install the systems in Australia's submarines, the Australian reported. Overnight, DCNS moved to allay Australian fears over the future of its submarines, with a statement explaining all data linked to the Australian design was absolutely protected. It said the leak of data came as a result of DCNS not being the "controller" of the Indian subs' technical data. "Uncontrolled technical data is not possible in the Australian -arrangements," DCNS said. "Multiple and independent controls exist within DCNS to prevent unauthorized access to data and all data movements are encrypted and recorded. "In the case of India, where a DCNS design is built by a local company, DCNS is the provider and not the controller of technical data. "In the case of Australia DCNS is both the provider and in-country controller of technical data for the full chain of transmission and usage over the life of the submarines." Despite the DCNS statement, Senator Nick Xenophon described the leaks as "very concerning", and called for an inquiry into the security of the Australian contract. "This is really quite disastrous to have thousands of pages of your combat system leaked in this way," the Independent Senator said on Wednesday, "I am very concerned about this." DCNS won the defence contract - worth 40 billion U.S dollars - in April, with the submarines expected to hit the water in 2030. MELBOURNE, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- A woman who was abused by ticket inspector's for offering to pay a homeless man's tram fare said she was scared by the ordeal. Emily Day said she was riding a tram in Melbourne's northern suburbs when ticket inspectors approached a homeless man sitting nearby and asked to see his ticket. "He (the homeless man) was not in a great place and was struggling," Day told Fairfax Media on Wednesday. "He did not need that and they had zero sensitivity. "He was sitting quietly on the tram, shrinking into himself and they were just standing over him. It was really rough. "I was really mad they weren't showing compassion. They were being bullies." Day said that when her and another passenger offered to pay the man's fare by handing him spare tickets the inspectors then turned on her, leaving her scared and angry. "They started yelling at us and saying we could be fined," she said. "All four of them ganged up on me and kept interrupting me. "One got really exasperated... but he seemed to realize that it wasn't cool afterwards." Day said she asked the inspectors to waive the man's fine, but they refused. A spokesperson for Yarra Trams said the man, who could not be confirmed as being homeless or not, was issued with a "report of non-compliance" which left the Transport Department to decide if the man will be fined. The spokesperson said Yarra Trams would investigate Day's claims that the inspectors abused her. "Yarra Trams expects employees to show courtesy and respect to people while carrying out their duties," the spokesperson told Fairfax. UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Igor Luksic of Montenegro decided to quit the race for the position of the next UN secretary-general, bringing down the total number of candidates vying for the world's top diplomat to 10, the president of the UN General Assembly said here Tuesday. Mongens Lykketoft, the president of the 70th session of the 193-member General Assembly, sent a letter from the Permanent Mission of Montenegro to the United Nations to all UN member states, to announce the withdrawal of Luksic who is the foreign minister of Montenegro. The message from Montenegro's Mission, including a letter from Luksic himself, was also sent to Ramlan Bih Ibrahim, the Malaysian UN ambassador who holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council for August. The 15-nation UN council has the final say over who can win the race to succeed current UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Jan. 1, 2017. "I would like to take this opportunity to inform you that I have decided to withdraw my nomination for the position of the secretary-general of the UN," Luksic said in his signed letter. YANGON, Aug, 24 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw will pay a state visit to India soon, said an official announcement Wednesday without specifying the date of the visit. The announcement of U Htin Kyaw's state visit to India at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee comes days after Indian External Affairs Minister Sushama Swaraj came to Myanmar, during which Swaraj met with the Myanmar president and focused their talks on the promotion of bilateral trade ties, cooperation in transport, health and energy sectors. The Indian side offered technical assistance to the development of Myanmar's agricultural sector. Myanmar and India have vowed to cooperate on border security following clashes between the Indian army and an Indian rebel group, the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland, near Myanmar-India border in June last year. The Myanmar side pledged not to tolerate any rebel groups active on its soil which are trying to harm the interest of its neighboring countries. MONTEVIDEO, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Representatives from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay who met Tuesday here in search of a solution to the deadlock of the Southern Common Market's (Mercosur) rotating presidency failed to issue an official announcement. After the meeting, Paraguayan Deputy Foreign Minister Rigoberto Gauto told a press conference that "there had been a lot of closeness" during the meeting, but he provided no further details. "The meeting focused on further strengthening and outlining the paths we really have to follow," he said. The five-nation trading bloc has been divided in two since late July. Venezuela was supposed to take over the bloc's rotating presidency from Uruguay on Aug. 1, but Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay feel the country's spiralling economic crisis and political problems make it unfit to assume the leadership role. Venezuela and Uruguay, however, have insisted that the order of rotation be respected. Without waiting for an approval of other members, Venezuela has stated that it will begin legislating for the Mercosur bloc. While no deal appeared to have been found at this latest meeting, from which Venezuela was absent, Caracas announced that it had invited all the Mercosur countries to attend a summit on Wednesday at Mercosur's headquarters in Montevideo. So far, none of the other member countries have confirmed their intention to attend. WELLINGTON, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand military is to open tenders next month on the construction of a new navy support ship, Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee said Wednesday. The littoral operations support vessel would provide a platform for hydrography, deep diving and mine countermeasures activities. "The ship will offer new capabilities that will support NZDF (New Zealand Defence Force) sea-to-shore operations in low to medium threat environments," Brownlee said in a statement. "It will be used, for example, to identify safe approaches and landing zones when harbour channels or ports are unavailable after natural disasters," he said. "It will have particular utility in the Pacific, assisting with humanitarian and disaster relief operations." It would also enhance the NZDF's ability to support search and rescue, salvage, and hazard clearance activities around New Zealand and in the South Pacific. The new vessel would replace two navy ships: the 40-year-old diving ship HMNZS Manawanui, which is due to retire in 2018, and the hydrographic ship HMNZS Resolution, which was retired in 2012. The new vessel is one of a range of new capabilities to modernize the NZDF signalled in the Defence White Paper published in June. The announcement follows the award of a contract valued at 493 million NZ dollars (358.75 million U.S. dollars) contract to deliver a new naval tanker. The vessel will be built by South Korean firm Hyundai Heavy Industries and is expected to be delivered in 2020. by Xinhua Writer Tian Dongdong BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Under the pressure of South Korea-U.S. military drill and the widely disputed THAAD deployment, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) reportedly fired a ballistic missile early Wednesday, sending a strong signal that Washington and its allies are risking turning the region into a powder keg. If confirmed, the missile launch would be a new violation of UN resolutions. However, the fact that it came two days after the South Korea-U.S. drill simulating an all-out attack by the DPRK merits a closer look at its motivation. Denounced as aggression and provocation by the DPRK, the two-week Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercises will surely not make Seoul safer. Rather, it might compel Pyongyang to take even more reckless actions for the sake of its own security. In fact, the United States and South Korea have been warned in advance by the north. Calling the South Korea-U.S. exercises the "most undisguised physical measure and provocative action," the DPRK has vowed to "foil all hostile acts and threat of aggression and provocation with the Korean-style nuclear deterrence." Within that context, the launch could be regarded as a tit-for-tat move of Pyongyang. Washington and Seoul are playing a dangerous game. They are holding a wolf by the ears in the hope that their sabre-rattling would deter the DPRK. However, their plan dooms to be a wishful thinking, as muscle-flexing leads to nowhere but a more anxious, more agitating and thus more unpredictable Pyongyang. Meanwhile, the launch, already the fourth missile fired by the DPRK after the announcement of THAAD's deployment on July 8, could be interpreted as a protest against the planned installation of the system. It also serves a reminder to policymakers in Seoul that by allowing the THAAD deployment, South Korea is putting the cart before the horse in their pursuit of national security, as the key to security lies in good neighborly and friendly relations with its neighbors, rather than a bunch of U.S.-made missiles. The increasingly complicated and stinging situation in East Asia needs to be cooled down before it is too late, and at this moment, what the region needs is cool heads instead of miscalculations. The ongoing trilateral meeting among Chinese, Japanese and South Korean foreign ministers offers a golden opportunity. UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Igor Luksic of Montenegro decided to quit the race for the position of the next UN secretary-general, cutting to 10 the total number of candidates vying to be the world's top diplomat, the president of the UN General Assembly said here Tuesday. Mongens Lykketoft, the president of the 70th session of the 193-member General Assembly, sent a letter from the Permanent Mission of Montenegro to the United Nations to all UN member states, to announce the withdrawal of Luksic, who is the foreign minister of Montenegro. The message from Montenegro's Mission, including a letter from Luksic himself, was also sent to Ramlan Bih Ibrahim, the Malaysian UN ambassador who holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council for August. The 15-nation UN council has the final say over who can succeed current UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Jan. 1, 2017. Ban will end his second five-year term on Dec. 31. "I would like to take this opportunity to inform you that I have decided to withdraw my nomination for the position of the secretary-general of the UN," Luksic said in his signed letter. Luksic came in the last of the second round of the informal poll of the Security Council, known as the straw poll. The Security Council is scheduled to have a third round on Aug. 29. "In addition for the sake of equal ownership of all the regions the UN, I hope the Eastern European argument will prevail when it comes to the final decision," Luksic said. The Eastern European argument is in line with the UN tradition -- the job of the UN secretary-general rotates among different regions. So far, African, Asia, Europe and Latin America have all held the post of the UN chief. The Eastern European countries, plus Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, argue that it is their turn now to have a UN secretary-general as they have never had one in the 71-year history of the world body. The Aug. 29 straw poll will be the third informal poll by the Security Council behind closed doors since July 21. The council did not reveal the result of each round of voting, but the outcome was leaked to the press and diplomats here. The council members will vote "encourage," "discourage" or "no opinion" about the 10 candidates. In early August, former Croatian Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic became the first of the 12 contenders to leave the race. Former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Gutterres, former Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic and Irina Bokova, the director general of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and Slovenia's former President Danilo Turk are among the 10 candidates. Under the UN Charter, the UN secretary-general shall be appointed by the UN General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council. In practice, the Security Council, particularly its five permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- will make the final choice and send a single candidate to the General Assembly for approval. Before the final decision comes out, several rounds of straw polls will be held among the 15 Security Council members. WELLINGTON, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The head of Fiji's military arrived in New Zealand Wednesday to continue the rebuilding of links between the two armed forces. Commander Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto would be holding talks with senior New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and Ministry of Defence officials during the four-day visit, said NZDF Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Tim Keating. "There has been a good momentum in the defence relationship of late; this visit builds on that," Keating said in a statement. "I am pleased to be hosting Rear Admiral Naupoto. This is the first visit to New Zealand by a Commander of the RFMF for many years." Defence cooperation was formally resumed between the two military forces in late 2014, following a normalizing of relations. Keating visited Fiji at the end of June for talks with Naupoto on defense and security cooperation. The NZDF was heavily involved in the response to the Tropical Cyclone Winston in February, sending its biggest peacetime deployment to the Pacific, involving ships, aircraft and more than 500 personnel. The cyclone killed at least 42 people, and damaged or destroyed thousands of homes and other buildings. Also in June, John Key became the first New Zealand Prime Minister to visit Fiji in 10 years and held talks with Fiji Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama. Other Pacific nations imposed sanctions on Fiji after Bainimarama seized power in a military coup in 2006. Relations were normalized after elections in September 2014, when Bainimarama was elected Fiji's Prime Minister with about 60 percent of the vote. CARACAS, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is on a six-nation tour to Latin America in a bid to bolster economic ties with countries in the region, months after an internationally-brokered nuclear agreement helped lift economic sanctions against it. "It's logical that since the embargo (against Iran) has been lifted, it is seeking to expand" economic ties, Georges Zade, an author and commentator on Middle East affairs, has told Xinhua in an interview. The Middle East's fractured political, cultural and religious landscape, which pits the Sunni Arab states of the Persian Gulf, led by the stalwart U.S. ally Saudi Arabia, against Shiite Iran, also limits Iran's ability to expand economic relations in its region, Zade noted. Differences "are shutting (Iran) out of its natural market, such as what comprised the Gulf states," he added. Zarif's Latin American tour has so far taken him to Cuba and Nicaragua, with Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador and Venezuela as the next stops. Venezuela is the country in Latin America that has the strongest ties with Iran, based on political affinity. As oil exporters, Iran and Venezuela are members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), as well as the non-aligned movement. Both of them have struggled to free themselves from a U.S. dominance. In April, Zarif's Venezuelan counterpart Delcy Rodriguez traveled to Iran, as part of Venezuela's efforts to bolster bilateral economic, financial and trade cooperation. Since 2006, under the leadership of then President Hugo Chavez, the two countries have signed some 300 deals on cooperation. For Iran, there is still potential for trade exchange and cooperation, not just with Venezuela, Zade said. "Iran maintains excellent diplomatic ties with all of the countries included in the tour, with the only exception of Chile, "said Zade, adding that, however, its trade exchange with them is very limited. Zade expects the countries will benefit from Iran's technological development. In his opinion, "the embargo imposed by the West has failed to get Iran to buckle under, and in spite of it, or because of it, that country has achieved advances in technology to boost its industrialization." "We can say that to a certain degree, Iran became self-sufficient, and with so much progress it needs to expand its market and, at the same time the trade exchange with other countries," said Zade. As regards the exclusion from Zarif's trip of Brazil and Argentina, both Latin America's largest economies, Zade reckons it may be because the two countries are worried about annoying the United States and Iran. Soon after being elected to office in August 2013, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani signalled that Latin America would be a diplomatic priority for his administration, the same as it was during the term of his predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Zarif is accompanied in the Latin America tour by a business delegation of figures from private and public sectors covering fields ranging from petrochemicals, mining, medicine, automobiles to agriculture and engineering. A woman watches a screen displaying news of the test-firing of a submarine-launched missile by the DPRK, at a railway station in Seoul, capital of South Korea, Aug. 24, 2016. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin) SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday test-fired a ballistic missile from a submarine off its east coast into the sea at a time of heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula following the start of annual South Korea-U.S. war games, Seoul's military said. A South Korean defense ministry official told Xinhua that the DPRK test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) at about 5:30 a.m. local time (2030 GMT Tuesday) off the eastern coastal town of Sinpo in South Hamgyeong province. The official said the DPRK's SLBM technology appeared to have advanced compared with previous launches as the missile flew about 500 km. Seoul's military has allegedly regarded the flight of more than 300 km in distance as successful. It was the longest flight among any known DPRK test-firings of SLBM. The launch came just two days after Seoul and Washington kicked off their joint annual war games, codenamed Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG). Pyongyang has considered the drills as a dress rehearsal for northward invasion, which the two allies claimed to be defensive in nature. The Seoul defense ministry official said the launch was the DPRK's show of force to escalate military tensions on the Korean Peninsula on the excuse of the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises. The UFG computer-simulated exercises are scheduled to run through next Friday, mounting the already-heightened tensions in the region caused by Seoul and Washington's unilateral decision in July to deploy one Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in southeastern South Korea by the end of next year. This year's U.S.-South Korea war games adopt a so-called Operation Plan 5015, a wartime joint response scenario signed in June last year between South Korea and the United States. The OPLAN 5015 involves a U.S.-South Korea preemptive strike against the DPRK, raising possibility for military conflicts on the peninsula. HANOI, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- At least seven gold miners were killed in Vietnam's northern Lao Cai province due to floods triggered by Typhoon Dianmu, said Do Van Duy, chairman of people's committee of Lao Cai's Van Ban district on Wednesday. According to Duy, all the miners are employees of a local gold company. Earlier on Monday, two miners were confirmed to be dead while five others were confirmed Wednesday, reported Vietnam's state-run news agency VNA. Pham Van Thang, secretary of Van Ban party committee, said there are many free gold miners who did not register with local authorities so they did not have their information. In a related move, the country's central committee on flood prevention and control said in its latest report that due to floods, northern Yen Bai province reported two deaths, and northern Bac Giang province reported three deaths. Meanwhile, northern Son La, Lao Cai, Hoa Binh, and central Nghe An province reported one death each. In total, as many as 16 deaths have been confirmed in Vietnam due to Typhoon Dianmu, which landed the country last Friday afternoon. In addition, two others remained missing while 15 people were injured, said the committee. WELLINGTON, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's Tianjin Airlines is to start services between New Zealand's biggest city of Auckland and China from December, Auckland Airport announced Wednesday. The airline would operate year-round between Tianjin, Chongqing and Auckland three times a week using an A330 aircraft, said airport general manager Norris Carter. "It is very exciting that Tianjin Airlines has chosen Auckland as their first Australasia destination," Carter said in a statement. "Regional China is a rapidly developing source market for New Zealand tourism and these new routes flying directly to Auckland provide another option for Chinese visitors to experience New Zealand." Auckland Airport estimated the new service would add 83,000 seats to the China to Auckland route every year and inject about 102 million NZ dollars (74.29 million U.S. dollars) into the New Zealand tourism industry. With a population of more than 15 million people, Tianjin is the largest coastal city in northern China, while Chongqing is a major economic center of the Yangtze basin with a population of more than 30 million. Tianjin Airlines, established in 2009, has a fleet of 89 aircraft and serves more than 100 destinations. WUHAN, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The population of golden monkeys in central China's Shennongjia National Nature Reserve, Hubei Province, has risen to more than 1,300, double that of in 1990, sources with the reserve said Wednesday. The reserve began a census on the endangered species in August 2015. "In addition to the increase of population, the animals have begun to range outside the reserve to neighboring areas such as Badong and Xingshan," said Yang Jingyuan, director of the reserve's research institute. The first golden monkey census in Shennongjia showed that there were 501 of the species in the reserve in 1990, Yang said. The golden monkeys in Shennongjia are golden snub-nosed monkey, one of the five golden monkey species. They mainly live across the southwest province of Sichuan, the northwestern provinces of Shaanxi and Gansu, and central China's Shennongjia. Golden monkeys are highly endangered and under first class protection. Located in the northwestern mountains in Hubei, Shennongjia reserve has rich natural forest resources and many animal species. Shennongjia was recognized as a World Natural Heritage site at the 40th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Istanbul,Turkey, in July. MEXICO CITY, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Mexican government announced on Tuesday 12 oilfields it would put up for tender in April 2017, for the extraction of dry and wet natural gas. The fields have a combined surface of 5,066 square km and the total reserve estimated in the fields amounts to 643.2 million barrels of crude oil equivalent. Nine of the oilfields are in the Cuenca de Burgos, a region rich in hydrocarbons in the northern states of Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas, while the other three are in the southeast part of the country. With an aim to extract dry and wet gas, the exploration of the 12 onshore oilfields is part of the second round of the country's energy reform kicked off in 2013, said the National Hydrocarbons Commission (CNH). "The petrochemical industry will benefit from the rise in products such as ethane, propane and butane coming from these areas," Mexican Energy Minister Pedro Joaquin Coldwell told the media. Infrastructure has already been built in 10 out of the 12 oilfields by Pemex, Mexico's state-owned oil company, allowing production to start there in 2018, Coldwell added. Hector Moreira, a CNH commissioner, said that companies wishing to bid for these fields would have to show their capability to extract the resources without infringing on the lifestyle of indigenous communities living nearby. The Ministry of Economy will evaluate and assign values to each of the fields over the coming weeks. PHNOM PENH, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The first Cambodia-China Business and Investment Forum will be held on Sept. 12 in Nanning City in southwestern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, according to a Commerce Ministry announcement on Wednesday. The forum will be convened back-to-back with the 13th ASEAN-China Expo, which will be attended by Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, the announcement said, urging businessmen and investors to register for the event. "This business summit is very useful for Cambodian businessmen and investors," it said. The forum will contribute further to boosting trade and investment ties between Cambodia and China. According to the government's figures, trade volume between the two countries was valued at 4.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2015, up 18 percent year-on-year. On the investment side, China is the largest investor in the Southeast Asian country with cumulative investment of over 11 billion U.S. dollars from 1994 to 2015, according to the Council for Development of Cambodia. UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy to the UN said Tuesday that non-proliferation cannot be used as a pretext to beef up military deployment, step up military presence or scale up military exercises. Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN, made the remarks at a Security Council debate on preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. On regional non-proliferation issues, Liu said all parties should stay consistently engaged in the process towards the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. All parties should keep up the search for solutions through dialogue and consultation and avoid any provocative action that may escalate tensions, he noted. "Preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery is of critical importance to international peace, security and stability," said Liu, adding that challenges on the non-proliferation front remain. "The unstable security environment makes some countries feel more threatened which in turn increases the risk of proliferation," he said. To confront these challenges, Liu said the international community should build an enabling international and regional security environment and strengthen international as well as regional cooperation in this regard. "The fundamental way out is to discard the Cold War mentality, and build a fair and just security landscape based on joint contribution and shared benefits," he said. HANOI, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam is expected to welcome about 6.5 million person-times of foreign visitors in the first eight months of 2016, posting a year-on-year increase of 25.4 percent, according to the National Administration of Tourism on Wednesday. Among the figure, the country witnessed a jump of arrivals from China's Hong Kong and China mainland with respective climb of 92.8 percent and 57.9 percent year-on-year. There has also been a rise in the number of visitors from South Korea (up 37.6 percent year-on-year), Thailand (34.9 percent), Italy (31.8 percent), Spain (27.6 percent), Laos (26.6 percent), New Zealand (26.4 percent), Russia (25 percent), and Sweden (24.3 percent) among others. Vietnam only saw a decline of 12.9 percent year-on-year in number of visitors from Cambodia during eight-month period, reported the state-run news agency VNA. Meanwhile, the number of domestic holiday-makers from January to August was estimated at 43.1 million. The sector earned over 265.152 trillion Vietnamese dong (11.89 billion U.S. dollars) in the eight-month period, up 22.5 percent against the same time in 2015. BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The central government on Wednesday called for faster construction of upgraded drainage systems across the country to cope with urban flooding. Local governments should plan the building of underground utility corridors to help with flood prevention and control, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development said in a public notice. Underground utility corridors refer to tunnels that carry electricity, water, heating and sewer pipes as well as telecommunications and television cables, all laid underground. The ministry said that cities should integrate underground utility corridors with construction projects, as part of their urban planning to build modern sewer systems with efficient drainage. Despite looking shiny and modern, Chinese cities are weak in their underground infrastructure. During extreme downpours, many cities are easily flooded. The government will encourage private capital to participate in the construction and operation of the utility tunnels, said the notice. According to a timetable released by government last October, 20 percent of China's cities should have modern sewer and drainage systems by 2020, with the number rising to 80 percent by 2030. BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese authorities have unveiled a document on Internet regulation in a bid to beef up cyber security, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said Wednesday. The guideline was issued by the CAC, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, the Inspection and Quarantine of China, and the Standardization Administration of China. According to the document, mandatory national standards will be introduced to regulate the fields of major information technology infrastructure protection and classified networks. Authorities will accelerate the introduction of standards in cyber security, personal information protection, cyber security information sharing and other fields. The new standards will be in line with the country's laws and regulations. MOSCOW, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Russia might use Iran's Hamadan airbase again to carry out attacks on terror targets in Syria, a senior defense official said Wednesday. Moscow and Tehran would conduct mutually beneficial cooperation and reach agreements on some specific issues soon, including the use of the Hamadan airbase by the Russian military to strike extremist groups in Syria, Vladimir Komoedov, chairman of the Defense Committee in the State Duma, said in an interview with Izvestiya newspaper. An agreement between the two countries over the issue is "only a matter of time," he said. Tehran has shown through concrete actions in recent months that its partnership with Moscow is strong, he added. Beginning on Aug. 16, Russian bombers took off from the Hamadan base in western Iran for three consecutive days to strike terrorist targets in Syria. It was the first time Russia has used the territory of another nation, apart from Syria itself, to launch such strikes since Moscow started a bombing campaign against IS targets inside Syria last September. Earlier this week, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said that the Russian military had accomplished its targets regarding airstrikes against the IS forces in Syria and all the Russian warplanes that had participated in the mission have been withdrawn. Further use of the Hamadan airbase would be based on mutual agreements on fighting terrorism and the evolving situation in Syria, the spokesman said. File photo taken on July 16, 2016 shows Donald Trump speaking during a campaign event in New York, the United States. New York billionaire Donald Trump clinched enough delegate votes to be officially selected as Republican presidential nominee Tuesday evening in the roll call voting at the ongoing Republican National Convention. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) HOUSTON, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Tuesday night repeated his immigration policy of building a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border and speeding up deportations of illegal immigrants. Speaking at a rally in the Texas capital city of Austin, Trump pledged to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, make Mexico pay for it, unleash federal border patrol officers and, first and foremost, adhere to the rule of law -- a clear and disapproving reference to U.S. President Barack Obama's executive orders protecting certain immigrants from deportation, according to local daily the Dallas Morning News. In a Fox News taping in Austin, Trump said: "We are going to build a wall. Yeah, 100 percent. It's so simple." "(Former U.S. President George W.) Bush and even Obama sent people back so we can be more aggressive with that, but we can follow the laws," he said. The Republican presidential candidate, however, sounded more sympathetic to hard-working immigrants who entered the United States illegally but have been since law-abiding and productive. Asked if he would accommodate those people if he is elected president, Trump said that he would try. Describing illegal immigration as a "tremendous problem," Trump said that "we want people to come into this country, but we want them to come in legally." When asked if illegal immigrants "who have worked hard, who have been here a long time" would be sent back to the country they came from or if he would "reconsider them," Trump said "we are going to follow the laws. We're going to see where people are, we're going to see how they've done." He spoke vaguely of creating a "merit system" for evaluating undocumented immigrants. It is Trump's second trip this summer to Texas. In addition to his Fox News taping and a rally later Tuesday in Austin, he also held fundraisers in the northern Texas city of Fort Worth and Austin. Former Texas Governor Rick Perry attended Trump's fundraisers, but incumbent Governor Greg Abbott and most Texas members of Congress were absent. BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- With the 2016 Group of 20 (G20) summit 10 days away, world media continue to focus on major topics of the meeting, which aims at seeking new momentum to spur the global economy. World leaders will join Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 4-5 in Hangzhou to talk about global economic governance, trade and investment. Leading Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail on Tuesday published an article by Luo Zhaohui, the Chinese ambassador to Canada. The summit has chosen "Toward an Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive World Economy" as the theme and will reach nearly major 30 results, wrote Luo. Luo displayed some major results expected from the summit, such as "providing a new development framework for medium-to-long-term global economic growth, enhancing global economic and financial governance, expanding new areas of global cooperation and enhancing cooperation with developing countries." Quoting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the Voice of America (VOA) reported on Tuesday that the Hangzhou summit is expected to be the most fruitful one ever. Although the ambitious targets are hard to accomplish via a single summit, especially against the backdrop of frozen multilateral negotiations on global trade, rising protectionism and nationalism, China at least can make some progress in global trade, Amy Celico, a principal at the international consulting firm Albright Stonebridge Group, told the VOA. Matthew Goodman, senior adviser for Asian economics at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, agreed with Celico in the VOA report. "Chinese people seem to have pushed it (the trade issue) forward," Goodman was quoted as saying, adding that China's preparation for the G20 summit showed that the host emphasizes more on trade. Quoting Chinese media reports about the G20 prospect, the Indian Express newspaper commented that the Hangzhou summit could be "the light at the end of the tunnel" eight years after the global financial crisis. "The success of the summit depends heavily on all G20 members working together, to implement, not just hash out, policies and measures," said the paper, adding that a longer-term strategy is needed for the goal. The G20 is an international forum for the world's 20 biggest economies. It groups Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States, along with the European Union. SINGAPORE, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- International Enterprise (IE) Singapore on Wednesday announced the establishment of its third Overseas Center in Africa during the Africa-Singapore Business Forum 2016 as the city state is pushing for deeper engagement with Africa. The new center, due to open in Nairobi in 2017, will give Singapore companies access to the fast-growing East Africa region, expanding IE Singapore's comprehensive in-market network to assist Singapore companies across the continent. Lee Ark Boon, chief executive officer of IE Singapore, noted that Africa's long-term growth prospects are strong, and Singapore companies looking to diversify from traditional markets should consider options in Africa. "Our new office in Nairobi will assist Singapore companies to identify and capture business opportunities, cultivate valued local partners and strengthen the Singapore brand in the fast-growing East African region," said Lee. The business forum also witnessed the landmark signing of Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement (DTA) with Ethiopia, a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) with Mozambique and an Air Services Agreement (ASA) with Nigeria on Wednesday. These bilateral agreements are expected to clarify the taxing rights of the signatory countries on all forms of income flows arising from cross-border business activities, create greater confidence for investors, and facilitate people-to-people flows. Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) S Iswaran, who signed these agreements, said Singapore companies must venture beyond these markets to seize opportunities in untapped markets in regions such as Africa. "Ethiopia, Mozambique and Nigeria are three fast-growing African economies and the agreements signed today signify commitment on the part of Singapore and the respective African governments to support trade, tourism and investment between our countries," said S Iswaran, "we are keen to build a long-term relationship with African countries and will continue to strengthen our economic ties with the African region." Since 2005, total trade between Singapore and Africa has grown at a compounded annual rate of 5.2 percent, reaching 11.5 billion Singapore dollars (8.5 billion U.S. dollars) in 2015, said IE Singapore. Besides the business forum aimed at enhancing economic cooperation, Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan also hosted Sub-Saharan Africa High-Level Ministerial Exchange Visit from Monday to Wednesday for 10 ministers from Botswana, Cabo Verde, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mauritius, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe, according a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday. Themed "Singapore and Africa: Partnering for Sustainable Development", the 10 ministers called on Singaporean leaders during the visit, exchanging views on the challenges of sustainable development and share experiences in dealing with urban solutions, water management and skills development. ANKARA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Turkish forces and the U.S.-led coalition warplanes launched an operation early Wednesday in the Jarablus region of north Syria to clear its borders from the Islamic State (IS), Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Beginning at around 4 a.m.(0100 GMT), Turkish forces dispatched warplanes and artillery during the operation, aiming to clear the Turkish borders from terrorist elements, halt the new wave of refugees, and deliver humanitarian aid to civilians in Jarablus, the last significant town held by the militant group near the border between Syria and Turkey. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday that Turkey would provide all kinds of support for military operations in Jarablus. Hours before the operation, the Turkish border town of Karkamis was attacked by a series of mortar shells fired from Syria, and many locals were forced to evacuate. Earlier on Monday, Cavusoglu said the IS militants must be totally pushed from the Syrian border region, amid reports suggesting that Syrian rebels were preparing to launch an attack to seize Jarablus. KABUL, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- About 22 militants had been killed amidst cleanup operations by Afghan security forces within the last 24 hours, the country's Defense Ministry said on Wednesday. "A total of 21 militants were also wounded during the joint military and cleanup operations launched by Afghan security forces in 11 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces over the last 24 hours," the ministry said in a statement providing daily operational updates. The statement also confirmed the loss of seven army personnel during operations and as a result of separate attacks across the country over the same period. The ground forces, supported by army's artillery and airpower, have also seized weapons and defused landmines during the raids, the statement noted. In northern Kunduz Province, the security forces cleared several villages on eastern and northern outskirts of provincial capital Kunduz city overnight, killing seven militants and wounding five others, provincial Police Chief Gen. Qasim Jangalbagh told Xinhua earlier on Wednesday. The militants have been clashing with security forces in outer sides of Kunduz city over the past couple of days as they tried to overrun the city which was briefly seized by the Taliban in late September last year. The Kunduz Province and neighboring Baghlan and Takhar Provinces have been the scene of heavy clashes over the past couple of months as Taliban has been trying to challenge the government forces in the once relatively peaceful region. Taliban has yet to make comments. President Xi Jinping visits Banyan village, in Huzhu Tu Autonomous County, northwestern China's Qinghai Province during an inspection visit, Aug. 23, 2016. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) BANYAN, Qinghai, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Treading a muddy stretch of unfinished road in the rain, President Xi Jinping came to the new home of Lyu Youzhang, a villager from Banyan of Huzhu Tu Autonomous County in northwestern China's Qinghai Province on Tuesday. Lyu and his fellow villagers used to live in very poor conditions in the mountains before being resettled to the new location as part of a poverty relief project. Xi checked the floor plan of Lyu's new home and asked about the construction progress and the hot bed stove, a heated sleeping platform common to north China. President Xi Jinping checks the construction progress of Lyu Youzhang's new home in Banyan village, Qinghai Province, Aug. 23, 2016. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) Residents of the Banyan village once used water from wells, but now every home receives tap water. Xi said he hoped villagers' lives would get better and better as utilities such as water, power and communications bring convenience to the new village. President Xi Jinping listens to Lyu Youzhang introducing the tap water facility at his home in Banyan village, Qinghai Province, Aug. 23, 2016. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) Visiting the home of Lyu Youjin, another villager from Banyan, Xi read guidebooks on poverty relief distributed to Lyu's family. President Xi Jinping reads a poverty relief guidebook at the home of Lyu Youjin, another villager from Banyan, Qinghai Province, Aug. 23, 2016. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) The president also asked Lyu and his family if they were satified with the poverty relief project and inquired about their future plans on farming, working in the cities and their children's education. Xi stressed that such village relocation projects must continue, to ensure villagers move into quality new homes. More measures to help lift the villagers out of poverty must follow once they resettle, Xi said. President Xi Jinping receives a warm welcome from villagers and workers at Banyan village, Qinghai Province, Aug. 23, 2016. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) President Xi Jinping receives a warm welcome from villagers and workers at Banyan village, Qinghai Province, Aug. 23, 2016. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) President Xi Jinping receives warm welcome from villagers and workers at Banyan village, Qinghai Province, Aug. 23, 2016. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) On Tuesday, Xi also visited the ecological environment monitoring center for Qinghai Province, located in the provincial capital Xining. Through the center's video monitoring system, Xi watched the real-time images sent from hundreds of kilometers in the Sanjiangyuan region, the cradle of China's three major rivers -- the Yangtze River, the Yellow River and the Lancang River. President Xi Jinping is welcomed by staff at the ecological environment monitoring center for Qinghai Province, in Xining, capital of Qinghai Province, Aug. 23, 2016. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) Xi pointed out that protecting the Sanjiangyuan region is critical to the development of the Chinese nation. Restricting or even banning exploitation in the region helps development, as Qinghai plays an important role in building the nation's ecological barriers. Talking to staff at local monitoring centers via video connections, Xi learned about the local subsidies, personnel and the protection of wildlife, including the snow leopard. He also wished a happy and healthy life to all residents in the Sanjiangyuan region. He also visited a state-owned solar company in Xining on Tuesday afternoon, where he learned how solar cell panels are made in the factory workshop. Xi stressed that Qinghai should develop a complete industrial chain for the solar photovoltaic industry and let clean energy benefit the people. President Xi Jinping examines a solar cell panel at a factory workshop in a solar power company under the State Power Investment Corporation, in Xining, capital of Qinghai Province, Aug. 23, 2016. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) This was the second day of Xi's tour in Qinghai. On Monday, Xi visited a Tibetan village in Golmud City and received warm welcome from the local villagers. He also visited a dock at Qinghai Salt Lake Potash Company Limited and called on the province to set a good example by maintaing a balance between protecting and utilizing natural resources. BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) has approved funding for 38,160 projects this year, with a total investment of more than 18 billion yuan (2.8 billion U.S.dollars). With a budget of 24.8 billion yuan for 2016, the NSFC received 177,551 applications as of August 16, it announced on Tuesday. For programs exploring scientific frontiers, each has received an average 600,000 yuan investment. Those designated priority areas, such as quantum information technology, cosmic ray detection, and global environmental change, were each financed with 2.8 million yuan on average. China has used its science fund to further develop basic science research and elevate the reputation of its academic papers, cutting-edge programs and research achievements. During 2011 to 2015, the science fund financed nearly 200,000 programs, with around 88.8 billion yuan from state revenue and more than 1.7 billion yuan from other sources, according to NSFC figures. To prevent misuse of funds, the foundation has issued regulations to ensure all the money is used appropriately. VANCOUVER, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Business people from China and Canada gathered here Tuesday at the Canada China Trade Conference that aims to educate and inspire Canadian businesses to become part of the growing Chinese market. The event, held at the Vancouver Convention Center and e-commerce themed, which is considered one of the fastest-growing types of business in China, included presentations by a dozen Chinese and Canadian companies, and featured a commercial trade show. The event organizer Kevin Li from New Media Technology said "I think the biggest obstacle is the lack of information. The local businesses don't really have a clue of how to deal with business in China, especially when it comes to digital marketing. They don't know how to generate interest, or get attention, and communicate with the Chinese consumers. So the purpose of this event is to help them bridge the gap." "It's our first year. Our goal in the very beginning is to connect Canadian businesses with Chinese consumers. So this conference is really to connect both worlds to make sure the Canadian products go to China, and land in the hands of the Chinese consumers," Li added. China is now Canada's second-largest trading partner after the United States, with bilateral trade in 2015 totalling more than 80 billion Canadian dollars (61.6 billion U.S. dollars), statistics showed. But for Canadian Chinese businessman Sam Peng, that number is not high enough, and the obstacles for Canadians getting access to China's growing market are very obvious. "The most difficult thing is the language. The second thing is the distance between China and Canada, and the third thing is the customs, duties," said Peng, former president of Canada Chinese Investors and Entrepreneurs Association. Jimmy Mitchell from AdvantageBC, an international business center based in Vancouver, said British Columbia has a stable banking system, strong international trade treaties and is one of the best places to live and work in the world. Organizers said they plan to hold the conference annually from now on, perhaps rotating the site from Vancouver to Toronto, and then move into China in the future. BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Japan's National Security Advisor Yachi Shotaro will visit China from Wednesday to Friday, a spokesperson announced on Wednesday. The two sides will hold the third China-Japan high-level political dialogue during his visit, and exchange views on bilateral relations and major issues of mutual interest. His visit is at the invitation of Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi,Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said. SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's trade balance in intellectual property rights posted the lowest deficit in the first quarter since relevant data began to be compiled in 2010, central bank data showed on Wednesday. Trade balance in intellectual property rights, including patent, model utility right, trademark, franchise right and design right as well as copyright, was a deficit of 784.4 million U.S. dollars in the January-March period, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK). It was 60.1 percent lower than the same period of last year, marking the lowest since 2010 when the BOK began to compile the data. The previous low was a deficit of 1.18 billion dollars tallied in the first quarter of 2011. The country stayed in a chronic deficit in intellectual property rights, but the deficit size has reduced due to developed technologies. Exports of intellectual property rights reached a record high of 2.8 billion dollars in the first quarter, while its imports tumbled 20.6 percent from a year earlier to 3.58 billion dollars. In trade of intellectual property rights with the United States and Japan, South Korea posted deficits of 1.03 billion dollars and 164.3 million dollars respectively in the quarter. The deficit from Germany was 73.8 million dollars. South Korea posted a surplus of 339.4 million dollars with France as Hanmi Pharmaceutical, local drug manufacturer, succeeded in exporting an innovative drug technology to a French drug maker. KINSHASA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) Facilitator Edem Kodjo on Tuesday launched sessions for the preparatory committee of the political dialogue convened by President Joseph Kabila in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). Kodjo launched the sessions in Kinshasa in the presence of representatives of political parties, ambassadors accredited to missions in Kinshasa as well as representatives of the UN Mission in Congo (MONUSCO). In his opening remarks, the facilitator said the political dialogue between the Congolese people should be done in accordance with the Congolese Constitution and in conformity with Resolution No. 2277 of the UN Security Council. "The dialogue will focus on how to organize peaceful and transparent elections in DR Congo," Kodjo said. Commenting on the prevailing crisis with regards to organization of elections and the refusal by a section of the opposition parties to participate in the dialogue, Kodjo said "no one will emerge victorious" without dialogue. "I urge the other section of the opposition who are absent on the table preparing for the dialogue to come back since the door is still open. The objective of the dialogue is to find a way of how we can continue living together and its success will be a lesson for the whole world," he continued. A section of the opposition parties led by opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi boycotted the meeting convened by the facilitator and instead organized protests across the country to oppose any potential extension of Kabila's term. Last year, Kabila convened a political dialogue to seek a compromise on the electoral process which has stalled due to technical constraints raised by the head of the National Independent Electoral Commission, Corneille Nangaa. However, Congolese opposition has accused the president of trying to use the proposed dialogue to extend his term in office beyond his mandate that ends later this year. BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's banking watchdog issued a set of regulations on Wednesday, aiming to tighten supervision of the country's booming peer-to-peer (P2P) lending industry. The document imposes a series of restrictions on P2P platforms, prohibiting them from accepting public deposits, pooling investors' money for their own projects, providing guarantees for lenders, or selling financial products, according to the China Banking Regulatory Commission's (CBRC) website. P2P lending, lenders without a traditional financial intermediary such as a bank, has seen rapid growth in China in the past few years, as investors seek higher returns, and small businesses find it easier to secure funds through P2P platforms. The lack of supervision, however, causes considerable risks. Fraud, fund flight and illegal fundraising are common, and some investors have been left out of pocket as many P2P platforms went bust. At the end of June, there were 1,778 P2P lending platforms with operational problems, accounting for more than 40 percent of the total. Outstanding loans issued by P2P platforms has reached 621.3 billion yuan (about 93.6 billion U.S. dollars), according to CBRC data. HARBIN, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Three people have died and another 10 were injured after a cement tanker collided with a bus in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province Wednesday noon, local authorities said. The accident happened at about 1:30 p.m. in Anjia township in Harbin, the provincial capital, the city's emergency response office said. At the time of the accident, the bus had about 20 people on board. Of the 10 injured, three were in serious condition. An investigation into the cause of the accident is under way. A still image, taken from video footage and released by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) on August 11, 2016, shows FSB officers escorting a detained man, who is suspected of planning to carry out attacks inside Crimea, according to the FSB, at an unknown location in Crimea. (Russia's Federal Security Service/Handout via Reuters) MOSCOW, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Investigative Committee said Wednesday that it has opened a criminal case against senior Ukrainian military officials, accusing them of using forbidden means and methods of war against civilians. "The National Guard of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Armed Forces have periodically carried out precision shelling of civilian infrastructure," the committee said in a statement. It said that highly destructive heavy weapons were used in such operations in eastern Ukraine since Feb. 15 when a cease-fire between the Ukrainian government and insurgents was announced. The committee said it had collected sufficient proof that those actions against civilians were taken on the orders of Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak, Chief of the General Staff Viktor Muzhenko, and some other senior officials. The committee said the shelling partially or completely destroyed more than 183 civilian infrastructure objects, killed seven civilians and injured 74 others, including seven minors. ANKARA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Five Turkish soldiers were killed and eight others wounded on Wednesday in attacks blamed on Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) militants in the country's southeastern provinces, Dogan News Agency reported. Suspected PKK militants attacked a military base in Lice district of Diyarbakir province, killing four soldiers and injuring at least eight others early Wednesday. In Karliova, a county in Bingol province, one soldier was killed in an improvised explosive device (IED) attack by suspected PKK militants. Air operations have been launched to capture the perpetuators, Dogan said. Over 600 members of Turkish security forces and thousands of PKK members have been killed in confrontations inside Turkey and in northern Iraq since July 2015, according to local media. The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union and Turkey. URUMQI, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- As the heavy, dark cloud crept ever closer, Musa Rahmitulla's family knew he would not be coming home that night. Musa, 51, is weather modification expert based in Zhaosu, a county in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which borders Kazakhstan. Over the past 30 years, he has spent every rainy season observing the sky and loading his hail cannon with silver iodine-packed shells to disrupt unfavorable weather fronts. The rugged topography of Zhaosu, Musa's hometown, is known for the, often, disastrous effects of its weather system. To protect the region's productive farmland, from late May to late October, the rainy season, Musa and his 84 coworkers man the meteorological front line. Musa retired from the Army 30 years ago. In his words, weather modification is just another kind of battle, "To win the battle, you have to be experienced." "There are so many variables -- wind direction, the thickness of the cloud, and most importantly, timing," he says, adding that his cannon is often loaded and ready to be discharged before the storm arrives. "If you leave it too late it is less effective," he says. Sometimes, experience is more useful than technical devices. On one afternoon in late July, Musa fired 120 shells at a cloud formation despite the fact that the weather modification department deemed the cloud "no big deal" based on radar data. "I could sense the seriousness just from the way the clouds had accumulated mass, not to mention the accompanying lightning," he recalled. Thanks to Musa's trigger-happy decision, the hail only damaged around 35 percent of the wheat yield of 20 hectares. "If he had not acted in time, the consequences would have been much worse," says Wang Wei, head of Qagan Usu township. Not every team member is as experienced as Musa. Keen to make a life change, he quit weather modification to take up farming in 2001. His replacement made a disastrous misjudgment, leading to a storm that decimated 4,000 hectares of farmland. "After such huge losses, the farmers petitioned the township government, calling for Musa to be reinstated," Wang recalled. Cloud seeding and hail management is dull and lonely work. For much of the summer and fall, the region's most beautiful seasons, Musa and his colleagues are stationed in fields. They stand like sentinels; alone, watching and guarding around the clock. It is also a dangerous profession. In 2011, Musa fractured his left foot after his 60-kg loader fell while he was maintaining his cannon. Around three years ago, another cannon operator in a neighboring township was killed while he was trying to dislodge a shell out of a cannon. Yu Jianbin, director of Zhaosu County weather modification office, explained that the county has 17 cannons and 32 rocket launchers distributed at 19 stations across 60,000 hectares of farmland. "Whatever devices we possess, our canon operator's experience is the most valued item in our arsenal," he said. Among the 11 cannon operators in Qagan Usu, only three, Musa and his two apprentices, have more than 10 years of experience. "Operators come and go, they struggle with the isolation and low pay," says Wang. Each operator earns around 3,000 yuan (450 U.S. dollars) for each of the five rainy months every year. Being a cannon operator is more than just a job, with it comes great responsibilities. "Our split second decisions can affect the lives of many families," he says. "I won't allow our mistakes to ruin people's lives." ABUJA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian troops have killed two senior commanders of Boko Haram after foiling an attack by the terrorists in the northeastern state of Borno, defense authorities said in a statement on Wednesday. The terrorists had attempted to storm the troops' location in Darul Jamel, a town on the fringes of Sambisa Forest in Borno, the statement said. The authority did not give the names of the Boko Haram commanders killed in the military operation. Nigerian forces have recently carried out aggressive patrols and surveillance by land and air in the northeast region, including Borno, where Boko Haram has been rampant since 2009. On Monday, Nigeria's military said scores of terrorists were killed over the weekend in an air operation in Sambisa Forest, where intensive efforts to rout the extremist group are ongoing. Boko Haram, which aims to create an Islamic state, is most active in Borno and the neighboring Yobe and Adamawa states. It has been blamed for some 20,000 deaths in Nigeria since 2009. ANKARA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish army launched on Wednesday a cross-border operation to drive out Islamic State (IS) terrorist militants, the prime minister's office said in a statement. The "Euphrates Shield" operation, which began at 4 a.m. local time (0100 GMT), aims to expunge Turkish borders of terrorist groups, enhance border security and uphold Syria's territorial integrity, the statement said. Preventing another influx of migrants and delivering necessary aid to the region's civilian population are also among the operation's goals, Turkish officials said. The operation involved artillery fire and Turkish tanks on the ground inside Syria, officials said. Turkey's special forces entered Jarablus, a border town inside Syria, under the cover of Turkish air force and the U.S.-led coalition, military sources told Turkish Daily Sabah newspaper. According to military sources, 81 targets were destroyed by artillery fire and tanks stationed on Turkish soil. At a news conference in Ankara, President Recep Erdogan confirmed the start of the "Euphrates Shield" operation. On Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu said Turkey is prepared to provide all forms of support to the Jarablus operation in order to free the town from the grip of the IS. Turkey's Hurriyet newspaper, citing undisclosed military sources, said a ground offensive has not yet begun but efforts are underway to forge a "passageway" into the region. by Hassan Rouhvand, Mu Dong TEHRAN, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Belt and Road Initiative would further advance the win-win cooperation between Iran and China, Iranian experts have said. The China-proposed initiative could promote interaction between the Iranians and Chinese and can be a turning point with win-win venture in bilateral ties, Mohammad H. Emadi, advisor to Iran's Agricultural Ministry, told Xinhua in an interview. The Belt and Road Initiative is "a new paradigm and a turning point in the relationship between Iran and China and among all central Asian states," Emadi said. The initiative, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, refers to building a Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. It is aimed at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along ancient trade routes. The initiative can be a win-win venture for all the parties involved and facilitate people-to-people cooperation, Emadi said. "It will give us a good opportunity to work with each other, to know each other more, to enjoy the diversity and difference of cultures, and to bring the people of the countries together closer than ever," he added. Another expert, Mohsen Shariati Nia, at Tehran's Shahid Beheshti University, said the initiative could be a platform for the promotion of relations between Iran and China. Iran and China should do more in order for the initiative to bear fruits, Shariati Nia said. Since some financial sanctions by the West against Iran are still in place, he said, it would be a good idea to develop mechanisms for transactions between Iran on the one hand and and China and other countries involved in the initiative on the other. In addition, the private sectors of both countries should engage in strategic cooperation and investment projects, so that short-term trade ties could grow into comprehensive economic interactions, Shariati Nia told Xinhua on the sidelines of a forum on "Silk Road Economic Belt," held in Iran's capital Tehran on Tuesday. He said Iran's role in the "Silk Road Initiative" should be more than a mere link between East and West. "Iran should play a key role as a partner of China, which will result in the strategic cooperation," Shariati Nia said. The forum coincides with a week-long Chinese cultural festival in the Iranian capital. Commenting on the festival, which opened at Niavaran Cultural Center in Tehran on Monday, Shariati Nia said such cultural activities will help understanding and communication between the nations. The event, titled "2016 Experience China in Iran," showcases northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, featuring a photo exhibition, music and dance performances, and other cultural activities. MADRID, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Spanish Civil Guards announced on Wednesday that they have detained 24 people in Spain as part of a joint European Union (EU) operation which has led to the arrest of 75 people throughout the EU for the production and distribution of child pornography. The joint operation with Europol also led to the discovery of 400,000 archives, among them videos and photographs, showing minors of all ages being sexually abused and exploited. The Civil Guard confirmed that some of the scenes contained a "high-level" of sexual violence against the victims. The arrests in Spain were carried out across the country and the Civil Guard also seized 65 hard drives, 36 USB Flash Drives, six laptops, a router, 17 memory cards, 69 DVDs, a camera and three tablets. The operation was set up on the basis of information received by the Swiss police who identified people involved in file sharing in several countries including Spain. This is the second major operation against child pornography announced in Spain this month after seven people were arrested for similar offences, including plans to offer holidays to pedophiles in North Africa. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Japan ese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korea n Foreign Minister Yun Byung Se (from L to R) attend a joint press conference in Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 24, 2016. The 8th trilateral foreign ministers' meeting was held here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Ma Ping) TOKYO, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida and South Korean counterpart Yun Byung-se agreed on Wednesday that the three countries shall reinforce cooperation to promote regional stability and development. The Eighth China-Japan-South Korea foreign ministers' meeting was held in Tokyo on Wednesday. The foreign ministers'' meeting followed the leaders' meeting of China, Japan and South Korea in November 2015. The leaders' meeting that resumed last year after a three-year interval marked an important new opportunity for the trilateral cooperation, said Wang. China, Japan and South Korea, as three large economies of East Asia, are accountable for promoting East Asian economic development, taking a lead in East Asian regional cooperation and safeguarding regional peace and stability, he said. The three countries shall, in the spirit of facing history squarely and advancing towards the future, overcome obstacles and interruptions, build up consensus and focus on cooperation, to make sure the trilateral cooperation follow the right direction and develop steadily, Wang said. In the next stage, the three countries shall build up political mutual trust, carry out practical cooperation, promote people-to-people exchanges and push forward sustainable development, so as to strengthen the trilateral cooperation and provide new momentum for East Asian cooperation, Wang added. During the meeting, the Chinese foreign minister also introduced China's preparations for the upcoming Group of 20 (G20) summit in Hangzhou, China. China is willing to strengthen communication and cooperation with Japan and South Korea, both important members of G20, to make the summit a conference that boosts confidence, helps building consensus and guides future directions, and makes due contribution to promoting world economic development and improving global economic governance, said Wang. Regarding the current situation in East Asia, Wang said that compared to other regions in the world, East Asia generally enjoys peace and relatively fast economic growth. East Asian countries shall make common efforts to promote regional integration, stability and common prosperity through giving play to the leading role of trilateral cooperation between China, Japan and South Korea, and moving towards the goal of building the East Asian economic community and the Asian community of common destiny, he said. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, for their part, agreed that trilateral cooperation between China, Japan and South Korea is of great significance to regional peace, stability and prosperity. The two foreign ministers also said that the three countries shall further strengthen cooperation to improve bilateral relations. The Japanese and South Korean foreign ministers expressed their support for China to make the G20 Hangzhou summit a success. A woman reads a book at the 23rd Beijing International Book Fair in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 24, 2016. The five-day event kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- A book on academic studies of Chinese values was released Wednesday at the Beijing International Book Fair. The publisher, China Social Sciences Press, also signed an agreement with German publisher Springer on an English-language version of the book, "China's Values." Based on studies of traditional Chinese values in ancient China and innovative developments of values in modern China, the book explains the creation, connotation and practice of the socialist core values and their role in China's development. Han Zhen, professor of philosophy with Beijing Foreign Studies University and co-author of the book, said the book focuses on how Chinese people have developed their own values and the positive implications of such values. Yang He, a professor with Peking University, said the book explains that the vigor of China's values today lies in the country's traditional culture and people's long-term ideology. "It shows how China's values, with innovative developments, still suit people's modern lives." "China's Values" is a latest in the "Understanding China" series, which so far has contains 11 books. Myriam Poort, Springer's Social Sciences and Humanities editorial director, said at the signing ceremony that the "China Insights (Understanding China)" offers a valuable English-language resource for researchers around the world and students of Chinese and related areas, Poort said. Springer has published many works by Chinese authors in English and research by Chinese scientists is now an important part of Springer's program. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks during a joint press conference in Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 24, 2016. The 8th trilateral foreign ministers' meeting was held here on Wednesday, with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung Se attended. (Xinhua/Ma Ping) TOKYO, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Wednesday that his country would continue sticking to realizing denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, while opposing remarks and actions that will trigger tension in the peninsula. Wang made the remarks at a joint press conference with his South Korean counterpart Yun Byung-se and Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida after the eighth trilateral foreign ministers' meeting. China will continue sticking to realizing denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, settling nuclear issues of the Korean Peninsula through dialogues and negotiations, and sticking to the consistent and firm position of maintaining peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and the whole region as well, said Wang. China opposes the developing process of nuclear missiles by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), opposes any remarks and actions that will trigger tension, and opposes all measures that violate the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2270, the Chinese foreign minister added. MOSCOW, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry discussed the situation in Syria and Ukraine over phone, Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday. The two sides discussed prospects for coordination of actions of Russia and the United States in Syria and the need for disengagement of Washington-oriented opposition groups from terrorists, which are not covered by the cease-fire, it said. Lavrov asked the United States to urge Kiev to prevent from provocation and to start dialogue with the insurgent region of Donbas in accordance with the Minsk agreements, a ministry statement said. In February 2015, the two conflicting sides in eastern Ukraine reached a cease-fire deal after talks brokered by the leaders of Germany and France in the Belarusian capital of Minsk. But the two sides continued to blame each other for cease-fire violations. Earlier Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed that Lavrov will meet with Kerry to discuss the Syrian conflict in Geneva on Saturday, following reports that progress had been made at negotiations between Russian and U.S. experts in Geneva over the Syria crisis. ARUSHA, Tanzania, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's Zanzibar government is intensifying efforts to engage diasporas in an attempt to attract more foreign direct investment. Speaking at the official opening of the third Tanzania Diaspora Conference Wednesday, Zanzibar President Ali Mohamed Shein vowed to fasten the approval of the Diaspora policy that will enable Diasporas to be recognized as key contributors to the Isles' socio-economic development. Shein said the government will soon endorse the policy that will guide Diaspora and engage them in various national issues in areas of development and investment. This is the first time that Zanzibar is hosting the Diaspora conference with a theme; "Bridging Tanzania Tourism and Investment: A New Outlook." He said the policy will have all the required information that will lead the Diaspora to know their rights and various investment opportunities in the country. Shein stressed that Diaspora have vast chances to seek for investment opportunities that will help foster their development. "The policy will soon be endorsed and you will have time to read and challenge it if there are issues that are not of interest to you," he said. However, Shein stressed that Diaspora contributions are directly related to institutional frameworks, socio-economic settings, political environments as well as issues of perceptions, images, trust and social identification, in both the home and host country. He also said that while there is a growing policy interest in tapping, mobilizing and channeling Diaspora contributions, the role of policies should be clearly defined, and the approaches that can effectively facilitate the engagement of Diasporas for development understood to ensure that Diasporas are not deprived of the ownership of their contributions. According to the International Fund for Agriculture Development, the African remittance flows to and within the continent reach 40 billion U.S. dollars per year. BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- China hopes for talks with the Philippines on the South China Sea issue at an early date, a spokesperson said on Wednesday. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang was responding to a comment by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte who said the talks might happen "within the year." Duterte said on Tuesday that he had no plan to take the South China Sea arbitration to the East Asia Summit next month, and would rather talk about the dispute with China face to face. Welcoming Duterte's remarks, Lu said China will always work with countries directly concerned, including the Philippines, to resolve any dispute through peaceful negotiation and consultation. China and the Philippines, as friendly neighbors, have the ability and wisdom to settle the issue through consultation and restore friendly relations, Lu said. Former Philippine President Fidel Ramos visited Hong Kong as Duterte's special envoy earlier this month to pave way for talks with Beijing. DAMASCUS, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Syria's Foreign Ministry condemned the entry of Turkish forces into northern Syria on Wednesday, saying any anti-terror efforts should be coordinated with the Syrian government. The ministry said Turkish tanks and armored vehicles crossed the Turkish-Syrian borders on Wednesday morning under the air cover of a U.S.-led coalition toward the Syrian city of Jarablus. It said the Turkish aim of entering Jarablus was not to fight the Islamic State (IS) terrorists, and that the move was another manifestation of terrorism, as Turkey is substituting one terror group with another. The ministry was apparently referring to Turkey-backed Syrian rebels who have crossed the borders with the Turkish forces. The 8th trilateral foreign ministers' meeting is held in Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 24, 2016. (Xinhua/Ma Ping) TOKYO, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida and South Korean counterpart Yun Byung-se agreed on Wednesday that the three countries shall reinforce cooperation to promote regional stability and development. The Eighth China-Japan-South Korea foreign ministers' meeting was held in Tokyo on Wednesday. The foreign ministers' meeting followed the leaders' meeting of China, Japan and South Korea in November 2015. The leaders' meeting that resumed last year after a three-year interval marked an important new opportunity for the trilateral cooperation, said Wang. China, Japan and South Korea, as three large economies of East Asia, are accountable for promoting East Asian economic development, taking a lead in East Asian regional cooperation and safeguarding regional peace and stability, he said. The three countries shall, in the spirit of facing history squarely and advancing towards the future, overcome obstacles and interruptions, build up consensus and focus on cooperation, to make sure the trilateral cooperation follow the right direction and develop steadily, Wang said. In the next stage, the three countries shall build up political mutual trust, carry out practical cooperation, promote people-to-people exchanges and push forward sustainable development, so as to strengthen the trilateral cooperation and provide new momentum for East Asian cooperation, Wang added. During the meeting, the Chinese foreign minister also introduced China's preparations for the upcoming Group of 20 (G20) summit in Hangzhou, China. China is willing to strengthen communication and cooperation with Japan and South Korea, both important members of G20, to make the summit a conference that boosts confidence, helps building consensus and guides future directions, and makes due contribution to promoting world economic development and improving global economic governance, said Wang. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung Se (from L to R) attend a joint press conference in Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 24, 2016. (Xinhua/Ma Ping) Regarding the current situation in East Asia, Wang said that compared to other regions in the world, East Asia generally enjoys peace and relatively fast economic growth. East Asian countries shall make common efforts to promote regional integration, stability and common prosperity through giving play to the leading role of trilateral cooperation between China, Japan and South Korea, and moving towards the goal of building the East Asian economic community and the Asian community of common destiny, he said. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, for their part, agreed that trilateral cooperation between China, Japan and South Korea is of great significance to regional peace, stability and prosperity. The two foreign ministers also said that the three countries shall further strengthen cooperation to improve bilateral relations. The Japanese and South Korean foreign ministers expressed their support for China to make the G20 Hangzhou summit a success. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks during a joint press conference in Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 24, 2016. The 8th trilateral foreign ministers' meeting was held here on Wednesday, with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung Se attended. (Xinhua/Ma Ping) TOKYO, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- China, South Korea and Japan should develop their relations in the spirit of taking history as a mirror and looking forward to the future, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Wednesday. Speaking at a joint press conference with his South Korean counterpart Yun Byung-se and Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida after a trilateral meeting, Wang said to realize the healthy and stable development of their ties, China, South Korea and Japan should overcome difficulties, remove disturbances, build up consensus and focus on cooperation, so as to keep the cooperation of the three countries in the right direction. The Chinese foreign minister said since the China-South Korea-Japan leaders' meeting last year, positive progress has been made in pragmatic cooperation and communication in all fields between the three sides which should be cherished. He believed that Wednesday's gathering will create favorable atmosphere for the Group of 20 (G20) summit to be held in east China's Hangzhou early in September and pave the way for the East Asian leaders' meetings next month. At the just concluded trilateral meeting, the three sides agreed that facing new changes in regional and international situation, China, South Korea and Japan should shoulder the responsibilities of promoting economic development in East Asia, taking the lead in regional cooperation in East Asia and maintaining regional peace and stability so as to make greater contribution to the overall revitalization of Asia as well as the world peace and development, Wang said. The three sides also agreed to adhere to the consensus reached between the three countries and focus on promoting cooperation in four key areas of politics, economy and trade, people to people exchange, and sustainable development. The three countries should support and facilitate the trilateral cooperation through the "four-wheel drive," he said. The Chinese foreign minister gave a detailed description of the "four-wheel drive." Firstly, the three countries should accumulate political mutual trust, properly handle sensitive issues, step up security dialogue and policy consultation, and promote mutual understanding and trust. Secondly, the three countries should carry out pragmatic cooperation, speed up the negotiation progress on China-Japan-South Korea Free Trade Area and strive to achieve initial results at an early date. At the same time, they should actively push ahead the negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) for its completion on schedule, strengthen cooperation in areas including finance, international industrial capacity and energy, and make joint efforts to achieve the targeted goal of forging the East Asian Economic Community by 2020. Thirdly, the three countries should enhance people exchange, expand personnel exchange, take the opportunity of hosting the Olympic Games successively by the three countries to build the East Asian Olympic Circle and improve friendly relations among the peoples of the three countries. Fourthly, the three sides should push forward sustainable development, build the China-Japan-South Korea Circular Economy Demonstration Base and boost cooperation in the fields including environment protection, small and medium-sized enterprises and disaster relief. The Chinese foreign minister added that the three sides spoke highly of the work of the trilateral cooperation secretariat and agreed to continue supporting the secretariat in playing a bigger role in the trilateral cooperation. Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan Ma Qiang talks to Xinhua on Aug. 15. (Xinhua/Li Baishun) JUBA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- China has pledged 10 million U.S. dollars in aid to help South Sudan respond to humanitarian needs. Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan Ma Qiang told Xinhua late Saturday the funds will be used to purchase food and non-food items in an effort to immediately rescue lives of thousands in dire humanitarian condition. Ma said people of South Sudan are in a critical humanitarian situation aggravated by the recent fighting that has forced nearly 1 million people to flee their country to seek refuge in the neighboring countries. "I am going to meet the minister of humanitarian affairs to discuss other items that are urgently needed so that we can immediately provide to rescue those in dire need of assistance," Ma told Xinhua in Juba. The current humanitarian situation was prompted by renewed fighting between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar and the mid December 2013 civil strife. Ma said the immediate humanitarian assistance needed includes rice, shelters and medical drugs for maternal diseases and cholera, as well as other valuable medical equipment. He stressed that at this critical time China is still committed to providing humanitarian assistance to those who are in need. In 2016, humanitarian needs in South Sudan have continued to grow as a result of violence, displacement, hunger and disease. BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- China is ready to provide assistance to quake-hit areas in Italy, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Wednesday. A magnitude 6 earthquake devastated several mountainous towns in central Italy early Wednesday, killing at least 38 people. China expresses its sincere sympathy to the people affected by the disaster, spokesperson Lu Kang told a press conference. Lu said the Chinese Embassy in Italy has launched emergency procedures and is closely monitoring the situation, with regards to potential Chinese casualties. Photo taken on Aug. 24, 2016 shows Turkish tanks moving near the Turkish-Syrian border. The Turkish army launched on Wednesday a cross-border operation to drive out Islamic State (IS) terrorist militants, the prime minister's office said in a statement. (Xinhua/Mert Macit) DAMASCUS, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Syria's Foreign Ministry condemned the entry of Turkish forces into northern Syria on Wednesday, saying any anti-terror efforts should be coordinated with the Syrian government. The ministry said Turkish tanks and armored vehicles crossed the Turkish-Syrian borders on Wednesday morning under the air cover of a U.S.-led coalition toward the Syrian city of Jarablus. It said the Turkish aim of entering Jarablus was not to fight the Islamic State (IS) terrorists, and that the move was another manifestation of terrorism, as Turkey is substituting one terror group with another. The ministry was apparently referring to Turkey-backed Syrian rebels who have reportedly crossed the borders with Turkish forces. The ministry said that any anti-terrorism effort must be coordinated with the Syrian government, describing the Turkish intervention as a flagrant violation of Syrian sovereignty. It urged the United Nations to invoke all of its resolutions about the need to end the "Turkish aggression." Earlier in the day, Turkish tanks, special forces, as well as Turkey-backed Syria rebels reportedly crossed the borders toward the city of Jarablus, an IS stronghold near Turkey. Some observers here believe fighting the IS is not the priority of Turkey, saying that Ankara fears the advance of Kurdish forces in northern Syria toward Jarablus, their next declared goal. Turkey, which has more than 20 million Kurds in its southern region, has long opposed any expansion of Kurdish influence near its border, fearing the threat to its territorial integrity. HELSINKI, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- An Iraqi man was arrested in Vaasa, western Finland on suspicion of a terrorist-related murder and war crimes, reported Finnish national broadcaster Yle on Wednesday. The 24-year-old man was detained on Wednesday morning by the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation in cooperation with the local police department. Jari Raty, detective chief inspector at the Central Criminal Police Department, told Yle that the man was allegedly involved in the Camp Speicher massacre conducted by ISIS in 2014. Some 1,000 to 1,700 unarmed cadets were killed in the incident. The suspect arrived in Finland last autumn. The police did not reveal whether the man was an asylum-seeker or not. The pre-trail investigation was carried out in close cooperation with the Iraqi authorities, said Raty. Last December, 23-year-old Iraqi twin brothers linked to the Camp Speicher massacre were caught by Finnish police in Forssa, southern Finland. The case will start to process in the Pirkanmaa District Court of Finland on Aug. 25, according to Yle. ANKARA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- As many as 46 Islamic States (IS) militants have been killed so far in Turkey's operation in northern Syria, Dogan News agency reported on Wednesday. Turkey-backed Syrian rebels, the Free Syrian Army (FSA), have now taken four villages in northern Syrian, Dogan said. Turkish jets and tanks along with howitzers are reportedly still barraging IS targets in Jarablus in northern Syria. It was the first time for Turkish F-16s to enter Syrian airspace since a Russian jet was shot down last November. A statement issued by the prime minister's office said the cross-border operation was aimed at driving out IS terrorist militants. The "Euphrates Shield" operation, which began at 4 a.m. local time (0100 GMT), aims to expunge Turkish borders of terrorist groups, enhance border security and uphold Syria's territorial integrity, the statement said. Preventing another influx of migrants and delivering necessary aid to the region's civilian population are also among the operation's goals, Turkish officials said. In Damascus, the Syrian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday condemned the Turkish intervention, saying any anti-terror efforts should be coordinated with the Syrian government. Turkey's special forces entered Jarablus, a border town inside Syria, under the cover of Turkish air force and the U.S.-led coalition, military sources told Turkish Daily Sabah newspaper. According to military sources, 81 targets were destroyed by artillery fire and tanks stationed on Turkish soil. At a news conference in Ankara, President Recep Erdogan confirmed the start of the "Euphrates Shield" operation. On Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu said Turkey is prepared to provide all forms of support to the Jarablus operation in order to free the town from the grip of the IS. Turkey's Hurriyet newspaper, citing undisclosed military sources, said a ground offensive has not yet begun, but efforts are underway to forge a "passageway" into the region. BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- A founding member, China has participated in every step of the G20's history, with its contributions continuing to grow. The world is now watching how China will take the opportunity to host the 2016 G20 summit to promote global growth and push for reforms in global governance. The upcoming summit, to be held in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, will be set against a backdrop of heightened uncertainty in the global economy and the rise of trade and investment protectionism. The world is crying out for strengthened coordination of global governance to secure global economic stability. China can play a role in reducing the risk of conflict and spreading economic development around the world, said Ezra Vogel, a professor emeritus at Harvard University. CHINA'S ECONOMIC WISDOM The G20 was initiated in 1999. Before the outbreak of the 2008 global financial crisis, G20 meetings of finance ministers and central bank governors were held to discuss international financial and economic matters. Chinese representatives attended every such meeting. In 2008, the first G20 leaders' summit was held in Washington. In September 2009, the Pittsburgh summit announced G20 as the premier forum for international economic cooperation. From the first leaders' summit to the latest one in Antalya of Turkey in 2015, Chinese leaders have never been absent, always having constructive proposals on how to cope with financial crises and achieve sustained global growth. Leaders in China have pushed hard for reforms in international financial institutions, innovation in growth patterns, coordinated macro policies and an open world economy. At the Antalya summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping said the G20 members should make innovation-driven development, cultivation of new growth areas, and revitalization of trade and investment their cooperation priorities. Xi also stressed "rejecting protectionism, and upholding and strengthening the multilateral trading regime in order to provide sufficient space for the development of different countries." According to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the Hangzhou summit is expected to produce nearly 30 deliverable outcomes, with special emphasis on promoting a strong, sustainable and balanced global growth through innovation, sorting out economic and financial problems by means of structural reforms, and implementing the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through enhanced cooperation. "China is one of the biggest contributors to the G20's comprehensive growth strategies," said Zhu Shuai, researcher with the China Center for Information Industry Development. "The G20 mechanism is shifting from coping with crises to long-term governance, and from cyclical policies to structural policies. China will help the G20 transform smoothly, thus consolidating its status as a major platform for global economic governance." DRIVING FORCE OF GLOBAL GROWTH China's growing role in the G20 is underpinned by its substantial contribution to the global economy and its policies and initiatives that target benefits for all. Between 2009 and 2011, China contributed to more than 50 percent of global economic growth. The figure now remains above 30 percent despite a moderating of the country's economic growth. Though slowing, China's GDP still expanded by 6.7 percent year on year in the first half of 2016, with progress made in improving the structure of its economy. China has the confidence and ability to sustain a medium-high growth rate and continue to create development opportunities for other countries, Xi said at the Antalya summit. Meanwhile, continued downward pressure has brought various difficulties to many other economies, which are in dire need of new sources of growth. China's practices, such as the ongoing supply-side structural reform, offer inspiration to the world. Moreover, recent years have seen China's initiatives, such as the Belt and Road Initiative, contributing more and more to global economic recovery and development. The progress and results achieved since 2013, when Xi first proposed the initiative of jointly building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, have been greater than expected. More than 100 countries and international organizations have participated in the initiative; a network of transportation facilities is taking shape in Eurasia; and China invested a total of 51.1 billion U.S. dollars in Belt and Road countries from autumn 2013 to July 2016. "China's initiatives have been implementing and complementing G20 goals," said Professor Yang Baoyun of Thailand's Thammasat University. SAFEGUARDING DEVELOPING NATIONS' INTERESTS One of China's aims over the years has been to beef up the role of developing countries in global economic governance. Under the G20, China has always committed itself to supporting developing countries, bridging development gaps and boosting balanced global growth. At the Brisbane summit in 2014, Xi Jinping said that efforts should be made to increase the presence of developing countries and emerging market economies and to offer them a bigger say in international systems, as well as to ensure the equality of different countries in global economic cooperation, in terms of rights, opportunities and rules. Representatives from more developing nations have been invited to the Hangzhou summit, making the summit "the most representative of developing countries in G20 history," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a press briefing in May. "In hosting the G20, China has an opportunity to take a lead in expanding the benefits of modernization to areas in the Euro-Asian area that have not yet advanced," Ezra Vogel said. The 2016 summit will also launch an initiative to support the industrialization of Africa and the least developed countries through capacity building, investment and infrastructure development. "China, a major developing country and the world's second largest economy, has served as a critical bridge connecting developed and developing members of the G20, a role that any other country cannot readily undertake," Yang said. He voiced hope that through the G20, China could align the economic interests of developing and developed nations, formulate common goals and promote cooperation. JAKARTA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government will beef up efforts to restore million hectares of peatland across the nation in a bid to prevent forest fire from happening and create business opportunities. The government sets to offer foreign investors' participation to restore over 6 million hectares peatlands which have been damaged partly by forest and agriculture fires, Nazir Foead, head of peatland restoration agency, said on Wednesday. Nazir said that the participation is badly needed as the government is only capable of improving the quality of the land for 1 million hectare. "For the last six months, we have talked with foreign investors, their interest in assisting the restoration is strong," he said at the vice presidential office. The government would smooth the process of investing in the sector, including acceleration and simplification of the procedures for having license, he added. Next month, Vice President Jusuf Kalla is to meet with foreign investors on the sidelines of the UN general assembly meeting, Nazir said. Indonesia has regularly faced fires at peatland which creates more smokes than perennials forest. The government has barred issuance of new license to open palm oil plantation at peatland following a massive forest fires last year, leaving 17 people dead. Earlier this week, soldiers, police and firefighters have significantly doused over 200 forest fire hotspots in the country, according to the meteorology and geophysics agency. BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese authorities have unveiled a document on Internet regulation in a bid to beef up cyber security, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said Wednesday. The guidelines were issued by the CAC; the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China; and the Standardization Administration of China (SAC). According to the document, mandatory national standards will be introduced to regulate the fields of major information technology infrastructure protection and classified networks. Authorities will accelerate the introduction of standards in cyber security, personal information protection, cyber security information sharing and other fields. The new standards will be in line with the country's laws and regulations. The document also requires the establishment of an information sharing mechanism for major cyber projects and unified national standards to reduce the burden for companies and to improve the country's overall cyber security, said Gao Lin, secretary general of the SAC. According to an online survey by the Internet Society of China in June, 54 percent of respondents said they believed there was rampant leaking of private information online, with 84 percent said they had personally suffered from information leaks. The economic losses incurred by online fraud and the leaking of private information leakage in China totaled 91.5 billion yuan from the second half of 2015 to the first half of this year. KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Taliban multi-pronged offensives to overrun the strategically import Kunduz city 250 km north of Kabul has been foiled as the militants after suffering casualties and losing grounds to the government forces retreated to their former trenches in rural areas, officials said on Wednesday. Some 100 armed insurgents, according to the security officials, have been killed and about 80 others injured over the past two weeks. Taliban militants have captured Khan Abad and Qala-e-Zal districts besides gaining grounds along the highways linking Kunduz to the neighboring Baghlan and Takhar provinces over the past 14 days but have lost to government forces. "The government forces have regained the control of Khan Abad and Qala-e-Zal districts," Kunduz provincial governor Assadullah Omarkhil told reporters here on Wednesday. According to governor Omarkhil, up to 30 insurgents have been killed over the past 24 hours and several others injured. Flanked by Kunduz police chief Mohammad Qasim Jangalbagh, the governor contended that the Taliban militants have lost their morale after losing some 100 fighters including several commanders on battle grounds over the past two weeks. Only 15 security personnel have been killed and some 10 others sustained injuries in counter-militancy operations over the period, according to officials. Confirming the governor's remarks on the situation, Kunduz police chief Jangalbagh told reporters that the government forces have been chasing fleeing Taliban and besides recapturing Khan Abad and Qala-e-Zal districts, the government forces have also cleared Alchin and Shir Khan port from the insurgents. All the roads linking Kunduz to Baghlan and Takhar provinces are open, the officials asserted, adding cleanup operations would last until all parts of Kunduz is cleansed of militants. Taliban militants who have previously shared their achievements with media outlets are salient over the past two days. It would prove a catastrophe for the government if the Taliban outfit were able to keep control on highways linking Kunduz to Baghlan and Takhar provinces, local observers believe. LANZHOU, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- A school in northwest China's Gansu Province made a public apology and offered compensation to the family of a teacher who was fired when she had cancer. The teacher died earlier this month. The belated response came after the death of Liu Lingli, formerly a teacher at Bowen College, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, sparked public outcry toward the school's indifference. Chen Ling, dean of the college, visited Liu's family Tuesday afternoon, signing an agreement for reconciliation and pledged to give the family 500,000 yuan (about 75,169 U.S. dollars) as compensation. The money included compensation for medical treatment and the salary Liu should have earned after the college retracted its decision to sack the teacher. "After teacher Liu became ill, the college made a rash decision to end her work contract without knowing the real situation. This was improper," the school said in an open letter on Monday. "While we were in talks to solve the problem, Liu passed away, sadly," it said. "Our decision harmed you as well as teacher Liu, and resulted in a bad effect on society. Please allow us to express our sincere apology." Liu Shuqin, Lingli's mother, told Xinhua that they were going to visit the bridge where they threw their daughter's ashes into the Yellow River and tell her the apology had finally arrived. Born in 1984, Liu Lingli became a teacher in Bowen College in 2012. She felt pain in her stomach in June 2014 and was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The college sacked Liu in January 2015, citing her absence as a violation of her contract. According to Chen Ling, Liu didn't present any medical document to explain her absence, but her mother said she had visited the school with a medical record from a hospital, to ask for sick leave on her daughter's behalf. The family then sued the college. The People's Court of Yuzhong County in Gansu ruled in October 2015 that the decision to end the labor contract was null and void. The college appealed, but in July a second trial gave the same verdict. "After the ruling not a single leader from the school came to visit us. Lingli had been waiting but they never came," said Lingli's father, Liu Hong, who also has cancer. Eight days after Liu Lingli's death, Bowen College finally revoked the dismissal decision. "What we wanted was an apology. We needed Chen Ling to apologize, before we could sit down to talk," Liu Hong said. The apology and compensation did not seem to satisfy indignant Internet users. "I doubt the sincerity of the apology," said Weibo user liusensen. "She did so under tremendous media pressure." "What is the use of apology when the woman has already died," said another user. Li Huimin, a professor with the School of Journalism and Communication of Lanzhou University, believes that the case once again showed people's desire for solutions to social problems. "Those involved in such cases should react positively, so as to reduce negative effects," he said. The Xinmin Evening News ran an editorial calling for reflection on the case to avoid repetition of the tragedy. "We need to improve our legislation on social security, speed up the building of a comprehensive public security system and encourage the efforts of NGOs," the editorial said. "Apart from criticism and punishment, there are more things left for us to think about." Students study in a classroom at the Chinese Friendship Secondary School in Juba, capital of South Sudan, Aug. 17, 2016. The School accommodates about 2,297 students. (Xinhua/Gale Julius) JUBA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Despite South Sudan's education being disrupted by ongoing conflict since December 2013, the sector remains critical if stability is to be achieved in the war-torn country, experts have said. Michael Lopuke, the undersecretary of education ministry, says that for quality education to be achieved, the annual education budget must be increased for positive development in the country. According to experts, the national budget of education must be increased from less than 7 percent to more than 15 percent to get the country out of its political and economic troubles. Economist James Alic Garang of the Juba-based Ebony Center for Strategic Studies told Xinhua that increased investment in education will improve the human welfare and democratization process in the war-torn country. "For democracy to be advanced, you need an informed citizenry to fully participate. Education will help the poor compete on merit with the rich and it can be the saviour of this country," Garang said. Students pump water at the Chinese Friendship Secondary School in Juba, capital of South Sudan, Aug. 17, 2016. The School accommodates about 2,297 students. (Xinhua/Gale Julius) He lamented that Upper Nile University where he teaches and other schools remained closed due to the political crisis. "Education seems to be those institutions that are weak and not strong and vocal like the military, interior ministries; these are sectors that demand huge budget. What the government says about education is not matched in terms of funding the sector," he noted. Philip Finish, senior lecturer at University of Juba, said that the government should improve funding education to help sensitize South Sudanese whom he said largely take instructions from their traditional elders and tribal chiefs. This, he added, tends to promote violence along tribal lines due to lack of education. "Education helps to inform people on democracy and not basing their choices and decisions on ethnic group," he said. According to the UN children fund (UNICEF), South Sudan has an adult literacy rate of 27 percent out of 12 million, and 70 percent of children aged six to 17 have never set foot in a classroom. The UN agency noted that the completion rate in primary schools is less than 10 percent, one of the lowest in the world. Ayuen Akuot, degree holder from University of Juba, education can help dissuade South Sudanese from engaging in reckless armed conflict involving various militia groups that tend to recruit from the largely uneducated and unemployed population in the countryside. "Most of the youth among armed groups have not attained enough education. They are also unemployed," Ayuen told Xinhua in an interview in the capital Juba on Friday. Abraham Awolich, public policy analyst at the Sudd Institute, said that education will help to mitigate the damage caused by communal violence. He says peace education is one of the key components needed to minimize conflicts on the periphery. "Our education system must change these mindsets through integrating peace education for these young people. They should know they are not warriors but engineers, lawyers," Awolich said. DAR ES SALAAM, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Police in Tanzania on Wednesday announced a manhunt for the gunmen who killed four police officers on Tuesday on the outskirts of the commercial capital Dar es Salaam. Nsato Mssanzya, the Commissioner of Police for Training and Operations, said the gunmen attacked police officers guarding a bank, adding that the assassins did neither steal nor destroy property of the bank. "However, the gunmen grabbed two firearms and 60 rounds of ammunition from the police officers after they had killed them," Mssanzya told a news conference, adding that two civilians were also wounded in the brawl. "These killings were purely targeted on the police officers and nothing else," said the Commissioner of Police. The Minister for Home Affairs, Mwigulu Nchemba, condemned the killings of the police officers and vowed to hunt down the gunmen who were still at large. The minister appealed to members of the public to give any information that will lead to the arrest of the gunmen. In July 2015, gunmen shot dead four police officers and three civilians at a police station in Dar es Salaam. They also seized weapons and ammunition in a raid on the police station. Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli (R) meets with Brian Deese, senior advisor to U.S. President Barack Obama, in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 24, 2016. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli met with Brian Deese, senior advisor to U.S. President Barack Obama, in Beijing on Wednesday, agreeing to cooperate more closely on climate change. Zhang said China-U.S. cooperation on climate change had become a bright spot in bilateral relations. Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Obama issued three joint statements on climate change over the past few years, which have made a historic contribution to global efforts in coping with climate change, Zhang said. China is ready to work with all parties, including the United States, to push forward a fair, reasonable, cooperative and win-win system of global climate change governance in line with the principles of equity, "common but differentiated responsibilities" and respective capabilities, he said. This is a crucial year for nations to implement the Paris Agreement, he said, calling on China and the United States to continue their dialogue and cooperation and jointly push for the earliest adoption and implementation of the agreement. He called for continuous efforts from the two sides to make positive contributions to the building of a new type of relationship between major countries and advance a multilateral process to cope with climate change. Deese lauded the close and effective climate change cooperation between China and the United States. The United States is committed to implementing the three joint statements on climate change and promoting the comprehensive implementation of the Paris Agreement, he said. On Wednesday, Zhang also met with Tigran Sargsyan, chairman of the board of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) in Beijing. The two sides exchanged views on strengthening the alignment of China's Belt and Road Initiative and the construction of the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). SOFIA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Air Forces would join the protection of the Bulgarian airspace for about a week, the Defense Ministry of Bulgaria announced on Wednesday. Bulgarian Defense Minister Nikolay Nenchev said in a press briefing a decision was adopted at Wednesday's sitting of the cabinet on joint air policing, joint protection of the airspace with the United States. The mission would run from Sept. 9 to 16 this year. Two fighters of U.S. Air Forces would join the mission in cooperation with Bulgarian Air Forces, said Nenchev. The expenses on the whole mission would be covered by the United States. Bulgaria did not have to pay anything under the contract, Nenchev added. He said the mission was an initiative adopted by NATO. The joint protection of the Bulgarian airspace with Poland was still an option. Bulgaria, a Balkan country in the southeastern Europe, joined NATO in 2004. DAKAR, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese multinational company is set to open a new cable producing project in Senegal which will be fully managed by local workers. Senegal-based Caleb Cable Africa S.A, the first African subsidiary of Caleb Cable Industrial Limited, will start manufacturing coaxial cables in September, according to its director general Amadou Ly Bocoum. Based in Dias, western Senegal, Caleb Cable Africa S.A is specialized in the manufacturing of power cables destined for African and international markets with support from its parent company. "The entire project is managed by Senegalese citizens. The Chinese intervention is limited to installation of machines and to practical training of technical operators who need to have access to the equipments," Bocoum said. "The Chinese will come for some weeks to support Senegalese workers. They will depart once the Senegalese workers have been well trained," the director general added. He said from September, Caleb Cable Africa S.A will support production, but should there be more orders, the parent company will provide more logistical support to increase production. According to him, Caleb Cable Africa S.A has a capacity to produce between 90,000 to 100,000 kilometers of cables per month. "It is exciting for me that Senegal has an industrial unit of global status, which will be able to manufacture coaxial, computer and telephone cables and later fibre optic cables," he affirmed. "Having a -Made in Senegal- label on cables is something that brings pride to me, and at the same time it is an economic boost," Bocoum said. The company sits on an industrial site measuring 38,000 square meters. It will create 2,400 jobs, out of which 60 percent will be women involved in the finishing works. Photo taken on Aug. 24, 2016 shows damaged houses after the earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy. The death toll in a strong earthquake in central Italy has risen to 73, authorities said Wednesday. The 6.0 magnitude earthquake hit the city of Rieti at 3:32 a.m. Wednesday (0132 GMT), with a shallow depth of 4.2 km, according to the National Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. (Xinhua/Jin Yu) ROME, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in a strong earthquake in central Italy has risen to 73, according to Italy's civil protection agency on Wednesday. The 6.0-magnitude earthquake hit the city of Rieti at 3:32 a.m. Wednesday (0132 GMT), with a shallow depth of 4.2 km, according to the National Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. Several powerful aftershocks followed, said the agency. The temblor was felt across the Lazio region and in Rome, the capital of the country. Amatrice and Accumuli, two small towns in the Rieti province, were among the hardest hit, local media reported. Sergio Pirozzi, mayor of Amatrice, told local media that "most of the town is gone." "Unfortunately, we expect the number of victims to rise as day breaks," Accumuli mayor Stefano Petrucci said. Civil Protection chief Fabrizio Curcio told a press conference in Rome early Wednesday that the earthquake could be compared to the strong earthquake that hit the city of L'Aquila in 2009, which left more than 300 people dead and thousands displaced. The national emergency fund has allocated 234 million euros (263 million U.S. dollars) as immediate aid to earthquake-stricken towns and villages in central Italy, according to the economy ministry. "We will leave no one on their own -- not one family, one town or one village," Italy's Premier Matteo Renzi told a Rome press conference before heading to the stricken areas. "The priority right now is to dig" people out of the rubble after the earthquake, Renzi said. L'Aquila Mayor Massimo Cialente said 250 temporary homes built after the 2009 earthquake were available for the newly displaced. The Rieti provincial chapter of Italian blood donation charity AVIS has issued a call for people to donate blood for the injured. (1 euro=1.13 U.S. dollar) A visitor observes monarch butterflies in a sacred fir forest, in Morelia, of Michoacan State, Mexico, on Dec. 7, 2014. (XinhuaNOTIMEX) MEXICO CITY, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Mexico has deployed police officers to patrol the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in the center of the country to prevent illegal logging, the government announced Tuesday. Alejandro del Mazo, the country's attorney general for natural protection, told a press conference that 60 police officers would patrol the habitat, where millions of butterflies fly down from the U.S. and Canada every year. The police were deployed across the woods of the massive reserve, which stretches across the State of Mexico and Michoacan, marking the first time police have been deployed on environmental protection duty in a national park. The butterflies arrive from September and November each year but have been facing pressure from illegal logging which has reduced the forest cover they nest in. "One of our objectives is to reduce logging to zero, achieving a total protection of the biosphere reserve and the habitat," said del Mazo. Omar Vidal, director of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Mexico, also praised the actions already taken by environmental authorities and inhabitants of the reserve, which he said had reduced illegal logging by 40 percent in 2015-2016. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (2nd, L) holds talks with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida (4th, R) in Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 24, 2016. (Xinhua/Ma Ping) TOKYO, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Wednesday that China and Japan should work together to make their differences controllable to develop bilateral ties. Wang made the remarks when meeting with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida after the eighth trilateral foreign ministers' meeting between China, Japan and South Korea. Trilateral cooperation cannot develop smoothly without good bilateral relations, said Wang. At present, the Sino-Japanese relations are still facing difficulties and are at an important juncture, with both opportunities and challenges, he said. China is willing to make joint efforts with Japan to abide by the principles defined in the four political documents agreed between the two countries to consolidate the political basis for bilateral relations, Wang said. China is ready to work with Japan to implement the four-point principled agreement reached between the two sides, and make differences between China and Japan controllable, he said. China is also willing to carry out exchange and communication with Japan in various areas to maintain the momentum of improving bilateral ties, he added. China stands ready to carry out mutual support and coordination with Japan at multilateral forums including the 2016 Group of 20 (G20) summit to be held in east China's Hangzhou in early September, so as to expand mutual benefits, he said. On such basis, the two sides are set to embrace the 45th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic ties in 2017, and the 40th anniversary of the signing of China-Japan Peace and Friendship Treaty in 2018. Welcoming Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to attend the upcoming G20 summit in China, Wang said that Japan is an important member of G20. The success of the G20 summit is in line with the benefits of all sides including China and Japan, the Chinese foreign minister said. For his part, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said the G20 summit is an important meeting and expressed his country's willingness to cooperate with China to ensure the success of the summit. Kishida said with the cooperation from China, the trilateral meeting concluded with fruitful results. On the current bilateral relations, Kishida said it is necessary to make differences controllable and push forward cooperation between the two countries. The Japanese foreign minister said that his country is willing to implement the four-point principled agreement, boost the cooperation with China in the fields such as finance, energy saving, environment protection, tourism, disaster prevention, promote the exchange of youth, cooperate in fighting terrorism, control differences, expand the positive sides in bilateral relations, put the bilateral ties back on right track and explore to build the Sino-Japanese relations with characters that fit the new era. KUNMING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Etched and drawn on high cliffs and hidden mountains in southwest China, the Jinshajiang River rock paintings are hard to find and even harder to protect. Discovered in the 1980s by local hunters, the rock paintings, which are believed to date back to the early Neolithic period, are among the most famed rock paintings in China. Last month, the Zuojiang Huashan rock paintings in southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region were included in the UNESCO's world heritage list, heightening calls for the protection of such paintings. The Zuojiang Huashan site covers over 6,621 hectares and is home to more than 1,900 well-preserved drawings on the face of the Huashan mountains along the Zuojiang River. However, global warming, human activity and the construction of engineering projects have been endangering such rock paintings in China, experts said. Unlike the the Zuojiang Huashan paintings, which are of rice growers and frog-shaped people -- a totem of the Zhuang ethnic group, Jinshajiang's paintings are mainly of wild animals such as cows, deer, sheep, pigs and monkeys. There are just a few human images alongside abstract symbols and graphics. Researchers believe the paintings reflect the lives, religion, culture and art of nomadic people dating back thousands of years. So far, a total of 1,900 square meters of Jinshajiang rock painting, with close to 10,000 images in 85 sites, have been recorded. Most of them are found in the Deqen Tibetan prefecture and Lijiang city in Yunnan, as well as Daocheng and Muli counties in Sichuan. "Rock paintings stay well preserved in dry environments, but global warming has brought more rainfall, which has eroded many paintings. Growth of moss and microbiotic substances also damaged the structure of the rocks," said Li Gang, a researcher with Deqen prefectural relics management institute. Farmers herding cattle in the wild could also easily damage and destroy paintings, he said. Building a copper mine, railways, a highway and hydropower stations along the Jinshajiang River also affected the rocks. "We had to get some of the paintings down for protection before construction work began," said Li. Chinese rock paintings are found in the northwest Altai and Helan mountains, and in the southern provincial-level regions of Guangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou and Fujian. Though many paintings have already been put under state or local protection, it is still difficult to keep them intact due to their locations. "Rock paintings in the wild are immovable, and the cost of protecting them is high," said Ma Bo, a researcher with Yunnan provincial relics research institute. Studying rock painting is a dangerous and challenging task. "There were no roads in the mountains, so we climbed with our bare hands, sticking our feet into the crevices on the mountain and clinging to small holes on the cliff," said Li. "The forbidding environment means researchers believe that there may be many more rock paintings yet to be discovered." Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets with his South Korean counterpart Yun Byung-se in Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 24, 2016. (Xinhua/Ma Ping) TOKYO, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday reiterated China's firm opposition to the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea and called on Seoul to properly handle the issue. Wang made the remarks at a meeting with his South Korean counterpart Yun Byung-se on the sidelines of the eighth China-Japan-South Korea foreign ministers' meeting held here on Wednesday. Wang stressed that China never accepts any acts that undermine its strategic and security interests, hoping that South Korea can weigh pros and cons, and work in the same direction with China to seek a solution to the issue acceptable to both sides. Today marks the 24th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between China and South Korea, Wang said, highlighting that the bilateral relations have witnessed great progress and achievements ever since, bringing benefits to the two countries and two peoples and contributing to the stability in the region. Noting that China-South Korea relations face difficulties and challenges at present, Wang called on both sides to cherish more what they have achieved and not to allow fruits of cooperation between the two countries to be affected or damaged. Wang said South Korea is an important member of the Group of 20 (G20) and China welcomes South Korean President Park Geun-hye attending the G20 summit to be held in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou on Sept. 4-5. Yun Byung-se, for his part, said the eighth China-Japan-South Korea foreign ministers' meeting, held in the run-up to the G20 Hangzhou summit, is of great significance. South Korea will work with China to ensure the success of the upcoming summit so as to make its due contribution to the development of the world economy, he said. Great progress has been made in various fields since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties, especially over the past three years, Yun said, adding that South Korea is willing to enhance mutual trust and see greater progress in bilateral relations. He also congratulated China on its achievements in the just-concluded Rio Olympic Games. They also exchanged views on issues concerning the Korean Peninsula. TEHRAN, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Six people, including three children, were killed in a gas explosion in a residential building in Iran's southwestern city of Ahvaz on Wednesday, official IRNA news agency reported. The blast occurred at 07:46 local time (0316 GMT) at a four-story building that was destroyed. The neighboring houses were damaged. Eleven people were injured in the blast, Mahmoud Roozbehani, a local firefighting official, was quoted as saying. The cause of the blast has not been announced. Explosions related to gas leak or damage are not rare in the country. On June 17, a huge explosion hit an underground subway tunnel excavation project in western Tehran, killing two people and left massive destruction in the neighborhood. COLOMBO, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's cabinet has granted approval to strengthen the office in charge of post-war reconciliation in the country, the government said on Wednesday. The decision to strengthen the secretariat for coordinating reconciliation mechanisms was taken following a proposal made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The secretariat was established in late 2015 following a decision taken by the cabinet at the time to productively implement decisions, programmes and processes related to reconciliation. The secretariat is vested with the task of planning and implementing the reconciliation process in Sri Lanka. It also coordinates and facilitates policy making and implementing agencies. The cabinet approved the proposal made by the prime minister to provide necessary human resources and funds for the secretariat. The secretariat for coordinating reconciliation mechanisms is headed by Mano Tittawella who serves as the Secretary General of the secretariat. The recently approved Office of Missing Persons, Truth, Justice, Reconciliation and Non-Recurrence Commission, Judicial Mechanism and Office of Reparations will function under the secretariat. Sri Lanka is looking at addressing issues related to a 30-year conflict between Tamil Tiger rebels and the military which ended in 2009 with the defeat of the rebels. Liu Yunshan (1st R), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, visits the 23rd Beijing International Book Fair at the new venue of China International Exhibition Center in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 24, 2016. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Senior Chinese official Liu Yunshan on Wednesday asked publishers to produce more quality works and enhance the market competitiveness and international influence of the Chinese publication industry. Liu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks while visiting the 23rd Beijing International Book Fair. The publishers have important responsibilities in promoting Chinese culture. They should adhere to the principle of "content is king," spreading excellent Chinese culture while better publicizing the central authorities' thoughts and ideas on governance, said Liu. They should establish a correct view of values, prioritizing "social benefits," according to Liu. He asked the publishers to expand export channels, highlight Chinese perspectives and adapt to international discourse with more excellent books, popular among foreign readers. The book fair, running from Aug. 24 to 28, attracted 2,407 exhibitors from 86 countries and regions this year. The Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs) are the countries of honor at the book fair. Talking to publishers and authorities from the CEECs, Liu said he hopes the CEECs and China will strengthen cooperation in the area and expand people-to-people exchanges under the Belt & Road initiative. Liu Qibao, head of Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, also visited the fair. PARIS, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The strong earthquake which rocked central Italy earlier on Wednesday was "a terrible tragedy," said French President Francois Hollande as he expressed solidarity with the neighboring country. "France is ready to provide the Italian authorities with all the support necessary in the coming hours and days," he said in statement. The 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck mountainous towns in central Italy. At least 73 people were killed and thousands became homeless, according to Italian authorities. BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- China urged all parties involved in the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue to "strictly, completely and exactly" abide by UN Security Council Resolution 2270 on Wednesday. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang was responding to a question at daily press briefing concerning a submarine-launched ballistic missile(SLBM) fired by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) earlier on Wednesday. Resolution 2270 was passed in March condemning DPRK's missile launches. The missile was fired off the DPRK east coast and flew about 500 km towards Japan before landing in the sea, further than any previous test-firing. "We believe that all parties to the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue should avoid action that may escalate tension, as the situation is complex and sensitive," Lu said. Lu denied that DPRK's progress on SLBM is due to China easing sanctions on the DPRK as "revenge" for the decision to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in the southeast of the Republic of Korea. "As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has an unimpeachable record in meeting its international obligations and carrying out Security Council resolutions," Lu said. He also said that all parties have the responsibility to safeguard regional peace and stability and create conditions for the early resumption of the six-party talks. Also on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China "opposes all action that violates UN Security Council Resolution 2270" at a joint press conference in Tokyo after the eighth trilateral foreign ministers' meeting between China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. The Wednesday test-firing came two days after the Republic of Korea and the United States began their annual war games. Pyongyang considers the drills a dress rehearsal for invasion, while the two allies claimed they are purely defensive in nature. A Turkish soldier stands guard in the Turkish Syrian border city of Karkamis in the southern region of Gaziantep, on August 24, 2016. (AFP/Xinhua) DAMASCUS, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Syria's Foreign Ministry condemned the entry of Turkish forces into northern Syria on Wednesday, saying any anti-terror efforts should be coordinated with the Syrian government. The ministry said Turkish tanks and armored vehicles crossed the Turkish-Syrian borders on Wednesday morning under the air cover of a U.S.-led coalition toward the Syrian city of Jarablus. It said the Turkish aim of entering Jarablus was not to fight the Islamic State (IS) terrorists, and that the move was another manifestation of terrorism, as Turkey is substituting one terror group with another. The ministry was apparently referring to Turkey-backed Syrian rebels who have reportedly crossed the borders with Turkish forces. The ministry said that any anti-terrorism effort must be coordinated with the Syrian government, describing the Turkish intervention as a flagrant violation of Syrian sovereignty. It urged the United Nations to invoke all of its resolutions about the need to end the "Turkish aggression." Earlier in the day, Turkish tanks, special forces, as well as Turkey-backed Syria rebels reportedly crossed the borders toward the city of Jarablus, an IS stronghold near Turkey. Some observers here believe fighting the IS is not the priority of Turkey, saying that Ankara fears the advance of Kurdish forces in northern Syria toward Jarablus, their next declared goal. Turkey, which has more than 20 million Kurds in its southern region, has long opposed any expansion of Kurdish influence near its border, fearing the threat to its territorial integrity. Smoke rises from an IS controlled Syrian village near the Turkish-Syrian border on Aug. 24, 2016. The Turkish army launched on Wednesday a cross-border operation to drive out Islamic State (IS) terrorist militants, the prime minister's office said in a statement. (Xinhua/Mert Macit) ANKARA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- As many as 46 Islamic States (IS) militants have been killed so far in Turkey's operation in northern Syria, Dogan News agency reported on Wednesday. Turkey-backed Syrian rebels, the Free Syrian Army (FSA), have now taken four villages in northern Syrian, Dogan said. Turkish jets and tanks along with howitzers are reportedly still barraging IS targets in Jarablus in northern Syria. It was the first time for Turkish F-16s to enter Syrian airspace since a Russian jet was shot down last November. A statement issued by the prime minister's office said the cross-border operation was aimed at driving out IS terrorist militants. The "Euphrates Shield" operation, which began at 4 a.m. local time (0100 GMT), aims to expunge Turkish borders of terrorist groups, enhance border security and uphold Syria's territorial integrity, the statement said. Preventing another influx of migrants and delivering necessary aid to the region's civilian population are also among the operation's goals, Turkish officials said. In Damascus, the Syrian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday condemned the Turkish intervention, saying any anti-terror efforts should be coordinated with the Syrian government. Turkey's special forces entered Jarablus, a border town inside Syria, under the cover of Turkish air force and the U.S.-led coalition, military sources told Turkish Daily Sabah newspaper. According to military sources, 81 targets were destroyed by artillery fire and tanks stationed on Turkish soil. At a news conference in Ankara, President Recep Erdogan confirmed the start of the "Euphrates Shield" operation. On Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu said Turkey is prepared to provide all forms of support to the Jarablus operation in order to free the town from the grip of the IS. Turkey's Hurriyet newspaper, citing undisclosed military sources, said a ground offensive has not yet begun, but efforts are underway to forge a "passageway" into the region. Sorry, this news has been deleted. BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing wildlife park whose tigers killed a woman and severely mauled another was not to blame for the incident, according to the results of an official investigation announced on Wednesday. The tourists ignored park rules and clear warning signs when one of them got off their car in an area that contained three free-roaming Siberian tigers, an investigation by Beijing's Yanqing district government found. The attack took place at Badaling Wildlife World on July 23, when a 32-year-old woman surnamed Zhao left her car, walked around the vehicle and stood by the door on the driver's side. A tiger showed up and dragged her off. The husband of the woman and her 57-year-old mother both got out of the car in an attempt to rescue her. The mother was mauled to death, while Zhao suffered severe injuries. The park allows visitors to drive their own cars through an area where the animals roam free, but they are instructed to stay in their vehicles. The report also indicated some problems with the park's emergency training and suggested it find better ways to remind tourists to pay more attention to safety. The park has 12 tigers in total, with three in the free-roaming zone when the attack happened. Badaling Wildlife World covers an area of 400 hectares and has about 10,000 animals. ANKARA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Turkey has launched "Euphrates Shield" operation against the Islamic State (IS) in northern Syria early Wednesday with U.S.-led coalition forces, the prime minister's office said in a statement. The operation started at 4 a.m. local time (0100 GMT). Nearly 20 Turkish tanks and special forces crossed the Syrian border with rocket launchers striking IS targets in Jarablus, a northern border town of Syria. Meanwhile, the Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the Turkish intervention as a breach of sovereignty, Syrian state TV reported. Turkish media reports said 70 IS targets have been destroyed and at least 46 IS militants killed in the operation, which involved artillery and rocket fire and airstrikes by Turkish and coalition aircraft. IS militants fired mortar shells across the border from Jarablus, but no casualties were reported as the projectiles landed onto an empty field in central Karkamis, a town in southeastern Turkey. According to CNN Turk, Turkey aims to clear the IS from a stretch some 70 km long and 40 km in width on the border. "Attacks coming from Syria must come to an end," said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday. On Aug. 22, multiple mortar shells, fired from IS positions, hit Karkamis and Kilis, another border town in southern Turkey, though no casualties were reported. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu also declared on the same day that the operation aims to sweep IS from Turkey's borders, adding that Free Syrian Army troops have also crossed the border to Jarablus. Four villages, namely Elvaniye, Guguncuk, Keklice and Kivircik, have been captured from the IS in the operation, which involved 1,500 soldiers, local broadcaster NTV reported. As Turkish troops and Ankara-backed Syrian rebels moved toward central Jarablus, Turkish F-16s also entered Syrian airspace for the first time since the downing of a Russian jet last November. Ankara also aims to prevent further gains by Kurdish militia fighters in northern Syria, the Turkish president said. The Syrian Kurds' gains in northern Syria have alarmed Ankara, which views the the Democratic Union Party (PYD) as an extension of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK). Erdogan said both the IS and the PYD threatened Turkey from northern Syria, adding neither of the groups nor their supporters stood a chance against the unity and solidarity of Turkey. Saleh Muslim, leader of the PYD, tweeted on Wednesday that Turkey was entering a "quagmire" in Syria. by Larry Neild LONDON, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Owen Smith, the member of parliament (MP) challenging Jeremy Corbyn for the leadership of Britain's Labour Party, said Wednesday he would demand a second EU referendum to allow the population to vote on a Brexit deal. Smith, one of the shadow ministers who quit Corbyn's front bench team in the House of Commons, vowed to try to stop Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May from triggering the Brexit process unless she agrees to a new referendum on the final deal, or as an alternative signals a general election. Corbyn, estranged from most of his MPs in parliament, but enjoying massive grassroots support, has responded by saying Labour, currently the official opposition party in parliament, should work with the result of the June 23 vote. By 52 percent to 48 percent, the British population voted to quit the European Union after a membership spanning more than four decades. May has said she would not trigger Article 50 during 2016 and faces demands from some of her own MPs to start the process as quickly as possible. Firing the starting gun on article 50 would start an irreversible process to arrange a legal exit from the EU within a set time frame of no more than two years. In an interview Wednesday, Smith said the British people were "lied to" by Leave campaigners, commenting: "It would be irresponsible of Theresa May to simply trigger Article 50 and sleepwalk out (of the EU). Labour still believes that we should be a part of the European Union." Smith said he would "fight tooth and nail" to keep Britain in the EU, adding that under his leadership of the party, Labour would oppose the triggering of Article 50 in a future Commons vote unless certain conditions were met. He insisted: "We will vote in parliament to block any attempt to invoke Article 50 until Theresa May commits to a second referendum or a general election on whatever EU exit deal emerges at the end of the process." Currently it is not known whether the 650 members of the British House of Commons will be given the opportunity to vote on triggering article 50. A challenge in the British law courts is currently deciding whether Parliament should have a say before Article 50 is triggered. May's government insists the process can start without the need for a vote of all MPs in the House of Commons. Labour Leave campaigners later described Smith's pledge as "electoral suicide." On the leadership campaign trail Corbyn said as leader of the Labour Party will be fight for public ownership of the country's National Health Service (NHS), saying privatization and outsourcing of services are draining the NHS of resources that could be used to improve patient care. Addressing an audience at University College Hospital in London, Corbyn said: "Privatization and outsourcing don't just erode the founding principles of the NHS, they're actually a terrible waste of resources." The British media though refused to let go of a story that has earned the nickname, "traingate." Corbyn's campaign team issued a video showing the Labour leader sitting on the floor of a Virgin rail train between London and the North East. He commented that the train was crammed full of passengers and he was unable to find empty seats for him and his wife. Eventually seats were found. But the rail operator released photographs taken from on board closed circuit cameras, which Virgin claimed showed there were vacant seats on the train. Corbyn has announced the re-nationalization of railways in Britain if he becomes prime minister. Virgin, headed by billionaire entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, would be one of the losers if his policy is introduced. At Wednesday's meeting to discuss his policy on the NHS, Corbyn was angered when he faced more media questions about the rail story. He insisted he was "there to talk about the NHS." Britain's watchdog on data protection, the Information Commissioner's Office, said Wednesday it is "making inquiries into the publication of CCTV images of Corbyn on the train." There have been complaints the release of the images has broken data protection rules. BANGKOK, Aug. 24 (Xinhua)-- Thai government on Wednesday rejected the idea of allowing the appointed Senate to join MPs in nominating candidates for prime minister after discussions. This decision came after a joint meeting expected to end the uncertainty surrounding the issue of the Senate's power to help MPs select a prime minister among Thai Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) and National Legislative Assembly (NLA). CDC spokesman Udom Rathamarit said only the Lower House is empowered to nominate PM candidates, while the Upper house will be eligible to vote with MPs to select the premier. Candidates would be picked from the lists proposed by political parties. Surachai Liangboonlertchai, vice president of the NLA, said that all parties concurred that the appointed senators will have the right to propose an outsider as a candidate for the prime minister's post if the elected House members fail to select a prime minister from their parties' lists of candidates. The CDC now needs to amend the draft charter in order to accommodate the additional question that was accepted along with the draft charter in the public referendum held on Aug 7. Besides, the Senate's role in selecting the premier has become controversial. Under the draft charter, political parties are required to nominate PM candidates before a general election for the first five years after the charter comes into effect. The extra question allows the 250 appointed senators to join the 500 elected MPs in voting to select the prime minister. LONDON, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- A serving member of the British armed forces was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of Northern Ireland-related terrorism offences, according to British press. The arrest came in the wake of the discovery of two arsenals believed to belong to dissident Irish republican factions in forest parks in Northern Ireland, earlier this year. The 30-year-old suspect, who is reportedly a Royal Marine, was arrested in Somerset in southwestern England. He was arrested on suspicion of preparation for acts of terrorism in a pre-planned operation as part of an investigation into Northern Ireland-related terrorism, Sky News TV reported. House searches in several areas in Northern Ireland and southwestern England followed. Two separate caches of weapons were uncovered in Carnfunnock and Capanagh parks near Larne, Northern Ireland in March and May. A British defense ministry spokesman said: "We are aware of a police investigation involving the arrest of a member of the armed forces under the 2000 Terrorism Act and will assist this investigation fully." Enditem DAMASCUS, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic State (IS) fighters withdrew from several villages around Syria's city of Jarablus, as the Turkish-backed Syrian rebels captured areas near that city on Wednesday, Saudi-funded al-Arabiya TV reported, as other reports stated that the rebels have actually stormed the city and reached its center. The IS' withdrawal came as Syrian rebels, covered by Turkish tanks and special forces, as well as air backing from the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition, reached the outskirts of the city of Jarablus, as part of Turkish double-purpose operation, which aims at clearing the city from the IS and let Syrian rebels fill in the void before the Kurdish fighters could capture the city, near the Turkish borders. Some reports said the Turkey-backed rebels have actually started storming Jarablus, reaching its central section. Earlier in the day, Turkish tanks, special forces, as well as Syria rebels crossed the Syrian borders toward the city of Jarablus, an IS stronghold near Turkey. Some observers here believe fighting the IS was not the priority of Turkey, saying that Ankara fears the advance of Kurdish forces in northern Syria toward Jarablus, their next declared goal. Turkey, which has more than 20 million Kurds in its southern region, has long opposed any expansion of Kurdish influence near its border, fearing the threat to its territorial integrity. The Turkey-backed operation started at dawn Wednesday, named the Euphrates Shield. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the operation aims to curb the threats of the terrorist groups, targeting the IS and the Kurdish fighters, who are deemed by Turkey as terrorists. The timing of the operation comes as the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) and the allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have made sweeping advance against the IS in northern Syria, near Turkey. Their latest victory was in the town of Mnabej, when they drove out the IS, depriving the terror group of that key town near Turkey. Moreover, the Kurds also attacked several Syrian government positions in the northeastern city of Hasakah, which has been divided in control between the government and the YPG. Under the mediation of Russia, a second truce succeeded to hold on Tuesday, but only after the Syrian government reportedly approved a previously-denied Kurdish request, which was the dissolve of pro-government militia, called the National Defense Forces (NDF), from Hasakah. The NDF and the Kurdish security forces, known as Assayish, have had several tensions that developed into battles before. Still, the Kurdish forces backed by the U.S. have proved to be a hard nut to crack, which raised the ire and fears of Turkey, pushing it to hasten its intervention on Wednesday. But the twist of events is that the Kurds are supported by the U.S., but so do the Syrian rebels who reached Jarablus, the Kurds' next target after capturing Manbej a couple of weeks ago. Observers believe Washington and Ankara have reached an agreement to release the Turkish fears of growing Kurdish influence near its backdoor, which is granting the Turkey-backed rebels access to Jarablus and having a control in that area. Maher Ihsan, a Syrian journalist and political researcher, said that "the U.S. policy has always been about supporting all parties against all parties with the aim of making all parties weak to some extent." "In the Turkish case, the Turkish fears are all about the Kurdish making of their state that stretches from the city of Qamishli in the countryside of Haskah all the way to reach areas under their control in the northern province of Aleppo, and Jarablus lies in the middle of their way, so capturing it will connect all of their areas together, something Turkey wouldn't want." "So America plays on both parties, by allowing the Kurds to advance against the government in Hasakah, and by granting the Turks access to Jarablus," he added. For its part, the Syrian government, while denouncing the Turkish intervention in the northern region, also has been annoyed by the tension the Kurds have fomented in Hasakah. The YPG and other Kurdish militant groups have been assuming positions in Hasakah since 2012. At the time, there were reports about a tacit agreement between the Kurds and the Syrian government. But recently, tension was reported on several occasions there, after the Kurds started having extra demands. For the government, analysts say, striking the Kurdish project in creating their autonomous rule in northern Syria is positive, but it's not okay with Turkey intervening with rebels it's supporting to take over. In a statement Wednesday, the Syrian government said that any anti-terrorism effort must be coordinated with the Syrian government, describing the Turkish intervention as a "flagrant violation" of Syrian sovereignty. It urged the United Nations to invoke all of its resolutions about the need to end the "Turkish aggression." It said the Turkish aim of entering Jarablus was not to fight the IS terrorists, and that the move was another manifestation of terrorism, as Turkey is substituting "one terror group with another." The ministry was referring to Turkey-backed Syrian rebels who have crossed the borders with Turkish forces. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (L) and Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim attend a press conference in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (Xinhua/Mustafa Kaya) ANKARA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- If the U.S. speeds up legal process of Gulen extradition, disappointment of Turkish people will be replaced by positive attitude, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Wednesday. Ankara accuses cleric Gulen of orchestrating the bloody coup attempt from Pennsylvania, where he has been living in self-imposed exile since 1999. Turkey appreciates that the U.S. legal experts are now working on the process of extraditing Gulen to Turkey, Binali told a joint press conference with visiting U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden in Ankara. "This shows the matter is being taken seriously by the U.S.," he said. The Turkish premier stressed that the U.S.-Turkish relations should not be disrupted by the July 15 coup attempt, nor by any other issue. He said the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and People's Protection Units (YPG), which are considered off-shoot of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK), should not spread west of Euphrates, and Turkey and the U.S are on the same page regarding this issue. He called on the U.S. to review its position on the relation between PYD, YPG and PKK. He reiterated that Turkey does not accept the existence of a new Kurdish formation on its southern border, which is considered a huge threat to its security. "The military operations launched in southeastern Turkey and northern Syria are to fight terrorist groups to protect border security," he noted. For his part, the U.S. vice-president said that Washington has no interest in protecting anyone harming an ally, but legal standards must be met in the process of Gulen extradition. "We understand the intense feeling Turkey has against Gulen and our legal experts are cooperating with their Turkish counterparts," Biden said. He stressed that the U.S. had no prior knowledge of Turkish coup and would never support treasonous behavior. The U.S. official also condemned Saturday's wedding attack in Gaziantep that killed at least 54 people, including 29 children, and the PKK attacks in southeastern Turkey. He added that Syrian Kurdish forces will lose the U.S. support if they do not retreat to east of Euphrates. BRATISLAVA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Around 85 aircraft will be on display and dozens more will be in the air at the Slovak International Air Fest (SIAF) 2016 at Sliac airbase in Central Slovakia this weekend. At a press conference on Wednesday, SIAF director Hubert Stoksa said the two-day event from Aug. 27 to 28 would feature pilots from 13 countries of Europe and NATO. "I'm mostly looking forward to seeing the MiG-15, MiG-21 and MiG-29 aircraft as well as to equilibrist duo of Zoltan Veres and Kayris Jurgys," noted Stoksa. Acrobatic groups from Spain (Patrulla Aguila), Belgium (Red Devils), and the Czech Republic (Flying Bulls) will perform. One of the biggest attractions could also be the American bomber B-52. For the first time, this year's festival makes it possible for disabled people to get into the cockpit of the L-39 aircraft. SIAF is the biggest aviation event in Slovakia with more than 100,000 visitors attending each year. Enditem MOSUL, Iraq, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces on Wednesday took control of the government compound after heavy clashes with the Islamic State (IS) militants in the town of Qayyara in south of IS' major stronghold in Mosul, a security source said. "The troops managed in the morning to free the government compound and raised the Iraqi flag on its main building in Qayyara and are now fighting to push further into the central part of the town," Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasoul, spokesman for the Joint Military Command, told Xinhua. The troops also recaptured the main police headquarters and hospital of the town in the battles during the day, Rasoul said. The troops' advance inside the town was slowed by snipers, many booby-trapped buildings, car bombs and dozens of roadside bombs planted earlier by the extremist militants, Rasoul said, adding that the Iraqi and U.S.-led air strikes destroyed many suicide car bombs in the town's streets before reaching the advanced troops. "The battles continued as the troops are fighting to drive out dozens of the IS militants from other parts of the town," Rasoul said. He said that "intelligence reports indicated that dozens of the terrorists have fled the town and resorted to their main stronghold in Mosul." The advance in Qayyara began on Tuesday when the troops advance at dawn from several direction toward the town, some 50 km south of Mosul, and freed its nearby oil refinery later in the day after heavy clashes with the IS militants. Last month, the security forces made a significant victory when they recaptured a strategic airbase near Qayyara. Recapturing the town is vital for the security forces which will use the town and the nearby airbase as a staging ground to free Iraq's last major IS stronghold in Mosul, which itself located some 400 km north of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. The advance into Qayyara is part of a major offensive aiming to free areas in southern Mosul and surround Mosul from the south and east before pushing into the city and flushing the IS militants out of it. Mosul, the second largest city in Iraq, has been under the IS control since June 2014, when the Iraqi government forces abandoned their weapons and fled, giving opportunities for the IS militants to take control of parts of Iraq's northern and western regions. BERLIN, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Germany achieved a budget surplus of 18.5 billion euros (about 20.7 billion U.S. dollars) in the first half of 2016, official data showed on Wednesday, on the back of a solid economy and moderate expenditure. "The budgets of central government, state government, local government and social security funds continued to benefit from both a positive development of employment and economy and moderate spending policies," said German federal statistics office Destatis in a statement. Compared to the same period last year, German public revenue increased 4.2 percent to 692.9 billion euros, while expenditure went up by 3.6 percent to 674.4 billion euros. According to Destatis, the most important source of government income was taxes which jumped 4.8 percent yearly to 365.1 billion euros. The increase of expenditure was mainly due to higher spending on asylum seekers, over one million of whom arrived in Germany last year. The high revenue offered the German government sufficient ammunition to cover costs of increasing spending on refugees while sticking to its target of balanced budget in coming four years. However, economists said Germany's public investment also needs to be increased in order to maintain a sustainable growth. In a separate report on Wednesday, Destatis said the German economy expanded by 0.4 percent in the second quarter, slower than the growth of 0.7 percent in the first three months. Weak investment was the main drag. "The economy's Achilles' heel remains the lack of new investment," said Carsten Brzeski, chief economist at ING DiBa bank, "To kick-start investment in an aging economy, some government support is needed." (1 euro = 1.12 U.S. dollars) Enditem RAMALLAH, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday urged the U.S. State Department to ban its citizens from taking part in daily "incursions" into Al-Aqsa mosque in east Jerusalem. The ministry condemned in an emailed press statement the participation of a congressman from the U.S. State of Utah Mike Lee in the "incursion of settlers into Al-Aqsa Mosque on Tuesday." Scores of settlers stormed into Al-Aqsa mosque compound through the Dung Gate Tuesday under heavy military protection by Israeli police and took provocative tours in the yards of the holy mosque, according to Palestinian sources. The statement considered the incursion as "illegal and a flagrant intervention in Palestinian affairs," and as backing the provocative moves by extremist Jewish groups aiming to change the status quo at the mosque. The ministry will follow up on this matter "through all possible political and diplomatic channels," said the statement. The statement blamed the Israeli government, lead by Benjamin Netanyahu, for supporting the extremist Jewish groups on its daily attacks against the holy mosque, adding that the Israeli authorities are carrying out excavations underneath the holy site "in order to forge the history of the region." Israeli sources were not immediately available for comments. Palestinians want to declare east Jerusalem, including the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque, as a capital of their state, while Israel insists that Jerusalem, undivided, is the capital of Israel. Israel occupied east Jerusalem during the 1967 war, and the international community does not recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, since it declared west Jerusalem as its capital in 1950, saying it is a violation of the UN partition resolution adopted in 1947. by Ronald Ssekandi MASAKA, Uganda, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Shattered windscreen, blood stains, abandoned shoes and wreaths are grisly reminders of "a killer more ferocious than AIDS" on the Kampala-Masaka highway. Accidents on this road, linking central Uganda to the west, have claimed 50 lives over the last three months. In one of the worse accidents, over 20 people were killed as five vehicles crashed together last month. Yet the accident may have served as a wake-up call, as police and government agencies in Uganda are now in a war against the country's notoriously high traffic accident rates with stricter law enforcement and heftier penalties. The highway is now at the front of the "Fika Salama" operation, translated as "Reach Well" that targets reckless driving. Road barricades were mounted on the highway and vehicles found to be in poor condition would be towed away. Drivers found not to have driving licenses or found over speeding would be prosecuted and face fines of about 200 U.S. dollars or six months in prison. Police figures show that over 560 drivers have been taken to court over the past one month since the operation started a month ago. "This operation is aimed at creating discipline on the highway... So far I am seeing at least a change: drivers are complying and discipline is coming back," Fabian Betuza, Assistant Superintendent of Police told Xinhua in an interview. Traffic police vigilance is also being extended to other highways in the country. Uganda has one of the highest rate of road accidents in the world, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), with 19,870 accidents in 2012 and 18,368 in 2013. Steven Kasiima, Traffic Police Chief told reporters on Monday that road accidents are killing more people than HIV/AIDS and malaria in the country. Some drivers blame the accidents on narrow highways, while police records show that most accidents are due to speeding and reckless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol, and use of vehicles in poor mechanical condition. "My humble appeal to all road users is that road safety is every person's duty, not only the police. Every person must come up, and those ones who drive badly must be reported," Betuza said. Enditem GARISSA, Kenya, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan authorities say they have enhanced security patrols along the border with Somalia to prevent incursions of Al-Shabaab militants targeting communication infrastructure. Northeastern Regional Coordinator Mohamud Saleh said on Wednesday that the militants' bombing of two Safaricom masts in Mandera county early this month was meant to sabotage communication infrastructure and frustrate security operations in the region. "We have permanent ground security operations on hotspots along the border after we realized that Al-Shabaab were out to sabotage our communication infrastructure," Saleh told journalists in Garissa. "They (Al-Shabaab) were also planning to bomb water pipelines in these towns but we managed to secure them," he said. Saleh said that the Al-Shabaab Islamist group had been degraded and the few attacks reported for past 14 months, adding that his security team was working closely with the Lower Juba administration in southern Somalia in the fight against Al-Shabaab. Al-Shabaab militants have been targeting military and police vehicles either by laying ambushs or planting explosives on the road in Kenya's northeast region, especially in Mandera and Garissa counties. Kenyan troops are serving with the Africa Union Mission in Somalia to fight against Al-Shabaab militants in support of the Somali government. Enditem Kurdish Peshmerga forces fire a rocket toward Islamic State militants on the southeast of Mosul , Iraq, August 14, 2016. (Reuters photo) MOSUL, Iraq, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces on Wednesday took control of the government compound after heavy clashes with the Islamic State (IS) militants in the town of Qayyara in south of IS' major stronghold in Mosul, a security source said. "The troops managed in the morning to free the government compound and raised the Iraqi flag on its main building in Qayyara and are now fighting to push further into the central part of the town," Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasoul, spokesman for the Joint Military Command, told Xinhua. The troops also recaptured the main police headquarters and hospital of the town in the battles during the day, Rasoul said. The troops' advance inside the town was slowed by snipers, many booby-trapped buildings, car bombs and dozens of roadside bombs planted earlier by the extremist militants, Rasoul said, adding that the Iraqi and U.S.-led air strikes destroyed many suicide car bombs in the town's streets before reaching the advanced troops. "The battles continued as the troops are fighting to drive out dozens of the IS militants from other parts of the town," Rasoul said. He said that "intelligence reports indicated that dozens of the terrorists have fled the town and resorted to their main stronghold in Mosul." The advance in Qayyara began on Tuesday when the troops advance at dawn from several direction toward the town, some 50 km south of Mosul, and freed its nearby oil refinery later in the day after heavy clashes with the IS militants. Last month, the security forces made a significant victory when they recaptured a strategic airbase near Qayyara. Recapturing the town is vital for the security forces which will use the town and the nearby airbase as a staging ground to free Iraq's last major IS stronghold in Mosul, which itself located some 400 km north of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. The advance into Qayyara is part of a major offensive aiming to free areas in southern Mosul and surround Mosul from the south and east before pushing into the city and flushing the IS militants out of it. Mosul, the second largest city in Iraq, has been under the IS control since June 2014, when the Iraqi government forces abandoned their weapons and fled, giving opportunities for the IS militants to take control of parts of Iraq's northern and western regions. CAIRO, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Development is the key to resolving most Middle East problems, especially terrorism, Li Chengwen, Chinese ambassador to the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF), told Xinhua. The newly appointed ambassador held talks with top Arab League (AL) officials in Cairo on Tuesday, aiming at activating more Chinese-Arab cooperation at all levels after Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit in January. During the president's first official visit to the Middle East region, Xi delivered a speech at the AL headquarters in Cairo, urging the region to resolve their differences through dialogue and tackle the thorny issues through development. "As President Xi has pointed out, development is the ultimate answer to many problems and difficulties in this region," Li said. "The root of the problems in the Middle East lies in development and the only solution is also development," said Li, China's former ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Sudan. Li said that no country could make economic growth without development, which in turn reduces the unemployment rate that hits 60 percent of the population in some Arab countries. "Development is the only way for raising the people's standard of living and expanding cooperation among countries," he said, adding that China will make all efforts to promote its cooperation with Arab states under the CASCF mechanism. The CASCF was initiated in the opening years of the new millennium, after China-Arab friendship and cooperation witnessed a steady growth that led to its formal formation in 2004 by China and the AL, whose 22 members had already established diplomatic relations with China. Since then, the forum has become a key mechanism for both China and the Arab world to improve their mutual-understanding and cooperation in all fields. "We seek to promote the structure of China-Arab cooperation though the forum," Li said. The Chinese diplomat cited that the Arab states are China's biggest economic partners with a volume of trade that exceeds 250 billion U.S. dollars every year, adding that there are over 100 flights every day between the two sides, carrying more than 2,000 passengers. "China will continue to expand the CASCF mechanism based on our mutual political trust and promote the all-around friendship and cooperation," the ambassador added. Regarding China's role in the Middle East region, Li said China is always willing to help the region to achieve peace and instability and overcome deep-rooted problems, as the region has been plagued with troubles over the past hundreds of years. "The Middle East always takes special weight in China's diplomacy," Li said, stressing that with the Belt and Road Initiative, China could offer the region with development-based ways out of its crises. BELGRADE, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Serbia expects assistance from Kazakhstan in order to reach tariff-free arrangements with countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic said on Wednesday. Nikolic made this statement at a joint press conference with his visiting Kazakh colleague Nursultan Nazarbayev, who promised support to Serbia's goals. The meeting between Nikolic and Nazerbayev resulted in the signing of five bilateral agreements, including a declaration to strengthen cooperation within international organizations and deepen relations between the two countries. These bilateral agreements deal with judicial and economic cooperation, mutual assistance in criminal matters, extradition treaty and transfer of sentenced persons, Serbia's participation at EXPO 2017 in Astana, and cooperation between the Vojvodina province and the administration of the Almaty region. At the press conference following their meeting, Nazerbayev revealed that the main topic in the conversation with Nikolic was cooperation in economy and trade and expressed assurance that Kazakhstan would support cooperation with Serbia within the EEU. "We considered the possibility of cooperation (with Serbia) within the Eurasian Economic Union. We know that Serbia wishes to become part of the Free Trade Zone and Kazakhstan is willing to support that as a member of that union," Nazerbayev said. He meanwhile reminded that negotiations on the trade regime unification agreement between the EEU and Serbia were launched in May at the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council's meeting in Astana. He said fifteen companies from Serbia did business in Kazakhstan in areas of trade and construction, and invited more Serbian companies to come and take part in infrastructural projects "within the great Silk Road" in that country. Out of five members of the EEU, Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus already have free trade zone agreements with Serbia while Armenia and Kyrgyzstan do not. Nikolic said Serbia expects Kazakhstan's assistance in achieving tariff-free arrangements with all countries of the EEU. "We remain dedicated in realization of integration into the European Union as a priority of our foreign policy, but we also fully support other integration processes such as the Eurasian Economic Union," Nikolic said, continuing that Serbia looks forward to improving relations with Kazakhstan especially in the economic field. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R, Front) meets with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (C, front) and South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se (L, Front) in Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 24, 2016. (Xinhua/Ma Ping) TOKYO, Aug. 24 (Xinhua)-- China welcomes Japan as a Group of 20 (G20) member to play a positive and constructive role in making the upcoming G20 Hangzhou Summit a success, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Wednesday. Wang made the remarks as he met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe together with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts following a trilateral foreign ministers' meeting. Wang said that the foreign ministers' meeting, held at a time when bilateral relations between China, Japan and South Korea were all faced with obstacles, maintained the keynote and momentum of trilateral cooperation. To promote trilateral cooperation, China has put forward a "four-wheel drive" proposal, namely, to promote cooperation in four key areas, including politics, economy and trade, culture as well as sustainable development, said Wang. He added that China welcomes Abe to attend the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, and China is willing to see Japan, as a member of G20, to play a positive and constructive role in making the summit a success. It is hoped that the three sides could, in the spirit of facing history squarely and advancing toward the future, strengthen cooperation and make joint efforts to promote regional peaceful development and improve bilateral relations, said the Chinese foreign minister. Abe, for his part, stressed the importance of trilateral cooperation and expressed the hope that the three countries could, based on the fruits of the foreign ministers' meeting, make active preparation for bringing forth a trilateral summit within the year, improve bilateral relations and promote regional development. He said that Japan is willing to promote mutual trust and enhance dialogue with China, to make efforts to control differences and build a future-oriented China-Japan relationship. Abe added the upcoming G20 Summit is of great significance to sustainable development of world economy and Japan wishes the summit a success and is willing to provide all possible help for the meeting, he said. On Wednesday, Wang also met with Toshihiro Nikai, secretary-general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and Yohei Kono, head of the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade and former president of LDP and former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, respectively. Wang told Nikai that China-Japan relations are at an important juncture and would either move forward or backward. He expressed the hope that Nikai, who has witnessed twists and turns in the bilateral relationship, could, together with friendly Japanese people, continue to promote non-governmental exchanges between the two countries to make new contributions to the development of bilateral relations. Nikai, for his part, said that China-Japan relationship is vital to Japan's future development and the two countries should enhance people-to-people exchanges as well as exchanges between political parties and the young people to promote bilateral ties. In his meeting with Kono, Wang said that people of vision in the two countries should, based on a sense of historical mission, consolidate political basis of bilateral relations and realize benign interaction between the two countries and pass on friendly relationship to future generations. Kono said that the two countries should maintain friendly traditions and make wise decisions in accordance with long-term interests of the two peoples, adding that Japan should actively respond to China's Belt and Road Initiative, which is beneficial not only to Japan, but also to neighboring countries. In his meeting with Kukuda, Wang said that China-Japan relations are currently faced with both challenges and opportunities. The two sides should abide by the principles defined in the four political documents and implement the four-point principled agreement to make differences controllable and to strengthen cooperation in various areas to enhance bilateral relations. He expressed the hope that the Japanese people could view China's development from a proper perspective, make use of the opportunities provided by China's development and continue to promote bilateral ties. Fukuda said that Japan and China, as the third and second largest economy in the world, respectively, play significant roles in the world. Promoting bilateral ties is not only in the interests of the two countries, but also the common expectation of regional countries. He hoped that the two sides could continue to enhance dialogue and communication, properly handle disputes, expand practical cooperation and bring benefits to the peoples of the two countries. ANKARA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's recent rapprochement with Russia and Iran urged the U.S. to show solidarity with Turkey, local experts said over U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's visit to Ankara. As Turkey approached Russia and Iran, with changing its policy on Syria, the U.S. needs to diagnose the situation and show how Ankara is important for Washington, retired ambassador Uluc Ozulker told Xinhua. This rapprochement disturbed Washington, Ozulker said, believing U.S. Vice President Joe Biden visited Ankara to give a message that Turkey is important for the U.S. Biden also wants to reset relations with Ankara strained by the fallout from the July 15 failed coup attempt. Washington has to take Ankara's demands for extradition of Fethullah Gulen, Muslim cleric based in the U.S., into consideration, therefore Washington recently sent delegations to Turkey for discussions on Gulen's case, Ozulker said. Biden is the first White House official visiting Turkey following the failed coup attempt, which the Turkish government says was orchestrated by the Gulenist Terror Group (FETO). Ankara asks Washington to extradite the cleric, who has been living in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania since 1999, to face trial. Gulen is accused of aiming to overthrow the government through the infiltration of Turkish state institutions. The U.S. is between extraditing Gulen and keeping hosting him, according to the retired ambassador. As the cleric was supported by the U.S. for opening hundreds of schools across the world, Washington will be disturbed if Gulen speaks about how the Obama administration helped him, Ozulker said. "It will annoy Ankara if Washington refuses to extradite him," he noted, explaining this is why Biden said he wished Gulen was not in the U.S. The U.S. also has to support Turkey's long pending military operation to Jarablus region of northern Syria. Turkey had been urging Washington to stop supporting the Democratic Union Party (PYD), as gains of the Syrian Kurds alarmed Ankara. The Turkish government is upset over the alliance between the U.S. and the Syria Kurds in northern Syria, as it believes the PYD is linked to outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Turkey fears the alliance is helping them gain territory for an autonomous zone along the Turkish border as the PYD seeks to increase its influence and the territory it controls west of the Euphrates River. Giving an ear to Turkey's call, Biden has sent stern messages to Syrian Kurds during his visit to Ankara on Wednesday. "We have made it absolutely clear that Kurdish forces must go back across the Euphrates River. They cannot and will not, under no circumstances, get American support if they do not keep that commitment," Biden told reporters at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Binali Yildirim in Ankara. "The U.S. sent its vice president to Turkey in an effort to address post-coup tensions, as Turkey complained about no Western leaders visiting the country to express their solidarity," said Burhanettin Duran, expert from Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research. Biden's main purpose is to reiterate commitment of the U.S. to its friendship and alliance with Turkey, he said. Duran believed that Biden's visit will hardly be enough to fix the impaired bilateral relations. "Turkey-U.S. relations are going through a difficult period," Duran argued. "Both sides need to be extra careful." Turkish President Recep Erdogan (R) and visiting U.S. Vice President Joe Biden attend a joint press conference in Ankara, Turkey, Aug. 24, 2016. (Xinhua/Mustafa Kaya) ANKARA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Turkey is disappointed that cleric Fetullah Gulen, who should be detained according to extradition treaty, still roams freely, Turkish President Recep Erdogan told media on Wednesday in Ankara. "According to the 1981 extradition treaty with the U.S., we'd expect Gulen to be detained, however, he still roams freely," Erdogan said during a joint press conference with the visiting U.S. Vice President Joe Biden. However, Biden said only the U.S. federal courts have the power to extradite Gulen to Turkey, "God Willing there will be enough evidence to meet criteria which Turkey seeks on Gulen," Biden said. At the press conference, Erdogan also confirmed the Free Syrian Army (FSA), Syria's opposition forces, has forced the militants in Jarablus of northern Syria out with the help of Turkish forces and the U.S.-led coalition forces. "The FSA and Jarablus forces have retaken the town and the IS has left," he said, adding that the aim of Turkish forces enter Syria is to fight terrorist groups and protect the border of Turkey. "We believe the Turkish border must be controlled by Turkey only, there should be no occupation by other group," Biden said. Photo taken on Aug. 24, 2016 shows damaged houses after the earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy. The 6.0 magnitude earthquake hit the city of Rieti at 3:32 a.m. Wednesday (0132 GMT), with a shallow depth of 4.2 km, according to the National Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. (Xinhua/Jin Yu) AMATRICE, Italy, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Rescue workers were engaged in a race against time on Wednesday afternoon to save victims of a major earthquake that hit central Italy early on Wednesday morning. A 6.2 magnitude quake with a shallow depth of 4.2 km hit a mountainous area near the city of Rieti, some 140 km northeast of Rome, at 3:36 a.m. local time (0136 GMT), according to the National Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (INGV). The death toll reached 120 victims by mid-afternoon, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi told a press conference in Rieti. However, officials warned the final toll might rise further, since dozens were still reported missing late on Wednesday. Amatrice and Accumoli, two small towns in Rieti province, were among the hardest hit. At least 60 victims lives were claimed there, civil protection chief Fabrizio Curcio told reporters while visiting Amatrice. At least another 20 people were killed in the villages of Arquata del Tronto and Pescara del Tronto in the eastern Marche region. In Amatrice, rescue workers were digging with their bare hands to reach survivors trapped under the rubble. The voices of the survivors could still be heard hours after the major tremor had struck. Most of the buildings along the two central streets collapsed with the quake, burying entire families who had come to spend their vacation in the area. The small town is usually crowded with both local residents and holidaymakers in the summer time. Now most of it "was gone," mayor Sergio Pirozzi told local media. The local hospital was damaged and evacuated, but no severe injures were registered, the medical staff told Xinhua. Only when buildings were so disintegrated there was no hope for survivors, did rescuers work with bulldozers and heavy machinery to clear the rubble. Otherwise, they dug in an eerie silence along the little roads in this medieval town in order not to miss possible signs of life. "Four older women and three of our nuns are still under the rubble," said Cesare, a priest from a local religious community. "We urged some intervention, but rescuers told me they needed to wait for heavy equipment to dig," he added, looking at the collapsed two-storey left wing of his house. When the quake struck, some 13 people and 6 nuns had been sleeping in the convent, which operated as a holiday center for the elderly in July and August. The seven people trapped inside were aged between 75 and 90, according to the priest and relatives of those missing. In nearby Accumoli, very close to the epicentre, three-quarters of the buildings were destroyed and some 2,500 people evacuated, mayor Stefano Petrucci told local media. The rescue operation was massive. The Italian army, scientific police and military police, plus dog units were added to civil protection officers and firefighters, who were carrying out search efforts. The major quake was strongly felt all across the Lazio region, including in Rome, and as far as in Naples in the south and Bologna in the north, Ansa news agency reported. Several powerful aftershocks followed throughout the day. The quake is being compared to the one that hit the city of L'Aquila in 2009 which killed over 300 people. However, Wednesday's quake was "about 2 to 3 times smaller, in terms of energy released, to the one in L'Aquila," INGV seismologist Alessandro Amato told a press conference in Rome. Photo taken on Aug. 24, 2016 shows damaged houses after the earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy. The death toll in a strong earthquake in central Italy has risen to 38, authorities said Wednesday. (Xinhua/Jin Yu) AMATRICE, Italy, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Rescue workers were engaged in a race against time on Wednesday afternoon to save victims of a major earthquake that hit central Italy early on Wednesday morning. A 6.2 magnitude quake with a shallow depth of 4.2 km hit a mountainous area near the city of Rieti, some 140 km northeast of Rome, at 3:36 a.m. local time (0136 GMT), according to the National Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (INGV). The death toll reached 120 victims by mid-afternoon, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi told a press conference in Rieti. However, officials warned the final toll might rise further, since dozens were still reported missing late on Wednesday. Amatrice and Accumoli, two small towns in Rieti province, were among the hardest hit. At least 60 victims lives were claimed there, civil protection chief Fabrizio Curcio told reporters while visiting Amatrice. At least another 20 people were killed in the villages of Arquata del Tronto and Pescara del Tronto in the eastern Marche region. In Amatrice, rescue workers were digging with their bare hands to reach survivors trapped under the rubble. The voices of the survivors could still be heard hours after the major tremor had struck. Most of the buildings along the two central streets collapsed with the quake, burying entire families who had come to spend their vacation in the area. The small town is usually crowded with both local residents and holidaymakers in the summer time. Now most of it "was gone," mayor Sergio Pirozzi told local media. The local hospital was damaged and evacuated, but no severe injures were registered, the medical staff told Xinhua. Only when buildings were so disintegrated there was no hope for survivors, did rescuers work with bulldozers and heavy machinery to clear the rubble. Otherwise, they dug in an eerie silence along the little roads in this medieval town in order not to miss possible signs of life. An injured person of the earthquake receives medical treatments in Amatrice, central Italy, on Aug. 24, 2016. The death toll in a strong earthquake in central Italy has risen to 38, authorities said Wednesday. (Xinhua/Jin Yu) "Four older women and three of our nuns are still under the rubble," said Cesare, a priest from a local religious community. "We urged some intervention, but rescuers told me they needed to wait for heavy equipment to dig," he added, looking at the collapsed two-storey left wing of his house. When the quake struck, some 13 people and 6 nuns had been sleeping in the convent, which operated as a holiday center for the elderly in July and August. The seven people trapped inside were aged between 75 and 90, according to the priest and relatives of those missing. In nearby Accumoli, very close to the epicentre, three-quarters of the buildings were destroyed and some 2,500 people evacuated, mayor Stefano Petrucci told local media. The rescue operation was massive. The Italian army, scientific police and military police, plus dog units were added to civil protection officers and firefighters, who were carrying out search efforts. The major quake was strongly felt all across the Lazio region, including in Rome, and as far as in Naples in the south and Bologna in the north, Ansa news agency reported. Several powerful aftershocks followed throughout the day. The quake is being compared to the one that hit the city of L'Aquila in 2009 which killed over 300 people. However, Wednesday's quake was "about 2 to 3 times smaller, in terms of energy released, to the one in L'Aquila," INGV seismologist Alessandro Amato told a press conference in Rome. File photo taken on May 24, 2016 shows a music fountain in West Lake in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. Hangzhou is the host city for the 2016 G20 summit on Sept. 4 and Sept. 5. With one month to go, Hangzhou looks forward to G20. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi) BUENOS AIRES, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- China is an "outstanding partner," Argentina's ambassador to China Diego Guelar said on Wednesday in a call to government-run Radio Ciudad. "We have an outstanding partner in China (and) there is much ahead to do," Guelar said from Beijing. "Chinese companies are very interested in partnering with Argentine companies to build a presence and manufacture in Argentina," said Guelar, adding "we are starting a very important period." The ambassador added that "the relationship is in full swing (and) the (joint) projects are a reality." The two countries have various joint projects underway, including the construction of two dams in Argentina's southern Patagonian region, designed to boost the area's energy supply. "There is no doubt about the activation and guarantee of a partnership process in full swing," as part of the two countries' Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Guelar said. China, Argentina's second-largest trading partner and leading market for Argentinian food products, will be hosting the upcoming Group of 20 (G20) Summit in Hangzhou, the capital of east China's Zhejiang province, in September, which Argentina will be attending as a member. It will be "a very important summit," said Guelar, "the culmination of a year's effort, an outstanding exercise for China during its year of presidency" of the G20. "The truth is there has been a very significant turnaround between 2015 and 2016. Over the course of the past two years, China has incorporated itself as a responsible member at the level of a world superpower. We saw that at the (United Nations) environment summit in Paris (and) in its presence and guarantee of the nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran," added Guelar. People watch a TV news program about the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) ballistic missile launch, at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Aug. 24, 2016. The DPRK on Wednesday test-fired a ballistic missile from a submarine off its east coast into the sea at a time of heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula following the start of annual South Korea-U.S. war games, Seoul's military said. (Xinhua/File Photo) UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Wednesday urged the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to "take steps necessary to de-escalate the situation and return to dialogue on denuclearization" of the Korean Peninsula. "The latest launch of a submarine-launched ballistic missile by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in defiance of the united call of the international community to reverse its course is deeply troubling," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here. "Not only are such actions a clear violation of relevant (UN) Security Council resolutions, but they also undermine peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula," Dujarric said in response to a press question. "We, again, urge the DPRK to take steps necessary to de-escalate the situation and return to dialogue on denuclearization." A South Korean defense ministry official told Xinhua that the DPRK test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) at about 5:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday (2030 GMT Tuesday) off the eastern coastal town of Sinpo in South Hamgyeong province into the East Sea. The launch came after South Korea and the United States began their annual military drills on Monday. The Security Council has adopted five resolutions -- resolutions 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009), 2087 (2013), 2094 (2013) and 2270 (2016) -- to curb the DPRK's nuclear and missile programs. The latest one adopted in March imposes the most severe sanctions yet on the country, including an export ban and asset freeze. BUENOS AIRES, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Argentina and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have signed an agreement which will see the UN body help Buenos Aires to extend social welfare programs to one million children in vulnerable situations, local media reported Wednesday. The first program is the Universal Allocation per Child, which provides 966 pesos (65 U.S. dollars) a month to over 2 million families, covering 3.7 million children. The Pregnancy Allocation, worth the same monthly amount, will also be extended with more cover to be provided to pregnant women. Finally, the Equal Connection program will seek to close the digital gap and improve IT education in schools through the delivery of laptop computers and the creation of virtual classrooms. Argentine Minister of Social Development Carolina Stanley and the country's representative for UNICEF Florence Bauer attended the signing ceremony on Tuesday. "We will seek to reach each boy and girl in Argentina...as the rights that all boys and girls have mean they must be taken care of throughout their development," said Stanley. "Our objective is for children to grow up healthy, with good nutrition and a good relationship with their parents." Bauer added that UNICEF "will provide all its technical assistance to the start of this agreement, so that each investment...brings multiple returns in terms of development, health and education." QUITO, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa on Wednesday met with Iran's visiting Foreign Affairs Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, as the two countries look to bolster bilateral trade. Correa and Zarif, who is on a six-nation tour of Latin America, held a private meeting at government headquarters in Quito, accompanied by Ecuadoran Foreign Affairs Minister Guillaume Long. Zarif's visit offered a "new opportunity to spur ties with Iran," said Correa, who celebrated the recent lifting of sanctions on Iran as part of an international nuclear agreement. "Before, due to the unjust sanctions, we wanted to sell more bananas (to Iran), but that was (seen as) financing terrorism," said Correa, adding meat was another product his country aimed to export to the Middle East nation. Earlier, Long and Zarif "expressed their respective governments' willingness to give bilateral trade ties a strong push," the state-run Andes news agency said. The two men inaugurated an Ecuador-Iran Economic and Trade Forum attended by more than 100 representatives from the two countries' private and public sectors. Zarif's visit presented an excellent opportunity to deepen bilateral ties in the areas of trade, finance, investment and cooperation, Ecuador's government said. Long invited Iran's business delegation to invest in Ecuador, calling on them to "make a superhuman effort to overcome the distances, costs, obstacles; let's be creative, let's find a way to exchange, trade, invest, to exponentially grow bilateral ties in the coming years." Long said the two countries' respective agricultural protection agencies would be signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) later in the day, as part of the push to expand trade ties. Iran and Ecuador's respective central banks were also set to sign an MOU to facilitate payments, "reduce tariffs and adopt logistical mechanisms to improve connectivity and allow the increase of exchange volume," Andes said. A bilateral trade committee will hold its first meeting in the last quarter of the year, said Long, adding Ecuador is about to open a trade office in Iran's capital Tehran. Ecuador exports a range of products to Iran, including bananas, wood, roses and fruit puree, but hopes to expand the list to include coffee, cocoa, tuna and other goods. Zarif arrived here on Tuesday following visits to Cuba and Nicaragua. He will also visit Chile, Bolivia and Venezuela. Real scene drama InspirationPingyao is staged in Pingyao county, north Chinas Shanxi province, on Aug. 18, 2016. (Photo provided by the author) BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- A real scene drama, performed in Pingyao county, north Chinas Shanxi province, has become a thread linking the modernity and history of this town. As a significant part of local cultural creativity, the drama InspirationPingyao, combines performance, music and dance to paint a fantastic picture for the audience. Pingyao, in the center of the province, is a well-known busy small town of over 2,700 years, where nearly one hundred historical buildings are under the government protection, including three under national protection. Pingyao was included in the World Heritage Site list of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1997. More important, it is the birthplace and center of many Shanxi merchants, a group of clear-eyed merchants who creatively engaged in nationwide commercial activities during the Ming (1368-1644A.D.) and Qing(1644-1911A.D.) Dynasties in Chinese history. The Piaohao, or draft bank, in China was initiated here, with Rishengchang (Sunrise Prosperity) as the representative pioneer of modern banking industry, dealing in drafts rather than gold or silver. Staged first in early 2013, InspirationPingyao tells the story of Zhao Yishuo, owner of a Piaohao, who heroically sacrificed his life and 232 retainers to save the budding Piaohao and the fate of Chinese modern banking industry. To boost its dramatic effect, the theater has no major official entrance, and the audiences would enter through different side narrow doors. Here they could enjoy the performance, they could walk among the artists and they could relive the memory of a mercenary life of 150 years ago in Pingyao. In the past three years, the drama has been staged for nearly thousand times, but numerous visitors to the town expect it to continue to let them be part of it. A China Telecom stand at an information industry expo in Nanjing, Jiangsu province. ZHEN HUAI/CHINA DAILY BEIJING - China Telecom on Tuesday reported 6.3 percent growth in net profit for the first half (H1) of this year thanks to more 4G subscriptions. Operating revenues increased by 7.2 percent over the same period last year to 176.83 billion yuan ($26.8). Net profit amounted to 11.67 billion yuan, according to its semi-annual report. The operator added 207 million mobile users in H1, an increase of 9.04 million from the end of 2015. There were 90.10 million high-speed wireless 4G terminal users, with a net addition of 31.64 million from the end of last year. Handset Internet data traffic increased by 135 percent over the same period last year. The number of wired broadband subscribers reached 118 million, representing a net addition of 4.94 million from the end of last year. 4G services have become a major source of revenue for China's telecom operators in the wake of tepid voice call use. Bankers eager for FACTA legislation Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Stuart Young previously said the former Peoples Partnership (PP) government failed over the last five years to ensure TT was FACTA compliant. The Association encouraged the Government to continue the implementation process, specifically with respect to the FATCA legislation which Young has indicated will be brought to Parliament shortly after it resumes. Parliament will resume sittings on September 9. Young said the legislation will require a three-fifths majority for passage in the House of Representatives and the Senate. He has indicated that Government will speak with the Opposition about getting its support for the legislation. Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has previously said the Opposition will support legislation that is in the countrys interest. BATT said it looked forward to working with Government and the Opposition as key stakeholders, as we review and ultimately pass the enabling legislation which will allow local banks to meet their reporting requirements to the Board of Inland Revenue (BI R). The Association encouraged the BI R to begin the process of working with member institutions to create the framework in which information between banks and the BI R will be shared, to ensure we are indeed ready for the first reporting period at the end of next month. BATT reiterated its commitment to working with its stakeholders and clients, as we move to implement this important regime. Crash victim got drivers permit one month ago Lariann Perez, 19, of Signal Hill, Tobago, lost control of the car which veered off the Auchenskeoch Buccoo Bay Road, crashed into an embankment and overturned several times, finally landing in a drain. Also in the car was 13-year-old Shiann Thomas of Glen Road, Scarborough, Tobago. Reports are that Perez passed her driving test on July 18. Police have examined the distance of the brake impressions and have determined that speeding played a major part in the accident. The bodies were positively identified by Thomas father, Emmanuel Thomas of Main Road, Patience Hill, and by Perezs brother, Lawrence Larry Jr of Tranquility Heights, Signal Hill. Thomas mother, April McPhee-Morren and her husband, Ryan Morren, described Thomas as someone who they loved dearly McPhee-Mor ren said it is up to parents to put boundaries on what children are allowed to do so as not to end up in similar situations. Thomas was the first of three children. Her sisters are ten and six years old. A distraught Morren said he is trying to remain strong for his wife and family but it is a not at all easy. Cancer patient slapped with nine charges On Monday, Dhanraj of Foster Road Extension, Sangre Grande, appeared before magistrate Taramatee Ramdass in the San Fernando Magistrates Court having been charged with causing an unnecessary obstruction with his vehicle, failing to provide a breath sample for testing failing to produce his Drivers Permit and refusing to provide a certificate of insurance. He was also charged with driving his vehicle in a dangerous manner. The charges were laid by Police Constable Sujeet Ramcharan arising out of an incident on Sunday during a police road block exercise at La Fortune Road, Woodland and La Romaine. Danraj pleaded not guilty to each of the charges. Sgt Cassiram Lutchman, told the magistrate that Danraj also refused to give his finger prints to police officers when he was taken to the San Fernando Police Station. She remanded him into custody until 1 pm for it to be done. His attorney, Annalee Girwar, told Ramdass that Danraj is a cancer patient and that he is also diabetic. Danraj, on Monday afternoon, was then taken to the First Court, San Fernando, where he appeared before Senior Magistrate Nanette Forde-John. When told that Danraj had not given his fingerprints, the magistrate remanded him into custody to reappear yesterday. Yesterday, when he reappeared before Forde-John who read additional charges to him - that he obscenely exposed himself in public, used obscene language to Ramcharan, used obscene language to the annoyance of persons and resisting arrest. The magistrate granted him bail in the sum of $10,000. German tourists robbed The husband and wife, their son and daughter-in-law are holidaying in Tobago. It is reported that shortly before 10 pm, the tourists were preparing their dingy to return to their yacht, World Dancer II, which was anchored at Buccoo Beach, when they were accosted by the pair. The masked men demanded money and the 64-yearold woman, fearful for her life, handed over a GILI handbag with $400 in cash, an iPhone 6 valued $6,000, an iPhone 5 valued $3,500, a pair of Armani glasses valued $3,500 and another pair valued $300. The total value of the items was given as $13,700. Police are continuing investigations. Dad calls ISIS sons death happiness This is happiness. We know where they are going, Mikails father, Ali, told Newsday yesterday during an interview at his San Juan home. Ali said his son died on August 16 somewhere between Aleppo and Raqqa from shrapnel during an air strike. At the time he was fighting for the Islamic State (IS), also known as ISIS. Another of his sons, who is also in Syria, Ali said, called him and gave him the news. Asked how Mikails mother took the news, Ali said, She is happy for her son. Friends are coming and crying, and she is consoling them. We know where he has gone. We are happy. Only a Muslim will understand that. Mikail is survived by his wife. Asked who is taking care of her in Syria, Ali said not to worry about that and that she was being well cared for. She told family members who offered to travel to Syria to bring her back home to Trinidad that she does not want to return and that they must go to live with her instead. Mikail and his brother and their families, Ali said, left Trinidad a year and a half ago to fight for IS. He said when they left, he expected that they would have lasted three months at the longest. So it was no surprise when he got news that Mikail had died. He said he would normally talk to his sons once a week. Mikail was pursing Islamic studies in Saudi Arabia. He and his wife had initially gone to Egypt to study where he was among the top five topping the five to be selected for a scholarship to study in Saudi Arabia. It was during a break from school, Ali said, that Mikail and his brother, who became impassioned over the devastation being wreaked on Muslims by the war, joined the fight for IS. They said they would like to fight to help Muslims. We all have to die, Ali said, contending that Muslims were fighting to survive in a world that was against them. Yet, quoting an anonymous Russian commander fighting against the jihad, he said, How do you defeat an enemy who looks into the barrel of a gun and sees paradise? Ali said that while over 700,000 Muslims have been killed in the war no one says anything, but if one American was killed, it becomes a war. Meanwhile, friends of Mikail remembers him as being popular, brave and someone who could take chances. Mikail attended El Socorro Islamia TIA Primary School and Barataria South Secondary. One colleague said Mikail and his brother were not the only two who left to join in the fight. He said they were associated with a mosque in Cunupia, the membership of which appeared fractured on the issue of IS. It is a whole set who gone, he said, noting that from San Juan alone about 50 people or more have gone over the past two to three years. Many are brilliant guys. They leave to go to one destination, then make their way to Syria, one man said, noting that just a few days ago one of his friends came crying to him telling him that his son was leaving to go and fight for IS, and he could not change his sons mind. Taxi drivers facing greater criminal threats On Sunday, Doodnath Beharry, 44, a maxi-taxi driver, was shot and killed in what police believe was a robbery gone wrong. He was found inside his vehicle at an agricultural estate near Econo Guest House, St Helena. On August 12, PH driver Ossie Callender, 23, of Marabella, was shot once to the back of his head while inside his car along the San Fernando/Marabella route. Weeks earlier, on July 21, the body of PH driver Kurt Levero, 43, was discovered at Battoo Avenue, Marabella. Additionally, there have been instances where taxi drivers have been murdered off-route, in circumstances which still remain unclear. On July 25, PH driver Kerwyn Michael Prescott, 26, was shot and killed while speaking with his family, standing outside his home in Trou Macaque, Laventille. On August 10, Troy Lane, a Malick PH driver escaped death shortly after 3.30 pm when a gunman armed with a semi-automatic weapon fired 12 shots in his direction opposite Cost Cutters Supermarket in El Dorado. And back in April, PH driver Nicholas John was killed in Belmont while liming at the roadside. Criminologist Professor Ramesh Deosaran yesterday said there is growing evidence of taxi drivers facing higher levels of danger due to the crime situation. PH drivers, given the hours they work, are always at high risk, Deosaran told Newsday. But there is growing evidence that this is increasingly so. Commensurate with this is a growing threat to public safety all around when these incidents involving PH drivers happen. It aggravates public concern and places added pressure on law enforcement agencies. He also noted passengers sometimes face risks from drivers. It is not a one-way street, the criminologist said. Going into a PH car is always a high-risk event for passengers. Whilst ordinary drivers can pose risks, there is a perception of greater risk because PH drivers are not lawfully regulated. He said the police will have to investigate the recent cases to determine if there is a pattern. President of the Taxi Drivers Network Adrian Acosta said while taxi drivers have faced hazards in the past, the situation is deteriorating. It has been getting worse, Acosta said. There are persons who target us. They set up shop on the stands and watch every move you make. He said his network has advised its members to be more vigilant, to be more cautious about people picked up for transport and to be more thorough in monitoring their surroundings. He said while PH drivers are targeted, the problem affects everyone. Robbery on the whole is affecting everybody right now, Acosta said. There are also persons disguising themselves as PH drivers and robbing passengers and that is also on the increase. President of the Belmont Taxi Drivers Association Richard Vaughn yesterday said the effect of crime on PH drivers is likely under-reported. He said the interplay between licensed taxis and PH drivers has left PH drivers exposed to risks which licensed drivers avoid. There have been more incidents but some do not report it, Vaughn said. Because PH drivers are not sanctioned by law they will be reluctant to report things to the police. They will have to say they are hustling or pulling bull. In our association, we feel badly about this situation, Vaughn said. The law does not study the safety of the taxis. They only study the taxis to charge them with offences. I am tired of complaining. He said PH drivers can make about $500 or $600 a day, but they, increasingly, pay a price. Water woes leave Tobago hoteliers hot The owner of a 21-room establishment said her ten tanks are empty. She said she has been dealing with angry guests with some even opting to check out and seek accommodation elsewhere. One even left without paying because they are of the view that we did not hold our side of the bargain, she said. The woman explained that her swimming pool cannot be used because there is no water to maintain it. President of the Tobago Hotels, Restaurants and Tourism Association (THRTA) Nick Hardwicke is appealing to the Government, the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) and the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) to conduct a thorough assessment of the water needs for the island. This assessment must anticipate increases in population size, commercial, industrial, agricultural and tourism activity over at least the next 20 years with the intention that investments be made now to meet this anticipated demand, Hardwicke said. We cannot continue to be playing catch up and living behind the curve of development otherwise we will stifle further developmental opportunities going forward and continue to inflict unnecessary hardship on our population and visitors. President of the Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association (THTA), Chris James told Newsday that his association is working closely with WASA to make sure the situation is addressed during this extended period of drought. Generally, it is working well and we are able to get WASA to assist when truck borne water is required, James said. Meanwhile, a close source at WASA has attributed the situation to the lack of consistent rainfall required to replenish water sources following the harsh 2016 dry season. According to the source, the Courland Water Treatment Plant, the main source of supply to South West Tobago is currently operating at below 15 percent of its production capacity of two million gallons a day. The plant supplies Crown Point, Bon Accord, Buccoo, Black Rock and Plymouth among other areas. Garcia: All schools will be ready On Thursday last, the dilapidated school was demolished to make way for a prefabricated structure which will accommodate an estimated 196 students. Due to health concerns and infrastructural problems on the 70 year-old wooden structure, classes were suspended on May 10. In June, members of the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) held a massive protest calling on government to rectify the situation. Yesterday Garcia admitted that were some challenges as it related to this denominational school. He said, having received the green light from the Anglican Board, the Education Facilities Company Limited (EFCL) intervened and work subsequently commenced. Every child will have a place in this school. Everyone will be housed here. The contractors are working diligently and work will be completed by next Thursday or Friday. The concrete base is being done on the site. The superstructure is being done at another venue and it will be transported here, Garcia told reporters. Also on the tour were Minister in the Ministry of Education, Dr Lovell Francis and other officials. The team also visited the Barrackpore Primary School at Reece Road, Barrackpore, where construction work is ongoing. On Sunday last, the PTA of the Dr Roodal Moonilal Ramai Trace Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS) Primary School at Debe, staged a placard demonstration demanding an urgent meeting with Garcia. Yesterday Minister Garcia promised that he will make every effort to meet with the PTA so as to settle their problems. He reiterated that the his main objective is to ensure that every child in every school has a place. NJAC undecided on local govt elections He disclosed that the United National Congress (UNC), which comprises the majority of the official Opposition in Parliament, has written to NJAC for discussions with the party. Mutema also did not rule out the possibility of NJAC holding talks with the Congress of the People (COP) about the elections. The COP holds the last of the 18 Opposition seats in the House of Representatives through its former political leader, St Augustine MP Prakash Ramadhar. Mutema said at this time, he could not pronounce on what decision NJAC will take regarding the upcoming elections. The jury is out, he stated. The ruling Peoples National Movement (PNM) and the UNC are currently actively screening persons as local government candidates. PNM chairman Franklin Khan has hinted the party will launch its local government campaign when it holds its annual convention in October. The PP originally comprised the UNC, COP, NJAC, Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) and Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) when it was formed in 2010. The MSJ left the coalition in June 2012. The PP was dissolved following its defeat in last Septembers general elections. Bill Gates.. Genius or a Psychopath ? You Decide Bill Gates is the son of William Gates, II who has the head of Planned Parenthood. He comes from a family tradition of elitism where the general population needs to be controlled, curtailed and even extinguished. This son has made his father proud, carrying on the family credo by getting involved with the vaccine industry. Through his financial investments with Monsanto, Gates has been able to make his depopulation desire all the more closer to reality. (Article by Eddie) Here is a list of some of the atrocities against humanity Bill Gates has committed in the name of global health. Bill Gates continues to pour millions of dollars into high-risk geoengineering projects that purport to offer a solution to global warming yet have been savaged by environmentalists as potentially posing a greater threat than climate change itself. In 2009, Microsoft purchased a key piece of technology from the drug company Merck, the worlds largest maker of vaccines. This gene-targeting vaccine research technology is described as a way to figure out how genes interact with each other, analyze peptides and metabolites, and determine how they relate to gene expression. In a keynote address to mHealth Summit in November 2010, Gates told the audience of more than 2,000 at the conference, About one-third [of that improvement] is by increasing income. The majority has been through vaccines. Vaccines will be the key. If you could register every birth on a cell phoneget fingerprints, get a locationthen you could [set up] systems to make sure the immunizations happen. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation poured $23 million into Monsanto shares. Companies like Monsanto are channeled through companies like Blackwater, Total Intelligence Solutions (Monsantos intelligence arm) and Terrorism Research Center. ABC News has been bought through a $1.5 million dollar grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to promote vaccines; GMO food and anythingelse they want the public to have a controlled idea about. Thanks to a $750 million dollar commitment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, GAVI launched its initiative to vaccinate millions of individuals worldwide. The deadly Garasil vaccine is their prized weapon because of its high mortality rate. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today announced 78 grants of US$100,000 each in the latest round of Grand Challenges Explorations. Grants include the development of a low-cost cell phone microscope to diagnose malaria, study of the strategic placement of insect-eating plants to reduce insect-borne diseases, and investigation of nanoparticles to release vaccines when they come in contact with human sweat. Several members of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation management committee, leadership teams, affiliates, and major funders are currently or were previously members of the boards or executive branches of several major drug makers, including Merck and Novartis. The Gates Foundation holdings are invested in Berkshire Hathaway, which the researchers write has significant ownership in GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi-Aventis Johnson & Johnson. The Gates Foundation held stock in Merck at a time when it developed partnerships with the African Comprehensive AIDS and Malaria Partnership and the Merck Company Foundation to test Merck products . . . on unsuspecting Africans. Gates continues to push vaccines when the pharmaceutical vaccine makers do not speak about the enormous health damage from infant vaccination including autism and numerous neuro-muscular deformities that have been traced back to the toxic adjuvants and preservatives used in most vaccines. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation are also financing a project called The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). Monsanto, DuPont, Dow, Syngenta and other major GMO agribusiness giants are reported at the heart of AGRA, using it as a back-door to spread their patented GMO seeds across Africa under the deceptive label, bio-technology, a euphemism for genetically engineered patented seeds. The Gates Foundation, according to their website, wants to vaccinate the entire world population, despite medical evidence that vaccinations are deadly. The World Health Organization, one of GAVIs partners, teamed up with the World Bank and UN Population Fund in the 1970s under the Task Force on Vaccines for Fertility Regulation. The Task Force, acts as a global coordinating body for anti-fertility vaccine R&D. GAVI is heavily funded by the Bill & Melinda gates Foundation for the global vaccination projects. One of the programs funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is a sterilization program that would use sharp blasts of ultrasound directed against a mans scrotum to render him infertile for six months. It might accurately be called a temporary castration technology. When a billionaire like Bill Gates suddenly becomes entranced by vaccines as philanthropy the world should take notice. Studies have come out refuting the necessity of these vaccines as a risk to public health, yet Gates continues on. In an answer to the alternative medias exposure to his death peddling, Gates has bought ABC News as an attempt to gain back his influence on the public. All the power grabbing and manipulation of the media does not change the fact that the world is waking up to the dangers of vaccines, refusing to have them or give them to their children. Third world countries are in a less advantageous stance to refuse these poisons. This is a grave injustice being forced onto these people. Where medical care should be helping, it is only contributing to the mounting death toll thanks to Bill Gates. Bill Gates funds scheme to spray artificial planet-cooling sulfur particles into atmosphere Geo-engineers are finally coming out of the chemtrail closet, as reports are now emerging about deliberate plans in the works to dump untold tons of sulfate chemicals into the atmosphere for the purported purpose of fighting so-called global warming. The U.K.s Guardian and others are reporting that a multi-million dollar research fund, which just so happens to have been started and funded by Microsoft founder and vaccine enthusiast Bill Gates, is being used to fund the project. A large balloon hovering at 80,000 feet over Fort Sumner, New Mexico, will release the sulfates into the atmosphere within the next year. The stated purpose for this massive release of toxic sulfate particles is that doing so will allegedly reflect sunlight back into the atmosphere, and thus cool the planet. But many environmental groups and advocates of common sense are decrying the idea as dangerous, and one that could result in permanent damage to ecosystems all across the globe. Impacts include the potential for further damage to the ozone layer, and disruption of rainfall, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions, potentially threatening the food supplies of billions of people, said Pat Mooney, Executive Director of the ETC Group, a Canadian environmental protection group. It will do nothing to decrease levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere or halt ocean acidification. And solar geo-engineering is likely to increase the risk of climate-related international conflict, given that the modeling to date shows it poses greater risks to the global south. But the Gates-backed cohort is persistent in its efforts to geo-graffiti the world, as its scientists insist that governments are not doing enough to fight back against the supposed environment impacts of global warming. If governments refuse to implement high enough carbon taxes to eliminate greenhouse gases, in other words, then Gates and Co. believes it has no choice but to save the planet by polluting it with sulfate particles. Bill Gates on energy: Innovating to zero or it is depopulation to zero ! Spraying the skies with sulfate particles will destroy the planet faster than global warming ever could Sulfate particles are toxic, though, and constitute the very same type of ambient particulate matter (PM) that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers to be a noxious air pollutant. Deliberately spraying the skies with tiny particles composed of any material, for that matter, is hazardous both to respiratory health in humans and animals, as well as to water sources, soils, and other delicate environmental resources. Sulfate particles from acid rain can cause harm to the health of marine life in the rivers and lakes it contaminates, and can result in mortality, says an online water pollution guide (//www.water-pollution.org.uk/health.html). A University of Washington (UW) report also explains that sulfate particles contribute to acid rain, cause lung irritation, and have been a main culprit in causing the haze that obscures a clear view of the Grand Canyon. Blocking the sun with reflective particles will also deprive humans of natural sunlight exposure, which is a primary source for naturally generating health-promoting vitamin D in the body. So once again, Bill Gates is at the helms of a project that seeks to control the climate in artificial ways using toxic chemicals, an endeavor that is sure to create all sorts of potentially irreversible problems for humanity and the planet. Experts call WHO & Bill Gates Foundations role in Indias polio eradication campaign unethical Rise in paralysis cases after polio vaccine Cases of non-polio acute flaccid paralysis, better known as AFP, has sharply increased with the increase in the administration of oral polio vaccination (OPV) in the country under the much-acclaimed polio eradication programme. Experts call WHO & Bill Gates Foundations role in Indias polio eradication campaign unethical Medical experts in paediatrics in the country have lambasted the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Bill Gates Foundation for trumpeting I Indias polio eradication campaign which they knew 10 years back that it was never going to succeed. India was taken off the list of polio-endemic countries by the WHO on January 12, 2012 but the polio eradication campaign will have to be continued in some format for ever. The long promised monetary benefits from ceasing to vaccinate against poliovirus will never be achieved, the well known paediatricians said.It was unethical for WHO and Bill Gates to flog this programme when they knew 10 years back that it was never to succeed. Getting poor countries to expend their scarce resources on an impossible dream over the last 10 years was unethical, said Dr Neetu Vashisht and Dr Jacob Puliyel of the Department of Paediatrics at St Stephens Hospital in Delhi in their report in the April issue of Indian Journal of Medical Ethics. Rise in paralysis cases after polio vaccineCases of non-polio acute flaccid paralysis, better known as AFP, has sharply increased with the increase in the administration of oral polio vaccination (OPV) in the country under the much-acclaimed polio eradication programme. According to a report by Dr. Neetu Vashisht and Dr. Jacob Puliyel, appearing in the April-June issue of the Indian Journal of Medical Ethics, the incidence of non-polio AFP had gone up by 12 times over and above the normal rates with the onset of the administration OPV 10 years ago. The report appeared at a time when Kerala is getting prepared for another round of OPV on April 15. Dr. Jacob, also a member of the national technical advisory group on immunisation and of the working group on food and drug regulation in the 12th Five Year Plan, told DC on Friday that there was a definite co-relation between the increase in the number AFP and the irrational administration of OPV. Normally, he said, the chances of children under the age of 15 getting affected by non-polio AFP are 1-2 per 100,000. But, the rate of non-polio AFP nationally is now 12 times higher than expected. In 2011, an additional 47,500 children were newly paralyzed, over and above the standard rate of 2 children per 100,000 non-polio AFP cases, says the paper in the journal. Dr. Jacob said the increase in the occurrence of non-polio AFP could be directly linked to the massive increase in the dosage of OPV in the name of eradication. Although, the increase in the non-polio AFP was known for quite some time, it was for the first time that a co-relation was established by collating the data of the national polio surveillance, he said. Flip side of Indias polio success story Surveillance data show that last year, seven children in India developed polio from vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV), the medical term for a virus from the oral polio vaccine (OPV) that has regained the ability to cause disease. Such infections occur when virus from the OPV, after being excreted by vaccinated children, regains neuro-virulence and the ability to circulate in the environment and strikes other vulnerable children. Public health experts also estimate that between 100 and 180 children in India develop vaccine-associated polio paralysis (VAPP) each year, a rare but serious side effect of the OPV they had received to protect them from the wild poliovirus. As opposed to VDPV infection, VAPP affects the vaccinated children themselves. Read more at Worldtruth.tv Submit a correction >> Ananth Kumar stresses on providing last mile timely availability of quality fertilizers at affordable rates to the farmers New Delhi, Wed, 24 Aug 2016 NI Wire Government planning to set up Indian Council for Fertilizers Research; The Union Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Ananth Kumar has advocated a "3 A" approach towards fertilizers in the country, these being authenticity (Quality), availability and affordability. Inaugurating a Conference of Officers of State Agriculture Departments handling fertilizers in New Delhi today, Sh. Ananth Kumar said that the ultimate aim of the Government should be to provide last mile timely availability of quality fertilizers at affordable rates to the farmers. This, he said, would ensure the fertilizers security of the country which is essential for the food security. Sh. Ananth Kumar said that till two years back, there used to be shortage of urea, leading to its hoarding, black-marketing and smuggling. He congratulated the Indian Fertilizer manufacturers for running the plants at over 100 per cent capacity and achieving an all time record of 245 lakh MT urea production last year. The Minister said that the timely imports, pre-positioning of the fertilizers, contribution of the States in timely distribution, and cooperation of the Railways through Good Rake Movement also helped in making the fertilizer position comfortable in the country. Sh. Ananth Kumar asked the State Government officials to enforce quality checks on the fertilizers, undertake district level planning for supply of fertilizers, ensure early turnaround of rakes, provide adequate storage facilities, and take benefit of pre-positioning. He called upon the States to initiate a drive against those who indulge in hoarding, black-marketing, diversion and smuggling of fertilizers. He also said that the unethical practices of the retailers/companies to tag certain items for selling to farmers along with the required fertilizers, should be discouraged. The Minister also emphasized on the issue of soil security and ways to compost initiative. He said the Government is reviving the sick fertilizer PSU and the basic principle of producing where it is being consumed. Sh. Ananth Kumar said that the Government is soon planning to set up Indian Council for Fertilizers Research, on the lines of ICMR and ICAR. He said research is very much required to discover and develop various means and ways of producing quality fertilizers, fortified fertilizers, hybrid fertilizers, nutrients and various combinations which are good for the soil. He said research has a role to play in the all aspects of the fertilizer chain which includes production, transportation, storage, availability, application, etc. The Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, and Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Sh. Mansukh L Mandaviya said that Prime Minister has given a call to double the income of farmers and the Department is working on this direction by reducing their input costs. He said that poor farmers are often misguided by certain vested interest and it is essential to launch a campaign to inform them about the best practices, balanced and optimum use of fertilizers. He said that recently the Government announced reduction in non-urea fertilizers and the farmers should be made aware about this. He called upon the States to work in tandem with the Central Government for the welfare of the farmers. The Conference of Principal Secretaries/Secretaries/Directors dealing with the Agriculture Departments in the State/UTs is the first such initiative of the Department of Fertilizers. The Central and the State Government officials dealing with the various aspects of fertilizers discussed various issues concerning the sector including availability and supply of fertilizers, implementation of Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme, fertilization and neem-coating of urea, quality control of fertilizers, issues in Fertilizer Monitoring System and promotion of city compost. Source: PIB Literary manuscripts must be well preserved for future generations, says President Kolkata, Wed, 24 Aug 2016 NI Wire The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee addressed the 125th anniversary celebrations of Bangiya Sahitya Parisad in Kolkata, West Bengal (August 23, 2016). Speaking on the occasion, the President said that he had been a member of the Board of Trustees of Bangiya Sahitya Parisad which had luminaries like Shri Ramesh Chandra Dutta, Rabindranath Tagore and Ramendrasundar Trivedi at its helm. He stated that the Bangiya Sahitya Parisad has played an important role in promoting literature and preserving numerous valuable literary manuscripts since its inception in 1893. The 13000 manuscripts housed in the institutes library are rare treasures which must be preserved at any cost and for that, all necessary arrangements must be made. The Parishad is associated with the history of Bengali literature. The President said that literature not only pertains to creative work, but is also an ample reflection of society and its people at large. Hence, world literature that is a reflection of the geography, history, society and daily life of people must be preserved for being handed over and studied by future generations. The President also informed that Bangiya Sahitya Parishad has received a corpus fund of Rs 10 crores from the Union Ministry of Culture. He stated that this and other similar grants can be well utilised towards preservation of the priceless manuscripts available in this institution. Source: PIB Provisions of safe food should become a part of our ingrained culture: J P Nadda New Delhi, Wed, 24 Aug 2016 NI Wire Shri J P Nadda commemorates a decade of Integrated Food Law in the country FSSAI announces 10@10 initiatives Commemorating a decade of integrated food law in the country, and marking ten years of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in his congratulatory message underscored the 'need for the Authority to focus on empowering the consumers so that the manufacturers and suppliers of food products become responsive to consumer needs, demands and expectations.' He further added that 'safe an, wholesome and hygienic food will create a 'Swasth Bharat'. And this has to be cornerstone of the efforts of FSSAI.' Speaking at the function organised by FSSAI to commemorate 10 years of the enactment of Food Safety and Standard Act (FSSAI Act), here recently, Shri J P Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, stated that Food safety is a very important health and economic issue. It has high employment potential, can boost exports of agro-products out of the country, and also provide better returns to farmers for their produce. Provisions of safe food should become a part of ingrained culture in our country. He further added that the FSSAI Act is a paradigm shift from regulatory regime under the provisions of Food Adulteration Act to self-regulatory and facilitatory regime. Now, basic ground work is done. We are ready for big leap forward, Shri Nadda said. Shri C K Mishra, Health Secretary, Government of India was the Special Guest on this occasion. Shri Nadda appreciated the unrelenting efforts of FSSAI towards food safety in India. In his address, he emphasized upon two-way communication between the food businesses and the regulator. He advised that the Authority should be fully aware of the need and concerns of small food businesses as well in its work of standard formulation and compliance. He further added that during the last 10 years, considerable ground has been covered in terms of achieving the goals of laying down scientific standards and regulating the manufacturing, storage, distribution, sale and import of food items for the people of India. FSSAI stands for trust and compliance and the synergy between the industry and the authority will ensure that this trust is well placed. On this occasion, the Union Health Minister also released the special commemorative volume a compilation of the history and over fifty invited articles from the scientists, experts, industry people and consumer organizations. Shri C K Mishra, Union Health Secretary also addressed the audience with inspiring messages on the need for collaborative efforts towards setting up of food standards and its implementation strategies. In his opening address, Shri Ashish Bahuguna, Chairperson, FSSAI said, One of the most significant provisions of the formation of FSSAI was for setting national benchmarks, regulations and guiding principles for Food Safety and Nutrition. We have completed 10 formative years of this act and are now striving to work towards a collective approach for building safe food culture in India because Food Safety cannot be ensured by enforcement alone. Commemorating this milestone, FSSAI also announced 10@10 10th anniversary with 10 initiatives. The primary focus of the 10@10 initiative is to engage with stakeholders and consumers to create food safety culture in the country. This bouquet of 10 initiatives focused on safe and nutritious food at home, school, workplace, religious places, in trains and railway stations, in restaurants and other places. The event also saw launch of Food Safety Display Boards that would help to connect the consumers directly to food safety officers. Under the Corporates4FoodSafety initiative, the corporates committed themselves to collaborate, educate and inspire other stakeholders towards food safety as responsible food businesses. Referring to the 10@10 initiatives, CEO, FSSAI, Shri Pawan Agarwal said that all these initiatives have been developed collaboratively over the past few months along with other stakeholders and partners. He informed that States would be facilitated to implement them on pilot basis over the next few months and thereafter national roll out of these initiatives would be done possibly by next year. He also referred to other initiatives of the FSSAI such as on national milk quality survey, food fortification, farm to trade - bridging the standards divide, rediscovering the rich culinary heritage of India, standards for organic food, eLearning Portal and simplification of registration and licensing regulations. There were two panel discussions prior to the main event. One on Food Safety in unorganized sector Challenges & Opportunities focused around mass training programme for small and petty food businesses like street food vendors, fruits and vegetable vendors and other in partnership with Skill India and sustaining these efforts with corporate participation. The second panel discussion on Food Safety a shared responsibility dealt with need for taking joint responsibility by all stakeholders in assuring food safety. Also present at the function were members of the food sector fraternity including the science community, industry - big corporates as well as small and medium food businesses represented by their associations, consumer and citizen organizations, international organizations and foreign missions, experts and government officials from Central ministries and States and other key stakeholders. Source: PIB Leaves are falling, the air is crisp and deer season is right around the corner. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love this time of year. Becoming involved in hunting a few years ago gave me yet another reason why I look forward to fall. 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. Moroccan authorities in Laayoune airport denied entry to Polisario official, MHamed Salem Hamda Birouk, who serves as an ambassador of the separatist group in Argentina. The Polisario official, who was intending to visit his family in Laayoune, was denied access to the city and spent Monday night in the airport. He had to return back, on Tuesday, to the airport of Las Palmas from which he will take a flight to Buenos Aires. Moroccos hardening of its stance regarding visits by Polisario officials is dictated by caution, as these visits, often sugarcoated with humanitarian considerations, are in fact motivated by intelligence purposes. UNHCR facilitates family exchange visits from the Polisario-run Tindouf camps in Algeria to several cities in the Moroccan southern provinces, enabling the population held against their will in the Polisario-administered camps to meet their relatives in the Kindgom. Efforts and investment policies implemented by Moroccan authorities to make the kingdom one of the first investment destination in Africa are paying off. The Paris-based consulting firm Havas Horizon has ranked, in its latest report, the North African country the third most attractive investment destination for the coming years. The report titled Financing the African growth by 2020: Perception of international investors surveyed 55 global financial and banking institutions such Adenia Partners, Afrasia Bank, Africa Export Import Bank, Ardian, Attijariwafa Bank, Bank Of America, Ecobank, BGFIbank, BICICI (Banque Internationale Pour Le Commerce Et Lindustrie De La Cote Divoire), BNP Paribas, Business Partners International, Capmezzanine (CDG Capital). The report puts Morocco at the third place right behind Ethiopia (1st) and Nigeria (2nd). About 23% of surveyed institutions voted for Morocco for various reasons namely its glamorous tourism assets, its closeness to Europe, its quality infrastructure, export-oriented manufacturing industry, its numerous free-trade agreements as well as its investments in solar and wind energy. Morocco moved two spots up compared to 2015 ranking dominated by Nigeria. Ethiopia cruised to the top scoring 52 per cent of the vote. It finished third on last years ranking. Nigeria lost its top position to rank second. The western African country, which also lost its rank of first African economy, still attracts investors as 44% of surveyed institutions voted for the continental giant. Ghana and Senegal ranking respectively 4th and 5th complete the top five rankings. She cant even. Photo: Mark Makela/Getty Images Imagine that the darkest possible interpretation of Hillary Clintons latest email scandal is true: The former secretary of State offered privileged access to her agency in exchange for donations to her favorite charity. Would that change any rational voters preference in this years election? No doubt, this would be a genuine scandal. Even if you support all of the Clinton Foundations charitable efforts, the organization still pays out salaries to the familys friends. We dont want public officials exploiting the power of their positions to elbow out competitors in the selling indulgences to plutocrats game. But who, precisely, would look at such a scandal and think, I was going to vote for Clinton, but now I will cast my ballot for the transparently corrupt, imbecilic racist instead? Which is to say, even if a voters No. 1 issue is reducing government corruption, proof positive that Clinton sold access to the State Department wouldnt give him or her a good reason to vote for Donald Trump. Unlike Clinton, the Republican nominee refuses to make his finances transparent. And while Bill and Chelsea have (reluctantly) announced detailed plans for how they will dissolve most of their family foundation should Hillary win, Trump has declined to provide any blueprint for how he plans to eliminate the conflicts of interest his complex web of businesses would produce. Heck, the GOP standard-bearer once (reportedly) pitched NBC on a special presidential season of The Apprentice that hed shoot from inside the White House. The man has connections to the mafia and Russian oligarchs. He owes hundreds of millions of dollars to the state bank of China. And, at various points in his campaign, Trump has actually promised to abuse his public power for personal gain. When one considers the myriad other reasons he is unqualified for the presidency his conspicuous racism, total disinterest in public policy, contempt for civil liberties, fondness for authoritarianism, and constant lying it would be reasonable for the average voter to prefer Hillary Clinton, even if she really did order the murder of Vince Foster. It shouldnt be too surprising then, that the Clinton campaign has zero interest in engaging with the latest round of Foundationgate. On Wednesday, Politico reported that the Democratic nominee will not be sitting for another televised armchair confessional or setting up a war room to rebut the latest allegations of impropriety, as she had during earlier iterations of the emails controversy. Instead, she plans to sit back and let Donald Trump finish losing this election: In the campaigns view, the emails that surfaced this week do not advance the Foundation storyline; while emails obtained by the conservative group Judicial Watch shed light on the open line of communication between Clintons top aides and Foundation officials, there is no proof positive that donors received special access or treatment from the government. Plus, the campaign thinks Clintons commanding lead over Donald Trump in both national and battleground state polls gives her freedom to not comment indeed, largely ignore the disclosure this week that the FBI found nearly 15,000 new emails Clinton did not voluntarily hand over to the State Department last year. According to Politico, Clinton believes that she did nothing wrong, and that the email issue is nothing more than a partisan attack. One can reasonably contest that characterization. But its harder to argue that theres any pressing, tactical need for Clinton to reiterate her case in a sit-down interview. If some voters suspect that the Democratic nominee is too dishonest to elect over Donald Trump, what could she possibly say to change their minds? Or, as Clinton would put it: Hes listening. Photo: MANDEL NGAN/Getty Images The FBI is investigating claims that Russian security services attempted to hack the New York Times Moscow bureau. CNN broke the story and reported that the hacks were part of a broader string of cyberattacks against Times reporters and other American news outlets. The New York Times has disputed the CNN story. While it admits that there were cyber intrusions targeting reporters, the paper claims that the hacks only targeted its Moscow bureau, and that it did not not hire an outside company to investigate the breach, as CNN reported. No other news outlets have said they were hacked. 2/2 media outlet breaches being investigated. CNN earlier report overblown/inaccurate on several levels. https://t.co/StHTQqtiH9 Nicole Perlroth (@nicoleperlroth) August 23, 2016 We have seen no evidence, said Times spokesperson Eileen Murphy that any of our internal systems, including our systems in the Moscow bureau, have been breached or compromised. Still, the attempted infiltration of the Times does point to the growing scope of Russian cyberaggression. Hackers associated with the Russian security services first made headlines earlier this year when they leaked private emails from Democratic National Committee members to WikiLeaks in a series of hacks targeting Democratic officials. The DNC hack eventually grew to encompass hundreds of people and organizations. While Republicans were reportedly hit as well, the alleged targeting of the Times could bolster the theory that Russia is deploying its cybersecurity apparatus to help the presidential campaign of Donald Trump. The candidate was publicly feuding with the New York Times accusing it of bias and threatening to revoke Times journalists press accreditation as recently as last week. If the disgusting and corrupt media covered me honestly and didn't put false meaning into the words I say, I would be beating Hillary by 20% Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 14, 2016 Trump infamously called on Russian hackers to infiltrate Hillary Clintons email account in July, and the Clinton campaign has been outspoken about what it believes to be collusion between Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin. The two men have complimented each other on several occasions, and the Republican nominee has a number of ties to Russia. Last week, Michael McFaul, who served as the U.S. ambassador to Russia from 2012 to 2014, explained in a Washington Post op-ed that Trump champions several foreign policies that would benefit Putin, from potentially recognizing Crimea as part of Russia to setting conditions for the United States support of NATO allies. McFaul also noted that while governments routinely engage in cyberwarfare, Russias recent hacks could be evidence of a troubling development. No one should be surprised that the Russian government uses its incredible cyber capabilities to collect intelligence on important U.S. politicians, he wrote. That is what spies are supposed to do. What they have never done in the past, however, is publish stolen information to influence a U.S. presidential election. Rescuers clear debris while searching for victims in Arquata del Tronto, Italy. Photo: Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images At least 37 people are dead and many more are still trapped under rubble after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck central Italy at 3:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday morning. The quake and a series of strong aftershocks were felt as far away as Venice and Rome. The earthquake hit a mountainous region 6.2 miles southeast of Norcia. According to CNN, at least ten people were killed in Pescara del Tronto, six in Accumoli, and five in Amatrice. Sergio Pirozzi, the mayor of Amatrice, told Italys state-run radio station that his town is no more. I have an appeal to make: We have access roads to the town cut off and people under the rubble, help us, he said. This is the mall of the town majorly hit by the earthquake, before and after pic.twitter.com/TrZwFWAPJA Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) August 24, 2016 Were digging, digging hoping to find someone alive, said Stefano Petrucci, the mayor of nearby Accumoli. Images from the area show massive piles of rubble blocking ancient, narrow streets and people digging with shovels and even their bare hands to free survivors. The Italian army has been mobilized to help with rescue efforts. Italians have been asked to give blood and donate blankets, medicine, and water. We need chain saws, shears to cut iron bars, and jacks to remove beams: everything, we need everything, Andrea Gentili, a civil-protection worker, told the AP. These areas are in central Italy and are in middle of mountains and valleys, Tommaso Della Longa, a spokesperson for the Red Cross, told CNN. There are small houses in the middle of the valley that are completely alone and they need help. Itll take some time to reach them. The initial earthquake was followed by at least three aftershocks as strong as a 5.5-magnitude. The European Mediterranean Seismological Center recorded the earthquake as a 6.1-magnitude while the United States Geological Service says it reached a 6.2-magnitude. The death toll is expected to rise. A similar earthquake in 2009 killed more than 300 people. This post will be updated as the story develops. Obama tours a flood-affected area in Baton Rouge. Photo: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images Air Force One touched down shortly before 1 p.m. local time on Tuesday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, delivering President Obama to survey the devastation from last weeks floods and give an update on the federal governments cleanup and relief efforts. Once on the ground, the presidential motorcade navigated through streets piled with debris from flooded homes and businesses. The commander-in-chief met with residents one-on-one, taking stock of the destruction and shaking hands with volunteers and first responders. Pres motorcade arrives in Castle Place neighborhood in Zachary, LA. Streets lined with large piles of debris. pic.twitter.com/egy6YUSz5Z Mark Knoller (@markknoller) August 23, 2016 Controversy preceded the presidents Louisiana arrival, as some had criticized Obama for taking more than a week to visit the ravaged state where floodwaters killed at least 17 people and damaged more than 60,000 homes. The president had been on vacation in Marthas Vineyard as officials began taking stock of the destruction. Donald Trump, along with his running mate Mike Pence, visited Louisiana over the weekend to hand out supplies. Obama pushed back against the criticism. One of the benefits of being five months short of leaving here means I dont worry too much about politics, Obama told reporters while visiting a block of flooded-out homes in Zachary, Louisiana, one of the hardest-hit locations. The second thing I have seen, historically, is that when disaster strikes, thats one of the few times where Washington tends not to get political. I guarantee you nobody on this block, none of those first responders, nobody gives a hoot whether youre Democrat or Republican. He added: What they care about is making sure theyre getting the drywall out, getting the carpet out, theres not any mold building, they got some contractors in here and they start rebuilding as soon as possible. Thats what they care about, and thats what I care about. U.S. president Barack Obama greets a resident as he tours a flood-affected area in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on August 23, 2016. Photo: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images The president repeatedly lauded the federal governments response during his remarks, particularly the work of FEMA. His praise coming, eerily enough, on the 11th anniversary of Hurricane Katrinas landfall has, so far, been echoed among state and local officials on both sides of the aisle. Louisianas Republican Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, whom White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest described as a noted Obama critic, said federal workers were doing an excellent job. Theyve gotten good at it, and they actually do care, Nungesser said. But federal aid likely wont be enough help all of the flood victims rebuild, Obama stressed during his visit. Federal assistance alone is not going to be enough to make these lives whole again, the president said, So Im asking every American to do what you can to help get families and local businesses back on their feet. Obama listed volunteer opportunities, and encouraged private donations. They got a lot of work to do, and they shouldnt have to do it alone, he said. After his brief address, Obama visited more washed-out homes and met with more victims of the flooding (though he was apparently refusing selfies). The president, before he departs, is expected to meet with the family of Alton Sterling, the 37-year-old black man who was shot and killed by police in July while selling records outside a convenience store. Sterlings death set off a string of protests in Baton Rouge and across the country. Obama will also sit down with relatives of the three Baton Rouge police officers who were gunned down by Gavin Long, a black nationalist ex-Marine, amid tensions following the Sterling protests. Photo: Getty Images There are certain skills that, once you learn them, you can reasonably expect to remember forever. Counting, reciting the alphabet, signing your own name all things that stick with you, unless illness or injury takes them away. Which makes it all the more jarring when one of those basic skills suddenly disappears. In Scientific American yesterday, Yale University psychiatry resident Daniel Barron described the case of Mike Brennan (a pseudonym), a 63-year-old man who went to work one morning in 2010, sat down at his desk with the morning newspaper, and discovered he no longer had the ability to read. He hadnt suffered any trauma, wasnt battling any neurological disease it was like his reading ability had been lifted cleanly out of his head, leaving him otherwise healthy and intact. The problem: Brennan, a cardiology technician, was a former smoker who had struggled with high blood pressure, both of which he knew to be risk factors for stroke. Fearing that might be what was happening, he went to the ER for testing, which revealed no other symptoms his vision and hearing were normal, he still knew the names of objects and colors, and he had no trouble thinking clearly. The only issue was reading: He could recognize letters, but he couldnt string them together; he could write, but he couldnt make sense of what hed put on the page. The diagnosis: Brennan was diagnosed with pure alexia, defined as a selective impairment of reading in the absence of other language deficits [that] occurs as a consequence of brain injury in previously literate individuals. In his case, as he had suspected, the injury turned out to be a stroke a tiny one, in a part of the brain called the left inferior occipitotemporal cortex, which helps process visual information. Mystery solved. Except, Barron wrote, two things were particularly unusual about Brennans diagnosis: One, it was the first time that such a small stroke had caused the disorder, which usually results from much more significant injuries. And two, it pointed to the existence of a part of the brain that scientists had been hotly debating for years. The visual word form area a brain structure specifically devoted to processing letters was first proposed in the 1990s by researchers who noticed that reading caused an uptick in activity in the left inferior occipitotemporal cortex, where Brennans stroke occurred. The theory immediately led to controversy, Barron wrote the kind that, at a conference, provokes shouts and screams from otherwise calm and collected scientists: For one thing, the very search for a visual word form area was misguided because it personified the brains real work, which is to process and decode visual information. Brain regions act as an assembly line of neural groups that each contribute some cognitive rivet or weld to a larger percept. A visual word form area confused an assembly line for a one-man-band. Finally there was the problem of evolution. Because reading was a relatively new cultural invention, humans couldnt have evolved to read text in the same way that mammals evolved to recognize facesthere simply hadnt been enough time. This made it hard to believe in a brain structure expressly devoted to reading. Over the next several years, though, a series of studies incrementally pushed scientists closer to accepting the possibility. One experiment conducted on a group of illiterate Colombian guerilla fighters trying to reintegrate into society found that as adults learned to read, gray matter builds up in specific parts of the brain. Another, comparing literate and illiterate adults, zeroed in on changes in the left inferior occipitotemporal cortex: When one learns to read, Barron explained, the area is recycled from a general visual recognition center to a specialized word recognition center, at the expense of other tasks. And then came Brennans case the final piece of the puzzle, as Barron put it, proving the existence of the visual word form area by showing what happened when it was damaged. Its also a powerful example of the brains flexibility: The way in which the area is repurposed from general visual recognition to word specialist, he wrote, is a reminder of how powerfully the brain can retool and adaptessential processes both in learning and healing. Theres plenty scientists still dont know about this part of the brain, but in the meantime, as they work to figure it out, Brennan with the help of a speech-language therapist and repeated grade-school style vocabulary drills has relearned how to read. David Becker at his sentencing. Photo: WWLP-22News Back in April, David Becker, then a senior at East Longmeadow High School in Massachusetts, was accused of sexually assaulting two classmates while they were unconscious. According to court documents, he was arraigned in Palmer District Court on two counts of rape and one count of indecent assault and battery on a person older than 14. Based on evidence, Hampden County Assistant District Attorney Eileen Sears reportedly recommended Becker be found guilty of two counts of indecent assault and battery and serve two years in prison. But on Monday, he was sentenced to two years of probation. Thomas Rooke, who defended the 18-year-old Becker in court, was pleased with the ruling. We all made mistakes when we were 17, 18, 19 years old, and we shouldnt be branded for life with a felony offense and branded a sex offender, he said. Putting this kid in jail for two years would have destroyed this kids life. According to the terms of probation, Becker has to remain drug and alcohol-free for two years, and hell have to submit an evaluation for sex-offender treatment. He also has to stay away from the two 18-year-old girls he assaulted after a party. As long as he meets those terms, he wont have to register as a sex offender, and the conviction wont appear on his record. The charges against Becker are based on events at a house party on April 2, where he and other students were drinking while a classmates parents were out of town. According to MassLive.com, the party ended around 11:30 p.m., and Becker and both victims volunteered to helped clean up: After they finished, one of the victims said, both girls went into an upstairs bedroom one requiring assistance walking up the stairs and Becker later came in to talk, before they all fell asleep in the same bed. Each reported waking up to Becker sexually assaulting them. In a text message to one of the victims the next day, Becker apologized for the assault, court records show. The victim responded with a text telling Becker dont even worry about it, but later told police that she said this because she did not know what else to say, Ingalls police report states. Rooke was quick to point out that Becker was a three-sport athlete at his high school and clocked the second-most hours of community service in his class. Labeling him David the Rapist is truly an unjust character assassination of what this individual has accomplished in the past, he said. Sure, thats whats unjust about this story. Photo: machadooficial/Instagram In 1996, Alicia Machado of Venezuela was awarded the Miss Universe crown. Donald Trump had taken over the pageant that year and, after she put on some weight following her victory, she says that he subjected her to verbal harassment and other inappropriate behavior. As of this week, she officially became a U.S. citizen so that she can vote against him in the upcoming election. Some of Trumps most egregious actions against Machado include calling her Miss Piggy, Miss Housekeeping, and an eating machine. In an especially grotesque move, he set her up at a gym to help her get back into shape, then invited a hoard of reporters to unexpectedly show up and film her working out. In an Instagram Machado posted of herself waving an American flag after becoming a citizen, she wrote, Ill be Voting! All my power and my support become with my next President @hillaryclinton Miss Housekeeping and miss Piggy Can Vote @realdonaldtrump. It took 20 years, but it must feel good to finally get to tell him off. Purvi Patel. Photo: St. Joseph County Police Department The deadline for the Indiana attorney general to appeal Purvi Patels overturned feticide conviction passed on Monday, and no appeal was filed. Her lawyer is hopeful that shell be freed from prison as soon as next month. In July, the state Court of Appeals reversed Patels 2015 conviction for feticide, a law that was intended to punish abusive partners and illegal abortion providers, but was used in this case to prosecute a woman who allegedly self-induced an abortion. Patel was also found guilty of child neglect, a contradictory charge. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison. After an appeal, the state court overturned both of these convictions and advised that Patel be resentenced for a lower-level child-neglect charge, which carries a maximum three-year sentence. The state had 30 days to appeal this judgment. Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller said in a statement that after carefully reviewing the ruling, his office concluded that further appeal would not be productive and that resolving the case now will serve the interests of justice. Patels attorney, Larry Marshall, said he was glad there was no appeal so his client can hopefully move on with her life. Im very pleased the state didnt drag things out just for the sake of dragging things out, he told the Associated Press. (Which is no small feat, given the states horrific stance on reproductive rights.) Marshall said that in the next ten days, there should be a date set for a resentencing hearing. If Patel is sentenced to the maximum of three years, she may get credit for good behavior, dropping the time to 18 months. Shes been in prison for almost 17 months since her conviction, so its possible that she could be released as soon as late September. lol me too Reply Parent Thread Link For some reason I still feel for Ashley I.? Reply Thread Link Me too! I don't get it! Reply Parent Thread Link I kind of like her too. I think we like her because we know she'll always be crazier and more desperate than us. Reply Parent Thread Link omg, mods- y u h8 me? Reply Thread Link Also, Josh is such a prick. Where is Wells? Reply Thread Link lol MTE i keep hoping he's going to pop in :( Reply Parent Thread Link Where is Wells? Reply Thread Link Ashley is ugly and pathetic Reply Thread Link I hadn't been watching that much since after Chad left, but I watched some of this episode. That sweat lodge was gross, and Ashley is a psycho. She's obsessed with Jared after only knowing him a short time, and I hate how jealous she is of Caila and how much she wants to sabotage their relationship. Reply Thread Link ashey is the worst. she's not even entertaining. Reply Parent Thread Link she's not funny, she's just creepy. Reply Parent Thread Link Nick is cute Reply Thread Link wait can someone explain why ppl hated Nick before? i never saw him before this season Reply Thread Link he has this "nice guy" personality, he keeps insisting that's he's soooooo nice, but he isn't. After he got rejected by Andi, he then said during After the Final Rose that they slept together (even if it was true, it was classless to call her out like that), and he was also a jerk on Kaitlin's season too, to the other guys. He had met Kaitlin before, and then he asked her if he could be on the show as a contestant after the show had already started, and she agreed to let him on (or it was the producers' idea, for ratings). Edited at 2016-08-24 01:17 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link oh really? wow. that sucks. Reply Parent Thread Link When did he claim he was a nice guy? From the interviews he never blame editing or anything. And from Andi owned book, I completely understand why he ask her that question, b/c he ask her what she wanted when it came to having sex with him and she said making love, she should have said f***ing/casual sex since that all that was to her. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link He's the runner up from two bachelorette season. He didn't back down when guys tried to start s*** with him, especially the need for angered management guys Josh Murray and Shawn Booth. I disagree with it was classless to mention the sex with Andi. Andi did it to Juan Pablo. I wish more people on these shows would ask the lead that question, especially women. Its not okay to mess with people like that, not even if its a show. Unlike others on this show and reality show in general he never blame editing for his action base on interviews. He's a famewhore just like all these other people on these show. Edited at 2016-08-24 01:48 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link wait the guy who is one of the hosts of this show was a Bachelor? Reply Thread Link He's the one that people say is a bad kisser. His wife was a vegan, had a vegan blog before the show iirc, she's not now. It seems like she change her life for him Reply Parent Thread Link People need to understand that sexual assault comes in various forms and not just what you see on Lifetime movies. Reply Thread Link this! way more women are sexually assaulted by their boyfriends/husbands/friends then they are strangers in a dark alley. every woman i know, including myself, we've all known our abusers and some of us very intimately. Reply Parent Thread Link Sort of reminds me of lots of people who don't believe marital rape exists. Especially since it wasn't really until the 90's that martial rape was actually seen as something criminal. Reply Parent Thread Link and here i thought sexual assault was exclusively reserved for lifetime movies. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link yup, and it's usually between people who know each other :( Reply Parent Thread Link And yet she makes rapist jokes about Mexicans.... Reply Thread Link Shitty as that is, how is that relevant? Sorry she isn't the perfect victim in your eyes Reply Parent Thread Link She speaks about how rape victims aren't taken seriously when she makes rape jokes. She is a hypocrite scumbag. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link it's definitely relevant, she's making herself part of the problem she's speaking out against. It doesn't make her any less of a victim or her story any less credible, but I wish someone would talk to her about how awful it is for her to think it's okay to make those jokes Reply Parent Thread Link If she understands how serious sexual assault is why is she projecting that on to an entire group of people as a stereotype? It wasn't even just about rape in general as a way to cope with her situation kind of joke, I feel like it makes it more shitty that she knows how awful it is and still went along with it... Reply Parent Thread Link that's not part of being a "perfect victim"--it's part of being a decent human being. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link the right response when someone talks about being raped or assaulted isn't to try to find something they said in the past that you don't think a good rape victim would say. this isn't like calling out celebrities who claim to be feminists for hypocrisy. being a rape victim isn't a political identity. it's being a person who had a bad thing happen to them. you can't be disqualified from being a rape victim because of something you said or did. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Shitty people exist in the population at large, so I'm not sure why anyone is shocked that there will exist shitty people among rape victims. Reply Parent Thread Link That is incredibly shitty of her. But even shitty, racist people who make rape jokes don't deserve to be raped and should be able to speak out about their sexual assaults. Reply Parent Thread Link i hate people who try to "measure rape", idk how to properly explain this. i was haveing a convo about consent and this friend referred to a rape as "non-violent rape" and i was speechless. all rape is violent. Reply Thread Link For a woman to say "RAPE rape" makes me wonder if she was raped too but sadly thinks it's kind of normal, or is otherwise minimizing it in her mind because it's painful Reply Parent Thread Expand Link http://junkee.com/amy-schumer-scored-a-standing-ovation-for-a-rape-joke-and-other-things-you-missed-at-her-melbourne-show-last-night/61860 "that kind of attitude makes victims not wanna speak up." "that kind of attitude makes victims not wanna speak up." Reply Thread Link you're really trying your hardest to rile people up, huh? the passage/rape joke for people who don't want to read the article: This was never made clearer than in her parting joke. After riffing on a list of sex positions that literally and figuratively shit all over women, she ends the set by describing The Houdini a real thing in which a guy has sex with someone from behind, tags out for a friend, then jumps up in front of the person and waves. It may be the only time in history, someones ever got a standing ovation for yelling thats just rape!. Reply Parent Thread Link ty, I think if the joke points out how FUCKED up rape is and highlights it as not okay, it shouldn't be viewed on the same level as making light of it not all jokes are light Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Wasnt that a joke she stole from Patrice? Reply Parent Thread Link i do think it's really important someone like amy can use her voice for this. regardless of my own personal feelings, she's insanely influential. Reply Thread Link your comment is met Reply Parent Thread Link <3 i wish she was (a LOT) cooler but like she still has a voice and ppl listen to it. if she can make a little bit of a difference, then i'm gonna be happy about that. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link That perfect victim shit is tiresome. People are so nonchalant about rape or assault unless the perp is a stranger. You have to be doing the right things or wearing the right things (aka not asking for it) and then you're a true victim. It's sick and it enables abusive assholes because they know no one would ever believe the victims. Edited at 2016-08-24 01:32 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link Abusive assholes will deliberately pick debatable situations, so they can blame the victim instead, or they count on the victim not feeling like they can speak up Reply Parent Thread Link I'm glad she spoke out. Reply Thread Link She's such a shithead. Reply Thread Link she's said a lot of shitty things but this isn't one of those posts to make that comment in sis. it doesn't make your criticism invalid but she's not a shithead for sharing her story about sexual abuse and saying it's important for her to talk about it because she knows other people can understand Reply Parent Thread Link Her shitty rape jokes makes it harder for rape victims to speak up or be taken seriously. Which makes her a shithead. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link people don't always talk about the exact subject in posts. if it's about her, it's going to be talked about no matter the specific subject. she's just a shithead in general Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Her story reminds me of when 30 Rock had a character joke that he had sex with his wife while she was sleeping and the resulting backlash from that. Like the writers and everyone involved didn't even recognize that they were joking about rape. It's so upsetting that people truly don't recognize that a lack of/inability to consent is exactly the same as actively refusing consent. Reply Thread Link I remember that joke :/ Reply Parent Thread Link that joke is why I stopped watching 30 Rock. Reply Parent Thread Link this Reply Parent Thread Link yeah that was disgusting idg why people loved 30 rock so much. i remember once i had the tv on and some random sitcom was playing (can't remember what it was--maybe everybody loves raymond or king of queens) and a couple was visiting the main character's house and they come into the living room and the protagonist asks them when they fell asleep. the husband starts saying how he wanted to catch up on sex but his wife wanted to catch up on sleep, and then the protagonist asks what they did, and the wife goes, "I caught up on sleep" and the man goes "i caught up on sex" implying that he fucked her while she was asleep, and it was supposed to be funny but it was so WTF to me. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I feel like jokes like this are fairly common too or even like...couples being drunk and having sex with one while the other is unconscious. Its always played as a joke or funny and its pretty fucked up. Like, 30 Rock definitely isn't the only time I have seen a rapey situation like that played off as funny or ha ha all couples do this. Its a bizarre blind spot. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I remember according to jim having this joke where the wife was so tired and the husband wanted sex and she goes: can you do it while im sleeping please?. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link [ Spoiler (click to open) ] i had a best friend(who i honestly considered as close as a brother) who assaulted me after i had gone in for a endoscopy and he was my ride, i was still groggy/half asleep from the procedure afterwards. i had a lot of people doubt me bc they thought i could've just been ~out of it from the meds and may have just dreamed it. i also had a bf(who i was with for years) who assaulted me while i slept numerous times before i found out. it's so sad, but not surprising when people don't believe things like this happen(also marital rape). Reply Thread Link Your former (hopefully) "best friend" is a disgusting individual. Who would take advantage of someone in that state? These posts just make me realize how prevalent this is and how I am not alone in having boyfriends try to fuck me while I'm asleep or those that don't take no for an answer (and you eventually relent because a) you are scared and b) you figure it will be over quicker). There are a lot of men (A LOT) that need training in how to interact with women. Reply Parent Thread Link im really sorry that happened to you. hope you're doing ok. <3 Reply Parent Thread Link I'm sorry that happened to you. Reply Parent Thread Link im so sorry hon <3 Reply Parent Thread Link that's fucking atrocious, I am so sorry I definitely empathize though <333 Reply Parent Thread Link 'cause they think we're objects and not people =\ Reply Parent Thread Link i am so sorry <3 Reply Parent Thread Link good on her for speaking out tbh. her boyfriend is a cutie i hope hes good to her. Reply Thread Link the guy i lost my virginity to knew i was a virgin and when i changed my mind after .1 second of him inside me, he pretended to 'playfully' pin me down and shove it in. i eventually strangled out of it and had no idea that was considered rape until years later... also when i was 19 i got a concussion on halloween and instead of taking me to the hospital my boyfriend at the time decided to have sex with me. i was like half-conscious. this is why i hate men Reply Thread Link wtf @ both of those, but even more the second one. Good thing they're exes tbh. I'm sorry that happened to you bb. Reply Parent Thread Link My first time was similar to yours. I told someone I went home with I was a virgin and he was like "oh..." And later on it happened. What was worse is that I didn't recognize it as rape despite saying no until early this year and it ruins me TBH. I was really drunk that night, visiting from out of state and my friend somehow thought I was okay to go to some strangers house, despite being very naive and believing we were just going to get high. Men are fucking vile. I hope you're healing/have healed bb <3 Reply Parent Thread Link Holy shit. I'm so sorry you went through something like this and I'm glad you're not in a situation like that now. <3 Reply Parent Thread Link its okay tbh. it wasnt violent and i dont feel traumatized, i just know now that both situations were rape and i have zero respect for those guys. maybe when im 40 i'll have a mental breakdown over it but now im fine! thanks tho :) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I'm sorry that happened to you. I don't understand why people's first intention is to hurt someone who is passed out, injured or unconscious. What the fuck is wrong with people? Reply Parent Thread Link I'm so sorry hun. That is disgusting. Reply Parent Thread Link yikes, I don't even know what to say to that. :( So sorry this happened to you, I'd probably develop serious trust issues, tbh. Reply Parent Thread Link That sounds horrifying. I'm sorry bb. Reply Parent Thread Link that is so awful....all of it. I'm so sorry those pieces of shit took advantage of you Reply Parent Thread Link holy shit, sending you all of my love, I am so sorry men ain't shit Reply Parent Thread Link Ugh I don't blame you one bit. They're horrific. I'm so sorry that happened to you. Reply Parent Thread Link I woke up with my ex on top of me and didn't press charges because of the reaction I knew it would get. He was a piece of shit even before then, but I never expected something that awful from him. I wasn't even there to see him - legit just spending the night with his sister, we were in her room with the door locked so idek how he got in. I'm not going to be the ~type~ of victim people want because no matter how you respond, people get upset. I honestly didn't need to hear "what were you wearing? why were you there? oh, you smoked a bowl with him before you went to sleep? well you shouldn't be getting high?" and so on, and I knew that's what I'd get. I never told his family. This girl is problematic asf but I'm glad she's opening up about this. People need to realize that not all rape is some violent back alley encounter and it doesn't have to be for it to be rape. :/ Edited at 2016-08-24 01:40 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link I'm so so sorry that happened to you and you didn't deserve that, I don't give a fuck if you were high or about what you were wearing. I just hate that most of the men who've sexually assaulted and raped women don't get any charges. I hope he's not raping other women. Reply Parent Thread Link im really sorry you went through that. what a piece of shit. Reply Parent Thread Link French courts upheld 'burkini ban' on grounds it could cause offence. Wasn't the right to offend an integral part of Charlie Hebdo debate? Shiraz Maher (@ShirazMaher) August 24, 2016 this is despicable. all you're doing is making it near impossible for those women to go to the beach, so who the fuck are you helping? Reply Thread Link you only have a right to offend people in france if you're white, the same way open carry laws in the US don't apply to brown people this shit is toooooo transparent Reply Parent Thread Link ugh, this is so true it makes me sick. Reply Parent Thread Link Yup Reply Parent Thread Link They're not even attempting to cloak how racist this is Reply Parent Thread Link These pictures made me so sad and angry. Also, what she's wearing looks perfectly normal too? Not that the more traditional ones aren't ok but she's not even in the water, I would expect a lot of parents wearing clothes like that just to sit on the beach. My mother never wears bathing suits, she usually wears a long skirt and top. This is so discriminatory, I can't. Edited at 2016-08-24 04:22 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link mfte. that looks like an outfit i would see out in public and i live in the friggin midwest. are they serious??? i wanna vomit Reply Parent Thread Link wow i really wish i didn't have to read "forced her to undress on the beach" in a news story about police officers anywhere gross Reply Thread Link I know, those words should NEVER need to be strung together in that order in a sentence. UGH. Reply Parent Thread Link wow, what the fuck Reply Thread Link i heard this on NPR this morning and holy fuck, the french man they were interviewing was a serious prick. Reply Thread Link This is fucking nuts. NUTS. Reply Thread Link if this is about security, i understand if her face was veiled but my god what she's wearing is COMPLETELY HARMLESS AND NON-THREATENING IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM and pretty hard to conceal weaponry in tight clothing if that's what they were going for. because a any other bikini wearing beach goer couldn't conceal something in a beach tote?!?! Reply Thread Link ban all totes! Reply Parent Thread Link this is honestly disgusting, france should be ashamed and not that it would be justified if she were - but she isn't even wearing a burkini! she's wearing regular clothes wtf Reply Thread Link I feel like women's rights are going backwards. Ugh. I hate everyone. And by everyone, I mean men. Reply Thread Link let's all wear that lol how's burkini a threat and this isn't?let's all wear that Reply Thread Link Exactly. It's completely arbitrary and motivated by contempt for Muslim women. Reply Parent Thread Link the lack of logic is astounding Reply Parent Thread Link Just to be clear everyone, only ONE of these is illegal to wear on the beach in France, #BurkiniBan pic.twitter.com/74HQhbZYPV Ally (@_AllysonMarie_) August 24, 2016 basically Reply Parent Thread Link exactly. that's the tweet I was looking for Reply Parent Thread Link using this as a receipt to show my lowkey racist french grandmother tbh Reply Parent Thread Link I wonder what would happen if the women started wearing those. Reply Parent Thread Link because a white dude is wearing that Reply Parent Thread Link lmao that guy looks like a fucking serial killer. Reply Parent Thread Link Because he's white. Reply Parent Thread Link now THIS outfit is offensive Reply Parent Thread Link It looks so scary. Her being on the ground surrounded by men in uniforms. She must have been so scared and humiliated. Reply Parent Thread Link Why would anyone want to ban the burkini? Is there some law that says you have to expose a certain amount of skin at the beach? It's absurd. It's morally the same imposition on freedom as requiring people to wear burkinis. Reply Thread Link Only if you're a woman. Men can wear what the fuck they want. Reply Parent Thread Link one of the mayors who banned it justified it saying that it "overtly manifests adherence to a religion at a time when France and places of worship are the target of terrorist attacks". basically he thinks women who wear burkinis support terrorism Reply Parent Thread Link Awful Reply Parent Thread Link i thought this said one of the mayos still would have been accurate Reply Parent Thread Link It's morally the same imposition on freedom as requiring people to wear burkinis. Exactly, you know these same people would be arguing that they shouldn't be forced to wear burkinis when they visit certain countries so why apply that same logic that you're so against in your own country? Reply Parent Thread Link It's morally the same imposition on freedom as requiring people to wear burkinis. MFTE! It's the opposite side of the same coin, they're dictating what women should wear. Reply Parent Thread Link i took it as with the rise of terrorism in france, that a woman can conceal weapons in her burkini?? because a bikini-wearing person can't conceal one in a beach bag?!?! Reply Parent Thread Link This is so evil seriously fuck France i wouldnt be surprised if theyre all racist fuckss Reply Thread Link As someone that lives there i can assure you they are, but to (white) french ppl "racism is over!!!111!" yet they'll be the first one to whine about how reverse racism is real rme Reply Parent Thread Link They would fit in well in some parts of the U.S. (and probably vote for Trump) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link it's good/bad to know that it isn't only my frenchman that is (slightly) racist. Some of the things he says my mouth drops because he doesn't realise he is being racist. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i literally hate france at this point. Reply Parent Thread Link When I visited France, I faced racism but I also met some really lovely people. However its pretty clear that any colonial power that thinks it is immune to religious and cultural diversity is headed down a path of fascism and bigotry. Unfortunately for France, despite what they did to their former colonies, they still assume that they bear no responsibility in the radicalization of extremist doctrine. Reply Parent Thread Link And some women were being fined just for wearing scarves around their heads because that was deemed "provocative." Reply Thread Link I think it's great she's going public with these sensitive issues. I helps me, and probably a lot of women, to hear we're not alone. Reply Thread Link That's why she did it: "It was very scary to open up about everything," says Rivera. "It's not something a lot of people talk about, but I think they should. I know some people might read it and say, 'What the Hell?' But I hope someone out there gets something out of it." Reply Parent Thread Link that's really awesome Reply Parent Thread Link I love that Reply Parent Thread Link Well good for her for putting that story out there to try to help de-stigmatize things. I still think it's weird she'd name her memoir after that flop single she did with Big Sean to drag his ex-girlfriends, though. Reply Thread Link Are the tweets in reference to sonething or is she just saying she wants to tell her own story? I hope her book does well. Reply Thread Link I think it was because she started getting criticized for talking about her abortion. Reply Parent Thread Link I can not stand this woman she fabricates so many myths about herself you don't know what to believe. Reply Thread Link How do you know they're 'myths'? Reply Parent Thread Link How do you know they're 'myths'? [2] Reply Parent Thread Link lol Reply Parent Thread Link i don't know much about naya but i definitely feel this about certain other celebs. people get so offended when you question it, and i recognise that women are often silenced in regards to their well being and sexuality, but it's hard to believe anything that proven attention seekers say. (see also, lady gaga, tila tequila, courtney stodden, amanda bynes, lindsay lohan. it's also incredibly sad, because with the exception of gaga and courtney, i think the rest struggle with mental illnesses.) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Can attention seekers not also be victims? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I feel like with certain issues the woman's past character is irrelevant and should just be believed. These are pretty serious topics. I don't particularly like Naya but........ I just don't see the point in questioning her story. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Yeah, I don't know about certain celebs being pillars of virtue and truth, or w/e, but at the same time, I kinda don't care when it comes to topics like this? If it encourages women to come forward, or to not feel alone or like they're "bad" women, or to show people in general that abortion isn't a dirty word, I'm all for it. I don't think it's ethical to exploit serious things for exposure or fame, if that's what's going on here, but maybe there's a net-positive to it overall. idk? It's a complex subject, and I'm still formulating my opinions about it, but that's where I'm at right now. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link a co-worker at my last job was like this...we used to joke that she had munchausens. that was pretty solidified when she had a hysterectomy due to "cancer" but then allegedly nearly died from an ectopic pregnancy a year later. even my boss was like, "i know how she is...just try to deal with her." one time she even "passed out" in front of a customer and my other co-worker sent me a glace across the room and the look on her face said, "are you fucking kidding me?" i'm sure the customer was wondering why we weren't jumping up to help her but honestly shit like that happened every week. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i got the impression courtney struggles with some mental illness or issues but i dont follow her that closely tbh Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i mean, yeah she could be lying for sales. but abortion is a delicate issue for a lot of people that they don't talk about, and i'd rather believe naya unquestioningly than run the risk of not believe a woman who went through something like this and is brave enought to talk about it, ya know? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Whoa. At least spill some tea! Reply Parent Thread Link what myths has she fabricated??? Reply Parent Thread Link what part of her being anorexic and having an abortion early in her career is difficult to believe tho? both things are pretty common for women in the entertainment industry. Reply Parent Thread Link i can't give receipts myself but i thought it was very well known that she was a bit crazy and lied a fucking LOT?? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link What myths has she fabricated? Reply Parent Thread Link I think that was the hardest part about my abortion, doing it on my one day off that week and having to just keep going like normal lest people judge me for whatever reasons they might have had. I feel for Naya having. To do the same thing. Reply Thread Link I love you Reply Parent Thread Link Aw you guys! I wasn't even commenting it to get these kinds of responses. This is so heartwarming. Love YOU!! Reply Parent Thread Link I'm sorry you had to go through that. :( It seems like Naya has been through a lot. Having to hide it is even worst. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link <3<3<3s and righteous cosmic vibes to you, sister. Reply Parent Thread Link It breaks my heart that this is such a common story with women getting abortions. <3 to you, bb Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah its great when people open up about it because I think it is an unnecessary taboo we tend to have in our culture. Im sorry you had to go through that, I cannot even imagine being in that position. Reply Parent Thread Link I'm really proud of you, when I did it I was crying every day because of the weight of it and had to tell my boss so I could have a few days off. They'd never dealt with it in the work place and there's nothing in the guidelines for how to handle it. The same as a miscarriage. That just says "you should be fit to work after two days" basically what they said to me, even after they'd seen how hard I was taking it. You did so well Reply Parent Thread Link how she didn't realize the severity of her eating disorder until she was writing her book tbh I can relate, except replace writing a book with telling your friend years later Reply Thread Link I'm 28 and I really want to have kids before I'm 35. Until then, I need to hustle and make sure I'm financially secure before I do pop out children. My boyfriend lives in the UK though so I eventually will have to go through the long process of immigrating there, finding a job, getting married, and trying to obtain a citizenship. God knows how long all that's going to take... Reply Thread Link Thanks bb! Reply Parent Thread Link I'd do the citizenship thing fast as possible. The UK has made it increasingly difficult to get visas and with May as PM I can only imagine it getting worse (she is responsible for destroying so many visa options). As of 2013 in the UK you need to earn 35k/annum to prove you don't need to rely on benefits or have a savings of 300k. You get a preliminary 2.5yr visa and then apply for it again (if you are still together) and only after 5yr can you take the Life in the UK test and apply for residency. Source - my own personal experience (I never managed to get to the 2nd visa, we separated with less than a year of marriage) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Sounds exhausting. Good luck tho! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Not to be a dick, but why doesn't he immigrate instead? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link She'd incredibly brave for sharing her story. That's a tough thing to go so public about. Reply Thread Link she's brave for speaking up on both of these topics. i used to stan the shit out of naya and i'm glad she seems to be doing well with her family and everything at this point in her life. Reply Thread Link this gif will never not make me giggle tbh Reply Parent Thread Link (hell yea i do but lowkey i just like em pretty and mean) (hell yea i do but lowkey i just like em pretty and mean) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link same tbh, i have such a soft spot for her. Reply Parent Thread Link Motherhood suits her. She always looks so happy now. Reply Parent Thread Link Wow did she really get married in 2014? It seems like just a few months ago where she ditched the one guy and got married an obscenely short time later. Additionally, I can't stand the phrase "sorry not sorry". It's just reeks of the smug, self-centered arrogance that people associate with millenials. Ugh. Reply Thread Link Really? It's seems like her kid should be a toddler. He's not even one yet Reply Parent Thread Link I agree about the "sorry not sorry" part. Reply Parent Thread Link that and 'just saying'. Reply Parent Thread Link Did she spill any glee drama? Reply Thread Link That's all I care about TBH. Tell me about Darren fucking Ryan for songs, Lea being a cuntmaster supreme, and what the fuck happened after Cory died that made them all hate each other! Reply Parent Thread Link Wait is this stuff all true? lol I did hear a lot of stuff about Lea being a bitch, even tho, I actually like her Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i really love that she feels she can talk about this stuff. it needs to be talked about more! Reply Thread Link I hope her book does well. I think I've become all Glee'd out just in time for people to start releasing their memoirs. Reply Thread Link i'm trying to be more open about my abortion too. it helps me to hear other women's stories so i'd like to continue that dialogue. Reply Thread Link Same. I haven't done it to people irl other than my 3 best friends yet, but everyone sharing on ONTD makes it so much easier. Reply Parent Thread Link ONTD: Do you call your boss to tell them you're knocked up and getting an abortion? Reply Thread Link Lol. I wouldn't. My bosses are extremely conservative Christians who have railed against Islam in front of me knowing full well what my background is and if they found out I had an abortion or was getting one they'd find a way to fire me. Reply Parent Thread Link Ha I work with a bunch of conservative old folk and they're concerned that I'm 27 not married, no children so I could only imagine what they'd say/do/think if I called in to get a quickie abortion (ha this is Texas - no such thing as a quick one) Reply Parent Thread Link It's not something I think I could personally go through with (have absolutely no judgement for people that have availed of the option though), but if I did I think I could tell my boss. She's legit one of the nicest people. Reply Parent Thread Link Perfect first comment Reply Parent Thread Link lol that would be me watching myself on screen as well. Reply Thread Link Same. Hell I probably wouldn't even make it through the movie. I'm cringing imagining it. Reply Parent Thread Link Nicole Kidman is like that too irrc Reply Parent Thread Link I hear a lot of actors can't stand to watch themselves in movies/on TV. Reply Parent Thread Link i think everyone just hates her, tbh. idk, i found french people to be pretty chill. same with most angelenos, it's just the transplants from places like ohio who really suck. Reply Thread Link lmao everyone in ohio sucks /a reluctant ohioan Reply Parent Thread Link as a fellow reluctant ohioan, i am in complete agreement. Reply Parent Thread Link I think it really really depends. In Paris, I definitely got the Asian tourist treatment until I opened my mouth and spoke decent French. When they find out I'm from New York, there's a marked difference in treatment then too. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Like here in Boystown in Chicago, everyone who comes from small towns across the country come, are nice guys, and feel like they have to turn into bitchy gays to fit in. Reply Parent Thread Link 100 percent. I'm from LA and the people who move out here are the worst - they act like what they think people in LA should act. Reply Parent Thread Link Idk, I found Parisians to be totally lovely on me as a French speaking tourist, but one of my best friends was born in a tiny French village then moved to Paris to study at the sorbonne, like he is SMART and adorable, and he says people in Paris are so standoffish and judgemental and it's so hard to make friends. Reply Parent Thread Link either the interviewer sucks or she's surprisingly boring Reply Thread Link LA people are judgemental in different ways than she describes. you don't have to be dressed up in LA but you do have to look a certain way. I hate LA Reply Thread Link mte Reply Parent Thread Link it's true. it also depends on what side of LA you're on and who you're dealing with. I lived there for six years and I loved it all. Reply Parent Thread Link I never understood this. I'm from LA born and raised and I never felt like I had to conform or look a certain way here. I'm a thick BW and never had much issue fitting in or pulling dudes. Reply Parent Thread Link mte. originally from la but live in norcal now and don't have an issue either place. idk maybe they were in the uppity white ppl areas Reply Parent Thread Expand Link same. I lived in south la until recently i moved to san fernando and its just been really chill. Like the whole california is completely chill. The only people i met who were very judgemental were those in college who were from out of state. Reply Parent Thread Link Unless you are on AK, RD, or Melrose, people don't give a fuck what you look like in LA. All those fake instagram industry hopefuls are going to end up in NYC or Miami anyway, because they can't survive in a city where they are the only ones doing the judging. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link She didn't lie about Paris tho. The difference between London or Berlin and Paris is staggering tbh: over there, you can wear anything you want and people dgaf. Here, expect side eying, people looking at you from head to toe and daily street harassment. Reply Thread Link When I went to Spain I felt the same way tbh Reply Parent Thread Link Latin countries are weird about women in public spaces lbr Reply Parent Thread Expand Link When I went to spain I just felt really basic because I have the Zara bomber jacket that everyone there has Reply Parent Thread Link were you in a big city? i'm moving to spain so i'm kind of worried about this. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Really? I luckily didn't have that experience, even though at first I was concerned that I would because I'm not white. Reply Parent Thread Link remind me to pack my best clothes if I ever go to europe jk that's what they want you to do Reply Parent Thread Link this. even when you're not wearing anything out of the ordinary tbh That's not specific to Paris tho, unfortunately. Reply Parent Thread Link Berlin is the best, I am worried it is getting fucked by foreign investment, though. The Gulf States ruin everything (except Oman, I got u gurl!) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link true. the french see you not dressing well as visual harassment. Reply Parent Thread Link ya i definitely noticed this with paris, first time i went i was a teen who wore a lot of colorful clothes n ppl would stare or give the side eye all over, the other times i've been dressed a lot more subdued with barely any colour at all and surprise, no side eye! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link when it comes to clothes, London blinks at nothing, lol. I mean, even a Harry Potter book says as much. Reply Parent Thread Link Berlin is amazing, my favorite city in Europe so far. And people dgaf. The rest of Germany, on the other hand... I never had a bad experience, but I did feel more scutinized. Especially because I'm brown. German people aren't very discreet when they stare. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link "daily street harassment" uhm. That happens everywhere, in any damn city. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i feel like many countries see usa as slobs in our appearance. like a russian guy was asked what the stereotype of americans is there, and he said "fat, dress poorly, wear tshirts". Reply Parent Thread Link Here in Italy, too. Not to the point of 'daily street harassment', but no one would ever go out in their gym wear/pjs etc. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link well my only interaction with a french person was a customer at my old job who told me i had put on weight lmao Reply Thread Link Why tho?? Lmao. How did you respond to that? I'm curious Reply Parent Thread Link I was like "huh?" "okay..." lmao Reply Parent Thread Link Serve this the queen!~ Reply Thread Link It feels like France Day on ONTD. Reply Thread Link I live for it tbh. This country wants to appear progressive but treats its minorities like shit. Reply Parent Thread Link france does definitely have its issues... and i feel like a lot of americans are ignorant to it because they want the parisian fantasy. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link same lmao Reply Parent Thread Link Having been to France, I am loving it. Reply Parent Thread Link Is she going to keep complaining about this same topic? Reply Thread Link TBH it's kind of sad that you get better service when you look nice. I had a cute outfit when i went to a mall downtown and everyone was courteous and smiling at you. Me being polite and kind towards them also ease things up. Reply Thread Link I never get help when I go in Sephora because I don't wear makeup on a daily basis, then I drop $300 and people start being nice. It sucks that people judge you like that. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i've dealt w a lot of rude sephora workers/workers that recommend completely awful products for what i describe i need lol. or they get annoyed when you ask for help and it's like i want to buy a 50 dollar foundation from you and i'm close to being VIB rouge RN??? sorta OT but i recently had issues checking out in store (decided at the last minute i didnt want a lipstick bc i remembered i'm broke AF) and the sephora workers were reallyyyyyyy nice about it and helpful but i realized it messed up my points when i got home bc they re-rang up my rewards a couple times (i ended up being in the negative). i sent an email and it was quickly changed. generally i find their customer service is very generous. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link there's always a ton of people whenever I go, it's actually hard to get help lmao I do get looks from the employees when I say that I'd like to buy the least expensive item of something. It truly sucks, ia! Reply Parent Thread Link The best thing to happen to my neighborhood was having a Sephora built outside of the mall. It is way quieter and they actually hired people who are here to help. Sometimes they almost have too many people to help you out. Reply Parent Thread Link I get that at mac more than sephora tbh. If I go into a mac barefaced they don't even approach me, I've switched to ordering mac online because I don't want the hassle lol Reply Parent Thread Link Same. I drop $$$ on skincare and fragrance. I'll drive 30 minutes to the other mall so that I have better interactions with the salespeople. Reply Parent Thread Link it is.. but we are a visual species. and even if i want to be treated the same, i do admit that i personally feel better and i personally react different based on how people carry themselves, even if i don't want to. it's kind of subconscious. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Years ago one of those news programs (20/20 or Dateline) did a hidden camera thing where they had people go shopping in stores ("nice" places & more regular ones) some dressed really well & others more casual/rumpled. The better dressed ones got better service. Reply Parent Thread Link Was gonna say Americans are the worst when come to being such an hardcore judgmental asshole... (also ehhh LA people are no better, Natalie tho) so in experience speaking ... *shrugs* Reply Thread Link My gf is from France and when she moved to the US she felt like her casual attire would be dressy compared to what people wore here. I live in Toronto at the moment and when she comes to visit she found Toronto more judgemental than LA and SF where she previously lived. I found that funny. Reply Thread Link #cometoCA Edited at 2016-08-24 05:16 pm (UTC) people in ca are casual and full of cool cool girls tbh Reply Parent Thread Link is it a coincidence that most metropolitan areas have more snobby residents than rural places? Reply Parent Thread Link i live in sf and i don't feel like ppl here really are that judgmental? at least not about clothes. people wear all kinds of crazy shit. Reply Parent Thread Link I'm there as well. People are snobby about finances and jobs but don't give a fuq about clothing it seems. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link theres definitely a subculture of hipsters in SF that are judgemental af. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I feel like Toronto is judgey because every young ~cool~ kid from rural Canada moves there to escape their hometown, so it's a clusterfuck of people straining to be the most authentic and cool but with the added Canadian passive-aggressiveness and insecurity. And I say this as a former proud Torontonian and someone who probably judged as well :) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Toronto feels so relaxed to me in terms of clothing. Everybody is wearing casual outfits and feels like they don't really care about clothes. Unless of course you live your life in Yorkville lol Edited at 2016-08-24 06:58 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Toronto is judgmental af. But I love it. Reply Parent Thread Link I just moved back home from Japan where I feel like people are not necessarily more judgemental, but definitely put a lot more care in their appearance than I do, to Toronto and I feel like Toronto is way more chill and laid-back. Reply Parent Thread Link i feel like toronto can be pretty judge-y....i honestly hate living in this city so f'in much tbh! Reply Parent Thread Link My friend lives in Canada and I'm in Ireland and every time she sends a photo of a 'cute casual' outfit she put together i feel like i total tramp oop Reply Parent Thread Link She has a love/hate relationship with France. In the past she talked about how French people engage in more intelligent conversations and how dinner parties are not about alcohol culture but about discussion about politics and literature. And now they are judgemental about how she looks. She once talked about French people being very rude on the street and just bum rushing through the sidewalks. I don't understand her. Does she like France or does she not? Also, I noticed the culture about dressing up to go out regardless of what you are doing to be very apparent in Ireland. Even if you went to the Supermarket, people were dressed up. Edited at 2016-08-24 05:13 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Maybe she likes certain aspects of it, and doesn't like other aspects... I think it's common for people to feel several different ways about the place where they live. You're never going to 100% love a place and not have any criticism of it at all. And it's not like she's saying opposite opinions about the same thing - she's not praising the intelligence and depth of the conversation and then turning around and saying the conversation is vapid and shallow. She's talking about different aspects of the culture she experienced. Reply Parent Thread Link Hence I said she seems to have a love/hate relationship with France. She likes some things not so much the others. Hence it's really difficult to make out if she really liked it there or not. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I wish the "get dressed up regardless" culture was everywhere. I hate seeing people walk around in public in their pajamas Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Jesus she should have recused herself. How unethical. Reply Thread Link It's really not, this whole post is just uninformed - No showing Proskauer is attached to this case. - No showing Proskauer is representing SONY in this matter (I found mentions of the firm Gibson Dunn while Googling) - No showing that the case was against SONY and not Dr. Luke himself, whose lawyer does not work at Proskauer - Husband is in the very unrelated health care division Reply Parent Thread Link How did this even pass through? They check for these conflicts of interest, no? Reply Thread Link Ask Judge Ito & his wife..... Reply Parent Thread Link I think it's probably a safe bet there was money and shit lowkey handed around between the higher ups to ~accidenetally~ miss it Reply Parent Thread Link mte this is appalling and i can't believe it took this long for her to be dismissed Reply Parent Thread Link I guess I can't reply to every comment but this whole post is baffling to me - No showing Proskauer is attached to this case. - No showing Proskauer is representing SONY in this matter (I found mentions of the firm Gibson Dunn while Googling) - No showing that the case was against SONY and not Dr. Luke himself, whose lawyer does not work at Proskauer - Husband is in the very unrelated health care division Reply Parent Thread Link I could be wrong, but it's the people involved having knowledge of the conflict of interest (the Judge or one of the lawyers) who are supposed to speak up about it. There's no outside group to check these things. It's all on the honor system. But I could be wrong. Reply Parent Thread Link :( poor Kesha. Fuck that judge, she should have recused herself from the lawsuit. Reply Thread Link WHAT KIND OF FUCKERY....?! Reply Thread Link That is so unethical. She knew exactly what she was doing, presiding over that case. Reply Thread Link WHAT THE ACTUAL,...?!?! And didn't Kesha drop the charges now? like,... can she even do anything about this now? Reply Thread Link Lol OF COURSE. Unbelievable. Reply Thread Link I'm not even a fan of Kesha but that judge is a scumbag! Reply Thread Link OMG how did any of this even happen!?!?! Reply Thread Link stuff like this is sadly all too common Reply Thread Link Ughhhhhhhhhhhhh >:( Reply Thread Link Impeach ha! Reply Thread Link Why am I not surprised by this? Reply Thread Link Events have been so bad in coal for so long that it is easy to lose hope on the sector. Most of the publicly traded coal companies have lost 95 percent of their market value. Events are so negative that the dominant mining equipment maker in the sector, Joy Global, has agreed to sell itself to Japanese construction equipment firm Komatsu at a price that is a fraction of what Joys stock fetched a few years ago. Against this backdrop, it is little wonder that investors are bearish on the industry. Yet in the last week there have been two separate events that suggest there may still be hope for the coal sector but with a catch. Coal looks like it may have a future primarily outside of the U.S. First, there are signs of coal shipments among the railroads. Following meetings with Union Pacific management, Morgan Stanley announced last week that coal and agricultural shipments appear headed for a stronger outlook. The upturn in those areas would benefit UNP and its peers with sector exposure. Railroads have been in doldrums for almost as long as coal has been. If coal volumes improve, that will boost profitability across the sector as cargo-volume growth would be immediately profitable due to current excess capacity. Morgan Stanley noted in their analysis last week that while "visibility remains low, management expressed confidence that any volume rebound in 2017 would likely come with strong incremental margins and minimal service disruption". To be clear, Morgan Stanley is not looking for an immediate improvement. The sector may have bottomed, but recovery will still take time. The bank says that utility coal stockpiles remain large, but they are improving and that growth in coal shipments could arrive by 1H2017. Related: Goldman: The Rally Will Stall Regardless Of OPEC Freeze The second positive event in the sector comes from industrial giant General Electric. GE is reportedly bullish on coal again the WSJ reports. GE sees opportunities in the space with executives citing opportunities to build long-term revenues through sales of equipment and services to existing coal plants. GE sees the chance to lock in decades of low-risk profits from current coal power plants. Those current plants are increasingly going to face a set of tightening emissions rules that require new pollution control equipment and installation. The regulatory environment shows no signs of changing, so that demand should increase consistently for the foreseeable future. Just as importantly, GE also sees potential from coal facilities construction in developing economies. With demand for power rising in India and Southeast Asia, coal plant construction is booming. India in particular has a notoriously poor electrical grid that requires extensive upgrades. Southeast Asian economies have less of an infrastructure, but is growing quickly and looking to emulate the success of South Korea, Japan, and even China in developing. General Electric believes it can play a role in aiding those regions through coal power generation equipment. None of this changes the outlook for coal overnight, nor does it mean that coal is likely to regain its former glory. But coals future may not be as bleak as many have assumed. Coal mining even within the U.S. is likely to continue under restructured and downsized coal miners. GE, Joy Global, and investors with the stomach for a stable but not growing industry can benefit from that trend. By Michael McDonald of Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Oil prices are looking lower, facing headwinds of a stronger dollar and a bearish oil inventory report. Hark, here are six things to consider in oil markets today: 1) We've been having a bit of banter on social media today about Chinese oil imports, after one source reported that Angola surpassed Saudi Arabia in July to become the leading source of crude imports. Our ClipperData, which is super-closely aligned with Chinese customs data (tighter than a drum), indicates that Saudi Arabia was the leading supplier in July. That said, we did see Angolan flows into China surpass those of Saudi Arabia in June, a scenario which has played out six times since the start of 2013. (Click to enlarge) 2) While the latest report from Baker Hughes showed that the oil rig count rose again, up for eight consecutive weeks and up nearly 30 percent from the lows of late May to 406 rigs - the Permian Basin has got a headstart. Permian is resoundingly considered the lowest-cost U.S. shale play, and its rig count bottomed out a month prior to the low ebb of the aggregate rig count in late April, some two-and-a-half months after WTI dipped to a low for the year in twenty dollardom. The Permian rig count has now rebounded emphatically, up nearly fifty percent in recent months, and accounting for nearly half of all active U.S. rigs. (Click to enlarge) 3) The graphic below highlights how 'Big Oil' continue to take on more debt, as the slashing of capital expenditures mean they are not generating enough cash to cover both operations and dividends. ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell, BP and Chevron hold a combined net debt of $184 billion - more than double the level back in 2014. Tough decisions lie ahead; either they have to cut their dividends, sell assets or ramp up investments to boost revenues going forward. No option seems that attractive at this juncture. Related: China Plans To Slash Crude Demand By 250,000 Bpd 4) The mighty Abudi Zein is the author of today's RBN Energy post, discussing how there appears no end in sight for the U.S. East Coast gasoline glut. You can check it out here. 5) In a similar fashion to other oil producers, Norwegian oil companies are continuing to cut investments in the oil and gas industry. Investment peaked in 2014 at 221 billion kroner, before dropping to 195 billion last year. Next year's estimate has been cut to 151 billion, according to Statistics Norway - the lowest level since 2010. This paves the way for the government to further dip into the country's sovereign wealth fund - as revenue from the oil and gas industry is set to go the same way as investment....lower. (Click to enlarge) 6) While Japan, South Korea and China accounted for more than half of global LNG imports last year, their imports are dropping; they imported 5 percent less than in 2014. While India and Taiwan - the fourth and fifth biggest global LNG importers - have seen imports increase slightly, it has been rising LNG imports into emerging Asian LNG markets (think: Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Pakistan) that are showing the most growth. Even though these emerging markets are expected pull in more LNG imports in the years ahead, they still only account for a small piece of the Asian pie, even on the aggregate: (Click to enlarge) By Matt Smith More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Its possible that OPEC is crying wolf with hints of an output freeze next month in Algiers; but its also possible that they are ramping up production to take the sting out of a freeze. This is a delicate balancing act that the Saudis need to play very carefully. The official chatter is that the OPEC meeting in Algeria from September 26 to 28 could conclude with an agreement to freeze production by the member nations, with even Russia joining forces in a freeze that may prevent further oil price erosion. But everyones a bit gun-shy after the false hopes of the last round in Dohaeven if a freeze at levels that existed then wouldnt have meant much eitherand its hard to blame them. The question is, how many times can the Saudis cry wolf without forever losing the ability to leverage this chatter to affect a rise in oil prices? But lets rewind a bit to the nature of the recent chatter. The Saudi Energy Minister has indicated that Saudi Arabia, OPECs largest producer, is willing to proceed with a production freeze. "We are, in Saudi Arabia, watching the market closely, and if there is a need to take any action to help the market rebalance, then we would, of course in cooperation with OPEC and major non-OPEC exporters," said Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih, reports Reuters. "We are going to have a ministerial meeting of the International Energy Forum in Algeria next month, and there is an opportunity for OPEC and major exporting non-OPEC ministers to meet and discuss the market situation, including any possible action that may be required to stabilize the market." The hopes of reaching an agreement in Doha were scuttled by Saudi Arabia, because it wanted its arch rival, Iran, to participate in the freeze. Unfortunately for oil prices, Iran had made it clear that it would not join any such discussion until they reached pre-sanction levels of oil production. What has changed from Doha to Algeria? Iran Irans oil production is close to its pre-sanction levels, meaning that its first cited prerequisite for any discussion has now been meta criteria that was not met at the time of the Doha meeting. In addition, increasing oil production further by Iran is a big askit would need billions of dollars worth of investments in both upstream and downstream facilities to make this happen. With oil prices languishing below $50 a barrel, major oil companies are reluctant to commit huge sums of money for new oil projects. Irans oilfields are mature, and more than half of its wells have an annual decline rate of 9 percent to 11 percent, according to Michael Cohen, an analyst at Barclays in New York. Therefore, at their existing production levels, they need an additional 200,000 to 300,000 barrels a day annually to replace the shortfall from their aging wells. Iran needs more money and investment to continue pumping at the current rate, making it more likely for Iran to agree to some kind of an arrangement where they continue to pump oil at a rate close to their target of 4 million barrels a day. That said, the last thing that Iran wants is to be sidelined, so Tehran is bound to make its presence felt at the meeting with strong statements. But at the end of the day, it is unlikely that Iran will scuttle an agreement where it has everything to gain and nothing to lose. "There may be a little bit more to it this time. I'm still very skeptical, but it's just with Iran being where they are production-wise, they'll be more inclined to eventually go along with a deal," said Again Capital's John Kilduff, reports CNBC. Saudi Arabia The oil-rich nation underestimated the resilience of the U.S. shale oil drillers when they declared war on them in 2014. American oil has not only kept flowingthe shale producers have managed to bring down production costs considerably. This ability was not anticipated by Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has burned more than $175 billion in reserves since August 2014. The Saudis have introduced austerity measures and plans to monetize their crown jewel Saudi Aramco to survive the oil downturn. Nevertheless, things are not going well for this nation, which youth is struggling to find jobs as shown in the chart below. (Click to enlarge) A large population of unemployed youths who cannot take care of their families can sow seeds of frustration, and the Arab Spring will still be fresh in the memory of the rulers. Related: Goldman: The Rally Will Stall Regardless Of OPEC Freeze Saudi Arabia is struggling to grow in this oil downturn. Barring the 2009 dip, the current growth rate of 1.5 percent is the worst in a decade, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. (Click to enlarge) If oil prices remain low, the Saudi plan to sell shares in Saudi Aramco might not fetch them the valuations they expect, and a nation that cannot provide the most basic of amenitiesfood for its foreign workerssays a lot about their financial condition. Saudi Arabia has seen the recent slide in crude oil prices towards the $40/barrel mark, which could have gone deeper without the chatter of a production freeze. And since they have already cried wolf once in Doha, doing so again in Algiers decrease the importance of any chatter leverage they have in the future. Rest of the nations already onboard Barring Iran and Saudi Arabia, the rest of the nations were in agreement about the need to freeze production during the Doha meeting. From OPEC to Russia, everyone is at record production levels The oil-producing nations want to ensure that even if there are talks of a production freeze, they should not feel the pinch. Hence, even before the meeting, they will try to produce more, rather than less. The recent ramping up may very well be an indication that a freezealthough at a level higher than what would have likely come out of the Doha meetingmay be on the horizon. The oil markets are so sensitive that even a statement of agreement by OPEC at the end of the meeting is enough to send oil prices flying above the resistance level of $51 a barrel. What about the shale oil producers? Though U.S. production is declining and experiencing a flurry of bankruptcies, the remaining companies are much better positioned to continue pumping at lower levels to survive the downturn. Related: The Permian Pitfall: A Race To The Bottom For Tight Oil Though the risk remains that the shale oil drillers will come back in full force when oil prices recover, the risk is worth taking. OPEC and Russia have realized that any new world order will have to include the shale oil companies. They are a large enough force not to be neglected or defeated. With all of this in mind, an agreement between OPEC and Russia is more feasible in Algiers than it was in Doha. It might not mean much though, with output levels soaring ahead of the meeting. A freeze at current levelsor levels reached by the time of the meetingwont do much to change the fundamentals, nor is there any indication that a freeze would have long legs. By Rakesh Upadhyay for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: August 11, 2016 may be the point in this oil price cycle that will mark the start of a sustained increase in crude oil prices. Thats the date that the International Energy Agency (IEA) published their forecast that demand for oil would exceed supply in the 3rd quarter. Shortly after the IEAs Oil Market Report came out, the Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said the kingdom would work with other producers to stabilize the market. Tighter supply and OPEC willing to curb production growth is a recipe for higher oil prices. When you step back and look at a longer time frame, it is clear that this oil price cycle which started in mid-2014 bottomed in February, 2016. The most recent pullback that started late in June and continued through early August was just the speculators overplaying their hand on the short side. The brief dip below $40/bbl did not get close to the double-bottom in February. Remember what oil prices have never moved up or down for an extended period of time. There are going to be many pullbacks along the way to a more sustainable price level for oil. I believe that oil will settle in the $60-$70 range sometime in 2017. During the first week of August, 2016, speculative NYMEX short crude oil positions reached the highest level in at least the past ten years. Since the IEA report came out on August 11th the shorts have been scrambling to cover their positions. (Click to enlarge) Speculators Set the Price of Oil: The paper oil barrel market is much bigger than the physical oil market. In fact, the average volume of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil contracts traded daily on NYMEX and other commodity trading floors is over 100x the physical amount of WTI and over 5x the global oil supply. Speculators can often temporarily overwhelm the longer-term supply/demand fundamentals, creating volatile short-term oil price swings. When the speculators get blindsided by a change in what is happening in the real world, they can get burned. Related: The Permian Pitfall: A Race To The Bottom For Tight Oil An historically high short position for WTI is bullish for oil prices A falling U.S.Dollar Index (DXY) also supports higher oil prices During the first week of August, 2016, speculative NYMEX short crude oil positions reached the highest level in the past ten years. Since the IEA report came out on August 11th, the shorts have been scrambling to cover their positions. They are having a hard time finding enough sellers willing to cover their positions at these low prices. (Click to enlarge) The fundamentals also are supportive of oil prices. Non-OPEC production is on steady decline. Demand growth is relentless, moving up more than a million barrels per day each year. This world will soon be consuming over 100,000,000 barrels of hydrocarbon based liquid fuels and feedstock daily. It is clear that the price of oil cannot stay under $50/Bbl much longer because producers cannot meet demand at that price. OPEC only supplies about 40% of global oil demand. Outside of the Middle East there are only a few places where oil reserves can be developed profitably for under $50/Bbl. We are lucky to have a few of them in the United States. How to profit from a shift in oil prices On August 16th the chief commodity strategist at Merrill Lynch moved the energy sector from market weight to overweight, predicting the sector would outperform the S&P 500. Merrill Lynch estimates that WTI will rally to $54/bbl by the end of this year and $69/bbl by next June. Oil production continues to fall as global oil & gas investment has been cut by nearly $300 Billion (41%) and active rig counts have dropped by 37% since the 2014 peak. In contrast, low oil prices continue to drive healthy demand growth, putting the oil market on pace to see its biggest supply-demand deficit since 2011. Our commodities team estimates that the (supply) deficit will last through 2020. Historically, when oil has rallied over 25%, Energy has outperformed the market nearly 90% of the time, with average outperformance of 11%. Merrill Lynch During the first six months of this year, the energy sectors weighting in the S&P 500 dipped below 7%. There has never been a time when the energy sectors weight has dropped below 7% and the sector did not outperform the market over the subsequent three years. This is not going to be the first time it happens. Related: Russia-Iran-Turkey Alliance Could Change Energy Dynamics For Good Raymond James is still predicting that WTI will average $80/bbl in 2017. I am not quite that bullish, but it is clear the view from Wall Street has changed and investors will be wise to add more energy to their portfolios. The upstream oil & gas companies will get the most impact from higher oil prices. Rising natural gas and NGL prices are also increasing upstream revenues. Oilfield services firms will need a sustained period of increasing capital expenditures by the upstream companies before they can regain the pricing power theyve lost. I believe oil must be over $60/bbl for several months before we see a significant increase in drilling activity. If you decide to add more exposure to oil to your portfolio, I suggest you stick with companies focused primarily on the two areas in the U.S. where profits can still be generated even if oil stays at $40/bbl. The two best oil plays in North America are the Permian Basin in West Texas and SCOOP / STACK in Central Oklahoma. I follow over fifty upstream companies and well results in these two areas are getting better each quarter. Dont put all your eggs in one basket and stick with companies that generated solid cash flow from operations during the first half of 2016. This is an extremely capital intensive business, so make sure they have a strong base of proven reserves, a lot of running room in inventory (development drilling locations), and the liquidity needed to fund their drilling programs. Keep in mind that good leasehold positions have little value if the companies dont have the capital to develop them. If Merrill Lynch is right about oil prices, a rising tide will lift all boats, but owning profitable companies with valuable assets in the nations best oil plays should give you a leg up on the market. By Dan Steffens for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Norwegian oil producer Statoil is hoping to expand its operations in Brazil by entering a second phase of exploration at the Peregrino offshore oilfield. As reported by Norwegian Solutions, the next phase of exploring will be done with its Chinese partner - the Sinochem Group - at Statoils largest non-Norwegian offshore operation. Initially explored in 2011, output at Peregrino surpassed 100 million barrels of oil for the first time last year. The continued exploration will add about 250 million barrels of recoverable reserves, said a Statoil spokesperson. The expectation is to expand production. In all, 22 wells 15 producers of oil and seven water injectors should be drilled in Peregrino phase two. The spokesman also confirmed Statoils commitment to Brazil, which included around one thousand employees manning both onshore and offshore operations as well as running eleven tankers. Brazil remains one of the most important countries in Statoils international strategy. We intend to keep it that way, the spokesman said. Analysts have warned Statoil about boosting their investment in Brazil such as the US$2.5 billion purchase of the Petrobrass operating interest of 66 percent in the BM-S-8 offshore license in the Santos basin. Its a world class asset, Executive Vice President Tim Dodson said to Bloomberg about the field estimated to hold between 700 million and 1.3 billion barrels equivalent of recoverable oil. Nevertheless, Norwegian oil experts warn that oil prices will need to rise to US$70 to 80 per barrel in order for Statoil to profit off the BM-S-8 site. By Erwin Cifuentes for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Turkish shellfire on a string of Islamic State-affiliated targets in northern Syria since Monday has paved the way for a planned ground attack on an Islamic State held town, according to a new report by the BBC. Roughly 1,500 Syrian rebels have gathered in the Turkish border city of Gaziantep as the offensive against terrorist forces in the Syrian town of Jarablus begins in the coming days. Reuters quoted a senior rebel official who said the fighters served the Free Syrian Army. A suicide bomber killed 54 guests during a Kurdish a wedding in the city of Gaziantep on Saturday. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim have so far offered mixed signals regarding the identity and affiliation of the bomber. Erdogan has directly blamed ISIS for the attack, while Yildirim told reporters on Monday that investigators did not have a clue about attackers age or allegiances. As Turkey becomes further embroiled in its neighbors civil war, the nation could expose itself to attacks by lone wolf terrorists or sleeper cells seeking revenge on behalf of ISIS. The terrorist groups forces must be completely cleansed from the areas in northern Syria that border Turkey, according to Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. Turkeys long-held position has been against the continuation of President Bashar al-Assads regime. In an unexpected move, Yildirim made a statement on Monday suggesting Assad could be part of an unspecified transition period, according to The Washington Post. Turkey has been accused by Russia of purchasing oil from ISIS, after Turkish forces downed a Russian jet in November the first instance of a NATO member engaging a Soviet or Russian aircraft in more than half a century. Moshe Yaalon, the Former Defense Minister for Israel, a country that has been at political odds with Turkey for the past six years, affirmed Russias accusations in January. "It's up to Turkey, the Turkish government, the Turkish leadership, to decide whether they want to be part of any kind of cooperation to fight terrorism, he said. This is not the case so far. By Zainab Calcuttawala for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Beginning today, theres another good reason to visit C-Viche, the Ibero-American themed restaurant at 2165 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. in Bay View. And this time its sushi. But, before you gasp in disbelief at the notion of a restaurant that specializes in Peruvian, Mexican and Ecuadorian fare taking on sushi, an explanation is in order. This isnt just any sushi. Its Nikkei sushi, a spectacular cross-pollination between Peruvian and Japanese cuisines that began in Peru and has since spread throughout the world. We have a preview of the new sushi offerings at C-Viche. But first, a bit on Nikkei. A brief Nikkei primer Like many countries built on the backs of immigrants, Perus culinary history embraces rich diversity thanks to both individuals and ingredients, which made their way to South America from all over the world. One such cultural influence was Japan. Topped only by Brazil, Peru has the second-largest ethnic Japanese population in South America. In fact, since the first Japanese immigrants arrived in Peru in the late 19th century, the Japanese community has made a significant cultural impact on Peruvian cuisine and culture (and vice versa). Just as significantly, chefs worldwide including Peruvian-Japanese chef Mitsuharu Tsumura (author of the authoritative tome, "Nikkei Is Peru") along with notables like Nobu Matsuhisa of Nobu and former El Bulli chef Ferran Adria have assisted in making Nikkei a global phenomenon. At the foundation of this unique marriage of cultures lies a common ingredient: fresh seafood. In Nikkei cuisine, plentiful Peruvian seafood (along with traditional Peruvian staples like corn, chili peppers, yucca and potatoes) meets Japanese flavors and technique, resulting in a masterful mash-up of cultures and cuisines. Nikkei sushi at C-Viche In Milwaukees case, Nikkei cuisine made its way to C-Viche thanks to a young Peruvian chef named Marco Vera. Vera, whose work includes stints in Istanbul, as well as restaurants in Europe, originally came to the city to work at Benihana, but quickly found a home as sous chef among Latin American fare in C-Viches kitchen. The Nikkei sushi menu at C-Viche is the product of a collaboration between Vera and C-Viche executive chef Edgar Aispuro, and includes a variety of sushi rolls ($12-16), sashimi served with Peruvian sauces and panko flounder croquetas featuring Peruvian ceviche enrobed in a crispy crust and fried, creating a delicious citrusy fish cake ($13). Sushi rolls incorporate elements of traditional sushi, including fresh fish, avocado and green onions, with traditional Peruvian sauces. Those include limo chili sauce, made with intensely flavored tiny Peruvian chilies; garlic butter sauce incorporating soy sauce, garlic and butter; an aioli with aji amarillo chilies, limo and black mint; hauacaina, a sauce made with feta cheese, crackers and milk blended together with leche de tigre (ceviche marinade); and a special flamed teriyaki sauce that contains a bit of limo chili sauce. Options include shrimp and salmon rolls with salmon, fresh avocado and shrimp with limo chili sauce ($13) and a salmon teriyaki roll with smoked salmon, cream cheese, green onions, and signature teriyaki, topped with fried tortilla shreds ($14). Batayaki rolls come with panko shrimp, avocado, quinoa and scallops topped with Nikkei garlic butter sauce ($16) and a house roll features Ahi tuna, avocado, scallions and huacaina/lecche de tigre sauce ($12). Meanwhile the Acevichado roll includes a Jalea seafood medley, romaine lettuce, sweet potato, Ahi tuna, C-Viche chefs aioli ($14). Get yours C-Viches Nikkei sushi menu will be available during dinner service, Wednesday through Saturday evenings. You might consider enjoying yours on the restaurant's beautiful 30-plus seat patio surrounded by a variety of Latin American pepper plants. Other specials at C-Viche include Taco Tuesdays, featuring $2 tacos all day long; half-price bottles of wine on Wednesdays; and entree and ceviche specials on Friday and Saturday nights. C-Viche will also be celebrating Mexican Independence Day on Friday, Sept. 16. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. enjoy an all-you-can eat Mexican buffet for $12.95. For dinner, enjoy a special menu of authentic Mexican dishes beginning at 5 p.m. and live music starting at 6 p.m. Reservations are recommended. C-Viche is open Tuesday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fridays 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The bar stays open longer. In the midst of the Milwaukee unrest two weekends ago, the above image quickly began to make the rounds on social media. Its certainly a potent photo a looter amidst chaos quickly escaping with an armful of products. Its certainly a photo that, for some, perfectly fit their preferred narrative of that Saturday night, that people were out of control for illogical and selfish reasons. Its also certainly not a photo from Milwaukee that night. Or even a photo taken this year. No, that image captured by Robert Cohen of the Associated Press is from the Ferguson riots and protests in August of 2014. But after 5,004 retweets and 6,576 likes and thats just based off this one tweet alone for the many people following the story on social media both here and around the nation, that photo became a part of the story in Milwaukee. And it was far from the only concocted piece of news to emerge that night. That video of black protesters hunting down and beating up white people, for instance, further fueling reports of racially motivated violence during the uproar? A trick of editing to turn words into unsubstantiated violent action. Dr. Erik Ugland, an associate professor in the College of Communication at Marquette University, was one of many watching the coverage of Milwaukee during the unrest both as one who lives in Milwaukee and as one who studies and teaches media and media ethics. He noticed several of these fake reports and accounts popping up, serving as perfect bait for those on both sides looking for "confirmation bias" (aka seeking out information that reinforced previous beliefs or perspectives) or simply for updates. "(When news breaks), theres an even greater desire for immediacy," Ugland said. "Our tendency now is to go online and expect all the answers right away, and if there arent any answers, well just go with the ones being supplied for us by whomever it is. We have this reflexive need to know everything right away, and if somebody offers us even a glimmer of a possible explanation, we seize on it immediately. We retweet it and we internalize it sometimes without question because its filling that desire we have to know something." With social media, its never been easier to know about breaking news as its happening on the ground and then share that news with others, to serve as an outlet to others. But as with most things on the internet, the facts can easily become polluted with ever-more-convincing half-truths, lies and oftentimes simple confusion. Take for instance the earliest social media reports and tweets coming out of Dallas during the shooting last month. The earliest word on social media from those simply following the story, as well as from professional news organizations, parsing through what information theyd gathered and gleaned, and trying to report and inform as quickly as possible claimed there were multiple shooters, and a suspect identified shortly after ended up being simply a participant at the rally under fire. National media and mainstream news outlets often get things wrong in the early phases of breaking news and Ugland noted they werent faultless in their Milwaukee coverage, as well. He said that news organizations repeatedly leading with photos of the same flaming car in their coverage gave the idea "the whole city is up in flames and its absolute mayhem when it really was a short burst of vandalism to be put into perspective," and that the clean-up and recovery efforts the following days were often barely covered. But as both consumers and, frequently , disseminators of that information, the responsibility also falls on us to be smart during moments of breaking news. "There are a lot of positives about social media: You dont have to work through the traditional media filters anymore and theres a democratizing effect that social media fosters by giving everybody an opportunity to offer their two cents or their perspective," Ugland said. "But sometimes the accounts arent credible. Sometimes people are deliberately lying, or sometimes the video people post isnt what it purports to be or shows you a sliver of the scene." So how can we become better social media consumers when news breaks? For one, according to Ugland, "corroborate, corroborate, corroborate." "If somebody posts something that seems interesting, look and see if other people are reinforcing its validity," he recommends. "Is it being reported in any mainstream organization, or is it just floating around on social media? Check the source of whos posting it, but also check the source within the source. If somebodys posting a bit of information, whos their source and whered they get it from?" Considering the sources of your information and tracking their reputations is a major part of Uglands advice for being responsible when news breaks. For instance, The Media Research Center, Ugland noted, is a right wing-slanted source aiming to find liberal bias in the media, while sites like Occupy Democrats and Addicting Info are "beyond biased" to the left. Identify sites like these that deliver fabricated or misconstrued information and block them. Another thing you can do on social media when news breaks? In some cases, nothing is the best approach. "Our better impulse in those situations would be to wait and see," Ugland said, "because as we see, over and over again, theres not only a lot of good-intentioned-but-flawed reporting, theres also deliberate falsehood and mischief designed to shape the narrative and frankly fool people. So part of being a savvy media consumer is just being patient." One doesnt have to be completely helpless, however. Ugland said that you can play your part in making social media better, smarter places to gather news, as well. Sites like First Draft News, Ugland noted, can help you take a shared video or photo and confirm its authenticity or, if its a fake, help set the record straight. "Point out things that have been debunked or say, Check Snopes on this, instead of staying passive," Ugland said. "We can all play a role in making sure the truth comes out a little quicker." America has a government that is taking this country in a direction in which the vast majority of its people don't want to go. It continues to pour massive amounts of the country's wealth into building and maintaining a vast military empire when, at the same time, critically important domestic needs remain unfunded or underfunded. War is so deeply embedded in the psyche of this government that extracting it would take a minor miracle. The neocons and war hawks that infest our nation's capital have an insatiable thirst for war, they can't get enough; they are the major facilitators and proliferators of endless war. As a result our nation's major foundations are eroding because this government assigns a far greater priority to building and using weapons of war rather than rebuilding our crumbling national infrastructure or restoring our once world class education system. Here's an article that deals with the most important issues facing America today, based on the opinions of Americans. A survey by Google indicated that the top two issues were immigration and same-sex marriage, with foreign policy at the end of the list. Another by Gallup showed the economy at the top and foreign affairs, once again, near the bottom. When polls continue to indicate that the majority of Americans do not support this agenda of war why then isn't this issue higher on these opinion lists and is far below those such as immigration and same-sex marriage? That just doesn't make sense. I guess this is what is called "out of sight, out of mind." While the issue should be getting lots of time on the media people are not at all informed because these ratings-crazy media is too busy reporting Trump's latest barrage of insults. When is the last time we've heard a discussion in the media about the very extensive, extremely costly, military network of bases that our government maintains around the world; one that, coupled with the endless wars, has cost American taxpayers many trillions of dollars? Does this media ever tell us about the massive amount of money that is being poured into the furnaces of war; and that this is the reason why there are little to no funds available for our many domestic needs? No, this subject is not to be discussed, it is off limits. Here are some very interesting statistics about the history of wars in which our government has been engaged since the year 1900. During the 20th century the only years in which America was not involved in any wars were from 1935 to 1940; then 1976, 1977 and 1978; and, lastly, 1997. Therefore, in this period of 100 years, our various governments were involved in wars 90% of the time. Absolutely astounding! If we are ever going to take this country in a new direction then we need to remove this albatross of war from around America's neck; and to do things differently we must finally learn from our past mistakes. To begin that process let's review what has happened in the past so that we will not keep making the same mistakes again and again. We have a government that initiates totally unnecessary, unjustifiable wars and then either loses them or our military is held to a standstill. In the Vietnam War the U.S. military was forced to leave that country; in Iraq, the biggest military mistake and debacle in U.S. history, our forces could not defeat a guerilla army. In Afghanistan, when we went to war against the Taliban, which played no part in the 911 attack and posed no real threat to America, our military again was held to a standstill. Not a shining record for the most powerful military in the history of the world. Now there is a war raging in Syria with the U.S. military right in the middle of the action, raining massive amounts of bombs down on that country to supposedly defeat ISIL and Daesh; but close observers have determined it's largely to remove President Assad from power because he refuses to allow our allies, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, to construct a gas pipeline going through his country and then on to Europe. This is a war in which Russia, Iran and Hezbollah have a formidable military force in the air and on the ground. The U.S. also has numerous allied nations supporting its operations. This situation is so tenuous and volatile that we could see World War III erupt at any time; it is that dangerous and more. And yet the vast majority of the people of this country have no clue as to what is going on because they are not being informed by either the American media or the government. In the category of totally unconscionable we have this government continuing to sell many billions of dollars of military weaponry to Saudi Arabia and supporting it in its vicious attacks on the tiny country of Yemen. The Saudi's have brought great devastation upon that country and its civilian population. The highly respected journalist, Andrew Cockburn, recently said, "We are part of that," it is our war, it is shameful." Talk about the dangers of a possible World War III. We now have a president and government that are trying to intimidate both Russia and China. Let's put it this way; if you want to choose the two countries in this world that you should never, ever intimidate and take provocative steps against, it is Russia and China. That is what's referred to as courting total disaster. There is not just one Super Power in this world as Mr. Obama and others like to say; rather, there are three, the U.S. plus Russia and China; all three have powerful nuclear arsenals and each could easily blow up much of the world. And these are the countries that Mr. Obama and his military advisers want to intimidate? If we had followed a rational, non-aggressive foreign policy in the Middle East for all these past decades there would have never been an Iraq war, it is almost certain that 911 would never have happened, and we would not be talking about the great threat of terrorism coming from those who are seeking retaliation and revenge against America. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). One knows how important personal relationships are in politics. With them you can achieve a lot, even in defiance of the laws and national interests. For example, it is possible to get special government-employee status granted to your mistress who is tied to Islamic extremists. Of course, I mean the case of Huma Abedin and Hillary Clinton. Let's remember, in 2012, then-Minnesota Representative, Michele Bachmann, called to investigate Huma Abedin's ties to Muslim Brotherhood. And even now we have serious causes for concern. It is obvious that mutual relations between Hillary Clinton and her adviser is not just working, but rather emotional and intimate one. For the former First Lady, Huma is the person with whom she can discuss her innermost secrets. And, of course, there is a feedback, which means the possible future mistress of the Oval Office can be influenced by Huma Abedin as well. Secretary Clinton Delivers Remarks at Release of 10th Edition of .To Walk the Earth in Safety. Report (Image by U.S. Department of State) Details DMCA Secretaries Clinton and Solis Participate in the President's Interagency Task Force To Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (Image by U.S. Department of State) Details DMCA At the same time, Saleha Mahmoud Abedin -- the mother of the main US presidential candidate's assistant -- is among the 63 leaders of the Muslim Sisterhood, alongside with the former Egyptian anti-Semitic President Mohammed Mursi's wife. In addition, Saleha is a board member of the International Islamic Council for Dawa (Islamic missionary -- author's note) and Relief, which is the part of the Union of Good coalition that provides funding for Hamas terrorists. Other members of the Abedin family are also closely tied to Islamic extremists. For example, Huma's father -- Prof. Syed Abedin -- used to work for the Institute of Muslim Minority Affairs (IMMA) and issue its Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs (JMMA). The institute was created on the initiative of a prominent Muslim Brotherhood leader Abdullah Omar Nassif. Till now the main task of the organization and its print publication is to "grow unassimilated, aggressive population of Islamic supremacists who will gradually but dramatically alter the character of the West." After Syed Abedin died in 1993, Huma's mother became the director of IMMA; today she serves as editor-in-chief of its Journal. Huma's brother Hassan was a fellow Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies in the mid-2000s, at a time when the Center's board included aforementioned Abdullah Omar Nassif and Muslim Brotherhood's spiritual leader Yusuf al-Qaradawi. Currently, he is an associate editor of the JMMA, and Huma's sister holds the position of assistant editor. Huma herself has been IMMA's employee for the 12 years (from 1996 to 2008) and at one time she has served on the Journal's editorial board with Abdullah Omar Nassif. Moreover, from 1997 to 1999, even while being an intern in the White House, the main Hillary Clinton's confidant was an executive committee member of the Muslim Students Association established by the Muslim Brotherhood and Jammat-i-Islami members. On the other hand, Huma is the pride of her family; she is well respected in the Muslim world amid her lesbian relationship with Hillary Clinton and in spite of her marriage to Anthony Weiner, who is a Jew. Such the tolerance of Muslim community to the flagrant violations of Sharia law, and Huma's own condoning of multiple sexual scandals involving her husband -- all this indicates that the Hillary's aide has ulterior objects and missions: to infiltrate the United States political elite, to gather information and work as an agent of influence. This example makes one wonder whether we do not underestimate the danger of informal relationships between our officials? What ideas Huma Abedin plants in the main Democratic presidential candidate's head? How can it affect the decisions Hillary Clinton would make if she wins? To what information Huma has gained access by virtue of her governmental employee status? For what achievements have American taxpayers paid a salary to Huma? In 2012, Democrats and even some Republicans called Bachmann's concerns "unfounded" and "dangerous" on the pretext that "it can not be truth, because... of reasons." Indeed, no check was even done. At the same time, on national-security grounds, isn't it better to admit complacency of our special services and -- until it is too late -- undertake the measures necessary to correct that mistake? Finally, Hillary Clinton, who has been so involved in Huma's life, couldn't have been unaware of who is her passion and confidante. Is the former Secretary of State an undetected Muslim Brotherhood supporter? Or has she just been infatuated with Huma (for 20 years already)? In any case, a conclusion should be drawn about her suitability to public service in general! Reprinted from Reader Supported News Presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont talks to supporters during a rally at the University of Washington, in Seattle. (Image by (photo: Joshua Trujillo/Seattlepi.com)) Details DMCA I have been politically active for 30 years. My first arrest was with Phillip Berrigan at the White House. I volunteered to go on the White House Tour and pour blood on the pillars. Phillip advised me to take it slow and start out with a lower risk, so I instead was arrested on the White House sidewalk holding a banner. Many years later I did go over the White House fence with Phil's community and poured blood and red dye on and in the fountain. The banner the first time read "Iran Contra Gate Verdict: Impeach Reagan." The banner when we went over the fence read "US Foreign Policy, Fountain of Blood." I organized against nuclear testing in Nevada, went back country at Vandenberg Air Force Base to protest tar wars. I have helped to organize antiwar marches. Following the first Bush stolen election I helped found truth-out.org and decided to focus my energy on creating a progressive media that could go around the mainstream media. During that time I spent a lot of time in Crawford, Texas, with Cindy Sheehan. I was embedded in Occupy in Washington DC. (I was headed to New York when Zuccotti Park was raided, and I decided to stay in DC, where an organized encampment still existed.) I worked on Paul Wellstone's first Senate campaign as a volunteer. I worked for Jerry Brown and Bill Bradley's presidential campaigns because I opposed the "Democratic Leadership Council." I attended the first Green Party Congress in West Virginia and I voted for Ralph Nader. I'm not looking for any rewards or anything, I am telling you my history to show that I am not a neoliberal who is trying to herd people into the Democratic Party. I am a progressive who wants to transform the Democratic Party. I have probably been focusing too much on this November. We can make some difference in down-ballot races this time, but in two years we will do even more. We do have opportunities left this time, but I believe we will really shake things up in two years when we have built an independent political organization that will allow us to support progressive candidates all over the country. "Our Revolution" will help us build those organizations in our communities. Click Here to Read Whole Article Hillary Clinton - Caricature (Image by DonkeyHotey) Details DMCA Caricature of Hillary Clinton From the latest reports by investigative journalist Rick Sterling [1] and investigative historian Eric Zuesse [2] , it's becoming increasingly clear once Hillary Clinton becomes president-seemingly all but assured considering the relentless attacks by US corporate MSM demonizing and short circuiting Donald trump's candidacy, the all but complete media blackout of Green Party candidate Jill Stein, except for CNN's one hour town hall meeting broadcast last week, plus the endless stream of endorsements from neo-cons, former generals to Obama, her "coronation" could bring a US escalation of the war in Syria early in her administration. Even the Pentagon has chimed in with some tell-tale "warnings" of its latest intentions in Syria with, "the USA is ready to down Syrian and Russian planes that...threaten American advisors. We would continue to advise the Syrian regime to steer clear of these areas where US advisors are located. We are going to defend our people on the ground and do what we need to defend them." [3] Last week former acting director of the CIA, Mike Morell interviewed by Charlie Rose indicated the US should make the Iranian's and Russian's "pay a price", killing them but done "covertly" not for the Pentagon to announce it to the world, "but make sure they know it in Moscow and Tehran". Morell formerly came out and endorsed Hillary for president. As for Clinton herself, she's repeatedly called for a "no-fly zone" and a "safe zone" in Syria which are nothing more than "safe zones" for al Qaeda, ISIS terrorists supported by the US eventually bring regime change in Syria. She advocated bombing of Syria after the 2013 Sarin gas attack in Ghouta, Syria-blaming Syrian President Bashar Assad for the attack. Her accusation was later refuted with evidence pointing to Jihadists being the perpetrators with the intention of getting Obama to bomb Syria. She has continued the call "Assad must go", called Putin the new "Hitler", asserted Iran is behind much of the terrorism in the Middle East. Blatant falsehoods of course but revealing her dangerous blood lust out to prove how tough she is, yet all done with R2P, "responsibility to protect" spin. So with the onslaught from the likes of the New York Times, Washington Post, other "news" outlets continuing to demonize Russian President Vladimir Putin, even interfering with the US election "favoring" Trump, plus condemning Iran and Hezbollah for aiding Assad in Syria, comes the 51 State Department so called "diplomats" calling for "targeted military strikes" against the Assad government-an internal memo conveniently leaked then published in the Wall Street Journal. It's hard to remember such a broad based propaganda barrage for increasing the war in Syria except the 2002, 2003 rush to war by "Dubya" Bush and his legion of abetting war mongers-including Hillary-thirsting for the head of Iraq's Saddam Hussein and his alleged WMD. Yet there are some potentially important scenarios should they occur could deter even a mad, war monger Clinton presidency. They are: Turkey's Recip Erdogan could close the border with Syria thus ending the cross border infiltration of mercenary Jihadists and material that have entered Syria uninterrupted since the war began in 2011. With Erdogan having met Putin two weeks ago in St. Petersburg, Russia, this after the failed coup against him which he all but blamed on the CIA, he could be ready to side with Russia regarding Syria and support Assad. The current battle for Aleppo needs to be won by Assad's Syrian Arab Army with the military assistance of Russia, Iran and Hezbollah. Al Qaeda, ISIS must be forcibly extricated from eastern Aleppo thereby freeing the indigenous Syrian residents from the merciless head-choppers. Thus whatever remnants of ISIS, al Qaeda mercenary Jihadists remaining in the country would wither, particularly if reinforcements of men and material were cut off from flowing through Turkey into Syria. Then with Assad firmly in control of Damascus, Aleppo and all the populous residential areas in between, essential stability would be restored in the country so new elections could be held in early 2017. Subsequently, after new elections are held, Assad or whoever is elected president of Syria could-before all the world to see-request the US withdraw all its military "advisors" from the country. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). A credit officer of a non-banking finance company, or NBFC, was baffled by a young woman's response to a question about the end use of a personal loan for which she had applied. "I need it to buy a Louis Vuitton bag," she said, without blinking an eye. Louis Vuitton handbags cost between Rs 50,000 and Rs 3 lakh. Gone are the days when a personal loan was a social taboo and taken only in an emergency. Today, people are borrowing for child's birthday, foreign travel, purchasing white goods, home improvement, in fact every spending that would seem discretionary to most. And why not? Loans are, after all, a click away. If a bank slams the door on you, there is always an NBFC you can turn to. And if they, too, say no, you can always approach the new online peer-to-peer lenders. After all, you live only once. "In today's world, if you haven't taken a loan, people will probably think your credit score is not good," says Manavjeet Singh, Founder and CEO of Rubique, a platform that brings borrowers and lenders together with the help of technology. "Consumers are looking for instant gratification," he says. After the slump post the 2008 financial crisis, when a number of banks and NBFCs shrunk their unsecured loan books in response to huge defaults, the tide has turned, and that too strongly. Unsecured loans, both personal and for buying consumer durables, are back. So is the risk of banks and NBFCs taking a big hit if a chunk of these loans turns bad, just like it did after the 2007/08 financial crisis. "We are mostly doing mobile phones under consumer durables. It's always good to test a customer with credit that is small" According to the Reserve Bank of India, or RBI, data, unsecured credit has grown 20 per cent in the past one year. In the past five years, the growth has been 70 per cent - driven by 150 per cent rise in loans for consumer durables to Rs 17,800 crore. The largest segment, personal loans, grew 85 per cent to Rs 2.95 lakh crore during the period. According to the RBI data, the share of consumer credit in total bank credit rose from 18 per cent to 21 per cent over the past five years. The share of unsecured loans rose from 6.78 per cent to 7.4 per cent during the period. For some large NBFCs such as Bajaj Finance and Fullerton Capital, the unsecured loan book is almost half their lending book. Demand Push Between 2008 and now, India has grown from a $1-trillion to a $2-trillion economy. This has pushed up the per capita income from $1,000 to $2,000 levels. The boom in consumer credit has been in large part fuelled by this trend of rising incomes and growing aspirations. Banks, having burnt their fingers after the 2008 global financial crisis, are focusing mainly on mortgages and only a bit on unsecured loans such as personal loans and that also to existing customers with good credit history. They are also being cautious in the consumer loan segment. NBFCs, however, have been quick on their feet to tap the potential in both consumer durables and personal loans. A recent report by ratings agency ICRA Ltd says banks' share in consumer credit shrunk from 66 per cent to 55 per cent in the past six years. NBFCs increased their share from 14 per cent to 19 per cent during the same period. However, many expert say that banks will have to take the segment seriously due to sluggish credit growth, which has fallen to 8-9 per cent from 17-18 per cent five years ago. Consumer/retail loans can partly make up for the poor growth in corporate credit, they say. Tectonic Shift Another noteworthy trend is that of global players taking bigger risks. Japan's AEON Credit, for instance, is financing consumer products priced as low as Rs 4,000. Similarly, the Czech lender, Home Credit, specialises in in-store financing of consumer durables purchases. They are also experimenting with lending to first-time borrowers, ignoring the history of the financial services industry that is strewn with examples of global players paying heavily for lending to the wrong segment - Temasek-owned Fullerton and Citigroup's Citi Financial are among those hit badly when their bets in small-ticket personal loans went bad. However, the lenders in India brush off these concerns. They say credit bureaus are helping them understand borrowers' credit/risk profile better so that the chances of a huge number of loans turning bad are not high. This confidence has given rise to loans that were unheard of some years ago. Tata Capital, for instance, is offering wedding loans, while Warburg Pincus-owned Capital First is giving loans for used cars. The Pune-based Bajaj Finance is giving travel loans. NBFCs are also offering zero interest consumer durables loans on which the interest is paid by the manufacturer or the retailer. "We are mostly doing mobile phones under consumer durables financing in India," says Pavel Maco, CEO, Home Credit India, which is also into two-wheeler and personal loans. Home Credit claims to be the No.1 financer of mobile phone purchases in the world. Consumer durables can, in fact, be a big area for banks and NBFCs. "Financing consumer durables purchases is a niche area. It is a high-cost business because of short tenures and low ticket sizes. This makes banks stay away. Instead, banks are present here through credit cards and debit cards," says V. Vaidyanathan, Executive Chairman, Capital First. Close to 45 per cent consumer durables are bought in cash. Banks, through credit/debit cards, have a 40 per cent share, while the remaining 15 per cent sales are financed by NBFCs. This means huge scope for growth. Cosumer durables account for 43 per cent of Bajaj Finance's loan book. The lenders are coming up with new ways of ensuring fewer defaults. Home Credit first gives loans for consumer durables. Only after it is satisfied with the payment record is he or she offered a personal loan. "It's always good to test a customer with credit that is relatively small," says Maco of Home Credit. Anand Natarajan, Head of Strategy and Business Execution at Fullerton India, says clarity over end use of a loan, like that for consumer durables, lowers the default risk. "The doubling of growth numbers is not sustainable, as we have seen in the e-commerce space. I think the next crisis will be in retail lending" Not that lending for consumer durables is without problems. "It is not profitable on its own. It sets a funnel for the future," says a market player. The biggest challenge is operating costs as the average life of a consumer durables loan is just four-eight months. The operating cost is 12-13 per cent. The cost of funds is 9-10 per cent. In addition, there are non-performing assets of 2-3 per cent. One has to lend at 22 per cent just to break even. "You have to underwrite consumer durables loans as any stress is visible early and can wipe out whatever little gains you have made in the portfolio," he says. Some say an imminent price war will impact margins further. Personal Loans Some banks have become a little more active in personal loans, the largest unsecured loan segment, though most are still fearful. HDFC Bank, for example, strategically decided to give personal loans only to existing customers with good credit history. ICICI Bank has shrunk its unsecured personal loan portfolio. Personal loans accounted for 10.7 per cent of its retail portfolio at Rs 14,413 crore at the peak of the boom period in 2006/07. Today, the figure is 4.8 per cent (Rs 10,215 crore). Banks, in fact, have quit many sub-segments of personal loans such as loans to self-employed and small-ticket loans. "They have moved to the top of the pyramid and lending to those with credit scores of over 850," says a banker. This means the riskier loans are coming to NBFCs. "There is always a temptation to expand the unsecured book as a secured book does well in bad times but does not yield high margins in good times," says an NBFC player. This is making NBFCs tap new segments. Credit Sudhaar, for example, runs an NBFC that lends to people whose past default was not intentional. Possible Risks Still, NBFCs' unsecured loans put them at a lot of risk as these form a big chunk of their portfolios. For banks, these loans are not even 5 per cent of their loan book. Take gold loan companies. In the period between 2005 and 2012, they expanded exponentially as gold prices zoomed. The growth turned flat after prices crashed. Similarly, those big on personal loans suffered huge losses in the 2008 global financial meltdown. Russia, too, has seen many consumer finance companies suffer due to crash in commodity prices. NBFCs defend their due diligence norms and say they run their portfolios past credit bureaus to see if the borrowers' credit profile has changed after they took the loans. Arun Ramamurthy, Co-Founder, Credit Sudhaar, who earlier worked with Deutsche Bank, says any explosive growth comes with excesses. "The doubling of growth numbers is not sustainable, as we have seen in the e-commerce space. I think the next crisis will be in retail lending," he says. Is your provident fund contribution safely invested for you to withdraw when it is required the most - at retirement? Well, recent reports and a look at the annual report of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation -the body that sets the rules for EPF - suggest that your provident fund money may not be as safe as you thought. Many employers - around 7,700 as on March 2015 - do not deposit the money deducted from their employees in the EPFO account. However, though it is alarming, there is no reason for pushing the panic button, just yet. The defaulting companies account for less than 1 per cent of the 860,000 firms enrolled with the EPFO. Besides, most default cases that the EPFO has reported in its annual report are of less serious nature, such as delayed transfer, dispute on applicability of the EPFO Act, and determination of the amount to be transferred to the fund. An EPFO compliance official told BT, on condition of anonymity, that most defaults are because of disputes or delays, and not necessarily wilful non-remittance of money or out of criminal intent. "Often, there could be allegations of default due to interpretation of the EPFO Act. For example, an establishment might not contribute PF for contract employees whose direct employer has an independent PF code. The EPFO might dispute this, and enter it as a default case in its record," says Atul Gupta, Partner, Trilegal. The EPFO might also dispute the way a company structures the salary components of its employees, and allege that the structure is designed to contribute smaller sums towards PF. Defaults, which come under Section 7A of the EPFO Act, draw a penalty of 5-25 per cent, depending on the period of delay, and the EPFO also charges interest of 12 per cent on the amount due. The number of such cases witnessed a fall in 2014/15 to 14,625 from 18,062 in 2013/14. However, failing to remit the employees' contribution to the EPFO is a cognisable offence and as many as 5,885 companies - down from 6,512 in 2013/14 - were found guilty under Section 406/409 of the IPC. Besides, the number of cases pending before the court under the IPC sections was 1,819 as on 31 March 2015. In case of defaults under Section 406, the guilty can be jailed for up to three years and fined. Under Section 409, the jail term could be up to 10 years. Though over 7,500 companies were found to be indulging in serious nature of PF defaults, we can take solace in the fact that a lot of the defaults reported by EPFO are of non-serious nature, and those indulging in serious defaults make for less that 1 per cent of the companies enrolled with the EPFO. However, it goes without saying that the regulators must act strictly against the rotten apples. Anyone speak ill of Pakistan will have to pay for it: Nawaz Sharif ISLAMABAD: Participants of a high-level meeting presided over by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said here on Tuesday that those who speak ill of Pakistan will have to pay for it and their apology will not be accepted. Without naming the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain, it was stated that someone living in a foreign country would not be allowed to destroy peace in Karachi. It was decided that no compromise would be made on the countrys solidarity and dignity and the operation against miscreants will be expedited. Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security Nasser Janjua briefed the prime minister on the meeting of the National Action Plan (NAP) implementation committee that was held a day earlier. Janjua also briefed the prime minister on various tasks that had been given to the relevant institutions. Nawaz Sharif, during the meeting, praised the Rangers and law enforcement personnel for maintaining law and order in Karachi. The prime minister offered full cooperation on behalf of the federal government to the provincial government for maintaining peace in Karachi. Participants of the meeting agreed that no one should be allowed to disturb the peace ofintegrity and security will be protected at all costs. They agreed that those who speak ill for Pakistan will have to pay for it. The meetings participants included Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, ISI chief Lt Gen Rizwan Akhtar and Adviser to the PM on National Security Nasser Khan Janjua among others. On Monday, Altaf Hussain had instigated his supporters to attack offices of TV channels via his address from London. Altaf Hussain delivered an anti-Pakistan speech and called upon his followers to break TV channels for not providing him due coverage. Altaf Hussains speech and the subsequent violence was criticised by Pakistans leading politicians including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah, PTI chief Imran Khan, PSP chief Mustafa Kamal and others. Nawaz Sharif had stated in categorical terms that nobody will be allowed to harm the national security and its prestige. Responding to the controversial statement of the top MQM leader, he said in a statement that the inflammatory remarks made in Karachi against Pakistan have badly hurt the sentiments of the entire nation. We all rose from this soil and would also end up in it. It is a must for us to safeguard the dignity of the country along with its territory, the prime minister stated. -- Agencies Shakeel Anjum adds: Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan contacted British high officials on Tuesday night and exchanged views regarding Mondays speech of Altaf Hussain and incident of inciting crowd to agitation. He urged the UK government to take action against its citizen Altaf Hussain for inciting violence in Pakistan. The Interior Ministry sources quoting the minister said that use of British soil by somebody against integrity of Pakistan and action against peace is highly condemnable. He said Altaf Hussain used derogatory language against Pakistan and Pakistani institutions which not only insulted the whole nation especially the Urdu-speaking people, but he also committed a serious crime. He said the British government should assist in bringing into ambit of law a person who was involved in a serious crime. Nisar said it should be ensured that no miscreant escapes from the law and dare to harass the peaceful citizens. He asked Director General Rangers Sindh Major General Bilal Akbar to ensure security of all media houses in collaboration with police in Karachi, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry said. The minister phoned the DG Rangers and expressed satisfaction on the overall law and order in Karachi and Sindh. He appreciated the performance of Rangers and police to maintain law and order in the province, especially in Karachi. MQM should operate from Pakistan alone: Farooq Sattar 24 August, 2016 Related News Imran Khan distributed loan cheques under Kamyab Jawan Programme PTI govt to face all challenges coming its way: Imran khan More on this View All Types of Casino Payment Methods Tips for Taking Incredible iPhone Travel Photos Top 2021 Accessories We Know You Will Love Are Slot Developers Important for players? Best Poker Hands ever played on a Casino Hand Wash and Toiletries in Pakistan And the Role of DUPAS in Reshaping the Industry Woke Bingo KARACHI: Senior Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Farooq Sattar for the first time has said that his party should operate from Pakistan alone, an apparent reference to the leadership of MQM under Altaf Hussain who controls the party from London. While speaking at Karachi Press Club on Tuesday, Sattar accepted that there is a problem and that Hussains frequent apologies after incendiary statements is an issue that needs to be resolved. The press conference was held a day after protesters, alleged to be MQM workers, attacked the office of ARY News. The MQM should operate from Pakistan alone, Sattar said. Sattar made another dramatic statement about disassociating himself from the party in London, saying he has categorically said that all the decisions will be made by party members in Pakistan, what else do I need to say to elaborate the minus-one formula more. Altaf Hussain and the entire party are being ridiculed due to these statements." "Whatever the reason given for these statements, it keeps happening and it is important to address this issue as well," he admitted. "We own that there is a problem, and Altaf Hussain keeps asking for forgiveness. Until this issue is addressed, we've decided that sanity should prevail," Sattar said. Dr Amir Liaquat who was also taken into Rangers custody Monday spoke to journalists saying, "We cannot take the weight of statements that pose a question regarding the sacrifices we have made for Pakistan." Sattar also denounced anti-Pakistan slogans chanted during an attack on ARY News' Karachi office a day earlier. "Every MQM worker, leader, voter and well-wisher denounces these anti-Pakistan slogans," Sattar said. "We will not allow this to happen again." "We totally disassociate ourselves from the violence that took place in Karachi yesterday. It is totally against our policy to use violence to achieve our ends." "There is no room for any militants or any militants' wing." "We were not expecting that the situation [attack on ARY News] would unfold in such a manner. Certain things were said that shouldn't have been said," Sattar said. "Anti-Pakistan slogans should not have been chanted." "I would like to categorically state that MQM is Pakistan. The MQM is registered in Pakistan and recognises the laws and Constitution of Pakistan." "We were with our friends, the Rangers, for eight hours... It should be clear that we are not speaking under the influence of anyone else... Everything I say is in line with MQM's policy." "Our offices should be allowed to reopen," Sattar said. The press conference was held at KPC instead of MQM headquarters Nine Zero, which were sealed by the Rangers Monday night. Speaking to local TV channels before the press conference, Sattar said, "We will take the MQM's mission forward and continue to empower citizens... I will hold the press conference I was unable to hold yesterday today." MQM leaders Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Shaikh Salahuddin, Nighat Shakeel, Waqar Hussain, Muhammad Hussain, Asif Hussain, Saman Jafri and Dr Fouzia were also present at KPC. According to local media reports, Sattar stopped off at a local hotel prior to the press conference to meet MQM lawmakers including Arshad Vohra and Nasreen Jalil. MQM leader Dr Amir Liaquat on Tuesday evening announced that he is parting ways with MQM and will be leaving politics. Liaquat announced his decision while appearing on a private TV channel. Liaquat was also previously affiliated with the party, and had been expelled from MQM in 2008 for violating party policy. Sattar and Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly Khawaja Izhar-ul-Hasan were released from Rangers custody after overnight detention following violent protests in the metropolis. Farooq Sattar and Khawaja Izhar were taken into custody by the Rangers on Monday night at Karachi Press Club after suspected MQM workers attacked an ARY News office in the Saddar area of the metropolis. One person was killed and several others injured as police clashed with the angry mob. Sattar initially attempted to resist being taken into custody but was eventually convinced to follow orders. Khawaja Izhar also accompanied him to the Rangers headquarters. The Rangers officials informed the MQM leaders that DG Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar wanted to see them. MQM leader Dr Amir Liaquat was also taken into custody from his office on I.I. Chundrigar Road and later released by the Rangers after overnight detention, according to local media reports. "Altaf should have retracted his statement," Amir Liaquat said speaking to a local TV channel. "I was awake all night. The Rangers kept me really well and I met the DG Rangers," he said. "I am under a lot of pressure." The Rangers also raided MQM headquarters Nine Zero Monday night, taking nine other party leaders into custody and sealing MQM offices. The paramilitary force also recovered weapons from Nine Zero, which will be sent for forensic tests. Scotland Yard to assess contents of Altaf Hussain speech 24 August, 2016 Related News Imran Khan distributed loan cheques under Kamyab Jawan Programme PTI govt to face all challenges coming its way: Imran khan More on this View All Types of Casino Payment Methods Tips for Taking Incredible iPhone Travel Photos Top 2021 Accessories We Know You Will Love Are Slot Developers Important for players? Best Poker Hands ever played on a Casino Hand Wash and Toiletries in Pakistan And the Role of DUPAS in Reshaping the Industry Woke Bingo LONDON: Scotland Yard has confirmed that its assessing the contents of Altaf Hussains speech against the state of Pakistan in which he also incited violence against media and the armed forces of Pakistan. Speaking to Geo News, a spokesman of Scotland Yard confirmed that the police are currently assessing the content of a speech given by an individual associated with Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to ascertain if any crimes have been committed under UK legislation. The police confirmed that it has received numerous calls from the public seeking action against Altaf Hussain. Where evidence of criminal activity is found we will consult with the Crown Prosecution Service, said the police. The police revealed that they are investigating various speeches not just one - made by the London-based leader of the MQM who has been accused of using his London office to incite acts of terrorism inside Pakistan. Previously, the police had said that they were only investigating one speech, after having dropped the previous investigations into incitement. But the latest outburst of incitement is different and Altaf Hussain himself admitted in his apology that he actually did incite violence in Pakistan and everyone in the MQM and outside agrees that MQM chief in his recent speech crossed the red line of laws governing Britains freedom of speech. To demand the arrest and prosecution of Altaf Hussain for inciting violence in Pakistan, World Congress of Overseas Pakistanis (WCOP) organised a protest outside 10 Downing Street to demand intervention by the British Prime Minister Theresa May. Leaders and activists of PPP, PMLN, PTI, PSP, JI and others attended the large protest that lasted for over two hours. At the end of the demonstration a petition was presented by the WCOP to the British PM informing her that on 22nd August 2016, through his live public address, transmitted from London to Karachi, the MQM supremo incited and encouraged the audience consisting of MQM officials and party members to spread violence in the port city Karachi, Pakistan. He incited them to target media houses, government buildings and civil armed forces and once the audience asked him for permission to go and target them he gave his blessing to do so. Immediately after his orders, the participants attacked a number of private media houses and clashed with police in various areas of the city where one innocent citizen of Pakistan lost his life apart from damage to property. Mr. Altaf Hussain very clearly and publicly incited violence and there is enough proof in media which should be more than enough to charge him under the British law. The petition, signed by Syed Qamar Raza and Tariq Dar, to the British PM, said that Altaf Hussain has issued apology and confessed that he incited violence. This apology in itself is a proof of his incitement to violence as he accepts that he did commit the crime and thinks he can get away by a mere apology. It reminded the British government that this is not the first time that Mr. Altaf Hussain has incited other people to commit an act of terrorism and violence in Pakistan and encouraged them to commit, prepare or instigate such acts against innocent people and public and government property and machinery. A number of cases are also pending in courts against Mr. Altaf Hussain which are under investigation for murder, money laundering and hate speech/inciting violence both in UK and Pakistan. It is our utmost request and demand as citizens of UK having stakes in Pakistan where our family and property is under threat due to the actions and words of Mr. Hussain that he should be immediately prosecuted and indicted for encouraging and inciting terrorism under Terrorism Act 2006 ss1-2 and Terrorism Act 2000 s.59. Earlier on Tuesday, PTIs London President Barrister Waheed-ur-Rehman protested outside Altaf Hussains house in Mill Hill while the MQM leader was present inside the house. Barrister Waheed arrived at the house of Altaf with at least two dozen PTI activists and chanted slogans against Altaf Hussain and in favour of Pakistan. Altaf Hussains security called the police outside the house. The demonstration passed off peacefully and the police said that the protestors had every right to air their views peacefully. Barrister Waheed said that protests will be held outside 10 Downing Street and Altaf Hussains house until he is arrested and charged with incitement to violence in Pakistan. Sayeeda Warsi, the former Conservative party chair, accused the Downing Street of ignoring MQMs record of torture, murder and intimidation. She said in a statement: We mustn't allow British citizens to use the UK as a base to incite violence against our allies. Khalid Mahmood, who chairs Tackling Terrorism All-Party Parliamentary Group in the British parliament, called on the British government to take urgent action against Altaf Hussain. He said that it was unfair that a British citizen was destabilising the biggest city of Pakistan from London. He said that there is little doubt left that Altaf Hussain has incited violence and law of the land must come into action. Also on Tuesday, PTIs London leader Soraya Aziz wrote to Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Commissioner of New Scotland Yard, and called on the Scotland Yard to take the issue of violence being peddled from London seriously. She called on the police to prevent the MQM chief Mr Altaf Hussain from making hate speeches & incitement to violence in Pakistan; hold him to account for the actions today as well as previously reported; and remove the protection of his citizenship under which he is evading many criminal charges against him in Pakistan. From Greg Swank, 12-4-2 You are about to read a list of 45 goals that found their way down the halls of our great Capitol back in 1963. As... August 24, 2006 August 24, 1934 Clearing, Trending Cooler. Tropics Heating Up I don't know much. Just ask my wife. But here is what I suspect: 1). Skies will clear today with a cooling trend into Friday morning. 2). Sunday looks like the nicer, drier day of the weekend. And 3). I will never (ever) own real estate along the Gulf Coast. Ever. Because I'd wind up spending way too much time watching The Weather Channel. Worrying about massive, Texas-size storms with names. Life is too short. The ECMWF (European) model, which provided an 8-day heads-up with Superstorm Sandy in 2012, is trying to bring a tropical storm (Hermine?) into Florida by Sunday . Gulf of Mexico water temperatures are unusually warm; high-octane fuel for hurricane intensification, and this storm MAY strike the Gulf Coast Tuesday of next week. Let's hope it steers clear of Louisiana. A wet start gives way to lukewarm sunshine today, with highs near 80F. A whiff of autumn Thursday leads to a slow weekend warming trend; a juicy warm front may spark numerous showers and T-storms Saturday . Sunday looks better - potentially lake-worthy. The atmosphere is shifting gears as we limp into fall. Imagery above courtesy of Aeris Maps Platform (AMP). Tropical Briefing. Aeris meteorologist Kristin Clark takes a look at the tropical wave (99-L) that may intensify into a tropical storm or hurricane in the days to come. NOAA's GFS model keeps killing the storm, but the ECMWF (European model) pulls it into Florida as a tropical storm, with possible strengthening in the Gulf of Mexico early next week. Check out her report Aeris meteorologist Kristin Clark takes a look at the tropical wave (99-L) that may intensify into a tropical storm or hurricane in the days to come. NOAA's GFS model keeps killing the storm, but the ECMWF (European model) pulls it into Florida as a tropical storm, with possible strengthening in the Gulf of Mexico early next week. Check out her report here Let's Hope This Doesn't Verify. And I seriously doubt it will, but we should pay attention to all the models, looking for trends. The European has been fairly consistent for 2 days now, pulling "Hermine" into southern Florida Sunday, then out over the bathwater-warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, where significant intensification is possible. Models tend to do a much better job with track than intensity, so take everything with a huge grain of salt until we get within 48-72 hours of landfall. ECMWF solution valid next Tuesday at 1am, courtesy of WSI Corporation. Getting Better Organized? As of late last night the convection circulation associated with 99-L was becoming slightly more concentric, but it still has a long way to go before reaching tropical storm strength. Conditions are favorable for strengthening, especially as it (possibly) enters the Gulf of Mexico early next week. Source: As of late last night the convection circulation associated with 99-L was becoming slightly more concentric, but it still has a long way to go before reaching tropical storm strength. Conditions are favorable for strengthening, especially as it (possibly) enters the Gulf of Mexico early next week. Source: NOAA Spaghetti Plot. Here are the various tropical model solutions for 99-L, keeping the core of the storm north of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola. Confidence levels are still low; people living along or near the Gulf Coast and Florida should pay attention. I don't even want to imagine a scenario where this storm pushes more heavy rain into Louisiana. Tracking Aftershocks in Italy. Using the (free) . Using the (free) Aeris Interactive tool you can track tremors, worldwide. Here is what we were looking at last night; a peak magnitude of 6.2 of the Richter Scale. Taste of Autumn for Day 1 of the Minnesota State Fair. Expect a stiff northwest breeze, a mix of clouds and sun and afternoon highs in the low 70s. In the shade it may border on chilly (for some) but most of us will find it refreshing. Temperature plot: Aeris Enterprise. Another Cool Correction - Mellowing Out Next Week. I'm not yet convinced temperatures will hold in the 60s on Saturday (possible if it rains long and hard enough) but Sunday should be the drier, brighter, milder day of the weekend, with a good shot at low 80s returning by the middle of next week. ECMWF forecast: WeatherBell. Heat Lingers for Much of USA into Early September. We should see fairly frequent cool frontal passages over the next 2 weeks; no sign of significant heat building close to home anytime soon. That said, I doubt we've seen our last 90-degree day of 2016. 47th Anniversary of Hurricane Camille. 175 mph. Other estimates placed the winds near 190 mph with gusts of 230 mph. The exact speed will never be known since Camille destroyed all of the weather sensors along the coast at landfall. Storm surge reached 24 feet along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, which was the highest storm surge ever recorded before Katrina. Camille is the second of only three storms to ever make landfall as a Category 5 in the United States, the others being the 1935 Labor Day hurricane in the Florida Keys, and Hurricane Andrew in 1992..." WBRC.com in Birmingham has a good recap of this monstrous, Category 5 storm: "Wednesday marks the 47th anniversary of Hurricane Camille making landfall along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, devastating the coastline and the Pine Belt. Camille made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane just after 11 p.m. in Pass Christian with winds ofmph. Other estimates placed the winds near 190 mph with gusts of 230 mph. The exact speed will never be known since Camille destroyed all of the weather sensors along the coast at landfall. Storm surge reached 24 feet along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, which was the highest storm surge ever recorded before Katrina. Camille is the second of only three storms to ever make landfall as a Category 5 in the United States, the others being the 1935 Labor Day hurricane in the Florida Keys, and Hurricane Andrew in 1992..." Photo credit : "In 1969, Hurricane Camille slammed into the Mississippi coast." Source: NOAA. Photo credit Floodwaters surround a damaged home in St. Amant, La., on Aug. 21." (Jonathan Bachman/Reuters). 115,000 Louisiana residents have signed up for federal flood assistance. Details from have signed up for federal flood assistance. Details from ABC News 5 Reasons Some Were Unaware of One of the Biggest Weather Disasters Since Sandy. Dr. Marshall Shepherd explains at Dr. Marshall Shepherd explains at Forbes : "... These Louisiana Politicians Are Demanding Flood Aid, But Voted Against Sandy Relief. Here's an excerpt of a column at . Here's an excerpt of a column at The Los Angeles Times : "C Photo credit California Firefighters Stretched Thin As Blazes Sweep State. The Associated Press reports: "California's state fire department is stretched thin just as the bone-dry state enters the peak of its wildfire season, with vacancy rates exceeding 15 percent for some firefighters and supervisors. The vacancy rate is more than 10 percent for some fire engine drivers, according to statistics provided to The Associated Press. A five-year drought and changing weather patterns have transformed what once was a largely summertime job into an intense year-round firefight, said California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokeswoman Janet Upton..." Photo credit : " Laura Sutton, center, the wife of California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection firefighter Nick Sutton, joins others at a rally calling for shorter hours and higher wages to retain firefighters, at the Capitol, Monday, Aug. 22, 2016, in Sacramento, Calif. Statistics provided to The Associated Press show vacancy rates exceeding 15 percent in some CaliFire positions." (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) U.S. Warning: Zika Could Spread to Gulf States, Persist For One to Two Years. The Washington Post reports: " Image credit The Post's Brady Dennis talks with Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, about the process of getting a potential Zika vaccine tested and ready for the public. Thats according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys annual evaluation of how the Texas Railroad Commission oversees thousands of injection and disposal wells that dot state oilfields underground resting places for millions of gallons of toxic .." Inside Shanghai Tower: China's Tallest Skyscraper Claims To Be The World's Greenest. Here's a clip from . Here's a clip from The Guardian : "... Photo credit America's First Offshore Wind Farm May Power Up a New Industry. Justin Gillis reports at Justin Gillis reports at The New York Times : "... By global standards, the Block Island Wind Farm is a tiny project, just five turbines capable of powering about 17,000 homes. Yet many people are hoping its completion, with the final blade bolted into place at the end of last week, will mark the start of a new American industry, one that could eventually make a huge contribution to reducing the nations climate-changing pollution. The idea of building turbines offshore, where strong, steady wind could, in theory, generate large amounts of power, has long been seen as a vital step toward a future based on renewable energy. Yet even as European nations installed thousands of the machines, American proposals ran into roadblocks, including high costs, murky rules about the use of the seafloor, and stiff opposition from people who did not want their ocean views marred by machinery..." Photo credit : " One of five turbines that make up the Block Island Wind Farm, the first offshore wind farm in the United States, off the Rhode Island coast." Credit Kayana Szymczak for The New York Times. 11 Reasons To Be Excited About The Future of Technology. Medium has an uplifting, optimistic preview of what's to come: " In the year 1820, a person could In the year 1820, a person could expect to live less than 35 years, 94% of the global population lived in extreme poverty , and less that 20% of the population was literate. Today, human life expectancy is over 70 years, less that 10% of the global population lives in extreme poverty, and over 80% of people are literate. These improvements are due mainly to advances in technology, beginning in the industrial age and continuing today in the information age. There are many exciting new technologies that will continue to transform the world and improve human welfare. Here are eleven of them..." MSP: 3rd Best (Large) Airport in the USA. So says So says Trip Advisor and after spending time at airports around the world I agree that it's always good coming home to MSP: "... TODAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY Photo credit Flooded homes are seen in St. Amant, La., on Aug. 15, 2016." Credit: REUTERS/Jonathan Bachman. Project MIDAS). Global Warming Has Now Made The Northwest Passage a Thing. Phil Plait explains at . Phil Plait explains at Slate : "... If people are aware of , why do so many seem to ignore discussions about the future? And how do you engage people in the conversation? That's what DearTomorrow, an online project founded in 2014, is tackling. Co-founders Trisha Shrum and Jill Kubit are Map credit Photo credit Graph credit . high in the Twin Cities Tuesday.. average high on August 23.. high on August 23, 2015.: Tornadoes and large hail strike southern Minnesota. One person died and 37 were injured when a strong tornado began 4 miles west-southwest of Nicollet in Nicollet County, and moved almost due east for 33 miles to near Waterville in Le Sueur County. Many storm chasers captured the tornado on video. The largest hail reported was grapefruit-sized at New Prague in Scott County.: Early cool air invades southern Minnesota. Rochester and Fairmont have lows of 34 degrees.. Here's an excerpt from the Editorial Board at The Washington Post : "THE FUTURE is being rigged against vulnerable people by a system in which government and industry are complicit. No, we are not talking about the electoral system we are talking about the climate. The warming of the globe, spurred by humanitys dependence on fossil fuels, is weighting the dice, as scientists often put it, in favor of increasingly frequent and severe extreme weather phenomena. Extremely high temperatures are the easiest to predict as warming proceeds. Also relatively foreseeable is heavier rain, because warmer air carries more moisture. In other words, do not be surprised if the country sees more costly disasters such as the flooding that hit Baton Rouge over the past week. The Louisiana inundation is probably the worst natural catastrophe the country has seen in four years...": "The American public is somewhat conditioned to perceive a named or higher-category storm as more of a threat. The meteorological conditions that produced the Louisiana floods never received an official name. One NOAA Weather Prediction Center discussion actually referred to it as sheared inland tropical depression or a monsoon depression . While this is meaningful to the meteorological crowd (maybe), this certainly is not going to resonate with the average citizen. Whatever it was, more rainfall fell in parts of Louisiana than some cities in California have seen in three to five years..." (File image: NOAA).. Here's an excerpt of an Op-Ed from Eric Holthaus at Newsweek : "...Words matter. And since Obama has staked a big part of his legacy on climate change, he owes it to the victims of the flooding in Louisiana, and the potential victims of future climate-related disasters, to address the clear and present threat of climate change directly in Louisiana. The President not only has the ability to improve the lives of the victims of this tragedy, by motivating attention and donations to help their plight, but to save countless future lives as well. To intentionally avoid this responsibility is unforgivable. To be a true leader, you have to change the status quo; when you're trying to lead on climate you have to change the status quo much faster than "normal" politics might say is possible..." (Photo: American Red Cross).all it logrolling or one hand washing the other, a generally recognized fact in Washington is that if you want something for your district, it pays to agree to the same thing for another guys district. That point may have been lost on three Louisiana Congressmen when they voted against a $50.5-billion relief package for the victims of Superstorm Sandy. The 2012 storm ravaged coastal communities in New Jersey and New York. Now theyre in the position of needing the same sort of aid for their own state. How will that play out?...": "Voted against Sandy aid, wants Louisiana aid: Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La. (center)" AP.Good grief, talk about underpaid. Here's an excerpt from CNN : "Smokejumpers are elite firefighters who parachute out of airplanes and into fiery forests -- extremely dangerous work that pays just $15 an hour. That's what the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management pay them to drop into the smoke-choked Western mountains and wild lands. Smokejumpers haul 100-pound packs of equipment and digtrenches, or fire lines, using a pick-axe called the Pulaski, which looks like a Medieval weapon. The fire lines are basically trenches cleared of any flammablevegetation used to stop the blaze from spreading..." (File photo: NOAA).The National Institutes of Healths Anthony Fauci warned that Texas and Louisiana could be next for Zika. In the weeks since mosquitoes carrying the virus hit U.S. borders, they have already spread from a small suburban community in South Florida to Miamis most popular tourist spot, South Beach. The development prompted a travel advisory from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday urging pregnant women to avoid the area. Fauci, director of the Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaking Sunday on ABCs This Week, said the situation is likely to get worse soon...": "" (Video: The Washington Post/Photo: Sammy Dallal for The Washington Post). The Texas Tribune reports: "Federal regulators believe there is a significant possibility that recent earthquakes in North Texas are linked to oil and gas activity, even if state regulators wont say so.waste from fracking and other drilling activities.The Shanghai Tower, reaching 632 metres , is the third supertall tower on the citys iconic skyline. Looking out from the 119th floor, the city lies below like a toy model, a densely packed mass of streets and high-rise buildings. China loves a world record, and its new building boasts plenty, including the worlds fastest elevators, highest hotel and restaurant, and tallest viewing platform. Reassuringly, it also required the largest ever cement pouring for the foundations. But most importantly, the 128-storey tower also claims to be the worlds greenest skyscraper. Awarded the top green rating, LEED Platinum, the government is hailing the tower as a sign of Chinas growing green credentials...": "The newly completed Shanghai Tower, Chinas tallest building, rises above the city." Photograph: Gensler. "Solar shingles" is the operative phrase here, according to a story at The Guardian : "A new venture spearheaded by Elon Musk will create house roofs made entirely of solar panels, in a sweeping expansion of Teslas clean energy ambitions. Tesla has finalized a $2.6bn deal to buy solar power company SolarCity to produce solar shingles photovoltaic material that would be fashioned into the shape of a house roof . I think this is really a fundamental part of achieving differentiated product strategy, where you have a beautiful roof, Musk said. Its not a thing on the roof. It is the roof... (Photo credit here ).Presented for the first time this year, the awards highlight the most popular domestic airports in four categories: shopping, dining, large airports and medium airports (based on their size classification by the FAA). Award winners were determined based on findings from a survey of more than 114,000 TripAdvisor travelers from the U.S...": Wet start, then clearing skies, breezy. Winds: NW 10-15. High: 82WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy, more comfortable. Low: 59: Cool sun for Day 1 of the State Fair, a few PM clouds pop up. Winds: NW 10-15. High: 75: Sunny, best day in sight. Winds: SW 5-10. Wake-up: 57. High: 77: Showers and T-storms likely. Winds: S 10-20. Wake-up: 60. High: 72: Partly sunny, isolated T-shower. Winds: SE 5-10. Wake-up: 63. High: 81: Plenty of sunshine, quiet. Winds: SE 8-13. Wake-up: 64. High: 84: Warm sunshine, no complaints. Winds: SW 5-10. Wake-up: 65. High: 85 Climate Central connects the dots: "...A 1-in-1,000-year event were talking about something thats not likely to ever happen would be 21 inches falling over the same time period, he said. There were nine stations in the area that topped that 1-in-1,000 level, two of which saw more than 25 inches in just two days. The highest rainfall was recorded in Watson, La., which saw 31.39 inches. That obliterated the previous two-day rainfall record by more than 7 inches. Its just insanity, Keim said. Half of southern Louisiana received 10 inches or more of rain, and its possible that more homes were flooded in this event than by Hurricane Katrina, Keim said. Many of those homes hadnt flooded during the previous flood of record, in 1983, or at any time since. The whole region just got absolutely hammered, Keim said...": "Chris Mooney reports at The Washington Post : "...Its called an ice shelf because the entirety of this country-sized area is covered by 350-meter-thick ice that is floating on top of deep ocean waters. The crack in Larsen C grew around 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) in length between 2011 and 2015. And as it grew, also became wider by 2015, yawning some 200 meters in length. Since then, growth has only continued and now, a team of researchers monitoring Larsen C say that with the intense winter polar night over Antarctica coming to an end, theyve been able to catch of glimpse of what happened to the crack during the time when it could not be observed by satellite. The result was astonishing..." (Image credit:Roald Amundsen was the first to successfully make his way through. It took him three years in a small ship starting in 1903, and included getting stuck in ice three times. Fast-forward. On Aug. 16just days agoa 250-meter-long, 1,070 passenger cruise ship, the Crystal Serenity , set sail, and is expected to make its way through the Northwest Passage in just eight days. How can it do so? Global warming . Over the past few years, the Arctic has warmed so much that the fabled passage has become a reality . The ice melts so much in the summer that its not only possible for ships to make their way through the archipelago, but it may be commercially viable to do so..." Mashable has details: "Americans in their 20s and 30s could lose trillions of dollars in potential lifetime earnings as climate change disrupts the global economy and weakens U.S. productivity, according to a new report by NextGen Climate said. If countries fail to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit the amount and pace of global warming, a 21-year-old college graduate today could lose $126,000 in lifetime wages and $187,000 in long-term savings and investments, the report found. This would outrank the lost income due to student debt or wage stagnation..." (File photo: Peter Morgan, AP).. Here's an excerpt from Vox : "...asking people to create messages, photos, and videos to be opened in the years 2030 and 2050. The idea came about after Shrum heard a speech by Christiana Figueres, the executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Figueres said she had a dream where children look at her and ask, "You knew about climate change. What did you do?...". Here's an excerpt from NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory : "In a new study, scientists from GLERL, the University of Michigan, and other institutions take a new look at changing ice cover and surface water temperature in the Great Lakes. The paper , set to be published in Climatic Change, is novel in two ways. While previous research focused on changes in ice cover and temperature for each lake as a whole, this study reveals how different regions of the lakes are changing at different rates. While many scientists agree that, over the long term, climate change will reduce ice cover in the Great Lakes, this paper shows that changes in ice cover since the 1970s may have been dominated by an abrupt decline in the late 1990s (coinciding with the strong 1997-1998 winter El Nino), rather than gradually declining over the whole period...": "The panel on the left shows the change in seasonal ice cover duration (d/yr) from 1973 to 2013, and the panel on the right shows the change in summer surface water temperature (C/yr) from 1994 to 2013." Maps created by Kaye LaFond for NOAA GLERL.Here are 2 excepts from the blog of the Union of Concerned Scientists Louisiana, August 2016: Im going home to see if I have a home .Ellicot City, Maryland, July 2016: Oh my god. Theres people in the water .West Virginia, June 2016: 23 dead, thousands homeless after devastating flood .What do these events (and 5 more since April 2015) have in common? They were all considered very low probability, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center created maps of annual exceedance probabilities (AEPs) for all of them...One cant help but notice that over these 15 months, 8 rain events were off the probability charts, so to speak. Yes, climate change fingerprint is on these events, including the Louisiana flood, considered the worst natural disaster in the US since hurricane Sandy Special conditions mainly fueled by climate change were behind this record event...": "Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Melissa Leake.". Dana Nuccitelli reports at The Guardian : "Scientists have pieced together historical records to reconstruct Arctic sea ice extent over the past 125 years. The results are shown in the figure (above). The red line, showing the extent at the end of the summer melt season, is the most critical. Arctic sea ice extent in recent years is by far the lowest its been, with about half of the historical coverage gone, and the decline the fastest its been in recorded history...": "Time series of Arctic sea ice extent, 1850-2013, for March (blue line) and September (red line)." Illustration: Walsh et al. (2016)Climate scientist Heidi Cullen connects the dots at The New York Times : "July wasnt just hot it was the hottest month ever recorded, according to NASA. And this year is likely to be the hottest year on record. Fourteen of the 15 hottest years have occurred since 2000, as heat waves have become more frequent, more intense and longer lasting. A study in the journal Nature Climate Change last year found that three of every four daily heat extremes can be tied to global warming. This map provides a glimpse of our future if nothing is done to slow climate change. By the end of the century, the number of 100-degree days will skyrocket, making working or playing outdoors unbearable, and sometimes deadly ..."Here's an excerpt from MTV: "...A Monmouth poll from December found that 75 percent of Americans aged 18 to 34 think the government should be doing more to prevent climate change. On top of that, groups that cater to conservative climate-caring types have been proliferating as Earth keeps breaking temperature records. There is Meyaard-Schaaps aforementioned Young Evangelicals for Climate Action , which tries to get politicians and faith leaders to think about climate change as a moral issue. There are Young Conservatives for Energy Reform and republicEN , which advocate that being conscious of the environment is just economically smart. They definitely arent in total agreement with the more progressive and familiar environmental groups out there when it comes to how to solve, or at least mitigate, climate change, favoring free markets and local solutions with no regulations, but they are in firm agreement on the science and the fact that they want their party to acknowledge that this problem exists in the first place..." Vistas de pagina en total Precio del Brent To get the BRENT oil price, please enable Javascript. Precio del WTI To get the oil price, please enable Javascript. Precio del Oro To get the gold price, please enable Javascript. Dolar USA Vs Euro Archivo del blog PROHIBIDO OLVIDAR OTAN = Asesinos OTAN = NATO = Muerte Mas temprano que tarde los derrotaremos Hipocresia 3.0 El principe Carlos habla sobre el alto costo de la vida Es un chiste? 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Feudalismo ayer y hoy Obama, el mentiroso Curiosa coincidencia Un mundo de cerdos No es extrano? La Marioneta Los ricos protestan, los pobres celebran MARICORI Y OBAMA Cuantas muertes este ano? 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Por culpa de Chavez Cerveza Polar Algun dia Colombia volvera a la ideologia de Bolivar Translate LOS REVOLUCIONARIOS NO TOMAN CACA-COLA No se trata solamente de un capricho, sino de una sana actitud en todos los sentidos. Desde la solidaridad con el pueblo colombiano donde la empresa Caca-Cola ha cometido los mas grandes abusos contra sus trabajadores incluyendo el presunto secuestro y asesinato de los dirigentes del sindicato, hasta la proteccion de la salud de nuestros hijos, enviciados por ese jarabe de cola y azucar, que les produce obesidad prematura. Pensemos tambien los revolucionarios, que ese dinero que gastamos en los refrescos es utilizado por esas empresas para financiar el terrorismo en nuestro pais. Es cierto, no se trata solo de la Caca-Cola, sino tambien de la cerveza, de los cigarrillos y todos esos articulos innecesarios y mas que eso, daninos para nuestra salud. Podriamos incluso pensar en un dia de parada para cada uno de ellos. Es cuestion de irnos organizando. Pero para empezar, que tal si dejamos de comprar Caca-Cola y sus similares? Cuando lo extraordinario se vuelve cotidiano... Discurso del Acto de Grado en Barinas en 12 de Febrero del 2005 Queridos Graduandos: Mas que un discurso, quiero dirigirles algunas palabras que escribi anoche, despues de visitar en las clinicas, a los estudiantes heridos, a consecuencia de los enfrentamientos con la policia de hace apenas dos dias. Me ha tocado por razones del destino, ser la persona que les otorgue el titulo que bien merecieron con sus estudios. Y me siento sumamente orgulloso de serlo. Me consta que la Universidad de Los Llanos Occidentales Ezequiel Zamora, a pesar de lo dicho por los enemigos de esta universidad, es una universidad de primera. No tendremos la mejor planta fisica, en los salones hace calor. En el comedor hace calor. Pero no es en lo material que las cosas deben valorarse. El mayor capital es el ser humano. Y en eso, nuestra UNELLEZ, lo digo con conocimiento de causa, esta sobrada. Los llaneros venezolanos son nobles, valientes, de coraje. En la UNELLEZ hacen vida, en este momento, aproximadamente 67000 personas. El 97% de ellas son estudiantes. Jovenes que, como Ustedes hasta el dia de hoy, buscan ese titulo, que constata los anos de dedicacion y de estudio. Los jovenes son el rio de la vida, ustedes graduados deben ser los capitanes de esos barcos que naveguen por el rio de la vida. Nuestra Patria atraviesa momentos muy dificiles porque decidio dejar de ser esa matrona de edad vetusta y complaciente, para ser joven, rebelde y altanera. Nuestra imagen ya no es la de una acaudalada ricachona mayamera. En nuestro rostro brilla ahora la sonrisa del Che Guevara, con su diente delantero torcido, su pelo largo y su boina con la estrella. Entender esto, a mi me ha tomado practicamente toda la vida. Tengo 53 anos, y ya perdi mi oportunidad de derramar sangre joven a causa de un ideal. Ustedes son jovenes, estan en la flor de la vida. No cometan por favor el error de renunciar a su instinto de rebelion. El Che Guevara fue Ministro de a Economia en Cuba. Los billetes y las monedas se adornaban con su rostro. Nada de eso le importo. Primero fue a Angola donde paso un penoso ano de combate. Despues se fue a Bolivia, donde encontro la muerte. El Che era el ultimo que comia, el que cargaba la mochila mas pesada. Siempre se sacrificaba por los demas en un estoicismo que mas parecia fervor religioso que ideologia marxista. Si quieren un modelo de vida. Ahi lo tienen. Dije hace unos momentos que el 97% de la poblacion de la UNELLEZ es estudiante. Se imaginan Ustedes la Universidad que podriamos tener si todos los estudiantes tuvieran la abnegacion, la combatividad del Che? Los momentos que se avecinan van a requerir de una gran unidad del pueblo venezolano. La alternativa de continuar siendo libres o regresar a la pobreza se nos planteara en los proximos dias de forma enmascarada, o quizas peor, desenmascarada, vestida con uniforme de soldado del Imperio. Por nuestra parte podemos esperar lo mejor. La macroeconomia no podria ir mejor, la justicia social ha mejorado notablemente. Las misiones ocupan un papel muy importante en el pago de dicha justicia social. Aqui en Barinas ya hemos cumplido con dos de las misiones, la mision Robinson y la mision Sucre. No hay analfabetismo y no hay exclusion en la educacion superior, en estas tierras de Zamora. Pero ay malhaya! Son precisamente estos exitos los que nos hacen mas antipaticos al Imperio. Para ellos, somos inclusive un mal ejemplo que se esta contagiando al resto del continente y cuidado sino al resto del mundo. Nunca venceremos al Imperio. Estara siempre ahi, acechando. Por lo menos hasta que el mismo no se autodestruya. Porque, sepanlo senores, el neoliberalismo es canibal. Cuando le ataque el hambre, se devorara a si mismo. Ustedes, queridos graduandos, a partir de hoy pasan a conformar la elite profesional que debe sostener este pais en los proximos cuarenta o cincuenta anos. Anos decisivos para el logro de nuestra libertad y del rescate de nuestra Soberania. No se dejen comprar. No se dejen corromper. No se dejen gritar. No se dejen pisar. Que nadie les diga que comer, o que vestirse, o que leer. Sean siempre autenticos, rebeldes, contestatarios. Pero eso si, profundamente patriotas, dignos de ser hijos de Bolivar. Muchas gracias y que Dios los bendiga. Alguna duda? Medio siglo de Holocausto Palestino Oscar Zanartu Nacio en Caracas en 1960. Ha realizado exposiciones individuales en las galerias Minotauro, Clave y San Francisco, y en salas de Coro, estado Falcon, y Puerto Ordaz, estado Bolivar. En Paris su obra ha sido exhibida en el Centro Cultural Tanagra, en la Exposicion Cite Internationale des Arts, en las galerias De Mars y Arver Space, al igual que en la Galeria Municipal Levallois, en Levallois Perret (Francia). En muestras colectivas, su obra se ha expuesto en Belgica, Francia, Estados Unidos y Venezuela; en Caracas intervino en la exposicion "Del genesis a la memoria", 1995, organizada por la Fundacion La Previsora. En 1982 obtuvo el Premio Nacional Critven y en 1990 la Mencion de Honor Jose Antonio Paez, en la Embajada de Venezuela en Paris. En 1991 se le concedio el primer premio de Pintura Itinerante, en Levallois Perret, Francia. OZ1 OZ2 OZ3 OZ4 Homenaje a Jason Galarraga La Victoria de Samotracia Odalisca Mas fotos de la nevada del pasado agosto 2008 La Sierra Nevada de Merida Nuestro precioso Churum Meru Homenaje a Picasso Autoretrato Sabes lo que bebes en una Coca-Cola? La formula de la Pepsi tiene una diferencia basica con la de la Coca-Cola y es intencional, para evitar el proceso judicial. La diferencia es a proposito, pero suficientemente parecida como para atraer a los consumidores de Coca-Cola que prefieren un gusto diferente con menos sal y azucar. Mi profesion? Tuve que aprender quimica, entender todo sobre componentes de gaseosas, conservantes, sales, acidos, cafeina, enlatado, produccion, permisos, aprobaciones y muchas otras cosas. Monte mi propio mini-laboratorio de analisis de productos. Sal en la Coca Cola? A patadas. El Cloruro de Sodio no solo refresca sino da mas sed, como para pedir otra gaseosa. Y no resulta desagradable porque la sal mata literalmente la sensibilidad al dulce... del que por cierto tambien tiene mucho: 39 gramos de azucar. De los 350 gramos de producto liquido, mas del 10% es azucar, o sea que en una lata de Coca-Cola mas de un centimetro y medio es puro azucar en polvo. Aproximadamente tres cucharadas soperas llenas de azucar por lata!!La formula de la Coca Cola es muy sencilla: Concentrado de azucar quemado caramelo- para dar color oscuro y gusto Acido fosforito (para darle el sabor acido) azucar (HFCS-jarabe de maiz de alta fructosa) Extracto de hojas de la planta de Coca (Africa e India) y otros pocos aromatizantes naturales de otras plantas Mucha Cafeina Conservante que puede ser Benzoato de Sodio o Potasio Dioxido de Carbono en cantidad para sentir freir la lengua cuando se bebe Sal para dar la sensacion de refrigeracion El uso del acido fosforito y no del acido citrico como en todas las demas gaseosas, es para dar la sensacion de dientes y boca limpia al beber. El acido fosforito literalmente frie todo y dana el esmalte de los dientes, cosa que el acido citrico lo hace en menor grado.Trate de comprar acido fosforito para ver las mil recomendaciones de seguridad que te dan para su manipulacion (quema el cristalino del ojo, quema la piel, etc...). Esta prohibido usar el acido fosforito en cualquier otra gaseosa; solo la Coca Cola tiene permiso. Porque claro, sin el acido fosforico, la Coca Cola sabria a jabon.El extracto de coca y otras hojas casi no cambia en nada el sabor. Es mas bien un efecto cosmetico. El extracto forma parte de la Coca-Cola porque legalmente tiene que ser asi. Pero sin el, no se nota ninguna diferencia en el gusto, que esta dado basicamente por las cantidades diferentes de azucar, azucar quemada, sales, acidos y conservantes.Sabor a que...? ja, ja, ja. Aqui en Bartow, sur de Orlando, hay una empresa quimica que produce aromatizantes y esencias para zumos. Envian diariamente camionadas de sales concentradas y esencias para las fabricas de helados, gaseosas, jugos, enlatados y comida colorida y aromatizada.Cuando visite por primera vez la fabrica, pedi ver el deposito de concentrados de frutas, que deberia ser inmenso, especialmente los de naranja, pina, fresa y tantos otros. El encargado me miro, se rio y me llevo a visitar los depositos inmensos... pero de colorantes y componentes quimicos. Las gaseosa de naranja no contiene naranja. En los zumos dizque de fresa, hasta los puntitos que quedan en suspension estan hechos de goma (una liga quimica que envuelve un semi-polimero). Pina, es un popurri de acidos y goma. La esencia para helado de aguacate usa peroxido de hidrogeno (agua oxigenada) para dar la sensacion espumosa tipica del aguacate. Bebidas Light? Quieres saber la cantidad de basura que tiene un refresco 'light'? Yo ni siquiera los uso para destapar mi lavaplatos pues temo que danen los tubos de PVC. Los productos endulzantes 'ligth' tienen una vida media muy corta. Por ejemplo el Despues de toda mi experiencia con la produccion de bebidas embasadas, puedo afirmar sin dudar un segundo: la mejor bebida es el agua, como tambien los jugos exprimidos de naranja o limon. Nada mas, cero azucar y cero sal. Publicado por loretahur En realidad, la formula secreta de la Coca-Cola se puede detallar en 18 segundos en cualquier espectrometro optico, y basicamente la conocen hasta los perros. Lo que ocurre es que no se puede fabricar igual, a no ser que uno disponga de unos cuantos millones de dolares para ganarle la demanda que te metera la Coca-Cola ante la justicia (ellos no perderian).La formula de la Pepsi tiene una diferencia basica con la de la Coca-Cola y es intencional, para evitar el proceso judicial. La diferencia es a proposito, pero suficientemente parecida como para atraer a los consumidores de Coca-Cola que prefieren un gusto diferente con menos sal y azucar.Tuve que aprender quimica, entender todo sobre componentes de gaseosas, conservantes, sales, acidos, cafeina, enlatado, produccion, permisos, aprobaciones y muchas otras cosas. Monte mi propio mini-laboratorio de analisis de productos.A patadas. El Cloruro de Sodio no solo refresca sino da mas sed, como para pedir otra gaseosa. Y no resulta desagradable porque la sal mata literalmente la sensibilidad al dulce... del que por cierto tambien tiene mucho: 39 gramos de azucar.De los 350 gramos de producto liquido, mas del 10% es azucar, o sea que en una lata de Coca-Cola mas de un centimetro y medio es puro azucar en polvo. Aproximadamente tres cucharadas soperas llenas de azucar por lata!!La formula de la Coca Cola es muy sencilla:Concentrado de azucar quemado caramelo- para dar color oscuro y gustoAcido fosforito (para darle el sabor acido)azucar (HFCS-jarabe de maiz de alta fructosa)Extracto de hojas de la planta de Coca (Africa e India) y otros pocos aromatizantes naturales de otras plantasMucha CafeinaConservante que puede ser Benzoato de Sodio o PotasioDioxido de Carbono en cantidad para sentir freir la lengua cuando se bebeSal para dar la sensacion de refrigeracionEl uso del acido fosforito y no del acido citrico como en todas las demas gaseosas, es para dar la sensacion de dientes y boca limpia al beber. El acido fosforito literalmente frie todo y dana el esmalte de los dientes, cosa que el acido citrico lo hace en menor grado.Trate de comprar acido fosforito para ver las mil recomendaciones de seguridad que te dan para su manipulacion (quema el cristalino del ojo, quema la piel, etc...). Esta prohibido usar el acido fosforito en cualquier otra gaseosa; solo la Coca Cola tiene permiso. Porque claro, sin el acido fosforico, la Coca Cola sabria a jabon.El extracto de coca y otras hojas casi no cambia en nada el sabor. Es mas bien un efecto cosmetico. El extracto forma parte de la Coca-Cola porque legalmente tiene que ser asi. Pero sin el, no se nota ninguna diferencia en el gusto, que esta dado basicamente por las cantidades diferentes de azucar, azucar quemada, sales, acidos y conservantes.Sabor a que...? ja, ja, ja.Aqui en Bartow, sur de Orlando, hay una empresa quimica que produce aromatizantes y esencias para zumos. Envian diariamente camionadas de sales concentradas y esencias para las fabricas de helados, gaseosas, jugos, enlatados y comida colorida y aromatizada.Cuando visite por primera vez la fabrica, pedi ver el deposito de concentrados de frutas, que deberia ser inmenso, especialmente los de naranja, pina, fresa y tantos otros. El encargado me miro, se rio y me llevo a visitar los depositos inmensos... pero de colorantes y componentes quimicos.Las gaseosa de naranja no contiene naranja.En los zumos dizque de fresa, hasta los puntitos que quedan en suspension estan hechos de goma (una liga quimica que envuelve un semi-polimero).Pina, es un popurri de acidos y goma.La esencia para helado de aguacate usa peroxido de hidrogeno (agua oxigenada) para dar la sensacion espumosa tipica del aguacate.Quieres saber la cantidad de basura que tiene un refresco 'light'? Yo ni siquiera los uso para destapar mi lavaplatos pues temo que danen los tubos de PVC. Los productos endulzantes 'ligth' tienen una vida media muy corta. Por ejemplo el aspartamo , despues de tres semanas mojado, pasa a tener gusto de trapo viejo sucio.Para evitar eso, se agregan una infinidad de otros productos quimicos, uno para alargar la vida del aspartamo, otro para neutralizar el color, otro para mantener el tercer quimico en suspension porque sino el fondo de la gaseosa quedaria oscuro, otro para evitar la cristalizacion del aspartamo, otro para realzar el sabor, dar mas intensidad al acido citrico o fosforito que perderia su sabor por el efecto de los cuatro productos quimicos iniciales... y asi sucesivamente.Un consejo final !!Despues de toda mi experiencia con la produccion de bebidas embasadas, puedo afirmar sin dudar un segundo: la mejor bebida es el agua, como tambien los jugos exprimidos de naranja o limon. Nada mas, cero azucar y cero sal.Publicado por loretahur MARGARINA o MANTEQUILLA La margarina fue producida originalmente para engordar a los pavos; cuandolo que hizo en realidad fue matarlos.Las personas que habian puesto el dinero para la investigacion quisieronrecobrarlo asi que empezaron a pensar en una forma de hacerlo.Tenian una sustancia blanca, que no tenia ningun atractivo como comestible,asi que le anadieron el color amarillo, para venderselo a lagente en lugar de la mantequilla.Que tal esa?... Ahora han sacado algunos nuevos sabores para vender mas alos incautos como usted y yo.CONOCE USTED la diferencia entre la margarina y la mantequilla?Siga leyendo hasta el final... porque se pone bastante interesante!Comparacion entre mantequilla y margarina: 1.- Ambas tienen la misma cantidad de calorias. 2.- La mantequilla es ligeramente mas alta en grasas saturadas: 8 gramos,comparada con los 5 gramos que tiene la margarina. 3.- Comer margarina en vez de mantequilla puede aumentar en 53% el riesgo deenfermedades coronarias en las mujeres, de acuerdo con un estudiomedico reciente de la Universidad de Harvard. 4.- Comer mantequilla aumenta la absorcion de gran cantidad de nutrientesque se encuentran en otros alimentos. 5.- La mantequilla provee beneficios nutricionales propios mientras lamargarina tiene solo los que le hayan sido anadidos al fabricarla. 6.- La mantequilla sabe mucho mejor que la margarina y mejora el sabor deotros alimentos.7.- La mantequilla ha existido durante siglos mientras que la margarinatiene menos de 100 anos. Ahora... sobre la margarina: 1.- Es muy alta en acidos grasos trans. (Si, esos que recien ahora loscientificos descubrieron que son malisimos y los gobiernoscomenzaron a prohibirlos) . 2.- Triple riesgo de enfermedades coronarias. 3.- Aumenta el colesterol total y el LDL (el colesterol malo) y disminuye elHDL (el colesterol bueno). 4.- Aumenta en cinco veces el riesgo de cancer. 5.- Disminuye la calidad de la leche materna. 6.- Disminuye la reaccion inmunologica del organismo. 7.- Disminuye la reaccion a la insulina. Y he aqui el factor mas inquietante (AQUI ESTA LA PARTE MAS INTERESANTE! ):A la margarina le falta UNA MOLECULA para ser PLASTICO...!!Solo este hecho es suficiente para evitar el uso de la margarina de porvida, y de cualquier otra cosa que sea hidrogenada (esto significaque se le anade hidrogeno, lo cual cambia la estructura molecular de lassubstancias).Usted puede ensayar lo siguiente:Compre un poco de margarina y dejela en el garaje o en un sitio sombreado.Dentro de unos dias notara dos cosas: * No habra moscas; ni siquiera esos molestos bichos se le acercaran (esto yale debe decir a usted algo). * No se pudre ni huele mal o diferente porque no tiene valor nutritivo; nadacrece en ella. Ni siquiera los diminutos microorganismos puedencrecer en ella.Por que? Porque es casi plastico!! No a la guerra, Si a la Paz Misterios de la ciencia... Los costos de la guerra medicos y capitalismo... Capitalismo... medicos (2) Quien educa a nuestros hijos? Los Medios... Sin Palabras... Chistes feministas - Cual es el problema, Eva? - Se que me has creado, que me has dado este hermoso jardin, todos estos maravillosos animales y esa serpiente con la que me muero de risa... pero no soy del todo feliz... - Como es eso, Eva? - replico Dios desde las alturas. - Me encuentro sola, y ademas estoy harta de comer manzanas... - Bueno Eva, en tal caso, tengo una solucion... creare un hombre para ti. - Que es un hombre? - Un hombre sera una criatura imperfecta, con muchas artimanas. Mentira, hara trampas, sera engreido... vamos, que te va a dar problemas... Pero, va a ser mas fuerte y rapido que tu y le gustara cazar y matar cosas... Tendra un aspecto simple, pero como te estas quejando, le creare de tal forma que satisfaga tus... eh... necesidades fisicas... Y tampoco sera muy listo, y destacara en cosas infantiles como pegarse o dar patadas a un balon... Necesitara tu consejo siempre para actuar cuerdamente. - Suena bien - dijo Eva, mientras levantaba la ceja ironicamente. - Cual es el truco?. - Pues... que lo tendras con una condicion. - Cual? - Como te decia, sera chulo, arrogante y muy narcisista... asi que le tendras que hacer creer que le hice a el primero... recuerda... es nuestro secreto... de mujer a mujer. Por que a los hombres no les puede dar la enfermedad de las vacas locas? Porque todos son unos cerdos Un dia, en el Paraiso, Eva llamo a Dios: Tengo un problema.- Cual es el problema, Eva?- Se que me has creado, que me has dado este hermoso jardin, todos estos maravillosos animales y esa serpiente con la que me muero de risa... pero no soy del todo feliz... - Como es eso, Eva? - replico Dios desde las alturas.- Me encuentro sola, y ademas estoy harta de comer manzanas...- Bueno Eva, en tal caso, tengo una solucion... creare un hombre para ti.- Que es un hombre?- Un hombre sera una criatura imperfecta, con muchas artimanas. Mentira, hara trampas, sera engreido... vamos, que te va a dar problemas... Pero, va a ser mas fuerte y rapido que tu y le gustara cazar y matar cosas... Tendra un aspecto simple, pero como te estas quejando, le creare de tal forma que satisfaga tus... eh... necesidades fisicas... Y tampoco sera muy listo, y destacara en cosas infantiles como pegarse o dar patadas a un balon... Necesitara tu consejo siempre para actuar cuerdamente.- Suena bien - dijo Eva, mientras levantaba la ceja ironicamente.- Cual es el truco?.- Pues... que lo tendras con una condicion.- Cual?- Como te decia, sera chulo, arrogante y muy narcisista... asi que le tendras que hacer creer que le hice a el primero... recuerda... es nuestro secreto... de mujer a mujer.Por que a los hombres no les puede dar la enfermedad de las vacas locas? Porque todos son unos cerdos Ellas... Ellas (2)... Tres venganzas femeninas VENGANZA NUMERO 1 Hoy mi hija cumple 21 anos y estoy muy contento porque es el ultimo pago de pension alimenticia que le doy, asi que llame a mi hijita para que viniera a mi casa y cuando llego le dije: -Hijita, quiero que lleves este cheque a casa de tu mama y que le digas que: Este es el ultimo maldito cheque que va recibir de mi en todo lo que le queda de su puta vida!!! Quiero que me digas la expresion que pone en su rostro. Asi que mi hija fue a entregar el cheque. Yo estaba ansioso por saber lo que la bruja tenia que decir y que cara pondria. Cuando mi hijita entro, le pregunte inmediatamente: -Que fue lo que te dijo tu madre? -Me dijo que justamente estaba esperando este dia para decirte que no eres mi papa! VENGANZA NUMERO 2 Un hombre que siempre molestaba a su mujer, paso un dia por la casa de unos amigos para que lo acompanaran al aeropuerto a dejar a su esposa que viajaba a Paris. A la salida de inmigracion, frente a todo el mundo, el le desea buen viaje y en tono burlon le grita: - Amor, no te olvides de traerme una hermosa francesita Ja ja ja!! Ella bajo la cabeza y se embarco muy molesta. La mujer paso quince dias en Francia. El marido otra vez pidio a sus amigos que lo acompanasen al aeropuerto a recibirla. Al verla llegar, lo primero que le grita a toda voz es: - Y amor me trajiste mi francesita?? - Hice todo lo posible, - contesta ella - ahora solo tenemos que rezar para que nazca nina. VENGANZA NUMERO 3 El marido, en su lecho de muerte, llama a su mujer. Con voz ronca y ya debil, le dice: - Muy bien, llego mi hora, pero antes quiero hacerte una confesion. - No, no, tranquilo, tu no debes hacer ningun esfuerzo. - Pero, mujer, es preciso - insiste el marido - Es preciso morir en paz. Te quiero confesar algo. - Esta bien, esta bien. Habla! - He tenido relaciones con tu hermana, tu mama y tu mejor amiga. - Lo se, lo se Por eso te envenene, hijo de puta!!! machismo y cibernetica Chiste machista La NASA ha enviado al espacio una mision experimental tripulada por dos monos y una mujer.Apenas abandona la atmosfera, se establece comunicacion con Houston. -Atencion, simio 1, verifique sistemas hidraulicos, controle adecuada presion de los propulsores de arranque. A 60.000 pies disminuya un 25% la velocidad. El simio hace la sena de OK. -Atencion, simio 2, nivele al cruzar la estratosfera y active sistemas anticongelantes. No olvide monitorear sistemas de comunicacion e indicadores de presion. Comprendido?. El simio hace la sena de OK. -Atencion, Houston llamando a mujer: no se olvide. -Mujer: Si, si, ya se! -interrumpe enojada- que no me olvide darles de comer a estos monos de mierda y que no se me vaya a ocurrir tocar nada!. .Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti. Un abogado mantiene un romance con su secretaria.Al poco tiempo, esta queda embarazada y el abogado, que no quiere que su esposa se entere, le da a la secretaria una buena suma de dinero y le pide que se vaya a parir a Italia.Esta pregunta: Y como voy a hacerte saber cuando nazca el bebe ? El abogado responde: Para que mi mujer no se entere, tan solo enviame una postal y escribe por detras: Spaghetti. Y no te preocupes mas, que yo me encargare de todos los gastos. Pasan los meses y una manana la esposa del abogado lo llama al bufete, algo exaltada: Querido, acabo de recibir el correo y hay una postal muy extrana viene desde Italia. La verdad, no entiendo que significa.El abogado, tratando de ocultar sus nervios, contesta:Espera a que llegue a casa, a ver si yo entiendoCuando el hombre llega a casa y lee la postal, cae al suelo fulminado por un infarto.Llega una ambulancia y se lo lleva. Ya en el hospital, el jefe de cardiologia se queda consolando a la esposa y le pregunta cual ha sido el evento que precipito tan masivo ataque cardiaco. Entonces la esposa saca la postal y se la muestra diciendole: No me explico, doctor; el solamente leyo esta postal. Vea usted mismo lo que trae escrito.Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti."Tres con salchicha y albondigas y dos con almejas Gol !!!! Chistes de Borrachos Entra un borracho a su casa todo manchado con lapiz labial por todos lados hecho un desastre, y la mujer le pregunta:-Hombre que te paso?Y el borracho le responde:-No me vas a creer, me pelee con un payaso! Este es un borracho que entra en un bar y le dice al camarero:-Me da cinco copas de whisky?Al rato:-Me da cuatro?Al rato:-Me da tres copas?Despues:-Me da dos copas?Luego le dice:-Me da una copa?Y le dice al camarero:-Ves? Cuanto menos bebo, mas borracho estoy! Invasions from alien species such as grey squirrels threaten economies and livelihoods. Invasions from alien species such as Japanese Knotweed and grey squirrels threaten the economies and livelihoods of residents of some of the world's poorest nations, new University of Exeter research shows. The damage caused by non-native species like the Harlequin ladybird and mink, threaten global biodiversity and cost global economies US$1.4 trillion annually. They can transmit disease, choke river systems and wells, prevent cattle being able to graze and out-compete or eat native species. This is often seen as a "first world" problem. Experts have now shown these invasions are also threatening the last remaining biodiversity strongholds in the world's most fragile economies. One sixth of the global land surface is highly vulnerable to invasion, including substantial areas in developing nations and areas with diverse species of birds and plants. A new study says better action is needed to protect people and the environment in areas with high levels of poverty. Increasing globalization, especially imports of pets and plants, has caused much of the biological invasions in the past. In the future air travel will be responsible for biological invasions of Africa and Asia. This will be exacerbated by climate change, and intensifying agriculture, which make it easier for invasive species to become established. Rich nations are accustomed to the nuisance of invasive alien species, and are increasingly taking protective action. The study outlines how poorer economies are crucially reliant on international trade and have little power to regulate imports, so the introduction of highly dangerous species continues unchecked. Researchers have evaluated the global 21st century threat from invasive species, and have found many developing nations are not capable of responding properly. They hope their findings will lead to governments and NGOs improving schemes to warn communities of the threats of biological invasion and provide solutions. Dr Regan Early, who lead the study, said: "Rampant globalisation will lead to invasions in countries with the least capability to deal with them. We need more international cooperation, and the US, Australia and nations in Europe to share expertise." Study co-author Ines Ibanez of the University of Michigan, said: "In the coming years, the negative impacts associated with the introduction of harmful species will likely be exacerbated by other global stressors, such as climate change, landscape degradation and pollution. "Developed and developing countriesespecially the lattermay lack the operational infrastructure to prevent and deal with harmful introductions." Purdue University's Jeffrey Dukes, who also co-authored the study, said that dramatic changes in trade, transport and the environment pose challenges to native species that have evolved over thousands of years to be well adapted to their ecosystems. "We're rapidly shifting the ground under native species," he said. "While species can presumably evolve to be better adapted to new conditions, we don't know how long that could take." The researchers collected information about trade, particularly plants and pets and air travel and compared this to information about climate change, wildlife and agriculture to model where invasions are likely to be identified. Biological invasions in the developing world so far have included the recent influx of Diamondback moths, panama disease, which wiped out banana plantations in central and south America, and prickly pear, which devastated grassland in Africa, leading to cattle being malnourished and people losing their livelihoods. A new strain of panama disease currently threatens the global banana market. It can take more than a decade for an invasion to take hold. Global threats from invasive species in the 21st Century and national response capacities is published in the journal Nature Communications. More information: Regan Early et al. Global threats from invasive alien species in the twenty-first century and national response capacities, Nature Communications (2016). DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12485 Journal information: Nature Communications Regan Early et al. Global threats from invasive alien species in the twenty-first century and national response capacities,(2016). DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12485 Others being afraid of you as you walk by. Shopping in a store and being followed by an employee. Being verbally assaulted with racist words or threatened. These are instances of "everyday discrimination" that are experienced by a broad cross-section of black men. According to a new University of Michigan study, black men who have had contact with the criminal justice system are especially likely to report these events, including the more severe examples of everyday discrimination. The majority of research on discrimination against black menboth in general and among those who have had contact with the criminal justice systemfocuses on what are termed "major" occurrences, such as being unfairly fired from a job, denied bank loans, or being stopped and harassed by police or security personnel. Everyday discrimination, in contrast, represents less overt forms of intolerance and unfair treatment (e.g., being treated with less respect) that occur during commonplace social encounters. "Everyday discrimination represents less serious forms of discrimination but are still common and impactful on individuals," said Robert Joseph Taylor, the Harold R. Johnson Professor of Social Work and the study's lead author. Taylor and colleagues used data from the Institute for Social Research's Survey Research Center along with the Program for Research on Black Americans. A national sample which included more than 1,200 African-American men answered questions about everyday discrimination from February 2001 to June 2003. The men included those who have never been arrested, those who have been arrested but not incarcerated, and those who had a previous history of criminal justice intervention and incarceration (i.e., reform school, detention, jail or prison). Instances of everyday discrimination included: being treated with less courtesy, perceived as not smart, being perceived as dishonest, being insulted and being threatened or harassed. About 1 in 5 black men reported that people acted as if they were better than them on a daily or weekly basis. Roughly 10 percent reported that people acted as if they were afraid of them, they were treated with less courtesy or they were seen as not smart on a daily or weekly basis. Another significant finding revealed that 1 in 10 black men said they encountered physical or psychological threats at least a few times a year. Black men who had contact with the criminal justice system were more likely to report various types and more serious forms of discrimination compared to those who have not been involved in the criminal justice system, Taylor said. For the former group, this could pose other problems, especially in situations in which they are threatened or harassed. "These more serious types of discrimination are important because they could potentially escalate to verbal or physical altercations or other problem behaviors that could potentially result in being remanded to custody, particularly for violations of probation or parole," said Taylor, who also directs the Program for Research on Black Americans at the Institute for Social Research. Across the board, younger black men reported more instances of everyday discrimination than did older men. Further, in several instances, criminal justice contact did not predict instances of everyday discrimination. Irrespective of whether they had contact with the criminal justice system, African-American men experienced comparable types of unfair treatment in terms of others perceiving themselves as better, experiencing less courtesy, and receiving less respect, Taylor said. Taylor collaborated with Reuben Miller, U-M assistant professor of social work; Dawne Mouzon, assistant professor at Rutgers University; Verna Keith, professor at Texas A&M University; and Linda Chatters, U-M professor of social work and public health. The findings will appear in a future issue of the scientific journal Race and Justice. Explore further Trauma exposure linked to African-Americans, criminal justice system The "Citizen Science" trend: MedUni Viennas Pollen Monitoring Service is a prime example. Credit: Medical University of Vienna "Citizen science" is one of the latest trends in science it is a scientific method whereby projects are carried out with considerable input from interested parties and affected laypeople. The Austrian Pollen Monitoring service at MedUni Vienna's Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases is a prime example of this. In most cases, Citizen science is conducted on several different levels. The simplest form of involvement is Crowdsourcing, where people provide specific data, Level 2 involves Distributed Intelligence (for example evaluating photographs from photographic case studies) Level 3 (Participative Science) is where the public is involved in defining questions and problems and in data collection. An extreme example is Level 4, Extreme citizen science, which is found predominantly in astronomy and ornithology, where there is a long tradition of lay research. MedUni Vienna's Pollen Monitoring Service (www.pollenwarndienst.at) headed up by Uwe E. Berger has engaged on Level 3 with a pollen diary that has been in use since 2009. This service for pollen allergy sufferers is already available in 13 European countries: Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland, Croatia, Hungary, Lithuania, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey, with more than 150,000 users in each country. A "Pollen App" has been available since 2013 and has been downloaded 320,000 times worldwide. Since March 2012, a total of around 1.3 million people have accessed the Pollen Monitoring Service website. "Our personalised pollen alert is possible because of the entries made by the thousands of people who use our service. It is the only one of its kind in the world," says Berger. Every pollen allergy sufferer has their own threshold, a different level of sensitivity and different reactions to pollen counts but, together in a huge database, they provide a reasonable forecast of the expected situation for an individual, on a day-by-day basis. Berger: "The more data we collect, the more accurate the individual forecasts will be." By making accurate entries in the pollen diary, each individual can therefore not only help themselves in the evaluation of therapies but everybody else as well. Hence, the pollen diary has a dual function for personalised medicine: On the one hand, personal treatment successes can be analysed and compared and, on the other, the data and services offered on the pollenwarndienst.at website help with the early detection of allergies and therefore the ability to manage them correctly. Because of the large amount of data available, it is now possible to include previously unconsidered airborne allergens in the map, for example the pollen from Morton Bay alder in December or ash trees, which were previously given little attention because of the much higher counts produced by birch trees. In Austria, more than a million people suffer from a pollen allergy: far fewer from a house dust mite allergy. Nonetheless, there is now a new service offered to sufferers at MedUni Vienna's Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases. At milbentagebuch.at/Mtb/ you will also find a diary and a questionnaire, together with useful tips on how to avoid allergens. Sensitive data strict security A very important aspect of "Citizen science" is the need to keep the sensitive details of the participating public secure, emphasises Berger. MedUni Vienna's Pollen Monitoring Service does this in compliance with strict EU standards, so that it is virtually impossible for data to be passed on to unauthorised parties, and it also uses additional biometric security. Explore further Europe-wide pollen count map unveiled Credit: Victoria University For his Master's research, Stuart focused on restoring balance for trans-tibial amputees while swimminga solution that would improve accessibility and enjoyment, and make it easier for those with below-the-knee amputations to exercise. His Master's thesis, titled "Printable Prosthetics", stemmed from an idea brought to Victoria by the New Zealand Artificial Limb Service (NZALS). Stuart decided to take on their challenge and create the world's first 3D printed swimming prosthesis, which is now reproducible for other amputees. It was this project that introduced Stuart to the medical design field, where he found his passion for working in human centred design, a field he says helps people to solve issues. "I love having the opportunity to improve someone's life through my designs. In this case that meant recreating symmetry throughout the body that is lost due to amputee's imbalance in water. "The current techniques used to make prosthetic limbs leave little room for innovative research and design, so I decided to create a swimming prosthesis using 3D digital technologies." The initial 3D printed prototypes reduced the time it took one of his participants to swim five lengths by 30 percent, by recreating body symmetry for the swimmer. Stuart also identified that for below-the-knee amputees it wasn't only swimming that was difficult, but getting in and out and walking around the pool was an important consideration. He created a special supporting sleeve for the prosthetics, allowing people to walk independently to and from the poolan addition that has enabled and enriched recreational sport for amputees. Stuart says that throughout his time at Victoria he enjoyed how his lecturers at the School of Design strived to introduce students to real-word industry partners, giving students the opportunity to solve problems in their communities. Research into 3D printed prostheses is still underway at Victoria but Stuart is on to the next stroke of his career as he heads off to Germany to further his research in medical development. Explore further Upper limb amputees have better outcomes with prosthetics when trained by fellow amputees E-petition systems used in local government across the UK could help to improve political participation and debate but only if current systems are overhauled, according to new research by leading public policy scholars. Political scientists from the University of Lincoln say the current fragmented approach to e-petitions taken by different local authorities around the country could be transformed through adoption of a simple, unified set of rules. This would help more members of the public feel they can have their voice heard and participate in democratic decision-making on local matters. Currently not all councils in the UK accept e-petitions from the public, or have systems in place to deal with them once submitted. The requirement for local authorities in England and Wales to respond to petitions was repealed in the Localism Act 2011. Instead, such online 'calls to action' are now established at the discretion of each council and there is no obligation to respond to them. The research was conducted by Dr Catherine Bochel and Professor Hugh Bochel, from the University of Lincoln's School of Social & Political Sciences. They reviewed existing research on e-petitions, drawing on Dr Bochel's previous research into the various e-petition systems employed at national, devolved and local levels in the UK. Dr Bochel, who has given evidence to the UK parliament's Procedure Committee and Political and Constitutional Reform Committee on the potential of e-petition systems to support the democratic process, said: "We do recognise e-petitions face a number of challenges, not least those linked to the so-called 'digital divide' and socio-economic factors. "However, e-petitions which are underpinned by an appropriate system for handling them offer a potential way for local authorities to enable citizens to 'reach in' to them, raising issues and putting forward ideas across a whole range of subjects and services. "Rather than relying on authorities to 'reach-out' to public opinion, such systems can bring benefits to councils, including enhancing citizens' engagement with different aspects of the political system, assessing levels of public support for particular initiatives, and educating people about the way in which local authorities work. However, the type of system established by individual councils is a crucial part of the success of any system." A possible model now being proposed for local government e-petition systems includes: Having a clear statement of purpose so petitioners know what they can and cannot achieve Being easy to submit without the need to go through an elected representative No minimum signature threshold to ensure people without backing from influential organisations or the ability to generate lots of publicity have the same opportunity to be considered Offering advice and guidance to petitioners before they submit their petition Being reviewed by a Petitions Committee which could consider each petition and decide on whether and how to progress it Including a tracking system to enable petitioners to see the progress and outcome of their petition online Giving specific feedback to signatories on the topic and eventual outcome Being integrated as part of the wider local political decision-making system Professor Hugh Bochel added: "We have outlined a very simple process which could form a strong foundation for e-petition systems at local authorities while ensuring that people from all backgrounds could participate. A well-designed and appropriately resourced e-petitions system would give people the opportunity to have their voices heard. "This use of digital democracy has the chance to encourage people to engage with the democratic process something we know can be lacking if you just look at voter turnout in recent years. As well as giving the public a voice, e-petitions can help to educate and inform petitioners about local democracy and decision-making." Explore further Predicting political surprises and uprisings before they happen Sex ratios in US counties as of the 2010 census. Credit: Ryan Schacht. Contrary to traditional expectations of unbalanced sex ratios, places with more men than women do not typically experience higher rates of family and social instability, according to a University of Utah study. The study, published today in PLOS ONE by anthropologists Ryan Schacht and Karen Kramer, finds instead that surpluses of men are associated with higher levels of marriage, relationship commitment and paternal involvement, a contrast to prevailing theories that an abundance of single men lead to outcomes of crime, violence and broken homes. "We're trying to challenge notions of male abundance driving negative outcomes," Schacht says. "While unbalanced sex ratios are an important source of family instability and social insecurity, it is increasingly being shown that much of our concern should be reoriented to populations with too many women." Bare branches Widespread concerns about gender ratios' effects on society intensified in the 1980s, largely as a result of China's one-child policy. Preferences for male children led to skewed sex ratios in favor of males, who are projected to reach a surplus of nearly 20 million by 2020. While the one-child policy was relaxed in 2015, the male-bias in China will nonetheless be experienced for generations. Male abundance is particularly worrisome to social scientists because criminological studies consistently find that men are predominantly both the perpetrators and victims of violence. Additionally, men, in general, are typically more aggressive, competitive and prone to risky behavior than women, leading to the prediction that unmarried men destabilize both families and societies. A 2004 book, "Bare Branches," (the term referring to excess unmarried men in Chinese culture) highlighted the potential dangers of such a demographic imbalance in both China and India due to the cultural practice of son preference. "Bare branches theory" became the prevailing paradigm supporting the association between male excess and family and social instability. Family formation in Guyana For Schacht's 2014 doctoral dissertation, he traveled to Guyana to study dynamics of family formation in eight small villages in the country's interior. Economic conditions in the region had spurred local sex-biased migration and shaped sex ratios in each village, providing a laboratory for Schacht to compare family outcomes in response to partner availability. After conducting interviews with more than 300 people, he found that in villages with female-skewed ratios, men behaved stereotypically, engaging in risky sexual behaviors and preferring short-term relationships. But in villages with male-biased ratios, the men preferred sexually committed, long-term relationships with a single partner. "The men on either end of the continuum were very different," Schacht says. "What became clear was that simple sex-based arguments or intuitions were, in some cases, useful rules of thumb, however in many other cases they were inappropriate." The reason, Schacht believes, may lie in an economic theory of mate selection, rooted in the law of supply and demand. "If you are the relatively rare sex, you can be more demanding of a potential partner. You can be choosier, and of the partner you choose, you can be more demanding of what you want in a relationship." When faced with an abundance of women, men's "choosiness" may manifest through a preference for multiple partners and short-term, uncommitted relationships. Additionally, Schacht reviewed the available literature on both Western and non-Western populations. From the review, what became clear was that male-biased societies do not experience greater violence than others. Moreover, he also found that rates of monogamy were highest in male-biased communities. "While we have our own intuitions and preferred theoretical frameworks, ultimately we're data driven scientists," he says. "We try to let the data speak for itself. And what is increasingly clear is that places with more women consistently have more negative outcomes." Men, women and children in America To extrapolate Schacht's findings to a larger, Western population, Schacht and Kramer used U.S. Census data to test the association between sex ratio imbalance and family outcomes across 2,800 counties in all 50 states. They evaluated the relationship between gender ratios and four variables indicative of family stability: The percentage of women and men married in each county, as well as numbers of female-headed households and out-of-wedlock births. An intriguing picture emerged as Schacht mapped out gender ratios across every county. "It is definitely a patchwork," he says. "Every state has counties that are both male- and female-biased." Overall, the West displayed more male-biased counties and the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic contained more female-biased counties. Schacht's results from Guyana held true in the U.S. Adults were more likely to be married if they lived in male-biased counties than if they lived in female-biased counties. Rates of female-headed households and out-of-wedlock births, both factors associated with so-called "fragile families" were lower in male-biased counties. Thus, contrary to popular intuition, they found that when women are rare men are more likely to marry, be part of a family and be sexually committed to a single partner. In a related study, supporting these findings, Schacht found that violent crime rates were also lower in male-biased counties. The results may appear to be paradoxical. "You get more unmarried men when there are fewer of them," Schacht says. "Men may be less interested in committed relationships when they are relatively rare and partners are abundant. Men may be less interested in settling down with a single partner when there are multiple options available." He is also quick to point out that the negative outcomes associated with female-biased counties are probably not driven by the behavior of the women in those counties. "It's not the excess women who are driving the elevated levels of instability," he says. "It's more likely to be from the relatively high proportion of unmarried men." Because Schacht uses population-level data, he is cautious about claims of causality. It's difficult to draw any definite conclusions about which demographic or cultural factors cause certain societal outcomes. Nonetheless, from the characteristics of different counties, Schacht is able to explore possible explanations for the data trends. "The cool thing is that this finding is robust across 2,800 counties in the U.S. for all outcomes of family stability," Schacht says. The prevalence of male-biased counties in Western states may be connected to some of the frontier aspects of the West that persist today, he says, such as ranching, mining, and drilling industries. Utah and Idaho have some of the highest rates of married adults in the nation, also possibly connected to the heritage and culture of Mormon populations in those states. Conversely, the number of female-biased counties in the Southeast could be connected to high incarceration rates, which disproportionately affect young African-American men and remove them from their respective communities. Cause and effect Because the causal link between gender ratios and societal outcomes still needs much research, Schacht doesn't think that moving men into female-biased areas will necessarily clear up societal ills, since there are many demographic factors in play in every community, including levels of poverty, inequality and education, to name a few. "It's not just sex ratio," he says. "It's sex ratio in tandem with a number of other variables that all play a role." Still, his data does not support the prevailing views that an excess of men is a recipe for a societal powder keg. Identifying areas of sex ratio imbalance can help local governments target populations at risk for family instability and resultant negative child education and health outcomes, Schacht says, and accordingly allocate limited resources to do the most good. Cultural factors also come into play when applying Schacht's results to China or India. In India, for example, the caste system may exclude low status men from the pool of available marriageable partners. Thus, in this cultural context, the risky behavior of men may be independent of their local sex ratio, challenging straightforward expectations present in the scientific literature. Regardless of culture, however, the study suggests that people's relationship goals are as much a matter of context as they are of chromosomes. "It's time to move away from simple sex-based arguments about what people want," Schacht says, "because one of the most important factors influencing the kind of relationship one can have is: is anyone available?" PHNOM PENH - The first Cambodia-China Business and Investment Forum will be held on Sept 12 in Nanning city in Southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, according to a Commerce Ministry announcement on Wednesday. The forum will be convened back-to-back with the 13th ASEAN-China Expo, which will be attended by Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, the announcement said, urging businessmen and investors to register for the event. "This business summit is very useful for Cambodian businessmen and investors," it said. The forum will contribute further to boosting trade and investment ties between Cambodia and China. According to the government's figures, trade volume between the two countries was valued at $4.4 billion in 2015, up 18 percent year-on-year. On the investment side, China is the largest investor in the Southeast Asian country with cumulative investment of over $11 billion from 1994 to 2015, according to the Council for Development of Cambodia. MOREAU After eight months of shouting, swearing, and the occasional angry threat, the final straw for the Town Board was an argument over emergency spending. Supervisor Gardner Congdon got into such a yelling match with Principal Account Clerk Fran Thibodeau that other employees in Town Hall closed their doors and could still hear him, Town Board member Gina Leclair said. Congdon wanted Thibodeau to let him spend money to fix flooding damage at Town Hall without Town Board approval, on the grounds that the situation is an emergency. When Leclair heard about it, shed had enough. She called the town attorney, the state Attorney Generals Office, the Comptrollers Office, the Department of Labor and the Board of Elections to find out if Congdon could be restrained in any way. She also called workers rights groups. They all say there is nothing we can do with the way you treat or speak with employees, unless you are doing it in a prejudiced way, but either way, its wrong, she said at Tuesdays Town Board meeting. The yelling and the screaming you regularly converse with employees its wrong. Congdon began to defend himself, but board member Bob Prendergast spoke up to agree with Leclair. Your response is you yell. You rant and rave. You do that, Prendergast said. You have created a hostile work environment. If he acted like that in the private sector, he wouldnt have a job, Prendergast added. Congdon acknowledged that he has raised his voice at times. Youre correct its not effective, he said, but added, I wish Id really raised my voice with (former Building Inspector) Ben (Marcantonio). Leclair interrupted him. Youve said enough mean things about Ben, she said. Mean things? Congdon asked in a tone of disbelief. Yes, Leclair answered. You said to me youd like to grab him by the throat and then you said little Benny and I said you cant say things like that and you said, He is little. As the conversation continued, Congdon proved her point. He suddenly started shouting at a member of the audience. Youre shaking your head at me? he demanded. I dont even care, buddy. Board member Alan Van Tassel quickly interceded, telling Congdon that he was being absolutely inappropriate. Congdon continued to defend himself, but also said he would stop shouting at people. Sometimes when you talk nicely, it doesnt seem to register so you raise your voice a little bit to make yourself heard, he said. And Ive already said I know it doesnt work and Im not going to do it anymore. He still seemed unconvinced that he had actually treated people badly, though. So he turned to Town Clerk Leeann McCabe and asked her about his behavior. McCabe was reluctant to answer, but slowly gave him a full description. Its disturbing the way you treat people. Youre very loud and youre very disruptive. And its unnerving, she said. Im sorry to say, but you asked me. And youre mean to other people. Youre a bully. If his behavior continues, Leclair said Town Board members have two options. They could hold a vote of no confidence, or a vote to censure him. Either way, his behavior would then be sent to the towns Board of Ethics for review, she said. He cannot, however, be recalled. There is no recall option in New York, despite several proposals at the state level. The most recent attempt, in February, never got out of committee in the Assembly. GLENS FALLS Scott Dobert recounted that Darwin Leland, founder of Leland Paper Co., used to stop by Doberts Dairy every Saturday to buy an ice cream cone, usually either butter pecan or cranberry sherbet. Hed always put down a dollar and say, Pile that cone as high as you can for a buck, Dobert said. And then he would say, That cone just tastes so much better wrapped in a Leland napkin. The grandsons of two legendary Glens Falls entrepreneurs have teamed up to launch a new food wholesale business. Jeff and Steven Leland, grandsons of Darwin Leland, have hired Dobert, grandson of Norman Dobert, to manage a new Leland Paper spin-off business, Empire Prime, a wholesale food distributor. The diversification comes as Leland Paper Co. celebrates 65 years in business. Wholesale food is a natural fit with Leland Papers core business of wholesale sales of paper and cleaning products and sales and service of commercial dishwashers and laundry machinery, said Jeff Leland, the companys president. The company has about 1,000 accounts from Orange County to Essex County along the I-87 corridor in New York, and east to Rutland, Vermont. Customers include restaurants, hotels, schools, commercial offices and factories. Leland Paper and the new Empire Prime are separate corporations owned by Jeff and Steven Leland. The two companies share a warehouse, offices and telephone lines at 10 Leland Drive, off Dix Avenue in Glens Falls. The two companies informally assist each other with tasks, such as loading trucks or making deliveries. Empire Prime delivers Leland products to some shared customers, Dobert said. We see it as an incubator for the food service business. And then they may adopt some of our accounts, so to speak, Jeff Leland said. About three years ago, Scott Dobert sold Doberts Dairy, the family-owned business his grandfather founded, to Capital Candy. Now Dobert is getting back into the wholesale food business, but not making ice cream. Jeff and Steven Leland credit their companys longevity to the work ethic of their father, Richard Leland, and grandfather before him, and to the dedication of longstanding employees. Its the momentum that my father and grandfather gave it, said Jeff Leland. He said their grandfather often worked 18 to 20 hours a day. He came out of the Depression. And I dont think he even knew what a vacation was for many years, he said. Four of the companys 25 employees have worked for all three generations of ownership, said Steven Leland, the companys vice president. We have a key group of people who have been there a long time, he said. EDC Warren County President Edward Bartholomew said he met with Leland about six weeks ago to discuss the new venture. The Leland brothers have developed a business plan with a good niche in expanding into the food market, Bartholomew said. Dobert said Empire Prime is off to a good start after 90 days of operation. Customers include Warren County, which is buying dairy products and bread for Warren County Jail; Countryside Adult Home; and the county Office for the Aging meals program, he said. Certainly, they have been very successful in the paper market with a lot of competition, and I feel that they will be very successful with their new undertaking into the food services, Bartholomew said. CORINTH Just about a month into his tenure as Corinths school superintendent, Mark Stratton will need to look for a new middle school principal. The Corinth school board on Monday accepted the resignation of Lisa Meade, effective Aug. 2. Meade has moved over to Hudson Falls to become director of pupil personnel services, where she will oversee special education and support services. Meade, who had been principal since 2012, had been the other finalist for superintendent to replace the retiring Daniel Starr. The board chose Stratton, who had been principal of Glens Falls High School for eight years. Meade said in her resignation letter that it was a bittersweet decision to leave, and she was grateful for the support of the school board and entire community. In March 2015, Meade was named Middle School Principal of the Year by the School Administrators Association of New York State. During her time at the roughly 270-student middle school, Meade had led efforts to use data to raise student achievement and put in place the Common Core standards. The district was removed from the list of being a School in Need of Improvement. Meade also began a program to improve the school culture by offering incentives and rewards for students who display positive behavior, according to Post-Star archives. She helped implement project-based learning and created a maker space room in the school, where students can experiment with hands-on projects related to science, technology, engineering and math. Other accomplishments she cited in the letter were increasing time for common planning and professional learning. The district also overhauled its grading and homework practices and created a pilot program to advise students in need of behavioral support. Meade said the school will continue to do great things under Strattons leadership. Meade said in a follow-up email that not getting the superintendent position was not a factor in her decision to leave for Hudson falls. This is a district-level position that will expand my career experience and allow me to impact opportunities for so many more students, she said. Before becoming principal, Meade spent six years as Corinths director of special education. Meade has been in education since 1992 and also taught special education in the Indian Lake, Newcomb and Fort Edward school districts. Stratton said he wished Meade well in her future endeavors. Based on the brief time I was able to work with Lisa, Im very impressed with her work ethic, her attention to detail. Shes very well connected around the area and does a lot with professional development, he said. Stratton said he is looking to fill the position as soon as possible. The deadline for the applications is Sept. 16. The salary is based on experience. QUEENSBURY More veterans courts and transportation to the Albany Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany were among ideas suggested by advocates for veterans issues at a forum Wednesday at SUNY Adirondack. Benjamin Pomerance, deputy director of program development for the state Division of Veterans Affairs, said the agency takes seriously its mission to connect veterans to the full complement of state and federal benefits to which they are entitled. Pomerance said officials want to get out of Albany and get thoughts and ideas from people. Every year, each major state government department is allowed to send its wish list of items for the Legislature to consider. Last year, all five of our department bills came from ideas that were raised from one or more of our community conversations, he said at the forum at SUNY Adirondack for members of the military, veterans and their families. The event was sponsored by the state Division of Veterans Affairs and the State University of New York. Diana Pasterchick, SUNY veteran and military affairs coordinator, spoke about her newly created position. She has been working since last December to compile data on veterans from the various campuses. She has also been trying to put together online training for college officials about how to deal with student veterans. Pasterchick, a veteran herself, said she is used to structure and believes other former military personnel feel the same way. Because a lot of folks have never dealt with the military culture, just to have a general broad knowledge of everything in a 10- to 15-minute online class is what Im going for, she said. SUNY Adirondack student Nathan Mount of Greenfield, an Army veteran, said veterans bring a different perspective. Dont treat them like other students that they have because were not, because we have life experience. Dont just blow off what we say, he said. The military veterans tend to be more mature, he added. Pasterchick said another misconception is it is young men in their 20s who are getting out of the service and attending college for a degree or vocational training. The average age of people who completed her college veteran survey was 37, she said. Veterans do not want to be singled out as different. Pomerance said he has heard that some veterans tend to keep quiet about their military service. When he was at a law conference in New Orleans, he heard another speaker say he was treated differently once it was known he had served in the military. I no longer became Joe Smith the student. I was now the veteran, Pomerance said. Beth Faller, a counselor at SUNY Adirondack, said a professor had asked veterans in his class to stand up because he wanted to thank them. People should not do that, she said. Some veterans need attention because they are struggling, according to Marty Dinan, director of veteran enrollment at The College of Saint Rose in Albany. He said military people may be used to a cycle of training and reward. They complete basic training and earn a rank. They complete additional training and may earn a higher rank. Sometimes, college is a huge culture adjustment, Dinan said. Frank McClement, director of the Saratoga County Veterans Service Agency, said transportation to the VA center in Albany is an issue. Transportation costs represent about 30 percent of his overall budget. He said county agencies are stretched thin and state Aid to Localities funding has not kept up. He suggested that instead of calculating how much aid a community gets based on population, it should be based on population of veterans. Harry Treadway, mentor coordinator for the Essex County Veterans Court, said veterans courts are similar to drug courts. Those who have committed lower-level crimes have the opportunity to resolve their case through counseling. Some of these veterans are people who are self-medicating or are dealing with post-traumatic stress syndrome, he said. He has to go and get treated, he said. If the veteran refuses services, then he or she would spend a weekend in jail. That provides a wake-up call, according to Treadway. SUNY Adirondack has an office of the state Division of Veterans Affairs on campus. Ruben Acevedo, veterans benefits adviser, said getting the word out to veterans and their families about available benefits is challenging. They dont really know what theyre entitled to, he said. Seventy-six of them signed the letter. Thats unusual. Its tough to get 76 people to sign anything anymore, especially if it is a controversial topic that calls for making a stand against a national political figure. But apparently that is the norm rather than the exception at the Presbyterian-New England Congregational Church in Saratoga Springs. Seventy-six of them signed the letter condemning Donald Trump for policies of hate and exclusion, and then they sent it out to media outlets. Every one of their names was included, from Barry Gustafson to Janet Friauf, as they directly addressed the presidential candidate: We believe that you are out of step with the Christian values you profess to espouse and the rights of Americans under the U.S. Constitution. We believe that by your own words and actions, which we have witnessed on the record, you have contravened the democracy, freedom, human rights, equality and the welfare of the people of our country. Its obvious this Saratoga church is not just for Sundays. The church has a Social Concerns Committee that meets once a month to address problems locally and around the world. This is not a political argument, it is a matter of basic morality, Elizabeth Meehan, the co-chair of the Social Concerns Committee, wrote in the press release, where it was noted that the church has a tradition of welcoming diversity, including diversity of political views. We are very concerned about the effect that this has had on the United States, Meehan said. We know a lot of prejudice was there, but boy did he (Trump) bring that to the forefront. Maybe it is good that we have to face it and deal with it and decide as a nation is this who we are. Meehan admitted not everyone at church agrees with all their letters, and in this case the churchs governing board decided not to sign the letter as the church, but to let individuals sign it. She estimated about half of the regular attendees signed the letter and about three-quarters supported it. People know when they join the church what they are getting themselves into, Meehan said. We want to welcome everyone. We dont want to be a church of one party or another. It is very important to us to have open dialogue and that we are accepting of diverse opinions. When we were writing this letter, we felt most in the congregation regardless of party could stand by the letter and feel like it wasnt political; that this was something we were concerned about that was everyones concern. Those who signed asked Trump to stop using language and behaviors that: Incite hatred against Muslims, immigrants, African-Americans, Hispanics, women and the disabled. Validate and incite the use of verbal slurs and physical violence by those who support the candidate. Cast aside the moral and legal constraints on torture of terrorists and endorse violence to their families. Promote polices that have little substance apart from ridicule, misogyny, bullying and lies. Appeal to peoples base prejudices and fears to impede rational thought, reasonable debate and consensus building. Demonstrate and promote an excessive focus on power, vanity, greed and grandiosity. In short, they pulled no punches. There was no mention of walls or mass deportations or emails. It just asked the presidential candidate to treat all people with respect like a true Christian. Who could argue with that? Ken Tingley is the editor of The Post-Star and may be reached via email at tingley@poststar.com. You can read his blog, The Front Page, daily at www.poststar.com or his updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kentingley. Children lie down on the glass-bottom bridge in Zhangjiajie, Hunan province, on Saturday. It is said to be the world's highest and longest glass-bottom bridge. [Photo by Zhou Guoqiang/China Daily] Tourists who suffer from vertigo need not apply. The world's highest and longest glass-bottom bridge opened on Saturday in China's spectacular Zhangjiajiethe inspiration for the US blockbuster movie Avatar. Some 430 meters long and suspended 300 meters off the ground, the bridge spans the canyon between two mountain cliffs in Zhangjiajie park in Central China's Hunan province. Six meters wide and made of 99 panels of clear glass, the bridge can hold up to 800 people at once, said an official in Zhangjiajie, a popular tourist destination. Tourists can walk across the bridge, designed by Israeli architect Haim Dotan. The more adventurous will be able to bungee jump or ride a zip line. "I wanted to feel awe-inspired by this bridge. But I'm not afraidit seems safe!" Wang Min, who was visiting the new structure with her husband and children, said on Saturday. After another glass bridge cracked at Yuntai Mountain in Central China's Henan province in 2015, authorities in Zhangjiajie were eager to demonstrate the safety of the structure. They organized a string of media events, including one where people were encouraged to try to smash the bridge's glass panels with a sledgehammer, and another where they drove a car across it. "It's crowded today and a bit of a mess. But to be suspended 300 meters in the air, it's a unique experience," said Lin Chenglu, who had come to see the bridge with his colleagues. Only 8,000 people each day will be allowed to cross the bridge, according to a report by Xinhua News Agency, and tourists will have to book their tickets a day in advance at a cost of 138 yuan ($20). People wearing stilettos will be banned, it added. Local authorities have said that one of the summits in Zhangjiajie inspired the floating mountain that appears in Avatar. A Hollywood photographer visited the area in 2008, taking images that were used for the film, according to media reports. The company has just launched a promotion dubbed the Festival Give Away. The promotion will reward customers with price discounts and products. The products on offer include the Golden Model Split Wall Mounted air conditioner, Side by Side refrigerator and gas cookers. Prices of these products have been slashed by hundred of cedis and customers will be rewarded with other products as their reward including microwaves, smartphones, blenders and irons. Started in 2006, Electroland Ghana has risen to become one of the largest distributors of electronic devices in the country. It has showrooms in towns across the country including five newly opened shops in Cape Coast, Industrial Area (Accra), Adenta and Soromall. New technology, innovative products, creative solutions and customer satisfactions are the companys cardinal She started her tour in the Volta Region, on Tuesday (August 23). According to a press statement signed by the 2nd National Vice Chairperson of the party Belinda Bulley, the tour is set to reiterate the consensually accepted practical reality that indeed a wasted vote is one that brings unemployment, diseases, unfriendly economic environment, etc. The statement said that the PPP has realised that Ghanaian voters are tired of the duopoly and would want to make a change. The PPP argues that they are the only party with all the qualities the Ghanaian populace needs. This has led to an intensified campaign by the Presidential nominee and running mate as well as parliamentary nominees of the party. READ ALSO: PPP raises questions about NDC campaign launch Dzogbenukus tour of the Volta region follows a successful campaign in the same region by Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom. He visited Tsito-Awudome in the Volta region, where he called on the electorates to reject both NDC and NPP. He questioned why both Nana Addo and President Mahama have to wait till election time to realise that Ghanaians need jobs, citing that as opportunistic and unfortunate. In the wake of three surveys one from the Institute of Economic Affairs and two from the Centre for Democratic Development the National Democratic Congress has gone at length to discredit civil society groups because the findings they churn out does not suit the partys political agenda. Last week, surrogates of the party released a list of CSOs they claim are doing the bidding of the New Patriotic Party. I gleefully tweeted it and the reaction from some of my followers put the NDC in a bad light. The list includes IMANI Ghana, IEA, CDD, Africa Centre for Democratic Governance, Occupy Ghana, Ghana Integrity Initiative and political pressure groups like the Alliance for Accountable Governance, AFAG, and Let My Vote Count Alliance, LMVC. And I asked on twitter,is this a sign of desperation? READ MORE The foundation of every thriving democracy is its CSOs, period. Democracy is stifled when CSOs cannot make meaningful contributions or are scared to release findings because politicians will reject the findings and tag it as having a diabolic motive. By far, these are the most credible CSOs the country has. And if you are to discredit them, which appears to be the strategy of the NDC, it findings becomes questionable and instead of focused deliberations, we begin to look at tangential issues like who the CSOs work for. CSOs have motives, I will be the last to deny that because I am a product of the Fredrich Ebert Foundation, a sympathetic member of the Socialist Forum of Ghana and a couple of left wing organisations. However, to reject survey findings, you first have to tackle the methodology and the sample size. The NDC has done none of that. All we hear is that we have severed relations with IEA and CDD. Why would a governing party like to nip these CSOs in the bud? The IEA in 2015 released a survey that said the presidency is the second most corrupt institution in Ghana. The government said it was concocted. It responded saying appropriate survey methods were used to generate the outcome. The government did not challenge the methodology. In 2016, it released another survey saying greed, low salaries as well as selfishness are the root cause of corruption. Government surrogates contested the findings. The Executive Director of GII, Linda Ofori Kwafo, is on record to have questioned the appropriateness of the president receiving a Ford Expedition gift from a Burkinabe Contractor. She recently accused the government of vote buying when it came to light that the president distributed outboard motors to some fishermen in the Western region during his campaign tour of the region. The breaking point, and perhaps, the point the NDC said enough is in enough, is when the CDD released a survey that said 70 percent of Ghanaians believe the economy was heading in the wrong direction. And the latest one that said 51 percent of Ghanaians say the party is engaged in vote buying. Pulse Ghana has been following the case of Efua (name changed to protect her identity) since February of this year. On August 4, at the Ofaakor circuit court near Kasoa, the girls case was thrown out by Judge Mercy Adei Kotei who blamed the police for not conducting conclusive investigations. Police had charged the man with incest. Court records obtained by Pulse Ghana show that on August 4 the Police Prosecutor Detective Inspector Abdulai Mohammed had asked for an adjournment, stating police were waiting on advice from the Attorney General's (AG) department. Prior to this, over the last two court cases, the police were told they needed to hurry the case along by Judge Adei Kotei, or risk seeing it thrown out. Since it first entered the court on February 19, 2016 it has seen seven adjournments at the insistence of the prosecution, Judge Adei Kotei said, according to the August 4 court proceedings seen by Pulse Ghana. She said she was given the same excuse that the prosecution was waiting on the Attorney General's department. It appears to me that this case was rushed to court without the police having done any conclusive investigations, Judge Adei Kotei said. She went on to say she was striking the charge and discharging the man to discourage the practice of the courts being choked. In previous interviews with Pulse Ghana, the police said the case was complex and they needed advice from the AG. Allegations of rape In an interview in May with Pulse Ghana senior reporters Stacey Knott and Betty Kankam-Boadu, Efua said her father had repeatedly raped her since the age of five, while she was in his care. She claims she has undergone three abortions, two of them performed by her father. Efua, now 20, has two younger sisters who she claims are also being abused by their father, though both of them have denied these claims. Efua believes this is because they are scared to speak out. She told Pulse Ghana her father had threatened to kill her if she was to ever speak about what had allegedly happened to her. We have stayed with him for long and we know the consequences. They are afraid, she said. It wasn't easy for me to come out and say it and they also know if they side with me he is going to get angry with them and definitely they are also staying in the same house with him, he is also going to continue to beat them. They have to find a way of denying and protecting themselves from more beatings, she said of her claims. Efua was staying at her school hostel when she was encouraged to speak out. In early February 2016 her father came to the hostel looking to remove her and bring her home. He was reportedly angry and destroyed property when she refused to leave. She later disclosed to the administrators of her school, for the first time, her history of alleged abuse. The school supported her to file a complaint with the police and her father was arrested and charged with incest. Police told Pulse Ghana the choice of the incest charge instead of rape or defilement was what was likely to stand up in court. Her sole refuge at this time was her school, who have stuck with her throughout the entire process. They feel the Police did not do their best in trying the case before the court. Police response Since April 14, the Police repeatedly told the court they were waiting on advice from the Attorney General's office on how to proceed with the case - a situation that was met with several warnings from the presiding judge. Pulse Ghana checks however revealed that the Cape Coast Attorney Generals office only received the docket on July 19. In a letter of advice over the case, dated August 5 and sighted by Pulse Ghana, the AGs office said they were only made aware of the case by the victims school on July 5, and received the docket on July 19. In the letter, they advised additional charges be laid, and a new prosecutor appointed, facts that did not appear to be made available to the court during the entire proceeding. Pulse Ghana has repeatedly sought comment from police on this case. As at August 23, when Pulse Ghana checked with the Breku District Police Commander, ASP Samuel Amfo, the response was that the division had still not received the advice from the office of the Attorney General. A huge injustice The project manager of Efuas school, Tom Cronin was in court the day the case was thrown out and he still stands by the testimony of Efua. I feel cheated and devastated for Efua. She seems to be dealing with it quite well. Cronin said it felt like a huge injustice for it to be thrown out, and is deeply disappointed and frustrated with the police prosecution. School welfare officers Leena Saarinen and Famous Agboka have also been highly involved in the case. Both say there was no reason not to believe Efua's claims especially after noting she is missing a front tooth, and seeing scars and bruises on her, which she says were from beatings. Victims need more support Human rights lawyer Irene Aborchie-Nyah has been following the case and had advised both the police and the school on how to proceed. She was devastated to hear the case had been thrown out. These things hardly come out, to speak to the public about these issues, so when you find a child who is willing and ready to come and speak about defilement and incest at the same time, I think a thorough judgment should be done. Because if the case goes on trial and the prosecution is unable to prove it, that is better than the case being thrown out. Who Will Hear My Cry sexual abuse victim advocate Dilys Sillah has also been following the case. She believed it showed police were cherry picking victims and cherry picking perpetrators. More needed to be done to protect vulnerable children. Police have an obligation, not choice or preference to investigate crime," she told Pulse Ghana. "Our government must set a standard that is inflexible in its enforcement of application in ensuring our police force uphold the law. Efua continues to be supported by the school and Cronin said they would be pushing to get the police to start a new case, to continue to fight to get a trial at least. Chinakwe, also known as Joachim Iroko, in a chat with a close friend, says he has been receiving threatening and intimidating calls and text messages that he would not come out of the prison alive and is calling all Nigerians to be aware of what he is going through when he committed no crime whatsoever. He also claimed that the man who reported him to the police and some officers had vowed to make sure he suffers for his action. In another development, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Prisons Service, Ogun State Command, Victor Oyeleke, confirmed that Chinakwe is still in the prison since he could not meet his bail demands. The man is still in Ibara Prison. His family members have yet to perfect his bail conditions. It is already late to do that today (Tuesday). Chinakwe's travails began when a neighbour, Halilu Umar, said to be a citizen of Niger Republic, reported to the police that the accused had named his pet dog after his father, Alhaji Buhari. It is however, important to recognise thatGhana has been pursuing measures within the framework of the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) aimed at reversing the situation, Mr Bombande stated at the commemoration of the 55th anniversary of the signing of the treaty of friendship between Ghana and China. Mr Bombande challenged the Ghanaian business community to expand their production capacity for export to China. We acknowledge the enormous contribution of the Peoples Republic of China to Ghanas socio-economic development, as exemplified by the presence of many Chinese companies and institutions operating in various sectors of our economy namely Education, Health, Energy, Infrastructure development, Transport, and Commerce, he said. The Deputy Foreign Minister also cited the construction of the Cape Coast and Tamale stadiums, the offices of the Ministries of Defence, Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, the Bui Hydropower Station, Atuabo Gas Processing Plant as some of the areas of contribution from China. Madam Sun Baohing, the Chinese Ambassador, acknowledged the said the high levels of economic trade cooperation has become a striking characteristic of the relationship. But the lawyer for the pastor, Mr Samuel Atta Akyea, has told Accra FM that his client knows nothing about the alleged fraud. Obinim who spent Tuesday night in the cells of the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service at the headquarters of the law enforcement agency in Accra was transferred to the Nima Police Station on Wednesday morning. Hundreds of his church members have since massed up at the police station to demand his release. Meanwhile, Bishop Obinim and one of his associates have also been charged with assault after flogging two teenagers in his church last Wednesday for fornication. The PRO for the Tema Regional Police Command, ASP Juliana Obeng who confirmed this to Pulse.com.gh the two were handcuffed after they reported to the Domestic Victims and Violence Support Unit, (DOVVSU) in Tema on Tuesday morning. The controversial pastor who was angered by a couples amorous activity in his church which has led to a pregnancy took apparently the law into his hands and lashed the young man on his bare back before turning to the girl flogging her mercilessly with a belt in the full glare of his congregation. Throughout the punishment, Obinim is heard questioning the jobless young man why he got the girl pregnant when he has no finances for her upkeep and the upbringing of the unborn child. The girl who was unable to stand the flogging attempted to escape, but she was held by henchmen of the Bishop to enable the bishop mete out more beatings. After subjecting the two to severe flogging for several minutes, Obinim ordered his junior pastors to remove their belts and subject the couple to more flogging. Many have criticized Obinim for his actions, with Amnesty International calling for his arrest. But the controversial pastor released a statement saying he flogged the two because they fornicated and tried aborting the pregnancy. He said: "We have observed that some people with evil Agenda are using the video to castigate and spread false rumors about the Founder and General Overseer of International God's Way Church." The police officer is said to be part of the personnel who were taking new suspected criminals through shooting practice. READ ALSO: Police uncover suspected armed robbery training ground The Public relations officer of the Tema Regional Police Command, ASP Juliana Obeng who made this known said the police officer is in police custody and assisting with investigations. Tema Police PRO, ASP Juliana Obeng said that the training ground was discovered after five armed men attacked a Chinese factory in Tema Industrial area and made away with some valuables. She said the police, upon a tip-off, went to the suspected hideout of the suspected criminals. According to her, when the police arrived at the Community 3 Ramsar Site, they found the recruits busily rehearsing using plastic bottles as their target. Upon seeing the police, they opened fire and the police returned fire, instantly killing one, ASP Obeng told the media on Sunday, August 21, 2016. She said two of the suspects escaped with gunshot wounds and one was arrested. If they [Police] dont grant him bail we will resort to the court to grant him bail, Atta Kyea told Accra-based Citi FM. Bishop Obinim was said to have demanded the said amount from a man whose name is not known yet and promised to assist him to collect GHC78,000 from a fetish priest, Okomfo Gyakpata. But according to ASP Joseph Benefo Darkwa, Obinim after taking the GHC 11.6 million from the man failed to help him retrieve his money [GHC78 000] from the Okomfo. Obinim who spent Tuesday night in the cells of the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service at the headquarters of the law enforcement agency in Accra was transferred to the Nima Police Station on Wednesday morning. He has subsequently been transferred to the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service at the headquarters of the law enforcement agency in Accra. Hundreds of his church members have since gathered at the Police headquarters to offer intercessory prayers for their founder and leader. The members of his church are demanding his release, saying "No Obinim, No Vote". Police have since dispersed the crowd with water cannons and batons, Pulse.com.gh reporter, Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu has reported. An Accra circuit sentenced the medical doctor to 25 years imprisonment for defiling a child under 16 years in 2015. The petition said imprisonment of Dr Gabass"thus far, has served the purpose of not only correcting him, but will also deter others from committing a similar offense." It said Gabass' past contribution to society, particularly by serving diligently as a medical doctor who performed countless bloodless surgeries at the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital, Sekondi, significantly helped in reducing the maternal mortality ratio within the western region of Ghana. "We believe his skills as a medical practitioner could even be employed to the benefit of the various facilities at the Ghana Prisons Service which has for years been plagued with a dearth of medical practitioners." The petition implored on president Maham to invoke Article 72 of the Constitution as he did in the case of the Montie three to remit the sentence of 25 years imposed on him. One of the organisers said in a comment to Pulse.com.gh via email that the petition was suspended "due to several reasons." "We don't want to inflame the situation," the statement added. Subsequently, a formal notice has been announced on change.org, where the petition was originally started, calling off the petition. The statement said: "New information coming from higher offices dealing with this matter request the suspension of this petition, whiles further deliberations on this case proceed. You shall be updated on any changes accordingly. This petition will therefore be deleted. Thanks for your support." The petition is believed to have been started by the family and colleagues of doctor Gabass who was jailed in 2015 for defiling a 16 year old. The petition said imprisonment of Dr Gabass"thus far, has served the purpose of not only correcting him, but will also deter others from committing a similar offense." It said Gabass' past contribution to society, particularly by serving diligently as a medical doctor who performed countless bloodless surgeries at the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital, Sekondi, significantly helped in reducing the maternal mortality ratio within the western region of Ghana. "We believe his skills as a medical practitioner could even be employed to the benefit of the various facilities at the Ghana Prisons Service which has for years been plagued with a dearth of medical practitioners." The petition implored on president Maham to invoke Article 72 of the Constitution as he did in the case of the Montie three to remit the sentence of 25 years imposed on him. Bishop Obinim was said to have demanded the said amount from a man whose name is not known yet and promised to assist him to collect GHC78,000 from a fetish priest, Okomfo Gyakpata. But according to ASP Joseph Benefo Darkwa, Obinim after taking the GHC 11.6 million from the man failed to help him retrieve his money [GHC78 000] from the Okomfo. Obinim who spent Tuesday night in the cells of the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service at the headquarters of the law enforcement agency in Accra was transferred to the Nima Police Station on Wednesday morning. He has subsequently been transferred to the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service at the headquarters of the law enforcement agency in Accra. Hundreds of his church members have since massed up at the Police headquarters to offer intercessory prayers for their founder and leader. The members of his church are demanding his release, saying "No Obinim, No Vote". The embattled pastor who spent Tuesday night in the cells of the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service at the headquarters of the law enforcement agency in Accra was transferred to the Nima Police Station on Wednesday morning. Hundreds of his church members subsequently thronged the police station to offer intercessory prayers for their founder. In their anger, many of them began attacking some passengers on the Ring road where the police station is located. The passengers had apparently expressed shock at the action of Obinim's followers. Instigated by the Public Utility Workers Union, the ECG staff say they will not back-down on their agitation against the planned move by government until the decision to privatise is reversed. The three-day protest, which started on Wednesday is slated to end on Friday with the ECG offices shut down between 8am to 11am. The Public Utilities Workers Union (PUWU), which is spearheading the protest has called on government to review the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact which seeks to relinquish the ECG to private investors for 25 years. The Trades Union Congress (TUC), has also reportedly thrown its weight behind PUWU indicating that dialogue between the unions and the government is yielding no fruits. The Public Utility Workers Union (PUWU) is among others, asking government to review the MCC Compact and modify the private sector participation to include pragmatic steps to bring efficiency to ECG. General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress, Dr Yaw Baah said the grievances of the ECG Staff are legitimate. The workers are not doing this for their sake; they are fighting for this country. Between 1990 and 2006, about three hundred and sixty state enterprises have been sold, and that has not achieved any results, and we are still selling...why do we keep selling? That is not the way to go. Chairman for PIAC, Professor Paul Buah-Bassuah, Chairman for PIAC said this to a gathering of heads of the decentralized departments, heads of departments, traditional rulers assembly members and the media to educate the participants on the management and utilization of the oil revenue generated in the country. How Ghanas Petroleum Revenue is Disbursed According to him, the country makes only five percent of the royalty interest from the oil revenues and, 70 per cent goes to the Annual Budget Fund Amount (ABFA), while 30 percent goes to Ghana Petroleum Fund (GPF). He revealed further that 30 per cent is then divided into two parts and 70 percent is given to the Ghana Stabilization Fund (GSF) while 30 percent is sent to the Ghana Heritage Fund. Professor Buah-Bassuah urged government to concentrate on other resources of the such as cocoa, timber and Shea nut among others could also generate much revenue if adequate attention is given to them. Akufo-Addo as part of his Arise for Change tour in February this year appealed to voters to give him a chance at the presidency. In one of the tours to Settler communities in Derma in the Tano South constituency in the Brong Ahafo region, he said: "This year, try me too. Give me the chance to show you what I can do. Four years is not so far away. If I come and I dont succeed, kick me out. God knows my heart and I can assure you that I wont disappoint you." However, speaking at a campaign rally in Bimbila in the Northern Region, President Mahama, who is seeking a second term, asked Akufo-Addo to refrain from begging for power. This is according to President John Dramani Mahama who is also the Presidential nominee of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC). President Mahama explained that this is because Nana Addo is leading a party that is divided. The President was speaking at Bimbilla in the Northern Region during his campaign tour to his home region. According to him, Nana Addo is leading only half of the party and Describing Nana Addo as a dictator, President Mahama said the country did not need such a person as President. READ ALSO: Mahama cracks under pressure to pardon Montie 3 He warned voters that voting for the New Patriotic Party flagbearer will be dangerous for Ghana. President John Mahama was speaking at a campaign rally in Bimbila in the Northern Region. "It will be a very dangerous thing to hand power to a party that is not ready because the NPP party, as I tell you today, is divided into two, he said. He continued: What we need in Ghana is an understanding President. The era of dictatorship is gone. We are not looking for dictator, somebody who cant stand criticism. Within his own party, if you criticize him he will sack you. We are looking for a leader who can bring people together. The bank said in a statement issued in Lagos that the appointment followed the elevation of the former CFO, Dr Adesola Adeduntan, to the position of Managing Director of the bank. According to the bank, Iyamabos appointment, still subject to approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is consistent with FirstBanks focus on corporate governance best practice. It said the appointment was aimed at ensuring a balance of knowledge, judgment and experience at the highest decision making level in the bank. FirstBank said that its corporate governance focus had earned it much respect and recognition both locally and internationally. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Iyamabo, until his appointment, was the CFO of FCMB Group Plc, with oversight responsibility for accounting and finance. He was also responsible for capital and liquidity management, mergers and acquisition, portfolio management and investor relations at FCMB. Iyamabo started his career with Arthur Andersen, now KPMG Professional Services, as an auditor in the banking and finance practice. He rose to the position of manager in the assurance and risk consulting practice, before he left the country for further studies abroad. In his comment on the appointment, the banks Managing Director, Dr Adesola Adeduntan, said Iyamabo possesed the qualities that would drive the bank's focus. Adeduntan while welcoming Iyamabo to the First Bank Board, commented: Patricks track record typifies our banks value system hinged on passion, partnership, innovation, creativity and dynamism. He wrote, "My dogs and I back in the day. Must have had like 12 at a particular point in time. Interesting time. That time I mean. I had traveled and returned at night, but was too tired to relate with them. OBJ, the big Alsatian was the head of the pack. Then Obama was the big black and white Great Dane, the Alsatian on the bummer was Thatcher. Thatcher must have given me like 18 puppies. In her good days (X120k per puppy) the ridge back by Thatcher was called Madiba. It arrived from South Africa on the birthday of Mandela. Continue... The Second Harlequin Great Dane was named after Queen Amina... But the fiercest of my odds were Chaka, IBB AND Abacha. They took no prisoners. In fact, if I gave you anything I had used before, like shoes or clothes,my advice is not to wear them to my home. Because if Chaka, or Abacha caught a whiff of that item on you... You will not like yourself. They were my trusted securities and my friend. ALSO READ: Comedian narrates how his mum almost lost her limbs One time in LEKKI, 1997 or so, a guy scaled the fence into my compound in the night. I was woken up to a shouts of "Oga come o!!!!!" "Oga I am finished!" And Usman my maiguard was having a good laugh. At 2am! The petty thief was on the roof of my V-Boot. I was more scared for his life than he was of it. Because then we had Chaka, Ghadaffi and Clinton. Those who new these dogs will testify to their brutality. Go ask@basorge_tariah and@officialbunmidavies... But with hind sight now, I am just thanking God. Yes oooo! O have to thank God ooo. That it was not now, that I named my dogs after any sitting president and foreign leaders. We learnt the accident happened November last year when Blac Chynas friend, Charmeika Paige Addison was driving her BMW car and then ran into a stop sign; crashing a SUV and injuring three girls in the process. Addison had reportedly bailed after the incident but later reported herself to the police and confessed her crime. Paige Addison was charged with felony hit-and-run, reckless driving and driving without a license. She was later sentenced to five years of probation. California Law states that if the owner of a vehicle gives someone else the right to drive their car, and the driver gets in an accident, the owner and driver are legally in trouble. The casualties have demanded for medical expenses, lost wages and other damages. 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! 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 anticipated fashion event set to hold at the Olympia West Hall on 9th and 10th of September 2016 will see almost 70 designers showing off their latest collection at the fashion week. Cotilda's Fashion is originally from Malawi, Central Africa now based in the United Kingdom, Cotilda from an early age was inspired by her mums love of sewing. Learning how to transform ideas into beautifully tailored clothing, she developed a passion for making her ideas come to life. After gaining experience working with some of the best teachers in the UK, Cotilda took the first steps to set up her own business. Today, Cotildas passion drives her to create the very best clothing for her clients. From design through to creation, her eye for detail and flair for fashion is clear. It is through the mixture of materials that we can learn about other cultures; colours, patterns and materials being the tool of communication" the creative director of the brand mentioned. Ngoni & House of Okosun is a collaboration between two friends, hailing from Zambia and Sierra Leone - South meets West Africa as Ngoni & House of Okosun. Their collection is Inspired by the daily intertwining of their current Western influences and their richly cultural heritage. Their debut collection is a glamorous celebration of the modern day fashion conscious individual who wants to embrace African fashion with a modern twist. Details: Date: 9th to 10th September 2016 Before his arrest, Yusuf was given the beating of his life by an angry mob, after a man found him copulating with the young girl without her consent. The suspect committed the crime on April17, 2016, at Rago Market, Ojo, Lagos, according to Inspector Tony Elibeh, the police prosecutor on the case. The accused was caught by a man, who saw him having carnal knowledge of the girl. The man immediately rescued the girl and called some market women to help her. The accused was badly beaten up by an angry mob, before the police came by to arrest him. To fulfill bail conditions, the court magistrate, Patrick Adekomaiya has ordered the accused to submit two sureties who possess an evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government. In an interview with Vanguard, Ubani said that in the eye of the law, there is nothing wrong in what Chinakwe did. In the eye of the law, after another person. It may be offensive by examining the circumstances under which the incident happened. I understand that a particular dog was named after a neighbour and both of them were not in good terms, in a Hausa community somewhere in the South-West. So expediency would have prevailed on him not to name his dog after somebody he was quarreling with." Adding his voice to the debate, a Lagos State-based lawyer, Barrister Tunji Muyedeen, also said he does not see any criminal offense in the issue: As far as I am concerned, there is no way such offense could be sustained in law. Anybody can name his pet after anybodys name. He can even call the pet his name. However, spurious charge or charges may be preferred against such person. All of us will be living witnesses to the trial of the man. We will see what evidence the prosecution has to prosecute the accused person. A human rights activist, Okey Nwaguna, is of the view that for the case to hold water, the prosecution must show that accused had the intent to cause the breach of public peace. "My name is Olufunke, a 38-year-old married woman with three children. I am married to a 50-year-old Igbo man who only gets sexually aroused by watching a man have sex with me. We have been married for 12 years and I am no longer finding his weird sexual fantasy funny. I know many readers will think what I am saying is made up and hard to believe. In truth, I will feel the same way as them. Even when I confide in friends, many find it difficult to believe but it is happening to me in real life. My husband was born and bred in the United States and only relocated to Nigeria 15 years ago, where we met and got married. In the beginning, he was so loving and provided everything a woman would need but when he brought up the idea of watching other men sleep with me, I found it repulsive but that brought a serious quarrel between us and he kept at it till I gave in. In truth, I should not have agreed then but I felt that was the only way to keep my marriage together, thinking it would be a one off. But after that first time, it became a regular thing and anytime I refused, he would either beat me up or threaten to divorce me, and I always ended up doing it to make him happy. My husband would encourage me to have boyfriends and even bring them home to have sex with me, after which he would pay the men and give me huge sums of money. Even when he is not around, he would want me to record any of such sex scenes and play them for him when he comes back. After such episodes, he would be so nice and loving, until the next session. He would even introduce me to men and has even installed a CCTV in our bedroom where he would watch me having sex with other men over and over again. I am tired of this unnatural way of life and want out but he has threatened to kill me if I ever leave him. I think my husband is possessed but he has refused to seek for spiritual help. Funke." The teaser for the day was: How Nigeria voted: The husband is seriously possessed - 46% The wife should seek spiritual help immediately - 16% There is nothing wrong in what they are doing - 13% The woman is enjoying the whole drama - 22% According to reports, the incident occurred around the Trade Fair Complex in Lagos, when the woman, on seeing the girl with a protruding stomach sitting in the middle of the road under the scorching sun with the members of the so-called NGO begging for alms from motorists with a message that they wanted to use it for the girl's surgery, decided to ask some questions with the intention of help but she was shocked to find out that they were fraudsters and were only capitalizing on the girl's situation to make money. This is the report of the incident: "When the group (a lady and 2 guys) was confronted by an elderly woman about the NGO they represented, the leader (the woman in green cap) couldn't produce any form of an ID card. She shunned the woman who confronted them, telling her to mind her business. After being labeled a fraud, the young lady reportedly said; "Nigeria is hard, I cannot do Ashawo, man must survive". This prompted the elderly woman to notify a soldier who was close by. On seeing that the case had gone critical, the lady started to plead for mercy. Upon interrogation, the lady claimed that the girl was brought from Abuja, while her co-worker (in green shirt) said that the girl's parents live at Orile, Coker in Lagos. Due to the unrelated stories, the little girl was asked where her parents stayed and she said that they are in the village in Abakiliki, Ebonyi State and that the people brought her straight from the village. She also revealed that she was told to smile and wave at people driving by so they would be forced to donate to her cause. The worst part is that these fraudsters were doing this just very close to a police station. After people started gathering following the chaos caused, the policemen were notified about the situation." "Instead of coming to confirm for themselves, they said it's not their business. One of the policemen tried to liaise with the soldier to bury the case after one of the 'NGO' members 'reasoned' with him and his squad. The woman was shocked after she was told to go home, that nothing could be done about the situation. According to her, the policemen and those fraudsters might have been working hand-in-hand due to their silence on the matter and how quickly they were to dismiss the case." According to Lawan, Sheriff, a former governor of the state, is responsible for the spread of terrorist sect, Boko Haram. The AG made the call on Tuesday, August 23, 2016, while speaking at the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Vanguard reports. Lawan also said that Sheriffs arrest would serve as consolation to the millions of people who have been displaced by the sect. Sheriff has been frequently accused of sponsoring Boko Haram with his chief accuser being former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode who described the PDP Chairman as the indisputable founder of Boko Haram. On what basis can we accept as our National Chairman a man who established, encouraged, supported and nurtured an organisation that later metamorphosed into Boko Haram? Fani-Kayode said in February after Sheriff emerged PDP Chairman. It was gathered that terrorists targeted at personnel of the Nigerian Army stationed at Darul Jamel, on the fringes of the Sambisa forest. Weapons recovered from the insurgents include, one Light Machine Gun (LMG) with Registration number 56M-1101229, an AK-47 rifle magazine, Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) bomb and a top cover of an AK-47 rifle. Other items recovered were 395 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition and 15 rounds of 5.5mm by 45 ammunition, army spokesman, Colonel Sani Usman disclosed in a statement. The troops of the same unit, had before the attack, cleared an ambush staged by suspected remnants of the terrorist group desperate for food near Banki Junction. Speaking on Buhari's behalf, the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo said The government is determined to ensure that the safety of every single Nigerian is a priority; this is why I have repeatedly ordered our law enforcement agents to ensure that perpetrators of violent acts are arrested and made to face the law. We will not allow anyone, under any guise, whether it is politics, culture or religion to violate life or property of another citizen. This is the oath to which I swore and I will uphold it at all cost. The tempo of the military onslaught against Boko Haram has increased, following reports that the groups leader, Abubakar Shekau was injured in an air raid. Also, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, revealed that 300 Boko Haram terrorists were killed in air-strikes in Borno State. This was disclosed via a statement released by Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman. The statement reads: Troops on Operation Lafiya Dole stationed at Darul Jamel on the fringes of Sambisa forest in Borno State, yesterday evening successfully repelled an attempted attack on their location by Boko Haram terrorists. The terrorists attempted to storm the troops location at about 10.00pm, but paid dearly as the troops killed several of them including two senior commanders that led the attack. The troops recovered 1 Light Machine Gun (LMG) with Registration number 56M-1101229, 1 AK-47 Rifle Magazine, Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) Bomb and 1 top cover of an AK-47 Rifle. Other items recovered include 395 Rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition and 15 rounds of 5.5mm by .45 ammunition. The open letter reads: "Mr President, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We are officers and soldiers of Nigerian Battalion 37 (Nibbat 37 unmil) that came back on July 29, 2016 from a peacekeeping mission in Liberia. Since we completed our mission for 12 months but only 8 months of service were paid. Is it not disgraceful that the UN had paid defence headquarters mission allowances for complete 12 months and only 8-month payment was given to the troops? Dear Mr President, the army has refused to pay us the balance of our allowances for 4 months. We urge you to look into this issues to make your anti-corruption campaign in the armed forces a success. If nothing is done very soon, we will be forced to take the law into our own hands which is not good obviously. Because the Nigerian army specialised in owing its troops their allowances. We keep lamenting through media houses and nothing has changed, or do you expect us to storm the National Assembly in the name of protest? No. We cant. His excellency, address this issue of payment of outstanding allowances by the Nigerian army. Concerned officers and soldiers of Nigerian Battalion 37. Thanks. Regards." ALSO READ: 37 Nigerian soldiers sustain injuries in auto crash in Kano The lawmakers also said there is hardship in the country despite the allocation of such a huge amount for social security. The Chairman, Committee on Poverty Alleviation, Mohammed Wudil, said The huge amount that was allocated to the office needs to be justified particularly now that poverty has gone so high in the country. The lawmakers said the money was approved in the 2016 budget, but there is no concrete evidence showing what it has been used for. Concerned about the non-usage of the money, the Reps on Tuesday, August 23, 2016, held a meeting with the Special Adviser to President Buhari on Social Investment, Maryam Uwais. Speaking to Uwais, the Chairman of House committee on Legislative Budget/Research, Golu Timothy, wondered if the money was too much for her office to handle. He also cited the fact that the year is coming to an end, and her office is yet to roll out any project. Timothy also said Importantly, we must note that a budget of N500bn coordinated basically through one office is huge. Transparency is key and we at the House of Representatives want to ensure that the office is competent enough to coordinate such a huge amount of funds without being overwhelmed by the job. We, however, believe that our synergy will assist you also to implement these programmes efficiently and effectively and thereby give comfort to Nigerians that this is not another white elephant project like PAP, MAMSER, NAPEP, Peoples Bank, etc. Responding to the lawmakers, Uwais called for patience, adding that some modalities had to be worked out before rolling out the projects. Adding that the social welfare programme is directly under the supervision of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, as instructed by President Buhari. Uwais also said her office had to work out how to effectively monitor the project and its delivery to ensure that there is no duplication of duties among participating agencies. Whatever you sow you shall reap. If you do good for the people, you will get goodness. I have done well for Ekiti people, the governor said according to Vanguard. Look at the Amphi-theatre I built in Ewis palace, the dual carriageway from Basiri to Ajilosun, the ongoing flyover, the Awedele dualisation and many others. All these are the projects that are speaking for me and the people will continue to remember me for good, he added. The event was also attended by Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dakwambo and Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Kenneth Ubani, who came as a representative of Governor Nyesom Wike. Meanwhile, factional Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff has accused Wike and Fayose of plotting to hijack the party. We will not let PDP to be hijacked by a few people like Governor Fayose and the governor of Rivers State, Sheriff said on August 15. The PDP Chairmans comments were in relation to the partys national convention which held on August 17 despite a court order barring it. The group had arrived following prior notice that the Bauchi state executives were at the secretariat for a meeting with the APC national leadership. Galadima Abba Ittas, led other members of the group who chorused in Hausa language "Bamu na so" (meaning, we don't want!). He told journalists that they are at the party secretariat to draw the attention of the APC to the imminent collapse of the state chapter due to poor handling of affairs by the governor and chairman. ALSO READ: In Ondo: Chaos in APC over chairmanship position Bauchi State Governor Mohammed Abubakar has failed, he cannot pay salary of workers and unable to pay pensioners," he said. "Most of his appointments are PDP members while the APC appointees are been removed, we are calling on the National Leadership to act fast by intervening in order to save Bauchi state from this debacle," he added. In what look like a turn of event, some of the thugs who were initially against the Bauchi state governor suddenly turn in his support and started chanting "Bauchi Sai Barrister." The atmosphere became charged as the chant of sai Barrister overshadowed the protest against him that started initially. Upon investigation, it was gathered that some of the youth were sponsored to cause the expected governor embarrassment who unfortunately was not at the secretariat. I never made such claims. It is inconsiderate of any single person or group to claim the glory. I am astounded by media reports quoting me as saying that I and few other persons brought President Buhari to power to save Nigeria, the former president said according to The Cable. I have never said that, because it is not true. Nigerians voted overwhelmingly for the President and we are all witnesses to that fact. No single person or group can claim that glory, he added. Earlier media reports had quoted Obasanjo as saying: Three or four other of us from different part of the country got together and said to ourselves what do we do? We said what is the problem with us and why are we still not growing. We got talking and knew we needed to do something. Sheriff said he is one of the biggest victims of the terrorist organization. He stated this in reaction to the call for his arrest and prosecution by the Borno Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Kaka Shehu Lawan over his link with the sect. Speaking on Tuesday, August 23, at one of the sessions at the ongoing annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt, Lawan had said Sheriff is responsible for the growth of the dreaded group In Sheriff's defence, his spokesman, Inuwa Bwala disclosed that the former governor has lost three of his brothers to the terrorist group. He alleged that officials of the current Borno government are more likely people to be suspected given the fact that at the time he left government, no public official has been accused of being linked to the sect We need to state without any fear of contradiction that the Attorney General is both mischievous and being economical with the truth. He is trying to cover up the fact that the agents of Borno Government are more likely to be sponsors of the Boko Haram Sect. Sheriff is more vulnerable to Boko haram because he has his three brothers killed by the sect. "We advice him (Lawan) to go and read the history of the emergence of Boko Haram so that he will be saved from going before his fellow lawyers and engaging in this macabre dance, Bwala said. ALSO READ: Sheriff, Makarfi still at war He said each European Union member should be able to choose how many migrants to accept. We dont have a large Muslim community here, Sobotka told Pravo daily on Tuesday, August 23. Muslims in Czech Republic are estimated at 10,000 to 20,000 of the 10.5 million population of the Central European country. And to be honest, we dont want a large Muslim community to form here, given the problems were seeing, he said. According to AFP, Sobotka spoke ahead German Chancellor Angela Merkels visit to Prague this Thursday, saying their views diverge on how to solve Europes migrant crisis. Merkel has urged countries to take in a greater share of refugees, while the Czech Republic staunchly opposes the contested EU quota system devised to distribute refugees across the bloc. Ive been convinced since the start of the migration debate that the member states need to have sovereignty regarding the choice of the number of refugees (to welcome), Sobotka said. Its the national governments that ultimately have to ensure peoples security. He however cautioned against casting refugees as terrorists. Its not possible to put an equal sign between refugees and terrorists. But at the same time, its not possible to have the same approach as Germany last year, namely to authorise the influx of a huge number of people without any oversight, he said. ALSO READ: Czechs to send guns, ammunition to Iraq and Jordan to fight terror group Merkel will also on Thursday meet with Czech President Milos Zeman, who earlier this month said he opposed taking in any migrants at all. He recently described Merkels migration policy which saw Germany take in 1.1 million migrants and refugees last year as absurd. -------------------------------------------------------- A reward of 200,000 taka ($2,564) had been offered for information leading to the capture of Moinul Hasan Shameem, who police say had led the attack on the publisher by members of a banned Islamist group, Ansar al Islam. The victim, Faysal Arefin Dipon, was regarded as secular in outlook and had published books written by his friend Avijit Roy, a U.S. citizen of Bangladeshi origin. Roy was killed in February last year. He was also hacked to death by Islamist militants. Police said Shameem, 24, took orders from a former army major, Syed Mohammad Ziaul Haque, who has emerged as a leading figure in Ansar al Islam. "Shameem was the leader of that attacking group," Monirul Islam, Dhaka police counter terrorism chief, told reporters. "After a tip-off, police arrested him from Tongi, on outskirts of the city on Tuesday night," he said. Militants have targeted secularist writers in Bangladesh in recent years, as the government has cracked down on Islamist groups seeking to turn the South Asian nation of 160 million people into a sharia-based state. President Salva Kiir sacked Machar from his post as vice president after renewed fighting in South Sudan's capital Juba last month between forces loyal to the long-time rivals. The clashes forced tens of thousands of people to flee. Machar withdrew to the bush during the fighting in Juba and was picked up this month by UN peacekeepers in Democratic Republic of Congo with a leg injury. His spokesman earlier said Machar had left South Sudan to evade Kiir's forces and had said his injury was not serious enough to require medical attention. However, on Tuesday, Sudan said he was receiving treatment. "Sudan has received, lately, Dr. Riek Machar, for pure humanitarian reasons, especially his need for treatment and medical care," Information Minister Ahmed Bilal Osman said. "Dr. Riek Machar's health is stable currently and he will remain in the country under comprehensive healthcare until he leaves to a destination of his choice to complete his treatment," he added. Machar's spokesman in Nairobi, James Gatdet Dak, could not immediately confirm he had travelled to Khartoum. He said Machar's original plan had been to travel to Addis Ababa, which has previously hosted South Sudan's troubled peace process. Machar and Kiir have long been rivals, even before South Sudan's independence in 2011 when they were both commanders in the SPLA force that fought Sudan's Khartoum-based government. Machar, at one point in the two-decade-long conflict, led a splinter group that signed a unilateral peace deal with the Khartoum government in 1997 that give him an official post in Sudan. Sudan's government and the SPLA finally signed a peace deal in 2005, which led to South Sudan's independence in 2011. But by December 2013, the political rivalry between Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, and Machar, a Nuer, had again boiled over into a civil conflict, which often followed ethnic lines. The two men signed a peace deal in August 2015. Under that deal, Machar returned to Juba in April to resume his role as vice president. But fighting flared last month and he was then sacked. During a visit to Kenya, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry urged South Sudan's leaders to "get the job done" by fully implementing the peace deal or face a U.N. arms embargo and sanctions. Turning the ship before it hits the iceberg The Davenport City Council inched toward formally seeking private proposals for redeveloping the Rhythm City Casino's old docking facility on the city's riverfront Tuesday. Aldermen and Mayor Frank Klipsch didn't iron out every detail. However, they came to a consensus it is worth considering what private developers might have in mind for the docking apparatus, which has been scheduled to leave early next year in the wake of the new casino opening at Interstates 74 and 80. "These barges, I think, offer us an opportunity," said Alderman Bill Boom, 3rd Ward. Representatives of Restoration St. Louis, the owner of the Hotel Blackhawk, have said they are interested in redeveloping the docking facility, a fact Klipsch revealed two weeks ago. However, no plans have been brought forward, and over the past two weeks the council has struggled with how to move forward, given the docking facility is owned by Scott County Casino and that the 2004 RiverVision plan, as amended two years ago, envisioned the docking facility and porte cochere, or entryway to the casino, leaving the riverfront. During a work session that lasted more than an hour at City Hall, several aldermen agreed to seek formal proposals. City Administrator Corri Spiegel said city staff will work toward bringing forward a motion for aldermen to consider at its committee-of-the-whole meeting Sept. 7 that would direct staff to draft a formal request for proposals for redevelopment of the docking facility. It's likely action would be taken on Sept. 14. In addition, the council indicated it would simultaneously solicit public input, something several aldermen said was necessary. Alderman Rick Dunn, 1st Ward, was particularly emphatic. "I've heard a lot of people say we want that out of here," he said. It's not clear yet what that public input process would look like. The amended RiverVision plan, which forecast a commercial facility on the riverfront but at the old Dock site, not where the docking facility is now, involved a series of public meetings. There are a number of questions yet to be answered, including who precisely would vet proposals and on what grounds. Some aldermen mentioned a Nov. 1 date for proposals to be submitted. The Quad-Cities Chamber of Commerce has been pushing the council to decide whether to keep the docking facility in place prior to entertaining proposals on redevelopment. Tara Barney, the chamber's chief executive who attended Tuesday's work session, praised the council for the "beginning of a process." However, she added she would like to see developers given some latitude of how they want to structure their redevelopment plans for the waterfront. "How the city defines its RFP process is going to be very interesting. We wouldn't want it to be only about that barge, I would think," she said. Aldermen also discussed how deeply the city would be involved in any redevelopment process. Klipsch, with some aldermen agreeing with him Tuesday, has said the city does not want to own the docking facility. He also has said he doesn't want the city to subsidize any redevelopment or have to provide flood protection. The city does control docking rights. Several aldermen also have said any redevelopment proposal needs to retain the ability for boats to dock at the riverfront and that public accessibility be maintained. A woman who attended the meeting, who lives in west Davenport, said she would like to see something that appeals to families. "We need to keep it family oriented," said Jeanette Jones. The city's lease with Scott County Casino expires next March, and the casino has been trying to sell the docking facility but there have been no takers yet. The riverboat has been sold, and city officials have said that its departure is expected soon. Aldermen are moving ahead with making some changes on the riverfront in the aftermath of the casino's move. The council is scheduled to approve Wednesday a $227,000 bid by Hawkeye Paving Corp., of Bettendorf, to demolish about 16,000 square yards of parking lots, access drives and landscaping at the old casino site to prepare for future park development. A Silvis man shot by Davenport police last month faces criminal charges following an investigation launched by the Scott County Sheriffs Office and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Sheriff's Sgt. Mike Erwin said in a news release Wednesday that Rodricco Radell Parks Jr., 19, has been charged with assault on a peace officer and second-degree criminal mischief. Both charges are Class D felonies punishable by up to five years in prison. As of 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, he was not in custody at the Scott County Jail. Erwin said the charges were filed after consulting with Scott County Attorney Mike Walton. Erwin said in the release that no other information would be released because of the pending charges against Parks. No criminal charges will be filed against Davenport officers Shawn Sullivan and Andrew Weingart, who were placed on administrative leave per the Davenport Police Departments policy. DPD will still conduct an internal affairs investigation to determine if their policies and procedures were followed, Erwin told the Quad-City Times in an email. Davenport Police Chief Paul Sikorski said Wednesday the internal investigation is ongoing and the officers remain on administrative leave. About 11:40 p.m. July 18, Davenport police responded to the 1300 block of Ripley Street for a report of shots fired. That night, a witness provided information on a possible suspect vehicle, which officers saw leaving the area at a high rate of speed, according to police. Officers tried to stop the vehicle in a parking lot in the 1600 block of Rockingham Road. The vehicle rammed a marked squad car and the two officers discharged their service weapons, according to police. Parks drove over the curb and fled west on Rockingham Road. His vehicle was later found in the 500 block of Pine Street, according to police. At 12:39 a.m. July 19, officers were called to Genesis Medical Center-West Central Park, Davenport, for a report of a man with a gunshot wound, identified by the Scott County Sheriff's Office as Parks. He had been transported to the hospital by private vehicle, according to police. He later was taken to Genesis Medical Center-East Rusholme Street and then to University Hospitals, Iowa City. Parks was identified as the driver of the vehicle that rammed the squad car, according to police. In an interview with the Times, Parks said the officers were shooting at him before he unintentionally sideswiped the squad car. He has since been released from the hospital. Parks also is wanted after Scott County prosecutors said he violated the terms of his probation in unrelated cases from March and April. Parks was charged with assault while displaying a dangerous weapon when at 11:46 p.m. March 6 he got into a verbal altercation with another person at the Kwik Shop at 303 W. Locust St. Parks then got into his Pontiac Grand Prix and ran his car into the back of the victim's Dodge Nitro. The victim was in the vehicle at the time. That incident was captured by the store's video cameras. Then, at 5:04 p.m. April 9, Davenport police officers were sent to the Kohl's department store at 3910 Elmore Ave. Parks had $176 in merchandise stuffed inside his pants. The merchandise still had the Kohl's tags. Parks also was arrested on an unrelated warrant, and it was learned he had two prior theft convictions on April 25, 2015, and Dec. 22, 2015. Parks' address at the time of these incidents was listed as 808 Brown St., Davenport. Sullivan has been with the department since Aug. 8, 2008, while Weingart has been with the department since Dec. 28, according to the sheriffs office. Sullivan, a field training officer, was training Weingart at the time of the incident. Reporter Ed Tibbetts contributed to this report. An Illinois man has been arrested in connection with a robbery at a Bettendorf credit union earlier this month. Anthony Javon Brown, 32, was arrested Tuesday at his Bloomington, Illinois, home. He is being held in the McLean County Jail while awaiting extradition to Iowa to face charges of first-degree theft and third-degree robbery. According to an arrest affidavit filed by the Bettendorf Police Department in support of the criminal complaint: Just after 11 a.m. Aug. 18, Brown went into Ascentra Credit Union, 1710 Grant St., and gave the teller a paper bag that had a note written on it that said everyone would be safe if the teller complied with his demand for money. The teller put money from her drawer into the bag and handed it to Brown. He then fled with more than $1,000 in cash. Police determined through analysis that five fingerprints found at the scene belonged to Brown. Mugs shots of Brown were obtained and compared against video footage from the credit union, according to the affidavit. Police said in a news release Wednesday that a vehicle and other items found at Browns home connected him to the robbery. First-degree theft is a Class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Third-degree robbery is an aggravated misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in prison. CEDAR RAPIDS When Sean Neilly went to pick up his 5-year-old sons EpiPen at the pharmacy a few weeks ago, he experienced sticker shock. A two pack of EpiPens used to inject lifesaving epinephrine if his son, John Patrick, goes into anaphylactic shock cost more than $600. That was more than a 500 percent increase from the $100 the Cedar Rapids family paid the last time. John Patrick is highly allergic to fish and sesame, Neilly said, adding that sesame can be sneaked into foods and the family has to be very careful about what their son eats. Neilly called the price increase immoral, saying parents who buy EpiPens have to spend all of this on something you hope you wont need. Neilly, who was getting ready for a family vacation to Florida, decided not to purchase the drug until he could come up with the money. We wouldnt have taken the trip had we known the cost of EpiPens went up this much, he said. Neilly isnt alone. Stories like his prompted U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, to demand answers from Mylan, the pharmaceutical company that sells the medication. When Mylan bought the EpiPen developer nine years ago, the pens were selling for about $57 apiece, a review by the national Bloomberg media service found. Grassley heard similar complaints from about 50 Iowa families before writing to Mylan chief executive Heather Bresch saying that the steep increase could limit access to a much-needed medication. Since releasing the letter late Monday, Grassley has heard from about 50 more Iowans, he said. Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has been asked to hold hearings on the price hike. He is first waiting to see if Mylan responds. In a separate letter, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Mylans practices on EpiPen prices. She called for the FTC to look into whether Mylan had done anything to deny competitors access to the market to keep prices up. Mylan spokeswoman Nina Devlin declined to comment to Bloomberg on the letters. The company said it offers several programs to help people afford the drug, including online coupons for $100 off. Ensuring access to epinephrine the only first-line treatment for anaphylaxis is a core part of our mission, she told Bloomberg. The issue is timely as many families are being surprised as they replenish EpiPens as part of back-to-school preparations. They often get hit twice if they have to supply an EpiPen to their childs school as well as have one at home. Thats not $500 just once, Grassley said. They last just a year and then they have to be thrown away and replaced. Given the cost, some families may be tempted to hold on to EpiPens beyond their use by date. But health care professionals warn the potency diminishes. Grassley said the impact of the price increase also has implications for taxpayers because schools are required to have EpiPens on hand. Also concerning to him is the fact that more than 40 percent of children are insured through Medicaid or the Childrens Health Insurance Program. The Iowa version, Hawk-i, covers almost 39,000 children. It follows that many of the children who are prescribed EpiPens are covered by Medicaid, so taxpayers are covering the costs, Grassley wrote in his letter to Mylan. Some emergency responders already are looking into making their own kits with epinephrine vials and syringes as a way to live within their budgets, Grassley said. First responders in Seattle, for instance, have developed such kits and sold them to public health agencies in five states. In New York, a demonstration project, Check and Inject New York, trains first responders to use syringe epinephrine kits in place of EpiPens. Its one thing for emergency responders to take a do-it-yourself approach, Grassley said, but warned there could be safety implications as people, untrained in medical procedures, are incentivized to make their own kits from raw materials. Eagle Sales of the Black Hills, a wholesale distributor of Budweiser beer products in western South Dakota, has been sold, company president Tom Helland confirmed Tuesday. But Helland declined to release further details of the sale, including the identity of the buyer or buyers, pending completion of a news release, which he said would be available later this week. Were selling our business, but thats for the press release, which will lay it all out there, Helland said. The companys headquarters and warehouse is on Marlin Drive in southeast Rapid City. Eagle Sales also operates warehouses in Pierre and Chamberlain. Free entrance has been offered throughout the National Park Service's Centennial Weekend from Thursday through Sunday, and some parks are even offering cake and ice cream on the park service's 100th birthday Thursday. Mount Rushmore Cake and ice cream will be on the menu at Mount Rushmore on Thursday, where there will also be a performance by Gib Young as Theodore Roosevelt throughout the day, special talks, and "a little surprise" for those who stay until the end of the evening, according to Chief of Interpretation Maureen McGee-Ballinger. "We think it's going to be a special day," McGee-Ballinger said. "We've invited people to take postcards we've provided and jot down their favorite experiences in the National Park sites." Additionally, there will be a Duct Tape Art exhibit in the visitor center courtesy of Utah artist Chad Farnes, who has created several works in honor of the NPS. There will also be a sample area where visitors can add to the tape art. "You're going to enjoy the camaraderie," said McGee-Balinger. "It's the 100th anniversary of the service, so it's a memory-making event." Badlands National Park Badlands National Park will host an open house at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, with a variety of booths highlighting activities and research that take place in the park. "We'll also have the last of our centennial concerts at 6 p.m. Saturday when the Native American band Brule performs," said Park Ranger of Interpretation Joe Giddens. Wind Cave National Park Wind Cave National Park will offer cake and ice cream in the visitor center at 2 p.m. Thursday and a performance by local entertainer Gordy Pratt at 7 p.m. in the amphitheater as he performs his one-man show "Seth Bullock, Spirit of the West." "He's a well-known entertainer who's impersonated Bullock over 1,000 times, and we've been looking for someone to put on a show like this for a while," said Chief of Interpretation Tom Farrell. Jewel Cave National Monument Birthday cake will be available at Jewel Cave National Monument on Thursday, where there will also be a time capsule event with photos, a letter from the superintendent and more put into a capsule that will be opened in 2066. "It's going to be everything that encompasses the centennial,' said Riley Hays, centennial coordinator. "Pamphlets, brochures, centennial merchandise. It's going to be a special event." Other events throughout the week include The Journey Museum's program "The Black Hills Journey Starts Here" on Friday, covering the influence of the NPS on the Black Hills, and a Junior Ranger Day on Saturday morning. "What's most exciting is how the centennial focuses on all of the wonderful things the NPS has done over the last 100 years, and let's not lose track of the next 100 years," Hays said. "Let's make sure the resources are still there, and that visitors see why they're important." For a full list of events for the centennial, visit nps.gov/planyourvisit/event-search.htm. [This story has been edited to reflect a correction. Mount Rushmore National Monument will have free parking only on Aug. 25. All other parks will have free entrance. Additionally, the Brule concert will be on Saturday.] Wendy Lien watched her two children and three of their friends on Tuesday as they swung up, down and all around on the Cliff Hanger ride at the Central States Fair in Rapid City. Given the recent publicity surrounding accidents at amusement parks, including the grisly death of a Kansas boy on a water ride, Lien acknowledged she was being watchful over the safety of her children. And yet, she and other parents likely had no idea if the carnival rides at the fair are inspected for safety. I hope so, she said. Until two years ago, there were no laws requiring inspections of carnival rides in South Dakota. The only requirement was liability insurance for the operator. Then, in 2014, after two people got stuck on a carnival ride in Sisseton for more than an hour in 2013, the Legislature adopted carnival-ride inspection laws. Among other things, those laws require daily and annual inspections of carnival rides. The daily inspections can be conducted by carnival employees, but the annual inspections must be conducted by an insurer or a certified amusement-ride inspector. Until South Dakota adopted those laws, it was one of only a handful of states Mississippi, Alabama, Nevada, Wyoming and Utah were the others with no laws requiring inspections, according to Saferparks, a nonprofit group that pushes to improve safety. At the Central States Fair this year, the carnival is operated by Texas-based Carnival Americana. On Tuesday, the Journal asked to see, and was shown, examples of all the documents that the company is required by South Dakota law to file proof of insurance, annual inspection affidavits and daily inspection records for rides. The documents appeared to be in order. Ron Jeffries, general manager of the fair, spoke highly of his carnival provider. You want somebody whos meticulous, and theyre meticulous, Jeffries said. The examination of ride inspections comes at a time when recent events have prompted a look at state-by-state rules, which the Associated Press says vary widely in depth and frequency. A total of 29 deaths on amusement rides or water slides have been reported to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission since 2010, agency spokeswoman Patty Davis said. An original 1953 International fire truck will be auctioned off at Kool Deadwood Nites on Friday, with the profits going to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. The auction will take place at 10 a.m. in front of the Deadwood Mountain Grand resort, 1906 Deadwood Mountain Drive. The truck was purchased six months ago by Ray's Auto Body in Rapid City from Gateway Autoplex, and it will be sold to the highest bidder Friday morning. "It's got all of its original equipment and new hoses," said Larry Kuhn of Ray's Auto Body. "Everything runs perfectly, it's getting detailed and polished up and will be in Deadwood on Thursday." The truck was originally purchased by the Douglas Volunteer Fire Department in 1953. For more information, call Kuhn at 605-430-6476. PARAMARIBO, Suriname - Soldiers from the South Dakota National Guard and members of Suriname's Armed Forces partnered together to renovate some of the infrastructure at the O.S. 1 Santo Dorp School in Wanica, Suriname, Aug. 8-16. The renovation project was conducted as part of the Suriname and South Dakota State Partnership Program to provide training for military construction personnel while simultaneously assisting in a worthy community need, according to a South Dakota National Guard news release. "Similar to other Armed Forces around the world, Suriname's Armed Forces are engaged in humanitarian projects and is expanding its responsibilities concerning our national development," said Lt. Col. Johnny Antonius, Suriname Ministry of Defense head of strategic planning and education. "In this respect, collaboration with the South Dakota National Guard on this particular project is of utmost importance," he said. "This form of collaboration is a win-win situation on many levels." A team of eight soldiers from the SDNG's 155th Engineer Company and 211th Engineer Company worked alongside about a dozen Suriname Defense Force engineers on the renovation. Renovations consisted of tiling, door construction and installation, painting, electrical and lighting installation, sink and toilet installation, waterline plumbing, septic tank venting, drainage installation and installing a boundary fence. "The experience created a ton of training for all of us across the board," said Warrant Officer Brandon Voss, project officer in charge of the South Dakota team. "We not only had to deal with language barriers, we had to overcome different building techniques and building material. Working with the SDF helped us practice communication and compromising skills. It was a great opportunity in planning, organizing and working with the SDF and the Suriname people." The renovations will not only create a better learning and teaching environment, but the Surinamese soldiers and the members of the SDNG will know that their effort and hard work has made our children very happy and will set conditions for them to enjoy going to school, said Antonius. "Furthermore, Surinamese soldiers and members of the SDNG learn from each other on how they both conduct certain work related tasks and more importantly they work together as a team," Antonius said. "After all, that is what the partnership is all about 'team work.'" Santo Dorp's principal, Sharmila Darsan, said the school is like a completely new environment and she is grateful to all who worked on the project. "A pleasant learning environment is always good for the children," said Darsan. "It helps with better attitudes, higher grades and it motivates." Darsan said the fence and gates also makes the children feel safe and will keep strangers from wandering into the school yard. The project first began in March, when SDNG and Suriname soldiers specializing in construction visited 14 public schools accompanied by representatives from the Suriname Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Education. The Ministry of Education chose the Santo Dorp School which serves approximately 850 students from the local area. Pvt. Dominic Paulson, of the 155th, said he was pleased to work on the project, which gave him a satisfied feeling knowing he can contribute to a better school and learning environment for the children. "I was very happy to work on the bathrooms and complete the fence," said Paulson. "It was a joy to see the young kids' faces having new plumbing fixtures for washing their hands and a fence to help keep them safe." Funding for the project was provided by U.S. Southern Command and all materials and supplies were purchased in Suriname. For the past 10 years, the SDNG and SDF have successfully partnered together to established a security cooperation relationship in coordination with USSOUTHCOM under the National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program. The partnership has flourished during the past decade becoming a model for mutual security cooperation. "The partnership between the Republic of Suriname and South Dakota has proven to be an example for all State Partnership Programs that the Unites States conducts with countries around the world," Antonius said. "I am convinced that both Suriname and South Dakota will do their utmost to maintain this kind of partnership and bring it to an even higher level." Since 2006, Soldiers from both countries have conducted over 100 subject matter exchanges through the program, which have benefitted men and women from both organizations to gain knowledge and experience in both military operations and civilian culture. "I have never been to Suriname before, or even outside of the U.S.," said Pfc. Logan Foster, of the 155th. "I would definitely take the opportunity to come back to Suriname. It was a great experience!" Suriname and the SDNG conduct about 10 subject matter expert exchanges a year on a variety of military related topics to include: field leadership and NCO development; logistics operations; military police procedures; medical and communications training; and women serving in the military, to name a few. The renovation project at Santo Dorp is just one of several construction projects that the partner nations have completed at schools and clinics throughout Suriname in the past 10 years. "It's important to mention that the Republic of Suriname is not neglecting its duty of creating conditions for a good learning environment for our children," Antonius said. "Although we are going through some difficult times due to the current economic crisis, we are doing our utmost to commit to our responsibilities. "Nevertheless, the SDNG has proven to be good and trustworthy partner who is willing to assist Suriname in various humanitarian projects such as this one," Antonius added. "We hope similar projects will be conducted throughout the next 10 years, since the schools, Surinamese soldiers and members of the SDNG look forward to these kind of activities." On Aug. 19, I attended a meeting in Hyannis presented by a group of individuals who are strongly opposed to the development of wind energy systems in the Sandhills. The speakers shared a number of concerns about alternative energy systems and there were many good points raised. In particular, the issue of fire is one which must be clearly answered. As most of you know, I have strongly supported removing the barriers to wind energy development in the state of Nebraska. Nebraska has lagged other states in development, primarily due to the public power structure in Nebraska and the associated complications associated with public verses private power generation. In 2016, one of the principal barriers was removed when the Governor signed LB 824 which removed the ability of public power to purchase privately owned generation through eminent domain. Nebraska ranks third in the nation in the quality of wind which can be converted to energy...yet we fall far behind other Great Plains states in what is produced. LB 824 removes that barrier to production. With rapid depopulation in many counties in Nebraska and high property taxes, wind generation has the potential to add some good-paying jobs, income for landowners, and also significant property tax relief to residents of counties where projects are developed. Grande Prairie Wind Farm in Holt County is providing $2.6 million in property tax relief, $2.5 million in landowner payments, and 12 to 15 full-time jobs in ONeill, all on a 54,000 acre footprint. And while I strongly support opening doors and taking down barriers to development, I also believe that local control of these projects is essential. What works in Dodge County, Nebraska may be completely different from what works in Sioux County, Nebraska and it is up to the locally elected Commissioners in each county to weigh the pros and cons of development with the desires of local residents, who are their constituents. The opportunity to develop a wind energy industry in Nebraska is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity because the nation is now in the midst of a historic shift in energy production. Once it is built out, the need for further development will vanish. A few years ago, Lincoln, Nebraska purchased a large amount of renewable energy from a Kansas developer. Kansas companies received the income, Kansas property taxpayers received the benefit, Kansas communities had the jobs and sales tax which that purchase generated. But again, I believe that the issue must be decided at the local level, by local county officials who have taken the time to educate themselves about the drawbacks, environmental impacts, economic impacts, road construction, fire prevention, and other areas of concern. Some are arguing for a complete moratorium on wind development across the sandhills. That would seem to be the antithesis of local control. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday affirmed the 20-year sentence of a Rapid City school custodian who had pleaded guilty to enticing a minor over the Internet. Casey James Godfrey admitted to using the Internet to entice two out-of-state teenage girls to send him sexually explicit photographs between July 2013 and January 2014. He was arrested in January 2014, after about a month of sexually explicit exchanges with a Nebraska law enforcement agent who posed as a 14-year-old girl online. Godfrey was then 28 years old and employed as a janitor at Pinedale Elementary School. He was sentenced in Rapid City federal court in June of 2015, and faces another 20 years of supervised release after his prison term. Godfreys appeal argued that his sentence was substantively unreasonable, according to the appellate courts written opinion. As the two federal courts that have now reviewed this case have said, the punishment here is not only deserved for this terrible crime, but it should serve as a lesson for anyone else considering victimizing others, especially our children, U.S. Attorney Randolph Seiler, of the South Dakota District, said in a written statement. Federal sentences contain no potential for parole, and so a 20-year sentence should be a wake-up call for Internet predators. During Gofreys sentencing, the district court expressed concern over his using the elementary school to create and send photos in an attempt to induce a minor. The sentencing court had also said his predatory actions in a public setting required heightened protection. Godfrey sent the undercover Nebraska agent nude images of himself, standing in front of a bathroom mirror at Pinedale, according to court documents. He had also expressed sexual interest in an 11-year-old female student at the school. PIERRE | Direct shipments of wine to South Dakota consumers became legal Jan. 1, and getting wine by mail has already become quite popular in the Rushmore State. So popular, in fact, that some people have already exceeded their annual maximum of 12 cases and others are finding creative ways to order more than the law stipulates. The assessment comes from Jason Evans, a deputy director for the state Department of Revenue. He presented a report Tuesday to the Legislatures Government Operations and Audit Committee on the wine orders. He said tax collections from direct wine sales during the first two quarters of the year exceeded $38,000. At that pace, the amount would be very close to the annual estimate he provided to legislators who passed the law allowing wine sales by mail last year. The department built a system that allows wineries to directly report sales and carriers to directly report deliveries. Wine shipments are for personal use only, he said, with age verification required at the time of the order and at the time of delivery. We didnt want this to replace the South Dakota wholesaler, the South Dakota retailer, he said. State law prohibits the department from publishing a list of licensed wineries on its website, thought there is a search function, according to Evans. There are about 275 wineries registered so far. The license fee for shippers and carriers is $100 annually. Whats still unknown is what wine traffic will be like during the fall and holiday seasons. It will be interesting to see in a couple years what those look like, Evans told the legislators of tax collections. He acknowledged the department was kind of blind-sided by shipments from warehouses, because the department doesnt collect tracking numbers. In some instances some wineries have submitted inaccurate tax returns and some unlicensed wineries and retailers are shipping products into South Dakota, including other alcohol products. Evans said it was very likely they were shipping these before the wine shipments became legal but the department wasnt finding them. For those consumers who already exceeded their 12-case limit, some were being creative with their names and addresses and some were using more than one winery. He acknowledged he was surprised by how much wine some people drink. Shipments during the second quarter totaled 2,463 deliveries and basically ran double the first quarter sales. The penalties for breaking the law are Class II misdemeanors for consumers. Weve kind of taken a soft approach so far, he said. Our Sen. John Thune has been going off on the name change from Harney Peak to Black Elk Peak for a while. In a Rapid City Journal piece last Sunday, he complained that the federal naming board's re-designation was the act of a "bunch of un-elected, unaccountable bureaucrats waving a magic wand." The Journal reported that Thune is "exploring ways" of keeping the board from making similar, arbitrary decisions, but that "Thune does not know what action, if any, he will take." I doubt that any substantive action on this will be taken by Thune, but his politically reflexive whining about the matter does superficially burnish his "anti-fed" credentials. Thune's website touts him as a leader "in the fight against overreaching federal regulations," so his complaint that the feds ignored South Dakota's recommendation to retain the name of the well-documented mass murderer General William Harney on the peak in the Black Hills seems consistent with that position and mindset. But Thune's grousing notwithstanding, the senator's options are to like it or lump it. By contrast, our Gov. Dennnis Daugaard wisely and pragmatically decided to go along with the feds on this, choosing to focus on other, more substantive matters that our state has to deal with. End of story. But for all that, it's really the nature of Thune's response that gets my attention. It's redolent of political opportunism and rhetoric. His blustery vow to rein in the naming board has "appeal to your base" written all over it and gratuitously so, considering that he's in a reelection campaign that should be handily won. Thune has gotten much mileage out of his persona as a fed fighter, considering that "federal overreach" is probably the most common little couplet in his political vocabulary. What's inconsistent about Thune's reaction to the federally driven decision is the way he ignores his pledge to fight "federal overreach" in other matters when political convenience or imperatives dictate. For example, last spring Thune had no hesitation about bringing the weight of the federal government to bear on a private social media company's handling of its news reports. Thune thought Facebook's news feed had a liberal bias to it. The Facebook Trending Topics flare-up was exactly the opposite of Thune's self-designation of a fighter against federal intrusion and overreach. Thune's sternly worded statement that Facebook "must answer" and "hold those responsible" if there has been "political bias" in Facebook's news feed had the ominous tone of a government Leviathan, not to mention a serious disregard for the Bill of Rights. Happily, Thune's hyper-ventilation on that issue went nowhere. On a more spectacular level of inconsistency is Thune's alliance with a presidential candidate, Trump, who promises a substantial increase in presidential power and federal authority. Thune has endorsed a presidential aspirant who has repeatedly told his followers that he'd use government as a tool to improve their lots in life. That includes interfering in free markets by punishing private enterprises for pursuing global opportunities, increased police patrols in Muslim neighborhoods, federally instigated revitalization of blighted urban districts, punishment for women who have abortions ... the list goes on. If this isn't federal overreach, what is? I wish Thune would get his story straight. Russian nationalist Potkin sentenced to 7.5 years for organizing extremist movement MOSCOW, August 24 (RAPSI, Lyudmila Klenko) Moscows Meshchansky District Court has sentenced Russian nationalist Alexander Potkin to 7.5 years in penal colony for organizing an extremist movement and embezzling funds from the Kazakh BTA Bank, RAPSI reported from the courtoom on Wednesday. The court has also fined Potkin 600,000 rubles ($9,400) and ordered him to pay 4.9 billion rubles ($76.5 mln) to suffering party of the embezzlement. A prosecutor earlier asked the court to sentence Potkin, who is also known as Alexander Belov, to nine years in penal colony. Investigators claim that Mukhtar Ablyazov, former chairman of the bank, who wanted to destabilize the constitutional order in Kazakhstan, asked Potkin to help him with organizing an extremist group. Potkin allegedly agreed and used funds embezzled from BTA Bank to spread the nationalist ideology in Kazakhstan. Potkin was arrested on October 15, 2014 at the Hotel Intourist Kolomenskoe in Moscow on charges related to the embezzlement of $5 billion from BTA Bank. At the time of the arrest, Potkin allegedly had documents on him that effectively tied him to the embezzlement. Investigators believe that Potkin (Belov) was a mastermind in a money laundering operation in 2012-2014. He was also suspected of involvement in laundering money that was embezzled from BTA Bank by its former chairman Mukhtar Ablyazov. Ablyazov, who allegedly defrauded BTA Bank of more than $6 billion, left Kazakhstan for the UK, where he was granted political asylum in 2011. However, he remained a fugitive from justice since February 2012. Ablyazovs whereabouts remained unknown until he was detained on July 31, 2015 near Cannes, France. Kazakhstan, Russia, and Ukraine are all seeking his extradition. In October 2015, French authorities approved Ablyazovs extradition to Russia. A Ravalli County judicial candidate has filed a defamation suit against a woman who once worked as his childrens nanny. Robert Myers and wife, Jennifer Feighner, of Hamilton filed the lawsuit in a San Diego, California, court in July against Madison Alexander and up to 100 others who have yet to be identified. The lawsuit stems from a letter from Alexander published in the Bitterroot Star in May that challenged Myers as a viable candidate for district judge. In her letter, Alexander claimed Myers humiliated her, used profanity, and made her feel so uncomfortable during a vacation trip to California that she hid in her bedroom before being sent home by the Myers family. Before the trip, Alexander wrote that Myers told her about his sex life while sitting in a hot tub with her after giving her wine. At the time, she was 19. Im writing about all of this now because I believe Rob Myers is the last person who should ever serve as a judge in any county, Alexander wrote. In an accompanying letter, Alexanders mother Stacy Coulter of Hamilton wrote that she attempted to reach out to Myers and his wife after receiving a call from her distraught daughter during the California trip. She said her calls werent returned. After Alexander returned home, she told her parents about those stories from Myers about his sex life, Coulter said. Madisons account of all of this has never changed or wavered, Coulter wrote. In his lawsuit, Myers disputed all of Alexanders claims and alleged that that he and his wife had hired her as a nanny despite the fact that they had learned she had been kidnapped and taken out of state by her former stepfather. The lawsuit stated the Myers opened their home to (Alexander) as their nanny, entrusting (Alexander) to their home, their valuables, their privacy, and, most importantly, their children. They treated her kindly and lavished special benefits and privileges on her. Myers lawsuit claimed that Alexander asked him for advice about boys, sex and relationships. On the trip to California, Myers lawsuit claimed that Alexander developed a sense of entitlement and a growing, self-centered petulance that eventually led Myers telling her she would have to find new employment when she returned to Montana. The lawsuit said the family paid more than $1,000 to get Alexander a last-minute plane ticket home, and hotel room the night before her flight. Myers lawsuit seeks damages for defamation, invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, breach of confidential relationship, conspiracy to commit defamation, conspiracy to commit invasion of privacy, and aiding and abetting. The lawsuit seeks both general and punitive damages to be determined at the time of trial. If you decide someday that you want to take a stroll on the newest path along Lewis and Clarks National Historic Trail, dont come expecting to find a highway through the woods. In many places the winding pathway that follows a narrow ridge is little more than an old game trail that may have been there when the famous explorers set their sights for the Bitterroot Valley hundreds of feet below. This past week, a group of six former smokejumpers gathered up their Pulaskis, chainsaws and loppers to clear the path for future visitors to the historic trail. Ask and theyll tell it was a challenge to not do more. We had to hold ourselves back, said Todd Onken of Missoula. Were used to building fire line that is 18 inches wide. Here were looking at a trail that is 6 to 8 inches wide. We always wanted to do more. But the whole idea of creating a new 2.75-mile trail that follows a portion of Lewis and Clarks September 1805 descent from Lost Trail Pass into the valley below was to offers visitors a taste of what it might have been like way back when. Theres no place quite like it along the entire length of the national historic trail. Constructing and opening this portion of the trail below Lost Trail Pass will allow a traveler to walk away from the roads and the river and have an experience that comes close to what the expedition experienced over 200 years ago, said Bitterroot National Forest Supervisor Julie King in her decision to allow the construction of the new trail. Specifically, there are not that many easy accessible off-road opportunities like this in the overland section of the National Historic Trail. King acknowledged that there is a continuing debate over the exact route the explorers took over the pass. The exact step-by-step route may never be known; however, having a public trail that is located off the highway will contribute greatly by providing an opportunity to walk, hike, bike and horseback ride along what is the most probable route, she wrote. A retired engineer, Ted Hall, has spent years working to ground-truth the location of the trail. Hes certain that this ridge was the place where the explorers and their horses worked their way off the mountain. At a 2015 talk at Travelers Rest in Lolo, Hall met Fred Cooper, a retired Forest Service employee and a former smokejumper who serves as a member of the National Smokejumpers Association. At the time, Hall was looking for a project manager to build the new trail and someone who knew how the Forest Service operated. Cooper was intrigued by the idea and began working with Bitterroot Forest officials to make the trail become a reality. When the National Smokejumpers Association agreed to not only build the trail, but also keep it maintained, Bitterroot Forest officials decided to move forward. They were integral in getting the job done, said Bitterroot Forest Darby District Ranger Eric Winthers. It was a big help when they agreed to do the maintenance as well. For a time, its going to take a visitor with some good map reading skills and maybe a GPS to actually find the trailhead. Right now you turn at about Mile 4, or maybe 2.5 or 2 , Winthers said. Its the second switchback (going up Lost Trail Pass) or maybe the third. Its on road that goes past the bottom of chair four, but its not really marked right now. The hope is that the Montana Department of Transportation will eventually allow a sign on the highway. Interpretive signs will be posted by the Bitterroot Forest at the top and bottom trailheads. Right now, we have to get the language for those, Winthers said. We have to get the historians to approve that language. Then we have to figure out a way to get them made. Winthers hopes the Trapper Creek Job Corps sign shop will provide some assistance in that regard. The trail work at Lost Trail was just one of many volunteer projects taken on by the National Smokejumpers Association this year. Primarily, the association does volunteer work in Montana, Idaho, Colorado, Minnesota and New Mexico, Cooper said. This year, for the first time, we have a project in Maine. Jeff Kinderman of Victor said the association has been doing volunteer projects like this one since 1999. Its first project was in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. The other three former smokejumpers that volunteered on this project were Rod McIver of Kalispell, Mike Pepion of Hamilton and Bruce Ford of Missoula. Some of the men had never crossed paths before. Part of the appeal of these volunteer projects is camping out and spending time with fellow smokejumpers, Cooper said. We swap old stories and maybe tell a few lies. The band shell in Claudia Driscoll Park has a new coat of paint thanks to Boy Scout Austin Mowat, in Troop 1962, completing his Eagle Scout community service project in Hamilton. It feels great to contribute to the community, Mowat said. The band shell will be there for a long time and people will enjoy it more as they see performances and as they drive by. Mowat, a senior at Corvallis High School, joined the scouting program in third grade. He chose the band shell project because he has attended many performances there and his brother plays in the high school band. My mom suggested something more than the grey stucco, Mowat said. My brother would have done it but he isnt going for his eagle for a few more years. Mowat said as a young scout he helped other scouts work on their Eagle projects and was intimidated. Now that I have the process done I realize it isnt difficult, he said. It is all about organization and starting early. He started lining up the project in June then due to scouting events like camp outs the painting was delayed. Mowat obtained permission to paint the band shell from Hamilton Public Works Director Keith Smith. The Hamilton City Council approved the paint colors, cilantro green and tea chest brown. Sherwin-Williams Paint Store donated the paint, brushes, masking tape and tarps. Steve Reynolds, paint store manager, said, scouting is a neat program. I havent been in the scout program but I see it as a great opportunity for these young men to develop leadership skills and do service for the community, Reynolds said. Im involved in stage presentations all the time and have been involved in the Hamilton Players so the idea of it being a stage it fell right in to the idea of what I like to do. Mowat said notified volunteers and gathered tools on August 15. Painting is good once you get to it, he said. It was difficult to get the tools, paint and people together. Most of my troop was unavailable due to work and family summer schedules. I mainly had assistant scout master Brian Kurcher every day. The painting began on Friday with a base coat and continued through the weekend completing the trim and archway on Sunday. The troop used 18-foot ladders to reach the top. Jeremy Ruff, director of the Bitterroot Community Band, said the shell has needed painting. The city has painted the interior a couple of times but the exterior has not been painted before, Ruff said. Its probably sat there 12 years unpainted. Having him do this project was a nice thing for the city, the parks and the band. Im excited to see it. We have our gig on Thursday it should be a nice edition. Mowat complete the project just in time for the bands final summer Claudia Driscoll Park performance, at 8 p.m. on August 25. Painting the band shell is an improvement to the community, Mowat said. It is humbling to know I did it even if people take it for granted. BEACHWOOD, Ohio - Less than two years after opening the Vue apartment complex on the East Side, the NRP Group has sold the 348-unit building in a complicated transaction. Out-of-state companies now own the apartment building and the land beneath it, according to real estate records filed Friday. One Liberty Properties, Inc., a publicly traded real estate investment trust based in New York, bought the dirt. Strategic Properties of North America, a New Jersey apartment investor, controls the building, which occupies a high-profile corner at South Green Road and Chagrin Boulevard in Beachwood. The sale is a marquee one for the local apartment market, where there aren't many brand-new buildings - and few of the size and scope of the Vue, a high-end project with a dog run, an outdoor swimming pool, an indoor yoga studio, private garages and central courtyards. But onlookers will be hard-pressed to figure out how much, precisely, the property is worth. Public records don't provide a clear sale price. And the seller and both buyers aren't talking. David Heller, a principal at Garfield Heights-based NRP, declined to discuss the deal. "It is our company policy not to comment on sales," he wrote in an email. "You will have to contact the buyer." One Liberty Properties and Strategic Properties of North America did not respond to phone calls or emails. Last week, though, One Liberty Properties posted a news release on its website about recent acquisitions, including a land deal in Beachwood. The company paid $13.9 million for the land, which is subject to a long-term lease with the apartment-building operator. Real estate filings in Cuyahoga County indicate that Strategic Properties of North America took control of the apartment building from NRP. It appears that Strategic Properties acquired a limited liability company that owns the building, rather than purchasing the real estate outright. Sometimes investors structure acquisitions that way to stay under the radar, in an effort to prevent the county's valuation of a property - and, in turn, the property-tax bill - from rising. Public records show the buyers secured a $67.4 million mortgage. If that loan represents 75 percent of the property value, for example, then the real estate could be worth upwards of $80 million. The Cuyahoga County Fiscal Office puts the market value of the property at only $35 million, though, based on the county's early 2015 appraisal of the building at partial completion. Since the participants in the deal are keeping quiet, it's tough to tell exactly why they structured the acquisition in such a convoluted way. Reliable occupancy and rent figures for the building aren't available, either. The property website is offline. The new owner brought in Comet Management, the residential management arm of Stark Enterprises of Cleveland, to run the apartment building. Ezra Stark, chief operating officer, confirmed Comet's role but wouldn't talk about the recent sale. He said residents won't see a change in the quality of services they receive. Michael Barron, first vice president of investments at the Marcus & Millichap brokerage in Independence, said it's encouraging to see out-of-town buyers snapping up apartments here. Strong occupancy levels and higher rents are bringing new players, and money, into the market, said Barron, who was not involved with the sale of the Vue. "I think it's super exciting to continue to shatter records in the city of Cleveland for apartments, in terms of what is possible with rents and pricing. There were so many naysayers and skeptics early on," he said. "There aren't a ton of big deals right now in Cleveland, so the ones that do come out get a lot of attention," added Barron, who recently started marketing the Quay 55 apartments, a 138-unit lakefront complex near East 55th Street, to potential buyers. NRP demolished the old Commerce Park I, II and III office buildings at Chagrin and Green to make way for the Vue, which sits on 8 acres. The first apartments opened in early 2015. The project was NRP's first luxury apartment development in the Cleveland area, where the company previously focused on senior housing and affordable rentals. Since then, NRP has built a student-housing project in Akron. Another market-rate project, the 306-unit Edison at Gordon Square, is scheduled to open in Cleveland's Detroit Shoreway neighborhood next year. America must return to conservative principles of less government,reduced taxes, less spending and a balanced budget! Cut,cap and balance! China's first Tibetan-language search engine was launched on Monday in the northwest province of Qinghai. The search engine, yongzin.com, will serve as a unified portal for all major Tibetan-language websites in China, said Tselo, director of the Tibetan Language Work Committee of the Hainan Tibetan autonomous prefecture in Qinghai. Yongzin means "master" or "teacher" in Tibetan. It will also be a major global source for information in Tibetan online, he said. The search engine has eight sections for news, websites, images, videos, music, encyclopedia, literature and forums. Since the engine's trial operation one month ago, it has been drawing users from 34 countries and regions, with hits exceeding 10 million, according to a report by China News Service. The engine will greatly meet the needs of Tibetan netizens with different retrieval demands, according to the Hainan Prefectural Tibetan Information Technology Research Center, the developer of the engine. It will also help to boost technology transfer and the application of research findings of Tibetan information processing, the center said. Sangye Janma, a Tibetan student in Minzu University of China, said the engine has a great effect on her studies. "Without such an engine in the past, I had to find most of the Tibetan data from books in the library. It is time-consuming and inconvenient," said Sangye Janma, who majors in Tibetan history. "When I find what I need for my thesis, I can copy and paste instead of typing out every part, and I can search useful results of Tibetan studies by overseas countries online," said the 25-year-old. Norbu Dradul, a Tibetan filmmaker in Sichuan's Aba Tibetan autonomous prefecture, said he has been using the engine for a month. "I am really pleased with such a breakthrough. Although there is still a gap compared with search engines such as Baidu, I believe it will grow stronger in the near future," said the 33-year-old. The project, which cost 57 million yuan ($8.7 million), was initiated in April 2013. "Our preliminary estimate is that more than 1.2 million Tibetan language speakers from China will use it. In the future, the number of users is likely to hit 2 million," said Dorjee Rabthen, director of the Hainan Prefectural Tibetan Information Research Center. Xinhua contributed to this story. Usually, third-generation entrepreneurs from established business families are born with the silver spoon, which makes their startup journey much more conflict-free than those bootstrapping their ideas to reality. While Binod Chaudharys comfortable middle-class upbringing can in no way qualify his story as one of those imagination-firing rags-to-riches one, neither can it be grouped in the former privileged category. Nepals first, and only billionaire, Binod is a self made man through and through. In the late 19th century 18-year-old Bhuramal Chaudhary left his ancestral village in Rajasthan in the hopes of making a better life for himself and ended up in Nepal, and began trading in textiles there. Over a lifetime of effort he managed to build a small textile store. After his death, his son, Lunkaran Chaudhary, took over the reins of the business and transformed it into Nepals first department store, Arun Emporium. A legacy in the making Binod Chaudhary, the eldest of Lunkarans three children, had a strong sense of the legacy he was inheriting when time came over to step into his fathers shoes. He says, I take my grandfather and father to be my biggest examples of courage and grit. My grandfather left Rajasthan at a very young age to sell Indian fabrics and textiles in Nepal at a time when there were no roads. My father took whatever my grandfather had built to the next level. He dabbled in various businesses, from construction to fabrics, and began importing and exporting products from Japan and Korea. It was he who dreamed of a manufacturing industry in Nepal. Though he could not complete that, he laid the foundation for it which later helped me when I was establishing Wai Wai. Binod, like his grandfather, had to start his working life at eighteen because a cardiac scare forced his father onto bedrest. Prior to this he dreamed of becoming a chartered accountant but had to leave his studies midway to shoulder family responsibilities. He states The family business was a thriving department store that imported textiles from Japan and Korea. Lunkarans vision of establishing a manufacturing industry in Nepal had led him to set up various businesses. However his ailing health and the poor infrastructure in Nepal meant that these were in rough shape. When Binod took over the reins he had dreams and plans of his own. Each generation of entrepreneur in my family have had their own unique set of difficulties. What is common between us is our ambition. Neither of us have been content with our god given lot even if it could have resulted in a comfortable life. Anyone who's ambitious and dreams big has to be prepared to accept the challenges their ambition presents them with. My grandfather could have chosen to be a small farmer in his tiny village in Rajasthan. Because he did something different, here I am today, he says with pride. Wai Wai While Binod was busy learning the ropes of the business from the ground up, a chance observation proved to be the hunch of a lifetime. At the airport I would observe that people travelling back from Thailand would return loaded with noodle cartons. I figured that these were high in demand with their relatives back home. I concluded that there was business to be done here, he says. The flour mill which supplied the familys biscuit factory was used to supply a small plant was then set up to manufacture noodles. Wai Wai Noodles, as Binod christened it, proved to be wildly popular in Nepal and was gradually expanded to India. Now his moniker is Noodle King and he controls two percent of the worlds noodle market. First and foremost, you have to be a dreamer. Then you have to keep dreaming the same dream until you achieve it. You can't envision one thing today and then jump ship to another idea tomorrow. No entrepreneur has the luxury of having enough time or resources. To my mind the management of these two resources is the most critical ability all entrepreneurs should master. Know when to spend, how to spend and where to spend. While its easy to fantasize over the perceived overnight success of this venture, the truth of those early days loom over his memory. For every small issue there was paperwork to be done. My day used to start by going to government offices and doing the rounds. Everything required a license. Everything required somebody or the other's permission, he recalls. But he is also quick to remember the good of starting up in Nepal is the eighties. He adds, Wai Wai granted Binod success and stability and established his calibre as a businessman to the world. But he was not satisfied. He says, Everyone dreams of conquering new frontiers. I always felt we were competing internationally in my own home turf when companies from India and China came to Nepal to sell their products. And I thought, why can't we do that? Binod had been travelling to Japan for business ever since he started working. Observing the Japanese at their work influenced his own attitude towards entrepreneurship greatly. He says, Cinnovation With this in mind, he felt confident in taking the next leap in his career: By the 1990's we had accumulated a fair amount of national success and business knowledge. We felt that this is the right time to create Nepal's first multinational. Life was also becoming a bit difficult in Nepal in the sense that the political uncertainties were beginning to influence the business landscape. Maoist insurgencies had just started. So we decided that to keep the business growing it was best to branch out to other countries. Chaudhary Groups first foray beyond Nepal was in Singapore, where they set up Cinnovation, effectively birthing the first (and only) MNC from Nepal. This expansion helped propel the Chaudhary fortune to the billion-dollar club. Where entrepreneurs are made In crystallizing insights from his own journey Binod shares his sentiments on what goes into the making of entrepreneurs of steel. "I did not have a mentor. Neither did I go to a B School. Working in the family business involved travelling to Japan frequently and this has had the largest impact in my professional life. I learnt a lot by working with the Japanese and observing their ethics of team work, meticulousness and systematic efficiency, their tendency to finish all the days work and never keep anything pending. The big name B Schools of nowadays do add to your knowledge and exposure. But they are not integral to an entrepreneur's education. Those skills and talents are found outside the classroom. Instead he espouses three character traits that individuals must embody if they are to become successful entrepreneurs. Journey Speaking of his own journey, he adds, By now I've been an entrepreneur for more than forty years. We have built a strong organization with vibrant offices across Asia from Sri Lanka. Dubai, India, Singapore and all over Nepal. We have created many different businesses and received recognition for our work. So I am sure I must have done something right. Today our confidence level is at a completely different level than when we were starting out. I enjoy every moment of what I do. I feel that the process has become much more exciting. It seems that yesterday we were fighting to establish ourselves. Now the sky is the limit. The nitty-gritties of day to day business management doesn't faze me anymore. I am more concerned with the bigger picture. I started all this in Nepal at age 18 when I wasn't concerned with starting up. Yesterday the battle was for survival. Today it is about challenging limits. An anecdote from his early life illustrates his success aptly. Binod recalls being sixteen and visiting Mumbai for the first time. The hustle and bustle of the city of dreams was a world away from the tiny mountain country he called home. He stood in front of the Taj Mahal hotel and was transfixed in awe of the grandeur before him. He wanted to go in but was intimidated. We were not used to seeing five star hotels in Nepal. Even today the Taj Mahal Hotel is an overpowering sight for simple folks. I was intimidated but also curious. I wanted to walk in. But the gentleman friend who was escorting me was terrified. He said, Don't go in. Tumko nikal dega (they'll throw you out). So I didn't risk it. The hospitality branch of his business has since partnered with Taj Hotel Resorts in a number of countries. Today Binod heads a business empire that consists of more than 80 companies spanning across 11 verticals (hospitality, banking, education, consumer goods, energy, real estate, power, retail, etc) in 19 countries. And hes excited for more. As his company is poised for expansion into West Asia, Binod surmises, When asked what he considers his biggest success, the answer comes easily. He says, Hands down its Wai Wai. It gave us the size, scale, recognition and ability to grow into what we are today. But what I consider my biggest achievement is to take the plunge and go global at a time when we had limited resources and were facing tumultuous uncertainties. Having had the courage to do that is what makes me satisfied. As for failures, he says that ups and downs are a reality of doing business. One shouldnt take the lows too seriously because they are inevitable. Advice Binods advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to be creatures of their time. "I want to tell entrepreneurs who are starting it now that it is far easier to do business today than when I was starting out. To be young and ambitious today, if you have access to technology and the advantages it affords, is to have the world as your oyster. Whether you are from Kathmandu or Timbaktoo it doesn't matter. Capital will follow a good idea if you are willing to follow that idea up with good old fashioned hard work." "Don't feel constrained by what you don't have- be it money, a business background, etc. If Jack Ma can do it from China, if Jan Koum can do it from Ukraine and if I could build this from Nepal- then anyone can do it. Be creative, take advantage of this wonderful networked world in which you live and go full steam ahead. (Source:- yourstory.com) DHANUSHA, Aug 24: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Transmission Center Janakpur has cut off power supply to the famed Janaki Temple and other religious shrines along with hospitals and government offices. The power supply was severed to Janaki Temple, Laxman Temple, Ram Janaki Wedding Mandap, Janakpur Zonal Hospital, a plastic factory and Road Division Office as part of the campaign to shutdown power supply to consumers not making due payment of electricity tariff, NEA Janakpur Transmission Centre's Chief, Jitendra Jha said. Jha added that the Janaki Temple has not paid electricity tariff since the last 30 years and has more than Rs 6.5 million in dues. The Laxman Temple has Rs 1.7 million in dues, Ram Janaki Wedding Mandap Rs 700,000, Janakpur Zonal Hospital Rs 6 million, the plastic factory Rs 550,000 and Road Division Office Rs 325,000. Janaki Temple's Chief Priest, Ramatapeshwor Das Vaishnav, said the Janaki temple complex housed Zonal Chief Office, police office, youth club and Karate Association during the Panchayat period and accommodated Janakpur Area Development Council, Janaki Temple Renovation Committee, Mithila Cultural Centre among other offices due to which the due amount was so huge. He said the temple would appeal to the concerned authority for pardoning the due amount. The priest also appealed to the civil society to take the initiative on making the payment of electricity dues with the money the temple owed to Guthi Sansthan, which amounts to more than Rs 150 million. RSS Kathmandu, Nepal: The main opposition party, CPN-UML has made clear on Wednesday that it will not allow amending the newly promulgated constitution of Nepal. While making the decision made by the 43th Standing Committee of the party UML General Secretary Ishwor Pokharel said that the constitution cant be amended at the interest of other countries. Though the UML has not mentioned the other countries that have shown interest to amend the constitution of Nepal, Pokhrel clearly intended to the neighboring India. The constitution cant be amended to serve the interest of foreign powers. It was reported that Indian Prime Minister Naredra Modi had suggested the visiting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home affairs Bimalendra Nidhi to amend the constitution to take into bard the agitating Madhes based parties. However, Nidhi has already made clear that there was no any discussion regarding the amendment of the constitution during the meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The government is preparing to amend the constitution to please the foreigners which is not only objectionable but meaningless, the UML has said. The activities of the government seem to have intended to bow down before other countries, UML General Secretary Pokhrel said accusing the incumbent government of attempting to take the country toward instability, indecision and constitution vacuum. Conspiracy is being hatched to invite political and social conflicts in the country, reads the statement distributed in the press conference. West Coast occult rockers CASTLE are pleased to unveil the official new music video for "Flash Of The Pentagram." The tune comes by way of the band's recently issued Welcome To The Graveyard full-length. Elaborates guitarist Mat Davis, "Our director for 'Flash Of The Pentagram,' Brian J. Davis (who also directed CASTLE's 'Evil Ways'), mentioned he didn't think anyone had ever captured what it's like to watch CASTLE live, so his idea was to use the gig flyer as a the kind of perfect medium to do that. He filmed us in a studio and printed the frames out on a cheap photocopier. Then he re-photographed the photocopies on an animation table over a month. We think the result is close to CASTLE live: intense, raw, and trancelike." The video initially premiered worldwide via Team Rock/Metal Hammer who issued, "If you're partial to an inverted pentagram, you can thank the 19th-century occult author Eliphas Levi for making them the metalhead's symbol of choice. When he wasn't popularizing tarot decks in the western world and inspiring the likes of Aleister Crowley, he was declaring that pentagrams pointed down represented evil, and thus bequeathing the metal scene's most potent of emblems.... CASTLE have unveiled a tribute to the great man in the riff-flinging form of their lead-off single, 'Flash Of The Pentagram' ...An irrepressible combination of '70s doom, NWOBHM, musty-yet-in-your-face production courtesy of famed Neurosis/Melvins producer Billy Anderson, and the smoky, whiskey-stained vocals of Liz Blackwell, 'Flash Of The Pentagram' pays tribute to Levi's theory of Transcendental Magic while rocking out with an unforgettable groove and basically soundtracking a party populated by motorcycle clubs, magicians and bottles of absinthe while sigils adorn the walls." THIS LOCATION Watch "Flash Of The Pentagram" at THIS LOCATION Captured by Billy Anderson (Sleep, Neurosis, Brothers Of The Sonic Cloth, Eyehategod, Ommadon et al) at Type Foundry Studios in Portland, Oregon this past Winter, Welcome To The Graveyard is currently available at heavycastle.com facebook.com/CastleSF CASTLE is currently road-bound on a massive North American live takeover. The mammoth trek, which commenced on June 15th, included a three-week run of tour dates surrounding their appearance at the Maryland Doom Fest followed by a month-long headlining tour that began July 17th and will run through August 20th. From there, CASTLE will take a week-long pause before taking to the streets yet again for a month's worth of Canadian dates through September 29th. In October, the band will make their way to Europe. The tour includes a stop at Desertfest Belgium and Old Grave Fest V in Bucharest. In December CASTLE will return to the stage, this time in Japan with Guevnna! More dates will be added in the coming weeks. Stay up to date and visitor CASTLE: 8/27/2016 Doom Over T.O. Fest - Toronto, ON 9/07/2016 Katacombes - Montreal, PQ 9/08/2016 Envol at Macadam Fest - Quebec City, PQ 9/09/2016 Panic Room - St. John, NB 9/10/2016 Gus Pub - Halifax, NS 9/11/2016 Baba's - Charlottetown, PEI 9/12/2016 Capitol Complex - Fredericton, NB 9/13/2016 Ti-Petac - Trois Rivieres, PQ 9/14/2016 House Of Targ - Ottawa, ON 9/16/2016 Black Pirates Pub - Thunder Bay, ON 9/17/2016 King's Hotel - Winnipeg, MB 9/18/2016 TBA - Saskatoon, SK 9/19/2016 Starlite Room - Edmonton, AB 9/20/2016 Fernando's - Kelowna, BC 9/21/2016 The Office Pub - Kamloops, BC 9/22/2016 Funky Winkerbeans - Vancouver, BC 9/23/2016 Logans Pub - Victoria, BC 9/24/2016 Palomino - Calgary, AB 9/26/2016 The Club - Regina, SK 9/28/2016 New American - Sault Ste. Marie, ON 9/29/2016 Call The Office - London, ON 10/05/2016 TBA - Prague, CZ 10/06/2016 Durer Kert - Budapest, HU 10/07/2016 Old Grave Fest V - Bucharest, RO 10/09/2016 Death Disco - Athens, GR 10/11/2016 Titty Twister - Parma, IT w/ Universe217 10/12/2016 Blue Rose - Milan, IT w/ Universe217 10/13/2016 White Rabbit Club - Freiburg, DE w/ Universe217 10/15/2016 Little Devil - Tilburg, NL w/ Universe217 10/16/2016 Desertfest Belgium - Antwerp, BE 10/17/2016 AZ - Aachen, DE 10/18/2016 Urban Spree - Berlin, DE 10/19/2016 Coq d'Or - Olten, CH 10/20/2016 UT Connewitz - Leipzig, DE 10/22/2016 Truckstop Alaska - Gothenburg, SE w/ Year of the Goat 10/26/2016 Gerber3 - Weimar, DE w/ Guevnna: 12/08/2016 El Puente - Yokohama, JP 12/09/2016 Earthdo - Tokyo, JP 12/10/2016Osaka - Hokage, JP 12/11/2016 Huck Finn - Nagoya, JP 12/12/2016 Ruby Room - Tokyo, JP # w/ Disenchanter * w/ Brimstone Coven ^ w/ Blizaro "They're the kind of band who could make you believe in heavy metal... their righteously individualized blend of thrash, traditional metal, doom, heavy rock 'n' roll, etc., speaks to some mystical bygone era when metal was about not compromising, putting a fist in the air against expectation and going on tour forever. CASTLE were so deep into what they were doing that I think they could've been anywhere and it would've been the same, that trance taking hold early on as they locked in and holding sway for the duration of their set, which seemed short when it was over." - The Obelisk SNc Channels: Search About Salem-News.com Aug-23-2016 23:16 TweetFollow @OregonNews Alleged Child Abuser Apprehended After 23 Years on the Run After learning the news, one victim said, This is the best day of my life. John Hartin has been captured after 23 years on the run. Image: wfmynews2.com (BOSTON, Mass.) - In 1993, Boston-area resident John Hartin was 23 years old when he befriended two young boysages 6 and 9and allegedly raped them. One of the victims eventually told a family member about the abuse, which led to an investigation and Hartin being charged in Massachusetts with five counts of rape of a child. Rather than face the charges, Hartin fled, and was later charged federally with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. He was at large for more than two decades, and investigators followed numerous leads without success. But the case never stopped being actively investigated, said Special Agent Brooks Broadus, a member of the FBIs Boston Division Child Exploitation Task Force. We were always looking. At the time of his disappearance, Hartin, a lifelong resident of Dorchester, Massachusetts, was working as a security guard. He had also studied graphics and computer arts in college. His first alleged victim was related to an acquaintance of Hartins. The young boys close friend was Hartins second alleged victim. In 2012, the FBI launched a multi-state media campaign and announced a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to Hartins arrest. The campaign generated thousands of tipsand many tantalizing leadsbut no arrest. More recently, explained Boston Police Department Det. Mike Sullivan, a member of the Child Exploitation Task Force, we started looking at the case again with fresh eyes and went back to Day One. We sought out Hartins family and friends and began to conduct new interviews. In the end, Sullivan said, it was old-fashioned detective work that led to Hartins capture. Sullivan sought the assistance of various law enforcement agencies to assist in the search, including the U.S. Marshals Service and the U.S. Department of State. Through these partnerships, investigators learned that Hartin was using the alias Jay Carter. The fugitive had a drivers license in Carters name, and other fraudulent documents. Leads were initially sent to the FBI Miami Division, FBI Long Beach Resident Agency and the FBI Greensboro Resident Agency. The fugitive was traced to Walkertown, North Carolina, and the FBI put his residence under surveillance. Intelligence revealed that he had weapons in the house. We had information that he was armed and potentially dangerous, Sullivan said. Although Hartin was taken into custody without incident at his home on June 15, 2016, he initially denied his true identify. We are still piecing together where he was for all the years he was on the run, Broadus said. He lived in Florida for a long period of time before he went to North Carolina. We also had information he may have lived in California. He apparently did freelance computer work to earn money and worked in a bar in Miami. Broadus added that Hartin had roommates and significant others who might have helped him financially. They all deny they knew his real identity. Hartin, now 46 years old, was on the run for 23 years. He waived extradition, and U.S. Marshals recently returned him to Massachusetts, where he will now have to answer for his actions in court. Broadus commended the Boston Police Department and federal law enforcement partners for their efforts on the case. After Hartins arrest, Sullivan and Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney Alissa Goldhaber contacted the victims to let them know Hartin had finally been captured. After learning the news, one victim said, This is the best day of my life. Source: FBI _________________________________________ Crime | Children | United-states | Most Commented on Articles for August 22, 2016 | Articles for August 23, 2016 | Articles for August 24, 2016 SNc Channels: Search About Salem-News.com Aug-23-2016 09:51 TweetFollow @OregonNews Rock Against the TPP Celebrity Concert Tour Draws Large Crowds in Seattle and Portland Northwest protests the Trans-Pacific Partnership Downtown Boys at Rock Against the TPP Portland, Director Park Photo: Courtesy Fight for the Future (PORTLAND, Ore.) - As the White House readies a final desperate push for the unpopular Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, large crowds turned out for Rock Against the TPP events in Seattle and Portland. The events were held over the weekend as part of a nationwide protest tour featuring high profile celebrities including actress Evangeline Lilly, hip hop icon Talib Kweli, comedian Hari Kondabolu, and punk band Anti-Flag. Officially, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a trade agreement among twelve Pacific Rim countries. The TPP writes the rules for global trade, and advocates say the rules will help increase Made-in-America exports and grow the American economy. Opponents call the TPP "a secretive, multinational trade agreement that threatens to extend restrictive intellectual property (IP) laws across the globe and rewrite international rules on its enforcement." The final proposal was signed in February 2016 after 7 years of negotiations, and is currently awaiting ratification to go into force. The deal has to be ratified by February 2018. TVs Adult Swim comedian Eric Andre made a surprise appearance at the Seattle event at Showbox SoDo, while the outdoor Portland event featured a street march with an inflatable TPP death star. Both events also featured teach-ins hosted by Golden Globe nominated actress Evangeline Lilly (Lost, The Hobbit, Ant-Man), and a panel of local experts. The Northwest dates follow previous successful tour stops in Denver and San Diego. Organized by legendary guitarist Tom Morello (Prophets of Rage, Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave), his new label, Firebrand Records and digital rights group Fight for the Future, the tour is sponsored by Backbone Campaign, Citizens Trade Campaign, Communications Workers of America (CWA), CREDO, Demand Progress, Friends of the Earth, the International Labor Rights Forum, Public Citizen, Sierra Club, SumOfUs, the Teamsters, United Steelworkers. The Northwest events were organized with support from the Washington Fair Trade Coalition and Oregon Fair Trade Campaign. In addition to the large concert events and teach-ins, the tour has brought creative protests directly to lawmakers by flying a 25 foot blimp over Congressional offices along the tour route. So far the blimp has been sited outside the offices of Rep Scott Peters office in San Diego and Rep Ami Beras office in Sacramento. The tour stops next in San Francisco on September 9th at Regency Ballroom with an event featuring punk legend Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys), Grammy winning latin alternative band La Santa Cecilia, and riot-grrrl cello legend Bonfire Madigan. Additional tour dates are to be announced. For more information see https://www.rockagainstthetpp.org _________________________________________ Politics | United-states | Business | Most Commented on Articles for August 22, 2016 | Articles for August 23, 2016 | Articles for August 24, 2016 A new trailer for Infierno en el Cielo gets right to the point: this is a crazy airplane thriller (apparently) that you probably won't want to watch if you have a fear of flying and/or are taking a flight anytime soon. Originally titled Ekipazh, it's a Russian movie, directed by Nikolay Lebedev. Our own Todd Brown discovered the Russian-language trailer and other information last November. The English title at that time was Flight Crew. Here's the synopsis: A young pilot gets kicked out of the military air force after breaching an absurd order. He starts working as a second pilot in the civil aviation. Always straight-forward, he is not on best terms with his new colleagues. During a flight to Asia his crew receives an alert about an earthquake on the volcanic island and takes a decision to fly a dangerous rescue mission. Only together the crew can survive the disaster. The movie opened in Russia in April and is now due for a theatrical release in Chile on October 20, thus a new, different Spanish title (literal translation, "Hell in Heaven," but officially The Crew). The trailer gets right to the Infierno in its title. You can watch it below, along with the original Russian trailer (which is a bit balky at times). Seguin, TX (78155) Today Mainly sunny to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High 73F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear skies. Low 51F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Seismo Blog Alerts for the Whole West Coast May 5, 2021 It was a decade in the making, but on Tuesday it became reality. The whole US West Coast is now covered by a single, uniform early warning system against the devastating effects of earthquakes. Washington was the last of the three states along the Pacific Coast to join the system dubbed ShakeAlert, which can give up to 60 seconds, or even more, of warning before strong seismic waves generated by an earthquake hit a location. The system developed by university researchers and operated by the federal government has been providing public alerts in California since October 2019. Oregon followed in March 2021 and with Tuesday's announcement by Washington's State Emergency Management Division the approximately 50 million people living in the seismic hazard zones of the three western states can be warned before strong seismic shaking hits their homes or work places. As described in this blog several times, ShakeAlert does not deliver an earthquake prediction or a forecast days or weeks ahead of a potential catastrophic temblor. The physical processes along an earthquake fault before and during a rupture are so complex that seismologists have all but given up on trying to achieve the elusive goal of predicting when a strong quake will happen. Once a temblor has started however, scientists are able to issue warnings of impending shaking. This is possible despite the fact the seismic waves race through the Earth at speeds of several thousand miles per hour. For issuing a warning ShakeAlert uses the fact, that light and thus also radiowaves or digital information through an internet cable travels even faster, usually about one hundred thousand times the speed of seismic waves. Here is how it works in a nutshell: A dense network of seismic stations detects the beginning of an earthquake. These stations deliver their discoveries at lightning speed to data centers, one of them operated here by the Berkeley Seismology Lab (BSL), where one set of computers automatically calculates the location and the potential magnitude of the quake that has just started. Another set of computers then determines when seismic waves from that quake will hit certain locations. This information is transmitted to cell phones in the areas that can expect shaking. The complex calculations in the data centers take only a fraction of a second. Although it takes a few more seconds to disseminate the warnings via the cell phone networks, there is time enough for the recipients to take action. People can drop, cover, and hold-on under a sturdy table or a desk to protect themselves from objects shaken loose by the seismic waves. Elevators in high rises can be programmed to stop at floors and open their doors when they receive the warning so that people don't get trapped in them for hours. Trains can be slowed or even stopped to reduce the risk of derailment, garage doors at fire stations can be opened before the shaking arrives so they don't jam and trap emergency vehicles inside. Industrial processes can be automatically interrupted to avoid chemical spills, contamination or even fires. The possibilities for taking protective action within a few seconds are limitless. To achieve earthquake early warning is not cheap. The networks of seismic monitoring stations must be densified considerably and brought up to modern technical standards, including for fast telemetry. For example, in the past five years the seismic network in northern California, operated jointly by the BSL and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) office in Menlo Park grew substantially by several hundred stations and is still being densified. The data centers are now equipped with redundant computer systems hardened against seismic shaking and power outages. The major part of this investment has come from the federal government which has spent $130 million on the development on the ShakeAlert System. California's Office of Emergency Management has contributed nearly $60 million for research, seismometer installation, and other infrastructure. Oregon chipped in $8.5 million. Washingtons Legislature allocated $1.2 million, mostly for seismic stations. Although ShakeAlert is a uniform system across all three states, the seismic hazards in the different regions are not at all uniform. While most of California, from the Salton Sea in the South to Cape Mendocino in the North is dominated by the tectonic movement along the San Andreas and its sister faults, the movement of the plates in northernmost California and the two neighboring states is quite different. Instead of horizontally scraping past each other as in much of the Golden State, one plate subducts under the other further north. Such subductions zones are capable of producing the strongest earthquakes in the world, like the Sumatra quake in 2004 or the Tohoku earthquake, which devastated parts of the Japanese main island of Honshu in 2011. In addition, such quakes can generate devastating tsunamis, a hazard hardly posed by the strike slip quakes occurring in the larger region of California. While the different hazards are given by nature and cannot be changed, there is another catch with the recent roll-out of the ShakeAlert warning system in Washington. Cell phone users in California and Oregon have three different ways to receive the alerts. They can rely on the relatively slow Wireless Emergency Alert System also known as Amber Alerts - operated by the federal government. Android users can be warned by a warning capability built into their phones. Or all cell phone users can be warned by one of two apps. The MyShake app, developed at the BSL and adopted as the official warning app by the California Office of Emergency Services, and the QuakeAlertUSA app developed by Early Warning Labs are available in California and Oregon. Unfortunately, neither app is available for the Washington segment of ShakeAlert. This is currently a major shortcoming which hopefully will be corrected soon. (hra174) "Dolores Park, Whole Foods... everything's around here," says real estate Broker Bill Harkins as he introduces possible tenants to 283 Dolores Street in a video tour of the space. But what's going on at this address, which Harkins's ad on Craigslist pitches as a potential "Tech Incubator" or "Airbnb Cash Cow?" The 9-bedroom, 3,600-square-foot building between 15th and 16th Streets is listed as for lease at $18,000 a month. But just a year ago it was on the market for $19,000 a month. In fact Harkins recorded the video for the space back then, noting that it was "LEASED" in its title. Presumably it was't working for one tenant (or 20) who left after a year, thoughaccording to Zillow the space was rented out in under two weeks in the first place. Ads like this, that directly encourage people to dedicate living space to those passing through San Francisco whether tech incubees or Airbnb guests rather than people really hoping to live and work here long-term, tend to infuriate a lot of longer term residents. It would be hard to turn the space completely into a hotel, but it does seem possible. As Airbnb's website explains: "In effect... your ability to share your space while you are present is unlimited, and you may rent out your entire space while you are absent for up to 90 days per year." So, yeah, you could live in one room or something and play hotelier, though that sounds like a royal pain not to mention a lot of furniture to purchase. There are more stopgaps in place, too: Since the building is technically rent controlled, that "limits the amount you may collect each month from guests," Airbnb says. What's encouraging this Airbnb approach? Well, 283 Dolores doesn't have a high assessed value on Zillow, so, maybe the case is that owners have fixed it up just enough to rent it out at this price, but don't yet have enough money to subdivide it as TICs or to fix it up further, at least not without earning some more money off of it this way in the meantime, and didn't want to Airbnb it themselves. Who knows! The place does have a nice bed and breakfast look though, doesn't it. San Jose Assemblyman Kansen Chu had a dream, a dream to end Daylight Saving Time in California and to keep the state on the same time year round. But that dream was crushed Tuesday, when the state Senate voted against allowing the proposal on the November ballot. As previously reported, Chu had hoped to allow voters to decide if the state should stay on Standard Pacific Time year-round, a plan that had initial success when it was approved by the State Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee in June. But it takes more than a single committee vote to make anything happen, especially when we're talking about State government. And in a Tuesday vote of the upper house, the bill was four votes short of the 21 necessary to pass. As noted by the East Bay Times, the legislation had support and opposition from members of both parties, with 11 Democrats and six Republicans voting in support, and 10 Democrats and seven Republicans voting against. One of the most vocal opponents of the proposal was outgoing San Francisco Senator Mark Leno, who objected that "there's some real unintended consequences" if CA voters agreed to pick one time and stick with it. Primary among those consequences: If we abolished DST, for half the year we'd be four hours behind the East Coast instead of three, a time difference that could make life well nigh insufferable for people with (love you, Gothamist!) bosses back east. And then there's the farmers, who "need the extra hour of daylight during fall and summer harvests," Gerber (not the baby food) Senator Jim Nielsen argued, according to the EBT. And then there's Ceres-based Senator Anthony Cannella, who according to Courthouse News said "I just like it," regarding DST. Apparently fearing that if the measure made it to the ballot, Californians couldn't be trusted to protect farmers, people with New York-based bosses, and things Anthony Cannella likes, Senate opponents killed Assembly Bill 385, and Chu's dreams along with it....or did they? As Courthouse News reports, they also voted unanimously "to let Chu bring the bill up for a reconsideration vote before the Aug. 31 legislative deadline if he chooses." Messages sent to Chu to see if he would, indeed, choose were not returned at publication time. But back in June, he seemed pretty pumped about letting voters have the final say on the matter, Cannella's fondness be damned. "Daylight Saving Time is an institution that has been in place largely without question for more than half a century," Chu said at the time. "I think we owe it to the general public to be given the opportunity to decide for themselves whether or not it ought to be continued. And if he can convince Cannella, Leno, and others, perhaps we'll get to make that decision, after all. Previously: CA Senate Committee Strikes Blow Against The Scourge Of Daylight Saving Time Bill Seeks To Abolish Daylight Saving Time In California While you were likely still sleeping, two men were injured in shootings across San Francisco: One in UN Plaza, and one in the heart of the Mission District. The first shooting occurred at 12:04 Wednesday morning when, according to the San Francisco Police Department, three men began to argue in Civic Center's UN Plaza. An 18-year-old man and a man of unknown age both had guns, police say, and "started shooting" following a "verbal argument in the plaza." A 23-year-old man was injured in the scrum, shot in the "lower torso," police say. He was transported to San Francisco General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police managed to detain the 18-year-old suspect in the incident, but the other man remains on the loose as of publication time. At 4:17 this morning, police were called to the scene of a second shooting, this one on the 500 block of South Van Ness Avenue, which is near 16th Street. When officers arrived, they discovered a 39-year-old man suffering from gunshot wounds. According to the SFPD, the man had been "sitting in his vehicle on 16th @ Shotwell" when the male suspect "walked up to the driver side of vehicle and fired approximately 6 shots," striking the victim four times. The suspect then fled in a black SUV on "101 towards Oakland," according to the SFPD. The victim was transported to San Francisco General Hospital with (remarkably!) non-life-threatening injuries, police say. The suspect in the shooting remains at large. Did you know that we're in a bubble? No, not a technology bubble, you overeducated ninny. A true bubble is when something is overvalued and intensely believed, Peter Thiel, the Paypal co-founder, Facebook board member, and venture capital billionaire told TechCrunch in 2011. Education may be the only thing people still believe in in the United States. To question education is really dangerous. It is the absolute taboo. Its like telling the world theres no Santa Claus." There's no Santa Claus?! Enter the Thiel fellowship, disrupting the education bubble that's destroyed so many bright young minds. "College can be good for learning about whats been done before," Thiel's website explains, "[but] it can also discourage you from doing something new." You know, cool, cutting edge ideas, like Thiel's hope that young people's blood can make him live forever. That's why the Thiel Foundation pays $100,000 to drop out of school to pursue a startup idea! And this season, one of those ideas, which was presented at tech company incubator Y-Combinator's famed "demo day" according to Business Insider, is for a very exciting idea that is near and dear to Thiel's heart: Third-party funded lawsuits, such as the one Thiel himself secretly bankrolled against Gawker Media in paying legal fees for Hulk Hogan. While an appeals court ruled that a sex tape involving Hogan that Gawker published was protected by the first amendment, Hogan's lawyers were able to press on, eventually winning a massive $140 million jury award that bankrupted Gawker. The site was sold in an auction to Univision for $135 million according to Recode, with flagship site Gawker.com getting killed off in the process. "Peter Thiel has shut down Gawker.com." Gawker writer Tom Scocca framed it. "A lie with a billion dollars behind it is stronger than the truth." "This is the final act in what Thiel wished to present, and succeeded in presenting, as a simple and ancient morality play, a story of hubris meeting its punishment," Scocca continued, alluding to a New York Times editorial in which Thiel explained his reasons for funding the lawsuit against Gawker: The website had outed him as gay, which they apparently deemed notable due to his wealth and status inside a homophobic community of venture capitalists. The Gawker lawsuit turned more attention toward third-party litigation, the practice by which Thiel was able to support Hogan's suit without disclosing his role. Legalist, though according to this Businesswire entry it didn't start out this way, is now a company that promotes such practices. As its website explains, "In brief, litigation finance is the practice where a third party provides capital to a plaintiff involved in litigation in return for some financial recovery from the lawsuit. Litigation financing levels the playing field in litigation, and allows plaintiffs to access the capital necessary for legal fees, growth, and operations before the case is resolved." Eva Shang, Legalist's cofounder and a Thiel fellow, tells Business Insider she isn't out to destroy websites to promote free speech like her benefactor. Not yet, anyway. "That's the kind of thing we're staying away from here," she said. Still, others appear more concerned: hey this doesn't threaten democracy or anything https://t.co/b30T5UeXcC Christopher Mims (@mims) August 24, 2016 Previously: Peter Thiel, VC Billionaire Outed By Gawker, Writes NYT Op-Ed About Why He Helped Sue Looking to plunk down some cash on some serious body art that you won't regret? Below we bring you a dozen of the top tattoo parlors the inner Bay Area has to offer, which are home to a diverse array of talented artists who are likely behind the prettier and cooler tattoos you've seen on friends. Black & Blue Tattoo Black and Blue holds a place of its own in this town. A female-owned, gender-inclusive tattoo studio established in 1995, the shop earns rave reviews for its kindness and artistry. Brucius, one of ten plus artists that works there, is particularly sought-after, with folks flying from all over to become his canvas. The shop is a fragrance-free zone, so please don't wear cologne or perfume when you make your visit. Caleb Pershan 381 Guerrero Street between 15th and 16th Streets Black Heart Tattoo Black Heart was founded by Tim Lehi, Jeff Rassier and Scott Sylvia over a decade ago, and it swiftly gained a reputation as a place to get both traditional and innovative work. Everyone there is great, but Scott Sylvia is my guy my entire back is covered in his work, and he's the man my husband and I went to when we got our tenth-anniversary tattoos. (I'm not the only San Franciscan who refuses any needle besides Sylvia's: he's the only artist well-inked local sex/tech writer Violet Blue uses, for example.) Sylvia is happy to work with you on a design, and can make a vague idea you might have about a tattoo into something sublime. His touch is gentle enough that I made it through four, three-hour full-back sessions without losing my mind. He's just as good with newbies, getting my tattoo-virgin (and, between us, kind of a baby about pain) husband through his first sans freakouts. I cannot recommend him, and Black Heart, highly enough. Eve Batey 177 Valencia Street, between Duboce Avenue and McCoppin Street Jason Stein of Cyclops Tattoo Smack dab in the heart of the Valencia Corridor, Cyclops Tattoo might look like your average tattoo parlor, but the talent inside is anything but basic. Jason Stein has been an artist since 1996 and has an impressive array of classy specialties. Says Jason, "My style references elements of Art Nouveau, traditional American and Japanese tattooing, scientific botanical and wildlife illustration, and classical fine art painting." Will Jason do your dumb tramp stamp? Maybe. "It's all about context." Beth Spotswood513 Valencia Street # 2 between 16th and 17th Streets Marie Brennan Tattoo Diving Swallow Tattoo She's almost impossible to book, but Marie Brennan's realistic, painterly flora and fauna tattoos are so popular that her fans are willing to wait. Right now, Oakland-based Brennan is completely booked through 2015. For those lucky enough to score an appointment, don't request an Aztec sun tramp stamp. Says Brennan, "I don't actually tattoo anything that doesn't resonate deeply aesthetically." Beth Spotswood 264 14th Street Oakland between Harrison and Alice Streets The work of Tonya Vyeda at Lampblack, via Facebook Lampblack Tattoo Having just celebrated its one year anniversary, Mission Street's Lampblack Tattoo is a small, unassuming shop with plenty of attitude. Owner Iggy Vans has been a professional tattoo artist for 20 years before opening his own shop, and he remains a full-time Mission District character, often playing with his band, Dick Wolf, at Bender's Bar and Grill. Artists like Tonya Vyeda (who, full disclosure, has tattooed me) are not only thoughtful artists but a hell of a lot of fun to be around. Lampblack, named for the traditional pigment, is a great addition to the neighborhood. Caleb Pershan 2063 Mission Street between 16th and 17th Streets Lyle Tuttle tattooing in 1960 via lyletuttle.com Lyle Tuttle Tattoo & Museum/Blue Bird Tattoo At 83-years-old, San Francisco legend Lyle Tuttle doesn't tattoo much more than his signature these days, but his newly reopened shop and museum holds a special place in San Francisco history and it's a great place to get a traditional tattoo. Madeline Bluebird and Jon will tat you up while Lyle chats you up, and boy does he have stories. He's tattooed on every continent, been on the cover of Rolling Stone, and inked celebrities like Joan Baez, the Allman Brothers, and Cher. Caleb Pershan 841 Columbus Avenue between Lombard and Greenwich Streets Mermaids Tattoo This woman-owned and operated tattoo shop in the Mission features the work of Anne Williams, Kim Stace Thomas, and Zeph Fish. "I love working at Mermaids because we really get to take time with our clients," says Fish in the 2015 video above. "Tattoos are a really deliberate way to choose a story that you want to carry with you," adding, "I like to create work that has a twist to it, or a sense of humor," as she tattoos on one client a play on Rosie the Riveter, as a skeleton, carrying an anchor. See more on their Instagram here. Jay Barmann 3032 Mission Street near Cesar Chavez Holi Barahati / Old Crow Tattoo Old Crow Tattoo At the heart of 7-year-old Old Crow is owner Philip Milic, sought after for his unique visions and perfect line work. But Milic's not the only reason to visit Old Crow: Check out his Instagram, for sure, but the whole shop is a must-follow account. What's more, they're known for their henna work, jewelry, and other art: In fact, Old Crow doubles as a gallery. If you're into bikes, head to neighbor business Oakland Spokes and show them your Old Crow receipt for $10 off a tune up. Caleb Pershan 362 Grand Avenue, Oakland, between Ellita Avenue and Perkins Street Karen Roze of Sacred Rose Tattoo Sacred Rose's San Francisco shop was so popular and her rent so expensive, owner Karen Roze chose to close it and open two spaces in the East Bay instead. Now, Sacred Rose inks up discerning tattooed people in both Berkeley and Albany, with a warm friendly staff and experienced line-up of artists. Will Karen do a tacky tramp stamp? Sure! "I like to think I'm unlimited. Every tattoo is important." Beth Spotswood1728 University Avenue, Berkeley, and 1503 Solano Avenue, Albany Photo courtesy of Luke Stewart/Seventh Son Tattoos Seventh Son Tattoo If you're looking for an elaborate, Japanese-style, full-back tattoo, tattoo artist Luke Stewart is probably your man take a look at his portfolio here. Seventh Son is home to him, as well as seven other artists with a range of styles, as well as rotating guest artists. Ceclia Wingate and Dave Robinson specialize in clean, elegant, organic forms; Jeff Croci does wilder, more psychedelic and colorful stuff; and Andrew Mann and Joey Armstrong also excel in Japanese styles. The place is cash only, and they ask that you email an artist whose work you like to set up a consultation before booking an appointment, which could be anywhere from one week to six months out. And note that this SoMa spot is moving on September 1. Jay Barmann Currently at 65 Langton Street; moving Sept. 1 to 765 Clementina Street, between 8th and 9th Shannon Archuleta Tattoo Shannon Archuleta works out of a private studio space in the Mission and has several rules for her clients. Don't come drunk, eat a good meal, don't wear perfume, and don't bring an entourage. Clearly, Archuleta doesn't do bachelorette party matching ankle daisies, and instead, takes permanent body alteration pretty seriously. This is not to say Shannon isn't really, really friendly. Happy client Blair Craig tells us, "Not only is she a artistic perfectionist, Shannon is so much fun to hang out with you almost forget she is causing you pain." Beth Spotswood 3150 18th Street Ste. 270 (at Treat Avenue) Photos courtesy of Skull & Sword Skull & Sword Resident tattoo artists Yutaro, Lango, Grime, and Andre all specialize in elaborate, Japanese-inspired creations, while Henry Lewis does more fantastical and equally colorful stuff at this shop in a residential location just off Mission Street. For years they've enjoyed glowing reviews on Yelp to the tune of "this place is worth its weight in gold and blows my mind," and "a think-tank for brilliance." They have a loyal following, and book up well in advance, to bear that in mind. Jay Barmann 3415 Cesar Chavez Street near Mission Photo via Yelp. Temple Tattoo Run by Freddy Corbin, Temple Tattoo in Oakland is home to artists that do everything from the big and colorful to detailed line work. Corbin has been tattooing since 1986, and both he and his work have been profiled by Vice. His goal, "to do tattoos with love," comes across in the entire shop both in the artists that call it home and the general vibe of the place. With eight in-house tattoo artists you're sure to find what you're looking for, and the relaxed atmosphere in the shop is known for putting first timers at ease. Jack Morse 384 17th Street (between Franklin and Webster Streets), Oakland The driver of a cab who jumped a Market Street curb and struck two bystanders might have been on the phone at the time of the collision, one witness says but in a preliminary report, the San Francisco Police Department suggests that a medical issue affecting the driver might be to blame for the crash. The 59-year-old driver of what police say was a four-door Ford Fusion Yellow Cab jumped the curb at Market and Sutter Streets at 3:17 Tuesday, striking "a public bathroom, a newsstand and then hit the shoe shine stand" according to an SFPD report. Two people were injured when the driver struck the shoe shine stand: The 66-year-old shoe shine strand owner identified in various media reports as Saleem Bae (ABC 7) or Mohammed Salim (CBS 5) and a 40-year-old homeless man who worked as his assistant, identified by CBS 5 as "Jazz." The driver was also injured in the collision, and all three were transported to San Francisco General Hospital in critical condition. As of Wednesday morning, according to a spokesperson with SF General, the driver has been released from the hospital, Bae (that name used here for the sake of expediency) had been upgraded to fair condition, and Jazz's condition remained critical. According to witnesses who spoke to ABC 7, the cab was "flying down Market Street" before the collision, with one saying that the driver was "was going very fast." Speaking with NBC Bay Area, one witness wondered just how fast the cab was going, given the amount of damage to the area. "How are you going so fast to knock something over?" she asked. "A couple years ago, a bus hit that and only dented it." Witness Rita Tripp, who was at the scene of the collision, told CBS 5 that the driver "told me he was on the phone, with his friend, when he jumped the curb. In a preliminary report from the SFPD, however, they write that the driver "was having a medical issue when he hit the gas and drove up onto the sidewalk." SFist's efforts to contact Yellow Cab for comment and clarification on the issue have not been successful as of publication time, but spokesperson Bob Cassinelli issued a brief statement to KRON 4, saying that At this time our thoughts are with the injured people." Sources within the SFPD tell SFist that police were at the collision site until late Tuesday investigating the incident, and are seeking surveillance video from area businesses. CBS 5 also reports that "The entire crash was captured by surveillance cameras on a nearby Muni bus." The footage captured by the bus camera, police say, is now in the hands of investigators. Update: In a press release sent to media Wednesday afternoon, they write: On August 23, 2016 at approximately 3:17 PM, a taxicab travelling westbound on Market Street left the roadway and jumped the curb at Sutter Street. The taxicab struck a shoeshine kiosk on the sidewalk and two pedestrians at the kiosk were injured. The driver- a 59 year-old male from Burlingame- remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation. He was later treated and released from a local hospital. The pedestrians- a male in his 60s and a male in his 40s- remain hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. The San Francisco Police Departments Traffic Collision Investigation Unit (TCIU) is handling the investigation. Impairment does not appear to be a factor and investigators will be conducting a thorough examination including: driving history, possible mechanical issues with the vehicle and possible medical conditions of the driver. The cause of this incident is yet to be determined. Investigators are examining evidence including surveillance video of the area. Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the SFPD Tip Line at (415) 575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD. Previously: Three Seriously Injured After Taxi Jumps Curb In FiDi Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi visits the Museum of Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses of Qin Shihuang, in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, Aug 20, 2016. Aung San Suu Kyi began a five-day official visit to China on Aug 17. [Photo by Mu Jialiang/for chinadaily.com.cn] Myanmar's State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi wound up a five-day visit to China on Sunday. As the outside world is eager to know how the two neighbors will recalibrate their relations now that the Southeast Asian country has undergone a political transition, her second visit to China in two years, drew much regional and global attention. Both President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang met and held talks with Suu Kyi, and such meetings will forge a smooth channel of communication at the highest level and help continue the traditional friendship between the two countries, and open up new horizons for reciprocal cooperation under the new conditions. Suu Kyi's visit sent a strong signal to the outside world that the two neighbors remain committed to building a healthy relationship. Such a desirable trend is reflected in both sides' willingness to heed each other's major concerns. China is especially concerned about the fate of its major investment projects in Myanmar while national reconciliation and economic development are the top priorities for Myanmar's new government in Naypyidaw. Several days before Suu Kyi's trip, Myanmar's President U Htin Kyaw decided to form a new commission for reviewing all proposed hydropower projects on the Irrawaddy River, including the Myitsone Dam, a project jointly funded by China and Myanmar that was suspended by the former Myanmar government in 2011. The move does not necessarily signal a resumption of the project, but it shows the new government in Naypyidaw is willing to handle sensitive issues in China-Myanmar ties with prudence and pragmatism. Major China-invested projects in Myanmar, such as the Myitsone Dam, are commercial deals that aimto bring win-win outcomes. Misunderstandings harbored by some Myanmar people toward Chinese investments have partly contributed to the suspension of some China-invested projects in Myanmar. The resumption of these projects, the Myistone Dam in particular, has become a barometer for the outside world to gauge China-Myanmar ties. Myanmar's new government in Naypyidaw should do more in this regard so that bilateral cooperation can continue to deepen. Implementing these projects would also contribute to Myanmar's efforts to develop its economy and improve people's livelihoods, which are the Myanmar government's top priorities. As Myanmar's biggest trading partner and a key source of foreign investment, China can play an important role in Myanmar's nation building efforts. Naypyidaw has said it supports the Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road routes, and this is a positive decision for Myanmar as it offers huge opportunities for it to upgrade its industrial system and improve its infrastructure, thus paving the way for its future economic development. Chinese leaders have also pledged support for Myanmar's national reconciliation process. As a neighbor of Myanmar, China, too, has been a victim of the military clashes between Myanmar's government troops and its armed ethnic groups in recent years. And it is beyond doubt that a stable and harmonious Myanmar is also in China's strategic interests. China hopes that all armed ethnic groups in Myanmar will participate in the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference to be held in Myanmar's capital at the end of this month. If Beijing and Naypyidaw can respect each other's major concerns, they will find more common ground on which to build their relations, enabling them to develop to new heights. Suu Kyi's visit shows both sides are moving in the right direction. The author is deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily Asia Pacific. jasmine@chinadailyhk.com People likely have noticed that poll workers in many Siouxland election spots are a typically elderly group. They put in long days because they like to be part of the election process and some do it to make a few extra bucks. Woodbury County Auditor Pat Gill on Tuesday warned the county supervisors that he is having problems lining up workers for the big Nov. 8 election in which a president, U.S. senator, U.S. House member and slate of other candidates will be picked for terms beginning in 2017. Gill, the county's chief election official, said he would soon bring a proposal to pay the workers more than the typical $8-$9 per hour wage and perhaps split shifts into two over the day. He'll crunch numbers to see how much more that could cost to run the election over many county precincts. Iowa polls are open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., longer than the adjacent states of Nebraska and South Dakota. Gill said precinct election officials have typically worked from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Hearing of the 16-hour shift, County Board Chairman Jeremy Taylor joked that is it hard to believe that people aren't flocking to work that long day. Gill said he's going to have to seek new ways to recruit poll workers. He has not gotten enough from the typical method of getting names of possible people from the county Republican and Democratic parties. "We are vastly short," Gill said. Note: An earlier version of this post incorrectly said poll workers currently get time-and-a-half pay for time worked above eight hours. Moving to that level of pay is something Gill is considering proposing. SIOUX CITY | Briar Cliff University has recently received a $2.33 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to fund the University's Talent Search Program. The grant is in the amount of $466,560 for the first budget period, which is the 2016-2017 academic year. The grant is expected to be rewarded annually for five years, totaling $2,332,800. The purpose of the grant is to allow Briar Cliff's Talent Search to identify and assist individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to receive higher education. Briar Cliff will use the grant to provide services to 1,000 economically and educationally disadvantaged students attending targeted middle and high schools in Sioux City and South Sioux City. The program is designed to encourage students to pursue postsecondary education. SOUTH SIOUX CITY | South Sioux City officials have given final approval to the sale of a 7-acre tract that will become the future site of a $25 million renewable fuels power plant. Built by Kentucky-based Green Star Energy Group LLC, the proposed 3-megawatt plant will bring 15 jobs to the community. When up and running, the plant, which would run on wood waste, would provide roughly 8 percent of the electricity for the city's municipal utility. "We're always looking into ways to lower the electric bill and to boost our economy," city administrator Lance Hedquist said Tuesday. "With this project, we can do both." Green Star is purchasing the land, located in South Sioux City's Roth Industrial Development Park, from South Sioux City's Community Development Agency for a total of $140,000. The city council approved a development agreement with Green Star at its weekly meeting Monday. Hedquist said the purchase price will be paid at a rate of $20,000 per year for seven years, with funding coming from tax-increment financing. Tax-increment financing, or TIF, is a finance tool that diverts property tax increases that result from new construction in order to fund economic development. Hedquist said construction will likely begin in spring of 2017, with the projected slated for finish by July 1, 2018. According to city documents, Green Star will be working with the city to meet the requirements to apply for a $1 million economic development loan to assist with site construction, as well as apply for a $300,000 Community Development Block Grant to help fund infrastructure at the site. In the future, Green Star will have the option to purchase 10 more acres of land, also at $20,000 per acre. Hedquist said Green Star has plans to purchase the additional land within the next two years. He declined to say what the land would be used for. Earlier this year, Green Star unveiled a smaller power plant, or gasifier, in the city's Scenic Park. The gasifier, fed with wood waste and dead trees from the riverfront park, break down the molecular structure of the wood to create clean electricity with no emissions. The system will be used to power the city-run campground and nearby water treatment plant, helping save the city about $40,000 a year in energy costs. Hedquist said Green Star also has future plans to relocate its headquarters from Bowling Green, Kentucky, to South Sioux City. PIERCE, Neb. | Two Pierce, Nebraska, teens reported missing last week were found in San Francisco, California, Monday, authorities say. According to a news release from the Pierce County Attorney's Office, Justin Z. Larson, 16, and Rachel A. Fenton, 15, left school Wednesday morning and were located Monday afternoon in the San Francisco area. Larson and Fenton are being held in San Francisco while plans are being made for their return to Nebraska, the release said. The Pierce, Nebraska, Police Department had issued a release Thursday requesting the public's assistance in locating two missing juveniles. At the time, police believed the teens left on their own and could be traveling together in a 2005 Gold Ford Explorer XLT. The Pierce Police Department, Pierce County Sheriff's Office and Nebraska State Patrol worked with California authorities to find them. The release said Larson and Fenton are not planned to face criminal charges, but juvenile proceedings could be a possibility. CLIMBING HILL, Iowa | Tuesday afternoon's storm system that cut through Siouxland mangled trees, sheds and house roofs. And Climbing Hill residents said judging by the power and the path of damages in town, it had to be a tornado. "It was just like a thunderstorm, and then the hail started, pea size, and they were getting bigger," Climbing Hill resident Rick Wyatt said. "Then all of sudden, the wind was getting so strong, it was the first time I have ever ran down to the basement. It was that bad. You couldn't even see out here... it had to be a small tornado." The storm started around 2 p.m., and lasted a few minutes in the unincorporated town of 100 that sits in central Woodbury County. Wyatt added power was out everywhere in town, and a swing-set in his backyard was thrown 30 feet from the estimated 60-plus mile an hour winds. "Just by the way the residents were saying the wind shifted around, it had to be something tornadic," Woodbury County sheriff's Capt. Tony Wingert said. "Power lines have fallen. We had some shed damage, roofs were thrown off, all of the houses, from what I am hearing, are OK. No injuries." Brad Temeyer, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service out of Sioux Falls, said in order for a storm system to be classified as a small tornado, winds must be anywhere between 65 to 85 mile an hour range. Tuesday's storm caused power outages in other parts of the tri-state region. More than 2,600 MidAmerican Energy Co. customers in Sioux City lost power around 12:50 p.m. after lightning struck a branch, causing it to land on a power line, MidAmerican spokeswoman, Ashton Newman said. Power restored was stored by 1:43 p.m., she said. Most of the customers affected were on Sioux City's north side, with the outage area stretching from the 4500 block of Cheyenne Boulevard to the north and the 2900 block of Nebraska Street to the south. The east boundary was the 2800 block of 41st Street and the west boundary was the 2800 block of Pierce Street, she said. North High School was among the buildings that reportedly lost power. Tuesday was the first day for the new school year in the Sioux City district. In Sioux City, the outages also knocked out traffic signals lights at several intersections. Temeyer said the weather service also received reports that trees and power lines were thrown in Homer, Nebraska, crops were damaged in Salix, Iowa, and quarter-sized hail was reported in Holstein, Iowa. Storm Lake Public Safety Assistant Chief Todd Erskine said there was a torrential downpour around 3 p.m. that caused flooding in town, but everything subsided an hour later. Sioux City Police Sgt. Jim Cunningham said there was a lot of flooded intersections and alarm calls in town, but nothing "too significant." The Journal's Ian Richardson contributed to this story. SIOUX CITY | The bumps and disputes have piled up. After a series of growing pains covering 26 months as part of a three-county regional group directing low-income people to mental health services, the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday said they are considering leaving Sioux Rivers Regional Mental Health and Disability Services. "We can withdraw from the region. The region can decide to dissolve," said Mark Monson, one of two Woodbury County supervisors who also serve on the Sioux Rivers board of directors. No decision has been made, and talks on whether to continue in Sioux Rivers will come in September. Woodbury County Supervisor Larry Clausen said Tuesday that he hopes the ongoing fights over how Sioux Rivers functions won't impact mental health services that people receive. The topic came up in the Woodbury County Board meeting, as Monson and Supervisor Matthew Ung recapped an Aug. 18 meeting with a Woodbury County Attorney's Office representative, outside legal counsel and Jan Heikes, of the Iowa Department of Human Services. That meeting included the topics on dissolving or withdrawing from the region, joining another region and asking the state for an exemption to go back to a single-county system. The counties of Woodbury, Plymouth and Sioux in July 2014 formed the Sioux Rivers group to combine to serve people, following a state-required plan for individual counties to no longer run their own programs but rather combine into regions. That regionalization was done to equalize access to services across Iowa. But Sioux Rivers has had a bumpy road in making and carrying out decisions on funding and staffing. Ung has been a particularly vocal critic of moves that he says have taken away county authority. In July, Woodbury County Board Chairman Jeremy Taylor said Monson and Ung have repeatedly "gone to the 50-yard line," and the other Sioux Rivers leaders also need to come halfway in controversial discussions. On Tuesday, Taylor said leaving is a real possibility. During a February Woodbury County Board meeting, Supervisor Jackie Smith said the bigger issue is her worry that the Sioux Rivers entity could blow up, due to ongoing controversies. On Tuesday, Smith said, "I am hoping we are not going to have any more silly talk of breaking up the region." Monson said having Heikes from the state at the meeting last week helped him understand the possible avenues ahead. Monson said the next step is to meet with Shane Walters, of Sioux County, who serves as the leader of the Sioux Rivers group. Ung said the Aug. 18 meeting drove home the point that Woodbury County is the largest and most professional county in the group and that there are different approaches to getting Sioux Rivers to function properly. Ung said he's seen that Sioux Rivers board members from the other two counties take a more informal approach to meeting requirements of the three-county sharing agreement. Clausen said he hopes the problems can be smoothed out, while acknowledging, "It has got growing pains." CHICAGO -- The perverse thing about ideologues is that they're easy to dismiss when they say something blatantly outlandish. Recently, Donald Trump said that President Obama was the founder of the terrorist group ISIS, also known as the Islamic State. When a conservative radio host subsequently gave the GOP nominee a chance to back down, Trump doubled down, saying, "No, I meant he's the founder of ISIS ... I do ... I don't care. ... He was the founder. His, the way he got out of Iraq was that that was the founding of ISIS, OK?" Ridiculous. And few people took it seriously. And, in fact, the very next day Trump said he was being sarcastic. It's far more frightening when Trump says things that contain a kernel of truth -- and are worthy of careful consideration -- like his comments about the manner in which we should screen people coming into the U.S. During a speech in which he outlined his foreign policy platform, Trump suggested that our country should have an "extreme vetting" process for foreign nationals who attempt to enter the U.S., so we can ban terrorists and their sympathizers, those who believe in Shariah law, those who don't believe in the U.S. Constitution and those who "support bigotry and hatred." Let's get the obvious out of the way: With his polling numbers in the dumps, it's safe to say that plenty of people believe that Trump is a prime example of someone who supports bigotry and hatred. Hatred toward Mexicans, Muslims, women, disabled people and "the media," just to list a few. But should such a vetting process be considered? Would it work? Actually, the United States already does have a process for allowing a president to limit entry of any noncitizen deemed "detrimental to the interests of the United States." According to a Cornell University press tip sheet, "Historically, presidents have suspended the entry into the United States, whether as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of noncitizens who advocate anti-democratic policies. Government officials from several African countries, the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Nicaragua, Nigeria and Panama have been affected by this provision. In fiscal year 2015, 46 nonimmigrants and one immigrant were declared inadmissible under this provision." Would we really want to expand such powers? How would such a test be designed? And how could it possibly be administered in a timely manner to each of the millions of people from all over the world who flow in and out of the country for legitimate business or pleasure? Would we be willing to pay the untold billions to significantly broaden these rules in exchange for a safer nation? Scariest of all is the idea that a president who would take such extreme measures in the name of homeland security would impose those same ideological tests on legally present immigrants and refugees. "It's a problem to think about trying to vet every person for their commitment to some amorphous ideals that I think very few Americans would be able to agree on," said Stephen Yale-Loehr, a professor of immigration law practice at Cornell Law School. He told me that even if it didn't come to that, even just musing about ideological screening hurts immigrants. "Mr. Trump only continues to hurt any prospects for comprehensive immigration. It will take a bipartisan consensus to fix our broken immigration system, and his rhetoric only makes the issue more partisan and therefore makes it harder to enact any meaningful reforms." Yale-Loehr also wondered what would stop such tests from being expanded to U.S.-born citizens, but as it is, studies have shown that when Americans attempt the civics portion of the current immigrant naturalization test, one out of three U.S. citizens fails. A full 85 percent of 1,000 voting-age Americans could not define even simple terms such as "the rule of law" and 71 percent were unable to identify the Constitution as the "supreme law of the land." We'd have to expel untold millions of Americans who wouldn't be able to credibly support the U.S. Constitution because they don't really know what it is! It's not wrong to want to keep out those who would do us harm -- we should absolutely be thinking about better screening. But restricting entry to only those who can traverse (or fake) an ideological purity quiz doesn't even pass the smell test. It's back-to-school week in Sioux City, and elsewhere. Local schools opened doors for a new year of classes on Tuesday. As students return to classrooms, let us all be cognizant of the increased potential for accidents produced by more vehicles and pedestrians near schools and apply increased caution to our driving. Let's slow down, exercise care and do our part to keep our kids safe. Again today, we urge increased awareness of the need to stop for a school bus when its stop arm is extended and its lights are flashing. Whether due to sheer ignorance of the law or to distracted or careless driving, some motorists ignore school bus stop signals and, as a result, put children at risk. Passed in 2012, Kadyn's Law increased penalties for drivers in Iowa who do not heed school bus stop arms. Seven-year-old Kadyn Halverson was killed on May 10, 2011, when she was struck by a pickup truck while preparing to board her school bus in rural Northwood. Under the law, drivers who pass the stop arm of a school bus face a penalty of up to $675, not more than 30 days in jail, or both for a first offense. Penalties increase for subsequent violations and for violations resulting in injury or death. We have, on more than one occasion, used this space to praise passage of the law. To this point, however, impact of Kadyn's Law is limited. "The Des Moines Register reports that the number of people charged with violating the school bus law has declined, and the law's tough penalties may make prosecutors more willing to accept lesser charges," according to an Associated Press story in Monday's Journal. In April 2015, The Cedar Rapids Gazette reported the rate of stop-arm violations pleaded down or dismissed more than doubled since the adoption of Kadyn's Law. Lack of prosecution and strong punishment defeats the purpose of Kadyn's Law. Only through more convictions and appropriate penalties can our state convey the seriousness with which it views this issue. The difference in specs between mid-range and high-end phones is getting harder to differentiate, and the new Huawei Honor 8 is one of the phones blurring that distinction. At $399.99 (minus $50 if you register early), this phone has features you are more likely to find on flagship phones by the biggest global brands. As the sister company of Huawei, Honor has access to world class smartphone technology, and it looks like they have come together to put as much of Huaweis P9 flagship phone features in the Honor 8 as possible, without the $700 price tag. Huawei Honor 8 Details The first thing that may interest business users about the Honor 8 is the fact that it will soon be available in the US as an unlocked phone, so you dont have to have a friend in China or order it by mail to get one. But once you get your hands on it, there are other features cost conscious business users may respond to. The body of the phone has two curved 2.5D glass panels incased in an aluminum alloy body coming in at a thin 7.5 mm and weighing 185 grams. The rear of the phone reveals the bionic 12MP camera with dual lenses, one for color and the other lens for monochrome to deliver better quality images under macro, black light, low-light and complex conditions. The back of the phone also has a 3D fingerprint sensor, Iris scanner, and dual-LED flash that are recessed. The front of the camera has a 5.2-inch 1,920 x 1,080-pixel IPS LCD screen and an 8MP front facing camera to capture high quality selfies. The Honor 8 is powered by an octa-core Kirin 950 processor with four powerful, 2.3 GHz Cortex-A72 chips and 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM, 32/64GB of storage and up to 128GB with a MicroSD card. In order to increase processing speeds, response times and battery life, the CPU chipset has an i5 co-processor, which works with the Kirin 950 to deliver these results. According to the company, the 3000mAh battery can give you up to 10-hours of non-stop offline video games because who can work 24/7? And when you need to charge it, the 9V/2A fast charging technology will give you 47 percent charge in just 30 minutes. The connectivity features include, Smart dual-band WiFi switching that supports 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4/5GHz bands, NFC, infrared remote control, WiFi Hotspot for up to 8 devices, and Bluetooth 4.2 BLE. Honor 8 Joins the Ranks of So-Called Flagship Killers The Honor 8 joins the ranks of midrange phones with high-end specs that have been dubbed Flagship Killers. Others in the category include the ZTE Axon 7 and OnePlus 3. For small businesses or a business person looking for a full featured phone without the hefty price, the Honor 8 is one possibility. The phone offers video communication capabilities, connectivity, mobile wallet capability and very high quality image capture technology while being economically priced. Mobile apps are becoming more and more popular for businesses in a variety of different industries. For those who want to look into getting their own mobile apps or even just building a more professional website, theres iMOBDEV Technologies. The company prides itself on providing technologically advanced options for business websites and mobile apps. Read more about iMOBDEV Technologies in this weeks Small Business Spotlight. What the Business Does Offers mobile app development and customized web development solutions. Founder and CEO Deepak Patel told Small Business Trends, iMOBDEV is a team of techies who are passionate to deal with the trendy technology and implementing them in the live projects is a great achievement for them. Plentiful portfolio is a testament of the great team work. Business Niche Providing the best possible experience from start to finish. Patel says, We reserve the certified professionals for design and development. Technology geeks dedicatedly work on the projects and deliver the solutions with most recent techniques. Smooth interaction with the clients and professionalism in work lead us to develop long-term business relations. Each professional is trained not to compromise in the quality of service. How the Business Got Started Because of a desire to deliver strong website and mobile solutions. Patel explains, We entered into the industry with very few but sharp minds eager to set a standard among IT service providers. Their hard work and dedication took [the] company to new heights through the strong digital appearance. Biggest Win Making clients happy. Patel says, We have delivered 500+ projects successfully with faultless development and having hundreds of happy clients worldwide. We are committed to deliver bespoke web and mobility solutions exactly as per the clients requirements within allotted time and budget. How Theyd Spend an Extra $100,000 Investing in employee development. Patel says, We believe that the employees are [the] actual worth of the company. And he says he believes that interaction with other professionals in the same industry and subjects of interest will help push the talent and energy on his team to the next level. Hence, we would like to sponsor the employees for attending the national or international summits, seminars and technical events relevant to their field of knowledge, Patel adds. Favorite Quote If you can dream it, You can do it! by Walt Disney. * * * * * Find out more about the Small Biz Spotlight program The gravity of the existential threat we face from Islamic Jihad is truly of epic proportions. It is essentially a battle pitting free-civilized man against a totalitarian barbarian. What is at stake is the struggle for our very soul - namely who we are and what we represent. The lives that were sacrificed for individual rights and freedoms that we've come to cherish are being chiseled away from right under our noses by the stealth jihadists. And many of us are in denial and totally clueless. The left's appeasement and pandering to evil is nothing new. What makes their utopian delusions so infuriating and unpardonable is that it is not only they who will have to pay the consequences, and deservedly, so, they are thwarting and undermining our best efforts at resistance and are thus dragging us down in the process as well. By Peter Lancz,, the head of the Raoul Wallenberg World Campaign Against Racism. The 6th Annual Transgender Medical Symposium occurred in May in Fort Lauderdale. This free event drew 140 people. The two-day symposium discussed many medical and mental health issues that the transgender community faces. Christopher Bates, a member of the Organizing Committee, urged the attendees to re-engage with activism, Our struggle as a community of diversity is not over. Virtually every speaker emphasized that to show respect to transgender people, people should use the pronouns and name that the transgender person has chosen. Transgender youth psychological issues LGBT youth now self-identify as LGBT relatively early. Many people develop a relatively fixed sexual orientation in early adolescence. Most people, however, develop a relatively fixed gender identity well before puberty. Some people, however, will develop a gender identity mismatched with their physical body. When people talk about transgender youth today, the term youth can now include six year olds. This opens up a whole other arena of LGBT rights. A new pediatric specialty, transgender pediatric care, has emerged. Part of this specialty involves using medications to suppress puberty and its gender-linked physiological changes. With puberty suppressed, neither beards nor breasts will develop. This makes matching physical bodies with gender identities much easier, and less expensive. If the youth begins to feel at ease in their physical body, they can stop the treatment and experience puberty consistent with their physical body. Related: TRANSforming the Workplace: Transgender issues in corporate America Some youth with gender identity issues will grow into transgender adults. Others will resolve their gender identity issues. These different outcomes involve two related conditions: gender dysphoria and gender nonconformity. According to Dr. Alejandro Diaz, a pediatric endocrinologist, gender dysphoria leads to clinically significant distress and/or social, occupational, and other functional impairment, with increased risk of suffering distress or disability. Gender dysphoric people experience persistent discomfort with their physical body and its expected gender roles. This becomes an internally generated distress. Gender nonconformity leads to behaviors and interests that fall outside what is considered normal for a persons biological sex. Gender nonconformity does not involve mismatch between someones gender identity and their physical body. Unlike gender dysphoria, persistent distress does not characterize gender nonconformity. When gender conforming people harass gender nonconforming people to enforce gender norms, it can lead to an externally generated distress. Many lesbians, gay and bi men exhibit gender nonconforming interests and behaviors. Some youth with gender identity issues will match their gender identity with their physical body when puberty occurs. Some grow into LGB adults. Those whose bodies and gender identities remain mismatched will grow into adulthood with persistent gender dysphoria. They grow into transgender adults. Some of these transgender adults will also identify as LGB. The line separating the LGB from the T can easily blur. The process to distinguish gender dysphoric youth from gender non-conforming youth has four components: 1) the desires and development of the youth; 2) the legal requirements for obtaining the consent of youth; 3) the psychological assessment for gender dysphoria; and 4) the medical assessment for biomedical treatment. Only, the youths parent or legal guardian can provide consent for their medical procedures. If the youth has emancipated, however, the youth, themselves, can consent to their own medical procedures. Related: Carson compares being transgender to changing ethnicities Kathy Doll and Maria Mejia, of SunServe, specialize in LGBT youth mental health issues. They led a workshop on Caring for Gender Non-Conforming and Transgender Youth Therapists have to work within family systems to treat transgender and gender nonconforming youth. The law requires therapists to provide a minors parents with all information about the minor upon request. The therapist must create a safe-space of trust between the therapist and the youth. Without that trusting space, the youth with gender issues will be unable to speak. Youth with gender issues may not want their parents to know everything about their issues. Doll said that the therapist should be proactive from the first meeting with the parents. The therapist should inform the parents that the therapist would protect the youths confidentiality. The therapist would only disclose the content of therapy in the case of a threat of possible harm. If parents reject this condition, Doll could not work with their child. Transgender Youth Medical Issues Dr. Alejandro Diaz specializes in pediatric endocrinology. He led a workshop, Medical Treatment for Transgender Youth. Diaz asserted that pediatricians should identify the behaviors and complaints of gender dysphoric and gender non-conforming youth. The pediatric endocrinologist determines which biomedical treatment to employ. Their choices include wait and see, puberty suppression, male or female hormone therapy, or surgical transition. Laws set the minimum age for the latter two treatments. The endocrinologist can only begin the medical intervention, if three conditions have been met. First, the transgender youth wants the medical intervention. Second, their parents have to have given their approval, unless the youth has emancipated. Third, the mental health professionals think it appropriate. Related: Transgender Prisoner Sues Florida to Get Hormone Treatments Almost all the effects of medical treatment can be reversed. If the transgender youth wants to stop puberty suppression, they can stop. Puberty will ensure with no permanent physical damage, but suppression could have weakened bones. Male and female hormone treatments are partly reversible. Only surgery is non-reversible. Transgender youth issues present a new set of challenges for the LGBT coalition. They are much greater than just who gets to pee where. They involve sexual and gender self-determination. Hormone Therapy Dr. Sheryl Zayas of Care Resource lead the workshop, Hormone Therapy for Female-to-Male (FtM) and Male-to-Female (MtF) transgender people. Hormone Therapy has two goals: to reduce the effect of the hormones of the birth sex and increase the influence of the identified sex. Before a doctor can prescribe hormone therapy, a doctor, nurse practitioner, or mental health professional has to assess the individual for gender dysphoria. That condition involves a persistent state of extreme distress caused by a mismatch between a persons gender identity and their physical body. Important considerations in that assessment include the following: 1) how out the person is to their significant others 2) whether they have a safe place in which to transition, and 3) if they want to have children. The latter has great importance as hormone therapy frequently results in sterility. Transgender women (MTF) taking feminizing hormones should expect a reduced sex drive with fewer erections in the first three months. Within a few months, they will start to develop breasts and lose muscle mass. Their testicles will start to shrink. They will need electrolysis to remove body and facial hair. Feminizing hormones increase risk for blood clots. These hormones may also moderately increase the risk for breast cancer, and severe migraines. Related: Transgender Pennsylvanians Expect Great Things from Sarah McBride Transgender men (FTM) taking masculinizing hormones can expect an increased sex drive. Their clitoris will enlarge, and they may develop facial and body hair, both of which may be permanent. Baldness may also occur. Their voice will deepen. Their vaginal wall may thin, making vaginal intercourse painful and may increase risk for HIV. If they are concerned about fertility, they may want to store their eggs. Masculinizing hormones increase the risk for cardio-vascular disease. Zayas emphasized that body parts prone to cancer have to be screened for cancer, regardless of gender identity. In a similar vein, Dr. Lanalee Sam, Director of Womens Health Services at Florida Medical Center said, A uterus is good for having babies, getting cancer, growing fibroids, and bleeding. If you dont want any of these, take it out. PrEP and Transgender People Doctor of Pharmacology, Rob Shore, PrEP Coordinator, Department of Health (Broward), led a workshop, PrEP and the Transgender Community. He described the need for changes in HIV prevention: If we keep doing what we have been doing, we will keep getting what we have been getting. South Florida has had consistently high rates of new HIV cases since 2008. This area either has had the highest, or second highest, number of new HIV cases in the US. Shore emphasized that he was not pushing PrEP; he was educating people about it. The acronym PrEP stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. Shore defined prophylaxis as a measure taken to maintain health and prevent the spread of disease or an undesired state of being. Most people already use other preventive measures such as birth control, vitamins, and car seat belts. While PrEP fails to prevent STDs other than HIV, birth control fails to prevent any STDs. Birth control only prevents pregnancy. Yet, birth control has gained great acceptance. Shore used the birth control model of HIV Prevention to explain PrEP. As her risk for pregnancy changes, a woman will choose different types of birth control to match her changing levels of risk. PrEP represents a similar widening of choices for people at risk for acquiring HIV. Some transgender women have participated in PrEP clinical trials, but too few for scientific proof. Nevertheless, PrEP has protected transgender women in these studies, much as it protected bio-women (anatomical females since birth). Only those who took Truvada regularly achieved protection. Birth control pills contain lower doses of the same feminizing hormones, upon which transgender women depend. No bio-woman in the clinical trials reported drug interactions with birth control pills. The Center of Excellence for Transgender Health found a lack of evidence of drug interactions: There is no evidence or clinical studies of potential drug interactions between different classes and combinations of antiretroviral medications (ARVs) and cross-sex hormone therapy (csHT) used by transgender women for gender transition and feminization. The Center suggested that the doctor should monitor estrogen levels for signs of estrogen deficiency. If the doctor were to find estrogen deficiency, the transgender woman could simply stop taking PrEP. Her estrogen levels should then begin to rise. Currently, PrEP consists of one Truvada pill per day. Each Truvada pill contains two antiretrovirals that prevent HIV from infecting a cell. Researchers selected Truvada as the antiretrovirals in Truvada have the least side effects. Related: Philippines elects first transgender woman to congress To be effective, the antiretrovirals in Truvada have to reach protective levels. In order to prevent sexual acquisition of HIV, antiretrovirals need to saturate the rectum, the penis, the vagina, and the mouth. According to Shore, antiretrovirals will reach protective levels in the rectum until about 7 days after beginning PrEP, but they will not reach protective levels in the rest of the body until about 21 days after starting PrEP. One dose of PrEP will not provide immediate protection; people have to take PrEP regularly to achieve protection. The California HIV/AIDS Research Program has awarded $9.4 million grants to study PrEP among both transgender women and transgender men. These grants will have a special focus on transgender women of color. Researchers need more data about PrEP and transgender people, especially transgender men. Shore said that PrEP would be unlikely to threaten the transitioning process of either transgender women or transgender men. PrEP could benefit both greatly. Transgender people face unique medical and psychological problems. In order to strengthen the LGBT political coalition, nontrans-identified people should become familiar with transgender health issues. This annual symposium provides a very useful resource to do so. HIVEonline.org has resources for transmen and transwomen: http://www.hiveonline.org/for-you/transmen/ and http://www.hiveonline.org/for-you/transgender/. To download the booklet Transgender Women and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention", please visit http://fenwayhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/PrEP-and-Transgender-Women-NCIHC-Brief.pdf Care Resource is a trans-friendly clinic. To contact their Fort Lauderdale office, call 954-567-7141 or visit http://www.careresource.org. They also have offices in Miami. For the CDC Factsheet about Transgender people and HIV, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/gender/transgender/index.html . For more information on PrEP, you can email Dr. Robert Shore (Department of Health) at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call him at 954-467-4700 Ext. 5733. You can also call Patrick Whiteside of the Pride Center at 954-463-9005, Ext. 210. In a hotly contested Senate campaign, the states largest LGBT civil rights organization is backing Miami Beach attorney Michael Gongora. We value actual experience in our community over promises, said Stratton Pollitzer, Equality Florida Deputy Director, in a telephone interview with SFGN Thursday afternoon. Pollitzer, who lives in Florida Senate district 38, said he has received mailers from a shadow organization calling itself A Stronger Florida that he called ugly and sleazy. The mailers attack Gongora on ethics, noting his fine by the elections commission and accusing him of skirting laws and shaking down a strip club owner. Its just reprehensible, Pollitzer said of the mailers. Pollitzer points the finger to a political action committee organized by Kenneth Pizzo, father of Jason Pizzo, one of seven candidates contending for the open seat. Related: Gay Endorsement For The Straight Guy: SAVEs support raises questions Shame on Jason Pizzo for using his familys wealth to falsely attack gay candidates, Pollitzer posted on Facebook. Pizzo, 40, is a former prosecutor in the state attorneys office who, ironically enough, has been endorsed by SAVE, a South Florida organization dedicated to protecting people who are LGBT against discrimination. Jason Pizzo is the strongest candidate, SAVE Executive Director Tony Lima told SFGN. He came in with the most comprehensive plan needed to appeal to all the ethnicities in this district. Hes done very well fundraising and hes committed and proud to serve. Six Democrats are vying for the partys nomination. The primary election concludes Aug. 30 and while Equality Florida and SAVE disagree on candidates, there is agreement on a common enemy. Even though the two organizations disagree on who should win the primary, they do agree one thing. We have to beat Daphne Campbell, Pollitzer said. She is terrible on LGBT issues. Campbell currently represents district 108 in the Florida House of Representatives. She has a track record of opposing progressive policy issues and questionable business practices. A chain of nursing homes, owned by Campbell and her husband, were investigated for Medicaid fraud and unsanitary living conditions. As of Aug. 5, Gongora had reported $153,152 in campaign contributions compared to $61,391 for Campbell. Pizzo reported raising $597,350, which includes $550,000 in personal loans. In analyzing the race, Pollitzer said Gongora, a former Miami Beach Commissioner, has what it takes to win. Equality Floridas Action Pac believes Michael Gongora has the best chance to beat Daphne Campbell in a very short campaign, Pollitzer said. He (Gongora) has name recognition and an established block of voters. He doesnt just say something, he actually gets the job done and has a proven track record of passing cutting edge model policies. Florida Senate district 38 became a free-for-all following the retirement of Gwen Margolis, the states longest serving legislator. Former North Miami Mayor Kevin Burns, a gay man, is also campaigning for the Democratic nomination and has also been the target of negative mailers from Pizzos pac. Bad With His Money. Bad For Our Money, reads the anti-Burns mailer which also claims Burns has filed for bankruptcy. Its a sad attempt to bolster himself while tearing down other candidates, Burns said. Why would he hide behind his daddys money and not put his own name on the mailers? Why would he miss 17 elections? Early voting is underway in the district, which stretches south from the MacArthur Causeway north to the Broward County line. As the number of South Florida Zika cases increases, 90 of them travel-related in Broward alone as of Aug. 19, the number of Zika ads on billboards has been reduced. The Fort Lauderdale mayors office and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau are being accused by AIDS Healthcare Foundation [AHF] of working to remove two Zika-related ads on billboards paid for by AHF. The billboards, located near the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and on State Road 84, featured an ad with a condom and the words Prevents Zika Transmission and useacondom.com. The company that owns the billboards, OUTFRONT Media, denied they were directed to remove the ads by either the mayors office or the Visitors Bureau. OUTFRONT was not directed by the Ft. Lauderdale Mayors office or other city individuals to remove the ads, but we were made aware of complaints made by residents and other community members. While ZIKA prevention messaging is important, we re-evaluated the appropriateness of the image and decided, in view of the community complaints, to remove this copy from our Ft. Lauderdale locations, wrote OUTFRONT in a statement emailed to SFGN. Related: Condom Controversy Prompts Removal of Zika-Prevention Billboards Mayor Jack Seiler also denied he asked OUTFRONT to remove the billboards. I have not communicated with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation about its billboard promoting condom use to prevent sexual transmission of the Zika virus. Further, I have not communicated with any billboard company about the AIDS Healthcare Foundation's billboard promoting condom use to prevent sexual transmission of the Zika virus. I suspect that this false accusation and alleged controversy may be part of their marketing campaign, said Seiler in a statement. Mike Kahane, AHFs southern bureau chief, said his organization doesnt fault OUTFRONT but called it ludicrous to remove the ads because of community complaints. He compared the Zika message to the long-accepted practice of telling people to use condoms to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and other STDs. Whats the difference? he asked. The reality is this is a public health threat. He added that any public official who stops the spread of vital information on disease prevention isnt carrying out their duty very well. Kahane points to the Visitors Centers previous media statements as evidence that organization made an effort to get the billboards removed for reasons that had nothing to do with the accuracy of health-related information. In an Aug. 17 WSVN 7 article, the Visitors Bureau stated its objection to the billboards was based on the accuracy of the claim that condoms prevent Zika and cited the CDC. According to the CDC website, using condoms can reduce the chance of getting Zika from sex not prevent it. This time, WikiLeaks may have gone too far. The Associated Press reported this week that WikiLeaks, a radical transparency group, published personal information on several ordinary citizens. The personal information, in some cases, included health records and sexual tastes. The AP reports in one instance a Saudi Arabian citizen was identified as gay by WikiLeaks. This disclosure puts the individual in grave danger, as homosexuality is considered criminal by the Kingdom. They published everything: my phone, address, name, details, a Saudi man told the AP. If the family of my wife saw this Publishing personal stuff like that could destroy people. On Twitter, WikiLeaks responded to the controversy, essentially saying it was old news and no harm done. Related: Daily Beast Outs Closeted Olympians Then Apologizes No, WikiLeaks did not disclose gays to the Saudi govt. Data is from govt. & not leaked by us. Story from 2015. Re-run now due to election, WikiLeaks tweeted on Tuesday. Along with revealing sexual orientation, WikiLeaks is accused of publishing sensitive health information on hundreds of people. In some instances, medical records published by WikiLeaks detailed rape, HIV status, sick children and mental health problems. In its investigation, the AP contacted 23 people, mostly from Saudi Arabia, who were affected by the WikiLeaks expose. This is illegal!, Dr. Nayef al-Fayez, a Jordanian doctor told the AP. WikiLeaks is run by Julian Assange, an Australian with a long history of hacktivism. It was Assange who ordered the publishing of the U.S. defense cables given to him by U.S. Army Private Bradley Manning, now Chelsea Manning. Manning is serving a prison sentence at Fort Levenworth in Kansas. Assange has set up operations at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. He is wanted on rape charges in Sweden and U.S. and U.K. authorities are also seeking his extradition. Le Collectif Cheikh Yassine a organise un certain nombre dactivites et de festivites pour les enfants de Gaza sous le theme La joie des enfants de Gaza pour lAid . Ces activites ont commence le premier jour de lAid et continue jusquau 4eme jour de lAid dans la bande de Gaza. Plusieurs activites, ont ete organisees parmi lesquelles : des competitions recompensees par des prix, des jeux, des animations et des chants presentes par un groupe ainsi que des distributions de cadeaux et daides financieres. Planet orbiting Proxima Centauri ESO Astronomers using ESO telescopes and other facilities have found clear evidence of a planet orbiting the closest star to Earth, Proxima Centauri. The long-sought world, designated Proxima b, orbits its cool red parent star every 11 days and has a temperature suitable for liquid water to exist on its surface. This rocky world is a little more massive than the Earth and is the closest exoplanet to us and it may also be the closest possible abode for life outside the solar system. A paper describing this milestone finding will be published in the journal Nature on 25 August 2016. Just over four light-years from the solar system lies a red dwarf star that has been named Proxima Centauri as it is the closest star to Earth apart from the Sun. This cool star in the constellation of Centaurus is too faint to be seen with the unaided eye and lies near to the much brighter pair of stars known as Alpha Centauri AB. During the first half of 2016 Proxima Centauri was regularly observed with the HARPS spectrograph on the ESO 3.6-metre telescope at La Silla in Chile and simultaneously monitored by other telescopes around the world [1]. This was the Pale Red Dot campaign, in which a team of astronomers led by Guillem Anglada-Escude, from Queen Mary University of London, was looking for the tiny back and forth wobble of the star that would be caused by the gravitational pull of a possible orbiting planet [2]. As this was a topic with very wide public interest, the progress of the campaign between mid-January and April 2016 was shared publicly as it happened on the Pale Red Dot website and via social media. The reports were accompanied by numerous outreach articles written by specialists around the world. Guillem Anglada-Escude explains the background to this unique search: The first hints of a possible planet were spotted back in 2013, but the detection was not convincing. Since then we have worked hard to get further observations off the ground with help from ESO and others. The recent Pale Red Dot campaign has been about two years in the planning. The Pale Red Dot data, when combined with earlier observations made at ESO observatories and elsewhere, revealed the clear signal of a truly exciting result. At times Proxima Centauri is approaching Earth at about 5 kilometres per hour normal human walking pace and at times receding at the same speed. This regular pattern of changing radial velocities repeats with a period of 11.2 days. Careful analysis of the resulting tiny Doppler shifts showed that they indicated the presence of a planet with a mass at least 1.3 times that of the Earth, orbiting about 7 million kilometres from Proxima Centauri only 5% of the Earth-Sun distance [3]. Guillem Anglada-Escude comments on the excitement of the last few months: I kept checking the consistency of the signal every single day during the 60 nights of the Pale Red Dot campaign. The first 10 were promising, the first 20 were consistent with expectations, and at 30 days the result was pretty much definitive, so we started drafting the paper! Red dwarfs like Proxima Centauri are active stars and can vary in ways that would mimic the presence of a planet. To exclude this possibility the team also monitored the changing brightness of the star very carefully during the campaign using the ASH2 telescope at the San Pedro de Atacama Celestial Explorations Observatory in Chile and the Las Cumbres Observatory telescope network. Radial velocity data taken when the star was flaring were excluded from the final analysis. Although Proxima b orbits much closer to its star than Mercury does to the Sun in the solar system, the star itself is far fainter than the Sun. As a result Proxima b lies well within the habitable zone around the star and has an estimated surface temperature that would allow the presence of liquid water. Despite the temperate orbit of Proxima b, the conditions on the surface may be strongly affected by the ultraviolet and X-ray flares from the star far more intense than the Earth experiences from the Sun [4]. Two separate papers (http://www.proximacentauri.info) discuss the habitability of Proxima b and its climate. They find that the existence of liquid water on the planet today cannot be ruled out and, in such case, it may be present over the surface of the planet only in the sunniest regions, either in an area in the hemisphere of the planet facing the star (synchronous rotation, https://www.eso.org/public/videos/eso1629g) or in a tropical belt (3:2 resonance rotation, https://www.eso.org/public/videos/eso1629h). Proxima bs rotation, the strong radiation from its star and the formation history of the planet makes its climate quite different from that of the Earth, and it is unlikely that Proxima b has seasons. This discovery will be the beginning of extensive further observations, both with current instruments [5] and with the next generation of giant telescopes such as the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT). Proxima b will be a prime target for the hunt for evidence of life elsewhere in the universe. Indeed, the Alpha Centauri system is also the target of humankinds first attempt to travel to another star system, the Starshot project. Guillem Anglada-Escude concludes: Many exoplanets have been found and many more will be found, but searching for the closest potential Earth-analogue and succeeding has been the experience of a lifetime for all of us. Many peoples stories and efforts have converged on this discovery. The result is also a tribute to all of them. The search for life on Proxima b comes next. Notes [0] We are aware that there have been rumours regarding this discovery. These rumours have never been confirmed and have not contained any research content. Whilst the rumours are in the public domain and can be reported, the information in this release, the paper itself and the associated visuals have been provided on an embargoed basis and therefore remain strictly under embargo until 19:00 CEST on 24 August 2016. We would be grateful if any questions or concerns are addressed to us before any action is taken. We thank you for your consideration in this matter. [1] Besides data from the recent Pale Red Dot campaign, the paper incorporates contributions from scientists who have been observing Proxima Centauri for many years. These include members of the original UVES/ESO M-dwarf programme (Martin Kurster and Michael Endl), and exoplanet search pioneers such as R. Paul Butler. Public observations from the HARPS/Geneva team obtained over many years were also included. [2] The name Pale Red Dot reflects Carl Sagans famous reference to the Earth as a pale blue dot . As Proxima Centauri is a red dwarf star it will bathe its orbiting planet in a pale red glow. [3] The detection reported today has been technically possible for the last 10 years. In fact, signals with smaller amplitudes have been detected previously. However, stars are not smooth balls of gas and Proxima Centauri is an active star. The robust detection of Proxima b has only been possible after reaching a detailed understanding of how the star changes on timescales from minutes to a decade, and monitoring its brightness with photometric telescopes. [4] The actual suitability of this kind of planet to support water and Earth-like life is a matter of intense but mostly theoretical debate. Major concerns that count against the presence of life are related to the closeness of the star. For example gravitational forces probably lock the same side of the planet in perpetual daylight, while the other side is in perpetual night. The planets atmosphere might also slowly be evaporating or have more complex chemistry than Earths due to stronger ultraviolet and X-ray radiation, especially during the first billion years of the stars life. However, none of the arguments has been proven conclusively and they are unlikely to be settled without direct observational evidence and characterisation of the planets atmosphere. Similar factors apply to the planets recently found around TRAPPIST-1. [5] Some methods to study a planets atmosphere depend on it passing in front of its star and the starlight passing through the atmosphere on its way to Earth. Currently there is no evidence that Proxima b transits across the disc of its parent star, and the chances of this happening seem small, but further observations to check this possibility are in progress. Reference: A Terrestrial Planet Candidate in a Temperate Orbit Around Proxima Centauri, G. Anglada-Escude et al., 2016 August 25, Nature [preprint (PDF): http://www.eso.org/public/archives/releases/sciencepapers/eso1629/eso1629a.pdf]. The team is composed of Guillem Anglada-Escude (Queen Mary University of London, London, UK), Pedro J. Amado (Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia CSIC, Granada, Spain), John Barnes (Open University, Milton Keynes, UK), Zaira M. Berdinas (Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia CSIC, Granada, Spain), R. Paul Butler (Carnegie Institution of Washington, Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Washington, USA), Gavin A. L. Coleman (Queen Mary University of London, London, UK), Ignacio de la Cueva (Astroimagen, Ibiza, Spain), Stefan Dreizler (Institut fur Astrophysik, Georg-August-Universitat Gottingen, Gottingen, Germany), Michael Endl (The University of Texas at Austin and McDonald Observatory, Austin, Texas, USA), Benjamin Giesers (Institut fur Astrophysik, Georg-August-Universitat Gottingen, Gottingen, Germany), Sandra V. Jeffers (Institut fur Astrophysik, Georg-August-Universitat Gottingen, Gottingen, Germany), James S. Jenkins (Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile), Hugh R. A. Jones (University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK), Marcin Kiraga (Warsaw University Observatory, Warsaw, Poland), Martin Kurster (Max-Planck-Institut fur Astronomie, Heidelberg, Germany), Maria J. Lopez-Gonzalez (Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia CSIC, Granada, Spain), Christopher J. Marvin (Institut fur Astrophysik, Georg-August-Universitat Gottingen, Gottingen, Germany), Nicolas Morales (Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia CSIC, Granada, Spain), Julien Morin (Laboratoire Univers et Particules de Montpellier, Universite de Montpellier & CNRS, Montpellier, France), Richard P. Nelson (Queen Mary University of London, London, UK), Jose L. Ortiz (Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia CSIC, Granada, Spain), Aviv Ofir (Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel), Sijme-Jan Paardekooper (Queen Mary University of London, London, UK), Ansgar Reiners (Institut fur Astrophysik, Georg-August-Universitat Gottingen, Gottingen, Germany), Eloy Rodriguez (Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia CSIC, Granada, Spain), Cristina Rodriguez-Lopez (Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia CSIC, Granada, Spain), Luis F. Sarmiento (Institut fur Astrophysik, Georg-August-Universitat Gottingen, Gottingen, Germany), John P. Strachan (Queen Mary University of London, London, UK), Yiannis Tsapras (Astronomisches Rechen-Institut, Heidelberg, Germany), Mikko Tuomi (University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK) and Mathias Zechmeister (Institut fur Astrophysik, Georg-August-Universitat Gottingen, Gottingen, Germany). Two new papers on the habitability of Proxima b: http://www.ice.cat/personal/iribas/Proxima_b/publications.html Pale Red Dot blog: https://palereddot.org/ Images & videos from Planetary Habitability Lab (PHL) @ Univ. of Puerto Rico (UPR) Arecibo: http://phl.upr.edu/press-releases/proxb ESO is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the worlds 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 worlds most advanced visible-light astronomical observatory and two survey telescopes. VISTA works in the infrared and is the worlds 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 worlds biggest eye on the sky. Djibouti is also no exception to an American military presence as it has the largest US permanent military base in Africa, Camp Lemonnier, which is home to more than 4,000 personnel, mostly part of the Combined Joint Task Force. The facilities in Djibouti serve to protect China's economic interests in Africa and to help safeguard regional peace, as China is only beginning to learn to behave like a responsible global power, Global Times reported Li as saying. Considering that both the US and China will be rubbing shoulders in Djibouti, it raises some concerns regarding how will the two powers manage to cooperate in the African country. Most likely, China and the United States might face some friction over Djibouti, the former head of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Lieutenant-General Nikolai Moiseyev told online publication Gazeta.ru The US base in Djibouti is primarily used by Special Forces for unmanned operations against the jihadist groups in the region. The US base is located near the main airport of Djibouti. Attack helicopters and other US military aircraft use the runway of the airport. Hence, the United States frankly does not want Chinese military aircraft; including unmanned aircraft to fly anywhere near US facilities. Construction of the Chinese base in Djibouti more than demonstrates Beijing's intention to expand its sphere of influence, not only in the Indian Ocean, but also far beyond its borders, the former First Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Col. Gen. Viktor Barynkin told Gazeta.ru WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The similarities between the United Kingdoms popular referendum to leave the European Union, called Brexit, and the populist US presidential campaign of Donald Trump have been largely overstated, libertarian policy experts said at a Heritage Foundation forum on Wednesday. "The parallels, I think, may have been overdone between Trump and Brexit," director of the British-based Freedom Association, Rory Broomfield, said. On Wednesday evening, one of the most vocal supporters of Brexit, UKIPs Nigel Farage, is scheduled to address a Trump campaign rally in the southern US state of Mississippi. Ordinarily, the speed that the ground warms and cools directly correlates with the amount of water present between particles of soil or grains of sand. Edwards and Piqueux found that RSL features have nearly zero effect on temperature shifts. "We used a very sensitive technique to quantify the amount of water associated with these [RSL] features," Edwards said. "The results are consistent with no moisture at all and set an upper limit at three percent water," he said, indicating that the Martian soil could contain a maximum of 3 grams of water per kilogram of soil. Ellorin described the NPAs relationship with poor Filipinos saying, "In the areas of the Philippines where the government doesnt provide services, the New Peoples Army is there to provide those services." She added, "They are there as medics, they are there as teachersthey are also cultural workers. In many cases when you go to the far flung regions where the New Peoples Army is present, the people celebrate them, they dont see them as terrorist forces whatsoever. And the reason why theyre able to see them that way is because the people are suffering an intense socio-economic crisis." Becker asked if the Philippines should expect interference from the US in their peace talks. "Absolutely," she asserted. "The mere fact that the US renewed its terrorist listing of the CPP and the NPA is a measure of their attempts to frustrate the peace process. And it must be known that the Philippines is still a US neo-colony and a bastion of US foreign policy in the region. So the US has every interest to sustain its position as the neocolonial master. And the peace process, as manifested by the peace negotiations, is a threat to that." TOKYO (Sputnik) Earlier in the day, media reported that Pyongyang had launched a ballistic missile from a submarine in the Sea of Japan. According to the reports, it traveled over 300 miles before plunging into the Sea of Japan, and allegedly fell in Japan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). No damage to the Japanese air and sea vessels have so far been reported. "The launch is a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions, and poses a threat in terms of security," the ministry said in a statement, quoted by the Kyodo news agency. The protest was transmitted through diplomatic channels through the Japanese Embassy in China, the agency said. According to the Japanese Yomiuri Shimbun daily, Japan Ground Self-Defense Forces stationed on islands in Okinawa and Kagoshima Prefectures will receive Type 03 medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM). The rockets will be deployed on the islands of Miyako and Ishigaki, as well as on Amami Oshima island, in the vicinity of the disputed East China Sea. The missile is an advanced model of the Type 03 system, also known as SAM-4 or Chu-SAM that entered service in the army of Japan in 2003. Enhancements include an extended firing range, multitask mission capability and the ability to intercept hypersonic missiles and fighter jets. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The Turkish National Police has sent a letter to the airports instructing them to expand thorough searches to new categories of passengers, including children, pregnant women, the disabled and the elderly. The warning comes less than a week after a suicide bomber previously thought to be as young as 12 years old killed scores at a wedding in southeast Turkeys Gaziantep. Reports emerged Tuesday that Daesh terrorists trained at least 150 militants, including suicide bombers, for attacks across Turkey's areas most frequented by tourists. The terrorist organization banned in countries including Russia is blamed for the June 28 triple bombing and shootings at the Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul that killed 44 people, including 19 foreigners, and wounded 239. In a bold yet potentially controversial step against infamous rent-a-womb culture in India, the Indian government has cleared a legislative framework which will stop foreigners, single parents, live-in partners and gay or lesbian couples from hiring women as surrogate mothers for their children. Non-resident Indians also figure in the barred list. Moreover, the new legislation will guarantee equal rights to a child born of surrogacy as that of a biological child. Any person who abandons a surrogate child will risk a minimum of 10 years imprisonment and fine of USD 14,890 or both. The framework will become law once it is endorsed by the parliament. Sushma Swaraj, Indias Minister for External Affairs said, Only Indian citizen living in India is getting rights to have surrogate child. Foreign nationals and even non-resident Indian holding OCI/PIO card will not get right to have a surrogate child in India. In an article published in February 2016, conservative South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo quoted nuclear experts as saying that it could take only 18 months to turn plutonium from the countrys nuclear power plants into a workable bomb. According to the authoritative journal the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, Japan currently has about 11 tons of plutonium in addition to 37 tons stored abroad. This is enough to build 2,000 nuclear warheads. With the construction of its own nuclear processing facility at Rokkasho, Japan will be producing enough plutonium to build 1,500 nuclear warheads a year which is comparable with what the US now has. North Korea apparently possesses nuclear weapons, which can reach both South Korea and Japan, but Pyongyang will not dare to launch an unprovoked attack on Americas allies because this would inevitably invite a retaliatory strike by Washington. Besides, Pyongyang is simply unable to launch a preventive strike on the US, Vladimir Khrustalev noted. No one in North Korea will dare to bomb their neighbors for fear of being destroyed within minutes of such an attempt. Pyongyangs nuclear arsenal now plays the role of a deterrent, just like that of its adversaries. And still, an arms race, combined with the growing South Korean and Japanese abilities to put their civilian nuclear programs on a war footing, could have absolutely unpredictable consequences in the event of any dangerous change in the situation in this volatile part of the world. Five people injured in an attack at the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul have been hospitalized, the Italian medical charity Emergency said in a message on Wednesday. Latestnews_af published a video of a wounded student from the American University in Afghanistan. Earlier on Wednesday, the Afghan news channel TOLOnews reported that armed assailants had breached the university after setting off explosives outside. ANKARA (Sputnik) The statement says Karkamis and its vicinity have been declared a "special security zone" by the Gaziantep governors administration after Turkish special forces backed by US-led coalition aircraft launched the "Euphrates Shield" campaign on Jarabulus. Despite Ankaras stated aim to clear the cross-border town of Daesh jihadists, Syrian Kurds and Damascus accuse Turkey of violating the countrys territorial integrity. "In this regard, it is very important for members of the media not to breach the designated area because of threats from Daesh and for security purposes. The esteemed members of the press must adhere to the specified clause," the statement reads. Free Syrian Army fighters supported by Ankara reached the town on western bank of the Euphrates by mid-Wednesday, over 12 hours after the campaign was launched. Earlier on Wednesday, the Afghan news channel TOLOnews reported that armed assailants had breached the university after setting off explosives outside. Students and professors have been taken hostage by the gunmen. "Several gunmen attacked the American University in Kabul and there are reports of gunfire and explosions," an Afghan Interior Ministry official told Reuters earlier in the day. "They are inside the compound and there are foreign professors along with hundreds of students." WASHINGTON (Sputnik) "There are a small number of Resolute Support advisors that are assisting their Afghan counterparts as Afghan forces are responding to develop the situation further," Lawhorn said. "These advisors are not taking a combat role, but advising their Afghan counterparts." Earlier on Wednesday, the Afghan news channel TOLOnews reported that armed assailants had breached the university after setting off explosives outside. Italian medical charity Emergency said in a message that five people have been injured in the attack and were hospitalized. The Pentagon, speaking through Lt. Gen. Lawrence Nicholson, the US commander on the island, announced a 30-day curfew and a "period of unity and mourning" following the April murder of Rina Shimabukuro by a US defense contractor and former marine. The Pentagon also returned the largest amount of territory since the 1972 appropriation of almost 4,000 hectares (15.5 square miles/40 square km) to the people of Okinawa. However, the land return has a provision attached that has deeply angered Okinawans; "more than ever," according to the Japan Times. The plan calls for Japan to construct six new helipads in Takae, a district of the Okinawan village of Higashi with a population of fewer than 150 people that is also said to be home to more than 170 endangered species. More disconcerting to the people has been the response by Japanese police and security forces, who do not recognize the validity of the protests and demands of Okinawans. "It feels like martial law has been imposed here. There are very large numbers of police and they often act violently." "To develop suitable capabilities of missile defense is necessary for China to maintain national security and improve defense capabilities. It is not targeting any other country or target, nor is it jeopardizing the international strategic equilibrium," Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Sr. Col. Yang Yujun told reporters last month. "We will pay close attention to relevant actions of the US and [South Korea] and will take necessary measures to maintain national strategic security as well as regional strategic equilibrium." While much of Chinas developments have been conducted in secret in the past, Beijing is now becoming more public about its missile capabilities. The United States, perhaps as intended, has taken notice. "Hyper-glide vehicle research and development are also challenging our planning calculus. The ability to find, fix and track and holdthese types of capabilities are becoming increasingly more difficult. Hyper-glide vehicle technology can complicate our sensing and our defensive approaches," said US Strategic Command chief Adm. Cecil Haney, during a recent missile conference. On Wednesday, diplomats from Japan, South Korea and China met in Tokyo to try to head off the winds of war and bring a lasting resolution to disputes that face Asia, without Americans in the room. "I am not at all surprised by developments this week and you are quite right, that these exercises are having exactly the opposite effect than they should. There are a number of things that I like about this trilateral meeting," said Lawrence. "Asians, and by that I mean the non-West, have a certain sense of identity. They have their many differences of course and countless tensions. But they do, at bottom, have a certain sense of identity, whereby their inclination is to solve their problems themselves, without reference to historically superior powers. I couldnt approve more." "You have China, South Korea, and Japan sitting at the same table. All three of those, no matter how you cut it, have differences with the two others. But they are sitting down," said the expert. "North Korea is one issue, the islands are the other big issue, and the Americans are not there. I look forward to seeing what they are able to come up with on their own." "China is on the record fifty ways from Sunday that they want to resolve outstanding bilateral issues cooperatively. The only people who dont understand that are people whose reading is confined to the American press," said Lawrence. "The American position in Asia is very vulnerable now, appearances notwithstanding. Post-1945 we were the cop, everyone knows that, and the imperial powers went into decline. The British went broke, the French were done in Dien Bien Phu in 1954, and so [Asia] was ours." But the geopolitical environment is changing again, the author noted. Russia and Turkey has begun normalizing ties which could result in the revival of Turkish Stream. According to the article, Europe could move to other sources, including, for example, liquefied natural gas (LNG), from the United States. But any alternatives to Russian gas are costly. "While Europe may want to disengage geopolitically from Russian influence, cheap Russian gas is addictive. Like any addict, when the supply is easily available, it will be almost impossible for Europe to say no," the article read. In early-August, it was reported that the resumption of the Turkish Stream project worried European diplomats. Some in Brussels say that the new pipeline will bolster Moscows positions in the European energy market. According to EU diplomats, after Turkish Stream is ready Ukraine will lose its transit status and the European dependency on Russian natural gas will increase. George Soros, Mister Money-Bags behind Open Society, has repeatedly accused Russia of outlandish policies, such as precipitating the European refugee problem as a way to undermine the European Union, as well as intending to invade Eastern European states. The term non-governmental organization is a complete misnomer. It is a clever fraud, just like many of the other claims made by these groups. Far from being supposedly independent and private, the blacklisted groups are bankrolled by the US State Department and Congress, and, especially in the case of Soros Open Society, are intimately linked with Washingtons foreign policy goals. That makes them very much American governmental agencies. Under the thinly veiled guise of promoting democracy the US-sponsored agencies are all about destabilizing Russian society and undermining the governing authorities. This subversive activity would not be tolerated for one second if the shoe were on the other foot over in the United States. So why should Russia accept unilateral American subversion and sanctimony? The insidious, and frankly dangerous, purpose of the National Endowment for Democracy, Open Society and all the other Orwellian-named American outfits can be gleaned from the way these same groups are responsible for a host of color revolutions and regime changes since the dissolution of the Soviet Union nearly a quarter of a century ago. They serve as the soft power arm of US imperialism. Former Soviet Republic Ukraine was a prime target. State Department official Victoria Nuland is on record for disclosing that $5 billion was funneled into the country from the early 2000s to precipitate regime change that culminated in 2014 when the elected government in Kiev was ousted by CIA-backed fascists. The new regime is responsible for a war on ethnic Russians in the east of the country since 2014 which has killed 10,000 people, and for ongoing efforts to sabotage Crimea. The bigger purpose of the US-backed regime change operation in Ukraine is to act as a spearhead against the real prize, Russia. It was the US State Department and George Soros who were instrumental in overseeing the Kiev regime-change coup. Translated from Orwellian lexicon, promoting democracy means promoting Washingtons version of democracy which is to install vassal regimes that will roll over for American capitalists like Hungarian-born Soros. MOSCOW (Sputnik) According to Haaretz newspaper, the oil slick, which appeared on Tuesday, is moving southward, towards the beaches of Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Israel, with the latter being particularly concerned with possible contamination of beaches in Israeli's coastal city of Eilat and harm to its coral reef. Israel's Ministry of Environmental Protection began preparations to provide aid to Jordan in cleanup and in the prevention of oil from further drifting, while Jordanian officials claimed that they would be to cope with the incident themselves, the newspaper said. The causes of the oil leak, which has been stopped, are officially yet unknown, but there are reports about a leak from pipe, according to the newspaper Speaking on Radio Sputniks Loud & Clear program, Pilger declared that Brexit is the last nail in the coffin of the EU. Its very hard to find anyone in Europe who supports the bloc, he said, referring to surveys conducted across the EU in the aftermath of the UK referendum. With democracy being sidelined in so many institutions in Brussels, I think many people in Europe will be feeling that it is time for their countries do what Britain did. Many Europeans are deeply dissatisfied with Brussels unnecessary austerity policies that impoverish countries like Italy or Spain, he suggested. Italys rate of unemployment is nearing that of Greece, a country in a seemingly permanent state of financial crisis. Spain and Portugal are experiencing a roughly 40 percent unemployment rate for graduates, he claimed. ROME (Sputnik) According to the Italian Askanews agency, EU Navy Commander Adm. Enrico Credendino, the chief of the EUs operation Sophia, and representative of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) Abdalh Toumia signed the memorandum. According to media reports, the training mission has three phases training at sea, aboard one of the ships of the Italian Navy, in a training center in one of the EU member states or Libya, and on board of the Libyan coast guard ships in the country's territorial waters. EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) in Libya, the United Nations and EU border agency Frontex are involved in the Libyan cost guard training program. Under the program, EU Mediterranean naval forces are to train Libyans to run a small coast guard fleet so that they could combat people smuggling under three months. ROME (Sputnik) According to the RaiNews24 television channel, Renzi arrived at the governmental Palazzo Chigi in Rome early in the day in order to personally monitor the situation unraveling in the central part of the country after the 6.1-magnitude earthquake. Earlier in the day, the earthquake hit central Italy and was felt across the region, in particular, in Rome. The quake has resulted in serious damage in the town of Amatrice. ANKARA (Sputnik) Three Turkish soldiers sustained injuries in an armed attack against their military vehicle on Wednesday, the Dogan news agency reported. The incident reportedly took place near the resort town of Antalya. The search for the attackers is currently underway. Mondays meeting on board the Italian aircraft carrier Garibaldi anchored off Ventotene Island was the first European summit after Britains decision to leave the European Union. Even though Matteo Renzi said that Project Europe wasnt yet over, Tiberio Graziani said that the three European leaders had focused more on their domestic crises rather than looking for ways to reverse the process of fragmentation and division" the 28-nation bloc is now facing. Everything they said about the economy, shared security and migrants was nothing but good intentions, especially in view of the dramatic drop in public spending on defense, scientific research and culture, now happening in Italy, Graziani said. Mentioning the issue of European defense, he added that it made no sense for Europe, as a NATO member, to toe the US line in the Mediterranean, because this is primarily a European problem, above all an Italian problem. Renzi hoped to restart the so-called Project Europe, which is his brainchild as the Italian leader. It looks like nothing came out of it. He has to be aware of hard facts and keep his word. On the economic plane, the trilateral meeting underscored Merkels dominant position in the EU, above all in economic issues, even though she referred the matter to the European Commission and once again called Turkey a partner. I think this after-Brexit summit simply underscored Germanys growing clout within the EU, Tiberio Graziani noted. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Russia's Investigative Committee said Wednesday it had opened a criminal case against Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak and a number of senior military officials for illegal means of warfare in Donbass. "The investigation has provided sufficient evidence that unlawful actions were committed against civilians at the orders of Ukraine's senior military leadership: Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak, Chief of the General Staff Viktor Muzhenko, former Commander of Land Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Anatoliy Pushnyakov, current Commander of Land Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Sergei Popko, Commander of the National Guard Yuri Allerov," the Committee said in a statement. Ten people were killed in the commune of Arquata del Tronto and 27 others died in the area around Accumoli and the town of Amatrice, the Agenparl news agency reported. The death toll from the tragedy is expected to rise. Earlier local media reported that at least 100 people were considered missing after the earthquake in Pescara del Tronto. A hospital in Amatrice was reportedly evacuated because of structural damage but none of the patients was injured. Italian President Sergio Mattarella called on the nation to show solidarity and pointed out that it is necessary to restore the devastated areas. "This is a moment of pain and of a call for joint responsibility. The whole country should come together with solidarity for the affected populations. My first thoughts are with all the victims of this devastating earthquake, which struck such a large part of the national territory A quick, united effort will be necessary soon to guarantee the reconstruction of destroyed centers, the resumption of productive activity and the restoration of normality of life," Mattarella said in a statement. Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message to Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi expressing condolences after the earthquake and offering Russia's assistance in coping with the aftermath, the Kremlin press service said. ANKARA (Sputnik) The European Union has not yet transferred the promised 3 billion euros ($3.3 billion) to help toward meeting the needs of Syrian refugees in Turkey, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday. "We ourselves gave shelter to millions of our Syrian brothers. The European Union has promised us 3 billion [euros]. Where is it? Nowhere," Erdogan said, speaking in the Turkish capital. We are talking about a classic case of capitulation here. By letting Veliju in, [Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo] Djukanovic put the countrys sovereignty on the line and assumed full responsibility for everything that may happen here in the future, including the territorial claims being made by the ideologues of the Greater Albania idea, Milan Knezevic said. He mentioned the enthusiastic welcome the Kosovo and Albanian politicians had given to Mr. Velijus visit to Montenegro describing this as another sign of Djukanovic playing the old card of staking on the votes of the local Albanian community that helped him win the referendum on the countrys 2006 exit from the union state of Serbia and Montenegro. If Djukanovic hopes that by playing this old card he will score another electoral victory, I want to warn him that he will be heading into a hot autumn when he will have to worry more about the protesting Montenegrins who will not tolerate another theft of their votes, Knezevic warned. The number of people seeking asylum in Sweden tripled in 2015 with nearly 163,000 applications sought. Swedish government statistics revealed that 71 percent of asylum applications were made by young men. Sweden then switched their policy from pledging to help people from the Middle East and Africa fleeing conflict, to only offering resettlement to refugees according to the minimum level required by the EU. "We are adapting Swedish legislation temporarily so that more people choose to seek asylum in other countries We need respite," Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said at the time. In order to do this, Sweden amended its Aliens Act to only offer the number of temporary residence permits to asylum seekers that it is obliged to do according to EU rules and United Nations conventions for the next three years. Following Sweden's adoption of new immigration laws, the majority of refugees arriving in Sweden have only been offered temporary residence permits since April this year. Following the adoption of temporary residence permits, the number of people seeking asylum in Sweden has dropped from 163,000 in 2015, to just over 19,000 this year; and 10,000 people have voluntarily left the country between January and August 2016. That number includes those who voluntarily withdrew their applications for asylum and those who have been refused. From June 1st 2016, asylum seekers who had their applications rejected also lost their right to a daily allowance and housing, this new law has led to around 2,500 people losing their grant. It's therefore, unsurprising then that record numbers of people who sought asylum in Sweden have voluntarily left the country this year, My campaign remains on track. Proud to be genuinely standing up for ordinary people. Owen Smith (@OwenSmith_MP) August 23, 2016 "The crucial point that I'm trying to make is that at the end of this, when we know what is really on offer, when Theresa May has done this negotiation at that point we could put it back to the country, either in a second referendum or in a general election, in which under me Labour would be arguing that we should remain. I still fundamentally believe that we didn't fight hard enough, that Jeremy didn't fight hard enough. I still feel that we should stay in." Following the referendum, more than 1,000 lawyers wrote to then Prime Minister David Cameron pointing out that the result was merely advisory and not binding on parliament. They wrote: "The European Referendum Act does not make it legally binding. We believe that in order to trigger Article 50, there must first be primary legislation. It is of the utmost importance that the legislative process is informed by an objective understanding as to the benefits, costs and risks of triggering Article 50 [of the Treaty of Lisbon, beginning the exit process]." Legal Challenge Meanwhile, lawyers Mishcon de Reya have launched a legal challenge to the referendum, saying the prime minister cannot invoke Article 50 without the consent of parliament, which does not have to abide by the result of the referendum (although going against the outcome will be political dynamite). Kasra Nouroozi, Partner, Mishcon de Reya said: "We must ensure that the Government follows the correct process to have legal certainty and protect the UK Constitution and the sovereignty of Parliament in these unprecedented circumstances. The result of the Referendum is not in doubt, but we need a process that follows UK law to enact it. The outcome of the Referendum itself is not legally binding and for the current or future Prime Minister to invoke Article 50 without the approval of Parliament is unlawful." Thus, if and it's a big if, given Jeremy Corbyn's huge grassroots support Owen Smith wins the Labour leadership, he could force a parliamentary vote for a second referendum. Government officials are still mulling over the letter from over a thousand lawyers and Britain awaits the outcome of the Mishcon de Reya legal challenge. I'm told that tonight our campaign made its 200,000 call while I was at the Walthamstow phonebank #LabourLeadership pic.twitter.com/vUMeVy2Cx5 Jeremy Corbyn MP (@jeremycorbyn) August 22, 2016 So, Brexit still hangs in the balance, although parliament will have its conscience to tackle if it tries to go against the will of the people cast on June 23. MOSCOW (Sputnik) A member of the British Armed Forces was arrested in the English county of Somerset on Wednesday on suspicion of preparations of acts of terrorism, London police said in a press release. "A 30-year-old man has been arrested in Somerset on suspicion of terrorism offences Todays arrest was pre-planned and intelligence-led as part of an investigation into Northern Ireland related terrorism," the press release read. KIEV (Sputnik) Earlier in the day, Poroshenko met with his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda to discuss regional issues and cooperation. "We must honor our history and take steps that contribute to the improvement of relations between our countries The Ukrainian side is ready for a frank and constructive dialogue on the tragic pages of our common history and believes that this understanding [will be reached] in the near future," Poroshenko said during a joint briefing with Duda. Duda in turn said that that Warsaw and Kiev were set to pursue the dialogue on contentious issues of common history, while inviting Poroshenko to visit Warsaw in December. MOSCOW (Sputnik) President Vladimir Putin sent a message to Renzi earlier in the day, saying he shares the grief of the Italian people and expressing readiness to render the needed assistance in the aftermath of the disaster. If necessary, the Russian Government is ready to provide assistance to Italy in eliminating the aftermath of the disaster, Medvedev said in a letter publicized by the Russian cabinet. Medvedev expressed sympathy and support to the families and friends of those killed, and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. BERLIN (Sputnik) The civil defense plan for emergency situations was presented by the interior minister and approved by the government earlier on Wednesday. "This concept is unrelated to the issue of terrorism, its entire creation history has nothing to do with the summer attacks," de Maiziere told journalists. "First, you need to simultaneously switch on the vibrator and run the application to connect them with each other," the expert explained how this intricate thing works via the Internet. "The one who controls the application can adjust vibration. This allows couples to have fun when they are far apart." "For example, there is a toy for lovers called Onyx and Pearl, produced by Kiiro Company. It consists of a masturbator and a vibrator. If a man is, for example, in New York, and a woman is in Hamburg, they can connect their components through the Internet. The vibrator is covered with unique sensors, as well as the masturbator. So, every action is duplicated. This brings us closer to the idea of virtual sex," Frank said. Of course, these toys will not replace the partner, but will help to compensate for his or her physical absence. Single women can find interesting sex toys with a control function through the application, too, said Tuba Frank. "For people without a partner we offer clitoral vibrostimulators and vaginal balls. So, a woman can put in a stimulant before she leaves home, and control it through the app. With special settings the vibrator, for example, can be adjusted to music in the club, due to which the vibrations will be implemented in tune with music. " Finnish President Sauli Niinisto used his speech to the Ambassador Seminar in the Finnish Parliament Annex, Helsinki, August 23, to lay in to the EU for its failure to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing the union notably the migrant crisis, the EU-Turkey migrant deal and the Eurozone troubles. "The European Union appears to have reached an impasse in many other respects. This impasse is largely self-inflicted. We all know the steps of this dance: a crisis comes out of nowhere. Summits are held. And then the same thing happens again. And the can is simply kicked down the road. The problem becomes even more intractable," Niinisto said. "The EU's problem is ultimately political. Too often, decisions are made to postpone genuine decisions until later. And even when decisions are made, their implementation often adds up to no more than good intentions. By acting in this way, the EU is undermining its own future in the eyes of its citizens. The feeble approach taken to the joint handling of the migration crisis is one example of this. There is much room for improvement," he added. The six-month course led by Santos himself focuses on helping participants to structure their business to access finance, another one of the key barriers for migrant entrepreneurs in particular. Santos moved to London at the age of 21 in 2002 after living in Sao Paulo, one of the world's largest cities, for two years. He left his job in Brazil as a support analyst at Microsoft to learn English in London. "In Brazil I was living what would be classed as a middle-class lifestyle. I could afford to go to restaurants, and had a good life. But when I arrived in London, I was struggling. I worked in a number of menial jobs and making ends meet was tough. I just got tired of eating low cost meals and it was even affecting my health. I decided then that I am going to work hard and do whatever it takes to make a success, and thankfully my natural persistence and determination paid off," Mr. Santos said. Whilst working in lower-paid jobs, an opportunity to manage houses came available and within two years later Santos was running his own estate agency business. In 11 years his portfolio grew from 1 to 50 homes, 15 members of staff and a turnover of 1.2 million (US$1.6 million). He rented accommodation to more than 2,000 young professionals and student migrants. In 2015, Mr. Santos began his mission to support migrant entrepreneurs who wanted to start or grow their businesses. He introduced the Migrant Business Accelerator program as a pilot project which featured 25 mentors who donated their time to help participants train for the future. The program evolved to become what is now about to launch, mi-HUB. "I worked hard to achieve my dreams and tackled the challenges migrant entrepreneurs face. It's difficult relocating to a new country and even harder to start a business. It's incredibly rewarding that I am now in a position to help other migrant entrepreneurs from around the world," Mr. Santos told Sputnik. Regarding advice for both migrant and wider communities looking to achieve success in the current post-Brexit climate in London, Mr. Santos said: "It is always difficult for any entrepreneur to achieve success and each person is different, but the key qualities you need to have are persistence and a lack of fear for hard work. "Migrant communities worldwide are known for being resilient as they often face added obstacles and struggles. To those who arrive in a new country I would say seek out your own community members for support first and then progress wider as another key for success is to also try and integrate and not segregate if possible." With this position, the Austrian government has sparked the anger of the Turkish community in the Austrian province of Voralberg. The activists from the so called "New Movement for the Future" (ABZ) wrote an open letter to the local authorities, expressing their disagreement with the official statements, German magazine Focus Online reported. "Dozens of workers and their families would be willing to leave Austria on the condition that they will receive previous social payments as well as contributions to their pension funds," the article said. Turkish-born immigrants published their letter on Facebook in which they said that their confidence in the Austrian government has rapidly decreased. BERLIN (Sputnik) Earlier in the day, the minister unveiled and the government approved new civil defense plan for the emergency situations. Media speculated that the government considered restoration of the conscription in case of an emergency. "The issue of the conscription is not on the agenda," de Maiziere told journalists. He went on to explain that the armed forces would have a special authority to demand the postal service to deliver certain messages in case of emergency. "Tesco used to mark Scottish produce with saltire. Now you use Union flag. Please say why. Is it #casualracism? #Scotland." She added: "Mostly raspberries and strawberries which I like to know are Scottish. Hope it's not being caused by #Brexit." Tesco was quick to try and reassure her. "When the category went through corporate re-design, it was decided to have British packaging only to avoid further criticism. "Product origin is printed on each punnet ie customers in Scotland will be allocated with Scottish fruit and this is visible," Tesco tweeted. @BRWombat Product origin is printed on each punnet ie customers in Scotland will be allocated with Scottish fruit and this is visible. 4/5 Tesco (@Tesco) August 22, 2016 So, now Tesco has found itself caught between complaining customers from both sides of the border. Angry Scots have take to social media to express their own fruit frustration at having their produce rebranded with the hashtag #strawberrygate. Though there are some customers who appear so moved by the grocery revelation that they've vowed to shop elsewhere, others have been taking a more light-hearted approach. Relations between Scotland and England have been somewhat strained since Scots only narrowly voted to stay a part of the UK in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. And the issue of Scottish nationalism was reignited this summer with the Brexit vote, in which the vast majority of Scots voted to remain a part of the EU, but the UK as a whole voted to leave. As Nats still complain about @Tesco #strawberrygate Some people are only just hearing about it pic.twitter.com/oePmii3rYB ANTI-SNP MEMES (@anti_snp) August 23, 2016 Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has suggested that it would be undemocratic to try and force Scotland out of the EU. Asked about Tesco's decision to remove the saltire, Sturgeon chose not to see the funny side. "Perhaps we should reflect and wonder what the response might be if this story was in reverse and the Union Jack was removed from packaging because of complaints in Scotland. So hopefully in whatever way this happens, common sense will prevail." She added: "Strawberries from Scotland are just the best strawberries, and that's why we should eat them, not because of the flag that happens to be on the packaging." BERLIN (Sputnik) The incumbent German President, Joachim Gauck, expressed condolences, and stressed that Scheel was "a politician who contributed to shaping the country's destiny for many years." Scheel served as Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and development from 1961 to 1966, and later, between 1969 and 1974, he was Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor and was further appointed President of West Germany in 1974, remaining in office until 1979. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The doomsday warning that a British exit from the European Union, Brexit, would cause Britain to lose its influence in NATO is unlikely to come to pass, vice president for strategy at the libertarian Competitive Enterprise Institute, Iain Murray told Sputnik on Wednesday. "For Britain to lose its role in NATO, it would have to voluntarily withdraw, and I dont think that is going to happen," Murray said responding to speculations on the British exit from the EU. Following the June Brexit referendum, policy analysts suggested that British independence could further fracture and weaken the NATO alliance. MOSCOW (Sputnik) According to The Telegraph newspaper, Israel exported Skyhawk jets to Argentina before the outbreak of the military conflict that were used to bomb and sink four British warships, including the RFA Sir Galahad landing ship. The declassified files supports claims in a book, published in Argentina in 2011, that Israel secretly provided General Leopoldo Fortunato Galtieri's junta with weaponry via Peru. According to a 1984 memorandum by C. W. Long, then head of the Near East and North Africa Department at the UK Foreign Office, Israel not only supplied Argentina with weapons during the military conflict, but continued to do so after the Falklands War, until at least 1984. The use of alcohol as motor fuel is not new in Brazil, where the development has been conducted since the 1970s. Today the vast majority of modern cars are equipped with the Flex system, with which drivers are free to fill their car with gasoline or alcohol that is derived from local sugar cane. Turkish army with the air support of US-led coalition has launched a military operation to liberate the northern Syrian city of Jarablus from Daesh terrorists, Anadolu agency reported. Officials say that the operation aims to prevent new flows of migration as well as deliver aid to civilians and clear the area of terrorists, the news agency reports. #Jarablus operation begins as #Turkish and coalition jets pound 63 #IS targets backed by special forces. Ground offensive not yet started Mark Lowen (@marklowen) 24 2016 . Turkey military releases video of air raids showing jets destroying #ISIL targets in Jarablus pic.twitter.com/QvYT9zreC6 Abdullah Bozkurt (@abdbozkurt) 24 2016 . On Monday the Turkish military began shelling Daesh positions in northern Syria close to Jarablus, as well as shelling positions of the Kurdish YPG. Turkey said the shelling of Daesh-controlled areas was in response to mortar fire from Jarablus, which landed in the town of Karkamis in Gaziantep Province. Erdogan has reportedly begun mulling over siding with Assad to take on Kurds seeking their own statehood. Despite Assads deep cooperation with the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia in the face of Daesh in recent years, the Syrian president views the Kurds as a threat to a united Syria, McAdams claimed. Erdogan suffers from the same malaise, as millions of Kurds reside in the Turkeys southeast. The YPG is widely supported by the United States, and is shown to be effective in their fight against Daesh in Syria, and will be unlikely to lay down their weapons, in dealing with legitimate governments, the expert suggested. The US restructuring plan for the war-torn country will mean the fragmentation of Syria, McAdams assessed. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The Islamist-besieged Syrian city of Deir ez-Zor has received over 20 metric tons of humanitarian aid from Russia, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday. "Parachute platforms with a totalof more than 20 tons landed in the besieged areas. During the delivery of food, a Syrian Air Force plane was accompanied by the Su-30 fighters of the Russian Aerospace Forces," the ministry said in a statement. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Turkey has notified Russia about its operation to free Syria's Jarablus from Daesh (banned in Russia), local broadcaster NTV reported Wednesday. Turkish authorities announced earlier in the day that Turkish forces, alongside US-led coalition aircraft, had begun a military operation to clear the Syrian border town of Daesh militants. MOSCOW (Sputnik) According to the Turkish television news channel citing military sources, the operation could last 15 days, and it aims to fully liberate Jarablus from Daesh militants and make a progress toward the jihadist group's de facto capital of Raqqa in northern Syria. Turkish authorities announced earlier in the day that Turkish forces, alongside US-led coalition aircraft, had begun a military operation to clear the Syrian border town of Daesh militants. Daesh is a terrorist organization outlawed in numerous countries worldwide, including Russia. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday cited unnamed US officials as saying that the Obama administration is considering providing air, intelligence and possibly other support to Ankara-backed Syrian rebels based in the border area near Turkey, which could help sever Daesh supply routes, however, a decision has yet to be made on the issue. Ankara announced early on Wednesday that Turkish forces, reinforced by US-led coalition aircraft, had begun a military operation to clear the Syrian border town of Jarablus of Daesh militants. Media reports emerged of a massive presence of Turkish-backed rebels in the wake of the Jarablus offensive along the Syria-Turkey border, which are allegedly fighting under the banner of the Free Syrian Army. On Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced that Ankara would provide "all kinds of support" required to liberate Syria and Iraq from Daesh. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) demands that Turkey immediately withdraws its forces from the territory of Syria, a representative for PYD in France, Khaled Isa, told Sputnik on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, Turkish tanks entered Syria as part of an operation to free the border town of Jarablus from militants. "Turkey is trying to turn its indirect occupation of Syria into a direct one," Isa said. "We demand that Turkey immediately withdraws from the territory of Syria, stops supporting terrorist groups in Syria, otherwise we will force them out of our territory." The suspect had an accomplice, who was reportedly arrested. Both men were not Saudi citizens, having the status of residents. Earlier this summer, Saudi Arabia has been hit by a series of terror attacks. On July 4, an assailant set off an explosive device at the Prophets Mosque parking lot in Medina, targeting security forces reportedly breaking their fast on the second-to-last day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The civilians were forced south toward the previously liberated town of Manbij, according to messages distributed on Kurdish self-government social media accounts. The Turkish armed forces, backed by the US-led coalition aircraft, launched a campaign to clear Jarabulus of militants in the early hours of Wednesday, striking 81 targets in 294 sorties en route to the town. Ankara says the mission dubbed "Euphrates Shield" aims to clear the cross-border town of Daesh jihadists, while Kurdish self-defense units and Damascus condemn the move as an incursion on their territory. Comprising the world's 20 largest economies, including the European Union, the G20 has become a de facto global concert attended by a wide range of regional powers and international institutions. Comprising the world's 20 largest economies, including the European Union, the G20 has become a de facto global concert attended by a wide range of regional powers and international institutions. Endorsed by such broad participation, its legitimacy as the premier forum on international economic cooperation highlights the importance of global governance and major-power coordination today. As a "concert of global powers", the G20 Leader's Summit in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, on Sept 4-5 could serve as a cornerstone of world peace and economic governance. Under the framework of the G20 system, the macroeconomic coordination among the world's major economies managed to prevent the global economy from collapsing in 2009 and 2010. The Paris Agreement on Climate Change in December 2015, which was signed by more than 170 countries in April this year, is another case in pointso is the trilateral cooperation among China, the United States and the EU within the UN framework. Aware of the fact that beneficial coordination is the key to avoiding clashes between major powers, Beijing has been an active participant in not only the G20 but also regional concerts like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. After assuming the G20's rotating chair in December, China has made the 20-member bloc a diplomatic priority in an effort to push forward the globalization process and sustain global growth. To a certain extent, many G20 affairs hinge on the coordination of past, present and future chairs, or "Troika" leadership. To secure the revolving three-member management, China, as host nation of this year's summit, has mapped out cooperative strategies with its predecessor Turkey and successor Germany. It also frequently interacts with other members, especially the US and the EU, and major caucuses such as G7 and BRICS. In fact, China's Foreign Ministry announced on Monday that the annual informal leaders' meeting of BRICSBrazil, Russia, India, China and South Africawill be held on the sidelines of the summit. Besides, Premier Li Keqiang hosted a 1+6 roundtable dialogue in Beijing last month with the heads of six major international organizations, including World Bank President Jim Yong Kim and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde. The efforts made by China to make G20 a cohesive force should inspire the bloc's members to work closely and effectively to meet the global economic challenges. Also, non-G20 members like Egypt have been invited to the Hangzhou summit to seek solutions to their economic problems, and their participation is in line with the pursuit of balanced global development. Derivative conferences, including the B20 for the business community, the T20 for think tanks and the C20 for civil society organizations, have also played a constructive role in connecting non-governmental groups around the world. Efforts like these are expected to make the G20 summit in Hangzhou a big success and help China fulfill its international commitments. The author is a professor of international relations at Renmin University of China and an academic member of the International Finance Forum. Having recovered from a failed military coup attempt, the Turkish government is now aimed at a more intense policy towards Syria, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said last week. According to him, Ankara now sees Daesh and the Kurds as its archenemies while Assad is the lesser of the evils. Probably, this change of heart is related to the normalization of ties between Turkey and Russia. Yildirim underscored that Assad cannot be part of the future of Syria but now he is an important party to the conflict. The prime minister assumed that Assad may stay in power for a transitional period. ANKARA (Sputnik) According to the DHA and Anadolu news agencies, the liberated villages include Kaklijah and Kivircik, Ankara announced early on Wednesday that Turkish forces, reinforced by US-led coalition aircraft, had begun a military operation to clear the Syrian border town of Jarablus of Daesh terrorists. Media reports emerged of a massive presence of rebels in the wake of the Jarablus offensive along the Syria-Turkey border, which are allegedly fighting under the banner of the Free Syrian Army. The US-led coalition of more than 60 nations has been conducting anti-Daesh airstrikes in Syria and Iraq since 2014. The airstrikes in Syria, however, are not authorized by the government of President Bashar Assad or by the UN Security Council. Saudi Arabia has repeatedly proposed to support Kurdish combat actions against the Syrian army and the main condition for getting the aid is a continuation of fight all across Syria, where the Kurdish fighters are present, the newspaper reported, citing PKK sources. Fighting between the Kurds and the Syrian government troops started in the city of Hasakah in the northeast of the country on August 16. According to the Syrian army, the Kurds attacked Syrian army positions and attempted to capture the city. The Syrian Air Force, in turn, twice attacked positions of the Kurdish militants. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Ankara announced on early Wednesday that Turkish forces, backed by US-led coalition aircraft, had begun a military operation dubbed "Euphrates Shield" to clear the Syrian border town of Jarablus of Daesh terrorists. "The National Coalition welcomes the Turkish and international coalitions support for the military operation in Jarablus and notes that the coalitions presence is temporary and with limited logistical goals, the ground operations are being carried out by the Free Syrian Army," the statement reads. The Damascus authorities condemned Ankara's decision to send forces across the Syrian border considering the move a violation of Syria's sovereignty. ANKARA (Sputnik) The Turkish armed forces, backed by the US-led coalition aircraft, launched a campaign dubbed "Euphrates Shield" to clear Jarablus of extremist militants in the early hours of Wednesday. Kurtulmus said in an interview with Al Jazeera that, in addition to Moscow, Washington and Tehran, the "entire world community" is informed of the Turkish campaign. Ankara says the mission aims to clear the cross-border town of Daesh, while Kurdish self-defense units and Damascus condemn the move as an incursion on their territory. According to the Yezidi forces, those terrorists who lost their positions near the cement factory in Sinjar tried to escape towards Tilkessab. There were about 300 militants who tried to flee. One member of the Yezidi forces told Sputnik that the positions were held under the guidance of the US military, who trained the Yezidi soldiers. US serviceman was training our soldiers during clashes with Daesh militants, attacking terrorists with his own weapon, Yezidi soldier told Sputnik. The Turkish armed forces, backed by the US-led coalition aircraft, launched a campaign dubbed "Euphrates Shield" to clear Jarablus of extremist militants in the early hours of Wednesday. "They [YPG] must move back across the river, they cannot, will not and under no circumstances get American support," Biden added. Yildirim called on the United States to review its stance on both PYD and YPG. "The United States of America should know that at the end of a day, they [PYD, YPG] are a terrorist group. Maybe you can beat the other one [Daesh] with the terrorist organization but at the end it will become another question how to deal with these terrorist organizations. So for that reason they should review their stance," Yildirim told journalists. Ankara views YPG and PYD as offshoots of the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and has recently began a push to force the United States to recognize PYD as a terrorist organization. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Ankara launched its Euphrates Shield mission in the early hours, with Free Syrian Army fighters reaching the town of Jarablus on western bank of the Euphrates by mid-Wednesday. The operations stated aim is to clear the cross-border town of Daesh jihadists. Syrian Kurds and Damascus, however, accuse Turkey of breaching Syrian sovereignty Moscow is deeply concerned about what is happening in the Syrian-Turkish border area, the ministry said, adding that further degradation in the conflict zone and the prospect of Kurdish-Arab ethnic conflict raises alarm. We are convinced that the Syrian crisis can be resolved only on the solid basis of international law, through broad intra-Syrian dialogue with the participation of all ethnic and religious groups, including Kurds, and on the basis of the June 30, 2012, Geneva Communique, Resolution 2254 and other UN Security Council resolutions adopted on the initiative of the International Syria Support Group, the ministry stressed. MOSCOW (Sputnik) On Tuesday, a probe to uncover those responsible for deadly chemical attacks in Syria became a vocal point at the UN Security Council meeting. The Syrian ambassador to the United Nations Bashar Jaafari claimed that the sarin gas attack that killed hundreds of people in Ghouta was a plot organized by French intelligence services to prevent UN weapons inspectors from going to Aleppo area for a probe into another chemical attack and put the blame for it on the Syrian army. "It is difficult to say anything about these accusations. It is very difficult to find out who was responsible for the attack. Of course the Syrian army had a possibility to organize the gas attack but terrorists or Daesh [Islamic State] had the same possibility," Mariani said. "Neighboring Turkey, which opposes [Syrian President Bashar] Assad, could make an about-face and seek a partial reconciliation with him if it sees him as less of a threat than a Kurdish attempt to build a semiautonomous region along the Turkish border," an article in The New York Times read. Erdogans words on fighting Kurds are vague but this is a typical Erdogan statement, Alexander Ignatenko, president of the Institute for Religious and Political Studies, said. "This is Erdogans typical political behavior, like his recent words that Russia could use the Incirlik airbase. But actually this cannot happen because Ankara doesnt own the base," the expert told the Russian online newspaper Vzglyad. According to him, all parties involved in the Turkish offensive in Jarablus, particularly the United States, see the operation as aimed against Daesh. "The Americans and the entire international coalition are either neutral or loyal towards Kurds. The US and Russia havent authorized an operation against Kurds," Ignatenko pointed out. At the same time, he underscored, Turkish forces may have a Kurds-related goal in their operation. "Probably, Erdogan wants to take Jarablus and liberate it from Daesh before Kurds take over the city. So, in fact, the operation is not anti-Kurdish. On the other hand, it is aimed against Kurds because Ankara doesnt want to give Jarablus to Kurdish forces," the expert suggested. Erman Cete, a specialist in Middle Eastern affairs, said that the operation in Jarablus is making the Kurdish problem even more complicated. One member of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) has been killed, while there were no casualties among the Turkish military. Ankara announced on early Wednesday that Turkish forces, backed by US-led coalition aircraft, had begun a military operation dubbed "Euphrates Shield" to clear the Syrian border town of Jarablus of Daesh terrorists. "Free Syrian Army takes control of Jarabulus; no casualties in Turkish army, 1 FSA member killed," the Anadolu news service said on its Twitter account. ANKARA (Sputnik) "The operation in Syria will be short-term and efficient, it will last until all threats to Turkey have been eliminated. It is being carried out within the legal framework with the consent of the international community and the coalition in a bid to ensure our national security and the territorial integrity of Syria," Kurtulmus was quoted as saying by the NTV broadcaster. Kurtulmus added that Ankara would also prevent Kurdish militia in Syria from taking control of the Syrian territory close to the border with Turkey. Earlier in the day, Turkey launched a military operation dubbed "Euphrates Shield" to clear the Syrian border town of Jarabulus of the Daesh terrorist group, outlawed in many countries, including in Russia. Turkish air forces backed by the US-led coalition as well as tanks and artillery are engaged in the operation. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The operation started in the early hours of Wednesday, and according to media reports, involves Turkish F-16 fighters, artillery and tanks, which have been deployed on the border with Syria. The operation comes a day after the Turkish border town of Karkamis was shelled from Jarabulus, where Syrian moderate opposition forces are fighting Daesh militants. "We do not believe that Turkey is sincere when it says that the operation aims to free the territory of terrorists. Their aims are against democratization of Syria," Muslim said. ANKARA (Sputnik) The Turkish armed forces, backed by the US-led coalition aircraft, launched a campaign dubbed "Euphrates Shield" to clear Jarabulus of extremist militants in the early hours of Wednesday. The moderate opposition represented by the US-backed Free Syrian Army is taking over the city while the militants are retreating towards Bab, the town halfway between Jarabulus and Aleppo, the NTV broadcaster reported. The operation comes a day after the Turkish border town of Karkamis was shelled from Jarabulus, where Syrian moderate opposition forces are fighting Daesh militants. However, the French government's reaction was not based on expert assessments, instead following media reports of the attack, which were biased and published by organizations lacking ethical credibility, Brisset stressed. "Furthermore, photographs and pictures provided by those who said that it was Bashar Assad who launched the missiles indicate that they were not launched by the military in the full sense of the word. I always had many doubts about the origin of the Ghouta attacks, including its technical aspects, as I have personally dealt with missiles and I know how they work," he said. In August 2013, an unprecedented chemical weapons attack which killed more than 1,300 civilians took place in Ghouta, a suburb of the Syrian capital Damascus. Militants and Assads government blamed each other for the attack. A mission to eliminate Syria's chemical arsenal was announced after the deadly gas attack. Moscow urged Damascus to place its chemical weapons under international control, and Syria agreed to the Russian initiative. "There really were chemical weapons. The question is, what happened to these chemical weapons: whether they were completely destroyed, or the rebels were able to capture them and use them. And in this case the Syrian government would be primarily responsible for that because it had failed to keep it. And secondly, the responsibility, of course, also lies on those who had used chemical weapons, namely the opposition, if it was them who'd done it," he said. Al-Jaafari earlier stated that the sarin gas attack that killed hundreds of people in the Damascus suburb of Ghouta on August 21, 2013 was designed to distract UN inspection from another incident blamed on rebels. "The use of chemical weapons in the Damascus area was meant to prevent from Dr. Ake Sellstrom from going to Aleppo because [France] knew who had used chemical weapons in Aleppo," al-Jaafari said, cited by the Independent. "They wanted to prevent Dr. Sellstrom from reaching Aleppo by any means and therefore they used chemical weapons in Damascus with the involvement of French intelligence." At the same time, political scientist and Middle East expert Adnan Ezzedine believes that such accusations are not groundless. "The statement of the Syrian ambassador on the involvement of France in the chemical attack in Ghouta sounds truthful," the expert told Sputnik. According to Ezzedine, France is one of the countries which doesn't support the government of Bashar al-Assad and is interested in overthrowing it. "What happened in Ghouta was a real genocide against the civilian population. Of course, France didn't do it with its own hands, but the hands of terrorists under its control. I would like to note that recently chemical weapons were once against used against government forces in Syria. Thus, it is clear who possesses the weapons and uses them," the expert stated. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) Ankara announced on early Wednesday that Turkish forces, backed by US-led coalition aircraft, had begun a military operation dubbed "Euphrates Shield" to clear the Syrian border town of Jarablus of Daesh terrorists. "The United States has been encouraging the Turks for quite some time to take decisive action to close the Turkey-Syria border the fact that Turkey has taken these steps is an indication of important progress," Earnest told reporters. The major offensive aimed against Daesh started with intensive shelling and airstrikes. Turkish special forces and tanks then crossed into the Jarablus area, destroying 70 militant targets. Approximately 5,000 Free Syrian Army fighters are said to be taking part in the operation that is also expected to be backed by American warplanes. With the operation in Jalabrus, Ankara wants to break regional isolation, change the regional balance of power and return as a major party to the Syrian crisis, Huseyin Bagci, a political analyst at the Middle East Technical University (ODTU) in Ankara, said. "One of the preconditions for such a move is that Turkey is now working with Russia on Syria and Russia is one of the most important players involved in the conflict. Russia is the leader and Turkey is following," the expert told Sputnik. MOSCOW (Sputnik) "In terms of the operation in Jarablus, we strongly support what the Turkish military has organized and done. We've been flying air cover for them," Biden said at the joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Turkish armed forces, backed by the US-led coalition aircraft, launched a campaign dubbed "Euphrates Shield" to clear Jarablus of extremist militants in the early hours of Wednesday. The decision to storm the terrorists was taken by the command of the Armed Forces after successive attacks by al-Nusra Front militants. After delivery of weapons to its ranks, the militant group announced the so-called Battle of Hama. The Syrian Army organized a surprise assault on the city of Maan, which is considered to be one of the main strongholds of al-Nusra Front in Hama province. The purpose of the Huta attack was to distract from Khan al-Asal, to create obstacles to keep Selstrum from traveling there, as well as to focus everyones attention on Damascus. The plan was a success, as Dr. Selstrum has not yet visited Khan al-Asal, according to Jaafrey. According to the French sources and according to the book Road to Damascus the famous French journalists Georges Malbruno and Christian Shesno have documented evidence to prove the involvement of the former French Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius, in the Eastern Guta tragedy near Damascus, Jaafrey told Sputnik. At the moment, we have sent hundreds of letters to the UN Security Council, the Commission of Inquiry under 1540 and to the mission of fact-finding and joint investigation. All of them were created after the incident in Khan al-Asal in the Eastern Guta and near Damascus. In our letters there was transparent information, the representative said. However, the UN Security Council member states either ignored the data, or accused it of being unreliable. They did not pass the data to the media, nor did they mention it in their statements. This was due to the fact that the party behind these chemical attacks has the support of these countries, Jaafrey said. The representative further said, Do I have to prove that there are terrorists who arrived on board Libyan aircraft from Libya to Istanbul with two liters of sarin, after which they arrived at the Syrian border in Gaziantep, and then tested sarin on rabbits at the Turkish base in Gaziantep? Later on, these terrorists posted a video proclaiming, Today we have tested it on rabbits and tomorrow we will test it as a weapon on the Syrian Army, Jaafrey said. He further said that this information did not come from planet Mars and we provided this evidence. How can the transport of arms across the Turkish border into Syria be justified under the pretext that this is humanitarian aid? This case was raised in Turkey, after which Erdogan imprisoned 18 officers of the customs service and dismissed four judges, because they revealed information about these trucks with humanitarian aid, the representative told Sputnik. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Earlier in the day, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the Syrian crisis can only be resolved through dialogue and on the basis of international law, expressing worry over reports of Turkeys campaign in northern Syria. "Apparently, peace in the Middle East is impossible without taking into consideration the Kurdish stance. The current illegal Turkish military campaign in northern Syria under the pretext of fighting against terrorism is aimed at the Kurds," the senior lawmaker wrote on his Facebook account on Wednesday. Earlier on Wednesday, Ankara launched the "Euphrates Shield" military operation with US-led coalition air backing with the stated aim to clear Jarabulus in northern Syria from Daesh jihadists. Syrian Kurds and Damascus accused Ankara of violating the territorial integrity of the Arab republic. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Representatives of the Russian reconciliation center and the office of UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura have met to discuss Syrian humanitarian and security issues, the reconciliation center said in a statement published by the Russian Defense Ministry. "In Damascus, meetings were held between officers of the Russian reconciliation center and representatives of the Damascus office of UN Secretary Generals Special Representative Staffan de Mistura, the International Red Cross in Syria and the Syrian government," the statement says. According to the bulletin, issues relating to the delivery of UN humanitarian aid to the Syrian city of Aleppo and security issues were discussed during the talks. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The deputy chair of Turkeys Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK), Mehmet Yilmaz said that as many as 2,847 judges and prosecutors had been fired in line with the decree-laws under the declared state of emergency after the coup, the Hurriet Daily News newspaper reported on Wednesday. On July 15, a coup attempt took place in Turkey suppressed by the following morning. Approximately 26,000 people have been arrested since the attempted overthrow of the Turkish government that led to over 260 deaths. Officials alleged that Gulen, who Ankara believes is seeking to overthrow the current government, was linked to the thwarted coup. Over 80,000 judges, civil servants, and educators have been suspended under the state of emergency, with thousands more people being under investigation. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) "General Votel met with Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Commander General Jean Kahwagi and other key leaders of the Armed Forces," the statement said on Tuesday. "He also observed Lebanese marine command do exercises at Amchit military base." During his meetings with the Lebanese military officials, Votel reaffirmed the Lebanese-American partnership in countering the threat of terrorism and reiterated the United States long-term commitment to supporting the countrys military in its role as the sole defender of Lebanon, the statement noted. "The LAF continue to do an extraordinary job in confronting extremist threats arising from across the Syrian border. The Force has demonstrated to enemies and friends alike that they are strong, fully capable of defending Lebanons borders," Votel said according to the statement. BEIJING (Sputnik) According to the South China Morning Post, some of the existing 18 Army Corps, each of which consists of 30,000-100,000 troops, will be turned into 25 to 30 smaller divisions. "This is a main trend in modern warfare. Even the Russian army has tried to learn from the US army by reducing the size of their troops, making land forces become more nimble and quick-response," a retired senior colonel told the paper. The system has specially designed software with electronic maps so users can make online changes to the maps about the locations of enemy troops. Friendly forces are registered in the system automatically, based on GPS/GLONASS navigation data. According to the developer, the Andromeda is now actively used by Russian airborne units. "Armata, Kurganets and Bumerang vehicles are part of the Ground Forces. They own control and management system, the ESU TZ. But there can be tactical scenarios when airborne troops work together with infantry and tank units. This is why airborne and ground forces commanders should have access to all information," military expert Viktor Murakhovskiy told Izvestia. It is interesting that the planned integration will be two-way. Commanders will be able to give orders to troops using the newest BMD-4M and Rakushka-MD combat vehicles but also the old BMD-2 and BTR-D. "The Armata, Bumergan and Kurganets are equipped with information and control systems which register signals from different sensors, including coordinates, speed and fuel and ammo reserves. All this data will be available for commanders in real time," another source said. As for old combat vehicles, they are not equipped with such system so data will be limited to speed, coordinates and some other parameters, according to the source. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) Two US Air Force F-15 fighter jets will begin conducting joint air policing measures over Bulgarian airspace next month at the request of Bulgarian authorities, NATO said in a press release on Wednesday. The US Air Force and the Bulgarian Air Force will jointly conduct air policing to protect Bulgarian airspace starting on 9 September 2016, the release stated. Two US F-15 fighter jets will join Bulgarias MIG-29s for a week on this mission. The laser would have the ability to destroy incoming missiles, providing a more direct alternative to current defense countermeasures, like flares, that instead attempt to draw the missile away from the aircraft. The pod will likely be installed beneath the fuselage of the Boeing F-15 Eagle and Lockheeds F-16 Fighting Falcon. The F-35 will likely not be outfitted with the system, as the pod could interfere with the aircrafts stealth capabilities. Still, it could be awhile before fourth-generation fighters are laser-equipped. Work on SHiELD is expected to be finished by August 2021. Given the development history of the F-35, its entirely likely that both the price tag and timeframe of the upgrades will increase. The M1A1 will receive three major upgrades in the tank commanders weapon station, allowing commanders and gunners a "hunter-killer edge" over the enemy, according to a statement from Marine Corps Systems Command. The tanks will be fitted with better sights on the Abrams integrated display and targeting system (AIDATS), which will enhance ease of use by switching handling to a single set of controls, and a 'slew to cue" button capable of re-positioning the turret with a single command, according the statement. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) Raytheon Missile Systems has received more than $45 million from the US Navy for logistics support of the Phalanx weapon system, the US Department of Defense announced in a press release. "Raytheon Missile Systems is being awarded $45,395,007 for a firm-fixed-price delivery order under a previously awarded contract as a bridge action for performance-based logistics support of the Phalanx Close-In-Weapon System," the release stated. The Phalanx is a rapid-fire, computer-controlled and radar-guided Gatling gun designed to defeat anti-ship missiles and other surface threats. Co-production is very rare outside of NATO, Giraldi explained. Egypt is the only example I can think of they produce by license the [US] Abrams tank. Ukraine had significant heavy industrial capabilities for military engineering programs that it had inherited from the Soviet Union, but it would require massive investment and equipment replacement to make any co-production project with the United States possible, Giraldi cautioned. Ukraine does have the capability to manufacture advanced weapons systems with its Soviet-era plants, but it would require a lot of retro-engineering to bring them up to speed, Giraldi suggested. Moscow would be certain to react with anger over such a program that would extend US military and strategic influence so dramatically into a country right beside the Russian heartland, Giraldi warned. Political consequences would be grave vis-a-vis Russia, he pointed out. Giraldi predicted that US President Barack Obama would not want to run the risk of escalating tensions with Russia unpredictably by approving such a scheme. I would think that Obama will be very cautious about interjecting offensive weapons into the Ukraine problem, he said. However, Giraldi said he believed Obamas favored successor, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, might approve the plan if she is elected on November 8. UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) Earlier this month Daesh, outlawed in many countries, reportedly launched a chemical attack in the Syrian city of Aleppo, injuring at least 20 civilians. "As the Islamic State [Daesh] took control over industrial capacities for chemical weapon production, and the threat of its expansion throughout the Middle East is daunting, there is a good point in favour of the Russian initiative to draft international convention against chemical and biological terror attacks," Churkin said at the meeting of the UN Security Council on Tuesday. According to the Russian diplomat, the draft document should define and outlaw terror attacks of such nature to suppress spread of chemical weapon. The report is based on a review of US State Department calendars during Clintons tenure. "At least 85 of 154 people from private interests who met or had phone conversations scheduled with Clinton while she led the State Department donated to her family charity or pledged commitments to its international programs," it reads. "Combined, the 85 donors contributed as much as $156 million. At least 40 donated more than $100,000 each, and 20 gave more than $1 million." In one case, Clinton met with Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize-winning Bangladeshi economist who also chairs the nonprofit bank Grameen. The US flagship for his bank, Grameen America, gave between $100,000 and $250,000 to the Clinton Foundation. Kurdish militias, assisted by the US, have been trying to push radical groups, including Daesh and al-Nusra Front from northern Syria and secure the porous border with Turkey. At the same time, the Kurds have established a de-facto autonomy in the areas under their control. Mahalli emphasized that any efforts on the part of the PYD and the People's Protection Units (YPG) to create an independent state will be a mistake that could not be undone. ANKARA (Sputnik) The Turkish armed forces launched a campaign to clear Jarabulus in the early hours of Wednesday, striking 81 targets in 294 sorties en route to the town. "PYD, YPG and among them these democratic forces have to go beyond Euphrates to the eastern part [otherwise] we are going to do what we need to do, and we will not allow them to realize their secret agendas," Cavusoglu told reporters in remarks translated by the TRT broadcaster. Nevertheless, an unnamed senior US official said that US warplanes will assist the Turkish military operation in Jarablus, adding that Washington was "in synch" with Ankara on its strategy for the border region with Syria The Kurdish issue is not the only one plaguing relations between the United States and Turkey. Washington has been concerned with Ankara's improving relations with Moscow and Tehran. For its part, Turkish authorities have been discontent with the US response to the failed July 15 coup in Turkey and its apparent unwillingness to extradite reclusive Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Erdogan blames for the putsch. Bulent Aliriza noted that the US and Turkey are going through a "difficult period" in the bilateral relationship, adding that "they have not been on the same page with respect to Syria for some time now." ANKARA (Sputnik) The US refusal to extradite US-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is accused by Ankara of organizing the failed coup, would not contribute to the US-Turkish cooperation, Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday. "Our relations with the United States are on the level of strategic partnership and the refusal to extradite Gulen would not contribute to it," Erdogan said, speaking in the Turkish capital. On July 15, an attempted coup took place in Turkey and was suppressed the following day. Ankara has accused Gulen and his followers designated as Fethullahist Gulen Terrorist Organisation (FETO) of playing a key role in the failed coup, a charge Gulen has denied. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The diplomats addressed the prospects of Russian-US coordination in the fight against terrorists. "They discussed the situation in Syria, including the situation around Aleppo, where [Syrian] government forces are carrying out a humanitarian operation with Russian military support," the ministry said. It will be the first time China has hosted the event, and Xi's to-do list is indicative of its significance. Since 2013, Xi has attended three G20 meetings in the Russian city of St Petersburg, Brisbane in Australia and Antalya, Turkey but the Hangzhou meeting will undoubtedly be the most important for him. Under the theme "Building an Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive World Economy", the Hangzhou summit will focus on critical issues in global growth and developmental reform. Innovation, the new industrial revolution and the digital economy will appear on the agenda for the first time. More important, following a proposal by China, a number of special working teams have been established on these specific topics to supervise and coordinate the implementation of possible action plans and proposals. Since the G20 first met in Washington in 2008, leaders attending the summits have passed many proposals and adopted a number of action plans. Still, problems remain for the global economy. It takes time for some remedies, such as the reform of global governance, to take effect, but some previous prescriptions, although temporarily effective in boosting growth, have proved to be of little use in maintaining sustainable development. For example, leaders of a number of developed economies have constantly pledged to strengthen coordination in formulating and implementing macroeconomic and financial policies, and have also resisted growing calls for protectionism in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. However, sometimes the pledges have resulted in little concrete action. The globalization of the world economy means decisive growth factors are more concentrated in the developed economies, and development appears more exclusive than inclusive; about 12.5 percent of the global population still lives in poverty. To address these problems, China last month hosted the first G20 trade ministers' conference in Shanghai, and established a foundation for institutional platforms for meetings of trade ministers. China pushed the G20 to make global investment a guiding principle this year, which will evolve into the first multilateral investment regulation framework. Those efforts should facilitate global investment and trade. These endeavors, and others, will help to turn the G20 into a long-term mechanism for the solution of global issues. The G20 is by no means just a club of 20 world powers strutting their resolutions, but the premier global forum for action and solutions. By Li Yang (China Daily) Many in Brussels are now saying Erdogan's roundup of those he blames for the coup, as well as his clampdown on the opposition and the media make it highly unlikely Turkey passes the basic tests of the rule of law and democracy, which are at the heart of the EU, putting the whole deal at risk and potentially leading to a new wave of migrants crossing from Turkey to Europe. Syria Shift However, there is a glimmer of hope in the fact that following Erdogan's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, early August Ankara has shifted its position over Syrian President Bashir al-Assad. Previously, Erdogan had refused to negotiate with Assad over the future of Syria, following the end of the civil war and the overthrow of Daesh. However, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said in a statement, August 20: "Assad does not appear to be someone who can bring (Syrians) together [but that] there may be talks [with Assad] for the transition." This week, I'll travel to Ankara to underscore America's solidarity with the Turkish people in the wake of tragic attacks and coup attempt. Vice President Biden (@VP) August 22, 2016 Biden who is the first leading western statesman to visit Ankara since the failed coup and Erdogan will have much to discuss over delicate issues, but Washington cannot afford to put further strains on a NATO partner and a strategic partner in the fight against Daesh. Gulen's extradition will be a diplomatic dilemma. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Earlier in the day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US State Secretary John Kerry discussed the conflict in Syria in phone talks, addressing the prospects of Russian-US coordination in the fight against terrorists pursuant to previously reached agreements, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. "The United States as well as other parties to the Syrian peace process should seek lines of communication. Washington should seek better engagement with the Syrian regular army and the government. This initiative is important for achieving a long-lasting peace and countering terrorists in Syria," Aita said. "Nevertheless, 2015 was a record breaking year for Dutch agricultural export. Export has never been as high: 80 billion," he added. His comments come on the heels of the recent statement by the founder and leader of the Dutch Party for Freedom Geert Wilders, who said that restoring ties with Russia should be a priority for the traditionally trade-oriented Netherlands. According to statistical data compiled by the independent web-site "Russian Exports-National Information Portal," in 2015 Dutch-Russian bilateral trade decreased in volume by 34 percent, dipping to $21.4 billion compared to $32.4 billion the year before. Ties between Russia and the European Union suffered a severe blow after Crimea became part of Russia in 2014 and the West accusing Moscow of meddling in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, imposing political and economical sanctions on Russia. The Kremlin has repeatedly refuted the accusations and introduced counter measures on a list of EU products. KIEV (Sputnik) Speaking alongside Polish President Andrzej Duda in Kiev, Poroshenko expressed hope that his latest talks with German and French leaders would "reanimate" the Normandy format. "The threat of escalation of the conflict is, unfortunately, very high," Poroshenko told reporters. Relations between Moscow and Tehran are "strategic" in their nature, he added. "I cannot count how many times Iran has lately demonstrated how close its relations with Russia are. Take Tehran's decision to allow Moscow to use its airspace for Kalibr missile launches," the head of the State Duma's Committee on Defense observed. For its part, Russia did not turn away from Iran when the country was struggling under heavy sanctions. Komoedov described this period as a "dead season" in terms of international relations for Iran. The Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest aims to promote young photographers and raise public awareness of photojournalism and its purpose. It is Russias only platform purposely aimed at discovering new photojournalists and supporting and encouraging high standards of documentary photography in Russia and the around world. This year the contest had a record-breaking international reach, featuring photographers from 71 countries and from all five continents. The 2016 contest was supported by major Russian and international media outlets, news agencies and photo societies. Its general information sponsors are: Russia-K TV channel, Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper, the news and information portal jourdom.ru and the Russian Photo portal. The contests international information partners are: Italian news agency Askanews, Spain's EFE news agency, Brazilian media corporation EBC, the state Mexican news agency Notimex, broadcaster RT, The Royal Photographic Society, Shanghai United Media Group (SUMG), China's Xinhua news agency, South Africa's Independent Media, Indonesia's ANTARA Foto press photo agency. In its press release, the White House announced that Biden will meet with Erdogan and Prime Yildirim to discuss their relationship and a range of issues that both countries consider to be important. No details were provided. State Department spokesperson Mark Toner largely refrained from commenting on the issue during the Tuesday's press briefing, saying only that Turkey remains a "valuable partner" in the anti-Daesh coalition. He also added that Biden had "good, fruitful meetings with the government and his counterparts" before they actually took place a day later. Kemal Kirisci, the TUSIAD Senior Fellow in the Foreign Policy Program at the Brookings Institution, noted that the visit comes at a time when Washington's response to the failed coup and Western media coverage of the purges that followed promoted "deep anti-Americanism" in Turkey. "Turks want to know why Western leaders and media failed to express any empathy with the trauma their country suffered through, and why they are reluctant to applaud the public's stunning defense of Turkish democracy," the analyst said. Kirisci also said that anti-American sentiments in Turkey have not prevented both countries "from working together on a wide range of issues in the past, despite the ups and downs in bilateral relations." France suffered from a series of coordinated terrorist attacks in Paris in November 2015, in which 130 people were killed, and a terrorist attack in Nice in July 2016, which claimed the lives of 84 people. In July, another attack took place on French soil, with a priest being killed at a church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, Normandy. The frequent terrorist attacks have raised security concerns across the country and made many politicians review their political strategies. While the issue of security has increasingly gained attention among the French public, economic problems and, among them, the issue of anti-Russia sanctions hvae, on the contrary, started to lose their relevance. According to the source, the Republicans have always considered anti-Russian sanctions ineffective. "All agree that the restrictive measures are not a solution to political problems. Although initially the abolition of anti-Russian sanctions was associated with the implementation of the Minsk agreements, now the majority of the Republicans understand that the implementation of the agreement's provisions can't depend only on one party. In addition, with the lifting of sanctions the economic situation in France will also change for better," the source said. In June, French lawmakers voted 302 to 16 to lift sanctions against Moscow, given the impact of counter-sanctions on France's own economy. A number of EU members have made similar considerations, including Germany. "The Unites States was shocked at the violation of the fundamental democratic principles that both our nations cherish. But we are also awed by the bravery of the Turkish people, who literally stood in front of tanks, some actually ran over by those tanks, to defend your democracy," the vice president said. US Had No Involvement in Turkey's Attempted Coup "Let me be clear, as clear as I possibly can, on any speculation, some of which I have heard, as to whether or not the United States had some advance warning, the United States has some foreknowledge, the United States had some complicity. The United States of America did not have any foreknowledge of what befell you on the 15th," Biden said. He added that the United States would never support any such move by members of the Turkish military, describing the United States as Turkey's greatest friend. "The people of Turkey have no greater friend than the United States of America," he said. The two countries are tied by shared security concerns, common values and common threats, Biden said, expressing support for bringing coup perpetrators to justice. US, Turkish Experts Working on Materials for Possible Gulen Extradition Dunford's remark about Russia's alleged intent to undermine the US-led military bloc has shown the NATO leadership's concerns about the future of the Alliance, Vladimir Komoedov, head of the State Duma's Committee on Defense, told journalists Wednesday. According to Komoedov, the ongoing problems within the bloc are triggering fears among NATO senior officials. "It is ludicrous that the colossus with clay feet says that someone is undermining its unity. Russia has never pursued such a goal; quite the contrary, we have always demonstrated our willingness to establish normal relations with NATO," Komoedov stressed, as quoted by RIA Novosti. Komoedov recalled that the USSR was among the first states who signaled their readiness to join NATO: the Soviet Union has applied for NATO membership back in 1954. After the Alliance rejected the application, the USSR created its own alternative bloc the Warsaw Pact. Following the collapse of the USSR in 1991, it was NATO that contributed greatly to the establishment of the unipolar word order, the Russian official underscored, adding that today the Alliance's leadership still cannot reconcile itself with the fact that Russia is strengthening its defense capabilities and boosting military, technological and political cooperation with other sovereign states. "General Dunford's statement is reflecting an obvious fear of the NATO leadership which is facing the problems of the bloc's member states. If you scrupulously analyze the critique of NATO voiced by opposition leaders of each of [the Alliance's] member states, you would see that the majority of the US and Europe's population do not support the Alliance's aggressive policy. They don't want to send their fathers and sons to their death in the planet's hot spots, created by NATO's irresponsible actions," Komoedov underscored. Vladimir Sotnikov, a researcher at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences, also said that Turkey's operation in Syria was linked to Kurdish activities. He was optimistic as to the outcome of the offensive because the Turkish military is "well-mobilized." "The chance of success would be higher if Erdogan, perhaps with Washington's help, managed to reach an agreement with the Kurds," he added. Nizar Sakif, who heads the Syrian Bar Association, said that Operation Euphrates Shield should be treated as an act of aggression. "An intervention in the internal affairs of a sovereign state is a violation of Chapter VII of the UN Charter. This is what happened. Turkey has violated Syria's sovereignty to fight against terrorism without Damascus' authorization. This issue should be brought up at an urgent session of the UN Security Council to take legal action against Turkey and to prevent an intervention in a sovereign state," he told Sputnik. If Turkey was truly intent on tackling terrorism, Ankara would have reached out to Syrian leadership, he added. "Since there was no coordination, there are grounds to assume that Turkey is not fighting against Daesh, but is instead helping other armed terrorist organizations to cross into northern Syria," he said. KIEV (Sputnik) Poroshenko revealed that his negotiations with Duda focused on prospects of broader bilateral cooperation and called for more investment in the Ukrainian economy. "We discussed further steps to support Ukraine's bid for visa liberalization with the European Union in the coming weeks. Our aspirations were met with full support," Poroshenko told journalists at the joint press conference with his Polish counterpart. In June 2014, Kiev and Brussels signed association agreement opening the way for Ukraine's integration into the bloc. In order to liberalize the visa regime, Kiev is required to tighten anti-corruption policy, reform border controls and issue biometric ID-cards to its citizens. Ukrainian citizens are expected to be granted an EU visa waiver before the end of 2016. The US journalist has called attention to the Russo-Turkish rapprochement as well as Moscow bolstering its military cooperation with Tehran. He underscores that although Russia has suspended the use of the Hamadan airfield in Iran, it was "the first time the Islamic republic had ever accepted foreign forces on Iranian soil." "It was a concession beyond anything the Shah ever granted the United States," the journalist highlights. As for Ankara, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has recently admitted that the Syrian crisis cannot be settled without Russia. "As we have said once and again, even during this period of crisis between us, without Russia there will be no lasting settlement in Syria. We keep insisting on this now," Cavusoglu emphasized in an exclusive interview with Sputnik. Furthermore, regardless of the fact the Bush administration promised the Kremlin that NATO would not expand "one inch eastward," Bill Clinton pushed ahead with the Alliance's expansion toward Russia's borders. Interestingly enough, in June 1997, a group of American diplomats and lawmakers published an open letter to then-President Clinton, urging him to reconsider his NATO policies. "Russia does not now pose a threat to its western neighbors and the nations of Central and Eastern Europe are not in danger. For this reason, and the others cited above, we believe that NATO expansion is neither necessary nor desirable and that this ill-conceived policy can and should be put on hold," the letter said. "During Clinton's tenure, the US military was dispatched on ostensibly humanitarian grounds in Somalia (1993), Haiti (1994), Bosnia (1995), and Kosovo (1999). Clinton also directed airstrikes on Sudan in what was said to be an attempt on Osama bin Laden's life," Carden continues, adding that Clinton also bombed Iraq in 1998 "over its violations of the NATO enforced no-fly zones." WASHINGTON (Sputnik) US Secretary of State John Kerry is visiting Bangladesh and India next week for talks in New Delhi to expand bilateral strategic and commercial ties, US Department of State spokesperson Elizabeth Trudeau announced on Wednesday. "Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Dhaka, Bangladesh, on August 29 to highlight the longstanding and broad US-Bangladesh relationship," Trudeau said in a statement she later repeated at the daily press briefing. "On August 29-31, Secretary Kerry will travel to New Delhi, India, for meetings with senior Indian officials." On August 30, Kerry and US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker will co-chair the second US-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue in New Delhi, the statement added. Our Revolution has already been hit by a wave of resignations, including eight core staff members, as well as the groups entire organizing department and people working in digital and data positions. The staffers are said to have resigned out of concern for the organizations 501(c)(4) tax status, that allows it to draw anonymous large donations, as well as the emphasis by Weaver on television advertising rather than social media that would leave enthusiastic young Bernie supporters out of the loop. Social media activity on Bernie Sanders account also shows distrust in Our Revolution, with the number of likes, retweets, and shares hardly hitting 3% of the volume he registered as a candidate. The comments the bold proposal have received are akin to a whole once-loyal segment yelling "youre a bum, Rock." Our Revolution (@OurRevolution) August 24, 2016 A Twitter user by the name of Sawgrass replied, "Bernie sold out. Took Hillarys money. A complete fraud, yet expected from socialist in for himself." Another user name "Slick Willie" said, "Your Revolution is dead, thats what happens when your leader sells out to the opposition. #Irrelevance." Lodi Bale wrote, "it would have been a revolution had you stood up to the corrupt DNC. They cheated you #DNCLeaks. These are the first three responsive comments on Twitter to Bernies post on the announcement. On Wednesday, Loud & Clears Brian Becker sat down with attorney and former Sanders delegate, Julie Hurwitz, and digital organizer with African Americans for Bernie, Anoa Changa, to talk about the possibilities and limitations of the organization. "The Bernie Sanders campaign presented, for the first time in my memory, a possibility of actually creating a viable mass movement that over the long run, even though I would agree the mood is such that between now and 2020 there is not a lot that we can accomplish, between all of the things that we all believe in, through Bernies campaign," said Hurwitz. "I do believe that [Our Revolution] sets the stage for the possibility of a very viable, long run grassroots movement throughout the country." Anoa Changa agreed that, while many Bernie Sanders supporters have become demoralized over the events of the past few months and their preferred candidates endorsement of Hillary Clinton, many remain engaged. "Who is the threat?" Its a question that militaries around the world routinely ask themselves, and a question presented at the top of a Powerpoint slide used by the US Army for some 18 months at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. One enemy, according to the slide, is "insiders," individuals lurking within the ranks of our own government that threaten to destabilize the system. Some expected examples are included, including Chelsea Manning, the former private who disclosed classified documents proving that the US military was complicit in a wide range of illegal activities, as well as former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, who revealed the extent of the US governments international and domestic spying apparatus. But also included is a pair of unusual suspects. One is former CIA Director David Petraeus, while the other is former US Secretary of State and potential future president, Hillary Clinton. Petraeus plead guilty to mishandling classified information during an affair with his biographer, Paula Broadwell. Clinton has been mired in scandal relating to her use of a private email server. Sanders launches the organization today at the same time that the Democratic Party is moving to the right rather than to the left. Although Bernie Sanders may have endorsed Hillary Clinton for President, will his progressive vision and movement live on through his new organization? The pay to play scandals keep piling up for the Clintons and their foundation as the FBI has announced it found nearly 15,000 new emails in the its investigation of Hillary. Is the Clinton Foundation likely to be prosecuted for corruption? Becker is joined by Doctor and columnist Steven Jonas. Diplomats from Japan, South Korea and China are meeting today in Tokyo in an attempt to smooth over tensions. The meeting comes after it was revealed that Beijing warned Japan that sailing U.S. warships near disputed waters would be crossing a red line. Author Patrick Lawrence talks to Becker about developments in the region and their global implications. A man who knows all about the above if only because he was, as we reported back in 2007, one of the first to hack an electronic voting system in the US after he purchased five Sequoia AVC Advantage voting systems for about $82 on the Internet (the same "closely guarded" systems, still used in states like NJ, PA, VA and LA, were originally sold for about $10,000 a piece) is Andrew Appel, Professor of Computer Science at Princeton University. (That's him in the photo above with one of his voting machines.) Appel, who Politico recently noticed in Ben Wofford's excellent recent article, "How to Hack an Election in 7 Minutes", has been writing about both of these issues of late. On the NSA matter, Appel tells me today: "They should not hoard the vulnerabilities in the hope the NSA can use them to spy on everybody else. The assumption the NSA is implicitly making is that nobody else will be able to find these bugs and vulnerabilities and use them to spy on us, and do banking transactions in our name, and read our emails." That, he explains, is a huge mistake and a grave disservice. On the continuing concerns about US voting systems and the Dept. of Homeland Security's very recent attempt at helping local election officials before November 8, he cautions: "Security is not something you can just patch on by some sort of 'critical infrastructure security squad' that descends and surrounds your house with the National Guard. It's got to be built in to all the software we buy." He adds ominously, in describing the type of voting systems used across the country: "Whoever got to install the software most recently is the one who gets to decide what kind of results are reported." Appel, tends to concur with my general assessment that it's largely too close to the election to make real changes to protect our voting systems. He also shares the warning I've tried to give so many years about the real vulnerabilities to our electronic voting and tabulation systems."In this country, most election fraud has been conducted by insiders, who have access to how the votes get added up." But, he also goes on to offer a few proactive measures including "witnesses in each polling place just at the close of polls" to independently track numbers as originally reported by the voting systems that, he says, can still be taken to try and safeguard results. Also today: Obama visits flood disaster sites in Louisiana; Trump continues his (potentially illegal) voter suppression dog whistles; and Desi Doyen joins us for the latest Green News Report with, among other things, a heart-wrenching tale of an Alaskan native American tribe forced to move their entire village as the Arctic continues to melt away You can find Brad's previous editions here. And tune in to Radio Sputnik one hour a day, five days a week. MOSCOW (Sputnik) A group of French children arrived in the Artek childrens summer camp in Russia's Crimea despite strong opposition from Ukrainian lobbyists, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement obtained by Sputnik. With the support of Russia's Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Education and Science, a group of French children had a vacation at the International Children's Center Artek (Crimea). The organizers of the vacation have experienced strong pressure exerted through the Ukrainian lobby in France, the statement reads. According to the statement, parents of the French children received telephone calls during which terrible things were said about the condition of the Artek camp, with some of the parents receiving recommendations not to send their children to the Crimean camp for political reasons. The second day of the festival will start with a performance by Mambo Party, a collective of musicians from Russia and Cuba. On that day, guests of the festival will also be able to enjoy China's Li Xiaochuan Jazz Quartet, the Dixie Brothers Band from Russia's Rostov, Tribute to Benny Goodman from Finland and Russia, and the East-West Connection band that comprises musicians from Germany, South Korea, Mongolia, and Russia. Famous Soviet-era and Russian jazz piano player Igor Bril and his sons Alexander and Dmitry will open the third day of the Koktebel Jazz Party. The established program called Jazz at the Speed of Light will show that jazz cannot be stopped by borders. A jam session with musicians playing together being thousands kilometers apart will also serve as a sign that music is a tool for connecting people. The third day will finish with a performance by The Legends of Brazil, a US band. The second stage called the Voloshin Stage located in the house museum of the early 20th century Symbolist poet Maximilian Voloshin will host a Jazz Master Class where young musicians will be able to play alongside famous masters from Russia and other countries. Guests of the Voloshin Stage will also be able to enjoy performances by jazz bands and a jazz lecture by journalist and culture expert Pavel Surkov. "Crimea held its first Koktebel Jazz Festival in 2003. I was lucky to be its co-founder together with my Ukrainian friends Lilya Mlinarich, Vladimir Solyanik and Kirill Vyshinsky. The musicians and us all lived in tents and enjoyed fantastic jam sessions at the foot of the Kara Dag Mountain after the main program was over. Since then, jazz has rocked Koktebel every fall. I am glad to welcome all the fans of its magic to Koktebel Jazz Party this year. Welcome to the 14th jazz season in Koktebel!" Rossiya Segodnya Director General Dmitry Kiselev said in an address. The festival is organized by the Red Square TV company supported by the Russias Ministry of Culture. The Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency, the All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK), Rossiya 1, Rossiya Kultura, Rossiya 24 TV channels; Mayak, Vesti FM, Kultura and Radio JAZZ 89.1 FM radio broadcasters as well as the Eurasian Communications Center will provide media coverage of the event. The Spruts upgraded missile, based on the Invar-M guided antitank missile, is fired from the 125mm smoothbore gun with increased accuracy. It has a maximum range of 5,000 m at a speed of 350 m/sec). The missile has a tandem warhead, with a dual application in combat: it first penetrates armor up to 900 mm thick, and then ensures detonation of the warhead. The Spruts 125mm gun features a modernized digitalk fire control system with a night vision and automatic homing mechanism, a representative of Tractor Works Concern told Izvestia. Modern gauges ensure wind and movement adjustments. Besides, the commander now has at his disposal an additional machinegun to fire at upper floors of buildings, hills and low-flying helicopters, the TWC representative said. Mechanics-wise, the upgraded Sprut-SDM1 is similar to the all-new BDM-4 amphibious infantry fighting vehicle, boasting a more powerful engine all adding to the units mobility, including across rugged terrain. The use of modernized Invar-M missiles ensures an effective range of fire, which is more than twice as big as any other modern tank can boast. Tank guns normally have a range of 2,000 meters, while a guided antitank missile flies to 5,000, a Moscow-based armored warfare expert Viktor Murakhovsky told the newspaper. This allows the Sprut-SDM1 to win the battle without entering the firing range of enemy tanks. Besides, our Airborne Forces now have an airmobile tank that enables them to wage highly-maneuverable battles in the enemys rear, he added. In an interview with Sputnik a Moscow-based Japanese-affairs expert Yelena Leonova said that because they have no energy resources of their own, the Japanese are always looking for the cheapest possible supplies from abroad and here Russia could come as a perfect option. Gas and oil are shipped to Japan by tankers, but the sea route is way more expensive than direct supplies via pipelines they have in Europe and the US. Thats why Japan is on the lookout for alternative supplies. They once tried to tap the reserves of undersea frozen methane off Hokkaido with help from US investors, but the project proved too expensive and they eventually scrapped it, Leonova said. Thats why the Russian project appears a very lucrative one, she added. "I support any creative initiative. Crimea is a blessed motion picture space; any thematic film can be shot here, including James Bond. Crimea should actively regain its glory as a world cinematic center, so we are supporting this initiative," Novoselskaya told RIA Novosti. According to the minister, Yalta Film Studio, which is in a stage of active recovery, could participate in the shooting. MOSCOW (Sputnik) With the support of Russia's Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Education and Science, a group of 22 children aged between 11 and 16 years, arrived in Artek on August 8 and is set to leave on Saturday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued earlier on Wednesday. "Crimea is a good vacation spot. In my opinion the peninsula is a beautiful and safe place. This trip is important. I am sure that French kids will come to the same conclusion after their stay in Russia's Crimea as the French members of parliament that the region is safe and beautiful, contrary to what the West says," Mariani, who led a delegation of French lawmakers who visited the peninsula in July to meet with local officials and residents despite European criticism, said. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the organizers of the vacation have experienced strong pressure, exerted through the Ukrainian lobby in France. India intends to procure one full mission simulator for the upgraded AN-32 aircraft. According to the Ministry of Defense, the full mission simulator is intended to be used for flying and mission training of pilots, navigator and flight engineers on all roles of the upgraded An-32 RE aircraft. IAF had signed a contract with Ukraines Spets Techno Export for upgrading the An-32 RE aircraft. The Ministry of Defense says, The design and development has been carried out by Antonov Design Bureau and series production of the aircraft is being executed by IAF. The simulator for medium transport aircraft is likely to be delivered by years 2018. You might think that hay is harmful enough, however it can attract a number of harmful bacteria. In 2011, some high school pupils from Colorado spread bales of hay around the building. Leaving it overnight, they returned the next day to find the school closed and a US$100,000 clean-up bill. Contact Lenses Acanthamoeba is a microscopic, free-living ameba, or amoeba* (single-celled living organism), that can cause rare, but severe infections of the eye, skin, and central nervous system. The ameba is found worldwide in the environment in water and soil. The ameba can be spread to the eyes through contact lens use, cuts, or skin wounds or by being inhaled into the lungs. Most people will be exposed to Acanthamoeba during their lifetime, but very few will become sick from this exposure. This is a strange, but life or death one If you own a pair of contact lenses you are well aware of the fact that you should not wash them in water, but use a proper cleaning solution. Otherwise, a disease called granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE) could get you. Also known as Acanthamoeba a microscopic amoeba (single-celled living organism) can cause severe eye, skin and central nervous system infections. Apart from contact lenses, it can also spread through cuts, wounds and inhaling it into the lungs. So, remember not to wash your contact lenses! Hot Tubs Hot tubs are dreamy especially in the summer, when there's really nothing better than soaking some warm bubbling water after a long day at work. Unfortunately, they can be life-threatening. Did you know that chemical poisoning from hot tubs (and pools) send thousands of people to the hospital every year? Well you do now. Icicles These winter nasties are unbiased and indiscriminative. When they fall they kill. Thousands of people die each year because of these winter brutes. Vending Machines We all love vending machines at work, grabbing those treats after lunch fill us with joy and lift us out of our afternoon slump by raising our blood sugar levels sky high. @chefnarny my family in public:) vending machines can't be trusted pic.twitter.com/8FqE71ZMXk er7kah (@chefnarny) August 13, 2016 But did you know vending machines kill people by falling on them and crushing them to death? I bet that will make you think twice before you reach for that chocolate treat. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) Hillary Clinton admitted to suffering from decision fatigue and discussed with one of her top aides while serving as US secretary of state about taking a drug used to treat Parkinsons disease, emails released by WikiLeaks revealed. "Wow that is spooky descriptive," Clinton wrote in the email on August 19, 2011 to her close friend and senior adviser Cheryl Mills about an article entitled "Do You Suffer From Decision Fatigue?" released by WikiLeaks. The article said individuals in positions of power could experience "decision fatigue" that could make them "become reckless" and "act impulsively." The article also warned that people suffering from the affliction could cause "ordinarily sensible people [to] get angry at colleagues." The warning further states that former Muslims who have converted, as well as activists, may be prosecuted. Iranian authorities have detained and harassed US citizens, particularly those of Iranian origin, the statement reads. Former Muslims who have converted to other religions, religious activists, and persons who encourage Muslims to convert are subject to arrest and prosecution. The department also expressed concern over the safety of commercial aircraft in the region due to ongoing conflicts. The US government is concerned about the risks to civil aircraft operating into, out of, within, or over Iran due to hazards from military activity associated with the conflicts in Iraq and Syria, the warning states. The FAA has advised US civil aviation to exercise caution when flying into, out of, within, or over the airspace over Iran. Perhaps most telling, however, is the notice that the US government may not be able to help if you are captured. The warning notes, the US governments ability to assist US citizens in Iran in the event of an emergency is extremely limited. Trump made promises, including, "Ill straighten it out." He also declared, "Ill bring jobs back, Well bring spirit back. Ill get rid of the crime, so youll be able to walk down the street without getting shot. Right now, you walk down the street, you get shot." The beleaguered Republican candidate then claimed that murders are "up all over the place no matter where you look", even though FBI crime statistics show that homicides dropped to a 41-year low in 2014. Trumps recent overtures to non-white voters are the result of extremely low polling numbers, with one poll showing him earning only 1% support from African Americans. Despite this, the reality television star boasted last week that he would "get over 95% of the African-American vote" by 2020, a claim that made even his running mate, Indiana governor Mike Pence, laugh. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The standards of living of the Hispanic and African American communities in the United States plummeted during President Barack Obamas years in office, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump told a rally. Obama became as US President in 2009, and was reelected in 2012 for the second four-year term. "Black participation in the [US] labor force has slumped," Trump told the rally in Austin, Texas. "The number of [African-Americans] on food stamps under Obama [is] up 58.2 percent The percentage of black Americans, who own homes plunged 41.7 percent under Obama." WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The New York Times has not been compromised by Russian cyberattacks despite US media reports to the contrary, the newspapers spokesperson Eileen Murphy said in a statement. "We have seen no evidence that any of our internal systems, including our systems in the Moscow bureau, have been breached or compromised," Murphy said as quoted by The Hill on Wednesday. Woodley, a US actress starring in the soon-to-be released Snowden film, has spent months campaigning against the pipeline, as well as spending two weeks camping out in solidarity at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. At the rally, she gave an impassioned plea for people to get involved in the effort to protect water sources in the country. Eighteen million people in our country depend on the Missouri River for drinking water and for tap water. When you turn on your faucet, most of us dont think about where that water comes from. Chances are likely that at least a few of us here depend on the Missouri River for our water, Woodley said. What happens when gallons of crude oil contaminates water like that? It destroys our water. It destroys our future generations. Every single time we allow a pipeline to be built whether its the Dakota Access Pipeline, the pipelines that are going through West Texas, the pipelines that are in Florida all over our country, every time we the people allow that to happen we are endorsing the fossil fuel industry, Woodley said. When we stand in front of those pipelines and we stand with our brothers and sisters, and we say I stand in solidarity with you, that sends a message out that we are ready for renewable energy and that we will not stop until we have renewable energy. Its time. Woodley also firmly refuted rumors in mainstream media of violence on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation encampment, as they are absolutely false. She reiterated that she spent the last two weeks peacefully camping in solidarity with the pipeline protest. The only pipes that are there are the sacred pipes, that they pray with, Woodley stated, referring to North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymples claim that protesters had pipe bombs. On Wednesday afternoon, a judge rescheduled the injunction hearing for September 14, claiming that it was necessary to have time to think. BRICS nations have resolved to set up a dedicated Joint Task Force for disaster risk management in order to broaden regular dialogue, exchange mutual support and collaborate among themselves. This was decided after a two-day meeting of BRICS ministers on disaster management in the Indian western state of Rajasthan. Indian Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju termed the meeting as a "new milestone in collaboration and cooperation among BRICS countries in the field of disaster management." A roadmap for implementation of the three-year Joint Action Plan (JAP) for BRICS emergency services (2016-18) was also finalized. The JAP was agreed upon at the first meeting of BRICS ministers concerning disaster management in St. Petersburg, Russia earlier this year. Arms designers of old even managed to install a 3mm pistol inside an otherwise inconspicuous pocket watch. A 19th century version switched the regular pinions and springs for a primitive trigger and a tiny barrel. Small caliber death rings The ring gun, a revolver mounted to a piece of hand jewelry, was very much in vogue in Europe during 1860-1870s. One such tiny pistol a British-made seven shooter called Femme Fatale used 3.5-4.4mm bullets. To load, unload, or reload the handgun, the user had to take a small slotted jewelers screwdriver and remove the cylinder from the ring base. SS belt buckle and Stalins grenade launcher The Second World War gave camouflaged firearms a new lease on life. The SS belt buckle pistol (SS-Waffenakademie Koppelschlopistole) was arguably the best known such weapon. Designed by engineer Luis Marquis in 1942, it was an experimental firearm consisting of two or four 7.62mm or 5.6mm barrels and lockwork concealed within a Nazi belt buckle. The barrels were 2" long and the wearer needed to be very close to their target. After a lever was pressed, the spring-loaded buckle would pivot downwards, exposing the barrel. The Nazis even developed portable grenade launcher designed expressly to kill Soviet leader Josef Stalin. The Panzerknacke was a 20mm steel tube strapped to the shooters right arm. It fired rocket-propelled grenades capable of piercing a 30mm armor plate 30 meters away. In 1944, Soviet NKVD agents confiscated one such Panzerknacke with nine grenades from a team of Nazi assassins on a mission to kill Stalin. US Stinger and a sling gun During the early 1940s the US Office of Strategic Services (the forerunner of the CIA) came up with a flurry of strange looking shooting devices. One, called Little Joe, was a crossbow gun designed to take out sentinels and guard dogs without making any noise. OSS armorers also came up with the Stinger single-shot shooting pen, which fired 5.6mm and 6.35mm Browning bullets and had an effective range of up to three meters. According to various estimates, some 40,000 Stingers were built during WWII. The Virginia Racing Commission gave unanimous approval at its Thursday, August 18 meeting to bring pari-mutuel harness racing back to the Commonwealth this fall at Shenandoah Downs. The limited license request was submitted by the Virginia Downs Foundation. The Virginia Equine Alliance will provide race office personnel and conduct the races, and the Virginia Harness Horsemens Association will provide $800,000 from its purse account to fund the races. In the request presentation on Thursday, VEA Executive Director Jeb Hannum noted 10 days of racing will occur this fall over five consecutive weekends from September 10 October 9, and races will be held every Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. An extensive $700,000-plus track renovation project reached the completion stage this past week and everyone is looking forward to getting horses on the track for the upcoming meet. Hannum also noted the weather challenges workers faced early in the renovation process when an unusually wet spring caused delays. Despite those issues, work was completed on schedule. He extended special thanks to Dr. Scott Woogen, president of the VHHA, Tom Eshelman, GM of the Shenandoah County Fair, and David Lermond, executive secretary of the VRC. Dr. Woogen also thanked all parties for their cooperation in the ambitious project. Shenandoah Downs is a track that Virginians should be proud of and it will be one of the finest half mile ovals for racing in the country. The VHHA President added he was thrilled at the response horsemen have shown in support of the track and he is expecting a full barn/stable area. This is a very significant day, added D.G. Van Clief, chairman of the Virginia Racing Commission. The commission approved a new racetrack and meet today along with a slate of racing officials. This is a big step forward as we rebuild the Virginia racing industry. (VHHA) Billyjojimbob, the world champion trotter who started his illustrious career at Kawartha Downs, will be one of many remembered at the Fraserville, Ont. track this Saturday night (August 27) in the first of two Memorial Nights. The next is September 10. Billyjojimbob earned just shy of $1 million during his career which saw him win numerous stakes races and set track, stakes and world records. He remains the only Canadian-sired trotter to have captured the prestigious Elitlopp in Sweden which he won in a world record for two heats in 1992. Kawartha regular Murray Brethour was in the bike for the victory for the horses owner, Lori Ferguson, who is part of the marketing department at KD, and trainer/breeder Mike Wade. Saturdays second race is the Billyjojimbob Memorial Trot, giving fans an opportunity to remember the late, great trotter who passed away in 2002. Kawartha Downs is honoured to have the opportunity to acknowledge the contribution of horsepeople and horses through our Memorial Nights. The following is the complete list of those being celebrated this Saturday night. (Race Name) 1 - Roger Hie Memorial Pace 2. - Billyjojimbob Memorial Trot 3. - Mary Henderson Memorial Pace 4. - John Fry Memorial Pace 5. - Tom Curtin Memorial Pace 6. - Wayne Dowson Memorial Trot 7. - Ann & Tom Grattan Memorial Pace 8 - Ivan Johnson Memorial Pace 9. - Brenna Seeley Memorial Trot Saturdays complete program is available here. Racing gets underway at 7 p.m. To view the harness racing entries for Saturday at KD, click the following link: Saturday Entries Kawartha Downs. (Kawartha Downs) WASHINGTON, Aug. 24, 2016 / Standard Newswire / -- A new exhaustive scientific study conducted by two Johns Hopkins University scientists reveals that scientific evidence does not support the "born that way" claim regarding homosexuality or the "trapped in the body" so-called transgender claim. Written by Dr. Lawrence S. Mayer and Dr. Paul R. McHugh, this study evaluates data from over 200 peer-reviewed studies regarding sexual orientation and gender identity. Regarding "sexual orientation," the study concludes: "The understanding of sexual orientation as an innate, biologically-fixed property of human beings the idea that people are 'born that way'is not supported by scientific evidence." Regarding "gender identity," the study states: "The hypothesis that gender identity is an innate, fixed property of human beings that is independent of biological sex that a person might be 'a man trapped in a woman's body' or 'a woman trapped in a man's body,'is not supported by scientific evidence." Regarding health, the research reveals non-heterosexuals experience 1.5 times more anxiety and depression, 1.5 times more substance abuse, and 2.5 times the risk of suicide than heterosexuals. Suicide attempts by transgender individuals are estimated at 41 percent compared to less than five percent of the overall population. The study shows a very small portion of the population, less than one percent, identify as transgender. It also concludes there is no evidence to suggest that children should be encouraged to become transgender if they act or speak in a way that is typical of their opposite gender and warns against any treatments or surgeries on young people who identify with the opposite gender. "We are uniquely created by God as male and female. There are not multiple variants of gender. The human race is binary male and female. It's time to stop pushing this deceptive agenda and enabling such mental confusion," said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. "The scientific facts do not support the harmful LGBT agenda. Common sense demands we stop rebelling against nature," said Staver. Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics. Er is iets heel griezeligs aan de gang in Nederland. Dat wij geleidelijk aan in een totalitaire 'democratie' wegzinken wordt steeds ... On Tuesday, Brian Kitts defense lawyer asked once more for a judge to dismiss the case against his client for lack of evidence. At the center of the request was a debate over how DNA is deposited on evidence. Although Superior Court Judge Stephen Warning declined to dismiss the case, the DNA debate remains at the center of the case. Kitts, 43, of Kelso, is on trial for aggravated first-degree murder with a firearm enhancement for allegedly killing Sharon Cox on Feb. 7, 2000. Cox, then manager of the Bridgegate Apartments in Longview, was found strangled and bludgeoned inside her home near the apartment complex. Her son, Donovan Allen, was originally convicted of the murder but was exonerated last year by new DNA evidence that implicated Kitts in the murder. A Washington State Patrol crime lab found Kitts DNA on the rifle used to bludgeon Cox and on the collars of Coxs turtleneck sweater and denim button-up shirt. Defense lawyer Kevin Blondin argued Tuesday that because Kitts admitted to handling the murder weapon before the murder police said he admitted that he and Allen both shot the rifle multiple times its not surprising that his DNA showed up on it. He also argued that Kitts wasnt the last person to see Cox alive, as the state alleges. One of the states main arguments is that the large amount of Kitts DNA that WSP scientist Brittany Noll found on the neck area of Coxs clothing means that contact between Kitts and Coxs clothing resulted from more than casual contact, such as a hug. The state claims the large amount of DNA is indicative of a struggle between Kitts and Cox. On Tuesday, Blondin called Jessica Bickham, a forensic scientist with Technical Associates Inc., a private California-based lab. Bickha was called to refute that claim and testified that it was possible that a large amount of DNA could be deposited by mere casual contact. Bickham was paid by the defense to review WSPs lab reports but she did not do any testing of her own nor did she interview Kitts. Longview police Cpl. Jeremy Johnson testified Tuesday that Kitts admitted to handling the rifle only after police told him the results of the new DNA tests during a November 2015 interrogation. Johnson, reading from a transcript of the 2002 trial, said Kitts testified then to jurors that Allen moved the rifle when Cox and her late husband moved from the apartment complex to the nearby home where she was killed. But Blondin took aim at the states case by reminding Johnson that police failed to get a confession from Kitts after a nearly five-hour interrogation and later during a wire-tapped phone conversation between Allens ex-fiancee Bonnie Engebretson (formerly Bonnie Walker) and Kitts arranged by police. Using graphic photos from the autopsy he performed on Cox, medical examiner Clifford Nelson explained that there were long fractures around Coxs skull, deep lacerations on her head, hemorrhaging around her brain and sections of her skull had fallen away after being pulverized by the murder weapon. The states primary purpose in calling Nelson was likely to remind jurors that Nelson found no evidence that Cox had been strangled with a phone cord, as Allen claimed during his confession to police shortly after the murder. Allen later recanted and the state has called witnesses to support his claim that police got a false confession from him. Nelson told jurors that Cox appeared to have been manually strangled because he found a thumbprint below Coxs jaw line on the right side of her face and because a bone just below her jaw line was fractured, which Nelson said was a typical occurrence when someone is manually strangled. Throughout Nelsons testimony, Kitts averted his eyes to the gruesome images, swayed side to side and tapped his foot up and down as in discomfort. The state rested its case Tuesday and the defense is expected to finish its case Wednesday. A jury will begin deliberating Thursday after closing arguments that morning. If you ask United Way Executive Director Brooke Fisher-Clark what keeps her on task each day, her answer is simple. Lemonade, she says with a laugh. Fisher-Clark, whos pregnant with her second child, said the sugary drink has been getting her through her first few months as executive director and the last few months of pregnancy. During the day, shes the quick-moving leader of the areas largest charitable organization. By evening, shes a wife and mother of one, soon to be two. Aside from sweet lemonade, though, she admits it is her passion for her job that keeps her moving each day. I really just love this job, and being able to help the 21 different partner agencies that we support but also the community in turn, she said. Fisher-Clark, 36, assumed the role of executive director in June after former Executive Director Dave Green stepped down. Fisher-Clark previously worked as director of community resources. She said United Way is the perfect fit for her. After all, if shes going to be away from her family during the day, she said, she wants to be doing something she loves. Fisher-Clarks first time working with United Way was as a volunteer at the organizations toy drive with her 8-year-old daughter Anabelle. It was during that time that she first considered working for the organization. I thought, This is what pulls my heart strings, and I want to go do that, she said. However, Fisher-Clark says she didnt initially set out on a path to work for one of the worlds longest standing nonprofits. She started her career in the hospitality industry, working at hotel chains in Washington D.C. and Florida before eventually returning to Longview to work as a project manager at the Kelso-Longview Chamber of Commerce. She said she began her journey wanting to help people enjoy their vacations before she transitioned to helping businesses generate more revenue. When she joined United Way, she refocused all of that energy on aiding the community. For me, its just about following your heart, she said. I wanted to pick something I was passionate about. Fisher-Clark joined United Way at a tenuous time for the nonprofit. Former Executive Director Kalei LaFave was fired in January 2014 after a five-year stint as the agencys top administrator. She was terminated after an audit revealed major accounting and financial problems within the organization. Dave Green, who was hired in 2015 to replace LaFave and restore trust to the organization, stepped down as executive director less than a year after being hired. However, Fisher-Clark said shes learned valuable lessons from her predecessors. You learn how to deal with things, how to talk to people, how to build a better strategy and foundation, so certain things dont happen again in the future, she said. She said the organization has a talented board of directors and a group of dedicated partner agencies. She said she believes that, in time, United Way will be able to fully regain the publics trust. I think theres always a light at the end of the tunnel, and I think it shows a testament of your character if you can stick through something like that and just face the challenges, she said. She said shes learned to be transparent with the public and engage with them as often as possible in order to gain their trust. Were an open door, she said. So far, she said her time with the organization has been smooth. Fisher-Clark said every day with at United Way is different. Once the Day of Caring campaign begins Sept. 14 which kicks off United Ways campaign season her days will be filled with at least three campaigns a day. She uses checklists to keep herself on task. Still, she emphasizes that it is her passion for the job that keeps her focused. I wake up every day like, OK, we need to make this community great. Lets go do it. After sitting vacant for more than a decade, a 20-acre parcel of land in Rainier is about to give Longview and Kelso shoppers another reason to head over the bridge. A new shopping center, called Columbia Crossing, is at long last in development and is slated to open in fall 2017. The new center does not have an anchor tenant yet, but property owner Pat Lockhart, of Lockhart Realty, anticipates adding a combination of retail, farmers markets and restaurants. The property is actually a patchwork of 17 parcels owned by Lockhart. A lot of effort has gone into getting everything on the state and city level to start breaking ground, said Lockhart Realty Vice President Jim Miller. Miller expects the project to break ground this winter, although the developers still have to wrap up wetland mitigation paperwork before that can happen. If all goes according to schedule, Miller estimates construction to be completed by the end of fall 2017. And while no leases have been inked yet, Miller said there was plenty of interest from businesses in Rainier, Kelso and Longview looking to relocate. Were getting three to five phone calls a day, Miller said. Columbia Crossing will feature a combination of anchor stores a mattress retailer and jewelry store have been mentioned in discussions along with local retailers. Lockhart Realty contracted with Mackenzie, a Portland-based architecture and design firm whose clients include Safeway, Fred Meyer, Adidas, New Seasons Market and KeyBank. The property will have room for two full-service restaurants, and four additional sites with room for standalone buildings such as banks or fast food restaurants. Were going to have a very cool food court, Miller said. Kind of like Pine Street Market in Portland. In the middle, theres going to be a big community area and were hoping to get some really interesting businesses to go in there. Miller said the idea is not to add just a slew of chain restaurants, but rather places with some people with skill, especially local restaurateurs. The developers met with Rainier Mayor Jerry Cole last week to discuss ideas for other businesses that may fill out the new development. Everybody would like to see some sort of a grocery store on this side of the river, Cole said. After several years of discussions around putting a Costco on the Lockhart property, the wholesale warehouse club backed out, saying a new store would negatively impact business at their Vancouver and Warrenton, Ore., locations. The development project will likely rely on Washington residents traveling over the bridge to take advantage of the sales tax break Oregon provides. It has to be something that people are going to come across the bridge and use, said Cole. People arent going to drive across the bridge and go to Safeway. Overall, Cole said he is cautiously optimistic about the development. The city is here to help whenever we can, Cole said. Our responsibility as a municipality is that the permit process is easy for companies coming in. Its the same commitment for any business that wants to come to Rainier. tech2 News Staff Sonys PlayStation Now game streaming service is finally making its way to Windows PCs. The service will allow you to stream and play over 400 PlayStation 3 titles on your PC. The PS Now service is currently available in Europe, with support for North America coming soon. Theres also no information on an India/Asia-Pacific release any time soon. PS Now was, so far, available on the PS4, select Bravia TVs and the PS Vita. The fact that its coming to PC as well is good news indeed. The service already includes over 400 PS3 titles, including God of War, The Last of Us, Uncharted and more. Sony has also unveiled a USB wireless adapter for the PS4s DualShock 4 controller. The adapter will set you back $24.99 (around Rs 1,700) and will allow you to connect one wireless DS4 controller to your PC. The adapter apparently works on Mac as well, but Sony is reportedly evaluating Mac support for PS Now. Sony is currently offering two plans for a PS Now subscription, alongside a 7-day free trial. You can opt for a monthly subscription at $19.99 (around Rs 1,400) a month or a 3-month subscription at $44.99 (around Rs 3,000). The recommended PC configuration for PSNow is as follows: Windows 7 (SP1), 8.1 or 10 2.5 GHz Intel Core i3 or 3.8 GHz AMD A10 or faster 300 MB or more; 2 GB or more of RAM Sound card; USB port 5Mbps or higher internet bandwidth The prospect of playing PS3 games on PC is very appealing indeed. With Microsoft already preparing to release just about every Xbox One game on Windows as well, the future for PC gamers is certainly looking very bright. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida (C), Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) and South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-Se pose for the photographers prior to the official banquet of the trilateral foreign minister's meeting in Tokyo, Japan, August 23, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] BEIJING - As foreign ministers of China, Japan and South Korea are to meet in Tokyo Wednesday, the three major Asian powers should work together to make their differences controllable. The final date of the eighth trilateral foreign ministers' meeting, the second gathering since the talks resumed in March 2015 after a three-year hiatus, was not released until Monday afternoon. Although high-ranking diplomats of the three countries had met in Tokyo for final deliberations about whether to hold such a trilateral meeting this month, there has been pessimism until Monday that the meeting could be postponed. The tortuous process of nailing down a trilateral foreign ministers' meeting nine years after the first of its kind was held in 2007 implies that differences on regional issues have been haunting relations among China, Japan and South Korea. Tokyo's illegal claim for the ownership of the China-owned Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, its interference in the disputes over South China Sea islands, as well as its unrepentant attitude toward the crimes it committed in World War II, have gravely damaged its relations with Beijing. Besides, Seoul's acceptance of US deploying a missile defense system, whose X-band radar can peer deep into China and Russia, on its soil has greatly threatened the strategic interests of the two countries and undermined regional stability. hidden Nirbhaya Jyoti Trust, set in remembrance of the Delhi December 16, 2012 gang rape victim, on Tuesday launched the "I feel safe" mobile application aimed at ensuring women's safety. Her parents Badrinath Singh and Asha Devi launched the app, a personal safety application for smartphone users developed in association with Mobile Standards Alliance of India, at an event held at the Indian School of Business here. The app places an automatic call to the national emergency number 100 while the location of the potential victim is tracked every 30 seconds and made available to their emergency contacts, emergency call centre team, who then reach out to provide support. The app, which works without GPRS and Internet, instantly adds a virtual panic button. Mobile phone owners can simply press the "Safety Ka Power Button" five times to activate an alarm. The free download app works across India on all mobile networks and sends near real-time updates about the location of the mobile user. The victim's parents were in city to attend first international conference on "Exploring Modern Science & Technology Solutions for Humanity, Education and Rights" organised by The International STEM Society for Human Rights (ISSHR). They told reporters that even if one girl is rescued through "I feel safe" app, their purpose will be served. "If the present day technology was available, my daughter would have been saved. My daughter tried to make a call through her mobile, but it was snatched away by the culprits," said Asha Devi. They said Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a longest-ever speech from Red Fort on Independence Day but didn't utter a single word about women's safety. "It pained us," said Badrinath Singh. Rajiv Uttamchandani, founder of ISSHR, said the incident which happened in 2012 gave him sleepless nights. "I wanted to do something. Being an astrophysist, I want to search solutions for human rights violation through STEM -- which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics." IANS Vodafone India has announced the launch of its Vodafone SuperNet 4Gservice in Haryana in the prominent business and residential towns of Karnal and Panipat. 4G services will be rolled out across Haryana over the next few months. The launch in Haryana follows the successful launch of Vodafone SuperNet 4G services in Kerala, Karnataka, Kolkata, Delhi & NCR and Mumbai. Built on the efficient 1800 MHz band, this state-of-the-art network will enable Vodafone SuperNetTM 4G customers to access internet via mobile with speeds across a range of smart devices including Mi-Fi & dongles. Vodafone 4G services can be readily accessed from 4G enabled handsets offered by leading smartphone manufacturers and available across the country. Vodafone SuperNet 4G will significantly enhance the mobile internet experience for customers with faster download/upload of videos and music, seamless video chats and will also facilitate greater ease in using their favorite apps. Customers will also adore features like high definition video streaming, mobile gaming and two-way video calling. Announcing the launch of Vodafone SuperNet 4G service in Haryana, Sunil Sood, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Vodafone India said, As a steadfast partner to Digital India, we are delighted to begin the launch of the second phase of our Vodafone SuperNet 4G rollout with Haryana. 4G has the potential to revolutionize the mobile experience through powerful innovation that impacts how we work and live. Vodafones global expertise and experience of launching 4G across 20 countries gives us a better understanding of this technology and the needs of the 4G customer. Following overwhelming response received in Kerala, Karnataka, Kolkata, Delhi & NCR and Mumbai, Haryana can now enjoy the worlds largest 4G network experience from today. Now in its second phase of launch, Vodafone SuperNet 4G services will soon also be available in UP (E), Gujarat and West Bengal and in 1,000 towns across the country by end of the year. The nine circles of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Karnataka, Kerala, Haryana, Gujarat, UP (E) and West Bengal, together contribute to just under 70% of Vodafone Indias data revenues. Speaking on the Vodafone SuperNet 4G proposition for Haryana, Mohit Narru Business HeadHaryana, Vodafone India, said, Haryana is a strong leadership market for Vodafone India and as the leading telecom service provider, our over 5.5 million customers have a lot to look forward to. Beginning with key business and residential corridors of Karnal and Panipat, we will soon expand our Vodafone SuperNet 4G services across the entire state in a phased manner. We invite our data savvy customers in Haryana to make the most of the bonanza of special benefits being offered and enjoy the best mobile internet experience. @Technuter.com News Service About Me Common Ills We do not open attachments. Stop e-mailing them. Threats and abusive e-mail are not covered by any privacy rule. This isn't to the reporters at a certain paper (keep 'em coming, they are funny). This is for the likes of failed comics who think they can threaten via e-mails and then whine, "E-mails are supposed to be private." E-mail threats will be turned over to the FBI and they will be noted here with the names and anything I feel like quoting. This also applies to anyone writing to complain about a friend of mine. That's not why the public account exists. View my complete profile Blog Archive Will India open Farakka gates now? The Hindu : The Ganga and many of its tributaries were in spate after torrential rain, and the monsoonal deluge left thousands of people in five States struggling to cope on Monday. As the Ganga swelled, the Central Water Resources Ministry directed that all the flood gates of the Farraka barrage in West Bengal be opened to relieve the danger to Bihar. Heavy rain over the last two days in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand caused several rivers-tributaries of the Ganga-to flood and rise to record levels. In Bihar, flood waters spread to Bhojpur, Buxar, Munger, Bhagalpur and Khagaria districts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern over the situation in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand and promised the Centre's support for rescue and relief operations. Mr. Modi spoke to Chief Ministers Akhilesh Yadav, Nitish Kumar and Shivraj Singh Chouhan, official sources said. Home Minister Rajnath Singh was closely monitoring the situation and had spoken to the Chief Ministers of the five states. As a large number of people reeled under the impact of floods, more than 26,400 were rescued by the National Disaster Response Force. The NDRF put together an emergency operation with 56 rescue and relief teams and had two Deputy Inspector General-rank officers in Bihar and UP monitoring the situation. The order to open the Farakka barrage was seen as crucial. "I spoke to the Bihar Chief Secretary," Shashi Shekhar, Secretary, Water Resources Ministry said. "We have directed that all gates of the Farakka barrage be opened. This should help somewhat in managing the flood." The Farakka barrage has 104 gates and they are being opened to manage nearly 11 lakh cusecs of water that have inundated Bihar and affected nearly 10 lakh residents in the past week. On Sunday, Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, had said that the Farakka barrage needed to be "removed" and a national desilting policy put in place to prevent flooding. "It is not possible to protect Bihar from devastating floods without removal of the Farakka barrage on the Ganga," Nitish Kumar said, before going on an aerial survey of the flood-hit districts. The barrage, built in 1975 close to the Bangladesh border, was designed to transfer 1,100 cubic metres per second of water from the Ganga to the Hoogly to flush out sediments. However it has been controversial, with complaints that it is choking up the river's natural flow and affecting aquatic life. The Centre says the States have to take a role in managing problems with the barrage. People forced to move to relief camps in Bihar protested at some places as they could not get food and fodder. Many residents of Patna and adjoining Vaishali districts shifted to relief camps. Similar protests by flood-affected communities in Nathnagar of Bhagalpur and Begusarai, Saran and Bakhtiyarpur were reported, over lack of government aid and relief. In West Bengal, nearly 200 people were left homeless as an entire village in Malda district was submerged by the Ganga on Sunday. `Voices under the rubble` after quake hits Italy; at least 38 dead A man is carried away after having been rescued alive from the ruins following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Remo Casilli Reuters: A powerful earthquake devastated a string of mountainous towns in central Italy on Wednesday, trapping residents under piles of rubble, killing at least 38 people and leaving thousands homeless. The quake struck in the early hours of the morning when most residents were asleep, razing homes and buckling roads in a cluster of communities some 140 km (85 miles) east of Rome. A family of four, including two boys aged 8 months and 9 years, were buried when their house in Accumoli imploded. As rescue workers carried away the body of the infant, carefully covered by a small blanket, the children's grandmother blamed God: "He took them all at once," she wailed. The army was mobilized to help with special heavy equipment and the treasury released 235 million euros ($265 million) of emergency funds. At the Vatican, Pope Francis canceled part of his general audience to pray for the victims. Aerial photographs showed whole areas of Amatrice, voted last year as one of Italy's most beautiful historic towns, flattened by the 6.2 magnitude quake. "It's all young people here, it's holiday season, the town festival was to have been held the day after tomorrow so lots of people came for that," said Amatrice resident Giancarlo, sitting in the road wearing just his underwear. "It's terrible, I'm 65-years-old and I have never experienced anything like this, small tremors, yes, but nothing this big. This is a catastrophe," he said. Accumoli mayor Stefano Petrucci said some 2,500 were left homeless in the local community, which is made up of 17 hamlets. Residents responding to wails muffled by tonnes of bricks and mortar sifted through the rubble with their bare hands before emergency services arrived with earth-moving equipment and sniffer dogs. Wide cracks had appeared like open wounds on the buildings that were still standing. The national Civil Protection Department said some survivors would be put up elsewhere in central Italy, while others would be housed in tents that were being dispatched to the area. Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said he would visit the disaster area later in the day: "No one will be left alone, no family, no community, no neighborhood. We must get down to work .. to restore hope to this area which has been so badly hit," he said in a brief televised address. The quake hit during the summer when the area, usually sparsely populated, hosts large numbers of holidaymakers. A spokeswoman for the civil protection department, Immacolata Postiglione, said the dead were in Amatrice, Accumoli and other villages including Pescara del Tronto and Arquata del Tronto. She put the initial death toll at 38, but said rescue teams had only just reached some stricken areas. The earthquake caused damage in three regions -- Umbria, Lazio and Marche -- and was felt as far away as the southern Italian port city of Naples. The hospital in Amatrice was among the buildings that were badly damaged, and patients were moved into the streets. "Three quarters of the town is not there anymore," Amatrice mayor Sergio Pirozzi told state broadcaster RAI. "The aim now is to save as many lives as possible. There are voices under the rubble, we have to save the people there." RAI reported that two Afghan girls, believed to be asylum-seekers, were also missing in the town. The U.S. Geological Survey, which measured the quake at 6.2 magnitude, said it struck near the Umbrian city of Norcia, while Italy's earthquake institute INGV registered it at 6.0 and put the epicenter further south, closer to Accumoli and Amatrice. The damage was made more severe because the epicenter was at a relatively shallow 4 km below the surface of the earth. Residents of Rome were woken by the tremors, which rattled furniture, swayed lights and set off car alarms in most of central Italy. "It was so strong. It seemed the bed was walking across the room by itself with us on it," Lina Mercantini of Ceselli, Umbria, about 75 km away from the hardest hit area, told Reuters. Olga Urbani, in the nearby town of Scheggino, said: "Dear God it was awful. The walls creaked and all the books fell off the shelves." INGV reported 60 aftershocks in the four hours following the initial quake, the strongest measuring 5.5. Italy sits on two fault lines, making it one of the most seismically active countries in Europe. The last major earthquake to hit the country struck the central city of L'Aquila in 2009, killing more than 300 people. The most deadly since the start of the 20th century came in 1908, when an earthquake followed by a tsunami killed an estimated 80,000 people in the southern regions of Reggio Calabria and Sicily. Turkish tanks enter Syria in anti-IS operation An air strike by a Turkish jet fighter hits the Syrian-Turkish border village of Jarabulus during fighting against IS on Wednesday. AFP, Ankara : Turkish tanks backed by fighter jets and special forces rolled into Syria Wednesday in an unprecedented operation to drive Islamic State jihadists out of a key Syrian border town.The air and ground operation also involving Syrian fighters-the most ambitious launched by Ankara in the Syria conflict-is aimed at clearing jihadists from the town of Jarabulus directly opposite Turkey.But President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasised the operation was also targeting Kurdish militia fighters opposed by Ankara who had also been closing in on IS-held Jarabulus.The operation-named "Euphrates Shield"-began around 4:00am local time (0100 GMT) with Turkish artillery pounding dozens of IS targets around Jarabulus, the prime minister's office said.Turkish F-16 fighter jets, backed by international coalition war planes, also hit targets inside Syria. An AFP photographer saw around a dozen Turkish tanks cross into Syria in support of Syrian opposition fighters.Tensions had flared across the Syria-Turkey border the previous day following rocket fire from Jarabulus which landed inside Turkey, with the Turkish army firing howitzer rounds in response.As well as tanks, the AFP photographer in the area of Karkamis opposite Jarabulus saw several smaller military vehicles believed to be carrying pro-Ankara Syrian rebels.Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu confirmed the Syrian fighters had crossed from Turkey into Syria and the state-run Anadolu agency said they were now three kilometres (two miles) inside the border.Security sources quoted by Turkish television said a small contingent of special forces had travelled into Syria to secure the area before a possible larger ground operation.Turkish authorities had late Tuesday ordered the evacuation of Karkamis for safety reasons, raising expectations that an offensive was imminent.Air strikes by Turkish jets also echoed through the skies, the photographer said. The effects of one air strike on the northern outskirts of Jarabulus were easily visible, sending up a cloud of black smoke and sand.Turkey will want to show with the operation that it is serious about taking on IS, which has been blamed for a string of attacks inside the country, the latest a weekend attack on a Kurdish wedding in Gaziantep that left 54 dead.Ankara was long accused of turning a blind eye to the rise of IS in Syria and even aiding its movements to-and-fro across the border, claims the government had always vehemently denied.The launch of the operation comes as US Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Ankara to meet Erdogan, with agreeing a unified strategy on Syria set to be a crucial issue. Philippines' President expects talks with China on sea dispute this year Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaks during a news conference in Davao city. Reuters, Manila : Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said today he expects talks with China on their South China Sea dispute within a year and he would not raise an international ruling rejecting China's claims there when he attends a regional summit next month. An arbitration court in the Hague infuriated China in July when it ruled that China had no historical title over the South China Sea and it had breached the Philippines' sovereign rights with various actions there. Raising the issue at a summit in Laos of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, together with its "dialogue partners" including China, the United States and Japan, would inevitably compound China's anger. Duterte, speaking to reporters at the presidential palace in Manila, said it was "better to continually engage China in a diplomatic dialogue rather than anger officials there". Asked about a date for bilateral talks, he said: "Within the year". China claims almost the entire South China Sea through which about $5 trillion worth of sea-borne trade passes every year. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims to parts of the sea believed to be rich in oil and gas. Duterte said the Philippines had no intention of raising the arbitration ruling during the summit, though adding: "But, if somebody dwells on it, we will discuss, but for the Philippines, we have talks." If formal negotiations with China were to fall through, "where do we go?" he asked. A former Philippine president, Fidel Ramos, travelled to the southern Chinese city of Hong Kong this month in an effort to rekindle damaged ties with Beijing. While there, Ramos said the Philippines wanted talks with China to explore a path to peace and cooperation. Duterte said his government wanted to talk to China so Philippine fishermen could return to the disputed Scarborough Shoal fishing ground. In 2012, China seized the shoal, denying Philippine fishermen access and prompting Manila to file the arbitration case. China has ignored the court's ruling that none of its reefs and holdings in the Spratly Islands entitled it to a 200-mile exclusive economic zone. Chinese construction on some of the reefs it controls in the South China Sea has alarmed other claimants as well as countries further afield such as Philippine allies the United States and Japan. China says its aims are peaceful and it has the right to do what it wants on its territory BSMRMU 2nd Senate meeting held Campus Report : Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University (BSMRMU), Bangladesh held its 2nd Annual Senate Meeting at university's temporary campus on Wednesday at Pallabi in the capital. BSMRMU Vice-Chancellor Rear Admiral ASM Abdul Baten chaired the meeting attended by members of the senate. In the meeting, the university's budget of the fiscal year 2016-2017, 2nd annual report, appointment rules, service rules, accounts manual etc. were ratified by the senate. It is mentionable that the university is conducting two international standard masters programs namely, 'LLM Maritime Law' and 'Master in Port and Shipping Management' and recently has successfully conducted two certificate courses on "Dangerous Goods Handling and Transportation" and "Marine Insurance and Claim". Besides, the university is going to launch honours programs on 'Oceanography' and 'MBA (Major in Maritime Business)' within short time. The senate members expressed their deep satisfaction at the progress of the university and opined that after completing education from the university, the students will be able to build their career as skilled maritime professionals at home and abroad. The university is determined to create the necessary maritime human resource base for the nation and provide specific knowledge and innovation community for the 'Blue Economy', BSMRMU VC added. Mobile app for women, children launched Economic Reporter : Mobile App, 'Managing Violence Against Women and Children' was launched on Wednesday at Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) auditorium in the city. The special mobile app, a computer programme designed to run on mobile devices such as smart phones and tablet computers, has been made to prevent violence against women and children. State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroze Chumki was the chief guest at the programme with State Minister for Information and communications technology (ICT) Zunaid Ahmed Palak in the chiar. Secretary of Women and Children Affairs Nasima Begum and Secretary of ICT Division Shyam Shundar Sikder were present. "Sometimes it becomes difficult to seek necessary help at the time of an incident taking place besides tracing the offenders being tough due to lack of proper proofs and to solve these problems, new smart-phone useable app has been produced," Chumki said. She said, If such situation arises that any woman is going to be tortured or has been tortured, one will have to touch the mobile app. As soon as the app is touched, it will send short alarm messages with the address of spot to her families, concerned police stations, National Helpline Centre (10921) on Prevent Violence Against Women and police control room. "Besides that app would preserve conversations, would take pictures after particular interval and these would be preserved in the mobile phones and these would be sent automatically to national helpline centre's server," she said adding, "That app would contain information of women safety and their rights". The website of the application is www.vawcms.gov.bd. GAZIPUR: Harun-ur- Rashid, SP, Gazipur speaking at a view exchange meeting with journalists on militancy and terrorism in the city recently. Zahid Hasan, Purnima together after 12 years in Eid play Sheikh Arif Bulbon :Two National Film Award winner actors Zahid Hasan and Purnima informed that 12 years ago they last worked together. They last worked together in Zahid Hasan directed a drama serial titled Laal Nil Beguni, which was aired on ATN Bangla during that time. After a long time break, they again worked together in a special play titled Priyo Rong Holud, which was directed by Imraul Rafat on the occasion of coming Eid. Rafat also wrote story of the play. Shooting of the play was done from August 22 to 24 in the citys Moghbazar area. Zahid Hasan informed that it is a romantic story based play. While sharing his feelings to work with Purnima after a long time and also to work under Imraul Rafats direction he told this correspondent, Purnima is like my family member. She is like younger sister. We have to engage with our works that we cannot manage time to meet each other. But we have a soulful relationship. While working in Rafats play I didnt feel that after a long time I worked with her. Purnima is a superstar of Bangladesh. But she never expresses it by her attitude. She is so gentle. It was my first work under Rafats direction. He knows how to ensure his works from the actors showing proper respect to them. I liked it.Purnima shared her feelings by this way, Zahid Bhai-Mou Apu is my favourite couple. I always think them as my family members. I can recall the memories of those days when their daughter Pushpita was child. During that time I passed many days in their residence to take part gossiping with them. I never forget those memories. Zahid Bhai is such a person who always tries to solve any problem of mine seems like my elder brother. Last Eid I first worked under Rafats direction. This time also worked in this play. Rafat can successfully finish his works from the actors without giving any pain, which cannot be given by others.August 24 was Rafats birthday. On his birthday he finished shooting of the play joyfully. While talking about to cast Zahid Hasan and Purnima in his play Rafat said, I have some dream persons to cast them in my works. Zahid Bhai and Purnima Apu are one of them. I am really grateful to them to cooperate me while making this play, which will be aired on NTV in Eid-ul-Azha.Meanwhile, Zahid Hasan has already finished shooting of Eid serial Beauty Boat. This Eid, Purnima will be seen to act in Redoan Roni, Sokal Ahmed and SA Haque Aliks plays. Govt to spend Tk 42.9 cr on agri rehab: Matia Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury said the government has decided to spend Tk 42.9 crore on its agriculture rehabilitation and incentive programme in the upcoming Robi season to recoup the losses the farmers suffered by the recent floods. Matia made the disclosure at a press briefing at the Secretariat on Wednesday. The minister said about 7.50 lakh hectares of land, including aman seedbeds vegetables and other crop lands, were submerged while 1.58 lakh crop lands were damaged due to the floods in 16 district- Kurigram, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Bogra, Sunamganj, Sirajganj, Jamalpur, Tangail, Faridpur, Rajbari, Madaripur, Manikganj, Shariatpur and Munshiganj. Under the rehabilitation programme, the government will spend Tk 53.74 lakh for seed supply free of cost. Besides, the government will distribute paddy seedbeds of 'Nabi' variety among the affected farmers through Department of Agriculture (DAE), Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC), Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) and BRI under the rehabilitation programme, said Matia. The government has taken an initiative to distribute seeds of spinach, vegetables free of cost for meeting the nutrition demand of the farmers' families, she said. Once the programme is implemented, a total of 17,211 farmers will be benefited, she added. Matia said the government will spend Tk 41.56 crore under the incentive programme on supplying free seeds and fertilizers for 4.1 lakh farmers. The aim of this incentive programme is to motivate the farmers for cultivating developed and new varieties of corps, she said. Sk Russel to play FC Tertons today Sheikh Russel KC of Bangladesh will play their last Group C match of the AFC Cup Play-off Qualifiers against FC Tertons of host Bhutan at Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu today (Thursday). Sheikh Russel KC, which played to a 1-1 draw with Tatung FC of Chinese Taipei in their first Group C match on Tuesday, needed a outright victory in their match against home team qualify for the final round of play-off of the AFC Cup. Bangladesh team dominated the match till 80th minute against Taipei team by a nice goal from defender Jules Ikanga but midfielder Hung Shih-Cheng restored the parity for Tatung FC in the 81st minute from a penalty with frustration of Bangladesh side. Earlier, FC Tertons of hosts Bhutan played goalless draw with Tatung FC of Chinese Taipei last Sunday Sheikh Russel KC, which finished runners-up in the last edition of the Bangladesh Premier League, are going through a bad time in the ongoing JB Bangladesh Premier League losing five matches out of six they have played so far. Meanwhile, Maraful Haque men increased their strength in the AFC Cup with the inclusion of four guest players from Chittagong Abahani and Sheikh Jamal DC. Janmastami of Sri Krishna Swami Dhruveshananda : Every religion has three important aspects---philosophical, ritualistic and mythological. The philosophical aspect is the core of all religions. To make it understandable to the general followers of religions, the seers of religions or the prophets used mythological matters. Mythological matters contain description of incarnation, life-pattern of religious kings etc. Srimat Bhagavatam, Mahabharatam, Ramayanam are the important epics in Hindu religion. In these, divine play of God has been described so that people in general can grasp essence of religion easily. Ritualistic matters like puja, prayer, taking of sacred food etc. help in remembering God in everyday life. The Ultimate Reality in different religions is described as Parameshwara, Allah, God etc. In Sanatan Dharma there is a belief of incarnation of God. When there is the degradation of religion and the abundance of devils in the world, God assumes various forms to reach human being as a person to teach religious ideals dispelling evil deeds and doers. God has no birth nor death, but as if, He takes birth as mortal being and play His divine play to teach humankind. Such is the case in the event of Janmastami. In a poetic language there is a description in Bhagavatam. When the kings in the earth, became unjust following irreligious mentality, deeds, cruelty etc., the earth went to God named Vishnu the sustainer of the world and described her distress as a result of activities of the irreligious kings. God promised the earth to descend as an incarnation. A cruel king Kamsa imprisoned his father Ugrasen to become king himself. He began to torture the good religious people of the kingdom. Once he was carrying his sister Devaki and her bride-groom Vasudev in his chariot, there he heard the celestial voice that the 8th child of this couple on the chariot would kill him. Then Kamsa kept the innocent couple in the prison and killed seven sons one after another. In one of the previous lives Devaki and Vasudev as Prishni and Sutapa prayed for a son like God Himself. There is none like God, so God Himself by His divine power became a divine child and took His advent in the prison. The kind Kamsa could not kill the child as the father kept the child in the dead of night in the house of king Nanda at Vraja, but nobody did know the matter. That night was the 8th lunar day of Bengali month Shravana the auspicious Janmashthami. The saint Garga named the divine boy Krishna and known in the world as Bhagavan Sri Krishna. By listening and meditating on the matters of divine birth and play of God which is supernatural, a spiritual aspirant becomes pure in heart. He or she overcomes the fear of death. Living the life in peace and happiness, he or she goes to heaven. Sri Krishna in his divine play protected the religious people by establishing religion and destroyed the evil doers. Swami Vivekananda urged us all to become strong in body and mind to understand Sri Krishna and His teachings like Geeta. As a person Sri Krishna had wonderful activity and combination of brain and heart. He practised in his life and preached : 'He who in the midst of intense activity finds himself in the greatest calmness, and in the greatest peace finds intense activity, that is the greatest Yogi.' His play is going on for ever in His universal teachings as the Bhagavad Geeta and illumines all irrespective of caste, colour or creed, giving inspiration for living all in peace and harmony. His teachings always inspire us also in our life's battle-filed : 'Making pleasure and misery the same, making success and defeat the same, do thou stand up and fight (discharge your duties).' Sri Krishna says, 'Whosoever comes to Me through whatsoever form I reach him. All human beings follow the path of Mine.' So we understand that all the religious methods may be different but the goal is the Infinite God Himself, the Ultimate Reality. Sri Krishna also says that if anybody submits himself or herself at the feet of God wholeheartedly, then God protects him or her from all evil-doings. This unconditional submission is the goal of all religious practices. One becomes the best devotee of God by practising non-hatred or non-injury to others. To him friends and enemies become the same as God inhabits hearts of all beings. By following the teachings of Sri Krishna we can be pure in heart ourselves and become worthy of serving humanity as the service to God Himself. This will lead all the followers of all religions to live in harmony with peaceful co-existence which is very necessary in the present chaotic world with hatred. (Swami Dhruveshananda,, Adhyaksha, Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission, Dhaka.) 73 killed in Italy A man is pulled out of the rubble with a large gash in his head following the earthquake in Amatrice. Photo: Internet The New York Times, AMATRICE, Italy :A strong earthquake struck a mountainous stretch of central Italy early Wednesday, killing at least 73 people, trapping scores under debris and setting off tremors that awakened residents in Rome, nearly 100 miles to the southwest.The 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck at 3:36 a.m., about 6.5 miles southeast of the town of Norcia in the Umbria region, followed by about 200 aftershocks over the next several hours, including a 5.5-magnitude tremor at 4:33 a.m.The authorities said the quake was comparable in intensity to one in 2009 in the Abruzzo region of central Italy that killed more than 300 people.Towns across three regions - Umbria, Lazio and Marche - were devastated by the quake, which could be felt as far away as Bologna in the north and Naples in the south. Fifty-three people were killed in just two towns, Amatrice and Accumoli, both in Lazio, and 20 others in Marche, where the village of Arquata del Tronto and the hamlet of Pescara del Tronto suffered severe damage.At least 100 people were injured, Immacolata Postiglione, the head of the emergency unit for the Civil Protection Agency, said at a news conference in Rome. "The number of missing people is undefined at the moment," she said. The mayor of Amatrice, Sergio Pirozzi, said that "half the town no longer exists," adding that rescue teams were digging through the rubble, "hoping that most people were alive." The historic center of the town, with buildings dating to the Middle Ages, was destroyed."The problem is removing people from under the rubble," he said. Asked how many people he thought were still trapped or dead underneath debris, he said, "many, many."Mr. Pirozzi added that Amatrice had been cut off because of damage to roads and a bridge, and in a live television broadcast, he appealed for assistance. The town's missing reportedly included two refugees from Afghanistan and three nuns and four elderly guests at a local boardinghouse. The town's hospital had to be evacuated, but its patients were not injured, the news service ANSA reported. The village of Pescara del Tronto was all but destroyed. "When I arrived at the break of day, I saw a destroyed village, screams, death," Bishop Giovanni D'Ercole of Ascoli Piceno, who visited the village, told Vatican Radio. He said he had blessed "the bodies of two children buried under the rubble."Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, in brief remarks from Rome, said he would head toward the epicenter of the quake later on Wednesday. He thanked rescue workers and volunteers who had dug through debris, some with their bare hands, to reach trapped people, and he said the nation had rallied to help. "No family, no city, no hamlet will be left alone," he said.Expressions of solidarity and offers of help poured in from France, Germany, Israel and other countries, as well as from the European Commission. Ambulances raced back and forth on one of the main roads to Amatrice, where a courtyard in a still-standing palazzo had been turned into an impromptu morgue.CNN showed footage of construction equipment being used to try to comb through giant pieces of debris in Amatrice and of rescuers standing on huge piles of rubble where homes once stood, evidence of the enormous scale of the rescue effort. "We need chain saws, shears to cut iron bars and jacks to remove beams," a civil protection worker, Andrea Gentili, told The Associated Press. "Everything, we need everything."A video posted to YouTube by the State Forestry Corps showed a woman trapped under debris in the rural town of Capodacqua, as a man encouraged her to remain calm. Nonprofit agencies put out calls for blood donations. Massimo Cialente, the mayor of L'Aquila, the town near the epicenter of the 2009 Abruzzo earthquake, said that 250 temporary homes built after that disaster would be available for newly displaced people.Pope Francis skipped the catechism lesson during his Wednesday general audience and led pilgrims at St. Peter's Square in praying for the victims, holding a rosary in his right hand."I cannot fail to express my heartfelt sorrow and spiritual closeness to all those present in the zones afflicted," he said in remarks released by the Vatican. "I also express my condolences to those who have lost loved ones, and my spiritual support to those who are anxious and afraid. Hearing the mayor of Amatrice say that the town no longer exists, and learning that there are children among the dead, I am deeply saddened."The paths of destruction led to other places, including the Tyrrhenian coast. A witness in Sperlonga, a popular seaside town in Lazio, said that the historic city center had been seriously damaged, and news channels showed photographs of crumbled buildings and rubble-covered cars.The earthquake was felt across a broad area pockmarked with dozens of small towns. Italian officials said it was difficult to gauge the number of casualties or the damage as the ground kept trembling through the night.Fabrizio Curcio, the director of the Civil Protection Department, said that the earthquake had been severe and that national emergency procedures had been activated.Mr. Curcio said mayors in the affected areas were monitoring the destruction. "They know the territory best," he said. By early morning, rescue operations had been able to reach the most damaged towns, he said, adding, "We have to carry out an analysis of the territory and see if there are other places that have to be reached."Get news and analysis from Europe and around the world delivered to your inbox every day in the European morning. On social media, there were many reports of friends or relatives being buried or trapped, and local residents said that the rescue effort was hindered by the fact that teams were having difficulty getting to the mountainous area, where most towns are reachable only along winding country roads.Facebook activated its safety check feature for the region, which allows users to mark themselves as safe and quickly alert friends and family after a crisis or a natural disaster.In Norcia, dozens of residents wrapped in blankets greeted the dawn in the town's main square. "Much of our patrimony is damaged, but there are no victims," Mayor Nicola Alemanno told RaiNews24. "That is the good news." Katherine Selby, who is from Nottingham, England, was vacationing with her family in Campagnano di Roma, just outside Rome, when the wardrobe doors began "shaking like crazy," she wrote on Twitter.It was frightening because it was unclear what was going on, she said, adding that she was anxiously waiting for the next aftershock. She said there was no damage.The United States Geological Survey said the people in the region lived in structures that were a "mix of vulnerable and earthquake-resistant construction." JnU students blocked the city\'s Paltan area by setting fire on the street reiterating their demands for dormitories on the land of Dhaka jail for 24th consecutive day on Wednesday. JnU students continue strike for halls JnU Correspondent :The students of Jagannath University (JnU) staged demonstration for the 24th consecutive day on Wednesday blocking roads at Paltan intersection in the city reiterating their demand for construction of residential halls. As a result, stalemate prevailed there for three hours.The demonstrators will hold a congregation programme with teachers, students and intellectuals near the Central Shaheed Minar on Friday. In the evening of the day, a torch rally has been planned at Shahbagh, and on Saturday they will form a human chain with students of all public universities of the country.Khairunnesa, a spokesperson of the movement, said, "We have been demonstrating for over three weeks for halls, but we are yet to get any assurance from the government. In fact, our demonstration for dormitory will continue until the Prime Minister gives us assurance."The spokesperson urged the teachers and students of all public universities and intellectuals of the country to attend the congregation programme at the Central Shaheed Minar on Friday at 3pm. In the meantime, at a press conference, JnU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mijanur Rahman said, "Movement for hall is logical. But students should also attend their classes and examinations, and at the same time, they should keep trust in the university authority who is always working to solve their accommodation problem." He urged the students to submit their demands through a memorandum, which will be sent to the PM office for consideration.The VC also said, "A Draft Project Proposal of tk 274cr for students' dormitory and the development work of the university is under consideration. The PM assured me through the Education Minister about the project after Eid vacation."According to eyewitnesses, locking all the buildings, thousands of students thronged the university liberation sculpture premises around 7.30am and brought out a procession that Marched to Paltan breaking the barricades at Roy Shaheb Bazar intersection and Nayabazar intersection. They staged demonstrations with a token dead body covered with a white piece of cloth in that area from 10.00am to 1.00pm blocking Topkhana Road. Thus, the traffic movement of that area stood still for three hours. Julia Akter, a student of mass Communication and Journalism Department, said, "We are harassed not only by the BCL men, but also by the law enforces. We earnestly ask the university authority to take step about the matter."About harassing, Katwali Thana OC Abul Hassan did not admit the accusation. JnU Proctor Dr Noor Mohammad said, "We are aware of the safety of the students. We have already advised the law enforces team not to hassle the students anyway."Since August 1, the JnU students have been demonstrating for allotment of lands of the abandoned Central Jail in Old Dhaka for construction of residential halls named after Bangabandhu and four National Leaders. Kerry due on Monday for talks Security, key issues on agenda Staff Reporter :US Secretary of State John Kerry will arrive in capital Dhaka on a brief visit on August 29 to hold talks with Bangladesh leaders on a range of key bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest."Yes, he (John Kerry) is coming to Dhaka on August 29. We're very delighted," Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali told journalists on Wednesday. He was talking to the journalists after attending a seminar titled 'Implementing SDGs in Bangladesh: Challenges and Policy Options' as the chief guest in the city.It will be Kerry's first visit to Bangladesh after former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Bangladesh during her tenure. AH Mahmood Ali will host John Kerry in the city on August 29. According to the diplomatic sources, Kerry's visit is being considered a major development in the relationship between Dhaka and Washington. Kerry will carry the message of US President Barack Obama that the US wants to take its ties with Bangladesh to new heights.On February 19 last year, Mahmood Ali invited his counterpart to visit Bangladesh. John Kerry responded 'very positively' and said he would love to take the visit at the 'earliest opportunity'.During his brief visit in Dhaka, John Kerry will hold a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on a whole range of issues, including security cooperation, and discuss ways to strengthen the relations between the two countries. He will also meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the day.Apart from them, US Secretary of State will also hold meetings with civil society representatives and media people during his stay in Dhaka. John Kerry will be Dhaka on the morning of August 29 and leave for New Delhi later in the evening. Foreign Minister AH Mahmood said during his daylong visit to Dhaka all the aspects of Bangladesh-US relations including bilateral, regional and international and security issues will be discussed widely. "We both US and Bangladesh have long been discussing the visit and now we're going through the preparation process for the coming visit," he said. On the bilateral front, their focus will be on expanding cooperation in areas of security, trade and investment, science and technology, energy and environment.Replying to a query about the issues and areas expected to be discussed during the visit, the foreign minister said, "We are waiting for his arrival right now."Meanwhile, US Ambassador in Dhaka Marcia Bernicat on Wednesday said US Secretary of State John Kerry will visit Dhaka to carry forward the ties between the two countries to a "new height". She came up with the statement after paying a courtesy call with Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal at his office in city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar yesterday.Marcia Bernicat said, John Kerry will carry the message of US President Barack Obama that the US wants to take its ties with Bangladesh to new heights.There is a scheduled event in New Delhi on August 30 titled 'US-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue' but it could not be confirmed whether Kerry will be attending the event or not. A diplomatic source told that Bangladesh Ambassador in Washington Mohammad Ziauddin will leave for Dhaka on August 26 and arrive here on August 27. "This's a sudden development," the diplomat said adding that a formal announcement regarding Kerry's visit will be available on Monday.The United States is already in discussion with Bangladesh about assistance package in countering terrorism and violent extremism taking Bangladesh's need into consideration. US Ambassador in Dhaka Marcia Bernicat held several meetings at the Foreign Ministry in the past weeks, including her meeting with Foreign Minister on Sunday, but did not indicate any such high-level visit.Asked whether the US is pursuing any new agenda with Bangladesh, Bernicat earlier said there is 'constant evolution' more or less on the same agenda but new things may come like blue economy and opportunities that lie.Bangladesh and the United States have three prescribed talks, and Security Dialogue is one of the things they are tracking which will be held here in October.The security dialogue usually covers a broad range of topics, including strategic priorities and regional issues, security assistance, cyber-security, peacekeeping, military-to-military cooperation, and counter-terrorism.Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, maritime and other related issues are likely to be discussed in the security dialogue, too.The 71st regular session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) that will begin at UN Headquarters on 13 September. People's sufferings mount No cargo vessel leaves terminal, Govt sits with workers' leaders Staff Reporter : The indefinite strike enforced by the vessel workers on Tuesday midnight continued for the second consecutive day on Wednesday. As the strike continued, the passengers underwent unbearable sufferings being left in the lurch at the launch terminals across the country. Only a small number of vessels left Sadarghat terminal yesterday. Most of the river vessels, including launches, and goods, sand and oil-laden ones, stayed off the waterways as usual. Particularly, no cargo vessels left the terminal defying the strike. The strike, enforced jointly by Bangladesh Water Transport Workers Federation and Bangladesh River Vessel Workers Federation, began at 12:01am on Tuesday. To dissolve the trouble, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan sat in a meeting with the leaders of Bangladesh Water Transport Workers Federation at Labour Directorate in the city at 8:00pm. Officials concerned of the Shipping Ministry and Labour Ministry were present at the meeting. It was going on till time of filing of this report at 9:45pm yesterday. Before attending the meeting, General Secretary of Bangladesh Water Transport Workers Federation Chowdhury Ashiqul Alam said the strike will continue until their demands were met. On the other hand, shipping minister Shajahan Khan hoped that the vessel workers would withdraw their strike soon. Witnesses said some passenger vessels were seen departing from Sadarghat Launch Terminal. BIWTA Transport Inspector Dinesh Kumar Das said some passenger vessels left Sadarghat. But no passenger vessel left the terminal during the first half of the first day of the strike. Four passenger launches left for Chandpur, Barisal, Sureshwar and Muladi on Wednesday morning while many more were preparing for departure. Biman to operate addl flights for Hajj pilgrims UNB, Dhaka :The Saudi government has approved 15 slots to facilitate the transportation of hajj pilgrims through additional flights following the cancellation of 15 flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, said Religious Affairs Minister Motiur Rahman on Wednesday. The minister revealed this at a press briefing at his ministry.Motiur Rahman said, a total of 5,200 pilgrims will go to perform hajj undergovernment management while 96,558 under private management. "The processing of 92,568 visas has already been completed by Saudi Embassy. The rest of the visas will get approval soon and the pilgrims will be able to go to Saudi Arabia in due time," said Motiur Rahman.He also said, Bangladesh Biman cancelled the 15 flights for unwanted reasons and the problem has been solved. "We've increased the capacity of flights to 419 which was 300 earlier," said the minister."We'll take stern action against the hajj agencies which had tried to create crisis in overall hajj management," he added.Referring to the allegations of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (Haab) against secretary Abdul Jalil and director (Hajj) Abu Saleh Mosfata of the Religious Affairs Ministry for crisis in hajj management, the minister said he had instructed to resolve the problem and it was done accordingly. Willes Little school girl stabbed in city Staff Reporter : A schoolgirl was stabbed by a rowdy youth for not responding to his unfair proposal in front of Willes Little Flower School and College in the city's Kakrail area on Wednesday. The victim has been identified as Suraiya Akhter, a student of class VIII of Willes Little Flower School and College. The classmates of Suraiya Akhter said that a youth barricaded her path and told her to agree to his unfair proposal. But Suraiya rejected him and was about to leave the spot. At this, the youth aged 22 to 24 stabbed her in the left abdomen and the left hand and ran away. Schoolmates rescued Suraiya from the spot and sent her to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment. Tania Akhter, the victim's mother, accused a tailor shop's salesman of Eastern Mollika Shopping Complex, who daughter over mobile phone at times." Officer-in-Charge of Ramna Police Station Moshiur Rahman told The New Nation that they had detained four persons from Boishakhi Tailors of Eastern Mollika Shopping Complex for interrogation. "We interrogated them and gathered information that a cutting master who laboured there two months ago might have his hand in the stabbing incident. We are looking for him," the OC said. Meanwhile, hundreds of guardians gathered at the school and demanded exemplary punishment to the culprit. Govt influenced Narail court against Khaleda: BNP UNB, Dhaka :BNP on Wednesday alleged that the government has influenced a Narail court to issue a warrant for the arrest of its chairperson Khaleda Zia in a sedition case filed for her remark on the numberof martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War.Speaking at a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan central office, BNP joint secretary general Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal demanded the government immediately withdraw the treason case filed against her in Narail."Awami League leaders have openly declared to eliminate BNP. As part of this move, false cases are being filed against Khaleda Zia one after another. The government influenced the court to issue the warrant for her arrest. 15 temporary cattle markets for Eid-ul Azha Anisul Islam Noor :Around 1.20 crore animals are to be sacrificed in the country during the Eid-ul-Azha, the biggest religious festival of the Muslim community, of which 45 percent are slaughtered in Dhaka city, said the sources of Department of Livestock Services (DLS). The two city corporations have finalised 15 temporary cattle haats out of 17 expecting double income this year.Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and North City Corporation (DNCC) floated tenders for their 12 and five temporary haats respectively in July.DSCC is arranging 12 haats, including two new adjacent to Kamalapur Railway Station (KRS) and Jatrabari Kitchen Market area. Another haat was earlier under consideration of DNCC at Basila, Mohammadpur, which was later dumped, said Chief Estate Officer of the north Aminul Islam.He said, four markets named Mirpur Eastern Housing, Sonargaon Janapath Road at Uttara, Banarupa Housing and Bhashantek have been leased out to the highest bidders. Last year, DNCC earned Tk 2.34 crore, while the highest bid of this year is only Tk 1.11 crore. The DNCC called for a retender of the haat on August 11, he said. Banarupa Market has been leased out for Tk 2.41 crore, Sonargaon Janapath Road for Tk 1.25 crore, Mirpur Eastern Housing for Tk 51 lakh and new haat at Bhashantek for Tk 1.60 crore.Decision on the markets at Agargaon-Taltola and Banani in northern part is under consideration, said DNCC office.The permanent cattle market at Gabtoli is also under the management of DNCC, which is leased at the beginning of the Bangla calendar year (from April). The DNCC fetched Tk nine crore by leasing out the haat last year.Meanwhile, the DSCC has so far completed tender process of 11 haats out of its targeted 12. The earning from the haats almost doubled this year.But the highest bid for Haji Delowar Hossain Maath (playground) was much lower than that of last year, said Chief Estate Officer of DSCC Khalid Ahmed. He said that this year the highest bid for the market was only Tk 1.4 crore when the corporation got Tk 1.95 crore last year."We are considering retender for the market", he said.Sadek Hossain Khoka Maath at Dholaikhal has been leased out for Tk 1.55 crore, which was only Tk 55 lakh last year.Hazaribagh-Jigatola has been leased for Tk 66 lakh against Tk 46 lakh last year, while East-End Club at Dhupkhola has been given for Tk 93 lakh against Tk 44 lakh last year.Income from Maitrisangha Maath at Uttar Shajahanpur, Khilgaon Meradia Maath, Gopibagh Balu Maath, Postagola Shashan Ghat and Islam Chairman Bari at Kamrangirchar rose by 70-80 per cent this year, said Khalid Ahmed.Newer market at Jatarbari and KRS brought Tk 75 lakh and Tk 20 lakh respectively, he said.Md Liyakat Ali, who gave the highest bid for Mirpur Eastern Housing temporary cattle market, said that the key-challenge for the market operators will be to fight illegal cattle markets. DNCC Chief Estate Officer Aminul Islam said that city corporations have sought logistic support from the law-enforcement agencies regarding illegal haats in the city corporation areas. With loss of lives, disappearances and anarchy all around need is governance Some fifteen thousand people have been detained on suspicion of terrorism which has been noticed critically by The New York Times last Wednesday. Instances of so many persons being kept without trial is unnecessary by any reason. The allegation made in renowned daily is that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government's real purpose is not to prevent terrorism but to punish opponents. In our view the government's image is tarnished by overenthusiasts in the government. In the passing fortnight time, the country experienced a host of man-made disasters, repeated incidents of fire, gruesome killings, brute violence against poor women, child killings, fatal accidents, deaths in hazardous workplace, alleged forced disappearances, deaths in natural calamities like tornado, deaths due to intra-party power dominance etc. In short, the country has been going through man-made and natural calamities. What is most worrisome is that the government functionaries do not feel that they are public servants to serve the people. They are not responsive to public grievances. They are more anxious about security of their jobs. Besides, the routine cases of death in 'shootouts' or 'cross-fire' remained 'business-as-usual'. However, colossal damage of properties caused by fire at the city's mega shopping mall - Bashundhara City - remains at the top of all talks of negligence in public duty. A fire broke out at the mall namely Bashundhara City in the capital's Panthapath area on Sunday. No casualties were reported in the fire. Before that, on Mar 9, 2009, a fatal fire had swept the mall, popular among Dhaka residents, claiming seven lives and injuring more than 100. Another incident of fire occurred in August the same year and another in September 2015. It seems the shopping complex is fire prone. This time the total loss may stand around Tk.100 crore. The businessmen there are simply shattered. Arson has been taking place one after another in this big shopping mall at the centre of the capital. Our newspaper on Tuesday reported that at least two fire incidents took places in the city's Mirpur and Mouchak Markets while another at Railway Gate Market in Gaibandha district town on Monday after the Bashundhara City Shopping Mall fire on Sunday. In city's East Monipur of Mirpur, a youth died after inhaling huge smoke caused by the fire that engulfed a five-storey building. Police confirmed a 30-year-old youth identified as Mamun Miah, who passed away on Monday fire cause. On August 20, a fire broke out at a ready-made garments factory in Kaliakoir upazila of Gazipur. At least 35 people have fallen ill by inhaling gas leaking from a tank of a Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertiliser factory in Chittagong's Anwara on Monday. The gas spread after the leak at the factory adjacent to Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Ltd (CUFL) factory owned by the state-owned Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC).Another report of a national daily said, around 200 liquefied petroleum gas cylinders of Padma Oil Company exploded during unloading the cylinders from trucks at Sujabad of Shahzadpur in Bogra on Saturday. According to depot officials, five labourers sustained minor injuries in the incident. They blamed that the cylinders of BPC companies were very old and not useable and therefore exploded while unloading.At least five people including a man and his wife were killed in a head-on collision between a truck and auto-rickshaw in Comilla on Saturday. The accident took place on Muradnagar-Eliotganj road at Payab village under Darra Union of Muradnagar upazila.A Sylhet-bound mail train was derailed in Akhauara section disrupting Dhaka-Ctg train movement for 6 hours. Luckily, there was no casualty. However, on the highways and other local-roads, some 100 plus people died (on an average of 8 persons per day) this fortnight. College in Dinajpur and Bogra witnessed stiff student clashes between the activists of ruling party students' wing. In Comilla University, one student was killed in one such bloody clash. In Sylhet, BCL cadres blasted home-made bombs on police on Monday injuring 6 persons including 4 police men because they opposed the BCL's unauthorised rally disrupting normal live severely. Several reports of violence against women came in the press during this time. The worst being at Rangpur (Peergonj) where a non-Muslim woman was inhumanly beaten by her neighbours (also non-Muslims) as she demanded payment of money which they owe to her. Two children, -- a brother and a sister - were brutally killed inside their house in the city's Bashabo area on 12 August. Some other such incidents also occurred across the country, as reported in the press.A trader was shot on his legs on Monday (Aug 22) at Tipu Sultan Road in the city and snatched of Tk 6 lakh. The day before, a bKash agent was robbed of Tk 8 lakh in similar manner in Bogra.A youth was killed by police beating in Rangpur on Saturday. On Aug 11, in Moulvibazar district, a man died in police chase when they looked for his sons allegedly involved in Yaba trading. Police foiled demos against Rampal Power Plant in the city's Shahbag area on Sunday. The police was, however, very prompt in dispersing 3 (three) demonstrations - (i) of the National Committee on Oil, Gas and Natural Resources Protection Body, (ii) Students demanding trial of Afsana Killers and (iii) JnU students demanding setting-up of residential halls for them at newly vacant old Jail premises. They brutally charged baton on the activists who demanded cancellation of the Rampal Power Plant on the ground that it would be environmentally unsustainable. A college girl namely Afsana studying in a private poly-technic college in the capital has allegedly been killed by the cadres of ruling party students' wing. As per media reports, on August 13 two unidentified men dumped Afsana's body at a local hospital. She was a final year student of Architecture at Mirpur's Saik Institute of Management and Technology. Afsana's family alleged that the victim was raped before being murdered.A Central Committee member of Jubo League hailing from Gopalganj has grabbed several acres of land in the district (near Jalilpar - a Hindu dominated area) for his so-called industrial establishment as reported in the press last week. During the period under review, nearly a thousand (1000) opposition leaders and workers have been arrested mostly on anti-state/ terrorist account. Even a not-so-serious look at the facts reported above would make 3 (three) things clear to all. First, the government by its utter inactions or inability to act promptly on these incidents has proved to be ineffective in running the day-to-day affairs of the state. Secondly, over all law and order situation of the country has come to a near halt and the men close to the power have developed a sense of immunity and do not bother to draw a line limiting their act of lawlessness or arbitrary deeds in perpetuating their greed. And thirdly, the government of the day is manipulated by behind the scene forces to distance itself more and more from being a government of the people and for the people. It is unhelpful for good governance when police are politicised and the people cannot trust them as their friends. The government's top priority should be to listen to the people if the government has to stay in power. Public support and cooperation are essential for good governance. The government only listen to its own self-seekers. Yet we are trying to caution the government that they must think and act seriously to come closer to the people. Don't divide the country as freedom fighters and non-freedom fighters. It is time to unite the people for living together. It is not acceptable that whoever went to India in our crisis time during Pakistan's army occupation, is a super patriot and has the audacity to question patriotism of those who did not run away. In our anxiety we see that the country is poised for widespread violence. There are a number of base blockchain platforms that are important in the payments sphere, with the three leading players being Bitcoin, Ethereum and Ripple. These are the base development platforms, rather than a payments service per se, and choosing which to use is intriguing as they all offer something different. Bearing in mind that a blockchain has to have currency to operate, each has its own. Ripple has XRP; Ethereum has Ether; and Bitcoin has bitcoins. Ripple is fairly banks specific, whilst general digital currency start-ups need to choose between bitcoins and ethers. Which blockchain platform to use Bitcoin or Ethereum was the subject of a recent column by Jonathan Chester on Forbes: Five years after Bitcoins release, prodigy Vitalik Buterin created Ethereum, the most notable of the second generation blockchains. Buterin approved of the presence of scripting features in Bitcoin but he saw that they were very limited. Ethereum provides a Turing complete computing environment in its blockchain, which is the computer scientists way of saying that it includes a full featured programming language. You can write a program in Solidity, the Python-like language of Ethereum, release it into the blockchain, and itll run on whatever Ethereum node is handy when conditions trigger its execution. That doesnt sound like much, but its the foundation of workable smart contracts, the thing that enabled the creation of The DAO, and which will permit all sorts of financial innovation going forward. While this can theoretically be done on the Bitcoin blockchain (companies like Counterparty and Roostock are trying to do just that), smart contracts are far more streamlined on Ethereum, which was built specifically for this use case. I guess most financial institutions if they werent using Ripple for counterparty payments, are moving towards Ethereum for this reason. For example, R3CEV ran an experiment at the start of this year, connecting 11 banks (Barclays, BMO Financial Group, Credit Suisse, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, HSBC, Natixis, Royal Bank of Scotland, TD Bank, UBS, UniCredit and Wells Fargo) to Microsoft Azure's Blockchain as a Service using Ethereum as its underlying platform. Similarly, the Bank of Englands Distributed Ledger Proof of Concept for Real-Time Gross Settlement is based upon Ethereum. Anyways, as these are blockchain development platforms, most of the interesting firms offering payment services today are Bitcoin based. Thats unsurprising as Bitcoin has the most capitalisation today. So, here are the nine firms that stand-out for me as start-ups in the payments space: 21, Abra, Align Commerce, BitNet, BitPesa, Circle, Coinify, Earthport and Kraken Exchange. There are nine close runners-up identified here as well: Bitspark, BlockPay, Coins.ph, CoinPip, Hellobit, Rebit, Romit, TransferB and Volabit. 21 Inc. According to Yahoo Finance, this is the most exciting company involved in the blockchain payments space as, even before 21 Inc. had put out a product, it had raised $121 million in venture fundingthe most of any bitcoin company. It was unclear, for months, what 21 would actually do or make but some of the biggest names in fintech funding including Andreessen Horowitz, Khosla Ventures, and the Winklevoss brothers, were interested enough to invest. Then things started to move very quickly. In February, 21 released its first productand it was hardware, a rarity among bitcoin companies. It was the 21 bitcoin computer, which allows for mining the cryptocurrency as well as building applications on top of the bitcoin blockchain, the open-source, decentralized ledger that underlies bitcoin. The computer is about the length of an iPhone. It attracted a lot of buzz and attention in the bitcoin world. At the bitcoin conference Consensus 21 CEO Balaji Srinivasan, a partner at Andreessen Horowitz, moved the companys vision forward again. He announced that the 21 software can now be installed on any Mac or Linux-compatible system (Windows is coming soon), and eventually will come to mobile phones. Every computer is now a bitcoin computer, he said. Meanwhile, One way of thinking about it is, the 21 software makes bitcoin a part of your operating system, Srinivasan says. Over time, what we think that will do is increase demand for bitcoin as a resource, and this is why 21 is arguably the single most exciting bitcoin company right now. Most people dont quite understand what bitcoin is or why it matters. Srinivasans argument is: You dont need to know what it is or how it works for it to be important to your digital life. He explains it this way to a layperson: I ask people, Do you use Linux? Theyll probably say no. But if youre using Google.com, or Facebook.com, or Yahoo.com, you actually are using Linux, even if you dont know it. So Linux is there, everywhere, its just behind the scenes, and it just sounds very technical because it solves problems for developers. And I think its going to be the same thing with bitcoin. Srinivasan frames bitcoin as the next major system resource in computing, something that will be a key component in every computer, just like a hard drive, RAM, and bandwidth. Bitcoin, he says, can be the resource that computers trade with other computers (without you having to worry about it), creating a machine economy. Once a computer can send a small amount of money as part of its operating system, it can effectively rent or sell resources to other computers, Srinivasan says. That was the idea behind the bitcoin computer: If you had 500 of these things, what could they do together? Abra Abra is a US company founded in 2014. The company provides person-to-person money transfers through an app. The app lets users store digital cash (valued in any currency) directly on their mobile device by using a debit card or through an Abra Teller. The user is not required to have a bank account to use the service. The user can send funds instantly to anyone with a smartphone. The recipient can withdraw cash from the app via a teller as well. Bitcoin is used as back-end infrastructure by the company, but funds are denominated in US dollars that pass through the system. Currently live between the USA and the Philippines, Abra told investors it plans to launch in Australia, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and throughout the Americas, a total of more than 20 countries, by November 2017. The company has already preregistered Abra Tellers in more than 75 countries without doing any marketing. Why its hot is that whenever Abras enigmatic CEO Bill Barhydt appears at a financial conference, the place starts buzzing. Take American Bankers Blockchain and Digital Currencies conference at the end of July: A lot of time at the end of conference talks, the moderator vaguely looks around the room and hopes that attendees will raise their hands, but no one does. Its painful. This was not an issue today at the end of the fireside chat between American Banker editor Marc Hochstein and Abra founder and CEO Bill Barhydt. Abra allows two people to exchange money without someone in the middle by connecting peoples bitcoin wallets. Ive been working on some variant of this problem for 10 to 15 years, Barhydt said during his introduction. Consumers dont even realize they have bitcoin wallets, though. From their perspective, they have local money. In other words, Abra has the ease of Venmo with the added benefit of extremely cheap international transfers. From the consumer perspective, Abra is a way to put money in an app on your phone and use it to pay people or businesses all over the world, for free or very cheap. It makes the transactions fast by using bitcoin, under the hood. What excited the bankers and financial entrepreneurs in the room so much was this: Barhydt claimed that his company had solved the problem of bitcoin volatility as consumers move currencies like dollars, euros and yen, in and out of the digital currency. Right now, $100 equals 0.1522 bitcoin. If I put $100 into a bitcoin wallet today, that number could move. If I tried to turn it into euros in a week, I might have more or less than $100. Thats fine if I want to speculate in bitcoin, but it stinks if I just wanted to know I had $100 when I needed $100. Abra solves the volatility problem by entering into smart contracts with people who are long on bitcoin. It does it by facilitating arrangements between bitcoin holders and consumers such that people who hold bitcoin will make sure that the consumer continues to hold exactly $100 in bitcoin, until the day she decides to use that money. That means that if the price of bitcoin goes up, she gets more bitcoin. If it goes down, she loses some. The consumer doesnt actually see these trades unless they want to look, though. On the front page of their user interface, the $100 stays $100 until she spends it. I dont have to expose the underlying bitcoin mumbo jumbo to consumers, he said. Thats a description of one of the futures that the Winklevoss brothers, founders of bitcoin startup Gemini, articulated this Spring at SXSWthat bitcoin could lubricate transactions without consumers even noticing. That said, the private key remains on the consumers phone. Abra never touches the bitcoin. Abra does it by paying people with large amounts of bitcoin a very small percentage on their money for the service of adding and subtracting bitcoin to keep the consumer whole. The analogy, he said, is to whats known as a contract for difference, of CFD. In a CFD, a person gives someone a commodity, such as gold, and takes out a contract that says that commodity will be worth a fixed amount until the person receiving it sells it. Theres no counterparty risk, Bill Barhydt said, repeatedly, thoughout the talk. We dont quite understand what happens for the person holding bitcoin if the price of the asset drops a lot, but Barhydt is confident it all works. Were going to follow up. It took me a year to figure this out, he told the room. Heres some more detail on the Abra blog. For the privacy conscious, Abra works for the unbanked as well as the banked. The unbanked can put money into the system by visiting an Abra teller. The company will soon announce a national master teller partner in the United States. In other parts of the world, tellers will work in much the same way as the people who cell airtime on pay-as-you-go cellular phones (also known as airtime resellers). Abra makes money on international transactions. By using blockchain, Abra is able to settle moving money into and out of different currencies at almost no cost, so it can add a few basis points charge to international transactions and it still works out to far less than a consumer would pay to a Western Union for the same service. We forego revenue on any domestic transfer, knowing that any basis points we sacrifice is worth it from a marketing perspective, he explained. The company raised $12 million in a Series-A financing round in September 2015. Investors in the round include Arbor Ventures, RRE Ventures, and First Round Capital. To date, the company has raised $14 million including the new round. Align Commerce Align Commerce uses Bitcoin to provide a multi-rail technology that combines the blockchain with traditional payments, real-time payment tracking and easy invoicing. The cross-border payments service exchanges a payers fiat currency into bitcoin, then exchanges it into the payees currency for cash out, and aims to give small and medium size businesses (SMEs) easy access to cross-border payments services usually only offered to very large corporates. It also aims to make SMEs more competitive globally, by making wire transfers as simple as buying a cup of coffee compared to the current tedious process of form filling and bank visits. The company has made the process simple, transparent, trackable in real-time and all online. Align charges nothing for wire initiation fee, a 1.9% exchange rate spread compared to 3% to 6% from banks (which is hidden), nothing for a beneficiary intermediary fee compared to $10 from banks (which is hidden), and nothing for a bank receiving fee compared to $15 to $35 (occasionally hidden) from banks. According to the firms website, heres what that means in savings. If a U.S. business is receiving payment in Euros for $1,000, Align will convert the Euros and receive $1,000. The U.S. company will then pay Align $19, based on the 1.9% exchange rate spread. Working with a bank, total fees for this payment would be a $15 wire initiation fee, a 3% exchange rate spread and a $15 receiving fee, for a total of $60. As a result, Align Commerce now has 1,000s of users in over 60 countries. In an even more notable move, in February 2016, Align established a China corridor to allow businesses to easily send and receive payments to and from Asias largest economy. With the value of bilateral trade between the U.S. and China surpassing $555 billion in recent years, businesses in both countries will now reap the benefits of Align Commerces multi-rail technology that combines the blockchain with traditional payments, real-time payment tracking and easy invoicing. In November 2015, the company raised $12.5 million in Series A funding from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. BitNet BitNet was of little interest until it was acquired by Rakuten, the Japanese etailer. Ive known Rakuten for a while now, after they acquired a bank at the start of this decade called eBank, a wholly internet-based bank that serves 15,000 customers per member of staff. The acquisition comes a year after the e-retailer began accepting bitcoin, becoming one of the more noteworthy firms in the Asia-Pacific region to explore adopting the digital currency as a payment method. It was around this time that Rakuten first moved to invest in Bitnet, with word emerging last month that acquisition talks had begun between the two camps, according to The Wall Street Journal. Bitnet raised $14.5m in 2014 to compete in the then-growing market for digital currency payments processing. Rakuten is using the acquisition to open a blockchain development lab in the UK. BitPesa BitPesa allows people who bank with small regional banks in, say, Asia to send money to a local bank in Kenya, without having to go through the correspondent banks, which take a cut, and which can route a payment from Asia to North America before it arrives in Kenya. The company can do this without charging the exorbitant fees often found in the less competitive corridors such as Rwanda to India, or in places where a large money transfer company such as Western Union or Moneygram has exclusivity agreements with the postal services that gives them a near-monopoly on pricing, as described in this World Bank report. BitPesa accepts bitcoin payments and then exchanges the bitcoin for local currencies, which it then deposits into bank accounts or mobile money wallets. This way, people from all over the world can send Bitcoin to Kenyans as a remittance solution, which is not only faster but also far cheaper compared to alternatives like Western Union. Thats great news for the countries where it operates Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda except that it also caused issues with the dominant mobile wallet service provider in Kenya, Safaricom who run M-Pesa. Services like M-Pesa allow anyone in Kenya to send and receive currency through their mobile phone number and convert that balance to Kenyan Shilling through M-Pesa agents. By taking things further, by creating a similar service that operated on Bitcoin rather than using mobile credit to transfer funds, Bitpesa got into a direct head-to-head fight with M-Pesa. As a result, Bitpesa came to a grounding halt in Kenya as telco operator Safaricom cut the company completely off their network. Safaricom also blocked Lipisha from processing M-Pesa transactions, as Lipisha is the payment company that gateways BitPesa and M-Pesa. Safaricom not only stopped Lipisha processing transacions but froze all monies related to Lipisha transactions in its accounts, and notified the payment handler of this by way of a text message. Safaricom later reinstated Lipisha's access, but only did so on the condition that Lipisha terminate its relationship with BitPesa, giving Lipisha only one hour to decide. The result was that Lipisha and BitPesa sued Safaricom, claim that they had no legal right to do block them and infringed "rights to acquire and own property, fair administration and economic interests". Meanwhile, after a period of unease, BitPesa resumed their service in Kenya by signing a partnership with Airtel Money in Kenya. That is ok, but M-Pesa is the dominant mobile wallet in Kenya so it did damage their service and the case still rumbles along. Interestingly, BitPesa now offer advice to firms on how to work with regualtros in African markets. Circle Circle is one of the most important payments start-ups using blockchain for payments, after a successful funding round of $60 million in June, valuing the firm at $400 million. Business Insider summarises the app well: Circle launched its payments app in April, partnering with Barclays Bank. Circle lets people send and receive money anywhere in the world for free by harnessing bitcoin's blockchain. US dollars or UK pounds are converted into bitcoin, transferred to the recipient's Circle app over the internet, then converted back into the local currency. Payments can be sent instantly to contacts like a text message and you can also add GIFs and emojis to the payment. The startup is backed by Goldman Sachs, and began by offering mobile digital wallets for bitcoin. IT then expanded by launching a mainstream consumer payments product in the US last year and a UK version of the app earlier this year. In June it launched Circle China, a new company established in China at the start of the year, with seed funding from Circle's initial investors. That is possibly unsurprising as the $60 million June funding round was led by Beijing-based venture capital company IDG Capital, which had already invested in the startup. And it would not surprise me if you see Circle launching in many more mainstream markets during the next two years. Coinify Coinify serves global payment service providers, online businesses, physical shops and individuals with easy access to blockchain currencies through fiat money exchange. The blockchain currency service provider supports 15 currencies including bitcoin, ether, ripple, etc. Headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, Coinify is a blockchain payment service provider (bPSP) with focus on extending blockchain currency payment processing and trading services to merchants and consumers respectively. Coinify serves global Payment Service Providers, online businesses, physical shops, and individuals. The company incorporated in 2014 and is backed by a mult- million dollar injection from SEED Capital Denmark, SEB Venture Capital and Accelerace. With experience in working with digital currencies since 2010, the Coinify team has strong backgrounds in payments, finance, risk, ecommerce, and compliance areas. Coinify dominate the European market and are continuously expanding into Asian and global markets. The company was named Emerging Star in Fintech 100 (an initiative by KPMG and H2Ventures); was elected part of the European FinTech Top 100 and won the IFM Award for Best Electronic Payment Solution. I think it is an interesting company and one to watch for three key reasons: deals across the world for digital currency processing with respectable firms like NETS and SEB; partnerships with innovators including Bitcoin Vietnam, iPayDNA, iSignThis and Digix; and strategic acquisitions such as Coinzone. Earthport You might be surprised to find Earthport on my list, but this interview with Dan Marowitz by Coindesk explains why: In a new interview, Earthports Daniel Marovitz the firm's in-house blockchain expert and president of its European division explains that the firm's new Distributed Ledger Payments Hub is a result of its belief that the technology could improve on or complement its existing services, and that technology itself is secondary to providing a better service to clients. The traditional correspondent rails are just not fit for purpose. No one wants to spend $40 to move $50, Marovitz said. When we got into Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), we viewed it as an organic continuance of the same theme. This is a new payments rail we can deliver through the same API. The company, which already connects banks and payment aggregators, has identified deficiencies with current offerings for example, that traditional correspondent banking is too slow, and that the need to wait three days for funds has caused customer frustration. With this in mind, Earthport is venturing to test its market hypothesis, launching its DLT service complete with the kind of brochures youd expect from a company with mature business lines. To Marovitz, Earthport can use distributed ledger technology to tap a potentially lucrative market: Financial institutions that have heard about the benefits of blockchain, but are uncertain about what steps to take or how to integrate it into their services. Marovitz told CoinDesk: The conversation goes like this. You talk to a major bank and they say they are interested in DLT. You ask, Well, are you doing anything about it? [They say], well weve got an innovation lab, weve got Ripple and Ethereum running. [We ask] Have you figured out how to take that beta and turn it into a production system? We get a blank stare and awkwardly mumbled words. Missing link Marovitz believes there are two reasons financial institutions arent taking their products out of the labs fear of the unknown and compliance. They see the vast majority of central banks and regulators are quiet [about blockchain]. The banks are terrified that as promising as it seems, theyre going to get into trouble, Marovitz added. To this end, Marovitz sees the Distributed Ledger Payments Hub as a missing link a product that can capitalize on the established trust able to delivered by a company that has a history connecting banks to payment technologies. Earthport quite simply sees value in serving as a business and compliance layer built on top of a nascent technology, performing data collection for know-your-customer (KYC), anti-money laundering (AML) and politically exposed persons (PEP) screening. Earthport doesnt see these services as competitive to Ripple, but complementary to its tech-first approach to the market. Ripple has no intention of running those kinds of pieces. They want to manage the ledger and the crypto complexity, Marovitz said. Appetite for DLT Earthport provides three models for how banks and financial intuitions can use its DLT service depending on their comfort level with interacting with the Ripple protocol. For starters, it offers to integrate a client directly with Ripple. In this instance, the client would set up a Ripple wallet, host its own DL server and initiate payment directly via the Ripple protocol. The level of assistance provided increases from there. When acting as a distributed ledger service bureau, Earthport agrees to host the server that will connect to the protocol and initiate any fund transfer via its API. The firm is also offering to indirectly connect clients to Ripple, with Earthport even owning the wallet under this third option. As an added upsell, Earthport boasts that users dont have to interact with market makers on the Ripple network at all. Earthports marketing materials tout that the company approves and screens market makers that can then acquire and offload the necessary XRP (the native token on the Ripple network) to transfer the value from one currency to another. If only one party is Ripple enabled, Earthport says, the transaction is then completed via traditional rails, but with improved overall efficiency. Still, Marovitz says the company is seeing some interest and has reasons to believe all its partner banks will integrate the technology, as its FAQ sheet on the subject suggests. There are 10 to 15 banks that want to initiate proof of concepts (POCs) with us, and we hope to have a European bank in a POC with us now, Marovitz added. Bitcoin under the bus A clear theme is also evident from Earthports approach, in that its sales literature actively distances the product from bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. The materials read: Although the distributed ledger model serves as the support layer, or protocol on which cryptocurrencies (bitcoin, dogecoin, litecoin, etc) function, these cryptocurrencies are not used in any capacity related to the Earthport DL Gateway. This is despite the fact that the product uses XRP, which, though branded differently due to the Ripple networks use of trusted transaction validators, is a publicly traded cryptographic token that runs on a blockchain-like system. In sections related to market makers, the text hints that the Ripple network requires a publicly traded asset, but softens the language. There are currently 45 institutions that are market makers, meaning that they run auctions to determine the ask/bid rate for a transaction in a given set of currencies, it reads. Marovitz attests that Earthport intends to expand the number of blockchains it offers access to as the product matures, but as for whether the bitcoin blockchain could become one of those options, the company suggests it believes this is unlikely. On the subject of whether the offering is related to bitcoin, the marketing material is blunt, providing only a two-word response: Absolutely not. Kraken Exchange Kraken, based in San Francisco and founded in 2011, lets you exchange multiple currencies and buy bitcoins on its platform. Currencies traded include bitcoin, Ripple, Dogecoin, Litecoin, Ven, U.S. dollars, the euro, and the Korean won. Using the International Standards Commission's abbreviation for bitcoin, Kraken uses XBT rather than BTC. The X designates a decentralized currency. This San Francisco Company offers a quick platform for customer exchanges, the website itself is well planned, and the designers incorporated a light-hearted look to the website itself. This review by SteveIQ sums it all up nicely from a users viewpoint: Kraken is a great exchange focusing on the experience of the investor. I love that they have 21 different types of currencies on the exchange making it easy for investors to diversify and they have ranges of fees available in plain sight. The company uses innovation and good security to structure a safe and viable trading platform, and integration with Bloomberg terminals in 2014 provided greater visual access for this company. Equally when Mt.Gox imploded, the mess has gradually been sorted out with users being redirected to Kraken as the preferred exchange to file a bankruptcy claim. As a result, it is the key player in the bitcoin world, and has acquired many other similar exchanges in its path towards global supremacy, including the Dutch Exchange Clevercoin and the North American Exchange Coinsetter. An example of the Exchanges leadership is that, according to data from Kaiko, Kraken posted more than 6,000 BTC in EUR/BTC volume on 17th January 2016, at a time when competing exchanges BTC-e, Coinbase and itBit recorded 856 BTC, 512 BTC and 49 BTC in volume, respectively. Close runners up in this review were identified by Lets Talk Payments: Thailand has suffered its first ATM Hack!An Eastern European gang of criminals has stolen over 12 Million Baht (approximately US$350,000) from a total of 21 ATMs in Bangkok and other five provinces by hacking a Thai bank's ATM network; police said WednesdayThe Central Bank of Thailand (BoT) has issued a warning to all commercial banks about security flaws in roughly 10,000 ATMs that were exploited to steal cash from the machines.The warning came shortly after the state-owned Government Savings Bank (GSB) shut down approximately 3,000 of their ATMs following an ongoing police investigation into the recent hack in which hackers were able to infect many its cash machines with malware.GSB found that millions of Thailand Baht were stolen between August 1 and 8 from 21 ATMs across the provinces of Bangkok, Phuket, Chumphon, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi, and Surat Thani, the Bangkok Post reports.The hackers made over 12.29 Million Thailand Baht (US$346,000) by inserting cards installed with malware into multiple ATMs to spew out cash, up to 40,000 Baht each transaction.GSB President Chartchai Payuhanaveechai told the local media that the bank has reviewed security camera footage and identified potential suspects as foreign nationals who infected their cash machines with malware that forced them to dispense cash.Payuhanaweechai also ensured its customers that they are not affected by the theft as the gang's malware only tricked the bank ATMs to release cash without authorization, not from customers' accounts.Thai police suspect a ring of at least 25 Eastern European nationals committed the crime and link them to a similar hacking theft occurred last month when the top eight banks in Taiwan were forced to shut down hundreds of its ATMS after thieves used malware to steal NT$70 Million ($2.17 Million) in cash. Get to know Americas best-loved bipartisan couple as One Acadiana hosts An Expert's Perspective: A Conversation with Carville & Matalin. Americas best-loved bipartisan couple, James Carville and Mary Matalin, take center stage to share their unique experiences and views on the current political climate, as well as field questions from audience members, for a stimulating and provocative conversation. With more than 60 years of combined political experience, the dynamic duo will address todays most pressing political issues, break down the upcoming presidential election and give a behind-the-scenes look at Washington politics. Best known for his work as a Democratic political consultant, Carville has helped to garner electoral successes for numerous political campaigns, most notably assisting William Jefferson Clinton secure presidency in 1992. Carville has authored and co-authored eight New York Times best sellers and is frequently asked to contribute as a political commentator on a variety of programs. Matalin is one of the most celebrated conservative voices in the U.S. having served under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, as well as under Vice President Richard Dick Cheney. Today, Matalin serves as an author, television and radio host, and widely sought-after political contributor and public speaker. An Experts Perspective: A Conversation with Carville & Matalin will be held on Thursday, Aug. 25 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Cajundome Convention Center, located at 444 Cajundome Blvd. in Lafayette. Regular 1A Member pricing is $50 per ticket and $60 for non-members. For more information, visit OneAcadiana.org. Henry Boudreaux from his Aug. 5 arrest [Editor's Note: This story contains an expletive.] Lafayette home designer Henry A. Boudreaux, a one-time licensed architect, is accused of taking advantage of the kindness of a friend in a recent lawsuit filled with allegations closely mirroring an earlier suit that led to his indictment by a Lafayette Parish grand jury last year. Boudreaux has pleaded not guilty to a felony theft charge in connection with claims he bilked a Vermilion Parish couple out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in contracting, design and consultation fees for a renovation to their historic 1840s Acadian home in the community of Meaux. The case is set for pre-trial hearings on Oct. 13, according to the district attorneys office. Boudreaux qualified for a public defender in that case because most of his assets are held in the name of his wife, Sonya Boudreaux. In the most recent suit, filed in state court Aug. 10, Cheryl Heymann Lemoine claims she loaned Henry and Sonya money and that both parties agreed that the debt would be worked off through improvements to Lemoines home on Oakforest Drive in Lafayette. Lemoines attorney, William Large, says when his client entered into verbal contracts with the Boudreauxes, the couple also owed her for work they failed to complete on a townhouse she owns on Brightwood Drive in Grand Pointe subdivision. The suit states that the parties agreed in early 2016 that the debts would be settled once the defendants completed a cement patio and brick wall at the Oakforest residence. As part of the agreement, Lemoine also paid an additional $1,000 to the couple. According to allegations in the lawsuit, Lemoine later learned that the defendants sought unauthorized kickbacks from subcontractors and pocketed more than half of the $50,000 she spent on the project. The suit names Henry and Sonya Lemoine says she routinely wrote checks to Sonya for work performed by Henry and the couples business, HSB Design and Contractors LLC. The suit claims that none of the defendants has a contractors license, that they have not registered with the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors and that they do not have insurance, as Louisiana law requires. Boudreaux, 57, was arrested in August of this year on a count of residential contractor fraud. Lafayette Police Department records show that in May Lemoine told police she had entered into an agreement with Boudreaux in 2014 for him to provide various building materials and had paid him $98,444 but received only $16,000 worth of materials. The warrant was signed by 15th Judicial District Court Commissioner Thomas Frederick, and Boudreaux turned himself in to Lafayette police on Aug. 5. He was handcuffed and transported to the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center, where he was booked for the warrant. Soon after the cement patio was completed, around May 2016, a rainstorm caused Lemoines patio and back yard to flood, the suit claims. It was clear that the patio and its drain was not properly designed and needed repair, according to the suit, which goes on to say that a third-party inspection revealed that the drain was substantially lower in depth than the storm drain it ran into. Since water does not flow uphill, the flooding was inevitable," the petition states. "This would have been apparent to a minimally competent contractor." Lemoine says it cost her $35,000 to tear up the faulty patio and replace it. She further alleges that the defendants cut corners on the brick wall for the purpose of keeping more money for themselves and that she had to pay $8,000 to repair it. "It appears from the public record that this isn't the first time Mr. Boudreaux has done this," attorney Large tells ABiz. Reached on her husbands cell phone late Tuesday afternoon, Sonya Boudreaux said that Henry has given to our community over and over and over again, and so have I, so you know were a little fed up with The Independent." (The Independent, like ABiz, is owned by IND Media.) We talked to the press, she said, referencing last years coverage of the couples legal problems and Henrys indictment. They misrepresented everything, and it really fucked us. It should be noted that Henry Boudreaux did not return this media company's call for last year's stories. (Full disclosure: Henry Boudreaux was the architect on a home owned by Independent publishers Steve May and Cherry Fisher May. An earlier version of this story stated that Boudreaux was arrested in May when he actually turned himself into Lafayette police on Aug. 5. Lemoine's complaint against Boudreaux was filed in May.) 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. Egypt readies for end in fuel subsidies, 65 per cent price increase Egypt has announced that it will end fuel subsidies in three years following a staff level agreement of a loan with the International Monetary Fund. The country has also said there will be a 65 per cent increase in fuel prices in the 2016/2017 financial year as it seeks to tame its bruised economy. The $12 billion IMF loan would help the country get back on track after suffering from a crippling dollar shortage and devaluation of the Egypt pound. Since Egypt's 2011 uprising, the political and social instability experienced by the country has driven away droves of tourists and foreign investors. This has proven detrimental for Egypt, which relies heavily on imports for staple foods and primary goods used in manufacturing. The IMF injection, which is the largest to be received by any Middle Eastern country, will be linked to progress on a number of economic reforms outlined by the international lender. This includes the cutting of subsidies, the instatement of a value-added tax and a move towards a more flexible exchange rate regime. "What was agreed lately with the IMF delegation in Egypt is cancelling fuel subsidies within three years," an anonymous government source said. Elsewhere, a spokesman for Egypt's Petroleum Ministry told the news agency that "no decisions have been issued on that matter". At present, premium grade gasoline is sold at 58 percent of its cost in Egypt. Subsidies also allow for 80-octane category fuel to be sold at 57 percent of its cost, while diesel goes for approximately 53 percent. In July 2014, Egypt decreased spending on fuel subsidies and raised prices by up to 78 percent. This was initially seen as part of a five-year plan to lower subsidies, however it was not continued in 2015/16. Petroleum subsidies currently cost $6.2 billion a year. Cairo hopes to cut this by $2.2 billion this year. www.petroleum.gov.eg President Joe Biden has decided to ban Russian oil imports, toughening the toll on Russia's economy in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine. The United States generally imports about 100,000 barrels a day from Russia, only about 5% of Russia's crude oil exports, according to Rystad Energy. Last year, roughly 8% of U.S. imports of oil and petroleum products came from Russia. Gas prices have been rising for weeks due to the conflict and in anticipation of potential sanctions on the Russian energy sector. The U.S. national average for a gallon of gasoline soared 45 cents a gallon in the past week and topped $4.06 on Monday, according to auto club AAA. Should the US ban Russian oil imports over Ukraine war? You voted: The sextoy market is growing quite rapidly in India right now. Although it is not a big trend, it is a hot topic on the internet as it is secretly expanding its market. In this article, we will focus on sextoy and introduce recommended sextoy for Indian beginners of sextoy by gender. India, the birthplace of the Kama Sutra, is very strict about sex. Also, premarital sex is basically not allowed. Therefore, there are many people who are sexually restricted. But what happens when you continue to be sexually restricted? Frustration may build up and you may end up taking your sexual stress out on your partner. If you are able to adopt sextoy in a timely manner, you can get rid of those problems. I want to have more exciting sex than Im having now. I want more variation in masturbation I want to get even stronger pleasure than I do on my own. If you have any of these problems, please stay with me until the end. What is sex toys for Indian? Sextoy, as the name implies, is a toy used during sex and masturbation. It is a generic term for vibrators, Egg-vibrators, Electric massagers, dildo, handcuffs and condoms. They are used to make regular sex more exciting or to make masturbation more pleasurable. Because sextoy is very stimulating, it can help you to get rid of the problems and frustrations of being in a rut of sex with your partner for a long time, or if you are unhappy with the lack of pleasure in sex with your partner. The ability to satisfy your desires with movement, texture, and size, which cannot be done by a normal human being, can help you to be satisfied with sex and, as a result, improve your relationship with your partner. It is also said to help improve sexual dysfunction (inability to get an erection or ejaculate) and difficulty in feeling during sex (insensitivity), which is attracting more attention than in the past. In recent years, the demand for sextoy has increased due to the spread of smartphones and the Internet and the increasing number of people using online shopping. Even those who are concerned about the appearance of sextoy (and find it difficult to purchase) can now easily obtain it by using mail order. In the case of online shopping, most of the stores have taken steps to ensure that the contents of the products delivered to you are not revealed, so you can purchase them without your family members knowing. Until a while ago, you had to go to the store where the adult goods were sold to buy them, so it was quite a hurdle to overcome. Also, many people may have an image that sextoy is somehow embarrassing to own. But nowadays, some of them are so stylish and cute that you cant believe they are sextoy at a glance. More and more people are using them for travel and outdoor use because they are not too bulky and are suitable for carrying around. Sextoy situation in India Before introducing the recommended sextoy for Indians, lets talk about one of the sextoy situations in India in recent years. In India, due to the high concentration of population, the following six cities have particularly high sales of sextoy in India. Mumbai Kolkata Bangalore Delhi Chennai Hyderabad These cities account for roughly 70 percent of sextoy sales in India. In the future, the percentage of sextoy use will gradually increase in other cities in India as well. If you never talk about sextoy publicly, that girl in your neighborhood might be a sextoy user too. If you are interested in sextoy, you dont have to suppress your desire for it. What are Sextoys for beginner? Among all sextoys, sextoy for beginners are vibrators, dildo, masturbators, Sex Lubricants, and condoms. Sex Lubricants and condoms, which are familiar to people who have had sex, are also a great beginners sextoy. I will explain the details of each toy later, but there are many sextoy products that are painful to use and can only be used after some anal expansion. I assume that the Indian readers of this article are people who have not had much experience with sextoy. If such people use professional sextoy suddenly, they are at risk of injury or trauma. Therefore, to introduce sextoy, you need to start with a beginners version and gradually become familiar with it. Advantages of using sextoy for Indians There are three advantages of using sextoy for Indians You can masturbate in a wide variety of ways. Can have stimulating sex Can develop new sexual zones If you try to masturbate with your own fingers or hands, it tends to be a pattern. However, with sextoy, you can easily masturbate in a variety of ways. You will definitely be fascinated by the attraction of new stimulation. Also, your daily sex life will be more exciting than ever. There are many things in sextoy that are visually stimulating and give you a strong and intense feeling of pleasure. This allows you to see your partners promiscuity in a way that you wouldnt normally see it. When you are in a relationship, sex with your partner may become a pattern, but it can also eliminate these problems. It can also lead to the development of new sexual zones (which is the training of sexual stimulation to allow you to feel orgasms). For more information on the development of new sexual zones, see the following articles [Women's Erogenous Zone]How to find and develop, 7 hidden sexual zones !![In India] In this issue, we will dissect the female erogenous zone! ..." Many of you may be like that. Men, in particular, shou... Thus, the use of sextoy can only be a good thing for the men and women of India. Sextoy for beginner men in India So, lets continue with the recommended goods for Indian sextoy beginners. For ease of understanding, we will introduce them by gender. Lets start with the men! The following five goods are recommended for novice Indian sextoy men Masturbator Cock rings Love Doll Sex Lubricants Toys for the prostate Lets check each one in detail. Masturbator The masturbator is a sextoy for men that elaborately reproduces a womans vagina, mouth, and anus, and is one of the most popular sextoy products. It is used by men to masturbate, and it is popular because it provides stronger stimulation and pleasure more easily than using hands. Most are made of good quality silicone, and their softness is something that cannot be achieved with ones own hands. They can provide stronger pleasure than a real womans vagina, so be careful not to overuse them. (You wont be able to have an orgasm in a womans vagina anymore.) Again Male masturbators are a wonderful toy. I do not need any favourite timing, bothersome bargaining. You do not have to worry too much. Revolutionize your masturbation time! ! ! Made in Japan is a wonderful kinky toy.#sextoysindia #SexToyIndia #Japanhttps://t.co/4k70QGzoTP pic.twitter.com/tRVdxTKPpa SEXToys India PR (@SextoysIndia) November 12, 2018 Some of them are disposable, while others can be washed and used over and over again, so its fun to buy a few to use depending on your mood. If you want to know more about masturbator, please click here Really pleasant male masturbation and how to do it Are you in a rut with your daily masturbation routine? I'm going to show you five ways men masturbate that you might ... [For Beginners] How to choose and use a male masturbator without fail Gentlemen.Have you ever used a masturbator? The person who sees this article is probably the one who has not experien... Cock Ring A cock ring is literally a ring-shaped sextoy that is worn on a mans penis. It maintains an erection by binding the penis with a ring of rubber and blocking blood flow. It is sometimes used as an accessory to be worn on the penis, and may be made of metal or plastic as well as rubber. In some cases, cock rings have parts or vibrators attached to them that stimulate the vagina, so they kill two birds with one stone, giving a woman pleasure while maintaining an erection. Cock rings are also sometimes used to treat erectile dysfunction. It can help with erectile dysfunction, where the penis doesnt get hard when you get an erection or doesnt last long when you try to insert it. Men who are prone to breakage or who are unsure of the hardness and size of their erections can use a cock ring to increase the size of their penis and maintain an erection for a longer period of time. Cock rings vary in price from around RS700 to over RS2000 with a vibrator function. Some of them do not fit your penis, so you should check the size of the cock ring before you buy. You should know the size of your partners or your own penis when it is erect. [Penis enlargement] What is a cock ring? Types and usage Cock rings can make your penis bigger and harder. It also makes sex with women more fulfilling and increases your sat... Love Doll Love dolls, also known as Dutchwives, are dolls with the appearance of a woman who can experience simulated sex. There are dolls that look like a woman, but they have no face and only have their breasts and lower torso cut off, and some dolls are so realistic that they can actually be mistaken for real women. Some expensive dolls can cost more than 1 million yen, and the quality of the doll is easily influenced by the price. The higher the price, the higher the quality of the doll will be, the closer it will be to the real woman, and the cheaper the doll will be, the less elaborate it will be, making it look like a real doll! Something is wrong! That is also true. You cant go wrong if you choose a balance between price and taste. There are stores that allow you to make custom-made love dolls, so you can create a girl of your choice. You can make a girl of your choice. You can start with inexpensive love dolls at first, and once you get used to it, you can try custom-made love dolls. If you want to know more about Love doll, please click here Thorough explanation of the charm of sex dolls! Have you ever heard of sex dolls that are used primarily for pseudo-sex purposes? It is a doll that is quite close to... Sex lubricants Sex lubricants are used as a substitute for lubricating fluid during sex or as a lubricant for men to use masturbator rules. It is not uncommon for women to have difficulty getting wet, depending on their physical condition, or to have difficulty getting wet due to their constitution. Forcing the penis into the vagina at such times can cause painful intercourse. There are various types of Sex Lubricants, some with a warming effect, some with a cooling effect, and some with a scent. Changing the Sex Lubricant used during play is recommended as a good sex accent. If you want to learn more about Sex Lubricants, click here. What is sex lubricant?Explain the difference and usage of each ingredient The word "sex toy" may seem like a hurdle to overcome, but lotion is actually one of the most familiar sex toys. Many... Toys for the Prostate Another sextoy for men is prostate toys. The most famous prostate toys include Enemagra, which was originally a prostate massager developed by an American urologist to treat an enlarged prostate line. Modern prostate toys are imitations of Enemagra that have spread as sextoy for men. Many people think of prostate toys as being used by gay men, but in fact they are often used by straight men. What is the prostate? The prostate is an organ found only in men. It is a walnut-sized organ located deep in the pelvis, just below the bladder, and its primary role is to protect and nourish sperm. You cannot touch the prostate gland from outside the body, but you can touch it by inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus. By inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus and touching the prostate and developing it, you can feel intense orgasms. Orgasms felt in the prostate are mainly dry orgasms, which are orgasms that do not involve ejaculation. (You can also feel orgasms with ejaculation through prostate stimulation.) The prostate is called the male G-spot, and dry orgasms can be much more intense than ejaculation. Therefore, men who are able to develop a prostate can become addicted to the pleasure. sextoy for beinner women in India The following are the recommended goods for Indian women who are new to sextoy. The following three are recommended for use by women who are new to sextoy. Vibrator. Dildo Electric Masserger Lets check out what each one is in detail. If you want to check out womens toys, click here. [BEST25]Sex Toys for Women in IndiaThat Can Help You Have an Orgasm There are many women who pretend to feel orgasm during sex. But don't worry, you don't have to pretend to feel orgasm... Vibrators A vibrator is a sextoy that vibrates with an Egg-Vibrator to provide stimulation and is often referred to simply as a vibrator. Some vibrate as well as rotate, and there are many variations of sextoy. It is quite a popular sextoy, and is well recognized by people who do not know much about sextoy. Its usage is similar to that of a massager, but it is more compact and easier to carry than a massager, and many of them look as cute as a lipstick or a macaroon, so they are popular among women. For a while, a famous influencer on twitter said, This is good! You may have heard of the topic of this article by introducing the recommended vibrators. Vibrators are great for women to use on their own, but they are also recommended for men who have difficulty satisfying women with sex. Since it is powered by electricity, it is far less tiring than moving your hands by yourself. This makes it easier to satisfy a woman with sex because you can caress her for longer than usual. Vibrators are mainly used on the female side, but they can also be used on men. When used on men, they are used to attack the nipples and glans, and in both cases it is recommended to wear a condom for hygiene reasons. Introducing how to use the vibrator, its purpose, and how to choose it! Vibrator uses the vibrations caused by the rotation of the motor to provide stimulation. It is one or two of the most... Dildo A dildo is a model sextoy made to mimic a male penis. It can be made of silicone, elastomer (think of it as a material similar to PVC), metal or glass. A dildo can be used by a man for his female partner during sex, or by a woman for masturbation to get pleasure from it. They are mainly inserted into women, but some can be used in the male anus as well. It is sometimes used synonymously with vibrators, but the vibrator is not the same thing as a vibrating device. A model of a penis that does not vibrate is a dildo. Some of them have suction cups that can be attached to the floor or wall so that you can enjoy realistic masturbation without using your hands. For fun, there is a dildo made in the shape of your partners penis. This one is also popular as a gift, and if youve been together for a long time and are having trouble finding a gift for your partner, you might want to pick one. To learn more about dildo, please click here. What is Dildo: Orgasms with Dildos for Men and Women A dildo is a model of a male organ that is used by women for masturbation and by men to stimulate the prostate gland. Th... Electric Masserger A Electric Masserger is a hand-held electric massager, also known as a handheld massager, and can usually be purchased at electronics stores. It was originally designed to relieve stiff shoulders and back pain, so the hurdle of buying one in a physical store is quite low. Many people may have seen or used it in some form or another, as it is often installed in leisure hotels. Such a massager is highly recommended for beginners because it is easy for women to get pleasure from it when they use it during masturbation. It is larger than Egg-Vibrator and vibrations are stronger than those of Egg-Vibrators and vibrators, so even just hitting the clitoris can give you a great deal of pleasure. For those women who have never had an orgasm during sex with their man, the massager may be a good way to get a feel for what it feels like to have an orgasm. It looks and feels like an electric massager, so you wont have to feel awkward if your roommate finds out. If you are in a rut of having sex with your partner, if you want to feel an orgasm through masturbation, or if you are thinking of using a sextoy, why dont you try it from a simple massager? To learn more about Electric Masserger, click here. What is a massager? Introducing types, selection methods, and usage Originally, the Magic-wand vibrator and the massage machine were sold as a home massage machine used for the back and th... How to choose a sextoy for Indian Now that weve covered the different types of sextoy, heres how to choose one. Especially if you are trying sextoy for the first time, pay attention to the following three points: Does the size fit you (the partner)? Does the size fit you (your partner)? Is the environment able to produce sound without problems? Price range First of all, the choice of size is quite important. Most sextoy are used against or inserted into the genitals, but the genitals are very delicate organs for both men and women. For this reason, using an inappropriate size may cause damage. Secondly, the environment should be able to produce sound without problems. Some sextoys not only wear, but also rotate and vibrate. Its easier to get pleasure from something that moves than something that doesnt, but the fact that it moves means that the internal rotors make some noise. If you live in a house with thin walls or if you have roommates, you may not be able to concentrate because of the noise, so it is best to choose one that is silent or has a low noise level. Especially in India, where many people live with their families, it is very important that you dont have to worry about sound when you use it. Finally, there is the price range. The price range of sextoy ranges widely, from around RS500 at the cheapest to RS10,000 or more at the highest. Its good to consider how much money you can afford and how much you want to buy. Do you want your family to not find out about sextoy? I live with my family and want to use sextoy without them finding out! If you are a man, you should buy a camouflage sextoy that does not look like a sextoy at first glance. For men, there are many masturbators that do not look like a sextoy, and for women, there are vibrators that only look like cosmetics. If you choose such a type, youll be safe in case your family members find out. How to buy sextoys in India The best way to purchase sextoy is through online shopping. For more information on how to purchase sextoy, please see the article below. Sextoy is one of them. Therefore, you can easily get sextoy in India by using online shopping. SexToysINDIA is a long established and stable sextoy store and you can have sextoy delivered to any place in India. They also offer cash on delivery, so those who are worried about shopping with a credit card do not have to worry. Of course, the latest security is in place, so your information will not be taken out when you use your credit card. To begin with, many people may be concerned about whether they are legally allowed to purchase sextoy. ikmAs it turns out, its not illegal. Right now, it is not open to the public because the Indian adult market is still in the development stage, but it will gradually spread from now on. Take advantage of sextoy and open the door to new pleasures and culture. Cautions for Indians using sextoy When using sextoy, keep the following three things in mind Keep sex toys clean Watch out for electrical leakage Beware of the heat generated by the body while using a sex toy As I mentioned earlier, many sextoy products are used for the delicate zone. Therefore, it is most important to keep the sextoy itself clean. It is very important to keep the sextoy itself clean, because if a slight scratch is created by friction, bacteria can enter and breed there. It is safe to wear a condom when using the masturbator, just in case. In addition, many sextoy devices are powered by a power source, so if they are not waterproof, there is a possibility of electric shock or malfunction due to wetness. Some may even develop heat during continuous use. If the fever becomes too much, you may get burned, so be careful. If you get a fever during use, stop driving the sextoy immediately and refrain from using it. You will enjoy sex more if you keep it safe and use it correctly. Summary What did you think? In this article, we have introduced the recommended sextoy for the beginners of sextoy in India. The sextoy market is growing rapidly in India and it will continue to grow steadily in the future. As India is a rather closed-minded country, it can be difficult to be open about ones sexual habits and values. However, being faithful to ones desires by properly dissolving ones sexual desire is very effective for ones physical and mental health. If this is your first time to learn about sextoy, or if you are interested in using sextoy, why not give it a try? Indian Sextoys for ur best! will introduce you to sextoy and other trivia about sextoy, sexuality, and sexuality for men and women. I want to read more! If you think its a great idea, please bookmark it. Have you ever whipped up a spicy dish chili, for example and realized when it's too late that you somehow overdid it and added way too much of the hot stuff? Happily, there are two very simple ways to restore some equilibrium: adding dairy and/or sugar. It's a balancing act performed all over the world. The Indians serve their vindaloo with yogurt. Mexicans tamp down the heat of their habaneros with crema or sour cream. Here in the U.S., we use sugar to counteract the heat in our barbecue sauce (although we then tend to overdo it in the other direction and make it too sweet). So, how to tame the heat in this spicy shrimp? I went with sugar in the form of fresh orange juice, boiled down until it's concentrated, which then becomes the main flavor in the recipe's vinaigrette. The juice also helps to lighten up the dressing you need less oil when one of your other ingredients is as thick and flavorful as concentrated orange juice. And by the way, grapefruit juice, which is slightly more tart than orange juice, works equally well. In an effort to cut down on the preparation time for this recipe, I've called for a store-bought creole or jerk spice mix. But feel free to conjure up your own. As long as it includes ground chipotle or hot paprika or cayenne, you'll win. Spicy Shrimp with Hearts of Palm, Avocado and Orange Salad 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, preferably grapeseed, divided 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon Jamaican jerk seasoning, creole seasoning or your favorite spicy seasoning 1 pound jumbo (16-20) peeled and deveined shrimp 1/3 cup fresh orange juice teaspoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 tablespoons white wine vinegar 6 cups torn butter lettuce 1 (14-ounce) can hearts of palm, drained and patted dry, sliced crosswise 1/2-inch thick 1 large Haas avocado, peeled, pitted and cut into 1/2-inch chunks 2 medium oranges, peeled and cut into segments cup toasted sunflower seeds (toasted in a 350 F oven until golden, 6 to 8 minutes) In a large bowl stir together 1 tablespoon of the oil and the jerk seasoning; add the shrimp and toss well to coat. Cover and chill for 1 hour. Heat the grill to medium. In a small saucepan simmer the orange juice until it is reduced to 2 tablespoons. Transfer to a small bowl; add the salt, mustard and vinegar and whisk until the salt is dissolved. Gradually whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Thread the shrimp on skewers and grill, turning them over once, about 2 minutes a side. Meanwhile, in a large bowl combine the lettuce, hearts of palm, avocado and orange segments. Add 1/4 cup of the dressing and toss well. To serve, divide the salad among 4 plates, top with the shrimp and sunflower seeds; drizzle with the remaining dressing. Start to finish: 1 hour 40 minutes (40 active); makes 4 servings; per serving: 380 calories; 209 calories from fat; 23 g fat (3 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 143 mg cholesterol; 1,189 mg sodium; 23 g carbohydrate; 10 g fiber; 10 g sugar; 21 g protein. MURPHYSBORO Facing a 65 percent increase in employees' health care costs for the new year, city of Murphysboro representatives are now shopping for a new insurance provider who might present a less expensive alternative. Human Resource Manager Sandra Ripley told the City Council at its Tuesday night meeting that the city was facing a 65.27 percent increase in premium with the renewal, taking the cost from $481,472 to $795,713 in the new year. "(That is) if no changes are made," Ripley said. Oct. 1 is the date the steep increase is set to take effect with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. Since 2014, the city has contracted with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois and currently provides coverage for 66 employees. The benefit does not include coverage for dependents, unless the employees pays for that themselves, which some people do, Ripley said. The 65.27 percent increase is because of a "change in risk," Ripley said. The terms that they use is 'change in risk,' and so theyre basically saying that our risk is higher," Ripley said. Change in risk is the pricing change resulting from Blue Cross Blue Shields analysis of medical conditions and experience. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act HIPAA prevents the city from knowing or disclosing what types of risks those are that are pushing the premium price higher. Ripley said she was surprised by such an increase. "Caught unaware," she said. She said the city opted to go with Blue Cross Blue Shield in 2014 after negotiations with unions and seeing that that insurer provided the best overall plan at that particular time. She said if the city did desire to go with another insurer, that decision would have to be approved by the four unions with whom city officials negotiate. She said the city's insurance agent is already shopping for new quotes from other insurance carriers, such as Health Alliance, Reliant, United Health Care and Coventry. Editor's note: This story has been corrected. The original version incorrectly listed the name of the judge that approved a plea deal involving Smith in a 2014 case. The president of the Laborers International Union of North America Local 773, one of Southern Illinois largest labor unions, has been charged with domestic assault in Missouri. This is the second time in just over two years that Matthew E. Smith, 32, of Tamms, has faced a charge of this nature. Smith was arrested on Aug. 13 by Cape Girardeau Police and bonded out of the Cape Girardeau County Jail in Missouri on Aug. 15, according to a representative of the Cape Girardeau County Sheriffs Office. His bond was listed as $25,000 cash, the representative stated. Smith has been charged with domestic assault in the second degree, according to court records in Cape Girardeau County. According to the Missouri General Assembly's website, a person commits domestic assault in the second degree if the act involves a domestic victim, and the accused knowingly and recklessly causes physical injury by any means, including but not limited to, by use of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument, or by choking or strangulation. A court appearance for Smith is scheduled for 9 a.m., Sept 12, in Jackson, Missouri. No other details about the case were available online. In December, The Southern Illinoisan, in an article titled Charges against union president repeatedly dismissed chronicled the numerous traffic and criminal charges that Smith has faced over the years, the vast majority of which were dismissed, reduced or amended. Smith is presently on probation in Illinois stemming from a 2014 case in Union County that included a domestic battery charge that was dismissed as part of a plea deal. According to the court record, law enforcement accused Smith of breaking into his then-girlfriends home in Jonesboro in the middle of the night on July 18, 2014, pulling her off her bed and tossing her into a wall. In connection to that incident, the specially appointed states attorney reviewing the case charged Smith with two felony charges of criminal trespass and criminal damage to property in excess of $300, and a misdemeanor domestic battery charge. Massac County States Attorney Patrick Windhorst was appointed to serve as the prosecutor in the case after Union County States Attorney Tyler Edmonds recused himself because Smith is his brother-in-law. All three of those charges were dismissed in Union County as part of a plea deal ultimately approved by a judge. Under the deal, Smith pleaded guilty on June 30, 2015, to an added Class A misdemeanor charge of criminal damage to property of less than $300. He was sentenced to 18 months probation and ordered to pay restitution. Though the domestic battery charge was dismissed, court records from the alleged victims health insurer, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, show that she incurred more than $13,000 in medical costs related to treatment of her injuries. Of the restitution Smith was ordered to pay in connection to this case, court records show $12,725 was to go to Blue Cross Blue Shield for medical expenses, and $6,981 to the victims mother. The home where the alleged victim was living is owned by a relative of hers. In December, Windhorst said in an interview with the newspaper that, in his legal opinion, there was strong enough evidence to prosecute Smith for the domestic battery charge, and that he dismissed the charge at the request of the victim. Windhorst said the victim later changed her mind and wanted the charges to stand, but said he had already offered the plea deal to Smith. The Local 773s website lists Smith as its president and an international representative. The union headquartered in Marion negotiates on behalf of thousands of private- and public-sector workers in Illinois and elsewhere across the country. The 773 represents about 1,500 members who work for local governmental entities primarily city and county offices and public housing authorities across 14 Southern Illinois counties, according to a union official. The political action committee associated with the Local 773 has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to candidates for office across Illinois, including Southern Illinois, mostly Democrats. Matthew Smith is the son of Edward Smith, the Local 773s president emeritus and the president and CEO of Ullico Inc., a labor-owned insurance and investment company headquartered in Washington, D.C. Edward Smith rose through the union ranks to become a major political player. In Barack Obamas 2006 book, The Audacity of Hope, in discussing a visit to Cairo during his race for U.S. Senate, Obama calls Edward Smith, who organized the gathering, one of the most powerful men in the region. Among charges Smith has seen dismissed over a 15-year period since he turned 18 in Union, Jackson and Alexander counties are: Two speeding tickets for allegedly driving at least 15 mph over the limit Two charges of transporting open alcohol in a vehicle A misdemeanor charge of growing a cannabis plant Two felony charges, one each of criminal trespass and criminal damage to property A misdemeanor domestic battery charge A traffic charge of driving under the influence, court records show. Additionally, Smith has had three DUI charges amended to or refiled as reckless driving. That means although Smith was arrested four times over the course of seven years on charges of driving under the influence in 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2013 but has never been convicted of DUI. This editorial appeared in Tuesday's Washington Post: When Vice President Joe Biden meets with the president of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan,in Ankara this week, Biden will need all the reservoirs of patience and persuasion he can muster. Erdogan, having survived a coup attempt July 15, which brought huge crowds to the streets to defend democracy, has subsequently launched a sweeping purge aimed at perceived enemies. Biden needs to deliver some tough counsel to the Turkish president. In the past, Biden has paid tribute to Turkey's importance as a NATO ally and cornerstone of a region in turmoil. Both are still true. Biden should not hesitate to reassure Erdogan once again that the two nations share vital interests, not the least of which are fighting the Islamic State and ending the conflagration that has consumed Syria. He should make clear he understands how much Turkish civilians are suffering from terrorist attacks. Turkey also participates in NATO's nuclear mission, and nuclear weapons are stored in vaults on its soil. Biden should do his best to convince Erdogan that the United States does not desire to destabilize Turkey. But Erdogan may not want to hear the rest of the message that Biden should deliver. The coup attempt, in which 240 people were killed, was apparently staged by a loose coalition of disaffected military officers and others worried about Erdogan's slide toward authoritarianism. The outpouring in the streets that confronted the coup plotters was an encouraging sign of people's faith in a tattered democracy. But Erdogan's actions since then have seriously undermined democracy and the rule of law. He blamed the coup primarily on Fethullah Gulen, a cleric who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania and who has inspired a large civil society and educational movement in Turkey. Gulen had a falling out with Erdogan in recent years. Gulen said he had nothing to do with the coup and denounced it. While some Gulenists may have participated in the coup effort, Erdogan's assault on Gulen and his movement has been over the top. The authorities have said 4,262 companies and institutions with links to Gulen have been shut and 40,029 people detained, while in the military, police and civil service, 79,900 people have been removed from duty. Some 38,000 prisoners are being released to open up cells for the newly arrested. Erdogan has demanded Gulen be extradited from the United States, but according to a senior U.S. official quoted in The Washington Post, the material submitted by Turkey thus far does not include evidence of his involvement in the coup. Biden ought to candidly tell his host that the United States did not instigate the coup and that it will not relinquish Gulen to a witchhunt. Erdogan may not want to hear it, but he also should be reminded that crushing the rule of law will dim Turkey's prospects. Erdogan may bask in the crowds today, but using the coup as a pretext to purge the media, academia and other spheres of independent voices will not strengthen the nation in the long run. SPRINGFIELD A federal judge is expected to rule Thursday on whether David Gill should appear on the Nov. 8 ballot as an independent candidate in the 13th Congressional District despite not having enough signatures on his nominating petitions. Gill, a Bloomington physician whos previously run for Congress as a Democrat, sued the Illinois State Board of Elections earlier this month challenging the states signature requirement for independent congressional candidates. The federal lawsuit argues that the requirement is unconstitutional because its out of line with the requirements for major party candidates and for independents seeking other offices. With the elections board facing a Friday deadline to certify the ballot, U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough said she would issue a written ruling by Thursday afternoon on Gills request that board be ordered to allow his name on the ballot. Gill had to collect 10,754 signatures, nearly 15 times more than U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, and Democratic challenger Mark Wicklund of Decatur, who each had to collect fewer than 740. By comparison, independent U.S. Senate candidates only have to collect five times as many signatures as their major party opponents. Working with 18 volunteers, Gill collected 8,593 valid signatures. Sam Cahnman, the Springfield attorney representing Gill, said the candidate made a herculean effort in attempting to gather the needed signatures in the 90 days allowed under state law. The task was made even more difficult by the geography of the sparsely populated 13th District, which stretches from Champaign County to the Mississippi River and includes parts Bloomington-Normal, Decatur and Springfield. During a hearing Wednesday, Cahnman argued that the state has no compelling reason to keep Gill off the ballot. He noted that candidates frequently appear on the ballot and receive votes despite not having collected nearly enough signatures or, in at least one case, without having collected any because no one challenges their nominating petitions at the elections board. Gill faces removal from the ballot because Wicklund and former Macon County Republican Party Chairman Jerry Stocks challenged his signatures. Cahnman also argued that the 90-day requirement, which the General Assembly approved in 1983, amounts to nothing more than an incumbent-protection law. He cited remarks that the sponsor, then-state Rep. Harry Yourell, made on the House floor before the vote. Im trying to protect all of the members of the House who are down here doing the peoples business while somebody is back in your district circulating petitions, and if he has enough time, there wont be any petitions left for you to circulate or to sign, Yourell said, according to House transcripts. Myerscough read those words back to Assistant Attorney General Sarah Newman, whos representing the state in the case, after Newman said it was the Legislatures place to set requirements for ballot access. That doesnt fill my heart with gladness to read that statement, Newman said. But the state needs to set clear rules to prevent overcrowding of the ballot and potential voter confusion, she said, noting that both the 90-day window and similar signature requirements have been upheld in previous cases. Newman argued that granting Gills request for an order that his name appear on the ballot would essentially determine the outcome of the entire case before all the facts have been heard. She also said Gills request came at the 11th hour. We are at 11:59 here, Newman said. Regardless of the outcome, Gill said hes pleased that he and the people of the 13th District had their day in court. If nothing else, he said, the case has helped shed light on how difficult it is for independent candidates to get on the ballot, which is counter to what the framers of the Constitution intended. They wanted it to be the peoples House when they set it up, Gill said. When South Carolina State University recently welcomed students back for the fall semester, officials ran into a problem they havent faced in a number of years. With the enrollment of new students up by 39 percent over last year, the school was scrambling to find dormitory space to accommodate them. We maxed out dorms a few weeks ago, S.C. State President James Clark said after Tuesdays board meeting. We had to go to UV (University Village), Campus Corner -- we were looking for other stuff off campus. The university has had a policy of letting students pay a higher fee and get private rooms, Clark said. But it always maintained the option that it could refund the extra money and put another student in the room if the space was needed, he said. Thats been done this year. He said the university is working on the housing problem. Two small dorms, Nix and Rowe, that were being used as office space, are being cleaned, painted and carpeted and will add 56 new rooms, Clark said. Theyll be ready in two weeks, he said, adding that he thinks that will meet the needs. But students are still registering, Clark said. The increased number of new students enabled S.C. State to exceed its projected enrollment goal of 2,900 with a total of 2,963 students for the fall semester. However, the number of returning students was down over last years total, Clark said. That decrease was due to the schools new stricter policy that limits how much money students can owe and still return to class. More than 500 families were affected by financial difficulties, he said. Students who owe more than $3,500 are not normally allowed to register for classes until the bill is paid down. However, S.C. State has implemented a plan where students can apply for a Presidential Promise, which will allow them to pay down to a level where they can return, Public Relations Director Liz Mosely said. Students who qualify receive some S.C. State University Foundation scholarships while some parents or other family members make promises to help the students pay. Presidential Promises have been implemented in the past, but Clark has added a new twist. This time, its not enough for the foundation and family members to take responsibility for the debt. Clark is requiring the students themselves to accept some responsibility. He makes the promise to help the students, but the students have to take some responsibility, he said. Depending on how high the debt level is, the student has to commit from 50 to 175 hours of campus service. More than 60 students have been accepted and another 50 have applied for the plan, Clark said. Clark reported that as soon as work on Nix and Rowe is completed, the university will begin working on the fitness center thats connected to Truth Hall. It is separate from the dormitory and completely safe, he said, adding that work will be completed on that facility this semester. Another project thats already in the works is opening the indoor heated swimming pool in the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center, the president said. New heating and plumbing have been put in place and the work will be completed within this school year, he said. Plans are also in the works to come up with a policy to make the facility open to the public, Clark said. In addition, the university is moving forward with plans to beautify the campus, he said. Little things make a big difference, Clark said. "There are so many things that cost little or nothing that can beautify the school." For example, the fire hydrants have been painted and the buildings are being pressure washed, Clark said. Theyre just attention to detail. Also during Tuesday's board meeting, trustees gave final approval to refinancing the debt on Hugine Suites, which is expected to save the university almost $12 million over the life of the loan that expires in 2035. The S.C. Ports Authority's top official told local business, government and economic development leaders Tuesday that the development of an inland port in Orangeburg County is a possibility, but most likely not in the short term. "I hope there will be an opportunity for that in the future," SCPA President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Newsome said at the economic summit and forecast breakfast at the Orangeburg Country Club. "I think an inland port will have to come along the Norfolk-Southern line if we have one here," Newsome said. "Do I think today in substantial numbers? No," he said. "Do I see the potential in the future with the development of short-haul rail? I think there is a possibility." Short-haul rail is typically less than 500 miles and often less than 200 miles. The short-haul market is currently dominated by truck transport. Currently, the state has an inland port in Greer along the Interstate 85 corridor, and earlier this year announced plans to develop one in Dillon along the Interstate 95 corridor. A SCPA spokeswoman at the time of the Dillon inland port announcement said the authority considered several sites across the state, including Orangeburg County. The reason for choosing Dillon was its existing cargo base, she said at the time. Local leaders have said Orangeburg County's access to major routes like I-95, I-26 and U.S. Highway 301 make it an ideal location for an inland port. The area has even been trademarked as the Global Logistics Triangle in an attempt to showcase its close proximity to interstates and the port. Newsome cited Volvo's announcement to come to adjacent Berkeley County as a great opportunity for Orangeburg County. "We would like many more Volvo cars out there," he said. "As manufacturing reshores from China, this is a tremendous opportunity for the Southeast and a tremendous opportunity for you here in Orangeburg in that you are in the confluence of two major highways and you have rail access." The $500 million Volvo plant will be located about 20 miles from Interstate 95 and the Orangeburg County line and about 35 miles from Santee's 1,322-acre Jafza Magna Park. Local lawmakers have been at the forefront of making the Orangeburg County area more attractive to industrial prospects, introducing legislation designed to encourage the use of the area near the intersection of interstates 26 and 95 as a distribution hub for cargo shipped to and from the Port of Charleston. The bill has passed the Senate and is now under consideration in the S.C. House. In addition to discussing the inland port, Newsome provided an overview of the port's growth as well as its plans to accommodate expected future growth. "The port only exists if you have a cargo base," he said. "The more business that we can attract here, the better we are as a port." Citing data from the University of South Carolina, Newsome said the port volume has grown 43 percent in the past five years and is considered one of the fastest growing ports in the United States. About 10 percent of this growth was in 2014-2015 alone, he said, noting that collectively, the other 10 major ports in the country have grown at about 13 percent. Newsome said the Southeast's growing population has increased imports and manufacturing has driven exports. The port contributes about $53 billion annually in the state and 10 percent of the state's gross domestic product is related to the port, he said. The port provides about $914 million in annual state tax revenue and about one in 11, or 187,000, jobs in the state are related to the port, Newsome said. "Ports are economic engines," he said. In an effort to keep up with the increasing size of container ships and the widening of the Panama Canal, Newsome said the port plans to spend a record $2.2 billion on port expansion and deepening projects within the next 10 years. "We have to invest a lot of money to remain top 10 ports," he said. "That is one of the main challenges in the port." Currently, the Charleston harbor is 45 feet deep with plans to deepen it to 52 feet to allow shipments at all times of the day and compensate for low tide, Newsome said. He said by the end of 2019, the Charleston port will be the deepest port on the East Coast, pending harbor deepening approval from the federal government. Attendees asked Newsome about the port's efficiency, exports and imports, safety and the adequacy of the state's interstate system. Gregg Robinson, Orangeburg County Development Commission executive director, said the county has been aggressively promoting and touting the county's proximity to the interstates and the port. He said the county received 57 prospect visits in 2015, noting that about 44 percent of them are by international countries. The majority of the project interests -- about 75 percent -- are related to manufacturing, Robinson said. "Our competition is the world," he said. "Internationally, Orangeburg has seen a record year. In the last 10 years, we have never seen this type of international investment or international attraction to our market." The economic summit was hosted by the Orangeburg County Economic Development Partnership, in partnership with the South Carolina Ports Authority, the Orangeburg County Development Commission and the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce. The summit's presenting sponsor was Husqvarna, and gold sponsors were the Alzheimer's Association, South State Bank and Claflin University. Following multiple damning email leaks and disclosures, Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign decided, in the weirdest attempt at damage control I've ever seen, to invoke the late Allen Ginsberg's "America": "America it's them bad Russians. Them Russians them Russians and them Chinamen. And them Russians." Forget the content of the leaks. Just focus on their alleged (not proven, alleged) source. IT'S THEM RUSSIANS! Never mind that one of the leaks uncovered the Democratic National Committee's secret program to deliver its party's presidential nomination to Clinton at all costs. Did I mention that Donald Trump MIGHT BE WORKING WITH THEM RUSSIANS? Never mind that another disclosure gave the public a glimpse of Clinton's corrupt "pay to play" scheme, in which high-dollar donors to the Clinton Foundation got special goodies from the Clinton State Department. Who cares? The Ukrainian government (installed in a 2014 coup funded by the US and orchestrated by Clinton's protege, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland) just happened to conveniently "discover" "evidence" linking Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort to THEM RUSSIANS! Servergate? Never mind FBI Director James Comey's announcement and testimony revealing that she's at least recklessly negligent and almost certainly a felon who only avoided prosecution because her name is Hillary Clinton. LOOOOOOOK! THEM RUSSIANS! It's all so maladroit and ham-handed that it would be laughable if not for the stakes: Clinton's strategy for distracting attention from her corruption and incompetence, so that she can win the White House, is an all-out attempt to re-start the Cold War (at the risk of one or more very hot wars) and resurrect Joe McCarthy between now and November. And it just might work. No, I can't bring myself to support Donald Trump. But it's getting harder and harder to peg him as the distinctively harebrained, irresponsible, unhinged one in the race. Clinton is still a game down to Trump in the World Series of Crazy, but it looks like the series will go all the way to seven. It's been noted over and over, by pretty much everyone, that Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are the two most roundly despised presidential candidates since polling became a thing. How either one of them got within spitting distance of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is a mystery for the ages. And one of them almost certainly moving in come January sounds like an establishing shot for next summer's top-grossing horror film. SANDY RUN -- Its refreshing to hear somebody say, Im sorry, Calhoun County Rep. Russell Ott said. Ott, along with Lexington Sen. Nikki Setzler and Bowman Sen. John Matthews, organized a Monday night meeting with the S.C. Department of Transportation and concerned citizens of Sandy Run to provide answers for the unfinished roadwork on I-26. The construction project includes the widening of I-26 from four to six lanes, from the I-77 interchange to Old Sandy Run Road, and I-26 pavement rehabilitation from Old Sandy Run Road to Caw Caw Road. Also included in the project is the replacement of the I-26 Bridge over the CSX Railroad and Dixiana Road. The $75 million project began on June 26, 2013, and was scheduled to be completed on July 23, 2015. Setzler said the biggest frustration has been being kept in the dark. With the project 13 months behind, SCDOT representatives agreed to meet with the public at Beulah United Methodist Church and answer any questions they had. We are well, well behind schedule, said Leland Colvin, SCDOT deputy secretary for engineering. Well over a year behind schedule of what the original completion date was. Part of the contracts requirements provides penalties for the overdue status. $10,000 a day is what we charge late penalties for a contract being behind schedule, Colvin said. A total of $2.6 million is currently being withheld from the contractor. Colvin said a legal matter that arose with the Anderson Columbia/Boggs Paving joint venture caused the delay in the work. Boggs was indicted in September of 2013 for defrauding a federal aid program, he said. Carl Drew Boggs, president and CEO of Boggs Paving Inc., was accused of 29 counts of conspiracy to defraud the federal government, money-laundering, mail fraud and other charges. The federal rules allow any company that goes into suspension to finish out the work they have under contract, which is unfortunately what we had here on the I-26 project, Colvin said. We had to allow them to continue work. While suspended, Boggs was not allowed to bid on any future federal work, and the SCDOT tried to disqualify the company from bidding on any state work as well. The company took SCDOT to court in October 2013 and won its suit based on state law. The state law requires that any time we suspend somebodys license from doing work, its based on conviction and not on indictment, Colvin said. We could not suspend them based on the federal highways definition of suspension. Ninety-five percent of the I-26 project is completed, with about 10 miles left to be finished. Everything east of Sandy Run Road is complete. Theyve just got some minor shoulder work and some ramp work to do, Colvin said. Theyre working on the widening section between Sandy Run Road and I-77. We still have two layers of pavement to put on there. He said Anderson has committed to completing the rest of the work by the end of September. The timeline is subject to good weather conditions, no plant breakdowns and no breakdowns with the paving operations, Colvin said. Quality is certainly our number one issue, and we want to make sure that when we leave the project at the end of the day, hopefully at the end of September, that were going to deliver and pay for a good quality project, he said. Colvin was asked if it will be possible to meet the time-frame of 45 days to finish the work and if it will cost the public additional money. You will see double lane closures at night off peak times to try and get this project completed as expeditiously as possible, Colvin said, adding that they plan to finish work on the first layer on the eastbound side, move to the westbound side and then repeat the process with the second layer of asphalt. All the rework -- we dont pay for a dime of that. Thats on the contractor -- not only this project, but all projects, he said. Any work thats done that does not meet our specifications, they are responsible for correcting that work at no cost to the taxpayers and no cost to the DOT. Questions arose about roads not included in the project. Ott assured the audience he is committed to finding ways to get more money. The bottom line is, we dont have enough money, he said. It makes my job a lot harder to try and advocate for money for them when weve got money for a project and it doesnt go the way that we wanted it to go. Ott thanked the SCDOT representatives for taking ownership and admitting fault, but added, We shouldnt have to wait on statistics to get to a level that it dictates us making changes. The people that ride these roads understand the needs, he said. Please know that not many people in this room asked for the changes to I-26 ... it was given to us. Ott encouraged the public to continue providing their input and ideas. We failed to keep you informed ... thats going to stop, Colvin said. Secretary of Transportation Christy Hall said, Wed like to provide you weekly updates so you can kind of hear from us what was accomplished. SCDOT updates were promised every Friday via social media, email and local distribution until the projects completion. Noted Hall, The buck stops with me, and this is my responsibility to make sure this project gets done and gets done the way that we all expect it to be." Inside the Book: Title: The Early Years Author: Rachel G. Carrington Publisher: iUniverse Genre: Biography Format: Ebook/Paperback The Interview Meet the Author: Author Rachel G. Carrington lays no claim to lofty jobs, higher education, nor grand accomplishments except for a love-filled, multifaceted, family-oriented, poverty-to-plenty life. In, the first in a series, she shares her story.As a young teenager, just entering high school in the small town of Denton, Kentucky, Carrington planned to attend college and become a teacher. With coursework geared toward college attendance, she was offered a lucrative scholarship that would help her to attain her goal. However, it took only a single event to send her down a different path. She met a returned World War II veteran who was attempting to pick up the pieces after finding his marriage in irreparable shambles and his children gone. As he struggled, Carrington was there, and they pulled together to clear the many hurdles before them.In this memoir, she tells the story of their journey and how their love and dedication for each other kept moving them forward. Filled with the joys, disappointments, and struggles of a couple,narrates how the love of the heavenly Father was the continuous thread that bound Carrington's life together.The title of the book, The Early Years, best describes my life as a young, giddy teenage girl, seeing for the first time what true love was really about. The Early Years, soon would mean a lifetime of growth, compassion and the realization that time passes quickly. I think about the people I love, the ones whove come and gone; and then, I am reminded how meaningful the early yearsMy writing environment is full of peace. Even though, currently, my life is so crazy busy! I long for the time, I can sit down (like Im doing now), and write. Im reminded that life is what you make of it. If I find myself too busy, then I need to slow down. When that happens, I can let go and write to my hearts content.One of the best tools today for writers is the computer. Having spell check, the plethora of internet resources, and all the marvelous devices of today to make writing so much easier. What inspires you to write? My lifes experiences, my heavenly Father, and my wonderful family and Christian network of friends inspires me to write.While writing this book, I realized that I really can write! I realized I would not change anything that happened in this book. I learned more about the writing world, and what it takes to be a good author. I learned most of all that having the great life I have had didnt just happen, but that I have truly been blessed!My favorite quality about myself is what Ive been able to accomplish in my life. Having come from a financially poor background, and being able to turn it around by having strong work ethics instilled in me by my parents, having a caring husband who made it happen; and my heavenly Father to guide me and see me through.Rachel G. Carrington, a transplanted Kentuckian, is a widow, mother of seven and grandmother to three generations. Included with her many other interests, she spends much of her time writing and lives in Hamilton, Ohio and in Honolulu, Hawaii. 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. Ethiopia addresses aviation sector bottlenecks with first independent charter The Africa Business Aviation Association has launched a first of its kind independent charter in Ethiopia addressing opportunities and challenges in the aviation industry while reviewing the overall status of the aviation industry in Ethiopia. Over 40 delegates drawn from private operators, aviation suppliers, Ethiopian Airlines, and members of the media discussed the health of the aviation industry in Ethiopia at the conference. We have identified two countries that we believe will witness major growth in the upcoming decade. One of those two countries is Ethiopia. We, as your association, have been fortunate to observe the factors that have created growth in certain countries around Africa, and I am here to share with you that it is our belief that it is only a matter of time before Ethiopia becomes a major business aviation hub. It is inevitable - in our best judgment - that Ethiopia will join, or perhaps lead Africa in business aviation, just like it currently does in commercial aviation, AfBAA's executive director Mr. Rady Fahmy said. Margareth Josephath Kyarwenda, secretary general of the newly created Association of African Aviation Training Organizations emphasized aviation's role in supporting free movement of people and cargo in a fast and efficient way...and how it plays a crucial role in economic prosperity. Africa's initiative of a single air transport market will ensure that policies allow a conducive environment for the development and provision of safe, reliable and affordable air transport in Africa, necessary for the free movement of persons, goods and services in the continent. She also stressed the importance of having well trained and qualified, home grown human resources that will meet the rising demand for aviation professionals in Africa. Dawit Lemma, AfBAA-Ethiopia Chapter's president and founder of Krimson, an aviation consulting firm called on players to establish the business aviation sector in Ethiopia by working collectively with all local stakeholders. It is the dream of Bole Airport (Addis Ababa) to become Africa's premium business aviation hub that I impart on you. It is this dream that we as Ethiopian aviation stakeholders should aspire to. It is this dream that we as a nation together will accomplish. The realisation of this dream and vision, in concert with all of you today is now in motion. The creation of the AfBAA Ethiopia Chapter, and today's Country Roundtable are just the first steps. As president of the Ethiopian Chapter of AfBAA it is my mandate to establish and promote a thriving business aviation sector in Ethiopia. It is this mission that I am here to serve and to confirm. It is this vision that I am here to make a reality, he said. The deliberations at the conference included drafting an action plan document that would identify the challenges that private operators face, and suggest solutions to alleviate those challenges with the draft document being present to delegates to review and feedback before sharing the final document with government. www.afbaa.org By Azernews By Nigar Abbasova The government of Azerbaijan, which is keen to gain more profit from its favorable geographic location, placed a particular importance on the development of its transportation potential. The country makes big efforts to facilitate cargo transportation through its territory. Heads of Railway Administrations of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Georgia have recently discussed the issue of mutually advantageous cooperation, as well as creation of favorable conditions for the freight transportation with cargo shippers, major operators and freight companies of Kazakhstan, the Kazakhstan Railways reported. The talks held in Astana, were mainly focused on the reduction of tariff rates for the transportation of metal production, grain, oil and gas freight as well as containerized shipping at the territories of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Georgia. Reduced tariffs for Kazakh export as well as new logistics schemes for the freight transportation are expected to promote opening up of new markets and growth of transportation volumes. We are ready to offer good conditions for the transportation of export and import goods. For instance, we will open a new direct passage from Georgia to Turkey in the end of the current year, thus opening an access to the south ports of Turkey, South Africa and Arab countries, said Igbal Huseynov, Deputy Head of Azerbaijan Railways. Representative of Kazakh Soltustik socio-entrepreneurial corporation, Anuar Hamitov in turn said that the company is planning to export crop to the Gulf countries. Currently, we carry out our operations only in Kazkahstan. We possess the biggest volume of corn crop and planning to export it to the Gulf countries. Negotiations in this regards are currently under way, we are conforming tariffs with representatives of Azerbaijan and Georgian railways and already have certain results, he said. Direct contacts established between consignors and railroaders of the three countries are expected to tackle issues, occurring in the course of transportation in a more rapid manner. Earlier, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Ukraine signed a protocol on setting competitive preferential tariffs for cargo transportation via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. The document provided for the settlement of competitive preferential tariffs for cargo transportation via the Trans-Caspian route, carrying out comprehensive measures to facilitate the movement of trains via the route, and increasing cargo turnover. A similar bilateral protocol was also signed separately by Azerbaijan and Georgia. By Azertac Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Board Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade has met a delegation led by head of the department in charge of organizing papal trips Mauricio Rueda Beltz to discuss prospects for religious and spiritual relations. The delegation of the Holy See was accompanied by Apostolic Nuncio of Vatican in the South Caucasus Archbishop Marek Solczynski. At the meeting, the sides praised ties between Azerbaijan and the Holy See. They stressed the important role of reciprocal visits of religious figures in expanding relations between the Caucasus Muslims Board and the Holy See. Allahshukur Pashazade recalled his visit to Vatican, and hailed the active participation of the Vatican officials in international events held in Azerbaijan. Ordinary of the Apostolic Prefecture of the Roman Catholic Church in Azerbaijan Vladimir Fekete was also present at the meeting. By Trend Time has come to put an end to terrorism in Syria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, TRT Haber TV channel reported on August 24. Turkey will not tolerate threats at its borders, according to the president. Erdogan also said that Turkey will eliminate all the threats the country is facing. On Aug. 24 morning, the Turkish Air Force with the support of the coalition aircraft launched an operation to liberate the city of Jarabulus from the IS militants in northern Syria, near Aleppo city. The operation is carried out under the name Shield of the Euphrates. Earlier, it was reported that Turkish tanks entered Syria. Syria has been suffering from an armed conflict since March 2011, which, according to the UN, has so far claimed over 500,000 lives. Militants from various armed groups are confronting the Syrian government troops. The Islamic State (IS, ISIL, ISIS or Daesh) is the most active terrorist group in Syria. Please note that the poems and essays on this site are copyright and may not be reproduced without the author's permission. Oman plans to build two major independent water desalination plants to meet growing demand for potable water in the northern region, a report said. Sites are being evaluated for a 60-million-gallons-per-day (mgpd)-capacity project planned in Muscat, added the Times of Oman report, highlighting that the project is likely to start operations by 2021. Another 44-mgpd-capacity project in the Northern Batinah and Dhahirah regions is scheduled to commence operations in 2022, the report said, citing a seven-year outlook for power and water demand released by the Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP). Tenders for selecting multinational firms or consortiums for developing these desalination projects are expected from OPWP, the report added. Atlas Copco Middle East, a leader in engineering solutions, recently commissioned the regions first HB 10000 hydraulic breaker at the Eastern Province Cement Company (EPCC) in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Weighing an impressive 10 tonnes and with a single impact blow energy of 16,000 joules, which can be released at a rate of up to 380 blows a minute, the HB 10000, mounted on a Komatsu PC 1250 excavator, is the worlds largest commercially available hydraulic breaker, a statement said. To put that in perspective, 16,000 joules equals a weight force of 760 tonnes, more than the landing pressure of an Airbus A380 airplane, repeated 380 times a minute. The HB 10000 breaker will be used for primary breaking applications in the hard limestone deposits which are arranged in a dam formation in the quarry. The site not only presents harsh conditions but extreme temperatures too, with ambient temperatures reaching up to 51 deg C. The HB 10000 provides an ideal solution for EPCCs primary quarrying application. The combination of extreme power and efficiency provided by the breaker gives real operational savings, making it an unrivalled cost-effective production machine for primary rock breaking, said Fiaz Ghani, regional business line manager Atlas Copco Construction Tools. Established in 1982, EPCC is now one of the leading cement companies in Saudi Arabia producing clinker and cement for both local and global markets. Shafeek Ahmed, nine superintendent at EPCC, said: We are facing very hard rock, which lowers traditional dozer productivity, compared with a hydraulic breaker, in this type of deposit and achieved a lower cost per tonne. The high power-to-weight ratio and the in-built EnergyRecovery feature provided by the HB 10000 makes it an excellent cost-effective option. Its lower weight and higher efficiency means less hydraulic input power is required from the carrier, while maintaining maximum impact performance. This allows smaller carriers to be used resulting in significant savings in investment costs. In fact, the HB10000 can run on carriers between 85 to 140-tonne weight classes. With less input demanded from the hydraulic system, less fuel is needed by the carrier, which results in further lowering operating costs. Powered by a combination of oil and gas, the HB 10000 becomes less dependent from the carriers hydraulic oil supply. This results in 70 per cent of the impact energy being regenerated by the gas in the piston accumulator and only 30 per cent by the hydraulic oil supply of the carrier. In effect, the internal control valve is able to convert the hydraulic input into a greater hydraulic output. TradeArabia News Service Bohai Steel Group, the indebted state-owned conglomerate, may receive help from a local government bailout fund to restructure its debts, the online financial magazine Caixin said at the weekend. Bohai Steel, which was created in 2010 through the combination of four manufacturers, holds liabilities of 192 billion yuan ($28.9 billion) from 105 creditors, alongside assets of nearly 290 billion yuan ($43.81 billion), Caixin reported. The Tianjin government plans to create a local asset manager to assist in the debt workout of Bohai Steel, alongside other troubled Tianjin enterprises, the magazine said. Restructuring of the group represented the biggest since the global financial crisis, Standard & Poor's analyst Christopher Lee told Reuters in March. Bohai Steel creditors include the Tianjin branch of the Bank of Beijing Co Ltd, the magazine reported earlier, and several trust companies such as Tianjin Trust, Beifang Trust and Guomin Trust. China has been moving to empower special purpose restructuring managers, while accelerating debt-for-equity swaps with creditors, in a bid to manage rising state sector debt. In February, the top industrial asset manager appointed China Chengtong Holdings Group and China Reform Holdings Co to pilot shareholding reform among loss-making government firms. The country's steel sector has been pressed to restructure following an extended slowdown in the nation's real estate industry, a major consumer of basic materials. Reuters Frantisek Hadrava thought driving to work for 14 minutes was too much, so he built a plane to cut the commute by half. Hadrava, a 45-year old locksmith from the south-western Czech village of Zdikov, took about two years of his spare time to build his Vampira, an ultralight plane based on the US-design of light planes called Mini-Max. The plane has an open cockpit, propeller powered by a 3-cylinder engine made by Czech firm Verner, and maximum speed of 146 km an hour. It cost about 3,700 euros ($4,200) to build, Hadrava said. Early on Wednesday morning, Hadrava flew his usual path through the forested, hilly foothills of the Sumava mountains for his 6 am shift at Drevostroj, a small factory in the town of Ckyne making machine tools for the forestry industry. He lands on a meadow across the road from the factory. He then needs to push the plane across the road, leading to the German border, to a parking lot outside the factory. "It takes me about 12-14 minutes by car," Hadrava said. "By plane, it would take around 4-5 minutes if I flew directly, but I take a bit of a detour so that I don't disturb people early in the morning. So it takes about 7 minutes." Hadrava has also built a replica of the German World War One triplane Fokker Dr. I, and his next plan is to construct another historical plane, the French Deperdussin. - Reuters Turkish-backed Syrian rebels entered the Islamic State-held town of Jarablus in northern Syria on Wednesday in an operation supported by Turkish tanks, special forces units and US-led coalition warplanes, rebel sources said. A rebel commander with the Failaq Al Sham group, who requested anonymity, told Reuters that most of the Islamic State fighters in Jarablus had pulled out, some of them surrendering. Another commander estimated up to 50 percent of the town was now under the control of the Turkish-backed rebels. "Daesh (Islamic State) fighters have withdrawn from several villages on the outskirts of Jarablus and are heading south towards the city of al Bab," the Failaq al Sham commander said. A column of at least nine Turkish tanks crossed into northern Syria with Turkish-backed Syrian rebels in the first co-ordinated offensive into Syria. A Reuters reporter at the border witnessed intense bombardments, with palls of black smoke rising around the town. President Tayyip Erdogan said the operation was targeting Islamic State and the Kurdish PYD party, whose gains in northern Syria have alarmed Turkey. Ankara views the PYD as an extension of Kurdish militants fighting an insurgency on its own soil, putting it at odds with Washington, which sees the group as an ally in the fight against Islamic State. "This morning at 4 am (0100 GMT) an operation started in northern Syria against terror groups which constantly threaten our country, like Daesh (Islamic State) and the PYD," Erdogan said in a speech in Ankara. US Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Turkey, which has Nato's second biggest armed forces, hours after operations began on a pre-planned trip. Biden is the most senior US official to visit since a failed July 15 coup shook confidence in Turkey's ability to step up the fight against Islamic State. "Euphrates Shield", named after the river running nearby, is Turkey's first major military operation since the abortive coup. A military source said the Turkish-backed rebels had seized control of four villages as they pushed towards Jarablus. The offensive by Turkey comes four days after a suicide bomber suspected of links to Islamic State killed 54 people at a wedding in the southeastern city of Gaziantep. Syria's foreign ministry condemned what it said was a breach of its sovereignty and accused Ankara of launching the incursion to replace Islamic State with "other terrorist groups". TESTING TIME A senior US official travelling with Biden said the US wanted to help Turkey to get Islamic State away from the border, and was providing air cover and "synching up" with the Turks on their plans for Jarablus. The shelling was hitting Islamic State, not Kurdish forces, he said. Biden's visit comes at a testing time for Turkish-US relations. Turkey says the failed putsch was staged by Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania for the past 17 years. Erdogan wants Gulen extradited but Washington says it needs clear evidence of his alleged involvement, sparking an outpouring of anti-Americanism from Turkey's pro-government media. Gulen denies any involvement in the attempted coup. Turkey and the United States hope that by removing Islamic State from the border, they can deprive it of a smuggling route which long saw its ranks swollen with foreign fighters and its coffers boosted by illicit trade. But for Turkey, it also preempts any attempt by Syrian Kurdish militia fighters, who play a critical part of the US-backed campaign against Islamic State, to take Jarablus. Kurdish fighters have captured large areas of territory since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011, and Ankara has long declared the Euphrates river, which runs just east of Jarablus, a red line which it does not want them to cross. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Kurdish fighters must return east of the Euphrates or Turkey would "do what is necessary". He said the operation was a turning point and would accelerate removing Islamic State from Syria's Aleppo region. - Reuters The United States has more aircraft carriers than any other country - depending on how you define "aircraft carrier," it's 10 times as many. Russia, a major naval power with large submarine corps and many other surface ships, has one carrier. It's from the Soviet era, diesel powered and rarely at see for more than six months at a time before heading back for a refit that typically takes longer than the deployment. China's first aircraft carrier recently became operational. It's a Soviet model that's been refurbished. A second carrier is being refurbished now. The other nations that can sent flattops to sea are India, Italy and France. The UK currently can't launch fighters from its lone carrier because they retired their Harrier jump jets in 2010 to save money. The United States, on the other hand, currently has 10 super carriers with air wings that are never smaller than 60 planes. It is authorized by Congress to keep 11 in service, but a new class of carriers has been slow to get out of dry dock. But the super carriers are only half of the force. There are 10 more ships capable of deploying V/STOL aircraft like the V-22 Osprey, Harriers and also helicopters. Many nations would call those aircraft carriers, too. So, clearly, the US government believes these ships are key to the nation's overall military strategy. They help give the United States an unparalleled ability to project force in short order nearly anywhere in the world. But what if these many-multibillion dollar plans can be upset by a few million dollars in missiles? It could make the aircraft carrier an endangered species.- Reuters The views expressed in this article are not those of Reuters News. Tech giant Samsung Electronics said on Wednesday stronger-than-expected demand for the new Galaxy Note 7 is causing supply constraints globally, suggesting strong initial sales for the premium device. "As pre-order results for the Galaxy Note 7 have far exceeded our estimates, its release date in some markets has been adjusted," Samsung told Reuters in a statement. Reuters A Paris-bound EgyptAir flight was delayed for two hours in Cairo on Tuesday following a bomb scare, a report said. The airline had asked authorities to check the plae after a suspicious briefcase was found inside before take-off, said a report in Gulf News citing EgyptAir head Safwat Musallam. The briefcase, the plane and passengers were checked and nothing was found, he said. The plane was cleared and allowed to depart after two hours behind schedule. Egypt has tightened security measures at its airports since October last year following the crash of a Russian aircraft in Sinai, killing all 224 people on board. In May this year, an EgyptAir plane plunged into the Mediterranean Sea while en route from Paris to Cairo, killing all 66 people aboard. Rezidor, a leading hotel companies worldwide and part of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, has announced the signing of three new properties in the UAE. The Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Waterfront will open its doors during the first quarter (Q1) of 2017, followed by the Park Inn by Radisson Resort Ras Al Khaimah Marjan Island in the second quarter of 2017, while the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Canal View will welcome guests from Q1 2018. The UAE is a key strategic market for us. Dubai, the worlds fourth most visited city in 2015 with 14.2 million overnight visitors has been on an unprecedented growth journey for the last decade. The emirates ambition is to hit 20 million visitors by 2020 and position the country as both a world-class business and leisure destination. We want to contribute to the on-going journey and support this fast-growing sector together with our experienced regional partners, said Wolfgang M Neumann, president and CEO of Rezidor. We are delighted to partner with Mr Nashat Farhan Awad Sahawneh and Stallion Properties. With these three new signings, we are adding over 1,000 rooms to our portfolio in the UAE and further improving our brand awareness in the country, whilst expanding our offering to our guests and further improving the business efficiencies to our investment partners, added Elie Younes, executive vice president and chief development officer of The Rezidor Hotel Group. The Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Waterfront is located in the largest and most impressive waterfront development in the world within Business Bay known as Dubai Water Canal, the new business district of Dubai. The property will comprise 432 rooms including designer suites. It will offer several dining experiences, including one all-day dining restaurant and bar with stunning views of the Burj Khalifa - the tallest skyscraper in the world - a Makar Scottish bar and the brands signature FireLake Grill House and Cocktail Bar. The property will also have meeting and conferencing facilities on a surface of over 1,000 sq m. Also located on the Dubai Water Canal in Business Bay is the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Canal View. It comprises 188 stylish rooms and 16 suites, a meeting and conference area on a surface of 131 sq m, a business centre and a 341-sq-m banquet hall. Guest will also enjoy one of Radisson Blus signature food and drink concepts in its four restaurants and one coffee shop. Nashat Farhan Awad Sahawneh, owner of the Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Waterfront and the Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Canal View, added: The Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Waterfront and The Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Canal View will be located in strategic locations in Dubai for both business travellers and vacationers. I am very pleased to work together with Carlson Rezidor, a trusted and renowned partner, to make these projects come to life, and benefit from their extensive experience and understanding of the hospitality industry on both a local and international level. In the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, Rezidor is adding its first the Park Inn by Radisson Resort on Ras Al Khaimah Marjan Island. On Marjan Island, Ras Al Khaimah's first man-made archipelago, guests will enjoy impressive views of the Arabian Gulf. The beach resort, comprising two buildings, will offer 408 rooms including 24 superior rooms, family rooms and suites, one all dining restaurant, two restaurants, one lobby cafe and one lobby bar. Extensive meeting and event spaces are planned, such as other facilities including a swimming pool and a spa. Stallion Properties, owners of the Park Inn by Radisson Resort on Ras Al Khaimah Marjan Island, said: We are proud and honoured to partner with Carlson Rezidor. They have already proved their capacity to operate successfully stunning properties in the region. - TradeArabia News Service Free personal and professional development classes Are you making the income you want? Are you achieving your goals? Want more connection in your relationships? Want more friends, career opportunities, abundance in your life? Tired of feeling tired and defeated? If youre looking for tools to help you get ahead in your life, I have some for you. Join me in class Thursdays Aug. 25, Sept. 15 and 22, 7 to 9 p.m. County Extension Bldg., Midwest room, 2011 Fairgrounds Rd. Eighteen and older, no children, be ready to play at 100 percent. Contact Amanda Steed Helm on Facebook or ahelm232@gmail.com CHA, Interfaith partner up Casper Housing Authority and Interfaith of Natrona County announce a strategic partnership to streamline service delivery through a one stop shop for families in crisis. The two organizations are teaming up to lead the community in collaborative service delivery to families and individuals in need. We know that collaboration is the key to addressing the poverty issues facing the Casper community and we are thrilled to be joining forces, said Carrie Blaze, Interfaith executive director. Our teams are working together for the good of our community. This week, the Interfaith of Natrona County team moved its administrative offices into the newly renovated Casper Housing Authority offices at 145 N. Durbin, in downtown Casper. With only a few days to move the organization, volunteers, agencies and veterans showed up to assist, generating the spirit of cooperation of which both agencies are well known. CHA has a long rich history partnering with Interfaith and we are thrilled to be working closely with them once again, said Kim Summerall-Wright, Casper Housing Authority executive director. Interfaith will have the same hours and phone number. Interfaith of Natrona County joins Casper Housing Authority and Habitat for Humanity The Heart of Wyoming at the Durbin Street offices. Interfaith of Natrona County is a 501c3 organization that provides emergency services to those living at or below the poverty level. Interfaith has served Natrona County for nearly 32 years. Casper Housing Authority is a Public Housing Authority providing safe affordable housing for over 600 Casper families in need. Constitution Party meets Constitution Party meeting is Tuesday, Aug. 30,2016, 7 p.m., at the Ag building, 2011 Fairgrounds Rd. Visit us at: wyocp/natrona.com Childrens ministry kick off Hey, kids! Mountain View Baptist Church, 4250 Poison Spider Rd., invites you to an exciting back to school Childrens Ministry Kick Off at 6 p.m., on Wednesday, Aug. 31. Construction foreman Darcy, Nathan and the whole WEBE KINGs KIDS Gang will show you how to build character to be like Jesus. So put on your hard hats and grab your tools and start building your life according to Gods code. For more information, call 277-5959. Adult Coloring Club Drop by the Natrona County Library anytime between 2 and 5 p.m. on Friday, September 2, for our Adult Coloring Club. Coloring books and pages will be available for you to turn into works of art. Colored pencils, crayons, and markers also will be provided. Just bring yourself and your friends, and enjoy the afternoon. Call 577-READ ext. 2 or email reference@natronacountylibrary.org for more information. Marble Magnets The Natrona County Library will host a crafting program on Saturday, September 3, at 2 p.m. Participants will craft marble magnets to stick on their fridge, file cabinet, or locker. Creating opportunities for adult creativity and interaction, Craftastic Saturday is free, open to adults age 18 and over, and held the first Saturday of every month. Call 577-READ ext. 2 or email reference@natronacountylibrary.org for more information. Daytime Women in the Word Women In The Word, a non-denominational, community Bible study for women of all ages, will begin Wednesday, September 7 at 9:15 a.m. at Highland Park Community Church, 5725 Highland Drive. We will be studying the Book of Mark and the minor Prophets. Childcare will be provided for children ages 0-3 years. Orientation for new women will be held on August 31, 9:15 a.m. at Highland Park Community Church. Register online at www.casperwomenintheword.com or call Angela (267-8061 or Joyce (234-2922) for more information. Manners, socialization for dogs Does you puppy need socialization? Does your over 1 year old or older dog need manners? Do you want to get an AKC Canine Good Companion title on your dog? We can help you with all of those! The Central Wyo Kennel Club will be hosting STAR Puppy classes. They are six weeks long for 30 minutes per week on Thursday evenings. We are also hosting Obedience Manners classes which include all of the criteria needed to earn a Canine Good Citizen title. The Manners classes meet for eight weeks for one hour on Thursday evenings. Classes start soon! Call Charlie Vogel, and shell fill you in on the details at 473-1614 or go to centralwyomingkennelclub.org GEO Wives fall brunch The Casper GEO Wives (Geologists Wives) will hold their Fall Brunch Tuesday, Sept 13, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. It will be held at The Casper Petroleum Club upstairs in The Sun Room. The cost of the brunch is $16. Our yearly membership dues are $15. Please bring separate checks for the brunch and the dues made out to GEO Wives. The brunch starts off our year catching up with old friends and making new acquaintances. We sign up for our activities including bridge, gourmet and The Chat Group. The GEO Wives have a monthly luncheon with programs. For our January and February luncheon we invite our significant others to join us. The WGA, The SPE and The GEO Wives also host a Christmas party. Membership shall be comprised of a) paid women members of the Wyoming Geological Association or b) wives of paid members of the Wyoming Geological Association or c) women geoscientists, energy professionals or mining engineers or d) wives of geoscientists, energy professionals or mining engineers or e) widows of geoscientists, energy professionals or mining engineers. Any active member who has met the above criteria and is subsequently divorced may continue as a member. If you are eligible we welcome new members and would like to have you join us for a good time. If you would like more information please call Joanie at 237-7771. If you are already a member or would like to join, please call to make a reservation for the Fall Brunch with Martha at 266-4611. Democratic men meet monthly Robert Johnson will take over as the new chair of the Democratic Mens Club and will host our luncheons from September 2016 through May 2017. Our first luncheon will be on Tuesday, September 13, at noon in the Gourmet Room of the Parkway Plaza. We will order from the menu. Our luncheons are open to all Democrats and interested members of the public. Democratic candidates for office will be our speakers for September and October. Please watch the Star-Tribune for further information. Beekeepers meet Sept. 8 The Natrona County Beekeepers invite you to learn about bees and beekeeping. Thursday, September 8, at 7 p.m., 328 W. Yellowstone. Parking is available in the lot to the west of the building, look for signs. Grief Share starts Sept. 13 Grief Share is a support group to support and encourage you during your grief journey. After the funeral, when the cards and flowers stop coming, most of the people around you return to their normal lives. But your grief continues and you feel alone. Often, friends and family want to help you, but dont know how. Thats the reason for Grief Share. Our group is led by caring people who have experienced grief and have successfully rebuilt their lives. We understand how you feel because weve been in the same place. We will walk with your on the long path through grief toward healing and hope for the future. We will meet weekly at Highland Park Community Church, 5725 Highland Dr., Casper, starting Tuesday, September 13, at 7 p.m., Rm. 1324. There is a $15 fee for the book. For more information, please call Vickie Obermueller at 262-8024 or The Healing Place at 265-3977. Recovery Rocks The 12th Annual Recovery Rocks will take place on September 10, 2016 at Washington Park. This event celebrating recovery from not only addictions, but also from other life events is free and open to the public. Starting at 11 a.m. and ending at 3 p.m., there will be a free barbecue provided by Jim McBride of the Johnson Restaurant Group, Classic Car show, Avengers band, giant inflatables, and other activities to enjoy. Sponsors of this event are 12-24 Club, Wyoming Recovery, Mercer Family Resource Center, Casper Community Meth Watch, Wyoming Meth Project, Central Wyoming Counseling Center, Wyoming Behavioral Institute, Auto Zone Stores and Johnny Js Diner. Casper Charla Would you like to practice conversational Spanish or help others learn? Come and join the Casper Charla! Te gustaria platicar en espanol? Ven y charla con nosotros! Todos son bienvenidos! Come and join us on the third Wednesday of each month this fall. We meet at a different restaurant and partake in food, drink and conversation. All levels of Spanish are welcome, from beginning to native-speakers. Nos reunimos los miercoles en varios restaurantes en Casper. Ven por una copa, un antojito o simplemente una charlita. Wednesday, September 14, 5-7 p.m. at Tacos Mexico; Wednesday, October 12, 5-7 p.m. at Arepa Barn; Wednesday, November 9, 5-7 p.m. at Don Juans; Wednesday, December 14, 5-7 p.m., place to be determined for the Fiesta de Navidad. Chronic pain/illness group starting Highland Park Community Church and The Healing Place are starting HopeKeepers. HopeKeepers is a support group designed to meet the emotional and spiritual needs of the person who lives with chronic illness or pain. Through the support group setting you will have the opportunity to grow spiritually surrounded by others who share similar circumstances, unrevealed answers, and even joys, living with chronic pain or physical pain. The group will meet Monday evenings, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Highland Park Community Church, Rm #1332, starting September 19. Call The Healing Place at 265-3977 to enroll. Purses with a Purpose Purses are like friends, you can never have too many! A silent auction for gently used purposes with a surprise inside will be held Saturday, Sept. 24, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the Sonrise Room of First United Methodist Church (use east doors). Win your bid to reveal the surprise gift. Bidding open from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Light refreshments will be served. $3 admission. All proceeds will go to the P.E.O. Sisterhood which provides educational opportunities for women through scholarships, grants and loans. Purses for a Purpose is open to the public. Fundraiser dinner Oct. 1 October is Elk National Foundation Month. Please join us in an ENF Fundraiser Dinner October 1, 2016, at 6 p.m. Dinner will be baby back ribs. Cost is $15 for half rack, $20 for a full rack and all the fixings. ENF Fundraiser dinner is prepared by Wes Stull and Casper volunteers. Please sign up at the bar for reservations. Cut off is Sept. 25, 2016. Members, significant other and guest accompanied by member. For more information, call Beth at 262-9077 or 234-4839. Mental health providers meet The largest conference in Wyoming for mental health providers will be held in Casper on October 5-8 at the Parkway Plaza Hotel and Convention Center. For the first time, Wyoming Counseling Association and Wyoming National Association of Social Workers are combining forces to co-host the Creating Connections conference. More than 250 mental health professionals are expected to attend. There will be keynote presentations on play therapy and ethics and up to 23 contact hours of continuing education credit. Full conference details, registration and sponsorship information are available at http://www.wyomingcounselingassociation.com/annual-conference/ Thursday support meetings Alcoholics Anonymous: 6:30 a.m., 917 N. Beech; 8:30 a.m., 500 S. Wolcott; 10 a.m., 328 E. A; noon, 500 S. Wolcott; 2 p.m., 917 N. Beech; 7 p.m., 500 S. Wolcott, closed; 7 p.m., Shepherd of the Valley, public welcome; 8 p.m., 328 E. A; 8 p.m., 4600 S. Poplar, closed; 8 p.m., 917 N. Beech. Douglas: 7:30 p.m., 628 E. Richards (upstairs in back). Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are open. Casper info: 266-9578; Douglas info: 307-351-1688. Al-Anon: 7 p.m., 500 S. Wolcott, Ste. 200; 7:30 p.m., 328 1/2 E. A (upstairs). Narcotics Anonymous: Noon, 500 S. Wolcott, 12-24 Club; 8 p.m., 4700 S. Poplar (church basement). Web site: http://www.urmrna.org. Muni ladies golf pairings Aug. 25, Pairings by Flight, Park and Links, 8 a.m., shotgun start. Please check in 15 minutes prior to tee time. Park #1 Marsh, Haydel, Wheatley; Links #9A Bain, McCarrel, Balas; Links #9B Pfiefer, Meyer, Boyle; Links #8A Sanford, Schneider, Watters; Links #8B Schmidt, Hill, Warren; Links #7A Fancher, Ortiz, Farmer; Links #7B Foster, N. Clark, Santoni; Links #6A Hansen, Chadwick, Neuberger; Links #5A G. Clark, Stolte, Dressor. For changes or additions, please call pro shop at 233-6620. Five Trails hears of the Lyric The Five Trails Rotary Club will hear from Glenda Thomas at noon at the Casper Petroleum Club. Community members are welcome to attend this presentation as guests of the Five Trails Rotary Club. Thomas is the executive director of the The Lyric (formerly The Citizens for a Civic Auditorium). She is a Casper native and will be presenting on the plans to remodel the Iris Theater, the transition from CCA to new Lyric name. logo and branding, and the long-term plans for The Lyric. NC 56 The NCHS Class of 1956 will meet at noon at the Casper Petroleum Club for a dutch luncheon. RSVP to John Rosalis, 237-0007 or Bob Eckhart, 307-315-7576. Toy Town sets Lego contest Toy Town is holding its 29th annual Lego contest this week with judging on Saturday. Contestants need to construct a model from Legos (only) at home and bring it to Toy Towns new location, 130 S. Wolcott St., downtown Casper. Models will be taken during regular business hours, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Models should not exceed 3-ft by 3-ft at the base. The age groups are 6 and under, 7-9, 10-12, and 13- and older. First, second and third prizes will be given for each age group. An overall Best of Show will be given out. There are certificates and goodies for each entrant. Entries are judged on creativity, stability, color, unique use of bricks and more. For more information, contact Toy Town, 235-0550. Vintage air, car show Experience the Golden Age of Aviation with a ride on the beautiful Ford Tri-Motor Airliner on Thursday, Aug. 25, through Sunday, Aug. 28, located at the Casper/NCI Airport Hangar #1, 8220 Fuller St. Aug. 27 will feature a vintage car rally. The event is sponsored by EAA Chapter 420. Cost is children $50, adults $70; advance on-line, $75 walk-up. See vintage cars such as Ford Model As that were built in the same year and by the same manufacturer! Contact Joe MacGuire 307-333-3653 with questions. Back-to-school immunization clinics Casper-Natrona County Health Department, 475 South Spruce St., is offering back-to-school immunizations from 3 to 6 p.m. During the clinics, walk-ins will be taken on a first-come-first-serve basis. No appointments are necessary. We just ask that parents bring in the childs immunization record and insurance card (if applicable) to expedite the process. We encourage folks to come in early to avoid longer clinic wait times. CY seventh-grade schedules CY Middle School is excited to welcome everyone back to school. Seventh-grade students may pick up schedules between 3 and 5 p.m. Open house at St. Marks Preschool St. Marks Preschool Fall Registration and Open House is 3 to 7 p.m., at 701 S. Wolcott. Stop by and meet the teachers and see the classrooms! We would love to talk to you about how we can help get your child ready for kindergarten. St. Marks Preschool offers developmentally appropriate activities structured towards kindergarten readiness. We have classes available for children from 2-5 years old. We promote fine and gross motor development, cognitive skills, social skills, independence, math and reading readiness skills, and Christian living. Teen canvas art workshop Teens entering grades 7-12 and graduating seniors are invited to a painting workshop at 4 p.m. in the Natrona County Librarys Crawford Room. Lisa Tyrell, a gifted artist, will guide you through the stages of completing a masterpiece on canvas. Please register in advance by calling 577-READ ext. 101. OLLI online signup The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Casper College will be offering online registration for the fall 2016 classes. The first day for registration is Aug. 25. OLLI members will receive a registration time in the mail. Registration times begin at 2 p.m., and each members time is randomly generated by computer. Those who choose not to register online or do not get a registration time may come to the Chapman Lobby to register on August 25 between 5 and 5:30 p.m. The cost is $35 for the fall session, which runs Sept. 6 to Dec. 18. Membership includes two complimentary classes and a tuition charge of only $8 for all other classes. The Chapman Lobby is on the second floor of the Nolte Gateway Center on the Casper College campus. For more information, contact Arnold at 268-2099 or karnold@caspercollege.edu or Vicki Pollock, lifelong learning specialist at 268-2097 or vpollock@caspercollege.edu. OLLI fall semester classes begin Sept. 6. Register for dance at 307 Dance Academy Register for dance, tumbling, & drama classes! 307 Dance Academy a non-profit performing arts academy offers dance & tumbling for ages 18 months & up including; mommy & me tumbling, kinderdance, ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, pointe, contemporary, musical theatre and drama & playwright for ages 6 and up. We will have open registration on Thursday, August 25, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. For more information or to pre-register your student contact Tina at 307dance@gmail.com, or 307-315-6297. Wine tasting for Habitat for Humanity Keyhole Outdoor Living, 5700 Poison Spider Rd., presents a wine tasting benefit for Habitat for Humanity from 5 to 7 p.m. Taste wines and beers plus light hors doeuvres. $10 admission fee, which all goes to Habitat for Humanity. CLIMB holds CNA info session CLIMB Wyoming will hold an information meeting for single moms on Certified Nursing Assistant free training at 5:30 p.m., at CLIMBs Casper office, 632 S. David St. Space is limited; no children please. Those interested in the program must be available for shift work. For more information, visit climbready.org or call 237-2855. Summer classes at learning circle The Bart Rea Learning Circle hosts classes every day of the week during the summer through Sept. 4. The circle is in Amoco Park, 1007 W. First St., along the Platte River Trails just west of West First and Poplar intersection and just east of The Tate Pump House. All classes are free with a canned food donation to Wyoming Food for Thought. No classes on holidays or during inclement weather. For more information visit The Bart Rea Learning Circle on Facebook. Thursday, 5:30 p.m.: Yoga on the Circle: Unwind and connect with yourself through a variety of yoga styles. Bring your mat and water. Primary instructors: Nikki Allen, Tracy Campbell, Lizz Cowley, Brittnee Greenlee Miller. Free personal and professional development classes Are you making the income you want? Are you achieving your goals? Want more connection in your relationships? Want more friends, career opportunities, abundance in your life? Tired of feeling tired and defeated? If youre looking for tools to help you get ahead in your life, I have some for you. Join me in class Thursdays Aug. 25, 7 to 9 p.m. County Extension Bldg., Midwest room, 2011 Fairgrounds Rd. Eighteen and older, no children, be ready to play at 100 percent. Contact Amanda Steed Helm on Facebook or ahelm232@gmail.com A planned anti-Islam rally in Gillette has some residents concerned. The event, advertised on Facebook as a Wyoming Against Islam rally, is set for Saturday at Cam-Plex Park. The group plans to burn the faiths holy book, the Quran, at the event. Michelle Argento, who described being disgusted by the event, said she would like to organize a counter rally. I have been in talks with other people about doing something, a peaceful protest, including renting the shelter next door and blasting Mariah Carey, she said. Jon Roan, an electrician for a local coal mine, said he is organizing the event with his wife and another man. Were trying to raise awareness, he said. Its mostly we dont want Syrian refugees here in Wyoming. Weve had a few protests about it. Wyoming is the only state without an official refugee resettlement program, and Roan said hed like to keep it that way. Roan said protests began in November, when a well-established northeastern Wyoming family bought a house and converted it into a mosque for worship. The group also held an anti-Islam rally at the Campbell County Courthouse, where county offices are located. Gillette Mayor Louise Carter-King said the anti-Islam rallies are not representative of the majority of the residents in the northeastern Wyoming community. Last time they had a protest here there were more people protesting the protesters, she said. I feel that our community will again kind of turn their backs on something like this. There will be a few - as there always is but there will be so many more people who support everyone. The park is in city limits but Campbell County manages it. Dave McCormick, executive director of the countys parks and recreation department, said the agency decided to let the group meet because it has a First Amendment right to assemble. McCormick said hes not too concerned about the group inciting violence, considering the number of anti-Islam protesters who attended the earlier courthouse rally. There were just a few people showed up, he said. They had signs and so forth. It really was no big deal. Had there been a big issue at the courthouse, we may have looked at it a little differently and have been cautious or whatever. Like any other group we allowed them to go ahead and have an event at one of our shelters. The group told McCormicks staff they were going to have beer and brats, he said. Basically theyre not going to be selling any alcohol, its more like a picnic atmosphere, he said. We do allow that in our shelters and parks. Meanwhile, Argento said she hopes the group wont be successful with burning the Quran. The city prohibits open fires but burning is permitted in a grill or other structure that can contain flames. Argento is concerned that Muslims will be intimidated in her community and that the rhetoric may inspire violence against them. She is disappointed that the county is permitting the event in a public park. This is a really intimidating situation, she said. The majority of people are against it. Roan, for his part, says people need to grow thicker skin. People can call me names all day, he said. Its just words. Thats why we live in America. BOULDER, Colo. A Superior man has been convicted of investment fraud after convincing a man to invest $250,000 in a book series described as a western-themed "50 Shades of Grey." 47-year-old Bret Gardner is set to be sentenced on Oct. 4 following his conviction for securities fraud by misleading or omission. According to court documents the owner of Grandpa's Pawn & Gun in Longmont invested $250,000 in a series of books based around a character called the "Scoundrel" who woos attractive women of yore. The first book in the series was set to be delivered in 2012 with four more books in the works. The books were not completed and bank records show Gardner used the $250,000 on personal expenses. Mary Oliver used to travel from her rural home near Rawlins to receive dialysis treatments. But since the Wyoming Department of Health dissolved the End Stage Renal Disease Program last month as part of state-mandated budget cuts, Oliver is no longer reimbursed for mileage. We live out in the country and we dont have the buses out there, Oliver said. She has since moved in with her son in Casper to be closer to medical providers. In addition to the loss of transportation support, Oliver is now also on the hook for a $500 monthly co-payment on the kidney medication Renvela a cost the state program used to cover. I was glad that they helped me, but then they took it away, said Oliver. The 76-year-olds only income comes from Social Security, but Oliver said that living with her son allows her to pay her medical bills. But she worried about others who lost coverage when the state shut down the renal care program. I just feel sorry for people who cant afford to pay for it, she said. Local providers confirm that dozens of low-income residents are scrambling to cover their healthcare costs after since the program was shut down. The program covered medical payments for uninsured Wyomgingites with kidney disease, assisted with their insurance co-pays, covered prescription drug costs and subsidized travel to and from dialysis centers. For patients seeking kidney transplants, the program paid mileage for trips to Denver and Salt Lake City. This caught us all off guard, said Therese Fortier, a social worker at Wyoming Kidney Center in Casper, one of seven dialysis clinics in the state. Fortier said that the center was struggling to find new modes of transportation for patients to reach the clinic. She said the state program had contracted with Casper Area Transportation Coalition to bring rural patients into the city. Clinic director Deb Giles said they served patients from as far as Lusk and Douglas. Those in Riverton, Lander, Rawlins and elsewhere are served at home and visit the clinic less frequently. Patients with end-stage kidney failure generally require four-hour dialysis treatments three times per week, according to the National Kidney Foundation. Kidney failure is usually permanent and dialysis is required indefinitely or until a patient can receive a transplant. The state program covered approximately 92 dialysis patients and 26 transplant clients, according to Wyoming Department of Health spokesperson Kim Deti. Lawmakers cut the states budget earlier this year in the face of declining energy revenues. The health department was required to reduce its budget by $90 million for the two-year fiscal period covering 2017-2018, Deti said in an email. The kidney programs budget for the last two-year period was $1.43 million. Clearly a budget reduction of this scale required many difficult decisions, Deti wrote. The program was open to state residents who were at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level. In 2016, that stood at $21,978 for an individual or $44,955 for a family of four. Fortier, the social worker, said that in addition to transportation issues, she was working with low-income patients who now need to pay for medications out of pocket up to $1,500 per month for some drugs. They have to pretty much bite the bullet, she said. They have to take a really careful look, a really careful look at their finances and cut back where they can whether its TV, or cellphones. Fortier said she had referred several patients to local food banks. She has also helped many people obtain Medicare or Medicaid and referred them to other nationwide programs that help subsidize the cost of care, though many of those programs have already run out of funds for the year. Fifteen states have public programs to support end-stage renal care costs, according to a directory published by the University of Missouri. That number is down from 23 in 1998. The overall number of state kidney programs is decreasing, and the services offered have been drastically reduced, a 2014 article in Nephrology News noted. [Renal care] no longer holds the public interest or creates the outcry of needs. An establishment Republican challenger to Donald Trump is making a hurried effort to stand as an independent presidential candidate on Wyomings general election ballot in November. Supporters of Evan McMullin are hoping to gather the 3,302 signatures required by the Wyoming Secretary of States Monday deadline. McMullin, a former CIA operative and chief policy director for House Republicans, joined the race on Aug. 8. He said he was waiting for a conservative candidate with national name recognition to challenge Trump, the Republican nominee, and entered the race after realizing that was not going to happen. Its clear hes not going to be able to challenge Hillary Clinton for the presidency, McMullin said of Trump. He just isnt a viable candidate. Debbie Neuenschwander is collecting signatures, which must come from eligible voters, for McMullin in the Casper area. She was inspired to reach out to his campaign earlier this week after searching for an alternative to Trump, she said. I just cant vote for Trump and Im a Republican and a conservative, Neuenschwander said. I cant trust him and he isnt credible to me. He just seems kind of like a jerk. Shes not alone among Wyoming Republicans, who overwhelmingly backed U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas during the state caucus. Support for Trump has also been largely tepid among GOP leaders in Wyoming. Neuenschwander said she was attracted to McMullins conservative bona fides and his temperament. Hes very good at balancing compassion with common sense, Neuenschwander said. McMullin touts his support for the Second Amendment and global trade on his website. On immigration, the 40-year-old prioritizes securing the borders but suggested he is open to granting some undocumented immigrants legal status. When it comes to issues relevant to Wyoming, the Utah-born McMullin said he favors an all of the above energy policy and would like more federal land to be turned over to the states. States need to have control over their own land, McMullin told the Star-Tribune. Its very arrogant of the federal government to suggest the people of the West cannot manage their land. McMullin said federal environmental regulations were restricting the energy industry and reducing these regulations would enable energy independence and encourage innovation. Our energy industry is not really driven by the free market, he said.McMullin acknowledged that climate change was a problem but that regulation would not help move the country toward cleaner energy sources.I believe that we have a responsibility for stewardship over this earth and we need to limit carbon emissions, McMullin said. The way to do that is through innovation.McMullin insists he is not a protest candidate. His campaign is currently relying on a quixotic strategy of blocking both Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton from winning the 270 electoral college votes required to clinch the presidency. In the case that neither candidate reaches 270 electoral votes, the winner would be decided by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. At that point, the campaign hopes they could persuade congressmen that McMullin is their best option.The House of Representatives has not decided a presidential election since 1824.Were in it to win, McMullin said. He added that there is a chance Donald Trump will withdraw from the race or that the Republican National Committee will rescind its support, which Trump has relied heavily on in the absence of a robust national campaign structure.Hes been such a disaster for the Republican Party, McMullin said. I believe theres still time left for Republicans and Americans to rally behind a (new) candidate. McMullin has struggled to gain ballot access around the country, entering the race after the deadlines in many states. He is currently on the ballot in six states including Colorado and Utah. Id really like to be able to campaign in Wyoming and compete for the votes of the people, McMullin said. Neuenschwander will be collecting signatures during Rock the Block at Caspers Old Yellowstone Garage on Thursday evening. The McMullin campaign said they are planning to canvass for signatures at other events over the weekend. ASPEN, Colo. Aspen volunteers had a busy Monday as they rescued four hikers from two nearby 14,000-foot peaks. A crew with Mountain Rescue Aspen had already been out of the backcountry for about 45 minutes looking for hikers below the North Maroon summit, which is close to Crested Butte, when they received another call about two hikers stranded on Capitol Peak, near Old Snowmass. More crews were dispatched and a woman from Michigan and a man from Longmont were brought safely down from Capitol Peak. The identities and hometowns of the two men from North Maroon have not been released, but they also were safely retrieved from the mountain. Yellowstone National Park is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service with a gift to its visitors: Free admission. Thursday marks 100 years since President Woodrow Wilson signed the National Park Service Organic Act. Its purpose was to conserve the scenery and the natural and cultural objects and the wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for future generations. One-hundred years later, there are 413 sites within the park service. To celebrate, Yellowstone has waived its entrance fee Thursday through Sunday. The anniversary comes during a time of increased popularity for the park. Last year, Yellowstone welcomed a record number of visitors, and this year has so far been even busier. The anniversary will also include programs throughout the park, a limited NPS Centennial postmark and an event titled An Evening at the Arch: Yellowstone Celebrates the National Park Service Centennial in Gardiner, Montana. A live stream of the event can be viewed at livestream.com/accounts/11206525/events/6052233. The celebration is taking place while several wildfires are burning in the park. One fire in particular grew significantly this week, amid warm and windy weather, prompting firefighters to take measures to protect nearby park facilities. The parks South Entrance is closed due to the fire. YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK Some tourists heading to Yellowstone National Park during the busy summer season faced an hourlong detour Wednesday as a wildfire in neighboring Grand Teton National Park kept a highway closed. Major tourist areas in both parks are open as the National Park Service holds events to celebrate its 100th anniversary this week. A route leading into Yellowstones South Entrance was shut down, so visitors coming from the south through Wyoming had to take a detour into Idaho. But firefighters hoped cooler weather would help slow the flames over the next couple of days. Yellowstone National Park is open for business, fire spokesman Bill Swartley said. U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell is set to visit Yellowstone on Thursday, and no changes have been made to her plans because of the fire, Swartley said. The fire in Grand Teton has burned about 11 square miles since lightning sparked it last month, forcing the evacuation of about 50 people from a lodge and cabin operation and several campgrounds. Thirty horses also have been evacuated. Meanwhile, four fires were burning inside Yellowstone, but all major visitor areas and roads were open. The largest blaze spans about 42 square miles between the community of West Yellowstone, Montana, and Madison Junction, an area in the park with a campground, visitor facilities and staff housing. Lightning ignited it Aug. 8. Swartley said the fires were mostly being allowed to burn because they were not threatening major tourist areas. These fires are being managed as basically a good fire for the ecology and then, of course, if theres anything getting close to cultural resources or public resources, structures, the fire is being engaged, he said. A 10-mile stretch of U.S. 89/191/287 has been closed since Monday after flames leaped across it and were burning near the highway. The prospects for reopening the route are not good in the near future because the fire was close to the highway, fire spokeswoman Karen Miranda said. Travelers coming from the south via the Jackson Hole area can still access Yellowstone through Idaho and the West Entrance. The detour adds a little over an hour to the drive to Old Faithful. The fire is burning on both sides of the northern portion of Jackson Lake, but no buildings have been lost. More than 100 firefighters, supported by helicopters, are battling the flames. Cooler temperatures and higher humidity were expected over the next couple of days and should help firefighters, Miranda said. If you have a question, suggestion or comment that you would like to share with us, please email us at Tucson foodies dont know where they will dine or what they will eat (at least until a day or so before) and that uncertainty is what draws them to Chef Riley Chandlers Pop-Up Tucson culinary events. The first two events have sold out and he anticipates the third will be no different. Tickets are on sale now for the next 30-seat dining experience Sept. 1, which will take place in an unconventional and as-yet undisclosed location. Chandler will reveal only that dinner will be served on a scenic rooftop. The menu for the five-course meal with wine pairing will be revealed 48 hours in advance. For guests, the surprise locale and menu are part of the fun. For the chefs, it is a chance to showcase their recipes. Chandler, a personal chef, organized his first Pop-Up Tucson dinner May 1 with Chef T.J. Culp, who has hosted similar events in Phoenix. He inspired me. He was the first chef to bring pop-ups to Arizona. They were trending in New York and San Francisco and all the big cities, Chandler said of Culp. The first dinner was on a private patio in Ventana Canyon and the centerpiece dish was a southwestern version of spiced duck with Szechuan peppers and lavender served at the upscale Eleven Madison Park restaurant in New York City. The second event was brunch in a loft where Chandler showcased one of his original recipes: poached egg bruschetta made with mozzarella fresco, heirloom tomato, pancetta, cracked pepper and basil chiffonade, drizzled with a maple balsamic glaze. For the Sept. 1 dinner, Chandler is teaming up with Tucson Chef Jose Zavala, who has worked at Maynards Market & Kitchen and Ermanos Craft Beer & Wine Bar. After the next Tucson event, Chandler, 22, hits the road. Between high school and culinary school, Chandler, a drummer, toured the United States, Canada and Mexico with a band. Now he plans to tour again, cooking his way across the country. Tell me about the tour. Im planning a tour starting with the West Coast, Austin, Miami; nine cities are booked so far. Basically, its the same concept except Im trying to bring southwest flavors and my influences from living here, and my grandmother, and traveling around the country. Its a chance to collaborate with up-and-coming chefs from around the country. Who are these pop-up dinners for? I would love for anyone who was able to come and enjoy delicious food in a different atmosphere. I have music and art incorporated in the first one, a live jazz trio; the next one, a live pianist. This one, Im having an artist with easels with finished paintings and doing live paintings. I like mixing the arts together it creates a good atmosphere. How do you and the other chefs decide what kind of pop-up event you will have next? I try to bring a different chef each time so its based on each chefs personal influences. I worked for Janos (Wilder) for five years so I took a lot of influence from him. Growing up in the southwest and my grandma, all those influence my food, too. T.J. was more of a classical chef and then he did his own thing and went more modern. And then James Piazza from Biancos was a musician like me and he was another influence. It just flows. We talk, we meet for coffee or call each other and spit out ingredients at each other. We have a list of ingredients and mix them up like a puzzle and we will pick out which flavors match. Thats how we basically do it. From there, we get the wines. You have said you learned to cook from your grandmother. She pretty much inspired me. She made the most delicious food all the time and I was like, How do you do that? At a young age I really wanted to know. She taught me. She made bread from scratch all the time and pasta from scratch and sauce that would take 12 hours. Shes Italian and she had all the techniques mastered. She lived to be 100 years old, so I got to learn from her for a long time. What would she think of your Pop-Up Tucson events? I think she would be very proud. I would love for her to see these. She is my inspiration. She cooked until she was 99 and thats what keeps me going. She inspires me to push myself. You have had brunch and dinner events so far. What do you make for yourself at home? Im a big cereal person. I will eat a bowl of cereal in the morning and I will have fruit. I will make something for dinner. I have had my grandmas pasta recipe memorized since I was 15, so I will make fresh pasta. Even butter noodles is good. With fresh pasta, it just melts in your mouth, so good. What is your plan for the future? I would love to take this around the world, be able to travel and see the world, and then come back and maybe open a restaurant when I have an expanded palette and a lot of worldly flavors. Authorities are searching for a man who is suspected in four armed robberies on the northwest side. No one was injured in the incidents, said Deputy Ira Sewell, a Pima County Sheriff's Department spokesman. The latest robbery occurred at a Subway restaurant at 3605 W. Cortaro Farms Road shortly after 8 p.m. Tuesday, said Sewell. When deputies arrived, they learned that a man entered the fast-food restaurant and demanded that a worker give him money from the cash register, Sewell said Wednesday. Detectives believe the man is also the same culprit in an Aug. 17 robbery of Walgreens in the 2100 block of West Ina Road. The incident occurred shortly before 9:30 p.m., said Sewell. He said the man is also suspected of robbing Diamond Shamrock Corner Store in the 8300 block of North Thornydale Road shortly before 9 p.m. on Aug. 19. Investigators are sharing information with Marana police investigators who also are searching for the same man who is believed to have robbed the Holiday Inn Express Aug. 19, said Sewell. The convenience store is near the inn at 8373 N. Cracker Barrel Road. Marana police responded to a report of an armed robbery at the inn also shortly before 9p.m., said Sgt. Chris Warren, a Marana Police Department spokesman, on Tuesday. The man told the front desk clerk that he had a weapon and he demanded money, Warren said. He said the man was given an undisclosed amount of money and he ran from the inn. A surveillance camera captured images of the man who was described as African American, and possibly 30 to 40 years old. He is about 6 feet 2 inches tall and has a semi-muscular build. He was wearing a gray beanie and black sunglasses, Warren said. Sewell said the man may be about 5 feet 8 inches tall, and it was reported that he wore various types of hats and sunglasses at each robbery. Authorities ask that anyone who can identify the man, or who has information on his whereabouts call 911 or 88-CRIME, the anonymous tipster hotline. Persons can also call Marana police at 382-2000. A 23-year-old Tohono O'odham man was sentenced to nearly nine years in prison Tuesday, after pleading guilty to child abuse and domestic violence assault, authorities said. Orlando Tony Mandre, of Santa Rosa Village, near Sells, was arrested in 2015 after punching a 1-year-old child in the face and attempting to strangle the child, then trying to strangle the child's mother, said Cosme Lopez, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office District of Arizona. University of Arizona police will be educating motorists and enforcing traffic laws beginning Sept. 6 around the campus because of increased activity with the start of the school-year. As classes start, there are more motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists near and on the campus and the University of Arizona Police Department will deploy more officers to address traffic, said Sgt. Filbert Barrera, a department spokesman. On Tuesday, he said in a news release that officers will educate the public about traffic laws and also enforce those laws Sept. 6 to Sept. 16. The deployment is each day from 7 to 10 a.m. and from 2 to 5 p.m. The areas police will target are: North Cherry Avenue and East University Boulevard East Fourth Street and North Highland Avenue East Second Street and North Highland Avenue East Second Street and North Olive Road The pedestrian tunnels at North Warren Avenue, North Highland Avenue and North Olive Road East Sixth Street between North Warren and North Tyndall avenues The Governor's Office of Highway Safety awarded UAPD funding to support the enforcement effort, said Barrera. Agencies that oversee visitations and help reunite foster children with their parents are being scrutinized in a statewide check on overspending. Some agencies were spending too much on overhead costs, said Arizona Department of Child Safety Director Greg McKay, with employees receiving gym memberships and other perks while draining money he said could be going to other services. But providers like Susie Huhn, executive director of Casa de los Ninos, and Bob Heslinga, executive director of Aviva Childrens Services, said what McKay sees as an inflated hourly rate is reasonable for these cases. They say McKay is pushing for cuts before meeting with professionals to establish standards and best practices. The national hourly average for a supervised visitation is $80 the same as Arizonas average, Huhn said. That amount, used to provide children and their parents with opportunities to meet and work toward reunification, includes employee pay, benefits and training as well as transportation costs, utilities, facility rental and sometimes food. If they have a provider thats charging three times that much, then deal with that provider, Huhn said. Dont make everyone else pay, too. McKay said not every agency is overspending, but theres been too much blind spending. He would not say whether the DCS plans to cut agency contracts, but Martha Gilliland, who serves on the board of Aviva Childrens Services, said her agency was told the DCS plans to reduce the number of providers by half. I have no doubt streamlining is possible without damage to services, possibly even improving services, Gilliland said. But no analysis has gone into this approach. Moreover, it is abrupt and will no doubt cause things to worsen. With roughly 19,000 Arizona children in out-of-home care, child advocates say spending high sums on these services is unavoidable. Paying for high-quality services from experienced professionals is much less expensive than cutting corners and quality and leaving children in foster care far longer than they need to be, said Dana Wolfe Naimark, president of Arizonas Childrens Action Alliance. McKay said the goal is not a broad brushstroke, but instead to provide better services more efficiently, and then have more money to spend on other services such as foster homes, in-home services and support for grandparents raising grandchildren. There was rampant waste going on, he said. This was an area that was so blatantly ripe with opportunity to be more accountable. The DCS recently received a $55 million increase in appropriations for out-of-home services, which includes parent aid and supervised visitation programs money McKay said has already been spent on these services. In fiscal year 2015, the DCS spent $49 million for these services, while in fiscal year 2016, it rose to $74 million. Over the last several months, some agency directors have been called to discuss spending. They are now waiting to see if they will have their contracts renewed. Lowering rates to $40 or $60 per hour is not possible, said Huhn, referring to some of the sums she was quoted. We cant do the work for that cost, she said. I couldnt go to my board and say, Were going to lose $300,000. Huhn said her agency already lost $81,000 during the last fiscal year toward these same services and had to fundraise to make up the difference. Heslinga, Avivas executive director, said he was called to Phoenix for two meetings over the summer, and each lasted about 20 minutes. Initially, he said it was proposed that they would receive 65 percent less than what they had been receiving for the services, and then that was adjusted to 40 percent less. Like Huhn, he is now waiting to see if the contract will be renewed. Aviva hires parent aides and trains them at an annual cost of about $1.5 million. During the last fiscal year, Aviva coordinated 6,700 visits and helped about 450 foster children with services that include parenting education and help with case management. We believe that if you create the right atmosphere and support, parents are more likely to stick with their case, Heslinga said. If wages fall and employees are asked to do more work, its going to get harder to fill jobs and that, he said, wont benefit Arizonas most vulnerable families. PHOENIX A federal judge has formally thrown out a challenge to one of Arizonas abortion restrictions now that lawmakers have agreed to alter it. In a brief order, Judge Steven Logan dismissed the lawsuit filed against the state by Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers challenging a controversial 2015 statute that required women to be told their medication abortions may be reversible. The same law also required the state Department of Health Services to tell women where they could find a doctor to halt the procedure once it was started. Logan said the changes made by lawmakers earlier this year apparently satisfy the challengers. The court order, however, is not the last word. If nothing else, the judge said Planned Parenthood, the Center for Reproductive Rights and others can seek to have the state pay their legal fees. More significant, the language of the measure lawmakers approved earlier this year the language the challengers accepted specifically leaves the door open to abortion foes like the Center for Arizona Policy to seek further changes in the statute. Cathi Herrod, the organizations president, was noncommittal when asked about her next step. We continue to monitor, she said, saying CAP is always looking for ways to protect the health of women and their pre-born children. Despite that, attorney Dan Pochoda of the American Civil Liberties Union which represented Planned Parenthood, said his group is satisfied with the new language. The 2015 law deals with medication abortions. Women are given two drugs, one to kill the fetus and the second, at a later point, to expel it from the womb. Proponents cited testimony that large doses of progesterone, a hormone administered after the first drug but before the second, can stop the process. More to the point, it said that doctors must personally inform women at least 24 hours before the procedures that it may be possible to reverse the effects of a medication abortion if the woman changes her mind but that time is of the essence. Doctors who did not comply faced suspension or revocation of licenses; clinics found in violation could be closed. Challengers filed suit, with Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America calling the law junk science. It never took effect, with Attorney General Mark Brnovich agreeing not to enforce it while the lawsuit went forward. Earlier this year, lawmakers struck the original language. It eliminates the language about pre-procedure warning. But it says that clinics have an obligation to tell women who question their decision but have not yet taken the second drug that the first drug alone is not always effective and that she should immediately consult a physician if she would like more information. Pochoda said the new language simply acknowledges what doctors, including those who work for Planned Parenthood, concede is the truth. Its a two-drug regimen, he said. There have been people who have not finished their regimen and it has not resulted in an abortion. Herrod said the new verbiage satisfies her concern that women be told that they may be able to stop the procedure after the first drug. And she said it requires abortion providers to refer a woman who raises such questions to another doctor. Bryan Howard, president of Planned Parenthood Arizona, said during the debate about the original 2015 law that its problems extended beyond the fact it was medically inaccurate to say abortions can be reversible. The uneasy transition of the Arizona Geological Survey from freestanding state agency to the University of Arizona College of Science must now proceed without the leadership of its director, M. Lee Allison. Allison, 68, died Aug. 16 after falling from a ladder and striking his head while painting at his home the previous Sunday. Allison, appointed Arizona state geologist in December 2005, had managed to double the agencys personnel and activities, despite a 45 percent drop in state support during his nearly 11-year tenure. He had previously served as state geologist in Utah and Kansas. This summer, after the Legislature and the governor transferred the Arizona Geological Survey to the UA without designated financial support, he was forced to cut staff and move the survey to smaller quarters that had no room for its archives and mining core samples. Were tying to fit into the university. Its an ongoing process and of course its devastating to have him taken from us just when we got it going, said Phil Pearthree, a senior geologist with the survey, who has been named interim director. Pearthree called Allison a a pretty incredible guy who was interested in science and its interface with society. That was his core mission later in his career. Pearthree said Allison led the survey through the recession and a reduction in its state budget by expanding the agencys mission. He spearheaded a very significant expansion of our budget. He was a leader in getting more outside funding and taking on external projects. Allisons wife, Ann Becker, said her husband had a mind as busy as a hummingbird. I was always, always amazed at how his mind was going all the time and when he could make a difference, he want ahead and did it. When Kansas authorities were trying to introduce creation science rather than evolution in science standards, Allison, the states geologist at the time, rallied to the cause, eventually founding the Coalition on the Public Understanding of Science, Becker said. When he was state geologist at Utah, he revealed that a planned Olympic venue was being built on a major geological fault. Joaquin Ruiz, the UAs vice president for innovation and strategy and dean of science, said Allison was a nationally known, highly respected geologist who was a leader in geoinformatics making huge amounts of geological data available to interested parties. Allison led the effort to convert more than a million paper files into searchable computer form, said Mike Conway, chief of geologic extension for the survey. Allison also snared a large grant from the National Science Foundation for the early development of the EarthCube project, which seeks to meld massive amounts of geological data into a usable format for researchers. Lee was a visionary in many ways and he had focused the survey to be a leading organization in geoinformatics, said Ruiz. With Allisons death, that focus is uncertain. Im not exactly sure, without Lees leadership what the precise direction of the survey will be. It may be informatics and it may be that it transitions into a different direction. I really dont know yet, Ruiz said. Lee was a good man he was a great man he basically created a model for other agencies to follow, said Steve Trussell, executive director of the Arizona Rock Products Association, which advocates for mining in Arizona. He had a tremendous entrepreneurial spirit and he knew how to secure grant funding, Trussell said. Trussell said Allison was also effective in the agencys core missions, such as mapping for minerals. Under Allison, the Arizona Geological Survey completed its mapping of Earth fissures in the state and created a network of seismic sensors that made it possible to record small tremors and identify their sources. Allison also led the effort to create the National Geothermal Data System. Trussell and other users of the information the survey provides have been pushing for continued state funding of the survey, which was transferred to the university in June without a dedicated budget. The university is providing its budget for the coming year. In an address earlier this month to the Arizona Geological Society, Allison said the need to become totally self-supporting by July 2017 could result in charging for information that he worked for years to disseminate. What is currently available for free, such as online earth fissure maps, mining files and publications, may soon be put behind a paywall, he wrote in an abstract of the talk published on the societys website. Vacating state offices for smaller digs at the UA forced closure of the surveys Phoenix branch, two libraries and the Arizona Experience Store, he wrote. In addition, his staff had been reduced by one-third and future layoffs were anticipated. His wife said Allison was still peaking in his career until this year when Gov. Doug Ducey pushed a consolidation bill through the Legislature that moved the survey to the UA but provided no specific money to the UA to fund the agencys employees. She said Allison felt he had failed the surveys employees because he wasnt able to insulate them from the states horrors. Some legislators are now working to restore line-item funding to the survey, said Conway. Trussell said his talks with the Governors Office make him confident that the transition will be as seamless as possible. Going forward, they will figure it out. Obviously, we support a budget for the survey, he said. Ruiz said he remains thrilled that the survey is moving to the UA College of Science because it can connect with geosciences and hydrology and the institute of mining. Were having meetings almost weekly to figure out how to deal with the budget, he said. Ruiz said selection of a new state geologist, formerly appointed by the governor, will now be made by the Arizona Board of Regents, which oversees the states universities. Allison held many national positions in geology. He was a member of the National Science Foundations Advisory Committee for Cyberinfrastructure and the North American member of the OneGeology Board of Directors, chair of the National Data Repositories Working Group and chair of the Geoinformatics Division of the Geological Society of America. National awards included the Public Service Award of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, the Tanya Atwater Encourage Award from the Association for Women Geoscientists and the John T. Galey Jr. Award for Public Service. No services will be held, but a symposium in his honor is being planned by the survey and local branches of geosciences societies, said Conway. Becker asked that any remembrances be made to scholarship funds being set up by the Arizona Geological Society, the Association for Women Geoscientists and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst Department of Geosciences. On art, music, books, movies, politics, life - sometimes with astrology thrown in. Help India! By TwoCircles.net Staff Correspondent, Kochi: It has been 89 years since 300 brave sons of Malabar sacrificed their lives for the freedom of their motherland in one of the rare armed rebellions in the history of the freedom struggle. August 26 of 1921 was a Friday and the brave Mappilas (Muslims of Malabar) fought against the imperialist British fiercely in the Pookkottur Battle. Support TwoCircles Pookkottur is situated in the Malappuram district (the lone Muslim majority district in Kerala) in Malabar. The Khilafat Movement became popular in Pokkottur by the works of Ali Musliyar, mudarris (religious teacher) at Melmuri nearby. Freedom fighters like Kattilasseri Moulvi and MP Narayana Menon went to Pookkottur and formed the Khilafat Committee there. Vadakkuveettil Mammadu, manager of Chinnanunni of the Nialmbur Kovilakam (a rich Hindu landlord family of Malabar), was made the secretary of the committee. On hearing the news, the Kovilakam dismissed him from the job and tried to get him arrested in a fake case of stealing a gun. Police force under CI Mannat Narayan Menon came to Pookkottur and raided Mammadus house. This enraged the people who had assembled in the masjid nearby. They marched to the Pookkottur Kovilakam, which was a part of the Nilambur Kovilakam. They were about 200 men and made even the police shout pro-Khilafat slogans. Gate at Pookkottur to commemorate the famous battle The influential landlords asked the district administration to bring in the army to block the Mappila serfs from turning against them. British army from Kozhikode marched to Pookkottur in 22 lorries and 25 bicycles. Captain Mackento and Special Force Commander Lancaster led the army. About 2000 Mappila fighters hid at Valiyathodu between Pookkottur and Pilakkal. They had planned to attack the army from behind when all the vehicles had crossed the bridge at Pilakkal. However, one person, who was not present in the final meeting of the fighters, began shooting when the first vehicle reached the bridge. The army threw smoke bombs at them. When the fighters were in the smoke, the army arranged their machine guns and began firing. However, the fighters did not turn back, but rather fought bravely. More than 300 Mappilas were killed by the British army. The army too lost several of their soldiers, including Commander Lancaster and the vice-Captain. The battle was indeed a blow to the British who had a feeling that there was no one to fight against them. The martyrs were all buried in bulk in five places. This can be seen even now. However, the graveyards of the great sons of the land still remain unprotected. Their memory now resides in the minds of people through a gateway built in their name. The Pookkottur Battle was one among the many armed rebellions fought by the Mappilas against the British might. Even though the battle at Pookkottur was crushed by the army, the brave Mappilas ousted the British and began parallel governments in many parts of Malabar. Ali Musliyar and Variyankunnath Kunhahammed Haji were the leaders of the Mappila fighters. The British took nearly six months to recapture all the areas back. Realizing the might and mind of the Mappilas to fight till death, the British formed the Malabar Special Police to control them. The revolt of 1921 was a great blow to the British who realized that the Mappilas and the downtrodden could not be suppressed forever. However, some historians also hold that the rebellion which was waged against the British in the beginning gradually turned against the Hindus towards the end. Help India! By Amit Agnihotri, IANS, New Delhi: The Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council (NAC) has asked the government to focus on welfare of minorities in the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-13 to 2016-17), a recommendation that comes ahead of the assembly polls in five states in January-February. Support TwoCircles The move follows the governments December 2011 move to approve a 4.5 percent sub-quota for minorities within the existing 27.5 percent quota for the other backward classes in central jobs and admission to central educational institutions. Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Goa and Uttarakhand will elect new assemblies in the upcoming polls. Indias designated religious minorities, as per the National Commission for Minorities Act 1992, constitute about 18.4 percent of the total population and number around 189.5 million according to Census 2001. The largest among these, the Muslims, form 72.8 percent of the minority population. They form around 13.4 percent of the total population and number nearly 140 million. In its latest recommendation to the central government, the advisory body said providing basic services like drinking water and sanitation in all minority settlements should be obligatory for the government. This assurance of basic services should be demand-driven, in that the appropriate government would be obliged to provide these services, on demand from any settlement, within a specified time frame, using central funds, said the NAC communication. To ensure that public money was utilised properly, the advisory body asked the government to operationalise an assessment and monitoring agency under the Planning Commission urgently, which will include experts, academics and civil society members. Citing the Justice Rajinder Sachar panel report, which examined the social condition of Muslims and was tabled in parliament in 2006, the NAC noted these communities suffer from socio-economic deprivation and gross inequality. The report said there was considerable exclusion of the largest minority (Muslims) from Indias progress on key development indicators since independence. Observing that previous five Plans were not able to intervene adequately in development of religious minorities, mainly due to absence of demographic data, the NAC asked the government to collect such records. Offering solutions to the problem, the NAC suggested the scale of government interventions must be large enough to make a dent into the numbers of the marginalised. Noting that the design and implementation structures of the programmes do not often target minority settlements and people directly and effectively, the NAC suggested mandatory social audits of the multi-sectoral development programmes of the minorities welfare ministry and the prime ministers new 15-point programme for their uplift. (Amit Agnihotri can be contacted at [email protected]) On July 27, Rijiju said in the Lok Sabha that the BJPs ideology on the uniform civil code should be taken as the country's ideology on the same. Basil Islam | TwoCircles.net NEW DELHI Union Minister Kiren Rijijus recent remarks on implementing the uniform civil code have re-ignited the debate on the viability of a uniform civil code and its possible... Help India! By TCN News In an effort to promote peaceful relations among India and Pakistan, Mumbai-based Ecole Mondiale World School sent greeting cards on Independence Day to Unique School Academy, Lahore, Pakistan. This card exchange was facilitated by Aaghaz-e-Dosti, a joint Indo-Pak friendship initiative. Support TwoCircles Independence Day cards exchange between an Indian and Pakistani school Tulika Bhatija, 7th grade teacher of Ecole Mondiale World School was the facilitator of the initiative. Last year on Independence Day, the school had also shared cards with Excellent Education Centre School from Lahore. Speaking about the exchange, Bhatija remarked we began with the Independence Day Card exchange with schools in Pakistan since the past one year.This year too my students cherished the shared celebration by sending cards to children in Lahore. Students have been watching the news and realise that when the political climate is intense, people to people contact becomes necessary to bridge divide and forge new friendships. Today my students have made many more friends across the border. Im particularly heartened and overwhelmed by the response from Pakistani students. This only show that we are only divided by borders, the hearts of children in India and Pakistan yearn for each other. The school had sent about 25 cards to Lahore with greetings for Independence Day. The students wished their peers in Pakistan and shared their hope for peaceful and friendly relations. One of the students wrote in his card, Hope we live in peace. May your day go amazing! Another student Kritikas card affirmed that, Even though a border separates us, we will always stand together Reflecting over the India-Pakistan connection, another student Reet wrote that We may be in different countries, though, we will always share the same connection and love. She also innocently expressed in her card that we will always be here for you. One of them went out of way to write a line in Urdu which read ham tumse muhabbat kartay hain (we love you). Pakistani students receive cards on independence day from Indian students The cards exchange in Lahore was coordinated and facilitated by Raza Khan, coordinator Lahore Chapter of Aaghaz-e-Dosti. The cards were received warmly by the school management, teachers and students. The Principal of the school Farooq Sahib expressed his joy over the initiative and remarked, this is a great way to connect young students across borders and soften the political image that the people have been carrying for long. Raza Khan distributed the cards to students of class VIII, IX, and X and the students expressed their interest in visiting India. They asked the Lahore coordinator if he will take them to India. We want go there, will you take us to India? We wont return from Wagha border only. We want to visit Mumbai, Delhi and Agra and want to meet Salman Khan. the students said. Independence Day card exchange between Indian and Pakistani schools Another student asked Raza if he would be allowed to eat meat in India? and was surprised as well as happy over the answer. Raza also presented Aaghaz-e-Dostis 2016 calendar to the Manager Co-curricular affairs of the school Zulfiqar Ali Butt. The Principal of the campus was very positive and has promised to get cards made in return. He also assured that the students will take part in painting contest for Aaghaz-e-Dostis 2017 calendar. Help India! By TCN News The Aligarh Alumni Association of Northern California (AMUAA-NC) held its 19th Sir Syed Day program in the San Francisco Bay Area on August 13 at the India Community Center in the City of Milpitas. The event was attended not only by dedicated AMU Alumni from the region but also by connoisseurs of fine Urdu poetry and prose. Support TwoCircles This year, the event was somewhat unique because there was no keynote speech by an outside speaker. The formalities this time were conducted by local officers and friends of the organisation themselves. The first segment of the event was an informal social hour and a fine dinner in the Mughlai tradition catered by Chandni Restaurant, Newark. The actual formalities next began with a recitation from the Holy Quran and a brief introduction by segment emcee Amtul Suhail who thanked all the event sponsors and everyone present for attending. She invited Dr. Shaheer Khan to the stage, whose quick reference to cheque books pledges and credit cards paved the way for the AEEF fundraiser. Armed with slides and aided by a short documentary, details of the worthy effort that the AEEF is conducting to help some struggling or less fortunate in India get their education, Khan said that the work was done with almost zero overhead costs. He explained that the goal was to collect $100,000 annually out of which $60,000 had already been collected and this fundraising was for the remaining $40,000 shortfall. Not only does the AEEF provide scholarships on a merit basis or need to deserving students for schooling but it also aids them in getting into universities to further their education. Readers are invited to call (650) 969-2333 in Foster City, California or visit the Aligarh Education Endowment Fund on Facebook or their website for further details. Another significant part of the formalities was the welcome speech delivered by current AMUAA President Suhail Farrukh who started his speech with some moving Urdu poetry directed at Sir Syed and his vision. Farrukh said that we are gathered here to honour Sir Syed and anything one can say about his achievements in such a short period of time just would not be enough. He said that when Sir Syed founded MAO College he had in mind an institution where modernity and tradition (West and East) could co-exist. He explained that this association came into being in 1996 and in the nearly 20 years of its existence it has been the goal here to take Sir Syeds education mission forward with community support. He also thanked all in attendance and especially the event sponsors for making this possible. To add here, the main sponsors of this program were Dr. Kamil and Dr. Talat Hasan, Dr Ashraf Habibullah (Computers and Structures Inc.) Syed Sarwat (Chandni Restaurant), Jamal Qureishi (JQ American Corporation), Zaheed Kajani and the Amana Mutual Funds Trust. A special recognition was awarded to the area Urdu Academy for its long years of service to the language and for its support of the AMUAA. Presenting the award was K. Venkata Ramana from the Consulate General of India in San Francisco and on stage to receive it were Tashie Zaheer and Khalid Rana of the Urdu Academy. The second segment closed with the singing of the Tanana-e-Aligarh (Aligarh Anthem) by the poet Majaz during which many Aligarh Alumni participated enthusiastically. The final segment of Sir Syed Day is the International Mushaira (Urdu poetry recital) which continues to attract people from far and wide. The poets chosen for this AMU Mushaira represented a wide range of thoughts, moods and age ranges. The Nizamat (hosting) responsibility here was given to Tashie Zaheer (Bay Area) and the Sadarat (Presidency) of the segment to senior poet Naseer Turabi (Pakistan). Noteworthy Urdu Poets from the bay area started with the romance in Tarannnum of Misum Samar, the wishes and wonderment of Dr. Aifra Ahmed, the contemplation of Ahmar Shehwaar and the moving verses of Tashie Zaheer. The guest poets this time were from both India and Pakistan started with Rakhshanda Naveed (Pakistan) who entertained us with both Nazm and Ghazal, (one for Independence Day) and Hasnain Jaleesi (Pakistan) provided much comic relief focusing on marriage, old age, one-way romancing. Shakeel Azmi (India) started off with some appreciative words for Sir Syed, incomplete lives, and some very powerful verses on how people live (Jeetey Hain). Iqbal Ashhar (India) next started with Maar Daala but his Nazam Urdu hai Mera Naam (Urdu is my name) literally stole the evening. And last but not least senior poet Naseer Turabi (Pakistan) closed the round with both romantic elegance and depth. Help India! We have Spade as our symbolSpade is another sign of humility and our carrying it on our shoulders shows that we are out to proclaim to the world the dignity of labour. Spade levels up the ground. We are here to level up all society! A rich man with a spade considers that he has come down a bit to meet his poor brother. A poor man with a spade thinks that he has got a powerful weapon to strengthen him. Spade in this movement has worked wonders indeed! [translated from Urdu] Allama Mashriqi, All Faiths Conference, 1938 By Nasim Yousaf for Twocircles.net Support TwoCircles Allama Mashriqi was born on August 25, 1888. Mashriqi was a revolutionary, reformer, and humanitarian, who founded the Khaksar Tehrik (Movement) to bring freedom to the Indian subcontinent (now comprised of Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan). When Mashriqi became sick near the end of his life, President Ayub Khan visited him in the hospital and offered him medical treatment in Switzerland at the Governments expense (Mashriqi did not accept the offer, as it was against his principles to use public funds for personal treatment). Mashriqi died in Mayo hospital in Lahore on August 27, 1963. His funeral procession was approximately 1.6 kilometers long and included over 1 lakh people, one of the largest funeral processions in South Asian history. This article is written in honour of his 53rd death anniversary and focuses on his choice of a spade as the iconic symbol for his Khaksar Tehrik. Mashriqi chose the belcha (a spade or shovel) as the symbol of the Khaksar Tehrik. This tool became such an integral part of the Khaksar Tehriks image in British India (now Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan), that the movement was often referred to as the Spade Movement or Army of Spades. Why did a man of Mashriqis stature choose such an unconventional tool to represent his party? As it turns out, Mashriqis choice of a spade was well thought out and highly symbolic. For Mashriqi, the spade was the perfect symbol for his party for multiple reasons, as expressed in his book Ishaarat and a piece published in Al-Islah (on July 26, 1935) entitled Qual-e-Faisal (No. 11). First, the spade was a labourers tool and had been used for centuries around the world. The selection of a working mans tool as the Tehriks symbol not only reflected Mashriqis belief in the importance of the labour class, but also his sense of humility and simplicity. By requiring all Khaksars to carry the spade as part of their uniform, Mashriqi hoped to impart these values in the Khaksars and unite them. Mashriqi believed that when all members of the movement stood together with a spade in hand whether rich or poor or Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish or Sikh the differences between them would be shattered and they would grow stronger as one people and one nation. Allama Mashriqis Funeral The spade also had a special religious significance for Muslims. The Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) had used the tool in trying situations (for example, the Battle of Trench). Taking inspiration from the Prophet, Mashriqi used the spade as a symbol for awakening the nation from its slumber to rise up against British rule. Along with its religious and philosophical symbolism, the spade also represented the construction of the countrys infrastructure, thereby uplifting the nation. The spade further signified the challenging nature of this monumental task and the hard work that would be required to bring freedom to the subcontinent. It appealed to the masses; was a powerful visual reminder that this was a movement for everyone, not just the so-called elite. Finally, the spade served a very practical purpose for the Khaksars. As soldiers in a private army, it was the ultimate multi-function tool for the Khaksars. It could be used for defense, digging a trench, as a container to drink water, a pot to cook on, a plate to eat on, a walking stick, etc. And unlike guns or other weapons wielded by a traditional army, the spade could not be banned, yet it could still be used to teach soldiers basic principles around discipline and defense. President Ayub Thus, the belcha was a most befitting selection for Mashriqi and his Khaksar Tehrik. It was the perfect reflection of the movements commitment to humility, service, simplicity, unity, and uplift of the masses. Indeed, it was the ideal symbol for an organisation that ultimately mobilised millions to bring freedom to India. In Mashriqis words, Spade in this movement has worked wonders indeed! Some writers have falsely claimed (for vested reasons) that Mashriqi adopted the spade as his partys symbol because he was influenced by Adolf Hitler and his Labour Corps (Reichsarbeitsdienst). Nothing could be further from the truth. Mashriqi saw the importance of the spade even while he was a student in England at Cambridge University (1907-1912) and had the symbol in mind for his Tehrik in the 1920s (he wrote about this in Isharat, see Chapters 16 and 17). Hitler did not start his Labor Corps until 1934. More importantly, Mashriqi and Hitlers philosophies were polar opposites. Mashriqi, a humanitarian, believed in the unity of the human race, regardless of religion, class, colour or creed (anyone whether Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, Sikh, Christian or any other faith could join Mashriqis Khaksar Tehrik). There are also many examples of the Khaksars providing assistance to both Muslims and non-Muslims, including the Khaksars saving lives during the Bengal Famine of 1943 and the Muslim-Hindu-Sikh riots (at the time of partition). And while the Khaksars used military-style activities as a last resort to liberate the country from foreign rule, they never believed in the destruction or massacre of people. The author is a researcher and historian based in the USA. He is a grandson of Allama Mashriqi and has published 15 books, many articles, and 19 digital files of rare and historical documents. Foe more information,please click here. Help India! New Delhi : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar described the late litterature and socialist Raghuvansh as a man of conviction at the launch of the professors book Hum Bheed Hain. He was a man of conviction who used to write despite his physical disability, said the chief minister at the launch of the book at Constitution Bhavan here on Tuesday. Support TwoCircles I am honoured to have been given the opportunity to launch the book of this great socialist writer. We have heard his name since our student days and during the JP movement, he said. Hum Bheed Hain is a collection of Raghuvanshs writings, published by Rajkamal Prakashan Samuh. Professor Raghuvansh is one of the pioneers who brought Hindi criticism into the mainstream, noted poet Ashok Vajpeyi said. Describing the relevance of the book, journalist Harivansh said, The collection of writings about education, culture and society are relevant even to this day. Rajya Sabha MP. D.P Tripathi said: Professor Raghuvansh was a true socialist who didnt just write about socialism, but lived it too. Raghuvansh had been honoured with prestigious awards, including the Sahitya Bhushan Samman, the Shankar Puraskar (K.K. Birla Foundation) and the Moortidevi Puraskar. Calls are growing for the resignation of Prime Minister Theresa May only months into her premiership.Having refused to answer callsto investigatethe 788-790 Finchley Road fraud, campaigners are accusingTheresa May of being part of the problem, rather than the solution. First exposed by ex-RAF whistleblower Gordon Bowden, and later championed by peaceful warrior John Paterson, the Finchley Road fraud accuses prominent politicians, and leading capitalists of money laundering on an industrial scale, syphoning billions and billions of public funds into their personal off-shore accounts,by usingbogus oil, gas and mining companies registered at various addresses, most prominently at 788-790 Finchley Road in London. Gordon Bowden personally delivered a dossier of his forensicinvestigation to BBC TVHouse and having sent his findings to every news outlet in the UK, campaigners now believe a concerted Government cover-up is in operation to hide what is being billed as the greatest fraud in British history. The Greatest Fraud in British History While the nation awaits the outcome of the Labour leadership election between Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith to determine who will challenge Theresa May in the forthcoming General Election,an unknown challenger and rank outsider, ex-Crime Stopper Brian Setchfield, is gaining momentum as the third choice for Prime Minister, promising torenegotiate the social contract between the public and government and Crown. With an ever increasing fan-base, Brian Setchfield delivered a scathing indictment of Theresa May's refusal to answer calls for an investigation into extremely serious crimes of murder,fraud, and embezzlement, on the Andy Peacher's Radio Showbroadcasted to the world on the Freedom Talk Radioplatform. He said, "Mrs. May, I have to say that it was very disappointing to not have received any kind of acknowledgment from you and Jenny (Theresa May's PA) as we had truly expected you to have dealt with the matter as a matter of urgency." Undisclosed sources within the government report that due to the seriousness of the Finchley Road fraud, many politicians and even Royal family members are petrified that their personal involvement will be made public, as were the involvement of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iceland President Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson and David Cameron's father,Ian Cameron,were made public in the recent Panama Papers scandal. Hiding behind the Facade of Government Althoughmany prominent politicians continue to hide behind thefacade of government respectability and Royal appointment, It's only a matter of time before the floodgates break and the Finchley Road fraud is reported across the globe. 10 Downing Street remains silent and Buckingham Palace hasn't yet commented on this developing story. When it comes to talking about Bollywood beauties, we have to accept that these ladies are a perfect blend of charm and talent. Bollywood industry has no short of hard working and dedicated celebrities. Here the competition is very high. Sometimes the top celebs play supporting characters just to remain in the limelight. Let us check out the list of beautiful Bollywood actresses who have started appearing in supporting roles. Divya Dutt Divya Dutta is a bold and beautiful B-Town actress. She is one of the most successful Asian fashion models. In the recent years, she has played supporting roles in most of her movies. Born in September 1977, Divya began her career withPunjabi films, and eventually started working in Malayalam and English movies. Dutt once told in an interview that she loves to do all types of roles regardless of their length. Her performance in Waris Shah has been admired all over the world. Huma Qureshi Huma Qureshi is one of the most beautiful Bollywood divas. She was born in July 1986. So far, Huma has appeared in several top notch Bollywood movies. She is a professional girl who has received three Filmfare nominations. She began her career as a model, and has worked on television too. Qureshi first signed a modeling contract with a Mumbai-based fashion house. As a supporting actress, her role in 2012s Gangs of Wasseypur has been appreciated. For this particular film, she received a couple of nominations. Recently, Huma worked in Badlapur opposite Varun Dhawan. Diana Penty Diana Penty is one of the youngest and most energetic Bollywood females of the era. She was born in November 1985. Penty began her professional life as a model in 2005. Elite Models India first signed her. She is considered to be one of the most successful and beautiful female fashion models. She has modeled for Indias top fashion designers. Diana was admired worldwide for her supporting role in Cocktail. In this movie, the leading characters were played by Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone. Nowadays, Diana is busy in the shooting of her upcoming movie named Happy Bhag Jayegi. BuzzFeed recently presented a list of most underrated Nail Polish Brands. We know that not all Nail Paints are designed with environment-friendly formulas. Make sure that you dont become the reason for adding dangerous chemicals to the air. For this, you should check if your manicure is nontoxic or not. These branded nail polishes are harmless both foryournails and the environment. This is why, world'stop fashion models give them high preference. Formula X Formula X is one of the best and most famous nail polish brands. So far, it has launched hundreds of shades. From the light pink to dark purple, Formula X has a full range of colors. A popular range of nail polish named A+ Nail Lacquerwas recently launched. It ensures to give you high-shine, and glossy finish. Another range titled Chaotic Nail Lacquer is incredible. This brands most products cost $10 to $15. You can choose from its bright to minimalistic neutral shades based on your requirements. Formula X promises to present products that are free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. Sinful Colors If you want to stand out, choose a nail color ofSinful Colors. This brand was founded in 1991. It is best known for its nontoxic nail paints. Americas fashion models choose this brand because of its vivid shades that inspire everyone in no time. The price per product is as low as $2.00, brands founder says. Not only this but also they guarantee that the nail polishes would be free from formaldehyde, toluene, and DBP. Seche Vite Seche Inc. was established in 1991. It manufactures, markets, and distributes numerous Beauty products. Seche Vite is widely famous for its vibrant and eye-catching nail paints. If you are looking for a nail polish that dries quickly and protects the underlying nail, Seche Vite nail polishes are perfect for you. In July 1992, this brand received U.S. Patent protection. Since then it has been trading high-quality nail care products. The company has developed a simple regimen that leads you to have prettier nails. Dr. Roger Pielke Jr. has a message for anyone linking climate change with the Louisiana floods: its irresponsible and not based on science. He even produced multiple graphs showing a downward trend for these heavy precipitation events. A professor in the Environmental Studies Program at the University of Colorado, Pielke has been at the forefront of the global warming debate for over a decade. As a climate expert, hes even testified before Congress on extreme weather events and written a book on disasters and climate change. Flooding events are down Flood disasters are sharply down, Pielke tweeted on August 23, U.S. floods are not increasing either. Pielke was shocked after reading a NY Times editorial by Paul Krugman who blamed global warming for the Louisiana floods. How does Krugman get away with this? he tweeted with a graph clearly showing a downward trend in U.S. flood damage. Al Gore, NBCs Al Roker, and Green Party candidate Jill Stein have all tried to blame the recent flooding on climate change, despite their statements being in direct conflict with the actual data as illustrated at Climate Depot: 'Floods are not increasing': Dr. Pielke Jr. slams climate link/extreme weather-How does media 'get away with this?' https://t.co/ZETnUIqsYW Marc Morano (@ClimateDepot) August 23, 2016 Was overdevelopment key factor? Andrew Revkin, who runs the Dot Earth blog at the NY Times, noted that many areas of Louisiana that were once covered by land, trees, and swamp are now covered by strip malls and roadways. This prevents water from seeping into the ground as it had in the past. Ground that wasnt covered over by cement and asphalt was already soaked before the heavy rains began, which led to even more flooding. Revkin says, "Southern Louisiana is implicitly warm and moist, adding it has a lot of lowlands and swamps. Was The Historic Flooding In Louisiana Caused By Climate Change?: It's a state that has a lot of low land and... https://t.co/Pp4vjvWRqy ClimateWatch (@Climate_Watcher) August 24, 2016 The state has also experienced rapid growth in the last decade, which has paved over areas with new cement and asphalt. Revkin says these paved-over surfaces plus heavy rainfall have contributed to the flooding. Prof. Pielke says that blaming climate change for a proliferation of disasters like the one in Louisiana is irresponsible and doesn't reflect the downward trend for U.S. floods. Fewer floods occurring While Pielke understands that floods do suck when they occur, there is a silver lining: Flood damage in the U.S. is dramatically down over the last seven decades. Pielke also cautioned the media and climate activists that disasters can happen at any time and that long-term trends are based on data, and not on the hype as illustrated in Krugmans alarmist editorial. ~60% of locations EPA measures floods in the US have seen a DECREASE in flood magnitude and intensity since 1965. pic.twitter.com/weDuehGAUO Roger Pielke Jr. (@RogerPielkeJr) August 23, 2016 Extreme weather reports Pielke says that since he started covering disasters in the U.S., he has watched the arguments range from droughts are on the rise to droughts are not increasing but getting worse. Except they arent. Even the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has said there is no trend showing an increase in extreme weather events, despite the wishful thinking of climate activists like Krugman and Gore. Two recent studies support Pielkes contention that flooding is unrelated to climate change. One study from scientists at the University of Iowa shows no link to increased precipitation and global warming, and another study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) showed no evidence that changes in extreme rainfall could be attributed to climate change in the observed record. Hurricane and tornado drought Pielke also pointed out that extreme weather events like hurricanes and tornadoes are on the decline in terms of strength and numbers. The U.S. has seen record low tornadoes in the last decade, and the United States hasnt seen a Category 3 or higher hurricane make landfall since 2005 (11 years). As larger numbers of people concentrate in once-uninhabitable areas, these so-called extreme weather events are causing more damage even though the frequency and intensity are trending down. At 70-years-old, Donald Trump would be the oldest person elected as President of the United States if he's victorious in November. While Trump and his campaign have been pushing debunked conspiracy theories as alleged fact about Hillary Clinton and her health, new questions are being raised in the other direction. Questionable health Ever since he gave his speech at the Republican National Convention last month, Trump has gone from polling within the margin of error against Clinton, to falling behind by nearly double digits. After a recent shake-up brought in a new campaign manager, and chief executive, Trump has focused on the status of Clinton's health. While no credible source has been cited to back up their claims, recent evidence has left many wondering what shape Trump is really in as pointed out by Vanity Fair, and during an August 23 CNN segment. Is Trump really in a position to push a conspiracy theory about Hillary Clintons health? https://t.co/K4YJ1NRfeW pic.twitter.com/COh0DoccXO VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) August 20, 2016 In a slideshow of various campaign images, Vanity Fair highlighted how Trump is often forced to lean, or hold on to the podium lecterns. While this might just be a comfortable position for the billionaire real estate mogul, the frequency that Trump relies on the lecterns have left many wondering about his health status. On CNN Tuesday night, the network's medical correspondent, Sanjay Gupta, expressed doubt about a letter that was allegedly written by Trump's medical physician. In the letter, the doctor said Trump would be the "healthiest ever" president, using terms that are typically part of the GOP nominee's frequent vernacular. "Whether youre a doctor or not, that degree of hyperbole and these types of words being used is very unusual," Gupta pointed out. "People don't write like that," he continued, referencing the "healthiest ever" statement. Why is Donald Trump always leaning on lecterns? https://t.co/SuhnhW628b pic.twitter.com/fXU1x2s3by VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) August 18, 2016 Gupta also noted another piece of questionable wording, when the doctor said Trump received "positive" results on all of his medical tests. The usual form of wording in the medical profession when a patient passes his exams is that they are "negative," which promoted Gupta to refer to Trump's medical letter as "absurd." Election countdown With rumors circulating about both candidates' health, only one will be heading into the White House next January. The latest round of polling provides positive news for Clinton, as she has now expanded her national lead to over seven points in the Real Clear Politics rolling average. As Clinton pulls further ahead in key swing states and solidifies her stranglehold on the minority vote, whether or not Trump has a heath problem might not matter to the presidency after Election Day in less than three months. G20 set to become a global concert of powers Updated: 2016-08-24 07:29 By Pan Zhongying(China Daily) Comprising the world's 20 largest economies, including the European Union, the G20 has become a de facto global concert attended by a wide range of regional powers and international institutions. Comprising the world's 20 largest economies, including the European Union, the G20 has become a de facto global concert attended by a wide range of regional powers and international institutions. Endorsed by such broad participation, its legitimacy as the premier forum on international economic cooperation highlights the importance of global governance and major-power coordination today. As a "concert of global powers", the G20 Leader's Summit in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, on Sept 4-5 could serve as a cornerstone of world peace and economic governance. Under the framework of the G20 system, the macroeconomic coordination among the world's major economies managed to prevent the global economy from collapsing in 2009 and 2010. The Paris Agreement on Climate Change in December 2015, which was signed by more than 170 countries in April this year, is another case in pointso is the trilateral cooperation among China, the United States and the EU within the UN framework. Aware of the fact that beneficial coordination is the key to avoiding clashes between major powers, Beijing has been an active participant in not only the G20 but also regional concerts like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. After assuming the G20's rotating chair in December, China has made the 20-member bloc a diplomatic priority in an effort to push forward the globalization process and sustain global growth. To a certain extent, many G20 affairs hinge on the coordination of past, present and future chairs, or "Troika" leadership. To secure the revolving three-member management, China, as host nation of this year's summit, has mapped out cooperative strategies with its predecessor Turkey and successor Germany. It also frequently interacts with other members, especially the US and the EU, and major caucuses such as G7 and BRICS. In fact, China's Foreign Ministry announced on Monday that the annual informal leaders' meeting of BRICSBrazil, Russia, India, China and South Africawill be held on the sidelines of the summit. Besides, Premier Li Keqiang hosted a 1+6 roundtable dialogue in Beijing last month with the heads of six major international organizations, including World Bank President Jim Yong Kim and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde. The efforts made by China to make G20 a cohesive force should inspire the bloc's members to work closely and effectively to meet the global economic challenges. Also, non-G20 members like Egypt have been invited to the Hangzhou summit to seek solutions to their economic problems, and their participation is in line with the pursuit of balanced global development. Derivative conferences, including the B20 for the business community, the T20 for think tanks and the C20 for civil society organizations, have also played a constructive role in connecting non-governmental groups around the world. Efforts like these are expected to make the G20 summit in Hangzhou a big success and help China fulfill its international commitments. The author is a professor of international relations at Renmin University of China and an academic member of the International Finance Forum. East Asian integration restarts on bumpy road Updated: 2016-08-24 07:09 (China Daily) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi takes questions from the press during a news conference on the sidelines of the two sessions on Tuesday. [Photo by Feng Yongbin/chinadaily.com.cn] When Beijing canceled a scheduled visit by a diplomatic envoy meant to clear the way for the annual China-Japan-Republic of Korea foreign ministers' meeting in Tokyo, there were worries that it might not happen this year. Ten days later, on Sunday, the failure of a special vice-ministers' meeting to agree on a date for the event only exacerbated the pessimism. Even after the three parties finally managed to announce on Monday that it would be held on Wednesday, whether there will be a bilateral meeting between the Chinese and Japanese foreign ministers remains a question of concern to some. Beijing's insistence that Foreign Minster Wang Yi "is not paying a visit to Japan", but going there for the three-party meeting, is symptomatic of the frosty relations that exist between the two countries at the moment. In fact the atmosphere among the three countries is not really conducive to fruitful discussions by their top diplomatsafter all, Beijing's relations with both Tokyo and Seoul have hit rock bottom lately, and neither are Seoul and Tokyo on the best of terms due to the dispute over Dokdo Island (Takeshima Island in Japanese). Given the current climate, it would be unrealistic to expect much to emerge from their discussions, even on pressing topics such as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's nuclear weapons program, or on issues where they already have some agreement such as the China-Japan-ROK free trade agreement. The current security and political differences among the three countries are unlikely to allow for anything more than a shared statement of principled abstract consensuses. But that does not render the meeting insignificant. For it finally is happening, and that is of great significance, for it delivers the essential message that, divided as they are over some issues, the three countries remain convinced that they have to work together anyway. This in many respects is more important than a one-on-one meeting between the Chinese and Japanese foreign ministers. As China's Foreign Ministry notes, through this meeting the momentum of China-Japan-ROK cooperation can be maintained, the process of regional integration in East Asia can be advanced, and the three countries can move toward the goal of establishing an East Asian economic commonwealth by 2020. That deadline may sound too ambitious considering the situation at hand. But the fact that the official channel of three-party communication has not been discontinued at least keeps hopes of realizing an economic commonwealth alive. The real challenge then will be whether the three parties can contain their disagreements and coordinate their security interests, because that is where all their troubles have arisen. That the three countries keep talking is essential for the region's peace, development and prosperity. Songju Ma Daemicke was born in Jilin, one of China's northeastern provinces, and came to the United States in 1996 to advance her education, eventually earning a master's in computer science. She married and moved to the northern Chicago suburb of Glenview, working as a software engineer for Motorola until her twin daughters were born. One summer day in 2010 she and her family were walking through town when they noticed an amusing sign in the window of a Jimmy John's sandwich shop. It read: "Free Smells" and they all had a laugh. But the sign reminded Songju of a story her grandfather used to tell her back in China when she was a child. There once was a greedy old man who hired chefs to cook up delicious food, allowing the tantalizing aromas to waft throughout the neighborhood. He then tried to charge all of his neighbors for enjoying the delicious smells - going so far as to take them before a judge to collect what he thought they owed him. The judge was wise and ordered the man to be repaid for the smell of his food with the jingling sound of the neighbors' coins. Sound for smell. Growing up, Songju had enjoyed reading Chinese tales, but never had the opportunity to read many Western works until she came to college in America, where she fell in love with classics like Les Miserables and Jane Eyre. Ever since her twins had been born and she became a stay-at-home mom, she had been reading aloud to the girls every day, discovering great children's books masters like Dr Seuss and others. The "Free Smells" sign and memory of her grandfather's story piqued her curiosity. It had to have been an old Chinese folk tale, she decided, and went on a quest to find it, poring through books of Chinese and Asian lore in Chinese and translation at the library. She could find it nowhere, nothing even similar, in any language. "So I decided to write it myself," she said. Songju Ma Daemicke with her new book. provided to china daily She was taking a writing class at the time, and one of the assignments was to write about something that comes from your homeland. So she took the basic concept - greedy man trying to charge neighbors for the delicious smells coming from his kitchen - and fleshed it out with contemporary props, settings and details. She read the draft to the class. "I was surprised that everyone loved it," she said. "That was very encouraging." Over the years, like all parents, Songju had always tried to answer the inevitable questions that come from young minds. How do fish sleep in the water? Why is the sky blue? How is it we can see people on TV? And she diligently did research to get responsible answers when she couldn't come with one on the spot. "I often wished there was a book series that directly explained some of these general science concepts," she said. Her husband Dale, an attorney in Chicago, suggested that she write the series herself. She decided she would, and call it The Curious Mind. Her aroma-for-sound tale could be crafted into a lesson in two of our five senses - smell and hearing. Researching the publishing industry, she came across a children's book series called For Creative Minds that did just what she intended to do and more. She sent them her story about the greedy old man and a second one, based on a 2,000-year-old Chinese story that is supposedly true. In it, an emperor receives an exotic gift from a far off land - an elephant. The emperor insists on knowing exactly how much the monstrous beast weighs, but none of the scales in the realm are large enough to handle something so big. A 7-year-old boy, Cao Chong, steps forward with a solution. Put the elephant on a barge on the water. Mark the waterline. Take the elephant out and put in stones until the mark is reached again. Then weigh the stones one by one. Technically speaking, it's probably one of the first recorded uses of Archimedes' buoyancy principle from 250 BC. But as Songju puts it, it's just another example of children's wonderful ability to think outside the box. Arbordale Publishing took both of Songju's books for their Creative Minds series. A Case of Sense will have a formal launch on Saturday at the Glenview Public Library in Glenview, Illinois. Her second book, Cao Chong Weighs an Elephant, comes out in the fall of 2017. Both should help young minds get out of that box. Contact the writer at chrisdavis@chinadailyusa.com. Carriers react to e-commerce boom Updated: 2016-08-24 10:48 By Paul Welitzkin in New York(China Daily USA) As e-commerce traffic between China and the US heats up, some freight carriers are expanding facilities to handle the growing business from consumers who order products through the internet in both countries. Last month, Germany's Deutsche Post AG's DHL shipping unit unveiled a $137 million expansion in Chicago, partially to support the increasing DHL footprint in China. DHL e-commerce CEO Charles Brewer also announced plans to expand DHL in China, including the opening of distribution centers in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The facility in Shenzhen will be able to handle 18 million packages daily. "From a macro perspective, China accounts for 40 percent of global e-commerce sales," Brewer told Xinhua. DHL's expansion in Chicago includes a new facility north of Midway Airport on Chicago's South Side that can process more than 2,500 shipments an hour, complementing an existing facility near O'Hare International Airport, and a helicopter delivery service launched in 2015 to deliver urgent documents to financial and legal firms. Natalie Godwin-Norrington, a spokeswoman for DHL rival United Parcel Service Inc (UPS) wrote in an email that UPS's international export volume grew 4 percent versus the same period in the prior year, and that increased shipments from China to the US are part of that growth. Godwin-Norrington said while UPS' focus when it first went to China was on developing capabilities along the coastal top-tier cities, the company continues to see opportunities in other parts of China. "According to McKinsey & Company (management consultants), there are 160 million people in China's lower-tier cities who use online services, but have yet to begin shopping online. This presents tremendous potential for e-commerce growth. Last year, UPS expanded to 21 additional tier-2 and -3 cities in China," she said. The cross-border e-commerce market is expected to increase in value from $40 billion in 2014 to more than $240 billion in 2020, according to Joel Backaler, a managing director at Frontier Strategy Group and author of China Goes West, a book about Chinese companies going global. "Chinese consumers are leveraging e-commerce to buy the best products from the US, especially when it comes to products related to health and beauty, baby care and food. Cross-border e-commerce is enabling Chinese consumers to access the best quality products from the US that they otherwise would have to hire a daigou middleman agent to access," Backaler said in an email. paulwelitzkin@chinadailyusa.com Shanghai gets props in NY Updated: 2016-08-24 10:48 By Shi Xi in New York(China Daily) Fred Dixon, CEO of NYC & Company, speaks at a Shanghai tourism promotion campaign launch event at Xinhua News Agency's North American bureau in New York on Tuesday. Shi Xi / For China Daily Shanghai is taking center stage in the Big Apple. Along with the hundreds of exchanges, visits and tourism promotions marking this year of China-US Tourism, a campaign promoting Shanghai was launched at Xinhua News Agency's North America bureau in New York on Tuesday. "I've been very pleased to travel to the beautiful city many times, and I have to tell you that it is always a source of inspiration, always an exhilarating trip and I'm always discovering something new," said Fred Dixon, CEO of NYC & Company, New York City's tourism bureau. "As Shanghai is called the 'New York' of China, we would like to say New York is 'Shanghai' of the United States," Dixon said. In 2015, 636,377 tourists from the US visited Shanghai, a 0.61 percent increase from 2014, according to Cheng Meihong, vice-chairwoman of Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration, who called the US an important inbound market source for the Shanghai tourism trade. Targeting the North American market, a delegation led by Cheng introduced Shanghai's new attractions, such as Disneyland, new additions to the skyline, new visa and tax policies and new direct air routes. Making its international debut at the event was the original virtual-reality, high-definition music video Our Shanghai, staring actor Hu Ge with music by the up-and-coming bel canto band Vocal Force. Meanwhile, sightseeing buses with Shanghai travel ads have been driving around New York City since mid August and will continue through Oct 9. In addition, the Our Shanghai video will be played continuously at 164 bus shelters in New York from Sept 26 to Oct 23. Touted as a shining example of China-US partnership, cooperation and mutual benefit, the Shanghai Disney Resort officially opened on June 16 and is already attracting tens of thousands of visitors every day. After eight years under construction, Shanghai Tower, the tallest building in China and the second-tallest in the world, has begun trial operation. In alliance with the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Jinmao Tower, and Shanghai World Financial Center in Lujiazui, Shanghai Tower is the crowning achievement of Pudong District's opening up and reform. Since Jan 30, Shanghai has offered a 144-hour visa-free policy for passengers from 51 countries, including the US. Shanghai has been devoted to optimizing the tax refund process by providing a quick response channel and a 24/7 question-and-answer service. Since last July, overseas tourists have received a total of 10 million RMB ($1.5 million) in tax refunds, Cheng said. To bring the two countries closer, six airlines have recently opened nine new direct routes between China and the US, seven of which are operated by Chinese airlines. In March, China Eastern launched direct service between Shanghai and Chicago; in May, Hainan Airlines linked Shanghai with Boston and Seattle; in July, Delta connected Shanghai and Los Angeles; and Air China announced a new route to San Jose. Beijing, Tokyo to look at initiating liaison mechanism Updated: 2016-08-24 19:37 By ZHANG YUNBI(chinadaily.com.cn) Beijing and Tokyo agreed to consider initiating the bilateral maritime and airspace liaison mechanism at an early date, during a meeting of their foreign ministers on Wednesday. On the sidelines of the annual China-Japan-Republic of Korea Foreign Ministers' meeting in Tokyo, Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida also agreed on enhancing bilateral dialogue and considering about holding a new round of the China-Japan high-level consultation on maritime affairs. The liaison mechanism, designed to better enable crisis management and avoid and miscalculations, has already been endorsed by leaders from both sides but its initiation has been stalled partly because of the strained ties. In June, the Ministry of National Defense spokesman Wu Qian said Beijing "attaches importance" to this mechanism and it called upon Tokyo to "remove barriers that hinder negotiations on the mechanism". As their disputes in the East China Sea have overshadowed the relationship, senior officials from both countries have held four rounds of maritime affairs consultations. The first was held in 2012, the second in 2014 and two others took place last year. The consultations can help resolve maritime tensions as the second consultation in September, 2014, witnessed the resumption of the two-way negotiation on the liaison mechanism. During the Wednesday talks, the Foreign Minister said that currently the China-Japan relationship still faces difficulties, and it is at "a critical juncture" with "both opportunities and challenges". China is ready to manage and control the existing divergences, conduct exchanges in various fields and expand common interests, according to Wang. Kishida said Tokyo is willing to manage and control contradictions and divergences, expand the positives in the two-way relationship and bring ties back on track. Japan is willing to explore establishing the Japan-China relationship to one that lives up to the characteristics of the new era, he added. Cai Hong in Tokyo contributed to this story. World's longest airship crash-lands in England on test flight Updated: 2016-08-24 22:05 (Agencies) The Airlander 10 hybrid airship makes its maiden flight at Cardington Airfield in Britain, August 17, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] LONDON - The world's longest aircraft, the Airlander 10 airship, has crash-landed after a test flight in Bedfordshire, central England, its British manufacturer Hybrid Air Vehicles said on Wednesday. The airship, which is bigger than the size of six double-decker buses, sustained damage on landing from its second test flight, Hybrid Air Vehicles said, adding that all crew were safe and well following the incident. Privately owned Hybrid Air Vehicles denied a report on the BBC that the airship had hit a telegraph pole. "No damage was sustained mid-air," the company said on Twitter. Hybrid Air Vehicles was not immediately reachable by telephone. The 92-metre Airlander 10 made its first test flight earlier this month and the company had posted photographs of it up in the air before Wednesday's incident. Once the concept is proven, Hybrid Air Vehicles hopes the helium-filled giant will be able to stay airborne for up to two weeks, and that potential customers might want to use it to carry cargo or deliver aid, for surveillance, communications or leisure purposes. It can carry 48 passengers. The Airlander can take off and land vertically meaning it does not need a tarmac runway. It can also operate from open fields, deserts, ice or water. Airships have a long history stretching back to the 19th century, although their popularity dipped in the face of competition from aeroplanes in the 20th century and high-profile accidents such as the Hindenburg disaster in 1937. Hybrid Air Vehicles told Reuters in March that it aimed to be building 12 airships a year by 2018. 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. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has signed an official dispatch permitting the grant of work permits to qualified foreigners for them to teach in local schools. An English period of gifted pupils with a foreign teacher__Photo: Minh Quyet/VNA The official dispatch, which is issued in response to a proposal of the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, underlines that to be qualified to teach in general education institutions in Vietnam, a foreign teacher must possess a university or higher degree in pedagogy. For those who possess a bachelors degree in other majors, a certificate of training in pedagogy or a certificate of training in general education teaching is required. The legal bases for the permission is Government Decree No. 124 of 2014, which amends Clause 6, Article 31 of Decree No. 73 of 2012 on foreign cooperation and investment in education, and Point b, Clause 3, Article 3 of Decree No. 11 of 2016 detailing a number of articles of the Labor Code regarding foreign workers in Vietnam. At present, many foreign teachers are teaching foreign languages at private schools, people-founded schools and foreign-language training centers. In Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, some public secondary schools have recruited foreigners to teach foreign languages although no official permission has been granted yet.- (VLLF) , , , HCM CITY Indian and Vietnamese gem and jewellery companies, which met yesterday at an event organised by the Indian consulate in HCM City, agreed there is much potential for bilateral co-operation. They discussed the possibility of greater collaboration since India is one of the worlds largest manufacturers and exporters of jewellery and polished diamonds. The industry generated revenues of over US$40 billion from exports for India last year. The country exports around 95 per cent of the worlds diamonds. But Vietnamese industry insiders said the value of gold, gems and jewellery imported directly from India is not significant, with most of the imports being routed through middlemen in Hong Kong. Cao Thi Ngoc Dung, chairwoman of Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Company (PNJ), said most of her companys diamonds are imported from India through a Hong Kong company. She complained about the high import tariffs, saying it is as much as 50 percent including value added tax. She urged Indian enterprises to sell gems, technologies and software for gem and jewellery trading management to Viet Nam. Nguyen Van Dung, chairman of the Sai Gon Jewellery Association, also blamed the high import tariffs for hindering co-operation between Vietnamese and Indian companies. HCM City has 3,000 manufacturers and traders of gold and jewellery, who produce and sell nearly 40 tonnes of finished gold products a year. Of them, 1,600 are members of the association. VNS Leaders of HCM City and representatives of Vietcombank at the meeting in HCM City on August 22. Photo Vietcombank HCM City Vietcombank expects to invest between VN2 trillion (US$89.5 million) to VN3 trillion in urban bonds issued by HCM City, the banks chairman, Nghiem Xuan Thanh, said on August 22. Thanh said at a meeting with Secretary of the HCM City Party Committee inh La Thang that Vietcombank also hoped to join financial services for local enterprises such as payments and cards. He proposed to the local authorities that they support Vietcombank to push its process on solving assets and bad debts, making capital flows run smoothly to serve the citys economic development. With orientation from the government and the State Bank of Viet Nam, Thanh said Vietcombank had defined its vision and strategic target by 2020 to become the number one bank in Viet Nam and one of 300 largest banking and finance institutions in the world which would be managed by international rules. Speaking at the meeting, Party Committee Secretary Thang said Vietcombank had become a big brand name, making an important contribution to the countrys socio-economic development, especially HCM City. With the target of making HCM City one of the leading cities in the region, Thang said the city had been implementing an action strategy with seven breakthrough programmes, including investment in infrastructure and restructuring of enterprises. The leader said Vietcombank would continue to prove that it was the leading bank in the southern region, as well as contributing to the citys development. He expected that Vietcombank would study policies on expanding investment in order to increase revenue on banking services, regularly contributing to improving the citys growth quality. As for proposals from Vietcombank, Thang assigned the municipal Peoples Committee and relevant units to work with Vietcombank about issues such as their banking services, borrowing capital and issuing bonds for the citys key works and locations for the banks operations. VNS The PetroVietnam Drilling and Well Services Corporation (PV Drilling) will provide a drilling rig and drilling services for Myanmar from October, PetroVietnam (PVN) said. Photo vir.com.vn HA NOI The PetroVietnam Drilling and Well Services Corporation (PV Drilling) will provide a drilling rig and drilling services for Myanmar from October, PetroVietnam (PVN) said. Under an agreement with Total E&P Myanmar, PV Drilling will supply its Drilling 1 rig to serve a 164-day drilling campaign in blocks M5 and M6 of Myanmars sea. Extensions to the drilling will be discussed after this campaign. Total E&P Myanmar Director Xavier Preel expressed his belief in the management and operation of PV Drilling as well as the ability of PV Drilling 1 staff. PV Drilling is capable of completing the campaign in a safe manner at a reasonable price, he added. PV Drilling Chairman of the Management Board Do Van Khanh said that his company will do its utmost to achieve maximum efficiency in the project. In a situation where large reduction in the world crude oil price has brought rig rentals down and work for drilling rigs has also decreased, PV Drilling 1 has still overtaken 30 other rigs of 10 companies across the world to win contracts. Since 2007, PV Drilling 1 has continuously achieved operations without any lost time incident (Zero LTI), as acknowledged by the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC). VNS Bui Sy Loi, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Committee on Social Affairs spoke to Thoi bao Kinh te Viet Nam (Viet Nam Economic Times) about changes to the 2012 Labour Code. Whats the role of the tripartite consultation process in the development of the law on pay rise in the 2012 Labour Code? Under the 2012 Labour Code, the tripartite mechanism in the wage policy, particularly the minimum wage through activities of the National Wage Council, has contributed to a big change in setting the regional minimum wage which is based on the market. In the past, the regional minimum wage was decided by the government, but now it is decided by the Viet Nam National Wage Council through a tripartite consultation process of representatives from the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs; the Viet Nam Confederation of Trade Union and the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce. After reaching consensus on the pay rise for wage earners in the four different regions of the country, the Council will then submit to the government for approval. What criteria were used to define the minimum wage for each region? Three factors were used: workers living cost, national socio-economic growth and the enterprises production and labour supply and demand. As the consumption price index (CPI) increases, the workers minimum wage should be increased to cover living costs and so they can have peace of mind to focus on their performance. In addition, the increase in the minimum wage is an occasion for the employer and the employees to decide whether to extend their labour contracts and agree on the new payment or not. Though the minimum wage is adjusted annually, it still may not cover the workers minimum requirements. How do you respond to that? According to the Labour Code, the minimum wage includes the minimum wage for each region and minimum wage according to the type of job. The regions minimum wage is decided by the government based on the recommendation of the National Wage Council while the minimum wage per job is decided by collective bargaining in that sector. But that minimum wage must not be lower than that of the regions minimum wage. Lastly, the minimum wage must meet the living requirements of the worker and their family. Under the law, every year the government has to adjust minimum wages for all four regions to meet basic living costs in each region. However, I have to concede that the minimum wage in Viet Nam has not met the minimum living requirements of workers and their families. In my understanding, in other countries, a minimum wage is the lowest remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers and it is calculated according to the working hours of an employee. I support that way of calculating the minimum wage as it will promote labour productivity. Raised minimum wages means more purchasing power, economic growth and job creation. During the recent tripartite meeting to adjust the minimum wage, all participants tried to embed the idea of calculating the minimum wage according to working hours. It is expected that at the second meeting of the incumbent National Assembly later this year, deputies will discuss amendments to the 2012 Labour Law though it has only been in force for three years. Why? The 2012 Labour Law came into force on May 1 2013. And since then it has settled some disputed issues, particularly in labour standards and labour relations. However, in the last three years, many serious disputes between employers and workers have occurred due to conflicts of interest. Our objective is to develop harmonised, stable and progressive labour relations between employers and employees. We hope the revision of the 2012 Labour Law will be able to fix problems from the past three years, particularly the issues of wages, overtime, labour disputes and strikes. In the revised law, well try to create a level playing field between wage scales applied in State owned enterprises and private enterprises. Each worker will have to pay their social insurance or other social duties in accordance to their salary. At present, each worker has to pay up to 35 percent of their monthly wage to the Viet Nam Social Security group. This is too much for a non-state worker in Viet Nam._VNS National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan hosted separate receptions for New Zealand Ambassador Haike Manning and Philippine Ambassador Noel Servigon in Ha Noi yesterday. VNA/VNS Photo HA NOI National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan hosted separate receptions for New Zealand Ambassador Haike Manning and Philippine Ambassador Noel Servigon in Ha Noi yesterday. She suggested New Zealand soon allow the entry of Vietnamese fruit, encourage its businesses to invest in the processing of agricultural products in Viet Nam, and support the country in human resources training. Mentioning the pending Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, she said both sides should intensify experience sharing to take advantage of regional free trade agreements to boost bilateral trade and investment. The top legislator also expressed her hope that New Zealand will share its experience in developing sustainable agriculture and responding to climate change, recalling the prolonged drought and saline intrusion and their serious impacts on the Mekong Delta earlier this year. Haike Manning said that the two countries should increase delegation exchanges, pay attention to co-operation between specialised committees and friendship parliamentarian groups, and increase coordination at international parliamentary forums, especially the Inter-Parliamentary Union. New Zealand had cooperated with the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre to improve farmers adaptation to climate change and livelihood improvement and wants to expand the cooperative model, he stated. The country also hopes for further collaboration in boosting exports to the respective countries and to third markets as well, he added. Meeting with the Filipino Ambassador, Ngan said both sides should implement efficiently existing cooperative mechanisms and continue promoting their strength in maritime cooperation through the implementation of agreements related to search and rescue, response to oil spill incidents, and protection of the sea environment. She also requested the two Governments create favourable conditions for the two countries enterprises, particularly in rice trading. The diplomat noted his hope that the two sides will expand cooperation between localities and agencies involved in women affairs and drugs prevention, along with intensifying ties between the two legislative bodies. VNS President Tran ai Quang and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc have hailed contributions made by the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) to improving the investment climate in Viet Nam and advancing the strategic partnership between the two countries across sectors. VNA/VNS Photo HA NOI President Tran ai Quang and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc have hailed contributions made by the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) to improving the investment climate in Viet Nam and advancing the strategic partnership between the two countries across sectors. At separate meetings with a working group of the Keidanrens Japan-Viet Nam Economic Committee in Ha Noi yesterday, the two leaders appreciated the role played by the committees co-Presidents in promoting bilateral ties, especially in the realisation of the Viet Nam-Japan Joint Initiative. President Quang described the initiative as an effective information channel helping competent Vietnamese agencies complete laws and policies in an effort to improve the local investment environment. "The Vietnamese State always regards Japan as the countrys leading and long-term partner, and wishes to work together with Japan to push forwards the relationship in a more comprehensive and pragmatic fashion," he stressed. The President suggested the two sides step up their economic ties as they still hold substantial potential for increased cooperation in this field. The establishment of the ASEAN Community late last year and new-generation trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement are expected to afford multiple opportunities for the two countries to beef up their economic, trade and investment affiliation, he added. Both leaders pledged to create a more stable, open and transparent business climate for foreign investors, including those from Japan. Prime Minister Phuc affirmed the Vietnamese Governments support for Japanese enterprises in their operation. He noted his hope that the Japanese federation would help create big waves of investments in Viet Nam and the Vietnamese Governments wishes for cooperation within the framework of the Viet Nam-Japan Joint Initiative to enter the next level. For his part, Kyohei Takahashi and Kuniharu Nakamua, co-Presidents of the Japan-Viet Nam Economic Committee, reassured their hosts that Japan always attached importance to cooperation with Viet Nam. Kyohei Takahashi said trade between the two countries had quadrupled since the Viet Nam-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement took effect in 2009. Japan had poured the largest amount of investments in Viet Nam among ASEAN member countries, with over 1,500 businesses operating. A survey conducted by Keidanren last March shows that Viet Nam tops the list of countries where Japanese firms intend to invest in the next five to ten years. Kuniharu Nakamua said Viet Nam had a lot of advantages to attract investment, like geological conditions, an abundant and hard-working labour force as well as its engagement in the TPP and RCEP agreements. He suggested the Vietnamese Government promptly ratify the TPP to bring new economic, trade and investment opportunities to the two countries. Keidaren is the largest business federation in Japan gathering 1,340 biggest Japanese firms, 109 industrial associations and 47 economic organisations at regional and local levels. The Japanese working group is in Viet Nam to attend a meeting of the Joint Committee of the Viet Nam-Japan Joint Initiative to kick-start the sixth phase of the initiative. The initiative, launched in April 2003 as a result of special co-operation between the two Governments, aims to create an open and transparent business and investment climate in Viet Nam through a policy dialogue between Japanese investors and relevant Vietnamese ministries and agencies. It also makes proposals to help competent Vietnamese agencies complete laws and policies. VNS HCM CITY At least 13,000 of a total of 14,000 medical clinics nationwide have installed a healthcare insurance IT system since June. The healthcare insurance IT system has been very effective and created a breakthrough in healthcare, insurance management and administrative reform, Nguyen Thi Minh, general director of Viet Nam Healthcare Insurance, said. It has also created transparency and favourable conditions to ensure rights for healthcare insurance patients, and it has significantly saved expenditures, she added. Thanks to the system, unregulated expenditures can be detected, and patients waiting time has been reduced by half for check-ups and for making insurance payments. Patients can also receive information about the costs of insurance and their rights and benefits. In addition, when travelling to clinics, patients now receive electronic waiting numbers. At the Central Endocrine Hospital, checkups and other procedures have gone smoothly since IT networks have been installed. The software provides codes for each patient and all information can be collected within minutes rather than hours. Also, patients do not need to go to many places within the hospital to get testing results. In April, the hospital connected its two facilities in one system. In the future, the hospital will provide electronic healthcare cards which can be integrated with ATMs, allowing patients to pay all expenses with one click, Dr Tran Ngoc Luong, director of the hospital, said. At Ninh Binhs Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospitals healthcare examining department, about 300 400 patients are seen each day. In the past, procedures took a long time, with all information written by hand. Doctors treatment decisions were made and then insurance information had to be checked. Now everything is done on computers, and the time for check-ups has been reduced. In the past I had to wait at least one hour for a checkup and one more hour for administrative procedures. Now I need to wait only 15 minutes for checkups and go through all procedures, patient Nguyen Thanh Hang said. Doctors benefits The head of the hospitals examining department, Dr inh Thi Yen, confirmed that IT applications in clinics had created favourable conditions not only for patients and their relatives but also for doctors and medical staff. When all information is connected, we have more time to check for patients, and we can then give them better advice and treatment. Our nurses have freed them from paperwork and they can support us in guiding patients, inh Thi Yen said. With the IT system, doctors can easily recognise the name of drugs, the amount, and the names of pharmacists. We have used IT applications in management since 2006, and every year, we plan to invest more and use new software to update our system, Dr Pham Van Dau, deputy director of the hospital, said. The investments for the IT system follows the Ministry of Healthcares Plan 1418 on applying IT for healthcare insurance payments and an integrated healthcare database. IT applications for healthcare checkups and treatment as well as insurance payments have helped the hospital reduce time for paperwork, increase all resource management efficiency, limit losses of hospital fees, provide financial transparency, and control drug usage at a proper and safe level, he added. Dau also said that IT applications still had a few problems, including limited capacity of human resources for IT, different software programmes at clinics, and an incomplete drug list suggested by the health ministry. To promote IT application, many hospitals have spent funds to set up electronic hospital systems. The Bach Mai Hospitals emergency department chose to set up an electronic hospital system (e-Hospital). Under the system, doctors in emergency departments can update testing results as well as image analysis in the fastest way possible. With the e-Hospital system, patients at the hospital have their own files provided within minutes. With full electronic information of each patient, doctors now have more information in the database and more time to give better care, a doctor at the hospital said. During the first quarter of the year, 70 million people took part in healthcare insurance and 44 million people had health checkups, an increase of 5 per cent in comparison with the same period last year. For the first three months, Viet Nam Social Insurance paid nearly US$1 billion in healthcare benefits. VNS SOC TRANG Deputy Prime Minister Vuong inh Hue, who is also head of the South West Steering Committee, yesterday called on authorities in Mekong Delta provinces to do more to reduce poverty, especially among ethnic minorities. He instructed them to closely implement the measures prescribed by the Governments resolution No.1 on socio-economic development and others to improve the business climate, help enterprises create jobs and step up agricultural production and aquatic breeding by applying modern technologies. He assigned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work with Cambodian authorities to solve neccessary procedures for Vietnamese people who live in Cambodia to ensure that they will have a stable and legal life there. He was speaking at a conference held in Soc Trang Province to discuss socio-economic development, including security and settlement of Vietnamese returning from Cambodia. The south-west is home to many ethnic minorities while its infrastructure is limited. Poverty and near-poverty rates here are still high, especially in areas with ethnic minorities and along the border. Son Minh Thang, deputy head of the South West Steering Committee, said local authorities had taken measures to ensure ethnic minoritiescomprehensive development. As a result, the poverty rate in ethnic minority areas in the region fell from more than 33 per cent to 13 per cent between 2011 and 2015, he said. "There are more than 19,000 ethnic Party members while seven have been elected to the National Assembly, according to the official. Electricity for Khmer families Electricity of Viet Nams Southern Power Corporation has wrapped up a five-year-long project to instal a 2,000km medium- and low-voltage grid to provide electricity to 45,322 Khmer families in the delta province of Soc Trang. The corporation yesterday held a ceremony to mark its completion. The VN368 billion (US$16.3 million) project will help increase the number of people with access to electricity in the province to more than 98 per cent besides bringing all the attendant benefits. Huynh Minh Hai, head of the Soc Trang Power Company, said the company carried out projects to supply electricity to rural areas from the national grid. It hopes to provide electricity to everyone in the province by 2020. VNS Universities should reduce the minimum enrollment quotas to focus on improving training quality, said Head of the Ministry of Education and Trainings Higher Education, Nguyen Thi Kim Phung. Photo dantri.com.vn HA NOI Universities should reduce the minimum enrollment quotas to focus on improving training quality, said Head of the Ministry of Education and Trainings Higher Education, Nguyen Thi Kim Phung. Phung made the statement yesterday for local media in response to public concern over many universities failure to take on enough students after their first enrollment round completed last week. The Ha Noi University of Technology, for example, received 5,000 applicants while its enrollment quota is 6,000. The Ha Noi Medical University received just three quarters of the total number of students it needs. The Industrial University of HCM City lacked around 2,400 students. Enrollment quota increase was one of key reasons, she said. The number of candidates registering for university examinations was quite stable in recent years while universities kept increasing their enrollment scale, leading to the student shortage. Meanwhile, students now had better information channels relating to the labour market and post-graduate employment opportunities, which had certain impacts on their decisions to choose which university they will attend, she added. A change in enrollment in this academic year was also to blame, she said. Candidates this year had more choices for enrollment than last year as they were allowed to apply for and be received by two universities at the same time. It would therefore cause difficulties for universities because candidates will end up enrolling in only one of the two universities. However, universities could still handle the problem and many universities enrolled enough students such as HCM City Law University, Ha Noi Law University and Ha Noi Foreign Trade University, Phung said. She noted that universities should set a target of improving training quality by minimising the increase of enrollment quotas. Training quality at some schools remained low, failing to meet social demand, thus discouraging students from enrolling at them. Many universities set enrollment quotas without basis on real education demand of the society or on assessment and study of the labour market, but based on their own experience, infrastructure and training capacity. Phung said the Ministry of Education and Training has collected opinions from the public, experts and universities on developing a new enrollment plan. It also set up a task force to study and consult the construction of the best enrollment plan for the next academic year. However, she said, the ministry is encouraging universities to improve quality rather than focusing on quantity of students. Minister Phung Xuan Nha has urged authorised agencies to build mechanisms, policies and action programmes to ensure the ministry has enough management tools and conditions to support and supervise the training quality of universities. In the coming years, the ministry will focus on three key tasks, including re-planning the university network, promoting universities self-control rights and improving high quality human resources training. To implement these tasks, the ministry submitted to the Prime Minister for approval a national qualification framework to standardise training quality of universities. VNS LAO CAI Floods killed at least seven gold miners in Lao Cai Provinces Van Ban District, while sweeping away their tents early Saturday morning, instead of two deaths as reported earlier. Chairman of Van Ban District Peoples Committee o Van Duy has confirmed the deaths. All victims worked at an exploitation site of Vang Nhan Company in the districts Ma Sa Phin Hamlet, Nam Xay Commune in the northern province. The announcement of a higher death toll followed reports of five funerals in Cam Con Commune in the provinces Bao Yen District. Local authorities said the five funerals were of gold miners in Van Ban District. Pham Van Thang, secretary of Van Ban Districts Party Committee, said local authorities were investigating the deaths and the missing gold miners with assistance from local residents and media, because gold mining was an illegal activity there, which had not been reported to the authorities. Earlier this week, it was reported that two people had died and four had gone missing after their tent in a gold mining site in Van Ban District was swept away by floods, an effect of Typhoon Dianmu. Dianmu, the third of its kind to batter Viet Nam this year, swept through the northern provinces over the weekend after making landfall on Friday. An earlier report by the office of the central steering committee for disaster prevention said seven people were killed, two were missing and eight were injured in the storm. VNS HA NOI Viet Nams cybersecurity company Bkav has warned people about ransomware, a type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system till a sum of money is paid. The company has detected emails with attached *.docm files that contain ransomware. The files might be mistaken for normal *.doc or *.docx files. The company said email users should not open mails containing files of unidentified origin. In case users have to open such mails, they should open them with Safe Run, a secure environment isolated from the main operating system and designed for running applications whose safety is in doubt. Late last month, an alleged Chinese hacker group carried out several cyberspace attacks on Viet Nams two largest airports and the official website of national carrier Vietnam Airlines. The hacking of the Vietnam Airlines website at the Ha Noi and HCM City airports has signalled Viet Nams possible vulnerability to malware attacks. According to intelligence reports on the global threat by American company CrowdStrike, Viet Nam ranked first in the world for the rate of malware infection through portable storage devices (USB, memory sticks or external drives), with 70.83 per cent of the PCs being infected and 39.95 per cent of the users facing malware attacks from cyberspace. According to the Department of Cybersecurity under the public security ministry, up to 600 hacker groups attacked Vietnamese e-portals last year, mostly from abroad. In the first nine months of 2015, 18,085 Vietnamese websites, including 88 state-run platforms, were infected with malicious software, according to the Viet Nam Computer Emergency Response Team (VNCERT). Cybercriminals also spread phishing viruses to 5,368 websites, while 7,421 were defaced during the period. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers 2016 report, only 45 per cent of Vietnamese company boards have a cybersecurity strategy at present. VNS A makeshift fire truck puts water on a wildfire, which is part of the Okanogan Complex, as it burns through brush on August 22, 2015 near Omak, Washington. AFP File Photo LOS ANGELES A growing number of wildfires were threatening people and property in the western United States on Tuesday, with the governor of Washington state declaring a state of emergency in 20 counties. "These fires threaten people, property and the natural resources of eastern Washington," Governor Jay Inslee said in a statement. "This proclamation frees up state resources so we can provide the assistance that these communities might need. This is a time for all Washingtonians to come together." The fires in the largely rural areas have destroyed more than 25 buildings and threatened hundreds more, triggering evacuations, Inslee said. They included the Cherry Road Fire, which has charred 31,660 acres (12,800ha) and is 50 per cent contained, while the Kahlotus Fire has burned 20,000 acres and was 19 per cent contained, according to the Northwest Interagency Co-ordination Center. The 3,750-acre Spokane Complex fire was threatening 167 residences, with two damaged and 12 destroyed. Inslee noted weather conditions in the next seven days will be hot and windy, hampering efforts by firefighters who are already short-handed. Further south along the Pacific coast, 10,000 firefighters were battling six gigantic wildfires in California. In some positive news, the Blue Cut Fire in San Bernardino County, just 100 kilometres east of Los Angeles, was contained Tuesday morning. It has forced the evacuation of more than 82,000 people, snarling traffic as highways across the region were closed. The monster blaze has burned through 36,274 acres, destroying 321 buildings including 105 homes. That makes it the 20th most destructive fire in California history, according to Cal Fire. The Chimney Fire, which has burned 37,101 acres in Californias San Luis Obispo wine region, was raging just 3.2 kilometres east of the iconic Hearst Castle mansion, which remains shuttered, the Los Angeles Times said. Also known as San Simeon, the castle once owned by newspaper baron William Randolph Hearst is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the state, drawing millions of visitors each year, according to local tourism officials. The fire has already charred 52 buildings and threatened 1,900 others. Across the country, 18,000 firefighters were fighting 32 huge fires, according to the National Interagency Fire Center, mainly in western states. AFP SEOUL North Korea on Wednesday test-fired a submarine-launched missile 500km towards Japan, which Japan said marked the first time a North Korean sub-launched missile had entered its air defence identification zone. The flight distance, which was tracked by South Koreas military Joint Chiefs of Staff, far exceeded any previous SLBM tests, suggesting significant progress in technical prowess. A proven SLBM capability would take North Koreas nuclear strike threat to a new level, allowing deployment far beyond the Korean peninsula and the potential to retaliate in the event of a nuclear attack. "While there are still a lot of questions about the details, this test certainly seems to have been successful," said Jeffrey Lewis, director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in California. "This system is still in development, but North Korea is clearly making progress," Lewis said. Current UN resolutions prohibit North Korea from any use of ballistic missile technology, but Pyongyang has continued to carry out numerous launches following its fourth nuclear test in January. South Korea has responded by agreeing to deploy a sophisticated US anti-missile system - known as THAAD. Trilateral talks Meanwhile, foreign ministers from Japan, China and South Korea held their first talks in more than a year today just hours after the North Korea missile launch. The apparently successful launch was likely to top the agenda. The meeting, the first since March 2015, comes as Tokyo, Seoul and Beijing have struggled to find common ground on how to deal with North Korea. Japanese foreign minister Fumio Kishida said the launch was "absolutely unacceptable," in his opening remarks, adding that the three countries should closely co-operate and lead the global effort to deal with North Korea. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi earlier called for calm. "We hope that (the situation) will not become more tense and complicated," he told reporters in Tokyo ahead of the trilateral talks, Jiji Press reported. AFP The Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved a revised Double Tax Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) between India and Cyprus that provides for source-based taxation of capital gains on transfer of shares instead of one based on residence. Unequal Budget funding for the Yes vote wont give Australians equal say If you seek to ensure not all Australians get an equal say in the debate about an enshrined voice, then dont be surprised when millions of them cry foul about the integrity of the result. Australia abstains from vote at the UN on a treaty banning nuclear weapons 00:29 Australia has abstained from a vote at the United Nations on a treaty banning nuclear weapons. Inflation and interest rate rises pressure household budgets 00:42 Australians are being warned to tighten their household budgets in the lead-up to Christmas as the country faces rising inflation and interest... Victoria health system to lose $1.4 billion in federal funding 03:13 Victoria's health system is facing another setback which could see it lose $1.4 billion in federal funding. WATERLOO Katie Callahan, pharmacy manager at the Ansborough Avenue Hy-Vee, has been named a recipient of the companys highest honor, its Legendary Customer Service Award. Katie is a shining example of what Hy-Vee was founded on that every customer is important, and well do anything for them, said John Griesenbrock, district vice president for Hy-Vees northern area. Fellow employees, family members and customers gathered at the Ansborough Hy-Vee to surprise Callahan with the award Tuesday. Only 11 winners are selected each year from among more than 82,000 Hy-Vee employees in eight states. Callahan has consistently proven that she will go above and beyond to help anybody, said Rachel Guy, human resources manager at the Ansborough Hy-Vee, helping bag groceries and locating products for customers find products. Once, co-workers said, she came into the store on her day off to personally deliver a prescription, along with a few other groceries, to an ill regular customer unable to come pick up her medicine. Candidates are nominated for the award by their co-workers, and winners are selected by a panel of Hy-Vees top officers. WATERLOO The attorney for a Waterloo man accused of killing a teen outside an apartment building in 2013 harkened back to comments made by a Waterloo police officer who was guarding the shooting scene as he summed up the defenses case Tuesday. Attorney Robert Montgomery, who is representing 25-year-old Perquondis Holmes on first-degree murder charges, said officers comments, caught on a body microphone, were racist and showed he doubted the deceased 18-year-old DaeQuan Campbell was a real victim. Because of the color of his skin and the neighborhood and socio-economic status from which he came, Waterloo police officers didnt consider young DaeQuan Campbell a real victim, and Waterloo police officers didnt consider this a real crime worth their time and effort, Montgomery said Tuesday during closing arguments following two weeks of evidence. If that was their attitude toward the deceased victim, what do you think was their attitude toward the young accused with the same skin color, Montgomery said. Montgomery said police were looking for a quick fix to close the case and didnt adequately investigate the shooting. Jurors are scheduled to return to the Black Hawk County Courthouse on Wednesday to continue deliberations in the case. Prosecutors said Holmes didnt intend to kill Campbell when he allegedly shot six times into the Toyota Camry that Campbell was driving in November 2013. But that doesnt mean a jury cant find Holmes guilty of first-degree murder. Holmes, of Waterloo, is charged with first-degree murder under the felony murder theory, which means, although he didnt mean to kill Campbell, he was allegedly participating in a felony when he caused Campbells death. In the case, Black Hawk County Attorney Brian Williams alleges Holmes was taking part in the felony of intimidation with a weapon, the offense of shooting into a group of people, in this case a group of people inside the Camry, to injure or frighten them. Authorities said Campbell and three friends had been following a Mustang driven by Dejoni Norris, a friend of Holmes, who drove to a parking lot behind a Langley Road apartment building where Holmess relatives lived. According to testimony at trial, Campbell and his friends sat in the idling Camry when a person walked up to the car and began shooting. Two passengers in the car Tamaris Gary and David Sailor knew Holmes and identified Holmes as the gunman, the third Jacane Campbell said he was half asleep and couldnt identify the shooter. Holmes left Waterloo after the shooting, and authorities were unable to locate him for a month, Williams said. He was found living with relatives in Nebraska. Folks, he high tailed it out of here, Williams said. The court included instructions covering self defense in the jury instructions. Montgomery said neighbors descriptions of the gunman fit Norris, not Holmes, and he claims Norris was acting in self defense and fired when the Camry drove at him while he was standing in front of it. Perquondis wasnt there. Perquondis doesnt tell you he was there. He doesnt concede he was there, but if for some reason you think the person standing in the driveway was Perquondis whomever was standing there in that driveway and shot was shooting in self defense, Montgomery said. Williams said the shooting wasnt justified because the shooter approached the Camry with a gun. Hes the only person in this equation with a firearm that hes armed himself with, Williams said. And he started or continued this event when he walked up to that car when there is no dispute there is animosity. Montgomery also alleges the fatal bullet that struck Campbell didnt come from outside the vehicle but was accidentally fired by a gun inside the vehicle. Williams said there was no evidence there was any gunfire from inside Camry. In addition to first-degree murder and acquittal, jurors can pick lesser included offenses including second-degree murder, voluntary and involuntary manslaughter, assault causing serious injury, assault causing bodily injury and simple assault. OSAGE Ronald Rand showed a variety of emotions during a recorded interview with law officers after he fatally shot his girlfriend. That interview was shown to the jury Wednesday in Rands trial for first-degree murder. At some points during the interview, the 52-year-old Hampton resident sobbed and at other times he was angry. While answering some questions from Chris Callaway, a special agent with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, he appeared calm. He even laughed a few times. Rand repeatedly said the shooting was an accident that happened when he was showing his girlfriend, 51-year-old Michelle Key, a shotgun at his home in Hampton on Dec. 13. He said he borrowed the gun from a friend because he felt vulnerable in the home and wanted to be able to defend himself if needed.(tncms-asset)f45d411e-6984-11e6-b422-00163ec2aa77(/tncms-asset) Rand told Callaway he showed the shotgun to Key because he wanted her to know how it worked. He said she grabbed it and then it went off. I will never forget her face as she was dying, he said. I will never forget any of it. He said he held Key as she was dying and begged, Dont leave me. His daughter was in the interview room with him. He hugged her as he sobbed. Rand repeatedly said he was sorry during the interview. He also said he wanted to kill himself after the shooting, but the thought of his daughter and granddaughter prevented him from doing so. He said Key had recently told him she had cheated on him, but said he forgave her and they were having a good time the day of the shooting. He denied they were fighting that day. Callaway testified before and after the interview was shown to the jury. He said he did not see Rand shed any tears. Callaway also said although Rand said he had been drinking the day of the shooting, he did not smell any alcohol on Rands breath during the interview. Callaway said Rand was inconsistent in many of his statements. For example, Callaway said, when he first asked Rand what Keys last words were, Rand reported she said, Bye as she was dying. However, later in the interview Rand said her last words uttered when she was allegedly reaching for the gun were, Ill take that. Rands story during his interview with Callaway also was different than the one he allegedly told Hampton police officer Dave Kelley at the shooting scene. Kelley testified Tuesday that Rand told him he lost it because Key was laughing as she talked about the cheating. The officer said Rand told him he pointed the gun at Key and told her, If you ever did this again, this is what is going to happen. Key then allegedly grabbed the shotgun barrel and pulled on it, and the gun went off and killed her. During the interview with Callaway, Rand said the safety on the gun wasnt working right, but Carl Bessman, a tool marks and firearms examiner at the State Crime Lab, testified the safety was functioning properly. Keys autopsy photos were shown to the courtroom on a TV monitor. Rand rubbed his eyes as a photo showing a large gunshot wound to Keys neck was displayed. The trial resumes Thursday morning. Attorneys say they expect the case to be submitted to the jury by around noon Friday. The trial was moved from Franklin County to Mitchell County due to pre-trial publicity. Nguyen Hoang, 25, told police he was outside his home at 1801 Hawthorne Ave. at about 11:20 a.m. Tuesday when two men and one woman approached him. He was taken into his home where he was grabbed and shoved, and the suspects took cash, a cell phone and a computer before fleeing, according to police. WATERLOO After two weeks of testimony and a full day of closing arguments, it took jurors only about 90 minutes to acquit Perquondis Holmes of murder charges in the November 2013 shooting death of 18-year-old DaeQuan Campbell. Holmes friends and family erupted with applause and cheers upon hearing the verdict Wednesday morning. Holmes embraced defense attorney Robert Montgomery and then collapsed to the floor. As Holmes was helped to his feet, Campbells relatives began to protest. People in the audience held back one man, and Campbells sister stood on the benches. You know you killed my brother, and you killed my mother, too, said the sister. Campbells 39-year-old mother died in April of natural causes. Sheriffs deputies stepped between the defense table and the gallery and directed the sister off of the benches. Someone yelled murderer as the crowd filed out of the courtroom. Another family member who remained inside sat down and began to sob. Holmes was accused of shooting at a Toyota Camry that had followed a friends Mustang to the parking lot behind a Langley Road apartment building on Nov. 14, 2013. Campbell, who was driving the Camry, died of gunshot wounds, and Holmes disappeared from the area only to be found a month later living with relatives in Lincoln, Neb. Montgomery argued the shooter was really the Mustang driver, who acted in self defense when the Camry drove at him. The defense also attacked the credibility of the two passengers in the Camry, who knew Holmes and had identified him as the assailant, and questioned the adequacy of the police investigation. Despite the not-guilty verdict in the murder trial, Holmes remains at the Black Hawk County Jail on related offenses. When he was arrested on the murder charge, Holmes was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm for allegedly handling a gun during the shooting and flight to avoid prosecution for leaving for Nebraska following the shooting. Before trial, the defense successfully severed the other charges. Holmes entered an Alford plea not admitting guilt but contending he could be convicted if the charge went to trial to the flight charge before trial began, according to Black Hawk County Attorney Brian Williams. He also waived a jury trial on the firearm charge, allowing the judge who presided over the murder trial to render a verdict on that charge. That firearm verdict remains pending, and Holmes is being held pending sentencing on the flight charge. Both charges are punishable up to five years in prison upon conviction. Judge David Staudt ordered a bond of $100,000 for Holmes. Holmes had been found guilty of first-degree murder in Campbells death following a 2015 jury trial, but he won a reversal in February because a Facebook photo shown during the first trial allegedly showed gang affiliation. This is the second time Montgomery has prevailed in a murder case in Black Hawk County. In 2001, he represented Michael Bruce, who was found not guilty in a fatal shooting at Wildside Creationz auto shop. He again successfully represented Bruce in 2006 when the federal government brought drug and weapons charges connected to the Wildside shooting. OSAGE Hampton Police Officer Alan Brandt only needed one word to describe to jurors Ronald Rands demeanor the night police say the 51-year-old shot his girlfriend. Talkative. Brandt and another police officer told jurors Rand, accused of killing his girlfriend, Michelle Key, repeatedly and without prompting told them hed accidentally shot her to death that night, Dec. 13, at his home in Hampton. The first officer on the scene, Dave Kelley, said Rand started speaking while he was being handcuffed in the living room while Key lay on her back nearby, slumped over the side of an orange couch in a magenta nightgown. As I approached him, he stated, I killed her. I killed my baby. He said I didnt mean to do it., said Kelley, of the Hampton Police Department. And as I placed my handcuffs on him, stood him up, patted him down, he stated It was an accident. I didnt mean for it to go off. I shot her and shes dead. Key, 51, of Waterloo, was later shown in crime scene photos resting with her right arm on the couch armrest. Her left arm lay beside her on the couch, cigarette lighter clenched in her hand. Rand is charged with first-degree murder. His trial began Tuesday morning at the Mitchell County Courthouse in Osage. It was moved from Hampton at his request due to pre-trial publicity. Police were summoned to Rands home the night of the shooting by a friend, who was concerned Rand was suicidal. The friend met Kelley at the door, visibly shaken. Inside the house, Rand was hunched over on the same couch as Key, forearms on his legs, sitting on the edge of a cushion at the opposite end, Kelley said. Dried blood was spattered on his eyeglasses, face, beard and clothes. A loaded 12-gauge sawed-off shotgun police believe was used to kill Key was found on a pillow on a table in garage, put there by the friend for safety reasons, police said. Rand, who said hed taken a number of prescription pills, was taken to a police car for transport to the hospital for evaluation. Before they left, officers testified Rand knocked on the window and asked Kelley if he could go in and console Key and give her a kiss. After being informed Key was dead, Rand explained the couple had been drinking and having fun that day. Rand told the officer things changed when Key revealed shed cheated on him four times over the course of their 11-year relationship, Kelley said. Rand told Kelley he lost it because Key was laughing as she confessed. He said he brought the shotgun back, he pointed it at Michelle, said If you ever did this again, this is whats gonna happen. He stated that Michelle got up off the couch and grabbed the shotgun barrel and pulled it like a tug-of-war, twice. He said the gun went off and he killed her. Hampton police were joined on the witness stand by a Franklin County sheriffs deputy and agent from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. In her cross-examination, defense attorney Susan Flander asked questions that seemed to hint what Rand told officers wasnt exactly what he meant. When an officer testified Rand told him Im a murderer, Flander then asked Have you ever heard anyone say, Im a manslaughter-er? The officer had not. First-degree murder, which Rand is accused of, is a charge described in Iowa Code as killing someone willfully, deliberately, and with premeditation. Manslaughter is a lesser charge in which a person causes someones death unintentionally or in a sudden fit of passion or emotion. All the officers who Rand allegedly confessed to testified Tuesday he told them it was an accident. Rand cried at times during Tuesdays testimony, taking off his glasses and wiping away tears. He looked down and held his hand across his forehead, shielding his eyes, when crime scene photos were shown on a big screen to his left. Flander will call her own witnesses after Assistant Iowa Attorney General Coleman McAllister finishes calling witnesses for the prosecution. McAllister expected the state to wrap up its case by Thursday morning. Rand may testify in his own defense. After the jury was dismissed for the day, Flander made arrangements with District Court Judge DeDra Schroeder, who is presiding over the case, and court security officers to spend time with Rand in the courtroom after Wednesdays testimony has concluded. She told Schroeder the purpose was to allow Rand to sit in the witness chair. So, if he decides to testify, hes comfortable there, Flander explained. WATERLOO It was mission accomplished for Becker-Chapman American Legion Post 138. Post members, community leaders and others raised the American flag Wednesday for the first time at the posts new headquarters on the corner of West Sixth and Commercial streets. The event marked the symbolic completion of the posts difficult move from its former building at 619 Franklin St., which was razed as part of the renovation of KWWL-TVs building next door. Isnt that a beautiful sight? said retired U.S. Army Reserve Maj. Gen. Evan Curly Hultman as American Legion 3rd District Commander Neal Schrage raised Old Glory along with the state and POW/MIA flags up a pole donated by the Forty & Eight club. Hultman, a Legion volunteer, helped Post 138 negotiate the sale of its old building with the city and search for new quarters. Let me tell you, it wasnt easy, Hultman said. We werent going to put ourselves in debt in the process. We wanted to make sure we would have an entity that was going to continue. State Sen. Bill Dotzler, a Post 138 member, praised the organizations leadership for working through issues that arose during the move and remodeling process. The club succeeded, Dotzler said, to make the move, deal with the problems in the building and create something thats really special for Waterloo, that honors veterans, men and women who have served our country. Post Commander Gary Steen celebrated the day by offering to shave his head and beard for $50 in donations to the post. Visitors pitched in more than $200 before the barber arrived. We moved over one year ago today, Steen said. We opened the bar first but everythings done now. The city closed a block of Commercial Street temporarily for the flag-raising ceremony, which included an honor guard, prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. City Council members agreed to pay $300,000 to buy the clubs former building, which was necessary to leverage a $4 million renovation of the historic KWWL building at West Fourth and Franklin streets. Hultman said the club wasnt anxious to move at the time but cooperated to ensure the longstanding television station remained in Waterloo. LAWLER A man who died in flash flooding near here early Wednesday had placed a 911 emergency call to authorities after floodwater swept his car off the road, Chickasaw County authorities said. It was just one development in a night of heavy rain and flash flooding that drenched much of the northern third of the state, closing roads and forcing evacuations in several areas. The mans body was found just before 1 p.m. Wednesday about a third of a mile from where his car was found, off County Road V-56 north of Lawler near the Jerico turnoff, said Marty Hemann, a deputy with the Chickasaw County Sheriffs Office. The body was found on ground where floodwaters had subsided. The victim, whose name is not being released pending notification of family, had called 911 about 4:40 a.m. after the driver hit water over the road from the Little Turkey River and was swept off the roadway, authorities said. Authorities found his vehicle but did not immediately locate the driver. They put in a rescue craft and multiple agencies helped with the search. Chickasaw County officials warn motorists many roads may be deteriorated or compromised due to flooding and urged drives to use caution. Spillville isolated The city of Spillville was an island Wednesday morning, Mayor Mike Klimesh said, as the Turkey River approached a record crest. Bridges were under water, preventing people from leaving or entering Spillville, Klimesh reported. He said a tree had damaged one bridge. I never thought Id see water like this again in my life, said Klimesh, who added tourists and sightseers should stay away. Sandbagging efforts were abandoned early Wednesday, said Klimesh, who, like many other Spillville residents had not slept Tuesday night. He reported the historic Inwood Ballroom was under water. We pulled the plug on sandbagging because the water came so fast. We were surprised. We learned a lot about sandbagging in 2008 in certain areas it doesnt make any sense to sandbag, Klimesh said. Nine homes had been evacuated and power was turned off to seven of those homes due to the high water, he said. The Spillville ballroom was unreachable after the Turkey spilled over its banks at a higher crest than the city saw in 2008. Water nearly overtopped a new highway bridge over the Turkey River. Bill and Steven Kovarik watched as the water rose to enter their fathers home. The 90-year-old homeowner stayed put in the house after the 2008 flood. This is his home, said Bill Kovarik. Its all hes ever known. The water crested midday and began to slowly go down. Thats all you can do, said Kovarik watching the water from the porch. Watch it go up then watch go down. Twenty-four-hour rain totals of 4.3 to 8.46 inches were reported in Winneshiek County Tuesday into Wednesday morning. Storms dropped between 3 and 8 inches of rain on communities from Worth County along Interstate 35 to the Mississippi River. Freeport residents evacuated Decorah and Bluffton and Fort Atkinson also were been significantly affected by flooding. Fort Atkinson Mayor Paul Herold said a trailer court north of Iowa Highway 24 was evacuated Wednesday morning as the Turkey River overtook roadways into the neighborhood. He said Rogers Creek went up 9 feet in three hours City officials were expecting the Turkey River to crest Wednesday afternoon more than a foot above the 2008 flood. If theyre going to call that a 500 year flood what are they going to call this? Herold said. The city of Decorah received nearly an inch of rain an hour overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday, causing flash flooding and forcing some residents living along the Upper Iowa River in the adjacent unincorporated community of Freeport to evacuate to nearby Stone Ridge Community Church at Montgomery Street and Iowa Highway 9 in Decorah, which served as a shelter, where Salvation Army food and cleaning kits were available Freeport residents had little warning. When emergency officials swept through the neighborhood at about 5 a.m., water was already up to some residents doors. One homes basement collapsed at 172nd Avenue and 252 Street from water pressure. Kristina Lipa and Travis Teslow worked to retrieve items from their parents home on 252nd Street in Freeport. They didnt have nothing, Teslow said. Not even a toothbrush. Much of the roadway from River Road was under water all day. The two waded through flood waters to carry boxes and belongings out of the home. At least theyre both OK, Lipa said. Sandbags were available at the Winneshiek County Sheriffs office. Decorah High School wrestlers helped fill sandbags. We received just about 7 inches. It started raining about 7 p.m. last night and didnt stop raining until 4 or 5 this morning, Decorah City Manager Chad Bird said. It was a pretty substantial thunderstorm. There was loud thunderboomers and pretty wicked lightning most of the night. Bird said some longtime residents told him, in some areas of town, the water was higher today than it was in 08, referring to the historic 2008 flood that ravaged most of eastern Iowa. But that years flood was sustained, he said, and this was due to flash flooding. Fortunately the citys flood control system did its job, Bird said. We have a levee-dike system protecting us from the river, and the internal floodgates that automatically close, he said, with pumps where water ponds up. He noted Luther College has a similar system. The Upper Iowa was cresting about 1.5 feet above flood stage at midday Wednesday. Schools in the Decorah, Howard-Winneshiek, Riceville, New Hampton and North Winneshiek schools district called off school Wednesday. Correspondent Sarah Strandberg contributed to this story. WATERLOO The citys efforts to encourage new home construction experienced growing pains this week. Waterloo City Council members narrowly voted 4-3 Monday to approve a preliminary plat for Audubon Hills First Addition, a 35-lot housing development abutting the northeast edge of Audubon Park. It faced heavy opposition and a 70-signature petition from existing Audubon Park homeowners, who said the lot sizes were too small for the area and the plat needed a second street access to reduce traffic on existing streets. Councilmen Jerome Amos Jr., Ron Welper, Bruce Jacobs and Pat Morrissey ultimately voted in favor of the plat, which had been unanimously endorsed by the Planning, Programming and Zoning Commission in May. Councilmen Tom Lind, Steve Schmitt and Tom Powers voted against the proposal from XL Colt Farms, a development group led by Waterloo resident David Lederman. The development along 20 acres abutting U.S. Highway 20 would have homes in the $275,000 to $375,000 price range but includes some lots with 90-foot street frontages. Bob Krogh, speaking on behalf of the existing Audubon Park homeowners association, said the current Audubon Park lots all had 100 feet or more of street frontage. Some of the adjacent homes exceeded $500,000 in value. This does not fit with Audubon Park, Krogh said. If you want 90-foot lots you can find them. If you want 120-foot lots, youre not going to find them in Waterloo. Krogh also said the developer should extend Red Tail Drive east, where it eventually would connect with Ansborough Avenue. Without the connection, the new homes would put more traffic onto Dakota and Audubon drives. Powers said he opposed the plat due to the lack of a second street connection for fire protection. Lind and Schmitt both objected due to the lot sizes. This is one of the few premier developments in the city of Waterloo, Lind said. Why would we want to dilute it with smaller lots, patio homes and all that stuff? Theres plenty of places in Waterloo for that kind of development, and I dont mean that in a bad way, he added. Im just saying those people made substantial investments in those homes. The developers attorney, Eric Johnson, said Lederman had already made a number of changes requested by the neighborhood. He said the development is already more restrictive and had larger lots than a Skogman Homes subdivision directly south of Audubon Park. Im excited that somebody wants to develop here, Johnson said. We think you should be excited that somebody wants to develop here. We need to grow our tax base, he added. If we dont grow our tax base, taxes will keep growing on those that are here. Jacobs said he was swayed in favor of the plat because it met the subdivision requirements and generated no concerns about the traffic and safety issues from city staff. Were holding (Lederman) to a higher standard than other developers, which is very unfair, Jacobs said. If we want developers to come to Waterloo and build in Waterloo, weve got to be fair in all manners. Lederman said the development should add up to $10 million in new property value to the citys tax rolls. He rejected suggestions from council members he lower the number of lots to expand lot sizes and add a street extension. If youre going to drive my costs up, Im not going to be able to do this development, he said. If you think the lots need to be bigger or you need to extend Red Tail, this wont go through. CEDAR RAPIDS Although hes considered the most vulnerable Republican in the U.S. House, a new poll finds Republican Rep. Rod Blum leading his Democratic challenger Monica Vernon. Blum, a freshman from Dubuque, is leading the race 50 percent to 43 percent, according to a Polling Company poll of 400 registered voters in the 20-county Northeast Iowa district that includes Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls, Dubuque and Waterloo. These numbers show that the Washington, D.C., pundits are getting this race wrong, just like they did in 2014, said Jeff Patch, Blum campaign spokesman. The 1st District, where Democrats hold an active voter registration advantage of nearly 22,000, has been rated a toss-up by some handicappers while others predict a Democratic pickup. Blum won a narrow open-seat victory in 2014, defeating former Iowa House Speaker Pat Murphy 49.9 percent to 47.7 percent, when former Rep. Bruce Braley did not seek re-election. According to the poll of 400 registered 1st District voters between Aug. 14-16, Blum has an 18 point positive job approval rating (44 percent approve, 26 disapprove). Also notable is Blums reaching of the 50 percent benchmark this early in the race, said Brett Loyd of the Polling Co. Congressman. He concluded with less than three months until the Nov. 8 election, Blum is poised to earn re-election this. The poll, based on telephone interviews 70 percent landline and 30 percent cellphones, has a margin of error of 4.9 percent. A Vernon campaign spokeswoman said they would comment after reviewing the poll. WATERLOO The Bluedorn Science Imaginarium, 322 Washington St., will host a Lego Discovery Club from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. the first Saturday of every month. The first meeting is set for Sept. 3. Kindergartners through second-graders will solve engineering problems, build robots and design animal habitats. Lego Discovery Club is $8 for Grout Museum District members and $10 for nonmembers. For more information, call 234-6357 or go to www.GMDistrict.org. CEDAR FALLS A second Minnesota resident has been arrested in connection with a May 19 grab-and-go theft at a Cedar Falls beauty supply store. Yahshanna Shonzaka Brazelton, 23, of Minneaoplis, was arrested Aug. 18 on a warrant for second-degree theft. Her bond was set at $50,000 and she remained in the Black Hawk County Jail in Waterloo as of Tuesday. In July, Keenan Davante Harris, 24, also of Minneapolis, was arrested on two counts of second-degree theft in the May 19 crime and an earlier theft at the same business Aug. 10, 2015, when he was accompanied by a different woman. He also at the Black Hawk County Jail with bond set at $100,000. Court records allege Harris has been involved in thefts from Ulta stores across the Midwest. Harris is accused of entering the Ulta store at 416 Viking Road in August 2015 with a woman shortly before noon. They began grabbing products off the shelves, loading them into bags and fleeing. They allegedly took $7,126 worth of merchandise. Authorities said Harris returned to the Cedar Falls store at 1:05 p.m. May 19 with Brazelton. Harris pulled an orange sack from a pocket and began loading it with items, and Brazelton stood next to him, doing the same with her own bag, court records state. They left the store, setting off alarms, ran to their vehicle and left. Store officials totaled the loss at $2,306. Later that day, Harris and Brazelton arrived at an Ulta shop in Des Moines and again stole merchandise, court records state. Escapee faces new charges WEST UNION A man who escaped from the West Union Residential Facility was back in custody on new charges. On Friday at about 7:25 p.m., the facility reported to the Fayette County Sheriffs Office that Ryan J. Smith, 23, had escaped out the back door of the facility and was on foot in the West Union area. Smith, who was in facility for drug charges, also was being investigated by the Sheriffs Office on new drug-related charges, deputies said. Later that evening, the Sheriffs Office took a report of a stolen vehicle just outside of West Union on 220th Street and Smith was a suspect. Later another stolen vehicle was reported in the city of Hawkeye, and while investigating that the first vehicle stolen was located. Video surveillance was obtained from the Hawkeye business where the vehicle was stolen and it showed Smith entering the vehicle. On Saturday, Tripoli police reported they had recovered the stolen vehicle from Hawkeye. Smith was located Saturday night at a residence in Elgin. He now faces charges of two counts of operating a motor vehicle without owners consent and escape from a correctional facility. Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Aug. 23, 2016 | PADUCAH, KY By West Kentucky Star Staff Aug. 23, 2016 | 04:56 PM | PADUCAH, KY The Paducah Police Department is warning the public to be alert to the possibility of skimmers at area ATMs. Paducah Police say a a Paducah man contacted them Tuesday and reported that someone had used his Regions Bank debit card to make a purchase at a local business. The card was also used at a second local business, but that transaction was declined. Police said the man told them he still has the card in his possession. Police say they suspect someone may have obtained the mans debit card number through the use of a skimmer, and are warning ATM users to be very cautious when using the machines. They say that if the face of the ATM looks suspicious or feels funny when jiggled, users should contact their bank before inserting their cards. ATM users are also being advised to check the keypad to make sure an overlay isn't placed on it to record their PIN, and to check bank statements regularly. Anyone with information about the case is being asked to call the Paducah Police Department at 270-444-8550 or Crime Stoppers at 270-443-TELL. As Cardinal Theodore McCarrick gradually returns to kicking after knee-replacement surgery earlier this month, the hits just keep on coming for his onetime top aides. (Put another way, Ted's reaping the "Wuerlwind"... still in all, as "get well" gifts go, it's hard to beat.)Six days after dear Uncle's lead deputy in Washington was called to Rome as head of a Vatican dicastery, at Noon today in an unusual August nod the Pope named the cardinal's last "son," the veteran DC auxiliary Martin Holley, 61, as fifth bishop of Memphis in succession to the venerable Terry Steib SVD, a prelate of some 32 years and the longtime convener of the African-American bishops, who reached the retirement age in May 2015.An exceedingly warm, kind, ever-smiling figure, Holley spent his life and priesthood as a pastor in the Florida Panhandle until his 2004 appointment as Washington's customary auxiliary with primary responsibility for its sizable Black church. Notably, before heading north the Pope's pick was assigned to the vocations office in his home diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee a particularly key area for the 80,000-member Memphis church, which has boasted a disproportionately high number of seminarians over recent years, ordaining no less than five priests in 2014.Among other unique attributes of the western Tennessee fold, Steib's stewardship of the diocesan schools is likewise a particular standout. In a move practically unheard of elsewhere, the retiring bishop reopened six shuttered inner-city schools in 1998, entrusting their future to a first-of-its-kind partnership model whose success has led to attempts to imitate it far afield. (Here's lookin' at you, Mary McDonald .)On another front, as the bench's last active heir of one John Lawrence May the St Louis archbishop/bench chief whose liturgical preferences were famously summarized as "wine, women and song" Steib has been increasingly focused on the church's outreach to gays and lesbians, chartering one of the few diocesan offices dedicated to ministry to the same-sex attracted and, in January, devoting his last pastoral letter to what he termed "a new season" in the church, marked by a "compassionate response" to those in irregular situationschurch teaching: a stance heavily echoed three months later by the Pope himself in Amoris Laetitia. A Divine Word Father born in Louisiana, Steib became the first African-American bishop in the long history of St Louis Catholicism on his 1984 appointment as an auxiliary there, taking the reins in Memphis eight years later in succession to the Benedictine Daniel Buechlein upon his return to Indianapolis.While Buechlein's own predecessor along the Mississippi the princely Francis Stafford would go on to become a cardinal in the Curia, as never before Steib's tenure saw Rome's spotlight fall on Memphis' homegrown clergy with the rise of Peter Sartain, a son of Graceland's Whitehaven neighborhood, who would be launched over a decade from being Steib's Chancellor to the helm of the million-member Seattle archdiocese.Per Memphis Chancery, the installation has been scheduled for Wednesday, October 19th, to be held in the city's Convention Center.Meanwhile, keeping to his custom for the province he's led for the last decade, Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville made the trip west to preside at this morning's presser. His presidency of the USCCB now in its home-stretch before wrapping in November, Kurtz marked another milestone last week his 70th birthday on Thursday, so belatedto the Father-Prez.All that said, here's fullvid of Holley's introduction to his new charge: past daily news Sep 13 (1) Sep 09 (15) Sep 06 (12) Sep 04 (10) Sep 03 (10) Aug 31 (17) Aug 29 (14) Aug 26 (13) Aug 22 (11) Aug 21 (12) Aug 19 (21) Aug 14 (6) Aug 13 (10) Aug 10 (10) Aug 08 (9) Aug 07 (10) Aug 06 (10) Aug 05 (8) Aug 03 (8) Aug 02 (7) Aug 01 (7) Jul 31 (14) Jul 29 (1) Jul 27 (7) Jul 25 (5) Jul 24 (10) Jul 22 (11) Jul 19 (16) Jul 17 (6) Jul 16 (10) Jul 15 (13) Jul 12 (7) Jul 11 (5) Jul 10 (8) Jul 08 (8) Jul 07 (3) Jul 06 (5) Jul 05 (8) Jul 04 (11) Jul 03 (8) Jul 02 (7) Jul 01 (5) Jun 30 (8) Jun 28 (7) Jun 27 (8) Jun 26 (7) Jun 25 (8) Jun 24 (6) Jun 23 (6) Jun 22 (9) Jun 20 (5) Jun 19 (9) Jun 18 (8) Jun 15 (9) Jun 13 (13) Jun 11 (11) Jun 09 (19) Jun 06 (10) Jun 04 (10) Jun 03 (8) Jun 01 (6) May 31 (5) May 30 (5) May 29 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(20) Feb 05 (19) Feb 04 (14) Feb 03 (16) Feb 02 (28) Feb 01 (37) Jan 31 (27) Jan 30 (31) Jan 29 (18) Jan 28 (14) Jan 27 (10) Jan 26 (18) Jan 25 (26) Jan 24 (34) Jan 23 (21) Jan 22 (21) Jan 21 (18) Jan 20 (18) Jan 19 (18) Jan 18 (26) Jan 17 (24) Jan 16 (23) Jan 15 (30) Jan 14 (20) Jan 13 (18) Jan 12 (24) Jan 11 (11) Jan 10 (23) Jan 09 (22) Jan 08 (17) Jan 07 (17) Jan 06 (9) Jan 05 (18) Jan 04 (15) Jan 03 (19) Jan 02 (14) Jan 01 (6) Dec 31 (12) Dec 30 (4) Dec 29 (15) Dec 28 (11) Dec 27 (7) Dec 26 (10) Dec 25 (16) Dec 24 (13) Dec 23 (16) Dec 22 (11) Dec 21 (26) Dec 20 (28) Dec 19 (14) Dec 18 (25) Dec 17 (23) Dec 16 (19) Dec 15 (22) Dec 14 (38) Dec 13 (26) Dec 12 (25) Dec 11 (27) Dec 10 (31) Dec 09 (15) Dec 08 (30) Dec 07 (31) Dec 06 (27) Dec 05 (38) Dec 04 (25) Dec 03 (27) Dec 02 (15) Dec 01 (36) Nov 30 (23) Nov 29 (17) Nov 28 (23) Nov 27 (13) Nov 26 (16) Nov 25 (14) Nov 24 (18) Nov 23 (21) Nov 22 (21) Nov 21 (24) Nov 20 (20) Nov 19 (23) Nov 18 (17) Nov 17 (17) Nov 16 (34) Nov 15 (25) Nov 14 (17) Nov 13 (21) Nov 12 (18) Nov 11 (9) Nov 10 (15) Nov 09 (9) Nov 08 (9) Nov 07 (12) Nov 06 (8) Nov 05 (4) Oct 29 (1) Oct 01 (1) Jul 29 (1) May 11 (1) Jul 11 (1) To Summarize the state the USA is in we live in a society whose primary goal is greed. We spend trillions of dollars on endless wars (war alone in Afghanistan has cost US taxpayers circa $1 trillion) and trillions more on bank bailouts, tax cuts for the wealthy and Corporate welfare $4 trillion on the Feds QE program for stock buybacks by TBTF corporations We have Wall St. lawyers. Stock brokers, hedge fund managers, lobbyists (all doing socially and morally worthless jobs) earning millions each yearly. Our elected officials sell their votes to the highest bidder. Our society is incapable of providing affordable health care, education, building a nation wide, energy efficient high speed rail transportation system * * * * * So who are the villainous ones? Those who have the finger constantly pointed at them by the police, media, politicians and such? You, me, I, we, him and her? No it is not us; The People fighting for a livable wage! The people who just want peace and quiet! It is the pervasive socially rotten politicians, corporation and cronies, they amount to just a few people in comparison to the rest? We allow the few to run the masses over.To be a politician takes a certain mindset and very few of them are able to stay honest, once elected. Once again greed Therefore, it is simple; greed is destroying our society And we sit in front of the TV and watch it all happen. Because, if we speak out and stand alone, they will have you put down! Put down by paid lackeys that we call police and military If you do not think that the American police and military will shoot to kill Americans? Then you are very wrong. All over the world, armies and police kill their own people everyday. In America it has become common for police to shoot first and ask questions later. This happens most of the time, because the powers to be, demand the silence of us peasants I have been in the military and I know that most of the men I played, worked, died and fought with, would shoot one of our own and you too! Fear is used to drive the greediest desires for the few in charge and a paycheck allows one peasant to feel better about shooting another peasant! Kyle Keeton MONTREAL, QC, August 24, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Trisotech (http://www.trisotech.com) announced, on August 17th 2016, it has formed a new partnership with INTEGRATE iT, LLC, a consulting and training organization committed to helping its clients successfully manage business change. INTEGRATE iT serves a blue-chip global clientele from its corporate offices in Washington state. Ramsay Millar, founder and CEO of INTEGRATE iT, talks about how the partnership enables both companies to bring greater value to their combined client pool. "When INTEGRATE iT discovered Trisotech's Digital Enterprise Suite I immediately realized we had found a revolutionary new tool that anticipates the future of business and worker productivity. The suite - based on open standards - is the most powerful tool in the market for harmonizing rapid collaboration. I honestly believe it will set the standard for next generation 'ease of use' - making it simple for anyone who needs to collaborate and deliver a digital transformation and get it 'right the first time'. "The Digital Enterprise Suite vastly improves communication of knowledge like business rules, process flows and business intelligence using a real time knowledge repository model. Organizations can no longer afford siloed control of corporate assets. The time is now for leadership to execute a digital business transformation management practice to meet the digital economy using collaboration and knowledge sharing. "INTEGRATE iT now offers a portfolio that combines our consulting, mentorship and training services with Trisotech's powerful software tools. We now offer this full-service solution that enables business leaders, business architects, and enterprise architects to work with stakeholders across the organization to bridge gaps and collaborate on the digital business transformation process. "Trisotech's Digital Enterprise Suite is a modeling environment that enables an organization to plan, model and execute rapid business changes using a harmonized approach - empowering them to accelerate transformation to keep pace with the constantly-evolving demands of the global marketplace. "Timely and flexible digital business transformation execution makes our clients more competitive, more agile, and better able to deliver innovative services while also growing revenues. As business becomes more competitive many corporations will fail to meet this challenge - INTEGRATE iT facilitates business leaders, business architects, and enterprise architects to ensure success by mentoring proven and effective techniques and to master new tools." Trisotech CSO George Barlow concurs with Millar. "Trisotech is proud to partner with INTEGRATE iT," he said. "Ramsay Millar has a proven record of leading many successful BPM transformations and of serving the BPM global community for many years as a judge of the BPM Excellence Awards and has been a member of WFMC since 1997. Ramsay is a sought after global consultant, educator and speaker." About INTEGRATE iT INTEGRATE iT is a consulting and training corporation committed to assisting their clients to successfully manage business technology transformation since 2001. INTEGRATE iT has a proven track record with their clients and delivers quality outcomes by providing the best productivity tools, effective skills knowledge transfer, and learning solutions delivered by expert consultant educators. Their solutions are designed to make meet project needs and budget. Website: http://www.IN2GRATEiT.com Trisotech offers highly visual and interactive software tools that help organizations innovate, transform and improve their operations. We bring strategies, design and technology together to provide insight for business and IT in the digital enterprise age. Trisotech customers use The Digital Enterprise Suite to provide new and revolutionary ways for their knowledge workers to collaborate and succeed in an increasingly global, connected and competitive world. Trisotech products are providing visualization, innovation, transformation and continuous improvement help to manufacturing, financial, healthcare, insurance, energy, distribution, government, and many other types of organizations. Trisotech is a privately held company. Website: http://www.trisotech.com # # # OWINGS MILLS, MD, August 24, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Pamela M. Anthony, RN BSN CDMS CCM, President and Chief Executive Officer of Restore Rehabilitation, LLC, has been recognized as a Distinguished Professional in her field through Women of Distinction Magazine. Pamela M. Anthony will be featured in Women of Distinction Magazine in 2016/2017. Officially launched by President and Chief Executive Officer Pamela M. Anthony in June 2006, Restore Rehabilitation, LLC, a medical and vocational case management firm, has evolved from an at-home business to a thriving center that consists of more than 180 employees providing field coverage across 22 states in the areas of case management service. Headquartered in Owings Mills, Maryland, Anthony and her dedicated team of professionals specialize reducing the impact of workers' compensation claims on injured employees, insurers, third-party administrators, and employers by delivering evidence-based interventions to achieve safe recoveries efficiently and cost effectively. Services include National Early Intervention, National Telephonic Case Management, Catastrophic Case Management, Field Medical Case Management, Task Based Case Management, Vocational Case Management, and Medical Cost Projections. Defining itself by "Success through a sense of urgency," Restore Rehabilitation considers every assignment critical and, therefore, handles it quickly and efficiently. The organization's field case managers include registered nurses and rehabilitation counselors who all possess advanced credentials and years of experience in workers' compensation. Assessing injured employees immediately after an injury to determine medical status and needs, these case managers assist in identifying high quality medical providers and potential return-to-work hurdles, while progressing the file to reach full return-to-work status or maximum medical improvement. "Restore Rehabilitation, LLC now has case managers across Tennessee, Alabama, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, DC," Anthony said proudly. "It is my philosophy to seek out the most qualified team members possible, none of which are subcontractors." Overseeing every aspect of her growing business, Anthony is responsible for the financial duties as well as customer relations and operations. Prior to the formation of her firm in 2006, Anthony served as a Regional Manager for the case management firm Eckman/Freeman & Associates. She also served as Regional Vice-President for Concentra, Inc. "I earned a degree in nursing in 1990, and because there was such a shortage at that time, I actually had my first job three months before graduating," Anthony noted. "I spent just over a year in hospital nursing, but quickly realized it wasn't really a match for me. I applied for a job to become a workers' compensation case manager, and after the first interview I was hired. I've never looked back." In 2014, Anthony was named to the 2014 Brava Top Women CEO category by Smart CEO Magazine. She holds a BSN from Salisbury State University and is a Registered Nurse, Certified Case Manager, and Certified Disability Management Specialist. For more information, visit www.restorerehab.biz. About Women of Distinction Magazine: Women of Distinction Magazine strives to continually bring the very best out in each article published and highlight Women of Distinction. Women of Distinction Magazine's mission is to have a platform where women can grow, inspire, empower, educate and encourage professionals from any industry by sharing stories of courage and success. Contact: Women of Distinction Magazine, Melville, NY 631-465-9024 [email protected] # # # Aug 24, 2016 | By Alec As regular readers will have doubtlessly noticed, 3D printing has become a full-fledged hospital technology. 3D printers have especially become popular among surgeons for the planning of particularly unusual surgeries, in which bones have been completely shattered or implants need to be installed. But over the past few months it has become apparent that cancer patients can also benefit from 3D printing. Back in June, we saw how one Australian man received a whole new 3D printed jaw after a long battle with cancer. And now Indian surgeons from Bangalore have shown that 3D printing can also be used to prepare for surgeries on a type of cancer that is becoming increasingly common: tongue cancer. For a team of surgeons from the HealthCare Global Cancer Centre in Bangalore, India, has just become the first in the world to use 3D printed models to prepare for tongue cancer surgery. The patient in question is a 53 year old local man from Indore, who travelled to the hospital to deal with a frequently recurring mouth ulcer. The doctors, who refer to the patient as Mr. Ravi (not his real name), were concerned because the patient had already been treated for tongue malignancy two years ago. An MRI scan subsequently revealed that the tumor had spread much further than the small ulcer that was initially spotted. This presented a challenge for the Head & Neck Surgical Oncology team headed by Dr. Vishal Rao, who were faced with the prospect of removing a very large portion of the tongue. But as Dr. Rao explained, this is not just a one-off situation. In fact, the prevalence of these kinds of cancers in India is rising dramatically. We are the oral cancer capital of the world; mouth or tongue cancers are fairly common in our country due to habits like chewing tobacco. While it's our duty to look at preventive measures, we need to constantly innovate and help improve treatment paradigms and the quality of life. We must create a benchmark for the world to follow rather than wait for the West to solve our problems, he argued. In fact, 4 out of 10 cancer occurrences in India are of the oral kind, and doctors are in desperate need of a low-cost solution to combat this epidemic. As it turns out, 3D printing might be that solution, as it can provide surgeons with information that will help them to precisely remove cancerous portions of the tongue and throat instead of just cutting out the complete tongue and hoping that this solves it. Dr. Rao and his team therefore turned to local 3D printing specialists Anatomiz 3D LLP. They made a 3D print out of the tongue and tumor, featuring a simple color demarcation to help the team plan the surgery. The team headed, by Dr Prashanth Puranik, then used that 3D printed model to recreate an exact replica of the tongue from thigh muscle tissue, Dr. Roa explained. To actually build that model, Anatomiz3D LLP utilized Materialises Mimics software, which has FDA and CE approval. This, as they explain, allows them to edit the DICOM data of CT and MRI scans. The resultant 3D model can be 3D printed in various materials and colors. In this case, an MRI scan was used and the model was segmented into two different parts: one healthy, one cancerous. This was 3D printed in separate colors, at a 1:1 scale. The final model, they say, was perfect for helping the surgeons understand the depth, position and size of the tumor. The advantage of this approach is clearly visible in the photos above (blue representing cancer, brown the normal tissue), as the ulcer is just the tip of the cancer iceberg. Thanks to 3D printing, the surgeons could properly visualize the situation and plan the tumors extraction. For the oncology surgeon, it was a huge improvement over the usual palpation technique with 2D images, which dont fully show the extent to which the cancer cells have spread. But the plastic surgery team, headed by Dr. Puranik, were also very happy with the model. It provided them with exactly the right amount data necessary for their tissue implant, and ensured a satisfactory cosmetic and functional outcome. This in turn also benefits the patient, who retains most of his swallowing and speech functions. But 3D printed models also make it far easier to educate patients about the coming surgical procedure, as doctors have found that MRI scans are not always understood. This also means that patients can be better prepared to accept the outcome and rehabilitation plans. The surgery on Mr. Ravi was a complete success, and he is currently living completely cancer free. To the best of our knowledge (and that of the Indian surgical team), this is also the first time that multiple flexible materials have been 3D printed to mimic tongue tissue for cancer surgery. And if the cancer figures for India are anything to go by, it will definitely not be the last time that this procedure is used. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: Aug 23, 2016 | By Benedict Taiwanese computer hardware company Asus has added special mounting points to its new Z170 Pro Gaming/Aura motherboard, enabling modders to attach personalized, 3D printed logo panels and cable covers. The company made the move after receiving praise for 3D printed panels at Computex 2016. 3D printed motherboard accessories at Computex 2016 Earlier this summer, ASUS delighted the community of 3D printing-savvy gamers by showcasing a number of 3D printed motherboard accessories at the Computex 2016 conference in Taipei. With gamers becoming increasingly keen to modify and customize their PCs, ASUS sought to appeal to the crowds by demonstrating how its high-end motherboards can be customized with 3D printed panels. Although the Computex offerings were of a fairly DIY nature, the overwhelmingly positive response to the cool 3D printed designs prompted the hardware giant to add a little extra feature to its new Z170 Pro Gaming/Aura motherboard. Feedback from Computex attendees suggested that the addition of dedicated mounting points for 3D printable parts such as nameplates would make the new motherboard far more desirable. While it was too late to rework the Z170 motherboards trace layout to accommodate several mounting points, the company managed to add a couple into the lower left corner of the PCB. These mounts use the same screws as M.2 drives, and can be used to affix 3D printed additions to the motherboard. 3D mounts on the Z170 (above) and a 3D printed cable cover ASUS initially wanted to use these mounts to add a cover for the audio circuitry. However, feedback from modders suggested that cable covers and personalized logo panels would be more popular with the general consumer. ASUS rolled with the idea, and also came up with some clever 3D printed add-ons of its own, including a 3D printed fan mount for M.2 drives. By adding a 3D printed fan mount to the motherboard, users can quickly cool their M.2 SSDs. Best of all, the mount can be added to the standard motherboard mounting holes instead of the dedicated 3D mounts, which lets gamers add their own personalized logo panel and fan mount to the same board. 3D printed M.2 fan mount: at CAD stage, after being 3D printed, and in situ Another handy 3D printed component made by the ASUS community is a combined 120 mm fan mount and graphics support for the Sabertooth Z170 motherboard. This clever support, which was also showcased at Computex, kills two birds with one stone by giving support to heavy graphics cards while providing a mount for a 120 mm fan. 3D printed cable comb (above) and 3D printed finger rest While exploring the many motherboard-related possibilities afforded by 3D printing, ASUS users have also created parts such as a 3D printed 24-pin cable comb and a 3D printed SLI bridge, while others have gone beyond internal bits and pieces and created ergonomic 3D printed finger rests for computer mice. A number of 3D printable ASUS accessories are available to download through the ASUS Republic of Gamers forum. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: Katja Garmasch at Eurozine: Nothing new in the East: the weather on the front is hot. In the summer, the war gets worse. The war, officially called an Anti-Terrorist Operation or simply ATO in Ukraine, began in spring 2014, when Russian-backed separatist groups in the Donbas region demanded that Ukraine be split up. The Minsk agreement of 2015, which was supposed to end the fighting between the Ukrainian army and pro-Russian rebels, did not ease the tensions, on the contrary. For Ukrainian soldiers, the situation even intensified, because many commanding officers would not allow them to return fire until the last moment, if the separatists opened fire. So if the agreement is to be observed, one is dependent on the West for assistance. Right now, it is very quiet here in Popasna, near the city of Sloviansk. The first shots are fired around midnight, when the OSCE observers go home. The soldiers listen to bad patriotic Ukrainian rock, clean their weapons, play with the camp dog, smoke. Roksovana is the only woman among 20 men in this Intelligence Brigade, and one of 50,000 soldiers currently serving in the Ukrainian army or in volunteer battalions. Roksovana is her nickname, she doesn't want to reveal her real name or show her face. She comes from Crimea, where her family lives and could get into trouble if her identity is made public. It's better like this, she laughs, I don't have to put on makeup. A few cosmetics utensils stand tidily arranged next to her bunk bed, above which there hangs a little guardian angel made of wood, a present from her niece. Roksovana is 45 and has no children. That's rare in Ukraine. Why did she become a soldier? Because, she says, it is her civic duty. Because she doesn't want to live in Russia. more here. Barzotto Opens in the Mission A casual new pasta restaurant opened last week in the old St. Vincent space on Valencia. Veteran restaurant operator Mark Sotto (RN74, Central Kitchen) and chef Michelle Minori (flour+water, Aatxe) hope to establish an "American pasta bar," offering a daily menu of five house-made pastas and soft-serve gelato. The restaurant is walk-in only, but soon you can order online, where Barzotto's full menu and a daily selection of dried and fresh pastas (by the pound) are available for take-out and delivery. We're into it. // OpenWednesday-Sunday, 11am-10pm, 1270 Valencia St. (Mission), barzotto.com Eat Drink SF Food, wine, and spirits festival Eat Drink SF is back again this weekend at Fort Mason. The four-day event brings dozens of the Bay Area's best chefs, restaurants, and bars into one giant room where you can snack and imbibe for hours on end. Best of all: There are still tickets left. // $119, August 2528, 2 Marina Blvd. (Fort Mason), Get tickets here. Fiorella Launches New Menu Chef Dante Cecchini (Marlowe, 2014 Rising Star Chef), has launched a new menu at the casual but refined neighborhood spot Fiorella. Inspired by time spent at his grandparent's house in North Beach, Cecchini is bringing classic dishes such as cucumber with fennel and creme fraiche and chitarra pomodoro to the new menu. He's also making good use of the wood-fired oven and thinking beyond pizza with dishes like roasted chicken with salsa verde and mustard greens and roasted octopus with sungold tomatoes and olives. Yum! // Open daily, 2339 Clement St. (Richmond), fiorella-sf.com Fine & Rare Celebrates 1 Year Anniversary Sustainable seafood-centric restaurant Fine and Rare is celebrating one year in business by offering complementary charcuteries, cheese, smoked fish boards, and oyster po'boys along with free Calicraft Kolsch. We can't think of a better way to celebrate a birthday. // Thursday, August 25, 6pm-8pm, 555 Golden Gate Ave. (Civic Center), fandrsf.com Feel free to text with reckless abandon today. It's basically a national holiday for wireless messaging. On August 23, 1899 (exactly 116 years ago) what is widely believed to be the first ship-to-shore wireless message in American history was sent. The words "Sherman is sighted," were transmitted from Coast Guard Lightship No. 70 to a receiving station at the Cliff House restaurant in San Francisco. It announced the arrival of the Sherman, a troopship carrying a regiment returning from the Spanish-American War. In fact, the day was so momentous that even Jack London wrote about it. "'Frisco and Oakland has been roaring since last evening, when the Sherman was sighted," the famous author wrote to his friend Cloudesley Johns. Consider this historic moment today as you send wireless text messages across the choppy, fog-choked San Francisco Bay all the way to Oakland and beyond. I was born in 1956 in Madison, Tennessee, while my parents were attending Madison College. I grew up along the Front Range in Colorado, attending schools in Longmont, Brighton, Boulder and Loveland, Colorado. Two years after graduating from Campion Academy, I married my sweetheart, Regina. We lived in Loveland, Colorado for six years before moving to Mena in western Arkansas. I love the people of Mena and the friendly easy going way of life here. I have owned and operated my own business since moving to Mena. I enjoy the natural beauty of western Arkansas and being out of doors. 11AAA semis will be awesome and more from HS football quarterfinals The Class 11AAA high school football playoffs should be awesome, and 11B and nine-man teams also offer plenty of excitement. Analysts Briefing Sydney, Aug 24, 2016 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Blackmores Limited ( ASX:BKL ) ( BLMMF:OTCMKTS ) are pleased to provide an Analysts Briefing for the full year financial results, year ending 30 June 2016. RECORD SALES AND PROFITS - Group Sales of $717m, +52% - Group NPAT of $100m, +115% - EBIT of $145m, +101% - Basic Earnings per share of 580.6 cents, +114.5% - Final dividend of 210c, taking total dividends to 410c fully franked 2015 / 2016 HIGHLIGHTS - Leading Asia Pacific Natural Health Group - Exceptional Year - Group Sales up 52% at $717m, NPAT up 115% - Recognised as one of Australia's best employers by AON - 117 New products launched across the Group - Significantly invested in infrastructure and new businesses to build future pipeline - Secured supply in a constrained environment, building reserves of scarce materials - Acquired Global Therapeutics in May 2016 - Australian market leader in Chinese herbal medicine category - Entered ASX 100 ASIA GROWTH - Asian consumers estimated almost 50% of Group sales - Asia in-country sales at $129m up 54%, delivering almost $15m in EBIT up 79% - China in-country sales at $48m up 536%. Omni-channel approach in China is delivering and consumer demand continues to grow. EBIT at $12.6m up 979% - Evolving regulations provide opportunities to expand in the retail market - Strong sales in established markets - including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan up 11% - Korea had a challenging second half result, negatively impacting EBIT $2.8m - Investment in upcoming launch in Indonesia and capability in Blackmores International office as we continue to transform our business to better serve Asia OUTLOOK - Strong consumer demand across our business and growing market share affirming our leadership in Australia - The Australian wholesale market is volatile and has softened in recent weeks impacted by retailers destocking and some exporters changing the channels through which they acquire products - We expect First Quarter to be down compared to the prior corresponding period - We are confident that sales will improve as the year progresses. - We continue to develop our business model, building new growth channels, adapting our cost base and accelerating our transition - Continued optimism for long-term growth. To view the full Analysts Briefing, please visit: http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/36R64BX3 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. HONOLULU Federal regulators are proposing to ban swimming with dolphins in Hawaii, a move that could imperil one of the Aloha States most popular tourist activities and the industry that has sprung up around it. The National Marine Fisheries Service says spinner dolphins the playful nocturnal species that humans in Hawaii routinely frolic with are being deprived of rest during the day and becoming stressed out. Swimming with dolphins is popular with visitors and some locals, with dozens of companies on Kauai, Oahu, Maui and the Big Island operating dolphin tours daily. The proposed rule could shut down or greatly disrupt the industry as it now operates. Thats because the ban would cover waters out to 2 nautical miles, which is where 98 percent of Hawaiis spinner dolphins rest after theyve spent the night feeding. Tour companies take customers to these close-to-shore waters to find dolphins. There has to be a middle ground between the dolphin tour operators and what federal regulators are proposing, said Richard Holland, CEO of Dolphins and You, which takes about 80 customers on tours to waters off Oahus Waianae Coast each day. Customer reviews of his business on social media and other online sites often mention how their lives have been changed by going on a tour, he said. If youre doing work that helps people that enlightens them, inspires them, makes them feel good thats a good thing. Theres no need to take that away, Holland said. Ann Garrett, assistant regional administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Services protected resources division for the Pacific Islands, said dolphins have been found to be burning calories at a higher rate because they are forced to be vigilant as people approach their pods. All of these things can contribute to a reduction of fitness over time this kind of chronic level of stress. Thats what were concerned about, Garrett said. Scientists have not done any studies on how frolicking with humans has affected the dolphins numbers. But they fear the stress will harm the animals ability to reproduce. The federal agency plans to hold public meetings on the regulations next month and expects to make a final decision next year. Garrett said Tuesday that the agency aims to require swimmers, snorkelers and others in the water to stay at least 50 yards from the animals. She said tour operators can follow this rule and still make a living. She said some already do so voluntarily. Under the proposed rules, those that are putting their people in the water to interact with dolphins, this would change the nature of what theyre doing, she said. They could still do snorkeling for other reasons its just not setting their people within a pod of dolphins or within 50 yards of a dolphin. Cynthia Weber, a visitor from Santa Cruz, California, said she thinks the regulators should go even further and require people stay 200 yards away from dolphins. The writer and artist said intentionally going into wildlife areas jeopardizes the animals. Hawaiis spinner dolphins get their name from their habit of leaping in the air and spinning around. Some scientists say such behavior is not always playfulness and can instead be an attempt by a dolphin to alert others to danger. Spinner dolphins eat fish and small crustaceans that surface from the ocean depths at night. At daybreak, they gather in shallow bays to hide from tiger sharks and other predators. When they sleep, they rest half their brains and keep the other half awake so that they can surface and breathe. As a result, they can look awake and active even when asleep. Unlike the better-known bottlenose and other dolphin species in Hawaii waters, they are highly predictable in their behavior, returning to the same general area every day. That makes them easy for tour groups to find. The prohibitions would cover waters up to 2 miles off the main Hawaiian Islands. It would also apply farther from shore in certain waters between Maui, Lanai and Kahoolawe islands. The city of West Jordan, Utah, has ended negotiations with Facebook to locate a proposed data center there, according to a news release. It was not immediately clear what effect the West Jordan situation will have on a competing proposal in Los Lunas, New Mexico. According to the news release, the city made the determination after the Utah State Board of Education voted against a $260 million tax incentive package for the company, following similar decisions by the Salt Lake County mayor and county council. The State Board of Education approved a scaled-down plan capped at $100 million, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. Effective immediately, all negotiations between the company known as Discus and the City of West Jordan are hereby terminated, according to the release. Any and all incentives and inducements preliminarily offered the company to locate in West Jordan are hereby rescinded in whole without prejudice. Obviously, Utah didnt roll out the red carpet in the way New Mexico did, West Jordan City Manager Mark Palesh told the Journal. Im very disappointed. In Utah and New Mexico, the entities applying for the incentives were subsidiaries of Facebook. In Utah, the application was filed by a company called Discus. In Los Lunas, the subsidiary is Greater Kudu. West Jordans decision to end negations to attract a large data center to Utah is a good sign for New Mexico as we are simultaneously working to locate a data center to Los Lunas to serve a world-class technology company, said Economic Development Secretary Jon Barela in a statement late Tuesday. Weve been working with this company for a year and this is a reflection of New Mexicos new competitiveness for high-wage and technology-related jobs. Critics of the deal in Utah had said the tax package was too rich for the amount of jobs the project would create: up to 50 full-time jobs at the data center in its initial phases, and up to 300 construction jobs over seven years. They also cited concerns about the amount of water the data center would use. That the proposal is actually a Facebook project was first revealed in a regulatory filing by Public Service Co. of New Mexico, which has signed a contract to provide electricity to the data center once it opens. PNMs special services contract describes a mechanism for providing renewable energy to the proposed data center, which would include the construction of three solar facilities as well as a high-voltage electric line. Under the contract, PNM would provide electricity to Facebook using a calculation that includes a fixed rate for 10 years, with a formula to determine costs after that. Facebook could pay PNM around $31 million per year, according to regulatory filings. Facebook did not respond to a request for comment under deadline. PNM declined to comment. Construction on the first phase of the project has been estimated to cost $250 million. The project could contain up to six phases. The Los Lunas Village Council already has approved up to $30 billion in industrial revenue bonds for the project. Los Lunas has offered an incentive of 100 percent property tax abatement over 30 years in exchange for a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes plan that begins with $50,000 a year with the construction of the first building up to $100,000 per year with the construction of the sixth building. SEOUL, South Korea A North Korean ballistic missile fired from a submarine Wednesday flew about 500 kilometers (310 miles) in the longest flight by that type of weapon, Seoul officials said, a range that can place much of South Korea within its striking distance. Seoul officials condemned the launch as an armed protest against the start of annual South Korean-U.S. military drills that North Korean calls an invasion rehearsal. The launch was also the latest in a series of missile, rocket and other weapon tests by North Korea, which is openly pushing to acquire a reliable weapon capable striking targets as far away as the continental U.S. The missile fired from a submarine off the eastern North Korean coastal town of Sinpo reached into Japans air defense identification zone, according to Seoul and Tokyo officials. The U.S. Strategic Command said it tracked the North Korean submarine launch of the presumed KN-11 missile into the Sea of Japan. This is an impermissible and outrageous act that represents a grave threat to the security of Japan and seriously undermines the peace and stability of the region, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launch showed an improvement in ability over previous similar missile tests. The 500-kilometer distance is longer than ones recorded by other submarine-launched missiles launched by North Korea, and puts most of South Korea within its range if it is fired near the border, although North Korea already has a variety of land-based missiles that can strike South Korea and Japan. The Norths acquiring the ability to launch missiles from submarines would be an alarming development because missiles fired from submerged vessels are harder to detect in advance. The U.S. Strategic Command statement said the North Korean launch did not pose a threat to North America but that the U.S. military remains vigilant in the face of North Korean provocations. North Korea fired two missiles from submarines earlier this year but South Korean defense officials believe they exploded in midair after flying fewer than 30 kilometers (18 miles). North Koreas missile and nuclear programs are a source of regional security concerns. Many outside experts say the North doesnt yet have a reliable long-range nuclear missile capable of reaching the continental U.S., but they acknowledge the North has been making steady progress on its weapons programs and could one day acquire such a weapon. Some civilian experts said they believe the North already has the technology to put warheads on shorter-range missiles that can strike South Korea and Japan. South Korean defense officials believe North Korea has about 70 operational submarines and appears to be mainly imitating Russian designs to develop submarine-launched missiles. It is believed the North obtained several Soviet-era Golf-class ballistic missile submarines in the mid-1990s. Wednesdays launch comes two days after the U.S. and South Korea began their 12-day Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercises, prompting North Korean threats of retaliation. Before the launch, North Korea warned that the joint military exercises were pushing the Korean Peninsula to the brink of a war and asked for an urgent meeting of the U.N. Security Council. South Koreas Foreign Ministry warned the Norths pursuit of weapons programs would only invite more sanctions, deepen its international isolation, and eventually speed up its collapse. The Souths Joint Chiefs of Staff noted the launch violated U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban any ballistic missile activities by North Korea. The launch also comes at a time of intensified animosities between the rival Koreas over the defection of a senior North Korean diplomat in London and a U.S. plan to install a sophisticated missile defense system in South Korea. About 28,500 U.S. troops are based in South Korea to help deter potential aggression from North Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. North Korea usually responds to the regular South Korea-U.S. military drills with weapons tests and fiery warlike rhetoric. The American-led U.N. Command in South Korea on Tuesday accused North Korea of planting land mines near a truce village inside the Demilitarized Zone that divides the two Koreas. Much of the border, one of the worlds most dangerous flashpoints, is strewn with land mines and laced with barbed wire. South Korean media said no land mines had been planted in the area of the truce village of Panmunjom until North Korea placed an unspecified number there last week. __ Associated Press writer Kim Tong-hyung contributed to this report. From the beginning, our mission at the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine has been about more than just answering our states severe physician shortage. The simple fact is, our physician workforce does not resemble our states population. Were tailoring our curriculum to ensure graduates can understand and relate to the diverse cultures in the Southwest. Were also working to increase diversity in the physician workforce as a whole. Our students will all take medical Spanish and learn about Native American healing practices. They will study special topics relevant to our region and have the opportunity to work in health clinics serving Native nations and pueblos. We were so proud to have former U.S. Surgeon General Antonia Novello, M.D., give the keynote address at our recent white coat ceremony. During this rite of passage, new medical students receive their traditional white coats and recite the Osteopathic Oath, vowing to adhere to ethical and professional standards. Novello is the first woman and the first Hispanic to hold the surgeon general position. She gave the students valuable insight that shes picked up in her 46 years in the medical field on effectively communicating with minorities and bridging cultural barriers. Novello also gave praise to BCOM for admitting more Native Americans than any other osteopathic school in the country. Our Native American students identify as members of New Mexicos Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo and the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma. Although this may seem small, at two percent of the entering class, this is 10 times the number admitted to an average U.S. medical school. BCOM also admitted more than four times the number of Hispanic students and double the number of African-American students. We have students of Japanese, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Filipino, Tanzanian and Nigerian descent, making BCOMs class one of the most diverse of any osteopathic medical school. To welcome this diverse group of newcomers to the community, the invocations at the ceremony were offered by Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, Christian and Islamic spiritual leaders. A Jewish rabbi conveyed remarks of support, but was unable to attend due to the Sabbath. BCOM also made history as the very first medical school to have students swear the Osteopathic Oath in not one, but three languages. President Russell Begaye of the Navajo Nation led the students in reciting the oath in Navajo; Dr. Jesus Guadalupe Benavides Olivera, director of the Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahuas medical school, led the oath in Spanish; and Adrienne White-Faines, CEO of the American Osteopathic Association, led it in English. This trailblazing ceremony is just the beginning as we at BCOM work toward our mission para la gente y el future. For the people and the future. New Mexicos school scores on the 2016 PARCC standardized test raise some questions of their own: How did some schools that have routinely received D and F grades on their state report cards double or triple the statewide growth rate in math and English Language Arts on the test? How did some schools with higher populations of low-income, Native American and English language-learner students increase math proficiency by almost twice as much as the overall state and English language proficiency by more than three times what the state did? The right answers are not spent more money on education, though thats what National Education Association President Betty Patterson called for the same day the scores were released. The fact is districts including Farmington, Gallup, Gadsden and Pojoaque posted big gains on the PARCC (the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) this year, according to a Public Education Department spreadsheet. Farmington is up 23.1 percent in math and 30.4 percent in ELA (reading); Gallup is up 34.5 percent in math and 22.6 percent in reading; Gadsden is up 36.2 percent in math and 36 percent in reading; Pojoaque is up 21.1 percent in math and 8.9 percent in reading. All are either data-driven (Gadsden) or participating in the PEDs Principals Pursuing Excellence and Teachers Pursuing Excellence mentoring programs that have the core goal of improving student achievement at their schools. And the great thing about PPE and TPE is they are set up to allow their successes to be replicated. In comparison, Albuquerque Public Schools, the largest district in the state and an eschewer of PED reforms, is down 3.6 percent in reading and the APS reading drop is a big reason statewide reading scores are only up 4.9 percent. (APS math proficiency is up 7.1 percent; statewide math proficiency is up 14.4 percent.) The bottom lines of the latest PARCC scores are: 1. Just over 27 percent of New Mexico students are proficient in reading and almost 20 percent are proficient in math. As PED Secretary Hanna Skandera said when she released the scores, that leaves a lot of room for improvement. 2. Many districts have stepped up to reforms and are recording double-digit improvement, with no excuses for their high poverty and minority student populations. Districts that did not improve, or did not improve much, have some important homework to do. This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. Copyright 2016 Albuquerque Journal Rob Thomas has a dream. He wants to buy the former Lovelace Medical Center to house a residential center to help turn around the lives of addicts, homeless people and victims of human trafficking. The faith-based nonprofit, called the New Mexico Dream Center, would house up to 1,200 residents when fully operational, said Thomas, a former pastor and Dream Centers founder and CEO. We have a lot of brokenness in this city, Thomas said. We want to, not just take back our city, but to bring life and health back to our city in areas that are broken. The center initially plans to lease about 30,000 square feet at the former hospital, now called the Gibson Medical Center at 5400 Gibson SE in the Southeast Heights, and will begin by focusing on helping victims of human trafficking, he said. In New Mexico, that population typically is made up of women who are addicted to drugs and forced into prostitution, Thomas said. The center will offer job and life-skills training intended to help women live independently. Thomas expects within four weeks to begin offering 15-day social detoxification services, which do not involve administering medications. The center is negotiating agreements with area medical facilities to treat women who need medical detox services, he said. Thomas said his ultimate goal is to raise $15 million to buy the 529,000-square-foot building and provide drug rehabilitation, job training and other services for addicts and the homeless. We need to occupy the whole building because we see expansion happening rapidly, he said. The center is working with the New Mexico Department of Health to determine whether any state licenses are required. Thomas said the project will rely on private donations, but he declined to identify possible funding sources. The New Mexico Dream Center registered with the state in June as a New Mexico nonprofit corporation. It held an initial fundraising event in July. Nick Kapnison, co-owner of the Gibson Medical Center, said he supports plans for the Dream Center and is willing to lease or sell the building. It is not necessary for them to buy it if they dont want to, said Kapnison, who purchased the building with businessman Jimmy Daskalos in 2007. We want to be involved in that kind of project in our city. The Gibson Medical Center, which recently was 55 percent leased to seven clients, soon will lose its largest and oldest tenant. ABQ Health Partners plans to vacate about 150,000 square feet later this year when the medical group moves most services to a new building near the Albuquerque International Sunport. The New Mexico Dream Center is modeled on a Los Angeles-based facility, also called the Dream Center, which operates as a mission of the Pentecostal Christian Church. The New Mexico Dream Center is not affiliated with the Los Angeles center, or any other church or denomination, but welcomes support from area churches, said Thomas, a former Assemblies of God minister. We specifically decided not to be a church here in Albuquerque, he said. For more information about the New Mexico Dream Center, visit nmdreamcenter.org or email info@nmdreamcenter.org. I kept missing his calls. Again and again, the phone rang when I was not home, which left my then-husband with the awkward task of making small talk with a condemned man he had never met and had never wanted to meet. What do you say to a guy who rapes and murders a child? he would ask later. Oh, I had plenty to say, plenty more questions to ask. In the fall of 2001, I had already been communicating with Terry Clark for two years, and time was running out. In days, he was scheduled to die, the first person in 41 years to be executed by the state of New Mexico. He is also the last. Gov. Susana Martinez would like to change that. Last week, she said she will push during next years legislative session to bring back the death penalty. Its a position she campaigned on as a gubernatorial candidate in 2010, a year after her predecessor signed legislation abolishing the practice. In the six years since she took office, her death penalty redux has gone nowhere, and capital punishment has continued to lose its appeal nationwide. Nineteen states no longer carry out the death penalty, four making that move just in the past six years. Four more states have temporarily suspended the practice; Nebraska will ask voters to decide on the matter in November. Martinezs revitalization of what to most was a, ahem, dead issue appears to be a reaction to the shooting death of Hatch police officer Jose Chavez this month and the fatal bludgeoning of 11-year-old Ashlynne Mike near Shiprock in May. Horrific deaths, to be sure. But New Mexico has always been squeamish about imposing the death penalty, even for the worst offenders. Since statehood, weve put to death just 28 men 19 by hanging, seven by the electric chair and one by the gas chamber. Clark was the only man to die by lethal injection, the method the state switched to in 1980. Clark deserved the harshest sentence. He had been out on bail pending an appeal for the rape of a 6-year-old Roswell girl when he snatched 9-year-old Dena Lynn Gore from outside an Allsups in Artesia on July 17, 1986, drove her to a ranch 60 miles out of town, molested her, trussed her up like wild game, held a gun to her temple and fired three times when she presciently told him, Youre going to pay for this. He did. He was sentenced to death in 1996, then continued on through the lengthy and costly appeals process until he himself short-circuited the battle, waiving his right to further appeals. When it appeared Clark was at last on track to his death date, I began writing to him in the hopes he would agree to an interview so I could ask the questions he had never answered publicly: Why? Why Dena? Why a child? Why violate an innocent child and bury her in the dirt? He wrote back, his letters strikingly polite and thoughtful, with just enough introspection to allow me a glimpse into the dark abyss of his heart but never completely, never enough. He wrote mostly to complain about his attorneys, who he believed were undermining his dogged quest for death. He wrote about tolerating life on death row, locked in the Penitentiary of New Mexicos North Unit outside Santa Fe. He wrote about finding God and forgiveness even for the horrors he had committed upon a child. He denied raping the first girl in Roswell and declared that he was no child molester, even when it came to Dena. What occurred with Dena Gore was a terrible, terrible mistake and it had NOTHING to do with her being a CHILD, he told me. He never explained further. Arguably, I came to know him better than any other journalist and likely more than most people would care to know him. As the days drew near to his execution date, he began calling me, but only at my home. In the end, we managed to speak just once. He told me he had made his peace, that he was ready to go home. I have no fears, he said. Ive been forgiven. I was there Nov. 6, 2001, at the penitentiary when he breathed his last, covering the execution along with dozens of other reporters from across the state. It took eight minutes for him to die. In that final moment of his life, I briefly bowed my head and whispered to no one, Goodbye, Terry, then went back to writing my story. Even knowing Clark as I did, I have never firmly taken a stand on the death penalty. At best, it seems a tool prosecutors can use to ferret out a plea agreement from a defendant who kills but doesnt wish to be killed. At worst, it can be and nationally has been wrongly imposed on defendants later found to be innocent. But I have my doubts as to whether it is any deterrent. Since Clarks execution 15 years ago, more children have been murdered, more law enforcement officers gunned down, more innocent lives lost. The specter of the death penalty saved none of them. Clark told me he had not thought about the consequences as he pumped three bullets into Denas brain. And still, over the years, he had come to favor the death penalty, at least for his own benefit. Its all good, he wrote nine days before his execution. I see it as parole and a full pardon by the only one that really matters. This is a good thing to happen, dont you think. Im not sure if what he thinks is what should matter most. UpFront is a daily front-page news and opinion column. Comment directly to Joline at 823-3603, jkrueger@abqjournal.com or follow her on Twitter @jolinegkg. Go to www.abqjournal.com/letters/new to submit a letter to the editor. TOKYO The foreign ministers of China, Japan and South Korea criticized North Koreas latest submarine missile test on Wednesday during their annual talks that were held amid lingering frictions over territorial disputes and wartime history. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, who chaired the meeting with Chinas Wang Yi and South Koreas Yun Byung-se, said that North Koreas missile launch simply cannot be tolerated. North Korea fired a ballistic missile from a submarine into the Sea of Japan, South Korean and U.S. officials said. Seoul officials condemned the launch as an armed protest against the start of annual South Korean-U.S. military drills that North Korean calls an invasion rehearsal. The launch was also the latest in a series of missile, rocket and other weapon tests by North Korea, which is openly pushing to acquire a reliable weapon capable striking targets as far away as the continental U.S. Kishida said Tokyo lodged a protest to the North over the missile, and urged his counterparts to step up cooperation as they face the latest development. I hope to coordinate closely in order for Japan, China and South Korea to lead the efforts of the international community, he said. The three countries have quarreled on a number of issues, and their foreign ministers meetings resumed only last year after a two-year hiatus because of strained Chinese-Japanese relations. Tensions between Tokyo and Beijing also remain high over disputed East China Sea islands. While expectations for concrete achievements at the talks were low, Japan was to offer details about the 1 billion yen ($1 million) fund that Tokyo promised as a way to atone for its wartime sexual abuse of South Korean women. The fund is part of the landmark agreement reached by the two sides last December in a bid to resolve their decades-old row stemming from Japans wartime actions. Japans Cabinet was to approve details of the provision, provided to the women through a South Korean organization launched last month. Tensions between Tokyo and Beijing are high over claims to an uninhabited Japanese-controlled East China Sea island group, called Senkaku by Japan and Diaoyu by China. Ties between China and South Korea also have frayed recently after Seoul approved the deployment of a U.S. missile defense system against North Koreas threats that Beijing says will harm its security. Military installations in New Mexico, including Kirtland Air Force Base, will stop accepting some drivers licenses for base access as early as Sept. 15 as implementation of the federal Real ID Act approaches, military officials said Tuesday. While New Mexico-issued licenses and IDs are valid under Real ID criteria in some aspects until October 2020, at this point they wont be accepted for Kirtland access after Oct. 10 of this year absent another extension which is considered likely. Meanwhile, state officials said Tuesday they hope to begin issuing new Real ID compliant licenses later this year. Under the new system, undocumented immigrants would be eligible only for driving authorization cards that are not valid for purposes of federal identification. Were still on track and moving forward on the implementation of the new two-tier system, said Benjamin Cloutier, a spokesman for the Department of Taxation and Revenue. Beginning Sept. 15, identification cards or drivers licenses issued by Minnesota, Missouri, Washington or American Samoa which are not currently compliant with Real ID cannot be used to access Kirtland, according to a base news release. New Mexico has received an extension for their state-issued ID cards through Oct. 10 of this year, said Maj. Brent Pickrell, commander of Kirtlands 377th Security Forces Squadron. New Mexico plans to file for another extension, and while we believe this request will likely be approved, we must plan for the contingency where it does not, said Pickrell, who commands the unit at Kirtland that controls installation access. Base officials expect resolutions for New Mexico and 28 other states and territories to be reached prior to Oct. 10, but they are preparing for the possibility that these IDs will become invalid, he said. Holloman Air Force Base and White Sands Missile Range are implementing similar restrictions. Kirtland officials said the new rules are being implemented Air Force-wide. Officials at Cannon Air Force Base near Clovis did not immediately respond to a request about its access policies. NM on track New Mexico is awaiting approval from the federal Department of Homeland Security for its Real ID implementation plan and expects to begin issuing Real ID compliant licenses later this year. Taxation and Revenue Secretary Demesia Padilla has told legislators the state got the go-ahead to order the fingerprint machines needed for background checks. The agency also has been working with a vendor that is designing the new licenses. Training for Motor Vehicle Division employees in the new system was to occur throughout August. The new license system was approved by the Legislature and the governor this year, ending a contentious five-year debate over whether the state should continue issuing drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants. Under the states plan, undocumented immigrants along with any citizens who want them will be able to get driving authorization cards that are not good for official, federal identification purposes. Citizens and others with a lawful presence will be able to get Real ID compliant licenses, as long as they provide the required documents, including certified copies of birth certificates and documents with Social Security numbers. Fingerprinting will be required only of undocumented immigrants who are new applicants that is, those without current New Mexico licenses. Still, beginning Oct. 10, people with licenses or IDs from states or territories currently under an extension will need approved alternate forms of ID for unescorted base access, unless further extensions are approved. Those states and territories are New Mexico, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Guam, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, the Northern Mariana Islands, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. SANTA FE, N.M. New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez is traveling in the San Francisco Bay area to help recruit businesses to New Mexico and to attend political meetings. A spokesman for the Republican governor said Martinez left Monday and returns Friday and is accompanied by New Mexico Economic Development Sec. Jon Barela, along witth representatives from Albuquerque Economic Development and the City of Rio Rancho. Spokesman Mike Lonergan says travel expenses for the governor and Chief of Staff Keith Gardner are being paid for by a marketing arm of the state called New Mexico Partnership. The governors lodging on Monday was paid for by her political action committee. A similar trip to Southern California helped New Mexico officials use incentives to recruit technology company PCM to set up sales offices in Rio Rancho. LAS CRUCES Army Brig. Gen. Eric L. Sanchez will assume command of White Sands Missile Range during a Change of Command Ceremony at 9 a.m. Thursday. The military ceremony will be conducted outside of WSMRs Frontier Club. Sanchez will take over command from Brig. Gen. Timothy Coffin, who has led WSMR since July 2, 2014. Sanchez, 52, comes to WSMR from the 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, Joint Base Pearl Harbor, Hickam, Hawaii, according to a WSMR news release. Sanchez was commissioned as an Army officer in 1987. He was a distinguished military graduate of New Mexico State University. He earned Masters of Science degrees from Central Michigan University and the Naval War College, in Newport, Rhode Island. During his 29-year career he has served in command and staff positions in the U.S., Korea, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. His wife, Teresa Sanchez, is a native of Mesilla. 2016 the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.) Visit the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.) at www.lcsun-news.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. SEOUL, South Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Thursday that his country had achieved the success of all successes in launching a missile from a submarine, saying it effectively gave the country a fully equipped nuclear attack capability and put the U.S. mainland within striking distance. Kims comments, carried by Pyongyangs official Korean Central News Agency, came a day after South Korean officials said a ballistic missile fired from a North Korean submarine was tracked flying about 500 kilometers (310 miles), the longest distance achieved by the North for such a weapon. North Korea already has a variety of land-based missiles that can hit South Korea and Japan, including U.S. military bases in those countries. But its development of reliable submarine-launched missiles would add a weapon that is harder to detect before launch. The KCNA said Kim watched from an observation post as the test-firing happened, which the agency said was carried out without any adverse impact on neighboring countries. The Norths official Rodong Sinmun newspaper published several photos that showed the missile, with the name Pukguksong printed on its side, soaring into the sky, and Kim smiling and embracing with one of the North Korean officials accompanying him from what appeared to be an observation deck. The KCNA quoted Kim as saying the successful test showed that North Korea had joined the front ranks of military powers fully equipped with nuclear attack capabilities. Kim also said it is undeniable that the U.S. mainland and key operational areas in the Pacific were within North Koreas striking distance. I do not guess what ridiculous remarks the U.S. and its followers will make about this test-fire, but I can say their rash acts will only precipitate their self-destruction, the KCNA quoted Kim as saying. The KCNA said the test was aimed at evaluating the stability of the underwater launching system, the flight features of the solid-fuel missile, the reliability of the control and guidance system, and the accuracy of the warhead in hitting targets after it re-enters the atmosphere. Wednesdays launch came two days after the U.S. and South Korea began their 12-day Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercises, prompting North Korean threats of retaliation for the military drills, which it views as an invasion rehearsal. North Korea usually responds to regular South Korea-U.S. military drills with weapons tests and fiery warlike rhetoric. The United Nations Security Council agreed at an emergency meeting late Wednesday requested by the United States and Japan to consider issuing a statement on the missile launch. Malaysias U.N. Ambassador Ramlan Bin Ibrahim, the current council president, told reporters after the closed meeting that there was a general sense of condemnation by most members of the council. He said the United States is drafting the text of a press statement and we will have a look at it. State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said in a statement that the U.S. strongly condemned the launch and called on North Korea to refrain from actions and rhetoric that further raise tensions in the region. She said the missile launch marked the latest in an accelerating campaign of missile tests that violate multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions. South Koreas military condemned the launch but acknowledged it was an improvement over previous tests of similar missiles. North Korea fired two missiles from submarines earlier this year, but South Korean defense officials believe they exploded in midair after flying less than 30 kilometers (18 miles). The missile, fired from a submarine off the eastern North Korean coastal town of Sinpo, reached into Japans air defense identification zone, according to Seoul and Tokyo officials. Its longer distance puts all of South Korea within its range if it is fired near the border. Missiles of such capability could also potentially strike parts of Japan, including U.S. military bases on the island of Okinawa, considering the operational range of North Koreas Sinpo-class submarines, said analyst Kim Dong-yub at Seouls Institute for Far Eastern Studies. ___ Associated Press writers Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, Louise Watt in Beijing and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report. Editors note: This story has been updated to correct the attribution of a quote from Commissioner Patrick Lyons. State regulators voted unanimously Wednesday to reopen hearings in a contentious utility rate case, allowing Public Service Company of New Mexico to provide the cost-benefit analysis a hearing examiner said was lacking from its application.Under the terms of the Public Regulation Commission order, the hearings will be reopened if PNM agrees to submit additional information about transactions associated with the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station and air pollution controls at the San Juan Generating Station. The utility also must make its resource modeling software available to the commission for free. PNM spokesman Pahl Shipley said the company would not comment on the order until it has a chance to review it. The order reflects the primary points of disagreement between PNM and hearing examiner Carolyn Glick, who recommended a rate increase far lower than the one PNM had requested. Her Aug. 4 recommended decision slashed PNMs rate hike request by two-thirds, from an increase of $123.5 million in annual revenue to $41.3 million. PNM customers on average would see their bills rise by 6.4 percent under the recommended decision, rather than 14.4 percent under the utilitys request. PNM officials have said they will file an appeal with the state Supreme Court if the PRC adopts the recommended decision without changes. They have also said they plan to file a new rate case at the end of the year. Were going to have the same problems on the next rate case if we dont figure this out now, said PRC Commissioner Sandy Jones, who called in to the meeting remotely. The PRC will now have until Dec. 15 to rule in the rate case. PNM must file its response to the order by Monday afternoon. After the orders were passed, Commissioner Patrick Lyons apologized to hearing examiner Carolyn Glick for accusing her of being biased against nuclear energy at last weeks public meeting. When you make assumptions, you make mistakes, said Lyons. It was a mistake on my part, and I apologize for that. Glick thanked Lyons for his apology. Much of the controversy in the case stems from Glicks decision to exclude the Palo Verde transactions and the San Juan investment from the calculation that determines how much PNM can charge customers. In her recommended decision, Glick said PNM acted imprudently by failing to sufficiently weigh other options when it purchased 64.1 megawatts of nuclear power, extended several leases at Palo Verde and installed air pollution controls at San Juan that some called excessive. Any reasonable business, in particular a utility, when it had the opportunity to look at whether it was going in a direction that was going to impact customers, should have conducted a more thorough cost-benefit analysis, said Glick at last weeks hearing. PNM maintains the investments Glick excluded from the rate caclulation were prudent and appropriately analyzed. The real estate data firm Zillow recently published a research analysis that estimated rising sea levels could leave nearly 2 million U.S. homes inundated by 2100, a fate that would displace millions of people and result in property losses in the hundreds of billions of dollars. More than 100,000 of those homes would be in Maryland and Virginia, according to the analysis. Another 140,000 would be submerged in the Carolinas. And Florida would face the gravest scenario of any state, with one in eight properties in danger of being underwater. For the moment, lets leave aside the larger debate about how much the water actually will rise. Zillows worst-case scenario is based on a study in which scientists projected that sea levels could be six feet higher by the end of this century nearly twice as much as previously predicted if carbon dioxide emissions continue unabated. Sharp cuts in greenhouse gas emissions in coming decades could lessen the impact, however, leaving the increase closer to two feet. And constructed barriers and flood-prevention efforts would help minimize the risk in some areas. Yet theres near-unanimous agreement among scientists that the seas will rise. Insurance companies are anticipating it. Some cities are already planning for it. This is going to be a massive issue worldwide, Michael Gerrard of Columbia University, who directs the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, told The Post in a recent interview. We dont know yet the exact pace, but we know its coming. A certain amount is unavoidable. Back to the Zillow report. The company used maps released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to determine what coastal areas would be inundated. The firm then used its nationwide database to determine which properties were most at risk of being flooded at least on the ground level by the next century. The results are grim. With six feet of sea level rise, nearly 2 percent of all U.S. housing stock could vanish, accounting for roughly $882 billion worth of homes. Based on our calculations, it may turn out that actual water poses almost as much of a problem for the housing market in the future as negative equity has in the past, wrote Krishna Rao, Zillows director of economic product and research. While scientists will continue to quibble over the degree of change and problems, most agree that both will only grow over time. Benjamin Strauss, director of the program on sea-level rise at Climate Central, an independent organization of scientists based in New Jersey, said that means now is the time for nations to aggressively cut their carbon emissions and explore plans to protect waterfront communities. If we dont do something, he said, were paving the way for a lot of hurt in the future. underwater A Salt Lake City suburb vying against a New Mexico town to attract a Facebook data center said Wednesday its restarting negotiations with the company a day after the deal broke down over a contentious tax-break package. The company is still interested in coming to West Jordan, and the city thinks the opportunity is too good to pass up, so theyre starting fresh, officials said. Facebook is also considering a tax incentive offer from Los Lunas. The players are very much interested in keeping it alive, said West Jordan spokeswoman Kim Wells. On Tuesday, West Jordan officials announced they were pulling out of talks because they couldnt compete with a generous offer from Los Lunas. That was after state school board members decided a $240 million deal on the table was too lucrative, adding their voices to a growing chorus of questions about the tax breaks. Utah critics argue the cost is too high for a facility that would create just 70 to 100 jobs paying an average annual salary of $53,000, on a piece of land prime for other development. Supporters said the data center would carry a high-tech cache that could draw other tech companies. Exactly how negotiations will unfold and what incentives might be on the table now isnt clear. Many of those who questioned the proposed tax-break package said theyd nevertheless welcome Facebook to the state under different terms. Utah is also home to other data centers, including a massive storage facility built by the National Security Agency. Data centers are usually large facilities that house long rows of servers and hard drives storing and processing vast quantities of highly secure information powering everything from online shopping to streaming movies. While theyre an increasingly key part of the global economy, they generally dont require many people on the ground to keep them running. The Los Lunas Village Council already has approved up to $30 billion in industrial revenue bonds for the project. Los Lunas has offered an incentive of 100 percent property tax abatement over 30 years in exchange for a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes plan that begins with $50,000 a year with the construction of the first building up to $100,000 per year with the construction of the sixth building. LAS CRUCES The robbery suspect shot dead by Las Cruces police officers on Sunday reportedly suffered from schizophrenia, paranoia and anti-social disorder, according to court documents. Police fatally shot Juan Gabriel Torres, 36, after he robbed an elderly man of his Chevy pickup, abandoned it in the middle of a busy street and then lunged at responding officers with a large hunting knife, according to Las Cruces Police Chief Jaime Montoya. Court documents reveal that Torres, a repeat felon, had been in and out of jail since at least 2005 on aggravated battery and other charges and had repeatedly violated the terms of probation by consuming alcohol and doing drugs, including meth and marijuana. A spokesman for the District Attorneys Office for the 3rd Judicial District said Wednesday that the office is investigating whether Torres should have been in prison on the day he was shot. District Attorney Mark DAntonios office is investigating whether a detention order which would have kept Torres on no bond while a final judgment was pending for the probation violation was properly filed, spokesman Patrick Hayes said. Torres pleaded guilty to charges of kidnapping and aggravated battery in 2008 for restraining and beating his then-girlfriend until she blacked out, according to the criminal complaint. The most recent probation violations were connected to that case. A June 3 probation violation report alleges that Torres tried to buy alcohol at an Albertsons. When the store refused to sell to him, he opened a bottle of vodka and took a drink, the report said. Mr. Torres stated he was not taking his mental health medications as prescribed, according to the report. It goes on to state, Mr. Torres reports he is diagnosed with schizophrenia and anti-social disorder. He states he was not released from custody with his proper medications. He was given the opportunity to get his medications and was scheduled for mental health and substance abuse counseling at La Clinica De Familia, a health clinic in Las Cruces. The report recommends Torres probation be revoked and that he serve the remainder of his term in the New Mexico Department of Corrections. LCPD spokesman Dan Trujillo said, When there is an officer-involved shooting, many aspects are investigated, but he could not confirm whether Torres reported mental condition was being looked at. Micah Pearson, vice president of the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Dona Ana County, said the LCPD has a very advanced and developed crisis intervention team program that trains officers to handle encounters with the mentally ill. Pearson declined to comment on Torres case but said, Unfortunately the issues of the history of this individual are all too common. Mental health only becomes a criminal justice issue when we have failed them everywhere else. Another probation violation report dated May 13 alleges police caught Torres drinking a Bud Light outside a Pic Quick convenience store. Torres was allegedly armed with a homemade shank and informed police that he was going across the street to another gas station to steal a beer, which he allegedly did and police then detained him. The May 13 report also refers to Torres alleged mental health issues: Mr. Torres states he is diagnosed with schizophrenia and paranoia. He stated he felt he had nowhere else to go and wanted to be arrested. New Mexico schools earned just slightly more As and Bs than Ds and Fs in the latest round of school grades, but Albuquerque fell behind. Statewide 38 percent of schools, a total of 325, reached the top two grade levels compared with 37 percent, or 315, at the bottom, according to data the New Mexico Public Education Department released Wednesday. Thats better than 2015, when only 35 percent of schools earned As or Bs, and 39.8 percent had Ds or Fs. State Secretary of Education Hanna Skandera said she feels New Mexicos progress has been good overall, particularly among districts that embrace reform. Im very encouraged, she said. On all measures, we are seeing the improvements. PED has calculated school grades annually since 2012 based on a variety of growth and proficiency measures, including standardized test results like the controversial PARCC assessment. Over the past four years, the number of A and B schools has gone up by a third, impacting roughly 30,000 students. The latest results show a handful of districts soaring, while others have stumbled: Albuquerque fared poorly 89 schools had Ds and Fs this year, up from 65 in 2015. At the same time, the number of A and B schools fell from 55 to 37. Seventeen APS schools lost a grade because they didnt meet the mandatory 95 percent PARCC participation rate. Superintendent Raquel Reedy said the district is taking a hard look at what went wrong, seeking extra help, making changes. Rio Rancho Public Schools, traditionally a bastion of solid grades, received Ds for Sandia Vista Elementary and Colinas Del Norte Elementary. Last year, they had only As, Bs, and Cs. Happy Miller, RRPS accountability chief, thinks PEDs data is incomplete for the two D schools and will appeal the grade. Las Cruces improved, with only four F schools compared with seven in 2015, and eight A schools this year, up from five. Santa Fe cuts its Fs from eight to five but earned 11 Ds, more than double the five it had in 2015. A few outliers posted tremendous gains Desert View Elementary, on the border just outside El Paso, rose from an F in 2015 to an A in 2016, and three Hobbs schools went from Fs to Bs. Overall, 18 schools improved by three or more letter grades, nearly all in rural areas with high percentages of English-language learners, and Native American and low-income students. Skandera noted that these turnaround districts are using state programs like principal and teacher mentoring. We are not cherry-picking kids, she said. These are the kids some have said cant learn. I fundamentally disagree. These principals are proving that. On the other end of the spectrum, over 100 New Mexico schools have earned Fs at least twice, with a few failing for four straight years, including Hawthorne Elementary, Los Padillas Elementary and Whittier Elementary in Albuquerque. Legally, families are allowed to transfer children out of schools that have received an F at least two of the last four years. PED is highlighting the rule for the first time on each school report card. The bottom line is that we need to provide our kids with choices when they are stuck at chronically failing schools, Skandera said. I fundamentally believe the more choices we can provide, the better, and that we should have a bar. If you are not meeting an expectation, we should absolutely provide an alternative. New Mexicos education chief cant shut down low-performing schools, unlike her counterparts in some states, though Skandera would support new policies giving the secretary that power. But American Federation of Teachers New Mexico President Stephanie Ly disputed the notion that an arbitrary letter grade is a valid measure of success. We question the need to continue labeling our public schools as failing and urge the discontinuation of this practice of so-called accountability, she said, in an emailed statement. Secretary Skanderas school grades willfully ignores important factors such as child poverty, over-testing, and limited access to early education opportunities. PHOENIX Mexican-American civil rights activist Dolores Huerta will visit Arizona to voice her opposition to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Sen. John McCain. Huerta is expected to speak during a news conference Thursday in Phoenix alongside Congressman Ruben Gallego and other Latino leaders. Huerta is part of a group, People For the American Way, pushing back against what they view as Trumps anti-immigrant rhetoric. Trump says he will be fair, but firm when it comes to the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the U.S illegally. His tone is a shift from previous pledges to push for mass deportation. Organizers are targeting McCain for continuing to support Trump. The senator, whose primary race is next week, received the endorsement Thursday of more than 100 mayors and locally elected officials statewide. Joshua Weitz, 39, of Albuquerque pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to possession of child pornography charges. He is expected to be sentenced within the range two to 12 years in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release under the terms of his plea agreement. Weitz, who also will be required to register as a sex offender, was arrested Nov. 11, 2015, on a federal criminal complaint alleging that he distributed, received and possessed visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He was employed as a kindergarten teacher by the Albuquerque Pubic Schools at the time and eventually fired. An agent of the New Mexico Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force identified a computer with an IP address, later determined to be subscribed to Weitz that was being used to share child pornography files, the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a news release. A state court search warrant found that Weitz possessed a computer containing numerous files of child pornography. Weitz admitted from Feb. 4, 2013 through Nov. 4, 2015, he downloaded videos and images of child pornography from the internet and saved them on two computers. One computer contained approximately 250 images and 358 videos of child pornography. The other computer contained approximately 34 images and 77 videos of child pornography. A sentencing hearing for Weitz has yet to be scheduled. Keepers at the National Zoo are hoping that the newest bachelor at the facility, a Sumatran tiger named Sparky, takes a liking to bachelorette Damai. If all goes well, zookeepers said, the two will breed and produce cubs. But breeding tigers is risky; males have killed females in other zoos if it isnt a good match. Native to Indonesia, Sumatran tigers are listed as critically endangered, with only 300 to 400 left in the wild and 78 in accredited zoos in North America. Sparky, 12, and Damai, 7, were matched under an extensive species survival plan, zookeepers said. It was recommended that Sparky be bred with Damai based on their genetics. He has never sired cubs, and she has had two Sukacita and Bandar that turned 3 years old this month. Sumatran tigers are relatively small, weighing up to about 275 pounds. They live up to 20 years in zoos and between 10 to 12 years in the wild. Known for being territorial and solitary, Sumatran tigers are carnivores. They dont pair up, hang out and raise cubs together, said Dell Guglielmo, an animal keeper at the zoo. In the wild, they cross into each others territory, breed cubs and thats it. The male goes away and the female raises the cubs on her own. In captivity, it is crucial to take it slow in the early stages. Zookeepers said it can take months to monitor their relationship and whether they will mate. Like most first dates, it starts gradually for tigers. In fact, they dont actually see each other in the beginning. The two will start by smelling each other in the same building without actually seeing the other. Theyll share the same space but not at the same time, Guglielmo said. Then, zookeepers said, they will be introduced to each other via a door with a mesh screen, called a howdy door, where the tigers can see each other. If things are going well, the tigers will make distinct vocalization, Guglielmo said. It is a friendly greeting, she said. Theyll head rub against the mesh to each other. And if things arent going well? Theyll growl, hiss and make a noise that sounds like a bark. The courtship can last for months and will be closely watched so that fingers crossed the two breed and have cubs, zookeepers said. The reason it is done so gradually and slow is to make sure it is going to work because the repercussions can be death, Guglielmo said. Their two personalities are similar. Sparky came to the zoo about a month ago. He was in a 30-day quarantine and zookeepers said he is adjusting very well. He came to us as a very calm, laid-back tiger, Guglielmo said. Hes proven that to be true. Damai is also an easygoing cat, zookeepers said. She came to the zoo in 2011 and mated with Kavi. Their two cubs Sukacita, known as Suki for short is on a breeding loan to a zoo in Dallas, and the male cub, Bandar, will be going to another facility for breeding, according to zookeepers. Whether and when there will be more Sumatran tiger cubs at the zoo remains unknown, but zookeepers said they are hopeful. Sparky has been paired with one female but is still without cubs. Hes not shooting blanks, Guglielmo said. Hes got a good sperm count. tigers In a new study, scientists who study the largest ice mass on Earth East Antarctica have found that it is showing a surprising feature reminiscent of the fastest melting one: Greenland. More specifically, the satellite-based study found that atop the coastal Langhovde Glacier in East Antarcticas Dronning Maud Land, large numbers of supraglacial or meltwater lakes have been forming nearly 8,000 of them in summer between the year 2000 and 2013. Moreover, in some cases, just as in Greenland, these lakes appear to have then been draining down into the floating parts of the glacier, potentially weakening it and making it more likely to fracture and break apart. This is the first time that such a drainage phenomenon has been observed in East Antarctica, the researchers say though it was previously spotted on the warmer Antarctic Peninsula and was likely part of what drove spectacular events there like the shattering of the Larsen B ice shelf in 2002. When it comes to East Antarctica, however, thats the part of the continent where people have for quite a long time assumed that its relatively stable, theres not a huge amount of change, its very, very cold, and so, its only very recently that the first supraglacial lakes, on top of the ice, were identified, said Stewart Jamieson, a glaciologist at Durham University in the U.K. and one of the studys authors. The study was led by Emily Langley of Durham, who worked along with Jamieson and Chris Stokes from her university and Amber Leeson of Lancaster University. The work was recently published online by Geophysical Research Letters. The research raises concern, for the following reason: Mounting evidence suggests one reason that Greenland has been melting so fast lately is precisely these kinds of lakes. In the summer as air temperatures warm, lakes form on top of the ice sheet, and on its finger-like glaciers that extend outwards into deep ocean fjords. These lakes can then suddenly disappear all at once, or flow into rivers that drain into the ice below, lubricating the ice and helping to increase the lurch forward of glaciers. Sometimes, researchers have even been able to document fresh water flowing outward directly into the sea from the base of a glacier. That injection of cold fresh water into salty water can then create tornado-like underwater flow patterns at the submerged glacier front that cause further ice loss. In the new study, Langley and her colleagues find large numbers of lakes forming atop Langhovde Glacier, both inland from, and outward from, the so-called grounding line, which is where the marine glacier touches the seafloor far below the ice surface. Past the grounding line, the glaciers ice begins to float and forms an ice shelf, extending out across the surface of the ocean. The occurrence of these lakes was strongly related to surface air temperatures they formed when temperatures rose above zero Celsius, or, above freezing, and formed most frequently in the summer of 2012-2013, which saw 37 days with temperatures above the freezing point. What we find is that the appearance of these lakes, unsurprisingly, is correlated directly with the air temperature in the region, and so the maximum number of lakes, and the total area of the lakes, as well as the depth of the lakes, all of these things peak when the air temperatures peak, said Jamieson. The study found in particular that atop the Langhovde ice shelf, lakes not only formed but appeared to sometimes drain downward, as rapidly as in five days in one case (which is considerably slower than the fastest drainage events in Greenland). This raises the concern that these events could possibly be weakening the ice shelf by widening or exploiting fractures within it. But Jamieson said the study could not prove that, in part because it is much harder to observe the consequences of lake draining events in Antarctica than it is in Greenland. When glaciers lose large parts of their ice shelves, they become less stable and flow faster towards the ocean, contributing to an increased rate of global sea level rise. The size of the lakes . . . are probably not big enough to do much at present, but if climate warming continues in the future, we can only expect the size and number of these lakes to increase. So thats what were looking at, Jamieson said. He added that the mid-sized Langhovde Glacier is not special when it comes to East Antarctic meltwater lakes other parts of coastal Antarctica see them too. The reason the study focused on Langhovde is simply that there was a lot of satellite and temperature data available. In Greenland, when meltwater from the ice sheets surface flows out from beneath glaciers and enters the sea, it often takes with it sediment from the glacier bedrock, washing it out as well. This leads to the appearance of what are called meltwater plumes in the ocean near glaciers, areas of water with significantly different coloration due to high levels of sediment concentration. So far, such plumes have not been observed around East Antarctica, Jamieson said. Still, the lakes, and especially the apparent drainage events, raise a distinct worry about the future of Antarctica, which contains vastly more ice than Greenland and which, thus far, has not been losing nearly as much. The parallels between these mechanisms, and those observed on Greenland/the Antarctic Peninsula, suggest that lakes may similarly affect rates and patterns of ice melt, ice flow and ice shelf disintegration in East Antarctica, the study concludes. Richard Alley, a glaciologist at Penn State who was not involved in the study, noted in an email comment that seeing some Antarctic surface melt is not too surprising. Across many sensors and studies, there is summertime melting on the surface of Antarctica around the edges, and sometimes in some places extending farther inland than you might think, he said. However, Alley continued, we should be very concerned about such melting increasing. Alley referred to a study from earlier this year, by Rob DeConto of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and David Pollard of Penn State, which found that surface melt is one factor that could greatly speed total Antarctic ice loss, by increasing the tendency for hydrofracture to occur, in which meltwater helps to break apart ice shelves. The lesson of DeConto and Pollard was that, based on current understanding, avoiding a major expansion of surface melting in Antarctica is taking out insurance against a very large and rapid sea-level rise, Alley said. This new work is part of the body of science needed to help us learn just how much warming may be too much if we wish to avoid large and rapid sea-level rise. For now, scientists plan to use the instruments available mainly, at the moment, satellites to further study the Antarctic lakes. Its not hitting the glacier really hard at the moment, this process, but of course, as things warm up, wed expect it to start doing more damage, like we see in Greenland, said Jamieson. antarctica WASHINGTON The lone, balky elevator that takes visitors to the top of the 555-foot Washington Monument needs a major renovation that will require closing the landmark for nine months, officials said Wednesday. The elevator has broken down frequently over the past two years, roughly the period since the monument reopened following an August 2011 earthquake that did major damage to the structure. The monument needed $15 million in repairs and was closed for nearly three years, but the park service did not renovate the elevator during that time. That turned out to be a mistake, said Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democrat who represents the District of Columbia in Congress. Norton was briefed by park service officials about the elevator problems on Wednesday. I believe NPS erred in not rehabilitating the elevator when the monument was closed for renovations, Norton said in a statement. When an elevator seems to be in good shape, but is a one-of-a-kind elevator that operates 13 hours per day from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and eight hours per day thereafter, the elevators lifespan must be uniquely measured. The monument has been closed for a thorough inspection of the elevator since a cable broke a week ago. The inspection was expected to last 10 days, but the park service said Wednesday that it wont be completed until mid-September at the earliest. Theres no guarantee that the elevator will reopen after the inspection is finished, said Mike Litterst, a park service spokesman. Theres also no timetable for starting the 9-month renovation, which is expected to cost between $2 million and $3 million, the park service said. Norton said the park service should try to finish the work before next years tourist season, but that wont be possible. Itll be measured in months before construction starts, Litterst said. He added that preliminary inspections have shown no indication that the recent troubles are related to the earthquake. ___ Follow Ben Nuckols on Twitter at https://twitter.com/APBenNuckols. Questions about Hillary Clintons handling of Clinton Foundation donors during her time as secretary of state have put her on the defensive after weeks of quietly allowing Donald Trump and his controversies to dominate the headlines. The Clinton campaign moved aggressively Wednesday to address negative story lines related to her use of a private email server while secretary of state and her handling of her familys foundation and to redirect the attention back to Trump. In television appearances, in rapid-fire tweets, on the radio and in numerous news releases, Clintons allies moved quickly to discredit news reports that suggest she improperly gave access to Clinton Foundation donors while at the State Department. Surrogates have waxed long on the foundations charitable works, its lifesaving endeavors and the unprecedented efforts that Clinton put in place to promote transparency. In contrast, they pointed to Trump and what they described as his opaque history of business dealings and entanglements, which they said pose a real conflict of interest. At every juncture, the foundation set up the highest possible standard to prevent any conflict of interest, Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook said on MSNBC on Wednesday. And the State Department itself has said that there is no conflict of interest. Clinton has largely stayed out of the spotlight, continuing a multiday fundraising swing on the West Coast. On Thursday, her speech in Reno, Nevada, will attempt to train the campaigns full attention on Trump and his connections to the alt-right, a conservative movement often associated with white nationalism. Meanwhile, the Trump campaign has gone on the attack. Before noon on Wednesday, the Trump campaign blasted out four separate emails pressuring Clinton on her foundation ties in the hope of keeping the message in the news. Uncharacteristically, most of Trumps tweets about Clinton have also been tied to the issue. Since the conventions, Trump has battled a series of controversies including the overhaul of his campaign leadership, his campaign aides ties to a pro-Russian regime in Ukraine and an ongoing spat with the Muslim parents of a fallen soldier. Seizing on those controversies, Clintons campaign worked to put Trump on the defensive while largely keeping the spotlight off Clinton. But in the past week, Clintons allies have been forced to acknowledge that new leadership at the top of the Trump campaign has come along with more discipline from the candidate. We are seeing a more disciplined Trump this last week: more teleprompters, fewer interviews, said Hilary Rosen, a longtime Democratic strategist and Clinton ally. From the podium at his rallies, Trump occasionally veers off script, but of late he has delivered carefully crafted lines of attack that paint Clinton as fostering a culture of corruption and little transparency. Hillary Clinton ran the State Department like a failed leader in a Third World Country, Trump said at a rally in Tampa on Wednesday, prompting chants of lock her up! from his supporters. She sold favors and access in exchange for cash. She doesnt do press conferences its been almost 300 days! he added. The newly demonstrated discipline comes a week after Trump shook up his campaign leadership, putting two new aides, pollster Kellyanne Conway and conservative media denizen Steve Bannon, at the helm. Their impact has not gone unnoticed. What Ive seen the last few days is not just him staying on message in terms of the message of Hillary Clinton, but hes been doing it in a way that isnt quite as bullish and crass as hes been the past, said Republican pollster Ed Goeas. Both Clinton and Trump go into the fall with high disapproval ratings, but Goeas warned that it is too soon to know whether Trumps attacks on Clintons foundation ties will have an impact because voters views of Clinton and her handling of her emails and political connections are already baked in. Trump and his allies, however, smell blood in the water. Prompted by a lawsuit filed by the conservative legal group Judicial Watch, new emails were released in the past week showing that top aides at the foundation appealed to Clintons staff at the State Department for meetings and connections on behalf of top foundation donors. Separately, a federal judge ruled this week that some 14,900 previously undisclosed emails would be released likely before Election Day. The foundations announcement last week that it would stop accepting foreign donations if Clinton is elected president raised further questions about why those rules had not been put in place sooner. Even with Clinton in the lead in many national and battleground state polls, the swift response by Clinton and her allies shows a recognition that the dual issues may serve as an unpleasant reminder to voters of a controversy that has dogged Clinton for over a year. This is a nonprofit. None of the Clintons take a salary. Theres not personal benefit here. Nothing but good works have been done, Rosen said. This is the far right grasping at straws to distract form Trumps lack of transparency. clinton-emails YORBA LINDA, Calif. The U.S. is still probing the extent of a recent cyber leak of what purports to be hacking tools used by the National Security Agency, the nations top intelligence official said Wednesday. We are still sorting this out, James Clapper, director of national intelligence, said at an event at the Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, California. Its still under investigation, Clapper said. We dont know exactly the full extent or the understanding of exactly what happened. The tool kit consists of malicious software intended to tamper with firewalls, the electronic defenses protecting computer networks. The leak has set the information security world atwitter and sent major companies rushing to update their defenses. The rogue programs appear to date back to 2013 and have whimsical names like EXTRABACON or POLARSNEEZE. Three of them JETPLOW, FEEDTROUGH and BANANAGLEE have previously appeared in an NSA compendium of top secret cyber surveillance tools. The documents have been leaked by a group calling itself the Shadow Brokers, although many have floated the possibility of Russian involvement. CIA Director John Brennan, who appeared with Clapper at the event, called cyber threats the most serious issue facing the nation. This administration, the intelligence community is focused like a laser on this and I would say the next administration really needs to take this up early on as probably the most important issue they have to grapple with, Brennan said. ACAs library of educational tools help members improve their business practices. ACA also holds the most popular industry conferences and offers credentialing for collectors, attorneys, and more. ACAs Training Zone subscription gives agencies access to almost all of our education for one low cost. IMGCAP(1)] As a small-business owner, you probably thrive in a DIY environment; but the more hats you wear, the less youll accomplish successfully. Accounting is one of the most important areas for keeping your company profitable. As you start out and your company grows, software can only take you so far. Accountants can help your company move forward. Below are reasons why your business needs an accountant in all stages of your growth. 1. Your business is in the startup phase There are many things to think about when youre just starting out: Business structure Business plan Bank accounts Government regulations Location Financing You might think its too early to hire an accountant, but the way you set up your operations can have a serious impact on your future success. An accountant can help you determine the most appropriate business structure, analyze your business plan for financial compatibility, and assist you with making sound financial decisions throughout the startup process so you dont have to spend more money to correct mistakes later. 2. Your business has employees In the first few years of operation, you may not feel you have enough work for an accountant. The truth, though, is that an accountant will have the specialized knowledge to make your money work for you even though you dont have a huge workforce. The accountant can: Help ensure employees and independent contractors are classified correctly Oversee payroll and payment processes Create appropriate timelines for sending W2s and 1099 forms 3. Your business structure requires audits Not all small businesses are required to conduct audits, but unless you consult with an accountant you might not know until its too late. Publicly owned businesses are required to comply with the SarbanesOxley Act (SOX), and private companies that are preparing for an initial public offering might also need to comply with certain SOX provisions. Furthermore, all businesses should comply with local generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Hiring an accountant can ensure your records are compliant with the appropriate regulations. 4. Your lender requests a financial statement The Small Business Administration reports that small businesses borrowed over $6 billion last year. At some point your business will probably need additional funding, whether its for expansion, new equipment, purchasing property, or even establishing an emergency fund. Before you approach a lender, having an accountant prepare a financial statement can increase your chances of getting approved. 5. Your budget is falling short According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about half of all businesses will fail within five years of opening. Although there are many factors related to failure, not meeting budget goals can decrease the chances of your business survival. Having an accountant on hand to analyze your budget, assist in making changes and catch errors will help you make sure your budget is on target for success. Questions to ask yourself before hiring an accountant: Does your business planning match your financial forecast? Have you read the tax code? Do you have enough time to take care of all of the accounting duties yourself? Are you sure your employees are classified correctly? Do you know what auditors look for when conducting an audit? Do you know what needs to be in a financial statement? Is your budget working for you? If you answered no to any of these questions, you can benefit from hiring an accountant. How to find an accountant You could do a quick Google search, but how would you know if the accountant is qualified? There are numerous databases of accountants, but to ensure that the accountant you choose has the knowledge and experience you need, look for a certified public accountant (CPA). These professionals will have passed a rigorous CPA exam and are licensed by the state in which they work. Enrolled agents are another option for tax preparation and tax resolution. Enrollment agents are authorized by the federal government to represent taxpayers before the IRS. They specialize in taxes, whereas CPAs often specialize in tax, accounting, and financial services to businesses in the state in which they are certified. Accountant Bridge is a great place to start your search for a CPA that matches your needs. Levi King is CEO of Nav, a business financing company. (Bloomberg) Republican Donald Trump is proposing a big tax cut for companies like Apple Inc., which would see its tax rate slashed on about $200 billion of profit it keeps offshore. Yet Apples boss is co-hosting a fundraiser on Wednesday for Trumps Democratic opponent for the White House. Apple itself has no political action committee; Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook is acting in his personal capacity to help raise money for the Hillary Victory Fund, which contributes to the campaign of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and other Democratic party committees. Still, Cooks support for Clinton, who hasnt tried to match Trumps tax cuts for corporations, reflects how the Republican nominees proposals havent won him much support among U.S. technology leadersmany of whom have expressed concern about his campaign-trail bombast. Apple didnt respond to requests for comment for this story. This is woefully inadequate in terms of an olive branch to Silicon Valley from Donald Trump, said Tucker Bounds, a startup founder and former deputy communications director for Republican Senator John McCains 2008 presidential campaign. Bounds was referring to Trumps proposal to tax companies accumulated offshore profit at 10 percentdown from the current top corporate income tax rate of 35 percent. Indefinitely Reinvested Apple isnt the only company that would benefit. U.S. companies overall have more than $2.4 trillion in earnings that they have indefinitely reinvested overseas, based on analyses of their public disclosures. Thats because federal law allows corporations to defer paying taxes on their foreign profit until they return it to the U.S., a process called repatriation. Trumps tax plans call for ending deferral and cutting the top corporate tax rate to 15 percent. For the trillions in offshore profit that U.S. companies have already accumulated, he suggests the one-time tax rate of 10 percenta bargain that he says would lure that cash back to the U.S quickly and deliver economic growth as well as tax revenue for infrastructure spending. This is a major way to raise revenue, said Stephen Moore, a senior economic adviser to Trumps campaign. He also said: Were not in this to carry water for the tech companies. Under Trumps proposal, U.S. companies would repatriate more than $1.5 trillion over a 10-year window, Moore said, paying at least $150 billion in taxes. Technology Earnings Clinton hasnt proposed anything similar; shes said little about corporate tax reform or the current 35 percent corporate rate, which is one of the highest statutory rates in the world. Much of the offshore earnings in question are held by technology and pharmaceutical companiesa reflection of their global reach and tax-planning strategies. In a July 29 research note, Tobias Levkovich, the chief U.S. equity strategist at Citigroup, estimated that Apple had $214.9 billion in offshore cash; Microsoft Corp. had $108.9 billion; Cisco Systems Inc. had $57.2 billion; and Alphabet Inc. had $45.4 billion. All of those companies declined to comment. Naturally, technology industry executives care about political issues beyond tax policy, and Trumps positions on international trade and immigration dont necessarily align with their business interests. Last month, more than 100 industry executives put their names on an open letter that said Trump campaigns on anger, bigotry, fear of new ideas and new people, and a fundamental belief that America is weak and in decline. He would be a disaster for innovation, the letter said. Feeling Besieged International tax policy ranks high among the industrys business issues, said Joe Kennedy, a senior fellow who focuses on trade, regulation and tax at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a policy group with board members including representatives from Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon.com Inc. and International Business Machines Corp. For major U.S. tech companies, tax reform is a big one because they are getting pressured by Europe and others to pay more taxes to those jurisdictions, Kennedy said. They feel like theyre besieged. Cook told CBS News in December that he would love to repatriate Apples offshore earnings. Why dont you? interviewer Charlie Rose asked. Because it would cost me 40 percent to bring it home, Cook said, evidently adding state taxes to the federal tax rate. And I dont think thats a reasonable thing to do. European Reviews European Union regulators are examining the tax structures that U.S. companies including Apple, Alphabet, Amazon and Starbucks Corp. have set up in their member states. That potential crackdown may spur U.S. officials to act on overhauling corporate tax laws, said Rohit Kumar, co-leader of Tax Policy Services for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. There is increasingly awareness that if you dont tax it, other states will, he said. That growing realization may help explain why Clintons lack of a proposal for repatriation tax break hasnt hurt her among technology companies: Some observers think the U.S. government will adopt one regardless of who wins the presidency. Theres a fair amount of general agreement that repatriation would be a feature of broader tax reform under a new president, which I would say is inevitable, said Jon Traub, the managing principal of tax policy at Deloitte Tax LLP, the tax arm of accounting firm Deloitte LLP. Clintons Code Others see clues on Clintons campaign website. She has proposed $275 billion in infrastructure spending, and her website says her administration will fully pay for these improvements through business tax reformthough it doesnt include any specifics. Thats code for repatriation, said Henrietta Treyz, an analyst who follows the issue for Height Securities LLC, a financial research firm. Repatriation is the linchpin in both Trump and Clintons infrastructure packages. Asked about Clintons position on repatriation, Tyrone Gayle, a Clinton campaign spokesman, said: Hillary Clinton has been clear throughout the campaign that she supports business tax reform consistent with the principle of rewarding investment here in the U.S., and closing loopholes that distort our tax code and result in shifting profits and jobs overseas. Alternative Plans Trump told Fox Business Network on Aug. 2 that he would at least double Clintons proposed infrastructure spending. Moore estimated that Trumps repatriation tax proposal would raise around $200 billion in taxes. A few alternative plans have already surfaced in Washington. In his last two budget proposals, President Barack Obama called for a 14 percent tax rate on companies offshore earnings. This summer, House Republicans released a blueprint for a major corporate-tax overhaul that would create a repatriation tax rate of just 8.75 percent. The GOP plan would also move the U.S. toward a territorial approach to taxationmeaning companies would owe taxes only on their domestic income. (The U.S. is the only developed economy that uses a so-called worldwide tax system.) The House tax plan was released just four days before Cook hosted another political fundraiser. That one was for House Speaker Paul Ryan, the Wisconsin Republican who has made overhauling federal-tax policy a top policy priority. New Model Whatever plan advances, it seems clear that policy makers want to steer away from an approach that Congress took in 2004, when it granted a repatriation holiday. Companies including Pfizer Inc. and Hewlett-Packard were allowed to pay a one-time tax rate of 5.25 percent to return their offshore earnings to the U.S., and they voluntarily brought back a collective $312 billion. Think tanks and the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service later found that most companies used the bonanza to buy back their own shares or pay dividends instead of investing infrastructure or hiring new employees. A rifle-shot, one-time tax holiday is kind of not going to happen, said Matt Tanielian, a co-founder of Franklin Square Group, a lobbying firm in Washington that has technology companies among its clients. The new model is that it will be part of some sort of tax-reform package along the lines of what Ryan is talking about. Trumps advisers are still hammering out details of his tax planbut it doesnt include any limitations on how U.S. companies could spend their repatriated earnings. Ideally, wed like it used for building more plants and stuff, but if they use it for shareholders and buybacks, thats fine, said Moore, the campaign adviser. That just benefits American shareholders and goes into Americans 401(k)s. Chairman of CG Corp Global and President of Chaudhary Group Binod Chaudhary has been awarded with 'Asian Man of the Year Award'. A US-based humanitarian organization, We Care for Humanity, recognized Chaudhary with the award for his outstanding philanthropic works in post-earthquake Nepal. The organization handed over the award to Chaudhary at a ceremony held at the UN Headquarters New York on the occasion of the Third WCH Humanitarian Summit and Fourth Global Officials of Dignity Award. The event was held on Friday night according to local time in New York. The humanitarian arm of Chaudhary Group, Chaudhary Foundation, is carrying out large-scale rehabilitation works after the 2015 earthquake that devastated the Himalayan country Nepal. After the massive initial relief works in central Nepal, the Foundation started building transitional shelters for the earthquake survivors and school buildings in the affected areas. Till date the Foundation has delivered almost 3000 shelters and 40 schools in 12 of the most affected districts in central Nepal. Apart from the physical rehabilitation, the Foundation is working toward economic self-dependence of the earthquake affected people in the affected areas. Accordingly, CG Sipsikshya and CG Unnati projects are underway for women empowerment and self-reliance and skill development of the youth. In addition, the Foundation continues to promote rural entrepreneurship based on indigenous technology and skills through its ongoing programs of Nepal Social Business. Noted Indian leader and Chief Minister of Tamilnadu Jayalalitha, Former Prime Minister of Nepal Khilraj Regmi, fourteenth President of Yugoslavia Stjepan Mesic, Former President of Ecuador Rosalia Arteaga, and tenth Vice President of Kenya Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka were among the others who were also awarded on the occasion for their special contributions in their respective areas. Max Bupa Health Insurance today announced its bancassurance tie-up with Sarva U.P. Gramin Bank (SUPGB), one of the largest rural cooperative banks in Uttar Pradesh. Max Bupa will provide comprehensive and family oriented health insurance products to the banks customers to help them access quality healthcare at affordable premiums. Under the partnership, Max Bupa will provide customized indemnity and fixed benefit health plans to the 35 lakh account holders of the bank across 17 Districts in UP including Bijnore, Badayun, Gonda, Balrampur, Ghaziabad, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Jhansi at an attractive annual premium of Rs 1557 for Rs 50,000 health policy and Rs 2008 for a Rs 1 lakh health policy. The health plans cover expenses for pre and post hospitalization, including doctors expenses, day care procedures and organ donation procedures and cover pre-existing illnesses from day 1. The plan also covers cost of prosthetics or devices implanted internally during surgeries to the extent of sum insured. The policyholders can avail maternity benefits up to Rs 10,000 for normal delivery and Rs 15,000 for caesarean delivery. Additionally, coverage upto Rs 2000 per year is provided for child immunization with the policy of Rs 50, 000 sum assured, while the limit is extended upto Rs 4000 per year for a policy of sum assured of Rs. 1, 00, 000. This is to ensure that women customers are able to avail the best in class services offered by quality hospitals without actually worrying about the expenses related to child birth. Ashish Mehrotra, MD & CEO, Max Bupa Health Insurance said, We are delighted to enter into Corporate Agency arrangement with Sarva UP Gramin Bank to serve the health needs of their 3.5 million customers. Our endeavour is to aid the accessibility of quality and affordable healthcare for the bank customers and enable them to lead healthier and more successful lives. With compelling features like pre-existing coverage from day 1, maternity benefits and immunization cover for the new born, our specialized products will cater to the diverse health needs of the banks customers. Anil Sharma, Chairman,Sarva UP Gramin Bank said, We are pleased to be associated with a specialist health insurer like Max Bupa which has a strong equity in the market, to provide comprehensive and affordable coverage to our rural bank customers. We are confident that this relationship will pave the way for greater access to quality health insurance for our rural customers who often fall into a debt trap due to unforeseen medical expenditure. To encourage the rural customers to use secondary and tertiary care facilities, Max Bupa is creating an exclusive network of 250+ hospitals to ease the burden of medical expenses. Max Bupas endeavour since inception has been to be the long term health partner to its customers and their families. In order to build an enduring relationship with the customers, Max Bupa offers speedy claim settlement to all its customers, without any engagement of third parties. Sarva UP Gramin Bank is present in 17 districts through 500 branches and 7 regional offices. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is exploring possibilities of extending financial and technical support to State Governments in their endeavour to safeguard the countrys filmic heritage. The objective of preserving the countrys cinematic heritage has to be achieved in collaboration with the State Governments, said Ajay Mittal, Secretary, Information and Broadcasting Ministry, Government of India. He was speaking on the sidelines of a High Level Committee meeting on National Film Heritage Mission, held in NFAI Pune. Speaking on the occasion, Mittal said that the High Level Committee had reviewed the progress of the National Film Heritage Mission and taken some major decisions to expand the horizons of the same. The mission would ensure not only the preservation of filmic heritage, but also its dissemination and access to the last mile. This would enable awareness amongst youth and children about our rich cultural heritage. Appreciating the efforts of officers at NFAI in implementing the Mission, Mittal said that all necessary steps were being undertaken to involve international organisations and institutions to ensure projects implementation as per global standards. He further added that NFAIs facilities would be augmented by creating new state of the art vaults in its premises. Speaking about the need of enhancing research on Indian cinema, Mittal said, The Government is exploring the possibility of extending NFAIs research fellowship to the University level through formal institutional mechanisms. NFAI would reach out to major Universities for short and long term courses in the area of film studies incorporating subject of film archiving and preservation. This would ensure building of skilled manpower in the niche area of film preservation. The High Level Committee meeting was attended by senior officers of MIB, which included Subhash Sharma, AS&FA; Sanjay Murthy, Joint Secretary; Mukesh Sharma, DG Films Division; Prakash Magdum, Director NFAI; Santosh Ajmera, Officer on special duty, NFHM, along with film-makers Jahnu Barua and Rajeev Mehrotra. The meeting was chaired by Ajay Mittal. National Film Heritage Mission is the prestigious project of Government of India for digitisation, restoration, preservation and conservation of Indias rich filmic heritage. The mission has budgetary outlay of Rs 597.41 crore and is to be implemented till 2021. National Film Archive of India is the implementing agency for the mission. The High Level Committee chaired by Secretary I&B has been mandated to oversee projects implementation as per envisaged objectives of the Mission. What defines the happiness of your family? Standing by your loved ones through thick and thin or going after your own personal, individualistic goals? Zee TVs next primetime drama Sanyukt attempts to showcase how both are not mutually exclusive goals and that they can be achieved without one compromising the other. The relationship one shares with ones family is one of the most long-lasting and emotionally intense social ties. Higher education, well-paying jobs, better lifestyles and marriage propels the younger generation into an orbit of success which often has them stay apart from their parentsthe very people who made it possible for them to be where they are! Capturing a common struggle that most families in India face at some point in their lives, Sanyukt premieres on 6th September at 7 30 PM and will air every Monday to Friday, only on Zee TV. The show follows the emotional journey of an elderly couple who endeavor to mend the fragmented relationships within their family, strengthen the bonds they share with their children and bring their family together under one roof. Meet senior citizens, Govardhan Bhai Mehta and Ila Govardhan Mehta, who stay in Mumbai. They believe they share a cordial relationship with their sons who do not stay with them, despite being in the same city. They decide to get their entire family to stay together and propose this idea to their sons and their families, hoping that they will readily agree. But to their utter dismay, their children do not agree to it! This brings out in the open many issues that each of their children have against them and they shockingly realise that there is a lot of discord even between their children. What follows is a heartwarming journey of the parents to mend their broken family to become one big happy joint family. Producer Siddharth Anand Kumar says, Joint family living, as a concept, is very deep-rooted amongst us Indians and till two generations ago, we were all staying under one roof with our extended families. However, due to growing opportunities in certain cities in India, many people have moved out and stay as nuclear families. Sanyukt is an endeavor to bring forth to the audiences of what life would be if all stayed under the same roof in an entertaining and non-preachy way. Produced by Sa Re Ga Ma Productions, the show will see the comeback of veteran Actor Kiran Kumar playing the main protagonist Govardhan Bhai Mehta and actor Shubhangi Latkar will play his wife, Ila Govardhan Mehta. Actor Kiran Kumar who will play the role of Govardhan Mehta shares, I am really excited to be back on television after 3 long years. I have done around 7000 episodes so far on television but from the past three years, I was not really happy with the kind of roles I was being offered. Its a great opportunity to be back with Sanyukt, a show which gives a chance to a 60 year old man to play the lead. Govardhan Das is an honest and just man, who wants to live happily with his family under the same roof. Every man who believes in these values will be able to relate to the character and I feel most men especially my age, will find a bit of Govardhan Das in themselves. I am working with a wonderful team and just returned from a schedule in Rajpipla. Actor Shubhangi Latkar who will play the role of Ila Govardhan Mehta adds, I am happy to be back on television and Ila Govardhan Mehta is a very powerful role. The show will strike a connect with many families in India today. It explores the sensitive relationship dynamics between aging parents and their children as they choose between collective family interests and individual goals. This will surely make for a bittersweet poignant narrative. Actors Harsh Vashisht will be playing his eldest son, Parimal Mehta and Namrata Thapa will his wife, Gayatri Nirmal Mehta. Mohit Sharma will play the character of Niranjan Mehta and Urvashi Sharma will be seen as Rita Niranjan Mehta. They are enacting the roles of Govardhans younger son and daughter-in-law. Actors Maninder Singh and Suraj Kakkar will be seen playing the third and fourth sons of Govardhan Mehta - Rahul and Sameer respectively. WASHINGTON, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc., a nonprofit educational organization honoring the achievements of outstanding individuals and encouraging youth to pursue their dreams through higher education, today announced that 16 students from Idaho will receive the prestigious Horatio Alger Lola and Duane Hagadone Scholarship in the amount of $7,000 per recipient. These young men and women are recognized for their admirable commitment to continuing their education and serving their communities, despite facing adversity. Since 2005, Association Member Duane Hagadone and his wife, Lola, have funded the Horatio Alger Lola and Duane Hagadone Scholarship in recognition of Idaho-based students. 321 Idaho Scholars have been awarded more than $1.2 million. The scholarship is open to eligible high school seniors who reside in Benewah, Boundary, Bonner, Kootenai, Latah, or Shoshone counties. To qualify, each student must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0, exhibit financial need and demonstrate perseverance in overcoming personal challenges. Applicants must be planning to attend North Idaho College, Lewis-Clark State College (Coeur d'Alene or Lewiston campuses) or the University of Idaho. "Each year, the students who receive our sponsored scholarship continue to inspire us with their determination, intelligence and drive to succeed," said Mr. Hagadone, Horatio Alger Association Member, Class of 2004. "The 2016 scholarship recipients are committed to pursuing higher education and serving their local communities in our beloved Idaho, despite facing significant challenges along the way. These are the personal characteristics that set them apart from their peers. Lola and I are deeply pleased to support the Association through this scholarship fund, which enables these deserving individuals pursue their dreams." Collectively, the 2016 Horatio Alger State and Specialized Scholarship recipients have maintained an average GPA of 3.6 and an ACT score of 24 while coming from households with an average annual income of $19,116. Scholars have access to a variety of resources including college preparatory support, access to guidance and crisis counselors as well as mentoring programs. "It is through the incredible generosity of Members such as Duane and Lola Hagadone that the Association is able to provide financial and emotional support to such remarkable students each year," said Tony Novelly, chairman, Horatio Alger Association. "Horatio Alger Scholars, including these 16 students from Idaho, exhibit so many admirable qualities and we are proud to support this next generation of leaders in their endeavors." Horatio Alger Association was founded in 1947, and since 1984, it has administered one of the nation's largest privately-funded, need-based scholarship programs. The Association has awarded more than $125 million in undergraduate, graduate and specialized scholarships to students from across the United States (including all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico) and Canada. In 2000, 16 years after the establishment of its National Scholarship Program, Horatio Alger Members began funding scholarships concentrated in each state to further the Association's mission of helping deserving young people pursue their collegiate goals. For a complete list of the 2016 Horatio Alger Lola and Duane Hagadone Scholars, please click here. For more information about Horatio Alger Association please visit https://www.horatioalger.org. To engage on social media, please "Like" the organization on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/HoratioAlgerUS); and "follow" on Twitter (https://twitter.com/HoratioAlgerUS) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/horatioalgerassociation/). About Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans: Founded in 1947, the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc. is dedicated to the simple but powerful belief that hard work, honesty and determination can conquer all obstacles. The Association honors the achievements of outstanding leaders who have accomplished remarkable successes in spite of adversity by bestowing upon them the Horatio Alger Award and inducting them as lifetime Members. Horatio Alger Members support promising young people with the resources and confidence needed to overcome adversity in pursuit of their dreams through higher education. Through the generosity of its Members and friends, the Association awards more than $12 million annually in undergraduate and graduate need-based scholarships across the United States and Canada and provides college support and mentoring services to its Scholars. Since 1984, the Association has awarded more than $125 million in college scholarships to more than 22,000 deserving young people. For more information, please visit www.horatioalger.org. CONTACT: McKenna Young 484-385-2913 (office) myoung@briancom.com To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/16-outstanding-idaho-students-awarded-7000-lola-and-duane-hagadone-scholarships-in-partnership-with-horatio-alger-association-300317780.html SOURCE Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc. NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Attorney General of Louisiana Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq. and the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") are investigating the proposed sale of CST Brands, Inc. ("CST" or the "Company") (NYSE: CST) to Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (TSX: ATD.A, ATD.B). Under the terms of the proposed transaction, shareholders of CST will receive only $48.53 in cash for each share of CST that they own. KSF is seeking to determine whether this consideration and the process that led to it are adequate, or whether the consideration undervalues the Company. If you believe that this transaction undervalues the Company and/or if you would like to discuss your legal rights regarding the proposed sale, you may, without obligation or cost to you, e-mail or call KSF Managing Partner Lewis S. Kahn (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) toll free at any time at 855-768-1857. To learn more about KSF, whose partners include the Former Louisiana Attorney General, visit www.ksfcounsel.com. Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC 206 Covington St. Madisonville, LA 70447 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160819/399590LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cst-brands-investor-alert-by-the-former-attorney-general-of-louisiana-kahn-swick--foti-llc-investigates-adequacy-of-price-and-process-in-proposed-sale-of-cst-brands-inc-300317499.html SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Martin Euson Joins PKF Texas as Tax Director Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. (PKF Texas) is pleased to announce the addition of Martin Euson, JD, as a Tax and Transaction Advisory Director. Martins strong tax skills, combined with his extensive experience in complex transactions, expand and deepen PKF Texas accounting and tax advisory services, said Kenneth Guidry, CPA, President. Euson advises corporations and shareholders on all aspects of federal income taxation, with an emphasis on transactions, including mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. He provides strategic tax due diligence and tax structuring services in connection with those transactions. Additionally, he has significant experience advising corporations on internal restructuring transactions, limitations on tax attributes, and consolidated return matters. Moreover, Euson works with financially distressed companies on the tax implications of debt restructurings and bankruptcy reorganizations (Chapter 11). Prior to joining PKF Texas, Euson held positions with Ernst & Young LLP and KPMG LLP with focuses on M&A tax consulting and capital markets. He received his Bachelors Degree in Accounting from Franklin Pierce College and his Juris Doctor degree from Union Universitys Albany School of Law. Del Walker, Director and Tax Practice Leader shares, Martin is a tremendous addition to the PKF Texas Tax Team. His extensive complimentary professional experiences and client first focus make him a natural fit with his fellow team members, our existing client base and our current and future prospects. We are all excited to see him come aboard. About Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. PKF Texas is the premiere middle-market CPA firm in Houston, with a 30 year history focused on assisting international businesses. We provide audit, accounting, domestic and international tax, entrepreneurial advisory services, outsource and co-source accountancy services, profit enhancement, employee benefit plan audits, fraud and forensic services, internal audit and internal controls, state and local tax, incentives and credits and middle manager consulting to emerging and middle market companies across many industries. Through PKF International, Allinial Global and the Leading Edge Alliance, we have access to worldwide resources. To learn more about PKF Texas, visit www.pkftexas.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160824006056/en/ PKF Texas Karen Love, 713.860.1459 Cell: 713-598-8264 klove@pkftexas.com or Jen Lemanski, 713.860.5457 jlemanski@pkftexas.com NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Q2 Global Propylene Capacity and Capital Expenditure Outlook - New Project Announcements in China, Korea, Bolivia, Finland and Saudi Arabia Further Stack Pipeline Summary Global Propylene capacity will experience considerable growth in the next five years with increase from 11.6 mtpa in 2015 to 130.0 mtpa by 2020. Around 65 planned projects are expected to come online primarily in China and US in the next five years. Lotte Chemical Corporation, Ascend Performance Materials LLC and Oriental Energy Co., Ltd. are the top three companies by capacity additions expected to come on-stream over the next five years. Global Propylene industry is expected to spend around US$16.9 billion by 2020 for the upcoming projects. China, Russia and US are the top three countries by capital expenditure for projects by 2020. Scope Report provides information and insight on - - Historic and forecast global Propylene capacity by region - Propylene planned plants details - Global Propylene capacity by feedstock - Capacity share of the major Propylene producers in the world - Global Propylene capital expenditure forecast by region Reasons to Buy The report will clarify - - Understand the key trends in the global Propylene industry - Understand the regional Propylene supply scenario - Identify opportunities in the global Propylene industry with the help of upcoming projects and capital expenditure forecast - Understand the current and likely future competitive scenario Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p04071335-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: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/q2-global-propylene-capacity-and-capital-expenditure-outlook---new-project-announcements-in-china-korea-bolivia-finland-and-saudi-arabia-further-stack-pipeline-300317840.html SOURCE Reportlinker Singaporean leaders visit, recognize first weapons instructors The 366th Fighter Wing welcomed Singaporean Maj. Gen. Mervyn Tan, chief of Republic of Singapore Air Force, and Brig. Gen. Tommy Tan Ah Han, Republic of Singapore Air Force Air Combat Command commander, Aug. 17-20, to recognize the first graduates of the Singaporean Fighter Weapons Instructor Course here. The Republic of Singapore Air Force leaders met with 366th Fighter Wing leaders and experienced a mission immersion into the working relationship between the Singaporean 428th Fighter Squadron and the rest of the base. "They say 'It takes a village to raise an Olympic champion' but in this instance it took two air forces to graduate these three airmen," said Lt. Col. Tham Yeow Min, the 428th FS senior ranking officer. The graduation recognized F-15SG pilot Maj. Wang Kee Yong and weapons systems officers Capts. Alex Ong and Chia Chi Yu. The course is modeled after the U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School. The course teaches Republic of Singapore Air Force aircrew advanced combat maneuvers and tactics. "It is exciting to be a part of this program and to be able to contribute back to the (Republic of Singapore Air Force) international community," Chia said. The Republic of Singapore and U.S. Air Forces have a partnership dating back to 2009 known as Peace Carvin V, which allows both countries to train as partner nations at Mountain Home Air Force Base. This course enhances not only the Republic of Singapore Air Forces combat readiness but the U.S. Air Force as well. The 428th FS look to continue this course in the future. "I would like to thank (U.S. Air Force) and its instructors for their role in leading these airmen to graduation," Tham said. "This is a huge accomplishment for these individuals and our countries." Tyndall F-22 unit participates in combat exercise Military exercises Combat Hammer and Combat Archer ended August 18 at Hill Air Force Base and the Utah Test and Training Range. During the exercises, Airmen assigned to the active-duty 95th and reserve 301st Fighter Squadrons from Tyndall AFB, Florida, tested their ability to build, load, launch and employ munitions, which were dropped and fired from Tyndall F-22 Raptor aircraft. Our Airmen gain a tremendous opportunity to prepare for future combat operations in the F-22 by performing in these exercises, said Lt. Col. Daniel Lehoski, 95th Fighter Squadron detachment commander. It builds confidence in our team, aircraft, and munitions through a mission-focused effort. The air-to-ground and air-to-air exercises are conducted by the 83rd and 86th Fighter Weapons Squadrons here. Their purpose is to collect and analyze data on the performance of precision weapons, and to measure their suitability for use in combat. During the exercises, Lehoski noted that Tyndall F-22s dropped 32 precision guided munitions, employed 14 air-to-air missiles, and validated AIM-9X missile employment procedures, a first for Tyndall F-22s. Operations Airmen also flew integration missions with F-35, F-16, and F-15E aircraft, enhancing their ability to provide air dominance for America. We are tremendously appreciative of the support we have received from Hill AFB and both the 86th and 83rd FWS for giving the Airmen of Team Tyndall the opportunity to train at Combat Hammer and Combat Archer, said Lehoski. Airmen and aircraft, including A-10s from Moody AFB, Georgia, F-15Es from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, and F-16s from Shaw AFB, South Carolina, also participated during the past two weeks. Delhi Chief Minister and National Convener of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Arvind Kejriwal will release his partys farmers manifesto next month at Moga in Punjab, a party official said. Prepared after holding eight dialogues with farmers in different regions of Punjab, the manifesto will cover all aspects affecting the states farmers, Head of the Manifesto Committee of AAP, Kanwar Sandhu said. Terming the manifesto a comprehensive document, he said it was prepared after consulting farmers who shared their woes and grievances and gave suggestions for betterment. The manifesto, which will be released on September 11, will cover new ground as it will list out measures for farm labourers who have been left on the margins by successive governments in the past, he said. Farm labourers are an intrinsic part of the farm sector and you cant revive farming by ignoring them, Mr Sandhu said. Idea is to bring back cheer on the faces of the farmers in the state, Mr. Sandhu said. He said there was a need of rainbow diversification in Punjab to bring farmers out of the vicious wheat-paddy cycle. Separate manifestos for various sections are devised to spell out the agenda of the AAP for Punjab for the next five years, Mr. Sandhu said, adding that the farmers manifesto will be followed by a separate manifesto for SC/ST, besides industry and trade. Earlier on July 3, Mr. Kejriwal had released a 51-Point Youth Manifesto in Amritsar. Mr. Sandhu said the farmers manifesto will roll out an action plan to prevent suicides by farmers and farm labourers. A major debt relief package is on the cards as AAP is committed to zero-farmer suicide within one year of the formation of government, he added. The Bangladesh police have confirmed that the DNA samples of all six terrorists killed in a military operation following the Gulshan cafe siege, have matched with their relatives. DNA samples of the six militants had been collected and tested against family members. The samples have matched, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has said. On July 1, the terror attack on Holey Artisan Bakery and O` Kitchen restaurant at Gulshan by five young gunmen left 22 people, including 17 foreigners and two police officers dead. A military operation about 12 hours later brought the siege to an end. Of the six slain in the operation, five were termed as operatives of banned militant outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen by the police. The sixth accused Saiful Islam Chowkider, was a chef at the cafe. Police believe he had aided the militants in carrying out the attack, bdnews24 reported. Of the five, two were students of a Bogra madrasa. The other three were students of English medium schools in Dhaka. The bodies of all six were preserved at the mortuary of the Combined Military Hospital. Among the attackers, Nibras Islam was a former North South University alumnus while another attacker, Rohan Ibn Imtiaz was a BRAC University student. The third one, Mir Sabih Mubashir, was a student of Scholastica school. The two other attackers, Safiqul Islam Ujjal from Bogras Dhunat Upazila, and Md Khairuzzaman of Shahjahanpur Upazila, were both madrasa students, bdnews24 reported. Highly sensitive data detailing almost every aspect of the combat capability of Indias Scorpene-class submarine+ , the most lethal conventional submarine ever contemplated, has been leaked, the newspaper The Australian reported on Wednesday. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has sought a report from the navy on the alleged leak of sensitive data on Indias Scorpene submarines, as part of the larger expose pertaining to some 22,000 documents of its French designer, DCNS. The first step is to identify if it relates to us, Parrikar told reporters, referring to the documents that purportedly reveal details on the subs underwater and above water sensors, as also combat management, torpedo launch, navigation and communications systems. The Navy Chief (Admiral Sunil Lanba) has been asked to analyse what exactly has been leaked, the minister said, adding his first assessment was that it was an act of hacking and not a 100-per cent leak. We do have our final integration and all that, he said. What I can understand because it came to my knowledge around 12 am is there is a hacking. So we will find out all these aspects, he said. Ive told the navy chief to find out all the details. Mayby, in a couple of days Ill be able share with you. The Australian media reports, quoting DCNS, said that the leak of such technical data could not happen with its proposed submarine for Australia. The French company also alluded that the leak may have occurred at Indias end, rather than from France. Uncontrolled technical data is not possible in the Australian Arrangements, the company said as per a report in The Australian. Multiple and independent controls exist within DCNS to prevent unauthorised access to data and all data movements are encrypted and recorded, it said. In the case of India, where a DCNS design is built by a local company, DCNS is the provider and not the controller of technical data. The first of the Scorpene class submarines being built in India, INS Kalvari, went for sea trials in May, 2016 and is expected to be inducted in the Indian Navy soon. Variants of Scorpene submarines are also used by Malaysia and Chile, with Brazil to join the club soon. Major strategic problem The breadth of detail in the documents creates a major strategic problem for India, Malaysia and Chile, all of which operate the same submarine, an Australian political source with decades of experience in the global arms industry told Reuters. Excerpts published in redacted form on the newspapers website contained highly sensitive details of the submarine including technical manuals and models of the boats antennae. If its 22,400 pages, its a major stuff-up, the source said. Its a huge deal. It allows them to understand everything about the submarines. What speeds it can do; how noisy it is; what speeds the mast can be raised at all of that is just devastating. The defence ministry said it was probing the impact of the leak on the submarine programme which it said had occurred from abroad. It gave no detail. The available information is being examined at integrated headquarters, ministry of defence (Navy) and an analysis is being carried out by the concerned specialists, it said in a statement. It appears that the source of leak is from overseas and not in India. (With Agency Inputs) The foreign ministers of China, Japan and South Korea criticized North Koreas latest submarine missile test on Wednesday during their annual talks that were held amid lingering frictions over territorial disputes and wartime history. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, who chaired the meeting with Chinas Wang Yi and South Koreas Yun Byung-se, said that North Koreas missile launch provocation that simply cannot be tolerated. North Korea fired a ballistic missile from a submarine into the Sea of Japan, South Korean and US officials said. Seoul officials condemned the launch as an armed protest against the start of annual South Korean-US military drills that North Korean calls an invasion rehearsal. The launch was also the latest in a series of missile, rocket and other weapon tests by North Korea, which is openly pushing to acquire a reliable weapon capable striking targets as far away as the continental US. Kishida said Tokyo lodged a protest to the North over the missile, and urged his counterparts to step up cooperation as they face the latest development. I hope to coordinate closely in order for Japan, China and South Korea to lead the efforts of the international community, he said. Yun said that North Koreas repeated missile tests this year demonstrated a rapid advancement of capability and that he shared the concern over the urgent situation with his counterparts. He said the three countries should show unity in tackling the problem. Wang said the three neighbors, despite problems and difficulties among them, should work together to deal with regional threats like North Koreas missile and nuclear ambitions. China opposes North Koreas nuclear and missile process, actions that cause tension on the Korean Peninsula, Wang said in a joint news conference. The three countries have quarreled on a number of issues, and their foreign ministers meetings resumed only last year after a two-year hiatus because of strained Chinese-Japanese relations. Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the Supreme Court that he did not blame the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi on the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS). Judges then indicated that they are likely to clear the Congress Vice-President of defamation charges next week on September 1. The apex court was hearing an appeal by Congress vice president to quash the defamation case filed against him by the RSS. I never blamed RSS as an institution, but those associated with it who killed Mahatma Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi told Supreme Court. The court will be taking on record Rahuls statement in the matter before Bombay High Court Senior lawyer UR Lalit, appearing for petitioner Ram Madhav Kunte, said he needed time to seek further instructions from the RSS if the petition against Rahul can be disposed off. The case pertains to Rahuls appeal before the apex court to quash the defamation suit filed by the RSS against the Congress vice-president for his remarks that it had killed Gandhi. Last month, the Supreme Court had ordered the 46-year-old leader to either apologise or face trial for the remark, an offer the Congress leader had then rejected. You must either apologise or face trial. The case must be decided on merit, whether what you spoke was for public good or not. You cant make wholesale denunciation of an organisation. The purpose of law is not to turn citizens into litigants. History is the biggest enemy of privacy, the Supreme Court had observed. Nevertheless, the top court scheduled the next hearing for September 1, after the RSS activists counsel U R Lalit sought time to get further instructions from his client. Rahul had made these accusations during a Thane rally in March 2014. RSS people killed Gandhiji and today their people (BJP) talk of himThey opposed Sardar Patel and Gandhiji, Rahul had said then. On Wednesday, though, he said quite the opposite. As part of Centres outreach, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday visited Kashmir for the second time in a month and held talks with political leaders during which he was told the Centre should initiate a dialogue with all stakeholders to find a lasting solution to problems faced by Jammu and Kashmir. The visit of Singh, who before leaving for Srinagar, said he will hold talks with all stakeholders and that those who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat are welcome, came on a day when fresh clashes broke out between protesters and security forces in Pulwama district in which one youth was killed. The death toll in the unrest in Kashmir Valley that broke out on July 8 has now climbed to 66. Amid tight security, Singh, who is in a two-day visit, drove through the tense city roads dotted with para-military forces who ensured he did not have to face any protesters. Immediately upon his arrival at the Nehru Guest House here, Singh, accompanied by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and other officials, held a meeting with different wings of administration including security, health and maintenance of essential commodities for the people. Official sources said Singh asked head of para-military forces, dealing with the law and order situation, to exercise maximum restraint while dealing with protesters and also appreciated their efforts in maintaining law and order in the Valley. The Home Minister was conveyed that there has been improvement in situation on the ground, there is no scarcity of essential commodities and health services are functioning, they said. This is Singhs second visit to the state ever since the unrest in Kashmir Valley broke out 47 days ago when Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani was killed on July 8. The Home Ministers visit is an effort by the central government to restore normalcy in the Valley, which has been reeling under curfew and restrictions since trouble started. I shall interact will civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders, he said, before leaving for Srinagar, adding those who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat(Kashmirs pluralist ethos, humanity and democracy) are welcome. After the review meeting, the Home Minister had separate meetings with heads of para-military forces and state police chief for understanding their working conditions and also to enquire whether there was an operational requirement. Later, a delegation of opposition National Conference led by former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met the Home Minister and urged him to immediately ban use of pellet guns as a crowd control means in Kashmir. They also demanded that Centre initiate a dialogue with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir to find a lasting solution to the problems faced by the state, sources said. Opposition parties are unhappy with the Sena-BJP ruled Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporations proposal to make yoga and Surya Namskar compulsory for students studying in civic schools. Samajwadi party and AIMIM alleged that Sena-BJP is attempting to saffronise education at both central and state government through such initiatives. On the other hand, MNS criticised the corporation and said that it is indulging in vote-bank politics. Thus students will have to practice Surya Namaskar while reciting daily prayers at schools. BMCs general body cleared this proposal tabled by BJP corporator Samita Kamble with an aim to improve overall health of students by incorporating the ancient exercise regime into their daily routine. The ruling allies also rejected the opposition parties proposal to make surya namaskar optional. SP demanded deleting surya namaskar from the proposal. Already the condition of civic schools is in dire straits and urgently need repairs. Some schools are facing shortage of experienced faculty. Even students dont have books and raincoats. Instead of providing basic amenities to students the government is bothered about making surya namaskar compulsory. AIMIM, MLA Waris Pathan said, AIMIM is opposing the proposal of the BMC to introduce yoga and Surya Namaskar. It is against the Article 25 of the Indian Constitution guaranteeing right to freedom of religion. The state government had made it optional so how can BMC make it compulsory. We will seek legal assistance and the proposal is unconstitutional. Samajwadi corporator Rais Shaikh said, Making Surya Namaskar compulsory in schools is a way to promote Hindutva as the origin of Surya Namaskar lies in Hindu God Surya (Sun). Making it compulsory to students belonging to all religion is akin to dictatorship which is unjustified. Such proposal will only hurt the religious sentiments of the people. He claimed that if BMC makes this compulsory, Muslim parents would stop sending their children to schools. MNS Corporator Sandeep Deshpande said, The state government is only trying to indulge in polarisation of votes. They are playing politics over this issue but people are not fools and have become smarter today. BMC runs 1,188 primary and 49 secondary schools in Mumbai. This includes nearly 400 Urdu-medium schools. About 4.85 lakh students study in primary schools while another 55,000 study in secondary schools. The proposal passed by the House of the civic body, will now be sent to Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta who will take a final call on the issue. BJP corporator Dilip Patel while defending the proposal said, Now yoga has been internationally accepted as the best form of exercise. Bringing yoga into the religious ambit is a political tactic by opposition parties. Turkish special forces units and jets supported by warplanes from the US-led coalition launched an operation in northern Syria to wipe out Islamic State militants along the Turkey-Syria border, Turkish officials said. The Turkish army began firing artillery rounds into the Syrian border town of Jarablus at around 0100 GMT and Turkish and US warplanes pounded Islamic State targets with airstrikes as part of the operation, Turkish military sources said. Syrian opposition fighters were also part of the cross-border incursion, which was reported by both Turkish state media and Syrian opposition activists. Turkey said its intention was to clear the town of Jarablus, located right across the border from Turkey, from IS militants. But Turkey is also concerned about the growing power of U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish forces, who it says are linked to Kurdish groups waging an insurgency in southeastern Turkey. White and grey plumes of smoke rose from atop hills in northern Syria, Turkeys CNN Turk television showed, in footage broadcast live from the Turkish town of Karkamis across the border from Jarablus. The boom of artillery fire was audible. Turkish military sources said a ground incursion has yet to start, but a group of Turkish special forces had entered Syria while Turkish and US led coalition jets hit four Islamic State targets and Turkish artillery struck more than 60 targets. The aim of the operation is to ensure border security and Syrias territorial integrity while supporting the US led coalition against Islamic State, one military source said, adding work to open a passage for ground forces was underway. Turkey had vowed on Monday to completely cleanse Islamic State militants from its border region after a suicide bomber suspected of links to the group killed 54 people at a Kurdish wedding in southeastern city of Gaziantep. Web Toolbar by Wibiya Alan Godfry, a former PC with West Yorkshire Police has since remained convinced that he was abducted by Aliens on November 28, 1980. Mr. Godfry was on patrol in Todmorden, on Burnley Road when a large UFO spotted him as he was searching for missing cattle. At first he thought it was a bus but when it got nearer he realized it was a large mass. It was a fuzzy oval that rotated at such a speed and hovered so low over the road that it was causing the bushes by the side to shake. He tried to sketch the UFO but was overcome by a burst of light after which he only recalls driving his car on the same road with the UFO gone. He later realized that he had lost 15 minutes and his police boots showed signs of being dragged off. It was only after some people made similar reports that he decided to also give his account of events. Further investigations into his case led him to hypnotic regression, which produced a bizarre testimony. He spoke of the bright light stopping the car engine, his radio and handset becoming static as well as the blinding light sending him unconscious. There was also a black dog, small strange droids as well as an odd room with a bearded man, Yosef, who questioned him telepathically. Details of his regression were leaked turning his life upside down, his superiors sent him for a medical and mental health assessment which found him mentally fit. He got coverage on almost every media outlet in the country making his case one of the most well-known alien abduction cases of all time. He later resigned from work after an injury in the line of duty. The details of the incident still shock him to this date. I am certain that the UFO encounter was real, but I cannot determine whether the story offered by the hypnosis was a dream, a fantasy, reality or a mixture of all three. Photographer Michael Christopher Brown was 32 when he went to Libya in February of 2011, just as the Arab Spring was dissolving into war. A broken camera forced him to document the conflict with his iPhone, and the pictures he made over the next several months can be seen in The new helicopter has been delivered to Transportes Aereos Pegaso for oil & gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico The H175 already provides services for the oil & gas industry in the North Sea and Western Africa Mexico City - The new 7-ton class helicopter has now arrived in Mexico, where it has joined the fleet of Transportes Aereos Pegaso, a company specialized in air transport services for the energy industry in the Gulf of Mexico. This makes Transportes Aereos Pegaso the first company to operate this new helicopter on the American continent. A second H175 will be delivered in 2017. The new aircraft will not only be providing transport services for the Oil industry but also supporting seismic exploration activities in the Mexican waters of the Gulf of Mexico.We have many years of experience with Airbus Helicopters and we are very proud to be among the first to operate this new helicopter, which has become the industrys benchmark medium-sized twin-engine rotorcraft, stated Pegaso CEO Enrique Zepeda Navarro. We are proud to offer our customers a safe, comfortable and quiet helicopter that is also highly cost-effective and easy to maintain.Transportes Aereos Pegaso has a fleet of more than 30 Airbus Helicopters rotorcraft, mainly H145s and H135s but also H130s and H155s. A few months ago Pegaso has signed a framework agreement for 10 H145s and will be among the first Latin American customers to operate this most advanced light twin.This delivery reaffirms the relationship of trust that Airbus Helicopters and Transportes Aereos Pegaso have built up over more than three decades said Francisco Navarro, General Manager of the Airbus Helicopters in Mexico. Our customers are a vital part of what we do at Airbus Helicopters; this is why the delivery we are now celebrating comes with our commitment to provide Transportes Aereos Pegaso with a service that meets all the quality and safety standards that characterize our company, said Francisco Navarro, General Manager of the Airbus Helicopters in Mexico.The H175 destined for Transportes Aereos Pegaso is equipped with the most advanced version of the Helionix avionics suite which includes a 4-axis autopilot designed to ease crew workload while offering high safety levels. New avionics features include the auto-hover function and LPV function (Localizer Performance with Vertical guidance), which is the most precise GPS-enabled instrument approach procedure currently available, to provide pilots with state-of-the-art piloting and navigation aids.The H175 delivers on all counts with its long range, smooth ride, excellent payload lift and outstanding cabin comfort. Since its entry into service in December 2014, the H175 has been flying in support of the oil & gas industry in the North Sea one of the world harshest operational environments- and in Western Africa.As of today, more than 100 AH175 orders have been placed by customers from all over the world The first VIP version was delivered very recently, while the public services version for missions including SAR, EMS and law enforcement, will reach the market in late 2017. August 24, 2016 Tensions between Palestinian worshippers and Israelis at Al-Aqsa Mosque have been growing again. Following several incidents, Jordans King Abdullah told the Jordanian newspaper Ad-Dustour on Aug. 15, We will persist in undertaking our religious and historical responsibilities toward Al-Aqsa Mosque/Haram al-Sharif, which faces repeated violations by extremist groups. There has been no direct response from the Israeli Prime Ministry, which is directly handling this sensitive issue, to the words extremists and violations. However, some Israeli government and nongovernment officials did respond to the kings statement. One of the more negative responses came from a lower-level government official. Zeev Elkin, the Jerusalem Affairs Minister, described the kings words as lip service aimed at appeasing Jordanians. Avi Dichter, the chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, said Aug. 15, Israel will not accept [that] Mecca and Medina rules apply on the Temple Mount, a reference to only Muslims being allowed to visit Mecca. Egypts Al-Azhar also strongly condemned Israeli soldiers' recurrent storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. In an official statement issued Aug. 14, Al-Azhar called on the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to take serious measures to stop such "barbaric attacks and flagrant violations" at the complex, which is considered Islam's third-holiest site. On Aug. 4, Israeli police arrested Palestinian engineer Bassam Halaq along with five other workers when Israel suspended the restoration work they were engaged in at Al-Aqsa. They were released later that day. On July 27, at least one guard with the Jordanian Waqf Ministry, which administers Al-Aqsa Mosque, was arrested after trying to stop a group from walking around the area. The group included Israeli officials from the Ministry of Antiquities. Also among the group were activists seeking to rebuild the Jewish Temple Mount. They believe the temple's ruins lie on the same site as Al-Aqsa Mosque and that rebuilding it is their religious duty. They have drawn up maps and worked tirelessly to determine how to best replicate what the temple looked like before it was destroyed. Ofer Zalzberg, a senior analyst at the Middle East and North Africa program of the International Crisis Group, downplayed the recent clashes. In an interview with Al-Monitor, Zalzberg insisted that the November 2014 understanding between Abdullah and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is still largely respected. The understanding focuses on permission for Muslims of all ages to visit and pray at the mosque, and it also allows for a limited number of Jews to visit at agreed-upon times without praying. These commitments, which preserved relative calm at the site, are still standing. Palestinians of all ages are no longer categorically denied entry and worship in the mosque, Israeli Knesset members and ministers are forbidden entry, the Waqf prevents Palestinian would-be stone-throwers from spending the night at the mosque, and Jews are allowed restricted visiting rights on condition that they just visit and not pray, Zalzberg said. Although the general features of the agreement are well-known to all parties, some specifics, such as the exact number of Jews to be allowed to visit, are a source of disagreement. After clashes broke out at the site in the fall of 2015, the Israeli police stated that no more than 60 Jewish temple activists will be allowed to enter on any particular day. This quota was quickly and publicly withdrawn, but in effect continued to be implemented, except on Jewish holidays, Zalzberg said. Zalzberg conceded that on Aug. 14, on which Tisha BAv, the day of the Jewish fast in remembrance of the destruction of Jewish temples, fell, Israel apparently exceeded the limit of Jewish visitors. Press reports indicate that as many as 200 Jews were allowed into the compound on Aug. 14. The number of Waqf guards deployed in the mosque area has increased in recent years, Zalzberg noted, which has made monitoring non-Muslim provocative attempts at prayer considerably easier. While 200 guards were added in 2015, the number of Jordanian-paid Waqf guards rose to 500. Zalzberg explained that the Israeli police had arrested the engineer because the Israeli authorities suddenly changed their minds about an earlier construction permit they had granted to the Waqf, when they learned the Waqf intended to create an opening in the holy sites ancient external walls. With Al-Aqsa Mosque, every small action can lead to major problems, as permits are often extremely specific. They had given the Waqf permission to do construction work to build extra lavatories before Ramadan, but were then worried that the work would harm antiquities at the site, he explained. Jerusalem-based reporter Khalil Assali told Al-Monitor there might have been a different reason for the Israeli actions. Rumors in Al-Aqsa are that the Waqf engineer and workers discovered secret cameras placed by Israel at the location and when they removed them, the police came in to make arrests, he said. On Aug. 21, 1969, 47 years ago, an Australian who was said to be deranged set fire to Al-Aqsa Mosque, causing extensive damage and totally gutting the Salahuddin al-Ayyubi minbar, or platform. Local Jerusalemites pitched in to help put out the fire, and the minbar was rebuilt by Jordans king in 2007 and has been restored in its proper location. Despite positive Muslim reactions to Abdullahs statement, sensitivities continue in and around Al-Aqsa Mosque. Many Palestinians who follow the Israeli media continue to worry that any small provocation could easily ignite the entire region. Many still worry that a religious war provoked by extremists could take place if the situation is not controlled. Muslims and Arabs around the world cannot rest while various radical groups continue to search for ways to rebuild the Jewish Temple on the location. Still, Palestinians are hopeful they will be able to preserve Islams third-holiest mosque. August 23, 2016 CAIRO Nadia Zakhary, a member of Egypts National Council for Women and former minister of scientific research, launched an initiative last month called Belonging to Egypt. The project is aimed at using scientific research studies to develop slum areas and advance the status of women in slums, who are responsible for the upbringing of millions of Egyptian youths. According to statements by former Minister of Urban Development Laila Iskander, as many as 40 million Egyptians live in slums. Despite the importance of the efforts made by those involved in the initiative, the Egyptian government continues to bear the full responsibility of improving conditions in the slums, according to those interviewed by Al-Monitor. Zakhary said the main goal of the initiative is to take advantage of scientific research in order to safeguard health and the environment [in the slums], in addition to using sociological research to promote principles and ethics. She told Al-Monitor that women and families are the primary target groups of Belonging to Egypt. Regarding the areas the initiative is focusing on, Zakhary said they include slums, low-income neighborhoods, public housing and remote areas in regions such as the Sinai Peninsula and Upper Egypt. The initiative was launched in Al-Asmarat, a public housing project in eastern Cairo that is set to include 11,000 residential units. The neighborhood was established this year by the Cairo governorate in cooperation with the Ministry of Housing and Local Developments Slum Development Fund and the Tahya Misr Fund at a cost of 2.582 billion Egyptian pounds ($290 million). This project came as part of the slum redevelopment process, and comprises homes that will be given to residents of unsafe slums in Cairo. Zakhary said the first topic of focus for the initiative is womens issues, namely working to educate women and spread awareness on health issues such as prevention and early detection of cancerous tumors including breast cancer in addition to treatment methods. Second, she noted that the initiative will address garbage, including the management of solid waste and how to protect humans, animals and the surrounding environment. It will also provide job opportunities for youths, and will coordinate with the Ministry of Scientific Research to develop ideas. She said that the projects falling under the scope of the initiative will include collecting used cooking oil and converting it to diesel fuel, as well as helping to select technologies that produce products that can be easily marketed locally or exported. This can be achieved while preserving the environment and water resources, and entrenching new concepts about rationalizing the consumption of water and energy in its various forms. Zakhary noted that the initiative took advantage of social funds to provide financial support and services to support the development and growth in these areas, as well as helping to complete the required paperwork to carry out these activities. One of the local nongovernmental organizations working in the relevant area is chosen to provide support and disburse the required funding to projects, or to review their funding, whether through the Social Development Fund directly or contracted intermediary parties, he said. A second part of the initiative concerns social aspects aimed at promoting the concepts of citizenship, love for work, accepting the other and renouncing violence. Belonging to Egypt also has a cultural side, said Zakhary, through the creation of a small library containing books, computers and mind-development games. [The library will also] highlight role models for young boys and girls, and hold contests and celebrations. The initiative also plans to host seminars and screen short films in the slums in coordination with various parties. Zakhary added that perhaps the initiatives biggest challenge is that it may be too ambitious. Meanwhile, Entissar al-Saeed, the director of the Cairo Foundation for Development and Law, stressed that improving the conditions for women in slums and providing health and social awareness is the responsibility of the state. The state must approve sufficient funding to provide health insurance and proper education to families living in slums, in addition to ensuring a clean environment that includes social activities for residents, [such as through] creating youth centers, she told Al-Monitor. However, she said that whats even more important than official efforts is convincing people of the importance of protecting their health and the environment. Commenting on the impact life in the slums has on women, Saeed said, There are numerous families in these areas for which a woman is the breadwinner and they dont have health insurance. [Women] are at risk of being subject to violence due to the deteriorating economic conditions and lack of education. [The latter] also contributes to cases of rape, harassment and female genital mutilation. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi officially inaugurated the slum relocation housing in Al-Asmarat on May 30, while pledging to relocate citizens from all unsafe areas to government-provided housing over the course of the next three years. It is estimated that Egypt has over 350 slum areas deemed unsafe most of them in the Greater Cairo region, which includes the governorates of Cairo, Giza and Qalyubia and housing more than 850,000 people. Yahya Shawkat, a researcher at 10Tooba, a research group comprising urban design professionals, rejects the use of the term slums, preferring deprived areas. These areas are deprived of infrastructure and public services, and in Egypt the state is the primary party responsible for implementing infrastructure in a comprehensive manner, he told Al-Monitor. He said, There are problems related to unofficial privatization of the water [supply] in these deprived areas. Water doesnt reach all residents, so some have to resort to private companies for water, amid an absence in state oversight. He said that while the initiative is important, The priorities of those living in deprived areas should be determined through a survey and holding focus groups with vulnerable groups to speak about their key needs instead of being decided by experts. Shawkat said he opposes the idea of population transfers from slums to government-provided housing, describing such ideas as useless. These transfers threaten to disrupt social ties and can lead to large economic losses, since they are not tied into employment [opportunities]. No studies have been done to see the impact of these transfers, he added. He said the solution rather lies in restoring unsafe houses reducing costs for the state and benefiting the family in addition to providing basic services. Given that 35% of families in slums are headed by women, an initiative targeting them in particular seems like a step in the right direction. However, its success still hinges on the efforts made by the state the key player in addressing crises in slums. August 24, 2016 What can I do about it? This was Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisis response to a question posed by a participant in the first forum of the Presidential Leadership Program early this month about how to fight corruption in municipalities. Egyptians will serve their country through electing efficient young men and women who want to take the responsibility of the municipalities, he said. Sisis statements include an implied understanding that corruption is spread throughout the municipalities. Despite the difficulty in tracking these incidents of corruption and determining how much they cost Egypt, the Forum for Development and Human Rights Dialogue (Moltaka) has estimated the money wasted in municipalities due to corruption to be 494 million Egyptian pounds ($55.6 million), and they estimated that 17 million Egyptian pounds ($1.9 million) have been embezzled during the first half of 2016. The study was based on an analysis of the incidents of corruption published in 12 Egyptian newspapers. According to the study, corruption in municipalities ranked first, as it represented 65% of the overall corruption. According to Articles 175 and 176 of the Egyptian Constitution, the state is divided into administrative units including governorates, cities and villages. The state guarantees support of administrative, financial and economic decentralization. The law regulates the means to enable the administrative units to provide, advance and regulate local facilities. Law No. 43 regulates the work done by the local units, as it states that the units are responsible for founding and running all public facilities in their jurisdiction and that they have the same specializations as the ministries, with the exception of the national facilities that have a wider range of activities that includes the whole geographical range of the state such as mail service, security and railways. The Center for International Private Enterprises project to "Promote Transparency & Combat Corruption in Egypt issued in 2010 a paper titled Decentralization and Curbing Corruption in Local Government: Impact on Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises. The paper attributes the outspread of corruption in local governments to the overlap in oversight responsibility with executive agencies in municipalities, to the establishment of special funds that are in accordance with accounting systems outside of the public budget and to the poor conditions of employees at local government bodies, as they receive the least wages compared to workers at different state sectors. Corruption can be found in all service private sectors, not only the municipalities, said Fathy al-Sharqawy, a member of the Local Government Committee in the Egyptian House of Representatives. According to Sharqawy, corruption has become clearer due to the loss of the prestige of the state after 2011, which resulted in corrupt officials in housing, utilities and education sectors not fearing the consequences of their corruption. In May 2016, the government announced a new law on local governments that grants members of local councils the right to submit motions to interrogate local officials. With a majority of two-thirds of the council members, they can withdraw confidence from the official who was proven to have committed the accusations entailed in the interrogation. In such case, the official should be prevented from carrying on in the position, and if the official was the governor or any of the deputies thereof, the matter is referred to the president to take the necessary action. Sharqawy is counting on the new bylaw on local governments to reduce the weight of corruption in municipalities. He considers that the bylaw would grant local government councils greater privileges that would enable them to carry out their missions. Sharqawy also expects that these councils would control corruption that drains its resources. Under Article 180 of the Egyptian Constitution, each local unit shall elect a council for four years. The candidate should not be less than 21 years old, a quarter of the total number of seats is dedicated to the youth under 35, a second quarter is dedicated for women, and the percentage should include a considerable representation of Christians and those with disabilities. Workers should be given considerable representation through workers seats of no less than 50% of the total seat count. Sharqawy expects that the youth would succeed once they lead local councils. According to him, the youth are more active and have the potential to create change in their societies. However, he warns about members of local councils exploiting the privileges granted to them to fulfill personal interests. He insists that a mechanism to monitor these privileges, which are granted under the law, should be used. Sayyed Gomaa, a former member of a local council in Gharbeyya governorate, told Al-Monitor, Having so many specializations at local councils is the main reason these councils suffer from cases of coruption. Any privileges granted to their members cannot be stopped." He added, Until local councils were dissolved in 2011, many of its members had been involved in bribes in return for easing up infringements, such as granting building permits for unqualified buildings. Gomaa added that Sisi was clear when he expressed his inability to fight corruption in municipalities on his own. However, Gomaa sees that Sisi, as the head of the executive power, is totally supported by all institutions of the state and has all the tools needed to wipe corruption. Gomaa expects that we will witness in the next few months a fierce campaign adopted by the presidential institution to curb corruption in municipalities. According to Gomaa, the youth need training on how to work in the field and on planning before participating in local governments. He believes that municipalities need people who have plans on how to advance them and end corruption more than they need the youth. However, Gomaa said that the youth still have potential that allows them to implement these plans appropriately and spot any incidents of infringement or corruption. Mustafa Shelbaya, the coordinator of the Municipalities are for the Youth campaign, disagrees with Gomaa regarding the youth not being able to plan the advancement of municipalities and end corruption. He told Al-Monitor, The campaign aims at preparing the youth to engage in the municipalities elections. According to him, thousands of the campaigns youth throughout the country are receiving training sessions under supervision of specialists in public finance, law and local development to qualify them to engage in fieldwork. Shelbaya listed the aspects of corruption in municipalities. According to him, some officials take bribes to grant building permits for unqualified buildings or to commercial permits for an illegal commercial activity, while other local officials neglect to do their work. The campaign is working on training members on the legal means to fight all aspects of corruption, Shelbaya added. The proposed bylaw on local government is much better than the old one, said Shelbaya, who sees that expanding privileges of local council members makes them stronger in their fight against corruption. However, he added, It is possible to elect local council members who do not have the intention or the ability to fight corruption. August 24, 2016 WASHINGTON US Secretary of State John Kerry will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Geneva on Aug. 26 to try to finalize a deal on Syria, after an initial US-Russian understanding reached at meetings in Moscow on July 15 was upended by intensified fighting in Aleppo. We want to be very measured in our expectations as we go forward but we believe this meeting is worth having, State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau told journalists at the State Department on Aug. 24 about the upcoming Kerry-Lavrov meeting in Geneva. I would not characterize it is as the brink, I would say we have a ways to go, Trudeau added, when asked if the scheduling of the meeting was a sign a deal was imminent. We still have issues that need to be resolved. However, we are meeting. We are going to put Secretary Kerry and the foreign minister in a face-to-face [meeting] to try to resolve some of the issues that remain. I dont know where we will be after this. We are committed to this advancing. Earlier, diplomatic sources in Geneva had said that a Kerry-Lavrov meeting was tentatively planned, but that whether one materialized depended on whether there was sufficient progress on Aleppo discussions. It depends on how the talks progress, a diplomat in Geneva, speaking not for attribution, told Al-Monitor on Aug. 24. Clearly, both sides want a deal but there is so much mistrust. Russia said Aug. 18 that it would be willing to consider cease-fires that would last 48 hours for Aleppo on a weekly basis, provided there could be security guarantees that would enable aid to reach both government-held western Aleppo as well as rebel-held eastern Aleppo. But follow-up meetings on how to implement the plan only resumed in Geneva on Aug. 23 and have been complicated, the diplomatic source said. Kerry, speaking to reporters in Kenya on Aug. 22, said he hoped that meetings between US and Russian technical teams in Geneva this week would make sufficient progress on a plan to expand a cessation of hostilities in Syria nationwide so that a deal could be announced by the end of the month. Our team will meet this week, and depending on where those discussions go, it is very possible, even likely, that Foreign Minister Lavrov and I would meet, Kerry told reporters in Kenya. But I wouldnt be surprised, if they are positive and constructive, that we do get together sooner rather than later. And, therefore, it is possible that something could be agreed upon before the end of the month. I wouldnt express optimism; I would express hope. This has to end this Syrian travesty, Kerry added. It has gone on far too long. It has cost too many lives. A resumption of intra-Syrian political talks has to be empowered by a legitimate cessation of hostilities and that is what were working to achieve, he added. Even as Kerry expressed hope that a US-Russia deal on Syria could be finalized this month, the Pentagon pushed back on reports a deal was imminent. Contrary to recent claims, we have not finalized plans with Russia on potential coordinated efforts, Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook told journalists Aug. 22. Serious issues must first be resolved before we can implement the steps [Kerry and Lavrov] discussed in Moscow last month. We are not there yet, and the regime and Russians recent actions only make it harder to consider any potential coordination, Cook added. US officials said Russian actions had served to bolster popular support for al-Qaeda-linked Jabhat al-Nusra (recently renamed Jabhat Fatah al-Sham), which played a key role in breaking an attempted Syrian regime besiegement of rebel-held eastern Aleppo. "The recent escalation in airstrikes and ground fighting in Aleppo is of deep concern to the United States, a US official, speaking not for attribution, told Al-Monitor on Aug. 23. The Syrian regime and its allies, Russia and Iran, are driving this escalation that is bringing more suffering to an already deplorable humanitarian crisis and complicates efforts to get Syrian parties to the negotiating table. Russia has pledged to focus its military actions against ISIL [Islamic State] and al-Qaeda in Syria. Instead of degrading these terrorist organizations, however, Russia's actions have empowered the Syrian regime which uses barrel bombs and, reportedly, toxic chemicals, like chlorine, on its own people, the US official said. These actions threaten to galvanize popular support for extremists like al-Qaeda, which claim to defend the population suffering under the rule of a brutal dictator and his allies. By intervening militarily in this civil war, Russia assumed enormous responsibility for Syria's future, the US official said. It is long past time for Russia to take the necessary steps to reduce violence against civilians, guarantee open access for humanitarian agencies and create conditions conducive for a political transition." The Russian Foreign Ministry said Kerry and Lavrov spoke by phone Aug. 24. They discussed the situation in Syria, including in Aleppo as well as possibilities for coordinating Russian and US efforts to combat terrorism, building on earlier agreements, including the need to draw a clear line between pro-American Syrian opposition groups and terrorist groups using them as cover, and to whom the cease-fire provisions do not apply, the ministry said in a press release. The Kerry-Lavrov Geneva discussions will be the big meeting, Bassam Barabandi, a former Syrian diplomat now with the Syrian opposition High Negotiating Committee, told Al-Monitor on Aug. 23. Now I think it is very difficult to talk about a cessation of hostilities, Barabandi said. Rebel gains in Aleppo in recent weeks are very difficult to use as leverage, because part of them are [Jabhat al-] Nusra, so I dont see how [Kerry] can leverage that in his discussions with the Russians, Barabandi said. August 24, 2016 BEIRUT Many Syrians caught up in increasingly hostile surroundings in Lebanon believe the country is becoming a harder place to live, an existence dictated by expensive residency renewals, curfews and incitement. We are being regulated more and more, Fathy, a Syrian in his 40s originally from Idlibs Jisr al-Shughur, told Al-Monitor. I feel like Im fighting to stay safe. Fathy, who refused to reveal his full name, was one of several Syrians beaten by local men in the Mount Lebanon village of Hrajel in late June, immediately after a multiple suicide bombing attack on al-Qaa, a predominantly Christian village close to Lebanon's northeast border with Syria. The Syrians say they had no recourse to the municipality police or hospital, partly because they were not carrying valid residency papers although a local official in Hrajel later told Al-Monitor that the men responsible for the beating had been given a verbal warning. But increasingly harsh conditions for Syrian refugees in Lebanon may also present new problems for a prospective deal with the European Union, designed to bolster Lebanons economy while effectively keeping Syrians away from Europe. Since October 2014, when the Lebanese Council of Ministers introduced new regulations for Syrian refugees, Lebanon has explicitly pursued a policy of deterrence aimed at reducing the number of Syrians in Lebanon, guaranteeing security and easing the burden on the country. One central aim of that policy is to encourage displaced Syrians to return to their country or to other countries by any means possible, and strictly enforce Lebanese laws on them. Refoulement should be used against all those who violate Lebanese laws and the conditions of entry. Refoulement, prohibited under the 1951 Refugee Convention, means forcibly returning a refugee or asylum seeker to an unsafe origin country. Lebanons deterrence policy effectively puts it at odds with its obligations under the EU's new Partnership Framework, a controversial new policy endorsed by the European Council June 28 that attempts to realign Europes relations with third countries purely in terms of migration management. The Partnership Frameworks communication highlights 16 partner countries and five priority countries including Lebanon and effectively recommends that migration management becomes the top priority in how the EU deals with third countries, with the help of incentives for compliant partners, in part because the message that migration issues are now at the top of the EU's external relations priorities has not yet been fully communicated to and appreciated by partners. In recent months, the EU has been busy negotiating country-specific compacts with third countries aimed at exploring possible leverage in negotiations and securing future projects. The projects under the Partnership Framework are being rolled out in some neighboring countries, with Jordan already having handed 23,000 Syrians work permits this year in return for low-interest loans and easier access to European markets, the Associated Press reported in late July. This is part of a long-term commitment to get 50,000 Syrians to work legally before the end of 2016. For Lebanon, the Partnership Framework offers improvements to infrastructure and basic services (waste management, water, education and health) while improving economic opportunities for Syrians and the most vulnerable Lebanese communities, with no mention of specific communities. But there's a caveat. According to the framework communication, In exchange, the Lebanese government should make efforts on the social and economic inclusion of Syrian refugees in order to improve their living conditions and legal residence status. While Europe tries to incentivize Lebanon to maintain its Syrian refugee population essentially to limit migration toward the EU Lebanese politicians are effectively pursuing a policy that aims to encourage Syrians to feel as unwelcome as possible, leave or even return home. The EUs aims are at odds with the prevailing mood in Lebanon, where Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil has been repeatedly criticized for allegedly xenophobic and inciteful remarks about Syrian refugees. Socio-economic pressures, in addition to Lebanon not having had a president since May 2014, has only made matters worse, forcing officials at the municipality level to enforce and interpret the law. One example is the introduction of curfews for Syrians at the municipality level, measures that Human Rights Watch say go against international and Lebanese law. The EU is seeking to improve the quality of life of refugees in terms of education, health, access to the job market while at the same time providing support that will benefit the host communities and the whole Lebanese population and help to improve the political and economic stability of the country, an EU spokesperson told Al-Monitor, before addressing concerns about the kind of rights abuses seen after al-Qaa. The EU has been given assurances by the Lebanese authorities that it would not resort to any large-scale arbitrary detentions or refoulement, the spokesperson added on condition of anonymity. Meanwhile, Lisa Abou Khaled, a spokesperson for the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, told Al-Monitor there have been no cases of refoulement of Syrian refugees since the incident in al-Qaa, although hundreds have been detained many without charge since June. The EU spokesperson said that negotiations would be finalized shortly," while the Lebanese Ministry for Foreign Affairs refused to comment while negotiations were ongoing. However, researchers have observed increasingly fraught relations between Beirut and Brussels during recent negotiations on traditional sticking-point issues such as refoulement, registration of refugees and the ratification of the UNHCR Refugee Convention largely as a result of the way Europe itself has handled migration on its own borders, argues Maja Janmyr, a researcher at the University of Bergen and the American University in Beirut. Janmyr suggests there has been a drastic shift in EU-Lebanese migration talks over the past year, giving Lebanon yet more leverage in negotiations with European states. She told Al-Monitor, Lebanon is carefully watching European states' appalling responses to refugees and migrants, and is not afraid of using these observations in negotiations. The end result is that Syrian refugees in Lebanon are left feeling ever more uncertain about the future. This isnt just about us, Fathy said, remembering the attack in Hrajel. This is about all Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Day after day, things are getting worse. Editor's note: This article has been updated since its initial publication. August 24, 2016 RAMALLAH, West Bank Security unrest has been plaguing the city of Nablus in the northern West Bank since Aug. 18 as a result of a broad security crackdown launched by Palestinian security forces in the city and sporadic armed clashes between gunmen in the citys old town, resulting in the death of five people. The clashes broke out Aug. 18 when security forces entered the citys old town to arrest armed individuals they called outlaws, accusing them of shooting at security forces. A spokesman for the security forces, Adnan al-Damiri, told Al-Monitor that the security forces were shot at and that two officers, Shibly Bani Shamsa from the special police unit and Mahmoud Taraira from the national security unit, were killed. Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, who also serves as minister of interior, said Aug. 19, The leadership and the government are determined to root out the outlaws from the city of Nablus, along with those who are violating civil peace in order to prevent security chaos from returning. The security institution sent large military reinforcements to Nablus old town following a decision by President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamdallah on Aug. 19. As a result, Khalid al-Aghbar and Ali Halawi whom the security services said were suspects in the death of the two security members were killed the next day. On Aug. 21, the security services showed the media weapons, grenades and ammunition seized during an inspection campaign and the raid the security forces carried out. On Aug. 23, the security forces said Ahmed Ezzat Halawi, whom they claimed was the mastermind behind the shooting that targeted the security forces Aug. 18, had been killed. Halawi had been arrested and taken to Junaid prison in Nablus, where security forces beat him to death, Nablus Gov. Akram Rajoub said. On Aug. 24, the shops in the old town of Nablus closed their doors for the second day in a row to mourn the death of Halawi; Halawis family announced in a press release issued on the evening of Aug. 23 that it will not bury their son until those responsible for his death are held accountable. The governor of Nablus, Gen. Akram Rajoub, told Al-Monitor that the exceptional circumstances that prevail in Nablus were caused by the Aug. 18 shooting. He stressed that the political and security decision was to strengthen security and stability. Meanwhile, the Palestinian government announced Aug. 23 the formation of a committee to investigate the killing of Halawi and reveal the results to the public. Damiri said a military trial will be held for each officer who participated in the beating and killing of Halawi. The Palestinian Authority [PA] is targeting illegal weapons in the city and we have seized large quantities of weapons and ammunition threatening the lives of citizens. This has prompted the decision to move forward in the fight against security chaos, Rajoub said. The PA claims it is seeking to establish order in Nablus and fight outlaws through its wide security crackdown. But some argue that the Palestinian security forces have violated the law; Aghbars family accused the security forces of arresting their son and then killing him, without trial and investigation, and demanded the formation of an independent investigation committee. The public had sympathized with the security forces after the killing of the two officers, but it then turned against them and the government for violating the law after the killing of Halawi. On Aug. 23, thousands of citizens rallied in Nablus to express their anger toward the security forces, demanding the departure of both Hamdallah and Rajoub. However, the security forces dispersed the protesters by throwing tear gas, which resulted in confrontations between the two sides while a number of anonymous masked gunmen closed the shops in the city as a sign of mourning. Meanwhile, the Independent Commission for Human Rights considered Halawis death a crime and an extrajudicial killing that represents a grave violation of Palestinian law and all criteria for the use of power. Najat Abu Bakr, a Fatah member of parliament from Nablus, told Al-Monitor, The situation in Nablus requires an intervention by the presidency and the government in order to stop the militarization of the city by the security services, especially since those who sympathized with the security forces in the past are now angered by Halawis killing. She said, No citizen may be arrested and killed without being questioned, as citizens are claiming that the security forces want to kill all the wanted individuals and not simply arrest them. For his part, Jamal Tirawi, a member of Fatahs Revolutionary Council and member of parliament for Nablus, told Al-Monitor, The killing of Halawi was wrong and a major violation by the security forces. It contradicts what was agreed upon with the prime minister Aug. 22 when he pledged before legal institutions and figures in Nablus not to allow the occurrence of abuses by the security officers when applying the law. This is why Nablus legal institutions and figures issued a statement Aug. 23 stressing that Halawis killing was an unjustifiable crime that violates the agreement they had with Hamdallah, calling for the formation of an independent committee to investigate his killing and putting an end to all violations committed by some security officers, in addition to setting conditions for a state of emergency in the old town. On June 30, two security officers had been shot dead by armed men in Nablus, which prompted Abbas to instruct the security forces to eliminate all weapons from the West Bank by seizing them and arresting gun owners. The security crackdown is likely to continue in Nablus, although no one knows where it will lead. August 24, 2016 More than a month after the July 15 coup attempt in Turkey, the crackdown on suspected members of the Gulen community, the accused culprits of the putsch, is continuing and expanding. As of Aug. 18, about 12,000 people have been jailed pending trial, including prominent businessmen, academics, journalists and soldiers; 10,000 people remain in custody for questioning and 85,000 public servants have been either suspended or dismissed. To make room in the prisons, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government issued a legislative decree last week, paving the way for the release of at least 38,000 prisoners, including convicted thieves. So where will all this end and what is the criteria in the detentions? The governments answer is highly controversial as it outlines criteria aimed openly at shielding the AKP, which had enjoyed a decadelong alliance with the Gulen community and showered it with favors. It was only after the two fell out that the government branded the community the Fethullah Gulen Terror Organization (FETO). So the date of the fallout is now pinned as a milestone in detecting Gulenists and their supporters. It was Prime Minister Binali Yildirim himself who drew the line in response to mounting criticism that the purges had become a witch hunt. Even his deputy, Tugrul Turkes, joined the outcry, saying, People have come to blame FETO even for the broken shock absorbers of their cars. In remarks on Aug. 13, Yildirim pledged the authorities would work meticulously, adding, Weve determined Dec. 17-25 [2013] as the milestone. The premier was referring to two massive corruption probes that became public Dec. 17-25, 2013, as police moved to round up suspects, including the sons of Cabinet ministers, AKP members and crony businessmen. The government argued the probes were a plot by Gulenist police and prosecutors to unseat the AKP, dismissed leaked incriminating tapes as fabrication and soon blocked the probes. Of note, a top suspect in the probes, Iranian-Turkish gold trader Reza Zarrab, is now awaiting trial in the United States for breaching US sanctions on Iran, and the 2013 investigation is said to serve as reference for US prosecutors. In the years before the corruption scandal, the government had backed massive trials targeting mainly soldiers but also journalists, intellectuals and politicians, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, then prime minister, calling himself "the prosecutor" of the cases. He would later disown the trials as a Gulenist plot to weaken the military and claim he had been deceived. Hundreds of people spent years in jail before being acquitted after key evidence used to convict suspects turned out to be fabrication. Dursun Cicek, a colonel who was among the victims and is now a deputy for the main opposition Republican People's Party, slammed Yildirims milestone as egocentric and insincere, stressing that the Gulenist drive to take control of the state had begun in 2007, the year when the first dubious roundups began. Some would put the starting point at an even earlier date, but 2007 marked the beginning of incessant [Gulenist] operations, Cicek told Al-Monitor. About 2,000 officers were decommissioned as a result of the trials, and up to 8,000 others quit the army out of fear or because they lost hope for their careers, he said, adding, This led to FETO both breaking out of control and filling the vacant positions with its own people. They began gaining strength at a much faster pace. Cicek mentioned the 2010 referendum as another landmark that emboldened the Gulenists, echoing a widespread conviction that constitutional amendments approved at the referendum helped Gulenists seize key posts in the judiciary. Cicek quoted former AKP deputy and Erdogan adviser Faruk Koca as telling him, If the [Gulen] community had asked for one [public] position before the 2010 referendum, it began asking for 10 after it. FETO was successfully carrying out its campaign to seize the state in those years, but Dec. 17-25, 2013, is the convenient milestone for the government because its important with respect to [evading] international crimes and corruption and bribery allegations. Beyond that, its neither fair nor justifiable, Cicek said. Besides the sham trials, rigged public service exams are another major grievance blamed on Gulenists before 2013. The media and the opposition had long sounded alarms that the exam questions were being stolen and distributed to selected people before the exams, but Erdogan and the government kept dismissing the claims. Today, at least 15,000 public servants face almost certain dismissal for having won their positions through the scheme. Yet their dismissal would serve nothing to remedy the plight of thousands of exam sitters who were unfairly disqualified and left jobless for years. The list of grievances and allegations is long, but one thing is obvious: Since 2009, Turkey has witnessed a series of mass roundups and trials, and now with the onslaught on Gulenists in full swing it seems to be bracing for more. Hence, the government is facing calls to distinguish between the wrongdoers and the innocent and prevent more people from being victimized. Its truly intriguing how the clampdown has so far failed to uncover the political leg of the putsch or FETO, despite tens of thousands arrested in other realms. The government has a good reason to shy away from this, having backed the Gulenists for years. According to pro-government journalists and former Gulenists, the communitys presence in the state grew at least 15 times under the AKP. This, in turn, has led to a frenzy of blaming anything on the Gulenists like the son of late President Turgut Ozal, who earlier claimed his father was poisoned and now says he suspects a Gulenist finger in his death. Such claims can be passed over, but some old videos and speeches circulated on social media demonstrate amply why the government draws the line at 2013. Take, for instance, the speech of Kamer Genc, the late opposition deputy, made in parliament in 2009. The flamboyant Genc was warning the AKP would suffer the biggest blow from the Gulen community in the future, while AKP deputies loudly protested and sought to get him off the rostrum. In another parliamentary session in March 2011, Bekir Bozdag, the incumbent justice minister, dismissed similar warnings by the opposition. Fethullah Gulen is a precious value this country has raised. You may or may not like him, but he is an estimable and erudite person, Bozdag said. Everything about him is transparent and under the supervision of the state. You will do him great injustice if you accuse him as a gang [leader] without any judicial charge or conviction. Accusing clean people of being gang [leaders] is unacceptable. Its past speeches like this that cast doubt on the governments intent over the milestone it has set. The government, however, feels little pressure for accountability, as the Turkish media has largely lost its critical edge and the opposition is struggling to make its voice heard. Yet all cover-ups will inevitably surface tomorrow, as past cover-ups are surfacing today. Hence, the AKP has to face up to its mistake and refrain from creating new victims and thus ease the tensions gripping the country. August 23, 2016 As the number of dismissals from Turkey's military ranks grows after the failed coup last month, we can try to get a clearer picture of who and what will be left when the purge ends. Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik said Aug. 18 that a total of 3,725 ranking officers from the army, navy and air force commands, the gendarmerie and coast guard have been discharged from the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). The castoffs were strongly suspected of being affiliated with the Gulen movement, or of neglecting their duty at the time of the coup. Most affected by these summary dismissals were the commanding elites of generals and admirals. Of 325 generals in army, navy and air force, 149 of them (45.8%) were discharged. Among them were two four-star generals, nine lieutenant generals, 30 major generals and vice admirals, and 126 brigadier generals and rear admirals. A list of expelled generals shows most were officers who gave priority to Atlantic ties and held strong pro-NATO stances. As Turkey has been an important member of the Western security bloc and a strong member of the NATO army, there is no doubt that these dismissals will have major effects on TSK's strategic identity and organizational culture. Among the discharged TSK generals and colonels were some very important names. There are strong suspicions that two leaders of the coup attempt were Maj. Gen. Mehmet Disli, who was chief of the strategic transformation office at the chief of staff headquarters, and Brig. Gen. Mehmet Partigoc. Also among the expelled were Lt. Gen. Salih Ulusoy, the chief of plans and principles (J5); Maj. Gen. Nevzat Tasdeler, the commander of Staff College; Maj. Gen. Salih Sevil, posted as Turkeys representative at NATO; and Maj. Gen. Serhat Habiboglu, responsible for force development at the headquarters. All of them held key posts in the TSK transformation process. Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar, since his assignment in August 2015, has been dealing with about 170 TSK transformation projects that seek to ensure an integrated TSK and to reduce its size while increasing its effectiveness. Akar must be enduring some tough days because of these expulsions and the political and public pressures he is under. The coup attempt has agonizingly politicized the TSKs institutional transformation. It has become almost impossible to comment on the TSK without taking an ideological position. Treating the subject from an overridingly ideological angle makes it impossible to make an objective, apolitical and worthwhile technical analysis. The questions we now face are simple. How can such a politicized TSK cope with fundamental change? Will the TSK revert to its previous status quo or become something else? To answer these questions, we have to classify TSK generals in relation to institutional transformation: Parasites These are the generals who believe that because of their past service they already paid their dues and it is now time to take it easy and let the system take care of them. For this indolent, lazy officer type, transformation means uncertainty, therefore more risk-taking and more work. They dont like it. They would prefer to follow the proven path of their predecessors. Pragmatists They believe in give and take with the TSK but put their own careers first. Pragmatists closely follow all changes and trends in the institution and seek the most advantageous. They are the most vulnerable to politicization. They choose between change and the status quo by assessing the risks for themselves by keeping track of their superiors' views. The majority of pragmatists prefer to maintain the status quo by avoiding risks. Reformists Those who are unhappy with the current TSK situation and who want to transform it. Transformation proponents resent the status quo. They incessantly criticize the TSK's prevailing culture, organizational structure and work methods. They see the TSK as lagging behind modern armies. There are actually two subcategories of reformist officers in the TSK. Original reformists, whose dream is to return the TSK to its roots in the early republic: active secularism, statism and nationalism. For these officers, the TSK has deviated from this ideal and the deviation must be corrected as soon as possible. As some would say nowadays, they seek to restore the factory settings. Progressive reformists, who approach issues not so much based on values, but advocate that the TSK should follow societal and civilian-military relations in Turkey and the global arena and act accordingly. It is also possible to classify TSK generals according to their political choice of right or left and their reading of global trends as nationalist and globalists: Conservatives (Right-Nationalists) In general, they dont speak foreign languages, havent had training or duty in foreign countries, and dont try to understand changes in the global scene. They are generally pro-status quo and reactive. You will find many pragmatists and some parasites in this category. Neo-Nationalists (Left-Nationalists) These who think of pre-independence times as dark ages also have poor foreign language abilities and little, if any, service abroad. They question every development outside Turkey with suspicion, and their reactive-nationalist attitudes generally override their leftist ideology. Atlanticists (Right-Globalists) These generals speak foreign languages, had good educations and have served abroad. Their goal is to achieve the professionalism level of NATO. For this category, NATO and its value system and the structure of the US military and its work methods are ideal. They see the TSK as an important element of the Western security system led by the United States. They believe that for Turkey to reinforce its standing in the international arena, it has to find its place among modern Western armies. Euroasianists (Left-Globalists) Just like Atlanticists, they speak foreign languages, had proper educations and served abroad, but they are not as aligned in world affairs and are anti-American. They think Turkey must be more independent and turn toward the East, which in their opinion is the irreversible current trend. They also oppose NATO. From the TSK expulsions list we see most were Atlanticists and conservative officers. We also now detect that those who pretended to be Atlanticists in key units working on institutional transformation were actually Gulenists. At the moment, the TSK is caught in the middle while crossing the stream of organizational transformation. Will it cross to the other side and continue with the transformation or go back and restore the status quo ante? TSK Atlanticists have lost considerable power because of Gulenist influences and mass expulsions. Will President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who now has more say in military affairs, become pro-transformation and opt for Euroasianist and neonationalist models that advocate a return to origins, to being more independent and Euroasianist externally, or will he focus on pragmatists and parasites to structure a new power balance in the TSK under strict civilian control? In other words, will the civilian-political authority call on Euroasianist reformists to lead the TSKs transformation to defend the country against external threats? Or will the idea be to institute a power balance among the pragmatists, parasites and reformists in the TSK? To learn the answers to these questions, we have to know whether Akar, the current chief, will remain in his post. If he departs, it would be a serious blow to Atlanticists. We seem to be heading in that direction. On the other hand, Erdogan appointed retired Brig. Gen. Adnan Tanriverdi of the Sadat A.S. private military company as his chief adviser on defense-security affairs. Tanriverdi is a key name in conservative traditions, and the appointment could well be an effort to balance the increasing power of Euroasianists in the TSK. Running Wild with Bear Grylls (NBC) Alabama native and celebrity actress Courteney Cox got personal while tagging along on this week's episode of NBC's "Running Wild with Bear Grylls." During the show, Survivalist Expert Bear Grylls and Cox explored the Irish Highlands by climbing its jagged terrain, rappelling down a cliff and taking a dip in a freezing lake. The duo keep their energy up during the two day trip by eating, much to Cox's dismay, maggots from a dead sheep they find. Between all of the adventure, Cox and Grylls had several emotional conversations about some pretty personal topics, including her experience with plastic surgery and her split with David Arquette. "I think there's a pressure to maintain, not just because of fame, but just, you know, being a woman in this business," said Cox. "Getting older has not been, I don't think, the easiest thing. I think I was trying to keep up with getting older, trying to chase that. it's something you can't keep up with." "Sometimes you find yourself trying and then you look at a picture of yourself and go, 'Oh, God.' Like, you look horrible," Cox continued. "I have done things that I regret, and luckily they're things that dissolve and go away. So, um, that's good, because it's not always been my best look." The 52-year-old actress also talked to Grylls about her ex-husband David Arquette, saying that they marriage developed into a relationship developed into one that was more of a friendship than a romantic interest. "We found ourselves leading separate lives and just coexisting and being great friends, but not having the intimacy that is so important in a relationship," said Cox on her relationship with the actor. "I think you really need to work in a relationship, and I think that we tried. We're just really different, too. I'm the polar opposite of him. That can be great for a lot of things, but I need this kind of real, one-on-one connection." You can watch the full episode of "Running Wild with Bear Grylls" featuring Cox here. This article was edited at 8:55 a.m. to correct name spelling. (Ben Flanagan photo) 7 flicks not to be missed at the Sidewalk Film Festival Music festivals, food festivals, and any given Saturday in the fall are all pretty entertaining here in the Magic City. But if you ask me, the best weekend in Birmingham year after year is the Sidewalk Film Festival. For two full days and a few prior evenings, the city is flooded with indie film of the highest caliber, hosted in the beautiful movie palaces of the Theatre District. Films that play Sundance, Tribeca, South By Southwest and other top-tier festivals. Films that go on to receive Oscar nominations. Films youll wish you saw on the big screen when they pop up on your Netflix a year later. Thanks mostly in part to a spring trip to the Nashville Film Festival and the magic of video on demand, Ive seen a handful of this years selections already. And Im here to tell you to see them too. By Jeremy Burgess Don't Edit The Fits (Saturday, 10:00am, Carver Theatre) Its hard to believe that The Fits is writer/director/producer Anna Rose Holmers first film. Her command of technique is remarkably balanced and precise, and she makes necessary and engaging use of long takes and wide shots. The overlying metaphor may not reach its full potential, but its fascinating nonetheless. Don't Edit Chicken People (Saturday, 12:10pm, Alabama Theatre) Everybodys passionate about something. Chicken People chronicles a trio of people who dedicate their lives to you guessed it chickens. Specifically, show chickens that are entered in national competitions. This is a lovely doc that shows how important it is for all of us to have something to believe in. Don't Edit Raiders! The Story Of The Greatest Fan Film Ever Made (Saturday, 1:40pm, Carver Theatre) Last years Sidewalk opening night film, Raiders! is a heartwarming tale of the youthful exuberance of yesteryear and how far a group of Mississippi men will go to recapture it. And this year, this documentary about a fan-made recreation of Raiders Of The Lost Ark is being paired with the actual adaptation itself. Don't Edit Morris From America (Saturday, 3:50pm, ASFA Recital Hall) Imagine being a 13-year-old boy with no friends and no mother. Now imagine living on a different continent where everyone looks different and speaks a different language. Thats life for Morris Gentry, a young rapper living in Heidelberg, Germany. The story here is absorbing, and Craig Robinson gives a career-best performance. Don't Edit Don't Edit The Arbalest (Saturday, 10:30pm, Lyric Theatre) The idiosyncratic storyline here may be frustrating to some, but Im on the positive side for The Arbalest, a tale of a disgraced toymaker trying to find love and recapture his glory. The production design here is fantastic, with 70s set pieces and wardrobes to give the film a classic vibe. Its also quite funny, in a rather dark way. Don't Edit Swiss Army Man (Sunday, 12:50pm, Alabama Theatre) If you missed Swiss Army Man co-written/co-directed by Birmingham native Daniel Scheinert (who will be in attendance) in the theaters, do not skip this film. The farting corpse premise is a bit silly, but underneath the surface theres so much heart and perspective on display here. Combined with a lovely soundtrack, its quite magical. Don't Edit Holy Hell (Sunday, 3:20pm, Alabama Theatre) Holy Hell is more than just a cult documentary. Any number of skilled filmmakers could do a cult doc, but director Will Allen spent 22 years as an actual member of the Buddhafield cult in fact, he was their resident videographer. The first act is suspicious, the second act is creepy, the third act is terrifying, and the whole thing might break your heart. Don't Edit Elizabeth Hoekenga | ehoekenga@al.com More on Sidewalk The 18th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival takes place Aug. 26-28 in downtown Birmingham. Read more about the festival here: The full 2016 schedule 14 films now streaming on Netflix to prepare you for Sidewalk state house mug by julie.JPG (Mike Cason/mcason@al.com) The Alabama Senate is expected today to debate a plan on how the state will use most of a $1 billion settlement with BP over the 2010 oil spill. A bill that passed the House would authorize a bond issue of about $639 million. BP payments totaling $850 million over 16 years would be used to pay off the bonds. The biggest portion of the money from the bond issue -- $448 million - would be used to pay off debts facing the state General Fund, money that was taken from the Alabama Trust Fund to balance the state budget during the last seven years. The rest of the bond money -- $191 million - would go to road projects in Baldwin and Mobile counties, which were most directly affected by the oil spill. Rep. Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, sponsor of the bill, said his plan would free up $70 million for the Alabama Medicaid Agency, which faces an $85 million shortfall for the budget year starting Oct. 1 and has already reduced payments to doctors. Lawmakers debated several plans for the BP settlement, including Clouse's, during the regular legislative session but did not reach an agreement. House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, said Tuesday the BP settlement is now the top priority for the special session, called by Gov. Robert Bentley to address funding for Medicaid and the General Fund. The House Economic Tourism and Development Committee will hold a public hearing on Bentley's lottery proposal today at 4 p.m. A deadline to get the proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot for the Nov. 8 general election has passed. If the Legislature approves the lottery bill, it would go to voters in a special election. Egyptian war correspondent and journalist Yehia Ghanem continues his series of short stories on the wars he has covered and the people he has met along the way. Read the rest of his Caged series here. In the years following the events of September 11, 2001, the image of the US in the Middle East was at its lowest. There were demonstrations against the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq in Egypt and elsewhere, along with calls to boycott US products. It was during these years, with relations between the US and the Middle East at an all-time low, that Americans finally began to answer the question so many of them had asked in the wake of 9/11: Why do they hate us? American officials and researchers had sat in my office at Al Ahram newspaper and asked me that very question. But gradually, they had come to form their own answer: that the Arab world had been angered by the US support for and empowerment of the dictators who had oppressed them. The only recourse, they had concluded, was to help the region to establish more democratic governments. Believing Egypt, the largest and most populated country in the Middle East, to be the locomotive that would drag the rest of the Arab world along with it, the government of George W Bush turned its attention there. US-based think-tanks and NGOs began to operate in Egypt, promoting notions of human rights, freedom of expression and the development of the media. There was suspicion among Egyptians, of course. But there was also a growing sense, reflected in everyday conversation, that Arabs were, at long last, being heard; that our deep hunger for democracy was being recognised. From outward appearances, the Mubarak government seemed to have decided to bow to the coming storm. But, unbeknown to the majority of people, its intention was to set up NGOs of its own organisations that would infiltrate NGO circles and report back on those that were truly independent and would help the government set the agenda for the NGO community in Egypt. In this context, it is important to point out that after the military took over in Egypt on July 3, 2013, many independent NGOs were shut down and, of those that remained, including the governments NGOs, most turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to the unprecedented human rights violations taking place in the country, including the killing of peaceful protesters. But those same government-formed NGOs were vocal in smearing the toppled, democratically elected president, Mohamed Morsi. Aware that democratisation also meant a free and independent media, the Mubarak government also spared no effort in introducing its own make-believe version of that. The government gave up its monopoly over public media, allowing the private sector the right to establish television stations, radio channels and newspapers. What few people seemed to notice, however, was that only four families all within Mubaraks circle of business associates were licensed to own private media outlets. In reality, these independent organisations served as safety valves to release the steam of public anger, all while protecting the government. It was an open secret that, for years, a weekly meeting was held by the assistant minister of interior for public communication to discuss that weeks agenda for the major talk shows on the private channels. Anchors, columnists and journalists would attend. When the moment of truth came with the January 25, 2011 revolution all of these media outlets defended the government and turned on the protesters, describing them as Western conspirators against Egypt. But away from the pretend private media organisations and NGOs, genuine moves towards democracy were being made by Islamic movements such as al-Jihad, a highly conservative Islamic group, many of whose leaders were jailed during the 1980s and 1990s, and al-Gamaa al-Islamiyya, who began reviewing their doctrines, which had previously permitted the use of violence to achieve regime change, either by directly targeting the dictatorship or by targeting those Western countries that supported it. As these movements disowned violence and endorsed democratic means of regime change, an important part of Egyptian society began to tilt towards democracy. Of course, the Muslim Brotherhood had renounced violence in the late 1950s. But in 2006, 77 years after it was founded, the Brotherhood made another change to its doctrine one that was ignored by Egypts public and private media: It recognised the right of jurisdiction of Christians and women. In Shariah law, this is referred to as the Major Jurisdiction, or al-Welaya al-Aama, meaning that a woman or a Christian could become president. It was a major leap for the Brotherhood. But the Mubarak government sought to block the West from witnessing it; preferring to portray them as undemocratic terrorists. When the West seemed to pick up on the signals regardless, the government took further steps to contain this process of democratisation. In 2004, it amended the constitution, creating the false impression that there would be genuine competition in the 2005 presidential elections. But it was just an illusion and efforts to eventually pass the presidency from Mubarak the father to Mubarak the son were already under way. In the months after the 2005 vote, I was told by an adviser to Ayman Nour, Mubaraks main opposition in it, that the Nour candidacy had been allowed only as part of the governments choreographed elections. During the campaign, Nour had been surprised by the amount of support he received. Still, the results did not differ from those of previous elections: with 88.6 percent of the vote, it was a landslide victory for Mubarak. Nour secured 7.3 percent and Noman Goumaa, another opposition candidate, just 2.8 percent. But it was enough for the government to be displeased with Nour. By getting what was an unprecedented level of support in a country that had for so long run single-candidate votes, he had embarrassed Mubarak. It took just a few months until Nour found himself facing allegations of fraud. He was convicted and imprisoned. The message was clear: everyone would have to play by the regimes rules. Chronicle of a Caged Journalist is a series of excerpts from an upcoming book. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policies. Hunger striking for dignity in Guantanamo To me, hunger striking is a way of holding my head high. Its a simple exchange: of pain for dignity. The US leadership should see Turkey in a new light and revise the usual parameters of engagement. The relations of Turkey and the United States were not in a very good state before the failed coup attempt on July 15. However, since then relations have taken a turn for the worst. As Vice President Joe Biden visits Turkey today, he is facing four pressing items on the agenda. The first is the Turkish request for the extradition of Fethullah Gulen, who is widely believed to be the hand behind the failed coup attempt. There was already an ongoing investigation against Gulen before the coup attempt, and on May 26 the Turkish National Security Council officially labelled the organisation as a terrorist group the Fethullah Terrorist Organisation (FETO), to be disbanded as a primary threat to Turkeys national security. Further evidence coming from the testimonies of the arrested coup plotters indicates without a doubt that FETO was behind the coup attempt. Extradition of Gulen There is an extradition agreement between the US and Turkey that has been in force since 1981. According to this agreement, which does not cover political convictions, Turkey has now made an official request for the extradition of Gulen and has forwarded evidence to this effect. This will be followed up with a legal process in the US, which could take time. The expected legal process needs to be better explained to the Turkish public, among which there is a heightened sensitivity about the matter. A US Justice Department delegation is already in Ankara ahead of Bidens visit to discuss the details of the case with its Turkish counterparts. However, from Turkeys perspective, the US leadership appears to have a nonchalant attitude towards the extradition request. Whether this is true or not, it is up to the US authorities to convince their Turkish counterparts that they are taking the matter seriously and are urging the legal process to move with the upmost speed. Much of this convincing will fall on Joe Biden during his visit. War against ISIL The second pressing item on the agenda is the war in Syria and the US-backed advance of predominantly Peoples Protection Units (YPG)-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). When the SDF seized control of Manbij from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) on August 13, this crossed Turkeys red line that the YPG should stay on the east of the Euphrates. Turkey does not wish to see a contiguous YPG-controlled territory running adjacent to its 911km border with Syria, and considers this a national security priority because it views the YPG and the Kurdistan Workers' Party as one and the same. by The US promised that once these areas are cleared of ISIL, YPG units would go back to the east of the Euphrates. That promise, fragile at best, does not seem to be holding as YPG units advanced further north towards the Turkish border and prompted Turkish cross-border artillery fire into Syria against both YPG and ISIL positions. As the Turkish army units amass at the border near Jarablus, it is a warning sign that Turkey will try to prevent the joining of YPG-held areas adjacent to the Turkish border from Jarablus to Marea. Turkey does not wish to see a contiguous YPG-controlled territory running adjacent to its 911km border with Syria, and considers this a national security priority because it views the YPG and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) as one and the same. The PKK is considered a terrorist organisation not just by Turkey but also by the US and the European Union. Although the US is also fully aware of this fact, it still insists that since there are no other ground forces they can rely on in the fight against ISIL, they will continue to train and back the YPG, much to the frustration of Turkey. One issue that needs to be communicated carefully during this visit is who will control the territories liberated from ISIL. OPINION: From sporadic to systematic ISIL attacks in Turkey As far as Turkey is concerned this cannot be the YPG. But alternatives also look grim as the opposition forces are far from these areas and are considerably weakened by the pounding of the regime. Perhaps a peacekeeping force in which Turkey also takes part or leads could be approved by the United Nations. With the commencement of Turkeys operation to Jarablus, this looks like a more realistic alternative. Especially in light of the recent Turkish-Russian rapprochement, this might be a possibility, given not just Russias permanent seat on the UN Security Council, but also its clout over the Bashar al-Assad regime. The status of the Incirlik airbase The third issue is surfacing US concerns over the Incirlik airbase, controlled by the Turkish and US air forces. Given the fact that power was cut to the base after the failed coup, and the Turkish commander of the base, Bekir Ercan Van, was arrested as one of the plotters who gave the permission for a a tanker plane to take off and support rogue fighter jets on the night of the coup attempt some US analysts are concerned about the safety of US nuclear weapons stored in the base. Since there are no aircraft capable of delivering nuclear weapons in Incirlik, the bombs are mainly there for storage. Furthermore, they cannot be activated without a code. But the latest developments have opened up the debate on their exact purpose there. If they are to enhance deterrence, one has to ask, deterrence against whom? It seems that after the failed coup, there will be an increasing questioning about the utility of storing these weapons on the base, even though for Turkey stationing nuclear warheads has symbolically solidified the US-Turkish strategic partnership. OPINION: Whats behind the Turkey-Russia reset? Additionally, the base is the main operations headquarters for the aerial attacks against ISIL positions in Syria. In this respect Turkish-US cooperation is vital. This is crucial for the interests of the US, which has a focused, tightly timetabled mission to clear ISIL from Syria and Iraq. Mending ties with Turkey is important for the continuation of coalition use of the Incirlik base for combat flights. Diplomatic ties The fourth issue is the need for readjustment of US public diplomacy towards Turkey. Official and unofficial reactions from the US, especially those from the media, to the failed coup attempt are much to blame for the rise of anti-American sentiment in Turkey. Questions such as Is this the end of democracy/secularism? following the national trauma of thwarting a deadly coup attempt are insensitive and ill-informed about the national solidarity between the opposition and government as well as the unification of secular and Islamist strands of society. If the US leadership fails to see Turkey in a new light and insists on the usual parameters of engagement that is hand-picking who it considers its friends vis-a-vis a legitimately elected government it does not seem to like very much and remaining oblivious to Turkish sensitivities to the terror threats of ISIL, the PKK and FETO then these two allies are likely to drift further apart. Let us hope wisdom prevails. Gulnur Aybet is the head of Political Science and International Relations Department at Bahcesehir University and Director of the BAUCESS Centre for Security Studies. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policies. The growing pockets of solidarity expressed for Kashmiris are heartening, as is the solidarity for Palestinian struggle. Goldie Osuri is the author of Religious Freedom in India: Sovereignty and (Anti) Conversion. The India and Israel alliance has been described as a full-blown romance, but the ongoing siege of Kashmir makes this a bloody affair covert for years. India has bought arms from Israel since the 1960s. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to visit Israel in 2017, marking the 25th anniversary of full diplomatic relations. The two nations are passionate about their brutal occupations of Kashmir and Palestine. India is one of Israels biggest arms exports clients, spending about $10bn over the past decade. Indian police forces have been receiving training in Israel for anti-terror operations, which Israeli conducts against Palestinians. The ongoing unrest in Kashmir Writing in the Middle East Review of International Affairs in 2004, Harsh Pant, professor of international relations at Kings College London, frames the self-determination struggles in Kashmir and Palestine within a post-9/11 narrative of the global scourge of Islamist terrorism. This terror frame supports the economy of arms trade between India, Israel and the United States. In this story, the aggressive religious nationalisms of Zionism and Hindutva are neutral shared security interests. Kashmiri and Palestinian quests for self-determination are reduced to neighbouring Muslim or Arab states causing unrest. The current siege of Kashmir by Indias forces follows the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. We live in a time when nation-states overtly commit war crimes, are cheered on by bloodthirsty majoritarian citizens, and literally get away with murder. by Kashmiris came out in thousands to mourn the event. Kashmiri writers and journalists say that the savage response of the Indian state to the popular crowd support for the slain militant was unprecedented. The pellet gun, a weapon banned in many countries, was used to blind and maim hundreds from a one-year-old child to the elderly. The dead numbered more than 70, and 6,000 or more were injured. These numbers continue to rise. Yet, Kashmiris continue to protest against the Indian state and call for Azadi (freedom). Occupation and occupiers These current events must be placed in a longer context. Since the 1990s, through a decade of armed struggle against the Indian state, state violence in Kashmir has taken its toll. There are about 500,000 military personnel in the region in other words, one soldier for 25 civilians. The Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society reports more than 70,000 killings, about 10,000 enforced disappearances and 7,000 mass graves (PDF). Torture, rape, sexual violence, enforced disappearances, and extra-judicial killings are widespread. These human rights violations are intricately linked to the denial of political sovereignty for Kashmiris. We desperately need to reconsider our West versus non-West understanding of the geography of colonialisms. The years 1947 and 1948 mark the creation of the nation-states of India and Israel. These years scar Kashmiris and Palestinians. Palestinians have been dispossessed of territory and many forced into exile. Kashmir was handed over from an unpopular ruler without the legitimacy of popular vote to the Indian state on October 26, 1947. A condition of that accession is the United Nations resolution of 1948 for referendum or plebiscite, never facilitated by the Indian state. Israel and India thus inaugurate the colonial occupations of Palestine and Kashmir. Uneven scale of atrocities When is an occupation not an occupation? When it is executed by one of the worlds largest markets? When is a butcher not a butcher? When he is a prime minister; or when he is an ally? Lets not forget that Modi was denied a visa to the US in 2005 for his alleged responsibility over the mass murder of Muslims during the Gujarat riots. His nickname, the Butcher of Gujarat, comes from that 2002 event. He can now add the title of the Butcher of Kashmir to his name even as that title fits previous Indian prime ministers. OPINION: Two centuries of oppression in Kashmir Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, like his predecessors, can be named the Butcher of Palestinians as he presided over the brutal bombing of Gaza in 2014 that killed 2,100 Palestinians, a third of them children. The Israeli dead listed 66 soldiers and seven civilians. This uneven scale led the UN Inquiry of Gaza to lay the weight of the charge of war crimes on Israel even as they also charged listed Palestinian armed groups. The US was the sole vote against the UN inquiry, and European countries abstained, as did India. The Gaza bombing was not the first and it is not the last as the violence of occupation continues in Palestine daily in the form of illegal settlements and killings. Greater need for solidarity We live in a time when nation-states overtly commit war crimes, are cheered on by bloodthirsty majoritarian citizens, and literally get away with murder. The word democracy glitters like fools gold on the tongues of world leaders. Human rights regimes seem toothless in the face of the bold barbarisms of nation-states invested in repressing democracy, and need reform if they are to deliver justice. And so transnational solidarity and activism are urgent when almost every nation-state seems rogue. The small but growing pockets of solidarity expressed for Kashmiris are heartening, as is the international solidarity for Palestinian struggle. Joining the dots between the occupations of Kashmir and Palestine shows the need for a greater solidarity between these two sovereignty struggles. Goldie Osuri is associate professor of sociology at the University of Warwick, UK. She is the author of Religious Freedom in India: Sovereignty and (Anti) Conversion. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. Efforts to deny indisputable atrocities are more than fading remnants of discredited regimes. Serge Brammertz is the chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. Most of the worlds attention focuses on todays humanitarian crises. This is understandable. Preventing and ending armed conflicts must be the first priority, particularly in the face of immense and ongoing civilian suffering. Yet it is important not to lose sight of what happens after conflicts are over. Years of dedicated effort are needed to secure the peace and rebuild order. In the 1990s, conflicts in the former Yugoslavia transfixed the world much as Syria does today. Since the Yugoslav wars were finally brought to an end, the international community has invested significant efforts to help restore peace and security in the Western Balkans. Meaningful progress has been achieved in critical areas such as democratisation, particularly through Euro-Atlantic integration and the European Union accession process. The return of dangerous rhetoric However justice and reconciliation essential pillars for building sustainable peace have faced far more opposition. Initially, some progress was achieved, supported by far-sighted leaders such as the late Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Dindic and Croatian President Stjepan Mesic. In the past few years, though, the situation has greatly deteriorated, with the return of rhetoric and policies not seen since the outbreak of the conflicts. Some government officials throughout the region regularly misrepresent and disregard the judicial and historical record. The denial of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes is almost commonplace today. Convicted war criminals are being publicly lauded as heroes. Recent commemorations of tragedies have been used to inflame tensions and retrench divisions. These trends paint a worrying picture of how those domestic politicians throughout the region are shaping public opinion. While Milosevic did not face final judgment in the courtroom, the facts and evidence remain. Today, any member of the public can access the ICTY's judicial records and read the evidence. by Last week marked a new low. To widespread surprise, a thin pretext was seized in an attempt to publicly absolve former President of Serbia Slobodan Milosevic, of responsibility for the atrocities committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Some, including the Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, contend that earlier this year the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) exonerated Milosevic in its trial verdict convicting former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic. The arguments are not only misguided, but wrong. The only person on trial in Karadzics case was Karadzic himself. Insulting the victim But the key point is that these arguments ignore historical facts established by the evidence. Revisionism not only insults victims; it holds a society back. The ICTY Office of the Prosecutor indicted Milosevic for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Kosovo. Our prosecutors introduced immense evidence more than 350 witnesses and 5,700 documents comprising 150,000 pages demonstrating his alleged criminal responsibility. Regretfully, he died in 2006 before his trial could be completed and a verdict entered. OPINION: The Radovan Karadzic verdict will change nothing Yet, while Milosevic did not face final judgment in the courtroom, the facts and evidence remain. Today, any member of the public and any government official can access the ICTYs judicial records and read the evidence. Vital information can also be found in Serbias state archives. Even in the absence of a criminal verdict, historys judgment will be that Milosevic played a central role in fostering ethnic cleansing campaigns throughout the former Yugoslavia. Isolation and stagnation The ICTY has always adhered to the principles that accused are only prosecuted for their individual criminal responsibility, and that no people bear collective responsibility for the crimes of their leaders. Yet equally, all people have the right to know what was done in their name. And with that knowledge, progress and reconciliation require acceptance of clear, historical facts, no matter how uncomfortable those facts may be. Revisionism and denial lead only to isolation and stagnation. More accountability for atrocity crimes is urgently needed throughout the former Yugoslavia. OPINION: Does Europe judge Radovan Karadzic or itself? Unfortunately, for every country in the region there are legitimate doubts about the commitment to impartial and independent justice. Too often false equivalencies and appeals to ethnic victimhood are used to justify inaction and widespread impunity. There is still time to take the right path. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, brutal insults to victims by denying the crimes against them must stop. In Croatia, all those who were forced to flee their homes, whatever their ethnicity, must be recognised and protected. In Serbia, the new government must demonstrate that its commitment to prosecute all war crimes cases is not only words, but the road map for real action. Whether from intent or neglect, relations between the countries of the Western Balkans are at their worst point in years. Efforts to rehabilitate those like Milosevic, or deny indisputable atrocities like the Srebrenica Genocide, are more than fading remnants of discredited regimes. State and political officials throughout the former Yugoslavia must make a choice. To keep stoking the fires of ethnic nationalism by denying the truth and turning neighbours into objects of fear. Or to accept that there were immense wrongdoings in the past; bring the perpetrators to justice and move forward together on the path to solidarity and lasting peace. Serge Brammertz is the chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policies. Tear gas, water cannons and batons used to disperse rally in capital Harare with unconfirmed reports of injuries. Zimbabwean police have used tear gas, water cannons and batons to disperse an opposition rally protesting against police brutality in the capital Harare. More than 200 supporters, mostly youths, of the main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), took to the streets on Wednesday. Many protesters were reported to have been injured, but police spokeswoman Charity Charamba said she had no information on that. Riot police blocked streets around the MDC headquarters and used water cannon against some youths in downtown Harare. Some protesters threw back tear gas canisters, as well as rocks, towards the police, who fired more tear gas outside the MDC offices. The demonstrators had marched through the streets of the capital denouncing the police for beating up protesters and called on President Robert Mugabe to step down, accusing him of running a dictatorship. The rally came two days before a planned march by all opposition parties to try to force Mugabe to implement electoral reforms before a general election in 2018. READ MORE: Zimbabwes season of rising discontent We have been seeing a deliberate attempt by the police to intimidate, harass and silence the people of Zimbabwe, Lovemore Chinoputsa, the MDC Youth Assembly secretary-general, said during the march. Chinoputsa said police had refused to sanction the march, saying that it would degenerate into violence. Over the past few months, Zimbabwean police have crushed demonstrations against high unemployment, acute cash shortages and corruption. The police routinely deny charges of brutality and instead accuse the opposition of using hooligans during protests to attack officers. A trauma clinic in Harare last month compiled a list of cases of people who had been caught up in a police crackdown during anti-government protests. The MDCs leader Morgan Tsvangirai and former vice president, Joice Mujuru, are expected to lead Fridays march. VP Joe Biden says the US is cooperating with the Turkish authorities but the extradition process may take time US Vice President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that he understood the intense feeling in Turkey over the US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen whom Ankara accuses of masterminding the July 15 failed coup. Speaking at a news conference with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, Biden said work was continuing by US legal experts to evaluate the evidence produced by Turkey that need to be supplied to an American court for an extradition. OPINION: Joe Bidens visit to Turkey and solving pressing issues I understand the intense feeling your government and the people of Turkey have about him [Gulen]. We are cooperating with the Turkish authorities, he said. Biden was hitting the right notes in terms of what political messages Turkey wanted to hear, said Al Jazeeras Jamal Elshayyal, reporting from Ankara. These were obviously the condemnation of the coup attempt, solidarity with the Turkish people and also an acknowledgement that super powers and other international players should have been present to show their solidarity with Turkey after the coup attempt. At the press conference in Ankara, Biden said that the US has no, no, no, no interest whatsoever in protecting anyone who has done harm to an ally. None. But we need to meet the legal standard requirement under our law. He said it would be an impeachable offence for US President Barack Obama to order the extradition of a foreign national. We have no reason other than to cooperate with you [Turkey] It always takes time It is never understood why the wheels of justice move deliberately and slowly. It is totally understandable why the people of Turkey are angry, he said. READ MORE: US delegation in Turkey to discuss evidence on Gulen Turkish officials have warned that if Pennsylvania-based Gulen is not extradited, relations will suffer further and anti-American sentiment will deepen in the country. This is clearly an issue that needs to be carefully managed, Ambassador Adam Ereli, a former US diplomat, told Al Jazeera. Emotions are raw, sensitivities are high, and frankly the issue is a very complex one. Working through the [extradition] process will take time. Even though Biden failed to offer a rapid solution to the Gulen problem, Ereli said, his visit established a mechanism for dealing with this issue at a senior level. Now, responsible officials from both governments are going to be in constant communication and are going to know that they will be getting answers from people with authority. Hopefully this will lower the temperature. A senior US official said on Wednesday that Turkey had submitted four extradition requests for Gulen but offered no evidence tying him to last months failed coup. Yildirim said that if the process of extraditing Gulen is expedited, Turkish peoples disappointment would be dispelled very quickly. Two bombs target pub and karaoke bar in troubled southern province, killing one person and injuring 30 others. One person has been killed and 30 others injured after two bombs exploded in a busy nightlife district in Thailands troubled southern province of Pattani. The first bomb targeted a pub and karaoke bar late on Tuesday causing no casualties, before a second blast struck the same area 20 minutes later in an apparent double tap attack, the Bangkok Post newspaper said. Al Jazeeras Scott Heidler, reporting from Bangkok, said the second attack killed a woman and injured those who were responding to the first blast. Pattani is a frequent target by southern insurgents, but the use of a car bomb is less frequent than IEDs [improvised explosive devices] or gun attacks, he said. Travel warning Most embassies warn nationals against all travel to Pattani an area bordering Malaysia that Thailand annexed over a century ago. A series of bombings across central and southern Thailand on August 11 and 12 left four people dead and more than 30 injured. No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks but some security experts have blamed southern secessionist groups. In remarks after the blasts in Pattani, Prawit Wongsuwan,Thailands deputy military leader, dismissed any link between the August 11-12 bombings and the unrest in the south. Earlier on Tuesday, two Chinese nationals went on trial for their alleged roles in a deadly bombing in a Hindu shrine in Bangkok one year ago. Since 2004, more than 6,200 have been killed and 11,000 injured as armed groups fight for the creation of an independent state combining Thailands three southern Muslim-majority provinces: Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat. The three provinces soundly rejected a referendum earlier this month on a new military-backed constitution, which passed convincingly in most of the rest of Thailand. The iconic uniform is updated to better reflect the diversity in Canada and boost recruitment of Muslim women. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is to allow its female Muslim officers to wear hijabs, updating an iconic uniform to better reflect the diversity in Canadas communities. The commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police recently approved this addition to the uniform, Scott Bardsley, a spokesman for Ralph Goodale, the public safety minister, told the AFP news agency. This is intended to better reflect the diversity in our communities and encourage more Muslim women to consider the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as a career option. The policy was quietly enacted despite the fact that no officer had yet asked to wear the hijab as of earlier this year. READ MORE: Satire as wearing hijab is labelled passive terrorism However, about 30 officers had asked for a relaxing of the rules for religious or cultural reasons over the past two years, the Montreal daily La Presse reported, citing an internal correspondence between Goodale and the forces commissioner Bob Paulson. The memo also said that the type of hijab was selected to be included in the uniform that could be removed quickly and easily if needed. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police became the third police force in Canada to add the hijab option after Toronto and Edmonton. The uniform a red serge tunic, leather riding boots and wide-brimmed felt campaign hat dates back to the 1880s and was last updated in 1990 to allow Sikh officers to wear turbans. Philippine president says bloody confrontation could happen if Beijing tries to invade countrys territories. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has warned of a bloody confrontation should China try to invade the countrys territories in the disputed South China Sea. While insisting that he would first seek a peaceful resolution, Duterte told soldiers on Wednesday that they should be prepared to defend the country over the territorial dispute. We do not want a quarrel, he said. I would walk the extra mile to ask for peace for everybody. But I am sure and I guarantee to them that if they invade us, it will be bloody and we will not give it to them easily, he added. Duterte also said he would not raise hell now about an international court ruling that China had no legal right to claim a large swath of the South China Sea, in a case brought by the Philippines. But he stressed that there will come a time that they have to do some reckoning about this. READ MORE: Why China cares about the South China Sea China, which did not participate in the arbitration case at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, has rejected the courts ruling as null and void. The Philippines has repeatedly called on China to respect international law in resolving maritime territorial disputes and stressed that any talks would have to be based on the courts ruling. Apart from China and the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam also have overlapping claims to the South China Sea, a key shipping lane rich in mineral and marine resources. At least 247 people dead as 6.2 magnitude quake hits Umbria, causing heavy damage and trapping residents under rubble. At least 247 people have died after a powerful earthquake struck central Italy, destroying dozens of villages, the countrys civil protection agency said, raising a previous count of 120. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi warned on Wednesday that the figure could still rise as rescue efforts continued in the mountain villages devastated by the quake. About 368 people were injured in the tremor, he said at a press conference in the Rieti region, not far from the epicentre of the 6.0-6.2 magnitude quake. This is not a final toll, Renzi added. The US Geological Survey said it was a 6.2 magnitude quake that hit near the town of Norcia, in the region of Umbria, at 3:36am local time (01:36 GMT). The earthquake caused buildings to collapse and sent panicked residents fleeing into the streets of numerous towns and cities. The mayor of the small town of Amatrice reported extensive damage. Half the town is gone, Sergio Pirozzi told RAI state television. There are people under the rubble Theres been a landslide and a bridge might collapse. Italys civil protection agency said the earthquake was severe. A 5.5 magnitude aftershock hit the same region an hour after the initial quake. Luca Cari, fire department spokesman, said there have been reports of victims in the quake zone, but he did not have any precise details. Besides Amatrice, the worst-hit towns were believed to be Accumoli, Posta and Arquata del Tronto, Cari told Reuters news agency, adding that helicopters would be sent up at first light to assess the damage. Gilberto Saccorotti, a geologist at Italys National Institute for Geophysics and Volcanology, told Al Jazeera: That particular area has a long history of very [powerful], very energetic seismicity. Its not surprising to have had a [powerful] earthquake there. From my knowledge of the area, the roads are very narrow, so if one road fails, the connection may become very difficult The depth is quite shallow, about four kilometres. Usually the typical depth is in the order of ten kilometres. WATCH: Return to LAquila Broken Promises Saccarotti said it is difficult to predict whether there will be another earthquake or more aftershocks. Residents of Rome, about 170km from the registered epicentre, were woken by Wednesdays tremors, which rattled furniture and swayed lights in most of central Italy. A hostel on the Gran Sasso mountain, a popular area for hikers and climbers, said on its Facebook page that a large piece of rock had collapsed as a result of the tremor. The spokesperson for Matteo Renzi, Italys prime minister, said on Twitter the government was in touch with the countrys civil protection agency and following the situation closely. The last major earthquakes to hit Italy occurred in 2012. Two quakes struck the northern Italian province of Modena in May, killing about 27 people, injuring many others and wreaking widespread havoc. In 2009, more than 300 people were killed after a massive earthquake struck the central Italian city of LAquila. Probe highlights US failure to control armed groups who detained and tortured Sunni men after routing ISIL from city. Reports say Shia militias in Iraq detained, tortured and abused far more Sunni civilians during the American-backed capture of the town of Fallujah in June than US officials have publicly acknowledged. More than 700 Sunni men and boys are still missing more than two months after the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group stronghold fell, says Reuters news agency. The abuses occurred despite US efforts to restrict the militias role in the operation, including threatening to withdraw American air support, according to US and Iraqi officials. The US efforts had little effect. The Shia militias did not pull back from Fallujah, participated in looting there, and now pledge to defy any American effort to limit their role in forthcoming operations against ISIL. Do Shia militias stoke sectarian tension in Fallujah? All told, militia fighters killed at least 66 Sunni males and abused at least 1,500 others fleeing the Fallujah area, according to interviews with more than 20 survivors, tribal leaders, Iraqi politicians and Western diplomats. They said men were shot, beaten with rubber hoses and, in several cases, beheaded. Their accounts were supported by a Reuters review of an investigation by local Iraqi authorities and video testimony and photographs of survivors taken immediately after their release. The Shia militia leaders deny that their groups mistreated civilians. They say the missing men were ISIL fighters killed in battle. Iraqi government officials also challenged the reports of widespread violence against civilians. Iraqs main Shia militias, trained and armed by Iran, emerged during the 2003-2011 US occupation and have grown in power and stature. After helping the government defend Baghdad when ISIL seized Mosul in 2014, the militias became arms of the Iraqi government. Abuse records In July, Human Rights Watch urged Iraqi military commanders to ban militias with abuse records from the fight to reclaim Mosul from ISIL. The battle against ISIL is the latest chapter in the conflict between Iraqs Shia and Sunni communities, which took root after the 2003 US-led invasion. The war ended decades of Sunni rule under Saddam Hussein and brought to power a series of governments dominated by Shia parties patronised by Iran. US inability to restrain the sectarian violence is now a central concern for Obama administration officials as they move ahead with plans to help Iraqi forces retake the much larger city of Mosul, ISILs Iraqi capital. Preliminary operations to clear areas outside the strategic city have been under way for months. Sunni leaders in Iraq and Western diplomats fear the Shia militias might commit worse excesses in Mosul, the countrys second-largest city. ISIL seized the Sunni-majority city in June 2014, and US officials say they fear a repeat of the militia abuses in Mosul could erase any chances of reconciling Iraqs Sunni and Shia communities. Virtually every conversation we have had internally with respect to planning for Mosul and virtually every conversation that weve had with the Iraqis has this as a central topic, said a senior Obama administration official. In public, as reports of the abuses in Fallujah emerged from survivors, Iraqi officials and human rights groups, US officials in Washington initially played down the scope of the problem and did not disclose the failed American effort to rein in the militias. Brett McGurk, the special US envoy for the American-led campaign against ISIL, expressed concern to reporters at a June 10 White House briefing for reporters about what he called reports of isolated atrocities against fleeing Sunnis. Hundreds missing Three days before the briefing, Sohaib al-Rawi, governor of Anbar province, informed the US ambassador that hundreds of people detained by Shia militias had gone missing around Fallujah. By the time of the White House briefing, Iraqi officials, human rights investigators and the UN had collected evidence of scores of executions, the torture of hundreds of men and teenagers, and the disappearance of more than 700 others. Nearly three weeks later, on June 28, McGurk struck a measured tone during testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He said reports of abuses had been received in the early days of the operation, many of which have turned out not to be credible, but some of which appear to be credible. McGurk declined a request for an interview. Mark Toner, the US state departments deputy spokesperson, said American officials had expressed concern both publicly and privately about reported atrocities. We find any abuse totally unacceptable, Toner said. Any violation of human rights should be investigated, with those responsible held accountable. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve says a ban on the burkini swimsuit must not lead to stigmatisation. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve warned against stigmatising Muslims as a furore over the banning of burkinis grew with the emergence of pictures of police surrounding a veiled woman on a beach. The implementation of secularism, and the option of adopting such decrees must not lead to stigmatisation or the creation of hostility between French people, said Cazeneuve on Wednesday, after a meeting with the head of the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM). Dozens of French towns and villages, mostly on the Cote dAzur, have banned beachwear that conspicuously shows a persons religion, a measure aimed at the full-body swimsuit dubbed burkini but which has also been used against women wearing long clothes and a headscarf. CFCM president Anouar Kbibech requested an urgent meeting with Cazeneuve after pictures emerged of a veiled woman sitting on a beach in Nice removing her tunic, watched by four policemen. The images, which went viral on social media, were interpreted as showing the woman being pressured by police into removing the garment. READ MORE: Rights group to take action after Cannes burkini ban Nice mayors office, however, denied she had been forced to remove clothing, telling AFP that the woman was showing police the swimsuit she was wearing under her tunic, over a pair of leggings, when the picture was taken. The police issued her with a fine and she then left the beach, the officials added. The bans, which follow a string of attacks around France, including a massacre in Nice on Bastille Day last month, have sparked a heated debate about Muslim integration and French secular values. While the burkini bans have been presented by the mayors as necessary to defend secularism and public order, police have also fined women for being fully clothed and having their heads covered, out of the water. On Tuesday, a 34-year-old mother, who gave her name only as Siam, told AFP she was fined on the beach for wearing leggings, a tunic and a headscarf. I had no intention of swimming, the woman, who was accompanied by her children at the time, said. A witness to the scene, journalist Mathilde Cusin, said some onlookers had applauded the police and shouted at Siam to go home. Kbibech referred to her case in a statement ahead of his meeting with Cazeneuve. The CFCM was concerned over the direction the public debate is taking, citing the growing fear of stigmatisation of Muslims in France, he said. Burkini furore on Twitter The photos of the woman on the beach in Nice, first published by Britains Daily Mail, caused a furore on Twitter, with the hashtag #WTFFrance becoming a top trending topic. Just let this sink in. Men with guns forcing a women to undress, with the weight of the law behind them, read a tweet by user Abdel-Azim, who is described as the editor of a religious magazine, which was retweeted more than 26,000 times. Let's stop pretending France is the land of "liberte" and "egalite" when it allows something like this #WTFFrance pic.twitter.com/txSN4vw4In Elena Rossini #ThisIsWhataFilmmakerLooksLike (@_elena) August 24, 2016 I am so ashamed, French feminist Caroline De Haas tweeted. On Thursday, Frances highest administrative court, the Council of State, will examine a request by the Human Rights League to scrap the ban. Lower courts have upheld the bans, with a tribunal in Nice, where a Tunisian man used a truck to mow down a crowd of Bastille Day revellers on July 14, saying the burkini could be felt as a defiance or a provocation exacerbating tensions felt by the community. France enforces a strict form of secularism, aimed at keeping religion out of public life. Islamic dress has long been a subject of debate in the country, which was the first in Europe to ban the Islamic face veil in public in 2010, six years after outlawing the headscarf and other conspicuous religious symbols in state schools. However, ordinary citizens are allowed to wear the headscarf in public. Latest test, which was reportedly carried out off North Koreas east coast, comes amid escalating cross-border tensions. North Korea has fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile off its east coast, according to South Koreas military, the latest in a string of missile launches by Pyongyang in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions. The missile was test-fired at around 5:30am (08:30 GMT) on Wednesday near the coastal city of Sinpo, where satellite imagery shows a submarine base is located, an official at South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said. Yoshihide Suga, Japans Chief Cabinet Secretary, said the projectile reached Japans air defence identification zone an area of control designated by countries to help maintain air security. The launch comes two days after South Korea and the US began annual military exercises that North Korea condemned as a preparation for invasion. It has threatened retaliation. READ MORE: North Korea says missile launch a test for nuclear strike Chinas Xinhua news agency said the launch could be seen as a response to the drills, calling the exercises a dangerous game. North Korea has become further isolated after a January nuclear test, its fourth, and the launch of a long-range rocket in February brought tightened UN sanctions. It has launched numerous missiles of various types this year, including one this month that landed in or near Japanese-controlled waters. Tensions on the Korean peninsula were exacerbated by the recent defection of North Koreas deputy ambassador in London to South Korea, an embarrassing setback to the regime of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Confidential report to be discussed by UN Security Council could lead to further sanctions against government. A confidential report by both the United Nations and the global chemical weapons watchdog has alleged Syrian government forces carried out at least two toxic gas attacks and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant reportedly used sulfur mustard gas. According to the joint report seen by the Reuters news agency, a year-long probe by the UN and Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) authorised by the UN Security Council focused on nine attacks in seven areas of Syria, where a separate OPCW fact-finding investigation had already determined that chemical weapons were likely to have been used. Eight of the attacks investigated involved the use of chlorine. The inquiry was unable to reach a conclusion in six cases, though it said that three of those cases warranted further investigation. The 15-member Security Council is due to discuss the report next week. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the report would be made public after that meeting. The inquiry found there was sufficient information to conclude that Syrian government helicopters dropped devices that then released toxic substances in Talmenes on April 21, 2014 and Sarmin on March 16, 2015, both in Idlib governorate. Both cases involved the use of chlorine. The Syrian mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the finding of the report. OPINION: Syrias continuing chemical fallout It also determined there was sufficient information to conclude that ISIL were the only entity with the ability, capability, motive and the means to use sulfur mustard gas in Marea on August 21, 2015. Syria agreed to destroy its chemical weapons in 2013 under a deal brokered by Moscow and Washington. The Security Council backed that deal with a resolution that said in the event of non-compliance, including unauthorised transfer of chemical weapons, or any use of chemical weapons by anyone in Syria, it would impose measures under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter. Chapter 7 deals with sanctions and authorisation of military force by the Security Council. The body would need to adopt another resolution to impose targeted sanctions a travel ban and asset freeze on people or entities linked to the attacks. However, Russia a close Syrian ally and China have previously protected the Syrian government from council action by blocking several resolutions, including a bid to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court. The use of these weapons is abhorrent and we unequivocally condemn those who unleash them, British UN Ambassador Matthew Rycroft told the council on Monday. This council must stand ready to demonstrate a robust response to this report. Deputy US Ambassador to the United Nations Michele Sison told the council on Tuesday: Those responsible for the use of chemical weapons in Syria must be held accountable for their actions. READ MORE: Suspected chemical attack in Aleppo In the case of the attack in Sarmin, the UN/OPCW inquiry found that the remnants of the device dropped are consistent with the construction of a barrel bomb. Barrel bombs are steel drums full of shrapnel and explosives dropped from the air. It said attacks in Kafr Zita in Hama governorate on April 18, 2014, Qmenas, in Idlib governorate on March 16, 2015, and Binnish in Idlib governorate on March 24, 2015, merit further investigation. The inquiry did not recommend further investigation of the remaining three cases in Kafr Zita on April 11, 2014, and Al-Tamanah on April 29-30, 2014, and May 25-26, 2014. The separate OPCW fact-finding investigation had found that chlorine was systematically and repeatedly used as a weapon during the Syrian conflict. Government and opposition forces have denied using chlorine. Chlorines use as a weapon is prohibited under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention, which Syria joined in 2013. If inhaled, chlorine gas turns to hydrochloric acid in the lungs and can kill by burning lungs and drowning victims in the resulting body fluids. The UN Security Council should now ensure that those responsible for these attacks are brought to justice in a court of law. Without accountability, the cycle of abuses in Syria by all parties to the conflict whether by chemical or conventional weapons will continue unabated, said Louis Charbonneau, UN Director at Human Rights Watch. Rebels take full control of strategic border town in massive operation backed by Turkish and US air strikes. Turkish tanks and hundreds of opposition fighters thrust deep inside Syrian territory on Wednesday in a lightning operation that within hours pushed Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) fighters out of a key Syrian border town. The air and ground offensive the most ambitious launched by Ankara in the Syria conflict made rapid progress towards Jarablus throughout the day, as rebel fighters captured ISIL-held villages surrounding the strategic border town. Jarablus can now be considered fully liberated, Ahmed Othman, a commander in the Free Syrian Army, told Al Jazeera from the scene, while another rebel spokesman said ISIL fighters had fled towards al-Bab to the southwest. The attack started in the morning and we were able to take control of a number of villages near the town. After a few hours and after controlling the hills surrounding the town, ISIL felt the danger. A large number of ISIL fighters withdrew south towards al-Bab, which is still under [ISIL, also known as ISIS] control. Jarablus, a strategic town on the border with Turkey, had been controlled by ISIL fighters for two years. The group is now left with only one stronghold in Syrias northeast al-Bab. In a press conference on Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the operation was also targeting Kurdish militia fighters strongly opposed by Ankara but backed by the US as a key ally in the war against ISIL who had also been closing in on Jarablus. We have said enough is enough This now needs to be resolved, Erdogan said. Joe Biden, the US vice president who met Erdogan in Ankara on Wednesday, reassured Turkey that Washington had instructed the Kurdish YPG that crossing west of the Euphrates River could mean the total loss of American support. They cannot, will not and under no circumstances get American support if they do not keep that commitment. Period, he said. The Turkish government has accused the YPG of being an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The Turkish state has waged war against the separatist group for more than 20 years. The YPG has been the US-led coalitions strongest ground partner in the war against ISIL, but Turkish leadership wants the US to sever ties with the Kurdish faction, said Al Jazeeras Hashem Ahelbarra, reporting from Gaziantep on the Turkish side of the Syria-Turkey border. Rapid advance Wednesdays operation named Euphrates Shield began at around 4am (01:00 GMT) with Turkish artillery pounding dozens of ISIL targets around Jarablus. Turkish F-16 fighter jets, backed by US-led coalition planes, also hit targets inside Syria. A dozen Turkish tanks then rolled into Syria in support of Syrian opposition fighters who had also crossed, with as many as 5,000 rebel fighters including groups such as the Turkmen Sultan Murat Brigade, Sukur al-Jebel, Sham Front and Feylek al-Sham. The rapidity of the advance was in complete contrast to the long-grinding battles where Kurdish forces had taken towns in northern Syria such as Kobane and Manbij from ISIL. As well as tanks, an AFP photographer in the area of Karkamis, opposite Jarablus, saw several smaller military vehicles believed to be carrying the pro-Ankara Syrian rebels. Security sources quoted by Turkish television said a small contingent of special forces had travelled into Syria to secure the area before the larger ground operation. Turkey wants to show it is serious about taking on ISIL, which has been blamed for a string of attacks inside the country, including a recent attack on a Kurdish wedding in Gaziantep that left 54 people dead, many of them children. Ankara was long been accused of turning a blind eye to the rise of ISIL in Syria and even aiding its movements across the border, claims the government had always vehemently denied. READ MORE: YPG launches assault to take all of Syrias Hasaka Earlier this month, a coalition of primarily Kurdish fighters led by the YPG pushed ISIL fighters out of Manbij, a strategic city that lies west of the Euphrates river. Saleh Muslim, head of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the YPGs political wing, tweeted that Turkey was now in the Syrian quagmire and would be defeated like ISIL. But a senior US administration official told AFP that Washington had already been syncing up with Turkey for Wednesdays operation and US advisers had been involved in a planning cell. The Turkish air strikes were the first since a November crisis with Russia sparked when the Turkish air force downed one of Moscows warplanes. A dozen ISIL targets were destroyed in Wednesdays air strikes. Turkish artillery meanwhile destroyed at least 70 ISIL targets, according to Turkish television. READ MORE: Almost 18,000 died in Syrias prisons, says Amnesty The movements come at a critical juncture for Turkey in Syrias five-and-a-half-year war, and there are growing signs that Ankara is on the verge of a landmark policy shift. Turkey has continuously called for the removal of President Bashar al-Assad, putting Turkey at odds with the embattled leaders main supporters Iran and Russia. But Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim acknowledged for the first time over the weekend that Assad was one of the actors in Syria and may need to stay on as part of a transition. In a note of discord after news broke of the Turkish-backed operation on Wednesday, Russia said it was deeply concerned by the situation on the border and warned of a further degeneration of the situation. Assads government which has has little control of countrys northeast since 2012 condemned the incursion as a flagrant violation of its sovereignty. Special forces and US-led coalition launch joint operation to clear fighters from northern Syrian town of Jarablus. Turkish fighter jets have struck ISIL targets in the northern Syrian border town of Jarablus, according to Turkish news media. Wednesdays operation is a part of a joint campaign by Turkish special forces and the US-led coalition to clear fighters belonging to ISIL, or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group, from the Syria-Turkey border. The operation, which began at around 4am local time (01:00 GMT), is aimed at clearing the Turkish borders of terrorist groups, helping to enhance border security and supporting the territorial integrity of Syria, the state-run Anadolu Agency quoted Turkish officials as saying. INTERACTIVE: Timeline of attacks in Turkey Turkeys CNN Turk television said the operation involved artillery and rocket shelling as well as warplanes. It also said Turkish forces were waiting for a possible ground operation at the border. Security sources quoted by Turkish television said a small contingent of special forces travelled a few kilometres into Syria to secure the area before a possible operation. Footage from CNN Turk broadcasting live from the Turkish border town of Karkamis showed white plumes of smoke coming from atop hills from Jarablus across the border. Turkey had pledged on Monday to completely cleanse ISIL fighters from its border region after a suicide bomber suspected of links to the group killed 54 people at a Kurdish wedding in the southeastern city of Gaziantep. Turkey is also concerned about the growing influence of Syrian Kurdish groups along its border, where they have captured large expanses of territory since the start of the Syrian war in 2011. Turkey sees them as tied to the PKK, which has been waging an armed campaign mainly in the countrys southeast. READ MORE: Meet the female Kurdish fighters battling ISIL The military operation against ISIL comes as Syrian rebels backed by Turkey also say they are in the final stages of preparing an assault from Turkish territory on Jarablus, aiming to pre-empt a potential attempt by Syrian Kurdish YPG forces to take it. The YPG, a critical part of the US-backed campaign against ISIL, took near complete control of Hasaka city on Tuesday. The group already controls chunks of northern Syria where Kurdish groups have established de facto autonomy since the start of the Syria war a development that has alarmed Turkey. Offensive said to be campaign by Turkey and US-led coalition to clear ISIL from Syrian border town of Jarablus. Turkish tank units have entered Syria as part of a military operation backed by Turkish and US-led coalition warplanes to clear the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group from the Syrian border town of Jarablus, according to Turkish state media. Turkish special forces had crossed the border and entered Jarablus early on Wednesday, officials said. The operation, which began at around 4am local time (01:00 GMT), is aimed at clearing the Turkish borders of terrorist groups, helping to enhance border security and supporting the territorial integrity of Syria, Anadolu Agency quoted Turkish officials as saying. Turkish media said the operation involved artillery and rocket shelling as well as warplanes, before the ground forces, including heavy armoured vehicles, entered Syria towards noon. So far, Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters backed by Turkey have captured four villages and total of 46 ISIL fighters have been killed in the operation, Dogan news agency said on Wednesday. Turkish daily Hurriyet reported that Turkish tanks in Syrian territories blocked ISILs support routes and Turkish fighter jets along with coalition jets pounded ISIL vehicles headed from the al-Bab region to support ISIL fighters in the Jarablus area. Meanwhile some 5,000 FSA fighters, including groups from the Sultan Murat Brigade, Sukur al-Jeber, Sham Front and Feylek al-Sham, were reportedly advancing toward central Jarablus. PYD and ISIL targeted The operation is targeting ISIL and Syrian Kurdish fighters in northern Syria to end attacks on Turkeys border, President Tayyip Erdogan said in a speech in the capital Ankara on Wednesday. At 4:00 this morning, operations started in the north of Syria against terror groups which constantly threaten our country, like Daesh [the Arabic acronym for ISIL] and the PYD [the Syrian Kurdish group], he said in a speech in Ankara. Turkey had pledged on Monday to completely cleanse ISIL fighters from its border region after a suicide bomber suspected of links to the group killed 54 people at a Kurdish wedding in the southeastern city of Gaziantep. Turkey is also concerned about the growing influence of Syrian Kurdish groups along its border, where they have captured large expanses of territory since the start of the Syrian war in 2011. Turkey sees them as tied to the PKK, which has been waging an armed campaign mainly in the countrys southeast. It is hard to conduct this operation without the green light from Moscow, Tehran, Damascus and Washington, Metin Gurcan, security analyst, told Al Jazeera from Istanbul. The open objective in this operation is that Turkey is trying to create an ISIL-free humanitarian zone by clearing Jarablus for possible flow of refugees, he said. The covert objective is another one. The PYDs recent advances alarmed Ankara. Turkey aims to deny the PYDs objective of connecting cantons it controls and creating monolithic Kurdish entity. INTERACTIVE: Timeline of attacks in Turkey The military operation against ISIL comes as Syrian rebels, backed by Turkey, also say they are in the final stages of preparing an assault from Turkish territory on Jarablus, aiming to pre-empt a potential attempt by Syrian Kurdish forces of PYD to take it. The PYD, a critical part of the US-backed campaign against ISIL, took near-complete control of Hasaka city on Tuesday. The group already controls chunks of northern Syria where Kurdish groups have established de facto autonomy since the start of the Syria war a development that has alarmed Turkey. Ukrainian president accuses Russia of vain attempts at invasion as Kiev marks 25th anniversary of independence. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has struck a defiant tone towards Russia, accusing his countrys larger neighbour of vain attempts at invasion as Ukraine celebrated 25 years of independence. Looking back over more than two years of war, it is possible to confidently say that the enemy has not been able to bring Ukraine to its knees, Poroshenko said at a war memorial in Kiev on Wednesday. For this, 2,504 of our soldiers have died, he continued. The celebration, which featured a military parade in Kiev, came amid escalating tensions with Russia as Moscow boosts its military presence near the countries shared border. READ MORE: Ukraine divided stories from warring sides Ukraine was a part of the Soviet Union until 1991 and, as such, under Moscows de facto control. On August 24, 1991, Ukraines parliament adopted its Declaration of Independence, establishing the republic as separate from the disintegrating Soviet Union. Efforts in recent years to tilt Ukraine towards the West have prompted divisions in the country, which Ukraine and most of the West have blamed on Russia. Ukraine has fought against pro-Russian separatists backed by Moscow since early 2014, when Kiev deposed its pro-Russian president amid mass protests calling for closer ties with the West. More than 9,500 people have died and two million forced from their homes in the fighting in two major industrial regions in the east. Kiev also lost its strategic Black Sea peninsula of Crimea when it was seized by Russian soldiers on Putins orders and annexed in March 2014. As Americans prepare to elect a new president, we explore how Donald Trump has divided the Republican Party and the US. Presidential campaigns in the United States are often full of drama and chaos political theatre but it is usually controlled chaos, which is carefully scripted by party officials. This presidential campaign has been different, with Republican Party officials watching as Donald Trump, an unpredictable reality TV star and businessman, took over the party to a path paved by policies that defied typical conservative positions. He has set the tone in this country. He says vitriol is ok, violence is ok.... Donald Trump is not the type of human being that can be in the White House, who can lead this country. He is a divider, not a unifier and we have to do everything in our power to prevent that from happening. by Dane Waters, Delegates Unbound Trump has thrown the Republican Party into an internal war over what the party should stand for, with many Republicans still fighting to replace him as their partys nominee. Beyond Trumps questionable conservative values, he has also raised concerns because of his often violent rhetoric, particularly towards immigrants and non-white communities. This message of economic anxiety, this message of ethnic scapegoating, those two things being this confluence that provides a real spark for potential violence in American society, I dont think anybody can take that light, says Jelani Cobb, a writer for The New Yorker. As Americans prepare to elect a new president, Fault Lines explores the fractures Donald Trumps nomination has exposed within the Republican Party and the US. How did the billionaire businessman manage to rise from reality TV star to presidential nominee? How did he get so far? And what does his nomination mean for the GOP and the country? We travel to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland as Republicans and voters across the US come to terms with Trumps nomination for president. We speak with party officials about Trumps rise to power and ask how they feel about anointing a candidate who promotes himself through divisive rhetoric and fear. A smartphone application that offers local discounts if students dont check Facebook during lectures will launch Monday at UF. Pocket Points, which is available in 65 cities, lets users earn points for discounts if their phones are locked while theyre in educational buildings, said Mitch Gardner, the chief operating officer of the company. The stores in Gainesville to offer student discounts through the app are Office Depot, Hungry Howies Pizza, High Tides Tobacco and Gifts, Big Lous NY Style Pizzeria and Know Where Coffee, he said. We try to find places that students love to go to get them good deals and discounts, Gardner said. Gardner said the idea to create the app came after he and his business partner were students and noticed almost everyone was on their phones. Students were always on their phone, the 23-year-old said. We saw that it was a constant problem. The company used Google Maps to find buildings on UFs campus where users can earn points, he said. Anywhere on campus, you can earn points, he said. Except for dorms. If more people are using the app in the same area, students can earn points faster. They can also double the points on Tuesdays, which Gardner calls Two-Times Tuesday. Since the apps launch in 2014, it has reached about 25 percent of students in 65 cities, he said, including Miami, Orlando, Tallahassee and Tampa. At Florida State University and the University of Central Florida, he said about 19,000 total students are using the app. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now Last year, users spent over 650 million locked minutes, or time not spent on their phones during classes, through the app, he said. Chelsey Mays, 20, has never heard of the app but said she would consider using it. I feel like its something I could do, because I try to stay off my phone regardless, the UF animal sciences senior said. She said that of the local businesses partnered with Pocket Points, she would do it for Know Where Coffee. But shes not sure her peers feel the same. I dont know if students are really going to stay off their phones, she said, but I think the incentive to get points and discounts at stores would help. Hungry students forced to wait in long lines at the Chipotle Mexican Grill near UFs campus may soon find relief. On Sept. 3, a new Chipotle location will open up a short drive away near the intersection of Northwest 13th Street and Northwest 23rd Avenue said Danielle Moore, a company spokeswoman, in an email Tuesday. The roughly 2,500-square-foot restaurant will become the latest addition at a new strip mall owned by Morse Properties and located at 2225 NW 13th St., according to Alligator archives. There is no grand opening planned, but every Chipotle location will participate in a student-oriented promotion during September, during which students showing valid IDs can receive free drinks, Moore said. After paying for lunch at the Chipotle on West University Avenue, 18-year-old UF exploratory freshman Mary Anne Tracey said she visits the restaurant way too much up to four times in one week. She said the demand is high in Gainesville for Chipotles brand of fast-casual Tex-Mex, so it makes sense the company would open up a third restaurant in the city. Because of its convenient location near classroom buildings, Tracey said she has been more willing to wait in lines that sometimes take 10 minutes to get through. But with the opening of a location closer to her apartment on Northwest 13th Avenue, Tracey said she may ditch the long lines for a pre-class lunch. So yes, Im definitely excited about it, she said. For more than a decade, screen scraping has been the traditional method for moving bank transaction data into an app like Mint. But the technique, which involves a computer attempting to read and interpret the data on a web page, isn't ultimately helping the consumer or the bank. For years, banks have loudly complained about screen scraping's burden on their technical infrastructure, while third-party personal financial providers bemoan the data inaccuracies. Furthermore, both banks and nonbanks can agree that screen scraping is not a secure practice. Consumers typically provide a sensitive piece of information, like their bank usernames and passwords, to a third-party provider. That third-party provider passes the credentials to an aggregator before the data is passed to the bank to login. Multi-factor authentication requiring a one-time code or special answer after the password helps with security but is ultimately a poor outcome. App providers don't want to interfere with users' passwords. Some banks have attempted to provide account aggregation tools themselves, such as Bank of America's My Portfolio product. However, consumers want more. They're seeking tools that help them make smarter financial decisions and reach their goals, and they aren't limiting themselves to one institution. Consumers need to be able to safely aggregate their financial data into a single portal. When you take a look outside of the financial services industry, standard-based authentication structures used by Google, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter point us toward a clear solution: OAuth, an open standard for authorization. Under this system, the third-party provider can request an authorization token or key from the bank. Then, the bank provides its own form of authentication without the third party seeing any customer data. After the user authenticates successfully, the token is provided to enable the customer access to the software for a period of time from 30 to 60 or even 365 days. The OAuth process is tested, secure, common and straightforward to implement. Third-party providers register applications for access a step that lets banks monitor usage of their application programming interfaces. Both banks and customers can maintain control over what data is shared by limiting it to particular data sets, such as only credit card transactions or only retirement portfolio data. While some extra work is required on the bank's side, using OAuth makes the consumer experience smoother, while helping all parties avoid security mishaps and miserable customer experiences. There's already some precedent in the U.S. In June 2016, Wells Fargo and Xero entered an agreement to create a more secure and customer-focused model of sharing data between companies that have common customers. Similarly, Capital One offers a developer API, and implements the OAuth specification so third-party companies can have secure access to shared customer data. These financial institutions are pioneering the next wave of innovation responsible for moving data securely outside of bank walls. More should follow suit. While banks might be hesitant to provide access to this data, consumers are demanding choice and flexibility. Therefore, we should all team up to explore secure alternatives to screen scraping. Together, banks and third-party providers can come to terms with the care and handling of sensitive data to help consumers save money, achieve financial goals and acquire new financial services products. Matthew Goldman is the chief product officer at Bankrate Credit Cards. He founded and led Wallaby Financial in 2012, which Bankrate acquired in 2014. Goldman is a board member of Innovate Pasadena and the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Claremont McKenna College. The media and much of the Republican establishment have caught on to only part of a story about a shady deal that the Obama administration made with the Islamic Republic of Iran, a deal that took a rather labyrinthine and bizarre form. What they are talking about is bad enough, which involves paying a ransom for hostages, opening up Americans to kidnappings and imprisonment whenever they travel abroad. The part of the story that they are missing, however, is that what the administration did was highly illegal, according to statutes we still have on our books. On August 3rd, a story broke that an unmarked cargo plane loaded with $400 million in foreign currency landed in Tehran as part of a United States payment to Iran. Coincidentally this happened the very same day that three American hostages were released. The next day President Obama took to the airwaves, and emphatically stated, We do not pay ransom for hostages. We didnt here, and we wont in the future. He went on to describe how he has met with various American families whose loved ones are being held hostage around the globe, and that we simply do not pay ransom because that would encourage more hostage taking in the future. "Those families know we have a policy that we don't pay ransom," Obama said. "And the notion that we would somehow start now, in this high-profile way, and announce it to the world, even as we're looking in the faces of other hostage families whose loved ones are being held hostage, and saying to them we don't pay ransom, defies logic, President Obama added. However, Washington is abuzz with the news from the Thursday, August 18th Wall Street Journal that an Iranian cargo plane from Iran Air went on a trip to Geneva where pellets were loaded onto it, with foreign currencies including Swiss francs and euros. One of the hostages, Pastor Saeed Abedini, had said that he was kept waiting at Mehrabad Airport in Tehran on January 16th, until the morning of January 17th, and was told by a senior Iranian intelligence official that their departure was contingent upon the movements of a second airplane, according to reports. Another aspect of the story is that Iran Air is the official airplane used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to transfer weapons and manpower to Syria to fight for President Bashar Assads brutal dictatorship and to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iran Air had been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department for ferrying weapons and supplies until January 16th of this year, the very same date these foreign currencies were being ferried to Tehran. Interestingly, January 16th was also Implementation Day of the agreement. Why did President Obama feel it was necessary to deceive the American public about this and to transmit the funds in such a convoluted and bizarre way? For starters, Americans have a well-warranted distrust for Iran. This began with the 1979 Khomeini Revolution, when Iranian revolutionaries stormed the American embassy and took embassy officials hostage. It continued through the 1983 bombing of the Marine barracks in Lebanon, to that of the Khobar Towers in 1996, and to the IEDs found with Farsi imprints on them that sent American servicemen and women back home in body bags or with missing limbs. A story in The Hill from February 17, 2016 reports that only 3 in 10 Americans approve of the nuclear deal with Iran. The second and much more compelling reason is because what Obama did is patently illegal, and the Obama administration was aware of that. In fact, while arguing for the deal, they had reassured a skeptical Congress that these statutes would remain on the books. The reason that they had to reassure Congress is simply because it is a well-known fact that Iran is the worlds leading state sponsor of terrorism. The State Departments most recent report on State Sponsors of Terrorism reads: Designated as a State Sponsor of terrorism in 1984, Iran continued on its terrorist-related activity in 2015, including support for Hizballah, Palestinian terrorist groups in Gaza, and various groups in Iraq and throughout the Middle East. In 2015, Iran increased its assistance to Iraqi Shia terrorist groupsIran used the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF)-to implement foreign policy goals, provide cover for intelligence operations, and create instability in the Middle East. The IRGC-QF is Irans primary mechanism for cultivating and supporting terrorists abroad. Andrew McCarthy, a former U.S. prosecutor for the southern district of New York, argues in a recent National Review story that the financial sanctions, which were put in place in the 1980s because of Irans sponsorship of terrorism, still remain in place today. In fact, while making the case to support the JCPOA, Obama constantly promised Congress that the Iran-related terrorism sanctions would remain in place, and, (again), on January 16th, the U.S. Treasury Department reaffirmed that commitment. As Mr. McCarthy writes, Treasurys published guidance regarding Iran states that, in general, the clearing of U.S. dollar -- or other currency -- denominated transactions through the U.S. financial system or involving a U.S. person remain prohibited[.] And on the afternoon of August 18th, because of that mornings Wall Street Journal story, State Department spokesman John Kirby admitted that this was ransom money. This obvious deception is somewhat emblematic of the entire way this nefarious deal was made between the Obama administration and the Islamic Republic of Iran, including running to the United Nations to have the deal enshrined in international law before going back to Congress and having it approved. The Obama administration refused to acknowledge that this was a treaty, and required 2/3 of the Senate to ratify it. Instead, they dubbed it as political commitments and never even allowed the Senate to vote on approving it, even as required of a regular bill, which would require 2/3 to reject it. The deception was gradual and implemental. I will never forget sitting in the audience at the AIPAC Policy Conference in 2007, and listening to then Senator Barack Obama pledge that the world must work to stop Irans uranium enrichment program, amidst rapturous applause. According to a piece in the Washington Free Beacon, since 2008 until April 2015, Obama promised no less than 28 times that he would prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. And as soon as he entered office in 2009, U.S. secret negotiations immediately began with Iran, with Oman acting as the intermediary. David Samuels revealed in his May 5, 2016 profile of Ben Rhodes in the New York Times Magazine that the Obama administration created an echo chamber, in which a crop of newly minted experts acted as cheerleaders, and ventriloquist dummies were saying things that validated what we were giving them to say, according to Rhodes. The Obama administration must have known that no matter who was elected president of Iran, Khamenei and the ruling mullahs had the final say on everything. Yet, when Rouhani was elected, President Obama used his bully pulpit to further the myth that Rouhani was a moderate, and that therefore we had a small window of opportunity for a nuclear agreement. Yes, we now have a nuclear agreement with Iran. And Iran now has an internationally condoned path towards a nuclear bomb, if they wait 10 to 15 years, plus it is permitted to operate more than 5,000 nuclear centrifuges, plus another 1000 in Fordow, (the rest are put in storage but not dismantled), plus, according to the Congressional Research Service, at least 120 billion dollars in unfrozen assets, plus 1.7 billion dollars which the administration claims is part of a pre-1979 deal we had made with Iran that was cancelled after the Islamic revolution, (of which the $400 million of ransom money is simply a part), plus an estimated $12 billion relief from the JPOA, plus lucrative deals with Boeing and other companies that Secretary of State John Kerry has been globetrotting, encouraging international businesses to participate in, as well as an enhanced capacity to produce weapons grade uranium, and a replacement of outdated centrifuges with more modern ones, which were all negotiated as part of the agreement. Fred Fleitz, a former CIA analyst who now works for the Center for Security Policy, has written in his brilliant new book, Obamabomb, A Dangerous and Growing National Security Fraud, The JCPOA was negotiated and sold to the America people by the Obama administration with unprecedented deception, dishonesty and stealth. The United States made indefensible concessions because of the obsession by Obama officials to strike a legacy nuclear agreement for President Obama. Mr. Fleitz argues that at best, the agreement will leave Iran with an industrial-sized nuclear program, with the worlds international blessings. He feels, however, that the more likely scenario will be that Iran will use the provisions of the nuclear agreement to continue to produce greater amounts of weapons grade uranium in a much shorter time, with advanced, more modern centrifuges. This deal is perhaps the worst example of international diplomacy in history; with none other than the worlds leading state sponsor of Islamic terrorism, at a time when the free Western world is being plagued a scourge of exactly such terrorism. The Obama administration must be aware of that. Otherwise, why would they go to such extraordinary lengths to deceive the American people? And as the sun rises in the morning, the government of Iran has already abducted more Americans to hold for future ransoms. Sarah N. Stern in Founder and President of the Endowment for Middle East Truth, an unabashedly pro-Israel and pro-American think tank and policy institute in Washington, DC. Whenever conservatives get down in the dumps about their seemingly nonstop string of losses, they take solace in a simple trope: politics is downstream of culture. Coined by the late Andrew Breitbart, the phrase excuses political failure by elevating culture as the predominant mechanism for societal change. Gay marriage legal in all 50 states? Well, thats because the public has shed its Christian faith. The national debt $19 trillion and counting? Well, thats because the culture is too myopic. A decline in trust of civil institutions? Well, the culture is far too individualistic. Since Roe v. Wade legalized the practice of infanticide, the Right has been stuck fighting the last battle in the culture war. Outspoken conservative Christian presidents like Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush failed to repel liberalisms social tide. The rise in the popularity of Rod Drehers Benedict Option shows that conservatives (specifically Christians) are no longer fighting to win, but merely negotiating the terms of their surrender. National Review blogger Jim Geraghty thinks differently. In a recent edition of his Morning Jolt newsletter, he expounded an interesting theory: This Year the Right Is Winning the Culture Wars. I nearly spit out my coffee upon reading that audacious headline. Geraghty himself admits the theory is crazy and that hes not sure he believes it himself. Nonetheless, he brings up a few wins conservatives have had in the cultural sphere this year. Target abandoning its trans-bathroom policy; the box-office flop of the all-female Ghostbuster reboot; dwindling donations to colleges that coddle tantrum-throwing students -- these and more Geraghty views as hopeful signs. He makes his best case by citing the well-deserved bankruptcy of Gawker, the tabloidish news site that specialized in ridiculing thickheaded conservatives. With Gawkers failing comes a realization: liberal media outlets that gleefully wreck the lives of right-leaning personalities are not invincible. They can be brought down, even if it requires the financial backing of a tech billionaire. And therein lies the rub of Geraghtys thesis. Gawker didnt go down because the public demanded its fall. Peter Thiel, the libertarian cofounder of PayPal, was generous -- and bitter -- enough to fund the legal battle that bankrupted the business. He didnt provide the final nail in the companys coffin; his riches built the coffin, hired the assassin, and paid for the funeral. So it is with many of Geraghtys examples. What looks like a cultural victory by the Right was really enabled by other factors. For Target, the publics general aversion to men peeing next to little girls forced a change in policy. The new Ghostbusters sucked -- thats why it failed in theaters. As for the collapse in alumni cutting checks to liberal arts schools, the juvenile protests of the previous year turned anyone but the most diehard of progressives off. Neither of these examples demonstrated conservative backlash. They were normal human reactions to the Lefts radical limit-testing. If Geraghty thinks the sinking of Gawker augurs a Republican sweep in November, he should put a years salary up on ElectionBettingOdds.com and cash in, quick. Of course, he wont. Nobody with two eyes and half a brain seriously thinks conservatism is on the ascendant. When Medicaid pays for sex changes, and a television show about a transsexual dad (mom?) wins five Emmys, its clear that Edmund Burke is lonelier than ever. Geraghtys optimism is mistaken for another reason: The Breitbartian aphorism is not accurate. Although culture can shape politics, the latter has just as much influence on the former, maybe even more. In a recent essay, Paul Gottfried debunks the comforting mantra of culture gushing downward into the basin of politics. Though the saying has risen to the status of an axiom, Gottfried says it is simply wrong as a description of contemporary Western societies. How so? Gottfried argues that the U.S. government has been in the business of soulcraft for decades, much to the benefit of liberal anthropology. The arguments we have today over issues like sexual rights and antidiscrimination laws do not spring from our culture. They are pushed by the government, and cut against the grain of what was an informally Protestant nation. A few recent examples: the federal government transferring poor, inner-city blacks to the white suburbs; the U.S. military ending the ban on transsexual soldiers and covering the cost for sex changes; the Department of Education forcing schools to accommodate gender identity; the Justice Department urging rescue workers not to discriminate when issuing emergency supplies to flood victims in Louisiana. These measures have a transforming effect on the broader culture. With carrots and a big stick, Uncle Sam promotes a leftist agenda, which permeates throughout civil society. If you still dont believe Washington has an enormous role in societal shaping, just consider the long-lasting effect of the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, which abolished the Euro-friendly quotas on immigration. Fifty years and 59 million immigrants later, the law has unalterably changed the demographic makeup of the United States -- and not for the better. To be conservative in our postmodern era is to feel like, in T.S. Eliots terms, the ghost of youth/ At the undertakers ball. The Right is on the outskirts of American culture. The Left is on the in: in universities, schools, government, media, print, and Hollywood. Liberals dominate our largest culture-making institutions (with the exception of churches). Its not all doom and gloom, though. While conservatives have lost the culture for now, liberalism is not sustainable. The maniacal attempt to uproot and transform human nature will eventually fail. Reality kicks back. When it does, the Right will have its chance to recover the cultural lost ground. And that, in turn, will mean a chance to retake elected offices. That day cant come soon enough. Your government is on red alert: between 2006 and 2014, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), an agency of the Department of Agriculture, spent nearly $4.8 million to purchase shotguns, propane cannons, liquid explosives, pyro supplies, drones, thermal imaging cameras, and more. APHIS describes itself as a multi-faceted Agency with a broad mission area that includes protecting and promoting U.S. agricultural health, administering the Animal Welfare Act, and carrying out wildlife damage management activities. Liquid explosives and shotguns are apparently necessary to carry out its broad mission. This is one of many revelations found in a new investigative report titled The Militarization of America: Non-Military Federal Agencies Purchases of Guns, Ammo, and Military-style Equipment published by American Transparency, a nonpartisan watchdog group. Former U.S. Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), chairman of the organization, points out that, In the nine years until 2014, we found 67 agencies unaffiliated with the Defense Department bought $1.48 billion in weapons and ammunition. Of this total, $335.1 million was spent by agencies traditionally viewed as regulatory or administrative, such as the Smithsonian Institution and the US Mint. The Department of Veterans Affairs -- which is responsible for a number of fatalities due to medical care incompetence -- has acquired nearly $11.7 million in defensive weaponry. The report also notes that, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) spent $3.1 million on guns, ammunition, and military-style equipment. The EPA has spent $715 million on its Criminal Enforcement Division from FY2005 to present even as the agency has come under fire for failing to perform its basic functions. Military supplies have reinforced the basic functions of the Bureau of Public Debt in the amount of $2,792,060; the Energy Department amassed an armory worth $15,625,114 for its dangerous work; and the Office of Policy, Budget, and Administration strengthened its mission with $25,849,568 in firearms and military gear. The report makes for scary reading: from 2006-2014, the Internal Revenue Service, with its 2,316 special agents, secured over $85,000 worth of guns, ammunition, and military supplies every single month -- for 108 months straight -- accumulating an armory worth more than $11 million. Regulatory and administrative federal agencies that have firearm-and-arrest authority include the Small Business Administration, Social Security Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Education, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The National Institute of Standards and Technology can arrest me -- at gunpoint? Transferring unused military equipment to local governments and federal agencies began in 1997, when Congress established something innocuously termed the 1033 Program. Essentially it is a shopping service, with lists of military accouterments. Since 9/11, business has been very good. According to a September 14, 2012 USA Today story, Roughly 12,000 police organizations are able to procure excess military merchandise firearms, computers, helicopters, and hundreds of other products. In fiscal 2011, they acquired nearly $500 million worth of items. Not to be outclassed, the Department of Homeland Security awarded more than $2.2 billion in grants to local police in 2014-15: Military aid to Barry County, Michigan, population 59,173, includes 30 assault rifles, five grenade launchers, four armored vehicles, and a mine-resistant truck. For its protection, Granite City, Illinois, population 29,375, needs 25 M16 and M14 rifles, a military-armored truck, and a robot for explosive ordinance disposal. Rising Star, Texas has a population of 835 and one full-time policeman. From 2002-2011, there were no reported murders and the town recorded eight assaults. Rising Star stockpiled $3.2 million in munitions over a 14-month period. On a positive note, the Los Angeles Unified School District announced that it would return the three grenade launchers it had required from the Defense Department -- but keep its armored personnel carrier and 61 assault rifles, thank you. American Transparencys report observes, One could argue the federal government itself has become a gun show that never adjourns with dozens of agencies continually shopping for new firearms. Gas masks, bayonets, truncheons, and armored trucks complete with rotating turrets are heady stuff for rank-and-file cops. Police look and act like combat-ready troops ready to suppress and control. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) released a study in 2014 (War Comes Home: the Excessive Militarization of American Policing) that describes the impact of military subsidies and training on local law enforcement: Our analysis shows that the militarization of American policing is evident in the training that police officers receive, which encourages them to adapt a warrior mentality and think of the people they are supposed to serve as enemies, as well as in the equipment they use, such as battering rams, flash-bang grenades, and armored personnel carriers. The ACLU report states, American policing has become unnecessarily and dangerously militarized, in large part through federal programs that have armed state and local law enforcement agencies with the weapons and tactics of war, with almost no public discussion or oversight. In creating an Executive Order prohibiting the transfer of some military items to local police departments starting in 2016, President Obama said Weve seen how militarized gear can sometimes get people the feeling like theres an occupying force as opposed to a force thats part of the community thats protecting them and serving them. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) agrees: When you couple this militarization of law enforcement within erosion of civil liberties and due process that allows the police to become judge and jury -- no knock searches, broad general warrants, pre-conviction forfeiture -- we begin to have a very serious problem on our hands. In a police state, the police become an army and an army needs an enemy. The Feds think they have met the enemy and theyre convincing local police departments the enemy is us. Correction made: The 1033 Program was established by Congress, not the Defense Department. Peter Gemma is a freelance writer whose articles have appeared in TheDailyCaller.com, the Washington Examiner, and Military History. There is a mutually supportive relationship between Hollywood elites and the Democrat Party of the U.S. It is interesting to explore this relationship, how it benefits both, and why it continues. Every election cycle, candidates for the Democrat Party go to dinner parties in Hollywood and raise money from all movie industry attendants. These Hollywood dinner fundraisers are the most successful single day events in political campaigns. This year, for example, Hillary Clinton raised $8 million in one evening. While everyone knows how the Democrat party benefits, the other side of the question is, how Hollywood benefits from their support of Democrats. The answer lies in the ability of Washington to focus the publics awareness on social, political, and economic issues. Hollywood and Washington pursue the same goal: to generate the support of the public. Hollywood wants people to buy tickets to see their movies. Liberal Democrats need voters to accept their policy positions and vote for them. The essential connection between Hollywood and liberal Democrats then, lies in the details of what Washington does to influence the preferences of the movie going public. The origin of this influence is the public school system of the U.S. The American Federation of Teachers has 1.7 million members and the National Education Association has nearly three million members in 14,000 communities. Every day these teachers indoctrinate millions of students into the latest politicized topics, whether it be green energy or climate change. The schoolchildren then go back home and tell their parents about how important it is to control carbon emissions and undo global warming. These two big teacher unions are also two of the biggest campaign donors to Democrats in national as well as state political campaigns. Hollywood knows that the public officials it finances through dinners will educate the moviegoing public on the latest topics. Then Hollywood, having a huge potential audience already educated on global warming and the environment, produces movies such as An Inconvenient Truth and The Day After Tomorrow to cash in on the ready-made audience. Hollywood portrays private corporations such as oil companies as evil and greedy organizations that destroy the environment. Nothing good is ever said about them, while governmental actions are protected. The major schemes of the Democrat Party such as illegal immigration and the segregation of blacks into ghettoes were never blamed on government until DSouzas recent film Hillarys America. If a government agency does appear in a movie it is usually the Defense Department connected to a contractor engaged in destructive behavior such as in the film Shooter or Mel Gibsons Edge of Darkness. Government, moviegoers are told, only helps people. If government does evil there has to be a corporate connection. And since most people in the U.S. live in urban areas, and the majority of cities are controlled by Democrats, Democrats have control of the messages most students receive in school. These messages are controlled by the U.S. Department of Education in Washington. They have bureaucrats who devise school projects and convey their messages to the students in the classroom. So theatergoers leave the movie theater feeling that the ideas they were taught in school are true, and that the best party to protect the middle class is the Democrat Party. The main players in this education-Hollywood complex become very wealthy. Hollywood has a number of actors worth over $400 million, while the highest government pensions go to educators such as university administrators in Illinois who earn $300-$400K a year in retirement. And oddly, the educators are never held up as rich enemies of the working class, they are not targeted for not paying their fair share of taxes, even though they protect their wealth using tax exempt investments just like Wall Street. Those who run the system are not ostracized, they are not put up to the public as violators of the public trust, as exploiters of the middle class, only the big corporations are. Students are never told about how public unions exploit them. Actors who dont play the Hollywood game are punished. Antonio Sabato Jr. found his Hollywood projects cancelled after he spoke at the RNC convention. But when actor Will Smith said America needs to be cleansed of Trumps ideas, he was not punished. He toed the DNC-Hollywood line. The real reason Hollywood rejects messages from actors such as Sabato is that they dont want their liberal-Hollywood messaging complex threatened. These tactics are very effective and are continued after students graduate college: the major news media all sing from the same songbook. Most professors in colleges and universities describe themselves as liberal. They have to be: if they were not they would not be tenured, they wont get a pension. Today at Illinois public universities half the tuition goes to pensions. This is how government finances censorship: through student loan debt. The reason the themes of Hollywood movies are important is that they are proof of the symbiotic relationship: that only one standardized perspective will be portrayed in movies and this perspective will be carefully sculptured to enable the DNC to stay in power. The way this is done is by training K-12 and college students to accept only one point of view and punish dissenting opinions as politically incorrect. College students are encouraged to seclude themselves in safe spaces to avoid having diverse conversations. Its a very subtle if Orwellian way to manipulate thought. College and elementary school administrators are handsomely rewarded. They both make salaries measured in the hundreds of thousands of dollars per year, and receive lifetime pensions worth millions. Today in Illinois the top 100 pensioners will earn $623 million if they live to age 81. The losers are the American people. While they voluntarily go to see movies, the mindset they have, the understanding of wealth, society and the economy, is not freely chosen. It is indoctrinated into them by public-school teachers. And their skyrocketing property taxes, which increase the most in states run by Democrats, have driven them into a lower standard of living. Today Illinois has ten cities where all the property taxes paid by residents go solely to public pensions, primarily teacher pensions. They are forced to subsidize the system. They will pay far into the future. Today, theres $5.6 trillion of unfunded pension debt. And this is never portrayed as exploitive of the middle class. This multibillion-dollar Triangle of Truth involving Washington, Hollywood, and educators goes on year after year. Theres never an end to the new topics that are taught by public teachers, theres no end to the Federal programs passed to cure them. There never will be, not as long as pubic unions are highly paid, subsidize Democrats in elections, and people pay to see liberal theme-based Hollywood movies. Anyone who believes that the role of Republicans is intentionally being ignored, needs to learn that public sector unions and Hollywood only give to Democrats, and only liberal/Democrat policies are pursued in public schools. A few days back, Drudge had a link to some pictures of the Clintons' estate in Chappaqua, New York to show the 10-foot-high wall they had built around it (ironic, since Democrats know that walls don't work). The pictures of the impressive estate opened up a question. Where did the money for it come from? We know that both Hillary and Bill have not been gainfully employed in the private sector. It is not an oil estate, or an automobile estate, or a software estate, or a finance estate. So what is it? A government estate! Government is what the Clintons had to sell, and they have sold it. This is a new phenomenon for America. We have heretofore been characterized by the probity of our government institutions. It is a subject of note when officials are caught selling their office, and they end up in prison for doing so. The Clintons have found a way around the law by having Hillary on the inside and Bill as bag man on the outside, hauling in the loot under the guise of fees for speeches. While the numbers are not hard, the press seems comfortable with the Clinton personal fortune being $200 million, so let's use that figure. If it is off, Hillary can give us the precise number. We are talking personal money here. No confusion with the foundation(s). These are Hillary's and Bill's personal funds. Hillary and Bill have made a personal fortune of $200 million since leaving the White House, or, to put it differently, during Hillary's tenure first as senator and then as secretary of state. If the Clintons' customers are not buying oil, or automobiles, or software, what are they buying? Influence. Influence over the policies, the actions, of the United States. Foreign oligarchs have paid Hillary as secretary of state to have the United States do things it would not otherwise do. That is the point of paying her as secretary of state through her husband. And that is the point of paying her in anticipation of her becoming president and, later, upon the actuality of her being president. If the Clintons were able to sell Hillary's Senate seat and her office as secretary of state for $200 million, what is the presidency worth? One billion dollars sounds about right, at least as a start. We have to see how things go. What is Hillary selling? She is selling you, dear reader your family, your children, your countrymen, the country itself. Lincoln tried to capture what it means to be an American in his First Inaugural: The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature. Hillary sees the country in a different way. Rather than "the mystic chords of memory" as the spirit of the country, Hillary sees the mystic chords of money for herself. One manifestation of this is the estate at Chappaqua, bought with money gathered from selling out the country. Enriching herself from high government office is her spiritual foundation. How will the hearings for the next secretary of state go? "Mr./Ms. Nominee, Secretary Clinton cleared about $100 million (the other $100 million came at other times) during her tenure as secretary of state. How much loot do you expect to get from your tenure? And from whom do you expect to get paid? Just so we know." Treating the country as a private fief is third-worldism. It is why third-world countries never advance. Their wealth is drained off by their political leadership. If Hillaryism should become the custom of our government, the country as we know it will be destroyed. Selling out her office is not going to be seen as the privilege of Hillary alone. What about the secretary of defense? What about the attorney general? What about the rest of the cabinet? And what about under-secretaries, deputy secretaries, and so on down the line? What about, at the local level, the police and the fire departments? What about having to pay them personally to do their jobs? Want to see the future if government officials join Hillaryism? Brazil. They can't even keep the swimming pools clean. Nothing works. What about the military, which carries out our foreign policy? As we ponder the profaning of the nation and of the mission of the nation, one question we must consider is this: are our soldiers going to be willing to die for Chappaqua? To die for Chappaqua. That is the value proposition Hillary is offering the soldiers at the sharp end of the spear. To die so that she can own her Chappaqua estate. What about military leadership? Will they go the Chappaqua route? A theater commander or a ground commander has an enormous amount of responsibility. Shouldn't he be rewarded for the burdens he bears? Suppose the Army is making an assault up-country. There is Route A, which the general has chosen, using his best judgment, to get to the objective. But now he has a visitor. It turns out that Route A runs right through the operations of Mr. Oligarch. Route B is almost as good, and Mr. Oligarch has always wanted one of the potholders made by the general's wife. In fact, he is so enthralled by the potholder that $12 million is not too high a price to pay for it! The general thinks about it, Route B is likely to lead to, say, only 500 more casualties in a force of 40,000 say, 100 deaths and 400 woundings and maimings. Acceptable losses (except to the soldiers and their families experiencing them). The potholder is on the way! This isn't today, thank goodness. But it is the Hillary future for America. That estate in Chappaqua. What are our military leaders chopped liver? Don't they deserve estates? For soldiers, belief in the mission is critical. If it should become standard practice for the leadership in Washington to sell our policy for payoffs, then belief in the mission will collapse. A soldier commanded to take the hill will wonder whether that mission is for the nation or for Chappaqua. This is why third-world militaries are so weak. Should belief in the mission ever be lost, it will be virtually impossible to get it back. This danger wiping out the Republic is what Hillary's actions mean. It is why the future of the country is at stake in this election. Nobody in Washington seems upset by the Clintons' selling out the country to foreigners to create their personal fortune. Nobody of either party has spoken out about it. But let's not leave it only on them. What about us, the public? If we let ourselves be sold out, we are going to get more of it. It is going to become chronic, ubiquitous. The United States is a great nation. There is much here to sell. What is each piece, each policy worth? Markets are so complex these days that one cannot be precise. But each amount, each transaction ultimately turns out to be equal to thirty pieces of silver. While Hillary Clinton and her supporters mock Donald Trump's prime presidential plank of building a wall to keep out illegal aliens (not "undocumented immigrants") and deport those who violate it (yeah, he's apparently flip-flopping about this already), Hillary has already constructed an effective barrier against undocumented journalists i.e., unfriendly reporters who don't promote her candidacy under the guise of neutral reporting. As Charlie Malone of the British (naturally not American) Daily Mail reveals: In Provincetown, Massachusetts yesterday, five reporters crowded into the corner of a parking lot, clinging to a chain link fence as they tried to catch her speech to a crowd of about 1,000 supporters. Over the weekend the candidate has wined and dined in the summer playground of the East Coast's moneyed elite. She has spoken to more than 2,200 campaign donors but what she told her supporters remains a mystery. (snip) Clinton's campaign does release limited details about her events, naming the hosts, how many people attended and how much they gave. (snip) Even some Democrats privately acknowledge that Clinton's penchant for secrecy is a liability, given voters continued doubts about her honesty. While Clinton will occasionally take questions from reporters at campaign stops, she has not held a full-fledged news conference in more than 260 days whereas Trump has held several. She refuses to release the transcripts of dozens of closed-door speeches she delivered to companies and business associations after leaving the State Department, despite significant bipartisan criticism. And since announcing her presidential bid in April 2015, Clinton has held around 300 fundraising events only around five have been open to any kind of news coverage. 'It does feed this rap about being secretive and being suspicious,' said GOP strategist Whit Ayers. This past weekend, a devout Muslim slashed a couple in Roanoke, Virginia, seemingly attempting to behead one of them. ABC News reports: The FBI has launched a federal terrorism investigation into a weekend stabbing in Roanoke, Virginia, looking at whether the attacker may have been trying to behead his victim in an alleged ISIS-inspired assault, sources told ABC News. Federal authorities have been aware of the alleged attacker, 20-year-old Wasil Farooqui of the Roanoke area, for some time, sources familiar with the case told ABC News. In the past year, sources said, he traveled to Turkey and may have tried to sneak into Syria, where ISIS is recruiting and inspiring sympathizers from around the world. Stop! How many times have we heard that a jihadist was on the radar of the authorities prior to an attack, only for the attack to occur anyway? We are not taking appropriate action soon enough. Any Muslim whos tried to join ISIS is a walking menace who could target anyone at any time. The report continues: On Saturday, Farooqui allegedly injured a man and woman at an apartment complex in Roanoke, yelling Allahu akbar -- God is great -- as he attacked them with a knife, sources told ABC News. Stop (again)! Allahu Akbar does not mean God is great. It means Allah is supreme! Big difference. Those few words sum up the essence of Islam: supremacism. Would that the media could get this right. Not that they care. Or if they do care, theyre invested in getting it wrong. As if they wont one day feel the wrath of Islams greatest God heaped upon them. But back to the report: Authorities believe he may have been trying to behead the male victim, who was likely picked at random, ABC News was told. But on Tuesday -- after news of the case surfaced nationwide -- a spokeswoman for the Roanoke County Police said that while the male victim was cut all over his body, including his neck, police do not believe the case looks like a beheading attempt. So they initially said Farooqui was likely trying to behead his victim. Now they say thats not the case. Maybe the correction is truthful. Maybe its not. We have plenty of reason to be suspicious, given the trend toward dhimmitude by politically correct public officials. And what would a report on jihad be without the incorrect, confused, ignorant, and/or intentionally misrepresentative hypotheses about motive? Here they are laying the groundwork: Asked whether Farooqui may be suffering from mental illness, the spokeswoman declined to comment. So to recap: A Muslim man whom authorities were already aware of, who in the past year had traveled to Turkey as a way to enter Syria to join ISIS, returns to the United States and shortly thereafter attacks a couple with a knife, perhaps attempting to behead one of them, all the while screaming, Allahu Akbar. Im going to go out on a limb and call it what it is: jihad. As mandated in the Quran. And if I may offer a final word since the presidential election is coming up: Hillary Clintons policies will put a knifes edge to all of our necks. Hat tip: Breitbart, Atlas Shrugs The Obama administration is stonewalling Congress by refusing to cooperate with congressional inquiries into how $1.3 billion was sent to Iran as part of the deal to release our hostages. We already know that $400 million in cash was delivered as part of a $1.7-billion settlement of an outstanding debt owed to Iran. But how the rest of that money was delivered and whom it was delivered to remains a mystery. The question is important, if only to show that the Obama administration lied about why it was necessary to make a cash payment to the Islamic Republic. They insist that the cash payment was necessary because there were no banking ties between the two countries that would facilitate a normal wire transfer of the funds. But if the $1.3 billion was wired to Iran, it would blow up the administration's story and raise further questions about paying cash to a terrorist regime. Washington Free Beacon: The State and Treasury Departments declined on Tuesday to answer a series of questions from theFree Beacon about the method in which U.S. taxpayer funds were paid to Iran. The administration is also withholding key details about the payment from leading members of Congress, including Sens. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) and Mike Lee (R., Utah), who launched an inquiryinto the matter earlier this month. The Departments of State, Treasury, and Justice all failed to respond to the inquiry by Mondays deadline, according to congressional sources tracking the matter. The already bizarre circumstances surrounding the $1.7 billion payment to the Islamic Republic have only gotten stranger in the weeks since we learned of the $400 million in cash that was sent to the Iranian regime last January 16th, Cruz said to the Free Beacon. If this payment was, as the Obama administration insists, a straightforward settlement of an old debt that it would have cost America more to contest, why all the secrecy? The State Department said it does not know how the remaining $1.3 billion was transferred or to whom it was transferred. Cruz described this disclosure as confounding. It is even more confounding that the State Department spokesman claimed Monday not to know how or to whom the residual $1.3 billion was transferred, although he does know the transaction happened, Cruz said. That kind of money doesnt just transfer itself to a rogue regime still under heavy U.S. sanctions for its sponsorship of terrorism. Someone in our government must have the answers the American people deserve. Cruz and Lee are seeking to determine if these payments violated U.S. law. They also requested information about the U.S. officials who negotiated and carried out the payments. While we are deeply concerned about the national security implications of the administrations cash-for-hostages scheme, especially in light of reports that Iran has already arrested additional Americans, the purpose of this letter is to inquire about the legality of the payment, the senators wrote in an Aug. 12 letter. Reporter Claudia Rosette uncovered 13 identical payments to Iran from a State Department fund that pays foreign claims against the U.S. government. While the evidence suggests that the payment was made via routine wire transfer, there is no definitive word on just how the money got to Iran and whom or what it was sent to. It's obvious the administration never expected that details of the transfer would ever need to be made public, which is why it's important to find out how it was accomplished. If laws were broken, this stonewalling is an attempt to impede Congress in the lawful execution of their constitutional responsibility to investigate wrongdoing by the executive branch. You can go to jail for that. Just ask Ollie North. Perhaps nowhere is the progressive advance across America more evident than in our education system. A recent example can be found in Florida. TheBlaze reports: When an elementary school girl brought home the student code of conduct booklet from Leon County Schools in Tallahassee, Florida, for parents to review last week, one page in particular stuck out to her mom. It was a Pledge of Allegiance opt-out form parents could fill out and return to the school. I understand my rights as a parent and I request that my child, noted above, be excused from reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, the form read. This request includes standing and placing his/her right hand over his/her heart. The mom filled out the form in a manner of speaking and returned it to the school with a handwritten message over the center of the paper: This is the dumbest thing I have ever read and I am so ashamed of this. If only it were merely dumb (though dumb would be bad enough). No, this was not the product of some bumbling fool. This was an intentional and manipulative act with a specific goal in mind. TheBlaze continues: But when the moms brother-in-law found out about the Pledge opt-out form, he hopped on Facebook, posted the photo of it with his sister-in-laws handwritten response and added the following message: My niece brought this home from school todayWhat is happening to our country?!? The moms brother-in-law, Micah Brienen (who is urging people to vote out the superintendent in the next election), wrote additional posts, including his observations that American values and traditions are whittling awayWhats next? No American flags in schools??... How did this latest anti-American action in Florida public schools come about? The short version is this: this year, expanding on a 2008 federal ruling that students dont have to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, Florida lawmakers voted to allow schools to let parents know about this option. Excuse me, but this is tantamount to encouraging parents to opt out. Why would a lawmaker go out of his way to have schools go out of their way to open this door? (You know the answer.) The long version is this: the United States has been infiltrated by a host of enemies who have been steadily dismantling our great nation over many decades. But back to Florida. The Leon County school district sent a statement to TheBlaze on this matter. Predictably, the district got it all wrong. In complying with the change in law, our staff developed a form for parents to use to exercise that right, the statement continued. Superintendent [Jackie] Pons received several messages from the community in regards to this process and upon further inspection made the decision to remove the form and revise the code of conduct booklet, the statement said. A school official added to TheBlaze that language about the students right to not participate in the Pledge was placed on another page of the booklet to keep in line with the law. We apologize for any confusion the form may have caused, the statement concluded. We understand that approximately 400 paper copies [of the booklet] were distributed before the superintendent stopped the process. So the superintendent thinks relocating the opt-out form to another page is the fix while apologizing for any confusion. The confusion is that leftists have no appreciation for the uniqueness and greatness that is the United States. The confusion is that leftists think America should be a communist country. The confusion is that our country is being dismantled and sheeple are all on board. Be vigilant. Expose the left. Fight tooth and nail. Hat tip: Breitbart, Miami Herald It is an article of faith in the Arab world that Israel is guilty, guilty, guilty of terrorizing the poor Palestinians, which is why Jews deserve to be terrorized worldwide. The origins of violence lie exclusively on the Jews, too. So Arabs and all Muslims have a duty to defend their brothers and sisters by acts of extreme cruelty against Israelis in particular and Jews in general. This dogma is extremely important because it avoids any scrutiny of Koranic and other scriptural incitements of violence even genocide against Jews. It thus serves a dual purpose. And as a result, it must remain unquestioned. For decades, there has been rhetorical solidarity on this point. Until now. The fall of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and its replacement by the anti-M.B. regime of General Sisi, along with the spread of chaos in the Arab world, has changed matters. Meanwhile, Israel is quietly building itself into a tiny superpower, its high-tech economy and rapid development of offshore gas and onshore fracking making it a global economic power able to finance a high-tech military. As a result, a stunning break with the past happened, beyond the notice of our mainstream media. The Jerusalem Post reports: Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said on Sunday that Israels actions against Palestinians does not constitute terrorism, eliciting an angry response from a Hamas spokesman who said Egypts top diplomat is blind. Shoukrys comments came during a Q&A session with students held at the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, where he was asked why Palestinians children killed in the conflict with Israel were not considered victims of terrorism. When looking at this issue, it can be defined as a regime of force, the Egyptian media quoted Shoukry as saying. He said there was no evidence to link Israel to terrorist organizations. There is nothing that leads to this conclusion, he said. Shoukry added that Israels history has made it very sensitive to security issues, and as a result tightens control over its territory and border crossings to ensure its security. The reaction has not been favorable among other Arab regimes in public, at least. Speaking from Qatar, a major Clinton Foundation donor (and recipient of questionable favors): Husam Badran, a Hamas spokesperson in Qatar, slammed the Egyptian foreign minister in a Twitter post, saying, He who does not see the crimes of the Zionist occupation as terrorism is blind. The Egyptian cozying up with Israel is far ahead of public opinion there. It is inconceivable to me that Shoukry made these comments without first discussing them with Saudi Arabia, Egypts primary financial backer. Tectonic plates are shifting in the Arab world, with some pragmatic leaders realizing that the primary problems of Arabs are created by themselves and that Israel has much more to offer as a friend than as a mortal enemy. Hat tip: Clarice Feldman I am actually starting to feel sorry for John Kerry, despite his pomposity, arrogance, and rich-wife-financed luxury lifestyle. Hardly anyone really notices him anymore, what with the expressions Hillary Clinton and secretary of state so closely linked in the public mind. His tenure as secretary of state has been pathetic. How pathetic, you ask? So pathetic that when he the secretary of state of the United States of America visits a third-world country, they openly wish his boss would come instead. Check out this article by Onize Ohikere of the African magazine World: Start with the headline: Nigeria welcomes Kerry while wishing for Obama Then check out this hilarious lede sentence: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will focus on corruption and security during his trip to Nigeria today and Wednesday, likely the last visit to the country from a major Obama administration official. Corruption and security? Is Hillary visiting Nigeria? Who knew she had the energy? Seriously, with the headlines about Hillary Clinton, his predecessor, he frames his visit this way? This is buffoonery. Kerry met this morning with religious leaders in Nigerias northern Sokoto state, where he delivered a speech on the role of religious tolerance and resilient communities in countering terrorism. Later he will meet with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in the capital, Abuja, in talks that will include the countrys tumultuous economy. Our hope is that we leave Nigerians with the message that Nigeria continues to have enormous potential, and we want to work with Nigerians as they move forward in tackling these serious challenges that they are facing, the U.S. State Department said in a statement. The official trip is Kerrys third visit to the country. But many Nigerians had hoped President Barack Obama would make an appearance in the country, considering its position and influence in the continent. [emphasis added] I have to wonder if Kerrys unconscious mind cant resist taking an indirect swipe at Hillary. The Obamacare meltdown continues apace, with bad news rolling in from all over the country. In Tennessee, the insurance commissioner declared the state exchange "very near collapse" as massive premium increases were approved as a desperate, last-ditch effort to save it. Here are a few of the rate increases: The Tennessean: I would characterize the exchange market in Tennessee as very near collapse ... and that all of our efforts are really focused on making sure we have as many writers in the areas as possible, knowing that might be one," McPeak told The Tennessean. "Im doing everything I can to prevent a situation where that turns to zero. Tennessees exchange could still see changes. Insurers now apply with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to be federally qualified health plans on the exchange, and BCBST said Tuesday it is weighing all of its options. Chattanooga-based BCBST, the only insurer that's sold statewide in the first three years of the federal exchange, is estimating that, by the end of 2016, it will have lost close to $500 million in three years. Such losses are unsustainable, said Roy Vaughn, chief communications officer of BCBST. The insurer, which has previously underscored its support for the individual market, is still weighing what its presence in 2017 will look like. At this point in the process, the insurer only has to notify the state if it decides to make changes to where it will sell plans, McPeak said. Its too late for another insurer to come onto the 2017 market. We agree with the assessment of the ACA marketplace in Tennessee. We appreciate the support of our request to close the gap between our rates and medical expenses for ACA marketplace plans. Beyond rates as weve discussed with the (TDCI), we continue to have concerns about uncertainty with the ACA at the federal level," Vaughn said to The Tennessean. "Due to these concerns, we are keeping all of our options open at this point about participating in the 2017 marketplace. We anticipate making a final decision in mid-September. Meanwhile, in Arizona, Pinal County will have no insurers offering Obamacare policies. This is the first time a significant area in the United States will not be able to cover residents with Obamacare. Business Insider: After Aetna's announcement that it will roll back 70% of its offerings in public exchanges, Pinal County appears to be the only county in the US with a public exchange but zero insurersoffering Affordable Care Act plans in 2017. This leaves people that need insurance through the ACA in Pinal County with limited options. Currently, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona is participating in the county, but it has plans to pull out in 2017. According to Cynthia Cox of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan healthcare-focused think tank, convincing BCBS to stick around seems to be the easiest option. "Plan A is to try and work with the Blue Cross Blue Shield in that state or another provider in the state to get them to move in," Cox said. "The question is if there is any plan B." The plan B could simply be that there is no exchange offering and people have to buy insurance on their own, but that presents issues as well. "If that's the case, it's mostly going to be unaffordable for those who are already receiving subsidies," Cox told Business Insider. "They're no longer going to be eligible for the subsidies, and it is likely that private coverage is not going to be affordable without the subsidies." Cox said that these people would not be subject to any penalties under the individual mandate, but if they were injured or got sick during the year, they "could be faced with significant medical bills." To be fair, even before Obamacare, many areas of the country had limited options when it came to health insurance, but that probably isn't much relief for people in Pinal County and other places around the US. Even if BCBS stays in Pinal County, the situation will be far from ideal. Pinal County is the tip of the iceberg. According to a recent report in the New York Times, a good slice of the country will be down to one insurance carrier to choose from on the exchanges by 2017: According to an analysis done for The Upshot by the McKinsey Center for U.S. Health System Reform, 17 percent of Americans eligible for an Affordable Care Act plan may have only one insurer to choose next year. The analysis shows that there are five entire states currently set to have one insurer, although our map also includes two more states because the plans for more carriers are not final. By comparison, only 2 percent of eligible customers last year had only one choice. A similar analysis by Avalere Health, another consulting firm, also highlighted the increase in areas with only one insurance carrier. And those numbers are accurate only if there aren't any more companies that abandon the Obamacare exchanges. Many of those states may find themselves, like Pinal County, with no options at all. What can be done? Expect the administration to employ a full court press to shame companies into remaining on the exchanges, or simply threaten them. The administration is very good at that. The individual mandate can now be considered meaningless. You can't fine someone who wants to obey the law but can't because there are no insurance carriers. There is no "Plan B." Google has always done a great job of making the process of moving from one Android device to another quick and easy. But when coming from iOS, which uses an entirely different set of apps and services, the process can be quite a bit trickier. Some Android device manufacturers, like Samsung, provide tools for importing iTunes content, but this is not a feature available on all Android devices. Starting with Android 7.0 Nougat, however, Google will make the process quite a bit easier. When setting up a new Android device for the first time, you will now have three options. The first will import from another Android device nearby, the second will restore a device from your Google account, and the third will import data from an iPhone or iPad. With the last option, however, the process is not automatic. It essentially just provides the tools you need to import the data, one service at a time. It instructs the user to open Safari on their iOS device, and then browse to android.com/switch. From here, there are links to various Google apps for iOS. For music, it directs the user to the Google Play Music iOS app; for photos, the Google Play Photos iOS app, and so on. It provides them with instructions on how to sync their calendar and contacts on their iPhone with their Google account. Once all the required apps have been downloaded and installed to the iOS device, and the correct Google account has been configured within them, they must back up their data using settings within each app so that it is stored within their Google account. This way, when they sign into the same account from their new Android device, their data will be ready to go. While this is a good temporary solution, there is certainly room for improvement. Sure, it takes care of getting everything that can be transferred onto the new device, but there are a lot of steps and the process could be much easier. Ideally, Google would have a single app for iOS that would work similarly to Apples Move to iOS app, and would move all of the users data into their Google account at once, including photos, music, contacts, calendars, and email accounts. To make things even easier, the app could make a list of every app installed on the iOS device, and search for an Android counterpart in the Google Play Store during the initial setup, giving users the option to accept or decline each app installation on an individual basis. Hopefully Google will improve this feature in the future, however, even though its not perfect, at least it will provide users with what they need to switch to Android while keeping most of the data that is important to them. TWRP has emerged as one of the best custom recovery systems available for Android, it stands for TeamWin Recovery Project, and is a necessary piece of software needed for flashing ROMs, kernels and just tinkering with your Android device. TWRP already supports a variety of smartphones, and today, they added a slew of new ones. Of course the headlining smartphone to get support is the brand new Samsung Galaxy Note 7. Its worth noting that this is the Exynos variant and not the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820-powered Galaxy Note 7 that is sold in the US, Canada and other countries. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 WiFi, Galaxy J7, and the Xiaomi Mi Max Pro have also gotten support for TWRP. Adding to the long list of devices that support the custom recovery. Those that flash custom ROMs likely know all about TWRP. It allows you to replace the recovery that is stock on your smartphone or tablet, and do things like a nandroid backup (which backs up the entire ROM, including all of your data), as well as flashing new custom ROMs, kernels and much more. Its the most common tool that tinkerers use to play around with their smartphone. Its one of the things that everyone loves about Android, and its not hard to see why. While the Galaxy Note 7 is still fairly new, having only been released last week in the US and a few other countries, its still great to see it getting support for TWRP so soon. This means that the development scene is going to explode pretty soon. It is a bit surprising to see that it supports the Exynos model and not the Snapdragon 820 model, seeing as Exynos-powered devices usually have all sorts of issues with getting the bootloader unlocked and just overall development. So it is a step in the right direction, for those that are in a country where the Exynos-powered Galaxy Note 7 is sold in place of the Snapdragon 820 model. You can hit up the source link below and get your download on for TWRP, as well as find instructions from the team about how to install it on your Galaxy Note 7. The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is the newest smartphone in town and is one which seems to be doing extremely well, in spite of a limited time of being available since its initial release. While this is a Samsung flagship smartphone and that in itself is enough of a reason to suggest it will do well anyway, the 2016 Galaxy S7 models and the Galaxy Note 7 seem to be taking on a life of their own and are reported to be turning the tide on what seemed to be slowly sales for the South Korean company. However, while the Galaxy S7 (and Edge) pre-orders were impressive, reports do seem to be continually pointing to the Galaxy Note 7 being an even better seller. In fact, this has also led to a number of reports coming through over the past few weeks which suggest that the global demand is so strong that the Galaxy Note 7 was seeing various delays in certain regions like Malaysia, the Ukraine and Russia. Now again today, Samsung has been reported confirming much the same in a statement given to Reuters. According to the information coming out of Reuters, Samsung has reiterated the point that the global demand is playing on the companys ability to maintain its schedule for release in certain areas. Samsung is noted as explicitly pointing out that as pre-order results for the Galaxy Note 7 have far exceeded our estimates, its release date in some markets has been adjusted. While this does come as further confirmation that the initial sales of the Galaxy Note 7 are doing better than even Samsung expected, it also does clearly point to this being a device which is likely to be selling extremely well. It stands to reason that Samsung will have been hoping for good sales in general and were likely prepared in the event of those hopes being realized, however the reports seem to keep coming through suggesting that those expectations are not only being met, but being eclipsed. Of course, none of the real firm numbers will be known until the device has been on the market long enough for Samsung to report back on just how well the Galaxy Note 7 is doing. Although, if the initial impressions are anything to go by, they should be good numbers. Back in May, Google requested South Koreas mapping data for use in its worldwide servers. Although the Korean government originally stated that it will decide on Googles request by today, August 24th, it has now postponed that decision for an additional three months. As announced by Seoul earlier today, the decision has been delayed until November 23rd. In its original request, Google claimed that it needs South Koreas mapping data in order to fully enable its mapping services in the Far Eastern country. Not unexpectedly, Seoul is quite wary of this request as it raises a number of security-related concerns. The South Korean government officials were cited as saying that they ought to make a cautious decision in regards to Googles request and need more time to assess the entire situation. Googles representatives have reportedly already met with the Seoul-based government officials on numerous occasions but have apparently failed to convince them that theyll be giving their sensitive data to the right hands. More meetings and negotiations between Google and South Korea are expected to take place in the coming months. The Mountain View-based tech giant has appointed its engineer Kwon Bom-jun as the person responsible for leading the negotiations. This entire ordeal began way back when Google was originally launching its Maps services which the South Korean government promptly restricted due to the fears of endangering national security. South Koreans looking to navigate their home country using Googles service are therefore restricted to only its most basic functionality and have to turn to other, local solutions. Google is obviously not terribly happy with that fact and is claiming that the South Korean government is putting it at an unfair disadvantage against local competition. Advertisement And while the Mountain View company is accusing Seoul of rendering its mapping services noncompetitive, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) has recently announced a formal investigation against Google for alleged violations of the countrys anti-competition laws. This is the second time Google appeared on the radar of Korean antitrust regulators who already thoroughly investigated the company back in 2013. Back then, Google was cleared of all charges but industry experts suggest that the timing of this new investigation isnt coincidental and that Seoul has had enough of the companys requests for data its been unwilling to give for years. In the state of Illinois, when a returnable rebate, such as a mail-in or prepaid card-based one, is offered on a product, it becomes unclaimed property if a qualifying customer does not claim it within 5 years. Unclaimed property must go to either the state or county treasurer so that its rightful owner can claim it whenever they realize theyre entitled to it, or the office can contact them to get it to them. A recent audit revealed to the offices of Treasurer Michael Frerichs that Sprint still owed unpaid rebates to 32,000 customers. In the ensuing courtroom scuffle with Sprint and rebate clearing house Young America, the Treasurers office eventually ended up settling out of court. This, of course, is only the latest bit of courtroom drama for Sprint, who recently settled a class action lawsuit, and a lawsuit in a New York court. A statement from the Treasurers office weighing in on the ordeal said that rebates are often used to influence a customers purchasing decisions, but when it comes time to claim the rebate, some customers forget, while others have such a hard time with the process that they give up. Yet others end up moving or otherwise being unavailable, and miss the check, or end up not cashing it for whatever reason. The rebates were allegedly offered between 2003 and 2008 on Sprint products and services. Frerichs, in the official statement, said that rebates can end up being a dizzying maze that stands between a customer and the payment that they were promised. Whatever parts of the process may have resulted in customers not getting what they were entitled to, a sum in the millions, with money due to 32,000 customers, is nothing to scoff at. With the settlement out of the way, the Treasurers office will soon have the money on hand so they can begin seeking the people that it is owed to and letting them know how to claim it. Sprint ended up settling out of court for $2.3 million, despite initial allegations putting the amount that they owed at about $2.7 million. While this means that customers will end up getting a bit less than theyre technically entitled to, its certainly better than nothing. Sprints Vice President, Dave Tovar, said that the company is glad to have the issue behind them, and that they are proud to serve the residents of Illinois. Once Sprint hands over the cash and the list of names entitled to it, those names will go on the online unclaimed property search on the treasurers website. ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR LOW LYING AND FLOOD PRONE AREAS OF ANTIGUA, BARBUDA, MONTSERRAT, ST. KITTS, NEVIS AND ANGUILLA VALID FROM 8 P.M. TONIGHT UNTIL 8 A.M. TOMORROW WEDNESDAY. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS VALID 8 A.M. TO 8 P.M. WEDNESDAY. PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO SAFE GUARD LIFE AND PROPERTY. SOME HOUSES IN LOW LYING AND FLOOD PRONE AREAS MAY REQUIRE EVACUATION. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND MOVE QUICKLY TO HIGHER GROUND IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED OR IMMINENT OR IF A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS ISSUED. NOTE, JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADS, BE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS, AND IF IN DOUBT, MAKE THE SMART CHOICE, TURN AROUND DONT DROWN, MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND. Source: http://antiguamet.com/ THE MET OFFICE IS PAYING VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO AN APPROACHING TROPICAL DISTURBANCE. AS OF 8 A.M. THIS MORNING, IT HAD A 50 CHANCE OF BECOMING A TROPICAL CYCLONE (TROPICAL DEPRESSION, TROPICAL STORM OR HURRICANE) IN 48 HOURS AND A 60% CHANCE IN FIVE DAYS. THE DEVELOPING DISTURBANCE IS EXPECTED TO CAUSE VERY WET WEATHER ACROSS ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA AND THE REST OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY, AND THE ACROSS THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. RAINFALL TOTALS OF 25 TO 75 MM OR 1 TO 3 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE. The Department of Disaster Management will continue to monitor conditions. Residents and visitors should listen to Radio Anguilla, local Radio and Television Stations for any changes in the forecast. If you require additional information please call the Department of Disaster Management on 497-2926. On Call Duty Officer Department of Disaster Management Anguilla Burkini ban: France has a moral police force like Saudi Arabia When did we become such prudes that a woman wearing too many clothes on the beach was a crime? The Telegraph: French police made a woman remove her burkini on a Nice beach while another was fined in the resort of Cannes for wearing leggings, a tunic and a headscarf At which point the French rose up as one and cried aloud for liberty? No. Along the coast in Cannes, a mother of two told AFP on Tuesday she had been fined on the beach for wearing leggings, a tunic and a headscarf. Her ticket read that she was not wearing an outfit respecting good morals and secularism. France, place of enlightenment, now has a moral police police. The BBC meets the woman who designed the cover-all: Aheda Zanetti, who claims the trademark on the name burkini and burqini, said online sales were up by 200% Im an Aussie chick, Ive been here all my life, she said. I know what hijab means. I know what veil means. I know what Islam means. And I know who I am. I wanted my girls to grow up to have that freedom of choice. I dont care if they want to have a bikini. Its their choice. No man in this entire world can tell us what to wear or what not to wear. She gets it. Anorak Posted: 24th, August 2016 | In: Reviews Comment | TrackBack | Permalink Madeleine McCann and Damien Nettles compete for Theresa Mays cash Madeleine McCann: a look at the missing child in the news. The Sun: FRESH HOPE FOR MADDIE? Brit cops may push for more government cash to help hunt for missing Madeleine McCann A questions mark. A story headlined may. No new facts. No news. This is the story since 2007, when the child vanished. The paper continues: DETECTIVES investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have outstanding work left to do on the inquiry and may apply for more Home Office funding. Or, they may not. The word may appears in the headline versions of the same story on the Daily Express and Daily Telegraph websites. The Sun adds: In April, then-home secretary Theresa May granted the team 95,000 to keep the investigation going, with the cash expected to last until October. On Wednesday, Scotland Yard said it would talk to the Home Office about funding. A force spokesman told the Press Association: Whilst there remains outstanding work on this case, the Metropolitan Police Service will remain in dialogue with the Home Office regarding the continuation of funding. Its a sad story with no sign of an end. But if not Madeleine, what could money be spent on? Gloucestershire Live: Family want Madeleine McCann-style woodland search for teenage relative who disappeared 20 years ago Madeleine McCann is the benchmark of all missing children. Prime Minister Theresa May is coming under pressure to make missing schoolboy Damien Nettles the next Madeleine McCann so police can search a copse where his family have been told his body was buried 20 years ago. Finite resources are being stretched. Relatives in the Forest of Dean want police to carry out an official search of the woodland at the back of Gurnard Sailing Club on the Isle of Wight which has been named by some sources on the island as the murdered teenagers final resting place. And they have started a petition to force the Government to plough more money into solving the mystery of the 16-year-old who disappeared walking home from a party on November 2, 1996. Some supporters have already started searching the woodlands with cadaver dogs, but the family believe they need the expertise of cold case murder squad forensic teams to either find his body or rule out the woodlands which are a few miles from where he vanished. Money: And they are hoping the petition will mean Damiens case will attract extra funding for one last push in the same way as the Maddie McCann inquiry received an extra 12 million and Ben Needham inquiry was given 1 million so detectives could travel to Kos earlier this year. Damien Nettles family have posted a petition online: Please provide Hampshire Police with funding to find Damien Nettles remains Damien Nettles aged 16 went missing 20 years ago in Cowes, Isle of Wight. His case remains a missing person despite a presumption of murder. Hampshire Police do not have the resources or funding to elevate this case. His family are desperate for justice and closure to move on. Thank you in advance. You can read more about the disappearance here. Damien Nettles disappeared on November 2, 1996 when he was 16. Anorak Posted: 24th, August 2016 | In: Key Posts, Madeleine McCann, Reviews Comment | TrackBack | Permalink Mia Ayliffe-Chung: the rush to blame poor mental health Is the man accused of killing British backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung mentally ill? Its the default position whenever anyone is killed in what could look like a racially-motivated attack. The Sun looks at Mias alleged killer, Smail Ayad, and wonders: BACKPACKER KILLERS DEADLY OBSESSION Deluded French knifeman killed British girl, 21, after bizarrely claiming they were MARRIED and flying into a rage when she posed for a magazine Deluded. Obsessed. Bizarre. Rage. Mentally Ill? All that follows an earlier headline: What happened? Mia was killed in a brutal attack at a backpackers hostel in Queensland, Australia overnight, while three others are thought to have been injured. The tenth paragraph of the Suns story contains another idea, previously delivered in headline form: She was knifed in a frenzied attack in front of 30 horrified witnesses, while her attacker is alleged to have shouted Allahu Akbar during the ordeal. Oddly, what first appeared as a claim soon appears as a caption: English backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, was knifed by a man shouting Allahu Akbar at a hostel in Australia The BBC says: A 30-year-old British man named locally as Tom Jackson from Cheshire was severely injured in the attack in Home Hill, Queensland, and is in a critical condition. A French suspect, 29, who allegedly said the Arabic phrase Allahu akbar during the attack, was arrested. The Guardian: Queensland stabbing: British woman killed by attacker who allegedly shouted Allahu Akbar' Steve Gollschewski, a deputy police commissioner, said the alleged offenders comments may be construed as being of an extremist nature and investigators were working with Australian federal police to establish his motives. What motives are being considered? But police were not ruling out any motivations at this early stage, whether they be criminal or political. Investigators would also consider whether mental health or drug misuse issues were a factor in the attack alongside any indication of an extremist slant or he was radicalised, Gollschewski said at a press conference in Brisbane. They dont know why. But they know enough to narrow the field of investigation: This is not about race or religion, it is about individual criminal behaviour, he said. Is that a fact? The Australian: Friends of a British backpacker stabbed more than 20 times as he tried in vain to save the life of a young woman allegedly knifed by a Frenchman shouting Allahu Akbar at a north Queensland hostel are praying he recovers. Up to 30 terrified witnesses at the Shelleys Home Hill hostel 100km south of Townsville watched as Smail Ayad, 29, who had been singing the French national anthem, burst in crying God is great in Arabic. The Mirror: Australian Federal Police are now investigating if the attacker has any link to any terror organisations In a press conference, deputy police commissioner Steve Gollschewski said the investigation was in its early stages and all motivations were being considered, including criminal and political, as well as the impact of drugs and mental health problems. Always the mental health issues. Just Press f9 on the keyboard and everything is ok. (Unless you suffer from the horror of poor mental health and are being profiled as a potential knife attacker, in which case, its awful.) Anorak Posted: 24th, August 2016 | In: Key Posts, Reviews Comment (1) | TrackBack | Permalink (ANSA) - Rome, August 24 - The provisional death toll from an earthquake that hit central Italy early Wednesday has risen to 73, the civil protection department said after receiving reports of verified victims. The 6.0-magnitude quake flattened mountain towns between Lazio, Umbria and Marche. Of the victims, 35 were counted in the Lazio village of Amatrice, 11 in the nearby village of Accumoli, and 17 confirmed in a hospital morgue in the city of Ascoli Piceno. These include fatalities from the villages of Arquata and Pescara del Tronto, plus a little girl from Amatrice who was extracted from the rubble alive but died in hospital. The earthquake, which struck at 03:36 local time and was followed by a second, 5.4 magnitude seism at 04:33 between Umbria and the Marche, was said by civil protection authorities to be "comparable in intensity" to the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake in which over 300 people died. There were reports of "apocalyptic scenes" with many collapsed buildings in the towns and villages affected. Rescuers had difficulty accessing the area due to landslides and damaged infrastructure. In Amatrice the missing reportedly included two refugees from Afghanistan, Sultana and Hahmed, aged 26 and 27, and three nuns and four elderly guests at a local boarding house. The hospital in the mountain town also had to be evacuated due to structural damage and was declared non-operational, but none of the patients were reported injured. L'Aquila Mayor Massimo Cialente said 250 temporary homes built after the 2009 earthquake were available for the newly displaced. The Rieti provincial chapter of Italian blood donation charity AVIS has put out a call for people to donate blood for the injured. A baby girl was pulled dead from the rubble of her home in the centre of Arquata del Tronto. The infant, who is reported to have been around nine months old, was with her parents who were rescued alive and taken to hospital with injuries. In the Lazio village of Accumoli, the bodies of a young couple and their two children were recovered from the rubble of their collapsed home. Mayor Stefano Petrucci said 2,500 people are displaced from their homes, approximately 2,000 of them summer holidaymakers. "We will try to assist all of them, but it is better if they leave," he said. "The wound caused by the (2009) L'Aquila earthquake is still fresh, and we fear being forgotten" the mayor added. ISTANBUL - About 5,000 Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters entered Syria on Wednesday morning alongside the Turkish army as part of an operation to take the city of Jarabulus, currently under the Islamic State (ISIS). Reports were from Turkish military sources quoted by Hurriyet. The mainly Syrian Turkmen brigade Sultan Murad is involved in the fighting as are other anti-Assad groups from the Aleppo area and the ultra-conservative Ahrar Al-Sham. Turkish media say that FSA fighters have managed to take the Keklice village, about 5 kilometers from Jarabulus and the first target of the offensive, as well as Kivircik, Evlaniye and Guguncuk. About twenty Turkish tanks have entered Syria as part of an operation aiming to secure an area in Syria measuring about 70 kilometers along the Turkish border, forcing ISIS fighters to flee and curbing the advance of Kurdish fighters west of the Euphrates river. Tunisian railways launch 'Be Art' station project Initiative aims to improve the urban environment (ANSAmed) - TUNIS, AUGUST 24 - Tunisia's State railway company SNCFT has launched a campaign to transform the walls of outlying railway stations into authorised spaces where graffiti artist can give vent to their creativity and imagination. The campaign called 'Be Art' aims to improve the station environment for the thousands of passengers passing through each day. It was launched in partnership with the association 'Les Volontaires' (The Volunteers in French). "Be Art is a campaign that essentially seeks to raise the awareness of passengers as to the importance of preserving the urban environment through graffiti," said Volontaires founder Nader Ben Ammar. "At the same time, we want to provide a legal framework for youth who are passionate about this art form". The railway stations involved in the project are Borj Cedria, Bir el Bey, Hammam Chatt, Tahar Sfar, Cite du Stade, Hammam-Lif, Bougarnine, Ezzahra Lycee and Ezzahra. Tunisia is not new to this kind of project. In 2014, the urban landscape of the village of Erriadh on Djerba Island was completely redesigned thanks to the work of artists from around the world. The so-called 'Djerbahood Street Art Project' involved renowned mural and graffiti artists in an environment that was different from Western cities in order to create a different relationship with urban art. (ANSAmed). FSA combatants enter Syria from Turkey Op to take Jarablus from ISIS with Turkish military support (ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, AUGUST 24 - Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters have entered Syria from Turkish territory to wrest the border city of Jarablus from ISIS forces with support from the Turkish military, pan-Arab television Al Jazeera said Wednesday. FSA rebels have been gathered at the border for days in readiness for the green light from Ankara to launch the attack. They are now at least 3 km inside the Syrian border, CNN Turk reports. (ANSAmed). ROME - The provisional death toll from an earthquake that hit central Italy early Wednesday has risen to 120, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi told a press conference in Rieti. The toll may rise, he said, adding "now is the time for tears, prayer and emotion" and vowing swift and successful reconstruction. "It will take a long time to handle this emergency", he added, saying cabinet would take the first "immediate" measures Thursday morning. The 6.0-magnitude quake flattened mountain towns between Lazio, Umbria and Marche. Some 64 people are known to have died in the village of Amatrice near Rieti alone. The earthquake, which struck at 03:36 local time and was followed by a second, 5.4 magnitude seism at 04:33 between Umbria and the Marche, was said by civil protection authorities to be "comparable in intensity" to the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake in which over 300 people died. A few hundred were reported injured and an unspecified number of people were still missing as of the early evening on Wednesday. About 200 aftershocks were felt, the strongest of which had a magnitude of 4.9 on the Richer scale. Renzi visited Amatrice where he met with the head of the civil protection agency and the infrastructure and transport minister, Grazinao Delrio. There were reports of "apocalyptic scenes" with many collapsed buildings in the towns and villages affected. Rescuers had difficulty accessing the area due to landslides and damaged infrastructure. Many people were saved by rescue workers who used even their hands to dig out survivors, including an 11-year-old boy whose calls for help from under the ruins of his home and a 43-year-old whose legs were stuck under rubble for hours. United States Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday called Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni to voice condolences to the Italian government and confirmed the US's readiness to respond to any requests for help, echoing a similar offer made to President Sergio Mattarella by President Barack Obama. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed his condolences and the pope said he was "greatly affected" after hearing the mountain village of Amatrice was razed to the ground. L'Aquila Mayor Massimo Cialente said 250 temporary homes built after the 2009 earthquake were available for the newly displaced. The Rieti provincial chapter of Italian blood donation charity AVIS has put out a call for people to donate blood for the injured. Mayor Stefano Petrucci said 2,500 people had been displaced from their homes. The national emergency fund has 234 million euros that will be used for immediate aid to earthquake-stricken towns and villages in central Italy, the economy ministry said. ISTANBUL - The city of Jarablus, at the center of an operation launched on Wednesday by Turkey in northern Syria, has been ''entirely liberated'' from the Islamic State (ISIS). The news was given by Ahmad Othman, commander of the Syrian Turkmen brigade Sultan Murad, one of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) groups taking part in the offensive. The offensive was backed by the anti-ISIS coalition. FSA representative said that ISIS fighters had fled southeast of Jarablus towards Al-Bab, still under their control. The Turkish news agency Dogan reports that the Turkish-backed rebels have taken control of all the government buildings in the city and at least 50% of the overall territory. Some images from CNN Turk show the city in a semi-deserted state, leading to suggestions that some of the ISIS fighter may have left the city prior to the operation. Turkey sends tanks into Syria 'Act of self-defence' says Erdogan (ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, AUGUST 24 - Turkey has sent tanks into neighboring Syria in what it says is an act of self-defence, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Wednesday. "At 4am today, our army launched an operation against the terrorist organizations of Daesh (Isis) and the Kurdish Democratic Union Party in Syria," he said in reference to a mission by Turkish tanks to free the city of Jarablus at the border between the two countries. Turkey has launched the operation in self-defence, Erdogan added in a speech broadcast by Al Jazeera. "Enough is enough," he said. All peoples have the right to self-defence and we don't care of what they say about Turkey". In the last few days, Ankara warned that it "would sweep away" organizations operating in Syria that it considers "terroristic". (ANSAmed). Russia 'concerned' about Turkish anti-ISIS Jarabulus op 'Respect international law and protect the Kurds' (ANSAmed) - MOSCOW, AUGUST 24 - Russia has said that it is ''deeply concerned'' by the Turkish military intervention against Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria, a foreign ministry statement reported on Wednesday. ''We are certain,'' Moscow said, ''that the Syrian crisis can be resolved only on a solid basis of international law through wide-ranging dialogue between Syrians with the participation of all ethnic and religious groups including the Kurds.'' The statement adds that Russia is very concerned about what is happening in the border area between Syria and Turkey and especially about possible victims among the civilian population and worsening frictions between the Kurds and Arabs. (ANSAmed). (ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, AUGUST 24 - US vice president Joe Biden said Wednesday during a visit to Ankara that though he understood ''the intense feeling your government and the people of Turkey have about'' the Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, but that only a court could extradite anyone. He was speaking in relation to Turkey's request to extradite the wealthy Gulen, accused of being behind a failed coup attempt on July 15 in Turkey. Gulen has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania for the past 17 years. Biden stressed that it would be an impeachable offence for US President Barack Obama to order the extradition of a foreign national, but that work was continuing by US and Turkish legal experts to evaluate the evidence produced by Turkey. He added that Turkey had an obligation to comply with rule of law even in the period following the coup attempt. In speaking at a joint press conference with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, he added that the US had not had any information on the coup attempt prior to its occurrence. Yildirim noted that the US had shown its firm support for Turkey and that the visit had helped to clear up misunderstandings and speculation on relations between the two countries. On the Syrian crisis, he said that it was important for there to be a commitment by the US, Russia, Turkey and Iran to halt terrorist threats and protect Syria's territorial integrity. Yildirim added that Turkey would not accept any Kurdish enclave in Syria as it would represent a threat to its national security. Biden stressed that, in line with previous agreements, the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Kurdish People's Protection Units, or YPG, would have to retreat to the eastern bank of the Euphrates River or that they would lose US support. (ANSAmed). National Archives Celebrates National Park Service Centennial on August 25 Press Release Washington, DC Noontime program features film screenings and panel discussion On Thursday, August 25, 2016, at noon, the National Archives will celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the National Park Service with a special film screening and panel discussion. The program is titled Places of Healing and Expression: National Parks in the Next Century. Attendees will have an opportunity to speak to a Park Ranger and view a display of the Organic Act, the legislation that created the National Park Service, before and after the program. In partnership with the National Park Service, the National Archives will present a screening of short archival and contemporary films about national parks. Following the screening, Julia Washburn, the Associate Director for Interpretation, Education and Volunteers for the National Park Service, will lead a discussion exploring issues of public dialogue and personal meaning in national parks and what this means moving forward into the next century of "Americas Best Idea." Panelists include park ranger and combat veteran Wayne Rogers; Julie Rhoad, Executive Director of the NAMES Project Foundation; Rhonda Schier, Chief of Interpretation at Jefferson National Memorial Expansion Park in St. Louis, MO; and Carol McBryant, National Park Service Relevancy, Diversity and Inclusion Strategist. The program is free and open to the public. You can reserve your seat online or visit National Archives YouTube channel to watch a live stream. The program will be held in the William G. McGowan Theater of the National Archives Museum in the National Archives Building, located at Constitution Ave. and 7th Street, NW, in Washington, DC. Metro accessible on the Yellow and Green lines, Archives/Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter station. Attendees should enter through the Special Events entrance. The National Park Service was established in the Department of the Interior on August 25, 1916. There are close to 400 units in the National Park System, including national parks, monuments and memorials, scenic parkways, preserves, reserves, trails, rivers, wild and scenic rivers, seashores, lakeshores, recreation areas, battlefields, parks and sites, national military parks, international historic sites, and historic sites associated with important movements, events, and personalities of the American past. The National Archives holds the permanently valuable records of the National Parks Service, including photographs by Ansel Adams. Related online resources: Blog: Colorful Chemistry and a Visit to Your National Parks Blog: Majestic Mount Rainier: Finding My Park in the Archives Blog: Happy Birthday, Rocky Mountain National Park Blog: Kodacolor Decoded: Early Color Footage of Yellowstone National Park. See related update, Press release, before and after film excerpt Film excerpt: Glacier National Park/Lassen National Park/Sequoia National Park Film excerpt: Seeing Yosemite from a Saddle and related National Archives Tumblr post Film excerpt: Yellowstone Footage Side-by-Side Comparison Film excerpt: The Fountain of Life: Rocky Mountain National Park Todays Document Tumblr feature: Tinted or toned NPS films in the National Archives Motion Picture Preservation Lab # # # For press information contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at 202-357-5300. 16-88 YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. The representatives of the CIS states will discuss the improvement of the military and military-technical cooperation system in Astana, reports TASS. The session of the Council coordinating the CIS states air defense affairs will be opened under the Defense Ministers Council in Astana, press service of the Russian Defense Ministry said. During the Committee session a special attention will be paid to the long-term planning of the development and improvement of the bilateral, as well as multilateral military and military-technical cooperation system. The Defense Ministries delegations from Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan will take part in the Committees regular session. Photo by TASS YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. The representatives of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) held a meeting with the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Ed Royce on a wide variety of topics, including efforts to bring peace and freedom to the independent Republic of Nagorno Karabakh, Armenpress was informed by the ANCA. The meeting with Chairman Royce focused on the pressing need to make sustained progress on the Royce-Engel initiative launched last year by the Chairman and the Ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Eliot Engel. The Royce-Engel initiative, which is strongly backed by the ANCA, includes three common-sense measures to secure the NKRs peace. 1.) An agreement from all sides not to deploy snipers, heavy arms, or new weaponry along the line of contact. 2.) The placement of OSCE-monitored, advanced gunfire-locator systems and sound-ranging equipment to determine the source of attacks along the line of contact. 3.) The deployment of additional OSCE observers along the line of contact to better monitor cease-fire violations. Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh have long agreed to all three measures; Azerbaijan opposes their implementation. The Royce-Engel proposals, have received the support of over 90 U.S. Representatives through two Congressional letters sent to the Obama Administration in November of 2015 and March of 2016. Next month, ANCA leaders will join Chairman Royce at the In Defense of Christians (IDC) national advocacy convention in Washington, DC. The IDC convention, which is being sponsored by the ANCA, is seeking to safeguard health and welfare of the remaining Christians in the Middle East. During the 114th Congress, Chairman Royce was a powerful force in advancing legislation that led the Obama Administration to label the crimes against humanity occurring today against Christians, including Armenians, and other minorities in the Middle East as a genocide. YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. Thailand's military government said on Wednesday there was no connection between two bombings overnight that killed one person in the southern town of Pattani and a wave of deadly attacks on popular tourist spots in the south this month, Reuters reported. One Thai person was killed and 30 wounded when two bombs exploded late on Tuesday at the Southern View Hotel in the coastal town of Pattani, less than two weeks after a wave of as yet unexplained bombings hit seven provinces in the south. No group has claimed responsibility for those bombings, which killed four and wounded dozens, including foreign tourists. Some security experts noted at the time that southern insurgent groups have a track record of carrying out coordinated bombing attacks. Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan however quickly ruled out any link between those attacks and the twin bombs in Pattani. "I am sure that the incident in Pattani last night has nothing to do with the seven provinces attacks," Prawit told reporters at Bangkok's Government House, without giving any further details. Police said the first explosion in a carpark at the back of the hotel in Pattani caused no casualties. However, the second blast outside the hotel entrance appeared to have been a bomb placed in a stolen hospital pick-up truck that had been mistaken for an ambulance. Photo by AFP YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. Inmate Gagik Buniatyan who has been previously convicted five times has committed suicide in Nubarashen Correctional Facility. The Correctional Department of the Justice Ministry told ARMENPRESS the inmate committed suicide on August 23 by hanging. The inmate was alone in the cell during the time of committing the suicide. Gagik Buniatyan was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. A magnitude 6.2 earthquake has struck central Italy, leaving at least 37 people dead and 150 missing, as rescuers search for survivors, BBC reports. Many of the dead were in the village of Pescara del Tronto which was levelled to the ground and there were fears the number of casualties could rise. Much of the town of Amatrice was reduced to rubble and a family of four were feared dead nearby in Accumoli. The quake hit at 03:36 (01:36 GMT), 100km (65 miles) north-east of Rome. Although it struck at a shallow depth of 10km, its intensity was compared to the Aquila earthquake in April 2009 in which 309 people died. The epicenter was around Accumoli where several people died. Some buildings in the capital shook for 20 seconds as the quake struck the regional border area of Umbria, Lazio and Le Marche. It was felt from Bologna in the north to Naples in the south. Some 80 aftershocks have been reported since. Local authorities were unsure of the full extent of casualties, but the highest numbers were reported in the small village of Pescara del Tronto, where 10 people were reported dead, among them children. Twenty people have been taken to hospital. Two boys aged four and seven were pulled alive from the rubble of the house they had been staying in with their grandmother, Ansa news agency reported. Rescuers said they had been sheltering under a bed. More damage was reported a short distance up the road in Arquata del Tronto and rescuers were still trying to reach the remote village of Peracchia di Acqua Santa Terme a few kilometres to the east. Some of the worst damage was in the town of Amatrice, where at least five died and rescue efforts were under way to find survivors. "The roads in and out of town are cut off. Half the town is gone. There are people under the rubble. There's been a landslide and a bridge might collapse," said mayor Sergio Pirozzi. "There are tens of victims, so many under the rubble. We're preparing a place for the bodies," he said. The main street through the town has been devastated and emergency workers are trying to reach six people in a collapsed building. The BBC's James Reynolds, who is in Amatrice, said that sniffer dogs were being sent into buildings to search for more survivors and local authorities were trying to assess the number of people missing. In Accumoli, a short distance to the north, Mayor Stefano Petrucci said one person had been pulled out of the rubble during the night. "Then there is a family of four under a collapsed house and sadly there are two small children among them." A local photographer spoke of 15 rescuers digging with their bare hands trying reach the family. "They can hear the screams of the mum and one of the children," he said. Rescuers were also trying to dig out a 58-year-old man who was trapped in his home. Seismologist Andrea Tertulliani said there were sure to be further, numerous shocks that would probably diminish in intensity. "But it can't be ruled out that there could be another shock on the same scale as the main one," he said. Italy's Civil Protection agency described the earthquake as "severe". "It was so strong. It seemed the bed was walking across the room by itself with us on it," Lina Mercantini of Ceselli, Umbria, told Reuters. Rescue teams are being sent to the worst-hit areas, the prime minister's office said. YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Armenia informs on August 25, 27-29 no precipitation is expected in Armenia. In the evening hours of August 26 especially in northern regions short rain with thunderstorm is expected. Southern wind speed is 2-7 m/s. On August 26-27 the air temperature will go up by 2-3 degrees. On August 25, 27-29 no precipitation is expected in Yerevan. In the evening hours of August 26 storm is expected, in separate places there is a chance of short rain. YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. NKR National Assembly President Ashot Ghoulyan convoked a working consultation on August 24 with the participation of the Deputy Chairman of the parliament, heads of the standing committees and responsible staff members. As Armenpress was informed from the press service of the National Assembly of Nagorno Karabakh Republic, the subject of discussion was the proposal of President of Artsakh on the Declaration of Amnesty on the 25th anniversary on the NKR independence proclamation. According to the rules of the Constitution and regulations of the National Assembly, the above mentioned proposal is submitted to the National Assembly in a corresponding draft form, which is subject to the approval of the National Assembly plenary session. The draft resolution presented the day before, was previously discussed by MPs of the National Assembly Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs and passed to the NKR Presidents representative Arayik Nazaryan with necessary clarifications. Summing up the results of the meeting, the President of the Parliament stated that an extraordinary session with the agenda proposed by the President will take place at 11:00 on August 25. YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry held a telephone conversation on August 24 to discuss the outlook for concerted action against terrorists in Syria, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, reports TASS. "There has been a discussion of the situation in Syria, including Aleppo, where government troops with support from the Russian military have been conducting a humanitarian operation, and the outlook for concerted action by Russia and the United States in the struggle against terrorists to build up from the previously achieved agreements, including the need for drawing a clear border line between the Washington-oriented Syrian opposition groups and the terrorists groups that use these as a cover and to which truce does not apply," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. The sides also exchanged views on the Ukrainian crisis. Lavrov urged the US to use its influence on Kyiv to keep it away from provocations and push it towards a dialogue with Donbass and the implementation of agreements. Lavrov and Kerry are due to hold talks in Geneva on August 26, the Foreign Ministry told TASS earlier in the day. The talks are expected to focus on the anti-terrorist cooperation of Russia and the United States in Syria. Earlier experts of the two countries held consultations in the Swiss city to discuss the possibilities of this cooperation. YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. Turkey has launched a ground incursion into Syria targeting Islamic State and Kurdish fighters near the town of Jarablus, RT reports. Ankara says it wants to take the town to stop cross-border attacks, while the Kurds warn that Turkish troops will get into a quagmire. At 4:00 this morning, operations started in the north of Syria against terror groups which constantly threaten our country, like Daesh [Arabic name for Islamic State] and the PYD [he Democratic Union Party of Syria], Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a speech in Ankara. The Turkish operation is focused on the Kurdish border town of Jarablus, which has been held by the Islamic State terrorist group since July of 2013. The Kurdish Firat news agency (ANFNews) reported that 29 civilians have been killed by the advancing Turkish and allied troops so far. Some 3,000 ethnic Kurds have reportedly fled Jarablus and its neighboring areas since the Turkish operation became imminent. The Kurds object to the operation, believing it to be a ploy to prevent Kurdish militias from retaking the town. Turkish-backed rebels are assisting the Turkish troops. Hours into the operation, Free Syrian Army fighters captured the village of Keklice located some three kilometers from Jarablus, Anadolu reported, citing military sources. The operation, called Euphrates Shield, is being supported by Turkish air forces, as well as warplanes from the US-led coalition. Turkish artillery began shelling targets across the Syrian border earlier on Wednesday, Reuters reported, citing its own journalist on the scene. The agency said Turkish tanks can now be seen inside Syria and an intensive bombardment can be heard. The launch of the ground offensive was confirmed by Turkish state news agency Anadolu, citing military sources. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the incursion had been prompted by cross-border attacks originating from Jarablus, stressing they must stop, according to Turkish state news agency Anadolu. Commenting on Operation Euphrates Shield, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Kurdish fighters must remain east of the Euphrates River or Turkey will do what is necessary. Turkish media reported earlier that IS had launched retaliation attacks into the Turkish border town of Karkamis after the violence around Jarablus escalated. Elsewhere in Istanbul, law enforcement reportedly conducted raids targeting suspected IS sympathizers, according to the Dogan news agency. The Syrian Kurdish militia YPG attempted to retake Jarablus last year, but were reportedly prevented from doing so when Ankara threatened to intervene. Damascus has condemned the Turkish incursion, with the Syrian Foreign Ministry calling it a breach of Syrias national sovereignty, Reuters reported citing Syrian state television. Turkey does not cooperate with the Syrian government and believes that it should be toppled. Damascus condemns the incursion of Turkish tanks into Syria under the cover of the US-led coalition, the ministry source said, as cited by Syrias Sana state news agency, adding thatfighting terrorism does not mean ousting terrorists form the Islamic State group and replacing them with other extremist groups supported by Turkey. Saleh Muslim, head of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), warned that the Turkish forces would get bogged down in a quagmire and ultimately be defeated. Speaking to Kurdish news agency ANFNews, Muslim said that Turkey had gone from targeting Syrian Kurds through proxies to directly fighting Kurdish fighters in Syria on the ground, adding that while Turkey had made the decision to enter Syria, withdrawing would not be as simple. Spokesman for the YPG, Redur Xelil, called Turkeys move blatant aggression in Syrian internal affairs. Aldar Xelil, another influential Kurdish politician, accused Turkey of initiating an occupation of Syria, saying the operation amounted to a declaration of war on the autonomous administration set up by Kurdish groups in northern Syria in 2011. The PYD believes that Turkey has launched its operation to prevent the Kurds from retaking it from IS, Salam Ali, PYDs representative in Moscow, told RIA Novosti. Jarablus is located in the north of Kobani area and our forces advanced close to it. After the Kurdish troops took the city of Manbij we had plans to go in that direction. Apparently Turkey invaded from the North not to let the Kurds have this city, he said. YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. An official source at the Foreign and Expatriates Ministry of Syria said that Turkish tanks and armored vehicles on Wednesday morning crossed the Syrian-Turkish borders towards Jarablos city under cover of the Us-led alliances air forces, Armenpress reports, citing Sana. The source said Syria asserts that fighting terrorism on Syrian territory by any side must be conducted by coordinating with the Syrian government and the Syrian Arab Army which has been fighting terrorism for over five years. The source stressed that Syria condemns this blatant violation of its sovereignty and affirms that fighting terrorism isnt done by ousting ISIS and replacing it with other terrorist organizations backed directly by Turkey. What is happening in Jarablos now isnt fighting terrorism as Turkey claims; rather it is replacing one type of terrorism with another, the source said, adding that Syria requests putting an end to this aggression and calls on the United Nations to implement its resolutions, in addition to stressing the need for the Turkish side and the US-led alliance to respect international resolutions, particularly those related to closing borders and drying up the sources of terrorism. YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs that on August 24 the USD exchange rate was 474.34 AMD which is an increase of 0.09 drams compared to the previous day. Armenpress reports that the Euro decreased by 2.12 drams forming 535.06 drams. British pound increased by 2.11 drams forming 627.17 drams, Russian ruble remained the same 7.32 drams on August 24. The prices for precious metals are as follows: the price for silver per gram is 289.45 AMD, gold-20,466.01 AMD, and platinum-16,897.42 AMD. YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. Chairman of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) Board Tigran Sargsyan held a meeting with the first-ranked Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China Zhang Gaoli on August 24. The meeting took place at the initiative of the Chinese side. As Armenpress was informed from the press service of the EEC, Zhang Gaoli thanked Tigran Sargsyan for his visit and for the opportunity to discuss the prospects for the development of relations between China and the EAEU. We greatly appreciate your enormous contribution to the development of Armenian-Chinese relations when you occupied the post of Armenian Premier, he said. Tigran Sargsyan thanked for the cordial reception and stated the importance of the discussion of the prospects for the development of relations between PRC and the EAEU. The Chairman of the Board particularly said, Despite the fact that active negotiations over the signing of a trade and economic agreement are underway between the trade block of the EAEU and the Ministry of Commerce of China, my visit and our meeting are aimed at reinforcing the negotiation process and give a new impetus to it. We would like the negotiations to go on in an express pace. Zhang Gaoli noted that excessive changes occur in the world while the global economy restores very slowly. Under those circumstances the Chinese leadership attaches huge significance to cooperation with the EAEU. China establishes friendly relations with all the EAEU member states, he stated. The Chairman of the EEC Board mentioned that global transformations take place very rapidly and a new architecture of global trade emerges, thus, China and the EAEU have to actively develop cooperation not to remain outside the global trends. China is one of the pivotal partners of the Eurasian Economic Union and currently efforts are made to establish a broad economic partnership based on the EAEU and the Chinese initiative of the Silk Road economic zone. I know that you personally supervise the Chinese initiatives and the new Silk Road development project, collaboration with which is one of the priority directions of EAEUs development strategy, the EEC Board Chairman announced. Tigran Sargsyan stated that the EAEU backs the Chinese approach of creating an economic architecture exempt from political component. The interlocutors agreed to hold regular meetings to discuss development issues. YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. Three out of seven extremists charged with plotting a terror attack on a gas pipeline in Georgia are followers of Wahhabism, Armenpress reports, citing Interfax Religion, lawyer Maya Chrelashvili told reporters on Tuesday. "My client, Beka Bekauri, and two more arrested individuals are Wahhabism followers. They announced it during the investigation. As of the connections with Ukraine, all arrested individuals deny the allegation," she said. Bekauri is currently in a satisfactory condition following the surgery he underwent, and investigators are interrogating him in hospital at this moment, she said. Bekauri was one out of seven arrested individuals to give a confession about plotting the gas pipeline explosion. Late on Monday night the Tbilisi City Court ordered the preliminary arrest of seven men suspected of plotting a terror attack on the gas pipeline. The State Security Service said on Monday that the men suspected of conspiring to blow up a surface section of the Russian-Armenian gas pipeline near the village of Saguramo, by the Aragvi River, had been detained on August 20. The detainees were accused of conspiracy to commit a terror attack, acquisition, possession and carrying of firearms, ammunition and explosives for terrorism purposes, and aiding and abetting this crime. "Alongside these individuals, an acting patrol police officer was detained on suspicion of abuse of power and another Georgian national was detained over failure to report the plotted crime," the State Security Service said. One of the detainees had often traveled to Ukraine but there has been no evidence as of yet that the gang was guided from there, it said. YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. Latest events in the area of the Syrian-Turkish border, because the risk of further degradation of the situation and soaring inter-ethnic tensions between Kurds and Arabs causes alarm, Armenpress reports, citing TASS, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. "Moscow is deeply worried over the ongoing events in the area of the Syrian-Turkish border," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. "First and foremost very worrisome is the risk of a further deterioration of the situation in the zone of the conflict, including the possibility of civilian casualties it may entail and the soaring inter-ethnic contradictions between the Kurds and the Arabs." The Russian Foreign Ministry is certain that the Syrian crisis can be settled exclusively through a wide intra-Syrian dialog involving the Kurds. "We are certain that the Syrian crisis can be settled exclusively on the firm basis of international law, through a wide intra-Syrian dialog encompassing all ethnic and religious groups, including the Kurds, on the basis of the Geneva communique of June 30, 2012, Resolution 2254 and other decisions by the UN Security Council, adopted at the initiative of the International Syria Support Group," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. Ankara on Wednesday morning declared the Turkish army had begun an operation in the territory of neighboring Syria. Turkish armor and ground troops, including commando units in cooperation with the allied armed groups of the Syrian opposition crossed the border into Syria. Ankara has declared that the purpose of its military operation is struggle against the Islamic State (terrorist group outlawed in Russia) and the Kurdish militias. Ankara announced about launch of military activities in the Syrian territory on August 24. [Pedro Pablo Pena] came to Miami in 1980 on the Mariel Boatlift. Over the years, he has gained a reputation for running a safe haven for Cuban dancers when they touch down in America. They are able to continue their career in the United States. I offer to help with everything. Pena gives them a spot in his Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami or helps them contract with other companies. He also provides housing and a surrogate family for those with no local relatives. All the latest Ashbourne news. Ashbourne is an historic market town in Derbyshire. Situated on the southern edge of the Peak District, it is known as the 'Gateway to Dovedale' and the 'Gateway to the Peak District'. Ashbourne is famous for the annual Royal Shrovetide Football Match, which has been played since at least 1667, although its origins may date back centuries earlier. Ashbourne became a Fairtrade town in March 2005. The popular Tissington Trail, which follows the route of the former Ashbourne to Buxton railway, starts on the edge of town. Keep up to date with the latest news from the town by signing up for our newsletter. Moinul Islam Shamim is a leading member of a banned Islamic group, Ansarullah Bangla Team. His arrest took place overnight in a neighbourhood in the capital. He had ordered the stabbing of Faisal Arefin Dipan, who published progressive ideas. A new threatening letter promises death to five figures "guilty" of atheism and apostasy. Dhaka (AsiaNews) After the Holey Artisan Bakery Cafe massacre by Islamists on 1 July, Bangladesh continues to be fertile ground for extremism. Police in Dhaka arrested overnight Moinul Islam Shamim, considered the instigator and organiser of the murder of liberal publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan who was killed for expressing progressive ideas and publishing the texts of Avijit Roy, a blogger also killed for his critical positions on radical Islam. Dipan, owner of Jagriti Prokashani, was stabbed to death on 31 October 2015 at two o'clock in the afternoon (local time) in his office, near the Aziz Cooperative Market Shabagh, in Dhaka. The man behind his murder is a leading member of Ansarullah Bangla Team, a banned Islamic group, already known for wishing a proper death on secular intellectuals. There was a reward of 200,000 Bangladeshi takas (US$ 2,500) for his arrest. Masudur Rahman, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said that police discovered the fugitive in the neighborhood of Cherag Ali Market in Tongi, Gazipur, a suburb of the capital. Shamin was taken to jail where he will be heard by investigators. At the same time, five leading individuals in Jessore, a city in the southwest of the country, have received new threats for being "atheists and apostates". Another illegal Islamic group, Hizb ut-Tahrir, sent the threatening letter to the office of the district commissioner. The letter containing death threats targets five politicians, activists and trade unions, who are described as atheists and gentiles. Killing atheists and apostates is a way to heaven for Muslims, the letter said. Your death sentence is final. Execution will be carried out any time and dont dare to harass militant brothers. Fr Valerio Sala, PIME missionary in northern Thailand, reached the village today, one of 29 communities under his care. The faithful, who are tribal Lahu, carried a statue of the Virgin in procession. "An elderly couple asked me to receive baptism and confirmation in order to die as Christians. They are a fine example for young people, often reluctant to get involved in the faith." Chiang Rai (AsiaNews) People in Juji, a small village in Chiang Rai province, today celebrated the feast day of the Assumption together with Fr Valerio Sala, a missionary with the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME), who is the local parish priest. The faithful, who belong to the Lahu tribe, led a procession with a statue of the Virgin (pictured) and during the Mass a couple in their nineties was baptised and confirmed. Juji, Fr Sala explained that this "is a small village with 12 Catholic families. The baptised are few in relation to the number of believers." The community is one of 29 places the missionary tries to visit on a regular basis. "I cant make it every time, but this year I have been to 13 of them for the Assumption. I gave priority to those I did not visit last year. " The priest talked about the elderly couple that was baptised. "He is 92 and she is 90, immigrants from Myanmar. Although they have been Catholics for more than 50 years, they never received any educational or catechetical preparation." Now close to death, he said, "they wanted to be baptised to die as children of God. The last Lent I went to Juji for Mass and they told me they wanted to be baptised. I promised them that I would baptise and confirm them on St. Bartholomew's Day, the patron saint of the Church. I asked the bishop to be allowed to perform the confirmation." For the missionary, there are many reasons for people not be baptised when they convert. "Sometimes work does not allow to follow the catechesis. In the case of the elderly couple, being immigrants from Myanmar played the main role since they cut ties with their old community. Then came age, the loss of strength, and they never had a chance to visit the Mae Suay Mission. Baptising and confirming elderly people "is a beautiful thing for the few village youths, who are often reluctant to take the decisive step of baptism, Fr Sala noted. They do not do it because they realise that it is demanding. " In general, "tribal people are reluctant to receive the sacraments because they know that they will have to be faithful, especially in marriage. Among the Akha people, the repudiation of the wife if she cannot bear children or if she becomes ugly is still practiced. For this reason people are struggling to live fully their Christian faith and abandon traditions that have nothing to do with it." by Mathias Hariyadi Under new rules, Joko Widodo will forgive wealthy tax evaders on condition they bring their assets back to Indonesia and declare them to the authorities. Otherwise, they will be fined. As the rich wonder, accountants prep for extra work. Jakarta (AsiaNews) The government of President Joko Widodo plans to introduce an amnesty for tax dodgers in order to increase the number of those who pay taxes, repatriate assets held abroad, increase investment in Indonesia and consolidate the public budget. Under the new rules, Indonesian tax evaders have to declare their assets to the authorities. If this is not done by September, a 2-4 per cent penalty tax will be imposed on their declared asset value. This will increase to 5 per cent by December, and 10 per cent by March next year. Total penalty payments reached so far 947 billion Indonesian rupees (US$ 71.5 million). With this change, Jakarta aims to repatriate hidden assets. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani said that the money will come mainly from Singapore. As of 20 August, Indonesian citizens held 6 trillion Indonesian rupees, and rising, in the city-state. She confirmed that the Singaporean authorities firmly support us, noting that there would be no new Singaporean governmental policy and financial regulation to hamper our efforts to impose tax amnesty policy. The United Kingdom is the second tax haven for Indonesians with at least 140 billion rupees. President Widodos new policy has shaken up the modus operandi of many wealthy Indonesians who are now wondering what to do vis-a-vis the government's position. Whilst the new rules are a challenge for tax cheats, they are a bonanza for accountants who are now having to work overtime. One Catholic accountant, who wished to remain anonymous, said that he had never been so busy as in the last few weeks with wealthy people asking advice on what to do under the new rules. by Sebastian Vazhakala, MC Recognition of Mother Teresa's holiness serves as a stimulus for the Church and for the world. It is the beginning of a journey, an invitation to a spiritual deepening and to relive the Gospel as she lived it. Prayer and love are the most powerful weapons in the world, but they must not remain words: We need gestures and witnesses. Part three of Fr. Sebastian Vazhakala's story. Rome (AsiaNews) - When I go to Calcutta, some Hindu people ask me: "Why do you say that the Church is making Mother Teresa a saint? She is already a saint! This ceremony is not necessary". And I explain to them that the canonization is a greater recognition of her sanctity, ythat it is not for her, but for me, for us, for the whole world. Mother Teresa is important for the world today. And the canonization is not the end of a process but the beginning: it is an invitation to us to deepen our spirituality, to relive the Gospel of Jesus as she lived it, using what she called "the most powerful weapons" that exist, those of prayer and love. What is wrong with today's world? Why are we using other, violent weapons.If we continue down this path no one will win. The most powerful weapons are prayer and love. Not just the words "I love you", but gestures of love towards the least, those who have been forgotten by all. Do as she did. For example, today two brothers went to the refugee camp near Tiburtina station and took people a bit 'of coffee and something to eat. In this way they continue the work of Mother Teresa. This work does not end with the canonization: let's have a big party and then move on. The work of Mother Teresa continues, because it is God's work and requires us to take on and implement the spirit of Mother Teresa. I still remember, on September 6, 1997, when Mother Teresa died, CNN interviewed me and asked me: "Mother Teresa is dead and now what will you do? What will you all do? What will happen?". I said, "Mother is dead, but God is not dead. The work accomplished by her was God's work and this work of love will continue". Mother Teresa often said that if God has found a miserable person like her to do His work, He will find other people to continue and perpetuate His work in the world, which still needs to learn to love. I think our world marked by violence needs to learn from Mother Teresa. Weapons, guns, bombs cannot solve problems, but the love of God, charity. Look at what happened in Yemen, where four of our sisters were killed while serving the elderly. How is it possible? Killing is the extreme abasement of man; not even animals do this. But then it means that we still have much to learn to understand true love. This canonization is not only for the Church. Mother Teresa said that "holiness is not a luxury but a must for everyone." Even the Second Vatican Council, in Lumen Gentium has a chapter which speaks of the "universal call to holiness." We are all called by God to become holy. And how does this happen? Doing good, helping the poor, doing the will of God. One then understands that the canonization is not important to Mother Teresa, because she is already a saint and does not need it, but we need it, the Church and the world need it. It is a help, a boost, an incentive to take upon ourselves the spirit of Mother Teresa. She left us a great legacy, that of love of God and we must spread, deepen and live this heritage. The books, the things she wrote, her letters are not something to be archived, but must be disseminated. We should not hide a lamp under a bushel, rather share its light, just like she taught us: "Joy comes only from sharing" and involving everyone. So, once again, Mother Teresa has built a bridge between the poor and the rich, so that the rich share with the poor and the poor receive from the rich. In this way, all of us, and the Missionaries of Charity, we are building a new world, marked by sharing. Only this gives us peace, joy, and changes the world not by violence, but with the strength that comes from love. The Mother's canonization should prompt us to act in this way. As Jesus said in the parable of the Good Samaritan: "Go and do likewise" (Luke 10, 37). Francis speaks to the pilgrims gathered in the square: "I express my great sorrow and closeness to all the people present in the places struck by the quake, to all the people who have lost loved ones and to those who still feel shock, fear and terror. The Pope invites those present to recite the Sorrowful Mysteries. The tremors that devastated the Rieti area, were felt worst in Amatrice, Accumoli and Pescara del Tronto. 21 are confirmed dead, but many are still missing. Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Due to the earthquake that hit central Italy today, Pope Francis has postponed today's general audience catechesis until next week. "I want to express my heartfelt sorrow he explained to those present for the earthquake that hit central Italy, and devastated entire areas leaving dead and wounded". The pontiff then expressed "closeness" to all the people present in the places struck by the quakes and invited those present to join pray him in recity the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. A strong earthquake registering 6.4 degrees on the Richter scale today hit the Rieti area, causing the total devastation of Amatrice and Accumoli. There was also considerable damage in Pescara del Tronto and other areas. Rescuers are working to free the injured from the rubble. So far, the body count marks 21 confirmed dead, but hundreds are still missing. Here are the words pronounced by the Pope to those present: "I had prepared the catechesis for today, as for all Wednesdays during this year of mercy, focusing on the closeness of Jesus. However on hearing of the news of the earthquake that has struck central Italy, and which has devastated entire areas and left many wounded, I cannot fail to express my heartfelt sorrow and spiritual closeness to all those present in the zones afflicted. I also express my condolences to those who have lost loved ones, and my spiritual support to those who are anxious and afraid. Hearing the mayor of Amatrice say that the town no longer exists, and learning that there are children among the dead, I am deeply saddened. For this reason, I want to assure all the people of Accumuli, Amatrice, the Diocese of Rieti, Ascoli Piceno, and all the people of Lazio, Umbria, and Le Marche, of the prayers and close solidarity of the entire Church, who in these moments extends her merciful love, as well as the concern of all of us here in the Piazza. And thanking all the volunteer and rescue personnel who are assisting these people, I ask you to join me in praying to the Lord Jesus, Who is always moved by compassion before the reality of human suffering, that He may console the broken hearted, and through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, bring them peace. With Jesus let our hearts be moved with compassion. So we will postpone, then, this weeks catechesis until next Wednesday, and I invite you to pray with me a part of the holy Rosary, the sorrowful mysteries". John X of Antioch, Gregory III Laham and Mar Ignatius Aphrem II call on the international community to end the siege of the Syrian people. Sanctions reinforce Syrias isolation and affect the poorest. Turkey goes on the offensive against the Islamic State and YGP. In Al-Hasakah, government troops and Kurdish militias agree to a truce. Damascus (AsiaNews) Three Christian patriarchs of Damascus made an appeal to the international community, the nations of the world and the big powers to lift international sanctions that hamper access to food and aid, "stop the siege of the Syrian people" and allow the country and its citizens to "live in dignity", enjoying the basic rights of all the peoples of the world." Forwarded to AsiaNews, the appeal is signed by John X of Antioch, patriarch of Greek Orthodox church of Antioch, Gregory III Laham, Greek-Melkite Catholic patriarch, and Mar Ignatius Aphrem II, Syrian Orthodox patriarch. In five years, at least 290,000 people have died, and millions have been displaced, creating a humanitarian tragedy of enormous proportions. In their letter, the Christian leaders point out that "Since the beginning of the crisis in Syria in 2011, the impact of the economic and financial sanctions [have] increased on the daily lives of Syrian citizens." This has deepened the suffering of the Syrian people and represents another aspect of the crisis, resulting in more pressure on individuals, institutions, companies, and consequently on the entire people. The absence of new investments and the ban on international flights to Syria, as well as the reduction of exportation to the country and listing some Syrian companies on the blacklist of international trade, are considered to be economic measures towards the isolation of Syria from the international community. In addition, the closing of most of the embassies of western countries in Syria and the withdrawal of their employees limits the diplomatic relations and the foreign interaction of Syria with other countries. Likewise, the ban on international banking transactions with Syria puts the people in a financial difficulty. It impoverishes the citizens and threatens them in their daily bread and deprives them of their human dignity. As a result of this, the prices of basic necessities become higher, purchasing power drops, and new social problems emerge. Though the main goals of imposing these sanctions are political, their impact affects the life of the entire Syrian people, especially the poor and [the] working class. Despite the resolution of the Syrian people in the face of the crisis, the social situation is getting worse and the poverty and suffering of the Syrian people are constantly increasing. Therefore, we, the three Patriarchs residing in Damascus where we closely feel the suffering of the people of Syria [. . .], raise our voices in this humanitarian appeal demanding the lifting of the economic sanctions on the basis of the Human Rights Charter and other International Covenants. The three patriarchs end their appeal by emphasising that sanctions only encourage the ambitions of those who " do not want the common good of the country. Lifting sanctions will instead facilitate the work of our ecclesial and humanitarian organizations in conferring humanitarian aid and delivering medicine and medical equipment. Meanwhile, Turkey continues its offensive in Syria against the Islamic State (IS) and Kurdish militias (People's Protection Units, YPG). The IS-held town of Jarabulus, near the Turkish border, is the focus of the operation. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his full support for the military campaign against Daesh and YGP, which Ankara considers terrorist groups. In Al-Hasakah, in northeastern Syria, the Syrian army and Kurdish fighters agreed to a truce after intense fighting for control of the area. A statement distributed to journalists by a Kurdish official said the agreement included "a ceasefire and the withdrawal of all armed forces from the city." The two sides would also exchange prisoners and wounded, and reopen roads blocked off during fighting. The missile launched from a submarine near Sinpo and traveled for 500 kilometers. Shinzo Abe condemns' "reckless action". Weapons launched from submarines are very difficult to detect. Military exercises begin between South Korea and the United States. Pyongyang (AsiaNews / Agencies) - A missile fired from a North Korean submarine landed in the Sea of Japan, in Tokyo's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). The KN-11 rocket was launched from the waters near Sinpo, a town on the east coast of North Korea. Before landing the missile traveled 500 km. Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, has condemned the incident, calling it "a reckless action". The US State Department has "strongly condemned" the Pyongyang test. The rocket launch took place as South Korea and the United States began annual military exercises, called "Ulchi Freedom". The exercises involve 80 thousand soldiers of both nations, simulating the defense of Seoul from a fictitious invasion by Pyongyang. Today the foreign ministers of Japan, China and South Korea are scheduled to meet in Tokyo. A UN resolution prohibits North Korea from developing missile and nuclear technologies, but in recent months the leader Kim Jong-un has continued to order ballistic tests. August 3 last a missile launched from North Korea sank in Japanese territorial waters. On July 19 last, Pyongyang launched three rockets with range of 500-600 kilometers. This morning's act of defiance follows Washington sanctions against North Korea and the decision of the US government and South Korea to build the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (Thaad), missile defense system capable of locating and destroying the missiles launched by North Korea in flight. China and Russia have opposed the project. Today's rocket launch took place from aboard a submarine, and rates as one of North Korea's more successful. This type of rocket (SLBM) is greatly feared because of the mobility of submarines and the difficulty of detecting preparations for a launch. by Pierre Balanian Tanks have invaded the town across the border, in Syrian territory. Ankara "wants to hit Islamic state militants" but jihadists have already left the area. The Turkish goal is Syrias Kurds to block the emergence of an autonomous enclave. A game of alliances is being played with the US and Turkey in a tug-of-war. Jarablus (AsiaNews) The Turkish army invaded the city of Jarablus, just across the border in Syrian territory. Turkish forces surrounded the area to attack Islamic State (IS) fighters. However, local sources report that jihadists have already fled the city, and that scores of civilians have been killed during the shelling and air strikes that preceded the invasion, with corpses abandoned by the roadside. Interviewed by an Arab TV, a Jarablus resident called Sabri Osman said that "only 13 members of Daesh are still present" in the city. Daesh is the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State. As the Turkish invasion continues, the northern part of the city has been destroyed. Local sources explain that Turkish tanks entered from the west and from the north and surrounded the area. The Turkish invasion is almost complete. The shelling of the past few hours, the sources said, were "make believe" because most of the jihadists "had already escaped." In the early hours of this morning, in response to yesterdays Turkish bombardment, some rockets were fired from Jarablus in the direction of the border where they hit the Turkish village of Karkamish. However, Ankara has ordered the complete evacuation of the inhabitants of Karkamish and six other neighbouring villages. Karkamish hosts a base for anti-Syrian government militias. Through a secret route through the Turkish border, men and weapons are getting through in preparation for todays ground attack against Daesh in Jarablus. A race is on to see who will occupy Jarablus first and push out Daesh militias that controlled the city until recently with Turkish protection. i.e. until just before the failed coup against Erdogan. Many have their eyes on the city: Syrian Kurds, assisted by US experts, the so-called Free Syrian Army (Free Syrian Army, made up of militias organised by Turkey, and not former regular Syrian soldiers) and the Syrian army. Now turkey has joined the fray. As Daeshs defeat appears imminent in Jarablus, its last stronghold on the Syrian-Turkish border, the issue is when and by who. Jihadi websites are reporting fierce resistance to the bitter end, but local residents are saying that the Caliphate fighters have left Jarablus itself and redeployed around the city. According to reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the families of Daesh fighters have already moved out of town and are now in El Bab, near Raqqa, the capital of the Caliphate. Sources in Beirut told AsiaNews that yesterday 15 US military experts travelled to the citys demarcation lines to study the territory from Zor Mghar to the village of Shuyukh, to the west, in order to secure the frontline in the battle zone. The land battle is imminent. Before the war, about 100,000 people lived in Jarablus, 80 per cent Arabs, 10 per cent Turkmen, 5 per cent Armenian Christians and 5 per cent Kurds (the last Christian, an Armenian Orthodox man, was killed by Daesh last year). After the city fell to the Islamic State in 2014, most of the residents left, with only 4,500 left ruled by 40 Daesh chiefs. Turkey is deeply concerned that Jarablus could fall under the control of Syrian Kurds. The city is the last missing piece to complete a would-be Kurdish autonomous region in Syria, with US support, according to the Turkish press. In fact, the Turkish government is less interested in fighting Daesh than in preventing the Kurds from occupying the area and for that reason it supports the Free Syrian Army (FSA). The latter includes some 400 fighters from Failaq El Sham, Liwaa al Sultan Murad (Sultan Murat Unit), Harakat, Nur el Din Zinki and Ahrar Al Sham (Free Damascus). All share the FSA label. Daesh fighters in Jarablus are composed of two groups. One group that operates under the command of the Turkish secret services, the so-called Euphrates United Groups Command, which is part of the FSA, led by Yussef Al Hader, a regular Syrian army colonel who had defected, and was killed by the FSA at the infantry academy in Aleppo. A second group of fighters that broke away from the first because it was too dependent on Turkey joined the Kassad armed group under the leadership of Abdel Sattar Al Jader. Chosen on Monday by the Jarablus Military Council, Abdel Sattar Al Jader was murdered in mysterious circumstances a few hours after issuing a statement in which he called for the protection of the area from Turkish interference. He had accused Turkey of sending many Daesh members to Jarablus in recent days through various routes from Turkey. The Battle of Jarablus will not be just a matter of territorial control but will also be a real tug of war between the US and Turkey. The US planes have been bombing Daesh positions in Jarablus, but according to Kurdish sources in Beirut, the United States could also hit fighters with the so-called Free Syrian Army. The battle has begun, and the alliances are changing. Rains fall relentlessly for over two months. In Uttar Pradesh they have killed 40 people and forced at least another 100 thousand to flee their homes. For Hindus, a funeral rite on the banks of the sacred river frees the body from the cycle of rebirth. Lucknow (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The incessant monsoon rains that have been falling for two months in central India have forced Hindus to disrupt the funeral rites on the banks of the Ganges. Varanasi, the holy city for the Hindu religion (in the state of Uttar Pradesh), is in fact covered by water and the river, where funerals are celebrated, is inacessabile. For this reason the faithful were forced to prepare the funeral pyres on the roofs of private homes. Shailendra Pandey, spokesman for the state government, said that the ghats [the steps leading to the river] can not be used, therefore, "the cremations are being carried out on the roofs of houses arranged along the river, but with great difficulty". Varanasi is crossed by the most sacred river in the Hindu religion, whose waters are used for purification and ablutions. The faithful believe that celebrating a burial ritual on the Ganges rids the body of the deceased from the cycle of rebirths. Witnesses say that similar rains have not "been seen since 1978. The level of the Ganges has grown, the banks are flooded. People pray in the houses or in flooded streets". The monsoon season falls from July to September. But the intensity of this year's rainfall is quite exceptional and has caused severe damage to both population and infrastructure. In Uttar Pradesh in recent days at least 40 people have died and 100 thousand were displaced. In the states of Bihar and Assam there are other 150 victims and at least two million people forced to flee their homes. The floods also caused the collapse of a highway bridge between Mumbai and Goa, and the death of about twenty passengers traveling on two buses swallowed by the waters below. Petroliam Nasional Bhd., Malaysias state oil company, which is facing unprecedented losses wants the Canadian government to make a decision by October on the liquified natural gas (LNG) export project that the firm plans to undertake in British Columbia. To be built along with partners from China, Japan, India, and Brunei, the project is expected to cost C$36 billion, and is key to B.C.s LNG-fuelled economic future. Construction was originally scheduled to start in 2015, but the approval has been mired over concerns about the impact on fish, wildlife and the traditional ways of life of First Nation tribes in the region. Petronas is also frustrated that Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus climate-change priorities is toughening up environmental reviews of major energy projects which could impose additional assessments on the project. Sources in Malaysia said Petronas has conveyed to federal cabinet ministers it wont accept additional hurdles, after spending an estimated $12 billion to get the project to this stage. We are still waiting for a final decision by Canadian authorities. Until we get their final decision, we are not able to decide (whether to proceed), Petronas CEO Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin told reporters after a media briefing on Petronas latest financial results in Kuala Lumpur. He added that the national oil and gas company estimates to hear from the Canadian government around September or October. Wan Zulkiflee said that Petronas and its partners have to review the whole project after looking at the decision of Canadian authorities and the conditions that come with it. Over the past three years, plummeting crude oil prices had significantly reduced Petronas revenue base, leading to reports that they may pull out of the project. In March, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency requested for three extra months to finish an impact study regarding the project. The project would be Canadas first LNG export terminal, but the plan has received opposition from environmental and aboriginal groups who have said that it would destroy a critical salmon habitat. Earlier this year, Petronas laid off some 1,000 employees as dropping crude oil prices resulted in falling revenues for the national oil and gas company. Petroliam Nasional Bhd., Malaysias state oil company, said profit dropped 96 percent last quarter after it was hit by oil prices that remained sharply lower than a year earlier. Net income fell to 348 million ringgit ($86 million) in the three months through June, from 9.1 billion ringgit a year ago, the company said Monday. Revenue slid 21 percent to 48.4 billion ringgit. The first half of 2016 remained difficult for Petronas, Chief Executive Officer Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin told reporters in Kuala Lumpur. The continuous volatility of oil prices means that we cannot let up, but instead continue to grow on the back of better operational efficiencies, more controllable spending on operations, he said. Petronas, as the company is known, said earlier this year a change in its business structure will result in the loss of about 1,000 jobs, joining global oil majors including Royal Dutch Shell Plc in cutting spending as crude prices fell. It had about 51,000 workers at the end of 2014. The company will focus on non-performers for any further headcount reductions, without aiming for a specific target, Wan Zulkiflee said. This week, Petronas said profit dropped 96 percent last quarter after it was hit by oil prices that remained sharply lower than a year earlier. Net income fell to 348 million ringgit ($86 million) in the three months through June, from 9.1 billion ringgit a year ago, the company said Monday. Revenue slid 21 percent to 48.4 billion ringgit. Petronas is planning to lower capital and operating expenditure by as much as 20 billion ringgit in 2016, with a planned reduction of 50 billion ringgit over four years, Wan Zulkiflee said in February. Brent crude, the global benchmark, averaged almost $47 a barrel in the second quarter, compared with about $63 during the same period last year. Petronas is sticking with its assumption for Brent to average $30 a barrel in 2016 for budget-planning purposes, Wan Zulkiflee said. The average oil price this year is still lower than 2015, he said. BC LNG Quick Facts The integrated project, consisting of Pacific NorthWest LNG Ltd. and Progress Energy Canada Ltd. are majority owned by PETRONAS, Malaysias national energy company. Incorporated in 1974, PETRONAS is now one of the worlds largest, fully integrated oil and gas companies. Pacific NorthWest LNG Ltd. and Progress Energy Canada Ltd. have secured four transaction agreements to date. These agreements have been reached with Japan Petroleum Exploration Company Ltd. (JAPEX), PetroleumBRUNEI, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. and China Petrochemical Corporation (SINOPEC) There are 13 proposed LNG projects in B.C., nine of which already have been approved for export licences from the National Energy Board. If five of these proposed facilities move forward, the cumulative gross domestic product benefit to B.C. could total $1 trillion. LNG export operations in B.C. could create over 100,000 new jobs in the province and new revenues for government to support a debt-free future. At peak construction in 2018, the LNG sector will require 58,700 workers. The Province recently unveiled a comprehensive strategy - B.C.'s Skills for Jobs Blueprint - to help meet LNG workforce challenges and ensure that apprenticeships, education and training are more in line with labour market demands. By Drunken Noms Special to the Post We ordered the Jambon Iberico de Bellota which was described asthe finest ham in world. It was the highlight of the entire meal. Like the other occasions Ive eaten Iberico ham, it was delicious. I hoped the Champinones at Bodega would be delicious, but was disappointed. It featured sauteed mixed mushrooms, with garlic, sherry, and finely grated aged manchego melted atop. The garlic and sherry sauce tasted off because of the stale red pepper flakes. I wasnt a fan of the Patatas Bravas, which featured twice fried potatoes in a zesty sauce. The potatoes had a beautifully crunchy exterior and soft pillowy center. The sauce reminded me of a salad dressing. I prefer this dish with more of a tomato-based sauce. The portion size for the Paella Mixta was massive. It consisted of saffron rice with mussels, clams, prawns, octopus, chicken, chorizo, and pork. All the seafood and meat were properly prepared. The rice was wetter than I preferred. It had the essence of the sea and a hint of saffron, but it felt like it was missing something. For dessert, I selected the Churros served with hot dipping chocolate. It wasnt served with dulce de leche as advertised. Nicely fried with a crispy interior and soft airy interior, they were paired well with the sweeter chocolate. We also had the Arroz Con Leche, or rice pudding, served with dulce de leche. I enjoyed it. The rice was soft; the pudding, creamy. The predominant flavours were vanilla and cinnamon, with additional sweetness from the dulce de leche. Bodega on Main is the least favourite of the Spanish tapas restaurants that Ive visited in Vancouver. With the exception of the desserts and the Iberico ham (which is not made in house), most of the dishes were off or felt like they were missing something. But, the restaurant has potential. I would consider returning again, but will more research on what to order. Bodega on Main 1014 Main Street, Vancouver, BC Drunken Noms is composed of two bloggers 'Drunken Master' and 'Food Wench'. www.drunkennoms.com Photo caption: Hard at work. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) By Marc Bain, Special to The Post H&M is under fire for contracting with factories that allegedly violated child-labor laws. According to the Guardian, a book being published in Sweden next week describes how two factories in Myanmar had workers as young as 14 laboring more than 12 hours a day making clothes. H&M was one of their clients. In developing countries such as Myanmar, theinternational conventions on child labor developed by the International Labour Organization do allow children to begin work at 14, but that length of workday violates both the conventions and Myanmars own laws. Indeed, working at age 14 does not as such necessarily fall within the ILO definition of child labour because ILO Convention 138 allows developing countries to set the minimum working age initially at 14 years, an ILO spokesperson wrote in an email. However, it would be another thing if children work long hours (especially overtime) or night shifts. Such work by under 18 year old youth is hazardous work, therefore a worst form of child labour as defined by ILO Convention 182. The spokesperson also noted that Myanmar has not ratified Convention 138. It is one of a handful of countries worldwide that has not, including Bangladesh, India, and the US. Moa Karnstrand and Tobias Andersson Akerblom, the authors of the book, which is called Modeslavar, or Fashion Slaves, spoke with girls who worked all day until 10pm at the two factories: Myanmar Century Liaoyuan Knitted Wear and Myanmar Garment Wedge. One girl who started working at a factory when she was 14 said they would hire anyone who wanted to work. H&M said it has demanded an action plan, including improved recruitment routines for handling ID cards, from the factories, where these conditions have reportedly existed since 2013. It is unacceptable to H&M that there are teenagers with working hours that directly violate the rules, the company said in a statement. Any overtime must be in accordance with legislation as well as our own demands. It also stressed that simply having 14-year-olds working in the factories did not qualify as illegal child labor. ILO instead stresses the importance of not excluding this age group from work in Myanmar, it said. H&M does of course not tolerate child labour in any form. H&M has said previously that it conducted a thorough risk analysis before entering Myanmar, where political reforms since 2011 have opened up the countrys garment industry to international brands. But the industry has drawn scrutiny for widespread problems. A report (pdf) last year by Oxfam and labor-rights groups in Myanmar said that garment workers are working up to 11 hours a day, six days a week, but remain trapped in poverty. About 90% of the roughly 300,000 workers in the industry are young women, the report said. In addition to H&M, it pointed to Primark, Gap, and Adidas as also sourcing from the country. H&M, which is one of the biggest fashion companies in the world and whose chairman is the richest person in Sweden, sources a great deal of its clothing from low-wage countries. Though many of its contract factories have been called out for worker abuses in recent years, it often points out that it is working to improve conditions in the factories making its clothing. It is also part of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), an alliance of brands with the stated mission of improving conditions for workers. ETI recognizes that in complex supply chains, issues will inevitably arise, Peter McAllister, ETIs executive director, said in a statement. Whats important is a meaningful and timely response. The question is whether H&Ms action plan will meet that mark. Marc is Quartz's fashion reporter. His background includes time spent working for a designer menswear label, a turn as the literature editor at SparkNotes, and years as a general-assignment reporter at Newsweek. He covers anything and everything related to clothes and footwear, whether sneakers or luxury, business or design. If you can wear it he'll probably write about it. This piece was originally appeared in Quartz (qz.com). See http://qz.com/763384/hm-reportedly-used-garment-factories-that-worked-teens-for-12-hour-shifts/ A BigLaw lawyer famous for his numerous ties with the Democratic Party has successfully litigated on behalf of a Republican. According to Bloomberg Law, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan special counsel Jerry Goldfeder got his client Philip Flip Pidot considered in the Republican primary he has been fighting for the 3rd congressional district of New York. Pidot, despite having the required number of signatures to put be on the ballot, had been locked out of the primary. With the Board of Elections ruling he wasnt allowed to run, Pidot got the services of Goldfeder who was a previously a member of President Obamas litigation team. He called me, he came to speak with me, and the facts of the case were pretty simple and compelling, Goldfeder told Big Law Business. Though the New York State Supreme Court ruled on June 24 that it would be impossible to print new ballots before the scheduled June 28 primary, a Syracuse-based judge ruled August 17 that a primary where Pidot was considered, and put on the ballot, must be held. Goldfeder said that he thought the supreme courts ruling was extremely unfair to both [Pidot] and the voters of the Republican Party who wanted a primary. According to Bloomberg, Pidot will be pitted against State Sen. Jack Martins in the October 6 Republican primary. Goldfeder, who also actively fundraises for Hillary Clinton, said that he didnt mind representing a member of the Grand Old Party and just wanted Republican voters had choices on their ballots. Free newsletter Subscribe to our FREE newsletter service and well keep you up-to-date with the latest breaking news, cutting edge opinion, and expert analysis affecting both your business and the industry as whole. Please enter your email address below and click on Sign Up for daily newsletters from Australasian Lawyer. Victoria Supreme Court Justice Lex Lasry dismissed a jury hearing a murder trial because of a report published by Yahoo7 which included prejudicial material. According to SBS, Sydney journalist Krystal Johnson who wrote the report relied heavily on a Herald Sun story but added information to the report. Lasry has summoned Johnson for an explanation and said she could be held in contempt of the court. If shes not in Melbourne then she can be brought to Melbourne. I want this explained to me, the judge said. To publish this material isscandalous. The Australian said that the Herald Sun report Johnson based hers on was described in court as not problematic, with the judge finding fault only with the Yahoo7 report. Unfortunately this material contains other information which should never have seen the light of day in the public media and which has had a significantly adverse effect on the future of this trial, the judge said, later apologising to the family of the victim. No later trial date has been set yet. According to SBS, Johnson, who is a 2014 journalism graduate from Sydneys Macleay College, is a morning news producer at Yahoo 7. K&L Gates LLP has appointed Sasha Burstein as a partner in its investment management, hedge funds and alternative investments practice. Burstein, who joins from Paul Hastings, will be based out of K&L Gates San Francisco office. She is the 14th partner, of counsel, or other professional to join the firms investment management practice in the past year. Burstein counsels investment advisors and institutional investors on matters involving private investment funds, including hedge, private equity, and hybrid funds. We are extremely pleased that Sasha has joined us, said Edward Sangster, administrative partner of K&L Gates San Francisco office. She is a rising star in the investment management industry, and she will assist in fortifying our position in the Bay Area. Burstein advises on legal and regulatory matters such as registration and operation, mergers and acquisition transactions, and regulatory compliance, as well as the structuring, negotiating, and documenting of alternative investments. K&L Gates investment management practice has more than 150 lawyers in offices in the United States, Europe, Australia, and Asia, making it one of the largest such practices in the world. In the past year, Hilger von Livonius, Philipp Riedl and Michael Harris joined K&L Gates investment management practice in Munich. Furthermore, Arturo Requenez II joined the firms Miami and New York offices while Derek Steingarten, Robert Sichel, Peter Shea, Edward Dartley, and Bruce MacLennan joined the investment management practice in New York. Brian Vargo joined the practice in the law firms Pittsburgh office, Richard Kerr and Kenneth Holston in Boston, and Todd Betke in Washington, D.C. JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Just make sure you understand the 820 application very well, Like if you are De facto or Married and the requirements of both. Even if people fully understand it I think it is also good to have a consultation with a Registered Migration Agent, I think an hour is almost $200 - but a 820 will cost about $10,000 min in most cases. There are several that often post on here - they list their Registered Migration Agent number in the post and often a link to contact them. These are recommended by many - I used one, but have read many of the others posts they all seem honest and worth a talk to. Hi all, I am new to this forum but has religiously followed your advice which are of great help to me. I had been in a relationship with my husband for almost 5 years. I had moved to Perth on PMV and got married here in June. I applied for the partner visa (820) a couple days ago and now is collecting the evidence. While preparing the files to be uploaded i had just received the email from a CO saying that she is considering my case and that i have 28 days to reply. However, the list of required information is quite short...basically, just passports of me and my husband, our marriage certificate and the Form 40sp... Is this a problem? I should have uploaded what i had right after i finished the application and paid the fee but was waiting for everything to be completed before uploading all the supporting docs. Should i upload the rest of the docs which support the financial, social, household aspects and nature of commitment? I have read the guidelines for partner visa quite thoroughly and was preparing everything they asked for. This little checklist is not as detailed as i expected. Any advice would be much appreciated! Thank you all! A stripped-down version of the bike has just been spotted which might offer a massive price advantage. Launched sometime last year, the Mahindra Mojo hasnt become what you might call a runaway success that the company hoped it would be. While it has developed a dedicated fan base, sales of the 295cc motorcycle are still overshadowed by its competitors. However, Mahindra might be looking to remedy that by offering customers more options in the form of a more affordable Mojo. Spotted at Lonavala in Maharashtra by the good folks at RushLane, a prototype of this more affordable version seems to be a stripped down version of the bike launched last year. The largest change on the bike is the switch from upside-down forks to conventional telescopic ones, which should go a long way in bringing costs down. The other big change according to those who captured the spy picture is that the Mahindra has gone from a dual exhaust setup to single one, eliminating the silencer from the left side of the bike. There are no other immediate visual changes on the bike, but there is word going around that the massive twin-pod front fairing might be dropped in favour of a simpler arrangement to keep costs down. And while the test bike captured here is still seen to be running on Pirelli Rosso Diablo tyres, its possible that Mahindra might make a switch to MRF rubber to make this version of the Mojo significantly lighter on the wallet. A closer examination of the picture also reveals what seems to be a carburettor setup for the single-cylinder motor as opposed to fuel-injection. This is likely to mean a small dip in performance figures, but the weight reductions that would be achieved thanks to a simpler headlight setup and single exhaust might just offset the slight reduction in power. However, it really remains to be seen how Mahindra will manage to deal with upcoming more stringent emissions norms with this carburetted setup. What these changes will allow Mahindra to do, is to target a whole other portion of the Indian motorcycle buyer junta and make the Mojo significantly lucrative to those who had shied away from it because of its price. The current model of the bike is priced at Rs 1.63 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), but if these changes are implemented, we could see the new model go for almost Rs 25,000-30,000 cheaper. It is believed that when this new model launches, it will be sold alongside the current Mojo. Source EV Chevy Bolt kW NEDC Before anything, I must highlight something which doesnt sound right to me. Opel tells that the Ampera-e also offers a significantly longer range than most other electric cars. Im sorry, but come again? An in this segment is much needed in there to eliminate any type of confusion, at least until Tesla Motors finishes research & development on the hottestof the moment.Now lets focus on what makes theOpel Ampera-e great. As you can see in the adjacent video, the Ampera-e outaccelerates the Corsa OPC, Insignia OPC, Adam RS, and the Astra TCR in a 30-meter (100-foot) drag race. Better still, the compact EV hits 50 km/h (31 mph) in 3.2 seconds, which means that the Ampera-e has the edge in traffic-light-to-traffic-light sprints.Top speed is limited to 150 km/h (93.2 mph), which is more than enough if youre living anywhere else but that country with the unrestricted autobahns. Another impressive detail regarding the Ampera-e is how this car picks up speed from 80 to 120 km/h (50 to 75 mph). All it takes is 4.5 seconds, so yes, the Opel Ampera-e can handle its own during high-speed overtakes.The German manufacturer also reiterates that the electric powertrain is good for 150or 204 PS (201 horsepower in U.S. money). The 360 Nm (265 lb-ft) of torque also come in handy, especially when you consider that the Opel Astra 1.6 BiTurbo CDTI is 10 newton meters short on the Ampera-e.What the peeps at Opel fail to mention, though, is the-rated range of this heavily-anticipated electric runabout. In the case of the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt , we're expecting more than 200 miles (322 kilometers) of juice.Oh, and by the way, dont get your hopes up for adaptive cruise control The 37-year-old designer will be the new Executive Design Director for Borgward Europe. The Belgian-born designer has a wealth of experience behind him, since he worked for Audi, Renault, SEAT, and Hyundai. All of the brands in the previous sentence hired Genot in their design studios.In the case of the South Korean company Hyundai Motors, David Genot was an Exterior Designer, Senior Automotive Designer, and Creative Manager of Design.His work was mostly focused on concept cars, but he has also penned production vehicles. Among his most known creations are cars like the 2010 Kia Pro-Ceed, the 2015 Kia Sportage, and the KIA GT Concept of 2011.David Napoleon Genot holds and an advanced degree in design, which he obtained after studying design at the Pforzheim University of Applied Sciences.From there, he was hired by the automakers listed above. Borgward will employ Genot at their international design studio in Renningen, which is located close to the company headquarters in Stuttgart.Borgward is the first German automaker that has created a position in its Board of Management that focuses on Design. The renowned Anders Warming takes the latter . Mr. Warming used to work for MINI, but his experience spans further than just the British brand that is owned by the BMW Group.According to Borgward, their latest asset is fascinated by the companys philosophy, and is excited to translate the spirit of its visionary founder, Carl F. W. Borgward, into modern vehicles. Genot has no doubt that Borgward will succeed in the automotive industry, and he feels that he can establish the brand at the cutting edge of the global car making industry.Borgward also hired specialists that used to work for Daimler AG. In the case of the two engineers, Dr. Ing. Tilo Schweers, and Florian Herbold, their previous roles at Daimler focused on the development of alternative drive systems. We've talked about the 1,500 hp hybrid on multiple occasions and the Californian venue was a brilliant occasion for Angelholm to showcase its abilities on American soil.It also allows us to see just how brilliant the hyper-hybrid is at handling parking maneuvers with its clutch-replacing hydraulic coupling and its electric motors (here are more details on its powertrain). The technological advances that have allowed for such assets shouldn't be taken lightly, since hypercars from one or two generations ago can have serious issues in such scenarios, as the Ferrari Enzo whose clutch gave up mid-auction recently demonstrated ( here 's the story in case you missed it).Nevertheless, we're not sure which the greatest stat of the Swedish automaker's three-vehicle display was. Regera aside, the K brand also brought an Agera R and, more importantly, an Agera XS to the event.The XS can be seen as an US-spec Agera RS, with the main difference between the two being the larger wing pn the first. Khris Singh, a supercar aficionado whose machines we've discussed before, acquire the XS and, apparently, he wanted the largest wing Koenigsegg had ever put on a car. His wish was granted, while the 1,160 hp output of the twin-turbo V8 remained unchanged. And Orange, let's not forget the tons of Orange on this hypercar.The first clip below, which comes from a Lamborghini salesman, is the promised Christian von Koenigsegg adventure, while the one underneath it will bring you a complete look at the automaker's Monterey display. Will they be rewarded for their efforts? autoevolution.com went to the Southernmost Point of the United States--Key West, Florida--to find out.Literally Spanish for a flowing waterfall or cascade, the 2016 Buick Cascada is the domestic version of the two-door ragtop that has been sold abroad since 2013. Available as the Opel Cascada in Europe, the Vauxhall Cascada in the UK, Opel Cabrio in Spain and Holden Cascada down under, the Buick now features over 600 parts that differentiate it from its overseas cousins. Chalk that up to new bits for safety and other U.S. regulatory compliances.The Cascada is a fortified personal luxury mid-sized convertible that the General considers a four-seater but we would call a 2+2 plus to transport two front and occasionally, two rear passengers. Its Buicks first U.S. convertible in 25 years. Although available in other markets with additional choices of 1.4-liter petrol or 2.0-liter Diesel Ecotec engines, domestically we will be powered by a singular 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder. With its turbocharger, variable valve timing and direct fuel injection, this four-banger manages 200 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 207 lb-ft of torque between 1,800-4,500 rpm. An overboost function pumps up the jam to a temporary 221 lb-ft of torque, as needed.The engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Buick used some of its other vehicles for suspension inspiration in this new ragtop. While the firms HiPer Strut front kit has appeared on others, this MacPherson strut-based setup is specifically tuned for the Cascada convertible, which by its nature would have a higher degree of chassis flex than a car with a rigid roof.The rear end makes use of one of mechanical engineer James Watts (1736-1819) greatest hits, the Watt Z-linkage. (Yes, we know his greatest was the Watt steam engine, but just work with us here.) Through it, the Cascadas trailing suspension keeps the rear axle centered during left and right turns for a ride that feels as much on rails as Frances TGV.Steering of the standard 20-inch wheels is accomplished via an electric power assisted rack and pinion setup, for weight savings and efficiency. Still, the Cascada is no lightweight, with a curb weight of 3,979-pounds.Structurally, the Cascada takes safety into account, in a big way, with spring-loaded pyrotechnically charged roll bars located behind the rear seat headrests. Working in conjunction with the airbag system, they rise 14-inches to match the height of the windshield for occupant protection in case of a rollover.The Cascada comes in two trim levels starting with a base ($33,990 including destination), but-well-equipped list of features including Buicks IntelliLink telematics system with seven-inch color touch screen display for text message alerts, Apples Siri Eyes Free features, a navigation/radio combo with premium seven-speaker audio system, OnStar 4G LTE with Wi-Fi hotspot, and a rear vision camera. But wait, theres more.The list continues with a remote vehicle starter, dual zone climate control, 12-volt power outlets, heat-reflective leather seating, heated front seats with eight-way power adjustments, and a heated steering wheel to extend summer drive times into the winter months. Twenty-inch aluminum wheels and rear park assist round out the base offering.The Cascada Premium model ($36,990-including destination) adds forward collision alert, Lane Departure Warning, automatic headlight control with tunnel detection, front and rear park assist, Rainsense automatic windshield wipers and front and rear air deflectors which, while included with the Premium package, are available for $150 for the base model. We would almost consider the devices a necessity. Finally, buyers can choose from two different wheelsets and a choice of six different colors.Buick officials estimate that ninety-seven percent of the Cascadas sold in the U.S. will be the high-zoot Premium edition because those buying it will, according to company officials, consider the Cascada a reward. What are they rewarding? Perhaps a marriage, a divorce, a lotto win, kids moving out, etcetera. The possibilities are endless. While sales estimates were not discussed, they think at least 50-percent of buyers will hail from the so-called smile states of New York, New Jersey, Florida, Texas, and California.With competition from the likes of Audis A3, BMWs 2-series and Lexus with their RC convertible, the Buick Cascada better have its mommas good looks. In this case, you can at least notice the family resemblance from the nose rearward. In fact, the only things different from the Euro-Cascadas and the U.S. offerings are the Buick tri-shield badging at front and rear.Side panels feature the same cyclone-style creases that add interest as well as do their part to break up the monotony of large slabbish doors. The only other difference is seen at the rear lower fascia, which is narrowed more than the European versions since they dont need the wider EU license plates.As good looking the Cascada is, with its steeply raked front windshield and minimalist rear deck, we think it looks even more handsome when seen in profile with its multilayer soft top roof in the fully upright and locked position.The interior is festooned with double-needle stitching to accent the leather-covered dashboard. The driver-oriented control panels and center console feature buttons everywhere as opposed to those dreaded display screen-based menus that have four or more layers before you actually find the function you are looking for.Once in place with the doors closed, seatbelt presenters reach around you offering the means by which to buckle you in. Adjustable seats offered a quick path to seating nirvana and managed to provide decent comfort for the five-hour drive that lay ahead of us.The interior execution is quite good, belying its almost $37,000 price tag. It does have a tiny rear window reminiscent of that found in the rear of the BMW 6-series cabrio. Learn to use your side view mirrors religiously, we say.Having a convertible roof, whether hard or soft, usually results in the loss of cargo space when the top is stowed. But what a droptop it is. Made of multilayer fabric and sound insulation, it muffles all but the loudest noises from the wild outdoors. Latchless with a single control to raise and lower it, it can accomplish the task in 17-seconds at speeds up to 31 mph.Still, it is a smallish 9.8-cubic feet with the roof down and the droptop housing in place, which grows to a more civilized 13.4-cubic foot hold when in the up position. Packing for a weekend trip is probably best accomplished using resealable Ziploc bags for luggage. The rear seat offers pass-through capabilities as well, that expand to a total of 26.5-cubic feet.The Cascadas 1.6-liter Ecotec turbocharged four-cylinder is not spectacular in its get up and go, but thats not what this Cascada is about. Instead, in Premium trim, we are talking about an all-in cruiser that can get you from point A to point B with few compromises. Power production didnt exactly come on with a particular sense of urgency, but we were able to channel a Formula1ERS-style system and its sudden burst of energy from 201 to 221 lb-ft of torque, which was good enough for 60 to 80 mph sprints for dispatching the lollygaggers on US Highway 1.Our seats were not ventilated, but they did feature heaters that would help to keep our buttocal regions warm. So too, the heated steering wheel which must feel as good and welcomed as a Farmers warm hand on an extremely cold milking morning.Speaking of the steering, the feel and heft of the leather-wrapped wheel offered positive input thanks to the EPAS rack and pinion system. Quick lane change maneuvers were easily accomplished with absolute confidence, owing to the Buick HiPer Strut independent suspension kit. Displaying almost no side-to-side wallow, the well-sorted system allowed the Cascada to proceed with an almost go-kart sensibility.Buick takes advantage of its European Opel cousin to trailblaze (or renew) the brands presence in various niches. With the 2016 Buick Cascada, going topless can be its own reward. DCT After the quake, Kumamotos production halted on the night of April 14, only resuming the supply of parts for Honda production operations outside Japan in May. On June 6, the factory resumed assembly key motorcycle models at a reduced pace, and since then, the volume has increased in stages.Now, the FUN line, a large-sized motorcycle models production line (including the Honda Africa Twin), is ready to resume production, thus normalizing the factorys operations according to plan.The first of the two earthquakes that hit the region in April was a 6.5 on the Richter scale, but the second one that occurred two days later was a 7.3 tremor that caused a lot of damage in the country, leaving dozens dead and many more missing.Initially, the Japanese manufacturer declared that, if everything was alright, the factory would reopen within two days. Unfortunately, the inspections found out that the Kumamoto plant sustained damage and was in need of repairs.After analyzing the situation, Honda said that the closure should be extended until April 28. But after that, it prolonged the target to restore the plant by mid-August this year. Which did happen after all, with the reopening of the line that assembles the CRF1000L Africa Twin The new Africa Twin was one of the most anticipated motorcycles of last year, as it promised to carry on the amazing heritage of multiple Honda adventure bikes that literally made history. Rumored at first and later confirmed, the CRF1000L was, however, a parallel twin machine instead of a v-twin, also using a newautomatic transmission as and optional feature.The Kumamoto Factory is the birthplace of some of the most important models in Honda's line-up, including the CBR1000RR Fireblade, GL1800 Goldwing, VFR1200G, NC750X, CRF250X, and the Silver Wing scooter. The Volkswagen Group has had its legal representatives initiate a dialogue with their equivalents that represent states like Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maryland, and New York Volkswagens representatives have explained in court that the talks regarding a settlement will begin no later than November 1, 2016, because up to 14 other states might want to be involved in the situation.One of Volkswagens spokespersons for the USA has announced that the automaker is seeking an agreement that will bring a constructive route that will resolve any remaining environmental claims, Automotive News reports.The agreement has the purpose of transferring state lawsuits into a federal court, where a federal judge will handle them, just like the owner filed lawsuits regarding the Dieselgate situation.Volkswagens recent legal troubles come after the automaker has settled with U.S. authorities regarding its cheating scheme, which can make the cost of the entire situation rise to even higher levels.Through the settlement talks, Volkswagen is attempting to mitigate the expenses of the settlement, as the company could end up paying more to individual states if it were to battle each in its state courts.At this point, without the settlement talks described above, the Dieselgate settlement already signed by Volkswagen will cost the German corporation up to $15.3 billion. It has pledged to fix the affected vehicles, pay damages to their owners, and to offer to buy them back, depending on the situation.This part of Volkswagens Dieselgate only targets the 2.0-liter diesel engines built by the German company. There are also owners of 3.0-liter TDI-engined vehicles sold by the Volkswagen Group in the USA with a defeat device.In the situation of the secondary group of clients, they are upset because the automaker has yet to submit a fix proposition that has been approved by American authorities. There is also no plan to provide the option of buy-back for the affected cars. Photo of Ford Transit courtesy of Ford. Ford Motor Co. is recalling 2,013 2015-2016 model-year Ford Transit vehicles equipped with 3.2-liter diesel engines so dealers can replace the fuel injection pumps, the automaker said. In these vehicles, the fuel injection pump could malfunction and cause the engine to not start or to stall without warning while driving. Ford, however, stated it isnt aware of any accidents or injuries associated with this issue. The recall covers 2015-16 Ford Transit vehicles built at Kansas City Assembly Plant from July 15, 2015 to April 14, 2016. In addition to the 2,013 vehicles recalled in the U.S., Ford is calling back 457 vehicles in Canada for the same problem. Dealers will inspect the fuel system for metallic contamination. If none is present, dealers will replace the fuel injection pump and associated parts. If metallic contamination is found, dealers will replace the fuel injection pump, fuel injectors, and fuel filter. They will also clean and flush the fuel system at no cost to the customer. The electric carsharing program would be in Honolulu. Photo via Flickr/Geoff Livingston Blue Planet Foundation, a renewable energy-focused nonprofit, is hoping to receive more than $3 million from the federal government to fund an electric carsharing program in Honolulu, according to a report by Pacific Business News. The project, which will be for residential and commercial properties on Oahu, looks to deploy up to 70 electric vehicles for carsharing, according to the report. There would charging stations available on up to 20 properties. Each charging station would have two charging ports: one for the carsharing vehicles and the other for charging other vehicles, says the report. Blue Planets carsharing pilot program would help commercial or mixed-use properties comply with a law that requires properties with more than 100 public stalls to have at least one stall with an electric charging station, according to the report. If the pilot receives funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, the project is expected to start in first quarter 2017, says the report. Click here for the full Pacific Business News report. Logo via Right Cars website To continue its U.S. expansion, U.K.-based Right Cars plans to open a franchise location at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in October. Right Cars will officially launch its franchise location at Miami International Airport on Sept. 6. During the Miami opening, the Right Cars executive team will be meeting potential franchisees. The company is also planning franchised branch openings serving Dallas International Airport and San Antonio Airport as well as San Diego and San Francisco by the end of the year, said Rick Little, Right Cars co-founder and chairman. "Because of the huge success we are seeing in Miami, we have been able to bring forward the planned opening of our branch in Fort Lauderdale, said Little. I would like to thank Mauricio, director of Right Cars Florida, for the incredible amount of effort he has put in to the expansion of Right Cars in the U.S. Right Cars was founded from a family-owned car rental business that operated at Londons Gatwick Airport for 18 years. My customer database grew quickly through strong customer service and word of mouth, said Karl Taylor, co-founder and managing director of Right Cars. And then we had people asking us if we rent cars in Cyprus. I rented cars from Karl, said Little, who retired as an IT consultant for the banking and travel industry and then wrote software for Taylors company. He told me that his large base of regular customers was slowly diminishing. As a small car rental company, he didnt have the technology or the funds to invest in the major travel networks. We realized there must be small, family-run car rental businesses around the world in the same situation as Karl. The brand commenced franchising in 2012. Today, the company has franchise partners running 140 locations in 23 countries, from Croatia, Iceland, and New Zealand, to Mexico, Morocco, and United Arab Emirates. India is next, and the company is talking to Chinese partners, Little said. For franchises, Right Cars is targeting smaller rental companies who dont have a high advertising budget and dont have the IT skills, Little said. The Fort Lauderdale location is starting to take reservations now before its official opening date on Oct. 18, according to the company. Senior member of the opposition New Armenia movement Andrias Ghukasian charged with organizing mass disturbances during a July 29 protest will, for now, remain in custody pending trial, an appeals court in Yerevan ruled on Wednesday. According to Ghukasians lawyer Lusine Sahakian, the opposition activist will remain in custody for at least another month when the investigation body is due to decide whether to seek extension of his two-month detention. Ghukasian, who went on a hunger strike shortly after his arrest and claimed mistreatment in prison, denies the charges, claiming he is a victim of political persecution. His lawyer also thinks that the charges against her client are politically motivated. I can present one episode from todays hearing when the court asked Andrias Ghukasian whether he would continue his opposition activities if he were released. And Ghukasian, of course, said that he would continue his opposition activities and that there would be no change in his opposition stance, said Sahakian. It is obvious that his answer had a great impact on the judges decision and the judge did not even understand that he was not supposed to make such an overt statement and, in fact, admission that Ghukasian is being subjected to political persecution. Two senior members of the opposition Heritage party, Armen Martirosian and David Sanasarian, who were arrested along with Ghukasian and face the same charge, were freed on bail by the appeals court earlier this month. Another Heritage member Hovsep Khurshudian appeared before the higher court later on Wednesday with an appeal against his pretrial detention on charges of organizing mass disturbances. The court decided to release him on bail. Still before the release of Martirosian and Sanasarian, the Heritage party announced it was pulling out of local elections because of the controversial criminal prosecution of its leading members on fabricated charges. The party that also condemned the prosecution of Ghukasian as politically motivated said it would not take part in the elections scheduled for September-October. 24 August 2016 10:46 (UTC+04:00) The Armenian armed units shattered ceasefire with Azerbaijan a total of 18 times throughout the day, Azerbaijan`s Defense Ministry reported on August 24. The ceasefire was also violated in Yusifjanli village of Agdam region, Chilaburt village in Tartar region, Horadiz, Ashagi Seyidehmedli villages of Fuzuli region, as well as in the nameless hills in Jabrayil and Goronboy regions. 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 24 August 2016 15:19 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Armenia continues to tense the situation along the frontline with new provocations. Armenian Armed Forces besides constantly violating the ceasefire with Azerbaijan, also deliberately sets fire to Azerbaijani territories. This time, taking advantage of warm and windy weather, they have set fire to the pastures in the border villages of Tovuz region of Azerbaijan, APA states. The fire that began in the evening of August 23 in the mountainous part of Alibayli village in Tovuz region burned down a large area. Locals say the enemy army destroyed the pastures for cattle, but their main aim was to cause damage to the houses of Azerbaijani citizens. Locals also heard sounds of explosion during the fire. Most likely, those were sounds of exploding mines. Due to the fire, wild animals began to attack the villages. Residents complain that they cause damage to livestock. Armenian Armed Forces often commit large-scale arsons also in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, particularly in summer. Villages in Agdam, Fizuli, Jabrayil, Terter and other regions frequently face such destructive acts by Armenian soldiers. Such attacks are an evident that Armenians seek to cause harm to Azerbaijan and its citizens by making life near the border difficult and risky for them. 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. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia still controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 24 August 2016 12:32 (UTC+04:00) By Nigar Abbasova The government of Azerbaijan, which is keen to gain more profit from its favorable geographic location, placed a particular importance on the development of its transportation potential. The country makes big efforts to facilitate cargo transportation through its territory. Heads of Railway Administrations of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Georgia have recently discussed the issue of mutually advantageous cooperation, as well as creation of favorable conditions for the freight transportation with cargo shippers, major operators and freight companies of Kazakhstan, the Kazakhstan Railways reported. The talks held in Astana, were mainly focused on the reduction of tariff rates for the transportation of metal production, grain, oil and gas freight as well as containerized shipping at the territories of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Georgia. Reduced tariffs for Kazakh export as well as new logistics schemes for the freight transportation are expected to promote opening up of new markets and growth of transportation volumes. We are ready to offer good conditions for the transportation of export and import goods. For instance, we will open a new direct passage from Georgia to Turkey in the end of the current year, thus opening an access to the south ports of Turkey, South Africa and Arab countries, said Igbal Huseynov, Deputy Head of Azerbaijan Railways. Representative of Kazakh Soltustik socio-entrepreneurial corporation, Anuar Hamitov in turn said that the company is planning to export crop to the Gulf countries. Currently, we carry out our operations only in Kazkahstan. We possess the biggest volume of corn crop and planning to export it to the Gulf countries. Negotiations in this regards are currently under way, we are conforming tariffs with representatives of Azerbaijan and Georgian railways and already have certain results, he said. Direct contacts established between consignors and railroaders of the three countries are expected to tackle issues, occurring in the course of transportation in a more rapid manner. Earlier, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Ukraine signed a protocol on setting competitive preferential tariffs for cargo transportation via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. The document provided for the settlement of competitive preferential tariffs for cargo transportation via the Trans-Caspian route, carrying out comprehensive measures to facilitate the movement of trains via the route, and increasing cargo turnover. A similar bilateral protocol was also signed separately by Azerbaijan and Georgia. -- Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 24 August 2016 15:22 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Ukrainian companies plan to export 250,000 tons of sugar until the end of 2016, the Association of Sugar Producers Ukrsugar reported. The Association noted that Georgia, Israel, Azerbaijan, Hong Kong and other Asian countries are the main export markets for Ukrainian sugar. For September 2015-June 2016, Azerbaijan received 6,700 tons of sugar from Ukraine. This year, the sown area of sugar beet in Ukraine amounted to 284,000 hectares, that is almost 30 percent bigger compared to the data of last year. Experts believe the projected harvest will be close to 13 million tons. Ukrsugar predicts that Ukrainian plants will produce approximately two million tons of sugar during the 2016/2017 marketing year. The Association also estimates sugar residual to exceed 300,000 tons by the end of the current marketing year. Ukrsugar, founded on January 17, 1997, is a nationwide public association of collectives, organizations and other legal entities and individuals involved in sugar production in Ukraine. To date, the Association includes 67 members. In general, Azerbaijan and Ukraine have sustainable prospects of bilateral relations in political, economic, energy, transport and humanitarian fields. That is evidenced by $137.68-million trade turnover in January-May 2016, according to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan. Recently, President Ilham Aliyev welcomed Ukrainian delegation headed by President Petro Poroshenko. During the visit, a number of bilateral agreements were signed between two nations. Additionally, they discussed implementation of joint projects in energy, transport and agricultural spheres. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 24 August 2016 17:05 (UTC+04:00) By Nigar Abbasova Moldova is interested in participation of Azerbaijani companies in development of hydrocarbon resources, said Gheorghe Leuca, Ambassador of Moldova to Azerbaijan, while addressing a meeting with Caspian Energys delegation lead by President and editor-in-chief of Caspian Energy International Media Group Natalya Aliyeva. Highlighting the energy sector of Moldova, the ambassador said that the process of development of fields in the country was launched in 1970s and continued in 1984. We have only three fields, but the depth of drilling of the majority of wells reached up to 1,000 meters and there were only few with the depth reaching a little over 3,000 meters. Nowadays investments are required to continue drilling and rehabilitating the fields, he said, mentioning that the government of Moldova has recently announced a tender, and the country is interested in the participation of Azerbaijan, as the country is one of the most experienced developers in this sphere. Geological exploration works project announced in Moldova is aimed at the implementation of geological exploration works, including prospecting and evaluation of useful mineral resources, detection of hydrocarbon (gas, oil) accumulations in the southern part of the country with their subsequent exploitation. Commenting on the bilateral relations between the countries, Leuca said that the one of the most important issues at the current stage is to resume the work of the intergovernmental commission for trade-economic cooperation as the latest session of the commission took place in 2012. He said that the plans of the protocol include not only economic and trade but also other areas of cooperation such as cultural-humanitarian, education, healthcare, social protection of population, as well as Diaspora related issues. We expressed readiness to hold the session of the intergovernmental commission till the end of September, the ambassador said. First of all, our co-chairman, who is also a Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Oktavian Kalmik and accompanying delegation should arrive. First Vice Premier Yagub Eyyubov is a co-chairman representing the Azerbaijani side, he said. Azerbaijan and Moldova are strategic partners. The two countries are cooperating at bilateral and international levels, including cooperation within the EUs Eastern Partnership, which covers six countries and is aimed at improving relations with the CIS countries as part of the European Neighborhood Policy. -- Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 24 August 2016 17:16 (UTC+04:00) By Nigar Abbasova French Renault , one of the worlds leading car manufacturers, is planning to launch deliveries to Azerbaijan from Russia, Reuters reported. The company aimed at the expansion of local manufacturing content by means of entry to the markets of the CIS countries, while sales in the Russian market are falling amid economic crisis. The company has already started delivery of automobiles from Russia to Kyrgyzstan. First export automobiles were delivered to the Kyrgyz market following the full membership of the country in the Eurasian Economic Union. Renault Russia, which has delivered automobiles to the near abroad since 2010, currently exports some 12 percent of the total volume of Renault cars of the Russian production. Russian representation exports a full range of family vehicles including Renault Logan, Renault Sandero, Renault Sandero Stepway, Renault Duster. The company launched delivery of a new Renault Kaptur four wheel drive crossover to Belarus and Kazakhstan in August, 2016. Renault intends to expand its geography of deliveries by including Azerbaijan. Renault Russia is actively developing its export of cars, auto components and spare parts in a number of foreign countries. Nurgun Motors is an official dealer of Renault in Azerbaijan. Renault, a multi-brand international group, operates in 125 countries with a range of nearly 30 models. Renault has been the most consistently innovative carmaker in automotive history since it was founded in 1898. -- Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 24 August 2016 17:51 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Ismayilova The 8th Uzeyir Hajibeyli International Music Festival will kick off in Baku on September 18. The ten-day festival is co-organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Azertac reported. Local and foreign musicians will perform Uzeyir Hajibeylis and other composers works at Baku Organ and Chamber Music Hall of the Muslim Magomayev Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Hall, Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, Azerbaijan Composers' Union and Baku Music Academy. The Uzeyir Hajibeyli International Music Festival is traditionally held in September, since 2009, in Azerbaijan. Musical events are held in several cities of Azerbaijan, and the main ceremonies take place in Baku. Since 1995, September 18, the birthday of legendary composer is celebrated as National Music Day in Azerbaijan. It was decided to hold the International Music Festival devoted to creativity of Azerbaijani composer. Musicians from other countries participate at the festival side-by-side with Azerbaijani musicians. Performances made on the basis of Hajibeyli's compositions as well as scientific conferences called upon to learn Hajibeyli's creative heritage are organized besides concerts. Born in 1885 in the heart of the ancient Azerbaijani Khanate of Karabakh -- Shusha -- Uzeyir Hajibeylis outstanding musical talent started a revolution in the Azerbaijani musical timeline. His unique synthesis of Oriental and Western music significantly promoted the classical music traditions in the East and opened a page of classical music patterns. History recognizes Hajibeyli as an innovator as well as the first to establish a professional music school and Orchestra for Traditional Folk Instruments, to compose the Muslim worlds first opera and operetta, to introduce a woman on stage, to write the countrys national anthem (which is the official anthem of Azerbaijan today), to be awarded the highest artistic title of the Soviet Union. The idea of the Azerbaijani opera was born in the heart of Uzeyir at age 13, when he watched a dramatization of the story of Majnun at Leyli's Tombstone in Shusha. Remembering the occasion, Hajibeyli wrote, "That performance affected me so much that when I came to Baku years later, I decided to write something like that." The 22 year-old Hajibeyli eventually accomplished a brilliant feat of music, composing the first opera of the Muslim East based on the story of Leyli and Majnun. A Romeo & Juliet-esque story of love that premiered in 1908, the opera was set to poetic verses by the 12th century poet Nizami and later by 16th century poet Fuzuli. Leyli and Majnun laid the foundations of mugham opera and national opera in general. The "Koroghlu" opera is truly the best example of the composers creativity; an original masterpiece in which he has expressed in the musical form ideas that excited him like the heroics of the famed Koroghlu himself. This opera won love of all Azerbaijani people in a short time and marked a new stage in development of the Azerbaijan art. Koroghlu" is a national folk product in which the composer managed to very realistically portray the peoples struggle for freedom and independence and create bright and historically truthful national images. "Arshin Mal Alan" or The Cloth Peddler was the latest and one of the most popular operettas of the eminent composer. The comedic and romantic operetta premiered in Azerbaijan in 1913, thus becoming the first operetta in the entire Muslim world. Written in 1910, If not this one, that one was the composers second musical comedy. It is considered one of the most courageous and principled works in theater arts of pre-revolutionary Azerbaijan, where Hajibeyli was able to show the social and domestic conflicts in Azerbaijan in the 19-20th centuries. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 24 August 2016 11:30 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Chairman of the Azerbaijani-German Cultural Society of Saxony-Anhalt Province, Yashar Niftaliyev proposed to establish a monument to the victims of the Khojaly tragedy in Tangerhutte, the Azerbaijani State Committee for Work with Diaspora told Trend on August 23. Niftaliev took part in the meeting of local deputies and the leadership of the Tangerhutte city. Niftaliyev, addressing the event, spoke about the realities of Azerbaijan, the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Khojaly genocide. Then, Niftaliyev proposed to establish the monument to the Khojaly victims in Tangerhutte. The city leadership and MPs assured they will discuss the in detail at the next meeting. Niftaliyev also presented the participants materials on the realities of Azerbaijan, including the book by the German writer and journalist Johannes Rau about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Khojaly, the second largest town in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, came under intense fire from the towns of Khankendi and Askeran already occupied by the Armenian armed forces in 1992. About 613 civilians mostly women and children were killed in the massacre, and a total of 1,000 people were disabled. Eight families were exterminated, 25 children lost both parents, and 130 children lost one parent. Moreover, 1,275 innocent people were taken hostage, and the fate of 150 of them remains unknown. 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 still controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 24 August 2016 10:51 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov An Armenian citizen, who earlier crossed into the territory of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, has been transferred to the Armenian side on August 23, the State Commission of Azerbaijan on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing People reported. The commission stated that 1954-born citizen of Armenia Agetsyan Henrik Sayerbekovich, detained on August 7 in Nakhchivan, was transferred to the opposite side in the Sadarak section of Armenian-Azerbaijani border on August 23. Azerbaijani servicemen detained Henrik Agetsyan when he tried to enter Azerbaijan from the Sadarak direction of NAR. The Commission immediately notified the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) about the incident, and meeting of ICRC employees with the detainee was organized. For over two decades, Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in conflict which emerged over Armenia's territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor. Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. Two decades of talks mediated by the OSCE MG group have failed to produce a breakthrough, and the renewed hostilities, the worst since the ceasefire deal signed in 1994, were assessed as the result of inactivity of the international community. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 24 August 2016 22:41 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov The main obstacle to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the continuation of occupation of Azerbaijan's territories by Armenia, policy of annexation pursued by Yerevan and impossibility for IDPs to return to their homes, said Hikmet Hajiyev, Spokesman for Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. Speaking about the occupation of Fuzuli and Jabrayil regions of Azerbaijan by Armenian Armed Forces in August of 1993, he told APA that the fact of the occupation was reflected in several resolutions of the UN Security Council and numerous international documents. He recalled that the UNSC resolutions and other international documents related to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and adopted in 1993 condemn the occupation and demand liberation of the occupied lands. Armenia, ignoring all the calls of the UN Security Council and continuing the military aggression against Azerbaijan, occupied the Fuzuli region on August 23, 1993. On the same day, the Armenian Armed Forces occupied the Jabrayil region, and then Qubadli on August 31, 1993. Azerbaijan has repeatedly stated that to achieve progress in the conflict settlement and sustainable peace in the region, as UN Security Council resolutions require, Armenian troops should be withdrawn from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, the spokesman noted. Armenia broke out a lengthy war against Azerbaijan laying territorial claims on its South Caucasus neighbor. Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 24 August 2016 12:40 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijans Ambassador to Ethiopia Elman Abdullayev has reaffirmed his country`s readiness to continue supporting efforts of the United Nations towards promoting inter-cultural and inter-faith dialogue as he presented his credentials to Director-General of the UN Office at Nairobi, Kenia Sahle-Work Zewde, Azertac reported. Azerbaijan is interested in expanding cooperation with the UN in a number of fields, he said. Abdullayev emphasized that Azerbaijan will continue to actively support the UN efforts in many spheres, especially the protection of women`s rights, promotion of multiculturalism, stability, and dialogue among cultures and religions. The ambassador also informed about the Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan, stressing that the UN had always recognized his country`s territorial integrity and sovereignty. He referred to the UN Security Council`s Nagorno-Karabakh conflict-related resolutions, and expressed his confidence that the UN would continue supporting Azerbaijans fair position. Abdullayev said the Embassy would work to develop Azerbaijan`s cooperation with the Nairobi-based the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT). Zewde, in turn, expressed readiness to cooperate with Azerbaijan. She hailed Azerbaijan`s supporting global peace efforts, and the country`s role in promoting multiculturalism and protecting women`s rights. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 24 August 2016 14:53 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli The Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States (Turkic Council) hopes to be granted the observer status at the United Nations, Councils Secretary General Ramil Hasanov announced about this at the news conference, devoted to the activities of the organization on August 23. The Turkic Council established in 2009 serves as an international intergovernmental organization, with the overarching aim of promoting comprehensive cooperation among Turkic-speaking countries. Its four founding member is Azerbaijan. Hasanov noted that the Council has been making requests to gain this status for three years. However, it has not been possible so far because of a few countries objecting to our membership. We hope that this issue will be solved at the 6th Committee this October, he said. The secretary general added that the Turkic Council will organize an unofficial meeting of foreign ministers within the UN. The foreign ministers of four countries have already confirmed willingness to participate. This meeting will take place on September 20-25, he said. Responding to a question about the expansion of the organization, Hasanov said that although countries such as Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are not members of the organization, they participate in the activities of the Turkic Council and we are trying to involve them in our organization. Even though they are not members, we invite Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and sometimes Hungary to join our events. Its left to countries to make a decision about membership. Two flag posts outside our office in Istanbul are empty. That is a message to Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Their places are empty. They are welcome to become members whenever they like, Hasanov noted. He further mentioned that the 6th Summit of the Turkic Council will be held in Bishkek this November and the next summit will be held in 2017 in Azerbaijan. As for the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Hasanov said the Turkic Council member countries back Azerbaijans stance on Nagorno-Karabakh, adding that the international law and the UN resolutions consider these territories as the occupied lands. The conflict has to be settled on the basis of the provisions mentioned in the Helsinki Final Act. Azerbaijan relies on the principles of international law. We wish our lands are returned, he said. Speaking on creation of the general television of the Turkic-speaking countries, Hasanov informed that an International Turkish News Channel will be established. He noted that transmissions of television will be broadcast in six languages. The central office of TV channel can be based in Azerbaijan, Turkey or Kazakhstan. Hasanov went on saying that the work on creation of a common history textbook of the Turkic world, covering the period up to the 15th century, has come to an end. Currently, the book is in the editing stage. "If the textbook will be approved at a meeting of Education Ministers of the member states in October, it will be presented to the presidents of member countries in the short term, and will then be discussed. This book will be used as a textbook in the Turkic-speaking countries, Hasanov said. The day before the press-conference, Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met Hasanov. The sides expressed satisfaction with the development of cooperation between the Turkic Council and Azerbaijan and exchanged views on a number of questions. Noting that this November Bishkek will host the 6th Summit of the Organization, Hasanov said that questions of cooperation in political, economic, social, humanitarian and other spheres would become primary subjects of discussions of the member states. At the meeting the question of carrying out informal meeting of the Foreign Ministers of member states within the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly was also discussed. Hasanov informed the participants on the organization of youth festival jointly by the Turkic Council together with the Azerbaijan Youth and Sport Ministry on September 27 in the countrys Ganja city in connection with election of Ganja as the European Youth Capital-2016. Noting the persistent support rendered by Azerbaijan to the activities of Turkic Council, Mammadyarov emphasized that Azerbaijan within the organization will continue to contribute development of practical and field cooperation. At the meeting, the questions of obtaining by Turkic Council of the observer status at the UN, expansion of contacts with other international organizations and fight against terrorism were also in the focus. -- Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 24 August 2016 14:44 (UTC+04:00) Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office, Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade has met a delegation led by head of the department in charge of organizing papal trips, Mauricio Rueda Beltz to discuss prospects for religious and spiritual relations, Azertac reported. The delegation of the Holy See was accompanied by Apostolic Nuncio of Vatican in the South Caucasus, Archbishop Marek Solczynski. The sides praised ties between Azerbaijan and the Holy See. They stressed the important role of reciprocal visits of religious figures in expanding relations between the Caucasus Muslims Board and the Holy See. Pashazade recalled his visit to Vatican, and hailed the active participation of the Vatican officials in international events held in Azerbaijan. Ordinary of the Apostolic Prefecture of the Roman Catholic Church in Azerbaijan Vladimir Fekete was also present at the meeting. Pope Francis will visit Baku on October 2. The visit will start with a holy mass at the church of the Immaculate in the Salesian Centre in Baku. Pontiff is also scheduled to meet with the countrys leadership, the leadership of the Caucasian Muslims Office, representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Jewish community in Azerbaijan. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 24 August 2016 15:03 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Ismayilova The opening ceremony of ASAN Academy took place in Baku, Trend Life reported. Deputy Chairman of the ASAN Volunteers Rabia Jafarova, addressing the event, stressed that the main goal of the project is to develop personal qualities of young people, as well as to create favorable conditions for successful career. Students of ASAN Academy emphasized the importance of the project for the youth and expressed their willingness in active participation in the learning process. Within two months, ASAN Academy will feature theoretical and practical seminars and trainings on psychology, business development, management, and the preparation and implementation of various projects. ASAN Volunteers was established in 2009. The main mission of the organization is to support young generation and create opportunities for volunteers to improve their self- development. Seeing voluntary work as a culture of movement, service develops opportunities for learning, inspiration and action to induce social change. Media partners of the event are- Trend.az, Day.az, Milli.az, Azernews.az --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 24 August 2016 15:58 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli The new head of UNICEF Baku Office, Edward Carwardine, expressed the organizations readiness to maintain cooperation with the country in the field of pre-school education. During his meeting with Azerbaijani Ombudswoman Elmira Suleymanova, Carwardine said that pre-school education had always been one of the key priorities for UNICEF. He hailed the work of Azerbaijans Ombudsman office, especially the activity of the Leadership School of the Azerbaijan Child and Youth Peace Network. Carwardine also commended the improvement of inclusive education system in Baku and in the countrys regions, as well as the increasing number of kindergartens. Suleymanova, in turn, highlighted the Azerbaijani governments child and youth policy, saying that children and teenagers form the majority of the countrys society. She further hailed the Heydar Aliyev Foundations role in this regard. State-of-the-art specialized centers are being established for the disabled children in the country, Suleymanova emphasized. Suleymanova went on to say that the Azerbaijani government attached great attention to the protection and promotion of childrens rights. A hot-line was set up to address the problems of children, whose rights were violated, she said. Since Azerbaijan does not have an Ombudsman institution for the childrens rights, there is a Special Adviser dealing with this issue under the Ombudsman office. The Human Rights Commissioner also highlighted the activity of the Leadership School of the Azerbaijan Child and Youth Peace Network. UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child around the world. The organization work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children. UNICEF came to Azerbaijan in 1993, facing an army of refugees and internally displaced people in the wake of the Karabakh conflict and the collapsed economy of the transition period. Its first programmes were devised not only to address national development priorities, but also deal with immediate humanitarian needs. UNICEFs first country programme for 1995-1999 focused on such urgent needs as immunization, health, rehabilitation, nutrition, education and child protection. The UNICEF Country Programme for 2016-2020 will support Azerbaijan in its efforts to accelerate the realization of childrens rights enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and to contribute to the results related to child and adolescent rights stipulated in the Azerbaijan 2020: Look in the Future Concept of Development, as well as other sectoral policies and strategies. -- Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 24 August 2016 17:18 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev extended condolences to Italys President Sergio Mattarella on August 24 over the casualties as a result of an earthquake in the country. We were deeply saddened by the news of the heavy casualties and major damage caused by the earthquake in your country, said Aliyev in a letter of condolences. On behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and on my own behalf, I extend my deep condolences to you, the bereaved families, the loved ones of those who died and the people of Italy, and wish the injured recovery, he added. I hope that the consequences of this natural disaster will be eliminated as soon as possible. A strong, shallow earthquake devastated towns in central Italy early Wednesday. The 6.2-magnitude earthquake badly damaged villages in a mountainous rural area of central Italy that is a popular vacation spot. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 24 August 2016 18:31 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli If there is any threat to the constitutional order of Azerbaijan, the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) will take all necessary steps to eliminate this threat. Siyavush Novruzov, Deputy Executive Secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan party and Chairman of the committee on public associations and religious organizations made the remark while answering the question whether the operations conducted against supporters of the Fethullah Gulen movement in Azerbaijan are discussed in the Parliament. If there is a threat to the constitutional order and the democratic values of Azerbaijan, the ruling party with the support of the Azerbaijani people and the President, as well as with the help of law enforcement agencies will take all necessary steps to eliminate this threat, he said. Novruzov noted that the UN is preparing lists of terrorist organizations, which are then provided to the Foreign Ministries. Such questions are never discussed at parliamentary level. This question relates to the Foreign Ministry authority. Financing of terrorist organizations and ensuring them with any form of assistance in their activity is considered a crime. Azerbaijan as a country suffering from Armenian terrorism, always approaches to such issues sensitively and participates in the fight against terrorism, he explained. Azerbaijan has the law "On freedom of religion" and "On the fight against religious extremism," the MP said, adding that if a religious organization will carry out activities that fall outside the scope of these laws, then the rule of law applies. Thus the organization or persons who are involved in such activities, will be responsible before the law. Gulen is accused of leading a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the parallel state. The July 15 coup attempt occurred when rogue elements in the Turkish military tried to overthrow the country's democratically elected government. Turkey's government has repeatedly said the deadly plot, which martyred at least 246 people and injured more than 2,000 others, was organized by followers of U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen. -- Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend PJSC Ukrtransnafta, an operator of Ukraines oil transportation system, spoke about the perspective route for the possible supply of Iranian oil to Europe through Ukrainian territory. It is obvious that the perspective route for transit to Central and Eastern Europe through Ukraine can be oil supplies through Bosphorus to the Pivdenny maritime terminal in Odessa and then via OdessaBrody pipeline and further through Druzhba pipeline to Europe, the source in Ukrtransnafta told Trend. Earlier in August Ukrtransnafta offered Iran to use the companys oil transportation infrastructure to transit oil to the Central and Eastern European markets. The source in the Ukraines ministry of energy and coal industry confirmed to Trend that talks on this possibility with Iran are underway. The source in Ukrtransnafta pointed out some positive moments of the supply route through Ukraine for Iran, among which is flexibility and activity of Iranian exporters marketing strategy, as well as Ukraines focus on diversification of routes and supply sources to the country and transit through its territory to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Moreover, as the source said, Ukraine is ready to take concrete steps for increasing attractiveness of Ukrainian route if the readiness of supplier to reach agreements with consumers and transit countries is in place. Irans oil export has already reached 2.74 million barrels per day (mbpd) in July. The Islamic Republic exported 2.1 million barrels of crude oil per day in July. About 25 percent of Irans crude oil export goes to Europe, while Asian markets share 75 percent of Irans crude oil exports. Tehran eyes to export 63 percent of its crude oil to Asian markets and the remaining to European and other consumers. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 24 August 2016 13:29 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli The U.S. Vice President, Joe Biden, arrived in Ankara on August 24 for a two-day official visit amid heavy agenda on security issues and cooperation against terror. As part of the visit, the sides will no doubt have plenty to discuss in a bid to improve strained ties between Turkey and the U.S. after the recent developments have made the relationship between the two countries stormier. One of the top topic on the agenda will likely be the extradition of Fethullah Gulen, the US-based cleric the Turkish side accuses of planning an attempted military coup on July 15 evening. On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country. Meanwhile, a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them. However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender on July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed. Turkeys President said the death toll as a result of the military coup attempt stood at 246 people, excluding the coup plotters, and over 2,000 people were wounded. Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20. Erdogan has demanded that the U.S. immediately extradite the 75-year-old imam from his home in Pennsylvania to Turkey, by sending two requests to the U.S. for extradition of Fethullah Gulen. An Istanbul court ordered on August 4 to arrest Fethullah Gulen. The vice president will have his first meeting with the Speaker of the Turkish parliament Ismail Kahraman and then he will meet with the countrys Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. Biden also might meet Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his visit. -- Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 24 August 2016 14:34 (UTC+04:00) By Trend As a result of an attack on Turkish servicemen in the countrys southeastern province of Diyarbakir, five servicemen have been killed, Haber7 newspaper reported on August 24. According to preliminary data, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) terrorist organization stands behind the attack, said the report. 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 list the PKK as a terrorist organization. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 24 August 2016 15:04 (UTC+04:00) By Rufiz Hafizoglu The start of Turkish military operations in Syria against the militants of the "Islamic State" terrorist organization means that Turkey received a guarantee of support for these operations. Earlier, former Prime Minister of Turkey Ahmet Davutoglu said that Ankara may launch military operations in Syria, but Turkey has no guarantees that the Arab countries will support it in the fight against terrorism. It is known that, except for Saudi Arabia, no Arab country has been an active player in the events taking place in Syria. If to consider the last diplomatic move of Turkish officials, namely visits to Russia and Iran, one can say that Ankara has received the expected support from these countries. It means that Turkey, Iran and Russia are ousting the US and Western countries from Syria, which is an obvious result of the rapprochement with Iran, as well as repair of relations with Russia. As a matter of fact, since the first day of accumulation of radical Islamists in Syria, it was clear that only three states can put an end to this "virus". However, prior to the start of military operations in Syria by Turkey many radical changes occurred in the region. While Iran and Russia are actively engaged in the fight against the IS in Syria, Syrian Air Force attacked for the first time the positions of the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) and the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), which Turkey considers as the Syrian wings of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), in the Al-Hasakah region. As it is known, the presence of PYD and YPG in Turkey is a real threat to the territorial integrity of Syria, as well as Iran and Turkey, since these organizations have repeatedly stated there intention to create a new Kurdish state in Syria. It should be recalled that US officials said before that the PYD in Syria is not a terrorist organization and it is an ally of the US in the region. After that, US Ambassador to Turkey John Bass was summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry. Moreover, Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said previously that the US must decide who is its ally - Turkey, or the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) in Syria that he called a terrorist organization. Ankara, Iran and Russia issued a statement that the territorial integrity of Syria is a priority for them amid bombing of YPG and PYD positions in Syria. US Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Ankara Aug. 24 to discuss the extradition of Fethullah Gulen to Turkey. But as it is known the extradition of Gulen, who is accused of involvement in the July 15 military coup attempt in Turkey, will not be so relevant for Turkey and the US amid the military operations in Syria. While speaking about the military coup attempt in Turkey, one must not exclude that in reality, the purpose of a military coup attempt was to divert Ankaras attention from the situation in connection with the intentions to establish the "Kurdish state" in the north of Syria. The Turkish pro-government media openly report about the US support for not only YPG, PYD but also the IS. It is too early to talk about the consequences of Turkish military operations in Syria against the IS, but Turkey has risks in this matter. Of course, first of all, there is a threat of new terrorist attacks in Turkey. The Turkish authorities do not exclude such a situation and as a result, the security measures have been strengthened in the country. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 24 August 2016 16:45 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli The decision on extradition of Fethullah Gulen can only be made by the U.S. Federal Court. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden made the remark on Wednesday during a meeting with Speaker of the Turkish Parliament Ismail Kahramanov, as part of his official visit to Ankara. Biden said the U.S. understands Turkey's efforts on the issue of extradition of Gulen. Currently, the U.S. vice president is in the Turkish Parliament, which was bombarded by soldiers attempting to stage a military coup on July 15. He was escorted by Ismail Kahraman as he inspected damaged parts of the parliament building in Ankara. The highest ranking American official will hold a news conference with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim later today before meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. One of the top topic on the agenda will likely be the extradition of Fethullah Gulen, the US-based cleric the Turkish side accuses of planning an attempted military coup on July 15 evening. On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country. Meanwhile, a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them. However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender on July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed. Turkeys President said the death toll as a result of the military coup attempt stood at 246 people, excluding the coup plotters, and over 2,000 people were wounded. Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20. Erdogan has demanded that the U.S. immediately extradite the 75-year-old imam from his home in Pennsylvania to Turkey, by sending two requests to the U.S. for extradition of Fethullah Gulen. An Istanbul court ordered on August 4 to arrest Fethullah Gulen. -- Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 24 August 2016 09:56 (UTC+04:00) Lahij is a historical and architectural reserve with no hint of modern times. This historical town, protected by the state, has its unique atypical style of life and its appearance is preserved in its original form till now. The town with its cobbled streets and squares is one of the most famous craft and trading centers in the Caucasus and its beyond. Even today a dozen workshops are operating here, demonstrating hereditary blacksmiths who make various household items in front of the astonished tourists. The traditional copper craftsmanship of Lahij reinforces the feeling of cultural identity of many Azerbaijani-speaking communities living abroad, as a profound symbol of their cultural roots. The ornaments of Lahij masters have always been associated with the image of the real world of flora and fauna. The patterns of the dishes are rich in visual elements and original interpretation of flowers and leaves. Copper utensils from Lahij are also stored in the famous Paris Louvre Museum. Bern Historical Museum also houses samples of firearms and bladed weapons from Azerbaijan, among which there are different richly ornamented rifles, swords and daggers made by Lahij masters. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 24 August 2016 12:22 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Azerbaijan has turned into the hot spot destination for GCC tourists with 30 times increase of visitors from UAE and GCC, Arabian Gazette reported, noting that the increase was achieved thanks to the recent simplification of visa obtaining procedure. Given the wonderful climate of Azerbaijan, its culture, cuisine, nature, attractions, and diversity, a rapid increase in was observed tourist flow from Arab countries into the country. The tourists mainly visit the most popular destinations Baku, Gabala, Quba and many other cities. Azerbaijan has become a favorite destination for tourists from the Arab Countries with the Tourism Ministry informing that about 10,086 people visited Azerbaijan from the UAE and 6,624 persons from the rest of GCC in March and April alone. Spend per tourist is still the same as previously estimated by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). With the average being $ 700 per tourist. As you can see, this makes for an increase of 4.6 percent between January and June, a figure 30-times higher than the indicator for the same period of last year, Chairman of the representative office Mr. Rashid Al Noori told the newspaper. Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, is the most visited region of the country the city recorded the highest growth of tourists coming from the Gulf countries. Other most popular places of Azerbaijan are Gabala and Naftalan, followed by Shahdag, Quba, Ismayilli, Gakh and Zagatala. The statistics show that Azerbaijan welcomes over 600 tourists per day from Gulf countries. Such airlines as Azerbaijan Airlines, Iraqi Airways, FlyDubai and Qatar Airways facilitate their arrival. With the representative office in Dubai spearheading Azerbaijan promotions throughout the GCC, Azerbaijans proximity to the GCC, increased flights to Baku with Fly Dubai, Azerbaijan Airlines plus the daily Qatar Airways flights from Doha to Baku, and five-star accommodation options, Azerbaijan looks forward to an increase in Arab travelers, expat, couples, family holidays as well as the MICE, Medical and soft adventure sectors. Today, there are about 570 accommodation facilities and 300 travel agencies in Azerbaijan. The prices for hotels and hostels became even more attractive for the foreign visitors due to the devaluation of the national currency in 2015. The provided accommodation establishments are of any price range, starting from just $6-7 per night in hostel and $25 in hotels. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz American snack and confectionery supplier Innovative Bites has announced that it will move into new premises in Dunstable, Bedfordshire. The 103,000sq ft site boasts 10 loading bays and is 2.5 times larger than the firms previous premises in Southall, London. The move has come on the back of an expansion plan, which included the acquisition of one of the UKs oldest sweet businesses, Bonds of London, in April 2016. The business has seen a continued growth in demand for its confectionery products, including Twinkies, Mega Marshmallows and WarHeads. This has resulted in increased listings across multiples and independents, which made the move necessary. Vishal Madhu, director of Innovative Bites, said: Moving into our new Dunstable premises is a strategic move that has been on the cards for some time. We have seen an increasing demand for American confectionery here in the UK, which has meant we simply outgrew our previous site. He added: The move will allow us to streamline our operation and operate more efficiently in a larger purpose-built warehouse. The additional space and facilities will also allow us to improve our offering to our customers, not only of American lines but also British lines from our business, Bonds of London. In March, Innovative Bites signed a deal to launch limited-edition Ghostbusters Twinkies, called Key Lime Slime. At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity , this post may contain references to products from our partners. 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We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout lifes financial journey. When diagnosing your financial health, there are a number of indicators to use, from your credit score to the size of your retirement portfolio. However, one measure that many overlook is net worth. Your net worth represents how much wealth you have, measured by assets like a house, cars, 401(k), jewelry or cash in the bank, minus the debt obligations you have, or what you owe. When you understand your net worth, you can make better decisions about what you do with your money, as well as get a clearer picture of how close you are to accomplishing your goals. What is net worth? In general, your net worth is your personal balance sheet. Its a way for you to get a snapshot of where your finances stand right now. Basically, its a measure of what you own minus what you owe to others. Tracking it gives you a good measure of whether youre headed in the right direction with a growing net worth, says Crystal Rau, CFP, founder of Beyond Balanced Financial Planning. As you move forward in your financial journey, the goal should be to increase your assets while decreasing your liabilities. The greater your assets, the greater your wealth and this is especially true if you have fewer debt obligations weighing you down. How to figure out net worth The basic formula to calculate your net worth is to add up all of your assets, and then add up all of your liabilities. Once you have those two numbers, subtract your liabilities from your assets. That number is your net worth. Assets Your assets are the things you own. They are items of value, as well as items that can potentially provide income down the road. Assets that you should add up include: Current market value of real estate: This includes the market value of your home, as well as any rental properties or other properties you own. This includes the market value of your home, as well as any rental properties or other properties you own. Current market value of your vehicles: Current value of all your vehicles, including cars, boats, motorcycles and other vehicles. Current value of all your vehicles, including cars, boats, motorcycles and other vehicles. Value of your items of significant value: Consider any fine artwork, collectibles, antiques and jewelry that you have. Consider any fine artwork, collectibles, antiques and jewelry that you have. Cash value of your bank accounts: Tally up all the money you have in your savings and checking accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. Tally up all the money you have in your savings and checking accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. Market value of your investment accounts: Balances of your brokerage accounts. Your 401(k) and IRA should be included in your net worth calculation. You can find information about the current market value of some of the assets you own, such as collectibles, by looking on eBay, and using Edmunds or Kelley Blue Book to determine the current value of your vehicles. Liabilities Liabilities represent what you owe to others. You should add these up and subtract them from your assets. Mortgages: Outstanding balances on all your property loans, including what you owe on the mortgage of your primary residence, home equity loans, as well as what you owe on rental properties. Outstanding balances on all your property loans, including what you owe on the mortgage of your primary residence, home equity loans, as well as what you owe on rental properties. Vehicle loans: Any money you owe on a car, boat or other vehicle. Any money you owe on a car, boat or other vehicle. Credit card debt: Total all of your credit card balances. Total all of your credit card balances. Personal loans: Any loan you have from an online lender, payday lender, bank or other financial institution. Any loan you have from an online lender, payday lender, bank or other financial institution. Student loans: Everything you owe on private and federal student loans. Everything you owe on private and federal student loans. Medical debt: Unpaid medical bills, or a payment plan for medical bills even if you arent paying interest. Unpaid medical bills, or a payment plan for medical bills even if you arent paying interest. Back taxes and liens: If you owe back taxes, have a payment plan with the IRS or have a lien against any of your property, those amounts should be considered liabilities. As you might expect, its possible that you might have more liabilities than assets after making this calculation. If this is the case, you have a negative net worth. Your goal should be to pay down debt and boost savings to help you bring your net worth above zero. If you want a little guidance as you figure out your net worth, a net worth calculator can help you include all the relevant assets and liabilities and do the math on your behalf. What is a good net worth? According to the most recent Survey of Consumer Finances from the Federal Reserve, the median net worth for an American family is $121,700. However, for households headed by someone age 35 or younger, the median net worth was just $13,900. It grew to $254,800 for those age 75 and older. However, the average net worth of a U.S. family was $748,800, the Fed survey found. During your lifetime, your net worth will fluctuate, depending on what kind of debt you have, how much your home has grown in value and how much you have in your retirement account. As your finances improve and as you pay down debt, you should see an increase in net worth. But what makes a good net worth? A 2022 Charles Schwab survey points out that many Americans believe a net worth of $2.2 million is needed to be considered wealthy. However, not everyone thinks you need to have more than $2 million to have a good net worth. Really, its about the experiences you want to have and the freedom to pursue those experiences, says Todd Tresidder, a former hedge fund manager, financial coach and founder of Financial Mentor. A good net worth is one that allows you the flexibility to live your life comfortably and in a way that enriches you. You can compare yourself to others using net worth, Tresidder continues, but tracking your net worth should be more about comparing your current self with your past self. Its a way to measure your own financial progress, and youre the only person you should be competing with, he says. There are some time-tested ways to boost your net worth. A growing net worth is a sign that you are making smart decisions, Rau says. Decisions like saving a portion of your paycheck, growing your investments or paying down debt are all going to improve your net worth. How to use your net worth Knowledge of your net worth can be a useful tool to help you see where you stand today as compared to where you were a year ago or a decade ago. Additionally, net worth can also provide you with a reality check when it comes to determining whether youre on track to reach your financial goals. Tresidder suggests that you calculate your net worth on a regular basis. Decide how often you want to measure your net worth, whether its monthly, twice a year or annually, he says. The key is to check your net worth at the same time in the cycle. If you look at it at the first of the month, your next calculation should also be the first of the month. For many people, income, investment contributions and debt payments are all made on a schedule, so checking in at the same point in the schedule makes sense. It allows you to compare apples to apples. If your assets and liabilities dont show you what you want to see, you can use that information to change course and improve your financial picture. When you see a lot of liabilities dragging your net worth down, working on growing your assets or reducing your debt can help you improve your financial health. You can also use your net worth to reinforce good habits. When youre hitting your goals, you can see what youre doing right and feel encouraged to keep pressing forward. Bankrates Brian Baker contributed to an update of this story. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Although industrial accidents like a recent flash fire at Sunoco Logistics in Port Arthur have declined sharply over the past 20 years, a recent survey found "risk-taking" continues to be a factor in deaths and injuries. Despite the better long-term record, the survey shows the industrial workplace is still dangerous. Part of what makes it dangerous is younger contract workers with fewer years in their respective crafts like welding. Among workers involved in the incidents, 43 percent had fewer than five years in their crafts and 34 percent had between five and 10 years of experience, the survey found. The survey suggested more intensive training as one remedy. Since 2013, several workplace deaths have occurred in Southeast Texas, including at least one so far this year. A Brownsville man died in May when a pipe fell on him during maintenance work on a heat exchanger at the Exxon Mobil refinery in Beaumont. The death occurred a day after a Jefferson County district court judge approved a confidential settlement in the deaths of two contract workers killed after an April 2013 fire at Exxon Mobil, an incident that also injured six others. In September 2015, a contract worker operating a bulldozer near scalding petroleum coke pits at the Total Port Arthur refinery died when his dozer slipped down the side of the pit. The bulldozer was in use because an overhead crane normally in service was broken. In August 2014, four men were killed when the scaffold they were erecting in Hardin County touched a live high-voltage power line. The most recent was the flash fire at Sunoco on Aug. 12, in which at least four contract workers were burned. Although the incidents show the continued possibility of tragedy in such workplaces, the trend line for sheer numbers is sharply down, said John Durkay, general counsel for the Industrial Safety Training Council. "No accident is ever acceptable," Durkay said. "Our incident rates and the seriousness are well below state and national averages." The Golden Triangle Business Roundtable incident survey shows total number of "OSHA recordables," meaning incidents that result in injury or lost time, have decreased overall since 1993. The root cause of most incidents was "decision-making and risk-taking," the survey found. Data from the early 1990s through 2014 show a 99-percent reduction in severity of injuries and a 95-percent reduction in overall injury incidents, the business roundtable reported. The data, however, is voluntarily reported by industry members and does not include all industrial incidents with injuries in Jefferson, Hardin and Orange counties, Durkay said. Work rules From the labor viewpoint, workplace rules have improved because contractors are now required to obey the same safety rules as plant employees, said W. Ruelle Parker, president of the Sabine Area Central Labor Council, a representative of a variety of industrial crafts. Parker is retired from the Valero Energy Corp. refinery in Port Arthur, where he worked as a member of the local operating union, United Steelworkers Local No. 13-423. "If everyone does what they're supposed to, there ought not to be an accident, but it's no guarantee," Parker said of the flash fire at Sunoco Logistics. "We won't know for sometime what actually happened." A lawsuit filed in Harris County on behalf of one of the burned workers says a plug exploded from a pressurized line, erupting in a fire that critically burned the worker and at least three others. The workers were welding on a pipe leading to a new crude oil storage tank. The lawsuit names Sunoco Logistics and the maker of the plug, Carber, as defendants. The contractor who hired the workers, L-Con Inc., of Houston, is not named as a defendant. The lawsuit said Sunoco represented that the "line was clean, clear, and ready for work." The plaintiff, Edward Galvan, and the other workers were instructed to work on a scaffold more than 10 feet above the ground, according to the filing. As Galvan and the others began to work, pressure began building inside the line. According to the suit, the 30-inch plug designed and installed by Carber failed and was ejected from the line, striking Galvan in the chest and shoulder. The lawsuit states alleges that crude oil within the line then ignited, causing a flash fire. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the U.S. Chemical Safety Board are investigating the incident, as are Sunoco Logistics and L-Con. Data points The workplace accident survey used data from more than 46 million exposure hours and 54 recordable incidents; five with lost time, 13 restricted-duty and 36 medical treatment cases, it said. Among workplaces where incidents have occurred in the 20 years of surveys, 42 percent were at refineries and 21 percent were at chemical plants. The survey showed that men accounted for 96 percent of the incidents, and two-thirds of them involved men aged 18 to 40 years old. Pipe fitters and laborers accounted for 30 percent of the accidents and 77 percent were in their craft for fewer than 10 years. The Golden Triangle Business Roundtable's recommendations included increasing worker awareness of the surrounding physical hazards and emphasizing proper job training and good decisions. "Decision-making continues to be reported as leading accident causes and risk-taking continues to be a pre-existing cause for accidents," the report said. "From the late 1980s, fires, explosions and fatalities were an expected occurrence," Durkay said. "We want a robust commitment to safety. Some areas are cutting back. We need constant vigilance." Parker said contractors within plants once were not held to the same standard as union members. "It's not like it used to be," Parker said. "A lot of it has to do with how people are trained." DWallach@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/dwallach This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A Friendswood area real estate agent is accused of trespassing inside a home she had just sold and having sex inside the vacant residence, according to reports. According to a Friendswood police report, both Kayla Marisa Seloff, 22, and Joshua Gene Leal, 27, were charged with criminal trespass just before 5 a.m. Saturday in the 200 block of E. Castle Harbour. RELATED: North Houston housing market is holding steady Neighbors who live next to the home, which was just sold and closed on the day before, called police after seeing a man and a woman enter in the early morning hours. The neighbor saw a flashlight moving around the home and became suspicious. When police arrived they discovered the pair on the floor of one of the rooms. It appears that the couple hid when police arrived but later Seloff told police that she and Leal were married and that they had just bought the home. The police, though, wanted proof that it was theirs. RELATED: Woodlands white-hot market for homes cools When Seloff went to retrieve her identification and confirm the story, police smelled marijuana and a glass pipe in her vehicle. They later found a small amount of marijuana as well. Seloff, according to police, then admitted that she had just sold the home and that the marijuana was hers. She also said that she did not have permission to be inside the home. According to the Houston Association of Realtors website Seloff works for Simien Properties in the Clear Lake area. RELATED: Friendswood home boasts 'Star Trek'-inspired theater According to police the new owners of the home are pressing criminal charges against the pair, apparently none too happy that Seloff was celebrating a home sale in a very eventful way. The two were arrested and charged with criminal trespass, with bond set at $1,000 apiece. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate If Donald Trump thought Texas was safe Republican territory in which to campaign, he apparently didn't account for Travis County GOP Chairman Robert Morrow. Morrow, a far-right wing conservative and avowed #NeverTrump guy, popped up at Tuesday's Trump rally in Austin bearing a sign reading "Trump is a child rapist." READ MORE: Texas' 'Donald Trump on steroids' The sign is a reference to a lawsuit filed earlier this year in federal court in New York. A woman filing under the pseudonym "Jane Doe" accused Trump and an associate, Jeffrey Epstein, of raping her multiple times during the summer of 1994, when she was 13. The accuser, now an adult, said in an affidavit attached to the lawsuit that she and Trump had sex four times in the summer of 1994, with the candidate tying her down and raping her during the last encounter. Trump has denied the allegations. Morrow is no stranger to making bold accusations about politicians he doesn't like. He's taken on big targets, including former President Bill Clinton, whom he accused of raping a woman in 1978, and ex-Texas Gov. Rick Perry, whom he called "a rampaging bisexual adulterer." (How, exactly, Morrow would have this alleged knowledge is unclear, but he put it out there.) READ MORE: Texas GOP official accuses Bill Clinton of rape Morrow, wearing a multi-colored jester hat with bells on the tips, joined a group of other protesters outside of Trump's rally at Luedecke Arena. Morrow also opted to announce his protest plans on Twitter, prompting several people to a tweet calls for his resignation. READ MORE: 18 craziest tweets by Robert Morrow "You are not a Republican," wrote public relations consultant and Trump supporter Nolan Schultz. A person tweeting under the name of "Slouch" tweeted a picture of a smiling Trump with the words "I am going to be your next president and all you can do is cry about it hahahahaha" A third person under the handle "Obamatron" tweeted at Morrow the phrase, "@RobMorroLiberty salty ass lil nigga" READ MORE: In Austin, Trump doubles down on border wall By Wednesday morning, Morrow posted several anti-Trump tweets and a YouTube video of himself being kicked off the grounds of Trump's rally. The video shows what appears to be Trump security and, later, Austin police ordering Morrow from the area around the arena, as Hillary Clinton supporters, reporters and other protesters watched, took video and shot pictures. As for whom he would back for president, Morrow is clear on Twitter: "Vote for 3rd Party. Trump 90% chance of losing anyhow. and if he won - so what?" Efforts by Dallas-based electric company Luminant to drive down its property taxes are putting Glen Rose (Texas) Medical Center at financial risk, according to a report from Texas Observer, an investigative newspaper. Here are five things to know about the situation, based on the Texas Observer report. 1. Luminant is currently embroiled in a legal battle over the valuation of several of its coal and nuclear power plants. The plant nearest GRMC is the Glen Rose-based Comanche Peak nuclear power plant, which was valued at $2.4 billion by the local appraisal district in 2015. Luminant sued, claiming the facility was only worth $450 million. A judge upheld the local appraisal district's valuation in March, but the electric utility appealed and the case is back in the courts, according to the report. 2. While the dispute is being ironed out in the courts, by state law Luminant only has to pay property taxes on its $450 million valuation of Comanche Peak. Because the nuclear plant accounts for 80 percent of the community's property taxes, this is putting significant financial strain on Somervell County government, school district and the community hospital, according to the report. 3. The hospital tax district that funds GRMC lost $2.4 million in revenue in 2015. The hospital district is just three years old, meaning it does not have the cash reserves to weather the Luminant dispute. As a result, the hospital cut staff by 7 percent, froze raises, eliminated its retirement match and increased employees' share of health benefits, according to the report. 4. Luminant's appeal will likely not be resolved until late 2017, and the Texas Observer predicts it is likely the company will sue again, this time over 2016 valuations. Luminant claims Comanche Peak is worth $261 million as of 2016, but the district's appraisal came in at $1.8 billion, according to the report. 5. The Texas Observer notes some of GRMC's financial woes are not due to the Luminant dispute. In an interview with the Texas Observer, a Somervell County resident indicated the hospital built a clinic in Hood County, which is outside of the tax district. Read the full report here. More articles on finance: Mercy Health operating surplus plummets 76% after sale of insurance unit This week's 5 must-reads for hospital CFOs OIG: Texas received $95.3M in Medicaid overpayments As CEOs, these 12 women have positively impacted their hospitals and health systems, and the greater healthcare industry. Nancy Howell Agee, RN, has served as the president and CEO of Roanoke, Va.-based Carilion Clinic since July 2011. Ms. Agee jumped into healthcare in the 1970s as a nurse and eventually became executive vice president and COO at Carilion from 2001 to 2011. She has helped transform Carilion into a patient-centered, physician-led clinic. Ms. Agee adds to her impressive leadership resume, with board positions for The American Hospital Association, The Joint Commission, Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, Virginia Center for Health Innovation and Tech Carilion School of Medicine, among others. Marna Borgstrom serves as the president and CEO of Yale-New Haven Health System in Connecticut, a role she stepped into in 2005. She joined Yale-New Haven Hospital more than 30 years ago, starting out as a post-graduate fellow. Ms. Borgstrom contributes nationally as a board member for VHA, the Council of Teaching Hospitals and Healthcare Executives Study Society. She has received the YMCA's Women In Leadership Award, New Haven Business Times' 20 Noteworthy Women and the Connecticut Women in Leadership Award. In addition to her leadership roles, Ms. Borgstrom also lectures at Yale's School of Pubic Health. Melinda Estes, MD, MBA, is the president and CEO of Saint Luke's Health System in Kansas City, Mo. A board-certified neurologist and neuropathologist, Dr. Estes possesses a broad understanding of healthcare. She previously served as president and CEO of Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, Vt., as well as CEO of Cleveland Clinic Florida in Weston and Naples. Dr. Estes also taught at University of Vermont College of Medicine in Burlington, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland and Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus. Teri Fontenot, MBA, serves as the president and CEO of Woman's Hospital in Baton Rouge, La. She currently serves as a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and in 2012 she chaired the American Hospital Association board of trustees. Ms. Fontenot served on the board of directors for the Sixth District Federal Reserve Bank as well as chaired its audit committee. Ms. Fontenot is also a Certified Public Accountant. In 2013, Baton Rouge Business Report named her the "Businessperson of the Year." Catherine A. Jacobson has served as the president and CEO of Milwaukee-based Froedtert Health since 2011. Prior to this role, she served Froedtert Health as executive vice president of finance and strategy, CFO and chief strategy officer. Ms. Jacobson was the voluntary national chair of the Healthcare Financial Management Association for the 2009 to 2010 term. Milwaukee Business Journal named her among the "Women of Influence" in 2013. Vivian S. Lee, MD, PhD, MBA, serves as the CEO of University of Utah Healthcare in Salt Lake City. In her role, she oversees four hospitals, 10 health centers, the Huntsman Cancer Institute and Moran Eye Center and five colleges. Under Dr. Lee's leadership the health system has ranked among the nation's top 10 in quality and safety academic hospitals. Dr. Lee oversaw the opening of the School of Dentistry and the launch of the Utah Genome Project. She is on the Council of Councils of the National Institutes of Health, the Journal of the American Medical Association, and the Scientific Advisory Board of Massachusetts General Hospital, among other organizations. Ann Madden Rice is the CEO of UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. She oversees a 619-bed acute care teaching hospital, more than 8,000 employees, medical clinics, telemedicine network, cancer care network and a more than $1.7 billion annual budget. Ms. Rice is also the chair elect of the California Hospital Association, chairperson of the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California and vice chairperson of the University HealthSystem Consortium. In addition to her hospital leadership, Ms. Rice is on the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee and is the California Senate appointee on California Health Facilities Financing Authority. Margaret Sabin has filled the position of president and CEO of Penrose-St. Francis Health Services in Colorado Springs, Colo., since 2008. In addition to heading the 522-bed hospital system, Ms. Sabin also serves as president of Centura Health South State Operating Group, overseeing all Centura hospitals in southern Colorado. Ms. Sabin is also the chair of Centura Health's Trauma Council. In 2009, Colorado Springs Business Journal named her a "Women of Influence," and in 2014, the publication named her "Healthiest CEO." San Francisco Business Times also honored Ms. Sabin as one of the "Bay Area's Influential Women in Business" in 2003 and 2004. Nancy Schlichting is the CEO of Detroit-based Henry Ford Health System, a role she has held since 2003. Ms. Schlichting is appreciated for financially turning around the health system and driving patient safety, customer service and diversity initiatives. She collaborates with community, legislative and business leaders to enhance healthcare. Additional leadership roles include the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Michigan Women's Forum. Crain's Detroit honored her among the 16 "Women to Watch" and among the "Top 100 Most Influential Women in Detroit." Pamela Sutton-Wallace serves as the CEO of the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville. Since July 2014, Ms. Sutton-Wallace has overseen the medical center's inpatient and ambulatory services. From 2011 to 2014, she served as the vice president of hospital operations at Duke University Hospital in Durham, N.C. Adding to her hospital industry expertise, Ms. Sutton-Wallace also has a strong grasp of the pharmaceutical, insurance and research industries. Karen Teitelbaum serves as the president and CEO of Sinai Health System in Chicago. Under her leadership as COO and then CEO, the health system has cut costs by millions of dollars because of enhanced efficiency and population health management. On the board of Illinois Hospital Association, Ms. Teitelbaum also serves on serves on the boards of the Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council, Family Health Network and Women in Health-Life Sciences. Ms. Teitelbaum has taught courses on managed care and nonprofit marketing and strategy. Kate Walsh is the president and CEO of Boston Medical Center. She has overseen the 496-bed academic medical center since March 1, 2010. She previously served as executive vice president and chief operating officer at Boston-based Brigham and Women's Hospital. A member of the YMCA of Greater Boston, Ms. Walsh is also affiliated with the Boston Public Health Commission, the Massachusetts Hospital Association, the Council of Teaching Hospitals and the Yale University School of Medicine. Becker's Hospital Review is looking to continuously update this list. Please contact Megan Wood at mwood@beckershealthcare.com for questions, comments and additions to this list. More articles on leadership and management: Researchers ask: When patients flood a hospital who should be saved first? Mayo Clinic-SEIU food fight gets political Where the 20 US News Honor Roll hospital CEOs went to college Despite having histories of misconduct, thousands of U.S. physicians have received payments from pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers for serving as public speakers and advisers, NPR reported, based on analysis by ProPublica. ProPublica reviewed state medical boards' disciplinary records for physicians in California, Texas, New York, Florida and New Jersey and compared them to data from CMS that accounts for industry payments made to physicians between August 2013 and December 2015. Analysts identified at least 2,300 physicians who received industry payments for speaking, consulting, education, travel and gifts during that time period, despite having records of misconduct and even sometimes losing their license to practice. The analysis didn't count meals, as these are not always indicative of a formal relationship between physicians and companies, according to the report. While many physicians were disciplined by their state medical boards for minor offenses, such as failing to complete required continuing medical education courses, hundreds of others committed more serious offenses, such as providing poor-quality care, inappropriately prescribing addictive medications, defrauding public insurance programs and sexual assault, according to the report. In at least 40 cases in which physicians who received disciplinary action for misconduct received industry payments, physicians were either forced to surrender their licenses or they were revoked permanently. Another 180 physicians' licenses were temporarily suspended or restricted, while 250 were placed on probation. U.S. District Judge Harold Murphy has ordered Walker County, Ga., to pay Chattanooga, Tenn.-based Erlanger Health System $8.7 million in a lawsuit over a $20 million loan Erlanger made to a Georgia hospital, according to the Times Free Press. Erlanger made the $20 million loan to financially troubled Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.-based Hutcheson Medical Center in 2011. Catoosa and Walker County officials guaranteed the loan. Hutcheson Medical Center filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2014. Without enough cash flow to support itself, the hospital closed Dec. 4. However, after securing a buyer, the hospital was able to reopen just three weeks later. After the hospital was sold, Erlanger filed suit to recoup its loan. In its lawsuit, Erlanger claimed Catoosa County officials were cooperating with Erlanger to pay back the money, but Walker County officials were not. In June, the Catoosa County Commission accepted a settlement agreement, under which the county will pay Erlanger $6.2 million. In early August, Erlanger filed a motion for summary judgment, demanding $8.7 million from Walker County. On Tuesday, Judge Murphy ordered Walker County to pay up, stating that contracts signed at the time of the loan indicate Walker County is responsible for the payment. A lawyer representing Walker County told the Times Free Press the county plans to appeal the ruling. More articles on healthcare industry lawsuits: Calif. hospital to pay 3 former employees $1.7M in harassment suit Indiana health center will pay $190k to settle whistle-blower suit Palmetto Health to fight $50M lawsuit over orthopedic practice Full-service hospitals in Massachusetts disclosed 1,313 errors that harmed or threatened patients in 2015, marking a 60 percent increase in errors from the year before, the state health department reported. The increase is partially attributable to the recent woes of the dialysis unit at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, according to The Boston Globe. Of the disclosed errors, 26 cases involved surgical errors, 51 were instances when a medication error caused serious injury or death and 446 cases involved contaminated medical devices, drugs or biologics. In 2014, the latter category accounted for just 37 errors reported across the state. In April, Baystate Medical Center notified 575 dialysis patients of potential infection exposure after state health inspectors found crowded and unsanitary conditions in the inpatient dialysis unit they found Baystate staff did not isolate dialysis machines for use only on patients with hepatitis B and did not thoroughly clean those machines with consistency. Health officials also found Baystate exceeded the limits of dialysis patients that could be safely treated at one time. The hospital offered affected patients free testing for hepatitis B and C, as well as HIV. Most of these patients were treated in 2015, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health counted each one in its "serious reportable event" tally for the year. Douglas Salvador, MD, vice president of medical affairs at Baystate, told the Globe none of the 575 notified patients were known to have contracted hepatitis B or C as a result of the errors. Hepatitis transmission was the primary concern after the errors were detected. In regards to adequately cleaning the dialysis equipment, Dr. Salvador told the Globe thorough cleaning was consistently being done by the nurses, but the nurses often failed to document these efforts. As for overcrowding, Dr. Salvador said, "There are people who come in through the emergency department and need dialysis services, and the desire is to do one more and try to get them done. There were a lot of good intentions." According to Barbara Fain, executive director at Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety and Medical Error Reduction in Boston, annual fluctuations in the state's report provide insufficient indication as to whether or not medical errors in the state are trending upward. The report only takes into consideration hospitals and surgery centers. Ms. Fain told the Globe. "That leaves out many other settings where we know serious medical errors take place, like doctors' offices and nursing homes. Without more complete data it's simply not possible to determine trends," she said. More articles on quality: High patient anxiety post-kidney transplant linked to higher 30-day readmissions Mount Sinai opens high-tech research facility to advance pathology precision Water birth ban at Ga. hospital incites protests from pregnant women Senator Joe Manchin's (D-W.Va.) ties to the congressional scrutiny surrounding the skyrocketing price of EpiPens runs deeper than just politics. His daughter, Heather Bresch, is CEO of Mylan, the company behind the epinephrine injection, reports The Washington Post. Canonsburg, Pa.-based Mylan has raised the price of Epipens by 400 percent since 2007, resulting in a storm of criticism against the company's pricing practices. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) recently wrote a letter to Mylan, asking the company to explain why patients must pay up to $700 compared to $57 in 2007 to fill their prescriptions for the life-saving medication. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Senator Richard Blumenthal (D.-Conn.) and Senator Mark R. Warner (D.-Va.) joined Senator Grassley in expressing concern over the price hikes, even calling for a federal investigation of the company. Senator Manchin, who is not a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has not commented on the matter. In a statement responding to Senator Grassley's letter, Mylan did not mention its pricing practices, but said it was proud of its discount programs that expand access to the medication. Mylan also said it has donated almost 700,000 EpiPens to schools since 2013. More articles on drug costs: Sen. Bernie Sanders urges Pfizer to lower cost of Xtandi following Medivation acquisition 4 ways the FDA is contributing to high generic drug costs Cost of EpiPens up to $700 A ProPublica analysis found almost 400 pharmaceutical and medical device manufactures paid physicians who were previously disciplined by their state medical boards. In its analysis, ProPublica reviewed disciplinary records for physicians in California, Texas, New York, Florida and New Jersey. Then, analysts checked this information against CMS data on company payments to physicians, which included payments for speaking, consulting, education, travel and gifts. Here are five key points: 1. The analysis found Stryker paid one orthopedic surgeon more than $14,000 in consulting fees in addition to travel expenses in the first half of 2015. The New York's Board for Professional Medical Conduct alleged that same surgeon improperly prescribed pain medication to 28 patients in June 2015. The state board fined the surgeon $50,000 and placed him on probating for three years. 2. Of the analyzed reports, most entailed minor offenses such as not attending a mandatory continuing medication education courses. However, a fraction of the reports involved severe offenses including sexual misconduct. 3. ProPublica found nearly 40 physicians had their licenses revoked or surrendered their licenses. More than 180 physicians' state boards temporarily suspended or restricted their licenses, and nearly 250 physicians were placed on probation. 4. In 2010, Propublica published an analysis on payments seven drug companies made to disciplined physician. Following the article, various companies vowed to update their screening process. However, ProPublica claims few companies gave details about their background checks and whether they were aware of the cases ProPublica outlined in its report. 5. The 2016 analysis also uncovered some companies that made similar payments to disciplined physicians in its 2010 analysis also made these payments in its recent analysis. More articles on practice management: 2k hospitals that received $1.5B to settle Medicare disputed claims named: 5 key notes Kicking insurance companies to the curb: 6 key notes on a successful Nebraska fee-based physician practice How to run a viable spine practice in 2016 and beyond Lindsey Ross, MD, a Los Angeles-based Cedars-Sinai resident neurosurgeon, has earned a position as a 2016 to 2017 White House Fellow. Here are five highlights: 1. Dr. Ross will work at the HHS, contributing to roundtable discussions with government leaders, including President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. 2. Former President Lyndon B. Johnson established the White House Fellows Program in 1964, to expose leaders to the inner-workings of the federal government. 3. During her Cedars-Sinai neurosurgical residency, Dr. Ross trained in trauma surgery, neurocritical care and neurology subspecialties. 4. Dr. Ross said her residency enhanced her communication skills with patients, improved her emotional poise and taught her how to think more critically in stressful situations. 5. Dr. Ross begins her time as a White House Fellow this week. "I feel so grateful for this opportunity. I know I will learn a great deal about healthcare, leadership and policymaking next year, which I hope to bring back to Cedars-Sinai and the greater Los Angeles community that we serve," Dr. Ross said. To continue following the latest news and information for Bedfordshire and surrounding areas, simply enter your full postcode below Wrightbus has signed a new m deal with Translink for 20 of its buses Ballymena bus maker Wrightbus has told staff it is suspending all recruitment in order to reduce costs at the company. In a letter, it says it is facing a number of challenges in both the local and international markets, according to the BBC. It says changes to the organisational structure are needed to drive increased efficiencies and reduce operating costs throughout the company. Wrightbus is suspending all recruitment with immediate effect. It says this applies to vacancies which are currently open and have been advertised. We feel this is necessary in the current economic climate and to ensure that the company remains competitive going forward, the memo said. This summer the Belfast Telegraph revealed Wrightbus is in advanced talks over a multimillion-pound Far East order for 500 buses. The company employs around 2,000 people and more than doubled its pre-tax profits to 11.6m, on turnover of 297m, in its most recent results. In March the firm confirmed a 62m order for 195 of its Routemaster buses from Transport for London. London Mayor Boris Johnson visited Ballymena to announce the deal, one week after he came out in favour of a Brexit. It's understood that deal is still going ahead. Labour leadership candidate Owen Smith said 'Jeremy is not the only socialist in the village' Owen Smith has admitted he needs to be "slightly less colourful" with his choice of language after insisting he had not called Jeremy Corbyn a "lunatic". The Pontypridd MP told party members at an event in Hammersmith, west London, on Tuesday evening: "What you won't get from me is some lunatic at the top of the Labour Party." Mr Smith faced calls from allies of Mr Corbyn to retract the remarks but he told BBC Radio 4 Today programme that he was not referring to his Labour leadership rival. He said: "Having been accused earlier in the evening of running around like a lunatic, I was saying I wasn't a lunatic, but if anybody's offended by the use of that word then I do apologise and I've done that already this morning and I'll do it again. "But I wasn't talking about Jeremy. I was talking about me." It is not the first time Mr Smith has faced criticism for some of his comments. He has previously apologised for claiming that Labour should "smash" Prime Minister Theresa May "back on her heels". Meanwhile, he was accused of being unfit for high office after he suggested that Islamic State would eventually have to be brought into peace talks to end the Syrian civil war. Mr Smith has conceded he needs to be more careful with some of his words, telling the Today programme: "You have got to learn I think in this job that you need to weigh every word very, very carefully as they are all weighed for me and I have not done that judiciously enough on occasion." Mr Smith was then asked if he thought his comments showed he was not ready to be Labour leader. "I don't think so," he said. "I think it suggests that I'm occasionally a bit colourful with my language. I need to be slightly less colourful perhaps in future." Stormont is adding a tranche of new posts this week to help deal with the impact of Brexit on Northern Ireland, the Finance Minister has said. Mairtin O Muilleoir said new people, including economists, have been brought on board to "push through EU funding". And he added he had a "raft of anecdotal stories" about the negative impact the vote to leave the EU was having on business. "Very little of it is positive," he told the Belfast Telegraph. "We have a special committee set up in the Executive to respond, and to know what happens. "Everyone knows this is a blow and a setback to the economy. Everyone knows what the Sinn Fein position is. "In the meantime, my job is to bring investment in here along with my colleague (Economy Minister) Simon Hamilton. "My job is to provide the innovative funding for those who want to spend money. "Yes, it has been a major shock to the system, but the focus has to remain on trying to find a way of building the economy." Sinn Fein strongly backed the UK remaining in the EU. Speaking about the new posts, he said: "There have been a lot of people who have left the Civil Service in recent years and this is really the first time I have green-lighted additional staff. "Staff have started today to work on the EU applications. "How do we speed them up, how do we make sure this money isn't lost? "We are going to spend money on bringing in new people." Mr O Muilleoir said there remained around 300m of European funding still on the cards for the province, and urged anyone with plans to apply for it to do so quickly. "The deadline is now the Autumn Statement... if you don't get an application in, through the complex process and signed up before then, you have no guarantee of future funding." He said it should be "no surprise" that Brexit will have a bigger impact in Northern Ireland than in Britain. "We know it will hit us harder, and we know people took a stand and people are committed to those positions since, so rather than reflect on why people voted, or how the vote went." Speaking about his time in the finance role, he said he was "living the dream". "It's the job which is the nexus of government," he said. "I had no grand plan of any type. I am interested in public service, getting things done. The cards have been dealt and we will see how we get on. "In every job I have done I do my best." Asked whether his role as a businessman - he is the former head of newspaper company Belfast Media Group - helps him in his role as Finance Minister, he said: "Being an entrepreneur gives you a different edge, because you have started and created." And Mr O Muilleoir said, while confident Northern Ireland will get a reduced rate of corporation tax by April 2018, the impact will be diminished if the UK acts on a proposal by former Chancellor George Osborne to lower its rate to 15%. "I remain committed to the 12.5% rate (for Northern Ireland). "I still believe it can be done by April 2018... if the British reduce their taxation rate to 15%, it won't make as much of a difference, but it won't cost us as much." Hard act: Stephen Graham in his new TV drama The Watchman Stephen Graham is in an odd predicament. Back in 2006, his performance as skinhead neo-Nazi Combo in This Is England was so convincing that, for months afterwards, directors shied away from offering him roles. Then Martin Scorsese came calling, hand-picking Liverpudlian Graham - who'd previously appeared in the director's 2002 film Gangs Of New York - to play Al Capone in Boardwalk Empire, and his fortunes changed. Now that work is abundant, with roles as Scrum in Pirates Of The Caribbean, Inspector Heat in The Secret Agent and the lead part in new Channel 4 drama The Watchman, casting agents have another reason for deliberating. "They go, 'We had you in mind, but we just thought (you'd be busy)', and I've gone, 'I can do it if it's good,'" says the 43-year-old with an exasperated laugh. "If it's a good script and a good director - it doesn't matter to me whether it's a big role or not. There's no small roles, only small actors." Graham, a far chirpier presence in real life than the characters he tends to portray. Off-screen, hardman he ain't. The Liverpool FC supporter is happily married to his "lovely missus" Hannah Walters, who he met while they were studying drama in London 23 years ago. They now live in Leicestershire with their two children, Grace and Alfie. He lovingly refers to Walters as his "buffer", adding that because of his dyslexia, she reads scripts first, alerting him to any which look promising. Growing up in a close-knit family in Kirkby, he drew on the well of support from his social worker mum and paediatric nurse dad to help with school work. "It's not severe, it just meant I had to work that bit harder," he explains of his dyslexia. Drama was his passion, and he says getting involved with the Everyman Youth Theatre was "life-changing". He's full of enthusiasm for The Watchman, a thought-provoking one-off drama, directed and written by documentary-maker Dave Nath. Graham plays Carl, a dad and CCTV operative whose growing frustration with local police officers forces him to intervene in a dangerous situation. "What sets off as a normal night shift transcends into this huge thing which spirals out of control," he explains. Ultimately, family - not work - comes first for Graham. And his children appeared as extras in the latest Pirates film. He's turned down roles which involve long stints away from home, adding "my family is the most important thing to me". Avicii will have thousands of music fans in a spin at Vital Thousands of fans are to travel to Northern Ireland from all around the world to see Avicii's last-ever performance at the Tennent's Vital festival. The 26-year-old Swedish DJ will play live at Belfast's Boucher Road Playing Fields on Friday before he retires from music at the weekend. Tickets for the night have already sold out, but there are still some available for tomorrow's show, which includes performances by American rock bands Red Hot Chili Peppers and Fall Out Boy. Other musicians at the two-day event include Labrinth, Cage The Elephant, Jess Glynne and Duke Dumont. Event manager Paul Scott said this year's attraction was at full capacity, with 40,000 people in attendance each night. Brian Spollen, another of the organisers added: "Because it's Avicii's last headline show before he retires, there's people coming from Buenos Aires, Germany, Italy and Abu Dhabi. "There's nearly 10,000 people travelling in for the two shows from outside, coming into Belfast. Hotel beds are full, restaurants are full." Planning for the festival started as far back as December. "We have cutting edge acoustics, so that everybody sees and hears the show as we would like them to," Paul said. And the final touch is the actual set-up of the event. "We came on site 12 days ago," Scott explained. "It will take us another five days after the last act to get everything away and return the site to its owners." Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close A tour of the Tennents Vital site at Boucher Road in Belfast on 23rd August 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A tour of the Tennents Vital site at Boucher Road in Belfast on 23rd August 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Nikki Faulkner and Thady Graham A tour of the Tennents Vital site at Boucher Road in Belfast on 23rd August 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The acts dressing room A tour of the Tennents Vital site at Boucher Road in Belfast on 23rd August 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A tour of the Tennents Vital site at Boucher Road in Belfast on 23rd August 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A tour of the Tennents Vital site at Boucher Road in Belfast on 23rd August 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A tour of the Tennents Vital site at Boucher Road in Belfast on 23rd August 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A tour of the Tennents Vital site at Boucher Road in Belfast on 23rd August 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A tour of the Tennents Vital site at Boucher Road in Belfast on 23rd August 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph A tour of the Tennents Vital site at Boucher Road in Belfast on 23rd August 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A tour of the Tennents Vital site at Boucher Road in Belfast on 23rd August 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) The stage is the largest one outdoors in Northern Ireland at 60m x 40m. Behind the scenes, there are dressing rooms, lawn chairs and tables and toilets for the performers. The stage itself is filled with equipment for lights, fog machines, fireworks and other concert spectacles as the organisers set up for the concerts. There will be a PSNI presence at the festival to ensure the safety of those in attendance. Superintendent Bobby Singleton said: "Enjoy the music and have a good time, but most importantly stay safe." Avicii, whose real name is Tim Bergling, announced earlier this year that he would be retiring after his concert tour. Following Tennent's Vital, he will perform for a final time at Liverpool's Creamfields music festival on Saturday. Friday will be the second time Avicii has performed at Tennent's Vital - the first was in 2013. While the festival is hosting the DJ's penultimate performance, Paul said it was not the only time Belfast had played host to musical history. "Stairway to Heaven was first performed in Belfast by Led Zeppelin at the Ulster Hall," he added. "Belfast has feathers in its cap with regards to music." Calling all Pokemon Go trainers - there is a club night in Belfast with your name on it. The Pokemon Go app has taken the world by storm which involved players travelling around the real world, using their phones to capture and train the creatures. But now Belfast is having its first Pokemon Go themed club night. On Saturday September 3 McHugh's basements will host a night of late 90s/early noughties music and dance. It said: "Get to know your fellow trainers with Belfasts first Pokemon Go themed club night. Pok- e-mon down to McHughs basement for a night of late 90s/early noughties music and dance until youre Drowzee! Get your favourite costume on, so we can get a Pikachu. "Therell be more than Koffing in the smoking area as we drop lures every 30 minutes. Dont be a Slowpoke, get your ticket now. " Tickets are 5 pre-sale and 7 on the door. Doors open at 10pm. The original cast of Red Dwarf have reunited for the 11th series (UKTV/PA Wire) Red Dwarf star Robert Llewellyn has put the show's longevity down to the quality of the scripts and the fact they have "enormous fun" on set. Llewellyn, who plays Kryten in the sci-fi comedy, was speaking during a question and answer session at the Edinburgh International Television Festival. The session followed a screening of the first episode of the 11th series, which is due to air next month. Llewellyn told an audience at the city's Filmhouse that the latest series gave him the most joy to film. He said he later realised that most of the photographs taken of the cast on set showed them "laughing ourselves stupid". Asked about the show's enduring appeal, the actor said: "It's hard work but we have enormous fun making it and I think there's that chemistry that you couldn't just create. "And I've always said it's the writing. That is when it blows us away, when we're in the read-through. "I actually think it was the happiest Red Dwarf (to shoot)." Co-star Craig Charles, who also attended the screening, quipped that the show has lasted so long "because we're still prepared to do it". He added: "None of us actually cracked Hollywood or anything." Reflecting on the bond between the team, Charles said: "We've known each other longer than we've known our wives and children. I've grown up with them all, really." Red Dwarf XI reunites the original cast of Chris Barrie (Rimmer), Danny John-Jules (Cat), Llewellyn and Charles (Lister), along with guest stars. The series was recorded in front of a live audience at Pinewood Studios. The first episode sees the Dwarfers find themselves in an alternative version of America where modern technology is prohibited, making Rimmer and Kryten illegal. The have to infiltrate the tech-savvy underground to try to bring down the authoritarian regime. Charles said he was in awe of the sets used in the latest series. Referring to one street scene, he said: "We built that street inside Pinewood. It was like being in a real movie. "We were in awe of it. You'd go home at night and come back the next day and they'd built the whole street overnight. Why can't they do that in the real world?" The actors were also joined at the Q&A by writer, director and Red Dwarf co-creator Doug Naylor, who explained the inspiration behind the first episode of the new series. He said: "That idea came from what's going on at the moment. Science is refuted by a lot of people, which is scary. What would happen if there was a society where science wasn't allowed?" :: The six new episodes will go out on Dave next month and in October, with the first episode being screened on September 22. Each episode will also be available on the online on-demand service UKTV Play a week before its broadcast transmission. Belfast City Council is planning an event to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the arrival of US troops in Northern Ireland in the Second World War. More than 300,000 soldiers were stationed here during the conflict as they waited to be deployed to Europe and Africa. The first arrived at Belfast docks on January 26, 1942, with Private Millburn Henke reputedly leading the way. The council is considering hosting an event at the docks in January as part of its Decade of Centenaries schedule, and Lord Mayor Brian Kingston is to send a letter to Private Henke's family. Minutes of the council's diversity working group revealed that officials have held discussions with the US Consulate in Belfast, which "indicated that the consulate does not have any plans to initiate specific events marking this anniversary". "Bearing in mind that this is a 75th anniversary and not a centenary, the date could be marked in a modest way," the minutes read. Councillors were presented with a proposal for a small-scale event at the docks, which would need to take place in consultation with the Harbour Commissioners. It is understood that the Northern Ireland War Memorial has also been in contact with the US Consulate regarding ways in which anniversaries might be marked in terms of US-Northern Ireland relations. Several US soldiers who lost their lives in Northern Ireland during their stay were laid to rest at the City Cemetery in Belfast, and in 1943 a US military cemetery was opened at Lisnabreeny in the Castlereagh hills. In May 1944, the greatest gathering of US ships ever seen in a British port assembled in Belfast Lough and sailed for the Normandy landings, which took place on June 6, after an inspection by General Eisenhower. A commemorative stone that was sculpted by Belfast stonemasons Purdy and Millard, and which bears the crests of he US Army, Marines and Navy, alongside a portion of the Belfast coat of arms, remains in the grounds of the City Hall as a means of marking the troops' period here. ATO carry out searches on a propert in the Old Glenarm Road area of Larne ATO carry out searches on a propert in the Old Glenarm Road area of Larne ATO carry out searches on a propert in the Old Glenarm Road area of Larne ATO carry out searches on a propert in the Old Glenarm Road area of Larne A Royal Marine is being questioned by detectives investigating Northern Ireland-linked terrorism, understood to be connected to two major dissident republican arms finds. The 30-year-old serviceman was arrested in a pre-planned swoop in Somerset on Wednesday. The operation involved searches at a house and wooded area in south Devon. In Northern Ireland, officers have also searched a number of properties in Larne, Co Antrim - near the two forest parks where the weapons dumps were discovered earlier this year. The man, who is believed to be from Northern Ireland, was detained on suspicion of preparation for acts of terrorism. While the threat posed by violent dissident republicans in Northern Ireland has been classified as severe for a number of years, in May the UK intelligence services raised the threat level in Great Britain from moderate to substantial. Two separate hauls of weapons were discovered in Carnfunnock and Capanagh parks within three months of each other. An armour-piercing improvised rocket and two anti-personnel mines were among the cache recovered at Capanagh in May. Several pipe bombs, magazines and ammunition for an assault rifle as well as bomb component parts and command wires were also concealed in barrels in purpose-built holes in woodland. In March, bomb-making items were found at nearby Carnfunnock Country Park. Police said four barrels were unearthed at Carnfunnock - two barrels were empty but two contained a variety of bomb-making components, including wiring, toggle switches, circuit boards, partially constructed timer power units, ball bearings and a small quantity of explosives. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Terrorist hide uncovered at Capanagh Forest outside Larne A haul of terrorist arms was discovered at Capanagh Forest outside Larne Capanagh Forest Claymore mine with shrapnel Capanagh Forest explosive powder. Capanagh Forest pipe bombs Explosives and bomb making parts found at Carnfunnock Country Park Explosives and bomb making parts found at Carnfunnock Country Park Army bomb experts at Carnfunnock Country Park at Ballygally near Larne, where police uncovered a significant terrorist hide containing bomb-making components and explosives PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Terrorist hide uncovered at Capanagh Forest outside Larne Larne is predominantly unionist/loyalist in community make-up, so the discovery of the finds led to some initial speculation that they could be linked to loyalist paramilitaries. However, after assessing the nature of the weaponry, police concluded they likely belonged to dissident republicans. The extremists intent on bringing about a united Ireland by violent means are small in both number and capacity compared with the republican paramilitary organisations of the Troubles, but they retain the ability to launch deadly if sporadic attacks on the security forces. Since 2009, dissidents have murdered two soldiers, two policemen and two prison officers in Northern Ireland. A stretch of terraced homes on the Old Glenarm Road in Larne was the focus of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) searches on Wednesday afternoon. Loyalist flags flew on nearby properties. There was a major police presence at the scene with Army bomb disposal units also in attendance. Police forensic officers in white suits carried out detailed searches through the day. Scotland Yard said the arrest in Somerset was carried out by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service's Counter Terrorism Command, supported by Avon and Somerset and Devon and Cornwall Police. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "We are aware of a police investigation involving the arrest of a member of the Armed Forces under the 2000 Terrorism Act and will assist this investigation fully. "It would be inappropriate to comment further on an ongoing investigation." A man from Northern Ireland who was given just three months to live has started his pioneering brain cancer therapy after an incredible effort to raise enough money to pay for it. More than 235,000 has been raised in 13 days to help Kevin Carey in his brave battle against an aggressive brain tumour. The 35-year-old Portglenone man's last hope is pioneering immunotherapy treatment, which costs 205,000 and is only available privately. The therapy teaches the immune system to find and attack the brain cancer cells. An update from his wife on the GoFundMe website yesterday read: "Kevin was able to start the first part of his treatment today. This is such wonderful news, and afterwards we are allowed to head back home. Kevin is so relieved, and so grateful to start treatment. "We also sincerely appreciate how kind London has been to us, but we are really looking forward to getting back home at some point this week. "Kevin is feeling well, he's getting stronger each day, but still tires very quickly. Kevin is very determined but knows he has a long road ahead of him. Thank you to everyone for all your help, support, kindness, generosity and love - we feel every bit of it." Kevin's family said they were "overwhelmed and truly grateful" by the incredible response to their appeal. "This campaign has helped raise awareness of brain tumours and the devastating effect on the entire community. All funds will be used to help Kevin in his fight and the ongoing fight against brain tumours," they wrote on Facebook. Kevin was on a trip to Portstewart in July last year with Natasha when he suffered a number of seizures. A brain scan identified glioblastoma, an aggressive terminal brain tumour for which Kevin has already undergone surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Ireland's Catholic Church hierarchy has admitted concerns about an "unhealthy atmosphere" at the country's main seminary amid claims trainee priests there are using the gay dating app Grindr. Church leaders have ordered a review on the "appropriate use of the internet and social media" at the centuries-old St Patrick's College in Maynooth, Co Kildare, as well as an overhaul of its approach to whistleblowers. The college trustees - four Archbishops and 13 senior Bishops - met for crisis talks after the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin confirmed he was boycotting the seminary. Dr Diarmuid Martin, the most senior Catholic in the Irish Republic, said earlier this month he is sending student priests to Rome rather than Maynooth - just 26 km (16 miles) from the capital. The church leader said he made the decision some months ago because he was "somewhat unhappy" about "an atmosphere that was growing in Maynooth" exposed through anonymous accusations in letters and online blogs. Dr Martin said allegations included "a homosexual, a gay culture, that students have been using an app called Grindr" which he said "would be fostering promiscuous sexuality". The Archbishop said there were further allegations that whistleblowers trying to bring claimed wrongdoing to the attention of authorities were being dismissed from the seminary. After a meeting in Maynooth, the four Archbishops and 13 Bishops that oversee the seminary said they acknowledged the controversy and the disquiet it has caused in the church in Ireland. "The trustees share the concerns about the unhealthy atmosphere created by anonymous accusations together with some social media comments which can be speculative or even malicious," they said in a statement. "Persons with specific concerns are encouraged to report them appropriately as soon as possible." The trustees have vowed to carry out a review of whistle-blowing policies and procedures and will demand college authorities review the use of the internet and social media. They will also call on the church to set up an independent audit into the running of both remaining Irish seminaries, Maynooth and St Malachy's in Belfast. Founded in 1795, Maynooth College was once the largest seminary in the world. It was built to train 500 trainee Catholic priests every year, but numbers have nosedived to just over 40 for the coming year with a fall-off in vocations. Speaking earlier this month, Dr Martin also criticised the "comfortable" regime at the seminary. "The people have their breakfast, dinner and tea served up to them," he said. Pictured far right is Damien McLaughlin at an anti Internment parade in Belfast A terror suspect charged in connection with the murder of prison officer David Black had his bail conditions relaxed so he could go on a spa break, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal. Damien McLaughlin was granted permission by a court to skip his curfew and stop signing bail for three days while enjoying a mini break at a luxury lakeside hotel in Co Fermanagh earlier this month. On the first day of his relaxed bail conditions, McLaughlin was photographed fronting a republican anti-internment protest in west Belfast, alongside convicted terrorists Sharon Rafferty and Conor Casey. Rafferty was one of a gang of four jailed for a string of terrorist-related offences including the setting up of a training camp at a forest in Omagh. Would-be-bomber Casey was released on licence in 2008 after serving six years of a 14-year sentence for transporting a 200lb car bomb. The vehicle was stopped at a police check point in Co Armagh and officers uncovered a two-way radio and a trigger mechanism for the massive bomb which was primed and ready for use. McLaughlin was also joined at the protest on August 7 by Brian Shivers who was acquitted after retrial two years ago of the murder of two soldiers and six attempted murders at Massereene barracks. The Belfast Telegraph can also reveal that on Easter Sunday - while under strict bail conditions - McLaughlin acted as a steward at a dissident republican march in Coalisland. He is clearly seen in video footage dressed in a yellow jacket marshalling the parade. McLaughlin, from the Kilmascally Road in Dungannon, is facing four charges in relation to Mr Black's killing. They include aiding and abetting his murder, having a Toyota Camry car for use in terrorism, preparing a terrorist act by starting and moving the vehicle which the killers used, and belonging to a proscribed organisation, namely the IRA. Mr Black was shot dead on the M1 in Co Armagh in November 2012 en route to work at high security Maghaberry Prison. Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Yvonne Black, wife of murdered prison officer David Black, with her daughter Kyra after his funeral service in Co Tyrone The Black family, left to right, Yvonne, Kyle, Kyra and David, on holiday in Dubai earlier this year David Black Scene of the murder of prison officer David Black / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Yvonne Black, wife of murdered prison officer David Black, with her daughter Kyra after his funeral service in Co Tyrone The 52-year-old father of two was the first Northern Ireland prison officer to be murdered in nearly 20 years. The prosecution alleges McLaughlin transported the Toyota car across the border with the Republic on the eve of the attack. McLaughlin was released on bail in May 2014 due to delays in his case. As part of his bail conditions he must report to a police station five days a week and adhere to a curfew between 10.30pm and 7am. However, his bail conditions were changed to allow him to reside at the Manor House in Enniskillen from Sunday, August 7 to Tuesday, August 9. He did not have to adhere to his curfew on those days. The only requirement was that he sign bail at Enniskillen PSNI station on the Tuesday after he checked out of the hotel. The case has raised fresh questions over the bailing of terror suspects. "There is a widespread concern about the way in which the courts are dealing with cases involving so-called 'dissident republicans'. That is in relation to the granting of bail, the setting of bail conditions and the sentencing of dissident republicans who have been convicted of terrorist offences," the DUP's Nelson McCausland said. "It seems that some judges are taking an extremely lenient view of these cases. It is almost as if they do not regard 'dissident republicans' as serious terrorists. "However the truth is that they are out to murder police officers and prison officers and, in the case of David Black, they succeeded in murdering him," the MLA added. Mr McCausland said he believed that terror suspects should only be bailed "in the most exceptional circumstances". "It is time for the court system in Northern Ireland to step up to the mark and treat these terrorism-related charges with the seriousness they demand. Elsewhere in the United Kingdom the courts would deal much more severely with such serious crimes." The case follows questions over changes in bail conditions for another terror suspect, Damien 'Dee' Fennell, so that he could go on holiday to Donegal. The 34-year-old was charged with encouraging acts of terrorism, inviting support for the IRA and addressing a meeting to encourage support for the IRA after speaking an Easter Rising commemoration event in Lurgan, Co Armagh last year. Fennell has denied the charges. UUP MP Tom Elliott said he was concerned that the holiday coincides with the annual Republican Sinn Fein hunger strike commemoration in Bundoran. "I would therefore ask whether any specific condition was placed on Mr Fennell to exclude him from Bundoran next Saturday? And if not why not?" he asked. Ten years ago a Chinook helicopter lowered Paul Johnston into hell. The earth was scorched, the agents of evil were waiting. In time, there would be 500 of them, determined to destroy his soul and end his life. He was 20 years old, and had never fired a gun in anger. The odds against survival were overwhelming, but Paul Johnston remained calm and resolute. That resolve would be severely tested over the next 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness. Ill-equipped, deprived of sleep, burned by the unforgiving desert sun, and hundreds of miles from the nearest military hospital, the Co Down man and his colleagues were continuously pinned down by heavy machine-guns, rockets and grenades. Courageously, they stuck to their thankless, exhausting task of defending a remote, godforsaken outpost in Afghanistan against a relentless Taliban onslaught. And Paul's concentration never wavered, even when Royal Irish Regiment pals were dying just yards away from him. In all, the young machine-gunner helped thwart more than 100 attacks on the Musa Qala compound. In the end a near-skeletal Paul had to be coaxed away from this post after a superhuman effort. But there would be no medal of honour for the former Lance Corporal, or any of those whose bravery in north Helmand Province throughout the late summer of 2006 is now the stuff of legend. And that's because the siege of Musa Qala - and the ignominious way it concluded - remains a source of considerable embarrassment for the Army. The only thing Paul, now aged 31, feels embarrassed about is being called a hero. To him, he was merely following orders, doing his job. And he was "too young to really understand fear". The only things he felt were anger and frustration. This is a man born to be a soldier, who spent his youth reading about fellow Newtownards native Blair Mayne. Even so, his path to the Army's 'Alamo' in Afghanistan was more a case of fate than design. "I wasn't actually meant to be in Helmand," said the married father-of-two, who left the forces in 2011 and is now working in private security. "I was a young Ranger in the Royal Irish, on a routine training exercise in Jamaica, and our CO (commanding officer) came out looking for volunteers. "I was the first to put my hand up. I had to go because this was what I'd been waiting for; it's why I joined the Army." Paul, who now lives in Portavogie, enlisted when he was just 16. "My dad (Paul snr, 55) was always telling us stories about his time in the Army," he recalled. "And Blair Mayne (founding member of the SAS) was, in my eyes, the greatest of all war heroes. "He even went to the same school as me, Regent House, and his house was across the road from where I lived, on the Scrabo estate. I wanted to try my hand at being a Blair Mayne." Such wide-eyed aspirations, however, were soon dispelled in Afghanistan. Shortly after their arrival Paul and the rest of the ironically-titled 'Easy Company', predominately members of the Royal Irish, were airlifted to Musa Qala - just 88 men sent out to defend an Afghan police compound surrounded by 200 Taliban fighters who would later be joined by 300 more. It was a lamentable, ill-fated, blood-soaked mismatch, recently billed by Channel 4's Heroes Of Helmand documentary as the story the forces "didn't want you to hear". It will certainly never challenge the 1940 evacuation of Dunkirk on the Army's 'honourable retreat' order of merit. Yet, even now, it's still not clear why a dusty concrete outpost - a place seemingly more of symbolic than strategic value - was deemed worthy of defending in the first place. In that respect, the hellhole that is Musa Qala may well be a microcosm of the 13-year, 9/11-inspired conflict that cost tens of thousands of lives. The toll included more than 1,400 coalition soldiers, 456 of them British. There's no doubt that what Paul and his courageous colleagues did - a 'sleep-watch-shoot' existence for weeks, exposed, neglected, starving, with only limited and sporadic air support, literally, under pain of death - was exceptional. But the anticlimactic end to the mission - an awkward, negotiated truce with their Islamic fundamentalist enemy via Afghan civic elders, followed by a withdrawal in dilapidated cattle trucks - does not make for the type of derring-do breathlessly recalled in the officers' mess. It's more a tale of tragic futility - and Paul, who contributed to the programme, can identify with that. "The Army wants to forget about it because we were under-manned, under-equipped, ill-prepared," he said. "At the end we were running out of food, water and ammunition. "Even so, we didn't want to leave, didn't want to hand it over to them. Our friends had been killed out there. "We fought for weeks to keep it. I certainly didn't want to depart in the manner that we did. "The Army also wants it forgotten because of the way they shooed us out; a decision made high up because they couldn't resupply us." It was good to get home, though. "I had my family, I was starving to death, I was like a skeleton," he said. "Even so, I still didn't want to leave Musa Qala on those terms. Winter was coming, but I'd rather have stayed and froze to death than left in the manner that we did. "I understand why they did it but I didn't like how they did it. "And, as far as I was concerned, three of my colleagues had lost their lives for nothing." Today, when Paul is relaxing with his wife of four years (who requested not to be named), sons Preston (nine) and five-year-old Kalen, memories of Musa Qala, thousands of miles away and many years ago, feel almost surreal. He insists that, unlike some of his colleagues on that mission, he was never affected by PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), but his first real combat situation - when he missed the chance to take out four Taliban at once - still jars with him. "I was too young to understand what fear really was, but I was nervous. It was the first time that I ever fired my weapon at anybody," he recalled. "If it had been a few days later I'd have let them come closer and I'd have got all four, but I was too eager to get the rounds off." Paul hit two of the enemy, killing one, but said: "It still haunts me that I didn't get all four." To most of us, it must seem strange to regret not killing someone, but, as Paul explained: "What keeps nagging at me is, was one of the ones I missed the one who shot dead young (Lance Corporal Peter) Hetherington? "Or did one of them fire the mortars that killed Moonbeam (Corporal Paul Muirhead) and (Ranger Anare) Dravia?" Paul, who tended to those doomed colleagues - and has no idea how many enemy soldiers he ended up killing in Musa Qala - admits he wasn't the same person when he got back to Northern Ireland at Christmas 2006. "People told me that I came across as more aggressive, although I didn't realise it at the time," he said. "I had a lot of anger left over from 2006 because of the way we were treated by the Army - my badly injured colleague, Paul Muirhead, for instance, having to wait six or seven hours for a helicopter back to (Army HQ) Camp Bastion. "The MoD (Ministry of Defence) later said it was three hours; it wasn't. I'm not saying that he would have been alive, but he'd have had a better chance. "We weren't asking for anything special. All we wanted was to know that if we got injured, we'd be taken back to Bastion, but we never got that. "We had one doctor, two medics and limited supplies... just enough to keep you alive if you weren't mortally wounded." He added: "I was also really angry about the Taliban standing laughing at us, smiling and waving when we were leaving Musa Qala in those old trucks. "They had promised to pull out if we left - but what happened a few weeks later? They came back, killed all the elders and took the compound over. So, what was the point? "It took about 2,000 of our men to take it back in 2008, and now it's under Taliban control again." His understandable rage didn't, however, put Paul off two more tours, and he still looks back on Musa Qala as providing some of the best, as well as the worst, moments of his life. "People might find this difficult to understand, but if I could go and do that tour over and over again, I wouldn't have left the Army," he said. Paul recalled the regiment being an influential melting pot for someone who grew up in a Protestant estate and had little interaction with Catholics. "It wasn't as if I didn't like them, I just didn't really know any," he said. "Now I have as many Catholic friends as Protestant. Back in Afghanistan we had the Royal Irish, Ulster and (Irish) tricolour flags side by side. Where in Northern Ireland would you see that? "I'd have died for any one of my Catholic mates out there, and vice versa." The decision to quit the Army came just before Paul's third tour. "My wife was pregnant with our second child. I wanted to go back one more time - the last hurrah - but when I was out there (in Nad-e Ali) I got a bit disillusioned," he said. "People were worried about how we looked - our uniforms, the badges on our arms, our haircuts - after some American general said we resembled what the Yanks looked like in Vietnam ... a defeated army. "They were more worried about appearances than how we were doing our job." He added: "I'd served in Northern Ireland and Iraq, and did three tours of Afghanistan. Enough was enough. "I remember thinking that I'd been a bit lucky, and that there's only so many times you can cheat death. It was time to go." After Afghanistan, even Paul's first experience of Civvy Street, defending ships from pirates in the Indian Ocean, seemed relatively mundane. He later worked in Iraq and Nigeria but is now a lot closer to home, commuting to RS4 Security clients in Scotland. As for the rest of the family, Paul snr is still doing maritime security in the Indian Ocean, brother Karl (33) is an environmental cleaner and 28-year-old sister Cherith is in the Army. "Mum (Paula, 51) sits at home and worries about us," said Paul. Best, then, that Paula Johnston didn't know about the incident with her son and the suicide bomber in 2008. "He stood up beside me, some 20 metres away, and blew himself up," recalled Paul. "One of his legs landed close to me; then a donkey appeared out of nowhere and started eating it..." The Albernina motor cruiser, used in Britain's biggest-known gun smuggling operation, which is to be auctioned in Belfast (Wilson's Auctions/PA) The boat used in Britain's biggest-known gun smuggling operation is to be auctioned in Belfast on Thursday. The Albernina motor cruiser arrived with the deadly cargo of 100,000 worth of arms near Cuxton Marina, outside Rochester in Kent, on August 10 last year. The National Crime Agency (NCA) said the assault weapons seized were similar to those used in the terror attack on the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine's Paris offices. They were intercepted because the agency had the plotters under surveillance and swooped to seize the cache of 31 assault rifles and sub-machine guns before it could be buried and then passed into the wrong hands. Two men were found g uilty of gun smuggling and possessing firearms with intent to endanger life following a trial held at the Old Bailey earlier this year. Wilson's Auctions in Belfast will sell off the 38ft vessel. The NCA hailed it as the biggest seizure of deadly guns on British soil. The gang had no connection with terrorism. The mastermind behind the operation, Harry Shilling, bragged "we now officially gangsters" after 22 assault rifles and nine Skorpion sub-machine guns from eastern Europe sailed up the River Medway from Boulogne in France. Shilling, 26, was handed a sentence of 30 years in jail, plus five years on extended licence, while Michael Defraine was given 27 years in jail, plus five years on extended licence. The Albernina will go under the hammer alongside luxury yacht the Golem. The 57ft Nordia sloop yacht was intercepted by government officials on 31 August last year carrying almost a tonne of cocaine across the Atlantic from the southern Caribbean. The sailors onboard were sentenced to more than 34 years in prison. Forensic tests on the packages revealed the cocaine was 70 percent pure, and if adulterated and sold in the UK would have had a potential street value of around 120 million. MLA Doug Beattie has urged Westminster to separate jailed Islamic extremists and not repeat the mistakes seen here, where imprisoned members of terror groups were held together. Justice Secretary Liz Truss said lessons had been learned from the Maze and Maghaberry Prisons, which became hothouses for terrorists. To this day republican prisoners have their own wing at Maghaberry. But Ulster Unionist Mr Beattie, a decorated soldier who fought the Taliban in Afghanistan, warned the Government that it was in danger of making the same mistakes it made here. He added that a failure to separate Islamic extremists could lead to prison officers being attacked by radicalised Muslims. Ms Truss confirmed that specialist isolation units to hold the most dangerous prisoners would be created in high-security jails in Britain. "We have looked at what happened in Northern Ireland and at the experience of other European countries who are facing a growth in the threat of extremism, as we are in Britain," the minister said. A new Ministry of Justice directorate will be handed responsibility for ensuring that grouping extremists together in single units does not end in them creating their own command structures, as happened here. "It will be the responsibility of the head of that directorate, who is a former prison governor, to make sure that we don't allow prisoners who could potentially collaborate with each other and cause problems (to do that)," Ms Truss told the BBC. "We don't want to allow that to fester, so people will be moved around and that will be an operational decision by the people who are the experts in dealing with counter-extremism." But Mr Beattie claimed the decision to segregate Islamist extremist prisoners showed a dangerous "failure to learn lessons from the past". "There are quick gains from keeping all like-minded extremists in one place, preventing the spreading of their message to other prisoners and providing easy monitoring for intelligence purposes," he explained. "However, this type of segregation and separation gives those same prisoners a collective voice, an identity and a centre of gravity. "Experience tells us that it will be used by those outside the prisons - family, friends and supporters - as a rallying cry for others to support this new-found Islamist extremist identity, and that in turn will lead to other acts of violence perpetrated by those supporters." Mr Beattie claimed there were suspicions that dissident republican prisoners had directed terrorism from inside Maghaberry. He said he felt that radicalised Muslim prisoners could be dealt with by spreading them across different jails, rather than concentrating them in one place. "Those same issues which we now see here in Northern Ireland will be replicated in Great Britain," Mr Beattie warned. "My fear would be that, with the creation of a group of prisoners with a new identity, tensions could very well spill onto the streets of Great Britain, and that prison officers could see themselves targeted, as they are here in Northern Ireland." The PSNI officer claimed the risk of re-offending could not be managed. A man accused of ransacking a student house in Belfast has been banned from entering parts of the city's university area by a Belfast judge. The no-go zone was imposed on Ryan McFadden amid claims he broke into the property and stole computers, electronic tablets and money. Police claimed the raid was carried out in a burglary "hotspot" less than a mile from the 20-year-old accused's home. McFadden appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court charged with burgling the house on Elaine Street last month. The defendant, of Dunluce Avenue in the city, allegedly stole three laptops, three mobile phones, two iPads, two Kindle Fire devices and 250 in cash. Opposing bail, a PSNI officer claimed the risk of re-offending could not be managed. She told the court McFadden lives 0.7 miles from the scene of the break-in. Referring to the surrounding streets, the officer added: "This is a hotspot for burglaries and thefts." Defence solicitor Brian Archer confirmed his client will be contesting the charge. He claimed the only evidence was a fingerprint found on moveable foam packaging. Granting bail, the judge imposed an exclusion zone to keep McFadden out of the University Road and Stranmillis Road areas. He also ordered the accused to wear an electronic tag and abide by a nighttime curfew. McFadden is due back in court next month. About two-thirds of inmates at that time had been charged with paramilitary offences, according to a Northern Ireland Office assessment The mental health of prisoners in Northern Ireland in the 1980s was better than their counterparts in England and Wales, state files from 1989 have said. About two-thirds of inmates at that time had been charged with paramilitary offences, according to an Northern Ireland Office (NIO) assessment. It said: "The Northern Ireland prison population, convicted and remand, does not include such a large psychiatric element as is reported in the English prisons." It followed criticism levelled at the state of mental health care in the UK penal system by the New Statesman magazine. The NIO said: "Even with the non-terrorist prison population, major psychiatric problems do not figure as prominently as in England. "Probable reasons include a lack of large conurbations where socio-psychological problems are particularly liable to generate crime, a lack so far of a major hard drug problem, possibly legislature differences and relatively little overcrowding in Northern Ireland prisons." The file examined mental health in Northern Ireland's prison system and the lack of secure accommodation for severely-disturbed prisoners. It recognised a substantial intermediate grouping between psychiatric and non-psychiatric prisoners; the behaviour disorder group whose "proper placement remains a matter of controversy". Records from 1985 to 1989 were released by the Public Records Office Northern Ireland (PRONI) as part of the 30/20 Year Rule. It is part of a process reducing the time limit for release of files from 30 years to 20. Luxury yacht Golem was found with 120m in cocaine on board. Guns seized on the Albernina were linked to the Charlie Hebdo attack. Guns seized on the Albernina were linked to the Charlie Hebdo attack. Guns seized on the Albernina were linked to the Charlie Hebdo attack. The MV Albernina will be auctioned off by Wilsons. A Northern Ireland auction house is selling off a boat used to smuggle guns linked to the Charlie Hebdo massacre in France last year. The MV Albernina motor cruiser was seized in a National Crime Agency (NCA) operation in England earlier this year. It was found with 22 automatic assault rifles, nine Skorpion machine pistols, 58 magazines, two silencers and over 1,000 live rounds of ammunition. The seizure was thought to be one of the biggest in the NCA's history and five people were found guilty over the find. National Crime Agency investigators described the Czech-made assault rifles as "mass casualty weapons" and could have unleashed "carnage on a terrifying scale" in the UK. The network that supplied the guns to the gang also supplied Amedy Coulibaly, the man who attacked a Jewish supermarket in Paris after his co-conspirators, the Kouachi brothers, stormed the office of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in January 2015. Wilsons is responsible for auctioning off most of the UK police forces' seized assets with cash raised going back into the public purse. The vessel will go under the hammer in an unreserved auction alongside a luxury yacht on Thursday at the auctioneer's Belfast branch. The 57ft Nordia sloop yacht, the Golem, was found with more than 120m worth of cocaine in an operation last year. The two sailors onboard were sentenced to a combined 34 years in prison over the find. With an estimated value of around 300,000, as Thursday's auction is unreserved someone could sail away in it for a song. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Take a look on board the MV Albernina. The MV Albernina will be auctioned off by Wilsons. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Take a look on board the MV Albernina. Both boats are currently stored in Kent, England. Aidan Larkin, group asset recovery manager for Wilsons Auctions said: "We are delighted to be playing our part in putting money back into the public purse. We have an exciting selection of assets on sale ranging from Yachts to watches and even properties all to be sold to the highest bidder with no reserve." Philip McGuigan replaces Daithi McKay, pictured, after he apologised and resigned over his back channel contact with an inquiry witness Sinn Fein is to co-opt a senior party activist into its North Antrim seat at Stormont. Philip McGuigan replaces Daithi McKay after he apologised and resigned over his back channel contact with an inquiry witness. Mr McKay is a former Sinn Fein chairman of the Assembly's finance committee who oversaw an investigation into Northern Ireland's largest ever property deal during the last mandate. He was in contact with loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson before he gave explosive evidence to Stormont's finance committee about the efforts of Ireland's bank for bad loans to dispose of its Northern Ireland portfolio to US investors. Sinn Fein chief whip Caral Ni Chuilin said: "Philip is an excellent public representative and has served as a councillor in the area since 2001 and was an MLA for North Antrim from 2003 to 2007. "I have no doubt that with Philip's return, the Assembly will continue to provide first-class representation to the people of North Antrim." The current finance committee has called on Northern Ireland's Sinn Fein Finance Minister Mairtin O Muilleoir to stand aside pending the outcome of a probe into the Bryson affair. Mr Bryson was preparing to name former Democratic Unionist leader Peter Robinson in connection with the case. The then first minister strongly denied seeking to benefit from the agreement involving US investors and the National Asset Management Agency (Nama). The Irish News reported what it said were leaked messages between Mr Bryson and Sinn Fein Twitter users including Mr McKay. Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness has denied any knowledge of the matter. The deal two years ago by Nama with US investment giant Cerberus, involving the 1.2 billion sale of a Northern Ireland property loan portfolio, has been dogged by controversy after 7 million linked to it was found in an Isle of Man bank account. Critics have claimed the arrangement included multimillion-pound fixer fees. None of the Twitter messages indicated that Nama-related information came to Mr Bryson from Sinn Fein. Nama was established in Ireland at the height of the financial crisis to take property-linked loans off the books of bailed-out banks. It sold 800 property loans to Cerberus, a multibillion-pound fund. The 7 million was paid into an account controlled by a former managing partner of Belfast-based law firm Tughans, Ian Coulter, who resigned after it was unearthed. Tughans, which was involved in the Nama transaction as subcontractor for Cerberus's US lawyers, Brown Rudnick, insisted it was not aware of the transfer. All parties involved in the 2014 transaction have denied wrongdoing. Police have seized around 65,000 diazepam tablets, 10,000 in cash and made 17 arrests in a massive crackdown on prescription drug dealing over the last three months. Diazepam is a class C controlled drug that may only be lawfully possessed on prescription. PSNI Detective Inspector Andy Dunlop said the drugs had been found in 29 searches across Northern Ireland and England. "We have also seized 10,000 cash and are conducting a linked money laundering investigation," he added. "Other drugs seized include small quantities of herbal cannabis, cannabis resin, amphetamine and mephedrone as well as pregabalin, which is also a prescription-only medicine. "Seventeen people have been arrested; eight were charged and nine are subject to reports being sent to the Public Prosecution Service. "From our enquiries, it appears some people may be unaware of the legal status of this drug. Diazepam is classed as both a controlled drug and a prescription-only medicine. As such, someone may only be in possession of it by virtue of a lawfully issued prescription from their GP or other medical professional." The detective said that much of the illegally supplied diazepam had not been produced under laboratory conditions nor subjected to any form of quality control. "You simply cannot be sure what you are taking," he said. "We are continually working with colleagues in other statutory agencies about this issue. I would encourage anyone with an addiction to these tablets to seek help." The PSNI advises the public only to use prescription-only medicines in consultation with their GP, pharmacist or other healthcare professionals. Medicines obtained through unregulated internet sites may not have been prescribed by a healthcare practitioner, may not have been subject to the normal manufacturing controls and may not be of a suitable quality, or even be what they are being sold as. Mr Dunlop said: "I would urge the public not to be tempted by reduced prices or fooled by attractive websites offering medicines without prescription. "Taking short cuts and using these medicines could expose you to a dangerous counterfeit or substandard medicine. In addition, you could also be the victim of identity theft or credit card fraud. Illegal possession or supply of diazepam can lead to a criminal conviction." Ulster Unionist MLA and Military Cross winner Doug Beattie has called for the Royal Irish Regiment soldiers who defended a remote outpost in Afghanistan against an unrelenting enemy onslaught to be officially recognised as war heroes. For 40 days a few dozen men - many from Northern Ireland - somehow managed to fight off up to 500 Taliban in what became known as the Siege of Musa Qala. The astonishing bravery of the hemmed-in group, who lost three soldiers and had many others badly injured in the fierce battle, became the stuff of legend among coalition forces. But it was also a source of embarrassment for the Army, who pulled out the troops during an uneasy truce because they couldn't replenish their equipment and ammunition. Now, on the 10th anniversary of the battle, Mr Beattie - a former Royal Irish captain who won his MC in Afghanistan in 2006 - is demanding that the Ministry of Defence awards retrospective decorations to the unsung heroes of Musa Qala. He says such a move would right a "scandalous" wrong that has festered for a decade. "I was still serving in Afghanistan when the 3 Para Battle Group honours and awards came out at the end of 2006 and I was shocked - absolutely shocked - that not a single member of the Royal Irish was mentioned," said the veteran, who helped supply the Musa Qala detachment with food and ammunition during the early days of the siege. Today the Belfast Telegraph is backing a campaign to Honour our Heroes of Helmand by publishing an in-depth interview with Newtownards native Paul Johnston. He is just one of the Royal Irish Regiment soldiers overlooked for battle honours after facing down the Taliban in the wilderness of north Helmand in August 2006. "I thought there must be some citations about what Paul and his colleagues went through at Musa Qala and elsewhere, but no," said Mr Beattie. "It was truly disgraceful... scandalous." Mr Beattie, who served in both Afghanistan and Iraq, first complained five years ago about the myriad of battle honours given out during the Iraq conflict compared with the paucity of those for service during the conflict in a vast Asian country regarded as being considerably more dangerous. But he added that it was in the Army's gift to correct that anomaly, and award retrospective battle honours to those who survived against overwhelming odds. "It can happen whenever the military decide to do so - and so far they haven't," he said. "But those men who served in Musa Qala deserve to receive the battle honour for what they did out there." Mr Beattie said he found the recent Channel 4 documentary about the Siege of Musa Qala "hard to watch". "It brought back lots of memories," he said. "To hear those men speaking, to hear the mother of Moonbeam (Paul Muirhead, one of the fatalities), really brought it home. It laid bare what our soldiers were expected to do." He added: "Paul Johnston was only 20, and the programme didn't mention that one of its other contributors, Philip (Barney) Gillespie, who survived Musa Qala, lost a leg on a later tour. "And it didn't mention (Sergeant) Ally McKinney, who was shot in the head and is now in a wheelchair, completely paralysed down one side because of brain damage." And war hero Mr Beattie recalled: "I did three tours of Afghanistan, and 2006 was especially brutal." Sinn Fein's Caral Ni Chuilin has announced that Philip McGuigan will replace Daithi McKay as the party's MLA for North Antrim. Mr McGuigan was elected to the Assembly to represent North Antrim in 2003 but stood aside to let McKay contest the election in 2007. He has been a Sinn Fein councillor since 2001, first serving on Ballymoney Borough Council and currently on the Causeway Coast & Glens Council. Ms Ni Chuilin said: "Following consultation with Sinn Fein activists in North Antrim, the Sinn Fein Ard Chomhairle has approved the selection of Philip McGuigan for co-option as the new MLA for the constituency. "Philip is an excellent public representative and has served as a councillor in the area since 2001 and was an MLA for North Antrim from 2003 to 2007. "I have no doubt that with Philip's return to the Assembly will continue to provide first class representation to the people of North Antrim. "I wish him well and look forward to working alongside him in the Assembly." Mr McKay apologised and quit as an Assembly member last week after private Twitter messages published in the press showed him communicating with loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson ahead of his appearance before the committee's inquiry into the Nama loans deal. The former North Antrim MLA has been suspended by Sinn Fein. Sinn Fein worker Thomas O'Hara has also been suspended by the party. He was also accused of communicating with Mr Bryson about his evidence before he made explosive claims to the finance committee about the efforts of Ireland's bank for bad loans to dispose of its Northern Ireland portfolio to US investors. Mr Bryson went before the committee to name former Democratic Unionist leader Peter Robinson in connection with the case. The then first minister has strongly denied seeking to benefit from the agreement involving US investors and the National Asset Management Agency (Nama). Mr McKay's fall from grace was precipitated by claims in a Belfast newspaper about his contact with Mr Bryson. The Sinn Fein leadership has denied knowing anything of the back channel contacts. The deal two years ago between Nama and US investment giant Cerberus, involving the 1.2 billion sale of a Northern Ireland property loan portfolio, has been dogged by controversy after 7 million linked to it was found in an Isle of Man bank account. Critics have claimed the arrangement included multimillion-pound fixer fees. Nama was established in Ireland at the height of the financial crisis to take property-linked loans off the books of bailed-out banks. It sold 800 property loans to Cerberus, a multibillion-pound fund. All parties involved in the 2014 transaction have denied wrongdoing. A foundation headed up by George Soros, one of the world's richest people, is providing financial backing to organisations seeking to repeal the constitutional prohibition of abortion in the Republic of Ireland. A leaked strategy document details how Soros's Open Society Foundation planned to fund Amnesty International Ireland, the Abortion Rights Campaign and the Irish Family Planning Association. The move was said to be part of a strategy to force the repeal of the Eighth Amendment, potentially setting off a chain reaction in other strongly Catholic countries in Europe. The three organisations confirmed to the Irish Independent they had received grants from the foundation. Hungarian-American businessman and philanthropist Soros (86) is among the 30 wealthiest people in the world, with an estimated fortune of 22bn. He is thought to have donated almost 10bn to various causes in recent decades. In the leaked strategy document, the foundation said it would fund the three Irish organisations "to work collectively on a campaign to repeal Ireland's constitutional amendment granting equal rights to an implanted embryo as the pregnant woman". The document continued: "With one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the world, a win there could impact other strongly Catholic countries in Europe, such as Poland, and provide much needed proof that change is possible, even in highly conservative places. "The recent legalisation of same-sex marriage offers valuable and timely opportunities to advance the campaign." The Pro Life Campaign cried foul of Mr Soros's intervention. "These revelations are extremely disturbing," said spokeswoman Cora Sherlock. "The fact that an outside body is talking about funding and coordinating groups in Ireland to dismantle protection for the unborn child represents a gross interference and is an attack on democracy. "I think most people want to see a fair debate regardless of where they stand on the issue. "The public will be deprived of such a debate if this kind of meddling continues from well-funded outside bodies." However, the three organisations involved defended their receipt of the funds. Amnesty International Ireland said the funding it received from the foundation amounted to 137,000 over two years. "Philanthropic foundations have always been an important source of funding for human rights work, both here in Ireland and globally," it said in a statement. "Amnesty International Ireland applied for and received funding from the Open Society Foundation to part fund our campaign on sexual and reproductive rights. "In line with our commitment to high standards of transparency, and as with all areas of our funding, this is publicly reported upon, both to our membership and on our website when we publish our audited accounts." Amnesty said the only conditions attached to the funding were that it be used for the programme of work outlined in the funding application and that it be publicly reported in financial statements. The Irish Family Planning Association said it received a support grant of $150,000 (132,500) from the foundation. "The funding will be used to support the IFPA's long-standing advocacy to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights in Ireland," it said in a statement. It continued the conditions of the grant meant it was to be used to advance the association's "charitable purposes". It said the grant would be noted in its annual financial reports. The Abortion Rights Campaign did not disclose the amount of funding it received, but said it would be disclosed in its financial statements. Clinton support In the second half of 2015, the billionaire gave $6 million to a Super PAC supporting Hillary Clinton. An email recently leaked by WikiLeaks revealed that when Hillary Clinton was US secretary of state in 2011, Soros instructed her on how to handle unrest in Albania. He stressing the situation needs urgent attention at senior levels of the US government. Soros made a name for himself as the man who broke the Bank of England by reportedly hedging and betting against the pound sterling. That action allegedly made him more than $1 billion in one day in September of 1992. Irish Independent A Fathers4Justice protester dressed as a priest storms the stage as Cavan Rose Lisa Reilly is interviewed in Tralee, before being removed by security men A Fathers4Justice protester dressed as a priest storms the stage as Cavan Rose Lisa Reilly is interviewed in Tralee, before being removed by security men Organisers of Ireland's Rose of Tralee contest have defended security measures after a lone protester stormed the stage during a live television broadcast. Young women from all around the world compete every year to win the coveted title, taken from a song about the "lovely and fair" Rose of Tralee. As the Cavan Rose was being interviewed on Monday night, a man jumped on stage and interrupted the show. He was later identified as Matt O'Connor (49), who lives in London but whose family come from Co Kerry, where the annual pageant is held. Dressed as a priest, Mr O'Connor shouted "Fathers for justice" and urged support for all fathers denied access to their children. State broadcaster RTE cut to advertisements until the demonstrator was removed from the arena - known as The Dome - before presenter Daithi O Se resumed his interview with the contestant. In a statement organisers said they "are satisfied that adequate security measures are in place in the Festival Dome". "A man in the audience walked on to the stage while the Cavan Rose was being interviewed by Daithi O Se," the statement said. "The man, who had purchased a ticket, was immediately removed from the stage by security personnel before being taken away by gardai. "The show resumed after a short break." The interruption helped the broadcast trend on social media. In night two of the contest last night, Chicago Rose Maggie McEldowney was crowned Rose of Tralee. A Fathers4Justice protester dressed as a priest storms the stage (top) as Cavan Rose Lisa Reilly is interviewed in Tralee, before being removed by security men Frank McGrath A Belfast-bound flight from London was delayed for over an hour on Wednesday due to a tiff between air stewards over water bottles. Flight EZY835 from London Gatwick to Belfast International was due to take off around 3pm when the row broke out. Angered by the delay was passenger Sean McClenaghan from Dungannon. Posting on Facebook he wrote: Sitting on a flight from Gatwick to Belfast on one of the hottest days of the year, with very poor air conditioning, and we get delayed because two members of the crew have a fight! Real professional airline easyJet, well done. An easyJet spokesman said: EasyJet can confirm that flight EZY835 from London Gatwick to Belfast returned to stand to replace two crew members following a verbal disagreement between them. The safety and welfare of our passengers and crew is easyJets highest priority and in order to deliver this easyJets cabin crew need to be able to work as a team. We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused by the resulting delay. Its understood the disagreement centred around the packing away of water bottles. Also on the plane was the broadcaster Dan Lobb, who posted live updates of the unfolding drama on Twitter. This is a first. My easyJet flight has returned to gate because the cabin crew have had a tiff! one crew member being offloaded. He continued: The easyJet captain is explaining why were being delayed! This is unreal. Two crew members being offloaded!! Please be patient with us says the captain. Water being offered. Suggests those at the back should come to the front where its cooler... "Loads of kids on this flight, a few babies - what a ridiculous situation. Captain doing his best but everyone is agog, "Replacement easyJet crew are on their way! Ones called Katie Hopkins & the other Piers Morgan. I think theyll get on just fine... "One hour after departure time & 2 new @easyJet crew members are on board! Doors being closed...again. Wonder if easyJet will respond...? "Right, one of the original crew is doing a safety briefing. Time to change mode. I hope weve all learned something here today. Belfast International Airport said they had no comment to make on the matter. Screen grabbed image taken from Google Street View of Home Hill backpackers hostel in Queensland, Australia, where a 21-year-old woman has died and a 30-year-old British man is in a critical condition after being stabbed by a man who allegedly shouted "Allahu Akbar" during the attack. Photo supplied by Amy Browne of her with Mia Ayliffe-chung (right), who has been named locally as the 21-year-old British woman who has died after being stabbed at a backpackers' hostel in Australia by a man shouting "Allahu Akbar". Undated handout photo supplied by Amy Browne of her with Mia Ayliffe-chung (right), who has been named locally as the 21-year-old British woman who has died after being stabbed at a backpackers' hostel in Australia by a man shouting "Allahu Akbar". The mother of 21-year-old Mia Ayliffe-Chung who was stabbed to death at an Australian backpackers' hostel has paid tribute to an "amazing young woman with an adventurous spirit". Miss Ayliffe-Chung was killed by an attacker shouting "Allahu Akbar" at the Shelley's Backpackers accommodation in the Home Hill area of Queensland on Tuesday night. The suspected attacker, a 29-year-old French man, left 30-year-old Tom Jackson fighting for his life. Mother Rosie Ayliffe said in a statement: "My beloved daughter Mia was an amazing young woman with an adventurous spirit. Not only was she kind and funny, she was clever, sassy with a sense of fun. "Mia was full of the kind of open-minded compassion for life that you don't see that often. It felt as though she was reminding us all of the beauty and possibilities we each have and that we should live life to the full. "She was always at one with herself, so whole. Above all else she had a strong sense of right and wrong, and would always look after those she considered in need." The statement given to ITV News continued: "She was an outstanding friend to many, and dearly loved by the children of our community. Her feisty nature and strong sense of justice made Mia a beloved friend to her peers and to all who knew her. "Mia was a rare person who saw beyond race creed and belief - she would always treat others with dignity, respect and kindness. Just seeing her outward appearance could not give you an inkling of how wonderful she was emotionally, socially and mentally. "As a peaceful person, Mia had a huge respect for everybody. She would not want to be the reason for any hostilities caused by any misrepresentation of events." Miss Ayliffe-Chung, from Wirksworth, Derbyshire, was only days into a three-month trip to the country. She had been working as a waitress and with animals on a farm so she could extend her working holiday visa. Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Photo supplied by Amy Browne of her with Mia Ayliffe-chung (right), who has been named locally as the 21-year-old British woman who has died after being stabbed at a backpackers' hostel in Australia by a man shouting "Allahu Akbar". PA Screen grabbed image taken from Google Street View of Home Hill backpackers hostel in Queensland, Australia, where a 21-year-old woman has died and a 30-year-old British man is in a critical condition after being stabbed by a man who allegedly shouted "Allahu Akbar" during the attack. PA Undated handout photo supplied by Amy Browne of her with Mia Ayliffe-chung (right), who has been named locally as the 21-year-old British woman who has died after being stabbed at a backpackers' hostel in Australia by a man shouting "Allahu Akbar". PA The attack took place at a backpackers' hostel in Queensland / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Photo supplied by Amy Browne of her with Mia Ayliffe-chung (right), who has been named locally as the 21-year-old British woman who has died after being stabbed at a backpackers' hostel in Australia by a man shouting "Allahu Akbar". Friends have also been paying tribute to both Britons since hearing of the attack. Miss Ayliffe-Chung's ex-boyfriend, Jamison Stead, 23, remembered her as a "beautiful soul" who had "fallen in love with the country and its people". The Australian sales rep told the Press Association: "We met towards the end of April through friends in Surfers (Paradise). "She was living in Surfers on the Gold Coast and planning on exploring Australia, with the intention to find a sponsorship as she wanted to stay here as she had fallen in love with the country and its people. "I can't quite get my head around what's happened. Truly devastated, more just disbelief that this has happened. It's something you hear about but never think that it would happen to someone you were close to. "She was a beautiful girl who had her whole life ahead of her and we spoke of what the future may hold in store for her and what she wanted to do. It's sad knowing that she won't be able to do those things. My heart goes out to her and her family." Miss Ayliffe-Chung studied childcare at Buxton & Leek College before travelling to Bali and Australia. Rachel McVeigh, curriculum leader for education and childcare at the college, said: "Mia had a zest for life and was free-spirited, with a keen desire to travel. We are devastated and extremely sorry to hear such tragic news. Our thoughts are with her family and friends." Speaking of Mr Jackson, Samantha Harrison wrote on Facebook: "Tom Jackson was a very close friend and one of the most amazing people I have ever met. Now Tom I need you to stay strong and beat this for yourself and all of your friends and family who love you." His parents declined to speak from their home in Congleton, Cheshire. Queensland deputy police commissioner Steve Gollschewski said all possible motives for the attack were being considered, including criminal and political, as well as the impact of drugs and mental health problems. He continued: "Initial inquiries indicate that comments which may be construed as being of an extremist nature were made by the alleged offender. "It is alleged that the suspect used the phrase 'Allahu Akbar' during the attack and when arrested by police." Mr Gollschewski added that Miss Ayliffe-Chung was the first person to be attacked and the incident was being treated as a murder case, not a terror attack. Police said up to 30 people witnessed the "senseless act of violence" in which a 46-year-old local man, named as Grant Scholz, also suffered non life-threatening injuries - and a dog was killed. The suspect was arrested and transferred to hospital for treatment for minor injuries, and was captured on police body-cams uttering the phrase "Allahu Akbar" - which means "God is Greatest" in Arabic. Detective Superintendent Ray Rohweder said he was not known to police, and officers were still trying to discover what he had been doing in the country since his arrival. PSNI officers and Army technical officers search properties on Old Glenarm Road in Larne, Co Antrim Army bomb experts at Carnfunnock Country Park at Ballygally near Larne, where police uncovered a significant terrorist hide containing bomb-making components and explosives A haul of terrorist arms was discovered at Capanagh Forest outside Larne ATO carry out searches on a propert in the Old Glenarm Road area of Larne ATO carry out searches on a propert in the Old Glenarm Road area of Larne ATO carry out searches on a propert in the Old Glenarm Road area of Larne ATO carry out searches on a propert in the Old Glenarm Road area of Larne A Royal Marine is being questioned by detectives investigating Northern Ireland-linked terrorism, understood to be connected to two major dissident republican arms finds. The 30-year-old serviceman was arrested in a pre-planned swoop in Somerset on Wednesday. The operation involved searches at a house and wooded area in south Devon. In Northern Ireland, officers have also searched a number of properties in Larne, Co Antrim - near the two forest parks where the weapons dumps were discovered earlier this year. The man, who is believed to be from Northern Ireland, was detained on suspicion of preparation for acts of terrorism. While the threat posed by violent dissident republicans in Northern Ireland has been classified as severe for a number of years, in May the UK intelligence services raised the threat level in Great Britain from moderate to substantial. Two separate hauls of weapons were discovered in Carnfunnock and Capanagh parks within three months of each other. An armour-piercing improvised rocket and two anti-personnel mines were among the cache recovered at Capanagh in May. Several pipe bombs, magazines and ammunition for an assault rifle as well as bomb component parts and command wires were also concealed in barrels in purpose-built holes in woodland. In March, bomb-making items were found at nearby Carnfunnock Country Park. Police said four barrels were unearthed at Carnfunnock - two barrels were empty but two contained a variety of bomb-making components, including wiring, toggle switches, circuit boards, partially constructed timer power units, ball bearings and a small quantity of explosives. Larne is predominantly unionist/loyalist in community make-up, so the discovery of the finds led to some initial speculation that they could be linked to loyalist paramilitaries. However, after assessing the nature of the weaponry, police concluded they likely belonged to dissident republicans. The extremists intent on bringing about a united Ireland by violent means are small in both number and capacity compared with the republican paramilitary organisations of the Troubles, but they retain the ability to launch deadly if sporadic attacks on the security forces. Since 2009, dissidents have murdered two soldiers, two policemen and two prison officers in Northern Ireland. A stretch of terraced homes on the Old Glenarm Road in Larne was the focus of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) searches on Wednesday afternoon. Loyalist flags flew on nearby properties. There was a major police presence at the scene with Army bomb disposal units also in attendance. Police forensic officers in white suits carried out detailed searches through the day. Scotland Yard said the arrest in Somerset was carried out by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service's Counter Terrorism Command, supported by Avon and Somerset and Devon and Cornwall Police. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "We are aware of a police investigation involving the arrest of a member of the Armed Forces under the 2000 Terrorism Act and will assist this investigation fully. "It would be inappropriate to comment further on an ongoing investigation." Key literature: the precious document containing mysterious writing and strange drawings of unidentified plants, the night sky and naked women It's one of the rarest, most mysterious, books in existence, and now the curators of the fabled Voynich manuscript are allowing copies to be made for the first time in the hope of cracking its secrets. But if you do fancy your chances at decoding this 400-year-old tome, be warned that, up until now, no one has been able to - not even the Second World War cryptographers who smashed the Nazis' most difficult cyphers. The manuscript came to light in 1912 and is named after Polish bookseller Wilfrid Voynich, who bought it among a job lot of books from the Collegio Romano in Italy. Among its 240 pages are illustrations of plants and stars in the night sky, as well as a closely handwritten text that, if it is in a genuine language, isn't one for which any other record in the entire world remains. The book is currently under lock and key at Yale University in the US, but Raymond Clemens, curator of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library there, says an agreement has been reached with the small Spanish publishing house, Siloe, to produce 898 facsimile copies. According to Siloe's website: "The Voynich manuscript is the only medieval text that remains to be decrypted on the planet. "What language, writing system or cryptographic code is written? What led to this mysterious author to write a treatise intended apparently not be read by anyone?" What, indeed? Naturally, conspiracy theories abound, from those who claim it's a hoax dating back no further than its discovery in 1912, to others who suggest it holds the key to extraterrestrial life. And Siloe ramps up the enigma with its speculation: "It could be the prescription for a contraceptive potion or a secret alchemical formula for obtaining gold - the famous philosopher's stone, or perhaps an Elvish will. Or it could, as noted by others, hide the secret of immortality. Are we, perhaps, as has also been suggested, before the day of an alien?" But, in plain English, what are the best guesses at what's actually in this mysterious document? It's just a hoax The manuscript is written on vellum that has been carbon-dated to the early 15th Century, and it's said to have once passed through the hands of Rudolf II, Emperor of the Habsburg Empire in Prague and collector of occult artefacts. But the BBC's Simon Worrall wasn't convinced when he inspected it for Radio 4 two years ago, and wrote: "I believe the manuscript is a forgery by Wilfrid Voynich himself. One of the most common tropes in the history of forgery is that of a rare book dealer 'discovering' previously unknown manuscripts. Voynich is known to have had just this 'magic' touch. "He is also said to have acquired a large supply of vellum and to have used his knowledge of chemistry gained at the University of Moscow to replicate medieval inks and pigments." It's a message from aliens Google the words Voynich and aliens and you'll find any amount of bonkers-ness. Here's one theory randomly lifted from ancient-code.com: "Because it contains a language that cannot be found anywhere else on the planet, and given the fact that the ancient manuscript depicts star charts that are unknown to us, the Voynich manuscript could have been created by a being not from Earth, who during the 1400s crash-landed on Earth and created the manuscript documenting life on earth. "Knowing that humans did not possess the necessary technology to help the alien visitor return to his planet, it is possible the alien visitor decided to chronicle his remaining life on our planet inside the manuscript." It's a nature encyclopaedia Stephen Bax, professor of modern languages and linguistics at the Open University, writes on his website - with an apology to conspiracy theorists - that he believes it to "probably to be an attempt at an encyclopaedia or 'summa' aiming to encompass contemporary knowledge of plants, astrology/astronomy and related areas." It's a 16th century con trick There are some suggestions that the aforementioned Rudolf II bought the book for 600 gold ducats from Dr John Dee, a mystic and astrologer from the court of Elizabeth I, and his companion, Edward Kelley. Kelley was a noted fraudster and died after falling from a tower where he'd been imprisoned by Rudolf for singularly failing to produce the gold he claimed he could create through alchemy. Was the Voynich simply another Kelley scam? Whatever the truth is, the public will soon be able to get their own hands on a copy ... albeit for a princely sum of 6,000. Rescuers search for victims in damaged buildings after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images Rescuers clear debris while searching for victims in damaged buildings after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images Rescuers, with the help of a dog, search for victims in damaged buildings after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images Rescuers help an injured victim among damaged buildings after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images Rescuers and residents search for victims among damaged buildings after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images A resident is helped among damaged buildings after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images A man carries a pram among damaged buildings after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images residents help each other among damaged buildings after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images A man stands on his damaged home after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images A damaged home is seen after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images Two men walk on a damaged home after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images A man stands on a damaged home after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images Residents walk among damaged homes after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images A car lies under a damaged wall after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images Residents walk among damaged homes after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images Residents stand neaxt to damaged buildings after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images Residents and rescuers carry a victim from a damaged building after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images Residents stand among damaged buildings after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images A man reacts after a strong heathquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images This still image taken from video shows rescuers recover a victim from a crumbled building in Amatrice, central Italy, where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The quake was felt across a broad section of central Italy, including the capital Rome where people in homes in the historic center felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. (AP Photo) This still image taken from video shows a Catholic nun near a victim and an ambulance in Amatrice, central Italy, where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The quake was felt across a broad section of central Italy, including the capital Rome where people in homes in the historic center felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. (AP Photo) This still image taken from video shows rescuers recover a victim from a crumbled building in Amatrice, central Italy, where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The quake was felt across a broad section of central Italy, including the capital Rome where people in homes in the historic center felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. (AP Photo) This still image taken from video shows rescuers searching a collapsed building in Amatrice, central Italy, where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The quake was felt across a broad section of central Italy, including the capital Rome where people in homes in the historic center felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. (AP Photo) Rescuers search for survivors through the rubble of collapsed buildings following an earthquake, in Amatrice, Italy, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The magnitude 6 quake struck at 3:36 a.m. (0136 GMT) and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including Rome where residents of the capital felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) People sit on the side of a road as collapsed buildings are seen in the background following an earthquake, in Amatrice, Italy, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The magnitude 6 quake struck at 3:36 a.m. (0136 GMT) and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including Rome where residents of the capital felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) An excavator digs through rubble of collapsed buildings following an earthquake, in Amatrice, Italy, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The magnitude 6 quake struck at 3:36 a.m. (0136 GMT) and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including Rome where residents of the capital felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) This still image taken from video shows a Catholic nun near a victim and an ambulance in Amatrice, central Italy, where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The quake was felt across a broad section of central Italy, including the capital Rome where people in homes in the historic center felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. (AP Photo) The centre of Amatrice, central Italy, where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The quake was felt across a broad section of central Italy, including the capital Rome where people in homes in the historic center felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. (AP Photo) A makeshift medical camp is set up outside a hospital following an earthquake, in Amatrice, Italy, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The magnitude 6 quake struck at 3:36 a.m. (0136 GMT) and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including Rome where residents of the capital felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) This still image taken from video shows the destruction in Amatrice, central Italy, where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The quake was felt across a broad section of central Italy, including the capital Rome where people in homes in the historic center felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. (AP Photo) This still image taken from video shows survivors and rescuers wandering in the center of Amatrice, central Italy, where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The quake was felt across a broad section of central Italy, including the capital Rome where people in homes in the historic center felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. (AP Photo) ARQUATA DEL TRONTO, ITALY - AUGUST 24: A view of buildings damaged by the earthquake on August 24, 2016 in Arquata del Tronto, Italy. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least thirteen people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings have collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses have told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images) ARQUATA DEL TRONTO, ITALY - AUGUST 24: A view of buildings damaged by the earthquake on August 24, 2016 in Arquata del Tronto, Italy. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least thirteen people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings have collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses have told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images) ARQUATA DEL TRONTO, ITALY - AUGUST 24: Rescuers clear debris while searching for victims in damaged buildings on August 24, 2016 in Arquata del Tronto, Italy. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least thirteen people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings have collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses have told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images) ARQUATA DEL TRONTO, ITALY - AUGUST 24: 75 year old Rocco Girardi is rescued from the ruins on August 24, 2016 in Arquata del Tronto, Italy. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least thirteen people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings have collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses have told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images) ARQUATA DEL TRONTO, ITALY - AUGUST 24: A view of buildings damaged by the earthquake on August 24, 2016 in Arquata del Tronto, Italy. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least thirteen people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings have collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses have told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images) ARQUATA DEL TRONTO, ITALY - AUGUST 24: A view of buildings damaged by the earthquake on August 24, 2016 in Arquata del Tronto, Italy. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least thirteen people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings have collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses have told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images) ARQUATA DEL TRONTO, ITALY - AUGUST 24: A view of buildings damaged by the earthquake on August 24, 2016 in Arquata del Tronto, Italy. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least thirteen people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings have collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses have told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images) ARQUATA DEL TRONTO, ITALY - AUGUST 24: Ruins are seen on the street on August 24, 2016 in Arquata del Tronto, Italy. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least thirteen people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings have collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses have told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images) PERUGIA, ITALY - AUGUST 24: Rescuers search for victims in damaged buildings on August 24, 2016 in Arquata del Tronto, Italy. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least thirteen people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings have collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses have told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images) ARQUATA DEL TRONTO, ITALY - AUGUST 24: A view of buildings damaged by the earthquake on August 24, 2016 in Arquata del Tronto, Italy. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least thirteen people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings have collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses have told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images) ARQUATA DEL TRONTO, ITALY - AUGUST 24: A view of buildings damaged by the earthquake on August 24, 2016 in Arquata del Tronto, Italy. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least thirteen people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings have collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses have told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images) ARQUATA DEL TRONTO, ITALY - AUGUST 24: A view of buildings damaged by the earthquake on August 24, 2016 in Arquata del Tronto, Italy. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least thirteen people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings have collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses have told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images) ARQUATA DEL TRONTO, ITALY - AUGUST 24: A view of buildings damaged by the earthquake on August 24, 2016 in Arquata del Tronto, Italy. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least thirteen people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings have collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses have told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images) ARQUATA DEL TRONTO, ITALY - AUGUST 24: A view of buildings damaged by the earthquake on August 24, 2016 in Arquata del Tronto, Italy. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least thirteen people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings have collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses have told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images) Pope Francis reads his condolences for the victims of the earthquake in central Italy during his weekly general audience on August 24, 2016 in St Peter's square at the Vatican / AFP PHOTO / VINCENZO PINTOVINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images ARQUATA DEL TRONTO, ITALY - AUGUST 24: A view of buildings damaged by the earthquake on August 24, 2016 in Arquata del Tronto, Italy. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least thirteen people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings have collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses have told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images) ARQUATA DEL TRONTO, ITALY - AUGUST 24: A view of buildings damaged by the earthquake on August 24, 2016 in Arquata del Tronto, Italy. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least thirteen people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings have collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses have told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images) ARQUATA DEL TRONTO, ITALY - AUGUST 24: A view of buildings damaged by the earthquake on August 24, 2016 in Arquata del Tronto, Italy. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least thirteen people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings have collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses have told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images) ARQUATA DEL TRONTO, ITALY - AUGUST 24: 75 years old Rocco Girardi is rescued from the ruins on August 24, 2016 in Arquata del Tronto, Italy. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least thirteen people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings have collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses have told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images) At least 38 people have been killed and 150 missing after a strong earthquake hit central Italy in the early hours of Wednesday morning with the Pope leading prayers for those affected. Rescue crews raced to dig out survivors from the rubble in the two hardest hit towns of Amatrice and Accumoli near Rieti, some 80 miles north-east of Rome. The epicentre was close to Accumoli with nearby Amatice reduced to rubble. "The town isn't here anymore," Amatrice mayor Sergio Pirozzi said. Expand Close A magnitude 6.2 earthquake has struck central Italy, leaving numerous people dead, many more injured and total devastation across parts of central Italy. Graphic shows location of quake. The credit GRAPHIC NEWS mu / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A magnitude 6.2 earthquake has struck central Italy, leaving numerous people dead, many more injured and total devastation across parts of central Italy. Graphic shows location of quake. The magnitude 6 quake struck at 3.36am local time and was felt across a broad swathe of central Italy, including the capital, Rome, where residents felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. It was also felt beyond the Lazio region into Umbria and Le Marche on the Adriatic coast. The Pope has offered his condolences to all those affected by the quake. Pope Francis on Wednesday cancelled a speech he was to have given at his general audience and instead prayed with the crowd for victims and survivors of the quake. "Hearing the mayor of Amatrice say that the town no longer exists and hearing that there are children among the victims, I am deeply saddened," he told tens of thousands of people who had gathered in St Peter's Square for his general audience. Have you been caught up in the disaster? Contact us here. The centre of Amatrice was devastated, with entire palazzos razed to the ground. Rocks and metal tumbled on to the streets and dazed residents huddled in piazzas as dozens of aftershocks continued into the early morning hours, some as strong as 5.1. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Rescuers help an injured victim among damaged buildings after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A man carries a pram among damaged buildings after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A resident is helped among damaged buildings after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Rescuers and residents search for victims among damaged buildings after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Rescuers, with the help of a dog, search for victims in damaged buildings after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Rescuers clear debris while searching for victims in damaged buildings after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Rescuers search for victims in damaged buildings after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Rescuers help an injured victim among damaged buildings after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images "The whole ceiling fell but did not hit me," said resident Maria Gianni. "I just managed to put a pillow on my head and I wasn't hit, luckily, just slightly injured my leg." As daylight dawned, residents, civil protection workers and even priests began digging out with shovels, bulldozers and their bare hands, trying to reach survivors. There was a sigh of relief as a woman was pulled out alive from one building, followed by a dog. "We need chainsaws, shears to cut iron bars, and jacks to remove beams: everything, we need everything," civil protection worker Andrea Gentili told the Associated Press. The devastation harked back to the 2009 quake that killed more than 300 people in and around L'Aquila, which sent emergency teams to help with the rescue on Wednesday. The Italian geological service put the magnitude at 6.0. The US Geological Survey put the magnitude at 6.2 with the epicentre at Norcia, about 105 miles (170km) north-east of Rome, and with a relatively shallow depth of six miles (10km). "I don't know what to say. We are living this immense tragedy," said the Rev Savino D'Amelio, an Amatrice parish priest. "We are only hoping there will be the least number of victims possible and that we all have the courage to move on." The mayor of the quake-hit town of Accumoli, Stefano Petrucci, said at least six people had died there, including a family of four, and two others. "There are deaths," he told state-run RaiNews24. In Amatrice, the Ansa news agency reported that two bodies had been pulled from one building. The Rev Fabio Gammarota told Ansa another three were killed in a separate collapse. Amatrice Mayor Pirozzi told state-run RAI radio and Sky TG24 that residents were buried under collapsed buildings, that the lights had gone out and that heavy equipment was needed to clear streets clogged with debris. The office of Premier Matteo Renzi tweeted that heavy equipment was on its way. In 2009, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck in the same region and killed more than 300 people. The earlier earthquake struck in L'Aquila was about 55 miles (90km) south of the latest quake. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Residents walk among damaged homes after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Residents walk among damaged homes after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A car lies under a damaged wall after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A man stands on a damaged home after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Two men walk on a damaged home after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A damaged home is seen after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A man stands on his damaged home after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images residents help each other among damaged buildings after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Residents walk among damaged homes after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016. Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. Numerous buildings had collapsed in communities close to the epicenter of the quake near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria, witnesses told Italian media, with an increase in the death toll highly likely. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images A 1997 quake killed a dozen people in the area and severely damaged one of the jewels of Umbria, the Basilica of St Francis in Assisi, filled with Giotto frescoes. The Franciscan friars who are the custodians of the basilica reported no immediate damage from Wednesday's earthquake. Have you been caught up in the disaster? Contact us at digital.editorial@belfastTelegraph.co.uk Above: Martin Shkreli. Turing Pharmaceuticals increased the price of Daraprim from $13.50 to $750 per pill, hitting people with immune systems weakened by Aids, chemotherapy or pregnancy Martin Shkreli has described how his role as a pharmaceutical chief executive involved overseeing the deaths of "thousands" of animals. The former chief executive at Turing Pharmaceuticals has developed a somewhat antagonistic relationship with the public since being branded the most hated man on the internet for hiking up the price of a life-saving drug used by people with compromised immune systems. This week, he attracted attention by refusing to stop making memes of Harambe, the gorilla who was shot when a child fell into his enclosure, after a plea from the Cincinnati Zoo for an end to jokes so staff could move on. Read more Read More The contention his REQUEST DENIED refusal to comply sparked was raised during a wide-ranging interview with CBS News, where Shkreli criticised Harambes killing, claiming it was done "in cold blood". In a startling admission, he said he had overseen the deaths of thousands of animals within research and argued those who exhibit particularly human traits should have rights. As a sort of moonlighting scientist, I work a lot with non-human primates, we call them in the labs NHPs, he explained. So, any rhesus monkeys, capuchins, all the way up to the higher order species. I have, my brother and I especially, have this deep fondness for animals that are so remarkably close to humans. [] The issue is that in this country I dont think we value non-human primate life the way we should. I think these animals actually should have rights. Read more Expand Close Martin Shkreli leaves court after his arraignment in New York (AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Martin Shkreli leaves court after his arraignment in New York (AP) Read More When his host pointed out that if they did, they would not be able to be used in the pharmaceutical industry, he continued: I dont think they should be. Ive overseen the death of thousands of these animals, whether they be dogs or rats and, many times, non-human primates. "Every single pharmaceutical executive has. Its painful, he added. If that doesnt eat at you, I dont know what will. END OF STATEMENT ON CINCINNATI ZOO REQUEST TO "STOP MEMEING". REQUEST DENIED. HARAMBE BE WITH YOU, OWNER OF INTERNET MARTIN SHKRELI Martin Shkreli (@MartinShkreli) 22 August 2016 Sometimes I just want to start a gorilla-capitalist cult/country and secede from these here United States. Martin Shkreli (@MartinShkreli) August 24, 2016 Despite riling the public on a regular basis, Shkreli insisted he had a burgeoning fan base and often found himself being asked for selfies in the the street. He also had some thoughts on why prosecutors could be investigating him. It may have something to do with me being very handsome, very wealthy and very funny," he said. Independent Hillary Rodham Clinton use of private email for government purposes, held on a private server at her New York home, has come up in various investigations The United States Army has confirmed that Hillary Clinton was used as an example of an 'insider threat' to operational security (OPSEC) during a training class. The photo of the former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate appeared on training slide titled: 'Who is the Threat?'. A soldier at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri leaked a snap of the slide to a Facebook page called 'US Army WTF! Moments'. The Clinton photo has since been removed from the slide. The lineup included David Petraeus, Nidal Hassan, Aaron Alexis and whistleblowers Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning. Army psychiatrist Nidal Hassan shot 13 people dead and injured 30 others during a mass shooting at Fort Hood, Texas. Former CIA director and four star general David Petraeus shared classified material with a mistress. Read more Read More Earlier this year FBI Director James Comey said Clinton's handling of classified materials had been "extremely careless". An Army spokesperson said: "As is common with Army training requirements, the local unit was given latitude to develop their own training products to accomplish the overall training objective. "This particular presentation had not been reviewed or approved by the unit's leadership, and does not reflect the position of the Army. The training presentation has since been removed." When drug mule Michaella McCollum was first released from her Peruvian jail in April, many were quick to condemn the Dungannon girl. After just three years in a cell for attempting to smuggle 1.5m of cocaine, she'd emerged looking like a younger version of Hollywood's Helen Hunt and treated to the softly, softly treatment in an RTE interview. Yet some - myself included - also added the caveat that, while the 23-year-old certainly didn't come across as a penitent example of sin and redemption, she was young, had committed a grave error of judgment and deserved to be given a chance to make amends and start over. Alas, since Michaella arrived back in Northern Ireland, she seems hell-bent on giving her fiercest critics justification for their ire. Or, to put it another way, the jury was out, but they are now shuffling back into the courtroom with grim looks on their face. How could they not? One expects true contrition to involve genuine regret and some semblance of trying to make amends for harm done. But what have we had from Michaella and her supporters? First of all, there was the "Welcome Home" party at the family home, complete with champagne and balloons, the atmosphere of which struck many as more comparable to the return of a local hero than a convicted criminal. Lord Morrow expressed the concern of many when he said that she appeared to be being treated as a "minor celebrity", adding: "A question which remains is whether her return will be followed by attempts to remain in the public eye, or even to profit from the notoriety she achieved with her crimes." Of course, it would strike many as quite simply unjust if Michaella - simply by virtue of her notoriety - were to show that crime, no matter how callous, could pay if you are a pretty 23-year-old with a new blonde hair-do, plenty of attitude and the nerve to brazen it out. And what has happened? In the space of a just a few days she has given extensive interviews to the Irish Mail on Sunday and the Sunday Mirror. Hardly the actions of a penitent young woman who just wants to put her "mistake" behind her and fade away from the spotlight into an ordinary, fulfilling life. On the contrary, they seem like the calculated actions of a wannabe trying to raise her profile and carve out a niche for herself. After all, who knows what might turn up? An autobiography, with film rights? A stint on reality TV? Any remorse voiced in the interviews is of the automatic pilot nature - words uttered before getting on with the business of relentless self-promotion. So, while there are expressions of regret, Michaella never really gets around to explaining away all those lies about "kidnap threats" and "drug lords". Perhaps, it would be a too-painful reminder that we should treat with caution anything that comes out of her mouth. The only vital emotion that comes via these interviews (one wonders if McCollum was paid and, if so, is she planning to donate her fees to drug charities?) is a kind of perverse pride. How else to do you explain her recounting of going into prison a "bullied white girl" only to end up "top dog" in her wing; how she was a successful entrepreneur, making - in prison terms - a lot of money running a beauty salon; how she cleverly bribed a prison guard to get her a mobile phone; how she had her own cleaner. Michaella did yoga. She won dance competitions and couldn't resist boasting: "We won almost every single one. We were foreigners and we danced their national dance better than the Peruvians actually did - that's why they would get so p***** off, because we'd always win." You could say all this shows that she is a survivor, using her wits and strength of character to get through her ordeal. Or you can say it sounds like grandstanding. And, oh yes, she got 500 love letters while in prison. Indeed, her prison psychologist, Marco, was obsessed with her, so much so that when she rejected his overtures, he attempted to stop her early release. This doesn't sound like remorse to me. Not anywhere near it, in fact. Yes, she is sorry she was caught. Sorry, she had to live in a dirty, stinking prison in unbearable heat with awful food. But "sorry" as you and I understand it? Nah. Her sorrow reads like the cleverly crafted PR statements of philandering politicians. While taking "responsibility completely" for smuggling drugs, she insists: "I'm not a bad person. Yes, I made a mistake and I did something wrong, but I'm not somebody who deserves to rot in jail for the rest of my life." Note the red herring - no one wanted her to spend the rest of her life in prison, but, equally, no one wants to see a drugs mule being treated like a Celebrity Big Brother contestant. Just as predictably Michaella now wants to serve as warning to other young people: "I thought it was totally innocent just experimenting with drugs on holiday and look where it put me." Look indeed - on the front pages of a couple of papers, posing in a rather tight black top and, in another shot, in a fetching pink wrap against the backdrop of a picturesque old ruin. Prim, yet sexy. Sad, but sassy. A kind of gangsta Enya, if you will. That doesn't seem like sorrow. And it doesn't look like justice either. And, weirdly, multiple interviews and all, we are none the wiser as to how Michaella actually ended up where she did and who was behind her being there. Who ran her? Who were her "handlers"? It's clear that neither the police in Peru nor any of her interviewers are going to get close to that mystery. A man has been charged in New York with the shooting dead of an imam and his friend in the city earlier this month. If convicted, he faces life without parole. In most people's eyes, that would be a just punishment. Here, it rarely works that way. Life doesn't mean life and there's so much concern for the feelings of convicted prisoners that we're almost embarrassed to insist that spending time in jail should be hard. No wonder victims and their families feel let down and abandoned. Nothing highlights the gap between what most ordinary people hope happens when a suspect comes before the courts and what actually happens than the bail system. What was intended as a sensible and humane compromise has increasingly become a farce, wide open to abuse. The latest example is that of Damien McLaughlin. He is currently out on bail after being charged with aiding and abetting in the murder of prison officer David Black, who was shot as he drove to work at Maghaberry in November 2012 by a group styling itself as "the IRA". The Belfast Telegraph has learned that McLaughlin was given permission earlier this month to skip signing bail for three days so that he could attend a spa break at a luxury hotel in Co Fermanagh. It would be laughable if the charges that he faced were not so grave. Occasionally, allowing individuals to alter the terms of their release for significant family events, such as funerals and births, is one thing - but spa breaks? Since when was pampering a fundamental human right? What made it worse was that McLaughlin actually spent part of the first day of this relaxing mini-break at a republican anti-internment protest in west Belfast alongside two convicted terrorists, having previously acted as a steward at a dissident republican march in Coalisland on Easter Sunday while under stricter bail terms. It must be a nuisance for McLaughlin to have to sign bail at all when he has such a busy social calendar. McLaughlin is entitled to the same presumption of innocence as everyone else. Even so, one would imagine that a man out on bail on charges relating to terrorist activity would be keen to demonstrate his integrity as an upstanding citizen. Taking part in dissident republican circuses hardly ticks that box. In fact, some might say it looks very much like sticking two fingers up at those who relaxed his bail conditions. Though why should he be worried? The system's worked for well for him so far. He was previously sentenced in 2011 after pleading guilty to possessing two rifles, a sawn-off shotgun and a large quantity of ammunition. He was given a four-and-a-half-year sentence, but was actually released on probation later the same year. Even taking into account time spent on remand, that is hardly reassuring. McLaughlin's release license was later revoked after the Parole Commission warned that "he poses a risk of harm to the public which can no longer be safely managed in the community". Better late than never? Or a case of too little too late? Here's a quaint, old-fashioned idea instead - why not just make prisoners serve the sentences that are handed down to them, rather than treating jail as a drop-in centre with a revolving door? Now, he's benefiting from that same leniency again. Being out on bail on murder-related charges is not a minor matter. That previously convicted offenders, such as Damien McLaughlin, apparently treat it so lightly is making a mockery of everyone who's lost loved ones at the hands of terrorism - not to mention those who risk their lives every day to protect the community against a multitude of threats. The security services have put on record their concern over the repeated bailing of terror suspects. Is anyone even listening? Shutterstock.com Having between 488 and 535 million practitioners, Buddhism is the fourth largest of the worlds major religions. But what do you really know about it? If youre like most, you might associate Buddhism with vague notions of spirituality and the practices of meditation and yoga. But whats it all about, really? It began with the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, in Nepal around 2,500 years ago. Siddhartha was a member of the royal family of a kingdom on the Indian-Nepalese border, and although he had an ostentatious upbringing, he was shocked out of his privileged life upon realizing the truths of aging, sickness, suffering, and death. This led him to contemplate the meaning of life and the cause of human suffering, eventually driving him to leave his palace and follow the traditional Indian path of the wandering holy man. He went on to study and master meditation under various teachers, taking on an ascetic lifestyle, believing that one could free the spirit and invite understanding by denying the flesh. Unsuccessful, he abandoned this path, looking to his own mind and intuition for the truthhe decided to learn from direct experience. He sat beneath a pipal tree for 40 days, when he finally attained Enlightenment. For the remainder of his life, the Buddha traveled, spreading his newfound understanding to others, founding Buddhism. Buddhists believe that Siddhartha attained a state that was free of conditionsthings like upbringing, psychology, perceptions, opinions, presuppositions, and so on. To be Enlightened is to be Unconditioned, and a Buddha is free from conditioned responses such as prejudice, hatred, and greed. Rather, a Buddha is characterized by wisdom, compassion, and freedom. To be a Buddha is to see reality as it truly is. The word Buddha, in fact, is a title which means one who is awakein essence, one who has completely awoken to reality. Buddhism fits surprisingly well into our contemporary world. Although it is classified as a world religion, Buddhism, with its focus on the nature of our reality, is more akin to the scientific process than to one of the faiths. It is a non-theistic belief systembelieving in gods, as a Buddhist might say, is not useful for seeking Enlightenment, and so Buddhism is more focused on practice than on belief. Its about not only believing in the precepts of Buddhism, but about the process of exploring these beliefs, understanding them, and, ultimately, testing those beliefs against individual experience. Buddhism sees life as constant change, and takes advantage of it by advocating the fact that individuals can change for the better. The route to positive change, for the Buddhist, lies in the mind, through techniques such as meditationa way of achieving higher levels of concentration, calmness, and awareness of ones own emotions. Using this higher awareness, it is then possible to have a better understanding of the self, other people, and life. The most basic encapsulation of the Buddhas teaching are expressed as the Four Noble Truths, which are as follows. All existence is dukkha. Dukkha translates, roughly, to suffering, or unsatisfactoriness. A large part of the Buddhas revelation was that life is struggle, and that we do not find ultimate satisfaction in anything we experience. This is the problem of life. The cause of dukkha is craving. Humans tend to blame their suffering on external causes, but the Buddha embraced the idea that the actual cause is found within the selfin the mind, specifically. Our propensity to grasp at, or push away, puts us at odds with true reality. The cessation of dukkha comes with the cessation of craving. Because we are the ultimate cause of our own suffering, we are also the solution. We cant change our environment, but we have power over our reactions. The intellectual stance of Buddhism is summed up best by the Buddha, himself, in the Anguttara Nikaya, when he writes, Now, Kalamas, do not be led by reports, or tradition, or hearsay. Be not led by the authority of religious texts, nor by mere logic or inference, nor by considering appearances, nor by the delight in speculative opinions, nor by seeming possibilities, nor by the idea: This is our Teacher. But, O Kalamas, when you know for yourselves that certain things are unwholesome and wrong and bad, then give them up and when you know that certain things are wholesome and good, and that the wise believe them to be so, then accept them and follow them. Again, Buddhism emphasizes personal experience as the path to Enlightenment, to finding the cause of suffering, how to end it, and how to find the path that ultimately frees us from it. At the heart of Buddhism lie three ideals, known as The Three Jewels. These jewels are the Buddha, represented by a yellow jewel, the Dharma, a blue jewel, and the Sangha, represented by a red jewel. In making these the central principles of your life, you become a Buddhist. The Three Jewels are thus. The Buddha. The Buddha is both the historical Buddha and the ideal of Buddhahood. The Buddhist tradition regards the historical Buddha as their guide and inspiration, and see him as the ultimate teacher and spiritual example. This idea also means that a practitioner of Buddhism is commited to achieving BuddhahoodEnlightenment for the sake of all beings, seeing reality exactly as it is, living in accordance with that vision. This is the goal of Buddhist spiritual life. The Dharma. The Dharma is the teachings of the Buddha, comprised of the truth he gained. Dharma means unmediated Truth, and encompasses Buddhist teachingsthe entirety of the scriptures in the Buddhist canon, which is many times longer than even the Bible. Dharma also encompasses the practices outlined in those scripturesessentially learning to do good; ceasing to do evil; purifying the heart. The Sangha. The third jewel is the Sangha, which is simply the Buddhist spiritual community, and the teachings, support, and friendship of other practitioners. In the most general sense, Sangha means all Buddhists in the world, past and future. Buddhism, as you can see, is more philosophy or way of life than religion, but like other faiths, it is a path toward finding the purpose of life, why suffering occurs, and how we can separate ourselves from that suffering and achieve true happiness. It is now becoming popular in western countries because it provides great insight into the human mind, and because its teachings can act as a panacea for our contemporary, materialistic lifestyles, which often lead to deep-seated, nebulous dissatisfaction. If you find yourself wanting to know more, simply ask! Although Buddhist tradition does not encourage evangelizing, practitioners are often more than willing to explain and teach. You may just find a nugget of wisdom to incorporate into your own life. Wesley Baines is a graduate student at Regent University's School of Divinity, and a freelance writer working in the fields of spirituality, self-help, and religion. He is also a former editor at Beliefnet.com. You can catch more of his work at www.wesleybaines.com. Shutterstock.com We live in dark, perilous times. We turn on the television and our computers each day and see young men and women violently killed by police and cops assassinated on the streets. The religious nones have taken a ram to traditional mores, furiously denouncing those who dont agree with them. Presidential candidates are not trusted and have created social division. Peace and unity have become foreign terms. There is no question that there is a great deal at stake. In a recent report, Pew Research revealed an interesting trend in attitudes towards religion. A growing share (34 percent) of self-identified evangelical or born-again Christians identify with the statement that it is more difficult to be a member of their religious group in recent years. Some of this feeling was attributed to the fact that the country is becoming more secular, with our nations attitudes and activities having no religious basis. Alternatively, 31 percent of religious nones say it has become easier. Additionally, Pew found that many surveyed believed Christianity was losing its influence in America. Almost 72 percent of survey responders believed that religions influence in American life is waning. Those who identified with this statement also indicated that this downturn was not a good thing. In a country founded upon principles that are undeniably Christian, these statistics are shocking. They mark a departure from the attitudes of our parents generation. Despite Americas Judeo-Christian roots and heritage, and the beliefs of its founders, the United States today is a nation that follows other gods, and lives a lifestyle that does not reflect Christian values. R.R. Reno, editor of First Things and one of Americas leading scholars of religion and politics believes our society is one step away from chaos and that Americans do not recognize their own country anymore. In his book, "Resurrecting the Idea of a Christian Society" he warns, without a restoration of America as a Christian society, our culture will rapidly descend into an unhappy, shallow, lawless, and brutal place, divided more than ever between rich and poor and vulnerable to elite demagogues. Reno shows why a renewal of Christian ideas is fundamental in preventing the complete collapse of our country. Yet, there is hope. While the post-Christian culture is failing, there is a solution that can save us all: a renewal of Christian ideals such as compassion, integrity, hard work and love. If we want to resort a Christian society, Christianitys public influence must be restored. Many Christians are finding themselves in the 34 percent of evangelicals who experience greater difficulty at work as a member of the body of Christ, but we should not be discouraged from embracing the opportunity that this data reveals. Unfortunately, the term religious has come to have uncomfortable connotations. In our contemporary context, people are suspicious of religion both because they have seen the damage that religious extremism can cause and because they have become disillusioned from belief systems they found overbearing and restricting. Even though some are not comfortable with all that Christianity entails, the absence of Christianity in the public sphere is missed. Christian values have an impact. In the workplace, school settings, or the public sphere, we have daily opportunities to demonstrate justice, extend love and promote flourishing. Christianity is about a relationship, not a religion. Its important that we bear witness to this relationship as well. As Christians, we are called to put on the whole armor of God, and contend against the principalities, against the world rulers of this present darkness (Ephesians 6:11-12). We cant simply step aside. We owe our neighbors, Christian or not, a faithful witness to the truth, even if it provokes controversy. We follow a Lord who said, I have not come to bring peace, but a sword (Matthew 10:34). This is all true! But the armor of God includes the equipment of the Gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15). Christians are called not to win debates and elections but to build a civilization of love, which is not an easy task, especially in our nation today, but a necessary one. There is no greater One we can turn to if we want to reflect love than God because He is love. There is no denying that Christianity has been unseated as Americas moral centerpoint and that weve paid a terrible price for it. Despite this, a Christian society is not only possible, but also desirable and we have the power to change this. In order for a Christianity society to be possible, it requires a restoration of Christian values in the private and public sphere. We must ask ourselves: to what is God calling each of us? How well are we responding to His call? It also requires us to make an important decision: Will we seek to live in accord with the idea of a Christian society, or will we accept the instruction of a pagan society? We should not underestimate the dangers we face. In this time and in this place, a relatively small number of Christians can inspire and reinvigorate the public imaginations of the disoriented majority. We can renew our society by restoring our voices as Christian citizens. We have an active God, and we are called to show His love actively to those around us as we go out as Disciples of Christ. When light stands next to darkness, light always wins. While we may live in dark times, we have hope, because God, who is the Light, always wins. Lesli White is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth with a Bachelors degree in Mass Communications and a concentration in print and online journalism. In college, she took a number of religious studies courses and harnessed her talent for storytelling. White has a rich faith background. Her father, a Lutheran pastor and life coach was a big influence in her faith life, helping her to see the value of sharing the message of Christ with others. She has served in the church from an early age. Some of these roles include assisting ministry, mutual ministry, worship and music ministry and church council. Something is bothering you. It gently nudges your eyes open in the dead of night. It furrows your brow as youre driving to work. It sits with the crushing weight of the mundane day-to-day sameness we all feel from time to time, and it whispers with the velvet voice of nameless, faceless doubt, repeating one phrase over and over. You lack. But what do we lack? What is this deep-seated yearning that makes us just uncomfortable enough to gaze longingly from the window of even the most perfect life, wondering if there is more? Its God we seek, though we seldom know it. Its spirituality. Its the unseen worldthe one which we were made for. Spirituality is not a luxury. It is a need. And for those of us who lack it, it is one which usually makes itself apparent when our lives seem most perfect. Spirituality, in short, is the belief that there is something greater and immaterial. It also involves our engagement with that immaterial world. When our faith is strong and we are close to God, our spirituality is great, and we feel fulfilled. When were far, however, we feel a yearning for something more. For some, the printed words of scripture begin to just feel like their constituent partsink and paperrather than the direct connection to the mind of God that they are. When this happens, we must act. Being reminded that there are places in our world that are directly connected to those we read about in scripture can help to reestablish our spirituality. Seeing the real-world sites of Biblical history, or traveling to those places where miracles have been known to happen can reignite our faith when it grows stale. We say that we believe, and we may hold that belief within our minds, but theres something to touching the same stones that Christ once did, to visiting a cathedral where a miracle happened, or seeing the pulpit from which a prominent figure from church history spokesomething that strengthens our faith and ties our spirituality to the material world. Taking the time to travel to these places can help you reconnect with God, and fill that hole in your heart that has been slowly widening. Imagine traveling to Israel and walking the same lands that the Son of God once did, seeing His birthplace, the site of His crucifixion, and the tomb that he walked from when He rose from the dead. This is where it all really happened, and that same dust which now dots your feet was once brushed from His. The knowledge is heartening, inspiring. Imagine yourself at the foot of Mount Sinai in Egypt, where Moses spoke to God and received the Ten Commandments for his people, or at the site in Corinth where the Apostle Paul defended himself against charges of persuading people to worship God in ways contrary to the law, or at a cathedral where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared in apparition and wrought miracles. "These holy places are the bridges between our beliefs and the real world, and the reward, for these pilgrims, is worth the effort." There is a reason that people have historically undertaken religious pilgrimagea journey to a sacred placefor thousands of years, traveling countless miles by foot simply to lay eyes on a certain holy place for a short time. These holy places are the bridges between our beliefs and the real world, and the reward, for these pilgrims, is worth the effort. In undertaking their journey, they leave behind the everyday, the mundane, repetitive parts of life which tend to blind us to the extraordinary and the supernatural, and devote time specifically to the contemplation of God, and to the fact that He is not only real, but affects our world in tangible ways. While you may undertake your pilgrimage by plane and automobile rather than by foot, your own journey, should you wish to take it, is no less sacred. For many, visiting sacred places is not only an opportunity to grow in faith, but to begin anew, to take away life-changing inspiration and purpose. These places can help us to encounter the divine and remember what really matters. Traveling to places like Israel and the Vatican and the church of Martin Luther can also have another effectthey can give context to our understanding of scripture. Knowing that Paul the Apostle traveled to Greece, and actually seeing the country, the city and, the ruins upon which the Apostle once stood allows us a window into his timewe see that other things were going on in the world, that empires were thriving and falling and people were going about their lives in other places. Other experiences, like seeing the path that Christ took on his way to the crucifixion gives us an idea of the difficulty He endured, giving us a new appreciation for what God did for us. This context is important. When we become aware that the events our spiritually is grounded in occurred in the midst of historical civilizations, countries, and empires, they feel all the more real. Sometimes, we have to remove ourselves from our ordinary lives so that we can gain a better understanding of our spiritual ones, and its not until we arrive at that tomb or cathedral or ruin that we are able to detach and reopen ourselves to the possibility of the divine. C.S. Lewis, Christian apologist, theologian, and fantasy author, famously wrote that If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world. And we are. We are both spiritual and physical beingsdust filled with the breath of life, and spoken into existence. Just as Christ proclaimed that man shall not live on bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, we must not neglect our spiritual selves. Should we do so, the hunger pangs will comesubtle, yes, but insistent. If you feel that hunger, then consider making your own personal pilgrimage, your own journey to other countries and lands, and bridge the gaps between your belief and your everyday life. Your faith will come alive. Renew your faith and reflect upon centuries of religious history with journeys you can believe in. Get the most out of your vacation today. Bangladeshi police escort Moinul Hasan Shamim, a suspect in the October 2015 killing of publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan, to a court in Dhaka, Aug. 24, 2016. Police in Bangladesh said Wednesday they had arrested a prime suspect in the October 2015 killing of publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan, who printed the secular works of slain U.S.-Bangladeshi writer Avijit Roy. Suspect Moinul Hasan Shamim (whose aliases include Sifat, Samir and Imran) was picked up on Tuesday night in Tongi, an industrial area on the outskirts of Dhaka, the chief of the Bangladeshi police counter terrorist and transnational crimes unit, told a news conference in the capital. Dipan was killed for publishing the books of Avijit Roy, police counter-terror chief Monirul Islam later told BenarNews, adding, [S]hamim was in charge of Dipans killing. Shamim was one of five people who allegedly killed Dipan and belonged to the home-grown militant group Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), Islam said. The five were trained by an ABT commander, a renegade army officer known as Maj. Haq, according to the senior police official. Bangladeshi authorities have blamed ABT for killings dating to February 2013 where secular bloggers, writers, intellectuals and gay-rights activists have been hacked to death. Under initial interrogation, Shamim confessed to killing Riyad Morshed Babu, a student at the Shanto-Marium University of Creative Technology in Dhaka, on Jan. 4, Islam said. On Wednesday, officers produced Shamim before a court, which granted police a six-day remand to continue interrogation, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) spokesman Masudur Rahman told BenarNews. Dipon, who headed the Jagriti publishing house, was killed during a machete attack on its offices in Dhaka by suspected ABT members on Oct. 31, 2015. On the same day, militants attacked the offices of another Dhaka publishing house, Shuddhashar, injuring co-publisher Ahmedur Rashid Tutul and two writers. Both houses had published the secular works of Avijit Roy, who was killed in a machete attack as he left a literary festival in Dhaka on Feb. 26, 2015. I think the police are working to catch the killers. The government intelligence agencies have been working with sincerity, Professor Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque, Dipans father, told BenarNews Wednesday. Kerry to visit Dhaka Roy, a writer and blogger whose writings challenged religious beliefs in predominantly Sunni Muslim Bangladesh, was a U.S. citizen who lived in the Atlanta area. The string of killings in Bangladesh had another American connection. Xulhaz Mannan, a gay-rights activist who edited Bangladeshs first LGBT magazine and who worked at the U.S. embassy for the United States Agency for International Development, was killed during an attack at his Dhaka apartment on April 25. The killing outraged the U.S. government. Soon afterward, it sent a top American diplomat, Nisha Desai Biswal, to Bangladesh for talks on bilateral ties in combating extremism and terrorism there. On Wednesday, the U.S. State Department announced that Secretary of State John Kerry would travel to Dhaka on Monday for meetings with Bangladeshi officials to discuss our growing cooperation on global issues, press relations director Elizabeth Trudeau said in a news release. He also will focus on strengthening our longstanding bilateral partnership on democracy, development, security and human rights, Trudeau said of Kerrys one-day visit to Bangladesh. 5 Suspected JMB operatives arrested While police suspect ABT of killing bloggers, intellectuals and LGBT activists and others, the Bangladeshi authorities blame another home-grown militant group, Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen (JMB) for terrorist attacks including the July 1 siege at a cafe in Dhaka that killed 20 hostages, including 17 foreigners, and two policemen. On Wednesday, Bangladeshs Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) announced it arrested five suspected JMB members, including one operative who allegedly had trained a group of woman as militants, during early morning raids in Gazipur, a district of Dhaka division. The five were identified as Rasheduzzaman, Shahbuddin, Abdul Hai, Firoz and Saiful, said RAB spokesman Mufti Mahmud Khan. Rasheduzzaman is the acting head of the JMBs southern region unit. He trained the female members we recently arrested and Shahabuddin is a member of their suicide squad. They have been planning to carry out attacks in Dhaka, Khan told reporters, referring to the arrests of eight suspected female JMB members since late July. Arrest warrant for opposition official In other developments on Wednesday, a court in Dhaka issued arrest warrants for two men wanted in the September 2015 killing of Italian aid worker Cesare Tavella in the citys diplomatic quarter, including a leader of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, M.A. Quayum. The other suspect at-large was identified as Sohel (alias Bhangari Sohel). Five other men are in custody in connection with the Tavellas killing. The diplomatic quarter is also where the attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery cafe, claimed by Islamic State, took place. On Wednesday, a Dhaka court rejected a bail plea for one of two men in custody in connection with that attack, British citizen Hasnat Karim, his lawyer told reporters. The other man in custody is Tahmid Hasib Khan, a student at the University of Toronto. 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. First up, Joe Biden is thinking about dropping tariffs against China. But theres a spy in prison this morning that helps us understand why he shouldnt. Ill explain. Your second brief, If youre looking for a good paying job, you might consider being a CEO for a health insurance company. One executive made $142M dollars last year. Let's talk about that. And as always, Im keeping an eye out for developing stories. Put this one on your radar. Mexican cartels are grooming American kids online and paying them cash to traffic illegals or run drugs across the border. Ill share details. If you enjoyed this episode of the President's Daily Brief, remember to subscribe and listen daily at podfollow.com/pdb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices For Immediate Release, August 24, 2016 Contact: Collette Adkins, Center for Biological Diversity, (651) 955-3821, cadkins@biologicaldiversity.org Bruce Morrison, Great Rivers Environmental Law Center, (314) 231-4181, bamorrison@greatriverslaw.org Ban Sought on Commercial Trapping of Wild Turtles in Missouri Thousands Have Been Caught, Sold From State Rivers JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. The Center for Biological Diversity and Great Rivers Environmental Law Center petitioned the Missouri Department of Conservation today to end commercial collection of the states wild freshwater turtles. Turtle traders can now legally collect unlimited numbers of common snapping and softshell turtles to sell domestically or export for Asian food and medicinal markets. Thousands of Missouris turtles have been caught and sold over the past 10 years. Common snapping turtle photo by Dakota L. Photos are available for media use. Unregulated turtle traders are mining Missouri rivers in a frenzy thats reminiscent of the gold rush, said Collette Adkins, a biologist and senior attorney at the Center. Commercial trapping is devastating to turtle populations that are already suffering from a lot of other threats, like habitat loss, water pollution and getting hit by cars. Under current regulations in Missouri, holders of a commercial fishing permit may take unlimited numbers of common snappers, spiny softshells and smooth softshells from portions of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers with no closed season. The Missouri Department of Conservation, on its website, urges Missourians to Help Turtles Thrive in Our State. But the state needs to do more than merely post messages like these on the web, said Bruce Morrison, general counsel for Great Rivers Environmental Law Center. To protect our turtle population, Missouri should follow the lead of Kansas and Illinois and ban for-profit turtle exploitation. More than 17 million wild-caught, live turtles were exported from the United States over the past five years to supply food and medicinal markets in Asia, where native turtle populations have already been depleted by soaring consumption. Because turtles bioaccumulate toxins from prey and burrow themselves in contaminated sediment, turtle meat is often laced with mercury, PCBs and pesticides, posing a health risk. Adult turtles are also taken from the wild to breed hatchlings for the international pet trade. Background Life history characteristics, such as delayed sexual maturity, dependence on high adult survival, and high natural levels of nest mortality, predispose turtles to rapid declines from exploitation. Scientists have repeatedly documented that freshwater turtles cannot sustain any significant level of wild collection without leading to population declines. For example, in a 2014 Missouri study researchers found that under mean demographic rates no harvest could be sustained for softshells and that common snappers could withstand only minimum rates of juvenile harvest and no adult harvest. As part of a campaign to protect turtles in the United States, the Center has been successfully petitioning states that allow unrestricted commercial turtle collection to improve harvest regulations. In 2009 Florida responded by banning almost all commercial collection of freshwater turtles from public and private waters. In 2012 Georgia approved state rules regulating the commercial collection of turtles, and Alabama completely banned commercial collection. And in July Iowa published proposed rules that, if finalized, would impose seasons, daily bag limits and possession limits for common snapping turtles, painted turtles, spiny softshells and smooth softshells. Also in response to a 2011 Center petition, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in May added four turtles including common snapping turtles, smooth softshell turtles and spiny softshell turtles that are found in Missouri to a list called CITES Appendix III. Trade in Appendix III species requires an export permit and documentation that the animal was caught or acquired in compliance with the law, allowing the United States to monitor trade closely. The animals must also be shipped using methods designed to prevent cruel treatment. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.1 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places. www.biologicaldiversity.org Great Rivers Environmental Law Center is a nonprofit public interest environmental law firm in St. Louis that provides free and reduced-fee legal services to those working to protect the environment and public health. www.greatriverslaw.org Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia A loaf of bread will cost South African consumers nearly R1 more to buy at the till following the approval of an increase in the import duty on wheat, according to the National Chamber of Milling. Wheat import tariffs rose to a record R1,591.40 per ton this week, from R1,224.31 previously, following a decline in the international wheat prices. "Direct overall impact of R1,591.40/ton import duty on the bread price is estimated at 99.5c per loaf of bread," said executive director at the chamber Boikanyo Mokgatle on Tuesday. The chamber represents big food producers such as Tiger Brands (TBS), which are saddled with cost pressures from the weaker rand and after-effects of the drought. Import duty on wheat, which was introduced in October 2014, has increased by more than 900% in almost two years from R157/ton. "On the contrary, domestic production has not equally responded to the ever-increasing protection levels. The National Chamber of Milling is concerned about the impact of exorbitantly high wheat import duty on the price of bread and other related products," Mokgatle said. But Agricultural Business Chamber head of economic and agribusiness intelligence Wandile Sihlobo said the import duties in principle were meant to support local farmers against imports of subsidised wheat. "In other words, it is not aimed at increasing the domestic wheat prices, but rather to ensure that (domestic) wheat prices remain viable, and prevent prices from falling to levels that make local production uncompetitive amid a distorted global trade environment." SA is a net importer of wheat, which is used as an input in the production of a number of food products. "The tariff level ... implemented today constitutes 38% of the overall wheat price. This is an additional total import cost burden of about R3.2bn to the food processing industry payable as wheat import duties," the chamber said. Speakers have been announced for the 20th Congress of the South African Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC) to be held at the Sandton Convention Centre 7-9 September 2016. Amanda Stops Featuring the industry awards event as well as an exhibition, networking opportunities and a behind-the-scenes tour of the new Mall of Africa, this years retail gathering will also provide access to a lineup of thought provoking presentations delivered by some of the biggest names in the industry. International, local perspectives Following on from a welcome from Councils newly appointed president, Jeff Zidel, both Jeffrey Williford from the Disney institute and Bernie Brooks, CEO and MD for Edcon will share their views on and experience with leadership, offering an in-depth perspective of what leadership in retail means. Magnus Lindkvist, renowned trend spotter and futurologist, will offer some perspective on business trends and growth opportunity, while designer and trend analyst, Dave Nemeth will give the audience a snapshot of where retail is headed and how they can stay ahead. Bringing technology to the forefront, Innovation Agencys CEO, Rory Moore will shine a spotlight on innovative initiatives and how retailers can harness the power of the crowd, using digital technology as an aid. Other speakers include South Africas adventurer and motivational speaker Peter van Kets, Taste Holdings CEO Carlo Gonzago discussing the Starbucks journey to South Africa and Renzo Scribante of Rembrothers, who will be sharing the organisations story and discussing the impact of the changing food retail landscape in the country today. Hosted by SACSC and sponsored by Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking Property Finance, this annual flagship event will feature the latest insights on leading trends, technology and customer engagement as well as provide a meeting place for industry leaders and leading retailers and brands alike. Commenting on the speaker lineup for the congress, Amanda Stops, SACSC CEO, says, The programme has been carefully crafted to ensure topics are both relevant and informative to all who attend. Responding to both opportunities and challenges faced by retailers and shopping centres, this years congress will address the rapid changes affecting the industry, with particular focus on technology, economic forces and ever-evolving consumer expectations. With this programme, we bring a wealth of market-related intelligence and key insights, while highlighting the prominent role the retail industry plays in the development of communities and the ripple effect this has on the economy and the country, as a whole. Most importantly, however, the SACSC Congress aims to bring together retailers and shopping centres professionals from varying backgrounds, providing them with an opportunity to learn from one another, connecting, discussing new ideas and sharing information relevant to their industry. For more information, go to www.sacsc.co.za. Shoprite Holdings could be expanding abroad, according to CEO Whitey Basson, but he would not be drawn into the nitty-gritty. Basson was speaking at the company's fullyear results presentation in Cape Town on Tuesday. His comment on expansion comes at a time when market speculation is rife that Shoprite could be snapped up by Steinhoff. Both companies are chaired by billionaire retail magnate Christo Wiese, who was present at the presentation. Trade Intelligence MD Maryla Masojada said the comment indicated a tie-up with Steinhoff could be under consideration. But Electus Fund Managers equity analyst Damon Buss said that while the businesses had Wiese in common, it was unlikely that there would be synergies that could be extracted by combining a food retailer and a furniture retailer. "Hence, we don't expect anything to come of this rumour," he said. Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste has previously said that while the two companies are in "different worlds " there is nothing like 'never ever' in the business world". In the year to end-June 2016, Shoprite reported a 14.4% rise in total turnover to R130bn, while trading profit rose 15% to R7.3bn. Diluted headline earnings per share increased 17% to 899.7c. Shoprite declared a final dividend of R2.96, taking its total dividend for the year to R4.52. Year to-end June figures received a slight fillip by comparing 53 weeks in its 2016 financial year to 52 weeks in the prior year. Basson said non-South African stores had pushed Shoprite "into the next level of business. Profits in our non-South African stores exceeded R1bn for the very first time. "Our rest of Africa operations have now surpassed the total business of some of our local competitors," he said. 36One Asset Management analyst Daniel Isaacs said Angola had been the star performer. "The severe economic pressures and lack of foreign exchange strangled their competition, while they kept up supply of merchandise by financing this business from outside the country. They must just be careful that the money they pour in they can get out one day," Isaacs said. Buss echoed the sentiment. "We are concerned that some of the goods sold in those non-SA stores had to be funded by the SA balance sheet, exposing Shoprite to similar risks that Nampak is facing, where the income earned from those goods becomes trapped in these countries. Overall, results exceeded expectation". Production companies, post-production houses, editing facilities and music and sound companies are encouraged to enter the London International Awards (LIA), even if agencies have already entered the work, as an agency. The world of advertising awards was built around celebrating the idea, not the execution. However, today the way in which ads are made is so advanced and the ideas so reliant upon creating the impossible, it takes many individual skills and expertise to make each campaign a reality. When agencies enter LIA, they dont necessarily enter work into the categories from which production companies, post-production houses, editing facilities and music and sound companies would most benefit, instead choosing product and service categories that arent judged at all for the craft or specific technique, explains Barbara Levy, president of London International Awards. What these companies might not even be aware of is that LIA has two completely separate Juries, one for Production, Post-Production and Music Videos and a separate jury for Music and Sound. These juries are made up of the worlds best production and post-production executives, from top executive producers and directors to agency heads of TV, chief production officers and music and sound designers and composers. So, why should production and post-production companies bother to enter their own work into LIA? Laura Gregory, founder of Great Guns and past LIA juror stated, The quality of LIAs world-class juries who give their time and passion to this work is staggering. It would be smart to enter so those judges are aware of the work. A craft entry is exactly what it says on the tine craft, judged by craft. LIA recognises creativity in all forms, celebrating skill and artistry across all disciplines, adds Neil Davies, ECD at The Mill. To be acknowledged by peers is an award in itself, but its about the teams who work so hard on projects being recognised for their achievements. For us at The Mill, an award is testament to the team's restless pursuit of brilliance, and keeps us pushing to make every job better than the last. Levy adds, So much work goes into making these great ideas a reality, we have a duty to honour the craft. We wish to make sure those involved in the craft are acknowledged. Agencies are not mandated to input creative credits and most only input credits that pertain to the agency. If production and post-production companies want to bring home, in the words of Ogilvy Germanys Stephan Vogel, one of the most spectacular and most prestigious statues you can ever have on your shelf, its up to them to enter the work they created. The LIA 2016 Entry System is still open for new entrants and for additional entries from those who have already entered. Judging will take place in Las Vegas from 6-14 October. The shortlists will be announced as each judging session concludes, with winners being announced 2nd November. For more information, go to www.liaawards.com. Nowadays, people have become very cautious when it comes to sharing personal information online . This is why a privacy policy is very important for any website or blog. A privacy policy is basically a document that outlines how information gathered from visitors will be stored and used. Some industries such as the medical profession and banking are required by law to have privacy policies. However, even if you are not within such industries, your business would still benefit greatly from having a privacy policy. Having such a policy will not only help build trust with customers, but could also shield you from any future liability problems. 123RF Here are some guidelines for creating a website privacy policy: 1. Make it comprehensive These are some of the details which your privacy policy should include: Introduction Briefly describe your business and the role of your website Information gathered Your visitors will want to know what kind of information you will be collecting. This includes hostnames and IP addresses Methods of collection Will visitors manually fill out forms or is the process automated? Information storage Will the information be stored in the cloud or on your own servers? Customers will want assurance that their details are being stored in a safe environment Sharing of information If you plan to send information to third parties, be sure to mention it in the privacy policy. Explain your reasons clearly and give customers the choice of opting out Contact details Share an email address which visitors can use to contact get in touch if they have any questions about the privacy policy The good news is that there are several free privacy policy generators that can make your work much easier. 2. Keep it simple and brief Though the privacy policy is a legal document, be sure to keep it as simple as possible. Avoid legal jargon which will only leave your readers confused and use language that is easy to understand. In addition, make sure your privacy policy is as short as possible. This will enhance the chances of visitors reading it until the end. 3. Make it visible Use a large and visible font for your privacy policy, and make sure people can find it easily on your site. If the policy is written in small print and hidden, visitors are likely to get suspicious. One of the best ways of making it accessible is by having a tab on your homepage that links to the policy. In addition, the tab should also appear whenever the customer is required to submit some information. You could use wordings such as How we keep your information safe, Privacy and security or Our privacy policy. 4. Get ideas from other websites It would be advisable to visit no less than three other websites to see how they manage their privacy policies. This will give you an idea of what would work best on your own website. Take note of where the privacy policy is located on each site and how long it took you to find it. How many clicks did it take to access it? Is it written in simple and clear language? Does it elicit trust from the reader? Given the tight relationship between the fortunes of the global economy and the metals and mining industry, it does not bode well that fewer than half of the senior metals executives voice any level of confidence in the prospects for the global economy over the next two years. While confidence in the global economy is low, KPMG's 2016 Global Metals & Mining Outlook survey suggests that most metals executives believe they can survive and maybe even grow in the medium term. Indeed, almost two-thirds say that they are confident of achieving growth in the next two years and 63% believe that the industry will achieve a measure of growth over the same time period. Jacques Erasmus, KPMGs global head of mining, based in South Africa says, When growth does return, the market will likely be significantly different than in the past, particularly given the structural changes taking place and the environmental regulations currently being tabled around the world. You cant just batten down the hatches and wait for the storm to pass and this explains why these executives are making the best of a difficult situation. Accordingly, 77% of the survey respondents say that cost and performance management are high priorities for the future. And, having invested heavily into new capacity during the upcycle, many metals and mining operations are now keenly searching for new growth opportunities to help absorb some of their spare production capacity 71% say that growth will be a high or an extremely high priority over the next two years. Growth opportunities When asked what they will do to drive growth in todays economy, respondents cite two main strategies: growing their existing market share and entering into new markets (29% equally). In part, the survey suggests a pullback from previously hot emerging markets; 33% of those metals organisations with existing investments in Africa say that they will likely reduce their investments over the coming years. One-in-five of those currently operating in the ASEAN region also expect to pull back somewhat. Yet, at the same time, the survey shows that metals organisations are refocusing their investments into driving growth within their larger markets, China and the Americas in particular. Tapping into technology The KPMG survey also shows that metals executives plan to channel significant investment towards developing and implementing new manufacturing technologies aimed at driving efficiency and improving performance. Just over a quarter of respondents say they have already invested into additive manufacturing and 3D printing, and an additional 27% say they will definitely invest more in the future. One-in-six say they have already invested into AI and cognitive computing solutions; while 32% say they will certainly invest more. However, the greatest focus for investment seems in robotics with 42% of respondents who assert that they will invest in this area over the next two years. This month is acknowledged as a tribute to the 20,000+ women who marched to the Union Buildings on the 9 August 1956 with one goal in mind - equality. These women marched to protest the extension of the pass laws to women, and laid the foundation for feminism and the advancement of gender equality across the nation. According to the government, significant progress has been made in empowering women in political, public and educational spheres but the marginalisation of poor women severely compromises progress. Transformation continues to be a challenge in the workplace, as there is still a low percentage of women in senior positions in corporates. A report by the Commission of Gender Equality on South Africa's immigration statistics, revealed that half of the people who left the country for professional reasons were women. According to the chief executive officer of the finance and accounting services sector education and training authority (Fasset), Cheryl James, a number of factors have contributed to the demographic changes which have occurred in the financial and accounting services sector over the last 10 years. In terms of policy interventions, the implementation of the Employment Equity Act (EEA) 55 of 1998 is one of the key milestones in policy interventions that have forced the sector to adopt a new approach, confirms James. The EEA defines the designated groups, or recipients of EE opportunities, as all black employees, women and people with disabilities. Changing the sectoral landscape In the finance and accounting sector, strides have been taken to change the sectoral landscape, making way for a more balanced, transformed and educated workforce. Guiding this expedition, Fasset has developed and adapted the skills strategy in the sector, with the ultimate goal of upskilling the nation. Fasset has ensured this by adopting a strategy that seeks to increase the participation of black people and people with disabilities in the sector and the shift in demographics is evident as Fassets transformation objectives are being progressively achieved. In 2013, authoritys board has approved the African black-only funding strategy to ensure that the transformation momentum is maintained. Considerable inroads have been made to transform the demographic profile of the sector, especially learners on Fasset learnerships. In our second year of operation (1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002) 29% of learners were black; as at 31 March 2015 the number of learners has increased to 72%. The sector now boasts a 41% growth rate of black professionals in the sector, says James. On a sectoral level, gender representation appears not to be a challenge in the Fasset sector. The majority of workers in the sector are women. In 2015, the sector employed 80,155 females - 57% of the sectors employees were female. Females were in the majority in 2001 and their share in employment increased from 54% in 2001 to 57% in 2015. From 2001 to 2015, black females showed the largest increase in numbers: from 8,550 in 2001 to 31,327 in 2015. In contrast, white females increased only marginally from 26,548 in 2001 to 29,253 in 2015. In terms of employment at a management level in the Fasset sector in 2015 women occupied 40% of managerial positions. Black females share of professional positions in the sector was 9%, coloureds 4%, Indians 5%, whites 22% and foreigners 1%. In terms of the number of female professionals in the sector, in 2015 black females share of professional positions in the sector was 18%, coloureds 5%, Indians 6%, whites 23% and foreigners 1%. More than half (52%) of all professionals were females. Demographic profile fabulous Chantyl Mulder, executive director: nation building at the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), confirms that by building a refreshed pipeline of candidates phenomenal results have been achieved. The demographic profile of women in the profession is fabulous. Of our African members who qualify, 50% are female. In fact, records show that 52% of SAICAs certificate of theory in accounting (CTA) student intake are women. Mulder is careful, however, to warn candidates against trying to fast-track transformation, by accepting positionsfor which they are not yet qualified. Taking charge of their own futures The International Labour Organisation (ILO) surveyed 1,200 companies in 2013, which showed that although what was referred to as only a handful of South African women held chairperson positions, the fairer sex was well represented in terms of management, senior management and executive level positions in the finance and accounting services sector. To James, the key is for women to take charge of their own futures, address their skills gaps, and take on the workplace with fiery determination. The support is there, the glass ceiling has been shattered, and women can and should pursue professional careers if that is what they personally desire." The Water Research Commission recently hosted a dialogue on the "Empowerment of women through water use security, land use security and knowledge generation for improved household food security and sustainable rural livelihoods" as gender issues are starting to play a greater role in agriculture and food security policies with. Dr Joyce Chitja According to an IPS article, "African women are in charge of the majority of households and are key food producers. They represent more than 43 percent of the agricultural labour force in addition to playing a major role in managing poultry, dairy animals, fisheries, aquaculture, and the marketing of handcrafts and food products." Therefore, it is critical for women to gain access to productive resources such as land, modern inputs, technology, education and financial services. At the WRC dialogue, Dr Joyce Chitja spoke about "empowerment of women through water use security, land use security and knowledge generation for improved household food security and sustainable rural livelihoods." We asked her to share some insights with us: Women have always played a pivotal role in household food security and rural livelihoods, but recently it seems that the role of women is enjoying greater focus. Why do you think that is, what has pushed this change? Joyce Chitja: The statement is true, it has always been women. I think the greater focus is a combination of factors ie. increased research interest in household food security among the poor by research funders, government, the realisation from the policy arena that local and context-specific solutions to food access and poverty eradication are urgent in a developing economy characterised by deep inequality. How big of a discrepancy is there between the resources men receive compared to women? Chitja: There is both a qualitative and quantitative discrepancy. Access to productive resources often takes place along a gender bias. Access to land, water, and finance are largely determined by culturally and socially embedded practices with a bias towards men despite a legislative clarity possible for urban-based women. Land rights in communal areas are often awarded to the male household head while women are mostly the ones who work the land. What are the most important factors that need to be addressed regarding this issue and how can change be accelerated? Chitja: Women in rural areas are main food producers for their household, therefore, land rights land and water rights should be awarded directly (not secondarily) to women in all their categories and not via their relatedness to men. Context-specific understanding of social practices and on how women have navigated and negotiated access to land all along needs to be investigated and then built on to inform policy and development programmes. Appropriate finance and marketing models need to be extended to interested women. What are the biggest challenges women in rural communities are facing that hinder their progress and success in agriculture production? Chitja: Subsistence and small-scale rural farmers, both men and women, experience a myriad of constraints in making a success in farming. These can be grouped into production, institutional and market constraints. However, for women, gender largely determines the intensity of these known challenges where access can be near impossible due to the barriers being systematically and structurally expressed. What can be done, and should be done, to empower women not just in terms of greater access to resources, knowledge and support, but to overcoming female stereotypes and traditional gender roles in rural communities? Chitja: Empowerment is a process to capacitate and enable the other to take control and make decisions on the course of ones life. Indeed beyond access to resources, knowledge, and support, rural women need capacity enhancement in both human and social capital in order to translate the physical resources into products and income that can improve their livelihoods. Women live alongside men and interact with men in their households and in the villages, therefore, a solution lies in a process where engagement, negotiation, learning and change can result in agency. However, because of their role in farmer development, the extension service and NGOs will have to be transformed in their approaches to farmer development. The same applies to other state-holders including traditional authorities and policy makers. How big of an impact can empowered women have on resource usage, sustainable livelihoods, and household food security as well food security for the nation as a whole? Chitja: Women are largely nurturers and are interested in the welfare of the whole. These qualities also benefit men in poor households! Women make a larger percentage of the population and head many households in South Africas poor rural areas. As the main food producers in these areas, secure access and rights to productive resources can only be positive and lead to sustained livelihoods. Producing better food as they have improved access to land and importantly water for household food production, young childrens nutrition security will improve. There will be a positive impact on the health and economic burden on the state both in the short and long-term due to improved cognitive development of children and health of children and adults. The development and promotion of a cohesive automotive strategy for the African continent is gaining new impetus due to the strategic vision and guidance of the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM) russ witherington via 123RF A delegation from AAAM, led by Jeff Nemeth, chairman of AAAM as well as president and CEO of Ford Motor Company sub-Saharan Africa region, visited Nigerias capital city, Abuja, to engage with government and industry leaders. The programme included discussions with President Muhammadu Buhari, along with government ministers and representatives from Nigerias National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) and the National Automotive Manufacturers Association (NAMA). This was intended to create the framework for policy development to support the growth of the local industry. Aim of the AAAM AAAM was inaugurated on 25 November 2015 by founding members BMW, Ford, General Motors, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen, focusing on key markets of the African continent. The aim of the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers is to unlock the economic potential of the African continent by promoting a policy environment that is conducive to the development of the automotive sector, says Jeff Nemeth. As the African continent becomes increasingly important within the global economy, it is crucial that we develop an auto sector strategy backed up by incremental investments in infrastructure, skills development and in-market localisation programmes. This will make new vehicles more affordable, boost the industrialisation of the economy and lead to the growth of middle-income households, which will be the main driver for new vehicle sales, Nemeth says. Nigerian focus Outside of South Africa, which has a well-developed world-class automotive industry, Nigeria is recognised as a strategic market over the long term due to its demographics. Although Nigeria is recognised as Africas largest economy, the automotive sector is relatively small, with an estimated 44 vehicles per 1,000 inhabitants, according to Deloitte Africas Automotive Insights, published in April 2016. This is far below the global average of 180 vehicles per 1,000 inhabitants, and lower than other developing regions such as Latin America (176) and Asia, Oceania and the Middle East (79), the report indicates. One of the biggest challenges we face in Africa is the lack of reliable data on the number of new and second-hand vehicles sold on the continent, as very few countries have formal reporting or legislative structures to monitor the automotive sector, Nemeth adds. This is exacerbated by the large number of second-hand imports, with only a small proportion of new cars sold due to the high import duties and lack of affordable financing options. Mandate of engagement AAAMs mandate is to engage with government, industry bodies and representatives from the motor sector to provide advice on opportunities to formalise, develop and grow all aspects of the local automotive industry. This includes promoting an investor-friendly regulatory framework that will support the development and implementation of policies to establish a viable automotive manufacturing industry on the continent that includes both assemblers and suppliers. To unlock this market potential will require greater government and private sector partnerships to develop a formal legislative environment that is conducive to longer-term growth. It needs a more robust automotive strategy that promotes a sustainable and stable environment in support of local manufacturing operations, Nemeth says. CRM has evolved to encompass more than the traditional customer. In fact, this discipline should be seen as 'contact relationship management' rather than 'customer relationship management', and critical in any industry where relationships with customers, employees, suppliers and industry partners must be managed effectively. Its time organisations took a fresh look at the potential for advanced and efficient CRM systems, particularly when integrated with ERP, to improve their business relationships across the board. Heres five ways how businesses can benefit from an efficient CRM system: 1. Support for growth As soon as a small business passes the three employee mark, it starts facing the risk that it will lose track of customer engagement histories, partner relationships and even revenue due. Implementing an effective CRM system early in a businesss growth allows it to manage contacts, documents, tasks, customer dashboards, scheduling, workflow and more; in such a way that all relevant data can be built on to deliver a full repository of company IP in years to come. 2. Keeping IP in-house With an effective CRM system in place, sales leads, customer contact details and sales records are shared within the business, rather than residing with individual sales people. CRM puts customer and sales information and tasks back into the hands of the business in an automated, in your face way, facilitating better service delivery, sales and reporting. 3. Connecting a mobile workforce CRM serves as an important sales and organisational tool, which is especially important when coordinating the activities of a dispersed or mobile workforce. Through an efficient CRM system, management and employees can share information such as calendar activities, who is meeting who when, and trigger automated alerts when a key stage of a process has been reached. 4. Supporting accounts CRM can come into play in departments across the business, from operations to accounts. In the finance department, for example, the CRM system can be used to follow-up on invoices and account payments, to note what the commitment was, record what was said during the conversation, and set an alert for when the next call should be made. 5. Getting personal CRM tools can also help the enterprise build more personal relationships with contacts. For example, should a contact mention holiday plans during a business call with a sales representative, a note can be made on the CRM system, reminding the sales rep to ask the client how their holiday was during his next call. These personal touches go a long way toward improving relationships with clients and business partners. In South Africa, companies tend to perceive CRM as a tool for very limited industry use. Even companies that have CRM solutions in place often need educating on the potential to use the features across the enterprise. Given CRMs ability to support contact management across the organisation, its an enterprise tool no company should be without. And thanks to new subscription models, even the smallest business can benefit from these enterprise tools. With an explosion in mobile news growth on the African continent, World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) will hold its inaugural Digital Media Africa conference and Awards competition in Johannesburg from 28-30 September 2106. Digital media executives will gather to debate the hottest digital issues facing publishers on the continent and abroad. Innovation has no boundaries and our members and colleagues in Africa are a true testament to that with their inspiring mobile initiatives, says Vincent Peyregne, CEO of WAN-IFRA. There is so much to be learned from their example and to share with the rest of the world. Its an incredibly exciting time there for publishing and I am certain that same excitement will be on display at DM Africa. This years event is built around four main themes: Reader revenue Distributed content Metrics and KPIs Millennials and Generation Z African publishers including Caxton, Media24, Nation Media Group, Ringier, Independent, Times Media Group, DailyNews and the African Media Leaders Forum support the event. For more information, click here. On the next Biz Takeouts Marketing & Media radio show on Thursday, 25 August 2016, from 9-10am, show host Warren Harding chats about public relations with strategic communications firm marcusbrewster, who recently announced the launch of South Africa's first on-demand public relations service. With more than 25 years of experience in the industry, marcusbrewster is South Africas leading public relations agency. We host Marcus Brewster, chairman of marcusbrewster PR, in the 2oceansvibe radio studio to discuss the current state of play in the PR industry, the history of the agency and some of the highlights of the last 25 years and we look at the newly launched marcusbrewster on-demand PR service. Tune into Biz Takeouts every Thursday from 9am-10am live from the 2oceansVibe Radio studio in Cape Town as we discuss the topics that matter in Marketing & Media. How to listen Comments or questions Podcast A podcast of the show will be available in the Biz Takeouts special section on Biz later during the week. #WomensMonth: Be bold, be heard! Tania Pehl is a journalist and photographer who was the MC of the Black Filmmakers Film Festival held during Open Design week 2016. The Festival brings together emerging filmmakers and performers and showcases their work. I found out more about the Festival from Pehl, as well as some of the challenges women face in the film industry in South Africa, and how to overcome them. Tania Pehl Give us some background about yourself, and how your interest in film, photography and communications began? Give us some background about yourself, and how your interest in film, photography and communications began? Pehl: I am a journalist/photojournalist and my interest in film stems from the fact that I am a very visual person. I love to communicate through images because I feel that is best form of expression I am able to gauge with. Hence my interest in and role in communications within the Black Filmmakers Film Festival collective; I love sharing information with people and engaging because it is an intrinsic part of my personality. Tell us more about the Black Film Makers Festival... Tell us more about the Black Film Makers Festival... Pehl: Black Filmmakers Film Festival hosts monthly screenings on the last Wednesday of every month. The aim is to create a platform and showcase films made by people of colour whether you are the director, producer or have a lead role. We aim to celebrate the amazing work done by POC across the African continent. It is also a way for people within the industry to network. We also have a number of projects running such as our Ndim Ndim project; The Gugulethu lounge invites you into the homes of six families, where you will be exposed to a unique cinematic experience that involves inspiring short films made by renowned Kenyan director, Jim Chuchu and thereafter be treated to South Africas famous Chisa Nyama braai. What is your involvement in Open Design this year? What is your involvement in Open Design this year? Pehl: We were given the platform to share local films made by black directors; it was also a way for us to discuss whether as POC are we missing in action or merely shut out. We had industry professionals come speak to us about film and their role as directors, as well as discussing film as a business. Does a glass ceiling exist in your industry? Does a glass ceiling exist in your industry? Pehl: Having spoken to the BFFF team about this, we find that The unseen, yet unreachable barrier that keeps minorities and woman from rising to the upper rungs of the corporate ladder, regardless of their qualifications or achievements. Most importantly one of our members, Sarah Summer had something very relevant to share. She said that, The film industry is not necessarily an industry where you can make money unless you go corporate or work on other peoples projects." We have a problem with the production of our films and actually making it a viable industry for film directors because you land up doing it as a passion project and believe that after you make your first feature things will get better, but that it is not the case. Sarah had a meeting with a producer recently and she said she is scared of making money in the future, she is working really hard but that doesnt necessarily translate to her having a sustainable lifestyle. This producer advised her to get another job in order to sustain herself, so you have all these kind of ideas of where we want to go and what we want to do creatively, but once we get there we are not making the money so once we get there.. what then? It is this huge labour and then it's stuck. Thats why we need audience development and the BFFF screenings are important because it gets people to invest in SA film. Based on your experience, what advice would you give to women pursuing a career in the film and communications field? Based on your experience, what advice would you give to women pursuing a career in the film and communications field? Pehl: Do it! The industry is so dominated by men that we rarely hear from women professionals and how they made it. Their process, their journey just their story. We need sound advice from women who GET IT! We are powerful and engaging and our voices need to be heard; to impart knowledge. What is your message for Women's Month? What is your message for Women's Month? Pehl: Just embrace yourself. Feel and express ones emotions. Be bold! Be heard! Of course I am not worried about intimidating men. The type of man who will be intimidated by me is exactly the type of man I have no interest in. Chimamanda Adichie Rethabile Mashale Sonibare is the founder and director of Thope Foundation, a non-profit organisation providing primary school support programs to young girls in Khayelitsha. As a trained social worker, she holds a Masters degree in Social Policy and Management and is currently a PhD candidate conducting research on governance in non-profit organisations. In 2015 Rethabile represented South Africa as one of 500 African youth taking part in the Mandela Washington Fellowship under the Young African Leaders Initiative. She is also chairperson of Wordworks and serves on the board of Fundza Literacy Trust and the Greater Tygerberg Partnership. 1.What does the concept of time mean to you? Mashale Sonibare: It's the one thing we all have the same amount of, and the way we choose to use it determines how successful we are in achieving our goals. We all have 24 hours, I spend mine developing myself, immersed in work that serves my purpose, family and friends. 2. What is the greatest thing you have learnt from a younger or older generation than yourself? Mashale Sonibare: The one thing I have learnt from the younger generation-mainly the Thope Foundation girls, is that the wonder of life is created within our imaginations. We can create the world we live in, if only we have the imagination and belief that we can do anything. I have heard the saying: 'anything is possible, if you put your mind to it' many times, but never internalised it. Working with small children, their ability to move between reality and fantasy in a single thought, has brought the merger of the two worlds to life for me. 3. Tell us about something in your area of expertise that took you years to learn. Mashale Sonibare: I am not sure if I have completely learnt this, but I am learning, unlearning and relearning how to stand for justice without centering my narrative and personal beliefs on issues. Having shared a similar life story with the girls I work with, does not mean that I necessarily am the most appropriate person to represent their issues. So the bulk of my work is helping girls share their narratives and documenting their stories in a way that is authentic and reflects their truth. In time, I hope to keep getting better at praxis. 4. Our TEDxCapeTownWomen theme this year is "Lixesha | It is time". what do you believe is the most pressing issue we as a community/city/country/world need to address at this moment in time? Mashale Sonibare: There are so many pressing issues and to pick one is like betraying the nature and complexity of inequality and injustice. At the moment, the one pressing issue for me is the position of womxn and girls. Attacks on bodies, our intellectual capability, our fair and equal economic participation is so rampant that many womxn are living in fear of violence, cannot exercise their agency because of the backlash and are developing vicarious trauma, post traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues. Communities and South Africa as a whole cannot keep relegating these issues to one month of the year as if womxn and girls only exist in August. Now, that for me is an issue that we can't go without addressing. This means moving away from putting womxn and girls on the agenda, but rather making womxn and girls the agenda. Twitter: @ThopeF Watch Rethabile's TEDxCapeTownWomen talk: The 18th annual Sunday Times Top Brands awards took place on Tuesday, 23 August 2016, in Sandton. Hosted by Times Media, the awards represent the outcome of 3,500 nationally representative consumer interviews and 502 interviews with business decision-makers. The research, conducted by leading market research house TNS, reflects consumer and business perspectives on brands in South Africa. The prestigious awards are recognised in the industry as a real reflection of the voice of the consumer and TNS is very proud to have conducted the research on behalf of Times Media in a partnership which is in its eighth year. The methodology uses the concept of 'relative advantage' which means that the score a brand achieves is based on its brand penetration in the marketplace as well as its relative strength in the minds of users and non-users of the brand. This ensures that even small brands are given a fair opportunity if they are well loved by their users and strongly aspired to by non-users. The approach is in line with TNS thinking because it allows marketers to understand much about brand's relative power in the peoples' minds alongside their actual power in the market which is reflected by their market share. The Top Brands Awards covers 32 consumer categories, with three Grand Prix Awards for the Overall Favourite Brand Award, the Green Award, and the Community Award. For the Business Awards, there are 12 categories with three Grand Prix Awards for the Overall Favourite Brand, the Green Award and the Social Investment Award. The Robyn Putter Award recognises the creative agencies behind the top brands and is calculated on a points system for agencies based on their clients achievements at the Top Brands Awards. For a full list of all the winners remember to get this Sundays copy of the Sunday Times (Sunday 28th August). About TNS TNS advises clients on specific growth strategies around new market entry, innovation, brand switching and customer strategies, based on long-established expertise and market-leading solutions. With a presence in over 80 countries, TNS has more conversations with the world's consumers than anyone else and understands individual human behaviours and attitudes across every cultural, economic and political region of the world. TNS is part of Kantar, the data investment management division of WPP and one of the world's largest insight, information and consultancy groups. Please visit www.tnsglobal.com for more information. About Kantar Kantar is the data investment management division of WPP and one of the world's largest insight, information and consultancy groups. By connecting the diverse talents of its 12 specialist companies, the group aims to become the pre-eminent provider of compelling and inspirational insights for the global business community. Its 30,000 employees work across 100 countries and across the whole spectrum of research and consultancy disciplines, enabling the group to offer clients business insights at every point of the consumer cycle. The group's services are employed by over half of the Fortune Top 500 companies. For further information, please visit us at www.kantar.com. The MTV Africa Music Awards will rock Johannesburg, South Africa, for the first time on October 22, 2016. Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa and MTV Base (DStv channel 322) are once again highlighting the gold standard in music, creativity and achievement at the sixth edition of the MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA). The MTV Africa Music Awards Johannesburg 2016, brought to you by Joburg Tourism in association with Absolut, will broadcast live from The Ticketpro Dome, Johannesburg, South Africa on Saturday 22 October 2016. The ceremony will feature performances from African and international artists along with the shows signature cross-genre and cross-border collaborations This definitive annual celebration of African and international talent and achievement, MAMA 2016 recognises and rewards musicians and achievers who have made the most impact on African music and youth culture over the previous year. MAMA 2016 will celebrate African talent across 17 award categories, including Best Male, Best Female, Best Song and Best Collaboration by Absolut. The contribution of artists from Portuguese and French-speaking Africa will also be recognised in the Best Lusophone and Best Francophone categories. Additional categories include the Africa Re-Imagined Award and Personality of the Year. The nominations for the awards will be revealed in September 2016. Commented Alex Okosi, senior vice president and managing director, Viacom International Media Networks Africa: We are thrilled that the MTV Africa Music Awards will be taking place in Johannesburg, the City of Gold, for the first time on 22 October. We are looking forward to staging the largest awards show in Africa, in one of the continents most vibrant cities. Noted for its exciting youth culture and rich music scene, Joburg will make the perfect backdrop for our biggest MAMA ever." Nabintu Petsana, head of Joburg Tourism, commented: We are thrilled to welcome MAMA 2016 to Joburg for the first time, and look forward to hosting this extraordinary cultural experience which will play a key part in enhancing Joburg's profile on the international stage. Celebrating the pan-African scope of the MAMA, the sixth edition of these awards will encompass two Road to MAMA events featuring MAMA nominees and superstar DJs, to be held in Durban and Lagos. Another element of MAMA 2016 will be a music industry workshop for aspiring musicians held on the day prior to the awards (21 October). First staged in 2008, the MTV Africa Music Awards has recognised the talent of musicians, achievers and personalities from across Africa, rewarding iconic artists and gamechangers such as2Face Idibia, Big Nuz, Cassper Nyovest, Davido, DBanj, Flavour, Gangs of Ballet,HHP, Fally Ipupa, Liquideep, Mafikizolo, Lira, Nameless, Lupita Nyongo, Clarence Peters, Diamond Platnumz, Anselmo Ralph, Sarkodie, P-Square, Tiwa Savage, Cabo Snoop, Toofan, Trevor Noah, Zebra & Giraffe, Uhuru, Wahu, Yemi Alade, and many more. The MTV Africa Music Awards2016 will broadcast live on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) and MTV (DStv Channel 130) on Saturday 22 October at 21:00 CAT. The show will also be transmitted worldwide on partner stations and content platforms from October onwards, while MTV channels around the world will broadcast a one-hour MAMA-themed MTV World Stage. Subscribe to daily business and company news across 19 industries SUBSCRIBE "I cannot sack the islamophobe Konvicka," says his dean from the University of South Bohemia 24. 8. 2016 cas cteni 1 minuta The islamophobe Martin Konvicka, who teaches at the University of South Bohemia at Ceske Budejovice, is free to stage mock Islamic state attacks in Czech cities without being afraid that he would be sacked from his university position. Frantisek Vacha, his Dean at the University of South Bohemia, explains that Czech labour law makes it impossible for him to get rid of Konvicka. Czech labour law clearly defines all the reasons why an employee can be sacked and these do not include political activity of any kind of even political extremism. Konvicka is highly regarded as an expert in the field of entomology. Dean Vacha has been contacted by a number of members of the public who demand that Konvicka should be fired. The University of South Bohemia has not sacked Konvicka even when he was charged with the crime of hate speech for threatening to gas muslims. Mr Vacha said that he will wait for a court decision in this matter. Martin Konvicka will stand as a candidate for a new extreme right wing Czech political party "An Alternative for the Czech Republic" in the local authorities elections in the autumn. 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 4292 Source in Czech HERE APP chairperson U Zaw Win Tun said: We welcome the 21st Century Panglong Conference because it is aimed towards peace and the establishment of a federal (union). But, if all ethnic armed groups are not allowed to attend the conference this contradicts the all-inclusive policy so we wont attend. The government recently announced that the conference would be all-inclusive but is still blocking three armed groupsTaang Nationalities Liberation Army, Arakan Army and Kokangs Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Armyunless they issue a statement that they will disarm. When asked if the APP has been invited to the peace conference since the political party failed to secure a seat in the 2015 election, Zaw Win Tun replied that the party has been invited by the National Reconciliation and Peace Centre for todays discussions with the other political parties, but that they didnt attend it. We believe there wont be a peace conference if all ethnic armed groups are not allowed to participate, Zaw Win Tun said. United Nationalities Federal Council General Secretary U Khu Oo Reh told media this Monday that he hopes the Burmese government will decide to invite the excluded groups. Eighteen out of twenty-one armed groups have confirmed that they will join the peace conference scheduled to start on 31 August in capital Naypyidaw. Reporting by Narinjara News Translated by Thida Linn Edited by BNI staff Russian-made Mi-35 attack helicopters were allegedly used to assist Burma Army soldiers after they suffered high casualties during an offensive against a KIA Battalion 252 military camp in Nhkram Bum valley, according to Naw Bu. Since last week, the Burma military has been launching a large offensive against the mobile KIA battalion at Nhkram Bum and Kagam Bumpossibly to put pressure on the KIO Laiza headquarters that is located not far from where fighting is happening. Meanwhile, daily clashes with the Burma Army are breaking every day near Ledo and Hpakant roads in western Kachin State and around Kutkai and Muse Trade roads in northern Shan State. KIO information officer Lt-Col Naw Bu said that using military pressure against the KIO will not force them to sign the nationwide ceasefire agreement or attend the Union Peace Conference (also called the 21st Century Panglong Conference) that starts next Wednesday. The conflict needs to be resolved with political dialogue and not unwarranted aggression, he said. Reporting by KNG Translated by Thida Linn Edited by BNI staff Mon States popular Kyaik-thi-yo Pagoda (Photo: Internet) Mon States popular Kyaik-thi-yo Pagoda(Photo: Internet) Of those travelers, 70,459 visited Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, commonly known as the Golden Rock, in Mon States Kyaikhto Township. We are still working to attract more foreign visitors into our state, said U Haung Kyin Mhom, deputy director of Mon States Hotel and Tourism (Mawlamyine Branch) Department. The official statistics show that the international travelers represent over 50 countries, with the majority of travelers coming from Thailand, China, France, Germany and the U.S. Whilst the Golden Rock [Pagoda] experienced the most visitors in the state, tourists also traveled to Mon States 10 townships, including Mawlamyine, Chaungzone and Thanbyuzayat. The Kyaiktiyo Pagoda has also received a rising number of foreign visitors year upon year and across all seasons, with most crowds arriving in winter. In 2012, there were 60,000 travelers, over 80,000 in 2013 and approximately 120,000 in 2014. The pagoda sustains over 2,000,000 visitors living within Burma and around the world, according to Kyaikthiyo Pagoda Ancient Culture Zone Department. Every traveler, aside from foreign monks and government staff, is required to pay an entrance fee of 6,000 Kyat to the Kyaikthiyo pagoda, an ancient traditional area. Tourism in Mon State started booming in 2012, and the state has received an increasing number of international travelers each year. In 2012, the state had 66,788 travelers, while 113,153 visited in 2013, 172,349 in 2014, and 15,882 travelers visited the state 2015, according to the figure of Mon State Hotel and Tourism Department. Speaking at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT) in the Thai capital, Sai Khur Hseng of the Shan Sapawa Environmental Organization and spokesperson for this mornings joint-statement, said that the new Burmese government has tried to implement the hydropower projects without caring about the suffering of ordinary people. While all eyes were on the Irrawaddy- Myitsone dam, Burma has quietly sold off the Salween to China, said Sai Khur Hseng. We fear there has been a trade-off. Amidst the war, Australias Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation (SMEC) has been carrying out an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the Naung Pha Dam in secrecy, clearly to avoid the widespread grassroots protests that blocked its ESIA last year for another Chinese-backed dam on the Salween the giant Mong Ton Dam in southern Shan State, said the statement. The civic groups said that on August 5, more than 200 residents Tangyan Township an area in line to be flooded by dam construction staged a protest. Also, on August 21, about 60 community leaders from Ho Pang, Kunlong, Tangyan, Hsenwi and Lashio, including local Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) MPs, held a demonstration against the plans in Hsenwi Township. Representing environmental organization International Rivers, Pianporn Deetes said that the Thai government has been attempting to foster good relations with Naypyidaw, and had also done so with the previous Burmese administration, led by President Thein Sein, in a bid to push forward its agenda of building dams on the Salween River. The 3,000-kilometre Salween River, officially known in Burmese as the Thanlwin, is listed as the 25th longest waterway in the world, beginning in the Tibetan plateau, passing through southern China, Burma and the Thai border, before draining in the Andaman Sea. The Thai government is seeking to build at least three dams on the Salween River, including the Hatgyi Dam and Mong Ton Dam, she said. If the dams are built, there will be flooding in central Shan State. She continued: About a million Shan people had to migrate to Thailand due to forced relocation by the Burma army in the past 20 years. These people have to become migrant workers who work in construction sites. If the dams are built, they cannot return home because their houses will be under water. Therefore, they have to live in Thailand permanently. Thai environmental activist Pianporn Deetes urged the hydropower investors, as well as both the Thai and Burmese governments, to deeply consider the local peoples needs when the dams are built. There will huge impact on the environment, she added. But, more importantly, there will be a huge impact on the Shan community as well as human rights abuses. Tuesdays joint-statement read: Apart from concerns that the dam will cause increased fighting and displacement, villagers are fearful of dam breakage in this earthquake and flood-prone area. Ho Pang, the main Wa township to be impacted by the Naung Pha Dam, has suffered flooding and several earthquakes in the last few weeks. Ho Pang lies on the Nam Ting fault line. Nang Charm Tong, a Shan activist and spokesperson for todays event, said As they [the Burmese government] have announced that there will be no gain in terms of electricity, they should not build dams on the Salween. She added: We strongly oppose this activity. On August 18, Shan Herald reported that 26 Shan-based organizations had sent an open letter to Burmas State Counselor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi, during her visit to China. The groups had demanded that the Burmese government immediately stop all the hydropower projects on the Salween River. The blueprints for a hydropower project on the Salween include a series of dams in Shan State: the 7,100 megawatt Mong Ton Dam; the 1,400 MW Kunlong Dam; the 1,200 MW Nong Pha Dam; and the 200 MW Manntaung Dam. The project would also include plans for a 4,000 MW Ywathit Dam in Karenni State, and the 1,360 MW Hat Gyi Dam in Karen State. Investors in the projects include the China Three Gorges Corporation, a Chinese state-owned firm which operates the worlds largest dam on the Yangtze River. The other foreign firms involved in the Salween project are: Sinohydro; China Southern Grid; and a subsidiary of the state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand. Local partners are the Burmese Ministry of Electric Power and the International Group of Entrepreneurs (IGE), a firm controlled by the offspring of the late Aung Thaung, the long-time industry minister under Snr-Gen Than Shwes military regime. According to the related contracts, when the projects are completed, 90 percent of the electricity generated is to be exported to China and Thailand. By Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN) UNFC leaders confirmed its likely that the alliance that represents nine ethnic armed groups will take part in the peace conference. Khu Oo Reh, the leader of ethnic armed group alliances Delegation for Political Negotiation (DPN) said: If we can join the Conference Organising Committee its more certain we will attend (the peace conference). The alliance met with representatives of the governments Panglong Preparatory Committee and political parties last Sunday to discuss the framework for political dialogue and inclusion of non-nationwide ceasefire signatory groups. It is still unknown if the Taang National Liberation Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and Arakan Army--all of which have actively fought against the Burma Army in the last two years--will be allowed to attend despite the governments recent pledge that the conference will be all-inclusive. The Taang National Liberation Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army are members of the UNFC. The government has announced that no decisions will be made at the conference but that additional peace conferences will take place every six-months. Reporting by Sai Aung Saing for SHAN Translated by Thida Linn Edited by BNI staff SHAN has been unable reach the UWSA spokesperson for further information. A Wa media group reported that Mr. Sun and three other delegates from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, joined by six government delegates from Yunnan Province, visited Wa Special 2 capital Pangkham, formerly known as Panghsang, yesterday to discuss the groups willingness to join the Union Peace Conference (also known as the 21st Century Panglong Conference). Its rumoured that both the UWSA and the NDAA-ESS plan to attend the conference that kicks off next Wednesday in capital Naypyidaw. During Suu Kyis visit to China, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to assist Burma in the peace process. Eighteen of the countrys twenty-one armed groups are expected to attend the peace conference, according to media reports. Its still unknown if the Taang National Liberation Army, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Arakan Armyall of which have been excluded from joining because they fought with the Burma Army in the last two yearswill be invited after the government recently pledged that the peace conference will be all-inclusive. As a precondition for being part of peace talks, the Burma Army wants the three groups to issue a statement that they will end their arms strugglea demand that hasnt been given to any of the other groups, even those also fighting with the Burma Army. During the state counselors visit, they discussed investment and trade; the old Silk Road project; agreed to build the Kunlong Bridge with Chinas assistance; and a road connecting Kyaukphyu in eastern Burma to Kunming in Chinas Yunnan Province. The Kyaukphyu to Kunming Road will pass through Kokang area in northern Shan State. Ensuring regional stability in the previously restive area is imperative for China in order to secure the land to sea route that will extend from Kunming to Kyaukphyu in Arakan Statethe location of a deep-sea port that is currently in the works. In a move that has been criticized as non-transparent, former Thein Sein government awarded the main tender for the deep-sea port to state-owned China International Trust and Investment Corporation just months before the new government took office. Reporting by Sai Aung Saing for SHAN Edited by BNI staff Monsoon rains drench the cluster of small bamboo huts clinging to the sides of the Salween River bank that separates Thailand from Myanmar. The 475 leaf-roofed huts are home to 3,356 Karen people that make up the displaced community known as Ei Tu Hta. The camp came into existence in 2006 to house some of the 76,000 Karen villagers driven from their homes by Myanmar Army offensives that year. Current estimates by human rights groups estimate the number of displaced people in southeast Myanmar at between 400,000 and 500,000. Naw Delay, a former teacher, is undecided if the positive stories following the victory by Aung San Suu Kyis National League of Democracy in last Novembers national elections are just political spin or an indicator that she can finally start to make plans to return to her old village. Like many camp residents, she says the possibility of returning to her farm is a constant conversation point. We think about going back, but not a lot has changed. The army is still there. The violence may have decreased since the ceasefire, but we dont have guarantees that the militarys shoot-on-sight orders are not still in place. Naw Delay says most of the people living in Ei Tu Hta are scared. Scared of landmines, scared of not being able to feed their families, scared of what sort of future their children will have without education or land, and, most of all, scared of the Myanmar Army. We want to be able to work our land without fear, we want to be free of landmines and we want assurances that we wont have to run again because we are targets of the army, she says. CONSTANT FEAR The NLDs overwhelming election win has international governments, investors, hoteliers and international NGOs based in Yangon purring in anticipation of the financial opportunities to redevelop Myanmars long-neglected infrastructure. But the rain-lashed banks of the Salween River are a long way from the development euphoria reshaping Yangon. Camp secretary Lah Pwe Moo does not believe the new government will remove the army from their villages. People here have little expectations or hope from the government because we see the situation in our homeland has not changed if the army does not leave, there is no change. When people see the army on their land, the same army that used us as forced labour, raped, killed and burned us from our homes, we are afraid, he says. Lah Pwe Moo welcomes the thought that Myanmar could be more peaceful but questions why the army presence in Karen state is so dominant and why it is still waging war in other states against ethnic people. Its good there are some new freedoms in the cities travel, newspapers but ethnic people know all about the fighting that is displacing many villagers in Shan and Kachin areas. Is that a sign the military wants peace? he asks. Reports by frontline humanitarian organisation Free Burma Rangers, which has documented 33 armed clashes since May between ethnic armed groups in Kachin and Shan states, confirm Lah Pwe Moos fears. It claims government forces have used jet fighters and heavy artillery 17 times, leaving at least 11 dead and nine missing. Lah Pwe Moo says his immediate concern is what to do when foreign funding for Ei Tu Hta stops next year. People are talking about what they can do when the rice supply stops. Some will wait to see what [ethnic] leaders advise them to do and others will decide to leave and see if they can find some way to house and feed their families. He is dismissive of suggestions that people in Ei Tu Hta are doing it easy by existing on handouts from international donors. Adults only get 12kg of rice a month and children under five get 6kg. We struggle to look after our kids, he says. People are here not because of what they get, theyre here because they fear the army. We would go back if the army got off our land and left us alone. Move the army out and we wont need support, we can stand on our own two feet. Lah Pwe Moo questions why international governments and aid organisations are quick to forget that his people were battered off their land, used as forced labour by the army, tortured, killed and left with little choice but to run for their lives. We lost our farms, houses, plantations we took only what we could carry, and a pregnant woman in our group died on the way. The army was behind us all the time. We just had to run. Coming here was our only choice, he says. He struggles to understand how international NGOs can speak of funding cuts to vital services health, education and rations while they spend millions of dollars a year renting compounds in Yangon. It makes us angry that some [international] donors also think like this. They dont consider that their costs vehicles, air-conditioned offices, big salaries all eat funds that could be used for health or education. To feed the 3,356 camp residents for a month costs 617,540 baht (around US$19,000). The World Health Organisation reportedly pays annual rent of $948,000 for its Yangon office, while the United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund office costs a staggering $87,000 a month, well over $1 million a year. DRIVEN FROM HOMES Despite the constant rain, Ei Tu Hta residents snatch time between downpours to wash clothes, young men play ball games, small children splash around puddles and school classrooms are full. Elderly men and women, loaded with green-leafed plants and heavy root vegetables, show the strain of long daily treks to jungles to forage for food to supplement their rations. Before they were driven from their homes, many camp residents lived in well-established communities. Now these teachers, farmers and community leaders exist as best they can. Naw Delays voice drops to a whisper when she recalls what drove her to flee. My great-grandparents and their grandparents farmed our land. The Burma Army declared our area a black zone shoot on sight for anyone found there. We couldnt live with the fear any more. When we heard the army was coming, we ran with only what we could carry. Naw Delay says the army tortured people in front of us, with four village women detained, sexually abused and then killed. All aged under 30, three of them were married. She says her family lost their farm, home, household furniture and possessions. They shot all our animals 30 buffalo, chickens, goats and pigs and left them in the fields to rot. Burned our barns. Every village house was burned over 60 of them, she recalls. My three nephews were killed. They had gone back to the village to get food, but the army shot them they were only 15, 16 and 20. We just escaped with our lives. The army came 30 minutes after we fled. Despite her fear of the army, she still hopes she can return home one day. We still have our land, but the army has run a road alongside it to their camp on the hill overlooking our house. Soldiers come to take water to their camp from our stream. I feel vulnerable, afraid to go back. Two or three years ago, a villager who went back stepped on a landmine near our farm. He died Eh Nay Gay, now 30, was 10 when soldiers came for his father. Soldiers tortured him, tied him to a log in the river and left him to drown. Mother cried for seven days she still does. His mother, Naw Sha Paw, sits huddled, frail against the bamboo wall of their home as she listens to her sons telling of the wrongs done to her family. Her legs are drawn up against her as if for protection. The month-long trek it took the family to get to Ei Tu Hta took its toll on the elderly woman. Not long after arriving at the camp in 2006, Naw Sha Paw had a stroke that left part of her paralysed and with limited speech. Eh Nay Gay places a hand on his mother to calm and reassure her as he talks of the torture and killing of his father and the trek through jungle and over mountains that almost killed his mother. It was the hot season, he recalls. We had to cross many army roads, avoid patrols and landmines. We only moved at night. There were 300 of us. When the kids cried, we force-fed them to keep them quiet. We were scared they would fire mortars at us. We couldnt use torches. Every one of us held hands, while some tied rope to keep together. Mother was dizzy, faint and sick. Naw Kpru Htoo, who lives with her husband, daughters and mother in the camp, places the blame for her plight directly on the army. We had been walking for two days, hiding and running. Soldiers were on both sides. It was cold. I was pregnant with my daughter. My waters broke. I had to stop, I couldnt go on, she says. Without blankets or a floor mat, unable to light a fire and in constant fear of shelling, Naw Kpru Htoo says the jungle was a tough place to give birth. In a normal world you are taken care of when you give birth. In the jungle I couldnt get warm. We couldnt light a fire to heat water to clean myself. I was scared my babys cries would bring the soldiers to us. The last time Naw Kpru Htoo ran from the army was in 2006 on the back of a ceasefire between the Karen National Union and Myanmars former military regime. We dont know if this peace will last, she says. All the fighting has meant our families are scattered like leaves. We are ordinary people, we just want to get on with our lives, but I do hope [Aung San Suu Kyi] can bring real peace. Naw Kpru Htoos mother, Khu Paw, 83, sits in the middle of the room rubbing a thick brown concoction into her stretched-out left leg. She is suffering from a broken leg and is treating it with traditional methods. I fell on the uneven ground on April 24 and broke it, she says. Its clear from Khu Paws eyes the fracture is causing her pain. The thinness of Khu Paws leg makes it easy to spot the break. The old woman replaces the pain with a smile and dismisses suggestions she should go to a hospital. Im old. Of course it hurts, but I want to treat it traditionally. Theres no need to waste money on transport, medicine or doctors and who has the time to accompany me? A camp official said it is not uncommon for older people to suffer pain and sickness rather than burden their families with the costs of getting medical treatment. HISTORY OF VIOLENCE A Karen Human Rights Group report called Hidden Strengths, Hidden Struggles indicates that despite the ceasefire with the Karen National Union and the government, ethnic women still live in fear over personal security, sexual violence, land confiscation and access to a secure income. The report found that women living near army camps fear doing even the most ordinary activities such as bathing and collecting water. The report cites a woman from Toungoo district in Kayin state who described how villagers were afraid to go down to the river because a Myanmar Army camp belonging to Light Infantry Division 66 had been set up in the area. The woman said villagers are facing problems with getting water for cooking, drinking and bathing. Villagers dare not take a bath in the river. Australian professor Desmond Ball, author or editor of more than 40 books on military intelligence, says Myanmars generals spent years crafting, planning and positioning themselves to be in political power no matter who won the countrys elections. Speaking from Canberra, he concedes that Myanmar has made some improvements but warns that ethnic areas are being robbed off their natural wealth by the military and its business cronies. Companies, often owned by military personnel and backed up by army units, have displaced ethnic people from land that might hold valuable minerals, or vast tracts of farmland that can be used for commercial rice, rubber and corn plantations, or areas usable for important and profitable infrastructure projects, Prof Ball says. In a small airless, concrete room on the Thai-Myanmar border, Col De Kwe says he has been fighting as part of the Karen National Liberation Army since 1987. His family were forced from their home by a Myanmar Army offensive. While there is major change happening politically, it is a double-edged sword for many ethnic people. All-weather roads are getting better and its easier for people and traders to travel, but it also allows the army easy access to ethnic lands. We have try to find peaceful ways to change the situation, Col De Kwe says. He says land confiscated from villagers by the Myanmar Army is one of the biggest issues that needs to be resolved. Its the first thing villagers raise and its the same in every village. Most of our people used to own land that the army confiscated and sold to business people its really difficult to deal with, he says. At township level there is documentation of these disputes and investigations of who owns the land, who sold it and to whom. A problem is that as soon as a business buys it from the army, they rush it through to get the necessary ownership papers. This makes it difficult for villagers to contest as in many cases they have lost their papers. This is happening in other ethnic areas as well. A 2015 Global Witness report in northeastern Myanmar, Guns, Cronies and Crops, investigated how the military, political and business cronies conspired to confiscate land from ethnic minority villagers in order to establish commercial rubber plantations. The 18-month investigation found that by 2013 a staggering 5.3 million acres of land thirty-five times the size of Yangon had been leased out to investors for commercial agriculture, the majority without the consent of its owners. CONSTITUTIONAL POWER Col De Kwe says resolving the decade-old land confiscation by the Myanmar Army and regional authorities will be difficult. Much will depend on how the [NLD] government can resolve the constitutional issues and the power the military holds through the constitution. Chapter 1, Article 37, of the 2008 constitution leaves no doubt over who owns the countrys land. The Union [State] is the ultimate owner of all the land, and natural resources above and below the ground, above and beneath the water and within the atmosphere within its territorial boundary. Naw Delay and the tens of thousands of other Myanmar citizens tortured, jailed, abused and murdered by the military believe their best hope for retribution may rest with the international criminal courts. The International Centre for Transitional Justice points out that the immunity clause in the constitution may be limited by international law and Burmas international treaty obligations. There is a general consensus under international law that national laws or constitutions cannot provide amnesties for genocide, crimes against humanity or other serious violations of international humanitarian law. Naw Delays eyes harden as she tracks her few possessions in her small bamboo home before smiling at a gaggle of listening children. She searches for the words that explain what she feels about the abuses the Myanmar Army committed against her and the Ei Tu Hta residents. She is adamant that the carnage and killing that took place in her village should not be forgotten. What happened to us should be recorded and there needs to be action taken so that it doesnt happen again. Villagers lost everything. Our schools, churches and villages were destroyed. How can we forget? I cant forget. *This article first appeared on Bangkok Post, Spectrum on 21/8/2016. WASHINGTON The Government Finance Officers Association has issued an alert urging municipal issuers to be prepared for settlement offers from the Securities Exchange Commission under its program for voluntary self-reporting of violations in connection with continuing disclosure obligations. The SEC is turning to issuers following its Feb. 2 completion of settlements with underwriters under the Municipalities Continuing Disclosure Cooperation (MCDC) initiative, first announced in March 2014. The MCDC program allows underwriters and issuers to receive lenient settlement terms if they self-report any instances during the past five years that issuers falsely claimed in official statements that they were in compliance with their self-imposed continuing disclosure agreements. As of Feb. 2, the SEC completed its underwriter settlements, having ordered a total of 72 firms making up 96% of the market share for muni underwritings to pay a total of $18 million for selling muni bonds using offering documents that stated issuers had filed timely disclosure in compliance with their continuing disclosure obligations, when they had not. The firms were hit with fines of up to $500,000. The commission is expected to soon start settling with issuers that falsely disclosed they had complied with their continuing disclosure agreements, such as by filing timely audited financial and operating information, when they had not. The SEC is not expected to impose fines on issuers but has reserved the right to pursue separate enforcement action against government officials found culpable for the material misstatements or omissions in offering documents, GFOA noted in its alert. "We really put this piece together to try to help our members prepare for MCDC settlements with SEC," said Dustin McDonald, director of GFOA's federal liaison center here. "We want our members to know that the SEC will offer them flexibility in the turnaround time to agree to the settlements if additional time is requested." The alert said that, while some underwriters were given as little as one week to agree to an SEC settlement offer, issuers should ask for additional time if they need it after being pressed for action. "The SEC's Office of Municipal Securities has assured GFOA that issuers will be given greater flexibility in approving proposed settlements and that additional time will be provided," the alert said. In any case, issuers should be prepared for tight settlement timeframes and should discuss the process for approving settlement offers with elected officials, governing boards and other decision-makers, the alert recommended. GFOA also suggested issuers consult with legal counsel on proposed settlements and how best to respond to the SEC's enforcement division. In addition, issuers should obtain advice from counsel about the appropriate disclosures that should be made about settlements, the alert said. GFOA told issuers that the SEC may direct them, in settlements, to establish policies and procedures as well as training regarding continuing disclosure obligations within 180 days. The commission may also ask them to provide the staff with a certification within one year that their continuing disclosures comply with their self-imposed obligations, according to the alert. The SEC has not provided any information on how many issuer settlements it is pursing or whether there will be more than one round of such settlements, GFOA said. The Most Extensive and Reliable Source of Information Related to the Mexican Drugs Cartels. You will not find this level of coverage anywhere else, join us! WARNING: Posts may contain strong violent material, discretion is advised. COMMENTS: We do not publish all comments, and we do not publish comments immediately. A file photo of North Korean rocket launch. SEOUL (AFP): North Korea test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile on Wednesday, days after threatening a nuclear strike in retaliation at the start of large-scale South Korea-US military exercises. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the missile was launched from a submarine in the East Sea (Sea of Japan) at around 5:50 AM Seoul time (0220 IST). The brief statement gave no further details and offered no verdict on the success of the test. The launch came amid escalating cross-border tensions and just days after tens of thousands of South Korean and US troops kicked off their annual "Ulchi Freedom" military drill. Seoul and Washington insist such joint exercises are purely defensive in nature, but Pyongyang views them as wilfully provocative. North Korea on Monday condemned the drill as an "unpardonable criminal act," and warned that any violation of territorial sovereignty would result in a "pre-emptive nuclear strike". The two-week annual Ulchi Freedom drill, which plays out a scenario of full-scale invasion by the nuclear-armed North, is largely computer-simulated but still involves around 50,000 Korean and 25,000 US soldiers. The exercise always triggers a rise in tensions on the divided Korean peninsula, and this year it coincides with particularly volatile cross-border relations following a series of high-profile defections. South Korean President Park Geun-Hye further angered Pyongyang this week by suggesting the defections showed "serious cracks" in supreme leader Kim Jong-Un's regime. Park also warned that North Korea may carry out "various terror attacks and provocations" in a show of strength aimed at building national unity and loyalty to Kim. On Sunday the Unification Ministry in Seoul urged all citizens to be on guard against possible North Korean assassination attempts on defectors and anti-Pyongyang activists in the South. North Korea has conducted a number of submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) tests -- with varying degrees of success. North Korea has been pushing to acquire an SLBM capability that would take its nuclear strike threat to a new level, allowing deployment far beyond the Korean peninsula and the potential to retaliate in the event of a nuclear attack. Current UN resolutions prohibit North Korea from any test of ballistic missile technology. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/08/2016 (2257 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. All charges have now been dropped against three accused in a high-profile sexual assault case. One man previously had his charges stayed and the remaining two men had them dropped on Tuesday in exchange for peace bonds, just as their preliminary hearing was scheduled to get underway. This is obviously a very serious file; some issues arose unexpectedly, Crown attorney Deidre Badcock told Judge John Combs. Our complainant is here, she is co-operative, but she is supportive of todays resolution. In August 2015, a woman reported that shed been taken from a Brandon bar to a rural home, where she was raped by a number of men. According to allegations outlined in court documents at the time, a road construction worker dialed 911 when he spotted the woman, wearing only a large blanket, walking in the ditch east of the city. Three men were charged with sexual assault and forcible confinement. On March 31, Colin Timothy Parayeski, 26, had his charges dropped after it was determined there was no evidence of wrongdoing on his part. Parayeski agreed to sign a one-year peace bond that required him to have no contact with the complainant or former co-accused. Anthony James Deacon, 26, and Ivan Walter Desjardins, 30, agreed on Tuesday to sign similar peace bonds preventing them from having contact with the complainant. Their charges were then also dropped. The men arent admitting to any wrongdoing by signing the peace bonds. All three men had been released while pending on their charges. Following court, Badcock and co-Crown counsel Brett Rach didnt get into details, but said the decision to drop charges in exchange for peace bonds wasnt taken lightly. Badcock and Rach said theyd re-evaluated the evidence leading up to the scheduled preliminary hearing, which is held to determine if theres enough evidence to proceed to trial. On Tuesday morning, they then had a conversation with a Crown witness. Their story, it had the potential to raise a reasonable doubt in our case, Badcock said. The Crowns said, based on that, they approached defence counsel with the offer that resolved the case. Deacons lawyer, Andrew Synyshyn, said Parayeski had provided a statement that corroborated his own clients account that he hadnt committed a crime. Desjardins lawyer, Roberta Campbell, said there were also doubts about the complainants recollection of events and questions surrounding physical evidence. ihitchen@brandonsun.com Twitter: @IanHitchen Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/08/2016 (2257 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The Progressive Conservative candidate in Brandon East spent four times more than his NDP counterpart and nearly 20 times more than his Liberal challenger in this years provincial election. Len Isleifson won the election with 3,669 votes, ousting the NDPs Drew Caldwell from the seat he held since 1999. According to Isleifsons financial return posted to the Elections Manitoba website, his total expenses were just over $57,000. This includes $38,700 for election expenses and nearly $19,000 in non-election expenses in the candidacy period. According to Elections Manitoba, election expenses are those used during the election period, which begins the date the writ is issued (March 16) and ends on election day (April 19). Non-election expenses are those used outside the election period, which runs from the date the individual becomes a candidate until two months after election day, excluding the election period. Isleifson spent $8,200 on advertising, $7,500 on posters/pamphlets and nearly $12,000 on polling. Meanwhile, Vanessa Hamilton, who garnered 830 votes in the election as the Liberal candidate, spent a total of $2,900, which includes $30 for advertising, nearly $700 on posters/pamphlets and $652 for signs/structural support. The only non-election expense filed during the candidacy period was $93 for office supplies/postage. Caldwell received 2,534 votes in the April election, ending the NDP dynasty in Brandon East. Since the modern riding was created in 1968, it had been held by an NDP MLA. Caldwell spent a total of $13,000, which includes $2,300 on advertising, $3,100 for posters/pamphlets and nearly $1,700 on signs/structural support. Of Caldwells $13,000 total, just over $1,000 was filed for non-election expenses in candidacy period. In Brandon West, Progressive Conservative Reg Helwer easily secured a second term with 5,624 votes, ahead of NDP candidate Linda Ross 1,884. Helwer spent just over $48,000 in total expenses, including $6,000 on advertising, nearly $8,000 for posters/pamphlets, nearly $4,000 in polling and $3,400 for signs/structural support. Included in Helwers total is $15,000 in non-election expenses, which includes things like transportation, accommodation, office supplies, etc. Ross spent a total of $14,800, which includes roughly $1,900 in advertising, $2,200 for posters/pamphlets and $2,800 for signs. Liberal candidate Billy Moore, who received 631 votes, has not yet filed his return, and has been granted an extension until Sept. 6. Elections Manitoba sets maximum spending amounts for each constituency based on the number of registered voters. For Brandon East, the spending limit is $41,361, including an advertising limit of $8,529. The spending limit in Brandon West is $45,409, which includes an advertising limit of $9,363. Elections Manitoba spokesperson Alison Mitchell explained that the limit refers to the expenses used in the election period, not the expenses filed through the candidacy period. Based on what weve received, all of these candidates are under the limit, she said. The April 19 election saw the Progressive Conservatives elected with the largest Manitoba majority government in a century 40 seats. The former NDP government, facing public anger over a 2013 sales tax increase, was reduced to 14 seats. The Liberals won three seats, which was two more than in the last election. Of the Brandon candidates, Helwer by far received the most individual contributions $48,700, which includes 59 contributions of $250 or more. Under Manitoba law, political donations of $250 or more must be made public with the donors name and value of their donation. Some notable contributors on Helwers list include Rick Borotsik, Jared Jacobson, John Kelleher, Bob Mazer and Gord Peters. Isleifson garnered more than $16,000 in individual donations, including 19 contributions of $250 or more. Some names listed include former Brandon-Souris Conservative MP Merv Tweed and current Tory MP Larry Maguire. Hamilton received $713 in contributions. Both NDP candidates, Ross and Caldwell, have zero contributions listed. jaustin@brandonsun.com, with files from The Canadian Press Twitter: @jillianaustin Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/08/2016 (2257 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Administrators at the Brandon School Division are beginning to digest how a new, provincially mandated way of monitoring and improving literacy and numeracy scores in Manitoba schools, especially among aboriginal students, will affect students in the Wheat City. At a board meeting on Monday night, BSD Supt. Marc Casavant took trustees through a preliminary look at the kindergarten to Grade 12 Framework for Continuous Improvement, a provincial government initiative in the early stages of rollout. The transition comes after promises made by the Progressive Conservatives during the spring provincial election, when now-Premier Brian Pallister pledged to make elementary school literacy a priority, and promised a program to ensure Manitoba students will read at or above national levels by Grade 3. Colin Corneau/The Brandon Sun Graciela DeTobar works with two parents new to Brandon to register their child for the upcoming academic year at Ecole New Era School on Tuesday afternoon. The new school year starts on Sept. 7. A spokesperson for Manitoba Education and Training, who asked not to be named, said the new plan will require school divisions to develop data-informed and -focused plans and provide communities with information about the ongoing progress made to achieve their stated goals. Casavant told trustees the framework will include specific requirements of the division for planning, including posting their plans on school division websites and more standardized reporting methods for data that will begin to be collected provincewide. The reporting aspect is basically going to have us reporting on our planning pieces. I think thats really prudent on (the governments) part and certainly the board, I think, is wanting to see us comply with good practice, Casavant said after the meeting. Its nothing that were fearful of by any means, and its nothing were going to hide from. In fact, Casavant said much of what will be required from the division is likely already being done internally. This might replace a different report that were already creating, that had a different flavour to it that Brandon School Division is doing on its own before, he said. Casavant, who until this July worked for school divisions in Saskatchewan, said the framework resembles a similar model introduced by Saskatchewan Premier Brad Walls government. Casavant acknowledged that improving scores among aboriginal students is a major piece, noting that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and the Manitoba Office of the Auditor General all called for a strong focus on student achievement data and educational outcomes for the province regarding aboriginal students and children in care. We know students of aboriginal descent are not doing as well as the rest of the population, so I think its incumbent on everyone in the province to be working on that and this helps put a focus on it, Casavant said. Currently, the BSD does collect data on aboriginal student success, board chair Mark Sefton said, but the division has been leery to release the data outside of the division because of confidentiality issues. We tend not to publish a whole lot of that because once you start to break it down, we dont want to get into a situation where we are identifying individual kids or one of a group of three kids or anything like that, he said. Another challenge is that the BSD relies on its students to identify themselves as having aboriginal ancestry for all its data collection. Not all students self-declare, and Im sure theres a variety of reasons why they dont self-declare, Sefton said. So when we do compare aboriginal student achievement versus the group, then we can only deal with those who are self-declared. Costs associated with the transition arent yet known, Casavant said. When we try to implement a plan, well try to put our costs associated with the inputs, and (show) the outputs that were going to see as a result of that, he said. The division will be expected to have plans prepared for Oct. 31, 2017, with reporting to the province complete by June 15 of the 2017-18 school year. tbateman@brandonsun.com Twitter: @tombatemann Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/08/2016 (2257 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Last week, news broke that federal Health Minister Jane Philpott had spent $1,700 on a high-end car service for a single day of driving her around the Toronto area. Her office then revealed there were more in the same vein: a $2,000 bill for a car on the day the minister spoke at a July meeting in Niagara Falls; $3,800 for 20 trips ($190 each) to Torontos Pearson Airport before flying to Ottawa for ministerial business. Worse still, Philpott knew the owner of the limousine company was a Liberal supporter who had volunteered on her election campaign. Within days, she had admitted this was unacceptable and agreed to repay taxpayers for the cost. Philpott is not the first politician to get caught soaking taxpayers, and she wont be the last. Shes only the latest in what sometimes feels like a relentless current of wasted money. Sen. Mike Duffy who billed Canadians for the cost of his personal trainer, among many other dubious expenses is one of the more infamous examples. And who could forget former Conservative cabinet minister Bev Oda who dinged taxpayers for pricey limousine rides and hotel stays while on business in London, as well as her $16 orange juice? (Oda later repaid taxpayers $3,000). While Duffy remains defiant as he returns to the Senate and returns to billing Canadian taxpayers, at least both Oda and Philpott conceded their mistakes after getting caught. And its certainly a good thing that a politician can at least admit when theyve done something wrong. The problem, of course, is that the wrongdoing needs to be exposed first. And under the current system of expense disclosure which requires media outlets and watchdogs like the Canadian Taxpayers Federation to file endless Access to Information requests to get numbers and details theres little incentive for politicians to worry about getting caught. Sure, theres always a small chance some enterprising reporter will stumble upon something scandalous. But more often than not, dubious spending will remain hidden, buried in an ocean of information that no one will ever ask to see. Under the current system, which in some cases only requires aggregated figures or vague categories of disclosure, Canadians are left in the dark about most of the details. And the details matter: the reason Philpotts $1,700 limo bill is outrageous is because its for a single day; the same goes for Odas $16 for a single orange juice. If these specific details had not been uncovered, and instead rolled into a month or years worth of ground transportation or meal expenses, no one may ever have noticed in the first place. Its time we force senators, members of Parliament and their staff to pay more attention to their expenses before they incur them by requiring physical expense receipts to be proactively scanned and posted online. Since politicians must already provide physical or scanned receipts to claim reimbursement, theres little extra administrative work to do. Its just a matter of posting them online. Nor is it uncharted administrative territory: its already done in the City of Toronto and in Alberta. Such a policy would force politicians and their staff to look at every prospective expense and ask themselves: is this a reasonable expense? Does it pass the smell test? If the answer to either of these questions is no, you can bet they will think twice about incurring the expense. It is probably impossible to design a system that will completely eliminate cavalier expenses by politicians. But we can certainly tilt the odds in taxpayers favour by making sure politicians know were all watching them closely. Aaron Wudrick is the federal director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/08/2016 (2257 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Earlier this week, finance ministers of Canada, five provinces and the Yukon appointed the 15 securities lawyers and bankers who will be directors of Canadas national securities regulator. None of them, however, will speak for Manitoba, because the former Greg Selinger government thought Manitobans should not enjoy the protection of such an agency. Brian Pallisters Conservative government, in office 3 1/2 months, has shown no interest in the matter. The train is leaving the station and Manitoba is watching slack-jawed from the platform. Canada is the only country among advanced market economies that has no national securities regulator to protect the public from the scams that proliferate in the securities business and to preserve orderly and efficient markets. The U.S. has its Securities and Exchange Commission. The U.K. has its Financial Conduct Authority, plus the regulatory arm of the Bank of England. Canada has a patchwork of local agencies run by each province, none of them with countrywide scope or jurisdiction. British Columbia, Yukon, Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and the federal government have agreed on creating a Capital Markets Regulatory Authority that will pool federal and provincial powers. Each legislature will pass a uniform Capital Markets Act and Parliament will pass a Capital Markets Stability Act, which will give the new agency power to protect the public from 21st-century scams. None of this will do Manitoba residents any good, however, because Mr. Selinger fiercely defended the local regulatory monopoly of the Manitoba Securities Commission. Mr. Pallister, up to now, is following suit. Because Manitoba has been sitting this one out, it has not joined in drafting the uniform Capital Markets Act each participating province and territory will pass. If Mr. Pallister and Finance Minister Cameron Friesen wake up in time, they may get a chance to name a candidate for the board in the next round of appointments. They may be stuck, however, with the terms already agreed to among the other provinces for the uniform Capital Markets Act. As with the Canada Pension Plan reform, Manitoba is once again asleep at the switch and must simply ratify what was decided in its absence. Finance ministers of the participating provinces and territory aim to pass the uniform Capital Markets Act through their legislatures by June 30, 2018. They agreed to steps to launch the new co-operative system and assure a smooth transition for market participants. They said they would continue listening to stakeholders and revising the draft legislation. If Mr. Friesen and Mr. Pallister speak up now, they may have a chance to join in shaping the system. But the train is disappearing down the track. If they decide next year that Manitobans should have the same protections as people in Saskatchewan and B.C., Manitobans may be out of luck. Companies need to raise money from savers and investors in order to expand their businesses, create jobs and expand the Canadian economy. Manitoba business and the Manitoba job market depend on this system as much as anyone else. Savers and investors should not entrust their money to a market that is not efficiently regulated. Regulation of a kind is provided for the moment because almost all companies trying to raise funds in Canada register with the Ontario Securities Commission, which protects its people as best it can, but Manitoba and its government have no voice in that agency. In an age when money and misinformation slosh around the globe at lightning speed, Canada and half its provinces are trying to keep pace. Manitoba should join the effort. Winnipeg Free Press The National Crime Agency (NCA) made 44 disruptions of child sexual exploitation, drugs and money laundering gangs in the North last year. The organisation, dubbed the British FBI, also assisted police in tackling cyber crime, tracing missing people and pursuing a Lithuanian drugs investigation with links to Northern Ireland. Ongoing investigations are being held into the sale of Northern Ireland assets owned by the National Assets Management Agency (Nama). The NCA has also provided child protection training for teachers and helped reinforce the security of Northern Ireland-issued bank notes against counterfeiting. A spokesman for the NCA said: "The National Crime Agency is committed to tackling organised crime throughout the UK. "In Northern Ireland the NCA works closely with the PSNI and recorded 44 disruptions between April 2015 and March 2016. "Thirty-eight disruptions are related to the child sexual exploitation threat (two joint NCA/PSNI investigations - 36 people have been arrested); five to drugs and one to money laundering." The organisation's crime operations support teams have assisted police in investigations into murders, sexual assaults and crime against children. The spokesman added: "The UK International Crime Bureau (hosted by NCA) provides ongoing assistance to a number of PSNI operations - including a Lithuanian drugs investigation with links to Northern Ireland and a missing persons enquiry." The 44 disruptions does not include some live investigations which do not always fall within a period covered by an annual report. The NCA was launched in 2013 but not introduced in Northern Ireland until almost two years later. The delay was down to a political row over how to make NCA officers subject to the same accountability mechanisms that regulate the PSNI. The eventual political deal at Stormont that enabled full empowerment of the NCA was made possible by the introduction of beefed-up oversight measures to ensure agency officers were accountable to the Northern Ireland Policing Board and subject to scrutiny by the independent police complaints watchdog, the Police Ombudsman. NCA officials briefed members of the Policing Board recently. An emergency landing has taken place at Cork Airport this morning, with reports that the cockpit on the Aer Lingus plane filled with smoke. It is understood the Aer Lingus Regional flight EI 3701 was en route to Cork from Birmingham when the captain called for assistance. It is reported that the cockpit filled with smoke, but Cork Airport says it is not yet in a position to confirm this. The 72-seat ATR 72 aircraft after its landing at Cork Airport. Picture: Larry Cummins Management at the airport have said that the captain of the plane had reported an issue on board the flight on approach to the airport. LIVE on #Periscope: Scene at #Cork Airport where an aircraft has landed safely after declaring an-inflight emergenc https://t.co/XTbMUDWc54 Eoin English (@EoinBearla) August 24, 2016 Reports of smoke being seen from the cockpit could not be confirmed by the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), which is responsible for Cork Airport. A DAA spokesman said the plane landed safely as scheduled at about 10.05am with emergency services on stand-by. "All passengers have safely disembarked the aircraft," he said. "There are reports that there was smoke from the cockpit but I can't confirm that." The Air Accident Investigation Unit of Dublin's Department of Transport has been called in to investigate the incident. Management at the facility activated its full emergency plan and all 59 passengers and four crew landed safely at 10.05am. Cork Airport's Communications Manager Kevin Cullinane outlined the procedure. He said: "The full emergency plan for Cork Airport was activated, so all the various emergency services within the region were deployed. UPDATE Stobart Air #EI3701 just landed at Cork with 'smoke in the cabin' - @NikPhillips666 https://t.co/L6CuqpjHKh AIRLIVE (@airlivenet) August 24, 2016 "The aircraft safely landed at Cork Airport at 10.05am and all 59 passengers have safely disembarked the aircraft thanks to the speedy and efficient response of our own airport fire and police services and indeed those of the Cork City Fire Brigade." Aircraft has landed safely @CorkAirport after full emergency declared Cork Airport (@CorkAirport) August 24, 2016 One unit from Carrigaline fire brigade and five from Cork City were also scrambled. Eoin English of the Irish Examiner has reported that emergency services at the airport have been stood down. Catholic Church hierarchy has admitted concerns about an "unhealthy atmosphere" at the country's main seminary amid claims trainee priests there are using the gay dating app Grindr. Church leaders have ordered a review on the "appropriate use of the internet and social media" at the centuries-old St Patrick's College in Maynooth, Co Kildare, as well as an overhaul of its approach to whistleblowers. The college trustees - four Archbishops and 13 senior Bishops - met for crisis talks after the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin confirmed he was boycotting the seminary. Dr Diarmuid Martin said earlier this month he is sending student priests to Rome rather than Maynooth. The church leader said he made the decision some months ago because he was "somewhat unhappy" about "an atmosphere that was growing in Maynooth" exposed through anonymous accusations in letters and online blogs. Dr Martin said allegations included "a homosexual, a gay culture, that students have been using an app called Grindr" which he said "would be fostering promiscuous sexuality". The Archbishop said there were further allegations that whistleblowers trying to bring claimed wrongdoing to the attention of authorities were being dismissed from the seminary. After a meeting in Maynooth, the four Archbishops and 13 Bishops that oversee the seminary said they acknowledged the controversy and the disquiet it has caused in the church in Ireland. "The trustees share the concerns about the unhealthy atmosphere created by anonymous accusations together with some social media comments which can be speculative or even malicious," they said in a statement. "Persons with specific concerns are encouraged to report them appropriately as soon as possible." The trustees have vowed to carry out a review of whistle-blowing policies and procedures and will demand college authorities review the use of the internet and social media. They will also call on the church to set up an independent audit into the running of both remaining Irish seminaries, Maynooth and St Malachy's in Belfast. Founded in 1795, Maynooth College was once the largest seminary in the world. It was built to train 500 trainee Catholic priests every year, but numbers have nosedived to just over 40 for the coming year with a fall-off in vocations. Speaking earlier this month, Dr Martin also criticised the "comfortable" regime at the seminary. "The people have their breakfast, dinner and tea served up to them," he said. A serving member of the British armed forces has been arrested on suspicion of terrorism linked to Northern Ireland. The 30-year-old was held in Somerset at around 12.20pm on Wednesday and Scotland Yard said a house in South Devon and a wooded area were being searched. He was arrested on suspicion of preparation for acts of terrorism in a pre-planned swoop as part of an investigation into Northern Ireland-related terrorism. Scotland Yard says there's "no intelligence to suggest an immediate threat". Police in the North are also carrying out searches as part of the investigation. Scotland Yard said: "A 30-year-old man has been arrested in Somerset on suspicion of terrorism offences. "He was arrested at 12.20pm on Wednesday August 24 by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service's Counter Terrorism Command, supported by colleagues from Avon and Somerset and Devon and Cornwall Police, on suspicion of being involved in the preparation of acts of terrorism under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act. "Today's arrest was pre-planned and intelligence-led as part of an investigation into Northern Ireland-related terrorism. The public can be reassured that there is no intelligence to suggest an immediate threat to our communities." No armed police were involved in the arrest. A Royal Marine is being questioned by UK detectives investigating Northern Ireland-linked terrorism, understood to be connected to two major dissident republican arms finds. The 30-year-old serviceman was arrested in a pre-planned swoop in Somerset, England today. The operation involved searches at a house and wooded area in south Devon. In Northern Ireland, officers have also searched a number of properties in Larne, Co Antrim - near the two forest parks where the weapons dumps were discovered earlier this year. The man, who is believed to be from Northern Ireland, was detained on suspicion of preparation for acts of terrorism. While the threat posed by violent dissident republicans in Northern Ireland has been classified as severe for a number of years, in May the UK intelligence services raised the threat level in Great Britain from moderate to substantial. Two separate hauls of weapons were discovered in Carnfunnock and Capanagh parks within three months of each other. An armour-piercing improvised rocket and two anti-personnel mines were among the cache recovered at Capanagh in May. Several pipe bombs, magazines and ammunition for an assault rifle as well as bomb component parts and command wires were also concealed in barrels in purpose-built holes in woodland. In March, bomb-making items were found at nearby Carnfunnock Country Park. Police said four barrels were unearthed at Carnfunnock - two barrels were empty but two contained a variety of bomb-making components, including wiring, toggle switches, circuit boards, partially constructed timer power units, ball bearings and a small quantity of explosives. Larne is predominantly unionist/loyalist in community make-up, so the discovery of the finds led to some initial speculation that they could be linked to loyalist paramilitaries. However, after assessing the nature of the weaponry, police concluded they likely belonged to dissident republicans. The extremists intent on bringing about a united Ireland by violent means are small in both number and capacity compared with the republican paramilitary organisations of the Troubles, but they retain the ability to launch deadly if sporadic attacks on the security forces. Since 2009, dissidents have murdered two soldiers, two policemen and two prison officers in Northern Ireland. A stretch of terraced homes on the Old Glenarm Road in Larne was the focus of the PSNI searches this afternoon. Loyalist flags flew on nearby properties. There was a major police presence at the scene with Army bomb disposal units also in attendance. Police forensic officers in white suits carried out detailed searches through the day. Scotland Yard said the arrest in Somerset was carried out by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service's Counter Terrorism Command, supported by Avon and Somerset and Devon and Cornwall Police. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "We are aware of a police investigation involving the arrest of a member of the Armed Forces under the 2000 Terrorism Act and will assist this investigation fully. "It would be inappropriate to comment further on an ongoing investigation." The Teachers' Union of Ireland says the Government needs to provide a time-scale for when allowances for newly qualified teachers will be re-introduced. The TUI and the INTO have been meeting with Department of Education officials since July, to discuss the pay of teachers who joined the profession after February 2012. If you follow Games of Thrones actor Jason Momoa on his various social media platforms, it is no surprise to you that he has an intense love for Guinness. No really, he loves it. The actor is currently on a family holiday here in Ireland and the bosses behind his famous stout made all his dreams come true - with a trip to the Guinness Brewery. Momoa, best known for playing Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones, was given his own Guinness safety vest as part of the tour and lets just say he was excited about it. So you can imagine how ecstatic he was to unveil 'Momoa', his own custom brew and Guinness's first sour beer. Guinness have since shared his post on their various platforms, does this mean we could be tasting the Momoa soon? Watch this space. The brews branding is even designed with some of his tattoos and his signature. Momoa has been touring around Europe with his wife Lisa Bonet and their children. A Mississippi firefighter who received the world's most extensive face transplant after a burning building collapsed on him has said he feels like "a normal guy" for the first time in 15 years. Patrick Hardison, 42, said he can now eat, see, hear and breathe normally, thanks to last year's operation. He has a full head of hair and visits the gym twice a week. Speaking at the NYU Langone Medical Centre, Mr Hardison said: "Before the transplant, every day I had to wake up and get myself motivated to face the world. "Now I don't worry about people pointing and staring or kids running away crying... I'm happy." Mr Hardison was a volunteer firefighter in Senatobia when a building collapsed on him in 2001. He had 71 reconstructive surgeries before the transplant. While there have been nearly 40 face transplant surgeries since 2005, Mr Hardison's was the first to include a scalp and functioning eyelids. Mr Hardison has no scars on his face, and although he resembles his old self, some of his features are different. His eyes are smaller and his face is rounder, but he still has sandy brown hair. "I don't get up and look in the mirror and focus on that," he said. "I get up and just go along with my day." The divorced father of five said one of the best moments of his life was seeing his children for the first time after the August 2015 surgery. Four of his children attended the news conference. His 21-year-old daughter, Alison, said she cried after seeing him because she was so relieved. Patrick Hardison is looking incredible just one year after the worlds most extensive #facetransplant @NYULMC pic.twitter.com/3grT0z70Xl Maxine Jann, MPH (@maxine_jann) August 24, 2016 "I walked into the room and I was just speechless," she said. "He gave me a hug and our cheeks touched, and his cheeks were kind of warm, and that was something I hadn't felt in 14 years." She said her father "wasn't normal on the inside" before the surgery. "He was very unhappy," Ms Hardison said. "Now he's happy with himself and happy with life." Mr Hardison can finally drive and live independently thanks to his new field of vision. Previously, he could see only through "pinholes" because doctors had sewed his eyelids partially shut to protect his eyes, he said. Eduardo Rodriguez, chairman of Langone's plastic surgery department, said Mr Hardison has not had any issues with transplant rejection, which is due to his medication, his children and his strength. "He's a remarkable individual," Mr Rodriguez said. The surgery is estimated to cost about $1m, according to NYU, but the hospital covered the cost. Mr Rodriguez was recently awarded $2.5m from the Defence Department to continue face transplant research. Mr Hardison said he hopes to meet this autumn with the family of his donor, a 26-year-old artist who died in a bike accident in Brooklyn. He said: "I'd like to say that I'm the same old Pat, but that would not give enough credit to the amazing journey I have gone through this past year. "The road to recovery has been long and hard, but if I had to do it again, I'd do it in a heartbeat." Update 10.50pm: The civil protection agency has raised the death toll to 159. Update 7pm: The death toll from the powerful earthquake in central Italy has risen to 120 people. Earlier: At least 73 people are dead and hundreds more injured after an earthquake in central Italy reduced three towns to rubble. The death toll is likely to rise as crews reach homes in more remote hamlets where the scenes were apocalyptic, "like Dante's Inferno", according to one witness. Complicating matters was that the area is a popular vacation spot in the summer, with populations swelling, making the number of people in the area at the time difficult to estimate. "The town isn't here anymore," said Sergio Pirozzi, the mayor of Amatrice. "I believe the toll will rise." Firefighters search through rubble following an earthquake in Accumoli. The magnitude 6 quake struck at 3.36am local time and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including Rome, where residents woke to a long swaying followed by aftershocks. The quake shook the Lazio region and Umbria and Le Marche on the Adriatic coast. Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi planned to head to the zone later on Wednesday and promised the area, which has suffered quakes many times before: "No family, no city, no hamlet will be left behind." The hardest-hit towns were the tiny towns of Amatrice and Accumoli near Rieti, some 80 miles north-east of Rome, and Pescara del Tronto further east. Italy's civil protection agency, which was coordinating the rescue, said the provisional toll was 73 dead, several hundred injured and thousands in need of temporary housing. The centre of Amatrice was devastated, with entire blocks of buildings razed and the air thick with dust and smelling strongly of gas. Amatrice, birthplace of the famed spaghetti all'amatriciana bacon-tomato pasta sauce, is made up of 69 hamlets that rescue teams were working to reach. Rocks and metal tumbled onto the streets of the city centre and dazed residents huddled in piazzas as more than 40 aftershocks jolted the region into the early morning hours, some as strong as 5.1. 'Nothing left' "The whole ceiling fell but did not hit me," marveled resident Maria Gianni. "I just managed to put a pillow on my head and I wasn't hit luckily, just slightly injured my leg." Another woman, sitting in front of her destroyed home with a blanket over her shoulders, said she did not know what had become of her loved ones. "It was one of the most beautiful towns of Italy and now there's nothing left," she said. "I don't know what we'll do." A man walks with a baby carry cot past a partially collapsed building after the earthquake in Accumoli. As the August sun bared down, residents, civil protection workers and even priests dug with shovels, bulldozers and their bare hands to reach survivors. Dozens were pulled out alive: There was relief as a woman emerged on a stretcher from one building, followed by a dog. "We need chainsaws, shears to cut iron bars, and jacks to remove beams: everything, we need everything," civil protection worker Andrea Gentili told The Associated Press. Italy's national blood drive association appealed for donations to Rieti's hospital. But to the north, in Illica, the response was slower as residents anxiously waited for loved ones to be extracted from the rubble. "We came out to the piazza, and it looked like Dante's Inferno," said Agostino Severo, a Rome resident visiting Illica. "People crying for help, help. Rescue workers arrived after one hour ... one and a half hours." 'Immense tragedy' The devastation harked back to the 2009 quake that killed more than 300 people in and around L'Aquila, about 55 miles south of the latest quake. The town, which still has not bounced back fully, sent emergency teams on Wednesday to help with the rescue. "I don't know what to say. We are living this immense tragedy," said a tearful Reverend Savino D'Amelio, a parish priest in Amatrice. "We are only hoping there will be the least number of victims possible and that we all have the courage to move on." Another hard-hit town was Pescara del Tronto, in the Le Marche region, where the main road was covered in debris. Residents were digging their neighbours out by hand since emergency crews had not yet arrived in force. Photos taken from the air by regional firefighters showed the town essentially flattened; Italy requested EU satellite images of the whole area to get the scope of the damage. "There are broken liquor bottles all over the place," said Gino Petrucci, owner of a bar in nearby Arquata Del Tronto where he was beginning the long clean-up. One rescue was particularly delicate as a ranger in Capodacqua, in the Marche province of Ascoli Piceno, diplomatically tried to keep an 80-year-old woman calm as she begged to get to a toilet, even though she was trapped in the rubble. "Listen, I know it's not nice to say but if you need to pee you just do it," he said. "Now I move away a little bit and you do pee please." The Italian geological service put the magnitude at 6.0; the US Geological Survey reported 6.2 with the epicentre at Norcia, about 105 miles north-east of Rome, and with a relatively shallow depth of 6 miles. "Quakes with this magnitude at this depth in our territory in general create building collapses, which can result in deaths," said the head of Italy's civil protection service, Fabrizio Curcio. He added that the region is popular with tourists escaping the heat of Rome, with more residents than at other times of the year, and that a single building collapse could raise the toll significantly. The mayor of Accumoli, Stefano Petrucci, said a family of four had died there, one of the few young families who had decided to stay in the area. He wept as he noted that the tiny hamlet of 700 swells to 2,000 in the summer months, and that he feared for the future of the town. "I hope they don't forget us," he said. In Amatrice, the Reverend Fabio Gammarota, priest of a nearby parish, said he had blessed seven bodies extracted so far. "One was a friend of mine," he said. A 1997 quake killed a dozen people in central Italy and severely damaged one of the jewels of Umbria, the Basilica of St Francis in Assisi, filled with Giotto frescoes. The Franciscan friars who are the custodians of the basilica reported no immediate damage from Wednesday's temblor. Pope Francis skipped his traditional catechism for his Wednesday general audience and instead invited pilgrims in St Peter's Square to recite the rosary with him. Syrian opposition forces aided by Turkey have taken back the border town of Jarablus from the Islamic State group, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced. During a press statement with visiting US vice president Joe Biden, Mr Erdogan also reiterated his opposition to a future role for Syrian president Bashar Assad, saying the country could never "reach democracy" under his leadership. The injury toll from the collision between a train and a bus in Germany has risen to 10, according to police there. They also said that two people have been seriously injured at the crash on a level crossing. KARACHI: Gold prices on Friday continued to gain more value on the local market, traders said. Gold went up by Rs... LONDON: OPEC is likely to maintain its view world oil demand will rise for another decade, longer than many other... SAN FRANCISCO: US tech titans looking to the future are seeing growth take a beating in the face of foreign... DUBAI: A fire at Irans Evin prison late on Saturday killed four detainees and injured 61, state media reported, as... Qantas will pay shareholders a dividend for the first time in seven years and reward workers with bonuses after posting its biggest ever profit. The airline announced on Wednesday it would pay out 7 per share off the back of a record $1.02 billion net profit in the 2015/16 financial year, up 80 per cent on the year before. Qantas will also reward 25,000 workers who were hit with an 18-month pay freeze as part of the turnaround plan with a $3000 "record result" bonus. "This is the best result in the 95-year history of Qantas, and the best result in Australian aviation history," chief executive Alan Joyce said. Shopper backlash over $1 dollar supermarket milk and Chinese demand for infant formula has powered the a2 Milk Company's full-year net profit after tax to $30.4 million from a $2.1 million loss last financial year. A2's revenue surged by 127 per cent to $352.8 million in the full year to June 30, helped by a spike in sales following the social media campaign over supermarket milk, which linked sharp falls in the price processor and price setter Murray Goulburn pays farmers with $1 milk. A2 Milk chief executive Geoff Babidge: "The opportunity in a variety of segments in adult nutrition could potentially be bigger than infant formula." Credit:Louise Kennerley A2 chief executive Geoffrey Babidge would not quantify the impact of the high-profile publicity campaign on its sales, which boosted the uptake of a number of branded milk products in supermarkets around Australia in recent months. "Our revenue from fresh milk in Australia is up 4 per cent and our market share is reasonably stable at about 9.3 per cent and that reflects quite strong growth in the past couple of months," Mr Babidge said. The ancient Stoics would not have agreed with Kenny. They reflected extensively on how to deal with insults and offence; the Romans were very good at them. Consider these: "All you do is run back and forth with a stupid expression, jittery as a rat in a roasting pot" (Petronius) and "You're an informer and a mudraker, a con-man wheeler-dealer, a gigolo and an educator in evil. All that, Vicerra, and amazingly, you're still broke!" (Martial) and "Everything you say is so unbearably boring, by Hercules, that it's murder by monotony" (Plautus). Advising on how to cope with such taunts, the great Stoic sage Epictetus wrote, "If someone responds to insult like a rock, what has the abuser gained with his invective?" In other words, it is up to the recipient of an insult to choose how to respond; remain unmoved and there is no gain to the insulter. These days we tend to associate the word stoic with an unfeeling attitude the proverbial stiff upper lip. But the ancient Stoics were not averse to feelings: they just divided them into useful ones and unhelpful ones. The anger that comes from experiencing an insult is unhelpful, and the Stoics had various ways to deal with it. Firstly, they said, you might pause and consider whether the insulter may actually be right. If so, there's no point in getting upset; learn from what they have said. Secondly, if the insulter is behaving like a petulant child, consider that they deserve pity rather than anger. Third, you might respond with humour. When Cato was advocating a case in court, an adversary named Lentulus spat in his face. Rather than getting angry, Cato wiped the spit and said, "I will swear to anyone, Lentulus, that people are wrong when they say you cannot use your mouth". Epictetus would have argued that protecting the disadvantaged from insults is counterproductive, leading them to believe they are powerless to deal with insults without the authorities interceding on their behalf. Better to teach the disadvantaged techniques of insult self-defence like the ones above. But back to the present day. A possible solution to this intractable issue has been suggested by former Federal Court judge Ronald Sackville. In Anti-Semitism, Hate Speech and Part IIA of the Racial Discrimination Act, Sackville proposes two amendments that would achieve a more defensible balance between the legitimate protection of vulnerable groups from serious hate speech and the values of free speech. Watched from the safety of afar, the violence in Syria is unfathomable. The targeting of journalists has made on-the-ground reporting exceptionally dangerous, and, as a consequence, the conflict has often only been told by small moments. Poignant images have occasionally punctured a general global ambivalence about what has become a daily life of misery across Syria. Most recently the world was outraged by a photograph of Omran Daqneesh, the dust-covered young boy sitting dazed and bloodied after he was rescued following an air strike. Poignant images - such as the one of Omran Daqneesh - have occasionally punctured a global ambivalence about Syria. Credit:Aleppo Media Centre But the focus on individual fragments can obscure the broader reality that Syria is a nation in ruins and despite five years of vicious fighting, there seems no hope of resolution. The war has already cost hundreds of thousands of lives, forced millions to flee their homes, and generated convulsions felt across the Middle East and beyond. The conflict is so much more than any single moment, yet it has become so complex to appear almost impossible to untangle. The brutal tactics employed by President Bashar al-Assad against civilians and combatants alike are deplorable. The regime's opponents have committed atrocities in turn, while the murderous rampage of Islamic State founded in apocalyptic lunacy has plunged neighbouring Iraq into another crisis and spurred acts of terrorism in the West. The meddling in Syria by regional governments has only added fuel to the fire, and transformed into a proxy of great-power rivalry between the United States and Russia. An outpouring of refugees has challenged Europe's liberal traditions and fuelled a rise in fortress sentiment. With so many threads to the conflict, it is little wonder people are despairing of peace. Pechey only slipped into her first pair of ballet shoes a decade ago. Originally from Southend-on-Sea - "I'm an Essex girl," she tells me in her best accent - she had always dreamt of having ballet lessons. But she recalls: "Back in the Fifties, there wasn't a lot of money around, and there were times in the winter when my father was stood off - as a master decorator, he couldn't work outside when the weather was bad. That's why making my own living was always so important to me. There were rich people about, but we definitely weren't among them." As a little girl, Doreen would save up to see the ballet when it came to town; now, being able to afford lessons makes her success all the sweeter. She undertook her first class with her niece Diann, a ballet teacher, while visiting her in Canada in 2006. After returning home to Oxfordshire, where she has lived with her husband Bill, 68, for 33 years, she was inspired to keep going. "I had two false starts with instructors who didn't work out, but I refused to be put off," she says. Two years later, she began taking lessons with Cleaver, and now does a combination of group and private classes - as well as installing a barre in her kitchen so she can practise her plies at home. The pair have become fast friends; both are united in their appreciation of Carlos Acosta, the Cuban veteran of the Royal Ballet Academy ("We were this close to him!," they squeal when recalling a recent visit), and were thrilled to be "tripping over Tamara Rojo" at an English National Ballet event. She says her health regime has undergone a total overhaul since she took up ballet: she has dropped five dress sizes, started eating off a smaller dinner plate and enlisted the help of a personal trainer. "I started taking classes because I loved to move to music - it had nothing to do with weight," she explains. "But once I started and realised that I was rather plump and that my high blood pressure was beginning to go down, I decided to keep the weight off." Since receiving her results last week, she has been flitting from one TV studio to the next, enjoying a sudden avalanche of attention that Pechey has found "hilarious - I feel like I'm in Calendar Girls!" She capped it all off with a celebratory bottle of Champagne at home with Bill, a fellow engineer, as the bubbles "cleanse my body," she says with a chuckle. Ballet has recently undergone a high-energy revival, with numerous fitness studios offering classes from "barrecore" to "ballet sculpt", but Doreen prefers more traditional fare. Her favourite piece to dance to is the Mazurka, a 150-year-old folk tune from Coppelia. It's there that her penchant for convention ends, though. "My friends know I do crazy things, so they weren't surprised that I took ballet up at my age. I grew up in the Sixties, come on!" she laughs. She reveals that, before taking up dancing, she was best known in her circle for "teaching rude words in sign language and making a tiramisu potent enough to knock over a teetotaller from the fumes alone." Both she and Cleaver find themselves frustrated with the lack of fashion on offer for their age group - "you can only get teenage clothes or a twin set and pearls; don't they know 70 is the new 50?" - but Doreen has embraced the short-sleeve leotards often worn by younger dancers. Even though they expose her "wings", Doreen's rather cruel term for her upper arms, she has become so attached to them that she can often be spotted sporting one in the aisles of her local Waitrose. "I just love the outfits," she admits. "I'm an introvert who behaves like an extrovert - I think ballet has definitely brought that out in me." - Why ballet is great for the over-50s Improves balance Our muscles weaken as we age, reducing balance and putting us more at risk of falls. "Ballet works lots of muscles in the legs - your gluteals, quadriceps and the calf muscles - which are vital for stability," says Sammy Margo, a physiotherapist. Dafna Merom, a researcher at Sydney University, has found that participation in dance reduces falls by as much as 37 per cent, thanks to improving flexibility, balance, joint strength and spatial awareness. Protects against dementia A 21-year study by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City found that those who frequently danced showed a 76 per cent lower incidence of dementia - a greater reduction than any of the other activities studied, including reading and crossword puzzles. "Remembering so many different sequences is an excellent way to better your concentration," adds dance teacher Monica Cleaver. Gentle on the joints Ballet is made up of lots of small movements, which is less stressful on the joints than high-impact exercises such as running, and therefore more suitable to people aged 50 and over, says Dr Anne Hogan, director of education for the Royal Academy of Dance. It also strengthens the core and improves posture, making it a good choice for those who suffer back pain. New father Tristin Jones*, 35, has smoked marijuana for so long that it was the only way he felt normal. Mr Jones, who has smoked weed every day for 17 years, had promised to quit at every major milestone in his life, including when he turned 30 and after his son was born 18 months ago. But he couldn't. And he didn't. Mr Jones was also worried about being caught by police during random drug testing, or about having a car accident with cannabis still in his system. He mostly wanted to be drug free to enjoy the highs and lows of raising a child. Through high school and college, I had a close-knit group of friends. I was rarely alone. I was, and am, blessed to have "people." But that's how it's always been - I'm a "people" person, not a "person" person. In every story so hackneyed I can repeat the scripts by heart, my mum was with Jean. She had a boyfriend through her 20s, too, of whom I know equally as many, if not more, stories. But he wasn't her "partner in crime" or "soul mate." Jean is, and always has been, her "person." When my mum was my age, she'd paint 6-inch wedge heels metallic gold, laminate fake IDs and sneak into live performances of Rocky Horror Picture Show. She'd save just enough for a plane ticket, then jet off to Italy, Morocco and Greece, hitching moped rides and disregarding plans back home. At 23, my mum was lighthearted, spontaneous and loving. And she was never alone. I've never hated this aspect of myself, but it's always bothered me slightly, like that freckle on your back, or the off shape of your eyebrow - the traits you rarely notice but wish you could fix. In college, I felt close to many but often sought a deeper friendship with my roommate, or the friend whose life, at the given semester, most intertwined with mine. I'd find that initial closeness, and with some that would last. But with time, I'd watch these friends grow equally close (or closer) to others, leading me to think I hadn't found "the real deal" or my true best friend. Watching friends "couple off" as I remained somewhere in the middle sometimes spurred a light form of jealousy. But this year, lacking a "person" meant something different. It was my first year out of college and my first year in New York City - the year my mum and Jean rented their first apartment, as did many of the pairs of best friends I know. Over the holidays, I visited old friends in Boston and admired their cozy, shared space. Upon returning to the city, I'd grow envious. My apartment, strung with Christmas lights and candles, shared with a (lovely) woman I met online, suddenly felt cold and isolating. Friends lived mere subway stops away, dispersed between neighbourhoods. I'd see them every few weeks, enjoying the intimacy of reunion. But in the quiet moments, the rides from work or on solo weeknights - time I once spent at dining halls or libraries, surrounded by friends - I became fixated on what I lacked. At 22, I'd senselessly stress about who would be my maid of honour, who would rock beside me at the nursing home and who would star in the reckless, exaggerated stories I'd tell my kids someday. Stanford University is banning alcoholic spirits from on-campus parties following a high profile sexual assault in which the attacker blamed alcohol for his actions. Beer and wine will still be permitted, but drinks that are more than 20 per cent proof will not be allowed at parties, and the quantity students can keep in their dormitories will be limited. Students protest before the 125th Stanford University commencement ceremony amid an on-campus rape case and its controversial sentencing. Credit:Ramin Talaie/Getty Images The decision comes two months after Brock Turner was convicted of sexual assault and attempted rape in a case that caused controversy after he was sentenced to just six months. Over the weekend, two Irish women logged onto Twitter, boarded a plane and left their country in order to have an abortion. The women flew to Britain at dawn on Saturday morning, snapping pictures and sharing snippets of the desperation that forced their travel as they went. One wanted to exercise the right given to women in dozens of other countries, and one was a friend. Pro-choice protesters take place in the 3rd Annual March for Choice in Dublin's City Centre. Credit:NurPhoto "Two women, one procedure, 48 hours away from home," the profile description for @TwoWomenTravel read, keeping the women nameless. They joined the more than 3,000 women who travel from Ireland to the UK for abortions every year, according to the UK Department of Health. The medical workforce has become skewed to specialist doctors while the number of general practitioners has barely changed in 10 years, in a trend that threatens to undermine the federal government's push for better primary care. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reported on Wednesday that the rate of general practitioners has remained steady around 114 per 100,000 people, while the number of registered medical practitioners overall has increased by 3.4 per cent a year. General practitioners also had the the highest proportion of doctors aged over 55 of any clinician group. The figures indicate that a disconnect remains between the type of doctors that are employed and the specialties and places that they are needed, despite a concerted effort to boost the number of doctors in Australia. "As a state, we have got to firmly recognise that people out there are doing it tough and what we are seeing is the rise of an era of discontent," Ms Palaszczuk told a Queensland Futures Summit in Brisbane on Wednesday morning. It's prompted the Annastacia Palaszczuk to include a message about 'sticking together' as the minority government prepares for the next state election with polls showing that after 18 months, voters still haven't made up their minds between the major parties. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is sticking by her Treasurer Curtis Pitt, despite tension over his changes to the defined benefits scheme. Credit:Robert Shakespeare On the back of its first major legislative defeat, having failed to get its vegetation management laws reinstated, the Premier has been forced to defend changes Treasurer Curtis Pitt wants to make to the defined benefits scheme, the Treasurer himself and upcoming changes to the Newman bikie laws which reportedly have seen a division emerge within Cabinet. "It's very evident in our state and across our nation. It's very evident in the United States and other parts of the world. And what we have to do when times get tough is stick together. We have to ensure that the politics of fear and exclusion are pushed to the side and we all need to stand up for what we believe in, for what is right. "That's why I'm firmly focused on uniting Queensland, bringing people together." The government's proposed changes to the defined benefits scheme, which would give the Treasurer of the day the power to change the multiple used to determine the final payout for some public servants eligible for the defined benefits scheme, has inadvertently brought the Opposition and public sector union together, with both lobbying the crossbench, which will determine whether or not the amendment passes, to reject the proposal. Ms Palaszczuk was also forced to declare she had confidence in Mr Pitt after News Corp reported the state's business community had begun to question the effectiveness of his 'stay positive' strategy. "I have confidence in the Treasurer," she said. The parent company of infidelity dating website Ashley Madison was responsible for numerous violations of privacy laws at the time of a massive release of customer data in a cyber attack last year, privacy watchdogs in Australia and Canada have found. The two countries launched an investigation after the 2015 breach of Avid Life Media's computer network, when hackers exposed the personal details of millions who signed up for the site with the slogan "Life is short. Have an affair." The probe found the Toronto-based company had inadequate safeguards in place, including poor password management and a fabricated security trustmark on the website's home page. While the company did have some personal information protections in place, it fell short in implementing those measures, the report found. For instance, it said some passwords and encryption keys were stored as plain, identifiable text on the company's systems. Victoria's urban and rural firefighting boundaries must be redrawn and overseen by an independent commission in order to improve the service and end the fight between paid and volunteer firefighters, a former head of the MFB has declared. Adrian Nye, who quit as MFB president in 2010 after attempts to modernise the service including recruiting more women were blocked, says a radical overhaul of the state's boundaries between the MFB and CFA would help avoid ugly fights between volunteer and paid firefighters. At present the MFB services most of metropolitan Melbourne and the CFA covers the outer suburbs including Springvale and Craigieburn and beyond. More than 800 paid CFA staff are stationed in built-up zones, including regional centres, and it is the workplace agreement for these staff that has rocked the Andrews government, with the volunteers' association fearing a union takeover of the CFA. Another candidate has announced they will run for lord mayor, while the incumbent Robert Doyle is set to announce the team he will take to October's Melbourne Town Hall elections. Nic Frances Gilley is the former executive director of the Brotherhood of St Laurence. He will run for lord mayor with Indigenous woman Brooke Wandin as his deputy. Nic Frances Gilley (centre) will run with Brooke Wandin (right) as his deputy. Richard Foster (left) is the team's No.1 councillor candidate. Credit:Justin McManus While the pair have little chance of winning, they will help feed votes to their No.1 council candidate, Labor's Richard Foster, who is currently a councillor. It comes as Cr Doyle running for a third term at Town Hall said he would announce his team for the election on Thursday. Most Australians remember him as the friendly giraffe who pulled into their school in the Life Education van to talk about healthy eating. But as society has changed, so too has Healthy Harold the giraffe. The Life Education van is updating its repertoire to teach primary school students about the dangers of the drug ice. For the first time, year 5 and 6 students will learn that ice is a stimulant drug that speeds up messages travelling between their brains and body parts. Police have reportedly searched bushland along the Murray River to find missing Melbourne mother Karen Ristevski. Police searched the Barmah National Park in Victoria's north - where the Ristevski family is believed to have holidayed - in addition to areas surrounding her Avondale Heights home, Channel 7 reports. Karen Ristevski with her husband Borce and daughter Sarah. Victoria Police would not confirm the report or specify which areas had been searched. A judge is set to hand down her verdict on whether a traditional owner of Perth's Beeliar wetlands was granted procedural fairness when Aboriginal heritage approval was given for the Roe 8 highway extension. The extension is the most contentious part of the largely federal-funded Perth Freight Link project, which opponents say will involve clearing about one- quarter of the environmentally-sensitive wetlands. A protest against the Perth Freight Link at parliament in November. Credit:Mark McGowan MP It is also controversial on Aboriginal heritage grounds, with traditional owner Corina Abraham challenging the approval. Supreme Court of WA Justice Janine Pritchard is due to hand down her decision on Wednesday. When Perth brother and sister Siham and Mirwan Carollisen put out a call to help host a one-stop pop-up shop for the homeless, they could never have anticipated the response. On Friday, the duo's Facebook page, Brothers & Sisters Perth which documents their good deeds to help the homeless - had around 200 likes. Siham and Mirwan Carollisen (far right and far left) helping the homeless in Northbridge earlier this year. Credit:Facebook / Brothers & Sisters PERTH By Sunday, it had more than 4,000 and had been flooded with offers of help from generous strangers. The overwhelming response came after the siblings, originally from South Africa, posted an idea to host a one-stop shop for the homeless in Northbridge, to provide people in need with clothing, food and personal essentials. Australian travellers have been advised not to go to popular Thai areas of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla after deadly bombings left one person dead and dozens injured. One Thai person was killed and 30 wounded when two bombs exploded late on Tuesday near a hotel in the southern Thai coastal town of Pattani, less than two weeks after a series of unexplained blasts hit the south. "We advise against all travel here due to the very high risk," the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says. The first blast in a parking lot behind the Southern Hotel caused no casualties, Police Lieutenant Colonel Winyu Tiamraj told Reuters on Wednesday. All the casualties were Thais. Rome: Italian school leavers may face the dismal prospect of 40 per cent youth unemployment, but at least they have one thing to look forward to - a 500 ($742) "culture bonus", courtesy of a government scheme to use the arts to combat extremism. From next month, every 18-year-old will be entitled to claim the money and spend it on culturally-enriching pursuits such as going to theatres, concerts and museums, visiting archaeological sites, and buying books. A life-sized copy of Michelangelo's David is displayed supine in a Florence square as a tribute to the victims of the Bastille Day attack in Nice in July. Credit:ANSA via AP The scheme will benefit 575,000 teenagers, at a cost to the government of 290 million. Young people who turn 18 this year will be able to register online and then spend the money through an app called 18app.it. They will have until the end of next year to spend all the credit. The scheme is available to other EU citizens living in Italy, including Britons - assuming that Brexit will not happen before the end of 2017. Latest News Lendi Group settles $33.6 billion in FY22 Ambitious target of a deal a day for brokers APRA announces new appointments The prudential regulator has a new chair, deputy chair, and members Two of the worlds strongest residential real estate markets are located in Australia according to new research from global property consultancy firm Knight Frank.Released last week, Knight Franks latest Prime Global Cities Index, which tracked house price growth in the year to June 2016, revealed that both Melbourne and Sydney are among the top 10 growth locations across the globe.The index shows that in the 12 months to June residential real estate prices in Melbourne grew 11%, making it the fifth strongest market in the world over that period.Sydney came in just behind Melbourne in sixth position, with prices growing 10.2% in the 12-month period.Michelle Ciesielski, Knight Franks Australian residential research director said the Melbourne and Sydney illustrate the strength of the Australian market.While there continues to be global uncertainty, Australia is considered highly desirable for long-term wealth preservation, Ciesielski said.It also helps that Australia is highly ranked for lifestyle and well-placed for the education of future generations. This is despite the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) application fees, as well as foreign investor duties and land tax surcharges in Sydney and Melbourne, she said.Locally, Australia has seen a steady recovery in non-mining activity towards a more services sector-dominated economy. The share market has experienced an upward trajectory over the course of 2016, whilst business confidence remains positive in this low-interest environment.The Canadian city of Vancouver took top spot on the list for the fifth straight quarter with growth of 36.4% in the past 12 months.Shanghai took second spot with growth of 22.5% in the year, followed by South Africas Cape Town where prices rose 16.1%.The remaining spot in the top five went to Canadas Toronto where prices grew 12.6% over the year.Of the 37 cities on the index, Hong Kong was the worst performer as prices fell 8.4% in the year.Nicholas Holt, Knight Franks Asia Pacific research head noted that many of the top performing markets are located in jurisdictions where new foreign buyer tax arrangements have been introduced.The latest move by policy makers in Vancouver to apply an additional tax for foreign buyers has mirrored some of the similar moves over the last few years in Asia-Pacific. Hong Kong and Singapore, most notably, have added 15% additional buyers stamp duties, while the Australian states of Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales have also recently introduced various additional levies for foreign buyers, Holt said.Whether you are a domestic or foreign property investor, policy interventions are becoming more regular and in some cases unpredictable meaning that market analysis must move beyond simple demand-supply relationship and pricing into the realms of political science, he said. Campus News Dental professor treats more than 1,000 children in 12th trip to Syrian refugee camps The volunteers treated hundreds of children per day, performing temporary fillings, sealants, fluoride varnishes and more. By MARCENE ROBINSON Families are immigrating because they dont see a future for their children in Syria. Education is the most effective way to help them rebuild their home. Every few months, Othman Shibly performs what some consider to be a miracle. The Lebanese-born UB dental professor travels regularly to refugee camps in the countries neighboring Syria to establish dental clinics, open schools and deliver needed medical supplies. His most recent endeavor: Providing dental care to more than 1,000 children living in Syrian refugee camps in Lebanon in five days. The week-long undertaking in May was a part of Shiblys Miles for Smiles mission to bring oral health care to the student refugees who lack access to treatment due to the ongoing Syrian war. The effort received support from nearly 100 volunteers from the Saint Joseph University School of Dental Medicine in Lebanon, a handful of dentists from the U.S. and a donation of $20,000 worth of materials from health care products provider Henry Schein. The group treated hundreds of children per day, performing temporary fillings, sealants, fluoride varnishes and more. Each child also received oral health education, a toothbrush, toothpaste and other dental supplies. We brought together people of different cultures, backgrounds and religions, and they all worked together for this noble cause, says Shibly, clinical professor in the School of Dental Medicine. The effort recently earned Shibly the Ibn Al-Nafees Outstanding Achievement Award from the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS). He was presented the award on July 24 at the SAMS 16th International Conference in Sarajevo, Bosnia. Dr. Shiblys outstanding work to help those affected by ongoing conflict has been an inspiration to our faculty, students and staff, says Joseph Zambon, dean of the School of Dental Medicine. We are all proud to see another example of how the school is achieving its vision of defining excellence in global health. Miles for Smiles began in December when Shibly traveled with his daughter to Lebanon to donate more than 500 books to schools within the camps to establish an English language curriculum. The director of the Education Program in Lebanon (EPL), the administration that oversees schools in Lebanons refugee camps, asked Shibly if he could donate toothbrushes and toothpaste as well, as many students didnt have the basic tools for oral hygiene. Knowing a toothbrush wouldnt solve the schools oral health needs, Shibly went a step further by arranging to treat every child in each camp, a daunting task as some children required extractions or other emergency treatments, nearly half had gingivitis and close to 10 percent had an infection, Shibly says. To prepare for the journey, he worked with the EPL to pre-screen the oral health needs of students in five schools spread throughout camps in Saadnayel, Bekaa Valley and Bar Elias all areas in eastern Lebanon. SAMS arranged travel and food for the group. We were happy to do it, says Shibly. When examining the children, some who have been in the camp for five years said that they have never brushed their teeth. When we told them to be careful about eating candy, some kids raised their hands and asked us what is chocolate. Seven weeks to another mission of support Shibly will return to Lebanon in October and work with Saint Joseph University and other local universities to treat more children in other camps and expand dental care to include adults. He also plans to establish a mobile dental clinic that can be driven between camps to provide care in the area. The mobile clinic would allow dentists to treat infections and perform extractions and other extensive treatments on site, rather than having to transport children to dental offices in nearby towns that have the necessary equipment. During future visits, Shibly hopes to offer access to maxillofacial surgery a specialization treating diseases and injuries to the mouth, jaws and face through a partnership with Doctors Without Borders and local universities. In addition to dental care, Shiblys efforts in the region also focus on education, as millions of children, who make up half of the displaced Syrian population, were forced to quit school. He has helped establish 15 schools in Damascus, the capital of Syria. These schools, which provide elementary through secondary studies, have taught more than 5,000 children. Education brings hope to the children and their families, says Shibly. Families are immigrating because they dont see a future for their children in Syria. Education is the most effective way to help them rebuild their home. It ensures the children have a better future, it saves them from disintegration intellectually and spiritually, and it keeps them from becoming the future seed of extremism. He is building support through partnerships to offer more English-education curriculums and catch-up programs for students who have missed time in school due to the war. Many of his students are also in need of backpacks, uniforms and school supplies. To learn how to assist Shiblys humanitarian efforts in Syria and the surrounding regions affected by ongoing conflict, contact Shibly at shibly@buffalo.edu or 716-829-3845. Campus News UB reopens Silverman Library after two-year, $7 million renovation Seating for Whispers at Capen, a cafe stocked with Starbucks products that will be overseen by Campus Dining and Shops. The cafe's counter is in the background. The Grand Reading Room, with its rich oak woodwork, offers students a comfortable and inspiring place to study in silence. By MARCENE ROBINSON This beautiful, inspiring space reimagines and reinvents the traditional role of the academic library and gives UB students, faculty and staff many exciting opportunities to connect, share, learn and create new knowledge for the future. High-tech classrooms and group study spaces with 80-inch monitors. Video recording studios with editing suites. A cafe. These are among the many additions made to UBs Oscar A. Silverman Library, which recently completed a $7.2 million renovation to transform the 45,000-square-foot space into a vibrant, state-of-the-art, intellectual hub for the campus. It is exciting to envision the innovative and collaborative work our students will be able to achieve in this re-imagined space, says President Satish K. Tripathi. The Silverman Library is a shining example of the 21st-century learning environment we are providing for our students so they are prepared to make lasting contributions to society. The redesigned library will be unveiled during a grand reopening celebration today on the third floor of Capen Hall on the North Campus. Delivering remarks will be Tripathi; Provost Charles F. Zukoski; A. Scott Weber, senior vice provost for academic affairs; H. Austin Booth, vice provost for university libraries; New York State Assemblyman Robin Schimminger (D-Kenmore); and UB alumna Hillary Chiarella. The program also will include self-guided tours of the facility and music by jazz ensemble The Jon Lehning Sextet. The transformation of Silverman Library represents an important milestone for the University Libraries, says Booth. This beautiful, inspiring space reimagines and reinvents the traditional role of the academic library and gives UB students, faculty and staff many exciting opportunities to connect, share, learn and create new knowledge for the future. Silverman Library, which receives nearly 1.3 million visits each year, will reopen to the public at the start of the fall semester on Aug. 29 and resume its role as UBs only 24-hour library. The redesign is a part of the Heart of the Campus project, a UB 2020 initiative to enhance the student experience by converting Capen Hall into the center of the academic spine, complete with student, learning, library and dining services. The completion of Silverman Library is the first milestone of the Heart of the Campus initiative. IN THE BONESETTER'S WAITING ROOM Travels through Indian Medicine Aarathi Prasad Profile Books 214 pages; Rs 499 The poor state of modern health care in India is well known. There just aren't enough doctors and hospitals for the country's 1.2 billion people. To some extent, this gap is filled by alternate medicinal systems such as Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Unani. A large population of Indians reposes immense faith in these medicines. Thus, what you have in the country is a peculiar situation: Cutting-edge world-class health care co-exists with traditional remedies. And both are thriving. After the top three private telecom operators made data tariffs cheaper by 67 per cent, its the turn of state-run to reduce rates by up to 100 per cent. Unlock 30+ premium stories daily hand-picked by our editors, across devices on browser and app. Full access to our intuitive epaper - clip, save, share articles from any device; newspaper archives from 2006. Curated newsletters on markets, personal finance, policy & politics, start-ups, technology, and more. Pick your 5 favourite companies, get a daily email with all news updates on them. 26 years of website archives. Ideas are easy to come, but every ideator is not business man. If a brilliant idea is accompanied by a good business model, it can often be a game changer. A Bengaluru-based crowd-funding platform, FuelADream, is trying to help founders with brilliant ideas to raise funds and also scale up their business. Many from across the country such as Spero Bikes, a Coimbatore-based electric bike manufacturer, Tiffy Template, a Bengaluru-based trust that makes devices for blind people to identify currency, Suryoday Family, a Maharashtra-based NGO that helps build canals in drought hit regions have raised funds using the platform. Hero Future Energies, the renewable energy arm of automotive major Hero Group, is planning to raise around $125 million from International Finance Corporation (IFC). The proceeds will be used to fund construction of solar and wind plants across India. is also actively looking to expand its international business in various geographies. With realisations continuing to be muted, domestic metal are increasingly focusing on lowering expenses. These firms have, in fact, identified logistics as one of the major areas where costs can be curtailed to safeguard operating margins. The participation of large Indian corporates in providing financial backing to startups is growing, and while only firms such as Infosys and Wipro have set up dedicated funds, others are tracking disruptive technologies in their own sectors with clearance from their boards to sink money into startups if needed. It seems the Government of India may not be a bad investor as a promoter of businesses. It earns higher returns on its investment in public sector undertakings (PSUs) than several of the country's top business families earn on their investment in group . At 10.5 per cent return on equity (RoE) during financial year 2015-16 (FY16), as a group did better than some of the country's large business groups such as AV Birla, Vedanta, Bharti, JSW, Anil Ambani and OP Jindal. Quikr, a cross category classifieds business, has acquired ZapLuk, a provider of on-demand beauty & wellness services, in a strategic move to scale its growing beauty services brand AtHomeDiva. The company did not disclose the deal value. Under its services vertical, QuikrServices, Quikr will now offer a full range of on-demand home beauty services to consumers in multiple cities including Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Gurgaon and Hyderabad, said the company in a statement. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the countrys largest information technology (IT) services provider, said it had settled an ongoing lawsuit with Orange County in California, USA. For doing so, it has agreed to pay $26 million (Rs 175 crore). Two-wheeler majors, including Hero MotoCorp and Honda, have started offering exclusive discounts and offers to government employees and pensioners to expand sales. The move comes after enhanced pay packages under the Seventh Pay Commission came into effect from January this year. Since then, arrears of the preceding months, too, have been disbursed. There are 4.8 million central government employees and 5.5 million pensioners, who will benefit from the increase. Rumours of a merger between and Vodafone India have created a flutter among analysts, who said it would not be easy and was unlikely soon. BJP appealed to the youths of to come under the tricolour and hold it aloft to defeat the designs of separatist forces who are "disturbing peace" in Jammu and . "The youth should not fall prey into the trap of these separatist leaders and rather come under the tricolour and hold it aloft to make it clear that Kashmiri youths are as nationalists as those from Jammu, Ladakh or any other state of the country," BJP state Vice President Yudhvir Sethi told reporters. "BJP will not allow disturbing of the social fabric and give a befitting replay to all such forces which are posing threat to the unity and integrity of the country," he said. Sethi said that the recent 'Tiranga Yatra', initiated on the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah, has not only received overwhelming response but also succeeded in bringing enthusiasm and inducing the feelings of patriotism among the people. Sethi said peace and development of Jammu and was not possible without the participation of Kashmiri youths. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued summons to Nirmal Jain, the chairman and managing director of India Infoline Finance (IIFL) group, for questioning in connection with the Spot Exchange Ltd (NSEL) money-laundering case. A judicial commission set up by the Human Resource Development Ministry to probe the suicide of Hyderabad Central University scholar Rohith Vermula has found that the 26-year-old student did not belong to the Scheduled Caste community, The Indian Express reported on Wednesday. At midnight on Tuesday, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar was woken up by a phone call informing him that an Australian newspaper had just reported the leak of key operational details of India's newest submarines, the . At midnight on Tuesday, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar was woken up by a phone call to tell him that an Australian newspaper had just reported the leakage of key operational details of Indias newest submarines, the Scorpene. A Mumbai Police report indicting controversial Islamic preacher for alleged provocative speeches and involvement in unlawful activities has been forwarded to the Centre, a top Maharashtra government official said on Wednesday. The report was submitted to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, early this month. Fadnavis had then said the police found Naik to be allegedly involved in unlawful activities and delivering provocative speeches. "The report submitted to the state government by Mumbai Police was in Marathi. We have translated the 71-page report into English and forwarded it to the Union Home Ministry two days ago," Additional Chief Secretary (Home) K P Bakshi told reporters here. He said the findings have also been sent to the state Law and Judiciary Department and its views are being sought on initiating action against the 50-year-old televangelist. The police were asked to probe Naik's past speeches available online to see if any of them could have motivated youth to join terrorist outfits, a move which came in backdrop of reports that his preachings inspired some of the gunmen who attacked a Dhaka cafe on July 1, leaving 22 people dead. The city police were also conducting an enquiry along with other probe agencies into the functioning of Mumbai-based Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), founded by Naik, and scrutinising its funds from various parts of the world. Naik had a lengthy interaction with Indian media via Skype from Saudi Arabia on July 15 during which he rubbished the charge that his sermons had inspired terror activities. Stating that he was a "messenger of peace", the physician-turned-preacher had accused the media of running a trial against him by highlighting "unverified" reports and "doctored" clippings. Congress Vice President had not blamed the RSS as an institution for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, but the people associated with it, the Supreme Court was told on Wednesday. Senior counsel Kapil Sibal made the observation before a bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice R F Nariman while referring to an affidavit filed by Gandhi before the Bombay High Court challenging the defamation proceedings against him by a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker. The bench, while taking note of Gandhi's statement before the High Court said that it can dispose of the matter after the Congress leader's unequivocal statement that he had not blamed the RSS as an organisation for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, but only the people linked with it, However, the court deferred the hearing till Sep 1 as senior counsel Umesh Lalit, appearing for the RSS worker, wanted time to take instructions from his client. The Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday adjourned the hearing in diesel vehicle ban case till September 7. The tribunal had on July 18 asked the Delhi's transport authorities to cancel registration of diesel-fuelled vehicles that were older than 10 years. Two days later, it asked the Delhi Government to first focus on vehicles order than 15 years. The Centre was expected to oppose the tribunal's order to phase out more than 15 years old diesel vehicles in Delhi. The Union Government had on July 29 challenged the NGT's order to phase out diesel vehicles, saying there was no legal provision for the move described by a carmaker as a "corporate death penalty". The Supreme Court has also stopped registration of new diesel vehicles with engine capacity of 2000CC and above and ordered all diesel taxis to convert to compressed natural gas. Vehicular emissions are among the main causes of air pollution and diesel one of the biggest contributors. Prime Minister Narendra Modis cash in hand has risen 19 times in financial year 2015-16 to Rs 89,700, from Rs 4,700 in FY15. Even so, the PMs cash in hand is among the lowest when compared with his Cabinet colleagues. In FY16, the cash in hand with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was Rs 65.29 lakh, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Rs 2.84 lakh and Information & Broadcasting Minister Venkaiah Naidu Rs 1.52 lakh, according to governments declaration of ministers financial assets and liabilities. As he embarks on a two-day visit to the troubled Kashmir Valley, Home Minister on Wednesday said, he will hold talks with all stakeholders and those who believe in 'Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat' are welcome. Singh said he would be staying at Srinagar's Nehru guest house where he will interact with cross section of people on Kashmir issue. "I shall interact will civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders," he said on Twitter. "Those who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat are welcome," he added. This is the second visit of Singh in a month to the valley where unrest has been continuing for 47 days ever since Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces on July 8. As many as 65 persons, including two cops, have been killed and several thousands injured in the clashes that began on July 9. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will undertake a two-day visit to the Valley on Wednesday during which he will review the situation and may hold talks with cross section of people, a move which comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed "deep concern and pain" over the situation there. This is the second visit of Singh in a month to the valley which has been witnessing unrest since July 8 when Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces. As many as 65 people, including two policemen, have been killed and several thousand were injured so far in different violence. The Home Minister had said the Centre wants an emotional relationship with the state and not just need-based. Singh had said the central government will talk to whosoever needed once peace and normalcy is restored in the state. "As far as Government of India is concerned, I want to make it clear that we don't just want need-based ties, but to build an emotional relationship with Kashmir," he said, reaching out to the people in the Valley while making a fervent appeal to them to help restore peace and normalcy in the state. On Monday, while meeting a joint opposition delegation led by former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed his "deep concern and pain" over the situation there and asked all political parties to work together to find a "permanent and lasting" solution to problems in Jammu and . (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Following the furore over the leak of documents related to Indian's Scorpene submarine, the Congress on Wednesday lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar for their 'myopic' approach towards the matter and underplaying the 'stunning breach of security'. Addressing a press conference here, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala asserted that India's security stands gravely compromised which shocking leaks of the entire design plans and specifications of the Scorpene submarine, containing 22,400 pages of the 'project 75' carrying the emblem of the Indian navy. "It's perhaps the biggest defence disaster of recent times. This scandalous leak has put a question mark on India's maritime security and has jeopardised the initiative to build six Scorpene submarines of the French companies PSU, DCNS at a cost of $3.5 billion, which are, currently being built by the mazagaon dock ship builder limited at Mumbai," he said. Listing out the 'disturbing' details of the now leaked submarine designs, Surjewala pointed out 10 crucial specifications, which are now in public domain: 4,301 pages of combat management system and 493 pages of torpedo systems The secret stealth capabilities of the six Scorpene submarines. 4, 457 pages of submarines underwater sensors and 4, 209 pages of submarines above water sensors. 6, 841 pages of the Scorpene submarines communications systems. The diving depth range details. Magnetic, electromagnetic and infrared data of the six submarines. Frequencies at which the submarines gather intelligence. Details of speed and conditions needed to use the periscope for the submarine. The noise specifications of the submarine's propellers. Radiated noise levels that occur when submarines surface, level of noise at various speed, places where submarine crew can speak to avoid detection by enemy have also been leaked. Further stating that despite this 'Himalayan blunder' that has deeply hurt India's defence preparedness, Surjewala came down heavily on the Centre and Parrikar for saying that it's a case of 'mere hacking'. Accusing Parrikar, Centre and the Indian Navy of being engaged in an 'operation cover-up' instead of 'operation fixation of responsibility', the Congress leader said that there was a conflict between the former and the Navy over the matter. "While one describes it as hacking, the other describes it as leaks. The government has actually gone on overdrive describing this important leaked information as 'old information', 'damage not substantial' or 'operation capabilities not compromised'. I have read out to you the details of what all has been leaked and it is for everybody to judge, whether this compromises the operation capabilities of not only submarines but the Indian navy," he said. Emphasising on the gravity of the situation with most of the classified information now floating on the internet, the spokesperson added that the Centre and Parrikar have done nothing since the leaks happened. "With a coastline of 7, 517 km to defend with only 13 submarines which are nearly 20 years old and one nuclear submarine which is on lease from Russia, it appears that Modi Government is living in absolute denial vis a vis the security of this country," he said. Calling for a complete security audit of the Mazagaon dock shipbuilders in Mumbai and the Defence Ministry to establish the source of the leak, Surjewala hit out at Parrikar for denying the leak of being possible from within the country. "Can they do so without even conducting a proper enquiry into the matter? Can the Defence Minister reach such a conclusion without even seeking a full report? This reflects the myopic approach and complete apathy to the security on part of Parrikar and the Modi Government. It is in fact intriguing as to how clean chits are being meted out without the matter having been looked at by anybody," he added. Posing a question to the Centre as to what steps have been taken to ensure that all the uploaded information has not already gone into the enemy hands, the Congress leader reiterated his call for an enquiry, adding that it must be headed by a sitting Supreme Court judge and that the government can have people from the three defence forces, the naval and military intelligence, the Intelligence Bureau or other agencies. "The Prime Minister and the Defence Minister must take the nation into confidence as to how they propose to deal with the maritime security risk, which has happened on the account of leakage of the designs, specifications and all other details of the projects of Scorpene submarines," he said. Meanwhile, Parrikar has asked Indian Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba to analyse the extent of the leak and find out whether it is related to India or not. Parrikar further asserted that the leak is not 100 per cent. "I have asked the Naval Chief to conduct full analysis of the incident as to what is the leak and what has been leaked about us. The first step is to identify, the second step is to identify the extent of unwarranted, but it not all 100 percent because we do have our final integration," Parrikar said. "It came to my knowledge at around 12 last night, what I understand is that there is a hacking. So, we will find out all these aspects," he added. The Defence Minister further said that in the next couple of days, they will come out with more information. On Tuesday, a report in Australian media revealed that sensitive information related to India's Scorpene submarines has been leaked, with French shipbuilder DCNS, which designed the submarine, facing a leak of documents spreading over 22,000 pages. According to The Australian, the leak details the entire secret combat capability of the six Scorpene-class submarines that French shipbuilder DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy. As per reports, the leak includes details of the submarine's underwater sensors, above-water sensors, combat management system, torpedo launch system and specifications, communications system and navigation systems. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Expressing concern over reports of Scorpene leak, Rear Admiral (Retd.) Raja Menon on Wednesday said that the Centre should initiate steps to minimise the effects of information loss. Demanding a thorough probe into the matter, Rear Admiral (Retd.) Menon told ANI that the Centre must find out as to how the information has been leaked. "But now we have to try and cope with and see what can be done to minimise the effects of the loss of information. There are many details of the that will come out only after the trials. I don't think that information has been leaked yet. So, one can hope that as you say 100 percent information has not been leaked out so far," he added. Asserting that nowadays there is very little information that is actually classified, he said the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre must find out whether that information has been leaked or general information has been leaked. "It has to be seen what damage limitation can be done now. Mostly the information about the warfare is tactical that is where exactly is the submarine. Now that information you cannot leak out. So, while I heavily criticise the fact that leak has taken place at the same time one should not go overboard as to how much information has gone," he added. Rear Admiral (Retd.) Menon said there are some information, which should not go like the frequency on which the submarine is transmitting and the frequency of which is being used by the submarine as those are all normally kept classified. "It's very difficult to leak that information because they can be changed at the last minute. The security of data is a well-known subject in the Navy. There are enough rules and if those rules are observed, then leak should not occur. One really needs to observe the rules of classification of data. I don't think there requires any change in the system," he added. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar earlier today said that he has asked Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba to analyse the extent of the leak and find out whether it is related to India or not. Parrikar further asserted that the leak is not 100 percent. "I have asked the Naval Chief to conduct full analysis of the incident as to what is the leak and what has been leaked about us. The first step is to identify, the second step is to identify the extent of unwarranted, but it is not all 100 percent, because we do have our final integration," Parrikar said. "It came to my knowledge at around 12 last night, and what I understand is that there is a hacking. So, we will find out all these aspects," he added. Parrikar further said that in the next couple of days they will come out with more information. On Tuesday, a report in Australian media revealed that sensitive information related to India's Scorpene submarines has been leaked, with French shipbuilder DCNS, which designed the submarine, facing a leak of documents spreading over 22,000 pages. According to The Australian, the leak details the entire secret combat capability of the six Scorpene-class submarines that French shipbuilder DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy. As per reports, the leak includes details of the submarine's underwater sensors, above-water sensors, combat management system, torpedo launch system and specifications, communications system and navigation systems. Meanwhile, the Indian Navy has said the source of the leak appears to be from overseas and not in India. "The available information is being examined at Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy) and an analysis is being carried out by the concerned specialists," the Indian Navy said in a statement. "It appears that the source of leak is from overseas and not in India," the statement added. The recent unrest in Kashmir, where over 60 people have died, and the resultant curfew, now in the seventh week, have resulted in huge losses for the tourism industry in the Valley. Luxury and mid-segment hotels in Kashmir that regularly saw advance bookings are now running empty.Properties such as the Vivanta by Taj, Dal View, and The Lalit Grand Palace, Srinagar, have seen occupancy plummet to under 8 per cent, significantly lower than the approximate 80 per cent reported last month. Till July the occupancy rate at the Taj was 88 per cent. That is now down to 0.5 per cent in August, said Cyrus Mistry, chairman, Indian Hotels Company, while addressing shareholders at the companys 115th annual general meeting.Perched on the Kralsangri hill, the Vivanta offers a panoramic view of the Dal Lake, surrounded by the Zabarwan mountains. The hotel, which has 81 rooms and three suites, is presently running almost empty. Similarly, Kashmir's other branded luxury property, The Lalit Grand Palace, Srinagar, presently has an occupancy rate of 7 per cent as compared to 60-70 per cent in July. ALSO READ: Rajnath Singh's visit to Kashmir valley: Do not expect much Gujarat government has failed to properly implementation of 'Swarnim Jayanti Mukhya Mantri Shaheri Vikas Yojana' (SJMMVY) (Golden Jubilee Chief Minister Urban Development Scheme) at many places in the state, said latest report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG). The second round of the strategic and commercial dialogue between India and the US on August 30 is unlikely to result in a breakthrough on contentious issues, including the hike in visa fees and trade barriers. Odisha which is emerging as the steel manufacturing hub of the country, requires a total investment of Rs 1,200 crore towards infrastructure development to develop a full-fledged ecosystem for downstream steel industries. Though Odisha has a nameplate capacity of 21 million tonne (Mt) annually in steel making, hardly 2.6 Mt is consumed within the state. The consumption of finished steel points to the lack of downstream industries despite the presence of steel majors like Tata Steel, Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL), Jindal Stainless Ltd (JSL) and Bhushan Steel. After 14 long years of wait, project seems to be set for take off. Chief Minister of Maharashtra has made it clear that technical team from Airport Authority of India (AAI) will conduct preliminary study of Rajgurunagar, near Khed Special Economic Zone, in the first week of September, its a long way to take off. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for development of 1120 kms of National Highways in the States of Karnataka, Odisha, Bihar, Rajasthan and West Bengal. . . The work for development to two lane standards are under Phase-I of the National Highways Interconnectivity Improvement Project (NHIIP) with World Bank assistance. . . The revised estimated cost is Rs. 6,461 crore including cost of land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation and other pre-construction activities. . . The projects are already taken up for implementation and 429 kms has been completed. The civil works are expected to be completed by July, 2019 and maintenance works are expected to be completed by July, 2024. . . The project will ensure safe, fast and all weather movement of traffic on the proposed National Highways mostly located in backward regions thereby improving socio economic development. . . Background:. . The proposal was initially approved for Rs.5,193 crore. The cost has increased due to higher bid prices, and increase in cost of land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation and other pre-construction activities. . . A delegation from Odisha led by Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan called on Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Sushri Uma Bharti in New Delhi today and requested her to sort out Mahanadi water issue at the earliest. . . Speaking to reporters after the meeting Sushri Bharti said that a meeting was called by her Ministry on July 29, 2016 at New Delhi which was attended by officials from Odisha and Chhattisgarh. After this, she made a statement in Parliament according to which both the States had to exchange information with each other on the issue. The Minister said that she has directed the officials of her Ministry to complete this task of information exchange at the earliest. The Union Water Resources Minister also informed that she will hold a meeting with the Chief Ministers of Odisha and Chhattisgarh on a mutually convenient date between September 10 and 20, 2016 at New Delhi to ensure that no injustice is done to Odisha. . . Samir/jk Subsequent to the high level review of the status of Dengue, Malaria and Chikungunya by the Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Shri J P Nadda, Shri C K Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare held a meeting to review preparedness of various agencies to prevent and manage Chikungunya and Dengue in the National Capital, here today. Representatives and senior officers from Delhi Government, Municipal Corporations of Delhi, NDMC and the Delhi Cantonment Board were also present during the meeting. . . The preparedness of various agencies to prevent and control Chikungunya was reviewed. In view of the rising number in Chikungunya and Dengue cases in the NCR Delhi, Secretary (HFW) urged the Municipal Bodies and Delhi Government officials to be alert over next two months and to gear up activities and measures to be taken for awareness generation, prevention and control of Chikungunya so as to effectively address the situation, and not allow it to escalate. As directed by the Union Health Minister, Shri Mishra asked the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) of the Health Ministry, Delhi Government and the Municipal Corporations to coordinate their IEC activities towards this end. . . The Health Secretary was informed that the recent upsurge in the Chikungunya cases in Delhi is attributable to non immune population, as number of cases of Chikungunya was comparatively less in the previous years. Abundance of vector mosquito, construction activities, water storage practice, increased mobility of population and human behavior have also added to its transmission. Due to short incubation period in mosquitoes as compared to Dengue, outbreak of Chikungunya is known to occur. Further, Chikungunya has been observed to follow a secular and cyclic trend. . . The Health Secretary was informed that to monitor the situation in Delhi, a Control Room has been established in the Ministry. It was apprised that in 2016, Government of India has taken 17 reviews (including 3 Video Conference with States), 11 Advisories were also issued to all States. Government of India has requested to all States/UTs to declare Dengue as notifiable disease for improving reporting and for taking preventive measures in the affected areas. Under the guidance and direction of the Union Health Minister, Government of India has initiated several awareness programmes through print and electronic media and issue advertisements for controlling these diseases. Besides, for sensitization of the masses on the subject, the National Dengue Day was celebrated on 16th May, 2016 and month of July was observed as Anti Dengue Month (ADM) in the entire country. Mobile App India Fight Dengue" was also launched by Honble Minister for Health & Family Welfare. . . The Health Secretary directed the officials for strengthening Vector control and Surveillance, South Delhi Municipal Corporation to collect and compile the report and share with NVBDCP, Modality of treatment of Chikungunya also to be included in the IEC campaign emphasizing domiciliary care to sensitize the community and Principal Secretary (Health), Govt. of Delhi will be the nodal person for monitoring and overall coordination of implementation of the programme for prevention and control of Dengue and Chikungunya in Delhi. . . The officials from Delhi Government mentioned that special awareness programmes are being held in the schools, such as rallies, etc., to educate the children on Dengue. It was suggested that activities such as these could be replicated all over to create widespread awareness. . . We are now, collectively, in a better position to carry forward our mission of developing a comprehensive roadmap on Regional Framework for DRR for mutual benefit of Asian countries: Shri Kiren Rijiju . Union Minister of Home Affairs Shri Kiren Rijiju, a UN designated Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Champion for the Asia Region, attended the First Asian Science and Technology Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction held at Bangkok in Thailand. Following is the full text of his address during the concluding session of the Conference today:. . Dr. Yongyuth Yuthavong, Advisor to the President, Science and Technology Development Agency and former Deputy Prime Minister of the Royal Thai Government, dignitaries from Asian countries and international organizations, dear delegates, ladies and gentlemen! . . It gives me immense pleasure to be here with the distinguished gathering of policy makers and experts from various international and regional organizations in this First Asian Science and Technology Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction. . . With far-reaching advances in Science and Technology as well as International Cooperation, we have made remarkable progress in our responses to disasters. However, entering the 21st century, natural calamities have turned out to be much more extreme, with an exceptional increase in both frequency and scale and in its impact. This is evident in our constantly witnessing unforeseen catastrophes, notably the 2011 Tohuku Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan, 2010 Haiti Earthquake, 2008 Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar and 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. . . History has shown us that although natural phenomena cannot be controlled, we do have capacities to mitigate their impact in terms of human and property losses if we have timely coordination, cooperation and mutual support. It is indeed a matter of great satisfaction that during the deliberation over past two days, the participating countries, institutions and organizations have very enthusiastically contributed towards the objectives laid down for this two-day conference. . . In the Conference, we have been able to address the critical aspects of the use of Science and Technology on Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance to Manage Disaster Risk and Enhancing Disaster Preparedness for Effective Response. Further, capacity enhancement for Disaster Risk Reduction and technologies & innovations for disaster response, discussed during the sessions, will go a long way in further improving the Disaster Management practices among the stakeholders and the member countries. . . Considering the loss of lives and scale of damages which have occurred in the past, it has become essential to formulate concrete strategies to reduce vulnerability and losses arising from a possible disaster striking in any area including urban, semi-urban and rural areas. The solution lies in having an informed community and bringing in strict adoption and enforcement of hazard resistant design, techniques, especially the building codes for new construction. We need to have financial and insurance solution in place to financially protect the communities, critical infrastructure and development. We need to take rapid strides in the areas of application of Science & Technology, Early Warning Systems and capacity development. We also need to ensure concerted measures to use latest technology to provide timely and useful information at the community level. . . The Sendai Framework calls for a shift from managing disasters to managing risks. This requires a more holistic approach to risks and a stronger focus on addressing the ongoing creation of new risk. We have to address disaster risks in our development practices to not only protect our development gains but also to prevent escalation of future risks. The quality of infrastructure we develop today will determine the level of risk tomorrow. In order to prevent new risks from being created, we need to act now with solid foundation of science, technology and innovation. . . The Framework has underlined the important role of Science & Technology in Disaster Risk Reduction by calling for: Academia, scientific and research entities and networks to focus on the disaster risk factors and scenarios, including emerging disaster risks, in the medium and long term; increase research for regional, national and local application; support action by local communities and authorities; and support the interface between policy and science for decision-making". . . In the last decade, science, technology and research has progressed significantly on all fronts. Scientists and researchers have brought a deeper understanding of the hazards, vulnerabilities, disaster risks and their linkages to the development processes. However, we often hear of the challenges and gaps in translating this scientific information into evidence and science-based policy making. . . While political leadership and community partnerships are required for the successful implementation of effective, science-informed initiatives, the research community has a responsibility to formulate applicable methodologies and tools that respond to real-world challenges. Ensuring that research facilitates the shift and understanding from Disaster Management to Disaster Risk Management is key, while national and international partnerships and networks can ensure the dissemination and sharing of good practice and scientific findings. . . In the backdrop of the disaster risk profile of the Asian countries, the necessity to discuss specific aspects in multilateral coordination such as establishment of clear channels of communication for international assistance, creation of a database of Disaster Response capabilities for rapid deployment and pre-positioning of material to shorten response time etc., stands well established. The case studies and lessons learnt during the recent disasters highlight the need for further sharing our experience and expertise in the field of Disaster Management. Further, notwithstanding the efforts in the past, several gray areas have emerged during our deliberations which need to be further discussed in future events and fine-tuned for timely response in eventuality of disasters. . . The role of corporate sector and financial institutions in the DRR and capacity building cannot be overstated. We look forward to continued support from the corporate sector, both at national and international level in this domain. . . As we conclude this event, we are now, collectively, in a better position to carry forward our mission of developing a comprehensive roadmap on Regional Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction for mutual benefit of Asian countries. We are not only looking at improving upon the institutional framework for Disaster Response and coordination in the region but are also looking forward to refining our strategy for training and capacity development for response preparedness leading to effective Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies and implementation of issue based projects at regional levels. . . India is organizing the Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) in New Delhi from 2-5 November, 2016. The application of Science and Technology for prevention of new risks would be one the feature events of the AMCDRR. The recommendations emerging from this conference would be helpful in discussions during AMCDRR 2016 and would also substantially shape the political commitments and convictions of the governments of Asian countries. . . I assure you that India has always been willing to contribute to international endeavors in the field of Disaster Risk Reduction, to reach out in times of need and distress and to learn from the experience of other nations. India has played an important role in global initiatives on Disaster Management and Risk Reduction with multidimensional initiatives and expertise. . . With these words I once again thank the Royal Thai Government and UNISDR for inviting me on this occasion and share my views." . . PMs interaction through PRAGATI . The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired his fourteenth interaction through PRAGATI - the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation. . . The Prime Minister reviewed the progress towards handling and resolution of grievances related to school education and literacy. He said that there is now an expectation among the people, that the Government will be able to resolve these grievances. The Prime Minister specifically asked concerned officials to systematize the measures being taken by them to address grievances of students. He instructed them to use all available technological tools to ensure that school-children do not face inconvenience. As an illustration, he recalled his earlier instructions to all Ministries for extensive use of space technology. He said this could help in proper location of examination centres, to minimize difficulties in access for the students. . . Reviewing the progress of the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, the Prime Minister was apprised of progress made in improving accessibility in schools, public buildings and railway stations etc. He appreciated the sensitivity that has been shown in this regard by various departments of the Central and State Governments. . . During an appraisal of the progress of Aadhaar enrolment, it was noted that overall enrolment is now close to 105 crore, and special attention is being given to the North-Eastern States which are lacking in this regard. The Prime Minister urged States to accelerate enrolment among children in the 5 to 18 age-group so that scholarships and other educational benefits become more accessible to them. . . The Prime Minister also reviewed the progress of vital infrastructure projects in the road, railway and power sectors, spread over several states including Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and Maharashtra. Among the projects reviewed was Nangal Dam - Talwara Railway line, which was first sanctioned in 1981-82, and has been pending since then. The Prime Minister impressed upon the Chief Secretaries of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, the need to facilitate works at the ground level, so that further delay in this project may be avoided. . . Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh held a series of meetings with a wide spectrum of political parties in Srinagar today. Shri Rajnath Singh also chaired a meeting of Senior Officers of Security Agencies and State Government to review the security situation in the Kashmir Valley. . . The regional People's Conference leaders Mr. Sajjad Gani Lone and Mr. Bashir Ahmad Dar held consultations with the Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh at the Nehru Guest House where he has opted to stay in an effort to reach out to all sections of people in the Valley. A 17-member delegation of the states ruling major ally, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by party General Secretary Mohd. Sartaj Madni and a 13-member Bharatiya Janata Party delegation led by J&K State President Shri Sat Sharma separately met Shri Rajnath Singh. Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mr. Omar Abdullah led a 7-member delegation of the states main opposition J&K National Conference. The 10-member Congress delegation was led by Mr. G A Mir while the CPI(M) delegation was led by J&K State Secretary Mr. MY Tarigami. Regional People's Democratic Front delegation was led by its Chairman Mr. Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen. A delegation of Democratic Party Nationalists led by Chairman Mr. Ghulam Hassan Mir also held talks with Shri Rajnath Singh. Later the Union Home Minister held a meeting with the State Cabinet Ministers led by Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Kumar Singh. . . Earlier this morning, Shri Rajnath Singh was received by Dr Nirmal Kumar Singh upon his arrival in Srinagar. The Union Home Minister, accompanied by the Union Home Secretary Shri Rajiv Mehrishi and Senior Officers of MHA, is on a two-day visit to Srinagar. Shri Rajnath Singh will be meeting the State Governor Shri NN Vohra, Chief Minister Ms. Mehbooba Mufti and about ten Civil Society delegations tomorrow before returning. . . The Vice President of India, Shri M. Hamid Ansari has said that a publication of this vintage is absolutely delectable and brings back memories of days gone by giving a peep into a past that will not return. He was addressing the gathering, here today, after releasing the book Patriots, Poets and Prisoners: Selections from Ramananda Chatterjee's The Modern Review, 1907-1947 edited by Shri Anikendra Sen, Shri Devangshu Datta and Ms. Nilanjana S. Roy. . . The Vice President congratulated the editors for the selection undertaken, and the publisher for bringing this anthology to the notice of the present generation of citizens. The founder-editor, Ramananda Chatterjee was a man of vision, he added. . . The Vice President said that the contents of the volume testifies to the intellectual stature, and vigour, of the contributors and of their times, and includes a debate between Lala Lajpat Rai and Gandhi ji on Ahimsa; a scintillating essay by Rabindranath Tagore on nationalism; translation of a classic short story by Munshi Prem Chand and a cheeky piece on Jawaharlal Nehru by someone who called himself Chanakya among others. . . Following is the text of Vice Presidents address: . . Shri Dilip Padgaonkar, The editors of the book, Ladies and Gentlemen, . . A publication of this vintage is absolutely delectable. To some it brings back memories of days gone by; to others a peep into a past that will not return. . . I congratulate the editors for the selection undertaken, and the publisher for bringing this anthology to the notice of the present generation of citizens. I agree with their assertion that much of Indias true and often stirring history lies in the archives of little magazines and turn-of-the-century journals. . . The founder-editor, Ramananda Chatterjee was certainly a man of vision. Sir Jadunath Sarkar, no mean judge of men and events, described him as the voice of India to the world outside. . . The contents of the volume tell their own story. Where else can one find a selection of this caliber? It testifies to the intellectual stature, and vigour, of the contributors and of their times. Here is a sampling: . . A debate between Lala Lajpat Rai and Gandhi ji on Ahimsa where Gandhi ji asserts that Ahimsa does not displace the practice of other virtues but renders their practice imperatively necessary before it can be practiced even in its rudiments; . . a scintillating essay by Rabindranath Tagore on nationalism that, if publicized today, might bring the publisher under the ambit of an archaic law; . . The translation of a classic short story by Munshi Prem Chand; . . An obtuse conversation between Einstein and Tagore on the nature of reality; . . A cheeky piece on Jawaharlal Nehru by someone who called himself Chanakya cautioning on Nehrus propensity to be impatient and dictatorial but also arguing that he could not be a fascist. The reasoning is interesting: he is too much of an aristocrat for the crudity and vulgarity of fascism and also because the fascist is a public face and not a pleasant face in public or private. . . It was left to the historian Ramchandra Guha to discover in NMML archives Nehrus own note acknowledging the authorship of the article! . . One last word about the intellectual powerhouse that Calcutta, now Kolkatta, was in those early decades of the 20th century. I am reminded of a 24 year old young man who started a paper called Al Hilal, created a Party of God (Hizbullah), preached communal harmony, established contacts with revolutionary figures like Shyam Sunder Chakravarty and was eventually imprisoned for three years in Ranchi. . . I once again thank the three editors for resurrecting these writings. I thank them for inviting me to this function. . . Jai hind. . . Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's campaign is accusing rival of outsourcing his clothing brands overseas, including his coats to India, in a new television commercial set to air this week. In the past, the Clinton Campaign has accused Trump of outsourcing jobs to India and other countries. The latest television commercial is part of a series. Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, has made a career of 'stiffing' small businesses, choosing not to pay them and driving some of them out of business, Democratic rival Hillary Clinton has alleged. Citing an independent analysis, she also claimed Trump's ideas would cost 3.4 million jobs while her plan would create over 10 million new jobs. " has made a career of stiffing small businesses, driving some of them actually out of business. He refused to pay them for the work they'd already done - not because he couldn't pay them, but because he chose not to pay them," the 68-year-old former secretary of state said on Tuesday in a tele-town hall with small business owners. She also discussed her new comprehensive plan to jump start small business start up and strengthen small business growth. "I believe when you succeed, families thrive and our nation prospers. But I also know that in lot of ways, the odds are stacked against too many of you too many times. It's clear that big corporations get a lot of the breaks. It's much harder for you to get a loan, to file taxes, to offer health care to your workers," she added. "You want commonsense policies that will make life a little bit easier, and that's why I am releasing our plan today," Clinton said. She said according to an independent analysis, Trump's ideas would result in a prolonged recession that would cost 3.4 million jobs. "That same analyst analysed my plan and found that the economy would create more than 10 million new jobs." Clinton's vice presidential running mate Tim Kaine also held a round table with local small business leaders in Colorado and laid out their plan to strengthen small businesses that seeks to streamline the start-up process, expand access to capital, and simplify tax filing practises to mae it easier for entrepreneurs to turn their dreams into reality and become economic engines for local communities. "It's the taxpayer subsidising their debt towards the investment. That would be a massive mistake, to provide a negative tax rate for the biggest companies in the country if they're debt-fuelling real estate or other investments. "We call this the King of Debt loophole, since Trump likes to brag that he's the king of debt," Kaine said. The Virginia Senator said 70-year-old Trump has highly unusual expenditures, even in this campaign. "So, as an example, Trump is renting space in one of his buildings to his campaign, and the campaign is paying personally for the space," he said. "Once he started to fund raise dramatically - he was self-funding a while, but once he started fund raising dramatically, he immediately tripled the rent payment that his campaign was paying him personally. So once donors were writing checks to the campaign, Trump said, 'Wow, I can get more money personally out of this'," he alleged. Three Indian-origin Muslim siblings, including two hijab-clad girls, have claimed that they were hauled off a plane at an airport here and questioned on the tarmac by British policemen after a passenger accused them of being supporters. Sakina Dharas, 24, Maryam Dharas, 19, and Ali Dharas, 21, had boarded the easyJet flight from Stansted to the Italian city of Naples last week when they were approached by a cabin crew member and asked to accompany her off the aircraft without explanation, media reports said. The trio from northwest London were hauled off the plane and grilled for an hour by officers, who first asked them, "Do you speak English?", according to Sakina, who narrated the ordeal writing in The Independent and in a Facebook post. They were asked by one of the officers, "Right, we have to speak with you. A passenger on your flight has claimed that you three are members of ISIS," Sakina said. "They saw you with Arabic or praise be to Allah on your phone," the officer was quoted as saying by Sakina. In their reply, the siblings said, "Firstly, that's part of the Quran, our religious text, so even if we did have it, it wouldn't signify that we're a part of at all." "Regardless, we've had nothing on our phone remotely Arabic related this morning. Also, we're Indian by ethnicity, so we wouldn't even have Arabic in conversation with anyone," they told the officers, according to Sakina. During their one-hour interrogation on the tarmac, Sakina said she was asked to explain the details of various entry stamps on her passport. She also showed a MI5 agent recent WhatsApp messages. The siblings provided answers relating to their personal lives and were questioned on their home addresses, workplaces, social media history and parents' professions, Sakina wrote in her post. "The MI5 and police officers apologised for the 'inconvenience' and assured us that, at a time where we are all 'on edge', they have to respond to threats such as these. Our accusers, we are told, were very 'frightened'," Sakina wrote. "We were only allowed back on that plane, to continue our journey, because there wasn't a shred of doubt on the part of investigators that we were innocent of the crimes accused but somebody has been lying and misleading the authorities. Why weren't those passengers who made the false claim about us removed from the plane for wasting valuable police time?" she asked. They returned from their holiday on August 20. A spokesman for easyJet said the three had been taken off the flight "following concerns raised by a passenger". "The police then confirmed to the captain that the passengers were cleared to complete their journey and they re-boarded the aircraft and the flight departed to Naples," the spokesman was quoted as saying by The Telegraph. "The safety and security of its passengers and crew is our highest priority which means that if a security concern is raised we will always investigate it as a precautionary measure. We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused to the passengers," he said. The foreign ministers of China, Japan and South Korea criticised North Korea's latest submarine missile test today during their annual talks that were held amid lingering frictions over territorial disputes and wartime history. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, who chaired the meeting with China's Wang Yi and South Korea's Yun Byung-se, said that North Korea's missile launch "simply cannot be tolerated." fired a ballistic missile from a submarine into the Sea of Japan, South Korean and US officials said. Seoul officials condemned the launch as an "armed protest" against the start of annual South Korean-US military drills that North Korean calls an invasion rehearsal. Kishida said Tokyo lodged a protest to the North over the missile, and urged his counterparts to step up cooperation as they face the latest development. "I hope to coordinate closely in order for Japan, China and South Korea to lead the efforts of the community," he said. The three countries have quarrelled on a number of issues, and their foreign ministers' meetings resumed only last year after a two-year hiatus because of strained Chinese-Japanese relations. Tensions between Tokyo and Beijing also remain high over disputed East China Sea islands. Japanese Prime Minister condemned a ballistic missile launch by North Korea earlier in the day as a "reckless act", Jiji Press reported. "It is a grave threat to Japan's security environment," Abe told reporters today, according to the news agency. "It is an unforgivable, reckless act," he added. US Vice President Joe Biden promised unwavering commitment to NATO's collective defence today as he sought to reassure Baltic allies spooked by a resurgent Russia and White House hopeful Donald Trump. "Let there be no doubt America's Article 5 commitment is rock solid and unwavering," Biden said, referring to a cornerstone of NATO that an attack on one member state is considered an attack on all. Trump, a real estate mogul now the Republican presidential nominee, sparked ire last month among Baltic and eastern NATO members ruled by Moscow during the Soviet era when he questioned the alliance's key Article 5 collective security guarantee. "Don't listen to that other fellow he knows not of what he speaks. America will never fail to defend our allies. We will respond," Biden said, after talks with the presidents of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. "And we want you to know, we want Moscow to know, that we mean what we say." Tensions between the 28-member NATO and Russia have reached their worst level since the Cold War following Moscow's 2014 annexation of the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine. Asked in July by the New York Times about the Russian activities that have alarmed Baltic NATO members, Trump said that if Russia attacked them, he would decide whether to come to their aid only after reviewing whether those nations "have fulfilled their obligations to us." "If they fulfil their obligations to us, the answer is yes," he said. Biden said today he doubted whether Trump "even understands" what NATO's Article 5 commitment to collective defence means, while insisting it was America's "sacred honour" to fulfil it. A majority of NATO's eastern European leaders have fired back at Trump, with Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka going so far as to say that Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton is better than Trump on security for NATO allies. "Considering the pre-election statements made by Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, from the point of view of guarantees for the allies, I see more security if Clinton is elected," Sobotka told the today edition of Czech financial daily Hospodarskie Noviny (HN). A dangerous, erratic, con man with the worst spray tan ever. That's how Sen Marco Rubio described Donald Trump when they were both seeking the Republican presidential nomination. Now that Trump is the nominee and Rubio is running for re-election, his tone is different. He is no longer criticising Trump, but he isn't exactly gushing praise. Democrats are trying to make him look like a hypocrite for backing the man he previously said shouldn't have access to nuclear weapon codes, and for jumping back into the Senate race after he said he wouldn't. "Sen. Rubio is actually the real con man here," said US Rep. Patrick Murphy, who is challenging US Rep. Alan Grayson for the Democratic nomination. "He said something to the effect of, 'Ten thousand times, I'm telling you I'm not going to run for the Senate again.' Well guess what? He's running for the Senate again." But don't ask Rubio to reconcile supporting Trump with his past criticism. "We've gone through that a million times," Rubio said at a campaign stop at a Tallahassee restaurant. "At this point we're just going to continue to focus on my race and leave the past in the past." Last month in Panama City, Rubio said he is supporting Trump because he pledged early in the campaign to support the Republican nominee. "There are only two people in the world that are going to be president of the United States in 2017," Rubio said. "It will either be Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump. And It can't be Hillary Clinton." Leaving his remarks in the past isn't something his opponents are willing to do. Republican developer Carlos Beruff often criticises Rubio for not enthusiastically supporting Trump, and Murphy and Grayson are calling him out for his hypocrisy. Grayson described the relationship between Trump and Rubio by quoting late New York Yankees manager Billy Martin, who once said of late team owner George Steinbrenner and star outfielder Reggie Jackson: "The two of them deserve each other. One's a born liar and the other's convicted." (Steinbrenner had pleaded guilty to making illegal contributions to President Richard Nixon's campaign.) "That's sort of how I feel about watching the love/hate fest between Marco Rubio and Donald Trump," Grayson said . Turkey's army and coalition forces on Wednesday began an operation to drive Islamic State jihadists out of a key Syrian border town, a statement from the Turkish prime minister's office said. Tensions had flared across the Syria- border on Tuesday, with Turkish forces pounding jihadists with artillery strikes following rocket fire from the Syrian town of Jarablus. "The Turkish Armed Forces and the Coalition Air Forces have launched a military operation aimed at clearing the district of Jarablus of the province of Aleppo from the terrorist organisation Daesh," the prime minister's statement said, using an Arabic acronym for the IS group. The state-run news agency Anadolu said the operation began at around 4:00 am local time. In an earlier interview with private NTV television, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said Ankara saw Jarablus, which lies opposite the Turkish town of Karkamis,"as a national security matter". "What we have said, since the beginning, is that having Jarablus or any other city held by IS is unacceptable," he said. The launch of the operation comes the day US Vice President is due in Ankara to meet Turkey's leadership, with agreeing a unified strategy on Syria set to be a crucial issue. He is by far the highest-ranking Western official to visit since the coup attempt to unseat President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkish F-16 jets dropped bombs on IS targets in Jarablus, the private NTV television reported, in the first such assaults since a November crisis with Russia that was sparked when the Turkish air force downed one of Moscow's warplanes. Security sources quoted by Turkish television said a small contingent of special forces travelled a few kilometres into Syria to secure the area before a possible operation. The movements have come at a critical juncture for in Syria's five-and-a-half-year war, with signs growing it is on the verge of a landmark policy shift. Ankara has always called for the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad as the key to ending the conflict, putting Turkey at odds with his main supporters Iran and Russia. However Prime Minister Binali Yildirim at the weekend for the first time acknowledged that Assad was one of the "actors" in Syria and may need to stay on as part of a transition. Turkey has been shaken by one of the bloodiest years in its modern history, with a string of attacks by IS jihadists and Kurdish militants and the botched July 15 coup. Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has moved higher by nearly 5% to Rs 568 on the BSE after the company announced that its board will meet on Monday, August 29 to consider issue of bonus shares. Vetri Subramaniam, 47, chief investment officer (CIO) at Invesco Mutual Fund has resigned. He will be joining UTI Mutual Fund in February 2017 as group president and head of equities. A respected name in the segment, he was with Invesco (earlier Religare MF) since June 2008. Doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have warned of a sudden increase in Chikungunya positive cases, by announcing that 180 patients have tested positive for the vector borne disease this season. The doctors said this sudden spurt in Chikungunya cases is mainly due to the heavy monsoon received in Delhi this year. "There is sudden rise in cases of Chikungunya. In AIIMs till now, we have tested 180 cases, which are Chikungunya positive cases," said Dr. Lalit Dar. "The cause is that we have received heavy monsoons this year. Rain causes stagnation of water where mosquitoes breed. The another reason is that the migrated population is too high in Delhi so people from different parts of country come here to get themselves treated," said another Dr. Ashutosh Biswas. The doctors also confirmed that the government both Delhi and the Centre are on their toes in connection with providing medication in for Chikungunya. "The government has increased the facilities for detection of Chikungunya and dengue, the facilities have been elaborated that's why we are able to detect more cases. Previously, we could not detect such cases because the needed facilities were not provided. The government is serious, especially the central government is very serious in this regard," said Dr. Biswas. However, the mortality rate in this disease in low comparatively to other vector born diseases. "The consequences are not very bad as compared to the dengue, the mortality rate is low," he added. Chikangunya is a debilitating, though not life-threatening, disease with patients showing symptoms similar to dengue. Typical symptoms include high-grade fever, severe joint pain, muscle pain and headache, joint swelling, or rashes. But it is not as dangerous as dengue in which there is a risk of bleeding due to abrupt fall in platelet count. "The joint pains last longer compared to dengue cases and especially elderly people find it extremely difficult. Though, people should not worry as it not a life-threatening disease like dengue," Dar said," said Dr. Dar. There is no specific treatment for Chikungunya. Supportive therapy helps ease symptoms such as administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and getting plenty of rest can be beneficial, according to experts. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor is the new one to join the Fawad Khan fan club. The veteran actor has recently expressed that like million others, he too is gaga over sexy Khan. In an interview with BBC Urdu, the 59-year-old actor, who launched Fawad through his film 'Khoobsurat' along with his daughter Sonam Kapoor commended his sharp looks and said he thinks the actor is very good looking. "He is extremely handsome and works really well. I wish he gets success, not just in Bollywood but worldwide," " said the '24' star. Anil also expressed disappointment over 'Neerja's' ban in Pakistan and said, "I'm sad the film wasn't released in Pakistan. I am unaware of the reasons it hasn't been able to release in Pakistan." He went on suggesting the Pakistan natives to watch the thriller drama, "But I'm sure people would have managed to watch it on DVD or on internet," said the 'Dil Dhadkane Do' actor. He the actor-director sent a big shout out to his Pakistani audience thanking them for their love and support. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday pinned its hopes on the emergence of a viable solution and the chalking out of a strong and stern policy to end the unrest in the Kashmir through Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's visit. BJP leader Ravinder Raina told ANI that all stakeholders will be taken on board during the home minister's meetings. "I think a viable solution to this crisis and a strong and stern policy will be chalked out. This visit will definitely bring fruits to calm down the present turmoil in Kashmir," he added. Raina said Rajnath's visit should be seen as a significant one as the valley has been on a boil for the last 47 days. "Pakistan-sponsored terrorists and separatists in the Kashmir Valley have created mess and turmoil and the common Kashmiris are suffering very badly. Traders, transporters, businessman and the student community are suffering badly," he added. Echoing similar sentiments, another BJP leader Shaina NC told ANI that Rajnath's visit is clearly a step in the right direction. "We have the opposition parties who are not playing politics, but supporting the government, because there is one concerted effort, which is to bring normalcy into the valley and to lift curfew in many parts of Kashmir. Our honorable Home Minister Rajnath Singh along with Mr. Mehrishi, the Home Secretary, are going to visit Srinagar on a two-day visit again and with only one agenda in mind, which is to ensure that there is normalcy...no kind of pelting, no kind of agitation and with one vision plan, which is to finish terrorism that is trying to destablise India, and especially through Kashmir," she said. Rajnath Singh will be accompanied by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and other senior officials. It is speculated that the Home Minister will meet Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and other senior officers to review the law and order situation in the valley. Rajnath is also likely to meet representatives of various political parties seeking their feedback on the Kashmir situation. Members of various political parties had on August 12 suggested the Centre send an-all party meeting delegation to the valley in order to pacify the situation. The government is yet to take a step in this direction. As many as 65 people have been killed and thousands, including security forces, left injured in protest-related violence triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani by security forces on July 8. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Not completely declining the fatwa issued by Islamic seminary against products with cow urine, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Zafar Islam on Wednesday said the scientific use of cow urine is not known, adding there are many things which are permitted even though the Islamic faith doesn't allow those things in normal course of action. Talking to ANI, Islam said the consumption of cow urine and the products, which have cow urine, is prohibited as far as Islamic faith is concerned. "But we do not know in scientific use whether it is permitted or not. Scientifically, there are many things which are permitted even though Islamic faith doesn't allow those things in normal course of action like for instance alcohol is not allowed to consume, but as a medicine it is allowed. So, we don't know what the scientific use is if cow urine," he added. The BJP leader's response comes a day after Lucknow Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband referred to the use of products containing cow urine as 'najayaz' (inappropriate) and issued a fatwa against the use of such products by Muslims. The fatwa came in response to a question submitted whether a Muslim should use brands like Patanjali, which contain cow urine in them. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress Party on Wednesday demanded a proper explanation from the government and swift punishment against culprits involved in the reported leak of sensitive data related to India's Scorpene submarine. Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi told ANI that the leak of papers is a very serious matter as the security is paramount. "It is not a question of this or that. It is a question that the fundamentals of security for purposes of security, safety how they can be possible leaked?" he said. "The government owes a very proper explanation and a strict punishment in the swiftest possible time. This should not go through a bureaucratic legalese with people trying to save their skin and passing the buck," he added. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar earlier today said he has asked Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba to analyse the extent of the leak and find out whether it is related to India or not. Parrikar further asserted that the leak is not 100 percent. "I have asked the naval chief to conduct full analysis of the incident as to what is the leak and what has been leaked about us. The first step is to identify, the second step is to identify the extent of unwarranted, but it is not all 100 percent, because we do have our final integration," Parrikar said. "It came to my knowledge at around 12 last night, and what I understand is that there is a hacking. So, we will find out all these aspects," he added. Parrikar further said that in the next couple of days they will come out with more information. On Tuesday, a report in Australian media revealed that sensitive information related to India's Scorpene submarines has been leaked, with French shipbuilder DCNS, which designed the submarine, facing a leak of documents spreading over 22,000 pages. According to The Australian, the leak details the entire secret combat capability of the six Scorpene-class submarines that French shipbuilder DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy. As per reports, the leak includes details of the submarine's underwater sensors, above-water sensors, combat management system, torpedo launch system and specifications, communications system and navigation systems. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Cybercriminals are using insiders to gain access to telecommunications networks and subscriber data, recruiting disaffected employees through underground channels or blackmailing staff using compromising information gathered from open sources - according to a Kaspersky Lab intelligence report into security threats facing the telecommunications industry. Telecommunications providers are a top target for cyber-attack. They operate and manage the world's networks, voice and data transmissions and store vast amounts of sensitive data. This makes them highly attractive to cybercriminals in search of financial gain, as well as nation-state sponsored actors launching targeted attacks, and even competitors. To achieve their goals, cybercriminals often use insiders as part of their malicious 'toolset', to help them breach the perimeter of a telecommunications company and perpetrate their crimes. New research by Kaspersky Lab and B2B International reveals that 28 percent of all cyber-attacks, and 38 percent of targeted attacks now involve malicious activity by insiders. The intelligence report examines popular ways of involving insiders in telecoms-related criminal schemes and gives examples of the things insiders are used for. According to the Kaspersky Lab researchers, attackers engage or entrap telecoms employees in the following ways: Using publically available or previously-stolen data sources to find compromising information on employees of the company they want to hack. They then blackmail targeted individuals - forcing them to hand over their corporate credentials, provide information on internal systems or distribute spear-phishing attacks on their behalf. Recruiting willing insiders through underground message boards or through the services of "black recruiters". These insiders are paid for their services and can also be asked to identify co-workers who could be engaged through blackmail. The blackmailing approach has grown in popularity following online data breaches such as the Ashley Madison leak, as these provide attackers with material they can use to threaten or embarrass individuals. In fact, data-leak related extortion has now become so widespread that the FBI issued a Public Service Announcement on 1 June warning consumers of the risk and its potential impact. According to the Kaspersky Lab researchers, if an attack on a cellular service provider is planned, criminals will seek out employees who can provide fast track access to subscriber and company data or SIM card duplication/illegal reissuing. If the target is an Internet service provider, the attackers will try to identify those who can enable network mapping and man-in-the-middle attacks. However, insider threats can take all forms. The Kaspersky Lab researchers noted two non-typical examples, one of which involved a rogue telecoms employee leaking 70 million prison inmate calls, many of which breached client-attorney privilege. In another example, an SMS center support engineer was spotted on a popular DarkNet forum advertising their ability to intercept messages containing OTP (One-Time Passwords) for the two-step authentication required to login to customer accounts at a popular fintech company. "The human factor is often the weakest link in corporate IT security. alone is rarely enough to completely protect the organization in world where attackers don't hesitate to exploit insider vulnerability. Companies can start by looking at themselves the way an attacker would. If vacancies carrying your company name, or some of your data, start appearing on underground message boards, then somebody, somewhere has you in their sights. And the sooner you know about it the better you can prepare," - said Denis Gorchakov, security expert, Kaspersky Lab. In order to protect the organization from insider threat, Kaspersky Lab advises the following: Educate your staff about responsible cyber-security behavior and the dangers to look out for, and introduce robust policies about the use of corporate email addresses; Use Threat Intelligence Services to understand why cybercriminals might be looking at your company and to find out if someone is offering an insider "service" in your organization; Restrict access to the most sensitive information and systems; Do a regular security audit of the company's IT infrastructure. Read more about insiders and other typical cyber-threats facing telecommunications companies on Securelist. Further information on threats facing companies in telecommunications and other sectors is available through Kaspersky Lab Intelligence Services or by emailing intelligence@kaspersky.com. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain plea seeking modification of restriction over height of human pyramid in Dahi Handi function. It means that height of human pyramids would not exceed 20 feet in Dahi handi function. A Dahi Handi organiser named 'jai jawan krida mandal govinda pathak' had sought relaxation in height restriction condition fixed at 20 feet. The apex court had on August 17 upheld the Bombay High Court ruling that the height of human pyramids should not exceed 20 feet. The apex court also said that children below 18 years should not be allowed in the Dahi Handi event. In 2012, 170 people were admitted and in 2013, 190 people were seriously injured out of which 160 people were in the casualty department during the event, the petitioner said in the hearing. Earlier, the Maharashtra Government had moved the apex court on August 3, seeking a clarification regarding the height of human pyramids for the celebrations after the Bombay High Court last week pulled up the government for its failure to obtain clarification from the apex court in this regard. Hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) last month, the High Court had directed the state government to approach the apex court on its order on the height of human pyramids. The High Court had on August 11, 2014, ordered that the height of human pyramids should not exceed 20 feet and children below 18 years should not be allowed to participate in the Dahi-Handi function. The issue had cropped up on a contempt petition filed by a city-based social worker Swati Patil, who is the secretary of an NGO named Utkarsh Mahila Samajik Sansthaa. Patil alleged that the Maharashtra Government and others were not following the Bombay High Court's earlier orders on the height of human pyramids during Dahi Handi celebrations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the leak of documents detailing the secret combat capabilities of India's Scorpene-class submarines setting off an uproar across the globe, French naval contractor DCNS, the company manufacturing the vessels, said on Wednesday the matter is being thoroughly investigated by the proper French national authorities for Defense Security. "DCNS has been made aware of articles published in the Australian press related to the leakage of sensitive data about Indian Scorpene. This serious matter is thoroughly investigated by the proper French national authorities for Defense Security," the company said in a statement. It further asserted that this investigation will determine the exact nature of the leaked documents, the potential damages to DCNS customers as well as the responsibilities for this leakage. Meanwhile, Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has branded the entire incident as a case of hacking. "This (the report) came to my knowledge at 12 midnight, it is a case of hacking. Navy Chief has been asked to analyze as to what exactly has been leaked. First step is to identify if its related to us, and anyway its not all 100% leak," he told ANI. The Indian Navy in a statement said on Wednesday that it appears that the source of leak is from overseas and not in India India has ordered six Scorpene-class submarines in a deal worth $3 billion. The first of the submarines built at the Mazagon Docks in Mumbai began sea trials in May. Earlier today, a report in Australian media revealed that sensitive information related to India's Scorpene submarines has been leaked, with French shipbuilder DCNS, which designed the submarine, facing a leak of documents spreading over 22,000 pages. According to The Australian, the leak details the entire secret combat capability of the six Scorpene-class submarines that French shipbuilder DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy. As per reports, the leak includes details of the submarine's underwater sensors, above-water sensors, combat management system, torpedo launch system and specifications, communications system and navigation systems. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Telly ville hottie Karan Kundra feels that his latest music video 'Do Chaar Din' with 'Calendar Girls' actress Ruhi Singh is kind of a show-reel for his future big projects. During the music video launch event yesterday, the actor told media, "It is like my show reel. If I have to meet any producer or director tomorrow, then I can show him this show reel. In a video, you get just three to four minutes to showcase a whole story. So as an actor it is a matter of pressure to bring out the expression as there's no dialogue to deliver." "We need to do some things in life to take our career forward. So I think I would have not got a better opportunity than this. I think it was a great opportunity for me. I was at the right place at the right time," he added. The almost seven-minute music video sees the 'Gumrah' host in a very new sexy avatar and his sizzling chemistry with Ruhi. Indian Idol fame Rahul Vaidya has lend voice to the very romantic song that is composed by Jeet Ganguli and penned by Manoj Muntashir. The video is shot in the lovely Paris and features beautiful locales of the city. So, ladies, here's your 'Kitni Mohabbat Hain' man Karan Kundra back to the news again. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor-turned politican Raj Babbar has described Priyanka Vadra Gandhi as a dynamic personality who will actively campaign for the Congress party in the run-up to next year's assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. In his first interview as the president of the Uttar Pradesh unit of the Congress party, Rajya Member of Parliament Babbar told Jagdish Chandra, Head of ETV on the J C Show, "All members of the Gandhi family are on an equal platform. Priyanka Gandhi will campaign during the Uttar Pradesh election. I have appealed to Priyanka also. Priyanka has always worked for the party and there is a remarkable understanding between Rahul and Priyanka." He further said that the Congress fight is not with the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Samajwadi Party or the Bahujan Samaj Party, but against corruption. He also claimed that former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati did not have the required public or party support to ensure her return to power. He added that as far as the BJP was concerned, the people of Uttar Pradesh were well informed about its brand of politics. "Her close aides are quitting the party. She does not have public support. The people also understand the BJP's politics as seen on Dadri, Muzaffarbad and Kairana," Babbar told Chandra. Asked what was his view on the Congress leadership roping in election specialist Prashant Kishore to strategise for the party ahead of the polls in Uttar Pradesh, Babbar said, "Prashant Kishore is not a cadre, but a strategist. The cadres are Congress workers. Kishore is an expert in his field and the party will benefit from his experience." On his shift from acting to politics, Babbar said, "Mumbai gives a person a particular time period to every artist. I took what I got from the film industry and then moved on to doing social work which was an inner desire. I have been influenced by the ideologies of both (Mahatma) Gandhi and (Ram Manohar) Lohia from my college days." He also described Samajwadi Party leader and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav as his political guru. "Mulayam Singh brought me into active politics for which I will always be grateful. I have a lot of respect for him and have no differences with his family. Akhilesh is a nice person, but not a good chief minister. Currently, there are seven-and-a-half chief ministers ruling Uttar Pradesh, and there is no law and order in the state," he said. He said that it is the goal of the Congress to have an alliance with the public. "We are and will be attached with the people of Uttar Pradesh and the result of which can be seen from recent rallies," he told Chandra. On the choice of Sheila Dikshit being named as the Congress party's chief ministerial candidate for the Uttar Pradesh elections, Babbar said, "The people of UP have seen what Shiela Dikshit's work in Delhi and now they benefit from her experience." He said that he was confident that the next government in Uttar Pradesh would be led by Shiela Dikshit. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday felicitated Rio Olympics bronze medal winner and wrestler Sakshi Malik. The Haryana government has awarded Malik 2.5 crore rupees and a class two level job in the state government. "I would like to congratulate this daughter of Haryana who has made the nation and Haryana proud. From the side of the Haryana government, we award Sakshi a cheque of 2.5 crores. We also offer her a class two level job in Haryana," said Khattar. Chief Minister Khattar also announced Malik as the brand ambassador of the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao initiative in Haryana. Malik thanked all for the love and support. "Want to thank everyone for their support, hope to continue to receive such support in the future as well," said Malik. On her arrival in Delhi from Rio de Janeiro, Malik was accorded a grand welcome at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. Sakshi become the first woman wrestler in India to win an Olympic medal with her bronze in the 58 kilogram freestyle event. Defying all odds and displaying a killer instinct, women athletes Sakshi Malik, silver medallist P V?Sindhu and gymnast Dipa Karmakar saved India the blushes by performing superbly at this year's summer games. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ahead of the proposed nation-wide strike by ten trade unions next month, a Finance Minister Arun Jaitley-led ministerial panel will meet RSS-affiliate Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) on Wednesday. The meeting is expected to discuss the 12-point charter of demands of Central Trade Unions (CTUs), which includes a granting of a minimum wage of Rs. 18,000 per month among others. It was earlier scheduled for August 22. The panel had met BMS representatives on August 16 too, but talks remained inconclusive. The government is talking exclusively with the BMS over the 12-point charter of demands ahead of the proposed nation-wide strike called by 10 trade unions on September 2. Even as the government is trying to persuade the BMS to refrain from the proposed strike, as many as 10 trade unions have decided to go ahead with their one-day pan-India strike on September 2, citing no positive response from the government to their demands as the reason. They decided to go on strike on the same date again this year alleging that the government was 'indifferent' to their demands. The unions, after the meeting of central coordination committee on August 18, decided to go ahead with the strike. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Located in the mountainous Shimane Prefecture, Nakamura Brace provides high quality prosthetics and orthotics for those in need. Its contribution expands to more than 30 countries. The credit for this success goes to Toshihiro Nakamura. Toshihiro Nakamura, President, Nakamura Brace, said, "Some 30 years ago, I got silicon gum. It is real and delicate to accept precise work. Regarding finger, it is available to be decorated by nail art or to grow hair. Additional invention enables good and real supportive device. When I was in the US this word "Think" supported and encouraged me. Despite of the place or the area which is not affluent if we think continuously we can open future path." After studying in the USA, Nakamura returned to his under populated birth town which did not have any hospitals. Overcoming disadvantages, he continued to produce prosthetics and orthotics for those in need. Today, young trainees are coming to learn these skills. Nakamura said, "Ten years ago I met an Afghan girl whose hand and leg were injured by a mine. I produced an artificial leg for her. It was introduced in the movie. It was a fateful encounter. In Malaysia, I met a doctor of the University of Malaya. Her major is orthopedics and rehabilitation. Since 30 years ago, we have continuously worked on exchanging information and collaborated on improving technical skill. Through the exchange of knowledge and experience we look forward helping each other." JFE Engineering Corporation, a company that makes plants and infrastructure constructions has built a biomass power station in Tsu, Mie Prefecture. Here, the power generation is done by using a CFB boiler and burning biomass fuels made of coconut shells or woodchips. Seiichi Kanamori of the JFE Engineering Corporation said, "The scale of the power generation is about 20.1 megawatts, which is about 44,000 times a normal households' power usage. It's also the largest biomass power station in the prefecture." The biomass fuel made from coconut shells or woodchips imported from Indonesia and Malaysia is transferred from a fuel yard and thrown into hoppers. The fuel is burned in the boiler and the water in the boiler boils with its heat. Afterwards, the high temperature and high pressure steam that it generates rotates the steam turbine, and runs the generator and generates power. In the central control room, the operation of the entire power plant is being conducted; such as fuel supplies and the control of the output of the boiler. It's environmentally friendly. Since a bag filters and collects the ash dust, the fuel gas is detoxified. Kanamori said "We look forward to engage further overseas. While considering implementing cost-reduction, we are open to overseas development." In Japan, to fulfill the purpose of preliminary fire extinguishing needs, based on fire laws, fire extinguishers are required to be installed in office buildings. Based on the purpose of a building, the scale, and the degree of risks, etc., firefighting equipment using pumps are also being introduced. The installation locations are strictly managed with double-doors. In Japan, the only firewater pumps that can be used are the ones certified by the Fire Equipment and Safety Center of Japan. An unidentified official of the Ebara Corporation said, "With the standards of certification, to start with the construction material and functions, all the technical specs of the firewater pumps are divided into small segments, and only the ones that are suitable for all the standards are to be certified which makes it a strict authority." In the 1980s, Ebara Corporation's pump was the first one to be certified in the industry. The office building is also installed with an inverter firewater pump made by Ebara Corporation. In Japan, the water pressure at the end of the water supply is regulated by fire laws. The inverter pump can control the water pressure at the end of the water supply. He added, "With its high-level technical capabilities and extensive supply experience, the firewater pump unit from Ebara Corporation is contributing to the safety of large buildings and facilities." Since earthquakes occur frequently in Japan, the risk of fire at the time of a natural disaster increases. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former diplomat N.N. Jha on Wednesday said Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to the valley will make Kashmiris realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi's seriousness about dealing with the ongoing unrest. "It is fruitful in the sense that we make them realise that the Prime Minister and the Home Minister and the entire Government of India are serious about resolving this. But to think that it will immediately stop stone pelting, it would not happen, because Pakistan has invested too much on it," Jha told ANI. With the pressure mounting on the Centre to send an all-party delegation to Kashmir in an effort to end the present crisis, Singh will today be visiting the valley. Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and other senior officials will also accompany him. It is speculated that the Home Minister will meet Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and other senior officers to review the law and order situation. Rajnath is also likely to meet representatives of various political parties to seek their feedback on the Kashmir situation. Members of various political parties had on August 12 suggested that the government send an-all party meeting delegation to the valley to pacify hurt sentiments and bring the situation under control, but a step is yet to be taken in this direction. As many as 65 people have been killed and thousands, including security forces, left injured in protest-related violence triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani by security forces on July 8. A delegation of Jammu and Kashmir opposition parties also met President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi to apprise them of the ground situation in the valley, while urging them to take measures to mitigate the ongoing crisis. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Emphasizing on research and innovation, President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday said progress is not possible without a knowledge society. Addressing the first convocation of the Management Development Institute (MDI) here, President Mukherjee shared that he took the initiative for establishing the Management Development Institute when he was representing the area in Parliament. "Despite the fact we have created good infrastructure in our higher educational system, hardly any of the Indian Universities find place in the top global rankings. After my continuous exhortation to institutions to take the ranking process seriously, the situation has started improving," President Mukherjee said. "Two institutions of higher learning have come within the top 100 in the world in the year 2015. I expect more institutions to figure high in the rankings in the future," he added. West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi, Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti were among those present on the occasion. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Leaders of the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM), an alliance of seven Madhes-based parties, are reportedly keen to reach a common position on contentious issues of the Constitution before Prime Minister Pushpa Kumar Dahal undertakes his first official visit to India next month. The governing parties- CPN (Maoist Centre) and Nepali Congress-and the SLMM are expected to start fresh negotiations, possibly from next week, to find a political solution to the Terai crisis, for which the government has pledged to register a constitution amendment proposal in Parliament by mid-October, reports the Kathmandu Post. "I have heard the government is planning to register an amendment proposal before Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's visit to New Delhi. We are hoping that the negotiations will start soon," the Kathmandu Post quoted Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato, as saying. Prime Minister Dahal is expected to visit India from September 15 to 18. The Morcha is also under pressure to have a common view for sending members to the task force. Redrawing of provincial boundaries with at least two provinces in the Terai plains is one of the key demands of the Morcha. It has also demanded that its concerns regarding proportional representation and citizenship among others be addressed. Though the new government has pledged to address the agitating parties' demands, the governing parties are yet to come up with any formal proposal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Indian citizen has been arrested by Dubai Police for engaging in an ill-motivated social media campaign against Malabar Gold & Diamonds using forged images. The arrested person is identified as Mr. Bineesh Ponankal Arumoghan, an ex-employee of the company, hailing from Thrissur in Kerala. Malabar Gold & Diamonds had filed a complaint with Dubai Police regarding a forged image being circulated in social media. The cyber wing of the Dubai Police uncovered that it was Bineesh who first shared the forged image through Facebook in Dubai. In an official communication sent to the Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Dubai Police confirmed that the arrested person has confessed that he manipulated the images to damage the brand Malabar Gold & Diamonds. Bineesh posted the image and urged public to boycott Malabar Gold & Diamonds which resulted in major negative campaigns against the brand. But with his arrest the conspiracy behind the attack against the brand has been exposed. The photograph spread across social media platforms in which a few people celebrating Pak independence by cutting a cake engraved with Pak national flag doesn't belong to Malabar Gold & Diamonds at all. This is taken from a celebration held at a money exchange company in Middle East and their logo is clearly visible in the background of the image as well. Malabar Gold & Diamonds is going ahead with similar legal actions in India as well against those who circulated defamatory news against the brand using manipulated images. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik, who scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman to clinch a medal in wrestling in the prestigious quadrennial event, on Wednesday admitted that her minor mistakes cost her spot in the finals of the freestyle 58kg event. The 23-year-old suffered a major setback when she went down 2-9 against Russia's Valeriia Koblova in the quarter-finals of the event at the Rio Olympics. Sakshi, however, received another chance at a medal via repechage and made full use of the second life by outplaying Asian No. 1 Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyztan 8-5 in the bronze-medal match to end India's 11-day long agonizing wait for a medal in the Summer Games. Sakshi said that although she could have clinched silver, she is happy to finally fulfill her 12-year long dream to go to the Olympics and bring a medal for the country. "My 12-year long dream has been fulfilled. I could have got silver medal as well. I could have reached the finals. I had a fight with Russia at the time of qualifying. So, I had a belief that if I would fight well, I could reach the finals. But I lost the bout because of my minor mistakes," Sakshi told ANI. Sakshi, who will be conferred with Khel Ratna Award for her stellar performance at international level, arrived to a grand welcome in the national capital from Rio de Janeiro. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who was scheduled to honour her at her village earlier, also felicitated her at Bahadurgarh in Jhajjar district for bringing laurels to the nation. With the win, Malik became only the fourth Indian woman athlete to win an Olympic medal after Karnam Malleshwari, Mary Kom and Saina Nehwal. She has also become the fourth Indian wrestler to win a medal in Olympics after Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav, two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A special one-day sitting of Madhya Pradesh assembly will be held on Wednesday to ratify the Constitutional Amendment Bill on Goods and Services Tax (GST). This sitting will be a part of the Monsoon Session of the state assembly. Madhya Pradesh will be seventh state to ratify the GST Constitutional Amendment Bill. Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh have already ratified the Bill. The speaker of the state assembly, Sitasharan Sharma, made it clear that the special one-day sitting only has a single point agenda of discussing the GST. However, Congress legislators' have demanded a discussion on flood situation in the state as also on the alleged irregularities that took place during the recently held Ujjain Simhastha. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi, 24 August (ANI): To commemorate and celebrate the recent release from jail of NSCN-IM activist Anthony Shimray, the Naga Students Union, Delhi (NSUD) organized a felicitation programme at Nagaland House recently. Shimray was released from Delhi's Tihar Central Jail after six years. He had been placed there on charges of procuring arms and waging war against the State (India). His release has been welcomed as a recognition of the voice of the Naga public through Naga civil societies like the Naga Hoho, Naga Mothers' Association, Naga Students' Federation (NSF), All Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM), Naga Students Union Delhi (NSUD), Naga Peoples' Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) and Naga Churches. Student leaders see Shimray not only as a political leader, but also as a deeply rooted religious person. "With his arrest five years ago, we, as a student union and also as Naga Civil Society and NPMHR, we have been constantly supporting him by organising protests or by conducting seminars. Likewise in many ways, we have been supporting him. And finally, he has been released on bail. So, to some extent, it is a victory and in order to welcome him back to the fold of the Naga community, we organized this event," said Phungshok Khongreiwoshi, President, NSUD. Naga students in Delhi are hoping that by organizing such event, they will give a bigger room to all Nagas to integrate and to come to a better understanding and unity. During the event, Nagas in Delhi from all walks of life came and witnessed the most meaningful and fruitful reunion between Shimray and his people. Delivering a thanksgiving speech, Shimray applauded the sincerity and serious commitment of the Government of India towards the ongoing Indo-Naga peace talks. "I appreciate the sincerity and the seriousness commitment of the Government of India, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi. My release is not my victory but it is the victory of the peace process and the victory of democracy," Shimray said. When asked about his future plans, Shimray did not reveal much and limited himself to saying that he bore no grudges for his time in prison, and would remain faithful to God and the Naga people. "To be honest, I have no plans, I have no dreams, and I have no vision. But my mission is that I want to remain faithful to the cause of my people and I want to remain faithful to the vision of God. I am just a follower and I am not the leader. I want be a faithful follower till the end of my life. And I don't regret anything for undergoing sufferings under trail there in Tihar jail. My sacrifice is for the future of the Naga people and for peace," Shimray said. "This is the future. This is not the NSCN movement. I want to represent myself as a freedom fighter, as a youngster," he added. "I consider Nagas as my friends and I have been following the Naga peace process since it began in 1997. And I think finally it's leading to solution and I hope that Nagas settlement is done quickly. As far as Anthony Shimray is concerned, he's been a very old friend of mine. I think he should not have been in jail; whatever he did was on the orders of his superiors. If they are innocent then he's innocent, if he's guilty then they are also guilty. This is the position I always had," added Bharat Bhushan, a senior journalist. There is also an opinion that the Government of India might use him to reach out to other outfits of the Northeast region and bring them to the negotiation table. "Nagas and Indians have missed so many good opportunities but this time we should not miss again because if we miss again, then it will be a catastrophe and we will regret so much. And the most important is this peace is only about bringing peace in Nagas areas but this peace is for entire Northeast as well as the entire nation. This peace is also for Southeast Asia because we are the centre. And Naga peace process will certainly send a positive message to all the other different groups. They are all watching closely, monitoring what is the outcome and solution of the Indo-Naga peace process," Shimray said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress leader and Member of Parliament Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday expressed hope that Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is on a two day visit to Kashmir to review security, will start a dialogue process with every mainstream political parties and other stake holders to reach an amicable solution in the valley. He urged the Central and the state government to work in tandem to tackle the situation. "I hope the Home Minister will not only hold discussions with main stream political parties but also hold talks with non state political parties, stake holders and different section of communities," Azad told the media here. Lamenting the fact that the valley has witnessed a lot of bloodshed due to the unrest, Azad said, "Lot of bloodshed has taken place, numerous have been injured, among them include security forces and civilians. Many young ones became victims to pellet guns. Hence in order to take control of the situation, instead of using guns and bullets, dialogues should be adopted." Earlier today, the Congress Party, the Conference and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led delegation met Singh to discuss about the situation in the valley. Earlier today, Rajnath tweeted "I will be staying at the Nehru Guest House. Those who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat (Humanity) and Jamhooriyat(Democracy) are welcome." On Monday, Prime Minister Modi had urged all political parties to work together to find an amicable solution for restoration of normalcy in the region. Prime Minister Modi conveyed that his government and the nation stands with the state of Jammu and Kashmir and suggested that all political parties should reach out to the people and convey the same. Emphasizing on dialogue, he said there is a need to find a permanent and lasting solution to the problems within the framework of the Constitution. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will be visiting the Kashmir Valley on Wednesday, and the Panthers Party (NPP) said it is hopeful about the emergence of a meaningful and positive outcome. NPP leader Harshdev Singh told ANI that it is good that the Union Government has realised the gravity of the situation. "We had been waiting for quite some time now. The curfew has been continuing for the last 47 days. We believe that the Centre has failed to show the kind of sincerity that ought to have been shown in the present circumstances. Now that Rajnath Singh is visiting Kashmir, we expect that a meaningful dialogue takes place and different sections of society are called for the meeting and something positive emerges out of his visit," he added. Resonating similar sentiments, party leader Bhim Singh called for the imposition of governor's rule in the Kashmir Valley. "If the Home Minister is visiting Kashmir, then he should announce imposition of governor's rule over there. By combining Section 370 and Section 92 of the Indian Constitution, governor's rule has to be imposed. This is the only way to bring peace and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir. After two or three months, they should call all parties and openly discuss the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. A solution must be found to our problem which is there since 1947. But today, the only solution is governor's rule," Singh told ANI. With pressure mounting on the Centre to send an all-party delegation to Kashmir in an effort to end the present crisis, Singh will be visiting the restive valley today. Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and other senior officials will also accompany the Minister. As many as 65 people have been killed and thousands, including security forces, left injured in protest-related violence triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani by security forces on July 8. A delegation of Jammu and Kashmir opposition parties also met President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi to apprise them of the ground situation in the valley, while urging them to take measures to mitigate the ongoing crisis. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the United Nations virtually endorsing India's stand that is based in Pakistan, Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam on Thursday said that Islamabad should no more be in a denial mode about the whereabouts of the underworld don, adding the next step initiated by the United States in this regard will be of crucial. Nikam said the UN panel's report on Dawood, mastermind of the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, clearly states that India's claims were not hollow. "And that is why I say that it is not the responsibility of India alone to catch Dawood Ibrahim, but instead it is the responsibility of the entire world," he added. Nikam pointed out that when the American Government declares those indulging in acts of terrorism as an international terrorist or a global terrorist then it means that he is dangerous not only for one nation, adding Dawood was declared a global terrorist because of his links in the entire world. "In 2003, the American Government declared as a global terrorist because Dawood played a major role in the terrorist activities in many European countries, courtesy his close relationship with Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda. The American Government found this out following a thorough investigation and that is why they declared him a terrorist," said Nikam. "Now, the question is when the United Nations panel confirms that has five or six residences in Pakistan, this clearly states that now the United Nations will give confirmation and our claims were not hollow. And that is why I say that it is not the responsibility of India alone to catch Dawood Ibrahim, but instead it is the responsibility of the entire world," he added. Responding to a poser as to on what grounds Dawood should be handed over to India with immediate effect, Nikam said, "We have produced evidence in the court with regard to the 1993 Mumbai blasts and I can state with conviction that the conspiracy was hatched by Dawood Ibrahim." "Through his channel of smuggling, Dawood Ibrahim had sent RDX to Mumbai and due to which 300 innocent people were killed," he added while asking Pakistan not to be in a denial mode anymore. Six of the nine addresses of Dawood in Pakistan, provided by India, have got an indirect confirmation from the UN. The world body has removed three from the list as those were found to be incorrect. India, in a dossier, had cited these nine addresses as those frequented by Dawood. Asserting that Pakistan won't be able to camouflage its duplicity, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday said the global community is increasingly taking note of the fact that Islamabad is becoming a safe haven for terrorist organizations and perpetrators of terrorism. BJP's Nalin Kohli said Pakistan cannot pretend anymore and safeguard its image by lingering on its policy of what passes for a good terrorist and what passes for a bad terrorist. "One wonders how long can Pakistan will try to run away from the truth and pretend that its policy of duplicity in terms of good terrorists-bad terrorists, good criminals-bad criminals can continue. I think the global community is increasingly taking note of Pakistan, its duplicity and the very fact that it is becoming a safe haven for terrorist organizations, perpetrators of terrors and perpetuators of crime," said Kohli. Dawood does live in Pakistan, a United Nations committee has endorsed, by accepting six of the nine addresses that New Delhi had submitted as the terrorist's hideouts in that country. In a validation of India's stand that the man it has hunted for over two decades has been shielded by Islamabad, the UN Security Council's ISIL and al Qaeda Sanctions Committee has amended its entry on Dawood by adding these addresses. India, in a dossier, had cited nine addresses in Pakistan as those frequented by Dawood of which the UN Security Council's ISIL and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee has removed three, finding those incorrect. New Delhi in August last year had listed the nine residences. Pakistan has consistently denied that Dawood is living in that country after he fled from India. Dawood is accused of chalking the 1993 serial blasts which took place in Mumbai and claimed lives of 257 people while injuring 700 others. He is also said to be the kingpin behind other terror attacks and faces multiple charges of money laundering and extortion. India and the US have also accused Dawood of financing terror groups including al Qaeda and Lashkar-e-Taiba. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday reached out to the people in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi and said all assistance is being provided to tackle the flood situation. "Deeply concerned by the flood situation in Varanasi. PMO is closely monitoring the situation & is in touch with with local authorities," Prime Minister Modi tweeted. "NDRF teams are present at Varanasi for rescue & relief work. The MP office there is working round the clock to provide all assistance," he added. Incessant rains have forced over 100,000 people to vacate their homes in northern Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring Bihar. According to reports, around 30 people have been killed in the two states from the floods. A total of 130,000 people are sheltering in relief camps across the two states and additional emergency workers have been deployed to help with rescue and relief efforts. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court, which today heard an appeal by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi to quash the defamation case filed against him by the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), stated that he never accused the 'institution of being responsible for Mahatma Gandhi's killing'. Senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, who appeared for Gandhi, told the apex court that the Congress vice-president never accused the RSS as an institution for the crime. "'RSS ke logon ne hatya ki' is entirely different from 'RSS had killed Mahatma Gandhi'," Sibal told the court. The apex court will hear the matter next on September 1. Addressing a rally in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra, in 2014, the Congress vice-president had alleged that the RSS members had assassinated Mahatma Gandhi on January 30, 1948. The Congress vice-president was reported as saying, "RSS people killed Gandhi ji. They opposed Sardar Patel and Gandhi ji." In May 2015, Rahul had moved the Supreme Court, seeking a dismissal of the criminal case. Later, on July 19, 2016, the Supreme Court said that indulging in 'collective denunciation' against an organisation is wrong. Signalling major trouble for the Congress vice-president, the apex court rapped the former and said that he must face a trial. The Congress vice-president has maintained that his statement on RSS' involvement in Mahatma Gandhi's killing was a historical fact and his counsel has asserted that his statement was within his right to free speech. The case was by filed by RSS worker Rajesh Kunte against Gandhi in a Maharashtra court for allegedly blaming the RSS for Mahatma Gandhi's assassination. On May 7 last year, the apex court had stayed proceedings against the Congress vice-president, pending before a magisterial court in Bhiwandi in Maharashtra's Thane district. It was alleged by Kunte, the secretary of the Bhiwandi unit of the RSS, that the Congress vice president had told an election rally at Sonale on March 6 that "RSS people killed Gandhi ji". He said Rahul had sought to tarnish the reputation of the RSS through his speech. Following the complaint, the magistrate's court had initiated proceedings and issued a notice to Gandhi, directing him to appear before it. The Congress leader then approached the high court seeking exemption from appearance and quashing of the complaint. Gandhi's lawyers had argued that complaint was motivated and malafide and deserved to be quashed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress Party on Wednesday urged Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to take the people of Jammu and Kashmir into confidence and hold talks with them to ensure that normalcy is restored in the state. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, said the Home Minister should talk to the people of Kashmir during his two-day visit so that normalcy and peace is restored in the state. Kharge told ANI, "We want peace in Kashmir and everybody is busy with their work, a system like this should be ensured." Another Congress leader Tom Vadakkan stressed on people-to-people contact to end the unrest in Kashmir. "He will do whatever he has to do, but this matter has to be taken holistically. The stakeholders, especially the leaders there and Kashmiri population should be consulted and there has to be a healing touch which is what is required," Vadakkan said. "The leaders from PDP must move out, Congress leaders all of them must move out to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and bring back peace that is important; the people are the most important fact. It's not about Pakistan's interference or any interference. It's about taking the people into confidence so that they bring back law and order situation under control in Kashmir," he added. Earlier in the day, the Home Minister arrived in Srinagar on a two-day visit to Kashmir during which he will review the situation in the valley. Singh, who may hold talks with a cross section of people, is likely to emphasize the various development projects and employment schemes undertaken for the youth in the Valley. The Home Minister, who is accompanied by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, earlier tweeted that he would interact with civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders in Kashmir. "I will be staying at the Nehru Guest House. Those who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat are welcome," he tweeted. This is the Home Minister's second visit in a month to the valley, which has been witnessing unrest since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. The visit comes following Prime Minister Modi expressing deep concern and pain over the situation in Kashmir. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday said that the Congress party is dragging the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi into the sedition row involving former Member of Parliament Ramya to attract media attention. BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said, "One is unable to understand why the Congress Party on any and every issue tries to drag in the name of the honourable Prime Minister of India, even where he is not even remotely involved. But perhaps it is a reflection that they realize that the Prime Minister is so popular that only by trying to drag his name in they will get some media coverage," said Kohli. "It also in other sense shows the inefficiency and the lack of popularity of their own leadership that is why they don't invoke their own leaders and tend to only attack the Prime Minister," he added. President of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) Dinesh Gundu Rao said prime minister Narendra Modi had visited Pakistan and celebrated Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif's last December birthday, Should he not call be anti and seditious too. Also be called antinational and seditious too. Ramya, a former Congress MP from Mandya, who had returned from Pakistan, where she had gone for the SAARC Young Parliamentarians Conference, said that "Pakistan is not hell, people there are like us", outraged' by which, a lawyer in Karnataka filed a case of sedition against the former Lok Sabha MP, who also goes by the name Ramya. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing on petitions of ex-Congress MLAs of challenging their disqualification till October 19. The High Court had earlier in May dismissed the petition of nine disqualified Congress MLAs. The High Court had then held that by their conduct they have "voluntarily given up membership of their political party", implying that they can be disqualified on that ground. Ordering a floor test on May 10 in the Assembly, the Supreme Court had said, "If they (disqualified MLAs) have the same status at the time of vote of confidence, they cannot participate in the House." At present, the BJP has 28 MLAs, Congress has 27, BSP has 2, while there are three independent MLAs in the 70-member assembly besides one belonging to Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (P). The Supreme Court will hear an appeal by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday to quash the defamation case filed against him by the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS). In 2014, while addressing a rally in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra, Rahul had alleged that members of the RSS had assassinated Mahatma Gandhi on January 30, 1948. Gandhi was reported as saying, "RSS people killed Gandhi ji. They opposed Sardar Patel and Gandhi ji." In May 2015, Rahul had moved the Supreme Court, seeking a dismissal of the criminal case. Later, on July 19, 2016, the Supreme Court said that indulging in 'collective denunciation' against an organisation is wrong. Signalling major trouble for Gandhi, the apex court rapped the Congress vice-president, saying he must face a trial. The Congress vice-president has maintained that his statement on RSS' involvement in the Mahatma Gandhi killing was a historical fact and his counsel has asserted that his statement was within his right to free speech. The case was by filed by RSS worker Rajesh Kunte against Gandhi in a Maharashtra court for allegedly blaming the RSS for Mahatma Gandhi's assassination. On May 7 last year, the apex court had stayed proceedings against the Congress vice-president, pending before a magisterial court in Bhiwandi in Maharashtra's Thane district. It was alleged by Kunte, the secretary of the Bhiwandi unit of the RSS, that the Congress vice president had told an election rally at Sonale on March 6 that "RSS people killed Gandhi ji". He said Rahul had sought to tarnish the reputation of the RSS through his speech. Following the complaint, the magistrate's court had initiated proceedings and issued a notice to Gandhi, directing him to appear before it. The Congress leader then approached the high court seeking exemption from appearance and quashing of the complaint. Gandhi's lawyers had argued that complaint was motivated and malafide and deserved to be quashed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Defence expert Commodore (Retd.) C. Uday Bhaskar on Wednesday said the reported leak of classified information related to the Indian Navy's Scorpene submarine project is a setback for the country's submarine building program, adding the government must probe the issue thoroughly. Commodore (Retd.) Bhaskar told ANI some of the reports have been put out from Australia are referring to this as intelligence bonanza for India's potential adversities at seas or those who might be tracking India's submarine. "So, I think on balance this is a setback for India's submarine building program, particularly the Scorpene. I think the government of India would have to carry out a very detailed review and see how best to first of all come to an assessment about what degree of compromise has taken place and in the event it is true what do we do next," he added. Expressing grave concern over the incident, Commodore (Retd.) Bhaskar said it is a significant compromise of the credibility of the underwater platform. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar asked Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba to analyse the extent of the leak and find out whether it is related to India or not. Talking to the media earlier in the day, Parrikar asserted that the leak is not 100 percent. "I have asked the Naval Chief to conduct full analysis of the incident as to what is the leak and what has been leaked about us. The first step is to identify, the second step is to identify the extent of unwarranted, but it is not all 100 percent, because we do have our final integration," Parrikar said. Parrikar further said that they would come out with more information in the next couple of days. On Tuesday, a report in Australian media revealed that sensitive information related to India's Scorpene submarines has been leaked, with French shipbuilder DCNS, which designed the submarine, facing a leak of documents spreading over 22,000 pages. According to The Australian, the leak details the entire secret combat capability of the six Scorpene-class submarines that French shipbuilder DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy. Meanwhile, the Indian Navy has said the source of the leak appears to be from overseas and not in India. "The available information is being examined at Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy) and an analysis is being carried out by the concerned specialists," the Indian Navy said in a statement. "It appears that the source of leak is from overseas and not in India," the statement added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former defence minister A.K Antony on Wednesday urged the Centre to order a high-level probe into the sensitive leak of information concerning India's Scorpene Submarine as it is a matter concerning security. Asserting that all facts in this case should be ratified stringently, Antony said that the issue should be dealt with seriously. "It is a matter of serious concern. Whether the leak took place in the Indian soil or outside that is immaterial. We have to check what all has been leaked, what is the extent of the same, how serious the matter is, is the information leaked is true all these aspects are important," said Antony. "So, my request to the government is that it should immediately order high level inquiry and find out the truth. As it is a matter which pertains to the security of the nation," he added. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar earlier in the day said that he has asked Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba to analyse the extent of the leak and find out whether it is related to India or not. Parrikar asserted that the leak is not 100 percent. "I have asked the Naval Chief to conduct a full analysis of the incident as to what is the leak and what has been leaked about us. The first step is to identify, the second step is to identify the extent of the unwarranted, but it is not all 100 percent because we do have our final integration," Parrikar said. "It came to my knowledge at around 12 last night, what I understand is that there is a hacking. So, we will find out all these aspects," he added. Parrikar further said that they would come out with more information in the next couple of days. The Indian Navy has said the source of the leak appears to be from overseas and not in India. "The available information is being examined at Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy) and an analysis is being carried out by the concerned specialists," the Indian Navy said in a statement. "It appears that the source of leak is from overseas and not in India," the statement added. On Tuesday, a report in Australian media revealed that sensitive information related to India's Scorpene submarines has been leaked. As per reports, the leak includes details of the submarine's underwater sensors, above-water sensors, combat management system, torpedo launch system and specifications, communications system and navigation systems. As per reports, the information belongs to DCNS, the company that is building India's Scorpene Submarines. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Wednesday demanded a through probe into the leak of documents related to Scorpene submarine and asked Defence Minister Manohjar Parrikar not to take this issue lightly as it is related to the country's security. "Because this is concerned to the country's safety and security and therefore, enquiry should be conducted and how it has been done, who is responsible that should also be made known to the people of this country," Kharge added. Another Congress leader Tom Vadakkan echoing similar sentiments said it is important that the Defence Minister doesn't take this matter lightly and an investigation is immediately ordered into the same. "It's not enough to say that it's hacking and passing the buck. I think it is important because the defence of the country is involved. The Defence Minister must focus on such issues very importantly if it is something that concerns the security of the nation," he added. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar earlier today said that he has asked Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba to analyse the extent of the leak and find out whether it is related to India or not. Parrikar further asserted that the leak is not 100 percent. "It came to my knowledge at around 12 last night, and what I understand is that there is a hacking. So, we will find out all these aspects," he added. Parrikar further said that in the next couple of days they will come out with more information. On Tuesday, a report in Australian media revealed that sensitive information related to India's Scorpene submarines has been leaked, with French shipbuilder DCNS, which designed the submarine, facing a leak of documents spreading over 22,000 pages. According to The Australian, the leak details the entire secret combat capability of the six Scorpene-class submarines that French shipbuilder DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy. As per reports, the leak includes details of the submarine's underwater sensors, above-water sensors, combat management system, torpedo launch system and specifications, communications system and navigation systems. Meanwhile, the Indian Navy has said the source of the leak appears to be from overseas and not in India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Following the furore over the leak of documents related to Indian's Scorpene submarine, the Congress on Wednesday lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar for their 'myopic' approach towards the matter and underplaying the 'stunning breach of security'. Addressing a press conference here, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala asserted that India's security stands gravely compromised which shocking leaks of the entire design plans and specifications of the Scorpene submarine, containing 22,400 pages of the 'project 75' carrying the emblem of the Indian navy. "It's perhaps the biggest defence disaster of recent times. This scandalous leak has put a question mark on India's maritime security and has jeopardised the initiative to build six Scorpene submarines of the French companies PSU, DCNS at a cost of USD 3.5 billion, which are, currently being built by the mazagaon dock ship builder limited at Mumbai," he said. Listing out the 'disturbing' details of the now leaked submarine designs, Surjewala pointed out 10 crucial specifications, which are now in public domain: 1. 4,301 pages of combat management system and 493 pages of torpedo systems 2. The secret stealth capabilities of the six Scorpene submarines. 3. 4, 457 pages of submarines underwater sensors and 4, 209 pages of submarines above water sensors. 4. 6, 841 pages of the Scorpene submarines communications systems. 5. The diving depth range details. 6. Magnetic, electromagnetic and infrared data of the six submarines. 7. Frequencies at which the submarines gather intelligence. 8. Details of speed and conditions needed to use the periscope for the submarine. 9. The noise specifications of the submarine's propellers. 10. Radiated noise levels that occur when submarines surface, level of noise at various speed, places where submarine crew can speak to avoid detection by enemy have also been leaked. Further stating that despite this 'Himalayan blunder' that has deeply hurt India's defence preparedness, Surjewala came down heavily on the Centre and Parrikar for saying that it's a case of 'mere hacking'. Accusing Parrikar, Centre and the Indian Navy of being engaged in an 'operation cover-up' instead of 'operation fixation of responsibility', the Congress leader said that there was a conflict between the former and the Navy over the matter. "While one describes it as hacking, the other describes it as leaks. The government has actually gone on overdrive describing this important leaked information as 'old information', 'damage not substantial' or 'operation capabilities not compromised'. I have read out to you the details of what all has been leaked and it is for everybody to judge, whether this compromises the operation capabilities of not only submarines but the Indian navy," he said. Emphasising on the gravity of the situation with most of the classified information now floating on the internet, the spokesperson added that the Centre and Parrikar have done nothing since the leaks happened. "With a coastline of 7, 517 km to defend with only 13 submarines which are nearly 20 years old and one nuclear submarine which is on lease from Russia, it appears that Modi Government is living in absolute denial vis a vis the security of this country," he said. Calling for a complete security audit of the Mazagaon dock shipbuilders in Mumbai and the Defence Ministry to establish the source of the leak, Surjewala hit out at Parrikar for denying the leak of being possible from within the country. "Can they do so without even conducting a proper enquiry into the matter? Can the Defence Minister reach such a conclusion without even seeking a full report? This reflects the myopic approach and complete apathy to the security on part of Parrikar and the Modi Government. It is in fact intriguing as to how clean chits are being meted out without the matter having been looked at by anybody," he added. Posing a question to the Centre as to what steps have been taken to ensure that all the uploaded information has not already gone into the enemy hands, the Congress leader reiterated his call for an enquiry, adding that it must be headed by a sitting Supreme Court judge and that the government can have people from the three defence forces, the naval and military intelligence, the Intelligence Bureau or other agencies. "The Prime Minister and the Defence Minister must take the nation into confidence as to how they propose to deal with the maritime security risk, which has happened on the account of leakage of the designs, specifications and all other details of the projects of Scorpene submarines," he said. Meanwhile, Parrikar has asked Indian Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba to analyse the extent of the leak and find out whether it is related to India or not. Parrikar further asserted that the leak is not 100 percent. "I have asked the Naval Chief to conduct full analysis of the incident as to what is the leak and what has been leaked about us. The first step is to identify, the second step is to identify the extent of unwarranted, but it not all 100 percent because we do have our final integration," Parrikar said. "It came to my knowledge at around 12 last night, what I understand is that there is a hacking. So, we will find out all these aspects," he added. The Defence Minister further said that in the next couple of days, they will come out with more information. On Tuesday, a report in Australian media revealed that sensitive information related to India's Scorpene submarines has been leaked, with French shipbuilder DCNS, which designed the submarine, facing a leak of documents spreading over 22,000 pages. According to The Australian, the leak details the entire secret combat capability of the six Scorpene-class submarines that French shipbuilder DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy. As per reports, the leak includes details of the submarine's underwater sensors, above-water sensors, combat management system, torpedo launch system and specifications, communications system and navigation systems. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Following the Australian media reports about leak of sensitive data concerning India's Scorpene Submarine, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday said he has asked Indian Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba to analyse the extent of the leak and find out whether it is related to India or not. Parrikar further asserted that the leak is not 100 percent. "I have asked the Naval Chief to conduct full analysis of the incident as to what is the leak and what has been leaked about us. The first step is to identify, the second step is to identify the extent of unwarranted, but it not all 100 percent because we do have our final integration," Parrikar said. "It came to my knowledge at around 12 last night, what I understand is that there is a hacking. So, we will find out all these aspects," he added. The Defence Minister further said that in the next couple of days, they will come out with more information. On Tuesday, a report in Australian media revealed that sensitive information related to India's Scorpene submarines has been leaked, with French shipbuilder DCNS, which designed the submarine, facing a leak of documents spreading over 22,000 pages. According to The Australian, the leak details the entire secret combat capability of the six Scorpene-class submarines that French shipbuilder DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy. As per reports, the leak includes details of the submarine's underwater sensors, above-water sensors, combat management system, torpedo launch system and specifications, communications system and navigation systems. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The market on Wednesday remained rangebound as investors are keen to wait and watch the mode ahead of F&O expiry. The Sensex is up 46.89 points or 0.2 percent at 28,037.10 and the Nifty is up 9.50 points or 0.1 percent at 8,642.10. Shares such as Lupin, TCS, HUL, Coal India and ITC were amongst the laggards while Maruti, NTPC, Cipla, Infosys and Sun Pharma were amongst the gainers in the Sensex. Oil fell after industry data showing an increase in US crude stocks added to oversupply worries and traders took advantage of a recent rally to book profits. Prices had closed higher on news that Iran was willing to join calls by OPEC and Russia for production curbs after scuttling previous efforts to reach a deal in April. On the other hand, the State-owned power generator NTPC in a statement to BSE said that it has raised Rs. 800 crore through issuance of debentures on private placement basis for capital expenditure. "NTPC has raised Rs. 800 crore on August 23, 2016 through private placement of secured non-convertible debentures at a coupon of 7.58 per cent per annum with a door to door maturity of 10 years," added the statement. While, Goldman Sachs continues to maintain its GDP growth forecast of 7.9 percent for this fiscal, the ongoing second quarter is expected to grow at 7.8 percent level backed by higher government spendings and rise in consumption activity, a note by the broking firm says. It expects robust consumption trends to offset weak private investment in the economy. The full year growth will be benefited by a good monsoon, recently introduced Seventh Pay Commission, clearance of key reforms, favorable fiscal monetary policy and continuation of FDI inflows. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Advocating the United Nations and the United States to stop 'double standards' on underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, the Janata Dal (United) on Wednesday asked them to impose pressure on for its complicity in global terrorism. The Janata Dal (United) on Wednesday called on the United Nations and the United States to stop 'double standards' on underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. Rubbishing the UN's update of its dossier on Dawood, JD (U) leader Pawan Verma told ANI that the certificate of the organisation is of no use. "It's nice that the United Nations has confirmed what we already knew. What is the United Nations certificate of use? We have provided incontrovertible evidence of Dawood's residence in and the shelter provided to him by the Government, ISI and the Army. I must say it takes a long time for the UN to understand what is self-evident," Verma said. "Sometimes I feel along with the UN, the United States also has exceptionally double standards when dealing with terrorism. If you are useful to me, I will close my eyes to what you do to support global terrorism. It's the most short-sighted policy," he added. The United Nations has removed three of the nine places cited by India as the addresses of Dawood Ibrahim in Pakistan after a committee found them to be incorrect. The Security Council Committee pursuant to Resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) enacted the amendments specified with underline and strike through in the entry" concerning Dawood on its ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaeda Sanctions List of individuals and entities subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo on August 22. India in an evidence to show that Dawood is holed up in Pakistan, had in a dossier listed nine residences of the underworld don, stating that he is known to frequently change his locations and addresses in Pakistan. The United States State Department has expressed concern over human rights violation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), maintaining that it has always been urging parties in Pakistan to settle their differences "peaceably and through a valid political process." U.S. States Department spokesperson Mark Toner said that he could not agree with the view that nobody knew about human rights violations in PoK before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the same in recent times. "Sure, Well, I would respectfully beg to differ. We do have concerns about the human rights situation there, have reported it for several years in our Human Rights Report, and we've obviously - are always urging all parties in Pakistan to work out their differences peaceably and through a valid political process. And with respect to Kashmir, our policy there is well known," he said. The Prime Minister, in his concluding remarks at an all-party meeting to discuss the flare-up in Kashmir in the wake of the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, had said "Pakistan forgets that it rains bombs from fighter planes on citizens of its country." "Time has now come that Pakistan will have to answer to the about the atrocities being committed on people in Balochistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir," he added. Speaking from the ramparts from the historic Red Fort on the occasion of the nation's 70th Independence Day, Prime Minister Modi signalled a distinct hardening of posture against Pakistan, by raising human rights violations in Balochistan and PoK. Prime Minister Modi said the people of PoK and Balochistan had thanked him for flagging the human rights abuses by Pakistan's security forces. The Prime Minister's comments were criticised as "crossing a red line" by the Pakistan Government, a charge New Delhi has rejected. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Shiv Sena on Wednesday downplayed the United Nation's endorsement of hideouts of India's most-wanted Dawood Ibrahim and said that what the international body has claimed now was a known fact, and it is now to be seen whether India would act on it like America did in case of Osama Bin Laden. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said, "What is the need of UN confirming? We know it, the government knows it, that where is Dawood Ibrahim, where are his hideouts, what all he does from there. But the thing is that Pakistan is not ready to accept these facts what will you do in that regard." "I want to ask the government that what will it do now, what steps will it take in this regard, like America took in case of Laden. And that will America or Un help us in this connection?," he added. Dawood does live in Pakistan, a United Nations committee has endorsed, by accepting six of the nine addresses that New Delhi had submitted as the terrorist's hideouts in that country. In a validation of India's stand that the man it has hunted for over two decades has been shielded by Islamabad, the UN Security Council's ISIL and al Qaeda Sanctions Committee has amended its entry on Dawood by adding these addresses. India, in a dossier, had cited nine addresses in Pakistan as those frequented by Dawood of which the UN Security Council's ISIL and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee has removed three, finding those incorrect. New Delhi in August last year had listed the nine residences. Pakistan has consistently denied that Dawood is living in that country after he fled from the law in India. Dawood is accused of chalking the 1993 serial blasts which took place in Mumbai and claimed lives of 257 people while injuring 700 others. He is also said to be the king pin behind other terror attacks and faces multiple charges of money laundering and extortion. India and the US have also accuse Dawood of financing terror groups including al Qaeda and Lashkar-e-Taiba. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Asserting that authorities in Paris are taking the Scorpene submarine data leaks very seriously, French Ambassador Alexandre Ziegler said here on Wednesday that France will work on very close cooperation and full transparency with Indian authorities to get to the bottom of the matter. "I've seen the report in the press. What I can tell you is that the French Authorities are taking the matter very seriously and working very seriously with DCNS and we are trying to assess the extent, the nature and the sensitivity of information that may have been leaked. We will work in this with very close cooperation and full transparency with Indian authorities," Ziegler told the media here. Earlier, French naval contractor DCNS, the company manufacturing the vessels, said on the matter is being thoroughly investigated by the proper French authorities for Defense Security. "DCNS has been made aware of articles published in the Australian press related to the leakage of sensitive data about Indian Scorpene. This serious matter is thoroughly investigated by the proper French authorities for Defense Security," the company said in a statement. It further asserted that this investigation will determine the exact nature of the leaked documents, the potential damages to DCNS customers as well as the responsibilities for this leakage. Meanwhile, Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has branded the entire incident as a case of hacking. "This (the report) came to my knowledge at 12 midnight, it is a case of hacking. Navy Chief has been asked to analyze as to what exactly has been leaked. First step is to identify if its related to us, and anyway its not all 100% leak," he told ANI. The Indian Navy in a statement said on Wednesday that it appears that the source of leak is from overseas and not in India India has ordered six Scorpene-class submarines in a deal worth $3 billion. The first of the submarines built at the Mazagon Docks in Mumbai began sea trials in May. Earlier today, a report in Australian media revealed that sensitive information related to India's Scorpene submarines has been leaked, with French shipbuilder DCNS, which designed the submarine, facing a leak of documents spreading over 22,000 pages. According to The Australian, the leak details the entire secret combat capability of the six Scorpene-class submarines that French shipbuilder DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy. As per reports, the leak includes details of the submarine's underwater sensors, above-water sensors, combat management system, torpedo launch system and specifications, communications system and navigation systems. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) To set up a Joint Task Force for Disaster Risk Management A two-day meeting of BRICS Ministers on Disaster Management ended in Udaipur, Rajasthan today with the adoption of the Udaipur Declaration. The meeting laid bare the common thread of challenges on disaster issues faced by all the BRICS nations. The Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju termed the meeting as a new milestone in collaboration and cooperation among BRICS countries in the field of disaster management. He said that the Udaipur meeting has successfully adopted the Udaipur Declaration whereby we have resolved to set up a dedicated Joint Task Force for Disaster Risk Management for regular dialogue, exchange, mutual support and collaboration among BRICS Countries. The roadmap for implementation of the three-year Joint Action Plan (JAP) for BRICS emergency services (2016-18) was also finalised. The JAP was agreed upon at the first meeting of BRICS Ministers for Disaster Management at St. Petersburg in Russia earlier this year. Shri Rijiju said that this meeting has agreed on a road map for implementation of the Joint Action Plan where all of us have resolved to work together on exchange of Information/ experiences on disaster management, research & technology exchange on forecasting and early warning for floods and extreme weather events and capacity building of stakeholders for disaster management. A technical session on Disaster risk in a changing climate was held today. The session focused on emerging disaster risks as a result of climate change and evolving practices in the area of Disaster Risk Management. It began with a presentation followed by discussions on the implications of changing climate on disaster risk. BRICS nations have made a clear move from relief-centric to a holistic approach to disasters with a greater emphasis on prevention, mitigation and preparedness. This highlights the importance of forecasting and early warning systems to help authorities in alerting the communities as well as responding swiftly to a situation. The meeting discussed the advances in technology and knowledge sharing amongst member countries to enable them leverage it to reduce disaster risk. Summing up the takeaways from the meeting, Shri R.K. Jain, Member, National Disaster Management Authority, said that it came out clearly during the meeting that all member countries face similar challenges. Mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction, use of advanced technology in providing early warning, need for adequate funding to deal with rehabilitation and reconstruction after a disaster and the impact of climate change on disasters are common challenges faced by all of us. The deliberations have been very useful and we got an opportunity to learn about the disaster management structure, system and processes followed in other BRICS countries. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for introduction of the "Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016". The Bill will regulate surrogacy in India by establishing National Surrogacy Board at the central level and State Surrogacy Boards and Appropriate Authorities in the State and Union Territories. The legislation will ensure effective regulation of surrogacy, prohibit commercial surrogacy and allow ethical surrogacy to the needy infertile couples. All infertile Indian married couple who want to avail ethical surrogacy will be benefited. Further the rights of surrogate mother and children born out of surrogacy will be protected. The Bill shall apply to whole of India, except the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The major benefits of the Act would be that it will regulate the surrogacy services in the country. While commercial surrogacy will be prohibited including sale and purchase of human embryo and gametes, ethical surrogacy to the needy infertile couples will be allowed on fulfilment of certain conditions and for specific purposes. As such, it will control the unethical practices in surrogacy, prevent commercialization of surrogacy and will prohibit potential exploitation of surrogate mothers and children born through surrogacy. No permanent structure is proposed to be created in the Draft Bill. Neither there are proposals for creating new posts. The proposed legislation, while covering an important area is framed in such a manner that it ensures effective regulation but does not add much vertically to the current regulatory structure already in place at the central as well as states. Accordingly, there will not be any financial implications except for the meetings of the National and State surrogacy Boards and Appropriate Authorities which will be met out of the regular budget of Central and State governments. Background: India has emerged as a surrogacy hub for couples from different countries and there have been reported incidents concerning unethical practices, exploitation of surrogate mothers, abandonment of children born out of surrogacy and rackets of intermediaries importing human embryos and gametes. Widespread condemnation of commercial surrogacy prevalent in India has also been regularly published in different print-and electronic media since last few years highlighting the need to prohibit commercial surrogacy and allow ethical altruistic surrogacy. The 228th report of the Law Commission of India has also recommended for prohibiting commercial surrogacy and allowing ethical altruistic surrogacy to the needy Indian citizens by enacting a suitable legislation. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for leasing out of AAI land measuring 4050 sq. Mtrs. to Assam Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC), a Government of Assam Undertaking. This will be utilised for setting up of Centre for Perishable Cargo (CPC) and its future expansion at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (LGBI Airport), Guwahati. The land is to be leased by AAI on a token licence fee of Rs.1/- per annum for a period of seven years subject to signing of Lease Agreement. After expiry of initial period of seven years, the future lease period will be made afresh as per AAI policy in-vogue. Background: North Eastern Region (NER) in India is rich in flora and fauna. Revenue from export of agriculture and horticulture items will improve economic conditions of NER. There is a need for promotions of perishable cargo export from this region, which will generate employment opportunities directly or indirectly. Facilities for air upliftment of perishable cargo from Guwahati are required to be more effective. Therefore, it has been decided to lease land measuring 4050 sq. Mtrs. to AIDC, by AAI for setting up of CPC and its future expansion at LGBI Airport, Guwahati. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and South Africa to establish cooperation in Grassroots Innovation. The MoU was signed on July 07, 2016 at Pretoria in pursuance to the Inter-Government Agreement between two countries for cooperation in Science & Technology. Under this MoU, both countries will jointly organise various programmes such as forums, seminars, workshops, and training on matters related to innovation; share open source technologies with each other and jointly develop projects (and including partnering with relevant industries in the respective countries) to assist innovators in converting their ideas into commercially viable innovations leading to joint technology development and transfer of technology for Societal benefit. The MoU will provide a mechanism and help in creating an ecosystem that will promote inclusive innovation and entrepreneurship at the grassroot level in both countries with particular focus on Indigenous knowledge systems and Agriculture Biotechnology. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Manpasand Beverages gained 1.07% to Rs 730.15 at 9:50 IST on BSE after the company said that it has completed setting-up of its new manufacturing facility in Haryana. The detailed press release was issued after market hours yesterday, 23 August 2016. The update about the facility was announced during market hours yesterday, 23 August 2016. The stock had declined 0.62% to Rs 722.45 yesterday, 23 August 2016. Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex was up 36.89 points, or 0.13%, to 28,027.10. On BSE, so far 509 shares were traded in the counter, compared with average daily volume of 54,478 shares in the past one quarter. The stock hit a high of Rs 739.10 and a low of Rs 727.20 so far during the day. The stock hit a record high of Rs 759 on 19 August 2016. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 369.30 on 26 August 2015. The stock had outperformed the market over the past 30 days till 23 August 2016, rising 3.41% compared with 0.67% rise in the Sensex. The scrip also outperformed the market in past one quarter, gaining 43.16% as against Sensex's 10.94% rise. The mid-cap company has an equity capital of Rs 50.05 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10. Located in Ambala, the new facility will contribute additional 45,000 to 50,000 cases per day to the company's existing capacity of 1.2 lakh-1.25 lakh cases per day. The existing capacity utilized by the company is between 50-55%. The total investment for this facility was around Rs 160 crore and has been financed though the initial public offer (IPO) proceeds. In 2015, Manpasand had raised Rs 400 crore through an IPO and one of the primary objectives of this was setting-up a manufacturing facility at Ambala in Haryana. With the Ambala facility in near operational phase, Manpasand now has five manufacturing facilities located in various parts of India. It has two manufacturing facilities at Vadodara in Gujarat, one in Varanasi, UP, one in Dehradun and the new one at Ambala in Haryana. The company said it is also planning to set up a new plant in South India in future. The company proposes to focus on manufacturing its existing range of products such as Mango Sip, Fruits Up, carbonated drinks and other fruits drink products from this facility and will be positioned to serve the markets of North India as well as North Eastern India. The other major initiative Manpasand has embarked upon was to tie up with organised retail players as well as various food and beverage outlets such as Metro Cash & Carry, Aditya Birla Retail, Havmor Ice Cream & CafCoffee Day, to name a few. Manpasand also became the only beverage company to tie up with global ice cream major Baskin Robbins in India. In the coming months, the company is going to forge more such alliances to increase its urban market penetration. Manpasand Beverages' net profit rose 82.5% to Rs 28.65 crore on 60.9% rise in net sales to Rs 228.96 crore in Q1 June 2016 over Q1 June 2015. Manpasand Beverages is a fruit drink manufacturer focusing on mango. mango-based fruit drink, Mango Sip, is the flagship brand of the company, which is strategically aimed at customers in semi urban and rural markets. In addition, the company also sells fruit drink in apple flavor under the brand Apple Sip. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MOIL gained 5.61% to Rs 266.90 at 15:05 IST on BSE after the company said that it has executed mining lease in Madhya Pradesh. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 23 August 2016. Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 92.54 points or 0.33% at 28,082.75. High volumes were witnessed on the counter. On BSE, so far 49,222 shares were traded in the counter as against average daily volume of 16,838 shares in the past one quarter. The stock hit a high of Rs 269.90 so far during the day, which is also a 52-week high for the stock. The stock hit a low of Rs 253.50 so far during the day. The stock had hit a record low of Rs 180.10 on 12 February 2016. The stock had outperformed the market over the past one month till 23 August 2016, gaining 4.75% compared with 0.67% rise in the Sensex. The scrip had, however, underperformed the market in past one quarter, rising 9.85% as against Sensex's 10.94% rise. The mid-cap company has equity capital of Rs 168 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10. MOIL announced that it has executed mining lease over 76.409 hectares of land granted by Government of Madhya Pradesh in the village Bharweli-Awalajhari, Tehsil & District Balaghat of Madhya Pradesh. MOIL had announced on 25 July 2016 about receiving approval from the Government of Madhya Pradesh for mining lease of over 76.409 hectare land in Bharveli-Awalajhari village of MP. MOIL's net profit declined 79.1% to Rs 21.38 crore on 29.9% growth in net sales to Rs 209.62 crore in Q4 March 2016 over Q4 March 2015. MOIL produces and sells different grades of manganese ore. Government of India holds 71.57% stake in MOIL (as per the shareholding pattern as on 30 June 2016). Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nava Bharat Ventures slumped 7.6% to Rs 235.15 at 15:25 IST on BSE after consolidated net profit fell 32.05% to Rs 29.20 crore on 9.31% decline in net total income from operations to Rs 313.72 crore in Q1 June 2016 over Q1 June 2015. The result was announced during market hours today, 24 August 2016. Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex was up 63.06 points, or 0.23%, to 28,053.27. More than normal volumes were witnessed on the counter. On BSE, so far 2.68 lakh shares were traded in the counter, compared with an average volume of 94,696 shares in the past one quarter. The stock hit a high of Rs 256.90 and a low of Rs 230.30 so far during the day. Nava Bharat Ventures operates in the business verticals of power generation, mining, ferro alloys and agri-business with multi-national operations spread over India, South East Asia and Africa. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Following targeted raids on the Australian east coast, authorities have arrested 34 Malaysian nationals for working illegally in the agriculture sector. Following information from the community, authorities on Tuesday raided a labour hire syndicate alleged to be employing illegal foreign workers near Coffs Harbour on the New South Wales mid-north coast, and found 14 nationals were in Australia illegally while 20 others were exploiting their temporary stay visas, Xinhua news agency reported. "Tuesday's operation sends a strong message to individuals and syndicates involved ... if you are in Australia without a valid visa, if you work in breach of your visa conditions or if you are exploiting foreign workers, you will be caught," Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said in a statement on Wednesday. The raids form part of an ongoing multi-agency task force investigating visa fraud and illegal work that resulted in the arrest of three persons and the detention of 95 illegal workers. Anyone convicted in Australia for facilitating visa fraud and illegal work faces up to 20 years' imprisonment or fines up to Australian dollars 100,000 ($75,985). Employers involved in the exploitation of foreign workers face civil penalties of $8,207 per breach, while corporations face $41,033 per breach. All 34 Malaysian nationals are currently being detained in an immigration detention facility awaiting deportation. --IANS sm/py/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It's been a year since the sensational Sheena Bora murder case burst on the national scene straight out of an Agatha Christie thriller. While much has been said and speculated about why the young woman was killed by her mother -- once a top media honcho -- the motive behind the gruesome act remains unclear, leaving investigators perplexed. It was on the cool, rainy evening of August 25, 2015, when the Mumbai police swooped on former high-profile media baroness Indrani Mukerjea -- the wife of ex-media tycoon Peter Mukerjea -- and arrested her in connection with the killing of her 24-year-old daughter Sheena. An executive working with Mumbai Metro One Pvt. Ltd, Sheena had suddenly gone missing on April 24, 2012, but Indrani claimed she had moved abroad for studies, and the matter was forgotten. It was only after Indrani's ex-driver Shyamvar Pinturam Rai -- who was arrested three days before her on August 21, 2015 -- spilled the beans on the three-year-old crime that the entire sordid saga, resembling a torrid teleserial, tumbled out, shocking the country. Immediately after Indrani's arrest, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna was arrested from Kolkata. Almost three months later, on November 19, 2015, even her current husband Peter Mukerjea was nabbed in the case. After alleged delays on the part of Mumbai police in probing the matter, the Maharashtra government handed over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). A year into the investigations, the sleuths are yet to zero in on the exact motive behind Sheena's murder -- though various angles are being probed, including financial deals and possible money-laundering. Shocking details unearthed during the probe into the high-profile case left the entire nation dumbfounded. Born out of Indrani's earlier relationship with Siddhartha Das in Shillong, Sheena and her brother Mikhail were virtually abandoned by their mother and raised by their grandparents in Guwahati and later Kolkata. In fact, till a couple of days after her arrest, Indrani -- who had since married twice -- had passed off Sheena as her "younger sister" for reasons still unclear. On April 24, 2012, Sheena took leave from her company, emailed her resignation and even "broke up" with her boyfriend Rahul Mukerjea -- who was actually her step-brother, as it later emerged. Indrani subsequently informed the family that Sheena had left for the US to pursue higher studies. No "missing person" report was lodged, though Sheena was never seen after April 24 that year. Vaguely suspecting something was amiss, her brother Mikhail questioned Indrani why Sheena had suddenly left for the US without any intimation, and later claimed his mother was even conspiring to eliminate him. Incidentally, perhaps unknown to Indrani, she was under police surveillance after a tip-off that she could be involved in Sheena's disappearance -- and the subsequent arrest of Rai in a weapons case proved a clincher. It was Rai's statement and detailed investigations which brought out the stunning truth -- how Sheena was kidnapped, drugged, killed, her body burnt and disposed off in a suitcase in the forests of Raigad, around 95 kms south of Mumbai. According to police investigations, that fateful evening, Khanna flew to Mumbai and lived at Hotel Hilltop in Worli. Indrani hired a car, picked up Khanna and asked the reluctant Sheena to meet her at Linking Road in Bandra where Mikhail had dropped her. During the drive, Sheena was allegedly strangled by Khanna and her body was taken to Indrani's Worli home where they put it in a large bag and stuffed it in the vehicle's trunk. That same night, they drove off from Worli to Gagode village in Raigad, with Sheena's body propped between Indrani and Khanna to avoid police suspicion at checkposts. At a pre-recced, isolated spot in the thick forests, they dragged out Sheena's body, again stuffed it into the bag, poured petrol and set it ablaze in the early hours of April 26. They then dumped the burnt bag with the body in some thick bushes and returned to Mumbai. It was only on May 23, 2012, when local villagers complained of a foul smell emanating from a particular spot in the forests that the Raigad police found Sheena's body, but it was not properly recorded till more than three years till August 2015. That police lapse was subject of a separate probe. Later in 2015, the police took Indrani, Khanna and Rai to the spot from where Sheena's skeletal remains were retrieved and sent to Sir J.J. Hospital where a series of forensic and DNA tests helped establish the victim's identity. Nearly a year after the four prime accused -- Indrani, Khanna, Mukerjea and Rai -- were taken into custody, a ray of hope came for the investigators in the form of the driver (Rai) who bargained for a pardon in return for turning approver. A Special CBI Court granted his plea and, on June 20, Rai was made an approver. His recorded statement of November 16, 2015, lifted the curtain on actually how he (Rai) had gagged Sheena, Khanna held her hands and hair while Indrani pinned down her daughter and strangled her to death. Little must have Indrani and her accomplices expected that a low-paid family retainer like Rai could pave the way for their nemesis and walk away with a pardon in the tragic drama. (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at q.najmi@ian.in) --IANS qn/bim/vm/sac/ky/tb (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Australia's New South Wales (NSW) farmers can legally grow poppies as the state government has passed a bill on Wednesday, legalising the production of the crops for medical use. The Poppy Industry 2016 bill, received full support from the state government, opposition, minor parties, and independents, with the first poppy crops expected to be planted next year, Xinhua news agency reported. The bill will enable alkaloid poppies meant for the production of medicine to be safely and securely grown in the state, NSW Minister for Primary Industries Niall Blair said. "Opiate-based medications are used for a wide range of conditions, including pain relief, palliative care and anti-addiction medications," Blair said in a statement. "An alkaloid poppy industry in NSW also provides an opportunity to establish a new high value rural industry with a well-established international reputation and strong prospects for future growth," he said. However, Blair said alkaloid poppy production will be highly regulated at state, with license conditions and guidelines providing clear and rigorous requirements for the industry. --IANS sm/py/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UN Secretary General has sounded an alarm that the world is not prepared to face the threats from biological attacks while the Interpol and experts warned about the dangers of terrorists using 21st century technologies to wreak unprecedented levels of mass destruction. "In the wake of the very serious outbreaks of Ebola, MERS and Yellow Fever, I am extremely concerned that the community is not adequately prepared to prevent or respond to a biological attack," Ban told the UN Security Council on Tuesday. Although "the impact and consequences of a biological attack on a civilian target could far exceed those of a chemical or radiological attack", he said the community was not taking adequate steps to prevent it. He pointed out that while there were organisations to prevent the spread of nuclear and chemical weapons, there was no such agency to deal with biological weapons. Speaking at the Council debate on weapons of mass destruction (WMD), he sought to expand its definition beyond nuclear, chemical and biological to embrace the threats arising from 21st century science, technology and globalisation. "Information and communication technologies, artificial intelligence, 3-D printing and synthetic biology have the potential massive destruction,"he said. "The nexus between these emerging technologies and WMD needs close examination and action." As a first step to face these challenges, the global community must lay the framework for "the peaceful use of cyberspace and, particularly, the intersection between cyberspace and critical infrastructure," he said. "People now live a significant portion of their lives online," he added. "They must be protected from online attacks, just as effectively as they are protected from physical attacks." "We should not be just one click of the mouse away from a cyber Chernobyl," warned an expert, Gregory Koblentz, drawing attention to the dangers of cyber terrorism. There was growing risk that terrorists could use computer viruses to attack chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear facilities, said Koblentz, who is the director of the Biodefence Graduate Programme at the George Mason University in Virginia. Underlining cyber threats, he said that the Nuclear Threat Initiative had found that in 20 countries that have weapon-grade nuclear material or nuclear power plants failed to meet the most basic cyber security requirements. Drones could be deployed by terrorists to attack nuclear facilities or chemical storage sites, or to deliver weapons of mass destruction, he warned. ISIS, Hamas and Hezbollah were already using drones, he added. Another area of serious concern, he said, was the availability of 3D printers. He said that some people had already demonstrated with 3-D printers how to make plastic guns that can evade security scanners. If terrorists were unable to get a controlled item, they may be able to manufacture them with 3-D printers, he said. He called for early action, saying, "It would be far preferable to predict how these emerging technologies could be misused and take steps to minimise that risk." Interpol's special representative Emmanuel Roux warned that the capacity to develop biological weapons could be within the reach terrorist organisations like the Islamic State (ISIS), al-Qaeda and Aum Shinrikyo. He cited creation of SARS-like virus in a laboratory by scientists and said there was danger that terrorists could use the techniques to synthetically produce viruses. A laptop connected to ISIS that was seized in 2014 from a Tunisian chemistry and physics student in Syria contained a 19-page manual on how to develop biological weapons with diseases like the bubonic plague and instructions for testing them on mice. Actor Gaurav Arora, who made his debut with the film "Love Games", says intimate scenes should be incorporated in a film only if required and not merely to grab eyeballs. Asked if he is comfortable doing bold scenes on screen, Gaurav told IANS: "For the record, I don't have any intimate scenes in 'Raaz Reboot'. Just one kissing shot, that too in a song." "It's not about being comfortable or being open to doing intimate scenes. It's about if it is required in the film and if the story demands it, you've got to do it." The actor says it's a part of his job, but he believes it shouldn't be done just to "sensationalise the film or just to grab eyeballs". Directed by Vikram Bhatt, "Raaz Reboot" is the fourth instalment of the "Raaz" franchise and features Emraan Hashmi with south Indian actress Kriti Kharbanda. The film has been shot in Romania. Produced by Vishesh Films, the film will release on September 16. -*- When Boman Irani, Farah Khan met The Vamps Actors Boman Irani and Farah Khan met British all-boys band The Vamps, who are in the country to collaborate with musical duo Vishal and Shekhar. Boman on Tuesday night took to Twitter and shared a photograph of himself along with Farah and the members of the boy band -- Brad, James, Connor and Tristan. "Met up with the swell young gents of the The Vamp. So good to know you love Mumbai and our spicy food," Boman captioned the image. The Vamps and Vishal-Shekhar have together collaborated for a song called "Beliya". -*- Big B's 'Kala Patthar' clocks 37 years Megastar Amitabh Bachchan starrer 'Kala Patthar' has completed 37 years since its release in the Hindi film industry. "And 37 years of 'Kala Patthar'," Big B reminisced on Tuesday on Twitter. "Kala Patthar", which released in 1979, tells the story about Vijay, a former navy officer, who when disowned by his family starts working at a coal mine. Trouble ensues when the mine is flooded with water and he is trapped along with several other miners. Directed by Yash Chopra, the film, which also stars Shashi Kapoor Rakhee, Shatrughan Sinha, Neetu Singh and Parveen Babi, is based on the Chasnala mining disaster. --IANS dc/rb/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling, rejecting the Russian Paralympians' appeal against suspension from the Rio Games, may have been orchestrated in advance, Russia's Paralympic Committee (RPC) President Vladimir Lukin said on Wednesday. "An impression was being created that the decision on this issue was being made not here and not now but somewhere else and at a different time," Lukin told Rossiya-24 TV Channel, reports Tass. "All were very much in a hurry. They were in a hurry to board planes and so on and so forth. Speeches were reduced and they didn't allow making substantiated cross-questions. We would want to ask opponents about many things directly with the participation of a court of law." "To put it shortly, such a passive polite form of pressure was producing its effect and that is why I believe that there are grounds for an opinion that this was a decision orchestrated before," Russia's Paralympic chief said. CAS on Tuesday dismissed an appeal filed by the Russian Paralympic Committee against the decision to ban Russian athletes from next month's Paralympic Games in Rio. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) earlier suspended the RPC and banned Russian athletes from this year's Games following the report of the independent commission of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) led by Richard McLaren of Canada. The RPC filed an appeal to the CAS on August 15 against this suspension. "The CAS panel in charge of this matter found that the IPC did not violate any procedural rule in dealing with the disciplinary process leading to the RPC's suspension and that the decision to ban the RPC was made in accordance with the IPC Rules and was proportionate in the circumstances," the CAS statement said. The panel noted that "the RPC did not file any evidence contradicting the facts on which the IPC decision was based". --IANS sam/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 10-year old boy, who was kidnapped from a government hospital in 2007 has been rescued, Delhi Police said on Wednesday. The police also arrested a couple for kidnapping the child. According to the police, the boy then one-and-half years old was whisked away in November 2007 from Babu Jagjivan Ram Hospital, situated in Jahangirpuri area of east Delhi, and had been missing since then. The police rescued the boy almost nine years later. "A few days ago, the biological father of the child, Afsar, approached police saying that his child was reportedly seen in the Jahangirpuri area by someone," Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Rishi Pal told reporters. "Following the complaint of the father, teams were formed to trace the missing child, which rescued him from an MCD (Municipal Corporations of Delhi) school situated in Seelampur area," the officer added. "The couple was arrested after they confessed to their crime during interrogation," the officer added. The arrested couple was identified as Mohammad Samim and Nargis, both residents of Kaushik Puri in east Delhi, the police said. The officer said that during interrogation the couple tried to mislead police by giving vague replies. "Enquiries made in the neighbourhood revealed that the child was brought suddenly a few years back," Pal said. "The couple told the neighbours that the delivery of the woman had taken place earlier in the ancestral village and the child was staying with his grandparents since then." The police also said that it is investigating the involvement of the couple in child kidnappings and human trafficking. --IANS aks/ask/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bangladesh police have confirmed that the DNA samples of all six terrorists killed in a military operation following the Gulshan cafe siege, have matched with their relatives. "DNA samples of the six militants had been collected and tested against family members. The samples have matched," the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has said. On July 1, the terror attack on Holey Artisan Bakery and O' Kitchen restaurant at Gulshan by five young gunmen left 22 people, including 17 foreigners and two police officers dead. A military operation about 12 hours later brought the siege to an end. Of the six slain in the operation, five were termed as operatives of banned militant outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen by the police. The sixth accused Saiful Islam Chowkider, was a chef at the cafe. Police believe he had aided the militants in carrying out the attack, bdnews24 reported. Of the five, two were students of a Bogra madrasa. The other three were students of English medium schools in Dhaka. The bodies of all six were preserved at the mortuary of the Combined Military Hospital. Among the attackers, Nibras Islam was a former North South University alumnus while another attacker, Rohan Ibn Imtiaz was a BRAC University student. The third one, Mir Sabih Mubashir, was a student of Scholastica school. The two other attackers, Safiqul Islam Ujjal from Bogra's Dhunat Upazila, and Md Khairuzzaman of Shahjahanpur Upazila, were both madrasa students, bdnews24 reported. --IANS ask/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi will visit India at the invitation of President Pranab Mukherjee from September 1 to 3, it was announced on Wednesday. Al Sisi will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising ministers, officials and business leaders, according to a statement issued by the External Affairs Ministry. During the course of his visit, the Egyptian President will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mukherjee will receive Al Sisi and host a banquet in his honour. Vice President Hamid Ansari and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will also call on the Egyptian leader. Al Sisi will meet both Indian and Egyptian business leaders during the visit. "India and Egypt enjoy excellent relations marked by strong, traditional and civilizational ties and contribute towards peace and development in the world," the ministry statement said. The last presidential visit from Egypt to India was in 2013 when then President Mohamed Morsi visited New Delhi. --IANS ab/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) may consider a claim of the Russian Paralympians, banned from the upcoming games in Rio, according to an official statement. ECHR would consider the claim of the Russian Paralympians should they file it, the court said in a statement on Tuesday, reports Sputnik. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has rejected the Russian Paralympic Committee's (RPC) appeal against its ban from the upcoming Rio Olympics. Russian Senator Tatiana Lebedeva suggested that Moscow could file a lawsuit with ECHR. "All properly submitted claims are examined by the court which will examine whether the claim meets the conditions of admissibility defined by the European Convention on Human Rights before it may be considered substantially," the court said. --IANS sam/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) French President Francois Hollande on Wednesday chaired a security council meeting to discuss "protection against terrorist threats", officials said in a statement. Hollande discussed the state of terrorism menace and took stock of measures to ensure security at the start of the new academic year next week, Xinhua news agency cited. The French President also outlined plans for army participating in military operations outside the country, the statement added. Since November 2015, due to a series of terror attacks in France, the government had raised the terror alert to the highest level and tightened security by deploying additional thousands of police officers across the country, reinstalling border control, and improving intelligence services. --IANS sm/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India has warned of the "catastrophic dangers" of terrorists getting weapons of mass destruction and said that nations have a responsibility to prevent nuclear material from falling into their hands. Speaking at the UN Security Council debate on weapons of mass destruction (WMD) on Tuesday, India's Deputy Permanent Representative Tanmaya Lal said: "We are fully cognizant of the catastrophic dangers that the transfer of Weapons of Mass Destruction to non-State actors and terrorists could entail." Therefore, he said, "The primary responsibility for ensuring nuclear security rests at the national level but national responsibility must be accompanied by responsible behaviour as well as sustained and effective international cooperation." At the same time, the focus on terrorists "should in no way diminish state accountability in combating and dismantling its support infrastructure and its linkages with Weapons of Mass Destruction," he said. Without mentioning any country, he said that "clandestine nuclear proliferation networks must be rolled back and their resurgence prevented." Pakistan ran an underground international nuclear bazaar overseen by the notorious scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan that transferred nuclear know-how and technology to North Korea. Islamabad's nuclear bases have come under attack from terrorists, who have even managed to enter one of them. For its part, India has enacted several laws and set up mechanisms to ensure that terrorists don't get access to WMD, Lal said. "Our recent steps taken to strengthen nuclear security include the setting up of a Counter Nuclear Smuggling Team (CNST)." "India is committed to maintaining the highest international standards with reference to control of nuclear, chemical, biological and toxin weapons and their means of delivery and has strong and law-based national export controls consistent with the highest international standards," he said. New Delhi was committed to the ideal of the elimination of all nuclear weapons, Lal said. But for this to happen all nuclear-weapon states must hold "a meaningful dialogue to build trust and confidence by reducing the salience of nuclear weapons in international affairs and security doctrines," he said. "Increasing the restraints on the use of nuclear weapons is not only an essential first step, but it is also necessary in the current complex international environment in enhancing strategic trust globally," he added. India's nuclear doctrine is built on a policy of credible minimum deterrence and a commitment to no-first use and to not using using the weapons against non-nuclear weapon states, he said, adding that New Delhi continues its "unilateral and voluntary moratorium on nuclear explosive testing." He cited the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) as examples of non-discriminatory treaties for the complete elimination of those types of WMD. Unlike the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), which makes exceptions for certain nuclear powers, those treaties apply to all. Pakistan's Permanent Representative Maleeha Lodhi asserted during the debate that Islamabad had implemented a comprehensive system to control exports and taken steps to improve nuclear security. She took a swipe at the India-United States civil nuclear deal and Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) waiver for New Delhi to allow access to civilian nuclear technology and fuel, but did not name either country. "A challenge to non-proliferation norms was the granting of discriminatory waivers, special arrangements which denoted double standards and opened the possibility of diverting material intended for peaceful use to military purposes," she said. While India's attempts to join the NSG has been stalled mainly because of China's opposition, Lodhi made a pitch for Pakistan's membership. She said Islamabad met the criteria for membership and that "it expected that a non-discriminatory and criteria-based approach would be followed for extending such membership." (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in) --IANS al/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three Indian-origin Muslim siblings were allegedly ordered off the plane and interrogated by British police after fellow passengers accused them of being members of the Islamic State (IS) militant group, the media reported. Sakina Dharas, 24, her sister Maryam, 19, and their brother Ali, 21, were on board EasyJet flight EZY3249 from London's Stansted Airport to the Italian city of Naples on August 17, aljazeera.com reported. As the plane was about to take off, a crew member ordered the siblings off the aircraft and escorted them down the staircase to the tarmac, where they were met by armed police and an MI5 agent who questioned them for one hour, Sakina was quoted as saying. Two passengers told authorities that the siblings had been looking at a mobile phone screen that showed either Arabic text or the words "praise be to Allah", Sakina said. "A passenger on your flight has claimed that you three are members of ISIS," the MI5 agent said to the siblings, according to Sakina. "The minute that I saw police standing there, I was extremely emotional. We had nothing at all [on our phones]. We don't even speak Arabic, we're [of] Indian [origin]," she said. During their one-hour interrogation on the tarmac, Sakina said she was asked to explain - page by page - the details of various entry stamps on her passport. She also showed the MI5 agent recent WhatsApp messages. The siblings provided answers relating to their personal lives and were questioned on their home addresses, workplaces, social media history and parents' professions. The siblings, from northwest London were then allowed back on the plane, which had been delayed. Sakina said she and her siblings were victims of "racial profiling". "I'm still very annoyed that someone [the accusing passengers] can get away with a blatant lie," she said, adding that she would take legal action "if I knew a way to do so". The airline has now apologised after the incident at Stansted last week as the three were heading to Naples for a weekend getaway. "We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused to the passengers," the company said. --IANS rt/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Right to Pray", a documentary film by filmmaker Khushboo Ranka in the new medium of virtual reality (VR), will premiere at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2016 next month. Produced by Memesys Culture Lab, a cinema and new media studio founded by filmmaker Anand Gandhi, the documentary is a part of the first batch of VR documentaries made in India, according to the makers. "We want to use VR to help collapse the barrier of 'otherness' between the viewer and the audiences because, after all, in a deeply interconnected world, there is no 'other'," Gandhi, Executive Producer of "Right To Pray", said in a statement. Despite a Bombay High Court directive upholding women's right to enter the sanctum sanctorum of a Hindu temple, conservative forces were still obstructing women from entering the inner premises. A group of women activists decided to combat the regressive patriarchy and stormed into the inner chamber of the temple of Trimbakeshwar in Nashik in April this year. Challenging the notion of the impurity of women, and an archaic tradition based on it, they were seeking to exercise their right to pray against the will of the system and the people. "I felt certain that we just have to capture this historical moment in VR," said the film's director Khushboo Ranka. "I am an atheist but I was drawn to this story, and I wondered why I cared if women were not being allowed in the sanctum sanctorum? I kept thinking about what was motivating these women. They wanted to touch, consecrate and author sacredness for themselves. "And they were facing intense resistance from some very decent people. Is this where it all begins then? If 'god' doesn't want to be touched by women, and prefers the 'purity of men', it is only natural for people to follow suit and do the same in their own homes and families. After all, they are only human," Ranka added. "Right to Pray" is the first of a series that Memesys plans to release as a part of its mixed reality magazine ElseVR. To be published online as a quarterly, the magazine will feature essays and stories powered by Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality, giving the viewers the ability to go inside the story. It will bring together the comprehensive quality of prose and the immediacy of film with the intimacy of VR. To this end, the magazine aims to bring together formidable filmmakers and writers. "This was the first film we commissioned, and it is a part of our launch issue," said Shubhangi Swarup, the Executive Editor of ElseVR, and also the writer of the story. Ranka, who is also the editor-in-chief of ElseVR, will have two of her films premiered at TIFF this year -- "Right to Pray" and political thriller "An Insignificant Man", which chronicles the journey of Arvind Kejriwal from a social activist to a controversial politician. --IANS rb/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hours after North Korea launched a ballistic missile from a submarine, the Foreign Ministers of Japan, South Korea and China appealed for compliance with UN imposed sanctions against Pyongyang over its weapons tests. The message was voiced by Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida at a press conference that followed a trilateral meeting with his South Korean and Chinese counterparts, Yun Byung-se and Wang-Yi, respectively. The missile, launched by a North Korean submarine from the country's eastern coast around 5.00 a.m. on Wednesday, flew around 500 km before falling into the sea -- some 500 km from the Japanese coast -- making it Pyongyang's most successful ballistic missile test till date, Efe news agency reported. At the briefing, Kishida said the three ministers agreed to lead the international response due to continuing provocations by North Korea, including promotion of compliance with UN Security Council sanctions brought in after it conducted a nuclear test and launched a long-range missile in January and February, respectively. The Japanese minister said the latest act of defiance by Pyongyang "cannot be tolerated". The meet also addressed matters of economic cooperation and disaster management and the three ministers also agreed to begin preparations for a trilateral leaders' summit at the end of 2016. It will be the first such summit since 2012, when ties between the three neighbours began deteriorating due to territorial conflicts and the assessment of Japan's role before and during the Second World War when it colonised the Korean peninsula and part of China. --IANS ss/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 'Kya Dilli, Kya Lahore', a fashion and lifestyle exhibition celebrating the craft and cultural legacy of India and Pakistan, is set to showcase art and artefacts such as paintings and sculptures, apart from fashion, in its third edition. The third edition is set to take place in January 5-7 next year. Huma Nassr, Pakistani fashion designer and curator of the lifestyle fiesta, told IANS here: "This season is more of association and more towards positivity that there is no difference between Delhi and Lahore. The last time, we had just focused on fashion, and this time we will focus on elements more than fashion." "It will be a cultural event theme. It will be more of art now as we are bringing best art from Pakistan and India as well. There are different categories like art from Balochistan and Peshawar... The art in Pakistan is very different and is appreciated by Indians. Similarly, the best art in India too will be promoted on the same platform," Nassr added. Food will also be an integral part of the cultural event. In January, the fashion lines to be showcased will primarily be bridal wear. "In the tradition, there was a little bit of difference in designing, so we would like to show that to India and vice versa," Nassr said. The attendees won't miss the showstoppers as Nassr revealed that some faces from Pakistani TV -- with whom Indian audiences are now familiar, courtesy Zindagi TV channel -- are expected on the ramp. --IANS ks/rb/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The leaked data on the Scorpene submarine may threaten its stealth element, former Indian Navy chief, Admiral Arun Prakash said on Wednesday, adding it has to be first established how relevant the leaked information is. Asked about the threat posed by the leak, he said: "It's difficult to say how big a threat it is...we have to ascertain that this is related to our submarines." "The threat would be that they would be able to detect you sooner. When a submarine goes out in the sea, ships are sent to listen to and to record its signature. All navies are eager to find out the parameters. Even otherwise, when the submarine would have gone to a coast, or while crossing someplace like the Malacca strait, the signatures would have been studied," Admiral Prakash said. Stealth, is considered the most important attribute of a submarine. He added that if genuine, the leaked documents may have simplified the work for those wanting to record these parameters of the Scorpene class submarines. "It is a corporate war between the French company and its competitors, whether it actually relates to Indian submarines is to be established," Admiral Prakash told IANS. He said naval headquarters has said the leaked document is of 2001, and if that is true the information may well be old. "If the information is valid, it is a concern for the submarine. Maybe we need to make some changes in the design," he said. Six Scorpene submarines designed by DCNS are being constructed at Mumbai's Mazgaon Dockyard at a cost of around $3.5 billion, one of which is undergoing sea trials and the second one is under construction. Admiral Prakash suggested changes can be made in the remaining four submarines in case the leaked data is found relevant. The over 22,000 pages that have been leaked from DCNS, however, contain information on different aspects of the boat including its underwater sensors, above-water sensors, combat management system, torpedo launch system and specifications, communications system and navigation systems. While the leaked information is still being analysed to gauge the extent of damage, there is fear that it may compromise with the submarine's detectability. --IANS ao/rn/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The makers of Suriya-starrer Tamil actioner "Singam 3", which is nearing completion, are headed to Malaysia to shoot the climax. The film is gearing up for a grand release this Diwali. "The team along with Suriya leaves on Friday to Malaysia. It will be a two-week schedule and they will shoot some important sequences apart from a major action block. Apart from this schedule, the team has one more song to shoot," a source from the film's unit told IANS. The film marks the debut of Hindi television actor Thakur Anoop Singh, who will be playing the antagonist. Directed by Hari, the project also stars Shruti Haasan and Anushka Shetty in the lead. Suriya, according to the source, will return in his police avatar, but in a more fierce role. --IANS hp/rb/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After more than a decade of steady growth, tourism in Morocco is experiencing a significant drop amid the rise of terrorist threat. While the country's tourism industry got a wake-up call last year following a series of terrorist attacks in the region, the latest data on arrivals and bookings in the first half of 2016 show a clearer dip with the hike in number of terror attacks in different parts of the world, especially Europe, Xinhua news agency reported. According to tourism officials statistics released on Monday, only 4.2 million people arrived in Morocco in the first half of 2016, registering a 2.6 per cent drop compared to the same period last year. The number of French tourists, Morocco's largest source of tourism, dipped by seven per cent in the first six months of 2016. The North African nation also saw declines in visitors from Britain by eight per cent, Italy and Germany by five per cent respectively. While the number of tourists dropped, tourism revenues surprisingly rose by 3.4 per cent compared to the same period last year, generating $2.7 billion. However, what is clear is that the drop in tourist arrival was parallel with the resurgence of violence in the region since the emergence of the Islamic State (IS) militant group in 2014 and terror attacks worldwide. "Since mid-2014 with the emergence of the IS, we have seen the dwindling of the number of tourists," Lahcen Haddad, the tourism minister, said before Paris attack in November last year. --IANS py/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Myanmar government will establish an advisory commission on the Rakhine state to resolve the protracted regional issue, an official statement said said on Wednesday. The ministry will sign a MoU with former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for establishing the nine member advisory commission, Xinhua news agency reported. The commission will comprise three international memebers and six eminent Myanmarese who are respected and neutral individuals, the release said. To find best possible solutions the commission will undertake meetings with all relevant stakeholders, international experts and foreign dignitaries to hear their views, it said. The commission will consider humanitarian and development issues, access to basic services, the assurance of basic rights and the security of the people of Rakhine. The commission will also undertake assessments and make recommendations by focusing on conflict prevention, humanitarian assistance, rights and reconciliation, institution building and promotion of development of Rakhine. After wide consultations, the commission will submit its findings and recommendations to the government of Myanmar through the State Counsellor and publish its report within 12-months of its establishment. On March 28, days before the incumbent government was to take office, Myanmar's previous government lifted the state of emergency imposed on western Rakhine state for nearly 4-years since 2012, claiming that since there was no more threat to lives and property of the people according to a report submitted by the state government. As unrest and violence in Rakhine state escalated then, triggered by communal conflict, the then Myanmar government declared the state of emergency on western coastal state on June 10, 2012. --IANS ss/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least nine policemen, including three officers, were injured when a suspected militant hurled a bomb at them from a crowd of protesters in a south Kashmir town on Wednesday, officials said. The officials said a police party was controlling a mob in Pulwama town, some 30 km from south of here, when the militant attacked them with a grenade. The grenade exploded a few metres from the policemen, injuring a superintendent of police, a deputy superintendent and a station house officer of Pulwama police station. The attack came as Home Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Kashmir to review the situation and hold talks on finding ways to defuse tension in the valley that has left 69 people dead and thousands injured in over six weeks. --IANS sq-sar/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) North Korea on Wednesday test-fired a ballistic missile off its east coast as tensions heightened on the Korean peninsula after South Korea and the US started annual war games, Seoul's military said. A South Korean defence ministry official told Xinhua that North Korea test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) around 5.30 a.m. (local time) off the eastern coastal town of Sinpo in South Hamgyeong province. The official said North Korea's SLBM technology appeared to have advanced compared with previous launches as the missile flew about 500 km. It was the longest flight among any known North Korean test-firings of SLBM. The launch came just two days after Seoul and Washington kicked off their joint annual war games codenamed "Ulchi Freedom Guardian" (UFG). Pyongyang has considered the drills as a dress rehearsal for northward invasion, which the two allies claimed to be defensive in nature. The Seoul defence ministry official said the launch was Pyongyang's show of force to escalate military tensions on the Korean peninsula. The UFG computer-simulated exercises will run through next Friday, mounting the already-heightened tensions in the region due to Seoul and Washington's decision in July to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) battery in South Korea by the end of next year. The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae convened a national security council (NSC) meeting two hours after the test-firing, reflecting worries about an earlier-than-expected North Korean deployment of submarines capable of carrying nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles within a couple of years. The meeting was chaired by Kim Kwan-jin, top security advisor to President Park Geun-hye. --IANS py/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian Navy on Wednesday said the leaked documents on the Scorpene submarine had "nothing to get alarmed" about, as the specifications in them will not be same as in the submarine to be finally manufactured. A team of experts from the navy has been burning the proverbial midnight oil in examining the leaked documents since the news broke on Tuesday night, an informed source said, adding the documents, including one dated 2011, are old. The official, who did not want to be named, said the vessel's "signature" will be known only once it heads for the open seas. The official added that the data in the documents pertained to a simulator. The documents from DCNS, the French company that designed the subs being built in India, were leaked, triggering fear it may compromise Scorpenes' stealth aspect. "Details in the leaked documents regarding the Scorpene submarine are not valid because the signature can be known only once the boat goes to the seas," a navy source said, adding that the specifications mentioned in the document are hypothetical. "How can we know the signature of the boat which is still not done with the trials? The technical and operational details will be written by how we exploit the submarine. So far, even the weapon systems and torpedo are not there." "The signatures of the boats of the same class can also be different. It also depends on the temperature and salinity, geographical location and other factors," the source said, adding that even nuts and bolts can make the difference. The navy, nonetheless, holds the leak as an issue of concern. "The documents should not have been leaked, but there is nothing to be alarmed about," said the source. In a statement earlier in the day, the navy made it clear that the documents were not leaked in India. "Our experts have established that the documents were not leaked in India, but overseas," a naval official said without specifying if they have any information on the leak's source. The said leaked information related to the Scorpene submarines has presentations and technical manuals of the boat, including details like the acoustic signature, noise level and radiated noise. --IANS ao/tsb/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi had not blamed the RSS as an institution for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, but the people associated with it, the Supreme Court was told on Wednesday. Union Minister of Urban Development M. Venkaiah Naidu welcomed the development, saying that "wisdom is prevailed". The RSS, however, has demanded an apology from the Congress Vice President. Senior counsel Kapil Sibal told the apex court bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman of Rahul Gandhi's stance while referring to an affidavit filed by Gandhi before the Bombay High Court challenging the defamation proceedings against him by a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker Rajesh Madhav Kunte. The bench, while taking note of Gandhi's statement before the high court, said that it can dispose of the matter after the Congress leader's "unequivocal" statement that he had not blamed the RSS as an organisation for Mahatma Gandhi's assassination, but only the people linked with it. However, the court deferred the hearing till Sep 1 as senior counsel Umesh R. Lalit, appearing for the RSS worker, wanted time to take instructions from Kunte. Sibal told the apex court that Gandhi has never accused RSS for the Mahatma's assassination. He, Sibal said, had told the high court that "the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi was a result of the destructive philosophy of the persons associated with the RSS. It was also clearly suggested that the assassins were associated or affiliated with RSS" and never accused RSS as an institution of the crime. As the court indicated the order it may pass, Sibal said: "I am not making any addition, alteration or subtraction" in what Gandhi had said in his affidavit. Venkaiah Naidu expressing satisfaction over the development, said: "I hope wisdom has prevailed upon him, on others to not make such aggressive remarks." The RSS reacted sharply, demanding an apology from Rahul Gandhi for his remark. "Rahul Gandhi and Congress Party should stop lying and apologies," the RSS wrote on twitter. --IANS sk/rn (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russia might use Iran's Hamedan airbase again to carry out attacks on terror targets in Syria, authorities said on Wednesday. Moscow and Tehran would reach agreements on some specific issues soon, including the use of the airbase by the Russian military to strike extremist groups in Syria, Xinhua news agency quoted Vladimir Komoedov, chairman of the Defence Committee, as saying. An agreement between the two countries over the issue is "only a matter of time", Komoedov said. Russian bombers took off from the airbase on August 16 for three consecutive days to strike the Islamic State militant group hideouts in Syria. It was the first time Russia has used the territory of another nation, apart from Syria itself, to launch such strikes since Moscow started a bombing campaign against the IS in September last year. Earlier this week, Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said the military had accomplished its targets against the IS forces in Syria. --IANS sm/py/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) If your heart lies in seafood -- prawn to be precise -- The China Kitchen at the Hyatt Regency is the place to head for in the capital. Different versions of prawn and tofu -- or bean curd -- are on the brand new menu of this Chinese restaurant, situated at the pool level, that will make you want to keep coming back, expensive though it may be. The ambience of the restaurant, done up in wood, is welcoming and cosy. The tables are immaculately laid, and you get to eat in a bowl which rests on a stone -- very visually appealing for a first-time visitor. Although the restaurant is known for its Peking duck, don't miss the chunks of coagulated soy milk and the lip-smacking filling of prawn in de-seeded red chilli. Prepared by Chef Zhang Hongsheng, the special menu included poached chicken, different dumplings, shrimp, pork, lamb, tofu, rice and Sichuan fried noodle. While the poached chicken in spicy sesame sauce, peanuts, crispy garlic and coriander set the tone for the meal, the twice-cooked crispy lamb shanks with garlic, cumin, coriander and chili was delectable. Talking about the evolving food tastes in India, Chef Zhang said: "People are well travelled and have well-developed tastes and preferences which make them experiment with more cuisines in authentic flavour." "Peking duck, which has been famous since the imperial era in China, is our signature dish. It is done to perfection here and is the most sought-after by our Chinese patrons. Our Indian patrons favour vegetable dimsums with a variety of stuffings like celery and mushroom," he added. For me, the dimsums with fresh peas, sweet corn, mushrooms and celery wasn't exactly exceptional. What should definitely be tried is the crispy-spicy prawn in Sichaun black bean sauce, spring onion and crispy garlic; the stir-fried asparagus with porchini mushroom; and last, but not least, the traditional "Mapo" tofu in chilli, chives, garlic and Sichuan peppercorn that can make even a tofu hater its biggest fan. Some of the other dishes on the new menu are chilli jumbo crabs served with freshly baked baguette and, of course, the legendary Peking Duck. There have been additions to the dessert list as well, like the Cognac chocolate cigar, with a strong taste of orange. Then there is the jasmine-flavoured ice cream, which was interesting; and Chinese egg tarts. A restaurant that I would recommend to lovers of Chinese cuisine, especially as the tastes are authentic. But Indians may be put off by the presentation -- prawns served with eyes and legs intact may perhaps not go down well with the locals. FAQs: Where: Hyatt Regency, Bhikaiji Cama Place, New Delhi. Meal for two: Rs 4,500 plus taxes without alcohol. Timings: Lunch 12:00 pm to 3:30 pm, Dinner 7:00 pm to 11:30 pm. (The writer's visit was at the invitation of Asia Seven. Kishori Sud can be contacted atkishori.s@ians.in ) --IANS ks/rb/vm/sac/ky/tb (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Foreign Ministers of Japan, South Korea and China began a trilateral summit in Tokyo on Wednesday to discuss the launch of a ballistic missile by a North Korean submarine hours earlier that fell into the sea, off the Japanese coast. Japanese Foreign minister Fumio Kishida, and his counterparts -- Yun Byung-se and Wang Yi, the South Korean and Chinese Foreign Ministers, respectively -- are attending the meeting, Efe news reported. The missile launched by a North Korean submarine from the country's eastern coast around 5.00 a.m. on Wednesday, flew around 500 km (311 miles) before falling into the sea, 500 km from the Japanese coast, making it Pyongyang's most successful ballistic missile test till date. The latest launch that underlines the progress in North Korea's weapons development programme will take priority in the agenda of the meeting, ahead of discussions on economic cooperation, disaster management as also a possible trilateral summit between the leaders. Japan is also expected to convey its displeasure to China over Beijing's actions around the disputed Senkaku islands in recent months. Since 2012, the dispute between the two, over the sovereignty of these Tokyo-administered islands, has worsened and played a significant role in stalling the trilateral meets. Meanwhile, Tokyo and Seoul are also locked in a dispute over the ownership of the Dokdo islands, and also over the role of the Japanese imperial forces during their occupation of the Korean peninsula before and during the Second World War. The summit is also expected to pave the way for a meeting between the Japanese Prime Minister and the Chinese president on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, China, between the 4th and 5th of September. --IANS ss/sac (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Democratic presidential nominee says the way US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump talks, it indirectly supports terrorists. Clinton, who made her third appearance on the popular talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!", spattered with humour and witty comebacks and discussed the ongoing presidential elections with the show's host Kimmel, putting to rest rumours about her poor health, reports mic.com. "There's enough evidence now that when Trump talks the way he talks, it actually helps the terrorists because they make a case as they make with this comment - 'Oh well, see, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, they created ISIS. We heard this from Donald Trump who is running for President," Clinton said when questioned about Trump's allegations that Clinton and her party support ISIS. "He is it eh Republican nominee!' So I think it's crazy but I also think it's harmful," she added. Clinton also said she would "prefer to be running against somebody who she thought was qualified to be President and temperamentally fit". When Kimmel questioned Clinton about what she felt the Republican party's reaction was to Trump, she stated that a number of Republicans are in fact endorsing her and writing letters to her too. "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" is aired on Star World and Star World HD. With reference to Subhomoy Bhattacharjees report, Move to change ranking (August 22), it is not correct to consider the Reserve Bank of India governor as a regulator. Other regulators are responsible for specific segments of the economy, such as securities market and insurance, whereas the is responsible for macroeconomic stability. RBI actions have a much wider impact on the economy and monetary policy supplements fiscal and other public policies. Chief Minister on Wednesday slammed Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), saying they are empty vessels suffering from "anti-Punjab" syndrome and were "unsympathetic" to the interests of people of the state. The Chief Minister said leadership of the two parties were raising hollow slogans and making false promises with the aim of assuming power in the state. Accusing both Congress and AAP of trying to mislead people through "malicious propaganda", Badal claimed they were least bothered about interests of the people and the state and their only agenda was to plunder its wealth. "Congress and AAP are like empty vessels which produce a loud sound but are good for nothing," Badal said addressing a public gathering during Sangat Darshan programme in Lambi assembly segment here. The Chief Minister said neither AAP nor Congress has any "sympathy" with the state or its people while the Shiromani Akali Dal had a glorious history of waging struggle for Punjab. Slamming the Congress for its alleged anti-Punjab stance, the Chief Minister said the party was "inimical" to the state as it denied Punjab of its legitimate territorial rights in terms of state capital, share in river water and for allegedly attacking Golden Temple, an action which hurt the religious sentiments of the Punjabis, including the Sikh community. He said Sikhs could never forgive Congress for the 1984 riots in which thousands of innocent Sikhs were brutally killed. The Chief Minister said AAP was also suffering from the "anti-Punjab syndrome" which was exposed by the policies pursued by it in Delhi. He said the AAP government in Delhi discontinued teaching of Punjabi language in schools, did not observed a holiday on Baisakhi festival, demolished the 'piau' (water kiosk) outside Gurdwara Sisganj Sahib and submitted an affidavit against the state in Apex court on SYL issue. Badal said "disguised" in the garb of common man, AAP was working overtime against the interests of the state. Retorting to former defence minister A K Antony's assertion that the Centre should not blame Pakistan every time for the unrest in Kashmir and initiate a political dialogue for a solution, Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mikhail Abbas Navy on Wednesday said the Congress leaders should not give such irresponsible statements, adding the opposition should not politicise issues of national interest. "A K Antony is a senior leader and he should not talk like this. And why should we not blame Pakistan? Whom should we blame, the Congress? The way Pakistan is backing terrorism, the way it has become a den of the separatists and the terrorists. Pakistan is producing terrorists. The whole world has now accepted all these facts and the Congress is not ready to accept this, it is not fine. A K Antony should not give such irresponsible statements," said Naqvi. "The whole nation is standing united. The people of Kashmir want peace and prosperity; they want their state to keep moving on the development path. And if the Congress is politicising the issue in this hour of crisis then it is not good. The opposition party should not play around issues of national concern," he added. Asserting that Kashmir which is on boil from the last month needs a political solution, Antony on Tuesday said always blaming the Pakistani military and not taking proper action is not good, adding that the government must start a political dialogue to find a political solution to the crisis. "Kashmir needs a political solution. As a first step, the government must send an all-party delegation and then start a political dialogue to find a political solution. We can't delay it anymore. The government must start acting on war footing. At any cost we must win hearts of the people, especially the youth, of the Kashmir Valley," said Antony. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh earlier on Wednesday arrived in Srinagar on a two-day visit to Kashmir during which he will review the situation in the valley. Singh, who may hold talks with a cross section of people, is likely to emphasise the various development projects and employment schemes undertaken for the youth in the Valley. The Home Minister earlier tweeted that he would interact with civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders in Kashmir. "I will be staying at the Nehru Guest House. Those who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat are welcome," he tweeted. This is the Home Minister's second visit in a month to the valley, which has been witnessing unrest since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. The visit comes following Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing deep concern and pain over the situation in Kashmir. Prime Minister said on Tuesday that the "nationalism" was core identity of the BJP and called upon party workers to defeat elements who were trying to divert people's attention from the development-oriented work of the party-led central government. In his remarks at the day-long workshop of state core committee members here, Modi said that BJP's aim should be to become a social force apart from being a political force. Making a special mention of the recently-concluded Tiranaga Yatra, he said: "It worked to unite the country against the socially divisive forces." "Nationalism has been our core identity and our strength. We don't need to prove it. It is already associated with us. But when we talk about poor, Dalits and downtrodden, some elements do not like it and they try to divert people's attention," sources quoted Modi as saying. Modi also cautioned party leaders, saying that they would need to alert the common people about this. "Despite challenges, positive works of the government will continue. We are determined to bring massive changes in the life of common man," a BJP statement later quoted him as saying. Modi also asked party leaders to work tirelessly to fulfill Mahatma Gandhi and Deen Dayal Upadhyay's dream of "Antyodaya", which is the goal and resolve of his government. BJP President Amit Shah, who earlier inaugurated the day-long workshop at the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) convention centre, asked the party leaders to focus on implementation of the central government's pro-poor initiatives. According to sources, Shah also spoke on issues of incidents of Dalit atrocities, Gau Rakshaks and Kashmir and asked party workers to counter aggressively the propaganda of opposition parties. Sources said that Shah informed the party leaders that the BJP ruled government at the centre was the first ever government which did not compromise on issues of nationalism. Shah will also meet the chief ministers of BJP ruled states on August 27. These two important meetings will be followed by that of the BJP-RSS coordination committee here on August 29 here. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat will also attend the meet. has begun his 2-day visit to the Kashmir valley where he is likely to meet a cross section of people and review the prevailing situation that is yet to come back to normalcy. So should one expect a lot of change in the ground situation post this visit. It all depends on what kind of message he is ready to send. Following the furore over the leak of documents related to Indian's Scorpene submarine, the Congress on Wednesday lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar for their 'myopic' approach towards the matter and underplaying the 'stunning breach of security'. Addressing a press conference here, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala asserted that India's security stands gravely compromised which shocking leaks of the entire design plans and specifications of the Scorpene submarine, containing 22,400 pages of the 'project 75' carrying the emblem of the Indian navy. "It's perhaps the biggest defence disaster of recent times. This scandalous leak has put a question mark on India's maritime security and has jeopardised the initiative to build six Scorpene submarines of the French companies PSU, DCNS at a cost of USD 3.5 billion, which are, currently being built by the mazagaon dock ship builder limited at Mumbai," he said. Listing out the 'disturbing' details of the now leaked designs, Surjewala pointed out 10 crucial specifications, which are now in public domain: 1. 4,301 pages of combat management system and 493 pages of torpedo systems 2. The secret stealth capabilities of the six Scorpene submarines. 3. 4, 457 pages of submarines underwater sensors and 4, 209 pages of submarines above water sensors. 4. 6, 841 pages of the Scorpene submarines communications systems. 5. The diving depth range details. 6. Magnetic, electromagnetic and infrared data of the six submarines. 7. Frequencies at which the submarines gather intelligence. 8. Details of speed and conditions needed to use the periscope for the . 9. The noise specifications of the submarine's propellers. 10. Radiated noise levels that occur when submarines surface, level of noise at various speed, places where crew can speak to avoid detection by enemy have also been leaked. Further stating that despite this 'Himalayan blunder' that has deeply hurt India's defence preparedness, Surjewala came down heavily on the Centre and Parrikar for saying that it's a case of 'mere hacking'. Accusing Parrikar, Centre and the Indian Navy of being engaged in an 'operation cover-up' instead of 'operation fixation of responsibility', the Congress leader said that there was a conflict between the former and the Navy over the matter. "While one describes it as hacking, the other describes it as leaks. The government has actually gone on overdrive describing this important leaked information as 'old information', 'damage not substantial' or 'operation capabilities not compromised'. I have read out to you the details of what all has been leaked and it is for everybody to judge, whether this compromises the operation capabilities of not only submarines but the Indian navy," he said. Emphasising on the gravity of the situation with most of the classified information now floating on the internet, the spokesperson added that the Centre and Parrikar have done nothing since the leaks happened. "With a coastline of 7, 517 km to defend with only 13 submarines which are nearly 20 years old and one nuclear submarine which is on lease from Russia, it appears that Modi Government is living in absolute denial vis a vis the security of this country," he said. Calling for a complete security audit of the Mazagaon dock shipbuilders in Mumbai and the Defence Ministry to establish the source of the leak, Surjewala hit out at Parrikar for denying the leak of being possible from within the country. "Can they do so without even conducting a proper enquiry into the matter? Can the Defence Minister reach such a conclusion without even seeking a full report? This reflects the myopic approach and complete apathy to the security on part of Parrikar and the Modi Government. It is in fact intriguing as to how clean chits are being meted out without the matter having been looked at by anybody," he added. Posing a question to the Centre as to what steps have been taken to ensure that all the uploaded information has not already gone into the enemy hands, the Congress leader reiterated his call for an enquiry, adding that it must be headed by a sitting Supreme Court judge and that the government can have people from the three defence forces, the naval and military intelligence, the Intelligence Bureau or other agencies. "The Prime Minister and the Defence Minister must take the nation into confidence as to how they propose to deal with the maritime security risk, which has happened on the account of leakage of the designs, specifications and all other details of the projects of Scorpene submarines," he said. Meanwhile, Parrikar has asked Indian Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba to analyse the extent of the leak and find out whether it is related to India or not. Parrikar further asserted that the leak is not 100 percent. "I have asked the Naval Chief to conduct full analysis of the incident as to what is the leak and what has been leaked about us. The first step is to identify, the second step is to identify the extent of unwarranted, but it not all 100 percent because we do have our final integration," Parrikar said. "It came to my knowledge at around 12 last night, what I understand is that there is a hacking. So, we will find out all these aspects," he added. The Defence Minister further said that in the next couple of days, they will come out with more information. On Tuesday, a report in Australian media revealed that sensitive information related to India's Scorpene submarines has been leaked, with French shipbuilder DCNS, which designed the submarine, facing a leak of documents spreading over 22,000 pages. According to The Australian, the leak details the entire secret combat capability of the six Scorpene-class submarines that French shipbuilder DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy. As per reports, the leak includes details of the submarine's underwater sensors, above-water sensors, combat management system, torpedo launch system and specifications, communications system and navigation systems. Union Minister Ananth Kumar has criticised Congress General Secretary for "supporting" a human rights organisation. Kumar did not name the organisation, however it was a veiled reference to Amnesty International, whose Indian chapter is facing sedition charges over alleged raising of anti-India slogans by its members during an event on Kashmir held in Bengaluru last week, a charge denied by the Nobel Peace Prize winning human rights body. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is enhancing spirit of patriotism through Tiranga Yatra. On the other hand, was supporting an organisation which was a Pakistani supporter," Kumar said. He was addressing a gathering yesterday at Barbai near here, the native village of freedom fighter Ram Prasad Bismil, as part of the Tiranga Yatra. "This organisation was involved in sloganeering against Indian jawans...Raised slogans for the country's destruction," the Chemical and Fertiliser Minister added. He said Singh had tweeted to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, asking him not to take any action against this organisation. "This can't be tolerated at any cost," he said. Kumar said, "Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir will be retaken. One person died while eight others are feared drowned when a country boat ferrying flood victims capsized in the swollen River Punpun near Kalem village in Bihar's Aurangabad district. "One body has been fished out and search is on for eight others in the boat tragedy," Aurangabad District Magistrate Kunwal Tanuj told PTI today. Nine persons had swam to safety after the mishap, the DM said. The DM, who visited the site of the tragedy late last evening, said so far no trace of the eight missing persons has been found despite a hectic search by the divers. The search operation will continue today, he added. The personnel of State Disaster Management Force (SDRF) have been pressed into service to trace the missing, he said. The country boat ferrying flood victims to safer place last evening capsized midstream in the swollen Punpun river due to strong water current near Kalem village of Aurangabad, about 125 km from the state capital. River Punpun is overflowing due to rains in Bihar and Jharkhand. Tanuj said the district administration has banned plying of private boats in the river. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Work is on to make 100 government websites differently-abled friendly and 16 such websites are ready, Union Minister for Electronics & Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad said today. Optical fibre measuring 1.39 lakh kms to connect village panchayats with internet has been laid since last two years as against 398 km from 2011-14 during the UPA. He claimed nearly 104 crore people, comparable to the size of population of Italy and France, are in the ambit of the Aadhar and mobile connections in India since last two years. "What is Digital India? We are seeking to bridge the divide between Digital Haves and Digital Have-nots," he said while listing the achievements of Modi government since last two years. "Of 125 crore people 104 have Aadhar card. They are digitally verifiable. With one click, you can view your face, your iris and finger-tip. It has happened in a completely secure condition and we have are the first ones to have done this," Prasad claimed. He was speaking at the launch of Sugamya Pustakalaya- an online library for persons with visual disabilities. The online library was launched by Prasad, Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot, and his two deputies Krishan Pal Gurjar and Ramdas Athawal. Books are available in accessible formats for people with visual impairment and other print disabilities. People can access over two lakhs books in diverse languages, integrating libraries across India and the globe, including the largest international library 'Bookshare'. "We have linked 'divyangjans' with the common service centres in our country. National Informatics Centre (NIC) is in the process of making 100 Government websites 'divyang' friendly of which 16 have already been made 'divyang' friendly," Prasad said, as he urged NGOs and citizens to use 'My Gov' to provide valuable inputs on central schemes. Prasad said in order to help children suffering from autism, an e-learning tool has also been developed by the National Institute of Mentally Handicapped and all the scholarships will be under one banner. Javadekar said there are 23 lakh people special ability under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. As the HRD Minister, Javadekar said, he receives invitations for convocations, but he has accepted the first invitation from the University meant for differently abled in Thiruvanathapuram. Gurjar said people with special abilities don't need sympathy of the people but deserve their love, affection and support. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two persons were killed in the flood in Uttar Pradesh which has affected lakhs of people in 28 districts of the state, officials said today. Sudhir (18) and Shivpujan Yadav (40) fell victim to the flood in Ghazipur district in separate incidents since yesterday. While Sudhir drowned in flood waters at Raghurajpur village in Jamania area, Shivpujan drowned while trying to rescue cattle from his marooned hut, police said. "Flood waters have affected two more districts -- Mirzapur and Mahoba. Now, 28 districts of the state are affected by the flood," said Relief Commissioner DK Singh. He said the Ganga was flowing 2.695 metre above the 'red' mark at Ballia and was rising, it was flowing 1.426 metre above the 'danger' mark at Allahabad and above the 'red' mark at Mirzapur, Varanasi and Ghazipur. The Yamuna was flowing above the 'danger' mark at Jalaun, Hamirpur and Allahabad, said Singh. NDRF teams have been sent to Varanasi, Allahabad, Ghazipur and Ballia, he said, adding that a total of 8.7 lakh people in 987 villages were affected by the flood. "In these four districts, 30,247 people have been shifted to the relief camps, while 62,397 have been moved to safer places," said Singh, adding that the situation has worsened due to release of water from Nepal and the adjoining states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand which has led to further rise in the water levels of the major rivers. The state government has directed the divisional commissioners and district magistrates concerned to help the flood victims on war footing. Officers have been asked not to sanction leave to employees involved in the relief work unless it is urgent. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two women have been arrested and over three kg of cocaine worth around Rs 25 crore seized after a joint operation by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) sleuths and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) troopers along the Indo-Nepal border at Sonauli in Uttar Pradesh, officials said today. A woman, identified as R Kashung from Manipur, coming from Nepal on a bus late last night was arrested and 3.12 kg of cocaine was seized from her possession. The value of the contraband is estimated at Rs 25 crore, they said. The drug consignment was destined for Delhi. Kashung led the sleuths to another woman from her state, identified as Moi, who lives near Safdarjung Enclave area in the national capital. Moi was also arrested and she told the sleuths that she used to live with a Nigerian national who was the "kingpin" of this racket, they said, adding, "The NCB is looking for the Nigerain identified as O G Nnanna." NCB officials suspects that drug syndicates originating in African and South American countries are routing the drugs to India via the open Indo-Nepal border. The SSB on August 20 seized synthetic drugs worth Rs 15 crore along the Indo-Nepal border in Siliguri of West Bengal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bangladesh today arrested five suspected militants of the banned homegrown JMB blamed for a series of deadly attacks, including the trainer of its women wing, in twin raids here during which firearms and explosives in large quantities were also recovered from their posession. Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) stormed two hideouts in Dhaka's Gazipur district, arresting Rasheduzzaman Rose, a Canadian expatriate who is also the acting southern- region chief of Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), the Dhaka Tribune reported. Major Ajam, second-in-command of RAB-1, said a team conducted a drive in Tongi Station Road area around 12.30 AM. Rasheduzzaman, who took over as the JMB's regional chief recently, was among those arrested, reports quoted RAB's legal and media wing Director Mufti Mahmud Khan as saying. The other persons arrested were identified as Sahabuddin, Firoz, and Saiful, members of the same outfit, and Abul Hye, a leader of another militant outfit Ahl al-Hadith. RAB have also seized a large number of explosives, firearms and improvised bombs from the hideouts, Khan added. Bangladesh police have blamed JMB for the two recent terror attacks, including the Dhaka cafe siege on July 1 in Gulshan area in which 22 people, including 17 foreigners, were killed in the brutal late-night attack. The Islamic State group had claimed responsibility for the Gulshan attack, releasing photos from inside the cafe during the siege and of the five men who carried out the deadly assault and were shot dead at its finale. Bangladeshi authorities had dismissed ISIS claims over the deadly assaults, saying international jihadist networks have no presence in the world's third largest Muslim majority nation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A group of 62 Bangladeshi fishermen, who were rescued last week by Indian Coast Guard, were handed over to Bangladesh Coast Guard today. Four Bangladeshi fishing boats - Allardan, Farhad, Nahim and Ma Ganga - got adrift in Indian waters due to mechanical failure post-depression in northern Bay of Bengal on August 17 and 18. Two of the four stranded boats were sighted at 35 nautical miles south of Sagar lighthouse by a Coast Guard aircraft, officials said. The other two fishing boats were sighted stranded inside the creek by a Coast Guard surveillance aircraft on Aug 18. The fishing boats had departed from Maipur and Cox Bazaar in Bangladesh and were caught in the cyclonic winds that hit the Bay of Bengal. Two fishing boats were towed to Coast Guard station Frazerganj. The marooned crew was provided with medical treatment, food and additional clothing during their stay. "All Bangladeshi fishermen were provided with necessary logistics and medical treatment," Coast Guard commander (North East Headquarters) Inspector General K R Nautiyal said. Joint interrogation by Coast Guard, marine police and SIB were also carried out to confirm the authenticity of the fishermen on arrival at the fishing port. FB Allardan and FB Farhad were handed over today while the remaining two boats will be handed over post repairs that are being carried out locally, officials said. Four fishermen have stayed back to oversee the repair work. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Steven Hill, who starred for years as District Attorney Adam Schiff on "Law & Order", has died He was 94. The actor passed away on Tuesday in Monsey, New York, his daughter Sarah Gobioff told The New York Times. Hill was part of the original cast of "Law & Order" when the show premiered in 1990, and he stayed with the programme for its first 10 seasons. Franchise creator Dick Wolf praised his talents and paid tribute to Hill in a statement which read: "Steven was not only one of the truly great actors of his generation, he was one of the most intelligent people I have ever met. He is also the only actor I've known who consistently tried to cut his own lines. He will be missed but fortunately he can be seen ubiquitously on Law & Order reruns." Hill was also part of another iconic TV series, "Mission: Impossible", on which he portrayed the original leader of the Impossible Missions Force, Daniel Briggs. Throughout his five decades in showbusiness, he appeared on TV hits "The Untouchables", "Ben Casey", "One Life to Live", "Thirtysomething" and "Columbo", and films like "Yentl", "Brighton Beach Memoirs", "Billy Bathgate", and "The Firm." Hill was also one of the original members of renowned New York school The Actors Studio. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Serbia's defense ministry says a 20-year old Afghan migrant crossing illegally from Bulgaria has been shot dead, apparently by hunters. The ministry said today that its border patrol heard a shot yesterday night and then discovered six migrants, of whom one had a chest wound. He later died. The ministry says a hunter who was at the scene was detained on suspicion that he shot the migrant. Since the so-called Balkan migrant route was closed in March after more than 1 million used it to head for the EU last year, hundreds fleeing wars and poverty are still crossing daily from Bulgaria through Serbia to try to make it into EU-member Hungary. UNHCR has estimated that there are currently some 4,400 migrants stuck in Serbia. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Agriculture scientists have identified eight varieties of wheat and one of barley across the country, officials of the Haryana government said today. This was informed at the '55th All India Wheat & Barley Research Workers' meet which concluded here today. About 500 participants including scientists from all over the country took part in the four-day event. To increase the productivity of wheat, the plenary session came with the recommendation of eight wheat varieties and one barley variety in various zones of India, officials of the Haryana Agriculture Department said. In North-Eastern Zone consisting of the states, namely, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal (excluding hills), Orissa, Assam, two varieties -HD 3171 and K 1317 were identified on the basis of their superiority of yield along with resistance to leaf rust and leaf blight diseases, they said. In the Central Zone's Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Kota and Udaipur divisions of Rajasthan and Jhansi division of UP, a pasta product making variety HI 8759 (d) was identified because of its superiority in yield along with resistance to rusts and nutrient quality, they added. For Peninsular Zone comprising Maharashtra and Karnataka, a durum wheat variety -3949 (d) and a variety for chapati making - HI 1605 were identified. For North Western Plain Zone, the variety -PBW 723 was identified because of resistance to yellow rust races over parental variety PBW 343. In addition, a barley variety -- DWRB 123 was identified due to superiority in yield and quality. On this occasion the books on various aspect of wheat improvement were released and awards were given to the groups of scientists for their outstanding work in the fields of wheat and barley research, the official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Life in the universe is much more likely to exist in the future than now, partly because the necessary elements for life, such as carbon and oxygen, took tens of millions of years to develop following the Big Bang, according to a new study. Another reason is that the lower-mass stars best suited to hosting life can glow for trillions of years, giving ample time for life to evolve in the future, researchers said. Researchers including astrophysicists from the University of Oxford in the UK raise the possibility that Earthlings might be the first to arrive at the cosmic party. The study led by Professor Avi Loeb of Harvard University in the US suggests that "life in the universe is much more likely in the future than it is now." That is partly because the necessary elements for life, such as carbon and oxygen, took tens of millions of years to develop following the Big Bang, and partly because the lower-mass stars best suited to hosting life can glow for trillions of years, giving ample time for life to evolve in the future. "The main result of our research is that life seems to be more likely in the future than it is now," said Dr Rafael Alves Batista of Oxford's Department of Physics. "That doesn't necessarily mean we are currently alone, and it is important to note that our numbers are relative: one civilisation now and 1,000 in the future is equivalent to 1,000 now and 1,000,000 in the future. "Given this knowledge, the question is therefore why we find ourselves living now rather than in the future. Our results depend on the lifetime of stars, which in turn depend on their mass - the larger the star, the shorter its lifespan," said Batista. In order to arrive at the probability of finding a habitable planet, the team came up with a master equation involving the number of habitable planets around stars, the number of stars in the universe at a given time, including their lifespan and birth rate, and the typical mass of newly born stars. "We folded in some extra information, such as the time it takes for life to evolve on a planet, and for that we can only use what we know about life on Earth. That limits the mass of stars that can host life, as high-mass stars don't live long enough for that," said Batista. "So unless there are hazards associated with low-mass red dwarf stars that prevent life springing up around them - such as high levels of radiation - then a typical civilisation would likely find itself living at some point in the future. We may be too early," said Batista. "Our next steps are towards refining our understanding of this topic. Now that we have knowledge of a wide catalogue of exoplanets, the issue of whether or not we are alone becomes ever more pressing," said Dr David Sloan, also of Oxford's Department of Physics. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab PCC chief Amarinder Singh today accused Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal of "orchestrating" incidents of sacrilege to "polarise" people for his vested interests. "There was a pattern in these incidents starting from the desecration of Guru Granth Sahab in Bargari, followed by the desecration of Gita in Ludhiana and the Quran in Malerkotla," he alleged. Besides, there was a well planned attack on Sikh preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale and no action has been taken against the culprits, claimed Amarinder during his interaction with people of the Malerkotla assembly constituency. He said even after many weeks of murderous attack on RSS leader Jagdish Gagneja in Jalandhar no culprit had been identified, leave aside arrested. "It is impossible for the culprits to go scottfree if they are not enjoying the government patronage", he alleged during his 'Halke vich programme' here. He claimed, once the Congress forms government each and every case will be investigated. "And I am sure every incident will lead us to the Badal's door as he is quite capable of getting such things done," he said. The PCC president asked the Chief Minister to clarify his plans about paddy procurement which looks so uncertain. A number of people complained they were slapped with false cases at the alleged behest of local MLA's husband Azhar Alam. He said all the fake FIRs will be cancelled and Alam will be brought to book. "You don't need to take law into your own hands, I will take your revenge lawfully after forming the government", he said. Reacting to the demands of local residents, Amarinder promised that Malerkotla will be made a district and a medical college will be set up which he had promised during his previous regime. Besides, industry will be encouraged to set up projects here so that the local youth get the jobs. He promised equal opportunities to all with due representation to Shia-Muslim community members. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 68-year-old woman from Baran city in Rajasthan has been engaged in preserving and conserving the traditional white chalk on red background Mandana drawings, seen on the walls and floors of rural houses in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Koshilaya Devi has till now painted over 100 designs in the Mandana style on hardboard using oil paints. The artist says she intends to document and preserve the traditional folk art form, which is on the verge of disappearance due to rising number of concrete houses in rural areas. Famed for warding off evil and acting as a good luck charm, the tribal paintings are derived from the word 'Mandan' referring to decoration and beautification and comprises simple geometric forms like triangles, squares and circles to decorate houses. "The art is typically passed on from mother to daughter and uses white khariya or chalk solution and geru or red ochre. They use twigs to draw on the floors and walls of their houses, which are first plastered with clay mixed with cowdung," says Devi. Other than conserving, the artist is also engaged in globalising the local art. Recently, she gave a seven-day training to a visitor from Germany who is now imparting the training of the same in her country. Devi's son Jitendra Kumar, who is also convener of Intach, Baran chapter says apart from the traditional designs she has also developed 40 fresh designs. "Tawaya, Tailghani, Tangi Khan Gavya are among those 40 forms that she has developed. She has also applied for a copyright last month," says Kumar. "The Delhi chapter of Intach in recognition of Devi's creativity awarded her Rs 10,000 which she spent in conservation works of Mandana," says Kumar. Devi, who to her credit has so far developed one hundred designs of Mandana forms on hard boards with oil paint and claims to know drawing of at least 600 Mandana forms. "She has separately developed 40 other fresh Mandana forms apart from those drowned traditionally for centuries in rural culture of Rajasthan," said her son Jitendra Kumar Sharma who is also convener of Intach Baran chapter. Though Mandana art has seen a drastic drop in visibility, and has less of takers among villagers due to rise in number of concrete houses, the art still holds the rustic charm, and its paintings adorn walls of patrons. According to experts in the Mandana art form, the traditionally drawn designs bear architectural and scientific significance. In his book titled 'Mandana: A Folk Art of Rajasthan' author Jogendra Saxena besides narrating the relevance of Mandana drawn on the occasion of religious festivals and fasts and also during any auspicious ceremony at home concerning birth and marriage or a specially organised religious worship, also explores the architectural and scientific significance. "Architectural and scientific significance exists in Mandana art forms and it needs to be studied," says Madan Meena, a Kota based freelance artist. "It is more significant that Koshalya Devi has individually drawn Mandana forms on rustic cultural features and practices which have gone outdated," he says. A powerful earthquake rattled a remote area of central Italy today, leaving at least 120 people dead and scenes of carnage in mountain villages. With 368 people injured and an unknown number trapped under rubble, the figure of dead and wounded was expected to rise in the wake of the pre-dawn quake, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi warned. "This is not a final toll," he said. Hundreds of people were to spend a chilly night in hastily-assembled tents with the risk of aftershocks making it far too risky for them to return home. Scores of buildings were reduced to dusty piles of masonry in communities close to the epicentre of the quake, which had a magnitude of between 6.0 and 6.2. It hit a remote area straddling Umbria, Marche and Lazio at a time of year when second home owners and other visitors swell the numbers staying there. Many of the victims were from Rome. The devastated area is just north of L'Aquila, the city where some 300 people died in another quake in 2009. More than half of the deaths occurred in and around the villages of Amatrice, Accumoli and Arquata del Tronto. Guido Bordo, 69, lost his sister and her husband after they were trapped inside their holiday house in the hamlet of Illica, near Accumoli. "There's no sound from them, we only heard their cats," he told AFP before the deaths were confirmed. "I wasn't here. As soon as the quake happened, I rushed here. They managed to pull my sister's children out, they're in hospital now," he added, wringing his hands in anguish. Sergio Camosi escaped in his underwear with his wife and daughter just before his house caved in. "We ran down the stairs but the door was blocked by stones so we had to climb out the window," he said tearfully. Among the victims was a nine-month-old baby girl whose parents survived, an 18-month-old toddler and two other young children who died with their parents in Accumoli. Two boys aged four and seven were saved by their quick-thinking grandmother, who ushered them under a bed as soon as the shaking began, according to reports. She also survived but lost her husband. And there were sobs in Illica when two sisters were reunited with their poodle, Lello, pulled alive from their abandoned house. It was Italy's most powerful earthquake since the 2009 disaster in L'Aquila. "Half the village has disappeared," said Amatrice mayor Sergio Pirozzi, surveying a town centre that looked as if had been subjected to a bombing raid. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Six Islamist militants responsible for a series of deadly attacks in Bangladesh, including one behind the brutal killing of a secular publisher last year, have been arrested, police said today. Police said Moinul Islam Shamim, the prime suspect in the murder of publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan, has been arrested. Shamim has been described as key organiser of Ansar Al Islam, also known as Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) which has presumed ideological links to al-Qaeda. "We arrested him (Shamim) last night from Tongi area (on the outskirts of the capital)," the spokesman said, adding Shamim was the trainer of the assailants of Dipan, who was stabbed dead inside his office at Dhaka's Shahbagh area on October 31 last year, the day when suspected ABT activists also attacked another publisher leaving him critically wounded. Rahman said during initial interrogations, Shamim said fugitive key-ABT leader Ziaul Haque was also involved in Dipan's murder while the banned outfit had targeted him for publishing books of slain Bangladeshi-born US blogger and science writer Avijit Roy. "But we suspect him (Shamim) to be involved also in the murder of a university student in January this year," the spokesman said. Roy was hacked to death on the campus of premier Dhaka University on February 26 last year, when he was coming out of an annual book fair while the assailants also attacked his wife, who narrowly survived. The five others were arrested in overnight raids from different areas of the capital by the elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), which described them as operatives of Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), the outfit is said to be inclined to the ideology of the Islamic State militant group. ABT is blamed for a series of attacks on individuals, including secular writers and activists, followers of minority religious faiths while independent security analysts believe they are inclined to al-Qaeda. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In their second attempt at recovering a part of the dues of over Rs 9,000 crore from now defunct Kingfisher Airlines, lenders will re-auction the airlines' trademarks, including Kingfisher logo and the once-famous tag-line 'Fly the Good Times' tomorrow, but at a lower reserve price of Rs 330.03 crore. The 17-lender consortium led by State Bank of India has also put the Flying Models, Funliner, Fly Kingfisher and Flying Bird Device on the block. The one-hour e-auction of various trademarks of the airlines will begin at 1130 hrs. Bankers in April had made a failed attempt to sell brands and trademarks of the long grounded airlines, owned by the beleaguered airline promoter Vijay Mallya. The auction turned out to be a damp squib as none of the bidders came forward due to higher reserve price of Rs 366.70 crore. This time banks have lowered the reserve price by 10 per cent to Rs 330.03 crore. The Kingfisher brand itself was valued at over Rs 4,000 crore by consultancy Grant Thornton when the airline was at its peak. In its annual report for 2012-13, KFA said, at its peak, it was the largest airline in the country with a five-star rating from Skytrax. The airline's brand had been registered separately from the Kingfisher beer trademarks. Lenders will also auction some movable assets worth Rs 13.70 lakh lying at Kingfisher House tomorrow. The items on sale would include eight cars - Toyota Innova, Honda City, Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, among others. The reserve price of each car has been set differently in the range of Rs 90,000-2.50 lakh. Earlier this month, the auction of Kingfisher House proved a damp squib again as no bidder turned up for the erstwhile headquarters of Vijay Mallya-led airline at a reduced reserve price of Rs 135 crore. The Kingfisher House, has a built-up area of over 17,000 sqft and is located in the plush Vile Parle area near the domestic airport in the megapolis. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Eminent painter Dhirendranath Brahma, best known for his Bengal School of Art works, passed away today following age-related illness. He was admitted to the government-run SSKM hospital for the last few days and died during the day, the family said. Born in 1924 at Barisal in Bangladesh, Brahma had studied in Kolkata where he also had the opportunity to work under the likes of Nandalal Bose and Lakshmeshwar Singha at Santiniketan. His mural paintings now grace the walls of Parliament in New Delhi. Brahma was also the head of the department of Indian style of painting at the Government College of Art where he taught Neo-Bengal tradition of painting. In 2014, the state government had felicitated him with a lifetime achievement award. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her condolences to the family saying it was a great loss to the world of painting. "I express my heartfelt condolences to his family. I pray for the departed soul," she said in a message. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a bid to make the ongoing "Beti Bachao, Beti Padao" (Save girl child, Educate girl child) campaign more effective, the East Singhbhum district would produce a short film on the subject. The film on the subject "Beti Bachao, Beti Padao" campaign has been proposed and a final shape to the proposal would be given next week, said District Public Relation Officer, Sanjay Kumar. The proposal was chalked out following discussion with script writer, editors and technical experts, he said adding that the proposal was made only after adequate information was gathered over the past one week. Expressing confidence that the film would send out an effective message in the society about the campaign, Kumar said talks with short film producers are on. He assured that local artists will be identified for the purpose while assistance was sought from the students, faculty of Public Relation department of Karim City College. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With Odisha and Chhattishgarh on a collision course over sharing of Mahanadi water, the Centre today decided to invite the chief ministers of both the states to Delhi to discuss the matter. "It has been decided to invite Chief Ministers of Odisha and Chhattisgarh to Delhi for a meeting on any date between September 10 and 20," Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan told reporters. Pradhan said this after a BJP delegation from Odisha met Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharati and MOS Water Resources Sanjeev Balyan in New Delhi. The delegation, led by Pradhan, expressed concerns over the developments taking place over Mahanadi issue and sought assurance from Bharati and Balyan that Odisha gets its due supply of water from the river. "Bharati has assured us that the Centre would not allow any injustice towards Odisha," Pradhan said. Bharati also informed that she has asked officials of her Ministry to ensure that Chhattisgarh shared all information sought by Odisha before the meeting of the two Chief Ministers in Delhi. "My officials have told me that it (sharing of information) will be completed within a week," Pradhan said quoting Bharati. Pradhan said that Bharati has said that she would write a letter to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to fix any date between September 10 to September 20 for a meeting between the two chief ministers. "Let Patnaik decide the date of meeting between September 10 to 20 as per his convenience. The Centre will invite Chhattishgarh Chief Minister on that date," Pradhan said. Though water being a state subject, uninterrupted flow in Mahanadi during the non-monsoon period in Odisha is in the state's interest and has been clarified during debates in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on the issue, Pradhan said adding that there should not be any compromise on Odisha's interests. The Odisha government has been alleging that the neighbouring Chhattishgarh unilaterally constructed projects on the upstream of Mahanadi which caused dip in the flow of water to Odisha. The issue snowballed into a major controversy between the two states as opposition organised an 'Odisha Bandh' and the ruling BJD continued to agitate against Chhattishgarh government's act of constructing projects on the up stream of Mahanadi. Earlier, the Centre on July 29 had convened a meeting of senior officials of both the states. However, the issue continued to remain unsolved as Odisha complained that Chhattishgarh was yet to share information on the matter. Besides Pradhan, the BJP delegation comprised party's state unit President Basant Panda, the BJP's state legislative party leader K V Singhdeo, senior party leaders Manmohan Samal, Suresh Pujari, Prithviraj Harichandan and state General Secretary Bhrugu Buxipatra. Working round-the-clock to help flood victims in Bihar, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel rendered timely help to three marooned pregnant women at separate places deliver their babies safely. The NDRF men helped a pregnant woman in Birpur deliver a healthy baby boy on board its relief boat itself in Raghopur block of Vaishali district today, Commandant of 9th battalion of NDRF Vijay Sinha told PTI. He said the woman named Roshni, who was being ferried to a safer place, experienced acute labour pain following which NDRF pharmacist Jayshankar helped her deliver a healthy baby boy on board the boat itself. The new-born and the mother were taken to Mahnar primary health centre for proper medicare, Sinha said. Raghopur, the Assembly constituency of deputy chief minister Tejaswi Yadav, is flooded due to the swollen Ganga. Yesterday, the NDRF personnel had helped two marooned pregnant ladies in distress. They took a woman experiencing labour pain at Gyaspur village in Bhakhtiyarpur of Patna district to the nearest primary health centre last night, the Commandant said. "Due to the timely assistance, the woman delivered a healthy baby girl at Bhakhtiyarpur PHC," he said. The NDRF personnel had earlier heard cries of help of another pregnant lady at Sinha village in Barhara block of Bhojpur district and ferried her to the nearest hospital for safe delivery, he added. Engaged in relief and rescue of marooned people, the NDRF personnel came to know about the woman in Bhojpur from the Disaster Management department control room and rushed to help the 22-year-old woman who was in labour pain. The Bihta-based NDRF Commandant said the force personnel get training in child birth to help people in need. He said during the floods last year, a NDRF team had helped a woman in Ara town give birth to a baby in midstream Ganga on board one of the boats of the central force. Similarly, another lady in Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh received timely help from the NDRF to deliver safely during floods there. The Commandant said in the Ara case last year, the family had named the baby boy 'NDRF Singh' out of gratitude for the help extended by the NDRF personnel. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Working round-the-clock to help flood victims in Bihar, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel rendered timely help to two marooned pregnant women at separate places deliver their babies safely. The NDRF personnel took a woman experiencing labour pain at Gyaspur village in Bhakhtiyarpur of Patna district to the nearest Primary Health Service last night, Commandant of 9th battalion of NDRF Vijay Sinha told PTI today. "Due to the timely assistance, the woman delivered a healthy baby girl at Bhakhtiyarpur PHC," he said. The NDRF personnel had earlier yesterday heard cries of help of another pregnant lady at Sinha village in Barhara block of Bhojpur district and ferried her to the nearest hospital for safe delivery, he added. Engaged in relief and rescue of marooned people, the NDRF personnel came to know about the woman in distress in Bhojpur from the Disaster Management department control room and immediately rushed to help the 22-year-old woman who was in labour pain. The Bihta-based NDRF Commandant said the force personnel get training in child birth to help people in need. He said during the floods last year, the NDRF team had helped a woman in Ara town give birth to a baby in midstream Ganga on board one of the boats of the central disaster force. Similarly, another lady in Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh received timely help from the NDRF to deliver safely at the time of floods there. The Commandant said in the Ara case last year, the family had named the baby boy as 'NDRF Singh' out of gratitude for the help extended by the NDRF personnel. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Normal life was thrown out of gear here today as BJP workers protested against alleged deterioration in law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh, even as the issue was raised vociferously in the state Legislature leading to washout of Question Hour in both the Houses. BJP workers were lathi-charged by police, who also used water cannons when the workers rushed menacingly to gherao Vidhan Bhawan where the proceedings of the Legislature were on. Outside the Legislature complex, party workers virtually laid siege to the arterial thoroughfares creating massive traffic snarls and affecting movement of ambulances and school vans. Heavy police force and barricading was seen in and around Hazratganj, the busy commercial area in the state capital, and GPO complex close to the Assembly building. However, determined BJP workers, led by some party MPs and MLAs, broke the security cordon forcing police to use water cannons to disperse them. The issue had an echo in both state Assembly and Council where the Question Hour was stalled amid upoar created by BJP members, who stormed the Well to raise law and order and other issues. As soon as the Assembly met at 11 AM, BJP members trooped into the Well raising slogans against the Samajwadi Party government. They held placards and banners highlighting issues like "poor" law and order, power crisis and sugarcane dues of farmers. BSP Legislature Party leader Gaya Charan Dinkar also sought to corner the state government on the law and order front. Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey tried to pacify the members and asked them to return to their seats but as his plea went unheeded, he adjourned the House till 12.20 PM. When the House reassembled, similar scenes were witnessed and in the prevailing commotion, the Chair took up the supplementary budget and the related appropriation bill. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, in his speech, accused the Centre of not providing adequate funds to the state. "BJP members should gherao Parliament as the Centre is not giving due share to UP," he said. After the Budget was passed by voice vote, the Speaker adjourned the House for the day. The Council too witnessed turmoil as BJP members stormed into the Well and raised anti-government slogans, leading to its adjournment initially for one hour, then till 3 PM and finally for the day. Amid the uproar, the supplementary budget, as passed by the Assembly was tabled and later returned without discussion. The Sena-BJP ruled Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has passed a proposal making yoga and 'Surya Namaskar' mandatory in all civic schools here despite strong protests from opposition parties. BMC's general body cleared this proposal tabled by BJP corporator Samita Kamble yesterday with an aim to improve overall health of students by incorporating the ancient exercise regime into their daily routine. The ruling allies rejected the amendment demanded by Congress and Samajwadi Party (SP) to make yoga optional for schools. It also struck down SP's demand for removal of 'Surya Namaskar' (sun salutation) from the proposal terming it as a "form of Hindu worship". "Making Surya Namaskar compulsory in schools is a way to promote Hindutva as the origin of Surya Namaskar lies in Hindu God Surya (Sun)," Samajwadi corporator Rais Sheikh alleged. She claimed that if BMC makes this compulsory, Muslim parents would stop sending their children to schools. BMC runs 1,188 primary and 49 secondary schools in Mumbai. This includes nearly 400 Urdu-medium schools. About 4.85 lakh students study in primary schools while another 55,000 study in secondary schools. The proposal passed by the House of the civic body, will now be sent to Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta who will take a final call on the issue. Opposition parties during a heated debate that lasted for around two hours yesterday, alleged that BJP was was trying to saffronise education, both in the Centre and the states by introducing such proposals. BJP corporator Dilip Patel while defending the proposal said, "Now yoga has been internationally accepted as the best form of exercise. Bringing yoga into the religious ambit is a political tactic by opposition parties." Another BJP corporator argued that "Surya Namaskar is a form of meditation, and if practised regularly, it will help children progress, both mentally and physically. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) RSS-affiliate Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) is unlikely to participate in the proposed nationwide strike by 10 central unions on September 2 in view of the government's assurance on their demands. "It was a good meeting. We are waiting for a formal communication from the government on their assurances about working on 12-point charter of demands," BMS General Secretary Virjesh Upadhyay told PTI after meeting with the ministerial panel headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley here. This was the second round of discussions by the panel with a delegation of BMS, after the August 16 meeting. The meeting assumes significance in view of the countrywide strike call next month to protest against certain labour law amendments and government's indifference to the 12-point charter of demands of the central trade unions. When asked whether BMS is still planning to join other trade unions on September 2 Bharat bandh, he said: "We are waiting for a formal communication and if it does not come then our national executive decision to go on strike stands." However, it seems difficult that BMS would join Bharat bandh because it is not easy to mobilise members for a countrywide agitation in less than two weeks. In the present legal framework, all units of unions have to mandatorily serve a notice for strike two weeks in advance in the case of essential services like transport and power supply. Even if BMS decides to join the strike, there is not enough time to serve the notice and mobilise members working in establishments providing essential services. On the Bharat bandh last year on September 2, BMS had withdrawn from the strike on assurances by the government to work on nine out of the 12-point charter of demands. Meanwhile, Upadhyay told reporters after the meeting: "There was further movement from our last meeting held on August 16. The 12-point charter of demands was discussed in a more broader way. We will wait for the communication from the Ministry (Labour) before taking a decision on strike." Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said: "We had a positive discussion with the BMS. We discussed many issues. Government is considering their demand on minimum wages, contract labour, pension issues and we are hopeful that all trade unions will be happy with our (government's) efforts." Besides, Jaitley and Dattatreya, Power Minister Piyush Goyal, Minister of State for Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh and Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who are part of the ministerial panel, participated in the meeting. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Government bonds (G-Secs) prices firmed up on good buying support from banks and corporates, while, the overnight call money rates turned lower due to lack of demand from borrowing banks amid ample liquidity in the banking system. The 7.59 per cent government security maturing in 2026 went-up to Rs 103.07 from Rs 102.8975 previously, while its yield moved down to 7.13 per cent from 7.16 per cent. The 7.59 per cent government security maturing in 2029 surged to Rs 103.3075 from Rs 103.0950, while its yield declined to 7.19 per cent from 7.21 per cent. The 7.88 per cent government security maturing in 2030 advanced to Rs 106.1475 from Rs 105.82, while its yield down to 7.16 per cent from 7.20 per cent. The 7.61 per cent government security maturing in 2030, the 7.72 per cent government security maturing in 2025 and the 7.68 per cent government security maturing in 2023 were also quoted higher to Rs 104.18, Rs 103.47 and Rs 103.1075, respectively. The overnight call money rates finished lower at 6.50 per cent from Tuesday's level of 6.55 per cent. It resumed lower at 6.50 per cent and moved in a range of 6.55 per cent and 6.30 per cent. Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), under the Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), purchased securities worth Rs 123.49 billion in a 19-bids at the overnight repo auction at a fixed rate of 6.50 per cent as on today, while it sold securities worth Rs 22.61 billion from 18-bids at the overnight reverse repo auction at a fixed rate of 6.00 per cent as on August 23. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An eight-year-old boy in China has critically wounded his four-year-old playmate by firing over 100 steel pellets into her body, state media reported today. The girl, nicknamed Xiaoximei, was injured by the boy who was allegedly trying to stop her from getting on the second floor of a house in a village in southcentral Hunan Province on August 9, state-run People's Daily Online reported. The boy fetched a gun, "possibly trying to scare the other kids away," Chang Yi, the girl's father said adding that his daughter got shot because she was standing in front of the group of kids present there. Seeing that Xiaoximei was injured, other children ran to get help. More than 100 pellets remain in the young girl's body after a four-hour surgery, it said citing a Xiaoxiang Morning Herald report. According to Huang Bin, a senior nurse at the ICU of Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, the girl's wounds spread across her ribcage to her right arm and abdomen. The steel pellets also affected her heart and liver. The daily published the X-ray of the girl's body riddled with pellets. "The (pellets) are relatively small, and move even without much force. More surgery could cause additional damage to the child's body. Some [of the pellets] can stay inside if they do not affect her organs," Huang noted, adding the girl is also being treated for tetanus in case any of the pellets cause the infection, the report explained. Xiaoximei's mother said the family chose not to call the police because they are acquaintances of the boy's family, and know his parents cannot afford expensive surgeries. Chinese citizens are not allowed to possess guns without formal approval. Violators can be sentenced to up to seven years in prison, noted Hunan-based lawyer Xiong Lin, adding that the boy's family could be held criminally accountable if the gun was found in illegal possession. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A French man stabbed a 21-year-old British woman to death and wounded two others in a backpackers' hostel in northeast Australia, police said today. The29-year-old Frenchman, who was living with the victims at the hostel and had been in Australia on a temporary visa for about a year, is accused of carrying out the knife attack in Queensland. The suspect did not have any known links to the dreaded ISIS group and appeared to have acted alone, Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said, adding that police were trying to determine whether the man had been motivated by extremism. Mia Ayliffe-Chung was killed in the attack that took place in front of a crowd at Shelley's Backpackers in Home Hill, South of Townsville, after 11 PM last night. Adog from the hostel was also killed. Two men who suffered injuries include a 30-year-old Briton, who is said to be in a critical condition. The suspect is in custody in a hospital and is yet to be charged over the knife attack in Queensland, media reported. "Investigators will also consider whether mental health or drug misuse factors are involved in this incident," he said. Gollschewski said the accusedused the Arabic phrase "Allahu Akbar" both during the attack and his arrest. "While this information will be factored into the investigation we are not ruling out any motivations at this stage, whether they be political or criminal," he said. "We're working closely with our partner agencies to make sure if there is any indication that it has an extremist slant, or this person had been radicalised, we can discover that," he said. Police were treating the attack as a homicide, rather than a terrorism-related incident, Gollschewski said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A French man stabbed a British woman to death and wounded two men in an attack at a hostel in northeast Australia, police said today. The 29-year-old suspect visiting Australia did not have any known links to the Islamic State group and appeared to have acted alone, Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said. "Investigators will also consider whether mental health or drug misuse factors are involved in this incident," Gollschewski said about the attack which took place last night at a hostel in the town of Home Hill, south of Townsville in northern Queensland. A 21-year-old British woman was found dead at the scene and a 30-year-old British man was hospitalised in critical condition. A local man was treated and released for injuries. A dog was also fatally wounded in the attack. Police were trying to determine whether the man - who shouted the Arabic phrase "Allahu akbar" meaning "God is great" both during the attack and while being arrested by police - had been motivated by extremism, or something else. "While this information will be factored into the investigation, we are not ruling out any motivations at this early stage, whether they be political or criminal," Gollschewski told reporters in the Queensland state capital of Brisbane. The man has not yet been charged, but police weren't looking for any other suspects related to the incident, Gollschewski said. Police were treating the attack as a homicide, rather than a terrorism-related incident, Gollschewski said. "The associated issues of what motivated him and whether that has any relevance to radicalisation is something we're going to explore fully, but we won't know for some time whether that's the case," he said. The man had been in Australia on a temporary visa for about a year, Gollschewski said. Australian Federal Police Commander Sharon Cowden said her office was speaking to international police agencies about the attack. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In the backdrop of mounting violence worldwide, Buddhist organisation Soka Gakkai International's (SGI) Indian arm Bharat Soka Gakkai (BSG) is holding a symposium titled 'Universal Respect for Human Dignity: The Great Path to Peace' on August 27 here. The symposium, to be held at Y B Chavan Auditorium in South Mumbai, is based on SGI President Daisaku Ikeda's 2016 peace proposal to the United Nations, BSG said in a release here today. Among the eminent speakers at the symposium are: Ambassador Prakash Shah IFS (Retd), India's former representative to the United Nations and former Ambassador to Japan, Dr Ajit Ranade, Chief Economist to Aditya Birla Group and Ms Shaheen Mistri, Founder and CEO, 'Teach for India' and Vishesh Gupta, Chairperson Bharat Soka Gakkai. Speaking of this initiative, Vishesh Gupta said, "SGI President Ikeda firmly believes that a dialogue is absolutely essential if we are to build a peaceful world. By engaging in open and frank dialogue, we are able to see things that had been hidden from our view, and the world begins to appear in a warmer, more human light." "Each year President Ikeda sends a peace proposal to the UN that goes beyond diagnosing obstacles to peace and provides solutions that encompass attitudinal change and other concrete suggestions. The emphasis is always on tapping humanism, people-to-people contact and deeply caring for each individual. This is not a spiritual document but one that diagnoses problems at a fundamental level and offers concrete, pragmatic solutions," the release said. The key focus of all President Ikeda's writings is to examine how to bridge gaps between people across different cultures and nationalities in order to actualise a more peaceful world. He believes that the power of dialogue as well as the innate ability of humans to respond positively to difficult situations holds the key, the release said. In his recent proposal there are several areas of focus that resonate with these ideals. For instance, that learning should empower people to effect positive change and that we should develop the "the courage of application" for this provides the impetus to emerge from difficult circumstances and create the future we desire, it said. Going beyond, President Ikeda looks at three areas that require prompt and coordinated action by governments and civil society: Humanitarian aid and human rights protection, ecological integrity and disaster risk reduction. There is an emphasis on a humanistic approach in all planning and implementing efforts and the necessity to get young people actively engaged in these moves, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US State Department warned travelers to France that they should obey local laws today after several beach towns imposed a ban on swimwear incorporating Muslim veils. Dozens of French resorts have banned beachwear that "conspicuously" shows a person's religion such as a "burkini" -- a full-body swimsuit for Muslim women. In response to a query from AFP as to whether the United States would update its travel advice to warn Muslim Americans, a US official advised them to obey the rules. "In the country specific information for France that we provide on our website... We inform US citizen travelers that they are subject to local laws," he said. "And if they violate local laws, even unknowingly, they may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned," he warned. The United States has expressed concern about French attitudes to Muslim dress in the past, in particular its ban on full-face veils in public spaces. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government today approved a Rs 6,461-crore project for development of 1,120 km national highways in five states under NHIIP programme. "The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval for development of 1,120 km of National Highways in the states of Karnataka, Odisha, Bihar, Rajasthan and West Bengal," a statement from Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said. The work for development to two-lane standards are under Phase-I of the National Highways Interconnectivity Improvement Project (NHIIP) with World Bank assistance, it said. "The revised estimated cost is Rs 6,461 crore including cost of land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation and other pre-construction activities," the statement said. The projects are already taken up for implementation and 429 km has been completed. The civil works are expected to be completed by July 2019, and maintenance works are expected to be completed by July, 2024. The project will ensure safe, fast and all weather movement of traffic on the proposed National Highways mostly located in backward regions thereby improving socio economic development. The proposal was initially approved for Rs 5,193 crore. The cost has increased due to higher bid prices, and increase in cost of land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation and other pre-construction activities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Cabinet today approved signing of a new air services agreement between India and Fiji that would allow Indian airlines to fly to any point in the island nation. The pact is for revising the ASA, which was entered into in January 1974. The updation is being done as per the latest ICAO template with an objective to improve air connectivity between the two countries, an official release said. It was cleared during the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The existing route schedule annex to the ASA has also been revised and new points of call have been added for enhanced connectivity. "Now Indian carriers can operate to any points in Fiji from points in India whereas the carriers of Fiji can establish direct operation to Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai in India and by code share with Indian carriers to Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad apart from points given for direct operation," the release said. Further, Kochi, Varanasi, Ahmedabad and Amritsar can be served through domestic code share operations. Among others, the designated airlines of both countries would have the right to establish offices in each other's the territory for promotion and sale of air services. Routes and frequencies of the designated airlines would be decided subsequently. The pact also has provisions relating to "revocation or suspension of operating authorisation, principles governing operations of agreed services, commercial opportunities, safety related clause etc. That were incorporated in the line of Indian model ASA", the release said. Draft text of the ASA has been finalised in consultation with Ministries of Law & Justice, Finance, External Affairs, Tourism and Department of Commerce, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With a spike in Chikungunya and Dengue cases in Delhi, the Centre today asked the South Delhi Municipal Corporation to compile a report of such cases while asking the state government to include modality of treatment for the diseases in its awareness campaigns. The Union Health Ministry also said that Principal Secretary in Delhi government's health department will be the nodal person for monitoring and overall coordination of implementation of the programme for prevention and control of Dengue and Chikungunya in the national capital. Union Health secretary C K Mishra held a meeting with officials of various agencies, including Delhi government and MCD, to review preparedness of various agencies to prevent and manage Chikungunya and Dengue in the national capital. Officials of the Health Ministry admitted that in Delhi the cases of Chikungynya have been higher than Dengue. The Ministry is also learnt to have asked the government hospitals in Delhi to clean their premises and ensure that stagnant water is not lying by August 26 to prevent breeding of mosquitos. "The Health Secretary directed the officials for strengthening vector control and surveillance, SDMC to collect and compile the report and share with National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), modality of treatment of Chikungunya also to be included in the IEC campaign... "...Emphasizing domiciliary care to sensitise the community and Principal Secretary (Health), Delhi government will be the nodal person for monitoring and overall coordination of implementation of the programme for prevention and control of Dengue and Chikungunya in Delhi," an official statement said. During the meeting, Mishra was told that the recent upsurge in the Chikungunya cases in Delhi is attributable to non immune population, as number of cases of Chikungunya was comparatively less in the previous years. Abundance of vector mosquito, construction activities, water storage practice, increased mobility of population and human behaviour have also added to its transmission, officials said. A senior Health Ministry official has said that while there have been around 600 cases of Chikungunya cases in Delhi, over hundred cases of Dengue have been reported. Officials attributed the outbreak of Chikungunya to shorter incubation period in mosquitoes as compared to Dengue. In Delhi, 362 samples taken between July 1 and Aug 20 this year have tested positive of Chikungunya while there have been 311 reported cases of Dengue, claiming the lives of four people this season. However, the city's municipal body has acknowledged only two Dengue deaths. The Centre has already requested all the state and UT governments to declare Dengue as notifiable disease for improving reporting and for taking preventive measures in the affected areas. A senior Health Ministry official said that three states - Kerala, Karnataka and West Bengal - had reported high levels of Dengue. They said that the situation is critical in West Bengal as it has reported a lot of Dengue deaths. "Health secretary urged the municipal bodies and Delhi government officials to be alert over the next two months and to gear up activities and measures to be taken for awareness generation, prevention and control of Chikungunya so as to effectively address the situation, and not allow it to escalate," the statement said. Delhi government officials who took part in the meeting said that special awareness programmes, including rallies, were being held in schools to educate children about Dengue. "The good thing is Chikungunya does not require any hospitalisation and its need is very rare," a senior official said. The government has initiated several awareness programmes through print and electronic media and issued advertisements for controlling these diseases, officials said. Mobile App "India Fights Dengue" was also launched by Health Minister J P Nadda recently, they added. Chhattisgarh Government will soon set up a special cell in New Delhi to check human trafficking from the tribal-dominated state to the national capital and its adjacent regions. The decision in this regard was taken during a joint meeting of Inspector Generals of Police (IGPs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs) chaired by Chief Minister Raman Singh at Police Headquarters, Naya Raipur, today. "To check human trafficking, aspecial cell will be set up in New Delhi under the supervision of Chhattisgarh's Residence Commissioner there," Singh told reporters after the meeting. The cell will keep a hawk eye on trafficking crimes and will also provide legal aid to the victims of the menace. "It will also help the trafficked victims to return to their homes. Moreover, the migrated labourers from Chhattisgarh to Delhi and its nearby parts can contact this cell to seek any kind of assistance," the CM added. He said the victims of human trafficking will be provided economic assistance to set up their own business under 'Pradhanmantri Mudra Yojna'. In another significant decision, '112 emergency helpline service' will soon be started by police in 10 cities in Chhattisgarh. "Under this integrated helpline service, people can seek help from police incaseof emergencies like road accidents, fire incidents, critical illness and serious crimes," the CM said. As many as 300 vehicles, equipped with GPS system, will be deployed for the implementation of the service which will cost around Rs 200croreto the government exchequer, he added. Stressing upon the smart policing, Singh said the police officials and employees will be given special training to use social media applications and establish direct communication with the people. Departments of Public Relation and Information Technology will be roped in for training purpose aimed at taking police closer to masses, he said. "The department has also been directed to follow the 36-point guidelines drafted during the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Director Generals of Police (DGPs) at Kutch (Gujarat) in last December for smart policing," Singh said. Besides, 6,000assistant sub-inspector rank officers will be given smart phones in a step towards modernisation of police. "Strengthening the laws and rules to curb illegal chit fund companies was among other important issues discussed during the meeting," Singh said. Speaking at the meeting earlier, the CMinstructed top police officers to be humane in their approach towards complainants and strict towards the criminals. Presentations were given by superintendents of police of eight districts on different issues including human trafficking and illegal chit fund companies. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid a sudden rise in chikungunya cases in Delhi, doctors and government authorities have asked people not to panic, saying the vector-borne disease is debilitating but not life-threatening and have recommended measures to prevent mosquito-breeding. Chikungunya is a viral illness and its symptoms are similar to those of dengue, which include high-grade fever, severe joint pain, muscle pain and headache and joint swelling. It also causes rashes in patients but is not a threat like dengue in which there is a risk of bleeding due to abrupt fall in platelet count. "The joint pains last longer compared to dengue cases and especially elderly people find it extremely difficult. Though, people should not worry as it not a life-threatening disease like dengue," said Lalit Dar of Department of Microbiology at AIIMS. The disease is caused by the same aedes aegypti mosquito which causes dengue but the difference is that dengue virus has four strains while chikungunya has only one, National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) Director, A C Dhariwal said. Dhariwal and other health experts have acknowledged the sudden spike in chikungunya cases but have appealed to people not to panic. Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain has advised people against rushing to get admitted in hospitals and asked them not to resort to self-medication. There is no specific treatment for chikungunya. Supportive therapy that helps ease symptoms such as administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and getting plenty of rest may be beneficial, according to experts. "Chikungunya patients are advised to get plenty rest and drink fluids to prevent dehydration. If someone shows symptoms of it, he or she should get tested immediately as both chikungunya and dengue have similar symptoms. "Until dengue is not ruled out, aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should not be taken. Only paracetamol can be taken for fever," says Interventional cardiologist Sameer Gupta. There are no real home remedies, the treatment is symptomatic, and patients should get themselves tested promptly but prevention is the best cure, he said. "Chikungunya typically is non-fatal and within 10 days people get better. In case of elderly people, aged above 65 years or having diabetes, hypertension, or very young children, they are prone to some complications like enchephalitis or pneumonia or pneumonitis. "And, so if fever is not resolving and there are cold, cough or other complications, these are signs that it could be life-threatening," Neurologist Sonia Lal Gupta said. Aedes mosquitoes are active mainly during day-time, especially early morning and dusk time. Doctors have advised people to wear full-sleeved clothes and use mosquito repellents to prevent mosquito bites. "Now breeding of mosquitoes have been reported in as small a container as a water bottle cap and coffee cups. So, people must take preventive measures," Dhariwal said. Aedes mosquitoes breed in clean water and therefore places like coolers, flower pots and bird-feeding utensils are some of the common places where the mosquitoes lay their eggs. "Since, chikungunya does not have a cure as such, prevention is the best cure and people should avoid stagnation of water in these places, besides keeping themselves covered especially during morning and evening time," Gupta said. On the difference between dengue and chikunguya, she said, "Dengue virus gets detected early but chikungunya takes longer to detect. Also, they are both carried by the same vector but dengue virus has four different strains while chikungunya has only one." "So, patients having been affected with dengue from one strain can still contract the disease from three other strains," she added. A K Bali of Moolchand Khairatiram Hospital says, "Our hospital is getting 25-30 suspected chikungunya cases daily but we are not sending all patients for testing as this test is costly and only the basis of patients' conditions we are prescribing blood tests." This year till July 28, 9,990 suspected cases of the disease have been recorded, with Karnataka reporting 7,591 cases, according to NVBDCP. At AIIMS laboratories which get blood samples from Delhi and other parts of the country, 362 samples have tested positive for chikungunya from July to August 20. On the other hand, at least 311 cases of dengue have been reported in the national capital till August 20 and the deadly disease has claimed four lives this season. China plans to include self immolation protests in Tibet in separatism-related crimes, officials said even as they refuted reports that monks are being forced to learn legal texts that highlight such offences. "Self-immolation is likely to be included in the book (compiled by judicial authorities) since it endangers public security and violates the law," state-run Global Times quoted Qiu Ning, the former head of Aba county's united front work department as saying. Inclusion of self-immolation in the book will make the protests a separatism-related crime. "Cases involving illegally sending separatism-themed pictures and videos to foreign hostile forces via mobile messaging app WeChat are also a possible topic for the book," Qiu said. Over 125 Tibetans, including several monks, committed self immolations in the last few years demanding the return of the Dalai Lama from exile. Officials in Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in Southwest China's Sichuan Province also refuted reports, forcing Buddhist monks to learn legal texts highlighting separatism-related crimes. Zeli Danzhu, head of the justice bureau in the prefecture's Aba county, and Tashi, the deputy head of the county's publicity department, told Global Times that "the judicial authorities were working on compiling Yi'an shuofa (case-based law learning) in July". "But it is unclear if the books have been issued to locals," Qiu Ning, the former head of Aba county's united front work department told the daily. According to a report by US-based Chinese-language website, officials in the prefecture handed out Tibetan and Chinese books outlining law-violating cases at Kirti Gompa, or Gerdeng Monastery, beginning in late July. Kirti Gompa is the site of the most self-immolation incidents on record, incidents that have been proven to have close links with the Dalai Lama's faction, according to China's official white paper on Tibet. Chinese public security organs' investigating claim that the self-immolation incidents clearly showed that they are being manipulated and instigated by the highest level of the Dalai Lama group. Qiu denied that the book's target readers are only monks and nuns, though the book was also distributed to some 40 other monasteries in the county. Both Qiu and Tashi also dismissed claim that authorities "forced monks to study the book". According to the white paper, the Dalai Lama group instigates self-immolations in part through a so-called press liaison group based in Sichuan's Kirti Gompa and the Kirti Monastery in India and by using the Internet and "Tibetan independence" media to hype up self-immolation, the Global Times report said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On a seaside field south of Shanghai, workers are constructing a nuclear reactor that is the flagship for Beijing's ambition to compete with the United States, France and Russia as an exporter of atomic power technology. The Hualong One, developed by two state-owned companies, is one multibillion-dollar facet of the Communist Party's aspirations to transform China into a creator of profitable technology from mobile phones to genetics. In the case of nuclear reactors, industry experts say China is underestimating how tough it will be for its novice exporters to compete with the foreign companies that helped create its industry, given the political hurdles, safety concerns and uncertain global demand following Japan's Fukushima disaster. China's government-run nuclear industry is based on foreign technology but has spent two decades developing its own with help from Westinghouse Electric Co., France's Areva and EDF and other partners. A separate export initiative is based on an alliance between Westinghouse and a state-owned reactor developer. The industry is growing fast, with 32 reactors in operation, 22 being built and more planned, according to the World Nuclear Association, an industry group. China accounted for eight of 10 reactors that started operation last year and six of eight construction starts. Abroad, builders broke ground in Pakistan last year for a power plant using a Hualong One, supported by a $6.5 billion Chinese loan. Also last year, Argentina signed a contract to use the reactor in a USD 15 billion plant financed by Chinese banks. State-owned companies are lining up to invest in nuclear power plants in Britain and Romania. Such deals usually involve financing packages from state banks, a model that has helped Chinese companies break into the market for building highways and other public works in Africa and the Middle East. "This is generating significant build-up of skills and industrial experience," Mycle Schneider, a nuclear energy consultant in Paris, said in an email. Still, Schneider said Beijing is "seriously underestimating" how hard global sales will be. Obstacles include strict quality controls, regulations that differ from country to country and competition from the falling cost of wind and solar, he said. "There is simply no market out there," Schneider said in an email. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China has unveiled the designs of its Mars probeand rover to be launched in 2020 as it looks to catch up with India, US, Russia and EU to reach the red planet. China plans to send a spacecraft to orbit Mars, land and deploy a rover in July or August 2020, official media here quoted Zhang Rongqiao, chief architect of the Mars mission as saying. "The challenges we face are unprecedented," Ye Peijian, one of China's leading aerospace experts and a consultant to the programme, said. The 2020 mission will be launched on a Long March-5 carrier rocket, the work horse for China's space missions. It will be launched from the Wenchang space centre in south China's Hainan province. The lander will separate from the orbiter at the end of a journey of around seven months and touch down in a low latitude area in the northern hemisphere of Mars where the rover will explore the surface. Images displayed at yesterday's press conference showed a device with six wheels, powered by four solar panels, two more than the rover sent to the moon. Weighing around 200 kgs, it is designed to operate for three Martian months, Sun Zezhou, chief designer of the probe, was quoted as saying by state-run Xinhua agency. The probe, for its part, will carry 13 payloads including a remote sensing camera and a ground penetrating radar which could be used to study the soil, environment, and atmosphere of Mars, as well as the planet's physical fields, the distribution of water and ice, and its inner structure. A public competition for the name and the logo of the 2020 mission was also launched yesterday. Though China space programme has achieved several milestones like landing a rover on the Moon, successful manned space missions as well as building a space station which is currently underway, Mars alluded it. Mangalyaan Mars mission accomplished with a low budget of USD 73 million caught the attention and imagination of Chinese as India reached the red plant well ahead of China. India became the fourth country after US, Russia and EU to successfully send probes to Mars. China's attempts to send an exploratory probe called Yinghuo-1, in a Russian spacecraft in 2011 failed as shortly after the launch it was declared lost and later burnt during re-entry. This is the first time China revived its Mars mission since then. Zhang told people.Cn the Mars programme will study the planet's climate, surface, ionosphere, water ice distribution, internal structure, topography and physical field. Scientists will have to design a rover that can make its own decisions because the distance between Earth and Mars will cause delays in data transmission, Zhang said. A favourable alignment of Earth and Mars occurs for only a few weeks every 26 months, and 2020 offers that rare opportunity, National Space Administration director Xu Dazhe said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China has unveiled the first images of the designs of a rover it aims to dispatch to Mars in 2020, as part of its ambitious plans to catch up with India, the US, Russia and the EU to reach the Red Planet. The mission faces "unprecedented" challenges and is designed to explore the planet surface for three months, state media here reported today. China, which became the third nation after the US and the former Soviet Union to put man in the space in 2003, plans to send a spacecraft to orbit Mars, and deploy a rover in July or August 2020, said Zhang Rongqiao, chief architect of the Mars mission. Images displayed at a press conference yesterday showed a device with six wheels, powered by four solar panels, two more than the rover sent to the moon. Weighing around 200 kg, it is designed to operate for three Martian months, Sun Zezhou, the probe's chief designer, was quoted as saying by Xinhua. Though China's space programme has achieved milestones like landing a rover on the Moon and successful manned space mission, but Mars has alluded it. India's successful 'Mangalyaan' mission - accomplished with a low budget of USD 73 million - caught the attention of China. India became the fourth country after the US, Russia and the EU to successfully send a probe to Mars. China's attempts to send exploratory probe Yinghuo-1, in a Russian spacecraft in 2011 failed as shortly after the launch it was declared lost and later burnt during the re-entry. This is the first time China has revived its Mars mission since then. "The challenges we face are unprecedented," Ye Peijian, one of China's leading aerospace experts and a consultant to the programme, said. The 2020 mission will be launched on a Long March-5 carrier rocket, the work horse for China's space missions. It will be launched from the Wenchang space centre in south China's Hainan province. The lander will separate from the orbiter at the end of a journey of around seven months and touch down in a low latitude area in the northern hemisphere of Mars where the rover will explore the surface. The probe will carry 13 payloads, including a remote- sensing camera and a ground penetrating radar - which could be used to study the soil, the environment, and atmosphere of Mars, as well as the planet's physical fields, the distribution of water and ice, and its inner structure. A public competition for the name and the logo of the 2020 mission has also been launched. Zhang told people.Cn the Mars programme will study the planet's climate, surface, ionosphere, water ice distribution, internal structure, topography and physical field. Scientists will have to design a rover that can make its own decisions because the distance between Earth and Mars will cause delays in data transmission, Zhang said. A favourable alignment of Earth and Mars occurs for only a few weeks every 26 months, and 2020 offers that rare opportunity, National Space Administration director Xu Dazhe said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) today signed an MoU with Tamil Nadu's Manonmaniam Sundaranar University for joint research in marine biodiversity with special focus on Gulf of Mannar. The pact is meant to give a fillip to collaborative research programmes andhelp develop adequate manpower for exploring the prospects of the marine biodiversity in the region, CMFRI said in a release here. CMFRI DirectorA Gopalakrishnan and MSU Vice-ChancellorK Bhaskar signed the MoU, which is expected to pave way for the fine blend of academic learning and hands-on experience in research for the research aspirants of both the organizations in the area of marine biodiversity with special reference to the richness of Gulf of Mannar, it said. Tuticorin Research Centre of the CMFRI will play the lead role in the collaborative research programmes. Under it (the MoU), the CMFRI -- the largest marine fisheries research centre in the country -- will be recognised as approved research centre of the Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU) in Tirunelveli and the scientists of the fisheries research institute will act as the approved research guides of the University, the release said. This will help the research fellows at the CMFRI working in the area of marine biodiversity to receive PhD award issued by the University on the successful completion of their projects, it said. Gopalakrishnan said that as a result of the MoU, both the institutions would involve in developing collaborative research project and organising seminars and conferences for the development of marine sciences. The Gulf of Mannar is known to harbour rich marine biodiversity of global significance and is the world's one of the richest region from the marine biodiversity perspective. Of the 2,200 fish species in Indian waters, 450 species are found in the CMFRI making it the single richest coastal area in the Indian sub-continent. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Member of Parliament Conrad K Sangma today demanded more security cover for several villages in East Garo Hills after the proscribed Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militant group unleashed terror and attacked the villagers recently. "I have spoken with the Chief Secretary K S Kropha to ensure that security cover is given to a number of villages which have come under attack of the GNLA," Conrad said. A number of villagers were also attacked by underground outfits primarily as they felt the villagers were giving intelligence inputs to the police, he said. "The state government should ensure that villagers feel safe and secure and that normalcy returns to the affected villages," the president of National People's Party (NPP) said. One person has died and several others injured in the incident which took place earlier this month in at least three remote villages, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Leading architecture firm CP Kukreja today said it has been selected to design the master plan for Bandar Malaysia, an upcoming business district in Greater Kuala Lumpur, and expects to earn a fee of about USD 60 million (about Rs 400 crore) over the next 10 years. Bandar Malaysia will cover 200 million sq ft of gross floor area, spread over 500 acres. "We are the only Indian firm among the five international architecture firms selected to design Bandar Malaysia," CP Kukreja Architects (CPKA) Principal Architect Dikshu C Kukreja told PTI. Stating that the selection was done by the Malaysian government, Kukreja said this development will open doors for other architects in the country. Asked about the value of the contract, he said: "We estimate to earn a fee of about USD 60 million over the next 10 years". Kukreja said the mega project is estimated to cost over USD 30 billion. "This project is notable not only for its breathtaking scale, but also for its focus on the seamless transportation between one place to another," he said. Kukreja said the work for this project has already started and the company will also open a local new office in Kuala Lumpur in October. CPKA will deploy about 100 people, both in India and Kuala Lumpur, for this assignment. The other four firms selected to design this business capitals are SOM (the architecture firm that has designed the Burj Khalifa), world famous architect Zaha Hadid, Atkins, the architecture firm behind Burjal Arab, and UK-based firm Ove Arup, the company said. Earlier this year, CPKA was awarded the mandate to design a 15-lakh square feet interim government complex in Amaravati, the new capital of Andhra Pradesh. The company had in the past designed Gautam Buddha University in Greater Noida and international airport (T3) in Delhi through a consortium. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala today took a dig at the CPI(M) for organising celebrations on the occasion of Sreekrishna Jayanthi, saying such new methods adopted by the Left party show that it was facing "ideological bankruptcy". "Let the CPI(M) evaluate their decision as a political party to organise celebrations on the occasion of Sreekrishna Jayanthi. It shows that they are facing ideological bankruptcy and lack of policies," Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly told reporters here. CPI(M) has been organising celebrations across Kerala on the occasion of Sreekrishna Jayanthi since last year and has accused the Sangh Parivar organisations of using such occasions to build their political base in the state. Chennithala said there was contradiction in the position taken by CPI(M). "They look totally clueless about their political standing," he said, responding to a query in this regard. The CPI(M) is organising cultural processions across the state under the aegis of its allied organisations today "to create awareness about values taught by social reformers like Sree Narayana Guru, Ayyankali, and Chattampi Swamikal" in Kerala society. They will coincided with the "shobha yatras" being organised by the Balagokulam, an offshoot of Sangh Parivar. CPI(M) Kannur district secretary P Jayarajan has said his party does not oppose Sree Krishna Jayanthi celebrations "but we oppose Sangh Parivar utilising such occasions to take children to the streets with political motives". Security has been tightened in politically volatile Kannur district in view of celebrations being organised by the CPI(M) and Sangh Parivar today. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A CRPF Commandant, an Additional SP and a DSP of the Jammu and Kashmir police were among 18 security personnel injured in a militant attack today in Pulwama town, about 32 kms from here, police said. Militants hurled a grenade, followed by firing, at security personnel who were on duty near the Degree College in Pulwama town, a police official said. Officials said 18 security personnel including Commanding Officer of CRPF's 183rd battalion Vijay Anand Prakash, as also an additional SP, a DSP and a local SHO were injured in the attack. Among the injured were eleven CRPF personnel and all the injured were rushed to the Pulwama district hospital, the official said. The militants fled from the spot after carrying out the attack. In a similar attack on August 15, CRPF Commandant Pramod Kumar was killed in a militant gunfire in the Nowhatta area of Srinagar. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Central Tool Room and Training Centre (CTTC), Bhubaneswar, has signed an agreement with ISRO for technology transfer and a contract for supply of spacecraft component. Under the agreement, Indian Space Research Organisation would transfer three types of temperature-sensor technology to CTTC to further strengthen its manufacturing capability, Managing Director of CTTC-Bhubaneswar, S Maity said in a statement today. As per the contract, the CTTC would supply spacecraft component for next five years for a total value of Rs 23 crore, he said. Describing as "historic" the tie-up inked on Monday, Maity said the work contract would be executed through CTTC-MSME consortium and would help in developing the manufacturing base of Odisha. "CTTC-Bhubaneswar is geared up to develop its manufacturing capability to be a reliable and contributing partner to the National Aerospace missions and marching ahead on the path of Make in India Mission," he said. The CTTC has been supplying several critical components used in satellites and launch vehicles developed by ISRO under the national space mission of the country. The achievement of CTTC by supplying critical components to Success of MARS mission (MOM) drew appreciation and felicitations from the prime minister's office and office from the Minister of MSME. Having supplied critical hardware items for Geo- Synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, Chandrayaan 1, the CTTC now plans to establish specific facilities to supply some more critical Assemblies and Sub-assemblies to ISRO for various space mission programmes under its expansion and capacity building programmes, said the CTTC MD. Senior officers from ISRO, CTTC, the state government, CTTC-Aerospace Consortium members and representatives from industries and Industry Associations were present when the pact was signed. D Gangadhar, Associate Director, Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), ISROS expressed his satisfaction over the Quality of components supplied by CTTC, a press release said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court on Wednesday again reprimanded Tamil Nadu chief minister J for using defamation cases to "throttle (choke) democracy" and asked her to face criticism as she was a public figure. "The government cannot use state machinery to file criminal defamation cases against political opponents. It should focus more on good governance," the bench asserted. The court's observations came on a petition filed by DMDK (Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam) chief Vijayakanth seeking quashing of defamation cases filed against him by the state government. The court had on July 28 said defamation cases should not be used as a weapon against critics of governments and had stayed non-bailable warrants issued against actor-turned-politician Vijayakanth and his wife Premlata in such matters. State government counsel had given a report which said 200 defamation cases had been filed in the past five years, of which 55 were against media and 85 involved . Over two dozen cases were filed against Vijayakanth and others for being critical of and her government. The bench also issued fresh summons against the public prosecutor and posted the matter for further hearing on September 21. Earlier, the apex court had said that anyone calling a government corrupt or unfit cannot be slapped with a defamation case. It had said that cases relating to criticising the government or bureaucrats had a "chilling effect" and there has to be tolerance to criticism. The court had also sought the list of defamation cases filed by the public prosecutors in Tamil Nadu on behalf of the Chief Minister against her critics. Earlier, the apex court had issued notice to Jayalalithaa on a plea by Vijayakanth seeking stay on proceedings on criminal defamation cases filed against him through public prosecutors. Delhi Assembly on Wednesday ratified Goods and Service Tax (GST) Constitution Amendment Bill, becoming the third non-BJP-ruled state and overall the eighth to clear the proposed tax regime, billed as single biggest tax reform in decades. The bill was endorsed by the House by a voice vote following a brief discussion during which Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia called GST a "big reform" which will be good for the country's economy and growth. The two BJP legislators were not present when the bill was ratified as they had staged a walkout over a separate issue, while another party MLA was serving suspension from the House for allegedly making derogatory remarks against an AAP legislator. Delhi's share in central taxes has been stagnant at Rs 325 crore for the last 17 year and rolling out of GST is expected to increase its share in central taxes significantly. "It's good for the entire country, not only for Delhi. It will be extremely helpful in terms of services. For the last 17 years, Delhi has been getting Rs 325 crore as its share of Central taxes despite contributing as much as Rs 1,37,000 crore to the country's GDP. GST is a big reform," said Sisodia. The AAP government has been supporting the Centre on the GST though both sides are locked in a bitter tussle over a range of issues for the last one-and-half years. Speaking during the brief discussion on GST, a number of AAP MLAs hailed the proposed tax regime. Later the Deputy Chief Minister, took a jibe at the Centre saying it has for the first time recognised the national capital as a "state". " for the first time recognises Delhi as a state under the new Constitutional amendment to Art 366 - step in right direction finally," he said in a tweet. The 122nd Constitution Amendment Bill has already been ratified by Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Delhi is the third non-NDA state after Bihar and Himachal to ratify the bill. The GST bill, seen as single biggest tax reform in a long time, needs to be ratified by at least 15 state legislatures before the President can notify the GST council which will decide the new tax rate and other issues. The Lok Sabha had passed the on August 9 while Rajya Sabha cleared it on August 4. In his remarks, Sisodia said there were some concerns over capping the annual turnover. "There is no clarity on certain issues. Like businessmen in the capital with a turnover of up to Rs 20 lakh do not have to pay taxes. It should not be brought down. "We are in favour of increasing the threshold to Rs 25 lakh. Businessmen with a turonover of up to Rs 1.5 crore should pay taxes directly to the state government," he said. Sisodia said Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had written to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on the GST issue on August 11. Political slugfest between Congress and RSS seemed to be drawing to a conclusion with today choosing to set the records straight by telling Supreme Court that he had never blamed RSS as an institution for killing Mahatama Gandhi but persons associated with it were behind the assassination. He buttressed his stand by citing paragraphs from his affidavit filed in the Bombay High Court, while challenging the summons issued to him as an accused for his alleged defamatory statement in a 2015 election rally in Maharashtra. A bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and R F Nariman said if the complainant agrees to the submission, it will take the statement on record and dispose of the petition. "What we understand is that the accused never blamed RSS as an institution that killed Mahatma Gandhi but the persons associated with it were responsible for the killing," the bench said. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Congress Vice President, cited the affidavit filed before the High Court saying he had only accused certain people of RSS and not the organisation as the killer of Mahatma Gandhi. "I never made the statement that RSS killed Mahatma Gandhi but persons associated with the RSS killed him," said the senior advocate, who intervened midway when senior counsel U R Lalit, appearing for the complainant, was justifying intiation of criminal proceedings against Gandhi. The bench indicated it would pass an order on September 1 that Gandhi has "unequivocally" stated that he had never blamed RSS as an institution for the assassination but persons associated with it had killed Mahatma Gandhi. It asked senior advocate Lalit appearing for Rajesh Mahadev Kunte, Secretary of Bhiwandi Unit of RSS and the complainant, to take instructions on the option of disposing of the matter and posted it on September 1. Lalit said he would take instruction as to whether the statement, given in the affidavit, is taken on record, then the petition can be disposed of or not. At the outset, Sibal questioned Kunte's statement before the police and said the police had no role whatsoever in a private defamation case. Senior counsel Lalit further said that has not disputed making the speech or the relevant statement at an election rally, which was there in the affidavit. To this, the court asked Sibal whether the statements have been admitted and added that if the accused admits making the statement, the matter ends here. Sibal said at this juncture, the court cannot ask him to either to admit or deny the statements and what he had specifically said in the affidavit is that he has not blamed "RSS as institution of crime in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi". "This is like jumping the gun. He has to tell on oath before the court how he understands the statement and how the offence is made out. It's not like someone drafts an affidavit and files it before the court and gets the process initiated," Sibal said. Lalit started advancing arguments on the query, posed by the bench during last hearing, as to how the police came into the picture in a private complaint case and whether a magistrate was justified under CrPC in seeking a report from the police. Sibal intervened by referring to the content the affidavit filed by and said he never accused the organisation in question. Kunte, secretary of Bhiwandi unit of RSS, had alleged in his complaint that Gandhi told in an election rally at Sonale on March 6, 2015 that the "RSS people killed Gandhiji". The case is pending before a magisterial court in Bhiwandi in Maharashtra's Thane district. He had alleged that the Congress leader had sought to tarnish the reputation of RSS through his speech. A drone strike killed two Al-Qaeda suspects travelling in a car in southern Yemen today, a security official said. The attack in Shabwa province struck their vehicle as the pair were headed from provincial capital Ataq to the nearby town of Nisab, the official said. The United States has carried out numerous drone strikes against Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) operatives in Yemen. American officials said early this month that the US military had killed three AQAP fighters in a strike, also in Shabwa. AQAP has exploited a power vacuum created by a conflict between the government and Shiite rebels to expand its presence in south and southeast Yemen. But the US has vowed to continue its war against the group, which it considers to be the Al-Qaeda network's deadliest franchise. A Saudi-led Arab military coalition that backs the Yemeni government has also turned its sights on AQAP, targeting it with air strikes. The coalition is supporting pro-government forces which launched an offensive this year to retake several towns from AQAP. In April, they seized provincial capital Mukalla in southeast Yemen, and this month loyalists recaptured the capital of the southern Abyan province, Zinjibar. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An ex paramilitary personnel shot dead an alleged robber who along with his accomplice fired at him in Rohini area of outer Delhi, police said today. Ramesh Chandra Sharma (42) who took voluntary retirement from the BSF in 2013, lives at Majra Dabas and works as a security officer at a private construction company. "Ramesh was returning from work last night on his bike when he was intercepted by two men on a scooty in Rohini Sector 24. When he resisted to their robbery attempt one of the duo whipped out a pistol and fired at him. He retaliated using his licensed pistol and the shot hit the robber in the chest," said a police officer. The accomplice of the killed robber fled the scene leaving behind the scooty. Ramesh called police who rushed the robber to hospital where doctors declared him dead, he said. A case has been registered and efforts are on to identify the killed robber, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An exhibition showcasing works of 10 contemporary Turkish artists and an Indian artist will open here on September 1. The exhibition, titled Turkey at the Crossroads of the World, is being organised by the Turkish Consulate General in Mumbai, Art and Soul in Mumbai and Soyut Galery in Turkey, with the support of Turkish Airlines, Turkish Consul General Erdal Sabri Ergen told PTI. The exhibition will conclude on September 17. Two of the artists will attend the opening event on September 1, including Ahmet Yesil, whose work was gifted by former Turkey President to the Queen of England during his state visit to the UK. Ergen said this is a rare opportunity for art lovers to see the works of 10 Turkish artists in Mumbai. We are also very happy to have Indian artist Dipti Bondre's work as part of the exhibition, he added. Turkey, the bridge between continents, the meeting point of East and West, Asia and Europe, has witnessed many golden ages of art throughout the centuries, he said. "Today it is once again home to an extraordinarily vibrant contemporary art scene. History stands testimony to the cultural and intellectual dialogue that has spanned over these centuries between the two ancient civilisations of Turkey and India," he said. The process of globalisation has resulted in cultural, social, economic and urban transformation, particularly in cities such as Istanbul and Mumbai, he said. Artists have been constantly questioning modes of artistic production in this new environment, and this has resulted in the emergence of a new paradigm, he said. "The exhibition brings together this new spirit of eclectic, divergent, contemporary art which has cultural roots and global wings. Whilst regaling in the similarities, it keenly celebrates differences," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maharashtra Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar wants state CID to locate missing tiger Jai before CBI is tasked with looking into the matter. Mungantiwar has written a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis urging him to order a CID probe into the disappearance of the tiger from the Umred Karhandla wildlife sanctuary spread over Bhandara and Nagpur districts. The Forest Minister had yesterday said he would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a CBI probe into the big cat's disappearance. Mungantiwar today said Criminal Investigation Department (CID) should take over the task of finding Jai till the Centre orders a CBI probe. Rescuers, wildlife experts and volunteers have been scouring the forest, trying to locate the 250-kg tiger who was last spotted on April 18. The BJP leader appeared miffed at party Lok Sabha MP from Bhandara-Gondia, Nana Patole, writing directly to the Prime Minister seeking his intervention in the matter. Mungantiwar, in a sarcastic tone, said probably Patole has more information on Jai, which he is not comfortable sharing with the state Forest Department officials. "Patole has contended that Jai has been killed with collusion of Forest Department officials. On the other hand a local at Pauni (a town in Bhandara) has claimed to have seen Jai. Therefore, I have requested the CM to conduct a CID probe till the CBI takes over," Mungantiwar told reporters. He said wildlife experts have argued tigers tend to migrate to other areas once their cubs grow up. The Minister said at present the roads around the sanctuary are not motorable due to heavy rains. Replying to queries on nod to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill, he said Maharashtra will ask Centre for time-bound compensation of losses due to abolition of local bodies tax (LBT) and octroi to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) after the new indirect tax regime comes into force. The BMC earns octroi to the tune of Rs 7,000 crore every year which the civic body would not be able to collect once GST is implemented. Mungantiwar, who also holds the Finance portfolio, ruled out the possibility of Maharashtra incurring any revenue loss on account of advent of GST. "The services sector alone accounts for 58 per cent of the state's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). At the national level, the state's contribution in services sector is 16 per cent." He said the government has decided to set up a committee of experts to study the impact of GST on state finances. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Governor of Bihar and West Bengal A R Kidwai died today after brief illness at a city hospital. He was 96. Kidwai is survived by two sons and four daughters. His funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon at the Jamia Burial Grounds. Prime Minister Narendra Modi mourning his death, tweeted, "My condolences on the passing away of Dr AR Kidwai. His long career in public life included many roles & responsibilities." "Dr AR Kidwai distinguished himself in the fields of education and social welfare. May his soul rest in peace," he said. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi expressing his condolences, tweeted, "Deeply saddened by the passing away of Dr AR Kidwai former Gov of Bihar, Bengal & Haryana. A scholar & a humanist his loss will be deeply mourned." Born in 1920, Akhlaq Ur Rahman Kidwai served as Governor of several states for a record period of 17 years -- in Bihar (twice), West Bengal and Haryana, in addition to holding temporary charge of Governor of Punjab and of Rajasthan and Administrator of Delhi and of Chandigarh. Besides, being a member of the Rajya Sabha from 2000-2004, he also served as the Chairman of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) from 1974-78. He had taken active part in the '1942 Quit India' movement. On January 25, 2011 Kidwai was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, the country's second highest civilian award for his outstanding contribution towards public affairs. Kidwai received an MS degree in Organic Chemistry with Biochemistry from the University of lllinois and completed his PhD from Cornell University in 1950. He was a distinguished scientist and a researcher in the field of organic chemistry. A renowned educationist, he was also member and patron of the Delhi Public School Society and president of the South Delhi Women's Polytechnic. He had also served as the chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mexican actress and former Miss Universe Ximena Navarrete is engaged. Navarrete, who was named Miss Universe in 2010, is preparing to tie the knot with her beau Juan Carlos Valladares, and she took to Instagram to share the happy with her 1.3 million followers, reported E! online. Along with a photo of herself hugging her fiance and holding up her new engagement ring, Ximena wrote, "Today my @jcvalladares gave me the most beautiful surprise in the world! "I am the happiest woman in this universe!!!!! I'm getting married to the best man, my best friend, and the man with whom I dream about forming a family. I love you!!!! You're the best!!!" According to Hola! magazine, Juan Carlos proposed at the Palacio Museum of San Agustin in Malaga, Spain, before the newly-engaged couple celebrated with family and friends at a party. The actress and her husband-to-be have been dating for just over a year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve warned today against stigmatising Muslims, as a furore over the banning of burkinis grew with the emergence of pictures showing police surrounding a veiled woman on a beach. Speaking after a meeting with the head of the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM), Cazeneuve said: "The implementation of secularism, and the option of adopting such decrees must not lead to stigmatisation or the creation of hostility between French people." Dozens of French towns and villages, mostly on the Cote d'Azur, have banned beachwear that "conspicuously" shows a person's religion -- a measure aimed at the full-body Islamic swimsuit but which has also been used against women wearing long clothes and a headscarf. CFCM president Anouar Kbibech requested an urgent meeting with Cazeneuve after pictures emerged of a veiled woman sitting on a beach in Nice removing her tunic, watched by four policemen. The images, which went viral on social media, were interpreted as showing the woman being pressured by police into removing the garment. "We have seen images of police officers forcing a woman on a Nice beach to remove her tunic when she wasn't even wearing a burkini," the CFCM said indignantly. Nice mayor's office, however, denied she had been forced to remove clothing, telling AFP the woman was showing police the swimsuit she was wearing under her tunic, over a pair of leggings, when the picture was taken. The police issued her with a fine and she then left the beach, the officials added. The bans, which follow a string of jihadist attacks around France, including a massacre in Nice on Bastille Day last month, have sparked a heated debate about Muslim integration and French secular values. While presented by the mayors as necessary to defend secularism and public order faced with rare sightings of burkinis on French beaches, police have also fined women for being fully clothed and having their heads covered, out of the water. Yesterday, a 34-year-old mother, who gave her name only as Siam, told AFP she was fined on the beach for wearing leggings, a tunic and a headscarf. "I had no intention of swimming," the woman, who was accompanied by her children at the time, said. A witness to the scene, journalist Mathilde Cusin, said some onlookers had applauded the police and shouted at Siam to "go home". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It is a voyage explorers only dreamed of not so long ago. But thanks to climate change, a luxury cruise ship has undertaken a pioneering journey that will see it sail through the once impassable Northwest Passage during a month-long trip that is drawing much excitement but also criticism from environmentalists. The Crystal Serenity, which set off from Seward, Alaska on August 16 with nearly 1,000 passengers, is scheduled to dock in New York on September 17. The ship made its last Alaska port call on Sunday, stopping in the remote town of Nome before heading farther north, accompanied by the RRS Ernest Shackleton, a British supply and icebreaking vessel. The voyage marks the first time a passenger ship this size sails the storied Northwest Passage where warmer temperatures and melting ice are opening the Arctic -- one of the most pristine places on Earth -- for business. Passengers on board the USD 350 million vessel paid between USD 22,000 and USD 120,000 for the journey, which took three years of planning and preparation to avoid any mishaps, including a repeat of the Titanic. Guests were also required to purchase USD 50,000 in emergency evacuation insurance in order to cruise through the Northwest Passage -- a once unnavigable shortcut between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans that is increasingly becoming a popular route for shipping. The Crystal Serenity is expected to reach the northwest territories on Friday and complete the Arctic leg of its journey by September 4 before heading to Greenland and finally New York. "Every aspect of this voyage is literally unparalleled in the luxury cruise industry, and nearly the entire travel industry as well," Crystal's CEO and president, Edie Rodriguez, said in a statement. "It is a tremendous undertaking to embark on such a historic journey, but also an honor for us to be able to offer the world's most discerning travelers the opportunity to experience a region of the world that so few others have or ever will." He said guests on the 820-foot (250-meter), 13-deck vessel can enjoy a slew of activities, including helicopter flights over glaciers as well as polar bear and other wildlife sightings. Passengers also have at their disposal on board a fitness center, a spa, swimming pools, restaurants and luxury shops. But not everyone is hailing the high-profile voyage, with critics lashing out at Crystal Cruises and accusing the company of capitalising on the destruction of the planet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after six women, all foreign nationals, escaped from a state-run Protective Home, the Goa government today ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident and sought a report within six days. "I have ordered inquiry into the incident. Such an escape is a matter of a grave concern," Women and Child Development (WCD) Minister Dilip Parulekar told PTI. He said Women and Child Development department director Shilpa Shinde will inquire into the entire incident and submit the report within six days to him. "We will ensure that there are foolproof arrangements so that such escapes don't re-occur. If there are some faults in the system or design of the protective home, they would be rectified. As far as the escape is concerned, if anyone is found guilty, that person would be dealt with seriously," he said. Nine women had escaped the protective home located near here on Monday night after assaulting the staff, including a woman constable who was on duty outside the facility. Old Goa Police who were immediately informed about the incident had managed to arrest three women, while six others, including four Bangladeshi and one each from Nepal and Turkey, are still missing. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A bill proposing a complete ban on commercial surrogacy and allowing only legally wedded Indian couples to opt for children through it was today approved by the government to check unethical practices. The Union Cabinet gave its nod to the introduction of the Surrogacy Regulation Bill, 2016 in Parliament, seeking a bar on unmarried couples, single parents, live-in partners and homosexuals from opting for surrogacy. The move that is aimed at curbing unethical practices in the country which was emerging as a hub of commercial surrogacy. The bill has a provision for a jail term upto ten year and a fine of Rs 10 lakhs for violations, such as abandoning the child and opting for commercial surrogacy. "The new bill proposes a complete ban on commercial surrogacy in the country and will allow only legally wedded Indian couples married for at least five years to have children through surrogacy. "Foreigners as well as NRIs and PIOs who hold Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cards have been barred from opting for surrogacy," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told reporters after the meeting. "Unmarried couples, single parents, live-in partners and homosexuals cannot opt for surrogacy as per the bill. Legally wedded couples who have been married for at least five years, can opt for surogacy," she said. Only "close relatives" of couples seeking children will be allowed to be surrogate mothers. A woman who offers her womb for the purpose, will be able to do so only once as per the bill. The woman wanting a child through the method will be the mother as per the proposed law. There is a provision under the measure for a contract to clear any ambiguity. Only altruistic surrogacy will be allowed in a regulated form with some condition, the bill said. A woman seeking a surrogate child should between 23 and 50 years in age and her husband should be between 26 and 55 years. A surrogate child will have equal right as any other biological or adopted child over property, Swaraj said. Moreover, the surrogate mother, who should be a close relative of the couple, should be married and have borne a healthy child. Swaraj said with India having over 2,000 surrogacy clinics, there was need to regulate the practice and only altruisic surrogacy will be allowed as per the bill. The bill comes in the wake of India emerging as a surrogacy hub for couples and incidents being reported on unethical practices. It also seeks to set up national surrogacy board at the central level as well as in states and Union territories. The bill, which will come up for consideration in Parliament during the Winter Session, aims to safeguard the rights of surrogate mothers and make parentage of such children legal. Surrogacy clinics under the bill will have to maintain their record for 25 years to ensure that documents are made available in case of a legal dispute. Swaraj said successive governments had assured Parliament on eleven occasions to bring such a bill. Seeking to allow a broader view to prevail, the government has decided that it will be referred to Parliament's Standing Committee on . The minister said the new law will be notified 10 months after it is cleared by the two Houses to allow mothers who are already pregnant then to have a surrogate baby. Swaraj lamented that the method has become a "fashion" for couples, especially celebrities. "It has become a fashion especially with celebrities... People do not want to go through the labour pain and pay money to another woman to go through that process," she said. There have been incidents where girl children born out of surrogacy being abandoned or children with disorders being deserted, she said. Swaraj was of the view that the proposed bill will check exploitation of poor women especially in the rural and tribal areas and prevent "womb trade". Under the bill, couples going for surrogacy will also have to produce a certificate to prove that one of them is medically unfit to bear a child. People already having one child cannot go for surrogacy. Responding to a question, Swaraj said live-in partners, single parents, homosexuals and widows can go for adoption but not surrogacy. To a query as to what will couples do if they do not have close relatives, the minister said that the option then will be to go for adoption. A Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Swaraj had recently cleared the bill and had referred it to the Union Cabinet for a final call. The GoM was constituted at the behest of the Prime Minister's Office. Apart from Minister J P Nadda, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal were among those part of the GoM. The government had recently admitted that in the absence of a statutory mechanism to control commissioning of surrogacy at present, there have been cases of pregnancies by way of surrogacy, including in rural and tribal areas, leading to possible exploitation of women by unscrupulous elements. To prevent exploitation of women, especially those in rural and tribal areas, the government has prohibited foreigners from commissioning surrogacy in the country and has drafted this comprehensive legislation, the sources said. The Government today gave its nod to signing of a pact between India and Myanmar in the field of traditional system of medicines. The pact aims to provide a structured frame work for cooperation between both the countries and for promotion of AYUSH and traditional systems of medicine in Myanmar. "It will boost the importance of AYUSH systems of medicine and conservation, production and standardisation," an official statement said. The Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave its nod to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will provide "structured frame work for cooperation" between the both the nations in this field. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Considering that 90 per cent of India's trade by volume is by sea, the threat of maritime terrorism needs to be addressed and government is taking steps to do the same, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Naval Command Vice Admiral Girish Luthra said today. He was speaking on the 'Impact of terrorism on the Indian Economic Growth' while addressing the 5th India Economic Forum. "The economic impact of terrorism is asymmetric in nature, which implies that the cost of waging a terrorist activity is much less that the economic impact that terrorism brings," a Defence spokesperson quoted the top Navy officer as saying. Global terrorism index of 2015 records a significant increase in the number of countries suffering major terrorist activity, he said, and brought out the various consequences of rise in terrorism on an economy. Anti-terrorism activity is a continuous work in progress and monitoring terrorist activities and tactics and upgrading resources and infra structure to fortify the maritime borders is being undertaken expeditiously, Luthra added. The Flag Officer spoke of the various steps taken in the last eight years after 26/11 terror attack towards improving coastal security in the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government today decided to waive Rs 897 crore penal interest on loan availed by Cochin Port. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval for waiver of penal interest on government loans worth Rs 897.23 crore availed by Cochin Port Trust, said a statement by the Ministry of Shipping. "The CCEA also gave its approval by freezing the liability on account of GOI loans, interest thereon and penal interest @ 0.25 per cent as on March 31, 2016 amounting to Rs 557.16 crore," the statement said. The amount covers Rs 258.14 crore in loan, Rs 281.45 crore as interest and Rs 17.57 crore in penal interest. CCEA further approved the rescheduling of repayment of the amount frozen in 10 years commencing from 2018-19. The Cochin Port Trust availed loans for various developmental activities from Government of India amounting to Rs 168.15 crore between 1936-37 and 1994-95. Non-repayment of these loans has attracted penal interest to the tune of Rs 914.80 crore. The Port could not repay the loans since the projected revenue from the capital investment done was not sufficient to cover the interest component. The Cochin Port has undertaken a series of remedial measures to improve its financial conditions, apart from the measures ordered by the government, such as ban on recruitments and stoppage of vehicle purchases. "Measures adopted by the Port include steps unprecedented in other Major Ports, like freezing of Variable DA for all employees and Dearness Relief for pensioners, stoppage of HBA, conveyance advance and LTC, stoppage of overtime posting for non-operating areas, reduction of uniform allowance to single set basis, and deferment of Leave Encashment," the statement said. With these initiatives, several income streams, long awaited by the Port, are now beginning to bear fruit and this would improve the financial status of the Port and its ability to repay in future. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Following complaints by offline players on advertisements given by e-retailers in media announcing sale, the Commerce and Industry Ministry today said a grievance redressal mechanism is being set up to look into the issues. Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said after getting representation from traders bodies like, CAIT, a meeting was convened to discuss the issue. The meeting was attended by Enforcement Directorate officials, Niti Aayog, Consumer Affairs and the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP). She said on the lines of the 'twitter seva' of this ministry, "there is now going to be grievance redressal akin to the (hashtag) '#mociseva' which will have the consumer affairs people on board". The minister said people can raise their issues on this and the ministry's team along with the officials of the consumer affairs would respond to those complaints. The DIPP would train the staff of the consumer affairs on handling such grievances taking on board the e-commerce companies alleged to have hurt the traders. Further she said DIPP Secretary Ramesh Abhishek has also discussed the matter with e-commerce companies and has asked them not to violate e-commerce guidelines. "Some companies responded that they are not giving those discounts. We are still a marketplace model, the companies (vendors) whose products are coming on their (platform) are giving that and it is not violative of the policy," she said adding the e-commerce would also nominate a officer who would respond to such grievances. She added the grievance redressal will temporarily be part of '#mociseva' and after that the consumer affairs officials will go back and start operating themselves. The Consumer Affairs Ministry should actually be attending to such grievances coming on the issue of e-commerce because its a commercial transaction between a consumer and a company, she said. The minister also said "At this stage, we do not think that there is a case for ED". The DIPP has asked online retailers to strictly comply with the e-commerce guidelines. The ministry has received lot of complaints by stakeholders including traders body Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT). Demanding immediate action, CAIT had filed a complaint with DIPP alleging that major e-tailers are blatantly violating FDI norms. It has stated that during the past few days companies have given big advertisements in media announcing sale on their online platform which is a violation of FDI guidelines on e- commerce. In March, the government had allowed 100 per cent FDI through automatic route in the marketplace format of e-commerce retailing. As per the guidelines issued by the DIPP, foreign direct investment (FDI) has not been permitted in inventory-based model of e-commerce. The guidelines also states that such entities will not directly or indirectly influence the sale price of goods and services and shall maintain level playing field. In a major blow to Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) and Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), senior party leader and chairman of the body Pradeep Pradhan along with 11 other leaders joined the ruling Trinamool Congress today. Pradhan alias Bhupendra, a founding member of GJM, joined Trinamool Congress (TMC) at a programme here in the presence of TMC's district observer and minister Arup Biswas. Over a hundred followers also joined the TMC through the day, prompting GJM's student wing Vidyarthi Morcha to launch a relay hunger strike in Darjeeling and Kalimpong. The GJM leaders and members were welcomed to the TMC by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Banerjee, who was speaking to media at Sukna on her way back to Kolkata at the conclusion of her two-day visit to north Bengal, welcomed the GJM leaders and members to the party fold, saying the people in the Hills want development. She criticised GJM leader and GTA Executive Director Bimal Gurung for threatening armed movement for a separate state and blamed the Centre for giving the support. Banerjee said the term of the present GTA board had expired four years ago but there has been no election. "He should have resigned much earlier. There is no point in his saying he will quit now," she said. "If they (GJM) launch the movement, the government will tackle it in accordance with the law," she added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Madras High Court has directed the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department to follow the suggestions of UNESCO in connection with the renovation of temples and heritage structures in Tamil Nadu and file a status report on the progress made by October 25. The First Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan passed an interim order yesterday after taking cognisance of a batch of PILs on renovation work of temples and heritage structures. "We are of the view that the HR&CE department should proceed in terms of the suggestions of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as contained in the letters dated July 15, 2016 and August 18,2016 and hold further discussions and thereafter file a status report before this vourt on the progress made and what is the time schedule within which the remaining aspects has to be addressed, in a chart form." In 2015, the court had directed the HR&CE department to go slow on the matter of renovation for the time being till a proper course of action was evolved to protect the ancient structures. The bench also perused the letters of UNESCO that had suggested that the state government set up a committee of conservation experts and stakeholders to identify the issues in conservation practise through case studies of temples, where conservation projects are underway. Noting that availability of institutional and legal framework to ensure conservation as per international norms is needed to get World Heritage status, the bench observed that a review of current practises would be the first step. Recording submissions of Assistant Solicitor General Su Srinivasan, appearing on behalf of Archaeological Survey of India, who referred to encroachments near monuments in Mahabalipuram, it noted that ASI had filed photographs before it, showing the extent of the problem where large areas had been encroached on, even blocking the view of the monuments. Making it clear that any litigation initiated on these subjects shall be listed only before it,the bench posted the matter for further hearing to October 25. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Madras High Court today directed shifting a 29-year-old mentally retarded man, with crores of rupees worth properties in his name and allegedly cheated by his former wife who remarried him, to NIMHANS in Bangalore to gauge his mental development. On August 4, the court, acting on a petition by one Ananathan, custodian of Manoj Rajan, had directed CB-CID to probe a case relating to his alleged abduction by his former wife Priya Darshini. Ananthan had submitted that Rajan, son of industrialist E J Rajan, was married to Priya Darshini in 2008 and within a year of marriage, she had filed for divorce alleging that her husband was suffering from a mental disorder. When Manoj's father died in 2013, leaving behind a vast property to his only son, he had asked the petitioner to take care of the property and his son, he claimed. Subsequently, Ananthan lodged Manoj Rajan in a Home for the mentally retarded at Gudalur in 2014. In 2015, Priya Darshini had filed a Habeas Corpus Petition in Madras High Court, contending that Manoj was under illegal detention by the petitioner and Manoj's relative Rudolf Stany Pinto. However, the court dismissed the petition. In May 2016, Priya along with a group of lawyers had abducted Manoj Rajan from the home, the petitioner alleged. He also alleged that police had taken no action despite a complaint being filed, forcing him to move the High court. The judge had also directed police to file a status report on the reported sale of one of the properties by Priya Darshini to another woman, worth Rs 1.67 crore. The Judge had also directed that Rajan be transferred from the Home at Gudalur to one run by M S Chellamuthu Trust, in Madurai and ordered Madurai police to provide sufficient security to him. When the matter came up today the Judge enquired if the sale had actually had been carried out and if so, whether the proceeds were with Rajan. To this, the Investigation Officer in his status report and the charity home in its affidavit said Rajan had not carried any amount with him when he was admitted to the home. "Now it is the duty of police to trace the money which rightly belongs to Manoj Rajan if really the said amount has been paid as averred in the sale deed," the judge said. He said it would be in the interest of justice if Rajan was transferred to National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), which has state-of-the-art facilities to gauge his mental development. The Judge then posted the matter for further hearing to September 2. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Kerala High Court has ordered a police probe into the "antecedents" of a Muslim educational and charitable organisation on a retired army man's charge that it was an "illegal Islamic conversion centre" and his 24-year old daughter was "wrongfully" confined there and planned to go to Syria. A bench comprising Justices K Surendra Mohan and Mary Joseph in its order yesterday after interacting with the woman and her parents who appeared in the court, directed the police to investigate antecedents of Sathya Sarani in Manjeri in Malappuram district and also about her local guardian A S Sainaba, a woman. Posting the matter to September 9, the court asked the police to accommodate the woman in a hostel in Ernakulam here till then and submit its probe report within ten days. The woman, who has recently completed her homeopathy course, told the judges that on being attracted to tenets of Islam she studied a two-month religious course at Sathya Sarani's Markazul Hidaya and converted to Islam. She was staying in the house of Sainaba and did not want to go with her parents. Petitioner Asokan had alleged that Sathya Sarani was an illegal Islamic conversion centre run by Popular Front of India, an organisation founded by the leaders of SIMI when it was banned by the Union government. He claimed that his daughter had phoned him on July 11 and during the conversation she had "inadvertently disclosed that she has plans to go to Syria for sheep-rearing". He claimed that taking new converts to Syria for terrorist activity and join ISIS in the pretext of sheep-rearing was a well-known tactics of Islamic extremist organisations in Kerala. Directing the investigating officer to thoroughly probe all relevant aspects of the case, including allegations made in the petition, the bench ordered that the police should also verify whether the woman had been issued with a passport. The bench noted that the woman said she came under the influence of Islam, having heard of the teachings thereof from her room mates. Being attracted to the tenets of the religion, she wanted to embrace Islam, it said. To study more about the religion, she had joined Sathya Sarani and underwent a course of two-months duration, it said. She has completed the course and claims to have become a Muslim by conversion, it said. "Her main objection is that her parents do not accept her as a devout Muslim. Her parents pleaded with her in our presence to accompany them, assuring that they have accepted her in her present condition. But, she refused to accompany them," the bench said. "In view of the allegations contained in the writ petition, we are not satisfied that the detenue should be allowed to accompany the 7th respondent (Sainaba)," the court said. It ordered the Circle Inspector of Police, Nilambur, to escort the woman along with a woman constable to the SNV Sadanam Hostel, Ernakulam, where she shall be accommodated until the next date of hearing. The petitioner and the mother of the woman were permitted to meet her and interact with her subject to the rules and regulations of the hostel. No other person shall be permitted to meet or interact with her. She shall not be permitted to have a mobile phone or to use the same, the court said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh's wife Pratibha Singh needed to be further questioned in connection with a money laundering case against him, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) told Delhi High Court today. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain told Justice Vipin Sanghi that Pratibha Singh did not have answers to several questions put to her during questioning on August 9 and some documents were also sought from her. The ASG's submission came after a lawyer appearing on behalf of Pratibha sought a passover as senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who is representing her, was in the Supreme Court. The ASG said that instead of a passover, the matter can be heard on a later date as there was no urgency. The court then listed the matter for hearing on September 23. The court was hearing Pratibha's plea seeking a direction to ED not to take any coercive step against her in the wake of the arrest of an LIC agent in the case. On August 8, ED had told the court it had no intention as of now to arrest her and would inform the court beforehand in case of doing so. On July 29, the court had asked ED not to take any coercive step against her on August 9 when she appeared before it to record her statement. It had also said in case ED wanted to further question her, it will have to give reasons. Besides his wife, Singh has also moved the court, seeking protection from arrest in the case. In his plea, Singh has said he apprehended that ED might arrest him on the basis of an alleged disclosure statement of insurance agent Anand Chauhan, who was recently arrested from Chandigarh in connection with the case. Chauhan was arrested by ED under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as he was allegedly not cooperating with the investigating officer of the case. The probe agency had alleged that Singh, while serving as Union Steel Minister, had invested huge amounts in purchasing LIC policies in his and his family members' names through Chauhan. ED had last year lodged the case against Singh and others under PMLA after taking cognisance of a criminal complaint filed by CBI in this regard. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India today donated 18 fire fighting engines to Nepal to be utilised mostly by newly established municipalities in and around the Kathmandu valley. Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae handed over the keys of the fire engines to Minister for Federal Affairs Hitraj Pandey at a function here. These firefighters will be utilised mostly by newly- established municipalities in and around Kathmandu Valley for controlling fire. One of the fire fighting engine will be used by the Kathmandu Metropolitan City. The fire engines gifted by India will play an important role in saving life and property during the time of emergency, Pandey said while addressing the gathering at the function as he thanked the Indian government for its help. Ambassador Rae said Nepal and India enjoy close ties and during the time of disasters they extend help to each other. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India is steadfastly marching towards complete self-reliance in missile systems and technologies, Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister G Satheesh Reddy said today. "To create a significant impact on India's science and technology and to promote highest standard of engineering education and practices, professional societies, scientific bodies and academic institutes have to re-align the young force of the country towards the forefronts of current needs and developments," said Satheesh, also the Director General, Missiles and Strategic Systems, DRDO. The distinguished scientist was today presented with prestigious IEI-IEEE Award for Engineering Excellence-2015 in recognition of his significant national contribution towards Missiles and Aerospace technologies at Bengaluru, an official release said here. The award was given by ISRO chairman A S Kiran Kumar in the presence of Barry L Shoop, President, IEEE USA, among others, during the ceremony as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the IEEE Asia-Pacific Region at Bengaluru. "His pioneering work in Navigation and Avionics technologies has been integral in the success of several defence projects making India self reliant in many vital areas," it said. Satheesh said the award is a true tribute to the efforts of each and every team member of DRDO. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India has asserted that focus by international community on preventing non-state actors from acquiring weapons of mass destruction should not in any way "diminish" a nation's accountability in combating terror, an apparent reference to Pakistan. "The focus on non-state actors should in no way diminish State accountability in combating terrorism and dismantling its support infrastructure and its linkages with Weapons of Mass Destruction," India's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Tanmaya Lal said here. Lal underscored India's belief that the primary responsibility for ensuring nuclear security rests at the national level and national responsibility must be accompanied by responsible behaviour as well as sustained and effective international cooperation. He said India is fully cognisant of the "catastrophic dangers" that the transfer of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) to non-state actors and terrorists could entail. "Clandestine proliferation networks must be rolled back and their resurgence prevented. The global community must join hands in eliminating the risks related to sensitive materials and technologies falling into the hands of terrorists and non-state actors," he said at the Security Council open debate yesterday on challenges in addressing proliferation of WMDs. He reiterated that as a responsible nuclear power, India's nuclear doctrine continues to stress a policy of credible minimum deterrence with a posture of no-first use and non-use against non-nuclear weapon states. "We remain committed to maintaining a unilateral and voluntary moratorium on nuclear explosive testing," he said, adding that all states possessing nuclear weapons can make a contribution by engaging in a meaningful dialogue to build trust and confidence, by reducing the salience of nuclear weapons in international affairs and security doctrines. "We believe that increasing the restraints on the use of nuclear weapons is not only an essential first step, but is also necessary in the current complex international environment in enhancing strategic trust globally," he said. Pakistan's envoy to the UN Maleeha Lodhi slammed the "discriminatory waivers" given to some nations, saying this poses a key challenge to non-proliferation norms. She said the global disarmament landscape presents a "gloomy" picture due to the lack of progress made by nuclear weapons States in fulfilling their legal nuclear disarmament obligations that has "negatively impacted" on the non proliferation regime. "Disarmament and non-proliferation are inextricably linked. It is unrealistic to expect progress on one without movement on the other. A key challenge to long held non- proliferation norms and rules is the grant of discriminatory waivers to some, and making exceptions out of power or profit considerations. Grant of such waivers caries obvious proliferation risks," she said. (Reopens FGN21) Lodhi added that these special arrangements are not only discriminatory and denote nuclear double standards but also opened the possibility of diverting material intended for peaceful use to military purposes. "We have also declared a unilateral moratorium on further nuclear testing and have reiterated our willingness to translate this unilateral moratorium into a bilateral arrangement on non-testing with India," she said, adding that Pakistan expected that a non-discriminatory and criteria-based approach would be followed for extending membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Lal said India has enacted a number of effective laws and regulations and has put in place institutionalised administrative mechanisms to prohibit access to Weapons of Mass Destruction by terrorists and non-State actors. Earlier this year, India joined the Missile Technology Control Regime and the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation. India participated in the Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) held in Washington earlier this year and welcomed the outcome of the Summit, he said, adding that India sees the NSS process as having catalysed significant progress on nuclear security through international cooperation. "The goal of the complete elimination of nuclear weapons can be achieved by a step-by-step process, underwritten by a universal commitment and an agreed multilateral framework that is global and non-discriminatory," Lal said. India will provide an assistance of Rs 300 million to Sri Lanka for livelihood development, including the fisheries sector, in the southern Hambantota district, an official said today. Sri Lanka government spokesman Gayantha Karunathilake said that the Indian government has agreed to provide the grant for livelihood development in Hambantota district. Part of the grant is expected to be used for developing fisheries villages in the district. Accordingly, the proposal made by Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development, to sign an agreement between the two countries for the same was approved by the Cabinet, Karunathilake said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three Indian-origin Muslim siblings, including two hijab-clad girls, have claimed that they were hauled off a plane at an airport here and questioned on the tarmac by British policemen after a passenger accused them of being members of ISIS. Sakina Dharas, 24, Maryam Dharas, 19, and Ali Dharas, 21, had boarded the easyJet flight from Stansted to the Italian city of Naples last week when they were approached by a cabin crew member and asked to accompany her off the aircraft without explanation, media reports said. The trio, born and raised in London, were hauled off the plane and grilled for an hour by officers, who first asked them, "Do you speak English?", according to Sakina, who narrated the ordeal writing in The Independent. According to her, they were asked by one of the officers, "Right, we have to speak with you. A passenger on your flight has claimed that you three are members of ISIS." "They saw you with Arabic or praise be to Allah on your phone," the officer was quoted as saying by Sakina. In their reply, the siblings said, "Firstly, that's part of the Quran, our religious text, so even if we did have it, it wouldn't signify that we're a part of ISIS at all." "Regardless, we've had nothing on our phone remotely Arabic related this morning. Also, we're Indian by ethnicity, so we wouldn't even have Arabic in conversation with anyone," they told the officers, according to Sakina. During their one-hour interrogation on the tarmac, Sakina said she was asked to explain the details of various entry stamps on her passport. She also showed a MI5 agent recent WhatsApp messages. The siblings provided answers relating to their personal lives and were questioned on their home addresses, workplaces, social media history and parents' professions, Sakina wrote in her post. "The MI5 and police officers apologised for the 'inconvenience' and assure(d) us that, at a time where we are all 'on edge', they have to respond to threats such as these. Our accusers, we are told, were very 'frightened'," Sakina wrote. They incident took place on August 17 and the siblings returned from their holiday on August 20. A spokesman for easyJet said the three had been taken off the flight "following concerns raised by a passenger". "The police then confirmed to the captain that the passengers were cleared to complete their journey and they re-boarded the aircraft and the flight departed to Naples," the spokesman was quoted as saying by The Telegraph. "We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused to the passengers," he said. Essex Police, in charge of Stansted Airport security, said, "Essex Police were contacted with reports of concern regarding the behaviour of three people who were looking at their mobile phones. Officers at the airport spoke to them and examined their phones with their consent." "They were quickly able to establish that no offences had been committed and the women boarded their flight. We are satisfied the call was of good intent," it said. (Reopens FGN 38) "We were only allowed back on that plane, to continue our journey, because there wasn't a shred of doubt on the part of investigators that we were innocent of the crimes accused -- but somebody has been lying and misleading the authorities. Why weren't those passengers who made the false claim about us removed from the plane for wasting valuable police time?" Sakina asked. Her sister Maryam said, "I would like an apology. What happened was wrong. This kind of profiling shouldn't take place. I don't want this to happen again to anyone else." "What really upsets me is that the accusers were not brought out of the plane and questioned at the same time," Maryam told the Guardian. "My sister and I wear headscarves. We thought, there's clearly profiling going on here," she said. Booker Prize winner Salman Rushdie's concerns about India's depiction in a television series in the 1980s about the British Raj were brushed aside by then Indian leaders, according to UK Foreign Office papers released today. Rushdie felt 'The Jewel in the Crown', that hit UK screens in 1984 as a fictional take on the last days of the Raj, "grotesquely overpraised" the British empire. Writing in the 'Observer' at the time, Mumbai-born Rushdie - who had won Booker Prize three years earlier for 'Midnight's Children' - described the drama and Richard Attenborough's Oscar-winning film 'Gandhi' as examples of "Raj revisionism" and the "artistic counterpoint to the rise of conservative ideologies in modern Britain". But according to a memo sent in April 1984 by India-based British diplomat Ronald Nash and released by UK's National Archives this week, the Indian government did not agree with this view. "It's not my impression that many here share the Rushdie view. If anything people seem slightly flattered by all the attention," Nash wrote. He quotes then deputy press secretary at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Tarlochan Singh, as saying that "the Indians - implying officially - were very pleased with the series and films on India based on various novels". "He dismissed the Rushdie romanticising-the-Raj thesis. He said Indians today were of a new generation and were no longer nervous of such harkings-back to the past which represented no threat," the then diplomat at the British High Commission in New Delhi wrote in reference to his conversation with Singh. 'The Jewel in the Crown', a reference to India within the British Empire, was first telecast on Britain's ITV channel in 1984 and remains one of the most well-known works of fiction on the Raj. It had a largely English cast but also included Indian-origin actors such as Saeed Jaffrey and Om Puri, apart from Pakistani-born British actor Art Malik. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kalvari, Indian Navy's first indigenous Scorpene-class stealth submarine, will hit the waters again in September for its final phase of sea trials ahead of its planned induction by the end of this year. The 66-metre-long INS Kalvari is part of an over USD 3.5 billion contract signed by the defence ministry with French firm DCNS in October 2005 to jointly develop six submarines. Under Project 75 of the Indian Navy, the submarines are being built at the MDL dockyard in Mumbai under license from DCNS. While the first four are conventional submarines, the last two are to be equipped with the Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system, which will enable the vessel to stay underwater for longer. However, sources indicate that the AIP technology might be delayed. Interestingly, the submarines still do not have its main weapon -- the heavy weight torpedos. The original torpedo selected for the submarine was the one manufactured by one of the subsidiaries of scam-tainted firm Finmeccanica. The government has decided to withdraw the tender for the heavy weight torpedos and go in for an alternative. Once INS Kalvari is handed over to the Navy, the plan is to have other five inducted every nine months. Construction of the first submarine started on 23 May 2009. The project is running four years behind schedule. The government plans to go in for a follow-on order of three more Scorpene class submarines. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With opposition parties criticising the Maharashtra government's proposed internal security act as "draconian", a senior official today sought to disassociate Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis from it, saying the draft of the suggested law is yet to be reach him. The draft for 'Maharashtra Protection of Internal Security Act, 2016,' was prepared by officials and the chief minister, who holds the Home portfolio, was not privy to it (before it was uploaded for comments), Additional Chief Secretary (Home) K P Bakshi said here. The proposed act, meant to address challenges posed by terrorism and communal and caste violence, has some stringent provisions such as the need to take police permission for any gathering where more than 100 people are expected. "For the last many years the Home Department is of the view that police should be given more powers. We have a 720-km long porous coastline, we have the problem of Naxalism, all of which needs to be tackled," Bakshi told reporters. "Mumbai is one of the most important cities and has head offices of many important institutions. There is also a large tourist footfall in the city which makes it difficult for the police to handle emergencies," he said, adding that there are only 120 police personnel for every one lakh people in the state. Considering all this, senior officers from the police, intelligence and other departments submitted the first draft in October 2015 which was further compressed and vetted to make the current draft, he said. "There have been no discussions, no presentations on the draft at the political, ministerial level. It has all been done at the bureaucratic level. Once we receive objections and suggestions from people, we will submit the draft to the CM who will then place it before the cabinet," Bakshi said. For any peaceful democratic agitations it will be required to take police permission as per the current laws, and no special permissions will be required, he said. "The government will not interfere in any religious, family procession even if the number of people crosses 100," Bakshi said. The Opposition, however, did not buy Bakshi's contention, and claimed that Fadnavis had in the past tried to push a directive whereby any person speaking against the government would have been tried for sedition. "Is the CM acknowledging that there is a complete breakdown of law and order which necessitates such a draconian act?" Congress MLC Sanjay Dutt said. Fadnavis should explain the need for every clause of the draft act to the people, he said. NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said if such an act was implemented, it would create mini-Emergency like situation. "This is a mini-Emergency act intending to cripple any voice of dissent by the opposition... The CM intends to bring dictatorship and is treading on the path of Hitler," he said. "First Fadnavis issued a circular (asking police to) register sedition case against those who speak against the government. He had to take it back stating that it was issued by mistake when he faced a backlash," Malik added. The Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPDT) today apologised for vandalism in parts of the city yesterday but accused the ruling CPI(M) of triggering the violence which led to a backlash by it's cadre. At least 22 people including five police personnel were injured in clashes in different parts of the state capital yesterday after a section of processionists of an IPFT rally attacked people and damaged some shops. SP, Police Control, Uttam Bhaumick said clashes had occurred when some miscreants from the procession had attacked people and damaged shops apparently without "any provocation". Locals then attacked them and as a result 17 people and five policemen were injured. The SP said, situation in the city is normal and government has re-enforced prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC and intensified patrolling to maintain law and order. Apologising for the vandalism, President of IPFT, N C Debbarma today shifted the blame on ruling CPI-M saying it's activists had first pelted stones and bottles of beer from the roof top on the procession and then attacked them. He said, some supporters of IPFT then hurled stones in retaliation and counter attacked with iron rods and as a result a motorcycle showroom was damaged and cameras of few photo journalists were also damaged. Debbarma further alleged that it was a preplanned attack by some of the miscreants aided by CPI-M and demanded an inquiry by a sitting judge of a High Court to unearth the real fact of clash. Meanwhile, Gana Mukti Parishad (GMP), the tribal wing CPI-M condemned yesterday's incident and alleged that the pre-planned attack was carried out by IPFT to disturb the peace and communal harmony between the tribals and the non tribals of the state. "It is clearly understood that the attack was preplanned because the participants of the procession were carrying iron rods and they intentionally damaged shops and manhandled people including women," Secretary of the GMP and Chief Executive Member (CEM) of Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), Radhacharan Debbarma told reporters. The tribal council constitutes two third of the state territory and home to tribals, who form one third of the population. The Left Front is in absolute control of the tribal council occupying all the seats in the 30-member panel. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jailed leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement in Pakistan was today elected as Karachi's new mayor by a big margin with his party sweeping the local municipal elections. The MQM nominees grabbed the Mayor and deputy Mayor's positions in the two major cities of southern Sindh province, Karachi and Hyderabad by big margins and also grabbed sizeable seats in the municipal corporations in other districts of the province underlining the party's strong roots and popularity among the urdu-speaking population in Sindh. Waseem Akhtar who is facing a trial and is in jail custody in a case pertaining to the violent clashes among different political workers on May 12, 2012 on the streets of Karachi in a conciliatory tone said bygones should be bygones. He also asked the commander of the paramilitary Rangers in Sindh to work with the MQM in restoring law and order and peace in the province and Karachi. The MQM has come under intense pressure this week after a diatribe by its leader, Altaf Hussain at a hunger strike camp outside the Karachi press club led to violence and nationwide condemnation over his anti-Pakistan comments. Shortly after Hussain's speech, the Rangers cracked down on the party, arresting and detaining senior leaders of the MQM which its detractors claim is ethnic based party. One day after Hussain's speech, senior leaders of the party including Farooq Sattar in whose name the party is registered with the election commission distanced themselves from the coordination committee headed by Hussain which operates from London. Sattar made it clear that in future all policy decisions would be made from Pakistan and not from London prompting Hussain to also distance himself from party affairs in a statement on Wednesday. Akhtar one of the most recognisable and senior leaders of the MQM said enough blood had been shed in Karachi. "Its enough, we have fought enough and enough blood has been shed, we need to stop that and we want to follow the guidelines of Jinnah," he said. Karachi's newly elected mayor vowed to work alongside other political parties to solve the issues facing the metropolis. "I am not a mayor of MQM. I will work for Karachi, I am Karachi's mayor. During his speech, Akhtar requested Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah to help and guide him. He also described himself as a political prisoner and said cases against him were unjustified. Akhtar was first detained and shifted to jail last month after a court rejected him extension in interim bail in terror case against former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain. Interestingly his deputy, Saleem Vohra could be heard whispering to him when Akhtar spoke to the media persons that he should detest from mentioning Hussain. Akhtar also requested the Chief Minister to provide him an office in the central jail to help him fulfill his duties as Mayor. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Japanese team today met Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling here to explore investment opportunities in the state including for manufacturing units for drones and robotics in the initial phase. The delegation during the meeting informed the chief minister that the environment in the state is very conducive for setting up of plants to manufacture high level electronics products and Sikkim has the potential to turn into a manufacturing hub, a senior official said. Chamling, while welcoming the delegation, asserted that Sikkim is the most peaceful and only organic state in India, with an investor-friendly policy. "We consider investors of clean industry as true development partners of the state," Chamling said adding the government will extend all possible help, cooperation and support to the investors. The project which deals with developing the unmanned aerial vehicles will be India's first Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for building drones, if implemented. "Nowhere in the nation drones are manufactured and if the investors come up with the manufacturing unit in the state, Sikkim will be the first one in the nation to have a drone manufacturing plant," the CM said. The Japanese delegation during the meeting with the chief minister also informed him that in order to support, train and offer job opportunities for the educated locals of the state, the institutional collaboration model will be adopted. Principal Secretary Information Technology, Govind Mohan during the meeting also suggested tourism collaboration with Japan, with Japanese tourists visiting Sikkim, where a large number of Buddhist monasteries are located, for pilgrimage and also floated the idea of organic cultural connection between Sikkim and Japan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jet Airways today said economy class passengers can now reserve their preferred seats on flights. The carrier has expanded its 'seat select' service to all those flying economy class. Bulk head seats with extra leg room would be part of the offering and passengers can reserve their seat by paying a nominal charge at the time of booking. "Guests will be charged Rs 600 on domestic routes and Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,500 on international routes, inclusive of taxes, for bulkhead and exit row seats," Jet Airways said in a release. Other rows would be available for a nominal charge of Rs 300 on domestic routes and Rs 500-1,750 on international routes, inclusive of taxes. * * * * * * AirAsia offers free flights for Olympic gold medal athletes * Budget carrier AirAsia today said it would offer free flights for life to athletes from Asean nations who won gold medals at the Rio Olympics. Athletes from the 10-nation grouping who won silver and bronze medals would have free flights for five and two years, respectively, the Malaysian airline said in a release today. "Eligible athletes will be able to fly to any of the more than 120 destinations within AirAsia and AirAsia X's extensive network in Asia, Australia, the Middle East and Africa," it added. PTI RAM * * * * * * Bombay Presidency Radio Club gets net-metered solar rooftop * SolarTown Energy Solutions Pvt Ltd (SolarTown) has installed a 41 kW net-metered solar rooftop system at the historic Bombay Presidency Radio Club, one of Mumbai's oldest clubs. The Bombay Presidency Radio Club, which opened in 1928, gained its name and historical significance for being the first radio station to broadcast in Mumbai. Nearly 100 years later, the Radio Club reaches a new milestone; the first commercial establishment in Mumbai to have a net-metered solar PV system installed on its building. This will enable the Radio Club to sell its excess electricity back to the grid under Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) and further reduce its utility bill. The Radio Club is estimated to save more than Rs 8.5 lakh from its new solar system annually. Eveready starts commercial production at its new unit in Assam * Battery manufacture Eveready Industries today said it has commenced the commercial production at its new unit in Assam. "The company has commenced the commercial production (with a capacity of 500 million of batteries and 9 million LED flashlights per annum) at its new unit at Industrial Growth Centre, Matia, Goalpara, Assam," it said in a BSE filing. *** *** *** Ashirwad Steel & Ind Q3 net profit falls 18% to Rs 46 lakh * Sponge Iron iron maker Ashirwad Steel and Industries Ltd's standalone net profit fell 18 per cent to Rs 45.72 lakh during the quarter ended December 31. The company's net profit had stood at Rs 55.72 lakh in the year-ago period, it said in a BSE filing today. However, its total income from operations (net) rose to Rs 93.34 lakh from Rs 21.75 lakh a year ago. Moreover, there was a sharp rise in company's total expenses which jumped to Rs 1.21 crore from 39 lakh in the corresponding quarter last fiscal. The Kolkata-based firm manufactures sponge iron. Chinese firm Jiangsu Longzhe may soon seal a deal to buy majority stake in Diamond Power Infrastructure for USD 125 million. EY was mandated by the company's lenders to evaluate alternative options and finalise the best option in June 2016 and this exercise leads to conclusion of a fair and transparent process of investor induction followed by the lenders in the company, Diamond Power said in a BSE filing. "The modalities and terms sheet of Jiangsu Longzhe was discussed in details to finalise the next steps of the transactions," it said. Earlier this month, the company had informed BSE about receiving an investment proposal of around USD 125 million (Rs 840 crore) from Jiangsu Longzhe Trade & Development Company and their associates. The joint lenders forum had decided re-alignment of debt (SDR) as per the plan submitted by the company on the recommendation of lenders core committee. "The offer received from Jiangsu Longzhe Trade & Development Company, Nanjig, PR China is considered at the Base Minimum while carrying out the above process by Lenders through EY, any better then it will be considered. The company estimates to complete the entire process in 90-100 days," Diamond Power had said last month. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Karnataka Chief SecretaryArvind Jadhav, who is facing allegation of land grab in his mother's name, today said he had no connection in the matter and that there was neither any illegality nor irregularity in the purchase of land by her. He also said he was not in the state government or Bengaluru when the purchase of land took place. "Now the chief minister has asked for a report, let's wait for the report. It iss my job to clarify, I'm going to clarify exactly," Jadhav told reporters here. He said, "(It has) nothing to do with me, she (his mother) is a private citizen. I can tell you very clearly when this transaction happened I was not here. I was deputed to the Government of India. I never intervened at all. The land was brought 14 years ago..." Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had said yesterday he has sought a report from the revenue department in the wake of media reports that alleged that Jadhav had manipulated land records and misused his office to get 8.30 acres of government land registered in his mother's name. Responding to questions, Siddaramaih had said, "I have asked for a report from the revenue department. Let it come." Jadhav, in a detailed statement, said the land in survey No 29 of Ramanayakana Halli of Anekal Taluk was purchased by Tarabai Marutirao Jadhav (his mother) during 2002. "The said land purchase was made well after the expiry of 15 years period of non-alienation clause. To this effect an endorsement was issued by the revenue authorities in July 2002 stating that these belong to the general category," he said. "The land was purchased by her out of the proceeds ofsale of agriculture land of Hegganahalli of Devanahalli Taluk. It was her money and her decision as anindependent person," Jadhav, whose tenure as chief secretary has been extended by three months from June 30 last, said. Holding that subsequent to the purchase, applications were made a number of times for completion and fixation of survey boundaries as provided for in the revenue laws, the 1978-batch IAS officer said theexercise of seeking completion of "phodi" division and "durasti" (survey) in obtaining a new RTC (right, tenancy and crop certificate) is a regular feature. The effort of the land owner to seek streamlining the survey in the revenue records as per the Land Revenue Act has taken more than 14 years in the courts of the assistant director and deputy Director of land records, he said. Noting that any decision of the revenue and survey department was subject to judicial review, and legal recourse is available to the aggrieved, Jadhav said over the last 14 years, the grant of land in survey No 29 of Ramanayakanahalli and the purchase through registered sale deed had never been questioned by the competent authorities. "There is neither any illegality nor any irregularity with regard to purchase of land by her," he added. He also said that the land was not a governmentland when it was purchased by his mother. Maintaining that any other matter will be broughtto light during the inquiry and law shall take its course through due process if required, he said the deputy commissioner, Bengaluru urban and the revenue department were seized of the matter as per the instructions of the chief minister. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Chief Minister and National Convener of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Arvind Kejriwal will release his party's farmers' manifesto next month at Moga, a party official said here on Wednesday. Prepared after holding eight dialogues with farmers in different regions of Punjab, the manifesto will cover all aspects affecting the state's farmers, Head of the Manifesto Committee of AAP, Kanwar Sandhu said. Terming the manifesto a "comprehensive document", he said it was prepared after consulting farmers who shared their woes and grievances and gave suggestions for betterment. The manifesto, which will be released on September 11, will cover new ground as it will list out measures for farm labourers who have been left on the margins by successive governments in the past, he said. "Farm labourers are an intrinsic part of the farm sector and you can't revive farming by ignoring them," Sandhu said. "Idea is to bring back cheer on the faces of the farmers in the state," Sandhu said. He said there was a need of rainbow diversification in Punjab to bring farmers out of the vicious wheat-paddy cycle. Separate manifestos for various sections are devised to spell out the agenda of the for Punjab for the next five years, Sandhu said, adding that the farmers' manifesto will be followed by a separate manifesto for SC/ST, besides industry and trade. Earlier on July 3, Kejriwal had released 51-Point Youth Manifesto in Amritsar. Sandhu said the farmers' manifesto will roll out an "action plan" to prevent suicides by farmers and farm labourers. A major debt relief package is on the cards as is committed to zero-farmer suicide within one year of the formation of government, he added. The US Secretary of State would travel to New Delhi to attend the second India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue, the State Department announced today. "On August 29-31, Secretary Kerry will travel to New Delhi, India, for meetings with senior Indian officials," the State Department spokesperson Elizabeth Trudeau said. On August 30, Kerry and US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker will co-chair the second US-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue (S&CD), she said. Kerry and Pritzker will be joined by their respective Indian co-chairs, Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman, along with members of the US delegation and their Indian counterparts. "The S&CD is the signature mechanism for advancing the United States' and India's shared priorities of generating sustainable economic growth, creating jobs, improving the business and investment climate, enhancing livelihoods, and sustaining the rules-based global order," Trudeau said. Kerry, however would begin his visit to South Asia by travelling to Bangladesh, she said. This will highlight the longstanding and broad US- Bangladesh relationship, she added. "Secretary Kerry will meet with government officials to discuss our growing cooperation on global issues. He will also focus on strengthening our long-standing bilateral partnership on democracy, development, security and human rights," Trudeau said. In January 2015, the US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had elevated the existing US-India Strategic Dialogue to the Strategic and Commercial Dialogue to reflect the growing significance of the US-India economic relationship. This is the first time the S&CD will be held in India. In New Delhi, Pritzker will also co-chair the second US- India CEO Forum alongside Jeff Zients, the Director of the Economic Council and Assistant to the President for Economic Policy. The US-India CEO Forum brings together CEOs and government representatives from both countries to discuss opportunities for increasing bilateral trade and investment. During this event, the CEOs will communicate their joint recommendations to the US and Indian governments, the Department of Commerce said. While in New Delhi, Pritzker will also meet with Indian entrepreneurs and participate in an event celebrating US-India cooperation on travel and tourism. In June 2016, President Obama and Prime Minister Modi had announced that the US and India will be Travel and Tourism Partner Countries in 2017. Reality TV star Kim Kardashian West had her hands lasered over the weekend to keep them looking young and wrinkle-free. The 35-year-old "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" star is no stranger to obscure beauty treatments to keep her youthful looks lingering for longer but she took things one step further on Sunday when she had her fingers zapped, reported Female First. Taking to her Snapchat account at the time, the brunette beauty panned the camera to her cosmetic dermatologist Dr Simon Ourian as she went to the Epione center in Beverly Hills, California, for the procedure. She captioned the video, 'Late night service." She then uploaded a blank photograph with the post, "Did cool laser on my hands to keep hands looking young! (sic). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Malayalam filmmaker Jayaraj's upcoming historical drama "Veeram", which stars Kunal Kapoor in the lead role, will open the BRICS Film Festival on September 2. Venkaiah Naidu, Minister of Information and Broadcasting, today unveiled the official poster for the film festival here. The five-day festival will screen films from Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa besides India. The closing film will be Chinese superstar Jackie Chan- starrer "Skiptrace". China will host the next edition of the festival. "Veeram" is an adaptation of William Shakespeare's play, "Macbeth", and is the fifth installment in Jayaraj's "Navarasa" series. The festival will also have a competitive section. Each member country will nominate four films showcasing creative talent from selected themes and thus a total of 20 films will be screened. Films will be judged by an eminent jury comprising a noted filmmaker of each member country. The jury, including Kannada filmmaker T S Nagabharana, will give their recommendation for an award, which will include a BRICS Gold Medal and certificate of excellence under several categories such as best film, best director, and best actor male and female. National Award-winning films "Baahubali", "Bajirao Mastani" and "Thithi" are among the Indian films in the competitive section. "The festival will be a platform for the people from the film industries of member countries to provide them an opportunity to explore areas of cooperation which can be leveraged to economic grouping," Naidu said. The festival will take place at Siri Fort Auditorium here. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A university in Latvia has entered into an agreement with a city-based pharmacy and Ministry of AYUSH to introduce short-term courses in Ayurveda. Professor Valdis Pirags of University of Latvia told reporters here that many people in foreign countries were switching over to Ayurveda, seeking solutions to chronic problems. Arya Vaidya Pharmacy (AVP) Managaing Director P R Krishnakumar said he had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Commerce Minister Nirmala Seetharaman and made a representation to promote Ayurvedic medicine. Krishnakumar said due to efforts taken by the AVP in Europe, collaborative research had been taken up in the field of diabetes, other metabolic disorders and in duchenne muscular dystrophy, a genetic disorder causing muscle weakness. Director of Swiss Ayurveda Medical Academy Simone Hunzikar, who was also present, said there was a need to bring in regulation in countries to permit Ayurvedic medicine in health care sector. The acceptance level in many counties was very high in recent times considering the fact that Ayurveda can cure chronic ailments with traditional formulation of medicine, she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lawyers in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province have been boycotting court proceedings for the past 16 days over compensation to the victims of the August 8 suicide bombing that killed 74 people, causing trouble to the poople. President of Balochistan High Court Bar Abdul Ghani Khiljee today said lawyers have boycotted court proceedings throughout the province since the suicide bombing. "We realise the hardships being faced by people who have cases pending in courts and discussions are being held among the lawyers to decide when to resume duties," he said. Khilji said the lawyers were continuing their strike as many of their colleagues injured in the suicide blast at the entrance of a Civil Hospital were still to get compensation. The blast occured when 200 lawyers had gathered outside the hospital's emergency ward in the provincial capital Quetta after a senior lawyer was shot dead earlier that day on August 8. The bombing paralysed the judicial system in Balochistan as most of the people killed were lawyers fighting scores of legal cases in the province. Balochistan has been often hit by militants, and separatists who demand more autonomy in the province. Outlawed outfits have also carried out sectarian killings of Shia Hazaras and targeted police and security officials. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Gaza's last tiger left the war-ravaged Palestinian enclave today with monkeys, emus, a porcupine and other animals from a zoo dubbed the "world's worst", heading for a new life in South Africa and elsewhere. Laziz (Cutey in Arabic) the tiger and the 15 other remaining animals from the Khan Yunis zoo were driven on a trailer in cages to the Erez crossing before dawn, an AFP journalist said. The animals crossed the border en route to sanctuaries and zoos in South Africa, Jordan and Israel for "a better quality of life", the Israeli army said in a statement. As well as Laziz, five monkeys, two emus, two deer, two eagles, two turtles, a pelican and a porcupine were transferred, the Four Paws charity ensuring the animals' welfare said. For months vets from Four Paws had been visiting the zoo in southern Gaza to treat the animals and transfer them out after international outcry at photos of their conditions. Dozens of animals had died in the zoo, some of starvation, and badly stuffed bodies of dead crocodiles, lions and others were left in the open, surrounded by piles of bones. The NGO says on its website that Khan Yunis had "been known as the 'worst zoo in the world' since it became public last year that the zoo was crudely mummifying the animals that died in their care and displaying them." Today's transfer leaves the zoo empty and it will now be closed. "So many people have followed the progress of our mission eagerly and shown their solidarity with Laziz and the other animals," Four Paws vet Amir Khalil said in a statement. "We are happy that we were finally able to close down Khan Yunis zoo." Laziz's case attracted particular attention, after it was revealed the near-starving tiger had originally been brought to Gaza from Senegal via Egypt, where he was smuggled through tunnels into the enclave. He will now be transferred to the Lionsrock refuge for big cats in South Africa. "We were quite worried if Laziz would go into his transport crate without any issues," Khalil said. "But the tiger just went straight into the box as if he knew that we will bring him to a nice home." In the years after its 2007 opening there were more than 100 animals housed at the zoo, but they were decimated by repeated wars and shortages of customers. The owners were unable to afford enough food, with some animals starving. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Banker turned whistle- blower Rudolf Elmer, who is facing jail term in Switzerland, has claimed that bank accounts data leaked by him back in 2008 included Indian names. As an employee of a subsidiary of Swiss entity Julius Baer bank in Cayman Islands, he had accessed certain client data. He is also suspected to have handed over the data to the whistle-blower site Wikileaks in 2011. Elmer has told television channel NDTV that the list included not only Americans but also people from Africa, South America and also from India. When asked whether the list had Indian names, he said, "that is correct". According to media reports, Elmer was given suspended jail term by a Swiss court this week for alleged forgery, among others. As part of efforts to curb the black money menace, Indian government has been taking various measures and has also stepped cooperation with other countries on tax matters. Earlier this month, the government said investigations are going on into the Panama paper leaks and that legal action would be taken depending on the outcome of the probe. The leak of Panama papers in April this year revealed a list of nearly 500 Indians, including celebrities and industrialists, who allegedly stashed money in offshore entities in Panama. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court-appointed Justice RM Lodha Panel will meet on August 28 to discuss various issues concerning the BCCI, including the multiple complaints received against the Board. "In the light of several complaints received, Lodha Committee will have an emergent meeting on Sunday 28 August in New Delhi," a source close to the panel told PTI today. Asked about the nature of the complaints received, the source said: "That's confidential. The venue of the meeting is undecided." The issue of BCCI announcing its AGM on September 21 will also come up for discussion. There is every possibility that the Committee uses its discretion and declare the AGM "null and void". The BCCI is set to submit its first Compliance Report with regard to implementing the 11-point reforms by October 15. However, during the Working Committee meeting of the BCCI last Monday, it was decided that the Board will wait for the verdict of its Review Petition that has been filed in the Supreme Court. Till the SC verdict is out, the advice to affiliated units is to go slow on the reforms regarding change in constitution of state units. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Maharashtra government today inked a pact with Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to develop and create facilities for tourists in and around 'centrally' protected monuments and sites in the state. This is the first Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) ASI has signed with any tourism board in the country, an official release said. "This is great step to develop infrastructure for the use of tourists in and around 'Centrally' protected monuments and sites under jurisdiction of ASI in Maharashtra," state Tourism Minister Jaykumar Rawal said. "The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) will explore the possibility of public-private partnership (PPP) mode for implementation of projects or funding," said the Minister. Under this MoU, a representative of Maharashtra government will be responsible for preparing proposals or project reports for providing tourists amenities in and around 'Centrally' protected monuments in the state with suggestions incorporated from the Superintending Archaeologist, ASI under whose jurisdiction, the site falls. "Maharashtra has many historic monuments and tourists from across the world look forward to experience such places. By associating with ASI, we will provide facilities with good infrastructure to boost tourism in the state," Maharashtra Principal Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Valsa Nair Singh said. "Through this MoU, we will be allowed to arrange festivals like 'Fort Festival' or 'Diwali on Forts' or on similar theme in and around 'Centrally' protected monuments. Some of the important festivals are proposed on Raigad Fort, Sindhudurg Fort, Shivneri Fort, Rajgad Fort and Pratapgad Fort," Nair added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 37-year-old man was killed while a French woman was injured when fire broke out in a building at Hauz Khas Village area in south Delhi early this morning. The deceased, Gourav Taneja, was staying on the first floor of the house, with his friend, 23-year-old French woman Anklora, for the past one year. Gourav and Anklora were taken to Safdarjung Hospital where doctors declared the former brought dead, police said. Gourav had died due to suffocation, they said. Anklora was in semi-conscious state when she was rescued and was admitted to Safdarjung Hospital. She was later shifted to Apollo, they said. The Delhi Fire Service personnel had a tough time reaching the affected house as it was located in a narrow lane. "The fire started at 5.45am and was brought under control within an hour. Three fire tenders rushed to the spot but it took lot of time to reach the affected building since the lanes of the Hauz Khas Village are quite narrow," said Atul Garg, chief fire officer, Delhi Fire Service. Police said they will question Anklora after she recovers and is able to record her statement. The fire is suspected to be caused by a short-circuit, a senior police official said. Liaqat Ali, who is owner of the house, had rented out the first floor to Gourav and Anklora for the past one year. The place where they were staying was a make-shift accommodation, said the officer. Gourav belonged to Karnal and had a Construction business here. Anklora is on a student visa and studies law at OP Jindal Global University in Sonepat. Hauz Khas Village, known for its numerous restaurants, is prone to incidents of fire as majority of these eateries measure less than 50 covers (area occupied by seating 50 guests) and hence don't require, as per rules, Fire Service NOC (no-objection certificate), officials said. According to the rules, restaurants with area less than 50 covers don't require the fire department NOC. Only three restaurants in the area have fire clearances and other don't require it, they added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 37-year-old man died while a French woman was injured in a fire in Hauz Khas area of south Delhi early this morning. The fire was reported around 5.45 AM on the first floor of a building at Hauz Khas Village, police said. "Two people--Anklora (23) from France and Gourav Taneja (37)--were injured in the incident. Both were admitted to Safdarjung Hospital where Gourav was declared brought dead," Nupur Prasad, Additional DCP (South), said. Anklora was in a semi-conscious condition and undergoing treatment at the hospital. The fire was completely doused by 7.20 AM. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man and a woman, both from Haryana, were today found dead under suspicious circumstances in a hotel room in Katra town of Reasi district, police said. 26-year-old Sunil, a resident of Sonipat, and Panipat-resident Reena (20), were found dead in room number 201 of a hotel under suspicious circumstances, a police officer said. The bodies have been recovered and their identities have been established with their Aadhar cards, he said, adding a probe has begun to ascertain the reason behind the deaths. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Workforce solutions company ManpowerGroup today said it will acquire global information technology consulting firm Ciber's business in Norway. "The acquisition of Ciber Norway complements the organic growth of ManpowerGroup's own professional resourcing and project-based workforce solutions arm, Experis, and will help meet growing demand in the IT sector," the company said in a release. Ciber Norway's business, including 130 employees, will transition over to ManpowerGroup when the deal is expected to close later this month, pending regulatory approval. "We are pleased to announce this acquisition that continues to build on the strength of our Experis business in Norway and further accelerates our strategy to shift our business mix towards higher value and professional services," ManpowerGroup Norway Managing Director Maalfrid Brath said. Since opening first office in Norway in 1952, ManpowerGroup has diversified business across four brands-Manpower, Experis, ManpowerGroup Solutions and Right Management - now spanning 30 locations and finding work for more than 20,000 people in Norway each year. Ciber Norway brings with it ten years of IT industry expertise. "As a strategic buyer with local operations, we believe they will provide a seamless transition and great continuity and service to our customers and our employees," Ciber President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Boustridge said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mars had a warm and wet climate about four billion years ago and provided a more favourable environment for life, say scientists who have discovered fossilised riverbeds on an ancient region of the red planet. The study identified over 17,000 km of former river channels on a northern plain called Arabia Terra, providing further evidence of water once flowing on Mars. "Climate models of early Mars predict rain in Arabia Terra and until now there was little geological evidence on the surface to support this theory," said Joel Davis from University College London. "This led some to believe that Mars was never warm and wet but was a largely frozen planet, covered in ice-sheets and glaciers," said Davis. "We've now found evidence of extensive river systems in the area which supports the idea that Mars was warm and wet, providing a more favourable environment for life than a cold, dry planet," he said. Since the 1970s, scientists have identified valleys and channels on Mars which they think were carved out and eroded by rain and surface runoff, just like on Earth. Similar structures had not been seen on Arabia Terra until the team analysed high resolution imagery from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) spacecraft. The new study examined images covering an area roughly the size of Brazil at a much higher resolution than was previously possible - 6 metres per pixel compared to 100 metres per pixel. While a few valleys were identified, the team found the existence of many systems of fossilised riverbeds which are visible as inverted channels spread across the Arabia Terra plain. The inverted channels are similar to those found elsewhere on Mars and Earth. They are made of sand and gravel deposited by a river and when the river becomes dry, the channels are left upstanding as the surrounding material erodes. On Earth, inverted channels often occur in dry, desert environments like Oman, Egypt, or Utah, where erosion rates are low - in most other environments, the channels are worn away before they can become inverted. "The networks of inverted channels in Arabia Terra are about 30m high and up to 1-2km wide, so we think they are probably the remains of giant rivers that flowed billions of years ago," said Davis. "Arabia Terra was essentially one massive flood plain bordering the highlands and lowlands of Mars," he said. "We think the rivers were active 3.9-3.7 billion years ago, but gradually dried up before being rapidly buried and protected for billions of years, potentially preserving any ancient biological material that might have been present," he added. "These ancient Martian flood plains would be great places to explore to search for evidence of past life," said Matthew Balme, from The Open University in UK. The research appears in the journal Geology. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Supreme Court today set aside the Punjab and Haryana High Court order allowing the accused to recall and re-examine several prosecution witnesses in the case in which a senior manager was allegedly burnt alive and many others were injured in the 2012 labour unrest at Manesar plant of Maruti Suzuki Limited. "We allow the appeals (filed by Haryana government and others), set aside the order passed by the High Court and restore that of the trial judge. We direct the learned trial judge to proceed with the trial in accordance with the law," a bench of Justices Dipak Misra and U U Lalit said. Avnish Dev, 51, General Manager, Human Resources of the company was allegedly burnt alive and nearly 100 others injured on the evening of July 18, 2012 when agitating workers went on a rampage, attacking officials and torching the office. The Haryana government had filed an appeal in the apex court against the Hugh Court order annulling the order of the trial judge. The trial court had rejected the plea of some accused seeking to recall and re-examine some key witnesses on the grounds including that their main counsel was unwell. "The High Court has been moved by the ground that the accused are in the custody and the concept of speedy trial is not nullified and no prejudice is caused, and, therefore, the principle of magnanimity should apply. Suffice it to say, a criminal trial does not singularly centre around the accused. "In it, there is involvement of the prosecution, the victim and the victim represents the collective. The cry of the collective may not be uttered in decibels which is physically audible in the court premises, but the Court has to remain sensitive to such silent cries and the agonies, for the society seeks justice. Therefore, a balance has to be struck," the apex court said. It also said that "magnanimous approach" should not be confined to the accused only. "Regard being had to the concept of balance, and weighing the factual score on the scale of balance, we are of the convinced opinion that the High Court has fallen into absolute error in axing the order passed by the learned trial judge," Justice Misra, writing the judgement, said. Granting relief to the accused, the High Court had said that 148 persons were facing trial for their alleged varied roles in the case in which over 100 prosecution witnesses have been examined. It would be in the interest of justice if the accused are allowed to re-examine some witnesses, it had said. Setting aside HC verdict, the apex court said, "It needs to be stated that the learned trial Judge who had the occasion to observe the conduct of the witnesses and the proceedings in the trial, has clearly held that recalling of the witnesses were not necessary for just decision of the case." The bench, in its 44-page judgement, said the concept of fair trial cannot be "stretched limitlessly" and the High Court order "may fall in the arena of sanctuary of errors". "The courts cannot ignore the factual score. Recalling of witnesses as envisaged under the said statutory provision on the grounds that accused persons are in custody, the prosecution was allowed to recall some of its witnesses earlier, the counsel was ill and magnanimity commands fairness should be shown, we are inclined to think, are not acceptable in the obtaining factual matrix. "The decisions which have used the words that the court should be magnanimous, needless to give special emphasis, did not mean to convey individual generosity or magnanimity which is founded on any kind of fanciful notion. It has to be applied on the basis of judicially established and accepted principles. The approach may be liberal but that does not necessarily mean 'the liberal approach' shall be the rule and all other parameters shall become exceptions. "Recall of some witnesses by the prosecution at one point of time, can never be ground to entertain a petition by the defence though no acceptable ground is made out. It is not an arithmetical distribution. This kind of reasoning can be dangerous. "In the case at hand, the prosecution had examined all the witnesses. The statements of all the accused persons, that is 148 in number, had been recorded under Section 313 CrPC. The defence had examined 15 witnesses. The foundation for recall, as is evincible from the applications filed, does not even remotely make out a case that such recalling is necessary for just decision of the case or to arrive at the truth...," the court said. Amid rising cases of dengue and chikungunya in the national capital, the civic bodies in Delhi have stepped up preventive measures by hiking the number of field workers, distribution of special mosquito nets and awareness programmes in schools. The South Delhi Municipal Corporation has deployed additional 900 field workers for carrying out vector-borne disease control measures in its areas, a senior SDMC official said. Out of the total 311 dengue cases reported till August 20, SDMC has reported 47 cases, while East Delhi and North Delhi Municipal Corporations have recorded 16 and 10 cases respectively. Four persons have died due to the disease so far, though the MCD has acknowledged only two fatalities. "Chikungunya cases have suddenly increased in the city but people should not get alarmed as the disease anyway is not life-threatening though preventive measures must be taken, and we are raising awareness among the citizens. "We have already distributed 1.2 lakh impregnated mosquito nets (laced with special chemical) to people. Our DBCs (dengue breeding checkers) are regularly inspecting households and other places for checking mosquito-breeding. Dengue cases this year, I guess, would not be as big as it was last year, so we need just more preventive measures," North Delhi Mayor Sanjeev Nayyar said. Out of the total dengue cases reported this season in the national capital, nearly 192 were recorded in the first three weeks of August. At AIIMS laboratories which get blood samples from Delhi and other parts of the country, 362 samples have tested positive for chikungunya from July to August 20. East Delhi Standing Committee Chairman Jitender Chaudhary said a proposal has been mooted to include 'nala beldars', workers who clean small nullahs before monsoon, in the DBC team, to address the shortage of manpower in this area. "We have 710 DBCs and they conduct inspections regularly of coolers and rooftop water tanks in households. For chikungunya and dengue, we are doing regular awareness programmes, especially in schools, and move is to include private aided schools in the list. Besides, we are planning to hold discussions with RWAs and marketing associations about this," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Meghalaya government today rejected the demand of agitating school teachers of over 4,700 government-aided schools about their pay be equated to government schools. The teachers, who had stayed out of schools since August 22, demanded their salary be equated with government schools across the state or what was called provincialisation. The state government on the other hand has assured to come up with a policy decision to further improve the working conditions and services of the teachers within six months. Chief Secretary K S Kropha chaired a high level meeting of the education department with leaders of the teachers under the banner of the Joint Action Committee of All Teachers' Associations of Meghalaya (JACATAM). Education Commissioner and Secretary D P Wahlang said "We have told the agitating teachers that provincialisation of services in one go is not possible due to resource constraints." During the course of discussion, JACATAM leaders were also requested to take the role of the various school managing committees (SMCs) into consideration as they were the appointing authorities of the teachers and not the state government. The JACATAM today partially suspended their agitation following the talks with the government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least nine security personnel, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police, were injured on Wednesday in a militant attack in Pulwama town, police said. Militants hurled a grenade, followed by firing, at security personnel who were on duty near the Degree College in Pulwama town, 32 kms from here, a police official said. He said a DySP and eight other security personnel including four CRPF jawans were injured in the attack. The area was immediately cordoned off and an operation was launched to track down the assailants, he added. Militants attacked the American University of Afghanistan today, killing at least one person and wounding another 18, officials said, adding that security forces were still combing the campus in search of attackers. AP photographer Massoud Hossaini was in a classroom with 15 students when he heard an explosion on the southern flank of the campus. "I went to the window to see what was going on, and I saw a person in normal clothes outside. He shot at me and shattered the glass," Hossaini said, adding that he fell on the glass and cut his hands. The students then barricaded themselves into the classroom, pushing chairs and desks against the door, and staying on the floor. Hossaini said at least two grenades were thrown into the classroom, wounding several of his classmates. Hossaini and about nine students later managed to escape from the campus through an emergency gate. "As we were running I saw someone lying on the ground face down, they looked like they had been shot in the back," he said. Hossaini and the other students took refuge in a residential house near the campus, and were later safely evacuated by Afghan security forces. Hedayatullah Stanikzai, an official with the Ministry of Public Health, said a guard employed by the university had been killed and that the wounded included a foreign teacher. University authorities could not immediately be reached for comment. University President Mark English earlier told The Associated Press that security forces had arrived on the scene soon after the attack began around 7 PM (1430 GMT), saying "we are trying to assess the situation." Dejan Panic, the program director at Kabul's Emergency Hospital, said 18 patients, including five women, had so far been admitted. He said three were "seriously" wounded, probably from automatic gunfire. Police spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said security forces were conducting a clearing operation to track down the "terrorists." He said it was still not clear if there were one or two attackers. All other personnel on the campus were being evacuated, he said. He had no further details on the nature of the attack. The Pentagon said US military advisers were on the ground with Afghan security forces at the university. Spokesman Adam Stump said the forces had been embedded with the Afghan units. The attack on AUAF comes two weeks after two university staff, an American and an Australian, were kidnapped from their car by unknown gunmen. Their whereabouts are still unknown. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Explosions and gunfire rocked the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul today, an official and students trapped inside classrooms said, in the latest militant attack in the Afghan capital. "I heard explosions and gunfire is going on close by... our class is filled with smoke and dust," a desperate student told AFP by telephone. "We are stuck inside and very afraid." Many other trapped students were tweeting desperate messages for help. Among them was Associated Press photojournalist Massoud Hossaini. No militant group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes as the Taliban step up their summer fighting season against the Western-backed Kabul government. "#AUAF under attack. I along with my friends escaped and several other of my friends and professors trapped inside," Kabul-based journalist Ahmad Mukhtar tweeted. The Italian-run Emergency Hospital in Kabul tweeted that at least five wounded people had been brought to the facility for treatment. The management of the elite American University of Afghanistan, which opened in 2006 and enrols more than 1,700 students, was not immediately reachable for comment. The private university is usually packed with students in the evening, many of them working professionals doing part-time courses at the facility. The assault comes after two professors at the university - an American and Australian - were kidnapped in the heart of Kabul earlier this month, the latest in a series of abductions of foreigners in the conflict-torn country. No group has publicly claimed the abductions so far. The Afghan capital is infested with organised criminal gangs who stage kidnappings for ransom, often targeting foreigners and wealthy Afghans, and sometimes handing them over to insurgent groups. It appeared to be the first reported abduction related to a private university in Afghanistan. The Taliban have stepped up nationwide attacks. Afghan forces backed by US troops are seeking to head off a potential Taliban takeover of Lashkar Gah, the capital of the southern opium-rich province of Helmand as fighting intensifies. A roadside bomb killed an American soldier yesterday near the city, and left another American and six Afghan soldiers wounded, the US-led NATO coalition said. The turmoil convulsing Helmand, blighted by a huge opium harvest that helps fund the insurgency, underscores a rapidly unravelling security situation in Afghanistan. Fighting has left thousands of people displaced in Helmand in recent weeks, sparking a humanitarian crisis as officials report food and water shortages. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) State-run consultancy firm Mecon is preparing a report on the feasibility of imposing a minimum import price (MIP) on aluminium products on the lines of one on steel items. The public sector undertaking has been asked by industry body Aluminium Association of India to prepare the report, which it has to submit by September, a source said. The development comes in the backdrop of the ministries of finance, commerce and mines exploring ways to check imports of cheap aluminium, which is impacting sales and profits of domestic producers. Last week, Aluminium Association met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and pitched for protective measures against cheap imports. Top officials from Vedanta, Nalco, Hindalco and Balco also made a case for imposing MIP on aluminium products. The industry body said China, the world's largest producer and consumer of metals including aluminium, is exporting surplus aluminium amid weak domestic demand. The situation is alarming as 50 per cent of the metal consumed in India is coming through imports, it said. According to industry data, primary aluminium producers incurred losses of around Rs 4,025 crore in the last fiscal, substantially higher than Rs 1,480 crore in 2014-15. Out of total aluminium consumption in India, 55 per cent is met from scrap and 45 per cent through aluminium, on which import duties are 2.5 per cent and 5 per cent, respectively, resulting in cheap imports from countries like China. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin will be among the Heads of State and Government who will attend the summit from September 4, the host country China announced on Wednesday. The Hangzhou summit, to be presided over by Chinese President Xi Jinping, has invited the maximum number of developing countries in history, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said, adding that leaders of all countries will attend the meeting. "It represents the inclusiveness of the meeting with both developed and developing countries sitting together as equal partners," he said. The voices of developing countries will be fully heeded during the summit to be held from September 4-5, Lu told a media briefing here. This shows the major changes of the international economic regime that developed and developing countries can have equal consultations and make decisions on international economic affairs, he said. "This is in line with the trends of history and is a historic progress," Lu said. China has said the summit will mainly focus on improving the global economy with structural reforms and innovation. It is also actively campaigning against bringing up political disputes like the South China Sea during the summit. Besides the heads of the state and governments of G20 countries, leaders of some guest countries including Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, would also attend the meeting. Also leaders of top international organisations, including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde and World Trade Organization Director General Roberto Azevedo would attend the meeting, Lu said. The summit would focus broadly on improving the world economy mired in a prolonged downturn, Chinese state-run Xinhua news agency said in its commentary yesterday. Eight years after the global financial crisis, the recovery remains slow and fragile. The current global economic growth environment is mediocre, featuring rising unemployment, soaring debt, sluggish trade and investment and turbulent financial and commodity markets, the commentary said. Innovation will be a key G20 agenda for the first time. Innovation, characterised by technology and new products and business models, will create new consumption opportunities and trends, it said. The Police today arrested the proprietor of a money laundering firm based on complaints made by some some investors and forwarded him to a local court. According to Balasore town police, a man identified as Jagdish Mishra was arrested and forwarded to a local court after two women lodged a formal complaint against him. They had deposited money with 'Raj Godson', the alleged money laundering firm. The women said in the complaint that though their deposits matured, they did not get back their money and were also promised high returns on their deposits. Based on the preliminary investigation, the Police said the firm was involved in money laundering and real estate business and after getting complaints from some investors, the conducted a raid at the firm's office. The police have seized some documents in regard to deposits made by people and a probe was on. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain today handed over powers of reorganisation, policy making and decision making to the central coordination committee, a day after senior party leaders sidelined their London-based supremo. "Keeping in view statements made by MQM leader Farooq Sattar and other MQM members, I hand over powers of reorganisation, policy making and decision making to the Rabita Committee," Hussain said in a statement. "I will continue to focus on improving my health in line with the Coordination Committee's suggestions," the statement shared on Twitter by MQM spokesman Wasay Jalil quoted Hussain as saying. The MQM chief claimed he was "under acute stress" due to back-to-back 'incidents', upsetting and working on party business day and night, Dawn reported. The party chief also apologised for hurting the sentiments of Pakistanis due to his earlier anti-Pakistan remarks. Hussain, leader of Mutthaida-E-Qaumi Movement - the single largest party in Karachi, was accused of raising anti-Pakistan slogans at a protest rally that turned violent. Several journalists of various media organisation were attacked by the activists of the MQM. The protesters pelted stones and resorted to heavy aerial firing that killed one person and wounded others. Pakistan yesterday charged MQM chief Hussain with treason for his inflammatory speech that prompted his party members to distance themselves from him. Senior MQM leader Farooq Sattar yesterday said: "From now onwards, decisions will be made in Pakistan. This message is for the London office as well as for Pakistan office-bearers; something which the Quaid won't disagree with." Dawn reported that Sattar, after being released from Rangers custody, spoke to party leaders, lawmakers, including some of those who were abroad, as well as the London-based members of the coordination committee, and communicated his decision to disown Hussain's statement and take over the MQM. Altaf Hussain has been running the day-to-day organisational affairs of the party over phone from the confines of his palatial London residence and the international secretariat for a long time, although he does not hold any office in the MQM, which is a political party registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan in the name of Sattar. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President of Myanmar U Htin Kyaw will pay a four-day state visit to India beginning Saturday with an aim to further expand the traditionally close relations between the two countries by stepping up engagement in diverse areas. It will be his first State visit after the assumption of office in March by the new government of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, bringing down curtains on five decades of military rule. The Myanmar President will be accompanied by his wife, Daw Su Su Lwin, several key ministers and senior officials. Myanmar, considered one of India's strategic neighbours, shares a 1,640-km-long border with a number of northeastern states including militancy-infested Nagaland and Manipur. "During his visit to India, the Myanmar President will have official engagements in New Delhi and also visit places of historical and cultural importance in India," the Ministry of External Affairs said. It said the visit will help to further strengthen and expand traditionally close ties between the two countries. In Myanmarese capital Nay Pyi Daw, Htin Kyaw's office also issued a statement about his visit to India without specifying the dates for it. The announcement of the visit of the Myanmarese President came three days after External Affairs Minister paid a day- long visit to the Southeast Asian nation. During her visit, Myanmar's leaders had assured Swaraj that they would not allow any insurgent group to use its territory against India. On her part, Swaraj had conveyed to Myanmarese leaders that India was ready to extend "all help" to the new government. Htin Kyaw's is coming to India at the invitation of President Pranab Mukherjee. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw will visit India soon at the invitation of counterpart Pranab Mukherjee, according to an official announcement. "U Htin Kyaw, President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and wife Daw Su Su Lwin will pay a State Visit to the Republic of India in the near future at the invitation of His Excellency Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, President of the Republic of India," the President Office here said in a statement without specifying the date of his visit. The announcement came a day after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's one-day visit to the country to hold talks with Myanmarese leaders on key bilateral issues during which it was assured that Myanmar will not allow any insurgent group to use its territory against India. The assurance came in the backdrop of certain insurgent groups from northeastern states using Myanmar for launching attacks against India. In the first high-level visit from India after the civilian government assumed office here, Swaraj had called on the president and held extensive talks with State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi during which she conveyed India's commitment of "all help" to the new government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Embraced by kings and freedom fighters alike, Myanmar's peacocks have long been a national symbol of pride and resistance- but they are becoming ever harder to spot in the wild. Ornithologist Thet Zaw Naing is worried. Every year that goes by, Myanmar's national bird becomes a less familiar sight. "They always walk on the ground and they sleep in trees at night," he tells AFP. "And before they go to sleep, they always cry 'Oway Oway'. That's why people can know easily where they are and easily capture them." Decades ago the birds, with their bright green plumage and famously ostentatious male tail feathers, were ubiquitous. But like so many of Myanmar's most iconic flora and fauna, rampant poaching and habitat loss under decades of unaccountable junta rule has hit their numbers hard. For Myanmar, the declining peacock population is more than just a conservation tragedy -- it's a blow to the national psyche. The bird occupies a lofty place in the country's culture. For decades it was the official symbol of Burma's last kings, the Konbaung dynasty. Their monarchs wore peacock insignia on their robes and famously sat atop the Peacock Throne until their rule was toppled by British colonialists. During his fight against the British in the early twentieth century, independence hero Aung San- the father of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi -created a magazine named the "Fighting Peacock". Years later, Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy adopted the same bird as their party emblem in their long years of struggle against military rule. Whenever protests broke out on the streets of Yangon, peacock flags could be seen fluttering above the crowds. Now elevated to the role of Foreign Minister and State Counselor since her party swept to victory in last year's elections, Suu Kyi delivers press conferences besides visiting dignitaries in front of an embroidered peacock wall hanging. But some worry the birds will soon only be visible inside history books and political rallies unless action is taken. Having once ranged from India to Indonesia, the green peafowl, as its officially known, is in severe decline. The International Union for Conservation of Nature currently lists the species as endangered on their red list. "It has undergone a serious decline and the only sizeable remaining populations are found in dry forests in Cambodia, Myanmar and west-central Vietnam," the IUCN says, adding pockets still persist in northern Thailand, southern Laos, China's Yunnan province and on Indonesia's Java island. It is believed to be extinct in Bangladesh, Malaysia, peninsula Thailand and India- with the exception of a few individuals occasionally encountered in India's far northeastern Manipur state bordering Myanmar. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A six-member delegation of Opposition National Conference on Wednesday met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and demanded immediate ban on use of pellet guns and initiation of dialogue with all stakeholders on Kashmir. The National Conference delegation was led by former chief minister Omar Abdullah and interacted with Singh for 45 minutes, official sources said. They said the delegation urged the Home Minister to immediately ban use of pellet guns as a crowd control means in Kashmir. "They also demanded that Centre initiate a dialogue with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir to find a lasting solution to the problems faced by the state," a source said. Omar had led a delegation of Opposition parties to New Delhi last week where they called on President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi to apprise them about the ground situation in Kashmir. Omar thanked Singh for promptness of the Centre in exhibiting "seriousness" about the suggestions made by the Opposition parties during their visit to Delhi. Singh arrived here to review the security situation in the wake of clashes between protestors and security forces that have left 66 people dead, including two police personnel. Among them is a youth who was killed in fresh clashes in Pulwama on wednesday. The clashes erupted a day after terrorist Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces on July 8. Singh's visit to Kashmir is apparently a follow up to Modi's interaction with the Omar-led delegation of Opposition parties in the union capital on Monday. Singh, who is accompanied by Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, said he was open to meet anyone "who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat" during his stay in Srinagar. "Leaving New Delhi for Srinagar on a two-day visit. Shall interact with civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders," the Home minister tweeted before heading for Kashmir. Nepal's new government today came under attack from main opposition CPN-UML over reports that Premier Prachanda sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that discusses the country's "internal" matters including a constitutional amendment to address the demands of Madhesis. The CPN-UML of former prime minister KP Sharma Oli, viewed by many as pro-China, raised objections over the letter allegedly carried by Deputy Prime Minister Bimalendra Nidhi, who was on a visit to India as Prachanda's special envoy from August 17 to 22. "There are reports about sending a letter by PM Prachanda to Prime Minister Modi through the Deputy Prime Minister that discusses matters of our internal issues including Constitution amendment," the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) alleged in a statement after the conclusion of its 43rd Central Committee meeting here. "Such incident has intervened our national sovereignty and independent decision making authority, which was a blunder and objectionable matter," it said. The main opposition party demanded the government to "make public the reported 'letter'". It warned the government "not to do anything that would undermine the practice of shaping the future of Nepalese people by themselves, and the dignity of Nepalese people." Some reports have suggested that Nidhi, during his meeting with Modi, discussed issues relating to the agitation by Madhesis - who share strong cultural and family bonds with Indians - and amendment to the Constitution to address their demands, including more political representation. The Madhesi people had blocked trade transit points with India, creating a huge shortage of essential goods and fuel in the landlocked Nepal. The Constitution was promulgated in September last year. "Constitution is a dynamic document, which is subject to amendments from time to time. However, the way in which the matter was discussed at some specific place for amendment to the Constitution is objectionable and absurd," the party said. "The fundamental law of the country cannot be amended on the basis of specific concern shown by any other country. This will only complicate the situation and only creates new problems," it said. The UML has also protested the way Prachanda had sent special envoys to India and China when his government is yet to take full shape and appoint a Minister for Foreign Affairs. Prachanda, who is also the Maoist chief, assumed office earlier this month for a second term as Prime Minister. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) They are tipped to be the next big thing in music but British group The Vamps, on their maiden trip to India, say they were really surprised to see fans queuing up to meet them. The pop rock band consists of lead vocalist Bradley Simpson, lead guitarist James McVey, bass guitarist Connor Ball and Tristan Evans on the drums and rose to fame in late 2012 with cover songs. The breakthrough came with their debut single "Can We Dance", which received over 1 million views within two weeks of its release. The group has now collaborated with music composers Vishal Dadlani and Shekhar Ravjiani on "Beliya", which is already a hit on Youtube. "We had seen few tweets from our Indian fans but we really had no idea about the fan following. When we arrived here it was a nice surprise. There were quite a lot fans at the airport. We are hopefully going to do India tour next year," Brad told PTI during a visit here. The band, which is here for an eight-day trip, will perform in Mumbai with Vishal-Shekhar on "Beliya". When asked whether there were any other collaborations happening in India as actor Ajay Devgn recently teased about a possibility of a teaming with the young group, James said, "We may.. We are planning to do something together." The group admitted that they did not know much about Bollywood before their collaboration but are happy to have discovered a new territory with this song. "We are very lucky that we have done two world tours so far. This collaboration is a real opportunity for us because it is allowing us to visit new territory like India. We can always come back and do more shows. We are grateful for this relationship," Tristan said. Brad added, "We did not really know much about the Bollywood culture before we came here.. It's something that we are very interested in and we are learning about the culture." "It was a great experience. It was nice to blend two languages together," Connor said. Vishal said the popularity of The Vamps is similar to the following which One Direction enjoyed during the start of the career. "The kind of love that I have seen for these guys probably one would imagine that to have happened for the One Direction when they took off or other boybands like Take That or Boyzone. Although these guys are a real band, not that they get up on stage and just do music. There is legitimacy to their music," Vishal said. Shekhar said it was quite a learning experience to work with the group and the song happened organically. "Working with them was fun. We got to exchange ideas. We learnt a lot from each other. I don't know how the song was made because we were eating and playing pool all the time. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BJP today claimed there is no scientific evidence to prove that floods occurred in Bihar due to Farakka Dam and alleged Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is raising the barrage issue and silt management policy to hide lacunae in providing relief to the marooned people. "Senior officials of Water Resources Ministry in Delhi said there is no scientific evidence to prove that floods occurred in Bihar due to the Farakka Dam," senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said in a statement. Modi, who is in the national capital, said officials of the ministry told him this during an interaction. "The fact is that the Bihar government had not made any preparation beforehand for relief and rehabilitation in the event of floods. The Chief Minister through confusing statements is trying to divert people's attention from this shortcoming," he alleged. The BJP leader's statement came after Kumar yesterday drew the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi blaming the floods in Bihar to silt deposition in the Ganga river due to Farraka Dam and demanded removal of the barrage. Sushil Modi also contested Nitish Kumar's assertion that gates of Farakka Dam were opened for discharge of excess water of the Ganga river on request of the Bihar government. "Fact is, during the monsoons all gates of the barrage are opened," the Leader of Opposition in state Legislative Council said. "The Chief Minister who himself is an engineer by degree, instead of giving confusing statements, he should have waited for report of the WAPCOS study which the Bihar government has authorised to conduct on effects of Farakka barrage and silt deposit," he said. In April, the Centre had constituted a committee under the Director of CWPRS (Central Water Power Research) to study siltation in the Ganga and the Brahmaputra rivers. "Before advising demolition of Farakka Dam, Nitish Kumar should have asked his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee," Modi said. Farakka Dam was constructed in 1975 to divert water in the Hooghly river through a 38-km-long feeder canal to ensure smooth traffic of Kolkata Port, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) North Korea today test-fired a submarine-launched missile 500 kilometres towards Japan, marking what weapons analysts called a clear step forward for its nuclear strike ambitions. The flight distance, which was tracked by South Korea's military Joint Chiefs of Staff, far exceeded any previous SLBM tests, suggesting significant progress in technical prowess. A proven SLBM system would take North Korea's nuclear strike threat to a new level, allowing deployment far beyond the Korean peninsula and a "second-strike" capability in the event of an attack on its military bases. "While there are still a lot of questions about the details, this test certainly seems to have been successful," said Jeffrey Lewis, director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in California. "This system is still in development, but North Korea is clearly making progress," Lewis told AFP. South Korea's Yonhap agency cited a military source as saying Wednesday's launch had been made at an acute angle to limit the missile's range. If fired at the optimum angle, it could cover more than 1,000km, the source said. Current UN resolutions prohibit North Korea from any use of ballistic missile technology, but Pyongyang has continued to carry out numerous launches following its fourth nuclear test in January. South Korea has responded by agreeing to deploy a sophisticated US anti-missile system -- known as THAAD -- a move that has seriously strained relations with North Korea's main diplomatic ally, China. Lewis noted that an SLBM was an "effective countermeasure" to THAAD, and other missile systems with forward-looking radars, since the submarine can launch the missile from behind the radar. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Wednesday's missile breached his country's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) and condemned what he called an "unforgivable, reckless act." Earlier this month, North Korea fired a land-launched ballistic missile directly into Japanese-controlled waters for the first time, drawing an outraged response from Tokyo. The latest test came just days after North Korea threatened a pre-emptive nuclear strike against South Korean and US forces who kicked off their annual "Ulchi Freedom" military drill on Monday. Seoul and Washington insist such joint exercises are purely defensive in nature, but Pyongyang views them as willfully provocative. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Odisha government will beholding an investors' meet here on August 26 as part of celebrations to mark 80 years of the state and birth centenary of former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik. The state government has invited around 250 large andmedium industries from sectors like engineering, IT, hardware,aviation, textile, medical devices, lubricants, aerospace, beverages, telecom, defence, transport and consumer durables,Odisha Industries Minister Debi Prasad Mishra said in a release. He said investors' meet is aimed at meeting the target set by the Osisha's Industrial Policy Resolution-2015 to attract investment worth Rs 1.73 lakh crore by2019-20 from different sectors. Odisha government in association with Shri BijuPatnaik Centenary Celebration Organising Committee and AllOdisha Association of Bangalore is also organising an event commemorating 80 years of the stateand Patnaik's birth centenary, besides a blood donation camp. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Karnataka ChiefMinister Siddaramaih, former prime minister H D Deve Gowda,and Union Minister Ananth Kumar are expected to attend the event, according to a release by the organisers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A large car bomb blew up outside a hotel in Thailand's insurgency-plagued southern region, killing one and wounding more than 30 people, some of them critically, police said. The bomb struck shortly before midnight outside a hotel on the outskirts of Pattani, one of three Muslim majority southern provinces that have been battered by a 12-year insurgency. "So far there is one killed and more than 30 injured," Major General Thanongsak Wangsupa, Pattani provincial police commander, said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta and BJP MLA Jagdish Pradhan today staged a walkout from the Delhi Assembly over the issue of the purported 'CAG report' not being tabled in the House. He alleged that the AAP government was "trying to suppress the report because it severely indicts it for glaring irregularities". In a statement, Gupta also alleged that the Comptroller and Auditor General report for 2015-16 was submitted before commencement of the current Vidhan Sabha Session. "But it is objectionable that the government failed to take the House in confidence," he said, further alleging that the move of the government was "unconstitutional and can invite legal action." Gupta also alleged that Delhi government "failed" to provide committed liability in respect of print and outdoor media advertisements. Both AAP and the BJP sparred in the Assembly over the issue and the latter accused the ruling party of "unconstitutionally hiding" the purported CAG report "which exposes wastage of public money" on advertisements and demanded the House be "dissolved" over the issue. Gupta and Pradhan later walked out of the House in protest. Meanwhile, at a press conference today, Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay also attacked the AAP government over the several issues including the suspension of a bureaucrat. "Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had tried to show after the suspension of Navalendra Kumar Singh that he did not know him but it is not true and Sisodia personally knows Singh since long," he alleged. Lt Governor Najeeb Jung had suspended Singh, former OSD to the Deputy Chief Minister, and another official for allegedly handing over land meant for DUSIB to a private party. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Palestinian stabbed an Israeli soldier in the occupied West Bank today and was shot dead, the army said. An army statement said Israeli forces had been chasing a group of alleged rock throwers who were in a car. "One of the assailants exited the vehicle and stabbed a soldier," it said. "Responding, the soldier fired towards the perpetrator, resulting in his death." The soldier was taken to hospital for treatment, the statement said, without giving details on his condition. The attack took place close to the Israeli settlement of Ariel, near the Palestinian city of Nablus in the northern West Bank. A wave of violence since October has killed 221 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, an Eritrean and a Sudanese, according to an AFP tally. Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, Israeli authorities say, with the majority of them from the West Bank. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Paragon Partners today said it is investing Rs 111 crore in Bengaluru-based Maini Precision Products (MPPL) through a mix of primary and secondary transactions. Paragon Partners was floated by Siddharth Parekh, son of HDFC Chairman Deepak Parekh, and entrepreneur Sumeet Nindrajog in August last year. The private equity firm, which achieved its first close from a mix of domestic and overseas investors in early 2016, is on track to raise Rs 1,300 crore by the end of the year. This is the company's second investment after investing Rs 63 crore in Mumbai-based construction firm Capacite Infraprojects. "Paragon Partners Growth Fund - I, along with co-investors, is investing Rs 111 crore in Maini Precision Products," the PE venture said in a statement. "This deal is representative of Paragon's investment philosophy of partnering with high-quality entrepreneurs with differentiated business models and assisting them in scaling up operations through strategic and operational guidance," Siddharth Parekh, Co-founder and Senior Partner at Paragon Partners, said. "Given our proven trackrecord, expertise and support of Paragon Partners, we are confident of increasing our business footprint and achieving our growth ambitions," MPPL CEO and MD Gautam Maini said in a statement. MPPL is a manufacturer and supplier of high-precision engineering components and assemblies catering to the global automotive, industrial and aerospace sectors. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) King of Pop Michael Jackson's daughter Paris has denied reports suggesting she is set to wed her rocker boyfriend. Paris, 18, and Michael Snoddy hit headlines recently amid wedding bell rumours, but she has made it clear the claims were unfounded in a series of Twitter posts, poking fun at the constant speculation about her private life, reported E! online. "So many marriage and pregnancy rumors just in the past 3 years," she wrote. "What's next, me running for president? My boyfriend and I become super villains and try to take over the world? Come on now. "I think if I were engaged I would be the first to know," Paris added, joking, "How am I just now finding out about this?" The youngster, who lost her pop icon father in 2009, hasn't been shy about her blossoming relationship with Snoddy, sharing a photo of the couple online last week. The picture featured Snoddy planting a kiss on Paris' cheek at a photo shoot in New York City. In the accompanying caption, she wrote, "I've been his groupie for a while now, time to switch rolls." He shared the same image on his Instagram page, and made it known the feeling is mutual. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi High Court today said the concept of part-time law course was a problem as it gave a "second hand" status to the legal profession and wondered why it was not given primacy like the medical course. "This whole concept of part-time course is a problem. Why is law a second hand job? Why not a primary one like medicine," Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva asked while seeking the response of the Centre, Delhi University and Bar Council of India on a plea against change of timing of two law centres run by the varsity. The court refused to pass an interim order putting on hold the counselling process, slated to begin from August 26, on the plea by several hundred candidates out of 2310 who had cleared the entrance exams for the law courses run by DU. The petitioners had sought stay on the counselling saying once they opt for one of the two centres, which used to hold classes in the evening earlier, they would not be able to change it. The change of timing was announced as per a notification issued by the Bar Council of India (BCI), effective from this year. The petitioners said they were affected by the change of timing as most of them were government servants and persons working in the private sector. "Let them enjoy their present jobs," the court said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid reports that donors to the Clinton Foundation met Hillary Clinton at the state department when she was the secretary of state, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has alleged that the "scandal" is a "threat to the foundation of democracy". "She (Hillary Clinton) is bought-and-paid-for by the special interests. This corruption relates closely to another corruption scandal that strikes at the heart of our Democracy. Every day more and more alarming facts come out," 70-year-old Trump said at an election rally in Austin, Texas. "The scandal I speak of is the State Department's Pay-for-Play Scandal under Hillary Clinton. If our Secretary of State can be bought, or bribed, or sell or trade government favors, then the whole American system is threatened," he said. "It is a threat to the foundation of Democracy itself. This is what happens in a Third World country - it's the failed conditions people flee when they come to America," Trump alleged. "America can never elect a candidate who, like Clinton, did government favors for those giving her family and her foundation massive amounts of cash. The new revelations about Clinton's email scandal make clear we have only seen the tip of the iceberg," he said. Trump alleged that 68-year-old Clinton is "desperate" to cover-up her crimes and that is the reason why she deleted 33,000 emails. That's also why she lied repeatedly to Congress and the public. "She said she never sent or received classified materials. That was a lie, proved over and over again. She claimed she used an insecure email server for the convenience of using only one device. But she used multiple devices. Another lie," he said. "She said her server was secure, and had no breaches. But we know now it was completely unsecure, and the FBI Director said it could easily be hacked by our foreign enemies. Clinton said her lawyers reviewed all of her emails before destroying them," he said. A day after Trump sought investigation by special prosecutor for alleged wrongdoings by Clinton, Former New York City Mayor and US Attorney Rudy Giuliani joined the chorus of voices calling for action against the former secretary of state. "In other words, they merged the two into the Clinton Family racketeering enterprise. The need for a Special Prosecutor to investigate these apparent crimes mounts with every passing day and each new revelation of e-mails and phone logs. "I'm sure all we've seen is the tip of the iceberg and there will be more to follow," alleged Giuliani. Trump said that Clinton is "unfit" to hold public office. "It is impossible to figure out where the Clinton Foundation ends and the State Department begins. It is now abundantly clear that the Clintons' set up a business to profit from public office. They sold access and specific actions by and to them for money," Trump said. The Republican presidential nominee alleged that this goes back to the Arkansas days, and it continued during the White House days with the sale of the Lincoln Bedroom to large donors. The e-mails and phone logs show that the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton Department of State were one and the same, he charged. "If you donated to the Clinton Foundation or paid massive speaking fees to Bill, you got an entry to the Department of State. Together they constituted the most scandalous and certainly most profitable sale of public office since the Teapot Dome Scandal of the 1920s," he said. "The fact Clinton's official schedule was full of meetings with Clinton Foundation donors is further evidence of the pay-to-play politics at her State Department. No one is above the law," said Indian Governor Mike Pence, who is the vice presidential nominee of the Republican party. "The Clinton Foundation must be immediately shut down and an independent special prosecutor be appointed to determine if access to Hillary Clinton was for sale. It would be a dereliction of duty by President Obama and his Justice Department if they fail to act on these startling new facts right now," he demanded. Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus demanded that it is time a special prosecutor be appointed to investigate the growing proof of pay-to-play at Hillary Clinton's State Department. "This is among the strongest and most unmistakable pieces of evidence of what we've long suspected: at Hillary Clinton's State Department, access to the most sensitive policy makers in US diplomacy was for sale to the highest bidder," he said. "By not appointing a special prosecutor, President Obama is endorsing the actions of a secretary of state who broke ethics agreements regarding foreign donations to her family foundation, took a majority of her non-governmental meetings with donors to that foundation, and who exclusively conducted all of her correspondence while in office over a secret server housed in a basement. Before voters go to the polls, there needs to be an investigation," Priebus said. Kerala government's move to cull violent street dogs has drawn flak from animal rights groups with People For Animals saying it would take legal recourse if government takes steps to kill stray canines in violation of Supreme Court order. "People For Animals would fully support and cooperate with the government's measures to sterilise street dogs, but under this cover, if any attempt is made from any centre to kill dogs in violation of Supreme Court order, it would be challenged legally," the organisation's Kerala member in-charge Raneesh Perambra told reporters here today. He said the root cause of increase in the number of street dogs was the lack of proper waste disposal measures. The present situation was caused by "indifferent attitude" of the government and civic bodies in taking steps for waste management, he added. The issue became a talking point in the state after a 65-year-old woman died when she was mauled by a pack of dogs at coastal hamlet Pullivilla near here on Sunday. Incidents of dog bites have also been reported from rural areas of the city and Palakkad district. Eight persons at Palakkad and another at Pullivilla were mauled by street dogs. According to a report submitted in the Supreme Court recently in a connected case, more than one lakh people in Kerala have been bitten by dogs in 2015-16. As part of measure to tackle stray dog menace, government had yesterday said it would take steps to cull violent street dogs by injecting "special medicines". Local Administration Minister K T Jaleel had said the local administration secretary has been authorised to issue orders to civic bodies to cull violent street dogs by injecting "special medicines." Steps in this regard would be taken on the basis of veterinarians' certificate. No case would be registered for killing dogs in this manner, Jaleel had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) People of the national capital were probably leaving the city due to pollution levels and the crime rate, which the authorities appeared unwilling to control, the Delhi High Court said today. A bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Ashutosh Kumar observed this after the Centre told the court that the decadal growth rate of population was declining as per census records. Attributing this purported downward trend in population growth to people leaving the national capital, the court said, "People are leaving Delhi because of pollution and crime rate which you (authorities) are not willing to control". The issue was raised before the court which was hearing a PIL initiated by it after the December 16, 2012 gangrape case, in which it has been giving directions from time to time with regard to improving crime investigation and protection of women in Delhi. The court was also informed that Delhi Police was contemplating bringing forensic laboratories under its administrative control while the AAP government has said this move should be stopped before it is implemented. The bench did not issue any direction as sought by the Delhi government and asked the lawyer for the police to inform the court whether there was any such move to bring the forensic labs under its control. Amicus curiae Meera Bhatia told the court that there have been several incidents of rapes of women in the city from January this year till August 8, to which the court remarked "what is happening to the city?" The Centre, on the other hand, said that a high level committee (HLC) of senior police officers has been formed and it had on July 27 held a meeting where certain decisions were taken regarding criteria to enhance strength of Delhi police. Delhi Police, through its lawyer Rajesh Mahajan, told the court that in response to the minutes of the meeting held on July 27, it has forwarded two letters to the LG containing various proposals to increase its manpower by around 54,000. The court asked the lawyer representing the Lieutenant Governor to forward to the Centre, at the earliest, the proposals by the police and listed the matter for hearing on September 14. (Reopens LGD35) On the delay in answering of calls made to emergency number 100, Ministry of Communications (MoC) told the court that it has received inputs regarding the reasons and would file an affidavit on the issue in two weeks. The police said it has sent emails through Ministry of External Affairs to Police Commissioners of major cities around the world on their response times and their replies are awaited. Delhi government submitted before the court that backlog of cases in its forensic labs with regard to DNA testing would be reduced to zero in eleven months. It also said that turnaround time of samples received by the labs for testing would also be reduced as more manpower has been inducted. The court observed that if turnaround time goes down, backlog would automatically go down. It also expressed concern over storage of samples received by biological and chemistry divisions. It directed the police to file an affidavit indicating the manner in which biological and chemical samples are stored in the 'malkhana' of police stations prior to them being sent to the labs. Police was also asked to indicate in its affidavit how the samples were stored after being collected and while in transit to the 'malkhana'. On whether the victims of rape received any compensation, an issue which was brought to attention of the court by amicus curiae, the court asked Delhi State Legal Services Authority to examine the cases and to submit a report. Delhi government was also asked to examine the cases of the victims and if compensation was not paid to them, then to take steps for immediate payment. The court also sought a report from Centre regarding the status of the progress regarding processing of the victim compensation scheme for Delhi. The Chinese army is all set to discard erstwhile Soviet-style bulky military and opt for lean US-style forces for quick deployment with plans to retrench the world's largest military. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) whichtogether with navy and airforces constitutes 2.3 million strong forces, the world's largest, will phase out its army corps as it tries to mould a more nimble fighting force, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported. The move will also impact the military deployment along the India-China borders, the PLA now plans to turn its 18 Army Corps into 25 to 30 divisions. The size of a corp varies from 30,000 to a lakh of soldiers. The current approach was inherited from the Soviet Union, but it's a bulky model no longer suited to the demands of modern warfare, which prizes modularity, a retired senior colonel based in Beijing said. Instead the the style of the US 101st Airborne Division is the best example that the PLA land forces will study, he said. "This is a main trend in modern warfare. Even the Russian army has tried to learn from the US army by reducing the size of their troops, making land forces become more nimble and quick-response," the veteran said. "The style of the US 101st Airborne Division is the best example that the (People's Liberation Army's) land forces will study, especially its quick deployment, equipment and logistic supplies, as well as other supporting networks, which reflect the success of its nimble and efficient system," he said. A Chinese defence white paper last year highlighted the importance of building small, multifunctional and modular units that could take on different purposes for joint operations. As part of the overall military reforms initiated by President Xi Jinping, who also heads the decision-making Central Military Commission, the PLA has dissolved the four general headquarters and instead set up 15 new organisations including the Headquarters of the Joint Force. The seven military commands were reshaped into five theatre commands. Also Xi has proposed to cut three lakh troops by next year. It was only a matter of time for the army corps units to be either downsized or scrapped, although the change would inevitably encounter strong opposition from the ground force, the report said. (REOPENS FGN35) The transition to divisions is likely to result in the dismissal of tens of thousands of military personnel and, hence, trigger huge resistance from the troops affected, it said. Under the new arrangement, divisions will receive instructions from the relevant theatre command, which reports directly to the Joint Staff Headquarters, which is now part of the Central Military Commission, before giving orders to frontline troops. Since Xi took over in 2013, PLA's focus was fixated on winning local wars with heavy hands on training using live ammunition. Currently the biggest land force in the world, the army comprises 1.55 million soldiers, of which 850,000 are mobile troops, most of whom are under the army corps, while the rest are regional garrison troops. Xi appears to be tightening his grip on military power by letting go of some generals while promoting others who have his trust, as he tries to streamline the force and root out corruption within the ranks. Over 40 top military officials faced corruption probes in the massive anti-grant campaign launched by Xi, which in turn also strengthened his position, making him the strongest Chinese leader in recent time. While inspecting the Guangzhou Military Command in less than month after he took over power, Xi said, "when you are summoned, you must come at once; when you come, make sure you can fight, and when you fight, be certain to win. Seven members of a gang including three juveniles have been nabbed in connection with 16 cases of robberies and carjacking in south west Delhi, police said today. Police had received complaints of two robberies including one in which a truck driver had escaped unhurt when fired at by the robbers in Jafarpur Kalan on the intervening night of August 8-9. Working on the cases, police received a tip off and caught three persons including Ajay(18), Gajraj(23) and a juvenile, from Bakargarh More on August 21, said Surender Kumar, DCP(south west). The information revealed by the trio led to further arrest of two other accused Karambir (26) and Vinay Sharma(22) besides nabbing of two more juveniles near Mundhela Khurd drain, he said. The gang members used to commit carjacking for thrill since none of them could drive vehicles which were later dumped by them, said the officer. A total of 16 cases of robbery and carjacking have been worked out with busting of the gang. A country made pistol three live rounds, a stolen motorcycle, a gold chain and an identity card of one of their victims were recovered from them, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The hijab or the headscarf has been made optional part of Police Scotland's uniform in an attempt to attract more women Muslim recruits to the force, which currently has less black and Asian representation. Previously officers could wear the religious headscarf with approval but it is now formally part of the police uniform. Police Scotland said it is working to make the force "representative of the communities we serve". Chief Constable Phil Gormley said, "I am delighted to make this announcement and welcome the support from both the Muslim community, and the wider community, as well as police officers and staff." "Like many other employers, especially in the public sector, we are working towards ensuring our service is representative of the communities we serve," he was quoted as saying by The Sun. "I hope that this addition to our uniform options will contribute to making our staff mix more diverse and adds to the life skills, experiences and personal qualities that our officers and staff bring to policing the communities of Scotland," he said. A report earlier this year showed just 2.6 per cent of applicants to join Police Scotland were from ethnic minorities. In order to reflect the 4 per cent figure across Scottish society, the force said it would need to recruit an additional 650 ethnic minority candidates. There are currently six female Muslim officers working for Police Scotland - but none of them wear the hijab either on duty or outside the force, BBC reported. The most recent figure for the overall strength of the force -- released at the end of June --- was 17,242. Official figures showed that there were 127 applications from black, Asian and ethnic minority candidates in 2015-16. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today stressed on the need for initiating a political dialogue with stakeholders in the state saying it is "very important" even as he demanded an immediate ban on use of pellet guns against protesters Speaking to reporters after meeting Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, the National Conference leader said this is part of an ongoing process of engagement with the central government because "we believe that it is very important that a political dialogue be initiated with the stakeholders of Jammu and Kashmir". Omar led an NC delegation and interacted with Singh for 45 minutes, official sources said. They said the delegation urged the Home Minister to immediately ban use of pellet guns as a crowd control measure in Kashmir. "They also demanded that Centre initiate a dialogue with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir to find a lasting solution to the problems faced by the state," a source said. Singh is on a two-day visit to review the security situation in the Valley which is in the grip of violent protests since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani on July 8. Singh's visit came on a day when fresh clashes broke out between protesters and security forces in Pulwama district in which one youth was killed. The death toll in the unrest in Kashmir Valley has now climbed to 66. "It is exactly this message that the united Opposition parties took to Delhi when we met the President, the Prime Minister and other leaders including Rahul Gandhi and Sitaram Yechury," Omar said. "We will continue to press for those issues, both short term; in terms of excessive use of force, in terms of the injuries and loss of lives on account of the pellet guns, but also the medium to long term which is initiation of sustained meaningful dialogue to find what in the words of the PM is a lasting solution," he said. Omar thanked Singh for promptness of the Centre in exhibiting "seriousness" about the suggestions made by the Opposition parties during their visit to Delhi. "The situation is getting worse and this is what we told the Home Minister that this confrontationist attitude being adopted, the way we are worsening the situation by our statements. This confrontationist attitude, the use of force to control the situation is not the solution and this is what we told the Prime Minister and the Home Minister," Omar told reporters after his meeting with Singh here. He lashed out at Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for "adding fuel to the fire rather than dousing the flames" by her statements. REOPENS DEL91 "On one hand there is continuous curfew for the last 50 days and the whole valley is shut, government offices, schools are closed and trade is also shut, on the other hand the chief minister is saying that this is being done by just five per cent of people. "If five per cent of people have wounded the state as well as the central government, then these five per cent are more powerful than all the rest. Then only these five per cent should control the situation. Rather than dousing the fire, we are adding more fuel to the fire by such statements. If we say that it is only five per cent, then people say fine we will show you this five per cent and then they organise the protests in much larger numbers," he said. "I will not speak on behalf of the Home Minister because he will himself talk on what he wants to do. We too are hopeful and want to see how he views the situation on his second visit to the Valley in one month. We want to see how much forward he is ready to move. "What he said on Twitter before leaving Delhi about those people who believe in Insaniyat, Kashmiriyat and Jhamooriyat, that he is ready to talk to them. We want to see how far he is ready to go regarding the statement of the PM about a lasting solution," he said. The NC leader said his party would wait to see how far the message of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister has gone. "We will have to wait to see how far the message, which should have gone (to the people), has gone to them, the Home Minister is here till tomorrow and what preparations has the state government done for his visit and what steps has it taken to make those people ready to talk to the Home Minister who did not talk to him the last time," he said. Omar also criticised the decision to deploy BSF in Srinagar after 12 years saying it was a serious development. He said for the settlement of the Kashmir issue at some point India has to talk to Pakistan. "Today we want solution of this issue internally. It is quite understandable that if we want one time settlement of Jammu and Kashmir issue then at one point we will have to talk with Pakistan," he said. President today inaugurated a Mega Food Park at Jangipur in Murshidabad, aimed at providing critical food processing infrastructure to the farmers of this backward belt in West Bengal. The new food park will minimise the wastage of food products, Mukherjee said after inaugurating the Food Park in the presence of West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi and union and state ministers. Mukherjee's son Abhijeet, the MP from Jangipur, was also present during the function. The project, considered close to Mukherjee's heart, was accorded in-principle approval in December 2008 and final approval in March 2010. It will benefit the farmers of North 24 Parganas, Birbhum, Malda and Burdwan districts. Noting that India is second in fruit production after Brazil and next only to China in vegetable production, the President hoped that India would minimise the wastage of food products through projects like this. He added that the food park will help farmers of the area get better price for their produce. Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal said the promise made by the Centre during the UPA government in 2008 has been fulfilled by the NDA government in 2016. "The Mega Food Park will leverage an additional investment of about Rs 250 crore in food processing units in the Park, generate a turnover of about Rs 500 crore annually and is expected to provide direct and indirect employment to 6,000 people and benefit about 25,000-30,000 farmers in the catchment areas," she said. Badal said connecting farmers with food processing infrastructure and creating markets are her primary goals so that farmers get remunerative price of their produce. "Mega Food Park at Jangipur has been set up at a cost of Rs 132.71 crore approximately in an area of 82.11 acres with a grant of Rs 50 crore provided by my ministry," she added. The food park is equipped with industrial sheds for SMEs, developed industrial plots for lease to food processing units and facilities of 8,000 MT warehouse, 5,000 MT multi-crop cold storage, 10,000 MT potato cold storage, IQF and Pulping line of 1.5 tonne per hour each, 3,000 MT deep freeze and quality control lab. Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, ministers of West Bengal government and state Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury were also present. Later, Mukherjee attended the first convocation of Management Development Institute-Murshidabad at Jangipur before returning to New Delhi after a three-day visit to West Bengal. Speaking at the convocation, the President said he had taken the initiative for establishing the institute when he represented the area in Parliament. He said his dream was that the people of Murshidabad be well informed and well educated so that they can take their rightful place in the country. Noting that technology is the key to advancement, he said, "we have created good infrastructure in our higher educational system, hardly any of the Indian Universities find place in the top global rankings." Stating that two Indian institutions of higher learning were ranked among the top 100 in the world in 2015, Mukherjee hoped that more institutions would figure high in the rankings in the future. "We should emphasise on research and innovation. Progress is not possible without a knowledge society. Knowledge leads to technology and technology to prosperity," he added. Question hour of Uttar Pradesh Assembly was today washed out as BJP members trooped into the well, creating an uproar to raise law and order and other issues. As soon as the House met at 11 AM, BJP members jumped into the well raising slogans against the Samajwadi Party government, displaying placards and banners highligting issues like law and order, power crisis and cane dues. The BJP members held SP government responsible for the present situation in Uttar Pradesh. BSP legislative party leader Gaya Charan Dinkar also tried to corner the SP government on the law and order front. Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey tried to pacify members and asked them to return but later adjourned the House till 12.20 PM. Yesterday, the UP Assembly witnessed uproar as opposition parties sought to corner the Akhilesh Yadav government over several issues, prompting the Speaker to order the eviction of the protesting legislators. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Home Minister Rajnath Singh today reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir after arriving here on a two-day visit during which he would hold talks with various stakeholders in the Valley and invited all those who believe in 'Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat'. Singh was briefed by top civil, army, police and paramilitary officials about the prevailing situation in the Kashmir Valley, which has been witnessing unrest for the last 47 days after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani on July 8. The Home Minister was conveyed that there has been improvement in situation on the ground, there is no scarcity of essential commodities and health services are functioning, official sources said. As many as 66 persons, including two police personnel, have been killed and several thousands injured ever since the turmoil began. Among them is a youth who was killed in fresh clashes in Pulwama today. Before leaving for Kashmir, the Home Minister said he will hold talks with all stakeholders and those who believe in 'Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat' are welcome. Singh said he would be staying at Srinagar's Nehru guest house where he will interact with cross section of people on Kashmir issue. "I shall interact will civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders," he said on Twitter. "Those who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat are welcome," he added. He will also hold meetings with Governor N N Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. This is the second visit of the Home Minister to the Kashmir Valley since the trouble began. The Home Minister had said the Centre wants an emotional relationship with the state and not just need-based. Singh had said the central government will talk to whosoever needed once peace and normalcy is restored in the state. "As far as Government of India is concerned, I want to make it clear that we don't just want need-based ties, but to build an emotional relationship with Kashmir," he had said, reaching out to the people in the Valley while making a fervent appeal to them to help restore peace and normalcy in the state. On Monday, while meeting a joint opposition delegation led by former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed his "deep concern and pain" over the situation there and asked all political parties to work together to find a "permanent and lasting" solution to problems in Jammu and Kashmir. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress Rajya Sabha member from Telangana K V P Ramchandra Rao today urged the Centre to take over the Polavaram irrigation project and ensure its early completion by 2018. "I request the Central government to take over the Polavaram irrigation project immediately and expedite the work on it to ensure its completion by 2018 as envisaged earlier. "The state government is not willing to hand over the project to the Centre for obvious reasons but the Centre should fulfil its promise of making it a national project and ensuring its completion by 2018," Rao told reporters. He said it is mandated upon the Central government to complete the project as it has already been declared as a national project under the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014. "The Centre should act fast and finish the project in time, as it is the lifeline of Andhra Pradesh," he said. The consent for Polavaram Irrigation Project shall be deemed to have been given by the successor State of Telangana and the Central Government shall execute the project and obtain all requisite clearances including environmental, forests, and rehabilitation and resettlement norms, as mandated in Section 90 of the AP Reorganisation Act, he said. Rao had earlier moved a private member bill for amending the Constitution to declare a special package for Andhra Pradesh, which could not be voted, it being declared as a money bill by Rajya Sabha chairman. Rao has also written to Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti in this regard. He has said that Andhra Pradesh is in a very bad shape financially and emotionally and the only ray of hope they have is the Polavaram National Project, which can be utilized in the best interests of the state. "The people of AP are not able to understand about what is happening to Polovaram Project at all ! "In the circumstances, I request you to give clarity on what is exactly happening on Polavaram Project and also to complete the Polavaram Project at the earliest, as mandated in the A.P Reorganisation Act," he said in his letter to Bharti. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A new group of critically endangered primates has been spotted in Vietnam, raising hopes the rare creatures may not be wiped out in the next decade as scientists had feared. The Delacour's langur, black and white with a full face of whiskers, is indigenous to Vietnam, but their numbers have dwindled in recent years because of poaching and mining activity in the country's northern forests. A team of scientists from Fauna and Flora International spotted a group of about 40 of the primates, mostly juveniles and infants, bringing their total population to less than 250. "It's great for this particular species because had we not found this new population, they were in grave danger of being wiped out within a decade," spokeswoman for FFI in Vietnam, Akofa Wallace, told AFP yesterday. "The fact that they are breeding is brilliant news," she added. FFI did not say where scientists spotted the langurs, whose habitat is threatened by mining activity in the area, including charcoal production. They are also targeted by poachers who hunt them for meat, with their bones used for traditional medicine and their pelts for decoration. The primate was discovered in northern Vietnam in the 1930s by French scientist Jean Theodore Delacour, and are only found in Vietnam. FFI country director Benjamin Rawson said urgent interventions were needed to protect the species, which numbered about 300 in the early 1990s. "We continue to work alongside officials and local communities to ensure the Delacour's langur doesn't become this century's first primate extinction," Rawson said in a statement. The rare animals are protected under Vietnam's conservation laws, but critics say the legislation is not effectively enforced and poaching of rare or endangered species continues unchecked. Vietnam is home to some of world's most endangered species, including the mountainous antelope Saola, the Red River giant soft-shell turtle and the Tonkin snub-nosed monkey. Wild animals are under constant threat in the country, with their body parts in high demand for both food and traditional medicine. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress today sought to put its house in order in Uttarakhand with Chief Minister Harish Rawat and other senior leaders meeting party vice president Rahul Gandhi amid growing infighting in the state unit. Besides meeting Gandhi, the leaders participated in the state Congress coordination committee meeting convened by AICC General Secretary Ambika Soni, who is in-charge of party affairs in the state. Party leaders, including the chief minister, downplayed any differences and insisted that the meeting was on election preparedness. Rawat said that the meeting was long pending and was called to decide strategy for the polls which are scheduled next year. He also sought to downplay differences with state party chief Kishore Upadhyay, who had recently been at loggerheads with him, saying as state party chief he has the right to raise issues and there is coordination between party and the government. Gandhi is apparently learning lessons from the poll debacle in Assam and seeking to bring about unity among top party leaders from Uttarakhand. In Assam, the failure to patch up differences between the then Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and his detractor Himanta Biswa Sarma had cost the party dearly in the Assembly poll earlier this year. On meeting with Gandhi, Rawat said a roadmap for development in the state ahead of next year elections was putforth before him and he has sought more details in this regard. Later, the chief minister met Soni and discussed the poll strategy for the party. He also met Ahmed Patel, the political secretary of Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Rawat also met Union minister Nitin Gadkari and discussed with him the infrastructure related projects. To a question on shifting of state capital to Gairsain, Rawat said there was no question of going back on the issue as lot of construction work has already been completed and some are in full swing and soon after it is over, the state capital will be shifted there. "There is no question of going back on making Gairsain the capital of Uttarakhand," he said, adding that the Assembly building and MLA hostel and secretariat building have been constructed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The negotiations for the proposed mega trade deal - RCEP - would miss the deadline of concluding the talks by December this year, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said today. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) members wanted to conclude the negotiations by December 2016 but "that is not going to happen. It might move into 2017," she told reporters. She also said that the next ministerial meeting to review progress of the negotiations is in November. RCEP trade ministers including India, China and Japan met on August 5 in Laos to end the logjam and iron out issues holding back negotiations of the RCEP. There are several complex issues, including from the services sector, which is holding back the talks. Although the members have now agreed for a single tier system of tariff relaxation from the earlier three-tier system, talks are going slow in services sector, a major area of India's interest. "In services, detailed discussions have not happened. So we have to plough that field as we get nearer (to conclude the talks). We have also raised the concerns about delay in finalizing the mutual recognition agreements (MRAs)," Sitharaman said. MRAs pave the way for recognition of professional body of one country by the other. Regulatory bodies of various professional services like engineering, accountancy and architecture are encouraged to enter into these pacts. Further India is also pushing to conclude the RCEP talks in a single undertaking unlike the Asean free trade pact in which FTA in goods and services were signed separately. "We have reiterated our position that the negotiations will have to be happen as a single undertaking," she said adding the RCEP members at this stage are discussing on ways to build consensus on all the complex issues. The minister also said that "India is not at the backfoot" on the talks and the country's views are heard by all members. Allaying fears, India has also made it clear to the members that Indian professionals will not flood their markets as they go for temporary projects, she said. RCEP is a mega trade deal which aims to cover goods, services, investments, economic and technical cooperation, competition and intellectual property rights. The talks for the pact started in Phnom Penh in November 2012. The 16 countries account for over a quarter of the world's economy, estimated to be more than USD 75 trillion. The 16-member bloc RCEP comprises 10 ASEAN members (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Laos and Vietnam) and their six FTA partners -- India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The rift in West Bengal Congress today came out in the open as a section of senior leaders demanded the ouster of state unit chief Adhir Chowdhury, accusing him of "damaging the party by his arbitrary way of functioning". Led by state Congress general secretary Kanak Debnath and other loyalists of senior party leader Manas Bhunia, the anti-Adhir section lashed out at him and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Abdul Mannan. They accused the duo of destroying the party and cautioned that it would cease to exist politically if they remained at the helm of the state unit. They have also decided to write to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi regarding their grievances against the duo. "The functioning and management of West Bengal Congress is in a sorry state. Chowdhury, who is unaware of the history and sacrifice of the party, has destroyed its organisational structure. He is not at all interested in running the unit under a collective leadership and improving our organisational base in the state," Debnath told reporters. He termed forging an alliance with the Left a "political harakiri" and claimed that Congress MLAs and other elected representatives were leaving the party and joining the Trinamool Congress (TMC) due to the decision. "During the Assembly election, the entire situation was a mess. The process of negotiation was faulty, the number of seats allotted to the Congress was very less and the selection of candidates was not even discussed at the PCC-level. Also, most of the candidates did not get the full fund allotted by the AICC for the election and the reason was best known to Chowdhury," Debnath alleged. "We appeal to every Congress leader to come out of the clutches of the Left-oriented policies being followed by Chowdhury and Mannan or else, the Congress in Bengal cannot be saved. We feel, Chowdhury should take moral responsibility and step down as the state unit chief," he said. When contacted, Chowdhury said it was the AICC that had appointed him as the state unit chief. "I do not wish to comment on these baseless allegations. It is the AICC and our party's top leadership that had appointed me the state unit chief," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a daylight heist, five armed robbers today entered a house claiming to be a team of Gujarat Police which had earlier investigated the family for allegedly sheltering Asaram Bapu's son Narayan Sai and looted gold and cash in Model Town colony here. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Dhruman Nimble said the house belonged to Raj Kumar Agnihotri who is a distributor of Samsung electronics and had a showroom here at Sunder Nagar locality. The family is believed to be a staunch follower of Asaram Bapu and it was alleged that they provided shelter to his son Narayan Sai, when he was on the run after being named in a criminal case. The Gujarat Police had then raided the office and residence of the family to arrest Narayan Sai. Pushpa Devi, wife of Raj Agnihotri, told the police that the robbers, though were not in police uniform, introduced themselves as a team of Gujarat Police which had come on a special mission. They robbers forcibly entered the house and also manhandled the security guard posted at the gate and took him inside the house at gunpoint. They took the family members at gunpoint including Agnihotri's wife and two daughters-in-law and locked them in a room. Later, Agnihotri told police that the robbers had decamped with 200 Tolas of gold Jewellery and cash to the tune of Rs 12 lakh. They also took away a .32 bore revolver and a .5 bore gun from the family. Police Commissioner Jatinder Singh Aulakh told reporters that there were five robbers who managed to escape in a white car. Police were searching the footage of CCTV cameras installed nearby. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) For the first time, the victims of cross border firing along the Indo-Pakistan border in Jammu and Kashmir will get compensation of Rs five lakh, similar to those who die due to terrorism or Left Wing Extremism violence. At present, there is no scheme to compensate victims of cross border firing. The Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today gave its approval to enhance the grant of compensation under "Central Scheme for Assistance to Civilian Victims of Terrorist, Communal, Left Wing Extremist (LWE), Cross Border Firing and Mine or Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) blasts on Indian Territory" from Rs three lakh to Rs five lakh. "It is a historic decision by the Modi government. It gives a message to them the central government cares for them will go in a long way," Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh said while announcing the measure. Approximately 770 km of the Line of Control and approximately 220 km of International Border have been a witness to frequent ceasefire violation and the influx of terrorists since 1990. More than 50 civilians die every year due to shelling and cross border firing along the Indo-Pak order in Jammu and Kashmir. As many as 13,921 civilians have lost their lives till last year. A total of 168 civilians were killed due to naxal violence in maoist-hit states in 2015. "Now onwards, any civilian who dies anywhere in the country due to terror attack, LWE violence, firing from across the border, shelling or IED explosion will be given Rs 5 lakh as compensation uniformly. The amount will be given to the next of kin of the victim," an official release said. The amount will also be given to those who receive 50 per cent or more disability or incapacitation due to the same reasons, it said. "The compensation amount will be given subject on the condition that no employment has been provided to any of the family members of the victims by state or central government," the release said. During the Prime Minister's visit to Jammu and Kashmir on October 23, 2014, the issue of financial assistance to the people killed in cross border firing was raised. For the first time in 70 years since independence, realising the problem of Indian population residing in border areas, the government analysed their plight as they suffer due to frequent violations of ceasefire specifically on the North Western border of Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistan. "In view of the hardships faced by the civilian populations, the government decided to include the civilian victims of cross border firing under the scheme," it said. Singh said the compensation will also be available for people living in Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). "We feel that people living in PoJK should get all facilities and benefits which are available to Indian citizens. They are also part of India. The compensation announced today cannot be given to them unless they are out of the illegal occupation of Pakistan", the Minister said. Till now the next of kin of persons killed or civilians who suffered permanent incapacitation as a result of such violence were paid Rs three lakh as per provisions of the 'Central Scheme for Assistance to Civilian Victims of Terrorist, Communal, Naxal violence' since 2008. "Families of the victims would be eligible to get assistance under the scheme even if they have received any other assistance, by way of payment of ex-gratia or any other type of relief from the government or any other source except when a similar scheme is already being implemented by the central government," the release said. So far, the government has disbursed Rs 35.89 crore as compensation to civilian victims since inception of this scheme in 2008. A Russian court today sentenced ultranationalist politician Alexander Belov, a former leader of a banned anti-immigration movement, to seven and a half years in prison for extremism and money laundering. Belov was formerly coordinator of the populist Movement Against Illegal Immigrants, or DPNI, which had the slogan "Russia for (ethnic) Russians" and was banned as extremist in 2011. Its leaders then formed a new nationalist movement called "Russians" that was banned last year. Moscow's Meshchansky district court found Belov, whose real surname is Potkin, guilty of forming an "extremist" group and inciting ethnic hatred as well as perpetrating financial crimes, Russia's prosecutor general's office said. The financial crime accusations relate to Belov's alleged ties with exiled Kazakh oligarch Mukhtar Ablyazov, who is currently awaiting extradition from France on embezzlement charges. Belov was found guilty of seeking to whip up ethnic tensions in Kazakhstan, a key Russia ally, on Ablyazov's pay. Belov pleaded not guilty and told journalists in court today that the case was "blatantly flimsy," RIA Novosti state agency reported. Belov was formerly one of the organisers of an annual "Russian March" rally in Moscow, an officially sanctioned event that attracted tens of thousands at the height of its popularity, including skinheads throwing Nazi salutes. In 2011 anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny, a more moderate nationalist who rallied the liberal opposition against President Vladimir Putin's re-election, was a co-organiser of the march with Belov. The Kremlin has since sought to appeal to the ultranationalists' support base and co-opt their message of patriotic jingoism. Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Black Sea peninsula of Crimea in 2014 prompted an explosion of national pride summed up by the slogan "Crimea is ours" and saw Putin's approval rating soar. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russia's foreign ministry expressed deep concern today at Turkey's military operation in Syria, warning of rising tension over Ankara's targeting of Kurdish militia fighters at the border. "We are deeply concerned at what is happening in the Syrian-Turkish border area," the ministry said in a statement. Turkey's air and ground operation risks "further degeneration of the situation in the conflict zone," Moscow warned. The Turkish offensive targeting both Islamic State extremists and Syrian Kurdish militias could lead to deaths among peaceful civilians and "flare-ups of inter-ethnic tensions between Kurds and Arabs," it added. Russia, a major ally of the Syrian regime, has strengthened its relationship with Syria's Kurds and a Kurdish representative office recently opened in Moscow. Moscow, which began a bombing campaign in support of Assad in September last year, said it was "convinced that the Syrian conflict can be resolved exclusively on the firm basis of international law". It called for "broad intra-Syrian dialogue with the participation of all the ethnic groups and confessions including Kurds." Ankara has always called for the ouster of Assad as the key to ending the conflict, putting Turkey at odds with both Russia and Iran. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian special forces were dispatched to a bank in downtown Moscow late today where a man had taken four people hostage, local police said. Moscow police said they were able to negotiate the release of two of the hostages, both employees of the bank, shortly after 1700 GMT, but did not reveal how they were freed. According to police the drama began when a man entered a Citibank branch, located just one kilometre away from the Kremlin, shortly before 1600 GMT and was understood to have taken four people hostage -- three bank employees and one customer. An unnamed sourced in law enforcement told Russian agencies that the hostage taker, whose identity has not been disclosed, was apparently inebriated and had threatened to blow up the bank. Police told RIA Novosti state agency that the hostage taker had an "unidentified object" attached to his neck. Investigators said they had opened a criminal probe into the incident and that the two freed hostages were being questioned. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Describing Sanskrit as part of heritage, Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi today said the language does not differentiate between Hindus, Christians or Muslims. "Sanskrit is builder of the mind and personality of the people," she said during the the inauguration of Sanskrit Day celebrations at Pondicherry University here. "It does not differentiate among the people as Hindus, Christians or Muslims. Every faith takes us to one goal, harmony, peace and brotherhood," she added. Asserting that she wanted to put Puducherry "on the right track", she said her attention was focussed on creating a "cleaner and safer Puducherry". Bedi noted that the two cardinal basics of good governance were creation of cleaner and safer or orderly and regulated environ. On the Puducherry government, she said, "The government headed by Chief Minister V Narayanasamy and his cabinet is determined to give people a good, developed and prosperous Puducherry." "We are working together with utmost determination that a clean and safe Puducherry would mean drawing large number of tourists, generating revenue, jobs, and ensuring fast development," she added. She also called upon local students to come forward and play their role in achieving the goal of prosperous Puducherry. Bedi inaugurated the Rs 90.53 crore 'Digital India' Project Cell for automation of the administrative office of Pondicherry University in the first phase as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Digital India' initiative, a release said. Former Vice-Chancellor of Rashtriya Sanskrit Samsthan, New Delhi, Professor V Kutumba Sastry and Vice-Chancellor of Pondicherry University Anisa Basheer Khan were also present during the event. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court today directed CBI to provide necessary assistance and materials to SEBI to ensure that a case pending in the Australian Federal Court regarding Pearls Agrotech Corporation Limited (PACL) properties was properly conducted. Security and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) told a bench of Justices A R Dave and Adarsh Goel that it was facing difficulties to sell PACL's properties due to a host of issues and unclear title deeds. Senior advocate Arvind Datar appearing for the market regulator said that it is difficult to find buyers for the group's properties as some of them were already occupied. The bench was hearing an application filed by PACL seeking funds from SEBI for payment of salaries and other expenses to repay the investors, besides an application of SEBI seeking assistance from CBI. The court asked the regulator to file its reply on the PACL application and posted the matter for September 6. The apex court had on July 25, restrained PACL and its promoters from disposing of its properties both in India and abroad after SEBI alleged that the company has siphoned off 98 million dollars in Australia. PACL Ltd and its promoters and directors, including Nirmal Singh Bhangoo, have been embroiled in a legal battle for their alleged failure to refund Rs 49,100 crore to investors, an amount allegedly collected through chit funds schemes. Earlier, a plea filed by investors group, Janlok Prathishtan Sanghata Committee, has also sought the government's help in bringing overseas assets of the group under control, liquidate them and get refund of money to its 5.85 crore investors across the country. The committee, comprising 45,000 investors, had claimed that PACL has assets worth Rs 4,500 crore in Australia. It has said that the group's assets include Sheraton Mirage Resort (Sheraton) on the Gold Coast through a company called Pearls Australasia Mirage 1 Pty Ltd incorporated in October 2009, Pearls Infrastructure Projects Ltd and several other properties. The apex court had on February 2 appointed an expert committee headed by former Chief Justice R M Lodha to monitor the sale of the assets of the company and refund of money to the investors of PACL. SEBI has initiated recovery proceedings against the group and its promoters and directors. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) France today said it has taken "very seriously" the issue of leak of sensitive documents on advanced submarines being built for the Indian Navy and would work with India very closely with transparency. As the Scorpene data leak report broke out shaking the Indian defence establishment, French Ambassador Alexandre Ziegler said here French authorities were trying to assess the extent, nature and sensitivity of information that may have been leaked. "Well, I have seen the report in the press. What can I tell you is that the French authorities are taking the matter very very seriously and working very seriously with DCNS, the French ship building company," he told reporters at an event organised at Alliance Francaise here. Six Scorpene submarines are being built in collaboration with French naval contractor DCNS at a cost of USD 3.5 billion. The data leak has prompted India to order probe into the matter. "We (French authorities) are trying to asses the extent; the nature; the sensitivity of information that may have been leaked, and we will do work in this... In very very close cooperation (and) with full transparency with Indian authorities," Ziegler said. Earlier, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said the leak of documents detailing the secret combat capabilities of Scorpene-class submarines was a case of hacking. Australian media reported a leak of 22,400 pages that enumerate the submarines designed by DCNS for the Indian Navy. Parrikar also has ordered Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lamba to go into the entire issue and sought a report from DCNS. The details leaked included what frequencies the submarines gather intelligence at, what levels of noise they make at various speeds and their diving depths, range and endurance - all sensitive information that is highly classified, the Australian report said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Terming as "scandalous" the Scorpene submarine project leak, Congress today demanded a complete security audit of the Defence Ministry by a sitting Supreme Court judge even as it accused Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar of launching an "operation cover-up". The audit could be in the form of a commission of inquiry and should fix responsibility of the political executive, including that of the Defence Minister and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the party's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told reporters here. Insisting that the inquiry should probe the Defence Minister and the Defence Ministry to see whether they had abdicated their responsibility, he said the leak has put a question mark on India's maritime security. Dubbing it as the "biggest defence disaster" of recent time, he said it has jeopardised the sole initiative to build six Scorpene submarines in collaboration with French company DCNS at a cost of US dollar 3.5 billion (Rs 23,500 crore approximately) by government-owned Mazagaon Dock Ship Builders Ltd at Mumbai. "Despite the 'Himalayan blunder' that has deeply hurt India's defence preparedness, the Modi government/Defence Minister are indulging in 'operation cover-up' instead of fixing responsibility," he alleged. Surjewala claimed that all concerned, including the Defence Minister and Indian Navy, are speaking in contradictory voices. While Parrikar continues to describe the leaks as "hacking", the navy states that the "source of leaks is overseas and not in India", he said. French Company DCNS has clearly hinted that leak may have taken place in India, he said. With a coastline of 7517 kilometres to defend with merely 13 submarines and one nuclear submarine, the government appears to be living in denial, he said. "It is in fact intriguing as to how 'clean chits' are being meted out without conducting a proper inquiry. For such an inquiry to be fair, it has to be headed by an independent neutral authority of the level of a sitting Supreme Court judge with officials from the armed forces, naval and Military Intelligence, IB or other specialised agencies as its members," he said. Surjewala contended that this is an "alarming" situation that requires a complete 'security audit' of Mazagaon Dock Ship Builders Limited as also of the Defence Ministry. Such a security audit/commission of inquiry will only establish the source of the leak, which cannot be established by a mere denial on the part of either the Defence Minister or the Indian Navy, he said. Maintaining that the Defence Minister cannot brush these issues under the carpet, he said that the responsibility of political executive, bureaucrats and officers need to be affixed for the unprecedented leaks that have harmed national interest irreparably. More than 22,000 pages of top secret data on the capabilities of six highly advanced submarines have been leaked, raising alarm bells in the security establishment. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) North Sea oil revenues for Scotland have plunged, according to official data out today that unionists said undermined the case for independence following Britain's vote to leave the European Union. Revenues fell to USD 60 million (71 million euros, USD 79 million) in the 2015-2016 financial year from 1.8 billion pounds in the previous 12 months -- a 97-percent drop due to the dip in oil prices, the data showed. Scotland's public deficit also rose to 14.8 billion pounds, up from 14.3 billion pounds in the 2014-2015 financial year. "The lower oil price has, of course, reduced offshore revenues, with a corresponding impact on our fiscal position," Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said. "However, Scotland's long-term economic success is now being directly threatened by the likely impact of Brexit," she added. The Scottish government yesterday warned of the heavy financial burden from Britain exiting the European Union, claiming an annual cost to the economy of up to 11.2 billion pounds. At the same time however, the cost could be much lower at 1.7 billion pounds a year in lost gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030, it added in a statement. "This paper shows, in the starkest possible terms, the potentially huge cost to Scotland of being taken out of the European Union and the single market," Sturgeon said. "It is simply unacceptable that Scotland faces the prospect risk being dragged out of the EU against its will," she added. Following the shock outcome of the June 23 referendum, Sturgeon earlier this month announced plans for increased infrastructure spending to boost the Scottish economy. The devolved Scottish administration said it would invest an extra 100 million pounds on health and other infrastructure projects in Scotland this year. Prime Minister Theresa May must now decide when to activate Article 50, which formally triggers the country's departure from the European Union. Sturgeon campaigned for Britain to stay in the European Union and has said she wants to preserve close EU ties even if Britain leaves, which could include a new bid for independence. Scotland voted against separating from the rest of the United Kingdom in a 2014 referendum. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Markets regulator Sebi today entered into a pact with its counterpart in Abu Dhabi to promote exchange of information for technical assistance and facilitate cross-border investments between the jurisdictions. The pact would provide a framework for regulatory cooperation between the two authorities for enforcement and ensuring compliance with their respective laws and regulations. It will also enable the jurisdictions to consult with each other to establish and implement technical assistance programs. "Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) Financial Services Regulatory Authority have entered into a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for mutual cooperation and technical assistance," Sebi said in a statement. The MoU was signed by Sebi's Whole Time Member S Raman and Financial Services Regulatory Authority of ADGM Chief Executive Richard Teng in Abu Dhabi. "With the markets getting inter-connected and financial entities operating globally, the MoU will be a valuable tool for cross-border cooperation. It will also promote exchange of information for technical assistance and training needs, apart from facilitating cross-border investments between jurisdictions," Raman said. Sebi has now signed 22 bilateral MoUs with the regulators of various jurisdictions. Sebi is also a signatory to the multilateral MoU of International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). In order to encourage the exchange of information and assistance, Sebi has been signing pacts with the jurisdictions who are yet to become a signatory to the multilateral MoU of IOSCO. "This initiative further strengthens the working relationship with Sebi for the mutual beneficial development of the financial services industry and the capital markets in our jurisdictions," Teng said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) French defence contractor DCNS has been hit by a massive leak of secret data on its submarines likely to alarm India, Malaysia and Chile which use the boats, The Australian newspaper reported today. The 22,400 leaked pages, which the daily said it had seen, detail the combat capability of the Scorpene-class DCNS submarine designed for the Indian navy, variants of which are used by Malaysia and Chile. Brazil is also due to deploy the vessels from 2018. Australia in April awarded DCNS an AusUSD 50 billion (US USD 38 billion) contract to design and build its next generation of submarines. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull sought to play down the impact of the leak, saying in Canberra that while it was "of concern", the Scorpene was a different model to the subs Australia is buying. "The submarine we are building or will be building with the French is called the Barracuda, quite, completely different submarine to the Scorpene they are building for India," he told Channel Seven. "We have the highest security protections on all of our defence information, whether it is in partnership with other countries or entirely within Australia." The leaked documents were marked "Restricted Scorpene India" and gave the combat capabilities of India's new submarine fleet, The Australian said. They also included thousands of pages on the submarine sensors and thousands more on its communication and navigation systems as well as nearly 500 pages on the torpedo launch system alone. Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar ordered a probe into the newspaper report, saying the documents could have been obtained through hacking. "I have asked the navy chief to investigate the matter and find what has been leaked and how much of it is about us," Parrikar told reporters in India. "What I understand is there is a hacking," he said without giving details. DCNS told AFP it was aware of the articles published in the Australian press and "national security authorities" had launched an inquiry into the matter, without giving details. "This inquiry will determine the precise nature of the documents which have been leaked, the potential damage to our customers as well as those responsible." The Australian said DCNS implied that the leak may have come from India rather than France. The daily, however, said the data was thought to have been removed from France in 2011 by a former French naval officer who at the time was a subcontractor for DCNS. The data is believed to have passed through firms in Southeast Asia before eventually being mailed to a company in Australia, the newspaper said. Australian Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne said in a statement the leak "has no bearing on the Australian government's future submarine programme". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) More than 22,000 pages of top secret data on the capabilities of six highly advanced submarines being built for the Indian Navy in Mumbai in collaboration with a French company have been leaked, raising alarm bells today in the security establishment. The combat capability of the scorpene submarines being built at Mazagon dock at a cost of USD 3.5 billion by French shipbuilder DCNS, went public when an Australian newspaper, "The Australian", put the details on the website. Reacting with alacrity to the development, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who learnt about the leak at midnight, ordered Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lamba to go into the 'entire issue". A report is also being sought from DCNS. "What I understand is there is a hacking. So we will find out all this," Parrikar told reporters in Delhi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Days after the service tax department held an auction to sell embattled businessman Vijay Mallya's personal jet, little-known SGI Commex today said it emerged as the 'successful bidder' at a price of Rs 27.39 crore (USD 4.1 million), which is nearly one-sixth of the reserve price. SGI Commex chairman G S Srivastava, an art connoisseur, said the aircraft, an Airbus A319-133 with registration of CJ VT-VJM, will be converted into an art pilgrimage venture under the label of 'Beyond the Obvious' and that it will not be used as a private carrier. Srivastava said he has helped corporatise and uplift the art market with his landmark deal of the M F Hussain work 'Our Planet Called Earth Series'. He plans to utilise the aircraft to promote exotic art work ingrained in various temples and religious places across the country through religious tourism, particularly among foreigners. The latest auction, held as part of the efforts of the department to recover over Rs 800 crore dues, took place on August 18 after an earlier auction failed on June 30. The Service Tax department had set Rs 152 crore as the reserve price during both the auctions for the jet, which once served as the private aircraft of the flamboyant businessman. In the first attempt at auction, a Dubai-based company had offered just Rs 1 crore, which was turned down. In a statement, the city-based SGI Commex said it has emerged as the successful bidder for the aircraft auction held by MSTC on behalf of the service tax department on August 18, with a bid of USD 4.1 million. It further said another USD 3.5 million is estimated to be required to make the aircraft 'air-worthy'. The auction of the jet was challenged by Mumbai Airport at the Bombay High Court claiming unpaid airport fees. As per an order passed on August 22, SGI Commex will have to pay an additional amount towards taxes, hangar charges and the cost of equipment to be installed to make the aircraft air-worthy. The order, uploaded on the high court website yesterday, was passed by judges B P Colabawalla and S C Dharmadhikari. The High Court has posted the matter for final disposal to September 13. When contacted, a service tax department official, however, said a final decision will be taken by CBEC on whether to challenge the HC order or not. A final decision on whether to accept the bid or not is also pending, he maintained. "We have reservations about the Rs 27 crore bid as this is much lower than our reserved price of Rs 152 crore or USD 22.5 million. That position has been brought to notice of the Bombay HC," the official told PTI. The department, which has over Rs 800 crore dues from Kingfisher Airlines, had attached the plane in December 2013. Kingfisher Airlines has been grounded since October 2012. The only bidder at the first auction was a UAE-based aviation support firm, Alna Aero Distributional Finance Holdings, which made an offer of Rs 1.09 crore for the jet. After the failure of the first auction, the joint pricing committee comprising additional commissioner of the department and officials from the Directorate General of Central Excise Intelligence had decided not to lower the reserve level. Mallya owes over Rs 9,000 crore, which includes unpaid loans and accrued interest, to 17 banks. Prime accused in RTI activist Shehla Masood murder case was today seen having a "relaxing time" at a coffee shop on the district court premises here. According to eyewitnesses, Zahida Parvez, who was brought to the special CBI court from an Indore jail for a hearing in the matter, went to the coffee shop to have a cup of tea and was spotted chatting with the two policewomen. Zahida spent about 20 minutes there and was not handcuffed, they said. A video purportedly showing Zahida in a 'leisurely' mood, sipping tea at the coffee shop on the court premises also cropped up on social media. When asked about it, Indore Deputy Inspector General of Police, Santosh Kumar Singh said, "I have not seen the video yet. I can comment over the issue only after getting entire information about it." Law expert Ashish Choubey said 'special treatment' meted out to Zahida was against the provisions of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and it shows laxity on the part of police. Shehla was shot dead on August 16, 2011 in Bhopal. Prime accused Zahida was charged for hiring professional killers to murder the RTI activist. Zahida is charged of conspiring Shehla's murder out of jealousy as the latter had reportedly developed closeness with then BJP MLA Dhruv Narayan Singh. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi will undertake a landmark visit to India from September 1 during which he will hold talks with the top Indian leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on key issues like terrorism and deepening economic engagement. Announcing the three-day visit today, the Ministry of External Affairs said Sisi will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising of Ministers, Officials and business leaders. Sisi will also discuss ways to give fresh momentum to the already strong partnership between the two countries. During the visit, which comes at the invitation of President Pranab Mukherjee, Sisi will meet Prime Minister Modi, Vice President Hamid Ansari and a host of other leaders. President Sisi's visit will be a landmark and it will give further momentum to the already strong partnership between the two countries, India's Ambassador to Egypt Sanjay Bhattacharyya told PTI in Cairo. The bilateral relations between the two countries have three pillars which are political, economic and cultural exchanges and the discussions during the visit would cover those three areas, Bhattacharyya said. Prior to the Egyptian President's visit, a lot of preparatory work has been done, the envoy said. Also, the joint business council will take place just before the presidential visit, he said. "There are also new Indian investments in Egypt as we seek to expand our economic engagement. We inaugurated recently a vocational training centre here and we are looking forward to start our next development project which is a centre of excellence in information technology at Al-Azhar University," Bhattacharyya said. During the visit, the President is expected to meet business leaders from India and Egypt. India and Egypt enjoy excellent relations marked by strong, traditional and civilizational ties that contribute towards peace and development in the world. Both countries also have a strong economic relationship as India is Egypt's sixth largest trading partner and there is an active cooperation between the two countries in various fields. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Australia's James Faulkner recorded his first hat-trick in one-day internationals but Sri Lanka still managed to post a challenging 288 in their second match in Colombo on Wednesday. Sri Lanka, who chose to bat first, rode on half-centuries from skipper Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera to put up a respectable score in 48.5 overs against a persistent bowling attack. The hosts lost two wickets in two balls after paceman Mitchell Starc struck early to send opener Danushka Gunathilaka trudging back to the pavilion. Off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who shared the new ball with Starc, then bowled the veteran Tillakaratne Dilshan for 10 to have the hosts in trouble at 12 for two. But in-form batsmen Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal put together a 125-run third wicket partnership to build a solid platform for the hosts at the R Premadasa Stadium. Mendis, who followed up his 67 in the first ODI with a run-a-ball 69, hit nine boundaries and forced Australian skipper Steve Smith to use seven bowlers until the 21st over. The pair put quick runs on the board before a triple strike by leg-spinner Adam Zampa checked the hosts' surge. Chandimal, who top-scored with an unbeaten 80 in the previous game, was denied his sixth consecutive ODI fifty after Zampa trapped him lbw for 48. The wicketkeeper-batsman was adjudged not out by the on-field umpire but Australia successfully reviewed the decision. Zampa, 24, struck again in his very next over to get another lbw shout in his favour, but this time danger man Mendis was plumb in front of the wicket. The leggie also accounted for Dhananjaya de Silva to leave Sri Lanka struggling on 158 for five but the hosts were rescued by another crucial partnership between Mathews, who scored 57, and Kusal Perera who made 54. Their 103-run sixth-wicket stand entertained a raucous home crowd as they smashed the bowlers to all parts of the ground. Mathews, who recorded his 32nd ODI fifty in his 178th match, struck a four and two sixes during his 60-ball stay at the crease. But Faulkner hit Sri Lanka hard after getting Kusal Perera with the last delivery of his eighth over. He came back to dismiss Mathews and Thisara Perera to complete his hat-trick. Starc (3-53) claimed two wickets in the final over to stop Sri Lanka from reaching the 300-run mark, with the hosts losing their last five wickets for 27 runs. Sri Lanka are trailing the five-match ODI series 1-0. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Zendaya Coleman's casting as Mary Jane in "Spider-Man: Homecoming" has got negative responses from fans, but comic book legend Stan Lee has backed the the actress. The Spider-Man creator, who also created the character of MJ, thinks that the Disney star's take on MJ will be "absolutely wonderful", reported Ace Showbiz. "If she is as good an actress as I hear she is, I think it'll be absolutely wonderful," Lee said. The 93-year-old legend said that it would be fine to change a character's physical appearance from the comic book to the big screen. He recalled and went on to point to the late Michael Clarke Duncan as the Kingpin in Ben Affleck's "Daredevil, The Movie" debuted in 2003. "In the Daredevil movie, the Kingpin - who had been white in the comics - he was a black man playing the role, and he played it beautifully," he said. Lee noted that a comic book character's physical appearance in the movie was not the most important elements. "The colour of their skin doesn't matter, their religion doesn't matter. All that matters is that this the right person for the role," he said. Previously, "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" helmer James Gunn also defended the casting following the social media backlash from fans. Zendaya stars alongside Tom Holland in the upcoming solo film which is directed by Jon Watts. The film centers on Holland's Spider-Man who will be back to his high-school roots. "Spider-Man: Homecoming" will release on July 7, 2017. Robert Downey Jr. And Marisa Tomei are set to reprise their roles as Tony Stark and May Parker respectively. They will be joined by Donald Glover, Michael Keaton, Logan Marshall-Green and Martin Starr. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Syria condemned today's Turkish incursion into an Islamic State group-held border area as a "flagrant violation" of its sovereignty as Kurdish authorities said the action amounted to a "declaration of war". The foreign ministry in Damascus said it "condemns the crossing of the Turkey-Syria border by Turkish tanks and armoured vehicles towards the Jarabulus area with air cover from the US-led coalition and considers it a flagrant violation of Syrian sovereignty". The Syrian opposition in exile, however, welcomed the intervention. The operation -- named "Euphrates Shield" -- began around 4:00 AM (0100 GMT) with Turkish artillery pounding dozens of targets of the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group around Jarabulus, the Turkish prime minister's office said. Turkish tanks and special forces accompanied by pro-Ankara Syrian rebels then rolled across the border in an unprecedented operation to drive IS out of Jarabulus, from which it has fired rockets into Turkey. "Syria demands the end of this aggression," the foreign ministry said. "Any party conducting a battle against terrorism on Syrian soil must do so in coordination with the Syrian government and the Syrian army who have been fighting this war for five years. "Chasing out IS and replacing them with terrorist groups backed by Turkey is not fighting terrorism." Turkish state media later reported that pro-Ankara Syrian rebels had reached the edge of central Jarabulus as part of the Turkey-led operation. The semi-autonomous Kurdish administration, which controls much of the border regions in north and northeast Syria, angrily branded Turkey's intervention a "declaration of war". "The Turkish government has abandoned its policy regarding the (Syrian) regime and now finds itself on the same side," it said in a statement. The Istanbul-based opposition National Coalition, however, hailed the Turkish intervention and stressed that rebel forces were doing the fighting on the ground. It issued a statement welcoming "the support of Turkey and the international coalition for the military operation in Jarabulus", in which "the rebels are carrying out the combat operations". Turkey's incursion is its first into Syria since February 2015, when hundreds of Turkish troops crossed the border to move the relics of the grandfather of the founder of the Ottoman Empire. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Turkish tanks and hundreds of opposition fighters thrust deep inside Syrian territory today in a lightning operation that within hours ousted Islamic State jihadists from a key Syrian border town. The air and ground offensive -- the most ambitious launched by Ankara in the Syria conflict -- made rapid progress towards Jarabulus with rebel fighters already proclaiming victory by the late afternoon just 14 hours after it started. "Jarabulus is completely liberated," Ahmad Othman, commander of the Sultan Mourad rebel group, told AFP from the scene, while another rebel spokesman said IS fighters had fled towards Al-Bab to the southwest. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasised the operation was also targeting Kurdish militia fighters strongly opposed by Ankara -- but backed by the US as a key ally against IS -- who had also been closing in on Jarabulus. But visiting US Vice President Joe Biden reassured Turkey that Washington had told the Kurdish fighters under no circumstances to cross west of the Euphrates River or face the total loss of American support. The operation -- named "Euphrates Shield" -- began at around 4:00 AM (0100 GMT) with Turkish artillery pounding dozens of IS targets around Jarabulus. Turkish F-16 fighter jets, backed by US-led coalition war planes, also hit targets inside Syria. A dozen Turkish tanks then rolled into Syria in support of Syrian opposition fighters who had also crossed, with 1,500 of them now in the area according to state media. The rapidity of the advance was stunning and in complete contrast to the long-grinding battles where Kurdish forces had taken towns in northern Syria like Kobane and Manbij from IS. As well as tanks, an AFP photographer in the area of Karkamis opposite Jarabulus saw several smaller military vehicles believed to be carrying the pro-Ankara Syrian rebels. Security sources quoted by Turkish television said a small contingent of special forces had travelled into Syria to secure the area before the larger ground operation. The effects of one air raid on the northern outskirts of Jarabulus were easily visible, sending up a cloud of black smoke and sand. Turkey wants to show it is serious about taking on IS, which has been blamed for a string of attacks inside the country -- the latest a weekend attack on a Kurdish wedding in Gaziantep that left 54 people dead, many of them children. Ankara was long accused of turning a blind eye to the rise of IS in Syria and even aiding its movements to-and-fro across the border, claims the government had always vehemently denied. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tata Steel has commenced exports of Tata Ferroshots, a granulated pig iron product, from its plant at Kalinganagar in Jajpur district of Odisha. Rajiv Kumar, Vice President (Operation) of Tata Steel Kalinganagar Plant, flagged off the first export consignment to a South East Asian country, yesterday, the company said in a statement today. Tata Ferroshots was launched by the steelmaker from its Kalinganagar plant in March, it said. Within a few months of its launch, the product garnered a lot of interest from steel industry, which has traditionally used pig iron, sponge iron and scrap. The end use of Tata Ferroshots includes electric arc furnaces, induction furnaces, cupolas, basic oxygen furnaces and foundries as a replacement of pig iron, scrap or DRI. Its inherent properties lead to better yield, higher productivity and lower energy cost. Besides, the process of manufacturing is safe and environment-friendly, the company claimed. Tata Steel is setting up a 6 million tonne per annum (MTPA) integrated steel plant at Kalinganagar in two phases. The first phase of 3 MTPA state-of-the-art steel plant is being implemented for an investment of Rs 25,000 crore. The plant was dedicated by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on November 18, 2015, and commercial production from the plant started in May, the release added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Telangana and the Malaysian state of Penang today agreed to work closely in high-end technology and manufacturing, and also decided to improve cultural ties. A delegation, led by its Deputy Chief Minister of Penang, P Ramaswamy today met Telangana Minister for Industries, IT and NRI Affairs K T Rama Rao here and discussed issues related to mutual cooperation and economic collaboration between the two states, an official release said here Rama Rao sought Pengang's cooperation in the manufacturing sector, as that state is leading in that field. "Manufacturing is the most important component of the Penang economy. Rao said a delegation from Telangana would visit the Penang Development Corporation to study the model adopted in creating employment opportunities," it said. The Penang Development Corporation is a self-funding statutory body aiming to enhance Penang's socio-economic development to create employment opportunities. Rao said Telangana government is working towards strengthening the manufacturing sector and creating job opportunities. "The government has identified 14 sectors, including life sciences, information technology, defence and aerospace as the focused sectors and sought investment in them," the Minister added. Telangana's Principal Secretary for Industries, Commerce and Energy Arvind Kumar sought cooperation of Penang in the field of PV manufacturing stating that Telangana has taken up an ambitious programme for harnessing solar energy. He invited the PV manufacturers of Penang to invest in Telangana as there is lot of potential in the state. Ramaswamy said Penang is ready to cooperate with Telangana in the manufacturing sector and also in skill development. He sought Telangana's cooperation in the service sector and software development, the release added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : The seventh accused in the attack of BJP leader Brijpal Teotia was today arrested by a Special Task Force of Uttar Pradesh Police. Acting on a tip, the police apprehended Joginder alias Babbal(30), who was carrying a bounty of Rs 15,000 following the incident, from the new Ghaziabad railway station. A semi automatic pistol of 32 bore and 4 live cartridges were recovered from his possession, senior superintendent of police KS Emanuel said. Babbal has confessed that at the time of the attack, he actively participated in the indiscriminate firing which left the BJP leader and his six aides seriously injured. Previously, Babbal was handed a life-term in connection with a murder case in New Delhi's Lajpat Nagar area in 2002. But he went underground after securing his bail from Delhi High Court. On August 11, Teotia was returning from a programme when assailants pumped in AK-47 bullets his vehicle that left him and his aides seriously injured. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three persons were today arrested in connection with the murder of a journalist at a newspaper office in Gujarat's Junagadh district with a police probe finding that dispute over money led to the crime. Kishore Dave (53), the bureau chief of Gujarati daily 'Jai Hind-Sanjh Samachar', published from Rajkot, was stabbed to death by sharp weapons at the newspaper's office in Vanjari chowk area of Junagadh on Monday night. "We have arrested three persons involved in the murder of journalist Kishore Dave. "From investigation, it was revealed that Dave was a partner in transport business with the accused, and was murdered due to disputes arising out of payment of money," Junagadh B-division police inspector M M Makwana said. The arrested persons have been identified as - Firoz Kasambhai Hala, Sanjay Rama Rathod and Arif Alam Saiyed. Dave was involved in transport business along with the three accused since about last five years, Makwana said. "They had purchased a mini bus and Dave had to make payment in that connection, and was murdered after he failed to make the payment," he said. Following the murder, separate teams of local police, local crime branch, and special operations group were formed to crack the case. They also took the help of a CCTV camera footage in which the murderers were apparently seen riding two motorcycles towards Dave's office, which assisted in solving the case, police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three police personnel sustained injuries after they were allegedly attacked by a group of youths on the premises of a college in Baramati town in the district today, police said. Police have detained seven persons in connection with the attack and are going through CCTV footage to establish identity of the attackers. The policemen were called to T C College by authorities after some youths forcibly entered the college campus to celebrate birthday of one of their friends. "Following the scuffle between police personnel and the bunch of miscreants, assistant sub inspector Arjun Vyavhare, police personnel V S Waghmode and Rajesh Gaikwad sustained injuries as miscreants roughed them up and hit Vyavhare with a paver block," said Tanaji Chikhale, Additional SP, Pune District. He said the injured personnel were rushed to hospital, where they are recovering. "Following the scuffle at the gate, the college administration alerted the local police station and three police personnel came to the spot. "As our police caught hold of couple of youths, their accomplices started manhandling the cops and hit Vyavhare with a paver block in which he sustained injuries just below his head," the police officer said. He said two more police personnel were also manhandled. "We have registered a case against 13 people under section 307 (attempt to murder), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and relevant sections of IPC and Arms Act," Chikhale said. He said a sword was found at the spot. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Police has arrested three persons in connection with highway robberies in which entire truckloads of goods were stolen by spiking food and drinks of drivers of the vehicles from the outskirts of Delhi. A team of Crime Branch arrested a notorious highway robber Trilok Singh (41) and two receivers of stolen goods Anil (35) and Ramji Lal on a specific input, near Dhaula Kuan bus stand, said Ravindra Yadav, Joint Commissioner of Police(Crime Branch). Crime Branch was investigating activities of a gang that was involved in stealing trucks loaded with goods in Delhi NCR, Rajasthan, Haryana and other northern states. A reward of Rs 50,000 was declared on the arrest of the gang by Delhi Police Commissioner. Two cases of robbery of goods laden trucks were reported to Crime Branch by truck drivers in February and March this year. In both cases, the drivers were offered drink and food laced with sedatives and when they came around 2-3 days later their trucks were gone. Trilok was allegedly involved in both cases where he had befriended the drivers and after they fell unconscious after taking food and drinks offered by him, he would drive away the trucks with the help of Anil and Ramji Lal to a godown located in Jaipur where goods were unloaded and later sold to one Ramesh, added the officer. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Department of Sustainable Organic Agriculture of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) has bagged the award for the best centre for Network Project on Organic Farming (NPOF) for the year 2015-16, from the ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming Systems and Research. The award was in recognition of better performance, which includes successful experimentation, publications, identification of rice varieties for organic farming and implementation of all programmes of Tribal Sub Plan among 20 ICAR-Network Project Centres across India, a TNAU release said today. The award was presented by Rajasthan Agricultural University Vice Chancellor, Balraj Singh, at the 11th Annual Group Meeting held recently at Indian Institute of Soil Science in Bhopal, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A tribal man, along with his 12-year-old daughter, today walked around 10 km carrying his wife's body on his shoulder as he failed to get a vehicle to transport it from a government hospital in the backward district of Kalahandi where she died. The incident took place in the morning when the locals found Dana Majhi carrying his wife Amang Dei's body. The 42-year-old woman died of tuberculosis last night at the district headquarters hospital at Bhawanipatna. For those in such a situation, the Naveen Patnaik government launched the 'Mahaparayana' scheme in February, offering free transportation of bodies from government hospitals to the residences of the deceased. Majhi, however, said despite his all-out efforts, he could not get any help from the hospital authorities. Thus, he wrapped his wife's body in cloth and started walking to his village Melghara in Rampur block which is about 60 km from Bhawanipatna. Majhi's daughter accompanied him till some local reporters spotted the duo. They called up the District Collector and arranged for an ambulance for the remaining 50 km of the journey. "I told the hospital authorities that I am a poor man and cannot afford a vehicle. Despite repeated requests, they said they cannot offer any help," Majhi told a local television channel. Kalahandi District Collector Brunda D said, "As we got to know of the incident, we spoke to the CDMO and arranged for an ambulance. "I have issued instructions to the Tehsildar to provide assistance under the Harishchandra Yojana (Assistance to the poor and destitute to perform last rites). I have also asked the BDO to provide assistance from Red Cross and CMRF," he said. As per the 'Mahaparayana' scheme, dead body carriers are supposed to be deployed at 37 government hospitals and a total of 40 vehicles were assigned for the job. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's campaign is accusing rival Donald Trump of outsourcing his clothing brands overseas, including his coats to India, in a new television commercial set to air this week. In the past, the Clinton Campaign has accused Trump of outsourcing jobs to India and other countries. The latest television commercial is part of a series. The ad 'Shirts' joins a previously released commercial 'Some Place' in spotlighting Trump's long history of making Trump-branded products outside of the US, as part of an effort over the past month to contrast the 70-year-old tycoon's hypocritical business record with Clinton's agenda to "make the economy work for everyone, not just those at the top." Robert Kidder, owner of New England Shirt Company, in the ad released by Clinton Campaign alleges that "this factory has been here since 1883. We have over 60 people here making shirts labelled 'Made in America,' but Donald Trump's brand of shirts come from China, his suits from Mexico, his coats from India". "Donald Trump says he'll 'make America great again' while he's taking the shirts right off our backs," Kidder says as he closes the ad. The company is based in Massachusetts, which in the past has been central to America's textile industry. It remains the oldest operating ready-to-wear shirt manufacturer in the US. The new ad follows Clinton's announcement yesterday of new plans to jumpstart small business startups and strengthen small business growth. She has accused Trump of making a career out of 'stiffing' small businesses and driving some of them out of business. Citing an independent analysis, the former secretary of state has claimed Trump's ideas would cost 3.4 million jobs while her plan would create over 10 million new jobs. Clinton, the 68-year-old Senator from New York, is leading Trump by considerable margin in several US polls. The general election is scheduled for November 8. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Turkey's army backed by international coalition air strikes today launched an operation involving fighter jets and elite ground troops to drive Islamic State jihadists out of a key Syrian border town. The operation, the most ambitious launched by Turkey in Syria conflict, is aimed at clearing jihadists from the town of Jarabulus which lies directly opposite the Turkish town of Karakamis, the prime minister's office said. The operation began around 4:00 am local time (0100 GMT) with Turkish artillery pounding dozens of IS targets around Jarabulus. Turkish F-16 fighter jets and coalition war planes also hit targets inside Syria. Media said an unspecified number of elite Turkish special forces were already on the ground inside Syria. Tensions had flared across the Syria-Turkey border the previous day, following rocket fire from Jarabulus which landed inside Turkey with the Turkish army firing howitzer rounds in response. "The Turkish Armed Forces and the International Coalition Air Forces have launched a military operation aimed at clearing the district of Jarabulus of the province of Aleppo from the terrorist organisation Daesh," the prime minister's statement said, using an Arabic acronym for the IS group. The operation also appeared aimed at pre-empting any assault by Jarabulus by pro-Kurdish militias who also oppose IS but Turkey accuses of seeking to carve out a Kurdish region in northern Syria. In an earlier interview with private NTV television, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said Ankara saw Jarabulus -- "as a national security matter". "What we have said, since the beginning, is that having Jarabulus or any other city held by IS is unacceptable," he said. Turkey will want to show with the operation that it is serious about taking on IS, which has been blamed for a string of attacks inside the country, the latest a weekend attack on a Kurdish wedding in Gaziantep that left 54 dead. Ankara was long accused of turning a blind eye to the rise of IS in Syria and even aiding its movements to-and-fro across the border, claims the government had always vehemently denied. The launch of the operation comes the day US Vice President Joe Biden is due in Ankara to meet Turkey's leadership, with agreeing a unified strategy on Syria set to be a crucial issue. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two aged men have been awarded jail terms of 15 and 10 years by a Delhi court for possessing 153 kg of 'charas' (cannabis). Special NDPS Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar held the accused - Lal Mohamad and Anil Kothari - guilty of offences under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and sentenced them to 10 years and 15 years in jail, respectively. While sending 60-year-old Mohamad to jail, the court, considered that he did not have any previous criminal involvement and was just a "carrier" of drugs and indulged in the crime due to poverty. The judge, however, sent Kothari, 65, to 15 years in jail noting that he had previously been convicted in a similar case. "I have considered the prayer of convict Anil Kothari for leniency. His medical condition is apparent from the record. He is suffering from multiple ailments. However, at the same time his conduct of jumping parole and then again committing the same offence is a factor which goes against him," the judge said. "Convict Lal Mohammad has no previous record of criminal involvement. The record of the case would show that he was simply a carrier of the drugs and in all probabilities because of his poverty he had indulged in this act," the court said. Besides the jail terms, it also imposed fines of Rs one lakh on Mohamad and Rs three lakh on Kothari. Acording to prosecution, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) received a tip off that on April 24, 2008, some men will come to collect delivery of narcotic drugs in a car, following which a raiding team was set up. The accused were caught and on search of their vehicle, 151 packets containing 152 kgs charas were recovered, it said, adding that a complaint was then filed by Gurjit Singh, Intelligence Officer, DRI. Mohamad, a Bihar native, and Kothari, a Delhi resident, had sought leniency on the ground that they had spent over eight years behind bars, and were suffering various ailments due to old age. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab Police today launched a search operation in Dinanagar area here after an 11-year-old boy spotted two suspicious men. "We have launched a search operation after a boy saw two suspicious men," a police officer in Gurdaspur said. The boy spotted two men in civil clothes at around 10:30 AM who jumped the wall of his school. The boy informed the class teacher and then police was informed about the incident. "We are also verifying the claims of the student," he added. Senior police officials of the district reached the school and started search operation to trace the suspects. An alert was sounded few days back in the border districts of Gurdaspur and Pathankot after a call from Pakistan was intercepted by security agencies suggesting movement of some suspects. Police along with army had then conducted massive search operation. Significantly, terrorists who had sneaked from across the border had attacked Pathankot air base on the intervening night of January 1-2 while Dinanagar in Gurdaspur was targeted on July 27 last year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A group of UN human rights experts have asked Bangladesh to annul the death sentence against a senior opposition member, convicted for committing war-crimes during the 1971 war of liberation with Pakistan, and to re-try him in compliance with international standards. Mir Quasem Ali, 64, a business tycoon and financier of Jamaat-e-Islami party, was sentenced to death in 2014 by the Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) for committing crimes against humanity. The decision was confirmed by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in March 2016. The experts' request comes as the Supreme Court prepared to review Ali's death penalty today. "International law, accepted as binding by Bangladesh, provides that capital punishment may only be imposed following trials that comply with the most stringent requirements of fair trial and due process, or could otherwise be considered an arbitrary execution," said a statement issued yesterday by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. "In light of its irreversibility, every measure must be taken to ensure that all the defendants before the International Crimes Tribunal, including the Appellate Division, have received a fair trial," it said. The experts recalled that the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found in 2012 that Ali's deprivation of liberty was arbitrary and in breach of provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. "We regret the Government's non-compliance with the expert group's recommendations to remedy the situation of Ali, and call upon the Bangladeshi authorities to respect their international obligations," they added. The UN human rights experts also expressed alarm at reports that Ali's son and part of his legal defence team, Mir Ahmed Bin Quasem, was abducted from his home earlier this month by Bangladeshi security forces, two weeks before his father review hearing. "We understand that no information has been given on where he is being held, by whom or under what suspicion or charge. We urge the authorities to immediately disclose the whereabouts of Quasem," they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has agreed to provide assistance in developing Dharamshala as Smart City for which it has released funds to the tune of Rs 50 lakh, Urban Development Minister of Himachal Pradesh Sudhir Sharma said today. "UNDP would link Dharamshala with Japan for earthquake resistant technology which is the most advanced technology available today. Besides, it will also link the state with USA for availing benefits of different expertise. "They would provide expertise and assistance in disaster preparedness, water management, urban planning through Japan and USA," he said. "A team of UNDP would visit Dharamshala in next two-three days to discuss various issues regarding the Smart City project. "It had earlier also coordinated in capacity building programme and expert manpower in all urban local bodies of the state," Sharma said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In another major step in fight against tax evasion, the Cabinet today gave its approval to the revised DTAA between India and Cyprus that provides for source-based taxation of capital gains on transfer of shares instead of one based on residence. "The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval to signing of an agreement and the protocol between India and Cyprus for avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to taxes on income," an official statement said. Noting that this step follows the recent amendment of the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with Mauritius, the statement said the treaty with Cyprus had provided for residence-based taxation of capital gains as in the case of Mauritius. "With the revision of the treaty now approved by the Cabinet, capital gains will be taxed in India for entities resident in Cyprus, subject to double tax relief," it added. In other words, India will have the right to tax capital gains arising in the country. The provisions in the earlier treaty for residence-based taxation were leading to distortions in funds flows through artificial diversion of various investments from their true countries of origin for the sake of avoiding tax. "As in the case of Mauritius, this amendment will deter such activities. Negotiations with Singapore are also under way for similar changes," the statement said. An official-level meeting between India and Cyprus was held here in June to finalise the new India-Cyprus DTAA, wherein all pending issues, including taxation of capital gains, were discussed, and an in-principle agreement was reached. "It was agreed to provide for source-based taxation of capital gains on transfer of shares. However, a grand-fathering clause would be provided for investments made prior to April 1, 2017, in respect of which capital gains would be taxed in the country of which taxpayer is a resident," the ministry had said in a statement earlier. India and Cyprus have a DTAA since 1994. Cyprus is a major source of foreign funds flows into the country. From April 2000 till March 2016, India received foreign direct investment to the tune of Rs 42,680.76 crore from Cyprus. The completion of negotiation on avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion has paved the way for removal of Cyprus from the list of 'Notified Jurisdictional Areas' retrospectively from November 2013. (REOPENS DEL 67) The protocol to the agreement offered clarification on taxation of dividends in India that are subjected to dividend distribution tax and stated that provisions on assistance in tax collection shall not be construed to impose any obligation that is at variance with laws, practices or public policy of a contracting state. "It also clarifies that Article 24 on non-discrimination will not be construed as preventing a contracting state from charging the profits of a permanent establishment at a rate which is higher than that imposed on a domestic company," the statement added. The proposed DTAA also provides for a revised provision for exchange of information that would enable the use of information exchanged for other purposes, with the permission of the competent authority of the country providing the information. It also expands the scope of the Permanent Establishments (PEs) that enables source-based taxation of business income. "The provision on income from Shipping and Aircrafts has been aligned with international standards in the proposed DTAA," the statement said. Other provisions, including those on royalty, fees for technical services, artists and sportspersons, mutual agreement procedure (MAP), exchange of information and definitions of relevant terms like resident, business profits, associated enterprises, dividend, interest, have also been aligned with India's policy and international standards accepted by India. The DTAA will come into effect in India from April 1, 2017. Encouraging India and Pakistan to engage in talks and exercise restraint for improving strategic stability, the US has asked the two countries to sign and ratify Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). State Department Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner welcomed Pakistan's recent proposal to India for a bilateral agreement for not conducting a nuclear testing of atomic weapons. "We welcome this high-level dialogue between India and Pakistan, encourage both countries to engage in the dialogue and exercise restraint aimed at improving strategic stability. I think this proposal is something we would leave to India's consideration," he at his daily news conference yesterday. "It remains in our view that the most practical way to achieve a legally binding commitment on nuclear explosive testing would be for both states to sign and ratify the CTBT," Toner said. Pakistan on August 12 said that it was ready for an agreement with India on a bilateral moratorium on nuclear non-testing. The US today strongly condemned North Korea's test firing of a submarine-launched ballistic missile, describing it as a "provocation" in violation of the UN Security Council resolutions. "We strongly condemn this and North Korea's other recent missile tests, which violate UN Security Council Resolutions explicitly prohibiting North Korea's launches using ballistic missile technology," said Pentagon spokesman Gary Ross. Strongly condemning this missile test in violation of the UN Security Council resolutions, the Pentagon termed the development as a "provocation". "This provocation only serves to increase the international community's resolve to counter the DPRK's prohibited activities, including through implementing existing UN Security Council sanctions. "Multiple UN Security Council resolutions require the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile programme," he said. The US intends to raise its concerns at the UN to bolster international resolve in holding the DPRK accountable for these actions, Ross said. "Our commitment to the defence of our allies, including the Republic of Korea and Japan, in the face of these threats, is ironclad. We remain prepared to defend ourselves and our allies from any attack or provocation," he said. "We call on North Korea to refrain from actions that further raise tensions in the region and focus instead on taking concrete steps toward fulfilling its commitments and international obligations," Ross said. The US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) late last night said its systems detected and tracked what was assessed as a North Korean submarine missile launch at 3:29 PM CDT on August 23, 2016. The launch of a presumed KN-11 submarine-launched ballistic missile occurred off the coast of Sinpo, it said adding, it "did not pose a threat to North America". The missile was tracked over and into the Sea of Japan, around 480 kilometres off the coast of North Korea. It comes amid threats from North Korea of nuclear retaliation in response to large-scale US-South Korean military drills. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after Pakistan charged MQM chief Altaf Hussain with treason for his inflammatory speech, the US has said in a democracy, critical opinion should be encouraged, not silenced. "I would just say in a democratic society, critical opinion should be encouraged, not silenced. We believe that democracies become stronger by allowing free expression from diverse voices within society and we would certainly emphasise that any expression must be peaceful," State Department Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner said yesterday. Responding to a question on arrest of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) leaders, he said the US is always concerned when members of a political party are detained or arrested. "We obviously uphold the importance and believe in the importance of public assembly, freedom of speech, as long as it's peaceful. We would emphasise that any kind of protest, any kind of demonstrations would need to be conducted peacefully. So I think we're still assessing, gathering information about what took place. And we'll reserve further comment until that time," Toner said. MQM chief Altaf Hussain was yesterday charged with treason for his inflammatory speech that incited party workers to attack media outlets here. He was accused of raising anti- Pakistan slogans at a protest rally that turned violent. The MQM remains the single largest party in Karachi for decades now and have dominated the political landscape for years sweeping provincial and national elections but since the clean-up operation began on the orders of the centre, the party has come under intense pressure. In a court case with repercussions for the art world and millions of dollars at stake, a US judge ruled in favor of an artist who was sued for denying a painting was his. A US District Court judge in Chicago decided that Peter Doig, a world-famous artist who insists he did not create a desert landscape painting, is telling the truth. The man who owns the disputed piece of art, a retired Canadian corrections officer by the name of Robert Fletcher, sued Doig for refusing to acknowledge that the painting is one of his works -- which means its value is significantly diminished. Judge Gary Feinerman ruled that there was "conclusive" evidence that Doig did not paint the disputed work, and that he had the right to say a painting was not his. The facts surrounding the case date back to Canada in the 1970s, when Fletcher met a man named Peter Doige -- spelled with an e -- and watched him study art while jailed for a drug offense. Fletcher says he remembers being impressed by one of Doige's paintings of a desert landscape in golden hues -- an acrylic painting on linen. He bought it for USD 100 in the hopes of keeping Doige from going back to selling drugs. Decades later, a friend saw the painting hanging in Fletcher's home and said it was in fact the work of Peter Doig, whose creations can command USD 10 million at auction. Fletcher spoke with Chicago-based art dealer Peter Bartlow, who agreed to sell the work. But Doig denied every element of Fletcher's story -- painting the work, meeting Fletcher or being incarcerated in Canada. Doig's lawyers pointed to a Canadian man named Peter Doige, who was a carpenter and amateur painter. He died in 2012 but his life story seemed to closely match the circumstances surrounding the painting's creation. Feinerman concluded that "an artist is well within his rights to ensure that works that he did not create are not sold or offered under his name. The artist has a right to protect his reputation." Fletcher and Bartlow said they did not know yet whether they would appeal their case, but they remain convinced that their painting is a Doig. Those in the art world have raised concerns that the case could be a green light for wealthy patrons to sue artists if they disavow a work or -- as has happened in the past -- disown a work that they had previously acknowledged creating. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US military confirmed that has test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile, condemning the hermit state's latest "provocation" and vowing to raise concerns at the United Nations. US Strategic Command said the launch of what was believed to be a KN-11 missile off the coast of Sinpo, North Korea, "did not pose a threat to North America," citing analysis by the North American Aerospace Defense Command. The missile, launched at 2029 GMT Tuesday (4:59 am Wednesday local time), fell into the Sea of Japan some 300 miles (480 kilometers) off the coast of . "Our commitment to the defense of our allies, including the Republic of Korea and Japan, in the face of these threats, is ironclad," said Commander Gary Ross, a Pentagon spokesman. "We remain prepared to defend ourselves and our allies from any attack or provocation. "We call on to refrain from actions that further raise tensions in the region and focus instead on taking concrete steps toward fulfilling its commitments and obligations." Several UN Security Council resolutions demand that Pyongyang suspend all of its ballistic missile program activities. "We intend to raise our concerns at the UN to bolster resolve in holding the DPRK accountable for these actions," Ross said, using an acronym for the North's formal name. The State Department issued a similar statement. A commemorative Diwali stamp will be issued by the US this year, capping seven years-long efforts by Indian-Americans here and influential American lawmakers to have a stamp marking the Indian festival of lights, a move welcomed by the community. The stamp that shows a photo of a traditional 'diya' lit against a sparkling gold background and the words 'Forever USA 2016' written below will be formally unveiled on October 5. The postage stamp will be issued by the US Postal Service (USPS) from November "honouring Diwali, the festival of lights," Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney from New York said. USPS Sally Andersen-Bruce of Connecticut photographed the diya and Greg Breeding of Virginia designed the stamp, with William Gicker of Washington serving as the project's art director. The Diwali stamp is a result of "years and years of hard work," Maloney said yesterday. She lamented that despite Diwali being an "important spiritual and cultural festival" for many Indian-Americans and millions around the world, it had not been given its own commemorative stamp till now. Given that every other major religion has its own commemorative stamp, she said a stamp for Diwali had been long over-due. She was joined by India's Consul General in the city Riva Ganguly Das, Chair of the Diwali Stamp Project Ranju Batra and eminent Indian-American attorney Ravi Batra as she made the "historic" announcement from the steps of the City Hall. Maloney underscored that the stamp would also be a "very important revenue generator" for the US postal department. The efforts in the Indian-American community had been spearheaded by Ranju Batra, who as chair of the Diwali stamp project and with the help of other community leaders, got tens of thousands of signatures for petitions to issue the stamp. Maloney had also informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visits to the US in 2014 and 2015, about efforts to get a Diwali postage stamp issued, Batra said. Ravi Batra called the move as the "strongest soft power that combines a billion people of India" as he lauded Maloney for her years-long efforts. Among other lawmakers Senators Mark Warner and John Cornyn and House members Joe Crowley, Ed Royce, Ami Bera, and George Holding, all past or present co-chairs of their chamber's India Caucuses, also led significant campaigns to assure Congressional support for this measure. "An important recognition for the more than 3 million Indian-Americans who celebrate Diwali," tweeted Senator Mark Warner, Co-Chair of the Senate India Caucus. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, the only Hindu member of Congress, led the most recent write in campaign to the USPS with hundreds of signatories. "This has been a long and arduous process but this act by the USPS to recognize this special day and to further increase and enrich our nation's tapestry of religious and cultural diversity will be greatly appreciated by many," Gabbard said. "This year and for many more, diyas and spirits will shine brighter, as will greetings cards and gift packages sent donning the Diwali stamp," said Suhag Shukla, Hindu American Foundation (HAF) executive director and legal counsel. (Reopens FES 55) Ami Bera, the only Indian-American lawmaker in the US Congress, also welcomed the decision. "I'm thrilled that the United States Postal Service has issued a stamp to celebrate Diwali," Bera said in a statement. Bera, Co-Chair of the Congressional India Caucus, had pushed for a stamp since he came to Congress in 2013, leading the effort by co-sponsoring several resolutions. "Diwali is a celebration of goodness over evil observed by nearly a billion people around the world, including more than two million right here in the US. This stamp is long overdue, and I'm glad Diwali has the same acknowledgment as many other major religious holidays do with a commemorative stamp," he said. A Vietnamese court in south-central province of Khanh Hoa has sentenced two activists to up to three years in prison for spreading anti-government propaganda. The official Vietnam Agency reported today that Nguyen Huu Quoc Duy, 31, was convicted of posting a dozen articles on his Facebook page that the court said distorted the policies of the Communist Party and government and had called for the overthrow of the government, and was given three years in jail at the one-day trial yesterday. Duy's cousin, Nguyen Huu Thien An, 21, was found guilty of painting "reactionary" slogans on the wall of a local police station and was sentenced to two years in jail at the same trial. The defendants' actions are "very serious, infringing on the strength of the state of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, reversing the people's confidence in the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and causing negative impact on the social order," the agency quoted the judges as saying. They could have been sentenced to up to 20 years in jail, but the court gave them lighter sentences because they confessed and showed sincere remorse, the agency said. Court officials declined to comment today. International rights groups and some Western governments have accused Vietnam of using vaguely worded security laws to jail people for peacefully expressing their views, Hanoi has said that only those who break the laws are put behind bars. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Water reservoirs that served the Mayans well in periods of drought may have made their society more vulnerable during prolonged dry spells and ultimately led to their rapid decline. Something really drastic must have happened to end the Classic Maya Period in the 9th Century, researchers said. Within a short period of time, this advanced civilisation in Central America went from flourishing to collapsing - the population dwindling rapidly and monumental stone structures, like the ones built at Yucatan, were no longer being constructed. Model calculations by researchers at Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien) suggests that irrigation technology that served the Mayans well during periods of drought may have actually made their society more vulnerable to major catastrophes. The lessons learnt may also help us to draw important conclusions for our own future. We need to be careful with our natural resources - if technical measures simply deal with the shortage of resources on a superficial level and we do not adjust our own behaviour, society is left vulnerable, researchers said. "The water supply determines how much food is available, so in turn affects the growth of the population," said Linda Kuil, a PhD student at TU Wien. "Conversely, population increases may interfere with the natural water cycle through the construction of reservoirs, for example," Kuil said. Researchers explored the interactions between sociology and hydrology and represented them using mathematical models. "It's well-known that the Mayans built water reservoirs in preparation for dry spells. With our model, we can now analyse the effects of the Mayans' water engineering on their society," Kuil said. "It is also possible to simulate scenarios with and without water reservoirs and compare the consequences of such decisions," she said. Water reservoirs can actually provide substantial relief during short periods of drought. In the simulations without reservoirs the Mayan population declines after a drought, but continues to grow if reservoirs provide extra water. However, the reservoirs may also make the population more vulnerable during prolonged dry spells. The water management behaviour may remain the same, and the water demand per person does not decrease, but the population continues to grow. This may then prove fatal if another drought occurs resulting in a decline in population that is more dramatic than without reservoirs. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) would be asked to conduct a probe into the whereabouts of Jai, the iconic tiger from Umred-Karhandla wildlife sanctuary which has been untraceable for over four months, Union minister Anil Dave said today. The Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests, who was in the city in connection with BJP's 'Tiranga Yatra', summoned State Wildlife Warden Shree Bhagwan and enquired about Jai. He sought the details and the latest update on the big cat which went missing since April. "The NTCA would be asked to conduct a probe into the whereabouts of Jai. I will ask the authorities concerned to take the issue seriously and initiate an inquiry," said Dave. A cash reward of Rs 50,000 was announced for providing genuine information about the seven-year-old tiger whose disappearance has prompted wildlife enthusiasts to camp at the villages around the sanctuary in the hope of getting a lead. Jai was named after a character in iconic Bollywood film 'Sholay'. Its disappearance came to light when the radio collar attached to it stopped transmitting any signal. Subsequently, a massive search-and-rescue operation was launched by the Forest Department and the wildlife enthusiasts soon joined in. As regards the growing menace of poaching in the country, Dave said, "The government would seek help from the Interpol and other such agencies of neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh and Nepal to prevent poaching." Earlier, Maharashtra Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar had demanded a CBI probe into the whereabouts of Jai even as BJP MP Nana Patole expressed his fear that the big cat had fallen victim to poachers. It was radio-collared by wildlife expert Bilal Habib last year but no signal was transmitted from the gadget in the last few months. Mungantiwar recently met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Delhi and demanded a CBI probe into the whereabouts of Jai. Patole recently wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi claiming that two more tigers from the region were killed by poachers in connivance with Forest officials. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The writer behind popular British political satire shows 'Yes, Minister' and 'Yes, Prime Minister', Sir Anthony Jay, has passed away at the age of 86 after a long illness. The writer and producer died "peacefully" on Sunday evening surrounded by his wife and family, a spokesperson said yesterday. Jay's career began in the BBC's current affairs department where he was a founding member of the 'Tonight' team. He later scripted a number of documentaries on the British royal family and Queen Elizabeth II. However, he was best known for his political comedies which he co-wrote with Jonathon Lynn. 'Yes Minister', which ran for three series between 1980 and 1984, followed the travails of fictitious British MP James Hacker, minister for administrative affairs, and his battles against unflappable Whitehall civil servant Sir Humphrey Appleby. The subsequent 'Yes, Prime Minister', broadcast for two seasons between 1986 and 1988, portrayed Hacker's life after he entered 10 Downing Street. Then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was known to be a great fan of the series. Lynn told BBC he and Sir Antony were "very, very good friends", adding: "Tony was someone I was immensely fond of. "We didn't really agree about a great many things - he was a right-wing Conservative and I would describe myself as sort-of left leaning." Jay also authored several management books and founded Video Arts, a management and sales training film company, alongside British actor John Cleese and two other colleagues in 1972. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By David Lawder WASHINGTON (Reuters) - World Bank President Jim Yong Kim on Tuesday formally launched a bid for a second five-year term as head of the multilateral development lender, whose board pledged an "open, merit-based, and transparent" selection process. Kim, a global public health expert and former Dartmouth College president, notified the board of his intention to continue in the bank's top job after his current term ends on June 30, 2017, the bank said. The notification typically kicks off a new selection process, and the bank said it would follow criteria adopted for the 2012 selection, when Kim was first appointed president. Nominations for the position via the bank's executive directors will open on Thursday and will close on Sept. 14. "I have informed the Dean of the Board that I would be honoured to be considered for a second term as head of the World Bank and continue to work with its dedicated staff," Kim said in a statement. "Together, we have accomplished so much over the past four years, and I would be proud to carry on this important work." Kim already has the backing of the World Bank's largest shareholder, the United States. "The United States fully supports Dr. Kim's presidency at the World Bank, including the steps he's taken to enact important reforms," a U.S. Treasury spokesman said in a statement. No challengers have emerged for the job thus far. The World Bank's former managing director, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, had been considered a possible successor. But last month she returned to Jakarta to become Indonesia's finance minister for a second time. Since its founding in 1945, the World Bank has been run by an American citizen, while its sister institution, the International Monetary Fund, has traditionally been run by a European. Some emerging market countries had challenged these traditions in the 2011 IMF leadership race, backing Mexican central banker Agustin Carsten, who lost out to former French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde. Such a challenge was not repeated earlier this year when Lagarde was appointed to a second term at the IMF. Among the selection criteria, the bank said candidates should have a proven leadership track record of managing a large organisation with international exposure; the ability to articulate a clear vision for the World Bank Group's development mission; a firm commitment to multilateral cooperation; effective communication skills, impartiality and objectivity. The last World Bank president to serve two terms was James Wolfensohn, from 1995 to 2005. (Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Dan Grebler) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NephroPlus, provider of dialysis service provider network, today announced that it has raised Rs 100 crore in Series C funding led by SeaLink Capital Partners (SCP) and International Finance Corporation (IFC, a member of the World Bank Group). Heramb Hajarnavis, Managing Partner, SeaLink Capital Partners (SCP) is joining the Board of Directors of . A special session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly will be held on September 1 for ratification of the 122th Constitutional Amendment Bill (GST). A proposal in this effect was approved at a cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here. The cabinet also approved another proposal to defer the beginning of the Monsoon session of the Assembly from September 7 to September 21, Chief Secretary A P Padhi told reporters here. "The state cabinet has decided today to place the Constitution Amendment Bill (GST) before the state legislature on September 1 for ratification. A one-day special session of the Assembly will be convened for the purpose," Padhi said. Stating that the Goods and Service Tax (GST) Constitution Amendment Bill needs to be ratified by at least 50 per cent of the state legislatures, Padhi said it was an important milestone in the reforms of indirect taxes in the country. The Government of Odisha is in favour of the GST, he pointed out. "It will bring uniform tax rate throughout the country and help in seamless movement of goods and services across the states," he said. On the deferment of the Assembly Monsoon session, Padhi said the decision was taken keeping in view of the ensuing Nuakhai festival in Western Odisha. "The cabinet decided to defer the beginning of the Monsoon session of the state Assembly from September 7 to September 21 and will have ten working days as decided earlier," he said. Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra, in a letter to the Assembly Speaker, had also requested to defer the Monsoon session in view of the Nuakhai festival. The Goa government will convene a day-long special session of the Legislative Assembly on August 31 to ratify the crucial Goods and Service Tax (GST) Bill. "The state cabinet has already granted its nod to the . We will summon one-day special session on August 31 to ratify the Bill which is already passed in Parliament," Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar told reporters here on Tuesday. The Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill, 2014 on has already been passed by the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The Bill needs to be ratified by at least 15 state legislatures before the President can notify the GST Council which will decide the new tax rate and other issues. Parsekar had, during the Monsoon Session welcomed the passage of the Bill in Parliament saying it will help Goa, which is a tourist state. The Bill was passed by Parliament on August 8, marking a historic step for tax reforms which Prime Minister Narendra Modi said was "crucial" for ending tax terrorism besides reducing corruption and blackmoney while making consumer the "king". Assam became the first state to ratify the Bill. Last week, Bihar became the first non-NDA state to ratify it after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar counted virtues of the tax reform. The government has set a deadline of April, 2017 for its rollout. Commercial Feature is a Business Standard Digital Marketing Initiative. The Editorial/Content team at Business Standard has not contributed to writing or editing these articles. For further information, please write to assist@bsmail.in Swedish fashion retailer H&M will be open its store in Connaught Place on 26th August, 2016. Located in the heart of New Delhi's commercial business district, the new H&M store will be situated in a heritage building in the inner circle of Connaught Place. The 28,000 sq. feet store will be spread over two levels, a press release from the company said. ALSO READ: Why pumping money into PSUs is a bad idea The new store has been designed envisioning the vicinity's colonial character and glorious history, the release said. "I am extremely proud that we are opening our first high street location at such a landmark destination in Delhi. The iconic buildings and city centre will serve as an exciting environment for customers to explore H&M's offering of fashion and quality at the best price in a sustainable way", elaborated Janne Einola, Country Manager, H&M India . After opening in Mumbai at High Street Phoenix, H&M will be arriving at Pheonix Market City Kurla, Phoenix Marketcity Mall in Pune and Express Avenue Mall in Chennai later this year. The government is investigating damage caused to French Scorpene submarines that are being built in the country, the defence ministry said on Wednesday, after the leak of documents relating to the vessel's combat capabilities. The leak, which was first reported in The Australian newspaper, contains more than 22,000 pages outlining the secret capabilities of six submarines that French builder DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy. "I understand there has been a case of hacking," Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told reporters. "We will find out what has happened." The submarines are being built at a state-run shipyard in Mumbai and the first one was expected to join service by the end of the year, the first step in the navy's effort to rebuild its dwindling fleet. The massive leak has also raised doubts about the security of DCNS's submarine project in Australia where it won a A$50 billion ($38.06 billion) contract to build the next generation of submarines. DCNS beat out Germany's ThyssenKrupp AG and a Japanese-government backed bid by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, in a blow to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's push to develop defence export capabilities as part of a more muscular security agenda. The leaked documents cover the Scorpene-class model and do not contain any details of the vessel currently being designed for the Australian fleet. "As a serious matter pertaining to the Indian Scorpene programme, French national authorities for defence security will formally investigate and determine the exact nature of the leaked documents," a DCNS spokeswoman said in a statement. "The matters in connection to India have no bearing on the Australian submarine programme which operates under the Australian government's arrangements for the protection of sensitive data." A spokesman for the French embassy in Canberra declined to comment when reached by Reuters. MAJOR STRATEGIC PROBLEM The breadth of detail in the documents creates a major strategic problem for India, Malaysia and Chile, all of which operate the same submarine, an Australian political source with decades of experience in the global arms industry told Reuters. Excerpts published in redacted form on the newspaper's website contained highly sensitive details of the submarine including technical manuals and models of the boat's antennae. "If it's 22,400 pages, it's a major stuff-up," the source said. "It's a huge deal. "It allows them to understand everything about the submarines. What speeds it can do; how noisy it is; what speeds the mast can be raised at ... all of that is just devastating." The Indian Defence Ministry said it was probing the impact of the leak on the submarine programme which it said had occurred from abroad. It gave no details. "The available information is being examined at Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy) and an analysis is being carried out by the concerned specialists," it said in a statement. "It appears that the source of leak is from overseas and not in India." Uday Bhaskar, a former naval officer, said that if the leak was established, it would amount to a significant compromise of the credibility of the submarines. India has a fleet of 13 ageing submarines, only half of which are operational at any time, opening up a major gap with China which is expanding its maritime presence in the Indian Ocean. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull sought to deflect concerns about the leak, touting the high security standards in Australia, where the submarine will be built. The Australian reported that the leak occurred in France in 2011. "But clearly, it is a reminder that, particularly in this digital world, cyber security is of critical importance," he told the Seven TV network. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was once again at her best on Twitter on Tuesday. This time, she responded to a man on the social media platform who was suprised to see an Indian politician being concerned about the country's citizens. @SushmaSwaraj are you real? Just checking. You don't meet requirement of being Indian politician. You are concerned about us(Indians). - Sumant balgi (@sumantbalgi) August 23, 2016 Swaraj was quick to reassure that Indian politicians do care and are helpful. Please do not have such notions. Indian politicians are sensitive and very helpful. https://t.co/9U0Rdxvn8q - Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) August 23, 2016 In a preceding tweet, Swaraj had fulfilled her promise to a man who needed a visa for his mother to Qatar: @SushmaSwaraj My father has suffered two strokes since 30/6 and is alone at Qatar. Its essential that my mother gets to stay with him now. - Jayprathap J (@JayprathapJ) August 19, 2016 We have organised Qatar visa for your mother. I pray for your father's early recovery. https://t.co/BxKc1dC5Mc - Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) August 23, 2016 Swaraj has received praise for her work as the External Affairs Minister in the last two years. But it is her constant activity on social media through her Twitter account that has created more buzz. Swaraj has over 5.5 million followers on Twitter. Her Twitter handle @SushmaSwaraj makes her the most followed female world leader. Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi said that the demand for paternity leave will have very little impact and will just be a holiday for men, reported a newspaper. This comes days after the maternity bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha and growing insistence for a paternity bill. "Paternity leave can be considered only if, once the woman goes back to work after her 26 weeks of leave, we find that men are availing their sick leave for a month to take care of the child. Let me see how many men do that. I will be happy to give it but for a man, it will be just a holiday, he won't do anything," Maneka Gandhi told The Indian Express . Many took to twitter to react to her statement: Dear Maneka Gandhi Role of a father is equally as important as that of a mother, this mentality is pathetic m pic.twitter.com/AiboSGjJ0B - Sarah Jacob (@JacobSarah24) August 24, 2016 #ManekaGandhi does it again. I am not even shocked now after her comments on marital rape and saying "all" violence is male generated. - Ojaswini Srivastava (@ojaswiniS) August 24, 2016 Shameful statement of Maneka Gandhi, she is well known to be a male hater. She should be remove from @MinistryWCD https://t.co/UKoVo6XjqO - Deeptanshu Shukla (@deeptanshukla) August 24, 2016 Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin will be among the Heads of State and Government who will attend the G20 summit from September 4, the host country China announced on Wednesday. The Hangzhou summit, to be presided over by Chinese President Xi Jinping, has invited the maximum number of developing countries in G20 history, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said, adding that leaders of all G20 countries will attend the meeting. "It represents the inclusiveness of the meeting with both developed and developing countries sitting together as equal partners," he said. The voices of developing countries will be fully heeded during the summit to be held from September 4-5, Lu told a media briefing here. This shows the major changes of the international economic regime that developed and developing countries can have equal consultations and make decisions on international economic affairs, he said. "This is in line with the trends of history and is a historic progress," Lu said. China has said the summit will mainly focus on improving the global economy with structural reforms and innovation. It is also actively campaigning against bringing up political disputes like the South China Sea during the summit. Besides the heads of the state and governments of G20 countries, leaders of some guest countries including Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, would also attend the meeting. Also leaders of top international organisations, including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde and World Trade Organization Director General Roberto Azevedo would attend the meeting, Lu said. The summit would focus broadly on improving the world economy mired in a prolonged downturn, Chinese state-run Xinhua news agency said in its commentary yesterday. Eight years after the global financial crisis, the recovery remains slow and fragile. The current global economic growth environment is mediocre, featuring rising unemployment, soaring debt, sluggish trade and investment and turbulent financial and commodity markets, the commentary said. Innovation will be a key G20 agenda for the first time. Innovation, characterised by technology and new products and business models, will create new consumption opportunities and trends, it said. Way back in 2000, the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government mooted the idea of selling off Hindustan Photo Films and Manufacturing Company, a Central public sector enterprise (CPSE). Nestled in South India's picturesque hill station Ooty, the company was still operational, though it was making losses and had been referred to the Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR). Hindustan Photo Films used to manufacture black & white films, though there were few takers for the product, given that almost everyone had started using colour films and digital photography was just beginning to catch on. Arun Shourie, minister for disinvestment in the Vajpayee government, thought that the company could go out of business if it continued on its path. But he also thought a private, professional management could perhaps revive the unit, while its prime real estate assets would fetch the government a premium during the stake sale. His plans, though, never worked. "All sorts of letters came, saying that it was necessary for defence, it is being used in satellites and it had medical use, for X-Rays," Shourie recalls. Even though none of these claims withstood scrutiny, the allegation that the disinvestment plan was a deliberate attempt to "kill Hindustan Photo Films to help multinationals produce the same damn thing" scuttled the stake sale plan. Just three years later, in 2003, Hindustan Photo Films' operations had deteriorated so much that BIFR recommended winding it up. A similar suggestion was also given in 2013 by the Board for Reconstruction of Public Sector Enterprises (BRPSE), a body set up in 2004 to suggest revival and restructuring measures for loss making PSEs. Today, 16 years after Shourie's proposal, BIFR and BRPSE themselves are about to shut shop as they don't have any place in the Narendra Modi-led NDA government's new scheme of things. While BRPSE is officially shelved and the Department of Disinvestment, now renamed as Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), is about to shoulder that role, BIFR is expected to become redundant after the provisions of the new Bankruptcy Act, passed by the Parliament early this year, get implemented. Ironically, Hindustan Photo Films, the company that BIFR and BRPSE wanted to close, continued to bleed the central exchequer till recently, and is yet to be completely shut down. Niti Aayog has once again recommended its closure, but the government will take some time to complete the task. Even after stopping production in 2012, it registered a Rs 2,164-crore loss in 2014/15, which is 8 per cent of the Rs 27,360 crore cumulative loss incurred by 77 loss-making PSEs in 2014/15. As in the case of several other CPSEs, employee protests and ongoing litigations were the major hurdles before the disinvestment of its assets. "For the first time, we managed to close down five companies without inviting employee wrath by offering attractive severance packages" The zombie existence of Hindustan Photo Films - the fourth highest loss-making entity after BSNL, Air India and MTNL (which together accounted for Rs 16,987 crore losses, or 62 per cent of the cumulative losses of 77 CPSEs in 2004/15) - is proof of how ineffective successive governments' plans and programmes for restructure, revival or disinvestment of PSEs have been. "We have submitted two reports. First one on enterprises which should be sold lock, stock and barrel; second on strategic sales" And that is why, except for the disinvestments that happened during a brief period under the Vajpayee regime - which saw Bharat Aluminium Company becoming part of Anil Agarwal's Vedanta Group, Tata Sons acquire majority stake in CMC Ltd, Indian Petrochemical Corporation getting merged with Reliance Industries, Maruti Udyog Ltd turning into a subsidiary of Japanese Suzuki, etc. - governments, Central as well as state, have never succeeded in letting go of their PSEs. India's CPSEs are once again in the limelight after the Narendra Modi government announced the setting up of DIPAM. The government has also got a detailed CPSE asset management (including disinvestment and stake sale) proposal made by the apex think-tank Niti Aayog two months ago. While it considers the Niti Aayog proposal, there is no clear indication that it may pursue the structured disinvestment path laid out by the advisory body. On the contrary, Prime Minister Modi seems to be keen to flog the dead horse and is trying to revive many PSEs. Why Disinvestment? The Central government has been spending a lot of money every year on CPSEs, though the returns have never been equally impressive. The total investment made by the government in 298 central PSEs till March 31, 2015 was Rs 10,96,057 crore, approximately the amount that is needed to develop India's 7,500-km long coastline through its ambitious Sagarmala infrastructure development project. Around the same size of investment is what is sought to solve India's energy and infrastructure problems by achieving the coal production target of 1.5 billion tonne by 2019/20. The plan investment for CPSEs for 2014/15 alone was Rs 1,92,683 crore, higher than the Rs 1,50,000 crore India's biggest corporate house Reliance Industries has earmarked for the national roll-out of its ambitious telecom venture Reliance Jio. Handsome dividend cheques handed over to the government by profit-making CPSEs annually, thus tell only half the story (see The Giver). The latest Public Enterprises Survey (PES) shows that the performance indicators of the 235 operational Central government companies (63 more are yet to commence commercial operations) have not been all that positive. The total income of all CPSEs on a year-on-year basis reduced 4.43 per cent, profits (of profit making ones) declined 12.88 per cent, losses of loss making entities shot up 28.2 per cent, and the contribution of CPSEs to central exchequer declined 9.23 per cent (see 10 Numbers That Matter) in 2014/15. The 14th Finance Commission also has its share of scary statistics as CPSEs are not the only ones that burden the public exchequer. The Commission's report points out that all long-term debt of State PSEs accounted for 4.6 per cent of GDP in 2011/12. When this was combined with the aggregate public debt of states, the extended debt of all states for that year ballooned to 26.4 per cent of GDP. Similarly, in the case of the Union Government, extended debt defined as the sum of Union public debt and the long-term debt of CPSEs stood at 52.4 per cent of GDP in 2011/12. Privatisation of state-run enterprises or a phased roll-back and reduction of public investments in businesses was also a common phenomenon in countries that moved towards open economy and liberalised markets. The UK witnessed a disinvestment spree under the Margaret Thatcher government in the 1980s, and Russia experimented with it after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Even in China, privatisation was attempted, though without much success. Last year, China announced a comprehensive plan for its hugely inefficient public sector by bringing in mixed ownership in the sector. China's State Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) declared that the objective was to reorganise and merge some of the loss-making units, while disposing off less-efficient and non-performing assets. The divestment was scheduled to happen through stock exchanges and other capital markets. China's public sector is dominated by 111 Central government owned conglomerates. Government think-tank Niti Aayog created a record of sorts when it came out with a report for a disinvestment strategy for India's PSEs in just two months. Amitabh Kant, CEO of Niti Aayog, talks about the broad recommendations given by its PSE Committee and their rationale, in an interview to Joe C. Mathew. Excerpts: Niti Aayog was asked to identify the PSEs that should be considered for strategic disinvestment and suggest a future path for loss-making and sick units. What was your recommendation? This has been driven with passion and conviction by Mr Panagariya (Arvind Panagariya, Vice Chairman, Niti Aayog), because of his belief that governments should only be (running PSEs) in strategic areas and that, too, if it can be done profitably. So, we began with a broad view that unless and until the PSEs are functioning in the areas of national interest, or in areas of huge strategic importance, the government should not be in the business of running businesses. And if you run them, you should run them profitably. Based on this guiding principle, we recommended the sale of 74 sick and loss-making units and recommended 44 profit-making units for strategic disinvestment. Which are those companies? I am not giving you the names. We are like a disinvestment commission. We have examined the issues on merit. It took just two months for Niti to submit its report. Did you have any international models to look at? We have looked at all models. We also consulted all stakeholders. In the case of loss-making and sick units, there were no issues (in the selection of companies, as Niti picked all of them). In the case of identifying the 44 profit-making companies for strategic disinvestment, we had to consult all stakeholders. We held eight rounds of meetings within 45 days. We consulted every department and ministry before making this recommendation. What next? We are only a recommending body. It is for the government to take that call. It is for the concerned departments to take up the case of units that need to be closed. The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) will have to drive the strategic disinvestment. Disinvestment, thus, has been a mantra for long, for multiple reasons. While getting rid of loss-making PSEs, and thereby reducing the financial burden it brings in, has been an obvious reason, governments also wanted to monetise the assets to generate more funds. For instance, despite repeated failures to achieve pre-fixed targets, the Modi government is hoping to raise Rs 56,500 crore from disinvestment proceeds in 2016/17. The third argument that favoured sell-off of both loss-making and profitable CPSEs was the viewpoint that government had no business to run businesses in an open economy. "Privatisation frees scarce resources, which are sub-optimally used by inefficiently run public enterprises," says Pradip Baijal, former disinvestment secretary. Government role, the proponents of privatisation argue, should be limited to the governing and regulation of businesses managed by private enterprises. Especially the non-strategic businesses, where there is well-developed and competitive private sector presence. It was this principle that led the Vajpayee-led NDA government to roll out India's first comprehensive disinvestment policy. While it saw some early results, protests derailed the process soon. "In privatisation, one needs to deal with powerful groups within the public sector that have vested interests in maintaining status quo," says Baijal. Even though the disinvestment process was on in India since the early days of economic liberalisation, the outright sale of public assets mostly happened during a brief period during Atal Bihari Vajpayee government's time. In an interview with Business Today's Joe C. Mathew and Sumant Banerji, Arun Shourie, who was the disinvestment minister under Vajpayee, talks about the rationale that drove disinvestment agenda in those days. Excerpts: What was the principle behind disinvestment during your time in government? The idea was that the role of the State should be reduced, and society should get greater latitude in doing things. In India, the society has been held back by the dead end of the State for long, due to the licence quota raj. So, as the licence quota raj got dismantled, the idea was that the monopoly of many large public sector enterprises, like the MMTCs, or the STCs, should end. Secondly, inefficient public enterprises were giving the more efficient private sector enterprises in those sectors unearned rents. For instance, if you have an inefficient public sector plant producing steel, you are giving a private sector company, which produces steel at low costs, an unearned rent. The third thing (which drove disinvestment) was that in many areas, because of the monopoly given to the public sector, the capacity which had been built up outside the public sector was not being fully utilised. The fourth was, of course, the cost to public exchequer. It was a big drain on the public exchequer. As a matter of policy, should the government not be in the business of doing business at all? That is not the criteria. There can always be some space for the public sector. The ISRO or Tata institute of Fundamental Research, in spite of being public enterprises, are doing wonderfully well. Also, in several sectors, it is good to have countervailing power. Take telecom for instance. Even though I was also the minister of state for telecom, it never crossed my mind that MTNL and BSNL should be privatised. One reason was that BSNL was so large, and nobody could have bid for it. But BSNL was also necessary to beat down other private operators, to lower their rates. So a countervailing power is good; but sometimes it doesn't work. Air India has not worked, because of the culture of the organisation. The Modi government's 'strategic disinvestment' policy differs from Vajpayee's in that it lacks the daring approach of the earlier policy. Strategic disinvestment for the present government is "the sale of substantial portion of the government shareholding of a Central public sector enterprise of up to 50 per cent, or such higher percentage as the competent authority may determine, along with transfer of management control", as defined by DIPAM. In other words, it wants the acquirer to manage the company, but with a maximum of 50 per cent stake, under normal situations. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley spelt out the broad contours of the government's CPSE disinvestment plan during his 2016/17 Budget speech when he said that the government intends to encourage CPSEs to divest individual assets like land, manufacturing units, etc. to generate resources for investment in new projects. Niti Aayog took two months to prepare its first set of recommendations. The principle that it adopted was more or less the same as the original disinvestment plan of the Vajpayee government. "The principles of disinvestment are very similar to that earlier period. The problems are very similar, except that the world has changed quite a bit. There are things that you can now do that were a little more difficult then," notes Niti Aayog member Bibek Debroy. Declining to divulge specific details, Debroy says that the think-tank will submit a series of reports. "We have submitted two. The first one is on certain enterprises which should be sold lock, stock and barrel. The second report is on strategic sales." Incidentally, Niti Aayog did not approach CPSE disinvestment from a revenue generation perspective, the focus with which Jaitley's finance ministry would have looked at it. "Target is not important for us. You look at the same problem with different spectacles. Our lens is really efficiency, and it is not so much fiscal. In the process, of course, the fiscal thing happens," Debroy says. Government officials who did not wish to be named, however, inform that the companies that came under Niti Aayog's scanner in the first phase were the ones that were the worst performers. "All 74 CPSEs that were chosen had been low performers that have sought government's financial support to stay afloat," says a finance ministry official. It is known that Niti Aayog had recommended the closure of 26 of these loss-making units. It suggested five companies to be given on long-term lease and three subsidiary firms to be merged with parent entities. The agency also recommended strategic disinvestment in the case of 10 CPSEs and wanted six companies to be handed over to state governments It also wanted to revive 22 units before they could be considered for disinvestment. Progress So Far The Modi government may not have gone exactly by the Niti Aayog script, but it is moving in that direction. Months before Niti Aayog submitted its first report, on January 6, 2016, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the decision to close down five chronically sick CPSEs - Tungabhadra Steel Products Ltd. (TSPL), HMT Watches Ltd., HMT Chinar Watches Ltd., HMT Bearings Ltd. and Hindustan Cables Ltd (HCL). What made this decision significant was the development that followed the closure decision. Unlike Hindustan Photo Films (whose closure was approved earlier, though the process got delayed due to employee protest and subsequent court intervention), all the 72 employees of TSPL availed the voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) package that was offered and got relieved on March 9, 2016. Similarly, 79 employees of HMT Chinar and HMT Bearings opted for a peaceful exit by accepting the VRS package. Out of 961 employees in HMT Watches, 776 employees had also opted for VRS by that time while the rest - 185 employees mainly from the Ranibagh, Uttarakhand unit - were contemplating the same. The government considers this as a great beginning. "For the first time, we have managed to close down five companies without inviting employee wrath," says Anant G. Geete, Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises. According to him, what made all the difference was the government's decision to offer very attractive severance packages. "All the workers who were on the rolls of these five companies were being paid according to the 1997 pay scale. The VRS package that we offered was based on 2007 pay scale. So the workers were entitled to get more than what they would have got if they had worked till retirement on the earlier pay scale," Geete explains. "On average, it was Rs 25-30 lakh package for each worker." There were about 4,000 workers across five companies who availed the package. The government had paid about Rs 7,000 crore as salaries to the employees of these companies during the 2007-15 period. The decision has put an end to this recurring expenditure. The government has also attempted to get rid of some CPSEs by handing over the assets to the state governments. The recent decision to hand over the Kerala unit of CPSE Instrumentation Ltd to the state government is one such example. Similarly, of the 16 hotels run by India Tourism Development Corporation, 14, except Delhi hotels Ashoka and Samrat, have been put on the block. Wherever possible, the government wants to sell off the hotels. In case the land is owned by the state government, it may even be handed over to the states. "In privatisation, one needs to deal with powerful groups within the public sector that have a vested interest in maintaining status quo" The government is implementing plans to consolidate CPSEs. The merger of major PSE banks to form a handful of public sector financial behemoths is the most talked about consolidation plan. The merger of five associate banks with State Bank of India has already been approved. Similarly, in May, the Cabinet asked the National Buildings Construction Corporation to take over the loss-making Hindustan Steel Works Construction Limited to pave the way for consolidation of two PSEs in the civil engineering sector. If these are measures meant to reduce the quantum of public investments in CPSEs and also raise some additional resources, Prime Minister Modi's penchant for revival of loss-making CPSEs is bringing in more public investments into the sector. On July 22, Modi laid the 'foundation stone' for the 'revival' of a PSE fertiliser plant in Gorakhpur. While a normal revival would mean opening up, modernising or turning around a loss-making unit, this particular urea manufacturing plant of Fertilizer Corporation of India Ltd (FCIL) needs to be rebuilt from scratch and hence the 'foundation stone' laying ceremony. The plant has remained closed since 1990, and the decision to rebuild a new urea facility here was more political than 'strategic asset management' as it was a promise given by the PM during one of his election campaigns in the locality. If FCIL was a loss-making entity under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, the new project is a joint venture involving profit-making CPSEs of several ministries. That is because the project is being implemented by Hindustan Urvarak and Rasayan Ltd, a joint venture of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Coal India Ltd (CIL). The government is committed to pump in over Rs 6,000 crore into it to generate 1.27 million tonnes of urea in a year. According to the government's plan, profit making PSEs - NTPC, CIL and Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) - will also be shelling out money to revive the FCIL's long defunct fertiliser unit in Sindri (Jharkhand) and the Barauni (Bihar) unit of Hindustan Fertilizers Corporation. One could argue that indigenous manufacturing of urea is needed as the country is heavily dependent on its imports. But the question remains whether public sector units, which have often failed to survive in open markets, should be given that task. The new practice of handing over sick CPSEs to profitable CPSEs can work both ways. It could help revive the sick unit, but it could also pull down the profitability of the better managed ones. The government has preferred it because Modi, as Gujarat's chief minister, had tried, sometimes successfully, to emulate this model. "It is Mr Modi's confidence that he can turn around public sector enterprises because he turned around one or two units in Gujarat. He is not realising the size and complexity of India, and the very deep interests that are vested in these enterprises," says Shourie. Despite all the tall claims surrounding the turnaround of Gujarat PSEs, these public-sector entities were not free from charges and accusations. The government auditor Comptroller and Auditor General has in the past pulled up several Gujarat PSEs for their sub-optimal operational efficiencies and for alleged favouritism to some private sector entities. To be fair, one should also acknowledge the fact that CPSE turnaround has been happening, though few and far between, after Modi took over. For instance, the Chennai Petroleum Corporation (CPC; erstwhile Madras Refineries), the largest refiner in South India, was quoting at Rs 52 on the bourses in November 2013. In just two and a half years, it is at life-time highs with its closing price on July 28, 2016, being Rs 260. From making losses of Rs 1,766.84 crore in 2012/13, (the company has been making losses for three years in a row) it made a net profit of Rs 265.6 crore in the quarter ending March 2016. While things like lower global crude prices have definitely helped as CPC mainly supplies motor spirits, aviation turbine fuel, naptha, lube base, bitumen and other value-added products, the execution by the management has also been good. CPC has improved on things like reducing credit period to one of its main customers IOC from 16 to 10 days, and better inventory management. All these have led to better utilisation of working capital. While CPC did not respond to an email request for comments from Business Today, analysts have been commending the steps taken by the company to improve its profitability and performance. The Team Modi could not have chosen a better team of bureaucrats and ministers to carry out the CPSE strategic disinvestment plan. Many of the key people who had given solid support to Vajpayee's historic disinvestment initiative are in the government today. Jaitley, in charge of disinvestment today, was heading the department of disinvestment in 1999. As heavy industries minister, Suresh Prabhu (currently Railway Minister) oversaw the Maruti stake sale. Former disinvestment secretary Baijal acknowledges the contribution of Amitabh Kant (present CEO of Niti Aayog), as a joint secretary in Ministry of Tourism, which made ITDC hotel sales possible. Even Arvind Panagariya, Vice Chairman of Niti Aayog, is known for his supportive views on disinvestment, which reflected in the book Reforms and Economic Transformation in India he co-authored with Jagdish Bhagwati. The authors argued that their research showed that selling both partial and majority equity stakes is associated with significant improvements in profitability and efficiency of public-sector entities. They had concluded that full privatisation may have a greater impact on profitability of firms, without requiring lay-offs or a decline in worker compensation. Given the profile of pro-disinvestment people stacked in the government, Modi could not have had any problem in going on a disinvestment spree, had he wanted it. But is real disinvestment even planned today? "Now they are saying enterprises will themselves buy their shares, and that will be called disinvestment. Also, they are asking each enterprise to buy the shares of another enterprise and call it disinvestment. Third, the state owned financial institutions will buy stake (in PSEs) and that is termed disinvestment," says Shourie. According to him, "It is a fraud because you are taking it from one pocket, putting it in another and giving it a big name." Shourie was also critical of the most common practice of selling minority shares and calling it disinvestment. "Minority shares are being sold. Even this is not good enough. Minority shareholders are not active enough to enforce, improve management," he said, adding that minority shares being sold to general public make no sense at all as the enterprise remains the same. "Genuine disinvestment is strategic sale. Let somebody who can use these assets - maybe its real estate, maybe its old equipment - somebody who has the confidence and ability, bid, in a transparent process, and take it." But the government seems to be in no mood to go by Shourie's definition of disinvestment. The new strategic disinvestment plan is the same mix of things that has been happening in the name of disinvestment all these years. The dream to revive CPSEs is something that completely goes against the spirit of disinvestment. In fact, the Prime Minister's vision is to be clearly in favour of supporting and re-investing in PSEs. It is high time the government learnt from the past. Hindustan Photo Films was just one example. And not all politicians want to play to the gallery. The current state of Triveni Structurals Limited (TSL), situated across the Yamuna River in the industrial township of Naini in Allahabad, is worth recalling, given the advice Shyama Charan Gupta, the BJP Member of Parliament representing Allahabad, had to offer. In its hey days back in the 1980s and 90s, TSL was a fledgling company that was involved in building rocket launchers at Sriharikota. Today, there is little evidence of that history. Awaiting a final winding down since 2003, with less than 100 employees (who continue to resist closure) left, the only sign of activity in the factory is the jatropha plantation inside its premises. Watered regularly, the plants are the only ones that grow, while everything around them crumble. Of the nearly 2,700 acres of land that was acquired for industries like TSL in Naini, only a handful was actually set up. Around 1,000 acres of the land could never be utilised and are today encroached by various settlements and small villages. "You cannot have industries everywhere. Either you need a market and consumers should be close by, or you need raw materials. Here you have nothing," says Gupta, himself a businessman. "Government should not be in the business of doing business. Today the market is open. Let private players take over and decide wherever they want to set up factories." Is the PM listening? PSUs in our country are merely set up for loss-making units or for turning into sick units slowly and steadily or for disinvestment. This has been the common practice in the past. Today, I can point out in satisfaction that we have succeeded to turn the operation of socalled notorious Air India into an operational profit-making undertaking during the last year," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 70th Independence Day speech recently. Modi's eloquence painted a rosy picture for the struggling Air India, which has posted around Rs 100 crore of operating profits in 2015/16. However, it cannot be labelled a turnaround story. The government has pumped Rs 22,280 crore into the airline over the past five years. An additional Rs 8,000 crore will be invested as per its turnaround plan approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in 2012. Besides, the operating profit is just 1.8 per cent of the net losses that it posted in 2014/15. The national carrier has to start generating net profits to pay back the government - in the form of dividends - for the taxpayers' money it has spent on the airline's revival. But that looks a distant reality. Air India's debt stands at a whopping Rs 51,000 crore as on March 2016, a result of its faulty policy of buying aircraft instead of leasing them, like most airlines do. The operating profits were helped by an estimated Rs 700 crore savings in FY16 due to low ATF (aviation turbine fuel) prices, which are beyond the control of airlines. In fact, low fuel prices give elbow room to airlines to reduce internal costs and increase non-passenger revenues. But Air India's complex cost structure comprising fuel costs, finance costs and staff costs, has lesser scope for improvement. Its aircraft-toemployee ratio stood at 211 in 2014/15 compared to IndiGo's 112 and Jet Airways' 126. And the airline has consistently topped the charts when it comes to passengers affected due to delays and cancellation. The government is now considering a proposal from Niti Aayog to group operations of Air India and its subsidiaries into three entities with one focusing on transport services, and the other two on engineering services and ground handling. Over the years, Air India has reduced its subsidiaries - from seven in 2008 to five in 2014. By reducing it further to three entities, a major impact is unlikely, not least because the subsidiaries have very little revenue compared to the parent. is the estimated net loss for state power distribution companies for 2016/17, says an India Ratings and Research report. Cumulative losses for discoms as of 2014/15 stood at Rs 58,275 crore. Brexit Effect Infosys faced its first Brexit challenge with the loss of a five-year euro 300-million Royal Bank of Scotland deal, which will set the Indian IT major back by an estimated $40 million. The RBS recently called off its plans to set up a separate bank in the UK. Connecting the Drops Maruti Suzuki saved Rs 1.36 lakh in logistics cost, or Rs 4,000 for each of the 34 cars transported through the 1,620 km stretch of Ganga between Varanasi and Haldia. Linking of waterways under the Jal Marg Vikas project will help movement of larger volumes of goods at a lower cost compared to roads. "I think the journey is going to be long and not going to be for the fainthearted... this company will perform" - Cyrus Mistry, Chairman, Tata Motors, told shareholders who were disappointed with the 20-paise dividend payout. "You will come to know the conclusion, not the process" - FM Arun Jaitley to reporters' queries on the appointment of the next RBI chief, a couple of days before deputy governor Urjit Patel was promoted as the 24th governor of the central bank (see page 148). Pink Slip Season Through July 2016, major Silicon Valley tech firms terminated 62,917 positions - up 71 per cent over the 36,881 in July 2015, according to outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc., which tracks employment terminations at large organisations. The sheer number of technology job cuts now exceeds the peak of the dot-com era. While Cisco Systems confirmed 5,500 layoffs - down from the mammoth 14,000 job-loss estimates - Microsoft's total planned job cuts for 2016 is 4,700, and that of HP Inc. is 3,000. Intel's announcement of shedding 12,000 workers and Dell's 10,000 layoffs lead the job-loss list. Meanwhile, everything's not well in the Indian e-commerce start-up space, either, in 2016, with everyone trying to cut corners to prevent further cash burn - Ola Cabs is reportedly shedding around 1,000 employees; Flipkart cut 1,000 jobs citing poor performance; AskMe saw resignations of some 650 people across its 40 offices; Hiree laid off 80 per cent of its workforce; CarDekho.com reportedly sacked 60 employees; Foodpanda India laid off more than 300 workers; Grofers shed 10 per cent of its workforce and revoked 67 campus job offers; and CommonFloor terminated about 100 employees. Some of the companies, however, have contested the reported numbers. Shares of Welspun India hit lower circuit for the third day in a row on Wednesday, as the fallout from Target Corp's decision to terminate business with the firm for passing off cheap sheets as premium Egyptian cotton escalated. After Target and Walmart, now JC Penney said it will investigate Welspun textiles product claims. The stock of the company plunged 10 per cent to Rs 59.30 on the BSE. The scrip has lost 42.24 per cent in last three days. ALSO READ: Remember market crash of 2015? One year on, 3 sectors that bounced back over 30% Target said on Friday that it was severing ties with Welspun after its extensive investigation had confirmed that the Indian company, which purportedly used Egyptian cottons to make sheets and pillowcases sold to the retailer, substituted non-Egyptian cotton instead. Target is Welspun India's biggest customer after Bed Bath and Beyond. It accounted for about $90 million, or 10 percent of the company's total business in the financial year through March, Welspun executives said on a conference call on Monday. Welspun said on the call that it was investigating the product specification issue and would hire a Big Four accountancy firm to review its supply processes. ALSO READ: What's buzzing on Dalal Street in Wednesday's session Wal-Mart Stores Inc, Welspun's third-biggest customer, is also reviewing the company's cotton certification records, the Wall Street Journal reported. A spokesman for Welspun said the company did not wish to comment on the reported Wal-Mart review. The US retail giant accounts for about 8 to 9 per cent of Welspun's revenues, according to Elara Capital analyst Sumant Kumar. "The risk is there as these are still early stages, so we need to wait and see," Kumar said. Sales of Egyptian cotton bedding account for only about 6 percent of Welspun's total sales, according to Kumar, but the loss to the company's credibility means other customers could withdraw all their business as Target has done. Analysts said Welspun did not provide clear answers during Monday's conference call, when asked whether other customers could follow Target's move to cut ties. "We are actively engaged with our clients," Welspun's Managing Director Rajesh Mandawewala said, in response to that query on the call. Kumar, in his note, said Welspun executives were vague on facts during the call, which threw up more questions than answers. (With inputs from Reuters) Remember the trading day on Dalal Street exactly a year ago i.e. August 24, 2015? Dubbed as Black Monday of 2015, this was when Sensex crashed 1100 points, in the vein of global markets from China, Japan, and Russia to United States. At one point of the day, Sensex even plunged 1,624 points, the lowest since 2008, amid dramatic selloff triggered by Chinese markets. Many predicted it to be a start of a 2008-style global market carnage, but, one year on, Sensex has jumped over 8 per cent along with all sectoral indices barring three. Capital goods sector and exports-driven IT and pharma sectors have yet to step back into green terrain, but sectors like metal, oil & gas and realty have bounced back up to 50 per cent since the calamitous fall they witnessed a year ago. So what is it that drove the rally in metal, oil and realty stocks, and will it last? Metal, realty and oil sectors are cyclical plays. They sink fastest when the economy is not in good shape, but they are the first to race ahead on first signs of economic revival. On percentage terms, the gains may appear huge but in absolute terms they just mean revert to an equilibrium price which prima facie settles at their long term valuation averages. While the story of a recovery may be different for the three sectors, the run-up in the stock prices has been largely similar. The S&P BSE Metal gained 47 per cent, followed by S&P BSE Realty (36 per cent) and S&P BSE Oil (30 per cent). Metal This is why, Nitasha Shankar, Senior Vice President and Head of Research, Yes securities believes the run-up in metal counters was largely news driven and not on account of any fundamental improvement. "Barring aluminum which has seen some signs of prices stabilizing, all other metals continue to see weakness in prices on an international basis. Add to that the lack of recovery in demand and stretched balance sheets, further run up looks improbable at these levels," said Shankar. Realty The real estate sector, however, looks set for larger gains in the long term. "The regulation in the realty sector and revival in the demand since last four consecutive months are sowing seeds for multiyear bull market in the sector. Supplies are getting absorbed and new construction is lethargic which is slowly creating a demand-supply gap which is the biggest positive trigger for the sector," said Jimeet Modi, CEO, SAMCO Securities. Rohit Gadia of CapitalVia Global Research also said he does not see any reason why investor should book profit in this sector. As per the price analysis of the realty stocks, the real estate sector has more upside left, said expert. Oil & gas Oil and gas stocks rose as the benchmark Singapore complex gross refining margin (GRM) strengthened and crude prices also surged above $50 per barrel after breaking below $30 in January. "Now that the Singapore GRM has once again cooled off, oil and gas stocks will remain subdued," said Ankur Varman of SBICAP Securities. State-run BSNL is gearing up to offer 4G services in Kerala by March next, a company official said on Tuesday. The 4G plan would be introduced as part of the company's expansion at the Phase-8 pan-India level and a tender for it has already been called for, the official said. A set of 190 new Wi-fi access points would also be implemented in the state circle during the current financial year, he said. "4G will be introduced in select cities in Kerala circle by next March. As part of this, 663 4G towers will be installed," BSNL Chief General Manager, Kerala Circle, R Mani told reporters here today. Besides introduction of 4G, initiatives to expand the existing 2G and 3G services are also in the offing, he said. Detailing the Phase-8 expansion plans in the circle, he said, "Another 1,083 new 3G sites will be launched in the state. All old technology 2G sites will be replaced with new technology 2G sites." The official claimed that BSNL's 3G speed is much faster than the 4G services offered by many private players. On Wi-fi service expansion, Mani said that BSNL's Kerala circle has implemented 160 Wi-fi Access Points at 93 locations and another 190 points will be implemented during the current financial year. All these sites are MDO (mobile date offloading) enabled which gives Wi-fi access to mobile customers. He said that for BSNL, Kerala is the highest profit making circle in the country with a profit of Rs 658 crore in 2015-16, against Rs 486 crore during 2014-15, a growth of over 35 per cent. To stimulate growth in landlines, BSNL announced new plans and offers like unlimited Night Free calls and unlimited calls on Sundays. "In order to encourage new subscribers and bring back our old customers who switched to other players, we have introduced the LL49 Experience plan with a fixed monthly charge of just Rs 49 for the first six months," he said adding BSNL SIM card is also offered free to customers subscribing to this plan. BSNL Kerala circle has a mobile customer base of 80.5 lakh including 78.2 lakh pre-paid and 2.3 lakh post-paid ones. Its landline customer base is 20.72 lakh and total broadband connection is 6.60 lakh. Startup Data Xgen Technologies has started a paid email address service in Hindi characters or Devanagari script, and plans to roll out free registration of such IDs on the lines of Gmail, Outlook and Yahoo soon. "A few hundred IDs have been created till now on .bharat domain, which is available in Devanagari script. Anyone interested in Hindi script ID can visit our website and buy email package as per their need," Data Xgen Technologies Founder Ajay Data told PTI. ALSO READ: Snapdeal lines up a Rs 200 crore marketing campaign for Diwali Email sent from these addresses is supported by leading service providers like Gmail and Microsoft. "Besides communicating in Hindi, people can send emails from addresses created in Hindi script to Gmail, Outlook and some of the other addresses. We wish to start a free email id on .bharat domain soon just like Gmail of India for Hindi domains and soon we will work with government to do that," Data said. To bring more people on Internet, government is pushing website and email addresses in Hindi or Devanagari scripts. The National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) has asked domain or website name sellers to provide free .bharat (in Devanagari script) to everyone who buys a ".in" domain name. In a meeting held at the ministry of electronics and IT, Google and Microsoft said that their email services accept and can send messages to email addresses created in Hindi or Devanagari script but they do not have immediate plans to provide such email addresses. When contacted, Google shared a blog post in which it said, "Language should never be a barrier when it comes to connecting with others and with this step forward, truly global email is now even closer to becoming a reality." The blog mentioned that it has added 13 languages for Gmail services which includes Afrikaans, Chinese (Hong Kong), Georgian, Khmer, Lao, Mongolian, Nepali, Sinhala, and Zulu. Microsoft said that it continues to enhance capabilities and make it easy for users to use and adopt local languages using its technology and this includes domain names in local languages. "The current versions of Internet Explorer 11, Microsoft Edge and MS Outlook 2016 all support Indian languages including Hindi and internationalized email addresses," a Microsoft spokesperson said. Hundreds of farmers yesterday protested outside the Civic Offices in Athlone to coincide with the OPW public consultation on the Shannon CFRAMS Flood Management Plan. The President of the Irish Farmers Asssociation (IFA), Joe Healy said farmers are very angry that no work has yet proceeded to avoid the recurrence of the severe floods of last winter. He called on the Government to set out an immediate plan of action, including timelines, for works that will take place and will have an impact on future flood events. Those in attendance at yesterdays protest came mainly from Longford, Leitrim, Roscommon, Offaly, Westmeath, Galway and Clare. IFA President, Joe Healy said, "The winter floods had a devastating impact on the livelihoods of thousands of farmers and on rural dwellers who remain fearful that the situation will be repeated because no action has been taken action to prevent it." He added, "The onus is on the Government to act. Promises are wearing very thin with the thousands of people living and farming adjacent to the Shannon and surrounding areas, including turloughs." Source: www.businessworld.ie About us New CSO employment figures point to strong economic growth in the first half of the year according to Ibec. The figures show that annual employment growth was at 2.9% with more than two million people now in employment for the first time since 2008. Furthermore, migration estimates showed that for the first time since 2009 more people are coming to live in the country than are leaving. Commenting on the latest numbers, Ibec Director of Policy Fergal OBrien said, "The upcoming Budget must ensure that we build on the positive momentum in the economy. We need a tax system that is attractive to mobile talent and we must invest much more in infrastructure to strengthen Ireland's credentials as a desirable place to live and work." Source: www.businessworld.ie About us Business to Arts in partnership with Dublin City Council have today launched a call for applications to a 24-month Fundraising Fellowship programme for new Fundraising Executives. This new Fellowship is a unique partnership and programme of activity associated with the New Stream programme, a fundraising capacity building project operated by Business to Arts, which is now in its 7th year. The Fundraising Fellowship for Dublin-based arts, cultural and community organisations builds on the Docklands Arts Fund created by Business to Arts and Dublin City Council which was launched in 2015, and is part of a series of Legacy Projects developed by Dublin City Council following their European Capital of Culture 2020 designation bid in 2015. It will offer four, Dublin-based, arts, cultural or community organisations part-funding toward the employment of full-time fundraising or marketing & fundraising human resources, contracted over a 24-month period. The 4 recruited Fellows will take part in a structured programme of training and mentorship developed by Business to Arts and Dublin City Council as part of the Fellowship. The aim is to equip these fellows and their cultural organisations with skills to build capacity in their own organisations and subsequently share the skills and knowledge with local smaller organisations. The New Stream programme is a long-term capacity building programme which has been operated by Business to Arts and Funded by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, which has strengthened the skills of 43 cultural organisations to generate new funding streams. Since 2009, participants in New Stream have raised in-excess of 15.7m as a result of the skills and learning implemented during the programme. Chief Executive of Business to Arts, Andrew Hetherington commented, "With this new Fellowship, Business to Arts and Dublin City Council are building on our existing partnerships and mutual objectives to address long-term issues facing the cultural sector." Chief Executive at Dublin City Council, Brendan Kenny added, "Were delighted to be extending our partnership with Business to Arts to bring important Fundraising and Marketing resources to Dublin community and cultural organisations. Dublin City Council and other funding agencies know that business support is crucial to cultural development, just as Dublins cultural life is a key component of Dublins economic performance." Source: www.businessworld.ie About us Irish beer exports are up 16% and are valued at over 265 million with 43% of beer produced Ireland being exported. This is according to an annual Beer Market Report for Ireland, compiled by the Irish Brewers Association (IBA), the representative voice for the brewing industry in Ireland. This is the first time since 2011 that beer production in Ireland has risen. The craft beer sector revolution is continuing at a pace with an estimated 2% of total beer market share in 2015, up from 1.2% in 2014. According to the report, Beer remains Irelands most popular alcoholic drink, with a 47% market share, a trend that has remained steady for the past five years. The report looks at consumption across the various types of beer lager, stout and ale. It shows that a higher percentage of consumers are drinking stout (up from 31.1% to 33.4%) and ale (up from 5.9% to 6.2%). At the launch of the report, the Irish Brewers Association has called on the Government to support the sector by reducing the excise burden. Excise in Ireland has gone up 42% in the past four years. Currently, Ireland has the third highest excise on beer in the EU as well as the most expensive alcohol in Europe. The recovery in Irelands tourism and hospitality sectors is also reflected in this report. In 2015, 67.3% of beer was purchased in a licenced premises compared to an off-licence outlet. This is up from 63.3% in 2014. This trend is clearly showing a recovery in Irelands pub trade. Head of the Irish Brewers Association, Jonathan McDade said, "The Irish Brewers Associations new report highlights the important role that the brewing sector has in supporting the Irish economy. Beer production is up, exports are up, direct employment remains steady and the sector continues to contribute enormously to the exchequer, particularly through excise. Even though consumption in Ireland has fallen marginally, (by 2%) beer remains Irelands favourite beverage with 47% market share." He added, "Irish consumers pay the third highest rates of excise on beer in the European Union, eleven times greater than beer drinkers in Germany. Excise is a tax on jobs, tourism and the hospitality sector and we call on the government to reduce excise on Irelands hard pressed consumers." Source: www.businessworld.ie About us American International Group Inc is in early talks to sell Lloyd's of London Ltd's insurance operations to Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday. If the deal comes through, it could fetch the insurance conglomerate hundreds of millions of dollars in proceeds, the Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. CPPIB is also in talks to buy a related reinsurance company based in Bermuda, the WSJ reported. AIG and CPPIB declined to comment. AIG, the largest commercial insurer in North America, has been cutting jobs and trying to restructure its business as part of a sweeping overhaul promised to shareholders to fend off activist investor Carl Icahn, who had urged the company to break into three. The insurer said last week that it would sell its mortgage-guaranty unit to Arch Capital Group Ltd for about $3.4 billion. The CPPIB, which manages Canada's national pension fund, had said earlier this month that Britain's decision to leave the European Union had curbed gains in its investments during the latest quarter would create more uncertainty down the line. (Reuters) Source: www.businessworld.ie About us Scotland's fiscal deficit stood at about a tenth of its economy in the year to March 2016, hammered by a slump in oil and gas revenues and potentially dampening arguments for Scottish independence. Scotland's share of North Sea oil revenues crashed 97% to 60 million pounds in the year to March from 1.8 billion pounds a year ago and 8.2 billion ten years earlier. Data released by the Scottish government on Wednesday showed lower oil prices -- which reduce government tax revenues -- and higher public spending mean that the country still needs to address how to expand its economy beyond oil, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said. She said Britain's decision to leave the European Union in a referendum in June, which was not supported by voters in Scotland, was threatening prospects for the Scottish economy. The 9.5% gap in Scottish public finances as a percentage of its economy is more than twice the size of Britain's overall 4% deficit, including North Sea oil, and is up from a gap of 9.1% in the previous year. The data also showed growing onshore revenues offset by increased spending on heath and education -- one of the key tenets of the devolved nationalist government's campaign to offer a contrast to austerity in the rest of Britain. "Scotland's challenge is to continue to grow our onshore economy. However, Scotland's long-term economic success is now being directly threatened by the likely impact of Brexit," Sturgeon said. Scotland voted against independence in 2014, and one of the reasons behind that is thought to be fears of unhooking its economy from the rest of the UK, where the tax take helps fund Scottish public services. However Britain's vote to leave the European Union, known as Brexit, has rekindled the cause of independence once again because Scotland as a single nation voted to stick with the EU. Including a geographical share of North Sea revenue, the net fiscal balance -- the balance of all that is spent and received by public departments -- stood at 14.8 billion pounds ($19.6 billion) in the twelve months to March 2016. The Scottish government argues that the economic uncertainty caused by Brexit means that it can no longer be said that the UK as a constitutional structure provides stability. However the UK government's minister for Scotland, David Mundell, noted that Scotland was able to withstand the economic cycle because of the strength of the overall UK economy. "Scotland weathered a dramatic slump in oil revenues last year because we are part of a United Kingdom that has at its heart a system for pooling and sharing resources across the country as a whole," he said in a statement. Britain has now to map out the terms of its new trade agreement with the rest of the world following the Brexit vote. It is not expected to formally start the process until the end of the year. Sturgeon is not ruling out another Scottish independence referendum as part of efforts to keep Scotland in the EU. The Scottish Greens said the figures would be seized on to back arguments for and against independence but the data really showed the economy needed to reduce its dependence on oil. "In truth, the figures show what has been clear for years - that a strong future for Scotland's economy will depend on ending our reliance on oil and gas, and investing in the industries of the 21st century instead," said party leader Patrick Harvey. (Reuters) Source: www.businessworld.ie About us LOGAN Beaver Mountain Ski Resort has been placed on a pre-evacuation notice, after the nearby Peterson Hollow Fire continued to spread in the last 24 hours. MaryEllen Fitzgerald, Fire Information Officer with the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, said the fire has grown to 389 acres and is 0% contained. Tuesdays hot winds, low humidity and dry fuel was expected to allow fire lines to continue growing. Fitzgerald said around 140 firefighters are working on the fire. They are being helped by air tankers and helicopters, who are continuing to drop water and retardant on hot spots. The fire was first reported Sunday afternoon. The cause is still unknown. Fitzgerald explained that structures around the ski area are not in immediate danger but crews are protecting them in case winds continue to carry the fire southeast. Crews have closed Peterson Hollow, Highline, and Beaver Creek and Sink Hollow (on the Utah side) to the public. They are asking that all recreationists adhere to closures for both the publics and firefighters safety. Franklin Basin Road is open. Fitzgerald said the fire has not yet crossed into Idaho. Crews are attempting to keep it east of the Logan River Drainage, north of Beaver Mountain and south of the state border.

will@cvradio.com When is hurricane season? Here's what you need to know in South Texas Casting a ballot during the early voting period has, in past elections, been very popular. But this year, city voters may want to vote early just as a matter of self survival. That's because the Corpus Christi City Council failed to unify behind one tool to pay for fixing residential streets. So they just threw a whole mishmash of options into the laps of voters. Here voters, you figure it out. Thank you, City Council. It may take a law degree, bonding expertise and an accounting license to figure out what's going on. City voters will be asked to choose between two options. They can choose one. Or both. Or none. Kind of like ordering from a menu at a Chinese restaurant. One option is a bond package of $18.5 million, of which $11 million is designated for residential street work. The second option is a charter amendment that would create a residential street construction fund. Which one do City Council members think will work best to solve the city's $1 billion residential street problem? The answer has eluded them for years now. During hours of discussion last week, council members opposed to the bond issue pointed out why it won't work. And even the supporters of the charter amendment aren't enamored with it. So they left it to city voters to unravel this mystery along with making a choice in a long list of federal offices including the presidency. Throw in elections for a slew of legislative and judicial elections. Add, for Corpus Christi voters, races for seats on the City Council, the Corpus Christi Independent School District board of trustees and the Del Mar College board of regents. Oh, and don't forget multimillion dollar bond elections for the school district and the Del Mar College. Voters are pretty smart. They can usually find their way through long and complicated ballots. Certainly the "live candidate" decisions are straightforward. Do you want Candidate A or Candidate B to take office? The school district and college bond issues are relatively uncomplicated. Del Mar College is asking district voters for approval to float a $139 million bond package to pay for the first phase of a campus on the south side of the city. The land for the campus, 96 acres at Yorktown Boulevard and Rodd Field Road, has already been purchased. Likewise, the $194 million bond package sought by CCISD ought to be understandable to voters. The district says the money will be used to add classrooms, replace and expand schools and improve several campuses. The school district and the community college leaders understand that they have to do the hard, and even the politically courageous work, of boiling down the options to one decision for the voters. Then the voters give a thumbs-up or thumbs-down. But putting this tangle of options before the voters, as the Corpus Christi City Council has done, is asking them to do the work elected officials should do. Muddled options risk a muddled outcome. When one issue gets an up-or-down vote, you have political clarity. But when two issues linked to one subject, residential streets, goes on the ballot, a clear message from voters could be muffled. The $11 million resident street program was put on the ballot without a lot of enthusiasm. Mayor Nelda Martinez called it a "Band-Aid." Council member Carolyn Vaughn said it was a "short fix" and Council member Brian Rosas tried to pretty it up by calling it a "pilot program." There were a lot of questions during the discussion about how pressed the city's bonding capacity would be affected. But the council shrugged off all those niggling doubts. It's difficult not to see the $11 million offering as anything but election year desperation. The charter revision is like trying to tell a bad joke. If you have to explain the punch line, it won't work. The revision would set up a special residential street program funded by dedicated property taxes. By raising the tax rate two cents per $100 of valuation every year, it would take three years to raise $30 million. Future councils would have to raise the tax rate. Sure they would. I recommend you read Kirsten Crow's report on the options in the Sunday, Aug. 21 edition of the Caller-Times or on Caller.com. It is the best and clearest explanation I've read yet. You may need the copy at the ballot box. There is the matter of the proposed solid waste fee. But that's not on the ballot so we'll leave that for another day. Nick Jimenez has worked as a reporter, city editor and editorial page editor for more than 40 years in Corpus Christi. He is currently the editorial page editor emeritus for the Caller-Times. His commentary column appears on Wednesdays and Sundays. GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Vehicles drive on northbound State Highway 286 on Monday, Aug. 23, 2016, in Corpus Christi near Chapman Ranch. By Matt Woolbright of the Caller-Times The City Council didn't hesitate to act after the Federal Aviation Administration gave its final approval of the proposed wind farm south of Corpus Christi on Chapman Ranch land. In a 5-4 vote Tuesday, the council stripped $14 million from next year's budget for capital improvement projects proposed for 16 square miles the city annexed in 2014. The land was annexed to either prevent or regulate a proposed 86-turbine wind farm development by Apex Clean Energy some believe could jeopardize Navy training operations, but the federal regulators sent a letter last week that reinforced a previous ruling the wind turbines did not pose a risk to flight. "We don't have money for our infrastructure, so why would we leave (the projects) in the CIP and put money in that area when we can't keep up with what we have?" said City Councilwoman Carolyn Vaughn, who made the motion to remove the projects. The decision axed a proposed $3 million water line to the area and an $11 million wastewater line. Vaughn was supported by council members Michael Hunter, Brian Rosas, Lucy Rubio and Chad Magill. Magill's nod of support, which was essential to the motion passing, caused some to question whether he violated conflict of interest rules barring council members from voting on issues when they or their employer has a business interest. Magill has abstained from votes related to the proposed wind farm in the past because of his employer's business relationship with Apex Clean Energy. Magill said his vote was "based purely on having $3 million and $11 million (in the budget) that can be better spent in other places." "I don't believe it to be a conflict of interest at all," he said. He added the wind farm developer has stated it will not be building turbines in the annexed area in question, so his reason for abstaining on other votes was not connected to the annexed land but the possibility of additional annexations. Others on the council weren't convinced. Vaughn called Magill's vote a "really gray area," and City Councilwoman Colleen McIntyre said the at-large council member should have abstained like he has in other votes related to the proposed wind farm. She went on to call the split decision to remove the projects "careless," and said it puts the regional economy at risk. Eliminating the two pipelines, which would be required eventually if the land remains within the city limits, is a sign of what's to come, she added. "It appears they are working toward deannexation," McIntyre told the Caller-Times. "That could put us at risk for a base closure and potentially the loss of thousands of jobs. "Taking this action while waiting for a study from the military sends the wrong message," she added. Vaughn said the council should consider de-annexing the land if the Navy's study, which is on the cumulative effect of wind turbines in the region as a whole, concludes the Apex Clean Energy development would not endanger naval air training here. The results of that study are expected in October, Mayor Nelda Martinez said previously. But if the Navy has concerns about the project's impact on operations in the Coastal Bend, Vaughn said she'll swiftly move to undo Tuesday's vote. "It's not a project we need to fund right now, so I see no reason to keep it in there," she said. "If there's a reason to fund it, then show me and I'll support putting it back in." Twitter: @reportermatt GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES SHARE By Natalia Contreras of the Caller-Times Three men armed with a rifle broke into an apartment and assaulted and robbed four men who live there, police said. About 2:55 a.m. Wednesday three men wearing ski masks and armed with a rifle broke into the Westside apartment in the 4700 block of Greenwood Drive, according to a Corpus Christi news release. The men struck two of the residents who live in the apartment in the head with the rifle and tied them up with plastic zip ties, the release states. The men ransacked the apartment and fled. The four men told officers two cellphones were stolen from the apartment and a friend took them to Christus Spohn Hospital Memorial to be treated for minor injuries, police said. Officers continue to investigate and no suspects have been identified as of Wednesday morning. Twitter: @CallerNatalia SHARE Jacob Rivas By Julie Garcia of the Caller-Times A Beeville man is dead after police said he suffered injuries during a fight. About 10:45 p.m. Tuesday, Beeville police arrived in the 400 block of Paul Place to find Serafin Gonzales, 32, with a stab wound to his chest. Gonzales was taken to Christus Spohn Hospital Beeville where he died. Witnesses identified a 29-year-old man as the suspect. Police arrested Jacob Rivas on suspicion of murder. He is at Bee County Jail but had not had bail set by a magistrate judge as of Wednesday morning, officials said. Police called the Texas Rangers to assist in the case, Baron said. Any time there is a loss of life, he said they call the Rangers to help with analysis and specialized equipment. Twitter: @Caller_Jules As late-campaign rhetoric gets overheated, voters should remain wary Be on the lookout for misleading ads, stump speeches and text messages from campaigns in the final countdown to the Nov. 8 elections. SHARE Merging the Corpus Christi and Hispanic chambers of commerce makes so much sense that it's easy to overlook the complexity of this historic achievement. The two chambers, whose merger under the name United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce becomes official Sept. 1, has many members and interests in common. We expect to see them all unite in advocating the basic principle that what's good for business is good for the community. And all of the dual members, we can be sure, are rejoicing at the prospect of not having to pay dual dues. But unity is not a pasteurization process. While these two chambers have shared the common goals of business advocacy, networking and learning, they had distinct identities that should flourish rather than disappear with time. Also, members of this unified group should always remember or, in future generations be taught why the Hispanic chamber, known originally as the Mexican chamber, was founded in 1938. There was no place at the other chamber's table for those original members not then nor for years afterward. From the Hispanic chamber's beginning and as both chambers evolved, the Hispanic chamber championed small businesses in particular, including many that started primarily from their founders' personal savings or microloans. It was said when the merger was announced that the merged chamber would retain the best of both organizations. This is one of those best things about the Hispanic chamber to retain. Also, as its name implied, the Hispanic chamber celebrated the culture of what now is Corpus Christi's dominant ethnicity. Retaining that role was important to its members as well it should be. It is this community's way forward its spirit, its flavor and, frankly, one of its bankable commodities. While the Hispanic chamber's strength has been its service to individual members, the Corpus Christi chamber's strength and identity has been its role in bringing the business community together to speak in one voice for common interests. Two examples are the chamber's advocacy for the community's military assets and against exorbitant windstorm insurance rates. This merger had become a natural destiny by the time hush-hush talk of it began. Several past Corpus Christi chamber chairmen are Hispanic. The immediate past chairman, Gabe Guerra, was a key agent of the change represented by this merger. As a member of both chambers, a banker in a suit, a kid from the Westside, he saw nothing for the two chambers to fear in merging. To borrow a business-speak cliche, at the end of the day, the United Corpus Christi chamber will be what the other two have been for a long time to varying degrees a Hispanic chamber. It will be that and many other things. Chief among those things is its potential to provide leadership to this community by being a strong voice for its best interests at the local, state and national level. The merger will strengthen that voice. We look forward to hearing it and to holding it accountable. (Disclosure: The Caller-Times is a member of both chambers and Caller-Times President Libby Averyt is a United Corpus Christi Chamber board member.) Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up to our free email newsletter to receive the latest breaking news and daily roundups Picking up your GCSE results marks a turning point in any young person's life but this year change is in store for our schools as well. This is because from now on they will be judged according to a new performance measure Progress 8 which will replace the previous indicator of five A*-C grades when it comes to league tables. According to the Department for Education (DfE), Progress 8 has been designed to encourage schools to offer a broad and balanced curriculum at KS 4" and to reward" schools for the teaching of all their pupils. Next year's annual league tables, which come out in January, will give all schools a Progress 8 score, a value which will be based on this year's crop of GCSE results. But with Progress 8 well and truly on its way, just how much do we really understand it and what will its implications be for how we assess our schools? Linton Village College was among a handful of schools which chose to adopt the new measure a year early and was judged against this, rather than the traditional five A*-C system last year. The school was given a score of 0.5, which its principal Helena Marsh said represented all students achieving, on average, half a grade more than expected across all subjects. Helena explained the school wanted to get involved with the new system early to help make the transition as smooth as possible. She said: For us we felt as though we agreed with the principles behind this move towards examining progress rather than solely looking at attainment. It's a fairer assessment of the value schools add while they have children over the five years rather than looking at a flat value." The new measure will be based on children's progress across eight subjects: English, maths, three other EBacc subjects (sciences, computer science, geography, history and languages), and three other Ebacc or approved subjects. Other headline performance measures will also be made available about schools, such as the percentage of pupils achieving C or above in English and maths. Helena explained Progress 8 would provide a better indicator" of achievement over a period of time but added that, like any performance measure, it had its limitations. Because it looks at results in certain types of subjects it may be seen as unfair if a child doesn't take EBacc subjects that that would impede their Progress 8 score," she said. So certain things within the calculation of Progress 8 may not seem fair in the waysubjects are ranked and pitched against each other especially with regard to those EBacc subjects they have to fill." Helena also pointed to the score's complex calculation system as another element with which people were not yet familiar. For example, a school being given a score of '0' and above would reflect positive value added to a child's progress, while scores under '0' could mean a school is under-achieving. While next year's performance tables will be based on Progress 8 scores, it is expected schools will still release A*-C figures on results day tomorrow in addition to predicted Progess 8 scores as well in some cases. For Helena, the key task now is for more information to be made available for parents to help them make the transition to the new system. As well as helping people get their heads around the Progress 8 scoring, this would also go some way to cast off suspicion" about the measure simply being about forcing schools to go down particular subject routes. She added: I think there's a lack of understanding even for school staff themselves it's taken time for them to appreciate how it will change things. We are in a climate of a lot of changes so for parents, children and staff it's quite a turbulent time to get your head around another bench mark. There will have to be a bit of a step change and an application of a different understanding of results." You can read more about Progress 8 on the Department for Education website. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up to our free email newsletter to receive the latest breaking news and daily roundups Drone testing is causing a stir in the Cambridgeshire countryside. Online shopping giant Amazon is testing the idea of delivering packages direct to the doorstep. The firm has been conducting flights around Worsted Lodge, near Babraham in the South Cambridgeshire countryside. Representatives of Amazon have been visiting residents to ask whether they have suffered any disruption. Residents have also been told by the company that they are looking to recruit drone pilots. The News spoke to a number of people in the area who had a mixed response to the testing. Garage owner, Graham Murray, said he had been visited last week by an Amazon representative who wanted to ensure they were not being affected by the drone testing. He said: Someone came here last week. He was from Amazon. He wanted to know if anybody had been affected by the drone testing. He said the site was within a kilometre of here. He said they were doing test flights and training. He just walked in and told us all about it. He was a bit nerdy looking. I don't think it will catch on. The things will be everywhere." (Image: Cecile Borkhataria) Drone enthusiast and former IT consultant, Adrian Powell-Owens lives nearby. He said Amazon had been recruiting for drone pilots from the area. He said: I, personally, think that, as long as they are safe, it will be okay. I think it will come in the future." Julia Napier is the secretary of the Friends of the Roman Road and Fleam Dyke group. Speaking to the News, she said she understood Amazon had permission to fly quadrocopter drones near the Roman road in the area near Gunner's Hall. She voiced concerns over disruption to the wildlife in the area, comparing the sound of the drones to a high-speed drill". She said: There's a whole problem of wild-life. What about the noise?" Dr. Michael Brooke, the Strickland Curator of Ornithology for the University of Cambridge's Museum of Zoology, however, said: On some occasions, you've got acres of ground covered by nesting birds and it may be hard to get a vantage point, so if you can fly over them using a drone, you can get a better view of them," He said that, in a study conducted by Australian scientists to count colonies of tropical seabirds and penguins in the sub- Antarctic, the birds were not disturbed by the drones. They didn't give a toss," he said. When asked if there's a risk birds and drones could collide, he said: How often do you see two birds collide? It's not as if they're flying at super-sonic speeds." Dr Brooke believes that birds would simply avoid drones, and that compared to the number of birds that are killed by UK motorists each year, the threat of drones is trivial. Mrs Napier also questioned whether the training site would be developed further and used as a warehouse site for distribution should the trials be successful. She was not certain how drones could be used effectively in an urban area. What height do these things hover at?" She asked. Do they just duck in and out of telephone lines? What about damage to children or the danger to dogs that jump out and try to get them?" A spokesman for Cambridge airport said drones were not a concern for them The spokesman said: I can confirm that drones are not a concern at the airport and we have had no instances of inappropriate activity in the area. The CAA have put out guidance on the use of drones, working with manufactures to ensure this is incorporated within the operating instructions to those that purchase them. All drone 'hobbyists' should read the guidance or watch the video on the CAA website in order to remain safe and compliant." Amazon was approached for comment, but had not responded at the time of going to press. | BY Ricki Green | Last year Dolmio, via agency Clemenger BBDO Sydney, captured the attention of frustrated parents worldwide with the unveiling of the Pepper-Hacker a pepper cracker that not only cracked pepper but also shut down TVs, wiped out WiFi and disabled mobile devices. With 100 million views across Facebook and YouTube, the film sparked worldwide conversation around the problem that technology is disrupting family dinnertimes. Soon after the film was released Dolmio was inundated with a flood of requests from frustrated parents everywhere to make the Pepper Hacker available, desperate for an ally in the battle to reclaim dinnertime from technology. Says Tim Hicks, marketing director, Mars Food Australia: We listened to our customers, and decided that we simply had to create the Pepper-Hacker en masse. Sitting around a table and connecting over food is one of the most beneficial times of the day, helping families catch-up, have fun, and really connect. The Pepper Hacker reminds us of the influence technology has over us and how we can all benefit from a little down time from it. By developing custom software and bespoke hardware to house the Wi-Fi-disabling technology within a functioning pepper grinder, Dolmio and Clemenger BBDO Sydney are producing over 3,500 fully-functioning Pepper Hackers for consumers to get their hands on as part of a national on-pack giveaway. Once they roll off the assembly line, each Pepper Hacker will be covertly disguised in unassuming packaging before making its way to the tables of lucky winners. Says Paul Nagy, executive creative director, Clemenger BBDO Sydney: It seemed the whole of Australia (and half the world) wanted a Pepper Hacker of their own after they saw the film last year To see them coming to life this year at scale is something were very proud of indeed. By simply connecting to a home Wi-Fi network, one click of the Dolmio Pepper Hacker can disable the internet connection of up to four unsuspecting family members for 30 minutes the perfect amount of time to connect over a shared spaghetti bolognese. Says Brendan Forster, head of creative technology, Clemenger BBDO Sydney: The new Pepper Hacker will be a great tool for families to help bring to life the fact that when you disconnect you connect. By integrating it with home Wi-Fi systems we have created a technical solution that any home can use to get 30 minutes time back from the mobile devices that dominate our lives. Collaborating for the global element of the campaign, AMV BBDO (UK) partnering with Clemenger BBDO Sydney created the campaigns online film Look Up, a social experiment that proves just how distracting technology is when it comes to meal times. Directed by Paul Middleditch of Plaza Films, Dolmio secretly filmed tech-distracted family members and changed elements of the world around them without them noticing, proving just how much they miss out on when they have their faces buried in their phones and tablets. Led by Clemenger BBDO Sydney the new Dolmio Pepper Hacker 2.0 campaign involved MediaCom Sydney, Ogilvy PR and Starcom with the film shot by Paul Middleditch from Plaza Films. Pepper Hacker: Clemenger BBDO Sydney Executive Creative Director: Paul Nagy Creative Directors: Ben Smith and Luke Hawkins Creatives: Jack Delmonte and Hadleigh Sinclair (Pepper Hacker concept) Senior Art Director: Dan Walton (Packaging, Social, Website) Copywriters: Adam Smith and Nick Alcock (packaging, website) Head of Craft: Daniel Mortensen Senior Designer: Claire Sutton (Packaging) Head of Creative Technology: Brendan Forster Senior Digital Producer: Joshua Speight Senior Finished Artist: Anna Ballard Digital Designers: Ivan So, Sebastian Perez de Arce, Marissa Karolyi Developer: Dale Emrose Managing Director: Emily Perrett Group Account Director: Madeline Marsh Senior Account Director: Matty Graham Senior Account Director: Lena Galbraith Senior Account Director: Emily Taylor Account Manager: Katie Scrutton Account Coordinator Brooklyn Andrews Head of Planning: Kit Lansdell Dolmio Look Up Experiment: AMV BBDO & Clemenger BBDO Creative Directors: Dave Buchanan, Ben Smith, Luke Hawkins Copywriter: Caio Gianella Art Director: Diego de Oliveira Agency Planner: John McDonald Agency Account Mgmt: James Drummond, Jonny White, Stephen Adams, Matty Graham, Katie Scrutton Agency Producer: Cleo Hodgkinson Media Agency: Mediacom Media Planner: Matt Delaney Production Company: Plaza Films Director: Paul Middleditch Executive Producer: Paul Masterton Post: Unit Media Sound: Unit Media Pepper Hacker Production Partners Product Design: D+I (Design+Industry) Technical Solutions: The LX Group Client: Mars Global Brand Director, Mars Food: Richard Stear Marketing Director, Mars Food Australia: Tim Hicks Marketing Director Food, Mars UK: Chris Wragg Marketing Manager Dolmio, Mars UK: Ian Nundy Marketing Manager, Mars Food Australia: Shelley Crowe Brand Manager, Mars Food Australia: Lauren Dragicevich Media Agency: MediaCom Buying Agency: Starcom | BY Lynchy | Justine Armour has come a long way since departing Mojo Sydney in 2011 for a copywriter gig at Wieden + Kennedy, Portland, arguably the worlds hottest agency. Armour has since been promoted to a creative director role, one of only two female CDs at the agency apart from legendary ECD Susan Hoffman. Was it a scary decision to leave the comfort of Mojo Sydney for Wieden + Kennedy back in 2011 to take up a copywriter role? It was a little daunting to pack up my life and move to another country, but to be honest it was never comfortable in my four years at Mojo. It was tough there; we fought hard to make great work, and the work was world-class. So arriving here, people knew my work and they respected it. Coming to Portland was a different kind of pressure, but working for Micah at Mojo set me up pretty well for W+K. Why Wieden + Kennedy? I didnt want to move to Portland. I wanted to go to New York or London or some big city with a lot of shit to do, and a Barneys. But then I flew out here and met the people I would work with people who had made some of my favorite ads, ever and without exception, I genuinely liked everyone. I fell in love with the building I would come to work at every day, and I felt simultaneously energized and at ease in this weird town. By the end of the weekend, Id gone from being in two minds about it to really hoping they wanted me. Have you come across much sexism in your career? If so, has it held you back in terms of promotions? In my first job, my boss sent me across town to deliver an envelope to a client. It turned out there was nothing inside, I was there so the guy could chat me up. The whole thing was so brazen; I could not believe it was happening. But I was 22, agency jobs were scarce, and I felt lucky to be employed. So I thought, well, I guess this is advertising. I buried the experience and tried to see my role as cute young girl creative as something positive. But that is no basis for a fulfilling career. And you get older and less cute, eventually. I wouldnt say Ive encountered tons of overt sexism since then, but experiences like that shape your view of what it takes to be of value if your agency doesnt value its creative product. Certainly my gender plays a big role and always has. Yes, being a woman has held me back in terms of promotions, but mainly because there hasnt been a female CD at the agencies Ive worked at, until now. I had CD roles offered to me a number of times in Australia, but I didnt feel ready until I worked at a place where I saw a woman leading the creative department. There are still very few women worldwide in senior creative director roles. Any thoughts on how that can change? A few thoughts! Its no secret that senior women drop out of the industry or take a step back when they have babies, so maybe agencies could make working conditions conducive to also being a great parent. Limiting everyones work hours to when mums can participate, offering the same parental leave benefits to dads so that responsibilities at home are shared, and committing to equal pay for equal work would all be a start. Is the US easier or harder than Australia to get ahead as a female creative? I think in Australia were just culturally more hostile toward authority, so I never really wanted to put myself in that position at home. For better or worse, Agency culture is quite politically correct over here. What that means is fewer awkward moments where youre looking at the floor or waiting for some innuendo to pass. Women are treated more like true equals here, and especially at W+K where race and gender diversity is a genuine focus, we are trying to make sure the opportunities dont fall just to the white guys. Like it or not, women do have a different lens on ideas and they are more innately insightful when it comes to connecting with other women. And thats a huge opportunity when you consider something like 85% of purchase decisions are made by women. What advice would you give to young women creatives entering the industry? Probably the same advice I would give to any young creative. Work the hardest. Look at non-advertising creative references. When you find people you work well with, make as much work together as possible. Work at agencies that show they care about the work and the people who make it. And a big one would be to always be writing comedy. Comedy is a muscle, if you do it every day you get great at it. Then, even if you have a dry spell in production, at least youre laughing your butt off every day and everyone wants to work with you. Have you missed Sydney, especially in the cold Portland winters? Any thoughts of returning? I miss the city and my friends, but I love working over here. Working in a place where my work can affect culture is something Im really enjoying. So, no current plans to move. Subject to change pending a Trump presidency, of course. Who have been your major influencers in your career to date? Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at 10:42PM Expect to see Motorola smartphones with Microsofts software in the future. Staying true to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadellas new vision for Microsoft of having as many people use their products as possible, the tech company is partnering with Lenovo to preload its software on some of Lenovos and Motorolas Android phones. We dont know yet which phones will be carrying Office, OneDrive, and Skype, though, but its expected that theyll be shipping millions of Android devices with Microsofts suite in the coming years. This isnt the first time Microsoft has entered into a patent-cross licensing deal with other brands. But what this means is Microsoft is giving up its right to charge hefty royalties so it could bundle its products and have them more accessible to more people. Source: The Verge "With the new legislation prohibiting racing and training in NSW, we believe that this will have a considerable impact on greyhound racing in the ACT as our estimates believe that about 93 per cent of all participants are indeed NSW residents," she said. "I would urge them to reconsider it, I would urge them to work with the ACT government to have another function that is open to the public." GT&T renewed its license agreement for international voice and calls in 2010 for another 15 years, but minister of public telecommunications Lance Hinds virtually ruled out any compensation being paid back to the carrier for the remaining nine years on its licence, according to Demerara Waves. GT&T-parent company Atlantic Tele-Network has held the licence since 1990. Speaking at a public forum, Hinds said: That is not a discussion that is really going to happen because it is difficult to put a value on an exclusive licence for nine years down the road because you (are) doing future projections on earnings and that gets into a science that will only get us into a dispute. Talks are expected to last until at least the end of October, according to Hinds, who said the government aimed to put systems dictating the liberalisation process in place by the end of November. To support opening the process up to rival carriers, Hinds identified a number of areas in which regulations will need to be developed in association with the Telecommunications Act 2016. The Act, which was introduced in May, aims to open up the Guyanese market to more operators. Hinds identified licence and frequency authorisation, interconnection and access, pricing related to competition, competition, and customer protection as key areas where regulations will need to be developed. But he added that the timeframe will be dependent on new submarine fibre-optic cables being landed in Guyana by companies including Digicel. He also warned that some of the telecommunications companies within the South American country may not be enthusiastic about the proposals. How we manage those kinds of things, as we move forward, is going to be tricky in terms of who is going to hold the infrastructure, who is going to rent from who, so all those conversations are going to come up because we simply cant have a situation where every man jack is running fibre all over the town, he added. The Bahrain telecoms provider will now offer a variety of cloud computing services such as Infrastructure as a service (IaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) over its highly reliable, redundant and self-healing telecom services to have seamless connectivity to Microsoft Azure. This collaboration offers a variety of Microsoft services to enterprises; such as access to Microsoft software, third-party software, business transaction services, web hosting & streaming media services and line-of-business (LOB) applications, said Veer Passi, CEO of Kalaam Telecom. Enterprises from around the world are using the cloud in incredible ways to accelerate and transform their respective businesses, said Srinivasan Arumugam, commercial head of Kalaam Telecom. We are excited to be working closely with Microsoft to offer tremendous value addition to enterprises to run the entire business efficiently at less expense. Sherif Tawfik, general manager for Microsoft Bahrain and Oman, added: We are pleased to partner with Kalaam Telecom to provide Bahrains enterprises with Microsoft cloud computing services which have been designed to accelerate innovation across teams and skillsets, with integrated intelligence that powers business insights, leverages open and on-premises technologies, and provides industry-leading security. Kalaam Telecom launched operations in March 2005 and offers advanced voice, internet, data and value added services to SMEs and large corporations in Bahrain. Earlier this year, Kalaam Telecom established a point of presence (PoP) at Etisalats SmartHub. [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 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. August 24, 2016: Are you considering pursuing a graduate business degree in the United States? The University of Virginia Darden School of Business will hold admissions information sessions in Mumbai, Bangalore and New Delhi for students interested in the Darden MBA program. Prospective students are invited to attend these sessions to ask questions and connect with members of Darden's dynamic network, including Dean Scott Beardsley, who will be speaking about Darden's top-ranked MBA program. Attendees will be able to speak with alumni and admissions representatives to learn more about their experiences at Darden. Place Date Time Registration Addres Mumbai Monday, 29 August 2016 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Register Here! Bangalore Wednesday, 31 August 2016 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Register Here! New Delhi Thursday, 1 September 2016 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Register Here! Ranked #1 in Education Experience by The Economist, Darden offers three formats: the residential MBA, Executive MBA and Global Executive MBA. Students in the Executive MBA program are able to choose either Charlottesville, Virginia or the Washington, D.C., area as their base learning location. All three formats are taught through the case method by the same top-ranked faculty using the same core curriculum. The first application deadline for the residential MBA program is October 4, 2016. Those interested can learn more about the admission process and apply online at: http://www.darden.virginia.edu/mba/admissions/application-process About University of Virginia Darden School of Business The University of Virginia Darden School of Business delivers the world's best business education experience to prepare entrepreneurial, global and responsible leaders through its MBA, Ph.D. and Executive Education programs. Darden's top-ranked faculty is renowned for teaching excellence and advances practical business knowledge through research. Darden was established in 1955 at the University of Virginia, a top public university founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819 in Charlottesville, Virginia. Students get to interact with various Australian institutions under one roof Gurgaon, August 24, 2016: IDP Education India, the leading student placement service provider will be organizing the Australian education fair in Gurgaon at Crowne Plazafor students aspiring to pursue higher education in Australia. The fair spread across 14 cities will bring together prominent universities and educational institutes from Australia under one roof. The fair kick startedon21st August 2016 at Kolkata and will conclude in Vijayawada on 08th September 2016. Among the other cities, the fair will be organized in Kolkata, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad,Vijayawada, Kochi and Coimbatore. Mr. Piyush Kumar, Country Director, India - IDP Education said, "IDP seeks to provide a platform to aspiring students to come and have a face-to-face interaction with the university representatives and get answers to all their queries related to studying in Australia. Study in Australia 37 Australian institutions are participating in the fair. It is a FREE platform for all students to gauge their prospects, apply directly to the institution of their choice and get first hand information on courses, scholarships etc." "Australian education has always attracted Indian students for its quality and the availability of post study work opportunities make it even more attractive. Also 20 out of 39 Australian universities feature in world's Top 400 Times Higher Education Rankings." added Mr. Kumar In addition to meeting the institutions, the qualified students can also get application fee waivers & scholarships. The scholarships can range from a fee bursary to a 50% scholarship of tuition fee for select students. Students are advised to bring along their educational certificates in original along with photocopies. One can also visit the IDP office to pre-register for priority processing and detailed counseling with trained & experienced Australia counselors. Financial assistance for international students in Australia IDP's Australian Education fair in Gurgaon provides an opportunity to have one-on-one interaction with 29 Australian universities &institutions mentioned below: Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School RMIT University Bond University Study Group-Australia and Charles Sturt University Charles Darwin University The Australian National University Curtin University The University of Adelaide CQUniversity The University of Melbourne Deakin University and Deakin College The University of Queensland Edith Cowan University The University of Sydney Flinders University The University of Western Australia James Cook University University of South Australia Kent Institute- Australia University of Tasmania La Trobe University University of Technology, Sydney Macquarie University University of Wollongong Monash University Victoria University Navitas Australia Western Sydney University QUT About IDP India IDP Education is a world leader in international student placement services. With a network of over 100 international student placement centers, IDP has a global presence in more than 32 countries. IDP Education Limited is an ASX listed company that is 50% owned by 38 Australian universities. For more than 45 years, IDP has played a major role in international education by offering comprehensive counseling services to students & having placed more than 400,000 students into quality institutions in Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada and New Zealand. For further information, visit www.idp.com/india/studyabroad IELTS IDP is a proud co-owner of IELTS (International English Language Testing System). IELTS is jointly owned by British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment. Since its launch in 1989, IELTS has become the world's most popular high-stakes English language proficiency test. IELTS is accepted as evidence of English language proficiency by over 9,000 organizations worldwide. Last year, more than 2.5 million tests were taken globally. According Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, Apple could join forces with BMW for its ongoing car project. Munster suggests that before Apple launches its rumored car early next decade, currently codenamed Project Titan, it may first expand on its existing CarPlay offerings and venture further into the automotive realm alongside an established brand like BMW, reports Apple World. The analyst says that Apple may actually release some form of autonomous driving software with BMW before launching its own car. We believe that Apple could release some of its learnings before 2021 as it continues to develop its own car, he said. For example, autonomous driving software could come out earlier via an automotive partner or more advanced CarPlay features. In terms of the market, as weve previously written, BMW might be the best comp for what Apple could do with the car in a wildly successful long-term scenario. BMW brand sold 1.9 million vehicles worldwide in 2015. At a $75k ASP, that would represent a $142.5 billion revenue opportunity. This isnt the first time it has been thought that the tech giant could gradually increase its footprint into the industry rather than simply going from CarPlay to its very own vehicle. If Apple is to collaborate with an existing marque, BMW would certainly be a good candidate. The German marque is leading the industry with its carbon fiber technologies and looking to further develop its plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains while extending its suite of autonomous driving systems. PHOTO GALLERY The new Citroen C4 Picasso and its seven-seater sibling have arrived in the UK where they both go on sale from September 1. The popular French people carriers have received a few subtle styling tweaks, including a new front end with new lighting surrounds and 3D-effect rear lights. The range now gains one new 1.2-litre PureTech petrol engine with 108hp (110PS) while the 128hp (130PS) version of the same engine can now be paired with a six-speed automatic gearbox. Three trim levels will be available in both models: Touch, Feel and Flair with Citroen also offering several different interior upholsteries with each level. The company has also added their latest 3D Connect Nav System which comes with a capacitive touch display and allows gestures like pinch zoom. Apple CarPlay and MirrorLink are also standard. Customers will be offered two new optional driver assistance packages, with the first one to offer active lane departure warning system, active blind spot monitoring system, speed limit recognition, intelligent beam headlights and driver attention alert. The second one includes all of the above as well as active radar guided cruise control. Prices for the new Citroen C4 Picasso start from 19,635 and from 21,935 for the new Grand C4 Picasso. PHOTO GALLERY A hardtopped variant of the Fiat 124 Spider could launch as early as next year according to a report from Autocar. It is thought that Fiat has been spurred on by the success of the Mazda MX-5 based model and wants to create a dedicated coupe variant with higher performance capabilities. The creation of such a model will also help to distinguish the 124 further from its Mazda sibling and provide the Italian manufacturer with an even sportier model. The world got its first taster of a Fiat 124 Coupe at Marchs Geneva Motor Show when Abarth unveiled its rally-spec 124 with a fixed roof and racing livery. Theres a good chance that the production 124 Coupe will utilize a very similar roof design or potentially, adopt a slightly extended roofline which would result in a shorter decklid. In either case, it seems probable that engines will differ depending on the market. Some are thought to be happy with the Spiders entry-level 1.4-liter 138 hp engine while other markets are apparently pushing for the Abarths 178 hp engine to be the only available powertrain. Whatever engine or engines the 124 Coupe receives, it can be expected to offer an even better driving experience than the convertible thanks to its strengthened chassis and likely adoption of new suspension. Renderings via Theophilus Chin PHOTO GALLERY Believed to be the finest Citroen DS in the world, this 1973 Super 5 will be auctioned at Blenheim Palace on Saturday, September 3rd for anywhere between 75,000 and 90,000. The story behind this car is that after it was built, it didnt even need to leave the dealership in order to find its first owner the CEO of the supplying dealership, who has since remained the sole owner of the car. This right-hand drive DS is wearing Blanc Meije (period white), featuring its original Red Targa upholstery on the inside. Also, because the owner entered it into multiple concours level shows and competitions, the DS walked away with over 200 total awards. These include being National Champion at both the Welsh Benson & Hedges Concours and Popular Classics Roadshow, as well as victories at the Scottish Benson & Hedges Concours, NEC show and the Maguiars Concours among others. It it said that the car even has its own television career after appearances on both Top Gear and Fifth Gear in the UK, and that it has been offered a permanent place at the national Citroen Museum in France. Words are not adequate to convey the condition of this important piece of motoring history, it simply must be seen to be believed, said Nick Whale, managing director of Silverstone Auctions. This DS is the kind of car that really gets people excited, and were delighted to be offering a car of this staggering quality and reputation in our sale. Its one of the star cars in the Salon Prive Sale and fits in perfectly as part of our most exclusive sale. PHOTO GALLERY In order to celebrate the second half of the 2016 F1 season thats set to kick off in Belgium this weekend, McLaren has put together a small photoshoot with the P1 GTR and the MP4/31 in matching colors. The two very extreme machines are wearing matching liveries, though with the P1 it would have been harder to keep the stripes in the exact same locations as they are on the F1 car, so the boffins basically had to work around that issue. A few clear differences are marked by the orange side mirror upper tips or the large lateral stripes being situated on the profile of the car instead of the shoulder line, which is what McLaren-Honda have done with the MP4/31. Speaking of the MP4/31, the Honda-powered F1 car will be back in action this weekend at Spa where McLaren will look to out-score Toro Rosso and gain a little more ground on Force India and Williams. Unfortunately for them, Spa is the type of track that mostly rewards the fastest cars on the grid and the Honda power unit remains slower than Mercedes, Ferraris (both 2016 & 2015) and Renaults through speed traps this season. PHOTO GALLERY The Race of Champions will head to the U.S. for the first time following confirmation that the 2017 event will be held at Miamis Marlins Park. The thrilling racing series which gathers together the worlds top drivers has been held in London, Beijing, Dusseldorf, Bangkok and Barbados in recent years and will be fronted in 2017 by ROC Champion of Champions, Sebastian Vettel. The German claimed the title last year in London and will defend his crown against other drivers from Formula 1, IndyCar, NASCAR, Le Mans, WRC, X Games and MotoGP. Two American drivers have already been confirmed, Indy 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay and NASCAR champion Kurt Busch. A full list of drivers will be released shortly. Capable of seating over 37,000 screaming fans, Marlins Park will be transformed into a twisting and technical circuit playing host to a multitude of race cars from series all around the world. According to reigning Champion of Champions, Sebastian Vettel, Im very happy to have finally won the individual Race Of Champions title last year in Londons Olympic Stadium and I look forward to defending my title at ROC in Miami. All the drivers are strong, and the top US drivers from NASCAR and IndyCar will certainly be extra motivated to win in front of their home fans now that the event is being held in their country for the first time. Race of Champions 2017 will take place from January 21-22 and tickets are on sale now. PHOTO GALLERY VIDEO The Berlin-based Pictoplasma organization, which promotes contemporary character design in all its many forms, is returning to New York City for a conference on November 4, 2016. Ben Bocquelet, the creator of the Cartoon Network series Gumball, is among the headliners for the fifth edition of the Pictoplasma Conference NYC, which hasnt taken place in New York since 2013. Other confirmed speakers at Novembers event include: Jean Jullien, who created the instant-classic Peace for Paris symbol after last Novembers terror attacks in Paris Pittsburgh-based visual artist Julian Glander Slovakian illustrator Martina Paukova Spanish artist Jaime Alvarez, creator of the Mr. Kat character brand New York-based illustrator You Jung Byun Additional speakers will be announced at a later date. Pictoplasma NYC will also offer a program of new animation work brimming with psychedelic eye-candy and storytelling genius. Photo: Getty Images Schizophrenia is one of the most frightening psychiatric diagnoses. It is a chronic condition affecting about one per cent of the population and is associated with some of the most notorious symptoms of mental illness hallucinations and delusions. Schizophrenia is troubling because it often begins when a person is in the prime of his or her life and can distort ones ability to tell what is real and what is not Schizophrenia can be difficult to treat and its causes and triggers are still a mystery. A large-scale study published in 2014 in Nature has brought us a little bit closer to understanding this complex disease. A collaborative group of researchers examined the genetic codes of more than 150,000 people. Roughly 37,000 were diagnosed with schizophrenia and results found 108 genetic markers for the risk of getting the disease. This is a big finding because the majority of these markers had not previously been reported. Most people will have some of these genetic markers and still not develop schizophrenia, but this study did find that those with the most markers were 15 times more likely to develop the disease than those with fewer of them. This is very interesting and provides some insight into genetic vs. environmental triggers for the condition. We have long known there seems to be a link between the immune system and schizophrenia. Families with autoimmune disorders appear to be at increased risk and there is a link between viral infections during pregnancy and higher rates of schizophrenia in offspring. The markers identified in this study confirm this immune system link. Researchers associated with the study say it is now very clear the immune system is involved with the condition. Although it will still be many years before this information can lead to new treatments for schizophrenia, it is a piece in the ongoing puzzle. There is still much to learn, but when scientists from around the world work together and pool data from many thousands of people, it certainly allows our understanding to move forward much more quickly than when we work in isolation. I look forward to seeing more results from this group and others as we continue to unlock the mystery of schizophrenia. In the meantime, there are treatments available that help many with this frightening condition. If you are concerned for yourself or a loved one, contact your doctor now for help. This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet. Photo: CTV UPDATE: 4 p.m. Highway 1 has now reopened in Chilliwack following this morning's fatal crash. RCMP say a 30-year-old woman from Chilliwack was killed in the three-car collision when her vehicle suddenly went off the highway. The other two drivers involved, both from the Lower Mainland, received minor injuries and are expected to be released from hospital today. ORIGINAL: noon A fatal collision has closed westbound lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway in Chilliwack. RCMP are still on the scene of the crash, which happened about 7:45 a.m., west of the Lickman Road exit. The crash involved three vehicles, and police confirm one person was killed and two others have been taken to hospital. The extent of their injuries is unknown at this time. An RCMP collision reconstructionist and the B.C. Coroners Service are investigating the incident. The highway will remain closed at Lickman Road until further notice. A detour is in effect via Industrial Way. Any witnesses to the collision are asked to contact Fraser Valley Traffic Services at 604-702-4039. Photo: Nicholas Johansen A sleepy Leo the goat, with the Campbell family, at Ponderosa Music Festival. A resilient goat made his triumphant return to Rock Creek this past weekend, at Ponderosa Music Festival. As buildings and trees burst into flames and collapsed around him during the Rock Creek wildfire that destroyed 30 homes last August, Leo remained in his pen and rode out the heat. Other than a singed tail, Leo was unscathed. After he was found alive, Critteraid, an animal rescue charity, took Leo in, where he stayed until February. He was there with five alpacas, but goats do much better with goats, they're herd animals, said Jeff Campbell, the current owner of Leo. Critteraid reached out to the Campbell family, who had previously worked with Critteraid. Leo moved to the Campbell farm in Penticton in February, where he has become best of friends with the Campbells' five female goats. He's been awesome, he's got five other girls that he hangs out with all day long, Jeff said. They're best of buds, they play all day long. On Sunday, Jeff and his wife Cindy, along with their two kids, brought Leo and his buddy Eretria down to Rock Creek for the last day of the Ponderosa Music Festival. Jeff said Kris Hargrave and Kia Zahrabi, the organizers of the festival, had reached out to the Campbells in the spring. They came out and said hi to Leo and were wondering if we'd be able to bring him out because most people in this area totally know about Leo the fireproof goat, Jeff said. Leo and Eretria, along with the Campbells, were housed in a fenced-off area inside the festival, and festival-goers wandered in and out, to pet the goats and hear about Leo defying the odds. Most people who have come by to see him are pretty happy that Leo's come by, Jeff said. We've had people all day long since we've been here, coming in and out. After a long day of being a local celebrity, Leo was worn out, falling asleep in his hay, as music blasted across the field from the main stage. By all accounts, Leo's homecoming was a success. Photo: wikipedia.org The New York Times plans to expand to Canada. Danielle Rhoades Ha, the company's vice-president of communications, said in an email that the paper is actively assessing how to further extend its reach to readers in Canada and Australia in the coming months. Rhoades Ha said the company has deployed people to both countries to recruit journalists and lay the groundwork for local newsrooms. She said the company is not discussing further details at the moment. The Times already has a Canadian correspondent, Ian Austen. In February, the New York Times launched its digital Spanish-language publication, The New York Times en Espanol, with a team of journalists based in Mexico City. The New York Times announcement follows news from the BBC earlier this summer that it will open a news bureau in Toronto and launch a Canadian edition of its site. With stumps still burning and flames smouldering in dry grass, the fire threat is keeping evacuated residents out of their homes along Westside Road. Power poles have been knocked to the ground, and trees have brought down power lines, cutting electricity and communication networks in the area of the Bear Creek wildfire. Bruce Smith with CORD Emergency says due to infrastructure being down, the evacuation order remains in effect for the Traders Cove subdivision and Bear Creek Provincial Park. Its based on the fire activity its just not safe to send people home yet, Smith said Tuesday as media toured the area. Dale Bojhara, with the BC Wildlife Service, said burned forest fuels came close to peoples homes. Things are going very, very well. We are fortunate that a lot of the fire is quite accessible by road, not a lot of inaccessible areas on the fire, so we can pretty much deliver water anywhere we need to, said Bojhara. We are also benefiting from that wet summer we had. Its only recently started to dry out. With temperatures returning to seasonal norms, Bojhara says it doesnt take a lot to have a wind-driven wildfire in the Okanagan. You can have a fine-fuel driven fire how deep it burns and how intense it is, that is the underlying drought piece, he explained. The Bear Creek wildfire is still considered a Rank 1, smouldering ground fire, and firefighter Matt Melville says that means crews have to dig to extinguish hot spots. We have been establishing a fuel-free (zone), followed up by making hand guards, and a hose lay, said Melville. We have been able to go in and make sure its safe for all of our workers to go in, by doing danger tree assessing and falling. There has been no growth on the fire, which remains at 52.5 hectares and 75 per cent contained. They have the food; they have the medical supplies; now all Denis and Eileen Nogue need is a way to get it to Guatemala. The Lavington residents are working with the North Okanagan Gleaners and have gathered the equivalent of a million meals. We're fundraising to send a 40-foot shipping container with just over one-million servings of donated Gleaners food to Guatemala, as well as some much-needed medical supplies, said Denis who has travelled to the Central American country on several occasions. We're going to be starting up a feeding program at a public school. For most of these kids, that will be the only meal they will receive that day, he said. Big Steel Box in Kelowna has a lead on a used container for us to purchase. It's going to be about $4,500. Along with the cost of purchasing the container, Denis said it will cost around $4,000US to get the container to Guatemala. We don't know what the fees are going to be on the other end, so we are thinking we need to raise around $13,000. Anyone wanting to help can send donations to the Lavington Baptist Church, 9681 School Rd., Coldstream, BC V1B 3G4. One hundred per cent of the donations will go toward this project, he said, adding tax receipts will be issued and all donations should be marked 'container project.' He and his wife will be spending three months in Gutamala this winter and will be there when the container full of food arrives. The medical supplies and equipment have been donated by Interior Health and the Red Cross. Denis said what may be outdated equipment in Canada, is desperately needed and much appreciated in Guatemala. Denis is hoping to ship the container on Oct. 13. It takes a bit of time to get to Guatemala and we're not sure how long it will be tied up in the port in Guatemala. It's a third-world country so things can take time, he said, and he and Eileen are planning on arriving in Guatemala Jan. 4. So we are hoping it is there and cleared customs when we arrive. Photo: Getty Images A Hawaii woman has won more than $10 million playing the penny slots in Las Vegas. The Wynn Las Vegas said the unidentified woman from Oahu won a total payout of $10,777,270.51 after betting $3 on a penny slot machine. The jackpot happened about 9 p.m. Sunday at the Strip casino on an IGT Megabucks Wynn Wheel slots machine. Photo: Getty Images UPDATED 8:32 P.M. The mayor of Amatrice in Italy says residents are buried under debris and that the town "isn't here anymore" following a magnitude 6.1 earthquake. The quake struck central Italy early Wednesday, with reports of damaged buildings and blackouts near the epicentre in Rieti and residents fleeing their homes and running into the streets. The quake struck just after 3:30 a.m. and was felt across a broad section of central Italy, including the capital Rome. A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck central Italy early Wednesday, with reports of damaged buildings and blackouts near the epicenter Rieti and residents fleeing their homes and running into the streets. The quake struck just after 3:30 a.m. and was felt across a broad section of central Italy, including the capital Rome where people in homes in the historic centre felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. The European Mediterranean Seismological Center put the magnitude at 6.1 and said the epicenter was northeast of Rome, near Rieti. The U.S. Geological Survey put the magnitude at 6.2. The mayor of Amatrice near Rieti, Sergio Perozzi, told state-run RAI radio that there were downed buildings in the city centre and that the lights had gone out. He said he was unable to get in touch with emergency responders or reach the hospital. "What can I tell you? It's a drama," he said. Photo: Getty Images Gen X parents have a tougher job of raising their kids than previous generations. And it's our fault. I know, every generation before us has claimed they had the toughest job. I can imagine when radio hit the airwaves, everything a teenager did that was out of line was blamed on that devil radio. And then when TV became mainstream, Id bet my bottom dollar that those kids were good n fine until TV clouded their brains with all sorts of impure thoughts. The peace, love, rock and roll group was all about free thinking, free spirits and free drugs. And that generation of parents was convinced no one had it harder than they did. As we rounded out the 90s, we saw obsessive video gaming, and surly teenagers listening to gangsta rap. There was an obvious breakdown in the traditional family unit as more and more families had both parents working in order to keep up with, well, everyone else. But the battle cry was the same as every other generation before it: the kids are way harder to raise then ever. So now, here we are in a new century and a whole new generation of kids (the Millennials). Thus far, raising this up-and-coming group of world leaders, business owners and teachers has been cringe worthy at times. But is it the hardest? The Millennials are the first to grow up alongside computers and the Internet on a daily basis. Never before has there been so much advice and input, often unsolicited, on what to do if. Generation X, the parents of the Millennials, is also the first to have to learn how to use computers and social media so we can teach, protect and keep up with the kids were raising. This is part of our every-day existence now, and its not going to go away if we ignore it. Ok, so where exactly am I going with this? As parents to the Millennials, we're participating and even creating the problem. Gen X as in me and my peers spend as much time as our kids do buried in our phones and computers. The apple doesnt fall far from the tree. How many times have you witnessed parents scrolling through their phone while their child talks to them or plays beside them? How many times have you checked out of a conversation to look at your texts, or whipped your phone out to show the latest picture or video you took of your kids/pets/spouse? Now, consider this: our kids are attached to their handheld devices (that most of us bought for them) in a way that is unprecedented and seemingly unstoppable. But so are we. What we're seeing are kids with poor communication skills, who have a hard time occupying themselves without a device. They lack education essentials like writing with a pen and their spelling is atrocious. And this is only the beginning. Try this experiment at home: ask your child to write a sentence with proper punctuation, the way we were taught to do it in school. And then ask them to sign their name. Many parents are shocked to realize their kids dont know how to spell, can't form a sentence or write their name. But is that surprise warranted? We bought our children an iPod at the age of 4. Whats to be expected in this case? We all say, can you imagine when these kids have to get jobs and be bosses and leaders? How are they going to do it when they can't even hang out with a group of their peers without everyone being on their phones? Well, that time is just starting to come upon us as the older portion of the Millennials is reaching these ages of being able to take on some of these positions. Time will tell us rather quickly how this generation will fare? But in the meantime, we're the ones who are still in charge. And were doing exactly what we complain about. Each generation has a more difficult raising kids because often, that generation makes it more difficult. We create the problem by ignoring what the kids are doing and hoping the generational issue will solve itself. Or we go in the opposite direction and becoming that generation, the way we are right now. Thanks for reading. This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet. Photo: NASA A giant algae bloom off B.C.'s South Coast has turned the normally blue ocean green. It's so large, it's visible from space. The water in Howe Sound is so green, it's easily visible to the naked eye, leaving boaters and ferry passengers to wonder what's going on. "I'm going for a swim in it later. Hopefully, it doesn't eat me alive," one observer told CTV, jokingly. Last year, a huge bloom of toxic algae temporarily shut down fisheries in the region, but experts say this algae doesn't pose a threat. The colour is caused by tiny phytoplankton called coccolithophorids, according to Nicky Haigh of Vancouver Island University's Harmful Algae Monitoring Program. "This is an unusual bloom to be seeing in the Strait of Georgia. We usually see different species We're not really sure why they're blooming in this area." They're more common off the west coast of Vancouver Island, but are rarely seen closer to the mainland. Slightly higher acidity in the water may be behind their move as waters with a lower pH can encourage their growth. with files from CTV Vancouver Photo: Twitter - MBC News Indigenous people from around the world are in Saskatoon this week to talk about international business. Milton Tootoosis, chair of the Saskatchewan First Nations Economic Development Network, said hosting the event is exciting for the province. Tootoosis hopes the forum addresses some of the hurdles facing indigenous people who want to develop a business. The forum includes presentations from business leaders across Canada. Edmund Bellegarde, tribal chairman of the File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council, and David Williams, co-founder and director of Gilimbaa in Australia, will lead a panel discussion Thursday on rebuilding nations with new tools. The forum, which has previously been held in New York City, Sydney, Australia and Guatemala City, ends Thursday. Photo: Contributed Where most people see an empty shell after a tasty dinner, a scientist in Vancouver sees an opportunity to create a sustainable new plastic. Chemist Mark MacLachlan at the University of British Columbia is working to turn shells from lobsters, crabs and shrimp into natural materials that can be used in a variety of objects, including batteries, coffee cups or medical supplies. "Shells are a large waste product from the food industry, shrimp shells and crab shells especially," he said. "But the chemistry needed to transform them into something useful is not too difficult." The process involves removing minerals and proteins from the shell, which leaves behind a bio material called chitin, MacLachlan explained. MacLachlan and his team have been working to turn the chitin into other materials, many of which are colourful or iridescent because of the natural structure of the substance. Some of the chitin materials are being used as sensors that change colour when they're squeezed, he said, and they are also converting them into electrodes that could be used for batteries. But the scientists believe the material could also be turned into a biodegradable plastic that comes from a renewable source. "Normal plastics come from the oil industry, so there's a big drive to make greener plastics from natural materials like cellulose and chitin," MacLachlan said. Not only is the source of the plastic renewable, it's something that would usually be considered garbage. The shells MacLachlan and his team use for their research come from two sources: a Vancouver restaurant and a post-doctoral student's kitchen. Despite the shell's humble beginnings, MacLachlan said the plastic made from them could be used to create all sorts of items, from coffee cups or disposable dishes to medical supplies, such as wound dressing or sutures. There could be advantages to using the new material, too, based on its unique properties. "Chitin is this super material from crabs and other arthropods that over millions and millions of years has evolved this amazing structure that makes it really, really hard. So the plastics we make from it can have advantageous properties for different applications," MacLachlan explained. Photo: Twitter The four-legged mayor of a northwestern Minnesota village greets voters like a true politician. Duke, a nine-year-old Great Pyrenees, won a third one-year term as honorary mayor of Cormorant Township on Saturday. The big, shaggy white dog was overwhelmingly re-elected at the sixth annual Cormorant Daze Festival. Anyone could pay a dollar and cast a vote. Cormorant resident Karen Nelson says Duke "greets everyone" who comes to the village of about 20 people nestled among lakes about 180 miles northwest of Minneapolis. Nelson says the canine mayor also is popular with children. She says Duke "can have 10 kids on him, and he don't care." Duke was first elected in a write-in vote in 2014. Photo: The Canadian Press A painting at the centre of a strange multimillion-dollar civil lawsuit filed by a former Canadian correctional officer who owns the canvas was not the work of famed artist Peter Doig, a Chicago judge ruled Tuesday. In his decision, U.S. District Judge Gary Feinerman said the evidence showed that Doig, whose paintings have sold for more than $20 million, was not in a prison in Thunder Bay, Ont., when the desert landscape was painted in 1976 and sold to the guard. "Peter Doig could not have been the author of the work," Feinerman said in his decision, calling it a case of mistaken identity. The unprecedented battle, closely watched by the art world, involved a claim by Robert (Bob) Fletcher, of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., who claimed Doig painted the canvas, once valued at more than $10 million. Doig, who lived in Toronto decades ago, disavowed the work, arguing the acrylic landscape was by a Peter Doige, a man who once spent time locked up in Thunder Bay for a drug offence. Doig said he had never been in the northern Ontario city and only began painting on canvas in 1979. In an interview minutes after the verdict, Fletcher, 62, expressed his disappointment, but said he remained convinced he owns an authentic Doig. "A lot of the evidence that we brought forth really wasn't given much weight," Fletcher told The Canadian Press. He said an appeal was possibile, but noted the case had already cost "hundreds of thousands of dollars" of which he said he had paid his fair share. "Maybe we just can't afford to move on," Fletcher said. "It hasn't been a cheap venture, that's for sure." Among other things, Feinerman noted yearbook photos proved Doig, now 57, was at a Toronto high school and not in the Thunder Bay prison where Fletcher worked. Doig "absolutely did not paint" the impugned work, which was in fact by Doige, Feinerman found. The suit had alleged Doig's disavowal of the canvas ostensibly to hide his criminal past potentially cost Fletcher millions. "I have rarely seen such a flagrant example of unethical conduct in the U.S. courts nor a case that inflicted such needless burdens on a defendant," Doig's lawyer, Matthew Dontzin, said in a statement after the verdict. "Artists should be grateful to Peter for having the ethical and financial fortitude to fight tirelessly to ensure that justice prevailed." Photo: Contributed A job at McDonald's Canada could now help workers earn a college diploma. Managers who complete some of the burger chain's training can bypass the first of two years of a business or business administration diploma at Ontario's 24 public colleges. Those behind the deal say the partnership is a triple win, benefiting the corporation, post-secondary institutions and the employees-turned-students alike. One expert says the McDonald's initiative signals a potential change in how Canadians will upgrade their skills to stay competitive in the workforce. "I see it as a win-win if it turns around the long decline in not spending the time or money upgrading the skills of our people," said Alan C. Middleton, the executive director of the Schulich Executive Education Centre at York University's school of business. Sharon Ramalho, the so-called chief people officer at McDonald's Canada, said the company has a "vested interest in making sure that we help our people educate themselves, that we train, that we teach." Employees who complete two courses at one of the restaurant's training institutes, along with a combination of on-the-job experience, readings and workbook activities, can qualify for the advanced placement, she said. Workers in other provinces can participate too since some of the Ontario colleges offer online studies, said Ramalho, which essentially means that all of the company's approximately 12,000 managers could choose to pursue higher education. It's not the first such program in Canada. McDonald's and the British Columbia Institute of Technology have had a similar set up since 2014. Currently, about 120 of the chain's managers are enrolled, she said. The McDonald's workers can choose to continue working while studying thanks to flexible work arrangements, Ramalho said. For those who take the year off while studying, Ramalho said she's not too concerned about losing them to different employers post-graduation. The management turnover rate at McDonald's Canada is about 10 to 15 per cent a year, she said, as benefits and career opportunities keep retention high. The colleges, however, may not seem like winners in the program given they're losing out on the first year's tuition. "That's a bit of a double-edged sword," said Linda Franklin, president and CEO of Colleges Ontario. But she says, in fact, it may help colleges attract more students because many of them might have considered multiple years of schooling too big a hurdle. "We may actually gain students that way that we would never have gotten otherwise." Photo: Contributed Residents of Revelstoke are being chastised after nine black bears were killed in a single week for raiding garbage cans and becoming too accustomed to humans. The Conservation Officers Service in British Columbia euthanized the problem animals in and around Revelstoke last week, where one animal was brazen enough to approach the downtown. Gordon Hitchcock, a 28-year-veteran with the conservation service, said it's very unusual for so many bears to be killed in such a short time period. But he insisted the deaths are unnecessary. "It's avoidable. That's the key message," Hitchcock said Tuesday. "It's pretty much around managing food attractants." Once they're conditioned to eating garbage, bears become indifferent to people and can no longer simply be transported further into the wild, he said. Maggie Spizzirri of the Revelstoke Bear Aware Society said it's always a little devastating to see an animal be put down and that it's the community's responsibility to deal properly with items that typically entice bears, such as garbage and fallen fruit. "It's up to the people to make sure their attractants are secure. It's up to the people to maybe nudge their neighbours to do the same. And it's up to the city to make sure they're enforcing these things as well," she said. Spizzirri said compliance with proper bear-aware practices appears to be on the rise in Revelstoke because residents know there has been more bear activity than usual this year. "We just have to make sure that that momentum continues in the future so this doesn't happen again," she said. The animals killed around Revelstoke were all solitary black bears, and the challenge of problem animals isn't restricted to the Rocky Mountains. "It's an issue that's across most British Columbia, particularly places like Revelstoke that have a natural wildlife corridor," Hitchcock said. He said residents in the community of about 7,000 people need "more of a heightened realization that they're in a wildlife corridor, particularly for bears." Bears have a built-in fear of humans, but their strong instinct to feed can sometimes override that fear and weaken that natural suspicion, said Hitchcock. Public education and bylaw enforcement are the two main tools used by the Conservation Officers Service to minimize the threats posed by problem animals. Hitchcock said he hopes the media attention last week's killings have garnered will make people more aware of the need to secure bear attractants. He also commended the work of groups like Bear Aware and WildSafeBC for their efforts in raising awareness around how to interact safely with wildlife. "The bottom line is keeping communities safe and bears wild," Hitchcock said. Photo: npr.org The medical profession is waking up to the reality that opioids have been over-prescribed in Canada and is actively searching for solutions, says a national association that represents doctors in legal matters. Dr. Gordon Wallace, managing director of safe medical care with the Canadian Medical Protective Association, said the group was bringing in a panel of experts on Wednesday to advise doctors on the safe management and prescription of the medications, as opioid addictions reach crisis levels in Canada. "We've been over-prescribing and we need to reset this," he said in an interview on Tuesday. "The challenge is to reset this in a way that you actually are adequately treating pain." The issue is on the group's agenda at its annual meeting in Vancouver, held in conjunction with the Canadian Medical Association's annual conference. Opioids, including fentanyl and oxycontin, can be prescribed for pain caused by injury, cancer or a chronic condition. It's common for patients to become tolerant of the drugs, and nearly all patients become physically dependent after daily use for more than several weeks, according to the medical protective association. Wallace said opioids rose to prominence about 20 years ago when there was a push for doctors to do a better job of treating pain. The pharmaceutical industry also played a role in the greater use of the drugs, he said. But today, with rates of addiction to the dangerous drugs rising drastically, doctors are realizing that they have to turn to other options. Canada ranks second only to the U.S. in per capita consumption of prescription opioids, Wallace said. "I think the profession is waking up. I don't pretend that we're as far along as we need to be, but I think we're waking up to this and we are trying to determine how best to do this." Between 2010 and 2015, the medical protective association was involved in 151 legal cases involving allegations of patient harm related to opioid prescription and administration. The cases included civil actions, regulatory complaints and hospital complaints, and most related to drugs prescribed for treatment of chronic non-cancer pain. Wallace said the association found three major themes when reviewing the cases: failure to assess patients appropriately before prescribing opioids; the concurrent prescription of opioids and other sedatives; and challenges in identifying drug-seeking behaviour. British Columbia has declared a public health crisis over a surge in drug-related overdose deaths, in part due to the rise of fentanyl. While many overdoses are caused by illegally-obtained drugs, Wallace said over-prescription also plays a role. But there is also controversy about how to proceed, he said, and Wednesday's panel was set up to examine a variety of views, including the Canadian Pharmacists Association, Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. Dr. Gary Franklin, medical director of the Washington State Department of Labour and Industries, was asked to be a panellist because his jurisdiction has taken a unique approach to tackling opioid over-prescription. Washington has created an organization called the Agency Medical Directors' Group in which all state agencies involved in health care including the labour, health and corrections departments collaborate on policy. The group has developed three opioid guidelines since 2007, when Washington became the first state in the country to suggest a dosing threshold, Franklin said. "You can't get these things done unless you work together across the public agencies and in collaboration with clinicians in practice who want to help out, who realize there's a problem and want to help," he said. Photo: The Canadian Press Imagine paying hundreds of dollars for a couch you've never sat on or a bed you've never tested out. A growing number of online retailers say more customers are willing to do just that when it comes to furniture shopping. In the last few years, people are forgoing trips to cavernous showrooms humming with commission-seeking salespeople and instead going online to furnish their homes. "Consumers are starting to realize that there are other options out there and they don't have to deal with the traditional store on every corner, which was a terrible experience," said Philip Krim, CEO at online mattress company Casper. "It was an experience that didn't have to reinvent itself for some time. There's been very little innovation." Unlike its big-box competitors, the New York-based startup, which launched in 2014, sells only one type of latex and memory-foam mattress ranging from $725 for a twin to $1,275 for a California King. Over the past two years, the company has reported US$100 million in sales and secured financial backing from the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Ashton Kutcher and Nas. Krim would not disclose Casper's annual sales figures in Canada. But he estimates the mattress market here is worth C$1.4 billion a year, with the global market about US$50 billion. He said selling just one type of mattress and keeping the company's operations purely online has helped keep costs down. It also expanded recently to selling pillows, sheets and a dog bed. One draw factor for Casper's customers is that they have the luxury of relying on thousands of online reviews instead of relying on one salesperson's pitch, Krim added. "Lying on a mattress for 30 to 60 seconds in a store under fluorescent light with a commission salesperson standing next to you is not the right way to shop for a mattress or to know if a mattress is comfortable or the right bed for you," he said. "The only way to know is to sleep on it." Casper and other similar startups like Leesa and Canadian-owned Endy also have 100-day return policies where they will pick up unwanted products from a customer's home, no questions asked. Deborah Poole, general manager at online home furnishings retailer Wayfair Canada, said e-commerce not only allows people to shop on their own time but also have access to an even bigger selection than from a warehouse. Based in Boston, Wayfair sells more than seven million items including upholstered furniture, decorative accents, throw pillows, end tables and chairs. "Customers go looking for the biggest assortment. No store, no matter how big, can do that," she said. "The idea that you go online makes natural sense, especially if you're already doing everything else online. You might be buying your groceries online, you are streaming your media content online why wouldn't you furnish your home that way?" Jim Danahy, CEO of the Toronto-based retail advisory firm CustomerLAB, said although there has been a surge in online furnishers starting up, they won't replace actual shops. "The shopping experience from bricks and mortar is still difficult to replicate online," he said. "It's a long way from walking into a showroom and seeing what the couch you like looks like in a living room setting and also deciding that you also like the carpet and the side table." Photo: Wikipedia. North Okanagan Shuswap MP Mel Arnold is inviting constituents to speak out on electoral reform. Information and response ballots have been mailed out to voters about a possible national referendum on electoral reform. The governing Liberal Party is proposing changes to Canadas system of calculating election results. The opposition Conservatives want a national referendum on the matter. In the absence of any clear proposal from the government on what or how they envision changing our system of voting, I believe it is appropriate to provide voters in Canada the opportunity to vote in a referendum to determine if this is something Canadians actually want, said Arnold. The ballot included with the information pamphlet allows constituents to mail back their opinion to the MP. Changing our system of democracy is a serious matter that should be based on the will of the people and a clear understanding of what that change may be, Arnold concluded. I sincerely hope that all constituents will take the opportunity to provide me their input on this very important national question. One seal's epic story of escape is going viral. B.C. resident Kirk Fraser was out on his boat with family in Powell River when they witnessed a pod of 12 killer whales chasing a seal. In a desperate attempt to avoid becoming lunch, the seal sped towards their boat and scrambled on board. Both the seal and humans were nervous at first, but quickly got used to each other and hung out for nearly 45 minutes waiting for the whales to give up. A one point, a person on the boat jokes about pushing the seal into the water for the whales, while another on the boat cheers: That guy deserves to live!" After the whales take off, the seal slips back into the water with cheers of survival from those on the boat. It fell off three times in panic and finally stayed on until the whales gave up after about 30-45 minutes, wrote Fraser on YouTube. Most intense epic experience ever. Love you, Nature. What a lucky seal. Photo: Surveillance image The SPCA hopes someone can help them identify two people seen tossing the body of a dog into a dumpster in Coquitlam. The remains were dumped on July 26, but the information is being released now because the SPCA says necropsy results show the young female boxer-cross died from extreme heat. Security video from a parking lot in an industrial and commercial area of southeast Coquitlam shows a light-coloured mini-van pulling up behind the building. Two people get out and throw the dog's body into the container before driving away. It's hoped someone will recognize the people or the vehicle in the footage, or the distinctive blue-and-grey collar and a red-and-black leash the dog was wearing. The senior animal protection officer for the SPCA in B.C., Eileen Drever, says investigators want to know conclusively how the young animal died and why it was discarded like garbage. "Based on the necropsy results we believe the dog died from extreme heat exposure, where the bodys temperature is elevated beyond its ability to release the heat, resulting in a very painful death," she says in a news release. Anyone with information about the dog or its fate is requested to contact the provincial SPCA. Photo: The Canadian Press Ford is recalling more than 88,000 cars and SUVs in North America, including 7,353 in Canada, because the engines can stall without warning due to a fuel pump problem. The recall covers certain Ford Taurus and Police Interceptor sedans, Ford Flex wagons, Lincoln MKS sedans and Lincoln MKT SUVs from the 2013 through 2015 model years. All have 3.5-litre turbocharged six-cylinder engines. The 3.5-litre Ford Flexes and Lincoln MKT were build at Ford's plant in Oakville, Ont., between Sept. 12, 2011 and May 31, 2015. Ford says the fuel pump control modules can fail, and the engines may not start, or they could stall, leaving drivers without the ability to restart them. The company says it's not aware of any crashes or injuries from the problem. Dealers will replace the control module at no cost to owners. Ford says it's working with parts makers to ship new modules quickly. The company will notify customers to bring their vehicles in for repairs starting the week of Oct. 17. Concerned owners can go to Ford.com and click on "safety recalls" near the bottom of the page to see if their vehicles are part of the recall. They'll have to key in the vehicle identification number. Those whose vehicles are in the recalled and are concerned about stalling should contact their local dealer, the company says. Photo: Contributed A new study is raising doubts that Canada's ambition to export liquefied natural gas would help reduce carbon emissions abroad a core justification for developing such an industry. The C.D. Howe Institute released a report Wednesday that concluded that Canada's LNG exports could reduce carbon emissions in parts of Asia, but would likely increase emissions in the majority of other potential markets. The development of LNG exports requires power to cool it into a liquid, as well as energy for the tankers that would ship it overseas so that it can be used in gas-fired power plants. LNG exports would still reduce overall emissions if they replace coal and oil-fired power production in China, India, Japan and Taiwan, study authors James Coleman and Sarah Jordaan said. But they found that emissions would likely go up in Canada's nine other likely export markets because those countries have greater supplies of renewable and lower-emission power sources. It is "far from certain" that Canadian LNG exports would reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, Coleman and Jordaan concluded. The study deals a blow to one of the British Columbia government's selling points for an LNG sector. It also comes as the government's hopes of a thriving export market are fading, with several projects recently shelved. The Pacific Northwest LNG project, led by Malaysian energy giant Petronas, remains the biggest and most high-profile project on the table, with an estimated cost of $36 billion. It is awaiting a final decision from the federal government expected by the end of September following a report from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. But the development has faced criticism for both direct environmental impacts on fish habitat, as well as its potential to increase domestic greenhouse gas emissions. The Pembina Institute figures that Pacific Northwest could become the largest source of carbon pollution in Canada when the associated emissions in supplying it with natural gas are factored in releasing upwards of 14 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent a year. The authors of the C.D. Howe study recommend that federal and provincial governments focus on reducing emissions domestically and encourage similar policies elsewhere, rather than banking on the prospect of LNG exports bringing down emissions abroad, because final markets for Canadian LNG, and what sources of power it would replace, are too difficult to determine. "Regulators should not focus on how LNG exports will impact GHG emissions overseas," they wrote. "The full impact of an individual facility on global emissions is nearly impossible to estimate unless regulators know where the LNG will be sent when they approve a project." They said particular attention should be paid to reducing methane leakage during transportation and greenhouse gases vented during the processing of natural gas, and the need for a better understanding of how much gas escapes along the whole supply chain. The B.C. government has taken some action on methane, committing in its climate plan released last week to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production by 45 per cent by 2025. The plan also called for increased electrification of natural gas production fields to reduce emissions. But rather than firm commitments of funding, B.C. said it was discussing with the federal government the possibility of helping pay for the expensive infrastructure required to make that happen. From coal to petcoke grinding Published 24 August 2016 When ACC decided to replace coal with petcoke as the main fuel for its kilns at the Gagal works, the vertical E-mills required a high power input as they ran for extended periods. To reduce grinding time and hence save power expenditure, the cement producer called upon Walchandnagar Industries Ltd to design, engineer, manufacture, supply and install a vertical roller mill for petcoke grinding. By L N Kshirsagar, Walchandnagar Industries Ltd and Rajeev Shrivastava, ACC Ltd, India. In March 2013 India-based Walchandnagar Industries Ltd (WIL) was awarded the EPC contract for a 20tph vertical roller mill (VRM) to grind petcoke at ACCs Gagal cement plant in Barmana, Himachal Pradesh, northern India. WIL was responsible for the complete design, engineering, manufacturing, supply, civil and structural work, fabrication and erection of all mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and control equipment for the plant. The cement works operates two kilns with a total clinker capacity of 9250tpd (4350 + 4950tpd) and a cement capacity of 4.4Mta. To continue reading this story and get access to all News, Articles and Video sections of the CemNet.com website, please Register for a subscription to International Cement Review or Login Semen Indonesia - August 2016 Semen Indonesias new plant in Kendeng, Central Java, was dealt a blow earlier this month when President Joko Widodo ordered a pause in the opening of new plants in the region, despite Semen Indonesias factory being 95 per cent complete. This follows protests by residents of the Kendeng Mountains on the environmental impact of ongoing cement plant construction in the region. To continue reading this story and have 100% free access to the CemNet.com website, please Register for a subscription to International Cement Review or Login Indonesia: July cement demand up slightly, stronger growth anticipated ICR Newsroom By 24 August 2016 According to figures released by the Indonesian Cement Association (ASI), cement demand in July was up slightly YoY, despite falling by 29 per cent compared to June, Indonesian Investments reports. Taken as a whole, the first seven months of 2016 have seen consumption rise by four per cent above the same period in 2015. However, demand remains below that recorded in 2014. The industrys failure to regain its previous peak has been partly attributed to the governments slow pace of spending. On 4 August President Widodo noted that regional banks were holding IDR214tn (US$16.2bn) in undisbursed funds, telling local government leaders to immediately spend it. Analysts expect cement consumption to rise in the second half of the year as regional leaders respond to President Widodos call and efforts to boost the property sector pay off. In a recent research report, Citigroup analyst Felicia Asrinanda Barus added: "We think property demand will also be supported by continued lower mortgage rates, lower transaction costs for property purchases, and implementation of looser disbursement policies for second and further mortgages in the second half of 2016. Published under India: Assam property developers concerned over cement price rise ICR Newsroom By 24 August 2016 The Assam Real Estate and Infrastructure Developers Association (Areida) has said that a proposed rise in cement prices is unreasonable, the Times of India reports. Following intervention by Assams Chief Minister, Sarbanada Sonowal, the cement companies elected not to go through with the price increase. Despite this, Areida has said that it will still approach the Competition Commission of India (CCI) with its concerns. Areida President, PK Sharma, said: "The price of cement in Assam and other parts of the northeast is already the highest in the country despite the fact that local cement companies get numerous subsidies under the North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy. We have gathered data and will shortly move CCI. In a similar case, CCI had slapped a fine of INR63bn [US$940m] on 11 cement companies for 'cartelisation'. "Cartelisation by cement companies has become a serious issue. It affects the common man for whom we build homes. We urge the government to continue with its efforts to ensure 'affordable housing'. We, as bulk purchaser of cement, are extremely aggrieved by this proposed unfair price hike." Published under (TNS) The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development is looking for another standardized test after it scrapped its latest statewide exam in the spring amid a chaotic few days of testing.The department posted an informational request Monday asking qualified vendors to submit letters detailing how they would prepare, administer and score an annual test for Alaska. The new test would be offered to school districts in the spring and be based on Alaska-specific academic standards.The test should not cost more than $4.45 million for the 2016-2017 school year and should quiz students on language arts, math and science, according to the department's 22-page request for information.Monday's request follows a turbulent year for standardized testing in Alaska. In spring 2015, students took a new standardized test administered on computers, the Alaska Measures of Progress, which was created by the Achievement and Assessment Institute at the University of Kansas under a five-year, $25 million contract.Educators grew aggravated in the fall when students' score reports were repeatedly delayed. Then, once released, some educators said the reports were too vague.In January, the state said it would cancel the AMP test, but schools would have to administer it one last time in spring 2016. The state would look for a replacement test, then-Commissioner Mike Hanley said. The federal government requires states to administer a standardized test each year.But spring 2016 testing fell prey to a mishap: A backhoe in Kansas severed a fiber-optic cable providing internet service to the university campus, shutting down testing for Alaska. Susan McCauley, Alaska's interim education commissioner, abruptly canceled the state's standardized test for 2016.A few months later, the Alaska Legislature passed a bill that said the state could not require a school district to administer a statewide standardized test until July 2018 -- unless the federal government threatened to withhold funding, in which case the department could again require the standardized tests.Margaret MacKinnon, Alaska's director of assessment and accountability, said Monday the state plans to offer school districts a new test in spring 2017 but will not require them to administer it."Districts will hopefully give the test for the right reasons," MacKinnon said. "It's important to measure student progress."MacKinnon said the state had not heard if the federal government would withhold funding if the state didn't require a standardized test this school year. While the new education law, the Every Student Succeeds Act, replaces the more rigid No Child Left Behind Act, it still requires annual statewide testing in math and language arts for students in grades 3-8 and once in high school, plus tests in science.Alaska's education department is also still in the process of asking the federal government for a waiver from testing requirements the state failed to meet during the 2015-16 school year. Eric Fry, department spokesperson, said he did not know when the state would receive a response from Washington, D.C.MacKinnon said the state has taken extra precautions with this year's request to test vendors to ensure better results than the previous failed exam. She said when the department last sought a new test, it was a time when Alaska was just entering "the world of computer-based assessments." The state's written expectations lacked some specific language for topics including technology and support.EEDD anticipates issuing a contract for the 2016-17 school year and "will consider annual renewal options through 2020-2021," according to the information request. Vendors have until Sept. 6 to submit ideas. Sign up for our newsletter Six people are charged with TennCare fraud in Knox, Blount and Hamilton counties. All but one of the cases involves prescription drugs; the other involves misrepresenting personal income in order to receive healthcare insurance benefits through TennCare. The six arrests bring the total number of people arrested for TennCare fraud to 2,702 since the Office of Inspector General (OIG) began investigating and pursuing this criminal activity. The six arrested in separate investigations are: Linda S. Longley , 58, of Chattanooga, who was a fugitive on the run for the last 12 months. She was indicted in Hamilton County in August of 2015 on six counts of fraudulently using TennCare to obtain the painkillers Oxycodone, Hydrocodone and Tramadol by doctor shopping, which involves going to multiple doctors for drugs, using TennCare as payment. She was indicted in Hamilton County in August of 2015 on six counts of fraudulently using TennCare to obtain the painkillers Oxycodone, Hydrocodone and Tramadol by doctor shopping, which involves going to multiple doctors for drugs, using TennCare as payment. Martisha Large , 42, of Maryville, charged in Blount County with four counts of fraudulently using TennCare to obtain the painkillers Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Codeine and Tylenol 3 by doctor shopping for the drugs. Kelli S. Lee , 38, of Maryville, charged in Blount County with TennCare fraud and theft of services over $10,000. The indictment accuses her of failing to report her income and marriage to the state in order to be eligible for TennCare benefits. Jennifer Skurtu , also known as Jennifer Stinson, 53, of Knoxville, indicted in Knox County for ten counts of fraudulently using TennCare to obtain the painkillers Oxycodone and Hydrocodone by doctor shopping. Brandi Inman , 34, of Rockford, indicted in Knox County on six counts of fraudulently using TennCare to obtain the painkillers Hydrocodone and Oxycodone by doctor shopping. Pamela Goetsch , 47, of Knoxville, charged in Knox County with seven counts of fraudulently using TennCare to obtain the painkillers Oxycodone and Hydrocodone by doctor shopping. Tennessees hard working taxpayers have zero tolerance for TennCare fraud and abuse, Inspector General Manny Tyndall said. We are collaborating with law enforcement officers in all 95 counties to prosecute anyone we identify who is misusing TennCare benefits. As of July 1, TennCare fraud was changed to a Class D felony punishable by up to four years in prison. The OIG, which is separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has investigated cases leading to more than $3 million being repaid to TennCare, with a total estimated cost avoidance of more than $163.6 million for TennCare, according to latest figures. To date, 2,702 people have been charged with TennCare fraud. Anyone can report suspected TennCare fraud by calling 1-800-433-3982 toll-free from anywhere in Tennessee, or visit the website and follow prompts that read Report TennCare Fraud. 7 Healthy Recipes That Let You Make Oatmeal More Interesting Oatmeal has long been a breakfast favorite for its sweet taste and satisfying nutritive qualities in fact, just a halfcup of oats contains 13.2 grams of protein and 8.3 grams of fiber, reports the USDA. However, with a little culinary creativity, you can enjoy a savory oatmeal dish at any time of day, giving your body the fuel it needs to keep you energized for hours. Cook up any of these seven savory oatmeals to indulge in a warm, satiating meal whether it be breakfast, lunch, or dinner. 1. Steel-Cut Oatmeal with Sweet Corn, Tomato, and Pancetta Womens Health shares this oat-based recipe, which gains its unique flavor through corn, tomato, and piquant pancetta. The recipe was actually developed by Quaker Oats Chief Oatmeal Officer (yes, thats a real position), Samantha Stephens, who owns a restaurant called OatMeals in New York City. Now this is a woman who knows her oatmeal! Stephenss recipe yields 4 servings and takes 40 minutes to complete. Ingredients: 1 cup steel-cut oats 4 cups low-sodium chicken stock 2 cups fresh corn or frozen, thawed cup pancetta, diced (bacon, prosciutto, or ham can be substituted if desired) 2 small shallots, diced 2 cloves garlic, diced 1 tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved Freshly ground pepper, to taste Grated Pecorino cheese Check out the full recipe directions at Womans Day. 2. Miso Oat Porridge Feel free to add any number of your own favorite ingredients to this oatmeal from FoodFitnessFreshAir, as the recipe starts out rather simply. A bit of tangy miso spruces up the flavors of the oats, while a crispy vegetable like radish can deliver a fresh taste with a bit of bite. It takes 15 minutes to complete and serves 4 people. Ingredients: 1 tablespoon butter 1 cups rolled oats 3 cups water 1 tablespoon miso, or to taste Topping options: Thinly sliced radishes, toasted walnuts, toasted sesame seeds, minced herbs, minced sweet onion, creme fraiche, etc. Check out the full recipe directions at FoodFitnessFreshAir. 3. Sauteed Mushroom, Onion, and Thyme Oatmeal A Bachelor and His Grill offers a sophisticated recipe with the rich, smoky flavors of gouda, combined with hearty crimini mushrooms and other delightful flavors. Fragrant thyme gives the dish a light and distinct finish. Youll love how the gouda melts to perfection in the warm steel-cut oats, while the sauteed vegetables add mouthwatering flavor and texture to the final product. Ingredients: 1 cup steel-cut oatmeal 2 cups water cup smoked gouda, finely grated 6 to 8 ounces crimini mushrooms 3 to 5 whole sprigs fresh thyme, plus 2 to 3 sprigs of fresh thyme leaves (garnish) 2 cloves garlic, minced medium onion, finely sliced Flaky sea salt/cracked black pepper to taste 2 tablespoons olive oil plus additional to taste Check out the full recipe directions at A Bachelor and His Grill. 4. Greek Oatmeal with Figs, Pine Nuts, and Feta Get a taste of Greek living at home with this savory oatmeal from Healthy Green Kitchen. The dish incorporates sweet dried figs and salty, crumbly feta cheese, in addition to crunchy pine nuts for texture. This subtle, satisfying offering flavored lightly with olive oil and cracked pepper indulges your palette without overwhelming it. The recipe yields 2 servings. Ingredients: 2 cups water 1 cup organic thick rolled oats 6 dried calmyra figs, diced 2 tablespoons pine nuts, raw or lightly toasted in a dry skillet cup crumbled feta cheese, or more to taste extra virgin olive oil, to taste fresh ground pepper, to taste Check out the full recipe directions at Healthy Green Kitchen. 5. Pumpkin-Leek Oatmeal In The Oatmeal Artist, the mild flavors of pumpkin and leek blend wonderfully with the robust tastes of rosemary and sage. The Oatmeal Artists recipe takes just 10 minutes to complete and yields 1 serving. Enjoy! Ingredients: cup water cup quick cook steel cut oats cup sliced leeks cup pumpkin puree black pepper, to taste teaspoon salt 3 to 5 fresh sage leaves, chopped 1 teaspoon minced rosemary needles Check out the full recipe directions at The Oatmeal Artist. 6. Oat Risotto with Peas and Pecorino Inspired by the classic Italian dish, this oat risotto is a thick and flavorful oat porridge offering the savory flavors of pecorino, mild chicken stock, and leeks. Taking just 35 minutes to complete, Food & Wine requires less intensive effort and time than your typical risotto, yielding 6 servings per batch. Ingredients: 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 leek, white and tender green parts only, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise 1 cup steel-cut oats 5 cups chicken stock or low-sodium broth Salt Freshly ground white pepper 1 cup frozen baby peas (5 ounces), thawed 1 scallion, thinly sliced 1 cup pecorino shavings Check out the full recipe directions at Food & Wine. 7. Egg and Sriracha Oatmeal Oats and nuts provide the protein- and fiber-rich base for this delightful dish, and topping the indulgence with eggs will keep your body fueled for hours. The dish is packed with bursts of flavor from its soy sauce, rosemary, garlic, and of course Sriracha! The Sriracha Cookbooks recipe takes 20 minutes to complete and yields 2 generous servings. Ingredients: 1 cup rolled oats 2 cups water Small handful whole cashews 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce 1 tablespoon Sriracha 2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary 1 clove garlic, minced 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 large eggs Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste Check out the full recipe directions at The Sriracha Cookbook. More from Culture Cheat Sheet: Harambe, a western lowland gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo, was fatally shot May 28 to protect a 3-year-old boy who had entered its exhibit. (Jeff McCurry / AP) The Cincinnati Zoo has deleted its Twitter account, a day after the zoo asked the internet to please stop making so many jokes and memes about Harambe, the gorilla who was shot and killed there in May after a child entered his enclosure. "We deactivated our Twitter accounts," zoo spokeswoman Michelle Curley confirmed in a short, emailed statement to The Washington Post on Tuesday morning. In addition to the zoo's official handle, the personal account for the zoo's director has also disappeared, days after it was hacked and temporarily turned into a Harambe meme account. Advertisement Harambe became a meme this summer one with a shockingly long lifespan for the internet as earnest outrage over the endangered gorilla's death gave way to ironic outrage and an onslaught of escalating jokes repeating Harambe's name. A bunch of teens managed to get Google Maps to rename the street outside their high school "Harambe Drive," Harambe's face was photoshopped onto Mount Rushmore, and a petition to make Harambe a Pokemon has more than 80,000 signatures. The "why" is complicated here, but many of the Harambe jokes draw life from the internet's endless, earnest outrage cycle. The more sophisticated iteration of the meme is engaged in a dark mockery of that phenomenon, although there are obviously other versions of the meme out there. Advertisement But the Harambe meme has strayed from the confines of those who find the joke funny. The Cincinnati Zoo's Twitter account was unwillingly roped into it, as tweeting Harambe jokes at the zoo's handle became something of a competitive sport over the summer. Pretty much anything the zoo tweeted drew hundreds of Harambe-related replies, which themselves were "liked" and retweeted by others, as Deadspin noted in a depressing look at what it must be like to run the zoo's social media. On Monday, the zoo asked the internet to stop. "We are not amused by the memes, petitions and signs about Harambe," Thane Maynard, Cincinnati Zoo director, said in an email to the Associated Press. "Our zoo family is still healing, and the constant mention of Harambe makes moving forward more difficult for us. We are honoring Harambe by redoubling our gorilla conservation efforts and encouraging others to join us." James Leggate, a columnist at the Cincinnati-based WCPO-TV, also called for an end to the Harambe jokes. He even made a Change.org petition asking the site itself to stop allowing so many joke petitions about Harambe. "Harambe was a well-respected gorilla in Cincinnati," he wrote, "but the goofuses of the internet have tarnished his memory with their joke petitions." At this point, the anti-meme pushback seems to have encouraged the Harambe memers to step up their game. Even the zoo's deleted Twitter account has now become fodder for another round of jokes, such as this tweet from Monday: "@CincinnatiZoo deleted their Twitter just like they deleted Harambe" The federal government said this week it will purchase 11 million pounds of cheese to help U.S. dairy farmers cope with plummeting prices. The surplus cheese will be distributed at food banks and pantries. (Scott Olson / Getty Images) Apparently we need to make America grate. And slice. And melt. We're in the midst of a cheese crisis. There's too much of the stuff. Advertisement Our federal government said this week it will spend $20 million on 11 million pounds of cheese, at the behest of U.S. dairy farmers struggling to cope with plummeting milk prices. That's in addition to $11.2 million in subsidies recently announced. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said the surplus cheese will be donated to food banks and pantries, an example of one act of charity leading to another. Advertisement Now you might well wonder why cheese producers don't just put the extra cheese in a freezer to be thawed out when prices rise. Well, producers have done that too. As of the end of last month, according to USDA data, there were 1.3 billion pounds of cheese in commercial cold storage. Some kinds can kept for months, others for years. But not only was there 2 percent more cheese in storage in July than in June, there was 10 percent more than in July 2015. The 1.3 billion pounds of cheese held in reserve is the most ever recorded in July, or at least since the government started keeping tabs in 1917. But it's not just cheese and other dairy products socked away in hopes of an uptick. Reserves of frozen fruit are at an all-time high for July. Ditto for frozen vegetables. There were almost 1.4 billion pounds of frozen poultry in storage in July, 2 percent more than June and 7 percent more than there was a year earlier. Advertisement You thought your freezer needed to be emptied? There were 469.3 million warehoused pounds of beef in July, up 3 percent from June. And there were 599.9 million stored pounds of pork, a 2 percent increase from the month before but notable because pork reserves normally get tapped in midsummer. This obviously is the sort of thing on which farmers, CME traders and analysts, and others connected to the food industry keep close tabs. But most of us coupon-clipping cart jockeys don't. We warm to the bargains. Food producers get frosty. The cheese thing might have surprised a lot of us. Things were going along all right until about two years ago. The European Union phasing out its limits on dairy production might not have been a big deal. But, as The Washington Post noted, Russia's Vladimir Putin decided to block dairy and other agricultural imports in retaliation for sanctions for invading Ukraine. Advertisement Add a strong dollar and the fondue hit the fan; market glut. If you figure the U.S. population is about 323 million people, that 1.3 billion pounds of U.S. cheese held in warehouses works out to about 4 pounds of cheese for every man, woman and child. We're already said to choke down around 36 pounds annually and, in fact, we eat almost two-thirds more cheese than we did 40 years ago. That's important to the dairy industry because appetite for milk isn't what it used to be. Part of what's driving our cheese consumption is Dairy Management Inc., an outfit the Feds helped launch with the dairy industry in 1995 to promote American-made dairy products. Others in the government may warn Americans about consuming too much saturated dairy fat. But Dairy Management spends millions talking up the virtues of milk and on initiatives encouraging makers of pizzas, tacos and other foods to find new places to stuff, sprinkle and spread cheese. It will take more than innovation to get through this market glut, however. The dairy lobby asked the government to buy 90 million pounds of cheese the equivalent of 900 million pounds of milk so the purchase of 11 million pounds may just be the start. Advertisement There are situations when America's guts, while considerable, are simply not enough. philrosenthal@chicagotribune.com Twitter @phil_rosenthal Home sales in the Chicago area took a hit in July, sliding 7.3 percent from a year ago. (Scott Olson / Getty Images) A spring and early summer surge in home buying in the Chicago area came to an abrupt halt in July, as local home sales slid 7.3 percent from a year ago. It was the first monthly decline in year-over-year existing home sales since November, and much sharper than the 1.9 percent drop reported then, according to Illinois Realtors. Advertisement The real estate trade group said 11,716 homes sold in July, compared with 12,645 in July 2015. Yet prices rose modestly. The median sales price was up 5.8 percent to $238,000. That compares with $225,000 a year ago. In Chicago, July's decline in sales activity was even more pronounced. Sales fell 11.9 percent year-over-year, to 2,714 homes sold. The median price rose just 1.9 percent, to $290,000. Condominium sales fell 14.8 percent, while the median condo price rose 3.9 percent to $321,950. Advertisement The downturn in home sales is expected to continue for a few months. Geoffrey Hewings, director of the Regional Economic Applications Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is forecasting a decrease of 7.3 percent to 9.9 percent in sales through October. The forecast for the three months including August "suggests negative growth both on a yearly basis and a monthly basis," Hewings said in a report for the association. He predicts a moderate increase in sales prices. Mike Drews, president of Illinois Realtors, said a lack of inventory in the market is pushing sales lower and prices higher. Compared with a year ago, the number of Chicago-area homes listed for sale in July was 41,429, down 16.4 percent. Low inventory is having a similar effect across the U.S., the National Association of Realtors said Wednesday. Sales of existing homes fell 3.2 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.39 million. The decline marks a reversal from rising demand that pushed sales in June to their highest level since February 2007. Year-over-year home sales were down 1.6 percent. The median home price nationally was $244,100, up 5.3 percent from July 2015. With a lack of inventory, home sellers are able to list their homes at higher prices and still attract buyers. But Lynn Madison, president of the suburban Mainstreet Organization of Realtors, also noted that rising prices in Chicago's suburbs have caused some potential buyers to become reluctant about making a purchase. In the Chicago area, homes on average were on the market for only 44 days, according to Illinois Realtors. A year ago, homes were going under contract within 50 days. In the city of Chicago, homes went under contract in an average of 38 days. It's a seller's market, but even with inventory limited, not all locations or homes benefit equally, said Karen Irace, an Orland Park real estate agent with Re/Max. Among homes priced over $700,000, there is a 9.2-month supply of homes, which is higher than a year ago. The $500,000-to-$700,000 range has a 5.7-month supply, down from six months in July 2016. A housing market switches to a buyer's market when there is enough inventory to accommodate about six months of sales. Advertisement For the upper-priced homes, Hewings said there are simply fewer people to buy at those prices. There is only a 3.1-month supply of the $200,000-to-$300,000 homes that appeal to families as they move up from previous homes. There remains little interest in home buying among first-timers, and especially millennials, Hewings said. Hewings noted that at the current rate of price appreciation, it still will be 3.4 years before prices in the Chicago area are fully recovered from the housing crash. Communities that had sharp increases in the number of homes placed under contract in July were Arlington Heights, up 25.7 percent; Aurora, up 16.8 percent; Buffalo Grove, up 14.9 percent; Palatine, up 13.6 percent; and Schaumburg, up 34.3 percent, according to Mainstreet. In Western Springs, the median sales price of a single-family detached house rose 10.4 percent to $615,000, and while the number of homes sold in Elmhurst dropped 7.1 percent to only 65, the median price jumped 44.6 percent to $600,000. Large increases in the number of homes sold were reported in Burr Ridge, Clarendon Hills, Lisle and Villa Park. In Cook County, sales dropped 10.3 percent, with the median price up 5.3 percent, to $249,000. Condo sales dropped 12.1 percent, and single-family homes 8.7 percent. But the median condo price jumped just 2.1 percent to $240,000 while the median price of a single-family home was $253,000, an increase of 6.8 percent. Advertisement Declines in sales volume in Lake and DuPage counties were more modest just 1.9 percent and 4.4 percent. But in Will County, home sales fell 7.9 percent. Associated Press contributed. gmarksjarvis@chicagotribune.com Twitter @gailmarksjarvis Even if health insurance rates skyrocket by 10 to 50 percent next year, about two-thirds of Illinois residents who buy coverage through the Affordable Care Act's marketplace would pay no more than $100 a month in premiums, the federal government said Wednesday. That's because consumers could shop around on the marketplace and because premium tax credits would also increase and be available to more people, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report. Advertisement "Even in a scenario where all plans saw double-digit rate increases, consumers in all states would continue to have affordable options," said Katie Martin, acting assistant secretary for planning and evaluation at the department, during a call with reporters Wednesday. What the report doesn't address is how high premiums might climb for the remaining third of Illinois consumers on the exchange who would have to pay more than $100 a month. Advertisement This year, about 25 percent of exchange customers in Illinois nearly 84,000 people didn't receive tax credits. The federal report follows weeks of worries in Illinois over proposed double-digit increases by insurers offering plans on the exchange. The most popular insurer on the state's exchange, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, has proposed premium increases ranging from 23 percent to 45 percent for its individual health care plans on the exchange. Those proposed rates have been under review by the state's Department of Insurance. Aetna, with its Coventry brand, has announced it will exit the Obamacare marketplace in Illinois next year. UnitedHealthcare and Land of Lincoln also will no longer offer individual exchange plans in Illinois next year. Those exits could leave 62 percent of areas in the state with two or fewer choices of insurance carriers on the exchange next year, according to a recent report by consulting firm Avalere. Cigna is entering the Illinois marketplace but has not yet said in which areas its exchange plans will be available. Still, federal officials said Wednesday that the Affordable Care Act has led to improvements in health care for many across the country. "I think it's important to step back and remember what the health insurance market and individual market was like before the Affordable Care Act where folks with pre-existing conditions had no options for" appropriate coverage, said Mandy Cohen, chief operating officer and chief of staff at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. lschencker@chicagotribune.com Advertisement Twitter @lschencker A lawsuit that accused Starbucks of misrepresending the sizes of its cold drinks has been dismissed by a federal court judge in California. A resonable consumer would know that adding ice decreases the amount of liquid, U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson ruled. (Chris Hondros / Getty Images) A lawsuit that accused Starbucks of misrepresenting the sizes of its cold drinks has been dismissed by a California judge, who issued a written tongue-lashing of the plaintiff's claims. A similar case is pending in a federal court in Chicago. Advertisement The California lawsuit, filed on behalf of plaintiff Alexander Forouzesh in a federal district court, argued that Starbucks misled customers about the size of its iced drinks because it lists their sizes as the total liquid volume of drink and ice, not just the beverage itself. In dismissing the case last week, U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson said that a "reasonable consumer" would know that the stated ounces for an iced drink, well, contain ice. Advertisement "As young children learn, they can increase the amount of beverage they receive if they order 'no ice,'" the judge said. "If children have figured out that including ice in a cold beverage decreases the amount of liquid they will receive, the court has no difficulty concluding that a reasonable consumer would not be deceived into thinking that when they order an iced tea, that the drink they receive will include both ice and tea and that for a given size cup, some portion of the drink will be ice rather than whatever liquid beverage the consumer ordered." In a statement, Starbucks said it was "pleased with the court's decision and the judge's comments on the matter." The lawsuit in Chicago, filed in May, is still pending, but with a new plaintiff. Attorneys for Starbucks have until Thursday to file a motion to dismiss the case. The lead attorney representing the coffee giant in the case wasn't immediately available to comment. sbomkamp@chicagotribune.com Twitter @SamWillTravel The onus is on the buyer to prove that a seller knew about a leaky basement and intentionally hid the problem. (Micah Young / Getty Images) Q: The purpose of this email is to ask advice regarding a $5,300 loss to repair defects that were intentionally hidden by the seller. I purchased a home for my mother and me to live in, and we closed on it in June. My particular case involves a large foundation crack resulting in moisture seepage on the floor and surrounding walls in one of the seven rooms in the basement. Since this room is unfinished, we wanted to install insulation and drywall, but first we had to remove the "new" carpet that the seller installed on the floor in this room. This is when we discovered the crack and large wet areas. After removing the carpet in this room, the stench of dampness was very strong and quickly spread throughout the house. Advertisement Because there was the "new" carpet, this condition was undetectable during the inspection process. The seller is an investor and purchased the house for a reduced rate (he never lived in the house), remodeled it, covered up the foundation crack and moisture leaks with the same new carpet he used throughout the entire basement and sold it to me for more than double what he paid for it. Advertisement My lawyer said there is nothing that can be done because we have already closed on the home. My agent was unaware of this condition. If you can provide me with information on resources to pursue to expose this fraudulent act of the seller and his real estate agent, I would really appreciate it. A: First, let me caution you about calling someone fraudulent; if it's not true, you can be sued for libel. I don't agree with your attorney; just because you have gone to title does not preclude you from filing a lawsuit. There is in the law a concept known as "the discovery rule." Your case starts and the applicable statute of limitations begins to run when you first discover a problem. While I cannot provide you with a legal opinion, it would seem you still might have a case based on your recent discovery. More importantly, the typical statute of limitations is two or three years; you just bought the house. However, you need proof. Did your seller know about the crack? Did he instruct the carpet company to cover it? Have you discussed the matter with the carpet company to see if you can get the proof you need? And I suspect that company may be very reluctant to talk with you for fear they may also be sued. Get yourself a different attorney to determine if you have a case. Benny Kass is a practicing attorney in Washington, D.C., and in Maryland. He does not provide specific legal or financial advice to any reader. Readers may email him, but he cannot guarantee a personal response. mailbag@kmklawyers.com RELATED STORIES: Advertisement The affordable shore: Why Indiana living appeals to Chicago commuters Catalyst goes the rental route in Chicago's West Loop As you build your budget, keep surprises in mind Watch our latest Real Estate videos. In the basement of Duffy's Tavern, dirt sifted between the floorboards overhead for 10 seconds. They could hear muffled booms from above, the crashes, the bangs and cracks and rattles. The whole building seemed to shudder, as if bumped rudely in a crowd. Sixty seconds before, they had hurried into the basement, chased there by a tornado flying toward the tiny town of Utica at 6:09 p.m. on April 20. Down the wooden steps they had come, hurrying, hurrying, but trying not to shove. The lights died. Once at the bottom, they huddled shoulder to shoulder, next to things they couldn't see: shelves with plastic tubs of French dressing and twist-tied bags of the green and white mints that Lisle Elsbury liked to hand out to departing customers. Elsbury, the owner of Duffy's, was last in line, having gathered everybody--six staff members, six customers--and made sure they were headed down the stairs and then closing the basement door behind him. His foot was still on the bottom step when it hit. Ten seconds of shaking. Of falling dirt. "Everybody OK?" Elsbury said, once the shaking stopped. A nervous murmur of yeses. He waited another 45 seconds or so. When he thought it was all over--you couldn't be sure, not really, but you followed your instincts--Elsbury headed up the steps and cautiously opened the door. He expected chaos. He expected, at the very least, severe damage: splintered bar, overturned tables and chairs, busted windows. But Elsbury saw little change. Later he would discover a great deal of structural damage to the second floor, but for now, he felt lucky. Chris Rochelle, 23, the bartender, was right behind his boss. When he saw that Duffy's seemed intact, Rochelle moved straight out the back door to check on the rest of the town. He had good friends up and down this street, but none better than Larry Ventrice over at Milestone, Larry who'd encouraged him to start lifting weights again and take care of himself, Larry who'd lent him a car in which to drive home to Kansas last Christmas. If Duffy's looked OK, then Rochelle wanted to help his friend Larry clean up Milestone. He ran north through the alley, past the backs of Duffy's and Skoog's Pub and the other buildings, past the blown-down bricks and felled trees and hunks of twisted metal. When he got to the corner he couldn't believe what he saw. What he didn't see. Rochelle ran back to Duffy's--he would have no memory of the running, of his knees rising and falling or of the breath tearing in and out of his chest, but he knew he must have done so, because that's where he ended up--and he screamed, "Milestone's gone! Milestone's gone!" Even as he was saying it, even as the words flew out of his mouth, it didn't sound possible. But it was. He had seen it. Or, not seen it. Advertisement Steve Maltas, who had taken refuge in the boiler room of the firehouse along with seven other volunteer firefighters, shoved open the heavy door. Yep, the building was still standing. Then they all hurried outside, and the first thing they saw was what wasn't there: Milestone. A knee-high pile of rubble--sandstone blocks, thick wooden beams and a crusty overlay of broken concrete--seethed and steamed in the space where a two-story building had stood since 1887, right across the street from the firehouse. For a few seconds Maltas and the others were too stunned to move, too numb, their minds utterly rejecting what their eyes were telling them was true: A building had been flattened in 10 seconds, like a sandcastle squashed by a bored kid at the beach. They broke out of their astonishment and ran across the street to the jagged pile. Where to start? What to do? Good God. The center was absolute mashed chaos--wood and concrete and stone and wire and a thick powdery mist of pulverized mortar--but the edges, the edges looked bizarre: At the edges were huge intact sandstone blocks that had toppled in neat rows, like dominoes. They started pulling at the rocks, doing what anybody would do: trying to get to whoever was inside, grabbing and lifting and clawing. They could hear screams and calls for help, and it was a healthy sound, God knows, because silence would have been worse. Seconds later, they were joined by other people, people who had emerged from downtown buildings and looked around to check the damage and then saw--Good Lord--Milestone, what was left of Milestone, and so they ran to the site and bent over or dropped to their knees and pulled, scratched, dug and heaved the stones, but there were so many stones and so many layers and it seemed hopeless. They couldn't let themselves think that, though, so they just kept digging and pulling at stones. So intent were they, so focused, that at first they didn't notice the damage to the rest of Utica. They didn't really see the garage right next to Milestone, where the Fire Department parked its ambulances, wrecked so badly that later it would have to be torn down. They hardly noticed that Starved Rock Bait & Tackle, the century-old building across the alley from Milestone where Jim Collins had sold gas, cigarettes, soda pop and hunting licenses for almost two decades, was a ruined mess. All anybody could think about was Milestone, Milestone, Milestone, because the tavern wasn't just mauled and pummeled, wasn't just grievously damaged. It was gone. In the top layer of the rubble, two bodies were clearly, excruciatingly visible. And because Utica is a small town, because everybody knows everybody, they knew who they were: Jay Vezain and Carol Schultheis, two local folks who'd been having a drink in Milestone just before the storm. Debbie Miller called out her children's names, and after a child responded, she went on to the next one. When she said, "Mike," there was no answer, and she knew. She knew. Rain falls as rescue crews dig expeditiously, but delicately, through the rubble of Milestone after a tornado pummeled the more than centruy-old pub. (Tasos Katopodis / Getty Images) By the time Joe Krizel got there about five minutes later, at least two dozen people were tugging at the rubble. Krizel worked at Uniman, a sand plant on a hill just north of Utica. From his vantage point up there, he had watched the tornado move in, watched it churn and whip its way northeast, then saw it pause over Utica--10 seconds, he thought, no more--almost as if it had an appointment there, as if it knew where it wanted to go, right down to the street address. Krizel couldn't tear his eyes away from it. Then the spinning black cloud moved on, heading up the hill where it broke apart, and Krizel suddenly felt released from whatever spell that awful thing had cast over him. Krizel, 49, had been a volunteer firefighter for more than two decades. He knew there'd be a lot of damage, so he slid into his pickup to head downtown. Trouble was, the road was blocked by debris--ripped-up trees with their shocked roots still dangling, thrown-down telephone poles, big chunks of roofs, swatches of curled-up sheet metal--and he couldn't get through. He hollered at Blayne Bimm--son of Shelba Bimm, one of Krizel's Fire Department colleagues--who also worked at Uniman, and Blayne hopped into an endloader and cleared the way for the pickup. Krizel took a look at the mess that had been Milestone. He knew what kind of job this was: technical rescue, which meant equipment and expertise, not just hard work and good intentions. Maltas already had alerted state officials and in the next few hours 52 fire departments would respond. The streets of Utica would be jammed with firetrucks. But right now, it was just Joe Krizel and the Utica firefighters, and they could hear people calling for help from under the rubble. Krizel dashed into the firehouse, flung open his locker and started yanking on boots and coveralls. He slapped on his hardhat with the light on it. Back across the street, firefighters had just pulled Rich Little from a corner of the rubble, and Little had pulled out Jim Ventrice. It was the easiest rescue they'd have; from here on out, it would be desperate and difficult work, but the two men who'd been standing next to a couple of freezers in the basement seemed to be fine. It was astonishing, really: Amid the destruction, with an entire two-story building compressed into an appallingly tiny space, two men had climbed out. They were dazed and groggy and dust-covered, but alive. A woman ran up to Little and embraced him. It was Kristy Kaiser, 35, the girlfriend he was supposed to meet in Milestone that night. But she'd seen the tornado blooming in her rear-view mirror like an assailant who'd been hiding in the back seat, so she pulled her Dodge Ram to the curb, jumped out and ran into a grocery store, where she spent the anxious minutes in a walk-in freezer with strangers. Now she was here with Little, here amid the confusion and the shouting. It was so chaotic that Ventrice wandered over to a stack of stones and sat down, and minutes later said hello to a friend, and the friend remembers thinking, "Why's he bothering me when we got a crisis here?"--not realizing until much later that Ventrice himself had just been pulled out of the building. It was that kind of scene: wild, surreal, drenched in panic and dread and a kind of crazed disbelief. Gradually, though, the firefighters took control, moving the townspeople back and back and back, so Krizel could get to work. They were afraid to touch Vezain and Schultheis, afraid they might send the whole fragile mass crashing down on the survivors inside, so they draped the bodies in plastic, and tried to put out of their minds what they would never get out of their memories. They had a job to do, there were more people down there, living people. They could hear them crying and screaming. So there was no time for grief or reflection. Advertisement By 6:20, 11 minutes after the tornado belted Utica, Shelba Bimm and Dave Edgcomb, Utica's fire chief, showed up. They'd been in a class in Oglesby to upgrade their EMT certifications. When the tornado sirens sounded, their instructor, as protocol required, marched the students into the basement. On the way down, somebody turned on a dispatch radio and everybody got the news: Utica. "We gotta go," Bimm told the teacher, and she and Edgcomb ran to the parking lot, Edgcomb to his pickup and Bimm to her Honda CRV, and their journey back to Utica was something neither would remember in any detail, because their only thought was get there, get there, and it bullied all other thoughts out of the way. They had to abandon their vehicles at the edge of town, because there was too much stuff clogging the streets: trees and rooftops and hunks of siding, plus toppled power lines that twitched and sizzled. They had to claw their way through branches and shattered glass, around broken pipes and crinkled windowless cars, and they took a crazy, makeshift route under and over and through. It was like moving across a war zone, Bimm thought, like advancing through a dangerous maze during combat. She made it to Church Street, and she looked at her house for just a second--everything was happening in fragments now, time had been sliced up into smaller and smaller increments--but it didn't make sense. She couldn't figure out at first what she was looking at. Somebody had made a mistake. A bad, bad mistake. This wasn't her house. This was a place that had been wrenched off its foundation, twisted sideways beneath a battered roof. This looked like one of her dollhouses--the kind she sold in her front room--after somebody had knocked it off a shelf and stepped on it. She shook her head. Said to herself, Well, OK, my house is gone. Let's go see what other folks need. And the retired 1st-grade teacher with the bright white hair bent over and thrashed her way inside the mess of what had been her house, digging out her fluorescent vest, so people would know she was an EMT. Then she started toward Milestone. Please, God. Don't let it be kids. That was Edgcomb's single thought, the one that kept pace with his racing heart as he ran toward Milestone: Please, God, no kids. Please. Please. He'd been a firefighter for 25 years, he was a powerful, well-built man, a natural leader, and nobody would call Dave Edgcomb weak, no sir. He carried an air of can-do confidence. But right now he was, in his thoughts, on his knees: Please, God, just don't let it be kids. He knew it was bad, real bad, and he knew he could handle anything--but not kids. No dead kids. "Please, God. Don't let it be kids," Utica Fire Chief Dave Edgecomb kept thinking as he raced on foot toward Milestone pub to join the rescue effort. "Please, God, no kids. Please. Please." (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune) In one of his first days as a firefighter, Edgcomb was called to an accident scene on Interstate Highway 80. A drunk driver had crashed her car, the car was burning, the driver had tumbled out and was fine--wasn't that always the way?--but she kept screaming, my kids, my kids, and the firefighters did the best they could, but in the end, Edgcomb was asked to retrieve two small charred bodies in the back seat. Now, as he approached Milestone and saw his fellow Utica firefighters, saw their grim faces, he knew. He just knew. There were kids down there. Please, God. From under the rubble along the southern wall, Krizel heard somebody yell for help. He thought he knew that voice. So he yelled back and, yeah, it was Jarad Stillwell, a pal of Krizel's son Zack. "How many down there?" Krizel called. "How many, Jarad?" "A bunch." The raw, choked voice of a 13-year-old, scared out of his mind. Krizel spotted a dime-sized hole in the jagged debris. "Hey, Jarad," he said, "can you get your finger out there?" A pale fingernail appeared in the opening, then a pale finger, then a few more fingers managed to spread the hole wider. Krizel touched Jarad's fingers. The firefighter knew how extraordinarily careful he had to be. If he moved the rocks too much, too fast, he could dislodge a crucial section. He had to consider every gesture he made, every wriggle and bump--but he also had to work quickly, because the people trapped below might be dying. Krizel probed cautiously at the stones and splintered wood and broken concrete, taking a piece here and then a piece over there, careful, so careful. It required almost two hours just to enlarge the hole. Finally it was big enough, and Krizel reached down to take Jarad's hand--yeah, yeah, here he comes--and Krizel and four other firefighters pulled the kid up and out. There was a kid next to him down there, Gregg Miller, 14, and they pulled him out too. Right as the boys emerged there was a moment of panic because they were drenched in something sticky and red--Is it blood? For God's sake, are they bleeding?--but it turned out to be syrup for the soda pop served at Milestone, stored in the basement in pressurized containers that had popped open in the collapse. The kids were OK. Krizel handed off the boys to his colleagues--Shelba Bimm was there, his old friend Shelba, where'd she come from?--and then he got ready for the hardest job of all: reaching the people who were entombed under hundreds of tons of debris. He knew a technical rescue team from the Sandwich Fire Department was on the way, he knew Edgcomb was coordinating things, but he had to get started. He could hear people screaming. Krizel looked down in the hole from which he'd pulled the boys. Might work. He inched himself into the opening, feet first. It was just barely wide enough. A couple of guys held his arms and lowered him on down, on down, until his feet hit something solid and he had to stop. Krizel flipped on a light. He could see a young girl's narrow ankle caught under a beam. He wiggled and turned and twisted so that he was on his stomach, so that he could crawl over to her. Above him, he could hear the crunchy steps of people walking on the debris, feel the pile shift. One wrong footfall, Krizel knew, might bring everything crashing down. So he climbed back up and stuck his head out of the hole and yelled, "Get offa there! Clear those people off!" Then he went back down, back on his belly again, and crawled closer to the girl. By this time he could see other bodies, too, some alive and some dead. Krizel was crawling through at least 6 inches of frigid water, through sewage and booze and electrical lines. He used tin snips to clip and bend and poke and push his way forward. I got $10,000 worth of rescue equipment up there in the truck, and none of it's gonna do me a bit of good, Krizel thought. Just these tin snips. Water. Wires. Sheet metal. Pipes. Jagged wood. Krizel kept cutting, cutting until his hands were red-raw. Ashley Miller, the girl whose ankle he'd seen under the beam, was crying; she was in pain and wanted out, and he said, "I can't get to you yet. Hang on." She sobbed, "But I can see your light! Come and get me!" Ashley Miller (Family photo) There were other firefighters down in the hole by then, too, coming behind Krizel, cutting and pushing, but gently. They had to be smallish, fit men, like Krizel, because the makeshift tunnel was so narrow, so frail. They didn't know what they were touching or what the touching would do. Before Krizel cut a pipe, he wondered, Is it gas? Electric? Water? He couldn't tell. He just kept working, pushing, tunneling, and when he came to a dead body, he kept going, kept going, toward the living. For the people buried alive in Milestone, it had sounded like an explosion, like a bomb going off right over their heads, like the end of the world. Mike Miller was slammed to his knees. His left foot was twisted up under him, and Debbie was jammed against that foot, and they couldn't even flinch, they were pinned in every direction. Before Jarad and Gregg were rescued, Debbie had called out the children's names, one by one, and after a child responded, she went on to the next one, calling for Christopher, 8; Jennifer, 12; Ashley, 16; and Gregg and Jarad. When she said, "Mike," there was no answer from 18-year-old Mike Jr., and she knew. She knew. They started yelling for help, all of them, and the kids cried. In a minute or two they heard answering yells--people on the outside, above them--so they knew somebody was coming. But when? When? Why didn't somebody just unstack these stones and junk and get them the hell out of there? Ashley was crammed up next to her mother; Jennifer was pinned against Ashley; everybody was smushed against somebody else. They were wet and cold and scared and confused. They could hear pipes bursting and then, because this was the basement of a bar, they could smell alcohol, urine and excrement. Their arms and legs and shoulders and backs were clasped by a vast unfathomable heaviness. They could barely move their chins an inch or shift a knee. They were suspended in a prison of sandstone, concrete and terrible weight. Mike Miller sensed a presence wedged beside him, and somehow he realized it was Larry Ventrice. Or what had been Larry Ventrice. Mike Miller was as close to Larry as a person standing next to him in a crowded elevator. They could hear the firefighters inching their way toward them, cutting and pushing, and the great heaviness all around them shimmied and creaked and groaned. They could hear Jarad and Gregg being pulled out, and that gave them hope, great hope. Maybe it wasn't that bad. Mike Miller asked the firefighters how bad it was, and they wouldn't give him details. "Bad," one said. That was the only word he would use: "Bad." After another two-and-a-half hours of work, rescuers had reached Chris, the smallest. They pulled him out, and then it was on to Ashley. Her thin blond hair was caught under a wooden beam, and they told her she'd have to pull out several handfuls before they could free her. Ashley hesitated, but her mother said, "Do it, Ashley," and she did, yanking a succession of strands in small painful bundles from the front of her scalp. Mike and Debbie, though, were bigger, bound tighter, and would require another three hours of delicate work by the rescuers. While firefighters snipped and probed, one managed to lower a flashlight into Debbie's fingers. He also handed her some ice and asked if she wanted anything else. "Yeah," she said. "A cigarette." That drew chuckles. And Mike--did he want anything? "A pain pill," he said. His back, his foot: It was agony, agony. It was so excruciating, in fact, that he was finished. He'd had enough. He was done. Sick of fighting. "I'm going to give up," he told his wife. A simple fact: I'm through. "No," Debbie said. "You're not giving up. You're not giving up." He hung on not because he wanted to--he didn't want to--but because he had no choice. He couldn't move, he was helpless, he was trapped in life right now, the same way he was trapped under the heavy stones. Gradually a tunnel widened above them, and they could see hands and lights. Voices were louder. Mike Miller had to push Larry Ventrice's knee to one side to free his own leg. First Debbie, then Mike, were strapped on backboards and hauled out. Within the first hour after the tornado, Chief Richard Kell and 30 firefighters from Sandwich had arrived, experts in rescues in collapsed buildings. Kell dispatched two teams--one with two men, the other with three--to crawl under the rubble toward the survivors, and Krizel was told to come up, come back up, they'd take over. Come up. The crew from Sandwich would continue the tedious journey: snipping, bending back metal, scooting gingerly through the water and muck and sharp-edged broken stones. Advertisement Officials on horseback survey the destruction to houses, trees and busieness the day after a tornado swept through Utica, an Illinois River town of about 1,000 residents in north-central Illinois. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune) When Krizel climbed out of the hole he was as tired as he'd ever been in his life. He was angry, too, at having been relieved. He argued, he fought, but he knew they were right. He'd done all he could, but there was so much more to do. Living people were still pinned down there. The dead were down there, too, people he knew, friends of his, and it was clear the night had really just begun. He stood there a minute or so, and then Shelba Bimm came forward and hugged him, holding him as his shoulders bobbed up and down with quiet sobs, because now there was a weight on Joe Krizel, too, and it was heavier than any building. About the series Things don't always happen so fast in SLO, and certainly that is part of the area's appeal. "SLO" spelled-out is San Luis Obispo, the wine-producing county in the Central Coast of California that is home not only to the steadily rising Paso Robles region, but also the lesser-known Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande Valley regions to the south of both Paso Robles and the city of San Luis Obispo. The area is about 250 miles south of San Francisco and 200 miles north of Los Angeles. Advertisement The regions are relatively small with fewer than 3,000 acres of total vineyards in the case of Edna Valley and barely more than 1,200 vineyard acres in the case of its southerly neighbor, Arroyo Grande Valley. But these places, collectively referred to by some as "SLO Wine Country," produce some very good wines. Both appellations are situated on the west side of the coastal mountain range, with vineyards close to the Pacific Coast about 5 miles on average and just a few miles in some cases but Arroyo Grande Valley also extends east and rises to higher elevations, allowing for warmer temperatures and a wider range of growing possibilities. Otherwise, the two growing areas are generally cool, with long, slow growing seasons, and because of this, their bread-and-butter grapes are the varieties of Burgundy pinot noir and chardonnay. Some 20 other kinds of grapes grow in SLO Wine Country, too, and many of them do well, including Rhone varieties and whites such as riesling, pinot gris and albarino. Advertisement San Luis Obispo's vine saga dates to the 1700s, when Franciscan missionaries planted grapes and turned them into wine for their own consumption. Even consumer wine production has a long history in the area, reaching well into the late 1800s. But it was not until the 1970s that things kicked into second gear for Edna Valley, and a decade later that the same thing happened in Arroyo Grande Valley. Even into the 1990s the greater Central Coast was still fighting for general consumer attention in a marketplace that was quickly getting to know California's two biggest wine producing regions (Napa and Sonoma) intimately, but not many others. And as we know, things happen slowly in SLO. Fog creeps in from the Pacific Ocean, gently landing on the area's celebrated chardonnay and pinot noir vineyards. Daily temperatures do not skyrocket and plummet the way they can in other, more-inland California growing regions, and that long, cool growing season allows for slower ripening and more food-friendly acidity in the wines. There is sort of a built-in composure in the southern half of San Luis Obispo, a more relaxed natural environment, although no one would say that the winemakers there are any more relaxed than they are in other parts of California, or the world. In addition to their careful attention to the wines they produce, local winemakers are also quite dedicated to sustainable farming practices. Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande Valley turn out some serious wines, and they are worthy of our attention. Get to know them fast. Or slowly. That'd work too. Below are nine recommended bottles from a recent tasting, in ascending order by price. Whites 2015 Niner Wine Estates Albarino. Made of 100 percent albarino from a single vineyard in Edna Valley, this wine is bursting with lime and peach, backed up by subtle tropical fruits, a mouth-watering acidity and a manageable 13.5 percent alcohol. $20 2014 Zocker Paragon Vineyard Gruner Veltliner. Green apple and green pepper aromas mingle with flavors of ripe pear, mango and spice. Despite the wine's lushness, each sip gets wrapped up with a wonderfully tangy but not tart sensation on the finish. $20 2014 Claiborne & Churchill Pinot Gris. From Arroyo Grande Valley, this lush wine has a soft, filling mouthfeel, offering up ripe melon, stone fruits and minerality that lead to a balancing acidic zing. Try a glass with roasted pork. $20 Advertisement 2013 Talley Vineyards Estate Chardonnay. Here, you get lime, a floral and nutty quality, minerality, a slight wood presence and a crisp finish from one of the area's most renowned producers, this year celebrating its 30th anniversary in Arroyo Grande Valley. $27 2014 Tolosa Winery 1772 Chardonnay. From Edna Valley, this creamy 100 percent chardonnay was fermented and aged for 16 months in small French oak barrels. Its lively acidity is accompanied by suggestions of hay, lemon, orange, spice and minerality. $48 Reds Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. > 2014 Sinor-LaVallee Syrah. Raspberry jam and savory notes lead to pepper, cedar, a hint of eucalyptus and smoke in this 100 percent syrah from a vineyard that is just a touch more than a mile from the sea. $28 2014 Saucelito Canyon Vineyard Estate Zinfandel. A scant 200 cases of this upper Arroyo Grande Valley zinfandel were made. It is a 100 percent varietal starting with raspberry, vanilla, toast and cranberry, culminating in a spicy, peppery finish. $30 2014 Laetitia Reserve du Domaine Pinot Noir. From another of the area's legendary producers (its first plantings were in 1982), here is a complex and quietly confident pinot noir with suggestions of flowers, smoke, raspberry and tobacco. $42 Advertisement 2013 Stephen Ross Stone Corral Vineyard Pinot Noir. Game, licorice, orange, cranberry, cedar, dark cherry and spice are a handful of the aromas and flavors you'll find in this luscious wine. And only 106 cases were made. $52 If your wine store does not carry these, ask for wines similar in style and price. food@chicagotribune.com Twitter @pour_man With steak, red wine. It's not a rule we don't like wine rules around here but a simple guideline; for every rich, full-bodied white that can stand up to steak, there are dozens of red options that will do the same. If you decide to make this recipe (and you should it's easy and filling), try any of the three reds recommended below, which also take into account the bitter notes of the eggplant, the earthiness of the olives and the sweetness of the Italian peppers. MAKE THIS Advertisement Eggplant saute with eye-of-round steak Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add 8 small eggplant, cubed; cook, stirring, until soft, about 15 minutes. Add 4 tomatoes, chopped; cook until beginning to soften, 5 minutes. Add 2 green Italian sweet peppers, cut into 1-inch pieces; cook 2 minutes. Stir in 12 Kalamata olives, quartered; 1/4 cup chopped mixed herbs (basil, thyme, oregano); and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook 2-3 minutes. Cook 4 eye-of-round steaks in a skillet in 1 tablespoon oil, 1-2 minutes per side. Deglaze pan with 1/4 cup red wine. Serve steaks with the sauce and topped with eggplant mixture. Makes: 4 servings Advertisement Recipe by Joe Gray Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. > DRINK THIS Pairings by sommelier Aaron McManus of Oriole, as told to Michael Austin: 2013 Girolamo Russo 'a Rina Etna Rosso, Sicily, Italy: A blend of nerello mascalese and nerello cappuccio, this wine has flavors of red cherries, strawberries, plum, dried flowers, leather and cedar box, with slightly smoky and earthy undertones. It is medium-bodied with firm tannins, and the smoky notes will be a good match for the seared steak. The soft fruit flavors will help contrast the bitterness of eggplant, and the earthiness will complement the olives. 2013 Dashe Cellars Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel, Sonoma, California: This aromatic wine offers raspberry, blackberry, fig, black pepper, potting soil, anise, vanilla, coffee, chocolate and cinnamon. Lively on the palate, it shows sweet, fruity qualities while finishing with spice and earthiness. The sweet fruit will match well with the sweet Italian peppers and the ripe tomatoes, but the wine also has enough structure to complement the richness of the steak without overpowering it. 2011 Villa Calcinaia Chianti Classico Riserva, Chianti, Italy: With aromas of sour cherry, cranberry, raspberry, tomato leaf, red flowers, rosemary, fennel, thyme and spice box, this sangiovese is a natural pairing. Tannins are present but velvety, and the fruit is fresh, meaning it will cut the eggplant's bitterness. Green herb and fennel flavors in the wine will match the dish's mixed herbs, and the wine's tomato notes will marry the dish's stewed tomatoes. food@chicagotribune.com Twitter @pour_man Tomato and olive pudding, a Chicago Gourmet offering in 2015 from Terrace at the Gwen's Joseph Rose. has a certain artfulness. This year's fest will celebrate the art of food. (Phil Vettel) Bon Appetit presents Chicago Gourmet will return to Millennium Park next month with a splash of art. And we don't mean Smith (although chef Art Smith will indeed be there). Operating under a Food is Art! Use Your Palate theme, the ninth annual food and wine extravaganza will explore food's relationship to art on several fronts, while still providing the celebrity-chef bites and free-flowing wine, beer and spirits that devoted fans (once again, Saturday and two-day admissions already are sold out) have come to expect. Advertisement There will be art installations, exhibitions and performances throughout the two-day festival. There will be sculptures on the grounds, an Art of Plating seminar led by Jared Van Camp (Old Town Social, Nellcote, more) and a discussion of art and emotion featuring Rick Bayless (Chicago Gourmet's official host chef), Matthias Merges (A10, Billy Sunday, Yusho) Amanda Cohen (Dirt Candy in New York City) and Todd English. Those at the Grand Cru premium-wine event (additional admission) will experience dishes inspired by Shakespeare works, while costumed actors (Chicago Shakespeare Theater) mix with the crowd. (Usually, spotting people in Elizabethan garb is my cue to stop drinking.) Advertisement A new ancillary event (separate admission fee) called The Tao of Tacos will feature chefs preparing artistic takes on the humble taco. I hadn't thought of a tortilla as an artist's canvas before. Bon Appetit presents Chicago Gourmet will take place Sept. 23-25 in Millennium Park, featuring nearly 250 chefs and beverage professionals. For a complete schedule, more information and tickets, go to chicagogourmet.org. Phil Vettel is a Tribune critic. Jonah Reider, who made a name for himself running a restaurant out of his Columbia University dorm room, will be a chef in residence at Intro in Chicago. (Erika Kubick ) Jonah Reider, whose four-seat Pith restaurant in his Columbia University dorm turned him into a national sensation, is heading to Chicago. The chef, now a Columbia University grad (with no dorm to call his own) will be the next chef-in-residence at Intro. His one-month stint, working with Intro executive chef Stephen Gillanders, will begin Sept. 15. Advertisement Reider's underground restaurant was the talk of New York, and beyond, in 2015. The $15 dinners in his student-housing room were the toughest "get" in town (famed author/critic Ruth Reichl said his food was "impossible to stop eating"), and his appearance on "The Late Show" with Stephen Colbert is still making the rounds on YouTube. There will be two ways to experience Reider's cuisine. The easy way is to dine at Intro (2300 N. Lincoln Park West, 773-878-0002), where many of Reider's dishes will be featured on the a la carte menu. Advertisement The hard way is to get seats at Reider's multicourse communal "supper club" dinners ($95), which will be offered Thursdays through Saturdays. There will be about 200 available seats during Reider's residency. Information on reservations will be revealed exclusively to Intro email subscribers sometime in early September; join the list here. Phil Vettel is a Tribune critic. Actor Nick Offerman is slated to return to his hometown of Minooka in October as part of a tour to promote his upcoming book about his passion for woodworking. Offerman is scheduled to meet fans at 7 p.m. Oct. 22 at the Music Box Theatre and 1 p.m. Oct. 23 at Minooka High School, where he graduated nearly 30 years ago. "Good Clean Fun: Misadventures in Sawdust at Offerman Woodshop," Offerman's third book, is due out Oct. 18. Advertisement Offerman's 13-stop tour is set to kick off Oct. 17 in New York and wrap up Nov. 5 in Texas. Offerman, who was born in Joliet and raised in Minooka, stars in "The Founder," an upcoming drama about McDonald's entrepreneur Ray Kroc. He recently starred in Season 2 of FX's "Fargo" and is probably best known for his role as Ron Swanson on "Parks and Recreation." Advertisement RELATED STORIES: Nick Offerman on 'great scam artist' Tom Sawyer and his favorite writers Megan Mullally says Nick Offerman is international symbol of man Watch Stephen Colbert, Nick Offerman read Minooka's community calendar Watch the latest movie trailers. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox) Chicago transit in the movies, now in a pocket-size exhibit in Union Station's Great Hall. Presented by DePaul University and Lake Forest College. Aug. 23, 2016. (Michael Phillips / Chicago Tribune) (Chicago Tribune) Venture into the secular cathedral that is downtown Union Station's Great Hall, high-ceilinged star of "The Untouchables" and other films featuring men in fedoras, and over in one corner you'll find a modest 10-panel exhibit devoted to Chicago's transit image in the movies. What does that mean? It means Cary Grant dressed as a redcap, skulking around LaSalle Street Station accompanied by Eva Marie Saint in "North by Northwest." It means Chuck Norris, or, rather, Norris' double, leaping off a moving "L" train into the Chicago River in "Code of Silence." Advertisement These and other cinematic moments get the nod in "Windy City in Motion: Movies and Travel in Chicago," the new pocket-sized exhibit curated by Rachael Smith and presented by DePaul University and Lake Forest College. It's free and it'll take you next to no time to take in perfect, if you have a train to catch. DePaul's Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development director Joseph Schwieterman was one of many who guided the installation. (Curator Smith works as Chaddick's program manager.) Schwieterman notes that Amtrak did the exhibit a favor in dedicating a corner of the Great Hall to a mini-celebration of a city's screen images. One panel features the work of photographer Mike Rotunno; my favorite is his Midway Airport tarmac glam shot of Katharine Hepburn getting off a plane. Elsewhere we see Gregory Peck, in a fedora (of course), with a tight smile as he gets ready to enter Union Station. Advertisement A few quibbles, since you asked. I'm not sure any small exhibit on any subject needs 23 exclamation points in its explanatory copy; they tend to make the points sound pushy. Also, regarding Alfred Hitchcock: "Strangers on a Train" was released in 1951, not 1956, and "North by Northwest" was a '59 release, not '57. A section dealing with "Devil in the White City" is tantalizing, as is the video segment on the music introduced to Chicago (and patronized in the press) by the 1893 Columbian Exposition. But this subject cries out for its own, larger treatment. Still, as a primer designed for visitors and natives alike, "Windy City in Motion" offers a fast, fond look back. And curator Smith is right: She describes the Great Hall itself as "one of America's grandest interior spaces." The address: 225 S. Canal St. An opening reception is planned for 4:45 to 6 p.m. Sept. 13. For more information on the exhibit, go to depaulne.ws/windycitychaddick. mjphillips@chicagotribune.com Twitter @phillipstribune MORE FROM MICHAEL PHILLIPS: Slamdance Film Fest: What to see at the ArcLight Advertisement The 21st century's greatest films, per the BBC, 176 critics plus me Harley Quinn vs. Holtzmann? The Ghostbuster emerges with smarts, grace Watch the latest movie trailers. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox) On August 19, Amazon Studios dropped the pilot for one of the most fascinating and unconventional television projects ever -- a series adaptation of the landmark feminist work "I Love Dick," an epistolary novel that crisscrosses through feminist theory, philosophy, and thwarted desire. The book, technically a work of fiction, is a collection of love letters that filmmaker Chris Kraus writes to attempt to seduce a macho academic named Dick -- with the surprisingly enthusiastic help of her husband Sylvere. Ultimately, the book is a journey of soul-searching for Chris; but it's complicated by the fact that Chris, husband Sylvere, and object of infatuation Dick are all real people with those real relationships to each other. The 1994 book has a place in the pantheon of feminist narratives; Soloway's girlfriend, the poet Eileen Myles, wrote an introduction to the 2006 version. Advertisement Soloway's adaptation is filmed and set in the present, in arty Marfa, Texas, and though the future of the series is unclear, the 32-minute pilot is a fascinating and brilliant short film. (Amazon released "I Love Dick" as part of its pilot program, which invites viewers to vote for their favorite pilots. Theoretically, the most popular go into production, but there is no guarantee, guideline, or timetable. But Amazon Studios has a very good relationship with Soloway, whose "Transparent" has become the fledgling platform's flagship claim to critical legitimacy.) Kathryn Hahn finally gets a lead role worthy of her as Chris, and Griffin Dunne plays Sylvere. The object of their mutual and singular fascination is none other than Kevin Bacon, in a coup of casting brilliance that is fundamental to the success of "I Love Dick." Bacon offers up the perfect combination of self-assured celebrity, devastating good looks, and barely hidden machismo for Dick, who embodies so much that is attractive and repellent in the persistent myth of American masculinity. Advertisement The viewer first glimpses Bacon's Dick when he rides up to a Marfa store on a horse and hitches his steed outside with arresting calm. Later, he informs Chris and Sylvere calmly that he is "post-idea" and hasn't read a book in a decade. Chris' passion for him is matched only by her hatred for his intellectual positions. MOST READ ENTERTAINMENT NEWS THIS HOUR Variety caught up with Bacon to talk about what it's like to play an object of fascination after being one in the real world for so many years. Along the way, he offered up his own thoughts on what's going on inside Dick's head, what it's like to play a character with such an evocative and provocative name, and how he feels about Hahn's disheveled, nervous, and desiring Chris. How did you get involved with this project? Pretty standard sort of road. I read the pilot, and Jill [Soloway] was in L.A. and I was in New York at the time, and we Skype'd. I said yeah. I loved "Transparent." And at that point only Kathryn [Hahn] was attached. I think she's remarkable. I was looking to move away from something that was like, another sort of blood-and-guts, hour-long drama, and to explore. In my movie work, if I do one guy, the next guy I do, I want to do something kind of different. Even in terms of genre -- it's really great to mix it up a little. This was perfect for me. Were you familiar with the book at all? No. Have you read it since? Advertisement Yes. What do you think of it? Have you read it? I haven't. I read a lot about it, though, and now I definitely want to read it. I think it's fascinating. It's sometimes a little bit above my pay grade intellectually. You know what I mean? There's a lot of sections of it that are cultural critique, or just really like way too heavy for me to understand. The parts of it that I like are the more memoir parts that are about her obsession with this writer. I feel like it's a good jumping-off place -- but I think if you do read the book, you'll see that it's vastly different than the television show. Is there something in the book that is particularly different from Jill's vision? Advertisement I think that for one thing, the creation of this backdrop of Marfa, Texas became a really big piece of it. I'd never heard of Marfa, Texas. I'd never heard of [minimalist artist] Donald Judd. I immediately started researching that place, because I knew that's where the script was going to take place. I became fascinated with this little kind of pocket of art that's sitting out in West Texas and of this guy who was this very iconic figure in that town. The other thing about the book is that Dick, you don't really get to know him at all. It's really very, very deeply about Chris, Sylvere, and Dick is just kind of, it's almost like he's just sort of an idea. There's not that much about him and who he is. I was hoping that in the series version we would be able to explore him a little deeper. He's a cipher. Even the fact that his name is Dick, which has connotations of being an actual penis and then of course also being a jerk. What is it like to play a character like this? You've been an action hero, you've been a romantic lead. Now this is a really different direction, where you're an object of obsession. First off -- I do think it's an interesting thing, for him to be an object. Obviously, if I really thought that I was going to sign on for, you know, hopefully many, many episodes and multiple years and just be an object that would kind of be a drag. [Laughs.] As I said to Jill early on, I'm not really interested in being a one-sided (expletive). Because I could play that, you know what I mean? I could play just the full-on (expletive), you know, that's definitely in my wheelhouse. It would be to explore a guy who is traditionally male and has a lot of really strong ideas about men and women and sexuality and all that stuff. But he's also at a crossroads, and is at a point in his life where his life and his feelings about himself and who he is and how he defines himself as a man are getting complicated. As you can see, if you look at the last scene of the show -- there's something going on there that's beyond what you see in the dinner scene, right? You see the dinner scene and you go, well you know, he's just a jerk, or a misogynist, or whatever it happens to be. But he is definitely struggling with things. And I mean, I love the character. My feeling about it is -- in the best of all possible worlds, I could be part of redefining what it is to be a dick. You know what I mean? If you take words like that, where people sort of put entire genders or races or social crowds or groups or religions in a (expletive) kind of categorizing word. A lot of people are able to co-opt that and turn it around, spin it on its ear, so that it becomes something that is no longer just a dismissive kind of negative thing. I feel like, in a way, that's sort of what maybe we're going towards? I don't know. I don't know where the show's going. All I know is where this character's been. Advertisement Are you daunted by the idea of expanding upon or complicating Dick? No, no, I'm not daunted by it. I'm excited by it. I adore Jill and I think the process is... I can't tell you how intense and amazing the process was to get the pilot done, so I can't imagine doing a series. We went through some really... I felt profound things in the stuff that we discussed, and the connections that we made, and the way that we rehearsed, and the time that we spent in Marfa shooting it. The whole thing was very intense. I mean daunted, I don't think that's really the word. No, I'm excited. I'm thrilled and like I said, I don't know where it's going. I have to kind of take a flier with her and trust that she cares about him -- and that she loves Dick as much as I do. [Laughs.] Tell me more about filming the pilot. Jill has a very specific way of working that involves some kind of connecting exercises. We explored a lot of really intimate stuff, in terms of feelings, and it felt like being in my first weeks in acting school. There was a lot of improvisation, and there was a lot of acting exercises, and all kinds of s-t that you just don't normally do on a show. It wasn't just your basic rehearsal. All of us kind of thrown together in Marfa, in this little town, being with the local people and the crew and the way that we all kind of interfaced -- it was just a great, cool experience. When you're playing opposite Kathryn, there's two different modes. In the dream sequence is a Dick where he's a lot more centrally focused on her. Then there's the real-life Dick -- or at least the real-life as-far-as-we-know Dick. What is it like playing the two different things? Do you feel like they're separate? Do you feel like maybe the dream Dick is the real Dick too? I think that the dream Dick is the real Dick, too. I do. I don't want to speak out of turn... I guess what I'm saying is, I feel like in the reality, it seems as though [Dick is] being dismissive, but to me I think there's as much sexual tension in that scene as there is in the fantasy scene. It's manifesting itself in a different way, You know what I mean? Because what I feel like is that he doesn't want... [Laughs.] I don't know, I don't think I could say. It's too early. Um, let's put it this way. I think when he looks at her -- she is a very unexpected and important kind of thing that has popped into his world. Things would be a little bit easier if she wasn't there. I think he feels the connection with her right away. I think he feels like he's making a choice, in a way, to not act on it. I guess I feel like, what I said, in the reality of the dinner scene -- I feel like there's as much sexual tension as there is in the fantasy scene. Advertisement The episode does a great job of indicating that a lot of sexual tension can manifest as aggression, or as contempt for each other, or even mean-spirited bullying. It's like the first time you have a crush when you're a little kid. It's like pulling on a girl's pigtails in front of you in class It's 'cause you dig her. It really is very much like that. Continuing with your interpretation -- do you think that Dick knows that he's interested in Chris, at this point in time of the show? I think he knows that he can have her if he wants her. I know that you're really thinking about internally occupying this person. I think what's so interesting to, I guess, everyone else who can't really inhabit that figure -- which includes me -- is that he's such a figure of mystique in so many ways. I think casting you was really brilliant on Soloway's part, because, as I said, you've played a lot of these mysterious and sort of distant characters. It's just really interesting to see you deciding to consciously and knowingly take on this image and to work with it. I feel you on that. The book is thought of as a feminist manifesto and I'm sure the show in some ways will be viewed in that kind of way. For me, that's great, but it's also an exploration of the complexities of manhood, that at least from where I have to approach it. Advertisement But the other piece of it is an exploration of celebrity. I've lived with mine for almost my whole life. And it is It can be a strange and sometimes difficult place to live. When you look at Dick -- if he walks out of Marfa and goes to El Paso, he can pretty much disappear. When he walks down the street in Marfa, Texas he's Brad Pitt. In that small pond, he is the biggest fish you could possibly imagine. That brings up a lot of feelings for people. Whether or not you're worthy of this kind of adulation, and whether or not you sometimes get annoyed that everybody's hanging on your words, or treating you differently. You know what I mean? You see elements of that kind of sychophantic thing that's happening at the party. So, having that kind of power -- maybe we'll find out that he has some misgivings about that. He acts out a little bit with that power. In the dinner scene, Sylvere says, oh, this is your provocateur thing. I sort of wondered, as I was watching it, if Dick is really is post-idea, if he really thinks that women can't make good films. He knows that everyone's sort of focused on him so maybe he's making a little bit of a scene because he can. I think my line is that it's difficult for women to make good films, because they are working from behind their oppression. You know Do you think that's true, too? I don't know. I mean, when I read the script, I don't think, this guy is full of (expletive). I think he makes some pretty good points! [Laughs.] I think it's difficult, you know? I do. The provocateur piece of it, in my opinion, is the sweeping generalizations, and anybody that makes sweeping generalizations is... it's always more complex than that. I don't know. I don't know. It's a little bit hard for me because I... I feel like I'm still sorta in it. It's like when we finish the first season, if we get to that, I'll have a better sense of what it is. But: I can tell you that when I play a scene like that, I have to love the guy and believe in the guy. And I do. RELATED STORIES: Advertisement Amazon orders Jill Soloway sex-comedy pilot 'I Love Dick' Go behind the scenes of Jill Soloway's new project 'I Love Dick' Watch the latest movie trailers. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox) To celebrate his 55th birthday, President Obama penned a piece for Glamour magazine about being a feminist. "This is an extraordinary time to be a woman. The progress we've made in the past 100 years, 50 years, and, yes, even the past eight years has made life significantly better for my daughters than it was for my grandmothers," he wrote. "And I say that not just as president but also as a feminist." Advertisement Obama is the first sitting president to publicly declare himself a feminist. A few more things he acknowledges in his article: He considers a woman who ran for president his personal heroine. Advertisement No, not that woman. In 1972, African American Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm launched a presidential campaign for the Democratic Party's nomination. Two other name-checked inspirations: his mother and grandmother. "The most important people in my life have always been women," he wrote. Id like to think that Ive been pretty aware of the unique challenges women face its what has shaped my own feminism. President Obama He recognizes the missteps he's made as a dad and husband. Obama wrote that while daughters Sasha and Malia were young, he knew his wife, Michelle, was under more parenting pressure than he was. "I've seen how Michelle has balanced the demands of a busy career and raising a family. Like many working mothers, she worried about the expectations and judgments of how she should handle the trade-offs, knowing that few people would question my choices," he wrote. But at the same time, his busy schedule didn't allow for a lot of hands-on time. [ SIGN UP for our free Essential Politics newsletter ] President Obama speaks at the Democratic National Convention. "The reality was that when our girls were young, I was often away from home serving in the state legislature, while also juggling my teaching responsibilities as a law professor," he said. "I can look back now and see that, while I helped out, it was usually on my schedule and on my terms. The burden disproportionately and unfairly fell on Michelle." Advertisement Today, though, that's different: He jokingly gloated about how his commute has been cut down to 45 seconds the amount of time it takes to walk from the living room to the Oval Office. "As a result, I've been able to spend a lot more time watching my daughters grow up into smart, funny, kind, wonderful young women," he wrote. He got a unique perspective on feminism after having daughters. "When you're the father of two daughters, you become even more aware of how gender stereotypes pervade our society," Obama wrote. He talks about how growing up, his dad wasn't around, and he had to figure out what it meant to be a man all on his own, but didn't give a lot of thought to what it meant to be a woman. Watching his own daughters, he sees the challenges they face. "You see the subtle and not-so-subtle social cues transmitted through culture," he wrote. "You feel the enormous pressure girls are under to look and behave and even think a certain way." Ultimately, he wrote, it's up to men and women to work together to end sexism and give both genders equal opportunity. Advertisement "That's what twenty-first century feminism is about: the idea that when everybody is equal, we are all more free." Read the entire article here. Find Jessica Roy on Twitter @jessica_roy. jessica.roy@latimes.com ALSO Obama says Trump is 'unfit to serve,' and Trump threatens to walk away from leading Republicans Advertisement Watch: Michelle Obama on the historic nature of Clinton's nomination Malia Obama will take a gap year, then attend Harvard in 2017 The Frankie Knuckles Foundation's inaugural gala was held at the Stony Island Arts Bank, a historic arts and cultural space on Chicago's South Side, with over 250 guests in attendance. The event Aug. 20 served as both a tribute to the late "Godfather of House Music" and a fundraiser for the causes he championed: music in schools; LGBTQ youth homelessness; and AIDS and diabetes research and education. Knuckles, a Grammy Award winner and renowned record producer/remixer, had Type II diabetes. He passed away, at age 59, in 2014. During a reception, guests viewed exhibits housed in the 17,000-square-foot-space, including 15,000 books and magazines from the personal collection of John H. Johnson, founder of Ebony and Jet magazines; 60,000 vintage glass slides of art and architecture; and the Edward J. Williams collection of African-American memorabilia. A silent auction featured some of Knuckles' personal items. Advertisement Frederick Dunson, FKF founder/executive director, introduced Theaster Gates, artist/founder of Rebuild Foundation, a nonprofit focused on redevelopment in under-resourced communities. Gates spoke about the Knuckles record collection that is now housed in the Arts Bank (one of his projects), calling it a "treasure that attracts people from all over the world." Throughout the evening, artists performed tributes to Knuckles, beginning with the Joel Hall Dancers. Terisa Griffin, the "Empress of Soul," electrified the crowd, performing a number of songs produced and/or remixed by Knuckles and Eric Kupper, his musical partner of 25 years. She and Jamie Principle, another Knuckles collaborator, sang "Waiting on My Angel," a remix written by Principle and produced by Knuckles in 1985. Kupper ended the night with a DJ set as guests filled the dance floor. Advertisement Joel Hall Dancers perform at the first Frankie KnucklesFoundation Gala on Aug. 20, 2016. (Chicago Tribune) Randy Crumpton, FKF board co-director, summed it up, "Knuckles was a creative musical genius and a very generous man with both his talent and money. He pioneered a sound that would become the dance music of the world and supported many causes by donating money, talent and/or time. He gave to organizations that sought to cure HIV and AIDS, supported organizations that helped displaced youth of the LGBTQ community, and he was supportive and outspoken about music being taught in schools. Our mission with the foundation is to continue his musical legacy and support these passions." He added, "Always humble, Knuckles liked to say, 'I was just playin' records,' but for many, he took them on a spiritual journey where they found salvation and freedom. He was loved worldwide. He was the Godfather." The event, co-chaired by Joe Shanahan and Tony Karman, with Michelle Boone serving as honorary hostess, supported the foundation's mission to continue Knuckles' legacy as global ambassador of house music through its educational and conservation efforts and to advocate the causes he was passionate about. Freelance writer Candace Jordan is involved with many local organizations, including some whose events she covers. More coverage Find more photos and events at www.chicagotribune.com/candidcandace. Visit Candid Candace's website at www.candidcandace.com, or follow her on Twitter @CandidCandace. RELATED STORIES: Chicago's Service Club struts the runway for charity Shedd BLU fundraiser wows with animal encounters, dive show Advertisement Goodman Theatre's Scene Soiree funds youth program The best way to support your student as she transitions to upper-level math courses is to keep an open dialogue. (Hero Images / Getty Images) Entering high school math can bring up anxiety for both the student and the parent. Algebra, geometry, trigonometry the course titles are the same, but believe it or not, the way these classes are now taught in school can look a lot different from what you might remember. Here are a few ways to prepare yourself and, more importantly, your student for a successful school year: Ask why more often Advertisement The best way to support your student as he transitions to these upper-level math courses is to keep an open dialogue with him about it. "When Common Core came in, it shifted the focus to include an understanding of everything," said AmyLee Kinder, who worked as a math specialist at Magic Johnson Bridgescape Academy in Humboldt Park last year. "It's more about the process to get there. That's very foreign to how people were taught in the past. It's more about investigative learning and students going through a scenario and understanding a concept completely." Advertisement Kinder said students are now asked, "Why do you think that?" and, "Where does that come from?" They are required to explain how they came to the answer, instead of just spitting out a number. A great way to prepare your student for the classroom is by asking the same types of questions at home. "Question, question, question," Kinder said. "Stay involved, as hard as it may be. From the teacher's perspective, it takes a team of people to assist these kids, and support outside the classroom is huge." Brush up on basics If your student is nervous about a new math class, try building up his confidence by revisiting basic concepts, such as addition, subtraction and fractions. "The issues kids face in algebra aren't necessarily about algebra, but a lack of understanding about what a fraction is things that precede that higher-level class," said Mark Kriston, owner of two Mathnasium learning centers in Chicago. "Same thing with geometry," he added. "Maybe there is a misconception about what geometry is. Or maybe they feel like it's something that's not really connected to something they've done in the past. They may not see that in younger grades like first and second grade, when they were working with triangles and shapes they were doing geometry on a rudimentary level. "If they were to understand that connection, they would feel more comfortable going forward." Advertisement Laura Reber, founder of Chicago Home Tutor, suggests parents check out www.ixl.com and www.khanacademy.com to help their kids at home. "Ixl.com lets you pick a specific problem area," Reber said. "Parents can access 20 problems a day. If a student gets it wrong, it gives them feedback." "We use these sites to assign practice between our tutoring sessions," she added. "It helps get those foundational skills shored up." Get rid of your own anxieties Even if math wasn't your strongest subject, that doesn't mean it can't be a class your student enjoys and may even excel at. "Parent anxiety is a big issue," said Kriston, who previously taught math at both the high school and college level. "Parents were pretty comfortable helping their kids with sixth-grade math, but when a parent hears algebra, the parent freezes." Advertisement Kriston said he's seen parents bring their child to one of his learning centers and the parents will discuss their own frustrations with the subject matter. "Sometimes it's kind of good news because it means the child's difficulties are coming from this other place. Once we can work with the student to get them to feel more confident and shed that parental baggage, the student does just fine," he said. Seek additional help It's always good to know when to ask for help. And with more difficult courses that build upon previous concepts, it's probably best for your student to get help sooner, rather than later, if he needs it. "We don't get calls for tutoring until October or November," Reber said. "That's usually when they've had their first hard test." But Kinder, who also works as a private math tutor, cautioned: "Once a kid gets behind, it's way harder for them to get caught up." She suggests going over the syllabus with your child as soon as school starts. She said students should be presented with a calendar of what's going to be expected of the class; some teachers will post this information online. Advertisement "The more proactive parents can be about getting involved, the better," she said. Meanwhile, both Mathnasium and Chicago Home Tutor, as well as other learning centers, offer assessments year-round to see where your child's strengths and weaknesses are. "An assessment is a great way to find out if there is a problem," Kriston said. "The warning signs that are obvious don't show up until it's too late." He added: "Another warning sign is if your child says they hate math or they hate their subject. Kids do not hate math. They hate being frustrated." Emily Perschbacher is a freelancer. RELATED STORIES: Advertisement What incoming freshmen think about surviving the first year of high school School lunch ideas that make the grade For my daughter: 5 principles for 5th-grade friendships The holidays are often a time for family get-togethers at home, but if you like the idea of celebrating with the brood in one of those faraway places with strange sounding names, check out AdventureSmith Explorations. The tour operator that specializes in small-boat adventures in far-flung locations has lots of holiday options running from December into January and ranging from Baja California to Costa Rica and from the Galapagos Islands to New Zealand and Antarctica. It's not too early to book your holiday getaway, as many of these trips can fill up fast. Late December to early January is a good time to be in Baja California, when the gray whale viewing season is starting to peak. Westward Voyages in the Sea of Cortez is a 12-day/11-night package that combines a couple of land-based days with a cruise aboard the eight-passenger Westward. It's priced from $5,750 per person, double occupancy. Check out other holiday options at http://tinyurl.com/zsxl8ez. Cream of the crop Advertisement The luxury travel network Virtuoso likes to compile lists of "bests" relating to travel. Recently, it announced its 2016 Best of the Best awards, recognizing the best properties in its Hotels & Resorts program. Chosen as hotel of the year was Borgo Egnazia, in Savellerti di Fasano in the Puglia region of Italy. Other properties earning honors were: best achievement in design, Faena Hotel Miami Beach, Fla.; best culinary experience, The Farmhouse Restaurant Farmhouse Inn, Forestville, Calif.; best bar, The New York Edition, New York; best family program, Rosewood San Miguel de Allende, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; best spa, Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Lake Como, Italy; most innovative guest experience: Belmond Hotel das Cataratas, Foz do Iguacu, Brazil; Sustainable Tourism Leadership, &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; One to Watch, Hotel Eden Rome, Dorchester Collection, Rome; Hotelier of the Year, Jose Silva Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris. Exotic for less Advertisement We've written here before about the reasonably priced international tour offerings from Friendly Planet Travel. Most are in the budget category and include air from the U.S., lodging, some meals and a guided touring program. Prices generally are quite modest, which makes an additional discount even more appealing. If you book by Sept. 20, you can get reduced rates on more than 50 tours with multiple dates available, and you can add an additional $100-$300 savings using the coupon code WINTERSALE16. As an example, the Taj Mahal Express package, which visits India's Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, normally is priced from $2,099 per person, double occupancy, for the Feb. 8, 2017, departure. It's been discounted to $1,799, and with the coupon code you can knock off another $100. The free flights are round-trip from New York, but even if you have to add on a connecting flight, it's still a good price. Other tours eligible for the discounts are in Asia, South America including the Galapagos Central America and the Caribbean, Africa and the Middle East. Info: http://tinyurl.com/hvd7vog Phil Marty is a freelance writer. RELATED STORIES: Popular Mississippi River cruises offer fresh view of American history The World Water Ski Show Tournament will be held at Lake Wazeecha Grapes and golf on California's central coast Lori Lightfoot, Chair of the Chicago Police Board, mingles with guests before speaking to members of the City Club of Chicago on Jan., 19, 2016. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune) Chicago Police Board boss Lori Lightfoot coyly left the door open to a potential 2019 mayoral run Tuesday night, only to furiously slam it shut Wednesday afternoon after Chicago Inc. reported how she said she was "flattered" to be in the mayoral conversation. The abrupt shift came just hours after the former federal prosecutor said that pals had urged her to run and for the first time publicly expanded her critique of Rahm Emanuel's City Hall beyond its handling of the Police Department. Advertisement "People across the city have been asking me about that," Lightfoot said onstage at the Hideout bar in the West Town neighborhood when asked by journalist Jen Sabella about rumors that she might run for mayor. "I'm very comfortable where I am right now. I have a job I like. I have a role, but look, we all know that the status quo has got to change." "We all know that the current way of doing things, the historic way of doing things has failed us, so I'm going to keep doing my part from where I sit right now, to try to roll the rock up the hill and make some difference." Advertisement After Chicago Inc. reported those comments online Wednesday lunchtime under the headline "'Flattered' Police Board boss Lightfoot won't rule out mayoral run," an irate Lightfoot accused Chicago Inc. of having "totally mischaracterized my comments." "I said quite clearly that I was not running for mayor," she added in an email, cursing at the reporter in a follow-up phone conversation moments later. Lightfoot's comments were interpreted by others in the room Tuesday night as leaving the door open to a mayoral bid, though she disputed that Wednesday. That impression was reinforced by a coy reference she made to a "project" that she's working on to bring transparency to city government, by her efforts to broaden her message beyond the policing issues for which she is best known and by her willingness also to implicitly criticize the Daley administration, in which she also worked. "If you look at other aspects of government, and this isn't really just in the last five years, it goes back longer, I think people forget who they work for," she said Tuesday night. "They forget that they work for us, they forget that they work for you, for the taxpayers." Appointed by Emanuel in June 2015 to lead the Police Board, Lightfoot previously served Daley as the head of the Police Department's since-disbanded Office of Professional Standards. She led a search for a replacement for former police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, only for Emanuel to go beyond the shortlist of candidates that she and the board had drawn up to appoint Eddie Johnson as the top cop. Lightfoot also clashed this summer with Emanuel over the Police Accountability Task Force report she co-authored, calling for greater public engagement in the police reform process in the wake of the release of the video of Officer Jason Van Dyke killing Laquan McDonald, 17. Speaking Tuesday night at the "Girl Talk" event, Lightfoot, 54, also said the city has been opening its wallet wide to pay for police misconduct. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > "The old way of doing it was delay, ignore, obfuscate," she said. "We have got to get to a place in every single city department and we might as well start with the Police Department where there's a hell of a lot more transparency than what there is now." Advertisement She cited her and her spouse's experience getting planning approval for a $125,000 addition to her Logan Square home as an example of the frustrations Chicagoans face dealing with city government. "It was a nightmare," she said. "I think that people in that whole chain, from buildings to planning to what have you, forget that every delay is a job, every delay is someone that is not going to be able to put food on their table, to build capacity in their neighborhoods, because somebody doesn't want to move a piece of paper from this desk to the next desk. "I think on a larger scale, the issue of being much more transparent, much more customer friendly, has to be totally reinvented in every aspect of government." Lightfoot's name can now be removed from a number of potential mayoral candidates, including Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer, former CPS chief and ex-U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and senior White House adviser Valerie Jarrett. kjanssen@chicagotribune.com Twitter @kimjnews A local animal rescue group is heading south to help cats and dogs in Louisiana find homes in Chicago. Four volunteers, a two-person veterinarian team and the founder of PAWS Chicago packed up two vans Wednesday for a 13-hour road trip to rescue animals after recent flooding in Louisiana. Advertisement The group plans to transport dozens of cats and dogs that have been living in southern Louisiana shelters since before the flood hit, according to PAWS. Relocating the animals to Chicago means more room at shelters to accommodate the influx of pets from the disaster-stricken areas. Rain in Louisiana this month resulted in a state of emergency, with submerged land and vehicles, thousands of damaged homes and displaced residents, and a death toll of at least 13 people. Advertisement "With this level of destruction and homelessness, hundreds of animals are now in need of emergency housing," PAWS said in a news release. The rescued animals are expected to arrive by Friday morning at the PAWS Chicago Medical Center in Little Village, where they will get medical care, vaccinations, microchips, and spay and neuter surgeries. Once they get medical clearance, they will be available for adoption, and PAWS will be looking for foster homes and supplies to care for the animals. PAWS has responded to other natural disasters, including Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when they made several trips to the devastated area of the Gulf Coast and took in more than 200 pets. The organization launched its disaster relief program in the aftermath and went on trips to help animals in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Quincy, Ill., after flooding in 2008, and in Oklahoma after tornadoes ripped through the area in 2013. lvivanco@chicagotribune.com Twitter @lvivanco Phyllis Magida was a food writer and columnist for the Chicago Tribune for more than a decade who wrote books about food, including cookbooks. She also taught at Chicago Public Schools and played piano at Second City's children's theater. Advertisement "She had a great spirit and was a wonderful writer," said David Dolson, the former editor of the Tribune's Taste section and Magida's first editor at the paper. "She was a very entertaining writer." Magida, 79, died of natural causes Aug. 3 in her Edgewater home in Chicago, said her son, Andrew Goldberg. She previously had lived in Evanston and on the North Side, he said. Advertisement Born in Chicago, Magida grew up in Albany Park and graduated from Roosevelt High School in Chicago. After spending one year at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, Magida transferred to Roosevelt University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in English. Right out of college, Magida taught at Senn High School in Chicago for several years in the late 1950s and early 1960s. After marrying, Magida stopped teaching and soon began working as a freelance writer, authoring articles for Gourmet magazine, the Chicago Sun-Times' Good Food Section and Chicago magazine. "She was a great writer. Her work was lyrical," said former Sun-Times food editor Camille Stagg, a close friend who was Magida's editor at the Sun-Times. "She was extremely energetic and positive. And she had a lot of discipline and was very thorough. She was enthusiastic about learning new things and experiences." While freelancing for the Sun-Times in the early 1970s, Magida wrote her first book, "Eating, Drinking and Thinking: A Gourmet Perspective," which explored the spiritual and intellectual aspects of food. The book was a collection of essays complete with recipes on topics including mushrooms, wine and gastronomy, along with quotes from historical figures. Magida went on to write about a dozen other books all cookbooks including coauthoring the popular "The Complete Fish on the Grill" and "Poultry on the Grill" with Barbara Grunes. In 1978, Magida began writing for the Tribune's Taste section, authoring articles in a series known as "After 5 Cook," in which she would interview working people about the meals they would prepare after work and provide a recipe. Over the next 14 years, she penned food-related stories on everything from cherries and pears to chocolate malted milk and gingerbread. Magida also authored the Tribune's Cooks' Dialogue column, in which readers would query the paper on food-related topics like how best to use Spanish saffron, how to make rocky road ice cream or where to find quail eggs. And she would prepare and test recipes in the paper's test kitchen. But Magida's work at the Tribune wasn't limited to food. She also penned feature stories on topics like popular new board games and braceless techniques to straighten teeth, and she previewed plays and other weekend activities. In her later years at the Tribune, Magida wrote suburban-oriented features. Advertisement "When she got done with (something), she would make it just a great read," Dolson said. While at the Tribune, Magida furthered her education, earning a master's degree in education from National Louis University. Then, after taking an early retirement package from the Tribune in the early 1990s, Magida returned to the classroom as a science teacher at Funston Elementary School on the Northwest Side. "She encouraged a lot of these kids and did a lot of what she could do to help them further their education," her son said. "It was a mission. Now, granted, these were kids who were 6, 7, 8 years old, but she embraced this. It was the embodiment of her approach." After about 10 years at Funston, Magida retired from teaching, her son said. An animal lover, Magida gave up meat and animal products for roughly the last three decades of her life, her son said. While the move might seem unusual for someone who had been a food writer, it underscored Magida's love of animals, her son said. Outside of work, Magida had many varied interests. A music lover, she played piano for a time at Second City's children's theater and also built a harpsichord herself. And in the 1990s, she wrote a screenplay about early feminism titled "Prairie Flower." The screenplay was optioned by some producers but never was produced, her son said. Advertisement Three marriages ended in divorce. In addition to her son, Magida is survived by three grandchildren and a sister, Lee Rodin. A memorial service is scheduled for October. Bob Goldsborough is a freelance reporter. A 43-year-old Lakeview neighborhood man is accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting an intoxicated woman he met outside a Near North Side nightclub in 2013, prosecutors said. Robert Walters, of the 600 block of West Diversey Parkway in Lakeview, was ordered held in lieu of $5 million bail Tuesday by Cook County Criminal Court Judge Adam Bourgeois, Jr. Advertisement On April 14, 2013, the victim, 21 at the time, had been drinking with her friends at the now-closed Castle Chicago nightclub in the 600 block of North Dearborn Street. She became intoxicated and disoriented, and lost her friends throughout the night, prosecutors said. She left the nightclub and walked to the curb of the street to hail a cab when she fell and cut her knee, which started bleeding, prosecutors said. Walters then approached the woman and offered her a ride home, which the woman initially refused, prosecutors said. Walters was persistent, prosecutors said, and eventually the woman agreed to enter his car. The woman could barely stand, so Walters had to pick her up and put her inside his car. Advertisement During the drive, the woman fell out of consciousness and awoke to find herself in front of Walters' apartment building, prosecutors said. When she indicated that she didn't live there, Walters told her they were making a "pit stop." The woman refused to go inside, but Walters opened the car door, removed the woman's seatbelt, pulled her out of the car and then dragged her into his apartment unit, prosecutors said. He pulled her up the stairs to a bedroom loft, injuring her left ankle. Walters pulled the woman's clothes off, dropped her onto the bed and began to sexually asault her, prosecutors said. The woman was unconscious during parts of the attack but was aware of the assault, protesting and scratching at Walters. After the attack, Walters threw the woman's clothes at her and demanded she put them back on, prosecutors said. The woman put all her clothes back on except for her tights, which were bloodied. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > Walters grew impatient and forced the woman's boots onto her feet, causing pain to her left foot, where she had injured her ankle, prosecutors said. Walters then demanded the woman's cell phone and dialed his own phone number, calling his phone from her phone. Walters then dragged the woman back to his car and drove her home, leaving her in front of her apartment, prosecutors said. The woman crawled up the stairs and into her apartment. When the woman's roommate came home, the woman told her everything she recalled from the incident. She went to Advocate Illinois Masonic Center where tests were performed and she was treated for a gash on her knee that required stitches and a sprained ankle, prosecutors said. Advertisement After the attack, Walters texted the woman, explaining to her how she got her injuries. Chicago police later learned the phone number Walters texted her from belonged to him, prosecutors said. Investigators in April learned through a check of the DNA database that there was a strong association between Walters' DNA and the DNA found on the victim, prosecutors said. The victim then positively identified Walter in a photo array earlier this month. Walters was arrested at his home Aug. 22, prosecutors said. The Chicago Tribune's Steve Schmadeke contributed. Chicago activist Ja'Mal Green leaves the Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago on Aug. 23, 2016. (Anthony Souffle / Chicago Tribune) A Chicago activist pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges he assaulted officers during protests last month over police shootings. Ja'Mal Green, 21, made his first court appearance before Judge Charles Burns, a former Cook County prosecutor who was randomly assigned the case by computer Wednesday. Advertisement A day earlier, Green's attorney moved to substitute the first judge assigned the case, Judge Maura Slattery Boyle, also a former county prosecutor. Defendants in criminal cases in Illinois are allowed to automatically switch judges once without having to specify a cause. Advertisement Green's attorney, Michael Oppenheimer, did not return calls Wednesday seeking comment. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > Green, who remains free on $350,000 bail, has been indicted on 12 felony counts alleging aggravated battery and assault to a police officer as well as attempting to disarm a police officer. Prosecutors told a judge last month that Green was among 150 to 200 demonstrators who were protesting fatal shootings by police in Louisiana and Minnesota. As they left the Taste of Chicago on July 9, an officer saw Green climb a fence and ordered him down. Green threatened to beat the officer, prosecutors said. Green was allowed to continue the protest, but prosecutors said he later struck a police commander on the shoulder in a scene captured by a Chicago Tribune photographer. Later, on Michigan Avenue near Water Tower Place, Green grabbed the duty belt of a police captain about an inch away from the officer's service weapon, prosecutors said. A police lieutenant pulled Green's arm away and attempted to take him into custody, but Green resisted and threatened the officer, prosecutors alleged. sschmadeke@chicagotribune.com Twitter @SteveSchmadeke Bail was denied Tuesday for a man accused in the strangulation of a 58-year-old woman last year in the Logan Square neighborhood. John Skyblue Antone, 30, appeared before Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. on Tuesday at the Leighton Criminal Court Building. Antone, who listed his address in in Sacaton, Ariz., is charged with murder in the death of Bernadette Glomski who was 58, prosecutors said. Advertisement On April 13, 2015, Antone, Glomski and another person were in an apartment in the 2500 block of West Moffat Street where Glomski and Antone, who were friends, had been staying, according to prosecutors. The other person, a witness, left about 8:55 p.m., leaving Antone and Glomski alone. But the next day, on April 14, another person arrived at the apartment to find the door ajar and Glomski's body on the couch with her head facing toward the back of the couch, her jacket covering her neck. Advertisement The lights were off and the witness, who thought Glomski was asleep, decided not to turn them on because the person didn't want to disturb her. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > The next day, one of the two witnesses saw Glomski still on the couch and called 911. Chicago Fire Department paramedics who responded found she had suffered a contusion to the upper left cheek, marks and bruising around her neck and they also discovered two electrical cords tightly wrapped around her neck a phone charger and a piece of covered wire, prosecutors said. Glomski was taken to Stroger Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 5:50 p.m. April 15, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. Police found Glomski was wearing a glove on her right hand that appeared to have been discolored from bleach. A bleach bottle, a knife and several cans of beer were found on a table near her, prosecutors said. Investigators said they learned that on April 15, Antone used her Link card at a gas station and it was captured on video surveillance. Antone was not seen at the apartment again after Glomski's body was found. An autopsy April 16 determined that Glomski died of asphyxia from a ligature strangulation and her death was ruled a homicide, according to the medical examiner's office. A fingerprint found on the bleach bottle was examined by the Illinois State Police crime lab and a palm print card was made. Several DNA profiles were found on the ligature cord, but semen found in her body matched Antone's DNA profile, prosecutors said. The Chicago Tribune's Steve Schmadeke contributed. Tracey Salvatore, of Schaumburg, speaks Dec. 2 during a special District 211 board meeting at Conant High School in Hoffman Estates to consider a settlement in the case of a transgender student seeking locker room access. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) A northwest suburban high school district that is being sued for providing locker-room access to a transgender student is reviewing whether a ruling in an out-of-state case might have any impact on the local controversy. Other school officials across Illinois are also seeking clarity on what the latest court action might mean for their districts. Advertisement A federal judge in Texas issued an injunction Sunday to temporarily block transgender students from being able to use the school bathrooms and locker rooms of their choice. U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor wrote that his injunction should apply nationwide, not just in the 13 states that brought the legal challenge to President Barack Obama's directive granting transgender students access to facilities that matches their gender identity. Advertisement Palatine-based Township High School District 211 has emerged as a test case in the national battle over privacy and transgender rights. The district late last year granted a transgender student use of the girls' locker room after a protracted and contentious dispute with the U.S. Department of Education. School officials had previously granted transgender students access to the bathrooms of their choice. Then in May, a group of students and parents sued the district and federal authorities, arguing the agreement trampled other students' privacy rights. "The district has reviewed the recent order for injunction issued by a district judge in Texas and will weigh it in relation to the anticipated ruling in the ongoing federal lawsuit brought against the district," District 211 spokesman Tom Petersen said in an email. Ed Yohnka, spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, which is representing the transgender student in the District 211 case, said he does not believe the ruling should apply locally. "All that the injunction does is it says they cannot use the (federal) guidance going forward to compel any school district to grant bathroom or locker-room use," he said. "None of that will affect either the agreement that District 211 made back in December with the federal government or ... in any meaningful way the litigation, which has been ongoing for months." Yohnka added that Illinois' Human Rights Act, which added gender identity as a protected class in 2006, provides transgender students an added layer of legal protection and is not affected by the order. The Alliance Defending Freedom, which represents the parents and students suing District 211, welcomed the Texas ruling. Attorney Matt Sharp said he was reviewing the decision to ascertain "the positive impact this order has" for the District 211 case, as well as on cases the religious legal advocacy group is litigating in North Carolina and Ohio. "The Obama administration cannot unilaterally disregard and redefine federal law to accomplish its political agenda of forcing girls to share locker rooms and showers with boys," Sharp said. Advertisement Citing Title IX, the federal law that bans sex discrimination in schools, the U.S. Department of Education and Department of Justice in May issued guidance to school districts on the treatment and inclusion of transgender students. With federal guidance at odds with some court decisions, a number of school districts have reached out to the Illinois Association of School Boards, said Ben Schwarm, deputy executive director. "I think right now there isn't complete clarity on this because it's been so fluid," Schwarm said. "It changes week to week or month to month sometimes. I don't know if there is that bright line right now. What we're saying is every district should be working on that culture within their school buildings for all students so there's acceptance and fairness." Schwarm said he doesn't think Sunday's ruling will trigger a universal change in Illinois at least not for now. As for those districts who are looking for advice on fashioning a general transgender policy for their students, Schwarm recommends that school officials lean heavily on their local school attorneys. "The bottom line is you have to call your district's legal counsel," he said. Advertisement The Chicago-based law firm Franczek Radelet represents close to 100 school districts, including District 211, said attorney Jennifer Smith, who said she could not speak to the pending case in District 211. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > "There are many schools that have transgender students that don't have issues and are trying to be proactive," Smith said. "We tell them to work with families. Just like other students, needs are not the same for every transgender student, and it's important to really understand what the child needs to be supported in the school." Sunday's ruling appears to be one more in a long list of opinions on the still-evolving issue, Smith said. "I think everyone understands that this isn't the last word on it," she said. Given the sensitive nature of the cases, courts appear loath to make quick decisions. The families suing District 211 had hoped a judge would halt the transgender student from using the facilities of their gender identity while the lawsuit made it way though court, but a federal judge last week held off on issuing a ruling. As the U.S. Supreme Court contemplates whether to hear the case of Gavin Grimm, a transgender student in Virginia, the high court ruled earlier this month that the school board can temporarily block Grimm from using the boys' bathroom. Advertisement deldeib@chicagotribune.com Twitter @deldeib Mayor Rahm Emanuel 's top appointee to the civilian agency that rules on police misconduct cases reiterated her call Wednesday for City Hall to make changes to the police union's contract, singling out a long-standing requirement that citizens sign sworn affidavits to make a complaint. Police Board President Lori Lightfoot called the requirement "a very big issue that stands in the way of legitimacy related to the investigation of citizens' complaints," adding that it's something "that's gotta change." It's a tricky issue, given that Fraternal Order of Police leaders long have maintained that the affidavit requirement prevents a flood of frivolous complaints while critics contend it intimidates citizens who might otherwise file legitimate grievances. But it's also timely, given that the police supervisors' contract expires next June and the city is under immense pressure amid a U.S. Department of Justice investigation to change how cops do business in the wake of multiple incidents of alleged police misconduct. Lightfoot made her comments during a City Council committee hearing on police accountability as aldermen and the mayor are crafting an ordinance to replace the Independent Police Review Authority , which investigates alleged police misconduct and shootings, and to establish an inspector general within the Police Department. A former federal prosecutor, Lightfoot was a longtime operative under former Mayor Richard M. Daley , once heading up the Office of Professional Standards, which IPRA replaced nearly a decade ago amid controversy. In addition to heading up the police board, Lightfoot was appointed by Emanuel to chair the Police Accountability Task Force that recommended scrapping IPRA and creating the inspector general post in a wide-ranging report that also pointed to a "history of racial disparity and discrimination" within the Police Department. She was one of two administration insiders, the other being IPRA Chief Administrator Sharon Fairley, who gave aldermen suggestions on ways to reform the department. Advertisement Lightfoot, who's been in the spotlight lately but shut the door on a possible mayoral run Wednesday, also pointed to other task force recommendations, including a call for more training to deal with crises that often involve mentally ill people, a revival of community-oriented policing and the need for racial reconciliation. "When you have middle- to upper-middle-class black folks who are doctors, teachers, lawyers, professionals coming and talking about not being able to walk down their street, not being able to drive in a car in their neighborhood without getting stopped, and treated disrespectfully or feeling like they are under siege in their neighborhood, that's a problem," Lightfoot said during the hearing. Advertisement Fairley, who Emanuel appointed after the November release of video showing black teen Laquan McDonald being fatally shot by white police Officer Jason Van Dyke, also talked about the affidavit requirement, noting it's enshrined in state law. Although there's a way to override the requirement, it's "a fairly cumbersome process, so to the extent that we can address that I think it would be good," she said. Changing the process would be difficult, given the union's stated opposition, but Lightfoot suggested the public play a role by creating "a groundswell of support" for changes to the contract. FOP President Dean Angelo did not return a call seeking comment. Fairley made other suggestions, including giving the replacement for IPRA a fixed budget so the agency's leader wouldn't be beholden to politicians who could cut funding. "If the person who's giving me the resources is asking me to do something, that creates a conflict," she said. In addition, Fairley said that new agency should be able to hire its own attorney who would handle matters now farmed out to the city Law Department, noting attorneys in that department also defend the administration and cops. But she also made a suggestion that's likely to rub some reform advocates the wrong way, saying it would be unwise to ban former Chicago cops from serving as investigators of police misconduct. "My fear is that we will be populating the agency with people who aren't the most qualified to do the work and that will be reflected in the work," Fairley said. That prompted a respectful disagreement from Ald. Leslie Hairston , 5th, who said a ban is warranted. "There is a culture, there is a pattern and practice in the Police Department, and it's multigenerational," Hairston said. "I don't how you get a pool of untainted officers." hdardick@chicagotribune.com bruthhart@chicagotribune.com As the Chicago Board of Education prepares to vote Wednesday on a $5.4 billion budget laden with property tax increases, two advocacy groups criticized the spending plan for lack of detail. The Civic Federation, a business-backed watchdog group, said it can't support Chicago Public Schools' new budget because it relies on money from the state that might not arrive and a large amount of borrowing. And Access Living, a disability rights group, said it's concerned about the new way the district is doling out special education money. Advertisement While crediting CPS with making cuts that "will allow the district to make it through another year," the Civic Federation report warned that "this does not mean that the district is now in good financial shape and its crisis is over. Far from it." Instead, the group said CPS must account for how it would close its budget gap if an assumed windfall of $215 million in state aid to help cover teacher pension costs gets caught up in the ongoing political war at the Capitol. Advertisement "Because the district provides no plan of recourse should the funding fail to materialize other than noting that there would need to be midyear cuts, the (fiscal year) 2017 budget is in effect unbalanced," the group said. CPS CEO Forrest Claypool reiterated in a statement that if the state doesn't come through, the district will have to cut money from classrooms, which he called "unacceptable." The advocacy groups also pointed to some of the ongoing pressures the district faces: a growing credit card bill and junk-level bond ratings, the district's costly practice of borrowing against future property tax revenue to cover operating expenses, and reserve balances that are deep in the red. The district now estimates its main reserve fund will be about $160 million in the hole next June 30 after initially pegging that shortfall closer to $180 million. CPS has said it doesn't have money to replenish its reserves this year. Indeed, the school board appointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel is expected to approve three property tax increases for operations, pensions and infrastructure that the district says would cost the owner of a $250,000 home an additional $245. Beyond the proposed budget for daily expenses, board members will vote on authorizing a credit line of more than $1.5 billion that will allow CPS to pay its bills and up to $945 million in long-term debt for a construction and technology program. Access Living's concerns about CPS' special education plans focused partly on a new effort to send schools a lump sum of money for that work. That's a departure from past practice, when special education budgets were paid for through the district's central office and CPS distributed teacher and classroom assistant positions to schools based on legal requirements and each building's needs. "We found it difficult to draw districtwide conclusions on special education funding because of all the changes made," the group said in a report issued by longtime policy analyst Rodney Estvan. Advertisement The new strategy could put CPS in danger of violating rules that dictate a limited role for how certain federal funds can be spent on special education, the group said. In addition, the group said it's "problematic" that the district is leaving school principals in the difficult position of deciding what gets cut. CPS spokeswoman Emily Bittner said the district has spent more money on special education in recent years but hasn't gotten the improvement it wanted. She also said principals are better suited to make such budget decisions because they know their schools. jjperez@tribpub.com Twitter @PerezJr The Chicago Board of Education on Wednesday approved a $5.4 billion budget that relies on a trio of property tax hikes, the latest in a series of increases Mayor Rahm Emanuel has hit city taxpayers with in recent years. Buffeted for years by financial crises, mass school closings and a teachers strike, Chicago Public Schools' new spending plan again relies on borrowing and a financial windfall from a gridlocked state government coming to fruition. Advertisement With the Chicago Teachers Union again threatening a walkout after working without a new contract for more than a year, CPS leaders billed the district's finances as improving, but still dire. The Rev. Michael Garanzini, one of the mayor's most recent appointees to the school board, framed up the situation. Advertisement "St. Jude is the patron of impossible causes," said the priest when asked about who he prays to for contingencies. "I suppose I've never prayed more to anyone than St. Jude this year, because it seems pretty impossible at times to balance everything." If $215 million in potential state pension help gets caught up in the partisan gridlock between Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan, CPS will have to make up the difference. "It's so close. It's just balanced, if all these things come true," Garanzini said of the budget. "But we have to start this way, otherwise we would be responsible for cuts, in anticipation of money that may not or may come. We don't want to budget that way either, so we're budgeting I think about as wisely as you possibly can given the fiscal climate and the fiscal challenges that we face." As it has done for more than two decades, CPS will boost its regular property tax levy to the maximum amount allowed by law. The district also will collect again on a capital improvement property tax enacted last year to finance borrowing for school infrastructure projects. But the biggest jump will come from a new tax expected to generate $250 million to help cover the district's massive teacher pension obligations. CPS officials say the district's total tax increases would cost the owner of a $250,000 home an extra $245. The CPS tax hikes represent the latest financial pain city government has inflicted. Homeowners this month started feeling the effect of last year's record city property tax hike to shore up police and fire pensions, a $554 annual increase for the owner of a $250,000 home that's being phased in over four years. Chicagoans also are paying $1.40 a month more in 911 fees for each landline and cellphone to cover city laborers' pensions. Next month, Emanuel is expected to call for a vote on his proposal for a new water and sewer service tax that'll eventually cost the average user $115.20 a year. The money will be poured into the city municipal workers' pension fund. Under Emanuel, the city also has doubled water and sewer fees to modernize the system and enacted a $9.50-per-month garbage pickup fee. Advertisement In a rapid-fire 6-0 vote, the Emanuel-appointed school board also authorized a credit line of more than $1.5 billion to help the district pay its bills this year and up to $945 million in borrowing for largely unspecified construction projects. But the school district has not said how all of that money will be spent. Instead, it laid out a preliminary $338 million capital budget. CPS plans to spend $27 million to install air conditioning at 61 district-operated and charter schools. Another $57 million is earmarked for internet bandwidth upgrades and other technology projects such as new security cameras and metal detectors. Even as CPS struggles with declining overall enrollment and some schools that barely have enough students to fill a fraction of the building's available space, the district plans to spend $173 million to build new annexes and classrooms at some of Chicago's most overcrowded schools. Watch CPS teachers and parents react to the news of a possible teachers strike in mid-October, according to a bulletin distributed to members of the union. Aug. 25, 2016. (CBS Chicago) Before the vote, community groups and teachers union members protested outside district headquarters. This week, the CTU raised the specter of an October strike in a bulletin on negotiations distributed to members. Maria Moreno, CTU's financial secretary, took aim at recent statements by CPS CEO Forrest Claypool and Emanuel that teachers need to make sacrifices in a new labor contract to help ease the district's financial pressure. "This is an attempt to cover up the many years of board cuts that have destabilized our school district, and have caused an exodus of principals and the layoff of experienced, highly skilled teachers," Moreno told board members. Advertisement While the property tax increases have helped improve CPS' long-term financial outlook, the district still faces immense fiscal pressure. Massive amounts of borrowing have left CPS with an enormous credit card bill that it is paying off largely with state money that's meant for classrooms. The district projects it will spend roughly $373 million, or more than a third, of the general state aid it will get from Springfield, to pay off loans. In addition, CPS also plans to drain a rainy day account of $20 million or so to help ease that pressure. The district's finances are such a mess that its credit rating has sunk to junk status. That makes borrowing more expensive. Having already exhausted its reserves, CPS has cash-flow problems. That means the district will again borrow against future property tax money it expects to collect to cover the year's operating expenses. It's akin to a payday loan, and it's expected to result in about $35 million in interest. Then there's the massive pension debt, much of it caused by a long-term practice of not putting in enough money or skipping payments, including an entire decade when CPS made no pension contributions under then-Mayor Richard M. Daley. That underfunding, combined with recessions that battered the pension fund's investments, now sees the district paying hundreds of millions of dollars more each year, as required under a plan to reach a state-mandated funding level of 90 percent by 2059. Having burned through cash reserves to cover past deficits, CPS anticipates a shortfall at the end of the budget year in a fund designated for emergencies. That account will be nearly $160 million in the hole by next June, the district estimates. Advertisement CPS has acknowledged it does not have the money to replenish those funds this year, and that the coming 2018 budget year will "present similar financial challenges." District finance officials will submit a plan as part of next year's budget to restore the fund balance by July 2019, according to school board records. Despite the school system's continued money woes, board President Frank Clark described the "progress made" between last year's budget and this year's as "extraordinary." "We have not solved all the problems, we have not closed every gap," Clark said during one of a series of hearings at school headquarters. "But you're looking at a budget that's so much stronger than it was just a year ago." Last year, the district banked on $480 million in state assistance that never arrived. This year's budget relies on $215 million that's contingent on a broad pension reform pact amid the Capitol's ongoing political war. The pledged money for CPS teacher pensions was part of the late June stopgap budget deal, but it's unclear at best whether it will end up materializing. Lawmakers aren't scheduled back at the Capitol until after the November election, so it's unlikely that serious progress will be made before then. Talks are taking place against a campaign backdrop where Rauner and his pro-business allies are spending millions of dollars to try to take away seats from Speaker Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton. Advertisement The Democratic leaders, in turn, are spending campaign contributions that come in large part from organized labor to try to widen their supermajorities in a presidential election year, which tends to favor their party in Illinois. If Democrats end up with even more power, they're less likely to cross the union leaders that funded their successful campaigns. Rauner, meanwhile, has been known to try to leverage CPS' money woes in his attempts to get action from lawmakers on his own agenda, which has been most recently focused on a push to impose term limits on elected officials and change the way political maps are drawn. Asked Wednesday if he would tie the pension deal to those other agenda items, Rauner offered contradictory responses. "My personal focus, let's change, let's fix the political system first," Rauner said. "How about we start with that. How about we do term limits, fair maps and pensions. That's simple. People get it. Politically popular. Doable." But pressed on whether the political system changes would be required for a pension deal, Rauner said "no." CPS chief Claypool, who's got decades of experience in government and politics, started to lay the groundwork to set up Springfield dysfunction as the scapegoat if the pension money doesn't come. Advertisement "It would be absolutely irresponsible for us to ignore that commitment from our elected leaders and cut $215 million out of our classrooms," Claypool said. "We're going to rely on that commitment." Chicago Tribune's Kim Geiger contributed. jjperez@chicagotribune.com Twitter @PerezJr Mayor Rahm Emanuel, shown here Monday at a South Shore school, is pitching a new tax on water and sewer bills to shore up a city worker pension fund. (Nancy Stone/Chicago Tribune) (Nancy Stone/Chicago Tribune) Welcome to Clout Street: Morning Spin, our weekday feature to catch you up with what's going on in government and politics from Chicago to Springfield. Topspin Mayor Rahm Emanuel's administration has laid out how his proposed water and sewer tax will hit Chicagoans: It'll start out modest, then more than quadruple by 2020. Advertisement The details came in the form of an ordinance submitted to the City Council Finance Committee, which could vote on the plan as soon as Sept. 8. Next year, the tax would be 59 cents for every 1,000 gallons used. For the average water user, that amounts to $53.10 more a year. In 2018, the tax would jump to $1.28 per 1,000 gallons, or an extra $115.20 a year. Advertisement In year three (2019), the tax would rise to $2.01 per 1,000 gallons, or $180.90 more a year. And in year four (2020), it would be $2.51 per 1,000 gallons, which comes to $225.90 more a year. The fine print: If water and sewer bills are not paid within 24 days, an interest charge of .25 percent per month will be added to the new tax, just as it is for the underlying water and sewer use fees, according to the ordinance. City financial officials say the tax would bring in about $239 million a year, with all of the money dedicated to increased contributions to the city's municipal workers' pension fund. But the ordinance does not specify that use. Instead, it says all the tax revenue shall be placed in the city's operating fund "and may be used for any lawful purpose." Molly Poppe, the city's spokeswoman on financial issues, said that's just standard legal language. Aldermen could be skeptical of that one, however. As the administration said a day earlier, seniors who own single-family homes and receive a 50 percent break on their combined water and sewer bills would get that same discount on the tax. Not-for-profit groups that receive exemptions also would pay less in taxes. The City Council's Progressive Reform Caucus has raised questions about the plan, and in the coming days Emanuel aides plan to meet with aldermen for a second time to discuss the mayor's proposed tax. (Hal Dardick) What's on tap *Mayor Rahm Emanuel has no public events scheduled. *Gov. Bruce Rauner will make a morning announcement at the Englewood Community Development Corp. and talk about minority-owned businesses at an afternoon appearance in East Peoria. Advertisement *The Chicago Board of Education will vote on a new budget laden with property tax hikes. *There's another City Council hearing on Police Department reforms at 10 a.m. *State Treasurer Michael Frerichs' life insurance panel will hold a 11 a.m. hearing at the Bilandic Building downtown. He's been pushing the idea that life insurance companies are avoiding paying death benefits. What we're writing *Duckworth calls Kirk "unhinged" for Obama "drug dealer in chief" comment. *Rauner signs gun trafficking bill into law, but no Democrats on hand. *Civic Federation, Access Living hit CPS budget ahead of today's vote. Advertisement *Blagojevich to appeal the 14 years he got at resentencing. *Anti-abortion rights group sues over city's "bubble zone" for demonstrators. *Cook County trying to get $400K in back taxes from two entertainment venues. *Trump mentions Chicago crime in cable TV appearance. What we're reading *Ald. Ed Burke quickly switches from Alvarez to Foxx with fundraiser. *Big Jim Thompson's expensive new condo. Advertisement *Anger after fire kills 3 kids, man on South Side. From the notebook *Summers backs down: After taking some flak for requesting that the city of Chicago be able to invest in Chicago Public Schools, city Treasurer Kurt Summers on Wednesday suggested he's giving up on that effort and attempted to blame the media. During a quarterly earnings call, the politically ambitious treasurer defended his proposal to allow the city to invest some of its money in so-called sister agencies such as CPS, the Chicago Housing Authority, Park District, CTA and City Colleges saying it was in keeping with "best practices" of other large U.S. cities. He said it was simply a "cleanup" to the municipal code governing city of Chicago investments. Summers noted the media coverage of the issue, citing the maxim that "no good deed goes unpunished. ... All hell broke loose, and people ran to conclusions that (we were) seeking to bail out the schools, and any number of things." The ordinance, introduced in June by Mayor Emanuel on Summers' behalf, would have allowed the city to loan money to CPS at a time when it wasn't clear that it would have enough cash on hand to open schools in the fall even with CPS' junk-bond rating. Advertisement "We have no interest in bailing out any sister agency, in taking risk there that's not consistent with the rest of our investment policy," Summers said Tuesday. "It was cleaning up language, and my suspicion is that in the final formation of this ordinance that change won't be in there, because I think the press especially, but some others, were confused by it." Summers, who took the opportunity during the call to boast about doubling the city's rate of investment return during the first half of the year, also said he expects a proposal to resurface next month that would require banks handling city money to report data on their loans and mortgages in the city. "As the steward of the capital on your behalf, my question was really simple: To the banks that want to partner with us, show us how you're being a good partner to the people of Chicago," Summers said. Summers' name has been floated as a potential mayoral candidate in 2019 and Democratic governor hopeful in 2018. (Hal Dardick) *Dold: No tax on medals bronze, silver or gold: Republican Rep. Bob Dold, of Kenilworth, is a key sponsor of a bill to prevent the Internal Revenue Service from taxing Olympians on the medals and performance bonuses they won in Rio. The U.S. Olympic Committee hands out $25,000 to athletes who win a gold medal, $15,000 for a silver medal and $10,000 for a bronze. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., is committed to having a vote on the measure in September after it clears the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, Dold spokesman Brad Stewart said. Advertisement Former Rep. Aaron Schock, of Peoria, put up a similar measure in 2012 during the Olympic Summer Games in London. It was one of several related bills introduced then and all belly-flopped. Opponents argue that there are too many tax loopholes as it is, so Olympians should not get special treatment. Dold takes a different view. "Our Olympic and Paralympic athletes make numerous personal sacrifices while training to represent the United States on the global stage," he said in a statement. "But when they return home with a medal for Team USA, the IRS forces the athletes to pay a penalty for their success." For Dold, it's a way to try to generate a headline ahead of the Nov. 8 election. Dold faces a tough fight after former Democratic Rep. Brad Schneider, of Deerfield, in a contest that's expected to attract national campaign money. It's the third time the two are facing off for Illinois' 10th Congressional District seat on the North Shore. Prospects of passage could be better in this go-around. The Senate, by unanimous consent, approved a related measure, the United States Appreciation for Olympians and Paralympians Act, before it left town in July. (Katherine Skiba) Follow the money *Gov. Rauner's campaign fund transferred another $5 million to the Illinois Republican Party, which has been using the money on contested House and Senate races. There was another $5 million transfer by Citizens for Rauner earlier this year. Advertisement *A road building group that's pushing a constitutional amendment on the Nov. 8 ballot to make it harder to divert gas taxes for other expenses reported another $95,000 in contributions. *Speaker Michael Madigan's Democratic Majority fund spent $27,500 on polling for appointed Rep. Andy Skoog, of LaSalle. The fund also reported paying for some TV ads this week. He's being challenged by Republican Jerry Long, who's getting help from the Illinois Republican Party and House Republican Organization. *Our Twitter feed of Illinois campaign contributions is down for maintenance. In the meantime, you can track campaign contributions in real time here. Beyond Chicago *Many Clinton Foundation donors met with Hillary Clinton at State Department. *Clinton asks Romney allies for money to stop Trump. *Late-arriving Obama promises support for Louisiana after the "cameras leave." Advertisement *Lawmakers demand probe of high price of EpiPens. SEOUL, South Korea A North Korean ballistic missile fired from a submarine Wednesday flew about 310 miles in the longest flight by that type of weapon, Seoul officials said, a range that can place much of South Korea within its striking distance. Seoul officials condemned the launch as an "armed protest" against the start of annual South Korean-U.S. military drills that North Korean calls an invasion rehearsal. The launch was also the latest in a series of missile, rocket and other weapon tests by North Korea, which is openly pushing to acquire a reliable weapon capable striking targets as far away as the continental U.S. The missile fired from a submarine off the eastern North Korean coastal town of Sinpo landed in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, according to a statement from South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff. The U.S. Strategic Command said it tracked the North Korean submarine launch of the presumed KN-11 missile into the Sea of Japan. The 500-kilometer distance is longer than ones recorded by other submarine-launched missiles launched by North Korea, and puts most of South Korea within its range if it is fired near the border, although North Korea already has a variety of land-based missiles that can strike South Korea and Japan. The North's acquiring the ability to launch missiles from submarines would be an alarming development because missiles fired from submerged vessels are harder to detect in advance. The U.S. Strategic Command statement said the North Korean launch did not pose a threat to North America but that the U.S. military "remains vigilant in the face of North Korean provocations." A South Korean Foreign Ministry statement said the government "strongly condemns" the launch, and added it will continue to work with the international community to deploy effective sanctions and pressure against the North. North Korea fired two missiles from submarines earlier this year but South Korean defense officials believe they exploded in midair after flying fewer than 18 miles. North Korea's missile and nuclear programs are a source of regional security concerns. Outside experts say the North doesn't yet have a reliable long-range nuclear missile capable of reaching the continental U.S., but they acknowledge the North has been making steady progress on its weapons programs and could one day acquire such a weapon. Some civilian experts said they believe the North already has the technology to put warheads on shorter-range missiles that can strike South Korea and Japan. South Korean defense officials believe North Korea has about 70 operational submarines and appears to be mainly imitating Russian designs to develop submarine-launched missiles. It is believed the North obtained several Soviet-era Golf-class ballistic missile submarines in the mid-1990s. Wednesday's launch comes two days after the U.S. and South Korea began their 12-day Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercises, prompting North Korean threats of retaliation. Before the launch, North Korea warned that the joint military exercises were pushing the Korean Peninsula "to the brink of a war" and asked for an urgent meeting of the U.N. Security Council. The South Korean military statement said it considers the North Korean missile launch a challenge to peace on the Korean Peninsula and noted it violated U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban any ballistic missile activities by North Korea. The launch also comes at a time of intensified animosities between the rival Koreas over the defection of a senior North Korean diplomat in London and a U.S. plan to install a sophisticated missile defense system in South Korea. About 28,500 U.S. troops are based in South Korea to help deter potential aggression from North Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. North Korea usually responds to the regular South Korea-U.S. military drills with weapons tests and fiery warlike rhetoric. The American-led U.N. Command in South Korea on Tuesday accused North Korea of planting land mines near a truce village inside the Demilitarized Zone that divides the two Koreas. Much of the border, one of the world's most dangerous flashpoints, is strewn with land mines and laced with barbed wire. South Korean media said no land mines had been planted in the area of the truce village of Panmunjom until North Korea placed an unspecified number there last week. Associated Press Two years ago this month, the Ebola crisis in West Africa burst into American consciousness when a pair of U.S. health workers became critically ill battling the epidemic and health officials raced to bring them home for treatment. The pair, physician Kent Brantly and nurse Nancy Writebol, almost surely would have died if they hadn't been airlifted from Monrovia, Liberia, to a special facility in Atlanta, where they eventually regained their health. Or if U.S. officials had listened to one of the loudest voices of opposition to that move: Donald Trump. Advertisement Here are Trump's sentiments on Twitter as news of Brantly's return was spreading: "Ebola patient will be brought to the U.S. in a few days - now I know for sure that our leaders are incompetent. KEEP THEM OUT OF HERE!" Advertisement "Stop the EBOLA patients from entering the U.S. Treat them, at the highest level, over there. THE UNITED STATES HAS ENOUGH PROBLEMS!" Brantly, a Forth Worth physician working for the missionary group Samaritan's Purse in Monrovia, became infected with the lethal virus while caring for Liberians as Ebola spread through their capital. He arrived at the Emory University treatment center on Aug. 2, touching off considerable panic here and igniting a ferocious debate about the U.S. role in quelling the outbreak. Writebol, a North Carolina nurse whose job was to help disinfect health-care personnel who treated the sick, arrived a few days later. Trum tweeted "The U.S. cannot allow EBOLA infected people back. People that go to far away places to help out are great - but must suffer the consequences!" Trump also tweeted that without an end to flights from West Africa to the United States, "the plague will start and spread inside our 'borders.' " In the end, calmer, well-trained authorities prevailed - although not without stumbling - and the Ebola outbreak is a painful memory here and in Africa, where it killed 11,324 people. But in retrospect, the episode provides an early glimpse of much that has become familiar about the Republican presidential nominee: the Twitter blasts, the conspiracy theories, the need for a "wall" (this one figurative) to keep Americans safe. And a proposed policy that whole populations - in this case, Africans from three nations - might have to be barred from the United States. Trump tweeted: "Ebola is much easier to transmit than the CDC and government representatives are admitting. Spreading all over Africa-and fast. Stop flights" Trump would later take to Instagram to protest the U.S. government's decision to send troops to West Africa to fight the epidemic. Advertisement Trump and others who worried about the government's ability to control the virus were right about one thing: The U.S. public health system wasn't as well prepared as authorities hoped. When Thomas Eric Duncan, a Liberian infected with Ebola, showed up at a Dallas emergency room on the night of Sept. 25, 2014, hospital personnel sent him home despite his obvious symptoms and his admission that he had come from West Africa a few days earlier. Two nurses were infected, and Duncan became the first person to die of Ebola on U.S. soil. Trump's Democratic opponent, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, took the opposite approach to addressing the epidemic, on the rare occasion that she mentioned it at all. At an October 2014 fundraiser, she said the United States would have to invest resources in controlling the crisis in Africa. "We can't say we're not going to be involved because these things are somebody else's problems, because in the world of interdependence that we currently live in, a lot of those problems end up eventually on our doorstep," Clinton said. Brantly's medical evacuation to Atlanta created so much furor that his arrival and his slow walk from an ambulance to the hospital while wrapped in a protective suit were covered live on television. President Barack Obama addressed the nation's jitters. "Keep in mind that Ebola is not something that is easily transmitted. That's why, generally, outbreaks dissipate," he said. "But the key is identifying, quarantining, isolating those who contract it and making sure that practices are in place that avoid transmission." Trump later called Obama "psycho" and questioned his mental health. "I am starting to think that there is something seriously wrong with President Obama's mental health. Why won't he stop the flights. Psycho!" Advertisement Soon after that tweet, the media would be filled with stories about an infected New York doctor's travels around the city, although the disease is spread only by direct contact with the bodily fluids of a sick person. IN a tweet, Trump blamed the president: "Ebola has been confirmed in N.Y.C., with officials frantically trying to find all of the people and things he had contact with.Obama's fault New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), a Trump ally, would famously quarantine a returning nurse who had tested negative for Ebola in a tent at University Hospital in Newark. The governors of New York and Illinois announced similar quarantine rules, as did Samaritan's Purse, the organization for which Brantly worked. But New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) later loosened the rules. (Trump's foundation, by the way, has supported Samaritan's Purse. The Donald J. Trump Foundation lists two $25,000 donations to the missionary group, one in 2012 and one in 2013. And last week, when he traveled to Baton Rouge to tour the flood devastation there, Trump and running mate Mike Pence met with Franklin Graham, president and chief executive of the organization. They also spoke with volunteers and were cheered in front of a Samaritan's Purse mobile kitchen.) Much of the argument was about whether to cut off flights between the United States and the parts of West Africa where the infection was raging: Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. Several airlines from other countries did suspend service. The Obama administration and others argued that such a policy would be disastrous for the West African nations, which needed U.S. help and engagement to avoid an even deeper crisis. Trump tweeted: "I have been saying for weeks for President Obama to stop the flights from West Africa. So simple, but he refused. A TOTAL incompetent!" Advertisement A Trump spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, did not respond to emailed questions on Monday about Trump's position on Ebola. Attempts to reach Brantly and Writebol by email also were unsuccessful. A Turkish army tank and an armored vehicle are stationed near the border with Syria, in Karkamis, Turkey, on Aug. 23, 2016. (AP) Turkey on Wednesday launched its first major ground assault into Syria since the country's civil war began, sending in tanks and special forces backed by U.S. airstrikes to help Syrian rebels retake a border town from Islamic State militants. The surprise incursion to capture the town of Jarablus was a dramatic escalation of Turkey's role in Syria's war. But its objective went beyond fighting extremists. Turkey is also aiming to contain expansion by Syria's Kurds, who are also backed by the United States and have used the fight against IS and the chaos of the civil war to seize nearly the entire stretch of the border with Turkey in northern Syria. That raises the potential for explosive frictions between two American allies. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden flew into Ankara hours after the offensive, and he backed Turkey with a stern warning to the Kurds to stay east of the Euphrates River, which crosses from Turkey into Syria at Jarablus. Kurdish forces "must move back across the Euphrates River. They cannot, will not, under any circumstance get American support if they do not keep that commitment," he said. The Turkish assault, launched in retaliation after a string of militant bombings in Turkey, adds yet another powerhouse force on the ground in an already complicated war. It appeared Turkish forces would remain for at least the near term. A senior Turkish official told journalists that operations would continue until "we are convinced" imminent threats to Turkey are neutralized. He said the aim is to create a "terror-free zone" in northern Syria to prevent militants from enteringTurkey. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government regulations. The Turkish assault began around 4 a.m. with a furious barrage by artillery and warplanes. Then around 20 Turkish tanks, a team of Turkish special forces, and hundreds of Syrian rebels surged across the border, according to Turkish media and Syrian opposition activists. Only hours later, the rebels burst into Jarablus, posting photos from the town's center. IS militants withdrew apparently without a fight, retreating to the IS-held town of al-Bab further south. In the evening, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that rebels had retaken the city, saying they seized "government and official residences." He spoke alongside Biden, who said Washington backed the offensive with airstrikes, adding, "We believe very strongly that the Turkish border should be controlled by Turkey." Much of what happens next depends on whether the Turkish offensive goes deeper and what they move against: IS-held towns or nearby Kurdish-controlled areas, including the town of Manbij which Kurdish forces retook from IS earlier this month. Manbij lies west of the Euphrates, and Ankara has demanded the Kurds hand it over to Syrian rebels and withdraw. Turkey has been deeply concerned by the advances along the border of the main U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish militia, known as the People's Protection Units, or YPG, fearing it is setting up a Kurdish entity. The YPG is also linked to Kurdish rebels waging an insurgency in southeastern Turkey. Jennifer Cafarella, an analyst with the Institute for the Study of War, said Turkey is trying to "block the ultimate creation of a contiguous zone of territorial control under the authority of the PYD," using the acronym for the Democratic Union Party, the YPG's political arm. Earlier, Erdogan said the military operation aims to prevent threats from "terror" groups, pointing specifically to the Islamic State group and the PYD. He said the operation was in response to a string of attacks in Turkey, including an IS suicide bombing at a wedding party near the border which killed 54 people. Saleh Muslim, the co-president of the PYD, warned that Turkey will pay the price, tweeting that "Turkey is in Syrian Quagmire. Will be defeated as Daesh" will be. He used the Arabic language acronym for IS. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu shot back saying Muslim's opposition to the operations proved the PYD's "secret agenda" to form a Kurdish state. Despite the tough talk, the Kurds may decide to pull back from Manbij to appease their U.S. allies, handing it over to the so-called Manbij Military Council. The predominantly Kurdish Syria Democratic Forces created the council to lead the battle for Manbij, giving it an Arab and local membership to assuage Ankara's concerns. Jarablus is a key lynchpin in the Turkish-Kurdish rivalry. The town lies on the western bank of the Euphrates River at the Turkish border in a pocket controlled by the Islamic State group. The YPG and other Syrian Kurds stand on the east bank of the river, and from there they hold the entire border with Turkey all the way to Iraq. They also hold parts of the border further west, so if they ever took control of Jarablus, they would control almost the entire stretch. Pointedly, Turkey codenamed its cross-border assault "Euphrates Shield," suggesting the aim was to keep the YPG east of the Euphrates River. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that in Biden's talks in Ankara, the two sides reached agreement that that the Syrian Kurdish forces "should never spread west of the Euphrates and not enter any kind of activity there." Cavusoglu said Syrian Kurdish forces must cross back to the east side of the Euphrates as soon as possible. "Otherwise, and I say this clearly, we will do what is necessary." Turkey has backed rebels against Syrian President Bashar Assad throughout Syria's civil war. It has carried out some airstrikes and artillery barrages against militants in the past. But Wednesday's assault was its first major ground incursion. Some 1,500 Syrian opposition fighters were involved, said Ahmad al-Khatib, an activist embedded with the rebels. The fighters came from the U.S.-backed Hamza brigade, as well as rebel groups fighting government forces in Aleppo, such as the Nour el-Din el Zinki brigade, the Levant Front, and Failaq al-Sham. Fighters from the powerful and ultraconservative Ahrar al-Sham brigade are also present, he said. The Syrian government denounced the Turkish military incursion and called for an immediate end to what it described as a "blatant violation" of Syrian sovereignty. But there is little potential for friction between the Turkish forces and Assad's troops, which are not in the immediate area. Moreover, Assad shares Turkey'sgoals of pushing back the Islamic State group and the Kurds. With Syria's civil war now in its sixth year, Turkey's foray adds another item in a list of combatants that already includes Assad's military and his allies Revolutionary Guard troops from Iran and Hezbollah guerrillas from Lebanon, Russian military experts and airstrikes Syrian rebels, Kurdish fighters and jihadi militants from around the world in the Islamic State group. Associated Press At rallies and debates over the last year, Donald Trump has repeatedly vowed to round up and deport the estimated 11 million people in the country illegally, sometimes saying he would eject them all in two years. Over the last four days, however, the GOP presidential nominee and his top aides have issued repeated contradictory signals as to whether Trump is backing off that core campaign pledge. Advertisement Aides have not said if Trump's plan is under review because it appears politically unpalatable with moderate Republicans, or because forced deportations of millions of people would be prohibitively expensive and probably logistically impossible. For now, the campaign has yet to provide specifics on how mass removals would be carried out, who would be targeted, and how much it would cost. Advertisement Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported 235,413 people last year, down from a record high of 409,849 in 2012, according to ICE records. The fall-off followed the Obama administration's efforts to target individuals who threaten public safety or national security and not deport those with clean records and strong family ties in the U.S. Independent groups have expressed widespread skepticism that a Trump administration could dramatically ramp up that process without disrupting key sectors of the economy, tearing apart millions of families and violating civil liberties on a mass scale. In May, a report by the right-leaning think tank American Action Forum estimated that finding, detaining, legally processing and deporting everyone who is in the country illegally and preventing future unlawful entry, would cost $400 billion to $600 billion. By way of comparison, U.S. military spending this fiscal year is expected to reach $598.5 billion, more than half of all federal discretionary spending. To meet Trump's two-year goal, the report said, Congress would need to appropriate vast sums of money to hire, train and field about 90,000 immigration apprehension agents up from 5,000 Enforcement and Removal Operations officers today. The government also would need to build about 1,250 immigration courts there now are 57 such courts and hire thousands more immigration judges and federal attorneys to process the caseload. The think tank estimates that the lost labor and purchasing power of 11 million people many of whom work, own businesses and pay taxes could reduce the nation's gross domestic product by $1 trillion, equal to about $9,000 per household. Advertisement Moreover, finding millions of undocumented migrants almost certainly would entail immigration agents entering homes, raiding businesses and running roadblocks to check identity papers to separate U.S. citizens and approved immigrants from those in the country illegally, a winnowing-out process that undoubtedly would be challenged in court. "You will really have to tear up the social fabric to get this done," Douglas Holtz-Eakin, head of the nonprofit think tank, said in a telephone interview. Farming, meatpacking, construction and hospitality industries would be hardest hit by labor shortages, the study concluded. In all, the private sector could lose 4 million to 6.8 million workers. "That is something that is hard to wrap our heads around because that is just not who we are as a country," said Holtz-Eakin, former director of the Congressional Budget Office and former economic policy director for the 2008 GOP presidential nominee, John McCain. The president has authority to order an increase in deportations, or to set new priorities for who is targeted. But except for people caught sneaking across the border, most removals require a court order, and deportation cases already are backed up for years in some jurisdictions. With growing fears about border security since the 9/11 attacks, the Border Patrol has doubled in size to about 20,000 agents over the last decade, and now is the largest federal law enforcement agency. Advertisement The number of Enforcement and Removal Operations officers has stayed at about 5,000, however. Union leaders for immigration agents have long demanded that the deportation force be doubled in size as well. "We need more interior enforcement, but Congress and politicians refuse to do it," Chris Crane, president of the National Immigration and Customs Enforcement Council, a union that represents federal deportation officers, said in a telephone interview. According to ICE records, the leading countries of origin for removals last year were Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, and the majority were apprehended near the border. But an estimated 40% of those in the country illegally arrived lawfully and overstayed their visas. Unless police apprehend them for violating other laws, the government has no clear way to find them. Crane, the union official, believes that unleashing deportation officers would deter illegal border crossings and induce many in the country illegally to go home on their own. "They will stop coming across this border and will stop dying in the desert if we can just do our jobs," Crane said. Advertisement For now, Trump's intentions appear to be a moving target. Over the weekend, his new campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, said on CNN that Trump's long-promised "deportation force" was "to be determined." A close advisor, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala), said the candidate was "wrestling" with his deportation plan. On Monday, Trump denied on Fox News that he was flip-flopping, but he also said he would not put people in detention centers, and would focus on first deporting gang leaders, murderers and other "bad people," which mirrors Obama's deportation priorities. He even appeared to praise Obama's deportation record. "What people don't know is that Obama got tremendous numbers of people out of the country. [President George W.] Bush, the same thing," Trump said. "Lots of people were brought out of the country with the existing laws. Well, I'm going to do the same thing." He wouldn't say directly if he was rethinking his mass deportation strategy, saying, "I just want to follow the law." Advertisement At a campaign rally in Akron, Ohio, earlier Monday, Trump repeated his pledge to build a massive border wall and to make Mexico pay for it, but he didn't bring up mass deportations. "Is this a trial balloon? Are they trying to figure out how his base will react?" asked Alfonso Aguilar, who headed the office of citizenship at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Bush administration and now heads the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles. Trump could be more competitive with Latino voters if he softened his tone and clarified his immigration position, Aguilar said in a telephone interview from San Juan, Puerto Rico. One option would be to require undocumented immigrants without a criminal record to "touch back" with their country's embassy or consulate in the United States rather than demanding they leave and apply to come back in, he said. "Logistically it would be more practical and also it is humane," Aguilar said. brian.bennett@latimes.com Anxiety must be strangely addictive, because Americans can't seem to get enough of it. We enjoy a measure of national security and personal safety that is the envy of people around the world from Ukraine to Syria to Nigeria. But many of us manage to feel perpetually endangered, in good times and bad. One of these people, surprisingly, is Martin Dempsey, a retired four-star Army general who stepped down last year as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In an interview in the September/October issue of Foreign Affairs, he solemnly said of the present moment, "It's the most dangerous period of my lifetime." Advertisement Clearly, Dempsey went to a school where students weren't drilled in hiding under desks in case nuclear war ever broke out. Apparently, he forgets the Soviet shoot-down of a Korean airliner in 1983. And would anyone trade today for Sept. 12, 2001? Dempsey was born in 1952, when the United States was fighting a war against North Korea and its ally, China. He lived through the Cuban missile crisis, the Vietnam War and the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, when Israel seriously considered using nuclear weapons. Advertisement Americans have come through more perilous straits than any visible now. But our past seems to have conditioned him and many of his fellow citizens to detect grave danger where it doesn't exist. Maybe an extreme sensitivity to the slightest hazard is a useful quality in a general. But Dempsey's predilection leads him astray and feeds a widespread public perception that is at odds with reality. He has plenty of company. Republican presidential candidates Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham and Ben Carson flagged the Islamic State as an "existential threat" to the United States. Donald Trump has likened the menace of "radical Islamic terrorism" to the danger posed in the 20th century by Nazism and communism. A lot of people regard this dire vision as accurate. A May CNN/ORC poll found that 73 percent of Americans see the Islamic State as a "very serious threat." But the Islamic State, losing ground and taking lots of casualties, can no longer do much more than inspire the occasional lunatic to murder some innocents. Compare that to the Soviet Union, whose nuclear arsenal could have vaporized millions of Americans in a matter of hours. Terrorism is less common today than in Dempsey's youth. In one 18-month period spanning 1971 and 1972, the FBI counted upward of 2,500 bombings, carried out by radical groups on the left and the right. In the 1960s and early '70s, more than 150 airliners were hijacked in this country. The fears felt in those days are now forgotten, while the current ones are inflated. Al-Qaida is a shadow of its former self. The 9/11 attacks, instead of being a prelude to many more, were a one-off that Osama bin Laden could never come close to replicating. Dempsey can't offer serious evidence to justify his warning. "We have multiple challenges competing for finite resources and grotesque uncertainty with regard to the military budget," he lamented. Advertisement But we have always had more than one problem, and our resources have never been limitless. Though the military budget has fallen a bit in real terms, that shrinkage comes after a 50 percent increase in the decade after 9/11 and outlays have been higher under Barack Obama than under George W. Bush. There is some uncertainty because of the caps imposed by the 2011 budget deal between Obama and Congress. But there is no doubt that the United States will continue to spend far more on its military than any other nation on Earth and twice as much as Russia and China combined. The general also expresses alarm about the Russians and Chinese, who he says are "challenging our interests in Europe and in the Pacific." Pursuing goals that diverge from ours in their own backyards, however, doesn't make them an urgent menace. As for the threat posed by terrorism, it's real but far smaller than generally perceived. "In the years since 9/11," John Mueller and Mark Stewart write on the Foreign Affairs website, "Islamist terrorists have managed to kill about seven people a year within the United States." Collisions with deer, by contrast, kill 150 people a year. Even the most secure nation needs to pay attention to tangible dangers, including small ones. But it shouldn't let itself be spooked by shadows. Steve Chapman, a member of the Tribune Editorial Board, blogs at www.chicagotribune.com/chapman. Advertisement Download "Recalculating: Steve Chapman on a New Century" in the free Printers Row app, available at www.printersrowapp.com. schapman@chicagotribune.com Follow Steve Chapman on Twitter @SteveChapman13 and Facebook. Jill Stein, the Green Party presidential nominee, favors alternative energy and she leads by example. On Tuesday, she burned one of her own supporters. Stein, making an appearance at the National Press Club in Washington, took her campaign on an unexpected detour when she accused the famed leftist Noam Chomsky of being cowardly. The 87-year-old icon of the left, though a backer of Stein's, has said that the only "rational choice" for swing-state voters is to support Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump. Advertisement "How do you get past that hurdle?" Sam Husseini from VotePact, a group that supports third parties, asked Stein from the audience. The candidate, in reply, accused Chomsky of embracing "this politics of fear that tells you have to vote against what you're afraid of rather than for what you truly believe. So, Noam Chomsky has supported me in my home state, you know, when he felt safe to do so. I think it's fair to say my agenda is far closer to his than Hillary Clinton. But he subscribes to the politics of fear." Advertisement If opposing Trump is subscribing to the politics of fear, then put me down for a lifetime subscription. In ordinary times, a voice such as Stein's contributes to the national debate. But these are not ordinary times. Trump's narrow path to the presidency requires Stein to do well in November, and polls indicate Trump does better with her in the race. But, 16 years after Ralph Nader helped swing the presidency to George W. Bush from Al Gore, liberals (including Bernie Sanders supporters) who otherwise agree with Stein are more inclined to recognize that she makes more likely the singular threat of a President Trump. That's why, even in this year of change, she's polling about 3 percent in the RealClearPolitics average of polls. And that, in turn, is why only about half of the 20 seats were full when I arrived in the Press Club's Bloomberg Room (even the Green Party nominee can't escape those billionaires) a few minutes before her news conference. There is much to like about Stein, 66. She arrived by cab and took all questions in marked contrast to Clinton, who has gone more than 260 days without a news conference. Stein spoke with a passion for policy, remarking unbidden on the plight of the "Standing Rock Sioux in North Dakota" and speaking with a physician's authority about "air pollution and its various sequelae." "We have a climate emergency," said Stein, "an absolutely devastating sea-level rise that would essentially wipe out coastal population centers, including the likes of Manhattan, and Florida" in 50 years. She called this "a Hail Mary moment," and one in which "we're really looking our mortality in the face." Stein offered a refreshing break from the 2016 debate, which ricochets from Clinton's emails to Trump's outrages and staff shake-ups but rarely settles on substance. "Our future is imperiled," she said. "There are more important things for us to be talking about." But a moment later, there Stein was saying Clinton "put at risk" national security and the names of CIA agents. Stein said Clinton's character is "not compatible with someone that you want to trust as the leader of the country." She continued to talk this way about Clinton with reporters in the hallway after the session, which naturally led to headlines not about climate change but along the lines of this from David Weigel's article in The Washington Post: "Jill Stein: Clinton emails reveal security risks, 'special deals' for donors." Stein complained about the 15 percent polling threshold keeping her and Libertarian Gary Johnson out of the presidential debates. But can she expect more than her 3 percent when she talks of boycotting Israel, spreads unwarranted fears about vaccines and WiFi, and has a running mate Ajamu Baraka who called President Obama an Uncle Tom? Advertisement Most disturbing is the Green Party nominee's creation of a phony equivalence between Clinton, a flawed and unloved but conventional candidate, and Trump, who is running a campaign of bigotry, xenophobia and intimations of violence. "Donald Trump says terrifying things. Hillary Clinton actually has an extremely troubling record," Stein said Tuesday, calling the Democrats the "party of fracking," the "party of expanding wars" and the "party of immigrant deportations." This is the sort of stuff I heard driving between campaign stops with Nader in 2000. It wasn't entirely true then. Now, with Trump on the ballot, any attempt to draw parallels between the two parties is preposterous. Noam Chomsky knows that. It appears voters do, too. Washington Post Writers Group Dana Milbank is a Washington Post columnist. Illinois prisons are in crisis. They are among the most overcrowded, understaffed and underfunded in the nation but Gov. Bruce Rauner has established himself as a barrier to serious reform. The governor recently vetoed a bill with the potential to reduce recidivism. It would end the state's practice of destroying the finances of former prisoners by going after their assets to recover the costs of incarcerating them. The bill had passed the House and Senate with bipartisan support. Even the Department of Corrections had no objection to it. Advertisement Most people don't even know that Illinois regularly sues former prisoners for the costs of their incarceration, and because virtually everyone who ends up in prison is poor, the state recoups very little from these cases a total of $355,000 in fiscal year 2015. In contrast, the prison budget is over $1.5 billion per year. In the rare cases when recently released prisoners have a modest nest egg for example, from a concerned family member offering a second chance or a court recovery from being abused while incarcerated Illinois' "pay-to-stay" law allows the state to bring a financially devastating lawsuit to recover the costs of locking up the person. The law is a kick in the gut to people struggling to start a new life, and its impact on the state budget, when one factors in the administrative cost of the lawsuits, is negligible. Advertisement The reasons that Gov. Rauner gave for his amendatory veto demonstrate that he does not understand the bill. He expressed concerns about criminals who attempt to profit from their crimes. But other laws already prevent prisoners from profiting from their crimes, and nothing in the bill Rauner vetoed would change that prohibition. The bill also did not change the right of victims to sue any prisoner with money for damages caused by their crimes. The bill only eliminated lawsuits by the state to recoup the costs of incarceration. When it comes to Rauner's prison policy, this substitution of empty rhetoric for substantive policy changes is par for the course. The governor has recognized the prison crisis, at least in words. He appointed a blue-ribbon bipartisan commission with the direction to devise reforms that would reduce Illinois' prison population by 25 percent over the next 10 years. However, the governor's actions have fallen far short of his rhetoric. To date, his commission, which was given a deadline of July 2015, has yet to issue recommendations that would accomplish the target 25 percent reduction. Meanwhile, other Republican governors have taken serious steps toward prison reform. Rauner's lack of focus and vision makes him a dinosaur in the party. His failure to lead and his resort to death-by-committee have made a mockery of his pledge to run the government more like a business. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan must stop filing pay-to-stay lawsuits. If she were to end these suits, it would save the state money by reducing recidivism. All eyes are on Madigan will she do what Rauner should have done? Alan Mills is executive director of the Uptown People's Law Center. David M. Shapiro is director of appellate litigation at the Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law where he is a clinical assistant professor of law. By Dezan Shira & Associates Editors: Mia Yiqiao Jing and Allan Xu According to the Shanghai Municipal Human Resource and Social Security Bureau, a new regulation on wage payment methods for Shanghai-based organizations has been released and brought into effect on August 1, 2016. The new regulation, issued to replace the 2003 version, expands the scope of application and makes several clarifications and improvements on wage calculation and standards. The new regulation is expected to minimize law disputes regarding wage issues with more specified guidance and solutions. Highlights of Changes Expansion of the application scope Compared to the 2003 version of wage payment methods for Shanghai-based enterprises, the 2016 version extends the application scope to more types of organizations including individual business entities, private non-enterprise units and legally-established accounting firms, law firms, foundations and any others that carry labor relations during business operations. Standardization of wage levels The definition of wage under the new provision consists of hourly wages, piece rates, bonuses, allowances, subsidies, overtime stipends, etc. The provision stipulates that wage calculation for overtime and vacation payment as an employees regular salary, which doesnt include annual bonus, subsidies, allowances or other amounts distributed under special circumstances. If there is no indication of overtime and vacation pay in the contract, they should be calculated as seventy percent of the employees total monthly payment. Following previous regulation on wages for workers during probation periods which are to be no less than the minimum wage level, the Shanghai government explicitly specifies that wages are to be no less than eighty percent of the industry average or of the standards for regular employees. Special wages such as the overtime piece rates, which were decided based on whether working hours had exceeded the statutory standards, are now also dependent on whether employees have fulfilled tasks according to the production quotas as set by organizations within reason. Wages granted under special occasions, including wages for employees undergoing public health check, for sentenced employees or for ones who have violated labor contract law are also regulated. For example, laborers who have been ruled out as a public disease threat are to be restored to their former positions and receive regular wages missed during the quarantine period. RELATED: Payroll and HR Services from Dezan Shira & Associates Solutions for labor disputes Considering inflammatory labor disputes of the past, the Shanghai Human Resource and Social Security Bureau has imposed heightened control over employers misconduct. In cases where an organizations decision to illicitly terminate a contract is revoked by the Peoples court, employees may legally pursue wages owed during the litigation, arbitration, as well as mediation periods. Impacts on Shanghai-based Organizations Even though the standardization of defining and calculating wages may have restrained an organizations freedom when managing financial conditions, it on the other hand serves as a benchmark when employers are drafting contract terms and provides solid proof in case of a labor dispute. The new regulation gives leeway for organizations to prepare and adjust business operations based on the required minimum labor costs in various circumstances. Furthermore, the regulation protects organizations when employees violate labor laws or contract by giving employers the right to directly lower wages without penalty. In the past, whether organizations could economically punish employees was a controversial issue; the new provision affords organizations with the independence to manage employees and requires them to ensure the legitimacy, effectiveness and feasibility of company rules. The new regulation highlights the labor contract as it plays a critical role in determining whether an organization may pay off wages at once when an employee leaves his or her position. Unless specified in the contract, an organization could negotiate and wait till workers return company-owned property to pay off wages if agreed by workers. We thus suggest organizations are specific with employment terms, and include all relevant wage levels in labor contracts to avoid confusion and conflicts. For a complete guide of payroll in China, please consult one of our HR specialists at dezshira.com. About Us Asia Briefing Ltd. is a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates. Dezan Shira is a specialist foreign direct investment practice, providing corporate establishment, business advisory, tax advisory and compliance, accounting, payroll, due diligence and financial review services to multinationals investing in China, Hong Kong, India, Vietnam, Singapore and the rest of ASEAN. For further information, please email china@dezshira.com or visit www.dezshira.com. Stay up to date with the latest business and investment trends in Asia by subscribing to our complimentary update service featuring news, commentary and regulatory insight. 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. How IT is Changing Payroll Processing and HR Admin in China In this edition of China Briefing magazine, 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. 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. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has demanded more to be done to improve the skills of people who have been relocated as part of poverty relief efforts. China plans to end poverty by 2020, in part by relocating 10 million people over the next 5 years from barren or geographically disadvantaged areas to start new lives elsewhere. "Alleviating poverty through relocation is a key aspect of our strategy," Li said in a message to a national meeting on the matter. The two-day meeting ended on Tuesday in Guiyang, capital of southwest China's Guizhou Province. Vice Premier Wang Yang attended the meeting. There were still around 70 million Chinese last year living below the poverty line, many in harsh conditions without roads or water and power. "Fighting poverty is an arduous, complicated and urgent task, which demands a strong sense of responsibility and mission," Li said. The premier urged innovating mechanisms and mobilizing the initiative and creativity of the masses to tackle outstanding problems in the work of relieving poverty through relocation. He called for efforts to enhance the capability of the relocated people to continue leading a better life and stay away from poverty. Authorities in 22 provinces and autonomous regions have spent 58 billion yuan on relocation projects, with construction started on over 10,000 of them, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) revealed. With plans to relocate 2.49 million people this year alone, 718 projects have been completed and 226,000 people have moved so far. Last December, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council released a key poverty alleviation instruction. Lifting the country's remaining 70 million poor out of poverty by 2020 will be "the most arduous task" on China's path toward the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the document said. It reiterated that there should be more targeted and precise measures in poverty alleviation. When the heads of state and government meet for the G20 summit in Hangzhou in early September, the state of the global economy will be foremost on their minds. The recovery from the 2008 financial crisis has been sluggish, which proves that fresh thinking will be necessary. The theme of the Hangzhou summit, which stresses the importance of an innovative, invigorated, interconnected and inclusive world economy, shows that that is exactly what the Chinese G20 Presidency has in mind. As then President Hu Jintao emphasised in his speech during Tsinghua University's centennial celebration in 2011, high quality education is essential for the rapid development of the economy and society. Therefore, innovation requires strong investments in university research and education. However, universities in many parts of the world are going through tough times. The economic crisis of 2008 has slashed large parts of the endowments of universities in the U.S. Many graduates avoid pursuing university degrees because they are not sure that they will be able to repay their student loans. This is the result of decreasing job opportunities and lower pay. This leads to lower enrolment numbers and decreasing university income. Because of low growth numbers, European governments struggle to find the money to adequately fund their universities. Consequently, the state of the economy in these parts of the world is diminishing the innovative capacity of universities, rather than getting a boost from it. The summit participants may have noticed the recent Shanghai Ranking, in which two of China's universities, Peking University and Tsinghua University, have made it into the top 100. As the saying goes, whether the water is cold or warm, the ducks are the first to know. Therefore, the fact that these two universities have been ranked so highly by the world's academic barometer is very significant. It exemplifies the high quality teaching and the path-breaking research which nowadays characterise China's leading universities. Western academics such as myself, who serve as visiting professors and foreign experts at Chinese universities, are privileged to be part of this exciting development. The support the universities receive from the Chinese government has been a decisive factor. Since the mid 1990s, with the help of initiatives like Project 211 and Project 985, the Ministry of Education has been working very hard to assist the leading universities in gaining world standing. This allows them to compete with the world's leading universities and to contribute to China's economic and social development. Consequently, the education offered by and the research conducted at these universities have grown in strength, while management, recruiting and promotion have been professionalised. These efforts to put Chinese universities on the map have not turned them into elite institutions. Quite the contrary, since more than 15% of the college-age group are enrolled in universities, China has mass higher education. And the good news is that this percentage keeps growing every year. This Chinese academic upturn partly results from the internationalisation efforts that have been undertaken. Chinese master students and PhD candidates study abroad in large numbers. There are active exchanges at faculty level, complemented by international conferences and joint research projects. Chinese scholars are encouraged and facilitated to publish in reputable international journals, especially those which are on the Social Sciences Citation Index. But you need two to tango. When Chinese scholars reach out to the international academic community, they should be welcomed and included. This does not always happen, especially in the humanities and the social sciences. Chinese authors sometimes find it difficult to get their articles published in foreign periodicals, even if they meet academic standards. And they are not adequately represented in the editorial boards and the key committees which set the research agenda. This is caused by the fact that parts of academic science are still very much determined by Eurocentric concepts, insights and methodologies, as was the case during colonial times. Scholars operating out of the U.S. and Europe sometimes assume that their hypotheses represent global trends. They often seem unfamiliar with alternative approaches from the Global South, which can refresh and enrich the academic debate by challenging or complementing these assumptions. As a result, these Southern approaches do not get through to the mainstream academic discourse, and science is the poorer for it. Thus, researchers in the behavioural sciences who publish in the leading journals frequently extend their findings to humanity in general, while 96% of their respondents come from Western industrialised countries. Despite the fact that they are only studying a narrow subpopulation, i.e. people from Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich and Democratic or 'WEIRD' societies, they present their conclusions as applying to human kind in general. Therefore, to retain its validity and legitimacy, international academic research should become more inclusive. In the area of human rights this will be role of the "Cross-Cultural Human Rights Center," which is currently being set up in Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The center is a collaborative effort of scholars from all corners of the world, mainly from China and Africa, who share the idea that local culture is an important building block for human rights protection. The aim of the center is to give a voice to the Southern wisdom in the area of human rights in a way which mainstream actors will find difficult to ignore. Similar centers deserve to be set up for other disciplines. During the G20 summit the heads of state and government intend to make the world economy more inclusive. Actors in the area of academic research should follow their example by giving the floor to scholars from the Global South. In this way, academic science will become truly universal, while universities can deliver the innovation necessary for a thriving economy. Tom Zwart, Professor of Cross-cultural Law and Human Rights, Utrecht University Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. Flash Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday that the bilateral talks between the Philippines and China may happen "within the year." Asked if there is already a date for the start of the talks, Duterte told reporters at the Malacanang presidential palace that, "Yes. Nearer than you think. Within the year, maybe." Duterte again said that he does not plan to bring the South China Sea dispute in the ASEAN summit in Vientiane, Laos next month, saying he would rather talk about the issue face to face with China. Asked if he would bring up the issue in the bilateral meeting, Duterte said, "There is always a time for that. It's impossible, when we are face to face and we come up with the hard facts." Meantime, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said Duterte will start this ASEAN tour with Brunei from Sept. 4 to 5. After Brunei, Andanar said he will fly to Laos for the ASEAN summit and related meetings from Sept. 6 to 8. From Laos, he said Duterte will visit Indonesia from Sept. 8 to 9. ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Flash China's efforts to bring the largest-ever presence of representatives from the developing world to the upcoming Group of 20 (G20) summit are helpful in creating "collective" solutions to the global problems, a Turkish analyst said. "A large presence from the developing world is very important," Altay Atli, a research associate with the Asian Studies stream of Istanbul Policy Center, told Xinhua. "The world's problems are collective, they impact all of us, and this is why they require collective solutions," he said. A record number of developing countries are being invited to the G20 summit slated for Sept. 4-5 in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, as China is hoping for the meeting to push for a more inclusive world economy. "Instead of being a 'rich men's club,' the G20 should act as a facilitator for creating solutions to global problems by bringing representatives from different parts of the world together," Atli said. The expert holds "a positive view" of China's preparations in the run-up to the Hangzhou summit, as China is seeking "increased and effective participation" as Turkey did when it hosted last G20 summit in Antalya last year. "This is precisely what we need for solving global problems," he stressed. In his view, holding the G20 chair offers an opportunity for China to position itself as a "responsible and effective" stakeholder in global governance. The analyst noted that as the second largest economy in the world, China "surely has the required capabilities" to play a leading role in global governance. "The G20 provides the opportunity for China to show the world that it is willing to play this role," he said. "This is why I expect that after the Hangzhou summit, China will have an elevated status and influence within the G20 and in global governance in general," he added. According to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the Hangzhou summit is expected to produce nearly 30 deliverable outcomes, with special emphasis on promoting a strong, sustainable and balanced global growth through innovation, sorting out economic and financial problems by means of structural reforms, and implementing the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through enhanced cooperation. While lauding the objectives as "accurate and vital" for the well-being of the global economy, Atli urged the G20 to offer "concrete steps that will make it possible for the world to reach those objectives." "There have to be concrete, feasible and doable roadmaps that will make it possible to reach the objectives that are set," he said. In his view, global governance is a long-term and gradual process, and it will take years to achieve some of the goals set during the Antalya summit, as the world is being confronted with a growing threat of terrorism and continuing economic recession in the post-crisis period. "What matters is that G20 members build a strong consensus around these goals and they work in close coordination in order to achieve them," he said. Flash DPRK launched this missile in April. [Photo/Xinhua] The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday test-fired a ballistic missile from a submarine off its east coast into the sea at a time of heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula following the start of annual South Korea-U.S. war games, Seoul's military said. A South Korean defense ministry official told Xinhua that the DPRK test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) at about 5:30 a.m. local time (20:30 GMT Tuesday) off the eastern coastal town of Sinpo in South Hamgyeong province. The official said the DPRK's SLBM technology appeared to have advanced compared with previous launches as the missile flew about 500 km. Seoul's military has allegedly regarded the flight of more than 300 km in distance as successful. It was the longest flight among any known DPRK test-firings of SLBM. The launch came just two days after Seoul and Washington kicked off their joint annual war games, codenamed Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG). Pyongyang has considered the drills as a dress rehearsal for northward invasion, which the two allies claimed to be defensive in nature. The Seoul defense ministry official said the launch was the DPRK's show of force to escalate military tensions on the Korean Peninsula on the excuse of the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises. The UFG computer-simulated exercises are scheduled to run through next Friday, mounting the already-heightened tensions in the region caused by Seoul and Washington's unilateral decision in July to deploy one Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in southeastern South Korea by the end of next year. This year's U.S.-South Korea war games adopt a so-called Operation Plan 5015, a wartime joint response scenario signed in June last year between South Korea and the United States. The OPLAN 5015 involves a U.S.-South Korea preemptive strike against the DPRK, raising possibility for military conflicts on the peninsula. The THAAD deployment in South Korea may accelerate the DPRK's efforts to develop its SLBM technology as THAAD's X-band radar cannot detect and track ballistic missiles from a DPRK submarine that moves secretly deep under the waters. The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae convened a national security council (NSC) meeting just two hours after the DPRK's test-firing, reflecting worries about an earlier-than-expected DPRK deployment of submarines capable of carrying nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles within a couple of years. The emergency meeting was chaired by Kim Kwan-jin, top security advisor to President Park Geun-hye. Attendants at the closed-door gathering were ministers of foreign affairs, unification and defense as well as chief of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), the country's spy agency, and senior presidential secretary for foreign affairs and security. Flash A forum titled "Silk Road Economic Belt" kicked off in Iran's capital Tehran on Tuesday with its focus on the friendly exchanges and cooperation between China and the Islamic republic. China and Iran are both countries with great civilization, and the long history of friendly exchanges between them has laid a solid foundation for the Silk Road Economic Belt initiative, He Xingliang, counselor of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, said at the forum held in Tehran's Niavaran Cultural Center. There are great potential and broad prospects in bilateral cooperation, especially in the fields of resources and technology, the Chinese official said. For his part, Head of Iran-China Friendship Association Ahmad Mohammadi hailed the role of China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative in the interaction between Iran and China. Mohammadi said the interaction between the two countries has long existed, but has taken new dimensions with the initiative. "The proposal has been well received in Iran, and the Islamic republic is preparing to accept the proposal," Mohammadi said. On Tuesday, a Chinese cultural festival opened in Tehran with the aim to promote China-Iran exchange and cooperation. The one-week event, titled "2016 Experience China in Iran," features China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region through a photo exhibition and cultural activities. You are here: Home Flash U.S. law enforcement agencies are currently investigating a series of cyber breaches targeting The New York Times and other U.S. media outlets, according to CNN. Citing U.S. officials briefed on the probe, CNN reported that investigators so far believed that Russian intelligence was likely behind the attacks. The New York Times did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Citing U.S. officials, CNN said the Times had already hired private security investigators to work with U.S. federal officials in assessing the breach. According to CNN, investigators believed the intrusions targeting U.S. media were part of a broader series of hacks that also had targeted U.S. Democratic Party organizations. The news came about a month after a breach of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) revealed internal email communications within the committee that indicated DNC's bias against former Democratic presidential contender Bernie Sanders. Flash Believe it or not, doctors in India have removed some 40 knives from the stomach of a man who had swallowed them in the past three months. A team of doctors, led by Dr. Jatinder Malholtra, carried out a surgery on the 42-year-old man at a hospital in the northern Indian state of Punjab's Amritsar town and got the knives out successfully. "The patient did not tell us that he had swallowed the knives. He came to us with stomach pain. Then we found out that he had been literally eating knives after diagnostic tests," he told the media Tuesday. "It was a complex procedure and we had to really plan well to ensure a successful operation," the doctor said. Local TV channels reported that the man survived the surgery and was recovering at the hospital, though did not disclose his identity. Doctors were trying to find out if the man was suffering from physiological disorder. "He is getting counselling. He has promised that he will never touch a knife again," Malholtra said. Flash Sudan and South Sudan have agreed to reopen their common border and extend an oil transit agreement that allows landlocked South Sudan to use Sudan's pipelines to export its oil, South Sudan's officials said on Tuesday. The agreements were reached during the visit by a delegation from South Sudan headed by First Vice President Taban Deng Gai to Sudan. Gai held talks with Sudan's President Omar Al-Bashir on Monday on issues regarding security, bilateral ties and the oil agreement. Defence Minister Kuol Manyang Juk said the neighboring countries agreed to reopen their common border within 21 days, and that South Sudan assured Sudan that it would not allow Sudanese rebels in its territory. Strained relations between Sudan and South Sudan have long kept their common border closed since South Sudan's breakaway from Sudan in July 2011. The two nations have disputes over several issues including the status of disputed oil-rich Abyei area and the alleged South Sudan's support to Sudanese rebels. Juk said that Sudan also pledged 250,000 bags of grains in humanitarian aid to support people in need in South Sudan. Petroleum Minister Ezekiel Lul Gatkuoth said the two countries agreed to extend the oil transit agreement, which was signed in 2012 and is due to expire in November. "The details will be worked out by a technical team because one of the concerns has been on the transit fee... And we have agreed to meet again within 30 days to finalize it," Gatkuoth said. Gatkuoth said the extended agreement would allow the resumption of oil production in Unity state and an increase in oil production in Paloch oil fields, Upper Nile state. South Sudan's oil production plummeted after the outbreak of a civil war in December 2013. The South Sudanese government depends on oil revenue to finance some 98 percent of its budget. Flash Seventy-nine percent of French voters did not back former president Nicolas Sarkozy's bid for a new mandate at the Elysee Palace, a day after the conservative leader formally announced his candidacy for next year's presidential race, a poll showed on Tuesday. An Elabe survey for BFMTV news channel showed 54 percent of supporters of right wing parties did not back Sarkozy candidacy. On Monday, the former president, said he would run for 2017 presidential election in an extract of a book "Everything for France" to be released Wednesday. "I have decided to be a candidate for the 2017 presidential election. I felt I had the strength to lead this battle at a troubled time in our history," he tweeted. "The coming five years are those of risk but also of hope," he added. After announcing his bid, Sarkozy, 61, handed over the leadership of the Republicans party to Laurent Wauquiez, the party's vice president. He also joined a large pool of contenders for the two -round primaries scheduled for November 20, 27. Pledging "Everything for France," the conservative leader, on the economic front, pledged to cut public spending by 100 billion euros (113.05 billion U.S. dollars) over the next five-year-mandate and reduce payroll charges. On immigration, a sensitive issue in election campaigns, he proposed to suspend the right of family members to join a migrating relative in France. In 2012, Sarkozy was defeated by the Socialist leader Francois Hollande. After a two-year break from politics, he came back as leader of the crisis-hit conservative party then known as Union for a Popular Movement (UMP). While Hollande's approval rating is at a record low, Sarkozy is betting on his political credentials and dynamism which earned him in 2007 the highest popularity ratings of any leader since Charles de Gaulle. Flash The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced that an inter-agency humanitarian convoy is delivering humanitarian assistance on Tuesday for 35,000 people in Al Waer in the Homs area in western Syria, a UN spokesman told reporters here. "It is comprised of food, health, nutrition and non-food items," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here. "This is the first such inter-agency convoy to deliver life-saving assistance this month to any besieged or hard-to reach area in Syria." A second convoy is planned for later this week, he said. In the northeastern city of Hasakeh, the United Nations is extremely concerned, as some 40,000 people are reported to have been displaced from the city toward suburban neighborhoods and nearby villages, the spokesman said. In addition, more than 25,000 people have been displaced from Hasakeh to cities and villages north of the city since Aug. 18, following clashes between government and Kurdish forces, he noted. "Given the scale and pace of displacement, not all needs can be met yet and the UN urges all parties, and those with influence over them, to facilitate permanent and unhindered access by all humanitarian actors to people in need," he added. Flash The Kurdish fighters and the Syrian army have reached a new ceasefire in the province of Hasakah, just days after a previous truce was shattered with intensified confrontation, Syria's national TV reported Tuesday. The new ceasefire has supposedly gone into effect at 2 p.m. local time (1100 GMT) Tuesday, said the report, adding that several points have been agreed upon. The Syrian forces and security apparatus as well as the Kurdish security force, called Assayish, will remain in their positions in Haskah, according to the deal. The news agreement also includes opening all blocked routes in Hasakah city by the Kurdish fighters, who have mounted a wide-scale offensive recently to push the government out of Hasakah, a city that has largely become controlled by the Kurds. The new truce also provides for exchanging prisoners and wounded people at 9 p.m. local time (1800 GMT). Efforts will continue be made to resolve the Kurdish issue, said the report, adding that roads will be opened inside Hasakah and Qamishli city toward the military positions in and outside the city. The ceasefire deal is the second to be reached in recent days, as the tension between the Kurds and the Syrian government has hit an unprecedented high. A day earlier, state news agency SANA accused the Kurds of breaking a truce reached on Sunday, saying the Kurdish fighters attacked several government institutions. A source in the city told Xinhua that the Kurds actually took control of several government positions, in their bid to shrink the government presence in that area to a small security zone. The control in Hasakah has been divided between the government and the Kurds since 2012. The Kurds maintain a sort of autonomous rule in areas with heavy Kurdish presence. The situation between both parties have been calm throughout the past years, but tension sparked when both the Assayish and a pro-government fighter group, called National Defense Forces (NDF) started arresting members of each other. The incidents developed into intense battles recently. The ceasefire deals have been mediated by Russia, reports said. In previous bouts of tension between Syrian government forces and the Kurds, both parties had managed to contain the situation and avoid further confrontation. At the time, there were reports about a tacit agreement between the Kurds and the Syrian government. Buoyed by the support of the U.S.-led coalition, the powerful Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) and the allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have made sweeping victories against the Islamic State (IS) group in key areas in northern Syria. The Russians were said to have also backed the Kurdish fighters in their push against the IS, but no Kurdish group have admitted receiving such support from Russia. You are here: Home Flash Fighting between government troops and opposition forces in South Sudan's northeastern state of Jonglei last Friday left 153 people dead, a government army spokesperson said. Lul Ruai Koang claimed that the opposition troops linked to the Sudan People's Liberation Army-In-Opposition (SPLA-IO) attacked the Pajut military base in Duk County, but declined to give details on the causalities. "The SPLA-IO forces and some anti-peace elements attacked our forces on Friday but the SPLA forces managed to repulse them. Some 153 people died and we recovered 161 light and heavy weapons from the attackers," Koang said on Tuesday. Koang said calm had returned to the area and displaced people were coming back. South Sudan has witnessed fresh clashes since fighting broke out between government troops led by President Salva Kiir and forces loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar in early July. The rival leaders had fought a civil war which started in December 2013 and left tens of thousands dead. A peace deal signed by them last August under UN pressure was supposed to end the war, but failed to quell the renewed violence. Machar has fled to neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo, raising fears that hostilities could be lengthy. The UN says unrest in the world's youngest nation has left some 4.6 million people severely food insecure. You are here: Home Flash Senior Colonel Zhou Zhe gives briefing to both Asian and African journalists at Chinese Peacekeeping Center on Aug. 22, 2016. [Photo by Mary Poni Yugu/China.org.cn] As a contribution to global peacekeeping and the assurance of continuous support to the African continent, China pledged a total of US$100 million in military aid, according to Senior Colonel Zhou Zhe, director of Chinese Peacekeeping Center. The disclosure was made during a visit by African and Asian journalists to the Chinese Peacekeeping Center on Aug. 22. According to Senior Colonel Zhou, China joined the UN peacekeeping mission on April 21, 1990, and has since participated in 24 missions. China currently deploys a total of 2,403 military personal in six missions in Africa, a contribution that makes China the second largest contributors of peacekeepers among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, Zhou said. Zhou informed journalists that South Sudan was the first place of deployment of Chinese infantry battalion in 2015, which is symbolic for the countrys friendship with Africa. He disclosed that China endeavors to maintain a strong and defensive military compatible with its development goals while striving towards a moderately prosperous society in all aspects. Flash Russia might use Iran's Hamadan airbase again to carry out attacks on terror targets in Syria, a senior defense official said Wednesday. Moscow and Tehran would conduct mutually beneficial cooperation and reach agreements on some specific issues soon, including the use of the Hamadan airbase by the Russian military to strike extremist groups in Syria, Vladimir Komoedov, chairman of the Defense Committee in the State Duma, said in an interview with Izvestiya newspaper. An agreement between the two countries over the issue is "only a matter of time," he said. Tehran has shown through concrete actions in recent months that its partnership with Moscow is strong, he added. Beginning on Aug. 16, Russian bombers took off from the Hamadan base in western Iran for three consecutive days to strike terrorist targets in Syria. It was the first time Russia has used the territory of another nation, apart from Syria itself, to launch such strikes since Moscow started a bombing campaign against IS targets inside Syria last September. Earlier this week, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said that the Russian military had accomplished its targets regarding airstrikes against the IS forces in Syria and all the Russian warplanes that had participated in the mission have been withdrawn. Further use of the Hamadan airbase would be based on mutual agreements on fighting terrorism and the evolving situation in Syria, the spokesman said. Stuff.co.nz | Aug. 24, 2016 Air New Zealand is investigating after a series of inappropriate images of uniformed staff members were posted online. An employment lawyer says the images could bring the airline into "disrepute", and may amount to serious misconduct. The photos show a pilot posing with a blow-up doll inside an aircraft. It is understood the images were shared to Facebook and Instagram. Another video, which appears to have been posted to Snapchat, shows a flight attendant moving through the cabin, spitting water. The video is captioned: "Wish I could spit on passengers like this". An Air New Zealand spokeswoman said the airline was "shocked and appalled" by the images. "We expect the highest standards of behaviour and respect from all our staff," she said. The spokeswoman said the images had been brought to the airline's attention in the past 48 hours and an investigation commenced immediately. "We believe the video was produced about four years ago and the photos were taken more than a year ago," she said. "One of the staff members concerned no longer works for Air New Zealand and the other two have been removed from duties pending the outcome of our investigation. "It goes without saying that this is a situation we are treating with extreme seriousness - and our obvious concern is that the behaviour displayed is a clear breach of not just our code of conduct but basic decency." When asked for his assessment of the situation, employment lawyer Fraser Wood said any action that brought an employer into disrepute may be grounds for serious misconduct, which would justify dismissal. "Particularly in a situation where they are in full uniform, it would be difficult to argue that they would not bring the company into disrepute by virtue of those photographs." The context the images were taken in would be an important factor in Air New Zealand's investigation, as well as how widely they were dispersed, he said. Wood said employment cases involving social media were becoming relatively common, as people were "very casual" in terms of what they posted. "Don't post anything you don't want your parents or employers to see," he warned. By Robyn Ironside, News.com.au | Aug. 24, 2016 An Australian woman who alleged she was sexually assaulted by a Malaysia Airlines' steward on a flight to Paris is now suing the carrier under the Montreal Convention for more than US$200,000. Laura Bushney, 28, travelled from Kuala Lumpur to Paris with Malaysia Airlines on August 4, 2014. Her alleged attacker, Chief Steward Mohd Rosli Bin Ab Karim, is currently on bail in France awaiting trial after allegedly confessing to the crime and being charged by French authorities. Ms Bushney's Statement of Claim filed by Shine Lawyers in the Federal Court of Western Australia details the alleged ordeal which continued for several hours of the 13-hour flight. The statement said it began after Ms Bushney informed the cabin crew of her fear of flying and the Chief Steward promised to "check on her" during the trip. Over the 13-hour duration of the flight, Ms Bushney alleged the Chief Steward escalated his contact from a leg rub to rubbing her stomach and thighs, then eventually putting his hand inside her pants and touching her genitalia. When this occurred, Ms Bushney said she was physically sick and the Chief Steward walked away. After arriving at Charles de Gaulle Airport, Ms Bushney told a Malaysia Airlines official she had been sexually assaulted, and was told "there would be repercussions against her if the allegations were false". "The applicant stated that she wished to proceed with the complaint (and) French police took the Chief Steward to a police station within the airport," said the statement. "The applicant (Ms Bushney) agreed to undergo DNA testing." After several months of investigation, French police charged Mr Mohd with indecent assault and he is currently on bail. Malaysia Airlines terminated his employment two weeks after the alleged incident, and on August 25, 2014 Ms Bushney spoke out about her ordeal on television in Australia. Under the Montreal Convention, Ms Bushney had two years to seek compensation based on physical injuries she suffered in the attack as well as financial losses. The Statement of Claim said her "bodily injuries" included genital trauma and redness, abrasions, physical manifestations from the shock of the assault including tears and sleeplessness, racing heart, nausea and post-traumatic stress disorder. "As a consequence of the injuries, she has endured and continues to endure pain and suffering, inconvenience and loss of enjoyment of amenities of life, has lost income and has been left with a permanent disability," said the statement. In addition to the US$200,000 compensation allowable under the first tier of the Montreal Convention, Ms Bushney is seeking interest on damages, costs and interest on costs, as well as "further or other relief that the court considers just". The Convention is the same law under which families of MH17 and MH370 passengers are seeking compensation from Malaysia Airlines for their loved ones' deaths. Australian next of kin are seeking damages for economic loss and nervous shock in claims expected to total millions of dollars. Malaysia Airlines did not take the opportunity to provide a statement in response to Ms Bushney's claim. By Lena Ge, China Aviation Daily | Aug. 24, 2016 Tianjin Airlines will start flying to Auckland, New Zealand from December this year, Auckland International Airport announced Wednesday. The carrier will operate year-round between Tianjin and Auckland via Chongqing thrice-weekly, using Airbus A330s, said airport general manager Norris Carter. Auckland would be the first Australasian destination for the airline, Carter said in a statement. "Regional China is a rapidly developing source market for New Zealand tourism and these new routes flying directly to Auckland provide another option for Chinese visitors to experience New Zealand." Auckland Airport estimated the new service would add 83,000 seats to the China to Auckland route every year and bring about NZ$102 million (US$74.29 million) into the New Zealand tourism industry. Tianjin Airlines will be the only operator on the Chongqing-Auckland route. It already competes with Air China, China Southern Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, West Air and Xiamen Airlines on the Tianjin-Chongqing route. Found in 2009, Tianjin Airlines owns a fleet of 89 aircraft and serves more than 100 destinations. Related News: Tianjin Airlines Plans Tianjin-Chongqing-Auckland Service Business representatives from Taiwan province are expecting the coming Taiwan Trade Fair in Guangzhou 2016 to play a big part in helping them expand their presence in the Chinese mainland market even as cross-Straits relations have cooled since the island's new leader Tsai Ing-wen took office on May 20. According to Simon Wang, executive vice-president of Taiwan Trade Center (TTC), more than 300 companies from Taiwan will bring in 5,000 different kinds of high quality products made and produced in Taiwan to display and exhibit in more than 700 standard booths at the fair, seeking expansion of sales in the Chinese mainland market and co-operation with their mainland counterparts. "Companies from both mainland and Taiwan should seize the opportunities (to further advance their co-operation)," Wang told a press conference in Guangzhou on Wednesday. To this end, special trade talks will also be organized during the fair, Wang added. Jointly organized by Guangzhou city government and TTC, the fair will open in Guangzhou Pazhou International Convention and Exhibition Center on Friday and will not end till next Monday. Gao Yaozong, director of the general office of Guangzhou Fair, said the event will help build a good platform for Taiwan companies to expand their presence in the mainland market and enhance the co-operation between the mainland and Taiwan. It is the second time TTC has cooperated with the Guangzhou city government to organize a trade fair in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province. The first was held in 2011. More than 500,000 business representatives and residents visited the previous event. An Anbang Insurance Group Co stand at an industry fair in Beijing. WANG GOUDAN/FOR CHINA DAILY Insurance group asks for proposals on 2017 initial public offering by the end of the week Anbang Insurance Group Co, the Chinese owner of New York's Waldorf Astoria hotel, has asked banks to pitch for a role in a planned Hong Kong initial public offering next year, according to sources who did not want to be identified. The Beijing-based insurance giant asked investment banks to submit proposals by the end of this week, said one source. The listing may include Anbang's domestic life-insurance operations as well as many of its overseas businesses, two other sources said. The proposed listing would be an important step forward for Anbang's transparency, shedding some light on the insurer's ownership structure while also providing an offshore war chest to fund further expansion. Anbang has been the most active overseas dealmaker among Chinese insurers, announcing at least $13.5 billion of acquisitions over the past five years. A representative for Anbang said he could not immediately comment. Anbang was leading an investor group earlier this year that abruptly pulled a $14 billion takeover offer for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc, clearing the way for an acquisition by Marriott International Inc. The Chinese company agreed in November to buy US insurer Fidelity & Guaranty Life for $1.6 billion. This year it reached a deal to purchase Strategic Hotels & Resorts Inc from Blackstone Group LP for about $6.5 billion. Two State-owned building materials firmsChina National Building Materials Group Corporation and China National Materials Group Corporation Ltdstarted merger preparations in the latest move of SOE consolidation and shedding of cement industry overcapacity. [Photo/VCG] Two State-owned building materials firmsChina National Building Materials Group Corporation and China National Materials Group Corporation Ltdstarted merger preparations in the latest move of SOE consolidation and shedding of cement industry overcapacity. The State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission gave the green light to their merger on Monday. The share price of fiberglass manufacturer China Jushi Co Ltd rose 0.62 percent on Tuesday, with the largest increase of 4.79 percent in the morning, driven by the merger news of its parent company China National Building Materials Group Corporation with Sinoma. Since their business overlapped in the cement sector, the reorganization will help the two enterprises reduce excess capacity, and maintain their competitiveness, building materials analyst Wang Junying wrote in a research note. For example, four units of CNBM have the capability to produce 299 million metric tons of cement clinker, and Sinoma can produce 85.5 million tons. The combined capacity accounts for 22 percent of the whole industry in China. "The industry will accelerate the pace of mergers and acquisitions in the second half of the year, given the background of reducing excess capacity," said Chen Bailin, CEO of Digital Cement, an industry website. CNBM, headquartered in Beijing, is the world's major non-metal materials manufacturer and cement equipment and engineering service provider, with total assets of more than 430 billion yuan ($64.51 billion) and 180,000 employees. It was ranked 327th on the Fortune 500 with revenue of $31.7 billion in 2015, down 22 percent year-on-year. In the same period, it reported a net loss of $142 million. Sinoma is also an industry leader in the non-metal materials industry, with total assets of more than 119 billion yuan. Under the merger, a new building material giant will come into being, with total assets of nearly 570 billion yuan. Xiao Yaqing, head of the SASAC, said: "We need to reinforce the integration between similar businesses and take advantage of leading industry players." The State Council released the guidelines on SOE mergers and acquisitions in July last year, calling on the enterprises to form a mechanism in which State assets can flow flexibly by way of M& As, innovation, reducing capacity, and dealing with inefficient capital. BEIJING - China's top economic planner announced on Tuesday that contracts for 619 public-private partnership (PPP) projects worth one trillion yuan ($151 billion) had been signed as of the end of July. The projects include those in public infrastructure, railways and ports, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). PPPs are collaborative projects between governments and private companies that are mainly funded and operated by the latter. Chinese authorities have explored funding infrastructure and public works through the PPP model since late 2013 amid growing concerns over rising local government debts incurred through local financing vehicles. Since last May, the NDRC has announced two rounds of PPP projects worth 4.23 trillion yuan. In September 2015, the Ministry of Finance started a fund with 180 billion yuan to support the financing of PPP projects. A bus decorated in G20 colors in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, on August 9, 2016. [Photo/IC] Banners saying "A good host, a better G20" can be seen everywhere in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province and the host city of the September G20 summit, from bus stations, shopping malls to construction sites to motorways. The G20 main venue, B20 main venue, accommodation for Chinese and foreign leaders as well as other venues are all ready to welcome the guests. TEHRAN - A forum titled "Silk Road Economic Belt" kicked off in Iran's capital Tehran on Tuesday with its focus on the friendly exchanges and cooperation between China and the Islamic republic. China and Iran are both countries with great civilization, and the long history of friendly exchanges between them has laid a solid foundation for the Silk Road Economic Belt initiative, He Xingliang, counselor of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, said at the forum held in Tehran's Niavaran Cultural Center. There are great potential and broad prospects in bilateral cooperation, especially in the fields of resources and technology, the Chinese official said. For his part, Head of Iran-China Friendship Association Ahmad Mohammadi hailed the role of China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative in the interaction between Iran and China. Mohammadi said the interaction between the two countries has long existed, but has taken new dimensions with the initiative. "The proposal has been well received in Iran, and the Islamic republic is preparing to accept the proposal," Mohammadi said. In order to implement the project, the first step is to establish a secretariat of the project in China, he said, adding that it can be followed by sessions of the secretariat with the representatives from the participation states. Meanwhile, deputy head of the faculty of international relations of Iran's Foreign Ministry, Mohammad Reza Dehshiri, said the Belt and Road Initiative is aimed at creating a friendly environment for better neighborhood in terms of political, economical and security dimensions. The Islamic republic is determined to actively participate in the project, and believes that joining the plan would help the regional and international economic development, Dehshiri said. On Tuesday, a Chinese cultural festival opened in Tehran with the aim to promote China-Iran exchange and cooperation. The one-week event, titled "2016 Experience China in Iran," features China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region through a photo exhibition and cultural activities. video video video After living as a photographer in Hangzhou for four years, Rodolphe Toucas says the city bears a resemblance to places he knows in France. "I prefer this feeling, maybe because my father in France had a small shop similar to those in Hangzhou. Hangzhou is very nice because there are so many places to go, to shoot and to discover. It is a kind of safari for photos," he said. NEW YORK - As the host of the September summit of the Group of 20 (G20) major economies, China has the opportunity to set the tone and agenda for the meeting and help all participants reach important consensus, a leading China expert in the United States has said. It is "very much up to China" whether the 2016 G20 summit, scheduled for September 4-5 in the east China city of Hangzhou, can produce some really encouraging outcome, said Stephen Orlins, president of the National Committee on US-China Relations, in a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua. "I think China is going to need to lead," said the veteran expert who has served on the current position for 11 years. "I think China in a lot of ways can lead." Founded in 1999, the G20 has assumed increasing significance since its first summit was held in Washington D.C. in November 2008, when the world just slipped into the abyss of a global financial crisis. As the world's second largest economy, China participated in all the 10 previous G20 summits, but is hosting the event for the first time. "I think China being the host of the G20 is very much kind of a statement that China is now one of the most important economies in the world, and it is terrific that it is being able to do it," said Orlins. As the world economy is still haunted by sluggish recovery, weak growth and market volatility, many are pinning hopes on the upcoming summit of the G20, which accounts for some 85 percent of gross world product, 80 percent of world trade and two-thirds of the world population. A former banker and investor, Orlins said that he believes the world needs to seek new growth engines from innovation and clean industries, and that China as a global leader in both fields should steer the Hangzhou summit to achieve some breakthrough. "We need to see more innovation that can be shared globally, and we need to see more movement towards industries which emit less carbon. I hope that's what comes out of the G20," he said. "With China as the host, it has the opportunity to set the tone and the agenda." A lot of things in China's current development plan apply to other parts of the world, from Japan, the United States and Europe to Africa and Latin America, he observed. "You look at the announcements of where China's economy wants to grow -- green growth, travel, tourism, technology and innovation, you would sit back and you say, you know, maybe we should do that worldwide," he said. The expert went on to point out that China in recent years has proved itself to be a responsible stakeholder in the international system, citing the Beijing-proposed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Belt and Road Initiative as "perfect examples." "China is doing the right thing, creating an infrastructure investment bank to build up these places which need economic growth ... to invest in infrastructure in places where it can raise millions of people out of poverty," he said. As economic observers found the Group of 7 summit held late May in Japan disappointing for failing to produce any concerted moves to boost global growth, Orlins noted that the G20 summit could be an even bigger challenge for the host country. "It is very difficult to lead multilateral discussions. Seven is tough, 20 is even tougher, because you have more diverse interests among the participants," he said. "But China has shown itself at times to be adept at working out consensus among groups," he stressed. "So we can hope that there are things China can do, to come up with a more concrete recommendation at the end of the G20 meetings." Having been engaged in the promotion of U.S.-China relations since the late 1970s, Orlins also expressed confidence that the G20 summit in Hangzhou could help deepen mutual understanding between the two countries and boost bilateral ties. US President Barack Obama is expected to travel to Hangzhou for the summit, which would most likely to be his last visit to China in his eight-year tenure. "Every time that an American president visits China, it is a benefit to US-China relations. Every time that a Chinese president and an American president meet, it is a benefit to US-China relations," said Orlins. "So the mere fact that he (Obama) is going, even though it is a multilateral meeting, is a benefit to the relationship," he added. Editor's Note: In this ongoing series on the birth and growth of privately owned Chinese companies that are redefining innovation, China Daily profiles Watchdata Technologies Ltd, a Beijing-based payment security solution provider that is shifting its focus from selling to large State-owned enterprises to consumer markets. Facing numerous copycats and shrinking markets, Watchdata Technologies Ltd, a Beijing-based payment security solution provider, had no choice but to explore the consumer market. Established in 1994, the company has focused on payment and trading safety, including chip cards and smart cards for banks, public transportation companies and mobile communication service providers. "Our clients used to be State-owned enterprises such as China Mobile Ltd and China Construction Bank Corp," said Ye Xin, general manager of the company. "However, the growth of those sectors has not been satisfactory in recent years. Thus, we developed the Watchdata wristband, which is our first product that directly appeals to the consumers." Watchdata wristband has one key important function lacking in such popular wristbands as the Chinese brand Mi Band and the American brand Jawbone - that is, it can be used to pay for public transportation. "In addition to recording sports, sleep and health data for users, we added the payment function to the wristband, building on the technology strength of our company," Ye said. Li Jian, a Beijinger who has used many wristbands, said he can never wear one more than three months. "It seems like a spell that I just cannot keep wearing any wristband longer than that because of laziness or just that it is inconvenient." However, if Li has to take a subway or bus to go to work, the Watchdata wristband will be like his public transportation card, which he will need everyday. Nevertheless, the Watchdata wristband faces severe competition from various kinds of smart wristbands and its performance in the market remains to be seen. Wang Youjun, president of Watchdata, said it's not easy for a private company to be successful or even survive in the current market. "Our big clients such as China Mobile and some banks have reduced their orders for sim cards and chip cards. They became more cautious about market expansion or product promotion," he said. According to Wang, the company's orders for sim cards declined by 20 percent last year and orders from the banks were falling too. "Given such a background, we have to adjust our strategy by expanding our market from B2B (business-to-business) to B2C (business-to-consumer), trying to earn more cash for the company," he said. At the same time, keeping up innovation is the key, Wang said. "You can never stop the imitators from learning from your products. We have to keep developing new things." Up to 8 percent of the company's annual investment goes to research and development, which is around 130 million yuan ($20 million) to 140 million yuan. Half of the employees in the company are technicians and engineers. William Yan, bornYong Ming Yan. [File Photo/Agencies] A Chinese millionaire with New Zealand citizenship and three other people have been ordered to hand over 42.85 million NZ dollars ($31.2 million) to the New Zealand and Chinese governments to settle money laundering charges. The New Zealand Police said Tuesday that a court order against controversial millionaire William Yan and Wei You, and two of Yan's acquaintances, was the single largest court-ordered forfeiture ever in New Zealand. It was also the first that related to crimes alleged to have occurred in China, said a statement from the Police. The activity underlying the forfeiture orders was alleged money laundering and the settlement was full and final without any admission of criminal or civil liability. The proceedings against Yan and You began in August 2014, when police officers raided their luxury penthouse apartment in the largest city of Auckland. Restraining orders were obtained over assets associated with the couple, including the apartment, several luxury vehicles and substantial shareholdings. Related proceedings were initiated in December 2013 against Yingzi Zeng and Shui Yong Huang, who were associates of Yan, said the statement. They were alleged to have assisted in money laundering and property associated with them was restrained, including three Auckland properties, a Porsche and Maserati, and more than 4.5 million NZ dollars ($3.27 million) in bank funds. Once the settlement sum was paid, the restrained properties, vehicles, shareholdings and third party assets would be released, said the statement. The settlement followed a complex three-year investigation focusing on money laundering of large sums of funds allegedly derived from a series of alleged frauds perpetrated in China from 1999 to 2001. "This is a significant success for New Zealand Police," Detective Inspector Paul Hampton said in the statement. "The outcome in this case reflects the effective working relationship between Chinese and New Zealand law enforcement agencies." The next process would be determining how the recovered monies would be shared between the New Zealand and Chinese governments. The court order was made under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act, which essentially forces someone to prove how an asset was paid for - even if they were acquitted or criminal charges are not laid. Yan - also previously known as Bill Liu, Yang Liu and Yong Ming Yan - reportedly had a reputation for spending millions in Auckland's biggest casino. Yan stood trial in the High Court at Auckland in May 2012 after pleading not guilty to five charges relating to false declarations on immigration and citizenship papers. Justice Timothy Brewer found him not guilty despite saying the evidence put before him "proves a situation that is highly suspicious." Yan has been a permanent resident in New Zealand since 2002. In 2005, he applied for citizenship, but this was opposed by the Department of Internal Affairs because his true identity was not known. He was then granted citizenship by then Internal Affairs Minister Shane Jones against the advice of officials. In June 2005, Chinese authorities reportedly posted a "red notice" with Interpol, claiming Yan was born Yong Ming Yan and stole the identity of Yang Liu in 1999, obtaining two false passports. He was wanted for embezzlement. About 300 hospitals nationwide will be selected as pioneers to set up a department to coordinate and promote organ donations among medical staff and to raise awareness of and standardize the practice, said an official. The hospitals' medical staff will be trained using updated information about donation techniques, processes, regulations and policies, said Huang Jiefu, director of the China Organ Donation and Transplantation Commission and former vice-minister of health. Additionally, the country's top health authority will introduce a monitoring system to scrutinize the process of brain death diagnosis for organ transplantations. Nearly 16 percent of the organ donations in China are made after brain death is diagnosed, far lower than the proportion in the West, according to the China Organ Transplant Response System, which is charged with allocating donated organs based on a computer system designed to ensure impartiality. Organs procured after brain death are considered to be of a higher quality for transplantation. "These initiatives aim to better facilitate public organ donations, protect due rights of the donors and ensure fairness of the lifesaving practice," Huang said over the weekend. Despite a substantial increase in organ donations in the country, challenges remain, including a lack of legislation on organ donations and allocation, said Wang Haibo, head of the China Organ Transplant Response System. In 2007, the State Council issued the Human Organ Transplant Regulations, which ban foreigners from traveling to China for a transplant. Efforts will be strengthened to make regulations and laws on the donation and distribution of organs, Wang said. In the first half of the year, China recorded 1,795 cases of organ donation, up 45 percent over last year, according to the COTRS. Gao Min, an organ donation coordinator with the Shenzhen branch of the Red Cross Society of China, said that number could increase with improved awareness. Starting in 2010, the Red Cross and health authorities established a public organ donation system to help coordinate and witness donations approved by family members after a patient's death. Nearly all potential donors are in intensive care units, and approval is needed before coordinators are granted access to them, Gao said. However, due to problems such as strained doctor-patient relations, many hospitals do not get involved with donations, she said. Brain death is a major issue, she added, because the concept is not conventionally accepted in China and is not legally defined. Because of the lack of a legal definition of brain death, some hospitals are reluctant to perform organ removal, Gao said. Chen Jingyu, deputy director of Wuxi People's Hospital and a leading lung transplant specialist, said he welcomed the effort to scrutinize brain death diagnosis. He cited cases in which families members were told a patient was brain-dead and were asked to donate organs, when in fact the patient was not brain-dead. "There were profit incentives, and such has to be prohibited," he said. Currently, few doctors are qualified to diagnose brain death and training programs are insufficient, he added. Contact the writers at shanjuan@chinadaily.com.cn Premier Li Keqiang visits Yeping Revolution Heritage Site on Tuesday, where the first Soviet congress was held, in Ruijin, Jiangxi province. XIE HUANCHI/XINHUA Premier Li Keqiang called on high-tech manufacturers to establish their own branding and find new models of production, while transforming technologies into productivity, during a visit to East China's Jiangxi province on Tuesday. "High-tech companies should transform science and technology into products that are highly competitive in the market. You must establish your own branding in our country and, more important, win a reputation around the world," the premier told employees of Lattice Power Co, a leading Chinese manufacturer of LED chips in Nanchang, the capital of Jiangxi. Jiang Fengyi, founder of Lattice Power and a professor of semiconductor research at Nanchang University, said the company has patented technologies that imprint illumination materials upon silicon chips to save on energy and costs. "The technology broke the monopoly in the field by Japan and the United States," Wang said. The company is one of more than 30 LED-related production enterprises in the Nanchang National High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, a national semiconductor illumination base. The target revenue for these enterprises is 100 billion yuan ($15.1 billion) by 2020. However, Lattice Power has yet to gain recognition among domestic and overseas customers. Though China's market is open to foreign manufacturers, domestic producers should strive to be recognized for their own brands in the global market, the premier said. The new economy, including equipment manufacturing and new energy, has been a key subject for Li, who has called for nurturing these new growth drivers on many occasions, including in the Government Work Report he delivered in March. On Monday, Li visited Funeng Inc in Ganzhou, Jiangxi, a leading producer of lithium batteries for electric vehicles. Funeng, jointly founded by the local government and the US company Farasis Energy Inc, provides batteries for a number of Chinese and international brands, including BAIC Motor Corp in Beijing. Funeng's equipment has been tailor-made from upstream Chinese manufacturers and cost just one-sixth of equipment made in the US, said Wang Yu, chairman of Funeng. The premier said this model should be promoted to unleash the potential for industrial equipment manufacturing and to upgrade the sector. Li's trip to Nanchang came after a visit to southern Jiangxi, where the Long March started nearly 82 years ago. Jiangxi is an important point along the Yangtze River Economic Belt that extends from Yunnan province to Shanghai. But the province, which faces transportation and skill disadvantages, is less developed than its neighbors Guangdong and Zhejiang provinces. The premier's trip could encourage local governments and enterprises to set a long-term direction toward stronger market competitiveness by developing new brands and models of business, said Xia Xueluan, a professor of sociology at Peking University. Around 900 Malaysians rode the bullet train from Beijing to Tianjin on Tuesday to experience the trademark Chinese technology in the wake of last month's announcement of a planned Malaysia-to-Singapore high-speed rail link. Fauwati Abdul Rahman, a businesswoman from Malaysia, said she was excited to ride the train. "It is the first time I have visited China and my first time in Beijing. Actually, it my first time to take a train. In my country, I usually drive," she said. Rahman and her friends took selfies to post on social media. "I like the high-speed train. It is very nice and fast," she said. Rahman was part of a trip organized by the Malaysia-China Friendship Association, which invited Malaysiansespecially those with high social and economic statusto visit China and experience its high-speed rail. "It is a great opportunity for Malaysians to experience the high-speed train since Malaysia is planning to invest in a new urban transportation system, such as the Malaysia-Singapore high-speed rail plan," said Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan, president of the Malaysia-China Friendship Association. Most of the tour members had never been to China before, and they were interested to see the railway, Khan said. "I have taken high-speed trains in many countries, such as in Japan and in Europe. China's bullet train is comfortable," he said, noting that China has the technology and skills to build them well. Zhou Li, director of China Railway Corporation's science and technology administration department, said, "China has mastered world-leading technology to build high-speed railways. In addition, it has experience in various environments, including extremely hot and cold weather conditions." China's high-speed rail network covers more than 19,000 kilometers, accounting for 60 percent of the world's high-speed rail tracks. Last month, the Singapore and Malaysia governments announced plans for a high-speed rail linking Singapore with the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur. Chinese companies have shown an interest in bidding on the project, as are others from Japan, Europe and South Korea, said Khan, who served as the Malaysian ambassador to China from 1998 to 2005. China has eyed high-speed rail projects overseas in recent years. It built the Jakarta-Bandung railway in Indonesia and the Moscow-Kazan railway in Russia. Khan said many factors are involved in awarding the project, including technology, finance and management. "Whoever can offer the best package will win. China has a good chance," he said. Many Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand, Laos and Indonesia, also have plans to construct high-speed railways. The Shanghai Museum of Sun Yat-sen's Former Residence is inviting young people from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan to contribute ideas to create souvenirs for the museum. Pictures of nearly 30 precious cultural relics collected by the museum will be available for reference during the design contest, which runs through the end of this year, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Sun's birth in November. The relics include the medical devices that Sun used when he practiced medicine, photos taken when he was commander of the Republic of China's army and a photo of Sun and Soong Ching Ling when they married in Japan in October 1915. Contest rules can be found on the website of Shanghai's Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, which held the contest with the Shanghai Sun Yat-sen and Soong Ching Ling Cultural Relics Management Committee, and the Research Center of Creative Industry under the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences. "We hope that Sun is not only a political figure but a cultural symbol for universal fraternity and unremitting efforts. We hope the young generation from both the Chinese mainland and Taiwan can interpret the relics from their own perceptions and show original designs that meet the needs of the times and are popular with people," said the director of the museum's department of cultural relics protection, who would give only his surname, Wang. The good ideas will be turned into souvenirs, he said. Sun and Soong lived in the residence on Xiangshan Road in downtown Shanghai from 1918 to 1925, when Sun died. Soong continued to live there until 1937. Wang said the country encourages museums to develop creative souvenirs, and both the Palace Museum in Beijing and Shanghai Museum set excellent examples. The Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, began to introduce creative souvenirs two years ago and won wide applause. They include earphones that look like a string of coral beads worn by officials in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and refrigerator magnets depicting an emperor and empress as cute cartoons. "We used to hold conservative ideas for national-level precious cultural relics, and emphasized protection rather than development and utilization. It was quite a breakthrough when the Palace Museum developed innovative and popular souvenirs," Huang Yaping, director of Shanghai Sun Yat-sen and Soong Ching Ling Cultural Relics Management Committee, was quoted as saying by the paper.cn. Representatives of Lanzhou Jiaotong University Bowen College went to the house of the sick teacher who was fired when she went on sick leave and then died of cancer to apologize, reported cnr.cn on Monday. Chen Ling, dean of the College of Literature, visited teacher Liu lingli's family as one of the college representatives and apologized to them. Later the college and family discussed the compensation and finally came to an agreement. According to the agreement, the college will pay Liu's medical fees of 400,000 yuan ($60,261), the salary 57,600 yuan ($8,600) for the period from September 2014 to August when Liu was on sick leave, and other compensations. The total compensation is 500,000 yuan ($75,304), and will be paid off in two days. Earlier, the college released an open letter addressing Liu's family on its official website. The case caught public attention when the college fired a teacher who was suffering from ovarian cancer and who subsequently died. Reportedly there have been three other cases of teachers being sacked by the college after they went on sick leave due to serious illnesses. One-third of the people listed by Interpol as China's 100 most-wanted corrupt officials and businesspeople have returned to the country to face justice and atone for their crimes. Zhang Yi reports. "I feel ashamed of what I did, stealing public funds and fleeing to Singapore to avoid jail time in China. I don't deserve to be a Chinese citizen. I realize there is no point living a miserable life in a foreign country, because the rest of my days would be a mere existence on earth." Those words, from a confessional letter written by Li Huabo, No 2 on a list of arrest warrants for China's 100 most-wanted economic fugitives published by Interpol last year, were made public for the first time at the weekend. Li returned to China in May last year, after serving 15 months in a Singaporean jail for depositing stolen money in bank accounts in the island state. The 55-year-old former official at the finance bureau in Poyang county, Jiangxi province, is suspected of embezzling 94 million yuan ($14 million) in government funds. In the confession, he said he felt relieved when he agreed to return to China and turn himself in. He is just one of 33 people on the Interpol list who have returned to China to face the music. Thanks to a global dragnet, the country's most-wanted economic fugitives are discovering that they can run, but in the end, they will be brought to justice. According to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the nation's top anti-graft body, to date, one-third of the fugitives on the Interpol list have now returned to China, either by force or of their own volition. Yang Xiuzhu is the latest name to be crossed off Interpol's list. Last month, Yang - who is accused of accepting bribes worth 250 million yuan and left the country in 2003 - abandoned attempts to gain political asylum in the United States, and through her lawyer, expressed a wish to return to China as soon as possible for treatment for an undisclosed medical condition. The 70-year-old former official in the southeastern province of Zhejiang was apprehended in 2014, when US authorities charged her with entering the country illegally. Since then, she has been held at an immigration detention center in Houston, Texas. Sun Xin, the No 1 fugitive on Interpol's list, was tried shortly after he returned in June last year. Although Sun faced a maximum sentence of life imprisonment after being found guilty of embezzling 20 million yuan of public funds, he was given a lenient sentence of 14 and a half years in jail. Crackdown intensifies In the first half of this year, 381 other fugitives returned from 40 countries, leading to the recovery of 1.24 billion yuan in illicit assets. In 2014, China's efforts to net overseas fugitives picked up steam, and a national coordination office was established on Oct 10 of the same year. Led by Huang Shuxian, deputy head of the CCDI, the office comprises senior officials from eight central government bodies, including the Ministry of State Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Bank of China and the country's top judicial bodies. The CCDI also set up an international cooperation department in 2014, to better facilitate operations against fugitives overseas. The Ministry of Public Security launched a special operation codenamed "Fox Hunt", while the Supreme People's Procuratorate began an operation targeting people who were set to be tried for dereliction of duty but absconded overseas before their case could come to court. Last year, the CCDI started "Skynet", a program to coordinate efforts to bring errant fugitives to justice. "Suspected government officials and crooked businesspeople in the private sector are on the Interpol list. Those who worked for State-run departments or enterprises have chosen to hide in economically advanced countries, such as the US, Canada and New Zealand, because they can access a favorable living environment and a well-rounded legal system which they believe will favor their interests," said Huang Feng, a professor of international criminal law at Beijing Normal University. Huang said prospective fugitives plan their disappearances long in advance, and in some cases, they spend years making preparations to flee. "Before they are targeted as corruption suspects, they apply for immigrant status for their families and obtain permanent resident status in another country," Huang said. "Then they launder the illicit money and move it offshore." Searches continue This year, there has been no letup in the efforts to net fugitives overseas. Cai Wei, deputy head of the CCDI's international cooperation department, said the commission will announce a second batch of names subject to Interpol's intervention in May. However, the anti-graft authorities are looking for more than just the 100 most-wanted fugitives on the Interpol list. Cai underscored the need for efficient work practices at all levels of anti-graft work, and urged improvements in the suspects' information system, more-stringent customs checks and stronger measures to freeze illicit assets. At the international level, by the end of last month, China and 71 countries had signed treaties related to judicial assistance and extradition, plus combating separatism, extremism and terrorism. "It's been encouraging to see China signing an average of five new treaties related to judicial assistance with other countries every year in the past decade," Huang said. "In the years to come, the anti-corruption authorities are likely to require international assistance. "The judicial departments have a long way to go in stepping up international collaboration. At the moment, it's important for justice officers to become familiar with international rules and procedures in judicial cooperation, so they will become more competent and more efficient at netting fugitives overseas," he said. Information sharing needs to be promoted to respond to public queries China aims to make necessary information public on government websites and respond to public concerns in a timely manner. A recent review by the State Council, China's Cabinet, showed about 85 percent of government websites disclosed critical information in a timely fashion and the number of "zombie" government websites had dropped sharply. The State Council reviewed 746 government websites in June, including the portals of 71 departments under the central government and 32 provincial-level governments. The results, released on July 26, showed only 15 percent of government websites were not complying with the standard requirement of timely disclosure of information and responding to public concerns. The review also showed more than 80 percent of local government websites published State Council notices within 24 hours of their release. According to the results of the review, the central government ministries under the State Council and such provincial-level governments as Beijing, Liaoning and Qinghai are among the best performers in terms of e-government development. The review, however, found 112 government websites were not complying with the requirements - they had not been updated for a long time and didn't respond to netizens' questions on time. Some of them didn't even provide basic information on local governments and departments. Consequently, the State Council asked governments at all levels to attach greater importance to websites, and interact regularly with gov.cn, the official website of China's Cabinet. The review is considered an important part of the central government's efforts to be more transparent and to streamline the administration, which Premier Li Keqiang first highlighted in last March, in order to integrate government work with the internet. "Efforts were accelerated to increase government transparency and expand the application of e-government and online administration," Li said in the Government Work Report in March. Li also said efforts will be made to make government operations more transparent by using both traditional and new media, including the internet, to respond in a timely manner to social concerns and inform the public about the government's work. Websites are critical to the central government's determination to promote better services, making it easier for people to get the government's approval, said Ma Baocheng, director of the Decision-Making and Consultation Department of the Chinese Academy of Governance. In his Government Work Report last year, Li said the central government will establish a mechanism to create and monitor accountability for the implementation of major government policies, and introduce third-party evaluations. The reviewed websites account for less than 2 percent of China's more than 60,000 government websites, said Zhang Nan, associate professor at Tsinghua University's School of Public Policy and Management. "Governments under the city level have even more problems and need more stringent supervision and monitoring," she said. Ma participated in a third-party evaluation last year and found that governments in some provinces excelled in running official websites, allowing residents to upload required materials to get approval for businesses. "In Guangdong province, about 80 percent of the items can be approved online. The websites are interconnected, from provincial governments to the city, county and township governments," Ma says. The government possesses about 85 percent of the country's information, Li said at the opening ceremony of China Big Data Summit in Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province, in May. "However, many departments are reluctant to share the information they have with other departments," Ma says. "This needs to be addressed in the future with a top-level design by the central government that would promote information sharing and connect them to meet the demand of the public." Chen Mengge, left, and Zhou Si, right, show their marriage certificate on Aug 18. [Photo from web] The story of a Chinese couple at Oxford University who first met each other as deskmate in middle school and recently married each other has gone viral, southcn.com reported. Zhou Si, the groom, and Chen Mengge, the bride, married each other on Aug 18 and will together go to Oxford University to pursue their doctoral degrees later this year. They were deskmate in middle school and then both were admitted by same high school but not in same class. After three high-school years, Zhou Si went to Central South University in Changsha, Central China's Hunan province, to study materials engineering, while Chen Mengge enrolled in Sichuan International Studies University in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality majoring in English. It was not until the first half of the fourth college year that they fell in love. Zhou Si was an outstanding student in college. He was awarded the national scholarship every year and was recommended for admission to Shanghai Jiao Tong University as the No 1 ranking scorer and honorary graduate. Chen Mengge, after attempting the postgraduate qualifying examinations for two years with Zhou's encouragement, also entered Shanghai Jiao Tong University to pursue master's degree in history of science and technology. In 2015, Zhou Si, supported by the government, went to Oxford University for further study. "Since we had decided to be with each other, I had to study hard to accompany him," said Chen Mengge. Chen received the offer from Oxford University to study western history of science and technology this year. The sperm bank of Peking University Third Hospital is calling for healthy, young males to donate their sperm and pledges to reward each donor 5,000 yuan ($751) if the donation is successful. The hospital, considered the best in Beijing, said it is in urgent need of 900 donors and volunteers can register between August and September on its official account on WeChat, a popular social media app, on Monday. Volunteers must be Chinese, between 20 and 45 years old, living in Beijing at the time of donation and have no infectious diseases, such as hepatitis B or color blindness, according to the hospital. In addition, they are required to hold a junior college or a higher degree, the hospital said. Each registered donor will have to undergo two physical checkups before donating, and he will have to donate at least 21 millimeters of sperm. He must finish the process within six months, the hospital said. About 15 percent of married couples in Beijing and neighboring Tianjin are infertile, and 40 percent of them fail to get pregnant because of sperm problems. Due to high demand for sperm and lack of supply, couples in many places in China have to wait as long as two years for sperm, the hospital said. A doctor clown plays with a patient. [Photo/chinanews.com] A team of volunteers has been working in Shanxi for one year in which participants dress up as cartoon characters to entertain the sick in hospitals, reported chinanews.com on Monday. The team called clown doctors, the first volunteer team, has grown from just eight participants to 500 in just one year, and helped thousands of people who were ill. The volunteers dress up as popular cartoon characters like panda, Superman, Spider-Man, clowns that Chinese children love, to ease the suffering of sick children. Chen Chen, a doctor in Taiyuan, learned about the public welfare program "clown doctors" when he went to Italy for further studies in 2015 and soon launched one in China. The program is supported by Shanxi Youth Federation. In August, clown doctors made their debut in maternal and child care service centers, making an unexpected positive influence on the children. Clown doctors are now widely used as a program in health care facilities in western countries involving visits from specially trained clowns. The visits to hospitals have shown to help in lifting patients mood with the positive power of hope and humor. Chen Chen said the clown doctors will help patients feel less anxious and tense. All the volunteers will be trained in first aid, painting, magic, dance and other skills. "Clown doctors have three goals: entertaining, healing and humanistic care," said Li Huarong, chief of the clown doctors' team. He said the clown doctors won't be just funny amateur clowns as they will improve the service in details to help more people. A group of senior foreign experts gathered in East China's Anhui province on Monday for a week-long vacation tour. The experts spent Monday in Hefei, capital city of Anhui, visiting some of the local scientific institutes, including the Institute of Advanced Technology at the University of Science and Technology of China and the Hefei branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. On Tuesday, the group headed for the province's Huangshan city, which is known for the Huangshan Mountain (Yellow Mountain), where they will stay until Sunday. Li Jinbin, governor of Anhui, told the experts that the province has been increasingly eager to attract more overseas talents to work in Anhui and a favorable support package will be provided to them. The tour, organized by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA), is an annual event; the destination varies from year to year. It aims to provide the participating foreign experts an opportunity to relax and to know China better, according to officials. The tour for this year includes more than 30 foreign experts, who were among the country's most respected foreign talents employed in multiple fields, said Zhang Jianguo, head of SAFEA. Saxophonist Kenny Garrett performs with his quintet at the opening of Blue Note Beijing, the first branch of the New York jazz club in China. Photo by Feng Yongbin/China Daily Grammy-winning saxophonist Kenny Garrett came to Beijing for the first time in 2005 to write music after being drawn to the city by a book on erhu, the traditional Chinese instrument, which he had bought in Ireland earlier. He lived in a traditional courtyard house in a hutong (alley) for three weeks and walked for hours every day to explore the city where he found there was no jazz. "But I am pretty sure if I had played jazz then for my neighbors in the hutong they would have understood because the emotions, especially the struggle, expressed in the music is universal," says Garrett, recounting his first trip to Beijing. The experience inspired him to produce a CD called Beyond the Wall, which earned him a Grammy nomination in 2006. During the past 10 years, Garrett has returned to China often to perform at music festivals and teach at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. But he didn't expect that jazz - a genre that originated in African-American communities of New Orleans in the late 19th century - to take root and develop in China quite so quickly. This summer, he returned to the capital and was excited to perform with his quintet at the opening of Blue Note Beijing, the first Chinese branch of the Blue Note Jazz Club, the famous New York establishment, on Thursday. "We travel around the world and present music to people. So, for me, opening up for Beijing is special. I like Beijing and I want to give back. "I am excited to be the first one here to introduce jazz, my version of jazz, to Beijing audiences," he says. The Blue Note was founded in 1981 by Danny Bensusan in New York's Greenwich Village. Many legendary jazz musicians, including Ray Charles, Dave Brubeck and Herbie Hancock, have performed on the Blue Note stage. Bensusan is credited with revitalizing jazz in New York. Joy Chen's book is being pitched to China's "leftover women". Photo provided to China Daily Joy Chen, a former deputy mayor of Los Angeles, didn't expect to become a popular author in China. Yet she is now in the country promoting her book Do Not Marry Before Age 30. First published in Chinese in 2012, the book now out in English is being pitched to China's "leftover women", and a movie deal with Wanda Media is also in the works for the Chinese-American author who once was also a real estate developer. Chen, 47, was also a CEO headhunter. Her volunteer work in the city of Los Angeles led her to become its deputy mayor from2001 to 2005. It was also a time when Chinese publisher Citic Press Group sought her out and asked her to write a book of "life strategy" for Chinese women who are looked down upon by society for not being married at the "right age". At first, the idea seemed ludicrous to Chen - she hadn't written anything beyond personal blogs until then. Chen got married at the age of 38 and has two daughters with husband Dave. The birth of her own daughters inspired her to try and write something that would help Chinese women, she says. Do Not Marry Before Age 30 encourages women not to get married only due to the fear of being labeled. Chen posted a blog of the same title in 2011 to find out if an American-born could write anything of value for Chinese women. Her doubts evaporated once the post went viral and that led to the publication of her book, she says. "I realized that the circumstances of our lives are different, but the big questions that we as women face in our lives are the same. So because of that I found that I have sisters all around China and that to me is the biggest reward from writing a book," Chen says. Writing Do Not Marry Before Age 30 posed many challenges for her. It was a very busy time in her life and she wanted to draw on more than just personal experience to write the book. She did research on philosophy, psychology, religion, anthropology and more - any subject that would lead her to write a better book. She communicated with Chinese women, too. Liu Cixin, writer of The Three-Body Problem, holds a book signing in Shanghai on August 21. [Photo/IC] Following on the huge success of The Three-Body Problem, a milestone science fiction trilogy written by Liu Cixin, Chinese post-80s female writer Hao Jingfang won over the judges panel of the World Science Fiction Society with her book Folding Beijing on August 21. "Science fiction writers prepare for all future possibilities, whether good or bad, likely or unlikely. You can hear sci-fi writers talking about the strategies to face aliens, at the dinner table, seriously. We care about all possibilities. We live in the parallel universes," said Hao as she accepted a Hugo Award for Best Novel at the Kansas City Convention Center in the United States. Meanwhile, it is really a coincidence that the English versions of The Three-Body Problem books were published in China on the same day, attracting lots of science fiction lovers who stood in long queues to purchase them. "After Liu's winning the Hugo Award last year, Chinese science fiction has received increased attention from international science fiction circles. Also, it has a close relationship with China's rise and economic performance in particular," said Yao Haijun, deputy editor-in-chief of Science Fiction World, a renowned magazine in China. "We have already built a bridge between China and the rest of the world by inviting professionals to translate the literature. In addition, foreign readers are curious about Chinese-style fiction and are interested in finding clues to China's future from these kinds of books," Yao added. "Compared with other literature, science fiction is a genre best able to transcend cultural boundaries, as what it depicts is a universal crisis facing the entire human race. Therefore, Chinese science fiction may be a key to help foreign people know about China," Liu suggested. Since the release of the English version of The Three-Body Problem in November two years ago, a total of 1.6 million copies have been sold globally. Besides, many influential news media including the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal have recommended and spoken highly of the series. "I am fond of Liu's books and he is amazing. Attractive story plots, unique narrative methods and wonderful writing style... I am curious to find out about his views on global warming, non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and political systems in the next four hundred years," said foreign reader Hanson Steven about Liu's books. "I am proud that more Chinese books, and science books in particular, have entered the world stage. By reading Chinese-style science fiction, foreign people just have to be amazed by our imagination," Weibo user Lansehudie said. Actor Deng Chao in The Dead End. [Photo/Mtime] Nominees of 33rd Hundred Flowers Awards, one of China's highest honors awarded for excellence in cinema, were announced in Beijing on Tuesday. Sci-Fi film Mojin: The Lost Legend; blockbuster hits Monster Hunt and Goodbye Mr. Loser; thriller The Dead End, which won Best Director and Best Actor at the 18th Shanghai International Film Festival in June; and action film Wolf Warriors were nominated for the most sought-after Best Picture. Guan Hu (Mr. Six), Peter Chan (Dearest), Wu Jing (Wolf Warriors), Raman Hui (Monsters Hunt) and Wu Ershan (Mojin: The Lost Legend) are competing for Best Director. Renowned director and actor Feng Xiaogang, who won Best Actor for his performance in Mr. Six at the China Film Director's Guild Award, is nominated once again for his titular role, alongside actors Jing Boran (Monster Hunt), Deng Chao (The Dead End) and Huang Bo (Dearest). For the best actress' guild, Bai Baihe (Goodbye Mr. Tumor), Xu Qing (Mr. Six), Zhao Wei (Dearest) and Yu Nan (Wolf Warriors) are competing for the honor. The 33rd Hundred Flowers Award ceremony will be held on Sept 24 in Tangshan, Hebei province, as part of 25th Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival, which runs from Sept 21 to 24. Related: Ang Lee's 'Billy Lynn' to premiere at NYFF Director Feng Xiaogang wins best actor Cui Yuying, deputy director of China's State Council Information Office, gives a speech at the opening ceremony of "2016 Experience China in Iran-Cultural Exploration of Western China", Teheran, Iran, Aug 22, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] "2016 Experience China in Iran-Cultural Exploration of Western China", a large-scale cultural event, held its opening ceremony in Teheran, Iran, on Aug 22. The theme of the 7-day event this year is Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. A series of cultural forums, dances, photo exhibitions, concerts and fashion shows about Xinjiang will be featured during this period. Pang Sen, Chinese ambassador to Iran, Abbas Khamehyar, international deputy of Iran's Islamic Culture and Communication Organization, Ali Moradkhani, Iran's deputy minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, and some 500 Chinese and Iranian officials, representatives and envoys from other countries attended the ceremony. Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, sent his congratulations on the event. Yu said the two countries have developed fruitful diplomatic relations with strengthening cooperation in their economies and culture in the past 45 years. And China's Belt and Road Initiative is now promising an even brighter future for the relationship. He said Xinjiang, as a core economic district on the Silk Road, bridges China and Iran in Eurasia. The event will let Iranian people learn more about Xinjiang through a display of its culture and history. Cui Yuying, deputy director of China's State Council Information Office, said "Experience China" aims to present both modern and historical Xinjiang and the diversity of Chinese culture to people in Iran. She also mentioned that such a cultural exchange related to Xinjiang was held in Iran for the first time. Ali Moradkhani hoped that the cooperation and exchange between the two nations would reach a higher level, especially on the cultural front, with the support of the Belt and Road Initiative. The event was organized by China's State Council Information Office, the Government of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and the Chinese Embassy to Iran. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi takes questions from the press during a news conference on the sidelines of the two sessions on Tuesday. [Photo by Feng Yongbin/chinadaily.com.cn] When Beijing canceled a scheduled visit by a diplomatic envoy meant to clear the way for the annual China-Japan-Republic of Korea foreign ministers' meeting in Tokyo, there were worries that it might not happen this year. Ten days later, on Sunday, the failure of a special vice-ministers' meeting to agree on a date for the event only exacerbated the pessimism. Even after the three parties finally managed to announce on Monday that it would be held on Wednesday, whether there will be a bilateral meeting between the Chinese and Japanese foreign ministers remains a question of concern to some. Beijing's insistence that Foreign Minster Wang Yi "is not paying a visit to Japan", but going there for the three-party meeting, is symptomatic of the frosty relations that exist between the two countries at the moment. In fact the atmosphere among the three countries is not really conducive to fruitful discussions by their top diplomatsafter all, Beijing's relations with both Tokyo and Seoul have hit rock bottom lately, and neither are Seoul and Tokyo on the best of terms due to the dispute over Dokdo Island (Takeshima Island in Japanese). Given the current climate, it would be unrealistic to expect much to emerge from their discussions, even on pressing topics such as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's nuclear weapons program, or on issues where they already have some agreement such as the China-Japan-ROK free trade agreement. The current security and political differences among the three countries are unlikely to allow for anything more than a shared statement of principled abstract consensuses. But that does not render the meeting insignificant. For it finally is happening, and that is of great significance, for it delivers the essential message that, divided as they are over some issues, the three countries remain convinced that they have to work together anyway. This in many respects is more important than a one-on-one meeting between the Chinese and Japanese foreign ministers. As China's Foreign Ministry notes, through this meeting the momentum of China-Japan-ROK cooperation can be maintained, the process of regional integration in East Asia can be advanced, and the three countries can move toward the goal of establishing an East Asian economic commonwealth by 2020. That deadline may sound too ambitious considering the situation at hand. But the fact that the official channel of three-party communication has not been discontinued at least keeps hopes of realizing an economic commonwealth alive. The real challenge then will be whether the three parties can contain their disagreements and coordinate their security interests, because that is where all their troubles have arisen. That the three countries keep talking is essential for the region's peace, development and prosperity. About 10 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions have introduced special leave for female employees if they suffer from menstrual cramps. The special leave for women suffering dysmenorrhea is meant to give female employees better protection, but the reality is, it is difficult to implement the leave. Some enterprises simply refuse to grant their female employees the leave, while the majority of women are unaware the leave exists. Besides, it is hard to define dysmenorrhea. Many females feel unwell during their periods, and pain is quite common. What level of pain or discomfort entitles female employees to the leave? How to define that? Moreover, there has been no mention of the penalty employers will receive for not granting the leave to their female employees. Worse, as the whole nation lacks protection for female employees, if period leave becomes part of the national employment law, employers might choose not to hire women. A law that only looks good on paper is not a good law. If the leave is effective only on paper, that challenges the authority of the law. In two weeks, Colin Wong, in his late 70s, will fly from San Francisco to China again. It will be the 42nd trip to China for Wong, who is "still excited and anticipating good things will happen," said the veteran dentist, a 1965 alumnus of the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry at the University of the Pacific. As usual, Wong will help coordinate his team of experts from the Alliance for Smiles, a San Francisco-based non-profit that provides free cleft lip and palate surgeries to impoverished children around the world to conduct operations with local hospitals in Guizhou province in Southwest China. Bilingual and well versed in Chinese culture and social customs, Wong is in charge of the team's activities during its China stay. On Aug 19, Luo Linquan, Chinese consul general in San Francisco, hosted a banquet to recognize what the alliance has done over the years for Chinese children and expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Chinese government for the American people's goodwill. "I want to thank all of you who have volunteered on medical missions to China or have been generous with time and money to support these missions," Luo said. "To all of you here, you can take enormous pride in the changes you helped achieve: building confident smiles for children with cleft lip and palate, making a difference for their life and even their family, and helping Chinese doctors and nurses to improve their skills." In 2004, six members of the Rotary Club of San Francisco - Jim Deitz, Anita Stangl, James Patrick, John Goings, John Uth and Burt Berry - established the Alliance for Smiles, hopeful that the program would not only send medical teams to sites to perform corrective surgery but also create treatment centers where the American protocol of cleft surgery could be replicated. The team also hired Karin Vargervik, director of the cleft lip and palate treatment center at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, to head the treatment center program. China is always on the alliance program's radar due to the grave reality there - approximately one in 350 children born in China each year has a cleft lip or palate abnormality; however, medical solutions are often out of reach for children from families in underdeveloped regions. Anita Stangl, outgoing president and CEO since the inauguration, approached China as the first country chosen to implement its dual concept. In addition to the vast number of child patients in China, the alliance already had relationships with the China Population Welfare Foundation and the State Family Planning Commission - organizations that could help set up treatment centers. There was also an intense interest from China's health workers in how to get treatment centers up and running. The cross-border collaboration and communication have borne fruit. In 2007, AfS dedicated its first treatment center in Jiujiang, Jiangxi province, followed by a second in Wenzhou in 2009, and a third in Harbin in 2011. A fourth treatment center is to be established in Zunyi, Guizhou province this fall. For the past nine years, the alliance has sent its doctors and nurses from San Francisco to China regularly to provide free surgeries and therapies to young patients. The work helps build understanding and friendship between our two peoples, said Luo, adding that the tree of Sino-US friendship takes its roots in people-to-people exchanges. "With the nourishment of kindness and goodwill, it will grow and bear sweet fruits for all the generations to come," said the top diplomat in San Francisco. Karl Wustrack, chairman of the board of directors at the alliance for three years, received a certificate of recognition from the consulate. He said many of the treatment centers the alliance has established in China are "self-sufficient", and Chinese physicians and medical staff are capable of handling daily operations. "We are very positive about the friendship and coordination with our Chinese partners," Wustrack said. Contact the writer at junechang@chinadailyusa.com SEOUL - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) test-fired a ballistic missile from a submarine off its east coast into the sea, the Republic of Korea's military said on Wednesday. A ROK defense ministry official told Xinhua that the DPRK test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) at about 5:30 am local time (2030 GMT Tuesday) off the eastern coastal town of Sinpo in South Hamgyeong province into the East Sea. The official said the DPRK's SLBM technology appeared to have advanced compared with previous launches as the ballistic missile flew about 500 km. The launch came after the ROK and the United States began their annual military drills on Monday. Nicolas Sarkozy, head of the Les Republicans political party and former French President, leaves his campaign headquarters in Paris, France, August 23, 2016. [Photo/VCG] PARIS - Seventy-nine percent of French voters did not back former president Nicolas Sarkozy's bid for a new mandate at the Elysee Palace, a day after the conservative leader formally announced his candidacy for next year's presidential race, a poll showed on Tuesday. An Elabe survey for BFMTV news channel showed 54 percent of supporters of right wing parties did not back Sarkozy candidacy. On Monday, the former president, said he would run for 2017 presidential election in an extract of a book "Everything for France" to be released Wednesday. "I have decided to be a candidate for the 2017 presidential election. I felt I had the strength to lead this battle at a troubled time in our history," he tweeted. "The coming five years are those of risk but also of hope," he added. After announcing his bid, Sarkozy, 61, handed over the leadership of the Republicans party to Laurent Wauquiez, the party's vice president. He also joined a large pool of contenders for the two -round primaries scheduled for November 20, 27. Pledging "Everything for France," the conservative leader, on the economic front, pledged to cut public spending by 100 billion euros (113.05 billion US dollars) over the next five-year-mandate and reduce payroll charges. On immigration, a sensitive issue in election campaigns, he proposed to suspend the right of family members to join a migrating relative in France. In 2012, Sarkozy was defeated by the Socialist leader Francois Hollande. After a two-year break from politics, he came back as leader of the crisis-hit conservative party then known as Union for a Popular Movement (UMP). While Hollande's approval rating is at a record low, Sarkozy is betting on his political credentials and dynamism which earned him in 2007 the highest popularity ratings of any leader since Charles de Gaulle. Photo taken on Aug 7, 2016 shows Dutch historian Leonard blusse at his home in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. [Photo/Xinhua] AMSTERDAM - Dutch historian Leonard Blusse has won this year's "Special Book Award of China", which honors foreign translators, writers and publishers for their significant achievements in making China better known to the outside world. The professor emeritus at Leiden University is a prolific writer on the early modern history of Southeast and East Asia, history of overseas Chinese and global history. Thanks to his digging into the archives of the Dutch East Indian Company (generally abbreviated as "VOC" in Dutch) for dozens of years, more information about the Asian societies and their interactions with other peoples in the 17th and 18th centuries has come to light. "The history of the Chinese people has for a long time largely been imagined in terms of the gradual territorial expansion of the Han people from the bend of the Yellow River towards the subtropical plains of the South, the steppes in the West, and the high mountains of Tibet," said Blusse. "Yet, in my point of view, the forgotten heroes of China's history are the sailors, fishermen, traders, miners and other entrepreneurs from China's southeastern coastal provinces who, over the past centuries, went overseas and have sought to build up new livelihoods outside the orbit of the former Chinese imperial government," he added. In his 1986 work "Strange Company", Blusse focused on the mestizo wives of the Dutch and of the Chinese community in the Dutch colonial city of Batavia, the center of the VOC trading network in Asia. "I like to dig out data that give us a fuller understanding of -- but also may challenge -- the accepted versions of history," he said. "I saw one peculiar common feature in these two groups each in their own way made it possible for the personnel of the VOC to succeed in their occupation and life," Blusse said in an interview with Xinhua. Another of his major publication, "Bitter Bonds" (2002), tells the story of a colonial divorce drama in the 17th century. Cornelia van Nijenroode, daughter of a Dutch trade station manager in Japan and his Japanese concubine, had become a successful and wealthy merchant, but through an unhappy marriage she lost the right to manage her own property and business to her spouse, who wished to control her finances, which caused a severe conflict. "What I like to do is dig up or construct enlightening narratives from archival data to throw new light on larger issues that have been misinterpreted or misunderstood by other historians. This life story of Cornelia van Nijenroode, for instance, was written to explain what the legal position of (mestizo) women really was in colonial society through describing a series of law suits and administrative decisions," explained Blusse. Visitors of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) enjoy a live look of an elephant at the newly opened Pyongyang Central Zoo in Pyongyang, the DPRK, Aug 23, 2016. The renovated central zoo is pulling in thousands of visitors a day with attractions ranging from typical zoo fare such as elephants, giraffes, penguins and monkeys to a natural history museum. [Photo/IC] Foreign Minister Wang Yi's trip to Tokyo, starting on Tuesday, is expected to set the tone for cooperation between China, Japan and the Republic of Korea ahead the G20 summit to be held in Hangzhou early next month, a source close to the issue said. Foreign ministers of the three countries will meet in Tokyo on Wednesday morning under the regular trilateral mechanism which was resumed in March last year after a three-year hiatus. "As the three major engines for the Asian economy, cooperation between China, Japan and the ROK is vital for East Asian economic cooperation," the source, who declined to be identified, said. With their combined economies accounting for one fifth of the global total and 70 percent of the Asian economy, the three countries started the 10th round of negotiations on a free trade zone. However, lack of political trust has cast shadows on economic and trade cooperation among the three powers. Tokyo's illegal claim on the China-owned Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, its interference in disputes over South China Sea islands, as well as its unrepentant attitude toward the crimes it committed in World War II, have gravely damaged its relations with Beijing. Seoul's acceptance of the US deploying a missile defense system, whose X-band radar can peer deep into China and Russia, on its soil has greatly threatened the strategic interests of the two countries and undermined regional stability. Against such a backdrop, the fact that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has visited Tokyo a number of times since he took office in 2013 shows China's sincerity in wishing to cooperate with Japan and the ROK, the source said. Although high-ranking diplomats of the three countries met in Tokyo for final deliberations about whether to hold a trilateral meeting this month, there had been pessimism that the meeting could be postponed. A visitor enjoys the images of Shanghai during a campaign promoting Shanghai's tourism launched in New York on Aug 23, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] Shanghai is taking center stage in the Big Apple. Along with the hundreds of exchanges, visits and tourism promotions marking this year of China-US Tourism, a campaign promoting Shanghai was launched at Xinhua News Agency's North America bureau in New York on Tuesday. "I've been very pleased to travel to the beautiful city many times, and I have to tell you that it is always a source of inspiration, always an exhilarating trip and I'm always discovering something new," said Fred Dixon, CEO of NY & Company, New York City's tourism bureau. "As Shanghai is called the 'New York' of China, we would like to say New York is 'Shanghai' of the United States," Dixon said. In 2015, 636,377 tourists from the US visited Shanghai, a 0.61 percent increase from 2014, according to Cheng Meihong, vice-chairwoman of Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration, who called the US an important inbound market source for the Shanghai tourism trade. Targeting the huge potential of the North American market, a delegation led by Cheng introduced Shanghai's new attractions, such as Shanghai Disneyland, new additions to the skyline, new visa and tax policies and new direct air routes. Making its international debut at the event was the original virtual-reality, high-definition music video Our Shanghai, staring actor Hu Ge with music by the up and coming bel canto band Vocal Force. Meanwhile, sightseeing buses with Shanghai travel ads have been driving around New York City since mid August and will continue through Oct 9. In addition, the Our Shanghai video will be played continuously at 164 bus shelters in New York from Sept 26 to Oct 23. Touted as a shining example of China-US partnership, cooperation and mutual benefit, the Shanghai Disney Resort officially opened on June 16 of this year and is already attracting tens of thousands of visitors every day. After eight years under construction, Shanghai Tower, the tallest building in China and the second-tallest in the world, has begun trial operation. In alliance with the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Jinmao Tower, and Shanghai World Financial Center in Lujiazui, Shanghai Tower is the crowning achievement of Pudong District's opening up and reform. Since Jan 30, Shanghai has offered a 144-hour visa-free policy for transit passengers from 51 countries, including the US. Additionally, Shanghai has been devoted to optimizing the tax refund process by providing a quick response channel and a 24/7 question-and-answer service. Since last July, overseas tourists have received a total of 10 million RMB ($1.5 million) in tax refunds, Cheng said. To bring the two countries closer, six airlines have recently opened nine new direct routes between China and the US, seven of which are operated by Chinese airlines. In March, China Eastern launched direct service between Shanghai and Chicago; in May, Hainan Airlines linked Shanghai with Boston and Seattle; in July, Delta connected Shanghai and Los Angeles; and Air China announced a new route to San Jose. Cheng said, the bilateral tourism exchange between Shanghai and New York is one of the highlights and major achievements of the China-US tourism year. Shanghai is dedicated to branding itself as a popular destination where modernity meets tradition and a land full of surprises ready to embrace tourists from all over the world, she said. Employees stand near Indian Navy's first indigenously-built Scorpene attack submarine at Mazagon Dock in Mumbai, India, April 6, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua] Sensitive data pertaining to India's Scorpene submarines has been leaked, a report in the Australian media revealed. The massive data leak of more than 22,000 classified pages has hit the French shipbuilder DCNS, thereby affecting a major submarine contract for the Indian navy. The data leak has revealed the detailed information about the combat capability of the Scorpene submarines being built in India. So far it is unclear whether the leak occurred in India or in France and how the Australian media obtained the confidential documents. The Indian Navy said on Wednesday that it was analysing the leak and affirmed that the source of leak was from overseas and not in India. "A case of suspected leak of documents related to Scorpene submarines has been reported by a foreign media house," a statement issued by Indian Navy said. "The available information is being examined at Integrated Headquarters, the Ministry of Defence (Navy) and an analysis is being carried out by the concerned specialists." India signed a US$3.5 billion deal with French manufacturer DCNS for six Scorpene submarines in 2005 to be built in Mumbai with an Indian government-owned shipbuilder. India's Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar has sought a report from the Indian Navy chief on the leak. Meanwhile a DCNS spokeswoman described the leak as "a serious matter", saying the French authorities would formally investigate the matter. "As a serious matter pertaining to the Indian Scorpene program, French national authorities for defense security will formally investigate and determine the exact nature of the leaked documents," a DCNS spokeswoman said in a statement. Seoul should "weigh the pros and cons with a cool mind" over its plan to introduce the THAAD anti-missile system from the US, and China and the Republic of Korea should jointly find solutions acceptable to both sides, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday. He made the comments when he met with his ROK counterpart Yun Byung-se in Tokyo on the sidelines of the annual China-Japan-ROK foreign ministers' meeting. China has voiced strong protests in recent months to the decision by the ROK to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, partly because its X-band radar is capable of covering parts of China. Wang reiterated on Wednesday China's objections and said "currently the China-ROK relationship is faced with difficulties and challenges". Wang noted that Wednesday marked the 24th anniversary of the establishment of China-ROK diplomatic relations and the two countries, he said, have seen hard-won achievements and neither side can allow these to be disrupted or sabotaged. As the ROK is also a member of the G20, Wang said China welcomes the ROK President Park Geun-hye's trip to China to attend the G20 summit in Hangzhou in September, and Beijing is willing to maintain communication channels with Seoul. Yun said the foreign ministers' meeting, held ahead of the G20 summit, shows the ROK fully supports China efforts to ensure a successful hosting of the event. Next year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, and the ROK hopes to take this as a chance to boost mutual trust, Yun said. Seoul is ready to boost cooperation with Beijing in regards to hosting the two respective Winter Olympic Games in both countries and deepen the friendship between the two nations, he added. Cai Hong in Tokyo contributed to this story. China said on Thursday it expects talks to be held between Beijing and Manila "at an early date", after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday he expects talks with China on their South China Sea dispute within a year. Speaking to reporters at the presidential palace in Manila, Duterte said it was "better to continually engage China in a diplomatic dialogue rather than anger officials there". He also said the Philippines had no intention of raising the arbitration case over the South China Sea during a regional summit to be held in Laos next month, according to the Reuters. "We welcome Duterte's remarks," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a regular press conference in Beijing on Thursday. He noted that China has always committed to solving disputes over the South China Sea through dialogue and negotiation with countries directly, including the Philippines, in order to maintain regional peace and stability. "China and the Philippines are good neighbors, and we believe that both sides have the ability and also the wisdom to properly solve related issues and push the bilateral ties back to healthy development," Lu said. "China expects that bilateral talks between the two sides could be conducted at an early date." YANGON - A powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake shook central Myanmar on Wednesday, killing at least three people including two children, local officials said, and damaging some of the famous pagodas in the Southeast Asian nation's ancient capital of Bagan. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake hit near the town of Chauk, southwest of Mandalay. Tremors were felt as far away as Thailand, where witnesses reported high rise buildings swaying in Bangkok, and the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka. A fire department official from regional capital Magwe said two young girls were killed when a riverbank gave way in Yenanchaung township, south of Chauk. One person was killed and another injured when a tobacco processing factory collapsed in the town of Pakkoku, to the north, the duty officer at the local fire department said. There were no other confirmed casualties, and early reports suggested limited damage overall. "My house shook during the quake. Many people were scared and they ran out of the buildings," said Maung Maung Kyaw, a local official of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party. "Some of the old buildings have cracks. The biggest damage is to the bank building in the town. The damage to other buildings isn't that significant." The quake struck at a relatively deep 84 km (52 miles), the USGS said. Chauk is about 35 km (20 miles) from Bagan, known as the "City of 4 Million Pagodas" and a major draw for Myanmar's nascent tourism industry. Yangon-based travel agent Amy Saw, who had been in touch with her firm's Bagan office, said some of the pagodas there had been damaged, and the Ministry of Religious Affairs put the number sustaining some kind of damage at 65. According to the 2014 census, Chauk has a population of about 45,000, with around 185,000 living in the surrounding area. It was a thriving oilfield during the British colonial era. "So far as we heard from our local staff, a three-storey building collapsed in Chauk and a pagoda was badly damaged in a Yenanchaung," a fire department official in Magwe told Reuters. Ko Tin Ko Lwin, a resident of Yenanchaung township, told Reuters that a pagoda that had been cracked before the quake had collapsed, while electricity poles and some trees were felled. The quake shook buildings in Myanmar's biggest city of Yangon and in other towns and cities, witnesses said. Office buildings in the Thai capital Bangkok, to the east of Myanmar, shook for a few seconds, residents there said. The quake was also felt in Bangladesh, to the west of Myanmar, where some people ran out into the street as buildings shook, residents said. Myanmar is in a seismically active part of the world where the Indo-Australian Plate runs up against the Eurasian Plate. In March, 2011, at least 74 people were killed in an earthquake in Myanmar near its borders with Thailand and Laos. Beijing and Tokyo agreed to consider initiating the bilateral maritime and airspace liaison mechanism at an early date, during a meeting of their foreign ministers on Wednesday. On the sidelines of the annual China-Japan-Republic of Korea Foreign Ministers' meeting in Tokyo, Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida also agreed on enhancing bilateral dialogue and considering about holding a new round of the China-Japan high-level consultation on maritime affairs. The liaison mechanism, designed to better enable crisis management and avoid and miscalculations, has already been endorsed by leaders from both sides but its initiation has been stalled partly because of the strained ties. In June, the Ministry of National Defense spokesman Wu Qian said Beijing "attaches importance" to this mechanism and it called upon Tokyo to "remove barriers that hinder negotiations on the mechanism". As their disputes in the East China Sea have overshadowed the relationship, senior officials from both countries have held four rounds of maritime affairs consultations. The first was held in 2012, the second in 2014 and two others took place last year. The consultations can help resolve maritime tensions as the second consultation in September, 2014, witnessed the resumption of the two-way negotiation on the liaison mechanism. During the Wednesday talks, the Foreign Minister said that currently the China-Japan relationship still faces difficulties, and it is at "a critical juncture" with "both opportunities and challenges". China is ready to manage and control the existing divergences, conduct exchanges in various fields and expand common interests, according to Wang. Kishida said Tokyo is willing to manage and control contradictions and divergences, expand the positives in the two-way relationship and bring ties back on track. Japan is willing to explore establishing the Japan-China relationship to one that lives up to the characteristics of the new era, he added. Cai Hong in Tokyo contributed to this story. China outlines its position after the DPRK test-fires missile launched from submarine Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (right) greets Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (center) and Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Yun Byungse at their meeting in Tokyo on Wednesday.[Photo/Agencies] China opposes the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's nuclear development program, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday after an annual meeting with counterparts from Japan and the Republic of Korea. The DPRK test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile on Wednesday morning before the long-awaited meeting between Wang, Japan's Fumio Kishida and the ROK's Yun Byung-se in Tokyo. Wang said China will continue to strive for a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and persist in settling such issues through dialogue and consultation. The test was made after Pyongyang said on Monday it would launch a "pre-emptive nuclear strike" against the ongoing annual US-ROK military exercise scheduled for Monday to Sept 2. The missile test was the latest in a series of launches by Pyongyang in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions. Wang said China opposes any words and deeds that cause tensions on the Korean Peninsula and all actions that violate Resolution 2270, which was passed unanimously by the Security Council on March 2 to expand the scope of sanctions against the DPRK. Zhang Liangui, an expert on Korean studies at the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, said Wednesday's missile launch provided a new topic for the trilateral meeting. The comments made by the three key diplomats mostly reaffirming their official positions are "still of value". Wang's message is that although Beijing is angry at Seoul's plan to introduce the powerful Terminal High Altitude Area Defense antimissile system, which may technically put part of China under the system's radar, "China has not changed its position on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue", Zhang said. Addressing trilateral cooperation, Wang said that China, Japan and the ROK three large economies should shoulder important responsibilities in promoting East Asia's economic development, and maintaining peace and stability. Wang said the three countries need to accumulate political mutual trust, conduct pragmatic cooperation, enhance people-to-people exchanges and promote sustainable development. Kishida and Yun said their countries support China in its efforts to make the G20 Leaders Summit in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Sept 4 and 5 a success. Wang urged East Asian nations to play up the leading roles played by China, Japan and the ROK to realize an East Asia Economic Community and facilitate the building of an "Asian Community of Shared Fate". The diplomats agreed to accelerate talks on a free trade agreement among their countries and to ensure that negotiations on a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership are completed in September as scheduled. Feng Wei, a professor of Japanese studies at Fudan University in Shanghai, said the three countries started to deliberate on setting up the trilateral free trade area early in 2002, but this has yet to take shape because of many factors. Contact the writers at caihong@chinadaily.com.cn (Photo : Getty Images) In this handout photo provided by the European Space Agency (ESA), German ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst takes a photo during his spacewalk, whilst aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in Space. Advertisement China revealed its plan to create a permanently manned radar station on the moon to monitor Earth. A feasibility study for the proposed project, which would cost up to 16 million yuan ($2.4 million), is being funded by China's National Natural Science Foundation. It will involve a 50-meter-high radar that has the ability view larger areas of Earth compared to conventional satellites. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement While it could become a useful tool for scientific research and military surveillance, the proposed proy has already received criticisms, with one Chinese scientist denouncing it as "a lunatic idea." The scientists told the South China Morning Post that the cost would be "higher than filling the sky with a constellation of spy satellites" that are able to "do the same job at only a fraction of the cost." The idea was introduced by Professor Guo Huadong, a radar expert at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in a research paper in 2013. He said that the radar would produce 1.4 gigabytes of data per second, way better than the current long-distance space communications. Furthermore, it will also be used to monitor extreme weather, earthquakes, crop production, and the polar ice caps, Huffington Post reported. Meanwhile, Professor Zhou Yiguo, a radar technology researcher at the Chinese Academy of Science's Institute of Electronics, said that "Either the radar has to be extremely powerful, or the antenna extremely large, otherwise it won't be able to pick up the radio waves bouncing back from the Earth." "It is an important subject of research, but whether its advantage over satellite constellations can adjust the high cost and risk will need careful evaluation," he added. China is not the only country considering the idea of putting up a manned lunar base. Other countries like the United States and Russia have allegedly been exploring the possibility of an extra-terrestrial habitat, Newsweek reported. Advertisement TagsSpace, china, moon, lunar base, radar station (Photo : YouTube Screenshot) China has released details of the design concept of the probe its the Mars Mission in 2020. Advertisement China's space agency has released the first detailed look at three technological components for its unmanned Mars mission, which is aimed to take off in 2020. Renderings showing the orbiter, lander, and rover were revealed to the public on Tuesday, four months after the Mars mission was announced, according to South China Morning Post citing China National Radio. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The mission is aimed at studying the soil, environment, atmosphere, and checking for the presence of water and ice on Mars, chief designer Zhang Rongqiao said. While China has been ramping up to become a superpower in space exploration, Zhang admitted that the Mars mission poses "greater difficulties and sophistication." Challenges for the Mars mission include getting enough solar power for the rover because of heavy atmospheric contamination with gasses that prohibit efficient absorption of sunlight; and solving technical challenges of atmospheric entry, landing, and long-distance communication. The launch is expected to take off in 2020 and to reach Mars in 2021. Meanwhile, China has also revealed its plan to launch a permanently manned radar station on the moon. The proposed station would be used to monitor extreme weather conditions, earthquakes, crop production, and polar ice caps. China recently also launched the world's first quantum-enabled satellite named Micius from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The 600-kilogram satellite was aboard a Long March-2D and blasted off into space at 1:40 a.m. on August 16, 2016. Officially dubbed as the Quantum Experiments at Space Scale (QUESS), the project is aimed at testing a technology that would make digital communication hack-proof. Advertisement TagsMars mission, Mars, spacecraft, china, space exploration (Photo : YouTube Screenshot) China's Tianjin Airlines plans to open a new flight route between Tianjin and Auckland in December. Advertisement Chinese carrier Tianjin Airlines has launched a new service to Auckland, New Zealand, with flights to begin this December. Auckland Airport confirmed the news and revealed that Tianjian Airlines would fly between Tianjn, Chongqing, and Auckland three times per week using an A330 aircraft. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Auckland will mark Tianjin Airline's first Australia-Asia destination, Norris Carter, general manager of Auckland Airport, said. "This is great news for Auckland Airport as well as our city and the country," he said. "Regional China is a rapidly developing source market for New Zealand tourism and these new routes flying directly to Auckland provide another option for Chinese visitors to experience New Zealand." An estimated 83,000 seats will be added to the new China-Auckland route every year and will provide a $102 million boost to New Zealand tourism sector. Tianjin Airlines, which offers a full service, has a fleet of 89 aircrafts and flies to more than 100 destinations. It was founded in 2009 and was named the Best Regional Airline in China by SKYTRAX in 2011. According to NBR, a further boost in traffic from China will follow in mid-November as Hong Kong Airlines would start competing with Air New Zealand and Cathay Pacific for a direct Auckland to Hong Kong route. Air China and China Eastern also started regular services last summer, and China Southern has boosted its capacity to New Zealand, NZ Herald reported. An increasing number of new carriers are putting pressure on Air New Zealand, which recently announced its full-year profit on Friday. Advertisement TagsTianjin Airlines, Auckland, new zealand (Photo : Getty Images) A general view of the Hisense booth at the International CES at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Advertisement Chinese electronics company Hisense has signed a strategic cooperation deal with the Fujian Provincial Expressway Information Technology Company. The deal is aimed at establishing a smart system for highways located in the southern Chinese province. Cloud computing and big data would be used to make this project a reality. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement According to China Tech News, the deal between Hisense and the Fujian province aims to create several services like self-service toll payments and smart business functions which would be integrated into service zones located along the highway. The financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed. Once the project is done, users will be able to easily pass highway stations and take advantage of customized services that are located within the service zones. Hisense would most likely use big data to provide users of the new smart service with product recommendations and customized experience while traversing through the service zones. Additionally, by integrating smart services into the highway, it would greatly improve the information level of highway charging stations. This, in turn, could lessen the amount of time spent by drivers at toll paying stations and service zones that are located on the side of the highway. Through big data management, the smart system can provide customized services that are individually tailored depending on the needs and habits of drivers. Once drivers arrive on the highway, the smart system can provide precise marketing and full channel payment methods to improve customer experience. Advertisement Tagshisense, hisense news, Hisense big data, Hisense smart highway, Hisense project, smart highway, Fujian Province After investigation, Air Force officer CAN have Bible at his desk 24 August, 2016 by Gregory Tomlin , | COLORADO SPRINGS (Christian Examiner) The U.S. Air Force has ruled that an officer at Peterson Air Force Base who had an open Bible on his desk was not in violation of military regulations and the Bible can return to where it was. Last week, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation led by former Air Force officer Mikey Weinstein, who claims Christians are trying to take over the military and subvert the Constitution alleged the presence of the open Bible with highlighted passages was an act of coercion on the enlisted personnel who came near the officer's workstation. Weinstein called the open Bible a "brazen display of sectarian Christian triumphalism and exceptionalism" on the part of Maj. Steve Lewis. He also said there would be "limitless, overflowing blood in the streets" if a Quran or a Book of Satan was allowed on the desk. As pledged, we have reviewed the situation there. We have concluded that no abuse of liberties has occurred, and Maj. Lewis's behavior and the workplace environment ... are well within the provisions of Air Force Instruction 1-1, Air Force Standards, paragraphs 2.11 and 2.12, 'Free Exercise of Religion and Religious Accommodation' and 'Balance of Free Exercise of Religion and Establishment Clause.' He demanded in a letter to Col. Damon Feltman, commander of the 310th Space Wing, that Lewis and an officer over him who allowed the display be swiftly and severely punished for the "egregious" violation. Feltman responded quickly to Weinstein's letter and said he would investigate the matter. The Bible was removed from the desk during the course of the investigation. Now, however, the Colorado Springs Independent reports that Lt. Col. David Fruck, the public affairs officer for the wing, wrote in an email to the paper that the promised investigation failed to uncover a nefarious plot or a violation of regulations. "As pledged, we have reviewed the situation there. We have concluded that no abuse of liberties has occurred, and Maj. Lewis's behavior and the workplace environment at the RNSSI are well within the provisions of Air Force Instruction 1-1, Air Force Standards, paragraphs 2.11 and 2.12, 'Free Exercise of Religion and Religious Accommodation' and 'Balance of Free Exercise of Religion and Establishment Clause.'" The first of those regulations (2.11) allows for religious liberty so long as actions taken do not display partiality or coerce service members toward a particular religion. Otherwise, the service is expected to abide by a policy of neutrality toward religion. The second regulation (2.12), on the free exercise of religion, allows for religious accommodations so long as they do not violate the standards set forth in the previous one. It also states airmen are "are able to choose to practice their particular religion, or subscribe to no religious belief at all." "You should confidently practice your own beliefs while respecting others whose viewpoints differ from your own," the regulation reads. In this case, the presence of the open Bible was not regarded in the investigation as coercive or out of line with the regulation on the free exercise of religion. Maj. Lewis, if he so chooses, may return the Bible to his desk. That answer is not good enough for Weinstein and the MRFF, who allege that the officer who conducted the investigation Col. Lisa Johnson is the officer who authorized Maj. Lewis to have the Bible on his desk in the first place. The military has not addressed Weinstein's allegation about Col. Johnson's leadership of the investigation. Weinstein told the paper the investigation was a "sham and a travesty," as well as a "disgusting conflict of interest." On the group's website, MRFF called it "fatally flawed." The group has also filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to review all documents related to the investigation, indication that it plans to sue the personnel involved since its demands were not met. 'God's Not Dead 2' billboard ban inspires companies to donate signs for FREE Guest Reviewer | 24 August, 2016 by Michael Foust LOS ANGELES (Christian Examiner) When a billboard company blocked a God's Not Dead 2 sign from going up in Cleveland last month, few could have predicted that the controversy would result in the movie getting more coverage not less. But that is exactly what happened, as the story was picked up by the Hollywood Reporter and other outlets nationwide inspiring the owners of billboards in other states to donate their signs to the film company, PureFlix, that made God's Not Dead 2. All total, more than 20 billboards have been donated for free to promote the DVD release of the faith-based film, which is now on DVD, Blu-ray, and digital platforms. "Billboard companies have stood up and said, 'We support you and your message, and we want to gift you with a billboard," PureFlix co-founder David A.R. White told the Christian Examiner. "We accepted them and thanked them." The irony of the controversy, White said, is that it affirmed the movie's message: that Christianity is being marginalized and targeted. The 32-feet-by-60-feet prominent sign would have been seen by attendees of the Republican National Convention, but the billboard company, Orange Barrel Media, refused to put it up, according to the Hollywood Reporter. It showed a picture of Melissa Joan Hart the movie's star along with the message, "I'd rather stand with God and be judged by the world than stand with the world and be judged by God." "Basically it all came down to they denied it because of their own belief system," White said. Soon after the controversy, other companies began contacting PureFlix, wanting to donate space on their signs. Asked for his thoughts on why the companies did what they did, White said it was likely due to "freedom of speech." "Whether or not somebody is a Christian or not, the bigger issue is that our country was founded on freedom of religion and freedom of speech," White said. "Whether they're Christians or not, they still hold to those principles that our country was founded on, and they want to support that. God bless them. We need more of those folks." God's Not Dead 2 tells the story of a public school teacher who gets in trouble when answering a question from a student she explains the nonviolent teachings of Martin Luther King Jr. and Jesus. She is sued, sparking an on-screen court case. "People thought that we were crazy for even bringing up the issues," White said. "And [the billboard controversy] is a perfect example of how it exists and how it's happening in our society today." The movie's final minutes teased a sequel, and White said a God's Not Dead 3 movie indeed "is in the works," although filming has not started. "We're still working on the script for it," he said. "..."We're hoping [to release it] sometime next year, but it might be into 2018. We're not 100 percent sure." States sue AGAIN: Obama admin would force doctors to participate in sex 'reassignment' surgery, other transgender treatments 24 August, 2016 by Gregory Tomlin , | AUSTIN, Texas (Christian Examiner) Fresh off its win Sunday, when a federal judge issued a preliminary nationwide injunction against implementation of the Obama administration's "guidance" for transgender access to public school restrooms, the State of Texas has launched another lawsuit against the federal government this time over the government's extension of its healthcare non-discrimination law to transgenders. Texas, joined by Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska and Wisconsin, filed the complaint in the same U.S. District Court (North Texas) that issued Sunday's decision. Three Christian medical groups the Franciscan Alliance, Specialty Physicians of Illinois, and the Christian Medical & Dental Associations are also plaintiffs against the federal government. In July, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), like the Department of Education and Department of Justice in May, issued a new decree reinterpreting "sex" in the Affordable Care Act to include not only biological males and females, but also transgenders. Sex, according to the HHS, is a matter determined in the mind according to an "internal sense of gender which may be male, female, neither, or a combination of male and female." he federal government has no right to force Texans to pay for medical procedures designed to change a person's sex. I am disappointed in the Obama Administration's lack of consideration for medical professionals who believe that engaging in such procedures or treatment violates their Hippocratic Oath, their conscience, or their personal religious beliefs, which are protected by the Constitution and federal law. Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement President Obama and his administration do not have the right to change federal law by changing the meaning of words as they were defined at the time the law was passed. Congress has also specifically refused to redefine "sex." How exactly would the change affect the states? It would require states to pay for "gender reassignment surgery" and other treatments (such as hormone therapy, plastic surgery, hysterectomies), as well as force doctors to participate in the process even when they feel it is not in the best interest of the patient. Should the physician refer the patient to another doctor, he or she may then be in violation of the anti-discrimination rule, the attorney general said. "The federal government has no right to force Texans to pay for medical procedures designed to change a person's sex. I am disappointed in the Obama Administration's lack of consideration for medical professionals who believe that engaging in such procedures or treatment violates their Hippocratic Oath, their conscience, or their personal religious beliefs, which are protected by the Constitution and federal law," Paxton said of the lawsuit, his 13th against the Obama administration. HHS has yet to issue a response to the lawsuit. In the complaint, Texas and the other plaintiffs allege the federal government is seeking "to override the medical judgment of healthcare professionals across the country." "On pain of significant financial liability, the regulation forces doctors to perform controversial and sometimes harmful medical procedures ostensibly designed to permanently change an individual's sex including the sex of children. Under the new regulation, a doctor must perform these procedures even when they are contrary to the doctor's medical judgment and could result in significant, long-term medical harm. Thus, the regulation represents a radical invasion of the federal bureaucracy into a doctor's medical judgment," the lawsuit said. The lawsuit also alleges that forcing doctor's to participate in the "transition" of a person from one sex to another an act that is biologically impossible would also force doctors to violate deeply held religious beliefs. That is where the religious medical associations and Christian-based physicians come into play. The regulation, according to the lawsuit, would force them to "violate those religious beliefs and perform harmful medical transition procedures or else suffer massive financial liability." As with the federal "guidance" on transgender access to public school restrooms, the new regulation also carried the threat of stripping the states of federal healthcare funding -- $42.4 billion for Texas alone. A federal judge in Texas temporarily blocked a directive allowing students to use bathrooms and locker rooms as per their gender identity. The ruling was pronounced before schools are scheduled to open for the next academic year. Texas and 11 other states had sued the Department of Education and Department of Justice over the directive which extends the Title IX law to interpret restrictions over bathroom use in accordance with birth genders as sexual discrimination. US District Judge Reed O'Connor said that the federal education law in Title IX was not ambiguous about the definition of sex determined at birth. He wrote in his order that interpreting Title IX to interpret the definition of sex to include gender identity was outside the enforcement purview of federal government. The ruling did not focus on transgender rights but on the decision of federal employees to enforce the directive without following rules permitting a dialogue over the issue. "This case presents the difficult issue of balancing the protection of students' rights and that of personal privacy ... while ensuring that no student is unnecessarily marginalized while attending school," the judge wrote. The court order said: "Defendants are enjoined from enforcing the Guidelines against Plaintiffs and their respective schools, school boards, and other public, educationally-based institutions. Further, while this injunction remains in place, Defendants are enjoined from initiating, continuing, or concluding any investigation based on Defendant's interpretation that the definition of sex includes gender identity in Title IX's prohibition against discrimination on the basis of sex." The plaintiffs said that the directive came with a salient threat of withdrawal of federal funds if any of the school districts did not comply with the regulation. They maintained that the rule impinged on student privacy laws as well. The ruling will apply nationwide, but states can opt out of the injunction if they so decide, while lawsuits by transgender students will be heard in the courts as usual. "Those states who do not want to be covered by this injunction can easily avoid doing so by state law," he said. About 54 people were killed and some 70 injured when a suspected ISIS suicide bomber blew himself up at a Kurdish wedding celebration in Gaziantep province, Turkey. At least 22 of the victims in the attack were under the age of 14. The blast occurred when henna celebrations were being held out on the street about an hour before midnight, which were mostly attended by women and children. The wounded were undergoing treatment at local hospitals, and 14 were in critical condition. President Tayyip Erdogan said that initial investigations suggested the hand of the Islamic State in the bombing. ISIS has bombed Kurdish gatherings in the past to inflame tensions between the Kurdish community and Turkey. Remnants of an explosive vest were found at the scene. Earlier it was reported that the suicide bomber was aged between 12 and 14, but the government later said that it could not be confirmed. ISIS has not claimed responsibility for the attack. One of the wounded guests, Gulser Ates, told Daily Sabah that she was speaking with her neighbor when the bomb blew off. "I don't know what happened. The only thing I know is that my neighbor died on top of me. If she had not fallen on me, I would have died, too. Her body saved me," Ates said. "I condemn terror. There were innocent children there. No one had done anything wrong." The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party said that it was one of their members' wedding. "Over the years, Gaziantep has gradually become a nest for ISIS," said the statement from the party's Central Executive Board. "The people of Gaziantep have been living in an environment with ISIS members who amass weapons and organize mass meetings." ISIS is thought to have its presence all across Turkey. The state-run press agency Anadolu reported last month that over 5,000 suspected ISIS members were held in the country. Mevlut Cavusoglu, Foreign Minister, has vowed to "completely cleanse" ISIS from northern Syria. Turkey bombed ISIS' targets in city of Jarabulus in the northern part of Syria. Turkey also bombed Kurdish YPG targets in Manbij. YPG fighters have gained significant victories against ISIS, and drove the militant organization from Manbij, and cut a major supply route to ISIS from Turkey. Erdogan said that the country will not yield to the terrorists. "Our country and nation only have a single message to those who attack us -- you will not succeed!" he stated. "The aim of terror is to scare the people but we will not allow this," said Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek, who represents Gaziantep in the Turkish parliament. Pakistani Christian Asia Bibi's appeal to overturn the death penalty for alleged blasphemy charges will be heard by the country's highest court this October. The hearing is the last legal option for her to challenge the death sentence by hanging, according to International Christian Concern (ICC). She was sentenced to death by a local court in 2010 under Pakistan's blasphemy laws. A year earlier, she was involved in an argument with a group of Muslim women over drinking from the same bucket as them. In the ensuing brawl, the women accused her of insulting Prophet Muhammad. Asia denied the charges, but was nevertheless detained and arrested. Her high court appeals were delayed several times, and finally in October, 2014, one of the two judges confirmed her death sentence. But, her petition for legal review was accepted by the Supreme Court in July 2015. Asia's lawyer Saif-ul Malook told persecution charity ICC that he hoped the court would acquit Asia. "I will appear before the Supreme Court of Pakistan and argue her case while she will remain in prison," Malook said. "I hope the result will be an acquittal." If Asia's appeal is rejected by the Supreme Court, only a presidential pardon can stop the execution. Human rights groups in Pakistan say that the country's blasphemy laws are used to persecute the minorities. According to BBC News, her four daughters and husband are living in hiding because of death threats from fundamentalists. Also, many have pledged to kill her if she is released from prison. She told her family when they visited her on Christmas Day last year: "Jesus made this happy day for me and has accepted my prayers. I'm excited and full of joy in meeting today my family and celebrate Christmas with you." "Today [Dec. 24] is also the birth of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Peace be upon him, on this day. Honestly, I could never even think of disrespect. But, although I have been in prison for seven years, I do not hate those who did me wrong," Asia was quoted as saying by Christian Post. "I pray that Muhammad will bestow wisdom on his followers so that peace can go on being built around the world. I pray that Jesus Christ will grant peace to the whole world." I had the privilege or reading a pre-release version of "God Shines Forth: How the Nature of God Shapes and Drives the Mission of the Church." Here are 20 quotes from the book, which you should pick up. Ask Bianca Juarez Olthoff how she defines her calling, and shell likely respond with spitfire energy, giving you a colorful list of the many hats she wears: shes a teacher and herald of Gods Word, a prophetic declarer of who God is (but not in a kooky-crazy way), a wife and mom, Chief Storyteller for the global anti-trafficking organization A21, Creative Director for Propel Women, and now a newly minted author whose book Play With Fire will be coming out on August 30th. At the heart of everything Olthoff does, though, is her role as a storyteller. More than anything, she wants to tell others about what God is doing for his people around the globe: from her step-kids to her church to the trafficking victims she works to set free. The stories Olthoff tells are seldom safe, however. As she writes on her website, she sees herself as a woman who loves God and is committed to speaking truth when it hurts, loving when its hard, and living life out loud. That commitment has taken her to unexpected places, especially in her role in the fight against modern day slavery: I dont feel I knew in the beginning why [I gravitated toward the issue of human trafficking], because the only framework that I had for it was that movie Taken with Liam Neeson that came out seven years agoI vividly remember watching that movie. And then I heard the founder of our organization, Christine Caine, at a Christian conference for leaders, and I remember thinking, This is so appalling. I cannot believe this. Im so glad there are good Christians who are giving up their lives to do this.Frederick Douglass said, Conscience cannot stand violence. ... 1 I was born and raised in southern Louisiana, and flooding was a fact of life in our low-slung neighborhood. A summer cloudburst could put us on the five oclock news in New Orleans, and wed see our neighbors swimming in the drainage ditches and floating in pirogues down the street. Because I was a kid, this was more exciting than dangerous. School would be cancelled, and my parents would make daiquiris. I used to dream of waking up underwater, the house rocking gently, the window covered in fishing net. Those dreams were never unpleasant. Now Im grown with my own kids, and I live 1,000 miles away in Northern Michigan. I watched this summers historic flood unfold on my laptop screen. But this wasnt just a routine summer storm in a neighborhood prone to filling up like a bowl. This was a freak weather event called a monsoon depression, and it dumped unprecedented amounts of precipitation across the south of my home state, killing at least 13 and displacing tens of thousands. I watched in horror as one of my closest friends posted video updates to Facebook. Mild concerns about whether the canal behind her house would hold quickly became frantic expressions of disbelief as the water filled her house and she boarded a truck driven by the National Guard. Just pray, yall, she signed off, her voice shaking. So I, dry and safe in my living room up north, lit my candles and prayed. I didnt leave Louisiana for any significant amount of time until I was well into adulthood. Where I come from, you grow up to live around the corner from your momma, but my momma died when I was 14. At 26, I moved to Pittsburgh for graduate school. I might as well have moved to the moon. Those first ... 1 The Church App from Subsplash, the #1 Church Engagement Platform, Disrupts the Donation Industry with GrowCurveTMLow Rates that Go Even Lower as Giving Grows Contact: Eric Abel, 818-633-2465 SEATTLE, Aug. 23, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- Subsplash, and their premier mobile app platform, The Church App, is trusted by thousands of leading churches and ministries all over the worldincluding 50% of the 100 largest churches in the U.S. The software company has built more live apps than any other developer in the marketplace. They've seen impressive growth in the last yearwith over 25 million users, and app views numbering in the billions. The Seattle-based team of mobile experts have built the Ultimate Engagement PlatformTM for churches including: apps, media delivery, digital bulletins, and an innovative new donation solution Subsplash Giving which now features GrowCurvean unprecedented model with extremely low credit card processing rates that go even lower as donations increase. Tim Turner, CEO of Subsplash shares: "When it comes to donation processing, churches often get taken advantage of because it takes a credit card expert to negotiate low processing rates. Our goal is to flip those tables to help ministries of all sizes fuel their mission and always get the best rates without having to negotiate. We're excited to equip churches to share the truth of Jesus by keeping more money where it counts. We kept coming back to what matters most: fueling the mission of the Church by increasing your giving and keeping the donations where they count. We decided we're not ok with the industry standard, we're not here to maximize our margins and profit off of the church being privately owned by Christians means we can give it back to churches. And that's exactly what we're doing." Subsplash Giving offers the new feature of GrowCurve rates which start at an industry low of 2.3% and automatically go lower as giving increases. There's no additional monthly charge for the service and for qualified non-profit Christian ministries, Subsplash will contribute rate savings right back to the church. A recent study shows that mobile giving is up 45% and becoming a regular part of people's digital lives. Subsplash empowers churches with the tools to take advantage of the mobile momentum by making giving simple, fast, and right inside the church's own app as well as on websites, text to give, and kiosks. Tim Turner added: "Our mission at Subsplash is to deliver delight to our users. Our ministry clients love our platform because it helps them engage their communities...engaged communities are giving communities." Subsplash clients are delighted about The Church App platform. Here's what Matt Chandler, from The Village Church, said: "We've received rave reviews already about [the app] because it provides one more medium to extend our messages about the gospel out to the world." Competitors in the church giving space include publicly-traded companies like PushPay, PayPal, and others, do not offer the many breakthrough new benefits offered by Subsplash. Subsplash uniquely offers a free monthly service, a low starting rate of 2.3%, GrowCurve dynamic rates that go down as donations increase, and its all available inside their award-winning and engaging mobile app platform. Subsplash Giving could save a church thousands of dollars a yearwhich means more donations will go to accomplishing their mission. Subsplash is changing the mobile giving industry by keeping donations dollars where they count, on the frontline of ministry. Learn more at www.thechurchapp.org/subsplash-giving. About Subsplash: Subsplash and The Church App are owned by Christians who are passionate about serving Jesus' Church in the US and around the world! Subsplash has won awards, created some of the most downloaded apps of all time, and created software for world-class brands like XBOX, Microsoft, Samsung, Expedia, and Cisco. Their Mission: Glorify God and proclaim Jesus is Lord by building a great, lasting, and prosperous company that delivers delight to as many people as possible on Subsplash platforms. Share Tweet Nationally Acclaimed Speakers & Musicians Choose Give Thanks Nashville for Worldwide Forum on Hope Mike Huckabee, Eric Metaxas and Michael W. Smith Coming Live To Bridgestone Arena On September 11 Contact: Lucy Phillips, World Outreach Church, 615-896-4515 NASHVILLE, Aug. 24, 2016 / Dr. Ben Carson, best-selling author and recipient of multiple honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, will be part of the event via recorded video message. Event sponsor, World Outreach Church, Murfreesboro, TN, and its originator, Pastor G. Allen Jackson have plans for a faith-based experience that has tremendous significance in America. "It is our Christian heritage that makes liberty and freedom for all a possibility," says Jackson. "I believe the responsibility lies firmly at the doorstep of all Christ-followers. When we are willing to honor God, His values and Word, and stand for them, we will continue as a nation blessed by God." The event begins at 6 pm. New this year: an outdoor stage with live music on Broadway and 5th Avenue from 4:15 to 5:15 pm. World Outreach Church [WOC] is a congregation of more than 20,000 people with interdenominational Christian backgrounds. Jackson has been senior pastor of WOC for more than 25 years. Over the last five, consecutive years World Outreach Church has held faith initiatives in Nashville, including a Christian men's conference, bringing together more than 45,000 attendees. "September 11 was the only open date Bridgestone had available for the event that worked with schedules. It seems like a time appointed by God. We all respond automatically to this calendar date because it is a special time of reflection and honor -- a time of re-thinking and restoring, that of passion and unending thankfulness to those who bravely turned one of the darkest days of history into thankfulness; September 11th is not forgotten. With God's help we will have the know-how to overcome despair by raising the banner of hope. This is the objective of the Give Thanks Event," says Jackson. Tickets and info: Share Tweet Contact: Lucy Phillips, World Outreach Church, 615-896-4515NASHVILLE, Aug. 24, 2016 / Christian Newswire / -- Several well-known authors, speakers and musicians have announced plans to be part of "Give Thanks" for its third season at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena September 11, 2016, at 6 pm. The event's special guests include: Mike Huckabee, former Governor of Arkansas, TV News commentator, author and speaker; Eric Metaxas, New York Times best-selling author, Christian radio host and national speaker; Michael W. Smith, contemporary, Christian musician, Billboard Magazine Hot 100 artist and recipient of an American Music award; and Stikyard, a dazzling group of percussionists in motion.Dr. Ben Carson, best-selling author and recipient of multiple honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, will be part of the event via recorded video message.Event sponsor, World Outreach Church, Murfreesboro, TN, and its originator, Pastor G. Allen Jackson have plans for a faith-based experience that has tremendous significance in America."It is our Christian heritage that makes liberty and freedom for all a possibility," says Jackson. "I believe the responsibility lies firmly at the doorstep of all Christ-followers. When we are willing to honor God, His values and Word, and stand for them, we will continue as a nation blessed by God."The event begins at 6 pm. New this year: an outdoor stage with live music on Broadway and 5th Avenue from 4:15 to 5:15 pm.World Outreach Church [WOC] is a congregation of more than 20,000 people with interdenominational Christian backgrounds. Jackson has been senior pastor of WOC for more than 25 years. Over the last five, consecutive years World Outreach Church has held faith initiatives in Nashville, including a Christian men's conference, bringing together more than 45,000 attendees."September 11 was the only open date Bridgestone had available for the event that worked with schedules. It seems like a time appointed by God. We all respond automatically to this calendar date because it is a special time of reflection and honor -- a time of re-thinking and restoring, that of passion and unending thankfulness to those who bravely turned one of the darkest days of history into thankfulness; September 11th is not forgotten. With God's help we will have the know-how to overcome despair by raising the banner of hope. This is the objective of the Give Thanks Event," says Jackson.Tickets and info: givethanksnashville.com home US Louisiana floods news update: Local churches move to aid victims despite own losses Christian churches disregarded their own losses as they provided relief for Louisiana flood victims who lost almost everything in one of the state's worst natural disasters. Jared Stockstill, administrator of the nondenominational megachurch Bethany Church in northern Baton Rouge, set out Aug. 13 together with other church members on his boat to pick up stranded neighbors while the church's south Baton Rouge campus provided flood victims with food, clothing, toiletries, and other emergency supplies. "What we're trying to see happen is for people to see that God loves them by seeing his church move like we are moving," said Stockstill's brother and the church's lead pastor, Jonathan Stockstill, according to Religion News Service (RNS). The church's north campus suffered immense damage that was not covered by flood insurance. The heavy rainfall that started Aug. 12 inundated South Louisiana with two feet of rain in just a couple of days. Widely considered as the worst natural calamity since Superstorm Sandy in 2012, the historic flooding killed 13 and ravaged more than 60,000 homes. South Walker Baptist Church also provided shelter, hot meals, donations, and prayer services for flood victims and volunteers. "My story is no different than anybody's down the road," church member Chuck Craft told the Associated Press. "Everybody's life is out on the curb to be picked up by garbage," he added. The First Methodist of Denham Springs also became a Red Cross-designated relief and staging area as a way to "pay it forward" to a community that helped the church spring back from various calamities since the 1920s. Carol Parker, the finance secretary at Baton Rouge's Star Hill Church, expressed her congregation's optimism despite the hardships they faced. "Just like my pastor said ... we didn't lose everything," RNS quoted Parker as saying on PBS program "Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly." He then continued to say, "We've got family and we've got God, so do not say we lost everything." Faith-based groups Catholic Charities, Samaritan's Purse, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief and Operation Blessing dispatched equipment and volunteers while Mercy Chefs with its professional chef volunteers served 9,000 meals for evacuees, first responders, and law enforcement. "To come to a disaster area a folks that have lost everything a and share a meal with them brings some semblance of hope," founder Gary LeBlanc told RNS and added, "you should do that over a good meal, the best meal you are able to make, not just something you opened and heated and slopped out." home World Monks from different denominations band together to restore holy sites in Israel Catholic, Greek and Armenian Orthodox monks are working in cooperation to restore holy sites in Jerusalem including the Church of the Nativity. Members of different denominations are known to have fought over the use of the shared churches in Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Giammarco Piacenti, CEO of Piacenti Restoration Center, has been working on the restoration of the Church of the Nativity since April 2013 and observing the cooperation among the monks. "In the three years I have been here, I have had good collaboration with all the Churches," Piacenti told the Jerusalem Post. "I think all the Churches want to save this church because here Jesus was born," he added. "It is important for all Christianity. For my professional life, this occasion is incredible." Conflict had repeatedly broken out between different sects at the Church of the Nativity and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the past. In 2011, the Daily Mail reported a fight that broke out between the Armenian and the Greek Orthodox when a clergyman's broomstick accidentally went into a space controlled by the other group. Father Samuel Aghoyan, Armenian Superior of the Holy Sepulcher, said that it took threats of the Edicule of the Tomb's closure before the religious groups reached an agreement. "But they were right," Aghoyan told the Jerusalem Post. "So we agreed, and in a way it was a good thing they did, although we had talked about it many times," he added. The Edicule was traditionally believed to be the place where Jesus was laid to rest after his crucifixion. It was shut down for four hours by the Israeli police in February 2015 because of safety concerns. The Piacenti Restoration Center just completed the restoration of Crusader-era mosaics on the walls of the Church of the Nativity. Cleaning work had already begun on the mosaics at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre but the restorers are waiting to finish restoration of the tomb before working on the floor around it. Father Athanasius Macora, a Franciscan monk, said the tomb is the most important reason why people visit the church and restoration work was needed. Macora noted that despite the recent conflicts, relations between the sects have improved since the 1960s. "There have been sporadic outbreaks and there will be outbreaks in the future, but they are significantly less than in the past," Macora told the Jerusalem Post. home World Mother refused abortion, twin sons now serving as parish priests Twin Chilean Catholic priests are convinced that God was at work in their lives while they were yet to be born when their mother kept them alive and said "no" to medically advised abortion. "I am convinced of what I believe, of what I am and of what I speak, clearly by the grace of God," Fr. Paulo Lizama said in an interview with Catholic News Agency. The twin priests almost did not see the light of day when their mother was advised by doctors to have them aborted. Their mother, Rosa Silva, worked as a paramedic. Before learning that she was pregnant, Silva was exposed to x-rays while performing her duties. When she confirmed her pregnancy, she sought the advice of a doctor who conducted ultrasound procedures and informed her that the her results were abnormal. The doctor reportedly said the baby looked "strange," having three arms, entangled feet and two heads. Silva was advised to get an abortion saying that her life was on the line. Abortion due to medical reasons is legal in Chile. However, she refused and said she would willingly receive whatever God would give her. Fr. Felipe Lizama said, "The Lord worked and produced a twin pregnancy. I don't know if the doctors were wrong or what." What the doctors initially thought of as an anomaly concluded in an identical twin birth. The twin brothers' lives were still hanging in the balance even during their delivery on Sept. 10, 1984. Felipe came out first and the doctors thought that he was the only one. When the placenta did not separate from the womb, the doctors suggested that they will scrape Silva's womb to disengage it. But Silva somehow knew that the delivery wasn't over and refused. She said she felt there was another child coming and true enough, Paolo came out 17 minutes after Felipe. "How can I not defend the God of life? This event strengthened my vocation and gave it a specific vitality, and therefore, I was able to give myself existentially to what I believe," Fr. Paolo shared with CNA. Fr. Paolo and Fr. Felipe serves as parish priests in the Assumption of Mary in Achupallas and in Saint Martin of Tours in Quillota, respectively, according to a Christian Today report. home World Trial begins for pastor accused of espionage in Sudan The trial of three Sudanese and one Czech pastor in Khartoum, Sudan had begun on Sunday. Czech pastor Petr Jasek was charged with illegal entry to Sudan and spreading false information. The other three defendants, Rev. Hassan Abdelrahim Kodi, Rev. Kuwa Shemaal and activist Abdelmoneim Abdelmoula are being tried in connection to Jasek's case. The defendants are also being tried for espionage, conspiring against the state, entering and photographing military areas, calling for violence against the state and provoking violence amongst sects, according to Dabanga Sudan. Kodi, Shemaal and Jasek, were detained by authorities in December 2015. Although Shemaal was released, he was arrested again with activist Abdelmoneim Abdelmoula in May. The publication reported that the prosecutor wants the highest punishment for them, said Dimas Marajan, spokesman for the defense team. "The judge also heard the investigating consultant, who spoke on behalf of the security apparatus, and who filed the official complaint last Sunday. Tomorrow the defence and prosecution will be able to question the consultant," Marajan added. Dabanga Sudan also reported that Kodi and Shemaal had been held incommunicado for several months prior to the filing of charges. According to Sudanese law, the accused must be brought to trial within 45 days. The Foreign Desk reported in March that Jasek, who was filming Christian persecution in the country, had been arrested for entering Sudan illegally and falsifying a statement of a burn victim. One key evidence used against Jasek is his own film allegedly showing the victim narrating that his burn injury was a result of a Muslim attack. The victim later told authorities that the injury was actually sustained from a car accident, according to the report. According to the Sudan Tribune, the prosecutors are using seized documents and videos from the laptops and phones of the accused as evidence against them. Jasek denied his statement presented in the indictment, citing lack of translation. The second defendant also denied his statement while the third and fourth approved the statement presented by the prosecutor. "The State Security Prosecution has filed serious charges against the defendants," Marajan told Dabanga Sudan. "But they are difficult to prove in terms of the law. In my opinion, the position of the defendants is reassuring," he continued. The Sudan-based Human Rights and Development Organization frequently receives reports of detention of Christians in Sudan, according to Dabanga Sudan. As a follower of Jesus it is your duty to vote, says US Episcopal Church leader The leader of the US Episcopal Church is calling on all Americans to remember their "duty" and "obligation" to vote. In a video posted as part of The Episcopal Church's election resources, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry says it is time for citizens to prepare to elect their new president as well as governmental leaders on a variety of levels. America heads to the polls on 8 November. The church has launched an "election pledge" as part of its campaign to persuade all citizens to use their vote. Curry says: "We are blessed. We are blessed as a nation to be able to do so as citizens of this country. This is a right, an obligation, and a duty." The privilege to be able to vote was won through an American revolution, he notes, and furthered through civil rights and women's suffrage. "So I encourage you to please go and vote. Vote your conscience. Vote your perspective. But vote." He says voting is a Christian obligation. Citing Romans 13, where Paul outlines the duty to engage with the process of government, he says: "Indeed, we who follow in the Way of Jesus of Nazareth are summoned to participate actively as reflections of our faith in the civil process." St Paul says: "Pay to all them that is due them. Taxes to whom taxes are due. Revenue to whom revenue is due. Respect to whom respect is due. Honor to whom honor is due." He continues: "So owe no-one anything except to love one another. For the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments 'You shall not commit adultery', 'You shall not murder', 'You shall not steal', 'You shall not covet', any other commandment, they are all summed up in this word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself'. Love does no wrong to a neighbor, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." Curry says: "For St. Paul, the way of love, the love of neighbor, is the fulfilling not only of the moral law of God, but the way to fulfill the civil law. Go and vote. Vote your conscience. Your conscience informed by what it means to love your neighbor. To participate in the process of seeking the common good. To participate in the process of making this a better world. However you vote, go and vote. And do that as a follower of Jesus." Christian minister on a mission to bring morality back in American politics At a time when politics in the United States seems to look like a whirlwind of decadence, a Christian minister is seeking to reintroduce morality back in the minds of the public. Reverend William Barber II started the "Moral Mondays" movement back in 2013 to lead civil rights protests in North Carolina's state capital, Raleigh. More than two years since the protests, the Protestant minister continues working on his goal to reinject morality into politics through a movement called "Moral Revival." Speaking to The American Prospect, Barber explained that he seeks to let the people know that change is in their own hands. "The last thing about this movement is it's bottom up; it's not top down. You're not going to get rescued by some national leader coming in and saving you," the minister said. "We're holding services and calling on people to be engaged in the public square. We can no longer sit in our sanctuaries," he added. The movement, he further explained, also strives to fight for the basic needs of Americans. "Economic sustainabilitya living wage and labor rights; education equalityevery child should have receive a high-quality, well-financed, diverse public education. Health care for all; protecting the environment and women's health; criminal justice reformthe way we have disparities with black, brown, and poor white people," Barber said. In doing these, the Christian minister further said he only has two missions. "First, I wanted to come as a clergy person, not as a pastor representing my church, and to reframe that history. Because if you look down through history, if it had not been for clerics involved in the public square, the public square often would not have done the things we've seen happen toward justice," Barber said. "Secondly, I wanted to frame the issues as moral issues and to challenge the use of religion in the service of hate and meanness and ugliness," he added. Corbyn and Smith to face Jewish leaders in faith hustings Jeremy Corbyn will face Jewish leaders next month when he takes part in a special Labour leadership hustings focused on religion. The party leader will go up against his rival Owen Smith and several faith representatives including Jewish leaders in a debate on 6 September. Religious leaders will speak about the role of faith within Labour and the candidates will face questions on how the party can engage with religious communities. The hustings is hosted by The Good Faith Partnership, a consultancy that builds relationships between religious, political and charitable bodies. One organiser told Christian Today the faith representatives had not yet been agreed but confirmed a Jewish leader would be present and would address the hustings. Corbyn has faced criticism for an apparent rise in antisemitism in Labour under his leadership and the debate in south London will give faith leaders an opportunity to question him on the issue. Britain's Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis has accused the party of having a "severe" problem with antisemitism and criticised the "poisonous invective" and "politics of distortion" from some members. The Jewish Labour Movement (JLM), which is involved in organising the September event, overwhelmingly backed Owen Smith over Corbyn for Labour leader earlier this month. Just four per cent of JLM members voted for Corbyn, with 92 per cent backing his rival. David Barclay, a partner of the Good Faith Partnership, told Christian Today he was "encouraged" that both Corbyn and Smith will go before religious leaders in a hustings. "They have both agreed to come and not only to speak but to listen to the faith leaders and answer questions from people. It shows they are open to dialogue." Barclay added: "It is really important that both Jeremy and Owen show a real willingness to engage with faith communities. "Whoever wins it is going to be important to keep that dialogue open and make sure the voices of the different faith groups affiliated with Labour are recognised and engaged with." The hustings will take place two weeks before ballots close for the leadership race on 21 September. The result will be announced shortly before the Labour Party conference on 25 September. Earthquake devastates central Italy, at least 38 dead An earthquake has devastated a string of mountainous towns over a large part of central Italy, trapping residents under hills of rubble, with at least 38 people believed killed and many missing. Pope Francis cancelled a speech he was to give at his weekly general audience and instead led the tens of thousands who had gathered in St Peter's Square in a prayer for the victims. "Hearing the mayor of Amatrice say that the town no longer exists and hearing that there are children among the victims, I am deeply saddened," he said. The quake struck in the early hours of the morning when most people were asleep, razing homes and buckling roads in a cluster of towns and villages some 140 km (85 miles) east of Rome. The emergency services released an aerial photograph showing whole areas of the town of Amatrice flattened, while debris filled the streets of nearby Accumoli. "Now that daylight has come, we see that the situation is even more dreadful than we feared, with buildings collapsed, people trapped under the rubble and no sound of life," said Accumoli mayor Stefano Petrucci. Wide cracks appeared like open wounds on the buildings that were still standing. Residents sifted through the rubble with their bare hands before emergency services arrived with earth-moving equipment and sniffer dogs. The quake hit during the summer when the populations of the communities in the area, normally low during the rest of the year, are swelled by vacationers. Officials said six people were known to have died in Accumoli and a further six were reported dead in Amatrice. Sky Italia television said 10 had died in the nearby village of Pescara del Tronto. Some 100 people were still unaccounted for in the village of Arquata del Tronto. "Three quarters of the town is not there any more," Amatrice mayor Sergio Pirozzi told state broadcaster RAI. "The aim now is to save as many lives as possible. There are voices under the rubble, we have to save the people there." A Reuters reporter said the town's hospital had been badly damaged by the quake, with patients moved into the streets. RAI reported that two Afghan girls, believed to be asylum-seekers, were also missing in the town. The earthquake caused damage to towns in three regions Umbria, Lazio and Marche. The US Geological Survey, which measured the quake at 6.2 magnitude, said it struck near the Umbrian city of Norcia, while Italy's earthquake institute INGV registered it at 6.0 and put the epicentre further south, closer to Accumoli and Amatrice. The damage was made more severe because the epicentre was at a relatively shallow four km below the surface of the earth. Multiple aftershocks Residents of Rome were woken by the tremors, which rattled furniture, swayed lights and set off car alarms in most of central Italy. "It was so strong. It seemed the bed was walking across the room by itself with us on it," Lina Mercantini of Ceselli, Umbria, about 75 km away from the hardest hit area, told Reuters. Olga Urbani, in the nearby town of Scheggino, said: "Dear God it was awful. The walls creaked and all the books fell off the shelves." INGV reported 60 aftershocks in the four hours following the initial quake, the strongest measuring 5.5. Italy sits on two fault lines, making it one of the most seismically active countries in Europe. The last major earthquake to hit the country struck the central city of L'Aquila in 2009, killing more than 300 people. The most deadly since the start of the 20th century came in 1908, when an earthquake followed by a tsunami killed an estimated 80,000 people in the southern regions of Reggio Calabria and Sicily. Additional reporting by Reuters. Egypt: Knife-wielding attacker shot dead after stabbing guard at Coptic church A knife-wielding attacker has been shot dead after he stabbed a guard at a Coptic church in Egypt on Wednesday. Egypt's state news reported the man was fatally shot by other security officials at the Virgin Mary church on the outskirts of Cairo after he stabbed one of their colleagues. The attack happened early on Wednesday morning according to MENA. Egyptian authorities are said to be investigating the incident which took place in the Nozha suberb. Christians make up around 10 per cent of Egypt's 91 million population and have been been subject to increasing levels of violence in recent years. The attacks notably increased after Coptic Christians sided with the Egyptian army in the military coup of 2013. The uprising ousted President Mohammed Morsi, Egypt's first democratically elected leader and member of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood group. Last month, police arrested 15 people after an arson attack on homes belonging to Coptic Christians in an Upper Egyptian village. June saw the assault on homes of Christian families in the village of Karm el Loofy, the burning of a kindergarten run by Christians in Minya, and the murder on June 30 of Rafael Moussa, a Coptic Orthodox priest of the church of St George. Egypt currently grants legal rights to mosques but not to churches meaning Christians struggle to build new houses of worship. The laws are being redrafted but the latest amendments have been branded "unacceptable" and "impractical" by Coptic leaders as the longstanding debate continues. Despite a dracononian ban on protests in Egypt, dozens of Christians have marched publically demanding they be treated as ordinary citizens. The talks with government will continue this month. France's burkini ban is an insult to all religions and Christians must oppose it There was something remarkably Orwellian about the sight of French police forcing a Muslim woman to undress on a beach in Nice, all in the name of liberty, equality and fraternity. Photos have emerged of the woman being confronted by officials and told to remove her long sleeved top that covered her shoulders. The founding principle of French secularism is that if you create a neutral public space where religion is left in the privacy of one's home, you can remove its undue influence. Without religion, the idea is that a fair and democratic system can be formed. But something has gone drastically wrong when that principle imposes a dress code and forces people to undress against their will. "Freedom is slavery," goes the Party's motto in George Orwell's 1984. French liberte is not being able to wear what you want, we could add. The scene on the beach in Nice is, unfortunately, not an isolated incident. A pork-free option has been banned in some French schools meaning Jewish and Muslim students are told "pork or nothing" when it comes to school dinners. But it is not just Muslims and Jews that are targeted under France's twisted understanding of secularism. Christians are also affected and must speak out on behalf of all religious voices. France's attempt to be fair and neutral has become remarkably unfair and biased, but still French politicians fear the public expression of religious belief. After overthrowing the oppressive elites of the monarchy and the Catholic Church, France built itself on the values of freedom, democracy and equality. Secularism provided the answer to revolutionaries searching for an alternative way to govern without the corruption and violence that religion wreaked across Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries. A safe, neutral space, devoid of religion was the answer. That was and still is the philosophy of secular France, but this grand vision of secularism has clearly failed. It is time for French politicians to rethink what secularism means. Rather than banning religion from the public sphere, France should welcome it as one voice alongside many others in a genuinely diverse and multicultural society. Religion is a part of human identity and understanding, and it cannot be ignored. "If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face forever," wrote Orwell. Part of humanity's "face", whether France likes it or not, is religion. The continued exclusion of religion in public life is a grave mistake and can only be rectified by a complete rethinking of what secularism actually is. Only if all religious, non-religious and anti-religious views are held on an equal footing, can France avoid Orwell's ever-fitting prophecies. Most evangelical pastors are of a different generation to their congregants The overwhelming majority of evangelical leaders run churches primarily attended by people of other generations. The monthly Evangelical Leaders Survey revealed that only six per cent of pastors lead a church made up mostly of people of their own generation. Nine out of 10 run a church mainly composed of people of different generations. "Unlike many other civic institutions Boy Scouts, AARP, etc. that appeal to a particular slice of the population, the Church brings people together across generations," said Leith Anderson, president of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). "In an age of microtargeting, the Church is a place where young and old not only mix but learn from each other." Pew Research in 2014 highlighted the age breakdown of evangelicals and found just 17 per cent are 18-29 years old, while 33 per cent are 30-49 years old. Just less than a third (29 per cent) are 50-64 years old, and 20 per cent are aged 65 and older. One pastor, Jim Tolle of El Camino Metro Church in Los Angeles, said: "When Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, began the first church, it included a diversity of people groups, age groups and socio-economic groups. It is incumbent upon us to reach those who are within the sphere of where Jesus has called us to serve, including those beyond our own generation." Anderson continued: "Many churches reflect the generations of the communities where they minister. The average age of Americans is rising, so churches have older generations than in the past when preschoolers outnumbered retirees. The big exception is churches ministering to immigrant communities with lots of children and young adults." Muslims turned believers feel Christ's presence in Lebanon as they minister to Syrian refugees "The love of Christ burns inside them." The statement came from the director of Christian Aid Mission, an evangelical missionary organisation. The unnamed official was referring to former Muslims who put their faith in Christ and who are now ministering to the multitude of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Gospel Herald reports. Notwithstanding their emotional and physical fatigue, these Christian converts are exerting their best effort to minister to the refugees traumatised by the brutality of Islamist radicals who have destroyed their homes and made life unbearable for them. The Mission director said one of the Christian workers told him that he recently encountered the Lord, feeling His presence in the refugee camp when he suddenly awoke at 3 a.m. As a result of that encounter, the worker's "faith was strengthened and renewed," the director said. Another ministry worker has started five prayer groups for women despite her illiteracy, the director said. She uses audio media to share the gospel, and God has used her in remarkable ways, the director added. "She doesn't cease to share the love of Christ with those that she encounters, and we know the only explanation for how she can do all this is the Holy Spirit," he said. Another former Muslim who embraced Christ under the Mission's guidance decided to return to the community where he grew up in south Lebanon to share the Gospel despite the dangers that await him. "He is a fisherman with a heart for God and an eagerness to minister to his people, no matter how dangerous it may be," the director said. "He presently has eight people meeting daily in his home for prayer. There is currently no funding for him and his ministry there, but he continues with what he feels God wants him to do. The cost is so high for him, but he persists and cares so deeply for his neighbours, family, and friends." Two other ministry workers recently said they received a divine call to go to Syria to proclaim Christ there. Although both of them are also illiterate, they said this is not a problem since they will use audio media to share the gospel with others. "When asked why they are going when it is so dangerous, they responded that they just can't wait for others," the director said. "The love of Christ burns inside them, and they are ministering to many people that have never heard about Jesus. They know people need Jesus, and they don't let anything stop them from sharing the good news." Prince Hassan of Jordan condemns ISIS' 'sickening attacks' on Christians in the Middle East Christians, Jews and Muslims must unite to combat the "apocalyptic vision" peddled by Islamic State in the Middle East, Prince Hassan of Jordan has said. Writing in the Telegraph, Prince Hassan bin Talal and Dr Ed Kessler, director of the Woolf Institute, condemn the "hate and atrocities" committed in Iraq and Syria in the name of religion. "Christianity has been part of the essential fabric of the Middle East for two thousand years. Far from being a Western import as some, incredibly, now seem to suggest, it was born here and exported as a gift to the rest of the world. Christian communities have been intrinsic to the development of Arab culture and civilisation," they write. "This central role in our region and civilisation is why it is abhorrent to us, as a Muslim and a Jew, to see Christianity and Christians under such savage assault across our region." The two go on to say they are "appalled... by the sickening attacks on our fellow human beings". "We also know that to lose Christianity from its birthplace would be to destroy the richness of the tapestry of the Middle East and a hammer blow to our shared heritage. The reality is that we are all one community, united by shared beliefs and history," they say. ISIS does not only target Christians, they note, but "has shown itself as prepared to slaughter indiscriminately other Muslims as it has Jews, Christians and others", regardless of nationality. "Helping to end this dangerous slide towards hatred, self-destruction and fratricidal conflict is the main challenge for all of us involved in interfaith dialogue. This requires us to step up our efforts to increase understanding that what unites the three great faiths of our region is far greater than any differences. We must stress, too, that respect for the past and learning from it does not require us to live there." Historically, violence has been committed by Muslims, Jews and Christians, using their respective Scriptures to justify "the most appalling actions in the name of God", the Prince and Kessler add. They emphasise the importance of interpretation, which "provides us with the ability to deal with texts that run contrary to what we regard as the fundamental values of our tradition". "It is time to call a halt to the hate and atrocities that are causing convulsions throughout our immediate region and beyond," they conclude. "Peace and humanity itself hang upon the success of this interfaith exercise. It is that important." Jordan is hosting more than 600,000 Syrian refugees who have fled ISIS and the ongoing civil war about 10 per cent of its total population. Religious freedom at 'serious risk' at Christian universities, presidents warn Seven evangelical Christian university presidents in the United States are warning that traditional religious freedoms are under threat. The presidents have written an open letter to the Governor of South Carolina, Nikki Haley, stating that religious freedom at their instititions is at "serious risk". The open letter comes in the context of the ongoing transgender bathroom row that has divided the United States. Earlier this year, guidance issued in the US by the justice and education departments indicated that transgender students were entitled to protection under sex discrimination laws, meaning they could access "activities and sex-segregated facilities consistent with their gender identity". The Christian university presidents are calling for vigilance in the face of issues such as California's Bill SB 1146, which has been amended and no longer removes the right of faith-based institutions to conduct their mission, but still contains disclosure requirements that some Christians are concerned about. The presidents, including Dr Bill Jones of Columbia International University, call on Haley to stand against "any attempt by the federal government to infringe on religious freedom". They urge her to oppose any attempt by the South Carolina General Assembly or state executive agencies "to enact legislation, policies, administrative actions, or executive orders that infringe on the religious freedom of private religious universities." They also urge her to use platform as Governor to promote religious freedom. "We believe opposition to attempts to restrict religious freedom is important not just for religious freedom, and not for the pleading of one religion in particular, but for the protection of American democracy that requires a civil society welcoming of religious diversity," they say. Governor Haley told CIU: "I appreciate hearing from the leaders of our state's Christian universities. South Carolina has a proud tradition of upholding religious freedom. I look forward to working with the universities to make sure we continue to honor that tradition." Rome defeated, Christ triumphant: 10 quotes from St Augustine On this day in AD 410, Rome was sacked by the invading Gothic army of Alaric. It was a seismic event in the life of the city, which had not been successfully besieged for 800 years. Though by this time Rome was no longer the capital of the Empire that was now Constantinople, modern-day Istanbul it still carried all its ancient prestige and its fall was shattering. Furthermore, it was the heart of Christianity, and the catastrophe sparked a war of words between pagans and Christians about who was to blame. In response to this, St Augustine, the great North African theologian, wrote one of his most influential books, The City of God. He argued that the world was the scene of a war between God and the Devil, and that God providentially moves the governments and military forces aligned with the Catholic Church to achieve his ends. But in its vast scope the English translation runs to more than 1,000 pages The City of God is a treasury of spiritual riches and has many lines that have found their way how Christians think about the world today. Here are 10 quotes from The City of God. 1. "God is always trying to give good things to us, but our hands are too full to receive them." 2. "Justice being taken away, then, what are kingdoms but great robberies? For what are robberies themselves, but little kingdoms?" 3. [Speaking of the Church] "There are wolves within, and there are sheep without." 4. "The bodies of irrational animals are bent toward the ground, whereas man was made to walk erect with his eyes on heaven, as though to remind him to keep his thoughts on things above." 5. "Those who must inevitably die ought not to worry overmuch about what accident will cause their death, but about their destination after dying. Christians know that the death of a poor religious man, licked by the tongues of dogs, is far better than the death of a godless rich man, dressed in purple and linen." 6. "So it falls out that in this world, in evil days like these, the Church walks onward like a wayfarer stricken by the world's hostility, but comforted by the mercy of God. Nor does this state of affairs date only from the days of Christ's and His Apostles' presence on earth. It was never any different from the days when the first just man, Abel, was slain by his ungodly brother. So shall it be until this world is no more." 7. "The good man, although he is a slave, is free; but the bad man, even if he reigns, is a slave, and that not of one man, but, what is far more grievous, of as many masters as he has vices." 8. "It was to Noah that God gave instructions to make an ark in which he was to be rescued from the devastation of the Flood, together with his family, that is, his wife, his sons and daughters-in-law, and also the animals that went into the ark in accordance with God's directions. Without doubt this is a symbol of the City of God on pilgrimage in this world, of the Church which is saved through the wood on which was suspended 'the mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus'." 9. "The whole of history since the ascension of Jesus into heaven is concerned with one work only: the building and perfecting of this 'City of God'." 10. "When consent takes the form of seeking to possess the things we wish, this is called desire. When consent takes the form of enjoying the things we wish, this is called joy." Follow Mark Woods on Twitter: @RevMarkWoods Top 5 daily prayer apps to help your devotional life Shane Claiborne has released a new prayer app to go alongside the dozens already available on iTunes. Based on his book Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals, Claiborne said he hoped the app would bring Christians towards unity. "Common Prayer helps today's diverse church pray together across traditions and denominations with morning, midday, and evening prayers for every day of the year," Claiborne said in a post on Facebook. "Ultimately, Common Prayer makes liturgy dance, taking the best of the old and bringing new life to it with a fresh fingerprint for the contemporary renewal of the church." But Claiborne's venture alongside Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and Enuma Okoro is just one of hundreds of prayer apps available to help Christians with the centuries-old struggle to pray regularly. Here are five of the best apps we found: Prayer Notes This prayer journal app allows you to record prayer requests and set up a prayer diary for specific points at particular times. It functions like a password-protected planner and means you can mark an item when it is answered and share requests with friends via the app's AirDrop feature. One user said it was a "useful prayer app that works by keeping things simple". They added: "If you, like me, value help in keeping your prayer time focused then this app could be for you." Daily Prayer The official prayer app from the Church of England gives a complete liturgy and services for morning, evening and night time prayer. Based on the Anglican Book of Common Prayer it means you can follow the weekly, monthly and annual cycle of the Church. The downside is you have to subscribe and pay 2.99 in order to gain full access to the readings. One user remarked: "I really like being able to say a Daily Liturgy and follow the Church year and remember past Saints. However I also think it is a shame that now we are forced to pay and can no longer download Todays readings." Daily Prayer Guide This daily devotional offers a blend of prayers, Bible verses, poems and quotes to give you a kickstart to your day. It is based on Leaves of Life by Margaret Bird Steinmetz and dates each entry so you can catch up if you miss a few days. The app quotes one user as saying: "Truly wonderful, enlightening and gives me a great smile to start my day off with." Best Daily Prayers and Devotionals A simple short prayer delivered to your phone each day. This app requires very little from you and just gives you a quick prayer, thought, or verse to start your day. What it lacks in thoroughness and rigorous content it makes up in ease and speed of use. Users have described it as "to the point" and a "pithy reminder of what is important in a busy world." My First Daily Prayer Finally, this is an app aimed at kids, and provides a simple and easy way to encourage your children into daily prayer. It offers prayers for different scenarios such as going to school and going to bed, and has a new theme each week to take your children through. Turkish military, US-led coalition launch operation to sweep Islamic State from Syrian town Turkish special forces units and jets supported by warplanes from the US-led coalition launched an operation in northern Syria on Wednesday to wipe out Islamic State militants along the border with Turkey, Turkish officials said. The Turkish army began firing artillery rounds into the Syrian border town of Jarablus at around 0100 GMT and Turkish and US warplanes pounded Islamic State targets with airstrikes as part of the operation, Turkish military sources said. It was the first time warplanes from NATO member Turkey have struck in Syria since November, when Turkey shot down a Russian jet near the border, and the first known incursion by Turkish special forces since a brief operation to relocate the tomb of Suleyman Shah, a revered Ottoman figure, in February 2015. Turkey and the United States hope that by sweeping Islamic State from the border they can deprive it of a smuggling route which long saw its ranks swollen with foreign fighters and its coffers boosted by illicit trade. White and grey plumes of smoke rose from atop the hills of Jarablus, visible from the Turkish town of Karkamis across the border. The boom of artillery fire was audible as tanks opened fire from just inside Turkish territory. Turkish military sources said a ground incursion had yet to start, but a group of Turkish special forces had entered Syria while Turkish and US-led coalition jets hit four Islamic State targets and Turkish artillery struck more than 60 targets. Tanks were being positioned to secure the border, they said. "The aim of the operation is to ensure border security and Syria's territorial integrity while supporting the US-led coalition against Islamic State," one military source said, adding work to open a passage for ground forces was underway. US Vice President Joe Biden is due in Turkey later on Wednesday, the most senior US official to visit since a failed July 15 coup shook confidence in the ability of the NATO member to step up the fight against Islamic State. Turkey had vowed on Monday to "completely cleanse" Islamic State militants from its border region after a suicide bomber suspected of links to the group killed 54 people at a Kurdish wedding in southeastern city of Gaziantep. Counter-terrorism police launched dawn raids targeting Islamic State members across Istanbul on Wednesday, the Dogan news agency said. Turkey is also concerned about the growing influence of Syrian Kurdish militant groups along its border, where they have captured large areas of territory since the start of the Syrian war in 2011. Ankara sees them as tied to the Kurdish militants fighting an insurgency in Turkey. At least nine mortar shells from Jarablus had landed into Turkish border town of Karkamis and nearby on Tuesday, forcing many residents to flee the town, a Reuters witness said. The Syria operation also came as Syrian rebels backed by Turkey had said they were in the final stages of preparing an assault from Turkish territory on Jarablus, aiming to preempt a potential attempt by Syrian Kurdish YPG militia to take it. Pre-empting Kurdish forces The Kurdish YPG militia, a critical part of the US-backed campaign against Islamic State, took near complete control of Hasaka city on Tuesday. The group already controls swathes of northern Syria where Kurdish groups have established de facto autonomy since the start of the Syria war. Their growing influence has alarmed Ankara, which is fighting its own insurgency with militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party or PKK, who officials blame for an escalation of attacks in the southeast of Turkey. Ankara is focused on preventing the YPG or its allies building on recent advances against Islamic State by capturing Jarablus. The US-backed Syria Democratic Forces alliance (SDF), including the YPG, captured the city of Manbij, just south of Jarablus, from Islamic State earlier this month. A Syrian rebel with one of the Turkey-backed groups said the fighters were waiting for the signal to enter Jarablus and a second rebel said around 1,500 fighters were now gathered at a location in Turkey to take part. Turkey is still in shock after the failed July coup by rogue solders who tried to overthrow President Tayyip Erdogan and the government, killing 240 people and triggering a purge of suspected coup supporters in the army and civil service. Angered by a perceived lack of Western sympathy over the coup, Turkey has chilled ties with Washington and the European Union while ending a diplomatic row with Russia and proposing more military cooperation with Moscow in fighting Islamic State. Those growing ties between Ankara and Moscow are worrying Turkey's Western allies. Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said this week that northern Syria should not become the domain of one group and that a "secure zone", an internationally policed buffer area Turkey proposed in the past, should be reconsidered. 'We are living in darkness': The heartbreaking suffering of refugees stranded in Greece It was almost a year ago that the tragic image of the body of three-year-old Alan Kurdi, a Kurdish Syrian refugee who drowned while attempting to cross the Aegean Sea with his family, brought global attention to the refugee crisis. Twelve months on, what is the situation like for the thousands still desperate to reach safety? Amy Merone, from Christian Aid, reports from Greece where some 57,000 refugees are currently stuck as a result of closed borders and political inaction. When Ruhia sits down to share her story, she does so clutching a red wallet. As she talks she sobs, grief-stricken, and opens it, removing two small photographs of a boy and a girl. They were her children, killed by the Taliban. Ruhia lifts the hem of her dress to reveal scars across her feet: wounds suffered when they attempted to cut her down as she fled. She recounts the horrifying details of a brutality that has left her bereft. When sadness prevents her from speaking, her friend Rahima comes to comfort her: a consolation only possible between people who share the same extremity of pain. Like Ruhia, Rahima has also endured the loss of a child: her son was taken by the Taliban. After finally managing to escape from Afghanistan, Ruhia and her one surviving son made the perilous journey to Europe in search of sanctuary. She nearly drowned in the attempt. But instead of finding refuge on European shores, Ruhia has been forced to endure a new nightmare. By the time she arrived in Greece, European nations had closed their borders to refugees. She is now one of some 57,000 people stranded in the country. As an Afghan, she is not eligible for EU relocation. Presently, only Syrians, Iraqis and Eritreans can apply. This leaves refugees like Ruhia with two options: apply for asylum in Greece, or return to Afghanistan. With Greece in the grip of economic crisis, few feel they would be able to thrive here it has Europe's highest unemployment levels. Meanwhile, returning to Afghanistan is considered tantamount to suicide. So Ruhia lives in a desperate limbo, in a former naval base in the town of Elefsina, an isolated industrial site. North-west of Athens, the base is one of 57 makeshift refugee sites across mainland Greece. It houses almost 300 refugees, mostly from Afghanistan. It's been months since Ruhia arrived in this bleak place. People sleep eight families to a room. Sheets and blankets hang from bunk beds to create a semblance of privacy. Children are stuck inside away from the searing heat with nowhere to play but the corridors. The scene in Elefsina, and in camps across the mainland, is a far cry to that of 12 months ago. Then, people journeyed through Greece and the Balkans, and were cheered by welcome committees upon arrival in Germany and elsewhere. A year on, the mood across Europe has changed significantly. This has shocked many refugees. "I thought I would go to Germany or to another country, show my documents and be able to work, and... be assured of my family's safety," says Ghulam, a refugee from Herat, Afghanistan. "I thought my children would be educated and that we would live in peace." Ghulam, his wife and their children have been in Greece for six months including three in Elefsina. "We have suffered 180 days of hell," he says. A political science graduate, he speaks of his pride at having educated all his children. As well as his native language Farsi, he speaks English, German and Arabic. Working for Western NGOs, Ghulam was considered a renegade by the Taliban. Threatened with his life and shot at, his family fled Afghanistan. They reached Europe, expecting to find safety. Instead, they find themselves here and with no opportunity to apply for asylum, there is nothing to do but wait. "It is painful that we are here for six months," Ghulam says. "There is nothing to distract us. We haven't learned a language. Life is passing and we haven't added to our skills and knowledge. We are living in darkness." This sentiment is shared by many. The psychological burden is stark: people live through, and finally escape from, conflict only to face the 'psychological war' of life as a refugee in Europe. "I feel nothing anymore," one man says, placing his hand across his heart: "There is nothing left in here." Even the gentlest of people appear frustrated, questioning why nothing is changing and why they must live in such a humiliating way. Now largely out of sight, they feel they are being forgotten. As Greece struggles to cope with its economic crisis, European countries are deadlocked over who should take responsibility. Greek authorities have yet to receive the bulk of resources promised to enable them to respond adequately. Many refugees who do qualify for EU relocation have not yet had their first asylum interview. Fewer than 3,000 refugees have been relocated from Greece to European countries, despite 66,000 pledged places. For refugees like Ghulam, Ruhia and Rahima, they are left only with lamentation. "At night we sit together as women, we drink tea, we tell our stories, and we cry together," Rahima says. "We have so much pain that you cannot realise. From where I could even start..." Rahima uses her headscarf to wipe her tears and when Ruhia gets up to leave, she is still clutching the red wallet containing the precious photographs of her lost children. How much suffering can one heart endure? Christian Aid is working in Greece through its ACT Alliance partner, International Orthodox Christian Charities/Apostoli, to provide humanitarian support including food to refugees on the mainland. Local partners are offering legal protection services to children and their families, and accommodation for some of the most vulnerable refugees. However, a permanent solution is needed. Christian Aid is calling on the UK government to commit to hosting at least 40,000 refugees, and to provide safe, legal routes enabling refugees to travel to and through Europe. What are the five things Christians should know about heaven? Heaven is a mysterious place for most people, even for Christians. So in order to help them understand it better, Pastor Ed Young of Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas has offered his thoughts in a sermon entitled, "What in the Heaven is Going On?" "Everybody wants to know about heaven, and everybody wants to go to heaven," Young said in his sermon, according to The Christian Post. And because heaven is such a wondrous place where Christians get to be with God all the time, Young said the enemy is doing whatever he can to keep people in the dark about it. "The Bible gives us just enough information about heaven," Young said. "Heaven is a real place. Heaven is a place of outrageous and contagious joy. Heaven is a place where we will be with Jesus. Heaven is a place where we'll continue our purpose forever and ever." Young then shared five facts about heaven. First, there is the location of heaven, which is "much closer than you think." It is a real and tangible place, which is very "close." Secondly, Young said heaven is going to have a huge population where people worship not just in singing. "Worship is everything we do, say, touch and feel. As a believer, you don't come to Fellowship to worship; you come worshipping... So everything we do in heaven will be an act of worship," he explained. The next fact Young shared is people's occupation in heaven. Whatever people enjoy doing in this world, whether it be writing, creating, or building, Young said people will continue to do so in heaven. "We are made to accomplish things, we are made to have goals," he said. The fourth fact is that there will be communication in heaven, and people who know each other here on earth will recognise one another. People will also be reunited with their loved ones in heaven. Lastly, Young said if people make it to heaven, then "we are very, very, very right." He then quoted John 14:6, "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" Why going to church could be the best way of evangelising A study of religious life in two Indian villages carried out by an American academic makes fascinating reading. Eleanor Power of Stanford University lived alongside the Christian and Hindu people there for 20 months looking at how their communities worked. Among other things she found that it wasn't dramatic acts of religious devotion that won people's respect, but the "relatively more subtle act" of regular worship. She concludes: "In sum, people who worship regularly and undertake greater and costlier ritual acts are not only seen as more devout, but are also associated with a suite of traits that are prosocial, other-focused, and morally grounded." Specifically: "They are more likely to be seen as having a good work ethic, giving good advice, being generous, and having good character." So it isn't the dramatic rituals, renunciations and mortifications that impress. It's the long lifetime of discipleship, in which people patiently invest time, money and effort into their spirituality and their community. Power's an academic who isn't professionally interested in whether a religion is true, just in how it works. But any Christian reading this against the background of faith in the modern world ought to be struck by her conclusions. In an age when the Church in the West is periodically in a condition of panic about its future, when new evangelistic initiatives come along in remarkably quick succession, and when the finest minds of Christianity are exercised on how to stop the rot and save the Church, I wonder if we've forgotten how important going to church and sitting still is. It doesn't make headlines for Christian journalists and it doesn't seem to change very much. It's hard to say much about it other than that it happens. But the simple act of committing to go, and going Sunday by Sunday, whether you feel like it or not and whether you have other calls on your time or not, appears to be a powerful statement that something is happening and Power's research seems to show that there, at least, it is noted and respected. The qualification is important. Indian villages where people tend to know more about each other's lives are not the same as British towns where they might not know very much at all. But even here, in spite of the frequent scandals that cause Christianity to be held up to public derision, churchgoing is generally seen as a good thing. Churchgoers are likely to be involved in the community, good neighbours, kind and helpful. And this witness of presence which we run the risk of denigrating when we focus on more dramatic kinds of evangelism is a a mark of the continuing activity of God in the world. This shouldn't surprise us. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount: "Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a lampstand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:15-16). When we live and worship quietly day by day and week by week, that's what we're doing. More than that, though: we're being formed into the likeness of Christ. Churches can be deadening, life-denying places. But that's when they fail. When they are what they are mean to be, they make us better people. Church makes us less selfish we have to talk to people we don't want to talk to and be kind to people who irritate us. Church expands our minds and spirits, breaking down our prejudices and helping us see the world through different eyes. And most of all, church helps us pay attention to God. Whether the sermon is dull or the songs are annoying isn't the point: for an hour and a half on Sunday morning I have no excuse. Do we lack confidence in church? I think we might. But churchgoing is far more effective, at every level, than we sometimes realise. Mark Woods is the author of Does the Bible really say that? Challenging our assumptions in the light of Scripture (Lion, 8.99). Follow him on Twitter: @RevMarkWoods A Montgomery County judge again released a 12-year-old girl accused of leading polic elast June on a high-speed chase . She was in juvenile detention until Tuesday for violating terms of her original release last month, according to officials. Authorities arrested her June 30 after she allegedly drove off in her grandmother's car from East Montgomery County with her 7-year-old sister in the vehicle. The juvenile reportedly reached a speed of 111 mph and damaged at least two vehicles while weaving in and out of traffic and driving on the wrong side of the road all in a 10-minute pursuit from Conroe down Texas 105 West toward Montgomery. Neither girl was hurt in the chase. After spending Fourth of July weekend in juvenile detention, the girl had her first hearing, which included a dash-cam video of the chase. The prosecution recommended an extended stay during the first hearing July 5, which the judge ordered. County Court-at-Law No. 1 Judge Dennis Watson decided to release the juvenile to her paternal uncle under specific conditions July 19. While living with her uncle, the girl was forbidden from operating a motorized vehicle, including riding lawn mowers and boats; and the judge prohibited her from breaking any laws, no matter how minor. The conditions set forth by the judge also required 24-hour supervision, frequent drug tests and obeying her uncle's rules, according to the girl's court-appointed attorney Chris Allen. However, the girl violated the court order and landed back in detention, according to County Attorney J D Lambright. "She did not follow court orders," Lambright said. "The caregivers did follow court orders and turned her in." Lambright, who was not in court Tuesday for the girl's release, said the terms were likely the same as the first time. He did not know what family member took custody of her. According to the Conroe Police Department, the girl originally was arrested by the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office for theft of property over $30,000, which is a third-degree felony. The prosecution has since filed a petition for felony unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, felony evading arrest and dangerous conduct due to the severity of the crime and to discourage others from doing the same. The prosecution considered her age, the speed of the chase, the fact that she had her sister, who has also been removed from the home due to alleged substance abuse, and the time of day into consideration. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Texas isn't afraid of carrying out executions, but sometimes that practice puts the state in the national spotlight. An appeals court last week stopped the lethal injection of 43-year-old Jeffrey Wood for his role in a fatal 1996 convenience store robbery and murder because of questions about some of the evidence in the case. READ MORE: Texas court halts execution of man who didn't kill Carrying it out as scheduled Wednesday night would have made Texas a rare case of executing someone who didn't actually carry out a killing. Wood was the getaway driver. The actual shooter, Daniel Reneau, was executed in 2002. Texas Death Row: By the Numbers 244 - Total inmates on death row. 238 men and 6 women. Racial breakdown: 107 inmates are black, 66 are white, 66 are Hispanic, and five are classified as "other." Harris County has produced more death row inmates _ 85 _ than any other place in Texas. Dallas County, with 29, is second. Texas executes frequently. The last time the state carried out fewer than 10 executions was 1996, when three inmates were put to death. See More Collapse And, just on the legal horizon, the case of 56-year-old Bobby James Moore is headed to the U.S. Supreme Court and waiting to throw the state's execution process back into the headlines. Moore went to death row for the 1980 shotgun killing of 72-year-old James "Jim" McCarble in Houston. READ MORE: Killer sent to death row for second time in 1980 slaying The central question in Moore's case: Is he too intellectually disabled to kill? The question -- and how Texas makes such a decision -- takes on a literary bent. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals rejected his claim of intellectual disability in September 2015, saying Moore didn't meet Texas' "Briseno factors," an unscientific, seven-pronged test which a judge based on the character Lennie Smalls from John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men." In doing so, the appeals court reversed a lower court's ruling that tracked the scientific diagnostic criteria set forth by medical professionals, which found that Moore had intellectual disability. Executing the mentally disabled is unconstitutional. The catch is, each state gets to decide what constitutes mental disability. READ MORE: Death row inmate called a "model prisoner" In Moore's case, the appeals court decided he didn't meet the standard. Moore's lawyers say a judge used an outdated standard to decide the issue. The state lawyers said prior U.S. Supreme Court decisions do not require the states to use clinical definitions or analyses from psychiatric organizations to determine intellectual disability. Moore's IQ has ranged from the 50s to the 70s in tests over the years. READ MORE: High court takes up 2 Texas death cases The high court hasn't set a hearing date for Moore's case yet, but it has drawn interest from the American Civil Liberties Union, the Constitution Project and the American Bar Association. No date has been set for the hearing and it isn't known if eight or nine justices will decide the case (that may not be known until after the presidential election). But, headlines and controversy are sure to follow when a decision is reached. Three Houston-area nonprofit organizations will expand programs for small businesses as recipients of grants from the Governor's Office of Small Business Assistance. Each will get $10,000 each in funding as part of a joint initiative of Gov. Greg Abbott's office and the Texas Workforce Commission to support small businesses in under served markets. Just because we're only about a sixth of the way through the 21st century didn't stop the BBC from putting together a list of the 21st century's greatest films. And the two most prominent filmmakers to come from Houston both made the list. Repeatedly. Richard Linklater had the highest ranking film with "Boyhood," his decade-in-the-making 2014 film about the changes and phases in one boy's life. Linklater also came in at No. 73 with "Before Sunset" from 2004, the second in his series of films about the evolving relationship between two characters played by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. Strangely "Before Midnight" didn't make the list. I thought Linklater's slow-burning 2013 film was the best of the three. Fast food and fine dining are usually at cross purposes. But not so with a new partnership that brings together one of Houston's hottest white tablecloth restaurants and a fast-casual chain. The upscale steakhouse, B&B Butchers & Restaurant on Washington, has teamed with PDQ to offer a sandwich, known as "Chef Tommy's B&B Butcher's Club"that will be served exclusively at four Houston area PDQ stores (Bunker Hill, Cypress, Cinco Ranch and Vintage Park) from September through November. PDQ will donate $1 from every club sandwich sold to the Houston Food Bank. A burglary suspect is in custody after he broke into a convenience store in southwest Houston. The incident occurred about 2 a.m. at Metro Food # 2 in the 10000 block of South Gessner near Gustine, said Lt. Larry Crowson of the Houston Police Department. One driver rolled over and hit a pole while another smashed into a gasoline pump in an horrific wreck early Wednesday morning in southwest Houston. The two-vehicle collision happened about 3 a.m. in the 15500 block of South Post Oak near the Sam Houston Parkway, according to the Houston Police Department. A federal judge has denied Pasadena's request to throw out a lawsuit challenging its controversial city council redistricting plan, which a group of Hispanic and Latino residents alleges dilutes the voting rights of the suburb's growing minority population. Judge Lee Rosenthal's ruling Wednesday after a roughly two-hour court hearing means the case continues toward trial, which Rosenthal has tentatively set for November. Wednesday's session was one of the first significant hearings in the voting rights case, which has received national attention as emblematic of modern-day battles over the issue more than 50 years after the Voting Rights Act was passed. The city had asked Rosenthal to rule on a motion for summary judgment in favor of the city's 3-year-old method of electing the council, which called for races for six single-member seats and two at-large seats, stating that the plan allows the Hispanic minority population the opportunity to elect four members. Rosenthal rejected that argument, stating that the new method creates a majority of Hispanic citizens of voting age in three districts, compared to four in the previous election system, when there were eight single-member districts. "Obviously we would have liked to have had summary judgment," said the city's attorney, C. Robert Heath. "But we are still confident in our case." The Houston Chronicle has reported in-depth about the case and how some residents are accusing the city of violating their voting rights. In 2013, after the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated a section of the Voting Rights Act requiring federal pre-approval of election-law changes, Pasadena voters narrowly decided to replace the city's system of single-member city council elections with six single-member races and two at-large contests. Plaintiffs in the voting rights suit contend minority populations concentrated in each single-member district had a better shot of electing candidates of their choice. But citywide, white residents tended to vote at greater rates than Hispanic voters did, potentially giving white candidates a leg up. The suit was filed in 2014. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate In 1965, Shell Oil Co. decided to open a new office in Houston, a 30-story building where executives would run operations for the western United States. But over the next six years, Shell's ambitions for Houston grew, and so did the scale of its project. By the early 1970s, Shell Oil, the U.S. subsidiary of the international energy company Royal Dutch Shell, supported building not one but two skyscrapers in Houston and moved its headquarters from New York into the 50-story building known today as One Shell Plaza. That move not only vindicated Houston's claim as the world's oil capital, but also touched off a building boom that would transform the city's skyline as war and revolution in the Middle East launched oil prices and the industry to new heights. One Shell stood as the tallest building in Texas for more than a decade, surpassed in the 1980s by InterFirst (now Enterprise) Plaza and the Texas Commerce (now JPMorgan Chase) Tower. Today, One Shell is just a small part of Houston's downtown, the 10th-tallest building. But when the final touches were completed in 1971, it was something that Houston had never seen before, capturing the city's aspirations - as the energy historian Tyler Priest described it - in "gleaming white, Italian Travertine marble quarried from the same region as the marble in Rome's Colosseum." More Information One Shell Plaza Completed 1971 Address 910 Louisiana St. Height 715 feet; 1,000 feet counting the antenna spire Floors 50 Developer Hines Architect Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Main contractor W.S. Bellows Construction See More Collapse "Houston had already become the booming hub of the petroleum industry by the 1960s, but all the biggest companies' headquarters were somewhere else," said Priest, a University of Iowa professor who has written extensively on Shell's history. "Shell's decision kind of validated Houston's reputation as the center of the oil industry, and other companies followed." In the 1960s, with industry mired in low oil prices, Shell and other companies were looking to cut costs. Operations were scattered all over the country, wherever there might be oil. Administrative, support, and research functions were duplicated many times over. In Houston, for example, Shell already had the Bellaire Technology Center and offices in several buildings scattered around the city. But Shell was outgrowing these facilities and started working on an expansion with real estate brokers, one of whom put in a good word for a young, go-getter who would become the city's most prominent developer. Gerald Hines said he told Shell that he could build an office tower in downtown Houston that was 50 percent more energy efficient than the industry standard and brought on Chicago architects from Skidmore, Owings & Merrill firm to design it. With Shell moving to consolidate its U.S. offices, the company and the developer decided to erect a building that was 50 stories, rather than 30, to accommodate local workers as well as those who would be transferred from New York, Midland, Oklahoma, Colorado and other locations. Shell decided in 1968 to consolidate its many U.S. offices with two major operational hubs: the western region in Houston and the southern region in New Orleans. Shell, however, planned to maintain the New York headquarters with just top executives because of the proximity to financial markets and easier air travel to the Netherlands, where Royal Dutch Shell is headquartered. Jack Little, who would eventually become chief executive of Shell Oil was then a young engineer for Shell in Houston. Energy companies were looking to cut costs and improve communication between different divisions in the time before email, smartphones and cloud-based software made it possible to efficiently manage scattered operations "You had a (land-line) telephone and that was about it," Little said. At the time, it was considered revolutionary to move researchers and engineers away from the oil fields and consolidate them in a centralized locations like Houston because conventional wisdom in the industry held that these specialists would lose their feel for the oilfield. Instead, consolidation allowed for far greater collaboration among workers as they tried to find better ways to discover and exploit oil reserves. "It was a very high-risk decision," Little recalled. Other companies eventually followed Shell's lead. The news of Shell's plans to consolidate operations in Houston became public in August 1969. "Shell to Move 1,000 Workers Here," the Houston Chronicle's banner headline blared. The final number was closer to 1,400. New York, meanwhile, had become increasingly expensive and Shell's president, Dick McCurdy, wanted to shrink the company's footprint there. Shell started relocating people from New York in 1970 as One Shell neared completion. Shell moved people in shifts: after they finished work on a Thursday in New York, and they'd start on Tuesday in Houston. Only one day of work was lost each week. Shell also had to hire a lot of new people. Roughly 700 of the New York workers refused to move. "Let's face it: It was a little bit of a culture shock," Little said. "Most who made the move were pleasantly surprised." By 1971, only the uppermost Shell Oil executives remained in New York. That soon changed. The new president, Harry Bridges, decided to move the corporate headquarters to Houston and One Shell Plaza. Shell didn't stop there. Again working with Hines, it developed a 28-story Two Shell Plaza, which became the hub for western operations. It moved all of its data processing to Houston in 1973, giving Shell the city's second-most computing power after NASA. Shell then opened the Westhollow Technology Center in West Houston in 1975. The next major oil company to make the plunge was Pennzoil, which moved its headquarters from Pennsylvania to downtown Houston with the opening of Pennzoil Place in 1975. The banking industry, wanting to do more business with oil companies, soon started erecting their own skyscrapers downtown. Little said he loved seeing his employer make such a splash in Houston, where Shell today employs about 11,000 people. "It's a gross exaggeration to say Shell caused Houston's growth," Little said, "but Shell certainly helped to establish Houston and to amplify its significant role in oil and gas. Other companies followed in short order." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Molly Brownstein, a Pennsylvania State University senior, and her family describe her roommate Rachel Lader as a classic mean girl, a "monster" and an "expert bully, with a Ph.D. in intimidation." Lader denies that and paints Brownstein as a coddled whiner, quick to turn to her parents to solve problems she created with her own standoffish behavior. Such squabbling might normally be dismissed as a typical drama between young women navigating life on their own for the first time. But this spat between sorority sisters, which started during a spring trip to Spain, has escalated to involve college authorities, multiple lawyers, and a federal judge. ROOMMATE PROBLEMS: Woman's male roommate wants to be friends without benefits Lader, a rising senior and aspiring lawyer, filed a defamation and breach-of-contract lawsuit in federal court in Philadelphia alleging that Brownstein's parents - donors to the university and active alumni - used their influence at the school to manipulate a baseless disciplinary proceeding against her that ended with her being placed on academic probation and threatened with expulsion. The Brownsteins' primary complaints were that Lader played music too loud in the Barcelona apartment that the women shared during a study-abroad trip this year, brought a man back to their hotel room in Prague, and once - in a fit of frustration over Brownstein's purported slovenliness - dumped a colander filled with pasta on her roommate's bed. Brownstein - whose father, Marc, is CEO of the Brownstein Group, a Philadelphia advertising agency - has maintained she was the victim of relentless bullying that brought her to contemplating suicide. Dear Abby: Roommate shares more than space in college dorm room "Rachel bullied me to the point where I had to leave in the middle of the night in an area where people get stabbed outside my building," she wrote in a memo filed with the university included in Lader's lawsuit. "Whenever I think about it, it brings me to a full-on terrible place and makes me completely depressed." Lader, in court filings, claims she was the victim of a coordinated campaign to tarnish her academic record, leaving her a nervous wreck, suffering from maladies including migraines, anxiety, and colitis, which led to a five-day hospital stay last month. Her lawsuit, which names the Brownstein family and Penn State as defendants, asks a judge to vacate her disciplinary record and award damages for defamation and inflicting emotional distress. By all accounts, the trouble began in Barcelona, where the two Alpha Sigma Alpha sisters decided to share an apartment during their study-abroad trip last semester. Brownstein's story is detailed in a memo written by her mother, Amy, filed with Penn State and included with Lader's filings with the court. THE GET DOWN: Here is the top party school in every state The document, titled "A Mother's Perspective," details a string of slights that she says she observed from nearly 4,000 miles away. She writes that Lader left her daughter behind on a planned trip to Copenhagen, asought to exclude her from conversation, and then insisted during a trip to Prague on bringing a man back to their shared hotel room, forcing Brownstein to find other accommodations for the night. "In the sorority, it is generally understood that you do not cross Rachel Lader - better to pretend to be her friend, than be her enemy," Amy Brownstein wrote. "The other girls were frankly scared of Rachel." Lader disputes almost everything in the Brownsteins' retelling, and maintains that Brownstein hid in her room while she and their other roommates were socializing. The man she brought back to their hotel room, Lader says, was a high school friend who had locked himself out of his apartment. He slept on the couch, she says. Lader admits to putting a colander in her roommate's bedsheets but insists it contained no pasta. Her act of protest, she maintains, was to draw attention to the fact that Brownstein wasn't pulling her fair share of the housework around the apartment. "The alleged conduct complained of by Molly Brownstein is without any merit and is nothing more than slander and harassment by [her] and her mother to have me thrown out of school," Lader wrote to the school this year. Penn State got involved at the Brownsteins' request in March, launching a disciplinary investigation against Lader while both women were attending school in Spain. Lader contends in her lawsuit that the process was stacked against her from the start, and that the school's investigators discounted any evidence she provided and relied primarily on the Brownsteins' account. At one point, a school administrator contacted Lader and proposed a deal to drop the disciplinary proceedings. Before leaving for Spain, Lader and Brownstein had signed a lease to live together at an off-campus apartment in State College this fall. According to emails filed with the suit, the school proposed that if Lader would break the lease and move out, Penn State would drop its investigation. Lader calls the proposed deal extortion. She refused, and days later received a letter saying she had been charged with harassment, a violation of the student code of conduct. Lader's lawyers maintain that their client agreed to sign the resolution and accept the punishment of a semester of academic probation just to put the matter behind her, but only on the condition that the outcome of the investigation be kept private from the Brownsteins. But, the lawsuit states, the Brownsteins found out within minutes. U.S. District Judge Timothy Savage has not set a date for a hearing on the lawsuit. And with move-in day approaching on their new apartment this weekend, neither woman has shown an intention to back down on the issue of breaking the lease. Unless someone bends, these two scrapping sorority sisters again could be sharing living quarters. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A taxi jumped a curb in San Franciscos bustling Financial District Tuesday and plowed into two workers at a shoeshine stand on the sidewalk, causing serious and, in one case, life-threatening injuries, officials and witnesses said. The driver for Yellow Cab Cooperative was traveling westbound on Market Street at 3:17 p.m. when the crash occurred, said Lt. Jonathan Baxter, a spokesman for the San Francisco Fire Department. It was not immediately clear how or why the driver, who was alone in the car, lost control, but the taxi smashed into the shoeshine stand at Sutter and Sansome streets, sending the two workers flying, knocked down a large newsstand kiosk and came to rest against a light pole, according to witnesses. The cab came barreling down Market Street, hit the newspaper stand, and then the next thing I saw was the old man flying over the shoeshine stand, said Susan Giammona, who sells shawls and scarves at a stand only feet from the wreck, referring to one of the shoeshine workers. The whole newspaper stand went over on its side. The cab kind of flew up. I was so shaken I couldn't even walk. The cab driver walked out of the car and lay on the street after the crash, Giammona said. The longtime proprietor of the shoeshine business mumbled something about getting the driver's license plate number when witnesses rushed to help him as he lay on the sidewalk. The other shoeshine worker was unconscious and regained consciousness when paramedics arrived, she said. The whole community any goodness that was in anybody here on this street, anybody that had any good in them at all they all came to the rescue, Giammona said The shoeshine workers and taxi driver were taken to San Francisco General Hospital. Hospital spokesman Brent Andrews declined to release the victims names, but he said a 40- year-old man was in critical condition. The other two victims ages 59 and 66 were listed in fair condition, he said. A supervisor at Yellow Cab Cooperative said the company would not comment. Sidewalks in the area were teeming with pedestrians at the time of the crash. Witnesses described a loud crash and then gasps from horrified witnesses. We heard a screech and then a big boom. It sounded like an explosion to me, said Teresa Richard, a 31-year-old security guard, who was sitting across the street when the wreck happened. She said she worried at first about a terrorist attack, before she looked up and saw the cab. At first we thought it was a garbage can, but it was way too loud for something like that, said Haley Holmes, 27, an employee at Sees Candies, which looks directly onto the crash scene. I heard the gasps before I actually saw the crash scene. The crash left a tableau of destruction at the intersection, with the severely damaged taxi in the middle of the sidewalk and the cylindrical news kiosk on its side in several pieces between the vehicle and the street. San Francisco police investigators were canvassing the neighborhood for surveillance video Tuesday afternoon in an attempt to figure out what happened. I am very worried, said James Polk, 50, a local minister who rushed to the scene after he heard the crash happened at the spot where he gets his shoes shined every other week. Thats my shoeshine man. Kimberly Veklerov and Jenna Lyons are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com, jlyons@sfchonicle.com. Twitter: @kveklerov, @JennaJourno. An alibi witness for a man whose murder conviction was re-examined in the popular "Serial" podcast told two classmates more than 20 years ago she would lie to help him, the Maryland attorney general's office wrote in court filings Monday. Officials wrote that two sisters who were classmates of the witness at Woodlawn High School approached the attorney general's office this summer, after a judge ordered a new trial for Adnan Syed. The sisters gave sworn statements saying they got into a 1999 argument with the witness, Asia McClain, who has said she saw Syed at the Woodlawn library about the same time Hae Min Lee was murdered and buried in a shallow grave in a Baltimore park that year. Syed was convicted in 2000 of murdering Lee, his former high school girlfriend. He was sentenced to life in prison. One of the classmates sent an unsolicited email to the attorney general's office on July 7, a week after the judge ordered the new trial. The woman, who is not identified in court papers, wrote she initially planned to stay out of the case, because she didn't think Syed would be granted a new trial. But she decided to reach out after the judge's decision. "I very much remember, as does (my sister) having a conversation with Asia in our co op class about Asia saying she believed so much in Adnan's innocence she would make up a lie to prove he couldn't have done it," she wrote in the email. The attorney general's office is asking that the sisters' affidavits be used in court if McClain's alibi claim is introduced. "Courts operate under the comfortable assumption that a person ordinarily would not be willing to lie to assist someone charged with murder," the attorney general's office wrote. "Two witnesses who were previously unknown to the state have now come forward and affirmed that this assumption does not apply in the case of Asia McClain. To correct that assumption prior to appellate review is in the interests of justice." In his ruling this summer for a new trial, now-retired Baltimore Circuit Judge Martin Welch said he disagreed that Syed's lawyer erred when she failed to contact McClain. He ruled that Syed's attorneys were deficient, because they failed to note the unreliability of cellphone tracking evidence cited by prosecutors to place Syed's phone near the site where Lee was buried. The "Serial" podcast attracted millions of listeners who became armchair detectives as the series analyzed the case for weeks in the winter of 2014. A former Houston police officer and his wife have been sentenced to 15 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for transporting undocumented immigrants from the border to Houston, according to a statement released Wednesday by the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas. Juan Carrillo, 52, and Rosa Lidia Carrillo, 43, of Cypress, pleaded guilty in January to transporting two undocumented individuals from Eagle Pass. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate AUSTIN It all started in late October: a photo of David Molaks girlfriend posing with a male student from their high school flashed on Instagram with a taunting message: steal your girl. Dozens of profanity-laced comments, some threatening violence, followed and eventually spiraled into what has been described as a malicious cyberbullying attack targeting David. For months the harassment continued until David, a 16-year-old former Alamo Heights High School student, committed suicide in January. I never, ever, ever want another parent to have to go through what we have gone through, Davids mother, Maurine Molak, said Tuesday at the state Capitol. The suffering is indescribable. Davids gut-wrenching story was delivered to a panel of state senators in a precursor to the Texas Legislature diving into the precarious issue of trying to regulate cyberbullying, a growing problem state lawmakers said extends beyond the world of teenagers. At the request of state Sen. Jose Menendez, the Senate Criminal Justice Committee took its first look at the topic Tuesday. The San Antonio Democrat says he will push a proposal next legislative session aimed at preventing and combating online harassment. State senators were told at the interim hearing that the advent of social media and apps has transformed conventional bullying tactics into something far darker and nefarious: Smashing someone into a locker has given way to creating fake online accounts that harass people with menacing messages 24/7. Further exacerbating the situation, according to testimony from victims families: Those seeking help from law enforcement are often rebuffed on the basis that current state laws dont cover most cyberbullying episodes. Menedez said his bill is an attempt to keep Texas laws on pace with evolving technology. When we went to school, we could get away from bullies, he said at the hearing. Today, the bullies are following people home. Menendezs proposal has been dubbed Davids Law as an ode to the teen. State Rep. Ina Minjarez, D-San Antonio, will champion the measure in the state House. The Legislature convenes in January. On Tuesday, Menendez got his first chance to publicly air a draft version of the bill, a wide-ranging proposal intended to give police and school districts more power to crack down on those perpetrating anonymous online attacks. The measure, which is still being fined-tuned ahead of the legislative session, currently calls for making it a misdemeanor to harass someone online who is younger than 18 and would provide more counseling and rehabilitation programs to victims and those doing the bullying. Under the draft version, school districts and law enforcement would be allowed to collaborate on cyberbullying investigations, and police could seek subpoenas to unmask anonymous social media users who send threatening messages. Menendez said he is expecting to get some pushback on privacy and free speech issues but that he has already received positive signals from Lt. Gov Dan Patrick and House Speaker Joe Straus, whose district includes Alamo Heights High School. My goal, our hope, is that Davids Law will empower school administrators and law enforcement to go after and reprimand the bullies who prey on the students, Menendez said at a news conference earlier in the day. The apparent inability of law enforcement to go after cyberbullies because of limits in current state laws became a central topic at the hearing. Leo Vasquez testified that his teenage son, now a senior at Antonian College Preparatory High School, endured months of online harassment while he was undergoing treatment for leukemia. Fake social media accounts were created for the sole purpose of mocking his son. And, Vasquez said, it quickly turned into a whack-a-mole scenario: As soon as one account was shuttered, another, even nastier, would pop up almost instantly, emboldened by the ease and anonymity. The cyberbullying eventually stopped after several months and the family never knew who was behind the attacks, Vasquez said, but efforts to get the Bexar County district attorneys office to press a case were ultimately rejected. The outcome was that this is not harassment, said Vasquez, who met with investigators from the DAs office. And the outcome was law enforcement couldnt help us. State Sen. John Whitmire, chairman of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, said he believed local officials should have been able to help Vasquez, calling it a really, really poor response by the district attorney and law enforcement. Im shocked, Whitmire, D-Houston, said, noting that he believed current laws provide local authorities some power to pursue charges in situations like the one Vasquez outlined. The Molak case also ended with nobody being charged, even though the Alamo Heights student who was believed to be the ringleader of the cyberbullies was identified early. The DA did not file charges related to Davids suicide because there was insufficient evidence to support a harassment case. In testimony to state senators, Maurine Molak described the monthslong spiral her son endured after the cyberbullying began that night in late October: His world was crushed, she said, and he quickly became depressed and detached, eventually trying to commit suicide three times before ending his life in January. To add to the pain, Maurine Molak told state senators, there have been no consequences for the cyberbulliers. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SAN ANTONIO A 21-year-old man allegedly fatally struck a 4-year-old child because he was frustrated with bills, not being able to find a job and being stressed out about taking care of four children, according to an affidavit obtained Tuesday. Police arrested Ricardo Hernandez on a capital murder charge on Monday in connection to the death of Jordan Altamirano, who died from a severed aorta and broken back, according to the Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office. Hernandez is not the biological father of Altamirano, but lived with him, three other children and Altamirano's mother, who was at work at the time of the incident, is not identified in the affidavit and is not currently facing charges, police said. RELATED: Police say San Antonio man killed 4-year-old Police initially questioned Hernandez, believed to be the mother's boyfriend, at the Childrens Hospital of San Antonio after Altamirano was pronounced dead Saturday. After providing a different story initially, Hernandez told police he was feeding his 4-month-old child, who lives at the home, when Altamirano approached him crying and "wanting the man's attention," the report said. Hernandez allegedly said he became frustrated with the child and pushed Altamirano on his chest with a lot of force, the affidavit said. MORE: Sheriff: 8 children rescued, woman arrested after 'horrific' abuse discovered at San Antonio home The child flew back, striking the sofa with his back. He then stood up and started crying, according to the arrest affidavit. Hernandez then allegedly told the child to go upstairs and go to bed because he didnt want to hear him crying. The suspect later found the child and took him to the hospital, the affidavit said. Hernandez also told police he was very frustrated because lots of bills are coming in, he cant find a job, and he was stressed out with taking care of all the children. RELATED: SAPD: Man arrested for saying he was 'going to kill a cop tonight' with grenade, AK-47 Hernandez initially told police that he was looking after the children when, around 6:24 p.m., Altamirano came to him and said he didnt feel well and was having difficulty breathing. Hernandez said he believed the child had a stuffy nose, so he told the boy to go to bed to get some rest. The suspect said he later checked on the child and found him unresponsive. He took him to the hospital, where the boy was pronounced dead, the affidavit said. Four children lived in the home with Herndandez and the victim's mother, but its unknown how many were at home at the time of the incident, according to police. SAPD spokesman Douglas Greene said the mother is not currently facing charges for the death of the child. If convicted, Hernandez faces life in prison or the death penalty. RELATED: Murder-suicide leaves couple dead at North Side apartment Text "NEWS" to 72727 to sign up for breaking news from mySA twhite@mysa.com Twitter: @tylerlwhite This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The 7-month-old girl had two burst blood vessels in her eye when she was dropped off at a day-care center in March. The center's staff noticed more injuries when she was dropped off over the next few days at the center in the Minneapolis suburbs: bruises and scratches on the baby's cheek the next day, and more on her back the following day. When the staff asked the baby's caretaker - the live-in boyfriend of the girl's mother - about the injuries, he said the child was injured at home, according to a statement of probable cause. The next morning, on March 24, the man, Chris McMorris, didn't bring the child to day care. Instead, he called 911. When emergency responders arrived at a home in Brooklyn Park, Minn., a few miles northwest of Minneapolis, they saw McMorris sitting on a bed as he talked on the phone. The 7-month-old was lying on the floor, motionless. She was pronounced dead less than two hours later. SUBURBAN TARGET: Child abuse cases surge in Texas suburb Details in the statement of probable cause indicate that the infant died a painful death. She had 11 rib fractures, plus bruises on her scalp, abdomen, back and buttocks. Her lacerated liver bled into her abdominal cavity, the document says. Based on her injuries, authorities said she was struck in the abdomen multiple times. They ruled her death a homicide. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman told The Washington Post that McMorris killed the child after finding out he wasn't her biological father. A paternity test confirmed as much just three days before the child was killed. McMorris, 24, was charged last week with second-degree murder, punishable by up to 30 years in prison. "I've been in this business for 18 years as a prosecutor," Freeman told The Post. "If you don't get upset by cases like this, you should get out of the business." When police arrived at the home in March, McMorris was unable to explain why the baby had bruises or why she suddenly stopped breathing, according to the statement of probable cause. He only said that the child was vomiting a white substance. McMorris's attorney, Ira Whitlock, told The Post that his client is innocent and that there were inconsistencies in the accusations against him. LENGTHY CONSEQUENCE: Kansas man sentenced to life for child abuse The child's mother, Whitlock said, told investigators that she didn't notice the bruises and scratches that the day-care workers had spotted. According to the probable-cause statement, the mother was unable to explain why her daughter had several injuries. She said the child had a cold but was otherwise healthy and was acting normally - playing, crawling and eating - the night before she was found dead. "Just because a person ends up being the last person with the baby when the baby dies doesn't mean that person caused the injuries to the baby," Whitlock said. "Mr. McMorris was with the baby, but it doesn't mean he inflicted the injuries to the child." Neither the mother nor the infant is named in the charging documents. The mother was living with McMorris and another child, a 12-year-old relative. RELATED: Ex-youth pastor gets life for sexually abusing child McMorris is in custody in the Hennepin County Jail and is scheduled for a court hearing on Sept. 22. His total bail has been set at $1.5 million. The 7-month-old's death occurred in the same county where Cory Morris stands accused of killing his 4-month-old daughter, Emersyn. Morris punched the infant about 15 times to quiet her down, authorities said. Morris was charged with second-degree murder last week - just days before McMorris was charged with the same crime. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state and local child protective services in 2012 received about 3.4 million reports of children being abused or neglected. The majority of them, 78 percent, were victims of neglect and 18 percent suffered physical abuse, according to the CDC. About 80 percent of the perpetrators were parents, the CDC said; 4 percent of perpetrators were the parents' unmarried partners. Freeman, the prosecutor, said McMorris was not charged immediately after the child was found dead because investigators had to wait for autopsy results. It's too soon to say whether the child's mother will face any charges, he said. Prosecutors will decide within six weeks whether the case meets the criteria for premeditated murder and whether it should be taken to a grand jury, Freeman said. In Minnesota, a person cannot be charged with first-degree premeditated murder - punishable by life without parole - without a grand jury indictment. AUSTIN -- Nelda Laney, the wife of former House Speaker James "Pete" Laney, who created the popular annual State Capitol Christmas Ornament program as she championed the restoration of the historic building, died Wednesday, her family said. Funeral services for Nelda Laney, 73, are set for 2 p.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church in Lubbock. Burial will follow next week in the State Cemetery in Austin, according to a preliminary announcement. Pete Laney served as speaker from 1993 until 2003. In a statement, House Speaker Joe Straus hailed her service to Texas. "The Texas House is a family, and Nelda Laney took great care of that family for many years . . . Nelda was a woman of incredible wit and spirit who was completely committed to the Texas Capitol and all who work there," Straus said. "It is largely because of her dedication that today the Capitol is more beautiful and welcoming than ever. We knew Nelda as a devoted wife and mother and an enormously proud grandmother, and we will forever be grateful for her service to her fellow Texans." In a statement, Gov. Greg Abbott called Nelda Laney "a beloved educator, parent and grandparent who impacted the lives of many Texans and will be missed dearly. "Nelda's presence will continue to be felt through her tremendous contributions to her fellow Texans, especially in her efforts restoring the Texas Capitol and preserving our state's cherished history," Abbott said. "I ask all Texas to join me in keeping the entire Laney family in their thoughts and prayers." A 1961 graduate of Plainview High School, Nelda Laney attended Texas Tech University, where she met her husband, and graduated with honors in 1965. After college, Nelda Laney was a classroom and substitute teacher in the Hale Center schools. While her husband served as House speaker, Nelda Laney helped champion the restoration of the State Capitol and created the Capitol Christmas Ornament as a way to raise money for the continued preservation of the iconic building. She oversaw the creation of seven ornaments before Pete Laney departed as speaker. About 300,000 were sold, approximately $2 million was raised and the popular ornament program was off and running. "Some of the capital ones have been in space. Some of the astronauts took them to space and back," she said in a 2010 interview. "I'm pretty picky, way picky, about little pieces and parts of the ornament so they are all three dimensional." The Zika virus has had a particularly malevolent effect in Recife, a northeastern Brazilian city where nearly half of the 1.5 million population lives in slums. Brazil has reported more than 1,700 babies born with microcephaly, a birth defect that can be caused by Zika - and more than 370 of those babies live in the Recife area. The city - called the Brazilian Venice because of its many rivers, islands and bridges - has a humid climate, a hospitable environment for the mosquitoes that spread the virus. The poor often live without plumbing, and mosquitoes breed in the jugs where they store water. Two pending science bills in the U.S. Senate could best be described as a tale of two vastly different pieces of legislation. One would help increase the local talent pool of STEM graduates, providing high-tech businesses with more opportunities to hire employees who possess the technical skills necessary to succeed in a 21st-century economy. The other would hurt Texas' ability to continue as a hub for businesses such as Apple, Texas Instruments, Intel and Qualcomm. The state's ability to attract, educate and retain qualified high-tech workers is crucial to its ability to keep American companies from relocating overseas. And that is why it is imperative that our lawmakers support the right piece of legislation that strengthens scientific research and the U.S. innovation enterprise. Leaders of the Senate's innovation and competitiveness working group - U.S. Sens. Cory Gardner, R-Colorado, and Gary Peter, D-Mich. - recently cosponsored the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act, which emphasizes the importance of the grant-review process, investing in basic research and STEM education for women and under-represented minorities, among other points. It also authorizes a much-needed 4 percent increase in funding for the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Standards and Technology in fiscal year 2018. On the other hand, the Scientific Research in the National Interest Act - sponsored by House Science Chairman U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, before it moved to the Senate - does the opposite. It adds more bureaucracy to the grant-making process by mandating that grants be deemed "in the national interest." Requiring scientists to meet the "national interest" criterion would most certainly dampen their creativity, decreasing their likelihood of developing bold, out-of-the-box ideas consistent with long-term, basic research. Additionally, it states that exploratory research - such as the decades-long effort that led to the LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory) Scientific Collaboration's first detection of gravitational waves - could be denied funding if it were deemed not in the national interest. Politicizing the process of scientific inquiry will not help America maintain its standing as a leader in technological innovation. Therefore, I call upon two of Capitol Hill's most powerful lawmakers - U.S. Rep. John Culberson, R-Houston, chair of the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, and House Science Committee Chairman Smith, to support a House bill consistent with the Senate's American Innovation and Competitiveness Act. Amid so much political polarization concerning science policies, the act sets the right tone for future bipartisan efforts and ensures the stability of America's scientific enterprise. For decades, we have witnessed the benefits of science and technology, including innovations that have improved the quality of our day-to-day lives and increased our knowledge of the universe. Countless technologies that we find indispensable - such as the internet, computers, GPS and biofuels - were all sponsored by decades' worth of federal investment in basic research. In recent years, however, we have witnessed a steady decline in federal funding for research and development, thereby negatively affecting the United States' lead in innovation. America's global innovation rank has declined to 10th in the world, according to the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, and foreign nations now account for more than half the patents granted annually in the U.S. Additionally, we continue to see a decline in the number of scientific publications from our country and in the number of Nobel Prizes awarded to U.S. scientists. It is our duty as citizens of the United States to support more bipartisan efforts such as the bill sponsored by Gardner and Peters. If we want to restore America's innovation leadership, we need to keep politics out of science. Instead, we should focus on maintaining sustained, robust funding for scientific agencies that are crucial to addressing the myriad challenges facing our nation. Doing so will also enable us to encourage and support the next generation of scientists who are poised to discover the next big thing. Hanna is a senior software consultant at Synopsys and previous worked with Intel Corp. He attended Stanford University and the University of Texas at Austin. -- SOFTENING in Austin, Trump doubles down on border wall, but the GOP candidate is open to softening on deportations, by the Houston Chronicles Bobby Cervantes Were going to build a wall. Yeah, 100 percent. Its so simple, Trump told Fox News Sean Hannity inside a nearly packed Moody Theater in downtown Austin. Bush and even Obama sent people back so we can be more aggressive with that, but we can follow the laws. There can certainly be softening, he told Hannity when asked how he would handle undocumented immigrants who have no criminal record beyond arriving in the United States without authorization. Dont back down, Donald, one man chanted. -- I think hes going to have to clarify exactly what he wants to do, Trump supporter Rick Figueroa told the ChronsKevin Diaz . >> Erica Grieder in Texas Monthly: Breaking Down Trumps Border Wall -- Also, in Austin Coming out swinging over new influence-peddling allegations involving the Clinton Foundation, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Tuesday demanded that a special prosecutor should fully investigate rival Hillary Clinton's involvement, per the Chrons Mike Ward. -- Texas Dems greet Trump visit with derision, by the Chrons Bobby Cervantes. Texas Democrats welcomed Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to the Lone Star State on Tuesday with echoes of the attacks on his business record and controversial comments that have troubled his campaign in recent weeks. This month, Trump unveiled his economic policies, which were really tax breaks for the rich and trade wars for the rest of us, said state Sen. Kirk Watson, leading a group of Texas Democratic lawmakers who lambasted Trump as his plane was set to land in Austin. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Texas and four other Republican-led states filed another lawsuit Tuesday seeking to roll back the Obama administration's efforts to strengthen transgender rights, saying new federal nondiscrimination health rules could force doctors to act contrary to their medical judgment or religious beliefs. >> S.A. senator looking to combat cyberbullying with Davids Law, Express-News >> Tomlinson: Texas economy ranked 21st in the nation, Houston Chronicle CAPITOL DAYBOOK HOUSE 9 A.M Appropriations (E1.030) Defense & Veterans Affairs (Wichita Falls) 1 p.m. Criminal Jurisprudence (Corpus Christi) SPEED READ Kronberg: Has alpha-male Trump met his match in alpha-female Conway? Quorum Report City sales tax receipts continue slide; Turner unfazed, Houston Chronicle Paxton agrees to have dinner with transgender student, The Dallas Morning News ($) Lawmakers consider Patricks call to ax aid for needy college students, The Dallas Morning News ($) State slow to issue birth certificates for children of immigrant mothers, The Monitor Trump picks up $1M during FW campaign stop, Fort Worth Star-Telegram More than 4,000 sex toys doled out for UT campus carry protest, Austin American-Statesman State fines company $21M over STAAR problems, Austin American-Statesman New schools open in Texas town in 2013 fertilizer blast, AP RACE TO THE WHITE HOUSE -- Blacks question Trump outreach delivered to white audiences, by the APs Bill Barrow and Errin Haines Whack."Many rank-and-file black voters, meanwhile, dismiss the overtures as another racially charged pitch from a campaign aimed exclusively at whites, from Trump's emphasis on law and order to his withering critiques of President Barack Obama, the nation's first black chief executive. It was Trump in 2011 who fiercely challenged Obama's U.S. birth. -- Clintons run-out-the-clock strategy, by POLITICOs Annie Karni. She is not planning on sitting for another televised armchair confessional to rehash regrets about a private email server. Nor is the campaign setting up the kind of war room employed last year to discredit a book that aimed to expose a quid-pro-quo relationship between Clinton Foundation donors and State Department officials. With 75 days until Election Day and new emails once again casting a pall over her campaign, Hillary Clinton aims to run out the clock, confidants say, on the latest chapters of the overlapping controversies that have dogged her campaign since the start. -- MEMORIES Horrified by the prospect of Trump in the White House, Obama and his party have changed their tune about Romney. As they denounce Trump as unhinged and unfit, they're getting nostalgic about the 2012 Republican nominee they now describe as principled, competent and honorable. It's a sharp reversal from four years ago. Back then, Democrats spent hundreds of millions of dollars portraying the former Massachusetts governor as a callous, unpatriotic, pet-abusing caricature of the uber-rich. Yet as Trump is proving, everything in politics is relative, per the AP . -- Hit pause on that landslide, by NYTs Jeremy Peters and Giovanni Russonello "Donald J. Trump , after weeks of self-inflicted damage, has seen support for his candidacy in national polls dip into the 30s Barry Goldwater and Walter F. Mondale territory while Hillary Clinton has extended her lead to double digits in several crucial swing states. Time to declare a landslide, right? Not so fast. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Scientists aboard an ocean research ship successfully explored the sunken hulk of a World War II aircraft carrier off the Farallones on Tuesday, gathering images that recall a historic battle triumph and the conflicted beginning of the Atomic Age. Crew members of the E/V Nautilus lowered two camera-equipped, remotely operated vehicles a half-mile down to the ocean floor to photograph the battered remains of the aircraft carrier Independence that survived the war to become a target of Americas post-war atom bomb tests but was deliberately scuttled 65 years ago. James Delgado, a deep-sea archaeologist with the governments major ocean research agency, called the first stage of the exploration exceptionally successful, and said the images clouded and shimmering in the deep water showed surprisingly clear details of the wreck. They speak powerfully to us all of an era thats long past and of all the guys who went off to war, Delgado said in a phone interview from shipboard. Weve made out a single Hellcat remaining aboard on the hangar deck. The Hellcat fighter plane, based aboard the carrier, was one of many, along with the ships Helldiver bombers, that won the classic Battle of Leyte Gulf, which virtually destroyed the Japanese Navy in 1944. The Nautilus carries two remotely operated vehicles, known as ROVs and named Argus and Hercules, and both gathered unique images of the carrier and its battle structures during the dives, Delgado said. The ships name on its stern is clearly visible, and so are the turrets that once carried its 40mm antiaircraft guns, he said. The Independence, which was used in the historic tests of the American atom bomb at the Bikini Atoll in 1946, now lies within the Greater Farallones Marine Sanctuary maintained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, whose biologists explore the nations ocean sanctuaries for clues to the effects of global warming. The Nautilus is operated independently by the nonprofit Ocean Exploration Trust, and its two ROVs are equipped with specialized tools controlled from shipboard that are gathering samples of the corals, sea sponges and other organisms growing on the hull of the Independence. Images of the marine creatures were transmitted to the ships scientists Tuesday, and samples will be brought aboard to be rigorously tested for any possible radioactivity remaining from the 1946 bomb tests, before being analyzed by biologists for the effects of climate change, Delgado said. David Perlman is The San Francisco Chronicles science editor. Email: dperlman@sfchronicle.com Off the Farallones See a video of the exploration of the aircraft carrier Independence: http://bit.ly/2bgcpJY 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. Campaign season is a quadrennial reminder that numbers often drive the most consequential stories. Census surveys are sliced and diced into shareable charts. A glut of polling is chewed up and spit out as intricate graphics. Election forecasters roll out bigger, better, and more interactive models. Altogether, its something of a data visualization arms race. The latest entrant is Reuters*, which on Wednesday unveiled an election simulation tool powered by an Ipsos national tracking poll whose sample size has been vastly expanded to about 15,000 to 17,000 a week. States of the Nation estimates the probability of different electoral college results based on varying turnout scenarios. In a function particularly useful to journalists attempting to contextualize the campaign, it also allows users to create their own outcomes by adjusting turnout among specific segments of the population. In my view, its not difficult to predict what the general population feels about a particular subject on any given daythe issue on Election Day is who the hell shows up to vote, says Mo Tamman, Reuterss editor in charge of data and computational journalism. We cant predict snowstorms in Ohio or electrical outages in New York. Theres any number of reasons that turnout is high or low in any given state in any given year. This allows us as journalistsand also anyone else who wants to go to the siteto gauge those probabilities and the impact they may have. August 24 Reuters/Ipsos forecast at its estimated level of turnout, 60 percent nationwide. If the only people voting this year were white men who make more than $100,000, for example, Reuters projects Hillary Clinton would still have a high likelihood of carrying New York, California, and Illinois. Such snapshots come in an election year in which major political fault lines correspond to demographic divisions. Donald Trumps support is narrow, but deep. Reuterss gadget helps estimate just how much of his mostly white coalition must turn out to sway electoral outcomes in individual states. This has been a central topic of discussion since the GOP defeat in 2012. Conventional wisdom among journalists and mainstream Republicans alike holds that the partys future electoral success depends on broadening its support among growing minority groups. But in one of the seminal analyses dissecting this idea, Real Clear Politics analyst Sean Trende argued in 2013 that the more important demographic shift between 2008 and 2012 was a drop in white voters. Improving turnout among these largely downscale, Northern, rural whites, Trende wrote, could soften the impact of other demographic shifts on the GOP. Sign up for CJR 's daily email This is essentially the premise of Trumps campaign strategy, if it can be called thatforcing journalists to analyze communities they dont typically cover very well. The shrinking of local news organizations and general retreat from bureaus by national players has no doubt accentuated this difficulty. August 24 Reuters/Ipsos forecast with 100 percent turnout among white voters. Still, increasingly sophisticated data operations at various outlets have helped fill at least some of that void by analyzing big-picture shifts in demographics and public opinion. There are limits to such effortsthe best polling analyses include clear caveats and methodologiesbut they have produced useful illustrations of the aggregate story nationwide. During primary season, Real Clear Politics and FiveThirtyEight built interactives that gave users the power to adjust party preference and turnout among subgroups from their 2012 levels. NPR made a similar tool, The 270 Project, once the general election matchup of Trump and Clinton was set. We at NPR Politics wanted a data-driven, quantitative way to answer the fundamental question of whether Trump can win, or if this is Hillary Clintons race to loseand [to] give readers the power to test it out themselves, NPR political reporter Asma Khalid wrote while introducing the tool to readers. Theres perhaps no better way to do that than through demographics. Factors like race and socioeconomic status are arguably among the best predictors of how well vote. Such demographic-focused interactives come in addition to forecast modelsincluding those at FiveThirtyEight, The New York Times, and elsewherewhich aggregate and weight polls and other information to predict candidates probabilities of winning. Last week, Vox added another model to the mix, though its premise was a tad more creative: tracking the Trump Tax, defined as the electoral penalty Republicans appear to be paying for nominating Trump. With States of the Nation, Reuters is combining the timeliness of current polling data, as seen in the big-name forecasting models, with the interactive analysis of turnout among subgroups, as seen in some of the more retrospective simulators, such as NPRs. August 24 Reuters/Ipsos forecast if only white people were allowed to vote. As a journalist, we present [poll] numbers as if theyre set in stone: Among likely voters, this is what it is, Tamman says. And this allows us in our coverage to say, for example, not just that Hillary is ahead by four points, but a much more sophisticated statement: If, as anticipated, turnout is relatively moderate, Hillary has a significant advantage in the electoral college. If it turns out to be a high-turnout or low-turnout election, her advantage in the electoral college is minimized significantly. Reuterss simulator depends on the accuracy of Ipsoss weekly tracking poll. It is unwise to rely on any single survey to analyze the state of the racepolling averages provide a more comprehensive picturebut the new tool does help capture the historical arc of demographic change. FiveThirtyEight gave Ipsos an A- in its most recent rating of pollstersstrong by the news organizations standards. Whats more, the firm also expanded its weekly sample size about sixfold to allow Reuters users to cut up respondents demographic data by sex, race and ethnicity, income range, age, and party affiliation. At 15,000, [the sample size] gives us basically state-level data for all the key battleground states, says Reg Chua, Reuterss executive editor of editorial operations, data, and innovation. There are, of course, state-level polls being done, but this gives us a continuously tracking, single-methodology poll all the way through the election. When we start aggregating weeks, it gives us state-level data for pretty much all the states. August 24 Reuters/Ipsos forecast if only women were allowed to vote. When I visited Reuterss Times Square offices earlier this month to preview the tool, Tamman highlighted built-in turnout scenarios users can select; they can also create their own scenarios. Should turnout among various demographic groups mimic that of the 2000 election, when George W. Bush carried South Carolina by a 16-point margin, the Reuters/Ipsos poll suggests the state could now be in play. Thats not necessarily a groundbreaking political or demographic analysis. But the ability to put numbers behind itto cross-reference an estimate of current voter sentiment with potential turnoutis useful both as a social science experiment and a reporting tool. Thats especially true in the age of Trump, when the story is not just analyzing whether his strategy is succeeding, but also if itll irrevocably harm the GOP should it fail. The functionality here, Chua says, in terms of being able to make your own adventure with turnout, is one of the most useful things that we have. Tamman cuts in: Make your own fantasy, too. *Reuters Editor in Chief Stephen J. Adler chairs CJRs board of overseers. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today David Uberti is a writer in New York. He was previously a media reporter for Gizmodo Media Group and a staff writer for CJR. Follow him on Twitter @DavidUberti. A wildfire quickly turned into an inferno and within hours had ravaged pine forests near the California ski town of Wrightwood but only half of its more than 4,500 residents heeded mandatory evacuation orders. Officials say it was another example of a disturbing trend in the state as wildfires speed through drought-starved vegetation during what could be Californias most hazardous fire season on record. Instead of heading for safety, many homeowners are staying put and dialing 911 for help, U.S. Forest Service spokesman John Miller said. We have seen that throughout the state this year, said Miller, who is assigned to San Bernardino National Forest, where the wildfire that threatened Wrightwood started Tuesday. Crews, however, arent always able to reach those who stay behind in time. In June, authorities found the burned remains of a man and woman who were caretakers of property in an area where an evacuation order had been issued near Potrero, about 45 miles east of San Diego. Kim Boyle, who has experienced about a half-dozen wildfires during her decade in Wrightwood, said she would evacuate if she saw a fire actually burning in town. But itd have to be closer for me, and I think thats true for a lot of folks around here because theyve been through this so many times, she said. The fire 60 miles east of Los Angeles cast an ominous gray-and-orange haze over the picturesque town at an elevation of 6,000 feet thats known for its 1930s cabins. The blaze began in the Cajon Pass region in hot, gusty conditions and swallowed at least 96 homes and 213 outbuildings as it scorched nearly 58 square miles in mountain and desert areas. Air tankers bombarded rugged slopes with fire retardant and a squadron of helicopters dropped load after load of water. On the ground, firefighters and bulldozers worked to protect Wrightwood and other areas high in the San Gabriel Mountains. More than 34,000 homes and some 82,000 residents were under evacuation orders at one point. No deaths have been reported so far in this weeks blaze. San Diego fire Capt. Robert Allen said fire engines have been stuck behind vehicles of people who have waited to the last second to leave. I can understand their feelings but at the same time it creates a hazard, he said. Not only do we have a fire to fight now we have to save lives. Leaving or staying when fire approaches is often a personal decision even though California and some other states consider it a criminal offense to ignore mandatory evacuation orders. Such offenses, however, are rarely prosecuted, according to the American Bar Association. Boyle said her family felt an obligation to stay and keep their Wrightwood Market open to support firefighters. She figured it would take 10 minutes to pack up family photos, important documents and clothes when they did decide to leave. Firemen come in and tell us whats going on, and I think that helps us feel better because we get the scoop from them, she said. I trust they will do what they need to do and have always done for us. There have been a lot of wildfires around here but the town has always been safe. Many families that did evacuate will likely return and find their homes are gone. Former volunteer firefighter Steve Boyd, 67, stayed behind during a 2003 blaze to protect his home in Lytle Creek from looters. But he decided to evacuate this week. Its just stuff, said Boyd, who joined a stream of vehicles on the only road out of town and headed to a shelter. (Weber reported from Wrightwood and Watson from San Diego. Associated Press writers John Antczak and Robert Jablon in Los Angeles contributed to this report.) Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Pianist Bobby Avey Ventures into the 'Inhuman Wilderness,' Innervoice Jazz, [REVIEW] Pianist-Composer Bobby Avey writes in protest of what he calls an 'Inhuman Wilderness.' (Photo : Jonno Rattman) For his fifth CD, pianist/composer Bobby Avey has turned his attention to societal ills and injustices, in other words, Inhuman Wilderness, as he calls it. It's only the second release for the new Innervoice Jazz label, run by pianist Marc Copland out of New York City, and it's a brave avant-accessible work. Avey's trio with bassist Thomson Kneeland and drummer Jordan Perlson has been expanded into a quartet with the addition of alto sax man John O'Gallagher. This gives the composer more wiggle room in fleshing out his protests. To do so, he's included way-cool elements of Balkan folk music and Haitian Vodou drumming. "Rent The Sky" was written in protest of American drone strikes in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and Afghanistan where the "Countless Voices of Unknown People" can never be heard. "I Should Have Known No Less" is a line he copped from William Shakespeare's 1607 Antony and Cleopatra. In the face of such man-made tragedies, "Composure Must Be Rare" is a piece that took six years for him to write, and was originally commissioned for string quartet + piano. Filled with the kind of high-wire balancing acts that defy gravity in keeping the listener enthralled, Avey has found a sweet ear spot between accessibility and the avant-garde. That's why Inhuman Wilderness stands out. It's different, engaging and the solos are so smack dab satisfying (and all within difficult contexts), that you will find yourself mesmerized by its audacity, theme, execution and almost telepathic interplay. NEA 2010 Jazz Master Dave Liebman will tell you all about Avey who plays piano in Liebman's Expansions band. He's the kind of probing musician who will never be content to simply swing or engage in the kind of retro that serves tradition but doesn't bring the music forward. That's to his credit. [Please note the imbedded video is from a previous project. Still, it gives the listener insight into the kind of mysterioso ambiance Avey encourages.] 2016 The Classical Art, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. TagsBobby Avey, REVIEW, Innervoice Jazz, Marc Copland tara_clossman.jpg Voris Community Learning Center teacher Tara Clossman, 25, fostered creativity and leadership skills, to help students become well-rounded. AKRON, Ohio - Akron Public Schools are mourning the death of an elementary school teacher who inspired young students. Tara Clossman, 25, of Akron, taught fourth grade last year at Voris Community Learning Center in Firestone Park. She was killed Saturday night along with her friend, Michael Lovette, 33. Police believe Clossman's former boyfriend, Shane Varner, 29, of Jackson Township, shot the pair as they were leaving Lovette's house on 17th Street NE in Massillon. Clossman was considered a dynamic, dedicated instructor by her Voris colleagues. "She was very dedicated as far as wanting to make sure her kids were becoming well-rounded people," said Principal Jennifer Douglas. "She felt a duty to make sure that she provided a good example for them, that she helped them learn how to conduct themselves as strong people." In a statement, Superintendent David W. James described her as "an energetic, compassionate and talented teacher." "Her future was bright, and the students who would be waiting to be in her classroom - and those who already were in her classroom - have experienced a great loss as well," James stated. In the classroom, Clossman fostered her students' creativity, leadership and problem-solving skills through special projects and presentations, Douglas said. "She wasn't just an academic teacher," Douglas said. "She was involved in dance and encouraged her kids to get involved in things outside of school. She was there to help them be responsible people." Clossman, who graduated from Kent State University in 2014 with a degree in early childhood education, was considering returning to school to earn a master's degree and had been researching various programs. Voris CLC has extended hours for an open house to offer students and families grief counselors. A special project is also planned to allow students to create messages, which will be compiled for Clossman's family. "We thought that would be a nice way for her family to know how much she meant to the kids," Douglas said. Clossman taught at Voris for a year and a half, and this year would have taught at Portage Path CLC. "We're all just really going to miss her," Douglas said. "She was a tremendous young lady definitely taken way before her time." According to her obituary, calling hours for Clossman are from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Eckard Baldwin Funeral Home in Akron. Her funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday at Family of Faith United Methodist Church in Akron. Brecksville Police Station 3.JPG Brecksville is preparing to replace its aging police station with a new station across the street. (Bob Sandrick, special to cleveland.com) BRECKSVILLE, Ohio - The city's new police station will contain a 70-foot-long shooting range that will allow officers to train with all types of firearms - an improvement over the existing station's 25-foot-long range, which is large enough only for small-arms practice. The brick station will include a minimum-stay jail where prisoners will remain no more than 12 hours. Prisoners held longer will be shipped to Independence's five-day jail. Also, the station will house a regional dispatch center that initially will serve Brecksville and Independence. However, the dispatch center will have room for expansion, should other communities join. Mayor Jerry Hruby discussed the police station Monday night during a special meeting of City Council's Building and Grounds Committee. He hopes to seek bids for the project by the end of fall. Construction will take about nine or 10 months. "It exciting," Hruby told council. "I'm glad we're here. It took us a long time to get here." The city will schedule a public hearing where residents will have a chance to see the plans and comment. A date has not been set. Things change Hruby said the city has not determined the cost of construction because it is still tweaking the plans, but he believes the station will run about $7 million or $8 million. In August 2013, Hruby said construction would cost between $4 million and $7 million. But since then, the city has added components, like the firing range, plus earlier estimates didn't include the jail. The city will use existing funds to pay for design and preparation of the police station and borrow money for construction. In August 2013, Hruby said the plan was to break ground on the station in fall 2014 or the start of 2015. The start date was subsequently pushed back to spring 2015. In May, Councilman Michael Harwood said the city would unveil police station blueprints within four weeks. Hruby said delays occurred partly because, for about a year, the city negotiated with four villages - Brooklyn Heights, Cuyahoga Heights, Newburgh Heights and Valley View - over jail- and dispatch-sharing proposals. Those negotiations were unsuccessful. Also, the city, to save money, backed out certain components from the new station. For example, the mayor's court, which hears a limited number of cases, will remain in City Hall. "Who knows how long mayors' courts are going to be around anyhow?" Hruby told council Monday. Hruby said the latest goal is to open the police station in 2017. Two-level station The new station will measure about 26,900 square feet, spread over two floors. The existing station, which part of City Hall, is about 7,000 square feet. Hruby has said in the past that Brecksville has outgrown its existing station. The Police Department had about 12 officers when the station was built in the early 1970's. Now, the department employs about 30 officers, plus dispatchers and jailers. The new station's lower level will include the jail. Originally, plans showed a five-day jail - like the city has now - with six-eight cells, all of which would have required natural light and access to an exercise- recreation area. The 12-hour jail with four cells, which is part of the plans now, won't need to meet those requirements, thus will cost less. The lower level will also include locker rooms for men and women officers - the existing station doesn't accommodate women - along with the K-9 unit, break room, mechanical systems and sally port, or secured entrance. The firing range, also on the lower level, was "near and dear" to police officers, Hruby said. "We are not a city that takes (firearms training) lightly," Hruby said. "We qualify (to handle weapons) six times a year. Some departments qualify only once a year." The upper or main level will have a lobby where residents will enter. The lobby will feature a Brecksville police museum, which retired officers and police wives are working on. The dispatch center will occupy the main level, which will also include a safe room where residents in danger can find safety. The main level will have offices for the police chief, lieutenants, sergeants, and detectives, and a records room. Minster Solar array The Minster, Ohio, solar array is thought to be the only municipal solar system in the nation with a lithium ion battery power storage system, enabling it to sell power on a second-by-second basis into the regional transmission grid when grid manager PJM Interconnection needs it to balance the system. David Dwyer, the developer who built the Minster array is a featured speaker Thursday at the Green Energy Ohio solar conference in Bowling Green. (American Renewable Energy) BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- Solar energy systems are proliferating across Ohio -- growing by more than 23 percent in just the past year, an in-depth analysis of state records reveals. The growth has come despite a law passed by Ohio lawmakers last year freezing state mandates for two years that since 2009 had required power companies to annually increase the percentage of solar- and wind-generated power they sold. And significantly, most of Ohio's 1,961 solar systems registered with state regulators as of May 30 were not small and not on residential roof tops, the analysis done by Green Energy Ohio has found. Other key findings include: Green Energy Ohio, or GEO, already has published some of the results of its analysis on its website, but this week it will host an all-day public forum in Bowling Green on Thursday focusing on large-scale solar installations and on the details of the study. Click here for detailed information about the conference. The GEO findings and a day of presentations by some of the companies that have been building "big solar" come as summer wraps up and intense lobbying on the fate of the state's freeze on renewable energy and energy efficiency mandates is expected to begin. That freeze ends at the start of 2017 and lawmakers led by Sen. William Seitz, a conservative Republican from Cincinnati, are aiming to extend the freeze or do away with the mandate altogether, along with a parallel rule requiring electric utilities to help customers use less power. Since most of the state's utilities continued to offer customers efficiency programs despite the law, many believe the fight in the coming months will be limited to renewable energy. Thursday's "Building Big Solar Across Ohio" will feature 19 speakers and a detailed look at GEO's analysis. "Very large and commercial size solar electric systems are rapidly rising up across Ohio," said Bill Spratley, GEO executive director, and a former Ohio Consumer Counsel. "Ohio's first Community Solar Projects are moving forward. Bowling Green, American Municipal Power and Next Era are now constructing Ohio's largest solar field (20 megawatts) near Bowling Green which will highlight this conference," Spratley said. Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center Buffalo-based Cannon Design agreed to pay a $12 million penalty and divest itself from a large federal project in California to resolve criminal liability stemming from its role in a kickback scheme for which the former Cleveland VA director was sent to prison. (Thomas Ondrey/The Plain Dealer) William Montague CLEVELAND, Ohio - A Buffalo-based company has agreed to pay a $12 million penalty and to divest itself from a large federal project in California to resolve criminal liability from a kickback scheme for which the former Cleveland Veterans Affairs director was sent to prison. Cannon Design, in an agreement announced Wednesday by the Justice Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs, admitted to criminal conduct by more than a dozen of its employees who took part in the scheme. "This meaningful agreement holds the corporation accountable for the conduct of its leadership," Inspector General Michael J. Missal of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs said in a statement. "A $12 million penalty along with 90 months of prison time for related case subjects is a strong deterrent against defrauding VA." You can read the agreement below. Mobile users click here. In June, William Montague, former director of the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center hospital and later the VA hospital in Dayton, was sentenced to four years, nine months in prison for giving insider information to contractors in exchange for money. Montague, of Brecksville, had pleaded guilty in 2014 to 64 felony counts related to defrauding the VA. Federal prosecutors said he accepted tens of thousands of dollars in bribes and kickbacks in exchange for inside information. He did this through a consulting company he founded called House of Montague. Some of his crimes were committed between 1995 and 2010 while he was head of the hospital in Cleveland. Others occurred after he moved to the Dayton VA Medical Center in 2011. Cannon executive Mark Farmer was sentenced to nearly three years in prison after a federal jury convicted him on 14 counts related to providing things of value to Montague in exchange for confidential information about VA construction projects. Among those was a contract Cannon won for design work on a VA center in West Los Angeles. Under the agreement, the company will divest itself from that project. Irving Galarza, 45, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for paying to have his neighbors' house burnt down. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The man who paid arsonists to torch his neighbors' West 33rd Street home last year was sentenced Wednesday to 11 years in prison. Irving Galarza will also have to pay one of his neighbors $50,000 in restitution as part of the sentence handed down by Cuyahoga Common Pleas Judge Brian J. Corrigan. Galarza pleaded guilty to attempted murder, aggravated burglary and three counts of aggravated arson in the middle of a trial earlier this month. Upset over cars parked in his shared driveway last May, Galarza paid Ismael Camacho, who worked at a nearby auto repair shop, to burn down the rental home next door. Camacho in turn hired another man, Luis Figueroa, who was homeless. On Feb. 10 the two used a gas can to set the back of the apartment house ablaze. Police were able to trace the men using camera footage taken by a neighbor and nearby surveillance footage. Police first approached Camacho, who confessed to setting the fire and told investigators that Galarza had paid them. Camacho and Figueroa both pleaded guilty earlier this year and were sentenced to 10 and five years in prison, respectively. After Galarza was arrested and charged, an investigation into his cellphone records revealed numerous phone calls between Galarza and Camacho in the days leading up to the explosion. No one died in the fire, but one of the victims continues to suffer from injuries. Susanne Borden sat in a wheelchair in the back of the courtroom, her abdomen fitted inside a brace. She's the reason Galarza was charged with attempted murder. Borden survived the fire that Galarza's men set behind her house, but her four animals did not. In a desperate attempt to save one of her cats, she scrambled inside the home as it began to fill with smoke, eventually bursting out onto the upstairs porch where she was rescued. She ended up spending over half a year in the hospital recovering from her injuries. She underwent a tracheotomy to repair part of her burnt esophagus. She spent months eating through a feeding tube and will never be able to swallow food normally again. The damage to her throat left Borden unable to drink many beverages. She now wears hearing aids and prescription glasses and has difficulty talking. In court Wednesday, she managed to piece together one sentence at a time. "He was my neighbor, he was someone who invited me to his house. He has betrayed me," she said. "There was no cause for my animals to die, they were innocent," she continued. "I have to live with all this permanent damage, every time I go to the doctor I find out something else is wrong." Borden was the only one in the house who was home that day, the other three residents were gone. But her story weighed heavily at the hearing. Galarza looked away at times as she spoke. Galarza told the judge through a Spanish translator that he suffers from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, for which he is now receiving treatment. Once released from prison, he will be required to register as an arson offender for the rest of his life. He will also undergo five years of mandatory post-release probation. If you'd like to comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comment section. metrohealth A lawsuit and subpoenas give more insight into acrimony between the MetroHealth System and a former executive whose house was searched by the FBI and IRS last year. (Plain Dealer file photo) Edward Hills CLEVELAND, Ohio -- New documents -- including subpoenas and proceedings in civil court -- offer insights into the acrimony between the MetroHealth System and former executive Edward Hills, whose home and business were the subject of search warrants last year. Hills, 55, has been connected to a federal investigation for more than a year, and cleveland.com recently learned that the Ohio State Dental Board received three subpoenas involving Hills, including a request for information about Hills and about former Dental Board executive director Lili Reitz. Hills is a former member and president of the Dental Board. Those subpoenas, as well as three other subpoenas sent to MetroHealth this year, also ask for information on several Cleveland-area dentists with ties to the hospital system. (You can read the newly-released subpoenas at the bottom of this story.) Last September, agents from the FBI and IRS searched Hills' house in Aurora, as well as three businesses. MetroHealth said in a statement at the time that one of the businesses has ties to Hills and that the searches happened after the hospital system reported potential wrongdoing in its Department of Oral Health and Dentistry. Federal investigators also subpoenaed MetroHealth last year for information on two companies. One of those companies, Oral Health Enrichment in Woodmere, was co-founded by Hills in 2009. Authorities have not revealed details of the investigation. Filings in a lawsuit between Hills and MetroHealth offer new insights. The hospital system asks Hills to admit that his subordinates at MetroHealth asked several people performing their dental residencies with the hospital system to give cash, donations or other payments in exchange for preferential treatment. In the filings, MetroHealth also asks Hills to admit he used hospital resources for Oral Health Enrichment, which specializes in education and training for dentists. It also asks Hills to admit that he instructed MetroHealth employees to send patients to dentists outside of the hospital network to people with whom he associated. Subpoenas sent to MetroHealth as part of the criminal invesitgation also order the hospital system to provide information about its dental residency program and how applicants were chosen. MetroHealth was also ordered to provide information about patients being referred to dentists that were not withing the hospital system. A MetroHealth spokeswoman said to cleveland.com that Oral Health Enrichment never provided services to the hospital system. The spokeswoman declined comment on the lawsuit. Hills was appointed to the Dental Board in 1999 and served for nine years. He served as the board's president between 2001 and 2004. He was with MetroHealth for more than two decades and served as its COO from 2010 to 2014, when he left MetroHealth. He was also the hospital system's interim chief executive officer for six months following Mark Moran's departure and before the hiring of current CEO Akram Boutros. Hills also worked as executive director of MetroHealth's Department of Oral Health. His attorneys, Michael Lear and Larry Zukerman, said in a statement that he "is confident that he will prevail in his lawsuit against MetroHealth and that he will ultimately be vindicated and absolved of any wrongdoing." Other dentists named In the subpoenas sent to the Dental Board between October 2015 and this month, federal investigators ask for records pertaining to Reitz, who served as the board's executive director from 1996 until she resigned in September 2015. Specifically, agents asked for documents about any investigation or disciplinary cases against Reitz. Agents also asked the board for records for Cleveland-area dentists Yazan Almadani, Sari Alqsous, Yazan Karadsheh, Tariq Sayegh and Firas Yacoub. All are former residents and dentists at MetroHealth and no longer work there, spokeswoman Tina Arundel said in an email. They also asked for records on dentist Henry Young, who currently works for MetroHealth. A subpoena sent to MetroHealth also requests information on two clinics where several of the aforementioned dentists work. The subpoenas do not make clear whether the dentists are targets of an investigation, victims or something else. The dentists either did not return phone calls or could not be reached for comment. Randy Klammer, Alqsous' attorney, said Monday that "there's nothing he loves more than his patients and his profession, and he's going to continue to care for them as best he can." Lyndsay Nash, deputy director and chief legal counsel for the Dental Board, said the board is cooperating with the investigation. Reitz, who is also an attorney, did not return a message left on her cellphone. Lawsuit allegations After word of the FBI search went public, Hills filed suit against MetroHealth, accusing the hospital system of violating a separation agreement by releasing a statement on the FBI and IRS searches that he said damaged his reputation. MetroHealth has denied breaching the separation agreement and countersued, saying Hills violated the agreement by sending a disparaging letter that is a public record. That lawsuit is now in discovery. In a series of "requests for admission" sent in June, MetroHealth asked Hills to admit: * That he encouraged or instructed MetroHealth employees to send patients to dentists outside of the hospital network "and with which You were associated or from whose revenues you benefited." * That he used hospital resources for Oral Health Enrichment. * That he used his position with the Dental Board "to obtain advantageous treatment for individuals for the purpose, at least in part, of personal benefit to You." * That he agreed with and knew that his subordinates asked certain dental residents for cash, donations or other payments apart from MetroHealth application fee. * That subordinates solicited payments from residency applicants "in exchange for assurances of preferential treatment," and that he accepted money from some of those subordinates. * That he solicited or received benefits in the form of cash, credit card payments and upgrades from MetroHealth employees or agents. Hills either denied the claims or objected to their being asked. Hills' attorneys said in a statement that the former executive never used MetroHealth money or resources for Oral Health Enrichment. It also said Hills never told employees to direct patients to dentists outside of the hospital network. The statement also said Hills "never received cash or valuable items from applicants for residency or employment in exchange for anything" and did not have direct knowledge of any subordinates doing that. If you would like to comment on this story, please visit Wednesday's crime and courts comments section. AKRON, Ohio -- A magistrate judge ruled Wednesday that there is probable cause to charge an Akron man arrested Aug. 12 in the death of an 18-year-old woman found in Cuyahoga Valley National Park over the July 4 holiday weekend with three gunshot wounds in her head. Dezay Ely was "unequivocally identified" as the gunman who shot Ayauna Bush three times in the head and left her in a field off Akron-Peninsula Road, Magistrate Judge Kathleen Burke said during a hearing. The judge also ruled that Ely, 27, should be held while his case is pending, though she noted that was a moot point because he is being held on a possible probation violation by the Ohio Adult Parole Authority. The case is now expected to be presented to a federal grand jury. Ely faces charges of attempted murder and discharge of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. He is accused of shooting Bush the morning of July 3 after becoming upset with her the night before. The FBI said Bush told investigators that Ely and Raymond Moore drove her into the national park -- about 13 miles from where she was staying -- so Ely could test a gun he recently obtained. Bush said she and Ely got out of the car and that he shot her three times before he and Moore drove away. During Wednesday's hearing, FBI agent Christopher Fassler testified that several witnesses and Bush herself tied Ely to the shooting. He said a gun has not been recovered. Bush remains blind from the shooting, so Fassler said investigators were not able to show her a lineup of possible suspects. However, Fassler testified that Bush initially identified Ely as "Scrap," which is one of his known nicknames, and later connected his name with the nickname. Ely's federal public defender Charles Fleming said that her identification was not enough to establish probable cause. "I did not hear the agent testify that he went to Ms. Bush and said, 'is this the same person?'" Fleming said. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Filiatraut said that Bush did this in several ways even though she wasn't able see pictures of the suspect. Ely was released from prison in November after serving eight years in prison on aggravated robbery and involuntary manslaughter convictions. Moore, the suspected driver, was arrested Thursday. He was also scheduled to go forward with his preliminary hearing on Wednesday. However, a court-appointed attorney assigned to his case was hospitalized and had to withdraw. Moore's hearing will now be held Friday. Bush, who also has a 2-year-old child, had no identification when the hikers found her. One of Bush's family members called park rangers on July 4 and said Bush had been missing for several days. If you would like to comment on this story, please visit Wednesday's crime and courts comments section. EASTLAKE, Ohio - A 50-year-old Eastlake woman has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with her daughter's death Monday. Sandra Speck Sandra Speck is charged with one count of murder in Willoughby Municipal Court, records show. She is being held in jail on $100,000 bond. Eastlake police responded Monday to an apartment in the Surfside Towers on the 36000 block of Lakeshore Boulevard and found the victim, Mindy Speck, 21, according to a post on the Eastlake police department's Facebook page. During their preliminary investigation, police learned that "Mindy's death was caused by her mother," the Facebook post states. Sandra Speck lived with her daughter at the apartment. Details about how Mindy Speck died have not been made public. The Lake County Coroner's Office will determine the cause and manner of death. Sandra Speck has no criminal history, Eastlake police said. She had been living in the city for less than a year, they said, and she had no prior contact with police. No further information about the homicide investigation has been released. Sandra Speck is scheduled to appear in court again 1 p.m. Aug. 30, records show. If you'd like to comment on this post, please visit the cleveland.com crime and courts comments section. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- America is fascinated with abandoned buildings. Haunting photos of places like Rolling Acres Mall and Geauga Lake have gone viral in recent years. Now Viceland, the cable offshoot of Vice.com headed by film director Spike Jonze, examines that fascination with its new docuseries "Abandoned" starting Friday, Sept. 2 at 9 p.m. Hosted by skateboarder Rick McCrank, the show explores abandoned places across the country "with the people who love them long after the lights have gone out. 'Abandoned' pays tribute to these modern day ruins, seemingly lost and forgotten, but not by everyone," the network says. The premiere episode, entitled "Ghost Mall" and airing next Friday, focuses on Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. "This area has had a lot of hard times," McCrank explains in the opening scene, filmed in the fall of 2015. "It went from a boom town to a bust town and it seems to be still recovering from that. I've seen a lot of dead malls. To me, this is really extraordinary. We really wanted to explore them and figure out why this phenomena is happening here. "There's a trail of abandoned malls across America and Northeast Ohio is the mecca," he says. After a brief look at the history of shopping malls, McCrank travels to Randall Park Mall with Seph Lawless, noted Cleveland photographer of abandoned places. Lawless gets a bit emotional while looking up at the shattered mall sign, almost tripping over a piece of one of the letter fragments on the ground. "This should be a sobering wake-up call for most Americans to see," Lawless says as the camera pans to the former Magic Johnson Theater, an empty Days Inn and a boarded up Toys 'R Us. McCrank then visits Rolling Acres Mall in Akron, where he meets up with two Rolling Acres "enthusiasts" who now make zombie movies and record paranormal activity inside the mall. "I do miss this place a lot, it's unreal," Damon Moore says, looking down upon the vandalized ruins of the mall. "I do really would wish people get a little more control of themselves." At Euclid Square Mall, McCrank finds some hope in the state of abandoned malls. The stores have been replaced with churches like the Faith Baptist Church, where the skateboarder was moved by a rousing Sunday service. "People used to get their haircut here, now they're playing some funky bass," McCrank says. "It felt normal. It felt like that should've been there. This is better than going to buy a new phone or going to get shoes in the mall." The episode doesn't just focus on malls. McCrank drives through Cleveland as the camera shows the desolate streets around him. "You can find all kinds of abandoned places here," he says to the camera. "It's hard to believe that this was once such a thriving populace. This place was like the Silicon Valley of yesteryear." McCrank comes across a former diaper factory on the West Side that has been turned into a makeshift skatepark. Naturally, there is skateboarding in this and future episodes. Sure, the show ignores the progress and revitalization of Cleveland, but that's not really part of its focus. If you're looking for a think piece on the causes and solutions for urban decay, you've tuned into the wrong show. The series, however, does deliver on its promise of stunning, often eerie visuals of once grand structures that have fallen, sometimes tragically, into disrepair as well as perspective that is more nostalgic than historic. In future installments, "Abandoned" takes viewers to emptied towns, a former amusement park, abandoned places along Route 66 and the modern day ruins of Detroit. Viceland can be found on AT&T U-Verse channel 257, Time Warner channels 136 & 1136 and WOW channel 278. Check your cable company for more listings. Cleveland police tape An arrest has been made in connection with the Cleveland shooting death of Eric Carmicle Jr., 29, police said. (cleveland.com file photo) CLEVELAND, Ohio - A 33-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the shooting of a Cleveland man who died a week after he was shot in the face. The arrested man has not yet been formally charged, court records show. The arrest was made in connection with the death of Eric Carmicle Jr., 29, Cleveland police spokeswoman Sgt. Jennifer Ciaccia said. Carmicle was shot Aug. 13 on the 10200 block of Way Avenue in the city's Union-Miles neighborhood. He was taken to MetroHealth, where he died Aug. 21, police said. The shooting took place after Carmicle's cousin called the man and said she had just gotten into a fight, police reports say. Carmicle drove to his cousin's house with the shooter. The shooter got out of the car with Carmicle and began pointing the gun at passing cars and at Carmicle, police said. Carmicle thought the shooter was joking around and asked him to put the gun away. The shooter, who appeared "very intoxicated," then shot Carmicle. He was hit once in the face and fell onto the driveway pavement, and the gunman fired again while Carmicle was bleeding on the ground, reports state. If you'd like to comment on this post, please visit the cleveland.com crime and courts comments section. s Dinodia Photo | Getty Images The world's fastest-growing major economy is set to accelerate in the current fiscal year, according to Goldman Sachs. India's economy is set to grow by 7.9 percent on-year between April 2016 and March 2017, accelerating from 7.6 percent in the previous year, the investment bank said in a note on Tuesday. That growth figure, if achieved, would put India well above China, which is expected to expand at a more modest pace this year, with the Chinese government aiming for growth of 6.5 to 7 percent. Goldman highlighted the following factors that are expected to support India's growth in the coming months. A better monsoon Weak irrigation infrastructure means the level of rainfall affects much of India's agrarian economy and rural incomes and consumption. Lack of rain tends to push up food prices, which in turn affects the consumer price index. India's meteorological department predicted rainfall to be 6 percent above normal this year, said Goldman, which could add 0.6 to 0.9 percentage points to overall gross domestic product (GDP) growth in fiscal 2017 through an increase in agriculture GDP growth and rural incomes. In its latest update last week, the Indian Meteorological Department said rainfall activity was likely to increase over peninsular India from the last week of August. Wage hikes for civil servants In late June, India approved a more than 14 percent increase in salaries and pensions for about 10 million government employees and pensioners, which is expected to cost nearly $17 billion in fiscal 2017, according to Reuters. Goldman said this one-off move will add to the purchasing power of consumers and could see GDP growth get a 0.30 percentage point boost. Favorable policy mix India's fiscal and monetary policy mix is also favorable and it provides a "conducive environment for growth." On the monetary front, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cut the repo rate by 0.25 percentage points to 6.50 percent in April. Goldman said the policy rate cuts could lead to an increase in demand for credit from the relatively unlevered household sector; it said retail loan growth has increased to 19 percent on-year in the first quarter of fiscal 2017, from an average of 15.7 percent in the 2015-2016 fiscal year. Recovery in loan growth from companies, however, might be limited due to the on-going issue of non-performing loans in India's public-sector banks and the high number of companies that are heavily in debt. In its federal 2016-2017 budget announced earlier this year, India allocated 878 billion rupees ($13.1 billion) for the rural sector and allocated 359.8 billion rupees for agriculture and farmers' welfare. Goldman said the focus on rural spending in this year's budget could support public capital expenditure. Progress on reforms Passing key reforms had been one of the sticking points of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government since it came into power two years ago, although recent developments have been encouraging. Earlier this month, the Indian parliament approved the much anticipated tax overhaul reform, which would simplify the country's current taxation system. Source: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research A simple white plastic footstool that tucks under your toilet has made one Utah family multimillionaires. "Now everyone is like, 'Why didn't I think of that?'" said Bobby Edwards, the 41-year-old creator and former CEO of Squatty Potty. "I have proven a lot of people wrong, and it's felt really good." It all started because Bobby's mother had trouble in the bathroom. "I was constipated my whole life," Judy Edwards reluctantly admitted. Age only made the problem worse. A few years ago, a medical professional recommended Judy use a footstool to raise her knees while on the toilet. She tried it, and it worked. "It's just a world of difference," she said. Her husband, Bill, was amazed. "We both thought, 'Wow, we're in our 60s, why are we just now hearing about this?'" But the footstool wasn't perfect, and so Bobby a self-described gypsy forever looking to make a "big splash" saw a business opportunity. "There was nothing out there on the market that we could find to help us solve the problem. So we made it." They made the first stool out of wood and named it the Squatty Potty, based on what they heard traditional hole-in-the-ground toilets in China were called. Other potential names included "The Health Step," "The S--- Shelf," and "The Stool Stool." Bobby said squatting is the way humans are supposed to, well, poop. "We all have a kink in our colon," he said. "It's there to maintain continence. Otherwise we'd be crapping our pants wherever we go." Sitting on a toilet relaxes the kink to a point, but squatting opens everything up for better evacuation. "Most of your problems with your colon start where that kink is," said his father, Bill. The family began giving footstools to friends, who considered them gag gifts, until they started using them. "I saw the results, and I saw the effect on people, and I'm like, 'There really is something here,'" said Bobby. So he and his parents and one other brother took $35,000 to set up a website and begin manufacturing for real. Judy decided the stools needed to be made out of plastic to bring down the price, and they placed their first large order. "The first order was like 2,000 Squatty Potties, they arrived from China, and we got this big container full," said Bobby. "I was like, 'What? We are never going to sell these,' right? Now we sell that many a day." In the beginning Bobby sent free Squatty Potties to health bloggers to generate buzz, and success has flowed with more regularity than Metamucil. Dr. Oz's show called (Bill Edwards thought it was a crank call from his kids), then Howard Stern started talking about the product. Finally, on their second try, Squatty Potty qualified for "Shark Tank." They sold $1 million in product within 24 hours of the TV appearance, and the company also received a $500,000 investment from Lori Greiner which led to high-profile shelf space in Bed Bath & Beyond. First year sales in 2011 were $17,000. In 2016 sales hit $19 million and continued to rise from there. The Edwardses made all products in the USA, which Bobby Edwards said saved on transportation costs and gave them the ability to scale production up or down quickly as needed. "It's actually much trimmer and leaner manufacturing in the United States for our product." The biggest challenge had always been finding a marketing balance between humor and health. "You can get really gross, or you can get so ambiguous that people don't know what you're talking about," said Bobby. The Squatty Potty YouTube ad is a good example. It stars a Prince Charming character and a unicorn that poops ice cream. "This is where your ice cream comes from," says the prince. "(Unicorns) are good at pooping, but you know who sucks at pooping? You do." When first presented with the idea for the video, the Edwards family thought it was too cheeky and too expensive. "We're talking about a subject nobody wants to talk about," said Judy, "and if a unicorn, or anything, is going to show poop, we don't want it to be poop, we want it to be something that people like and enjoy." Hence, the ice cream. "It's not OK to talk about poop, but it's OK to talk about ice cream," said Bill. They eventually decided to spend $250,000 to make the ad. At last count, it had over 100 million hits, and sales have surged. "We're going to make more videos, and they're going to cost a lot more than that," Bill laughed. The family admits making mistakes along the way, like paying other people for services they could have done themselves. "You're the one that has to make it happen," said Bobby. He said one consultant turned around and created a competing product. "It was very hurtful." Knockoffs showed up, but the Edwardses came out with new products, like a portable Squatty Potty, which fits into a backpack; a new attachable bidet and a potty training product called the Squattypottymus. The success has been stunning. Judy Edwards originally thought they might just sell a few Squatty Potties here or there to help supplement their retirement income, because no one likes to discuss pooping problems. "I still am embarrassed to talk about it," she said. Not nearly as embarrassed as she used to be. After receiving an equity injection from an unnamed venture capital firm, Bobby Edwards says his mother has retired, and he is "taking a few months off after hiring a new CEO!" The company continues to expand its product line, which now includes toilet foam for toilet paper, touted as more eco-friendly than wet wipes. Bobby and his mother remain on the Squatty Potty board, "but our day to day involvement has come to an end." Disclosure: CNBC owns the exclusive off-network cable rights to "Shark Tank." More from Strange Success: A college kid invented a bathroom shelf for your North Korea fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile off its east coast, South Korea's military said on Wednesday, the latest in a string of missile launches by the isolated country in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions. North Korea test-fired the missile at around 5:30 a.m. (0830 GMT) near the coastal city of Sinpo, where satellite imagery shows a submarine base to be located, and traveled about 500 kilometers (311 miles), officials at South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Defence Ministry told Reuters. The projectile landed in Japan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ), an area of control designated by countries to help maintain air security, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the latest missile launch was "unforgivable" and posed a grave threat to Japan's security, adding his government had lodged a stern protest against its isolated neighbor. "This poses a grave threat to Japan's security, and is an unforgivable act that damages regional peace and stability markedly," Abe told reporters at the prime minister's residence. When Ryan Shearman woke up on the side of New York City's West Side Highway in 2012 half-conscious following a motorcycle crash, he waited nearly an hour for an ambulance to arrive. "It really got me thinking, why wasn't there a product like OnStar for motorcycles?" Shearman said. Enter Fusar, a smart helmet technology company that Shearman founded in 2013 and demoed on the premiere episode of CNBC's "Adventure Capitalists," a reality show in which entrepreneurs pitch their adventure products to investors in the great outdoors. Developed a year after his crash, Fusar's kit can clip on to any helmet. At first sight, the product left potential investors Craig Cooper, Jeremy Bloom and Dhani Jones underwhelmed. "Why couldn't GoPro duplicate this in a week's period of time?" Bloom asked. "You've got a small team; they've got a big team." The FUSAR is a three-part kit that consists of a bluetooth headset, handlebar remote, and camera that can mount on to any helmet. CNBC But Shearman said he's put it all on the line he emptied out his 401(k) and used his life savings to innovate in areas GoPro hasn't yet, like communication, navigation and safety. One of the core components of the Fusar helmet kit and the one Cooper believes makes the product a standout among the competition is its safety system, which is designed to aid motorcyclists after a collision has occurred. In 2014, the fatality rate for registered motorcycle riders was six times the fatality rate for passenger car occupants, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. During that year, the NHTSA estimated that helmets saved 1,669 motorcyclists' lives. Shearman hopes his Fusar helmet kit will save even more. Fusar's user-friendly emergency response system detects when a collision has occurred, sends alerts to emergency contacts, provides those contacts with an exact GPS location of where the accident occurred and finds the phone numbers for the closest EMS dispatchers. Fusar founder and CEO Ryan Shearman pitches his smart helmet technology to Craig Cooper and fellow investors Jeremy Bloom and Dhani Jones. Cooper was impressed with the product's safety technology features and decided to serve on Fusar's board of advisors. CNBC On top of safety, the kit is designed to be fun. "The majority of my hours spent on a motorcycle are with some of my best friends," Shearman told CNBC. To enhance the motorcycle riding experience, the Fusar has a communication system that enables its users to chat with up to 12 people across any distance. It also has an action camera that captures HD photos and videos. All of the functions can be accessed by pressing a button on the wrist or handlebar remote. The Fusar bundle kit which includes a headset, camera and handlebar remote costs $499 but consumers have the option to purchase each component as a stand-alone item. Fusar is currently in an open beta phase and has garnered users in over 30 countries. In 2016, Fusar earned approximately $150,000 in net revenue. watch now Mr. Cunniffe was charged and became a cooperating witness in the case, recording conversations with Robert Stewart. In one, the father recounts that his son once said, "I handed you this on a silver platter and you didn't invest in this," apparently berating him for not taking advantage of the inside information. Robert Stewart pleaded guilty, along with Mr. Cunniffe, while Sean Stewart chose to go to trial. The younger Mr. Stewart was an investment banker at JPMorgan Chase and then Perella Weinberg who worked on health care transactions. He was convicted of tipping his father, Robert, about five different deals. The father made about $150,000 from the trading and shared the information with a friend, Richard Cunniffe, who made nearly $1 million. On the prosecution side, the guilty verdict delivered by a jury last week is a vindication for the United States attorney's office in Manhattan. It will bolster efforts to pursue insider trading cases after a 2014 appeals court decision that appeared to hamstring its ability to successfully prosecute cases involving family members who share confidential information. The insider trading prosecution of Sean Stewart has all the elements of a Greek tragedy a father used information passed along by his son to profit until they were betrayed by a co-conspirator, destroying family ties as the son is likely to end up in prison for what his father did. The "silver platter" conversation turned out to be a crucial piece of evidence in the trial, making the father a witness against his son. The recording let prosecutors show that the confidential information about the deals was not somehow stolen from the younger Mr. Stewart but was dispensed as part of a plan. Sean Stewart was in a difficult position. He could no longer pay his lawyers after an earlier divorce and large child support payments. So he was represented by appointed counsel from the Federal Defenders office, something that is uncommon in prominent insider trading cases, although certainly not unknown. That office has some of the best defense lawyers available, but Mr. Stewart did not have the same resources as other defendants in insider trading cases, like in those of former hedge fund operators such as Raj Rajaratnam, who was convicted on 14 counts in 2011. Whether Mr. Stewart's inability to hire top legal counsel affected his case can never be known, but defendants would much prefer to have a phalanx of lawyers to fight the government. Sean Stewart sought to call his father as a witness at the trial to try to show that the "silver platter" statement and others indicating the son's knowledge of the trading were not truthful but only boasts made to Mr. Cunniffe. In a statement after his arrest, Robert Stewart had claimed that his son did not know about his trading. That information could only come to light at trial if the elder Mr. Stewart testified on the stand. Sean Stewart wanted to show that his father was not a reliable source of information. But Robert Stewart refused to help his son, instead asserting his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination to avoid testifying. Usually when someone has admitted guilt Robert Stewart had already entered his plea by the time his son's trial began there is no basis to claim a privilege against self-incrimination because the potential for a future prosecution is gone. In this case, however, I suspect there was concern that prosecutors might charge the father with perjury if he testified inconsistently with statements he had made to Mr. Cunniffe. Robert Stewart had already been sentenced to a year of home detention, well below what the Justice Department recommended, and in his plea, he did not agree to cooperate in the case against his son. So there was good reason to be suspicious that prosecutors may have been gunning for him if his testimony proved helpful to the defense. The Justice Department refused Sean Stewart's request to grant his father immunity to allow him to testify, a decision the trial judge agreed with. With his father unavailable, Sean Stewart took the risk of testifying at trial, something that does not happen often in insider trading cases. He testified that his father "betrayed" him by using the information. "I never ever gave my father information expecting him to trade," he told the jury. "My dad made some terrible mistakes. He used me." Testifying for his own defense opened him up to the government's cross-examination, which focused on why he did not tell the truth when first questioned by his employer about his father's trading. A lawyer's favorite question to pose to an opponent is, "So you were lying about that, weren't you?" The prosecutor grilled him to raise questions about whether the jury should believe his story about lying to protect his father. The toughest part of the case for the Justice Department was proving that Sean Stewart had received a benefit from his father in exchange for the confidential information. This requirement was heightened by the December 2014 decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Manhattan in United States v. Newman, which overturned the insider trading convictions of two hedge fund managers. The appeals court held that the government must show that the tipper dispensed the information as part of "an exchange that is objective, consequential, and represents at least a potential gain of a pecuniary or similarly valuable nature." That meant prosecutors had to show that some tangible benefit passed between son and father. They showed that Robert Stewart spent some of his profits to hire a photographer and pay for the rehearsal dinner at his son's 2011 wedding. Before the decision in the Newman case, it would have been easy to show the benefit because just the warm feelings among family members from conferring a gift would have been sufficient. The Supreme Court may well restore that position after hearing an appeal on the Newman case in October, or it could go in another direction, as I discussed in a recent column. The question of whether there was a benefit proved to be a difficult issue for jurors deciding Sean Stewart's fate. Bloomberg reported that the jury's forewoman said they asked themselves, "What was he getting out of it?" over the six days of deliberations. In voting to convict, another juror said, "There were just too many contradictions in his story." For the Justice Department, it shows that the Newman case may not have been as much of an impediment to pursuing insider trading cases involving tips as it was initially thought. This was the first tipping case to go to trial after that opinion, and the conviction means that even common wedding gifts from a father to a son can be enough to persuade jurors that there was a benefit exchanged for valuable information. For the Stewart family, the cost of the trading far exceeds the modest financial gains realized. Sean Stewart testified that the relationship with his father was "damaged, perhaps permanently damaged," yet "I love him and I always will." The recommended punishment under the federal sentencing guidelines for his conviction is more than five years. Mr. Stewart is almost sure to receive at least some time in prison, even if the judge imposes a punishment below the government's likely recommendation of a substantial sentence. There is a Yiddish proverb that says, "When a father gives to his son, both laugh; when a son gives to his father, both cry." That certainly seems true for Sean Stewart and his father. Tim Cook will hold a fundraiser for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton on Wednesday night, but the Apple CEO has proven bipartisan with his political cash. Cook has personally given $10,800 to Republican candidates and joint fundraising committees and $10,400 to committees on the Democratic side since 2008, according to reports filed to the Federal Election Commission. While he is by no means a large donor, Cook has increased his activity in this election cycle, with about 90 percent of those donations coming since April 2015. Cook hosted a fundraiser for Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan earlier this year, giving $7,100 to his campaign and a joint committee with the GOP in June. Last year, he gave maximum $2,700 donations to the campaigns of GOP Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio and Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer of New York and Patrick Leahy of Vermont. Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca said it had agreed to sell its small molecule antibiotics business to Pfizer in a deal that could reach more than $1.5 billion. The portfolio includes approved antibiotics Merrem, Zinforo and Zavicefta, and ATM-AVI and CXL, which are in clinical development, it said. Pfizer will pay $550 million upon completion and a further unconditional $175 million in January 2019, AstraZeneca said, plus up to $250 million in milestones, up to $600 million in sales-related payments and recurring, double-digit royalties on future sales of Zavicefta and ATM-AVI in certain markets. The British company said the agreement did not impact its financial guidance for 2016. A British woman was stabbed to death on Wednesday at a backpackers' hostel in Australia and two people were injured, one seriously, in what police say may have been an "extremist" attack. A spokesman for Queensland state police said the suspected attacker, in Australia on a tourist visa, was a 29-year-old French national who had yelled "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest) when arrested. A 21-year-old British woman died at the scene of the attack, south of Townsville in the state's far north, police said. A 30-year-old British man was in critical condition in hospital. "Initial inquiries indicate that comments which may be construed of being of an extremist nature were made by the alleged offender," Queensland Police Service Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski told reporters. "This person appears to have acted alone," he said. "He is a visitor to Australia and has no known local connections, however investigations are ongoing." About 100 people have left Australia for Syria to fight alongside organisations such as Islamic State, Australia's Immigration Minister said earlier this year. Australia, a staunch U.S. ally, has been on heightened alert for attacks by home-grown radicals since 2014 and authorities say they have thwarted a number of plots. There have been several "lone wolf" assaults, including a 2014 cafe siege in Sydney that left two hostages and the gunman dead. Also in 2014, police shot dead a Melbourne teenager after he stabbed two counter-terrorism officers. In 2015, a 15-year-old boy fired on an accountant at a police headquarters in a Sydney suburb and was killed in a gunfight with police. Police did not give details of the other person wounded in the attack, which was captured on video and witnessed by more than a dozen people. There was no ongoing threat to the community, Gollschewski said. A dog was also killed in the attack, he added. Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook. With coffee prices still near the 12-month high they hit last month, analysts are contemplating whether the rally has further to run. Analysts at Citi are still bullish on the market and have kept their outlook unchanged despite the recent price surge. "For (Latin America) specialty crops such as sugar and coffee, prices are already 50 to 100 percent above 2015/16 multi-year lows, although ICE cocoa markets may weaken further into 2017," the research note said. At its current levels of roughly 146 cents, coffee is about 5.7 percent from its high last month but is showing positive momentum, gaining over 3 percent for the week. Coffee hit a yearly high on July 15, falling at 154.80 cents, the highest level for coffee futures since February 2015. But, others aren't so sure of a further uptick. A senior broker at a brokerage specializing in commodities told CNBC that they were much more "neutral" on the outlook for the coffee market. Instead, the broker who preferred not to be named due to uncertainty over his company's media clearance practice pointed out a marked differential between Arabica and Robusta coffee, the latter of which is currently at a deficit. He expects the differential between these two coffee components to narrow. In Cramer's perspective, it's not a matter of if a flash crash will happen again, it's a matter of when. The term flash crash refers a special event when the stock market drops quickly, almost in the blink of an eye. It can result in a dramatic loss of about 1,000 points on the Dow . Both flash crashes had a similar theme: something negative overseas either triggered, or was thought to trigger an event in the U.S. that investors couldn't grasp. It caused an immense amount of fear and paralysis. "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, and I'm an idiot who deserves the heat," the " Mad Money " host said. In the past six years there have been two flash crashes, including one that occurred exactly a year ago in 2015. Jim Cramer will be ready for the next one, and wants investors to be prepared, too. A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on August 24, 2015 in New York City. No. 1 Never use market orders. A market order is an order to buy or sell a stock executed at the current market price. Market orders can be messy, and have no specific price allocated, so investors can get crushed by machine algorithms, Cramer said. That is why he recommended limit orders, which is an order for a set amount of securities at a specific price, or better. In the flash crash of 2010, Cramer monitored Procter & Gamble to buy for his charitable trust. After all, if Greece was really the reason for the flash crash back then, people would still need to shave and wash their clothes. "When you suspect that you've got a flash crash on your hands, you need to be ready with your own Procter & Gamble-like ideas," Cramer said. No. 2 Have multiple stock ideas. Investors cannot just reach for a Procter & Gamble, because some stocks will crash harder than others, and no one knows which ones they will be. Cramer recommended high-quality stocks with little economic sensitivity. Those are the ones left standing once the smoke clears and have a history of being able to pay dividends no matter what. For instance, General Mills paid its dividends through two world wars, the Great Depression and Great Recession. Stocks like PepsiCo , Dominion Resources , American Electric Power , Verizon and AT&T all landed on Cramer's radar. "When the next flash crash occurs, we might not have the luxury to step off the desk to make calls. We may not be able to see Procter trading down," Cramer said, "But we will be ready, and yes, we will even be salivating for the next flash crash so we can brag that not only were we there, we made a killing." Facebook is testing out adding automatic sound to its autoplay videos, but some ad agencies are saying that users are likely to hate the sound-on experience, thus making widespread adoption difficult. "When you think of user behavior within Facebook, users are typically scrolling through the News Feed keeping up with what's happening," said Kevin Del Rosario, associate director of social media at digital agency Huge. "It's intrusive getting the sound and video all at the same time." Mashable reported earlier this week that some users were hearing audio automatically on their videos. Currently, Facebook videos play when you scroll past them, but there is no sound. Facebook confirmed that they were testing out the feature on some people using its mobile platform in Australia. "We're running a small test in News Feed where people can choose whether they want to watch videos with sound on from the start," a Facebook spokesperson said via email. "For people in this test who do not want sound to play, they can switch it off in Settings or directly on the video itself. This is one of several tests we're running as we work to improve the video experience for people on Facebook." When the select users scroll through their News Feed, they will see a small sound icon on the bottom right-hand side. They can then tap the symbol on or off to have sound play throughout the duration of their News Feed session. Another version has sound automatically playing as long as the volume is turned up on your phone. Regardless, audio will only play if the phone is not muted, and there is an option to switch the sound to "always off" in the Facebook settings. Facebook said it's seen about 66 percent growth in average daily video watch time per person. The company said about half of users watch Facebook video with the sound on already. Permanently adding sound to its videos could be an uphill battle for Facebook. While people come to its digital video competitors such as YouTube ready to watch clips, the social network's users are coming to the platform to catch up on text or photo-based news from their friends. "Since consumers are mobile first, many do not necessarily have headphones in while scrolling through their feed," said Lindsay Sutton, vice president and group director of social strategy at digital agency DigitasLBi. "And auto-audio could be an interruption to their passive viewing experience picture a commuter on a busy bus therefore causing them to not view at all." However, media companies and brand publishers like putting their videos in the News Feed experience because it fits organically with user content. Because the automatic sound option is not available now, Huge's Del Rosario said some companies are adding subtitles to Facebook videos to get their message across. Still, that isn't a guarantee that someone will stop and watch. Having sound right away could capture people's fleeting attention. But there is a fine balance between grabbing someone's eye with digital advertising and turning them off by being too in their face. Studies have shown that users react negatively when videos start out with loud audio, Huge's Del Rosario said. "It's about what's the right message to send in the first three seconds and how to come across as not intrusive and be relative to your audience," he said. DigitasLBi's Sutton said advertisers should pay attention to Facebook's sound experiments. If adding audio changes how and how much Facebook's users watch video, it could force brands to change their strategy. "First and foremost, we need to design/create with the consumer in mind," she said. "We can't force our message into their lives, it must be seamless. If forcing audio becomes an intrusion and then video consumption in general drops, then we have to watch for that. However, if we notice that consumption doesn't suffer, then we can start thinking about how our creative weaves audio back into the picture." BNY Mellon , Deutsche Bank and Santander, plus U.K. brokerage ICAP , will join UBS to work on the Utility Settlement Coin (USC), which they hope will be a quicker and more efficient alternative to the current clearing and settlement process. Four of Europe and the U.S.'s biggest banks have joined forces to work on a digital-only cash system, which they hope to launch in two years' time. The coin will be aimed at banks' institutional clients and will use blockchain, the technology behind bitcoin. Blockchain works like a vast, decentralized ledger, recording every transaction made with bitcoin, the world's most-widely used pure-digital cash system. Several financial institutions are interested in the broader applications of blockchain technology. "Digital cash is a core component of a future financial market fabric based on blockchain technologies," Hyder Jaffrey, UBS Investment Bank head of strategic investment and financial technology innovation, said in a media statement on Wednesday. UBS says the USC could decrease the complexity and time taken to settle trades, cutting risk and improving capital efficiency for users. The coin's success would rely on widespread adoption by financial institutions, so the participation of BNY Mellon, Deutsche Bank and Santander may be a step in the right direction for UBS. However, several other top banks are working on their own digital-only payment systems, including Goldman Sachs and Citi . In the meantime, UBS is in discussion with regulators to determine how the USC should function to get regulatory backing. The bank may then look to get more institutions involved. "Recent discussion of digital currencies by central banks and regulators has confirmed their potential significance. The USC is an essential step towards a future financial market on distributed ledger technologies," Julio Faura, head of research and development at Santander, said in a media statement. The USC would be based on cash assets, with versions available in major currencies, including the U.S. dollar, euro, sterling and Swiss franc, and would be convertible at parity with a bank deposit. Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook. Indicted Comverse Technology founder Jacob "Kobi" Alexander pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud in a federal court in Brooklyn on Wednesday afternoon, almost exactly 10 years after moving to Africa in what the government says was a clear attempt to flee prosecution. U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis denied bail, arguing that Alexander's intelligence and guile are clear indications that he cannot be trusted. Alexander will be sent to a maximum-security facility between now and his sentencing on Dec. 16. He faces up to 10 years in prison. After the hearing, lead defense attorney Benjamin Brafman told CNBC, "We are bitterly disappointed by the judge's ruling, but he's the judge and I'm not." Defense attorneys argued he should be set free on $25 million bond pending his sentencing. In a court filing Monday, Brafman said Alexander is not a flight risk. "It would be pointless for Mr. Alexander to come to the United States after spending 10 years in Namibia in order to plead guilty and only then to flee," Brafman wrote, adding that Alexander, 64, could have stayed in Namibia "forever." Alexander moved his family to Namibia in July 2006, as prosecutors were preparing a sweeping fraud case against the tech executive. A federal grand jury ultimately indicted him on 35 counts including conspiracy, fraud, obstruction of justice and witness tampering, in a 15-year scheme to manipulate Comverse options. But Brafman argued that because Alexander left before he was charged, he did not flee. And now that he has left Namibia, he has no place else to flee to. Prosecutors paint a much different picture in a filing Wednesday morning. Arguing that Alexander is "cunning and resourceful," they want him held without bail. Otherwise, they say, "the government is confident that the defendant could find his next Namibia should he so choose." The government's letter includes newly released details of Alexander's maneuvers as prosecutors were bearing down on him during the summer of 2006 amid public fury over a wave of accounting-fraud cases in the wake of the dot-com bubble. In June 2006, the letter says, Alexander took his family to his native Israel ostensibly on vacation just as prosecutors were putting the final touches on their case. By mid-July, the government was in discussions with Alexander's attorneys, but prosecutors demanded he return from Israel before talks went any further. By July 27, they say, Alexander's lawyers had worked out arrangements for him to surrender in New York the following day. Instead, he traveled from Israel to Germany and then to Namibia, where he remained for the next 10 years. The government accused Alexander in a criminal complaint on July 31, 2006, with masterminding the alleged scheme that allowed Alexander and others to buy the stock at deep discounts, fleecing shareholders out of millions of dollars. In September, a federal grand jury indicted him. The purpose of Alexander's travel was clear, the government said: "to avoid criminal prosecution." Both sides made their case before Garaufis in Brooklyn, a Clinton appointee best known for hearing racial discrimination cases against the New York City Fire Department. Garaufis has also been the judge in the Comverse case from the start, and noted in today's hearing that he was the one who signed the warrant for Alexander's arrest in 2006. "Spare me," he said in denying bail, his voice rising. "I wasn't born yesterday." Alexander's attorneys did not indicate whether they would appeal. Mylan CEO Heather Bresch is coming under new scrutiny for her company's decision to raise the price of lifesaving EpiPens more than fourfold over the past eight years. For people who closely watch the pharmaceutical industry, Bresch is well-known. But among a broader audience, few people know who she is. That is changing as Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, the American Medical Association and a number of U.S. senators are calling on Bresch to roll back the steep price hikes on EpiPens. So, who is Bresch, and what is her backstory? The CEO is the daughter of a U.S. senator. She reincorporated her U.S.-based drug company in the Netherlands, which cut its tax liability. She also retroactively was awarded an MBA from West Virginia University while her dad was governor of that state despite not having enough academic credits. At the time, the university's president was both a former lobbyist for her drug company and a high school classmate of hers. And Bresch has also overseen her company's increase in the price of EpiPens from $100 in 2008, to more than $600 for some customers today. During that time, her compensation has risen nearly 700 percent When Bresch took over as CEO in 2012, Mylan's stock was trading at almost $22 per share. The shares are up 101 percent under her leadership. Revenue has risen 38.5 percent since she took over, to $9.47 billion at the end of 2015. Bresch, 47, has been thrust in the spotlight in recent days after colleagues of her father Sen. Joe Manchin, D.-W.Va., in the Senate have expressed outrage about the stunning price hikes for EpiPen, a device that contains just a dollar or so's worth of the drug epinephrine. EpiPens are used by people having an allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis, which can be fatal. People with allergies or parents of children with allergies are encouraged to have multiple sets of EpiPens for home, school and elsewhere. While insurance often covers some of the cost, many people have to pay out of pocket for the devices, sometimes up to the full price. Clinton, a former senator from New York, on Wednesday called Mylan's price increases "outrageous," and "just the latest troubling example of a company taking advantage of its consumers." "Since there is no apparent justification in this case" for the EpiPen price hikes "I am calling on Mylan to immediately reduce the price of EpiPens," Clinton said in a statement. The AMA, the nation's largest doctors' group, earlier Wednesday said that "with lives on the line, we urge the manufacturer to do all it can to rein in these exorbitant costs." Bresch, who has been CEO since 2012, did not return a request for comment from CNBC on Wednesday. Neither did Mylan nor Bresch's father, Manchin, whose Senate colleagues are calling for hearings on the price of EpiPens, and one of whom, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., has asked for the Federal Trade Commission to investigate. U.K.-domiciled investment funds hemorrhaged 4.7 billion ($6.2 billion) in July, the biggest monthly net outflow for at least three years. Equity funds were the worst hit, with net outflows of 5.7 billion last month, according to data from investment research provider Morningstar. Also hard hit were U.K. property funds, with net outflows of 438 million. This followed the U.K.'s surprise vote to leave the European Union on June 23. The news rocked London-listed and global stocks, plus sterling . The internationally focused FTSE 100 index has recovered, however, with the weaker pound helping companies that largely report in U.S. dollar terms. The occasion was a fundraiser at the couple's home, for which they were a last-minute substitute for Leonardo DiCaprio, who bowed out because of a scheduling change. About 100 guests paid $33,400 each, so Clinton raised more than $3 million at the lunch. Dan Merica tweet Larie Evangelista tweet The party for Clinton featured Hollywood stars and industry figures who back her, including Jennifer Aniston, Tobey Maguire and Shonda Rhimes. The Wrap reported that Jamie Foxx and Katie Holmes also were there. Instagram rushed to share some photos from the lunch, like one of Timberlake and Biel speaking to guests and another of Aniston posing for a selfie with Clinton and Maguire's wife, Jennifer Meyer. Clinton is in California this week for a series of starry fundraisers in Los Angeles, Laguna Beach and Silicon Valley. She started the trip off taping a segment with Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday, joking with the host in an effort to debunk rumors from the Republican camp about her health. After Kimmel, Clinton headed to a fundraiser for 500 at the Beverly Hills home of ex-NBA icon Magic Johnson and his wife Cookie. She'll move to the Palo Alto area on Wednesday where she'll attend two fundraisers, one of them hosted by Apple CEO Tim Cook, according to the Mercury News in San Jose. Yolanda Jones does honorable work day in and day out running her small business and employing people from her local community in Bayview-Hunters Point, San Francisco. It's not every day, however, that she gets recognized for her work by an A-list celebrity like LeBron James. On Tuesday, King James commended Jones for her hard work and dedication on his Facebook page, which has 23 million followers. HUGE s/o to CLE Hustles #PitchLeBron winner Yolanda Jones & YCAT Control!! Loved watching the video. Keep going Yolanda, keep changing lives your passion is inspiring. #YoHustles #GameRecognizeGame #StriveForGreatness Posted by LeBron James on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 He also sent out a tweet congratulating Yolanda from his Twitter account, which has 32 million followers. Jones won the social media endorsement through James' recent contest, the #PitchLeBronContest, in which small-business owners submitted 23-second videos making their case for why they deserve a social media shout out. The contest was a promotional lead up to the debut of the new CNBC prime-time show "Cleveland Hustles," which is executive produced by James and premieres on Wednesday. The eight-episode series will feature local Ohio entrepreneurs who compete to win the support of a team of investors as they open up a storefront in an underserved neighborhood in Cleveland. In the video that Jones submitted on Instagram for the contest, she says that the jobs she is providing to local members of the community keep them off the streets. Jones is the owner of Yolanda's Construction Administration & Traffic Control (YCAT-C), which provides flagging and signage services to large construction projects. Jones started the business in January 2010. About three months earlier, she says one of her sons was in the back seat of a stolen car and was shot and killed by the local police. So when she heard President Barack Obama talking about how he was going to invest a significant amount of money into infrastructure projects run by minority, women-owned businesses, she decided right then and there to go get her business license. Jones wanted to provide opportunities to members of her drug and crime ridden community. LeBron James Fred Lee | ABC | Getty Images "As a black woman coming from a poverty area in San Francisco that is being changed, I am staying here and I am helping my community to rise up to be better. And we can do it," Jones tells CNBC. Today, Jones says she has 14 full-time employees and annual revenue of $3 million. She hires additional contract employees when she secures jobs. Very consciously, Jones only hires from her local community. Businesses are overlooking a critical investment area that will only continue to grow more important over the next several decades, according to Bonin Bough, host of CNBC's "Cleveland Hustles" and the former chief media and e-commerce officer at Mondelez International. "Talent will be the single biggest determinant of growth for an organization by 2030 bigger than data, bigger than infrastructure, bigger than energy," Bough said. "All the things that used to grow a previous world of organizations are now going to be not as important as the actual people who work for you." For companies putting off investing in their workers, hiring could get a lot more difficult over time, since aging workforces around the world are expected to create significant labor shortages. What do ETFs and Karl Marx have in common? That may sound like the setup to a corny joke, but for a research team led by Inigo Fraser-Jenkins, it's no laughing matter. In a note boldly titled "The Silent Road to Serfdom: Why Passive Investing Is Worse Than Marxism," the Bernstein investment strategist sets out to prove that the rise of passive investing is a serious problem for the economy as a whole. The posited problem with predominantly passive capital markets is that they cannot possibly allocate capital efficiently. Fraser-Jenkins' favorite type of market for capital-allocation-efficacy reasons is a "capitalist society with functioning capital markets," followed by a Marxist one, followed by a capitalist society with predominantly passive markets. In the first type, markets "rapidly reallocate capital into expanding and shrinking industries," leading to "superior economic growth." In the second, "at least someone is doing the planning of capital allocation," even if the central planner will likely do a worse job of allocation than investors as a group. In the third, no party is making an attempt to allocate capital effectively, leaving an odd vacuum in which decisions are not made by parties lacking accountability or fiduciary responsibility. In fact, the decisions that are made do not even appear to be decisions. This logic may be sound, but it has an odd implication: When couched in such a framework, the decision to invest one's money in actively managed funds can take on the strange air of philanthropy. As it is now widely understood, to the extent that passive investors generally succeed in tracking the market as a whole, then active investors must perform neither much better nor much worse than the market as a group before fees, and thus must deliver worse returns net of fees. This logic and the actual performance data in accord with it have obviously been a big driver of the move to passively managed funds. But the strategist calls the lower net-of-fee return in actively managed funds a "non sequitur," and retorts: "A given investment in active may or may not be the best decision for an individual particular investor but for the system overall there is a benefit in the efficient allocation of capital." Congruent with this save-the-whales tone, Fraser-Jenkins' case is aimed not toward potential investors but toward policymakers, exhorting them to "care about active fund management" since it is "a force for social good." To be sure, Fraser-Jenkins and his cohorts have something on the line here. In the midst of a long and absorbing note that flits from Soviet Russia rail projects to communist-tinged performance art to the cruelty of Emperor Tiberius, Bernstein's London-based head of global quantitative strategy and European equity strategy lets drop this: Ultimately this goes to the heart of the question, what is the social function of active management in equity markets, and indeed of sell-side equity research? In the wake of the financial crisis we think it is even more important than normal to demonstrate that there is indeed a social function. A field of endeavour that performs no social function is ultimately unsustainable if it has a cost that is imposed on the rest of society. Any such activity will, in the ultimate analysis, simply be regulated out of existence. However, there is a clear and distinct task that active management (and, by extension, sell side research) performs. If Fraser-Jenkins is right, perhaps active managers should worry less about seeking alpha, and more about seeking alms. Government-led extrajudicial killings are endangering rule of law in the Philippines, but the campaign is unlikely to stop anytime soon amid the President's widespread popularity and a weak political opposition. More than 1,900 people have been killed in a nation-wide crackdown on drug peddlers and traffickers since President Rodrigo Duterte entered office seven weeks ago, the country's national police chief Ronald de la Rosa told a Senate hearing on Tuesday, according to media reports. So far, around 750 of those deaths are confirmed to be a result of police anti-narcotics operations, while the remaining deaths were still being investigated, Rosa was quoted as saying. The 1,900 figure provided on Tuesday was higher than the 1,800 killings Rosa previously announced on Monday, Reuters said. Relatives mourn as the coffin of an alleged thief and drug peddler and victim of an extrajudicial killing is laid to rest on August 21, 2016 in Manila, Philippines. Dondi Tawatao | Getty Images The former Davao City mayor, nicknamed "The Punisher", rose to power in a presidential campaign centered on fighting crime, encouraging extrajudicial killings as a key solution. He's even authorized the gun-carrying public to kill drug addicts and criminals themselves. His actions are now sparking alarm that the country might spiral into lawlessness. "Duterte is steamrolling the rule of law and its advocates both at home and abroad," said Phelim Kine, Asia deputy director at Human Rights Watch (HRW) in a statement this week, noting that the President was breeding a violent society. The Philippines has long battled a history of drug-related violence, making Duterte's commitment to eradicating crime especially appealing to the bulk of the population, which won him 40 percent of the vote in the May election. A July opinion poll revealed he enjoyed a 91 percent approval rating, indicating solid support not only for his war on drugs but the sexist remarks, diplomatic blunders and threats to the business community that have marked his reign thus far. A few domestic voices have lashed out against the President, including the Catholic Church and Senator Leila de Lima. In response, Duterte has flagged the Church's hypocrisy, particularly its wealth and priests' abuse of children, and accused de Lima of having an extramarital affair and accepting illegal campaign contributions. Domestic institutions are effectively powerless to stand up to the President, strategists say. "Duterte was elected with only a handful of congressional allies. But because Philippine political parties are weak, he now has the support of most legislators who simply switched sides after his victory in search of presidential patronage. This has left only a few critics in office to speak out against the crackdown," Mark Thompson, director of the Southeast Asia Research Centre at the City University of Hong Kong, and Ronald Holmes, research scholar at the Australian National University, wrote in an editorial for Caixin. Even the Supreme Court holds little sway over Duterte. The legislative body has been politicized following the Chief Justice's removal by former President Benigno Aquino in 2012, Thompson and Holmes noted. watch now Charles River Ventures (CRV) will cover the legal costs of U.S. visas for any founders in CRV's portfolio of start-up investments, and has created a fellowship program for immigrant entrepreneurs, the firm said in a Wednesday blog post . The informal fellowship, which has already done one investment, covers funding, support and office space. One venture capital firm said it would fund visas for immigrant founders in explicit opposition to Donald Trump . CRV's team (Source: Charles River Ventures) It comes as Republican presidential hopeful Trump has called for "immigration moderation," including raising wages to limit H-1B visas, which grant U.S. immigration and residency rights to foreign workers qualified in so-called "specialty occupations." Trump said prioritizing domestic workers will improve the number of black, Hispanic and female workers in Silicon Valley. Danny Crichton, an investor at the 46-year-old Silicon Valley start-up investment fund, said that the problems in Silicon Valley should be solved by the world's best talent, and that broad policy changes around education and mentorship will bridge America's technology skills gap better than visa reform alone. Technology CEOs such as Mark Zuckerberg have argued that each talented specialist on an H1-B visa creates two or three American jobs in return. Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton's technology plan proposes Green Cards for advanced science, math and technology graduates from accredited institutions, and supports visas for top entrepreneurs. Still, Trump has at least one stalwart supporter among start-up investors: PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, who spoke at the Republican National Convention in July. George Zachary, a partner at CRV, said that his success, like that of many others at the firm, was driven by the opportunities given to immigrants. His father came to the U.S. through Ellis Island and started a lightbulb company that put Zachary through college. "I don't think it's just a bubble in the 650 Palo Alto area code," said Crichton, who said he's gotten positive feedback on the fellowship. He points to companies like Google, which employs thousands and was co-founded by Russian-born Sergey Brin. "Obviously Silicon Valley is on the side of progress ... but I don't think this is an echo chamber. Would I rather have Facebook, Amazon and Apple built inside the U.S.? Or in China?" The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. There's a giant pot of corporate gold sitting outside the United States, and the U.S. Treasury and the European Commission are squabbling over how to get their hands on it. American multinational corporations have stashed more than $2 trillion in profits and assets outside to avoid paying what many companies argue are unduly high U.S. corporate tax rates. Over the past few years, the European Commission has opened investigations into a handful of those companies, including Apple, Starbucks and Amazon, to determine whether they owe taxes to European countries. But the Treasury Department, in a "white paper" released Wednesday, said those investigations have gone too far. The paper attacked the legal approach the EU is using to determine tax liabilities on American companies, saying it targets "income that (European) Member States have no right to tax under well-established international tax standards." The paper also argued that taxes collected by European countries could, in effect, come right out of the pockets of American taxpayers. That's because taxes collected by European countries could be deducted from any future payments to the Treasury. "That outcome is deeply troubling, as it would effectively constitute a transfer of revenue to the EU from the U.S. government and its taxpayers," the paper said. The report urged the European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, to "return to the system and practice of international tax cooperation that has long fostered cross-border investment between the United States and EU Member States." And it warned that the U.S. "continues to consider potential responses should the Commission continue its present course." The Treasury's latest salvo comes as the European Commission is finalizing a probe into allegations that Apple struck a sweetheart tax deal with the Irish government to avoid U.S. taxes. A decision in that case is expected next month. Apple is among dozens of U.S. companies that use various tax strategies to shift money among subsidiaries around the world and avoid paying U.S. taxes. Those strategies include moving assets to countries with low tax rates or booking sales in a tax haven that didn't actually happen there. Apple has defended the practice, saying it's perfectly legal. "It is the current tax law," Apple CEO Tim Cook told The Washington Postearlier this month. "It's not a matter of being patriotic or not patriotic." The Apple case prompted Senate hearings and calls for corporate tax reform. Last year, the Obama administration proposed a one-time "tax holiday" that would let American companies repatriate offshore profits at a reduced tax rate. Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with South African President Jacob Zuma (L) at The Great Hall Of The People on September 4, 2015 in Beijing, China. But, just how helpful for the ANC is building ties with China? In discussion documents from its 2015 national conference, the ANC described China's economic development and leadership as "a guiding lodestar of our own struggle." On first glance, it seems to be an unlikely friendship. But, as South Africa's dominant African National Congress (ANC) party lost control Tuesday of economic hub Johannesburg to its main political rival an event symptomatic of President Jacob Zuma plummeting in recent polls and expectations of a flat-lining economy the ANC's look to China for lessons in political dominance and economic growth is not that surprising. China is South Africa's largest single trading partner, according to the World Trade Organisation. The ANC's 2015 discussion documents say that bilateral "trade volumes have far surpassed the value of USD $400 billion [in that year]," and the party is keen to grow this figure. Alison Bradley, a South African China specialist, told CNBC via telephone that the ANC sees value in the Middle Kingdom as an "economic model to emulate." In its 2015 discussion documents, the ANC lauds, "the rise of emerging economies led by China herald[ing] a new dawn of hope for further possibilities of a new world order." Reflecting this, China and South Africa inked $6.5 billion of deals in December last year, just ahead of a China-Africa cooperation summit in Johannesburg. Despite an enormous trade imbalance between the two countries, some South African companies have profited from investment in their Chinese counterparts. For example, South African media firm Naspers found financial success and was catapulted to the status of largest African company by market value by investing in Chinese internet sensation Tencent. "China views South Africa as an entry way into the continent," says Bradley, adding that "to understand their relationship, you have to look at all of Africa. It's not a bilateral, but a multilateral relationship from China's perspective." For the ANC, China presents an alternative way of developing an economy and lifting people out of poverty without fracturing a political structure in the process. This is particularly pertinent considering the ANC's disappointing local election result in early August, which is contributing to its loss of power in major cities. China's successful state-owned enterprise businesses model could also be of interest to ANC policymakers, who in their 2015 discussion documents accept that domestic nationalized industries have issues that need to be to be addressed "as a matter of urgency." Ratings agencies cite South African state organisations such as energy firm Eskom and South African Airways as potential risks. Martin Plaut, a South African fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, is skeptical, arguing that China and South Africa's tie "isn't a long-term, real relationship." He describes China as a take-no-prisoners business partner, citing its decimation of South Africa's clothing industry in the African market over the past two decades, in which "South Africa wasn't even a competitor as China was so much better at it." The world's largest aircraft, the Airlander 10 airship, has crashed and suffered damage on its second test flight on Wednesday. "Today the prototype Airlander 10 undertook its second test flight and flew for 100 minutes, completing all the planned tasks before returning to Cardington to land. The Airlander experienced a heavy landing and the front of the flight deck has sustained some damage which is currently being assessed," Hybrid Air Vehicles, a British aviation firm that created the Airlander, said in statement. The crash happened in Bedfordshire, central England and both pilots and ground crew are "safe and well, " according to the company. "The aircraft is secured and stable at its normal mooring location. Hybrid Air Vehicles runs a robust set of procedures for flight test activities and investigation of issues. We will be running through these in the days ahead as we continue the development of the Airlander aircraft.," it added. Photo credit: Business Wire, Citizens Bank Citizens Bank, which has a significant presence in Central and upstate New York, recently announced the appointment of Lamont Young as head of digital. Young will also continue to manage his existing responsibilities for the banks multi-channel marketing. With more than 20 years of digital and marketing experience in the consumer goods and financial services industries, Young will oversee Citizens strategic investments in digital, online and mobile banking, digital marketing, user experience, and social media, the bank said. Young was also named to the executive committee for Citizens Consumer Bank. Our digital capabilities are increasingly important to our customers and to our businesses, said Beth Johnson, chief marketing officer and head of consumer strategy at Providence, Rhode Islandbased Citizens, said in a news release. To meet our customers evolving needs, we are continuing to optimize our digital strategy and distribution capabilities to enable them to bank when, where and how they want. Lamonts breadth of experience in digital and marketing will be pivotal to helping us move forward in this space. Young was previously Citizens senior VP of digital and direct marketing, a position he held since joining the bank in 2012. Young also previously held several leadership positions with Bank of America in digital sales, digital media, and content development. Before joining Bank of America, Young founded a company that provided web and design services to small businesses. Young earned his bachelors degree in marketing from Penn State University and his MBA from Winthrop University. Citizens Financial Group (NYSE: CFG), the parent company of Citizens Bank, says its one of the nations oldest and largest financial institutions, with $145.2 billion in assets as of June 30, 2016. It operates about 1,200 Citizens Bank branches in 11 states in the New England, Mid-Atlantic (including New York state), and Midwest regions. Citizens Bank had 22 branches and $775 million in deposits in the 16-county Central New York area, as of June 30, 2015, according to the latest FDIC statistics available. Contact The Business Journal News Network at news@cnybj.com DeWITT, N.Y. Community Bank System, Inc. (NYSE: CBU) announced that its board of directors has hiked its quarterly dividend to 32 cents per share on its common stock from 31 cents in the year-ago quarter. The new dividend will be payable on Oct. 10 to shareholders of record as of Sept. 15. It represents an annualized yield of about 2.8 percent, based on the companys current stock price. The latest dividend rise marks the 24th consecutive year of dividend increases for the DeWittbased banking company. The increase reflects the continued strength of both our current operating performance and capital position, Mark E. Tryniski, president and CEO of Community Bank System, said in a news release. The banking companys stock price has increased more than 15 percent year to date. Community Bank System operates more than 200 branches across upstate New York and Northeastern Pennsylvania through its banking subsidiary, Community Bank, N.A. It has total assets of about $8.7 billion, ranking it among the nations 150 largest financial institutions. Contact Rombel at arombel@cnybj.com The Salina Street entrance to the Galleries of Syracuse where 170 employees of Upstate Medical Universitys information-management technology department reported for work on Monday. The schools hospital-finance department will join them in October, bringing the Upstate employee count in the downtown venue to 400. The departments have worked in the Widewaters Office Park for about 10 years, says Tom Pelis, Upstates assistant VP for facilities and planning. (Eric Reinhardt / BJNN file photo) SYRACUSE, N.Y. Upstate Medical University announced it has moved 170 employees to the Galleries of Syracuse at 441 S. Salina St. in Syracuse. Its the first group of a total of 400 employees that Upstate Medical says will work in the downtown venue by this fall. Those who work in Upstates information-management technology department moved to the Galleries on Monday, Tom Pelis, Upstates assistant VP for facilities and planning, told BJNN on Tuesday. The medical schools hospital-finance department will relocate in October, he added. The departments have been operating at the Widewaters Office Park along Widewaters Parkway in DeWitt. The departments have worked in that location for about 10 years and the lease was up, according to Pelis. When all Upstate Medical employees are moved downtown, it will occupy 60,000 square feet on the fourth and fifth floors of the Galleries. The space became available with the relocation of the Onondaga County Central Library to the main floor. Onondaga County owns the fourth and fifth floors of the Galleries. The medical school started thinking about relocation in 2014. After discussion with leadership, we decided that they really ought to be downtown because thats where Upstate is, said Pelis. As a state entity, Upstate Medical University issued a request-for-proposals for new space. Upstate preferred the Galleries location because its just a few blocks from the medical schools campus. It was just a good match, he noted. The offices of Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney and Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner helped facilitate the move, according to Upstate Medical. Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com Click the Weekday Tours link to sign up for our campus walking tours. Come and see for yourself! Making a campus visit is one of the most important steps in choosing a college. Every college has a look, feel and sense of possibility that are all its own. Coastal Carolina University is no different, so come see for yourself and find out why so many students experience Coastal and know this is the place for them. Click on the links to the right to register for your Coastal experience. Regardless of when you visit, you will receive the individualized attention that is the hallmark of the Office of Admissions and Merit Awards. If you have any questions about campus visits, please call 800.277.7000 or email admissions@coastal.edu. Tips for Your Visit Schedule your visit in advance. Tour groups will be small, so you must have a reservation. Please arrive at least 15 minutes early to check-in. Our tours leave at specific times and additional tour guides may not be available if you are late. The campus tour lasts approximately 90 minutes. Please wear comfortable shoes and clothing and be prepared for inclement weather. If you wish to meet with an academic department, please make an appointment with them separately in advance. Please see departmental contact information on our Academic Majors page. Getting to and Navigating the Campus Campus Map View or print the campus map here. Weekday campus tours begin in the Welcome Center in Baxley Hall (#1 on the map). The street address for Baxley Hall is 100 Chanticleer Drive East, Conway, SC 29526. The Office of Admissions and Merit Awards is also located on the first floor of Baxley Hall. Our business hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Parking Weekday visitors will be mailed a temporary parking permit or may obtain one at check-in. Limited visitor parking is available near Baxley Hall, and additional parking can be found in nearby lots (you may park in any space except those designated as faculty/staff, handicapped, or reserved). Saturday visitors do not need a parking permit and may park in any space except those designated as handicapped or reserved. Driving Directions From the north: Travel I-95 South into South Carolina. Follow I-95 to Exit 181A. Turn left onto SC Hwy. 38. Follow Hwy. 38 to the intersection of US Hwy. 501. Turn right onto Hwy. 501 and proceed to Conway/Myrtle Beach. Continue on Hwy. 501 through Conway and Coastal Carolina University will be on the right. Turn right onto University Blvd. at the stoplight with the Coastal Carolina University sign. Tours begin in the rotunda at the rear of Bill Baxley Hall. From the south: Travel I-95 North. Take Exit 170. Follow SC Hwy. 327 to the intersection with SC Hwy. 576. Turn left onto Hwy. 576 and follow toward Conway/Myrtle Beach. Hwy. 576 will merge with Hwy. 501. Follow Hwy. 501 through Conway and Coastal Carolina University will be on the right. Turn right onto University Blvd. at the stoplight with the Coastal Carolina University sign. Tours begin in the rotunda at the rear of Bill Baxley Hall. From Columbia, South Carolina: Take I-20 to I-95. Go north on I-95. Take Exit 170. Follow SC Hwy. 327 to the intersection with SC Hwy. 576. Turn left onto Hwy. 576 and follow toward Conway/Myrtle Beach. Hwy. 576 will merge with Hwy. 501. Follow Hwy. 501 through Conway and Coastal Carolina University will be on the right. Turn right onto University Boulevard. at the stoplight with the Coastal Carolina University sign. Tours begin in the rotunda at the rear of Bill Baxley Hall. Airport Information Myrtle Beach International Airport is approximately 15 miles (24 km) from Coastal Carolina University. Give yourself plenty of time to travel from the airport to the campus as traffic may be heavy, especially during the summer months. The following airlines provide service to Myrtle Beach: Allegiant Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Porter Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, United Airlines, and WestJet. Car rentals and taxis are also available at the airport. Accommodations There are many hotels in the resort area of Myrtle Beach and Conway. Coastal Carolina University has partnered with Campus Travel Management to provide discounted hotel accommodations to campus visitors. You can find participating hotels here. Coin image courtesy of the European Commission; temple image courtesy of Wikipedia user Hamelin de Guettelet. The Ggantija temples, among the worlds oldest free-standing structures, are the subject of Maltas new circulating commemorative 2 coin. Maltas newest circulating commemorative 2 coin celebrates something really old. The 2016 coin, due for release in August, honors a megalithic temple complex from the Neolithic Period on the Mediterranean island of Gozo. The Ggantija temples are the earliest of the Megalithic Temples of Malta, and are honored as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The complex is among the worlds oldest free-standing structures and among the oldest religious structures. Connect with Coin World: Built approximately in the 36th century B.C., Ggantija pre-dates Stonehenge and the Egyptian Pyramids. The makers erected the two Ggantija temples during the Neolithic Period (circa 3600 to 2500 B.C.), which makes these temples more than 5,500 years old. The coin shows the temple complex, and inscriptions identify the buildings and their age. Other inscriptions found on the ringed-bimetallic coin include the issuing country, year of issue and Mint master mark. In total 350,000 coins are due for release. The ringed-bimetallic coin has a copper-nickel core and copper-aluminum-nickel ring. The coins outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag. The common reverse shows a map of the European Union. The 2 coin weighs 8.5 grams and measures 25.75 millimeters in diameter. Each nation is allowed to issue up to two different circulating commemorative designs annually, with designs of their choosing, though few nations issue the maximum number of designs. Joint euro programs like the 2015 coins honoring the 30th anniversary of the flag of the European Union do not count toward this limit. The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form Educators tour 3M to share with students Some Columbia Public Schools teachers and administrators on Thursday got a refresher with a second taste of the Show-Me Careers Educator Experience. FedEx is adopting the purple and orange colors of its FedEx Express unit for all operating units. SHARE By Wayne Risher of The Commercial Appeal FedEx Corp. is making purple and orange the official colors of its farflung network of planes, trucks and people. Chairman Frederick W. Smith announced to employees Wednesday that the company would adopt the 43-year-old FedEx combination of purple and orange as its unified color scheme. Over the next five years or so the company will scrap other colors -- red, green, blue, platinum -- that have been paired with purple to differentiate operating units including FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight and FedEx Office. The simplified palette won't alter separation of Express, Ground and Freight into different operating units, although company officials acknowledged the public doesn't always distinguish among the units. "We are certainly one brand to the world, and we're aware of that and proud of the fact that our brand is recognized as one of the most powerful brands in the world," said Patrick Fitzgerald, senior vice president, marketing and communications. Purple has always been the Memphis-based company's primary color and is firmly imbedded in corporate culture. The company mission, dubbed the Purple Promise, is that employees will make every FedEx experience outstanding. FedEx began using secondary colors other than orange in the late 1990s after it diversified beyond the express business into trucking-only offerings. Domestic parcel delivery company FedEx Ground's logo is purple and green, for example, while less-than-truckload company FedEx Freight is purple and red. FedEx's research finds strong consumer awareness globally of its purple and orange logo, Fitzgerald said. "It became more and more clear to us that there would be strength in going to the simplified visual identity," he said. "It's clear when you look at the iconic FedEx Express packaging, the white box with purple and orange logo, it's 43 years of establishment, across the drop boxes and vehicles and aircraft. It's been built up over time, and it makes sense," Fitzgerald said. Fitzgerald said the timing is right because this year's acquisition of Europe's TNT Express "provided us an opportunity to create a simpler global brand." No immediate change is planned in the TNT Express brand, although Fitzgerald noted TNT's official color is FedEx orange. Memphis logistics company Dunavant handled shipments of 700 bales of hay from Kentucky to Brazil to feed horses competing in the Rio Olympics equine events. SHARE By Wayne Risher of The Commercial Appeal A Memphis company handled shipments of American hay to feed horses competing in the Rio Olympics. Dunavant Logistics Group managed hay shipments for an Olympic supplier, overseeing movement of 700 bales weighing 36,420 lbs. from Lexington, Kentucky to Rio de Janeiro. Dunavant's customer, Kentucky Equine Research of Versailles, is an international equine nutrition, research and consulting company that formulates feed and supplements marketed to horse owners and feed industry on six continents. Dunavant said U.S.-grown hay was used to feed all horses competing in the summer games. "We certainly pulled for the American competitors, but no matter who won, we know that we were helping feed champions around the world," said Jan Olsson, director of business development for Dunavant. "And we're proud that Kentucky Equine Research had the confidence in us to deliver." Olsson said a metal ocean shipping container full of hay left Lexington by truck in late June, was transferred to rail in Cincinnati and then put on a ship at the Port of Norfolk, Virginia. It arrived a couple weeks before the Olympics. Germany, Britain and France dominated the Olympic equestrian events, with the U.S. picking up a silver medal and two bronze. Dunavant Logistics is a unit of Dunavant Enterprises, a more than 70-year-old Memphis company that was for years the world's largest trader of raw cotton. On his stop in Memphis to promote his new memoir, George Hamilton visited the Skyway at The Peabody, where his father, George "Spike" Hamilton, a popular bandleader, performed and met his mother, Anne "Teeny" Hamilton, in 1938. SHARE By John Beifuss Conceived at The Peabody, born in Memphis, raised in Blytheville, Ark., and since then a citizen of Hollywood and the world, movie and TV star George Hamilton returned to his home town last week to promote his new book, a witty and self-deprecating memoir titled "Don't Mind If I Do," published two weeks ago by Touchstone/ Simon & Schuster. Hamilton's legendary tan -- which he describes in the book as a "handsome brown cinnamon" -- and his charm were intact. His hair was black with frosty white highlights framing his face, not unlike the plumage of the penguins found at the Cape of Good Hope. Hamilton, 69, spent last Tuesday morning doing local TV and radio interviews and taping an episode of the "Book Talk" program for the Memphis Public Library & Information Center's cable television channel. During the day, he visited the Skyway Ballroom at The Peabody, where his father, popular band leader George "Spike" Hamilton, met his elegant mother, Anne "Teeny" Hamilton, in 1938. That night, he signed copies of his memoir at That Bookstore in Blytheville. "I don't call that work," he said of his schedule. "It's not difficult for me to talk about my favorite subject -- me." For a while, Hamilton and his family lived at The Parkview (now a retirement community) at Overton Park. The nomadic Teeny Hamilton and her three sons also stayed for a time at the home of big-game hunter Berry Brooks, whose collection of animal trophy heads was once the main attraction at the Memphis Pink Palace Museum. To his mother, Hamilton writes in his book, "Memphis was a primrose-lined memory lane of girlhood cotillions and dashing beaux and two marriages at The Peabody." But Hamilton feels closer to Blytheville, where he spent much of his childhood. "It's where I will be buried, and it's where I come from," he said in an interview. "I buried my mother there, my brother there, my grandfather, my grandmother -- it's the very earth where I'm going to be." Unlike Elvis, Hamilton wasn't a Southern homebody, and many Memphians today don't know the actor -- whose most recent claim to fame was a stint on TV's "Dancing with the Stars" -- is from the Mid-South. But the ideals of Southern gentlemanliness apparently influenced his conduct, both onscreen and off, even at the height of his fame, when beautiful women were as easy to summon as a julep in The Peabody lobby. (And not just any women: The cast of "Don't Mind If I Do" includes Elizabeth Taylor, Danielle Steel and Queen Saroya of Persia, at that time "the most beautiful, glamorous and mysterious monarch in the world," according to Hamilton.) When the dashing young Hamilton signed a contract with MGM in 1958, at the end of the studio era, he was "John Barrymore in a James Dean world," he writes in his book. "I simply wasn't a ripped T-shirt guy.... I would have to market myself as a piece of counterprogramming rather than a piece of counterculture." Said Hamilton: "What I came from in the South, it was gracious, it was graceful and of another era -- slightly anachronistic. I've got a lot of modern hardware, but I like old-fashioned software. I still like to write handwritten notes on stationery." Such preferences probably explain why Hamilton is a rather discreet storyteller, even though his book is filled with tales of sexy women and romantic pursuits. When Hamilton chronicles his much-publicized 1966 romance with presidential daughter Lynda Bird Johnson, he tells us that he and Lynda Bird liked dancing at the Tequila a Go-Go nightclub in Acapulco, and he wryly remembers the mainstream press' interpretation of the love affair: "I was derided as a failed actor/fortune hunter using the hapless presidential progeny as a jump-start to a dead career." Recalling another affair, he writes with more affection for his Caraceni suit than for his young English partner: "I remember taking my clothes off myself and folding them gingerly rather than the two of us rabidly undressing each other. I loved those clothes... I didn't want any wrinkles." But the book does include one juicy revelation that has earned publicity: Hamilton writes that he lost his virginity at the age of 12 to his young stepmother, big-band vocalist June Howard, who entered his room "in an ice-blue peignor." Hamilton critiques this all-in-the-family consummation with what might be called sophisticated nonregret: "There was nothing film noir about it, other than the hard fact that I had just betrayed my father and had sex with my stepmother." (The book was co-authored with William Stadiem, and written with the assistance of Hamilton's younger brother, longtime ad man David Hamilton, who accompanied George to Memphis last week.) Although Hamilton earned some praise for his portrayal of Hank Williams in the low-budget biopic "Your Cheatin' Heart" (1964) and achieved intermittent box-office success with such self-generated projects as "Evel Knievel" (1971) and "Love at First Bite" (1979), his career seems to have functioned for the most part as support for a fabulous international lifestyle (which included the purchase of "Grayhall," a 22,000-square-foot, neo-Tudor Beverly Hills mansion, built in 1912, with a ballroom and 20 bathrooms). As a result, "Don't Mind If I Do" is loaded with references to royalty, millionaires, movie stars, supermodels and other fellow travelers. The suggestion is that it's a small world, after all, when you're rich and famous. In one scene in the book, Hamilton walks into a Madrid brothel, only to encounter his mother at the bar, drinking with Ava Gardner. In another scene, he and a young lovely go skinny-dipping and run into another naughty nude couple: Jack Kennedy, "at that time a senator from Massachusetts," and Flo Smith, "the lovely ex-model wife of Eisenhower's ambassador to Cuba." Remembering a "fling" in Paris with the "Countess of Couture," Jacqueline de Ribes, Hamilton writes: "Sipping champagne and talking Baudelaire amid the hydrangeas with the most stylish woman in the most stylish country is about as good as it gets." On the other hand, he also admits to trying to cut his hair with a Flowbee. (If you ever wondered who actually would purchase one of those vacuum-powered haircutters, the book supplies this answer: James Brolin.) Hamilton wasn't close to Elvis (with his white cape and gold chains, Presley was "sort of a daytime Dracula," Hamilton writes), but he calls Col. Tom Parker his "best friend." In fact, Parker was the best man at Hamilton's wedding to model Alana Collins (who next married Rod Stewart), and Parker sent the Lisa Marie airplane to Los Angeles to pick up Hamilton and other mourners, to fly them to Memphis for Elvis' funeral. At the low ebb of his life and career in the mid-1970s, Hamilton appeared in dinner theater productions in cities like Dayton, Ohio. "My co-stars were personalities like Monique Van Vooren and Helmut Berger, from 'The Damned,' which said it all," he writes. Leaving home after discovering his wife's affair with Steve McQueen, "I crashed at the palatial estate of (producer) Bob Evans, which was like a halfway house for dispossessed husbands... with hot and cold running starlets." Since his comeback in the late 1970s/early '80s with the comedies "Love at First Bite" and "Zorro, the Gay Blade," Hamilton has remained fairly busy. In addition to promoting his book, he's now gearing up to help publicize a movie he produced but doesn't appear in, "My One and Only," which likely will be released in 2009. Renee Zellweger stars as "Anne Deveraux," a character inspired by Hamilton's mother. "I enjoy what I do -- my lifestyle is terrific," said Hamilton, as he surveyed the merchandise at the Lansky at The Peabody men's store. He said he has few regrets about his unlikely life or the wobbly trajectory of his career. "There's an old expression," he said: "You get lemons, you make lemonade -- and then you find a girl with a bottle of vodka, and have a party." --John Beifuss: 529-2394 SHARE Ladarius Montgomery By Kayleigh Skinner of The Commercial Appeal A Memphis man has been charged in the fatal carjacking of an elderly man last week, according to the Memphis Police Department. Ladarius Montgomery, 21, faces carjacking, especially aggravated robbery and first-degree murder charges in the death of 83-year-old Eddie Walker. According to police, Walker was shot as he got out of his 2005 Ford Taurus in the 2000 block of Prospect Street in South Memphis on Sunday. Montgomery drove off in his car and got into an accident in Horn Lake, where he was identified as the driver of the vehicle, according to an affidavit. Horn Lake police attempted to stop the Taurus, but the driver fled. He and another man eventually bailed out of the car and hid in a wooded area before being caught. Walker was taken to Regional Medical Center, where he died. After the accident, according to the affidavit, Montgomery told police that he approached Walker, shot him and stole his car. Montgomery is in jail without bond and due in court Thursday. Memphis police are not charging the second man in the car, Devonell Montgomery, although he was arrested in DeSoto County on an outstanding warrant. SHARE Martavius Jones By Ryan Poe of The Commercial Appeal Memphis City Council members overwhelmingly voted Tuesday against allowing voters to decide whether new city employees should be required to live in the city. Only two of the 12 council members present voted for the ordinance, which would have added the question to the Nov. 8 ballot. Mayor Jim Strickland was present for the vote on the ordinance, which he told council members would have hurt the city's recruitment efforts at a time when both police and fire are struggling with employee shortages. "As I said before, this will put us a step behind," he said. Voting for the ordinance were Martavius Jones, the sponsor, and council member Edmund Ford Jr. Voting against were Berlin Boyd, Joe Brown, Frank Colvett Jr., Janis Fullilove, Worth Morgan, Bill Morrison, Patrice Robinson, Philip Spinosa Jr., Jamita Swearengen and Kemp Conrad. Member Reid Hedgepeth was absent. Council member Robinson proposed a resolution to study residency requirements with the intention of possibly putting a referendum on the ballot in 2018, the next time the state has a general election. SHARE The Commercial Appeal files Braving strong winds and wielding a hot putter on Colonial Country Club's ice-fast greens, youthful Ronnie Wenzler shot a 69 on Aug. 23, 1956, for medalist honors in the qualifying round of the City golf tournament. The 21-year-old used his putter only 30 times. Aug. 24 25 years ago: 1991 The Shelby County Republican Party has scheduled a press conference today to endorse Mayor Dick Hackett and 13 other candidates in the upcoming city elections. The GOP's candidate recruitment committee made the picks after interviewing many of the candidates, including Hackett and his major opponent, former city schools superintendent Willie Herenton. 50 years ago: 1966 Harry Bloomfield, president of Bloomfield Building Industries, Inc., said yesterday he sold the 38-story 100 North Main Building because it was "too profitable a deal to pass up," not because of financial difficulties. The building became the property of Percy Galbreath & Son, Inc., a mortgage and property management firm, with the purchase of all the capital stock in 100 North Main, Inc., owner of the building and subsidiary of BBI. Yesterday's sale, for an undisclosed sum, was announced after two months of negotiations between Mr. Bloomfield and William D. Galbreath, president of the purchasing company. 75 years ago: 1941 The Riverview Hotel, perched on lofty stilts scarcely a stone's throw north of the U.S. Engineers reservation near West Memphis, was revealed yesterday as a favorite gambling rendezvous for employees of the Government's Mississippi River Fleet. 100 years ago: 1916 WASHINGTON Secretary of State Lansing and Eliseo Arrendondo, Mexican ambassador designate, agreed to meet somewhere on the New England coast to discuss United States-Mexican differences. A report from Mexico indicates that "Pancho Villa's prestige is gone and he can never again become a serious factor in Mexican affairs." 125 years ago: 1891 The Atlantic cable, from its high rates of tariff, though of immense benefit to those having important trans-Atlantic business and the money to spare to pay the price of a message, is of no immediate benefit to the large mass of people who correspond with parties in Europe. SHARE By Jennifer Pignolet of The Commercial Appeal The Germantown Municipal School District again leads the state in ACT scores, according to data released to districts Tuesday, with Arlington Community Schools seeing the most gains and Shelby County Schools slipping slightly. Germantown students scored an average composite score of 24.1 out of 36 last year, the same as the year before. Collierville Schools' average score was 23.8, down from 24 the year before. Arlington's average was 21.9, almost a full point above last year's average of 21.1. In Bartlett City Schools, the average score slipped 0.2 points to 20.3. Millington Municipal Schools also saw growth, from 17.7 last year to 18.1 this year. Shelby County Schools' average score was 16.8, down from 16.9 last year. "While we are pleased to see a slight increase in our Reading average, our composite average dipped a tenth of a point so we know we have more work to do to keep preparing our students for post-secondary success," SCS spokeswoman Kristin Tallent said in an email. Three hundred more students took the ACT in 2015-16 than the previous year, she said. The state average score this year was 19.4, identical to the year before. Of the 18 states that required students to take the ACT, Tennessee ranked seventh when looking at the average composite for both public and private school students. Last year, Tennessee ranked eighth, but there were only 13 states that required the test at the time. The exam tests students in four subject areas: math, English, reading and science. If a student took the exam more than once, their most recent score, not their best score, was counted in the state averages. Germantown Superintendent Jason Manuel said his district's consistent score was impressive because the growing population at Houston High meant about 75 more students were tested this year over the year before, and the population as a whole was "still achieving great results." The state's goal is to have an average composite score of 21 by the year 2020. "We are beyond gratified that the performance of our Collierville Schools students this past year far surpassed that goal, even with a record number of students taking the test," the suburban district said in a release. The ACT scores also include benchmarks indicating whether students are academically ready for college. In order to be considered college-ready, the student must hit a certain score on each section of the test. Statewide, only 17 percent of students were considered college-ready both last year and this year. In Shelby County, just 7 percent are college-ready. In the suburban districts, Collierville led the way with 46 percent meeting college readiness benchmarks, followed by 43 percent in Germantown, 27 percent in Arlington, 17 percent in Bartlett and 10 percent in Millington. Millington saw the biggest increase in Shelby County in college readiness, however, with a 4 percentage point jump from the previous year. Of the four biggest school districts in the state, SCS still lags behind schools in Metro Nashville and Knox and Hamilton counties in both ACT composite scores and college readiness. Nashville lost half a point in the composite score for an average of 18.2 this year and lost 3 percentage points in college readiness, down from 14 percent to 11 percent this year. Hamilton County's scores increased from a composite score of 18.9 to 19.1 and 16 percent of students college ready, up 1 percentage point from last year. Knox County had the highest scores of the four biggest districts, with a composite score of 20.5, down from 20.7 last year, and 24 percent of students ready for college, the same as the previous year. The Crosstown Concourse building, where the proposed Crosstown High School would be located. (Brad Vest/The Commercial Appeal) SHARE By Jennifer Pignolet of The Commercial Appeal Five new charter schools received approval Tuesday night to open next school year, including Crosstown High and an early college high school involving Southwest Tennessee Community College. Two others, both run by the Memphis Business Academy, were approved earlier this summer. The five approved Tuesday all required revisions to their applications after an initial rejection. Despite concerns about the growth of charters depleting resources for traditional schools, the Shelby County School board approved new schools for Crosstown High School, Inc.; Gateway University Schools of Applied Sciences, Inc.; Legacy Leadership Academy; Kaleidoscope Schools, and Artesian Schools. Superintendent Dorsey Hopson said the schools were the first to be required to sign a contract with the district that would charge a 4 percent administrative fee to the schools. The lack of a contract with other charter schools has been an issue, as operators have complained about being held to unfair performance standards and the school district has lamented having to staff an office to oversee charters with no extra funding. The vote on the first four schools Tuesday night was 7-2, with board members Stephanie Love and Shante Avant the only dissenters, but the vote on Artesian was a narrow 5-4. Artesian is the charter operator partnering with Southwest on a school that will offer students the chance to take both high school and college classes and to work toward an associate degree. Rejected for the second time, and with a single unanimous vote, were Green Dot Public Schools of Tennessee, Pathway in Education and The LeFlore Foundation. All three can appeal to the Tennessee State Board of Education. Hopson said all three were rejected for performance reasons. Crosstown High, a partnership with Christian Brothers University, received the green light to open a school for 500 students in Crosstown Concourse, the 1.1 million square-foot building under renovation on North Watkins in Midtown. Plans for the school had been discussed in several other meetings, with board members voicing general support for a school to open in that building. Christian Brothers President John Smarrelli was present for the vote and said the school is ready to move forward hiring staff and doing more construction. "We're very excited to get the endorsement of the Shelby County board," he said. Board members issued concerns about the financial impact of charter school growth, particularly with the plan for Artesian to open its school on Southwest's Gill Campus. Love said she is concerned the school will take students away from the schools already in Frayser. She also noted that most students in the high-poverty area are behind academically. "If they are barely getting the high school portion, explain to me how they're going to get the college portion?" Love said. Artesian CEO Ashley Smith said the school plans to recruit all across the city, so it will not put a drain directly on the Frayser schools. As for whether the students could handle the advanced course work, "the model helps build them up so they are ready," Smith said. Board chairwoman Teresa Jones, who broke the 4-4 tie with her vote, said she generally agreed with Love and had concerns about the school's financial impact, but felt that if the board denied the school, the state would overturn the decision. Jones noted the rubric used to decide whether a charter should be approved does not ask questions about neighborhood impact. "That needs to be considered," she said. SHARE Gov. Bill Haslam is in the retail gasoline business. If he wants the public to feel confident that his private business interests don't affect his actions as governor, at least he must make sure consumer representation is reinstated on the board that enforces environmental rules for gas stations. Haslam's reconfiguration of the board after he took office eliminated two slots designated for consumer advocates. Another change that may not be coincidental: Steps have been taken to shift the financial burden of cleaning up gasoline spills from the industry to the public. Specifically, the board approved an increase from $1 million to $2 million in the state disbursements to private companies that have to clean up environmental spills caused by failures or accidents. The money comes out of a fund that has been generated by a gas tax paid by consumers at the pump combined with an annual fee paid by owners of petroleum tanks. According to the Tennessean newspaper in Nashville, some board members say they favor exercising a new power authorized by recently passed legislation the authority to suspend the industry's annual fees. Since it was established in 1990, the fund has paid millions to private petroleum companies, including the Haslam family's Pilot Flying J. Haslam's tenure as the state's chief executive began with assurances that the fortune his family has accumulated in the retail gasoline industry would not affect his actions as governor. During his first campaign for statewide office in 2010, the former Knoxville mayor pledged that if elected he would abstain from any matters involving Pilot Flying J, with which he has an undisclosed financial interest. After he was elected, he issued a blanket suspension of all pending state rules and regulations, including a rule that would have cost Pilot Flying J hundreds of thousands of dollars to install and replace tanks. A Republican governor not associated the fuel industry might have been assumed to be acting according to standard GOP orthodoxy. Not so a governor with direct financial interest in the matter, despite his protestations that he wasn't aware of the specifics of rules he had suspended. A similar taint is attached to Haslam's success in the General Assembly with legislation that reconfigured the Underground Storage Tank and Solid Waste Disposal Control Board, set up to protect the public against the threat of underground storage tank leaks, one of the primary contributors to pollution of the country's drinking water. Twelve of the board's 14 members are appointed by the governor. There was no question the board needed rejuvenation, having met fewer than half the number of times it was scheduled to meet in 2009, 2010 and 2011. But there was no legitimate reason to eliminate two consumer representative slots, retaining four slots reserved for industry representatives and only one representing environmental interests. Haslam's restructuring was undertaken, according to a spokeswoman for the governor, after he was assured by counsel that there was no conflict of interest. The cut in industry fees had support on the board, she said, before Haslam took office. One industry source said the cut was payback for the industry's infusion of extra money into the fund when it was threatened with insolvency in 2004. Fair enough. But there is no excuse for eliminating a chance for board members committed to standing up for consumers to have their say. Another restructuring of the board is surely in order. SHARE By Jennifer Rubin Donald Trump went to a lily-white Dimondale, Michigan (nearly 93 percent white) on Friday to lecture African-Americans on why they should be voting for him: "To those hurting, I say: What do you have to lose by trying something new? I say it again, what do you have to lose? Look, what do you have to lose? You're living in poverty, your schools are no good, you have no jobs. 58 percent of your youth is unemployed. What the hell do you have to lose? ... "By contrast, the one thing every item in Hillary Clinton's agenda has in common is that it takes jobs and opportunities from African-American workers. Her support for open borders. Her fierce opposition to school choice. Her plan to massively raise taxes on small businesses. Her opposition to American energy. And her record of giving our jobs away to other countries." Clinton, of course, is not for open borders nor for "giving our jobs away." He continued with his anti-immigrant spiel: "Hillary Clinton would rather provide a job to a refugee from overseas than to give that job to unemployed African-American youth in cities like Detroit who have become refugees in their own country." Where to begin? The 58 percent figure has been debunked previously (the real number is too high but about one-third of what he claims). In July, the unemployment rate for all African-Americans was 8.4 percent. So, contrary to Trump's cockeyed view, more than 91 percent of African-Americans looking for work do have jobs. Moreover, not all African-Americans live in poverty or go to schools that "are no good." This does not mean all liberal policies have worked or that policy innovations are not needed, but the real world bears only a slight resemblance to Trump's dystopia. In making exaggerated and downright false accusations, Trump distracts from solid conservative arguments against liberal policies (e.g., opposition to school choice, Obamacare's high marginal tax rate on the working poor) that do adversely impact African-Americans. The Clinton campaign put out a statement castigating Trump's remarks: "Trump painting the entire community as living in poverty with no jobs continues to show he is completely out of touch with the African-American community." Trump doesn't say, for example, if he'd be willing to spend more on worker training, education and other targeted programs that might address youth unemployment; he does, however, favor a tax plan that hugely benefits the rich. Until Friday, he hadn't talked much about his plans to fight poverty and discrimination, and we still don't know what he would do, for example, to increase the success rate of African-Americans in college or increase access to capital for African-American entrepreneurs. In the past, he's said he wants to eliminate the Education Department. Does that mean dispensing with Title I support for schools serving impoverished students? (African-American children make up about 28 percent of Title I recipients.) Let's, however, return to the question he posed: What do African-Americans have to lose by electing Trump? Let's count the ways. Trump has championed a strict law-and-order agenda that rejects the suggestion there are legitimate complaints in the African-American community about policing. He is a lightning rod for racial animus and tension, falsely accusing cities with large African-American populations to be crime havens. With Trump, we'd lack a president who had any conception that there is a problem with policing in minority communities or any desire to bring communities and police together. This is someone who declines to speak at African American gatherings (e.g., the NAACP). He's someone who just brought on to lead his campaign the former head of a website pandering to the alt-right that means white supremacy. Only after prodding and a growing controversy did he figure out that he should denounce David Duke and the KKK. And, of course, this was a man heavily invested in birtherism, asserting the president was born in Africa, not in the United States. It's ironic that in the very speech asking what minorities have to lose, he pits African-Americans against immigrants. And let's not forget his shout-out at a California rally: "Look at my African-American." There is a reason Trump is getting in some polls 1 percent of the African-American vote. (A number of African-American and other minority employees of the Republican National Committee quit rather than work on his campaign, by the way.) In addition, he may not realize it, but his Muslim ban, support for racial profiling and lies about Muslim-Americans' complicity in terrorism have a particular resonance with African-Americans. A 2011 Pew study found: "Among the roughly one-in-five Muslim-Americans whose parents also were born in the U.S., 59 percent are African-Americans, including a sizable majority who have converted to Islam (69 percent). Overall, 13 percent of U.S. Muslims are African-Americans whose parents were born in the United States." So when Trump demonizes all Muslims, he's demonizing many African-Americans. Aside from his repugnant rhetoric, Trump's "solutions" for the country will make life harder for the poorest Americans, of which African-Americans are a disproportionate share. In May, CNN reported: "The tariffs would cost the average household $2,200 a year, or 4 percent of their after-tax income, according to a new study from the non-profit National Foundation for American Policy conducted by David Tuerck, Paul Bachman and Frank Conte, all of Suffolk University. This is largely because imports under Trump's policy would become more expensive, raising the price of competing American-made goods by 11 percent. That would effectively levy a consumption tax on purchases and cut into the incomes of shoppers. "'All of the benefits for producers would be extracted from consumers,' said Tuerck, who heads the economics department at Suffolk. 'It's using a blunt sword to do brain surgery. It would cost consumers an awful lot for rather small benefits for U.S. producers.'" Moreover, all voters, African-Americans included, stand to lose with a president who fawns over dictators, demonstrates abject ignorance about our nuclear arsenal and undermines NATO. All Americans lose when the president declares he is going to order the military to commit war crimes or clamp down on a free press (banning reporters, threatening revision of labor laws). And all Americans lose when the president plans to add billions to the debt. As a final note, at first glance it might seem odd for Trump to go to a nearly all-white community to declare how much he cares for African-Americans. Well, it is doubtful that he or his advisers think they are going to do much better with African-Americans than they are now. But, plainly, his divisiveness and association with racial bigots bother a lot of white voters. They view him as intolerant and hostile to nonwhite Americans. Many are embarrassed to support him for precisely this reason. This is Trump's way of telling white voters, Look! I'm not so bad! I love African-Americans! In other words, in a campaign built around playing into the fears and resentments of whites, Trump is now trying to assure more sensitive voters that, hey, he's not a racist after all. African-Americans are props for him as he seeks to repair his rotten standing in the polls. It's far from clear many Americans are going to fall for this. Jennifer Rubin writes the Right Turn blog for the Washington Post. SHARE By Jerry Falwell Jr. In the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections, American voters were forced to choose between a liberal Democrat and weak establishment Republicans. Democrats won both times. In the 2010 and 2014 midterms, tired of the leftist agenda, voters sent an unmistakable message to Washington: Republicans took control of the Senate and filled more seats in the House than at any time since 1929. Still, nothing changed. In 2016, we have a clear choice. This moment is historic because Donald Trump is not another establishment Republican. We have lived through nearly eight years of weak leadership from a president who did not sign the charter to create the Islamic State but whose policies had the intended or unintended effect (we will be debating that for decades) of breathing life into the lungs of the terrorist group. President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton most definitely signaled to Islamic State leaders that they had no intention of seriously challenging them, or even of calling radical Islamic terrorism by its name. Instead, Obama and Clinton pulled our troops out of Iraq, drew and then quickly erased a red line in Syria and tried to convince us that unverifiable pinpoint drone strikes (after leaflet warnings) would win the war against the Islamic State. All of this was enabled by a feckless establishment Republican Congress. The policies of Obama and Clinton have made the world unstable and unsafe and created a world stage eerily similar to that of the late 1930s. We could be on the precipice of international conflict like nothing we have seen since World War II. Obama and Clinton are the Neville Chamberlains of our time. The deal to make $150 billion available to Iran, the leading state sponsor of terrorism in the world and a nation committed to the destruction of Israel, clearing the way for Iran to become a nuclear power, reminds me of Chamberlain's deal with Hitler in 1938, when the British prime minister declared "peace for our time." Domestically, Obama and Clinton have pushed to $19 trillion the debt that our children and grandchildren will somehow have to find a way to repay. Even our noble law enforcement has been demonized by the Obama administration, and anarchy is erupting in our cities. Thank God we now have the opportunity to elect a strong leader, one who is not afraid to call the enemy by its name and to take the battle to that enemy if necessary. We need fresh and bold leadership. Continuing the policies of Obama and Clinton internationally and domestically would be the definition of insanity: repeating the same mistakes over and over and expecting a different result. I chose to personally support Donald Trump for president early on and referred to him as America's blue-collar billionaire at the Republican National Convention because of his love for ordinary Americans and his kindness, generosity and bold leadership qualities. My family has grown to love all of the Trumps because they are wonderful people willing to sacrifice much for their country. The public perception of Trump that has been created by the media is simply false. We are at a crossroads where our first priority must be saving our nation. We need a leader with qualities that resemble those of Winston Churchill, and I believe that leader is Donald Trump. As Churchill did, Trump possesses the resolve to put his country first and to never give up in a world that is increasingly hostile to our values. Despite our differences, Americans from all walks of life must unite behind Trump and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence or suffer dire consequences. If Clinton appoints the next few Supreme Court justices, not only will the Second Amendment right to bear arms be effectively lost, but also activist judges will rewrite our Constitution in ways that would make it unrecognizable to our founders. And this country will have as its president a person who jeopardized our national security by negligently sending and receiving classified emails on a private server and then repeatedly making inaccurate statements about it, all while her family's foundation accepted millions of dollars in donations from foreign countries. Will time reveal the quid pro quo? Our nation's future truly hangs in the balance. Republicans such as Sen. Susan Collins (Maine) need to stop whining about Trump's temperament and start focusing on Clinton's corruption. (As far as I am concerned, the credibility of anyone who ignores Clinton's temperament while attacking Trump's is suspect anyhow.) It is naive or deceptive for conservatives to claim that a write-in vote or a third-party vote will not benefit Clinton. A vote for Donald Trump and Mike Pence is a vote for more freedom and less government, a vote for national security and responsible immigration policy, a vote to finally fight radical Islamic terrorism. It is a vote to rebuild America's respect overseas and a vote for strict-constructionist and pro-life Supreme Court justices. Remember when Iran held American hostages for 444 days, only to release them the day Ronald Reagan took office? Expect those kinds of results under Donald Trump's leadership. Jerry Falwell Jr. is president of Liberty University. He wrote this for the Washington Post. Right now, a Cessna plane outfitted with multiple cameras is flying over Baltimore to conduct wide-area surveillance. Those four to six cameras can capture an area of about 30 square miles. The real-time images are stitched together and continuously transmitted at a rate of one per second to analysts on the ground. The public has no clue the Cessna is flying and filming overhead, sometimes for 10 hours a day, or that the Baltimore Police Department has been tapping into that surveillance to fight crime. Its being conducted by a private company, Persistent Surveillance Systems; the surveillance has not been publicly disclosed and is being funded by a private donor. The captured images are stored on hard drives so they can be pulled up and reviewed at a later date if needed. According to Bloomberg, which has an interesting and in-depth report, Ross McNutt, the founder of Persistent Surveillance Systems, pitches the surveillance as: Imagine Google Earth with TiVo capability. Although the captured images are not sharply defined, and instead supposedly resemble blurry blobs, it is good enough to be used as a forensics tool. If the image quality is really that bad, then you might wonder how the surveillance works. After Radiolab watched one analyst work last year, they explained on a podcast how the police say a crime happened in a certain area and the analyst pulls up the location, zooms in, clicks frame-by-frame backward until about five minutes before the crime. The analyst would tag a suspect by placing an orange circle over the pixelated shape and then click, click, click, he moves forward, forward, forward. Another analyst told Bloomberg that is was like playing a video game. He would place his cursor over a vehicle to track it frame-by-frame. The job was pitched to him as something a gamer might enjoy. Once a suspect has been identified by the overhead surveillance footage, an analyst tracks the person back to a house or to a car somewhere for police to apprehend the suspect. The footage reportedly cannot make out features of the pixelated person, but if that suspect walks past a street-level surveillance camera, then the police can pull that up to obtain a clear image of the person. McNutt reportedly would rather have transparency about the eye-in-the-sky surveillance that he can provide. He believes if people know they are being watched, then it would curb crime. At one point, McNutt approached the ACLU in an attempt to head off privacy concerns by explaining the resolution was limited to one pixel per person. Every keystroke and zoomed-in address is logged. He even cited a Supreme Court case which held it was legal for police to fly over a persons property and see pot growing inside the fence. But Jay Stanley, ACLU senior policy analyst and privacy expert, did not agree that the surveillance was fine. He was shocked to the core after McNutts presentation and said he felt as if he were witnessing Americas privacy-vs.-security debate move into uncharted territory. Stanley told Bloomberg: I said to myself, This is where the rubber hits the road. The technology has finally arrived, and Big Brother, which everyone has always talked about, is finally here. As for the Supreme Court case McNutt cited, a passing plane seeing something inside a fence is one thing, but Stanley asked, is it reasonable to argue that anyone could follow a persons movements across a city for hours at a time? McNutt seems exasperated when people object to the unblinking eye of surveillance for privacy reasons. Baltimore is not his first gig. When Dayton, Ohio, was contemplating his surveillance system, McNutt told ABC, The only reason we know you arent a bush is you tend to walk along the sidewalk. And the only reason we know you arent a dog is you tend to get into a car and drive. Yet Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl wanted Dayton citizens to visit the operation center to see what the tech could do. He told the Washington Post, I want them to be worried that were watching. I want them to be worried that they never know when were overhead. Two years ago, before McNutt increased the capabilities of Persistent Surveillance Systems, the Center for Investigative Reporting looked into it and then warned that Hollywood-style surveillance technology was inching closer to reality. As cameras improve, McNutt claims to be interested in seeing more crime by looking at a wider area as opposed to sharpening the surveillance focus to see more than pixelated people. Stanley told The Post, If you turn your country into a totalitarian surveillance state, theres always some wrongdoing you can prevent. The balance struck in our Constitution tilts toward liberty, and I think we should keep that value. Amen to that! Jeremy Corbyns inability even to travel on a train without incurring public ridicule increases the already strong temptation to award him the lions share of the blame for Labours predicament. But his antics distract attention from the more fundamental role played by David Cameron and George Osborne in precipitating Labours downfall. For it was Cameron and Osborne who denied to Labour moderates the space they needed to make a success of opposition. Ed Miliband and Ed Balls never had the room required to develop a convincing economic policy. Under Osborne, the Treasury was still borrowing so much money that Labour could not convincingly promise to borrow even more. Oppositions always find it find this difficult: witness John Majors successful campaign against Labours tax bombshell in 1992. In 1997, Gordon Brown solved the problem by promising to stick to Tory spending plans. Nobody can remember what Miliband and Balls promised in 2015, nor at the time did they manage to enunciate a credible line: the notorious EdStone promised A strong economic foundation, without indicating how this was to be achieved. Labour campaigners often felt a sincere hatred of the Tories, but were unable to explain how they would run the country better. Nor was it easy to persuade voters that Cameron and Osborne were evil reactionaries. The number of jobs was going up. So, from a low base, was the representation of women and ethnic minorities in the parliamentary Conservative Party. And Cameron had upset many Tories by bringing in same-sex marriage. So it was difficult for Labour to claim with conviction that it was any longer the more progressive of the two parties. It opposed with vehemence some of the Governments welfare reforms, but that too was problematic, for it opened Labour to the accusation that it cared more about benefit claimants than about workers. Cameron, Osborne and other ministers made it extremely difficult for their rivals to occupy the moral high ground. Cameron in particular went through a phase of delivering speeches which were plainly designed to colonise great tracts of the political landscape, with the clear intention of denying them to the Opposition. This was not a very inspiring spectacle, but was carried through with unrelenting professionalism. Cameron proclaimed himself a liberal Conservative, and to many peoples surprise, managed to sustain for five years a coalition with the Liberal Democrats, who then proceeded to lose almost all their MPs. That destruction of his partners is another of his generally overlooked achievements. Miliband and Balls were likewise defeated. They had failed to tell us about the future of socialism. Too much of what they wanted to say was already being said or even done by the Government led by Cameron and Osborne. In the summer of 2015 Labour held a leadership election in which the three moderate candidates were likewise unable to tell us about the future of socialism. So the party instead opted for the socialist past, embodied in the cranky figure of Jeremy Corbyn, a man who stopped thinking in about 1983. Gideon Rachman drew attention, in yesterdays Financial Times, to the similarities between Corbyn and Trump: Both are anti-system politicians. Both have seized control of their parties by mobilising new groups of activists and voters. The Trump and Corbyn activists despise their parties old-guards and often have an undercurrent of violence in their rhetoric. Mr Corbyn and Mr Trump are also noted for their sympathy towards Vladimir Putins Russia and their scepticism about Nato. The fringes of the Corbyn and the Trump movements also seem to be infected by anti-semitism, perhaps reflecting the traditional suspicion of the far left and the far right that the system is controlled by Jews. For Corbyns supporters, moderate Labour politicians are hopelessly implicated in the system, just as for Trumps supporters, moderate Republicans are. But at Westminster, the latest manifestation of the system in power is Cameron, while in Washington it is Barack Obama. These are the leaders of the civilised, tactful, eloquent, progressive Anglo-American Establishment, which is regarded as such a treacherous sell-out by the neglected, marginalised, old-fashioned outsiders who support Corbyn and Trump, and yearn for a better past. In the EU referendum, these outsiders helped to deal a fatal blow to Cameron. But Cameron has been replaced by Theresa May: another Conservative, and indeed another Anglican. The differences between her and her predecessor will be analysed in minute detail, but the similarities are more important. For May shares with Cameron a ruthless determination to show she can do better than Labour what Labour exists to do, namely improve the lot of the poorest members of society. May intends to win the next election by demonstrating she is a better egalitarian than her opponents. Labour meanwhile is in the grip of activists who despise moderate methods and prefer the emotional thrill of protest politics, in which one has the enormous pleasure of supposing oneself to be morally and intellectually superior, because one has seen through the lies of the system. Self-righteousness drives out realism. For the year past the Labour moderates have been routed by Corbyn. But this only happened because they had first been routed by Cameron and Osborne. For months, at a conservative estimate, the EU referendum seemed to use up an ever-larger amount of the previous Governments bandwidth. This led to avoidable own-goals like the steel crisis, wherein a well-telegraphed reckoning between an ageing heavy industry and the UKs high-cost economy caught the Department for Business completely off balance. As the Government tries to refocus its efforts on the day-to-day running of the country, one area that deserves close attention is regulatory reform. Tata Steel, for example, have cited high energy prices as one of the factors making their industry uncompetitive and even former electricity regulators have gone on record to argue that over-regulation of the power sector has reduced competition and maintained high prices. Plenty has also been written about why the new sugar tax is a bad idea, and elsewhere on this site I have written about how ill-conceived tobacco regulation undercuts small shops and boosts a very harmful black market. These are just a few illustrative examples, but they show that the last government lacked any sense of strategic grasp on the production and implementation of new regulations. If this new Government is to live up to conservative principles, it must get a grip. Theresa Mays blueprint for doing that began to take shape on the 11th August, when the House of Commons Library published an outline of the promised industrial strategy. As indicated by the librarys summary, the strategy insofar as it concerns business focuses on how companies operate, including such areas as corporate governance and mergers and acquisitions. In some of this, such as the talk of putting workers on boards, May seems to be borrowing wholesale from Labour. But if she wishes to steal the Oppositions clothing, this could be much more fruitfully done by reviving and extending Tony Blairs regulatory reform agenda. Below are a few suggestions as to how the Government might go about this. The role of BEIS The creation of a new department responsible both for business and industrial strategy offers the Government an opportunity to make sure that regulation is better coordinated. Any industrial strategy would be glaringly incomplete if it did not include the regulatory environment in which industry operates, so it makes sense to bring the two under one roof. By making BEIS the gatekeeper for new regulations, May can make a decisive break with the current, dysfunctional model wherein individual departments each under pressure from its own permanently-constituted lobby advocates for new rules without the expertise or the remit to assess their wider impact on the economy. Re-issue the Better Regulation Principles Behold this astonishing document, printed in 2003 to set out the principles of Tony Blairs Better Regulation Task Force. It lays down principles for sensible regulation with which few Conservatives could disagree. For example, page two of the document lists alternatives to regulatory action which policy makers should always consider, including education, using the market, and (I jest not), do nothing. Or as they put it: Government consistently faces demands from interest groups and the media to take action, often in response to one-off incidents or tragedies. In many cases the most appropriate response is to do nothing, as government action may be unnecessary, or worse, have costly unintended consequences. The principles laid out in the BRTF pamphlet are excellent and are still nominally the basis of Government policy today. These principles need to be re-issued and government departments should have to report on them annually. Sunset clauses, failure criteria, and post-implementation reviews Im a big fan of sunset clauses whereby a law or measure is time-limited and lapses if not pro-actively renewed. It prevents a fire and forget attitude towards rulemaking and encourages, if not mandates, that new laws and regulations be judged on their outcomes. New proposals should be accompanied by a clearly articulated and measurable set of objectives, along with a clear set of criteria by which it would be deemed to have failed. If implemented, they should be reviewed after a trial period and rescinded if ineffective or counter-productive. All departments should also regularly publish post-implementation reviews of their Impact Assessments (perhaps every six months), and new post-implementation consultations should be run to assess whether the new regulation is working and what side-effects it is producing. Departments are likely to become more careful regulators if their work is regularly assessed, and this long-term approach will dilute the power of what wins the news cycle as a driver of regulation. Greater sensitivity to small businesses One major downside of any regulatory regime is the power it gives lobbyists indeed, one of the criticisms levelled at the EU during the Brexit campaign was the role played by corporations in drawing up and driving forward regulations that choke competition. But domestic government can also damage small business with catch-all legislation as the above-mentioned tobacco licencing would, for example. Another instance is George Osbornes National Living Wage, which has been criticised by both the Association of Convenience Stores and the National Federation of Retail Newsagents, and which evidence suggests has already led to small retailers cutting staff hours. A better-planned regulatory regime, overseen by the department responsible for business, would be better able, and more likely, to be more sensitive to the impact it had on different parts of the economy. BEIS would need to be careful, however, to avoid the sort of sharp cut-offs that have left France with so many 49-employee businesses. Ensure wide and impartial consultation The Living Wage was introduced by the Chancellor as a political surprise in his Budget. Whilst good at winning headlines, trying to announce policies as surprises limits the extent to which they can be subjected to proper scrutiny and consultation. Philip Hammond should resist the temptation to follow suit. Another area where the rules could be tightened up is with regards to so-called public consultations. One of the most egregious examples of regulatory malefaction in recent memory must be Transport for Londons bid to shut down Uber. In order to buttress their proposals, TfL held a public consultation and Uber supporters made sure to take part. The bias evident in the survey was genuinely astonishing. Each proposal was outlined, with the arguments in favour of it, seemingly drawn from focus groups. The respondent was then invited to agree or disagree (leading wording, as anyone who remembers the Scottish referendum will tell you). The government does have a list of principles for consultation exercises, but regularly fails to abide by these principles. For instance, we have been waiting nearly two years for the results of the consultation on a minimum excise tax for tobacco, which was issued in August 2014. Rules and mechanisms should be put in place to ensure the accurate and impartial gauging of public opinion about new proposals. Public consultations should be conducted, or at least signed off and overseen, by a body independent of the one advancing the regulations under scrutiny. Better engagement with implementers Finally, more effort should be put into making sure that the people who have to implement new regulations are involved in their formulation and assessment. Rules are not improved by being drawn up without input from the people who will be living by them. There should be a stage in the process of producing new regulation that ensures thorough consultation with implementers and makes sure that their feedback is actually taken into account. Without this we end up with an imbalanced debate, which helps to explain recent shifts towards ill-conceived measures like plain packaging and tobacco retailer licencing, and facilitates regulatory capture not by the industry, as per the traditional view, but by campaign groups. We should trust the good judgement of our legislators, and their ability to assess the robustness of the case for new regulations after hearing both sides of the argument. Trying to shut the other side out is a sign of the weakness, and not the strength, of ones case. SUBSCRIBE Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates straight in your inbox. Our struggle is to bring social, political, and economic justice to our nation. This is an effort of the Chicano/Mexican American Digital History Project. https://sites.google.com/site/chicanodigital/ YEREVAN, AUGUST 19, ARMENPRESS. Realizing the potential in energy sector in Armenia, French Schneider Electric company President on Russia and the CIS states Johan Vanderplaetse expressed a wish to take steps for investments in Armenia, reports Armenpress. He considers positive Armenias opportunities for the development of alternative energy. Of course, Armenia has a great potential for the development of alternative energy. In Armenia 40% of electricity is provided by the atomic energy, 30% from hydro energy, 30% through gas which is being imported from Russia and Iran. But after coming to sources of the alternative energy, this mixture will have another look, the electricity generated from solar energy will play significant role there. Armenia has also another advantage, it is a sunny country, more than 300 sunny days are being recorded here in a year. Thats why, I am confident the new technologies will help Armenia. Thats why we are here. We are ready to bring our production to Armenia, as an investor company, we will show the other companies Armenias potential, he said. He said during the visit in Armenia they held meetings not only with their partners and clients, but also they held constructive meetings with the Armenian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and the rector of National Polytechnic University of Armenia. Johan Vanderplaetse considers important the role of universities in the investment of new technologies. We understood that the Armenian Government is also interested since it also understands that this is a unique opportunity for Armenia. But this is important not only for Armenia, but also the region since Armenia is located in the heart of the region. We have agreed with the Armenian Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources to create a staff which will conduct detailed research on this field in order for us to be able to bring the new technologies inside Armenia, he said. YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. An investment forum dedicated to attracting foreign investments into the economy of Armenia will be held in New York on October 10-11, head of Armenia Development Fund Karen Mkrtchyan said, Voice of America reported. He said the high ranking officials of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, as well as heads of companies will deliver speeches in the forum. The organizers also expect Armenian President Serzh Sargsyans presence in the forum. This is the first such event within 15 years, and we still do not have a list of investors, he said. The forum has been organized by the Armenian Government and the Asian Development Bank. The event will be attended by leading economic commentators, as well as heads of Hyatt Hotels, ABBYY, Reddit, PicsArt and other companies. We are going to present 8 sectors of Armenias economy and the state projects aimed at supporting these sectors. Moreover, the representatives of companies, who have reached progress in these sectors, will speak about them, Karen Mkrtchyan said. The investors will be introduced on the prospects of the solar energy, railway transportation, North-South road construction, mines exploitation, agricultural development projects, as well as the prospects for the development of high technologies. Karen Mkrtchyan said despite the blockade and corruption, Armenias economy can present an interest for foreign investors. Armenia has a potential to become a platform for the European and American companies which then can transform their products to Russia and other countries of the Eurasian Economic Union without customs fees. The volume of foreign direct investments has been significantly decreased, and this can have a number of reasons. I think one of the reasons is that we are in a transitional period, he said. YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. The Foreign Ministry of Armenia is clarifying whether or not Armenian citizens and Armenians are among the victims of the earthquake in Italy. The Armenian Embassy is in constant contact with the local authorities, the MFA writes on Facebook. Earlier CNN reported a strong earthquake hit central Italy, leaving terrified residents huddled outside collapsed buildings overnight and an unknown number of people trapped beneath the rubble. At least 21 people died following the 6.2-magnitude earthquake early Wednesday, according to CNN affiliate Rai. The earthquake hit 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) southeast of Norcia at 3:36 a.m., the United States Geological Survey said. Its tremors rattled Rome -- about 100 miles away. In Amatrice, buildings collapsed and left the mountainous town in ruins. YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan sent a letter of condolences to President of Italy Sergio Mattarella on the devastating earthquake in Italy which claimed dozens of lives and caused large-scale damages, press service of the Presidential administration informed Armenpress. I express my deepest condolences and support to You, to the families of the victims and wounded wishing them tenacity and strong spirit. We are praying for the health of the wounded and wish them a speedy recovery. I am confident the Italian leaderships consistent efforts will allow to eliminate the consequences of the disaster as soon as possible. Our hearts and thoughts are with the people of friendly Italy, the Presidents letter reads. Channel programs News D&H Invests $23M To Extend Credit Lines For Its Reseller Partners Jimmy Sheridan Share this D&H Distributing is extending nearly $23 million in additional credit for nearly 850 of its reseller partners, about 8 percent of its reseller partner roster, hoping to spur continued growth for its channel as the increasing range of services being offered by solution providers leads to an increase in product sales. What we are focusing on is helping partners [who are] moving up the market which generally helps them compete with larger resellers and certainly sell more, said Peter DiMarco, vice president of VAR sales at D&H Distributing. The Harrisburg, Pa.-based distributor is proactively moving to accommodate the growth of its partners, he said, noting that this step was inspired, in part, by some of D&Hs partner community. [Related: D&H VAR Roundtable: Ransomware Is The largest Threat In The SMB Market] Credit lines for the nearly 850 VAR and managed service provider (MSP) partners will be expanded between $2,500 and $100,000, D&H said, with the average increase about $25,000. D&H said the extended credit is being offered to solution providers working in the SMB space who account for the majority of D&Hs partner base. This is welcome news to me, it makes my life much easier, said Jon Allen, owner of Ogden, Utah-based Proponent IT, a D&H partner. Over the last few years, Allen said his business has shifted its focus from reselling IT products to the healthcare industry to becoming a HIPAA compliance expert for clients in the medical industry. The shift to becoming a specialist, Allen said, has helped Proponent IT grow significantly, more than 20 percent in 2015 and possible another 70 to 80 percent this year. Because of that growth, he said, Proponent IT is relying on D&H more than ever. While his companys rapid growth is a welcome development, he said there are more complications around purchasing than when his company was smaller. My purchasing has gone quite a bit higher, he said, noting that Proponent IT is buying more Lenovo, Microsoft and Cisco products and the larger orders have been, at times, bigger than his credit line an issue that has sometimes hindered Allens business. More than once, he said, his credit line forced him to spread out his purchases across different distributors. Or, when he wanted to leverage his relationship with D&H, his only option was to place several orders over a period of time, paying off his credit line every week. Allen said he has now been offered a longer line of credit with D&H, which takes much of that worry off his shoulders. Now, we can spend less time doing those sorts of administrative things, and spend more time on billable projects, he said. Companies like Proponent IT, DiMarco said, are what inspired D&H to extend its clients lines of credit, noting that the money is being directed towards resellers that have started to get bigger and want to become even larger. D&H is seeing this type of growth as more resellers expand their service offerings, DiMarco said, and as resellers are refreshing their clients IT infrastructure and buying a larger amount of security and wireless products. The education vertical is also seeing double-digit growth in Chromebook purchases with the increasing popularity of connected classrooms, according to DiMarco. DiMarco said D&H is continuing to build on its strategy of supporting its partners with new offerings that help them grow and take advantage of service opportunities. D&H has been adding programs to educate and enable its reseller community, he said, and this most recent program is the latest move towards that goal. It is no different in any industry. As small providers become bigger, how they finance the business is a critical part of the process, he said. So we are working to get feedback from our resellers, and it is helping us put some preemptive actions in place in anticipation of growth. Managed services News Small Changes In Sales, Marketing Can Go A Long Way To Driving Big Growth Sarah Kuranda Share this Small changes in sales and marketing can go a long way when it comes to growing a solution providers business, Jonathan Fisher, chairman and founding partner of BrandExtract, said Wednesday at XChange 2016 in San Antonio. Fisher called the phenomenon the Power of 10, where making small, incremental improvements in multiple categories of sales and marketing creates an even bigger change overall. Those areas of improvement could include number of deals, deal size, better win ratios, shorter time to closing deals and more, he said. There is no silver bullet in marketing. The idea is that you move it a lot across several areas. It doesnt have to be big. Its all about the little things you do, Fisher said in his session at XChange, a conference hosted by CRN parent The Channel Company. [Related: IT Hall Of Fame: How Jim Dixon Put Customers First And Turned CompuCom Into A Services Giant] The ultimate goal is to delight the customer, Fisher said, rather than simply satisfying the customer or providing basic needs. Fisher said solution providers should put themselves in the shoes of the customer and ask what will delight the company or what barriers stand in the way of that goal. Fisher said barriers include contract length, employee turnover, access to team members and more. In particular, Fisher recommended solution providers build an internal and external sales playbook. In the internal sales playbook, which is for internal use only, Fisher said solution providers should outline the company mission, sales arguments, competitor information (and why its own solutions are better), frequently asked questions, employee profiles, lead scoring rules and more. The design of this book is to better prepare salespeople to approach customers in a consistent and successful way, he said. For the external playbook, which can be used as a sales tool in conversations with customers, Fisher said solution providers should use graphics and clear wording to make all the benefits of the companys offerings tangible. That could include product details, customer outcomes, price and savings analysis, a detailed outline of how the relationship with the customer would go, and more. A document like this helps salespeople in front of the customer, he said, and holds them accountable to the customer going forward by more clearly setting expectations. Stelios Valavanis, founder and president of Chicago-based onShore Security, said Fishers presentation highlighted ways his own business could improve its sales approach. In particular, Valavanis said he sees a big opportunity to take onShores solutions and services and codify them into clearer options for customers. Valavanis said he thinks this type of approach would be beneficial for both traditional managed service providers as well as more specialized managed security services providers, like onShore. For traditional MSPs, he said outlining the value customers get for the price in a fairly commoditized market could be a strong sales tactic. For more specialized and sophisticated MSSPs, he said outlining the offerings and showing the value is key, as customers might not be used to buying that type of solution. Were doing a lot of this great stuff and were not codifying it. Theres a clarity for codification, Valavanis said. Mobility News Samsung Channel Chief Touts Increased Focus On Selling Through Partners Kyle Alspach Share this Samsung Electronics is pushing harder into the business world with a sales strategy that's increasingly reliant on working with channel partners, Samsung executive Gregory Taylor said during a keynote at XChange 2016 Tuesday. Taylor, vice president for channel sales at Samsung Business, said that television sales deals with the hospitality industry -- which often have been direct sales in the past -- are shifting toward the channel. "Over the last three years that has rapidly declined from a direct sale into a channel sale," Taylor said during the keynote at XChange 2016, hosted by CRN parent The Channel Company and being held this week in San Antonio. "Today about 70 percent of our hospitality TV [business] now goes through a channel partner." [Related: Partners Cheer New Samsung Channel Training Tools To Expand Sales Pipeline] Overall, Samsung Business is now "about 100 percent channel," he said. During the keynote Taylor also demonstrated new security features on Samsung smartphones that aim to appeal to business users. One key feature that's part of Samsung's Knox security is the ability to create two "personas" for a smartphone -- one for business use and the other for personal use. Taylor demonstrated swiping left and right between the two personas on his Galaxy Note7 phone; the business side requires authentication and is behind the corporate firewall, he said, while the personal side cannot be accessed by the user's company. Brian Musci, director of AdRem Systems, a Reston, Va.-based solution provider, said his company has traditionally been focused on Apple iOS devices, but has recently done work for a customer that has adopted an all-Samsung smartphone strategy. "I've already been familiar with Knox, but throughout the course of several days [at XChange] I've heard a little bit more about the personas," Musci said. "That's a little bit more intriguing to me -- to have a way of separating your data, personal from corporate. That's the biggest part of [enterprise mobility]. Everyone still talks about BYOD, but the worst part of BYOD is that when you need to wipe a device, you can't just wipe corporate data. Samsung's addressed that." Ultimately, Samsung Electronics is aiming to impress -- and work with -- more channel partners going forward, Taylor said. "We are very dedicated to the channel, and we look for what you bring to the table," he said during his keynote at XChange. "So its your empowerment that actually helps us reach the end user, your relationships with the end customers. Your people, staff, support, call center -- your leadership that you bring to us. Really its the combination of Samsungs great products and your great services that deliver the right message to the end customer, that help us both mutually grow and create new markets and new opportunities." Mobility News Forrester Research: Time To Completely Rethink Mobile App Development Joseph F. Kovar Share this As mobile devices play an ever-larger role in corporate IT environments and app development, developers will find it harder to find a way for their apps to stand out and gain customer recognition. Thats the word from Michael Facemire, principal analyst at Forrester Research, who told solution providers at this week's XChange 2016 conference that growth in mobility itself does not guarantee success in app development. XChange 2016, held this week in San Antonio, is run by The Channel Company, the parent company of CRN. [Related: Here's Who Made Gartner's 2016 Magic Quadrant For Mobile App Development Platforms] Facemire, who specializes in the mobility market at the Cambridge, Mass.-based Forrester Research, said the IT industry has evolved over the years from building great things, to global distribution, to a focus on data, and is now in what he termed "year five of the Age of the Customer." "We need to build great interfaces," he said. "Not just a better way to present data, because we've been doing that." Businesses, from small companies to large enterprise, have to think first and foremost about what customers want when developing apps in order to succeed, Facemire said. He cited the example of USAA, a financial services company serving military members and their families, which knew that customers wanted to cash checks without going to the bank, and then built an app that allowed them to do just that by taking a photo of the check with their mobile device. Facemire said when helping a customer develop an app, the first question should be, "Why?" In reality, users are not likely to want to open a developer's new app, he said. The average user spends 50 hours a month on mobile phones, and typically use six apps per day. Four of those apps, such as Google or Facebook, will be used over and over. "Will yours be the other two?" he said. Building mobile apps requires developers to build a complete mobile experience, given that this is what the larger application vendors are doing, Facemire said. He cited the immersive digital experience offered by Apple's Siri, Microsoft's Cortana, and Google Now as examples of the future of app development. "Customers not only don't want to open your app, they don't want to open any app. We have to build things with these new experiences," he said. Developers also have to be prepared to get their apps to market quickly, and forget the traditional 12-to-18 month software development cycle, Facemire said. The time customers are targeting for new apps is rapidly approaching "immediate," and improved software development tools are helping decrease the development time needed, he said. However, not all developers have been able to take advantage of such tools. Mobile app developers also cannot wait for an app to be totally finished before release, which requires releasing the app in stages and building in feedback capabilities that provide information about the customer experience, Facemire said. It is important to look at what customers need, and what they think is successful, the analyst said. "Once you know that, build the minimum of what they need," he said. "Don't wait for it to be 85-percent finished. Ship the minimum, and look at the feedback." Facemire also said that modern app development is less about the front end and more focused on a "system of systems." Those include systems of engagement to support customer interactions, systems of data, systems of automation, and systems of insight to let the apps determine automatically what a user wants next, based on past usage. However, the biggest challenge in mobile app development remains on the back end with directories and customer relationship management, human resource and content management systems that must be tied to either the native platform or cross-platform tools used to develop the app, Facemire said. This back-end access is now being optimized with such tools as Node.js and nGenx, he said. The future of mobile app development will be on the web where composition is taking the place of code for faster development, Facemire said. However, he said, there is still a lack of necessary tools including those needed to bundle back-end and front-end components, as well as tools to run applications locally when web access is limited, he said. Facemire suggested mobile app developers invest in the latest in modern skills. This includes using functional programming, or coding the application to react to changes in the user's environment rather than the user's current state. For instance, users know that if it looks like it is going to rain, they will take an umbrella. An application to make that decision is hard, but expressing it as a function is easy, Facemire said. AWS, Google, and Apple also have tools for that, he said. He also suggested developers invest in their JavaScript skills and work with tools like Node.js. Having the right tools is key to web app development, said Michael Knight, president and chief technology officer at Encore Technology Group, a Greenville, S.C.-based developer of solutions for education, government and healthcare clients. Rather than JavaScript, Knight suggested HTML5 as a development tool. "Java doesnt' run on iOS," he told CRN. "HTML5 is the great equalizer for web devices." While most businesses do indeed typically use only six to ten apps, education users may need 50 to 350 apps, Knight said. "Every single grade, class, and course may have an e-textbook and digital media," he said. "If you try to develop to the digital app level, you will get digital sprawl." Encore's alternative is to develop IAM, or identification access management, apps, Knight said. "People talk apps, apps, apps, but they act in different roles every day," he said. "IAM looks at your role, ties it to the apps, and bundles them into a single UI with full single sign-on and analytics. Our app doesn't help customers do something. It helps customers get access to all their resources without 350 apps." Security News Symantec Exec: Partners Are Critical To Our Success After Blue Coat Acquisition Sarah Kuranda Share this Fresh off the closing of its blockbuster acquisition of Blue Coat Systems, Symantec channel leadership said the company is more committed than ever to its partners. We want to lead with you, Eric Foy, director of channel sales for North America, said to a room full of partners at XChange 2016 in San Antonio, Tex. Thats what Symantecs commitment is: To not only bring these solutions to bear, but also to do that in a way that takes advantage of all the partners we have. The comments come just three weeks after Symantec closed its blockbuster $4.65 billion acquisition of Blue Coat Systems, bringing together its own vast endpoint, email, user authentication and web security portfolio with Blue Coats cloud and web security offerings. [Related: Q&A: New Symantec CEO On Blue Coat Acquisition, Partner Impact And What's Next In Security Vendor Turnaround] The combined companys commitment to the channel will only get bigger as the integration progresses, Foy said. When you think about the commitment Symantec makes to our partners: We are nearly twice the size of our next nearest competitor with the partners we do business with. Its going to be bigger, Foy said. Our success is predicated on our partnerships. Foy said there is already a lot of work underway regarding the integration of the two product portfolios, which he said not only bring together a complementary set of technologies, but also a vast network of threat intelligence. The synergies between Symantec and Blue Coat, they are significant and that integration work is underway so we can incorporate this into what it means for the partnerships we can go to market with, Foy said. In particular, that integration will put emphasis on the technology capabilities the two companies have around advanced threat protection, cloud security and threat intelligence. Foy said Symantec will also drive a focus around security-as-a-service, a portfolio area that will grow fast in the months to come. Foy said these capabilities will help prepare Symantec partners and their clients for the next generation of cloud and to define the future of cybersecurity. It has never been a better place to be within Symantec and a partner of Symantec than right now, Foy said. The opportunity we have is to take advantage of what the cloud is bringing to all of you from all of your customers and bring that to the partner ecosystem. Michael Knight, president and chief technology officer at Encore Technology Group, a Greenville, S.C.-based Blue Coat partner, said those messages around technology and commitment are important to partners. But he said Symantec will also need to focus on building its brand back up to meet those goals. I think it would have been far more impactful had they outlined the past successes and the great technology they do have, but also focused on rebuilding the trust and the brand and how partners not only trust the combined organizations, but how we will work together around the globe, Knight said. Knight said rebuilding that trust, as well as lining up a top-notch combined leadership team, will be critical to Symantec re-gaining its momentum in the channel and in the security market going forward. The Veeam Partner Push Peter McKay (pictured) became president and COO of Switzerland-based disaster recovery and backup firm Veeam in June, and the VMware and IBM veteran is already making his mark. On Tuesday, the company introduced what it calls the Veeam Availability Platform for Hybrid Cloud, a combination of all the company's products. The platform allows customers to use one solution for backup and recovery across on-premise, cloud and SaaS applications, and McKay said it's part of the company's aggressive push into the enterprise. It's a lot of work, and McKay told CRN that one of Veeam's main tasks is getting channel partners on board with selling the company's software on a subscription basis. So far, it seems to be working. McKay said Veeam has successfully taken partners from key competitors, including Veritas and Commvault. Here, McKay discusses the opportunities for Veeam and its partners in a rapidly changing market for backup and recovery, as well as the market forces driving the industry and its customers into the cloud era. What follows is an edited excerpt of a conversation he had with CRN. YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. The unofficial death toll from a 6.0 magnitude quake that struck central Italy before dawn Wednesday has risen to 63 based on official numbers plus reports from ANSA correspondents at the scene, ANSA reported. Of these, 35 were counted in the Lazio village of Amatrice, 11 in the nearby village of Accumoli, and 17 confirmed in a hospital morgue in the city of Ascoli Piceno. These include fatalities from the villages of Arquata and Pescara del Tronto, plus a little girl from Amatrice who was extracted from the rubble alive but died in hospital. The earthquake, which struck at 03:36 local time and was followed by a second, 5.4 magnitude seism at 04:33 between Umbria and the Marche, was said by civil protection authorities to be "comparable in intensity" to the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake in which over 300 people died. There were reports of "apocalyptic scenes" with many collapsed buildings in the towns and villages affected. Rescuers had difficulty accessing the area due to landslides and damaged infrastructure. In Amatrice the missing reportedly included two refugees from Afghanistan, Sultana and Hahmed, aged 26 and 27, and three nuns and four elderly guests at a local boarding house. The hospital in the mountain town also had to be evacuated due to structural damage and was declared non-operational, but none of the patients were reported injured. L'Aquila Mayor Massimo Cialente said 250 temporary homes built after the 2009 earthquake were available for the newly displaced. The Rieti provincial chapter of Italian blood donation charity AVIS has put out a call for people to donate blood for the injured. A baby girl was pulled dead from the rubble of her home in the centre of Arquata del Tronto. The infant, who is reported to have been around nine months old, was with her parents who were rescued alive and taken to hospital with injuries. In the Lazio village of Accumoli, the bodies of a young couple and their two children were recovered from the rubble of their collapsed home. Mayor Stefano Petrucci said 2,500 people are displaced from their homes, approximately 2,000 of them summer holidaymakers. "We will try to assist all of them, but it is better if they leave," he said. "The wound caused by the (2009) L'Aquila earthquake is still fresh, and we fear being forgotten" the mayor added. Residents of California whose homes were burned by the wildfires that have been ravaging the state expressed their thankfulness to God that they are still alive. More than 26 wildfires have been burning through half a million acres, according to The Atlantic. Many people have been forced to evacuate and have lost their homes. According to ChristianToday.com, however, many residents of the places ravaged by fires remain thankful to God for sparing their lives, despite the loss of property they have suffered. The Nims family was forced to evacuate their home in West Cajon Valley because of the Blue Cut fire. On Sunday, they returned home to survey the damage, and found that their home was now nothing but rubble. "I want to yell, but it's already done," mother Tina said, as quoted by The San Bernardino Sun. "We can't blame anyone. Thanks to God we are still alive." Son Cody also acknowledged that memories are worth more than possessions. Another family who had to evacuate due to the fires was the Clarks. Roberta Clark said the destruction was heartbreaking, but still, she thanked God through the midst of her heartbreak. "We were driving so slowly, looking around, crying, thanking God," Clark said. Firefighters are working tirelessly to put the fires out, but many communities are still under evacuation warnings. Publication date: August 24, 2016 A Christian religious freedom advocate has asserted that Christians ought to be concerned with the refugee crisis and how the U.S. is resettling refugees. The Christian Post reports that Faith McDonnell, the director of Religious Liberty Programs and the Church Alliance for a New Sudan at the Washington-based think tank Institute on Religion and Democracy, believes that Christians should have a voice in the way governments resettle refugees. McDonnell has called out Mark Soerens, the U.S. director of church mobilization for the evangelical refugee resettlement organization World Relief. Soerens had asserted that the State Department in no way had an anti-Christian bias when it comes to refugees of different religious affiliations. McDonnell, however, begs to differ. She points to the fact that, although the U.S. has resettled many Christians refugees, they are beginning to welcome more and more Muslim refugees who come from terrorist hot spots in the Middle East. The U.S., she says, is now accepting more Muslim than Christian refugees. In the last year, the U.S. has resettled almost 29,000 Christian refugees, but over 30,500 Muslim refugees. Also, McDonnell points out, the U.S. has welcomed 9,077 Muslim refugees from the conflict in Syria, but only 47 Christian Syrian refugees. McDonnell said U.S. officials should have anticipated the refugee crisis better: [B]oth Syrian and Iraqi Christians had been suffering for a long time, even before the Syrian war with Assad and everything started, she said. We should have been prepared for that. If you are refugee resettlement people and you are seeing what is on the radar screen, if you had any thought in your mind at all that Christians are being persecuted because they are Christians, then they would have been on their radar screen already." Publication date: August 24, 2016 Prince Hassan of Jordan says that Christians, Jews and Muslims must come together to combat the apocalyptic vision of the Islamic State. "Christianity has been part of the essential fabric of the Middle East for two thousand years. Far from being a Western import as some, incredibly, now seem to suggest, it was born here and exported as a gift to the rest of the world. Christian communities have been intrinsic to the development of Arab culture and civilization," Prince Hassan wrote in a column along with Dr. Ed Kessler, director of the Woolf Institute. "This central role in our region and civilization is why it is abhorrent to us, as a Muslim and a Jew, to see Christianity and Christians under such savage assault across our region." The column in the Telegraph notes that ISIS has not just targeted Christians, but has also gone after Muslims and Jews all in the name of (their) God. "Helping to end this dangerous slide towards hatred, self-destruction and fratricidal conflict is the main challenge for all of us involved in interfaith dialogue. This requires us to step up our efforts to increase understanding that what unites the three great faiths of our region is far greater than any differences. We must stress, too, that respect for the past and learning from it does not require us to live there." Jordan is home to more than 600,000 Syrian refugees who fled ISIS after the start of the civil war. Publication date: August 24, 2016 Carnival Cruise Line will offer a 14-day Alaska cruise round-trip from Long Beach in September 2017. It is a first-time offering from the cruise line. The cruise falls under the line's Carnival Journeys cruise enrichment series, with the Carnival Miracle departing Long Beach Sept. 2 and returning Sept. 16, 2017. In addition to a full-day sailing Glacier Bay and Carnivals inaugural call to Icy Strait Point, the 14-day cruise will feature Alaskan ports of Ketchikan, Skagway, Juneau and Sitka, as well as Vancouver, British Columbia. Carnival Legend will also offer 38 seven- and eight-day Alaska voyages in 2017 and 2018, including seven week-long Glacier Bay cruises next year, the most voyages by Carnival to this region, according to a statement. The seven- and eight-day voyages operate either round-trip from Seattle or from Vancouver to Seattle. A Carnival Alaska cruise is like no other and with this exciting new 14-day Carnival Journeys adventure, combined with the wide variety of seven- and eight-day voyages, were offering guests an incredible array of opportunities to get an up close and personal look at this beautiful sailing region, said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. It may come as a surprise, but more likely than not, when employees leave a company theyre taking company data with them. While its not always out of malicious intent, the amount of unprotected company information that walks out the door can result in bigger losses in the future. Biscoms national study around data in the workplace revealed that more than one in four employees leave their job with company data. The study spotlights employees as a big security vulnerability to business data. To help prevent this, Bill Ho, CEO of Biscom, offers a few tips to minimize this threat. 1. Establish clear employee policies on handling company data and information Often, companies dont have policies in place that prevent employees from taking company data with them. According to Biscom, 84 percent of employees claimed there were no policies preventing them from taking company information. To help prevent this, create comprehensive policies that are clear and thorough, outlining that all information, documents, and data created by the employee, or any other employee, are considered company property. 2. Incorporate data ownership and handling policies into employee agreements Adding specific language and clear ramifications in offer letters and other company forms will immediately establish significance around protecting company data as you begin to onboard new employees. This will help each employee understand that all information created while at the company, is to be regarded as proprietary and confidential from Day 1. 3. Add data protection and security discussions to new employee orientation and training Taking time to discuss data protection and basic security protocols will help increase awareness among your team and minimize data breaches. This is a good time to communicate policies such as using personal devices to access and complete company tasks, and using consumer versions of file sharing and collaboration tools. While using personal devices and popular EFSS tools such as Dropbox and Google Drive can be convenient, monitoring permission-based access and user controls can be difficult and lead to an open door of data loss. 4. Understand how to re-organize an attack or social engineering ploy Knowing when and how to cancel accounts, block access and deny permissions will be key in protecting company data from internal threats. The longer critical information is unprotected and exposed, the more vulnerable your data and company is to harm. 5. Encourage reporting of suspicious activity Thinkstock Make it clear to all employees that any suspicious activity should be reported. Most often, some of the biggest data breaches come from an internal source, even if it was a mistake. Teach employees basic tips on phishing schemes and how to speak up if they suspect an internal threat. 6. Train on best practices continuously and often -- practice makes perfect Hold quarterly meetings on data prevention with all employees. Frequent discussions and basic Q&A sessions will foster a transparent environment where employees feel comfortable with policies and using tools that are safe for the company. 7. Establish data classification and access permissions - limit access to those who need it, e.g. using the principle of least privilege As more companies move to the cloud, tracking permissions and user access can get muddled and lost. Limit control starting with employees who dont need total access and only give permission to information employees need. Keeping a spreadsheet that lists every employees access, tools and apps, can help you monitor and cancel accounts based on roles and if needed, departures. 8. Create a response plan and practice it Proactivity around when instead of if will prepare your company in the event of an emergency and can help save your company from big losses. Having an emergency response plan (EAP) and procedures in place will establish a clear guide on what to do in the event of an attack. An EAP may also be necessary in the event an employee is terminated or fired under bad circumstances -- according to Biscom's data, 22 percent of respondents reported they would be more likely to steal company information if they were let go under bad circumstances. Unfortunately, most people have some sort of financial stress. But the types of money problems people face tend to vary from state to state. GOBankingRates.com surveyed more than 7,000 people in all 50 states and Washingotn D.C. to find the top causes of financial woe. Click through the slideshow to see the top causes of financial stress in each state, and visit GoBankingRates.com for the full report. The site had participants pick from the following list: Paying off my debt; Not being able to retire; Not having enough money to fund an emergency; Wanting a nicer lifestyle; Paying for education; Lack of stable income; Paying my mortgage or rent. An overwhelming majority of states picked "paying off my debt" as their top cause for concern. Connecticut seems to be more worried about unforeseen disasters; the state's top financial concern in "not having enough money to fund an emergency." Related: The most expensive things to do in Connecticut GOBankingRates.com speculates this could have something to do with the high cost of living in Connecticut. Though the state's median household income is above the national median, even rich people may be living paycheck to paycheck around here, the site says. "Plus, the average credit card debt in Connecticut ($6,494) is among the highest in the nation, according to ValuePenguin. So, residents might have little left over to fund an emergency after covering daily costs and debt payments," GOBankingRates.com writes. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BRIDGEPORT Mayor Joe Ganim says a condominium he recently purchased, then rented out over the Internet is his actual full-time residence. The apartment, purchased this summer, is located in The Cove on Ellsworth Street in the seaside Black Rock neighborhood. As reported Tuesday, the condominium association told the mayor that he violated the rules when he rented his home online through Airbnb Inc. But that was only one piece of the story. Ganim has also been renting out a condominium purchased last year in another section of town on Cartright Street, which he had been claiming was his primary residence. Cartright Street was the address printed on the checks Ganim filled out July 1 to pay his property and car taxes. So with both condominiums for rent, where does the chief executive of Connecticuts largest city rest his head after a long day at City Hall? Since moving back to the city last year to run again for mayor Ganim held the job from 1991 to 2003 critics have alleged he still spends most of his time at the family property in Easton. More News Ganim told to stop renting out condo Ganim did not return requests for comment for Tuesdays story. Reached Wednesday morning while meeting with new fire fighting recruits, Ganim insisted The Cove is his new home. He denied he had received any communication from the association about his Airbnb activities. But, he said, renting it through Airbnb was only intended to be short term. Ganim said he got the idea after meeting representatives from Airbnb at a conference. John Soltis, head of The Coves association, declined to comment for this story. While some residents of The Cove said they had noticed what was going on, Ganims setup drew wider scrutiny after an out-of-state reporter unknowingly rented the mayors place. She figured out who her landlord was while interviewing ex-Ganim adviser Lennie Grimaldi. Grimaldi then detailed her experience including the fact that when she arrived at The Cove the mayor was drying towels -- on his Only in Bridgeport blog earlier this month. Referred to in the 1990s by the New York Times as a bit of New England in a troubled city, Black Rock has proven to be a coveted neighborhood among Bridgeports political class. Ganim, mayor from 1991 to 2003, at one time owned a house at 45 Sailors Lane in Bridgeport. Other notable recent residents include Danny Roach, Ganims chief-of-staff; Adam Wood, chief of staff to ex-Mayor Bill Finch, whom Ganim ousted last year in the Democratic primary; R. Christopher Meyer, city attorney under Ganim; and Democrat Mary-Jane Foster and Republican Enrique Torres, both of whom also ran for mayor last year. The irony of Ganim returning to Black Rock is that many of the few hundred residents who confronted the mayor and the City Council in July over their tax increases were from that neighborhood, including ex-U.S. Comptroller General David Walker. I dont believe hes living there, Walker said of Ganims The Cove condo. I cant say that for a fact (but) I have a high degree of skepticism. BRIDGEPORT - A match made on a dating site ended badly for a local woman who police said ended up an unwitting porn star. Police said the woman was matched with a man, later identified as Angel Natal, on the dating site OKCupid and the two agreed to meet at Seaside Park. Once at the park the duo decided they hit it off and the woman agreed to go to an apartment on Alexander Avenue with Natal, police said. Police said the two were having consensual sex, when the woman noticed Natal kept looking back over his shoulder. When the woman looked in a mirror in the room she could see an IPhone that was on FaceTime with two men watching them having sex. Police said the woman got upset and then heard the IPhone hang up. As she was leaving the apartment the two men she had seen on the phone drove up and high fived Natal. The woman then reported the incident to police. Police said they later confronted Natal who admitted having his cell phone set on FaceTime so, It could see the sex. They said he told them, its porn I like to watch porn. Natal, 31, of Hart Street, was charged with voyeurism. He was being held in lieu of $15,000 bond. U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, who is favored to win re-election this year, has been endorsed by the New York State AFL-CIO. The endorsement was announced at the AFL-CIO's 33rd Constitutional Convention in New York. More than 1,000 union delegates attended the event. Mario Cilento, president of the New York State AFL-CIO, cited Schumer's work to pass legislation that provides health benefits to 9/11 responders and his efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy to secure federal funding for affected areas. "Chuck Schumer has been a tireless advocate for working men and women," Cilento said. "He has demonstrated time and again, through actions and deeds, that he is a true friend to the labor movement and a champion for the middle class." Schumer, D-N.Y., said he's proud to receive the AFL-CIO's endorsement. "I am utterly committed to rebuilding and expanding the American middle class and I know that there is no institution in American history more integral to this effort than the labor movement," he said. "From strengthening the (National Labor Relations Board), to making sure we are not ripped off by unfair trade deals, to investing in our infrastructure, to winning laws that protect the right to organize and collectively bargain I will be there with you, shoulder to shoulder." Schumer is seeking a fourth term in the U.S. Senate. He was first elected in 1998 and re-elected by New York voters in 2004 and 2010. His opponent in this year's election is Republican challenger Wendy Long. The race is rated by political prognosticators as a safe Democratic seat. If Schumer wins re-election, he's on track to become the leader of the Senate Democratic Conference. If Democrats win the majority in the Senate, he'll likely become majority leader. Cayuga County's three state senators received failing scores in the National Federation of Independent Business' annual report card. State Sens. John DeFrancisco, Michael Nozzolio and Jim Seward each received 67 percent scores in NFIB New York's assessment of key votes in the state Legislature. NFIB set its passing score at 70 percent. Mike Durant, NFIB New York's state director, offered clues as to why the trio and other Republican state senators received lower marks than usual. "The 2015-16 legislative session saw an astronomical minimum wage increase and mandatory paid leave come to life," Durant said. "It ranks as one of the most difficult in recent memory for the small business community throughout the state of New York." NFIB rated state senators on six votes, including a budget bill that will phase in a $15 minimum wage and establish a state paid family leave program. While the measure contained both provisions, it also provided funding for education and key housing initiatives. DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse, Nozzolio, R-Fayette, and Seward, R-Milford, all voted for the bill. The other bills senators were scored on: Legislation that would exempt farmers from paying unemployment insurance for temporary workers who come to the U.S. on H2A visas. The Senate approved the bill by a 34-28 vote. DeFrancisco, Nozzolio and Seward supported the measure. (NFIB backed the bill.) A bill supported by the NFIB that would direct the state Public Service Commission to study the impact of the Reforming the Energy Vision initiative. The Senate, with DeFrancisco, Nozzolio and Seward's support, passed the legislation by a vote of 33-28. Another NFIB-supported measure that would make the state's property tax cap permanent. The state Senate passed the bill by a 50-12 vote. DeFrancisco, Nozzolio and Seward voted in favor of the legislation. Cayuga County's three state senators voted for a bill backed by the NFIB that would place a prohibition on local governments charging a tax on "carry-out merchandise bags," such as plastic bags at grocery stores. The state Senate passed the bill by a 35-24 vote. The NFIB opposed legislation that would allow injured employees to receive treatment from licensed acupuncturists under the state's workers' compensation program. DeFrancisco, Nozzolio and Seward supported the bill. Durant said small businesses in New York need "more than lip service from Albany." "There needs to be a more concerted effort to not only promote Main Street, but to push for high impact legislative reforms to the cost drivers that already hamper job creators," he said. "Until then, small business in New York will only continue to tread water, at best." The New York State AFL-CIO endorsed in several congressional races throughout the state, but the 24th Congressional District contest wasn't one of them. The federation of affiliated labor unions met this week in New York City to vote on its endorsements. U.S. Rep. John Katko, a Republican, and Democratic challenger Colleen Deacon didn't receive enough support to secure the endorsement. It's the first time in recent history the state AFL-CIO hasn't endorsed in the Syracuse-area congressional race. Dating back to 2006, the labor group has made an endorsement in the race. In the election 10 years ago, the endorsement went to then-Democratic challenger Dan Maffei. Maffei picked up the AFL-CIO's endorsement again in 2008, 2010 and 2012. In the 24th Congressional race in 2014, the AFL-CIO supported Maffei over Katko, R-Camillus, who went on to defeat the Democratic incumbent. So why did the AFL-CIO pass on the 24th District this year when it's shaping up to me one of the most competitive House races in the country? "There is a high threshold," said Darcy Wells, a spokesperson for the NYS AFL-CIO. "Our federation requires a two-thirds supermajority for endorsement and that was simply not met. No endorsement will be made at a later date." In short, neither Deacon or Katko could secure enough support from affiliated unions to win the endorsement. Unions historically have been aligned with Democrats, which is why Deacon not receiving the AFL-CIO's endorsement could be concerning. But she does have support from some unions, including New York State United Teachers. Getting the AFL-CIO's support, with its 2.5 million members in New York, would've given her campaign a boost. The AFL-CIO's vote shows Katko has at least some unions supporting his campaign. It's also a reflection of an advantage he has in this race: incumbency. Many of the endorsements made by labor groups tend to favor the incumbent. That was the case in several state Legislature races throughout upstate. One of the exceptions was the 126th Assembly District race. The AFL-CIO endorsed Democratic challenger Diane Dwire over Assemblyman Gary Finch, a Republican. The vote also may have been impacted by Katko's voting record. He's worked to establish himself as a moderate in Congress. When the AFL-CIO endorsed Maffei in 2014, Katko was a political newcomer. He's in a different position now that he's established a record on issues. One issue Katko worked on was securing passage of a long-term highway bill. His work on that issue was praised by Greg Lancette, president of the Central and Northern New York Building and Construction Trades Council. "The passage of the (highway bill) ensures a level of stability for the hardworking men and women that build and maintain our interstate system," Lancette said in December. "Interstate 81 in New York receiving 'high priority corridor' status is a direct result of Congressman Katko's determination to fight for central and northern New York." While both candidates missed out on the AFL-CIO's endorsement, there are plenty of local unions to seek support from. Those members, who are voters in the 24th Congressional District, can make a difference. Unbeaten Berlin Brothersvalley, Penns Manor clash in Appalachian Bowl Berlin Brothersvalley and Penns Manor square off in the Appalachian Bowl on Saturday. See how the teams stack up and what coach Doug Paul had to say. AUBURN An Auburn woman has been charged with endangering the welfare of her children after her 3-year-old son was hit by a car, police said. According to the Auburn Police Department, 32-year-old Leah Dunbar, of Barber Street, was arrested Wednesday after a judge issued a warrant. She was charged with three misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child after allegedly leaving her 8-year-old, 3-year-old and 9-month-old children alone in her car. Police said Dunbar had left the children in a car at the corner of Van Anden and State streets on Aug. 11 when her 3-year-old son got out of his safety seat and walked across the street. He was then struck by a passenger vehicle and airlifted to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse with a head injury. The boy has since recovered and police have issued Dunbar a ticket to appear before a judge. In New York state, there is no specific law that prohibits people from leaving children unattended in a vehicle, leaving the decision to file charges up to law enforcement. Auburn police said, in this case, the officer at the scene did not believe that the 8-year-old was capable of taking care of the younger children left in the car. Cayuga County has paid $100,000 to a former deputy sheriff, who suffered from injuries on the job, as part of a confidential separation agreement. The contract, signed by Cayuga County Legislature Chairman Keith Batman and Sheriff David Gould in July, follows a Supreme Court case petition filed in May 2014. Court records show that Elizabeth A. Kuhn, now 35 years old, had been employed with the county sheriff's office when on Sept. 25, 2011, she suffered back and shoulder injuries after crashing her patrol car. Kuhn had been responding to a burglary in progress and driving approximately 100 mph when she swerved and spun out of control to avoid a herd of deer. Out on paid medical leave, Kuhn did not return to her post until March 25, 2013 when she was assigned back to road patrol. According to a court petition filed by Kuhn's attorney, shortly after returning to work, Kuhn was confronted with multiple stressful situations including an armed and suicidal gunman, a fatal motorcycle accident, an overdose call and the investigation of a death. Kuhn showed signs of trauma and stress after the incidents and went to see a psychologist. She was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, and doctors traced the cause to Kuhn's car accident in 2011. A Workers' Compensation Board Hearing in November 2013 deemed Kuhn's PTSD a part of her injuries sustained on the job, and thus ruled that her lost time should be subject to paid compensation, according to court records. In September 2013, the Cayuga County Civil Service Commission sent Kuhn a letter saying that she had accumulated all of her leave time as of October. In the petition filed with the court, Kuhn alleged that the county had not notified her she was using her leave of absence time before that letter, and thus argued that the time be restored. Gould, however, sent a letter to Kuhn in December 2013 stating that due to her absence beyond one year, her employment would be terminated in January 2014. Gould said he had determined Kuhn was not eligible for benefits under General Municipal Law "as any alleged injury or sickness did not occur during or a result from the performance of her duties." In May 2014, Kuhn filed a request for judicial intervention and both parties signed a stipulation and order in January 2015. That order said that Kuhn's injuries were from the accident while on duty, thus making her eligible for benefits. Kuhn was paid her salary from October 2013 through her restoration to the county's payroll system. After filing a Freedom of Information Law request, The Citizen obtained a copy of the separation agreement. It is not clear when the agreement was first drafted, but it states that Kuhn had been determined by "medical professionals to be permanently unable to perform the duties of a Deputy Sheriff; and The parties now desire to resolve, on an amicable basis, any and all issues relating to Ms. Kuhn's employment and termination of her GML (General Municipal Law) 207-c benefits." Kuhn's attorney, Karen Khanzadian, could not be reached for comment on Wednesday. Besides paying Kuhn $100,000, the agreement states that she releases her claims against the county and other parties, which included Gould, the sheriff's office and the Civil Service Commission. Her resignation was effective June 30, at which point all of her benefits ceased. There will be no additional payments from the county, though her collection of New York Workers' Compensation benefits is not affected, according to the agreement. As part of the confidentiality piece, the agreement requires that Kuhn "not engage in any conduct or pattern of conduct that involves the making or publishing of written or oral statements or remarks (including, but not limited to, the repetition or distribution of derogatory rumors, allegations, negative reports, or comments) which are disparaging, deleterious, or damaging to the integrity, reputation, or goodwill of the County or any Released Party." Gould told The Citizen he could not comment on the matter. Yes, the departing Ofsted chairman should have chosen his words much more carefully when he said of the Isle of Wight: It is shocking. Its a ghetto. There has been inbreeding. There is a mass of crime, drug problems, huge unemployment. But were David Hoares remarks to an audience of teachers really so outrageous that he couldnt stay on as the 50,000-a-year head of the schools watchdog? Ofsted chair David Hoare has called the Isle of Wight a white 'ghetto', full of 'inbreeding' Certainly, he was right to apologise for his sweeping generalisations, in which he appeared to slander the islands entire population as he linked its poor school performance with social ills. Though on some measures the Isle of Wight suffers worse problems than other parts of the rural South East, most of his assertions were exaggerated while his dig at inbreeding was, frankly, gratuitous. But his central point surely holds good. Britain must not turn a blind eye to pockets of deprivation and under-achievement, which are often to be found within inches of the haunts of the rich. Indeed, it is the purpose of Ofsted to root out poorly performing schools so that every child has a fair chance. Wouldnt Mr Hoare have been guilty of a far greater betrayal if hed pretended problems didnt exist? But theres also a wider point at stake. Hasnt Britain become far too sensitive to breaches of political correctness, with legions of agitators determined to take offence at any unguarded comment? Mr Hoare said that while many see the Isle of Wight (pictured) as an affluent area known for its sailing - in fact there are communities suffering from impoverished conditions Think of Sir Tim Hunt, the Nobel Prize winning scientist, hounded from his post at University College London over a light-hearted and self-deprecating remark about women in the lab. When we judge men and women in public life, all that should matter is whether they are up to the job. In demanding Mr Hoares head, apparently for no better reason than his ill-chosen words, Education Secretary Justine Greening has contributed to a thoroughly unhealthy trend. Buying up Britain This paper welcomes foreign investment in the UK. But shouldnt everyone have qualms over the revelation that China, working surreptitiously through Canadian companies, has become the biggest crude oil operator in the North Sea? After nuclear power, HS2 and Thames Water, this is just the latest strategically vital industry on which the Chinese have set their sights slavishly courted by former Chancellor George Osborne, despite their appalling record of industrial espionage and human rights abuses. America has set up a high-level Committee on Foreign Investment, specifically to examine the national economic and security implications of overseas involvement in the US. Shouldnt Britain follow suit without delay? Former prime minister, David Cameron Three months after David Cameron backed the Mails campaign to help them, more than 100 refugee children with family in Britain are still stranded in squalid and dangerous conditions in Calais. Shockingly, dozens are kept waiting up to ten weeks even after their applications to enter the UK are approved. Of course, rigorous checks are needed. But whoever is responsible for the paperwork must not sleep until these hugely vulnerable children are safe with their families on our shores. A young woman has spoken of her horror after a trip to a cosmetic surgeon caused her lips to bruise and swell. Rachel Redpath, 21, went to the Beautox Clinic in Glasgow to get lip fillers because she hoped it would boost her confidence. But when she left the clinic, she said her lips were bruised and swollen, leaving her crying all the way home in a taxi. Rachel Redpath, 21, went to the Beautox Clinic in Glasgow to get lip fillers because she hoped it would boost her confidence. But when she left the clinic her lips were bruised and swollen, leaving her crying all the way home in a taxi (pictured before the treatment) Rachel, from Bathgate, West Lothian, has since posted a message on Facebook warning others about her experience at the clinic, which is run by surgeon Imran Inam. Sales consultant Rachel said: 'The thing I want to make sure of is that other girls don't have the experience I had. 'Most people go there to boost their confidence but it's not nice at all. I've always been self conscious of my face. 'I saw the pictures on Dr Imran's Facebook page and it looked good so I thought I would like it. I thought it would be a confidence boost.' When Rachel, pictured after, saw the results in a mirror she says she was shocked at how much her lips had swollen - especially the top one, giving her what she described as an 'uneven look' Rachel burst into tears and was given an ice pack and taken to another room, where she was joined by an assistant with a card reader machine so she could pay up Rachel booked her appointment , which costs between 165 and 245, through Facebook and then turned up at 2pm on the day, but claims she was left waiting for an hour and a half to be seen. She told Mr Inam she wanted just 0.5ml of fillers put in as this was her first time and she wanted them to look 'natural'. But she said the plastic surgeon did 'everything he could to convince me to get the 1ml instead, telling me how beautiful I would look with even fuller lips'. She added: 'It was almost like a sales pitch. There were all these sly compliments telling me I would see a big difference. 'Immediately afterwards my face just swelled up and he wanted to get me out of the room.' When Rachel saw the results in a mirror she says she was shocked at how much her lips had swollen - especially the top one, giving her what she described as an 'uneven look.' Rachel burst into tears and was given an ice pack and taken to another room, where she was joined by an assistant with a card reader machine so she could pay up. When she asked to speak to the doctor again, she says Mr Inam told her that if her lips got any worse he would 'jab' her with an EpiPen. Rachel said: 'There was no aftercare. One of the assistants just followed me with a card reader. My lips just kept getting bigger and bigger.' And while she was leaving, Rachel says she overheard Mr Inam telling his next patient to have 1ml of fillers instead of 0.5ml - in a similar conversation to the one she had. Rachel shared her feedback on the Facebook page and was messaged by Mr Inam himself, who told her he is sorry about her experience but adding that reactions like hers were not 'uncommon' and are not 'concerning' Imran replied to Rachel via Facebook explaining that the measure of filler was done with her 'full consent' on the basis that a 0.55ml treatment would only be sufficient to define the border of her lips Rachel said: 'I couldn't face anyone seeing me. I was crying the whole way home in a taxi. 'The next day I had bruises and was deep purple. I had to take time off work. I couldn't eat or drink and couldn't leave the house for three days.' Since sharing her review, Rachel said other women have contacted her with similar stories about lip fillers gone wrong. Rachel said: 'I've had so many girls messaging me. Their lips looked very similar to mine. It prompted me to say something. It may have been I had a bad reaction. 'But after finding out other people had the same I thought I didn't want someone else having that experience because it was horrible.' Following her post on Facebook, Mr Inam has contacted her himself telling her he is sorry about her experience but adding that reactions like hers were not 'uncommon' and are not 'concerning'. He went on to say he hoped she would have gotten in touch directly before taking to Facebook and he would have 'acted upon it immediately' Imran replied to Rachel via Facebook explaining that the measure of filler was done with her 'full consent' on the basis that a 0.55ml treatment would only be sufficient to define the border of her lips. He went on to say he hoped she would have gotten in touch directly before taking to Facebook and he would have 'acted upon it immediately'. He continued: 'Since you attended our clinic, we have appointed two new managers who oversee the running of our clinics and deal with all enquiries directly, including follow up, and there should be no further experiences like this in future.' He concluded: 'As is sometimes the case with any service, in particular medical treatments, things don't always turn out perfectly. We still aim to ensure that all our patients are ultimately happy. Would you consider meeting with one of our managers at your convenience to discuss this further?' Other women have taken to the Facebook page to defend the Dr with one woman writing: 'It's been brought to my attention that a girl has left a really negative review regarding her experience. 'It's very very common for the lips to blow up and swell upon receipt of treatment therefore meaning it can be hard to see exactly how they look in terms of unevenness until the swelling has come down. It's no big issue when this happens and can be fixed very very easily. It happens constantly! I've only ever had an amazing experience with Imran, if ever I had an issue he'd want to see me instantly to help me. I've never once had any issue with the outcome of any of my treatments, I've recommended hundreds of girls to him, I would never do this if I felt they would have a bad experience trust me. 'None us this is to take away from the fact this girl has had a poor experience but I feel she hasn't taken fair steps in seeking rectification and has been unfair in putting her point across.' The Beautox Clinic website says Mr Inam is an NHS surgeon with over eight years experience at hospitals across the country. It says Mr Inam has also undertaken research into treatments for cancer of the oesophagus, funded by Cancer Research UK. The description adds: 'Mr Inam has significant expertise in managing acute surgical conditions as well as independently carrying out elective surgical procedures. 'He is trained to react instinctively when patients need it the most, holding provider status in Advanced Trauma and Life Support, so you can be reassured that you are in good hands.' He concluded: 'As is sometimes the case with any service, in particular medical treatments, things don't always turn out perfectly. We still aim to ensure that all our patients are ultimately happy. Would you consider meeting with one of our managers at your convenience to discuss this further?' Mr Inam, who is registered as a medical practitioner with the GMC, received praise from a reality TV star last year after giving her lip fillers. Chloe Ferry from Geordie Shore thanked him for his work in an Instagram post showing off her plumped up lips following a trip to his clinic. Industry expert Frances Turner Traill, who runs a clinic in Hamilton, near Glasgow, is a board member of the British Association of Cosmetic Nurses (BACN). Mrs Turner Traill said: 'I was really sorry to hear and read of Rachel's experience. 'Starting from April next year, every cosmetic clinic will need to be registered with Healthcare Improvement Scotland and meet a set of safety criteria to be allowed to operate. 'As an industry, we very much hope that more robust and effective regulation in Scotland will improve patient safety and patient care and will make experiences such as Rachel's a thing of the past.' When contacted by MailOnline, a spokesperson for Beautox Clinic in Glasgow said: 'This case dates back to February and we were unaware of any concerns until the Facebook post six months later. Everyone at Beautox deeply regrets we were not given the chance to follow-up with the client and address any problems. 'Safety and health of all patients is of the utmost importance. Every client we see goes through an extensive pre-treatment consultation to discuss the procedure and what to expect during and after treatment. We also provide clear aftercare instructions. 'While the procedures are extremely safe, it is not uncommon for clients to experience swelling, redness and discomfort for around three days after an injection. In some cases, it may persist for up to two weeks 'Every procedure at Beautox is administered by an experienced medical practitioner, supported by at least one clinical assistant. While some aesthetic treatments may be completed within ten minutes, the reality is that these treatments still involve some discomfort. 'We advise all patients to contact us immediately if they are concerned in any way or feel their symptoms are worsening and strongly recommend a follow up appointment to evaluate progress. A mother-to-be was refused a full refund on a holiday to the Caribbean after her doctor told her the threat of Zika was too risky to allow her to travel. Alice Rowland, 28, attempted to cancel her and 26-year-old partner Jefferson Georges flights to Dominica after her doctor advised her against travelling to the country. The primary school teacher from Northampton forked out 1,600 in March for the flights to visit personal trainer Jeffersons poorly mother, who recently suffered a stroke and is now bed-bound. Unexpected surprise: Alice Rowland forked out 1,600 in March for the flights to Dominica before falling pregnant but has been refused a full refund on a holiday to the Caribbean after her doctor told her the threat of Zika was too risky to allow her to travel They spent 1,000 on flights with Air France from Manchester to Florida through travel agent Bravo Fly and an additional 600 on flights with Jet Blue from Florida to Dominica through CheapOair to get the cheapest prices. But 12 weeks ago, the couple were delighted to find out that they were unexpectedly pregnant. But in the four months since theyd booked the flights, the threat of Zika spread to include Dominica, and she visited her doctor straight away to find out if the trip was still possible, which it wasnt. Jefferson also cannot travel because if he contracted the mosquito-borne illness, he could pass it on to Alice and potentially affect their unborn child. Expecting: Alice Rowland, 28, attempted to cancel her and 26-year-old partner Jefferson Georges, left, flights to Dominica after her doctor advised her against travelling Zika can be spread by the bite of an infected mosquito, or by sexual contact. In four out of five cases, those who are infected show no symptoms. Others may experience a rash, pink eye, and body pain - all of which clear up within a week to ten days. It's unbelievable that they won't refund the flights, 1,600 is a lot of money to us... particularly with a baby on the way However, the virus is particularly dangerous for pregnant women because it can cross the placenta and infect the baby's developing brain, leading to a condition known as microcephaly. One mosquito bite could rapidly fuel the spread. Whenever a mosquito bites someone with Zika, they pick up the virus. As they bite someone, that person likely gets it. Alice said: 'When I booked the flights, I had no idea that I was going to get pregnant. 'We had always talked about having kids but it happened a lot quicker than we planned. 'Its unbelievable that they wont refund the flights, 1,600 is a lot of money to us, and a drop in the ocean to that company.' Health warning: The note Alice received from her doctor advising her not to travel Alice and Jefferson contacted the booking agents last month and they were offered a refund of just 300 from Bravo Fly and nothing at all from CheapOair, 1,300 short of what they had spent on the trip. So Alice contacted a member of the customer services team to ask if there was not any more that they could do, and were told that was the only refund they would receive. She tells how she spent hours and made more than 30 calls trying to sort out refunds and give evidence that she was medically advised against travelling to no avail. Bravofly says it understands its customers frustrations, but is simply following the orders of the airlines it works for, who make no exceptions for pregnant women who are already booked to fly. Parents-to-be: 'We had always talked about having kids but it happened a lot quicker than we planned,' Alice said Silent poison: Zika can be spread by the bite of an infected mosquito, or by sexual contact - in four out of five cases, those who are infected show no symptoms WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ZIKA WHAT IS ZIKA? The Zika (ZEE'-ka) virus was first discovered in monkey in Uganda in 1947 - its name comes from the Zika forest where it was first discovered. HOW IS IT SPREAD? MOSQUITOES It is typically transmitted through bites from the Aedes species of mosquitoes. They are aggressive feeders, commonly biting multiple people in quick succession, fueling the spread of the virus. They are most active during mid-morning and then again between late afternoon and nightfall. SEX Scientists have found Zika can be transmitted sexually - from both men and women. Couples should abstain or wear condoms for eight weeks if either partner has traveled to a country with a Zika outbreak, regardless of whether they have symptoms. MOTHER TO BABY A mother can pass the virus to her unborn baby during pregnancy. There are two ways this can happen: through the placenta, and through the amniotic sac. Since the virus can live in the womb lining, there is a chance the baby can become infected during birth. ARE THERE SYMPTOMS? The majority of people infected with Zika virus will not experience symptoms. Those that do, usually develop mild symptoms - fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes - for no more than a week. There is no specific treatment for the virus and there is currently no vaccine. CAN THE SPREAD BE STOPPED? Individuals can protect themselves from mosquito bites by using insect repellents. They could also wear long sleeves and long pants - especially during daylight, when the mosquitoes tend to be most active, health officials say. Eliminating breeding spots and controlling mosquito populations can help prevent the spread of the virus. Advertisement Alice believes that the decision not to refund the flights for August 16 is harsh considering that the virus has only been found in Dominica after the flights were booked, and could drastically affect her and her childs life. She said: 'I understand they dont have to offer us a full refund, but to those big companies, 1,600 isnt very much but to us its a lot of money, particularly with a baby on the way. 'I feel like they could give us the courtesy at the end of the day, it benefits our country not having people visit these countries, we could come back and be ill and then it would cost the country to treat them. 'We wanted to go out and be with my partners mum who is in her fifties and has just had a severe stroke and is now bed bound. 'Now weve been left with a 1,600 bill, havent seen Jeffersons mum, and are feeling really frustrated by the whole situation.' Bravofly said: 'On 19th March 2016, Mr and Mrs Rowland booked return flights through Bravofly from Manchester to Miami. 'In July we received a request to cancel the flights due to doctors advice regarding the outbreak of the Zika virus. 'After verifying with both airlines a refund of 305.97 was offered but as it was not accepted until the middle of August the refundable amount had reduced to 293.16. 'In both cases, whilst we understand the customer's frustration, the airlines the customer was due to travel with are making no exceptions for pregnant women who are already booked to travel to Florida. 'As the date of departure has now passed and the booking has been cancelled, the option to amend would no longer be possible. 'Whilst Bravofly appreciates the severity of the situation, we are also obliged to follow the airlines policy and our recommendation to travellers would be to contact their insurance company in order to claim a higher amount.' A spokesman for the National Health Institute warned on Sunday that the virus will probably stay floating around the US for another couple of years. Scientists are still learning about the impacts of the virus on adults and healthy children. The most severe effect of the disease that we know of currently is its impact on unborn babies, causing severe birth defects including microcephaly. Dominica reported its first case of the Zika virus in March. Health Minister Kenneth Darroux said at the time it was a locally transmitted case and there was 'no need for alarm'. MailOnline has contacted CheapOair for comment. She found fame on Britain's Next Top Model and Abbey Clancy is certainly living up to the title as she channels her inner glamour puss in a new fashion campaign. The 30-year-old is the star of London-based designer Hasan Hejazi's new campaign, which features dazzling gowns with thigh-high splits and cinched waistlines. Photos from the new season's look book capture mother-of-two Abbey showing off her stocking-clad thighs as she works her sultry look for the camera. Getting into the mood: Abbey Clancy is the new face of luxury brand Hasan Hejazi and stars in a very sultry campaign for the designer In one shot, she appears wearing a low cut sequin black gown and in another photo she models a sheer pink skirt, with her black stockings visible underneath. The Hollywood look is completed with bold diamante jewellery, smokey eye make-up and softly curled hair. Accessories include black strappy heels and luxurious feather jackets. Abbey is the second starlet to star in one of Hasan Hejazi's campaigns. The designer, renowned for his feminine, body-sculpting dresses, picked pop queen, Marina and the Diamonds, to front his last collection. Glamour puss: Photos from the new season's look book capture the mother-of-two showing off her stocking-clad thighs Pretty in pink: The Hollywood look is completed with bold diamante jewellery, smokey eye make-up and softly curled hair Other the years he has also been responsible for dressing a whole host of celebrities, including Fergie, Kylie Minogue and Cheryl. Hasan, a London College of Fashion graduate, started his eponymous brand in 2010 when his first collection was picked up by Harrods. Abbey, meanwhile, first burst into the public conscience in 2004 when she appeared on Britains Next Top Model. Since then the Liverpudlian's career has blossomed, with numerous modelling and television presenting gigs. On top of that, Abbey also took the crown on strictly come dancing in 2013 and has since returned to her roots, becoming head judge on Britains Next Top Model. Career highs: Abbey first burst into the public conscience in 2004 when she appeared on Britains Next Top Model Midnight hour: Hasan, a London College of Fashion graduate, started his eponymous brand in 2010 when his first collection was picked up by Harrods Earlier this week she showed off her modelling prowess during a beach shoot in Mallorca. The 30-year-old looked incredible wearing a very skimpy bronze bikini by Melissa Odabash as she posed against a rock. Abbey has a lot coming up at the moment and the mother-of-two has just confirmed she is returning as head judge for a second year on BNTM. The annual Audi Hamilton Island Race Week is back, with the glamorous event attended by some of the most influential women in the country. And as those in Sydney brave the chilly weather, those in Hamilton Island, Queensland, are spending their time sailing around the idyllic islands and sunning themselves by the crystal waters of the Whitsundays. The event is one of the world's most famous (and exclusive) yachting events, bringing spectators and yachties from all around the globe for a number of lavish dining and sailing experiences. Scroll down for video 'Life is good': Audi Hamilton Island Race Week is back with the glamorous event attended by a number of influential women, including Chronicle of Her's Carmen Hamilton (pictured) Glam: 'Oooooh yeah it feels good to be back,' Carmen wrote on Instagram next to a photo of herself by the water in a crochet bikini 'So, so, so glad to be back': Carmen posed with fellow fashion blogger Nadia Fairfax as they enjoyed time aboard the 38 metre superyacht, Quantum Fashion blogger Carmen Hamilton, of Chronicles of Her, has been sharing snaps of her adventures since she arrived on the island over the weekend. 'Oooooh yeah it feels good to be back,' she wrote on Instagram next to a photo of herself by the water in a crochet bikini. 'Life is good, cruising around on Qantum yesterday chasing #WildOats,' she wrote on Tuesday next to a snap of herself enjoying a champagne aboard the 38 metre superyacht, Quantum. Down time: Nadia posed with a number of fell attendees by the pool at the stunning resort 'Jumping for joy': Nadia shared a video of herself jumping on the front of the impressive superyacht Another day: Bianca Cheah has also been enjoying herself - the glamorous blogger slipping into a Stone Cold Fox mid-calf white lace dress as she posed on the beach at Qualia Resort Fellow fashion blogger Nadia Fairfax has also been sharing photos of herself enjoying the sparkling island. 'So, so, so glad to be back!!!!!!! Here at the ever-so-special @qualiaresort,' she wrote on Instagram, before sharing a selfie with Carmen. The pair both rocked all white get-ups as they enjoyed their time on board Quantum, watching the race unfold in front of them. 'Sunset drinks': Model Eliza Humble wore a stunning white outfit as she sipped a glass of Piper-Heidsieck champagne by the ocean Where you'd rather be: Jewellery designer Samantha Lowe has also shared a number of stunning photos of herself enjoying the warm weather in a number of figure-hugging bikinis #Love: The designer also posed with a friend on the pristine Whitehaven Beach She also shared photos from a 'Pearls in Paradise' event with each of the attendees donning cocktail dresses for the occasion. Bianca Cheah has also been enjoying herself - the glamorous blogger slipping into a Stone Cold Fox mid-calf white lace dress as she posed on the beach at Qualia Resort. 'You're just incredible,' she said of her surroundings. Paradise: Other women shared snaps of themselves admiring their surroundings with a glass of champagne and photos of their incredible private pools and lunches at the resort Tribal: For one of the lunches, all of the women were given a flower crown to wear Beautiful: On Tuesday night a number of them attended an intimate dinner at Qualia's Long Pavilion with Hayden Cox Other women shared snaps of themselves admiring their surroundings with a glass of champagne and photos of their incredible private pools and lunches at the resort. VALERE jewellery designer, Samantha Lowe, has also shared a number of stunning photos of herself enjoying the warm weather in figure-hugging bikinis. On Tuesday night, a number of them attended an intimate dinner at Qualia's Long Pavilion with Hayden Cox, the founder and director of global surfboard brand Haydenshapes. Striking: Nadia dressed up in a shimmering silver mini dress for the occasion Women in white: Bianca Cheah (left) wore a Stone Cold Fox mid-calf white lace dress while Terry Biviano (right) wore a cream lace jumpsuit by Carla Zampatti costing $1,149 Star of the night: Hayden Cox (left), is the founder and director of global surfboard brand Haydenshapes The Pavilion was transformed into a chic, minimalist space and the event was hosted by James Tobin. Among the attendees were Terry Biviano, Nadia Fairfax, Bianca Cheah and Nicki Oatley. Deer Haven Park, the newly created entity to protect and manage a rare herd of white deer on the former Seneca Army Depot land, has partnered with an ecologist to develop a wildlife conservation plan. For nearly 20 years Keith Tidball has worked in natural resources management, land use planning and social-ecological research. He plans to assist Earl Martin, the winning bidder of the approximately 7,000 acres and owner of Seneca Iron Works, with plans to support the white deer, but also to support other wildlife and plant species throughout the Depot such as pollinators, wetland species and birds. "I'm excited to partner with Earl, his team and the Seneca County IDA on this project," Tidball said in a news release. "This is a rare opportunity to engage a unique social-ecological system, right here in my neighborhood, that, though once intensely managed, has been relatively untouched for two decades." Initial plans for managing the habitat include clearing overgrown brush and invasive species and assessing the perimeter fencing to identify where improvements need to be made. Martin has also contracted with a full-time maintenance manager to oversee mowing and other groundskeeping responsibilities. "We're in the early stages of developing a master plan for the preservation and maintenance of the Depot's plant and animal life," Martin said. "Dr. Tidball's expertise is critically important as we seek to protect the white deer and other wildlife throughout the property." Tidball holds a master's degree in international development studies from George Washington University and a PhD in natural resources from Cornell University. He is a U.S. Army National Guard veteran and active member of the New York State Guard. He also serves as chairman of the planning board for the town of Fayette, and his family operates Canoga Creek Farm, which focuses on sustainable farming and wildlife conservation. Bob Aronson, executive director of the Seneca County Industrial Development Agency, said in a release that working with Tidball proves that Martin is invested in the property. "He has already taken steps to improve the deer's habitat, upgrade security, and now these initiatives to address the Depot's future master plan and ongoing maintenance,"Aronson said. "We continue to work with Earl and his team, day in and day out, and look forward to closing on the sale of the property later this year." For more information on Deer Haven Park, visit deerhavenpark.org. Sister, Ella, was shocked when some questioned the need for a private op Abbey was 'very' reluctant to ask for help but raised $80,000 in five days A young woman who has been dealing with 'agonising, crushing headaches' on a daily basis, was told the symptoms were caused by a large mass in her brain. Abbey Gasparini, 22, from Leopold, Victoria, was informed she has a pineal cyst or tumour which is pressing on 'vital structures' of the brain and 'blocking the flow of cerebral spinal fluid'. Ms Gasparini's sister, Ella, 23, told Daily Mail Australia that while her sibling was 'very, very hesitant' to ask for help, she finally agreed for a Go Fund Me page to be set up in a bid to fund life-changing surgery to remove it. Very hesitant: Abbey Gasparini, who has been dealing with 'agonising, crushing headaches' on a daily basis, is to undergo keyhole surgery on her brain After being told about the mass, Ella said that Abbey consulted several surgeons who declined to operate. 'This is quite big for a pineal cyst, but because it is such a risky surgery they declined to operate until a later date,' Ella revealed. But she said that her sister was in so much pain she 'really, really wanted it out'. That's when she consulted Dr Charlie Teo, an internationally renowned neurosurgeon and a pioneer in keyhole surgical techniques for brain cancer treatment. He agreed to take on her case. Professor Teo explained it can be difficult to distinguish a pineal cyst from a tumour. 'They don't know what it's made of until they get it out,' Ella said. Family support: Abbey has the support of her sister Ella (right) and high school friends, who set up a Go Fund Me page Ella said that donations were needed because the keyhole surgery her sister requires can only be performed by Dr Teo and was shocked when some people posted comments online - which have now been deleted - questioning the need for it to be performed privately. 'The surgery Abbey will be getting is a unique and specialised keyhole brain surgery which only Dr Charlie Teo can perform... and this specific surgery is only performed at a private hospital,' she explained. While her sister previously had private medical insurance, she said that when she started experiencing severe headaches and took time off work, she cancelled it to save money - meaning she is now not covered for the operation. As a result, Ella, along with her and Abbey's high school friends, Tara Smith, 22, and Sarah Fowler, 23, set up the Go Fund Me page. Best mates: School friend Sarah Fowler (left) was one of those who persuaded Abbey (right) to share her story WHAT IS A PINEAL CYST? A pineal cyst is usually a non malignant mass in a small gland in the brain. The best treatment options depend on many factors, including the size of the cyst. Larger cysts can cause symptoms including headaches, unexpected seizures, visual disturbances, memory loss and cognitive decline. It can be difficult to distinguish a complicated cyst from a pineocytoma, which is a tumour of the pineal gland. Advertisement 'Abbey didnt want to share this with the world or set up a Go Fund Me account because she deals with her health very privately but after some convincing she has come around to the idea and we really hope you can all help,' the trio wrote on their page. 'Abbey needs some love and all the support she can get so we can be one step closer to having Abbey back in our lives, because we dont know about you but we sure miss her more than anything.' Ella said her sister was 'overwhelmed' at the speed of people's response and their generosity. The campaign raised $80,000 in five days. 'She really did not expect it to go that far,' Ella said. 'We put it up at 10.30pm and thought "no one is going to see it". Then we woke up the next day and it was up to $25,000. By the end of the first day it was up to $50,000.' The money has been raised by friends, strangers, businesses and even six AFL players who Ella declined to name. Life-changing: Abbey was very reluctant to ask for help, but strangers have donated a staggering $80,000 in just five days 'She's got so many messages of support,' Ella went on. 'It's made her so happy. She's been going through it all so privately, it's made her feel very isolated.' Ella said that if any money is left over from the operation, it will be donated to help other women facing the same surgery as her sister. School friend, Ms Smith added, 'We decided to start the campaign to help ease the stress on Abbey and her family, they're going through enough as it is and shouldn't have to worry about the financial burden too. 'If it were your sister or daughter there's nothing you wouldn't do.' A Sydney woman has been celebrated in Ireland for speaking out about reproductive rights. Brianna Parkins, a 25-year-old from Parramatta, spoke about abortion and domestic violence at a pageant where women with Irish heritage compete to be crowned the Rose of Tralee. When being interviewed on stage during the competition, Ms Parkings spoke about her passion for women's rights. Speaking out: Sydney journalist Brianna Parkins (above) has spoken about reproductive rights in Ireland during the Rose of Tralee pageant 'I think we can do better': The 25-year-old is passionate about women's rights and said that she supports women having abortion rights WHAT IS THE ROSE OF TRALEE? The Rose of Tralee is a pageant for women of Irish heritage from around the world. It is part of the festival held in Tralee, Kerry, once a year. Thirty-two women, from Ireland and overseas, compete to be crowned the Rose of Tralee. Advertisement 'I think we can do better here in Ireland, it's time to give women a say in their own reproductive rights,' she said. 'I'd love to see a referendum on the eighth coming up soon, that's my dream. The eighth amendment to Ireland's constitution criminalises abortion, and activists have been fighting for it to be repealed for many years. It was originally passed in 1983 and guarantees 'the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother.' I like to move it, move it: She also is a salsa fan, and danced on stage during the famous pageant 'Women sleeping on police station floors': Ms Parkins also spoke about the domestic violence funding cuts in Australia The ABC journalist, who was selected as the Sydney entrant for the competition, also spoke about domestic violence funding in Australia. 'In Australia we just had our funding cut for domestic violence shelters, so we're having women who are being turned away on a nightly basis. We're having women sleeping on police station floors,' Ms Parkins said. Her speech, particularly those supporting the repeal the eighth movement, had a positive response from the live audience who cheering and clapped. Happy: Afterwards, she thanked supporters on Twitter whilst wearing a 'Repeal the 8th' 'She's my winner': Her comments caused a storm online, with many women tweeting about it Sydney Rose: Maggie Rose McEldowney won the competition, but Ms Parkins won over many viewers Ms Parkins comments sparked a storm online, with many other young women praising her outspokenness. 'The #sydneyrose didn't win but we all know she's the real winner here,' one woman, Saorise, wrote on Twitter. After the pageant the journalist tweeted to thank people for the support, and posted a selfie of herself in a 'Repeal the 8th' t-shirt. Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia have announced the christening date of their son Prince Alexander - via a brace of very cute photographs. The Swedish couple posed for the snaps with four-month-old Alexander ahead of his baptism, which will take place at Drottningholm Palace Church in Stockholm next month. The delightful images show Alexander being cradled by his parents. A handsome-looking Carl Philip, 37, looking casual in a short-sleeved white shirt and sporting his trademark swept back hair and designer stubble. Scroll down for video Is he pointing at the camera? A playful Crown Prince Alexander smiles at the camera as he poses with his parents Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia to announce the little boy's baptism on September 9th The September ceremony, which will be aired on Swedish national television, will be officiated by Archbishop Antje Jackelen and take place at the Swedish capital's historic Drottningholm Palace. It's thought that the Crown Prince, born on April 19th, will follow tradition and wear a family gown that dates back to 1906, when his ancestor Prince Gustaf Adolf wore it. Fifth-in-line to the throne, Alexander - full name Alexander Erik Hubertus Bertil - will be baptised using spring water from the island of Oland and have to cover his ears for the traditional 21-gun salute by the armed forces. Don't come near me with that stubble! A cheeky-looking Alexander is cradled by his handsome father Made of cotton and lace, the gown has been passed through generations. Indeed, Prince Carl Philip himself was christened wearing it as were his father's sisters, Princess Madeleine and Crown Princess Victoria. One man received a lot more than he bargained for from a recent ASOS delivery when the jeans he ordered were long enough to fit a giant. Twitter user Devlin, @dev_chelios, from Scotland, was amazed when the jeans he received from the e-tailer were more than just a few inches too long. The surprised Scotsman took to Twitter to express his shock, writing: 'Bought a pair of Jeans off Asos and must have selected the f****** BFG option.' One man received a lot more than he bargained for from a recent ASOS delivery when the jeans he ordered were long enough to fit a giant He posted a series of images of the jeans hanging from his door, showing just how long the dark wash pair were. The tweet went down a storm and had 1,200 retweets and 2,500 likes. Devlin went on to further demonstrate his point by posting a picture of his usual jeans alongside the new pair, which are about a third longer. Twitter user Devlin, from Scotland, was amazed by the jeans that were as tall as him and duly documented them on social media Devlin demonstrated his point by posting a picture of his usual jeans alongside the new pair, which are about a third longer, above He made a gallant effort of trying the jeans on, but over 12 inches of fabric remained, hanging off his feet. Holding the jeans up against his body, Devlin demonstrated how long the jeans were, as they come all the way up to his chin. However, the Twitter user took it all in good spirits and when the online retailer tweeted to ask for his order number and date of birth to check out the order he replied: 'Why would you need my DOB? You're not old enough to have gargantuan legs?' He made a gallant effort of trying the jeans on, but over 12 inches of fabric remained, hanging off his feet Devlin also rolled the jeans up, which caused a very large bulge at the end of his leg This left Devlin in even more of a pickle as he struggled to take the jeans off - all of which he documented on Twitter Another Twitter user asked Devlin to roll the jeans up as an experiment, which caused a very large bulge at the end of his leg. This left Devlin in even more of a pickle as he struggled to take the jeans off. However, Devlin is not the only person to be baffled by ASOS's extraordinarily long jeans . Jake Morrison posted a picture to Twitter after he also received the extra long jeans He also tweeted an image of his housemate holding the jeans and wrote: 'Dear @ASOS my 32 length jeans are bigger than my 5ft 9 flatmate' Jake Morrison posted a picture to Twitter, tagging ASOS's Here to Help account, asking 'Sorry @ASOS_HeretoHelp but you replace one pair of super long jeans with another. 32 length or prom dress please? [sic]' He also tweeted an image of his housemate holding the jeans and wrote: 'Dear @ASOS my 32 length jeans are bigger than my 5ft 9 flatmate'. The two are just the latest in a spate of disgruntled customers who have taken to Twitter after receiving pairs of freakishly long jeans from the online retailer. The two are just the latest in a spate of disgruntled customers, who have taken to Twitter after receiving pairs of long jeans. Alex, above, found himself in the same boat, writing: 'something tells me asos sent me the wrogg size jeans (sic.)' The British fashion giant appears to have been sending the 'oversized' denims in error, with some people claiming their orders are as much as 8 inches too long - however ASOS insist it's simply a 'new menswear style' that is designed to gather around the ankle. George Riggall, 20, from Leicester, expressed his amusement this week after his 32in indigo jeans arrived so long they covered his entire feet. George Riggall, 20, from Leicester, expressed his amusement this week after his 32in indigo jeans arrived so long they covered his entire feet 'Pretty sure these aren't 32in lengeth @ASOS,' the estate agent wrote, alongside two pictures of his delivery. In one, he lay them down alongside a 'normal' pair of jeans, which appeared to be around half the size. Luckily, George appeared to see the funny side. 'I opened them and I was stood with my mum and she just started crying with laughter,' he told BuzzFeed. 'We couldnt believe what Id been sent, I was baffled I dont know who would fit these jeans. Probably nobody!' Hannah Cook wrote: 'Ordered some petite jeans & these arrived. Length 36"! I'm only 4'11" - 8 inches too long for me' Esme, from Northamptonshire, also shared a picture of herself holding up some extra-long jeans, simply writing: 'hmmm' Despite ASOS asking George for returns information, he added: 'I might keep the jeans for fun now.' George wasn't the only one receiving inexplicably long jeans from the fashion site. Twitter user Hannah posted a picture of a man holding up a pair as tall as his shoulders, writing: 'Think someone at hq got his order wrong.. never ever seen a pair of jeans so long.' Twitter user Hannah posted a picture of a man holding up a pair as tall as his shoulders, writing: 'Think someone at hq got his order wrong' A spokesperson for ASOS told MailOnline: 'The ASOS Super Skinny Stacker jeans are a new menswear style which are cut longer than standard length to allow a gathered effect at the ankles' Fellow Twitter user Alex found himself in the same boat, writing: 'something tells me asos sent me the wrogg size jeans (sic.)' Esme, from Northamptonshire, also shared a picture of herself holding up some extra-long jeans, simply writing: 'hmmm.' Hannah Cook wrote: 'Ordered some petite jeans & these arrived. Length 36"! I'm only 4'11" - 8 inches too long for me.' She shared a picture of herself holding up a pair of the jeans, which reached all the way up to her chin. A mother-of-two who finally met her El Salvadorean father for the first time says being with him felt like 'it was meant to be'. Miriam Aragon Hay, 39, from Wales, revealed on ITV's Long Lost Family how she only learned the dramatic story behind her parents' passionate - and illicit - affair when she was 19. She had been stunned to discover that her mother Veronica was a nun on a mission in Central America while her father Victor Aragon was a guitarist in a Mariachi band when they fell in love in 1976. Scroll down for video Peace at last: In tonight's episode of ITV's, Long Lost Family, Miriam Aragon Hay, 39, gets the shock of her life after being reunited with her long-lost Salvadoran father, Victor Aragon As a result, Miriam's mother Veronica - then 38 - was taken out of the convent in El Salvador and returned to the UK to give birth. She didn't go back to her home town in Ireland, but instead moved to Manchester then Wales. Unable to return to life as a nun, she got a job as a teacher. She never saw her lover - who was just 23 at the time - again. Growing up, Miriam - now a full-time mother to Max, 12, Theo, four, and two-year-old Beau - didn't know anything about her father. First encounter: Growing up Miriam - now a full-time mother to Max, 12, Theo, four, and two-year-old Beau - didn't know anything about her father From the heart: It wasnt until Miriam was 19 that her mother finally broke her silence, revealing a story that was almost beyond imagination - she detailed it in an eight-page letter When she touched on the subject with her mother, the conversation would get cut off as emotions ran high. All she knew, was that her father was from El Salvador. It wasnt until Miriam was 19 that her mother finally broke her silence, revealing a story that was almost beyond imagination. Recalling the moment she discovered her mother's secret, Miriam said: 'Not only was I born out of wedlock but I was a nuns baby. I was like a double taboo.' Miriam received an eight-page letter detailing her mothers memories of the forbidden love affair between her and young man called Victor Aragon, a local Mariachi band guitar player who worked at the convent. Not only was I born out of wedlock but I was a nuns baby. I was like a double taboo Victor and Veronica were in love but when it was discovered Veronica was pregnant she was removed from the mission and never saw Victor again. Along with the letter, Veronica also gave her daughter a grainy photograph of her father as well as an audio clip of him playing the guitar. For Miriam this was an enormous revelation, but she was particularly moved to learn that she was born out of love: 'It gave me a lot of strength and courage,' she said. From this point on Miriam did everything she could to try to form some kind of connection with her father. When she was 25, with her mothers blessing she added Aragon to her surname in honour of her father. Ten years ago Miriam was given a documentary film about El Salvador by her mother, which extraordinarily contained clips of her father. Family matters: Miriam pictured as a child with her mother Veronica 'To see a moving picture of someone that youve never met but is half of you... it was mind-blowing' she explained. With this footage and the magical stories from her mother, Miriam said she always felt an 'invisible connection' to her father but there was still a part of her missing. Things particularly hit home when she married Richard, 41, a manager for a pharmaceutical company, five years ago and there was no one to walk her down the aisle. In a bid to finally put things to rest, Miriam contacted ITV's Long Lost Family last year. When researchers took on the case, they knew it would be a difficult one to crack. To see a moving picture of someone that you've never met but is half of you, it was mind-blowing' she explained Two years after Miriam was born, a civil war broke out in El Salvador and many people had fled the country. In fact their search showed no sign of Victor in his local area of Gotera. Eventually the trail led them to a Victor Aragon in the Washington DC area of the USA, where many people from El Salvador had fled the civil war. They contacted him and he confirmed that he was the man they had been searching for. The television crew travelled to Washington to hear Victors story. With the cameras rolling, the 63-year-old painter and decorator described the love affair with Miriams mother and how difficult it was for them. 'By her side I feel like Im in heaven but we couldnt show our love.' he explained. After Veronica left the country pregnant with their child, the only contact Victor had was via the sisters at the convent, who showed him a picture of Miriam after she was born. Family reunion: Miriam, her husband Richard, their sons Theo, four, and two-year-old Beau and her dad Victor after they met for the first time However they would not allow him to keep the photo as it was a secret and he has lived with only the memory of that photograph. When Long Lost Family presenter Nicky Campbell produced a picture of Miriam, the sight of his daughter moved Victor to tears. He recognised his 'little girl' in an instant. When Miriam was told that her father has been found and she would finally get to meet him, she said: 'It is beautiful to know that hes there, that hes real and alive. 'I used to pray to him that he would send me his love in other ways because he couldnt be with me.' Its all I wanted was to have that bond to feel he is a part of me and that I am part of him Victor, who went on to marry and have five more children, was flown thousands of miles across the Atlantic to reunite with his daughter. In tonight's episode of Long Lost Family Miriam and Victor are seen meeting at a pub near Miriams home in Wales. Brimming with excitement Miriam sets eyes on her father for the first time and they embrace. For both father and daughter it is an opportunity they always hoped and believed would happen. 'It is like it was meant to be', says Miriam. It is clear the pair cannot wait to share their lives and are determined to build a future together. Miriam says, 'Its all I wanted was to have that bond... to feel he is a part of me and that I am part of him.' The mother-of-two is planning to save up so she can go to the U.S. to visit her father and to get to know her five half-siblings. As well as entertaining Saturday night viewers for three decades, BBC drama Casualty has also helped launched a number of stellar acting careers. Orlando Bloom, Kate Winslet, Tom Hiddleston and Daisy Ridley are just some of the A-listers who visited the Holby City A&E playing patients and concerned relatives before Hollywood came calling. David Walliams had a part on the show before finding fame as a comedian while actor Martin Freeman was one of those to suffer an unfortunate accident before he went on to star in The Hobbit. Scroll down for video Tom Hiddleston played a rock climber in a 2007 episode of Casualty before he became famous as Thor and the Night Manager (and as Taylor Swift's beau) Orlando Bloom starred in a 1996 episode called 'Another Day In Paradise' before going on to become a star in Lord Of The Rings and Pirates Of The Caribbean Daisy Riley appeared on the show in 2013 before finding global fame as Rey in the rebooted Star Wars franchise Minnie Driver played a patient in 1999 before going on to star in films including Good Will Hunting Kate Winslet's character is given bad news by Derek Thompson, who has played Charlie for 30 years, in this 1993 episode. She's gone on to become an Oscar winner Minnie Driver, Ray Winstone and Christopher Ecclestone also appeared on the drama before going on to find greater fame and fortune. While actor Derek Thompson, who plays Charlie, has remained a constant presence as the only original cast member still on the show, others have flitted between BBC programmes. Danny Dyer was a hospital porter before he became Mick on EastEnders and New Tricks star Amanda Redman appeared in the hospital drama in 1992. Christopher Eccleston appeared as a patient in 1990 before finding fame as Doctor Who Martin Freeman visited Casualty in 1998 as his character was involved in a stabbing. He went on to star in The Office, The Hobbit and Sherlock Before becoming a famous comedian and children's author, David Walliams was a jobbing actor and appeared in an episode of Casualty in 2003 Ray Winstone appeared as a hard man in series nine in 1999 before landing similar film roles in Hollywood in gangster films like The Departed and Sexy Beast Amanda Redman needed treatment on an episode in 1992 and remains on the BBC today starring in New Tricks The special feature-length episode that airs on Saturday will also see the return of another EastEnders star - Pam St Clement - who will make a guest appearance as a grumpy patient years after she left screens when her character Pat was killed off Albert Square. The BBC have revealed that the centrepiece of Casualty's 30th anniversary episode will be a hugely ambitious stunt bigger than anything the show has ever done before. Steve Hughes, director of the episode, said: 'When Series Producer Erika Hossington, told me about the ambition for the episode, I couldn't believe we'd attempt to do something that big! Boyband McFly made a guest appearance in 2005 Danny Dyer was cars as a paramedic in 2012 before he landed the role of Mick in EastEnders 'Even before my preparation started, I had numerous conversations with my stunt coordinator, Julian Spencer. Between us we decided to attempt to shoot the sequence practically, for real rather than using CGI. 'It would make things incredibly complicated, but the end result, as I hope people will agree when they see the episode, would be worth it.' Rula Lenska played a Circus Master in a 1992 episode of the show Norman Wisdom played a worried relative in a 1998 episode Casualty first time on September 6 1986 on BBC One and has become the longest-running British peak-time medical drama pulling in an average of 5.4 million viewers every Saturday. It also spawned a popular spin-off Holby City that started in 1999. The authenticity of the scent was met with mixed reactions by New Yorkers but they all agreed they would not wear it FEMAIL got hold of a bottle of the SPF 30 Extra Crispy Sunscreen to test it out in the sun and found its scent was potent The limited edition product sold out in two hours when the company launched a give-away online Earlier this week Kentucky Fried Chicken launched a sunscreen that claims to smell like chicken To fans of fried chicken, the smell is one of the most salivating-inducing scents around - especially at the end of a night out. But even dedicated Kentucky Fried Chicken customers would probably hesitate at the idea of rubbing chicken-scented cream all over their bodies and then sitting out in the sun. Following the launch of KFC's SPF 30 Extra Crispy Sunscreen on Monday, FEMAIL tested out the novelty product to see whether it works and, most importantly, whether or not it truly smells like fried chicken. Potent: NY Senior Femail Reporter Miranda Bryant, pictured, tests KFC's fried chicken scented sunscreen and ends up smelling like 'stewing fried chicken' Oily: Miranda said she felt like her skin was cooking as she basked in the sunshine Unusual: Earlier this week KFC launched SPF 30 Extra Cripsy Sunscreen which claims to smell like chicken The bottle has the words 'smells like chicken' printed across the front and in case anybody is tempted to eat it, the bottle also warns to seek medical help if the product is consumed. After flipping open the cap, the simultaneously peppery and greasy smell of chicken hit me immediately, followed by a slightly medicinal scent similar to mosquito repellent. After nervously rubbing it into my skin and sitting outside in the heat of the New York sunshine, the cloy-y unmistakable scent of KFC started to spread. Its creators claim it has an SPF of 30, but my arms and legs started to feel like they were actually cooking in fried chicken oil. When I asked New Yorkers for their reviews, the cream was met with mixed reactions but they all agreed on one thing - they would definitely not use it. Emily Doyle, 24, an advertising worker from New York, said it could have a stronger chicken scent. In demand: The limited edition product, pictured, sold out in two hours when the company launched a give-away online Suspicious: The authenticity of the scent was met with mixed reactions by New Yorkers such as Emily Doyle, 24, pictured left and right, who suggested they put in 'more chicken oil' 'I love fried chicken but I don't think I would want to smell like it. 'You know when you walk into a store and that smell? I wouldn't really want to smell like that. 'The consistency is good though, it's like a normal sunscreen. It doesn't crazy smell like it though, they need to put more chicken oil or something,' she said. Daren Wu, 26, on holiday in New York from Taiwan, was more convinced. Sniffing the bottle and then my cream-covered arm, she said: 'Oh my God, really, yeah, it smells convincing. It smells like you've maybe just finished fried chicken.' Won over: Daren Wu, 26, pictured, said she was convinced by the smell and said she would consider buying it as a souvenir or a present for a friend Not chicken: Cooper Cheatham, 28, pictured left and right, compared the smell to dim sum She said she would not use it, but did not rule out buying it as a present for a friend or a souvenir. On first sniff, Cooper Cheatham, 28, who works in experiential marketing and lives in New York, thought it smelled like fried chicken but a few seconds later compared it to dim sum. He said: 'Now that I'm selling it more it smells like a restaurant in China Town.' Daily Mail Online's science and technology reporter Cheyenne MacDonald, 23, compared the smell to 'a barbie or a baby doll'. She added: 'I like the smell of chicken and it just didn't get me.' Unconvinced: Daily Mail Online's science and technology reporter Cheyenne MacDonald, 23, pictured compared the scent to 'a barbie or a baby doll' Cloying: Femail found the product, pictured, so potent that it took several washes to make the smell disappear Following my experiment, I tried to wash the cream off before going back into the office to sit at my desk but this product is potent. Within seconds of sitting down my colleagues claimed they could already smell me and one suggested that I 'take a bath'. Later I went running and the smell got even worse. As I ran around the track I kept being distracted by the stewing stench of fried chicken. After scrubbing hard with a body brush I thought I was rid of the smell but was later haunted by a peppery scent. The doctors also meet with Lee, who was born with a congenital malformation of his nose Addie said she has never had a boyfriend because her deformity has prevented her from ever wanting to be intimate with anyone Her mother had no idea Addie had a conjoined twin until she was born, and doctors removed the non-viable twin from her backside Dr. Paul Nassif and Dr. Terry Dubrow travel to Louisiana to meet with Addie, 35, on Wednesday's Botched by Nature A woman who was born with a conjoined twin attached to her buttocks is asking doctors to fix her deformity so she will finally have the confidence to start dating. On Wednesday night's episode of the E! reality series Botched by Nature, Los Angeles-based surgeons Dr. Paul Nassif and Dr. Terry Dubrow travel to Louisiana to meet with 35-year-old Addie, who has never had a boyfriend because her condition prevented her from ever wanting to be intimate with anyone. 'I'm tired of people talking about me,' Addie says in a preview clip from the episode. Scroll down for video Emotional moment: Addie, who was born with a conjoined twin attached to her buttocks, meets with Dr. Paul Nassif and Dr. Terry Dubrow on Wednesday's Botched by Nature Missing confidence: The 35-year-old says that she has never had a boyfriend because her concave buttocks have kept her from ever wanting to be intimate with anyone The Mirror reports that when Addie's mom had an ultrasound when she was pregnant with her, they only 'saw the one, healthy baby'. Doctors wouldn't let her see Addie when she was born, and the doctors deduce it was because the other twin wasn't viable, and they didn't want to upset after she had just give birth. Addie says the concave skin on her backside didn't bother her until she became a teenager and her peers started teasing her. Brainstorming: Dr. Dubrow (right) admits to Dr. Nassif (left) that he has no idea how he is going to fix Addie's behind after their first meeting Not only does Addie want her buttocks fixed, but she is hoping that doctors could make her derriere look like Jennifer Lopez's. However, Dr. Dubrow and Dr. Nassif can't promise such a dramatic transformation, and they aren't even entirely sure how they are going to fix Addie's behind. 'How are you going to fix that?' Dr. Nassif asks, and Dr. Dubrow admits: 'Honestly? I have no idea.' Goals: Addie tells the doctors she wants a butt like Jennifer Lopez's, but they try to give her a realistic estimation of the changes they can make The doctors also meet with Lee, who was born with a congenital malformation of his nose On Wednesday night's episode, the doctors also meet with Lee, who was born with a congenital malformation of his nose. 'My first operation I was three,' he tells the doctors in a preview clip from the episode. 'I was born without a bone, it was frontonasal syndrome, and the bone didn't develop. So they took a piece out of my hip and grafted it in my nose.' Lee says he still has pain in his hip if he walks to much, and he believes it is going to bother him for the rest of his life. Lee also admits that growing up he was made fun of for his nose. Living with frontonasal syndrome: Lee explained that he was born without a bone in his nose and doctors took a piece of his hip and grafted it when he was three years old Unwavering love: Lee's mom, who is pictured with him when he was a baby, says he was always 'just a beautiful, healthy baby' to her 'I was teased in school,' he recalls. 'They would tell me I have a crooked nose, you know? And somebody would get angry and pick on me. Kids can be cruel.' Lee tells the cameras that when went to school people would stare and be rude and try to hurt his feelings. His mom explains to the doctors that she didn't have an ultrasound when she pregnant, so when he was born she thought his nose was 'squashed down, that it would just pop up'. Terrible time: Lee admits that he would get teased in school, and the bullying has prevented him from wanting to meet new people Looking for change: 'It just seems like in the last five years I've isolated myself and been kind of lonely,' Lee tells the doctors When I found out it was actually a deformity, it was scary, but to me, he was just a beautiful, healthy baby the joy of my life. However, Lee says the deformity has affected his life in a 'big way' because it has wrecked his self-esteem. 'Socially, I don't really like to meet new people. It's hard,' he explains. A romantic man proposed to the love of his life in a helicopter, after persuading a farmer to mow 'will you marry me?' into a field. Shyam Thakrar, known as Sam, spent months planning every detail to ask his partner Sara Dhokia, to marry him with nothing more than a tractor and a helicopter. He managed to convince farmers 300 miles from the couple's home in west London, to painstakingly plough 'Dear Sara, Will you marry me?' in giant letters into their fields. Shyam and Sara, pictured above on their helicopter ride, had travelled 300 miles from their home for the proposal Farmers 300 miles from the couple's home in west London, painstakingly ploughed 'Dear Sara, Will you marry me?' in giant letters into their fields The farmers at Howtel Farm, in Mindrum, Northumberland, even used walkie talkies to speak long distance to make sure the letters were clear enough. Then, pretending the pair where having a spontaneous day out, he arranged a flight to take them above the fields. Sam, a 27-year-old entrepreneur, said: 'To be honest I had this idea since I was aged 15. I always thought this is how I'd like to do it. 'I got in touch with farmers and found one that said he'd done something similar before, but not on this scale. Posting on his Instagram page, Sam declared 'She said yes' alongside a picture of the field with the words 'Will you marry me?' 'I didn't want to spend loads of money on a holiday or something and wanted to do something thoughtful and personal. 'It was a big effort - around five months of planning in total.' The couple took a flight to Newcastle Airport and checked into a Premier Inn as a decoy. They left their luggage, where Sam suggested they use a helicopter experience voucher he had been given. Keeping up the pretence that this was all a spontaneous day out, the pair arranged a helicopter ride with a third person - who later turned out to be an undercover photographer. Sam said: 'We took off and after about 30 minutes we were flying above the farm, at 2-3000 feet. 'So we were quite high and I pointed (the field) out to her and she was just stunned, and then she looked back at me and I had a ring and asked her to marry me! Sam, pictured above getting into the helicopter with Sara, pretended that it was a spontaneous day out Sam said: 'We took off and after about 30 minutes we were flying above the farm, at 2-3000 feet. So we were quite high and I pointed (the field) out to her and she was just stunned, and then she looked back at me and I had a ring and asked her to marry me!' The farmers at Howtel Farm, in Mindrum, Northumberland, even used walkie talkies to speak long distance to make sure the letters were clear enough When they landed the helicopter at the farm and had champagne, they had photos where a lot of the locals had heard of Sara because her name had been in the field for so long 'She said yes and we landed the helicopter at the farm and had Champagne. Then we had photos done at the farm, where a lot of the locals had heard of Sara - she was known around the town after her name was in the field for so long!' The loved-up couple, who had been together for three-and-a-half years, then stayed at the glamourous Balmoral hotel in Edinburgh, where Sam surprised Sara again with friends and family ready to celebrate. Sam said: 'I met Sara through her sister, who is the same age as me. I always thought she was good looking. 'I'd actually known of her for about six years and always lived just two minutes from each other and even trained at same gym before we went out'. Sara, a 24-year-old early year's teacher, is hoping to release a new app for parents to connect with their children, Blossom Educational, before the wedding planning begins. Watch your backs Kendall and Gigi! There is a new class of models (with famous family ties) that are set to take over the fashion world. Besides signing contracts with major modeling agencies, walking the hottest runway shows and appearing in killer fashion spreads , Kaia Gerber, 14, Sofia Richie, 18, Delilah Belle Hamlin, 18, and Lottie Moss, 18, have also mastered the art of off-duty style. Here, get to know the next wave of 'It' girls, as FEMAIL recreates their stylish looks. KAIA GERBER GET THE LOOK (Clockwise from top left) House of CB coat, $171, houseofcb.com Michael Kors sunglasses, $149, neimanmarcus.com Balenciaga silk scarf, $286, mytheresa.com Steve Madden boots, $129.95, stevemadden.com DVF romper, Now $124 , dvf.com Advertisement SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLE: @kaiagerber AGE: 14 FAMOUS RELATIVES: Mother: Supermodel Cindy Crawford INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS: Over 754,000 WHERE YOU'VE SEEN HER: Kaia may be the youngest of the bunch but she has already landed the April cover of Vogue Paris, alongside her mother, Cindy, and covered Pop magazine's September issue solo. She also modeled a 10 page fashion spread in LOVE magazine that was styled and photographed by pal, Kendall Jenner. Just like Mom: Kaia Gerber, 14, is following in her mother's footsteps after appearing on the covers of Vogue Paris and Pop magazine LOTTIE MOSS GET THE LOOK Clockwise from top left) Ariel Gordon necklace, $575, arielgordon.com Dorothy Perkins bodysuit, Now $9, dorothyperkins.com Loeffler Randall clutch, $195, net-a-porter.com Topshop jeans, $65, topshop.com Charles by Charles David pumps, Now $69.90, nordstrom.com Advertisement SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLE: @lottiemossxo AGE: 18 FAMOUS RELATIVES: Sister: Supermodel Kate Moss INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS: Over 70,000 WHERE YOU'VE SEEN HER: Lottie has been featured on the May cover of Vogue Paris, and appeared in a fashion spread in American Vogue alongside Bella Hadid and Kylie Jenner. She has also walked the runways of Paris Fashion Week. Next big thing: Lottie Moss, 18, is already a Vogue favorite appearing in both the French and American verisons SOFIA RICHIE GET THE LOOK (Clockwise from top left) Boohoo crop top, $10, boohoo.com Twin-Set sleeveless coat, $265.36, farfetch.com Puma sneakers, $65, puma.com Alexander Wang bag, $595, bergdorfgoodman.com M.I.H Jeans skirt, $595, net-a-porter.com Advertisement SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLE: @sofiarichie AGE: 18 FAMOUS RELATIVES: Father: Musician Lionel Richie, Sister: Designer Nicole Richie INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS: Over 1.4 million WHERE YOU'VE SEEN HER: In addition to frequent appearances on her sister's show Candidly Nicole, Sofia graced the July cover of Modeliste magazine, and the March cover of ES magazine. You may also recognize her as Justin Beiber's latest squeeze. Teen Queen: Sofia Richie, 18, has already graced the covers of Modeliste and ES magazines DELILAH BELLE HAMLIN GET THE LOOK (Clockwise from top left) Fallon choker, $125, barneys.com Boohoo dress, $10, boohoo.com Lacoste watch, $144.99, amazon.com Jerome Dreyfuss bag, $625, monnierfreres.com Kendall + Kylie heels, $199, saksfifthavenue.com Advertisement SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLE: @delilahbelle AGE: 18 FAMOUS RELATIVES: Father: Actor Harry Hamlin, Mother: Actress Lisa Rinna INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS: Over 60,000 WHERE YOU'VE SEEN HER: While Delilah may have just signed with Elite modeling agency two weeks ago, she has already been featured in a fashion spread for Teen Vogue. You may also recognize her from appearances on her mother's show Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. in her new movie is all in Hebrew, a language in which the Israeli-born star is fluent but felt the need for improvement Natalie Portman would have us believe she's not really a Hollywood glamazon but her new cover of Modern Luxury magazine indicates otherwise. 'I'm a harried working mom,' the 35-year-old told the publication for its September issue, insisting she usually sticks to a 'uniform' of jeans and a T-shirt. But while she tries to insist that she's just like the rest of us, she can't help but cut an incredibly glamorous figure on the front of the magazine, where she poses with bold red lipstick and wind-blown hair. Glam girl: Natalie Portman stars on the cover of the September issue of Modern Luxury magazine Powerful: The 35-year-old talked to the publication about making her directorial debut with the Hebrew-language film A Tale of Love and Darkness Modern Luxury publishes editions in several major US cities, which means Natalie has earned not one but actually several different covers. The magazine is also available for digital download. For the Orange County edition, her new, shorter hair obscures one eye as she looks at the camera, her nails and lips a matching shade of crimson. For Miami's issue, she smolders with more tousled locks while holding one hand to her face. In another image, the actress has switched to a red outfit with black nails, popping her collar as she looks out from under perfectly groomed, thick brows. Serious undertaking: Natalie, who is fluent in Hebrew, stars in the film, and wrote it based on an autobiographical novel Smart cookie: She said she needed to improve her language skills to effectively communicate with Hebrew-speaking cast and crew Speaking to the magazine, Natalie talked about making her directorial debut with the film A Tale of Love and Darkness, which she also wrote and stars in. She said she was 'so moved by' the book that inspired the flick, which was written by Amos Oz's and tells the true story of growing up when Israel was first becoming a country. Directing, she admitted, was a challenge but not just because it was new to her. 'I was uncomfortable in the beginning stating what I wanted all the time,' she said. 'By the end, you get so good at saying, "I want this" because everyone just wants you to be direct and clear and say what you want. And you know what you want. You dont have to apologize for it.' Casual style: Natalie, pictured carrying her son Aleph, said she is a 'harried working mom' who favors jeans and T-shirts Three's company: She and now-husband Benjamin Millepied have one child Natalie also had to communicate with most of the cast and crew in Hebrew, the language that the entire film was shot in. Though the Israeli-born star is fluent and even took grad courses in Jerusalem and graduating from Harvard in 2003 this was new. 'I obviously speak it well, but not perfectly. So I had to really improve my Hebrew for playing the part, and also, in terms of communicating as a director with the entire cast and crew.' The star who, impressively, also knows French, Japanese, German, and Spanish said deciding to have all the film's dialogue in Hebrew wasn't an easy decision, either, since people tried to persuade her against it. 'There were a lot of people who actually encouraged me to make it in English, saying it would get a wider audience, she said. 'But I feel like, you see great films in their original language. Stunning: Images from the star's new Miss Dior campaign were released last week Refreshing: Natalie said she feels 'better' when she pulls herself together and wears makeup 'When you see a movie that takes place in Germany, you expect they'd be speaking German. If you see Mexico, you except to hear Spanish. And, of course, in Israel, they speak Hebrew. And this film is so much about language. It's almost impossible, I think, to make it in another language.' The mother of five-year-old Aleph whom she welcomed with now-husband Benjamin Millepied, her choreographer for Black Swan also touched on the power of makeup in film and real life, noting that it can be a confidence-booster. Jessica Addicott suffered post natal depression after her having her first son Dougie (right) who is now seven Last week, Jessica Addicott's seven-year-old son Dougie went to give her a cuddle. As he leaned in, her body became taut and he said: 'I'll kiss you on the cheek because I know you don't like to kiss me back, Mummy.' It's a moment that cut Jessica to the core, flooding her with guilt. The fact she has always struggled to show him affection is hard enough, but that he is beginning to cotton on is, she says, even more painful. 'It broke my heart,' says Jessica. 'I didn't bond with him at birth and it got worse. By the time he was four, not only did I find it difficult being tactile with him, I struggled to touch his clothes or pick up a cup he'd drunk from.' The cause of her detachment from her elder child? Ongoing postnatal depression (PND) the symptoms of which were so severe that this devoted mother-of-two contemplated suicide 'nearly every day' during the first six years of Dougie's life. That this devastating condition can extend far beyond the first year is not well known, nor widely recognised by GPs. When a desperate Jessica booked an emergency doctor's appointment on the day Dougie started school, she was told it couldn't be PND because that 'clears up after one or two years'. 'I asked: 'What have I got then?' ' says Jessica. 'I was having the same suicidal thoughts I'd been having since his birth. I hated myself and felt like I was bullying my own child.' PND affects up to 15 per cent of women within a year of giving birth. But the impact on a mother can last a lifetime. The effects on the child, too, can be devastating. A World Health Organisation study highlighted how infants of chronically depressed mothers do not perform as well in thinking and intelligence tests at 18 months. Children of depressed mothers are also said to be more distractible, less playful and less social up to the age of five. The effects last well into adulthood, with many developing behavioural problems and difficulties sustaining relationships. 'The term PND is used to describe depression up to a year after birth. But that doesn't mean the symptoms can't persist after that,' says consultant obstetrician in perinatal mental health, Dr Raja Gangopadhyay. 'Depression during pregnancy is one of the important risk factors of developing PND. Mental health conditions during pregnancy can also affect the foetus, leading to pre-term delivery, growth restriction and developmental delays. 'That's why it's so important midwives and obstetricians address these issues antenatally.' Yet new NHS figures show that in almost half of the UK, pregnant women and new mothers do not have access to specialist perinatal mental health services. Another mother who struggled was private detective Rebecca Jane, whose sustained PND hit her so hard it is one of the reasons she decided to be sterilised It's an issue the Government last week pledged to address, with 365 million allocated for specialist services over the next five years. Experts have long warned that it has gone ignored. Thousands never get the support they need, and suicide is still one of the leading causes of death in expectant and new mothers. Jessica, 25, says that despite her delight at a positive pregnancy test, she felt 'blank and unemotional' at the first scan. 'Dougie's dad and I had been together two years and Dougie was very much planned. But the sonographer seemed more excited by the image of my baby than me. It really panicked me.' Another mother, 34-year-old Hannah Tubb, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, is convinced her continuing PND greatly affected her elder daughter, Isabelle, now eight Then, having wanted a girl, she suffered 'gender disappointment' when the next scan revealed a boy. Dougie was born at Southmead Hospital, Bristol, in August 2009 with Jessica admitting: 'When I held him for the first time, I felt no bond, no emotion, nothing. I didn't want any harm to come to him, but I didn't want him there.' When transferred to the postnatal ward, she says: 'A midwife pulled a curtain around me and said: 'Give us a buzz if you need anything.' Suddenly I was alone with my baby, feeling panicked.' Jessica, who was living with her parents at the time, says that with their support her dad, a policeman, would even do the night bottle feeds looking after Dougie was relatively easy. But her depression was another matter. .Not only are doctors becoming better informed about how to treat PND and ever earlier but Jenny Burns, perinatal mental health expert for the charity MIND, says such is the brain's plasticity that all is not lost 'Nearly every day I thought about killing myself,' she says. 'I didn't ever try it, but I would daydream about how to do it.' Dougie was a month old when Jessica sobbed to her mum: 'I don't love him, I don't love him . . .' Her mother, a childminder, contacted a health visitor, who told Jessica she had PND and had likely suffered antenatal depression, too. Her GP prescribed anti-depressants for a short time. There was an 18-month waiting list for counselling so she tried private therapy, which 'didn't work out'. Rebecca Jane, who'd never before suffered depression, and her fiance had been together two years when she conceived. They married five months into the pregnancy Dougie was 18 months old when his parents split up, in part due to Jessica's severe depression. And there had been no improvement in her condition by the time he started school. 'Once I'd dropped him off, I couldn't stop crying,' she recalls. 'I made an emergency doctor's appointment, where I told the doctor I still had PND. He told me it was impossible, because it clears up after one or two years. 'No one could tell me what was wrong, so I concluded I wasn't meant to be a mum.' Not only are doctors becoming better informed about how to treat PND and ever earlier but Jenny Burns, perinatal mental health expert for the charity MIND, says such is the brain's plasticity that all is not lost But an Australian study says Jessica's experience is far from unusual. A child turning four is a particularly vulnerable stage for a mother, with more than 14 per cent suffering depression at this point. That's when Jessica started making excuses not to cuddle Dougie. She says now: 'I am worried about the damage my coldness must have done.' Jessica met new partner Matt, a glass-blower, in January 2014. For the first time she had someone in whom to confide. Within a year the suicidal thoughts had stopped and they have a son, Artie, now one. At Artie's birth, Jessica 'requested skin-to-skin contact and wanted to try breastfeeding at the earliest opportunity'. She says: 'It all felt really natural.' The guilt she feels is the disparity in how she has treated her two boys. 'I am a lot closer to Artie than Dougie. I love them both equally, but am all over one and not the other.' Jessica now writes a blog and campaigns to raise awareness of 'detachment from the eldest child syndrome'. She says: 'Lots of women won't admit it because they think it's saying they don't love their kids. I want to tell them it's not their fault.' One such mother was private detective Rebecca Jane, whose sustained PND hit her so hard it is one of the reasons she decided to be sterilised. Then only 28, she was assessed by numerous doctors before getting the go-ahead. Rebecca, now 31, from Manchester, says: 'I'd suffered depression after my elder daughter Paris's birth and it hadn't gone by the time I got pregnant with her sister Peaches seven years later. I never wanted to risk getting PND again and had the operation when Peaches was one.' The young mother, who'd never before suffered depression, and her fiance had been together two years when she conceived. They married five months into the pregnancy. Dougie was born at Southmead Hospital, Bristol, in August 2009 with Jessica Adicott admitting: 'When I held him for the first time, I felt no bond, no emotion, nothing But she sites emotional upheaval as the cause of her problems: 'At seven months I discovered my husband was having multiple affairs. 'When I confronted him, he denied it. I was losing my mind; I became totally helpless.' Convinced she was incapable of caring for a child on her own, she forgave her husband to the detriment of her mental health. 'Paris was two-and-a-half weeks overdue and still weighed only 6 lb. Doctors said the stress contributed to her low birth weight.' Like Jessica, Rebecca felt emotionally numb: 'It was as if someone had given me a baby that wasn't mine.' Dougie was a month old when Jessica sobbed to her mum: 'I don't love him, I don't love him . . .' Encouraged to persevere with breastfeeding, which clearly wasn't working, she says she was left 'emotionally and physically ruined' and Paris 'was screaming hungry'. 'By day 11, Mum had had enough watching me slumped against the wall crying. She said: 'Go to Asda, get some formula milk.' 'I felt such freedom when I left the house on my own that it hit me how much my life had changed for ever. I didn't stop crying for days. 'I started getting suicidal thoughts. I'd spend hours writing letters to Paris, apologising to her for being her mother. I was convinced she would be better off without me.' Paris was nine months when Rebecca visited the doctor. She was prescribed antidepressants, to which she became addicted for five years. The mother-baby bond suffered: 'I struggled with cuddling Paris.' Her daughter was three when Rebecca filed for divorce. She continued to battle PND and reunited with her 'very first boyfriend', Ben, within a year. They married and had Peaches, now three. Rebecca blames ongoing PND and the trauma of their baby's birth for their eventual split six months ago. Rebecca needed an emergency Caesarean and lost 60 per cent of her blood volume. 'Ben saw everything and it really affected our relationship,' she says. 'He came to view me as a maternal figure rather than his wife. Meanwhile, the PND started straight away.' But she felt spending so much time alone with Peaches in hospital strengthened the bond with her newborn. 'This time there were no suicidal thoughts, although I was diagnosed with PND. I was adamant I wouldn't go back on drugs and tried self-help books and online cognitive behavioural therapy. It took another two years for the depression to lift. 'There's no doubt my detachment from Paris affected her. She's quite stand-offish and my parents say she flinches when they try to hug her. ' Another mother, 34-year-old Hannah Tubb, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, is convinced her continuing PND greatly affected her elder daughter, Isabelle, now eight. 'Isabelle is very anxious and sensitive whereas my second daughter, Charlotte, who's four, and with whom I had an easier time of it, is confident and self-assured,' she says. 'As much as I tried to hide the depression and anxiety from Isabelle, she witnessed me upset on numerous occasions. 'I get frustrated because she won't open up to me. I also worry about how jealous she gets of her sister. She'll say to me: 'You always spend time with Charlotte,' or 'You always cuddle Charlotte.' I analyse everything and blame myself.' Hannah, whose husband Dan, 38, works in IT, believes the problems started when Isabelle was born six weeks prematurely and put into special baby care for two weeks. 'I think the PND started as guilt at not spending more time with my daughter in those early days. I've since studied attachment theories and the importance of skin-to-skin contact with newborns. There's no wonder we've both suffered.' It was eight months before Hannah was diagnosed with PND by her GP. She is still on antidepressants eight years on. Hannah, who is studying psychology and volunteers for the PANDAS Foundation, which provides support for those with perinatal mental illness, says: 'I'm not sure PND will ever truly leave me. There's no doubt it shaped the first few years of the children's lives,' she explains. But it's not all gloom. Not only are doctors becoming better informed about how to treat PND and ever earlier but Jenny Burns, perinatal mental health expert for the charity MIND, says such is the brain's plasticity that all is not lost. She explains: 'Attachment issues don't always result from PND, but if they do and mothers get help to rebuild relationships with their children, bridges can be built. 'With the right help, they can counteract the effects of even the most enduring postnatal depression.' A high school student has gone viral after sharing an embarrassing video that her parents made for her and her sister in honor of them going back to school. Todd and Becky Tackett of Ohio were so excited for their three daughters to head off to school once more, that they thought they would mark the occasion with something special. So, after taking some sweet photos of the girls out in front of their house on back-to-school day, Todd and Becky created a slideshow with some additional photos of their own. Off they go: Victoria, Meghan and Lyndsey Tackett of Ohio went back to school to find that their parents had made a hilarious video about it Sneaking off: The girls are shown getting in a car and heading to school before the clip takes a turn with their father Todd (right) playing hooky After the kids are off to school, the adventure begins with Todd getting in his car for work before revealing that he is actually intending to 'call off' for the day. Next thing you see is the dad having hopped into the above-ground pool, suit and all. 'Who needs swimming trunks!' the video reads. Seemingly changing his mind, Todd is next seen sporting a pair of Hawaiian patterned trunks and a lei around his neck, as well as holding a drink in his hand. After a few shots of him smiling as he approaches the pool, Todd is seen lounging in a pool float with the caption on the photo reading: 'Life is good!' Get the party started: The next thing the viewer sees is Todd getting into the pool in his work clothes Kicking back: Todd gets in his trunks, puts on a lei and grabs a drink before hopping in again Thumbs up: The parents both get comfortable after their kids leave the house Even more to come: They even throw the grill on and snap some photos to show the kids Becky appears in a similarly flowery get-up before the pair get the party going with a bit of grilling. The video even has a mini montage of the kids at school, including a social media post of one of the girls looking miserable and writing 'I hate school.' The parents finish off the video with photos of the back of their car bearing a sign reading: 'Kids gone.' Sporting a pair of ridiculous wigs, the pair of parents then ride off into the sunset. Not so much fun: The video also includes some shots of the girls looking less than impressed to be back at school A celebration: The pair even created a sign celebrating their kids getting out of the house and taped it to the back of their car Off they go: The video ends with Todd and Becky driving off into the sunset with wigs on Clearly proud of their funny little slideshow, the couple sent the finished product off to their daughters, one of whom posted it on Twitter. 'So my parents made this today when we left for school.....' wrote high school senior Victoria along with the clip. We look back at some of the best and most The contestants have been introduced, scandal is brewing on Twitter and the first episode is tipped to be on of the most dramatic premieres in the show's history. Yes, Bake Off is back. Last year the series served up plenty of controversy including Mary Berry dropping spoilers ahead of airtime and public outrage after Paul King was 'robbed' of Star Baker after producing a spectacular lion loaf. And with the seventh season just hours away - and accusations of sexism swirling after photos of the contestants featured men with bowls of blue icing and women with pink - FEMAIL looks back at the show's most memorable moments. Scroll down for video Series seven of the Great British Bake Off hits our screens tonight so FEMAIL are taking a look back at previous series Whether they hit headlines or just had social media in a tizzy, GBBO has the British public gripped each year. From soggy bottoms and split custard to Mel and Sue's innuendos and the Paul Hollywood's terrifying blue stare, there is sure to whip both contestants and viewers into a frenzy. Get, set bake! NADIYA'S FACIAL EXPRESSIONS As the winner of series six, Nadiya Hussain won over the judges with her range of ambitious bakes - but it was her down-to-earth nature that won her popularity. Most notably, viewers were charmed by 30-year-old Nadiya's utterly unguarded reactions to the pressure of the contest - producing some bizarre and endearing facial expressions throughout her time on the show. Winner of series six, Nadiya Hussain, was not only noted for her ability to bake but also for her ever-changing facial expressions Plenty of viewers took to Twitter to share their delight over her inability to disguise her emotions In fact, the Leeds-based baker's expressive face sparked tweets, memes and even her own Tumblr page dedicated to her ever-changing face. The Many Faces of Nadiya Appreciation Blog declares that it aims 'to celebrate the many and varied facial expressions of Great British Bake Off 2015 contestant, Nadiya... 'We might also get around to discussing her wonderful baking as well, but mostly her amazing expressions.' She even has her own Reddit thread in which fans commented on her frowns, smiles, looks of fear and wide-eyed reactions. Many agreed that the baker constantly looked anxious and either on the verge of either laughter or tears One particularly famous face came when Nadiya was seen attempting to comfort fellow baker Dorrett (pictured) BIN-GATE In 2014, construction engineer Iain Watters saw red when after suspecting Women's Institute member Diana Beard of removing his Baked Alaska show-stopper from the freezer on a 30 degree day... and left it out to melt. Iain, much like his dessert, went into meltdown - throwing his soggy creation into the bin and storming out of the tent. Construction engineer Iain Watters goes into meltdown after his Baked Alaska melted into an ice cream puddle Rather than present Mary and Paul with his soggy Baked Alaska, Iain decided to throw the creation in the bin The viewing public let out a collective gasp when Iain later returned and presented Mary and Paul with nothing. Unsurprisingly, Iain was given the boot, but viewers were unhappy and the hashtag 'Justice for Iain' began trending on Twitter. The BBC was even forced to issue a statement on the debacle after receiving 556 complaints from furious fans. Due to his tantrum Iain had nothing to present judges Mary and Paul with - as hosts Mel and Sue looked on in shock Diana Beard accidentally removed Iain's Baked Alaska show-stopper from the freezer on a 30 degree day... and left it out to melt Speaking about the incident after his show exit, Iain admitted things got out of hand: 'My worst moment has to be "bin-cident" . I didn't handle the pressure in the tent as well as everyone else. 'It was a very hot day with everyone fighting for space in the freezers, and I didn't feel that I coped with the situation very well. 'I am passionate as a personality and a baker, so I do tend to get frustrated when the bakes don't go well, and I will have to learn to deal with that.' Presenter Sue Perkins and judge Paul Hollywood later had their say on social media, insisting it was not sabotage. CHEEKYS SQUIRREL Sometimes the funniest things on Great British Bake Off don't even involve the baking tent. During the finale of series two in 2011, a rather well-endowed squirrel sent viewers into a frenzy. Thanks to ill-timed camera close-ups of the critter, Twitter went into a meltdown with smutty innuendos and crude observations. A well-endowed squirrel stole the limelight from the bakers in 2011 thanks to some ill-timed camera shots Feminist writer Caitlin Moran's reaction best summed up how the nation felt about this cheeky rodent describing the show as being 'railroaded' by the animals' anatomy. TAMAL'S MANY ADMIRERS In the summer of 2015 it wasn't only the agas that were heating the Bake Off tent - with a certain contestant prompting even more of a frenzy than usual. Tamal Ray won the hearts of male and female admirers alike when he appeared on the show last year, armed with some impressive cake and endearing charm. Series six contestant Tamal Ray, received a deluge of tweets from fans who dubbed him 2015's eye candy The 30-year-old, who lives in Manchester, impressed the judges in the competition with his technique and inventiveness, seeming a contender for the Star Baker title more than once. But outside the show, he was branded eye candy from female and male fans tweeting in their droves about their 'hot Tamale'. The trainee anaesthetist was even forced to acknowledge the attention he was getting, tweeting: 'Some of the lustier tweets have had me crying with laughter. 'Also glad my folks aren't on twitter! #GBBO #blushingbaker'. During his appearance on the show fans took to Twitter to discuss their lust for the 29-year-old anesthetist Tamal responded to his fans saying he was glad his family aren't on Twitter after a deluge of innuendos His message did nothing to deter his lust-struck fans, who continued their barrage of tweets. However, just a few weeks later, many female fans were left disappointed when Tamal revealed that he was gay. Speaking to the RadioTimes, when asked if he had a girlfriend, he said: 'I wouldn't have a girlfriend, I would have a boyfriend. But I am single at the moment.' MARY'S CANNABIS CONFESSION Considering she's been a cookery expert since the Swinging Sixties, you would have thought there was little left for Mary Berry to learn about. However, she was confronted by a rather exotic tea loaf in 2013, during series four of the hit show. Mary Berry takes a sniff of hemp - made from cannabis plants - during series four of the Great British Bake Off TV treasure Mary admitted that she knew nothing about hemp and asked the contestant if it was 'a grass The 80-year-old judge had to expand her mind to the idea of hemp made from cannabis plants when council worker Howard Middleton decided to use it in flour form. I know nothing about hemp, she confessed before asking the contestant: Is it a grass? Giggling co-host Sue Perkins was left to explain to Mary what hemp was as judge Paul Hollywood looked on It was left to a giggling co-host Sue Perkins to explain: How would I describe hemp to you, Mary? Lets just say this is the legal side of hemp. So theres an illegal side and a legal side. And its very, very good for you. Its got loads of Omega 3. The leaf is naughty cigarettes, Mary. While illegal cannabis plants contain psychoactive ingredient, THC, hemp is safe to consume because it comes from plants that do not contain hallucinogenic substances. PAUL KING'S SPECTACULAR BREAD LION It is well known that GBBO judge Paul Hollywood is a tough nut to crack when it comes to impressing him with a bake. But what Paul King dreamed up in series six of the competition was enough to leave the stony faced judge practically speechless. Paul King's bread lion became one of series six's most talked about bakes Paul Hollywood described the creation as one of the best things he had seen in bread Plenty of people took to Twitter offering up memes of the magnificent loaf In the bread challenge, the prison guard from Wales produced a highly impressive loaf in the shape of a lion. It was made up of a white bread head, a wholemeal tail, and a body filled with figs and walnuts - and it stole the show. Even judge Paul Hollywood couldn't contain his excitement, saying: 'That is one of the best things I've seen in bread ever!' During the results of the BBC programme, presenter Sue Perkins revealed that they were awarding: 'A special commendation to Paul [King] because Paul [Hollywood] has never ever in his life seen a bread sculpture as magnificent as that one.' Sadly Paul King (pictured) lost out on Star Baker to competitor Ian Cumming However, viewers were left stunned when Paul was 'robbed' of the Star Baker title when he was pipped to the post by Ian Cumming. Despite its failure to secure the top spot, Bake Off fans have taken to Twitter to immortalise the lion bread in a series of memes. JOHN'S SALTY RUM BABAS Eventual winner John Whaite could quite easily have found himself on the scrapheap after the first episode of series three in 2010. The law student from Wigan managed to mix up salt and sugar when preparing some 1970s style rum babas. That error left Paul Hollywood having to spit out a salty version of what should have been a sweet treat - but luckily it didn't spoil the show for John. John Whaite accidentally used salt when making his Rum Babas instead of sugar causing Paul Hollywood to spit out the treat MARY BERRY'S SPOILER (AND A COLLAPSING CAKE) Week three of series six was full of controversy - with viewers left disappointed when the third contestant to go was revealed ahead of the show. Dorret Conway was the third contestent to leave in series six, and Mary Berry accidentally announced her departure before the show aired Mary Berry inadvertently revealed the name of the contestant leaving Great British Bake Off that week during a radio interview ahead of the show. Speaking on Chris Evans breakfast radio show, the BBC judge let slip that Dorret Conway failed to make it through to the fourth episode during a live phone interview. Discussing the Bread Week challenge, Mary revealed that three people were no longer in the show - but fans of the programme only knew of two. Speaking on the BBC Breakfast show, Chris Evans said: Have we lost three? Mary insisted: Yes we have. We lost Mary last week, Dorret and on the first week it was our lovely chap with his little hat on. Chris then tried his best to cover up the slip, saying: 'But youve only lost two so far. Theres another one tonight, you know that but we dont.' Mary, sounding as though she is trying to cover up her mistake, said: 'Oh yeah then if we lose another one tonight...' Sure enough, after making a stilton soda bread that wasn't 'intense' enough, she produced a Black Forest gateau mousse that collapsed - and sealed her fate. MARY'S DAYGLO BOMBER JACKET The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Moss, Cara Delevingne... and Mary Berry. The Great British Bake Off judge became an unlikely style icon in 2012 thanks to a rather colourful jacket. The Zara floral bomber, worn by the silver-haired TV personality, sold out nationwide and cemented her status as a fashion maverick. Mary Berry became an unlikely style icon in 2012 thanks to a 29.99 floral bomber by high street chain Zara The 29.99 silk jacket caused a stir on social networking sites as viewers tweeted their approval of Mary's loud cropped coat and hundreds of viewers wrote to compliment her daring look. One viewer, called Incredibly Rich, tweeted: Not only is Mary Berry faultless in the kitchen, that flower print blouse shes wearing is bang on trend. The woman is a goddess. Since the first outing of her bold jacket, Mary has continued to appease fashion fans with her choices and flies the flag for mature style. The TV personality has cemented her status as a fashion icon and now flies the flag for mature style THE GREAT CUSTARD THEFT Before Baked Alaska-gate had the nation glued to their TV screens, there was Custardgate. In series four, the bakers were tasked with making trifle when Howard Middleton noticed his custard had gone missing from the fridge. Contestant Howard Middleton was the victim of 'custardgate' during series four of the baking show Where did he find it? On Deborah Manger's work bench. Fellow baker Deborah had accidentally used Howard's custard in her own trifle, leaving her inconsolable, and actually crying, over the dessert. In the end, it worked out in Howard's favour when Mary and Paul tasted the custards separately, they called Deborah's version 'slack' and she was booted from the competition. Custard karma? EYE-POPPING INNUENDOS The Great British Bake Off may seem like the ultimate family-friendly show - but it is at times brimming with filthy innuendos. Co-hosts Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins are like two mischievous schoolchildren as they yell phrases such as, 'Stop touching your dough balls!', 'You have two hours to pop Mary's cherry... in the oven' and 'Stand away from your hot baps' at the contestants. Judge Paul Hollywood has also joined in the cheeky banter. Hosts Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins constantly turn the air blue with their hilarious innuendos In a glut of filo pastry-related smut, he was heard saying: 'Go on Mary, give it a good slapping,' as Ms Berry did a demonstration. However national treasure Mary Berry has also fallen foul of using seemingly rude phrases. Being unpopular could be as bad for your heart as smoking. A study found that levels of a protein instrumental in heart attacks and strokes were higher in people who were socially isolated. Interestingly, it wasnt the number of friends a person thought they had that was important but the number of people who named them as a pal. Being popular is good for our health, researchers said. The found that levels of a protein instrumental in heart attacks and strokes were higher in people who were isolated (file pic) The Harvard University researchers said: What matters is how others see us, not how we see them. The analysis focused on levels of fibrinogen, a protein that is made by the liver and helps blood clot, stopping bleeding. When we are seriously injured, its production can be lifesaving. However, if levels stay high long-term, a persons odds of the dangerous clots behind heart attacks and strokes rise. The team compared fibrinogen measurements from more than 3,500 men and women with information on their social networks. WHY GRIEVING MEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO DIE OF A BROKEN HEART They may struggle to show their emotions when married but men are more likely to die from a broken heart when bereaved. A Miami University study found males who were widowed died younger than their still-married counterparts. In contrast, female longevity wasnt affected by the loss of their spouses. It is thought one of the reasons men are affected more deeply is because they tend to rely on their wives to look after their health and social lives. As a result, the loss of their other half can leave them struggling with everything from loneliness, to cooking healthy meals and remembering to take their medicines. Vices, such as smoking, which were kept in check by their spouse, may also be taken up again, as a source of solace. Women, in contrast, are more self-sufficient, plus they tend to have a bigger network of friends who will provide support in times of need. Advertisement Not all friendships are mutual and so the social data took two forms - the number of people a person named as a friend, and the number of people who thought of that person as a friend. The men and women taking part the study said they had between two and 32 friends but the average number of was ten. In contrast, a participant was typically thought of as a friend by just four people. Analysis showed there to be little link between the number of friends a person said they had and their fibrinogen levels. However, those who were named by lots of people as being a friend had lower levels of the clotting protein. On the flip side, those who were rarely described as a friend had more of the compound in their blood. In those who were least popular, fibrinogen levels were as high as in smokers, the Royal Society journal Proceedings B reports. The researchers said that although we might like to think we have lots of friends, the real help and support comes from those who count us a friend. More research is needed to work out why friendship is so important. But possibilities range from the stress relief of having an active social life to friends encouraging each other to look after their health. Socially isolated people had higher levels of fibrinogen - a protein which raises the risk of heart attacks and strokes as it causes blood to clot (file photo) Other research, published earlier this month, warned that we may not be as popular as we like to think. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology study found that a mere 50 per cent of friendships are mutual. In other words, only half of our so-called pals like us. An insulin pill that will save millions of people with diabetes having to administer daily jabs is a major step closer to reality. Around 420 million people worldwide have diabetes and 3.7 million deaths are attributed to the disease each year, World Health Organisation figures show. There are two types of the disease, which is caused by high levels of sugar circulating in the blood, causing organ damage which can be fatal. Type 1 is an autoimmune disorder normally diagnosed in childhood, while type 2 normally diagnosed later in life - and largely associated with being overweight and inactive. An insulin pill that will spare millions of people with diabetes the pain of insulin injections is being developed by Niagara University scientists (file photo) Everyone with type 1 diabetes has to inject themselves with insulin daily. For those with type 2 diabetes, lifestyle changes and drugs may initially help lower blood sugar levels, but if the disease progresses some patients also have to inject themselves with insulin. The daily injections can be invasive - but now, scientists believe they may have discovered a less painful way of administering the hormone. They are developing a new way of delivering the medicine orally using tiny vesicles that can deliver insulin where it needs to go, without a jab. These new vesicles are made of naturally occurring lipid molecules, which are normal building blocks of fats. The lead author, Professor Mary McCourt, of Niagara University, New York state, said: 'We have developed a new technology called a Cholestosome. 'A Cholestosome is a neutral, lipid-based particle that is capable of doing some very interesting things.' She said the the biggest hurdle to delivering insulin orally is ushering it through the stomach intact. Proteins such as insulin are no match for the highly acidic environment of the stomach. GIVING CHILDREN ANTIBIOTICS INCREASES THEIR RISK OF DIABETES Giving babies and toddlers antibiotics may dramatically increase their odds of becoming diabetic, doctors fear. The warning follows a compelling study which linked the commonly-prescribed drug with type 1 diabetes, the form that usually develops in childhood. With antibiotics prescription rates rising, scientists decided to see if the drugs were helping to fuel the increase in type 1 diabetes. Researchers from New York University compared the health of mice given several courses of antibiotics when young with creatures not given any drugs. Those given three antibiotic treatments by the age of six weeks roughly two and a half years old in human terms were twice as likely to develop diabetes as those not given antibiotics. Males may be particularly vulnerable, the journal Nature Microbiology reports. Advertisement They degrade before they get a chance to move into the intestines and the bloodstream - where they are needed to lower blood glucose levels. One approach to overcoming the problem is to package insulin inside a protective coating to shield the protein from stomach acids. It is currently being tested in clinical trials. Another company developed and marketed inhalable insulin, but despite positive reviews from some patients, it did not take off. Professor McCourt's team have developed a new approach. Using the patented Cholestosomes developed in the lab, the researchers have successfully encapsulated insulin in a coating made of fat, which protects it so it can get through the digestive system into the bloodstream. The new vesicles are made of naturally occurring lipid molecules, which are normal building blocks of fats. They are unlike other lipid-based drug carriers, called liposomes, researchers said. Dr Lawrence Mielnicki, of Niagara University, said: 'Most liposomes need to be packaged in a polymer coating for protection. 'Here, we're just using simple lipid esters to make vesicles with the drug molecules inside.' Computer modelling showed that once the lipids are assembled into spheres, they form neutral particles resistant to attack from stomach acids. Drugs can be loaded inside, and the tiny packages can pass through the stomach without degrading. When Cholestosomes reach the intestines, the body recognises them as something to be absorbed. Scientists have developed a way to coat an insulin pill in fat so it is able to travel through the digestive system and enter into the blood, without the need for a jab (file photo) The vesicles pass through the intestines, into the bloodstream, and then cells take them in and break them apart, releasing insulin. The researchers also determined the optimal aciditity of the solution inside the vesicles so they could pack the largest amount of insulin into the Cholestosomes. They then tested the most promising vesicles on to animal testing. Studies with rats showed that certain formulations of Cholestosomes loaded with insulin have high 'bioavailability' - which means the vesicles travel into the bloodstream where the insulin needs to be. Now the researchers plan to further optimise the formulations, conduct more animal testing and develop new partnerships to move into human trials. Spending hours in a daze and munching on snacks are traits long associated with weed smokers. And a new study suggests there well may be some truth to the belief - as marijuana does cause laziness. Those given an active compound in cannabis were less willing to try a difficult task - even if they were able to do it. There may be some truth to the belief that marijuana does cause laziness, a study suggests. Rats given tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana became less willing to do a hard task The research echoes previous studies suggesting marijuana can lead to individuals becoming withdrawn, lethargic and apathetic. Imperial College London researchers showed long-term use of the drug destroys dopamine, the feel-good chemical in the brain that inspires a spirit of get-up-and-go. Levels of dopamine in a part of the brain called the striatum - involved in motivation - were lower in regular cannabis users. Another study, led by the University of California, found those who smoked cannabis regularly ended up with lower-paying, less skilled and less prestigious jobs than those who were not regular cannabis smokers. As part of the new study, the researchers from the University of British Columbia looked at the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. They trained 29 rats to choose whether they wanted an easy or difficult challenge to earn sugary treats. At the beginning of each experiment, rats chose between two levers to signal whether they wanted an easy or hard challenge. JUST ONE MINUTE OF SECOND-HAND MARIJUANA SMOKE IS THREE TIMES AS DAMAGING TO THE BODY AS ORDINARY TOBACCO One minute of second-hand cannabis smoke may damage blood vessels, research shows. A University of California study suggested our bodies may take three times longer to recover than after breathing in ordinary tobacco fumes. And scientists say their findings on rats will further dispel the widespread belief cannabis is harmless. They are also worried breathing-in second-hand fumes on a regular basis may cause the arteries to harden, increasing the risks of heart attacks and strokes. Advertisement Choosing the easy challenge resulted in a light turning on for one second, which the rats could easily detect and respond to by poking it with their nose, receiving one sugar pellet as a reward. In the more difficult challenge, the light turned on for only 0.2 seconds, rewarding the rat with two sugar pellets if they responded with a nose poke. Under normal circumstances, most rats preferred the harder challenge to earn a bigger reward. But when the rats were given THC, the animals switched to the easier option, despite earning a smaller reward. 'Perhaps unsurprisingly, we found that when we gave THC to these rats, they basically became cognitively lazy,' said Mason Silveira, the study's lead author and a PhD candidate in UBC's department of psychology. 'What's interesting, however, is that their ability to do the difficult challenge was unaffected by THC. The rats could still do the task they just didn't want to.' When they looked at the effect of cannabidiol (CBD), an ingredient in marijuana that does not result in a high, researchers found the chemical did not have any effect on the rats' decision-making or attention. CBD, which is believed to be beneficial in treating pain, epilepsy and even cancer, also didn't block the negative effects of THC. 'This was surprising, as it had been suggested that high concentrations of CBD could modulate or reduce the negative effects of THC,' said the study's senior author, Dr Catharine Winstanley. Researchers called for more research to determine how cannabis affects the decision-making of humans (file photo) 'Unfortunately, that did not appear to be the case.' It is essential to exert effort in order to achieve success, and so Dr Winstanley said the findings emphasize how cannabis can impair the desire to engage in harder tasks. Some people view marijuana as a panacea that can cure all ailments, but the findings also highlight a need for more research to determine what THC does to the human brain to alter decision-making, she added. Research on this topic could pave the way for scientists to block these negative effects of THC. It is enough to make hay fever sufferers weep: a potent new pollen is on its way to the UK. Scientists are warning that climate change could cause a boom in ragweed, a highly allergenic plant that emits a billion grains of pollen in single season. The most common cause of hay fever in the US, it arrived in Europe in the 1960s and has been spreading north ever since. Extremely light and able to travel hundreds of miles on the wind, some ragweed pollen is already crossing the Channel from the Netherlands. Scroll down for video Millions more people across Europe may start suffering hay fever by 2060 as a result of climate change, a study has found (file photo) Around one million Britons already have hay fever triggered by the plant hard-to-eradicate plant but University of East Anglia researchers are warning the number could rise six-fold, as a warming world speeds ragweeds spread. By 2050, the number of sufferers across Europe is projected to rise from 33million to 77million, including some 6million in the UK. Researcher Iain Lake said: There are two elements to this. The first is that under climate change there is a greater probability of having the plant itself in the UK, although whether this occurs and to what degree depends upon measures taken to prevent its spread. The second is that even if the plant does not occur in the UK, as it spreads across southern Germany and northern France it is likely that pollen will be transported, i.e. blown, to the UK. WHAT IS RAGWEED? Ragweed is a prolific pollen producer - one plant is capable of generating up to a billion pollen grains per season. The weed is a far more potent allergen than grass and experts fear it could pose a serious public health problem as its wind-blown pollen is resilient enough to survive a mild winter. Depending on the speed of dispersal, pollen levels in some locations could rise as much as 12 times, previous research found. It invaded the European mainland in the 1960s - brought over in contaminated seed - and has been spreading north ever since. Advertisement The major increases in hay fever are likely to be in continental Europe but our models indicate that this is likely to start to become a problem in the UK by the 2050s. The rise of ragweed will also extend the hay fever season into the autumn and could also increase the severity of the allergy. Dr Lake, an environmental scientist combined data on the changing climate, allergy levels and population centres to estimate how quickly ragweed will spread and how much of a problem its pollen will be across Europe in the coming decades. He said: Our research shows that ragweed pollen allergy will become a common health problem across Europe, expanding into areas where it is currently uncommon. The problem is likely to increase in countries with an existing ragweed problem, such as in Hungary and the Balkans. But the greatest proportional increases will happen in countries including Germany, Poland and France. Climate change will cause ragweed plants to produce more pollen - and this can spread across the continent. This pollen triggers a more severe allergic reaction than tree or grass pollen Our projections suggest that ragweed pollen will persist from mid-September to mid-October across most of Europe. Writing in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, Dr Lake said that control of ragweed is essential for public health. However, control of existing plants is difficult due to ragweeds long-lived seeds, its ability to evolve herbicide resistance, and its capacity to re-sprout following cutting. Around one in four people in the UK suffers from hay fever, with grass pollen the main trigger. Brooklyn officials have launched an intense anti-Zika drive to protect the mosquito-infested borough from an outbreak. The New York City Department of Health has poured $21 million into a three-year project to block out the Zika virus. This week the first measures began: wheeling out trucks into two dozen neighborhoods to spray the streets with repellent. And in a bid to spread awareness about the virus, the city also launched an interactive map - showing how many mosquitoes with the potential to carry Zika have been spotted in each neighborhood. 'We're really concerned for the potential for it here, which is why we're stepping up our mosquito control program,' Dan Kass, head of environmental health, said. This map shows how many mosquitoes with the potential to carry Zika have been spotted in each neighborhood of New York City as officials launch a $21 million project to block the virus Two mosquito species with a capacity to carry Zika have been detected in New York: Aedes albopictus and Culex. As of August 18, none of these were found to carry Zika, but some had the West Nile virus. The highest concentration was found in Jackson Heights, an area in Queens, which had 116 Culex mosquitoes in the first count. The second highest was East Flushing, also in Queens, which had 86 Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. In Manhattan, the Upper West Side, Chinatown and the Lower East Side had the highest concentrations of mosquitoes. There were 62 Culex mosquitoes in the Upper West Side, 27.3 Albopictus in Chinatown and 18 Culex in the Lower East Side. In Brooklyn, Prospect Lefferts has the highest count according to the latest records, showing 17 Culex mosquitoes. The city is not currently home to Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which most commonly carry the virus. So far 483 people in New York City have been diagnosed with Zika, and 49 of those were pregnant at the time of their diagnosis. All cases to date were travel-related (contracted on vacation) or sex-related (contracted by having sex with someone who had the virus). But Brooklyn, particularly its quaint family neighborhood of Park Slope, is fertile ground for mosquitoes. Two mosquito species with a capacity to carry Zika have been detected in New York: Aedes albopictus and Culex Even before the threat of Zika, Park Slope has long been the scene of intense repellent-spraying. Last night, residents were warned to stay indoors between 10pm and 6am as the spray was doused over the streets. Scientists are still largely ignorant about the finer details of the infection. Just last month Brazilian researchers discovered the far more common Culex mosquito can also carry Zika. As more research is done, New York officials are urging residents to do everything they can to keep mosquitoes from proliferating. The new website features interactive maps showing which areas have been sprayed, and where there have been complaints of standing water - which are a safety hazard. Mosquitoes breed in water. Kass said: 'Someone can zoom in and get a sense of what's been happening over the past week where have we responded to complaints? 'Who has received notices of violation for not addressing standing water; where we've applied larvicide; where we've applied adulticide for mosquitoes that are biting?' This is the horrific moment a woman in Oklahoma pulled a rock-hard piece of mould out of her belly button. Jamie Davis claims the bizarre substance has been growing on the surface of her skin for six months. And now, in a YouTube video that is sweeping the internet, she has pulled it out. Though she has yet to see a doctor, the black blob has the hallmarks of an omphalolith, a mass which grows in belly buttons due to poor hygiene. Horrific! This is the moment (left) Oklahoma-based Jamie Davis got hold of the hard lump in her belly button, which is pictured (right) on the floor afterwards WHAT COULD IT BE? Omphaloliths are particularly common in people with deep belly buttons. It is caused by a fusion of two proteins - sebum and keratin - which combine to form a hard solid black mass. These proteins also cause blackheads. An omphalolith in the belly button is painless until it becomes infected. Once infected, it can make the abdomen feel inflamed and sore. Advertisement 'I noticed my belly button had something in it,' Davis, of Moore, Oklahoma, told KOKH. 'I tried getting it. I failed. then my sister saw it and forced me to try again. 'It did hurt, but it stopped after a few minutes.' Using a pair of tweezers, it took Davis more than 10 tries to get hold of the hairy lump and pull it out. After the swarm of media attention, Davis said she is now considering going to a doctor. If it is indeed an omphalolith, there is no real treatment she can seek, except keeping her belly button clean. Omphaloliths are a fusion of two proteins - sebum and keratin - which combine to form a hard solid black mass. Sebum and kerotin are also linked to blackheads, the dark black spots that some people experience on their face. For most sufferers, an omphalolith in the belly button is painless until it becomes infected. Though she has yet to see a doctor, the black blob has the hallmarks of an omphalolith, a mass which grows in belly buttons - particularly deep ones - due to poor hygiene Once infected, it can make the abdomen feel inflamed and sore. Most doctors would give patients painkillers before trying to pull it out. It's not clear whether Davis took painkillers ahead of her home procedure. Omphaloliths are particularly common in people with deep belly buttons. Murray Goulburn takes home $40 million net profit despite farmer crisis Murray Goulburn dairy co-operative, owner of the Devondale brand, has achieved a net profit after tax of $40.6 million despite a tough year for the co-operative. The group achieved revenue of AUD $2.8 billion, down 3.3 per cent when compared with its 2015 financial year results. Interim Chief Executive Officer of Murray Goulburn (MG), David Mallison, said the 2016 financial year had been a challenging one for the co-operative. We faced environment comprised of very challenging macro settings, including sustained low commodity prices, a volatile Australian dollar, changes in Chinese regulations, and difficult seasonal conditions across many of our key regions, Mallison said. This has placed our suppliers and Australian dairy farmers generally in a very difficult environment. The Board, MGs management team, and I personally have also acknowledged to all our key stakeholders that MGs farmgate milk price (FMP) downgrade so late in the year added to the challenge of FY16. Today we reported a final FMP for FY16 of $4.80 per kgms in line with our April revised earnings guidance, he stated. Dairy Foods MG said its dairy foods division was continuing to perform strongly. Revenue from the segment grew 17.2 percent from $1.1 billion to $1.3 billion in FY16 with Dairy Foods the principal contributor to group profit, generating segment contribution of $164.5 million. This reflects the robust premiums this segment can deliver above commodity prices in the current environment, MG reported. Ingredients and Nutritionals In terms of MGs ingredients business, this division was heavily impacted by the low commodity prices experienced throughout the financial year. Segment revenue of $1,093 million reduced 18.5 percent from the prior year. MGs ingredients sales fell 26 percent, driven by reductions across global commodity prices, MG stated. MGs Nutritionals business provided some offset to the performance of Ingredients, with revenue growing 50 percent in the year, driven by strong demand from B2B customers for Australian sourced nutritional products, MG said. Actor-turned-politician Ramya has refused to apologise for her comments about Pakistan, a day after a private complaint was filed against her in a Karnataka court. The Kannada superstar said she was entitled to express her views. The court, which admitted the complaint, will hear the case on Saturday. The former Congress MP, who was in Pakistan recently for a meeting of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), invoked the wrath of the BJP when she disputed Defence Minister Manohar Parikkars statement that visiting Pakistan was like going to hell. Kannada superstar has taken a bold stance against anti-Pakistan prejudice, saying it is wrong to hate others "just because borders separate us". During her recent trip to her home constituency Mandya on August 20, Ramya said that Pakistanis were good human beings like Indians. Since then BJP members have targeted her with protests, and some even termed her a brand ambassador of Pakistan. On Monday evening, advocate Katmane Vittal Gowda, who headed the Praja Ranga Vedike (Kodagu district unit), filed a private complaint in the Somawarpete Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Court accusing Ramya of sedition and provocation. Ramya refused to take back her comments, saying: "It's really sad that there is such a situation in the country today. Politicians want to polarise and spread hatred. Just because borders separate us, we shouldn't hate others." Punjab Congress chief and former chief minister captain Amarinder Singh is in a fix. The state Congress is facing a 2012-like situation, where the dissidents contesting elections against party nominees paved the way for the victory of the opposition Shiromani Akali Dal. The situation is likely to be worse this time, as 1,661 people have applied for tickets compared to 1,437 in 2012 when the party won 46 seats out of 117. Captain Amarinder Singh has said that those aspirants who fail to get tickets will be appointed as chairmen of boards, corporations and trusts Singh had then failed to ensure the victory of his own son, Raninder Singh. The Congress has already lost two successive assembly elections, held in 2007 and 2012. In order to deal with the 2012-like situation, the party has asked all the candidates to submit an affidavit swearing that they will not contest elections against the party nominee if they are denied a ticket. However, this may not stop the dissidents from backstabbing. The former chief minister has asked all the 1,661 applicants for 117 assembly seats to work as a team to ensure the party's victory in the ensuing elections. The overwhelming response from applicants for the Congress ticket indicates which way the wind is blowing, he said, while expressing confidence about the party forming the government in 2017. The process of application submission is already over. Singh has said the overwhelming response from the ticket aspirants shows a robust mood among the cadres over an imminent election victory. As there are only 117 slots, there will be 1,544 others who will not get the party nomination, but I assure all of them that once the government is formed there will be umpteen options for all and they will all be suitably accommodated, he said. Singh added that all of them should work towards the victory of the candidate who gets the party nomination. The party will allot about 35 tickets to young people as there has been an overwhelming response from the younger generation and most of them are well-qualified graduates and post graduates. While exact figures have not been worked out yet, initial perusal suggested that the number of youth applicants is quite substantial and may be around 30 to 35 percent. A large number of women candidates have also applied for the tickets, said Singh. He said the applications will be screened for various mandatory formalities. After screening, the credentials of each applicant will be verified, which will then be followed by his performance and assessment at the ground level. Details and claims will be thoroughly cross-checked before processing it further, he added. While reiterating that winnability will be the sole criterion for selecting the candidates, the former chief minister said assessments will be made at multiple levels and through multiple channels. The party has adopted a scientifically fool-proof method to ensure that the best candidate gets nominated. The Congress chief clarified that those who fail to find a place in the final list will be equal stakeholders in the government formation. For the party, they are as important as the candidate getting the nomination, as they will be the campaign drivers, he said, adding that their performance during the elections will qualify them for the respective positions in the government later. He clarified that the MLAs who are contesting elections will not be appointed to any boards, corporations or trusts as chairman. He said these positions will be reserved only for those who do not get tickets and who ensure the victory of a party candidate from a particular constituency. Only those applicants will be eligible for chairmanships from whose constituencies the party candidates get elected, he clarified. The writer is chief of bureau, Chandigarh Row over blacklisted Sikhs Various Sikh organisations have welcomed the Union governments decision to drop the names of 225 Sikhs from its blacklist for alleged anti-India activities. However, the radicals and the SGPC are not happy as 73 names still figure in the blacklist. Surprisingly, the people who have been barred from visiting India are facing no criminal cases in the country. A group of blacklisted Sikhs demanding justice from the Union government Those blacklisted are members of the Sikh families who migrated to the US, Canada, the UK, and Germany during the 1980s and the 1990s seeking political asylum. Many of the asylum-seekers were booked in cases in India and have not been allowed to visit the country in the past decades. The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has said that the Union governments decision to partially remove the blacklisted Sikhs has created confusion. Citing the February 2011 home ministry decision, DSGMC chief Manjit Singh GK said that the Union government had claimed that out of a total 169 blacklisted Sikhs, 142 were removed from the list, but the fresh list showed 298 blacklisted Sikhs. As per this list, 73 Sikhs still cannot visit India. GK who is also president of Shiromani Akali Dal in Delhi, said the next hearing in the High Court is fixed for September 26, and that he hoped the central government would clarify it by then. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has also demanded the removal of the remaining 73 Sikhs from the blacklist. SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar said that the Sikhs were blacklisted after the Operation Bluestar (1984) and Kanishka Bombings (1985). The blacklisted Sikhs were compelled to leave India with their families and take asylum in various countries. Now with the Central government clearing many names, they will be able to come back. I appeal that the rest of the list should also be scrapped, Makkar said. Meanwhile, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Captain Amarinder Singh has demanded that the blacklist of the Sikh immigrants living in various countries should be revised as all those who went abroad for political asylum were not anti-nationals as most of them were actually job seekers. Amid vicious clashes between protesters and the security forces, the Indian Army has initiated a quiet peace process in the Kashmir valley. This is different from the official engagement of the Union Home minister Rajnath Singh. The Armys engagement comes at the tactical level, between company commanders and the commanding officers of various battalions and village elders, clergymen, and youth leaders in their respective areas of responsibility. Members of the Jammu and Kashmir Youth Ulema shout slogans, while holding placards demanding an end to civilian killings and the use of pellet guns in Srinagar While the engagement is a continuous process throughout the year, this time the interaction is at a deeper level. The Army is giving a patient hearing to the state's disillusioned boys, and advising them against wasting their lives pelting stones and playing right into Pakistans hands. Lt Gen DS Hooda, Army commander northern command, suggested that the Mehbooba-Mufti government should unveil a path-breaking initiative to help Kashmiri boys abandon the gun and the path of violence. The Army commander has spoken of engaging the Valley at every level politically. He has suggested that the PDP-BJP government work on a project to bring into the mainstream youth who are keen to abandon the path of violence. This would mean quiet engagement with them, bringing them over ground, and giving them gainful employment, making them stakeholders in the development of the valley," top sources in the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps told India Today. Skilling in the tourism sector is an important part of this initiative, and several youths both men and women - have shown key interest in the hospitality industry. The Army has already started a number of skills development initiatives for young people north and south of Pir Panjal, for both boys and girls. Software and hardware courses in computers, skilling in education, technical courses there are various initiatives that the army has undertaken," sources added. The security forces will also create an environment to free them from fear as the central and state leadership begins a new initiative of engagement with all stakeholders of peace and development. The United Nations has vindicated Indias stand on fugitive mafia boss Dawood Ibrahim enjoying Pakistans hospitality, with the world body confirming half a dozen addresses submitted by New Delhi - including an ISI safe house. Top intelligence sources said the gangster has not been in good health over the past few years, and one of the locations tagged by Indian agencies was next to a hospital in Karachi. The site was listed as one of the new properties purchased in 2013 in the dossier prepared last year, but the exact address - in Shireen Jinnah colony near Ziauddin Hospital in the posh Clifton area - was not known. The mobster is wanted for orchestrating the 1993 Mumbai blasts that killed over 250 people Mail Today was the first to report last year on August 18 that ahead of NSA-level talks between the two countries that were later cancelled, India prepared a dossier with a list of new Dawood hideouts in Pakistan. The mobster is wanted for orchestrating the 1993 Mumbai blasts that killed over 250 people, and has been running his underworld empire from Pakistan since his escape from India 23 years ago. He has been on the United Nations Security Councils sanctions list since 2003. Last week, he joined his family via Skype to celebrate the wedding of his nephew to the daughter of a Mumbai businessman. Dawood has also been declared a Global Terrorist by the US Treasury Department. He has been included in the UN Security Sanctions List as an associate of al-Qaeda, which obligates member countries to take action, the latest India dossier on him said. Pakistan has always denied that Dawood is in the country. The UN has confirmed six of Dawoods Pakistani addresses, as handed over by New Delhi, and struck off three. One of the three addresses that has been dropped by the committee from its list was found to be similar to that of a residence of Islamabads envoy to the UN, Maleeha Lodhi. The son of a police constable, Dawood was reportedly a police informant from a young age. By the 1980s and 1990s, he had graduated from petty crime to become one of Mumbai's most feared gangsters, with a billion-dollar vice empire spanning gambling, drugs and prostitution. Details of Dawoods Pakistani passports have also been provided by India. These include passport nos G-866537 and G- 886357 issued from Rawalpindi, as well as C-267186 and KC- 285901 issued from Karachi. Information on his family members Pakistani passports was also submitted. The dossier sent to Pakistan on Dawood in 2012 had specific addresses in three locations, and details of three Pakistani passports held by him. The fresh information based on the latest intelligence gathered by Indian agencies was put together soon after the Home Ministrys goof-up in Parliament in June last year, stating that the government was not aware of his location. The then Minister of State for Home Affairs Haribhai Pathibhai Chaudhary had said in Parliament that Dawood had not been located, leading to a controversy that embarrassed the government. Intelligence inputs also indicate that the security of Indias most-wanted fugitive has been enhanced in Pakistan, with elite commandos of the army deployed at his safe houses in Islamabad and Karachi. Indian agencies were tipped-off by a foreign counterpart about the Pakistani army intensifying its efforts to keep Dawood safe. Despite the information made available to Pakistan regarding his whereabouts, the neighbouring country failed to execute a red corner notice as well as discharging its obligations under UNSC resolutions. A three-year-old schoolboy was crushed to death by his own school van in north Delhis Civil Lines area on Tuesday afternoon. The death has once again brought into focus the issue of unregulated school transport in Delhi-NCR. Though the state transport department has laid down stringent guidelines concerning school vehicles, these are rarely followed on the ground. Eye-witnesses said the victim, Aviral, got off his school van and was moving towards his home when the reversing vehicle hit him. Avirals parents saw the accident from the terrace of their house and rushed the child to the hospital in the same cab. He was declared brought dead. Police have arrested the driver, Rahul Kumar, for causing death by negligent driving under Section 304A. The tragic incident has renewed the debate on the school transport system. School vans crammed with students driving recklessly are a common sight in the city. The Delhi government has also mandated educational institutes to keep a check on illegal cabs - but it has brought little improvement. Traffic police should man the school roads during the opening n closing of the school hours, said Ameeta Wattal, principal of Springadales school at Pusa Road. Wattal said her school had written a lot of letters to Delhi government and Police authorities regarding the traffic management outside the schools. The traffic is constantly flowing and there are no speed breakers. At the time of dispersal, the children are running around to reach out to their parents and other vehicles. The school staff cannot stand outside and organize the traffic. Several teachers who Mail Today spoke with admitted that most of the cabs in their schools were operating without the required permit. Packed in overcrowded cabs, school-going children are often left to the mercy of errant drivers. As per the government guidelines, only drivers with five years of experience will be allowed to drive school buses and vans. Any driver who has been challaned more than twice in a calendar year on account of violations like overtaking, jumping of red light and parking regulations, will not be allowed to drive school buses. The guidelines also state that the drivers are required to wear a uniform of grey trousers and jacket, and must display their identity card visibly while driving the vehicles. The name of the owner of the vehicle must also figure in the card. Police claim that all the transport buses or cabs must pick up students from the premises of the school facility and drop them at a designated stop. School buses and cabs must display prominently that they are being used to ferry school children. All the vehicles must be equipped with a first-aid boxn and fire extinguisher, and must have provision for bag racks. According to the police, huge traffic jams are witnessed outside all the schools in Delhi and the NCR. Despite several guidelines, they have failed to make provisions to park buses, cabs, and cars brought by parents to pick their wards. We do continuous drive against errant drivers and also against those who are found recklessly driving and parking their vehicles. Schools and parents should also actively come forwards for the safety for students, a senior officer said. However, school management figures claim that they alone cannot manage the traffic menace outside the school. We have a few teachers and staff who manage the traffic outside the school. In Noida, the number of traffic constables are not sufficient. So as a part of our social responsibility, we help them. But there has to be a proper mechanism for the traffic management outside all the schools, said Asha Prabhakar, principal of Bal Bharti School in Noida. Meanwhile, accidents continue unabated. In once such case, seven-year-old Jiya Juneja died four months back after remaining in a coma for nine days. Jiya was hit by a speeding van after she was allegedly dropped on the wrong side of the road by her school bus in Gurgaon on May 9. India's sedition law (Section 124A) is draconian - it must go. Treasonable offences should be treated under a new law that recognises the freedom to dissent, but draws a red line where dissent crosses into incitement to violence. Having been charged in a sedition case that lasted more than 25 years for publishing a cover story that - ironically - condemned terrorism, I know how foolishly, recklessly, and damagingly Section 124A is deployed. Sedition charges have been filed against Amnesty India International following an event in Bengaluru on August 13 That doesnt mean Amnesty India International, on which sedition charges have been filed, is innocent. It allegedy abetted a disruptive event in Bengaluru on August 13. But chanting anti-India slogans should not attract a charge of sedition. In a democracy, you must have the freedom to criticise your own country as long as you dont incite violence. Supreme Court Justice Santosh Hegde (retd) said Amnesty provided a platform for those who advocate violence to 'free' the Kashmir Valley from 'Indian occupation'. Did Amnestys event in Bengaluru therefore amount to incitement to violence? Only a full investigation can answer that question. However, the fact that the sole anti-secessionist voice at the event, RK Matoo, was not given equal time to speak about human rights violations against Kashmiri Pandits reveals the intent of the organisers. Meanwhile, much has been made of Amnestys alleged links with Islamist groups. Gita Sahgal, former head of Amnesty Internationals gender unit, left the organisation in 2010 after accusing it of being too closely linked to a 'pro-jihadi group'. Novelist Nayantara Sahgals daughter and Jawaharlal Nehrus great niece, Sahgal red-flagged Amnestys links with Moazzam Begg, a former prisoner at Guantanamo Bay, whom she called 'Britains most famous supporter of the Taliban'. Amnesty International subsequently withdrew its engagement with Beggs Cage (Prisoners) group. In 2015, Amnesty International was accused of having 'private links' with Egypts Muslim Brotherhood - which is regarded as a terrorist group by several countries. Amnestys director of faith and human rights, Yasmin Hussein, stayed overnight at the home of a Muslim Brotherhood advisor. More seriously, as The Nationals Vita Bekker reported: 'Amnesty International admitted working with a Swiss-based human rights group whose Qatari co-founder has been accused of financing al-Qaeda. 'The US treasury department said it would impose sanctions on Abdul Rahman Bin Umair Al Nuaimi, a history professor in Qatar and president of Al Karama, for raising funds for al-Qaeda and its affiliates in Syria, Iraq, Somalia and Yemen that, at times, had amounted to millions of dollars per month. 'Amnesty International acknowledged in an email that Al Karama has helped it in the past with information on cases of human rights abuse and added that it was "unable to confirm" the accuracy of the US allegations.' A pattern clearly emerges. Amnesty says it has written several letters to the Pakistan government (where it doesnt have an office) expressing concern over human rights violations in Balochistan. But it hasnt held significant events with Baloch refugees in India, confining its anguish over Balochistan to writing letters. It applies a wholly different standard to Kashmir, giving an empathetic platform to secessionists while sidelining victims of Pakistan-instigated violence in Kashmir -Pandits, police and soldiers. In an op-ed in the Hindustan Times on August 20, Champa Patel, South Asia director of Amnesty International, defended her organisation. She concluded by saying: 'Amnesty International always and absolutely opposes attacks by armed groups against civilians around the world. 'Over recent months, amid a wave of horrific and unconscionable violence, we have condemned attacks by armed groups in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, France, Belgium, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Nigeria, Cameroon, Thailand and other countries.' Patel adds that Amnesty 'pointed out how the Kashmiri pandit community has "witnessed a number of attacks by armed opposition groups" that led to "hundreds of thousands fleeing the Valley".' But again, has Amnesty organised major events to highlight the appalling conditions in which tens of thousands of Kashmiri pandits live in refugee camps in Jammu and Delhi, 26 years after they were forced out of their homes in the Valley at gunpoint? In 1951 Indias first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, amended Article 19(2) of the Constitution, restricting the same freedom of expression and history of plurality that Amnestys Champa Patel praises. Nehrus amendment bill says: 'The citizens right to freedom of speech and expression has been held by some courts to be so comprehensive as not to render a person culpable even if he advocates murder and crimes of violence. 'In other countries with written constitutions, freedom of speech and of the press is not regarded as debarring the state from punishing or preventing abuse of this freedom.' One of the red flags in Nehrus amendment bill was disruption of 'public order'. Did Amnesty Indias Bengaluru event meet Nehrus definition of causing a disruption of public order? If it did, Amnesty India deserves to be prosecuted under not 124A but the relevant sections of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). Having fought and won a long, drawn-out sedition case brought by the home ministry against my group of publications, I dont believe NGOs like Amnesty International should be victimised, despite their demonstrable bias. A robust democracy must take in its stride criticism and even vilification, as long as these dont incite violence or disrupt public order. When they do, prosecute them under the CrPC, not 124A. Indias penal code has enough teeth to deal with organisations of every stripe. Police have busted a fake business outsourcing company with a Robin Hood twist: it stole from its customers and gave to its workers. The firm, operating from sector 63 in Noida, sent 53 of its staff members on a five-star, all-expenses-paid vacation to Goa for four days last week. The workers were rewarded after they managed to rake in Rs 5 crore within three months by falsely offering huge bonus amounts to insurance clients on their existing policies. UP Police arrested the alleged fake call centre masterminds - Virasat Khan, Mukram Hassan and Imran Saifi. The details came to light after a team from Uttar Pradesh Polices special task force (STF) arrested the 53 'lucky' employees. Officers say the fraudsters not only created bogus call centres, but also got ISO certification on fake documents. The firm rewarded staff with an employee of the month award and other monetary prizes to boost performance. Initial scanning of their bank accounts shows that they made Rs 5 crore, said UP STFs additional superintendent Triveni Singh. Like any other MNC or IT company, they used to give incentives to their employees. According to the police, they have seized massive data on insurance holders from the company, and an initial inquiry has revealed that brokers and leading insurance agents have illegally sold information to the firm. Members of the syndicate posed as representatives of popular insurance companies. They had access to the details of a large number of insurance clients. The firm, operating from sector 63 in Noida, sent 53 of its staff members on a five-star, all-expenses-paid vacation to Goa after they managed to rake in Rs 5 crore within three months. (Picture for representation only.) We are going to tighten the noose around insurance companies as data of their customers were leaked, which was used to make Rs 5 crore by the gang, Singh said. Earlier this month, police in UP arrested 13 people for allegedly running fake call centres. The cheats earned over Rs 20 crore in six months through bogus schemes. Experts say such syndicates are involved in high-tech fraud ranging from offering fictitious jobs, insurance, and holiday packages to siphoning money from bank accounts. The Noida-based gang allegedly illegally bought insurance holders' data from a leading brokerage firm. After getting the data, it set up swanky call centres and employed women as callers. The syndicate lured victims to deposit large sums of money into different bank accounts on the pretext of expenses for clearance of the bonus amounts. It also used fake identity documents to open many bank accounts in order to withdraw the money. Senior citizens were among those frequently targeted. As they knew every detail of a customer they used to quote bonus amounts according to their policies, Singh explained. An officer said the fake call centres had set targets for each employee. All those hired were briefed about their job profile and were offered lucrative salary, he said. Their phones were kept on silent and locked outside the calling bay. They also had daily targets and the best performer was rewarded with a bonus and a photograph was put up on the notice board. Police are trying to ascertain the exact number of customers cheated by the gang. The breakthrough came after Lucknow resident Shailendra Pratap registered an FIR, claiming that he was duped of Rs 21 lakh. Interrogation of the suspects revealed that their past experience with call centres had encouraged them to enter this con game. They allegedly procured the details of insurance policy holders from various companies where they had worked as telecallers. A fire at Delhis nightlife hub Hauz Khas Village killed an Indian businessman and injured a Frenchwoman on Wednesday morning. The incident has underscored the Capitals poor safety standards and dangerous failure to enforce laws meant to protect the public. Mail Today reported in June that only three out of more than 50 eateries and bars in Hauz Khas had fire safety permits, noting that the situation is alarming at weekends when huge crowds flock to the area and cars choke the roads. A 37-year-old businessman who was staying on the first floor of the house in Hauz Khas Village died due to suffocation, while his friend, a 23-year-old French woman, was injured in the fire According to authorities, a minor fire broke out at 5.40am, when there are few vehicles and people on the streets, but it still took them over an hour to douse the flames as fire tenders struggled to reach the narrow lane where the house is situated. Real estate businessman Gourav Taneja had been staying on the first floor of the building for the past year with a friend, 23-year-old Anklora. He suffocated in the fumes and was declared brought dead at the Safdarjung Hospital, police said. Anklora was semi-conscious when she was pulled out. She was initially admitted to Safdarjung, but was later shifted to Apollo Hospital. Narrow lanes Firefighters had to attach pipes to reach the building, chief fire officer Atul Garg told Mail Today. It took little time to extinguish the flames once the personnel reached the house. According to sources, neighbours tried to douse the fire by throwing water. Some even used fire extinguishers. According to authorities, a minor fire broke out at 5.40am, but access difficulties meant it took them over an hour to douse the flames Officers said that if a fire tender manages to enter a narrow lane it has to battle to come out, as there is no turning space or connecting road. So each time it runs out of water, a vehicle has to move in reverse. The fire department is yet to determine what led to the incident, but suspects a short circuit was to blame. Police plan to record Ankloras statement to help with the probe. In Delhi, restaurants or pubs with fewer than 50 seats dont need a safety certificate from the fire department. But Mail Today found that such establishments in the Village are usually swarming with over 100 people. Fire department officials said they cannot do anything about the rules. Permits are not required if they claim to have the capacity of less than 50 people. Whenever we get a request for permits, our officials visit the place to verify the truth. Permits have been issued only to three bars in the Village, Garg said. Sources say a raid by the excise department three years ago exposed the rot, as about 110 people were found in a bar which was permitted to have less than 50 visitors at a time. A pub was also gutted in the area during Diwali a few years ago. The area is ringed by restaurants and commercial joints. Many of the restaurants run from buildings' second and third floors, making them vulnerable to accidents and natural disasters. In case of fire, a rescue operation becomes difficult. The first floor of the house, which had makeshift accommodation, was rented by Gourav and Anklora from its owner, Liaqat Ali. Gourav was from Haryanas Karnal district and owned a construction business in the Capital, while Anklora is studying law at OP Jindal Global University in Sonepat. It appears that the two got trapped with the fire spreading to the shed and the door, a police officer said. Though they have sustained burn injuries, it appears that they started to suffocate due to the smoke and collapsed. We have sent Tanejas body for postmortem. Anklora is out of danger. Police have registered a case of negligence. Gouravs family travelled to Safdarjung Hospital to retrieve his body and return with it to Karnal. Look at me: Virgin boss Richard Branson Virgin tycoon Sir Richard Branson's public rubbishing of Jeremy Corbyn's claim he couldn't find a seat on one of his trains was typical, bombastic Beardie. Compare his 'look-at-me' behaviour with his British Airways rival, Willie Walsh, who steered well clear of our Olympians returning from Rio on Monday via a BA flight. Dublin-born Willie, 54, is an unpretentious sort with little appetite for public relations. Awkward and softly spoken, it's said he doesn't even employ a personal assistant. Droll detail on embattled Deutsche Bank, gleaned from this month's New Yorker. When American bankers began arriving at the firm's London offices towards the end of the 90s, German managers erected office signs which spelt out 'Deutsche' phonetically. Dim-witted Yanks had been pronouncing it 'Douche Bank'. Glencore's South African boss Ivan Glasenberg announces the firm is stepping up the pace in its debt reduction plan, aiming to have it down to 12.5billion by the end of the year. Nasal-voiced Ivan, 59, has done plenty of 'stepping up' in his time. He was a race walker in his youth and was devastated to miss the 1984 Olympics when he and his compatriots were barred over apartheid. Consolingly, he embarked on a career in mining instead, netting a 1.25billion fortune. Visitors to the Financial Times' website are now treated a 'pop-up' greeting from haughty editor Lionel Barber, 61, on their screens. He appears in full-length form, but with his recently awarded Legion d'Honneur medal disappointingly absent from his lapel. Perhaps the FT's boffins in IT can Photoshop it in at a later date. In the meantime, my own eggheads have installed a 'Barber-blocker' to prevent any further intrusions. Former stockbroker Johnnie Boden, who is now the 300million boss of the Sloaney mail order clothing firm, allows his well-heeled customers to choose from a drop-down menu of 52 titles including squadron leader, general, field marshal lord, rear admiral, the duke of, the duchess of, prince, princess, the marquess of, the marchioness of, the earl of, the countess of, viscount and viscountess. No apology: Lloyds boss Antonio Horta-Osorio The intricacies of 'block chain' trading and Swiss bank UBS's 'utility settlement coin' will doubtless be stirring the loins of bankers as they do their final lap of the Med before returning to their desks next week. But of more interest to Lloyds bank investors, taxpayers, customers and employees will be the ceremonial return to the office of chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio after a summer break during which it has been his extra-curricular activities while on bank business that have been the centre of attention. The Lloyds response to Horta-Osorio's fling with a prominent educationalist has been feeble from the moment it was revealed. The statement from the boss, on the day he returned to work, is not much better. There is no apology to his family, stakeholders or anyone else, simply 'deeply regret' about the damage inflicted on the bank's reputation. Horta-Osorio makes much of the fact that his personal life is a private matter. Maybe, but when the indiscretions took place when you are in a luxury hotel in Singapore on bank business it is a matter of public interest. This is especially so when you head a bank which was bailed-out with 20.5billion of public money in 2008 and in which the taxpayer still holds 9 per cent. There is no doubt that Horta-Osorio has done a decent job at Lloyds. Pity he shouldn't in the light of the fact that the bank has huge shares of the mortgage, current account and savings market. Moreover, it has slashed costs by cutting the workforce by 50,000 people since the ill-fated merger with HBOS in 2008. Good bank chief executives are hard to find and Horta-Osorio clearly is ranked highly with Italian bank Unicredit and Britain's largest financial institution HSBC understood to have been interested in his services. The fear that he might be driven from office is no reason, however, for the bank's board to treat his missteps leniently. We are told by the bank that the chief executive's expenses for the Singapore jolly have been examined scrupulously and found to be 'fully compliant' and only his business expenses were reclaimed. What we have not been told is how the division was done (since business and pleasure were so intertwined) or whether the separation was made before or after behaviour which failed to reach the highest standards was revealed. Indeed, there are broader questions which have still to be answered. Was this the first time that the chairman Lord Blackwell had to go through the delicate task of separating Horta-Osorio's personal from business expenses? Are other employees of the bank offered the same kid-gloved treatment? And was conducting an illicit affair while on bank duties a distraction from carrying out his commitments at the International Monetary Conference and to the bank? Clearly, it would be unfair to draw parallels between the Lloyds chief's behaviour and that of failed chief executives Fred Goodwin of RBS and Adam Applegarth of Northern Rock, who both conducted affairs while in office. But the high pay and benefits which come with being part of an exclusive club of bank chieftains does appear to encourage a culture in the chief executive's sprawling suite which is very different to that which directors seek to impose on employees. Horta-Osorio weakly excuses himself by saying 'mistakes will be made' as if they are nothing to do with him. Of course they are and he has duty to immediately give up some or all of his fat bonuses. Lord Blackwell and the bank board have a duty to publish details of any investigation that has been carried out and show precisely how Horta-Osorio's expense claims were handled in Singapore, and before that. Investors, including the taxpayer, deserve no less. Commercial break There is no disputing that Sir Martin Sorrell is one of Britain's most impressive business figures. Amid all the uncertainties facing the UK and the global economy, when advertising and marketing budgets are most vulnerable, WPP managed 4.3 per cent net sales growth in the first half of the year. Sorrell's pre-referendum forecast that Brexit would slow growth looks to have proven wrong and the group's shares climbed a further 1.9 per cent making Sorrell, who owns 1.91 per cent of the stock, ever richer. When writing about Sorrell it is hard not to forget his 70million pay packet and the one-third vote against it at this summer's shareholders meeting. Sorrell may think it is deserved. But several of his fellow FTSE 100 chief executives think it outrageous, casting a dark shadow over all the good work that corporate Britain does for our prosperity. It is hard to disagree. Brighton tower Another bit of Brexit brightness comes from Britain's seaside towns, some of which recently have been condemned for their lack of educational achievement. A survey by software company Epos Now reveals that the staycation is delivering a 1.4billion boom to UK plc. The poll taken in the period July 17 to August 17 found a 12.8 per cent sales hike among hospitality businesses. Top of the pops, as it should be, is that queen of resorts, Brighton, where this writer was born and bred. Snack Brands acquired by Philippines food and beverage giant Snack Brands, the owner of CCs, Cheezels and numerous other chip brands, has been acquired by Philippines consumer food and beverage company, Universal Robina Corporation (URC). URC is listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange and is currently trying to expand into Australia and different regions of South East Asia. According to Snack Brands, URC is hoping to gain marketing advantage with Australian manufactured products and will keep Snack Brands as an independent operation with management and manufacturing jobs retained. The acquisition is still subject to approval of the Foreign Investment Review Board. No job losses from acquisition Snack Brands Chief Executive Officer, Paul Musgrave, said the acquisition was a positive one for the business and its people. What this achieves for the business is to take Australian manufactured product, with its distinct food security advantage, into Asian markets with the benefit of an established distribution force, Musgrave said. It means there are no intended job losses but instead a stronger growth path with a new partner and the prospects of adding new URC product categories from New Zealand to our local markets. It is also expected to be a positive for many of Snack Brands suppliers such as potato and corn growers, Musgrave stated. Snack Brands manufacture potato and corn chips sold in Australian supermarkets including CCs, Cheezels, Thins, Kettle, The Natural Chip Company, Samboy and French Fries. The finance industry is fabulous at making money for itself, but pretty rubbish at creating wealth for the people it is supposed to serve: small savers and investors like you and me. That's the view of former fund manager David Pitt-Watson, who speaks with the authority of a man who has spent decades inside the charmed City circle. Siphoning off money from pension savings through sneaky fees and charges is, according to him, a 'perfect crime'. Legal theft: Fund manager David Pitt-Watson says the finance industry siphoning off money from pension savings through sneaky fees and charges is a 'perfect crime' 'Most people don't understand the charges and pension providers are not necessarily very good at explaining them. Many people never know their pockets have been picked,' he says. Never mind the risks of losing your pension in a BHS-style scenario, where Sir Philip Green has so far not lived up to his promises to make good the 571million shortfall. Billions of pounds are draining out of our pensions in fees each year, without most of us being any the wiser. Even charges that sound innocuous can have a devastating effect. For a 25-year-old, who retires at 65 and expects to live to 85, a 1 per cent yearly charge would slice 25 per cent off their retirement income. A 1.5 per cent charge would cut it by 38 per cent, and 2 per cent by nearly half. If some of that money had stayed in pensioners' accounts instead of enriching financiers, it could have paid for an awful lot of holidays, grandchildren's school fees, and home improvements. DAVID PITT-WATSON, 59 Lives: North London. Education: Local schools in Scotland, PPE at Oxford, and a business degree from Stanford, California. Family: Married for 27 years with three children and a dog called Ringo. Hobbies: History, travel, walking in Scotland while dodging the midges. Best advice ever received: 'Just give it a go. At Stanford, if you got a rejection letter from a job, you could go to the bar with it and claim a free drink. I had a night or two out on the back of that, but I kept trying, learned a lot, and ended up getting a great job.' Day in the life: 'I'm never at my best in the early morning. I get up at seven for the news and a cup of tea, and arrive at work around 8.30am where I have a cup of coffee and a croissant. I spend my days teaching and writing, and working for the boards I sit on, as I am a non-executive director of Aviva Investors and KPMG. I'm usually home for 7.30pm in time to watch a box-set after dinner my favourite ever was 'The Wire' and walk the dog before bedtime. Motto: There must be a better way. 'We are the owners of companies people like me, people like you,' says Pitt-Watson. 'Shareholders are supposed to play a key role in holding companies to account, but ordinary savers are not having their say on issues such as executive pay. 'Large investors are voting on their behalf, without consulting them. In an age of social media, it ought to be possible to enfranchise pension savers.' H E is so angry that he has co-written a book that exposes the shortcomings of the financial system. 'The fees are very confusing and ordinary people have no hope of working out what they are being charged,' says Pitt-Watson, now an executive fellow of finance at London Business School. It is, of course, hard for individual small savers to challenge the City establishment. 'Yes, it is difficult, but if people keep their head in the sand nothing will change,' he says. 'The industry needs to do much more to come clean on fees and charges. You can't tell people they are responsible for providing for their own retirement and then in the next breath tell them they are being kept in the dark on how much they are paying their money managers.' Pitt-Watson is a clergyman's son who was brought up in Scotland and is now on an evangelical mission to bring common sense back to the financial system. 'The charges wouldn't be so bad if the investment performance was brilliant, but often it isn't. 'There are payments to a long chain of middlemen, and there is increasing short-termism and pointless activity. 'High-frequency trading, for instance, where deals turn on a fraction of a second. What is the point of that? If you are investing in a pension, you have a horizon of 40 years or more.' He goes on: 'What are the tasks of the finance industry? One, to allocate capital where it can be put to the most productive use by firms and individuals. 'Two, to help individuals to save and invest for their future. If we are not careful it will fail at both.' Productivity and efficiency in the finance sector, he says, have not improved since the 19th century. 'Other industries have become much more productive, but not financial services. The key word is 'services' financiers are meant to serve others but the risk is they serve only themselves.' Sinking: Billions of pounds are draining out of our pensions in fees each year, without most of us being any the wiser Shareholders are also failing to rein in executive pay, he says. Research shows the average FTSE 100 chief executive was paid 5.5million, and the best-paid, Sir Martin Sorrell of media giant WPP, received a package of more than 70million. Incentives were meant to line up the chief executive's interests with those of investors, but, says Pitt-Watson, they have given bosses a motive to chase up the share price in the short-term, rather than concentrate on building a great company for generations ahead. 'Chief executives are, in the end, just employees like any other. We should go back to paying them in cash, and if there is a bonus it should be a fraction of their basic salary, only if they have done exceptionally well.' How, though, will it be possible to get the genie back into the bottle? 'Ah yes, it will be very difficult,' he says. Pitt-Watson began his career at venture capital house 3i, then did a stint at the management consultant McKinsey. He helped set up consultancy business Braxton Associates, where he became managing director. The firm was bought by accountancy giant Deloitte, where he worked for 12 years advising company boards on strategy and competitiveness. Unusually for a City man, he is a Labour supporter, though not a Corbynite, and was finance director of the party in the Tony Blair honeymoon years 1997 to 1999. He went on to join Hermes Fund Managers as commercial director of its shareholder activist funds, which became the largest of their kind in Europe. 'Don't get me wrong, I am not an anti-capitalist,' he says. 'I do think capitalism is the best system we have, which is why it is so important we get it to work properly for ordinary people, as the Prime Minister said in her speech on her first day in office. 'It is an amazing achievement that we have a system where you can put contributions into a pension fund and to trust that you are going to get money when you retire maybe 40 years later. It's worth fighting to keep that trust.' LONDON HQ French bank Societe Generale is forging ahead with a move to Canary Wharf, casting doubt on warnings of a finance exodus following the Brexit vote. The bank leaves its City of London office in 2019 the decision a blow to the French, who are hoping to tempt bankers back to Paris after driving them out with high tax rates. BOOMING BUSINESS Trade is booming at WH Smith stores in airports and train stations as holidaymakers continue to travel despite worries about terrorism. The retailer, which is expanding overseas, has also benefited from the adult colouring book trend. Shares rose 0.8 per cent, or 12p, to 1602p. INFRASTRUCTURE BOOST Engineering giant Costain posted soaring revenues thanks to billions of pounds of investment in UK infrastructure. Revenue was up 27.4 per cent to 791.4million for the first half of 2016 while profits rose 13 per cent to 11.3million and the company increased its interim dividend by 15 per cent to 4.3p a share. Shares were up 6.4 per cent, or 22.25p, to 371.25p. CONTRACTS WON A string of contract wins drove up profits at building and maintenance firm Carillion in the first half of the year. The business announced a 24 per cent profit rise to 83.9million after winning 2.5billion of new work, and hiked its dividend by 2 per cent to 5.8p per share. Shares were flat at 296.2p. PRICE HIKES Carpet trader Headlam has not seen any impact on demand from the Brexit vote but said the weaker pound had forced up prices for its imported goods. The company made a 15million profit in the first half of the year, up 22 per cent, and raised its dividend by 11.7 per cent to 6.7 pence per share. Shares rose 6.2 per cent or 27.5p to 475p. STUBBED OUT Tobacco machinery-manufacturer Molins has blamed dismal half-year results on falling demand for cigarettes. It posted losses of 300,000 having made profits of 400,000 in the same period last year and halved its dividend to 1.25p a share. Sales from continuing operations were 35million, down from 39.5million in 2015, and shares were down 13 per cent, or 8p, to 53.5p. DEFENCE BLOW Revenues at infection-control group Bioquell have taken a hit due to falling sales to the defence industry, the firm said. Overall revenues fell 3 per cent to 12.1million for the first half of 2016, down from 12.5million for the same period in 2015. However biodecontamination revenues rose 8 per cent to 11.1million, up from 10.3million a year earlier. Shares fell 8.1 per cent, or 12.5p, to 141p per share. Over half of households across the UK are concerned about the potential impact of Britain's vote to leave the European Union on their personal finances and jobs. Nearly 27 per cent of Briton's are worried that June's Brexit vote could put their job at risk, according to a report from the Scottish Friendly and the Social Market Foundation. Meanwhile, levels of monthly disposable income climbed only 2.4 per cent in the last quarter, with the proportion of people spending more on housing costs up from 5.8 per cent to 7.1 per cent. Brexit concerns: Over half of households across the UK are concerned about the potential impact of Britain's vote to leave the European Union on their personal finances According to the research, 51.9 per cent of households that are home to people aged between 25 and 54 are worried about the knock-on effect on their finances of Britain's vote to leave the EU. Over half of 18-24 year olds and 49.5 per cent of 25-34 year olds are concerned the vote to leave the EU could have an impact on their jobs, the report added. In the last quarter, average monthly disposable incomes per household climbed by 2.4 per cent, from 1,000 to 1,024, Scottish Friendly said. With sluggish wage growth and the value of the pound dropping sharply since the referendum on June 23, many people are increasingly concerned about their future finances. Before the referendum, just over 40 per cent said they were concerned a vote to leave the EU would push up prices in the UK. Since the vote, that number has risen to 47.9 per cent. On Tuesday, data from research firm Kantar Worldpanel suggested that any impact on supermarket prices arising from the Brexit vote were yet to materialise. Jobs: Nearly 27 per cent of Briton's are worried that the Brexit vote could put their job at risk, according to the report from Scottish Friendly and the Social Market Foundation Calum Bennie, savings expert at Scottish Friendly, said: 'Clearly the economic consequences of the Brexit vote are at the forefront of peoples minds when it comes to planning their finances. 'Concerns persist as monthly disposable income has remained relatively flat. There is still a sense of financial fragility in many parts of the UK and amongst young people in particular, who dont feel as secure in their jobs or as able to save as older generations.' Another survey, released today, also showed almost half of Britons believe the UK economy will contract in the next year as a result of the Brexit vote. The Greene King leisure spend tracker found a third of households (33 per cent) expect their financial situation to be worse-off this time next year and 47 per cent believe the wider economy will contract as a result of the decision to leave the EU. The report said this is most keenly felt among young adults, with 62 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds and 53 per cent of 25 to 34-year-olds expecting the economy to decline. Just 8 per cent expect an improvement in their prospects, the survey added. The average British household spent 209 on out-of-home leisure last month, a 2 per cent, or 3 increase year-on-year, the tracker also revealed. Greene King group marketing director Rob Rees said: 'This month's Greene King leisure spend tracker reveals that the uncertainty created by Brexit is worrying Brits of all ages. 'The impact of Brexit on personal finances is a concern but, in fact, UK adults are more pessimistic about the prospects of the wider economy and the potential threat of recession later this year.' Firms that pester people with nuisance calls and text messages have been collectively fined the equivalent of nearly 10,000 a day so far in 2016, the Information Commissioner's Office has revealed. It has dished out a total of 1.5million in penalties to companies responsible for more than 70million cold calls, often pestering some of Britain's most vulnerable people. More than 93,000 complaints have been received by the regulator so far in 2016 from those who have received nuisance calls and texts. One firm, Better for the Country Ltd was fined 50,000 in May after it broke the law by not having the consent of the people to which it sent a total of 500,000 text messages. Nuisance calls: The ICO is trying to crack down on the worst nuisance call firms In February, Prodial Ltd, a lead generation firm responsible for over 46million automated nuisance calls, received a record 350,000 fine from the regulator. Meanwhile David Lammy MP was fined 5,000 for making nuisance calls. Mr Lammy instigated 35,629 calls over two days, playing a recorded message that urged people to back his campaign to be named the Labour party candidate for London Mayor. Stephen Eckersley, head of enforcement at ICO, has vowed to continue the regulator's crackdown on companies behind cold calls and spam texts. He said: 'Our helpline staff hear first-hand the level of distress cold calls can cause. The rules around marketing messages are there for a reason.' 'We have acted on information provided by the public and specifically targeted companies that phone people in the middle of the night, ask to speak to deceased relatives or ring repeatedly after being asked to stop.' Those who feel like they are being pestered by a firm can report it on the ICO helpline 0303 123 1113 or ico.org.uk/concerns. Mr Eckersley added: 'People reporting their nuisance marketing concerns to us are vital to our work. Those reports inform our investigations and help us stop the firms bombarding the public with troublesome calls, texts and emails. 'We've already got further fines in the pipeline and with your help we can take more action.' Nuisance calls, although a minor irritation for many, can be particularly hard on vulnerable members of society. One complainant told the ICO: 'I am disabled. I don't very often get calls on my landline, so it means I have to get up and walk to the phone, which causes me inconvenience and pain - frustrating when it's a nuisance advertising call that I didn't want anyway. Another said: 'My husband has dementia and could agree to anything if I wasn't there to take the call.' And another added: 'The most annoying and disgusting thing was the time of the call in the early hours of the morning. It woke everyone in the house including young children. 'It caused me a lot of anxiety as I do not receive calls at that time of day unless it is an emergency or bad news. A family member is currently seriously ill and I immediately thought the worse.' The ICO has the power to impose a penalty on a data controller of up to 500,000 who breach rules around marketing calls, e-mails and texts. Earlier in the year, research from consumer group Which? claimed that four in ten of all phone calls are 'nuisance calls'. How to stem the tide of nuisance calls and texts - Register with the Telephone Preference Service. If you are registered with the TPS and still receive calls, you can complain to the Information Commissioners Office on 0303 123 1113 - If you are with EE, O2 or Vodafone you can forward spam texts to 7726. If you're a Three user, text 37726. - Set up call barring many cold calls come from abroad, so you could ask your phone operator to block calls from international numbers. - Don't respond to spam texts. Even texting the word 'stop' alerts the sender that the phone is active and in use. If you do receive spam texts, you can report them to your network provider or to the ICO. - Note the number if possible get the cold call phone number (for example through dialing 1471). This helps organisations such as Ofcom to investigate. - Screen calls if you have caller display and an answer phone, consider only answering calls from numbers you recognise. Sir Martin Sorrell yesterday said the British economy is already 'perking up' following the vote to leave the European Union. The advertising tycoon, who has built WPP into the biggest marketing agency in the world, was a staunch supporter of the 'remain' campaign. The 71-year-old, dubbed the Sage of Soho for his pronouncements on the state of the UK and the world, warned before the referendum that leaving would hit investment and jobs 'and put the economy at risk'. Turnaround: Sir Martin Sorrell yesterday said the British economy is already 'perking up' following the vote to leave the European Union But he yesterday said that business in the UK picked up in July following a slowdown ahead of the historic vote on June 23. 'What we saw after the vote and it's only July, we haven't got the numbers for August was the UK perking up a bit,' said Sorrell, who sparked a shareholder revolt over his 70million pay packet in June. The upbeat comments were just the latest sign that the scare stories peddled before the referendum including by David Cameron and George Osborne may have been misplaced. WPP said revenues in the UK were up 3.5 per cent in the second quarter of the year. But this was down from growth of 4.7 per cent in the first quarter. The company said the slowdown was due to uncertainty ahead of the referendum which came at the end of the second quarter. But it said trading in July was stronger than it was between April and June 'perhaps reflecting a post-Brexit vote recovery driven by a weaker pound sterling'. Sounding a note of caution about the post-referendum world, Sorrell said the pick-up in July 'begs the question as to what the UK would have done without the Brexit vote or if the vote had gone the other way'. He called for a 'quick and clean' solution to Brexit, but added the interests of corporate giants was at odds with Government plans. 'Business wants certainty,' said Sorrell. 'But the Government doesn't want that degree of certainty. It wants the best negotiating position with the EU, and the two are in conflict. 'We want a quick, clean solution but Government needs ... time for negotiations.' The comments came as WPP posted a 15.8 per cent rise in global profits to 690million in the first half of the year as its revenues rose by 11.9 per cent to 6.5billion. The company raised its interim dividend 22 per cent to 19.55p a share and the stock rose 1.9 per cent, or 33p, to 1780p, having touched an all-time high earlier in the day. Sorrell said although there had been a considerable degree of uncertainty following the Brexit vote, Britain was not the only cause for concern. While the results were strong, the advertising group has had to 'grind them out in a difficult environment' with global growth 'stuck' at between 3 per cent and 3.5 per cent, he said. 'Clearly the world is a difficult place,' added Sorrell. 'We have all the geopolitical issues quite apart from Brexit.' He pointed to terrorism in the Middle East and to the 'significant political and economic uncertainties' surrounding three of the BRIC nations Brazil, Russia and China. Sorrell said the fourth India was the one 'shining star' with sales growth of more than 17pc in the second quarter. WPP faced a shareholder backlash earlier this summer when 34 per cent of investors rebelled against Sorrell's 70million pay package. Police have interviewed a fifth person over the case of missing toddler William Tyrrell, who vanished from his grandmother's backyard nearly two years ago. Detectives questioned Kim Loweke, who is best friends with William's grandmother Natalie Collins, over her whereabouts on the day the three-year-old went missing. According to Nine's ACA, police became interested when the two women applied to the Department of Housing for a three-bedroom home in western Sydney. Ms Loweke also has personal links with Tony Jones and William Spedding - two accused paedophiles that were both named as persons of interest in the case. Scroll down for video Police have questioned Kim Loweke, the best friend of William Tyrrell's grandmother Natalie Collins, over here whereabouts on the day the three-year-old went missing Ms Collins said it was 'disgusting' that police had questioned her best friend over the sudden disappearance of her grandson Ms Loweke and Ms Collins applied to the Department of Housing for a three-bedroom home in western Sydney, which reportedly piqued the interest of police Ms Loweke admitted that the set of coincidences were strange, but denied having anything to do with William Tyrrell's disappearance. I was thinking about how the situation is so weird, it is weird. I cant work it out, me minds going a hundred miles an hour going whats going on, she told ACA. I dont know why my name's come up in the situation I seriously dont know,' she said, trailing off with laughter. Adding further intrigue to the mystery of William's disappearance, Ms Loweke owns an old silver Holden VX Commodore - eerily similar in shape and colour to the description of one of the cars that was parked outside William's grandmother's home in Kendall, NSW, when he went missing on September 12, 2014. The cars - described as a dark grey old-model, medium-size sedan and an old white station wagon - became the focus of police inquiries early on in the case. Detectives reportedly took photos of Ms Loweke's car. Ms Loweke reportedly has personal links to both William Spedding (left) and Tony Jones (right) William Tyrrell, 3, went missing from his grandmother's back yard in Kendall, NSW, on September 12, 2014 Ms Collins said it was 'disgusting' that police had questioned her best friend and cast doubt over the pair's intentions with requesting a new home. Thats just disgusting, Im sorry, because like I wouldnt hide him. Like Kim said it would be good if we could find him, we would hand him over anyway,' she said. In a statement released to ACA, NSW Police said it would not be appropriate to comment on who was being questioned by police as it was an 'ongoing investigation.' Discussion on the ban is in the early phase and will be decided next year A ban on swimming with dolphins in Hawaii has been proposed by federal regulators. The ban could imperil one of the Aloha State's most popular tourist activities and the industry that has sprung up around it. The National Marine Fisheries Service says spinner dolphins the playful nocturnal species that humans in Hawaii routinely frolic with are being deprived of rest during the day and becoming stressed out. Swimming with dolphins is popular with visitors and some locals, with dozens of companies on Kauai, Oahu, Maui and the Big Island operating dolphin tours daily. The proposed rule could shut down or greatly disrupt the industry as it now operates. A ban on swimming with dolphins in Hawaii has been proposed by federal regulators and would require tourists to stay 50 yards away from wild dolphin at all times (stock image) Researchers have found swimming with the nocturnal dolphin have caused them stress and scientists fear it could interfere with breeding (stock image) That's because the ban would cover waters out to 2 nautical miles, which is where 98 per cent of Hawaii's spinner dolphins rest after they've spent the night feeding. Tour companies take customers to these close-to-shore waters to find dolphins. Ann Garrett, assistant regional administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service's protected resources division for the Pacific Islands, said dolphins have been found to be burning calories at a higher rate because they are forced to be vigilant as people approach their pods. 'All of these things can contribute to a reduction of fitness over time this kind of chronic level of stress. That's what we're concerned about,' Garrett said. Scientists have not done any studies on how frolicking with humans has affected the dolphins' numbers. But they fear the stress will harm the animals' ability to reproduce. The federal agency plans to hold public meetings on the regulations next month and expects to make a final decision next year. The federal agency plans to hold public meetings on the regulations next month and expects to make a final decision next year (stock image) Garrett said Tuesday that the agency aims to require swimmers, snorkelers and others in the water to stay at least 50 yards from the animals. She said tour operators can follow this rule and still make a living. She said some already do so voluntarily. Under the proposed rules, 'those that are putting their people in the water to interact with dolphins, this would change the nature of what they're doing,' she said. 'They could still do snorkeling for other reasons it's just not setting their people within a pod of dolphins or within 50 yards of a dolphin.' Hawaii's spinner dolphins get their name from their habit of leaping in the air and spinning around. Some scientists say such behavior is not always playfulness and can instead be an attempt by a dolphin to alert others to danger. Spinner dolphins eat fish and small crustaceans that surface from the ocean depths at night. At daybreak, they gather in shallow bays to hide from tiger sharks and other predators. Tour operators can follow this rule and still make a living and some already do so voluntarily, experts said (stock image) When they sleep, they rest half their brains and keep the other half awake so that they can surface and breathe. As a result, they can look awake and active even when asleep. Unlike the better-known bottlenose and other dolphin species in Hawaii waters, they are highly predictable in their behavior, returning to the same general area every day. That makes them easy for tour groups to find. The prohibitions would cover waters up to 2 miles off the main Hawaiian Islands. The mother of a British man who apparently tried to kill Donald Trump at a rally has been allowed to visit him in jail after winning a judge's approval. Lynne Sandford, 41, from Dorking in Surrey, said her son Michael, 20, is not coping with being detained and often sobs during telephone calls with her. Sandford's defense attorney, Brenda Weksler, said he was in a 'delicate mental state' and had been put on suicide watch. Michael Sandford was taken out of the Trump campaign rally at the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas after allegedly trying to disarm a police officer with the intention of killing Trump Lynne Sandford, 41, from Surrey, said her son is not coping with being detained and often sobs during telephone calls with her - she has not been granted permission to visit him Sandford allegedly tried to snatch an officer's weapon during a rally at a Las Vegas casino on June 18, later telling officials his plan was 'to shoot and kill Donald Trump'. He is due to face trial in Las Vegas after pleading not guilty to charges of disrupting government business and official functions and being an illegal alien in possession of a gun. If convicted he could face up to 30 years in a US jail. Ms Sandford described her son, who has 'complex and severe' medical issues including autism, as a 'little boy in an adult's body'. She wants him to return to the UK for psychiatric help. She told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire show: 'Whenever I speak to him, he is extremely distressed and anguished, and he feels a great amount of remorse for what he did and the impact it's having on the family. 'He's just not coping, he sobs to me on the telephone, and he just wants to come back to the UK to get help.' Asking to get an autograph from the billionaire, Sandford allegedly attempted to take a police officers holstered gun before being tackled and frogmarched from the venue Sandford allegedly tried to snatch an officer's weapon during a rally at a Las Vegas casino on June 18, later telling officials his plan was 'to shoot and kill Donald Trump' His family and attorneys say he has Asperger's syndrome, obsessive compulsive disorder and depression; that he previously attempted suicide and was treated for anorexia; and that he once ran away from a hospital in England. Ms Sandford went on: 'This is very out of character of him. 'Everyone who has known him throughout his life says that. He understands now, he didn't realise at the time. He had a diminished understanding. 'People with autism they understand things in different ways to the rest of us, and he clearly was not in the right frame of mind at that point. That's why we need to get him some help.' His father Paul Davey previously told MailOnline he had no idea why his son would attempt to shoot the billionaire presidential candidate and suggested someone must have put the vulnerable boy 'up to it.' Ms Sandford (pictured) described her son as a 'little boy in an adult's body' He said his son was so disengaged with politics he would not be able to name any UK politicians 'apart from the Prime Minister' - and 'wouldn't even be able to name the President of the USA'. The 20-year-old, who is originally from Surrey and was carrying a UK driver's licence, had been living illegally for 18 months in New Jersey after his visa expired and had been sleeping in his car. He had gone to live in the US so he could be with an American girl he met in England. A secret service report said Sandford told officers he had been planning the Vegas assassination for around 12 months and believed he would die in the process. He also had tickets for a rally in Phoenix later that day in case the gun grab failed and told officers if Trump 'were on the street tomorrow, he would try this again'. Sandford was arrested after allegedly grabbing the handle of an officer's gun in an attempt to remove it Sandford - who is being held at a detention center west of Las Vegas - told a judge at a previous hearing that he understands the charges against him. US Magistrate Judge Cam Ferenbach characterized the case as unique because of Sandford's age, the nature of the charges and the 'context' of the alleged offense. The judge said letting Ms Sandford and London lawyer, Saimo Chahal, meet with his defense attorney 'might help in the resolution of the case in a way that benefits the defendant and the government.' Prosecutor Jared Grimmer said the government did not oppose a visit. A world-famous Scottish painter did not create a landscape work that had been valued at more than $10 million, a federal judge has found. Peter Doig, a 57-year-old painter born in Edinburgh, was sued by retired Canadian prison guard Robert Fletcher who bought the painting in 1976. Fletcher claims he bought the painting from a then-unknown Doig for $100 while he was an inmate in the prison he worked in. But years later, after the painting's value rocketed to $10million, Doig denied painting the piece - causing it's worth to plummet. A federal judge in Chicago ruled that Doig cannot have been the artist because he was in a Canadian high school at the time - not in prison. He said it was actually the work of another artist with a similar sounding name, Peter Doige. Retired Canadian prison official Robert Fletcher said he had bought this painting from Scottish artist Peter Doig - but Doig denied painting the work Evidence clearly showed that it is case of mistaken identity, US District Judge Gary Feinerman said. Feinerman has not yet formally announced a verdict, but the entire case of the painting's owner hinges on his claim that Doig painted it. The suit was filed in Chicago because one auctioneer who had expressed interest in selling the painting is based in the city. Doig's disavowal of the painting caused the painting's projected sale price to tank, prompting Fletcher to file a lawsuit for millions in damages. Fletcher maintained that the painting of a desert landscape, which he paid $100 for in the 1970s, is by Doig. Fletcher (right) filed a lawsuit for millions in damages against Doig (left), saying Doig's disavowal had caused the price of a projected sale to tank He claimed he bought it while Doig was serving prison time in Canada's Thunder Bay Correctional Center. But Feinerman said that was impossible, because Dog was in high school at the time. The judge pointed to high school yearbook photos and said that proved Doig was in a Toronto high school when Fletcher said he was painting in prison. 'Peter Doig could not have been the author of the work,' the judge said. Doig's works are prized for their ethereal scenes often with subjects appearing as ghostly figures in forests or lakes. Doig's 1990 landscape 'Swamped,' (pictured) sold for $25.9 million last year at Christie's according to the auction company's website His painting of someone slumped over a canoe, entitled 'Swamped,' sold last year at Christie's for $25.9 million, according to the auction company's website. Authenticity disputes typically arise long after an artist dies, not, as in this case, when the artist is still living and flatly denies a work is his. Ice-addicted students who are 'psychotic and aggressive' are turning up to school under the influence as the crippling drug epidemic wreaks havoc. Principals at a number of high schools in Victoria have revealed harrowing details of the impact crystal methamphetamine is having on students. The principals, who spoke to The Age anonymously, say some students are turning up to class having been awake for days after using ice. Scroll down for video Jake, 19, (pictured) is a former ice addict who said the drug is treated like gold in some parts of rural Australia. It comes as teachers report an increase in ice-addicted students at school One recalled a former student driving his car into the school after using ice and running barefoot into the office asking for help. At least one school in rural Victoria has ordered teachers to work in pairs for safety reasons. An ice addict, only known as Anthony, told Daily Mail Australia more children have started abusing ice after following in their parent's footsteps. 'Ice is easier to get than anything else and it is cheap so a lot of kids are doing it,' he said. 'Lots of parents do it so their kids have started doing it too. It is pretty f****d you are more likely to find an ice pipe in someone's house now then a bong.' The 27-year-old, who has been using ice for a decade, said he hated seeing young people get addicted. 'A whole family I know uses now the mum started, then the oldest daughter and now the youngest daughter and she is only 12. It is hard to watch,' he said. Principals at a number of high schools in Victoria have revealed harrowing details of the impact crystal methamphetamine is having on students A Kids On Ice documentary, which originally aired on Four Corners, shows the devastating impact ice has had on teenagers in rural Victorian areas like St Arnaud A Kids On Ice documentary, which originally aired on Four Corners but has now been released on iTunes, shows the devastating impact ice has had on teenagers in rural Victorian areas. Jake, 19, started dealing, using and cooking ice when he was just 15 in the town of St Arnaud in north-west Victoria. The teenager, who is now a recovering ice addict, said back in 2014 that the drug was just as common as marijuana. 'It's pretty much gold around here. It's worth more than its weight in gold as well and that's an actual fact unfortunately,' he said. 'It is as common as weed, which is ridiculous. There's a lot of money in it.' His friend, who didn't want to be identified, said he suffered from depression and smoked ice to feel happier. He said the drug was 'very' popular. Teachers say students are turning up to class having been awake for days after using ice An ice addict, only known as Anthony, told Daily Mail Australia more children have started abusing ice after following in their parent's footsteps The Victorian government introduced tough new laws last year to clamp down on ice dealers who peddle drugs to children in or near schools in a bid to protect young people for the crippling epidemic. Dealers will spend up to 25 years in prison if they are caught drug trafficking around schools. General manager of Melbourne rehabilitation facility The Hader Clinic, Jackson Oppy, said 'overwhelmed' schools were finding the drug difficult to deal with and had been ignoring it. AUSTIN, TexasThey'd been promising it since late last year, but with today being the first day of classes at the University of Texas-Austin (UT) campus, hundreds of students turned out with their sex toysnot to mention T-shirts, boom boxes, protest signs and moreto protest the Texas law which allows students at state universities to carry their concealed firearms on campus. The Campus Dildo Carry movement, whose motto is "Cocks Not Glocks," held a rally at around noon in front of the administration building, with some students carrying signs reading "Balls Deep In The Heart of Texas" and "Good Good Good Good Vibrations" and just about everyone carrying a dildo or similar sex toy, many supplied free or inexpensively by adult toy manufacturers. "Right now, the campus rules state that you can't have ... dildo-shaped objects out in public," noted Rosie Zander, a junior at UT and one of the protest leaders. "So we're protesting, saying why do we have guns on our campus and we can't have dildos out in public? That's absurd. We're fighting absurdity with absurdity, and it's a fun protest, easy to get involved. Just strap a dildo to your backpack and show the Texas legislature we don't agree. There's so many different reasons not to agree, and one interesting fact is the Texas legislature and senators and congressmen do not allow guns in their office, so if they don't allow guns in their offices, why should we allow guns on our campus?" Zander went on to note that all of Texas' public universities except Austin have opted out of the open carry policy, as have all private universities in the state. "We're telling people, the dildos will stay as long as the guns are here," Zander added, "so if you're uncomfortable with my dildo, you cannot imagine how uncomfortable I am with your gun." In fact, three UT professors had attempted to get a preliminary injunction on Monday to allow them to bar guns from their own classrooms, but they were turned down. Although UT's rules and Texas' laws bar "the reckless display of obscene objects," Bob Harkins, UTs associate vice president for campus safety and security, said in a recent interview that displaying a sex toy would not be an arrestable offense. Protesters have vowed to continue their protest as long as the open carry policy is in force. This is the shocking moment that a mafia drugs trafficker was caught trying to smuggle more than 1.7million worth of marijuana, while riding on jet skis. The jet skis were picked up on camera by a police chopper as they travelled across the Mediterranean sea from Albania towards Italy, in the dead of night. And, after being tipped off by coastguards, cops raced to the scene to stop the criminals in their tracks. A mafia drugs trafficker was caught trying to smuggle more than 1.7million worth of marijuana, while riding on jet skis The police chased the jet skis for around 20 minutes before one man dismounted and made a break for the coast. However, the other trafficker remained defiant and stayed on the water, where cops circled him until he eventually gave in and was arrested. The men were captured just off the coast of Bari, in southern Italy - where the notorious Sacra Corona Unita mafia gang are based. The jet skis were picked up on camera by a police chopper as they travelled across the Mediterranean sea from Albania After being tipped off by coastguards, cops raced to the scene to stop the criminals in their tracks. However, prior to this, they were both seen throwing several packets of drugs into the sea, which were later recovered by police and found to be marijuana. Alongside this, police also found more packets of the drug taped to the back of the vehicles. A police spokesperson from Bari, told The Sun: 'This was a dangerous operation given the fact it was night time and the traffickers were travelling at high speed across the water. The police chased the jet skis for around 20 minutes before one man dismounted and made a break for the coast The men were captured just off the coast of Bari, in southern Italy - where the notorious Sacra Corona Unita mafia gang are based 'Through the skill of the officers involved we were able to intercept them and arrest them. In total more than 200 kg of marijuana was recovered from the sea and the scooters. 'The street value was well in excess of two million Euro (1.7million) and the arrested men were Albanian nationals who are known to the Italian authorities. 'They have been charged with drugs trafficking and several violations of maritime safety.' Both men were seen throwing several packets of drugs into the sea, which were later recovered by police and found to be marijuana A New Jersey man accused of beating his girlfriend's two-year-old son to death allegedly told the boy to 'put up his hands' to fight while the couple argued over groceries. Zachary Tricoche, 24, from Pennsauken, was arraigned Tuesday on murder charges for allegedly killing Jamil Baskerville Jr on Saturday night. The youngster was sitting on a bed crying, upset after Tricoche pushed his mother during a row. Scroll down for video Zachary Tricoche, 24, from Pennsauken, New Jersey, has been charged with murder. He is accused of beating his girlfriend's two-year-old son, Jamil Baskerville Jr, to death during a fight over groceries Prosecutors say the boy's mother's boyfriend punched him in the chest. The strike caused him to fall backward and hit his head on the wall, authorities said. He was rushed to hospital after his mother dialed 911, but died a short time later. Doctors later said he succumbed to a devastating blow to his liver, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. During his first court appearance, Tricoche didn't enter a plea. His bail was set at $1 million cash. The youngster was sitting on a bed crying, upset after Tricoche pushed his mother during a row. Prosecutors say the boy's mother's boyfriend punched him in the chest Camden County prosecutors say the beating occurred Saturday night at a Pennsauken home. During his first court appearance, Tricoche didn't enter a plea. His bail was set at $1 million cash They said Tricoche and the woman started arguing because he didn't like the food she bought. Prosecutors say the boy died from blunt force abdominal trauma. Tricoche told the judge he had a public defender, but the lawyer wasn't with him at the arraignment. After the hearing, Jamil's grandfather Gerome DeShields told the Inquirer that New Jersey should bring the death penalty back for Tricoche. He said: 'He should be put to sleep, because he killed my grandson. He was 2 years old. There should be no reason that you want to hit him.' Mack Horton has revealed he was bombared by half a million messages of hate from China during the Olympic Games. Swim star Horton provoked fury after calling Chinese rival Sun Yang a 'drug cheat' before the 400m freestyle final in Rio, and then beat the 2012 Olympic champion in a thrilling showdown. Horton has now explained exactly how much online abuse he received in the wake of his comments as he became a target in the world's most populous nation. Scroll down for video Australian swimmer Mack Horton arrives back in Sydney with the rest of the Olympic team proudly displaying his gold medal from the 400m freestyle event Horton (centre) won the Olympic 400m freestyle final after calling his Chinese rival Sun Yang (left) a 'drug cheat' ahead of the race Horton continues to receive abusive messages on social media from China following his feud with Sun Yang at the Olympic Games in Rio, such as this post on Twitter A Chinese Twitter user sent this message to Mack Horton just as the Australian swimmer arrived back in Sydney after the end of the 2016 Olympic Games Horton has also been sent messages showing his picture superimposed onto a gravestone with a comment written in Chinese saying: 'Eat s**t' 'It affected my social media more than it affected me. I had 500,000 comments on one of my Instagram photos and it was just all hate from Chinese people,' Horton told Channel 7 after returning from Rio on the official Australian Olympic team flight. 'I was aware of it, but I didn't let it distract me during the week.' Gold medalist Horton gained nearly 50,000 followers on Instagram during the Olympic Games, but was left stunned by the level of abuse following his feud with Sun Yang. Having beaten his arch-rival in the 400m final, the Australian later uploaded a picture of himself receiving the gold medal in Rio with the message: 'I come from a land down under'. And that post is believed to have sparked the most fury in China, with one of the more polite responses saying: 'You will always be a loser... please apologise to Sun Yang!' Horton was also branded a 'snake', while another message hoped the 20-year-old would be 'killed by a local kangaroo'. Horton posted this image of himself receiving his Olympic 400m freestyle gold onto his Instagram, which is believed to have sparked most fury from China The Australian swimmer labelled Chinese rival Sun Yang (left) a 'drug cheat' ahead of their showdown in the Olympic 400m freestyle final Horton reacts after beating Sun Yang to gold in the final of the Olympic 400m freestyle The Australian swimmer has since wiped all comments from his Instagram posts, but is still receiving hateful messages via other social media. Even as he landed back in Sydney for an emotional reunion with his dad Andrew and mum Cheryl, the Olympic champion was being taunted on Twitter. One tweet from a user called @zxlicy said: '@_mackhorton Why didn't you drown', while others posted a picture showing an image of the Australian star superimposed onto a gravestone with a message written in Chinese saying: 'Eat s**t'. Police are trying to level the car at Westmead Children's hospital A Witness called police who rescued the driver within 20 minutes The Toyota was hanging on the edge with its back wheels of the ground A female driver was left dangling on the edge of a roof-top car park after she accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brake. The driver smashed through a guard rail on the second level of the Westmead Childrens Hospital carpark in Sydneys West, reported The Sydney Morning Herald. Luckily, the white Mazda bent the fence but did not break through it. She was stuck for 20 minutes before paramedics were able to reach the scene. Scroll down for video A woman's car was left hanging over the edge on the top floor of a carpark at Westmead Children's hospital A witness called police who arrived to rescue the woman within 20 minutes The woman managed to escape uninjured but had to be treated for shock. NSW police said a witness called triple 000 just before 8am on Wednesday to report the incident. Police, Fire & Rescue NSW firefighters and NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived within 20 minutes of receiving the phone call. Police are attempting to level the car which was left precariously hanging over the edge with its back wheels off the ground. It is believed the woman crashed he car after she accelerated instead of pressing the brake The 43billion deal to sell fighter jets to Saudi Arabia in the mid-1980s was Britain's biggest ever export deal and one of its most controversial. Now files reveal how Margaret Thatcher personally lobbied the Saudis to clinch the agreement before the French did. Previously secret documents released by the National Archives at Kew show how she visited the desert kingdom on her way back from a tour of south-east Asia in April 1985. King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, who died in 2005, is pictured with Margaret Thatcher at 10 Downing Street. Files reveal how Margaret Thatcher personally lobbied the Saudis to clinch an agreement to sell fighter jets to them The Saudis had been leaning towards buying fighter aircraft from the French. But Mrs Thatcher used the stopover to push hard on behalf of UK industry and helped British arms manufacturer BAE win the deal. Papers reveal she was invited by Prince Bandar to meet then-ruler King Fahd in the capital Riyadh. An official record of the meeting between them on April 14, 1985, made no mention of discussions involving jets or an arms deal. But in a letter to the king the following day the prime minister mysteriously wrote: 'I was glad that we were able to discuss a further matter privately over lunch. 'I look forward to receiving Your Majesty's personal envoy soon, in order that we may conclude this matter successfully.' Top secret: An official record of the meeting between Mrs Thatcher and King Fahd on April 14, 1985, made no mention of discussions involving jets or an arms deal Private matter: A letter from Mrs Thatcher sent the day after their meeting indirectly spoke of the deal being discussed over lunch That September a 43billion agreement in principle was signed for the UK to supply Tornado, Hawk and PC9 jets to Saudi Arabia as part of the so-called Al-Yamamah arms deal. It was later overshadowed by allegations of bribery and corruption, though a Serious Fraud Office investigation was dropped in 2006 on public interest grounds. In 2010, BAE admitted two criminal charges and paid fines of 286million to settle probes in the US and the UK. There were also claims that Mrs Thatcher's son, Mark, had received 12million in commission for acting as a go-between in the deal. However, he denies this and ministers repeatedly cleared him of any involvement. The previously secret files also reveal that the then-defence secretary Michael Heseltine had supported the trip on the understanding it was likely to lead to a deal. His private secretary, Richard Mottram, wrote to Mrs Thatcher's foreign policy adviser, Charles Powell: 'It seems unlikely that Prince Bandar would seek to engineer such a meeting unless something positive was likely to come out of it.' The papers show that the then-defence secretary Michael Heseltine had supported the trip on the understanding it was likely to lead to a deal A confidential briefing document outlined 'tactical arguments' called for an to an 'early and favourable decision' to buy warplanes A briefing document from the Foreign Office suggested the prospect of a deal was likely to be the true intention of the visit. It said: 'Tackling the King in person is probably the only way of smoking the Saudis out.' The Government had tried to keep discussions secret from the Press. But behind the scenes, detailed arguments to secure the contract were being planned. Noticing the beggar on the pavement outside Boots, Sylvia Moynihan couldnt find it in her heart to avert her eyes and walk by. Grubby and down at heel, he looked pitiful, she thought. As the widow of a banker and with no children to spend her money on, Sylvia felt a little guilty over the stark contrast between them. While this beggar was homeless, she was on her way home to a 1.25million apartment in Londons Kensington, where she had fine art on the walls and vintage wines in the kitchen. Scroll down for video Sylvia Moynihan, pictured, is a highly intelligent woman who carved out an impressive career in the City of London but she says she feels a fool for the way she let herself be targeted by the beggars Twice a week, the retired businesswoman lunched with well-connected friends in top restaurants. Summers were spent in the South of France. Once known as the Tiger of the City, renowned for her fierce, no-nonsense professionalism, at the sight of this poor man Sylvia became a pussycat. Fishing a fiver from her purse, Sylvia, then in her early 60s, struck up a conversation and listened sympathetically when he reeled off a sob story to melt the hardest of cynical hearts. Written out of his mothers will because of his past drug problems, he told Sylvia his mum hadnt lived long enough to see him beat his demons and thus claim his rightful inheritance. With a bit of help, he said, he was determined to get off the street, find work and turn his life around. Sylvia found him so polite and respectful he was a gentle soul, she said that after that first encounter, she often stopped for a chat. And when, one day, he offered to carry her heavy shopping bag home for her, she agreed. I feel the most awful fool, Sylvia says. It was incredibly stupid to let him know where I live. For 82-year-old Sylvias charitable act of compassion two decades ago would cost her dearly around 80,000 by her reckoning after she fell victim to a gang of drifters who, hearing of her generosity, began pestering her for money. Inevitably, word of her kindness spread on the streets and soon men were regularly turning up at the door of her flat looking for handouts which she willingly gave them, believing that in some small way she was helping to get them on the right path. To Sylvias dismay, this became almost a weekly occurrence sometimes twice a week. Sylvia Moynihan left her first husband to marry Don (pictured, with her at their engagement party in 1988) and she admits missing him a great deal after he died in 2003 Until last month, when police put a stop to it, she would give them up to 70 a time. On one occasion, when she didnt have the cash on her, she says one of the men walked her to a cashpoint. While she thought they were using the money to get off the streets, pay for a shelter for the night and find work, instead, a court heard last week, it was being blown on drink and drugs. One member of the group, Tom Lonsdale, 44, was jailed for seven weeks for harassment at the City of London Magistrates Court. The court heard how, after allowing the first beggar to carry her shopping home, Mrs Moynihans address was passed to others at St Mungos homeless shelter in Earls Court. Prosecutors told the court the gang escaped with 50,000, but Sylvia believes the true figure is higher. Prosecutor Kunal Dave said: Mr Lonsdale was introduced to the complainant by someone else who was also borrowing money from her. Because of that harassment, shes now scared and vulnerable. The court heard that Lonsdale, who admitted harassment and has more than 50 convictions for similar offences, turned up on Sylvias doorstep repeatedly from January to May this year, asking for cash. He even went back three more times after getting an official warning from police. Sylvia told the police Lonsdale asked her for money to buy paint and brushes for a painting job, so she gave him 300. A month later, he came back asking for a further 3,300 to buy materials for a major job. She gave him part of this as she did not have such a large amount of money on her. When he returned a third time, Sylvia doubting his story refused to give him any more. He then became aggressive, leading to his arrest. Lonsdale was ordered to repay 1,690 to Mrs Moynihan from his benefits at a rate of 20 a month, plus a 115 victim surcharge. He was also barred from going to her home or from contacting her indefinitely. A second man, aged 28, is due to be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on September 12, having pleaded guilty to three charges of fraud by false representation and one charge of harassment without violence at a hearing at West London Magistrates Court on August 3. Sylvia is hoping more arrests will follow. The ringleader, who she mistakenly came to regard as a friend after he carried her bag home from Boots all those years ago, has yet to be traced. She says she is speaking out to save others - especially vulnerable elderly people - from falling victim Sylvia says she gave him between 20,000 and 30,000. She is speaking out to warn others especially vulnerable elderly people to learn from her mistake and not to fall for the convincing yarns of doorstep beggars. According to Age UK, 85 percent of victims of doorstep scammers are 65 or over. Sylvia says: I am only 5 ft 1 in and weigh seven-and-a-half stone, but I can be as fierce as a tiger when I want to be. I felt sorry for these people and wanted to help them because Id been so fortunate in my life but I can see now they just saw me as a soft touch. I never felt frightened or threatened by them, but they kept coming back for more. They took advantage of me. I am very relieved its finally over. People need to know that people like that exist and not to give them any money. They always say they will pay you back, but thats a load of old codswallop. They all say its to buy tools for a job, but theyre all spending it so Im told by the police on drugs. Its very sad. Having lost tens of thousands of pounds, I have more than learned my lesson. From now on, I plan to ignore everyone I see begging. Far from being a lonely and vulnerable woman who might be considered easy prey, Sylvia insists she is the opposite. She is mystified over how she allowed herself to be fooled for so long. Even at 82, Sylvia is sprightly and smart, dressed in a black pencil skirt, white blouse and pearls: her uniform when she moved in corporate circles, gaining her Tiger nickname. Indeed, the mantelpiece in her smart flat is covered with pictures of tigers, alongside photos of her late husband, Don, who died in 2003 from lung cancer, aged 78. Though she misses Don, Sylvia loves to be out and about, still takes business calls, socialises frequently, is as sharp as a pin and enjoys a daily glass of champagne, which she says keeps me young. She says she and Don had enjoyed spending their money on the good life. When he died, Sylvia found herself living alone. The emotional vacuum left her vulnerable to the unscrupulous scammers. Not that she realised it at the time. She felt she was doing one good deed after another, and felt obliged to help whoever asked. Sylvia says it was the happiness and good fortune she had with Don that made her want to share a little of it with those who had been dealt a bad hand in life. Born in Birmingham to Scottish parents and educated at Edgbaston High School, she says she abandoned her dreams of becoming a concert pianist to enter the world of business first as a PA for various international law firms, then as an executive at the French Interior Ministry and, up until her retirement, as a director of a financial services company. She left her first husband, Teddy, a Lloyds underwriter, after 20 years of marriage when she fell in love with American-born banker Donald Moynihan, who she met on holiday in France. They married in 1985. The couple shared a large house in Kensington, now worth in excess of 5million, which Sylvia sold to downsize to her two-bedroom flat, which would become a magnet to homeless drifters. I have a very busy life and lots of friends, so its not as if I befriended these people out of loneliness, says Sylvia, who believes her Catholic faith played some part in her desire to help them. Id had a perfect life with Don, living in a beautiful house, and when I saw this young man outside Boots I felt sorry for him and wanted to help, says Sylvia. He was from Glasgow and, because my parents were Scottish, I felt there was a connection there. He was very pleasant to talk to. If Id given him the 5 and left it at that, no harm would have been done. My mistake was to let him take my bags home for me one day. That was a stupid thing to do, but I thought he was just being kind. After that, hed start popping round in the evening because the hostel he was staying in was just around the corner. Hed say he needed money to pay for a roof over his head, or to eat, or to buy tools to work. I never invited him in, but he always called when he knew Id be home in the evening. He was always very pleasant. I gave him the money he needed because I could afford it and because I really believed him when he said what he wanted it for. Sylvia says she felt even more indebted to this man when one evening, after he came to her flat looking for money, he spotted her through the window lying on the floor injured, having collapsed, and called an ambulance. I felt he had saved my life, which made it even harder to turn him away, says Sylvia. The thing is, you grow to like these people. They seem very polite and kind, so you dont question their motives. This summer, Sylvia returned from holiday in France to find that burglars had attempted to break into her flat. Police were called after she confided in a social worker about the money she was giving to homeless men. Had she not confided in social services, Sylvia might still be doling out money. Defending Lonsdale, solicitor Naushad Ahmed told the court it was not his clients intention to cause any stress to her. Shes a known person in the area where she resides, he said. She is a good person. Shes helped a lot of homeless people. He has the greatest respect for the lady. She willingly helped him and helped a lot of people. Sylvia says she will not maked the same mistake again. Mary Berrys latest topping has turned out beautifully. With an excellent set and perfect presentation, its light and fluffy and has absolutely no chance of falling flat. But instead of her baking its her new hairdo that is causing a stir. Viewers have noticed that it has grown in volume with each series of The Great British Bake Off. And as the show returns tonight, the 81-year-old judge will be showing off a particularly well-risen style with her short crop smoothed into a neat bouffant. The 81-year-old judge will be showing off a particularly well-risen style with her short crop smoothed into a neat bouffant when the programme airs tonight. Mary Berry in 2014 (left) and with straighter hair back in 2013 during the series (right) Yesterday one expert suggested that Miss Berry may have added a few hair extensions into the mix. Lucinda Ellery, a hair loss specialist with her own private practice, believes Miss Berry could have achieved the look with medi-connects tiny extensions gently fused to the hair with a polymer band. You need around 20 for a fringe or up to 70 for the whole head, Miss Ellery said. She added that extensions would help sustain the look without leaving older hair too frazzled. Hairspray and back-combing would split and damage the hair and could make it fall out, she said. If you want to keep that look you need extensions. Other benefits include not having to wash the hair as often, and less time styling. Miss Ellery said: It is feasible that with extensions Mary could wake up with near perfect hair. The BBC did not wish to comment. Lucinda Ellery, a hair loss specialist with her own private practice, believes Miss Berry could have achieved the look with medi-connects (Mary in 2010) The identical twin brother of Stephanie Scott's killer has been sentenced to a year and three months behind bars for helping his brother after the crime. But with time already served Marcus Stanford will walk free from prison in a few weeks, on September 9. The NSW Supreme Court on Wednesday convicted Stanford to being an accessory after the fact to the Leeton bride-to-be's murder. Justice Robert Hulme said Stanford pawning the 26-year-old's rings for $705 was an 'appalling, disgraceful and inexcusable act'. Scroll down for video Another few weeks in prison: With time already served, Marcus Stanford will be freed from jail on September 9, 2016 Justice Robert Allan Hulme imposed a sentence of one year and three months jail on Stanford on Wednesday morning - and described his crime as 'appalling' 'It was the act of a man who put morality and human decency secondary to the interests of his murderous brother,' Justice Hulme said. The judge said Stanford would have known the rings were of sentimental value and had been stolen during the murder of a much-loved woman. But he sold them off regardless, 'in circumstances where they would be unlikely to be returned'. According to a Crown statement of facts, school cleaner Vincent Stanford stabbed drama teacher Ms Scott in the neck at Leeton High on Easter Sunday 2015. The next day, he took her to Cocoparra National Park, about 70km away, and burned it. T he facts said he texted his brother on April 8, saying: 'I'm going to send you an envelope keep it safe for me'. Marcus Stanford replied: 'OK...:O'. He later sold the rings to an Adelaide jewellery store for $705. They were 'scrapped', the facts said, and unable to be retrieved for Ms Scott's family. Justice Hulme praised Ms Scott's mother for her 'great dignity' in reading a victim impact statement to the court this week. Stephanie Scott (pictured) was murdered days before her wedding to Aaron Leeson-Woolley Merrilyn Scott told the court: 'The vision of them (the rings) being removed from Stephanie's gentle, loving hands sickens us and fills us with despair.' The judge said Stanford committed the crime out of 'misguided loyalty to his brother'. He pleaded guilty to being an accessory in March, and was granted a shorter sentence because of it. A member of the public gallery called him a 'piece of s***' as he was taken away, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. According to a new government report, the nations teenagers are in the grip of a slow-growing epidemic of mental health issues. This doom-laden pronouncement about the mindset of 14 and 15-year-olds has understandably led to much hand-wringing and soul-searching. The finger of blame has been pointed variously at pushy parents, the internet and even the global recession. Scroll down for video According to a new government report, the nations teenagers are in the grip of a slow-growing epidemic of mental health issues (file image) The problem is apparently particularly acute in girls: 37 per cent reported experiencing three or more symptoms of psychological distress such as feeling worthless or struggling to concentrate compared with 15 per cent of boys. Forgive me if I dont join the chorus of self-flagellating concern. While Ive no doubt that life for young British girls in the 21st century is hard work, lets face it, its not Aleppo. Not even slightly; not even close. Yes, the small number of girls and boys who suffer genuine mental illness deserve every sympathy. But surely asking a 14-year-old girl if shes unhappy is a bit like asking a dog it if would like to go for a walk. The answer is only ever yes. Its in the nature of the beast. I know this because not only do I share my home with one, I used to be one. And I remember it vividly, even though it was 30-odd years ago. Back then there was no Instagram, no 24-hour global news channels, no Snapchat or Twitter, no smartphones. Far from being pushy, my parents were practically horizontal when it came to school work. Yet I was still totally, utterly and completely desolate. Or so I thought. My anxieties were no different, at root, than those experienced by teenage girls today. I obsessed endlessly about my appearance, long before the Kardashians came along. A troll was still a creature that lived beneath bridges in fairy-tales, not an internet bully, yet I still lived in fear of being ostracised by my peers. I firmly believed my parents had it in for me, my teachers were all evil and Simon Le Bon, I had recently discovered, was two-timing me with that no-good floozy, Yasmin. Like all my friends, I sulked in my room, ate junk, indulged in self-pitying fantasies about expiring in some dramatic fashion (never anything too gruesome, it was very important to leave an attractive corpse for people to weep over). Forgive me if I dont join the chorus of self-flagellating concern. While Ive no doubt that life for young British girls in the 21st century is hard work, lets face it, its not Aleppo. Not even slightly; not even close (file image) And while I may not have had Facebook to keep me awake into the small hours, I sat up all night reading Jilly Cooper or Danielle Steel when I was supposed to be studying Steinbeck. Did I feel worthless? Yes. Did I struggle to concentrate? Of course. Would my mother have burst out laughing had someone suggested I was depressed and needed help? For sure. And she was right. I wasnt depressed. I was just a normal, tricky, mixed-up teenager. My daughter and her friends are just the same. Am I worried about her mental wellbeing? No (though I have to admit I am starting to wonder about mine). Shes just lazy, stubborn and ill-disciplined. She is also kind, sweet, funny and utterly delightful when she wants to be. In other words, she is a typical teenage girl. That is not to say that some youngsters do not have serious, deep-seated issues that need resolving ones that some parents, perhaps caught up in their own hectic 21st century lives, may not have noticed. But an epidemic? Really? Do we seriously want to label a whole swathe of young people as mentally ill? Nine times out of ten they just need a hug, a chat, a good old cry. Sometimes a firm hand is required. But mostly they need to understand that losing their favourite Topshop denim skirt is not actually THE END OF THE WORLD. In other words, pull themselves together and get on with doing what all teenagers must: growing up. MORE SCHOOLS SHOULD GIVE LESSONS IN PORN News that pupils at Fettes College in Edinburgh, Tony Blairs old school, are to receive lessons in porn awareness raised eyebrows over the weekend. But the idea is not as daft as it sounds. Its terrible to admit, but the most degrading of material is accessible to almost anyone, free to view and just a few clicks away. For parents such as myself, this is an intensely depressing scenario. News that pupils at Fettes College in Edinburgh, Tony Blairs old school, are to receive lessons in porn awareness raised eyebrows over the weekend. But the idea is not as daft as it sounds If the latest statistics are to be believed, it seems almost inevitable that my children will view sex online long before they are ready or likely to experience it for real. No slowly unfolding sexual awakening, no intimacy in the context of a loving relationship: just raw, rutting flesh, devoid of all dignity, glimpsed on a laptop or smartphone. This is having huge repercussions on the sexual health of our nation. Just last week, Nottingham University Hospitals reported that many young men are so conditioned by pornography that normal sexual behaviour no longer arouses them. As a result, they are starting to experience erectile dysfunction normally seen in much older men. This has profound implications for both sexes. For young women, it means pressure to conform to a twisted porn aesthetic in the bedroom; for men, an inability to partake in a loving sexual relationship. That is why Fettes is right to run awareness classes and all secondary schools should consider following suit. If we cant protect our young people from this tsunami of filth, we at least have a duty to educate them about its corrosive influence. SURELY EVEN THE BEEB COULDN'T BE SO BIASED James Purnell, leading light of the Left and a Cabinet minister under Gordon Brown, may well be a very nice man, but the proposal that he should take over as head of radio at the BBC is absurd. Can you imagine the outrage if a former Conservative Cabinet minister (naming no names, but perhaps one who had recently grown a beard and, unlike Purnell, actually had experience of being a reporter at the Beeb) were appointed to the role? Its bad enough that Purnell is the BBCs director of strategy; to put him in charge of radio would be the final nail in the coffin of the Corporations so-called impartiality. BRING ON THE BATTLE OF THE BREECHES You can tell summer is coming to an end because the Sunday night TV schedules are hotting up again. Next weekend sees the return of Poldark, the trailer for which has already become a hit among my circle of middle-aged ladies. And as if that werent enough to get pulses racing, over on ITV Rufus Sewell stars alongside Jenna Coleman in Queen Victoria, as her trusty consigliere, Lord Melbourne. And as if that werent enough to get pulses racing, over on ITV Rufus Sewell stars alongside Jenna Coleman (left) in Queen Victoria, as her trusty consigliere, Lord Melbourne So thats not one but two wild-eyed, curly haired demigods for our viewing delectation. Question is, who will fill the breeches best? I for one am very much looking forward to finding out. Amid all the furore over David Camerons resignation honours, one person has surely been overlooked. Nigel Farage may not be everyones cup of English Breakfast, but this tough-as-teak slice of British bulldog spirit has, whether you like it or not, helped change the course of history. Francis Drake, by all accounts, wasnt much of a gent but his relentless assaults on the Continentals (singeing the King of Spains beard, etc) helped secure our independence. Is it too much to ask that next time the honours list rolls around, Naughty Nigel should feel the brush of the monarchs sword on his shoulders? You know youve really made it when your house is so huge you communicate via Tannoy. Apparently, this is Rod Stewarts preferred method of summoning wife Penny when he requires her attentions at their LA mansion. I suppose we should just be grateful its not a dog whistle. Usain Bolt is a class act on the track, but as recent snaps of him on nights out in Rio and London show, when it comes to women he sure has a taste for the trashy. Of course, there is nothing wrong with celebrating success, but this is hardly exemplary behaviour. Hes meant to inspire the next generation, not sire it. Usain Bolt is a class act on the track, but as recent snaps of him on nights out in Rio and London show, when it comes to women he sure has a taste for the trashy The happy reunion of the Duke and Duchess of Norfolk, who are back together after separating in 2011, is said by some to be testament to the marital benefits of separate bedrooms. During their hiatus, the couple stayed under the same roof. I suspect its more a testament to the benefits of owning a castle. While the Duke and Duchess each had their own wing of Arundel Castle to get a break from each other, the rest of us have to make do with earplugs. Sensitive details about the combat capability of submarines built by the French company that won a $50 billion contract to construct Australian's new fleet have been revealed in leaked secret documents. More than 22,400 pages of classified information from French company DCNS detail the battle readiness of six Scorpene-class subs being designed for the Indian Navy. DCNS has been appointed to build a new fleet of submarines for Australia, but the government insists the design is different and the India leak does not threaten the security of the Australian project. Scroll down for video 22,400 secret documents written by French marine builder DCNS have been leaked French Defence shipbuilder DCNS designed a custom Shortfin Barracuda submarine (pictured) specifically for the Australian navy, to replace the current 20-year-old fleet - classified combat details about Scorpene-class subs for the Indian Navy have been leaked However, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says any leak of classified information a concern. In April, DCNS won a hotly-contested tender over Germany and Japan to design 12 new submarines for Australia. The announcement in April of one of the world's biggest defence deals, between France's state-owned naval contractor DCNS Group and Australia, also came with a guarantee that the fleet will be built in South Australia. The Shortfin Barracuda was chosen because of its quietness, which is suited to water-based intelligence-gathering operations. The leak raises concerns that information about the submarines, and the latest US stealth technology, might not be secure. Leaked secret documents have revealed the combat capability of submarines built by the French company which won a $50 billion contract to construct the Australian Navy's new submarine fleet 'The submarine that they are building for India is not submarine they are building for Australia. It is a completely different submarine,' Mr Turnbull told the Seven Network on Wednesday. Defence has told the government the reported leak had no bearing Australia's submarine program. The French company designed a custom Shortfin Barracuda submarine specifically for the Australian navy to replace the current 20-year-old fleet of Collins class submarines 'The Future Submarine Program operates under stringent security requirements,' Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne said in a statement. 'The same requirements apply to the protection of all sensitive information and technical data for the Collins class submarines, and have operated successfully for decades.' Mr Turnbull said the leak was a reminder of the critical importance of cyber security in the modern digital world. DCNS told News Corp 'uncontrolled technical data is not possible in the Australian arrangements'. It implied - but did not confirm - the leak was on the Indian side. But The Australian newspaper said it'd been told the Scorpene data was suspected of being removed from France in 2011 by a former French Navy officer who was a DCNS subcontractor. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced the designer of 12 new submarines in April - he says any leak of classified information a concern Independent South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon says he will pursue the matter further South Australian senator Nick Xenophon intends to pursue the the matter when parliament returns next week. 'This is really quite disastrous,' he told ABC radio. The French company designed a custom Shortfin Barracuda submarine specifically for the Australian navy, to replace the current 20-year-old fleet of Collins class submarines. When Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced the deal he said the combat system for the submarines would be sourced from the United States. AUSTIN, TexasAs students return to class at the University of Texas Austin, for the first time they will set foot on a campus where students and faculty can carry concealed weapons. As a sign of protest, UT graduate Jessica Jin organized a protest, #CocksNotGlocks. Several industry companies made the decision to participate in the protest, where students and others could carry dildos, vibrators and more instead of guns. Among those who headed deep into the heart of Texas are Shanes World toys and performer Rachel Roxx. When we heard what Cocks Not Glocks was planning, we knew that Shane's World Toys had to be a part of it, said Shane's World Toys co-owner Brian Grant. We support the message of the movement and applaud their efforts. We also know that college students love and use our toys. What better place to show up and support them. The Campus Carry Law, which took effect Aug. 1, allows license holders to carry concealed handguns at UT Austin and other public universities. Standing with the majority of students who oppose having guns in their classrooms, Shane's World Toys once again showed support for this important movement. Students opposed to the new law engaged in a massive anti-gun rally on the day before classes begin. The Cocks Not Glocks movement strongly opposes a policy that allows students bring guns to class without penalty, but may discipline those who openly carry sex toys. In addition to the peaceful rally, they plan to express their disapproval by strapping big swinging dildos to their backpacks. Shane's World Toys sent sexy adult starlet Rachel Roxx down to Austin with boxes of sex toys and stickers to help students spread the word. Rachel joined the CNG protesters and spread a little love and a lot of sexual awareness. A strong supporter of the movement from the beginning, Shane's World Toys and distributor CalExotics were happy to pass out toys from their award-winning line to excited students. It is more than a little ridiculous that a student can walk around campus with a loaded gun, but will face disciplinary action if they openly display a sex toy, said Shane's World Toys co-owner Jennie Grant. We dont find sexual health to be obscene. If anything is obscene it is a device designed to take life not one designed to give pleasure. Besides when is that last time you heard about someone committing an act of mass violence with a vibrator. For more Shane's World visit ShanesWorld.com and follow them on Twitter @shanesworldxxx. Congress is now asking why the life-saving items cost so much Mylan stock increased from $13.29 in 2007 to a peak of $47.59 in 2016 And from 2007 Mylan's CEO's pay went from $2,453,456 to $18,931,068 But it makes $1billion from EpiPens now, compared to $200,000 in 2007 He also argued that the company wasn't making much money Shrekli argued $300 is less than an iPhone, and cheaper than hospital In 2015, the allergy-curing device cost $317.82 per pen - 461 per cent up Mylan bought the EpiPen rights in 2007, when it cost $56.64 per pen Martin Shkreli - the 'Pharma Bro' who hiked the price of HIV medication Daraprim by 5,000 per cent - has defended Mylan for increasing the price of its EpiPens by 461 per cent. Mylan is facing Congress scrutiny after it emerged the price of one of its pens - which are used to stop potentially fatal allergic reactions - had increased from $56.64 in 2007 to $317.82 in 2015. 'Mylan is the good guy,' Shkreli told CBS Tuesday. 'They had one product where they finally started making a little bit of money and everyone is going crazy over it.' 'Good guys': Martin Shkreli defended Mylan for increasing EpiPen prices by 461 per cent over nine years, saying they're the 'good guys' and that the $317.82 cost per pen isn't high CEO: Heather Bresch, CEO of Mylan, which produces EpiPens, had her salary increase from $2m in 2007 to $19m in 2015 - the pens went from $56.64 to $317.82 in that period When challenged on whether it was acceptable to charge over $300 for a life-saving medical tool, the ex-Turing Pharmaceuticals head shrugged it off. 'Like I said, it's $300 a pack - $300,' said Shkreli, who was called in to comment and is not employed by Mylan. 'My iPhone is $700, okay?' When CBS countered that nobody 'needs an iPhone to exist,' he dismissed the remark. 'That doesn't matter, okay?' he said. 'It's $300 and 90 per cent of Americans are insured.' Cost-effective: Skhreli said EpiPens were more cost-effective than being hospitalized. He also said that Mylan didn't make much money - though it makes more than $1b in EpiPens In another interview with CBS, he argued that the $317.82 price tag was more cost-effective than spending thousands being hospitalized with an allergic reaction. And he blamed insurance companies for not being more willing to spend on EpiPens, arguing it would save them money in the long run. Shkreli also said that Mylan wasn't making much money by business standards, and that it suffered because it was mostly focused on selling cheap generic drugs. But that remark came the same day that the salary of Mylan's CEO was revealed to have increased by 671 per cent since the company bought the rights to the EpiPen in 2007. In that year CEO Heather Bresch was earning $2,453,456. In 2015 she earned $18,931,068, NBC reported. Live-savers: EpiPens are used to deliver potentially life-saving doses of epinephrine to people suffering dangerous allergies. Mylan bought the rights to the product in 2007 Pay hike: Mylar CCO Anthony Mauro had a pay increase of 13.6 per cent in 2015. But the increasing price of the product has upset Congress, who are calling for explanations Other Mylan execs also benefited from much-increased pay. In 2015 president Rajiv Malik's pay increased 11.1 per cent to $1million. And chief commercial officer Anthony Mauro began taking him $625,000 that year - an increase of 13.6 per cent. This came after nine years spent gradually increasing the price of the EpiPen, which gives lifesaving shots of epinephrine to those suffering dangerous allergic reactions. Prices were hiked as frequently as every second quarter, and now cost 461 per cent more than they did in 2007. The price and pay hikes aren't the only big figures in Mylan's recent past. The company also increased its lobbying from $270,000 to $1.2million in 2008. It would appear that move paid off, as in 2010 the FDA changed a recommendation that the company ship the pens two-to-a-box to just one per box. It also said they should be prescribed to at-risk patients as well as those whose allergies have been confirmed. EPIPEN PRICE HIKES Mylan has increased the price of the EpiPen dramatically since it bought the rights in 2007 - sometimes multiple times a year. In 2008 and 2009, the price of the EpiPen increased by five per cent. At the end of 2009, the price was increased by a further 19 per cent. It was then increased by 10 per cent several times between 2010 and 2013. But at the end of 2013, Mylan really got to work. From the last quarter of 2013 to the second quarter of 2016, the company has increased the price of the EpiPen by 15 per cent every other quarter. The EpiPen now makes up 40 per cent of the company's operating profits, according to Bloomberg. And sales have increased from $200million in 2007 to more than $1billion today. Advertisement These plan certainly worked out well for the company: its shares shot up from $13.29 per share in 2007 to a peak of $47.59 in 2016. But the price increases have brought with them anger from Congress, which is demanding to know why those prices increased so dramatically - especially as no generic equivalent of the EpiPen exists. Senators Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), Mark Warner (D-Virginia) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) have already written the company to complain about the cost to parents and schools. On Monday Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) called on the Federal Trade Commission to begin a probe. And on Tuesday Representative Grace Meng (D-NY) asked the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to hold a hearing on the issue. In a statement, Mylan said most customers have insurance that limits their copayments, or they can use a copay discount card to save $100. It recommended people review their coverage. It also said that since 2012, Mylan's EpiPen4Schools program had given schools more than 700,000 free EpiPens. A New Mexico town is having an 18ft steel wall being built across the border to replace a dilapidated chain-link fence. The new barrier is being put up in Sunland Park along a section of one of the most unprotected parts of the Mexican-American border. Only 10ft high fencing dotted with holes has separated the town from dangerous neighborhoods just a few miles away since the 1980s. Since then, there has been a constant flow of immigrants border agents have struggled to control. This 18ft-highs steel wall is being put in place near Sunland Park, New Mexico, to stop the flow of illegal immigrants trying to cross the border The $11million wall will also have 5ft of reinforced steel dug underground to stop tunneling. The construction began in around 2008 and is expected to finish next year The $11million wall will also have 5ft of reinforced steel dug underground - in a bid to stop tunneling. But the imposing structure is also a glimpse into what Donald Trump may be looking to put up if he is elected in November. Construction has been going on in the area since 2008. It is expected to finish early next year, according to the Albuquerque Journal. Fernando Garcia, executive director of the nonprofit advocacy group Border Network for Human Rights, told the Journal: 'In our opinion, the fencing has not necessarily been a good deterrence for immigration. 'But it does represent a symbolic response, a very aggressive response, to immigrants and the border community.' Across the border lies Anapra, a violent suburb of Ciudad Juarez. The new barrier is replacing a dilapidated chain-link fence that has separated the two countries since the 1980s A border agent stands against the fence that has protected parts of New Mexico for more than three decades The new barrier being put up along a section of one of the most unprotected parts of the Mexican-American border While officials say crossings into Sunland Park have decreased while the fence project is under way, they still occur frequently. This stretch of border has been the site of the Mass celebrating Mexicos Day of the Dead for the last 17 years. On November 2 every year, people gather to remember the thousands of migrants who have lost their lives trying to reach America. According to Border Patrol statistics, 6,571 migrants have died on the Southwest border since 1998, including 225 deaths in West Texas and New Mexico. Last week, Border Patrol agents found the body of a man, decomposed to bone in Sunland Park, according to reports. Border Patrol spokesman Doug Mosier told Fox News: 'There are no other fence projects of comparable size.' An artist has been deported from the United Kingdom after custom officials misinterpreted notes in her diary and claimed she was planning to work illegally in Britain. Jody Cleaver, 31, from Melbourne, said she was stopped and questioned 'on and off' for more than seven hours after arriving in England on the back of a two-month trip in Europe. She said she intended to sightsee and stay with a friend in Leeds where she would look after their dog, however customs officials used scribbled notes in her diary against her, Fairfax reported. Jody Cleaver (pictured), from Melbourne, said she was stopped and questioned 'on and off' for more than seven hours after arriving in England Cleaver said she was told by a customs officer her itinerary in Leeds 'was not strong enough' upon her arrival from Italy. She said the customs officer had even taken a photocopy of her 'jobs to do' list as evidence of her apparent intention to work in the UK. But in fact it was a list of things she needed to do in preparation of her holiday, such as booking flights, buses and museum tours. Immigration staff said she had been unable to tell them what sights she would be visiting in Leeds during her month-long visit. 'You intend to stay with your friend ... in Leeds, and you intend to look after her dogs, help her redecorate her house in Leeds and sight-see in Leeds,' authorities said in a deportation notice. 'I note you have been unable to state what you intend to see in Leeds... I am satisfied that this does not represent the actions of a genuine visitor to the United Kingdom but rather a means to prolong your stay in the United Kingdom.' Cleaver confirmed on Facebook she had informed the officer she was planning to stay with a friend to go sightseeing. Hours later after her arrival in the UK, Cleaver was back on plane to Italy and posted a bird's eye view of England from her seat with this as a caption The Australian artist has been deported from the United Kingdom after customs officers believed she was trying to work in the country on the wrong visa '[This] was not enough even though he spoke with her,' Cleaver said. 'Also I wouldn't have a onwards ticket which was a major problem, also my freelance profession. 'Seems very ironic I would get a warm welcome from Italy rather than my old family country especially as I haven't ever been there but there you go.' Hours later after her arrival in the UK, Cleaver was back on plane to Italy and posted a bird's eye view of England from her seat on Sunday. 'This is all I got to see of England this morning after being held overnight in a locked room without any of my things and then deported back to Rome,' she wrote. Authorities say Majors spent years in conflict with the Jabara family, often hurling epithets such as 'filthy Lebanese,' 'dirty Arabs' and 'Moo-slems' Majors was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and threatening a violent act in the August 12 fatal shooting of Khalid Jabara Prosecutors charged Stanley Vernon Majors, 61, with with first-degree murder and committing a hate crime on Tuesday Prosecutors charged a Tulsa man on Tuesday with first-degree murder and committing a hate crime in the killing of his Lebanese neighbor a culmination of what authorities said was the man's violent feud with the family that spanned several years and included a regular barrage of racial insults and personal confrontations. Stanley Vernon Majors, 61, was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and threatening a violent act in the August 12 fatal shooting of 37-year-old Khalid Jabara. The hate crime charge is a misdemeanor under Oklahoma law and accuses Majors of intimidating and harassing Jabara and his mother, Haifa Jabara, 'because of race, color, religion, ancestry and national origin,' according to court papers filed Tuesday by prosecutors. Scroll down for video Tragic: Khalid Jabara (above), 37, was fatally shot August 12 in Oklahoma by his neighbor who allegedly called him and his family 'dirty Arabs', police say Khalid Jabara died at a hospital after being shot outside of his home in Tulsa reportedly by Stanley Vernon Majors (above), 61. Police say Majors has a criminal history with the Jabara family 'The death of Khalid Jabara is tragic and our sympathies are with his family,' Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler said in a statement Tuesday. Majors is scheduled for arraignment in district court on Wednesday. A message left for Majors' attorney was not immediately returned Tuesday. Khalid, who ran the family catering business with his mother, had learned on August 12 that Majors was armed with a gun. 'Khalid called the police stating this man had a gun and that he was scared for what might happen,' his sister, Victoria Jabara Williams, wrote on Facebook. 'The police came and told him there was nothing to be done.' Moments later, he stepped outside to retrieve the mail while he was on the phone with his family when he was shot and killed. Police say Majors, who has a criminal history with the Jabara family, left the scene after pointing a gun at a witness. He was found hiding behind a tree at Hardesty Regional Library and was transported to a hospital instead of the police station because he became ill, KJRH reported. Majors spent years in conflict with the Jabara family, often hurling epithets such as 'filthy Lebanese,' 'dirty Arabs' and 'Moo-slems' at his next-door neighbors, authorities said. The Jabaras are actually Christian. The alleged abuse between the neighbors escalated to the point where Haifa Jabara obtained a protective order in 2013 that required Majors to stay 300 yards away and prohibited him from possessing any firearms until 2018. The homes of the Jabara family, right, and neighbors Stanley Majors and Stephen Schmauss, left, are pictured in Tulsa Sandra Rana, left, carries flowers to a memorial display on the lawn of the Jabara family on August 19 Khalid Jabara was shot and killed while he was on the phone with his family when he stepped outside to retrieve the mail His sister said in a Facebook post that the Lebanese Christian family lived in fear of Majors and 'his hatred for years.' Khalid Jabara (above) ran the family's catering business Haifa filed a restraining order against Majors on August 6, 2013. She claimed in the complaint that he 'harassed' and 'stalked' her by 'knocking at windows late at nite (sic), harassing me with ugly sex words over the phone, taking pictures and harassing my helper in garage. 'He is very racist towards foreigners and blacks.' On March 18, 2015, police arrested Majors and charged him with violating the restraining order. 'F you and I want to kill you,' Majors told Haifa, according to a police report. 'Jabara also stated to officers that Majors said multiple racial slurs to her today in her driveway.' Over the summer, the tensions between the family and Majors increased, as he continued to allegedly threaten the Jabaras. 'He repeatedly attacked our ethnicity and perceived religion, making racist comments,' Victoria wrote on Facebook. 'He often called us "dirty Arabs", "filthy Lebanese", "Aye-rabs", and "Mooslems".' Above is the scene of the deadly shooting scene in Oklahoma Last year, Majors was accused of plowing his car into Khalid's mother, Haifa Jabara. She suffered a broken shoulder, among other injuries. After Majors struck her, he kept driving, prosecutors said. Officers who stopped him later reported that he was intoxicated. Authorities arrested Majors, who confessed to the crime and even offered police a motive, calling the family 'filthy Lebanese.' Prosecutors charged Majors last September with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, leaving the scene of a collision violating the protective order and public intoxication. He bonded out of jail on May 25 and returned back to his home, right next door to the Jabara family. Majors also had a 2009 felony conviction from California for threatening a crime with intent to terrorize. In the heartbreaking post on Facebook, Victoria said that her family, who are Christians, lived in fear of Majors. 'My family lived in fear of this man and his hatred for years,' she wrote. 'Yet in May, not even one year after he ran over our mother and despite our repeated protests, he was released from jail with no conditions on his bond no ankle monitor, no drug/alcohol testing, nothing.' 'This man was a known danger,' she continued. 'Our brother's death could have been prevented.' Lebanese immigrants have long been a visible part of the Oklahoma population, with many making their living as merchants, restaurateurs and grocers. Prior to moving to Tulsa, Majors had a history of violence 'Our parents raised us to be patriotic Americans, proud of our Lebanese heritage and our community's contributions to our country,' said Jabara family spokeswoman Rebecca Abou-Chedid. 'In charging Majors with a hate crime in addition to first-degree murder, the district attorney's office is making a much-needed and powerful statement that hatred and violence based on race, color, religion, ancestry and national origin has no place in our society.' Shortly after the charges were filed Tuesday, Muslim Advocates and the Arab American Institute demanded in a coalition letter presented by advocacy, civil rights, community and faith-based groups that Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett direct law enforcement authorities to conduct a 'fair and thorough investigation' into Jabara's death. Damage to the front of the Jabara home is visible in Tulsa in this August 19 photo Majors' conflict with the Jabara family also put him at odds with his husband, Stephen Schmauss (pictured), who came to befriend Khalid and thought of him as an apprentice, teaching him how to use power tools and computer circuitry 'In the last year, hate crimes targeting Arabs, Muslims, and those perceived to be either have skyrocketed,' Madihha Ahussain, Muslim Advocates staff attorney and lead for the Program to Counter Anti-Muslim Hate, said in the letter. 'Unfortunately, there has also been a pattern of law enforcement officials minimizing the possibility that these crimes may be motivated by bigotry, sending a dangerous message that hate violence is not taken seriously.' Officer Jeanne MacKenzie, a Tulsa Police spokeswoman, said Tuesday that her agency investigates every case 'to the fullest'. 'We don't exclude anything or anybody by race or sexual preference or anything like that,' she said. Bartlett said he has scheduled a meeting with the city's public safety departments and the district attorney's office 'to make sure we are doing everything in our power to ensure the safety of our community'. 'The city stands by the Jabara family in this time of need and they will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers,' the mayor said in a statement. Majors' conflict with the Jabara family also put him at odds with his husband, Stephen Schmauss, who came to befriend Khalid and thought of him as an apprentice, teaching him how to use power tools and computer circuitry. Last week, Schmauss said his husband had killed his 'best friend'. Khalid Jabara's slaying drew national attention, including a mention from presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who said her 'heart breaks' for Jabara's loved ones. The shooting victim's sister, Victoria Jabara Williams, wrote the above post in reference to the incident Schmauss tried to explain Majors' comments, saying his husband is 'textbook bipolar' and a diabetic who refuses to take any medication. Schmauss said anything Majors said to the Jabara family was 'done under the bipolar situation'. While awaiting trial for assault and battery, a judge freed Majors from jail on $60,000 bond, overruling strong objections by Tulsa County prosecutors, who called him 'a substantial risk to the public' and pleaded with the court to set a higher bond of $300,000. Schmauss, who claims that his cellphone was shattered when Majors fired at least five rounds from a handgun inside the couple's house the day Khalid Jabara was killed, said in an e-mail that he can't attend his husband's arraignment on Wednesday because he is undergoing radiation therapy for cancer. 'My cancer is so painful, requiring me to take strong pain pills that make me sleepy,' he said. 'I will visit (Majors) on my feel good days in the future. 'I am saddened and may never recover from this event,' he said. Majors marked at least the 17th case since 2008 where Tulsa County prosecutors filed a hate crime charge, according to court records. The cases include the 2012 Easter weekend shooting deaths of three black residents. Three men stopped to save the day for a deer in trouble and caught the whole event on camera. The group of men in Twilight, West Virginia, spotted the deer chest-high in thick gray mud. Using tools and rope, they worked until they were finally able to free the long-legged creature. Scroll down for video Three West Virginia men stopped to save the day for a deer stuck chest-deep in a thick gray mud bog and caught the whole event on camera Using tools and rope, they worked until they were finally able to free the long-legged creature The video begins with the deer appearing exhausted, deep in the mud as the men try and figure out their game plan to free it. One man sticks his hand deep into the mud and wraps a rope around the deer's torso in order to pull it out with the help of his friends. Once he pulls his arm out from under the deer, the man shakes off a large wad of mud that has stuck to his hand and arm. The man pats the deer on the head in an attempt to calm it while the other men work to angle the rope and how they'll pull. As the men give a small tug the dear gets nervous and begins to make distressed sounds and grunts. 'It's gonna hurt like a b**** but you're gonna come out of here,' one man tells the deer. As the men give a small tug the dear gets nervous and begins to make distressed sounds and grunts. They try to pet the animal to keep it calm The video shows the men beginning to pull again and the anxious deer cries again They stop again and one of the men pats the deer again to calm it before they begin working to remove it from the mud trap The deer then makes a ferocious bray and the men back away but hold on to the rope. 'You're fine! Let me help you out,' one of the men says. The video shows the men beginning to pull again and the anxious deer cries again. They stop again and one of the men pats the deer again to calm it before they begin working to remove it from the mud trap. 'You got to dig its legs out,' one man says to another. The man replies: 'I'm gonna pull it straight up.' Finally, the deer's front legs come free and after a few tugs the men were able to free the animal's back legs The deer groans again and the men strain with effort. Finally, the deer's spindly front legs emerge from the mud. With the front legs free the men shift the rope down to the deer's midsection and pull again hoping to free its back legs. The tactic works and with a few more pulls the deer comes free. The latest edition of the Australian National Dictionary has added thousands of new and old words and phrases that immortalise bogans, dagwood dogs and goon of fortune. They have all made it into the dictionary that has been updated for the first time in 28 years and its second edition includes 6,000 examples of Aussie lingo. As well as some old classics, former prime minister Tony Abbott was a front-runner when it came to introducing new phrases into the political domain. The poster boy for 'budgie smuggler', former prime minister Tony Abbott also also came up with captain's pick' and 'shirt front' That's the view of Oxford University Press boss Peter van Noorden, releasing the the second edition of Australian National Dictionary - its first comprehensive update since 1988. 'We're a bit disappointed that Tony Abbott isn't as prevalent anymore on our TV screens,' Mr van Noorden said at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday. 'He certainly brought us some beauties in terms of 'shirt front', which was a real winner. 'captain's pick' was a beauty as well and he sort of the became the poster boy for 'budgie smuggler'.' The Australian National Dictionary update adds more than 6,000 new Australian words and phrases, including words from more than 100 indigenous languages. A dagwood dog is a Saveloy coated in batter and fried It now has definitions and the history of 16,000 words and phrases unique to Australia. Classic idioms such like 'dry as a dead dingo's donger' and 'doing a Bradbury' a reference to when Australian short track speed skater Steven Bradbury won an unlikely gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics after all the other competitors fell over - are in there. While Babyccino, long black, battered sav, chiko roll, dagwood dog and fairy bread are recorded as everyday descriptions of what Australians regularly eat and drink. 'Carry on like a pork chop', 'couldn't run a chook raffle' and 'a cup of tea, a Bex and good lie down' are included, as are 'do a Bradbury', 'straight to the pool room' and 'happy as a b*****d on Father's Day'. A chiko roll is another Australian food favourite included in the dictionary The most student drinking game of goon of fortune also was included A babyccino and long black coffees were popular drinks in the new dictionary Launching the dictionary, Labor's Andrew Leigh also picked-up 'I don't know if I'm Arthur or Martha', the 'blood's worth bottling' and 'wouldn't know a tram was up him until the conductor rang a bell'. 'To read a dictionary like this is to delight in the richness of the Australian language and to recognise it is a language that is always changing,' Dr Leigh said. 'May the third edition not be 28 years away.' The pair first met on Facebook after she searched for him online In July last year Jason Heilbronn was contacted by a perfect stranger to ask who he had dated more than two decades earlier. After a short conversation it became clear he had a daughter he never knew about. Jess Hahn's mother let her believe another man was her biological father for 26 years but one day during an argument she revealed the dark family secret. The mother-of-two decided to track her real father 'Jason' down on Facebook shortly after the secret came out, according to the Sunshine Coast Daily. Jess Hahn, pictured, found her biological on Facebook after an argument with her mother revealed the man she thought was her father was not The secret left Jason Heilbronn, pictured, stunned - but he is now just excited to meet his daughter When she added Jason Heilbronn as a friend on Facebook in July she found he had dated her mother for three months during the time she was conceived. 'I think I might be your daughter,' she wrote to him over messenger. A DNA test revealed Mr Heilbronn's probability of paternity as 99.9995%. 'I was freaked out a little bit at first. I was really surprised and didn't know what to think so I asked if I could call her,' Mr Heilbronn said. 'She then sent me photos that looked a lot like me so I thought there is a good chance this is real.' Mr Heilbronn, who lives in Bundaberg, Queensland, told Daily Mail Australia he was looking forward to travelling to Victoria to meet his recently revealed family. Mr Heilbronn lives in Bundaberg, Queensland and has two young children there - he was shocked to find he was a grandfather 'We text every day - I am looking forward to being able to make up for lost time,' he said. 'I was 18 when I was with her mother and when I walked away I had no idea she was pregnant. 'To find out I have grandchildren is amazing - I had my other children late in life so it is a big surprise.' Mr Heilbronn has a two young children who are four and seven and is excited to add Jess to his family. Mr Heilbronn is working towards meeting his daughter in person as soon as he can 'She is a brilliant mother, very hands on which is great.' The father-of-three is on a disability pension after a series of back problems and operations meant he could no longer work. He is hoping to be able to afford to start saving for a trip to see Jess in person in the near future. A 25-year-old Australian woman has become the global face of a multi-million dollar coconut product business which began in her family's garage. Brynley King's parents started selling Banaban Virgin Coconut Oil on eBay in 2004, and she's since watched it grow into a company with 30 staff, international sales and a turnover of about $5.7 million a year. 'I was 12 years old when my parents first started Banaban. They started it in our family's garage. They still live in that unit [in the Gold Coast],' Ms King told Daily Mail Australia. Brynley King, from the Gold Coast, is the face of a multi-million dollar coconut product business which began in her parent's garage Ms King is Banaban's sales and creative director, which has seen her travel the world, visiting coconut plantations and dealing with international clients Ms King's mum, Stacey, set up the business with her husband Ken Sigrah, a Banaban islander from Fiji. Sales were modest at first, but after A Current Affair broadcast a segment about the benefits of coconut oil in 2011, which featured Banaban product, the business took off. Soon after, Ms King gave up her job at a Gold Coast hotel and started at the family business full time. BRYNLEY KING'S TIPS FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS - Work hard. Anything is possible if you work hard enough at it - Be persistent. If doors close you have to go back and keep trying - Love what you do. If you're truly passionate about what youre doing, it doesnt feel like work - For small-to-medium businesses that want to sell to an international market, look at online platforms like Alibaba Advertisement She's now sales and creative director, which has seen her travel the world, visiting coconut plantations in countries like Fiji and Sri Lanka and representing the company in major markets. 'I wear so many different hats. Ive written recipe books, created an app and deal with international clients,' she said. The Gold Coast local, who has also developed her own Going Coconuts App and written a food and beauty book, said hard work paid off. 'My work hours are crazy but I do it because I love it,' Ms King said. 'If you're truly passionate about what youre doing, it doesnt feel like work either.' Being persistent was a key to business success too, she said. 'If doors close, you have to go back and keep trying as hard as you can.' Banaban Virgin Coconut Oil and affiliated products are now stocked on supermarket shelves around the world On top of her work with Banaban, Ms King has also developed her own Going Coconuts App and written a food and beauty book Early on Ms King's 'super tech savvy' mum started using Chinese e-commerce site Alibaba - now the world's largest online retail platform - to sell their coconut oil. Banaban's early embrace of Alibaba, which boasts hundreds of millions of users, and hosts businesses and merchants, meant their product was exposed to wholesale buyers from around the world. The Chinese tech giant, founded entrepreneur Jack Ma in 1999, enables business-to-business, consumer-to-business and consumer-to-consumer sales across three main websites. Ms King said Alibaba's arrival in Australia later this year was a great opportunity for Australian businesses. 'For a business like ours - for any small-to-medium business that wants to sell to an international market - its a fantastic platform,' she said. 'Theres nothing really else like it in the world where you can put your products online and people from Mongolia or Poland can contact you.' Ms King's role as as Banaban Virgin Coconut Oils Creative Director means lots of site visits to coconut plantations in the Pacific and Sri Lanka A soldier in New Zealand has pleaded guilty to using and supplying a range of drugs to colleagues, including the psychedelic substance known as 'N-Bomb'. Sapper Jacob McCartin appeared at a court martial hearing which heard investigators had uncovered a series of drug deals from text messages on his mobile phone. The prosecution is pushing for a prison term rather than military incarceration, according to a report by stuff.co.nz. 'What's the chance you can get an ounce at the moment?' read one of his alleged phone messages, said the website. Sapper Jacob McCartin appeared at a hearing which heard that investigators had uncovered a series of drug deals from text messages on his mobile phone including supplying of the psychoactive substance called 'N-Bomb' A soldier in New Zealand has pleaded guilty to using and supplying a range of drugs to colleagues, including the psychedelic substance known as 'N-Bomb' (pictured) Among the drugs bought and sold, the court was told, was marijuana, MDMA and the psychoactive substance 'N-Bomb' for $25 a tab. The court heard that up to eight military men had been sold and subsequently used the so-called 'N-Bomb' and the navy was seeking to have McCartin jailed for six months. They said he had placed himself and others in jeopardy and called for his removal from the military, claiming his retention would send the wrong message. 'Sapper McCartin was offering drugs and psychoactive substances to his comrades,' Lieutenant Jonathan Rowe told the court. 'A total of six soldiers from that, were subsequently discharged from the New Zealand army.' An Indianapolis cop shot a 48-year-old black man in his own home Tuesday after the man called out police to respond to a robbery, authorities say. Carl Williams called police out to his home at 3636 Foxtail Drive to deal with an armed robber who had threatened his wife with a gun and tried to steal her car at around 4:30am. Officer Christopher Mills responded with his partner - but when he saw Williams, Mills shot him, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) said. Scroll down for video 'Unfortunate': Major Richard Riddle (pictured) said it was 'unfortunate' that one of his cops shot black Indianapolis man Carl Williams, 48, in his garage after he reported a robbery Mills, a nine-year veteran with the East District police, hit Williams in the stomach once. It's not known if he fired other shots. His partner, an eight-year veteran, did not fire. Williams was transported to IU Health Methodist Hospital in serious condition and is expected to survive. 'Our homeowner, the individual who was trying his best protect himself and his wife from any other harm, was shot mistakenly by our officers,' IMPD Major Richard Riddle in a press conference Tuesday. 'This incident occurred within a few seconds, and those judgment calls are made within a few split seconds. 'She was victimized, and unfortunately now, her husband was victimized as well.' In an edited 911 call played to press, Williams was heard telling the dispatcher that a black male in a red shirt with a 'long gun' had stolen the keys to his wife's black Nissan Sentra, IndyStar reported. At the end of the phone call, Williams - whose wife was also heard sobbing in the background - was heard saying 'Is that him?' apparently in reference to the robber. The call is then disconnected and the operator is unable to re-establish a connection. Shot: Williams told 911 an armed man had tried to steal his wife's car. When he emerged from his garage (pictured), cop Christopher Mills injured him. The case is still being investigated According to the IMPD, Mills and his partner approached the house and saw the black vehicle still stationary in the driveway. Concerned that the armed robber was still on the premises, police said, the officers attempted 'to approach in a covert manner to investigate the vehicle.' Williams then exited his garage holding a handgun, the IndyStar said, and was shot. It's not clear what - if any - words were exchanged, or whether Williams resembled the description of the robber given to cops. But police said there was no indication that Williams held the weapon in a threatening way. Mills is on paid administrative leave pending an investigation, per department policy. Investigators have not yet spoken to Williams, as he was rushed to hospital for treatment. Police did not find the carjacker. He is described as a black male with a light complexion, wearing a red-and-white jacket and a dark colored ball cap. Get a preview of the upcoming Colorado River Days with a pre-festival event Thursday at the Orpheum Theater, 15 W. Aspen Ave. As part of the Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival Summer Showcase, the "Celebration of The River" will begin at 7 p.m. and will feature the Arizona premiere of "Kickass Katie Lee," presented by the filmmakers and Lee herself. Admission is $8. Colorado River Days will officially run Sept. 2-12. The multi-day event is designed to educate people about threats to the river and also celebrate the river and its watershed. Events include movies, book signings, live music, family events, lectures, hikes and more at venues across Flagstaff with around 30 participating organizations. The keynote lecture "Grand Canyon End to End" will be presented Sept. 9 at NAU's Cline Library, 1001 S. Knoles Dr. At 6 p.m., Rich Rudow and Chris Atwood will kick off the evening, recounting their 57-day end-to-end traverse of the Grand Canyon below the rim. At 8 p.m., Flagstaff journalist Kevin Fedarko will take the podium. To explore pressures on the canyon and watershed, including mining activity, helicopter traffic and massive development schemes, Fedarko decided to traverse the canyon by walking from Lees Ferry to Grand Wash Cliffs. His epic, nearly 700-mile adventure is featured in the September issue of National Geographic. For a full schedule of events, visit www.coloradoriverdaysflagstaff.org. Festival brings live music to the Canyon rim The annual Grand Canyon Music Festival launches today with a free concert at Desert View Watch Tower. As part of the celebration of the Centennial of the National Park Service, the concert will feature Puhutawi, a new genre of music that fuses Hopi traditional music with contemporary chamber music. Then on Friday, at 7:30 p.m., the Bonfiglio Group will perform at the Shrine of the Ages. With Robert Bonfiglio on harmonica, Joe Deninzon on violin and Stephen Benson on guitar, the trio will perform music described as "an unpretentious bridge between jazz, classical, rock and pop." Puhatawi will again be the focus on Saturday at a 7:30 p.m. concert, also at Shrine of Ages. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 9 and 10, 7:30 p.m., at Shrine of the Ages, "The Stories We Tell" will be performed by Arizona Opera artists and Sage Bond. In collaboration with the Arizona Opera and Heard Museum, "The Stories We Tell" consists of new, micro-operas composed by young Native composers, current and former Native American Composer Apprentice Project apprentice composers, and their teachers, Raven Chacon and Michael Begay. Concert tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for children. For a full schedule of events, visit grandcanyonmusicfest.org. Police are investigating whether a young British woman was stabbed to death by a French knifeman who was infatuated with her, it is claimed. Smail Ayad screamed 'Allahu Akbar' as he butchered pretty backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, in a bloody rampage in front of 30 horrified witnesses on Tuesday night. Ayad, 29, was said to be obsessed with Mia and even told other guests at the backpacker's hostel in Queensland they were married, the local Townsville Bulletin reported. He is said to have told other guests they were 'deeply in love' but became outraged when he discovered Ms Aycliffe-Chung had posed for photos in a magazine and did not share his feelings. The theory that the young backpacker was killed because of a romantic motive is being probed by detectives, The Courier Mail also reported. Scroll down for video Smail Ayad, 29, has been named as the man who shouted 'Allahu Akbar' as he allegedly went on a bloody rampage in north Queensland British backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung was 'living her dream' on a gap year in Australia when she was stabbed to death by a French man believed to be staying at the same hostel Following his arrest, Ayad was taken to hospital before he was transported in a police van to the watchhouse. On the way to the watchhouse, he caused such a commotion in the back of the van that police officers had to stop the vehicle. During this episode, Ayad ended up hitting two officers, who ended up in hospital, and capsicum spray was used on him, the Townsville Bulletin reported. A total of seven officers had to help get the alleged knifeman into his padded cell, according to the newspaper. His victim, Ms Ayliffe-Chung, was on a round the world trip of a lifetime when she was stabbed to death on Tuesday night in front of 30 horrified witnesses. Her mother, Rosie Ayliffe, said: 'My beloved daughter Mia was an amazing young woman with an adventurous spirit. Not only was she kind and funny, she was clever, sassy with a sense of fun. 'Mia was full of the kind of open-minded compassion for life that you don't see often. It felt as though she was reminding us all of the beauty and possibilities we all have and that we should live life to the full. My beloved daughter Mia was an amazing young woman with an adventurous spirit. Not only was she kind and funny, she was clever, sassy with a sense of fun Rosie Ayliffe 'She was always at one with herself, so whole. Above all else she had a strong sense of right and wrong and would look after those she considered in need. 'Her feisty nature and strong sense of justice made Mia a beloved friend to her peers and to all those who knew her. 'She would always treat others with dignity, respect and kindness. Just seeing her outward appearance could not give you an inkling of how wonderful she was emotionally, socially and mentally. 'Mia was a rare person who saw beyond race, creed or belief. She would always treat others with dignity, respect and kindness. A blood stain on the floor outside the hostel left by a victim of the stabbing One of the backpackers with a bandage around him arm following Tuesday night's attack More blood splattered on the floor of the hostel in one of the communal areas 'As a peaceful person, Mia had huge respect for everybody. She would not want to be the reason for any hostilities caused by any misinterpretation of events.' Ayad, a kickboxing champion who has trained in Thailand, allegedly made threats against them and stabbed a hostel employee in the leg. A British man was stabbed 15 times in the face, chest and stomach as he heroically tried to save Ms Ayliffe-Chung. A second British man and an Australian were also hurt in the attack in which a dog was also killed. She phoned mum Rosie Ayliffe back home in Matlock, Derbyshire, to tell her she was having 'the time of her life' - just hours before she was brutally killed. In that final call she poignantly told her: 'Don't worry about me. I'm fine.' Her last words to her mother were revealed today by a close family friend. Trudy Curtis has been comforting heartbroken Rosie since police broke the news that her daughter had been knifed to death in a frenzied attack at the hostel in Home Hill, Queensland This tribute had been posted for Ms Ayliffe-Chung outside the hostel The 21-year-old (left) was working on a farm in Queensland to extend her working holiday visa Ms Ayliffe-Chung had been dating Australian Jamison Stead since early May, although the pair broke up a few weeks ago. He posted a tribute to his ex-girlfriend Trudy said: 'She is absolutely devastated and too distraught to comprehend it.' Trudy, who knew Mia well and used to look after her while her teacher mum was working, paid tribute to her, saying: 'She's so amazing and she was happy travelling and working.' Rosie had waved Mia off on her lifelong adventure a year ago. Trudy, speaking exclusively to MailOnline, explained: 'She went travelling about this time last year. Her mum hadn't seen her in all that time but they were in constant contact. They emailed and called each other so much. 'Mia always said she was really loving the experience. She spoke to her mum just hours before she died and said she was having the time of her life. 'Mia's very sassy and every mum worries when their daughter goes off travelling. But Mia would insist: 'Don't worry about me. I'm fine'.' French national Ayad and Ms Ayliffe-Chung became friends on Facebook after she moved to Home Hill, near Townsville, to work on a farm and extend her Australian visa. The alleged killer studied at at Lycee de la Mediterranee, in La Ciotat, in the south of France, according to his Facebook profile. His most recent profile picture uploaded weeks ago is a painting with the words 'peace', 'unity' and 'respect'. Tom Jackson, pictured on his Facebook page, was clearly popular. His friend Samantha Harrison described him as 'one of the most amazing people I have ever met' Ayad, who was identified as the knifeman by the Daily Telegraph, was in hospital being treated for stab wounds and has been released into police custody. He is yet to be formally charged. The alleged attacker was also Facebook friends with Mr Jackson. Before the attack was carried out, another French backpacker who was friends with Ayad said the alleged attack posted a 'strange' message on his Facebook page. 'I'm a victim, I feel I'm going to die soon, whoever you are who like me please follow me, I love everyone,' Ayad wrote, according to 9News. Samantha Harrison, from Axminster, Devon, wrote on Facebook: 'I was driving home this morning and I here the news on the radio. I freaked. 'Tom Jackson was a very close friend and one of the most amazing people I have ever met. Now Tom I need you too stay strong and beat this for yourself and all of your friends and family who love you. XXXX' A second Brit Chris Porter, 21, was hurt in the attack along with local man Grant 'Grunta' Scholz, 46, whose dog was also killed in the bloodbath. Mr Porter's mother, Kim, said: 'He's doing OK.' Speaking from her home in High Halstow, near Rochester in Kent, she said: 'He is distraught obviously. Very distraught.' She said: 'He was doing farm work to try and stay out there the extra year but now this has happened.' Bill Khatkar, who runs a pub in the village where Mr Porter used to work as a chef, said: 'He is a lovely lovely person. He would stand up for anyone. He wouldn't even look left or right, he'd just go straight in.' Ayad has been in Australia on a temporary visa since March, police said. Australian Federal Police Commander Sharon Cowden said: 'We are working very closely with our partner agencies to ensure that if there is any indication that this has an extremist slant to it or this person had been radicalised, we would be able to discover that. At this stage, we have no evidence of that.' Ayad's Facebook lists Chiang Mai, Thailand, as his city of residence. It is understood he trained in kickboxing there. It says he studied High School at Lycee de la Mediterranee, La Ciotat, in the south of France. Hero: British man Tom Jackson, 30, was stabbed 15 times in the face as he tried to save Ms Ayliffe-Chung from the knife-wielding maniac. He is fighting for his life in hospital Ms Ayliffe-Chung arrived in Home Hill ten days after working as a waitress in Surfer's Paradise, on Australia's Gold Coast. She had previous travelled in Turkey and India He had earlier posted a picture of rapper Notorious Big with the words: 'When it's a question of money, everyone is the same religion.' A note pinned to the outside of the hostel today read: 'RIP Angel. Your senseless tragedy will forever be in our hearts. 'You will be remembered by the community of Home Hill. We grieve together with your family and friends. Fly free with the angels and may God comfort your loved ones.' Before she moved to Home Hill, Ms Ayliffe-Chung had been working as a waitress at The Bedroom Lounge Bar on the Gold Coast, where she wore racy outfits to fit with the theme of the bar. She had also previously posed for a glamour modelling photo shoot. Ms Ayliffe-Chung had been dating Australian Jamison Stead since early May, although the pair broke up a few weeks ago. Mr Stead told MailOnline on Wednesday he was still trying to come to terms with what had happened. Ms Ayliffe-Chung was killed at Shelley's Backpackers in Home Hill, Queensland, a popular place to stay for backpackers doing rural work to fulfill visa requirements Ms Ayliffe-Chung, who is originally from Wirksworth in the UK, studied psychology at Chesterfield College Official and went to high school at The Ecclesbourne School In the weeks before Ms Ayliffe-Chung set out on her trip in 2015, she posted about being 30 per cent excited - but 70 percent scared - about her adventure. Above, she spent Christmas Day 2015 in Indonesia Leading up to Ms Ayliffe-Chung's time in northern Queensland, her social media pages were filled with photographs of her enjoying her travels Ms Ayliffe-Chung wrote that it had 'definitely' lived up to expectations - but hadn't been as scary as she thought. Above, Mia in Bali, Indonesia Mia Ayliffe-Chung had been travelling around the world before arriving in Australia Friends of Ms Ayliffe-Chung described her as 'fun, energetic and bubbly' Mia visited exotic locations like Morocco, Turkey and Dubai while on her travels He posted a tribute to his ex-girlfriend on Facebook following her death. 'Rest in peace Mia. Thank you for the memories,' Mr Stead wrote. Police broke the news to Ms Ayliffe-Chung's parents. Family friend Trudy said: 'Police turned up at 11pm and broke the news. Poor Rosie she's been up all night, there's an awful lot to digest and she is devastated, absolutely devastated. 'I've been friends of the family for a long time and I've been here since 9am comforting her. I just want to be here for her. 'She and Mia had such a close bond. I don't know how Rosie will cope with her loss.' Trudy went on: 'The worst thing on top of the loss is not knowing what happened and why. Rosie is besides herself with grief and incomprehension. We don't know if it was a terrorist attack or carried out by a man with mental issues. We don't want to say it is one thing when it may not be. We really don't know. The fact that it happened in another country and on the other side of the world makes it worse.' Ms Ayliffe-Chung's dad, who is separated from her mum and lives in London, is aware of her death. Rosie, who was also being helped by Derbyshire Police family liaison officers, is now planning to go to Australia. Witnesses said the attacker was seen loudly singing the French national anthem before allegedly carrying out the attack. He was also caught on police body camera shouting 'Allahu Akbar', meaning God is great, as he was taken into custody. Ms Ayliffe-Chung was killed injured in front of 30 horrified witnesses by a Frenchman who also stabbed British man Tom Jackson, 30, and a third man from Australia Ms Ayliffe-Chung previously studied childcare at Buxton College and psychology at Chesterfield College Ms Ayliffe-Chung's sister Natasha Chung, 35, was clearly upset as she spoke at her semi-detached home in Selhurst, south east London. Natasha said: 'I still don't know the full details of what happened. I wouldn't know what to say. I'm still in shock,' she said. She said she learned of her sister's tragic death through a phone call from her other sister, Nicola, on Tuesday night. 'My sister is with my dad at the moment,' Natasha added. Ms Ayliffe-Chung had been on an incredible trip around the world to exotic locations like Morocco, Turkey, India, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia before landing work on the Gold Coast in a bar, where she was adored by friends and co-workers. She is originally from Wirksworth near Matlock in Derbyshire, and went to Ecclesbourne School in Duffield, before moving to Anthony Gell School in Year 9. The 21-year-old then studied childcare at college in Buxton, which is part of the University of Derby, and psychology at Chesterfield College, according to her Facebook profile. In the days before her death she had been detailing online her experiences at the farm, an inventory of Australia's creepy-crawlies that she had come across. Mia had been documenting her days while working on a cane farm in north Queensland Ms Ayliffe-Chung had been dating an Australian man, Jamison Stead (pictured together). The pair broke up a few weeks ago, Mr Stead told Daily Mail Australia Ms Ayliffe-Chung had said she was 'living her dream' in a Facebook post, but said it was hard missing family 'Day one, done! Only 87 left to do. Today we were in sugar canes. Feeling like a little Jamaican again. Saw about five small spiders, four poisonous toads and three geckos. Not too shabby of a day,' one post read. Leading up to her time in northern Queensland where she was working on a sugar cane farm, her social media pages were filled with photographs of her enjoying life on the Gold Coast - waterfront high rise buildings, beaches and bars. In the weeks before she left the UK for her trip of a lifetime last year, she posted about being 30 per cent excited - but 70 percent scared - about her adventure. A year ago to the day of that post, she wrote that it had 'definitely' lived up to expectations - but hadn't been as scary as she thought. But clearly missing home, she said although she was 'living her dream, the hardest thing is 'missing the important home things. Graduations, people in hospital, funerals and birthdays,' she wrote in a July Facebook post. Photos from her trip around the world show her visiting stunning waterfalls in Vietnam and exploring markets in Thailand. Others show her lounging in Indonesian pools, swimming in azure seas and holding monkeys. Pictures reveal her in a desert area with camels, visiting Moroccan marketplaces and stopping off in cities like Istanbul and Dubai. Paying tribute to Ms Ayliffe-Chung, Paul Lovatt, Head of Pastoral Care at Anthony Gell School where she joined as a Year 9 student, said: 'Everyone at the school is shocked and saddened at the news that Mia has lost her life in the most tragic of circumstances. 46-year-old Australian man Mr Scholz (pictured limping) was taken to hospital with a stab wound to the leg but has since been released Up to 30 people witnessed the stabbing on Wednesday afternoon in Townsville 'We knew Mia as a student with so much joy and energy who was well-liked by her friends and teachers. 'Mia was a bubbly student who was energetic, caring and who immersed herself in life, enriching the school environment she contributed to.' Two friends and co-workers of Ms Ayliffe-Chung also said she was 'fun, energetic and bubbly'. 'She was great to work with, loved by everyone and will be dearly missed by the Surfers Paradise hospitality community,' Scott Ackland told MailOnline. 'It is under such terrible circumstances that this has happened to such an amazing person. Our condolences go out to all of her family and friends. We are also thankful Chris Porter, our other co worker, was able to escape with minimal injuries and our thoughts are with the other man fighting for his life,' he told MailOnline. A friend of British hero Mr Jackson, who is in a critical condition in hospital, said he was wounded when he went to help Ms Ayliffe-Chung as she was being attacked. The French man, 29, also yelled out 'Allahu Akbar' when he was arrested by police Witnesses said the attacker was seen loudly singing the French national anthem before carrying out the attack. Above, backpackers staying at the hostel were seen comforting one another Queensland state Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Golleschewski said police are not ruling out any motivations for the attack 'whether they be political or criminal' Speaking from the family home in Congleton, Cheshire, Tom Jackson's sister, Olivia, 23, said: 'We can't really comment too much at the minute. 'Tom hasn't been in a position to talk to us because he's still in a critical condition in hospital. We can't divulge too much else right now.' Neighbour Rex Garratt said: 'We didn't even know he was in Australia, it's a total shock. 'I can't believe it, Tom was friends with all the kids in the neighbourhood, it's so sad.' 'Everyone's close in this community, people know the family's name.' Paul Garratt, Rex's son, said: 'He's a friend of mine, he's a really nice person from a really nice family. 'He's very friendly and he loves travelling.' The third person injured, 46-year-old local man Mr Scholz, was taken to hospital with a stab wound to the leg but has since been released. Mr Scholz manages the hostel and is understood to live on site. Backpackers leave the scene at the hostel after a French man carried out a knife attack Police officers at the scene of the knife attack on Wednesday which has killed a British woman and critically injured a British man 'Grunta tried to get him off the girl when he was stabbed in the leg,' a friend told MailOnline. His sister, Roslyn, posted on Facebook: 'Hope you are OK little Brother, you are very brave.' Mr Scholz's friend also confirmed a dog, believed to be owned be hostel owner Shelley Norris, was stabbed during the rampage. Queensland state Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Golleschewski told a news conference the attacker twice screamed 'Allahu Akhbar' during the frenzy. 'Initial inquiries indicate that comments which may be construed of being as of an extremist nature were made by the alleged offender,' Deputy Commissioner Gollschewski said. 'It is alleged that the suspect used the phrase "Allahu Akbar" during the attack and when arrested by police. 'Whilst this information will be factored into the information we are not ruling out any motivations at this early stage, whether they be political or criminal. 'We've had three people stabbed and one dead, deceased [and] one critically injured. It's a shocking attack by any standards.' A neighbour, named Ray, who lives across the street, told of hearing 'blood-curdling screams' around the time of the attack. 'It's a very quiet town... we heard the screams... I was terrified, it wasn't very pleasant at all. I'll never forget it,' he said. 'A sleepy little town like this, you don't expect things like that to happen.' The alleged knifeman was taken to Townsville Hospital and is being questioned by police. He is yet to be charged. 'At this stage, there is no indications to indicate other than that the fact he was acting alone,' said Australian Federal Police Commander Sharon Cowden. TOURIST FRACTURED HIS ANKLES AS HE LEAPT FROM A WINDOW TO ESCAPE THE FATAL STABBING OF THE MODEL A man fractured his ankles when he jumped for his life from a window to escape the fatal stabbing of a young British model. Chris Porter, a chef from Queensland's Surfer's Paradise, was lying in a bunk bed over the bunk of his British friend Mia Ayliffe-Chung when he realised something bad was happening beneath him. What he saw was Ms Ayliffe-Chung being stabbed repeatedly in the face by a fellow roomate in the dormitory at the Home Hill hostel south of Townsville. Although too upset to describe his flight from the bloody scene, Mr Porter's older brother Aaron told Courier Mail what he had learned from Chris. The French man, he said, stabbed four room-mates, including Ms Ayliffe-Chung and a British man, who was last night in a critical condition in hospital. Two other people were also stabbed but their injuries were not life-threatening. It was after the four stabbings that 21-year-old Chris leaped from the second floor to save his own life when the knifeman turned his attention on him. Aaron said his younger brother told him that the alleged killer continued to pursue him down the road with the knife. 'He's had to wave down a car and this guy was trying to smash through the car window,' Aaron told The Bulletin. The paper said Aaron had learned from his brother, who is in hospital with his ankle injuries, that a French man arrested for the stabbings had been staying at the backpackers' hostel for several days. He was sharing a room with those who were attacked. 'Chris said he had been there for a few days and seemed an absolute normal guy. He spoke to the guy before he went to bed and he seemed fine. 'He has woken up to him dragging Mia out of bed. The guy was a nutter,' Aaron said. Advertisement Social media has been flooded with tributes from shocked friends following Ms Ayliffe-Chung's death 'Albeit it is a shocking incident and the community should remain vigilant. He was in lawfully in Australia and at this stage he was not known to authorities.' Police say the man did not appear to have any ties to Islamic State. Both the Deputy Commissioner and the Commander expressed their condolences to the families affected by the attack. The British High Commissioner has arrived in Townsville. 'We are working with local authorities and providing support to the families after one British national was killed and another critically injured in an incident in Australia,' a British High Commission spokesperson said. Investigators have found the knife believed to have been used in the attack. Dean Marinic, manager of the nearby Malpass Hotel, said tourists tended to stay in the sugar cane and fruit and veg farming season. Social media has been flooded with tributes following Ms Ayliffe-Chung's death 'They seem to stay there [at the hostel] a fair time... Out here, there'll stay for the whole season,' Mr Marinic told MailOnline. Local Gitto Milani, an 80-year-old retired farmer, has lived in the area all his life and heard loud sirens as he went to bed about 11pm. 'It's the first thing anything's happened like this here in Home Hill,' Mr Milani, who lives three blocks away from the scene, said. It [the hostel] has got a real good reputation.' Mr Milani said the hostel organised fruitpicking and vegetable picking opportunities. He said the area was swarming with police and TV cameras. Social media has been flooded with tributes following Ms Ayliffe-Chung's death. 'The love that was shown to you was owing to the fact that you are the complete chick strong and independent but with a soft side that made you so approachable you oozed life, and you were always the life and soul of a party,' Sam Gostelow wrote. One of the tributes left by friends for Ms Ayliffe-Chung following her death Friends described her as a 'beautiful soul' who had died too young 'I remember the excitement to sort our farming out and we were looking forward to spending the next three months together to bond we even had spoken about living together when it was all over. 'I had found a friend for life, someone I knew would be in my life for many, many years.' Emily Waters, a British woman who previously stayed at the hostel, said she was horrified by the attack. 'I literally can't believe it,' she wrote on Facebook. 'I can't stop watching the news. I've just been told the guy who has done this is a guy who I lived with there for the whole time. 'To think I spent time talking to him and working with him.' These pictures show the interior of the hostel in Home Hill where more than 30 people witnessed the attack Their attacker yelled out 'Allahu Akbar' during the frenzied attack and his arrest. Above is Mr Scholz (left being carried away and right) again Properties available at $325,000 go from homes with pools to tiny pads But even almost twice this amount will not buy you a lavish home Median price of a house in the United States has now reached $187,000 Real estate platform predicts they will increase by a further 2.9 per cent House prices have gone up 5.4 per cent this year, website Zillow said Investing $325,000 in a new home will lead to drastically different results depending on where you decide to unpack your bags. House prices around the country have gone up by 5.4 per cent over the past year, according to real estate website Zillow. The median price of a house in the United States has now reached $187,000. But even $325,000, which is not far from twice that sum, will not necessarily afford you a lavish pad, CBS News reported in a selection of listings. Out of ten properties, four only have one-bedroom - and these are located in New York City, Chicago, Honolulu and Omaha. This one-bathroom studio in Manhattan, tucked away in the Upper East Side, has hit the market at $325,000 - well above the median house price in the United States The New York apartment (pictured in the kitchen area), located in a 1920 co-op, occupies 315 square feet. The price also includes laundry facilities in the building Also in the one-bedroom category, a condo is available in Chicago for $325,000 (pictured is the building). The price tag includes access to the building's gym and rooftop deck The Chicago condo (pictured), one of ten featured properties available around the country at $325,000, has hardwood floors, a fireplace, and a dedicated parking space Conversely, four of the homes offer four bedrooms. They can be found in Charlotte, Tucson, Portland and Atlanta. House prices around the country will continue increasing during the year ahead and will go up by 2.9 per cent, Zillow predicted. In the meantime, it is possible to buy a one-bathroom studio in Manhattan, tucked away in the Upper East Side. The apartment, located in a 1920 co-op, occupies 315 square feet. Laundry is available in the building. Also in the one-bedroom category, a condo is available in Chicago for $325,000. At this price, the pad offers a fireplace, hardwood floors and access to the rooftop deck. Unlike its New York counterpart, this condo also includes a parking spot and access to the building's gym. Meanwhile in Honolulu, prospective buyers can also afford a one-bedroom apartment for $325,000. The 525-square-foot pad, located in the downtown area, also comes with a pool and a laundry room. Meanwhile in Honolulu, prospective buyers looking for a house in Hawaii can afford this one-bedroom apartment for $325,000 The 525-square-foot Honolulu pad (pictured), located in the downtown area, also comes with a pool and a laundry room But the show-stopper of the one-bedroom category is a former fire station in Omaha, which is available for sale at $325,000 The Omaha fire station (pictured), which dates back to 1891, has been turned into a one-bedroom home with 2,900 square feet of floor space Inside the Omaha fire station, a cozy interior reveals itself. The house currently has a double bed, tucked against a wall with apparent brick Looking to size up a bit? Head over to Los Angeles, where a two-bedroom condo is available at $325,000 in this building The pad (pictured), located in the Harbor City neighborhood, has a stone fireplace, a home theater system and two remodeled bathrooms. It is also possible to buy a coquettish $325,000 two-bedroom row house (pictured) on the East coast - specifically in Richmond But the show-stopper of the one-bedroom category is a former fire station in Omaha, for sale at $325,000. The fire station, which dates back to 1891, has been turned into a one-bedroom home with 2,900 square feet of floor space. Looking to size up a bit? Head over to Los Angeles, where a two-bedroom condo is available at $325,000. The pad, located in the Harbor City neighborhood, has a stone fireplace, a home theater system and two remodeled bathrooms. It is also possible to buy a $325,000 two-bedroom home on the East coast - specifically in Richmond. A coquettish row house has hit the market in the Union Hill neighborhood. It dates back to 1890 and boasts several fireplaces - with their original mantels, hardwood floors and three bathrooms. Those hoping for even more space can head to Atlanta and spend $325,000 on a four-bedroom house (pictured) The price tag for the Atlanta house (pictured) includes a fireplace, a two-tiered deck that opens onto the backyard, and a porch Also in the four-bedroom category, a house in Portland is available at $325,000. The single-family home (pictured) is located in the Wilkes neighborhood For $325,000, prospective buyers will acquire not only the green Portland house, but also its own swimming pool, visible in the shot above The Portland four-bedroom (pictured inside) has custom-made stain-glassed windows, a multi-tier deck and two fireplaces In Tucson, $325,000 can buy an eye-catching four-bedroom house (pictured) in the Copper Creek neighborhood The two-story home in Tucson (pictured) comes with a an upper deck, a heated pool, and a hot tub - complete with its own rock waterfall Inside the Tucson home (pictured), white tiles are matched with several wooden elements - such as the staircase and some pieces of furniture Those hoping for even more space can head to Atlanta and spend $325,000 on a four-bedroom house. The price tag includes a fireplace, a two-tiered deck that opens onto the backyard, and a porch. For $325,000, prospective buyers can also look into a modern-looking four-bedroom home in Boise, Idaho. The 2,358-square-foot house, built in 1980, boasts an arresting design with two rows of large storm windows in the living room. At this price, the property comes with two bathrooms, hardwood floors, and a deck that opens on the backyard. Also in the four-bedroom category, a house in Portland is available at $325,000. The single-family Oregon home, located in the Wilkes neighborhood, has custom-made stain-glassed windows, a multi-tier deck, two fireplaces and its own swimming pool. In Tucson, $325,000 can buy an eye-catching four-bedroom house in the Copper Creek neighborhood. The two-story home comes with a an upper deck, a heated pool, and a hot tub - complete with its own rock waterfall. Last in the four-bedroom contenders, a home in Charleston has also hit the market at $325,000. For this price, the new owners will acquire a fireplace, a two-story front porch - and will be able to swim in the neighborhood's swimming pool. Last in the four-bedroom contenders, a home in Charleston (pictured) has also hit the market at $325,000. The home was built in 2008 A Sydney PR company has publicly slammed a Melbourne couture designer for ripping off their client's design in an expletive-laden rant. Mother & Father PR posted a photo on Instagram featuring the $440 dress made by their client Zhivago alongside another similarly designed dress. The company accused Melbourne designer Zian Couture of allegedly plagiarising the design and reproducing a 'sh**** fake'. Mother & Father PR has publicly slammed Melbourne designer Zian Couture on social media for allegedly copying a $440 dress designed by their client Zhivago '@ziancouture, you are trying to pass yourselves off as designers, when are in fact, you are nothing more than than a wet s**t and no matter how hard you wipe, you'll be never clean,' the agency's post read. 'So to all the c**k-juggling thunder c***s like #ZianCouture, consider this your notice MFPR is about to summon forth a s***storm of biblical pain and suffering on your swamp asses!' The post, written by director of Mother & Father PR Matt Jordan, ended with the hashtags #protectaustraliandesign #dontbuyfakes. The $440 dress by Perth-based designer Zhivago (pictured) was allegedly copied by Melbourne designer Zian Couture, according to the PR company who represents them Zian of Zian Couture told Daily Mail Australia he had written to Mother & Father PR to apologise over the incident following the Instagram post. He insisted he hadn't intentionally copied with the design and said a client asked him to specially recreate the dress and it wasn't done to mass reproduce. Zian, who says he makes one-off garments, said he didn't know Zhivago had made the dress and was asked to create something that was not as revealing. He has previously designed gowns for Real Housewives of Melbourne star Pettifleur Berenger. Zian of Zian Couture says he makes one-off designs and has previously designed gowns for Real Housewives of Melbourne star Pettifleur Berenger (pictured) Ms Connor left her sons, 9 and 11, and followed Mr Taylor to Bali is believed to have met her British boyfriend David Taylor Friends and family of a Byron Bay woman accused of killing an Indonesian police officer with her British boyfriend last week say the mother of two is a 'very honest, reliable and generous person.' But Sara Connor, 45, a mother-of-two who owns her own fresh pasta making business, decided last week to flee her quiet life on the coast and left her two sons at home as she joined her 33-year-old partying boyfriend David Taylor - a disc jockey who goes by the name DJ Nutzo - in Bali after his Australian visa expired. The romantic getaway took a violent turn last Wednesday when, after a night of drinking and kissing on a beach, the couple allegedly got into an argument with police officer Wayan Sudarsa, who was patrolling Kuta Beach, and accused him of stealing Ms Connor's purse, police claim. The couple are now facing murder charges after allegedly beating Mr Sudarsa to death with a pair of binoculars, a beer bottle and a mobile phone during the fight, leaving him with 17 head wounds. Scroll down for video Byron Bay woman Sara Connor (far right), 45, is a tattooed mother of two primary school boys who runs her own fresh pasta-making business Ms Connor and fled her quiet life in Byron Bay last week, leaving her two young sons with her ex-husband, to join her boyfriend David Taylor (pictured), 33, in Bali after his Australian visa had expired Ms Connor is accused of murdering a Balinese policeman last week with Mr Taylor (pictured) and both remain in custody Ms Connor, the mother of two young boys, who are nine and 11, operates her own pasta-making business, Byron Bay Fresh Pasta, out of her home's twin garage. When she is not selling her handmade raviolis to nearby businesses and restaurants, the tattooed mother works at the front desk of the Arts Factory Backpackers Lodge and is known to offer long-term travellers a spare room or a tent space at her own home, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. It was here she is believed to have met Mr Taylor, who has performed at numerous nightclubs and venues while travelling around the world for the past 15 years. The Arts Factory Backpackers Lodge refused to comment to Daily Mail Australia. Ms Connor and Mr Taylor (pictured) - a disc jockey who goes by the name DJ Nutzo -allegedly beat police officer Wayan Sudarsa to death with binoculars, a beer bottle and a mobile phone during a drunken rampage on Kuta Beach in Bali on April 17 Mr Sudursa allegedly bit Ms Connor's (pictured) legs and hands when the fight became physical Mr Taylor settled in Byron Bay in 2014 and hosted a radio show program called First Bass on BayFM 99.9 on Thursday nights. 'First Bass is a weekly show bringing you some phat funky fresh beats and some booty bouncing breaks,' the station's website describes Mr Taylor's program. The Halifax native reportedly left Australia in July because his visa was set to expire and Ms Connor quickly followed, leaving her two sons with her ex-husband, Anthony 'Twig' Connor, to follow her lover to Bali. It is belibed Ms Connor met Mr Taylor (pictured) in Byron Bay at the Arts Factory Backpackers Lodge where she worked Ms Connor has been a long-time member of the hippie beach community and has been described as a 'beautiful person' by friends. She started Byron Bay Fresh Pasta in 2014 from her home's twin garage Mr Taylor (pictured) settled in Byron Bay in 2014 and hosted a radio show program called First Bass on BayFM 99.9 on Thursday nights Most of the Byron Bay community were unaware of the couple's romance, friends claim. Ms Connor moved to Byron several years ago with her then husband, who she met in the late 1990s while they were both travelling in Europe. She soon left northern Italy and moved in with Mr Connor in London, where they married before moving to NSW and having a second wedding ceremony in the area's large cane fields. Ms Connor gave birth to her two sons and the family moved to Berlin briefly before returning to NSW and settling in Byron Bay. The Halifax native reportedly left Australia in July because his visa was set to expire and Ms Connor (pictured) quickly followed Mr Taylor (pictured) and Ms Connor were arrested last weekend for the murder of Mr Sudarsa The argument between the couple and Mr Sudarsa (pictured) began after the pair confronted the officer because they believed he took Ms Connor's purse while the couple were kissing on the beach, police said The marriage is believed to have broken down around 2013 when Ms Connor began working at the backpacking resort. Members of the Byron Bay community insist the accusations made by Indonesian police do not match their beloved friend and say they are 'devastated and shocked' to hear about Ms Connor's arrest. 'These accusations laid against her are totally out of character for this beautiful person,' her friend Sarah Mulvin told Daily Mail Australia in a statement. 'She is incredibly inclusive of everyone, making sure anyone in her company feels nurtured and cared for. She has a huge heart. Her love for her boys is the biggest love in her life. She is very passionate about life and exudes enthusiasm wherever she goes,' Ms Mulvin said. Members of the Byron Bay community insist that the police accusations do not match their beloved friend and say they are 'devastated and shocked' to hear about Ms Connor's arrest Thousands of Victorian school students from next year will be given Australian milk to support struggling dairy farmers. The new deal is aimed at boosting the state's struggling dairy industry and help support regional jobs. Minister for Education James Merlino on Tuesday said the Pactum Dairy Group in Shepparton will exclusively supply milk to the School Breakfast Clubs program from 2017. Thousands of Victorian school students from next year will be given Australian milk to support struggling dairy farmers School Breakfast Clubs provide a free breakfast to up to 25,000 children in 500 Victorian government primary schools most in need. The new deal will see dairy farmers in the Murray Goulburn region supply around 400,000 litres of milk a year to the program, helping the 130 farms in the district who supply Pactum Dairy. 'This new partnership will help Victorian dairy farmers and local industry, with up to 400,000 litres of milk and 80 tonnes of baked beans to be delivered to Victorian primary schools each year,' Minister for Education James Merlino said in a statement. 'One in seven Victorian children arrive at school on an empty stomach, affecting their ability to concentrate and learn.' The new deal is aimed at boosting the state's struggling dairy industry and help support regional jobs 'We're tackling disadvantage through School Breakfast Clubs by making sure every student has the opportunity to reach their potential and by using Victorian dairy and food suppliers we can also help boost jobs and industry.' From next year School Breakfast Clubs will also include 80 tonnes of Australian grown baked beans from SPC Ardmona in Shepparton each year, to also help support local jobs and industry there. 'The program's baked beans will also be manufactured by SPC Ardmona, enabling us to deliver more Victorian and Australian produce into schools than ever before,' Foodbank Victoria Chief Executive Officer Dave McNamara said. Donald Trump charged Hillary Clinton with planning to let everybody in to the country as he met with the mothers of children slaughtered by illegal immigrants and vowed to go after criminal immigrants. Trump charged Clinton of planning a massive amnesty just hours after he told Fox News host Sean Hannity there could be a softening in his deportation plans. There have been hundreds of immigrants and their children [killed] inside the United States since 9/11 and a number of terrible attacks like the Boston bombing, San Bernardino, and Orlando, Trump told a cheering crowd in Austin Tuesday evening. Yet Hillary Clinton wants to fling open the floodgates to our borders, let everybody in, open up our country, let people pour in. Scroll down for video Republican Donald Trump at a rally on Tuesday accused Hillary Clinton of planning a 'massive amnesty' Trump kisses mothers from the Remembrance project who have lost sons to violence by illegal immigrants, as he speaks at a campaign rally in Austin, Texas We dont know anything about em. Its going to be a nightmare for our country just like its turning out to be an absolute nightmare for Europe. Just ask them whats going on, Trump said, invoking the carnage of terror attacks. In an emotional demonstration of his concern, Trump brought on stage mothers of children who died at the hands of undocumented immigrants something he did at the Republican convention but hasnt done recently. Today I met with the moms of incredible American children killed by illegal immigrants as a result of the politics of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, Trump told the crowd. Hillary Clinton will never meet with these families. She will never hear their incredible but so sad stories. She will never hear them. She doesnt have the heart, believe me, Trump said. The mothers told chilling stories. One mother said her son was tortured, beaten murdered and set on fire. If this can happen to my family, it can happen to yours. I am looking forward to voting for Mr. Trump, who will end this slaughter of Americans, she said. Trump's remarks were repeatedly interrupted by protesters The crowd at the Austin rally chanted 'Lock her up!' in reference to Clinton, and Trump repeated his call for a special prosecutor to investigate her Trump spoke length about immigration in Texas, after his campaign cancelled a planned immigration event that was reportedly being set up for Thursday in Denver Trump was greeted to cheers and chants of 'Lock her up!' when he mentioned Democrat Hillary Clinton's 'corruption' A protester gives a one-fingered salute to the crowd as he is escorted out of the building by law enforcement Agnes Gibboney, who said her only son was 'murdered by an illegal alien, called Trump the only one thats going to protect your children from being slaughtered like my son was. Just hours earlier, Trump told Sean Hannity on Fox: There certainly can be a softening because we're not looking to hurt people," Trump said in his response. "We want people -- we have some great people in this country. Trumps lengthy comments about immigration came as his campaign scrubbed a planned immigration event set for Denver on Thursday, the Denver Post reported. Trump also brought Border Patrol agents with him, as he prepares to unveil the latest version of his immigration plan as early as next week. Trumps running mate, Mike Pence, indicated to CBS that the details of Trumps proposed deportation force were a work in progress. The details and how we do that, we'll work that out with Congress, he said, adding that Trump would do it in a humane way. Trump went hard after Clinton for the latest revelations from her deleted emails, accusing her of telling lie after lie after lie. Hillary Clinton is totally unfit to hold public office, he said. Trump drew enthusiastic support from an Austin crowd with his call to preserve the 2nd Amendment, and accusations that Hillary Clinton would bring 'amnesty' to illegal immigratns The new revelations about Hillary Clintons email scandal make clear we have only seen the tip of the iceberg. Hillary Clinton is desperate to cover-up her crimes. Thats why she deleted 33,000 emails. Thats also why she lied repeatedly to Congress and the American public. He accused Bill and Hillary Clinton of running a criminal enterprise, involving paid speeches, favors, and donations to the Clinton foundation. But it was more than a business, it was a continuing big time criminal enterprise. It involved numerous violations of the conflict of interest and bribery laws and other serious laws of the United States, Trump said. It is impossible to figure out where the Clinton Foundation ends and the State Department begins. It is now abundantly clear that the Clintons' set up a business to profit from public office. They sold access and specific actions by and to them for money. Trump referenced a new Associated Press report Tuesday that more than half the people outside the government who met with Clinton while she was secretary of state gave money to the Clinton Foundation, either personally or through companies or groups. The AP found that at least 85 of 154 people who got face time or phone calls with Clinton donated or pledged to her charity. Trump repeated his appeal to black voters, once again speaking to a heavily white crowd, although he was preceded by a diverse array of introducers. I say this to the African American community: Give Donald Trump a chance. We will turn it around. We will make your streets safe so when you walk down the street, you dont get shot which is whats happening now. Thats whats happening now. As part of his pledge to restore law and order Trump vowed to round up gangs and cartels. I will appoint federal officials and investigators who will work hand-in-hand with police and citizens to dismantle gangs, cartels and criminal syndicates terrorizing our people, he said. I will appoint prosecutors who will go into the most dangerous communities in America and work to liberate our citizens from violence and fear. All citizens deserve to be protected, he said. Trumps lengthy comments about immigration came as his campaign scrubbed a planned immigration event set for Denver on Thursday, the Denver Post reported. Trumps running mate, Mike Pence, indicated to CBS that the details of Trumps proposed deportation force were a work in progress. The details and how we do that, we'll work that out with Congress, he said, adding that Trump would do it in a humane way. Trump repeated his appeal to black voters, once again speaking to a heavily white crowd, although he was preceded by a diverse array of introducers. I say this to the African American community: Give Donald Trump a chance. We will turn it around. We will make your streets safe so when you walk down the street, you dont get shot which is whats happening now. Thats whats happening now. As part of his pledge to restore law and order Trump vowed to round up gangs and cartels. I will appoint federal officials and investigators who will work hand-in-hand with police and citizens to dismantle gangs, cartels and criminal syndicates terrorizing our people, he said. Donald Trump stepped up his attacks on Hillary Clinton by accusing her of 'Third World' corruption after revelations about donor access to the Democratic candidate. The Republican nominee called the revelations about Clinton and her family's charitable foundation a 'disgrace' and a 'threat to the foundation of democracy' at a rally in Austin, Texas. A report revealed that more than half the people outside government who met Clinton while she was Secretary of State donated money to the Clinton Foundation. Donald Trump stepped up his attacks on Hillary Clinton by accusing her of 'Third World' corruption after revelations about donor access to the Democratic candidate 'It is a total embarrassment if our secretary of state can be bought or bribed or sold,' Trump said. 'It's a disgrace, this is a threat to the foundation of democracy. This is what happens in Third World countries.' The Associated Press reported that at least 85 of 154 people from private interests who met or had telephone conversations scheduled with Clinton while she led the State Department donated to her family charity or pledged commitments to its international programs. Those 85 donors contributed a combined $156million, the AP said. The Republican nominee called the revelations about Clinton and her family's charitable foundation a 'disgrace' and a 'threat to the foundation of democracy' at a rally in Austin, Texas 'It is a total embarrassment if our secretary of state can be bought or bribed or sold,' Trump said The report said the meetings between Clinton and donors did not appear to violate legal agreements she and her husband, former president Bill Clinton, signed before she joined the State Department. 'But the frequency of the overlaps shows the intermingling of access and donations, and fuels perceptions that giving the foundation money was a price of admission for face time with Clinton,' the AP reported. Trump said last night: 'Hillary Clinton is totally unfit to hold public office. It is impossible to figure out where the Clinton Foundation ends and the State Department begins. 'It is now abundantly clear that the Clintons set up a business to profit from public office, they sold access. 'This is corruption and this is why I have called for a special prosecutor to look into this mess.' A report revealed that more than half the people outside government who met Clinton while she was secretary of state donated money to the Clinton Foundation Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence has also called for the foundation to be 'immediately shut down' Clinton Foundation President Donna Shalala has said the non-profit group is working to 'spin off' or 'find partners' for many of its programs, including all international activities and programs funded by foreign or corporate donors, according to NPR. The Foundation also announced that Bill Clinton would step down from the group's board if Hillary were to be elected president. In 2014, the Clinton Foundation reported $439million in assets and $338million in revenue. Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence has also called for the foundation to be 'immediately shut down'. With 75 days to go until the November 8 election Trump remains more than five per cent down on Clinton in an aggregate of national polling. But new DNA tests showed another man, a crack addict, had raped Talley She had been found raped and stabbed 10 times with a kitchen knife Anthony Wright, now 44, first went to prison aged 20 years old in 1991 A Philadelphia man walked free after 25 years behind bars as DNA evidence proved he did not rape and murder his neighbor. Anthony Wright, 44, was 20 years old when he was convicted in the death of 77-year-old Louise Talley in the Nicetown neighborhood. Authorities found her naked body on the floor of her home in October 1991. Talley had been raped and stabbed 10 times with a kitchen knife in the back, chest and neck. Wright was taken into custody the following day. He was serving a term of life without parole when new DNA testing showed another man had raped Talley. Scroll down for video Anthony Wright (center), 44, was 20 years old when he was convicted in the death of Louise Talley in Philadelphia. He walked free Tuesday and reunited with his two granddaughters Wright (pictured center walking out of prison with his attorneys) was serving a term of life without parole when new DNA testing showed another man had raped Talley Authorities inspected sperm found inside Talley's body and found none of Wright's DNA. It was Ronnie Byrd, a former crack addict from Nicetown, who assaulted her, tests showed in 2014. Byrd has since died in prison in South Carolina at 62 years old, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Tests also showed that Wright's DNA was not on clothes that prosecutors said he wore at the time of the murder. Authorities inspected sperm found inside Talley's body and found none of Wright's DNA. Wright is pictured in an archive shot with his son, Anthony Jr (left) A jury of seven women and five men declared Wright (pictured holding his one-year-old granddaughter and holding his other granddaughter, 8) not guilty on Tuesday Wright had initially told police he had taken money from Talley before killing her. He later took back his confession and said he had been coerced into giving it. The detectives, who have since retired, denied having pressured Wright to confess, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. A jury of seven women and five men deliberated for less than two hours before declaring Wright not guilty on Tuesday. Wright walked free a few hours later, surrounded by his relatives. His father, his 28-year-old son and his two granddaughters, 1 and 8 years old, witnessed his first moments as a free man. 'I can't even put it into words right now, man,' Wright told The Philadelphia Inquirer. 'It's unbelievable. It's the greatest day of my life.' Wright's mother has died. His 63-year-old father plans to take Wright to Florida, where he lives, before Wright goes back to Philadelphia. Tourists have been warned to stay away from the province of Pattani in southern Thailand after a car bomb blast killed one person and injured at least 29 others. The explosion happened near a hotel in the area, which is popular with Western travellers. Pictures from the scene showed the remains of a building with a fire raging inside. The nationality of those injured in the blast is not yet known. The blast reportedly happened near the Southern Hotel in Pattani. Scroll down for video A car bomb blast near a hotel in a popular Thailand resort has left one dead and 29 injured Pictures have emerged showing the remains of the building and a fire raging inside A Thai bomb squad are seen here inspecting the site the next day The explosion happened outside a hotel in the province of Pattani, an area popular with Western tourists in the country's south Australia's Foreign Affairs Department said tourists should avoid southern Thailand, including Pattani, where a low-level Islamic insurgency has simmered for decades. 'The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has long advised Australians not to travel to Thailands four southernmost provinces due to the high level of ongoing violence,' the department said in a statement. Video from the scene showed men running out of a building and fire crews trying to tackle a blaze. It comes just days after explosions hit the seaside resort of Hua Hin, killing one Thai woman and one other and wounding 21 people. The bomb blast happened in the southern region of Pattani at about 11pm local time Tourists have been warned not to travel to the area A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said this is due to the high level of ongoing violence A Thai soldier searches parked motorcycles at the site of the bombing A large car bomb blew up outside a hotel in Thailand's insurgency-plagued southern region The twin bomb attack targeted a busy street filled with bars and restaurants. Hours later two small bombs were detonated in the beach town Patong, Phuket, another area popular with foreign tourists. In its travel guidance, The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has said there is a 'high threat' from terrorism in the country. It has also advised against 'all but essential travel to the provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla on the Thai-Malaysia border'. Vehicles parked outside the hotel were damaged in the blast which injured at least 29 There are reports that the blast happened near the Southern Hotel in Pattani Debris is seen here scattered outside the site of the bombing The remains of a car that was completely gutted by flames is pictured here Pictures show fierce flames inside the building in the aftermath of the explosion (left) and emergency crews working at the scene (right) In March, at least 10 bombs went off in Pattani's Yaring district, including two at bank cash dispensing machines, wounding 11 policemen. Pattani is one of three Muslim-majority provinces in largely Buddhist Thailand, near the Malaysian border. Resistance to central government rule has existed for decades in the area but violence picked up significantly in 2004. The fish should be washed out to sea in two tide cycles and aren't harmful Aerial footage of the bays show so many dead fish the water isn't visible Officials said this is the second 'fish kill' the area Thousands and thousands of tiny dead fish have filled the waterways and shorelines in New Jersey. Bunker fish, small silver fish typically used for fertilizer or eaten by larger sea life, have died in droves this week. The fish died in a 'fish kill', according to officials, which means they were chased into bays and shallows by bluefish or skates. Scroll down for video Thousands of dead bunker fish have washed ashore and clogged waterways in New Jersey The fish died during a 'fish kill' when they were driven into shallows by larger fish during hot weather Once in the shallow water they died from low levels of dissolved oxygen in the water. This can occur when there is a spike in temperature, still water and thriving microorganisms thriving microorganisms and plantlife. Department of Environmental Protection officials said this is the second time this week a fish kill has flooded the waterway with dead bunker bodies. 'The temperatures have been sweltering, and you can imagine what it's like in the smaller bodies of water,' Greg Remaud, the deputy director of NY/NJ Baykeeper, told NBC 4 New York. Because of an increase in plant life the water's oxygen level is so low it cannot support the fish (pictured, dead fish obscure the water) Department of Environmental Protection officials said this is the second time this week a fish kill has flooded the waterway with dead bunker bodies Aerial footage of docks in New Jersey showed the bay so full of fish, the water wasn't visible When Baykeeper officials tested the water they found oxygen levels in the water were below the minimum concentration to support the fish. 'This is primarily a natural phenomenon, but it is exacerbated by polluted runoff, including fertilizers from lawns, which is why preserving stream corridors and buffers is important,' said Remaud. Aerial footage showed waterways so full of fish, the water wasn't visible. In approximately two tide cycles the fish should wash out to sea, officials said The public is not at risk from the dead fish but must put up with the smell until the bodies float away Thousands of fish carcasses appeared to float at a standstill in stagnant water. Many floated around docks and waterways that had low currents and twists. In approximately two tide cycles the fish should wash out to sea, officials said. With less than a week to go before the 2016 Primary Election, Coconino County Recorder Patty Hansen is urging all early voters to put their ballots in the mail by the end of the day to ensure they are received in time to be counted next Tuesday. Hansen said the Flagstaff Main Post Office is good at sorting out the yellow early ballot envelopes so they will not go to Phoenix, but not all the mail in Coconino County goes through the Flagstaff Post Office. People who have filled out their early ballots but miss the deadline to mail them may drop them off anytime before polls close next Tuesday at 7 p.m. in one of the white ballot drop boxes in the parking lots of the County General Services Building, 110 E Cherry Ave., Flagstaff or the County Health and Community Services Building, 2625 N King St., Flagstaff. Early voters in Tuba City can drop off their ballots in the Tuba City Elections Office located in the basement of the Tuba City Library, Main Street, Tuba City. Voters may also vote early in person through this Thursday at one of the county's early voting sites. A full list of early voting locations for 2016 is available on the Coconino County Elections website at www.coconino.az.gov/elections. If people find out next Monday that they have to go out of town on Election Day, they can vote early in at the County General Services Building, 110 E. Cherry Ave., Flagstaff that day until 5 p.m. On Election Day, voters can drop off their early ballots at any polling place in Coconino County between 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. Early voters should remember to sign the return ballot envelope or their ballots will not be counted. A public servant described as 'socially awkward' has escaped a jail term after being charged with a string of online sexual offences against young girls. The 46-year-old man, from Adelaide, admitted to five charges of undertaking sexually explicit conversations with minors, aged from 12 to 16, in Britain and Germany. He was finally caught in September, 2012 when a police officer from Queensland went online posing as a teenage girl, according to a report by the ABC. An Adelaide public servant described as 'socially awkward' has escaped a jail term after being charged with a string of online sexual offences against young girls Among the evidence provided in Adelaide's District Court on Wednesday before Judge Julie McIntyre was that the man had been 'socially awkward' It was also alleged that the man had requested images from the girls, revealed himself and performed sexual acts in front of his computer while on the web cam, reported the ABC website. Among the evidence provided in the district court before Judge Julie McIntyre was that the man had been 'socially awkward' and had not engaged in any sexual relationships until his mid-40s. 'It is clear this sort of behaviour takes advantage of the immaturity and naivety of young children,' said Judge McIntyre. 'This was a sustained and disgraceful course of conduct which impacted on a number of young girls.' He was given a four year jail sentence with a two-year non parole period. However, the judge took into consideration his 'remorse' and how he was 'deeply ashamed' along with the two years it took to have his case heard. The man was issued with a four-year good behaviour bond and released. The sister of a woman who was found murdered earlier this month is being hunted in connection to the kidnapping of her dead sister's three children in California. Brittany Humphrey, 22, and her 'husband' Joshua Aaron Robertson, 27, were last seen with Humphrey's nieces and nephew Joslynn Watkins, two; Brayden Watkins, three; and Rylee Watkins, five, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said. The children's mom, Kimberly Harvill, was found dead by a motorist who had stopped at Gorman Post Road near Lebec, on August 14, the LA Times reported. Humphrey and Robertson are also wanted for questioning in connection with Harvill's killing and police say Robertson should be considered armed and dangerous. Joshua Aaron Robertson (left, in 2014) and Brittany Humphrey (right, in 2012) are being sought by Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in connection with three missing kids Joslynn Watkins, two, is one of the three missing kids. Her mom, Kimberly Harvill, was found dead by a California rest stop on August 14 Brayden (left), three, and Rylee (right) Watkins, five, are also missing. All three were last seen with Robertson and Humphrey, who are believed to have fled California Victim: Kimberly Harvill was found dead in Lebec, California, on August 14 Cops say they believe Harvill was murdered, based on her head wounds. The missing children's godmother, who identified herself only as Michelle, revealed to NBC Los Angeles that Humphrey is Harvill's sister. Michelle says she is convinced Brittany had nothing to do with Harvill's death. 'She loved her sister and she loves those babies,' said the godmother. 'The fact that she's missing is just as concerning as the fact their mother is dead.' Harvill's neighbor Willie Venson Jr told ABC 7 that her husband, the father of her three children, had died in a suicide. On Facebook, Harvill wrote she was a widow and mentioned the date '9/28/15.' An online search revealed that her husband, Kenneth Chad Watkins, died on September 28, 2015. He was 36 years old. Tragic family: Harvill lost her husband, Kenneth Chad Watkins (pictured), to suicide last year Happier times: Kenneth and Kimberly had been together for at least six years and had three children. The photo on the right shows Harvill during one of her pregnancies New life: This undated photo taken in a hospital presumably shows Harvill and her late spouse with their youngest child New beginning: Harvill posted this photo on her Facebook page August 3. It shows her posing with her fiance, a man by the last name Keithley Dead: Harvill was initially unidentified, so police created this sketch According to the social media account, Harvill was engaged to a man by the last name Keithley, and the couple were set to marry on August 11, just three days before she was found dead in Lebec. On August 3, Harvill posted a selfie with her fiance with the caption: 'Soon to be Mrs Keithley 8/11/16.' A day later, Harvill's sister, Brittney Humphrey, posted on her own Facebook page a photo of a shirtless man with tattoos on his chest, who is believed to be Joshua Robertson. The caption read: 'My husband.' Wanted: Brittney Humphrey (left and right) is the dead woman's sister and the aunt of her three children On August 4, Humphrey posted this image, presumably depicting Joshua Robertson, with the caption, 'My husband' A news release from the Sheriff's Department said Robertson 'is on post-release community supervision and has a previous arrest for possession of a firearm'. They were said to be driving a green 1999 Ford Expedition SUV, which may have California license plate number 7BEK024 or paper plates. The SUV also has a rear sticker reading 'RIP Chad Watkins,' a sticker showing a family of six stick figures, and camouflage duct tape on its exterior. Police initially had trouble identifying Harvill, despite tattoos that included a Playboy bunny and the names 'Brayden' and 'Rylee'. Anyone with information is asked to contact police on (323) 890 5500, or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222 8477. A relative said Humphrey loved her sister and would not have hurt her or her children, who are now orphans, having lost both their parents A Yazidi teenager who was repeatedly raped by ISIS militants has revealed how she set herself on fire in a refugee camp because she thought the Islamists were coming for her again. Yasmin, 18, fled her captors after a week of torture and abuse and made it to a refugee camp in northern Iraq. But the mentally scarred teenager thought she heard the barbaric fighters outside her tent so decided to douse herself in petrol and set herself on fire in an attempt to make herself undesirable. The flames burned her hair, hands and face - peeling away her nose, lips and ears - and left her physically disfigured. Yazidi teenager Yasmin was raped repeatedly by ISIS and set herself on fire at a refugee camp because she thought they were coming back for her. Her burned hands are pictured Recalling her ordeal, Yasmin - who was 16 when she was captured - hunches over in her chair, grips her gnarled hands together and looks down at the floor. But she straightens up and her face brightens as she remembers when German doctor Jan Ilhan Kizilhan first entered her tent in the refugee camp and told her and her mother, in their own language, how he could help in Germany. 'I said, "of course I want to go there and be safe, and be the old Yasmin again,"' she said. Yasmin is now living in Germany where she is being given therapy by Dr Kizilhan, who is trying to help 1,100 women who were abused by ISIS. All of the women and girls have permission to remain in Germany for two years, but they will likely be given asylum if they ask for it. Yasmin says she has no reason to return to Iraq, where she spent seven days in ISIS captivity after she was separated from her family as they fled into the mountains in a futile attempt to escape the militants. Men were killed, and women and children taken, she said. After they escaped, she was still terrified and always crying. She falters when trying to describe what led her to set fire to herself, talking vaguely rather than reliving the memory. The flames burned Yasmin's hair, hands and face - peeling away her nose, lips and ears - and left her physically disfigured 'Their voice was in my ears,' she said. 'I could hear their voice, I was so scared.' Then she heard what she thought was a shell exploding nearby. 'I couldn't take it anymore,' she said. 'And this is what happened to me.' Yasmin now shares a modest single-family home with her parents, sister and two brothers. Her sister, a year older, won't talk about what happened to her, and nor will most of the other women in the program. But for Yasmin, the desire for people to know outweighs her hesitance to dredge up horrific memories. 'It is very important to tell our stories because the world should know what happened to us, so that it doesn't happen again,' she said. Yasmin wears loose-fitting clothing to protect her sensitive skin, and a machine at her bedside helps her breathe because of her damaged nose and airways. She hopes to eventually go to school, improve her German, learn English, and get a job involving computers. Yet she still fears ISIS, especially after two recent attacks in Germany claimed by the group. Yasmin has somewhere between five and 15 surgeries ahead of her, Dr Kizilhan says. She dreams of going out in public again without turning heads, without children looking at her and crying. 'I want to be through the surgeries and be healthy again,' Yasmin said. 'My family is here and I want to start a new life.' Thousands of Yazidis fled into the Sinjar mountains after ISIS raided towns in 2014, killing men, recruiting children and taking women as sex slaves In August 2014, ISIS fighters stormed into Sinjar, the region of northern Iraq where most of the world's Yazidis live. The Islamists rounded them up into three groups: Young boys who were made to fight for IS, older males who were killed if they didn't convert to Islam, and women and girls sold into slavery, like Yasmin. Tens of thousands of Yazidis fled to the mountains, where the militants surrounded them in the scorching summer heat. Britain, the U.S., Iraq, France and Australia flew in water and other supplies, but many died before they could be rescued. Following the IS assault, 'no free Yazidis remained in the Sinjar region,' a United Nations expert panel wrote. 'The 400,000-strong community had all been displaced, captured or killed.' An estimated 3,200 are still in ISIS captivity in Syria, where they were taken after being captured. As the attack unfolded, members of the estimated 100,000-strong Yazidi community in Germany approached politicians in Berlin for help. The prosperous western state of Baden Wuerttemberg was moved and decided to act, calling in Dr Kizilhan. Yasmin is now living in Germany where she is being given therapy by experts helping 1,100 traumatised Yazidis His pioneering program tries to address a basic problem: Long after the women are rescued, the trauma remains. From February 2015 to January 2016, small teams of experts, including Dr Kizilhan, went to refugee camps in northern Iraq. The doctor made 14 trips and personally interviewed the women and girls, trying to determine who would benefit best from the limited program. 'It was an evil that I had never seen in my life,' he said. 'I'm experienced in trauma, I had already worked with patients from Rwanda, from Bosnia, but this was very different. 'If you have an eight-year-old girl in front of you and she's saying she was sold eight times by IS and raped 100 times during 10 months, how can humankind be so evil?' The 1,100 women taken to Germany are primarily treated in more than 20 clinics in Baden-Wuerttemberg, though 70 have been sent to Lower Saxony and another 30 to Schleswig Holstein. They are kept at undisclosed locations with extra security out of fears that ISIS sympathizers may try to target them even in Germany. The last chartered plane with the victims arrived in January. Yasmin now shares a modest single-family home with her parents, sister and two brothers Among them is a woman whose four-year-old daughter was taken away by an IS fighter besotted with her blonde hair and blue eyes, who told her he would 'marry' her when she was nine. The mother escaped, but the daughter, now six, remains in the clutches of the extremists. The woman cries every time she sees a blonde-haired and blue-eyed girl on the street, Dr Kizilhan said. Another was taken by IS at age 16 with her family and watched as her father and two brothers were killed. She was sold as a sex slave to a fighter from Tunisia, and then re-sold another dozen times or so over the next year. Finally escaping, she walked barefoot and without food east across Syria to the Iraqi border. 'In the view of the Islamic State ideology, these people are not human beings,' Dr Kizilhan said. Three British siblings were removed from an easyJet flight after fellow passengers wrongly accused them of 'reading ISIS material'. Sisters Maryam, 19, and Sakina Dharas, 24, and their brother Ali, 21, had taken their seats on the flight from London Stansted to Naples when they were escorted out of the plane in front of other passengers. The trio, who are of Indian heritage but were born and raised in London, were questioned on the runway by armed police officers for an hour before being allowed back on the plane. Maryam and Sakina, who were wearing headscarves, were told a couple had reported them for 'reading ISIS materials' and said they had the phrase 'praise be to God' on their phones. Scroll down for video Siblings (from left) Maryam, 19, Ali, 21, and Sakina Dharas, 24, had taken their seats on the flight from London Stansted to Naples when they were escorted out of the plane The siblings were asked whether they could speak English and had to submit their mobiles for police checks before being allowed to re-board and continue their journey. Writing on Facebook about the August 17 incident, Sakina said the police told them: 'A passenger on your flight has claimed that you three are members of ISIS... They saw you with Arabic or praise be to Allah on your phone.' Sakina, a clinical pharmacist at University College London, wrote: 'Firstly, that's part of the Qur'an, our religious text, so even if we did have it, it wouldn't signify that we're a part of ISIS at all, but regardless, we've had nothing on our phone remotely Arabic related this morning. Also, we're Indian by ethnicity, so we wouldn't even have Arabic in conversation with anyone.' She added: 'What are my rights? We would only have been allowed back on the plane if there wasn't a shred of doubt on their part, so someone must be the liar here, in which case, why were those passengers not removed for wasting police time, LYING, making false allegations and racial profiling?' The siblings were also asked whether they could speak English and had to submit their mobiles for police checks before being allowed to re-board (file image) The siblings were told they could be the subject of further background checks before being allowed to continue their journey. easyJet has apologised to the siblings for the inconvenience. A spokesman said: 'A member of ground staff requested the assistance of the police who took the decision to talk to three passengers at the bottom of the aircraft steps, before departure. 'The police then confirmed to the Captain that the passengers were cleared to complete their journey and they re-boarded the aircraft and the flight departed to Naples. 'The safety and security of its passengers and crew is our highest priority which means that if a security concern is raised we will always investigate it as a precautionary measure. 'We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused to the passengers.' A spokesman for Essex Police said: 'Essex Police were contacted just after 5.40am on Wednesday, August 17, with reports of concern regarding the behaviour of three people who were looking at their mobile phones. Advertisement Britain has enjoyed the hottest day of the year - but the heatwave is about to make way for a Bank Holiday washout with rain, thunderstorms and even hail. Temperatures climbed to 33.9C (93F) in Gravesend, Kent - but the two-day spell of fine conditions is set to turn on its head very soon. Today's scorching conditions topped the previous record set on July 19 when the mercury rose to 33.5C (92.3F) in Oxfordshire. It was also the hottest August 24 on record, beating the 32.2C in 1899 in Carmarthen. But a change will happen when the warm Spanish plume moving up from the South meets cold Atlantic air coming in from the West. This forces the hot air over the cooler front, triggering rain, thunderstorms and even hail. It means Britons should be prepared for a washout Bank Holiday weekend, with rain expected in many areas on Saturday before things improve on Sunday and Monday with sunshine and 24C temperatures forecast. Meanwhile holidaymakers heading for the South West coasts should be on alert for sharks, after one measuring 6.5ft was spotted by tourists and locals yesterday at Preston Beach in Paignton, Devon. Scroll down for video Life's a beach: Three young women relax in Brighton, East Sussex, as a heatwave causes parts of the country to sizzle today Ready to party: Music fans arrive at Reading Festival in Berkshire today in the warm weather with their camping equipment One young woman picked up her bag (left) while another carried all sorts of camping equipment to Reading Festival (right) Good spirits: Young men and women enjoy the warm weather as they and other music fans arrive at Reading Festival today Fun in the flowers: Evie Towers, two, and six-year-old Amelia Staunton play at Stanley Park in Blackpool today On the pebbles: People enjoy the sun on Brighton Beach in Sussex today after Public Health England issued a health warning Temperatures climbed to 33.9C (93F) in Gravesend, Kent - but the two-day spell of fine conditions is set to turn on its head very soon The Met Office revealed that the temperature had reached 33.9C in Gravesend, Kent, making it the hottest day of the year Student Lydia Beardsmore, 19 who was about to go for a run when she spotted the shark, said: I noticed a small shadow in the water. I only thought it was a tiger fish but when I climbed down the rocks to have a closer look I was pleasantly surprised when I saw its fin sticking out of the water. Two swimmers joined me looking at the shark as I had asked them about the tide times, I was concerned about the shark getting stuck without water. The swimmers assured me the tide was coming in, allowing the shark to taken back out to the deep in very soon. Scary: Holidaymakers heading for the South West coasts should be on alert for sharks, after one measuring 6.5ft was spotted by tourists and locals yesterday at Preston Beach in Paignton, Devon Lydia Beardsmore was about to go for a run when she spotted the shark - and said: I noticed a small shadow in the water' I joked with the swimmers that its mum might be waiting for them out in the sea as they had said that they were glad it was in the pool, and not swimming with them. By the time I got back from running, the tide was in and there was no sign of the baby shark. It was a really beautiful creature with a distinct white mark on his/her head - an experience I wont forget in a hurry. She was unsure of the sharks species but according to the British Sharks Trust there are over 30 types of sharks found around the coasts of Britain. At least 21 species are commonly found around out coastline all year round. The Bank Holiday weekend is also likely to be marred by miles of traffic jams as families hope to make the most of a short getaway. Hot hot hot: Forecasters promise warm weather today with the hottest places set to be London, East Anglia and inland Kent Beware of the Bank Holiday weekend traffic jams: This graphic shows the delays expected on Britain's roads this weekend with the 11 'congestion hotspots' shown and the length of the delay expected (in brackets), according to travel experts Experts predict that more than 20million motorists are expected to take to Britain's motorways over the three-day Bank Holiday weekend with lengthy tailbacks expected from tomorrow right through until Monday. According to figures from the RAC, more than double the number of cars will take to the road over the long weekend than the same period last year. A spokesman said: 'It is thought that the weaker pound is playing a crucial role in the higher traffic forecasts, with the lower cost of sterling encouraging Brits to stay at home rather than heading abroad.' Saturday is set to be by far the busiest day with five million getaways planned, while more than 4.5million drivers will take to the roads on Sunday. Friday evening is also expected to be jam-packed on the motorways. The longest delays are expected on M25 and M5 - 90 minutes for each while there will be major disruption on train lines in and out of London Paddington, Euston, London Bridge, Liverpool Street and Charing Cross. Crowds flock to Brighton beach to enjoy the hot sunshine today with temperatures forecast to breach the 30C mark Lilly the dog wears sunglasses during hot weather at Regent's Park in Central London today Reading Festival fans arrive in the warm weather as the music festival prepares to get under way this weekend A man sunbathes on Branksome Chine Beach in Bournemouth, as a heatwave causes parts of the country to sizzle People play football on Canford Cliffs Chine Beach in Bournemouth today as the mercury goes above the 30C mark As dawn breaks over the Chatsworth estate today, fallow deer are seen in the River Derwent as it flows through Derbyshire Summer sun: Sheep are pictured on a beautiful morning in Killearn, Stirlingshire, as the sun rises on another warm day But before then, the mini-heatwave which saw temperatures reach 31C (88F) in some areas yesterday is set to continue sparking a Government health alert. POLLEN FROM FRANCE There is bad news for those with sensitive noses as the warm weather is bringing a strain of pungent pollen over from France. The windborne ragweed pollen causes a particularly strong allergic reaction and can travel hundreds of miles. Scientists at the University of Leicester have found pollen counts from ragweed which is a member of the daisy family and relatively rare in Britain in the East Midlands high enough to cause substantial bouts of hay fever. Advertisement Doctors have urged people to keep an eye on children and elderly neighbours as the stifling heat puts extra strain on bodies. Yesterday the Met Office issued a level three heatwave alert for eastern England, triggered when threshold temperatures of 30C (86F) in the day and 15C (59F) at night have been reached for 24 hours. A level two alert was also issued for London and the South East meaning there is a 60 per cent chance temperatures will hit 32C (90F) and 31C (88F) respectively. The alerts continue until 9am on Friday, with East Anglia and London expected to be the hottest areas. Emma Sharples from the Met Office said humid nights are also on the cards. The South East is unlikely to drop below 20C (68F) tonight. However she added that a band of cloud in the North is due to start moving, meaning parts of central England and Wales will be more overcast and slightly cooler today. Whereas East Anglia and the South East again look like having a sunny day, she said. So we will be looking at similar temperatures. Stunning start: The sunrise this morning over Bingham, Nottinghamshire, as a heatwave causes parts of the country to sizzle Beautiful morning: Sunrise over the North Sea at Tynemouth this morning, as the mercury is expected to hit 30C today Glorious: A stunning sunrise was observed over Hazelmere in Buckinghamshire this morning as temperatures remained high Early hours: Ships in the North Sea at Tynemouth today, as doctors urged people to keep an eye on their elderly neighbours Boost: Jane and Ian Awty of Oatley Vineyard in Somerset tend to their vines after they were helped by the hot weather Mellow yellow: Lucy Taylor of Vine House Farm Bird Foods in Deeping St Nicholas, Lincolnshire, looks at a crop of sunflowers As the heatwave sets parts of the country sizzling, people have been urged to take extra care in the rising temperatures. FEELING HOT! WHAT IS A SPANISH PLUME AND HOW DOES IT HAPPEN? A Spanish Plume is a weather pattern in which warm air moves from the Iberian plateau or the Sahara to northwest Europe. It reaches Britain on a southerly airflow, which brings warmer weather as opposed to the much cooler Atlantic air we are used to. As the warm air meets cold fronts from the west, the 'plume' air is forced to rise vigorously over the Atlantic air and as a result produces thunderstorms. The storms can can give widespread heavy rainfall, often accompanied by hail. Advertisement Public Health England has warned that the most vulnerable, including older people, young children and babies, could be at risk. Dr Thom Waite, a public health consultant, said: Now the heatwave has arrived, people will likely be out more enjoying the sun. 'Its really important to remember that there are some people whose health suffers in hot weather. He added: Were urging everyone to keep an eye on those they know who may be at risk. If youre able, ask if your friends or neighbours need any help. Dr Waite said the hot weather can put extra strain on bodies and urged people to stay hydrated during the warm spell. Tips from PHE to keep cool include closing curtains, keeping out of the sun between 11am and 3pm, wearing loose-fitting cotton clothes and applying sun cream. The body advises drivers not to leave anyone or animals in a closed, parked vehicle. The hottest day of the year so far was recorded last month in Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, when the mercury reached 33.5C (92F). Dog makes the most of the summer in a series of hilarious human-like photos This dog thinks hes a human and has been making the most of the hot weather by picnicking and sunbathing. Rupert the four-year-old whippet loves dressing up and posing for the camera in all sorts of different scenarios. Owner Janet Burton, 58, from Oaken, Staffordshire, captures the hilarious moments on her iPad all in the space of a minute, with Rupert such a professional now that he knows just how to pose. Rupert the four-year-old whippet loves dressing up and posing for the camera in all sorts of different scenarios The most recent range of images show Rupert donning swimming shorts and sunglasses, as well as playing Twister with friends and doing some gardening. Retired midwife Ms Burton said: What takes the time is setting up the scene and carrying everything into the garden. As soon as Rupert sees me making a scene he gets really interested and starts jumping around into the middle of it and strikes a pose. He knows theres going to be a treat as I always have one in my hand so we just make it into a fun scene. The range of images show Rupert donning swimming shorts and sunglasses, as well as playing Twister with friends It is Ruperts expression that makes it so magical. All I do it show him something to look at and then I make a noise so his head pops up and then I snap away. The mother-of-two heads to charity shops to get little outfits for Rupert to wear, which causes no concern for him as whippets are used to wearing jackets in the winter. Previously Rupert has appeared as a doctor and a choir boy and Ms Burton first noticed his talent after he rested his front legs on the lawnmower when he was 10-months-old. Rupert has been starring in the snaps ever since and his adopted five-month-old sister Lottie has also recently got involved in the action. Owner Janet Burton, 58, from Oaken, Staffordshire, captures the hilarious moments on her iPad Ms Burton added: When I get out the clothes he just lifts his little arms up to put them through the holes as he is used to wearing jackets. He doesnt usually wear clothes though, its only for a bit of light-hearted fun. I just think up mundane scenarios and he has probably been pictured in just about everything. He will just pull out this little expression and a lot of people have told me how it brightens up their day seeing the pictures of him. Rupert can also be seen fishing, lounging in his deck chair enjoying a quiet read and posing in a mocked up swimming scene where he is wearing trunks with snorkelling gear. A huge fire reduced an Essex secondary school to rubble after ripping through the classrooms on one of the hottest days of the year. The blaze broke out at the Cecil Jones Academy in Southend-on-Sea on Tuesday night, close to a science lab containing hazardous materials. The school was closed at the time and nobody was hurt. Fire crews were called to tackle the flames which tore through the roof and the first floor of the two-storey building, which was completely smoke logged. They used water from a nearby leisure centre swimming pool and a water main to extinguish the blaze. According to an Essex fire service spokesman, it was caused by building contractors using a hot torch to seal a flat roof. Scroll down for video There were 12 fire engines and more than 60 firefighters at the scene at the height of the blaze. An investigation found it to have been caused by a hot torch being used by building contractors to seal a flat roof A plume of smoke could be seen far from the site of the blaze at the Essex secondary school Essex Fire Service incident commander Neil Fenwick reported that crews were working in 'arduous conditions' as they fought to prevent the fire from spreading to the rest of the building. More than 60 firefighters were sent to the scene. Mr Fenwick said: 'When crews arrived they discovered the roof and first floor of one building were well alight. 'Initially, we had difficulties with the water supply, so our crews quickly set about establishing an alternative supply. 'Crews used a nearby swimming pool and a water main from further down the road to establish a good supply. We also requested the attendance of a water bowser to help with firefighting operations. 'At the peak of the incident, we had 12 fire engines and the aerial ladder platform working to tackle the fire. 'Crews worked in extremely arduous conditions at this incident, and did an excellent job to contain the fire to the one building. Firefighters drew water from a nearby swimming pool to attack the blaze, which began on a flat roof, destroyed 15 classrooms, and took three hours to quell 'We were also made aware that the building contained a science lab which had some hazardous materials. 'Although the room was far away from the fire, crews entered the building and removed these materials for the safety of the incident.' Police, the ambulance service and representatives from Southend Council also attended the scene after the fire broke out at around 4.30pm, as temperatures peaked at 31C (88F). Residents of the area said flames were shooting for several feet into the air from the roof of the school, which was closed at the time Witness Ross Price said: 'The flames are coming right out of the roof, about four foot high I would say. There is smoke everywhere.' Another witness, who asked not to be named, said: 'It is just awful. I don't know what caused it but apparently it started in the maths department. I have been told nobody was hurt. It's just lucky the school is closed.' The blaze was finally brought under control at around 7.30pm. Despite much of the school being severely damaged, teenagers have still been invited to turn up and collect their GCSE exam results today. Bev Williams, executive principal at the school, thanked the fire service for their 'fantastic response'. She added: 'Their quick action stopped the fire spreading to any other building in the school, and minimised the damage to the affected building.' The new term begins in two weeks. Ms Williams told BBC Essex that the damage was 'quite devastating' and around 15 classrooms have been destroyed. However, she said the school is looking to get some Portkabins in order to fully open on time at the start of term. The Essex school fire came just days after a secondary school in West Sussex was also destroyed by flames. Owen Smith has sparked a furious backlash after insisting the public should 'think again' about Brexit. The Labour leadership hopeful warned he will use parliament to try to block us from leaving the EU if he takes charge of the party. He said he would demand that Theresa May calls another referendum or general election before sealing a deal because people 'did not know what they were voting for'. The astonishing intervention - which was branded a 'snub' to Labour Brexit supporters and 'electoral suicide' - came as he seeks to wrestle the party's leadership away from Jeremy Corbyn. Owen Smith is trying to wrestle the Labour leadership away from Jeremy Corbyn Veteran left-winger Mr Corbyn has been heavily criticised by Labour moderates for his half-hearted campaigning during the referendum campaign. He also provoked anger by calling for the immediate triggering of Article 50 in the aftermath of the historic vote. Mr Smith significantly hardened his line on a fresh referendum in his comments today. 'I'm saying that we didn't know exactly what we were voting on. We were fibbed to about the extra money to the NHS, we were fibbed to that there we were going to be getting easy answers to immigration,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 'We could put it back to the country as a second referendum or a general election. I fundamentally believe that Jeremy didn't fight hard enough. That we should stay in Europe. 'I think we can ask the question at the end of this is Britain going to be better off or worse off as a result of Brexit? 'I absolutely still believe that Britain is still better off in Europe and so do 70 per cent of Labour members.' But Mr Smith was accused of arrogance for ignoring the views of millions of Labour voters who supported Brexit. John Mills, a major donor and chair of the Labour Leave group, said: 'It is time for the Labour Party to put behind itself the divisions of the past and accept the result of the vote. 'Rather than fighting old battles, the Labour Party should now engage productively with the EU renegotiation process to make sure that the UK Government secures the best possible deal for the working people of this country.' Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg said: 'It is a direct snub to Labour voters. We would not have won the referendum without the support of a very large number of Labour voters, particularly in the north of England. Rather than listen to them he is now basically saying they are wrong.' The process for leaving the EU is governed by Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. Ministers believe they can trigger Article 50 without a vote in parliament. But they face a High Court challenge from campaigners claiming the move cannot be made without the approval of MPs. Of the 650 MPs, 479 campaigned for Remain. Mr Smith said that under his leadership, Labour would vote to block any attempt to invoke Article 50 until the public 'have a say on whatever exit deal the Tories strike with the EU'. A former General Electric executive who disguised himself by wearing a fake beard and then shot a love rival dead has been sentenced to life in jail. Hemy Neuman was initially found guilty but mentally ill. But the Georgia Supreme Court overturned that verdict because of an error made by the judge and the jury rejected the defense claims of insanity. It means he will be an inmate at a state - rather than hospital - prison. Scroll down for video Hemy Neuman claimed he was not guilty by reason of insanity and a jury in 2012 found Neuman guilty but mentally ill - but that was overturned by the Georgia Supreme Court Courtesy WXIA Neuman, an engineer, shot Rusty Sneiderman in cold blood outside a day care center in Georgia in 2010. Sneiderman, a father of two, was dropping his 2-year-old son at the day care when he was shot. Prosecutors said Neuman had a premeditated plan to kill Sneiderman and was having an affair with Sneiderman's wife, Andrea. They argued that Neuman was driven to kill Sneiderman because he wanted his wife and his money. They said Neuman was not delusional but a 'selfish' murderer. Robert James, Dekalb County district attorney, said in court: 'He wanted something that someone else had. 'He was going to do whatever it took to get it, including that, committing murder.' Andrea Sneiderman, pictured, is out on parole after being convicted of perjury Sneiderman, pictured with his wife, was dropping his two-year-old son at the day care when he was shot Neuman's defense attorneys claimed their client was mentally ill and suffered from 'erotomanic delusions'. They said Andrea Sneiderman manipulated him into killing her husband. Andrea Sneiderman has repeatedly denied that she and Neuman were having an affair. She is out on parole after being convicted of perjury for lying under oath and obstruction of justice for lying to the police about the affair. Horrifying footage has captured the moment a driver trying to avoid inspection rammed into a police officer in China. The incident took place in Shuozhou, northern China's Shanxi province on August 15 as police were conducting routine traffic inspections. The officer was thrown into the air by the vehicle and knocked to the ground. Shocking: The vehicle smashes into the policeman sending him flying into the air In the footage, four police officers can be seen in the middle of the road stopping traffic. They signal at one car which comes to a stop however the car behind it can be seen speeding up. The vehicle swerves to avoid being stopped and rams into one of the officers catapulting him into the air and throwing him to the floor. Horrifying moment: The car swerves smashing into the officer who has hospitalised According to police, the driver had been driving for three years without a licence The video shows the aftermath of the incident with the policeman responsive but still on the floor. It then shows the arrest of the driver which took place several hours later. According to CCTV News, the man had been driving without a license for over three years. The officer was rushed to hospital for treatment. Namibian police are investigating how a unique group of desert lions which starred in a National Geographic film last year were poisoned just days before they were to be relocated amid rising tensions with humans over livestock deaths. Three of the group of five brothers, known as the Five Musketeers and stars in the 2015 film 'Vanishing Kings: Lions of the Namib', were reportedly killed in the country's Kunene region on August 9. The 'Five Musketeers' lions before three were poisoned near Tomakas earlier this month After three of the lions were poisoned near Tomakas, the surviving brother was transferred by the Desert Lion conservation project to a new home near the Uniab Delta The surviving brother during the journey to a new home near the Uniab Delta The poisoning of the trio comes after another sibling was reportedly shot dead in July after a confrontation at a cattle post. In the first week of August, the remaining brothers were said to have been involved in several 'run-ins' with people in the village of Tomakas resulting in the deaths of livestock, according to Earth Touch News. Environment and Tourism Minister Pohamba Shifeta said a case had been opened with police over what had been called the 'illegal killing of protected game'. 'The ministry condemns this illegal activity of poisoning the lions and those involved will face the full wrath of the law,' Mr Shifeta said. The lions are said to be unique because they adapt to life in the desert with thick coats to protect them from extreme temperatures. They also have the ability to survive almost entirely without drinking water. The Desert Lion Conservation project has been trying to foster peaceful relationships between people and lions in Namibia. But the three lions 'encountered a cattle-post, where they slaughtered a donkey and whose poisoned flesh later killed them', The Conversation reported. The location of the poisoning in the village of Tomakas in the Kunene region A donkey killed by the Five Musketeers in Namibia photographed by The Conversation The Desert Lion group said in a Facebook post that the 'lions killed a donkey and the people retaliated by poisoning the lions'. The carcasses and the satellite tracking collar on the lions were then burnt, the group said. On August 9, the Desert Lion group posted on Facebook of 'concern' after three of the brothers went missing. 'The three adult male lions ('Musketeers') that moved 12 km into the mountains north of Tomakas suddenly stopped moving and their satellite collars went off-line yesterday morning,' the group said. On August 10, the group posted again of the 'tragedy' involving three lions and the relocation of the fourth lion. The Desert Lion group darted the surviving brother, loaded him into a vehicle and transported him to a new home in the Uniab Delta 'Tragedy. On 6 Aug 2016 the Ministry of Environment & Tourism approved the translocation of the four Musketeers from Tomakas to the Uniab Delta as a last-resort effort to solve the on-going human-lion conflict. 'However, the three males encountered a new and previously unknown cattle post of semi-nomadic pastoralists. 'The lions killed a donkey and the people (previously from Omiriu and then Ondudupi) retaliated by poisoning the lions.' 'With this tragic development, a difficult decision had to be made about the fate of the lone survivor.' The convoy of three vehicles struggled through the floodplain and dunes that were covered in thick fog but finally reached the mouth of the Uniab River The Desert Lion group added: 'With the Ministry of Environment & Tourism we darted (the fourth lion) Xpl-93, loaded him in the Desert Lion Project Land Cruiser and started the long journey to the Uniab Delta. 'We finally reached the mouth of the Uniab River at 05h25 and found a narrow wash with some protection to off-load Xpl-93. ' However, the group said there was a 'high probability' that the fourth lion would walk back to Tomakas in search of his missing brothers. The surviving Musketeer photographed after the poisoning of his three brothers on August 9 and his subsequent relocation Desert Lion was concerned the surviving brother would try to return to the area of the poisoning after its relocation On August 22, the group said that the surviving brother had remained near the delta for eight days after the relocation. 'An interaction with the Obab pride male Xpl-74 on day 8/9 presumably caused Xpl-93 to vacate the area and move northwards to Hunkap spring,' the group said. 'Once Xpl-93 reach the Hunkap area he was clearly heading back to his current home range area at Okongwe/Tomakas. 'This development is sadly to be expected since Xpl-93 is not aware that his brothers are dead and he will be searching for them.' A spokeswoman Spots and Stripes Conservation, which works with Namibian Lions Killed in HWC to install lion deterrents, said: 'We are saddened to learn of the death of three more members of the 'five Musketeers' leaving one solitary male of this infamous and precious coalition.' Dr Pieter Kat, from LionAid, added: 'The facts that these nomadic lions are being shot and poisoned indicates that intolerance towards wildlife is still very much alive despite Namibia's claims that their trophy hunting programmes have changed the hearts and minds of communities towards accepting predators.' Donations can be made to the Desert Lion project here. While many high schoolers spent their summers working or relaxing with a well-deserved break from school, about 60 northern Arizona students were taking classes with Upward Bound, a federal TRiO Program funded through grants from the United States Department of Education. The program works with low-income, first-generation students from Coconino High School, Winslow High School, Williams High School and Hopi Junior/Senior High School who plan to attend a higher education institution. The program provides various services to the students beginning the summer after their freshman year in high school with the Summer Academy, which is held on the NAU campus. Students live in the dorms for four weeks and take classes that enhance their reading, writing, science and math skills to ensure that they are prepared for the rigor of college classes upon graduation. This past summer a partnership with NAUs Department of Mechanical Engineering and its Dynamic and Active Systems Lab offered a new way for them to learn with hands-on projects during part of the program. These projects give students exposure to both fundamental science and novel research in our lab, said Michael Shafer, assistant professor of mechanical engineering and researcher in the lab. Its a really good way to expose these students to the things you can do with math and science. Shafer and a team of graduate students lectured on energy and energy transduction before showing the students how solar cells can power motors and a hand crank generator can light up an LED light. When most people plug in a light they dont think about the whole process, Shafer said. But the incoming junior students were able to understand the process that transforms the chemical energy in their bodies used to turn the crank into the kinetic energy producing heat in the bulb to the electric energy needed to power the bulb to the final form of visible light energy through using the generator. Dr. Shafer did a really nice job of breaking it down and introducing students to complex processes, said Jacob Lesandrini, instructional specialist senior with Upward Bound. This collaboration came from Shafers previous work as an instructor with Upward Bound and some help from Karin Wadsack, project director for NAU's Institute of Sustainable Energy Solutions. When he was putting together his proposal, I reached out to the folks at Upward Bound and they were excited to work with him, Wadsack said. They really give the students a diverse set of activities. She had previously brought some wind engineering projects to the program, teaching students how to build wind mills and harness wind energy. The Dynamic and Active Systems Lab recently received a grant to develop unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, to help researchers track animals, so Shafer and his team spent a day with students doing drone-related activities. The drone they used incorporated a system that listened to where radio signals from tracking tags were coming from. The students tested the technology with a hide and seek game in which one group took some tags and hid, while the other used the drone with telemetry equipment to find them. Shafer plans to continue working with Upward Bound for the next two summers of his grant on this project and another on energy harvesting for marine wildlife. Were always looking for new and innovative ways to engage students and get them acclimated to university campus, said Diana Betoney, Upward Bound project director. Their goal is to have their students go through a month of enrichment activities for college, and engaging in research is one very important aspect for a lot of college students Wadsack said. Its good exposure for a 16-year-old student who doesnt know what they want to do in the future. We have heard from students that they feel the school year will be easy compared to academy, Betoney added. Its very rewarding to see our students with that confidence level. The program continues to work with their students during the school year, checking to see if they are on track for graduation or have any questions about the college application process. Statistics from the Pell Institute show that a mere 11 percent of low-income, first-generation students graduate from college within six years. However, 50 percent of participants in the Upward Bound program received a higher education degree in their report last year to the Department of Education. We just love working with students and want to get them graduated, into the college of their choice (and) studying what they enjoy, Lesandrini said. Owen Smith has apologised after suggesting that Jeremy Corbyn was a 'lunatic' Hapless Owen Smith has been forced to apologise after appearing to brand Labour leadership rival Jeremy Corbyn a 'lunatic'. The MP made the extraordinary jibe about the veteran left-winger at a campaign rally last night. As the battle for the party's top job became increasingly bitter, Mr Smith told activists: 'What you won't get from me is some lunatic at the top of the Labour Party.' Mr Corbyn's team accused him of 'degrading the contest by descending into personal abuse'. 'He should apologise to people suffering with mental illness, many of whom would have been dismayed and upset to to hear such offensive language used in public by a Labour politician,' a spokesman said. Mr Smith tried to dampen the row today by insisting he had not been referring to Mr Corbyn. Making clear he did not regard the incumbent leader as a 'lunatic', Mr Smith told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I was saying that I wasn't a lunatic... 'If anyone is offended by the use of that word I apologise.' Mr Smith admitted that his language was too 'colourful' and he needed to be more careful. I think it suggests Im a bit colourful with my language, and I need to be slightly less colourful in future,' he said. However, the MP did ramp up his attack on Mr Corbyn over the bizarre 'traingate' row. The leader was filmed sitting on the floor of a Virgin service complaining that it was 'ram packed' and demanding renationalisation of the railways. But Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson accused him yesterday of walking past empty seats on his way to make the PR video, and the company released damning CCTV images. Mr Smith said today: 'I think the evidence is there on the CCTV footage. He had a seat and he went to sit on the floor to make a point about overcrowding.' At the rally in Hammersmith, west London last night, Mr Smith lambasted his rival for suggesting they only needed to win back 'some' Conservative voters. He said he could provide a 'coherent narrative' that would actively try and win over millions of people who voted for the Tories in last year's general election. Mr Smith also attempted to shore up his credentials as a radical candidate, quipping that 'Jeremy is not the only socialist in the village'. He told the audience: 'Jeremy, the biggest thing he said recently that I disagreed with was 'yes, we've got to get some of the people who contemplated voting Tory in the past to vote Labour', rubbish - we've got to get two million people who actively voted Tory 12 months ago to vote Labour in 106 seats. 'What you won't get from me is some lunatic at the top of the Labour Party. 'You will have someone who is trying to forge a coherent narrative about what is wrong with Britain, why we are so unproductive as an economy, why we are not creating more decent jobs. 'It's not right that people are having to hold down two or three jobs to make ends meet - and that's true in Tory areas and Labour and I would fix all of that and make it work.' Jeremy Corbyn was embroiled in a row after Virgin Trains insisted he had walked past empty seats before filming a video complaining that the service was 'ram packed' The CCTV images released by Virgin showed Mr Corbyn and his team seemingly ignoring vacant places on the train The video released by Mr Corbyn showed him sprawled on the floor and condemning the government and rail operators Mr Smith is regarded as a rank outsider in the leadership contest - the winner of which is expected to be announced on September 24. Ballot papers have started being sent out to an estimated 640,000 members and supporters eligible to vote. The party has been dogged by talks of a split in the event of Mr Corbyn, who has lost the support of the vast majority of his parliamentary peers, winning again. A stark warning was issued by his challenger that division could leave the party in the wilderness for 'generations'. He said: 'If we disappear, either through the general election, or through splitting, either side of that general election, then we will be lost for generations.' He added: 'This generation has the biggest choice we've had, in my view, in 20 years, we have a choice if we are going to look into our navels or look up at the skyline - and we should be doing the latter, on behalf of the British people.' Mia Ayliffe-Chung was having the experience of a lifetime when her life was cut short by a knife-wielding killer shouting 'Allahu Akbar'. The 21-year-old from Britain had been on an incredible trip around the world to exotic locations like Morocco, Turkey, India, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia before landing work on the Gold Coast in a bar, where she was adored by friends and co-workers. She had even been dating an Australian man, Jamison Stead, but the pair broke up a few weeks ago. Scroll down for video Mia Ayliffe-Chung had been travelling around the world before arriving in Australia She had even been dating an Australian man, Jamison Stead, but the pair broke up a few weeks ago Mia pictured with her Australian ex-boyfriend, Mr Stead While she was staying in north Queensland, employed on a sugar cane farm to extend her working holiday visa she was allegedly killed by a 29-year-old French man yelling 'Allahu Akbar', at the backpacker accommodation where she was staying. Mr Stead told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday evening he was still trying to establish details about the tragedy. He posted a tribute to his ex-girlfriend on Facebook following her death. 'Rest in peace Mia. Thank you for the memories,' Mr Stead wrote. The horror attack, witnessed by more than 30 people, unfolded on Tuesday night, and ended with Mia dead and two others injured in a stabbing at a backpacker's hostel in the town of Home Hill. She had only been in the town for 10 days after leaving the Gold Coast, where she worked at The Bedroom nightclub in Surfers Paradise, and planned to return after completing her rural work. In the days before her death she had been detailing her experiences online - the number of days she had at the farm, and an inventory of Australia's creepy-crawlies that she had come across. 'Day one, done! Only 87 left to do. Today we were in sugar canes. Feeling like a little Jamaican again. Saw about five small spiders, four poisonous toads and three geckos. Not too shabby of a day,' one post read. Mia had been documenting her days while working on a cane farm in north Queensland She had only been at Home Hill for 10 days after leaving the Gold Coast, where she worked at The Bedroom nightclub in Surfers Paradise This photo shows Mia with friends on Christmas Day 2015 in Indonesia In this photo, Mia sits astride a motorbike in Goa, India, during her trip around the world Leading up to her time in northern Queensland, her social media pages were filled with photographs of her enjoying life on the Gold Coast - waterfront high rise buildings, beaches and bars. Before embarking on her adventure, Mia, who is originally from Wirksworth in the UK, studied psychology at Chesterfield College Official and went to high school at The Ecclesbourne School. In the weeks before she set out on her trip in 2015, she posted about being 30 per cent excited - but 70 percent scared - about her adventure. Exactly one year to the day of that post online, she wrote that it had 'definitely' lived up to expectations but had not been as scary as she thought. Photos from her trip around the world show her visiting stunning waterfalls in Vietnam and exploring markets in Thailand. Mr Stead posted a tribute to his ex-girlfriend on Facebook following her death Mia visited exotic locations like Morocco, Turkey and Dubai while on her travels Here she is pictured lounging in a pool in Bali in Indonesia Others show her lounging in Indonesian pools, swimming in azure seas and holding monkeys. Earlier in her trip, images reveal her in a desert area with camels, visiting Moroccan marketplaces, and stopping off in cities like Istanbul and Dubai. But now police are investigating her death. The French man, Smail Ayad, who allegedly stabbed her to death was taken to Townsville Hospital and questioned by police. Officers have been in contact with British consular staff and their high commissioner in Australia has travelled to Townsville. The French national is expected to be charged over the attack, but on Wednesday evening, none had yet been laid. A large number of tributes have been made on social media describing Mia as an 'infectiously happy young girl', 'beautiful' and an 'angel'. Mia appeared to have been having the time of her life in many of the photographs Police in Townsville are now investigating Mia's (left) death on Tuesday evening Impressive GoPro footage reveals what it's like to be flying in the cockpit of a Russian jet fighter. In a video released by the Russian Ministry of Defense, Air Force pilots' combat skills are showcased as they fly from Kursk to the Leningrad Region in MiG-29s. Allowing the audience to get up close to the plane's controls, shots appear to be fired alongside the aircraft as they zoom through the clouds. In a video released by the Russian Ministry of Defense, Air Force pilots' combat skills are showcased as they fly from Kursk to the Leningrad Region in MiG-29s Allowing the audience to get up close to the plane's controls, shots appear to be fired alongside the aircraft as they zoom through the clouds Another angle shows the pilot himself in full military flying gear as he soars up high over the beautiful Russian countryside, the river glistening among the fields below. Intermittently guns are fired, leaving a trail of dark smoke in the air as they blast back away from the jet. The military aircraft fly alongside side each other, with footage filmed from both planes, showing off the pilots' prowess. The Mikoyan MiG-29 is a twin-engine jet fighter aircraft designed in the Soviet Union. Developed during the 1970s, the MiG-29 was developed to counter new American fighters and entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1982. They were originally oriented towards combat against any enemy aircraft. Another angle shows the pilot himself in full military flying gear as he soars up high over the beautiful Russian countryside, the river glistening among the fields below The military aircraft fly alongside side each other, with footage filmed from both planes, showing off the pilots' prowess The Mikoyan MiG-29 is a twin-engine jet fighter aircraft designed in the Soviet Union and entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1982 The Russian Air Force has continued to use the MiG-29 even after the dissolution of the Soviet Union but financial difficulties have prevented deliveries of an upgraded fleet. An eight-year-old girl was left scarred for life after she had 'her face torn apart' by her neighbour's dog. Schoolgirl Kelci Lindley needed plastic surgery after she was mauled by Storm the Japanese Akita as she played with a friend at a house in Grimsby, Lincolnshire. Mother Shona said her daughter was petting the dog's head when it turned and attacked, leaving the tip of her nose 'hanging off' her face. Kelci Lindley (pictured left before the attack) needed plastic surgery after she was mauled by Storm the Japanese Akita as she played with a friend at a house in Grimsby, Lincolnshire Kelci, pictured, thought she was going to die when she was attacked by the dog Owner Amanda Arnott pleaded guilty to owning a dog dangerously out of control to cause injury and the Akita was put down. Ms Lindley, 25, claims that Arnott failed to mention Storm had previously attacked another child when she allowed Kelci to come over and play with her daughter. The mother-of-four said: ' It was a big thing for me to allow Kelci to go around to her friend's house in the first place. The friend had been around to our house the week before so I felt bad saying no and I agreed to it. 'But apparently there had been an incident when a young boy has also been bitten on the head by the same dog while he was playing in the street.' She added: 'Just like any mum, I'd never have let my daughter go round there if I knew there was a vicious dog on the loose.' Ms Lindley and her partner, Lewis Leggett, 26, found out Kelci had been attacked when Arnott's daughter ran to their house screaming 'the dog's got her face'. Mother Shona said her daughter was petting the dog's head when it turned and attacked, leaving the tip of her nose 'hanging off' her face. Pictured, Kelci with her scars Mother-of-four Ms Lindley said she arrived at her neighbour's to find Arnott wiping the blood of Kelci (pictured with her mother), who had suffered cuts to her eye, lip, nose and hand Ms Lindley said she arrived at her neighbour's to find Arnott wiping the blood of Kelci, who had suffered cuts to her eye, lip, nose and hand. Kelci was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary Hospital were she underwent a five-hour surgery to stitch her wounds and put her nose back in place. Specialists have told the family that Kelci will be scarred for life, Ms Lindley claims. The family even had to give away their own dog, Blaze, because Kelci was so traumatised by the incident. Kelci was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary Hospital were she underwent a five-hour surgery to stitch her wounds and put her nose back in place. Pictured, Kelci after the attack The family even had to give away their own dog, Blaze, because Kelci was so traumatised by the incident. Pictured, Kelci receiving treatment at the Hull Royal Infirmary Hospital Ms Lindley said: 'Kelci was such an outgoing kid, she loves people and animals, yet she's been left terrified by this, she thought she was going to die.' Arnott pleaded guilty to owning a dog dangerously out of control to cause injury at Grimsby Magistrates Court on May 11. She was given a two year conditional discharge and ordered to compensate Kelci 400. Shona added: 'It also seems completely unfair for her to pretty much get away with it while we live with the consequences. 'There should be stricter laws about housing dangerous animals - I would do anything for this to have never happened to my girl or any other child.' A TV news reporter was forced to cut her live bulletin short after she burst into laughter while presenting a story about a boy who got his head stuck in a couch. Channel Nine's Eva Milic attempted to keep a straight face as she explained that the four-year-old Chinese boy needed to be rescued by firefighters with scissors. 'I'm sorry, I'm still trying to work out how this happened,' she said amidst a fit of giggles. Channel Nine TV news reporter Eva Milic burst into laughter during a live bulletin on Tuesday Milic was presenting a story about a four-year-old Chinese boy who got his head stuck in a couch when she had a fit of giggles But things got worse for the 38-year-old journalist as she tried to maintain her composure and move on to the next story. 'Just ahead in Nine's afternoon news, caught on camera the angry resident throwing eggs at a real estate agent,' Milic said, stifling further laughter. 'I think we'd better just take the break,' she said. Viewers seemed to appreciate the presenter's gaffe, heading to Twitter and Youtube to express their appreciation for the 'human' moment. 'Eva Milic, your giggle on air shows a little laughter goes a long way in this world,' tweeted Bill. 'That was one of the funniest moments on TV this year so far. I watched it live and loved it ,' another user wrote. The 38-year-old journalist tried to maintain her composure and move on to the next story, but that only triggered her laughter more, forcing her to cut to the ad break NHS surgeon Peter Hale, 58 (pictured outside the tribunal hearing at the GMC in Manchester) referred to four junior Asian colleagues as 'sub-continent elements' A leading NHS surgeon is fighting to save his career after being accused of racism when he referred to a group of junior Asian colleagues as 'sub-continent elements'. Clinical director Peter Hale, 58, claimed three Pakistani doctors and one Indian medic who worked under him were a 'highly egocentric group' and 'their own worst enemy' after they told him they were being treated 'like slaves.' He also claimed one of them needed 'a good slap'. The comments were made after a heated discussion about rota changes at a hospital looked after by Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals Trust. When the Asian doctors left the room following the meeting, Mr Hale offered to place a 50 bet that one would agree to work a particular shift only to then 'fly to Nigeria and that there would be a problem with the plane coming back.' He also singled out of one of the doctors saying: 'Chill pill? He needs a good slap' adding: 'They accuse me of de-skilling them - but it's inevitable if you behave in this way then you don't get given the things you want.' Unbeknown to Mr Hale, his unguarded remarks were inadvertently taped after a mobile phone which had been recording the hospital meeting was left switched on. The device - thought to belong to one of the Asian doctors - caught Mr Hale making further comments including: 'Some of these sub-continent elements; what you end up with is long term resentments and grievances and all sorts of stuff. They are their own worst enemies. 'They don't know what they want. They mix and match on their heads differently. They're not clear thinkers. They're an unbelievable group of people. Vile actually.' Mr Hale was subsequently reported to bosses at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals Trust and he was later sacked for gross misconduct. Investigators claimed the surgeon's remarks could be considered racially discriminatory as he had referred to an Australian colleague as a man who 'never lets you down and will go a mile to make sure he helps.' The four Asian doctors - Khawaja Zia, Ved Prakash, Vivek Kaul and Christi Swaminathan - subsequently sued the NHS trust for racial discrimination claiming they had been under-paid and under-promoted due to their race and treated as 'slave labour.' They also claimed they had taken offence to Mr Hale using the phrase 'three-line whip' to ask them to come to a meeting but lost their case. During their 2015 tribunal which cost over 130,000 the four Asian doctors claimed that, due to their race, they were repeatedly given fixed-term contracts, overlooked for training opportunities and worked unpaid overtime. But it emerged at least 23 other doctors were also on similar non-standard terms and conditions. The case was thrown out after the doctors were found to have secretly recorded a private meeting about the case between the trust and its lawyers. They were each ordered to pay 17,000 in costs. Mr Hale failed to show respect, he referred to them as 'sub-continental elements' and 'egocentric groups'. The comments that were made are disrespectful of the people about whom they were made Craig Sephton QC It is understood the trust has spent more than 1.4 million defending employment tribunals involving race relations over the past decade. It is believed the vast majority of these involve a small number of repeat claimants and the trust has lost one. Today, Mr Hale from Hassocks, West Sussex, faces being banned from practising medicine in Britain altogether after he was referred to the General Medical Council and accused of racial prejudice. He had been appointed as a troubleshooting head of the gastrointestinal department at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in 2011 following concerns the department was over-spending and under-performing. But the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service in Manchester was told controversy erupted over rota changes in the department and matters came to a head during a heated staff meeting on December 13, 2013. The 90-minute meeting on the mobile phone was recorded but after it finished the device was not switched off and it taped Mr Hale as he carried on talking to colleagues in private for another ten minutes. During the recording , which was played at the hearing, Mr Hale said: 'You have to be utterly ruthless and they want to be treated lovely. One minute they want to be left alone to do the work and one minute they want to do weekends and not do weekends. 'They take advantage of us, we take advantage of them. We asked them to do things we shouldn't have asked them to do but they get a fortune. There was a mutual advantage taking. It was a very unhealthy relationship.' The comments were made after a heated discussion about rota changes at a hospital looked after by Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals Trust. Pictured: Sussex County Hospital Counsel for the GMC, Craig Sephton QC told the hearing: 'There is no doubt that the four doctors were vocal and occasionally not as polite as they should have been but on the other hand, they were clearly concerned about their jobs and they had the impression that they had been mistreated. 'Mr Hale failed to show respect, he referred to them as 'sub-continental elements' and 'egocentric groups'. The comments that were made are disrespectful of the people about whom they were made. Whatever you think about somebody, to say that they need a good slap or that they are vile is not respectful, even when you are talking privately. 'The allegation of racial prejudice is an inference I'm inviting this tribunal to draw from the words used. Mr Hale has, as it were, compared and contrasted the way in which he dealt with an Australian registrar and the four practitioners who he described as 'these sub-continental elements with their long-term resentments and grievances and all sorts'. 'That is drawing a distance between people based exclusively on their racial differences or alleged racial differences. That exhibits a racial prejudice. It's stereotyping individuals based on their race. The issue is whether it was appropriate for a clinical director to speak in the way in which he did.' Mr Hale admits making the comments but denies racial prejudice. He faces other misconduct allegations relating to claims he 'disrespected' Dr Zia during a review of a patient saying: 'What age are you. You have enough white hair to make this decision'. He is also accused of berating an experienced theatre nurse and reducing a junior colleague to tears after an operation he was due to carry out was delayed. Another charge accuses him of swearing and shouting at colleagues after another bout of surgery had to be delayed. He told one: 'You don't care that this hospital is going to s**t. If we don't do these, you are going to kill my f****** patients and I am going to kill you'.' PC Tariq Dost attended an employment tribunal in 2009 that resulted in him being awarded 11,000 after a colleague said he looked like Osama Bin Laden. He's pictured leaving that hearing A West Midlands policeman who once sued the force after a manager said he resembled Osama Bin Laden has been sacked for threatening a court witness. PC Tariq Dost was dismissed without notice yesterday at a special case misconduct hearing. The hearing was told that the Solihull-based constable, from Small Heath, had pleaded guilty to witness intimidation and common assault before Birmingham Magistrates Court last month. He is due to be sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on September 16. The chairman of the hearing, Chief Constable David Thompson, found the officer guilty of gross misconduct. He described the breaches of professional standards as 'very serious', adding they could 'undermine public confidence in the police.' Detective Chief Inspector Brian Carmichael, from the force's professional standards department, told the hearing the officer was arrested on July 14 and later admitted the offences at court. He said the officer had 'threatened to abduct and assault a witness involved in a criminal trial'. The 49-year-old officer, who is a Muslim, did not attend the hearing in Edgbaston, but Police Federation representative John Williams said on his behalf: 'I spoke to the officer a few weeks ago and he wants to pass on his apologies in this matter to the Chief Constable.' PC Dost was awarded 11,000 at an employment tribunal in Birmingham in 2009 after a colleague said he resembled Osama Bin Laden and looked 'a prat' in Islamic dress. PC Dost (left) was sacked yesterday for threatening a court witness. The misconduct hearing heard he admitted to witness intimidation and common assault at Birmingham Magistrates' Court last month. Back in 2009 (when this picture was taken), the officer complained that a colleague told him he 'looked like a terrorist' and resembled Osama Bin Laden (right) The policeman was working in the force's recruitment department as a positive action officer when the allegations were made by a civilian manager in November 2007. The manager was said to have compared PC Dost's beard to that of the late al-Qaeda leader, told him he 'looked like a terrorist' and referred to Muslim prayers as 'shouting and wailing'. PC Dost won his claim for racial and religious discrimination, but a claim for victimisation was not proved. The constable also had disciplinary proceedings brought against him at that time for making comments about his manager's sexual performance. He denied the claims and said they were 'preposterous'. The remains of Truman Capote, pictured, are going up for auction next month Wealthy fans of In Cold Blood could get closer than they ever thought possible to their favorite literary icon when the ashes of Truman Capote come up for auction. In an upcoming sell-off in Los Angeles, Julien's Auctions is putting the author's remains on the block on September 23. The ashes are housed in a Japanese carved wooden box and are expected to go for between $4,000 and $6,000. The box is marked 'Date of Cremation: August 28, 1984' and was owned by Joanne Carson, friend of the author and wife of The Tonight Show host Johnny Carson. The trailblazing writer is best known for his works Breakfast at Tiffany's and In Cold Blood. As a result of his appearances on The Tonight Show he became a close friend to Joanne and often stayed at her home in Los Angeles after her divorce from the talk show host, according to the auctioneers. He kept a studio at the home and ultimately died there from liver disease in 1984 after a struggle with drug addiction. The ashes are housed in a Japanese carved wooden box, pictured, and are expected to go for between $4,000 and $6,000 As a result of his appearances on The Tonight Show hosted by Johnny Carson, far left, Capote, right, became a close friend to Joanne Carson, second left Joanne kept half of the remains with the rest being given to Capote's long-time partner Jack Dunphy. After Dunphy died in 1992 his ashes were mixed with Capote's and scattered over a lake in New York. The remains owned by Carson were reportedly stolen twice before being returned - once at a Halloween party and again when brought to a party Carson hosted for a play about Capote but the thief was caught before leaving the theatre. Carson eventually purchased a crypt at West Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles to house the ashes. Capote, pictured with publisher Katharine Graham, was famous for his literary talents and colorful personality Other items in the sale include a leather jacket owned by Steve Jobs, left, and the black dress worn by Barbra Streisand at the the Oscars in 1960, right The remains have now come up for sale after Mrs Carson's death in 2015. Also included in the auction are inscribed books from Capote to Mrs Carson, and artwork, jewelry, and clothing owned by Capote. Other items in the sale include a leather jacket owned by Steve Jobs, the black dress worn by Barbra Streisand at the the Oscars in 1960 and Dr Spock's Star Trek ear appliance molds. Serbian police have arrested a hunter after an Afghan migrant was shot dead in the country's southeast near the border with Bulgaria. Security forces were patrolling near the town of Pirot late Tuesday when they 'heard a shot and then met six migrants, one of whom had been shot in the chest,' a defence ministry statement said. There were also four hunters on the spot, one of whom was arrested after an initial probe. Serbia lies on the so-called Balkan route taken by hundreds of thousands of migrants from the Middle East, Asia and Africa on their way to western Europe. This is the country's fenced border with Hungary after the neighbour sealed the last gap in the border last year 'Upon the arrival of emergency services, doctors could only establish the death of a 20-year old male citizen of Afghanistan,' the statement added, though it did not say whether authorities were investigating a murder or an accident. Many Serbs head to the woods at this time of year to hunt roe deer, fox and wild boar, often stalking them through the night. Tensions are also rising over the number of refugees and migrants, many from Afghanistan and other war zones, trying to pass through Serbia on a route to the wealthier countries of Western Europe. In July, Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said police and soldiers would form joint patrols to guard borders. Families from Syria walk through a field to cross the border from Serbia to Croatia last year Serbia lies on the so-called Balkan route taken by hundreds of thousands of migrants from the Middle East, Asia and Africa on their way to western Europe. Although the route was effectively shut down in March, migrants have continued to cross the region in smaller numbers, often with the help of smugglers. All Masters home improvement stores across the country will be shut before Christmas - and more than half a billion dollars of stock has to go first - at discount prices. Closure of all 82 Masters sites in Australia will be completed before December 11, after owner Woolworths said on Wednesday it would sell the stores to the Home Consortium, according to The Herald Sun. From this week, stock including paint, timber, barbecues, vacuum cleaners - and everything else - worth between $600-700 million will be offloaded in a fire sale, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. All Masters home improvement stores in Australia will be closed before Christmas this year Woolworths stands to make net profits of $500 million from the sale. It has confirmed it will honour warranties, gift cards, returns and laybys. But the figure is far less than the billions Woolworths has pumped into the chain. According to the ABC, it's the latest step in the supermarket giant's embarrassing withdrawal from the home improvement market - which is worth $45 billion. Owner of Masters, Woolworths, announced the sale of the home improvement stores on Wednesday The new owners - if Woolworths' US partner Lowe's agrees to the deal - will be the Home Consortium, which is comprised of the Arrum Group, Spotlight Group and Chemist Warehouse. Many Masters site will be turned into large retail stores like JB Hi-Fi, Bunnings Warehouse, Spotlight and Woolworths supermarkets, The Herald Sun reported. Woolworths chief executive Brad Banducci thanked the 7700 Masters staff for their work during a period of uncertainty, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. 'We will work hard to find Masters employees jobs within the group or pay full redundancy where suitable roles are not available.' The water and sewer systems are failing, the summer crowds are getting unmanageable and even the resident elk and bears are getting uppity. Happy 100th Birthday, National Park Service we hope. All kidding aside, milestones like a hundred are reasons to reflect as well as celebrate. So its not out of line to worry about whats become of Americas best idea, especially in Flagstaff, gateway to the nations second most-visited park. Grand Canyon National Park wont officially turn 100 until 2019, but some are worried the intervening three years could be more stressful than the preceding 97. We can tell them to calm down. The Grand Canyon was here long before humans and will be here long after. Its not as if we can alter in any significant and long-lasting way a 6-million-year-old, mile-deep declivity even the concrete in Glen Canyon Dam eventually will return to dust, freeing up the Colorado to flow freely once more. TEMPORARY STEWARDS But in the interim, we are stewards of the Canyon, and its recognition as one of the worlds seven natural wonders elevates it well above most other U.S. national parks. It has become an international tourist destination while also remaining one of this countrys most popular outdoor attractions. So how is the Canyon faring under its national park status? Some would note that it was already attracting intense interest well before joining the park system. Miners dug holes and built trams, the railroad built a line nearly to its edge and a series of entrepreneurs put up hotels and other buildings right on the rim plus a tourist camp deep in the bowels of the Canyon. Many of the buildings are still there, albeit as protected historic structures. But the miners inside the Canyon are gone and theres a 20-year moratorium on new mines in its watershed. Theres even a proposal before the president to give a 1.9 million-acre buffer zone of federal lands more protection as a national monument. HOLDING BACK THE WATERS As for latter-day entrepreneurs looking to cash in on the Canyons high tourist profile, not every scheme has succeeded. Yes, the river is dammed and controlled. But a proposal in the 1960s to put a highway through the Canyon never went anywhere, and 50 years later the Forest Service is opposing the latest plan for a mega-resort in Tusayan. On the eastern end, it will be the Park Service that ties up in court any plan that emerges beyond the talking stage to put a motorized tram down to the confluence of the Little Colorado and Colorado rivers. That still leaves the tourist overflights, which arguably are the biggest intrusion on the Canyons majestic silence. And the motorized wilderness along the riverbank only gets louder the closer you get to the Hualapai Nation at the western end. WILLFUL NEGLECT But mass tourism on our interconnected planet is here to stay as long as humans retain their sense of wonder and the ability to travel very long distances in a short amount of time. The Canyon, like other national parks, cant accommodate 5 million visitors a year and still be a true wilderness. So we should be thankful that the Park Service does the best it can with its access vs. protection mandate can you imagine what Grand Canyon Village and most of the South Rim would look like today if Ralph Cameron and other turn-of-the-century robber barons had held sway unchecked? That said, it is not so much the outside threats from developers as the willful neglect of Congress that should worry defenders of national parks the most. As we celebrate a century of growing citizen appreciation for our natural and cultural heritage, our elected leaders seem to think it all comes without major, continuing investment in roads, water, building maintenance and ecological restoration. Parks simply cant manage on entry fees and concession contracts alone and still be affordable and accessible to all the essence of that best idea. Members of Congress might think they are being good stewards of the public treasury by rejecting year after year budget requests for hundreds of millions of dollars worth of backlogged repairs, including a new water pipeline for the Grand Canyon. But they are simply postponing the payment of bills that park visitors in survey after survey say should move to the top of pile. A centennial is indeed a time for reflection, but also for action. The Canyon might be here forever. But the rest of us shouldnt have to wait that long for Congress to do the right thing. Advertisement A British honeymoon couple have revealed the terrifying moment that the earthquake in Italy shook their hotel room, as tourists are advised to steer clear of the region affected. Ryan Sloan, a lawyer based in Glasgow, who's in Italy with his new wife Sarah, tweeted: 'Most terrifying moment of my life there. Woke up as felt like someone violently rocking bed.' They were staying in a Rome hotel, a few minutes from the Coliseum, when the quake struck. Scroll down for video Ryan Sloan, a lawyer based in Glasgow, who's in Italy with his new wife Sarah, tweeted: 'Most terrifying moment of my life there. Woke up as felt like someone violently rocking bed' Survivor: A dust-covered man trapped in the rubble of his home as he slept is pulled from a hole by rescuers in Amatrice this morning Even though the epicentre was in Umbria, 105 miles away, the event was strong enough to give them a huge scare. He added to the Daily Record: 'I was fast asleep when I was woken up with a big jolt. I had no idea what was going on. Then Sarah woke up and we just sat in shock, wondering what was going on.' Another Brit on holiday in Italy, Simona Mani, who lives in York, described how she was visiting her family at their home in Acquasparta when the quake struck 60 miles away and shook the house. Agony: A man is pulled out of the rubble with a large gash in his head following the earthquake in Amatrice Mani told the Guardian: 'This was definitely the strongest experience of an earthquake I have ever had, as the epicentre was close to here and near the surface. My parents and I were abruptly awoken when we heard a loud noise and felt the house shake violently. 'Some objects fell from the walls and we ran outside, as did many neighbours and most of the village. 'Fortunately our home was recently built and resistant to medium earthquakes.' British holidaymaker Cat Lenheim, 30, described how her family became trapped in their Italian villa in the pitch dark. British holidaymaker Cat Lenheim, 30, described how her family became trapped in their Italian villa in the pitch dark. She's pictured here (left) the night before the earthquake with her boyfriend's sister Lora, Lora's daughter Lily and her boyfriend's father Simon Ms Lenheim (right) with Lora and Lily just before they set off for Italy 'We were in a villa in the mountains and we woke up to really vigorous shaking,' she told MailOnline. 'The walls were all cracked and a massive full-length mirror fell down off the wall and smashed. 'The power all went, and we couldn't open the front door from where the building had moved. It was really difficult getting downstairs and out of the building in the pitch black and some of us have bruises on our arms from getting out.' Ms Lenheim, from Farnham, Surrey, was on holiday in Amandola about a 45 minute drive from the epicentre when the earthquake hit in the early hours of this morning. She was part of a group that included her boyfriend Daniel Boff, 34, his parents, his sister Lora and her six-year-old daughter Lily, who is 'really shook up'. 'Although we couldn't open the front door at all we managed to get the back door open a bit so that we could slide out,' she continued. 'Once we got out of the house we stood outside. There was an aftershock about an hour later and a few tremors. Shocking: A survivor in Amatrice is helped to safety after a powerful earthquake has rocked Italy overnight killing at least 38 people and burying many more as they slept Collapsed: An unconscious survivor on a makeshift stretcher is carried from the what remains of a collapsed building in Amatrice 'Because the building was so damaged we didn't want to go back inside, so we went to the nearest neighbours who were about a 15 minute walk away and had a cup of tea with them. 'It's so rural and small, the roads make all the places really difficult to get to. 'Then this morning we packed up all our bags and we've travelled to Rome now because the villa wasn't safe to stay in. We're staying in a hotel now, just to be safe.' She added: 'We've been following all the news on our phones and it's so sad. We really feel for all the people who were affected because it was so scary.' Meanwhile, Eurostar delivery manager Mark Lucas from Woking in Surrey was on a villa holiday with his own family and his sister's family in Gualdo, Le Marche. The 43-year-old was with his wife and sons, aged 18 and 21, and his sister's children a nine-year-old and two twins of 14. He told MailOnline: 'We were in bed asleep and then there was the most violent shaking of the property. At first you have no idea what's going on. Eurostar delivery manager Mark Lucas (pictured with wife Sonia) from Woking in Surrey was on a villa holiday with his own family and his sister's family in Gualdo, Le Marche Mr Lucas said he woke in the middle of the night to 'the most violent shaking of the property' as the earthquake unfolded The force of the earthquake caused walls to crack and heavy rocks to fall on to the floor inches from a bed Mr Lucas said there were nine family members in the villa but that they all knew the layout well enough to get out in the dark The delivery manager likened the noise to 'constant thunder' as cracks developed in the wall of the property 'I shouted at my wife to get out of bed. We thought at first to get under the bed, but then we decided to stand in a doorway. And then my oldest son ran upstairs shouting that it was an earthquake and we had to get out of the building. 'There were nine of us in the villa and luckily we had been there for a while so we knew the layout well enough to get out in the dark. 'The noise was like constant thunder. The upper floor of the villa is close to collapse. We daren't go back in it. The fire service visited in the day light and the firefighter said it's extremely dangerous and close to collapse and that no one is to go near the property for any reason. 'We're in a new villa now, and I can see our previous property and strangely the houses that are either side of it are completely untouched. 'But the shaking was terrible. My youngest son looked up and he could see the lights and the ceiling swaying and swinging from side to side. 'When we got outside we were out by the swimming pool and even the water was swaying. 'I think we were unlucky with the property we were in. The ones either side of it are fine. 'In our villa there were cracks an inch wide in the walls. Where my wife was sleeping the wall has collapsed onto the bed.' The US Embassy in Rome, meanwhile, is advising tourists to avoid the region where the quake hit. It said: 'The U.S. Mission to Italy is assisting Americans in central Italy where a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck communities today at approximately 03:36AM. 'Reports by Italian media and the Civil Protection Agency note that many roads are blocked in these regions at this time, especially in more remote areas. Debris: This is an overhead view of Amatrice, whose historic centre has been wiped out by the powerful earthquake overnight 'The U.S. Embassy has restricted all but essential official travel to these regions and recommends that U.S. citizens defer travel in these areas as well. 'Americans affected by the earthquakes who require assistance, or persons with information or questions about Americans in the affected areas, may call the U.S. Embassy's earthquake response center at 06-4674 2944, or contact the center by email at USCitizensRome@state.gov.' The Foreign Office has advised tourists in Italy to check with the Italian authorities for the latest information about the earthquake. It said in a statement: 'If you are in the affected area, you should follow the advice of the local authorities. 'If you are in Italy, Civil Protection have activated a hotline 800840840 for information.' At present airports around the affected area - Perugia and Rome - are functioning normally, but the government has requested that the Via Salaria, one of the main roads to the area, be left free of traffic to allow rescue crews to reach the area more easily. The towns that have been most badly affected are not considered tourism destinations, while others that are - Norcia, Perugia and other towns in Umbria and northern Lazio - have felt the quake but are not badly damaged. Bloodied: An injured nun checks her mobile phone as she lies near a ladder and a blanket following an earthquake in Amatrice Aftermath: Residents of Amatrice in central Italy has been left in ruins overnight in an earthquake that shook areas up to 100 miles away, including Rome Huddled: A shocked woman and man are seen wrapped in blankets in front of collapsed houses in Amatrice, central Italy Survivors have described 'apocalyptic' scenes in towns and villages near the city of Perugia - the capital of the tourist-packed Umbrian region, which is especially popular with British holidaymakers. At least 38 are feared dead in the earthquake after people were crushed by falling buildings or suffocated by the rubble - rescuers have pulled out several from the ruins but can still hear voices from below. Its epicentre was in Norcia in Umbria, about 105 miles north east of Rome, while the hardest-hit towns were reported as Amatrice, Accumoli and Pescara del Tronto. Falling bridges and landslides mean some areas are still cut off with emergency teams only able to get there on foot. The mayor of Accumoli, Stefano Petrucci, said this morning: 'My town isn't here anymore' as people were carried out of ruined buildings on stretchers and people desperately searched the debris for survivors or sobbed as they inspected their own ruined homes. Photographer Emiliano Grillotti said that in Accumoli he saw over 15 people digging with their bare hands to save a family of four with two children, according to Repubblica. He said: 'I can hear one of the children screaming'. The quake hit during the summer when the populations of the towns and villages in the area, normally low during the rest of the year, are swelled by holidaymakers. The centre of Amatrice was devastated, with entire palazzos razed to the ground. Rocks and metal tumbled on to the streets and dazed residents huddled in piazzas as aftershocks continued into the early hours. 'The whole ceiling fell but did not hit me,' marveled resident Maria Gianni. 'I just managed to put a pillow on my head and I wasn't hit luckily, just slightly injured my leg.' Bali officials claim to have found the bloodied clothes worn by Byron Bay mother Sara Connor and her British DJ boyfriend on the night they allegedly murdered a local police officer in a drunken rage. Denpasar District Police Chief Hadi Purnomo said on Wednesday that police went to Jimbaran, near Kuta, overnight and found the belongings of Wayan Sudarsa whose bloodied body with 42 wounds was found on Kuta beach a week ago. Police also said it was Ms Connor's idea to destroy the evidence linking her and her boyfriend Mr Taylor to the alleged murder - stashing and burning their clothes in a housing complex and then dumping Mr Sudarsa's ID cards on the side of the road. Scroll down for video Bali police claim to have found the bloodied clothes worn by Byron Bay mother Sara Connor (right, pictured on August 23) and her British DJ boyfriend David Taylor (left) on the night they allegedly murdered a local policeman in a drunken rage Balinese officials said it was Ms Connor's idea to destroy the evidence linking her and her boyfriend Mr Taylor to the alleged murder - burning their clothes in a housing complex and dumping the policeman's cut-up ID cards (pictured) by the side of the road Police officer Wayan Sudarsa (pictured) was found dead on Kuta Beach in Bali last week with 42 wounds to his body Mr Purnomo said police had asked Ms Connors's boyfriend, British man David Taylor to tell them where he and Ms Connor had dumped the cop's possessions. 'We took David there, but he couldn't tell us clearly where the place was,' Mr Purnomo told reporters. Taylor (C, with hood) is escorted by police officers for interrogation at a police station in Denpasar 'So we went again during the night and we found the wallet, ID card, police card, motorbike registration letter, phone (sim) card, hand phone case.' 'It was put into a plastic bag and thrown away in Suluban Beach area in Uluwatu, South Kuta.' He alleged that many of the cards had been cut up by Ms Connor and that it was her 'idea' to try to 'lose the evidence'. Police, he said, have also uncovered the remnants of burnt clothing the pair wore on the night Mr Sudarsa died and which they allegedly set alight in the hours before they were arrested on Friday. Burnt fabric and a button was found in the bushes of Puri Gading Estate, Jimbaran, Mr Purnomo said. 'Cutting (those cards) was Sara's idea. Burning (the clothes) idea may have come from both of them,' he added. They have yet to find the police officer's phone. Ms Connor is accused of being the mastermind behind the destruction of evidence allegedly linking her to the brutal death of Balinese police officer Wayan Sudarsa Local police claim Mr Taylor (pictured centre) accused the officer of stealing Ms Connor's purse before beating him with binoculars, a beer bottle and a mobile phone Ms Connor (pictured) has maintained her innocence over his murder, her lawyer Erwin Siregar said Ms Connor and Mr Taylor have not seen each other since their arrest, having been held separately at Denpasar police station. Earlier this week lawyers for the two said a scuffle broke out between Mr Taylor and Mr Sudarsa after Ms Connor lost her purse on Kuta Beach. Local police claim Mr Taylor accused Mr Sudarsa, who was on duty at a nearby hotel at the time, of stealing Ms Connor's purse and of being a fake police officer before beating him with binoculars, a beer bottle and a mobile phone, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. Mr Taylor confronted the police officer and the two fell to the ground as they wrestled, during which the officer allegedly bit Ms Connor on the leg and arm. 'Then David said to the victim: 'You are a bogus cop. Where's my bag? Where's my bag? F--- you bastard police.' The officer said: 'I don't know.' But he kept insisting, three times,' Denpasar Police Chief Hadi Purnomo said. Mr Taylor then allegedly continued to hit Mr Sudarsa with a glass beer bottle as Ms Connor left to continue looking for her purse. 'By then David had lost it and hit him repeatedly with the broken bottle, causing the 17 wounds on the head. After the [officer's] head was injured, [Mr Taylor] searched his body, his belongings, that's how the victim's clothes got unbuttoned and loose. The man had already lost consciousness.' A crime scene established on Kuta Beach in Bali is pictured on Friday Ms Connor has maintained her innocence over his murder, her lawyer Erwin Siregar said. 'Sara said that she (was) not involved with this murder, she (was) not involved at all with this murder,' the lawyer said. Her British boyfriend Mr Taylor has allegedly admitted to hitting Mr Sudarsa. Mr Taylor's lawyer, Haposan Sihombing, said Ms Connor tried to help her boyfriend in the struggle. But her lawyer said she 'insists that she was not involved with the murder at all'. 'She saw from behind that Taylor hit the victim, but she did not know what he used to hit,' the lawyer alleged. Ms Connor's ex-husband, Anthony 'Twig' Connor, who is the father of her two sons aged nine and 11, was due to make a statement on behalf of the family in Sydney on Wednesday but decided not to front the media. 'Late last night we were advised by the Australian Government not to hold the conference', a statement from a family spokeswoman said on Wednesday. Ms Connor faces a murder charge and an additional charge of participation in a murder. Mr Taylor is being held as a suspect for murder, assault and battery charges. The murder charge carries a maximum of 15-years in prison. Police have released this picture of the victim's muddied green tank top A decomposed body has been found in an Orlando lake with more dismembered body parts recovered from along the shoreline. Police think the victim was 'placed in the water' between Sunday evening and Monday morning and have released a picture of the victim's muddied green tank top. Authorities believe the victim was a black woman in her early 30s between 5'7" and 5'10" tall and weighing more than 200 pounds. Lake Underhill is a popular place for joggers and residents have expressed their shock at the discovery. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission found the decomposed body on Monday morning. Police have deemed it a homicide based on the appearance of the body and evidence found. Orange County Sheriff's Office's dive team continue to search for evidence in the lake. Police did not say how the woman died. Lake Underhill is a popular place for joggers and residents have expressed their shock at the discovery The lake, south of Orlando Executive Airport and under State Road 408, is surrounded by a paved trail that is popular for walkers and joggers. Jogger Kevin Galeas told WFTV: 'I'm pretty much here three or four times a week. It makes you a little worried for your safety, a little bit, knowing something like that would happen here worries me a little bit.' Father says she is 'just trying to get back to normality' following jail stint Source said: 'They were snogging away and he was spinning her around' She was spotted kissing and hugging man in middle of an Edinburgh pub Peru Two drugs mule Melissa Reid, 23, of Lenzie in Glasgow (pictured), was spotted kissing and hugging her new man in full view of drinkers at a busy pub in Edinburgh Peru Two drugs mule Melissa Reid appears to have found love since being released from a South American prison after being spotted kissing and cuddling her new man. The 23-year-old drug smuggler, from Lenzie in Glasgow, was spotted putting on an amorous display of affection in full view of drinkers at a busy pub in Edinburgh over the weekend. It comes as she continues to settle back into life in Britain following her release from jail for trying to smuggle 1.75 million worth of cocaine out of Peru. She was arrested at Lima Airport in August 2013 along with Irish woman Michaella McCollum and the pair - who were dubbed the 'Peru Two' were each sentenced to six years and eight months in jail. Reid returned to the UK two months ago after serving just under half of her six-year prison sentence. She is now trying to rebuild her life in Scotland and appears to have wasted no time in getting to know her new man. One source told The Mirror: 'I knew it was Melissa the moment she walked in. She's very recognisable. She hasn't really been seen out much since she came home so I was surprised to see her there. 'There were plenty of booths and quiet corners in the bar but she was standing in the middle of the pub next to a pillar, kissing and hugging the guy. They were snogging away and he was spinning her around. 'They left hand in hand. They had a carry out with them, you could hear the bottles clinking.' Her father told the newspaper that Reid was 'just trying to get back to normality'. She became famous around the world in 2013 when she was caught smuggling the 24lb of cocaine. Reid initially claimed she had no idea how the packages of cocaine hidden in Quaker's porridge, jelly mixture and other foil packages - ended up in her luggage and later changed her story to claim she was forced into carrying the drugs to Spain by a dangerous drugs gang. However, she finally admitted that she knowingly took part in the attempted smuggling. Reid (pictured ahead of a court appearance in Lima for drug trafficking) has now returned to Britain after serving just under half of her six year and eight month prison sentence in Peru Reid's parents Debbie and Billy are thrilled to have her back home with them in Lenzie, Glasgow, after three years as a prisoner in Peru - after she attempted to smuggle drugs In a previous interview with the Mail, she said: 'I regret what I did and I don't want to make any excuses. 'I'm embarrassed and ashamed and sorry and I want people to know that. I can't sit here and say I made a mistake I knew what I was doing. 'I made a conscious decision to do it and no one forced me. 'I was taking drugs ecstasy, ketamine and cocaine and on a downward spiral and it wasn't going to end well. I honestly think that if I had carried on the way I was going I would be dead right now. 'I never worried about being caught. I never really thought about what I was doing. I think I wanted to be this big person that I'm not. 'Reality kicked in the moment I was arrested in the airport and I realised the gravity of what I had done. I was scared and made up a story thinking I would be believed.' Worry: The story of Reid and Northern Irish accomplice Michaella McCollum sent shockwaves around the world. Pictured, the pair at the Callao courtroom in Peru Stash: The women, then aged just 19 and 20, carried the cocaine in food packages hidden in their luggage. Reid revealed that there was so much cocaine they were only able to fit in a few items of clothing to cover it It was on June 22, 2013, that Reid who had been working at Next after leaving school set off to Ibiza with friend Rebecca Hughes for what was meant to be a rite-of-passage working holiday. In her pre-flight excitement, she wrote on social media: '#mightnotcomeback'. Her parents, who first met in Ibiza 30 years ago, waved the pair off from Glasgow Prestwick Airport thinking sunburn and a hangover would be the extent of their worries. However, just over a month later they received a call from the Foreign and Commonwealth office to tell them their eldest daughter had been arrested and faced years behind bars in South America. She now says that she feels 'very lucky' to have been granted expulsion from Peru after serving less than half of her sentence. Homecoming: After three years as a prisoner in Peru, the 22-year-old is welcomed home by her parents Billy and Debbie, at their home in Lenzie, Glasgow She said: ''I still can't believe I am free. It doesn't seem real and it feels like, if I blink and open my eyes again, I will be back in prison. 'I think it will take quite a lot of time to sink in and for me to readjust. I was 19 when I was arrested and now I'm 22 there is a big gap to cope with. 'My life will never be the same. I have lost touch with most of my friends but my priorities have changed. 'I hope that one day I will be able to put this behind me. I am so lucky that I am still young and have a chance to move on. 'I will never do what I did again. I still can't believe I am free. It doesn't seem real and it feels like if I blink and open my eyes again I will be back in prison. 'The weird thing is that while I have been in prison in Peru for three years, now that I am home with my family again it feels so normal.' Reid (pictured before the trouble began) is now trying to rebuild her life back in Scotland He is facing 70 years prison for helping the would-be Jihadi fighters An accused ISIS recruiter who helped seven men travel to Syria to fight broke down in court on Wednesday, declaring that he 'loves Australia'. Hamdi Alqudsi, from Sydney, said he regretted helping the men cross the border from Turkey to Syria in 2013, crimes for which he was found guilty last month. Appearing in the New South Wales supreme court for his sentencing hearing, Alqudsi gave evidence about the charges for the first time. He cried as he sat in the dock, declaring it unfair that he is facing the possibility of spending the next 70 years in jail alongside convicted terrorists, the Guardian reports. Hamdi Alqudsi cried and declared his love for Australia in a Sydney court on Wednesday as he faced the prospect of spending the next 70 years in jail for his role in helping seven men reach Syria so they could fight for ISIS 'I love Australia, I always have,' Alqudsi told the court. 'As an Australian I should have minded my own business.' Alqudsi, who was born in Palestine but migrated to Australia with his family as a youngster, admitted to helping would-be fighters reach Syria and meet up with Australia's top ranking Islamic State member Mohammad Ali Baryalei, but said he regretted it. 'You knew these men were going to be out in the fields of Syria engaging in warfare?' the prosecutor David Staehli asked Alqudsi. 'Yes,' he replied Alqudsi claimed that he wished he had of instead continued taking in fundraising money for Syrian civilians and said he never encouraged his 'boys to go to the war-prone country. The 41-year-old said he regretted his efforts to help his 'boys', most of whom he met at a Bankstown mosque Former Kings Cross bouncer Mohammad Baryalei (left) is believed to be Austalia's top ranking member of ISIS. Alqudsi helped seven men including Tyler Casey (right) - who was killed in February 2014 - cross from Turkey into Syria to meet with Baryalei Among the 'boys' he is believed to have helped gain entry into Syria was former Australian soldier Caner Temel, who is believed to have died in February 2014. Tyler Casey, another of Alqudsi's protege's, was also killed around the same time. The court heard Alqudsi met four of the men at a Bankstown mosque, while another was a University friend from his days at Charles Sturt University. Another man who he helped was stopped at Brisbane airport before he could leave the country. A British nurse who worked in the Jungle camp in Calais has described the horrors she encountered as she treated migrants. Elena Lydon travelled to the notorious camp after hearing about the plight of the thousands of migrants waiting for a passage to Britain. When she got there, she found scores of unaccompanied children, migrants that needed treatment for rat bites and the stench of rot. Scroll down for video British nurse Elena Lydon (second from right) worked in the Jungle camp in Calais and has described the horrors she encountered as she treated migrants Ms Lydon travelled to the notorious camp (pictured) after hearing about the plight of the thousands of migrants waiting for a passage to Britain 'The first thing that hits you is the smell. Its the smell of rubbish, urine, faeces and just rot everywhere,' Ms Lydon told Nursing Times. 'Then you see people coming out from places that you thought were just uninhabitable. There is mud, water and dirt running down worn-away paths, flies everywhere and seagulls circling above,' she added. Ms Lydon, who went to Calais with a group of British nurses as volunteers, said she saw people with wounds from rat bites which then became infected as they walked through 'dirt and human waste'. There were outbreaks of scabies and live at the camp, while two water stations and 40 toilets between 9,000 people led to poor sanitary conditions. 'The other thing that you get is respiratory problems because people get tear-gassed quite frequently,' Ms Lydon added. There are believed to be just over 100 unaccompanied children living at the camp, with the nurse saying that some of them are scarred mentally by what they have seen on their travels across Europe. The number of migrants at camp as they wait for a chance to smuggle their way into Britain has risen to more than 9,000 'I saw some young boys who came to the caravan looking for condoms and I was also called to see at least four boys with rectal wounds,' she said. 'They all refused to speak to the police but I suspect they were being exploited while trying to earn money to pay smugglers.' Ms Lydon said she reported each case to the authorities. A L'Auberge des Migrants charity told the Daily Express last night that the Jungle camp is a 'pressure cooker waiting to explode'. Truckers say migrants have taken to more desperate attempts to cross the Channel and have even been trying to board British tourists' cars. The warning comes as thousands of Brits prepare to head to - and return from - France via Calais as they enjoy the bank holiday weekend. More than 20million drivers are expected to take to the roads over the three-day weekend, with the potential for chaos in the south east and at ports. Truckers have faced mayhem while travelling through Calais for months, with haulage chiefs warning that migrants are 'whatever means possible' to make it to Britain. Truckers say the migrants have taken to more desperate attempts to cross the Channel and have even been trying to board British tourists' cars. Pictured, the Jungle camp The number of migrants in the notorious camp has almost doubled in the last two months. Pictured, migrants inside the Jungle camp Richard Burnett, from the Road Haulage Association, asked: 'Does an HGV driver - or even a family - have to die before action is taken? 'The number of migrants in Calais has now topped 9,000 with more arriving every day, all with the sole intent of reaching the UK by whatever means possible. 'We've been calling for action for over 12 months yet attacks on hauliers and motorists are increasing.' The RAC warned tourists heading back from the continent this weekend to plan ahead. 'We suggest you leave extra time and leave a little bit earlier', spokesman Simon Williams told MailOnline. 'It's a question of people being prepared for a longer wait than normal. If it's going to be a long wait, make sure you are prepared with food and drink, should there be nothing available. 'We're expecting 20million cars on major roads over the bank joliday weekend, with a decent amount of people going to see family and friends and out for recreation, so it will be a bumper weekend. 'This good spell of weather will certainly affect things. Leave plenty of time - perhaps more than usual.' The crumbling tomb of Benito Mussolini's murdered mistress may be demolished by Roman authorities after her relatives failed to pay bills for its upkeep, it has been reported. Clara Petacci, 33, who was executed by partisans near Lake Como alongside the former Italian leader, 61, in 1945, was buried in a tomb at the Verano cemetery in Rome. But now city officials in Rome are reportedly concerned about what to do with Petacci's remains after the collapsing tomb was cordoned off for safety reasons. Scroll down for video Benito Mussolini (left) and his mistress Clara Petacci (right) were executed together in 1945 Bodies of Mussolini, center, and Petacci, right, hang by their heels in Milan on April 29, 1945 About 1000 people visit the tomb each year compared to 100,000 people who visit Mussolini's tomb in his birthplace of Predappio, according to The Times. The newspaper quoted Rome city official Maurizio Campagnani explaining the problem facing authorities over the tomb's future. 'The family which owns the tomb has to approve any repair work but we cant find any relatives, so nothing is happening,' he said. During the last days of the war in Italy, Il Duce (meaning the leader) - as Mussolini was known - was captured by partisans who executed him by firing squad. His corpse was mutilated and strung up by the feet alongside that of Petacci outside a petrol station in Milan. The Allies ordered the bodies to be placed in an unmarked grave north of the city, to avoid the burial place becoming a place of pilgrimage. But on Easter Sunday 1946, his body was exhumed by a group of fascists led by Domenico Leccisi, who left a message on the grave: 'Finally, O Duce, you are with us. We will cover you with roses, but the smell of your virtue will overpower the smell of those roses.' Somehow during the venture, they lost one of the dictators legs. The entrance to the Verano Cemetery in Rome where Clara's crumbling tomb is located Four months later the body was traced by the police, hidden in a small trunk at Franciscan monastery near Milan. To keep the whereabouts of the body secret from the public it was then taken to a Capuchin monastery, 15 miles northwest of Milan, and kept there in a cupboard. The monks held the remains for eleven years, before the authorities allowed the family to reinter the dictators body at Predappio, Mussolini's birthplace. The couple met by chance when Clara was just 20 and Mussolini 49 - and married with five children. The young Claretta - who'd had a crush on him since her early teens and had been writing him poems and letters for years - was driving with her parents in the family Lancia when Mussolini's red Alfa Romeo roared past. She recognised him, shouted 'Il Duce, Il Duce!' out of the window and, obligingly, Mussolini stopped for a chat and invited her over to his official residence, Palazzo Venezia. They struck up a supposedly platonic four-year friendship, during which she married and separated from a young air force officer before Benito finally took her as his lover. In 2009, a series of graphically detailed diaries kept by Petacci revealed intimate details of their relationship over nine years It was a passionate affair. In 2009, a series of graphically detailed diaries kept by Petacci revealed intimate details of their relationship over nine years. 'I can feel that all his nerves are taut and ready to spring,' one entry read. 'I hold him tightly. I kiss him and we make love with such fury that his screams seem like those of a wounded beast. Then, exhausted, he falls onto the bed.' 'We made love with such force that he bit my shoulder so hard his teeth left a mark,' she writes. 'He's mortified; he sits on the bed looking a bit pale and panting: "My love, what have I done to you, look at that mark. One of these days I'll tear a shoulder off."' He didn't hold back in his letters either. 'Your flesh has got me - from now on I'm a slave to your flesh. 'I tremble in telling you, but I have a feverish desire for your delicious little body which I want to kiss all over. And you must adore my body, your giant... Advertisement It was hailed a 'great British innovation' by its makers following a successful maiden flight just seven days ago. However the world's largest aircraft suffered cockpit damage in what was described as a 'heavy landing' today. The 25million 320ft-long Airlander 10, nicknamed the 'Flying Bum', made its first test flight only last Wednesday. But the aircraft, which can carry a ten-tonne pay load, has crashed at its base Cardington Airfield in Bedfordshire. Aviation experts estimated the damage will cost about 20,000 to repair given the unique nature of the project. In a video of the crash, which seems to be in slow-motion, stunned witnesses can be heard voicing concerns. Airlander 10: The plane, which can carry a ten tonne pay load, crashed at Cardington Airfield in Bedfordshire today In a video of the crash, which seems to be in slow-motion, stunned witnesses can be heard voicing concerns At first one man watching it says: 'Surely you'd be worried that you're just going to smash that into the ground.' And he then adds: 'Oh my God, hes actually just broken it. He's just smashed that up.' One eyewitness said: 'A line that was hanging down from the plane hit the telegraph pole about two fields away. Then, as it came in to land, it seemed to nose dive and landed on the cockpit, smashing it up.' The Airlander is on sale for 25million and will be able to stay airborne for five days during manned flights. The developers - who later denied there had been any damage from a telegraph pole, despite claims by the witness - say the plane can be used for surveillance, communications, delivering aid and passenger travel. A spokesman for Hybrid Air Vehicles said: Today the prototype Airlander 10 undertook its second test flight and flew for 100 minutes, completing all the planned tasks before returning to Cardington to land. Cockpit damage: The 320ft long Airlander 10, nicknamed the 'Flying Bum,' made its maiden voyage last Wednesday It was billed a modern milestone in airships, which were all but abandoned after the Hindenburg disaster in 1937 The bulbous exterior of the part plane, part helicopter, part airship has earned it the tongue-in-cheek nickname The Airlander experienced a heavy landing and the front of the flight deck has sustained some damage which is currently being assessed. Both pilots and the ground crew are safe and well and the aircraft is secured and stable at its normal mooring location. Hybrid Air Vehicles runs a robust set of procedures for flight test activities and investigation of issues. 'We will be running through these in the days ahead as we continue the development of the Airlander aircraft.' The bulbous exterior of the part plane, part helicopter, part airship has earned it the tongue-in-cheek nickname. But the developers have called the ship a 'great British innovation' after the successful flight last Wednesday. It was billed a modern milestone in airships, which were all but abandoned after the Hindenburg disaster in 1937. The Airlander is designed to use less fuel than a plane, but carry heavier loads than conventional airships. The vast aircraft is based at Cardington, where the first British airships were built during and after the First World War The company hopes to have an even bigger aircraft, capable of carrying 50 metric tons, in service by the early 2020s The Airlander is designed to use less fuel than a plane, but carry heavier loads than conventional airships HAV say it can reach 16,000 feet, travel at up to 90 mph and stay aloft for up to two weeks. The aircraft was initially developed for the US military which planned to use it for surveillance in Afghanistan. But the US blimp program was scrapped in 2013 and since then, HAV, a small British aviation firm that dreams of ushering in a new era for airships, has sought funding from government agencies and individual donors. The vast aircraft is based at Cardington, where the first British airships were built during and after the First World War. That system was abandoned after a 1930 crash that killed almost 50 people, including Britain's air minister. The aircraft was initially developed for the US military which planned to use it for surveillance in Afghanistan Watching on: The Airlander is on sale for 25million and will be able to stay airborne for five days during manned flights Up in the air: The developers say the plane can be used for surveillance, communications, delivering aid and passenger travel That accident and others including the fiery 1937 crash in New Jersey of the Hindenburg, which killed 35 dashed the dream of the airship as a mode of transportation for decades. Unlike hydrogen, the gas used in the Hindenburg, helium is not flammable. The maiden flight last Wednesday came days after a test flight planned for the Sunday before was scrapped at the last minute because of an unspecified technical issue. It can also carry up to 10 metric tons (22,050 pounds) of passengers or cargo. The company hopes to have an even bigger aircraft, capable of carrying 50 metric tons (110,000 pounds), in service by the early 2020s. The developers called the ship a 'great British innovation' after the successful maiden flight last Wednesday (above) Its four engines appeared noticeably quieter than a plane or helicopter as it took to the skies last Wednesday (pictured) Chris Pocock, defence editor of aviation magazine AIN, recently said that the jury is still out on whether the craft is commercially viable. 'Airships and hybrids have still got a credibility gap to cover,' he said. 'Technically I think they are there now, but economically I'm not so sure.' Crowds clapped and cheered as the craft soared above them during its first outing from the First World War hangar where it was revealed in March after undergoing 'hundreds' of changes by HAV over two years. Lyle had taken over control of the church in his brother's absence Lyle is the brother of Warren Jeffs, the former president of the FLDS church who is currently serving a life sentence for raping underage girls Authorities believe he has been using a secret underground network of FLDS safe houses to evade authorities In a court filing on Tuesday, his lawyer joked that he either escaped house arrest or was caught up in the rapture He was arrested in February in connection to a $12 million food stamp fraud scheme A Utah lawyer representing several members of Warren Jeffs' polygamist cult joked that one of her fugitive clients may have been caught up in the rapture. In a court filing on Tuesday, attorney Katheryn Nester explained that Jeffs' brother Lyle either absconded from house arrest back in June or 'experience the miracle of the rapture. The court filing was in reference to whether the trial would continue or not in Lyle's absence. Nester told the judge she had no issue delaying the trial. Scroll down for video Polygamist church leader Lyle Jeffs (pictured in a mugshot) fled from a home in northwest Salt Lake City, Utah, after removing the GPS tracker on June 18, investigators believe Jeffs (pictured leaving the federal courthouse in Salt Lake City, Utah last year) is one of 11 people accused of diverting at least $12 million worth of taxpayer money in a food stamp fraud scheme 'As this Court is well aware, Mr Jeffs is currently not available to inform his counsel whether or not he agrees to the Continuance. 'Whether his absence is based on absconding, as oft alleged by the Government in their filings, or whether he was taken and secreted against his will, or whether he experienced the miracle of rapture is unknown to counsel,' Nester wrote. Jeffs and 10 members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints were arrested in February, accused of stealing $12 million dollars worth of food stamp benefits. Authorities believe Jeffs fled from this house in northwest Salt Lake City in June. They saw a Mustang going inside the garage around 10:30pm, before they lost contact with him The FBI released a warrant for Jeffs' arrest on June 19 and haven't been able to locate him so far. Former church members said he is using a network of safe houses around the United States to hide Jeffs, the acting head of the church while his brother serves a life sentence in prison for raping underage girls, escaped federal custody on June 18 when he used olive oil to slip off his GPS ankle bracelet and flee his home in northwest Salt Lake City, Utah. He had been released from jail for less than two weeks. Since then, authorities believe he has been using a secret network of polygamist safe houses to evade police, and could be far from Utah by now. The FBI issued a warrant for his arrest on June 19 but authorities have failed to locate him so far. Jeffs had been held without bail but was released after his attorney said it would violate his rights to keep him in custody until the beginning of his trial, which had been set for October. Prosecutors had warned that he would likely escape if released. They believe the FLDS has safe houses in the United States as well as in Canada and in South America. Authorities are now sharing more details about how they think Jeffs escaped unfolded, almost a month ago. 'He used a substance which may have been olive oil to lubricate the GPS tracking band and slip it off his ankle,' FBI special agent Eric Barnhart told FOX 13. His brother Warren Jeffs (pictured in court in 2006), the highest leader of the church, is currently serving a life sentence in Texas for sexually assaulting two underage girls, 12 and 15, whom he called his 'spiritual wives' Sickening: Jeffs is seen embracing one of his child brides as he smiles at the camera 'The damage to the bracelet was not such to trigger the full array of alarms that law enforcement or the US Marshal's Service would have responded to.' Authorities checked Jeffs' ankle bracelet earlier on June 18 and found the tracker was still intact, Barnhart added. But that changed in the evening and the FBI tried in vain to get in touch with Jeffs. The agency issued a warrant for his arrest the next day. Investigators saw a Mustang of a newer model pull into the garage of Jeffs' house around 10:30 pm on June 18, FBI spokeswoman Sandra Yi Barker told the Salt Lake Tribune. Someone shut the garage door and the Mustang left later that night. Investigators couldn't get the license plate number. They don't know who was at the wheel or who else was inside, Barnhart said. A witness told Fox 13 that he saw two people inside the car and waved at them. Someone waved back, he said, as if to say: 'See you tomorrow.' Jeffs had been living at the house for almost a year, neighbors told Fox 13. Reporters at the network saw girls in prairie dresses and boys in long-sleeved shirts, the church's traditional attire, when they visited the property. An Indian toddler who weighs three-and-a-half stone is set to fly to the UK for treatment from a British professor who discovered the boy was lacking a hunger-suppressing hormone. Shrijit Hingankar, from Pune, in Maharashtra, central India, weighed 6lbs and 10oz at birth but has ballooned to more than three times that weight in just 18 months. At first it was feared that the child was just fat, but it has now emerged that he has a hormone deficiency that causes him to never stop being hungry. Shrijit Hingankar (pictured with his parents) weighs three-and-a-half stone and is set to fly to the UK for treatment from a British professor Shrijit Hingankar, from Pune, in Maharashtra, central India, weighed 6lbs and 10oz at birth but has ballooned to more than three times that weight in just 18 months Professor Sadaf Farooqi, a metabolism and medicine expert at the University of Cambridge, has tested Shrijit's blood and found he suffers from a form of Leptin disease which she can cure with hormone injections. 'When children in poor countries like India are obese it makes you ask questions,' she said. 'It can't be anything to do with over feeding in a country where a lot of families are struggling so it makes you think something it wrong here and is it a genetic cause?' Prof Farooqi and her team of 25 scientists at the Institute of Metabolic Science at the university have identified a specific gene which causes Leptin disease. Leptin, which Shrijit is short of, is the hormone that makes people feel full after eating. The researchers have found a treatment for the Indian toddler's condition which involves injecting specific hormones twice a day. Shrijit has a hormone deficiency that causes him to never stop being hungry 'This treatment is now used all over the world and is readily available in the UK and it's effective,' Prof Farooqi said. 'It replaces the hormone that your body is missing which controls appetite and it balances your body. This baby has this missing hormone and with our help I'm confident we'll be able to help him.' Desperate for help with their growing baby, Shrijit's parents Amol Higankar, 29, and mum Rupali Hingakar, 25, first turned to Dr Shashank Subhash Shah, a director of the Laparo Obeso Centre, in Pune. Dr Shah was so interested in the toddler's condition that he dedicated over 30,000 of his own money to his treatment. Eventually, the doctor contacted Prof Farooqi for help. Dr Shah said: 'Shrijit is continually gaining weight. He gains at least one kilogram every month, which is not good. 'He is mentally very strong and is able to walk with the help of a special walker we have created for him because he couldn't fit into a regular walker, but his weight stops him from doing several other activities. Leptin, which Shrijit (pictured with Dr Shashank Shah) is short of, is the hormone that makes people feel full after eating 'Leptin deficiency does not have a cure in India. He needs to be given hormone shots daily to control his problem. But this injection is not available for commercial use anywhere in the world. It is only available for free on a trial basis in the UK and USA. 'I applied to Cambridge University four months back and I am personally in touch with the team. I have even got the boy and his family passports made to try to speed up the process. I am hopeful that the team in the UK will cooperate with us for this social cause.' Mrs Hingakar said: 'Our only hope is in the UK as we have been told that he can only be treated there. I am really tense for my son. His life is dependent on their approval. An injection available only in the UK can cure him and save his life. I will be indebted to the UK for life if we could go there for his treatment. Rsearchers have found a treatment for the Indian toddler's condition which involves injecting specific hormones twice a day 'Shrijit often suffers from breathlessness, chest infections, pneumonia, and high blood pressure. Doctors have clearly said that if he is not treated then his life is in danger. He needs immediate attention.' The mother, a full time housewife, spends every day looking after Shrijit. 'He needs me all the time,' she said. 'He cries for food all day. My only job is take care of him and feed him. He starts pointing towards food from the moment he wakes up. It gets difficult for me to lift him all the time. I'm exhausted.' Mr Higankar works as a helper at a private firm and earns just 9,000 rupees (101) a month, making it impossible for him to sponsor his son's treatment. Prof Farooqi is now confident she will be able to help the family in the next couple of months. 'We're now preparing the family for the trip and getting everything in order. We're very optimistic we can make this happen,' she said. 'There is no charge for this treatment, our research team complete the work from charitable funds. Any costs will be covered by Dr Shah's funds.' Prof Farooqi believes far more people suffer from Leptin deficiency than are diagnosed. Shrijit and his family are set to travel to Cambridge so the toddler can have treatment for his rare condition Indian siblings Yogita Rameshbhai Nandwana, five, Anisha, three, and 18-month-old little brother Harsh also have the condition and weight a combined 15 stone 'If it was 15 or 20 years ago no one would be looking at weight problems,' she added. 'We eat and we burn calories, that's the end of it. But it's not so simple. This disorder is very rare and it's important we don't see these children as just fat. 'There's more work to be done but we have found that there is a reason for this. There just needs to be more awareness.' Professor Farooqi is also helping the three obese siblings, from Gujarat, western India to fund their treatment. Yogita Rameshbhai Nandwana, five, Anisha, three, and 18-month-old little brother Harsh hit the headlines last year when their father revealed that he was willing to sell a kidney in order to make the money. They weigh a combined 15 stone, with the heaviest weighing seven-and-a-half stone. Prof Farooqi added: 'I managed to get a sample of their blood to test and they also have a version of Leptin disease but it's not the same missing hormone as Shrijit. 'These siblings have a Leptin receptor and currently there is no treatment for this but my research team are working on it and I'm hoping to have something within the next 12 months that can help them. The search for missing mother Karen Ristevski has led police to bushland along the Murray river, where the family have taken holidays. Search teams have been scouring Barmah National Park in Victoria's north, where the Ristevski family have visited on a number of occasions, Seven News reported. However, police don't believe there are any links between the area and her disappearance, Herald Sun reported. The 47-year-old mother was last seen on June 29 when she left their Avondale Heights home in north-west Melbourne to 'clear her head' after arguing with her husband, Borce Ristevski, about finances. Scroll down for video The search for missing mother Karen Ristevski has led police to bushland along the Murray river, where the family have taken holidays (Mrs Ristevski and her husband Borce Ristevski pictured right with their daughter Sarah, 21) Police are believed to have search a number of other areas, including the Maribyrnong River, which their family home backs onto. The search is reportedly confined to Victoria, with no information she has left the state or gone overseas, despite rumours she fled the country. Mr Ristevski's brother Vasko, 56, said he felt she had gone overseas using a fake passport. 'I reckon she's run away. That's my feeling, what with all the rumours going on about Anthony (Rickard),' Vasko told Herald Sun. He said his brother was 'not capable' of murder. Mrs Ristevski's bank account and phone have not been accessed since she disappeared. Mrs Ristevski, 47, was last seen on June 29 when she left their Avondale Heights home in north-west Melbourne to 'clear her head' after arguing with her husband Police have been scouring Barmah National Park where the Ristevski family have taken a number of holidays The Murray River, in northern Victoria, where police have been searching for Mrs Ristevski. However police have reportedly ruled out a link between the area and her disappearance Police are believed to have search a number of other areas, including the Maribyrnong River, which her home (pictured) backs onto Mr Ristevski and the couple's daughter leave a press conference after pleading for information last month Advertisement Frantisek Hadrava is not your normal work commuter. For starters, when the Czech locksmith parks his ride to work in the car park next to his building, he has to use four parking spaces. The 45-year-old also felt driving to work for 14 minutes was too much. So he cut his travel time in half. You see Mr Hadrava, 45, of Zdikov in the Czech Republic, now travels to work in an ultralight wooden plane after spending two years designing and building the aircraft. Frantisek Hadrava lands with his wooden plane in Ckyne, Czech Republic, during a flight on his way to work The wooden plane parked outside Mr Hadrava's work in Ckyne, Czech Republic, takes up four car spaces A happy commute: A day shift begins for Mr Hadrava at 6am and he parks his plane in a car parking lot at work The flight takes less than 7 minutes and he insists the plane is cheaper than if he were to travel by car. The commute is 15 km away from his home by road. Based on the U.S. design of light planes called Mini-Max, the Vampira aircraft cost him about 100,000 Czech Koruna (about 3700 Euros) to build. The plane has an open cockpit, propeller powered by a 3-cylinder engine made by Czech firm Verner. Mr Hadrava said that the aircraft, which is almost entirely made of wood, had a fuel consumption of 6 litres of petrol per hour and can reach a top speed of 91 miles/hr. 'It takes me about 12-14 minutes by car,' Hadrava said. 'By plane, it would take around 4-5 minutes if I flew directly, but I take a bit of a detour so that I don't disturb people early in the morning. So it takes about 7 minutes.' Mr Hadrava prepares for his work flight on Wednesday. The commute is 15 km away from his home by road Mr Hadrava prepares the plane for the commute to work on Wednesday morning (left) while giving the windshield particular attention (right) The cockpit detail of Frantisek Hadrava's plane, which he designed and constructed himself over two years Mr Hadrava, preparing for his flight, likes to wear goggles and a leather helmet with a white scarf for his plane journeys However, Mr Hadrava can only use the plane if the weather is clear. Early on Wednesday morning, Mr Hadrava flew his usual path through the forested, hilly foothills of the Sumava mountains for his 6 a.m. shift at Drevostroj, a small factory in the town of Ckyne making machine tools for the forestry industry. He landed on a meadow across the road from the factory. He then needs to push the plane across the road, leading to the German border, to a parking lot outside the factory. The rest of the firm's employees, arriving later luckily, park their cars close by. Mr Hadrava has also built a replica of the German World War One triplane Fokker Dr. I, and his next plan is to construct another historical plane, the French Deperdussin. Mr Hadrava said that the aircraft, which is almost entirely made of wood, had a fuel consumption of 6 litres of petrol per hour and can reach a top speed of 91 miles/hr Mr Hadrava prepares for his work commute on Wednesday. The plane has an open cockpit, propeller powered by a 3-cylinder engine made by Czech firm Verner Next stop the office! Mr Hadrava climbs aboard for his 7-minute journey to work as a locksmith on Wednesday. He said: 'By plane, it would take around 4-5 minutes if I flew directly, but I take a bit of a detour so that I don't disturb people early in the morning. So it takes about 7 minutes' Time for take-off... Mr Hadrava with his plane at a field which he uses as a makeshift airport for his work commute Mr Hadrava flies during testing sessions with his plane in the Czech Republic on Tuesday this week Success! The wooden plane soars above the Czech Republic countryside early on Wednesday Reversing the plane is a little bit more difficult and time consuming than your average car drive to work Mr Hadrava pulls his plane on a road after landing near his work in Ckyne, Czech Republic, on Wednesday Almost at work! Mr Hadrava pulls his plane along the road outside his workplace at Ckyne in the Czech Republic A day shift begins for Mr Hadrava at 6 am and he parks his plane in a parking lot at work, before everyone else arrives The plane commute requires understanding from work colleagues, who have to keep well clear of the aircraft in the carpark Fortunately, there are no parking fees at Mr Hadrava's workplace when he parks his plane across four spaces The plane is removed from its 'hangar' for a test flight earlier this week after two years of construction The wings are not attached to the plane until it arrives at the airfield to avoid any crashes with other cars The plane is towed by car around the Czech countryside when it is not airborne for his commute to work Mr Hadrava drives a car pulling his plane into a field in the Czech Republic for an earlier test flight this week Mr Hadrava and a friend carry a wing for his plane before the test flight as they assemble the aircraft The pair attach a wing to his plane before the test flight this week. It was the end of a long journey for the locksmith Mr Hadrava with a friend pours petrol into his plane before the earlier test flight this week The test flight begins as Mr Hadrava takes the plane out on to the runway in his town of Zdikov, Czech Republic Teenage members of Melbourne's notorious Apex gang are offered luxury hotel rooms, cocaine and wads of cash in exchange for committing armed robberies and violent carjackings, a court has heard. A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named, successfully applied for bail after being accused of arranging the armed robberies of two jewellery stores on July 7. The raids took less than 90 minutes and saw more than $200,000 stolen. According to the Herald Sun, police believe accused organised crime figure Mahmoud Taha, 19, offered the boy and the other young gang members involved in the robbery rewards of cash and drugs in exchange for their involvement. Teenage members of Melbourne's notorious Apex gang (not pictured, stock images) are reportedly offered rewards for armed robberies and violent carjackings A court heard that an accused crime figure offered teenage gang members drugs and cash (stock images pictured) in reward for their involvement in armed robberies 'They are rewarded with lavish hotel rooms, and cocaine and ecstasy by Taha,' a detective told a children's magistrate on Wednesday. The detective said she was worried that if the 17-year-old was granted bail, he would fall straight back into the same vicious cycle of crime. 'My concern is he's just going to pick up where he left off,' she said. 'It was incredibly violent (the two robberies) and involved a lot of money, and it was incredibly planned.' The boy was granted bail with strict conditions, including that he refrain from using social media or a mobile phone, the Herald Sun reported. The Apex gang are responsible for a spate of robberies, car-jackings and home invasions across the Victorian state. Members previously told Daily Mail Australia young teenagers have sought refuge in the group after their families moved from Africa. The Apex gang leader (pictured) previously told Daily Mail Australia young teenagers have sought refuge in the group Arrest believed to be linked to two arms dumps found earlier this year A serving Royal Marine has been arrested by anti-terror police in a raid that could be linked to two dissident republican arms dumps found in Northern Ireland this year. He has been named locally as father-of-one Ciaran Maxwell, 30, who is originally from Larne, Northern Ireland, but who now lives in Exminster, south Devon, with his fiance and their son. Maxwell has been detained on suspicion of preparation for acts of terrorism in the pre-planned swoop on a house in the village and at a house in Larne. Scroll down for video A serving Royal Marine has been arrested by anti-terror police in a raid that could be linked to two dissident republican arms dumps found in Northern Ireland this year. He has been named as Ciaran Maxwell, 30, (pictured) and he is currently being held in Somerset The army bomb squad and police officers search a residential addresses in Larne, Co Antrim He is currently being held at a local police station in Somerset by officers from Scotland Yard's Counter Terrorism Command. Police in Northern Ireland are also carrying out searches in connection with the inquiry in Larne, County Antrim, where bombs and weapons were found buried this year. Officers are also searching a wooded area in south Devon, which has been cordoned off. It is understood the arrest is linked to two suspected dissident republican arsenals uncovered in forest parks in Northern Ireland earlier this year. Police forensics officers remove evidence from a house in Larne today following the raids Police outside the property in Exminster, which is being searched in relation to a serving Royal Marine in Somerset who was arrested earlier in relation to Northern Ireland terror Held: The serving Royal Marine has been arrested by anti-terror police in a raid that may be linked to this dissident republican arms dump found in Larne earlier this year (pictured) Two separate hauls of weapons were discovered in Carnfunnock and Capanagh parks near Larne, Co Antrim, within three months of each other. An armour-piercing improvised rocket and two anti-personnel mines were among the cache recovered at Capanagh in May. Several pipe bombs, magazines and ammunition for an assault rifle as well as bomb component parts and command wires were also concealed in barrels in purpose-built holes in woodland. Maxwell is believed to live at the address in Exminster, Devon, that was raided today with his partner Kerry O'Callaghan, 29, and their son. A picture on Ms O'Callaghan's Facebook profile shows their baby proudly wearing his father's green beret Officers are also searching a wooded area in south Devon, which has been cordoned off Maxwell is believed to live at the address in Exminster, Devon, that was raided today with his partner Kerry O'Callaghan, 29, and their son. A picture on Ms O'Callaghan's Facebook profile shows their infant son proudly wearing his father's green beret. Neighbours said that Maxwell was not often at the property and didn't live there full time. They described him as 'aloof' and said he kept himself to himself. One neighbour said: 'I just heard that they got the child and the girl out and he was arrested. 'I know the girl to say hello to. The guy is very quiet and not very friendly. We sometimes tried to smile at him but he never smiled back. 'They have taped off and cordoned off the communal bins. 'We are all very shocked and very shaken up. ' Probe: Police and Army search a property in Larne, in County Antrim, Northern Ireland today after a Royal Marine was held in Somerset The man, who is believed to be from Northern Ireland, was detained on suspicion of preparation for acts of terrorism in a pre-planned swoop which also involved an address in Larne (pictured) Haul: In March, plastic barrels filled with bomb-making items were found buried at Carnfunnock Country Park (pictured) In March, bomb-making items were found at nearby Carnfunnock Country Park. Police said four barrels were unearthed at Carnfunnock - two barrels were empty but two contained a variety of bomb-making components, including wiring, toggle switches, circuit boards, partially constructed timer power units, ball bearings and a small quantity of explosives. Today officers are also searching a wooded area in south Devon, which has been cordoned off, and police in Northern Ireland are also carrying out searches in connection with the inquiry. A Met spokesman said: 'The serviceman was on suspicion of being involved in the preparation for acts of terrorism under section 5 of the Terrorism Act. Today officers are also searching a wooded area in south Devon, which has been cordoned off, and police in Northern Ireland are also carrying out searches in connection with the inquiry 'Today's arrest was pre-planned and intelligence-led as part of an investigation into Northern Ireland related terrorism being led by SO15 in collaboration with Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the South West Counter Terrorism Intelligence Unit. No armed police were involved in today's arrest. 'The public can be reassured that there is no intelligence to suggest an immediate threat to our communities. 'The man, who is a serving member of the British armed forces, was arrested at an address in Somerset and has been taken to a West Country police station. 'Searches are being conducted by SO15 and local uniform officers under Schedule 5 of the Terrorism Act at an address in South Devon. We are not able to provide further detail at this time'. Operation: A serving member of the British armed forces has been arrested on suspicion of Northern Ireland-related terrorism offences, Scotland Yard said. The threat to England, Wales and Scotland from Northern Ireland-related terrorism is currently rated as substantial, while the threat to Northern Ireland itself is ranked as severe. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'We are aware of a police investigation involving the arrest of a member of the Armed Forces under the 2000 Terrorism Act and will assist this investigation fully. 'It would be inappropriate to comment further on an ongoing investigation.' A widow who lost a sentimental necklace given to her by her late husband at a theme park is being refused entry to find the pendant unless she pays again. Grandmother Christine Parkin was visiting Robin Hood's Wheelgate Park in Farnsfield, Nottingham, with her grandson Lewis, three, when she lost the silver pendant. The 57-year-old only realised it was missing when she returned home and, by that time, the park had closed for the day so she returned the following morning. However, she claims staff at the attraction, which boasts the UK's biggest waterpark, told her she would have to re-pay the 13.99 admission. Christine Parkin was visiting Robin Hood's Wheelgate Park in Farnsfield, Nottingham, with her grandson Lewis, three, when she lost the silver pendant (pictured without the keepsake) Mrs Parkin, who lives five miles away from the park, was so upset she burst into tears but staff still refused to budge. She went to her sister's home and tried to speak to the manager on the phone but was told she would have to send an email with her request. Mrs Parkin explained that she had no laptop or computer and asked if she could leave a message for the manager to call her back but she never had a phone call. She has now given up hope of finding the treasured keepsake - a silver cross - unless someone hands it in. She said: 'I didn't notice the pendant had fallen off my chain I'd got home after the park had closed. 'The necklace was still intact but the cross had come away. 'I remembered feeling a little tap on my chest as we were eating ice-cream sat on a bench together and I thought that must have been it. 'I thought that if I got in there first thing I could take a quick look. The silver cross pendant (right) had been given to Mrs Parkin on her 18th birthday by her late husband, Alan (pictured together left) who died in 2014 at the age of 58 from a blood clot 'The area we were sat was a sanded area. I thought my chances of finding it were slim but I knew where to look. 'I went back first thing the next day, hoping to just nip in for a quick look in the area where I thought it might be, and if I didn't find I knew I would have to accept it was gone. 'I was so shocked when they said I couldn't go back in. I just didn't expect them to say no. 'The young girl on the desk wouldn't even let me speak to the manager - she just said it was company policy and that I would have to pay the 13.99 entry fee. 'It's crazy to think that I would be looking to sneak in and have a quick play on all the rides on my own, without the grandkids.' Grandmother Christine Parkin was visiting the theme park with her grandson Lewis, three She claims staff want her to pay another 14 entry to get into Wheelgate Park, Nottingham The pendant had been given to Mrs Parkin on her 18th birthday by her late husband, Alan who died in 2014 at the age of 58 from a blood clot. The couple had been married 38 years and met when Christine was 16-years-old. Christine said: 'I've now resigned myself to the fact that it's gone. 'I just don't see why they couldn't be more helpful. This has broken my heart.' A whole pack of endangered wolves will be put down in Washington state after a string of attacks on livestock. Since April, at least nine calves and two cows have been killed by the gray wolf pack roaming in the northeastern corner of the state. Seven of those calves were killed in just 20 days at the end of July, prompting Fish and Wildlife officials to consider lethal removal action against the pack. A whole pack of endangered wolves will be put down in Washington state after a string of attacks on livestock The so-called Profanity Peak pack is one of only 19 gray wolf packs in the entire state, for a total of 90 wolves. There were six adults and five cubs in the pack. Two of the adults, both breeding females, were killed Thursday by officials shooting from a helicopter, the Blue Mountain Eagle reported. The kill order came after the latest hunt, when two more calves were killed and a third was injured. 'The department is committed to wolf recovery, but we also have a shared responsibility to protect livestock from repeated depredation by wolves,' said Donny Martorello, of the state Fish and Wildlife Department, to NBC News. Shawn Cantrell, who runs the nonprofit Defenders of Wildlife, said it is a 'disappointing day'. 'Removing members of the Profanity Peak wolf pack is a loss to wolf recovery efforts in the region,' he told NBC News. 'The best thing to do is to learn from this sad outcome and redouble our collective efforts to proactively prevent future livestock-wolf conflicts.' Since April, at least nine calves and two cows have been killed by the gray wolf pack roaming in the northeastern corner of the state But state Senator Kevin Ranker says the order is 'extreme'. 'I was told that removal of half the pack would make a difference, and now we're being told they are going to remove the entire pack,' said the Democratic senator, a former chairman of the state Senate Natural Resources Committee, to NBC News. 'They haven't implemented their first plan.' If the state doesn't succeed at dealing with the wolves, local officials have tasked the sheriff's office with killing the animals. 'That pack of wolves needs to be gone,' said Commissioner Mike Blankenship, of Ferry County, as reported by the Blue Mountain Eagle. 'I feel the sheriff has that power and that obligation as much as he would with a wild dog out there.' The so-called Profanity Peak pack is one of only 19 gray wolf packs in Washington state Blankenship added: 'An operator has been losing an animal a day since their animals were put on the range. Should Fish and Wildlife fail to, were prepared to step up and finish that job.' It is unclear if the local sheriff's office has any jurisdiction over state wildlife, especially an endangered species. 'Maybe that would get challenged and maybe we need to have conversation,' Blankenship said, according to the Blue Mountain Eagle. For a decade he dodged bullets, death and all types of horror overseas. And current breakfast television host Peter Stefanovic has shed light on his dangerous former life as a war correspondent. Stefanovic - who alongside Karl makes up Australia's most famous television brothers - recently released his new autobiography 'Hack in a Flak Jacket', detailing his confrontations with 'wars, riots and revolutions'. In an extract of his book published on Nine News, Stefanovic describes the day he became concerned about his own mortality - not on the battle field, but on a summer holiday. Scroll down for video He's well known as Karl's younger brother, but for a decade Peter Stefanovic was a foreign correspondent. And now, the 34-year-old has detailed his time covering everything from wars to mass shootings in a book 'Hack in a Flak Jacket' Peter (right) and brother Karl (left) are Australia's most famous television brothers, often working together on the Today Show 'I was on holiday in Spain towards the end of 2011, a year that had ranked as one of the most brutal in recent history,' Stefanovic wrote. 'Wars, conflicts, massacres, bloody revolutions, riots and upheaval, and I had been at the centre of many of them. 'I walked around Madrid, photographing the beautiful royal palaces, and the centuries-old sandstone monuments. 'Then out of nowhere, panic set in.' Describing the moment he became obsessed with his own mortality, Stefanovic said it had been a long time coming. Peter released his book this month to much excitement of Today Show hosts Karl Stefanovic, Lisa Wilkinson (right) and fiancee Sylvia Jeffreys (left) From earthquakes in Haiti, wars in Lybia and Eqypt to bombings in London and a mass shooting in Norway - it all came flooding back. 'I couldn't understand it. I was only 29 and I was enjoying my work. I felt physically and mentally ripe,' Stefanovic writes. 'But I was consumed with thoughts of my own mortality.' Earlier this year Stefanovic got engaged to fellow Channel Nine and Today Show host, Sylvia Jeffreys So obsessed was Stefanovic that he developed a fear of flying - a completely new phenomenon for him - something, he kept quiet as not to lose his job. But now, with those days are behind him the Today Show regular has a new focus - fiancee Sylvia Jeffreys. The leading Channel Nine couple got engaged in Europe earlier this year, creating some happy memories in a place where Stefanovic has covered so many tragedies. The French Muslim who was ordered to take off her 'inappropriate' clothes by police enforcing the burkini ban said she could stay on the beach if she turned her headscarf into a headband. Housewife Siam, 34, was relaxing on a beach in Nice when officers approached her and forced her to take off her tunic as it was not 'proper beach attire'. She was fined 11 euros and was left humiliated, with her children bursting into tears as the police demanded she strip off. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve today said the burkini ban must not lead to 'stigmatisation or the creation of hostility between French people'. Scroll down for video Four French police officers close in on the woman, who appears to be sleeping, on the Promenade des Anglais beach in Nice, southern France The woman, who was wearing a traditional headscarf and matching top, was spoken to by the officers, who have been tasked with implementing the ban. France prides itself on its secular society and the burka is banned. That has now spread to the burkini Siam branded the officers 'fascists' as she told French news website L'Obs that she was not planning to get into the sea. 'My children were in tears, witnessing my humiliation - as well as my family. I could not help crying. They humiliated us.' Astonishingly, Siam said police told her: 'If you turn your scarf into a headband and put it round your head you can stay on the beach.' The mother said she was still recovering from the shock of the incident which came as she was on holiday in Nice last week. She said a policewoman approached her and crouched down to tell her that 'people on the beach had to wear proper attire'. Siam refused to undress or tie her clothes around her head, as she claims was suggested by the police. By this point people were starting to gather around, with some beach-goers hurling racist abuse at the mother. 'I was stunned. I heard things no one has ever called me to my face - like "Go home", "Madam, the law is the law, we are tired of the stories" and "Here we are Catholic".' A police officer appears to write out an on-the-spot ticket and fine for the woman. Nice and Cannes are among several French towns to have introduced a 38 euro (32) fine The woman is then ordered to remove the blue garment. Most of the other people on the beach on a sweltering summer's day were wearing trunks or bikinis Police asked Siam to leave the beach, infuriating her further. 'Because people who have nothing to do with my religion kill, I haven't got the right to go to the beach,' she told L'Orb. 'Because they are committing attacks, it deprives me of my rights. We're in France - I can still go where I want - this is absurd! 'Today we are banned from the beach. Tomorrow the street? FRENCH MUSLIM LEADERS TO MEET WITH MINISTER The head of the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) has met Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve on Wednesday to discuss the burkini ban. Cazeneuve said the ban 'must not lead to s tigmatisationor the creation of hostility between French people'. The CFCM 'is concerned over the direction the public debate is taking,' the group's president Anouar Kbibech said before the meeting. He added that there was a 'growing fear of stigmatisation of Muslims in France'. The Muslim group called for 'wisdom and responsibility' after pictures of the woman being forced to remove her tunic in Nice were revealed. Advertisement 'Tomorrow, will they forbid us to practice our religion at home? 'In the country of human rights, I see no trace of the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity. 'I am outraged that this could happen in France.' Siam was not just unwelcome on the beach. The person she was staying with near Cannes asked her to leave the property too. 'I don't wear a burkini, but I don't agree with fines,' Siam said. #I think we should be able to wear what we want in public. 'The English are far more open than France is about this.' France's clampdown on the burkini has been ridiculed online, with the hashtag #WTFFrance trending on Twitter in response to the burkini ban. 'Question of the day: How many armed policemen does it take to force a woman to strip in public?' Andrew Stroehlein, European Media Director of Human Rights Watch, wrote on Twitter. A comment by an activist named Sihame Assbague, retweeted more than 7,000 times, said the scene has made France 'the laughing stock of the world'. 'I am so ashamed', wrote French feminist Caroline De Haas. Nice is one of about 15 French towns which has banned the wearing of the burkini - a full-body Islamic swimsuit which covers the head - on beaches, with authorities declaring it to contravene French secular values and threaten public order. Video has emerged of armed police waiting for Muslim women to come out of the sea at nearby Nice, and then warning them about their choice of headscarves Four women were fined 38 euros for wearing their burkinis on the beach in Cannes But the vague wording of the bans, which refer to beachwear that conspicuously demonstrate a person's religion, has created confusion. David Lisnard, the right wing Republican Party mayor of Cannes who introduced the burkini ban in the first place, defended the police officers' behaviour. Mr Lisnard said all 'beach dress that ostentatiously shows a religious affiliation' was unwelcome at a time when France was a target for Islamic State. He said any dress that might be linked with the terrorist group was offensive and risked provoking people, so risking public order. On the same day, video also emerged of armed police waiting for Muslim women to come out of the sea at nearby Nice, and then warning them about their choice of headscarves. Feiza Ben Mohamed, secretary general of the Federation of Muslims of the South of France, said 'two young women were made to leave the water by the police' even though they were 'not wearing the burkini'. The video, which was posted on Twitter, shows children crying and shouting as the women are spoken to by the officers. Ms Ben Mohamed has accused the French authorities of 'shamefully mixing up terrorists with the wider Muslim community.' She said 'this type of row is totally counterproductive and plays into Isis's hands. 'It's exactly what ISIS want - the mayor is doing their work for them. Isis seeks to make our young people believe that they are excluded, stigmatised, and they will use such examples in their recruitment drive.' The women were told to pay a fine for wearing the swimwear on a beach in Cannes Pictures show the women standing in the water before they were fined A photo taken in June 2015 shows two Muslim women wearing Chador as they enjoy their time with other people on a beach of Narbonne, southern France The banning of the burkini in France, by the Administrative Tribunal in Nice, has been challenged by two human rights groups. They argued that the ban on a garment that does not cover the face was petty, and designed to spread hatred against a small group of mainly Muslim mothers and grandmothers. But judges said the ban in the resort of Villeneuve-Loubet was 'necessary, appropriate and proportionate'. They said the burkini was 'liable to offend the religious convictions or non-convictions of other users of the beach.' Death: Private Conor McPherson, 24, from Paisley, Renfrewshire, was shot on the military ranges in Otterburn, Northumberland Tributes were paid today to a hugely committed soldier who died after being shot during a live-firing exercise. Private Conor McPherson, 24, from Paisley, Renfrewshire, was shot on the military ranges in Otterburn, Northumberland, during a training mission on Monday night. The soldier from The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland, died after suffering a serious head wound at the training area. His commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Alasdair Steele, said: Private McPherson was a capable young soldier who had previously trained in both Kenya and France. He was hugely committed about his career in the Army, he had aspirations to join the machine gun platoon and attend a junior leadership course at the start of next year. He constantly drove to develop himself physically and was well liked among his peers for his sharp wit and sense of humour. The soldier enlisted into the Royal Regiment of Scotland in May 2014 as a combat infantryman Much-loved: Private McPherson 'was part of a very close-knit family and his great joy was spending time with them at the weekends and over leave', his commanding officer said However, Private McPherson's true passion was to his parents and his older sister - he was part of a very close-knit family and his great joy was spending time with them at the weekends and over leave. The entire battalion's thoughts are very much with his family and friends. The soldier enlisted into the Royal Regiment of Scotland in May 2014 as a combat infantryman. First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon also paid tribute to him She said on Twitter: Our soldiers do a brave and dangerous job at all times. My deepest condolences to all who loved Pte Conor McPherson.' And one friend, Matt-James Mcallahan, added: Rest in peace to one the best guys I know. In such a tragic accident. (He) was probably one of closest people I was to at the fort and Ill always remember you waking me up in the morning with a boxing glove to the face or you explaining your geeky game. Tragedy: The soldier from The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland, died after suffering a serious head wound at the Otterburn ranges in Northumberland (above) Training: The 93 sq mile training centre, set up by former prime minister Sir Winston Churchill, is the second largest live firing range in the country and has been used since 1911 (file picture) You will be missed a lot mate and see you soon enough. Like you always said in your game, there is always a way of restarting it. Troops were firing at sheets of metal with pictures of enemy soldiers on during the training exercise, but today it was unclear how the incident happened. It was thought that the soldiers, from the Royal Regiment of Scotland, were carrying light sticks on their helmets to differentiate them from the targets. Private McPherson's comrades were understood to have been shooting with SA80 assault rifles and using real ammunition. Both the military police and Northumbria Police launched a probe into the incident. No one had been arrested though officers did not rule it out. Police said the soldier sustained a serious head wound and was pronounced dead at the scene. Private McPherson is thought to be the 12th British soldier to die in a live-fire exercise since January 2000. Location: Otterburn is the UK's largest firing range, and is in frequent use artillery can be clearly heard from Lindisfarne to the north-east and Fontburn Reservoir in the south Some 135 UK armed forces personnel died during training over the period. An Army source said: There are a lot of safety arrangements in place for this kind of training, which takes place hundreds of times every year. The 93 sq mile training centre, set up by former prime minister Sir Winston Churchill, is the second largest live firing range in the country and has been used since 1911. It was found to have breached health and safety guidelines earlier this year by using mortars that can damage hearing. As a result, close-range usage was banned. Almost every unit that went to Afghanistan would have been sent on a range package before deploying. Normally there would be at least 100 soldiers sent for the training from their bases. Night-vision goggles are not always worn because the idea is to get soldiers used to firing in the pitch black. Rev Peter Mander, of the villages St John the Evangelist Church, said: He was a young man doing his duty, a bit of training and a tragic accident like this happens. Anthony Wilson, 44, himself a former soldier, was travelling back to Edinburgh with his family. He said: It is the thing every commander dreads, losing one of your lads in training. In active combat anything can happen but it shouldnt happen in training. Armed Forces Minister Mike Penning said: My thoughts are with the soldiers family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time. Police will be working with the Ministry of Defence to establish the exact exact circumstances of the incident at Otterburn (file picture) The safety of our personnel is our absolute priority and while deaths in training dont happen often, any death is a tragedy. 'As well as a police investigation, MoD accident investigators are looking into the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident. The victims next of kin were informed but the MoD did not disclose his identity. It comes little more than a month after Cpl Joshua Hoole, 26, of Ecclefechan, near Lockerbie, died on a training exercise in Brecon, Wales, on the hottest day of the year. He died on July 19 while on pre-course training for the Platoon Sergeants' Battle Course, taken by infantry soldiers who want to progress to the rank of sergeant. The 26-year-old, who was based at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick, North Yorkshire, and was a member of The Rifles regiment, collapsed after taking part in a fitness test near the Dering Lines infantry training centre at about 6.30am, when temperatures later peaked at just above 30C. Cpl Hoole's death came just three months after the Defence Select Committee published a report calling for the MoD to become liable for prosecution for the deaths of Armed Forces personnel. Police in Baltimore have been conducting widespread aerial surveillance over the city to help solve crimes for months but have never disclosed it. A private company provided the citys police department with the surveillance program a small Cessna plane kitted with high-resolution wide-angle cameras that capture data spanning around 30 square miles, Bloomberg revealed on Tuesday. The images are transmitted in real time to the companys analysts on the ground and stored on huge hard drives, which can be reviewed weeks later if needed. The report says Ohio-based Persistent Surveillance Systems (PSS) provided police with the technology to monitor the unrest after the trial of several officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray. Scroll down for video Police in Baltimore have been conducting widespread aerial surveillance over the city to help solve crimes for months but have never disclosed it A small Cessna plane kitted with high-resolution wide-angle cameras that capture around 30 square miles are the basis for the surveillance program Gray, a 25-year-old black man, died after his neck was broken while he was handcuffed and shackled but left unrestrained in the back of a police van. The report also claims that the city never publicly disclosed the surveillance program, which had been funded by a private donor - and slammed as the dawn of 'Big Brother' and a nanny state. But since January, the police department in Baltimore which saw anger-fueled protests in the wake of Grays death in police custody escalate into violent riots have been using it to investigate crime. And it has proved to be helpful in solving a wide variety of crimes, including burglaries, hit-and-runs and homicides, according to PSS. Persistent Surveillance Systems founder Ross McNutt who developed the technology is pictured above For example, the program captured images in the area just after a 90-year-old woman and her brother, 82, were shot on Clifton Avenue. Analysts retraced the suspects steps and police issued a public appeal using footage from a security camera on the ground. No mention was made of the surveillance camera. And police later took the suspect into custody. Ross McNutt, the founder of PSS, originally developed a similar program called Angel Fire for the military to use to investigate roadside bombings and terror threats in Iraq. The program later became the foundation for the technology used in Baltimore. His elevator pitch describes the program as Google Earth with TiVo capability. The images are transmitted in real time to the companys analysts on the ground and stored on huge hard drives, which can be reviewed weeks later if needed The technology has proved to be helpful in solving a wide variety of crimes, including burglaries, hit-and-runs and homicides, according to PSS And his first real commercial customer was Jose Reyes Ferriz, the mayor of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, who wanted the program to help after the war between the rival Sinaloa and Juarez drug cartels turned his town into the deadliest city in the world. It helped secure dozens of confessions and arrests, but the city soon didnt have enough money to keep paying for the program. The private company provided police with the technology to monitor the unrest after the trial of several officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray (above) McNutt has tried for years to land a long-term contract with an American metropolitan police department at a cost of around $2million a year - telling them that his program could help them cut crime by up to 20 per cent and now hopes Baltimore helps him prove this. However, he believes the most effective way to use the technology is in a transparent manner with a good potential to deter crime as much as solve it. I dont have good statistical data yet, but thats part of the reason were here, he told Bloomberg. He offered some of the most crime-ridden jurisdictions a free trial to see what his program could do, which the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department accepted. But the residents of Compton, California and even the mayor - didnt learn about the nine-day trial run conducted in 2012 until a year later and were angry when they did. Protesters demanded a new citizen privacy policy. Compton Mayor Aja Brown told the LA Times: There is nothing worse than believing you are being observed by a third party unnecessarily. The American Civil Liberties Union has also voiced its concerns about the invasiveness nature of the surveillance. I said to myself, This is where the rubber hits the road. The technology has finally arrived, and Big Brother, which everyone has always talked about, is finally here, Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst with the ACLU, told Bloomberg. Hillary Clinton's campaign officials insisted Wednesday that the Democratic presidential nominee's dozens of State Department meetings with donors to her family foundation don't present a conflict of interest. Chief strategist Joel Benenson said the Associated Press report was 'cherry-picking' Clinton's long-hidden schedules from her time as secretary of state. Campaign manager Robby Mook used the exact same word to describe the blockbuster article that dominated Tuesday afternoon's news cycle. The AP determined that more than half of Clinton's scheduled meetings and phone calls with non-governmental personnel during her time at State were with donors to the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation. Those contributors poured $156 million into the foundation's coffers, according to the AP. Scroll down for video NOTHING TO SEE HERE: Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook told CNN on Wednesday that the Associated Press was 'cherry-picking' its report showing most of Hillary's nongovernmental meetings at the State Department were with her foundation's donors DEJA VU: Clinton campaign chief strategist Joel Benenson also said the AP was 'cherry-picking' from Clinton's long-hidden State Department schedules WALKING ON EGGSHELLS: Clinton has kept a low profile and plans just one public event before Labor Day, with the rest of her time dominated by private high-dollar fundraisers 'They took a small sliver of her tenure as secretary of state, less than half the time, less than a fraction of the meetings, fewer than I think 3 percent, Benenson complained Wednesday on CNN's 'New Day' program. Clinton, he said, 'met with over 17,000 world leaders, countless other government officials, public officials in the United States.' But it was the 154 nongovernmental meetings on Clinton's books that drew the AP's interest. Of those, 85 were with Clinton foundation donors. Benenson claimed drawing a conclusion from that smaller subset of meetings was 'one of the most massive misrepresentations you could see from the data.' 'And then they're trying to malign and implicate that there was some, something nefarious going on when, in fact, there wasn't.' 'People give donations to this foundation because they believe in the work of this foundation,' Benenson added, but blasted the AP for basing its story on 'a completely flawed premise.' OUTRAGE: Donald Trump said Tuesday night in Texas that Clinton's apparent conflicts of interet were reminiscent of 'Third World countries' LOCK HER UP? Trump supporters dressed as 'jailbird' Clintons and posed for photos in Texas On MSNBC's 'Morning Joe,' Mook insisted Clinton 'doesn't have a conflict of interest,' and pointed to the Clinton Foundation's decision to stop accepting foreign donations at least to its flagship office. 'Hillary Clinton doesn't have a conflict of interest with charitable work,' he said, before deflecting the question into an attack on her Republican rival. 'We need to look a lot more closely at Donald Trump if we're going to drill this deep on Hillary Clinton,' he said. 'By our count, there were over 1,700 other meetings that she had,' Mook complained. 'She was secretary of state, she was meeting with foreign officials and government officials constantly. So to pull all of them out of the equation [and] cherry-pick a very small number of meetings is very outrageous.' The Associated Press also flagged $170 million in Clinton Foundation donations from at least 16 foreign governments whose representatives got face time with Clinton. 'They were not included in AP's calculations,' the news agency reported, 'because such meetings would presumably have been part of her diplomatic duties.' 'CORRUPTION': Trump, shown with parents of Americans murdered by illegal immigrants, hammered Clinton all night Tuesday for 'selling' government access Trump policy director Stephen Miller blasted Clinton in an email to reporters on Wednesday morning. 'Secretary Clinton, you claim the AP report is an incomplete accounting of your meetings. Why dont you clear up any problems with the AP report by releasing all of your schedules from while you were in charge of the State Department?' he asked. Trump himself uncorked on Clinton during a Tuesday night rally in Austin, Texas. 'It is a total embarrassment if our secretary of state can be bought or bribed or sold,' he said as a chorus of cheers rang out. 'It's a disgrace! This is a threat to the foundation of democracy. This is what happens in Third World countries.' 'Hillary Clinton is totally unfit to hold public office,' he added later. 'It is impossible to figure out where the Clinton Foundation ends and the State Department begins. The specific crimes committed to carry out that enterprise are too numerous to cover in this speech.' Danish politicians will visit the Australian-run detention centre at Nauru to see if the country could adopt the model of processing asylum seekers offshore. A parliamentary delegation of six MPs from Denmark will visit the Pacific island nation in the next week and are seeking rare access to the detention centre. The proposed trip comes just weeks after Guardian Australia published more than 2,000 reports of alleged abuse and self-harm at Nauru. A parliamentary delegation of six MPs from Denmark will visit the Pacific island nation in the next week and are seeking rare access to the detention centre (pictured: Christiansborg Palace in Denmark) The proposed trip comes just weeks after Guardian Australia published more than 2,000 reports of alleged abuse and self-harm at Nauru The delegation includes members of parliament from all sides of politics. Johanne Schmidt-Nielsen from socialist-green unity party Enhedslisten said she worried about conditions on the island following the reports of abuse. 'For me, the visit is an opportunity to ask critical questions about the model,' Ms Schmidt-Nielson told Guardian Australia. Martin Henriksen, of anti-immigration Danish People's Party, said Kenya or Greenland would be possible sites for the country to mimic Australia's offshore processing model. Stock image of Australian-run detention centre on Nauru in the Pacific island 'Australia has found an interesting model,' Mr Henriksen told Danish radio station 24syv. 'The government will continuously assess different migration policies by looking at the experiences of other countries - including Australia.' Marcus Knuth from the ruling Venstre party, Jacob Mark from the Socialist People's Party, Dan Jorgensen from the Social Democrats and Simon Emil Ammitzboll from the centre right party Liberal Alliance are also part of the delegation. By Geoff Earle, Deputy U.S. Political Editor In Tampa, Florida for DailyMail.com Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has been making overt pitches for black and Hispanic support at rallies before mostly white crowds, plans to meet with black and Hispanic activists inside Trump Tower on Thursday. The activists will be part of a Republican Leadership Initiative, a Republican Party effort to get interns involved in political campaigns to take back the White House, from Trump's home borough of Queens. 'This is part of his Hispanic outreach, and I think he wanted to explain where he is and why he is a benefit to the Hispanic community, Representative Bob Turner, who is helping organize the event, told Yahoo News, who reported on the meeting. The Trump Tower meeting, which reportedly was originally to take place in Queens, is the latest outreach by Trump, who in speeches going back to last week has been making extended appeals to black voters, telling them they are living in 'war zones' with failing schools and asking, 'What do you have to lose?' by backing Trump. Scroll down for video Republican Donald Trump plans to meet with black and Hispanic activists at Trump Tower on Thursday, his latest in a series of appeals to minority voters in his public speeches 'What do you have to lose?' Trump asked in Lansing, Michigan last week, about 90 minutes from struggling Detroit. 'You're living in poverty, your schools are no good, you have no jobs, 58 percent of your youth is unemployed. What the hell do you have to lose?' Trump continued on the theme in a speech in Akron Monday. 'Our government has totally failed our African American friends, our Hispanic friends and the people of our country. Period,' Trump said, arguing that Democrats have 'failed.' 'Poverty. Rejection. Horrible education. No housing, no homes, no ownership. Crime at levels that nobody has seen. You can go to war zones in countries that we are fighting and it's safer than living in some of our inner cities that are run by the Democrats.' 'You'll be able to walk down the street without getting shot. Right now, you walk down the street, you get shot,' Trump said bluntly. 'And I ask you this, I ask you this crime, all of the problems to the African Americans who I employ so many, so many people. To the Hispanics, tremendous people: What the hell do you have to lose? Give me a chance. I'll straighten it out. I'll straighten it out. What do you have to lose?' Trump has spoken bluntly to black communities about what he casts as crumbling inner cities, telling them, 'Right now, you walk down the street, you get shot' Trump will reportedly tour rough Detroit neighborhoods along with supporter Dr. Ben Carson, who grew up there Trump has made his appeals to minority voters to audiences that are mostly white. Here a protester disrupts a rally in Austin, Texas where Trump spoke Tuesday night Trump's appeals to minority voters have been well received by his crowds The Washington Post reported that Trump is planning upcoming visits to black churches, shops, and schools as part of a new 'empowerment agenda' he is developing. Having compared inner cities to 'war zones,' Trump is considering a September visit to Detroit along with supporter and former primary rival Ben Carson, who would tour some of the rough neighborhoods where he grew up. The trip through Carson's past could recall how Trump mocked his rival during the primaries for Carson's inspiration story, told throughout his speeches and writings, that he narrowly survived a stabbing after being saved by his belt buckle. Trump ridiculed the tale last November. 'So I have a belt: Somebody hits me with a belt, it's going in because the belt moves this way. It moves this way, it moves that way,' Trump told a crowd while examining his own belt. 'He hit the belt buckle. Anybody have a knife? Want to try it on me? Believe me, it ain't gonna work. You're going to be successful, but he took the knife and went like this and he plunged it into the belt and, amazing, the belt stayed totally flat and the knife broke.' The Post described the appeal as being an effort as being 'to counter the view of many that he is a 'racist.'' A New York Times report described internal Trump polling showing voters describing him as 'unqualified' and a 'racist.' Trump's outreach efforts may be inhibited by some of his past comments. He began his campaign with a call to stop Mexican 'rapists' from coming into the country. In the 1970s, he fended off an enforcement action for alleged violations of federal housing anti-discrimination laws. After Trump's comments about a Mexican-American judge overseeing a case against Trump University, rival Hillary Clinton didn't directly say whether she thought Trump was racist, but responded: 'Well, I don't know what's in his heart,' before calling it a 'a racist attack.' Trump's move goes alongside other outreach efforts. Trump addressed his tough immigration proposals with host Sean Hannity on Fox News Tuesday, saying, 'There certainly can be a softening because we're not looking to hurt people.' The meeting fills a slot in Thursday's schedule created by a speech on immigration that was being organized in Denver. Patience Chukwu, 40, was robbed as she made her way to hospital to give birth to her baby boy (with whom she is pictured) A pregnant woman was robbed as she made her way to hospital to give birth in a shocking attack which left her newborn baby fighting for his life. Patience Chukwu, 40, was in labour and making her way to Homerton Hospital, north east London, when she stopped and leaned against a wall so she could catch her breath. But, as she was talking to her sister on her mobile, a thug riding a BMX approached the expectant mother and tried to snatch her Samsung Galaxy. The man then launched a 'senseless' attack on the pregnant mother, beating her repeatedly as she pleaded with him to stop. The attack was so brutal that, when she arrived at hospital, her baby was found to have no heartbeat. He was then forced to stay in intensive care for one week while doctors battled to save his life. Speaking about the horrific attack, she told the Evening Standard: 'I never expected that a heavily pregnant woman in labour would be robbed. My belly would have been huge. 'As he was robbing me, I was begging him: "Please, I'm in labour, please". That boy is wicked and I want them to catch him before he attacks someone else.' Ms Chukwu had left her home in north London to catch a bus to the hospital when she was confronted by the man as she spoke to her sister - who was her birthday partner - on the phone. She initially thought he was asking for directions, but he suddenly snatched the phone from her hand. Ms Chukwu then attempted to fight back, grabbing the hood on the thief's jumper to stop him fleeing from the scene. But, as she did, she was dragged along the street behind his bike. The expectant mother, who already has a girl named Kishi, aged four, was rushed to hospital by ambulance where the baby Kamsi Kishi (with whom she is pictured) was found to have no heartbeat Ms Chukwu pleaded with the man to stop, telling him she was pregnant, but he raised his right arm to swing at her pregnant stomach. In a desperate bid to shield her unborn child, Ms Chukwu bent forward, taking the punch on her head. The thug then punched her twice more in the face, causing her glasses to crash to the floor, before fleeing from the scene. Ms Chukwu managed to call out to a man who was walking by, who tried to chase the culprit, but could not catch him. Police have released an efit of the thug who launched the attack and are appealing for the public's help in tracking him down Ms Chukwu added: 'This whole incident has upset me more than I can describe', she said. 'I already suffered from anxiety before this, and now I am scared whenever a bike goes past me - it's affecting me living my life.' Neighbours in Leadale Street, Stamford Hill - where the attack took place - rushed to give Ms Chukwu a chair and water before calling police and paramedics. The expectant mother, who already has a daughter, aged four, was rushed to hospital by ambulance where the baby boy was found to have no heartbeat. Her son Kamsi Kishi then had to be induced and was kept in critical care unit for a week due to complications before being allowed home. He now suffers from seizures as a result of the attack. 'I was really looking forward to a happy, healthy birth, and now I cry whenever I see my son jerking in his sleep from the stress that was caused when he was in the womb,' she said. 'I worry every day whether he will be ok.' The attacker is described as a black man, aged between 18 and 20. He is described as short, of medium build, with shaven hair and brown eyes. Witnesses say he was wearing a grey hooded top and has a slim face with pronounced cheek bones and rough, pock-marked complexion. Detective Inspector Paul Ridley, from Hackney CID, admitted that the efit was their last line of enquiry and that they had 'exhausted everything'. 'Such a violent, unprovoked attack on a busy street in the mid-morning is fortunately rare, but has had devastating consequences for Patience and her son,' he said. The attack took place in Leadale Road, Stamford Hill, north London, on June 26 'All the robber got away with was a mobile phone, but the impact his actions have had will last this family a lifetime. 'We really need the public's help to track down this man. We believe that the e-fit shows a good likeness of him, so I would appeal to anyone who knows him to get in contact with us and tell us who he is. 'The man who did this will have family and friends who will know who he is and I would ask those people to come forward and tell us where to find him. He was undoubtedly aware that she was pregnant - to use such violence was appalling and senseless.' He added: 'There may also be other people who were in Leadale Road that day who we have not yet spoken to, who may have seen the attack or the suspect getting away on his bike. 'His escape route is near to the River Lea so people walking their dogs or runners may have seen him fleeing. Please get in touch as your information may well help.' Panicked passengers told how they were 'f****** petrified' today after a Thomson flight was forced to make a U-turn just moments after take-off due to a birdstrike. Two loud bangs were heard in mid-air and smoke was seen pouring from the engine after the passenger plane struck a bird after leaving Birmingham this afternoon. The 189-seater Boeing 737, which was heading to Paphos, Cyprus, was forced to do a U-turn and immediately return to the Midlands airport after the incident at 2.05pm. Passenger Emily Currey exclusively told MailOnline how she has 'never been so scared in her life' after being told to brace for an emergency landing on the plane. Passenger Emily Currey, 26, (pictured) told MailOnline how she was left 'f****** petrified' and has 'never been so scared in her life' after being told to brace for an emergency landing A flight radar map showing the Thomson flight 7352 making multiple attempts to turn around and return to Birmingham Airport this afternoon following the 'two loud bangs' being heard The 26-year-old, from Northampton, was travelling to Cyprus with her family to celebrate her brother's recent wedding when the drama unfolded this afternoon. She told MailOnline: 'All of a sudden we were told we were going to do an emergency landing. There's fire engines, fire helicopters. Apparently a bird flew into our engine. I'm f******* petrified! I've never been so scared in my life, I was proper panicking. There was a loud bang.' She added: 'It's so annoying as we won't get to Cyprus until late now, and we've heard we might be going on the same plane which we aren't happy about. 'We're being kept on the plane, we're still on it while the engineers have a look at what's wrong. Some people are getting off because they don't feel safe.' The passenger plane has since been evacuated and passengers are waiting to hear from Thomson. One person said on Twitter: 'Birmingham-Pafos just returned to Birmingham after short hold immediately after take off. 'Two bangs and smoke from engine.' Another, called Matty P, wrote: 'Any news on a Thomson flight from Birmingham? Took off about half hour ago, 2 bangs and smoke coming from engine.' The Thomson flight left Birmingham Airport this afternoon and was headed to Paphos, Cyprus, but was forced to turn around immediately after take-off due to 'two loud bangs' (file picture) A spokesman for Birmingham Airport confirmed that the incident was caused by a birdstrike. They said the pilot made the decision to immediately return to the airport and the plane landed safely. There were no injuries to passengers or the crew on board. The spokesman added that the plane has since been grounded and that all passengers remain at Birmingham Airport while they await to hear from Thomson. It is believed that the travel firm will arrange for another aircraft to be available from Birmingham so they can continue with their journeys to Paphos later this evening. It is not yet known what caused the problem but the plane has returned to Birmingham Airport A spokesman for the airline said: 'Thomson Airways is sorry for the delay caused to passengers on board flight TOM7352 from Birmingham to Cyprus. 'The aircraft returned to Birmingham as a precautionary measure following a suspected bird strike. 'The plane landed safely for a routine inspection and customers will be on their way to Cyprus as soon as possible. Geraldo Rivera took to Twitter Tuesday night to lash out at claims being made by Andrea Tantaros in her sexual harassment lawsuit against Fox News and Roger Ailes. The frequent Fox News guest seem to take issue with Tantaros' allegations against Ailes and her revealing of insulting statements Ailes reportedly made about her co-workers. 'That some allegations vs #FoxNews personnel obviously false is 1 thing- That @brianstelter & other competitors embrace crap shows true intent,' wrote Rivera in a tweet referencing the CNN media reporter. When Stelter took issue with Rivera's tweet and said he had not published many of the claims being made Rivera responded by writing: 'Lawsuit you reference is not sincere legal document. It is a vindictive screed designed to damage reputations & hurt feelings.' Rivera, who is close friends with Ailes, previously went after Gretchen Carlson when she filed a sexual harassment suit against the disgraced Fox News executive, writing on Twitter: 'I've known him 40 years. He's about as flirty as the grizzly in #TheRevenant. I stand with Roger Ailes.' Then, after Ailes officially stepped down and walked away with a $40million severance in the wake of multiple women coming forward and making sexual harassment allegations about the man Rivera tweeted: 'Oh the grotesque unfairness of life'. Scroll down for video Lashing out: Geraldo Rivera responded to Andrea Tantaros' lawsuit against Fox News and Roger Ailes on Twitter by calling some of her claims 'crap' (Elizabeth and Roger Ailes, Erica and Geraldo Rivera in January 2015) Awful: Kimberly Guilfoyle (right), host of The Five, was allegedly called a 'Puerto Rican w****,' 'easy,' and a 'Puerto Rican street fighter' by Ailes, according to Tantaros, left Rivera appears to be taking issue with Tantaros detailing the less than flattering remarks that Ailes allegedly made about a number of Fox News hosts in her lawsuit. Among those she names are The Five host Kimberly Guilfoyle, claiming that Ailes called her a 'Puerto Rican w****,' 'easy,' and a 'Puerto Rican street fighter.' Tantaros, 37, also claims that the disgraced executive once asked her if Guilfoyle was sleeping with her The Five co-host Eric Bolling. When reached by DailyMail.com, a flustered-sounding Kimberly Guilfoyle said: 'Im not taking any calls. Have a nice day.' Ailes also had an odd obsession with the sexuality of his employees claims Tantaros, asking her once if Greg Gutfeld, host of The Greg Gutfeld Show, was gay. He also asked if political pundit and former White House Press Secretary Dana Perino was a lesbian, Tantaros claims in the lawsuit. That was then followed by Ailes asking if Perino and Gutfeld were 'sleeping together' claims Tantaros. Ailes also allegedly called Gretchen Carlson 'nuts'; Catherine Herridge 'a stalker'; Shannon Bream's voice 'annoying'; and said that Maria Bartiromo 'got so fat.' Speaking about Monica Crowley, Ailes allegedly said: 'If I ever had to go on a date with her, Id jump out the window.' In the lawsuit Tantaros also claims that Ailes once said: 'Harris [Faulkner] has to be careful. She has the tendency to look like the angry black woman.' And after Tantaros and Stacey Dash had an on-air disagreement Ailes allegedly said to her: 'I heard you were mean to the black girl.' Sexuality: Ailes allegedly asked if The Five host Greg Gutfeld (left) was gay and if pundit Dana Perino (right) was a lesbian Not good: Ailes also allegedly referred to Stacey Dash (above in June) as 'the black girl' and said that Harris Faulkner 'has the tendency to look like the angry black woman' Not flattering: Gretchen Carlson (left) was allegedly called 'nuts' by Ailes, and Maria Bartiromo (right) 'fat' Tantaros is claiming in her lawsuit against the network that both Ailes and Bill O'Reilly subjected her to unwanted sexual advances while she worked there. TANTAROS LAWSUIT DEMANDS FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION: SEXUAL HARASSMENT -Tantaros seeks no less than $5 million in damages for lost income and mental anguish as a result of the unwanted sexual harassment from Roger Ailes. SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION: RETALIATION -Tantaros seeks no less than $5 million in damages for lost income and mental anguish for being subject to 'adverse actions' by all defendants in the case when she reported being harassed by Ailes. THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION: SEXUAL HARASSMENT -Tantaros seeks no less than $5 million damages for lost income and mental anguish and punitive damages of $10 million for the 'illegal conduct perpetrated by Fox News and Ailes' and for acting with 'with malice and reckless indifference to [her] rights. FOURTH CAUSE OF ACTION: RETALIATION -Tantaros seeks no less than $5 million damages for lost income and mental anguish and punitive damages of $10 million for Fox News and the defendants adverse reactions which 'were a direct result of her having engaged in protected activity at Fox News and were reasonably likely to deter her from engaging in protected activity.' FIFTH CAUSE OF ACTION: RETALIATION Tantaros seeks no less than $3 million damages and punitive damages of $6 million for Fox News and the defendants interference with the promotion of her book Advertisement 'Fox News masquerades as a defender of traditional family values, but behind the scenes, it operates like a sex-fueled, Playboy Mansion-like cult, steeped in intimidation, indecency and misogyny,' claims Andrea Tantaros in the lawsuit, which was filed on Monday in New York State Supreme Court. Tantaros goes on to claim in the suit that she was taken off the air when she complained about being sexually harassed by Ailes. She is now asking for approximately $50 million in the lawsuit, which also names the network's current co-president Bill Shine, Executive Vice President Dianne Brandi, publicist Irena Briganti and Executive Vice President Suzanne Scott as defendants. Tantaros got her start on the network as a commentator before moving to The Five and later Outnumbered. The switch to Outnumbered came after a meeting with Ailes in which Tantaros claims the former CEO told her to turn around 'so I can get a good look at you.' Tantaros claims that because she refused to do this she was demoted to a less-watched news program. She also claims that Ailes once asked her to perform 'the twirl' for him; said 'come over here so I can give you a hug'; and told her 'I bet you look good in a bikini.' O'Reilly meanwhile invited Tantaros to his Long island home to stay with him, telling her it would be 'very private' she claims in her lawsuit, also telling her that he could 'see [her] as a wild girl' and that she had a 'wild side.' Tantaros said that she and her agent told Shine, Scott, and Brandi about numerous examples of Ailes's alleged harassment. 'Ailes did not act alone,' claims Tantaros in her lawsuit. Nicholas Sarkozy today pledged to dramatically reduce the number of foreigners in France as he criticised multiculturalism in Britain. The former French president vowed to take a tough stance forcing newcomers to integrate with a ban on headscarves in some workplaces as he launched his bid to win back power. Setting out his policies in a book Everything for France published today, he wrote: We are not Anglo-Saxons who allow communities to live side by side while ignoring one another. It is time to engage in a determined combat against multiculturalism. Nicholas Sarkozy (pictured) today pledged to dramatically reduce the number of foreigners in France as he criticised multiculturalism in Britain as he launched his bid to win the Republican nomination ahead of next year's presidential election New arrivals must embrace French ways he said, adding they must adopt not just with nationality but also with values, culture and way of life. Mr Sarkozy, 61, was unseated in 2012 by Francois Hollande, but he is running to get the nomination of his Republican party for next years presidential election. His socialist successor has slumped to become the least popular French leader in post-war France with four out of five people saying they do not want him to seek re-election. Mr Sarkozy is seeking to demonstrate he can see off the threat of Front National candidate Marine Le Pen with his tough stance on immigration and security. Islamist attacks on French soil have killed some 230 people since January 2015 and Europe's migrant crisis has fuelled the rise of far-right. Mr Sarkozy has promised that any foreigner wishing to become French will have to spend at least 10 years in France before seeking citizenship, compared with five years now. Economic migration must stop during the next five-year presidential term, he has said. The right of legal immigrants to bring to France immediate family members will be suspended until there is a coherent immigration policy at the European level. Nicholas Sarkozy, 61, was unseated in 2012 by Francois Hollande (pictured yesterday, left as he greeted Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi for a mini summit in Lazio), but he is running to get the nomination of his Republican party for next years presidential election Islamist attacks on French soil have killed some 230 people since January 2015, including 86 in the Bastille Day attack in Nice last month when a terrorist deliberately drove a lorry (pictured) into crowds celebrating the historic day By promising to ban the Muslim head scarf from universities and public companies he furthermore presents himself as a defender of the secular state that is a key part of France's identity. Mr Sarkozy said France's biggest battle would be how to defend our lifestyle without giving into the temptation of cutting ourselves off from the rest of the world, a veiled reference to the Brexit vote. His main rival for the partys nomination is Bordeaux mayor Alain Juppe who has so far led him in polls of the wider electorate, but he is beginning to catch up. And a survey of party members published on Tuesday showed Mr Sarkozy had 63 per cent support compared to 36 per cent for Mr Juppe, 71. After his May 2012 defeat to Mr Hollande, Mr Sarkozy promised to quit politics altogether, but returned to the fray in September 2014 citing the need to rescue France from what he described as the socialist's catastrophic presidency. During his time in office, Mr Sarkozys friendships with the rich, powerful and the world of showbiz earned the nickname President Bling Bling. His comments on immigration come as there is a row in Cannes over the banning of burkinis on beaches. Victim: Jalal Uddin, 71, was allegedly murdered by 'Isis supporters' Mohammed Hussain Syeedy, 22, and Mohammed Abdul Kadir, 24, who has since fled to Syria Two ISIS supporters caved in an imam's skull with a hammer because they 'hated' his 'black magic' before one fled the country for Syria, a court heard today. Jalal Uddin, 71, was walking home after prayers at his mosque in Rochdale, Lancashire, when he was battered to death in a playground in February. In one of the first cases of a murder on British soil allegedly inspired by ISIS, Mohammed Abdul Kadir and Mohammed Hussain Syeedy had become fixated with the terror group's condemnation of a traditional form of healing Mr Uddin performed for local families, a jury was told. Kadir is missing and may be in Syria having boarded a flight from Manchester three days after the killing to Copenhagen in Denmark before flying to Istanbul in Turkey. Syeedy was arrested in Rochdale and denies murder at Manchester Crown Court. The friends were said to have regarded him as a magician, with the imam dubbed Voldemort after the evil wizard in Harry Potter. The practice called ruqya involves writing spells or verses in Arabic on paper which is put in a container worn around the neck to protect against evil spirits or bring about positive events. Crime scene: Mr Uddin was found with severe fractures to his skull administered with a hammer as he walked past a children's play area near Rochdale town centre Plot: Two ISIS supporters decided to murder Jalal Uddin after they saw this photograph of the former imam who they regarded as a 'magician' - with Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk (on the right) at the end of last year, a court heard today Prosecutor Paul Greaney, QC, said ISIS regards ruqya as black magic and believes those who engage in it deserve severe punishment, even death. As supporters of ISIS, Syeedy and Kadir subscribed to that view and developed a hatred of Mr Uddin, he added. The pair initially plotted to report the Bangladeshi national, who came to Britain in 2002 to work as an imam, to the immigration authorities in the hope he would be deported for overstaying his visa, Mr Greaney said. They allegedly turned to murder after seeing a photograph of Mr Uddin with Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk last December. A friend shared it with Syeedy on Whatsapp with the message 'Oh c**p Voldermort (sic) never gonna be busted by immigration now', Mr Greaney said. He added that the inference was they believed Mr Uddin being associated with an MP meant the deportation plan might not work. Eight weeks later the pair put their plan into effect, he said. Syeedy is said to be the getaway driver on the night of the attack with the prosecution saying he knew full well that Kadir intended to kill or seriously harm Mr Uddin. When arrested, the defendant gave a statement which read: 'I am not guilty of any offence in relation to the death of Mr Jalal Uddin. I make this statement believing it to be true and that it may be produced in evidence.' Police found a large volume of ISIS-related material on various devices said to belong to Syeedy at his family home, including many photographs of him and his friends - including Kadir - raising ISIS one-finger salutes. Prosecutor Paul Greaney QC told the jury: 'Our submission is that the combination of circumstances demonstrates beyond doubt that Mohammed Hussain Syeedy intentionally assisted and encouraged an attack by Kadir upon Jalal Uddin that was intended to cause that man really serious harm, if not kill him.' Mr Uddin suffered multiple injuries to his head and face in the attack, thought to have involved a hammer, in South Street, Rochdale, after he visited his local mosque for evening prayers and a friend's house for a meal. His form of healing - Ruqya - involved the use of amulets, known as taweez. Brutal: Syeedy is said to have driven the getaway car while his friend Kadir struck the fatal blows to kill and also 'humiliate' the Muslim scholar, it was said In the dock: Mohammed Syeedy, who is on trial for murder at Manchester Crown Court and arrested in this street, denies murder and his alleged accomplice Kadir has apparently fled abroad ISIS is said to follow a trend in Islam known as Salafism, whose followers argue Islam has strayed from its roots and should return to the practice of the seventh century, the court heard. Giving expert evidence, Professor Robert Gleave, Professor of Arabic Studies at the University of Exeter, said: 'For Salafis, if the person prepares a taweez they have committed a sin but someone who continuously practises has moved into the area of unbelief.' Prof Gleave said punishment for continuous practice would be execution, while he added that ISIS had been known to behead people who it considered to have practised magic. He said Ruqya was 'usually seen as a positive form of magic practised by experts and providing a service to the community', to either protect people from harm or give a blessing such as wealth or conception. He added there was also a view that the supernatural world existed but it should not be 'meddled in'. Syeedy denies murder - the trial continues. 'FAITH HEALER' NEVER ADVERTISED WORK THAT HIS 'KILLERS' CONSIDERED BLACK MAGIC PUNISHABLE BY DEATH Jalal Uddin had not advertised his skill in Ruqya but that word spread within the community and people would go to him for help. The court was told that jurors are to hear evidence from Professor Robert Gleave from the University of Exeter who is the Professor of Arabic Studies. Mr Greaney said that Prof. Gleave is regarded as an expert in the history of Islamic thought, with a particular emphasis on the justification for violence and political thought within the Muslim religion. Mr Greaney said: 'Prof Gleave explains that magic is a controversial topic in Islam. Generally it is divided into black magic and white magic. Black magic involves the use of spirits or demons, often referred to as Jinn to carry out harmful acts against individuals. 'White magic generally includes the use of charms, incantations and amulets used for personal protection from evil spirits or to bring about fortuitous events such as pregnancy. The amulets are often called Taweez.' He added that the word 'amulet' in this context refers to an object worn by a person, constituted to perform a 'supernatural function - either warding off an evil spirit or attracting some positive result'. Mr Greaney continued: 'They involve the magician writing a series of magic formulae on a piece of paper, folding or rolling it and then placing it in a small box or other receptacle. 'The person who has requested the Tazeez then keeps it with himself or herself at all times in order for example to guard against the evil spirit.' He said that it was sometimes worn around the neck but often not because the wearer may 'attract criticism or attack' and is instead sewn into clothing. Mr Greaney added: 'Magic is not regarded as evil or impermissible by all forms of Islam. All Islamic scholars regard black magic as forbidden, but many regard white magic as acceptable so long as it is carried out by someone skilled in its practice. 'However there is a trend in Islam known as Salafism, whose supporters argue that Islam has strayed from its roots and should return to the practice of the seventh century. 'Salafis reject all forms of magic, whether white or black and belived that those who practice magic should be punished often by death. 'ISID subscribes to Salafism and so ISIS adheres to the view that practice magic of any type should be punished. 'This explains why the defendant and Kadir and indeed others developed a hatred of Jalal Uddin and started to wish him harm because they are of course, as we have sought to explain supporters and followers of ISIS and its views.' Advertisement A 10-year-old girl has written a heartfelt letter to her school asking permission for relationships after a teacher said the pupils were too young for them. Una, of Melbourne, provided her teachers with a well thought-out list of reasons for permitting relationships at her age. She said she 'strongly believed' pupils should be allowed relationships and said not allowing them was 'outrageous'. The year five pupil listed her main reason for wanting relationships allowed as 'helping us handle big emotions'. 'No teacher expects a... child to be able to read in a day they need to practice,' she wrote. A copy of the letter Melbourne schoolgirl Una wrote to her primary school on the topic of relationships between pupils The Melbourne primary school pupil wanted relationships to be allowed (stock image) Closely following was: 'love, of course, a normal part of life'. 'Almost every single human being loves someone at least once in their life. And so do children at this school.' Her mother Penni posted a copy to her blog to encourage conversation about the issue. Shes said she encouraged Una to write the letter so she could discuss the issue rather than having it shut down. 'Primary school is the place where you can teach social and emotional intelligence... your're still talking about how to have friendships and relationships,' Mrs Russon told Daily Mail Australia. 'I think everyone is nervous as soon as you start talking about romance. A principal from unidentified school said it did not have any particular rules about relationships and that they were not banned (stock image) '(But) it's a really good time to talk about consent because you can talk about consent in a range of topics that don't necessarily involve sex,' the mother added. 'No means no is such a simple message to teach kid.' However, Mrs Russon also believed the school had been trying to set physical boundaries and reduce distractions. A principal from unidentified school told The Herald Sun it did not have any particular rules about relationships and that they were not banned. 'We know schoolyard romances are a part of growing up.' they will destroy you and your family, and he will probably walk' One victim claims board's lawyer told her not to bother with cops, because ' Board concluded there was no 'good-faith' evidence of criminal behavior In November last year Stewart handed over his medical licence without a public hearing and review board never passed the charges to police Stewart admitted convincing at least one patient to strip being fondling her breasts and touching her genitals Victims claim he told them they were possessed and left the house at night to commit Kyle Stewart, 68, a psychiatrist from Oklahoma, was surrendered his licence in 2014 after allegations of sexual assault An Oklahoma psychiatrist was allowed to quietly retire despite allegations by two patients that he used stories of witchcraft and demons in order to abuse them. Kyle L Stewart, 68, a married father from the small town of Bartlesville, north of Tulsa, retired in November last year after agreeing to surrender his medical licence following allegations of sexual misconduct. But he was never subject to a criminal investigation after the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision decided not to pass the allegations to police, and never had to undergo a public hearing as part of the deal. Now disturbing new claims have come to light - including how Stewart preyed on his clients' religion to attack them - as one victim says she wanted to take her case to the police, but was persuaded not to by the medical board's attorney. The first victim, who suffered from anxiety and depression after being sexually molested as a child, began seeing Stewart around eight years ago, the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise reported. She left a short time afterward, describing Stewart as 'weird', but returned to his practice in 2013 after attending a church where he was the deacon. Stewart was one of only a handful of practitioners in the town, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Toward the latter part of that year, the victim says that Stewart began touching her in 'progressively inappropriate ways.' Despite admitting getting one patient to undress before molesting her, Stewart (pictured with his wife Jeralyn) was never subjected to a criminal investigation and never had a hearing The victim said Stewart convinced her that she was afflicted by evil spirits, and that fallen angels could be inside her. She also claims that Stewart said her mother had given her over to witchcraft while she was still in the womb, and that at night she left her house to perform satanic rituals in the woods without knowing it. The victim said Stewart 'terrified' her by praying over her and saying an exorcism may need to be performed. At one point the victim says she recounted a dream in which she danced with Jesus, so Stewart asked her to dance with him in his office. During a later session of dancing, Stewart allegedly kissed her on the neck and chest while fondling her buttocks and breasts. By Stewart's own admission during a malpractice hearing, he held session during which the victim was naked. In testimony, Stewart said: 'What I recollect was there were time when I touched her - her breasts at times and also touched her vaginal area.' Asked whether the touching was above or underneath clothing, Stewart replied that 'there was no clothing'. Asked to elaborate on the nature of the genital touching, he said: 'I touched that area of her body, it gave her pleasure. And that's what happened.' One of the victims also recalled a point at which Stewart stripped and laid on top of her while she was on the couch. She said: 'He sat me down on the sofa. He took his clothes off and climbed on top of me. And I was just crying. 'I couldnt believe that I was in this position, and I didnt know whether to scream or what to do.' Two of Stewart's patients say he told them they were possessed and may need exorcisms before carrying out sexual assaults at his former clinic (pictured) The first victim said she tried to alert authorities, but Stewart told her it would be useless because he was friends with the District Attorney, who went to his church. Eventually she confided in a social worker, who contacted the medical licencing board who in turn confronted Stewart in September 2015. Minutes from meetings between the board and Stewart reveal how he brokered a deal with them, in which he would voluntarily surrender his licence in return for not having to undergo a hearing. Minutes also show the board considered reporting the incident to the District Attorney, but decided against it. The first victim recalled one member of the board putting the idea forward, and the others shooting it down, saying it 'wasn't their job'. The victim said she also asked attorney Joe Ashbaker whether she should take the case to the police, and was told 'they will destroy you and your family, and he will probably walk.' Ashbaker recalls that the victim suggested going to the DA's office, and he told her she would have to go to the police instead because the DA is not an investigative agency. Shortly afterward Stewart announced his retirement, saying he wanted 'to focus on my family and health', which prompted a second victim to come forward with near-identical allegations. Despite this, the claims were still not passed to police after the medical board told the second victim that there were no criminal charges to answer. It has since emerged that Andi Higbee, another of Stewart's patients, reported believing that she was possessed and unknowingly took part in satanic rituals after dark before killing herself in 2003. Dailymail.com attempted to contact Stewart for comment, but the only number listed on public record has been disconnected. Jewish dad and his six children were left This is the shocking moment a young Jewish family endured a tirade of anti-Semitic abuse while on a day-out. In an alarming clip of the incident a man can be heard telling the group - which included a child of three and a nine-week-old baby: 'Don't come round here, go to Stamford Hill, you're not welcome.' The family, who wish to remain anonymous, were planning to take the Emirates airline cable car near Excel in east London on Monday when they were subjected to the insults. In an alarming clip of the incident a man's voice can be heard telling the group, 'Don't come round here, go to Stamford Hill, you're not welcome' The children's father, 32, said: 'I heard shouting, quite aggressively, aimed towards myself and my family. 'This guy who was walking with two children and a lady in front of them started to shout "f****** Jews, go back to Isra-hell. Don't come round here, go to Stamford Hill, you're not welcome". He continued again and again. He sounded very aggressive. 'My children all started crying, they were terrified. They were very scared and they didn't sleep that night at all. I don't think they will forget this very quickly. It was disgusting.' The six children are aged 10, eight, seven, five, three and nine weeks. Jewish community security group Shomrim, which is supporting the family, highlighted the case by posting the video footage to their Twitter feed on Wednesday. The victim said: 'My children all started crying, they were terrified. They were very scared and they didn't sleep that night at all. I don't think they will forget this very quickly' The family, who wish to remain anonymous, were planning to take the Emirates airline cable car near Excel in east London on Monday when they were subjected to the insults (file photo) A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'Detectives in Newham are investigating an allegation of anti-Semitic abuse which was reported to police on Monday August 22. 'The incident is said to have taken place on the same day at 5.15pm on Western Gateway, E16 near the Excel. 'A 32-year-old man states he was subjected to anti-Semitic abuse by another man.' Advertisement It's the town where time stood still. The clock on the 13-century tower in Amatrice, Italy, poignantly stopped just after Wednesday's earthquake struck at 3.36am. The town was one of the hardest hit in the disaster, with at least 17 dying there, from a total of over 70 lives lost. Scroll down for videos The clock on the 13-century tower in Amatrice, Italy, poignantly stopped just after Wednesday's earthquake struck at 3.36am The picture on the left shows how the clock tower's bell fell down, while the image on the right shows how vast tracts of Amatrice have been devastated Amatrice's clock tower was one of the few structures to survive relatively intact The clock tower was one of the few structures to survive relatively intact. It lost its bell, but some of the buildings nearby completely disintegrated. 'Half the village has disappeared,' said Amatrice mayor Sergio Pirozzi, surveying a town centre that looked as if had been subjected to a bombing raid. Pope Francis interrupted his weekly audience in St Peter's Square to express his shock. Slide me This sliding image shows how the buildings around the clock tower have been left in complete ruin 'To hear the mayor of Amatrice say his village no longer exists and knowing that there are children among the victims, is very upsetting for me,' he said. Amatrice is a hilltop beauty spot famed as the home of amatriciana, one of Italy's favourite pasta sauces. Amatrice, in fact, was due to have its annual festival honoring its namesake food on August 27-28 in the historic center now rendered to rubble. It is a popular destination for Romans seeking cool mountain air at the height of the summer. It was packed with visitors when the quake struck. The first quake measured 6.2, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), which said it occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres (six miles). It measured 6.0 according to Italian monitors, who put the depth at only four km. A 5.4-magnitude aftershock followed an hour later. Residents and photographers stand next to damaged buildings after the strong heartquake hit Amatrice A man covered in a blanket walks in front of the rubble appears to walk in children's shoes after escaping the earthquake Strong tremors were felt in the capital Rome, more than 100 miles from the epicenter near the city of Perugia - the epicentre was between Norcia and Accumoli Survivor: A dust-covered man trapped in the rubble of his home as he slept is pulled from a hole by rescuers in Amatrice this morning A disgraced former Google executive is being sued by numerous couples after the weddings held at his luxury winery were overcome with disaster which he has now abruptly closed and listed for sale, leading to entire weddings being cancelled at the last minute. Simon Tusha, who previously worked as a strategic negotiator for the tech giant, and his wife bought the 163-acre land in North East, Maryland, and turned it into the Elk Manor Winery, which was a popular wedding venue due its gorgeous view over Chesapeake Bay. But the former tech millionaire abruptly closed the property earlier this month, despite it being booked solid through September, leaving at least 50 families without a wedding venue, including some who had paid deposits just days before the announcement, the News Journal reports. Meanwhile, one couple sued the Tushas after a disastrous ceremony and there's a dedicated Facebook group where brides have posted their experiences with America's 'wedding venue from hell'. Simon Tusha, a disgraced former Google executive, is being sued by numerous couples after the weddings held at the luxury winery he owns with his wife (pictured with Tusha and their children) were overcome with disaster which he has now abruptly closed and listed for sale But Tusha's legal troubles aren't just due to aggrieved couples. Recently, attorneys for BB&T Bank argued he and his wife had defaulted on their nearly $5million loan for Elk Manor. In May, Tusha had pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States after he failed to pay taxes on millions of dollars of payments from companies competing for data center contracts for Google. The federal complaint says Tusha hid the illegal income through shell companies. He is free on a $10,000 bond and will be sentenced in January. Then, he faces up to five years in prison. Tusha insisted the payments were from personal projects and not linked to Google in an interview with the Cecil Whig. He blamed his legal predicament on poor tax advice. Earlier this month, the Elk Manor Winery in Maryland was abruptly closed but couples said that the venue had accepted deposits as recently as last month Stephanie Sieminski had to postpone her wedding to Ellijah Beckel after the venue closed five days before her ceremony was planned It also led to concerned families contacting the Tushas to ensure the booked weddings would go ahead despite his legal and financial problems. Camilla Rogers, from Bel Air, contacted him last month about her daughter's wedding in October and was told there was nothing to worry about. 'He told me unequivocally that Elk Manor was titled fully in the name of his wife and that he made a deal with the feds that Elk Manor would not be touched,' she said, according to the News Journal. Rodgers, an attorney, bought wedding insurance but she has offered to represent other couples affected by the venue's closure. The venue doesn't come cheap - a hay loft on the site costs $6,500 to rent on a Saturday night while the grand manor house with its panoramic views over the river is available for $9,500. And on Facebook, couples have said Tusha and his employees accepted deposits and reassured clients that the venue was safe from the federal lawsuit as recently as last month. It has now been listed for sale for almost $9.9million. The listing on realtor.com describes the property as: 'A VERY UNIQUE GENTLEMAN'S FARM WITH A MOTIVATED SELLER!' The venue doesn't come cheap - a hay loft on the site costs $6,500 to rent on a Saturday night while the grand manor house (above) with its panoramic river views is available for $9,500 But when announcing the property would be closed in an email to customers on August 9, the winery mentioned nothing about refunds. Instead it said that they are 'aware of the detrimental impact' the closure would have, so offered those who had already paid in full the chance to still use the venue if they would spend an extra $1,000 to hire staff who were supposed to be included in the original terms. Stephanie Sieminski was disgusted by the offer and instead booked another venue for November. Her parents spent more than $21,000 for her wedding, which she spent eight months planning, to Elijah Beckel in August. Five days before her ceremony, she came for a look at the venue late at night and found a chained gate and a sign saying 'Sorry we're closed' - and was then forced to call her 125 guests to tell them the wedding was postponed. The Elk Manor Winery was popular for weddings due its gorgeous view over Chesapeake Bay Couples are now suing the Tushas after their wedding ceremonies were cancelled at the last minute or overcome with disaster 'I think I cried at the beginning of every phone call,' Sieminski told the Journal. Now, the Tushas are facing numerous lawsuits from couples who have been forced to cancel or relocate their weddings. In a lawsuit filed last year, George and Samantha Schneider accused the Tushas of ruining their wedding in June 2015 after the venue flooded, the News Journal reports. The couple, from Pennsylvania, say the owners and staff refused to pump out rainwater or sandbag the venue. 'They stood drinking coffee and watched as guests and the caterer tried to prevent wedding guests from floating away,' the lawsuit alleges. They also said bugs plagued the guests and the DJ was forced to move around the venue numerous times to avoid the possibility of being electrocuted. Elk Manor denied the allegations. A judge dismissed the negligence complaint, but allowed the couple to proceed with their breach of contract suit. The Tushas are also being sued by their preferred caterer Rouge Fine Catering in Hunt Valley, Maryland who alleged that the couple owe more than $215,000 for 28 catering agreement since April. And last week, Laura and Thomas Kemp, of Elkton, sued the couple and the LLCs that oversee Elk Manor for almost $8,000 for their October wedding. A man who acted as a 'bodyguard' for radical preacher Anjem Choudary is facing jail after he was convicted of attacking a schoolboy in the street. Michael Coe, 35, from Greenwhich, south east London, who weighs 16st 7lb, grabbed the 16-year-old when he saw him cuddling his girlfriend, also 16, in the street in East Ham, London, in April. He demanded to know whether the teenagers were Muslim and called the girl a 'w***e' before throwing the boy against a brick wall, knocking him unconscious. The jury at Southwark Crown Court was not aware that Michael Coe, pictured right, a Muslim convert, was part of Choudary's inner circle and had attended numerous protests After seeing the young couple cuddling in the street in East Ham, London, he got out of his car and attacked them Coe then attacked a 5ft 2ins college teacher who came to the couple's rescue and tried to grab his mobile phone after he took a picture of Coe's number plate. Coe was convicted of Actual Bodily Harm and battery following a trial at Southwark Crown Court. The jury was not aware that Coe, a Muslim convert, was part of Choudary's inner circle and that he had attended numerous protests with the radical preacher. It has now been revealed that Coe has attended many protests supporting and protecting the radical preacher Anjem Choudary Anjem Choudary is an activist and critic of the UK's involvement in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan Coe has a history of violent offences, including threatening police officers with a shotgun while on parole for a knifepoint carjacking, and has spent around 12 of the last 19 years behind bars. WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT RADICALISATION BEHIND BARS? It is believed prisoners are being approached by dangerous Islamist extremists behind bars in order to drum up more support for ISIS. Following more cases being revealed, like Michael Coe, now known as Mikhaeel Ibrahim, a government-ordered review is calling for extremists to be held in separate prisons to prevent the self-styled emirs radicalising others. Ministers have confirmed planning is under way to create specialist units within the high security estate in order to remove the most dangerous extremists from the general population. Advertisement He became a Muslim in prison after meeting al-Qaeda terrorist Dhiren Barot, who was jailed for life for plotting to detonate limousines packed with gas canisters. Judge Michael Gledhill QC adjourned Coe's sentencing so that a pre-sentence report can be completed. He told the court: 'Having seen them cuddling he took offence because he thought that they were Muslims and to his way of thinking Islam prohibits such behaviour. 'He stopped to reprimand them, acting as a self-appointed enforcer.' The judge concluded Coe had told a 'pack of lies' to police after trying to 'force his religious views on others'. He said a jail sentence is 'inevitable' and that 'it will be substantial' and that he is considering a greater sentence than the guidelines suggest. Choudary (left) has strong views which he shares at protests with Coe (right) and has even been known to have praised those responsible for the 11 September 2001 and 7 July 2005 attacks 'I take the view that this man is dangerous. I believe that he poses a very high risk of committing further offences of violence when he is released from prison.' Prosecutor Jonathan Polnay told Southwark Crown Court that Coe's attack on the teenagers was 'unpleasant and utterly unwarranted'. Mr Polnay said the pair were 'doing what some 16-year-olds do all the time. They were unfortunate enough that of all the people driving by it was this defendant.' Coe, pictured outside the Old Bailey, was convicted of Actual Bodily Harm and battery Coe stopped and asked the pair if they were Muslim before grabbing the boy and lifting him up by the collar. Nearby engineering teacher Boutho Siwela witnessed the attack and photographed Coe's licence plate to identify the attacker. Coe turned on the 5ft 2in teacher, picking him up and throwing him to the ground. The prosecutor said it was 'a case of unpleasant bullying with religious overtones, in the street, followed by an attack by a 35-year-old man on a 16-year-old schoolboy.' Coe claimed to have acted in self defence despite being significantly taller and heavier than the teenage victim. When asked why he tried to grab the camera from Mr Siwela, Coe replied: 'Well obviously I didn't want to get caught init.' Naeem Mian, for Coe, denied his client was a 'religious zealot' and said it was 'grotesque' that he was not allowed to put his past behind him. Coe, of Greenwich, south east London, was convicted of one count each of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and battery. He will be sentenced on September 21. THE BODYGUARD RADICALISED BEHIND BARS Michael Coe, 35, has convictions dating back to November 1997, when he was 16. He found guilty of wounding after an attack on the estate where he grew up in Hackney, east London. Two years later, he was convicted of common assault and using threatening behaviour, but said he could not remember why. In 2001, at the age of 20, he was sent to a Young Offenders Institution for four years for robbery, although he claimed it was a case of mistaken identity and someone else was in the vehicle involved. A year later, he was convicted of violent disorder after an incident at Notting Hill Carnival, but claimed in court he was just 'walking through the crowd very fast'. In Leeds in 2006, aged 26, he was jailed for firing at police officers as he resisted arrest. He said he had been stabbed twice in prison once in the back and once in the neck and had hot oil poured over his back, arms and face, requiring skin grafts. Coe became a Muslim behind bars after meeting al-Qaeda terrorist Dhiren Barot, who was jailed for life for plotting to detonate limousines packed with gas canisters. Coe (left) at a protest in London against the Pakistani government He was met at the prison gates by Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, 33 - a key figure in banned terror group Al-Muhajiroun - who was convicted of drumming up support for Isis alongside Choudary last month. Coe was also pictured with Choudary at inflammatory protests calling for Britain to be ruled by Islamic Sharia law. He appeared in a Salafi Media video praising Osama Bin Laden and has since accepted in court having strong views about Islam and the West. In May 2013 he pleaded guilty to a religiously aggravated harassment which he was fined. Outlining this offence, Mr Polnay said: 'On that occasion an 18-year-old girl was with some friends finishing school when the defendant shouted and beckoned her over. When she reached him he became aggressive and said "why are you talking to them, it goes against your religion".' Coe stood trial at the Old Bailey last year accused of travelling to Syria to join Islamic State fighters after he was caught smuggling himself out of the country in the back of a lorry. Advertisement Hunter R. Reeser, of Harborcreek Township, is accused in the fatal shooting of his grandmother A 14-year-old Pennsylvania boy is accused of fatally shooting his grandmother because he didn't want to go to school. Hunter R. Reeser, of Harborcreek Township, is being charged as an adult with first-degree murder. Authorities say he shot 60-year-old Sandra Orton with a .22-caliber rifle on Tuesday. He then called her husband and claimed he found her wounded. But he later called 911 and confessed to killing her, police said. Cops found Orton dead in her vehicle, shot in the head. Cops say Sandra Orton, 60, was found dead inside her vehiclie in the driveway of this house in Harborcreek Township, Pennsylvania Reeser later told authorities that he didn't want to go to a school meeting. In Pennsylvania, children must be charged as adults in murder or homicide cases. Defense attorneys can later try to move the charges to juvenile court. Erie County prosecutors say they plan to oppose that. Reeser is being held without bond. Advertisement A brazen, hours-long militant attack on the American University of Afghanistan ended early on Thursday after at least 12 people were killed and dozens were wounded, a government spokesman said. According to Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi, the dead includes seven students, a security guard and two police officers. He added that the majority of those killed were shot standing by windows and that among the 37 injured were seven police officers. Earlier, Afghan special forces engaged in a fierce battle to clear the university of militants that left at least one US citizen injured when armed gunmen stormed the campus on Wednesday night. Ahmad Mukhtar, a student who fled the scene, said the gunmen had got into the university buildings despite security measures including three or four armed guards and watchtowers. He added that he believed the attack had started at the main gate into the compound. Scroll down for video Rush to secure the campus: Afghan security forces member hurries to fight off the attack on the American University in the capital Triage: A wounded person is treated in an ambulance after a complex Taliban attack on the campus of the American University in the Afghan capital Kabul Reaction: Afghan security forces rush to respond to a complex Taliban attack on the campus of the American University in the Afghan capital Kabul on Wednesday Treatment: Dejan Panic, the program director at Kabul's Emergency Hospital, said five women were wounded in the attack and had been admitted. He said three were 'seriously' wounded, probably from automatic gunfire Photo attributed to the attack on American University of Afghanistan in Kabul pic.twitter.com/EVunzOpyd3 KAZEMI, Mustafa (@CombatJourno) August 24, 2016 Under attack: The American University of Afghanistan was attacked by gunmen who detonated an explosive device to gain entry to the campus Battle: Afghan security officials secure the road leading to the American University of Afghanistan after a Taliban attack on the University 'I finished my class and was about to leave when I heard a few gunshots and a huge explosion, followed by more gunfire,' he said. 'I ran toward the emergency exit with other students, climbed the wall and jumped outside.' Kabul police chief, Abdul Rahman Rahimi, told Reuters that the attack began with a car bomb and several attackers had entered the campus. Islamist militant groups, mainly the Afghan Taliban and a local offshoot of Islamic State, have claimed a string of recent atrocities aimed at destabilizing the country and toppling the Western-backed government of President Ashraf Ghani. No one has claimed the university attack. Earlier, the Afghan Health Ministry said one security guard was shot dead and hundreds of students and American faculty staff were left trapped inside, with many taking to social media to plead for help. A huge plume of smoke was seen rising above the fortified campus as elite Afghan forces backed by American military observers surrounded the university compound and a fierce gun battle with the terrorists raged through the night. Several gunmen, some wearing suicide vests, were involved in the attack, which began at 9.30am (ET) in the western suburbs of Kabul, the official said. Many trapped inside managed to escape the onslaught of gunfire by jumping from second story windows. Teachers and students still inside the university sheltered in place as security forces moved slowly through the campus buildings to clear them while witnesses reported militants threw grenades at them. According to security officials they cut the power from the campus and deployed Apache attack helicopters. According to one student, several of his classmates were killed and wounded while another posted on Facebook: 'We are stuck in university and under attack by Taliban they are killing us.' Renowned Associated Press photographer Massoud Hossaini was one of those caught in the crossfire. He later managed to escape. The US Embassy said it was working to account for all of its personnel, a State Department spokesperson told reporters. On guard: Afghan security forces keep watch at the site of an attack in Kabul, on Wednesday night after explosions and gunfire rocked the American University of Afghanistan The attack on AUAF comes two weeks after two university staff, an American and an Australian, were kidnapped from their car by unknown gunmen. Their whereabouts are still unknown The attack began when a car bomb exploded outside a school for the blind next door to the campus before at least one attacker fired at the university from that building, a police officer told The New York Times. A 24-year-year-old student told CNN that the attack began as he was waiting for a lecture to start. He heard a 'very enormous and harsh sound' 50 meters from the classroom and realized exactly what had happened. 'Everyone looked around the room looking for an escape,' the man told CNN. 'We have an emergency exit area in the corner of the campus. It's like a gate that opens when people need to get out of campus. Everyone was running out of there.' As he was trying to flee he says he heard a second explosion. Both came from the entrance to the school. 'People were screaming for help. Everyone was screaming,' he said. According to Afghan journalist Bilal Sawary, the Kabul's CDR rapid reaction unit informed him that they were dealing with a 'complex' attack and that special forces are 'en-route'. Test: Afghan security officials secure the road leading to the American University of Afghanistan after a reported Taliban attack on the University in Kabul Help: A man wounded is assisted in an ambulance after a complex Taliban attack on the campus of the American University First response: Afghan men sit in an ambulance after they were rescued from the site of an attack Communcation: At least 10 people were killed and 26 injured when Taliban insurgents attacked the University 'We have been notified of a complex attack on the American University on Darul-Aman Road,' the commander of Kabul police's quick reaction force told NBC News as the attack began, adding, 'We still don't know the exact nature of the attack.' 'My class was over and I was planning to leave, then suddenly I heard gunshots,' said Ahmad Mukhtar, a student at the university. 'I tried to find shelter, but a blast took place and I ran towards a wall and managed to escape by climbing the wall and injured my leg,' he told the LA Times. 'Several students have been killed and injured; many students and professors are stuck,' said another student according to the LA Times. 'Some managed to escape, but we are still here. Please help us.' Fierce fighting: Afghan policemen wounded in a complex Taliban attack on the campus of the American University in the Afghan capital Kabul are treated Prime target: Witnesses say they heard explosions and automatic gunfire as the attack began. Ambulances arrived at the campus in western Kabul, but it was not immediately clear how many people had been wounded Saved: Afghan men walk towards an ambulance after they were rescued from the site of the attack Ahmad Shaheer, a student at the university, told Reuters by telephone earlier that he was trapped inside the university. 'We are stuck inside our classroom and there are bursts of gunfire,' he said. Witnesses say that multiple attackers have descended on the university campus and detonated an explosion at the gate to gain entry to the heavily fortified facility. Photographer Hossaini hauntingly tweeted 'this maybe my last tweets'. Terrifying: Massoud Hossaini - who has won the Pullitzer prize working with the Associated Press - updated his Twitter feed to say he was injured in the attack and that he feared he might die at the hands of the militants attacking the American University of Afghanistan Safe and sound: Award-winning photographer Massoud Hossaini survived the attack after earlier tweeting in fear of his life. His hand was injured by broken glass shattered during the attack Hossaini said he was in a classroom with nine students when he heard an explosion on the southern flank of the campus. FREEDOM THROUGH LEARNING: THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN AFGHANISTAN The American University in Afghanistan was opened in 2005 by former first lady Laura Bush who flew to Kabul specifically to cut the red ribbon on the school. It is Afghanistan's only private, not-for-profit and co-educational university and opened to its first 50 students in 2006. Currently has 1,700 full and part-students and has been responsible for 29 Fulbright Scholars and is partnered with Stanford, Georgetown and the University of California. Tuition per semester is roughly $3,220 in American dollars. The current campus of the university is on the site of the former American International School of Kabul. Two employees of the school were killed by a Taliban gun and bomb attack in Kabul in January 2014 along with 21 others. Advertisement 'I went to the window to see what was going on, and I saw a person in normal clothes outside. He shot at me and shattered the glass,' Hossaini said, adding that he fell on the glass and cut his hands. The students then barricaded themselves into the classroom, pushing chairs and desks against the door, and staying on the floor. Hossaini and about nine students managed to escape from the campus through a northern emergency gate. 'As we were running I saw someone lying on the ground face down, they looked like they had been shot in the back,' he said. Hossaini and the nine students took refuge in a residential house near the campus. Ahmad Shaheer, a student at the university, told Reuters by telephone during the attack that he was trapped inside the university. 'We are stuck inside our classroom and there are bursts of gunfire,' he said. Another student told NBC News that he had only just finished his class and was walking with friends when gunfire erupted and a 'massive explosion' threw them to the ground. 'We got up, and in the midst of dust ... kept running to the back of the building and climbed the walls and jumped down on the street,' said the student. 'I am in a taxi and on my way to hospital.' Another victim who managed to escape the shooting gave his name to the New York Times only as Fahim. He said the sound of gunfire sent many running for the exit and that it immediately followed a loud explosion. Fahim told the New York Times that two of his friends would be seeking medical attention after one broke his leg and they other shot in the back. Relief: CBS reporter Ahmad Mukhtar tweeted about his lucky escape from the university Cry for help: Political science student Ejaz Malikzada said that he managed to escape the attack but that his friends and other students were calling him asking for help as security forces battled the militants Another man, Qudratullah Waziri said that he was desperately waiting for news of his brother who he last spoke to on the phone while trapped inside. Talking to CNN, chemistry professor Ahmad Samin said that after the explosion the lights went out. 'It was very dark, and everyone was running. Everyone started screaming,' said US citizen Samin to CNN. 'It was the scariest moment in my life. I was just thinking about my son and daughter who are in the United States.' Samin told CNN he believes the militants struck the gate at the university's entrance with a car bomb. The president of the university Dr. Mark English earlier confirmed that the campus was under attack, saying 'We are trying to assess the situation.' Battle: Afghan journalist Bilal Sarwary tweeted that the militants are throwing hand grenades at their attackers as special forces close in on their positions Resolution: As the fight for control unfolded, Sarwary said that special forces were trying to free students and faculty members on campus 'Several gunmen attacked the American University in Kabul and there are reports of gunfire and explosions,' another official said. 'They are inside the compound and there are foreign professors along with hundreds of students.' The American State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs issued a statement on Wednesday that people should 'exercise caution, avoid unnecessary movement in the area and monitor news for updates'. Two professors, an American and an Australian were abducted from the university - where 40 percent of students are women - on August 8th, when five gunmen dressed in Afghan military uniforms kidnapped them at gunpoint from their SUV. Taliban insurgents control large swathes of Afghanistan, and local armed forces are struggling to contain them, especially in the provinces of Helmand to the south and Kunduz to the north. NATO ended its combat mission in December 2014, but thousands of troops remain to train and assist Afghan forces, while several thousand more U.S. soldiers are engaged in a separate mission focusing on al Qaeda and Islamic State. About 1,000 people turned out to mourn murdered five-year-old girl in Watkins, Minnesota Tuesday night - practically the entire town's population. Alayna Ertl was murdered on Saturday, after being kidnapped from her home by family friend Zachary Todd Anderson, who was invited to stay the night. Little Alayna's parents Matt and Kayla were the first to light candles at the service at St Anthony Catholic Church last night. The little girl, who was about to start kindergarten in two weeks, was also survived by a brother, Carter. Scroll down for video Almost the entire small town of Watkins, Minnesota turned out for a candlelight vigil in honor of a five-year-old girl who was murdered there over the weekend The service for five-year-old victim Alayna Ertle took place at St Anthony's Catholic Church (pictured above) Alayna's parents Kayla and Matt Ertle were the first two to light candles Tuesday night Visitations have been scheduled for Thursday and Friday at a local funeral home. Above, a small boy attends the service on Tuesday At the beginning of the service, the mourners released hundreds of pink and purple balloons into the sky to pay tribute to Alayna. As the balloons took off into the night sky, the song 'Let It Go' from the Alayna's favorite movie Frozen was played. 'Today we remember a little girl who was given to us as a gift,' Rev. Aaron Nett, a priest at the church who led the service, said, according to the Star Tribune. 'She had a love for others which was free and innocent.' Little Alayna's horrific murder has rocked the community, with many residents saying they never could have imagined something so gruesome happening in such a safe, small town. Family friend Zachary Anderson kidnapped Alayna (pictured) Saturday from her home and hid her body in the swamp under debris. An autopsy showed Alayna died from 'homicidal violence' 'Like a complete nightmare. It's like everybody's in shock and nobody knows how to feel. Feel anger or feel sadness or - it's just hard to put it into words how any of us feel,' Alayna Ertl's godmother and aunt Angie Adams told KARE 11. 'Its been hell,' Tom Ertl told the Star Tribune on Tuesday. Ertl is the director of the Ertl Funeral Home in Watkins and a distant cousin of the victim. 'This is just senseless. There are no words.' Dawn Kuechle was set to have Alayna in her kindergarten class at Eden-Valley Watkins Elementary School, when the school year started in two weeks. She attended the vigil on Tuesday with another kindergarten teacher at the school, where Mrs Ertl was a volunteer parent. Zachary Todd Anderson, 25, has been charged in the abduction, sexual assault and death of a five-year-old girl from Minnesota 'Horrific. Very difficult,' Kuechle called the crime. 'Just not knowing, not understanding why, and trying to understand just where we go from here.' Two visitations have been planned for Alayna at Ertl Funeral Home. One from 4 to 8pm on Thursday and another from 9 to 10am on Friday. 'Alayna gave joy to our lives by always having a smile and kind words to say,' her obituary reads. 'She loved learning from her brother and always gave the best hugs.' Meanwhile, Alayna's accused killer sits in jail on charges of murder, criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping and motor vehicle theft. Zachary Todd Anderson, 25, kidnapped Alayna early Saturday from her home in Watkins, about 70 miles northwest of Minneapolis, authorities said. An autopsy showed Alayna died from 'homicidal violence,' which included strangulation and blunt force trauma to her head, according to KSTP. The child had also been sexually assaulted, according to the criminal complaint. Anderson was a friend of the family and had been spending Friday night at the Ertl family's house. Alayna was last seen when she was put to bed around 2am Saturday. She and Anderson were gone by morning along with the family's 2002 GMC Sierra truck. He was found hours later at his family's cabin near Motley, about 80 miles to the north. When Anderson's father found out about the abduction he called the sheriff's office and reported that he believed his son was involved, according to KSTP. He said Anderson had called earlier that day and asked for permission to go to their family cabin in Motley. When Anderson's father found out about the abduction he called the sheriff's office and reported that he believed his son was involved and may have gone to their family cabin Alayna's body was discovered near Wilderness Park (pictured) outside of Motley in rural Cass County A memorial sign was posted near where Alayna's body was found. It reads: 'A life gone to soon' Investigators said they found the stolen 2002 GMC Sierra hidden in a wooded area near the cabin. They also found a single-shot 20-gauge shotgun on the kitchen table with multiple rounds spilled about. Officers told the station they also found an apparent suicide note with blood on it. Anderson was arrested after being found in knee-deep water in a swampy area shortly after police began their search. They said he had open cuts on his left wrist. Police said he told them Alayna was hidden in the swamp under some debris. He then showed them the location. Authorities came across the little girl's pink blanket sticking out from some brush in the water. After scouting the area, they found the child's lifeless body submerged in the water and hidden under brush, KSTP reported. Alayna's body was discovered near Wilderness Park outside of Motley in rural Cass County. Anderson was a co-worker of Ertl's father and had stayed at the home on previous occasions, Meeker County Sheriff Brian Cruze said Saturday night. According to the Star Tribune, Anderson does not have a previous criminal record outside of traffic violations. Anderson is being held at the Crow Wing County Jail. Jessica Hicks has spent the past two years in an Arizona jail, charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of her ex-convict boyfriend during a carjacking followed by a chaotic police chase. Only it was not Hicks who pulled the trigger, killing 26-year-old Craig Uran - it was a Phoenix police officer. Hicks, then 23, was charged under Arizonas felony murder rule, which holds that if a killing occurs during the commission of certain felonies, such as unlawful flight from law enforcement or robbery, the persons responsible for the felony can be charged with murder. Incidental 'murderess': Jessica Hicks (left) has been jailed on a first-degree murder charge in the 2014 death of her boyfriend, Craig Uran. The 26-year-old man was shot by a Phoenix police officer during a carjacking Violent scene: A SWAT officer fired once at Uran sitting behind the wheels of this stolen Ford Escape, killing him instantly Wild chase: Hicks was in the passenger seat of the stolen SUV when a police mini-tank rammed it during a chase in downtown Phoenix The same is true even if a participant in the felony is not directly responsible for the death, which was the case in Urans killing. Arizona is one of 46 states that have a felony murder rule on the books. WHAT IS THE FELONY MURDER RULE Jessica Hicks was charged with first-degree murder in Craig Urans 2014 death-by-cop under Arizonas felony murder rule, which holds that if a killing occurs during the commission or attempted commission of a felony, the person responsible for the felony can be charged with murder. The felony murder rule originated in England under the Common Law. Initially, it was strictly applied, encompassing any death that occurred during the course of a felony, regardless of who caused it. For example, if a police officer attempting to stop a robbery accidentally shot and killed an innocent passerby, the robber could be charged with murder. Most jurisdictions in the US have limited the rule by requiring that the felony must be a dangerous one or that the killing is foreseeable. A person can be charged with murder when a death happens during a felony such as kidnapping, unlawful flight from law enforcement, robbery, child molestation, sexual assault and arson. To prove felony murder, the prosecution does not need to show that the killing was intentional, but merely the result of committing another major crime. Arizona is one of 46 states that have the felony murder rule. In 24 of those states, it can be punishable by death. Advertisement For Hicks and Uran, it all started on the morning of March 18, 2014, when Uran pointed a handgun at a detective as the officer followed the suspect who was driving a stolen truck along Interstate 17, according to The Arizona Republic. A chase ensued, during which Uran and Hicks drove into an underground parking garage in a section of downtown Phoenix known as CityScape. Once inside the garage on Jefferson Street, Uran ditched the truck and carjacked an SUV from Vicky Lopez, an attorney from Mesa, telling her he had a gun, reported CBS 5. Hicks helped her boyfriend take away the victim's keys to her 2011 Ford Escape, and the duo drove off, with a caravan of police cars, including an armored vehicle known as a Bearcat, on their tail. As the SUV turned east on Jefferson Street, it was rammed by the police mini-tank, causing it to spin out of control. It eventually came to a stop on the sidewalk outside a Subway sandwich eatery. According to a probable cause statement cited by Phoenix New Times, police vehicles attempted to pin the carjacked SUV to the wall of the Subway restaurant, but Uran 'attempted to accelerate, refusing to follow officers' commands to stop trying to drive away.' The document goes on to say that a SWAT officer, fearing for the lives of bystanders milling about on the sidewalk, fired his rifle once, killing Uran. Police later would say that they had to shoot Uran also because he was observed ducking as if to pick up a gun. Hicks, who was sitting in the passenger seat, was then dragged out of the vehicle through the window, handcuffed and slammed to the ground by police. She was charged with first-degree murder in her boyfriend's killing, armed robbery and auto theft. Legal curiosity: Even though Hicks did not kill Uran, she was charged with his murder under Arizona's felony murder rule Troubled life: The 26-year-old is a mother-of-three who has been battling drug addiction from the time she was a teenager Accomplice: Police said Hicks actively participated in the parking garage carjacking During her initial court appearance, she was ordered held on $270,000 bail - an amount that made the young mother-of-three gasp in shock. 'There's no way I can be released? I was kidnapped,' she argued in court. Police said Hicks was not only a passenger in the stolen truck when Uran pointed a gun at the detective, but that she actively participated in the parking garage carjacking. It was later determined that the firearm that was in Uran's possession was a pellet gun that looked so realistic that it even fooled his accomplice. At the time of his death, Uran was awaiting trial on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm but had been released on $1,800 bail on November 6, 2015. His criminal record also included a prior conviction for a drive-by shooting, felony weapons possession and theft of means of transportation, for which he was incarcerated in 2009 on three-and-a-half years. Hicks, a long-time drug addict and vagrant with a troubled past, would later claim that she went along with the carjacking because she was afraid of her boyfriend, whom she described as schizophrenic and bipolar. She also said that the 26-year-old was smoking meth as he drove. The officer who shot Uran, David Norman, was cleared of any wrongdoing by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, which reviewed the case and concluded in 2014 that he did not commit any act that warrants criminal prosecution. Life of crime: At the time of his death, Uran (left and right) was awaiting trial on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm Fatal error: The firearm that was in Uran's possession during the carjacking was a pellet gun In June, a prosecutor offered Hicks a plea deal, as part of which she would have to plead guilty to a downgraded charge of manslaughter, and in return he would recommend a sentence of seven to 10.5 years in prison. Hicks's attorney rejected the offer, instead asking for time served. Donald Trump's campaign manager said in a British broadcast airing this week that 'undercover' Trump voters, invisible to traditional pollsters, will help the Republican win the White House in November. 'The hidden Trump vote in this country is a very significant proposition,' Kellyanne Conway told the UK's Channel 4 in a special broadcast titled 'President Trump: Can He Really Win?' 'I call it the "undercover Trump voter," but it's real,' she said. 'Donald Trump performs consistently better in online polling where a human being is not talking to another human being about what he or she may do in the election,' Conway explained. 'It's because it's become socially desirable, if you're a college-educated person in the United States of America, to say that you're against Donald Trump.' 'HIDDEN' VOTE: Donald Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway believes 'undercover' Trump voters will turn up on Election Day people who aren't comfortable telling a live pollster that they support the controversial Republican SILENT MAJORITY? Trump trails in national polls but Conway believes he's actually winning the race against Democrat Hillary Clinton There's evidence to support her view. Trump has performed better this year against Hillary Clinton in online and telephone push-button polls than he has in surveys that use live interviewers. OVERCONFIDENT? Hillary Clinton leads Trump by 5.9 percentage points in today's polling average, a number that could be erased by nervous Republicans who will only show their cards on Election Day A study published last December by Morning Consult, a nonpartisan digital research company, found that at that point in the GOP primary process, Trump performed 'about six percentage points better online than via live telephone interviewing.' Morning Consult sampled 2,500 people and compared what they told pollsters with what they told their computers a scenario that more closely resembles the privacy of a voting booth. The study also determined that the six-point difference was driven largely 'by adults with higher levels of education.' That suggests college-educated voters may be more tuned-in to the social acceptability of preferring one candidate over the other, making them more wary about declaring their support for Trump to another person. Ultimately, Trump underperformed many primary-season polls, leading some to believe talk of hidden voters and silent majorities is all smoke and mirrors. But Conway made similar comments two weeks ago on NBC's 'Today' show, comparing the size of Clinton's leads in various polls including one conducted exclusively online by the Reuters news agency. 'When you have online polls as opposed to telephone polls, Mr. Trump tends to do better,' she said then, 'and that's because the online polls approximate the ballot box, where you're issuing your vote privately.' 'We think there's a big hidden Trump vote in this country," Conway told NBC. STUDY: A paper published by the nonpartisan Morning Consult firm described Trump's polling disadvantage when educated Republicans become skittish about telling a live interviewer how they plan to vote WILL THEY ADMIT IT? In one study last year, Donald Trump picked up 6 percentage points in polls when people shifted from live interviews to more anonymous online surveys Speaking to the British audience, she went further suggesting that reporters and editors who want Hillary Clinton to win the White House tend to overemphasize live-interview polls in order to underestimate his level of public support. Those journalists, Conway claimed, are 'cherry-picked polling numbers that are put out there by media outlets that are also bent on his destruction.' Pollsters have written for years about the 'mode effect' of registering different survey results depending on how the data is collected. The most famous example, later dubbed the 'Bradley Effect' by political scientists, involved the Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley's failed run in the 1982 California governor's race. Pollsters reported in the days leading up to the election that Bradley, poised to become the state's first African-American governor, was far ahead of state attorney general George Deukmejian, of Armenian descent. But Deukmejian, not Bradley, won the race on election Day. 'BRADLEY EFFECT': In 1982, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley (right) lost the California governor's race to George Deukmejian despite leading him in polls largely because white voters told pollsters what they thought they wanted to hear RUNNING THEME: Conway rolled out her 'undercover' voter theory earlier this month on NBC's Sunday 'Today' show Analysts later suggested that the polls were skewed because white voters didn't want to admit they opposed a black candidate. If there's a 'Trump Effect' in 2016, it would come about because voters are shy to admit they back a newly minted politician whose opponents have branded him a bigot. Democratic pollsters, too, have fretted that it might be real. The Washington Examiner reported this month on a Democratic National Convention event attended by liberal pollster Celinda Lake. 'I worry that there is a bit of a secret Trump vote,' Lake told her audience, referring to a hidden base of white males who may hide their preferences from pollsters. 'The pattern is in the online surveys,' she admitted. 'Even if you control for demographics, Trump does three to nine points better than in telephone surveys.' 'So it really does suggest that there is a secret vote for Donald Trump.' Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus told reporters during a conference call Tuesday that Clinton's current lead in the polls averaging 5.9 percentage points according to the Real Clear Politics average will be short-lived. Advertisement As baton-wielding police stormed a French beach and ordered a humiliated woman to remove her burkini, a very different scene was unfolding today on British shores. Amid soaring temperatures of up to 33C, throngs of beachgoers flocked to Brighton beach to soak up the last of the sunshine before the washout Bank Holiday weekend. Among the crowd at the popular beach was a group of women, happily playing in the surf while wearing full traditional Islamic dress. Scroll down for video Women dressed in traditional Islamic dress were seen paddling in the surf at Brighton beach today - a scene which was a far cry from the farcical situation unfolding in France The group, made up of women and children, were seen paddling shin-deep in the water, making the most of what is expected to be the hottest day of the year. But the happy scene was a far cry from the farcical situations seen across the Channel, where a woman was ordered to strip off by officers for wearing a Muslim-style garment which was not deemed as 'proper beach attire'. In the incident, which took place last week, four burly officers were seen standing over the middle-aged woman - identified only as Siam, a former air-hostess from Toulouse - while she was quietly sunbathing on the Promenade des Anglais beach in Nice. Pointing a pepper spray canister in her face, they then ordered the 34-year-old to remove her religious garb, which is designed to protect women's modesty. The group, which was made up of women and children, were seen paddling shin-deep in the water, making the most of what is expected to be the hottest day of the year The Muslim women made the most of the sun by paddling in the surf on the beach in the shadow of Brighton pier. In France they would risk a fine for dressing in this manner Officers then fined her 11 euros for breaching newly-introduced rules which outlaw swimming costumes that cover the entire body. She was left humiliated, with her children bursting into tears as the police made her strip off. Astonishingly, Siam said police told her: 'If you turn your scarf into a headband and put it round your head you can stay on the beach.' Speaking after the incident, Siam said the 'racist' officers simply wanted to humiliate her in front of her children and other family members, even though she was not even wearing a burkini. Four French police approached a woman called Siam, who appears to be sleeping, on the Promenade des Anglais beach in Nice, southern France and ordered her to undress The woman, who was wearing a traditional headscarf and matching top, was spoken to by the officers, who have been tasked with implementing the ban on burkinis 'I wasn't even planning to swim, just to dip my feet,' said Siam, who was wearing leggings, a top, and a headscarf. Nice is one of about 15 French towns which has banned the wearing of the burkini - a full-body Islamic swimsuit which covers the head - on beaches, with authorities declaring it to contravene French secular values and threaten public order. But the vague wording of the bans, which refer to beachwear that conspicuously demonstrate a person's religion, has created confusion. A police officer appears to write out an on-the-spot ticket and fine for the woman. Nice, where the incident took place, and Cannes are among several French towns to have introduced a fine for not wearing 'appropriate swimwear' The woman is then ordered to remove the blue garment. Most of the other people on the beach on a sweltering summer's day were wearing trunks or bikinis French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve today said the burkini ban must not lead to 'stigmatisation or the creation of hostility between French people'. Meanwhile, in a separate incident, another young Muslim mother was ordered off the beach at Cannes and fined for simply wearing a headscarf. Today's events were the latest in a series of incidents in the south of France and comes after footage emerged of armed police waiting for Muslim women to come out of the sea at Cannes, and then warning them about their choice of headscarves. In a separate incident, video has emerged of armed police waiting for Muslim women to come out of the sea in Cannes before warning them about their choice of headscarves Last week, four women were fined 38 euros for wearing their burkinis on the beach in Cannes as the ban was enforced The four women were subsequently fined 38 euros for wearing their burkinis on the beach in Cannes. David Lisnard, the right wing Republican Party mayor of Cannes who introduced the burkini ban in the first place, defended the police officers' behaviour. Mr Lisnard said all 'beach dress that ostentatiously shows a religious affiliation' was unwelcome at a time when France was a target for Islamic State. The banning of the burkini in France, by the Administrative Tribunal in Nice, has been challenged by two human rights groups. It came as it emerged that burkini sales are soaring in the UK, despite the swimwear being banned at several beaches in France. Shorso, which supplies a selection of burkini-style swimwear to House of Fraser, said sales had 'more than doubled' during the summer. Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have 'outstanding work' left to do on the inquiry and may apply for even more Home Office funding. The probe into the missing youngster, who vanished during a family holiday to Pria de Luz in Portugal in 2007, was expected to be wound down by Scotland Yard. Met Police commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe announced in May that the investigation would come to an end after one last line of inquiry was looked into. Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are considering applying for more Home Office funding in a bid to find the youngster who vanished in Portugal in 2007 At the time, Theresa May granted the team 95,000 to keep the investigation going. Now, the investigation unit - which has now been scaled back from seven officers to four - will discuss the possibility of further funding with the Home Office. A force spokesman said: 'While there remains outstanding work on this case, the Metropolitan Police Service will remain in dialogue with the Home Office regarding the continuation of funding.' The British investigation, Operation Grange, was expected to be wound up after Mr Hogan-Howe said that British investigators had one remaining line of inquiry to follow and unless any new evidence came to light the probe would finish. Earlier this month, the Sunday Mirror also reported that forensic investigations by the team had ended. Kate and Gerry McCann during a press conference about their missing daughter Madeline Madeleine vanished at the age of three while on holiday with her parents in Portugal in 2007 and, despite a high-profile international hunt, no trace has ever been found. Hopes were high when the UK investigation into the little girl's disappearance was launched in 2011, with Scotland Yard detectives later highlighting a sex offender who had targeted British families with young children staying in villas in the same area where Madeleine was last seen. Despite no obvious progress since then, earlier this year the head of Scotland Yard's murder squad, Detective Chief Superintendent Mick Duthie, remained optimistic. He said: 'There is ongoing work. There is always a possibility that we will find Madeleine and we hope that we will find her alive.' An Alabama judge this morning refused bond for a Mississippi man accused of slaughtering five people and an unborn child as they slept. The decision by Judge Rick Stout came as 27-year-old Derrick Dearman made his first court appearance in Mobile County Circuit Court Wednesday. Dearman, of Leakesville, Mississippi, is charged with six counts of capital murder and two counts of kidnapping. The bodies of all five people - Shannon Melissa Randall, 35, Justin Kaleb Reed, 23, Joseph Adam Turner, 26, and Robert Lee Brown, 26, and Chelsea Marie Reed, 22, who was five months pregnant - were found inside the home in Citronelle on Saturday. Relatives of the slain victims were in court during the hearing Wednesday and on the way out of the courtroom Dearman looked over at the family members. Scroll down for video Derrick Dearman was denied bond Wednesday in the murders of five people in Alabama. On his way out of the courtroom, he looked back at the victims' relatives Dearman (pictured in a mugshot), 27, of Leakesville, Mississippi, slaughtered five people in an Alabama home as they slept using both a gun and an ax, criminal complaints allege Dearman allegedly attacked them with an ax and at least one gun as they slept, then abducted his estranged girlfriend and an infant from the home, a sheriff's captain said. Both of them were found alive. The judge appointed a defense attorney to represent Dearman. As he was being led out of the courtroom at the conclusion of the bond hearing, Dearman, dressed in a dark-blue jumpsuit with shackles on his wrists and ankles, cast a glance at the victims' relatives, who stared back at him in silence, reported AL.com. Dearman's arraignment was scheduled for next Wednesday, followed by a preliminary hearing that will be held at a later date. Meanwhile, family members of the five victims were getting ready to lay their loved ones to rest, reported WKRG. They have launched a GoFundMe page to help with the funeral expenses, which were estimated at $50,000. As of Wednesday afternoon, just over $2,000 has been raised. Mobile County District Attorney Ashley Rich told The Associated Press on Tuesday that 'by all appearances at this point' the mass killing will be a death penalty case. Among the victims were Shannon Randall, 35, Robert Lee Brown, 26, and Joseph Adam Turner, 26 (left to right) Chelsea Reed, 22, and Justin Reed, 23, (left to right) were also killed in the violent rampage She said no final decision has been reached, as the investigation is still in its early stages. Dearman has blamed the violent rampage on meth and told reporters after his arrest: 'Don't do drugs.' Speaking as he was escorted to jail, Dearman said Monday he was on methamphetamine when he went to the house. 'Drugs [were] making me think things that's not really there,' he said. After the killings, authorities said, Dearman abducted estranged girlfriend Laneta Lester, who had sought refuge at the house, and a child of two of the victims. Dearman said he spared their lives because 'I came down and realized what was really going on.' '[I] turned myself in because I was sober and knew what was the right thing to do,' Dearman said. In videotaped comments broadcast on television, Dearman expressed his love for Lester and apologized 'to all the family members'. The suspect added: 'Don't do drugs.' Speaking with reporters as he was escorted to jail, Dearman said Monday he was on methamphetamine when he went to the house Dearman (pictured) will be charged with six counts of capital murder, including one charge for the unborn child, Mobile County sheriff's spokeswoman Lori Myles said A man who said his family provided a home for Dearman and Lester earlier this year near Leakesville, Mississippi, said Dearman was often on methamphetamine and physically abused Lester during walks in the woods in rural southeast Mississippi. 'He was taking her out there and beating the c**p out of her,' said Charlie Passarelli Jr., who said he had known Dearman for years. Dearman will be charged with six counts of capital murder, including one charge for the unborn child, Mobile County sheriff's spokesman Lori Myles said. At about 1am on Saturday, someone inside the home called 911 and reported that Dearman was on the property, authorities said in a statement. Citronelle Police went to the house, but Dearman had left before officers arrived, sheriff's officials said. Before daylight Saturday, Dearman returned to the home and attacked the victims while they were sleeping. On Saturday afternoon inside a house (pictured) in Citronelle, Alabama, officers discovered the bodies of the victims Authorities said at least one gun and other, unspecified weapons were used in the killings Parents: Shannon Randall and Turner are survived by four children and two grandchildren Chelsea and Justin Reed, pictured together left, were expecting their first child together, a boy. Robert Lee Brown (right) leaves behind his only son Waylon After the killings, Dearman forced Lester and a three-month-old baby identified by relatives as the child of Randall and Turner into a vehicle, and they drove to Dearman's father's house in Mississippi. Dearman then released Lester and the infant and turned himself in, authorities said. Chelsea and Justin Reed, a young married couple, were expecting their first child together, a baby boy. of his wife who does not plan to release it It is now in the Video of her actual suicide was recorded and kept by the station owner A new film released Wednesday tells the tragic and little known story about a young television anchor in Florida who was the first person to commit suicide on live television. 'Kate Plays Christine,' is a film about an actress, Kate Lyn Sheil, who struggles to develop into the character of Christine Chubbuck, who died live on television in 1974 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. In the film, which premiered at Sundance earlier this year, Sheil can be seen trying on costumes, gathering information about the person she is attempting to play and running lines from the script. The director, Robert Greene, also included a few fictional elements into the story due to Sheil's character as a real person being entangled in the mystery about Chubbuck that has become somewhat an urban myth since the incident happened at a time before the Internet existed. Scroll down for video A new film released Wednesday tells the tragic and little known story about Christine Chubbuck (pictured above), a young television anchor in Florida who was the first person to commit suicide on live television 'Kate Plays Christine,' is a film about an actress, Kate Lyn Sheil, who struggles to develop into the character of Chubbuck. Sheil is pictured above from the film as she prepares for the scene about the suicide In the film, which premiered at Sundance earlier this year, Sheil (above) can be seen trying on costumes, gathering information about the person she is attempting to play and running lines from the script Chubbuck, 29, worked as the anchor for a talk show broadcast that aired in the Sarasota area on WXLT, which is now WWSB. The Ohio native graduated from Boston University in 1965 with a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism. She went on to land her first TV job in Cleveland the following year, before spending a few years in between jobs in several states. Chubbuck moved to Florida to live with her mother after her parents divorced and worked as a hospital computer operator until she was hired as a reporter for WXLT. The station's owner, Bob Nelson, decided to give Chubbuck a community affairs talk show called the 'Suncoast Digest'. It aired at 9.00am on Saturdays and was hosted live by the journalist. Chubbuck's brother, Greg Chubbuck, told People in February that his sister battled with depression for years and that his parents spent an estimated $1million over 20 years on psychiatrists and psychologists to 'help Chrissie find peace.' Chubbuck (above), 29, worked as the anchor for a talk show broadcast that aired in the Sarasota area on WXLT, which is now WWSB. The show, 'Suncoast Digest', aired at 9.00am on Saturdays Chubbuck (above) battled with depression for years and her parents paid $1million to help her get treatment throughout her life. On July 15, 1974, she appeared live on her show and went through a few stories before she made a surprising announcement He described that since the age of 10, his sister felt that she never fit in and had problems developing relationships with people. Greg told People that he now thinks his sister suffered from bipolar disorder, which is defined by periods of depression and periods of highs. 'She was very gifted and she never felt like she was good enough and she was constantly doubting herself, and I mean morosely doubting herself,' he said. 'And she would come out of it and she would be better and we would think with all the outside help with the professionals maybe this would be the time she would get her wind and be fine. 'But it just never really happened completely for her. It is a really sad, tragic circumstance.' On July 15, 1974, Chubbuck appeared on the talk show and went through a few stories live before she made a surprising announcement. 'In keeping with Channel 40's policy of bringing you the latest in blood and guts and in living color,' she said. 'You are going to see another first: an attempted suicide.' Chubbuck announced that 'you are going to see another first: an attempted suicide' on the show. She then pulled a gun out and shot herself in the head. She died 15 hours later at a hospital Video of Chubbuck's actual suicide was recorded and kept by the station owner for years and is now in the possession of his wife who will not release it Chubbuck, still on air, then held up a .38-caliber revolver that she had underneath her desk. The brunette aimed it at the back of her head and pulled the trigger. The station's live broadcast went black seconds later before running other programming for the rest of the day. Chubbuck suffered irreparable brain damage and died about 15 hours later at a local hospital. Mike Simmons, the TV station's news director at the time, found the script that she had been reading from during her newscast. It reportedly included the lines she read before shooting herself, and also an account in third-person that was to be read by another staff member who took over the broadcast after the incident. Two years after Chubbuck's death, screenwriter Paddy Chayesfsky was reportedly inspired by it to write the Oscar-winning screenplay for 'Network,' which is one of the landmark American films of that time period. Now, Chubbuck is the subject of not just 'Kate Plays Christine', but she is also the basis of another drama called 'Christine' starring Rebecca Hall. 'Christine' also premiered at Sundance earlier this year, but no distribution plans have been announced for the film as of yet. 'Kate Plays Christine' can be found in select theaters starting on August 24 when it's released. Video of Chubbuck's actual suicide was recorded and kept by the station owner for years. After he died, his wife, Mollie Nelson, took possession of the tape. She told Vulture last month that her husband never told her why he kept the tape, but that after the debut of 'Kate Plays Christine' at Sundance, she gave the tape to a 'very large law firm' for safekeeping. Mollie Nelson also said that she has no plans to ever make it available to the public and that she's only kept it to honor her husband's wishes. David Cameron is enjoying his second holiday since quitting as Prime Minister last month. He was spotted chomping on fish and chips with his wife Samantha last night on Polzeath Beach in Cornwall - a favourite holiday spot for the former premier. At the same time his successor Theresa May was returning from her Swiss hiking holiday to kick-start her Brexit plans. David Cameron was pictured enjoying his second holiday since quitting as Prime Minister last month, eating fish and chips on Polzeath beach in Cornwall last night Mr Cameron's latest break follows his exotic holiday in Corsica earlier this month, staying in a luxurious villa on the French island with his wife and three children just days after bidding an emotional farewell as PM from the steps of Downing Street. He was dubbed the 'chillaxing' prime minister during his time in office due to his ability to separate his private life form his professional life and his second holiday in as many weeks suggests he is keen to rack up his relaxation time now he is no longer burdened by his job in No 10. Polzeath beach was a regular choice for Cameron family holidays, most recently pictured there on a break last summer. Pictured last night, Mr Cameron wore navy shorts with a North Face fleece with no sign of the 225 designer swim shorts he showed off during his holiday in Corsica earlier this month. Mr Cameron's latest break follows his exotic holiday in Corsica earlier this month, staying in a luxurious villa on the French island with his wife and three children just days after bidding an emotional farewell as PM from the steps of Downing Street. Above, Mr Cameron is pictured drying himself alongside his wife Samantha during the holiday on the French island David Cameron (pictured in his 225 designer swim shorts during his Corsica holiday earlier this month) was dubbed the 'chillaxing' prime minister during his time in office due to his ability to separate his private life form his professional life and his second holiday in as many weeks suggests he is keen to rack up his relaxation time now he is no longer burdened by his job in No 10 While Mr Cameron and his wife were regularly snapped dressed in summer and beach wear during their holidays in beach-side cafes, the official photographs of Mrs May's first holiday since taking over as PM suggests she enjoys rather different types of breaks to her predecessor. The Mays looked ready for action as they headed out into a forest using hiking poles and wearing similar walking trousers, boots, polo shirts and rucksacks earlier this month. The Prime Minister said she and her husband 'discovered the joys' of walking in the country 'quite by chance'. In a piece for the Telegraph in August 2007, she said: 'We first visited the country about 25 years ago but spent most of the time in Lucerne. 'On a return trip, we decided to go walking, enjoyed it and gradually began doing more adventurous hikes. Theresa May and her husband Philip went hiking in the Swiss Alps for their summer holiday Mrs May's choice of break is in stark contrast to that of predecessor David Cameron, who revelled in seaside breaks 'We have been going back ever since and have walked all over the country.' Mrs May said her two favourite areas are Zermatt and the Bernese Oberland, which are both 'fantastic for walking'. She added: 'If you're a keen walker, Switzerland is a wonderful summer destination: the views are spectacular, the air is clear and you can get some peace and quiet.' During a recent visit to Berlin, her first overseas trip as premier, Mrs May gave German Chancellor Angela Merkel two books about hiking to reflect their shared passion for the hobby. But it was back to the office for Mrs May today as she headed back to Downing Street to prepare for months of Brexit negotiations. Polzeath beach was a regular choice for Cameron family holidays, most recently pictured there on a break last summer The Mayor of London hopes to hire the capital's first-ever 'night czar' to transform the fortunes of the night time industry. Sadiq Khan has advertised the role on the City Hall website, offering a 35,000 annual salary for just two and a half days work a week. Sadiq Khan joins commuters on the first night tube in the city earlier this month. He is now advertising for a 'night czar' to help make the capital a 24-hour city According to the job advert, the candidate will: 'champion the value of Londons night time culture whilst developing and diversifying Londons night time economy.' Not only is this the first time London has had such a position on offer, but no job like it has ever been held in the UK. Night mayor roles have existed in cities like Amsterdam, where Mirik Milan has combated anti-social behaviour and created safer nightlife for residents. The successful applicant will work with Mr Khan, Transport for London (TfL), the Night Time commission, the Metropolitan Police and local London authorities when they take up the post. Mr Khan, above, sitting in the drivers carriage of a Victoria line tube train at Brixton Underground station during the launch of London's Night Tube on August 20 The new Czar will 'create a vision for London as 24-hour city and a roadmap showing how the vision will be realised.' Those interested in the post should fulfill the requirements of 'proven leadership ability, public profile and convening power, plus a thorough understanding of the night time economy and the ability to work in a political environment.' The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: 'Building on our magnificent city's diverse night time economy is one of my core priorities. 'Following the successful launch of the Night Tube, Londons night time culture can now be enjoyed around the clock. 'I am delighted to begin my search for a Night Czar. Once appointed, we will work together with venues, authorities, developers and punters to ensure London thrives as a 24-hour-city.' The night time commission was launched in March by then Mayor Boris Johnson MP, as a six month investigation into the state of London's nightlife. Mr Khan speaks with fellow travellers on the night tube last week, and now says this means London's culture can be enjoyed around the clock According to the Night Time Industries Association, the night time economy accounts for eight per cent of jobs in the UK, and 66 billion of the annual revenue for the country, whereas in London the night time economy contributes 26.3bn to annual GDP, equivalent to 40 per cent of the UKs night time economy. This figure is expected to rise to 28.3bn by 2029. The London Music Board asserts that the capital has lost 35 per cent of its 'grassroots' music venues since 2008. The job announcement comes just days after the Mayor successfully launched the Night Tube through the capital. It also follows a time of pressure on clubs and pubs struggling to survive, and the indefinite closure of Fabric in East London, after the death of two men in drugs related incidents. The Mayor tweeted support to the club, saying: 'I'm urging Fabric London, the Met and Islington to find an approach that protects clubbers' safety & the future of the club.' Applications must be received by September 12, with candidates open for interviews at City Hall on September 21. Donald Trump suggested Tuesday that former Texas Gov. Rick Perry could win a Republican primary election against Sen. Ted Cruz the presidential primary foil Trump branded 'Lyin' Ted' raising eyebrows in the Lone Star State at the thought of the billionaire's revenge. 'Boy, will he do well,' Trump said of Perry's 2018 prospects. Trump was standing next to Perry at a downtown Austin fundraiser when he was asked about the Texan's chance to unseat his state's junior senator. Cruz, who unsuccessfully fought Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, notably declined to endorse him at last month's GOP national convention. Trump, it seems, hasn't forgotten. AUSTIN'S POWER? Donald Trump said Tuesday that he thought former Texas Gov. Rick Perry would 'do well' in a US Senate primary election against Sen. Ted Cruz LOOK OUT, TED! Perry (left) is one of several Texas Republicans who might challenge Cruz (right) whom Trump successfully tattooed with the nickname 'Lyin' Ted' this year In a recording of the event first posted online by a Democratic group, the Lone Star Project, Trump says of a possible Perry candidacy that he's been 'hearing a lot about that.' 'I don't know if he wants to do it, but boy, will he do well,' he said. 'People love him in Texas. And he was one great governor.' Two fundraiser attendees verified the recording on Wednesday on the condition that their names not be published. The fundraiser occurred Tuesday. Trump hasn't been shy about criticizing fellow Republicans even those up for re-election. He initially declined to endorse House Speaker Paul Ryan's re-election bid earlier this summer, then formally threw his support behind it before Ryan crushed a primary challenger in his Wisconsin district. YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH MONEY: Trump kept his Austin, Texas rally audience waiting while he finished with a high-dollar fundraiser nearby on Tuesday TRAVELIN' MAN: Trump took his custom Boeing 757 jet on Tuesday night from Texas to Florida, where he staged an afternoon rally in Tampa on Wednesday Cruz sparked an outcry at the GOP convention in Cleveland last month by refusing to endorse Trump during his prime-time speech rebuffing calls for Republican Party unity behind its nominee. Perry left office last year and was a harsh Trump critic as he briefly ran for the Republican presidential nomination, even calling the billionaire businessman a cancer on conservatism. Perry has since endorsed Trump and become a surrogate who has praised him on national television. The former governor has kept a low profile since dropping out of the 2016 presidential race last fall. Recent polls suggest Cruz's popularity in Texas has suffered since his convention speech, and one even indicated that Perry would top Cruz in a hypothetical matchup. Those close to Perry say he's laughed off the idea of a Senate run, but Perry hasn't publicly ruled it out. While running for president, Cruz originally said he'd endorse whoever the eventual Republican nominee was. He said later he'd changed his mind because Trump insulted his family during the bitter White House campaign. Mica Mosbacher, an Austin resident and former finance co-chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, was a vocal supporter of Cruz's presidential run but is now is backing Trump. Young converted to Islam in March 2015 and became radicalized by watching online videos promoting ISIS The couple were arrested in August 2015 before they could board a flight from Columbus, Mississippi, with tickets for Istanbul His fiancee, 20-year-old Jaelyn Young, was sentenced to 12 years in prison in mid-August Pleaded guilty in March to one count of conspiring to provide material support to a terrorist organization Muhammad Dakhlalla, 22, said at his sentencing he denounces and Punished: Mississippi State graduate Muhammad Dakhlalla, 22, was handed an eight-year sentence on federal terrorism charges A Mississippi man who tried to travel to Syria with his fiancee to join ISIS was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in prison on federal terrorism charges. US District Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Muhammad Dakhlalla, 22, after he pleaded guilty in March to one count of conspiring to provide material support to a terrorist organization. He was also sentenced to 15 years of probation. Dakhlalla said in court that the FBI 'saved his life' by catching him and that ISIS propaganda videos misled him about what they are really doing in the Middle East - a truth he learned after watching the news in jail. 'I was completely wrong about what ISIS was. Ive come to the conclusion that theyre really sick and twisted. They twist Islam for their own agenda. I denounce them. I condemn them,' he said. He added: 'The FBI, they really saved my life. I was about to do something reckless and stupid. Even if I had been successful in getting over there, Id probably be dead by now.' Dakhlalla faced up to 20 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and lifetime probation. His fiancee, 20-year-old Jaelyn Young, was sentenced earlier this month to 12 years in prison and 15 years' probation, including mandatory mental health treatment. Prosecutors have portrayed Young, who converted to Islam while studying at Mississippi State University, as the mastermind who talked Dakhlalla into going along. However, prosecutors said, Dakhlalla ultimately agreed to the plot. Young and Dakhlalla are among a number of people arrested nationwide for Islamic State sympathies. Like many, they developed views supporting the Islamic State in part by watching online videos and were arrested after making their own social media posts that attracted the attention of the FBI. Scroll down for video Former Mississippi State University student Jaelyn Young, 20, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for seeking to join ISIS. Prosecutors said Young talked Dakhlalla into going along WTVA reported that the two were arrested in August 2015 before they could board a flight from Columbus, Mississippi, with tickets for Istanbul purchased using Young's mother's credit card without permission. Authorities said the couple had contacted undercover federal agents posing as ISIS contacts in May, seeking online help in traveling to Syria. Both have remained jailed in Oxford, Mississippi, since their arrests. Dakhlalla is a 2015 psychology graduate of Mississippi State University who grew up in the college town of Starkville. His father, a native of Bethlehem, West Bank, is a prominent figure in the town's Muslim community and an occasional prayer leader at the mosque across the street from the family's house. His mother, a New Jersey native, ran a restaurant and later sold hummus in local farmers markets. Dakhlalla is the youngest of three sons and was preparing to start graduate school in psychology at Mississippi State when he was arrested. Prosecutors say Young, who converted to Islam at Mississippi State, began to view Islamic State fighters as liberators. They said Young approvingly cited a video showing militants throwing a man accused of being gay off a roof to his death, and also expressed approval of a gunman's shooting attack on five members of the US military in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 2015. 'Young continually asked Dakhlalla when they were going to join (the Islamic State group) and began to express hatred for the US government and to express support for the implementation of Sharia (sic) law in the United States,' prosecutors wrote. By May 2015, she had begun seeking advice online on how to travel to Syria, eventually making contact with undercover FBI employees, according to prosecutors. Young told the undercover FBI employees that she and Dakhlalla would like to be medics treating the wounded. Dakhlalla, in online contacts, said he was good with computers and media and wanted to contribute to the Islamic State's struggle. Court papers say Dakhlalla said online that he wanted to become a soldier, writing "I am willing to fight. I want to be taught what it really means to have that heart in battle!" At one point, Young said she planned to camouflage the couple's journey as a honeymoon, but later dropped that idea. The FBI said Dakhlalla and Young both expressed impatience with how long it was taking for them to be issued passports, and the charges say Dakhlalla paid $340 to expedite passport processing on July 1. Both Young and Dakhlalla left farewell letters telling their families they would never return. At her sentencing, Young broke down in tears, saying she finds what she did 'surreal,' adding she felt shame over her actions and sorrow for the humiliation she caused her family. A friend said Randy often cried, asking why he was spared from harm but his wife of 33 years was not The first of four young men who threw a rock from a Pennsylvania interstate overpass that left an Ohio teacher with a severe brain injury has been given parole. Keefer McGee, 19, was granted parole Wednesday by a Union County judge after serving 11 1/2 months in jail. McGee was 17 years old in July 2014 when he and three friends threw a boulder that went through Sharon Budd's windshield as she was driving with her husband along Interstate 80. Budd underwent numerous surgeries for her injuries and remains impaired. Scroll down for video Debt paid: Keefer McGee, 19 (pictured arriving in court in April 2015), was granted parole Wednesday after serving 11 1/2 months in jail for a 2014 rock-throwing incident Randy Budd (above, with his wife Sharon in 2015) killed himself after his wife suffered brain damage when McGee and three others dropped a rock from an overpass onto their car Her husband of 33 years, Randy Budd, took his own life at his Uniontown, Ohio, home earlier this month. Judge Michael Sholley said McGee met the terms of his sentencing in full, reported The Daily Item. McGee had pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and spent his entire sentence at the Union County Jail, where he incurred no violations and never missed a day's work or a meeting with his counselor. The judge said the 19-year-old understands the hurt that comes from Randy Budd's suicide, but said they weren't in court to consider that. Randy Budd, 55, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on August 6. A friend has said Randy blamed himself for his wife's suffering, wondering why he was spared from harm and she was not. The couple had four children - daughter Kaylee and sons Lucas, James and Joe. The attack in July 2014 on a central Pennsylvania highway did considerable damage to Sharon's skull and brain and caused the Ohio teacher to lose her right eye. In January, Randy said that his wife had undergone seven major surgeries and would require constant care for the rest of her life. 'I saw him after they came home from the hospital,' Jeff Farrow said. 'He would try to wind down and just cry and cry and cry and say, "I can't believe this happened to my Sharon. Why couldn't it have been me?''' Randy Budd (pictured with his wife, daughter and two of his sons) died on Saturday Four Pennsylvania teenagers, among them Keefer McGee, pleaded guilty or no contest to various offenses for participating in the dead-of-night attack on a remote stretch of Interstate 80. The young men, who were 17 and 18 years old at the time of the attack, were given minimum sentences of a year to four and a half years behind bars. Dylan Lahr, 18, and Tyler Porter, 19, are still serving time in jail after being sentenced in September of last year. Lahr, who dropped the rock, must serve at least four and a half years, while Porter must serve a year and 10 months. Brett Lahr, Dylan's 20-year-old brother, was previously jailed for at least 18 months after pleading no contest to a conspiracy charge. A friend recalled how deeply devoted Randy Budd (above, with Sharon in October 2014) was to his wife of 33 years, and how difficult it was for him to see her suffer Sharon and Randy Budd are pictured celebrating his 30th anniversary before she sustained the horrific, life-changing injuries Sharon Budd (right) is pictured with her son Lucas, who served in the U.S. Army The prosecutor in the case, Union County District Attorney Pete Johnson, told Pennlive.com earlier this month that he sees a link between the rock attack and Randy's death inside his home in Uniontown, Ohio. 'Randy Budd did not die from a gunshot,' Johnson said. 'He died when those kids threw a rock through his windshield.' Police said the rock throwing was part of a day of troublemaking that included stealing steaks, breaking a neighbor's window and driving through a cornfield. Sharon was a front-seat passenger in an SUV driven by their daughter, on their way to see a show in New York, when the rock crashed through the windshield. At a sentencing last summer, Sharon, who taught language arts at a middle school, said her 'heart went out' to the defendants. Dylan Lahr, 18 (left), who dropped the rock, Tyler Porter, 19 (center), and Keefer McGee, 18 (right), have been jailed for the crime along with Dylan's 20-year-old brother Brett Sharon attended court on the day the teenagers were sentenced (pictured) saying she felt 'sorry for them' as they asked for her forgiveness 'I think back to when I was 17, I didn't always make the best decisions,' she said. Jeff Farrow said he never heard Randy criticize the defendants. 'He truly loved everybody,' Farrow said. 'He never said anything ill about those kids, never ever, to me. I never met such a positive man. All he wanted was for Sharon to get better.' A couple in California who are desperately trying to help their disabled dog are close to their goal of raising $20,000 for the determined golden retriever. Rexi began limping as a 10-week-old puppy, but her veterinarian could find no problem with her. Now one-year-old, she lost all strength in her legs, which then started extending backward, past her head. She was diagnosed with a neurological problem, and her owners, Rachel Woertink and James Cassity, of Victorville, are now working hard to help their beloved pet. 'One of the vets said, ''Maybe you should think about putting her down''. She is like family to us you know. We don't have any kids so this is kind of like our kid right here and we treat her like that,' Cassity told ABC 7. Scroll down for video A dog living in California called Rexi (pictured) cannot use her front legs - which point up behind her head - to move around Rexi diagnosed with a neurological problem, and her owners, Rachel Woertink and James Cassity, are now working hard to help their beloved pet Rexi drags her chest along the ground as she walks, with only her back legs for support The couple set up a GoFundMe page for Rexi with the aim of raising $20,000. They plan to use the money for a device that will help the dog walk - because she is forced to drag her chest along the ground - or even an operation to fix her legs. So far, over $16,000 has been donated. 'Rexi has no use of her front legs. We would like (someone's) help to make her mobile again or better yet fix her legs if possible. We love her very much and just want the best for her,' Woertink wrote on the page. 'We would like some help to make her mobile again or better yet fix her legs if possible. 'We love her very much and just want the best for her.' Rexi's owners tried having Rexi use a dog wheelchair. Owner James Cassity told local media: 'When she hits a rock the thing flips over upside down, she has flipped once or twice and we don't want to injure her anymore' She currently swears a vest to stop the ground from cutting her chest as she walks Cassity told KABC: 'Any kind of invention, somebody who knows something about dogs missing their front legs or handicapped, maybe some kind of doctor who knows about a surgery.' Rexi's owners have already having Rexi use a dog wheelchair. Cassity told the TV station: 'When she hits a rock the thing flips over upside down, she has flipped once or twice and we don't want to injure her anymore.' Rexi's name comes from her being like a Tyrannosaurus rex, ABC News reported. Rexi is seen being held on a leash. A GoFundMe page set up for her says: 'We would like some help to make her mobile again or better yet fix her legs if possible. We love her very much and just want the best for her' Cassity gave an interview to the outlet, in which he said: 'She can stand up and use her back legs fully, and then she scoots around on her chest kind of like a snail.' He revealed: 'They all did X-rays and whatnot, and the results always showed her bones were fine. 'A lot of the veterinarians said it could be neurological, and some of them just recommended that we amputate her front legs or put her down.' However, he said: 'We didn't want to amputate her front legs since they still seem to have some movement. Alexander Polli, one of the worlds most celebrated and daring wingsuit pilots, has died after crashing into a tree during a flight. The accident took place in the Couloir de lEnsa mountainous area in Chamonix in the French Alps. Mr Polli, 31, reached international fame after posting a video of himself flying through a small hole in a huge rock called the Roca Forada in Montserrat, Spain. Scroll down for video Alexander Polli, 31, has died on a wingsuit jump in the French Alps after he hit a tree Mr Polli is most famous for when he flew through a huge rock called the Roca Forada in Montserrat, Spain The video of this stunt has been viewed more than 13 million times showing his skill at 155 mph The video, seen more than 13 million times, shows the skilled pilot in his wingsuit flying through the hole at 155 mph (250 kph). His most recent flight ended tragically, however, as the daring jumper leapt from a height of 5,000 feet (1,500 meters) and smashed into a tree. His friends quickly called the police who sent out a rescue team to save him. Mr Polli was conscious when they arrived, but the gravity of his injuries meant the team was unable to keep him alive long enough to transport him to hospital. During his most recent flight at around 5,000 feet Mr Polli (right) smashed into a tree and friends quickly called police who sent out a rescue team to try and save him A spokesperson for the mountain rescue team in Chamonix, identified only as Mercer, described the area as popular but dangerous. He said: 'It's a location where there are a lot of accidents.' Mr Polli, who was born in Norway and brought-up in Italy, was a recognisable figure in the BASE jump and wingsuit world. He also founded the YouTube channel for his flying group Morals Arrivederci (Goodbye to Morals) where he shared videos of his flights and other amazing feats. But the founder of the YouTube channel 'Morals Arrivederci' (right) did not survive his injuries to be able to be taken to hospital The description of the group reads: 'What does Morals Arrivederci mean? It means whatever you want it to mean! It is an extreme brand to motivate everyone to test their capabilities in this world. Breathe! Live! Never Give Up On Your Dreams!' Despite his incredible feats, Mr Polli had admitted he was scared of heights. He said: 'To be quite honest, I am extremely scared of dying - and I am scared of heights. 'I never would have embarked on this kind of sport if I had had to be the first to do it.' Alexander Blair, 29, who helped finance a plot to blow up Fort Riley, told a judge that 'nobody's perfect' ahead of his sentencing A federal judge delayed a sentencing decision on Wednesday for a wannabe terrorist who helped finance a plot to blowup a Kansas military base. Alexander Blair, 29, who has learning difficulties, has admitted paying John T. Booker $100 back in 2015, knowing it would be used to store a 1,000lb explosive which would then be detonated at Fort Riley. Ahead of his sentencing that was initially scheduled for Wednesday, Blair wrote a note to U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree saying: 'I am not a hardliner Jihadi, I am just a human being that made a big mistake. 'Nobody is perfect, and we all make mistakes at some point in our lives. This was mine.' He also blamed a genetic disorder for allowing others to take advantage of him. U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree was weighing that and other factors as he calculated how much prison time, if any, the Topeka man should serve. But after hearing testimony from a psychologist on Wednesday, the judge concluded he wanted some time to go over the material before handing down a sentence, the U.S. attorney's office said. No new sentencing date was immediately set. Blair admits paying $100 to help store what he thought was a 1,000lb bomb which was going to be used in a plot to blow up Fort Riley, in Kansas Blair met Booker three months before the pair were arrested while attending the Islamic Center of Topeka where Booker befriended him. Blair's lawyer argues that his client was unusually susceptible to Booker's advances because of the genetic condition he suffers from. He has Williams Syndrome, which causes social issues and learning difficulties, alongside cardiovascular problems. After Booker acquired what he thought was an explosive device, he turned to Blair to help pay for storage for the weapon, which Blair admitted agreeing to. In fact, the weapon was a dud sold to Booker by FBI agents after they were alerted to Facebook posts in which he talked about his desire to 'become a martyr.' Booker took the device to Fort Riley in a vehicle, explaining that he wanted to drive inside before detonating it and killing 'people with power'. He was arrested at 9am on April 10 last year, and Blair was arrested shortly after. In FBI interviews, Blair admitted knowing what the bomb was for, and was indifferent when asked how he felt about women and children being killed in the explosion. Blair told agents that US soldiers bomb towns and kill women and children as part of the war on terror, saying 'that's what they sign up for'. John T Booker, who convinced Blair to pay for the storage, acquired the fake explosive device in an undercover FBI sting before being arrested Prosecutors are seeking the maximum sentence for Blair, arguing that the government already considered his learning disability and his limited role in the plot when it charged him with a lesser crime than Booker. Meanwhile, Blair's defense attorney is asking for probation. Booker, who suffers from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, pleaded guilty in February to one count of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and one count of attempting to destroy government property with an explosive device. The grandfather of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump started the family empire during the gold rush, but it's recently been revealed that he nearly died in an Alaskan shipwreck. Friedrich Trump was only 16 when he left the sleepy German village of Kallstadt and took a boat to the United States in 1885, settling in New York City where his sister lived. Straight off the boat he met a German-speaking barber who took him on as an apprentice, toiling away for six hapless years while he lived in a tiny box apartment. At the turn of the decade, however, he heard news of the Klondike gold rush set to hit the North West and Canada. The 22-year-old changed his name to a more catchy 'Fred Trump' and headed to Seattle, Washington where he opened and then sold a restaurant. Friedrich Trump (pictured above in 1887) was only 16 when he left the sleepy German village of Kallstadt and took a boat to the United States in 1885, settling in New York City where his sister lived. He was born in the sleepy German village of Kallstadt. Today, it has a population of just 1,200 people and local history books say he tried to return aged 32 but was turned away According to The New York Times, with money from his mother, he was able to purchase the first Trump real estate property near Monte Cristo, Washington - 'a mining boom town.' Trump built hotels for gold prospectors as he was staking claim to property in the area. At age 27, Trump had opened new restaurants and thrived as prospectors traveled through Seattle to the Klondike and Alaska in 1896. He had followed the miners with a pal, Ernest Levin, whom he started a business with in a tent on the lawless route that all travelers had to take to reach the mine - White Pass, which was also known as the 'Dead Horse Trail.' A narrow, steep, overcrowded dirt track, it was incredibly difficult for horses to navigate. Around 3,000 horses died from starvation, injuries, getting stuck in mud, or falling over cliffs, according to the University of Washington's Klondike Gold Rush resource page. Fred Trump (above in 1918) made his wealth from a chain of hotels and restaurants in the Wild West during the Gold Rush of the 1890s Putting the heaps of dead animals to use, and offering some respite for the exhausted travelers, Trump and Levin cooked horse meat for passing businessmen as they came to survey the mines. Eventually, they moved the business to a two-story building in Bennett Town and named it New Arctic Restaurant and Hotel and the White Horse. According to Gwenda Blair's 'The Trumps: Three Generations of Builders and a Presidential Candidate,' Trump's hotel had prostitutes as well served round-the-clock food and liquor. The hotel was extremely successful for the businessmen. 'Customers depended on him for food, liquor and women,' Blair, wrote in the book - describing Friedrich as 'hard living and hard drinking'. 'In the larder was salmon and an extraordinary variety of meats, including duck, ptarmigan, grouse, goose, and swan, as well as caribou, moose, goat, sheep, rabbit, and squirrel,' Blair wrote in the book. 'Incredibly, the New Arctic served fresh fruit: red currants, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, even cranberries. 'A small oasis of luxury, the Arctics menu was a vast improvement over what the two restaurateurs had been able to offer on the trail.' This is an advertisment for Fred Trump's hotel and restaurant near the mines in Bennett, Canada However, in a New York Times article published Monday, Donald Trump denied the claims about his grandfather allowing prostitution at his hotels. Daily Mail has reached out to request further comment. The billionaire's grandfather joined other prospectors in 1898 to buy a schooner. The newspaper in Devils Lake, North Dakota reported that it was 'one of the most complete outfits ever taken out of Seattle.' The men had 12 riverboats, mining tools, food, equipment and more on the boat. The group of 30 men included 10 miners who were said to be experiences, an assayer, a doctor and Capt. L.M. Larson, who was a self-proclaimed experienced sailor, the Alaska Dispatch News reported. The 56-ton sealing schooner Elsie was purchased for $3,500 by 30 men who also spent about $15,000 for three years of supplies. Fred Trump barely survived a shipwreck in 1898 when the schooner he was in ran aground on Chirikof Island in the Gulf of Alaska One of the passengers aboard the schooner told the North Dakota newspaper that the Elsie departed from Seattle on April 4, 1898 and was heading towards Kotzebue because of reports that Natives on rivers were trading gold. The group sailed toward the Yukon River, but ran aground in the Gulf of Alaska on Chirikof Island. It was later discovered that the captain had 'no knowledge whatever of navigation' and that caused the troubles that happened to the group of men, the newspaper in North Dakota reported at the time. The schooner was grounded in roughly three feet of water about 300 yards from land after it hit the rocks of Chirikof Island. 'They set up tents in which to live and had no lack of provisions, as they saved about half of the stock with which they started, the remainder being spoiled by the salt water,' the North Dakota paper said. They were able to survive off provisions on the ship for a month, and Trump started to write a farewell letter to his family in Germany. About four years after the shipwreck, Trump returned back home to Kallstadt to marry his neighbor, Elizabeth Christ (pictured together above), and settle down with his wealth. He was refused repatriation in Germany and they returned back to the U.S. In 1905, his son Fred Jr, Donald's father, was born as the family continued to prosper. Above left to right: Fred Jr, Frederick, Elizabeth, Elizabeth Christ, and John in 1918 'We have hope that the United States government will now ,' he wrote before it ended abruptly. Luckily, Trump and the others on the schooner were rescued by a barkentine that was passing by. According to the Alaska Dispatch News, the schooner Elsie is the only one listed in history books as running aground on April 25, 1898. In addition, the San Francisco Chronicle reported on July 17,1898 about a story on the shipwreck and listed the 30 people on the manifest, including 'F. Trump.' About four years after the shipwreck, Trump returned back home to Kallstadt to marry his neighbor sweetheart, Elizabeth Christ, and settle down with his wealth, according to German history books. However, having dodged conscription and years of taxes, he was refused repatriation in Germany. By the time he died in Queens at the age of 49, during a Spanish flu epidemic, Fred Sr had built up a fortune worth $31,642.54 - worth around $542,000 today - according to his will, which was published by Ancestry.com The local history books record how Bavaria, the rulers of the town at the time, would not let him settle back in the town because he had forfeited citizenship by emigrating. And so the newlyweds returned to New York City to start a family. In 1905, his son Fred Jr, Donald's father, was born. By the time he died in Queens at the age of 49, during a Spanish flu epidemic, Fred Sr had built up a fortune worth $31,642.54 - worth around $542,000 today - according to his will, which was published by Ancestry.com. He left his small fortune to his wife Elizabeth, who used it to go into business with her eldest son Fred Jr, who was just 15 at the time. The pair created the Trump empire, which is now headed by Fred Jr's maverick, entrepreneurial son, Donald. Nearly half of the Americans who aren't affiliated with any religious groups say they left because of a lack of belief. Nearly a quarter of the US population is considered a religious 'none' people who are agnostics or atheists or who say their religion is 'nothing in particular', according to the Pew Research Center. This number increased from just 16 percent in 2007 to 23 percent by last year. Clergy sex scandals and a lack of time to attend church were among the reasons given for a lack of faith. Nearly half of the Americans who aren't affiliated with any religious groups say they left because of a lack of belief, according to the Pew Research Center Now a new study by Pew clarifies what goes on in the minds of the people who left church or who never got around to joining one. About 49 percent of people say they left church because they don't believe in a higher power or faith. The majority of this group, or 36 percent, says they were 'disenchanted' with religion. One common reason given by a participant was 'learning about evolution when I went away to college'. Another said: 'Too many Christians doing un-Christian things.' 'I'm doing a lot more learning, studying and kind of making decisions myself rather than listening to someone else,' said a third participant. Another large chunk of the group, or 20 percent, say they 'dislike organized religion'. 'I see organized religious groups as more divisive than uniting,' said one participant. Some participants say they disapproved of the 'church's teachings on homosexuality' or the 'clergy sex abuse scandal'. About 10 percent of the group said they left because they were 'inactive believers' either non-practicing or too busy to get involved. 'I don't have the time to go to church,' one said. A man fractured his ankles when he leapt from a second-storey window after witnessing the fatal stabbing of a British tourist in a Queensland hostel. British man Chris Porter was lying in a bunk bed above his friend Mia Ayliffe-Chung at the backpacker's hostel when he saw her being repeatedly stabbed in the face, allegedly by a fellow room mate Smail Ayad on Tuesday night. Although too upset to describe his escape from the bloody scene at the hostel in Home Hill, south of Townsville, Mr Porter's older brother Aaron told the Courier Mail what he had learned from Chris. Scroll down for video British man Chris Porter was lying in a bunk bed above his friend Mia Ayliffe-Chung at a Queensland hostel when she was fatally stabbed on Tuesday allegedly by a French room mate He said the alleged knifeman, who has been named as Frenchman Smail Ayad, stabbed four people in the room, including Ms Ayliffe-Chung and another British man Tom Jackson who had tried to save the young woman. Mr Jackson is in a critical condition in Townsville Hospital after being stabbed repeatedly in the face. Two other people were also stabbed in the attack, which took place in front of 30 horrified witnesses, but their injuries are not life threatening. Mr Porter, 21, was forced to jump from the second floor to save his own life when the knifeman turned his attention on him. Aaron said his younger brother told him that the alleged killer continued to pursue him down the road with the knife. British backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung was 'living her dream' on a gap year in Australia when she was stabbed to death by a French man believed to be staying at the same hostel Smail Ayad, 29, has been named as the man who shouted 'Allahu Akbar' as he allegedly went on a bloody rampage in north Queensland on Tuesday The 21-year-old was working on a farm in Queensland to extend her working holiday visa 'He's had to wave down a car and this guy was trying to smash through the car window,' Aaron told The Courier Mail. Mr Porter, who is still in nearby Ayr Hospital with his ankle injuries, said the French man arrested over the stabbings had been staying at the hostel for several days and was sharing a room with those who were attacked. 'Chris said he had been there for a few days and seemed an absolute normal guy. He spoke to the guy before he went to bed and he seemed fine,' Aaron said. 'He has woken up to him dragging Mia out of bed. The guy was a nutter.' Mr Porter's mother, Kim, said: 'He's doing OK.' Speaking from her home in High Halstow, near Rochester in Kent, she said: 'He is distraught obviously. Very distraught.' She said: 'He was doing farm work to try and stay out there the extra year but now this has happened.' Hero: British man Tom Jackson, 30, was stabbed 15 times in the face as he tried to save Ms Ayliffe-Chung from the knife-wielding maniac. He is fighting for his life in hospital The alleged knifeman, who has been named as Frenchman Smail Ayad, stabbed four people in the room, including Ms Ayliffe-Chung and another British man Tom Jackson Four people were stabbed inside a room at the Home Hill backpackers in north Queensland on Tuesday night Ms Ayliffe-Chung arrived in Home Hill ten days after working as a waitress in Surfer's Paradise, on Australia's Gold Coast. She had previous travelled in Turkey and India A friend of British hero Mr Jackson, who is in a critical condition in hospital, said he was wounded when he went to help Ms Ayliffe-Chung as she was being attacked. Emily Waters, a British woman who previously stayed at the hostel and is friends with Mr Jackson, said she was horrified by the attack He was stabbed 15 times in the face, chest and stomach. Speaking from the family home in Congleton, Cheshire, Tom Jackson's sister, Olivia, 23, said: 'We can't really comment too much at the minute. 'Tom hasn't been in a position to talk to us because he's still in a critical condition in hospital. We can't divulge too much else right now.' Emily Waters, a British woman who previously stayed at the hostel and is friends with Mr Jackson, said she was horrified by the attack. 'I literally can't believe it,' she wrote on Facebook. 'I can't stop watching the news. I've just been told the guy who has done this is a guy who I lived with there for the whole time. 'To think I spent time talking to him and working with him.' Social media has been flooded with tributes following Ms Ayliffe-Chung's death Ms Ayliffe-Chung was killed at Shelley's Backpackers in Home Hill, Queensland, a popular place to stay for backpackers doing rural work to fulfill visa requirements Witnesses said the attacker was seen loudly singing the French national anthem before carrying out the attack. Above, backpackers staying at the hostel comforting one another She wrote on Facebook that she was beside herself that Mr Jackson had been injured and he was the first friend she had made at Home Hill. Ayad, who was identified as the knifeman, was in hospital being treated for stab wounds and has since been released into police custody. He is yet to be formally charged. A Massachusetts Governor's Councilor has demanded a review into a sex assault case that saw a high school student accused of raping two unconscious girls avoid jail. Michael Albano has written to the state's chief justice of trial cases saying he was concerned that 18-year-old David Becker was only given probation - even though he admitted indecently assaulting the teenagers at a house party while they were asleep. Becker, who one of the victims claimed was known as 'David the Rapist', was given the lenient sentence by Judge Thomas Estes in Palmer, Massachusetts, last week, so he could go to college. Now a petition has been set up to have Estes removed from the bench after he said jail time would 'slam a lot of doors' for Becker, given his 'position in life', Mass Live reported. On Wednesday evening, it had already been signed by more than 12,000 people. It has also been revealed one of the victims and her family wanted Becker to put behind bars. The case is drawing parallels to that of former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner, who got just six months in jail for a sexual assault conviction, as they are both 'privileged white athletes' who could afford strong legal representation. Scroll down for video David Becker, 18, who was accused of sexually assaulting two 18-year-old girls while they were unconscious, has avoided jail and been told he will not have to register as a sex offender - so he can go enjoy a 'college experience' David Becker, 18, was only given probation - even though he admitted indecently assaulting the teenagers at a house party while they were asleep Becker was accused of sexually assaulting two classmates at East Longmeadow High in April while they were asleep in the same bed. They claim they woke up to him attacking them. He was given the sentence, seen by some as a slap on the wrist, as his defense attorney, Thomas Rooke, said it was a 'mistake... clouded with alcohol'. The goal of this sentence was not to impede this individual from graduating high school and to go onto the next step of his life, which is a college experience Becker's defense attorney, Thomas Rooke The lawyer then added that men Becker's age 'make mistakes', and said: 'He can now look forward to a productive life without being burdened with the stigma of having to register as a sex offender.' He will not have the attack on his criminal record and will only have to undergo sexual offender treatment if he doesn't get into trouble before August 2018. Becker will also be allowed to serve his probation in Ohio while he starts college. But his hopes were quickly dashed when the University of Dayton later said he would not be attending as a student for this year. It is not known if he is enrolled in another school. A police report seen by WWLP claimed that Becker denied any sexual contact with one of the alleged victims. Massachusetts Governor's Councilor Michael Albano (left) has demanded a review into the case, while a petition has been setup urging Judge Thomas Estes (right) to be removed from the bench after the lenient decision He said that he thought his actions toward the other young woman were okay because she did not stop him. However other records have shown that he apologized to one of the victims in a text message just hours after the attack. The victim responded with a text telling Becker 'don't even worry about it,' but later told police that she said this because 'she did not know what else to say'. Hampden County Assistant District Attorney Eileen M. Sears recommended Becker be found guilty of two counts of indecent assault and battery and serve two years in prison, court records show. But a judge decided against handing down the custodial sentence. He was given the sentence, seen by some as a slap on the wrist, as his defense attorney, Thomas Rooke, said it was a 'mistake... clouded with alcohol'. The lawyer then added that men Becker's age 'make mistakes', and said: 'He can now look forward to a productive life without being burdened with the stigma of having to register as a sex offender' During the hearing, his lawyer Rooke added: 'We all made mistakes when we were 17, 18, 19 years old, and we shouldn't be branded for life with a felony offense and branded a sex offender. 'Putting this kid in jail for two years would have destroyed this kid's life.' 'He can now look forward to a productive life without being burdened with the stigma of having to register as a sex offender. 'The goal of this sentence was not to impede this individual from graduating high school and to go onto the next step of his life, which is a college experience.' Becker was a three-sport athlete at East Longmeadow High School who also did community service in his class. Becker will also be allowed to serve his probation in Ohio while he starts college. But his hopes were quickly dashed when the University of Dayton later said he would not be attending as a student for this year East Longmeadow police have investigated allegations he attacked other students, but they have not found any other cases. There were also reports one of the victims wrote a letter to prosecutors saying jail time was not necessary. The BBC has stolen Hercule Poirot from ITV but viewers hoping to see David Suchet play the Belgian detective again are set to be disappointed. The corporation is on the hunt for a new actor to star in The ABC Murders, which will be brought to screen as part of a 20m deal to dramatise a slew of new Agatha Christie stories. Whoever is chosen for the iconic role will face a challenge to win over audiences, however, after generations of Britons spent more than two decades watching Mr Suchet play the eccentric Belgian. The BBC has taken Hercule Poirot from ITV but the main character will not be the recognisable David Suchet as the company are on the hunt for a new actor With his neatly waxed moustache, pristine white gloves, and little grey cells catchphrase, Mr Suchets version of the sleuth became a staple of ITVs television schedule. He only bowed out in 2013, once the broadcaster had exhausted Agatha Christies entire library of Poirot stories. The famous detective was killed off in the last episode of the long-running series. The BBC has yet to name Mr Suchets successor, but yesterday the actors agent Gilly Sanguinetti, confirmed that the 70 year old actor is firmly out of the running. The BBC has not approached him to reprise the part, and he would not wish to do so in any case, she said. We had already agreed that that would be the end. Thats why he did Curtain [the last episode, in which Poirot dies]. He found it very hard doing that, but that was always the decision. He was getting older. Besides, theyd done all the books. Instead, Mr Suchet is due to take a guest role on another BBC series playing a villain called The Landlord in the new series of Doctor Who. Meanwhile, The ABC Murders will follow Mr Poirot on the hunt for a serial killer who plots their crimes according to the alphabet. The murderer is intent on working their way through the ABC, picking one target for each letter so that they slay Alice Ascher in Andover, for example, and Betty Barnard in Bexhill. The story is one of seven Agatha Christie novels to be televised by the BBC over the next four years, following the success of its adaptation of her classic whodunnit, And Then There Were None, last Christmas. However David Suchet is to appear as a guest villain in the new BBC series of Doctor Who The ABC Murders is the only one on the slate to feature the Belgian detective. Also on the list are Death Comes As The End, a crime novel set in Ancient Egypt, and Ordeal by Innocence, a complex murder mystery. The latter novel is being adapted by Sarah Phelps, who brought And Then There Were None to television. According to Broadcast, the television industry bible, the slew of dramas is worth around 20million - although the BBC will only put in a portion of the money, with the rest funded by foreign broadcasters. Advertisement This is the dramatic moment a ten-year-old girl was pulled from the rubble after spending 17 hours trapped upside down in debris from the Italian earthquake. The child was hauled to safety by rescuers who shouted 'she's alive' as they carried her from the ruins of a building in the devastated central Italian town of Pescara del Tronto. Footage shows just the dust-covered legs of the youngster as emergency crews tried desperately to free her from the rubble. It was a brief moment of joy on a day in which at least 250 people were killed in the region following a 6.2-magnitude quake in the early hours of the morning. She had spent about 17 hours wedged in a collapsed building in what was once a picturesque hamlet. The frantic search for survivors of the Italian earthquake was continuing tonight as witnesses likened the hellish scenes to 'Dante's inferno' - and shocking pictures showed how four towns were almost wiped off the map. Rescue: Footage captured the dramatic moment a ten-year-old girl was pulled from the rubble after spending 17 hours trapped upside down in debris from the Italian earthquake Video shows just the dust-covered legs of the youngster as emergency crews tried desperately to free her from the rubble It was a brief moment of joy on a day in which at least 159 people were killed in the region following a 6.2-magnitude quake in the early hours of the morning The child was hauled to safety by rescuers who shouted 'she's alive' as they carried her from the ruins of a building in the devastated central Italian town of Pescara del Tronto The ten-year-old girl had spent about 17 hours wedged in a collapsed building in what was once a picturesque hamlet At least 159 people have been killed, including two babies, and 100 people are believed to be trapped under rubble after the 6.2-magnitude quake struck at 3.30am local time this morning while villagers slept in their beds. Today rescuers spoke of hearing children's screams from the rubble and locals were spotted frantically digging with their bare hands to try and save loved ones. One man, Guido Bordo, 69, lost his sister and her husband after they were trapped inside their holiday house in the hamlet of Illica, north of hard-hit Amatrice. Before their deaths were confirmed, he had described how he could only hear the sound of cats as he scrambled to find his loved-ones beneath the rubble. The first victim to be named by local media reports is Marisol Piermarini - an 18-month-old baby who was sleeping in her crib when the house she was staying in Arquata del Tronto collapsed. Mother Martina and father Massimiliano have been taken to hospital with 'many wounds' after being pulled from the rubble. Tragically, the family had moved to the area from LAquila after their home there was destroyed in another earthquake in 2009. The little girl's grandfather, Massimo Piermarini, said he desperately tried to save his family: 'They did not want me to go in because it was all in danger, but I said that I did not care at all, I had to go looking for them, but unfortunately for the girl there was nothing to do.' The quake, which devastated the mountainside towns and villages of Amatrice, Accumoli, Arquata del Tronto and Pescara del Tronto, was so powerful that it even rocked buildings in the centre of Rome more than 100 miles away and was felt as far away as Croatia. Survivors today described 'apocalyptic' scenes in towns and villages at the border of three regions - Umbria, Lazio and Marche - near the city of Perugia, which is especially popular with British holidaymakers. Some of the worst damage was suffered in Pescara del Tronto, a hamlet near Arquata in the Marche region where the bodies of the dead were laid out in a children's play park. Hundreds of people were to spend a chilly night in hastily-assembled tents with the risk of aftershocks making it too risky for them to return home. But as the desperate search for survivors continued tonight, an eight-year-old girl was pulled alive from the rubble. Hundreds of people were due to spend a chilly night wrapped in blankets or in hastily-assembled tents with the risk of aftershocks making it too risky for them to return home The quake devastated the mountainside towns and villages of Amatrice, Accumoli, Arquata del Tronto and Pescara del Tronto Rescuers search through debris following an earthquake in Pescara Del Tronto. The magnitude 6 quake struck at 3.36am Recovered bodies lay covered on the ground in a child's play area in the town of Pescara del Tronto The rescue mission was continuing in Pescara Del Tronto, one of the areas devastated by the Italian earthquake Covered: In what looks like an image from Pompeii, the town of Amatrice is seen smothered in grey dust and rubble in this aerial photo Dante's Inferno: Agostino Severo, a Rome resident on holiday, described Amatrice as looking like 'Dante's Inferno'. 'People crying for help, help. Rescue workers arrived after one hour... one and a half hours,' he said The 6.2-magnitude quake struck at 3.30am local time this morning while villagers slept in their beds. Rescuers are pictured walking through the rubble in Amatrice Catastrophic: Only a few buildings appeared to still be in tact amidst the absolute devastation in the town of Amatrice Collapse: The Mayor of Amatrice described how 'the roads in and out of town are cut off. Half the town is gone - there are many dead' Still standing: This red brick building is one of the only remaining structures in the historical part of the town of Amatrice Strong tremors were felt in the capital Rome, more than 100 miles from the epicenter near the city of Perugia - the epicentre was between Norcia and Accumoli Heartbreaking: The body of an unidentified child lies on a bench covered in a pink sheet in Arquata del Tronto, Italy Victims: The bodies of three people tragically killed in the earthquake in Pescara del Tronto lie in body bags in front of rescuers Distraught: Rescuers help a woman among dressed only in a sheet after she was saved from damaged buildings in Amatrice Escape: An injured man covered in dust is carried out of a crumbling building on a stretcher by a team of rescue workers in Amatrice Agony: A man is pulled out of the rubble with a large gash in his head following the earthquake in Amatrice Saved: A man cries (left) as the injured local is delicately pulled from the rubble while another rescuer prevents bricks from sliding down on top of him Carnage: An elderly man is stretchered out of a demolished building that was left with just its steel structure remaining in Amatrice Secured: The man was helped by Red Cross workers and firefighters as the gently carried him out of the rubble Ripped open: The bedroom interior of one resident's home in Pescara del Tronto is about the only thing that remains intact In ruins: Barely any buildings remain intact in the town of Pescara del Tronto after the devastating earthquake Hope: Dramatic footage showed the moment a woman was discovered trapped alive under the rubble in the town of Accumoli in Italy Pulled out: A team of rescue workers help gently lift a man from a devastated building in Amatrice Survivor: A dust-covered man trapped in the rubble of his home as he slept is pulled from a hole by rescuers in Amatrice this morning Help: A team of rescue workers and local men carry a body on a stretcher out of the rubble in the central Italian town of Amatrice Bloodied: An injured nun checks her mobile phone as she lies near a ladder and a blanket following an earthquake in Amatrice Hurt: Pope Francis interrupted his weekly audience in St Peter's Square to express his shock. 'To hear the mayor of Amatrice say his village no longer exists and knowing that there are children among the victims, is very upsetting for me,' he said Crying out: A woman stands among damaged buildings and screams in attempt for to find loved ones trapped in Amatrice Reassurance: A rescue workers holds the hand of a traumatised woman after she was rescued from a collapsed building in Amatrice Side by side: The historical center of the town of Amatrice was completly wiped out but the newer part of town appears to remain standing Debris: This is an overhead view of Amatrice, whose historic centre has been wiped out by the powerful earthquake overnight Frightened: Many children were caught up in the quake in the town of Amatrice. Residents across a broad swath of central Italy felt the temblor, which struck at 3:36 a.m. and sent people running into the streets Frantic: A man carries a pram and children's toys among damaged buildings after the strong earthquake hit Amatrice Bandaged: A man who suffered a head injury during the devastating earthquake is pictured in the town of Amatrice Harrowing: A body covered with a sheet and red jacket is carried past a mound of rubble, wood and metal by four rescuers in Amatrice Collapsed: An unconscious survivor on a makeshift stretcher is carried from the what remains of a collapsed building in Amatrice EUROPE'S DEADLIEST EARTHQUAKES AND WHY ITALY IS TORMENTED BY QUAKES The earthquake in Norcia occurred in a shallow fault in the Apennines, a chain of mountains that form the backbone of Italys boot. It is well known for being a highly complex and geologically active region as it sits at a point where several tectonic plates grind against each other. According to the US Geological Survey, this mornings earthquake occurred at a depth of 6.2 miles (10km) on a fault that runs from the northwest to the south east. The epicentre was in the mountains just 6.2 miles to the southeast of Norcia. It was caused by the stretching of the Earths crust as the tectonic plates beneath moved apart. Since the late Miocene a large basin has been opening up under the western Mediterranean Sea at the point where the massive Eurasian tectonic plate meets the African plate. Here the African plate is driven under the Eurasian plate in a process known as subduction. However, due to the forces involved, the bend in the African plate as it is forced beneath its neighbour can occasionally move backwards in a process known as roll back. This map shows how fault lines run right up the spine of Italy and where the epicentre of Wednesday's earthquake was located This map shows the location of the quake's epicentre and where activity has been measured It is similar to the effect seen when bending a piece of paper towards one end and then moving your hands this will cause the bend to roll from one side to the other. When this happens in the tectonic plates, however, the Eurasian plate remains stuck to the African plate and stretches in a process known as back-arc spreading. This is creating a region known as the Tyrrhenian basin under the sea between mainland Italy and Sardinia. The earthquake in Norcia is thought to have been caused by the opening of the Tyrrhenian basin occurring faster than the compression between the Eurasian and African plates, causing the earths crust to stretch. At the location of the earthquake, the Eurasian plate moves towards the northeast with respect to the African plate at a rate of around 24mm/yr, according to the US Geological Survey. A build up in pressure at this junction was suddenly released this morning, creating the magnitude 6.2 earthquake. Compared to other much larger earthquakes, such as the one off the coast of Japan in 2011 which was magnitude 9.0, it occurred at a much shallower depth. The 2011 Japanese earthquake was more than 18.6 miles down while the one under the Apennines was just a third of that. The shallow depth of the earthquake may account for the high levels of destruction seen in Norcia. Unimaginable: An elderly man in a tracksuit walks on the rubble of a collapsed buildings in Amatrice. A television aerial can be seen alongside the bricks In 2016 a 7.0 earthquake at a depth of 6.2 miles (10km) in Kumamoto City in Japan killed 49 people, injured 3,000 and left much of the city in ruins. There have been several earthquakes under the central Apennine region in recent years. In September 1997 there was a magnitude 6.0 earthquake 31 miles (50km) northwest of Norcia. On that occasion 11 people were killed and 100 injured. Around 80,000 homes were destroyed in the Marche and Umbria regions. In April 2009 a magnitude 6.3 earthquake occurred 28 miles (45km) to the south east of Norcia near the town of LAquila. That killed at least 295 people and injured 1,000 while 55,000 people were left homeless. Huge landslides occurred in the region and at least five aftershocks bigger than magnitude 5.0 rocked the area. The largest recorded earthquake in the region, however, occurred 42 miles (68km) to the southwest near Avezzano in January 1915, when the area was rocked by a magnitude 6.7 shake. Europe is no stranger to deadly earthquakes. Here we list the most devastating: 28 December 1908 Sicily and southern Italy. This magnitude 7.1 earthquake almost completely destroyed the Sicilian port city of Messina and Reggio Calabria in southern Italy. Between 75,000 and 200,000 people were killed although some estimates put the deathtoll at 95,000. 11 January 1693 Sicily. The most powerful earthquake in Italian history, this magnitude 7.4 quake destroyed at last 70 towns and cities. It caused the death of around 60,000 people. 1 November 1755 Lisbon, Portugal. Known as the Great Lisbon earthquake, it struck on the holiday day of All Saints Day at around 9.40am, sparking fires and a tsunami. Geologists have estimated it had a magnitude of between 8.5 and 9. Lisbon was almost totally destroyed and it is thought that a fifth of the citys population perished. A further 10,000 are thought to have died in Morocco, bringing the deathtoll to an estimated 50,000. 26 December 1939 Erzincan, Turkey. With a recorded magnitude of 7.8, this quake caused extensive damage around Erzincan and along the Kelkit River. Around 32,700 people died. 13 January 1915 Abruzzi, central Italy. This magnitude 6.7 earthquake destroyed the town of Avezzano which sat directly over the epicentre. It left 32,000 people dead and caused $60 million of damage. 17 August 1999 Turkey. More than 17,000 people were killed and 50,000 injured in this magnitude 7.6 earthquake. Nearly 37 seconds of strong shaking caused widespread damage in Istanbul, Izmit, Kocaeli and Sakarya. 3 October 1914 Burdur, Turkey. More than 17,000 houses were destroyed in this magnitude 7.0 earthquake and around 4,000 people lost their lives. 26 November 1943 Ladik, Turkey. A magnitude 7.6 earthquake that caused the deaths of around 4,000 people and destroyed three quarters of the homes in the Ladik-Vezirkopru area. 1 February 1944 Gerede, Turkey. About 50,000 homes were destroyed in this magnitude 6.5 earthquake and 2,790 people perished. 23 November 1980 Campania and Basilicata, southern Italy. A magnitude 6.5 earthquake that claimed the lives of 2,735 people and left 394,000 people homeless. Advertisement Agostino Severo, a Rome resident visiting Illica, said: 'We came out to the piazza, and it looked like Dante's Inferno. People crying for help, help. Rescue workers arrived after one hour... one and a half hours.' Italian Premier Matteo Renzi said this afternoon that the death toll from the quake had risen from 73 to 120 but added: 'This is not a final toll'. Many children are among dead. Renzi was speaking in the provincial capital of Rieti after visiting rescue crews and survivors in the hard-hit town of Amatrice and flying over other demolished towns in nearby Le Marche region. Renzi said 34 people died in Le Marche, the rest from the other towns. He also says the identification of quake bodies was a difficult process. This afternoon the Queen joined others from around the world in sending a message of condolence to Italy, saying she was saddened to hear of the loss of life and that her thoughts were with families affected. President Barack Obama called Italian President Sergio Mattarella and saluted the 'quick action' by first responders in Italy. The quake's epicentre was near Norcia in Umbria, about 105 miles north east of Rome, and falling bridges and landslides meant some areas are still cut off with emergency teams only able to get there on foot. The mayor of Accumoli, Stefano Petrucci, said this morning: 'My town isn't here anymore' as people were carried out of ruined buildings on stretchers and people desperately searched the debris for survivors or sobbed as they inspected their own ruined homes. Photographer Emiliano Grillotti said that in Accumoli he saw over 15 people digging with their bare hands to save a family of four with two children. He said: 'I can hear one of the children screaming'. The frantic search for survivors was continuing into the night after the death toll increased to 159 in the wake of the Italian earthquake disaster. Rescuers are pictured working through the rubble in Pescara Del Tronto As the light started to fade in Amatrice, rescue workers stepped up their search operation under floodlights Volunteers assist rescue emergency service personnel in front of a damaged house in the central Italian village of Amatrice An exhausted volunteer rescuer leans on a wall in the collapsed village of Pescara del Tronto. Later in the day an eight-year-old girl was pulled alive from the rubble in the town A pensioner is helped away from the damaged buildings in Accumoli, central Italy this afternoon Rescuers used sniffer dogs as the desperate search for survivors escalated this afternoon in Amatrice Volunteers formed a human chain as they lifted people from the rubble of a collapsed house in Amatrice Rescuers scaled a roof in Amatrice as they continued their hunt for survivors A woman was given emergency treatment as medics moved her to a waiting ambulance in Amatrice Rescuers are pictured lifting a man out of the ruins of a building destroyed during the earthquake in Amatrice Disaster zone: Pictures show the extent of the devastation caused by the 6.2-magnitude earthquake in Pescara del Tronto Some of the worst damage was suffered in Pescara del Tronto, a hamlet near Arquata in the Marche region where the bodies of the dead were laid out in a children's play park Aftermath: Dozens of rescuers have been called in to search through debris following the earthquake in Italy A picture of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus lies on the debris of a collapsed house in Amatrice following the earthquake A firefighter takes a rest in the central Italian village of Amatrice. A huge rescue mission is expected to continue into the night A man walks through the rubble in the devastated town of Amatrice. Todays disaster is the biggest in the region since April 2009 A body is carried away on a stretcher as rescuers continue the hunt for survivors of the deadly earthquake A volunteer carries a dog away from the ruins of a building in the earthquake-hit town of Amatrice in central Italy Survivors of the deadly earthquake could be seen crying and comforting one another as the death toll climbed on Wednesday Todays disaster is the biggest in the region since April 2009 when a 6.3 magnitude earthquake occurred 28 miles to the south east of Norcia near the town of LAquila, killing 295 people and injuring 1,000. That disaster led to lengthy recriminations over lax building controls and the failure of authorities to warn residents that a quake could be imminent. The first victims of the devastating quake were an elderly couple whose home collapsed in Pescara del Tronto, in the Marche region, around ten miles from the epicentre. A family of four, including a eight-month-old baby and his brother, nine, were also reported dead in the town of Accumoli. As rescue workers carried away the body of the infant, carefully covered by a small blanket, the children's grandmother blamed God: 'He took them all at once,' she wailed. Rescuers lift yet another body from the rubble in the earthquake-hit town of Accumuli this afternoon Volunteers had to light up the collapsed buildings as they continued a desperate search for survivors in the town of Pescara Del Tronto Rescuers showed no sign of slowing up as the light started to fade in Amtrice this evening Dozens of fire fighters were called in to help in the rescue effort and were on hand to lift bodies from the rubble A volunteer grimaces as he carries a sledge hammer up a mound of rubble as the search operation continued Rescuers kept to the grim task of lifting bodies from the scene of the disaster this afternoon People carry bottles of water as they organise a help area in the central Italian village of Amatrice Rescuers recover a dog from a collapsed house after an earthquake hit Pescara del Tronto A woman walks past rubble following an earthquake in Amatrice. Hundreds of volunteer rescuers have joined the hunt for survivors Their homes left in ruins, some residents in Amatrice set up camp on the street as the rescue operation continued A Mickey Mouse doll lies amidst the debris of a collapsed house following the earthquake in Amatrice Two brothers, aged four and seven, were pulled from the rubble nearby after hiding under a bed with their grandmother as the building fell down. Some 100 people were still unaccounted for in the village of Arquata del Tronto. A newborn baby was also found dead after being pulled from a family home in the center of Arquata del Tronto. The quake hit during the summer when the populations of the towns and villages in the area, normally low during the rest of the year, are swelled by holidaymakers. One person has died and a family of four including two young children, aged 8 months and 9 years, are feared dead in their collapsed house in Accumoli, according to its mayor. Stefano Petrucci said: 'Now that daylight has come, we see that the situation is even more dreadful than we feared, with buildings collapsed, people trapped under the rubble and no sound of life. 'We have a tragedy here. Four people are under the rubble, but they are not showing any sign of life. Two parents and two children. Hard to help: Because of the mountainous location of the villages hit by the earthquake many of the roads are inaccessible and helicopters are being used to rescue locals from towns such as Pescara del Tronto (pictured) Winched to safety: An injured person is rescued via helicopter following the earthquake in Pescara del Tronto on Wednesday Wiped out: An aerial view of Pescara del Tronto shows how the strength of the earthquake flattened towns Apocalyptic: Streams of rescue workers climb the rubble in Pescara del Tronto as they desperately seek survivors Nothing left: The whole mountainside town of Pescara del Tronto appears to be in ruins and any remaining buildings look close to collapse Demolished: Rescuers have pulled dozens of people young and old from the rubble of Italy's powerful earthquake, while trying to keep some victims calm as they waited to be pulled to safety Dead bodies are removed from the debris in Pescara del Tronto after it was struck by a powerful 6.2-magnitude earthquake Location: A geologist in Poland says that the earthquake in central Italy was caused by the slow but constant under-surface movement of the African Plate toward Europe 'It is a disaster, we have no light, no telephones, the rescue services have not got here yet.' The quake also destroyed homes and buried people under rubble in the small town of Amatrice, where many more are feared dead. 'The roads in and out of town are cut off. Half the town is gone,' said the town's mayor Sergio Pirozzi. He added: 'There are people under the rubble... There's been a landslide and a bridge might collapse. The situation is dramatic, there are many dead. I cannot give a toll for now because rescue efforts are under way and it is very, very difficult'. The centre of Amatrice was devastated, with entire palazzos razed to the ground. Rocks and metal tumbled on to the streets and dazed residents huddled in piazzas as aftershocks continued into the early hours. 'The whole ceiling fell but did not hit me,' marveled resident Maria Gianni. 'I just managed to put a pillow on my head and I wasn't hit luckily, just slightly injured my leg.' Another resident said she had been woken by the shaking in time to witness the wall of her bedroom cracking open. She was able to escape into the street with her children. Stunned: A young couple appeared to be in shock as they surveyed the devastated town of Amatrice. The mayor of says rescue teams are trying to reach all 69 hamlets around the town in the province of Rieti, in northern Lazio THE TOWN WHERE TIME STOOD STILL: CLOCK-TOWER IN ITALIAN VILLAGE HALTED AT THE MOMENT WHEN THE EARTHQUAKE STRUCK It's the town where time stood still. The clock on the 13-century tower in Amatrice, Italy, poignantly stopped just after Wednesday's earthquake struck at 3.36am. The town was one of the hardest hit in the disaster, with at least 17 dying there, from a total of over 70 lives lost. The clock tower was one of the few structures to survive relatively intact. It lost its bell, but some of the buildings nearby completely disintegrated. Frozen in time: The partially damaged 13th Century bell-tower was one of the few historic buildings in the centre of Amatrice that remained standing. The clock eerily signs the time the earthquake hit the town Standing still: In Amatrice the clock stopped at 3:36 am on Wednesday. The same phenomeon happenned to a clock in L'Aquila (right) when an earthquake struck in 2009 at 3:32 p.m Advertisement An aerial photograph from the Italian Fire Brigade shows the collapsed and damaged houses in Amatrice Impaled: A concrete post smashed through a car windscreen (left) in the Reatino area on Wednesday and another car (right) was buried in Pescara del Tronto Crumbled: Rescuers clear debris while searching for victims after the whole side of a building collapsed in Arquata del Tronto A video has emerged of a young girl covered in dust being carried to safety after she was pulled from the rubble in Amatrice A man dressed in white appears to be in shock as he is pulled from a devastated building by rescue workers Wounded: A woman with a bandage on her head stands in front of a collapsed building in the town of Amatrice Trail of destruction: Rescuers and people walk along a road following an earthquake in Accumoli, where a family of four including two children died Search: A sniffer dog is used to seek out any survivors under a collapsed building in Amatrice on Wednesday morning In pain: An injured man is carried in a blanket after being saved from the rubble of a collapsed building in Amatrice Resting: An injured man lies on a yellow stretcher after surviving the earthquake and being pulled to safety in Amatrice Signs of life: The Italian Fire brigade are seen working on a collapsed and damaged house in Amatrice which appears to have been reduced to a roof Tragic: Rescue workers and police officers carry a victim out of the rubble inside a blanket in the village Amatrice Shocking: Rescuers and residents clear debris in search for victims in damaged homes after the strong earthquake Aftermath: Residents of Amatrice in central Italy has been left in ruins overnight in an earthquake that shook areas up to 100 miles away, including Rome The devastating earthquake tore down entire streets and homes in Amatrice (pictured), close to the epicenter of the quake in central Italy Support: A family huddle together under blankets along with their pet dalmatian as they recover from the shock In crisis: A local woman sits on a step with her dog after surviving the quake (left). An elderly woman cries with her head in her hand as the realisation of what has happened sinks in Huddled: A shocked woman and man are seen wrapped in blankets in front of collapsed houses in Amatrice, central Italy Gruelling work: Locals, rescue workers and police all teamed up together to pull bodies from the rubble in Amatrice Shocking: A survivor in Amatrice is helped to safety after a powerful earthquake has rocked Italy overnight killing at least 50 people and burying many more as they slept Grief: An Italian sobs in the rubble outside his damaged home as people said villages and towns have been destroyed by the 6.2 magnitude earthquake At least ten people have been killed after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake rocked central Italy (pictured, rescuers carry a man from the rubble in the town of Amatrice) Helped to safety: A woman is carried down a ladder from her upstairs window, which has a gaping hole in the wall Damaged: The mayor of Amatrice (pictured) which has been hit by a landslide following the quake, wiping much of it out One witness named Marco, a sanitation worker from Amatrice, told Repubblica how everything 'fell apart' in an instant. 'It was a miracle for me to survive... I just woke up when suddenly everything collapsed. Ten second were enough to destroy everything,' he said. A witness in Configno, near Amatrice, recalled: 'It was a nightmare. We woke up at 3.35am, the furniture falling down, walls moving more than a meter. We rushed out, many are still in their underpants here, in the street. We did some bonfires in the square and went to help old people to get out from their houses.' As daylight dawned, residents, civil protection workers and even priests began digging out with shovels, bulldozers and their bare hands, trying to reach survivors. There was a sigh of relief as a woman was pulled out alive from one building, followed by a dog. 'We need chain saws, shears to cut iron bars, and jacks to remove beams: everything, we need everything,' civil protection worker Andrea Gentili told The Associated Press. 'I don't know what to say. We are living this immense tragedy,' said the Rev. Savino D'Amelio, an Amatrice parish priest. 'We are only hoping there will be the least number of victims possible and that we all have the courage to move on.' In Amatrice, the ANSA news agency reported two bodies had been pulled from one building. The Rev. Fabio Gammarota told ANSA another three were killed in a separate collapse. Amatrice Mayor Pirozzi told state-run RAI radio and Sky TG24 that residents were buried under collapsed buildings, that the lights had gone out and that heavy equipment was needed to clear streets clogged with debris. Aleandro Petrucci, the mayor of nearby Arquata del Tronto, said Pescara was one of 'two or three hamlets that have just completely disintegrated.' Missing: The side of a traditional beige building is collapsed into grey rubble in the town of Amatrice Turned inside out: The purple decor of one family's home is seen amongst the grey rubble as people search for signs of life in Amatrice Ruins: A lamppost is seen leaning dramatically to one side next to a devastated building and rescue workers Cry for help: This survivor looks into the rubble in Amatrice and was heard yelling to anyone who might be stuck inside Reaction: A dust-covered man cries with his head in his hands as the shock of what has happened overnight sinks in Decimated: An Italian clutches his child's buggy as he walks over the rubble and debris left Piled high: The tight streets of Amatrice have been blocked by the debris from falling buildings rocked by the quake Desperate: This is all that is left of a building in Amatrice where emergency services and volunteers pull away tiles and rubble searching for victims Busy: The area of Umbria is hugely popular with tourists, and some Britons have been caught up in today's chaos Swathed in blankets, a heavily wounded man gazes at his destroyed hometown of Amatrice which has been cut off from the world after its roads were buried in rubble Nothing left: This shop's sign is hanging off and its walls are collapsed after the quake shook the area at around 3.30am Search: People caught up in the aftermath have said that they have heard many voices coming from the rubble Distraught: A man stands on his damaged home after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice overnight Contrast: The intact kitchen of this home lies completely undamaged - but exposed to the outside world after its wall fell away Scramble: People are fighting through stone, metal and tiles to find anyone who may be trapped under the fallen buildings Rush: At least ten people are believed to be dead in the incident - others are being taken away on makeshift stretchers like this one Carnage: This car was left covered in dust and rocks from a falling wall as it tore through central Italy A resident of the village told Rai that she had been woken by the shaking in time to witness the wall of her bedroom cracking open. She was able to escape into the street with her children. A family friend of a tourist from Toronto, Canada, who was caught up in the earthquake told MailOnline how he escaped. Silvano Rendina was awoken and 'climbed through the window of his father's ancestral home in Pescara del Tronto when the earthquake struck'. After helping numerous townsfolk escape the rubble and after daybreak, he took photos of the utterly devastated town. Mr Rendina eventually made it to a bar in neighbouring Tresungo, which had WiFi and bottled water for rescuers coming from Pescara del Tronto. 'He said he thought they had got out all those who were verbally responsive, but reported that there were at least three other deaths other than the elderly couple reported. He said there had to be many more trapped,' family friend Mary Pat Elliott told MailOnline. Two bodies were recovered from rubble in Amatrice, a mountain village in neighbouring Lazio that was packed with visitors at the peak of the summer season. Paola Mancini, 79, told local newspaper Corriere the first words she heard were Run, run, everyone outside. She was in the hospital Grifoni, in Amatrice, when the earthquake started. A nurse screamed for everyone to get out into the street. There were two of us in the emergency room. We got up and ran as quickly as possible. We were in the hall, where we found a doctor who calmed us as much as he could. She was admitted into the hospital on Tuesday. This morning she was in the street along with the rest of the 14 inhabitants of the hospital. It has been a long and terrible shock. We have been scared, and we remain paralysed by terror. There have been moments of panic, but the nurses have been very professional and they got us all out into the street quickly. She said: 'The first ambulance arrived, a man on a stretcher was injured, covered by blood and shocked. Although I lived here I didnt recognise him. He was crying and kept saying, my wife is dead because our house collapsed'. A mother embraces her terrified son in a blanket in Amatrice as they stand alongside other locals in the town Search and rescue teams survey the rubble in Amatrice as a man walks over it with his phone in hand A man covered in a blanket walks in front of the rubble appears to walk in children's shoes after escaping the earthquake Residents and photographers stand next to damaged buildings after the strong heartquake hit Amatrice An injured woman in her night clothes is carried by rescuers amid the rubble of collapsed buildings in Amatrice Collapsed houses are seen crumbling down the mountain side in Pescara del Tronto, near Arquata del Tronto municipality A man is carried on a stretcher after being rescued from the rubble in the devastated town of Arquata del Tronto TRAVEL ADVICE FOR HOLIDAYMAKERS IN ITALY The Foreign Office has advised tourists in Italy to check with the Italian authorities for the latest information about the earthquake. It said in a statement: An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 struck Central Italy during the early hours of 24 August. The earthquake was also felt in Rome. If you are in the affected area, you should follow the advice of the local authorities. If you are in Italy, Civil Protection have activated a hotline 800840840 for information. To learn more about what to do before, during, and after an earthquake visit the Protezione Civile website.' At present airports around the affected area - Perugia and Rome - are functioning normally, but the government has requested that the Via Salaria, one of the main roads to the area, be left free of traffic to allow rescue crews to reach the area more easily. The towns that have been most badly affected are not considered tourism destinations, while others that are - Norcia, Perugia and other towns in Umbria and northern Lazio - have felt the quake but are not badly damaged. Good information about what to do in the event of an earthquake can also be found on the US Federal Emergency Management Agency website. If you are inside a building when an earthquake strikes it recommends staying where you are. It says: Stay where you are until the shaking stops. Do not run outside. Do not get in a doorway as this does not provide protection from falling or flying objects, and you may not be able to remain standing. Drop down onto your hands and knees so the earthquake doesnt knock you down. Cover your head and neck with your arms to protect yourself from falling debris and crawl for additional cover under a sturdy desk or table. Alternatively, its a good idea to seek an inside corner of a room away from windows and objects that could fall on you. If youre in bed, Femas advice is to stay there as moving around in the dark could be more dangerous. If the quake strikes while youre outside try and move away from buildings and street lights and drop down onto the ground. Drivers, meanwhile, are advised to stop and remain in their vehicles and avoid stopping near buildings, trees, utility wires or bridges. Source: www.ready.gov/earthquakes Advertisement A family friend of a tourist from Toronto, Canada, has told he was caught up in the earthquake while visiting his father's ancestral home in Pescara del Tronto (pictured) Silvano Rendina, from Canada, was awoken and 'climbed through the window of his father's ancestral home in Pescara del Tronto when the earthquake struck'. He took these photos after helping numerous townsfolk escape the rubble Sergio Pirozzi, Amatrice's mayor, said access to the village had been blocked, making it impossible for emergency services to get through 'We can hear voices under the rubble.' And the head of the local Red Cross described how a collapsed bridge was slowing the relief effort, because help can only arrive on foot. Italian Red Cross spokesman Tommaso Della Longa told MailOnline: The first priority in the first hours after the earthquake is mobilising the emergency services teams. Now the teams are in the field and they are working to find survivors. The logistics arent so easy because there arent so many big roads. Its a lot of small roads and small towns and village and groups of small houses in the mountains. Its a challenge but we are trying to manage it. Ryan Sloan, a lawyer based in Glasgow, described the moment the earthquake woke him in Rome as the 'most terrifying moment' of his life. He said: 'Woke up as felt like someone violently rocking bed.' Sarah Conrad, who works for YouTube in London and is visiting the Italian capital, said she was woken up in the early hours and also felt aftershocks. She tweeted: 'Pretty sure I was just woken up by an earthquake in rome. 'I thought someone snuck into my hotel room & was jumping on the bed. Both scary!' Paul O' Halloran, whose Twitter profile said he was in Rome said: 'Just got woke up by an earthquake! Bed and window shutters moving!' Toby Shaw, from Hampshire, tweeted: 'I'm really hoping that I've just experienced an earthquake in Rome, otherwise I'm not sure I want to know what it was that shook the room.' Rescuers desperately dug through collapsed buildings to reach those who were trapped underneath collapsed buildings in Amatrice Lights out: Many locals described how their towns were plunged into darkness when the earthquake struck. Members of the Protezione Civile (Civil Protection) are seen here in Amatrice Many buildings in center of Amatrice were razed by the 6.1 magnitude quake, which struck at around 3.30am (local time) Emergency workers help an elderly, wounded man to safety in Amatrice, where many are believed to be trapped underneath the rubble Truamatized locals try to keep warm in the early morning after the strong quake shook the town of Amatrice and much of central Italy The shallow quake centered in near the city of Rieti but shockwaves traveled as far as Rome 100 miles away Amatrice is famous in Italy as a beauty spot and is a popular holiday destination for Romans seeking cool mountain air at the height of the summer. The first quake struck shortly after 3.30 am (0130 GMT), according to the United States Geological Survey, and a 5.4 magnitude aftershock followed an hour later. USGS's PAGER system, which predicts the impact of earthquakes, issued a red alert - suggesting significant casualties and damage based on previous quake data. A resident of the Rieti region, which is between Rome and the epicentre of the quake, told the Rainews24 channel that she and most of her neighbours had come out onto the street after feeling 'very strong shaking'. Italy is often shaken by earthquakes, usually centred on the mountainous spine of the boot-shaped country. Another quake hit the northern Emilia Romagna region in May 2012, when two violent shocks 10 days apart left 23 people dead and 14,000 others homeless. First images of the damage in Amatrice showed cars caked in rubble and the debris of collapsed buildings sprawled across the streets. It was so strong... It seemed the bed was walking across the room by itself with us on it Lina Mercantini of Umbria, central Italy Mayor Nicola Alemanno said no deaths have been reported deaths in Norcia, adding: 'The anti-seismic structures of the town have held. 'There is damage to the historic heritage and buildings, but we do not have any serious injuries.' A resident of the Rieti region, which is between Rome and the epicentre of the quake, told the Rainews24 channel that she and most of her neighbours had come out onto the street after feeling 'very strong shaking'. A family of four were also reported dead in the town of Accumoli - just four miles from where the source of the quake (pictured, a rescue worker inspects the damage in Amatrice) Together: A sports team rests on the ground under white blankets after the town of Amatrice was struck Strong shockwaves were felt as far as the capital Rome, more than 100 miles from where the 'shallow' quake first struck at around 3.30am local time. There have already been 'reports of victims in the quake zone', according to Italian Fire Department spokesman Luca Cari. The worst hit towns were believed to be Accumoli, Amatrice, Posta and Arquata del Tronto. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's office said rescue teams were being sent to the worst-hit areas. He has cancelled a planned trip to France for a meeting with European Socialist leaders and other engagements to oversee the response to the disaster. Meanwhile, Pope Francis interrupted his weekly audience in St Peter's Square to express his shock. 'To hear the mayor of Amatrice say his village no longer exists and knowing that there are children among the victims, is very upsetting for me,' he said. 'I cannot fail to express my heartfelt sorrow and spiritual closeness to all those present in the zones afflicted. Francis added: 'I want to assure all the people of Accumoli, Amatrice, the diocese of Rieti, Ascoli Piceno and all the people of Lazio, Umbria and Le Marche of the prayers and close solidarity of the entire church.' 'It was so strong... It seemed the bed was walking across the room by itself with us on it,' said Lina Mercantini of Umbria, central Italy. Olga Urbani, in the nearby town of Scheggino, said: 'Dear God, it was awful. The walls creaked and all the books fell off the shelves.' The quake is believed to have damaged buildings across the central region while residents in Rome reported their houses 'swaying'. Shocking before and after pictures of the area show the devastation caused by the earthquake Slide me A clock building was once a key feature in the town of Amatrice (left). It is now one of the only remaining structures in a once idyllic street (right) Slide me The neatly stacked pile of tires outside a garage in Accumoli (left) are now scattered across the road (right) Slide me A once quiet and picturesque street is seen with locals going about their daily lives (left) before the earthquake. On Wednesday the beautiful balcony of the building collapsed into a pile of rubble (right) Slide me A town square in Amatrice featuring cobbled pavement, hanging flower baskets and a peach coloured traditional Italian building (left) is now utterly devastated and left in ruins (right) Slide me The same town square in Amatrice is seen here from a different angle. In the left picture the building is intact but in the right image half of it has crumbled to the ground Slide me A once delightful Italian street in Amatrice filled with terracotta-coloured buildings (left) now appears as a mass of grey rubble (right) Slide me In the town of Arquata del Tronto an old building (left) is now in ruins after half of its front collapsed onto the street (right) Slide me A whole building (left) appears to have vanished (right) into a mass of grey rubble in the town of Arquata del Tronto Slide me The Vai Della Marina building and junction of SR260 (left), in the village of Accumoli has been destroyed in the quake (right) The iconic photograph of six US Marines raising the flag at Iwo Jima has come to symbolize much about the military: strength, perseverance and brotherhood. But that was only the second flag raised on Mt Suribachi that day in 1945 - a different group of brave men took the ground first, and hoisted the red-white-and-blue over the bloody plains below. Now, two months after the US Marine Corps admitted that it misidentified one of the men in the iconic photo, it has corrected the record on that first flag-bearing team. Raising hopes: This photo was taken after the first flag was raised at Iwo Jima. Two of the men - PFCs James Michel (front, with rifle) and Louis Charlo (third hand down on flag pole) were wrongly identified as raising it - Marine Corps now says they were present, but didn't raise it No photo exists of the first flag-raising on Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945, but that's the one that is etched in the minds of those who survived the battle. The sight of the first Stars and Stripes on Mt Suribachi told the Marines on the rocks, beaches and boats below that after four bloody days of fighting, the US had claimed a significant vantage point. Staff Sgt Louis Lowery had the only camera during that first raising of the flag, but was putting in more film when it went up, The Washington Post reported. The photograph he took after the flag was raised shows six men gathered around it: Sgt Henry O Hansen, PFC Louis C Charlo, Platoon Sgt Earnest I Thomas Jr, 1st Lt Harold G Schrier, Cpl Charles W Lindberg and PFC James R Michels. And those were the men who were named as raising it. But now the Marine Corps - with help from a group of amateur historians - have corrected the history books to show that Michels and Charlo were not flag-raisers. Charlo, seen holding onto the flag in the photo, was in fact part of a reconnaissance team who went up the mountain; Michels, featured prominently holding a rifle, guarded the perimeter. In fact, the Marines now say, Pharmacist Mate 2nd Class John H Bradley and Pvt Philip L Ward were part of the flag-raising group. Bradley had already been confirmed as one of the men who raised the first flag in June, after he was removed from the record of the second, iconic flag-raising. Iconic: This is the iconic photo of the second flag being raised at Iwo Jima. In June the Marine Corps said that Pharmacist Mate 2nd Class John H Bradley had been wrongly identified as one of the men in this pic. Bradley in fact served in the first flag-raising, along with Pvt Philip Ward Bradley's son James wrote an account of the second flag raising that became the book 'Flags of Our Fathers,' later adapted into a film by Clint Eastwood. Both accounts follow the Marine Corps' incorrect account of Bradley being at the second flag raising. 'My father raised a flag on Iwo Jima,' James Bradley told The Associated Press in May. 'The Marines told him way after the fact, "Here's a picture of you raising the flag." He had a memory of him raising a flag, and the two events came together.' The second flag raising was ordered after the first flag was taken down for a war trophy shortly after it was hoisted. A larger flag - which became the subject of the famous photo - was erected in its place around two hours afterward. One bloody month - and the lives of 26,000 Americans later - Iwo Jima was taken by the US, who intended to use it for refueling and repair of US bombers sent to Japan. In June the Marines confirmed that the man in the iconic photo who was mistaken for Bradley was in fact Cpl Harold Schultz. Adapted: Ryan Philippe (left) played Bradley in Clint Eastwood's adaptation of his son's book 'Flags of Our Fathers' - both of which wrongly placed Bradley at the second flag-raising and not the first In a statement Wedesday, General Robert B Neller said: 'Our history is important, and we owe it to our Marines and their families to ensure it is as accurate as possible. 'After we reviewed the second flag raising and found inconsistencies, we wanted to take another look at the first flag raising to make sure we had it correct.' He added: 'In my mind, all of the Marines involved in getting the flags flying above Mt Suribachi could rightfully consider themselves "flag raisers." Tesco is to launch same day pick up on orders before 1pm to compete Tesco is to offer a same day click and collect service for groceries as it moves to see off a threat posed by Amazon. The supermarket giant will offer the service from 300 stores to people who do not have the time to trawl the aisles in search of bread and milk. Customers will be able to shop from their smartphone, laptop or office computer in the morning and pick up their purchases on the way home. The innovation follows the decision by Amazon to start selling groceries online with same day delivery. Tesco is to offer a same day 'click and collect' at 300 stores on orders made before 1pm in a bid to see off the threat posed by competitors like Amazon At the same time Sainsburys is running a trial with the same day delivery of groceries in parts of London and the south. The moves mean families will increasingly be able to buy their weekly groceries without ever going inside a supermarket. Retail analysts Mintel predict that online grocery sales will soar by 73per cent by 2020 rising from 8.6billion a year to 15billion. A survey by the firm found that 43per cent of people are doing some grocery shopping online, typically heavy things like tins, washing powder and nappies. Amazon Fresh allows people signed up to its Prime service, which costs 79 a year, to get same day delivery on its range of 130,000 fresh, frozen and ambient goods on orders placed before 1pm. Sainsburys is piloting a same-day delivery and click and collect service from 30 stores. Tesco will allow shoppers to collect any orders placed before 1pm from their local store after 4pm. Shoppers will be charged 2 for a two-hour collection slot from Monday to Thursday and 3 for slots on Friday or Saturday. Tesco has made the move in reaction to the new Amazon Fresh service which offers same day delivery on 130,000 goods Customers can choose either a 4pm to 6pm collection window or 6pm to 8pm on all six days. Same day click and collect will not be available on Sundays. A trial will involve 30 stores before the service is rolled out to 300 locations across the country. Tesco said: We know time is valuable to our customers and they expect more convenience and choice than ever before in how, when and where they do their grocery shopping. Our same day grocery click-and-collect service is available at nearly 300 stores across the UK and means our customers can get their shopping at a time and location that is convenient for them. Such is the demand for the home delivery of food that some retailers that do not offer the service themselves are being dragged into the market. A company called Togle has launched a service to deliver Marks & Spencer food to some London postcodes within 40 minutes. Google, Facebook and Twitter are accused by MPs of deliberately failing to stop jihadists using their sites to promote terrorism and killings. A scathing report today says the giant tech firms are putting lives at risk by allowing Islamist fanatics to radicalise the young and vulnerable by spouting hatred, extremism and murder. MPs on the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee say forums, message boards and social media platforms are the lifeblood of Islamic State and other terror groups. The scale of the problem was highlighted when it was revealed that social media firms had refused to remove hate preacher Anjem Choudarys poisonous online rants that urged Britons to carry out atrocities They add Google, YouTube and Facebook are the vehicle of choice in spreading propaganda and have become the recruiting platforms for terrorists yet the companies have done little to tackle those glorifying violence. The scale of the problem was highlighted when it was revealed that social media firms had refused to remove hate preacher Anjem Choudarys poisonous online rants that urged Britons to carry out atrocities. Counter-terrorism police made repeated efforts to get the fanatics Twitter posts and Islamic State recruitment videos taken down but the requests were resisted. Last week the cleric was convicted of terror offences. Activity on social media has also been implicated in the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby in 2013 and the terror attacks in Paris last November. Google, Facebook and Twitter are accused by MPs of deliberately failing to stop jihadists using their sites to promote terrorism and killings Even now, Islamic States Hollywood-style propaganda films hosted on the websites are inspiring individuals to carry out attacks on the streets of Britain, says the damning report. HOW WEB HELPED THE TERRORISTS Internet giants have repeatedly been accused of shielding terrorists. Cases included: ANJEM CHOUDARY Social media giants stubbornly refused to remove the hate preachers warped online rants that inspired Britons to carry out terror attacks. PARIS ATTACKS American Reynaldo Gonzalez, whose daughter was killed in the Paris terror attacks in November, is suing Google, Facebook and Twitter for providing material support to extremists. LEE RIGBYS KILLERS A Parliamentary inquiry into the 2013 murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby found one of the fanatics, Michael Adebowale, had discussed killing a soldier on Facebook but there was a failure to alert MI5 or the police. ANZAC DAY PLOT Britains youngest terrorist, a 15-year-old inspired by Islamic State, was jailed for life in October last year for conspiring with another man to behead police officers at an Anzac Day parade in Australia. Advertisement MPs say the multi-billion-pound firms should have a zero-tolerance approach to extremist content but Twitter does not even proactively report terror-related posts to police and the security services. The committee accepted that Twitter had suspended more than 360,000 accounts globally linked to terrorists since last year, while Google had removed more than 14 million extremist videos in 2014. But the MPs said this was a drop in the ocean and that their inaction had left parts of cyberspace unregulated and lawless. The 40-page report follows politicians, police chiefs and security experts hitting out at tech companies amid warning they were providing a digital hiding place for fanatics wanting to wreak havoc on Britain. Police have no power to force social media corporations to remove material from the internet. The report said: Networks like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are the vehicle of choice in spreading propaganda and have become the recruiting platforms for terrorism. The committee, led by Labour chairman Keith Vaz, said it was alarming that the companies had teams of only a few hundred employees to monitor networks of billions of accounts. If they continue to fail to tackle this issue and allow their platforms to become the Wild West of the internet, then it will erode their reputation as responsible operators, it added. Robert Hannigan, the head of GCHQ, also accused the likes of Twitter and Facebook of being the command and control networks of choice for terrorists. In bombshell evidence to the committee, Britains top counter-terrorism officer accused some IT firms of deliberately undermining counter-terrorism investigations. The report said Twitter, Facebook and Google all told the committee they took their responsibilities very seriously and co-operated with security agencies if necessary. Hoping to live to a ripe old age? You might want to move to Devon. The county is home to the district of Teignbridge which, according to a study of records spanning 170 years, has the longest life expectancy in the UK. Residents of the Shepway district in Kent were not so lucky, with a historically low life expectancy putting the area in last place. Hoping to live to a ripe old age? Move to Devon. The county is home to the district of Teignbridge which, according to a study of records spanning 170 years, has the longest life expectancy in the UK (Pictured: The town of Teignmouth in the Teignbridge council district) The analysis of more than 85million records reveals how life expectancies in different parts of the country have changed. Researchers from family history website Ancestry looked at England and Wales death indexes from 1837 to 2007. Over this period, residents of the coastal market town of Teignbridge had a life expectancy averaging 82 years. Colwyn in Wales and Rushcliffe in Nottinghamshire were next in the rankings, with an average lifespan of 81. In fact, the figures suggest that anyone hoping to see in their ninth decade should head West as half of the top 20 towns are in Somerset, Devon or Wales. During the time period spanned by the records, average life expectancy across the whole of Britain rose from just 40 to 78. The analysis of more than 85million records reveals how life expectancies in different parts of the country have changed (pictured: Beach promenade in Teignmouth, Teignbridge) The figure has now climbed to around 81 or 79 for men and 83 for women. The research found that the average life expectancy for residents of Shepway between 1837 and 2007 was just 41. Also near the bottom of the table were Burnley and Pendle in Lancashire and Whitechapel in Londons East End, where serial killer Jack the Ripper murdered prostitutes in the 19th century. Four other areas of London joined Whitechapel in the 20 worst locations for life expectancy Rotherhithe, Epping Forest, Newington and Clerkenwell. Historically, places with the lowest life expectancy have been poorer than others, with outbreaks of disease often dragging down the average. Shepway remains one of the most deprived areas in Kent, while Portsea Island in Hampshire where average life expectancy was 52 saw more than 800 residents die of cholera in the 1840s as a result of poor living standards. Some northern industrial centres such as Liverpool also saw a historically poor life expectancy lower their average to around 50. By contrast, well-heeled Kensington and Chelsea in west London was in the top ten. Miriam Silverman, senior UK content manager at Ancestry, said: Whether the result of fresh sea air or the quiet countryside, it seems that those looking for the secret to a long life may consider a move to Wales or the South West. Conversely, many short-life towns have been affected by a trio of poverty, pollution and over-population, causing disease to spread like wildfire and reducing historic life expectancies. Anyone interested in their familys average life expectancy and indeed the stories of their lives, can search online through death records, as well as millions of others. First time round, he caused a stir with his topless scything. In the new series, which starts on Sunday week, he has taken his shirt off again to go topless mining. This week, a trailer for the BBC drama, based on Winston Grahams novels, showed Ross Poldark, played by Aidan Turner, bare-chested and glistening with sweat in the light of an oil lamp while hewing at rock down a Cornish tin mine. The image will have his many fans swooning in anticipation of Sunday evenings full of bodice-ripping clinches and romantic gallops on stormy clifftops as the story of Poldark, a British Army officer who returns to his Cornish home from the American War of Independence, reappears on our screens. Yet behind Ross Poldarks fictional appearance at the rockface he has reopened his derelict tin mine in an attempt to restore the family fortunes lies a real story of darkness and, in some cases, unparalleled terror. Life in the tin mines in Cornwall was often brutal, with workers facing sweltering temperatures and dark and dusty conditions Its the brutal history of Cornish hard-rock mining, one which involves child labour, workers racked by ill health, ruthless exploitation and countless deaths. And it was only when I properly researched the subject for my latest novel that I realised the epic, terrifying scale of Cornwalls metal-mining past, and the way it poignantly intertwines with my immediate family. I am Cornish, and I grew up surrounded by the faded memories of Cornish industry: uncles who knew all about metallurgy, great aunts who could talk knowledgeably of the deads or spoil from a Cornish mine. For an industry which only closed in the Seventies when the last Cornish mines yielded to competition from Malaysia and Australia the tale of Cornish mining goes back all the way to the Bronze Age. On the moors of West Penwith, between St Ives and Lands End, it is thought men were streaming tin recovering it from river and stream beds as early as 2000 BC. Workers had to descend 1,200ft into the mine before they could even begin their shifts Twenty centuries later, the Romans came, specifically for tin. St Michaels Mount, that picturesque adornment to many a Penzance postcard, is probably the fabled Isle of Ictis, mentioned by classical writers as a centre of the metal trade. Even Jesus gets a look-in. During Roman times, so the venerable legend goes, Joseph of Arimathea, Christs uncle, brought the young Jesus to Cornwall; the beach where they supposedly landed is just across the bay from yachty St Mawes. Why did they come here? Because Joseph of Arimathea was a tin trader. This is the same legend, of Jesus in England, which later inspired Blakes poem Jerusalem. After the Romans, and Jesus, the tin trade continued through the Dark Ages and into medieval times, often making the Dukes of Cornwall very rich indeed. This is where the story blackens. By the 17th century, Cornish mining was halfway industrialised: in 1630 a visitor talks of a little hamlet on the coaste of the Irishe Sea, much visited with tinners, where they lodge and feede, being near theyre mines. If that same visitor had returned 150 years later, hed have seen Cornish mining at the dawn of its first, enormous copper boom. This is the Poldark era, a time of relative plenty for lucky mine owners. But for most miners, most of the time, life was unimaginably hard. Rising at dawn, a typical Cornish miner would walk five miles across rough country to reach his mine. He would then climb down a shaft, on a rope or ladder, like a monkey. It is estimated the average miner of the time climbed down 1,200ft before he began his proper toil. Having reached the bottom of the shaft, he then had to crawl, virtually naked, down a broiling tunnel temperatures sometimes exceeded 100f until at last he reached the seams of tin or copper glistening in the rockface. Thousands of children were employed to work in the tin mines, with girls as young as six making their way down on a daily basis Now his shift could officially begin in almost total darkness. The only light came from the feeble flicker of little candles on the miners hard felt hats. Dust was everywhere, and regularly made vision impossible. And often the tunnels extended for a mile under the ocean. Even the most toughened miners were terrified by the booms of the Atlantic storms, which rolled boulders and threatened to break through the ceiling. Many drowned. When he got home, having climbed back up 1,200ft, and walked five miles across the moors, the average man had a supper of salt fish, potatoes, and mugwort tea, made from a hedgerow herb. Unsurprisingly, these tinners died young, commonly before 30. If they werent killed by the awful labour, or the lack of sun, they were slaughtered by accidents and disease. A traveller who visited Cornwall in the 1840s, when the area was producing two-thirds of the worlds copper and making 500 a fathom for the gloating owners, describes the mining districts as being peopled by men with faces blackened and blinded in one or both eyes. Or else lacking two fingers of the right hand, from shooting the rocks with gunpowder. In mining villages, the traveller found hundreds of cripples being led about by boys, eking out a living by selling tea from house to house. The shafts were in almost total darkness with workers battling dust to be able to see what they were doing Sometimes the boys themselves were sent down the mines, and they could be as young as eight. By the mid-19th century, it was estimated that more than 5,000 children were employed in the mines. In 1838, data collected from 124 tin, copper and lead mines in Cornwall found that 85 per cent employed children. At some, children comprised half of the work force. These mines were dark, satanic places although with the arrival of Methodism, the workforce would sing hymns as they climbed up and down. The harmonious sound was so unearthly yet so very lovely that unbelievers were, reportedly, converted on the spot. In the 19th century people on boats would sail up the night-time coast, then drop anchor, to gaze in astonishment at the sight of cliffside mines blazing away without cease. It must have been an unbelievable vision: the red hot glare from boiler-house doors, the mighty fires of the smelting houses, lit by fountains of molten metal, springing up 15ft like majestic geysers of quicksilver. Among it, you could just make out pale and shadowy ghosts: the faces of the workers. Hundreds of men, women, boys and girls. This is where my own family history intersects with Cornish mining history. When I was researching the book, I asked my family if they had personal memories of mining. My dad told me his father never forgot the sight of dying miners standing at open windows in their cottages, desperately trying to suck in air to clear their diseased lungs. Then my mum told me her mother had been a bal maiden bal being a Cornish word for mine. I knew these were young girls, employed from the age of six, to break rocks on anvils with heavy hammers while standing barefoot in the open air or transport barrow-loads of ore heavier than a grown man around the mine. I knew they endured lives as hard as any miner: that they were often rendered infertile by the arsenic and sulphur of their environment. I knew the sound of the steam-driven stamping machines which pounded ore into dust was so loud some went deaf so they developed their own sign language. But could bal maidens, a kind of child slave labour, really be a thing of living memory? Research told me, yes. My grandmother, Anne Jory, worked the clifftop mines of St Agnes at the beginning of the 20th century. If she hadnt married, she might have carried on working as a maiden until her death. Some of her contemporaries did precisely that. The last working bal maiden stopped her hammering at Geevor in 1951, and the very last bal maiden to draw breath, who was born in Camborne around the same time as my grandmother, died in Redruth in 1968 after my own birth. So, what I had thought was a cruel but distant history overlapped with my lifespan, and encompassed my granny. This, then, is the sadder, darker story of Cornwall. So when you settle in next Sunday to admire Poldark in his tin mine, think of the men risking their lives under the sea. Ross Poldark will descend into a mine in the second series of the show, which returns to the BBC this week Think, too, of the men who operated the rock drills known as widow-makers, introduced in the 19th century. Men whose lungs were so choked with dust they had a life expectancy, once they began work, of just four years. Imagine the anxious wives of other miners gathered on the cliffs on a stormy night, clutching candles stuck in treacle tins, so that their pitiful little constellation of lights could guide their husbands safely up the cliffs then homewards, through the rain, across the wild moors. And remember the poor little bal maidens, going deaf or being slowly poisoned by sulphurous compounds in the glare of fires which fuelled Cornwalls greatest and cruellest industry of all. She bravely displayed her body wearing a nightgown in a new gallery taken by photographer Luo Yang Though once unable to face her body, Zhou has come to accept the burns calling them her 'unique marks' The young woman has spent the past five years treating her scars which spread throughout her body Zhou Yan, 20, was severely burnt in a shocking assault launched by her high-school classmate in 2011 Advertisement They say time heals all wounds, but for 20-year-old Zhou Yan, a shocking assault launched by her spurned high-school admirer has left her wounds for life. The young woman, who was doused in gasoline then set alight at her home in 2011, was once unable to face the horrific burns throughout her body. But after years of struggles, adjustments and self-growth, Zhou has come to accept her new body. In a beautiful and candid gallery, the brave woman showcased her scars wearing a plain nightgown. She told MailOnline: 'Real encourage is to not hide your pain, but to face and display it in an honest way. 'My scars are my treasure, my unique marks and my personality.' Proud and beautiful: Zhou Yan, who survived a gasoline attack, has showcased her scars in a touching and candid gallery Horrific assault: The 20-year-old was assaulted five years ago when she was breaking up with her high-school classmate Brave and determined: Suffering horrific burns throughout her body, Zhou appears in the lens wearing just a nightgown Zhou said: 'Scars really change the way people look at you. 'They are like mirrors. I feel I could instantly tell what a person is like by looking at their glance. It's instinctive. 'Some people are disgusted by them. Some people think they're ugly. But there are also some people who think they're my character.' Real encourage is to not hide your pain, but to face and display it in an honest way. My scars are my unique marks and my personality. Zhou Yan Treating her wounds has been a daily battle for Zhou Yan since 2011. After the ghastly attack, Zhou went through three months of life-saving skin grafting at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University in her hometown Hefei. Afterwards, she moved to Beijing in 2012 to undergo a four-year-long treatment at Aimei Beauty Clinic to reduce the appearance of her scars, which spread throughout her body. Zhou and her mother now live in a ward in the clinic. Commenting on her scars, Zhou said: 'I hate them, but I don't hate them.' 'I hate them because they are painful and they often fester. I can't move freely. My life is restricted by them. 'But on the other hand, they're the testament of my life - just like the scars of a fighting soldier.' 'My scars are my treasure, my unique marks and my personality': Brave Zhou has come to accept and love her new body Will of steel: Zhou told MailOnline that her scars are the testament of her life - just like the scars of a fighting soldier Scarred youth: The woman said the only parts that have escaped the attack are her left forearm and her left leg Changing attitude: Zhou said she was once unable to accept her wounded body, but now she regards it as her 'treasure' Alternative beauty: The pictures were taken by photographer Luo Yang and will appear in her new exhibition in Hong Kong The soft-spoken woman said gasoline burns have left permanent and deep marks on her face, neck, chest, hands and limbs. The only parts that have escaped the attack are her left forearm and her left leg. She added: 'My scars have accompanied me since when I was 16. They have witnessed all of my pain and suffering. Each of them has their unique stories that only I know. 'I want to say "thank you" to them.' Scars really change the way people look at you. They are like mirrors. I feel I could instantly tell what a person is like by looking at their glance. It's instinctive. Zhou Yan Zhou Yan's life-long scars were left by an incident that stunned the Chinese public. Zhou and the attacker Tao Rukun attended the same school in Hefei. When Zhou rejected Tao's love advances, Tao became enraged. September 17, 2011, was the day that changed Zhou Yan's life forever. Zhou said on that fateful afternoon, Tao, then 17, arrived at Zhou's family home to try and reconcile with her. When she rejected his pleas, he decided to douse Zhou with gasoline he had prepared in a Sprite bottle before setting her on fire. Recalling the life-changing event, Zhou said: 'I had feared [he had used] acid, but when the gasoline was poured, I didn't feel any pain. 'However, in a split second he set me alight. I screamed. I couldn't feel pain, I felt numb. maybe because I was standing in flames.' Life-changing event: Zhou (right) and Tao Rukun (left) attended the same middle school in Hefei. When Zhou tried to reject his love advances, Tao poured gasoline over her before setting her alight Zhou Yan went through three months of life-saving skin grafts before moving to a treatment centre in Beijing. She was pictured before and after the attack In 2012, the criminal case went to trial and Tao (second from the right) was sentenced to 12 years and one month in prison Luckily, Zhou's aunt managed to put out the flames and Zhou was taken to hospital where she received emergency surgical treatment. According to the hospital, the fire gave Zhou a deep third-degree burn and destroyed one of her ears. However, the woman claimed that in reality her wounds were much more extensive. Because Tao's family had connections with local authorities, the doctors have reduced the severity of her wounds on paper, she said. Zhou said she had been tormented by nightmare of the attack every day for about three years. I want to document her scarred youth and her beauty in pain. To women, scars are usually not beautiful, but they also give them a new understanding in beauty and the bravery of facing imperfection. Luo Yang, 32, photographer In 2014, she took up drawing as a hobby under the encouragement of a close friend and that helped her rebuild faith in life. And now the woman decided to fully recognised her scarred body through the new gallery taken by her friend, a female photographer called Luo Yang. The set of pictures were posted by Zhou Yan on her social media account on Weibo, China's equivalent to Twitter, on August 16. Along with the six images, Zhou wrote: 'The dawn is about to come. Everything will be fine. You must be the strongest child. Only then will you see sunshine.' Zhou's pictures have gathered nearly 20,000 comments. People sent in messages of support towards Zhou and expressed their admiration at her bravery. Chinese media have widely shared her images too. People's Daily Online wrote in an article 'the beautiful gallery displays courage, but at the same time makes people feel heart-broken'. These pictures will appear in Luo Yang's upcoming exhibition, Girls, to be held by MO-Industries at the Cat Street Gallery in Hong Kong between September 14 and 26. Luo told MailOnline she is deeply touched by Zhou's optimism and mischief. She said: 'What happened to her was abnormal. I want to document her scarred youth and her beauty in pain.' The 32-year-old photographer added: 'To women, scars are usually not beautiful, but they also give them a new understanding in beauty and the bravery of facing imperfection.' The gasoline burns have left permanent and deep marks on Zhou's face, neck, chest, hands and limbs. She was pictured receiving treatment in February 2012 Agony: Commenting on her scars, Zhou said they are painful and they often fester. She said: 'My life is restricted by them' In March, the Hefei Intermediate Court made the final ruling on the case. Zhou was pictured appearing outside the court for an appeal in November, 2015 The horror of Zhou's injuries gripped China. In May 2012, the criminal case went to trial, and the attacker, Tao, was sentenced to 12 years and one month in prison. Although Tao's family had reportedly promised to compensate Zhou for her injuries, the two families were never able to reach an agreement. In March this year, the Hefei Intermediate Court made the final ruling on the case after appeals from both sides. Tao has been ruled to compensate Zhou 1.79 million Yuan (200,000). However, Zhou said she and her lawyer had expected the compensation to be in the region of 4.67 million Yuan (540,000), which is to include treatment costs, appraisal fees, disability compensation and emotional damage. Now Zhou runs an online shop selling beauty products, topical creams and milk powder. Researchers have discovered some of the factors that affect these shifts Northward shift in the jet stream tends to be good for UK weather Although the occasional heat-wave has graced the UK this summer, these spells of hot weather are always short-lived and often followed by torrential rain. If you have found yourself asking what has happened to the summer weather over recent years, you can blame the Atlantic jet stream, according to new research. The ribbon of strong winds that move weather systems around the world is complicated, but scientists have started to unravel the mystery and think their improved understanding will help improve the accuracy of long-range forecasts. Scroll down for video Scientists at the University of Sheffield and The Met Office discovered the cause of the recent run of miserable wet summers. Changes in the direction of the jet stream can affect weather in the UK. Rain in London earlier this summer is pictured WHAT IMPACTS THE UK SUMMER? It was already known that changes in the direction of the jet stream can affect weather in the UK. But the researchers found the latitude of the Atlantic jet stream in summer is influenced by several factors. These include sea surface temperatures, solar variability, and the extent of Arctic sea-ice. All of these factors could one day lead to long-term memory and predictability in the climate system. 'Our study will help forecasters to predict further into the future giving a clearer picture of the weather to come,' Mr Hall said. Advertisement Scientists at the University of Sheffield and The Met Office discovered the cause of the recent run of miserable wet summers. 'There is nothing people in the UK like to discuss more than the weather,' said Richard Hall, from the University of Sheffield and lead author of the study. 'This is because it can fluctuate so drastically we can be basking in high temperatures and sunshine one week only to be struck by heavy downpours and strong winds the next.' It was already known that changes in the direction of the jet stream can affect weather in the UK. A northward shift in the Atlantic jet stream tends to direct low-pressure systems northwards and away from the UK, leading to warm and dry weather during summer. But, if the summer jet slips southwards it can lead to the jet shifting the low-pressure systems directly over the UK. This causes miserable weather like the kind the UK experienced in the first half of this summer. Exactly what causes the jet stream to shift in direction, however, is more difficult to understand. If the summer jet slips southwards it can lead to the jet shifting the low-pressure systems directly over the UK, causing miserable weather like we experienced in the first half of this summer. WHAT IS THE JET STREAM? The strong winds in the jet stream are caused by the temperature difference between tropical and polar air masses. Jet streams are found between 5.5 and 10 miles (9 and 16 km) above the surface of the Earth, just below the tropopause, and can reach speeds of 200 mph (321 km/h). A northward shift in the Atlantic jet stream tends to direct low-pressure systems northwards and away from the UK, leading to warm and dry weather during summer. But, if the summer jet slips southwards it can lead to the jet shifting the low-pressure systems directly over the UK, causing miserable weather like we experienced in the first half of this summer, the researchers found. Advertisement 'Working with The Met Office we were able to look at the different factors which may influence the jet stream, which paves the way for improvements in long-term forecasting,' Professor Edward Hanna, professor of Climate Change at the University of Sheffield said. The researchers found the latitude of the Atlantic jet stream in summer is influenced by several factors. These include sea surface temperatures, solar variability, and the extent of Arctic sea-ice. All of these factors could one day lead to long-term memory and predictability in the climate system. 'Our study will help forecasters to predict further into the future giving a clearer picture of the weather to come,' Mr Hall said. 'We've made big inroads into long-range forecasts for winter, but we are still limited to shorter-range weather forecasts in summer,' said Professor Adam Scaife, Head of long range forecasting at the Met Office. The factors that affect the jet stream include sea surface temperatures, solar variability, and the extent of Arctic sea-ice (pictured). All of these factors could one day lead to long-term memory and predictability in the climate system 'Studies like this help to identify ways to break into the long-range summer forecast problem.' In the future the researchers will look into what mechanisms are behind the factors that influence the jet stream, and exactly how jet speed and latitude affects our summer weather. Advertisement Its been more than ten years since the Cassini spacecraft confirmed the existence of one of Saturns smallest moons, but a new series of artistic impressions now shows the influence of Daphnis like never before. The images created by Kevin Gill, a software engineer at Nasas Jet Propulsion Lab, illustrates the interactions between Daphnis and Saturns ring system. While the photos captured by Cassini show this from a great distance, Gills renditions reveal a close-up look at the effects of the tiny moon on the Keeler Gap, as it induces a wavy pattern along the edge. Gills renditions reveal a close-up look at the effects of the tiny moon on the Keeler Gap, as it induces a wavy pattern along the edge THE KEELER GAP The Keeler Gap is roughly 26 miles wide and lies in Saturns A Ring, about 155 miles from the outer edge. Daphnis induces a wavy pattern in the edge of the Keeler Gap that extends nearly a mile above the ring. Advertisement The Keeler Gap is roughly 26 miles wide and lies in Saturns A Ring, about 155 miles from the outer edge, according to Universe Today. While Daphnis is far smaller just under 5 miles in diameter it has a powerful effect on this system. Based on images from the Cassini craft, scientists found that Daphnis induces a wavy pattern in the edge of the Keeler Gap that extends nearly a mile above the ring. This is the result of the tiny moons slight inclination toward the rings plane. In the new images, titled Daphnis in the Keeler Gap and Daphnis and Waves Along the Keeler Gap, Gill reveals what this might look like if viewed up close. The images show the ripples caused by Daphnis along the edge of the A Ring, along with the moons position in relation to the system, which causes the waves to reach upward. Its been more than ten years since the Cassini spacecraft, pictured, confirmed the existence of one of Saturns smallest moons. This shows the ripples caused by Daphnis along the edge of the A Ring, along with the moons position in relation to the system, which causes the waves to reach upward. The series was inspired by Cassinis most recent images of Saturns rings, Gill told Universe Today, and focuses one of planet's 62 moons. The craft recently returned to an equatorial orbit after two years in high-inclination orbits. These stunning images arent the software engineers first rendition of other worlds in our solar system. In an earlier series, Gill revealed visualizations of a Living Mars an impression of what the red planet would look like if it was home to oceans and vegetation. Along with this, hes also shown what Earth might look like if it had rings. The series was inspired by Cassinis most recent images of Saturns rings. An image from July 16 2016 is shown above China has its sights set firmly on Mars and is aiming to launch its own rover to the red planet by 2020. New images have today provided the first glimpse of what this rover might look like when it launches at the end of the decade. As part of the announcement, China also launched a competition for members of the public to come up with a name and logo for the rover. China has its sights set firmly on Mars and is aiming to launch its own rover to the red planet by 2020. New images have today provided the first glimpse of what this rover might look like when it launches at the end of the decade CHINA'S MISSION TO MARS A Long March-5 carrier rocket will be dispatched from the Wenchang space launch centre in the southern island province of Hainan, Xinhua said, citing Ye Peijian, a mission consultant. The lander will separate from the orbiter at the end of a journey of around seven months and touch down near the Martian equator, where the rover will explore the surface. The 200-kilogram (441 pounds) rover has six wheels and four solar panels, and will operate for around 92 days. It will carry 13 sets of equipment including a remote sensing camera and a ground-penetrating radar. Advertisement China, which is pouring billions into its space programme and working to catch up with the US and Europe, announced in April it aims to send a spacecraft 'around 2020' to orbit Mars, land and deploy the rover. Zhang Rongqiao, chief architect of the project, said they were targeting July or August of that year for the launch, the Xinhua news agency reported. 'The challenges we face are unprecedented,' the report quoted him as saying. A Long March-5 carrier rocket will be dispatched from the Wenchang space launch centre in the southern island province of Hainan, Xinhua said, citing Ye Peijian, a mission consultant. The lander will separate from the orbiter at the end of a journey of around seven months and touch down near the Martian equator, where the rover will explore the surface. The 200-kilogram (441 pounds) rover has six wheels and four solar panels, and will operate for around 92 days. It will carry 13 sets of equipment including a remote sensing camera and a ground-penetrating radar The 200 kilogram (441 pounds) rover has six wheels and four solar panels, and will operate for around 92 days. It will carry 13 sets of equipment including a remote sensing camera and a ground-penetrating radar to study the soil, environment and inner structure of Mars and look for traces of water and ice. China National Space Administration (CNSA) is an ambitious, military-run space programme that Beijing sees as symbolising the country's progress and a marker of its rising global stature. A Long March-5 carrier rocket will be dispatched from the Wenchang space launch centre in the southern island province of Hainan in July or August 2020 A view from the 'Kimberley' formation on Mars, taken by Nasa's Curiosity rover, which has been on the red planet since 2012 The nation's first lunar rover was launched in late 2013, and while it had several mechanical troubles, it far outlived its expected lifespan, finally shutting down earlier this month. But for the most part China has so far replicated activities that the US and Soviet Union pioneered decades ago. CHINA IS BEING SPURRED ON BY INDIA One of CNSA's rocket scientists, Yuan Minhui, was recently quoted by People's Daily saying the agency was spurred on after being 'defeated' by India's space agency in the race for an Asian probe to reach Mars. China partnered with Russia to launch a Mars-bound probe previously, but it failed to make it out of Earth's low orbit. India's Mars Orbiter Mission, called 'Mangalyaan', proved successful, reaching the red planet in 2014. Meanwhile, Nasa and Esa have launched another mission, called ExoMars, the first stage of which will taste the Martian atmosphere for methane, which could be a sign of geological activity, and even life. Advertisement It has already been beaten to Mars by India, which put a low-cost probe into orbit around the red planet in September 2014. The US has landed two rovers on Mars and the former Soviet Union and the European Space Agency have also sent missions to the planet. China's first attempt to send a satellite into Mars orbit failed in 2011 when the Russian rocket carrying the payload failed to make it out of the Earth's orbit. China has an ambitious, military-run, multi-billion-dollar space programme, however its first attempt to send a satellite into Mars orbit failed in 2011 The remains of Scottish prisoners of war who died after being captured by Oliver Cromwell's troops nearly 400 years ago will not be reburied north of the border. The skeletons of between 17 and 28 people - some as young as 13-years-old - were discovered in 2013 in a mass grave close to Durham Cathedral and Castle. Analysis had shown the bones belonged to soldiers taken prisoner by the English at the 1650 Battle of Dunbar, some 111 miles (179km) north. Scroll down for video The remains of the soldiers were found in 2013 in a mass grave during construction work on the university's Palace Green Library cafe THE MASS GRAVE FOUND AT DURHAM UNIVERSITY The remains of the soldiers were found in 2013 in a mass grave during construction work on the university's Palace Green Library cafe. Archaeologists at first thought they had uncovered remains of Durham Cathedral's medieval cemetery, the boundaries of which may have extended further than the present day burial site. But the corpses had been tipped into the earth without elaborate ceremony, suggesting they were part of a mass burial. Research showed they were the remains of Scottish soldiers from the Battle of Dunbar, answering an almost 400-year-old mystery as to where those soldiers who died had been buried. As an estimated 1,700 prisoners from the battle died and were buried in Durham, it was thought possible that there are more mass graves under buildings close to the cathedral. Advertisement There had been hopes the bones could be returned to Scotland. However, following consultation over the issue, the bones are now to be buried in a churchyard close to where they were originally found. A plaque featuring stone from Dunbar will be erected at the original grave site, and further research will be carried out on the remains, expected to finish late next year, before they are reburied. Canon Rosalind Brown, of Durham Cathedral, said: 'The hope of both Durham Cathedral and Durham University is that interested parties will join us in planning a fitting and dignified reburial and commemoration for the soldiers. 'We will also be working closely with both the local church and churches in Scotland to plan this.' The remains of the soldiers were found in 2013 in a mass grave during construction work on Durham University's Palace Green Library cafe. Archaeologists at first thought they had uncovered remains of Durham Cathedral's medieval cemetery, the boundaries of which may have extended further than the present day burial site. But the corpses had been tipped into the earth without elaborate ceremony, suggesting they were part of a mass burial. Between 17 and 28 skeletons discovered in a mass grave close to Durham Cathedral in 2013 were found to be the bones of prisoners from the 1650 Battle of Dunbar, some 111 miles (179km) north. Pictured is a jawbone found Research showed they were the remains of Scottish soldiers from the Battle of Dunbar, answering an almost 400-year-old mystery as to the fate of prisoners from the battle. The Battle of Dunbar saw English Parliamentary forces under Oliver Cromwell defeat a far larger Scottish army who were loyal to King Charles II. The victory helped cement Cromwell's reputation as a ruthless and cunning military leader. Around 6,000 of Charles II's supporters were taken prisoner and an estimated 1,700 died and were buried in Durham after being forcibly marched south. This suggests there could be more remains buried in mass graves under buildings close to the cathedral. Archaeologists at first thought they had uncovered remains of Durham Cathedral's medieval cemetery, the boundaries of which may have extended further than the present day burial site. Pictured is the remains of a skeleton found at the site Research showed the bones were the remains of Scottish soldiers from the Battle of Dunbar, answering an almost 400-year-old mystery as to where those soldiers who died had been buried The team behind the project at Durham University concluded that as some of the skeletons are incomplete it might be better not to separate them. Several thousand Scottish soldiers were captured and marched south following the Battle of Dunbar (illustrated). Around 3,000 were imprisoned at Durham Castle and around 1,700 of them died there They said it wanted to limit the distance between those remains that have been exhumed and those still in the original mass graves was the most ethically responsible course of action. It was also agreed that keeping these individuals as close as possible to their comrades would be morally appropriate. Professor David Cowling, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Arts and Humanities at Durham University, said the decision was complex, adding: 'We were acutely aware of the strength and depth of interest amongst many about the fate of these soldiers, whilst at the same time recognising our ethical, moral and legal obligations.' Meetings and public events in Dunbar and Durham also enabled the project team to present its findings to more than 250 members of the public and hear from interested groups and individuals. Archaeological analysis of the skeletons found the men were mainly young, inexperienced soldiers, aged predominantly between 13 and 25. Pictured are various teeth found at the site DUNBAR'S CHILD SOLDIERS Some of the prisoners of war whose skeletons were discovered in the mass grave close to Durham cathedral were as young as 13 years old, experts have revealed. Researchers from Durham University identified the bones as coming from soldiers captured after the Battle of Dunbar in 1650. Radiocarbon tests on the jumbled remains of between 17 and 28 people has led to the conclusion that they were Scottish soldiers aged between 13 and 25. Advertisement Professor Chris Gerrard, head of the project team at Durham University, said: 'It has been hugely rewarding to see the level of interest in the Scottish Soldiers Archaeology Project.' After Cromwell's unexpected victory over Scottish forces who supported Charles II, around 6,000 were captured, with 1,000 of the sickest being freed. A further 1,000 of the hungry, defeated soldiers died on the gruelling march south, while many escaped and some were shot for refusing to walk further. Around 3,000 Scots were imprisoned in Durham's then abandoned castle and cathedral, with an estimated 50 dying every day. Less than half of those imprisoned in Durham survived and were eventually transported to English colonies overseas to be used as convict labourers. Archaeological analysis of the skeletons found the men were mainly young, inexperienced soldiers, aged predominantly between 13 and 25. Given the incomplete nature of the skeletons, limiting the distance between those remains that have been exhumed and those still in the original mass graves was the most ethically responsible course of action Exploration has revealed the ship is 'amazingly intact', complete with walkways, a hangar bay and a plane Now the researchers have sent robotic subs down to explore the wreck and take photographs Researchers had lost the wreck - but it was spotted in April last year by a research submarine Advertisement More than 60 years after it was blown up by two atomic blasts then later sunk off the cost of California, the wreckage of the historic USS Independence has been seen for the first time. After being found in April this year, the Ocean Exploration Trust (OET) has now explored the wreck with robotic submarines, and released the first close-up images of how the ship looks now. This exploration is revealing the ship holds war secrets, including a fighter plane within the sunken aircraft carrier. Scroll down for video After being found in April this year, a team of divers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA ) has now explored the wreck with robotic submarines, and released the first close-up images of how the ship looks now. Walkway leading to personnel hatch near 'gun tub' hanging over walkway on starboard side of ship is pictured USS Independence (CVL 22) operated in the central and western Pacific from November 1943 until August 1945. The USS Independence was surveyed by a team of researchers led by James Delgado from the Maritime Heritage at the NOAA in April last year. 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. 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. This year, the wreckage 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. This exploration is revealing the ship holds war secrets, including a fighter plane (pictured) within the sunken aircraft carrier that should not have been there. Close-up on canopy of Grumman Hellcat fighter aircraft seen in aircraft elevator hatch In April last year, 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. The scientists knew where to look because the ship was sunk intentionally. 'She was intentionally sunk by the Navy in 1951, and her location was known by the Navy,' Susan Poulton from OET told MailOnline. 'She was surveyed by sonar in 2009 and again in more detail in 2015, but this was the first visual survey done of the wreck.' The science team on board also noticed that the bow had struck the seabed first, despite sinking stern-first, burying itself in the sediment. The team also found two aircraft. Grumman Hellcat fighter aircraft seen in aircraft elevator hatch pictured This year, the wreckage 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. Bofors 40mm anti-aircraft weaponry surrounded by massive glass sponges pictured The damage surveyed was a combination of damage sustained in the atomic bomb blasts of 1946, damage from when she made impact with the bottom of the ocean, and general corrosive wear after many years on the seafloor. View extending down flight deck on top level of ship THE SHIP WAS FOUND 'AMAZINGLY INTACT' 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. The survey showed the Independence is 'amazingly intact,' with its hull and flight deck clearly visible. It 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. Advertisement 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. 'The damage surveyed was a combination of damage sustained in the atomic bomb blasts of 1946, damage from when she made impact with the bottom of the ocean, and general corrosive wear after many years on the seafloor,' Ms Poulton said. 'The science team on board also noticed that the bow had struck the seabed first, despite sinking stern-first, burying itself in the sediment.' The team also found two unexpected aircraft. 'We did confirm the presence of a wrecked aircraft F6F-5N Hellcat still in one of the hangers and found the remains of a second aircraft late in the dive.' '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.' Pictured is a aiverse array of large glass sponges covering starboard side of flight deck Bofors 40mm anti-aircraft weaponry surrounded by massive glass sponges. The carrier is one of an estimated 300 wrecks in the waters off San Francisco, and the deepest known shipwreck in the sanctuary 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. Catwalk steps and entrance to personnel hatch between two decks on starboard side WHERE IT WAS FOUND '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. 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. Advertisement The carrier is one of an estimated 300 wrecks in the waters off San Francisco, and the deepest known shipwreck in the sanctuary. 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.' 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. Given its radioactive past, the marine archaeologists were concerned about how safe it would be to explore and contacted nuclear physicist Kai Vetter. Pictured is a 'Gun tub' hanging over starboard side of the flight deck to hold weaponry View of 22mm anti-aircraft deck gun covered by a large glass sponge. 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 Front-on (left) and starboard-side (right) views of USS Independence bow. 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 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. 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. Professor Vetter said that neither the submersible nor the team was ever in danger of contamination because 'water is an excellent radiation shield'. Catwalk steps and entrance to personnel hatch between two decks on starboard side pictured Lights from ROV Hercules illuminate deck of USS Independence, with view of tether running from ROV Hercules to ROV Argus, left, and the the bow of USS Independence, right, 65 years after she was scuttled Blast gauge tower known as a 'Christmas tree' served as a mount for pressure measurement gauges used in atomic testing in Bikini Atoll. During these tests the ship was damaged by shock waves, heat and radiation, but it survived and was returned to the United States 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. Half Moon Bay, California (pictured) 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 USS Independence (pictured) 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 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 Stunning pictures from the 1946 atomic weapon test on a hundred US ships were revealed in April this year. 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. The images released in April 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 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 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 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. 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 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. 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 This wartime views of USS Independence (CVL 22) show the ship as it entered the final stages of the war in the Pacific. Advertisement We may have been given our best chance of finding alien life outside our solar system. A rocky planet that may harbour life has been discovered just four light years from Earth - close enough to be reached by future space missions. The planet, dubbed 'a second Earth', is the right distance from its star to host liquid water, which means it has the potential for alien life. It is the closest exoplanet we could ever discover, and experts say missions to the planet to search for signs of life could be feasible 'within our lifetime'. Scroll down for video A rocky planet that may harbour life has been discovered just four light years from Earth - close enough to be reached by future space missions. Pictured is an artist's impression of the surface of the planet, looking out onto its star and the double star Alpha Centauri WHAT MAKES PROXIMA B SO UNIQUE Distance: This is the closest Earth-like planet we could ever find. Orbiting our nearest star, the planet is only four light years away. Missions to send spacecraft to the planet to examine for signs of life are already in planning, and could happen within decades. Composition: The planet is rocky and a similar size to Earth. Temperature: It lies in the 'habitable zone' of its star, which means there could be liquid water on its surface - a key ingredient for alien life. The temperature on the surface of the planet could be between -90 and 30 Celsius (-130 and 86 Fahrenheit). Atmosphere: If Proxima b has an atmosphere, the simple ingredients - water, carbon dioxide, and rock - that are needed for the formation of biochemical cycles that we call life, could all be present and interacting on the planet's surface. Advertisement Astronomers have found clear evidence that our nearest star, Proxima Centauri, is the sun to another Earth-like world. The group of researchers, using the European Southern Observatory (ESO) telescopes, have named the exciting world Proxima b. Thousands of exoplanets have been discovered before, but unlike the others, this planet is within our reach. While four light years is a long way - more than 25 trillion miles - future generations of super-fast space craft could conceivably travel to the planet within the next few decades. Much further in the future the planet may even be colonised by space travellers from Earth. One possible obstacle to life evolving and flourishing on the planet is the way it hugs its parent star. Proxima b is only 4.6 million miles (7.5 million km) from the star, 5 per cent of the distance between the Earth and the sun, and takes just 11.2 days to complete one orbit. It is around 1.3 times as massive as Earth. But because Proxima Centauri is a dim red dwarf star radiating much less heat than the sun, it still occupies the 'habitable zone' where temperatures are mild enough to permit liquid surface water. The temperature on the surface of the planet could be between -90 and 30 Celsius (-130 and 86 Fahrenheit). On the other hand, the planet is blasted by powerful ultraviolet rays and X-rays from the star. Any life that evolved on its surface would have to be hardened against the radiation. But the prospect of finding life on Proxima b has excited scientists. 'Many exoplanets have been found and many more will be found, but searching for the closest potential Earth-analogue and succeeding has been the experience of a lifetime for all of us,' Dr Guillem Anglada-Escude, lead author of the paper, said. 'Many people's stories and efforts have converged on this discovery. The result is also a tribute to all of them. The search for life on Proxima b comes next.' Two separate papers have been published today, describing the habitability of Proxima b and its climate. The papers find the existence of liquid water on the planet today 'cannot be ruled out'. This means water may be present over the surface of the planet. But it would only be in the sunniest regions, either in an area in the hemisphere of the planet facing the star. The planet Proxima b is located next to Proxima Centauri and Alpha Centauri (shown at the right on diagram) compared to the rest of the solar system and parts of the Milky Way. It is the closest exoplanet we could ever discover, and experts say missions to the planet to search for signs of life could be feasible 'within our lifetime' The Milky Way (artist's impression shown top) is around 100,000 light years across. Earth and Proximia B are on 4 light years apart (inset), making them galactic neighbours. Scientists hope we can reach the planet in the next few decades But because Proxima Centauri is a dim red dwarf star radiating much less heat than the sun, it still occupies the 'habitable zone' where temperatures are mild enough to permit liquid surface water. This image of the sky around the bright star Alpha Centauri AB shows the much fainter red dwarf star, Proxima Centauri, the closest star to the solar system This artist's impression shows the newly discovered planet orbiting Proxima Centauri, the star that is nearest to Earth is pictured. The way Proxima b rotates, strong radiation from its star and the formation history of the planet makes its climate quite different from that of the Earth The way Proxima b rotates, strong radiation from its star and the formation history of the planet makes its climate quite different from that of the Earth. It is unlikely that Proxima b has seasons. But if liquid water does exist on the planet, it could mean alien life might thrive there. If this is the case, we could discover it within decades, experts have said. The range of temperatures on the surface of the planet could be between -90 and 30 Celsius (-130 and 86 Fahrenheit). Two options for the planets temperature are shown, depending on the kind of orbit it has. Left shows a 3:2 resonance (a natural frequency for the orbit) and right shows the planet in synchronous rotation (like the Moon around the Earth) This chart shows the large southern constellation of Centaurus (The Centaur) and shows most of the stars visible with the naked eye on a clear dark night. The location of the closest star to the solar system, Proxima Centauri, is marked with a red circle. The star is too faint to see with the unaided eye but can be found using a small telescope This plot shows how the motion of Proxima Centauri towards and away from Earth is changing with time over the first half of 2016. Sometimes Proxima Centauri is approaching Earth at about 3 miles (5km) per hour normal human walking pace and at times receding at the same speed COULD THERE BE LIFE ON THIS NEW PLANET? Although Proxima b orbits much closer to its star than Mercury does to the sun in the solar system, the star itself is far fainter than the sun. Because of this, Proxima b lies well within the habitable zone around its star and has an estimated surface temperature that would allow the presence of liquid water. Despite the temperate orbit of Proxima b, the conditions on the surface may be strongly affected by the ultraviolet and X-ray flares from the star far more intense than the Earth experiences from the sun. The way Proxima b rotates, strong radiation from its star and the formation history of the planet makes its climate quite different from that of the Earth. It is unlikely that Proxima b has seasons. It remains unclear whether or not the planet might provide suitable conditions for life as we know it. 'If Proxima b has an atmosphere and if there is water there, and these are big 'ifs', it is intriguing to think that the simple ingredients - water, carbon dioxide, and rock - that are needed for the formation of biochemical cycles that we call life, could all be present and interacting on the planet's surface,' said Dr Tuomi. 'But we do not really know. We need to study this system a lot more over the coming decades in order to be able to start answering such questions. 'However, it is a great place to start looking for life outside the solar system and it is a very exciting discovery.' This artist's impression shows a view of the surface of the planet Proxima b orbiting the red dwarf star Proxima Centauri, the closest star to the solar system. The double star Alpha Centauri AB also appears in the image to the upper-right of Proxima itself. Proxima b is a little more massive than the Earth and orbits in the habitable zone around its star Advertisement This artist's impression shows the planet Proxima b orbiting the red dwarf star Proxima Centauri. The double star Alpha Centauri AB also appears in the image between the planet and Proxima itself. It orbits its cool red planet star every 11 days, and has a temperature suitable for liquid water to exist on its surface This picture combines a view of the southern skies over the ESO 3.6-metre telescope at the La Silla Observatory in Chile with images of the stars Proxima Centauri (lower-right) and the double star Alpha Centauri AB (lower-left) from the Hubble Space Telescope An artist's impression of the planet looking on to its pale sun. Water may be present over the surface of the planet.- but it would only be in the sunniest regions, either in an area in the hemisphere of the planet facing the star A size comparison of how Proxima will appear in the sky seen from Proxima b, compared to how the sun appears in our sky on Earth. Proxima is much smaller than the sun, but Proxima b lies very close to its star PROXIMA CENTAURI Just over four light-years from the solar system lies a red dwarf star. Because it is the sun's closest neighbour, the star has been named Proxima Centauri. This cool star in the constellation of Centaurus is too faint to be seen with the unaided eye and lies near to the much brighter pair of stars known as Alpha Centauri AB. Advertisement A team called Pale Red Dot is behind the discovery, which includes researchers from the University of Hertfordshire, Queen Mary University of London, the Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia in Granada, Spain and the University of Gottingen in Germany, among others. The researchers used the High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS), an instrument on the European Southern Observatory's 3.6-metre La Silla telescope in Chile's Atacama Desert. The telescope measured light from Proxima, the fingerprints that reveal what the star is made of. Small shifts in the frequency of the starlight can be used to work out tiny movements of the star in response to an orbiting planet's gravitational pull. Scientists hosted a press conference today at ESO Headquarters in Garching, near Munich, Germany to make the announcement. Speaking here is Dr Guillem Anglada-Escude, one of the scientists who participated in the project A team called Pale Red Dot is behind the discovery. Pale Red Dot was an international search for an Earth-like exoplanet around the closest star to us, Proxima Centauri. It used HARPS, attached to ESO's 3.6-metre telescope at La Silla Observatory (pictured) as well as other telescopes around the world At times Proxima Centauri is approaching Earth at about 3 miles (5km) per hour and at times it is receding at the same speed. Artist's impression of the planet orbiting its star is pictured The ESO Director General, Tim de Zeeuw, gives a speech at the press conference. The Pale Red Dot data, when combined with earlier observations made at ESO observatories and elsewhere, revealed the clear signal of an exciting result OTHER 'SECOND EARTHS' THAT HAVE BEEN FOUND ACROSS THE UNIVERSE Nasa's Kepler telescope has also been busy in the hunt for alien life, finding over 4,000 new planets outside our solar system over the past three years. Earlier this month a team of astronomers has narrowed down this list to those with the most potential to have liquid water, or even life. They pinpointed 20 out of the 4,000 that are most likely to be like our own, and are starting to look more closely at these candidates. These 'second Earths' are much further away than Proxima b, so are harder to explore. 216 Kepler planets are located within the 'habitable zone' - an area around a star in which an orbiting planet's surface could hold liquid water. Of those, they list 20 that are the best candidates to be habitable rocky planets like Earth. The list includes Kepler-186 f, Kepler-62 f, Kepler-283 c and Kepler-296 f. Nasa's Kepler telescope has also been busy in the hunt for alien life, finding over 4,000 new planets outside our solar system over the past three years. Earlier this month a team of astronomers has narrowed down this list to those with the most potential to have liquid water, or even life (pictured) Advertisement This wide-field image shows the Milky Way stretching across the southern sky. The beautiful Carina Nebula (NGC 3372) is seen at the right of the image glowing in red. It is within this spiral arm of our Milky Way that the bright star cluster NGC 3603 resides. At the centre of the image is the constellation of Crux The relative sizes of a number of objects, including the three (known) members of Alpha Centauri triple system and some other stars 'The first hints of a possible planet were spotted back in 2013, but the detection was not convincing,' said Dr Anglada-Escude. 'Since then we have worked hard to get further observations off the ground with help from ESO and others. The recent Pale Red Dot campaign has been about two years in the planning.' The Pale Red Dot data, when combined with earlier observations made at ESO observatories and elsewhere, revealed the clear signal of an exciting result. At times Proxima Centauri is approaching Earth at about 3 miles (5km) per hour and at times it is receding at the same speed. This pattern of changing velocities repeats with a period of 11.2 days, meaning that is how long it takes to orbit its sun. Careful analysis of the tiny light shifts showed the planet has a mass at least 1.3 times that of the Earth, orbiting about 4.3 million miles (7 million kilometres) from Proxima Centauri. Some questions about whether life could exist are left unanswered, however. 'If Proxima b has an atmosphere and if there is water there, and these are big 'ifs', it is intriguing to think that the simple ingredients - water, carbon dioxide, and rock - that are needed for the formation of biochemical cycles that we call life, could all be present and interacting on the planet's surface,' said Dr Mikko Tuomi, from the Centre for Astrophysical Research at the University of Hertfordshire. If Proxima b has an atmosphere and if there is water there, and these are big 'ifs', the simple ingredients - water, carbon dioxide, and rock - that are needed for the formation of biochemical cycles that we call life, could all be present and interacting on the planet's surface COULD WE TRAVEL TO THE PLANET? The true test would be to go there. Using conventional space technology (either manned or unmanned) and some clever slingshot manoeuvres, it would take at least 15,000 years to reach Proxima Centauri. But the ambitious Starshot Project aims to send tiny robots to this star system, propelled by powerful Earth-based lasers. They are estimating that it would only take about 20 years to get there in this manner, travelling at a speed of approximately 60,000 km per second (or 135m miles per hour). Those robots could relay back data about the system, and potentially even close-up pictures of Proxima b. Source: Martin Archer, Space Plasma Physicist, Queen Mary University of London, writing for The Conversation. Advertisement This infographic compares the orbit of the planet around Proxima Centauri (Proxima b) with the same region of the solar system. Proxima Centauri is smaller and cooler than the sun and the planet orbits much closer to its star than Mercury. As a result it lies well within the habitable zone, where liquid water can exist on the planet's surface WHEN WILL WE KNOW MORE? More information about the environmental conditions on Proxima Centauri b should come sooner rather than later, the researchers say. Now that the planet has been detected, there is an opportunity for follow-up observations. But a possible detection of life, or at least of conditions suggestive of the presence of life, is still likely to be decades off. Advertisement 'But we do not really know. We need to study this system a lot more over the coming decades in order to be able to start answering such questions. 'However, it is a great place to start looking for life outside the solar system and it is a very exciting discovery.' 'It certainly seems possible that we could find something out of this world within our lifetime,' said Martin Archer, Space Plasma Physicist, Queen Mary University of London, writing for The Conversation. At least some additional information about the environmental conditions on Proxima Centauri b should come sooner rather than later, the researchers say. Now that the planet has been detected, there is an opportunity for follow-up observations. A possible detection of life, or at least of conditions suggestive of the presence of life, is likely to be decades off Earlier this year, Scott Kelly launched into the record books after spending the most cumulative days in space for any US astronaut, with 520 days 10 hours and 33 minutes. But as of Wednesday, the torch has been passed to International Space Station commander Jeffrey Williams, who just logged his 521st day in orbit. Williams is the second American to break the record this past year, and he will have spent a total of 534 days away from the planet by the time he returns to Earth. Scroll down for videos Jeffrey Williams (pictured) has logged his 521st day in orbit, setting a new record for the most cumulative days in space. Williams will spend a total of 534 days off the planet for Nasa by the time he returns to Earth. SETTING NEW RECORDS A veteran of four spaceflights, Jeffrey Williams has set a new record for the the most cumulative days in space. Williams has logged his 521st day in orbit on Wednesday and by the time he returns back to Earth, he will have spent a total of 534 days aboard the International Space Station. This surpasses Expedition 46 Commander Scott Kelly, who wrapped up his one-year mission on March 1. In total, Kelly has spent 520 days in space over four missions. Williams, like Kelly, will hold the American cumulative time in space record for a short time, as another astronaut is already set to break. Peggy Whitson is expected to surpass Williams' 534 total days during her upcoming mission on the space station with her launch that begins in November. Advertisement 'To be a part of it, in the beginning, in the middle, finishing out the station and now when it's in the full utilization mode that's really the bigger story to me personally,' Williams said from orbit. Williams is a Wisconsin native who was selected for the Nasa Astronaut Class of 1996. In addition to his space flights, he has performed various technical duties in both the space shuttle and International Space Station Programs. A veteran of four spaceflights, Williams arrived at the ISS in March, just a few weeks after Kelly had completed his year-long stay on the ship. Williams is the current commander of the station's Expedition 48 crew and is scheduled to return to Earth on September 6. 'It is an honor to spend any day in space and certainly, to have accumulated that time is truly an honor for me,' said Williams in a NASA interview recorded in July. Kelly joined the team at Mission Control in Houston, Texas today to congratulate Williams on surpassing the record. 'I wanted to congratulate you on passing me up here in total number of days in space, it is great to see another record broken and especially by a Sardine', Kelly said speaking to Williams on the telephone, referring to the Astronaut Class of 1996. 'I have one question for you.' 'Do you have 190 more days in you?' Scott Kelly (pictured) left earth as a Nasa astronaut and come home as 'Ironman' after setting the record for the most cumulative days in space with 520 days 10 hours and 33 minutes. But joined the team at Mission Control in Houston to congratulate Williams for the new record 'That questions is not for me,' Williams replied. 'That question is for my wife.' Peggy Whitson (pictured) is expected to surpass Williams' 534 total days during her upcoming mission on the space station with her launch that begins in November Kelly spent nearly a year in space and returned to Earth on March 1 with a total of 520 days in space, as part of an experiment to test the effects of long-duration spaceflight on the body and mind ahead of a potential future mission to Mars. The all-time record for cumulative days spent in space is held by Russian cosmonaut Genny Padalka, who racked up 879 days over his career and wrapped up his final mission in September 2015. 'It is a great privilege to be part of this,' Williams said in March on Nasa television. 'I feel very ready to be going back to the space station.' Williams, like Kelly, will hold the American cumulative time in space record for a short time, as another astronaut is already set to break. Peggy Whitson is expected to surpass Williams' 534 total days during her upcoming mission on the space station with her launch that begins in November. The first female pilot to fly solo from Britain to Australia has been 'brought back to life' with ground-breaking 3D technology. Amy Johnson completed the journey from London to Darwin in 1930 - one of many record-breaking flights during her career. To mark 75 years since her death, experts have created a fully interactive digital 3D version of Ms Johnson, which can even walk and talk about her achievements. The first female pilot to fly solo from Britain to Australia has been 'brought back to life' with ground-breaking 3D technology. Actress Rachel Harris holds a pair of 3D glasses in front of a computer generated image of Amy Johnson, pictured 'VIRTUAL AMY' 'Virtual Amy' will go display in the children's library within Hull Central Library as part of the Amy Johnson Festival. The aim of the Amy Johnson Festival is to inspire people, especially women, to take an interest in engineering, as well as demonstrating how engineering blends with art and design. Advertisement Amy died in 1941 after her plane crashed in the Thames Estuary. Her body was never recovered and her death remains a mystery to this day. To mark 75 years since her death, experts from the university in her home town of Hull have worked with Glasgow School of Art's (GSA) Digital Design Studio to create the digital 3D version of Ms Johnson. Motion capture technology similar to that used by Hollywood studios to create characters such as Gollum in Lord Of The Rings was used by GSA and the University of Hull's Immersive Virtual Environment (Hive) to create the model. To mark 75 years since her death, experts from the university in her home town of Hull have worked with Glasgow School of Art's (GSA) Digital Design Studio to create the digital 3D version of Ms Johnson, pictured with actress Rachel Harris Raw footage of Ms Johnson and actress Rachel Harris (pictured) was captured and computer scientists then applied 3D modelling effects and animation techniques to create the life-like character Amy Johnson was born in 1903 just before the Wright brothers introduced the world to aviation. She was daughter of a Hull fish merchant and married to pilot Jim Mollison. She enrolled in flight school and became Britains first qualified woman ground engineer, despite being told she would never be a flier. Amy was 26 when she flew solo to Australia in 1930 (pictured). The 11,000-mile trip from Croydon to Darwin was completed in 19 days. Amy began flying In 1928 when she joined the London Aeroplane Club, but was told after her first lesson that she would never make a flier Amy was 26 when she flew solo to Australia in 1930. The 11,000-mile trip from Croydon to Darwin was completed in 19 days. Raw footage of Ms Johnson and actress Rachel Harris was captured and computer scientists then applied 3D modelling effects and animation techniques to create the character. A model of 19th century MP William Wilberforce, who pioneered the abolition of the slavery movement, is also being developed. The characters are recreated based on the recorded movements of live actors using full body motion tracking and facial capture techniques. These are the same technologies used by Hollywood studios to create creatures and characters for films Amy Johnson, pictured by her plane in Calcutta during her 1930s solo flight round the world. Amy was given financial help to buy a two-year-old the de Havilland Gipsy Moth biplane for 600. The aircraft (pictured) had no lights, radio or fuel gauge THE RECORD-BREAKING JOURNEY Amy began flying In 1928 when she joined the London Aeroplane Club, but was told after her first lesson that she would never make a flier. She ignored the criticism and gained her pilots licence, becoming Britains first qualified woman ground engineer. Amy was given financial help to buy a two-year-old the de Havilland Gipsy Moth biplane for 600. The aircraft, which she named Jason, had no lights, radio or fuel gauge. She challenged herself to beat the 15-day record set by Bert Hinkler for the solo flight from Britain to Australia even though her longest flight before this had been two hours from London to Hull. The 11,000-mile trip from Croydon to Darwin was completed in 19 days. After breaking multiple flying records, at the age of 37 she disappeared. Amy's route: The 11,000-mile trip took Amy from Croydon, UK, through the Middle East and Asia to her final destination of Darwin in northern Australia. Amy had no lights, radio or fuel gauge to help her navigate Advertisement 'Virtual Amy' (pictured) will go display in the children's library within Hull Central Library as part of the Amy Johnson Festival. The aim of the Amy Johnson Festival is to inspire people, especially women, to take an interest in engineering AMY JOHNSON'S LIFE Amy Johnson was born in 1903 just before the Wright brothers introduced the world to aviation. She was daughter of a Hull fish merchant and married to pilot Jim Mollison. She enrolled in flight school and became Britains first qualified woman ground engineer, despite being told she would never be a flier. She flew in World War II as part of the Air Transport Auxiliary. Amy was 26 when she flew solo to Australia in 1930. The 11,000-mile trip from Croydon to Darwin was completed in 19 days. The second-hand plane named Jason cost 600, paid for by her father and oil tycoon Lord Wakefield. Jason, her plane, was a de Havilland Gipsy Moth biplane and is now on display in the Science Museum in London. Amy set a string of records, including a solo flight from London to Cape Town, Moscow and Japan. She died on January 5, 1941 after her plane crashed into the Thames Estuary. The plane she was delivering to the RAF crashed off Herne Bay, Kent. Her body was never found. She was 37 when she died. Advertisement 'Virtual Amy' will go display in the children's library within Hull Central Library as part of the Amy Johnson Festival. 'The Virtual Amy project showcases how the technology and engineering can be used to create something visually stunning,' said Festival director Rick Welton. 'The aim of the Amy Johnson Festival is to inspire people, especially women, to take an interest in engineering, as well as demonstrating how engineering blends with art and design.' Dr Jon Purdy, manager of the Hive centre, said: 'It's an honour to get the opportunity to recreate two pioneering historical figures using movie-standard special effects. 'The technology we've adopted means the Amy and William characters will be recreated in a very realistic way and in high definition. The characters will recount stories from their life - retelling significant points in history in an unusual and interactive way.' GSA was also involved in creating 3D characters for the award-winning Battle of Bannockburn visitor centre near Stirling. Dr Paul Chapman, acting director of the GSA Digital Design Studio, said: 'We're very happy to have worked with the University of Hull on this project creating the high-quality motion capture and 3D modelling of Amy Johnson and William Wilberforce. 'We feel positive that the exhibition will be a success and will highlight the incredible lives of these two pioneers.' Amy was given a 10,000 cheque from the Daily Mail (pictured) for her trip from Croydon, UK, to Darwin, Australia Advertisement A small building in Mexico tells the violent history of treachery and conquest at the great Aztec city of Cholulu but for hundreds of years, a secret lay beneath its floors. Hiding under the grass, trees and soil sits the Great Pyramid of Cholula, deemed the largest monument ever built on Earth, with a base four times the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza. In 1519, Hernan Cortez and his men marched into the city and massacred 10 percent of the population, building a tiny church on top of a massive hill as a symbol of their conquest. And, it wasn't until 1910 that the pyramid underneath was finally discovered. Scroll down for video In 1519, Hernan Cortez and his men marched into the great Aztec city of Cholulu, massacred 10 percent of the population and built a tiny church on top of a massive hill as a symbol of their conquest. However, hiding under the tufts of grass, trees and soil of this hill was the Great Pyramid of Cholula, which has a base four times the size of the Great Pyramid and is deemed the largest monument ever built on Earth Cholula is located near the capital Tenochtitlan and was one of the most important cities in the Aztec Empire. It was home to about 100,000 people and known for its bustling markets and fine trade goods. The city was believed to be incredibly sacred and the people constructed a holy pyramid for every day of the year, reports Zaria Gorvett with BBC.com. When Cortez, the leader of the Spanish Army, and his men arrived in Cholula on October 12, 1519, they stormed the streets, looted religious treasures, burned holy pyramids and killed 3,000 people within a few hours - although some say the death toll was as much as 30,000. After the Spaniards settled in the city, which is now part of Mexico, they constructed so many buildings that it now has a church for every day of the year the final touch being the Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de los Remediosa on top of the Great Pyramid of Cholula. WHAT DOES HISTORY SAY HAPPENED IN 1516? Cholula had an alliance of with the neighboring city Tenochtitlan, which they shared religious services and rituals with. Upon the arrival of Hernan Cortez, Cholula was Mexico's second-largest city, with a population of up to 100,000 by some estimates. Upon the arrival of Hernan Cortez (pictured), Cholula was Mexico's second-largest city, with a population of up to 100,000 by some estimates It is believed that Cortez discovered the alliance between Cholula and Tenochtitlan, and became aware of a plot against the Spaniards. Following the allegations, he decided to make a pre-emptive attack. As a result, thousands were slaughtered by the Spaniards. Cortez claimed 3,000 were killed in three hours, while others say the death toll was 30,000. The massacre had the effect Cortez wanted and the people of Mexico were much more inclined to surrender. Holy temples were destroyed and looted, and a church was built on the Great Pyramid of Cholula, which the Spaniards seemed to believe was only a large hill. The city was believed to be incredibly sacred and the people constructed a holy pyramid for every day of the year, however, when the Spanish settled they created one church for every day of the year as a symbol of their Christian conquest - the final touch being the the Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de los Remediosa on top of the Great Pyramid of Cholula. Source: Aztec History Advertisement When Cortez, the leader of the Spanish Army, and his men arrived in Cholula on October 12, 1519, they stormed the streets, looted religious treasures, burned holy pyramids and killed 3,000 people within a few hours - although some say the death toll was as much as 30,000. Pictured is an image of the church taken in the 1900s The Great Pyramid of Cholula sits just outside Puebla, the fourth largest city in modern day Mexico. It is 450 meters wide and 66 meters tall, and has been compared to the size of nine Olympic sized swimming pools. Not only is this structure the largest pyramid on the planet, but it is also the largest monument built to this day. The Great Pyramid of Chululo stands 450 meters wide and 66 meters tall, and has been compared to the size of nine Olympic sized swimming pools. Not only is this structure the largest pyramid on the planet, but it is also the largest monument ever built to this day After the Spaniards settled in the city, which is now part of Mexico, they constructed so many buildings that it now has a church for every day of the year the final touch being the the Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de los Remediosa on top of the Great Pyramid of Cholula The locals call this massive formation Tlachihualtepetl, or 'man-made mountain', and because a church was built on top, it is also the oldest continuously occupied building in North America. History suggests that when Cortez arrived in Cholula the pyramid was already thousands of years old and entirely overgrown by vegetation. But some legends say the great pyramid was so sacred to the Cholula people, that they covered it with soil in order to hide it from the conquistadors. The Great Pyramid has its own secrets, as it is not just a single pyramid, but no less than six built on top of the other. The locals call this massive formation Tlachihualtepetl, or 'man-made mountain', and because a church was built on top, it is also the oldest continuously occupied building in North America. History suggests that when Cortez arrived in Cholula the pyramid was already thousands of years old and entirely overgrown by vegetation Experts say it grew in stages, as successive civilizations improved on what had already been built. 'They made a conscious effort to maintain and in some cases display previous construction episodes,' says Carballo. 'This is pretty novel, and shows deliberate efforts to link to the past'. The pyramid hid under the earth until it was discovered in 1910, when workers were constructing an insane asylum at the base. When pavement was removed in 2013 to access the city's drainage system, other workers uncovered at least 63 skeletons some of which were the deformed skulls of decapitated children. Cholula is located near the capital Tenochtitlan and was one of the most important cities in the Aztec Empire. It was home to about 100,000 people and known for its bustling markets and fine trade goods. The Great Pyramid of Cholula sits just outside Puebla (pictured), the fourth largest city in modern day Mexico The pyramid hid under the earth until it was discovered in 1910, when workers were constructing an insane asylum at the base. When pavement was removed in 2013 to access the city's drainage system, other workers uncovered at least 63 skeletons (pictured) some of which were the deformed skulls of decapitated children Although Tlachihualtepetl is the largest on the planet, experts are still trying to unravel its secrets. It's believed to have been constructed around 300 BC, but by who still remains a mystery. Ancient myths tell a tale of a giant who built the structure, but the city's inhabitants were a cosmopolitan mix and experts believe the mixed races played into the stories. 'It appears to have been multi-ethnic, with a great deal of migration,' David Carballo, an archaeologist at Boston University, Massachusetts, told BBC.com. Although Tlachihualtepetl is the largest on the planet, experts are still trying to unravel its secrets. It's believed to have been constructed around 300 BC, but by who still remains a mystery. From the 1930s until today, great efforts have been made to fully excavate the pyramid. Over five miles of tunnels have been dug inside the structure that are open to the public, however, the locals have also reclaimed the pyramid as their own Cholula is located in the Mexican highlands and for thousands of years it was an important trading post, connecting the Tolteca-Chichimeca kingdoms in the North with the Maya in the South. By the time Cortez set foot in the city, which he called 'the most beautiful city outside Spain', it had become the second-largest city in the Aztec empire. From the 1930s until today, great efforts have been made to fully excavate the pyramid. She had her fair share of drama while a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother earlier this year. But Megan McKenna has ignited a new row with one of her fellow contestants - Stephanie Davis, who is currently pregnant with other CBB star Jeremy McConnell's child. Speaking in her column for Reveal magazine this week Megan, 23, openly supported Jeremy in the turbulent relationship as she criticised Stephanie for focusing more on 'bad-mouthing' her ex than her unborn child. Scroll down for video 'Focus on your baby': Megan McKenna, 23, has criticised CBB co-star Stephanie Davis this week for 'cashing in' from her unborn child with ex Jeremy McConnell Megan, who entered the house alongside Jeremy and Stephanie in January, said to readers on Tuesday: 'Everyones feeling sorry for Steph because shes pregnant an putting on the waterworks. 'But I dont agree with bringing up a baby in a toxic relationship, thats what Jezs point is.' Stephanie, 23, met Jeremy while on Celebrity Big Brother, embarking on a relationship during the show despite her already dating Sam Reece in the outside world. However the relationship turned sour as they left the house, with the couple splitting after a rocky on/off four months amid claims Jeremy had been unfaithful. Burn: Megan said of Stephanie (pictured) to readers: 'Everyones feeling sorry for Steph because shes pregnant but I dont agree with bringing up a baby in a toxic relationship' Stephanie shockingly announced her pregnancy just days later. Jeremy has staunchly refused to comment on any of Stephanie's interviews or social media posts about the pregnancy, claiming the timing is not right for the baby to be his. Stephanie has since openly shamed her ex for not admitting his paternity, vehemently insisting he is the father. Happier times: Stephanie, 23, met Jeremy while on Celebrity Big Brother with Megan, embarking on a relationship during the show despite her already dating Sam Reece Commenting on this fraught relationship, Megan, who is currently dating TOWIE co-star Pete Wicks, said to Reveal: 'Its both of their responsibilities, but why dish your dirt out all over the place, like Steph has? 'Instead, focus on yourself and your baby, rather than cashing in from bad-mouthing him.' Megan has already been criticised on Twitter for showing her support for Jeremy, who she has met on the same day as former Hollyoaks star Stephanie when they entered the house in January. Mad house: Megan met the pair while on CBB with them in January, and has been criticised on Twitter before for supporting Jeremy against his ex-girlfriend It is not the first time Megan has involved herself in CBB drama, having caused viewers to want her removed from the house after embarking on a controversial tirade toward fellow housemate Tiffany Pollard. Meanwhile Stephanie revealed earlier this month that she'll give birth to a son. Last week, the Liverpudlian - who is now four months pregnant - uploaded a video of the moment a nurse told her the baby's gender. Clearly excited about her pregnancy despite the conflicted situation with the father, Stephanie revealed she's already chosen a name for her first born - and, apparently, it has movie star connotations. Dramatic: Stephanie announced her pregnancy days after the on/off couple split, taking to Twitter to reveal it will be a boy earlier this week The 23-year-old star made the announcement via her OK! blog on Wednesday - in which she also reveals the moniker is inspired by a mystery man who chatted her up. Writing about her decision for the weekly gossip mag, she said: 'I've picked my boy's name! It's not Albi but that will definitely be a middle name. 'I'm going to keep it a secret for now but I will say it's something different I've not heard it before! It's like a movie star name. 'We got it when I was getting chatted up with my friends recently and he said his name when he left we just all looked at each other and knew, so thanks to him! My mum loves it but my brother's weren't so sure to start with they want a proper lad's name.' She set tongues wagging in May, after it was claimed that she and her husband relinquish their parenting duties every weekend. But Rachael Finch, 28, has brushed off criticism about her parenting methods. She told Daily Mail Australia that comments she made during an interview were 'exaggerated' and that she finds the criticism to be 'hilarious,' while her husband Michael Miziner, 32, said her words were taken 'out of context.' Hitting back: Rachael Finch, 28, has brushed off criticism about her parenting methods, telling Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday that her comments were 'exaggerated' and that she finds the criticism to be 'hilarious' Speaking at Myer's spring 2016 launch in Sydney on Tuesday, the TV presenter, who is expecting her second child, said they drop their two-year-old daughter Violet off at Michael's mum's place 'whenever we need help' and not every weekend - as was previously reported. 'We drop her off whenever we need help. We dont have a conventional 9 to 5 working week,' she said. 'It's just whenever she wants to spend time with her Grandma or when Grandma wants to spend time with her. 'So it will be a Saturday here and there. You know, somethings get amplified and exaggerated. Its hilarious. Its just a part of it. We understand that everyone has an opinion and its just a small part of what we do. Brushing it off: The TV presenter, who is expecting her second child with dancer Michael Miziner, 32, said they drop their two-year-old daughter Violet off at Michael's mum's place 'whenever we need help' and not every weekend as was previously reported Family time: 'It's just whenever she wants to spend time with her Grandma or when Grandma wants to spend time with her,' Rachael said referring to Michael's mum Michael added: 'It gets a bit out of context ... we just spent three weeks in America (LA and San Diego) and my mama's calling us going 'when are you back, when are you back.' It's not actually every week.' Miss Universe contestant Rachael married her Dancing With The Stars partner Michael in 2013 and last week, the couple announced they are expecting baby number two. The model revealed that she has consistently struggled with morning sickness. Her words: 'So it will be a Saturday here and there. You know, somethings get amplified and exaggerated. Its hilarious. Its just a part of it. We understand that everyone has an opinion and its just a small part of what we do 'I think Ive had perpetual morning sickness and this morning I think I've just gotten over [it],' she said. The couple has decided to wait until the birth to learn the sex of their second child. 'That's our present at the end,' she said. TV audiences took to social media earlier this week to slam Zumbo's Just Desserts, claiming the Channel Seven show was 'boring'. And now viewers have claimed the series is a 'knock-off' of LifeStyle Food's The Great Australian Bake Off, which airs on Foxtel and is also an extension BBC show, The Great British Bake Off. One Twitter user didn't hold back, by saying: 'Zumbo's Just Desserts is a poor mans Great British Bake Off hyped for Wednesday.' [sic] Scroll down for video Opinions: Viewers of Zumbo's Just Desserts (pictured) have claimed the Seven series is a knock off of LifeStyle Food's The Great Australian Bake Off, which airs on Foxtel, and by extension The Great British Bake Off of BBC One Ouch! One Twitter user didn't hold back online, saying: 'Zumbo's Just Desserts is a poor mans Great British Bake Off hyped for Wednesday' Another commented: 'This is like the Great British Bake Off but more Willy Wonka-ish.' One tweeter called Adriano Zumbo's new show 'The Great Zumbo Bake Off,' while adding they thought it was dull. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Seven, BBC and Foxtel for comment. Too similar? Seen here are Matt Moran and Maggie Beer of The Great Australian Bake Off Unimpressed? Another commented: 'This is like the Great British Bake Off but more Willy Wonka-ish' Bored? Another called Adriano Zumbo's new show 'The Great Zumbo Bake Off,' adding they thought it was dull Foxtel declined to comment to Daily Mail Australia. Zumbo's Just Desserts features 12 contestants battling it out for $100,000 with dessert master Adriano Zumbo overseeing their work. English cook and writer Rachel Khoo also stars on the show as a judge. The contestants have to complete a main challenge before the bottom two are placed in what's called the Zumbo Test, where they have to recreate of one of Adriano's intricate masterpieces. In for a sweet treat! Zumbo's Just Desserts features 12 contestants battling it out for $100,000 with dessert master Adriano Zumbo overseeing their work It's not easy: The contestants have to complete a main challenge before the bottom two are placed in what's called the Zumbo Test, where they have to bake a recreation of one of Adriano's intricate masterpieces They cook for their place in the competition before someone is booted off the show. The series hopes to find Australia's best amateur dessert maker. Meanwhile, The Great Australian Bake Off is hosted by Claire Hooper and Mel and is judged by acclaimed chef Matt Moran and Maggie Beer. It also hopes to discover the best home baker in the country. Fancy: They cook for their place in the competition before someone is booted off the show London calling: The Great British Bake Off is a popular show in the UK Similarities between the two shows include contestants baking at their own colourful dessert stations and illustrations being used to show the desserts being made. The sets are also very whimsical in design, featuring bright colours and quirky furnishings no doubt a treat to viewers. The latest criticism of Adriano's new show comes after the debut episode was panned on Twitter. '#justdessertsau was a slow, boring, unoriginal mess. Surely 7 must have known this but went overboard with promotion anyway, (sic)' one viewer tweeted on Monday. Tasty: Zumbo's Just Dessert's also hopes to discover the best home baker in the country 'Slow and boring': The latest criticism of Adriano's new show comes after the debut episode was panned on Twitter Another viewer complained about the pre-show promotions, which ran for weeks before the debut: 'Sheer, unadulterated hell. & that was just the weeks of trailers. The show is actually much worse.' Audiences also pointed out the glaring similarities between Zumbo's show - which sees 12 amateur cooks battle it out for the $100,000 prize money - and Network Ten's hugely successful Masterchef. 'A masterchef ripoff, OK I can live with that. But #Zumbo has zero personality, & home cooks are weird,' one person observed. 'Sheer, unadulterated hell': Another viewer complained about the pre-show promotions, which ran for weeks before the debut It appeared the show's lack of pace and excitement was a common complaint among viewers. 'This show has the chef-y lines from MasterChef spoken at the pace of someone at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting,' a viewer named Brendan wrote. Another added: 'Were all the contestants given an Xanax prior to the show? The pace is putting me to sleep.' Adriano is one of Australia's leading patissier who is recognised for his sweet treats and in particular his macarons. The 34-year-old has previously appeared on MasterChef and has a number of patisseries in Sydney. Tuning back in? It appeared the show's lack of pace and excitement was a common complaint among viewers She's known as the tough Latino beauty on Home And Away who takes no prisoners. But mother-of-two Pia Miller often shows her softer side on social media sharing many of her family moment. On Tuesday, she celebrated her eldest son Isaiah, 13, winning an award for Excellence in Visual Arts at school. Proud mumma: On Tuesday Pia Miler celebrated her eldest son Isaiah, 13, winning an award for Excellence in Visual Arts at school Tough but tender: The 32-year-old is known as the tough Latino beauty on Home and Away, who takes no prisoners In the post, the 32-year-old is seen makeup free and dressed down as she cuddles her boy. She gushed in the caption: 'First in his year for art. Proudest mumma.' Isaiah is from one of Pia's earlier relationships, while her younger son Lennox, 10, she shared with former AFL player Brad Miller. The actress married the ex-sportsman in 2007 and the couple announced their split in October last year. Pia opened up about the breakdown of her marriage, saying it was due to her struggle to balance family life with her filming commitments for the Channel Seven soap. Loved up: The Chilean-born beauty is currently dating 27-year-old film producer Tyson Former flame: Pia was formerly married to ex-AFL star Brad Miller for seven years before splitting last October 'I'd shoot all day, jump on a plane, race home and make dinner - it was like I was working full-time in both places,' she told Marie Claire in May. 'I was trying to do everything and it took a toll on me physically, I think it took its toll on everything.' Meanwhile, the former model has moved on with film producer Tyson Mullane, whom she was first pictured with last November. The actress confirmed the romance after months of speculation with an Instagram post on Valentine's Day. We are family: Pia stepped out with her new beau Tyson Mullane and her two sons from other relationships, Isaiah and Lennox, on Sunday These days it's one big happy family. On Sunday, Pia was spotted having lunch with Tyson and her sons in Sydney. She's been wowing the paparazzi on a daily basis with her extensive wardrobe. And on Tuesday night, Pixie Lott turned out another new ensemble as she embraced the heatwave in a sheer blouse and shorts. The pop star, 25, wore a pair of tailored denim short shorts, with a black bandeau under her heart-print blouse as left the Theatre Royal Haymarket. Scroll down for video Stepping out: Pixie Lott leaves the Theatre Royal Haymarket after her latest performance in Breakfast At Tiffany's She completed her looked with a pair of spiked brown ankle boots, with her blonde curls pinned up in a messy bun. Earlier that evening, she had been seen arriving at the theatre in the same shorts, but teamed with a white body and yellow sandals. Pixie is into the final few weeks of her West End run in Breakfast At Tiffany's. Summer style: The singer wore a pair of tailored denim short shorts, with a black bandeau under her heart-print blouse She completed her looked with a pair of spiked brown ankle boots, with her blonde curls pinned up in a messy bun Pixie has been playing Holly Golightly in the capital since late June after originally launching the play in Leicester in March before touring the UK. The show, adapted by Olivier Award-winning playwright Richard Greenberg and directed by Nikolai Foster, runs with Pixie as the lead role in London until September 17. However, Pixie has received mixed reviews from critics following the press night two weeks ago. Another show down: Pixie looks in high spirits after another night treading the West End boards Big shoes to fill: Pixie has been playing Holly Golightly in the capital since late June after originally launching the play in Leicester in March The Mail's Robert Gore-Langton wrote: 'No actress, in the buff or not, can quite banish the scented ghost of Audrey Hepburn, who wafted light as a scarf through the famous 1961 film.' Meanwhile, The Telegraph's Dominic Cavendish said: 'The 25-year-old performer acquits herself commendably well in a part that requires her to carry a tune (tick), sustain an American accent (tick), and generally look rather fabulous (double-tick).' The Guardian's Michael Billington praised Pixie's musical performance in the play, but added: 'As an actor, she still needs to learn the art of repose.' All change: Earlier that evening, Pixie had been seen arriving at the theatre in the same shorts, but teamed with a white body and yellow sandals Speaking about the production on Good Morning Britain recently, she said: 'This has given me the chance to get into a role and live and breathe a character every single day. I've learned so much every day. 'This has been a new experience for me and I've loved it.' A complete change of scenery from her own pop career, the star said: 'It's a proper serious play. Her character goes on such a journey. It gets quite dark at the end.' 'I feel so lucky that the cast and director have taught me so much.' The perfect murder is easy to commit. Its afterwards that the problems start: how to get rid of the body? Pigs provide the ideal means of disposal, according to gangland legend. Greedy porkers arent fussy about what or who they eat. John Lynch, above, plays Bill Douglas in the BBC drama One of Us Gambler and zookeeper John Aspinall preferred tigers. Some say that after Lord Lucan killed his childrens nanny, he shot himself and Aspinall fed the body to his big cats. On the remote Scottish farms where One Of Us (BBC1) is set, there are no tigers, or pigs just dog cages in a barn. And in one cage, a corpse with its throat slit. This nightmarish drama by Jack and Harry Williams, the brothers who created 2014s disturbing The Missing, starring James Nesbitt, hurls scenes at us like challenges, daring us . . . What would you do? One of Us is a nightmarish drama by Jack and Harry Williams, dreamed up as a dark morality tale. It also stars Julie Graham, left, and Joanna Vanderham, right They say One Of Us was dreamed up as a dark morality tale. Its too contrived to be conventional drama: after the murder of a Romeo and Juliet couple, two feuding families on the edge of the Highlands confront the killer when he crashes his car on their farmland. Hes still alive when they drag his body from the wreckage, but by the next morning, he isnt though none of them will admit to the crime. That set-up is so theatrical it could easily be adapted for the stage. Theres more than a hint of Agatha Christies The Mousetrap about it: a remote house cut off by filthy weather, the overturned car, the impending arrival of the police. INTERVIEWEES OF THE NIGHT Jeremy Vine is back with a new series of teatime show Make Me An Egghead Make Me An Egghead (BBC2) is back with Jeremy Vine testing quiz stars, including the Fifteen-To-One and Mastermind champions, for a place on Britains brainiest squad. If only the rest of the BBCs recruitment process was so open. This is how the Director General should be picked. Advertisement But the characters are so well drawn, and the actors so top-notch, that were snared from the start. Juliet Stevenson is the bitter alcoholic divorcee, who eases her self-loathing by shooting on sight anything with feathers. John Lynch is the bearded Presbyterian, running his home like a punishment block. And in an intriguing final scene, we glimpsed Juliets ex-husband, Adrian Edmondson an idler, so soulless that he greets the news of his sons death with a shrug. Add a younger generation, including Joanna Vanderham as Juliets daughter, and you have a cast as strong as anything weve seen since War And Peace. With so many faces to introduce, the early stages of the story were sometimes confusing. There was a stalker, a rapist, a junkie, a dying woman in a care home giving away her heirlooms . . . thats too much melodrama, especially in an hour that began with the double murder of newly-weds. No wonder a hurricane-force rainstorm was engulfing the Highland farms anything else would have been an anti-climax. But as the families drew together to mourn the dead couple, and the killer wrote off his stolen car in a flash of lightning, the tangled threads pulled together into a taut noose. This story had us by the throat. By now, youve had long enough to answer the question about disposing of a body. I dont see how it can be done, not without leaving some trace. Juliet should have thought ahead, and got a tiger. The murderers best hope is that the officers investigating the crime are fresh recruits, the sort we met in Rookies (ITV). These apprentice bobbies from Surrey were courageous and well-meaning, but its unlikely that this documentary, the first of three, left criminals paralysed with dread. Constable Loz, 5ft 2in in her boots, had a sneezing fit whenever she felt anxious, which meant her first arrest went, Anything you atcch-ooo say may be taken down and atcch-ooo used in evidence! And burly Constable Anthony managed to sit on one of his colleagues during another arrest, breaking her leg in three places and dislocating her ankle. The makers of this show had clearly won access with promises that the police would be shown in a glowing light, and there were moving moments when parents talked about how proud they were of their young heroes. But the editors couldnt resist the Keystone Kops angle, with trainees using water-pistols during taser training, and posing with drunken girls for selfies outside nightclubs on a Friday night. She's become an unofficial poster girl for body confidence. And on Wednesday, Fiona Falkiner proved just why as she flaunted her hourglass curves in a bandeau bikini in a snap shared to Instagram captioned: 'Can't cope so happy!' The 33-year-old host of The Biggest Loser Australia has been enjoying a vacation in Malibu, California. 'Can't cope so happy!': Host of The Biggest Loser Australia Fiona Falkiner, 33, was a picture of content in a snap shared to Instagram on Wednesday as she flaunted her hourglass curves in a bikini while holidaying in Malibu, California 'Can't cope so happy!!!,' Fiona captioned the snap shared with her 47,000+ Instagram followers, alongside the hash-tag #thatmalibufeeling. The holiday photo saw the popular television personality wearing just a pink and white checkered bandeau bikini top and skimpy bottoms with high-cut ties. Laying down on a striped towel, Fiona rested her arms behind her head while sporting a pair of round-rimmed sunglasses and flashing the biggest grin. Highlighting a holiday glow, the blonde beauty let her shoulder-length tresses fall in natural waves. Time of her life: The curvaceous star took to Instagram just a day prior to share another bikini snap while at Hollywood Hills West Content: The fitness enthusiast often takes to Instagram to share snaps of her adventures overseas Just a day prior, the curvaceous star took to Instagram to share another bikini snap while at Hollywood Hills West. 'Sunshine, swim and smiles!,' she captioned the photo alongside the hash-tags #happygirl and #ilovethiscity. This time Fiona opted for a patterned triangle bikini and skimpy black bottoms and accessorised with a pair of stylish dark sunglasses and cap with the initials NY emblazoned on the front. Keeping healthy: Despite travelling often, Fiona adheres to a well-balanced eating plan Confident: Earlier in the month, Fiona shared her pride over becoming Maxim Australia's first plus-size cover girl Fiona has been enjoying a Californian vacation since returning to Sydney a few weeks ago to attend Maxim Australia's Fifth Birthday Party, having been the magazine's plus-size cover girl for their January 2016 issue. Earlier in the month, Fiona shared her pride over becoming Maxim Australia's first plus-size cover girl. She wrote on Instagram: 'Still so proud to be their first plus size cover girl!' Candid: Speaking to the magazine last year, she spoke about her experiences with online dating and even admitted to dating one of her many Twitter or Instagram followers Speaking to the magazine last year, she spoke candidly about her experiences with online dating and even admitted to dating one of her many Twitter or Instagram followers. But she refused to confirm rumours she had 'hooked up' with The Bachelorette contestant Alex Cameron in November. She plays the new flirtatious high school teacher, Elly Conway, on Neighbours. And Jodi Anasta decided to play up to her on-screen character as she cosied up to model Jordan Stenmark at the Myer Spring 16 Fashion Launch in Sydney, on Tuesday evening. Whispering quietly in each others ears, the pair looked cosy next to each other on the front row, happily snapping as many pictures as they could during the annual fashion parade. When neighbours make good friends! Jodi Anasta cosied up to model Jordan Stenmark at the Myer Spring 16 Fashion Launch in Sydney, on Tuesday evening The Neighbours actress - who announced the end of her three-year marriage to husband Braith Anasta last year - appeared to be in great spirits as she chatted away to the handsome model. She looked absolutely stunning in a white off-the-shoulder dress and strappy silver heels, while Jordan cut a handsome figure in a chic checkered grey suit. At the star-studded event, Jodi spoke to Daily Mail Australia where she revealed she is currently not dating anyone at the moment. Fashion lovers: Whispering quietly in each others ears, the pair sat comfortably next to each other on front row Style stars: The Neighbours actress looked stunning in a white off-the-shoulder dress and strappy silver heels, while Jordan cut a handsome figure in a chic checkered grey suit The former Home And Away starlet also claimed that working on Neighbours and co-parenting two-year-old daughter Aleeia has made her too busy for romance. Jodi also said the toddler is growing into 'a good mixture' of both her parents and has become very talkative lately. 'I'm just obsessed with her,' she stated. 'You can take her everywhere and we have conversations. It's like hanging out with my best friend.' Eye contact: The pair looked at ease with one another as they chatted away On the market: At the star-studded event, Jodi spoke to Daily Mail Australia where she revealed she is currently not dating anyone at the moment Meanwhile, her Neighbours character made a steamy debut in July, stripping down to her lingerie to seduce Travis Burns' character. She's kind of brought me to life a little bit more because I have a lot of fun at work, she explained. I'm really blessed to have a character like that.' 'I can have a lot of fun with it because I'm not being me,' she concluded. With his busy film schedule for Thor: Ragnarok in Australia underway, he hardly gets any downtime with the family. But last week, 33-year-old Chris Hemsworth visited trendy Byron Bay-based eatery and produce store, The Farm, with his tight knit family in tow. Along with his wife Elsa Pataky, 40, and their twins Tristan and Sasha, the actor's mother and father, Craig and Leonie Hemsworth, also made an appearance. Farmer boy: Chris Hemsworth visited trendy Byron-based eatery and produce store The Farm with his family in tow, last week in Australia Relaxed mama: Chris's wife Elsa cut a relaxed figure during the outing, wearing a flowing paisley black and white skirt paired with a grey T-shirt Family affair: Chris's mother and father, Craig and Leonie Hemsworth, also made an appearance, doting on their grandchildren Elsa cut a relaxed figure during the outing wearing a flowing paisley black and white skirt paired with a grey T-shirt and a pair of brown suede boots with fringe detailing. The stunning actress wore her blonde mane scrapped back in a ponytail and kept her makeup minimal. The couple's two-year old twins also sported cute casual wear. Tristan was dressed in a red and black checkered sleeveless shirt paired with a pair of tie-dye board shorts, and like his mother wore his blonde locks scraped back in a pony tail. Meawhile, Sasha wore a pair of grey sweat pants and a black mottled T-shirt. Cute: Craig watched some black pigs play in a pen with Chris and Elsa's twin son Tristan Piggy tales: Both grandparents doted over the children During the outing Chris's father Craig was seen doting on his grandsons. Leaning over the fence with the twins, the grandparents prompted the children to study some black pigs in a pen. Farm antics: Elsa also took a moment with Tristan to watch the pigs Elsa, ever the dutiful mother, also watched upon her sons. At one point she bent down to show her cute twins what the animals were doing. Sasha appeared to catch his elbow on the fence and the actress went straight in to check he was not injured. Keeping mum: Elsa, ever the dutiful mother, watched upon her sons Ouch! Sasha appeared to catch his elbow on the fence Nurse: The actress went straight in to check he was not injured Cool kid: Tristan was dressed in a red and black checkered sleeveless shirt paired with a pair of tie-dye board shorts, and like his mother wore his blonde locks scraped back in a pony tail Model looks: The stunning actress wore her blonde mane scrapped back in a ponytail and kept her makeup minimal Meanwhile, Chris has been extremely busy of late. On Tuesday, he and his co-star Tom Hiddleston paid a visit to a children's hospital in Brisbane. The Thor: Ragnarok stars met around 80 youngsters and their families at the Lady Cilento Children's Hospital. Chris brought along his character's trademark hammer Mjolnir and Tom donned his full Loki costume and long black wig to surprise the youngsters. 'Met the real superheroes': Chris and co-star Tom Hiddleston visited Lady Cilento Children's Hospital in Brisbane on Tuesday during a break in filming They happily posed for pictures with the delighted children and one 11-year-old patient even got the chance to interview the Hollywood stars for Juiced TV. Koen Weir asked the actors: 'What is it like getting to be a superhero or supervillain?' Chris told him: 'Well its very cool, especially when I face with this supervillain. Brave: One young patient, Koen Weir (pictured), even got the chance to interview the Hollywood stars Happy memory: The Hollywood actors met around 80 children and their families during the trip and happily posed for photos with the youngsters She's the Sydney socialite known for her impeccable style. And Terry Biviano may have outdone herself while flaunting her slender frame in a head-turning number at Audi's intimate dinner in Hamilton Island on Tuesday. The footwear designer sported a white one-sleeved Carla Zampatti jumpsuit, which retails for $1,149. Flawless: Terry Biviano may have outdone herself while flaunting her slender frame in a head-turning jumpsuit at Audi's intimate dinner in Hamilton Island on Tuesday The wide-legged designer outfit showcased her toned arms and highlighted her trim physique. She wore a white bandeau top underneath the lace, which added a touch of glamour. The wife of former rugby league star Anthony Minichiello completed her look with straightened locks, that were worn loosely and neatly parted at the centre. She opted for natural makeup, consisting of bronzer, gold eyeshadow and a nude lip. Terry shares a two-year-old daughter, Azura, with Anthony and she was once hailed for her stunning post-baby body, which she has attributed to breastfeeding. Terry shares a two-year-old daughter, Azura, with Anthony and she was once hailed for her stunning post-baby body, which she has attributed to breastfeeding. Also spotted at the event was fashion blogger Nadia Fairfax, who arrived in a long-sleeved silver cocktail dress before she slipped into an elegant black Dion Lee gown. The 26-year-old blonde beauty beamed as she posed for photos while sporting minimal makeup. Chic: Also spotted at the event was fashion blogger Nadia Fairfax, who arrived in a long-sleeved silver cocktail dress before slipping into an elegant black Dion Lee gown TV presenter James Tobin looked dapper in a black blazer paired with cream-coloured pants. He paired the look with a white shirt and black leather shoes while sporting neatly slicked hair. Audi's intimate dinner at qualias Long Pavilion with surfboard entrepreneur Hayden Cox was hosted in connection with Audi Hamilton Island Race Week. Shes is well accustomed to partying with the rich and the famous after she was recently linked to pop sensation Justin Bieber. So its no wonder Sahara Ray was invited to her friend and fellow model Mara Teigens lavish birthday party, which was reportedly held at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Sunday. According to TMZ, the bash - which was also attended by the likes of DASH Dolls star Durrani Popal and model Emily Sears was hosted in the Presidential Bungalow suite, worth $35k (AUD) a night. Girls go wild: Sahara Ray (pictured bottom right) was invited to her friend Mara Teigens (second from the left) lavish birthday party, which reportedly cost $65000 (AUD) Maras new mystery boyfriend is believed to have splashed out an impressive $65000 for the bloggers 22nd birthday celebrations. Pictures from the event sees the group of female friends let their hair loose, while parading around a pool in skimpy white ensembles. Shortly after the party, Sahara took to her social media sites to share a snap of the birthday girl. 'So happy I got to celebrate with you': Shortly after the party, Sahara took to her social media sites to share a snap of the birthday girl Flashing the flesh: Meanwhile, the 23-year-old Sahara recently shared a topless snap of herself with her one million social media followers In the caption, she gushed: Happy Birthday to my beautiful baby @marateigen_ love you to bits & am so happy I got to celebrate with you yesterday! Meanwhile, the 23-year-old blonde bombshell recently shared a topless snap of herself with her one million social media followers. In the image, Sahara simply sported a pair of pale pink briefs, while just concealing her modesty with a book. Famous connections: She was recently romantically linked to Canadian pop star Justin Bieber In recent interview the Australian model proved she has not forgotten her roots in small-town Victoria and plans to settle down in her native country when she's ready to start a family. 'Australia is where I want to end up and I want to have kids here,' she told The Herald Sun. 'Its more chilled and relaxed and even on shoots, its more about quality than quantity.' Baring all: The model often shares revealing snaps on her social media accounts Rising star: Sahara's media profile sky-rocketed last year after she was rumoured to be dating singer Cody Simpson, dubbed 'Australia's Justin Bieber' and was also linked to male model Jordan Baratt The admissions, from an interview done with the newspaper last year, were published for the first time earlier this month after she was spotted skinny dipping with the pop star, sending the internet into meltdown. The pair were frolicking in what is believed to be a $10,000-a-week villa in Hawaii, after appearing on each other's Instagram accounts several times. A woman is suing Blac Chyna after being struck by her car. But Blac Chyna wasn't even in the car at the time. The lawsuit claims Rob Kardashian's fiancee should be held responsible for handing her keys to her friend in the first place. Guilty by association: A woman is suing Blac Chyna after being struck by her car, even though she wasn't even in the car at the time. Chyna's friend Charmeika 'Paige' Addison was driving Wrecked: She was charged with a felony hit and run when she T-boned an Audi SUV and then ran off in November Chyna's friend Charmeika 'Paige' Addison was driving the BMW when the accident occurred in November, TMZ reported. She was charged with a felony hit and run when she T-boned an Audi SUV and then ran off. She drove through a stop sign and smashed into the other car, injuring the two girls inside. Witnesses said Addison bailed right after the crash, but met with cops a few days later to confess. Carrying on as normal: The pregnant star shared some saucy Snapchats on Tuesday Wigging out: Chyna showed off brunette hair as she posed for the camera One of the victims now alleges Chyna should have known her pal was a bad driver, and should not have loaned her her car. She is suing for medical expenses, lost wages and other damages. At the time, police had issued an arrest warrant to find Addison, who has appeared on the TV series Boss Nails. She also faced charges for reckless driving and driving without a license. Meanwhile Chyna is currently expecting a baby with Rob; she already has a three-year-old son - King Cairo - with Tyga, boyfriend of her sister-in-law-to-be Kylie Jenner. Rachel Weisz always looks so stylish, no matter the occasion. And the 46-year-old did not disappoint as she arrived to the New York City premiere of her film Complete Unknown on Tuesday. The actress looked chic in a white blouse tucked into high-waisted black trousers, adding silver earrings for a sparkling touch. Scroll down for video Flawless: Rachel Weisz did not disappoint as she arrived to the New York City premiere of her film Complete Unknown on Tuesday The movie star plays the main character, Alice, in the drama thriller, which is set to be released in the US on August 26. Rachel stunned in the high-neck blouse; the top featured a large silver button on each sleeve. The British-born actress highlighted her small waist by choosing fitted black trousers. The Oz The Great And Powerful star stepped out in elegant pointed heels with a matching hued clutch. Fancy: The 46-year-old looked chic in a white blouse tucked into high-waisted black trousers, adding silver earrings for a sparkling touch Stunner: The actress plays the main character, Alice, in the drama thriller, which is set to be released in the US on August 26 Rachel added a sparkling touch by rocking large silver earrings. The film actress pulled her dark tresses back into a low bun while sporting pink lip gloss and kohl lined lids. The beauty, who is married to fellow actor Daniel Craig, posed on the carpet with her co-star Condola Rashad. In good fun: The beauty, who is married to fellow actor Daniel Craig, posed on the carpet with her co-star Condola Rashad Looking good: The film actress pulled her dark tresses back into a low bun while sporting pink lip gloss and kohl lined lids; Rachel pictured with Condola and director Joshua Marston Condola looked lovely in a floor-length patterned frock that featured red, blue and white tones. The 29-year-old, who plays Sharon in the film, opted for a bold yellow clutch with curly tresses and shimmery eye makeup. Louisa Krause kept it simple in a black dress and matching hued heels while pulling her locks back into an updo. Also at the premiere was model Louisa Warwick, who wowed in a white dress and pointed nude heels. Pretty lady: Condola looked lovely in a floor-length patterned frock that featured red, blue and white tones Classic: Louisa Krause kept it simple in a black dress and matching hued heels while pulling her locks back into an updo It's safe to say that she's had one unforgettable summer. Paris Hilton touched down at LAX airport on Tuesday after a thrilling stay in Ibiza, Spain DJ'ing for the highest selling-out club, Amnesia. And the 35-year-old socialite brought some European flavor back with her to the states as she turned heads in an Mediterranean-inspired, floor-length dress. Scroll down for video Hola gorgeous! Paris Hilton touches down at LAX on Tuesday after a flight from Spain where she's been DJing for the summer in Ibiza The DJ resident - who is in her fourth year - flashed a big smile upon her return. Wearing a low-cut, multi-colored dress adorned with intricate patterns and a thigh-high slit, the party socialite covered her shoulders in a short dark blue cardigan and added silver flats for travel comfort. Her blue snakeskin purse slung over her shoulder and her signature blonde locks were tied in two pigtail braids. Paris threw on a pair of movie star shades to finish off the look. All smiles: The 35-year-old socialite wore a head-turning number in a floor-length, colorful dress which she paired with a snakeskin purse and silver flats Sun did her good: The socialite tied her trademark blonde hair in two braided pigtails and threw on movie star shades Her temporary return to Los Angeles comes after her younger brother Conrad Hilton was sued following an alleged high-speed accident. The lawsuit claimed Conrad reportedly looked dazed with both hands above his head before striking two vehicles and drifting into another lane. The hotel heir was recently released from prison earlier this month after being sentenced in June to two months behind bars for parole violations. He admitted to using drugs including marijuana, synthetic cannabis and cocaine in violation of his parole. Hotel heirs: Pictured in April, Conrad (far right) was sued on Monday following an alleged high-speed wreck Paris - who returns to Ibiza on Friday for two weeks to finish playing at Amnesia on September 3 - recently spoke about her love of DJing. Telling FOX News Magazine: 'I love DJing because I love music. I love going out. I love entertaining people and just being up on stage. Just feeling the energy of everyone is incredible. Theres nothing like it.' She added: 'Every single night I play in Ibiza is crazy. I start playing around 4AM to 6AM, and then after that, spraying the foam. Its called a Foam and Diamonds party It's pretty wild.' Wild: The entrepreneur turned DJ played for packed crowds in Ibiza's sold out club, Amnesia, every Saturday night Foam party: The sister of Nicky Hilton shared this to her Instagram on Monday, appearing to enjoy her fourth year as a DJ resident The entrepreneur - who is planning on launching a chain of luxury hotels under her name in Dubai, New York and Las Vegas - recently split from Austrian businessman Thomas Gross in April. And she's certainly been enjoying the single life as she told Daily Star earlier this month: 'So many guys propose to me. Ive had guys run up to the DJ booth with rings. But for now I am having the time of my life. Im single right now and I love it. I dont think that will change for a while.' Talking about her DJ career, the reality star said: 'Ive learned so much more now Ive been DJing for six years. I produce my own music and I remix live. Its all me. 'I think all women should believe in themselves and never feel like they have to depend on a man for anything. Success fulfils me and it makes me want to get up every day and work hard. I dont ever stop. Mel Greig has revealed rather intimate details of a bizarre encounter she had with a male friend following the breakdown of her marriage this year. The 34-year-old radio personality penned an essay for Yahoo Be this week recounting the time she sent a 'boozy' text message to a pal asking him for his sperm. 'Yep, I just asked my male friend to donate his sperm. I was a few wines in and I was starting to fret about my future,' the controversial personality explained. Scroll down for video 'My baby making timeline is diminishing quickly': Mel Greig, 34, penned an essay for Yahoo Be this week recounting the time she sent a 'boozy' text message to a pal asking him for his sperm. 'Soon to be divorced, and a sufferer of endometriosis, my baby making timeline is diminishing quickly. So clearly, the smartest thing for me to do was scroll through my phone and pick my own sperm donor,' she went on. Mel goes on to explain that she did indeed ask an unnamed friend to be her sperm doctor, but that she retracted the offer the next morning by sending an 'apology text' for the 'boozy message.' Mel announced that she had broken up with her husband Steve Pollock in April this year during an appearance on Channel Ten's morning program, Studio 10. Oops! Mel goes on to explain that she did indeed ask an unnamed friend to be her sperm doctor, but that she retracted the offer the next morning by sending an 'apology text' 'I am separated from my husband now,' she said, explaining that Steve needed time 'to rediscover himself as an individual'. 'It's been a couple of months that I've been dealing with that in private and because I have been so open about my endometriosis and my battle, it's hard when people ask you how's the baby-making going, when's he moving to Wollongong?' 'So now I just need to put it out there and say "this is what's happening." 'I am separated from my husband now: Mel announced that she had broken up with her husband Steve Pollock (right) in April this year during an appearance on Channel Ten's morning program, Studio 10 'He's not moving to Wollongong. There are no babies on the way and we're going to deal with it in private, the best we can.' Two months later, she took what appeared to be a swipe at Steve during an interview with Channel Seven's The Daily Edition. 'In terms of reconciliation, there are some things that have come to light that are going to be very hard to move forward so it's no for the reconciliation and just focusing on moving forward,' she said. Mel continued to elaborate on the stress her marriage faced and mentioned that there were 'a few mistakes that were made by someone.' 'There are some things that have come to light': Two months later, she took what appeared to be a swipe at Steve during an interview with Channel Seven's The Daily Edition. She's married to one of the most lusted after men in Hollywood. But it wasn't hard to see how Channing Tatum fell for Jenna Dewan's charms on Tuesday as she left a photo shoot at L'Ermitage in Beverly Hills. The 35-year-old looked sensational in an extremely short and backless white mini-dress by Are You Am I. Brunette bombshell: Jenna Dewan-Tatum cut a stunning figure as she left L' Ermitage in Beverly Hills on Tuesday Jenna showed plenty of skin in the loose-fitting spaghetti-strap frock, which she teamed with pink suede thigh-high boots and a cream handbag. The Supergirl had her dark locks pulled into a slick ballerina bun and finished off her look with sultry smoky eye shadow and glittering red lips. Jenna had been taking part in a shoot for Pat McGrath Labs' lip glitter and Ouai haircare, which is founded by celebrity hair stylist Jen Atkin. Earlier in the day, the dancer turned actress enjoyed some bonding time with daughter Everly. Flashing the flesh: The dancer turned actress wore a very short backless white dress and thigh-high pink suede boots Ready for her close-up: Jenna showed off glittering red lips and smoky eye make-up Jenna was spotted heading to the cinema in Glendale with the three-year-old, and the pair wore matching red dresses, with Everly in a princess gown. The Witches Of East End star shares her little mini-me with her husband of four years, Channing Tatum, 36, who wasn't around for the fun film trip. She and the Magic Mike actor married in 2012, having met six years earlier when they co-starred in the hit dance movie, Step Up. Jenna recently admitted they are definitely going to make their daughter watch the film, telling Women's Wear Daily: 'We keep saying we are going to force feed to Everly. Like, "You have to watch. You have to see where you came from."' So excited: Earlier in the day, the 35-year-old took three-year-old daughter Everly to the movies The couple are certainly busy. Jenna has a lot on her plate, between her role as Superwoman and being a mother to Everly. Channing, who was last seen in George Clooney's Hail, Caesar! in February, has five projects in the works. They include Kingsman: The Golden Circle, which is set for next June 16, and MIB 23, a Jump Street-Men In Black crossover movie co-starring Jonah Hill. Channing co-stars with Daniel Craig, Seth MacFarlane, Riley Keough and Katherine Heigle in director Steven Soderbergh's heist movie Logan Lucky, while Gambit is due out in 2018. She's a model and a budding fashion designer. So Imogen Anthony is no stranger to flaunting her enviably toned figure. The squeeze of shock jock Kyle Sandilands showed off her trim pins in a black mini dress and thigh-high boots complete with a gun necklace, sharing shots to Instagram on Wednesday. Scroll down for video Hot to trot: Imogen Anthony showed off her trim pins in a black mini dress and thigh-high boots complete with a gun necklace, sharing shots to Instagram on Wednesday With a golden tan, Imogen stunned in the eclectic ensemble, as she posed in her and Kyle's Los Angeles home. In one shot she wears the black dress with a white Yeezy hat, looking down towards the ground instead of directly at the camera. Her over-the-knee boots appeared to be leather and in a light grey colour. White hot: In another shot, the personality shows off flawless makeup in a gorgeous selfie In another shot, the personality shows off flawless makeup in a gorgeous selfie. Her hair is tied back off her face and she wears the cap, with her makeup featuring bronzer, a smokey eye and a taupe lip. She has layers of jewelry on, including gold chains and wears a white top in the snap. Making an entrance: Imogen Anthony announced to her followers on social media that she had arrived at her Beverly Hills home by posting a very busty selfie in lingerie She jetted to Los Angeles with her boyfriend of five years Kyle Sandilands earlier this week. She told her fans that she had arrived at her Beverly Hills home by posting a very busty selfie in lingerie. The 25-year-old is not one to shy away from a racy shot and was dressed in a black lace bodysuit with a very plunging neckline and captioned the shot: 'We here'. Getting ready to jet: Shockjock Kyle Sandilands and his model girlfriend spent time smoking unhealthy cigarettes together before heading to LA Earlier this week she and Kyle posed for snaps at Sydney airport as they prepared to head back to their home in California. Before they hopped on their flight, the duo spent time smoking unhealthy cigarettes together while dressed in similar ensembles. The pair - who have a house in LA- were last there last month and split their time between the US and Australia. Airplane attire: Imogen put her trim figure on display in a pair of tight leather pants which she teamed with an over-sized black printed T-shirt and heeled boots Quality time: The pair - who have a house in LA- were last there last month (pictured) and split their time between the US and Australia Fashion designer Imogen recently told Daily Mail Australia that the pair aren't planning on getting engaged anytime soon, having been dating since March 2012. 'There's always rumours, there's rumours we've been engaged for three years, no we just chill, we don't need rings and stuff,' she said. Later adding: 'It's just another little something that could be done if we wanted to.' If you ever needed inspiration to do a couple more lunges, this star strutting her way down the street is it. Katharine McPhee showed off her gorgeous gams - or at least one of them - as she headed out to dinner. The 32-year-old made sure all eyes were on her as she left Craig's in West Hollywood, California, on Tuesday. Leggy display: Katharine McPhee showed off her gorgeous gams as she left Craig's in West Hollywood, California, on Tuesday While she left the celebrity-loved eatery rather early and with a file in hand, her outfit said 'forget the business meeting, I'm off to the club'. For her bite to eat, the Scorpion wore a black and white patterned wrap dress from ViX which had both a plunging cleavage-baring neckline and thigh-high split on one side. The split allowed Katharine to show off her tanned and toned left leg as she headed for her car. Giving the look a cool edge, the American Idol runner up wore a leather moto jacket perched on her shoulders and black leather ankle boots. Mixing business with party: While she left the celebrity-loved eatery rather early and with a file in hand, her outfit said 'forget the business meeting, I'm off to the club' Dare to bare: For her bite to eat, the Scorpion wore a black and white patterned wrap ViX dress which had both a plunging cleavage-baring neckline and thigh-high split on one side Not joining her for dinner was her Scorpion co-star and off-screen love Elyes Gabel. While the pair split back in June, it seems they may be back on as they have been spotted out together a number of times of late. Most recently they were seen at Adele's concert together over the weekend. She's rumoured to have rekindled her on/off romance with Greg Wood. So it was little surprise to see Sheridan Smith in high spirits following her Tuesday evening performance in Funny Girl, at London's Savoy Theatre. Emerging into the evening air with a smile on her face, the 35-year-old actress was given further cause to beam when her pet pug Barbara was handed to her. Scroll down for video Happy girl: Sheridan Smith was in high spirits following her Tuesday evening performance in Funny Girl, at London's Savoy Theatre Looking absolutely besotted with her adorable puppy, the actress craddled her four-legged friend in her arms as she chatted to members of the public. But clearly keen to get Barbara and herself home on time, the actress nimbly hopped into a taxi after a few words with her fans. Placing her faithful companion on the seat next to her, Sheridan certainly seemed keen to treat her puppy to a ride home in comfort. Pug love: Emerging into the evening air with a smile on her face, the 35-year-old actress was given further cause to beam when her pet pug Barbara was handed to her And the Cilla star seemed to be in the mood to relax herself following her stint on stage. Opting for a street chic but fuss free affair, Sheridan wore monochrome silk bomber jacket over a low-cut white tee-shirt. Adding to the laid-back vibe of her ensemble the Mrs Biggs actress wore a pair of ripped denim jeans, which allowed the actress to flash a look at her latest tattoo. Doting on the dog: Looking absolutely besotted with her adorable puppy, the actress cradled her four-legged friend in her arms as she chatted to members of the public Taxi for two: Placing her faithful companion on the seat next to her, Sheridan certainly seemed keen to treat her puppy to a ride home in comfort Casually does it: Opting for a street chic but fuss free affair, Sheridan wore monochrome silk bomber jacket over a low-cut white tee-shirt paired with ripped jeans and high tops She rounded her look off with a pair of white high-top trainers, whilst she kept her look clutter free choosing to accessorise with just a stripy tote bag, a pair of hoop earrings and a watch. Wearing her blonde locks scraped back off of her face, fixing it in place with a red bandanna, allowing her pretty features to come to the fore. The actress' happy appearance comes just days after she was seen at a supermarket with Hollyoaks bad boy, Greg. It has been reported that the former Gavin and Stacey star has given her turbulent romance with ex Greg Wood another try. She may be about to land one of the hottest tickets of the year if rumours are to be believed. But despite the intense speculation that she will be joining the latest series of Dancing with the Stars Amber Rose looked calm and collected on Tuesday night. Keeping a low-profile in a baggy grey hoody as she dined out with friends in Sherman Oaks, the 34-year-old chat show host appeared to be in a nonchalant mood. Scroll down for video Keeping a low-profile? Despite the intense speculation that she will be joining the latest series of Dancing with the Stars Amber Rose looked calm and collected on Tuesday night Clearly keen to escape the spotlight for one night, the blonde beauty headed out for a quiet dinner at the Casa Vegas Mexican restaurant. The Amber Rose Show host opted for a very relaxed ensemble for her meal, and teamed a pair of ripped denim shorts with a voluminous grey hooded jumper. Pulling the hood up and over her signature peroxide buzz cut, Wiz Khalifa's ex-wife looked to be keen to keep a low-profile. Playin' it cool? Keeping a low-profile in a baggy grey hoody as she dined out with friends in Sherman Oaks, the 34-year-old chat show host appeared to be in a nonchalant mood And keeping her look eclectic, the author and reality star rounded her wardrobe off with a pair of white fluffy sandals. The mother-of-one wore a natural palette of make-up, only using a flash of coral lipstick and eyeliner to define her plump lips and eyes. Amber's low-key outing came as E! News reported the model and fashion designer was the next celebrity most likely to be announced for Dancing with the Stars. Casually does it: The Amber Rose Show host opted for a very relaxed ensemble for her meal, and teamed a pair of ripped denim shorts with a voluminous grey hooded jumper Ready to rumba? Amber's low-key outing came as E! News reported the model and fashion designer was the next celebrity most likely to be announced for Dancing with the Stars The curvy South Philadelphia native - who once dated Kanye West - brings to the table past experience as an exotic dancer. She told Cosmopolitan last year that her seven-year stint as an exotic dancer, starting when she was 18, 'was the best time of my life. 'Oh my god, I had so much fun. I really did,' the short-haired stunner told the magazine. 'All the girls were really cool. 'The guys weren't allowed to touch you. I was never sexually assaulted ... I was young, beautiful, I was onstage, I wasn't really ashamed of my body,' said The How To Be A Bad B**** author. Rose-worthy: The Bachelorette's ravishing real estate developer JoJo Fletcher is also expected to appear on this season of the show Rose isn't the first - or event second - former stripper to join the prime-time ABC show in the quest for the mirrorball trophy: Jersey Shore's Michael 'The Situation' Sorrentino competed for the crown in the show's 11th season during the fall of 2010; and former Real Housewives of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes gave it a whirl in the spring of 2014 during the show's 18th season. Bachelorette star JoJo Fletcher is also rumoured to be joining the cast, as well as Jake T. Austin, 21, from Wizards of Waverly Place and The Fosters. Simone Biles, the 19-year-old gymnastics gold medalist, told E! that while she had the chance to participate - following in the footsteps of past Olympians such as Lolo Jones, Meryl Davis and Aly Raisman, her schedule is too packed right now. Killer curves: Amber - who has a son with rapper Wiz Khalifa, aged three years - will be one to keep an eye on between her groundbreaking, sexy looks and sassy, outspoken demeanor 'I would love to do Dancing with the Stars, but so far we have a three-month tour after [the] Olympics, [but] I'm not sure if I'll have time,' she told the outlet, leaving the door open for a potential future stint on the show. 'I would really love to do it in the spring if that's possible.' In related news, ABC on Tuesday announced the eight professional dancers who will partner up with the cebebrities for the grueling gauntlet of tangos, sambas and foxtrots. They are: Lindsay Arnold, Sharna Burgess, Artem Chigvintsev, Val Chmerkovskiy, Witney Carson, Allison Holker, Sasha Farber and Gleb Savchenko. Chmerkovskiy said audiences can expect an 'amazing' season on the strength of 'an incredible cast.' 'Its a new show,' he said. 'Its constantly evolving, and we have a nice mix and balance of young kids that are inspired and very motivated to bring out the essence of this generation, but also we have some more classic, conservative dancers from the past as well, so Im excited.' She's the forgotten blonde fitness instructor who had a fleeting fifteen minutes of fame after starring in season one of The Bachelor Australia. But now Penny Palman is back in the spotlight and spilling all the secrets from behind-the-scenes of the hit reality series. In an interview with Mamamia's Bach Chat podcast, the 38-year-old revealed the tricks that The Bachelor's editors and producers use to get the infamous shady looks from the bachelorettes during the rose ceremonies. Scroll down for video No holds barred: Penny Palman from season one of The Bachelor is revealing all the secrets behind the popular reality series Penny confessed that the women are left standing for hours, with constant breaks between roses for production to adjust lighting and sound - which is when the cameras usually capture the ladies looking a little discourteous. She says that the show's editors then insert their unhappy expressions, out of context, into various scenes to paint the picture that they're feuding with a fellow castmate or unhappy to see someone get a rose before them. Penny also adds that the bachelorettes are usually 'all half-drunk and wanting to go to the toilet' during the ceremonies, which contributes to their discomfort. 'They're all half-drunk and wanting to go to the toilet!' The 38-year-old revealed how producers get the contestants to look shady and bitchy during rose ceremonies This isn't the first time that Penny has lifted the lid on The Bachelor. Earlier this month, the fitness fanatic told Mamamia that she had to sleep in a tent following her elimination in episode eight, which was filmed on location in Broome. 'They separated me in the resort, and the girls were in this beautiful cabin,' the blonde beauty explained. No royal treatment here: The Bachelor season one's contestant Penny Palman said she was made to sleep in a tent in Broome after being eliminated from the show She added: 'And they put me in a tent.' Saying she 'missed out' on staying at a nice hotel like previous evictees, the 38-year-old also revealed she flew back to Sydney by herself, while Tim and the rest of the contestants returned the following day. Penny was one of the 25 women who appeared on the first ever season of The Bachelor Australia, starring Tim Robards. On location: Penny was flown to Broome along with the other contestants, where the eighth episode was filmed Not feeling it: Tim Robards sent Penny home after telling Tim she was falling for him The gym junkie was eliminated during the eighth episode after telling Tim she was falling for him. Anna Heinrich went on to win the series and has been dating the buff chiropractor for almost three years. However, the pair still haven't tied the knot or got engaged despite their lengthy relationship. She plays the Mother of Dragons, Daenerys Targaryen, on Game Of Thrones. But actress Emilia Clarke couldn't have looked further away from her super serious HBO character as she beamed at being back on British soil after her time away in LA. Jetting into London's Heathrow Airport from LAX, the 29-year-old cut a stylish figure in a pair of form-fitting mid-wash denims on Tuesday. Scroll down for video Beaming: Emilia Clarke couldn't look further away from her super serious Game Of Thrones character as she beamed being back on British soil after her time away in LA on Tuesday Working her casual cool ensemble, the fantasy series star displayed her svelte figure in the curve-inducing jeans as she made her way to her waiting car. Adding to her chic look, Emilia stylishly tucked a plain white T-shirt into her denims as she wrapped a long gold statement necklace around her neck. Injecting height into her petite frame, the Hollywood star teamed a cork wedge mule to her attire as causally draped her large tan oversized bag over her shoulder. Taming her shoulder-length caramel locks under an eye-catching yellow tucker cap, the film star protected her blue eyes from the British sun under a pair of trendy black tinted sunglasses. Jet setting: Flying into London's Heathrow Airport from LAX, the 29-year-old cut a stylish figure in a pair of form-fitting mid-wash denims Keeping her make-up natural, the Terminator actress simply accentuated her bee stung pout with a swipe of lipgloss. Meanwhile, Emilia previously revealed her earnest role on Games Of Thrones influenced how people perceived her personality. Speaking with The Herald Sun, the brunette beauty explained she struggled at first to find acting parts. She added: 'After Game Of Thrones, I don't think people were quite aware that I could crack a smile.' So when the opportunity came to play the quirky, 'goofball' character of Lou Clark in the tear-jerking comedy/drama Me Before You, she says it was a role she was born to play. She conceded: 'I basically read the book and was like: "Someone wrote me, Emilia, down in a book" and now I will do everything in my power to get this part!' She's eagerly awaiting the birth of her first child. But in the meantime, Laura Csortan is happy to show off her burgeoning bump to her 21,900 Instagram followers. In her latest post to the photo sharing site, the 39-year-old TV personality looked every inch the glowing mother-to-be in a fitting charcoal grey dress with metallic detailing. 'Bumpy and I did a double act': Pregnant Laura Csortan showed off her blossoming baby bump in charcoal-coloured metallic dress as she hosted a charity event in Sydney on Wednesday Laura looked gorgeous in the ensemble, which hugged her figure perfectly, showing off her blossoming baby belly in the process. The Rebecca Vallance frock was both sexy and sophisticated, featuring a knee-length hem and a plunging neckline to reveal a generous amount of cleavage. She styled her blonde locks out and straight, and opted for a natural pallete of make-up to highlight her striking features. 'My theory on it is I'll just take each day as it comes': The former TV presenter admitted that she was going to raise her unborn child as a single mother Updates: The popular personality has been keeping her fans updated on her pregnancy movements with regular updates on her social media She captioned the picture: 'Bumpy and I did a double act today in MC-ing the Barnardos Australia ladies luncheon. 'Barnardos is such an incredible cause raising money for abused and neglected children. Thank god for the wonderful people making a difference to these precious lives,' she wrote. Laura also made sure to give a shout out to her beauty team on a job well done. No involvement: Laura told Woman's Day that while she still speaks to her ex, whose identity remains a secret, he will not be involved in the child's life 'Thank you so much to @hair_cartel for helping me with a gorgeous blowdry and @rebeccavallance for managing to find a fantastic dress which also fits me!!' she added. The former travel TV presenter revealed she was pregnant with her first child in June this year, adding she will be bringing up the baby as a single mother . Speaking to the Daily Mail Australia about her intentions to raise the child on her own, Laura said: 'You don't know what to expect. 'My theory on it is I'll just take each day as it comes. So long as it's loved beyond anything else. 'You don't know what to expect': The blonde beauty told the Daily Mail Australia that she would take each day as it came in terms of life as a single mother 'I'm prepared for the sleepless nights and all that. I'm not kidding myself that it's going to be easy. I'm just ready for it'. 'I didn't know how [the pregnancy announcement] would be received but... really wonderful and support from single mothers and women who have wanted to be single mothers and didn't know how to go about it,' she added. Laura told Woman's Day that while she still speaks to her ex, whose identity remains a secret, he will not be involved in the child's life. 'He respects my decision (to have the baby), and when the baby's older I'm happy with her finding out who her father is,' she said. 'I'm going into this with an open mind.' He respects my decision (to have the baby), and when the baby's older I'm happy with her finding out who her father is': She said that she wouldn't keep the baby's father a secret Meanwhile, the former Miss Universe Australia discovered she was pregnant with her first child shortly after filming adventure documentary, Riding Morocco: Chasing the Dakar, back in February. The series follows Laura riding a CRF1000L Honda motorbike through the Moroccan desert alongside four-time Dakar rider Christophe Barriere-Varju. The pair explored the original Dakar Rally route, before it was moved to South Africa in 2009 after terrorists' threatened to shut it down in 2008. She never leaves the house with a hair out of place. So Millie Mackintosh proved to be her own best advert as she dazzled at the launch of her hair care range with John Frieda in London on Wednesday. But whilst she may have been hoping the attention would be on her luscious locks, all eyes were on the 27-year-old reality starlet's lithe legs as she posed at the event. Scroll down for video Hair she is: Millie Mackintosh proved to be her own best advert as she headed to the launch of her hair care range with John Frieda in London on Wednesday Clad in a little black dress, Millie appeared to go braless under the garment, with a strip of mesh running across her chest to flash a glimpse of cleavage. With fluted sleeves and a drop hem, the gown flattered her slender curves, tracing the contours of her enviable figure, which she gave an extra boost with a pair of black wedges. Wearing her chestnut coloured locks in loose waves, she finished off the look with a neutral make-up palette that accentuated her stunning features. Leggy: The star dazzled at the launch in her chic outfit and with flawless locks Leggy lady! Whilst she may have been hoping the attention would be on her luscious locks, all eyes were on the 27-year-old reality starlet's lithe legs as she posed at the event Peek-a-boob: Clad in a little black dress, Millie appeared to go braless under the garment, with a strip of mesh running across her chest to flash a glimpse of cleavage Millie was still sporting a bronzed glow from her recent romantic getaway in the South of France with beau Hugo Taylor. The couple enjoyed an extended break around the coast and continued the festivities after jetting home by heading to V Festival together. Millie went public with her boyfriend Hugo in May, just months after splitting from her husband Professor Green. Brunette beauty: Wearing her chestnut coloured locks in loose waves, she finished off the look with a neutral make-up palette that accentuated her stunning features The couple were granted a 'quickie divorce' in May at the Central London Family Court with Millie citing 'unreasonable behaviour' as the reason for their split. Millie had dated Hugo for six months in 2011 when they appeared on the Made in Chelsea series together. However, their romance came to an end in 2013 when it emerged he had slept with her best friend Rosie Fortescue. She left the world of reality television to design her own swimwear line. And Kimberley Garner was no doubt gathering some inspiration as she left the streets of Chelsea for the sun-soaked strip of St Tropez on her latest getaway. Clad in a sexy black two-piece from her eponymous collection, the 26-year-old starlet oozed glamour as she enjoyed a relaxing stroll along the coast. Scroll down for video Entrepreneurial spirit: Kimberley Garner was no doubt gathering some inspiration for her swimwear collection as she left the streets of Chelsea for St Tropez on her latest getaway Donning a lace-up halterneck bikini top, the former Made In Chelsea star showed off her perky assets whilst remaining relatively demure. Teamed with a pair of skimpy black bottoms, Kimberley flaunted her enviably taut stomach and lean legs as she watched the sun set from the beach. Seemingly having enjoyed a dip in the ocean she wore her golden locks damp and tousled, framing her pretty face. All eyes on her: Clad in a sexy black two-piece from her eponymous collection, the 26-year-old starlet oozed glamour as she enjoyed a relaxing stroll along the coast That's a wrap-up: Donning a lace-up halterneck bikini top, the former Made In Chelsea star showed off her perky assets whilst remaining relatively demure Bootylicious: Teamed with a pair of skimpy black bottoms, Kimberley flaunted her enviably taut stomach and lean legs as she watched the sun set from the beach Opting to go barefoot as she walked along the sand, the star looked effortlessly glamorous on the outing. Taking it easy on her holiday, she also enjoyed a cocktail as she strolled along the dock after her swim. Seeming in good spirits, she was also perked up by an adorable pooch that she stumbled across on the beach. Blonde beauty: Seemingly having enjoyed a dip in the ocean she wore her golden locks damp and tousled, framing her pretty face She likes pina coladas: Taking it easy on her holiday, she also enjoyed a cocktail as she strolled along the dock with a glass in hand after her swim Following her trip the star was after some girly time in London, and sought out another star famed for attending London's glitziest and most exclusive soirees. Joined by Tallia Storm, the pair seemed to be enjoying each other's company in Kensington on Tuesday. Looking every inch as breathtaking as she had on her holiday, Kimberley allowed her natural beauty to shine through by going make-up free for the occasion. Tanned and toned: Opting to go barefoot as she walked along the sand, the star looked effortlessly glamorous on the outing Dog days: Seeming in good spirits, she was also perked up by an adorable pooch that she stumbled across on the beach and couldn't resist leaning in for a quick cuddle Making a splash: Kimberley headed back into the water as she played with the dog Sweeping her golden locks back to show off her flawless complexion, the former Made In Chelsea star looked effortlessly glamorous on the outing. Making the most of the warm weather, she wore a little black dress with lace straps and a puffball skirt. Keeping her ensemble casual but chic, she also donned a pair of white converse trainers to round off the look. Two of a kind: Following her trip the star was after some girly time in London, and sought out another star famed for attending London's glitziest and most exclusive soirees, Tallia Storm Natural beauty: Sweeping her golden locks back to show off her flawless complexion, the former Made In Chelsea star looked effortlessly glamorous as she went make-up free The Bachelor has been under fire from viewers all season for its supposedly sexist dates. And on Wednesday, the dating competition was slammed yet again as viewers took to social media to vent their frustration over the episode's group date. The date saw the women assist Richie Strahan in a driving task, in which they had to help the handsome rope technician pick up his dry cleaning, among other items. Scroll down for video 'This is the most offensive date yet!' Viewers have once again slammed The Bachelor for its sexist dates during Wednesday night's episode 'Richie isn't looking for a girlfriend, he wants a maid!' tweeted user Georgia Leaker. User Emma Rose tweeted: 'I love #TheBachelorAU but I'm a bit over these "lol stereotypical women" dates.' 'Ugh, another task that alludes to their mundane domestic duties as the future Mrs. Cool Bananas,' wrote user Amanda Diaz. Helping hand: The women were required to help a blindfolded Richie pick up his dry cleaning in a buggy The offensive date in question saw the women participating in a 'compatibility test' with Richie. The final part of the test saw Richie blindedfolded and driving a golf cart, while one of the bachelorettes sat in the passenger seat and instructed him where to drive to pick up his dry cleaning and buy some beer. Previous dates and competitions that have upset viewers this season have included a Pretty Woman-style shopping trip for clothes, cooking dinner for Richie, and looking after plastic baby dolls to test the bachelorette's motherly potential. Offensive date: The task in question saw the women picking up Richie's dry cleaning and buying beer during a 'compatibility test' ' More domestic stuff': Previously viewers have slammed the show for shopping dates and making the girls look after fake babies 'Hunger games for wifies': Fans have mocked the domestic-themed dates across the season Slammed: Viewers have expressed their dislike of several of the dates from this season, one of which saw Richie take Alex shopping for clothes User Stephanie McEachen tweeted: 'Twirl around in pretty dress date. Tick. Baby date. Tick. Cooking date. Tick. Totally nailing what it means to be a woman in 2016.' Another user wrote: 'Great a sexist group date with all the women showing their 1950s skills in the kitchen what next? #TheBachelorAU' The Bachelor airs every Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 on Channel Ten. She called her ex-boyfriend Alex Mytton a 'gross, vile human' in a scathing interview. And Nicola Hughes was flashing a coy smile as she stepped out in New York City on Wednesday, displaying her endless legs in a cute floral playsuit. The 26-year-old Made In Chelsea star looked incredible in the flirty number, featuring an off-the-shoulder cut and ruffle detailing at the bust. Scroll down for video Coming up roses: Nicola Hughes was flashing a coy smile as she stepped out in New York City on Wednesday, displaying her endless legs in a cute floral playsuit Nicola completed her look with a pair of suede ankle boots in a peep toe style. She wore her blonde locks poker straight and highlighted her cheekbones with plenty of blusher. The reality star seemed in great spirits after finally letting loose about what she really thinks of Alex, who broke up with her over text while she was on a family holiday in Florence, Italy. Fashionable from head-to-toe: Nicola completed her look with a pair of suede ankle boots in a peep toe style She's got her smile back: The reality star seemed in great spirits after finally letting loose about what she really thinks of Alex, who broke up with her over text while she was on a family holiday in Florence, Italy Nicola has laid into her former flame - who she dated on and off for almost two years - in an interview with new! magazine, in which she also revealed she is dating another of co-star Binky Felstead's exes. Talking about discovering Alex, 25, had slept with Olivia Bentley, 21, during their summer stint in the South of France, Nicola branded her ex a 'gross, vile human'. The Irish model said: 'It was upsetting but then I laughed about it. He's gross, a vile human.' 'A gross, vile human': Made In Chelsea's Nicola let rip at her cheating ex-boyfriend, Alex Mytton, in a scathing new interview Sad: The Irish model, 26, claims Alex, 25, broke up with her over text while she was on a family holiday in Florence back in June after two years on and off together Talking about moving on from the famously tumultuous romance, Nicola revealed she has now fallen out with Binky, 26 - who also previously dated Alex - over her latest choice of man. She said: 'I'm definitely single. I'm not seeing anyone but I have been on dates with one of Binky's exes, who she dated two years ago. She's so angry about it.' Binky - real name Alexandra Felstead - didn't seem too impressed by Nicola's public declaration about their feud, taking to Instagram on Tuesday afternoon to post a cryptic message. The Made In Chelsea star posted the words 'How beautiful it is to stay silent when someone expects you to be enraged'. Frenemies: The blonde revealed she has also fallen out with co-star Binky Felstead - who also previously was in a relationship with Alex - because Nicola is dating another of her exes Whatever! Binky didn't seem too impressed by Nicola's public declaration about their feud, taking to Instagram on Tuesday afternoon to post a cryptic message Making a pointed dig at Nicola, Binky added: 'Gotta handle everything with class.' Nicola also talked about being pictured out with pop princess Cheryl's ex, Jean Bernard Fernandez-Versini, back in June. The pair were pictured exiting London hotspot Chiltern Firehouse. She said: 'I didn't know who he was. I was in a bar called STK in London and a friend invited me over to his table. We exchanged numbers but there's nothing there. I don't want to be associated with him.' Meanwhile, Nicola has been sending pulses racing with her latest Instagram posts, one of which sees her posing topless in a sexy selfie. Covering her modesty with her arms, the black and white image shows her modelling a pair of baggy boyfriend jeans. Leaving the photo caption free, the pretty blonde lets the snap speak for itself, as her hair cascades down past her shoulders. Short-lived: Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini was spotted exiting London's Chiltern Firehouse with Nicola around the time she broke up with Alex She also shared a picture of herself, writing: 'First time I've woken up in a while with hair so silkyyyy @hairbydimitra Brazilian blow dry has gone down a treat.' On last week's episode of the MIC: South Of France summer spin-off, viewers were shocked to discover Alex had called an end to his romance with Nicola via text, but had also slept with Olivia just days earlier. Alex dropped the bombshell by messaging the Irish beauty: 'This is the hardest thing in the world, but its not going to work.' Defending his actions to his friends, he mumbled: 'Some people might say it was cowardly,' as he saw the shocked expressions on their faces. The news was even more shocking for his friends Jamie Laing, Sam Thompson and Francis Boulle, who were not even aware the couple had split up. The other woman: On last week's episode of the MIC: South Of France summer spin-off, viewers were shocked to discover Alex had slept with co-star Olivia Bentley Look at what you're missing! Nicola has been sending pulses racing with her latest Instagram posts, one of which sees her posing topless in a sexy selfie After a drunken dalliance with Olivia, Alex went on to tell Sam that he 'regretted it', adding: To be honest I remember very little about it.' In an awkward exchange he went on to tell Olivia words to the same effect as he explained the morning after: 'I feel a little bit ropey today.' He added: 'Im kind of a bit annoyed with myself - breaking up with Nicola and then leaping into bed with someone else. I do have a lot of feelings for her.' Olivia hilariously responded: 'Good luck keeping your d**k in your pants.' But whilst he claimed to still have feelings for Nicola, it didn't stop him from flirting with best pal Jamie's girlfriend Frankie Gaff. Speaking to her best friend Tiffany Watson, Frankie revealed: 'Mytton tried it on with me the other night.. he was holding my hand in the back of the cab and being all touchy feely. 'If I wanted to I could have done something he kept trying to hold my hand.' Mischa Barton has used social media to slam reports that she'd bailed on a lead movie role in 2014 just so she could stay on holiday in Europe. The actress, 30,described a TMZ story that claimed she'd been ordered to pay $200,000 to screenwriter Daniel Lief as 'made up rubbish.' 'I never made a deal to appear in Mr. Lief's film in 2014 nor received a single dime,' Mischa wrote on Instagram and Twitter. 'This is a case of slander by the reporter from a former case of fraud and forgery from my now former manager which hurts me to even share.' It's all rubbish: Mischa Barton took to Instagram and Twitter on Wednesday to deny published reports that she bailed on a movie in 2014 in order to stay on holiday in Europe According to TMZ, The OC star had signed up to play the lead in the movie Promoted but failed to turn up for work back in March 2014. The website reported that Lief sued her, claiming the delay in production and the need to recast the lead role cost him more than $300,000. But the former child star who appeared in Notting Hill and The Sixth Sense didn't mince words after reading the story. 'To the articles that have emerged in the news about me skipping on a movie role in 2014 to be on holiday in Europe is all made up rubbish,' she said Wednesday. Denial: The actress, 30, pictured in Berlin in June, said she never made a deal to star in screenwriter Daniel Lief's film Promoted. Her statement follows a TMZ story that she had been ordered to pay Lief $200,000 for bailing on the film It was revealed last month that Mischa is locked in a legal battle with her estranged mother, with each accusing the other of holding up the sale of their Beverly Hills mansion. In explosive legal documents obtained by Daily Mail Online, the actress claims her one-time 'momager' Nuala Barton has stonewalled attempts to sell the home for years - even locking her out of the property and refusing access to potential buyers. She also accuses her mother of refusing to work with Josh Altman, the famed LA realtor appointed to sell the seven-bedroom, 10 bathroom property, and refusing to sign off on strong offers from potential buyers. Working on a comeback: The former star of The OC has been trying to revive her career of late and was one of the contestants on the most recent season of ABC's Dancing With The Stars (pictured with Artem Chigvintsev) Nuala has blasted her daughter's claims as 'heinous' and 'false' and says that the pair are 'estranged as a result'. British-born Mischa famously sued her mother in 2015 accusing her of defrauding her by stealing her money. After forging a glittering career in her late teens and early 20s, Mischa attempted a comeback this year - appearing on Dancing With The Stars - but was booted off after just three episodes. She is next set to star in the thriller Deserted and the horror The Malevolant. Ben Affleck has been in London to work on his Justice League saga. And on Sunday the Oscar winner looked stressed out as he puffed on a cigarette while outside a dark grey building. Photos of the Massachusetts native have surfaced on the same day UsWeekly reported the actor slept in a separate bedroom from estranged wife Jennifer Garner as they vacationed at their condo in Montana with children Violet, Seraphina and Samuel to celebrate his 44th birthday, therefore making a reconciliation doubtful. Break: Ben Affleck puffed on a cigarette while outside a building in London on Sunday He's got the blues: The Oscar winner had on a blue sweater, blue jeans and blue sneakers The couple split in the summer of 2015 and it was reported that their divorce would be finalized once their spring films - he was on Batman v Superman while she had Miracles From Heaven to promote - came out. They have been working with a private mediator. But still nothing has been announced. That had led their fans to believe that they could be working on their relationship. Several outlets have reported that the two are doing just that and will call of the divorce any day now. His family: This sighting of Ben comes after reports that he slept in a separate bedroom from estranged wife Jennifer Garner when on vacation in Montana for his 44th birthday; here he is seen with wife and kids in LA in April A source close to the brunette beauty told Us Weekly at the time: 'Jen mentioned that the divorce was going through very soon, and then a few weeks ago, things changed. It does not seem to be moving in that direction,' the source told the magazine. 'Jen seems to still be in love with Ben but doesn't allow her mind to go there. She just focuses on the kids.' But this new report from Wednesday suggests the two are simply staying friends as they co-parent their young kids. Violet is 10, Seraphina is aged seven and Samuel is aged four. No romance: This new report from Wednesday suggests the two are simply staying friends as they co-parent their young kids. Violet is 10, Seraphina is aged seven and Samuel is aged four No amour: 'They got along great but they didn't sleep in the same room,' said a source. 'The situation is working for them. They wanted to be together as a family' She won't take Batman back: It was added that the two are definitely not reconciling 'They got along great but they didn't sleep in the same room,' said a source. 'The situation is working for them. They wanted to be together as a family.' People added: 'Ben is happiest when he's spending time with his family. It was a great birthday.' It was added that the two are definitely not reconciling. On the trip the family hiked in the nearby mountains and enjoyed cake at the Yellowstone Club. All by myself: Garner, 44, was seen solo after a workout in Los Angeles on Tuesday On Sunday Ben looked casual in his blue sweater with blue jeans and blue sneakers with white laces. He wore facial hair that looked a few days old and appeared to have a lot on his mind. In addition to filming Justice League he is finishing up work on his directorial effort Live By Night with Zoe Saldana (he also stars), and he is also partnering with Matt Damon on the reality show The Runner. Next he will promote his thriller The Accountant, which comes out October 14. Meanwhile, his ex looked toned and youthful on Tuesday when she was spotted after a workout in Los Angeles. It turns out that Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson calling out his co-star Vin Diesel for being an 'unprofessional candy a**' on the set of Fast 8 might have all been a publicity stunt. 'They are playing a huge prank, and it's all for publicity,' an insider told Life & Style. 'The Rock convinced Vin to amp up the drama between them so they could turn it into a WWE match to help promote the April 2017 release of Fast 8.' Scroll down for video 'They are playing a huge prank': It turns out that Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson calling out his co-star Vin Diesel for being an 'unprofessional candy a**' on the set of Fast 8 might have all been a publicity stunt (pictured in 2011) An insider told Life & Style: 'It's all for publicity. The Rock convinced Vin to amp up the drama between them so they could turn it into a WWE match to help promote the April 2017 release of Fast 8' (pictured June 22) Fans of the street-racing heist franchise are also speculating that the 44-year-old third-generation wrestler is talking smack in the tradition of scripted and choreographed antics at the WWE. The bald California-born beefcakes' characters Dominic Toretto and Luke Hobbs memorably battled (then joined forces) in the 2011 installment, Fast Five. 'The role [was] initially written for Tommy Lee Jones but we gave it to Dwayne, and he shined in it,' praised the 49-year-old SAG Award nominee in an August 19 Facebook post. 'Back in the fifth film, I was asking "Who should I work with?" The reason why we brought Dwayne Johnson into Fast Five was because of you [fans]. There was a girl named Jen (maybe, Jan?) Kelly who said, "I would love to see you guys work together on-screen."' 'We're being trolled': Fans of the street-racing heist franchise are also speculating that the 44-year-old third-generation wrestler is talking smack in the tradition of scripted and choreographed antics at the WWE Head to head: The bald California-born beefcakes' characters Dominic Toretto and Luke Hobbs memorably battled (then joined forces) in the 2011 installment, Fast Five The 49-year-old SAG Award nominee said in an August 19 Facebook post: 'Back in the fifth film, I was asking "Who should I work with?" The reason why we brought Dwayne Johnson into Fast Five was because of you [fans]' Vin praised: 'The role [was] initially written for Tommy Lee Jones but we gave it to Dwayne, and he shined in it' (pictured July 18) The kind remarks Diesel - born Mark Sinclair - made about Johnson came 11 days after the Central Intelligence star wrote his thinly veiled 'candy a**' comment on Instagram. 'When you watch this movie next April and it seems like I'm not acting in some of these scenes and my blood is legit boiling - you're right,' Dwayne wrote on August 8. 'Bottom line is it'll play great for the movie and fits this Hobbs character that's embedded in my DNA extremely well. The producer in me is happy about this part.' The Rock - who has a 30-year history and numerous prized belts with the WWE - previously had a feud with Trainwreck's John Cena. 'It'll play great': The kind remarks Diesel - born Mark Sinclair - made about Johnson came 11 days after the Central Intelligence star wrote his thinly veiled 'candy a**' comment on Instagram Wrestling icon: The Rock - who has a 30-year history and numerous prized belts with the WWE - previously had a feud with Trainwreck's John Cena (pictured 2012) Sorry not sorry: If the cocky movie stars actually met in the ring, the far more experienced 6ft5in Dwayne would likely crush 5ft11in Vin If the cocky movie stars actually met in the ring, the far more experienced 6ft5in Dwayne would likely crush 5ft11in Vin. Meanwhile, their castmate Jason Statham told People: 'I stay out of any bickering or any troubles that people have. I have nothing to do with it and I don't want any part of it.' Catch more of the retired criminal versus the incarcerated former DSS agent in the eighth Fast and Furious film alongside newcomers Charlize Theron, Helen Mirren, and Scott Eastwood. And far from coincidentally, WrestleMania 33 will take place April 2 (12 days before Fast 8) at Florida's Camping World Stadium in Orlando. Star-studded ensemble: Catch more of the retired criminal versus the incarcerated former DSS agent in the eighth Fast and Furious film alongside newcomers Charlize Theron, Helen Mirren, and Scott Eastwood Emily Ratajkowski became a star nearly overnight after baring all in Robin Thicke's 2013 music video Blurred Lines. And now the California-raised beauty is using her 'platform' to speak her mind about fame and feminism as she flashed some flesh on the beach in Malibu for the September issue of C Magazine. The 25-year-old model who looked stunning in a backless gold sequined frock during the cover shoot revealed, 'I wasnt aware that it was necessarily feminism that [my mom] was instilling in me, but, thats definitely what it was, and that came very early in my life.' Gold goddess: Emily Ratajkowski flashed some flesh on the beach in Malibu for the September issue of C Magazine 'I think its really important to use your platform. Also, thats just who I am,' the cover girl added. Throughout the striking pictorial Emily sported wet tresses and a smokey eye for the glamorous shots in the sand. For the cover she showed off her trim tummy in a stylish black and gold beaded blouse by Balmain. The designer top featured long sleeves and cut-out shoulders and paired perfectly with a tiny black feathered skirt also by Balmain. Cover girl: The 25-year-old model and California-raised beauty showed off her trim tummy in a stylish black and gold beaded blouse by Balmain as she struck a sexy pose Emily's sexy pose shows her tugging at the mini-skirt showing off her bejeweled right hand which was decked out with gold Vhernier rings. 'Im really politically active, and have been my whole life,' Emily told the magazine as she shot a sultry look. T he brunette beauty made headlines back in February at a rally in New Hampshire for taking on feminist icon Gloria Steinem for accusing young women for backing Bernie Sanders merely to gain male attention. Sexy in the sand: In another shot, Emily donned a beautiful spaghetti-strap sequin and tulle gown. The black and white image shows the five-foot-seven stunner laying on the beach Beach babe: Throughout the striking pictorial Emily sported wet tresses and a smokey eye for the glamorous shots in the sand 'If I wasnt a public figure, I would still be Tweeting articles and maybe everyone would be less sensitive.' In another shot, Emily frolicked in the sand in a beautiful spaghetti-strap sequin and tulle gown. The black and white image shows the five-foot-seven stunner laying on the beach with her lithe legs crossed as she accessed the shore. 'Im really politically active:' Emily talked about using her fame as a 'platform' Making waves: In another image, the supermodel changed into a gold sequin embellished wrap dress which featured a plunging neckline and a high slit up the thigh The model, who has been dating musician Jeff Magid since 2014, admits she 'keeps a low profile' when it comes to her personal life and candidly talked about the downside of fame. 'The worst feeling is when youre at a restaurant and really feeling comfortable with your friends and then all of a sudden people are looking at you and taking your picture.' In another image, the supermodel changed into a gold sequin embellished wrap dress which featured a plunging neckline and a high slit up the thigh. 'Keeps a low profile': The model, who has been dating musician Jeff Magid since 2014, admits she likes to go under the radar when it comes to her personal life as she candidly talked about the downside of fame Barefoot beauty: Emily also looked glamorous on the shoreline in a feminine full-skirted frock. In the shot she looks sexy as one of the black straps fell loosely off her shoulder Emily also looked glamorous on the shoreline in a feminine full-skirted frock. In the shot she looks sexy as one of the black straps fell loosely off her shoulder. The talented beauty just wrapped the 80's indie romance Cruise and is next set to star in a psychological thriller In Darkness alongside Natalie Dormer. Of her successful transition from the runway to cinema she said, 'I think maybe 20 years ago it was harder for a model to be accepted as an actress. Everything is so interdisciplinary now.' Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder literally stopped the show Monday night at Wrigley Field to deal with a male fan who was ticking him off. The rocker, 51, was performing the song Lukin when, according to EW.com, he suddenly got his bandmates to stop. Pointing at a man in the audience, he shouted out: 'Hey! Hey, mister, get your finger out of the womans face, mother******!' Scroll down for video Hey you! Eddie Vedder halted Pearl Jam's performance part way through the song Lukin to confront a fan who was being physically inappropriate with a woman in the audience 'All the fingers are pointing at you. Clear out, mister,' he went on. Fans in the pit could be seen raising their hands to applaud the veteran musician's move as security guards found the guy and escorted him out of the arena that's home to the Chicago Cubs. It's not clear what exactly the fan was doing but it caught Vedder's attention enough to bring everything to a halt. Ejected: The rocker, 51, pointed the man out and had security escort him out of the arena at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Monday night Good call: The crowd signaled their approval by raising their hands in the air as Vedder checked that the woman involved was okay The incident was caught on video by some of those at the concert. Vedder went on to check if the woman who'd he thought was being manhandled was okay. He then gave a shout-out to a male friend who was with her, saying: 'Thats a good man, taking care of your woman, and then she was taking care of herself too pretty good it looked like she was ready' Veteran rocker: Vedder is currently on a stadium tour with Pearl Jam Approved: Actress Sophia Bush was among those who took to social media to praise the Pearl Jam rocker The Chicago P.D. star wrote a long post on Instagram thanking Vedder him for showing 'that 41,000 people can, and should, stop what they are doing to watch out for one lady in a crowd' Fans including actress and Chicago P.D. star Sophia Bush took to social media to praise the rocker's actions. 'This is what a feminist looks like,' wrote the actress alongside a picture of Vedder jumping high above the stage in his trademark move. 'Tonight a rock n' roll hero was a moral hero too. Tonight a man who commands crowds around the world reminded a crowd that violence against women is unacceptable and intolerable,' she added. Other Twitter users also thanked Vedder for what he did using the hashtags #respect, #empowerwomen and #mindyourmanners. He's the man: The Pearl Jam frontman earned the respect of fans who shared their thoughts on Twitter She's been taking some time for herself as she enjoys a holiday away from the spotlight. And it seems the extended break has done Lindsay Lohan some good, as she looked better and healthier than ever in a recent swimsuit snap. The actress, 30, uploaded a photo to Instagram on Wednesday, showcasing her slender figure for all to see in a raunchy swimsuit. Scroll down for video Sizzling: Lindsay Lohan, 30, uploaded a photo to Instagram on Wednesday while on holiday, showcasing her slender figure for all to see in a raunchy cut-out swimsuit Draping herself across a sofa in the sun, Lindsay sizzled in a slinky black one-piece with very low cut-out sides. With the swimsuit cutting high-up her thigh, the redhead showed off her enviably slender pins and golden tan picked up from her past few weeks in the Mediterranean. Adding an extra hint of sex appeal to her ensemble, Lindsay wore a slim choker, featuring a tiny stud in the middle. Tipping her head back sexily, the Parent Trap actress embodied modern Hollywood glamour as she finished her look with some cat-eye sunglasses. Not what it seems? While Lindsay has been posting several photos from her getaway, it has appeared troubled with multiple fights with fiance Egor Tarabasov occuring in open view Lindsay has been taking a break from her relationship with fiance Egor Tarabasov after a row last month. Despite the evident romantic turbulence, Lindsay still appears to be wearing her engagement ring, showing it off on Monday in a selfie on Snapchat. Yet the sparkler appears to be on her right hand, still making fans question the status of their relationship. On again, off again: Despite the evident romantic turbulence, Lindsay still appears to be wearing her engagement ring, showing it off on Monday in a selfie on Snapchat Three weeks ago the star was pictured taking off the 5-carat diamond in front of BFF Hofit Golan, who recently addressed Lindsay's split and shot down speculation that the star is pregnant with Egor's child. Lindsay, 30, was then seen making purchases in fine Swiss jewellers Chopard in Porto Cervo, Italy where she cupped the old emerald ring and slipped the new diamond piece on her engagement finger. It was Hofit who was the first to officially address comments made by Lindsay's own father that suggested she was pregnant and finally confirm that the engagement is merely on pause. Love is pain: The pair were seen embarking on a public brawl, bringing their engagement to a reported 'pause' as Lindsay then jetted away with some girlfriends 'This vacation is amazing, it's not a single girls' getaway or a post-breakup vacation. Lindsay is taking a pause in her relationship and joined my friends and I on holiday,' Golan Us Weekly. Lindsay and Egor were said to have been together for a year before appearing calling it quits, with the star posting to Snapchat in July: 'I guess I was the same at 23 S***ty time-it changes at 26/27 @e2505t thanks for not coming home tonight. Fame changes people.' Lindsay then accused Egor of cheating on her with a hooker, as she posted a video of the star partying, according to E! Much needed break: Lindsay's BFF Hofit Golan confirmed to fans that ' it's not a single girls' getaway, Lindsay is taking a pause in her relationship and joined my friends and I on holiday' Taking to Instagram to address the confusing matter, Lindsay captioned a photo of her on the beach: ' Dear friends. I'm good and well. #ATM I am taking time for myself with good friends. I am sorry that I've exposed certain private matters recently. I was acting out of fear and sadness... We all make mistakes. 'I have done a lot of soul searching in the past years, and I should have been more clear minded rather than distract from the good heart that I have.' 'Maybe things can be fixed... Maybe not.. I hope they can.' 'But I am 30 years old and I do deserve a #GENTLEgiant Life is about love and light. Not anger. Thank you to those who stand by my side'. Shortly before their row in London, Lindsay and Egor had a rocky holiday in Mykonos , with the actress reportedly claiming that her man 'drank too much and went crazy' on the getaway, according to The Sun. The pair were pictured embarking on a public physical brawl as they arrived for a day at the beach. The final season of Downton Abbey may have suggested the beginning of the end for the aristocratic Crawley family. But the shows creator Julian Fellowes, who decided to draw a line under the upstairs downstairs story in 1925 and end the show after six seasons, believes the Crawleys would still own the fictional Yorkshire pile - paying the bills by opening the grand old house to the paying public. In an intriguing glimpse into the thinking behind the Emmy-winning period hit, Fellowes says he believes Mary - played in the show by Michelle Dockery - would have been the familys saviour. Scroll down for video Keeping it in the family: Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes believes Lady Mary Crawley (Michelle Dockery), pictured with sister Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael), would have kept the family estate going 'My own belief is that Mary, whether you like her or dislike her, is a hard worker, and shes practical. I think she will employ the kind of advice that she needs,' he explained. 'She would probably have opened the house to the public in the 1960s, as so many of them did, and she'd have retreated to a wing, and maybe only occupied the whole house during the winters. 'Far more of those houses survived than people realise, and often with the families that were in them. 'Its often down to luck, and the cleverness of the people in charge. If they had someone in charge with a really good head for business, who was practical and realistic and wasnt trying to ignore the problems, then they had a good chance of getting through,' he said in an interview with US website Deadline. In the shows final season, Lord Grantham, portrayed by actor Hugh Bonneville, begrudgingly agrees to allow paying guests into Downton. Why he had to end Downton: The show's creator Julian Fellowes spoke about how he saw the Crawleys' life continuing after Downton Abbey ended Fellowes believe the fictional Crawleys would have opened the house to the public, just as the Carnavons have done to the real-life Downton location of Highclere Castle in Hampshire 'My own belief is the Crawleys would still be there, just as the Carnarvons are today,' said Fellowes. The writer was referring to Lord and Lady Carnavon, who have opened the dramatic Highclere Castle in Hampshire - the real life location for the fictional Downton - to the public during the summer and other times during the year to help finance the considerable cost of its upkeep. Fellowes believes Mary was the key to the estate's future in other ways, too. The series ended in January with Lord Granthams eldest daughter happily pregnant with second husband Henry Talbots (Matthew Goode) child. Although he has no regrets about calling time on the show after 52 episodes, Fellowes has clearly given much thought to the Crawleys plight. 'I mean, George [Marys first son] would have gone to the Second World War, and of course the fear is that he would be killed,' he said. While Fellowes seemed optimistic about George living a long life, he wasnt so sure the title of the Earl of Grantham would survive into the 21st Century. The final series of Downton saw widow Lady Mary find love again with Henry Talbot (Matthew Goode) and re-marry 'As for the title, I dont know where it would go beyond George, but lets hope he gets through the war and has children of his own,' he said. 'George was born in 1921, which makes him nine years younger than my father, and he only died in 1999. If he lived to the same age as my father, hed have died in 2008, which takes us right into the modern age.' Although another TV season isnt in the shows future, Fellowes did hint the cast could reunite on the big screen. Fellowes, who has written another period show The Gilded Age, said the creative team behind Downton is all on board and the key issue was arranging the schedules of the ensemble cast for a film shoot. 'I think it will happen at some point,' Fellowes recently told the New York Daily News. As it now seems likely that Mary Crawley would play a leading role in any Downton future its just as well that Michelle Dockery also sounds keen about a movie version of the show. 'I think there is potential for a film,' she said earlier this month. 'That is something I would wholeheartedly consider, so we will see. It may not be over yet.' John Krasinski revealed he screen-tested for the role of Marvel superhero Captain America/Steve Rogers, which eventually went to Chris Evans. 'I was putting on the suit, just watching it like, "This is so amazing!"' the 36-year-old Emmy nominee recalled on Tuesday night's episode of Conan. 'And I got to right about my waist, I was still shirtless, feeling pretty good about myself. I wasn't 13 Hours [shape] yet but I felt pretty good.' Scroll down for video Close call: John Krasinski revealed he screen-tested for the role of Marvel superhero Captain America/Steve Rogers, which eventually went to Chris Evans But as soon as Chris Hemsworth strutted by the Dry Powder thespian in full Thor regalia, he felt defeated. 'He's like, "Hey mate," and I went, "I'm good! This is stupid. I shouldn't. It's okay, I'm not Captain America. It's fine,"' Krasinski laughed. The Brown University grad also revealed how awkward it was meeting his wife Emily Blunt's leading man in the 2011 romantic thriller The Adjustment Bureau, Matt Damon. The 36-year-old Emmy nominee recalled on Tuesday night's episode of Conan: 'I was putting on the suit...and I got to right about my waist, I was still shirtless, feeling pretty good about myself. I wasn't 13 Hours [shape] yet but I felt pretty good' 'He's like, "Hey mate!"': But as soon as Chris Hemsworth (R) strutted by the Dry Powder thespian in full Thor regalia, he felt defeated Krasinski laughed: 'And I went, "I'm good! This is stupid. I shouldn't. It's okay, I'm not Captain America. It's fine" '"Hey, nice to meet you, I was just totally tonguing your girl!"' John said, affecting the 45-year-old Oscar winner's voice, on the TBS talk show. 'And I looked at [Matt] and I went, "Okay, man." And he just started to melt and he went, "I'm so sorry, that wasn't funny at all! I'm so sorry." And to this day, he can't get over the fact that that's the first thing he said to me.' Krasinski and the British 33-year-old - who've both lost Spike's Lip Sync Battle - are parents to daughters Hazel, 2, and Violet, 2 months. Liplock: The Brown University grad also revealed how awkward it was meeting his wife Emily Blunt's leading man in the 2011 romantic thriller The Adjustment Bureau, Matt Damon (L) John, affecting the 45-year-old Oscar winner's voice, said: '"Hey, nice to meet you, I was just totally tonguing your girl!"' He continued: 'And I looked at [Matt] and I went, "Okay, man." And he just started to melt and he went, "I'm so sorry, that wasn't funny at all! I'm so sorry." And to this day, he can't get over the fact that that's the first thing he said to me' Six years strong! Krasinski and the British 33-year-old - who've both lost Spike's Lip Sync Battle - are parents to daughters Hazel, 2, and Violet, 2 months (pictured August 18) The two-time SAG Award winner directed and stars as expectant father/graphic novelist John Hollar in The Hollars, which hits US theaters Friday. John's family dramedy also stars Anna Kendrick, Richard Jenkins, Mary Kay Place, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Margo Martindale, and Josh Groban. The 6ft3in Massachusetts man will soon begin filming his role as CIA hero Jack Ryan in the 10-episode spy series premiering next year on Amazon. Hitting US theaters Friday! The two-time SAG Award winner directed and stars as expectant father/graphic novelist John Hollar in The Hollars opposite Anna Kendrick 'Summer readng': The 6ft3in Massachusetts man will soon begin filming his role as CIA hero Jack Ryan in the 10-episode spy series premiering next year on Amazon Meanwhile, Hemsworth and co-star Tom Hiddleston visited the 'real superheroes' at Lady Cilento Children's Hospital in Brisbane on Tuesday. The 33-year-old Ghostbusters heartthrob and Taylor's Swift's British boyfriend spent Monday hard at work on the Australian set of Thor: Ragnarok. 'Huge shout out to these brave kids!' Meanwhile, Hemsworth and co-star Tom Hiddleston visited the 'real superheroes' at Lady Cilento Children's Hospital in Brisbane on Tuesday Their protracted summer break showed no sign of ending on Wednesday afternoon as Tamara Ecclestone stepped out with younger sister Petra Stunt in Los Angeles. The pair were joined by respective daughters Sophia, two, and three year old Lavinia for a spot of shopping on the citys famous Melrose Avenue. With temperatures soaring Tamara, 32, embraced summer in a thigh-skimming white dress that fully exposed her bronzed legs. Scroll down for video Quality time: Their protracted summer break showed no sign of ending on Wednesday afternoon as Tamara Ecclestone stepped out with younger sister Petra Stunt in Los Angeles A pair of strappy espadrilles completed the look, while heavily tinted Aviator sunglasses proved to be the only visible accessory. In keeping with her subtle look the Formula 1 heiress kept her hair casually maintained with a simple centre parting as she browsed a string of stores with her family. Meanwhile Petra, 27, caught the eye in a blue satin dress, of which the focal point was a bold thigh-high slash. In good company: The pair were joined by respective daughters Sophia, two, and three year old Lavinia for a spot of shopping on the citys famous Melrose Avenue Seasonal style: With temperatures soaring Tamara, 32, embraced summer in a thigh-skimming white dress that fully exposed her bronzed legs A simple white T-shirt completed the look, while stylish white slider sandals rounded things off. Both sisters had their hands full on the day courtesy of their daughters, both of whom relaxed in their respective buggies. Tamara, her husband Jay Rutland and Sophia, who live in London, arrived in California earlier this month for one of their regular visits to sister Petra, who raises daughter Lavinia, three, and twin sons Andrew and James, one, with husband James Stunt. Juggling act: Both sisters had their hands full on the day courtesy of their daughters, both of whom relaxed in their respective buggies It's also been a typically jet-set summer for Tamara, who only days before had been taking in the sights of Croatia after soaking up the sun in Mykonos. Tamara recently told HELLO! magazine she was feeling happier than ever and loving every minute of family life. 'I kind of feel like this is who I was always meant to be and any mistakes I've made in the past have brought me to the right place and everything led me to this. It's a really nice feeling,' she explained. The brunette beuayt also revealed why she recently took to Instagram to slam false rumours that she and Jay had split up. She said: 'I guess people don't always like to read happy stories and are looking to create drama in other people's lives, but we're fine.' What does a spiritual practitioner, an event planner, and a male nanny have in common? They are all contestants on an upcoming gay dating show. The cast for Logo's Finding Prince Charming has been revealed and each of the 13 men selected to compete for interior designer Robert Sepulveda Jr's affections is more gorgeous than the next. First there's hunky Brodney, who describes himself as a 'true Libra, and is a personal trainer based in Atlanta. Scroll down for video Meet the hunks! The cast for Logo's Finding Prince Charming has been revealed and each of the 13 men selected to compete for interior designer Robert Sepulveda Jr's affections is more gorgeous than the next The fitness enthusiast is 34 years old and while he hasn't had a relationship in six years, he is now ready for love. Then there is New Jersey based celebrity make-up artist Jasen, who is looking for true love. While the 36-year-old loves dating apps he is looking to take things to the next level. Up next is 26-year-old Robby, from Massachusetts, who works as a beauty expert and has advised stars such a Britney Spears. First on the ballot! Brodney, who describes himself as a 'true Libra, and is a personal trainer based in Atlanta, will be competing for the heart of Sepulveda He's ready: The fitness enthusiast is 34 years old and while he hasn't had a relationship in six years, he is now ready for love Up next: 26-year-old Robby, from Massachusetts, works as a beauty expert How glamorous: Robby has advised stars such a Britney Spears Atlanta based business analyst Danique, who at 30, has been single for 11 years but still hopes to find love. Career driven Paul, 34, who is the founder of a tanning salon brand, is excited by the challenge of the dating show. While New Jersey-based Nick, 31, a college event planner, admits to having a sporadic dating life - but claims to have many fun stories to tell. Charged up: New Jersey based celebrity make-up artist Jasen, and is looking for true love Celeb clientele: The make-up artist has worked with the likes of Kelly Osbourne Charlie, 26, (L) is a manny (male nanny); Chad (M) is a 32-year-old who says he's still a mama's boy; Eric, 35, (R) is a Los Angeles hair stylist and describes himself as a 'great lover' Brandon, 29, who as a teenager underwent Christian conversion therapy, says the experience led him to becoming a stronger more spiritual person. He is now a licensed spiritual practitioner and works as a behavioral health care administrator. Charlie, 26, transplanted from Wisconsin to California. He now works as a manny (male nanny), and says he's a sweetheart. Sam, 31, owns his own fitness company and hails from Chicago. He first came out at age 22. Best for last: Atlanta based business analyst Danique has been single for 11 years but still hopes to find love Dillon, a fashion publicist, (L) describes himself as the life of the party; Paul, 34, (M) is the founder of a tanning salon brand; Nick, 31, (R) a college event planner, admits to having a sporadic dating life - but claims to have many fun stories to tell Chad is a 32-year-old New York native and works in real estate. He says he's a mama's boy and bit clumsy, but is always up for a new adventure. Dillon is a 26-year-old fashion publicist from New Orleans. He is a former ballet dancer and describes himself as the life of the party. Justin, a 29-year-old model, says he 'dreams of being able to switch careers with the change of an outfitlike Barbie'. Strong: Brandon, 29, who as a teenager underwent Christian conversion therapy, says the experience led him to becoming a stronger more spiritual person Sam, 31, (L) owns his own fitness company and hails from Chicago; Justin (R), a 29-year-old model, says he 'dreams of being able to switch careers with the change of an outfitlike Barbie' Eric, 35, is a Los Angeles hair stylist and describes himself as a 'great lover'. Finding Prince Charming will be much like ABC's The Bachelor with one man being able to chose from 13 suitors. Lance Bass will serve as the show's host. Atlanta-based interior designer Robert Sepulveda Jr. will be the star of the series who looks for love. The host with the most: Lance Bass will serve as the show's host Prince charming: The star of the show certainly looks good in a tuxedo Mr. Prince Charming: Atlanta-based interior designer Robert Sepulveda Jr. will be the star of the series who looks for love. Like The Bachelor, the show is set in a mansion in Los Angeles, added the gossip website. The show has already begun production. 'Logo has a long history of showcasing LGBTQ-focused stories with memorable characters that transcend pop culture,' Logo's SVP of Original Programming, Pamela Post, said in a press release. 'Finding Prince Charming will take viewers on a whirlwind journey through modern love and relationships in a way that only Logo can do.' Finding Prince Charming is not a spin-off of the popular Bachelor series. Robert founded his now award-winning interior design firm RSJ design, LLC, in 2006, according to his website. Vying for his heart: However, the show's star, Sepulveda, will certainly be in the running for most ripped person on the dating series Staying fit! Robert shared a snap of himself taking a breather from a workout The star, who hails from Puerto Rico, graduated summa cum laude from The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. Finding Prince Charming is dubbed the 'first of its kind dating show' in a press release, however Bravo did release Boy Meets Boy in 2003, which featured a similar premise. Dating shows have long been must-watch television, particularly since the advent of The Bachelor and spin-off The Bachelorette in 2002 and 2003, respectively. Other popular dating shows include The Millionaire Matchmaker, Average Joe, Singled Out, and Room Raiders. The first promo for Finding Prince Charming released on Thursday showed that it will be similar to its counterparts with plenty of melodrama. It's a hit! Arguably the most popular of all the dating shows is The Bachelor and The Bachelorette series; here is Jason Mesnick from season 13 of The Bachelor She's been laying low on Twitter for the past six months. But Amanda Bynes returned to the social media site on Wednesday to update her fans on her studies at The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles. And the former child star, now 30, appeared to be in a positive frame of mind as she informed her 3.4 million followers she's just finished her exams and is loving being back in school. Scroll down for video Back in school: Actress Amanda Bynes, seen out in Los Angeles last month, returned to Twitter on Wednesday to rave about fashion school She's back! The formerly troubled child star has been studying at LA's Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandise The troubled actress, whose increasingly erratic tweets and behavior led to legal problems and two psychiatric holds in 2013 and 2014, appears to be doing much better in her new life as a college student. 'Hi everybody! I haven't tweeted in a long time and I want to say hi!' she began. 'I've been really busy at FIDM, and I just finished my midterms. 'I am really loving school and I feel that I'm learning a lot. I enjoy all of my classes and my teachers are excellent,' the former The Amanda Show star added. Loving it: The 30-year-old raved about her classes and assured fans she's learning a great deal about the fashion industry Healthier: The former Amanda Show star raised concerns over her erratic Tweets in the past, and was eventually put under psychiatric hold in 2013 and 2014 after a public meltdown 'I'm really appreciative of all that FIDM is giving me,' she said. And she explained why she's been MIA from Twitter, writing: 'I've been in school learning about the fashion business so I don't have time to tweet.' The She's The Man star also warned fans against falling for reports she has a secret Twitter account. 'FYI, this Twitter account is the only communication media that I am using,' Amanda said. 'No other Twitter accounts or websites are mine! I only have this one. I don't know why some people use my photos or try to pose as me, but they do.' Verified: Amanda also denied rumors she has been secretly tweeting under another name 'This is me! The verified, real, authentic and actual Amanda Bynes. Accept no substitutes.' The actress has been out of the public eye after a period of increasingly erratic and unstable behavior in 2013 and 2014. During her public meltdown, she was active on Twitter, where she lashed out at 'ugly' celebrities, said she wanted rapper Drake to 'murder my vagina,' and accused her father Rick of sexually abusing her before quickly taking back the allegation. Amanda, who hasn't starred in a movie since 2010's Easy A, is back in school after her years of troubles, which culminated in an arrest, two involuntary psychiatric holds in 2013 and 2014, and being placed under a conservatorship by her mother Lynn. Legal woes: The actress wore a green wig as she appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court to face charges of reckless endangerment, tampering with evidence and criminal possession of marijuana in 2013 Her last psychiatric hospital stay followed months of legal problems including a DUI and an arrest in 2013 for reckless endangerment, tampering with evidence and criminal possession of marijuana. She has since kept her social media footprint to a minimum, rarely posting on either Instagram or Twitter, and following zero people on Instagram. Prior to Wednesday's update, Amanda's most-recent tweet was a selfie of her new hairstyle in February. She's six months pregnant, expecting her second child with husband Mark Webber. And from snaps taken on Wednesday, Teresa Palmer looked to be taking the last few months of pregnancy in her stride. The 30-year-old actress was positively glowing in a chic floral shirt dress while running errands in Los Angeles. Scroll down for video Blooming beautiful! Teresa Palmer, 30, was positively glowing in a chic floral shirt dress while running errands in Los Angeles on Wednesday While out and about in Los Angeles, Teresa Palmer looked beautiful in a vibrant green shirt dress that featured a kaleidoscope of printed pansies. Accessorising with a pair of two-toned sandals and stylish tortoise-shell sunglasses, the lifestyle blogger allowed her signature blonde tresses to fall effortlessly around her face and shoulders in loose waves. Looking a picture of health, Teresa highlighted her blemish-free complexion and appeared to have a subtle hint of nude lipstick. Effortless: Accessorising with a pair of two-toned sandals and stylish tortoiseshell sunglasses, the lifestyle blogger allowed her signature blonde tresses to fall effortlessly around her face and shoulders in loose waves Beauty: Looking a picture of health, Teresa highlighted her blemish-free complexion and appeared to have a subtle hint of nude lipstick Content: Teresa looked to be clearly at ease in the casual ensemble Relaxed: The star was was seen chatting with a female friend while out and about in Los Angeles The Warm Bodies actress has not been slowing down in the lead-up to the birth, often taking to Instagram to share snaps after hiking up to the iconic Hollywood sign. On Monday, Teresa completed a mountainous trek with her good pal and fellow Australian actress Phoebe Tonkin, and her two-year-old son Bodhi Rain. The trio made sure to post memorable photos from their hike to their respective Instagram accounts (Phoebe and Teresa's) upon reaching the picturesque peak of their strenuous walk. Not slowing down: On Monday, Teresa completed a mountainous trek with her good pal and fellow Australian actress Phoebe Tonkin and her two-year-old son Bodhi Rain Teresa proudly displayed her bare bump in a crop top paired with itty-bitty shorts and monochrome joggers. The Lights Out actress completed her make-up free look with a pair of sleek shades and scraped back her blonde tresses into a neat ponytail. Teresa simply captioned the picture: 'Sunset hikes, sleepovers and #TheNightOf screenings with Aunty Phoebs. Could there be anything better in life?' The actress recently told fans in a vlog on her Your Zen Mama website, she plans to continue the 90 minute hike around the Hollywood Hills as long as possible into her pregnancy, and claims it's a great way to stay fit and active. Active: The actress recently told fans in a vlog on her Your Zen Mama website, she plans to continue the 90 minute hike around the Hollywood Hills as long as possible into her pregnancy, and claims it's a great way to stay fit and active News: Teresa announced back in May that she was expecting her second child Teresa announced in May she was pregnant with her second child with husband Mark Webber. The film producer also has a son, Isaac, from a previous relationship. The blonde beauty started dating Mark in 2012 and they got married in December 2013 in Mexico - just three months after announcing their engagement and that they were expecting a child together. In 2014, Teresa and Mark tied the knot again, this time in a legally recognised religious ceremony in California. She confirmed in June this year that she was set to take the reins from Sam Frost as Australia's newest Bachelorette. But Georgia Love, 27, has revealed she still can't believe that she was actually chosen for the coveted role. 'I don't know when that moment of revelation is going to hit me. There are so many people that would want this opportunity', she told the Daily Telegraph this week. Scroll down for video 'I don't know when that moment of revelation is going to hit me': Georgia Love, 27, has revealed she still can't believe that she was actually chosen for the coveted role of Australia's newest Bachelorette 'The fact that teams of people have gone out to try and find me the perfect man it's just unbelievable,' the news presenter gushed. She later added: 'I've gone out there, I've tried to find the person, I've dated, I've been broken up with, I've been heartbroken and I'm so over all of that.' Based in Tasmania, the news presenter and former trapeze artist has previously revealed she quit her job in order to find love. Putting everything on the line: Based in Tasmania, the news presenter and former trapeze artist has previously revealed she quit her job in order to find love Georgia has already been spotted on the set of The Bachelorette getting cosy with a throng of dashing gentlemen, including aspiring actor Courtney Dober. According to NW magazine, Georgia was heartbroken last year after she was dumped by her boyfriend Wade Seaford when their long-distance relationship became too difficult to maintain. However, the story reads a little differently according to Wade, who revealed exclusively to Daily Mail Australia that the only reason it didn't work between them is because she cheated on him - twice. Getting aquainted: Georgia has already been spotted on the set of The Bachelorette getting cosy with a throng of dashing gentlemen Heartbreak: According to NW magazine, Georgia was heartbroken last year after she was dumped by her boyfriend Wade Seaford when their long-distance relationship became too difficult to maintain The scorned ex warned the 18 hopefuls vying for her heart to 'be careful', claiming she can be 'manipulative' and has already proven a liar after claiming she's never lived with a boyfriend. Another ex-boyfriend of Georgia has also recently lashed out at the pretty brunette, telling Daily Mail Australia that she began to date his friend just weeks after their relationship ended in 2014. She is also said to have enjoyed a romance with policeman Nick Grubb, who claimed that she broke up with him so that she could appear on The Bachelorette. 'Nick is one of the good guys - she would be lucky if she met a guy half as decent as him in that house, and he really saw a future with her,' a pal told New Idea magazine earlier this year. Former flame: According to NW magazine, Georgia was heartbroken last year after she was dumped by her boyfriend Wade Seaford when their long-distance relationship became too difficult to maintain Washington state declares emergency due to wildfires A growing number of wildfires were threatening people and property in the western United States on Tuesday, with the governor of Washington state declaring a state of emergency in 20 counties. "These fires threaten people, property and the natural resources of eastern Washington," Governor Jay Inslee said in a statement. "This proclamation frees up state resources so we can provide the assistance that these communities might need. This is a time for all Washingtonians to come together." A makeshift fire truck puts water on a wildfire, which is part of the Okanogan Complex, as it burns through brush on August 22, 2015 near Omak, Washington Stephen Brashear (Getty/AFP/File) The fires in the largely rural areas have destroyed more than 25 buildings and threatened hundreds more, triggering evacuations, Inslee said. They included the Cherry Road Fire, which has charred 31,660 acres (12,800 hectares) and is 50 percent contained, while the Kahlotus Fire has burned 20,000 acres and was 19 percent contained, according to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center. The 3,750-acre Spokane Complex fire was threatening 167 residences, with two damaged and 12 destroyed. Inslee noted weather conditions in the next seven days will be hot and windy, hampering efforts by firefighters who are already short-handed. Further south along the Pacific coast, 10,000 firefighters were battling six gigantic wildfires in California. In some positive news, the Blue Cut Fire in San Bernardino County, just 60 miles (100 kilometers) east of Los Angeles, was contained Tuesday morning. It has forced the evacuation of more than 82,000 people, snarling traffic as highways across the region were closed. The monster blaze has burned through 36,274 acres, destroying 321 buildings including 105 homes. That makes it the 20th most destructive fire in California history, according to Cal Fire. The Chimney Fire, which has burned 37,101 acres in California's San Luis Obispo wine region, was raging just two miles east of the iconic Hearst Castle mansion, which remains shuttered, the Los Angeles Times said. Also known as San Simeon, the castle once owned by newspaper baron William Randolph Hearst is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the state, drawing millions of visitors each year, according to local tourism officials. The fire has already charred 52 buildings and threatened 1,900 others. Across the country, 18,000 firefighters were fighting 32 huge fires, according to the National Interagency Fire Center, mainly in western states. North Korea test-fires sub-launched missile close to Japan North Korea on Wednesday test-fired a submarine-launched missile 500 kilometres (around 300 miles) towards Japan, marking what weapons analysts called a clear step forward for its nuclear strike ambitions. The flight distance, which was tracked by South Korea's military Joint Chiefs of Staff, far exceeded any previous SLBM tests, suggesting significant progress in technical prowess. A proven SLBM system would take North Korea's nuclear strike threat to a new level, allowing deployment far beyond the Korean peninsula and a "second-strike" capability in the event of an attack on its military bases. A man watches a television news showing North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Un during a missile launch on August 24, 2016 Jung Yeon-Je (AFP) "While there are still a lot of questions about the details, this test certainly seems to have been successful," said Jeffrey Lewis, director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in California. "This system is still in development, but North Korea is clearly making progress," Lewis told AFP. South Korea's Yonhap news agency cited a military source as saying Wednesday's launch had been made at an acute angle to limit the missile's range. If fired at the optimum angle, it could cover more than 1,000km, the source said. Current UN resolutions prohibit North Korea from any use of ballistic missile technology, but Pyongyang has continued to carry out numerous launches following its fourth nuclear test in January. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday that Pyongyang's actions "undermine peace and stability in the Korean peninsula". The UN Security Council has scheduled urgent consultations on the latest test-firing, at the request of the United States and Japan. - 'Effective countermeasure' - South Korea has responded to Pyongyang's continued launches by agreeing to deploy a sophisticated US anti-missile system -- known as THAAD -- a move that has seriously strained relations with North Korea's main diplomatic ally, China. Lewis noted that an SLBM was an "effective countermeasure" to THAAD, and other missile systems with forward-looking radars, since the submarine can launch the missile from behind the radar. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Wednesday's missile breached his country's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) and condemned what he called an "unforgivable, reckless act." Earlier this month, North Korea fired a land-launched ballistic missile directly into Japanese-controlled waters for the first time, drawing an outraged response from Tokyo. The latest test came just days after North Korea threatened a pre-emptive nuclear strike against South Korean and US forces who kicked off their annual "Ulchi Freedom" military drill on Monday. Seoul and Washington insist such joint exercises are purely defensive in nature, but Pyongyang views them as wilfully provocative. The South's Joint Chiefs of Staff statement said that the North was clearly bent on escalating tensions and said the SLBM test posed a "serious challenge" to security on the Korean peninsula. "We will deal strongly and sternly with any provocation by the North," it said. Washington also condemned the test and Pentagon spokesman Gary Ross said US commitment to the defence of allies South Korea and Japan remained "ironclad." Beijing expressed its opposition to North Korea's nuclear and missile development hours after Pyongyang's missile launch. "China is opposed to North Korea's nuclear and missile development process and any actions that trigger tensions on the Korean peninsula," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Wednesday after a meeting with the foreign ministers of Japan and South Korea in Tokyo. - Invasion scenario - The Ulchi Freedom drill plays out a scenario of full-scale invasion by the nuclear-armed North. It is largely computer-simulated but still involves around 50,000 Korean and 25,000 US soldiers. The exercise always triggers a rise in tensions, and coincided this year with a particularly volatile period in cross-border relations following a series of high-profile defections. Last week North Korea's deputy ambassador to Britain, Thae Yong-Ho, defected to the South -- a rare and damaging loss of diplomatic face for Pyongyang and a major PR victory for Seoul. In comments clearly aimed at riling Pyongyang, South Korean President Park Geun-Hye said the "unpredictability" of supreme leader Kim Jong-Un's character intensifies the dangers of further North Korean provocations. North Korea has conducted a number of SLBM tests -- most recently in April and July -- with varying degrees of success. Previous flight distances have not exceeded 30 kilometres, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff statement acknowledged that Wednesday's test showed a marked improvement. North Korea missile test Laurence CHU (AFP) Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida (R) prepares to shake hands with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi after a press conference in Tokyo on August 24, 2016 Katsumi Kashara (POOL/AFP) Iran interested in proposed Chinese-built canal in Nicaragua Iranian firms want to participate in the construction of a massive canal across Nicaragua that a Chinese company has vowed to build, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif said Wednesday. Representatives of private Iranian construction companies accompanying Zarif on a visit to Nicaragua's capital discussed the possibility of getting a slice of the $50 billion project, the minister told a news conference. The ambitious plan calls for a waterway linking the Pacific and Atlantic oceans that would rival the century-old one in Panama, which has recently been expanded to take bigger ships. Iran's chancellor Mohammad Javad Zarif (C) is welcomed by the Nicaraguan Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Santos (L) in Managua, Nicaragua on August 23, 2016 AlfredoZuniga (AFP) Yet work on Nicaragua's canal, meant to have started two years ago, has not begun. HKND, the Chinese group tasked with the huge job, now says it should start at the end of this year. Iran has enjoyed good relations with Nicaragua, one of the poorest states in the Americas, and particularly its leftwing president, former rebel Daniel Ortega, who returned to power in 2007. Both countries share an antipathy towards the United States. Zarif made Nicaragua the second stop of a Latin American tour that began Monday in Cuba and which was to include Ecuador, Venezuela, Bolivia and Chile. Nicaragua's government spokeswoman and First Lady, Rosario Murillo, said officials discussed investment opportunities with the Iranian delegation in the canal and other areas. Ortega is running for re-election in November and has named his wife as future vice-president if he wins. One dead, dozens wounded in Thai car bombing A car bomb exploded in a nightlife district in Thailand's deep south, killing one and wounding more than 30, in a nation already on edge after a bombing spree that targeted tourist towns. The latest blast struck late Tuesday outside a hotel in Pattani, one of three Muslim-majority southern provinces battered by a long-running and shadowy rebellion against the Buddhist-majority state. "So far there is one killed and more than 30 injured," Major General Thanongsak Wangsupa, Pattani provincial police commander, told AFP Wednesday. "The hotel building was considerably damaged." A forensics unit inspects the site of a deadly bomb blast from previous night, outside of a hotel in the southern Thai province of Pattani, on August 24, 2016 Tuwaedaniya Meringing (AFP) Pictures showed fires burning on the road outside the hotel's shattered facade, with police picking through the rubble. Nearby a car was destroyed, with karaoke bars, massage parlours and restaurants also damaged. Pattani is not popular with tourists, but analysts said the militants were sending a message after coordinated bomb and arson attacks struck multiple resort towns on August 11-12, leaving four dead and 37 injured including Europeans. Those attacks heightened concerns Thailand's southern insurgency may have spread north after years of stalled peace talks -- a theory the country's junta has downplayed given the importance of tourism to the economy. The entertainment district hit by the car bomb is one of only a handful in the restive south, offering bars, a disco and prostitution, said Don Pathan, a security analyst based in the region. "It's the type of place that society around here frowns upon," he said. The southern rebels focus most of their attacks on security officers and symbols of the state, but they do occasionally strike nightlife venues. "The campaign against social evil is not very high on the agenda of the insurgents here. Their strategy right now is to make the area as ungovernable as possible," Pathan told AFP. Speaking to reporters after the Pattani hotel blast, Thailand's deputy junta leader Prawit Wongsuwan again dismissed any link between the tourist town attacks earlier this month and the southern insurgency. He also said any negotiations with the rebels would be shelved until violence subsides. "All violence must first stop before we can set the terms of reference for talks. They need to show their sincerity," he said. The 90-kilogramme bomb was hidden inside a stolen hospital vehicle and detonated shortly after a smaller explosive at a nearby bar. The first blast did not cause any injuries. "The car was parked in front of the hotel lobby for a few minutes after first bomb went off and people were not suspicious because it was a hospital vehicle," said Colonel Pramote Prom-in, a southern army spokesman. The so-called "double tap" tactic is often adopted by the southern insurgents and was used in many of the recent attacks on tourist sites further north. A staff member at Pattani's local hospital said 32 people were injured, five of them critically. All are Thai nationals, the worker added, asking not to be named. - Violent history - Zachary Abuza, an expert on Southeast Asian militant groups, said car bombs are a standard insurgent tactic but Tuesday night's blast was the largest he had seen in recent months. "They're clearly trying to send a signal that with the post-Mothers' Day bombing spree they are able to hit major urban areas," he told AFP, referring to the recent attacks on tourist sites that he believes were the work of the insurgents. Most embassies warn nationals against all travel to Pattani because of the long-running rebellion. Thailand annexed the culturally distinct zone bordering Malaysia over a century ago. Near-daily shootings and roadside bombs have left more than 6,500 dead since 2004, most of them civilians. But the violence has largely remained local and rarely makes international headlines. The rebels never claim their attacks but factions are known to be frustrated with their lack of progress after more than a decade of fighting. The region is awash with state troops who rights groups accuse of widespread abuses, including torturing detainees and extrajudicial killings. After months of relative calm that saw violence dip to a record low last year, there has been a palpable increase in attacks over the past few months, particularly around a recent referendum on a new charter penned by the junta that seized power in 2014. The charter, which critics say will make Thailand less democratic, was approved by a majority of voters but rejected in the three insurgency-wracked provinces. Map of Thailand locating a bombing in the south late August 23, 2016, that killed one person and wounded more than 30 others - (AFP Graphic) A Thai bomb squad inspects the site of an attack outside of a hotel in the southern province of Pattani on August 24, 2016 Tuwaedaniya Meringing (AFP) Bomb squad officers inspect a burnt out car after a blast in Thailand's restive southern province of Pattani on February 27, 2016 Tuwaedaniya Meringing (AFP/File) Hasakeh: A strategic prize for Syria's regime and Kurds Kurdish fighters and Syrian government forces had clashed heavily for a week in the battle for the northeastern city of Hasakeh before agreeing to a ceasefire on Tuesday. The fighting was the most intense between the two sides since the start of the Syria war five years ago, and it drew in both Russian military officials and the US-led coalition. Why is Hasakeh so important and what is likely to happen next? The battle between Kurdish fighters and Syrian government forces was the most intense one since the start of the Syria war, drawing in the Russian military and the US-led coalition Delil Souleiman (AFP) - Who's who in Hasakeh? - Kurdish fighters in the city belong to the Asayesh police force and the powerful People's Protection Units (YPG), which functions more like an army and has scored key victories against the Islamic State jihadist group. Facing off against them were fighters from the pro-government National Defence Forces (NDF) militia, as well as a small contingent of traditional army soldiers. Analysts say few regular soldiers were involved in the battle because they are spread too thin on other fronts. The US-led coalition bombing IS in Syria has backed the YPG in its operations against jihadists with air support and military advisers. After Syrian air strikes on YPG positions in Hasakeh last week, the coalition scrambled aircraft and warned Damascus against endangering coalition advisers. Steadfast regime ally Russia has strengthened its relationship with Syria's Kurds and mediated Tuesday's ceasefire agreement. - A week of clashes - Fighting erupted last Wednesday initially between the Asayesh and the NDF -- before the YPG and Syria's military, including its air force, joined the battle. The majority of Hasakeh's population is Arab but Kurdish forces controlled two-thirds of the city even before the recent round of fighting broke out. On the eve of the truce agreement, the Kurds were in control of 90 percent of the city, with regime forces regrouping in the centre where government administrative buildings are located. The ceasefire was reached after several days of Russian mediation, including at the coastal Hmeimim air base. The deal also called for the "withdrawal of all armed forces from the city," according to a statement distributed by a Kurdish official. Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the truce agreement was "a defeat for the regime and a victory for the Kurds". - Why is Hasakeh important? - Hasakeh province shares borders with Turkey to the north and Iraq to the east. It was known as Syria's breadbasket before the war because of its fertile land and was also a major source of cotton. There are also oil fields in the province, and recently Kurdish authorities began refining their own supplies for consumption in areas under their control. Most of the province is held by the Kurds, but the regime has a small presence in Hasakeh city, Qamishli to the north, and some Arab-majority villages. IS jihadists still hold some territory on the southern edges of the province, which borders Deir Ezzor. "Ultimately, a strategic province of Syria bordering the Kurdish-speaking regions of Turkey and Iraq is out of government control," said a Syrian political source close to the Damascus regime. "This will strengthen the Kurds' desire for autonomy if not full independence," said the source. Washington-based analyst Mutlu Civiroglu told AFP that Hasakeh could serve as "a hub to secure a broader Kurdish region". - What next? - Since Syria's conflict broke out in March 2011, the country's Kurds have tried to walk a fine line of neutrality, siding with neither the regime nor the uprising. In mid-2012, government forces withdrew from Kurdish-majority areas in Syria's north and Kurds began establishing their own autonomous administration. In March, Kurdish parties and their allies announced a federal region that would unite the three autonomous "cantons" already in place in northern Syria. The declaration was fiercely criticised by Syrian officials in Damascus, and tensions began to rise in Hasakeh and elsewhere. "The regime needs to recognise the autonomous administration as a fait accompli," said Meskin Ahmed, a Kurdish official inside Hasakeh. Civiroglu said Hasakeh could be a good place to experiment with power-sharing arrangements particularly as Kurds lay the groundwork for a federal region. He said Kurds see Hasakeh as "a point that the regime needs to be cleared from". But Civiroglu said he expected further confrontations in Qamishli further north, as well as in the city of Aleppo, where Kurds control one neighbourhood wedged between rebel and regime forces. "As of now, the (ceasefire) agreement shows that the Kurds got what they wanted with minimal casualties," Civiroglu said. The battle for Hasakeh Jonathan STOREY (AFP) Syrian-Kurds have returned to Hasakeh after regime forces and Kurdish fighters agreed to a truce following a week of clashes Delil Souleiman (AFP) Hasakeh was known as Syria's breadbasket before the war because of its fertile land, also being a source of cotton and oil Delil Souleiman (AFP) British woman dies in Australian 'Allahu Akbar' stabbing A young British woman died and a man was critically injured when a French national allegedly stabbed three people while saying "Allahu Akbar" at an Australian backpacker's hostel, police said Wednesday. Police are investigating the murder, which occurred late Tuesday in Home Hill, a rural town south of Townsville in far north Queensland state, but could not say whether the alleged attacker had been radicalised. The motivations behind the stabbings, which left a 30-year-old British man in a critical condition and a local man with non-life threatening injuries, were still unknown, Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said. Police are investigating after a young British woman was killed and a British man critically hurt in a stabbing at an Australian backpacker's hostel Patrick Hamilton (AFP/File) "Initial inquiries indicate that comments which may be construed of being of an extremist nature were made by the alleged offender," he said. It is alleged that the suspect used the phrase 'Allahu Akbar' during the attack and when arrested by police, he said. "While this information will be factored into the investigation we are not ruling out any motivations at this stage, whether they be political or criminal," he added. Gollschewski said investigators would also consider whether mental health or drug misuse were factors in the incident in which a dog was also fatally injured. Police said the Frenchman, who had been in Australia since March, allegedly said "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest) both during the attack and his arrest, which were reportedly witnessed by about 30 people at the hostel. When asked if the 29-year-old had links to the so-called Islamic State group, Gollschewski said "no" and added that there was no ongoing threat to the community. "At this stage there's no indications... other than the fact he was acting alone," Australian Federal Police Commander Sharon Cowden added at the same press conference. "It is a shocking incident and the community should remain vigilant. He was lawfully in Australia and at this stage he is not known to any authorities." -- Extremism concerns -- Canberra has been increasingly concerned about extremism in the country, and in particular about home-grown radicalisation, and raised the terror threat alert level to high in September 2014. Authorities have conducted a series of counter-terrorism raids in various cities, while the government has passed new national security laws. Police said that the British woman's family had been contacted, as had the relatives of the 30-year-old British man who was taken to Townsville Base Hospital in a critical condition. "We are working with local authorities and providing support to the families of a British national who was killed and another critically injured in an incident in Australia," a spokesman for Britain's Foreign Office said. "Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time". A 46-year-old Australian man injured in the incident sustained non-life threatening injuries and has since been released from hospital. Police have yet to lay charges against the French man who was taken into custody at the scene and since transported to hospital for treatment to what are believed to be non-life threatening injuries sustained in this incident. "This is not about race or religion. It is individual criminal behaviour," Gollschewski said. Police did not name the deceased woman, but local media reported that she had been working in a bar on Queensland's Gold Coast and had recently swapped over to farming work to extend her working holiday visa. Rare endangered primate spotted in Vietnam A new group of critically endangered primates has been spotted in Vietnam, raising hopes the rare creatures may not be wiped out in the next decade as scientists had feared. The Delacour's langur, black and white with a full face of whiskers, is indigenous to Vietnam, but their numbers have dwindled in recent years because of poaching and mining activity in the country's northern forests. A team of scientists from Fauna and Flora International spotted a group of about 40 of the primates, mostly juveniles and infants, bringing their total population to less than 250. A group of langurs gather on a mountain slope in northern Vietnam Nguyen Van Truong (FFI/AFP/File) "It's great news for this particular species because had we not found this new population, they were in grave danger of being wiped out within a decade," spokeswoman for FFI in Vietnam, Akofa Wallace, told AFP Tuesday. "The fact that they are breeding is brilliant news," she added. FFI did not say where scientists spotted the langurs, whose habitat is threatened by mining activity in the area, including charcoal production. They are also targeted by poachers who hunt them for meat, with their bones used for traditional medicine and their pelts for decoration. The primate was discovered in northern Vietnam in the 1930s by French scientist Jean Theodore Delacour, and are only found in Vietnam. FFI country director Benjamin Rawson said urgent interventions were needed to protect the species, which numbered about 300 in the early 1990s. "We continue to work alongside officials and local communities to ensure the Delacour's langur doesn't become this century's first primate extinction," Rawson said in a statement. The rare animals are protected under Vietnam's conservation laws, but critics say the legislation is not effectively enforced and poaching of rare or endangered species continues unchecked. Vietnam is home to some of world's most endangered species, including the mountainous antelope Saola, the Red River giant soft-shell turtle and the Tonkin snub-nosed monkey. Wild animals are under constant threat in the country, with their body parts in high demand for both food and traditional medicine. The recent $400 Million payment to Iran for frozen assets reminded me of a project I worked on during the 1970's. We still have eight C130 airplanes under embargo at the Lockheed facility in Marietta, Ga. I originally wrote this story for the my work history section in Grandpa's Diaries. Here is the story updated for BCN. The closest I ever came to international espionage was during the 1970s. I called on Lockheed at Dobbins Air Force Base in Marietta. That is where Lockheed makes the C130 military aircraft. I sold them some dynamometer test stand Motors and Drives for the prop testing on the C-130 aircraft. Moammar Qaddafi had bought eight planes for Libya from Lockheed. However, by the time they were ready for the delivery they quarantined by the Nixon administration because Qaddafi had been tied to terrorist. The planes were parked outside of the runway at the far end of the runway at Lockheed Dobbins. I can't member the exact year but the thing was about 1970-75 range. The contract included spare parts which also includes several test stands. Eventually they were moved to a different location on the base not visible from the runway. Because we were the prime manufacturer specified on the approved vendor list, I knew we would get the order through one of our distributors. The bid package went to several distributors for quotes. One of my distributors, Motion Industries, had the maintenance parts contract for ground facilities at Lockheed and they quoted and received the order. As I recall the price to the distributor was around $35K per stand. I think Motion Industries had a markup of 10-12%. Because of extensive paperwork required to meet government specifications and instruction manuals I added a $5000 documentation option per test stand to the quote. Our normal application manuals were sufficient for the project but they had to be certified and bound in multiple 3 ring binders with additional product information. Even though the test stands would never leave the ground except during transportation, they were required to meet air worth specifications. The $5000 fee was just a bonus. I contemplated adding a parachute package to the test stand in the case it had to be dumped during the trip to Libya. I use to say it was the equivalent of my $5000 hammer for having to deal with the government. The test stands were boxed up and placed in a metal container for shipment. They ended up sitting in shipping containers next to the airplanes after the deal was frozen by the Nixon administration. They sat there for many years and I lost track of the outcome. While writing some work stories from my Grandpa's Diaries the idea occurred to me that these planes may still be sitting there so I want on Google Maps this is 2016 and sure enough the planes are still parked at Lockheed Dobbins Air Force Base awaiting delivery or disposition. They do not belong to Lockheed, they are technically the property of Libya but from 1973 to 2016 (43 years) they obviously are not airworthy. Here is a Google map view of the Base in Marietta showing the planes still sitting in the storage area not far from the runway with inset of the planes and the spare parts containers. Click here to browse the Google map shown above. Here's a picture of a current test stand similar to the one that we sold to Lockheed. This was to test the props during the maintenance. The props are variable pitch props. The procedure was to mount the props and run them up to a set RPM; then adjusts the pitch of prop. You could tell the amount of torque different variance and RPM drop on the dynamometer. Adjustments could then be made on the test stand prior to installation on the plane. This is the motor portion only . The variable speed DC drives were housed in an F86 cabinet about four feet wide by six feet high with two drives per cabinet for redundancy. DC motor and external cooling fan mounted on top. Below a typical 400 HP drive cabinet Maxpak Plus. I ask one of the engineers at Lockheed how they were going to train the Libyans to use it to stand. He said they would most likely never be used because Lockheed had a maintenance contract with Libya if the planes were ever delivered. Lockheed would do all the maintenance on them to see you Libyans did not have the engineering talent to do it themselves. The technology of the drives has long since been antiquated and replacement parts are now in the Legacy Series of Reliance if they are available at all. I will probably be dead and gone before the planes are moved or deposed of. However, with the recent news about us repaying frozen assets to Iran, I have no doubt that we will eventually repatriate the planes and test stands to Libya. I wonder who will pay for the refurbishing of the planes and test stands. The C130 is still a current part of the Air Force inventory but it has under gone numerous upgrades in avionics and engines. To properly upgrade the embargoed planes would most likely cost more than the original purchase price. RESEARCH SITES Free Republic Jalopnik LM Tribune Goodle maps Reliance D2-3115 Manual March 2014 Bangladesh arrests Islamist accused of killing publisher Bangladesh police said on Wednesday they had arrested six members of banned Islamist groups blamed for a series of deadly attacks, including the main suspect in the gruesome killing of a secular publisher. Moinul Islam Shamim was arrested on Tuesday night just outside the capital Dhaka for allegedly leading the fatal hacking attack on publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan in his office last year. "Shamim is the main accused in the Dipan murder. Police had announced a reward for any information leading to his arrest," deputy commissioner of Dhaka police Masruk Khaled told AFP. Bangladesh Rapid Action Battalion personnel keep watch during a demonstration in Dhaka Munir Uz Zaman (AFP/File) Shamim "admitted during interrogation" to his involvement in the October murder of Dipan who was a known publisher of books in Bangladesh by secular and atheist writers, Khaled said. Shamim is a suspected member of homegrown extremist group Ansarullah Bangla Team, which swears allegiance to a local branch of Al-Qaeda and has claimed responsibility for similar murders of about a dozen secular activists. The elite Rapid Action Battalion also stormed two hideouts on Dhaka's outskirts and arrested five suspected members of banned Islamist outfit Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), including one of its leaders who used to study in Canada. "They include Rasheduzzaman who took over as the JMB's regional chief recently. He studied in a Canadian university between 2006-2012," RAB spokesman Mufti Mahmud Khan told AFP of those arrested. The government has blamed the JMB for the July 1 attack on an upmarket cafe in Dhaka in which 20 hostages, including 18 foreigners, were killed along with two policemen. Police have said Tamim Chowdhury, another senior JMB figure and a Canadian citizen of Bangladesh origin, masterminded the siege and a deadly attack on Bangladesh's largest Eid congregation a few days later. A reward has been offered for his capture. Khan, however, could not say whether Rasheduzzaman was a Canadian citizen. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the siege, releasing photos from inside the cafe during the attack and of the five men who carried out the deadly assault and were shot dead at its finale. Authorities have rejected the claim, saying international jihadist networks have no presence in the world's third largest Muslim majority nation. Bangladesh has been reeling from a deadly wave of attacks in the last three years, including on foreigners, rights activists and members of religious minorities. Uproar as Australian state bans greyhound racing Greyhound racing has been outlawed in Australia's most populous state despite fierce resistance from dog owners, with the New South Wales opposition leader dubbing the ban a "cruel ambush" of working class people. The ban, which will take effect from July 1st 2017, was passed in an overnight session by the New South Wales parliament in Sydney, state Premier Mike Baird said. Although opposed by the dog racing industry and sparking heated debate within his right-leaning coalition government, the ban is intended to save thousands of dogs. Dog owners parade their greyhounds before a race at Wentworth Park in Sydney, in 2014 Peter Parks (AFP/File) "I'm proud of the decision we have made to save thousands upon thousands of dogs from cruelty and death," Baird said in a statement Wednesday. "It wasn't an easy decision, but it was the right decision," he said, adding that the government would help trainers and breeders whose livelihoods were impacted. Australia has one of the world's largest greyhound racing industries, but Baird introduced the ban following a string of scandals including "live baiting" and the slaughter of tens of thousands of dogs. Live baiting has been banned for decades in Australia but the national broadcaster revealed in 2015 that live animals including piglets, rabbits and possums were still being used as bait to train some of the nation's most successful dogs. A subsequent state government inquiry found evidence of systematic animal cruelty, including the mass killing of dogs considered too slow to pay their way. Animal protection society RSPCA New South Wales welcomed the ban as a "historic turning point for animal welfare", but several members of Baird's coalition government crossed the floor to vote against the legislation. One of them, Nationals lawmaker Katrina Hodgkinson, said the decision to ban the industry had upset people in her rural constituency. "When people have something involuntarily taken from them, when it's their passion and the reason for getting out of bed in the morning, it is natural for them to get upset or depressed or both, and wonder what's the point of it all," she told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. "These people are not criminals," she added. State opposition leader Luke Foley said the ban was "breaking the hearts of thousands of good men and women across the state". Foley said the ban would "criminalise an industry, a sport and an Australian way of life". "We have the uncivilised and cruel ambush of working people," he said during the debate. Myanmar's peacock: a national symbol dying off in the wild Embraced by kings and freedom fighters alike, Myanmar's peacocks have long been a national symbol of pride and resistance -- but they are becoming ever harder to spot in the wild. Ornithologist Thet Zaw Naing is worried. Every year that goes by, Myanmar's national bird becomes a less familiar sight. "They always walk on the ground and they sleep in trees at night," he tells AFP. Rampant poaching and habitat loss under decades of military rule have slashed Myanmar's peacock population Ye Aung Thu (AFP/File) "And before they go to sleep, they always cry 'Oway Oway. That's why people can know easily where they are and easily capture them." Decades ago the birds, with their bright green plumage and famously ostentatious male tail feathers, were ubiquitous. But like so many of Myanmar's most iconic flora and fauna, rampant poaching and habitat loss under decades of unaccountable junta rule has hit their numbers hard. For Myanmar, the declining peacock population is more than just a conservation tragedy -- it's a blow to the national psyche. The bird occupies a lofty place in the country's culture. For decades it was the official symbol of Burma's last kings, the Konbaung dynasty. Their monarchs wore peacock insignia on their robes and famously sat atop the Peacock Throne until their rule was toppled by British colonialists. During his fight against the British in the early twentieth century, independence hero Aung San -- the father of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi -- created a magazine named the "Fighting Peacock". Years later, Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy adopted the same bird as their party emblem in their long years of struggle against military rule. Whenever protests broke out on the streets of Yangon, peacock flags could be seen fluttering above the crowds. - 'Serious decline' - Now elevated to the role of Foreign Minister and State Counselor since her party swept to victory in last year's elections, Suu Kyi delivers press conferences besides visiting dignitaries in front of an embroidered peacock wall hanging. But some worry the birds will soon only be visible inside history books and political rallies unless action is taken. Having once ranged from India to Indonesia, the green peafowl, as its officially known, is in severe decline. The International Union for Conservation of Nature currently lists the species as endangered on their red list. "It has undergone a serious decline and the only sizeable remaining populations are found in dry forests in Cambodia, Myanmar and west-central Vietnam," the IUCN says, adding pockets still persist in northern Thailand, southern Laos, China's Yunnan province and on Indonesia's Java island. It is believed to be extinct in Bangladesh, Malaysia, peninsula Thailand and India -- with the exception of a few individuals occasionally encountered in India's far northeastern Manipur state bordering Myanmar. The Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry in Naypyidaw says the birds are protected under the Wildlife Act of Myanmar, which prohibits their capture or killing. But according to wildlife experts, the law is not properly enforced, and many people in rural areas are unaware of the peacock's legally protected status, poaching them for their eggs, meat and bright feathers. Greater public awareness of the peacock's plight, particularly in rurally areas, will be critical in bringing Myanmar's unofficial national animal back from the brink, says U Thet Zaw Naing. "The most important thing is to educate the people about how these peacocks are precious for the people and how Myanamar should be proud to have peacocks," he said. The peacock was for decades the official symbol of Burma's last kings, the Konbaung dynasty Ye Aung Thu (AFP/File) The peacock has been a political symbol for Myanmar democracy hero Aung San Suu Kyi and her father Aung San Nicolas Asfouri (AFP/File) Clinton in eye of Trump storm over charity donors Donald Trump stepped up his attacks on Hillary Clinton as her campaign battled to silence suggestions that donors to her family's charity paid for access when she was America's top diplomat. The Democratic nominee, looking to make history as America's first female commander-in-chief, is polling well ahead of her Republican rival but has hit choppy waters this week as the Trump campaign has fought to rebound from a series of damaging self-inflicted wounds. "Hillary Clinton is totally unfit to hold public office," Trump told a rally in Austin, Texas interrupted several times by protesters. Supporters of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump cheer during a rally at the Travis County Exposition Center on August 23, 2016 in Austin, Texas Suzanne Corderio (AFP) "It is impossible to figure out where the Clinton Foundation ends and the State Department begins," he added. Hours earlier the Associated Press reported that more than half the people outside government who met Clinton while she was secretary of state donated money to the Clinton Foundation. "It is now abundantly clear that the Clintons set up a business to profit from public office, they sold access," he said. "This is corruption and this is why I have called for a special prosecutor to look into this mess," he said. The Trump campaign demanded an independent prosecutor investigate after nearly 15,000 emails that Clinton sent from her private server while secretary of state were released by Judicial Watch. The conservative group has targeted Clinton for years. Among the emails are some purporting to show that donors to the Foundation lobbied one of her top aides, Huma Abedin, for access to Clinton. Clinton, who on Tuesday attended a Hollywood fundraiser at the home of Justin Timberlake and his wife Jessica Biel, has so far not commented publicly on the report. But her campaign spokesman dismissed the AP analysis as based on "utterly flawed data" that "cherry-picked" from her schedule. - Misrepresent - "The data does not account for more than half of her tenure as secretary," Brian Fallon said in a statement. "Just taking the subset of meetings arbitrarily selected by the AP, it is outrageous to misrepresent Secretary Clinton's basis for meeting with these individuals," he added. The charity has raised some $2 billion since it was founded in 2001 after Bill Clinton stepped down as president and disburses funds domestically and overseas, handing out some $218 million in 2014. Bill Clinton announced this week that if his wife is elected, the foundation will accept only US contributions, that he will step down from the board and will no longer raise funds for the charity. With Clinton now leading 47 percent to Trump's 41.5 percent, according to an average of national polls from Real Clear Politics, it is unclear to what extent the new reports can damage her standing. US voters remain alarmed by Trump's lack of experience, question whether he has the temperament for the job and a series of high-profile blunders have chipped away at his populist appeal. Trump used the rest of his speech in Texas to make another sustained pitch for African-American voters -- who vote overwhelmingly Democrat -- and highlight poor border security in Texas. He reiterated calls to build a wall on the southern US border with Mexico in a bid to stop illegal immigration, a structure which he said Mexico would pay for. He also repeated his calls for "extreme vetting" of immigrants, saying "hundreds of immigrants and their children" had been charged with terrorism in the United States since the September 11, 2001 attacks. He promised to create safe zones in the Middle East, funded by Gulf States for refugees fleeing conflict and for visas to be suspended "when we can't perform effective screening." He was joined briefly on stage by mothers whose children were killed by illegal immigrants. "Your children did not die in vain, because we're not going to allow it to happen to others," he told them. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks on stage during a campaign rally in Austin, Texas, August 23, 2016 Suzanne Cordeiro (AFP) Former UN chief to advise Myanmar on troubled Rakhine state Former UN chief Kofi Annan will advise Myanmar's new government on resolving conflicts in Rakhine, a region divided on religious grounds and home to the stateless Muslim Rohingya, it was announced Wednesday. The country's western state is deeply scarred by bouts of sectarian bloodshed in 2012 that forced more than 100,000 Rohingya into squalid displacement camps. The Rohingya, a minority in overwhelmingly Buddhist Myanmar, are denied citizenship and face severe restrictions on their movements and access to health care and other basic services. Myanmar's western state of Rakhine is deeply scarred by sectarian bloodshed in 2012 that forced more than 100,000 Muslim Rohingya into squalid displacement camps Finding a solution for the group, who are reviled by Buddhist nationalists, has posed a tough challenge to the new civilian administration led by Aung San Suu Kyi. The veteran democracy activist has come under fire from international rights groups for failing publicly to address the plight of the Rohingya as she seeks to avoid stoking further unrest over the sensitive issue. On Wednesday her office announced the formation of an advisory panel that will be chaired by former UN secretary general Annan and focus on "finding lasting solutions to the complex and delicate issues in the Rakhine State". A spokesman for the Kofi Annan Foundation confirmed the news and said the nobel laureate would travel to Myanmar in early September. The nine-member commission will submit recommendations to the government on "conflict prevention, humanitarian assistance, rights and reconciliation, institution-building and promotion of development of Rakhine State," said a statement from Suu Kyi's office. It did not mention the Rohingya by name. Hardline Buddhists reject the term and insist the nearly one-million strong group are illegal immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh, even though many have lived in Myanmar for generations. In June Suu Kyi tried to placate Buddhist nationalists by ordering officials to refer to the group only as "Muslims of Rakhine State". But even that order sparked mass protests in Rakhine, with local Buddhists demanding the government call them "Bengalis". During a July visit to the former junta-run country, UN envoy Yanghee Lee urged Suu Kyi's government to make ending "institutionalised discrimination" against Muslims in Rakhine an urgent priority. Amnesty International hailed the commission, which it said would have three international members and six from Myanmar, as a "welcome step". The commission should investigate decades of discrimination against minorities in Rakhine state, ensure accountability, recommend reparations and lead efforts at reconciliation, Rafendi Djamin, Amnesty's director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said in a statement. Myanmar also announced this week that current UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon would attend a peace conference at the end of the month. The five-day talks, an effort to end a host of long-running ethnic minority insurgencies, will begin on August 31. Japan takes aid show to Africa in China's shadow Japan takes its aid show to Africa this weekend, with a huge development conference in Kenya, hoping quality will trump quantity in the battle for influence against cash-rich China. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe -- fresh from an appearance as Super Mario at the Olympic Games in Rio -- will meet with dozens of leaders from across Africa in Nairobi. Officials say the Japanese premier will use the two-day gathering to unveil aid and investment projects, including those related to healthcare. Tokyo has a well-established presence in Africa, but its financial importance to the continent has long-since been eclipsed by regional rival China. Mohamed Dahir (AFP/File) Tokyo has a well-established presence in Africa, but its financial importance to the continent has long-since been eclipsed by regional rival China. The world's second-largest economy -- a resource-hungry giant -- recorded total trade with Africa of about $179 billion in 2015, dwarfing Japan's approximately $24 billion. "Japan has a sense of rivalry with China, which has provided large-sized assistance," said Koichi Sakamoto, professor of regional development studies at Toyo University. "Since Japan can't fight China in terms of amounts of cash, it needs to stress quality," Sakamoto added. This weekend's meeting, which will be attended by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and South Africa's Jacob Zuma, amongst others, is the sixth edition of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, or TICAD. The forum was first convened in 1993 and, until now, has always been held in Japan. The move to Africa this year came at the behest of the host continent, but reflects a drive to bolster Japanese clout as the modern-day Scramble for Africa gathers momentum. The European Union, China, India, South Korea, and Turkey have similar aid ventures to court African leaders as they look for a slice of the continent's resources and its burgeoning markets. But as a relatively early entrant, Tokyo's role has proved invaluable to Africa. - Security concerns - TICAD -- co-organised by Japan, the United Nations, the World Bank and the African Union -- "paved the way" among aid programmes because it was among the first of such efforts, a senior Kenyan government official, who declined to be named, told AFP. Aid and infrastructure projects offered by Tokyo and its rivals, are not, of course, a one way street; Japanese firms often stand to benefit from the vast sums of cash consumed in the construction of roads, ports and railways half a world away. Projects under tender at the moment include the $250 million first phase of expansion at the congested Kenyan port of Mombasa, as well as the resurfacing, widening and construction of roads in cities and on rural highways. As well as diplomats and politicians, TICAD will also gather business executives and other participants from Japan and Africa in what Abe hopes will be a boost to two-way trade. But enthusiasm may be dampened by the security concerns over some of Africa's more lawless areas. Such danger was driven home in 2013 when a gas plant in Algeria built by a Japanese company was overrun by Islamist gunmen, who killed 40 people, including 10 Japanese. Shu Nakagawa, a foreign ministry official in charge of the forum, said Japanese companies are "rather cautious" over mounting challenges on the continent. That includes the growing threat from radical Islamist groupings, such as Boko Haram and the Shabaab group -- which is active in Kenya. US judge sides with artist forced to prove painting is not his In a court case with repercussions for the art world and millions of dollars at stake, a US judge ruled Tuesday in favor of an artist who was sued for denying a painting was his. A US District Court judge in Chicago decided that Peter Doig, a world-famous artist who insists he did not create a desert landscape painting, is telling the truth. The man who owns the disputed piece of art, a retired Canadian corrections officer by the name of Robert Fletcher, sued Doig for refusing to acknowledge that the painting is one of his works -- which means its value is significantly diminished. Attorney William Zieske (left) and his client Robert Fletcher (right) speak to reporters at the US federal courthouse in Chicago on August 23, 2016, after losing their lawsuit against artist Peter Doig Nova Safo (AFP) Judge Gary Feinerman ruled that there was "conclusive" evidence that Doig did not paint the disputed work, and that he had the right to say a painting was not his. The facts surrounding the case date back to Canada in the 1970s, when Fletcher met a man named Peter Doige -- spelled with an e -- and watched him study art while jailed for a drug offense. Fletcher says he remembers being impressed by one of Doige's paintings of a desert landscape in golden hues -- an acrylic painting on linen. He bought it for $100 in the hopes of keeping Doige from going back to selling drugs. Decades later, a friend saw the painting hanging in Fletcher's home and said it was in fact the work of Peter Doig, whose creations can command $10 million at auction. Fletcher spoke with Chicago-based art dealer Peter Bartlow, who agreed to sell the work. But Doig denied every element of Fletcher's story -- painting the work, meeting Fletcher or being incarcerated in Canada. Doig's lawyers pointed to a Canadian man named Peter Doige, who was a carpenter and amateur painter. He died in 2012 but his life story seemed to closely match the circumstances surrounding the painting's creation. Feinerman concluded that "an artist is well within his rights to ensure that works that he did not create are not sold or offered under his name. The artist has a right to protect his reputation." Fletcher and Bartlow said they did not know yet whether they would appeal their case, but they remain convinced that their painting is a Doig. - 'Relieved' by decision - Those in the art world have raised concerns that the case could be a green light for wealthy patrons to sue artists if they disavow a work or -- as has happened in the past -- disown a work that they had previously acknowledged creating. "I'm relieved to see the judge's decision in this case," Amy Whitaker, professor of art business at New York University, told AFP. "It is not the job of artists to guarantee or authenticate their work." But the damage may have already been done, because the lawsuit was allowed to proceed to trial, said Michael Bennett, a professor at Arizona State University and a previous legal advisor to arts organizations. "In the future, top tier artists may be extorted into authenticating a work they did not create," Bennett told AFP. "The threat of a suit, and all the time, stress and money that's called for to win one, can be just that strong." Fletcher's attorney William Zieske dismissed such concerns as "apocalyptic," saying the case was not precedent-setting, because a 1990 law already protects artists. Known as the Visual Artists Rights Act, the US law allows artists to claim ownership of a painting or prevent their name from being associated with a work they did not create. But it mostly protects works made in 1990 or later, and only some works from years prior. "This painting is an oddball case. It's from the 1970s," Zieske said. Protester killed in fresh clashes in Indian Kashmir One protester was killed on Wednesday in fresh clashes with security forces armed with shotguns in Indian-administered Kashmir which is reeling from weeks of deadly violence, police said. As Home Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in the disputed region to discuss the unrest with local political, business and other leaders, thousands of residents rallied in Pulwama in southern Kashmir. Security forces fired tear gas and shotguns to disperse the crowd which had defied a curfew to gather on the streets, said local police superintendent Rayees Mohammad Bhat. Indian Kashmir has been under a curfew since protests broke out over the death of popular young rebel leader Burhan Wani on July 8 in a gunfight with security forces Tauseef Mustafa (AFP/File) "This youth died of (shotgun) pellet injuries," Bhat told AFP. At least 14 other protesters were injured in the clashes, said a doctor at a leading hospital in the main city of Srinagar where they were taken for treatment. Kashmir has been under a curfew since protests broke out over the death of popular young rebel leader Burhan Wani on July 8 in a gunfight with security forces. Some 66 civilians have been killed in clashes between protesters and security forces, and thousands more injured in the worst violence to hit the Himalayan region since 2010. Many of those injured have been hit in the eyes with pellets, causing partial or complete blindness. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for an end to the violence, stressing the need for dialogue with political parties to find a solution. Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British colonial rule in August 1947 but both claim the territory in full. Tens of thousands, mostly civilians, have been killed since 1989 when an armed revolt against Indian rule began. Kerry in Saudi on Yemen peace push US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to push for peace in Yemen after UN-brokered talks collapsed despite global concern over mounting civilian casualties. Kerry was to discuss a range of issues including Yemen Wednesday night with Saudi Arabia's powerful Deputy Crown Prince and Defence Minister Mohammed bin Salman, ahead of talks Thursday with King Salman. Also Thursday, Kerry joins UN Yemen envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, Britain's Middle East minister Tobias Ellwood, and his counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to concentrate on Yemen. US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Saudi Arabia to meet Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir and other Gulf ministers over Yemen Simon Maina (AFP) Those talks will be a chance "to share ideas and initiatives for getting the political discussions back on track and trying to get a political solution" for Yemen, a senior State Department official said. They also aim to put in place mechanisms for delivering desperately needed humanitarian aid, he said. "It's not either-or. We want to get humanitarian access better ensured and at the same time we need a ceasefire in place. They go hand in hand but you need a reduction in violence," the official said. Saudi Arabia leads an Arab coalition that began air raids in March last year and later sent in ground forces to support Yemen's internationally recognised government after Zaidi Shiite Huthi rebels and their allies overran much of the country. As the civilian death toll continues to climb, the kingdom has faced rising criticism from human rights groups. But there is little expectation of a breakthrough from Kerry's latest visit to the kingdom. Peter Salisbury, associate fellow at London's Chatham House think tank, told AFP there is "mounting pressure" from certain groups within the US government to see the war ended as soon as possible. "However, the Americans are limited in their ability to produce a meaningful political settlement." Neither the rebels nor the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi was willing to make the necessary concessions for a peace deal, he added. Seventeen months after the coalition intervened, anti-rebel forces have regained territory but the Huthis still control most of the interior highlands and Red Sea coast. In the southwest, government forces are battling to break a rebel siege of Taez, Yemen's third city. Riyadh says the Huthis are backed by its regional rival Iran. Coalition-supported pro-government forces are also fighting Al-Qaeda jihadists who have exploited Yemen's power vacuum to expand their presence in the south and southeast. - Civilians suffer - For civilians in Yemen, the Arab world's poorest country even before the war escalated early last year, the humanitarian situation "continues to deteriorate", the UN says. More than 6,600 people, roughly half of them civilians, have been killed, while millions lack food, clean water and adequate healthcare. US officials have repeatedly urged their major Middle East ally to avoid harming non-combatants. A diplomatic source in Riyadh said it is "becoming increasingly clear" that elements of the US administration are not happy with the civilian death toll. Kerry would again raise such concerns and express "our strong desire to ensure that those sorts of casualties are avoided, and that the conduct of the air campaign is done with all proper and appropriate regard for being discriminate and precise," the State Department official said. As well as providing precision-guided bombs, American forces have assisted the coalition with aerial refuelling and intelligence, although they have slashed the number of advisers directly supporting the alliance. After making no headway, Ould Cheikh Ahmed on August 6 suspended the peace talks in Kuwait for one month, which triggered an escalation in fighting. Negotiations ended after the Huthis and forces loyal to their ally, former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, appointed a council to govern Yemen. The move directly challenged Hadi's government, which works from Riyadh and Yemen's second city Aden. Salisbury said the talks should be broadened beyond the rebels and government to include secessionists, and others in the multi-faceted conflict. That, he said, "would send the message that peace in Yemen will be inclusive, not something agreed purely along the lines of elite interests." Kerry arrived from Nigeria and Kenya on a trip focused on counterterrorism. With Saudi officials he will also discuss the conflicts in Syria and Libya, the State Department official said. Children killed in air raid Laurence SAUBADU, Alain BOMMENEL (AFP/File) Yemeni doctors treat a man man who was wounded during reported Saudi-led coalition air strikes at a hospital in the capital Sanaa on August 21, 2016 Mohammed Huwais (AFP/File) Saudi Arabia leads an Arab coalition that began air raids in March last year and later sent in ground forces to support Yemen's internationally recognised government Fayez Nureldine, Fayez Nureldine (AFP/File) Malian jihadist 'lost way' in Timbuktu attacks, court told A Malian jihadist who admitted to razing ancient tombs in the fabled city of Timbuktu is "an honest man" who briefly took the wrong path in life, his lawyer pleaded Wednesday, as prosecutors urged a jail term of up to 11 years. "For just over three months he lost his way," Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi's attorney said at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. "He wanted to give advice to apply Sharia (Islamic) law, which was a terrible mistake that led to his guilt," lawyer Jean-Louis Gilissen told judges. Alleged Al-Qaeda-linked Islamist leader Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi pleaded guilty to a single charge of cultural destruction at the International Criminal Court in The Hague Patrick Post (ANP/AFP/File) He is "an honest man," Gilissen said. Mahdi admitted at the start of his trial Monday to ransacking some of the west African city's most historic mausoleums during a two-week wave of destruction in 2012. He is the first Islamic extremist charged by the ICC and the first charged with crimes arising out of the conflict in Mali. Sentencing will be handed down on September 27. - Global outrage - The wanton destruction by jihadists, who considered the mausoleums idolatrous, triggered a global outcry. But Mahdi's lawyers said Wednesday he acted out of the belief that what he was doing was right, based on an interpretation of Sharia law. Mahdi, who is aged about 40, had lived in Timbuktu for 11 years before armed groups arrived. His defence described him as "a generous man with an extremely sociable character" who worked for reconciliation between Muslim groups, founded an NGO and facilitated dialogue between white and black Tuaregs. Ansar Dine -- a mainly Tuareg movement that in 2012 took control of Timbuktu some 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) northeast of Bamako, along with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) -- picked out Mahdi to head its "Hisbah" or "Manners" brigade, his lawyers said. Mahdi "was not a decision-maker, but headed those who carried out orders," the defence said. ICC prosecutors under a deal made with the defence asked for a sentence of between nine to 11 years. The sentence should serve as an "effective deterrent" that plundering the world's heritage would not go unpunished, they added. The sentence should "fully reflect his guilt, serve as an effective deterrent and give justice to the victims," prosecutor Gilles Dutertre urged. "It cannot be tolerated that world heritage can be deliberately destroyed, with disdain for the importance that it has to other people." - Ancient myth destroyed - A former teacher and Islamic scholar, Mahdi admitted to the sole war crimes charge of "intentionally directing attacks" against nine of Timbuktu's famous mausoleums as well as the ancient door of the Sidi Yahia mosque between June 30 and July 11, 2012. Mahdi on Monday begged for "forgiveness" for his role in the destruction that shocked the world as he urged other Muslims not to follow such "evil" ways. Founded between the fifth and the 12th centuries by Tuareg tribes, Timbuktu's very name evokes centuries of history and has been dubbed "the city of 333 saints" for the number of Muslim sages buried there. Revered as a centre of Islamic learning during its golden age in the 15th and 16th centuries Timbuktu, also known as the "Pearl of the Desert", has been designated as a UNESCO world heritage site. Earlier speaking on behalf of victims, lawyer Mayombo Kassongo told the judges that "the mausoleums of Timbuktu is a symbol of the identity of the people." "For Africa it's like the Eiffel Tower in France or the pyramids of Egypt." "When a symbol is attacked and destroyed... it is something that denies Timbuktu of its golden age and deprives it of its myth. Its victims deserve to be compensated," he said. The mausoleums of Timbuktu Alain BOMMENEL, Jean-Michel CORNU (AFP) In light of continued developments, primarily since 2008, there exists in these United States a Legal System which operates on a proved Two Tiered approach to justice rendered, which primarily benefits Democratic Elites and Woke Ideological Virtue Signalers, representing their co-dependent wards, to the expressed exclusion of normal hardworking American citizens: What is your suggestion in remedying this widespread injustice and, if not corrected, its existential outcome for our Constitutional Republic? Complete overhaul of the Department of Justice and their enforcers - the FBI - to reflect a far more honest justice system to keep patriots remaining calm. Disband the FBI, and request that congress investigate all unethical and non patriotic practices to partially right the wrongs of a distrusted and politically weaponized "Department of Justice." Powerful quake hits Myanmar, damaging famed Bagan temples A powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar Wednesday, killing at least three people and damaging nearly 200 pagodas in the famous ancient capital of Bagan, officials said. The quake, which the US Geological Survey said hit at a depth of 84 kilometres (52 miles), was also felt across neighbouring Thailand, India and Bangladesh, sending panicked residents rushing onto the streets. Two girls, aged 7 and 15, were killed in Magway region where the quake struck, according to Myanmar's Ministry of Information. The ancient Sulamuni temple is seen shrouded in dust after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit Bagan on August 24, 2016 Soe Moe Aung (AFP) A collapsed building in a nearby town also killed a 22-year-old man and injured one woman, local police told AFP. Heavy damage was also reported in Bagan -- Myanmar's most famous archaeological site and a major tourist destination 30 kilometres north of the quake's epicentre. Some 171 of the city's more than 2,500 Buddhist monuments were damaged by the tremors, according to a statement posted by the Ministry of Religious and Cultural Affairs on Facebook. "Some were seriously damaged," Aung Kyaw, the local director of Bagan's culture department, told AFP. Photos showed clouds of dust billowing around some of the site's larger temples, with bricks crumbling down their tiered facades. A police officer from Bagan said a Spanish holidaymaker was slightly hurt when the quake knocked her from the temple where she was watching the sunset. Scaling Bagan's ancient structures to watch the sun set over the vast plain of pagodas is a daily ritual among tourists and local pilgrims. The temples, built between the 10th and 14th centuries, are revered in the Buddhist-majority country and a top draw for its growing tourism industry. Myanmar, which has opened its doors to a rising tide of visitors since emerging from junta rule in 2011, is eager to see the ancient capital designated a UNESCO world heritage site. - 'Still scared' - Soe Win, a local politician from Chauk -- the riverside town closest to the epicentre -- said the tremors were the worst he had experienced in years. "More than eight pagodas in town collapsed," the 50-year-old told AFP, referring to Chauk. "Two buildings collapsed as well, while some others were cracked. People in town are still scared." Damage was also reported in the capital Naypyidaw some 200 kilometres away, with MP Thiri Yadanar posting photos on Facebook of cracked glass windows inside a parliament building. The earthquake caused high-rise buildings in Myanmar's largest city Yangon to sway, as well as those in the Thai capital Bangkok and the Indian city of Kolkata. "Services of the underground railway have been suspended fearing aftershocks of the quake," Kolkata Metro Railway spokesman Indrani Banerjee told AFP. The quake was also felt throughout south and southwestern Bangladesh close to the border with Myanmar, with residents running outside. At least 20 people were injured as workers tried to flee a building in the Savar industrial district outside Dhaka, ATN Bangla television reported. "All of us ran to the streets leaving the houses and shops unsecured as the quake seemed very dangerous," Nazmus Sakib, from the southern city of Chittagong near the Myanmar border, wrote on his Facebook wall. Earthquakes are relatively common in Myanmar, although the country has not suffered a major one since 2012. That powerful tremor -- also of 6.8 magnitude -- struck the centre of the country, killing 26 people and injuring hundreds. Map of Myanmar locating Wednesday's 6.8-magnitude earthquake Jonathan Jacobsen (AFP) Collapsed walls surround an ancient pagoda after the quake in Bagan on August 24, 2016 Soe Moe Aung (AFP) Laziz the tiger and friends leave Gaza for new life Gaza's last tiger left the war-ravaged Palestinian enclave Wednesday with monkeys, emus, a porcupine and other animals from a zoo dubbed the "world's worst", heading for a new life in South Africa and elsewhere. Laziz (Cutey in Arabic) the tiger and the 15 other remaining animals from the Khan Yunis zoo were driven on a trailer in cages to the Erez crossing before dawn, an AFP journalist said. The animals crossed the border en route to sanctuaries and zoos in South Africa, Jordan and Israel for "a better quality of life", the Israeli army said in a statement. A tiger evacuated from a zoo in the Gaza Strip is checked by members of the "Four Paws" organization and vets from the Israeli Hebrew University veterinary teaching hospital in Beit Dagan on August 24, 2016 before being transported to South Africa Menahem Kahana (AFP) As well as Laziz, five monkeys, two emus, two deer, two eagles, two turtles, a pelican and a porcupine were transferred, the Four Paws charity ensuring the animals' welfare said. For months vets from Four Paws had been visiting the zoo in southern Gaza to treat the animals and transfer them out after international outcry at photos of their conditions. Dozens of animals had died in the zoo, some of starvation, and badly stuffed bodies of dead crocodiles, lions and others were left in the open, surrounded by piles of bones. The NGO says on its website that Khan Yunis had "been known as the 'worst zoo in the world' since it became public last year that the zoo was crudely mummifying the animals that died in their care and displaying them." Wednesday's transfer leaves the zoo empty and it will now be closed. - Smuggled in through tunnels - "So many people have followed the progress of our mission eagerly and shown their solidarity with Laziz and the other animals," Four Paws vet Amir Khalil said in a statement. "We are happy that we were finally able to close down Khan Yunis zoo." Laziz's case attracted particular attention, after it was revealed the near-starving tiger had originally been brought to Gaza from Senegal via Egypt, where he was smuggled through tunnels into the enclave. He will now be transferred to the Lionsrock refuge for big cats in South Africa. "We were quite worried if Laziz would go into his transport crate without any issues," Khalil said. "But the tiger just went straight into the box as if he knew that we will bring him to a nice home." In the years after its 2007 opening there were more than 100 animals housed at the zoo, but they were decimated by repeated wars and shortages of customers. The owners were unable to afford enough food, with some animals starving. "I am very sad," lamented owner Ziad Aweda. "I brought these animals from Libya, Sudan, Egypt and even South Africa to Gaza." The nearly two million residents of Gaza are also suffering and find it difficult to get permits to travel to Israel, which has maintained a blockade on the enclave for a decade. More than two-thirds of Gazans are reliant on some form of aid, according to the United Nations. Hamas, which runs Gaza, has fought three wars with Israel since 2008, the most recent in 2014 in which 2,251 Palestinians died, the majority civilians, according to the United Nations. Seventy-three Israelis, including 67 soldiers, were also killed. The Israeli blockade of the enclave and Egypt's closed border have suffocated the economy, making it increasingly hard for Gazans to find money for leisure. Members of Four Paws animal charity transport animals across the Erez border crossing into Israel after evacuating them from the zoo in Khan Yunis, Gaza, on August 24, 2016 Mohammed Abed (AFP) Syria, Kurds condemn Turkish incursion Syria condemned Wednesday's Turkish incursion into an Islamic State group-held border area as a "flagrant violation" of its sovereignty as Kurdish authorities said the action amounted to a "declaration of war". The foreign ministry in Damascus said it "condemns the crossing of the Turkey-Syria border by Turkish tanks and armoured vehicles towards the Jarabulus area with air cover from the US-led coalition and considers it a flagrant violation of Syrian sovereignty". The Syrian opposition in exile, however, welcomed the intervention. A Turkish soldier stands guard in the city of Karkamis on the Syrian border on August 24, 2016 as Turkish army tanks are seen in the distance Bulent Kilic (AFP) The operation -- named "Euphrates Shield" -- began around 4:00 am (0100 GMT) with Turkish artillery pounding dozens of targets of the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group around Jarabulus, the Turkish prime minister's office said. Turkish tanks and special forces accompanied by pro-Ankara Syrian rebels then rolled across the border in an unprecedented operation to drive IS out of Jarabulus, from which it has fired rockets into Turkey. "Syria demands the end of this aggression," the foreign ministry said. "Any party conducting a battle against terrorism on Syrian soil must do so in coordination with the Syrian government and the Syrian army who have been fighting this war for five years. "Chasing out IS and replacing them with terrorist groups backed by Turkey is not fighting terrorism." Turkish state media later reported that pro-Ankara Syrian rebels had reached the edge of central Jarabulus as part of the Turkey-led operation. The semi-autonomous Kurdish administration, which controls much of the border regions in north and northeast Syria, angrily branded Turkey's intervention a "declaration of war". "The Turkish government has abandoned its policy regarding the (Syrian) regime and now finds itself on the same side," it said in a statement. The Istanbul-based opposition National Coalition, however, hailed the Turkish intervention and stressed that rebel forces were doing the fighting on the ground. It issued a statement welcoming "the support of Turkey and the international coalition for the military operation in Jarabulus", in which "the rebels are carrying out the combat operations". Turkey's incursion is its first into Syria since February 2015, when hundreds of Turkish troops crossed the border to move the relics of the grandfather of the founder of the Ottoman Empire. In Ankara on Wednesday, visiting US Vice President Joe Biden said Washington had made it clear that Kurdish-led forces in Syria must not deploy west of the Euphrates River. "We have made it absolutely clear... that they must go back across the river," Biden said at a news conference with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. "They cannot, will not and under no circumstances (will) get American support if they do not keep that commitment. Period." Turkey fears that Syrian Kurds may have designs on Jarabulus after seizing the strategic Manbij area in northern Syria from IS. Turkey sees the Syrian Democratic Forces (PYD) and its armed wing YPG as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) which has waged a bloody campaign against the Turkish state. MTV launches global contest for cover song stardom MTV on Wednesday invited fans around the world to cover hit songs, with the winner set to earn fame by starring in an original video. The pioneering music network announced the contest ahead of Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards in New York and geared the initiative toward viewers in the network's more than 120 markets outside the United States. The network will announce a song each month. To enter the competition, international viewers will need to upload cover versions on YouTube and submit them online to be the "MTV Cover of the Month." MTV revolutionized the music industry from its launch in 1981 by intertwining a visual component with pop songs but the network has come to focus more broadly on youth culture Giuseppe Cacace (AFP/File) MTV International will recognize each month's winner through a recurring spot on television as well as a trophy. The network will also pick a winner of the year, who will star in an original music video to be produced and promoted by MTV. The first song in the contest, which will open after Sunday's awards gala, is Mike Posner's global hit "I Took a Pill in Ibiza." The track has already gone through a musical transformation. Posner wrote it as a pop song with light guitar but -- true to the sound of the Spanish resort of Ibiza -- it climbed the charts as an electronic dance track mixed by Norwegian duo Seeb. "I'm all about anything that supports creativity and self-expression," Posner, who will personally select the winner, said in a statement. MTV International senior vice president Kerry Taylor said that the contest was part of the network's approach of preserving its well-known global brand identity while encouraging a local flavor. "Our focus is very much about being a global brand with local resonance," Taylor told AFP. Taylor said that MTV was open to covers from all around the world including with strong regional adaptations. "When you look at the kind of success of people doing covers on YouTube and just knowing how much our audiences universally love music, this felt like a contest that would work as well in Asia as it would in the Americas," she said. MTV revolutionized the music industry from its launch in 1981 by intertwining a visual component with pop songs but the network has come to focus more broadly on youth culture. MTV International rebranded itself last year in part due to youth culture's rapid embrace of social media and the growing world of YouTube sensations. As part of the change, MTV International airs user-generated content -- labeled with the hashtag #mtvbump -- thousands of times per week. Japan tells China to stop violating territory in East China Sea Japan told China on Wednesday its ships must stop violating Japanese territory in the East China Sea after a long-standing maritime row intensified this month. The admonition came in a meeting between Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. The two countries are locked in a dispute over uninhabited islands controlled by Japan as the Senkakus but claimed by China as the Diaoyus. A Chinese coast guard ship sails near the disputed East China Sea islands Tensions have waxed and waned though rose this month as Japan grew angry over what it said were numerous incursions into waters around the islets by Chinese ships. Tokyo has lodged more than two dozen protests through diplomatic channels since August 5, saying there have been repeated "intrusions" by Chinese coastguard vessels. "I strongly asked him to completely quieten the situation, prevent it from occurring again and improve the overall environment in the East China Sea," Kishida told reporters after meeting Wang. At one point Japan reported more than 200 Chinese fishing boats operating near the islands and said there was cooperation between some of them and coastguard vessels. Kishida quoted Wang as saying that China would control the situation. Wang, however, in separate remarks to reporters, said he and Kishida had extensive talks but suggested the issue had been blown out of proportion. "It is related both to the fishing season, but also hyped by the media," said Wang, a former Chinese ambassador to Japan. "The situation has now returned to normal." He added that the two sides agreed to "make efforts to resolve our maritime dispute" as well as launch "as soon as possible" a previously discussed mechanism to prevent accidents at sea and air. Increased patrols by ships and aircraft from the two sides around the rocky islets have periodically raised fears of accidental armed clashes. Tokyo and Beijing in November 2014 agreed on a four-point accord to improve their relationship, which had soured to its worst in years over the island dispute and other issues. Contacts have increased but relations remain marked largely by tension and distrust. Kishida also said that if the situation in the East China Sea improves, Japan would like to step up dialogue with China -- including at next month's G20 summit in Hangzhou to be attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Wang's visit is the first by a Chinese foreign minister to Japan since Xi became president in March 2013. "We have to work to improve the Sino-Japanese relationship," he said upon arrival. Earlier on Wednesday, Wang, Kishida and South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-Se held trilateral talks at which they discussed regional issues such as North Korea. Victims to blame in fatal tiger attack in China, probe finds The Beijing wildlife park whose tigers killed one woman and injured another this summer was not to blame for their deaths, an official investigation concluded Wednesday. The tourists ignored park rules and clear warning signs when one of them alighted from their car in an area that contained ten free-roaming Siberian tigers, the investigation by Beijing's Yanqing district government found. The attack took place at Badaling Wildlife World on July 23, when a woman in her thirties surnamed Zhao opened the car's passenger door, calmly walked around the vehicle and stood outside the door on the drivers side. A tiger crept up, swatted her and dragged her off. A woman was killed and another injured in a tiger attack at a Beijing wildlife park Teh Eng Koon (AFP/File) The husband of the 32-year-old woman surnamed Zhao leapt out of the car in pursuit, as did the womans 57-year-old mother. She tried to hit the tiger but was attacked by two other tigers and mauled to death. The tourists should not have left the car, the report found. The park allows visitors to drive their own cars safari-style through an area where the animals roam free. But signs, pamphlets and oral instructions tell them to stay in their vehicles. The wife suffered severe injuries while her mother was killed. Zhao's husband and the couple's two-year-old child, who was in the car at the time, escaped injury. But the report also noted some problems with the parks emergency response training and urged it to find "innovative" ways of reminding tourists to pay attention to safety. Park personnel spent nearly 15 minutes shepherding the 10 tigers into their pens before rescuers reached the mauled women, it said. Palestinian stabs Israeli soldier in West Bank, shot dead: army A Palestinian stabbed an Israeli soldier in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday and was shot dead, the army said. An army statement said Israeli forces had been chasing a group of alleged rock throwers who were in a car. "One of the assailants exited the vehicle and stabbed a soldier," it said. "Responding, the soldier fired towards the perpetrator, resulting in his death." Israeli soldiers monitor vehicles at a checkpoint in Hebron on July 6, 2016 Hazem Bader (AFP/File) The soldier was taken to hospital for treatment, the statement said, without giving details on his condition. The attack took place close to the Israeli settlement of Ariel, near the Palestinian city of Nablus in the northern West Bank. A wave of violence since October has killed 221 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, an Eritrean and a Sudanese, according to an AFP tally. US military aids Turkey anti-IS operation in Syria The United States is providing Turkey's military with air cover, intelligence and advisers in its offensive against the Islamic State (IS) group inside Syria, a senior US official said on Wednesday. "We want to help the Turks get ISIL off the border" between the two countries, the official told reporters, using an alternative acronym for the IS group. The official was traveling with US Vice President Joe Biden, who arrived in Turkey on Wednesday for meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, in an effort to help improve relations strained by Turkey's coup d'etat attempt last month. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim (R) and US Vice President Joe Biden are meeting at Cankaya Palace in Ankara, on August 24, 2016 in an effort to help improve relations strained by Turkey's coup d'etat attempt Adem Altan (AFP) US advisers are communicating with the Turkish military about a plan to take the Syrian border town of Jarabulus, a key IS stronghold that is a primary objective of the Turkish offensive, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The United States is "syncing up with them, our advisers are in the planning cell with them," he said. "We'll have close air support if there's an operation" in Jarabulus. Washington is also helping ensure that Kurdish fighters further south do not provoke a conflict with Turkish forces by moving north toward Jarabulus, the official said. The United States has made it clear to the Syrian Democratic Forces, a US-backed Kurdish and Arab alliance, that "we don't and won't support them going north, and they can't without our air cover, so we've put a lid on them moving north," he said. "I think we've put a lid on the Turks' biggest concern (which) gives us breathing space to make sure the Jarabulus operation is done the right way." The Turkish operation -- named "Euphrates Shield" -- began early Wednesday with Turkish artillery pounding dozens of IS group targets around Jarabulus, according to the Turkish prime minister's office. Turkish tanks and special forces accompanied by pro-Ankara Syrian rebels then rolled across the border in an unprecedented operation to drive the IS group out of the town from which it has fired rockets into Turkey. Drone strikes kill 7 Qaeda suspects in Yemen: security Drone strikes killed seven Al-Qaeda suspects travelling in cars in provinces of southern and eastern Yemen on Wednesday, security sources said. Three people died when a rocket fired from a drone struck their vehicle in a desert area of Marib province, east of Yemen's rebel-held capital Sanaa, a security source said. Another security official said a separate drone attack in the southern province of Shabwa killed four suspects in a car on a road leading from provincial capital Ataq to nearby Nisab. The United States has carried out numerous drone strikes against Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) operatives in Yemen HO (US AIR FORCE/AFP/File) The United States has carried out numerous drone strikes against Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) operatives in Yemen. American officials said this month that the US military had killed three AQAP fighters in a strike, also in Shabwa. AQAP has exploited a power vacuum created by a conflict between the government and Shiite rebels to expand its presence in south and southeast Yemen. But the US has vowed to continue its campaign against the group, which it considers to be the Al-Qaeda network's deadliest franchise. A Saudi-led Arab military coalition that backs the Yemeni government has also turned its sights on AQAP, targeting it with air strikes. The coalition is supporting pro-government forces which launched an offensive this year to retake several towns from AQAP. US told pro-Kurdish forces in Syria not to cross Euphrates: Biden US Vice President Joe Biden on Wednesday said Washington had made clear that pro-Kurdish forces in Syria must not cross west of the Euphrates River, a prospect alarming for Turkey. "We have made it absolutely clear... that they must go back across the river," Biden said at a news conference with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. "They cannot, will not and under no circumstances (will) get American support if they do not keep that commitment. Period." Kurdish fighters belonging to the People's Protection Units (YPG) put a YPG flag on the door of the central prison in the northeastern Syrian city of Hasakeh on August 23, 2016 Delil Souleiman (AFP) His comments come after Turkish troops on Wednesday launched an operation inside Syria to cleanse the key town of Jarabulus from Islamic State (IS) jihadists. Turkey fears that Syrian Kurds may have designs on Jarabulus after seizing the strategic Manbij area in northern Syria from IS. Turkey sees the Syrian Democratic Forces (PYD) and its armed wing YPG as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) which has waged a bloody campaign against the Turkish state. Ankara has said any attempt by the YPG -- the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units -- to move west of the Euphrates would be crossing a red line. YPG fighters are already well installed in northeastern Syria. Speaking alongside the US vice president, Yildirim confirmed an agreement with Washington that "PYD elements will not move to the west of the Euphrates and will not be engaged in any activity there." "We have seen the determination of the US on this issue once again," the Turkish premier said. "PYD/YPG elements can never exist west of Euphrates under any circumstances, we have confirmed once more (US) sensitivity on this issue." There are many reasons for North Carolinians to be proud of the statewide education reforms implemented over the last five years. The state has made massive investments in K-12 education with a focus on grade-level proficiency in reading. Accountability is stronger. We pay teachers better. School districts have unprecedented budgetary flexibility. The list goes on and on.But no achievement is more impressive than the remarkable expansion of school choice in North Carolina. Today, around 17 percent of school-age children in North Carolina attend a home, private, or charter school.In 2013, the General Assembly made changes to the state's homeschool statute that gave parents the option of using online schools and cooperative arrangements to supplement conventional, parent-led instruction. Since then, homeschool growth has been phenomenal. In 2015, homeschool enrollment eclipsed the 100,000-student mark after adding nearly 8,700 students, compared to the prior year estimate. This year, North Carolina had an estimated 118,268 homeschooled students, a staggering increase of 11,415 students - or nearly 11 percent.While not as impressive as homeschool growth, private school enrollment inched up by roughly 500 students this year. After years of enrollment declines and only negligible increases over the past two years, private school enrollment finally exceeded the pre-recession enrollment peak of 97,656 students. At last count, North Carolina private school enrollment totaled 97,721 students.The Opportunity Scholarship and Disability Grant programs, which provide private school vouchers to eligible low-income and special-needs students, are likely responsible for the recent uptick in the private school population. The General Assembly just approved substantial funding increases for both programs, so total private school enrollment may soon surpass 100,000 students.More than 800 students received a voucher through the Disability Grant Program in 2016. The most recently passed state budget boosted funding for the program by 137 percent to $10 million. Thanks to that change, hundreds of additional special needs children will have access to $8,000 private school vouchers.Lawmakers also created a reserve fund for the Opportunity Scholarship Program that will add $10 million a year to the $34.8 million program budget over the next decade. More than 6,000 low-income children will receive an opportunity scholarship next year, well over five times the number of students who received a scholarship during the program's first year of operation. By the 2026-27 school year, the program will have a total budget of $134.8 million, allowing thousands more to receive a $4,200 voucher to attend a private school that better meets their needs.In recent years, the General Assembly has chipped away at unnecessary restrictions on charter school growth. In 2011, lawmakers removed the 100-school cap and further authorized charter enrollment to grow by as much as 20 percent a year. Subsequent statutory changes permitted charter schools to add one grade per year without approval from the State Board of Education and implemented a fast-track replication process for outstanding charter schools. In 2014, lawmakers approved legislation that allowed two virtual charter schools, N.C. Virtual Academy and N.C. Connections Academy, to begin operating in North Carolina.Thanks to these forward-thinking changes, there are more charter schools now than at any time since passage of the charter law in 1996. Enrollment in the state's 158 charter schools had grown to nearly 82,000 students, an increase of 83 percent over the previous five years.Too many families are not satisfied with the academic quality or social environment of their assigned public schools but do not have the means or opportunity to give their children an alternative. One day soon, household income and zip code no longer will correlate to the quality of education in North Carolina, and the leadership of the General Assembly will be the primary reason why. Vietnam seeks support for 'maritime freedom' France and other countries should help to keep the peace in the disputed South China Sea, Vietnam's president told AFP Wednesday, as unease grows over China's increasingly muscular approach in the key waterway. China claims most of the sea where it has built up reefs capable of hosting military equipment, sparking ire from competing claimants, including Vietnam, and raising fears of potential armed conflict. Speaking to AFP ahead of a visit by French leader Francois Hollande next month, Vietnam's President Tran Dai Quang said he hopes France and others will help to diffuse regional tensions in the waterway, which it calls the East Sea. Vietnamese president Tran Dai Quang speaks during an interview with AFP at the presidential palace in Hanoi on August 24, 2016 Hoang Dinh Nam (AFP) "We highly welcome the cooperation from France and other nations in the process of maintaining peace and stability in the region and the world and on the East Sea," he said, speaking from the presidential palace, the former residence of the Indochina governor during French colonial rule. Hanoi and Beijing have traded diplomatic barbs over disputed island chains and waters in the South China Sea and in 2014 China moved a controversial oil rig into contested territory, prompting riots in Vietnam. The strategic waterway, also claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan, is rich in energy reserves, fishery resources and is a busy shipping route. Quang's comments come after French Defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in June he would ask European countries to conduct coordinated patrols in the South China Sea. France and the United States have sent naval ships to the sea in recent months and have vowed to send more, angering Beijing. The Vietnamese president, whose role is mostly ceremonial, said Hollande's visit would help to boost military ties between the former colonial foes, as Hanoi has rapidly increased its defence budget in the last decade. "Several directions for cooperation will be strengthened and opened, like... ensuring security, safety and freedom of maritime and aviation," Quang said in a statement to AFP after the interview. He added that Vietnam wants more unity in the regional 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which has failed to forge a unified front against Beijing's militarisation in the sea. "We have been active together with countries in the ASEAN community to increase unity, considering this an important structure to contribute to maintaining regional peace," he said. Last month Manila won its case against Beijing at a UN-backed tribunal in the Hague which rejected China's claims to most of the sea. Beijing boycotted the hearing, and has refused to recognise the ruling, and ASEAN has sidestepped the issue, failing to comment directly on it at a meeting of ministers last month. Diplomats say Beijing has deftly courted Laos and Cambodia to split the bloc and blunt unified criticism. France and Vietnam signed a strategic partnership agreement in 2013, which included boosted defence cooperation. Libya's presidential council to present new cabinet Libya's presidential council will present a new government line-up in an attempt to secure the backing of the country's parliament, it said Wednesday. The parliament, which rejected a previous unity government in a confidence vote on Monday, gave the council a "final chance" and 10 days to propose a new cabinet. In a statement published on Wednesday on the website of the Government of National Accord (GNA), the council called on Libya's parliament, based in the eastern city of Tobruk, to endorse the new cabinet. Libya's UN-backed Prime Minister-designate, Fayez al-Sarraj speaks during a press conference in the capital Tripoli on March 30, 2016 STRINGER (AFP/File) The council said it would work with political actors, civil society and the parliament to select a broad base of members for the new cabinet. The nine-member council, headed by prime minister-designate Fayez al-Sarraj, was formed under a UN-backed accord between Libya's rival governments. UN envoy Martin Kobler tweeted on Wednesday that he "fully supports" the council's statement and its decision to work with the parliament, saying it was "urgent" to implement the accord. Libya's parliament, which was forced to flee to Tobruk after a coalition of militias seized Tripoli two years ago, is recognised by the international community. However instead of supporting the internationally backed GNA, the parliament backs a rival executive in Baida, also in the east. Under the deal signed in December, the GNA needs to pass a confidence vote in parliament in order to take office. The parliament on Monday passed a vote of no confidence in Sarraj's government, in a blow to efforts to end the country's political chaos. It later gave the council a "last chance" to propose a new cabinet. The GNA is struggling to assert its authority in Libya, which has been riven by turmoil since the 2011 overthrow of dictator Moamer Kadhafi. National support for the GNA is seen as crucial to restoring stability and to tackling the Libyan branch of the Islamic State group, which pro-GNA forces are battling in the jihadists' coastal stronghold of Sirte. Why has Turkey launched an operation against IS in Syria? Turkey launched its most ambitious operation of the Syrian conflict on Wednesday with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan saying it targeted the double threat from Islamic State extremists and Syrian Kurdish militias. Turkey says the air and ground operation dubbed "Euphrates Shield" will clear jihadists from the Syrian town of Jarabulus, which lies directly opposite the Turkish town of Karkamis. The operation was launched just days after Ankara appeared to soften its often-confrontational line on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whom Turkey wants to see removed. An air strike by a Turkish jet fighter hits the Syrian village of Jarabulus on the Syrian-Turkish border during fighting against the IS group on August 24, 2016 Bulent Kilic (AFP) - Why is Turkey acting now? - The military action began after 54 people were killed in a weekend suicide attack in the city of Gaziantep near the Syrian border that was blamed on IS. There has also been a recent upsurge in shelling of Turkish territory from Syrian towns under IS control. "ISIS (IS) has been directly attacking Turkish soil from Syria and so this operation is firstly a retaliation to that," Gulnur Aybet, director of Centre of Security Studies at Bahcesehir University in Istanbul (BAUCESS). "There is a chance these attacks from ISIS will intensify and that's why Turkey thought it's necessary to take these steps, to go across the border, with tanks and ground troops," she added. London-based Turkey analyst at Stroz Friedberg risk consultancy Emre Tuncalp agreed, saying there had been a "deterioration" in the security situation on the border. "The Gaziantep attack and the Karkamis shelling yesterday was like the last straw." - What is the purpose? - However Aybet said the operation's aims were two-fold -- to counter the IS threat but also to prevent Syrian Kurdish groups moving into areas liberated from IS. Turkey views the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which it has denounced as a terror organisation along with the EU and the US. The Syrian Kurds "already occupy a large strip of that border but there is this part in the middle that is still held by ISIS. "So the concern is: do the YPG move into areas liberated by ISIS? In moving in this way, they (Turkish forces) are also preventing the YPG moving into those areas," the professor said. Tuncalp said Turkey had long declared its red line for the advance of the Syrian Kurdish group was the west of the Euphrates River. He said Ankara had choked on seeing the Syrian Kurds take from IS the strategic town of Manbij south of Jarabulus and well west of the Euphrates earlier this month. "That was really unacceptable for Turkey and was additional motivation to get more involved in that part of Syria." - What does this mean for Syrian Kurds? - Aybet said the military operation showed Turkey would not allow the YPG to put down roots on its doorstep and allow a fragmentation of the Syrian state. "This has disrupted the YPG's plans. They thought the Americans would back them in the territorial conquest until the end but the Americans are playing a pragmatic game on the ground." A US official on Wednesday said Kurdish-dominated forces had stopped moving north towards Jarabulus. "So I think we have put a lid on the Turks' biggest concern," the official said. - Is Turkey softening on Assad? - At the weekend, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim for the first time acknowledged that Assad was one of the "actors" in Syria, saying he may need to remain as part of any transition. Turkey is also working more closely with Iran and Russia, Assad's last remaining major allies. So far, no world power has objected to the Turkish operation, which began just hours before US Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Ankara. There have also been signs of a less confrontational Turkish foreign policy since Yildirim took over from Ahmet Davutoglu as premier in May. For Soner Cagaptay, director of the Turkish Research Programme at The Washington Institute, stopping Kurdish advances in the north was now Ankara's primary goal in Syria rather than Assad's removal. "Following the ouster of Ahmet Davutoglu, the architect of Turkey's foreign policy in the last decade, Ankara has recalibrated its Syria policy. "Blocking PYD Kurdish advances in Syria, previously Ankaras secondary goal, now trumps Turkey's erstwhile policy of ousting the Assad regime." Map locating the northern Syrian town Jarablus, targeted by Turkish artillery Turkish army tanks and pro-Ankara Syrian opposition fighter trucks pictured two kilometres west of the Syrian town of Jarabulus, in an image taken from the Turkish border city of Karkamis on August 24, 2016 Bulent Kilic (AFP) Pakistan's largest city Karachi elects prisoner as mayor The Pakistani port megacity of Karachi Wednesday elected as mayor a politician who is currently in jail on sedition and terrorism charges, a day after the leader of his party was charged with treason. Waseem Akhtar, a former minister and parliamentarian of the influential Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), won the mayoral poll by a landslide with 196 of the total 294 votes cast by the city's municipal authorities. Akhtar was arrested in July and accused of ordering a crackdown on city riots in 2007, when he was serving as provincial home minister, that resulted in a bloody massacre. Newly elected mayor of Karachi of the influential Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) party, Waseem Akhtar (left) speaks to media representatives after winning the mayoral election in Karachi on August 24, 2016 Rizwan Tabassum (AFP) Later he was also booked on sedition and terrorism charges. The MQM has long dominated Karachis politics, largely thanks to the support of Mohajirs, a group of well-off Muslims who migrated from India in the 1940s. The movement has a stranglehold on the council of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, which elected Akhtar, the MQM's chosen candidate, from among its members. "I have been languishing in jail for the past month on false charges, but the people have voted for me," Akhtar told media outside the historic Karachi Metropolitan Corporation building before being escorted by police to a prison van. He vowed to seek his freedom in court -- but said if he is denied, he will "solve the public's problems from jail". - Highly influential figure - Akhtar was elected after a turbulent two days in Karachi politics that centred on his party's exiled leader, Altaf Hussain. MQM activists clashed with police and ransacked a private television station in the southern city Monday, leaving at least one man dead and seven injured, after Hussain gave a telephone address to supporters from London in which he castigated the media for their coverage. Security forces arrested some of his party leaders and shut down their headquarters before charging Hussain with treason and inciting terrorism Tuesday. His own second-in-command, Farooq Sattar, disowned him at a press conference later that day, accusing him of repeatedly embarrassing the party and vowing the MQM should be run from Pakistan. Akhtar appeared to be trying to distance himself from the furore Wednesday. "I am not the mayor of MQM. I am the mayor of Karachi," he said. The MQM, run by Hussain from London, has long been blamed for ethnic violence in Karachi, and accused of using extortion and murder to cement its grip on power. It has clashed repeatedly with authorities who, according to rights groups, have resorted to hundreds of extra-judicial killings during a "clean-up" operation that began in 2013 in a city already plagued by violence. Last year Pakistani police registered a case under terrorism laws against Hussain over a speech criticising the country's powerful military establishment. Previous charges have not resulted in action or extradition requests against Hussain, who has lived in London since fleeing a military operation against his party in 1992 and is a British citizen. Hussain remains a highly influential figure in Karachi, Pakistan's economic centre and main port, though observers believe his grip on power is gradually diminishing in his absence and his party is no longer the force it once was. Militants storm American University in Kabul Explosions and gunfire rang out as militants stormed the elite American University of Afghanistan in Kabul Wednesday, prompting desperate calls for help from students trapped inside classrooms, in the latest attack in the Afghan capital. At least one person was killed and 26 others were wounded in the assault, which comes just weeks after two university professors -- an American and an Australian -- were kidnapped at gunpoint near the school. Dozens of heavily-armed troops cordoned off the area after the attack started on Wednesday evening, when the private university is usually packed with students, many of them working professionals doing part-time courses. Afghan security personnel stand guard near the site of explosion that targeted the elite American University of Afghanistan in Kabul on August 24, 2016 Wakil Kohsar (AFP) "I heard explosions and gunfire is going on close by... our classroom is filled with smoke and dust," said an anxious student. "We are stuck inside and very afraid," she told AFP by telephone. Many other trapped students were tweeting desperate messages for help, with some using classroom furniture to barricade the doors. Among them was Associated Press photojournalist Massoud Hossaini, who was said to be wounded and later managed to escape with some fellow students. "Many students have been evacuated," said interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi, adding that special forces were still carrying out clearance operations more than five hours after the attack began. "We are not sure about the number of attackers," Sediqqi told AFP, refusing to confirm whether any hostages had been taken. NATO military advisers were helping Afghan forces to respond to the attack, a US official said, without specifying how many troops were involved. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the assault, but the attack comes as Taliban insurgents step up their summer fighting season against the Western-backed Kabul government. Kabul-based journalist Ahmad Mukhtar, a university student, tweeted that he managed to escape but "several of my friends and professors (are) trapped inside". Many of the wounded were rushed into waiting ambulances outside the university on stretchers, as erratic gunshots rang out from inside the campus. Some of the 26 wounded were in serious condition, said health ministry spokesman Waheed Majroh, who also reported one fatality. - Taliban offensive - The American University of Afghanistan, which opened in 2006 and enrols more than 1,700 students, is seen as a high-profile target for militants partly because it attracts foreign faculty members. The two foreign professors at the university were seized from their vehicle on August 7, as the kidnappers smashed the passenger window and hauled them away at gunpoint. It appeared to be the first reported abduction related to a private university in Afghanistan. Their whereabouts are still unknown and no group so far has publicly claimed responsibility for the abductions, the latest in a series of kidnappings in the conflict-torn country. The Afghan capital is infested with organised criminal gangs who stage kidnappings for ransom, often targeting foreigners and wealthy Afghans, and sometimes handing them over to insurgent groups. The uptick in violence comes as the Taliban escalate nationwide attacks, underscoring the worsening security situation in Afghanistan. Afghan forces backed by US troops are seeking to head off a potential Taliban takeover of Lashkar Gah, the capital of the southern opium-rich province of Helmand. The turmoil convulsing Helmand, blighted by a huge opium harvest that helps fund the insurgency, has left thousands of people displaced, sparking a humanitarian crisis as officials report food and water shortages. The Taliban have also closed in on Kunduz -- the northern city they briefly seized last year in their biggest military victory so far -- leaving Afghan forces stretched on multiple fronts. But coalition forces have insisted that neither Kunduz nor Lashkar Gah are at risk of falling to the insurgents. An injured Afghan man lays on a stretcher in an ambulance near the site of an explosion that targeted the elite American University of Afghanistan in Kabul on August 24, 2016 Wakil Kohsar (AFP/File) Militants attack American Univerity in Kabul Simon MALFATTO, Kun TIAN (AFP) Nigeria 'terror mastermind' appeals conviction by S.Africa court A Nigerian jailed in Johannesburg for a series of terror attacks in his homeland on Wednesday appealed his conviction, challenging South Africa's right to try him, his lawyer said. Henry Okah is serving 24 years behind bars for masterminding a series of terror attacks, including twin bombings which killed 12 people in the Nigerian capital Abuja during independence day celebrations in 2010. The bombs exploded outside a venue where the 50th anniversary was being marked, with several foreign heads of state attending. Nigerian Henry Okah (L), pictured February 28, 2013, was put on trial in South Africa, where he has permanent residence, on charges of orchestrating the bombings from his home in Johannesburg and was convicted in early 2013 on 13 terror charges Alexander Joe (AFP/File) He was put on trial in South Africa, where he has permanent residence, on charges of orchestrating the bombings from his home in Johannesburg and was convicted in early 2013 on 13 terror charges. He has denied any involvement in the blasts and said the charges against him were politically motivated. His appeal hinges on whether his host country had the jurisdiction to try him. "Judgement has been reserved and we don't know when it will be handed down," his lawyer Idemudia Uriesi told AFP. Okah's appeal was first heard by the Supreme Court of Appeals in November 2014, but was adjourned indefinitely after his legal team decided to launch a constitutional challenge to his original conviction. Okah, who was also convicted over two other explosions in 2010 in the southern Nigerian city of Warri, a major hub of the oil-rich Delta region, was the presumed leader of the Nigerian militant group Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). MEND claimed responsibility for the bombings. The group has since 2006 been demanding reparations and a fair share of oil revenue for residents of the Niger Delta. Israeli army closes file on 2014 Gaza school shelling The Israeli army said Wednesday it has closed its file on the deadly shelling of a UN school in Gaza during the 2014 war but other cases are still being investigated. It did not give details of ongoing investigations but said three soldiers had been charged with looting and related offences. Among the cases where no wrongdoing was found, it said in a 21-page report, was the shelling of a United Nations school in the southern Gaza town of Rafah in which 10 people died. Smoke rises following an Israeli strike in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip on August 3, 2014 Mahmud Hams (AFP/File) The attack was strongly condemned by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, while the United States called it "disgraceful". French President Francois Hollande said the bombing was "unacceptable" and called for those responsible to "answer for their actions". The military report said that shortly before the incident three Palestinian fighters were spotted riding a motorcycle in Rafah. A decision was made to make an air strike on them using a low-explosive missile to minimise damage to surroundings and after a sweep of the area showed no civilians in harm's way. It said that after the missile was launched the men unexpectedly headed off a roundabout with multiple exits, toward the school gate. "At the moment upon which the motorbike exited the traffic circle and started to travel along the road bordering the wall which surrounded the school, it was no longer possible to divert the munition which had been fired at the motorbike," the English-language document said. "The strike on the motorbike riders occurred immediately after the motorbike passed by the gate of the school," it added. "Three (Palestinian) military operatives were among the fatalities." The report said the Military Advocate General's examination concluded that proper procedures were followed. "MAG found that the targeting process in question accorded with Israeli domestic law and international law requirements," it wrote. "The decision to strike was taken by the competent authorities, and the object of the attack was lawful -- military operatives." - 'Regrettable' that civilians harmed - The July-August 2014 war between Israel and Gaza militants killed more than 2,200 Palestinians and 73 people on the Israeli side, and destroyed or damaged thousands of homes in Gaza. A United Nations commission of inquiry announced in June 2015 it had received "credible allegations" that both sides had committed war crimes. Israel's own report, published a week before, defended its conduct in the fighting as both "lawful" and "legitimate". It acknowledged that "numerous civilians were caught in the hostilities" but added that Israel "did not intentionally target civilians or civilian objects". The Palestinians have signed up to the International Criminal Court to pursue charges against Israel, and several rights groups have accused it of using indiscriminate force against civilians and residential buildings, including UN facilities. They also accused Hamas of exploiting the fighting to execute Palestinian rivals and alleged Palestinian armed groups committed war crimes with "indiscriminate" rocket fire. Wednesday's military report said investigators had also found no criminal conduct regarding a number of air strikes on residential buildings. In one case it cited media reports that seven members of the Ziyadeh family died in a raid on Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza. It said the target building "was being used as an active command and control centre by the Hamas terror organisation" and militants inside were engaged at the time in activity endangering troops in the area. "Among the casualties were three military operatives in the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror organisations, who were members of the Ziyadeh family, as well as the senior military operative... Mohammed Muqadama," the army said. "The fact that, in practice, civilians who were uninvolved in the hostilities were harmed, is a regrettable result, but does not affect the legality of the attack ex post facto," it wrote. Conjoined newborn Syrian twins die: Red Crescent One-month-old conjoined twins evacuated from a besieged area near Damascus died Wednesday in the capital, despite a campaign to send them abroad for surgery, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent said. "The twins died on Wednesday and they will be buried tomorrow in Damascus in the presence of their mother," spokeswoman Mona Kourdi told AFP. The two boys, Moaz and Nawras, were joined at the chest. Syria's five-year conflict has taken a heavy toll on children, with thousands living in besieged areas subject to air strikes and shortages of food and other essentials Amer Almohibany (AFP/File) They were evacuated on August 12 from Eastern Ghouta, which is besieged by Syrian government forces, after a campaign on Twitter under the hashtag #Evacuatethetwins. Born in the rebel-held district of Hammuriyeh, the twins were admitted to hospital in Damascus awaiting their transfer abroad for possible life-saving surgery. "They suffered from heart and liver defects and... were in a severe state of health," the Red Crescent said in a statement. Katoub Mohamad of the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) charity accused the Syrian authorities of delaying their transfer. "We received several offers from hospitals and physicians... to help the twins... but the problem was the transfer," Mohamad told AFP from Turkey. "The foreign ministry did not authorise the babies to travel without passports, while SAMS was informed by the State Department that the US was ready to receive them without documents," he said. Kourdi denied this, saying "the delay was due to their health condition". The Red Crescent said the passports had been delivered to those caring for them and "that official approval was secured after an Italian hospital had agreed to receive them." Syria's five-year conflict has taken a heavy toll on children, with thousands living in besieged areas subject to air strikes and shortages of food and other essentials. Top US medical group blasts EpiPen's 'exorbitant' costs The American Medical Association urged the maker of the EpiPen, a life-saving device that counteracts severe allergies, to drop its price Wednesday as public outrage mounted over a soaring cost hike. Mylan Pharmaceuticals has come under fire for raising the price of epinephrine injectors from $100 to $500 over the course of five years, a price tag critics say puts it out of reach for many parents. EpiPens are used when those suffering severe allergies are stung by bees or accidentally ingest peanuts to ward off potentially deadly reactions. Mylan Pharmaceuticals has come under fire for raising the price of epinephrine injectors from $100 to $500 over the course of five years Lucas Trieb (AFP) "Although the product is unchanged since 2009, the cost has skyrocketed by more than 400 percent during that period," AMA President Andrew Gurman said in a statement. "The AMA has long urged the pharmaceutical industry to exercise reasonable restraint in drug pricing, and, with lives on the line, we urge the manufacturer to do all it can to rein in these exorbitant costs." A petition on MoveOn.org calling on Mylan CEO Heather Bresch to "stop price-gouging" has garnered more than 129,000 signatures. A pair of EpiPens costs just $85 in France, the petition notes. "Mylan, which has a near monopoly in the US, has seen its profits from the EpiPen alone skyrocket to $1.2 billion a year," it says. - 'Moral questions' - Asked at a White House press briefing about the EpiPen price hike, spokesman Josh Earnest declined to comment specifically on the company's strategy. "I will observe, however, that pharmaceutical companies that often try to portray themselves as the inventors of lifesaving medication often do real damage to their reputation by being greedy and jacking up prices in a way that victimizes vulnerable Americans," he told reporters. "And I think it raises significant questions, even moral questions, in the minds of a lot of people." Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton also called for the EpiPen price to come down, noting that millions of people rely on the epinephrine injectors, which must be replaced every 12-18 months. She called the price hike "outrageous -- and it's just the latest troubling example of a company taking advantage of its consumers," in a statement on Facebook. "It's wrong when drug companies put profits ahead of patients, raising prices without justifying the value behind them," added Clinton. She said if elected, her plan would be to require pharmaceutical manufacturers "to explain significant price increases, and prove that any additional costs are linked to additional patient benefits and better value. "Since there is no apparent justification in this case, I am calling on Mylan to immediately reduce the price of EpiPens." Members of Congress have also expressed concern about the price hike, and some have called for hearings on Capitol Hill to force Mylan executives to explain themselves. Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar, whose daughter relies on EpiPen to protect her from the effects of anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction, has called on the Federal Trade Commission to launch an anti-trust investigation. Israel jazz fest trumpets local talent against jihadist backdrop A jazz festival within rocket range of jihadist fighters might sound offbeat but organisers of Israel's Red Sea Jazz Festival are confident no missiles will rain on their parade. For the first time in its 30-year existence, the four-day event, starting Saturday in the seaside resort of Eilat, will be mainly comprised of combos led by Israelis, for whom a security threat is almost part of normal life. The exception will be American keyboard great Chick Corea, who has in the past played the Red Sea festival with Israeli bassist Avishai Cohen and will reunite with him on the same stage in Eilat. Israelis and tourists practice kitesurfing and windsurfing in the Israeli red sea resort city of Eilat, on September 8, 2015 Menahe Kahana (AFP/File) "Even if 100 rockets fly this way, nobody will cancel," the festival's artistic director Eli Degibri told AFP. Calm in Israel's southernmost city has in the past been shattered by rockets fired from neighbouring Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, where jihadists are at war with Egyptian security forces but have also targeted Israel, most recently in July 2014. An attack by gunmen on Israelis on a road just 20 kilometres (12 miles) north of Eilat in August 2011 caused some international artists to cancel performances that year. This year's 30 acts, mostly by Israeli musicians, is expected to attract more than 12,000 people, way above the normal attendance of around 7,500. "This is an artistic concept and out of respect for Israeli jazz," said Degibri, himself a saxophonist who played with some of America's greatest musicians before returning to Israel. "It occurred to me it would be much more special to have this concept," with a heavy reliance on homegrown talent, he said. The Israeli jazz scene has been gaining steam. Some of the musicians at this year's festival -- pianist Shai Maestro, Cohen, trumpeter Avishai Cohen (no relation), guitarist Gilad Hekselman and Degibri himself -- are acclaimed worldwide. Im Confused Again If you chose the wrong answer in the Fellas Pop Quiz, dont feel badly. Its my quiz and I got it wrong also. It's words again. Some words I have been using all my life without giving them a second thought. It has always given me comfort to know I know what they mean. Then the people who are in control of my newspaper go about changing them. It's awfully confusing! This time it is the word "misbehavior". The dictionary defines it as... "To behave (oneself) in an inappropriate way" Misbehave does not sound so bad. Its very definition above says it is only inappropriate. I have yet to see someone sentenced to death or life in prison for exhibiting Gross Misbehavior or Extreme Inappropriateness. Well we learn something new every day. I researched when Sergeant (he was promoted after he was returned to the Army) Bowe Bergdahl is due to go on trial. It looks like it is now scheduled for February 2017. He will be tried for... Desertion & Misbehavior before the Enemy When I read these charges I said to myself... Self, why are they bothering even mentioning the fact that he Misbehaved? Desertion is serious stuff (an act of leaving military service or duty without the intention of returning). Misbehaving sounds like he deliberately kicked over a trash can as he was tiptoeing to the latrine in the middle of the night. My newspaper stepped into the middle of all of this and succeeds in its attempt to Confuse all of us even more... "It was his first court appearance since he was charged in March with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. If convicted of misbehavior, the most serious charge , Bergdahl, 29, could be sentenced to life in prison." If you are a regular reader of my Foolishness, you know that I sometimes am very good with words. In response to the use of the words "misbehavior, the most serious charge" above I am left with... Huh? If Huh? is all I can come up with, I guess Im not so good with words after all. Would I kid u? Smartfella US conducts strikes to support Turkey anti-IS ops in Syria US military aircraft on Wednesday pounded the northern Syrian border town of Jarabulus as part of a Turkish-led effort to push Islamic State group jihadists from the key crossing point. Speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing operations, a US defense official said the US-led coalition against IS had deployed American A-10 "Warthog" ground-attack planes and F-16 fighters to hit jihadist targets. We "are currently conducting air strikes in support of Turkish and vetted Syrian opposition operations against ISIL in Jarabulus," the official said, using an alternate IS acronym. Turkish Syrian border city of Karkamis in the southern region of Gaziantep, on August 24, 2016 shows smoke billows following air strikes by a Turkish Army jet fighter on the Syrian Turkish border village of Jarabulus Bulent Kilic (AFP) The planes would most likely have flown from Incirlik, a nearby Turkish air base that the coalition uses. By Wednesday evening in Syria, rebels said they had seized full control of Jarabulus, which had been held by IS since 2014 and was a key transit point for IS fighters flowing between Syria and Turkey. A second US defense official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said some IS fighters appeared to be attempting to flee Jarabulus, and would be targeted from the air if they are confirmed to be jihadists. Pentagon spokesman Major Adrian Rankine-Galloway added that US surveillance drones were monitoring the region. Earlier Wednesday, a senior official traveling with US Vice President Joe Biden, who arrived in Turkey for meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, spoke to reporters about US involvement in operations. The United States is "syncing up with them, our advisers are in the planning cell with them," he said. Biden is in Turkey in an effort to help improve relations strained by the country's coup d'etat attempt last month. - Kurdish caution - Washington is also helping ensure Kurdish fighters further south do not provoke a conflict with Turkish forces by moving north toward Jarabulus, the official said. The United States has made it clear to the Syrian Democratic Forces, a US-backed Kurdish and Arab alliance, that "we don't and won't support them going north, and they can't without our air cover, so we've put a lid on them moving north," the official traveling with Biden said. "I think we've put a lid on the Turks' biggest concern (which) gives us breathing space to make sure the Jarabulus operation is done the right way." The Turkish operation -- named "Euphrates Shield" -- began early Wednesday with Turkish artillery pounding dozens of IS group targets around Jarabulus, according to the Turkish prime minister's office. "The United States encourages all parties to focus their efforts on ISIL, and we are working with our Turkish allies and our partnered forces in Syria to ensure that ISIL remains everyone's focus," Rankine-Galloway said. Turkish tanks and special forces accompanied by pro-Ankara Syrian rebels then rolled across the border in an unprecedented operation to drive the IS group out of the town from which it has fired rockets into Turkey. Jarabulus had a population of 30,000, half of them displaced from other parts of war-torn Syria, according to Fabrice Balanche, a French expert on the political geography of Syria. Zimbabwe police fire teargas to disperse protest Zimbabwe police on Wednesday fired teargas and water cannon and beat up opposition activists protesting against police brutality, witnesses said. According to an AFP photographer at the scene, around 200 supporters of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) clashed with police who tried to stop the march. "Violence broke out when people retaliated to police beatings by throwing stones at riot police," said an eyewitness who did not want to be named. Firefighters try to estinguish a vehicle on fire after Zimbabwe Opposition Party Movement for Democratic Change Tsvangirai faction (MDC-T) supporters clashed with police during a march against police brutality on August 24, 2016 in Harare Wilfred Kajese (AFP) "I saw police beating protesters and firing teargas and water canons." An AFP photographer saw two police cars being torched. Another car belonging to the national broadcaster, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, was also burned. Police in Zimbabwe often use force to break up protests, beating up civilians and journalists covering demonstrations. On Wednesday, one journalist was injured after being beaten up by police. Zimbabwe has seen an increase in violent protests over the past weeks, with demonstrators calling on veteran President Robert Mugabe to step down. Mugabe, who has been in power since 1980, has overseen an economic collapse that has caused food and cash shortages, with the country battling to pay public servants. A major strike last month spearheaded by an online "ThisFlag" movement led by pastor Evan Mawarire shut down businesses, as protesters voice anger of the economic crisis. On Wednesday, the state-owned Herald newspaper reported that 8,000 jobs would be cut in the agriculture ministry, alongside a freeze in recruitment and promotions of government employees. The lay-offs are like to fuel discontent among a population battling high unemployment and poverty. Zimbabwe spends at least 80 percent of its revenues on state workers' wages, according to officials, while about 90 percent of the population has no formal employment. Morocco rapist of teen who took own life gets 20 years jail A Moroccan court Wednesday handed down a 20-year jail term to an assailant in the gang rape of a teenage girl who later burnt herself alive, a rights group said. Omar Arbib of the Moroccan Association of Human Rights told AFP that the accused on trial in the city of Marrakesh was found guilty of raping a minor and of group violence. The verdict on six other defendants was to be announced on August 31. Sexual harassment is commonplace in Morocco, despite the adoption of a new constitution in 2011 that enshrines gender equality and urges the state to promote it At the end of last year, a group of young men abducted Khadija Souidi, who was then 16, from her hometown in Ben Guerir, north of Marrakesh, "and then took turns to rape her", Arbib said last week. The girl's family lodged a complaint and police arrested several suspects, although the prosecutor granted them a provisional release. Arbib said that after being freed they threatened the girl, saying they would "publish pictures of the rape which they had taken with their mobile phones unless she drops the complaint against them". "This is the reason why... she set herself on fire" in a street of Ben Guerir at the end of July, Arbib said. Souidi suffered third degree burns and died the next day in hospital, he said, adding that the autopsy showed that she was pregnant. Her death prompted the prosecutor to order the arrests. Sexual harassment is commonplace in Morocco, despite the adoption of a new constitution in 2011 that enshrines gender equality and urges the state to promote it. Moroccan NGOs say 80 percent of sexual attacks affect children, aged mostly between five and 14, and that in a high percentage of cases the assailants are family members. In January 2014, Morocco scrapped a controversial law that allowed rapists of children to escape punishment if they marry their victims. Burkini ban: US warns tourists to obey French law The United States said Wednesday it does not support bans by French resorts on Muslim swimwear but warned American travelers that they should obey local laws Dozens of French resorts have banned beachwear that "conspicuously" shows a person's religion, an order targeting the "burkini" -- a full-body swimsuit worn by some Muslim women. In response to a reporter's question as to whether the United States would update its travel advice to warn Muslim Americans, a US official advised them to obey the rules. Dozens of French resorts have banned beachwear that "conspicuously" shows a person's religion such as a "burkini" -- a full-body swimsuit for Muslim women Fethi Belaid (AFP/File) "Of course we believe in the ability of people to express their religious views as they see fit, and we believe that in this case as well," State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau told reporters. "US citizens are advised to comply with local law regardless of what country they visit. But on this particular very local ordinance, I would refer you to the French." Pentagon identifies US soldier killed in Afghanistan The Pentagon on Wednesday identified a US soldier who was killed by a roadside bomb near the capital of Afghanistan's volatile Helmand province. Army Staff Sergeant Matthew Thompson died while on patrol near Lashkar Gah on Tuesday. Another American and six Afghan soldiers were also wounded in the blast. Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers patrol during an ongoing battle with Taliban militants in the Nad Ali district of Helmand on December 22, 2015 Noor Mohammad (AFP/File) According to a statement, Thompson, from Irvine, California, was 28. "I extend our sincere condolences to the family, friends and Sergeant Thompson's fellow service members, as well as gratitude for his selfless and honorable service," said General Joseph Votel, who heads US Central Command. Thompson was the first American combat fatality in Afghanistan since January, when a US soldier was killed while conducting a mission with Afghan special forces in Helmand's Marjah district. South Africa documents may offer clues on UN chief's death UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday pushed for a further inquiry of the mysterious 1961 plane crash that killed ex-UN chief Dag Hammarskjold, saying documents from South Africa may help shed light. The former secretary-general died when his plane crashed on September 17 or 18, 1961, near Ndola in Northern Rhodesia, now known as Zambia. The cause of the crash has never been established. The UN General Assembly in December 2014 adopted a resolution that called for a full investigation to finally shed light on ex-UN chief Dag Hammarskjold's death Anwar Amro (AFP/File) Ban proposed appointing an eminent person to review documents and "communications" from various individuals before re-opening the inquiry. Of particular interest is whether South Africa will be able to recover the original documents detailing a purported plot to kill Hammarskjold code-named Operation Celeste. The alleged plot came to light in 1998 when South Africa's truth and reconciliation commission received a file on the clandestine operation that may have involved a maritime research institute acting as a front for mercenaries. A panel appointed by Ban last year was unable to conclude whether the "Operation Celeste" documents were authentic because it examined "poor quality copies", Ban said in a report to the General Assembly. That inquiry however said that there was enough information to pursue leads on whether the plane was shot down or the target of "other interference as a hypothesis of the possible cause of the crash." Ban said that if South Africa can provide the original documents, it may be possible to conduct forensic tests to determine whether they are fake. "Whether the documents are authentic or not would allow the hypothesis relating to 'Operation Celeste' to be either supported or dispelled, either of which would be a contribution to the historical record," Ban added. In a letter included in Ban's report, South Africa offered its full support for the investigation and said it had ordered a search of documents and records concerning Hammarskjold's death. The eminent person tasked with reviewing the documents "would be in a position to determine the scope that any further inquiry or investigation should take," said Ban. The UN General Assembly in December 2014 adopted a resolution that called for a full investigation to finally shed light on the Swedish diplomats death. Tunisia unity govt to be unchanged despite doubts: source Tunisia's proposed unity government line-up will remain unchanged despite reservations among several allied parties ahead of a vote of confidence, a source close to premier-designate Youssef Chahed said Wednesday. The North African country's parliament is to meet on Friday to hold the vote of confidence on the unity government announced at the weekend by Chahed. Since the announcement, many have voiced criticism about some ministerial candidates, with media reports raising the possibility of last-minute changes. Tunisia's premier-designate Youssef Chahed speaks during a press conference to present his proposed new unity government list after he submitted it to the president on August 20, 2016 in Carthage, near the capital Tunis Fethi Belaid (AFP/File) "There will be no changes," a source close to the prime minister-designate told AFP. "He will go ahead and accept responsibility," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. One of the most critical allied parties, Afek Tounes, which was already part of the previous coalition, also announced in the evening, after a vote, that its 10 members would back the new line-up. "We were divided. There are reservations about some names and we are not alone in this," said its president, Yassine Brahim. "But the country is in a difficult situation and cannot wait any longer," he said, adding that his party, which has two ministers in the new team, would keep a "critical distance". The leading political force in the parliament, the Islamist Ennahda party is also set to vote in favour of the new government, despite saying on Sunday that it had "some reservations" about the line-up. If parliament confirms his cabinet, Chahed, 40, would become Tunisia's youngest prime minister since the North African country won independence from France in 1956. Chahed was appointed by President Beji Caid Essebsi on August 3 after lawmakers passed a vote of no confidence in premier Habib Essid's government after just 18 months in office. On Saturday, Chahed -- a member of Essebsi's Nidaa Tounes party -- said he would head a 27-member cabinet that includes 14 ministers of state, eight women and 14 "young" ministers. The new government would have to tackle the economic and social crises gripping the country since the 2011 revolution that toppled longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. IMF approves $720 mn Jordan loan deal The International Monetary Fund said Wednesday it has approved a $723 million three-year line of credit to Jordan aimed at boosting the kingdom at a time of war in the region. "The executive board of the International Monetary Fund today approved a three-year extended arrangement under the extended fund facility for Jordan," the Fund said in a statement. It said the $723 million loan amounting to 150 percent of Jordan's quota was to support the country's "economic and financial reform program". Jordan's economy has been rattled from conflicts in neighbouring Syria and Iraq Khalil Mazraawi (AFP/File) "This program aims at advancing fiscal consolidation to lower public debt and broad structural reforms to enhance the conditions for more inclusive growth," it added. Following the decision, about $72.3 million was to be made available for "immediate disbursement," it said, with the remainder to be phased in for the duration of the program, subject to reviews. Jordan's economy has been rattled from conflicts in neighbouring Syria and Iraq. Unemployment has jumped to 14 percent of the kingdom's population of 9.5 million, with the young the worst hit, according to government figures, while unofficial estimates put it as high as 30 percent. President Bashar-al Assad and ISIS have both used chemical weapons on Syrian people, a UN report has found. Assad has repeatedly denied using chemical weapons against his own people despite mounting evidence against him. But a UN report found the Syrian regime was responsible for dropping chemical weapons - likely chlorine gas - on two villages in Idlib in 2014 and 2015. Meanwhile ISIS were the culprits behind a mustard gas attack on a town in northern Aleppo, the report found. The White House last night condemned the attacks and the UN is likely to impose sanctions against Assad's regime next week. President Bashar-al Assad and ISIS have both used chemical weapons against Syrian people, a UN report found. Pictured, a man receives treatment at a hospital in Sarmin, Syria, after a chlorine gas attack A UN report found the Syrian regime was responsible for dropping chemical weapons - likely chlorine gas - on two villages in Idlib in 2014 and 2015. Pictured, a man receives treatment at a hospital in Sarmin, Syria, after a chlorine gas attack The Syrian regime was found to be behind the attacks on Talmenes on April 21, 2014 and Sarmin on March 16, 2015. In both instances, Syrian air force helicopters dropped 'a device' on houses that was followed by the 'release of a toxic substance', which in the case of Sarmin matched 'the characteristics of chlorine'. Assad had claimed Syrian rebels or ISIS were responsible for the attacks, despite Britain, the U.S., and France pointing out that only Damascus has helicopters. But Russia, an ally of Syria, said there was no concrete proof, leading to the commissioning of the report, written by the Joint Investigative Mechanism. Britain, France and the United States had long maintained that only the regime has helicopters, but Russia, Damascus' ally, insisted that there was no concrete proof that Assad's forces carried out the attacks. The report found ISIS 'was the only entity with the ability, capability, motive and the means to use sulphur mustard' in an attack on the town of Marea in northern Aleppo on August 21, 2015. Syrian air force helicopters dropped 'a device' on houses that was followed by the 'release of a toxic substance', which in the case of Sarmin matched 'the characteristics of chlorine'. Pictured, a man receives treatment at a hospital in Sarmin, Syria, after a chlorine gas attack The UN commission did not have enough evidence to rule which side was responsible for six other chemical attacks in Syria. The White House condemned the Syrian regime's use of chemical weapons last night. 'It is now impossible to deny that the Syrian regime has repeatedly used industrial chlorine as a weapon against its own people,' U.S. National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said. 'The United States will work with our international partners to seek accountability through appropriate diplomatic mechanisms. 'We urge all UN member states and parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention, including Russia and Iran, to participate in this effort. US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power called for 'strong and swift action' by the Security Council. 'It is essential that the members of the Security Council come together to ensure consequences for those who have used chemical weapons in Syria,' she said. The White House condemned the Syrian regime's use of chemical weapons last night. Pictured, a man receives treatment in Sarmin, Syria, after a chlorine gas attack The UN Security Council will discuss the report next week and is likely to impose sanctions on Assad's regime. It could also ask the International Criminal Court to investigate the matter as a war crime, but Russia is unlikely to support such a move. 'The UN Security Council should now ensure that those responsible for these attacks are brought to justice in a court of law,' said Louis Charbonneau, Human Rights Watch's UN director. A U.S.-led military intervention in Syria looked to be on the cards in 2013 until Assad agreed to hand over the country's chemical weapons stockpile. Jury convicts man of murder in Quebec election rally killing MONTREAL (AP) A jury has convicted a Quebec man of second-degree murder in the fatal election-night shooting of a lighting technician at a rally where the province's then-separatist leader was celebrating her party's victory. A jury also found Richard Henry Bain guilty on Tuesday of three counts of attempted murder. Bain was convicted of killing Denis Blanchette outside a Montreal nightclub as then-Parti Quebecois leader Pauline Marois was inside celebrating the pro-independence Francophone party's election victory Bain's lawyer argued he was mentally ill. The prosecution countered that the crimes were deliberate and politically motivated by anger over the PQ victory. Bain, 65, was heavily armed and wearing a blue bathrobe when he killed Blanchette before his rifle jammed. Transgender Students and Public Schools Gender is one of those things everyone thinks they understand, but most people don't. Like Inception. Gender isn't binary. It's not either/or. In many cases, it's both/and. A bit of this, a dash of that. Should Americans be thankful for North Carolinians setting precedent in taking a stand for their state's right to manage the safety of their public facilities, where separation of the sexes remains, or should they follow Bruce Springsteen's lead and boycott the state as bigots since they will not allow grown Transgender men to use the same bathrooms /locker rooms as pre-pubescent girls? North Carolina is right to control the separation of the sexes as a matter of decorum and safety. North Carolina is a bigoted state to not require that children of opposite sexes share the same public facilities with adults of the opposite sex, although misidentified - the Transgender. I generally prefer the natural environs of the vacant, although rather public, large tree. 236 total vote(s) What's your Opinion? House Bill 2, the so-called "bathroom bill," requires public schools and public agencies to ensure that "every multiple occupancy bathroom or changing facility be designated for and only used by persons based on their biological sex." According to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI), local school boards ultimately determine the parameters of bathroom access for transgender students and appear to do so without incident Of course, access to bathrooms and locker rooms is only one aspect of the challenges that educators encounter when trying to meet the needs of transgender students.Fortunately, NC DPI staff offered guidance to school-based personnel who must accommodate students who identify as transgender. During NC DPI's 2015 Collaborative Conference for Student Achievement, former NC Department of Public Instruction HIV Consultant Sherry Lehman conducted a breakout session titled, "Meeting the Needs of Transgender Students." It appears to be a follow-up to her presentation , "How to be an Ally for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, 2-Spirited Youth," delivered at the 2013 conference.According to Lehman, her most recent session was designed to provide "the latest research and best practices for appropriately addressing the needs of these students." Doing so is straightforward, so long as educators adopt alternative ideas about gender, incorporate new ways of talking about gender inside the classroom, and provide additional support for transgender students outside of the classroom.Using the image of the " Genderbread Person v2.0 " from itspronouncedmetrosexual.com , the presenter introduces a novel way to think about gender. According to this paradigm,According to itspronouncedmetrosexual.com, there are an infinite number of gender identities, ranging from the conventional "man" and "woman" to "genderqueer," "genderless," etc. Similarly, there are an infinite number of gender expressions and even biological sexes that depend largely on the degree to which the individual maintains a unique combination of feminine and masculine characteristics.Obviously, the use of binary pronouns "he" and "she" is inappropriate in such a system, given that gender includes a "bit of this, a dash of that." As such, Lehman outlined the use of gender-neutral pronouns. For example, they advised educators to replace "he" or "she" with "ze" (pronounced "zee") and "hir" (pronounced "here"). Interestingly, there are lexicons of gender-neutral pronouns that may be used in lieu of conventional gender-specific pronouns. Needless to say, these alternatives have not been widely adopted, even by the progressive among us.Lehman also urged educators to evaluate and attend to the physical and emotional safety of schools for transgender youth. According to data cited by Lehman, four out of every ten transgender students "have been prevented from using their preferred name." Around 60 percent were required to "use a bathroom or locker room of their legal sex." Nearly one-third of transgender students "had been prevented from wearing clothes considered inappropriate based on their legal sex." The presenter suggested that these prohibitions on gender expression, coupled with harassment by peers, may contribute to increased absenteeism, academic difficulties, low self-esteem, and higher levels of depression among the transgender student population.To address some of these problems, Lehman recommended making "trans-positive" changes in areas such as student recordkeeping, bathroom accessibility, and physical education and sports. She also promoted the GSA Network's Advisor Handbook to guide the creation of a Gay-Straight Alliance or similar LGBT support club.Teachers may find it difficult, however, to redefine conventional understanding of gender and sex for themselves and their students, modify language to correspond to their new (non-binary) understanding of these concepts, implement transgender-friendly policies from home to hallway, and tap the resources of national groups to establish support groups for transgender youth in public schools. Fortunately for NC Healthy Schools staff at DPI, the debate surrounding House Bill 2 has renewed awareness of transgender issues and various recommendations on how to address them. The approach favored by NC DPI is one way. School choice may provide another Nicaraguan teacher arrested for helping Congo immigrant MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) Police announced Tuesday that they arrested a schoolteacher earlier this month for allegedly aiding a migrant from the African nation of Congo to cross the border along with her 10-month-old baby girl. Assistant national police director Francisco Diaz said teacher Nilamar Aleman was detained Aug. 13 after giving the Congolese woman a false identity card. Dozens of protesters turned out in the border town of San Juan del Sur to march in support of Aleman, saying she was only trying to help the woman. "Helping someone who is looking for a better life is not a crime!" read one of the placards carried by supporters. Luis Miguel Olivares, one of the organizers of the march, noted the migrants "are not coming to stay in Nicaragua, they just want to pass through." He suggested that Haitian migrants might be mixed among those previously assumed to be from Africa. Hundreds of migrants, many apparently from Africa, have been stuck in neighboring Costa Rica since Nicaragua closed its borders to people without required travel documents in March. Stanford judge reignites debate after leaving other sex case SAN FRANCISCO (AP) The Northern California judge who sentenced a former Stanford University swimmer to six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman reignited debate Tuesday about his ability to serve on the bench after removing himself from a separate sex-crimes case. Santa Clara County Judge Aaron Persky formally recused himself Monday from deciding whether to reduce a San Jose plumber's felony child pornography charges to misdemeanors. A law professor called the move unusual and said it makes it look like Persky is susceptible to "political pressure." It's the second sex-crimes case that Persky has departed since his June sentencing of 20-year-old Brock Turner exploded in national media. It comes amid an effort to recall Persky and a formal misconduct complaint that a women's advocacy group filed with the state agency that disciplines judges. FILE - This June 27, 2011 file photo shows Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky, who drew criticism for sentencing former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner to only six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman. The California judge has recused himself from making his first key decision in another sex case. The Mercury News reported Monday, Aug. 22, 2016 that Persky filed a statement saying that some people might doubt that he could be impartial. The judge is the target of a recall campaign after he sentenced a former Stanford swimmer to six months in jail for sexually assaulting an intoxicated woman. (Jason Doiy/The Recorder via AP, File) Another judge will rule on Robert Chain's child porn case in October. "While on vacation earlier this month, my family and I were exposed to publicity surrounding this case," the judge wrote in a brief ruling. "This publicity has resulted in a personal family situation such that 'a person aware of the facts might reasonably entertain a doubt that the judge would be able to be impartial.'" Persky didn't respond to requests for comment. Two attorneys who argue cases in his courtroom have backed up his abilities. Santa Clara County deputy public defender Gary Goodman in June called him a "solid and respected judge," while defense attorney Barbara Muller said he's "one of the fairest judges" in the county. In Chain's case, Persky said last year that he was "receptive" to reducing the conviction if Chain stayed sober and out of trouble for a year. Persky, who has handled the case since early 2015, sentenced Chain to four days in jail and ordered him to register for life as a sex offender after he pleaded guilty to possessing dozens of sexually explicit images of children. The judge said he would consider reducing the conviction if Chain complied with the terms of his probation. Chain's lawyer, Brian Madden, has said his client "worked hard" to turn around his life since his 2014 arrest, including receiving alcohol abuse counseling. Madden didn't return a phone call Tuesday. University of California, Berkeley, law professor Christopher Kutz said "no formal or actual conflict" appears to exist between Persky and the child porn case, but the "appearance that he seems susceptible to political pressure" does. "It's a very unusual case," Kutz said. It comes two months after the district attorney's office removed Persky from a different sexual assault case, saying "we lack confidence" in the judge's ability to decide it impartially. Organizers of an effort to get Persky removed from the bench say they will begin collecting signatures in April to qualify the issue for the November 2017 ballot. "Case after case, Judge Persky has demonstrated that his own personal bias compels him to prioritize the well-being of privileged men rapists, abusers and possessors of child porn over the survivors of their crimes," said Nita Chaudhary, co-founder of women's advocacy group UltraViolet, which has asked the Commission on Judicial Performance to remove Persky. The six-month sentence he handed down to Turner, a Dayton, Ohio, resident who had been attending Stanford on a swimming scholarship, drew outrage. Persky cited a probation department recommendation and the effect the conviction will have on Turner's life. A jury convicted the former Olympic hopeful of sexually assaulting a young woman he met at a campus fraternity party in January 2015 after she passed out behind a trash bin. The two had been drinking heavily. The case sparked a national debate on college drinking and sexual assault. Stanford unveiled a revised student alcohol policy on Monday, banning hard alcohol from undergraduate parties and shots from graduate gatherings in an effort to combat binge drinking. Beer and wine are still allowed, a policy that the Distilled Spirits Council says "sends a dangerous message to college students" that beer and wine are "softer" than hard liquor. AP NewsBreak: Feds want to ban swimming with Hawaii dolphins HONOLULU (AP) Federal regulators are proposing to ban swimming with dolphins in Hawaii, a move that could imperil one of the Aloha State's most popular tourist activities and the industry that has sprung up around it. The National Marine Fisheries Service says spinner dolphins the playful nocturnal species that humans in Hawaii routinely frolic with are being deprived of rest during the day and becoming stressed out. Swimming with dolphins is popular with visitors and some locals, with dozens of companies on Kauai, Oahu, Maui and the Big Island operating dolphin tours daily. FILE - This Jan. 21, 2016 file photo shows tourists looking out on the horizon as their boat searches for dolphins in waters off Waianae, Hawaii. Federal regulators are proposing a widespread ban on swimming with Hawaii's spinner dolphins to allow the nocturnal creatures to rest during the day. The National Marine Fisheries Service proposal announced Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016, would allow some limited exceptions, given dolphins sometimes approach people. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy, File) The proposed rule could shut down or greatly disrupt the industry as it now operates. That's because the ban would cover waters out to 2 nautical miles, which is where 98 percent of Hawaii's spinner dolphins rest after they've spent the night feeding. Tour companies take customers to these close-to-shore waters to find dolphins. There has to be a middle ground between the dolphin tour operators and what federal regulators are proposing, said Richard Holland, CEO of Dolphins and You, which takes about 80 customers on tours to waters off Oahu's Waianae Coast each day. Customer reviews of his business on social media and other online sites often mention how their lives have been changed by going on a tour, he said. "If you're doing work that helps people that enlightens them, inspires them, makes them feel good that's a good thing. There's no need to take that away," Holland said. Ann Garrett, assistant regional administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service's protected resources division for the Pacific Islands, said dolphins have been found to be burning calories at a higher rate because they are forced to be vigilant as people approach their pods. "All of these things can contribute to a reduction of fitness over time this kind of chronic level of stress. That's what we're concerned about," Garrett said. Scientists have not done any studies on how frolicking with humans has affected the dolphins' numbers. But they fear the stress will harm the animals' ability to reproduce. The federal agency plans to hold public meetings on the regulations next month and expects to make a final decision next year. Garrett said Tuesday that the agency aims to require swimmers, snorkelers and others in the water to stay at least 50 yards from the animals. She said tour operators can follow this rule and still make a living. She said some already do so voluntarily. Under the proposed rules, "those that are putting their people in the water to interact with dolphins, this would change the nature of what they're doing," she said. "They could still do snorkeling for other reasons it's just not setting their people within a pod of dolphins or within 50 yards of a dolphin." Cynthia Weber, a visitor from Santa Cruz, California, said she thinks the regulators should go even further and require people stay 200 yards away from dolphins. The writer and artist said intentionally going into wildlife areas jeopardizes the animals. Hawaii's spinner dolphins get their name from their habit of leaping in the air and spinning around. Some scientists say such behavior is not always playfulness and can instead be an attempt by a dolphin to alert others to danger. Spinner dolphins eat fish and small crustaceans that surface from the ocean depths at night. At daybreak, they gather in shallow bays to hide from tiger sharks and other predators. When they sleep, they rest half their brains and keep the other half awake so that they can surface and breathe. As a result, they can look awake and active even when asleep. Unlike the better-known bottlenose and other dolphin species in Hawaii waters, they are highly predictable in their behavior, returning to the same general area every day. That makes them easy for tour groups to find. The prohibitions would cover waters up to 2 miles off the main Hawaiian Islands. It would also apply farther from shore in certain waters between Maui, Lanai and Kahoolawe islands. Latest: Artist says 'justice prevailed' in painting trial CHICAGO (AP) The Latest on an art dispute that landed in federal court in Chicago (all times local): 9:35 p.m. A celebrated artist who won an unusual civil trial in Chicago is welcoming the judge's decision that he was right when he insisted he didn't paint a work now owned by a retired prison worker. This undated photo provided by Bartlow Gallery, Ltd. shows a painting of a landscape that was once valued at more than $10 million. A federal judge in Chicago is set to issue a verdict in a peculiar civil trial over a celebrated Scottish-born artist's insistence that he did not paint the landscape work. The painting's owner maintains that the painting of the desert landscape, which he paid $100 for in the 70s, is by Scottish-born Peter Doig. (Bartlow Gallery, Ltd. via AP) Peter Doig (doyg') issued a statement Tuesday after a federal judge ruled entirely in the 57-year-old's favor. He says "justice prevailed" after three years of litigation but was "way too long in coming." He adds a living artist should never have to "defend the authorship of his own work." The trial pitted the Scottish-born Doig against Canadian Robert Fletcher, who paid just $100 in the 1970s for the desert landscape and had hoped for a windfall of millions by selling the painting. The judge said evidence showed the case was one about imperfect memories, coincidences and mistaken identity. Fletcher's attorney, William Zieske, says an appeal is possible. ___ 3:30 p.m. A federal judge says internationally heralded artist Peter Doig was correct when he insisted that he did not paint a landscape work that had been valued at over $10 million. The judge made the comment Tuesday as he began explaining his reasoning in the case as he led up to a verdict. He has not yet formally announced a verdict, but the entire case of the painting's owner hinges on his claim that Doig painted it. The judge says evidence clearly showed that it is case of mistaken identity and that a different Peter Doige, who spelled his last name with an 'e,' actually painted it. ___ 2:30 p.m. Legal experts say a unique federal case in Chicago over whether an internationally heralded painter did or did not paint a desert landscape once valued at over $10 million has created a stir in the art world. A judge was expected to issue a verdict Tuesday in a civil bench trial pitting artist Peter Doig (doyg) against retired Canadian prison official Robert Fletcher. Fletcher says he bought the painting for $100 in 1976. He sued Doig for disavowing the work and causing its value to tank. New York art and law professor Amy Adler says authenticity disputes typically arise long after an artist dies and not when a still-living artist flatly denies a work is his. She says the principle is well established in the art world that an artist's word on whether a work is his is final. She says that makes many artists uncomfortable that Doig was taken to court. ___ 1:10 a.m. A federal judge in Chicago is set to issue a verdict in a peculiar civil trial over a celebrated Scottish-born artist's insistence that he did not paint a landscape work that was once valued at more than $10 million. The painting's owner, a prison official who paid $100 for in the mid-1970s, sued painter Peter Doig (doyg) for millions after the work's projected sales price tanked when the 57-year-old artist disavowed it. Authenticity disputes typically arise after artists die, making this case all the rarer in the art world. The judge planned to announce his decision Tuesday. Japan, China, S. Korea ministers slam N. Korea missile test TOKYO (AP) The foreign ministers of China, Japan and South Korea criticized North Korea's latest submarine missile test on Wednesday during their annual talks that were held amid lingering frictions over territorial disputes and wartime history. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, who chaired the meeting with China's Wang Yi and South Korea's Yun Byung-se, said that North Korea's missile launch "simply cannot be tolerated." North Korea fired a ballistic missile from a submarine into the Sea of Japan, South Korean and U.S. officials said. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, center, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, and South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se pose for the photographers before their trilateral meeting in Tokyo, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The foreign ministers of China, Japan and South Korea have criticized North Korea's fresh missile launch just hours earlier in the day. (Katsumi Kasahara/Pool Photo via AP) Seoul officials condemned the launch as an "armed protest" against the start of annual South Korean-U.S. military drills that North Korean calls an invasion rehearsal. The launch was also the latest in a series of missile, rocket and other weapon tests by North Korea, which is openly pushing to acquire a reliable weapon capable striking targets as far away as the continental U.S. Kishida said Tokyo lodged a protest to the North over the missile, and urged his counterparts to step up cooperation as they face the latest development. "I hope to coordinate closely in order for Japan, China and South Korea to lead the efforts of the international community," he said. The three countries have quarreled on a number of issues, and their foreign ministers' meetings resumed only last year after a two-year hiatus because of strained Chinese-Japanese relations. Tensions between Tokyo and Beijing also remain high over disputed East China Sea islands. While expectations for concrete achievements at the talks were low, Japan was to offer details about the 1 billion yen ($1 million) fund that Tokyo promised as a way to atone for its wartime sexual abuse of South Korean women. The fund is part of the landmark agreement reached by the two sides last December in a bid to resolve their decades-old row stemming from Japan's wartime actions. Japan's Cabinet was to approve details of the provision, provided to the women through a South Korean organization launched last month. Tensions between Tokyo and Beijing are high over claims to an uninhabited Japanese-controlled East China Sea island group, called Senkaku by Japan and Diaoyu by China. Ties between China and South Korea also have frayed recently after Seoul approved the deployment of a U.S. missile defense system against North Korea's threats that Beijing says will harm its security. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida makes opening remarks during the trilateral meeting in Tokyo, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The foreign ministers of China, Japan and South Korea have criticized North Korea's fresh missile launch just hours earlier in the day. (Katsumi Kasahara/Pool Photo via AP) Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, center in the background, makes opening remark during a trilateral meeting in Tokyo, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The foreign ministers of China, Japan and South Korea have criticized North Korea's fresh missile launch just hours earlier in the day. (Katsumi Kasahara/Pool Photo via AP) China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi makes an opening speech during the trilateral foreign minister's meeting in Tokyo, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (Katsumi Kasahara/ Pool Photo via AP)) South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se makes a speech during the trilateral meeting in Tokyo, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The foreign ministers of China, Japan and South Korea have criticized North Korea's fresh missile launch just hours earlier in the day. (Katsumi Kasahara/Pool Photo via AP) Japan's Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, center, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, South Korea's Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, right, pose for the photographers before their trilateral foreign minister's meeting in Tokyo, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (Katsumi Kasahara/Pool Photo via AP) Police: Man shouts 'Allahu akbar' in Australian knife attack SYDNEY (AP) A French man shouting the Arabic phrase "Allahu akbar" stabbed a British woman to death and wounded two men in an attack at a hostel in northeast Australia, police said Wednesday. The 29-year-old suspect did not have any known links to the Islamic State group and appeared to have acted alone, Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said. Police were trying to determine whether the man had been motivated by extremism, or something else. "While this information will be factored into the investigation, we are not ruling out any motivations at this early stage, whether they be political or criminal," Gollschewski told reporters in the Queensland state capital of Brisbane. "Investigators will also consider whether mental health or drug misuse factors are involved in this incident." In this image provided from the Australian Broadcasting corporation video, emergency personnel work the scene on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, after an attack took place on Tuesday, at a hostel in the town of Home Hill in northern Queensland, Australia. Police say a French man shouting the Arabic phrase "Allahu akbar" stabbed a British woman to death and wounded two men in the attack (Australian Broadcasting Corporation via AP Photo) The attack took place Tuesday night at a hostel in the town of Home Hill, south of Townsville in northern Queensland. A 21-year-old British woman was found dead at the scene and a 30-year-old British man was hospitalized in critical condition. A local man was treated and released for injuries. A dog was also fatally wounded in the attack. The man, a French national visiting Australia, shouted "Allahu akbar" the Arabic phrase meaning "God is great" both during the attack and while being arrested by police, Gollschewski said. He has not yet been charged, but police weren't looking for any other suspects related to the incident. Police were treating the attack as a homicide, rather than a terrorism-related incident, Gollschewski said. "The associated issues of what motivated him and whether that has any relevance to radicalization is something we're going to explore fully, but we won't know for some time whether that's the case," he said. Queensland police don't release the names of suspects. Their identities are revealed publicly after they appear in court. The man had been in Australia on a temporary visa for about a year, Gollschewski said. Australian Federal Police Commander Sharon Cowden said her office was speaking to international police agencies about the attack. "We condemn this murderous aggression and we are fully cooperating with Australian authorities," French Foreign Ministry spokesman Romain Nadal said Wednesday. "We present our condolences to the family and wish for a quick recovery for the wounded." ___ Associated Press writer Angela Charlton in Paris contributed to this report. In this image made from video from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, emergency personnel work the scene on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, after an attack took place on Tuesday, at a hostel in the town of Home Hill in northern Queensland, Australia. Police say a French man shouting the Arabic phrase "Allahu akbar" stabbed a British woman to death and wounded two men in the attack (Australian Broadcasting Corporation via AP Photo) In this image provided from the Australian Broadcasting corporation video, emergency personnel work the scene on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, after an attack took place on Tuesday, at a hostel in the town of Home Hill in northern Queensland, Australia. Police say a French man shouting the Arabic phrase "Allahu akbar" stabbed a British woman to death and wounded two men in the attack (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) via AP Photo) Lions, tigers and poodles? Dogs a big draw at Pyongyang zoo PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) Lions, tigers and poodles? North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's latest gift to the residents of Pyongyang, the renovated central zoo, is pulling in thousands of visitors a day with a slew of attractions ranging from such typical zoo fare as elephants, giraffes, penguins and monkeys to a high-tech natural history museum with displays showing the origins of the solar system and the evolution of life on Earth. But one of the most popular attractions might come as a surprise to foreign visitors. Just across from the hippopotamus pen and the reptile house, dozens of varieties of dogs including schnauzers, German shepherds, Shih Tzus and Saint Bernards are on display in the "dog pavilion." Visitors feed dogs at the newly opened Central Zoo in Pyongyang, North Korea, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016. One of the most popular attractions at the zoo might come as a surprise to foreign visitors. Just across the way from the hippopotamus pen and the reptile house, dozens of varieties of dogs _ including schnauzers, German shepherds, Shih Tzus and Saint Bernards _ are on display in the 'dog pavilion.' (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) One, a King Charles spaniel, was presented as a gift to Kim's father, Kim Jong Il, by "the U.S. company Tapco" in 1995. According to plaques above their pens, which dog lovers will be relieved to know are spacious and clean, Kim Jong Un himself chipped in by giving the zoo its schnauzers, poodles, German shepherds and a Chihuahua. Former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, who pursued a sort of detente with Pyongyang called the "Sunshine policy," presented the North with a Jindo dog that now resides in the zoo. North Korea's own national dog yes, it has one, the puffy white Pung San breed lives in a pen next to it. Though somewhat shocking to those accustomed to thinking of dogs as companions or household pets, the zoo display may actually reflect an increasingly fond attitude toward dogs in North Korea. While dog meat is still a common dish in the North, and in China and South Korea as well, a small but growing number of North Koreans are keeping canines as pets. People walking dogs on leashes can now be seen from time to time in Pyongyang and some other cities. And instead of suggesting recipes, signs in the dog pavilion describe the best way to train a pet dog, suggesting that patience and kindness work better than harsh words. Aside from the dogs, another unique feature of the zoo is the posting of signs above many of the animal habitats noting where the "gift animals" came from which is intended to remind visitors of how much North Korea's leaders are loved and respected by leaders abroad. The signs also are meant to emphasize the benevolence of Kim Jong Un, who along with the dogs donated tigers, giraffes and many other animals at the zoo. Pyongyang's central zoo actually dates back to 1959, when Kim Il Sung, the nation's first leader and the grandfather of Kim Jong Un, ordered it built on the outskirts of the city. According to an official history, the zoo started off with only 50 badgers. That same year, however, it got its first "gift animals," elephants donated by fellow socialist leader Ho Chi Minh of Vietnam. Fittingly, the elephants, according to the zoo, were heroes in the socialist revolutionary movement because they helped the Vietnamese by carrying war materiel in the fight against French colonialism. Another "gift animal" elephant was donated by Laos. Zebras and ostriches at the zoo were donated to Kim Il Sung by the leader of Tanzania, and orangutans were donated by the late President Suharto of Indonesia. The mayor of Kyoto, Japan, gave the old zoo a jaguar. Renovations for the new zoo began in 2014 as part of Kim Jong Un's efforts to create more modern and impressive structures and leisure centers around the capital, including several major high-rise housing areas, an equestrian center, a sprawling new shooting range and a giant water park in the city's center. Though Pyongyang is far ahead of other North Korean cities, not to mention rural areas, in terms of development, there has been some growth elsewhere also, including the Masik Pass luxury ski resort near the port of Wonsan on the country's east coast. North Koreans wait at the gate of the newly opened Pyongyang Central Zoo in Pyongyang, North Korea, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's latest gift to the lucky residents of Pyongyang, the renovated central zoo, is pulling in thousands of visitors a day with a slew of attractions ranging from such typical zoo fare as elephants, giraffes, penguins and monkeys to a high-tech natural history museum. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) A North Korean and her son pose for a photo on the back of a camel at the newly opened Central Zoo in Pyongyang, North Korea, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's latest gift to the lucky residents of Pyongyang, the renovated central zoo, is pulling in thousands of visitors a day with a slew of attractions ranging from such typical zoo fare as elephants, giraffes, penguins and monkeys to a high-tech natural history museum. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) A North Korean man kisses a turtle through the glass of its tank at the newly opened Pyongyang Central Zoo in Pyongyang, North Korea, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's latest gift to the lucky residents of Pyongyang, the renovated central zoo, is pulling in thousands of visitors a day with a slew of attractions ranging from such typical zoo fare as elephants, giraffes, penguins and monkeys to a high-tech natural history museum. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) Dogs look out from inside a pen at the newly opened Pyongyang Central Zoo in Pyongyang, North Korea, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016. One of the most popular attractions at the zoo might come as a surprise to foreign visitors. Just across the way from the hippopotamus pen and the reptile house, dozens of varieties of dogs, including schnauzers, German shepherds, Shih Tzus and Saint Bernards, are on display in the 'dog pavilion.' (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) North Koreans feed an elephant at the newly opened Pyongyang Central Zoo in Pyongyang, North Korea, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's latest gift to the lucky residents of Pyongyang, the renovated central zoo, is pulling in thousands of visitors a day with a slew of attractions ranging from such typical zoo fare as elephants, giraffes, penguins and monkeys to a high-tech natural history museum. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) North Koreans look at bears at the newly opened Pyongyang Central Zoo in Pyongyang, North Korea, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's latest gift to the lucky residents of Pyongyang, the renovated central zoo, is pulling in thousands of visitors a day with a slew of attractions ranging from such typical zoo fare as elephants, giraffes, penguins and monkeys to a high-tech natural history museum. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) North Koreans look at models of dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum, part of the newly opened Pyongyang Central Zoo in Pyongyang, North Korea, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's latest gift to the lucky residents of Pyongyang, the renovated central zoo, is pulling in thousands of visitors a day with a slew of attractions ranging from such typical zoo fare as elephants, giraffes, penguins and monkeys to a high-tech natural history museum. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) North Korean men take pictures of a tiger at the newly opened Central Zoo in Pyongyang, North Korea, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's latest gift to the lucky residents of Pyongyang, the renovated central zoo, is pulling in thousands of visitors a day with a slew of attractions ranging from such typical zoo fare as elephants, giraffes, penguins and monkeys to a high-tech natural history museum. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) China sets sights on new global export: nuclear energy BEIJING (AP) On a seaside field south of Shanghai, workers are constructing a nuclear reactor that is the flagship for Beijing's ambition to compete with the United States, France and Russia as an exporter of atomic power technology. The Hualong One, developed by two state-owned companies, is one multibillion-dollar facet of the Communist Party's aspirations to transform China into a creator of profitable technology from mobile phones to genetics. In the case of nuclear reactors, industry experts say China is underestimating how tough it will be for its novice exporters to compete with the foreign companies that helped create its industry, given the political hurdles, safety concerns and uncertain global demand following Japan's Fukushima disaster. FILE - In this June 10, 2005 file photo, workers walk past a part of the Qinshan No. 2 Nuclear Power Plant, China's first self-designed and self-built national commercial nuclear power plant in Qinshan, about 125 kilometers (about 90 miles) southwest of Shanghai, China. Beijing's wants to compete with the United States, France and Russia as an exporter of atomic power technology. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File) China's government-run nuclear industry is based on foreign technology but has spent two decades developing its own with help from Westinghouse Electric Co., France's Areva and EDF and other partners. A separate export initiative is based on an alliance between Westinghouse and a state-owned reactor developer. The industry is growing fast, with 32 reactors in operation, 22 being built and more planned, according to the World Nuclear Association, an industry group. China accounted for eight of 10 reactors that started operation last year and six of eight construction starts. Abroad, builders broke ground in Pakistan last year for a power plant using a Hualong One, supported by a $6.5 billion Chinese loan. Also last year, Argentina signed a contract to use the reactor in a $15 billion plant financed by Chinese banks. State-owned companies are lining up to invest in nuclear power plants in Britain and Romania. Such deals usually involve financing packages from state banks, a model that has helped Chinese companies break into the market for building highways and other public works in Africa and the Middle East. "This is generating significant build-up of skills and industrial experience," Mycle Schneider, a nuclear energy consultant in Paris, said in an email. Still, Schneider said Beijing is "seriously underestimating" how hard global sales will be. Obstacles include strict quality controls, regulations that differ from country to country and competition from the falling cost of wind and solar, he said. "There is simply no market out there," Schneider said in an email. At home, Chinese fret over an avalanche of industrial accidents and product safety scandals. This month, thousands in Lianyungang, north of Shanghai, protested after rumors spread that a facility to process nuclear waste might be built there. Authorities said the city, home to one of China's biggest nuclear power plants, was only one of several being considered. After more protests, they announced the search for a site was suspended. Overseas, China's nuclear companies face questions over their status as arms of the state. British Prime Minister Theresa May ordered a security review of plans to allow China General Nuclear Power Corp., to become a minority investor in the planned Hinkley Point C power station being built by EDF. In response, China's ambassador to London wrote in The Financial Times newspaper that a delay might harm official ties. The Hualong One under construction in Fuqing, near the southeastern city of Fuzhou, is a hybrid created by CGN and its main rival, China National Nuclear Corp. after they were ordered in 2011 to merge two competing reactors into a single export product. Based on French systems of the 1970s and '80s, it belongs to the industry's third generation of reactors, with more advanced safety features and working life of 60 years instead of the previous generation's 40. CNNC is installing two Hualong One reactors at the Fuqing Nuclear Power Plant, due to go online in 2019 and 2020. The power station also has two Areva units and is building two more. CGN is building its own version in Fangchenggang on the southern coast near Vietnam and says it wants to seek regulatory approval of the Hualong One design for possible use in a power plant in Bradwell on Britain's east coast. China's nuclear industry has yet to report a major accident but reflexive official secrecy makes it hard for outsiders to assess its safety. Alterations to foreign-based technology, such as making reactors bigger while using cooling techniques for smaller units, "raise questions about safety and the good judgment of Chinese reactor engineers," Edward Lyman, a nuclear power specialist for the Union of Concerned Scientists in Washington, said in an email. "It is crucial for countries importing Chinese nuclear technology to rigorously conduct their own oversight over the products they are buying." Lyman said. After China's first commercial nuclear plant went online in 1991 in Qinshan, south of Shanghai in Zhejiang province, Beijing tested competing technologies, buying reactors from U.S., Russian, French and other suppliers. Chinese companies couldn't export models they developed on their own, because foreign companies owned the underlying technology. So last year, Beijing declared nuclear power one of 16 "national science and technology projects," with generous financial support to develop homegrown know-how. The ruling party's latest five-year development plan calls for China to have 58 gigawatts of nuclear generating capacity by 2020 and another 30 gigawatts under construction. By 2030, it wants 120 to 150 gigawatts of nuclear capacity supplying 8 to 10 percent of China's power. China's status as an important market for global suppliers is giving Beijing leverage in acquiring technology. Westinghouse, which was acquired by Japan's Toshiba Corp. in 2006, Areva and France's EDF have had partnerships with Chinese researchers since the early 1990s. "I see them as customers, competitors and partners," said Jeff Benjamin, Westinghouse's senior vice president for new plants and major projects. Other global suppliers include GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, South Korea's KEPCO, Canada's Candu Energy Inc. and Russia's Atomstroyexport. Westinghouse transferred technology for its latest reactor, the AP1000, to China's State Nuclear Power Technology Corp. in 2007 as part of a transaction that included the sale of four reactors. The AP1000 became the basis for future Chinese reactor development, and Westinghouse agreed to jointly sell those reactors with SNPTC. The Chinese partner, which merged with another state company to form the State Power Investment Corp. last year, also developed its own, bigger version, the CAP1400. The two companies are in talks with Turkey about selling four reactors based on the AP1000. The AP1000 has been approved by U.S. and British regulators, Benjamin said, while the CAP1400 is just beginning the review process. "We look forward to participating in the China market for many years to come," he said, adding, "there will be markets either SPIC on their own or Westinghouse on our own might not have access to, but together we can gain access." FILE - In this June 10, 2005 file photo, a worker checks the control panel of the No.1 unit of the Qinshan No. 2 Nuclear Power Plant, China's first self-designed and self-built national commercial nuclear power plant in Qinshan, about 125 kilometers (about 90 miles) southwest of Shanghai, China. Beijing's wants to compete with the United States, France and Russia as an exporter of atomic power technology. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, file) Turkey launches operation to free IS-held Syrian town ANKARA, Turkey (AP) Turkey's military and the U.S.-backed coalition forces on Wednesday launched an operation to clear a Syrian border town from Islamic State militants, Turkey's prime minister's office said. The state-run Anadolu Agency said the operation, which started hours after Turkey indicated it would step up its engagement in Syria, began at 4 a.m. with Turkish artillery launching intense fire on Jarablus from the Turkish town of Karkamis, followed by Turkish warplanes bombing IS targets in the town. Haber Turk television and Hurriyet newspaper, citing unnamed military sources, said a ground offensive has not started. Hurriyet said efforts were underway to open a "passage" into the region. It quoted the sources as saying Turkish Howitzers and rocket launchers had fired 224 rounds at 63 targets within an hour and 45 minutes, and that the Turkish air raids started just after 6 a.m. A Turkish army tank and an armored vehicle are stationed near the border with Syria, in Karkamis, Turkey, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016. Turkish media reports say Turkish artillery on Tuesday launched new strikes at Islamic State targets across the border in Syria, after two mortar rounds, believed to have been fired by the militants, hit the town of Karkamis, in Turkey's Gaziantep province. Hurriyet newspaper and other reports said the mortar rounds were fired from IS-held Jarablus, Syria.(IHA via AP) The Anadolu Agency said the operation aims to clear Turkey's border of "terror organizations" and increase border security. It said the aim also is to "prioritize and support" Syria's territorial integrity, prevent a new refugee wave and provide humanitarian aid in the region. The operation was launched hours before U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was due in Ankara for talks that include developments in Syria. The prime minister's office said a border area in Turkey had been declared a s"pecial security zone," and asked journalists not to try access it, citing safety concerns and threats posed by the IS. On Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlet Cavusolgu pledged "every kind" of support for operations against IS along a 100-kilometer (62-mile) stretch of Syrian frontier, putting the NATO member on track for a confrontation with U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters in Syria, who have been the most effective force against IS and who are eyeing the same territory. "It is important that the terror organizations are cleansed from the region," Cavusolgu said in a joint news conference with his Hungarian counterpart. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said some 500 Syrian rebels were massed on the Turkish side of the border in preparation for an assault, including local fighters from Jarablus. One rebel at the border told the BBC the number was as high as 1,500 fighters. The latest developments have thrust the town into the spotlight of the ongoing Syrian civil war. Jarablus, which lies on the western bank of the Euphrates River where it crosses from Turkey into Syria, is one of the last important IS-held towns standing between Kurdish-controlled areas in northern Syria. Located 20 miles (33 kilometers) from the town of Manbij, which was liberated from IS by Kurdish-led forces earlier this month, taking control of Jarablus and the IS-held town of al-Bab to the south would be a significant step toward linking up border areas under Kurdish control east and west of the Euphrates River. Turkey had increased security measures on its border with Syria, deploying tanks and armored personnel carriers in recent days. On Tuesday, residents of the Turkish town of Karkamis, across the border from Jarablus, were told to evacuate after mortars believed to be fired by IS militants landed there. Turkey has vowed to fight IS militants at home and to "cleanse" the group from its borders after a weekend suicide bombing at a Kurdish wedding in southern Turkey killed at least 54 people, many of them children. Turkish officials have blamed IS for the attack. Ankara is also concerned about the growing power of U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish forces, who it says are linked to Kurdish groups waging an insurgency in southeastern Turkey. The Kurdish-led group known as the Syria Democratic Forces, or SDF, recaptured Manbij from IS earlier this month, triggering concerns in Ankara that Kurdish forces would seize the entire border strip with Turkey. The U.S. says it has embedded some 300 special forces with the SDF, and British special forces have also been spotted advising the group. Syrian activists, meanwhile, said that hundreds of Turkish-backed Syrian opposition fighters were gathered in the Turkish border area near Karkamis in preparation for an attack on Jarablus. Nasser Haj Mansour, an SDF official on the Syrian side of the border, said the fighters gathering in Turkey include "terrorists" as well as Turkish special forces. He declined to comment on whether the SDF would send fighters to the town, but an SDF statement said the Syrian Kurdish force was "prepared to defend the country against any plans for a direct or indirect occupation." The reports and rhetoric appeared to set up a confrontation between the SDF, the most effective U.S. proxy in Syria, and NATO ally Turkey. A rebel commander affiliated with the SDF was killed shortly after broadcasting a statement announcing the formation of the so-called Jarablus Military Council and vowing to protect civilians in Jarablus from Turkish "aggression." The Jarablus Military Council blamed the killing on Turkish security agents. There was no immediate comment from Turkey. Haj Mansour said two suspects were in custody but declined to comment on their identities. ___ Issa reported from Beirut. Associated Press writers Zeina Karam in Beirut, Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria, and Nataliya Vasilyeva in Moscow contributed to this report. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, front-centre, military commanders and ministers walk to the mausoleum of Turkey's founder Kemal Ataturk to pay respects, in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016. Turkish media reports say Turkish artillery on Tuesday launched new strikes at Islamic State targets across the border in Syria, after two mortar rounds, believed to have been fired by the militants, hit the town of Karkamis, in Turkey's Gaziantep province. Hurriyet newspaper and other reports said the mortar rounds were fired from IS-held Jarablus, Syria.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) Man gets prison for killing 2 housekeepers at Ohio facility CLEVELAND (AP) A chef who admitted fatally shooting two housekeepers at an assisted living facility in suburban Cleveland is expected to spend the rest of his life behind bars after pleading guilty and saying he can't explain a motive for the murders. A judge in Cleveland sentenced 56-year-old Frank Staton to 66 years to life in prison Tuesday after the Chardon man pleaded guilty to eight counts, including aggravated murder and other charges. His trial had been scheduled for next month. Staton told the judge he can't explain why he repeatedly shot Terri Treadway and Catherine Sutter, both 58, at Hamlet Village in Chagrin Falls before shooting himself once. Staton was hospitalized for more than a week after the March 24 shootings. FILE- In this March 24, 2016, file photo, two people hug as they walk to the Atrium at the Hamlet Hills Village in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. A Cleveland judge sentenced 56-year-old Frank Staton to 66 years to life in prison on Tuesday, Aug. 23, after the Chardon man pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and other charges. Staton told the judge that he doesnt have an explanation for why he shot Terri Treadway and Catherine Sutter at Hamlet Village in Chagrin Falls before shooting himself. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File) Treadway was Staton's girlfriend at the time, according to the Cuyahoga County prosecutor's office. The women's relatives advocated a harsh sentence. Sutter's son, Jason Sutter, indicated in court that he doesn't think prison is a sufficient sentence for Staton, cleveland.com reported. "Today is a day I will remember as well, as the day I lost faith in the justice system," Jason Sutter said. "An animal like you should be destroyed." Treadway's sister, Sandy Sable, urged the judge to impose a stiff sentence and drew a stark contrast between Treadway and Staton, according to cleveland.com. "She was the most sharing, most caring person I know," Sable said. "He was a failure as a father, a companion and a man." Imagine a dream team of the nation's top historians, recruited by the White House to advise the president on major decisions. That is the idea being pitched by two Harvard University scholars who say many United States leaders know alarmingly little about history, both of their own country and of others. Professors Graham Allison and Niall Ferguson are calling on the next US president to create a Council of Historical Advisers that would tackle present problems by looking to the past. Professors Graham Allison (pictured) and Niall Ferguson are calling on the next US president to create a Council of Historical Advisers 'I think there would be more than enough work for a council of applied historians,' said Allison, a professor of government and director of Harvard's Belfer Center, a university think tank. In an online manifesto published this month, the professors said they aim to close a 'history deficit' in the White House. They say that few leaders from any presidential administration have shown a deep understanding of history in the Middle East, including Iraq, or of the United States' involvement in the region. The scholars are urging presidential candidates to promise they will create the council if elected. Campaigns for Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump did not respond to requests for comment. The White House did not immediately comment on the proposal. US Representative Tom Cole, a Republican from Oklahoma and a former history professor, said the council would have value only if the president wanted its advice. In an online manifesto published this month, Ferguson (pictured) and Allison said they aim to close a 'history deficit' in the White House 'We need leaders to understand the importance of making historically informed decisions. Most of them don't,' Cole said. Others question whether academic historians could keep up with the pace of the White House, or if they could all agree. 'The idea that historians would reach consensus on anything is a lovely idea that's not well borne out in practice,' said Jon Alterman, a senior vice president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and a former State Department staff member under George W. Bush. Alterman, who has a doctorate in history from Harvard, added that 'the kind of history that is useful to policymakers is the kind of history fewer and fewer historians are doing.' Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump face calls to appoint historians as their advisers The Harvard professors modeled their proposal after the Council of Economic Advisers, a White House agency led by three economists who are appointed to advise the president. Allison said that if economists and foreign policy experts are allowed a regular spot at the president's table, historians deserve a place, too. 'There's nobody around with a crystal ball, so the question is whether they can add value compared to the competition, and I believe they can,' Allison said. By making the proposal, the professors are also trying to revive the practice of 'applied history' using history as a tool to tackle modern predicaments. The idea has fallen out of favor at many US colleges, Allison said, but he believes it could draw interest to history departments with lagging enrollment numbers. 'We urge the next president to establish a White House Council of Historical Advisers,' the pair said in the Atlantic. 'Historians made similar recommendations to Presidents Carter and Reagan during their administrations, but nothing ever came of these proposals,' they added. Turkish tanks rolled into Syria for the first time this morning as Ankara launched an 'unprecedented' operation to free a town controlled by ISIS. Turkish fighter jets and special forces stormed across the border on a mission to drive the Islamists out of the border town of Jarablus, and were quickly followed by ground forces. It is the first time Turkey has invaded Syria, following years of minor skirmishes which have seen rockets fired across both sides of the border. The military escalation was immediately condemned by Syria's foreign ministry as a 'flagrant violation' of its sovereignty. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the Syria operation was aimed at 'putting an end to' border problems caused by ISIS, but he is also targeting Kurdish fighters who are backed by the US. Scroll down for video Turkish tanks rolled into Syria for the first time this morning as Ankara launched an 'unprecedented' operation to free a town controlled by ISIS Turkish fighter jets and special forces stormed across the border on a mission to drive the Islamists out of the border town of Jarablus At least a dozen tanks were seen entering Syria this morning as they were sent to target ISIS militants in Jarablus. But Erdogan said they were also aimed at Kurdish fighters, who are backed by the U.S.-led coalition fighting ISIS in Syria and Iraq. Tensions between Ankara and Damascus - who were allies until the outbreak of civil war in Syria in 2011 - flared once again yesterday after rocket fire from Jarablus landed in Turkey. The Turkish military responded firing howitzer rounds back and, in an unprecedented escalation, sent ground forces across the border for the first time today. Today's operation began at 4am local time, with Turkish artillery launching intense cross-border fire on Jarablus, followed by Turkish warplanes bombing ISIS targets in the town. Turkish Howitzers and rocket launchers had fired 224 rounds at 63 targets within an hour and 45 minutes, according to local reports. Security sources said a small contingent of special forces covertly entered Syria to secure the area before ground troops were sent in. Syria's foreign ministry reacted furiously to the invasion, saying any counter-terrorism operations inside its borders had to be conducted in coordination with Damascus. At least a dozen tanks were seen entering Syria this morning as they targeted ISIS militants It is the first time Turkey has invaded Syria, following years of minor skirmishes which have seen rockets fired across both sides of the border Damascus accused Ankara of launching the raid to replace ISIS with 'other terrorist groups'. The foreign ministry said it 'condemns the crossing of the Turkey-Syria border by Turkish tanks and armoured vehicles towards the town of Jarabulus with air cover from the US-led coalition and considers it a flagrant violation of Syrian sovereignty'. The Syrian opposition in exile, however, welcomed the intervention. The invasion has been backed by the U.S., with Vice President Joe Biden voicing his support for the Turkish invasion as he visited Turkey today. Biden called on Syrian Kurdish forces to move back across the Euphrates River and leave towns they have freed from ISIS to the Turks. They 'must move back across the Euphrates River', Biden said. 'They cannot - will not - under any circumstance get American support if they do not keep that commitment'. Controversy: The military escalation was immediately condemned by Syria's foreign ministry Security sources said a small contingent of special forces had travelled into Syria to secure the area before a possible larger ground operation The warning appears to suggest that the U.S. fears the Turkish and Kurdish forces - who are embroiled in a conflict of their own - could clash in Syria. The Kurdish forces have been freeing ISIS-held towns in the north and east of Syria but Turkey consider them a terrorist group. The U.S. and its coalition partners - except Turkey - have backed the group until now, but Biden's statement suggests the U.S. could soon shift its stance. Turkish authorities had ordered the evacuation of Turkish border town Karkamis for safety reasons before the invasion, raising expectations that an offensive was imminent. Air strikes by Turkish jets echoed through the skies as the morning went on. The effects of one air strike on the northern outskirts of Jarablus were easily visible, sending up a cloud of black smoke and sand. Erdogan said the operation was aimed against both ISIS and the Kurds, calling them 'terror groups that continuously threaten our country in northern Syria'. 'We have said "enough is enough" ... This now needs to be resolved,' Erdogan added. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu confirmed fighters had crossed from Turkey into Syria Today's operation began at 4am local time, with Turkish artillery launching intense cross-border fire on Jarablus The invasion, which has been backed by Germany, came as U.S. Vice President Joe Biden visited Turkey. Biden is pictured with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim The Syrian town of Jarablus, which lies on the western bank of the Euphrates River where it crosses from Turkey into Syria, is one of the last important ISIS-held towns standing between Kurdish-controlled areas in northern Syria. Located 20 miles from the town of Manbij, which was liberated from ISIS by Kurdish-led forces earlier this month, taking control of Jarablus and the IS-held town of al-Bab to the south would be a significant step toward linking up border areas under Kurdish control east and west of the Euphrates River. Ankara is believed to be intent on setting up a buffer zone between areas controlled by the Kurds and Jarablus to stop the Kurds from setting up their own territory in northern Syria. Thai junta's opponents staggered by support for status quo BANGKOK (AP) In the two years since Thailand's army seized control of this Southeast Asian nation in a coup, pro-democracy activist Rangsiman Rome has repeatedly risked jail time to do something few here have done: speak out against the junta. The 24-year-old law student has taken part in peaceful demonstrations that saw security forces drag him away by the hair. He's undergone forced "attitude adjustment" sessions at military camps in Bangkok. In all, he's spent 24 days in custody most recently for urging Thais to vote against a new constitution that will strengthen the army's already powerful hand in politics for many years to come. The charter was easily approved this month, in a vote that underscored just how lonely Rangsiman's struggle has become. The result carried with it an implicit message: After a decade of political turmoil, the Thai electorate values the forced stability the military has imposed far more than democracy and freedom of speech. In this Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, photo, student activist Rangsiman Rome talks to Associated Press reporters during an interview in Bangkok, Thailand. Opponents of the junta that took over Thailand two years ago are at a loss following an election that strengthens the militarys hand in politics for years to come. This months vote carried with it an implicit message: After a decade of political turmoil, the electorate values the forced stability the military has imposed far more than democracy and freedom of speech. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) The referendum "was wrong on so many levels," Rangisman said, noting that open debate was quashed so intensely, criticizing the draft was punishable by up to 10 years in jail. Rangisman was detained four times and has three court cases pending against him on various charges. He added, however, "We have to accept the will of the people to decide what they want for their country, and this is what they wanted." Opponents of Thailand's military dictatorship seem at a loss over what to do now. One minister ousted in the coup compares their situation to waiting out a storm. Yet that wait could be quite long indeed. The next major step will be elections, which could be held as early as November 2017, but the army won't go away at that point. The new constitution mandates a five-year transition to civilian rule and a military-appointed Senate with seats reserved for top commanders that will serve as a check on the elected lower parliament. Other governing bodies, including the courts and the bureaucracy, will also remain under military influence. In the long run, though, Thailand "still has to come to grips with the sources of the political turmoil that have driven the conflict for a decade," said Matthew Wheeler of the International Crisis Group. "Two years of military rule haven't really resolved any of the fundamental problems ... and the constitution won't succeed in doing that either," he said. "The day of reckoning is just being delayed." Turnout for the referendum was relatively low 55 percent and few of those who did vote actually read all of the charter's 279 articles. Analysts believe some of those who voted "yes" did so out of a sense of resignation, or a desire to speed the army's departure by clearing a hurdle to the eventual restoration of civilian rule. The unease that permeates Thai society is often difficult to detect. Life can seem utterly normal despite a junta ruling with absolute power. Foreign tourists still flock to the nation's idyllic beaches. Shoppers still pack into Bangkok's gargantuan luxury malls. The city's streets are still clogged with traffic, and few soldiers are in sight. A wave of bombings less than a week after the vote, however, made clear that Thailand's problems are not over. The attacks, which killed four people and wounded dozens more, are suspected to have been carried out by Muslim separatists in the south who are waging a war for greater autonomy that remains unresolved. The reality is that Thailand remains "deeply paralyzed," said Puangthong Pawakapan, associate professor of political science at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University. "Nothing has been done to address the conflict boiling just below the surface," she said. "And when it bursts, people will be out on the streets again." A broader political divide has torn Thai society apart since the military staged an earlier coup in 2006. In the years since, mass demonstrations by rival protesters have shut down the government and at times turned bloody. The worst upheaval, in 2010, ended with a military crackdown that killed dozens and left Bangkok's glittering skyline darkened by the smoke of burning buildings. At its heart, Thailand's conflict is about wealth and power, and how to distribute it. The country remains split between a poor, rural majority in the north and northeast striving for a greater share of the economic pie, and an elite minority in Bangkok allied with the military and southern supporters who see northern ascendancy as a threat. To the latter, Thailand's former democracy only paved the way for what they call "the tyranny of the majority." A spokesman for the government, Maj. Gen. Weerachon Sukhondhapatipak, said Thais had "too much freedom" before the coup. They were "exploited by influential political groups, by hate speech and misinformation, by people who were instigating violence," he said. "That kind of environment can't be fixed in one or months, or one or two years. "The military needs to stay until the country is ready," he said. "It will take time, but it won't take forever." The transition is taking place amid profound anxiety over the succession of 88-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who marked his 70th year on the throne from a hospital bed and has not appeared in public in months. Bhumibol is the world's longest reigning monarch, and while he is widely loved, his son and heir apparent, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, has not yet garnered the same respect. The military, which sees itself as the principal defender of the monarchy, is keen to ensure succession goes smoothly. The new constitution was drawn up with little input from the junta's opponents, and critics say it was designed to neutralize the power of politicians the government sees as corrupt. No. 1 on that list is Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in the 2006 coup and now lives in self-imposed exile in Dubai. His Pheu Thai Party and previous incarnations of it have won every election here for more than a decade, most recently in 2011 when his sister Yingluck Shinawatra became prime minister. The new charter, however, establishes a voting system that will make it tough for any one party to secure a parliamentary majority. Chaturon Chaisang, a Pheu Thai member who served as Yingluck's education minister, said the constitution's approval was a serious setback, and party leaders are struggling to understand why so many of their constituents voted for it. That, combined with repressive junta policies that significantly curtail political activity, means "there is little anyone can do" but wait until elections. "We need to regroup and strategize, but it's clear now that our party's role will be quite limited, and remain so for some time," Chaturon said. "It's like waiting out a thunderstorm. Nobody can do anything until the skies clear." Rangsiman, a Thammasat University student who helps lead a civil society network called the New Democracy Movement, said the pro-democracy forces were not giving up. "But this made us realize that without more people, more support, more funds, we're doomed to fail." The junta has "succeeded in creating an atmosphere of fear" that inhibits free discussion of the conflict. And Thai culture, he said, plays perfectly into that. "Our culture tells us to avoid confrontation, to avoid discussing our problems," he said. "So people don't want to talk about it or get involved. It's up to our generation to change that." FILE - In this Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016, file photo, Thais cast their votes in a referendum on a new constitution at a polling station in Bangkok, Thailand. Opponents of the junta that took over Thailand two years ago are at a loss following an election that strengthens the militarys hand in politics for years to come. This months vote carried with it an implicit message: After a decade of political turmoil, the electorate values the forced stability the military has imposed far more than democracy and freedom of speech. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File) Park Service celebrates 100 years, seeks minorities' support GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. (AP) When Asha Jones and other Grand Canyon interns arrived for their summer at the national park, they were struck by its sheer immensity, beauty and world-class hiking trails. Soon, they noticed something else. "It is time for a change here, specifically, at Grand Canyon and in the National Park Service in general, to get people who look like me to your parks," said Jones, a 19-year-old black student at Atlanta's Spelman College. The National Park Service, which oversees more than 131,000 square miles of parks, monuments, battlefields and other landmarks, thinks it's time for a change, too. Grand Canyon National Park intern Mi-Kal White looks waits for visitors to approach him for assistance on July 26, 2016. As the National Park Service prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary on Aug. 25, the agency is working to attract more minorities to the country's national parks and monuments as the demographics of America are expected to change dramatically in the coming years. (AP Photo/Beatriz Costa-Lima) As it celebrates its 100th birthday Thursday, the agency is facing some key challenges ahead. Among them is reaching out to minority communities in an increasingly diverse nation and getting them to visit and become invested in preserving the national parks. "If public lands aren't telling their story, and they don't see themselves reflected in these beautiful places, they may not support them," Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said. "They may not recognize that these are their assets and protect them for future generations." The NPS doesn't track the makeup of its visitors, but commissioned studies have shown about three-quarters are white. The agency's workforce is less diverse, at 83 percent white, a figure that can fluctuate with temporary employees. Minorities are expected to eclipse the country's white population before 2050. The problem of lack of minority engagement is longstanding and complex but can be tied to two main factors, said Myron F. Floyd, a leading scholar on race and ethnicity in outdoor recreation at North Carolina State University. The first relates to cultural traditions. Outings to national parks generally aren't passed down through generations in minority communities, he said, and few minorities grow up with an appreciation for such sites. Also, for many years, African-Americans were excluded from national parks and other public resources, he said. Barriers to visiting national parks also can be as simple as not knowing they exist, or not having a way to get to them or enough money for entry fees and gear, said Jose Gonzales, Latino Outdoors founder. Asian-Americans, meanwhile, can be reluctant to travel outside their ethnic circles, and they might find few billboards or brochures in their language at national parks, said Mark Masaoka of the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council. "It may not seem welcoming or as inviting to go to a place where there are hardly any visitor centers, few signs, and you're left to figure it out," Masaoka said. The Park Service has made some changes to address these issues, including recruiting minority interns and producing videos and brochures for Spanish-speaking audiences. Its employees spend time in schools with large minority populations to encourage children to visit the outdoors. The agency also has pushed to designate more sites that highlight the history and contributions of minorities. Some of its newest locations include the Cesar A. Chavez National Monument, established in 2012, and New York's Stonewall Inn, the first national monument to gay rights, in June. National parks need more support than ever because years of tight budgets have left them with a lengthy and growing backlog of maintenance projects, officials say. The list of needed repairs totaled almost $12 billion as of last year. The Park Service gets help from some outside groups like the nonprofit Rocky Mountain Conservancy, which recently worked to restore old cabins used by research scientists at Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park. But that's not enough, experts say. "I would argue that one of the greatest challenges (the agency) faces in the 21st century is how to engage an increasingly racially and ethnically diverse population in order to maintain the support it has had for generations," Floyd said. Kristen Smith, a 44-year-old black woman from Long Island, New York, said she and two white friends were subjected to racial slurs and gawked at by visitors during a 2014 trip to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. But she didn't let it spoil her outlook on the outdoors. She particularly enjoyed an earlier visit to Yosemite, where a hiking guide nonchalantly noted black men built some of the park's first trails. The hundreds of Buffalo Soldiers members of the nation's first black Army regiments were protectors of the land before it became Yosemite National Park, and also served at California's Sequoia National Park. "The part that was the nicest was having someone so casually mention that, acknowledge the truth," Smith said. The history of minorities in national parks isn't always well-known. An annual pilgrimage to Yosemite's Sing Peak honors Chinese Americans. Frazer Point in Maine's Acadia National Park is named for a freed black slave who built a homestead on land that became part of the park. Those types of stories are important in selling national parks to minorities, Grand Canyon intern Iesha Baldwin said. Conversations in the students' cabins sometimes focus on frustrations about seemingly being the only black people in the park. Jaszymne McKenzie, a black intern from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, will return this fall with another adventure to share. She walked along the East Coast looking at stingrays during a previous internship, and this year watched Grand Canyon visitors marvel at elk and squirrels. The Park Service hopes the interns' experiences translate into a desire to work for the agency, and McKenzie isn't ruling that out. She wants to be part of a team that recruits minorities. "It's the National Park Service. You think, 'Does it need a marketing team?' But when you look at it with ethnicities, I would say so," she said. ___ Fonseca reported from Flagstaff. Associated Press writers Matthew Brown in Billings, Montana, and Brennan Linsley in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, contributed to this report. Hikers descend a ridge inside Rocky Mountain National Park, near Estes Park, Colo., on Aug. 4, 2016. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley) U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell speaks to reporters during a news conference at Grand Canyon National Park in Ariz., on July 26, 2016. As the National Park Service prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary on Aug. 25, 2016, the agency is working to attract more minorities to the country's national parks and monuments as the demographics of America are expected to change dramatically in the coming years. (AP Photo/Beatriz Costa-Lima) Will Fazio, a crew member for the non-profit organization Rocky Mountain Conservancy, helps restore old cabins used by research scientists inside Rocky Mountain National Park, near Estes Park, Colo., on Aug. 4, 2016. Rocky Mountain Conservancy works for the U.S. Park Service, running crews who do whatever work is needed. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley) Angler Chris Atkins of Allendale, Mich., fly fishes on a pristine meandering stream inside Rocky Mountain National Park, near Estes Park, Colo., on Aug. 4, 2016. Atkins, often with his father and son, usually spends a few weeks each summer at the park, which has been a family tradition for decades. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley) Tatyana Mosley, a crew member for the non-profit organization Rocky Mountain Conservancy, helps restore old cabins used by research scientists inside Rocky Mountain National Park, near Estes Park, Colo., on Aug. 4, 2016. Rocky Mountain Conservancy works for the U.S. Park Service, running crews who do whatever work is needed. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley) Adam Nguyen, a crew member for the non-profit organization Rocky Mountain Conservancy, helps restore old cabins used by research scientists inside Rocky Mountain National Park, near Estes Park, Colo., on Aug. 4, 2016. Rocky Mountain Conservancy works for the U.S. Park Service, running crews who do whatever work is needed. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley) A crew for the non-profit organization Rocky Mountain Conservancy moves a naturally-downed tree while working to repair a trail destroyed in a major flood a few years earlier, inside Rocky Mountain National Park, near Estes Park, Colo., on Aug. 4, 2016. Rocky Mountain Conservancy works for the U.S. Park Service, running crews who do whatever work is needed. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley) Jessa Solis, a crew member for the non-profit organization Rocky Mountain Conservancy, and others strip bark from a naturally-downed tree while working to repair a trail destroyed in a major flood a few years earlier, inside Rocky Mountain National Park, near Estes Park, Colo., on Aug. 4, 2016. Rocky Mountain Conservancy works for the U.S. Park Service, running crews who do whatever work is needed. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley) Park Service employee Jesse Miller pauses while working to repair a trail destroyed in a major flood a few years earlier, inside Rocky Mountain National Park, near Estes Park, Colo., on Aug. 4, 2016. Rocky Mountain Conservancy works for the U.S. Park Service, running crews who do whatever work is needed. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley) Animal charity removes 15 animals it rescued from Gaza zoo GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) An international charity on Wednesday removed 15 animals from a Gaza Strip zoo, freeing them from stifling conditions in what it called "the worst zoo in the world" and hoping to grant them a better life abroad. Four Paws, an animal welfare group, crossed from Gaza into Israel with a tiger, five monkeys, a porcupine and an emu, among others. Most of the animals are destined for an animal sanctuary in Jordan while the tiger is headed to a refuge in South Africa. The animals' removal effectively closed the long-troubled zoo. FILE -- In this Friday, Aug. 19, 2016 file photo, a Palestinian worker stands next to an ill baby deer, laying on mattresses in a metal cage, in a zoo in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip. An international charity has removed 15 animals it rescued from the Gaza Strip's main zoo, dubbed "the worst in the world." Four Paws, an animal welfare group, will resettle the animals from the Khan Younis zoo abroad, where they will have a chance at a better life. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra, File) The charity said the Khan Younis zoo suffered financial difficulties earlier this year and couldn't provide the animals with proper care and food. After the zoo owner asked the organization for help, Four Paws provided food and medical checks. It was later decided that the animals would be transferred elsewhere. "The conditions the animals were under were very far from ideal," said Amir Khalil, who is leading the Gaza mission for Four Paws. Their new homes will be "a big change." There is little awareness of animal welfare in Gaza and the impoverished territory's zoos have in the past made international headlines. The Khan Younis zoo turned to taxidermy to keep its deceased animals on exhibit while another zoo in the strip painted stripes on donkeys to try and make them look like zebras. Four Paws has previously made similar rescues out of Gaza, including the extraction of several lions and lion cubs. The cubs were taken out of a refugee camp after a zoo had sold them as pets to a camp resident. Khalil said the conditions in the Khan Younis zoo were difficult. The tiger, Laziz, was kept in a three square meter cage alongside a taxidermied tiger. In his new home in South Africa, he will roam in a 10,000 square meter enclosure where he will be able to enjoy swimming and climbing, Khalil said. Highlighting the precariousness of the animals' existence at the zoo, Khalil said a baby deer that was set to be evacuated died in the lead-up to the mission after being wounded. Its mother was also wounded but was successfully removed from the Gaza Strip. Wednesday's rescue was coordinated with COGAT, the Israeli defense body responsible for Palestinian civilian affairs. Conditions in Gaza, home to 1.8 million people, have steadily deteriorated since Hamas, an Islamic militant group sworn to Israel's destruction, seized control of the territory in 2007 and prompted an Israeli and Egyptian blockade. Army general testifies no one swayed him in Bergdahl case FORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) The Army general who ordered Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's court martial testified Wednesday that he wasn't swayed by negative comments from a powerful U.S. senator, saying that he takes his duty "very, very seriously." Gen. Robert B. Abrams, the four-star head of U.S. Army Forces Command, found himself in the unusual position of defending his objectivity against a defense effort to remove him from the case. Abrams referred the case to a general court-martial rather than a lower-level tribunal in December, weeks after U.S. Sen. John McCain indicated there would be repercussions if Bergdahl weren't punished. Wearing a short-sleeved white dress shirt and blue pants, Abrams asked a prosecutor curtly "Where do you want me?" as he strode toward the witness stand. Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, right, talks with his military attorney, Lt. Col. Franklin Rosenblatt after, after a hearing, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, on Fort Bragg, N.C. Bergdahl, who disappeared in Afghanistan in 2009 and was held by the Taliban for five years, is charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. (Andrew Craft/The Fayetteville Observer via AP) He grew testy when a defense attorney asked him to explain why he wasn't afraid of McCain, who leads a Senate committee with the power to approve or scuttle assignments for top military commanders. "I have served my country for 34 years. I am at the highest rank I am ever going to attain," he replied, adding that he has a mandate to ensure a fair trial for Bergdahl. "I take that duty and responsibility very, very seriously." Addressing defense attorney William Helixon as "counselor," Abrams added, "Up to this point no one and I mean no one has tried to influence me in any way." In two motions, the defense had questioned whether Abrams faced improper conflicts. The judge, Army Col. Jeffery Nance, ordered Abrams to testify because of a reference in one of the motions to the general destroying dozens of letters from Bergdahl supporters and critics. It's unusual for a four-star general to testify in a court-martial hearing, said Eric Carpenter, a former Army lawyer who teaches law at Florida International University. The defense motion to disqualify Abrams cites his prior role advising former U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel during efforts to return Bergdahl from captivity. It also raises questions about whether Abrams considered defense objections to the findings of a preliminary hearing. If granted, a disqualification would allow a different commander to decide whether a court-martial is needed. Under the judge's questioning, Abrams said he consulted with a military lawyer and concluded he didn't need to keep the approximately 100 letters. He said it's common for officers to send trash to shredders or incinerators Abrams said he wasn't influenced by the letters and none came from government officials, current service members or anyone with firsthand knowledge. "I can tune out all of that outside noise because I understand my duty and my accountability," he said. The judge, who called the superior officer "Sir," then turned to McCain's comments. In October 2015, McCain told a reporter that if Bergdahl wasn't punished, "... we're going to have to have a hearing in the Senate Armed Services Committee." Weeks later, Abrams sent Bergdahl's case to a general court-martial, rejecting a hearing officer's recommendation for a lower-level tribunal. When asked whether McCain's comments affected his decision, Abrams replied, "Absolutely not." Under questioning from Helixon, Abrams said he was aware of McCain's comments but disapproved of them. "Making public statements about the disposition of a very high-profile case by anyone is inappropriate," he said. He added that as the court-martial convening authority, he worried his pool of military jurors could be affected by what McCain said. A separate defense motion argues the charges against Bergdahl should be thrown out because of McCain's comments. A spokesman for McCain said the senator would not comment on the pending case. Bergdahl, who is from Hailey, Idaho, walked off his post in Afghanistan in 2009 and wound up a captive of the Taliban and its allies until 2014 when the Obama administration won his release by trading Guantanamo Bay detainees. Bergdahl faces charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, the latter of which carries up to a life sentence. His trial is scheduled for February 2017. Abrams also further explained his role advising Hagel during the Bergdahl recovery efforts. Prosecutors have argued that he played no substantive role. The defense secretary would ask questions about technical aspects of plans to recover Bergdahl, Abrams testified. He said he'd offer a response such as: "Yes, Mr. Secretary, I have reviewed the plan multiple times ... I think it's a sound plan." Lawyers for Bergdahl say Abrams was too closely involved in efforts to recover Bergdahl to oversee the case now. Lt. Col. Frank Rosenblatt, a defense attorney, also argued Abrams has given different explanations of destroying the letters and considering the defense objections in an earlier interview and a written affidavit. "We should not accept Gen. Abrams' self-serving summary that he was not influenced by anyone," Rosenblatt told the judge. ___ Follow Jonathan Drew on Twitter at https://twitter.com/jonldrew . Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, right, arrives with his civilian attorney, Eugene Fidell, for a legal hearing at the courtroom on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, on Fort Bragg, N.C. Bergdahl, who disappeared in Afghanistan in 2009 and was held by the Taliban for five years, is charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. (Andrew Craft/The Fayetteville Observer via AP) The Latest: Erdogan says Syrian rebels take back border town ANKARA, Turkey (AP) The Latest developments in the civil war in Syria (all times local): 9:30 p.m. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Syrian opposition forces aided by Ankara have taken back the border town of Jarablus from the Islamic State group. U.S Vice President Joe Biden, left, and Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim walk to review a guard of honour before a meeting in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. Biden has arrived in Ankara for talks with Turkish leaders as Turkey launched a military operation to clear a Syrian border town of Islamic State militants. The visit comes at a difficult time for ties between the two NATO allies.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) During a press statement with visiting U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Wednesday, Erdogan also reiterated his opposition to a future role for Syrian President Bashar Assad, saying the country could never "reach democracy" under his leadership. Erdogan said the Syrian rebels, "together with those who are from Jarablus, have now taken it back." He says the rebels have taken over "government and official residences," and IS "has been forced to leave Jarablus." Biden meanwhile said Washington supported the Turkish-led operation in Jarablus and that the United States provided air cover. Biden said: "We strongly support what the Turkish military has done, we have been flying air cover for them," adding that "we believe very strongly that the Turkish border should be controlled by Turkey." ___ 7:45 p.m. A U.S. defense official says that American planes are conducting airstrikes as part of the ongoing operation to drive Islamic State militants from the northern Syrian town of Jarablus. The official says that U.S. A-10 and F-16 fighter jets are participating in the cross-border operation launched by Turkey and Syrian rebels groups on Wednesday. The U.S. is also providing assistance with intelligence and surveillance aircraft overhead. Syrian opposition forces say they are in control of the town but still battling pockets of IS fighters. U.S. special forces have been working with the Syrian rebels. But U.S. defense officials say American commandos are not participating in the fight for Jarablus. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the operation publicly. Lolita C. Baldor in Washington ___ 7:15 p.m. Syrian opposition forces say they are in control of Jarablus only hours after Turkey launched a cross-border operation to help them oust the Islamic State group from the border town in northern Syria. Several rebel factions involved in the fighting announced they had liberated the town from IS, but were still fighting small pockets of militants. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the Syrian civil war, says rebels are in almost full control of Jarablus, adding that IS had lost its last link to the outside world. Ahmad al-Khatib, an opposition media activist embedded with the rebels, says they control 90 percent of the town and posted photos of rebels purportedly in the town's center. ___ 6:45 p.m. Russia has expressed deep concern about Turkey's ground incursion into Syria, saying it raises the risk of civilian casualties and the worsening of ethnic tensions between Kurds and Arabs. The Russian Foreign Ministry statement issued Wednesday says Moscow believes the Syrian crisis can be resolved only on the basis of international law through dialogue involving all ethnic groups, including the Kurds. While Moscow has supported Syrian President Bashar Assad in Syria's civil war, carrying out air strikes in support of government troops, Ankara has backed the rebels fighting Assad. Turkey's operation on Wednesday targeted the Islamic State-held border town of Jarablus, but also appears aimed at preventing Syrian Kurdish forces who have been among the most effective opponents of IS from expanding further across northern Syria. ___ 6 p.m. A spokesman for a Syrian rebel group taking part in the Turkish-backed operation to clear Islamic State militants from a key border town says rebel fighters have entered the town. Captain Abdel-Salam Abdel-Razzak, spokesman for the Nour al-Din al-Zinki rebel group, tells The Associated Press that the fighters on Wednesday were combing Jarablus for "pockets" of IS militants. A media opposition activist embedded with the rebels says fighters are inside the town, adding that they are facing very limited resistance from the militants. Ahmad al-Khatib says IS fighters withdrew to the IS-held town of al-Bab south of Jarablus and neighboring villages following intense Turkish shelling. The Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency also reported that Syrian opposition forces have reached the entrance of Jarablus. CNN Turk aired footage of what it said were Syrian opposition fighters in the Jarablus town center, which appeared to be deserted. ___ 5:30 p.m. A senior U.S. administration official says U.S. advisers have been working closely with Turkey on plans for the operation launched against an Islamic State-held border town. The official says the U.S. has been providing intelligence and air cover in an effort to soften up targets to aid the operation to retake Jarablus, which began early Wednesday. The official was not authorized to discuss the military operations publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Both Turkish and Syrian government officials say the cross-border operation was aided by U.S. airstrikes. Kathleen Hennessey in Washington ___ 5:15 p.m. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is calling on Syrian Kurdish forces to move back across the Euphrates River, telling them they will lose U.S. support if they don't. Speaking at a press conference in Ankara on Wednesday, Biden says Kurdish forces "must move back across the Euphrates River." He says "they cannot will not under any circumstance get American support if they do not keep that commitment." Biden indirectly expressed support for the Turkish operation launched Wednesday to clear Islamic State militants from the town of Jarablus and deter Kurds from further expanding in northern Syria. Turkish state media says Syrian opposition forces backed by Turkey have reached the "entrance" of Jarablus, which lies on the last main supply line between IS territory and the border. The U.S.-backed Kurdish forces seized the border town of Manbij from IS militants earlier this month. Turkey said they had to retreat after clearing it from IS. ___ 2:20 p.m. Syria's government has denounced Turkish military incursion, describing it as Turkey's "blatant violation" of Syrian sovereignty. In a statement reported by state-run news agency SANA on Wednesday, the government says that "any move to combat terrorism on Syrian territories should have been coordinated with the Syrian government and army." The statement also calls for an immediate end to the Turkish "aggression," which it says is being carried out under the pretext of fighting terrorism. It says: "Fighting terrorism cannot be undertaken by ousting Daesh and replacing it with other terrorist organizations directly backed by Turkey." Daesh is the Arabic language acronym for IS. The statement added that Turkish tanks and armored personnel carriers crossed into Syria earlier in the morning, under the cover of U.S.-led coalition airstrikes. ___ 1:40 p.m. Turkey's state-run news agency says Syrian rebels have captured a village from the Islamic State group near the IS-held border town of Jarablus in a joint push with Turkey's military. The Anadolu Agency, citing unnamed military officials, says the Syrian opposition fighters took the village of Kaklijeh with the support of Turkish armored units. Anadolu says the village is some 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) away from the Turkish border. It says Turkish warplanes and artillery were also pressing ahead with their attacks against IS targets. The report also says the rebel forces are expected to advance toward Jarablus backed by the Turkish armored units. ___ 1 p.m. Turkey's state-run news agency says that police teams have mounted simultaneous raids at multiple locations in Istanbul to detain several suspected members of the Islamic State group. The Anadolu Agency reports the operations took place early on Wednesday in two Istanbul districts and were coordinated by a helicopter flying overhead. The operation comes days after a suspected IS bombing at a wedding in southeast Turkey killed at least 54 people. It also coincides with a Turkish military incursion into Syria to clear a border town of the IS group. Several suspects were detained and their addresses searched. Authorities did not disclose the number of those detained. ___ 12:40 p.m. The Turkish president says his country's military operation in Syria aims to prevent threats from "terror" groups, including the Islamic State and a Syrian Kurdish militia that is affiliated with Turkey's outlawed Kurdish rebels. Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Wednesday's operation was launched in response to a string of attacks in Turkey, including a suicide bomb attack at a wedding party near the border which killed 54 people. He says no one should consider "the Syrian issue to be independent from Turkey's domestic issues." Erdogan, addressing groups that have targeted Turkey, says: "You will not succeed. You will not divide our nation, you will not lower our flag, you will not tear up our motherland, you will not topple our state." He also added: "You will not silence our calls to prayer, you will not make this country kneel, you will not chain this people." ___ 11:55 a.m. A Syrian activist group monitoring the civil war says Syrian rebels who were amassed at the Turkish border have crossed into Syria as part of a Turkey-backed operation to liberate an Islamic State-controlled border town. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the fighters were preceded by Turkish tanks and mine sweepers that crossed into Syria earlier on Wednesday as part of the operation to clear Jarablus from IS militants. The Britain-based monitoring group didn't say how many fighters were involved. On Tuesday, it said that around 500 rebels were waiting to cross into Syria. Turkish state media, meanwhile, say the rebels were about to enter a Syrian village leading to Jarablus. ___ 11:30 Turkey's state-run news agency says Turkish tanks have crossed into Syria as part of a military operation to free a border town held by the Islamic State group. In its report, Anadolu Agency, which cited unnamed government officials, did not say how many tanks had entered Syria. Turkeys' private NTV television says as many as 20 tanks had crossed into Syria. It said clashes were taking place at the border. ___ 11 a.m. Vice President Joe Biden has arrived in Ankara for talks with Turkish leaders as Turkey launched a military operation to clear a Syrian border town of Islamic State militants. Wednesday's visit comes at a difficult time for ties between the two NATO allies. Turkey is demanding that Washington quickly extradite a U.S.-based cleric blamed for orchestrating last month's failed coup. The United States is asking for evidence against the cleric and asking that Turkey allow the extradition process to take its course. In Syria, Turkey is concerned about the growing power of U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish forces, who it says are linked to Kurdish groups waging an insurgency in southeastern Turkey. Wednesday's operation puts Turkey on track for a confrontation with the Kurdish fighters in Syria. Biden is scheduled to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. ___ 10:35 a.m. Turkish Interior Minister Efkan Ala says Turkey launched the operation to free the IS-held Syrian town of Jarablus to safeguard its own security. The minister says Turkey "cannot sit and watch" and that "it is Turkey's legal right, it is within its authority" to take action. The minister added that Wednesday's operation aimed to support the moderate Syrian opposition and is being carried out in coordination with the U.S.-led coalition forces. He said he hoped the operation to clear Jarablus would be completed at the soonest, but did not provide a time-frame. About the operation's duration, he says: "Until when? Until this threat is removed and the terror threat on our border disappears." Ala also says that his country "will not provide the opportunity for terror organization to threaten Turkey from across the border," adding that the Turkish town of Karkamis, across the border from Jarablus, had been hit by nine mortar rounds on Tuesday and another round on Wednesday. ___ 9 a.m. A Turkish media report says a small number of Turkish special forces have crossed into Syria as part of a Turkish operation to rid a Syrian border town of Islamic State group militants. Private NTV television says the Turkish special forces entered Syria on Wednesday in what it described was an "intruder mission" to carry out "pinpoint operations" against IS as part of the mission to clear the town of Jarablus of the extremists. The London-based Syrian Observatory also said the Turkish troops had entered Syria. Turkish government officials could not immediately confirm the report. ____ 5 a.m. Turkey's and the U.S.-backed coalition forces on Wednesday launched an operation to clear a Syrian border town from Islamic State militants, the office of the Turkish prime minister said. The operation began at 4 a.m. (0100 GMT), with Turkish artillery launching intense cross-border fire on the town of Jarablus, followed by Turkish warplanes bombing IS targets in the town, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. It was not immediately clear if any Turkish or Turkish-backed Syrian opposition forces crossed the border to take part in the operation. The news agency said the operation aims to clear Turkey's border of "terror organizations" and increase border security, as well as "prioritize and support" Syria's territorial integrity. The assault followed Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu pledge on Tuesday of "every kind" of support for operations against IS along a 100-kilometer (62-mile) stretch of Syrian frontier. Turkish army tanks move toward the Syrian border as pictured from Karkamis, Turkey, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. Turkey's military launched an operation before dawn Wednesday to clear a Syrian border town from Islamic State militants, and a private Turkish TV station reported that a small number of Turkish special forces had crossed into Syria as part of the operation. The operation was launched hours before Vice President Joe Biden was due in Ankara for talks that include developments in Syria.(AP Photo) U.S Vice President Joe Biden, left, waves after he was greeted by Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. Biden has arrived in Ankara for talks with Turkish leaders as Turkey launched a military operation to clear a Syrian border town of Islamic State militants. The visit comes at a difficult time for ties between the two NATO allies.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) ACT scores show many grads not ready for college-level work WASHINGTON (AP) The latest scores from the ACT college entrance exam suggest many of this year's high school graduates aren't ready for college-level course work. In its annual score report released Wednesday, the testing company said only 38 percent of graduating seniors who took the exam hit the college-prepared benchmark in at least three of the four core subjects tested reading, English, math and science. That compares with 40 percent last year. The benchmark is designed to measure a strong readiness for college. The average composite score also declined a bit, down from 21 to 20.8 this year. The four tests are scored on a scale of 1 to 36. The composite is the average of the four scores. Many colleges use the composite in admissions. FILE - In this May 6, 2015 file photo, a computer-based practice ACT English test is displayed on a computer monitor in Washington. Nearly two-thirds of this years high school graduates took the ACT college entrance exam, and their scores suggest that many remain unprepared for the rigors of college-level coursework. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File) ACT's Paul Weeks says the declines were expected, given the growing and changing demographics of the testing population. Sixty-four percent of the 2016 graduates took the ACT, meaning nearly 2.1 million students, compared with 59 percent the year before. That increases the share of test-takers who aren't necessarily college bound, said Weeks, senior vice president for client relations, in an interview. By comparison, 1.7 million graduating seniors in 2015 took the SAT, the other major college entrance exam. The College Board expects to release updated 2016 numbers for the SAT in the fall. Of the ACT-tested high school graduates this year, 61 percent met the English benchmark of 18 points, which indicates a student is likely ready for a college composition course and would earn a "C'' or better grade. In reading, 44 percent met the 22-point mark that suggests readiness for a college-level social-sciences course. For math, 41 percent met the 22-point threshold that predicts success in an algebra course. And in science, 36 percent reached the 23-point score that predicts success in an entry-level biology course. In contrast, 34 percent of 2016 grads did not meet any of the four benchmarks. Weeks called that number alarming, an indication those students are likely to struggle with first-year courses and end up in remedial classes that will delay degree completion and increase college costs. The report showed a relatively wide gulf, by race, in the percentages of graduates hitting three or more of the college-ready benchmarks. Forty-nine percent of white test-takers met the three-or-more benchmark, compared with 11 percent of African-Americans and 23 percent of Hispanic test-takers. But the gaps between the groups haven't shifted that much, for better or worse, in the past four years. Other findings in the annual score report: Massachusetts had the highest average composite score, at 24.8. It was followed by Connecticut and New Hampshire, both with a 24.5 average composite score. In the past four years, the proportion of students saying they would like to pursue vocational/technical and two-year degrees increased by 2 percent. The proportion aspiring to higher levels of education dropped by 6 percent. The testing company says 20 states funded ACT testing for public school students in the 2016 graduating class. Those states are: Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming. ___ Turkey makes first major foray into Syria with assault on IS ANKARA, Turkey (AP) Turkey on Wednesday launched its first major ground assault into Syria since the country's civil war began, sending in tanks and special forces backed by U.S. airstrikes to help Syrian rebels retake a border town from Islamic State militants. The surprise incursion to capture the town of Jarablus was a dramatic escalation of Turkey's role in Syria's war. But its objective went beyond fighting extremists. Turkey is also aiming to contain expansion by Syria's Kurds, who are also backed by the United States and have used the fight against IS and the chaos of the civil war to seize nearly the entire stretch of the border with Turkey in northern Syria. That raises the potential for explosive frictions between two American allies. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden flew into Ankara hours after the offensive, and he backed Turkey with a stern warning to the Kurds to stay east of the Euphrates River, which crosses from Turkey into Syria at Jarablus. Turkish artillery stationed near the Syrian border in Karkamis, Turkey, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. Turkey's military launched an operation before dawn Wednesday to clear a Syrian border town from Islamic State militants, and a private Turkish TV station reported that a small number of Turkish special forces had crossed into Syria as part of the operation.The operation was launched hours before Vice President Joe Biden was due in Ankara for talks that include developments in Syria.(AP Photo) Kurdish forces "must move back across the Euphrates River. They cannot, will not, under any circumstance get American support if they do not keep that commitment," he said. The Turkish assault, launched in retaliation after a string of militant bombings in Turkey, adds yet another powerhouse force on the ground in an already complicated war. It appeared Turkish forces would remain for at least the near term. A senior Turkish official told journalists that operations would continue until "we are convinced" imminent threats to Turkey are neutralized. He said the aim is to create a "terror-free zone" in northern Syria to prevent militants from entering Turkey. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government regulations. The Turkish assault began around 4 a.m. with a furious barrage by artillery and warplanes. Then around 20 Turkish tanks, a team of Turkish special forces, and hundreds of Syrian rebels surged across the border, according to Turkish media and Syrian opposition activists. Only hours later, the rebels burst into Jarablus, posting photos from the town's center. IS militants withdrew apparently without a fight, retreating to the IS-held town of al-Bab further south. In the evening, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that rebels had retaken the city, saying they seized "government and official residences." He spoke alongside Biden, who said Washington backed the offensive with airstrikes, adding, "We believe very strongly that the Turkish border should be controlled by Turkey." Much of what happens next depends on whether the Turkish offensive goes deeper and what they move against: IS-held towns or nearby Kurdish-controlled areas, including the town of Manbij which Kurdish forces retook from IS earlier this month. Manbij lies west of the Euphrates, and Ankara has demanded the Kurds hand it over to Syrian rebels and withdraw. Turkey has been deeply concerned by the advances along the border of the main U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish militia, known as the People's Protection Units, or YPG, fearing it is setting up a Kurdish entity. The YPG is also linked to Kurdish rebels waging an insurgency in southeastern Turkey. Jennifer Cafarella, an analyst with the Institute for the Study of War, said Turkey is trying to "block the ultimate creation of a contiguous zone of territorial control under the authority of the PYD," using the acronym for the Democratic Union Party, the YPG's political arm. Earlier, Erdogan said the military operation aims to prevent threats from "terror" groups, pointing specifically to the Islamic State group and the PYD. He said the operation was in response to a string of attacks in Turkey, including an IS suicide bombing at a wedding party near the border which killed 54 people. Saleh Muslim, the co-president of the PYD, warned that Turkey will pay the price, tweeting that "Turkey is in Syrian Quagmire. Will be defeated as Daesh" will be. He used the Arabic language acronym for IS. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu shot back saying Muslim's opposition to the operations proved the PYD's "secret agenda" to form a Kurdish state. Despite the tough talk, the Kurds may decide to pull back from Manbij to appease their U.S. allies, handing it over to the so-called Manbij Military Council. The predominantly Kurdish Syria Democratic Forces created the council to lead the battle for Manbij, giving it an Arab and local membership to assuage Ankara's concerns. Jarablus is a key lynchpin in the Turkish-Kurdish rivalry. The town lies on the western bank of the Euphrates River at the Turkish border in a pocket controlled by the Islamic State group. The YPG and other Syrian Kurds stand on the east bank of the river, and from there they hold the entire border with Turkey all the way to Iraq. They also hold parts of the border further west, so if they ever took control of Jarablus, they would control almost the entire stretch. Pointedly, Turkey codenamed its cross-border assault "Euphrates Shield," suggesting the aim was to keep the YPG east of the Euphrates River. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that in Biden's talks in Ankara, the two sides reached agreement that that the Syrian Kurdish forces "should never spread west of the Euphrates and not enter any kind of activity there." Cavusoglu said Syrian Kurdish forces must cross back to the east side of the Euphrates as soon as possible. "Otherwise, and I say this clearly, we will do what is necessary." Turkey has backed rebels against Syrian President Bashar Assad throughout Syria's civil war. It has carried out some airstrikes and artillery barrages against militants in the past. But Wednesday's assault was its first major ground incursion. Some 1,500 Syrian opposition fighters were involved, said Ahmad al-Khatib, an activist embedded with the rebels. The fighters came from the U.S.-backed Hamza brigade, as well as rebel groups fighting government forces in Aleppo, such as the Nour el-Din el Zinki brigade, the Levant Front, and Failaq al-Sham. Fighters from the powerful and ultraconservative Ahrar al-Sham brigade are also present, he said. The Syrian government denounced the Turkish military incursion and called for an immediate end to what it described as a "blatant violation" of Syrian sovereignty. But there is little potential for friction between the Turkish forces and Assad's troops, which are not in the immediate area. Moreover, Assad shares Turkey's goals of pushing back the Islamic State group and the Kurds. With Syria's civil war now in its sixth year, Turkey's foray adds another item in a list of combatants that already includes Assad's military and his allies Revolutionary Guard troops from Iran and Hezbollah guerrillas from Lebanon, Russian military experts and airstrikes Syrian rebels, Kurdish fighters and jihadi militants from around the world in the Islamic State group. ___ Karam reported from Beirut. Associated Press writers Philip Issa and Sarah El Deeb in Beirut, Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria, and National Security Writer Robert Burns in Washington contributed to this report. Turkish army tanks are stationed near the border with Syria, in Karkamis, Turkey, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. Turkey's military launched an operation before dawn Wednesday to clear a Syrian border town from Islamic State militants, and a private Turkish TV station reported that a small number of Turkish special forces crossed into Syria as part of the operation. (DHA via AP) A Turkish army tank and an armored vehicle are stationed near the border with Syria, in Karkamis, Turkey, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016. Turkish media reports say Turkish artillery on Tuesday launched new strikes at Islamic State targets across the border in Syria, after two mortar rounds, believed to have been fired by the militants, hit the town of Karkamis, in Turkey's Gaziantep province. Hurriyet newspaper and other reports said the mortar rounds were fired from IS-held Jarablus, Syria.(IHA via AP) Smokes billow in Syrian side, pictured from Karkamis, Turkey, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. Turkey's military and the U.S.-backed coalition forces on Wednesday launched an operation to clear a Syrian border town from Islamic State militants, Turkey's prime minister's office said. The state-run Anadolu Agency said the operation, which began hours after Turkey indicated it would step up its engagement in Syria, began at 4 a.m. with Turkish artillery launching intense fire on Jarablus from the Turkish town of Karkamis, followed by Turkish warplanes bombing IS targets in the town.(DHA via AP) Turkish army tanks are stationed near the border with Syria, in Karkamis, Turkey, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016. Turkey's military and the U.S.-backed coalition forces on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016 launched an operation to clear a Syrian border town from Islamic State militants, Turkey's prime minister's office said. The state-run Anadolu Agency said the operation, which began hours after Turkey indicated it would step up its engagement in Syria, began at 4 a.m. with Turkish artillery launching intense fire on Jarablus from the Turkish town of Karkamis, followed by Turkish warplanes bombing IS targets in the town. (AP Photo) NEAR CANNON BALL, N.D. Opponents of the Dakota Access Pipeline say theyll continue camping north of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation after a federal judge said Wednesday it may take two weeks for a ruling on the tribes request for an injunction. Were still in limbo, said Dallas Goldtooth, an organizer for the Indigenous Environmental Network. Goldtooth, speaking from a loudspeaker to tell campers the news relayed to him from the courtroom, said the judge may take until Sept. 9 to make a decision. The news was met with silence from the group until one protester called out On to D.C. This is very disappointing to say the least, Goldtooth said. We had hoped that we would have a more final decision today. Phyllis Young, a Standing Rock Sioux Tribe elder and landowner, said the self-described water protectors will absolutely stay remain site until Sept. 9. People are committed to the long haul in this camp, to be here until this pipeline gets stopped, Goldtooth said. Young said they also will continue to push for removal of the traffic checkpoint on State Highway 1806 south of Mandan. Donnell Hushka, spokeswoman for the Morton County Sheriffs Office, said the checkpoint will remain in place and authorities are still assessing the effects of the judges delayed decision. We werent really prepared for this event, Hushka said. Dakota Access did not immediately respond to an inquiry about whether the company plans to resume construction near the protest site. Hushka said authorities have been in constant conversation with the company. I think they're anxious to get back to work, however they realize there could be some issues if they would, Hushka said. While tribal leaders were attending the hearing in Washington, campers and tribal elders held a prayer ceremony, smoking peace pipes and releasing two eagles, said Johnelle Leingang, emergency response coordinator for Standing Rock. After the ceremony, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe honor guard marched roughly a mile from the camp location to the construction site, posing for a photo with a No DAPL sign. I hope they deny this pipeline, said Kevin Little Bear, a Standing Rock veteran. Leingang said the tribe is prepared to support the campers, but a concern going forward is that nights will be getting colder. Were going to pull our resources together and see if we can get more tents and blankets donated, Leingang said. Campers from near and far said they were ready to stick it out. Naelyn Pike, 17, a member of the San Carlos Apache tribe in Arizona, sat on the grass eating a piece of white cake after hearing the news and said she plans to keep fighting even as she misses the start of her senior year in high school. For me, this is more important, said Pike, who arrived Sunday with a dozen others from the reservation. Manaja Unjinca Hill, veterans service officer with Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, said at his last count about 87 tribal nations had sent representation to the demonstration. It brought all the tribes together, he said. Organizers estimated the crowd to be 1,500 to 2,000 on Wednesday, noting that some had left because of the start of the school year. Goldtooth said there should be an ongoing conversation about how the state has escalated its presence, including the highway checkpoint and overhead aircraft surveillance. Its mental warfare and we cant stand for that, Goldtooth said. Young said the tribe has a filed a complaint with the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and the U.N. plans to send an observer on Tuesday to the camp. Maxine Thunder Hawk, 40, sister-in-law to Standing Rock Tribal Chairman Dave Archambault II, had difficulty describing her emotions before the hearing, but afterward said she shared the sentiments of the camp. Horrified by Trump, Democrats getting nostalgic about Romney WASHINGTON (AP) When President Barack Obama ran for re-election, Democrats made no secret of their disdain for Mitt Romney. That was all before Donald Trump. Horrified by the prospect of Trump in the White House, Obama and his party have changed their tune about Romney. As they denounce Trump as "unhinged" and unfit, they're getting nostalgic about the 2012 Republican nominee they now describe as principled, competent and honorable. It's a sharp reversal from four years ago. Back then, Democrats spent hundreds of millions of dollars portraying the former Massachusetts governor as a callous, unpatriotic, pet-abusing caricature of the uber-rich. FILE -In this Nov. 4, 2012 file photo, then-Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney steps on stage to speak at a campaign event in Cleveland. When President Barack Obama ran for re-election, Democrats made no secret of their disdain for Mitt Romney. That was all before Donald Trump. Horrified by the prospect of Trump in the White House, Obama and his party have changed their tune about Romney. As they denounce Trump as unhinged and unfit, theyre getting nostalgic about the 2012 Republican nominee they now describe as principled, competent and honorable. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File) Yet as Trump is proving, everything in politics is relative. "He was in it for the right reasons," Stephanie Cutter, Obama's 2012 deputy campaign manager, said of Romney. "He truly believed in wanting to make this country better. We just differed significantly on how to do that." Cutter said that in 2012 Democrats had ideological clashes with Romney, but didn't doubt his temperament or basic competence. She said unlike Trump, Romney didn't "insult his way through his campaigning," malign minorities, or threaten to violate the Constitution or to abandon U.S. allies. New York Rep. Steve Israel, one of the Democratic Party's top campaign strategists, said "Romney was qualified, but he had the wrong ideas. Trump is unqualified, dangerous and still has the wrong ideas." And Obama's 2012 campaign press secretary, Ben LaBolt, put it this way: "I don't think anybody would have truly expected the country to go to hell in a handbasket" if Romney had won. "Trump presents an entirely different level of threat," he said. Rewind to 2012. A pro-Obama super PAC aired a TV ad indirectly alleging that Romney caused a woman's death. Democrats accused him of animal cruelty over a decades-old story about Seamus, the family dog, forced to ride rooftop on a road trip. Vice President Joe Biden told a largely black audience that Romney and his running mate were "going to put y'all back in chains." All the while, Obama attacked Romney's business record ruthlessly, as Democrats questioned whether Romney's use of offshore accounts made him unpatriotic. Obama's campaign even suggested Romney might have committed a felony by misrepresenting his employment status to federal regulators. It's this year's great irony that the same Democratic attacks that landed hard on Romney seem to bounce right off of Trump. Where Romney had to downplay his wealth, Trump boasts of his riches, and brushes off controversies over remarks perceived as insensitive to women or minorities. Russ Schriefer, a top Romney adviser in 2012, said he hoped Democrats were learning that words matter, even in politics. He described a campaign equivalent of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf." "Don't be surprised when your accusations against Trump are falling upon deaf ears and aren't working, when you've used them in the past against a person for whom the descriptions didn't fit," he said. But Israel, who oversaw Democrats' efforts to win House seats that year, said he didn't think the attacks had gone too far. After all, Romney and Republicans were similarly tough on Obama, calling him a liar and a failed president. "The rhetoric gets heated on both sides of the aisle in any campaign," Israel said. Many Republicans, too, have declared Trump dangerous and unsuitable for the Oval Office. Chief among them is Romney, who implored fellow Republicans during the primary not to nominate Trump and called him a phony, a fraud, a bully and a con man. "I have never seen anything like it, and kudos to Romney for having the courage of his convictions when it comes to Trump," said Dan Pfeiffer, Obama's White House communications director during the campaign. These days, even Obama seems to acknowledge that Romney wouldn't have been awful at least not compared to Trump. Earlier this month, Obama said he would have been disappointed had he been defeated by Romney in 2012 or by Sen. John McCain in 2008, but never questioned either Republican's ability to do the job. A representative for Romney declined to comment on Democrats' newfound affection. But Eric Fehrnstrom, a longtime Romney adviser, called it an attempt to make GOP voters more comfortable with the idea of voting for Clinton. "He knows whatever expressions of support for him now coming from Democrats are purely political," Fehrnstrom said. "They're totally insincere." FILE - In this Nov. 3, 2012 file photo, a woman attending a campaign rally wears a sequined hat bearing a flag and the name of then-Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, in Greenwood Village, Colo. When President Barack Obama ran for re-election, Democrats made no secret of their disdain for Mitt Romney. That was all before Donald Trump. Horrified by the prospect of Trump in the White House, Obama and his party have changed their tune about Romney. As they denounce Trump as unhinged and unfit, theyre getting nostalgic about the 2012 Republican nominee they now describe as principled, competent and honorable. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley, File) Trump's evolving immigration plan compared to Clinton, Obama WASHINGTON (AP) Donald Trump's new line on immigration "fair, but firm" is leaving both Republicans and Democrats with the same question: Is the famously hard-line GOP nominee softening his approach? His campaign insists his position is "exactly the same" in principle. But even Trump acknowledged this week there "could certainly be a softening, because we're not looking to hurt people." And in the course of just a few days, Trump has gone from calling for mass deportations for millions a position to the right of even many Republicans to arguing deportations should focus on those who commit crimes, veering into the same territory as President Barack Obama and Democrat Hillary Clinton. FILE - In this Aug. 22, 2106 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump meets with active and retired law enforcement in Akron, Ohio. If this weeks string of vague and contradictory statements by Trump and his team revealed anything, its that his immigration policy is still evolving. Just days ago Trump reshuffled his campaign staff just as he tries to recalibrate his message for the general election, in which his tough stance on immigration may be more of a liability than it was in the Republican primary. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File) So what gives? If this week's string of vague and contradictory statements by Trump and his team is revealing anything, it's that his immigration policy is still evolving. Just days ago Trump reshuffled his campaign staff as part of an effort to recalibrate his message for the general election, in which his tough stance on immigration may be more of a liability than it was in the Republican primary. Trump's campaign postponed a major immigration speech scheduled for this week. But in a rally Wednesday, he returned to the kind of tough talk his supporters have come to expect. "We're going to have a real border. We're going to have a real wall. Mexico's going to pay for it," Trump said in Tampa, Florida. A look at what Trump has proposed, compared to Clinton's policies and Obama's record in office: ___ DEPORTATIONS TRUMP: From the start, the brash billionaire's campaign has been rooted in the promise of a dramatically different approach to immigration. He presented a detailed deportation plan for 11 million immigrants in the U.S. illegally, complete with estimated timeframes and references to a "deportation force." Trump argued all would have to return to their country of origin but that the "good people" could come back through legal processes. His tune seems to have changed. On Monday, Trump said his first focus would be to get rid of "the bad ones." Campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said Trump wanted to deport immigrants with criminal records, not all 11 million. What about that deportation force? "He has not said that for a while," Conway said. CLINTON: The Democratic nominee has said overhauling immigration laws will be a top priority, but in the meantime, she says current laws should be enforced "humanely." Her campaign says deportations would focus on immigrants "who pose a violent threat to public safety." Clinton wants to shut down privately run detention centers. OBAMA: Immigration advocates have railed against Obama for deporting huge numbers more than 2.5 million in all and dubbed him the "deporter in chief." In 2012, Immigration and Customs Enforcement set a record of removing 409,000 immigrants. Since then, though, the numbers have declined to just 235,413 in the 2016 budget year. ___ CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUMP: He's offered conflicting takes on how he'd deal with immigrants brought here illegally as children, and their parents. He praised the Supreme Court's move in June that halted Obama's second wave of executive actions on that issue, actions Trump decried as "executive amnesty." His campaign says he'd reverse Obama's remaining actions. On the other hand, Trump has said he wouldn't split up families, though he hasn't explained how he'd reconcile those policies. He also supports eliminating birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to parents who came here illegally. CLINTON: She wants to preserve Obama's executive actions both those affecting children and those affecting their parents. Clinton also wants to expand those actions to immigrants who have contributed to their communities or faced "extreme labor violations." OBAMA: Obama's position, like Trump's recent comments, is rooted in the notion that limited law enforcement resources should be focused on law-breaking immigrants, not kids and families. The president's first set of executive actions has shielded more than 800,000 young immigrants from deportation since 2012. After Republicans won the Senate in 2014 and the prospect of an immigration overhaul grew dimmer, Obama acted again to protect up to 4 million parents of U.S. citizens or permanent residents and let them work legally. The courts have put the more recent actions on hold. ___ BORDER SECURITY TRUMP: He says the border isn't adequately protected. Trump has called for tripling the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, who handle deportations. And then, of course, there's the wall. Trump is standing firm behind his plans to build a "real wall" on the Mexican border and to force Mexico to fund it. He says until Mexico pays up, the U.S. will increase visa and border crossing fees, "impound all remittance payments" from immigrants here illegally, and possibly increase tariffs or cut foreign aid. CLINTON: She's called for securing U.S. borders, but has also said the U.S. is already doing "a really good job." In March, Clinton said increased border security staffing, new fencing and lower immigration rates have lessened the problem. She opposes Trump's wall. OBAMA: In the 2008 budget year, before Obama took office, the U.S. had about 17,000 Border Patrol agents, reflecting an increase under President George W. Bush from the 9,212 the U.S. had in 2000. Obama increased it to 20,199 in 2009, and the numbers have hovered around there ever since. Border apprehensions dropped significantly during that time. Meanwhile, billions of taxpayer dollars have gone toward border fencing and technology to secure the border, another project that started under Bush. ___ What political news is the world searching for on Google and talking about on Twitter? Find out via AP's Election Buzz interactive. http://elections.ap.org/buzz ___ Associated Press writers Alicia A. Caldwell and Jill Colvin contributed to this report. FILE - In this Aug. 18, 2016 file photo, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton meets with law enforcement leaders in New York. If this weeks string of vague and contradictory statements by Donald Trump and his team revealed anything, its that his immigration policy is still evolving. Just days ago Trump reshuffled his campaign staff just as he tries to recalibrate his message for the general election, in which his tough stance on immigration may be more of a liability than it was in the Republican primary. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) Dismal time for Gulf oil = record low lease bidding NEW ORLEANS (AP) The federal government's annual sale of oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico attracted hardly any interest on Wednesday, reflecting a dismal outlook for offshore drilling. Only three oil companies bid, on just 24 of the nearly 4,400 tracts offered for drilling and exploration in the Gulf of Mexico off the Texas coast. None competed against each other. "Everything about this sale screams wariness," said Stewart Glickman, an analyst for S&P Global Market Intelligence. A Jefferson Parish sheriff's deputy, right, tells protesters John Clark, carrying a box with a copy of a petition against federal oil lease sales, and Blake Kopcho, second from left, that they cannot enter the building where the leasing agency has offices, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016 in Harahan, La. The protest was Tuesday, a day before the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has scheduled a lease sale for Gulf of Mexico water bottom off of Texas. Legal observer Bill Qugley, wearing hat, said Clark and Kopcho were among four demonstrators later arrested on a charge of trespassing. (AP Photo/Janet McConnaughey) Between them, BP Exploration and Production Inc., BHP Billiton Petroleum Inc., and Exxon Mobil Corp. offered a total of $18 million, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said. For perspective, that's about 32 millionths of the combined market capital of the bidders' parent companies, which totals more than half a trillion dollars. It represents the least revenue offered by the smallest number of companies making the fewest bids yet on leases in the central or western Gulf of Mexico, said Michael Celata, the agency's regional director. Last year, five companies made 33 bids, totaling $22.7 million. Celata blames low oil prices, which have been under about $50 per 42-gallon barrel since mid-2015. Prices had ranged from $75 to nearly $120 during the six years before that. If oil futures returned to $75 or above, "I think some players might say, 'You know what? We might dip our toes back in the Gulf.' At this point, that looks like a long way off," said Glickman. Declining prices for renewable energy doesn't yet threaten the Gulf's offshore oil industry, Glickman said. The real competition is from onshore drilling, which is much cheaper, faster and less risky. Ten of the tracts that were bid on Wednesday are in depths of 400 to 800 meters (a bit less than a half-mile) and 14 are between 800 and 1,600 meters, or just under a mile deep. Operating a rig at 800 meters or less can cost eight times as much as a top-end onshore drilling rig, which costs about $20,000 a day, Glickman said. It's also notable that this year's only bidders were two "supermajors" and BHP Billiton, a huge mining company with significant oil and gas operations. The industry includes between 5,000 and 8,000 exploration and production companies, but "even garden-variety water is not the provenance of smaller players anymore," Glickman said. In the end, Exxon bid a total of $1.7 million, BP $6.3 million and BHP Billiton $10 million. That's a far cry from November 2012, when oil was selling at $91.20 and 13 companies offered $133.8 million in high bids on 116 tracts in the same area. Nearly all the tracts attracting bids Wednesday are adjacent to areas already being leased, which also suggests caution, Glickman said. At $90 a barrel, "virtually any well was going to be making money. Companies ratcheted up spending to grow as much as possible," Glickman said. Now, "firms are being conservative. Not all cash is going to the drill bit. Some is going to pay back debt," he said. "Not everyone has the luxury of Exxon's position where they can think 20 or 30 years ahead." The government reviews all bids, and any found to be below market value can be rejected, Celata said. Wednesday's sale was the first to be livestreamed on the internet, after protesters disrupted last year's event in a ballroom at the Superdome. Celata and agency director Abigail Ross Hopper opened envelopes and revealed each bid to an online audience of 1,100 people, compared to hundreds attending past sales in person. While it had no effect on the bidding, the presentation was marred by a video glitch. While Hopper was preparing to read the third bid, she announced a "pause," and for several minutes, the screen displayed messages such as "memory full" and "all scenes now deleting." Japan, China, S. Korea unite in condemning N. Korea missile TOKYO (AP) The foreign ministers of China, Japan and South Korea made a rare display of unity Wednesday to sharply criticize North Korea's latest submarine missile test. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, who chaired the meeting with China's Wang Yi and South Korea's Yun Byung-se, said the missile launch is a "provocation that simply cannot be tolerated." Kishida said the ministers reaffirmed their effort in prompting North Korea to use restraint. "I hope to coordinate closely in order for Japan, China and South Korea to lead the efforts of the international community," he said. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, center, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, and South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se pose for the photographers before their trilateral meeting in Tokyo, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The foreign ministers of China, Japan and South Korea have criticized North Korea's fresh missile launch just hours earlier in the day. (Katsumi Kasahara/Pool Photo via AP) The three countries have quarreled on a number of issues notably territorial disputes and wartime history and their foreign ministers' meetings resumed only last year after a two-year hiatus because of strained Chinese-Japanese relations. Yun said that North Korea's repeated missile tests this year "demonstrated a rapid advancement of capability" and that he shared the concern over the "urgent situation" with his counterparts. Wang said the three neighbors, despite problems and difficulties among them, should work together to deal with regional threats like North Korea's missile and nuclear ambitions. "China opposes North Korea's nuclear and missile process, actions that cause tension on the Korean Peninsula," Wang said in a joint news conference. Tensions between Tokyo and Beijing remain high over disputed East China Sea islands and undersea gas development, while ties between China and South Korea became frayed after Seoul approved the deployment of a U.S. missile defense system against North Korea's threats that Beijing says will harm its security. During Wednesday's talks, the ministers apparently focused on disaster prevention, the environment and other less-thorny issues. Japanese officials said the U.S. missile deployment in South Korea and their ongoing joint military exercises were not mentioned at the trilateral talks. In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said the ministers agreed to focus on "building up political trust, carrying out pragmatic cooperation, expanding people-to-people exchanges and pushing ahead with sustainable development," while supporting responsible roles in economic growth, cooperation as well as peace and stability in the region. Nevertheless, Kishida protested to Wang over China's escalating maritime activity around the Japanese-controlled Senkaku island, which Beijing also claims, demanding China "fully calm the situation" and avoid tension. An improved East China Sea situation would allow for more dialogue between the two sides, including a bilateral summit during the G-20 meeting next month. Wang said China also hopes to prevent tension in the East China Sea and improve relations with Japan. While expectations for concrete achievements at the talks were low, Japan offered details about the 1 billion yen ($1 million) fund that Tokyo promised as a way to atone for its wartime sexual abuse of South Korean "comfort women." Seoul has certified 245 of them 64 survivors and the relatives of the 199 who died as eligible recipients. The fund is part of the landmark agreement reached by the two sides last December in a bid to resolve their dispute over Japan's wartime actions. Japan's Cabinet approved details of the provision, to be provided to the women through a South Korean organization launched last month, ahead of Japan-South Korea talks. The survivors are entitled to receive about 10 million yen ($100,000) each for medical and nursing care, and 2 million yen ($20,000) each will cover cost including funeral for those who died and scholarships of their relatives. ___ Associated Press writer Louise Watt in Beijing contributed to this report. ___ Follow Mari Yamaguchi at https://www.twitter.com/mariyamaguchi Find her work also at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/mari-yamaguchi Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida makes opening remarks during the trilateral meeting in Tokyo, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The foreign ministers of China, Japan and South Korea have criticized North Korea's fresh missile launch just hours earlier in the day. (Katsumi Kasahara/Pool Photo via AP) Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, center in the background, makes opening remark during a trilateral meeting in Tokyo, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The foreign ministers of China, Japan and South Korea have criticized North Korea's fresh missile launch just hours earlier in the day. (Katsumi Kasahara/Pool Photo via AP) China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi makes an opening speech during the trilateral foreign minister's meeting in Tokyo, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (Katsumi Kasahara/ Pool Photo via AP)) South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se makes a speech during the trilateral meeting in Tokyo, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The foreign ministers of China, Japan and South Korea have criticized North Korea's fresh missile launch just hours earlier in the day. (Katsumi Kasahara/Pool Photo via AP) Japan's Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, center, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, South Korea's Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, right, pose for the photographers before their trilateral foreign minister's meeting in Tokyo, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (Katsumi Kasahara/Pool Photo via AP) Ohio literary peace award to Marilynne Robinson CINCINNATI (AP) Writer Marilynne Robinson has been named the winner of a lifetime achievement award that celebrates the power of literature to foster peace, social justice and global understanding. Dayton Literary Peace Prize organizers announced Wednesday that Robinson, 72, will receive this year's Richard C. Holbrooke Distinguished Achievement Award, named for the late U.S. diplomat who brokered the 1995 Bosnia peace accords reached in Ohio. Robinson won the Pulitzer Prize in 2005 for "Gilead," the first of a trilogy of Iowa-set novels that includes "Home" and "Lila." Her 1980 book "Housekeeping" explored themes of family and home in a story about two sisters. FILE - In this Sept. 14, 2015, file photo, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Marilynne Robinson visits the State Library of Iowa in the Ola Babcock Miller Building in Des Moines, Iowa. On Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, Dayton Literary Peace Prize organizers announced Robinson as the recipient of the annual Richard C. Holbrooke Distinguished Achievement Award, to be presented at a Nov. 20, 2016, ceremony in Dayton, Ohio. The lifetime achievement award celebrates the power of literature to foster peace, social justice and global understanding. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) The Dayton honor recognizes her overall body of novels and essays for their moving and thoughtful reflections on spirituality, politics, science and modern life. Sharon Rab, founder and co-chair of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation, praised Robinson's writings on "forgiveness, the sacredness of the human creature, and delight in being alive and experiencing the natural world" in a statement, adding that her works demonstrate "the universal healing power of reconciliation and love." "I have had the privilege of seeing for myself how books live in the world, how readily they can cross all sorts of borders and boundaries, how important they are in sustaining a human conversation through and despite the frictions that arise among nations, how intensely they can be taken to heart anywhere," Robinson said in a statement. Among the Idaho native's fans are President Barack Obama, who in 2012 gave her the National Humanities Medal and interviewed Robinson for The New York Review of Books in 2015. Robinson earlier this year was awarded the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction, a lifetime achievement honor. She will receive the Dayton award Nov. 20. Previous winners include Studs Terkel, Taylor Branch, Gloria Steinem, and Elie Wiesel, the Nobel Peace Prize winner who died in July. ___ Online: http://daytonliterarypeaceprize.org ___ Follow Dan Sewell at http://www.twitter.com/dansewell Afghan migrant shot dead in Serbia BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) Serbia's defense ministry says a 20-year old Afghan migrant crossing illegally from Bulgaria has been shot dead, apparently by hunters. The ministry said Wednesday that its border patrol heard a shot Tuesday night and then discovered six migrants, of whom one had a chest wound. He later died. The ministry says a hunter who was at the scene was detained on suspicion that he shot the migrant. Since the so-called Balkan migrant route was closed in March after more than 1 million used it to head for the EU last year, hundreds fleeing wars and poverty are still crossing daily from Bulgaria through Serbia to try to make it into EU-member Hungary. Turkey targets Gulen-inspired projects around the world JOHANNESBURG (AP) In past years, big names in South Africa picked up the annual Gulen Peace Award, a local accolade inspired by a Turkish preacher who has been blamed by Turkey for an attempted coup last month. Both Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu and Graca Machel, an activist and widow of Nelson Mandela, have been feted in the name of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who has won international recognition for promoting dialogue and education. But this year's award ceremony is in doubt as Turkey campaigns globally to shut schools and other institutes linked to Gulen, who once enjoyed support from the Turkish government that now calls him a terrorist. "We haven't decided yet whether there will be an event or not," said Ayhan Cetin, director of the Turquoise Harmony Institute, a Gulen-inspired group based in Johannesburg. South Africa's government has not moved against Gulen supporters, but it could be awkward for someone to accept the award because of the international tension, he said. FILE: In this Aug. 2014 file photo, worshippers gather at the Nizamiye Mosque for prayers after celebrating Eid in Midrand, north of Johannesburg, South Africa. Turkey has launched an international campaign to shut schools and foundations linked to Fethullah Gulen, the Muslim preacher that it blames for an attempted coup last month. Some Erdogan supporters also criticized the Nizamiye mosque north of Johannesburg, a soaring structure built with the funds of a Gulen backer. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell, file) At home, Turkey has detained more than 40,000 people in a bid to dismantle the network of Gulen, drawing criticism that the purge could sweep up anyone critical of the government. Turkey's international campaign against Gulen, who denies any involvement in the July 15 uprising, targets schools and other institutions in more than 100 countries, including in Asia, Africa, Europe and the United States. The Turkish bid is complicated by questions of national sovereignty and whether there is evidence of links between far-flung projects many with no formal ties to Gulen's headquarters in the U.S. and the coup attempt against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Gulen's global influence could depend partly on whether the United States extradites him at the request of Turkey, which is frustrated by U.S. statements that it must present evidence and follow the legal process, a commentator said. "As long as they kind of enjoy some sort of American cover, I think they will be able to continue," said Halil Karaveli, a senior fellow at the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute and the Silk Road Studies Program. Turkey accuses Gulen, who is associated with Islamic mysticism, or Sufism, of clandestinely grooming school recruits to eventually take over the state. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has told ambassadors that their countries should move against schools or associations tied to Gulen's movement, known as Hizmet, or "Service" in Turkish. "Here's some friendly advice: If you are late in taking action against them, this threat will no longer be a Turkish threat, it could become your countries' greatest threat," Yildirim said. Somalia, a war-torn beneficiary of Turkish aid, closed educational and medical facilities linked to Gulen, though Turkey said they would operate again under different management. Azerbaijan seized a university connected with Gulen, while the Kurdish regional government in northern Iraq said Gulen-affiliated schools will be transferred to new ownership, Turkey's Anadolu Agency reported. The reaction in some other countries, such as Germany and Kenya, is more skeptical or cautious. In places with limited resources, the schools have won praise for producing local graduates with good results. "It shouldn't be an arbitrary decision to close any school, just based on somebody's political wish," said Jeton Mehmeti, an education analyst in Kosovo. Gulen, whose Islamic movement first expanded outside Turkey in the early 1990s after the fall of the Soviet Union, has come under international scrutiny in the past. Russia closed schools connected with the cleric years ago amid concerns there about Islamic militancy. There are about 150 taxpayer-funded charter schools believed to be linked to Gulen in the United States, and Turkey has retained a U.S. legal firm, Amsterdam & Partners, to file complaints against them. The FBI has investigated allegations of employment discrimination, competitive bidding abuses and visa fraud at some of the schools, with few repercussions so far. In South Africa, nine schools inspired by Gulen's teachings follow a mostly secular curriculum that emphasizes math and science, and offer scholarships to disadvantaged children. Of their 3,500 students, 95 percent are South African, said Cetin of the Turquoise Harmony Institute. Tensions over the coup attempt deepened a rift among Turks in South Africa, where the Turkish ambassador, Kaan Esener, described operators of Gulen-inspired schools as a "crime syndicate" in a radio interview. Some Erdogan supporters also criticized the Nizamiye mosque north of Johannesburg, a soaring structure built with the funds of a Gulen backer. Cetin speculated that Turkey would pressure Gulen's expatriate supporters by rounding up relatives and friends at home in a widening crackdown. "The circle will be bigger and bigger," he said. ___ Follow Christopher Torchia on Twitter at www.twitter.com/torchiachris ___ Bangladesh police arrest prime suspect in publisher's murder NEW DELHI (AP) Bangladeshi police arrested a leading suspect in last year's killing of a publisher as part of a crackdown on radicals blamed for violent attacks on foreigners, liberals and minorities, an official said Wednesday. Moinul Islam Shamim was arrested late Tuesday from Tongi area just outside the Bangladesh capital, said Monirul Islam, head of the police counterterrorism and transnational crimes unit. Shamim is a key organizer of the banned group Ansarullah Bangla Team, which is blamed for attacks on atheist bloggers and online activists. He is suspected of killing publisher Arefin Deepan on Oct. 31 in his office in Dhaka. A similar attack on the same day left another publisher, Ahmed Rashid Tutul, and his two friends seriously injured. Shamim, who also uses alias of Sifat, Samir or Imran, is believed to be one of the top four coordinators of the group with knowledge of making bombs, police said. Police also announced the names of five others allegedly involved in the killings of at least 10 people in recent years. Deepen and Tutul had published works by Bangladeshi-American blogger and writer Avijit Roy, who was hacked to death in February 2015 while walking with his wife on the Dhaka University campus near an annual book fair premises. The Ansarullah Bangla Team claimed responsibility for the killing. Police have arrested five people in connection with Roy's killing. The Islamic State group also has claimed responsibility for several attacks since last year, but Bangladesh's government has repeatedly dismissed the idea that the extremist Sunni group has any presence in the country. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government has instead blamed domestic groups for the attacks. ___ Elevator fix will close Washington Monument for 9 months WASHINGTON (AP) The lone, balky elevator that takes visitors to the top of the 555-foot Washington Monument needs a major renovation that will require closing the landmark for nine months, officials said Wednesday. The elevator has broken down frequently over the past two years, roughly the period since the monument reopened following an August 2011 earthquake that did major damage to the structure. The monument needed $15 million in repairs and was closed for nearly three years, but the park service did not renovate the elevator during that time. That turned out to be a mistake, said Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democrat who represents the District of Columbia in Congress. Norton was briefed by park service officials about the elevator problems on Wednesday. FILE - In this March 13, 2015 file photo, the Washington Monument in Washington. The lone, balky elevator that takes visitors to the top of the 555-foot Washington Monument needs a major renovation that will require closing the landmark for nine months, officials said Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) "I believe NPS erred in not rehabilitating the elevator when the monument was closed for renovations," Norton said in a statement. "When an elevator seems to be in good shape, but is a one-of-a-kind elevator that operates 13 hours per day from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and eight hours per day thereafter, the elevator's lifespan must be uniquely measured." The monument has been closed for a thorough inspection of the elevator since a cable broke a week ago. The inspection was expected to last 10 days, but the park service said Wednesday that it won't be completed until mid-September at the earliest. There's no guarantee that the elevator will reopen after the inspection is finished, said Mike Litterst, a park service spokesman. There's also no timetable for starting the 9-month renovation, which is expected to cost between $2 million and $3 million, the park service said. Norton said the park service should try to finish the work before next year's tourist season, but that won't be possible. "It'll be measured in months" before construction starts, Litterst said. He added that preliminary inspections have shown "no indication that the recent troubles are related to the earthquake." ___ The Latest: Greece searches for 60 people on smuggling boat BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) The Latest on the influx of asylum-seekers and migrants in Europe (all times local): 4 p.m. Greek authorities are searching by air and sea for a boat with about 60 migrants on board that issued a distress signal off an eastern Aegean Sea island. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Italian Filippo Grandi, left, speaks with a Syrian refugee family who are staying at a house in Athens, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. About 58,000 people are stranded in the country most of them live at refugees camps but under the Greek housing scheme, assisted by the U.N. refugee agency, over 9,000 refugees are receiving hotel vouchers or live in vacant apartments. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) The coast guard said Wednesday the vessel was reported as being east of the main port of Rhodes. Hundreds of people still reach the Greek islands every week from Turkey in smugglers' boats. That's despite an abrupt drop in arrivals after Balkan and other European nations closed their borders and a March deal between the European Union and Turkey to stem the westward migration flow of refugees. About 58,000 migrants and refugees are now trapped in Greece. Also Wednesday, unknown arsonists set fire to a central Athens building used to house dozens of refugees and other migrants. The attack caused damages but no injuries. ___ 11:30 a.m. French authorities say a Sudanese migrant has died after a clash between groups of Sudanese and Afghans in the French port city of Calais, a flashpoint in Europe's migrant drama. The local administration said Wednesday that the man died Tuesday from a stab wound after a clash on a field on the edge of Calais, and four others were hospitalized with light injuries. The slain man is the 11th migrant to die in Calais this year. Many died during dangerous bids to slip illegally across the English Channel to Britain; two have now been killed in clashes. The number of migrants in Calais has soared this month to nearly 7,000, according to official figures even though a notoriously filthy camp was partially closed earlier this year. ___ 10:30 a.m. Serbia's defense ministry says a 20-year old Afghan migrant crossing illegally from Bulgaria has been shot dead, apparently by hunters. The ministry said Wednesday that its border patrol heard a shot Tuesday night and then discovered six migrants, of whom one had a chest wound. He later died. The ministry says a hunter who was at the scene was detained on suspicion that he shot the migrant. Since the so-called Balkan migrant route was closed in March after more than 1 million used it to head for the EU last year, hundreds fleeing wars and poverty are still crossing daily from Bulgaria through Serbia to try to make it into EU-member Hungary. UNHCR has estimated that there are currently some 4,400 migrants stuck in Serbia. A Syrian refugee family who are staying at a house in Athens speaks with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Italian Filippo Grandi, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. About 58,000 people are stranded in the country most of them live at refugees camps but under the Greek housing scheme, assisted by the U.N. refugee agency, over 9,000 refugees are receiving hotel vouchers or live in vacant apartments. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) Syrian refugee Samar Barri who is staying with her family at a house in Athens speaks with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Italian Filippo Grandi, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. About 58,000 people are stranded in the country most of them live at refugees camps but under the Greek housing scheme, assisted by the U.N. refugee agency, over 9,000 refugees are receiving hotel vouchers or live in vacant apartments. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Italian Filippo Grandi, right, speaks with a Syrian refugee family who are staying at a house in Athens, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. About 58,000 people are stranded in the country most of them live at refugees camps but under the Greek housing scheme, assisted by the U.N. refugee agency, over 9,000 refugees are receiving hotel vouchers or live in vacant apartments. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) An aerial view of the migrant camp, left, in Calais, northern France, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. There are more than 6000 migrants fleeing conflict zones or poverty, according to local officials, at the rapidly growing new migrant camp outside Calais, hoping to make it across the English Channel to Britain. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler) An aerial view of the city of Calais, northern France, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. There are more than 6000 migrants fleeing conflict zones or poverty, according to local officials, at the rapidly growing new migrant camp outside Calais, hoping to make it across the English Channel to Britain. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler) An aerial view of the migrant camp in Calais, northern France, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. There are more than 6000 migrants fleeing conflict zones or poverty, according to local officials, at the rapidly growing new migrant camp outside Calais, hoping to make it across the English Channel to Britain. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler) Migrants queue to receive their daily food distribution in a makeshift camp in Calais, northern France, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. There are more than 6,000 migrants fleeing conflict zones or poverty, according to local officials, at the rapidly growing new camp outside Calais, hoping to make it across the English Channel to Britain. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler) Migrants stand in front off a children's coffee bar in the migrant camp in Calais, northern France, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. There are more than 6,000 migrants fleeing conflict zones or poverty, according to local officials, at the rapidly growing new camp outside Calais, hoping to make it across the English Channel to Britain. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler) An Afghan migrant walks with food in the migrant camp in Calais, northern France, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. There are more than 6,000 migrants fleeing conflict zones or poverty, according to local officials, at the rapidly growing new jungle camp outside Calais, hoping to make it across the English Channel to Britain. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler) Afghan migrants wash on a scorching hot day in the migrant camp in Calais, northern France, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. There are more than 6000 migrants fleeing conflict zones or poverty, according to local officials, at the rapidly growing new Jungle camp outside Calais, hoping to make it across the English Channel to Britain. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler) Afghan migrants wash on a scorching hot day in the migrant camp in Calais, northern France, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. There are more than 6,000 migrants fleeing conflict zones or poverty, according to local officials, at the rapidly growing new Jungle camp outside Calais, hoping to make it across the English Channel to Britain. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler) HELENA A Flathead County judge has denied a request to put an initiative on the November ballot that would let Montanans vote to repeal the states Medical Marijuana Act. Anti-marijuana group Safe Montana, led by Billings businessman Steve Zabawa, argued it collected enough signatures to bring I-176 to voters, but the Secretary of States office said the group fell more than 4,000 short. I-176 would have made all drugs listed on Schedule I of the federal Controlled Substances Act illegal in Montana, eliminating differences between state and federal law with regards to the possession of marijuana. Zabawa claimed the Flathead County Clerk and Recorders office didnt submit 2,500 signatures it received this spring and 3,500 signatures were denied in error. Judge Heidi Ulbrichts ruling only dealt with the signatures Zabawa claimed were missing. On Friday Zabawa said the decision marks the end of the road for the initiative this election. Ballots are certified Thursday. Thats not enough time to appeal, Zabawa said. He had also asked Ulbricht to put the initiative on the 2018 ballot if it couldnt make this years; the judge denied that as well. Zabawa said when Ulbricht decided Friday she would only rule on the missing signatures and not the 3,500 he said were incorrectly rejected, he knew voters wouldnt see I-176 this fall. We needed both to get to the ballot, he said. A group must get 5 percent of registered voters in at least half of the states counties and at least 5 percent of total registered voters statewide to get an initiative on the ballot. The judges decision provides some insight into how Safe Montana believed signatures could have been lost. According to court documents, a signature gatherer named Jordan Loyda, who worked for LC Staffing in Kalispell, collected signatures for the group from Jan. 12-June 17. In an affidavit Loyda said his visits to drop off signatures at the county elections offices blended together and he had trouble recalling specific dates. Loyda recalled in a court document he had at least eight signature gatherer affidavits notarized on April 27 and put on a temporary table at the county elections office. He didnt say in court documents when these signatures were collected or how many signatures were included details he could provide the court for other signature drop-offs. At the end of April, Loyda said he asked the elections office why the signatures he dropped off earlier that month were not accounted for at the state level. He claims an election worker told him the petitions had not been processed or certified. Safe Montana claimed 2,588 signatures were collected between Feb. 26 and April 18. Loyda said in an affidavit for the court he collected 2,038 signatures in all of March and April. During the period when signatures would have been submitted, the Flathead County elections office changed locations several times. Election workers said in court documents that all items were reviewed, boxed, labeled and sealed during the moves and no documents were left behind. According to court documents, Flathead County elections employees searched for but could not find any missing pages. Zabawa spent three or four hours in July auditing signatures at the election office but also couldnt find the signatures he claimed were missing. The judge said it must be presumed election officials did their job correctly and Zabawa didnt show enough evidence that they didnt. She also said the officials had already conducted an exhaustive search, which didnt turn up the documents. Finally, Ulbricht said Safe Montana also failed to show that it collected enough signatures to make the November ballot. In a press release late Monday, Zabawa said Safe Montana will continue to make sure medical marijuana is handled by the FDA, doctors, pharmacists and hospitals and not by unregulated pot shops, though the release didnt lay out how the group will proceed. 10 Things to Know for Thursday - 25 August 2016 Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Thursday: 1. EARTHQUAKE IN ITALY REDUCES THREE TOWNS TO RUBBLE Rescue crews using bulldozers and their bare hands race to dig out survivors from the strong quake that hit central Italy and killed scores. A man walks through debris after a tornado in Kokomo, Ind., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. Multiple tornadoes touched down in central Indiana on Wednesday, tearing the roofs off apartment buildings, sending air conditioners falling onto parked cars and cutting power to thousands of people. (Tim Bath/The Kokomo Tribune via AP) 2. LONG POLITICAL RESUME COULD WORK AGAINST CLINTON DURING DEBATES She'll enter the highly anticipated fall debates with Trump facing the same kind of heightened expectations that often saddle an incumbent president. 3. WHAT'S LATEST WHITE HOUSE WORRY IN SYRIA The U.S. may get drawn into cooperating with Russian forces in the civil war even though it believes Moscow's intervention has only undermined the U.S. goal of defeating the Islamic State group. 4. TORNADOES TOUCH DOWN IN CENTRAL INDIANA Multiple twisters tear the roofs off apartment buildings, send air conditioners falling onto parked cars and cut power to thousands of people. 5. ACCORD REACHED IN ONE OF WORLD'S LONGEST-RUNNING ARMED CONFLICTS Colombia's government and the country's biggest rebel group announce a deal to end a half-century of hostilities. 6. CORPORATE BALANCE SHEETS ARE HIDDEN RISK TO US ECONOMY America has a debt problem, and the big borrower this time may surprise you: Corporate America. 7. WHY ASTRONOMERS BELIEVE THEY'VE HIT JACKPOT After scanning the vast reaches of the cosmos for Earth-like planets where life might exist, scientists have found one right next door, celestially speaking. 8. LETTER FROM BONNIE AND CLYDE UP FOR AUCTION The bitter letter from the notorious Depression-era gangsters was sent to a former member of their gang they felt had betrayed them. 9. WHERE PRINCE FANS WILL BE FLOCKING Paisley Park, the private estate and production complex of the late rock superstar, will open for public tours starting next month. 10. US SOCCER SUSPENDS GOALKEEPER HOPE SOLO The six-month suspension follows the goalie's disparaging comments about Sweden following the Americans' early departure from the Rio Olympics. This image provided Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, by RR Auction of Boston shows the first page of an April 1934 letter from Depression-era gangsters Bonnie and Clyde to a former member of their gang they felt had betrayed them. The letter, written in Bonnie Parker's neat cursive and signed by Clyde Barrow, is going up for auction and could fetch more than $40,000 when it's sold in September. (RR Auction via AP) Rhode Island zoo announces birth of endangered kangaroo PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) Officials have announced the birth of an endangered kangaroo native to Papua New Guinea at the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence earlier this year. Zoo Executive Director Jeremy Goodman says the Matschie's tree kangaroo named Polly was one of just six in the species born in the United States during the past year as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' species survival program. Polly was about an inch long when she was born on Feb. 11. She will remain in her mother's pouch for a total of 10 months. Zoo officials say the first six months after birth is a critical period for the mother and child to bond. AstraZeneca to sell molecule antibiotics business to Pfizer LONDON (AP) Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca plans to sell its molecule antibiotics business to Pfizer in a deal that will be valued in excess of $1.5 billion when rights, royalties and other payments are included. The sale marks a thawing of relations between the British company and New York-based Pfizer after an acrimonious battle to avoid a takeover just a few years ago. Under the deal, AstraZeneca will sell the commercialization and development rights in most markets globally outside the United States. It includes an upfront payment of $550 million. Judge denies bond for man held in 5 Alabama killings MOBILE, Ala. (AP) A judge refused to set bond Wednesday for a Mississippi man accused of killing five people and an unborn child who were slain one by one with an ax and shot inside a home in rural Alabama. The decision by Mobile County Judge Rick Stout came as Derrick Dearman, 27, made his first court appearance on multiple charges of capital murder and kidnapping. "He doesn't need to be out. He is a danger to the community," District Attorney Ashley Rich said afterward of the Leakesville, Mississippi, man. A photo provided by the Greene County Sheriff's Department shows Derrick Dearman, a suspect in the Saturday massacre of five adults in Citronelle Ala. Dearman, of Leakesville, Mississippi, will be charged with six counts of capital murder, Mobile County sheriff's spokeswoman Lori Myles said Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016. (George County Sheriff's Department via AP) Rich has said her office may seek the death penalty against Dearman, who allegedly attacked the five as they slept and then kidnapped his estranged girlfriend, who had sought shelter from him at the house. Killed were three men and two women, one of whom was pregnant. Relatives of the victims were present at Wednesday's hearing. Dearman turned to look at them but said nothing. The Mobile County Sheriff's Office said several firearms and an ax were used on the five adults, but authorities didn't specify the total number of weapons involved. Sheriff Sam Cochran said Dearman didn't have the guns when he arrived at the home but found them in the house. Cochran said he attacked first with the ax, then with the guns. Dearman has told reporters he was high on methamphetamine at the time of the slayings early Saturday. The judge appointed a defense attorney, Jim Vollmer, to represent Dearman and scheduled an arraignment hearing for Aug. 31. "That's when some things might happen," Vollmer said. Dearman is charged with six counts of capital murder and kidnapping, and courts typically refuse bond in such cases. The slain have been identified as Shannon Melissa Randall, 35; Joseph Adam Turner, 26; Justin Kaleb Reed, 23; Chelsea Marie Reed, 22; and Robert Lee Brown, 26. All were related by blood or marriage, relatives have said, and survivors are trying to raise money to pay for their funerals. Dearman's estranged girlfriend, Laneta Lester, was abducted, along with the child of Randall and Turner, authorities and relatives said. Lester is the sister of Turner, who was married to Randall. Both Lester and the child were released, and Dearman surrendered at the sheriff's office in Greene County, Mississippi. Citronelle police said they found the bodies Saturday afternoon after being notified by Greene County officers that Dearman claimed to have killed people. China seeks info on Chinese drug suspects in Philippines MANILA, Philippines (AP) China has sought information from Filipino authorities to help capture suspected Chinese drug traffickers in the Philippines and wants to forge a stronger anti-drug pact to fight the menace, the Chinese ambassador said, adding it's "utterly wrong" to say all the drug lords are Chinese. Ambassador Zhao Jianhua said late Tuesday that police in China and in the Philippines have exchanged visits recently for joint training and intelligence sharing in the growing anti-drug cooperation between the countries. China has also offered law enforcement equipment to bolster Manila's drug war. President Rodrigo Duterte has publicly said an unspecified number of Chinese nationals were involved in the illegal drug trade in the Philippines and that drugs have been smuggled from China to the Philippines. In one instance, Duterte threatened a suspected Chinese drug lord with death right at Manila's airport if he returned to the country. Philippine National Police documents on suspected drug traffickers seen by The Associated Press include a list of 14 Chinese nationals, including a woman, with their pictures. Another document identifies two Taiwanese running a "drug laboratory" in a northern Philippine province. Their names were not among those read by Duterte in public earlier this month as part of his shame campaign. At least three international drug syndicates run by Chinese, Africans and Mexicans operate in the Philippines. "The Chinese or Filipino-Chinese drug syndicates dominate the drug market in the country. They facilitate production, manufacturing and bulk smuggling of dangerous drugs in the country," according to the police documents. Duterte's anti-drug crackdown has been the deadliest and most massive in recent Philippine history, with nearly 2,000 suspects dead so far and more than 673,000 others surrendering for fears they may be killed, according to police. Zhao urged Philippine authorities to provide their Chinese counterparts with specific information about Chinese suspects to help capture them instead of announcing their names publicly without coordination. "If you find there are Chinese nationals who got themselves involved in drug-related crimes, give us solid information before you say they are Chinese," Zhao said. "These allegations or generalizations must be avoided." Adequate information on suspects would allow Chinese authorities to help determine their real citizenship and possible location, Zhao said, adding "it is utterly wrong to say that all those drug lords are Chinese." "We do not deny that there are some Chinese nationals who are involved in illegal drugs activities," he said. "Our position is clear. Whoever is involved in the illegal drug activities, even if they are Chinese citizens, they must be punished in accordance with laws." China, Zhao said, has very strict antinarcotics laws and imposes the death penalty for large-scale drug trafficking and would not tolerate offenders. It is not true, he added, that "all those drug materials come from China." "We're not hiding. We are not protecting them. We promised them that if they committed drug-related crimes, please give us information, so that we can identify them," Zhao said. China and the Philippines have a general agreement that allows cooperation in fighting criminality but Zhao said that can be strengthened into an accord focusing on battling illegal drugs. North Korea's Kim praises submarine launch test as a success SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Thursday that his country had achieved the "success of all successes" in launching a missile from a submarine, saying it effectively gave the country a fully equipped nuclear attack capability and put the U.S. mainland within striking distance. Kim's comments, carried by Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency, came a day after South Korean officials said a ballistic missile fired from a North Korean submarine was tracked flying about 500 kilometers (310 miles), the longest distance achieved by the North for such a weapon. North Korea already has a variety of land-based missiles that can hit South Korea and Japan, including U.S. military bases in those countries. But its development of reliable submarine-launched missiles would add a weapon that is harder to detect before launch. TV screens show file footage of a similar North Korea's ballistic missile that North Korea claimed to have launched from underwater at the Yongsan Electronic store in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. A North Korean ballistic missile fired from a submarine Wednesday flew about 500 kilometers (310 miles) in the longest flight by that type of weapon, Seoul officials said, a range that can place much of South Korea within its striking distance. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) The KCNA said Kim watched from an observation post as the test-firing happened, which the agency said was carried out without "any adverse impact" on neighboring countries. The North's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper published several photos that showed the missile, with the name Pukguksong printed on its side, soaring into the sky, and Kim smiling and embracing with one of the North Korean officials accompanying him from what appeared to be an observation deck. The KCNA quoted Kim as saying the successful test showed that North Korea had joined the "front ranks" of military powers fully equipped with nuclear attack capabilities. Kim also said it is undeniable that the U.S. mainland and key operational areas in the Pacific were within North Korea's striking distance. "I do not guess what ridiculous remarks the U.S. and its followers will make about this test-fire, but I can say their rash acts will only precipitate their self-destruction," the KCNA quoted Kim as saying. The KCNA said the test was aimed at evaluating the stability of the underwater launching system, the flight features of the solid-fuel missile, the reliability of the control and guidance system, and the accuracy of the warhead in hitting targets after it re-enters the atmosphere. Wednesday's launch came two days after the U.S. and South Korea began their 12-day Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercises, prompting North Korean threats of retaliation for the military drills, which it views as an invasion rehearsal. North Korea usually responds to regular South Korea-U.S. military drills with weapons tests and fiery warlike rhetoric. The United Nations Security Council agreed at an emergency meeting late Wednesday requested by the United States and Japan to consider issuing a statement on the missile launch. Malaysia's U.N. Ambassador Ramlan Bin Ibrahim, the current council president, told reporters after the closed meeting that "there was a general sense of condemnation by most members of the council." He said the United States is drafting the text of a press statement "and we will have a look at it." State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said in a statement that the U.S. strongly condemned the launch and called on North Korea to "refrain from actions and rhetoric that further raise tensions in the region." She said the missile launch marked the latest in an "accelerating campaign" of missile tests that violate multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions. South Korea's military condemned the launch but acknowledged it was an improvement over previous tests of similar missiles. North Korea fired two missiles from submarines earlier this year, but South Korean defense officials believe they exploded in midair after flying less than 30 kilometers (18 miles). The missile, fired from a submarine off the eastern North Korean coastal town of Sinpo, reached into Japan's air defense identification zone, according to Seoul and Tokyo officials. Its longer distance puts all of South Korea within its range if it is fired near the border. Missiles of such capability could also potentially strike parts of Japan, including U.S. military bases on the island of Okinawa, considering the operational range of North Korea's Sinpo-class submarines, said analyst Kim Dong-yub at Seoul's Institute for Far Eastern Studies. ___ Associated Press writers Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, Louise Watt in Beijing and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report. A man watches a TV news program showing a file footage of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, at Seoul Railway station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. North Korea on Wednesday fired a ballistic missile from a submarine into the sea in an apparent protest against the start of annual South Korea-U.S. military drills, Seoul's military said. The letters read "North Korea fired a missile during UFG, Ulchi Freedom Guardian." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) People pass by a TV news program showing a file footage of North Korea's ballistic missile that the North claimed to have launched from underwater, at Seoul Railway station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. North Korea on Wednesday fired a ballistic missile from a submarine into the sea in an apparent protest against the start of annual South Korea-U.S. military drills, Seoul's military said. The letters read "North Korea fired a missile during UFG, Ulchi Freedom Guardian." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) South Korean army soldiers conduct an anti-terror drill as part of Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise, at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. North Korea on Wednesday fired a ballistic missile from a submarine into the sea in an apparent protest against the start of the annual South Korea-U.S. military drills, Seoul's military said. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) Employees of the National Assembly pass by South Korean army as they conduct an anti-terror drill as part of Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise, at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. North Korea on Wednesday fired a ballistic missile from a submarine into the sea in an apparent protest against the start of the annual South Korea-U.S. military drills, Seoul's military said. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) South Korean army soldiers run during an anti-terror drill as part of Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise, at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. North Korea on Wednesday fired a ballistic missile from a submarine into the sea in an apparent protest against the start of the annual South Korea-U.S. military drills, Seoul's military said. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) A South Korean army soldier aims his machine gun during an anti-terror drill as part of Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. North Korea on Wednesday fired a ballistic missile from a submarine into the sea in an apparent protest against the start of the annual South Korea-U.S. military drills, Seoul's military said. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) Biden calls on Turkey to be patient in Gulen case ANKARA, Turkey (AP) U.S. Vice President Joe Biden called on Turkish authorities to be patient with the U.S. legal system as Turkey seeks the return of a cleric accused of masterminding last month's failed military coup. Biden, who met with Turkish officials in Ankara on Wednesday, said the U.S. extradition process would take time as he reaffirmed Washington's cooperation in the case of U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen. Gulen has denied any involvement in the July 15 coup attempt that killed more than 270 people. "I understand the intense feeling your government and the people of Turkey have about him," Biden said at news conference after meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. "We are cooperating with Turkish authorities. U.S Vice President Joe Biden, left, speaks to the media after talks with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. Biden called on Turkish authorities on Wednesday to be patient with the U.S. legal system as Turkey seeks the return of a cleric accused of masterminding last month's failed military coup. Biden, who met with Turkish officials in Ankara, said that the extradition process would take time as he reaffirmed Washington's cooperation in the case of U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) "Our legal experts are working right now with their Turkish counterparts on the production of and the evaluation of material and evidence that needs to be supplied to an American court to meet the requirements under our law in the extradition treaty to extradite Gulen." Biden sought to assuage concerns that the U.S. was shielding Gulen. "We have no, no, no, no interest whatsoever in protecting anyone who has done harm to an ally. None," he said. "But we need to meet the legal standard requirement under our law." He also warned that President Barack Obama wouldn't intervene in the extradition process. "We should make clear under American law that no president of the United States has authority to extradite anyone under his own power, that only an American court can do that. "Were a president to attempt to do that, it would be an impeachable offense," he said. Turkish officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, have repeatedly called on the U.S. to swiftly extradite Gulen, who lives in Pennsylvania in self-imposed exile. In a joint news conference with Biden after their meeting, Erdogan said Turkey had already sent case files covering Gulen's alleged criminal activities prior to the July 15 coup. "As per the extradition agreement between the U.S. and Turkey, these types of people should at least be detained, arrested and kept under surveillance," Erdogan said. "Yet that individual is still directing his terrorist organization from his whereabouts." "He has schools, businesses and associations in 170 countries. He continues managing them. Many members of the media are interviewing them," Erdogan said. The formal extradition request for his alleged involvement in the coup will be submitted next week, Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said Wednesday. "It's never understood that the wheels of justice move deliberately and slowly," Biden said. "It's totally understandable why the people of Turkey are angry. But there should be no doubt that we will continue to work closely with the Turkish government as this process unfolds." Biden also rejected suggestions that the U.S. government knew about plans for a coup in advance. "The United States of America did not have any fore-knowledge of what befell you on the 15th of July," he said. Turkey's prime minister again called on the U.S. to speed up the process in the Gulen case. "If the process can be sped up for (Gulen) to be returned to our country in order to be punished, if our cooperation in this regard continues to grow, then the Turkish people's sorrow, its disappointment in this regard will quickly give way to positive sentiments," Yildirim said. During the visit, Biden addressed Turkish complaints that allies had not displayed strong solidarity with Turkey's elected leadership against the coup and apologized for not having arrived earlier. "The United States stands with its ally Turkey," Biden said. "Our support is absolute and it is unwavering." Earlier, Biden toured the sections of parliament damaged during the coup attempt. A small group of young demonstrators protested Biden's motorcade as he headed to Yildirim's residence, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Anti-American sentiment has been on the rise in Turkey since the coup. Biden hopes to smooth relations, but has limited leverage. ___ Cinar Kiper in Istanbul, and Frank Griffiths in London, contributed to this report. U.S Vice President Joe Biden, left, waves after he was greeted by Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. Biden has arrived in Ankara for talks with Turkish leaders as Turkey launched a military operation to clear a Syrian border town of Islamic State militants. The visit comes at a difficult time for ties between the two NATO allies.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) U.S Vice President Joe Biden, left, and Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim walk to review a guard of honour before a meeting in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. Biden has arrived in Ankara for talks with Turkish leaders as Turkey launched a military operation to clear a Syrian border town of Islamic State militants. The visit comes at a difficult time for ties between the two NATO allies.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) U.S Vice President Joe Biden, left, shakes hands with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim as he arrives for a meeting in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. Biden has arrived in Ankara for talks with Turkish leaders as Turkey launched a military operation to clear a Syrian border town of Islamic State militants. The visit comes at a difficult time for ties between the two NATO allies.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) Soldiers, residents begin cleanup after quake in Myanmar BAGAN, Myanmar (AP) Using brooms and their hands, soldiers and residents of an ancient Myanmar city famous for its historic Buddhist temples began cleaning up debris Thursday from a powerful earthquake that shook the region and damaged nearly 200 pagodas. At least four people were killed and at least 171 pagodas were damaged in Bagan after a 6.8 magnitude quake struck the area on Wednesday. The tremor was centered about 25 kilometers (15 miles) west of Chauk, just south of Bagan. The city is one of Myanmar's top tourist attractions, drawing visitors from all over the world who can view a panorama of temples stretching to the horizon flanked by the Irrawaddy River. A woman farms in a field in front of the Sulamani Guphaya temple, which was damaged after a strong earthquake hit Bagan, Myanmar, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Rescue workers surveyed the damage Thursday after a powerful earthquake shook Myanmar Wednesday, damaging 185 ancient Buddhist pagodas in the former capital of Bagan, a major tourist site. (AP Photo/Hkun Lat) Maria Gomez, a Portuguese tourist, said she was walking to the river to watch the sunset when "we felt the Earth moving. Everybody was very scared and everybody was shouting." "Only after maybe 30 seconds we realized what was happening," she told The Associated Press. Myanmar President Htin Kyaw arrived in Bagan on Thursday to assess the damage and speak with local officials about how to repair it. The city has more than 2,200 structures, including pagodas and temples, constructed in the 10th to 14th centuries. Many are in disrepair while others have been restored in recent years, aided by the U.N. cultural agency UNESCO. According to the Ministry of Religion and Culture, 171 pagodas were affected there and 19 were damaged elsewhere in the country. Zaw Naing, a caretaker at one of the city's pagodas who paints and sells his work to tourists, said he was saddened by the damage but also concerned that the quake could endanger the livelihood of villagers. "I'm very worried ... there will be less tourists to Bagan," Zaw Naing said. "I have three children to take care of." As he spoke, soldiers and residents were picking up broken red bricks with their hands and placing them in sacks. Others swept walkways leading to temples that had been engulfed in huge clouds of dust when the tremor struck; the iconic tops of some of the pagodas had collapsed. Much of what fell off the temples was modern bricks which had been added by Myanmar's former military regime during past, haphazard efforts at restoration. Duong Bich Hanh, an official with UNESCO in Bangkok, said Myanmar authorities should approach rebuilding the damaged temples in Bagan "very cautiously ... to make sure the site is restored properly for the long-term enjoyment of future generations." On Wednesday, Dr. Myo Thant, general secretary of the Myanmar Earthquake Committee, said other areas apparently were not badly affected. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was "saddened" by the loss of life and damage and expressed his condolences. He said the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is in contact with authorities in Myanmar and is ready to support the government and local organizations. Vincent Panzani, a staff member in Pakokku for the aid agency Save the Children, said several of his colleagues from the area described the earthquake as the strongest they have experienced. "We felt quite heavy shaking for about 10 seconds and started to evacuate the building when there was another strong tremor," he said in comments sent by email. "Most of the reports of damage have been to the pagodas in the area with dozens impacted." Worried residents of Yangon, the country's main city, rushed out of tall buildings, and objects toppled from tables and from Buddhist shrines in homes. However, there were no reports of serious damage in the city. The last major quake in the area which is often affected by smaller tremors occurred in April about 300 kilometers (180 miles) further north, and measured magnitude 6.9. It caused no reported casualties and only minor damage. ___ Htusan reported from Yangon, Myanmar. Associated Press writers Grant Peck in Bangkok and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report. ___ This story has been corrected to show that 171 temples were damaged in Bagan, and others elsewhere. Military personnel clear debris at a temple that was damaged by a strong earthquake in Bagan, Myanmar, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Using brooms and their hands soldiers and residents of the ancient Myanmar city famous for it's historic Buddhist pagodas, began cleaning up the debris from a powerful earthquake that shook the region and damaged nearly 200 temples Wednesday. (AP Photo/Min Kyi Thein) Glasses of the parliamentary building are broken by a strong earthquake in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Rescue workers surveyed the damage Thursday after a powerful earthquake shook Myanmar on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo) Workers repair damaged ceiling of the parliamentary building after a strong earthquake in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Rescue workers surveyed the damage Thursday after a powerful earthquake shook Myanmar on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo) Myanmar's President Htin Kyaw, right, arrives at the Nyaung U Airport to inspect the situation of the earthquake-hit Bagan, Myanmar, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Using brooms and their hands, soldiers and residents of the ancient Myanmar city famous for its historic Buddhist pagodas began cleaning up debris Thursday from a powerful earthquake that shook the region and damaged nearly 200 temples. (AP Photo/Hkun Lat) Workers set the security line around the earthquake-damaged Sitanagyi Pagoda in Bagan, Myanmar, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Rescue workers surveyed the damage Thursday after a powerful earthquake shook Myanmar, damaging numbers of ancient Buddhist pagodas in the former capital of Bagan, a major tourist site. The U.S. Geological Survey said the magnitude 6.8 quake on Wednesday was centered about 25 kilometers (15 miles) west of Chauk, a town south of Bagan. (AP Photo/Hkun Lat) A man nails a stake to set up a security perimeter around earthquake effected Sitanagyi Pagoda in Bagan, Myanmar, Thursday, Augest 25, 2016. Workers surveyed the damage Thursday after a powerful earthquake shook Myanmar Wednesday, damaging a number of ancient Buddhist pagodas in the former capital of Bagan, a major tourist site. (AP Photo/Hkun Lat) Security tape is put around Sitanagyi Pagoda in Bagan, Myanmar, Thursday, Augest 25, 2016. Workers surveyed the damage Thursday after a powerful earthquake shook Myanmar Wednesday, damaging a number of ancient Buddhist pagodas in the former capital of Bagan, a major tourist site. (AP Photo/Hkun Lat) Debris from the ceiling of the parliamentary building lie in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016 after a strong earthquake. Rescue workers surveyed the damage Thursday after a powerful earthquake shook Myanmar. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo) Debris from the ceiling of the parliamentary building lie in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016 after a strong earthquake. Rescue workers surveyed the damage Thursday after a powerful earthquake shook Myanmar. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo) Rubble lies at the base of a temple that was damaged by a strong earthquake in Bagan, Myanmar, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Rescue workers surveyed the damage Thursday after a powerful earthquake shook Myanmar Wednesday, damaging 185 ancient Buddhist pagodas in the former capital of Bagan, a major tourist site. (AP Photo/Min Kyi Thein) People watch the Sulamani Guphaya temple, which was damaged after a strong earthquake hit Bagan, Myanmar, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Rescue workers surveyed the damage Thursday after a powerful earthquake shook Myanmar Wednesday, damaging 185 ancient Buddhist pagodas in the former capital of Bagan, a major tourist site. (AP Photo/Hkun Lat) Myanmar policemen guard as the entrance of the Sulamani Guphaya temple is blocked after it was damaged by a strong earthquake in Bagan, Myanmar, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Rescue workers surveyed the damage Thursday after a powerful earthquake shook Myanmar Wednesday, damaging 185 ancient Buddhist pagodas in the former capital of Bagan, a major tourist site. (AP Photo/Hkun Lat) This photo provided by David Greco/@daveinosaka shows a temple in Bagan, Myanmar, shortly after it was damaged by a powerful earthquake that shook central Myanmar on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The earthquake, measuring a magnitude 6.8, damaged scores of ancient Buddhist pagodas in Bagan, a major tourist attraction, officials said. (David Greco/@daveinosaka via AP) This photo provided by Soe Thura Lwin shows a damaged temple in Bagan, Myanmar, on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. A powerful earthquake measuring a magnitude 6.8 shook central Myanmar on Wednesday, damaging scores of ancient Buddhist pagodas in Bagan, a major tourist attraction, officials said. (Soe Thura Lwin via AP) This photo provided by Soe Thura Lwin shows a damaged temple in Bagan, Myanmar, on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. A powerful earthquake measuring a magnitude 6.8 shook central Myanmar on Wednesday, damaging scores of ancient Buddhist pagodas in Bagan, a major tourist attraction, officials said. (Soe Thura Lwin via AP) This photo provided by Soe Thura Lwin shows a damaged temple in Bagan, Myanmar, on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. A powerful earthquake measuring a magnitude 6.8 shook central Myanmar on Wednesday, damaging scores of ancient Buddhist pagodas in Bagan, a major tourist attraction, officials said. (Soe Thura Lwin via AP) This photo provided by Soe Thura Lwin shows a damaged temple in Bagan, Myanmar, on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. A powerful earthquake measuring a magnitude 6.8 shook central Myanmar on Wednesday, damaging scores of ancient Buddhist pagodas in Bagan, a major tourist attraction, officials said. (Soe Thura Lwin via AP) This Feb. 25, 2016 photo, shows temples in Bagan, Myanmar. A powerful earthquake measuring a magnitude of 6.8 shook central Myanmar on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, damaging scores of ancient Buddhist pagodas in the former capital of Bagan, a major tourist attraction, officials said. (AP Photo/Karly Domb Sadof) Clinton proposes new federal fund to combat Zika virus LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. (AP) As the Zika virus continues to spread, Hillary Clinton is proposing a new fund to improve the federal government's response to major public health crises. The Democratic presidential nominee says the U.S. is failing to sufficiently invest in public health preparedness, not only for Zika, but health threats from potentially pandemic diseases, climate change and possible bioterrorism. If elected, Clinton would create what she's calling a "Public Health Rapid Response Fund" to help federal agencies and local hospital systems respond faster and more aggressively similarly to how the government responds to a natural disaster. The program would allow the executive branch to deploy money and other resources without having to wait for congressional approval. Clinton's proposal is similar to legislation introduced by Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, that would release funds after the secretary of health and human resources declares a public health emergency. Under their proposal, after a federal audit, agencies involved in the response effort would pay half the money back. The other half would be designated as emergency spending and not repaid. The campaign did not detail how the government would pay for the fund or its size, beyond saying it would cost several billion dollars over 10 years. Earlier this month, Clinton toured the Borinquen Medical Center, a health clinic close to the Wynwood area in Miami where a number non-travel-related Zika cases have been diagnosed. Public health experts worry about the disease spreading: On Tuesday, Florida Gov. Rick Scott announced a non-travel-related case of Zika in the Tampa Bay region, the first in the state outside the Miami area. Zika can cause severe brain-related birth defects, including a dangerously small head, if women are infected during pregnancy. Lawmakers left Washington in mid-July for a seven-week recess without approving any of the $1.9 billion that President Barack Obama requested in February to develop a vaccine and control the mosquitoes that carry the virus. Clinton has urged Congress to cut short its summer recess and immediately pass funding for a Zika response. She has blamed congressional Republicans for inaction. Clinton laid out a plan to combat the virus last March, which included allocating $1.8 billion in emergency funds. A month later, she dispatched two of her aides to Puerto Rico, where hundreds of cases have been detected, to meet with medical professionals. GOP rival Donald Trump appeared to agree with Clinton that lawmakers should fund efforts to combat Zika. He told the Miami Herald earlier this month that he would "let some of the funds that they're asking for come in" to fight the virus. "It's a tough thing to stop anyway," he told the paper. "But they're spraying all over the place. I see it. And I think it'll be fine." ___ France to teach children how to react to school attacks PARIS (AP) French schools will now hold three security drills a year including one in which an alleged assailant enters their premises as the French government ramps up security measures after a string of deadly extremist attacks. Education Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem and Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve announced a series of measures Wednesday to improve how French schools and children handle terror threats. Students will be taught how to hide or to escape, depending on the situation and where they are. FILE - In this Oct. 5, 2012 file photo, a student writes on the board in La Ronce school, in Ville d'Avray, west of Paris. France's government has unveiled Wednesday Aug. 24, 2016 a plan to teach children how to react in case of an attack at school. Every school will have to organize three security drills per year, including one based on the scenario of an attack with at least one assailant inside the building. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) All students aged 13-14 and class representatives will also get a basic training on life-saving measures. Vallaud-Belkacem said, as of now, only 30 percent of students are trained. In pre-school and kindergarten, for children aged 2 to 6, no mention of an attack or a danger should be made but children must be taught to hide and keep quiet through games, Vallaud-Belkacem said. "It's not a question of succumbing to panic or into paranoia, but simply to face our responsibilities," Vallaud-Belkacem said, noting Islamic radical Mohamed Merah's attack on a Jewish school in 2012 in the southwestern city of Toulouse. Cazeneuve said the plan aims at "preventing the risk of an attack and at the same time guaranteeing a serene atmosphere in schools." Other security measures are already in place since last year's deadly attacks in Paris. Some police forces patrol in school areas and parents and students are requested to avoid gathering near schools and systematically report any suspicious behavior or object. School principals will hold meetings with parents to detail the security measures at the beginning of the school year in September. The government has also decided to provide 50 million euros ($56.2 million) to local councils in charge of the school buildings to help them pay for security equipment such as video door phones and new alarm systems. FILE - In this Oct. 5, 2012 file photo, students enter school of La Ronce in Ville d'Avray, west of Paris. France's government has unveiled Wednesday Aug. 24, 2016 a plan to teach children how to react in case of an attack at school. Every school will have to organize three security drills per year, including one based on the scenario of an attack with at least one assailant inside the building. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) The Wyoming Highway Patrol on Tuesday identified a 38-year-old Cheyenne man shot by troopers Sunday following a high-speed chase that ended near Casper. Jimmie R. Files has been booked into the Natrona County Detention Center, the patrol reported. Officials did not say what charges Files is being held on. They also have not released the mans medical condition. The patrol said a trooper shot Files after he drove toward officers. Two troopers have been placed on administrative leave with pay pending a review by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, as is standard policy following shootings by troopers. The patrol is also doing an internal investigation. Col. Kebin Haller said the patrol is not releasing the troopers names at this time. He said he wants to consult with the troopers and their families to ensure they are comfortable with their names being made public. Theyre doing as good as can be expected, Haller said. Theyre not pleased they were put in that position. This is a difficult time for them and their families. The shooting followed a pursuit that began around 3:30 p.m. on Interstate 25 near Douglas after authorities received a complaint that a pickup was driving recklessly, the highway patrol reported Sunday night. A trooper ran the trucks plates and learned it was stolen, the patrol reported. The driver of the pickup refused to stop and led two troopers on a pursuit that spanned two counties and more than 40 miles. The truck reached a speed of 100 mph, authorities said. A few miles east of Casper, a third trooper used a spike strip in an effort to damage the pickups tires. After the truck drove over the device, it crossed the median and began driving into oncoming traffic for about a mile. The pickup eventually drove back into the median, where a trooper rammed it with his patrol car. The suspect was shot by law enforcement as he drove at officers who were out of their patrol cars at the time, the highway patrol reported. After being shot, the suspect rammed a troopers car before driving off the highway and onto the prairie. The man was arrested at 4:16 p.m. between I-25 and U.S. Highway 20/26 near Blackmore Road. No officers sustained serious injuries during the chase. A Casper man who said he witnessed the incident told a Star-Tribune reporter he saw troopers box in the suspect on I-25. Don Goodman said the suspects truck was missing a tire on its left front rim. Goodman said he saw officers approach the truck and yell at the man to exit the vehicle and stop moving the truck. The truck was moving forward and back as if the suspect was trying to maneuver its way out, Goodman said. When the suspect didnt comply, a trooper smashed through the passenger side window of the truck and opened the door. Troopers were yelling at the man to exit his truck but the suspect was able to maneuver his way out and started to drive away, Goodman said. Troopers then opened fire into the truck, he said. Im surprised that the guys alive, Goodman said. They were right on top of him point blank and they unleashed. The suspect then smashed his pickup into a patrol car and drove off the road, he said. Goodman said he did not see a weapon in the suspects hands. The world's deadliest earthquakes since 2000 A magnitude 6 earthquake shook central Italy early on Wednesday, followed hours later by a magnitude 6.8 temblor in Myanmar. Here is a list of some of the world's deadliest earthquakes since 2000: ___ April 16, 2016: A magnitude 7.8 earthquake on Ecuador's central coast near the town of Muisne kills more than 660 people. This aerial photo shows the damaged buildings in the town of Amatrice, central Italy, after an earthquake, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The magnitude 6 quake struck at 3:36 a.m. (0136 GMT) and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including Rome where residents of the capital felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) ___ April 25, 2015: A magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Nepal kills more than 8,000 people. ___ Aug. 3, 2014: More than 700 people die in a magnitude 6.2-quake near Wenping, China. ___ Sept. 24, 2013: A magnitude 7.7 quake strikes southwest Pakistan, killing more than 800 people. ___ March 11, 2011: A magnitude 9.0 quake off the northeast coast of Japan triggers a tsunami, killing more than 20,000 people. ___ Feb. 27, 2010: A magnitude 8.8 quake shakes Chile, generating a tsunami and killing 524 people. ___ Jan. 12, 2010: A magnitude 7.0 quake hits Haiti, killing up to 316,000 people according to government estimates. ___ Sept. 30, 2009: More than 1,100 people die when a magnitude 7.5 quake hits southern Sumatra, Indonesia. ___ April 6, 2009: A magnitude 6.3 quake kills more than 300 people in and around L'Aquila, Italy, about 90 kilometers (55 miles) south of the latest quake. ___ May 12, 2008: A magnitude 7.9 quake strikes eastern Sichuan in China, resulting in over 87,500 deaths. ___ Aug. 15, 2007: A magnitude 8.0 earthquake near the coast of central Peru kills more than 500 people. ___ May 26, 2006: More than 5,700 people die when a magnitude 6.3 quake hits the island of Java, Indonesia. ___ Oct. 8, 2005: A magnitude 7.6 earthquake kills over 80,000 people in Pakistan's Kashmir region. ___ March 28, 2005: A magnitude 8.6 quake in northern Sumatra in Indonesia kills about 1,300 people. ___ Dec. 26, 2004: A magnitude 9.1 quake in Indonesia triggers an Indian Ocean tsunami, killing 230,000 people in a dozen countries. ___ Dec. 26, 2003: A magnitude 6.6 earthquake hits southeastern Iran, resulting in 50,000 deaths. ___ March 25, 2002: About 1,000 people are killed in a magnitude 6.1 quake in northern Afghanistan. ___ Jan. 26, 2001: A magnitude 7.7 quake strikes Gujarat in India, killing 20,000 people. ___ Source: U.S. Geological Survey The Latest: Trump won't address immigration in Phoenix WASHINGTON (AP) The Latest on the U.S. presidential race (all times EDT): 10:30 p.m. Donald Trump will return to Phoenix next week, but campaign staffers now say he won't be delivering a speech outlining his immigration policy there. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump welcomes Nigel Farage, ex-leader of the British UKIP party, to speak at a campaign rally in Jackson, Miss., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Campaign officials had confirmed the Aug. 31 immigration speech in Phoenix earlier Wednesday. But Arizona campaign chair Brian Seitchik said later that the event will instead be a Republican unity rally. The campaign blamed a "staff error." Trump has been working to soften the harsh tone on immigration that became a hallmark of his primary campaign. He had scheduled a speech on immigration in Colorado for Thursday but cancelled it. __ 9:50 p.m. Hillary Clinton is defending her family's charitable foundation and calling an Associated Press report about meetings involving donors "absurd," and "a lot of smoke, no fire." Clinton says in an interview with CNN that the AP report "looked at a small portion of my time" as secretary of state and drew the conclusion that her meetings with Nobel Prize winners were connected to the foundation rather than their work as global leaders. She says, "that is absurd." An AP report Tuesday found more than half of the non-government officials who met with Hillary Clinton while she was secretary of state gave money to the Clinton Foundation. Combined, the donors contributed as much as $156 million to the charity. __ 9:20 p.m. Donald Trump is returning to Phoenix to deliver a speech outlining his immigration policy as he works to soften the harsh tone that became a hallmark of his primary campaign. The Republican presidential nominee plans to speak at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Phoenix Aug. 31. Arizona Republican Party Chairman Robert Graham confirmed the event and that the speech would cover "policy." Two officials with knowledge of the Trump campaign's plans confirmed the topic was immigration. They weren't authorized to speak on the record about campaign plans. Trump has recently been modifying his pledge to deport the 11 million immigrants in the United States illegally. Aides have suggested he'll back away from his deportation plan toward one closer to what many of his Republican rivals favored. __ Associated Press writer Bob Christie in Phoenix contributed this item. __ 9 p.m. Donald Trump is declaring that Hillary Clinton "is a bigot" in his latest outreach to minority voters. The Republican presidential nominee drew loud cheers from a crowd in Jackson, Mississippi, on Wednesday when he declared that Democrats have taken minorities' support for granted. He said of his Democratic opponent, "Hillary Clinton is a bigot who sees people of color only as votes, not as human beings worthy of a better future." Trump also gave a vague preview of his new immigration policy, which is slated to be unveiled next week. He said any immigration policy he supports must pass three tests: It should improve the wages, safety and quality of life for U.S. citizens. He offered no specifics. ___ 8:40 p.m. Donald Trump is linking his "movement to take back the country" to Britain's surprising vote to leave the European Union. He invited Nigel Farage, an architect of Britain's successful "Brexit" campaign, to join him on stage at a rally Wednesday night in Jackson, Mississippi. Farage is outgoing head of the United Kingdom Independence Party. He said "anything is possible" if enough people band together, and predicted that Trump's presidential campaign would "smash the establishment." Farage noted that his movement was an underdog in public opinion polls but triumphed in Britain's June 23 referendum. He predicted that Trump, who supported Britain's departure from the European Union, would stage a comeback and win in November. Trump called Farage's appearance an honor and said, "The nation's working people will take control again." ___ 7:50 p.m. Donald Trump is continuing to modify his previous pledge to deport the 11 million immigrants in the United States illegally. He says in an interview airing Wednesday that "we work with them." In a Fox News interview taped Tuesday, Trump says there would be "no citizenship" for those immigrants. "They'll pay back taxes," Trump says. He adds, "There's no amnesty, but we work with them." He talked about how hard it would be to deport people who have lived in the country for decades and raised a family. Trump is expected to unveil his new immigration policy next week. Aides have suggested he'll back away from his deportation plan toward one closer to what many of his Republican rivals for the nomination favored. ___ 7:30 p.m. Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence has returned to his home state of Indiana after tornadoes struck the state. Indiana's governor, Pence had been campaigning in North Carolina on Wednesday when multiple tornadoes touched down in central Indiana. Initial reports describe a large tornado moving across the Howard County town of Kokomo and damaging apartment buildings and automobiles and cutting power. In a tweet, Pence asks, "Please keep Hoosiers in your prayers." A spokesman for Pence, Matt Lloyd, says the governor had returned Wednesday evening and was heading to the Emergency Operations Center of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight says Pence plans to visit the area on Thursday. __ 7:20 p.m. Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence is turning his attention from campaigning to his home state of Indiana after tornadoes struck the state. Indiana's governor, Pence was campaigning in North Carolina on Wednesday when multiple tornadoes touched down in central Indiana. Initial reports describe a large tornado moving across the Howard County town of Kokomo and damaging apartment buildings and automobiles and cutting power. In a tweet, Pence says he is returning to Indiana and asks, "Please keep Hoosiers in your prayers." ___ 7:05 p.m. The White House is firing back at Sen. Mark Kirk for his comment that President Barack Obama was "acting like the drug dealer in chief" when the administration made a $400 million cash payment to Iran. The Illinois Republican criticized Obama over the payment, which was contingent on the release of American prisoners. Kirk's campaign has said the administration's actions are "almost certain to fund terrorism." White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Wednesday Kirk's rhetoric is inconsistent with how most people in Illinois view Obama's efforts to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. Earnest says it's tempting for candidates "to say outrageous things to try to get attention," but "that's certainly no way to run a country." Kirk faces a difficult re-election challenge from Democratic Rep. Tammy Duckworth. ___ 6:55 p.m. Donald Trump says the Republican-run Congress should return to session to "approve whatever's necessary" to combat the Zika virus. The GOP presidential candidate tells WFLA television in Tampa, Florida, that Congress "ought to allocate more money to Florida and see if we can nip" the virus "in the bud." Lawmakers left Washington in mid-July until after Labor Day without approving any of the $1.9 billion that President Barack Obama requested in February to develop a vaccine and control mosquitoes that carry the virus. Trump's rival Hillary Clinton has urged Congress to shorten its summer recess and immediately approve Zika funding. Trump is praising Florida's Republican Gov. Rick Scott for "really pitching in" instead of giving up on the problem and hoping "it just goes away." ___ 6 p.m. Former President Bill Clinton is defending the work of the Clinton Foundation. Clinton told reporters in Atlanta on Wednesday: "If there's something wrong with creating jobs and saving lives, I don't know what it is." An Associated Press report Tuesday found more than half of the non-government officials who met with Hillary Clinton while she was secretary of state gave money to the foundation. Bill Clinton repeated his plans to stop accepting foreign donations and personally stop raising money for the foundation if Hillary Clinton is elected president. He said those changes can be made quickly after the election but he doesn't want to jeopardize projects or hurt employees. ___ 5:20 p.m. Mike Pence says "pay-to-play politics is over and done" if Donald Trump is elected president. The Republican vice presidential candidate aimed his comments at Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee. They came after The Associated Press reported that 85 people from private interests who met with or had phone conversations scheduled with Clinton while she led the State Department donated to her family's Clinton Foundation. Pence spoke Wednesday at a rally in Leland, North Carolina. He repeated Trump's call for the Clinton charitable foundation to be closed and an independent prosecutor be named to examine the link between foreign foundation donors and her State Department work. ___ 4:40 p.m. Mike Pence has received a memento from his visit to a manufacturing plant in North Carolina, and it may end up around his dog's neck. During his tour Wednesday of operations at Manufacturing Methods in Leland, workers presented the Republican vice presidential nominee, his wife and others with round metal key chains. The "Trump Pence" campaign logo had been cut into each of the trinkets with a machine that shoots water and abrasives at 50,000 pounds per square inch. Pence sounded impressed with the work, but told company employee Hunter Phillips that it might not show up on the ring for his car and house keys. Instead, Pence said, "I might put it on my dog." ___ 3:30 p.m. Sen. Bernie Sanders says he'll campaign actively this fall to send Democrat Hillary Clinton the White House. And he says he'll urge the supporters of his former presidential campaign to help Democrats take back a majority in the Senate. Sanders says he's leaning toward seeking re-election as an independent senator from Vermont in 2018. He turns 75 on Sept. 8. Sanders tells The Associated Press that one campaign stop will be a Labor Day breakfast in New Hampshire. He'll stump there for Maggie Hassan, the Democratic governor challenging Republican Kelly Ayotte for her Senate seat. He says he plans to campaign for Democratic House and Senate candidates in other states, too. Sanders calls Republican Donald Trump the worst presidential nominee he has seen in his lifetime. ___ 2:45 p.m. The National Rifle Association is making plans to help Donald Trump. The NRA's political victory fund has reserved about $2.7 million in TV commercials from the week of Sept. 5 through the week of Oct. 18, Kantar Media's political ad tracker shows. Most ads are set to begin Sept. 20. Like the Republican presidential nominee's campaign, the NRA is focusing on Ohio, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. The group also will advertise across the country. The NRA has been one of Trump's key allies on television, airing commercials well before Trump's own campaign began doing so. In all, the NRA is on track to spend at least $7.6 million on presidential commercials, Kantar Media shows. The NRA warns that Democrat Hillary Clinton would clamp down on gun rights if elected president. ___ 2:35 p.m. Donald Trump is again urging African-Americans and Hispanics living in inner cities to give him a chance. Speaking in Tampa, Florida, Trump said that Democratic policies have only led to more poverty, crime, and joblessness in cities like Chicago and Baltimore. He said: "To those suffering, I say, vote for Donald Trump," asking once again what they have to lose. Trump says that if he's elected, he'll make sure everyone can walk down the street without being shot. And he is telling Hispanics, "I want you to join the ranks of people who are making phenomenal livings." He said: "I think we're going to do great with African-Americans and with the Hispanics," despite polls showing the minority voters overwhelmingly favoring rival Hillary Clinton. ___ 1:50 p.m. Donald Trump is thanking volunteers who will be staffing one of three recreational vehicles that will crisscross Florida to register voters ahead of Election Day. Trump, the Republican nominee, hopped out of his motorcade in advance of a rally Wednesday in Tampa. He arrived as a thunderstorm did, but was handed an umbrella and walked over, declaring "I have to see my people." He shook hands with volunteers, including Tony Ledbetter, a Republican official. He also saluted his campaign's recent outreach to minorities, saying "I think we're doing really great with minority voters." At the rally in Tampa, Trump is expected to discuss how his economic policies would help Hispanics. Then, as a heavy downpour began, Trump ducked inside the RV to shake more hands. ___ 1 p.m. Donald Trump is applauding the prospect of former Texas Gov. Rick Perry mounting a primary challenge against Sen. Ted Cruz in 2018, saying "boy, will he do well." At an Austin fundraiser Tuesday, Trump was asked about Perry trying to unseat Trump's former primary rival. On a recording of the event released by a Democratic group, Trump says he's been "hearing a lot about that" and isn't sure what Perry will do. But he calls Perry a "great governor" saying, "People love him in Texas." Perry left office last year and was once a Trump critic, but now supports him. Perry has told associates he's unlikely to run for Senate. Trump's comments, though, could be payback for Cruz refusing to endorse the billionaire businessman during last month's Republican National Convention. ___ 11:45 a.m. Republican vice presidential candidate Gov. Mike Pence is blaming both Democrats and Republicans for the decline of manufacturing in the United States. The Indiana governor was addressing about 200 people Wednesday at Charlotte Pipe and Foundry in North Carolina. He said policies by both Republican and Democratic administrations have eroded America's manufacturing industry. Pence also said the country has been neither smart nor tough in defending U.S. jobs from international trade. He said that will change if he and Donald Trump are elected in November. Pence, wearing a hard hat and safety glasses, toured the manufacturing portion of the plant, shaking hands with some workers. ___ 11:30 a.m. Donald Trump's new Wisconsin women coalition includes some of the most powerful politicians in the state, and two who were caught up in a highly publicized investigation into Gov. Scott Walker's county office. The unveiling of the statewide group Wednesday comes as polls show Trump trailing Democrat Hillary Clinton overall in Wisconsin and among women. Former Lt. Gov. Margaret Farrow, state Senate President Mary Lazich (LAH-zik) and Sen. Alberta Darling, co-chair of the Legislature's budget committee, top the coalition. Also part of the group is Darlene Wink, who was convicted of two misdemeanors for doing work on Walker's gubernatorial campaign while at work in his Milwaukee County executive's office. Another coalition member, Rose Ann Dieck (DIKE), was granted immunity to testify as part of that probe. ___ 9:40 a.m. Ohio's elections chief has cleared the way for Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson to appear on fall ballots in the critical swing state. Johnson's ballot access had been in question after party activists submitted paperwork and voter signatures earlier this month on behalf of a different candidate. They said they planned to swap in Johnson. Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted (HYOO'-sted) has said Ohio law neither openly permits nor bars the switch, but he would allow it as long as elections boards validated enough voter signatures. Husted's office announced Wednesday that Johnson's supporters have met the signature requirements. Libertarians aren't recognized as a political party in Ohio, so activists sought to collect enough signatures from voters to get Johnson on the ballot by way of a process for independent candidates. ___ 8:25 a.m. A son of Donald Trump says it would be foolish for his father to release his tax returns. The Republican presidential nominee has broken with precedent by refusing to release them. He says they are being audited and he can't release them until the audit is complete. His son, Eric Trump, said Wednesday on CNBC not much can be learned from tax returns. He said his father's returns are massive and "you would have a bunch of people who know nothing about taxes" looking through them and making "assumptions on things they know nothing about." Democrats say Trump's returns would reveal whether he was paying a fair amount in taxes and whether he would personally benefit from his policy proposals. ___ 7:25 a.m. As the Zika virus continues to spread, Hillary Clinton is proposing a new fund to improve the federal government's response to major public health crises. The Democratic presidential nominee says the U.S. is failing to sufficiently invest in public health preparedness, not only for Zika, but health threats from potentially pandemic diseases, climate change and possible bioterrorism. If elected, Clinton would create what she's calling a "Public Health Rapid Response Fund" to help federal agencies and local hospital systems respond faster and more aggressively. Her campaign did not detail the size of the fund, its annual budget or whether it would be paid for with other government revenue. Republican vice presidential candidate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, talks to supporters and volunteers at Manufacturing Methods in Leland, N.C., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (Ken Blevins/The Star-News via AP) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks to supporters at a rally at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, Fla., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (Octavio Jones/The Tampa Bay Times via AP) FILE - In this Aug. 18, 2016 file photo, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton meets with law enforcement leaders in New York. If this weeks string of vague and contradictory statements by Donald Trump and his team revealed anything, its that his immigration policy is still evolving. Just days ago Trump reshuffled his campaign staff just as he tries to recalibrate his message for the general election, in which his tough stance on immigration may be more of a liability than it was in the Republican primary. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) Republican vice presidential candidate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, right, talks to workers during a tour at a Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company plant in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) FILE - In this June 10, 2015 file photo, former U.S. President Bill Clinton speaks at annual gathering of the Clinton Global Initiative America, which is a part of The Clinton Foundation, in Denver. More than half the people outside the government who met with Hillary Clinton while she was secretary of state gave money, either personally or through companies or groups, to the Clinton Foundation. It's an extraordinary proportion indicating her possible ethics challenges if elected president. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley, File) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump walks in the rain with Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, as they arrive at a campaign rally in Tampa, Fla., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Nigerian anti-corruption groups beg Kerry: Return loot LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) Anti-corruption groups in Nigeria have begged U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to help speed the return of billions of dollars looted from the country's treasury by local officials. Kerry met Wednesday with Adetokunbo Mumuni, director of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, and other activists before ending his latest Africa visit. Mumuni said the looted money is believed to be in banks or their offshore holdings from the United States and Britain, Switzerland and other European countries. In this photo released by the Nigeria State House, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, left, talks to Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari, before their bilateral talks at the State House in Abuja, Nigeria, Tuesday Aug. 23, 2016. Kerry arrived Tuesday in Nigeria to hold talks with leaders of the West African nation that are expected to focus on regional security and extremism. ( Sunday Aghaeze, Nigeria State House via AP ) Kerry told the group that asset recovery is a lengthy, complicated process but the U.S. government has lawyers and accountants working on it, Mumuni said. The United States in 2014 froze nearly half a billion dollars of illicit funds from the loot of deceased military dictator Sani Abacha but has yet to say how and when the money will be repatriated. President Muhammdu Buhari, who won 2015 elections on a promise to halt graft, has estimated that $150 billion has been stolen by government officials over the past decade. Dozens of current and former officials have been detained since Buhari took office, but Mumuni said court cases are being delayed by a corrupt justice system. On Tuesday, Kerry linked corruption to Nigeria's ongoing Islamic uprising that has killed an estimated 20,000 people. The first leader of the homegrown extremist group Boko Haram became popular because of his sermons against corruption. "There is nothing more demoralizing, more destructive, and more disempowering to any citizen than the belief that the system is designed to fail them," Kerry said. The Latest: Dismal oil tract sale results due to low prices NEW ORLEANS (AP) The Latest on federal oil lease sale (all times local): 10:15 a.m. A federal official says low oil prices are the reason few companies were interested in bidding in the latest oil lease sale for the Gulf of Mexico. A Jefferson Parish sheriff's deputy, right, tells protesters John Clark, carrying a box with a copy of a petition against federal oil lease sales, and Blake Kopcho, second from left, that they cannot enter the building where the leasing agency has offices, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016 in Harahan, La. The protest was Tuesday, a day before the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has scheduled a lease sale for Gulf of Mexico water bottom off of Texas. Legal observer Bill Qugley, wearing hat, said Clark and Kopcho were among four demonstrators later arrested on a charge of trespassing. (AP Photo/Janet McConnaughey) The regional director for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Michael Celata (sel-AH-tuh), says the $18 million sale was below last year's record low in total money offered, number of bids and number of companies participating. Last year, the same area off the Texas coast attracted 33 bids from five companies for a total of $22.7 million. None of the bids was competitive, either this year or last. Celata says all bids are reviewed to make sure the government is getting fair market value, a process that can take up to 90 days, and bids considered too low will be rejected. ___ 10:00 a.m. The federal government's first livestreamed oil lease sale suffered from a video glitch, as well as extremely low interest. Only three companies bid for a tiny fraction of the leases available in the Gulf of Mexico, and no bid was competitive. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management director Abigail Ross Hopper read the first two bids and was about to read another when she said "We will pause for a moment." Several minutes then went by while the screen displayed messages such as "memory full" and "all scenes now deleting." The bureau got bids for just 24 of nearly 4,400 tracts offered, totaling just over $18 million. That's even fewer than last year, when 33 tracts attracted bids. And just like last year, there was only one offer per tract. The bureau had sought to broaden its audience by livestreaming its lease sales. Officials say they don't know how many people watched. Bids were offered by only three major corporations BP Exploration and Production Inc., BHP Billiton Petroleum Inc., and Exxon Mobil Corp. ___ 8:55 a.m. The federal government says three companies are bidding on acreage in the Gulf of Mexico off Texas and they've made a total of 24 bids on 24 tracts out of more than 4,000 offered. That's even fewer than last year's sale, which was the smallest ever for the western Gulf. Last year, five companies made $22.7 million in high bids also one per tract, on 33 tracts. The statistics were released in advance of Wednesday's sale, which is the first to be broadcast live on the internet. At earlier sales, an official from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management read bids to oil company representatives and others in a Superdome ballroom in New Orleans. A bureau spokeswoman says protests in March and April played a part in the change, but the agency also wants to broaden the audience by opening it to people anywhere. The three companies bidding are BP Exploration and Production Inc., BHP Billiton Petroleum Inc., and Exxon Mobil Corp. BP bid on 10 tracts, BHP on 12 tracts and Exxon Mobil bid on two. ___ The item above had been corrected to reflect 10 bids by BP and 12 by BHP. ___ 2:45 a.m. The federal government says that, for the first time, it's broadcasting an oil and gas lease sale live on the internet. The sale Wednesday offers all 23.8 million acres available for drilling and exploration in the Gulf of Mexico off the Texas coast. At earlier sales, an official from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management read bids to oil company representatives and others in a Superdome ballroom in New Orleans. A bureau spokeswoman has said protests that disrupted a lease sale in March played a part in the change. But Caryl Fagot (fuh-GOH) said the agency also wants to broaden the audience by opening it to people anywhere. Advocacy groups write Oman's sultan over journalists' trial DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Two journalism advocacy groups have jointly written to Oman's sultan over the trial of three reporters and the shuttering of their newspaper. The letter from the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders, dated Wednesday, asks Sultan Qaboos bin Said for the "unconditional release" of the three reporters from the daily Arabic newspaper Azamn. The letter says: "No journalist should be jailed for their reporting, regardless of the government's contentions concerning the veracity of their work." The three are being tried over a story their newspaper published alleging improper interference in a court case. Oman's Information Ministry shut down their newspaper over the story. Duterte:'It will be bloody' if Philippine territory breached TANAY, Philippines (AP) The tough-talking Philippine president said Wednesday he will walk the extra mile for peace but warned China "it will be bloody" if the militarily superior Asian neighbor infringes on his country's territory. President Rodrigo Duterte issued the warning in comments on his country's territorial disputes with China in a speech before troops at an army camp east of Manila. He has been seeking talks with China on the long-unresolved conflict. Duterte said China has been conciliatory and he did not want any fight. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gestures with a fist bump during his visit to the Philippine Army's Camp Mateo Capinpin at Tanay township, Rizal province east of Manila, Philippines Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. President Duterte's threat to withdraw the Philippines from the United Nations, later cushioned by his foreign secretary, is the latest flamboyantly irreverent utterance from a politician who has disparaged the pope, human rights advocates, the United States and other countries who controvert his worldview. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) "We do not want a quarrel," he said. "I would walk the extra mile to ask for peace for everybody." He expressed fears, however, about what will happen if the peaceful efforts fail, saying Filipino troops are ready to defend their country's sovereignty despite its weak military. "I guarantee to (China), if you enter here, it will be bloody," he said. "And we will not give it to them easily. It will be the bones of our soldiers, you can include mine." An international arbitration tribunal ruled last month that China's extensive territorial claims in the South China Sea were invalid under a 1982 U.N. treaty, in a major setback for Beijing, which has ignored the decision. Duterte's predecessor, Benigno Aquino III, initiated the arbitration case against China. Duterte has not pressed for Chinese compliance and does not plan to raise the decision at an annual summit of Southeast Asian leaders with their Chinese counterpart in Laos next month. Duterte said, however, that "whether we like it or not, that arbitral judgment will be insisted not only by the Philippines" but by other countries in Southeast Asia, suggesting China should take steps to resolve the territorial issues now while conditions are conducive. "We will not raise hell now because of the judgment, but there will come a time that we have to do some reckoning about this," Duterte said. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte poses with Philippine troops during his visit to the Philippine Army's Camp Mateo Capinpin at Tanay township, Rizal province east of Manila,Philippines Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. President Duterte's threat to withdraw the Philippines from the United Nations, later cushioned by his foreign secretary, is the latest flamboyantly irreverent utterance from a politician who has disparaged the pope, human rights advocates, the United States and other countries who controvert his worldview.(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte addresses the troops during his visit to the Philippine Army's Camp Mateo Capinpin at Tanay township, Rizal province east of Manila, Philippines Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. President Duterte's threat to withdraw the Philippines from the United Nations, later cushioned by his foreign secretary, is the latest flamboyantly irreverent utterance from a politician who has disparaged the pope, human rights advocates, the United States and other countries who controvert his worldview.(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) Zimbabwe police fire tear gas, gunshots to quell protests HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) Zimbabwe police have fired tear gas, water cannons and gunshots to stop hundreds of youths protesting against police brutality in the capital, Harare. The situation was calm by Wednesday evening, with motorists navigating around stones and other debris in city streets and shattered shop windows were evidence of looting. Police and protesters fought running battles downtown Wednesday. Police fired into the air after some protesters attacked a supermarket owned by Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko. Several other shops were also looted. A protestor throws back a teargas canister at police in Harare Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, after Zimbabwe police fired tear gas, water cannons and gunshots to stop hundreds of youths protesting against police brutality. (AP Photo) Protesters also set on fire a vehicle belonging to state-run broadcaster Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation. A journalist was among those beaten by police. The main opposition MDC-T party's youth wing organized the protest to denounce what they described as worsening police brutality against political and civil rights activists. Police were deployed heavily outside Parliament and on the main streets in late afternoon, forcing shop owners to abandon their business. Soldiers waiting in line for their salaries at several banks were forced to leave empty handed when the banks closed early. Frustrations over Zimbabwe's rapidly deteriorating economy are boiling over in this southern African country, where anti-government protests have become a near-daily occurrence. A currency crisis has resulted in long lines at banks and high unemployment is also a problem. Opposition leaders have said they will unite for an anti-government demonstration on Friday. To grow or not? Some successful small business owners say no NEW YORK (AP) When a small business is successful, an owner will likely face the question of whether to grow. After a lot of soul-searching, many say no. Some worry that the quality of their products or services might be hurt because a larger company can be more difficult to operate. Or they don't want to tip their work-life balance away from spending time with family and friends. Others want to grow, but the time isn't right they may be worried about the economy, and reluctant to take risks like hiring the staffers needed to handle more business. Web design firm Geeks Chicago put expansion and hiring plans on hold for six to 12 months because its customers companies of all sizes have cut their budgets, says President Mark Tuchscherer. In this Monday, Aug. 22, 2016, photo, Jake Wilson, owner of Top Class Lawn Care, mows a lawn on a job in Kansas City, Mo. Wilson is on the fence about his 5-year-old company and whether he should add to his staff of three and buy another truck. Wilson is concerned that if he does expand, he wont be giving his customers the kind of service he does now. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner) "They're putting things on the back burner, developing only what they need right away," he says. For Tuchscherer to start thinking about growth, he'd need to see customers bringing in projects at the pace they did two years ago. The economy clearly is discouraging many owners from expanding. A Bank of America survey released in May showed 55 percent of 1,000 owners plan to expand in the next five years, down from 66 percent a year earlier. The survey also found that just 38 percent of owners expect their local economies to improve in the next year, and 29 percent expect the national economy to improve. The National Federation of Independent Business, which surveys its members monthly, found in July that just 8 percent believe it's a good time to expand. A look at the factors some business owners have wrestled with: SPREAD TOO THIN When Ben Freedland started ZINK, his online company selling tote bags and other accessories, in 2010, a brick-and-mortar store seemed like the most logical next growth step. Two years later, he opened a shop in Austin, Texas, only to discover that much of his time and energy was spent running it rather than creating new designs. Furthermore, the expense of operating the store put pressure on Freedland, especially when the uncertain economy made customers reluctant to buy. Freedland closed the store in April, and is happily back to being what he calls a niche brand sold on the internet or in other people's stores. He's not committed to that forever, but amid the current economic conditions and the presidential campaign, he's content for ZINK to stay smaller. "It's OK not to grow. It's OK for me because my main goal is to produce quality products, not to be the biggest company in the world," he says. A LIFESTYLE CHOICE Paul Maplesden and Tara Foss turn down some assignments for their freelance writing and editing businesses. They work out of their home in Asheville, North Carolina, creating content like articles, blog pieces and emails for companies, and they don't want to take on any more. "Although money is important, we both value time and freedom, and we're not prepared to sacrifice that just for a bigger bank balance," Maplesden says. Freedom for them means the ability to set their own schedules and choose their assignments. They have enough interest from clients that they could hire others and form a writing and editing agency. But that would require dealing with human resources issues and an investment in more technology. "It invites whole other problems I don't want in my life," Maplesden says. ONCE BURNED, TWICE CAUTIOUS After downsizing his printing company, selling equipment and reducing his staff from 12 to three in 2011, Victor Clarke isn't looking to expand or hire in the near future. The internet, email and document-sharing services had already devastated many printing companies before the Great Recession took another toll. "I want to be a business owner that hires more people, but the economy hasn't been the greatest in the last eight to 10 years," Clarke says. His Lynchburg, Virginia-based company, Clarke Inc., no longer does actual printing, but instead processes and formats documents and sends them to other companies that do print. "Since we made the conversion five years ago, profit is up from a negative number to six digits and my stress level is down 99 percent," Clarke says. If the business continues to do well and the economy picks up, he might hire another worker. "Someday, but we're not there yet," Clarke says. KEEPING SERVICE STEADY Jake Wilson is on the fence about his 5-year-old company, Top Class Lawn Care, and whether he should add to his staff of three and buy another truck. Wilson's concerned that if he does expand, he won't be giving his customers in the Kansas City, Missouri, area the kind of service he does now. "A majority of my customers probably appreciate that the owner is on the property doing the work, or one of his right-hand men," Wilson says. But he also worries about saying no to business because his company is small. "I hate turning down potentially good paying customers," he says. WHICH DIRECTION TO GO? Peggy Jean's Pies has been such a success since it opened two years ago in Columbia, Missouri, that owners Rebecca Miller and Jeanne Plumley are thinking about expanding beyond the storefront that houses their bakery and store. The space next door is available, but maybe it would be better to open in a bigger city like St. Louis, 120 miles away. Or maybe acquire a production facility and sell pie dough in stores. "All of these are attractive options," Miller says, but she adds, "I want to make sure that when we grow, it's in a smart, sustainable, long-picture way." One concern is how she would handle problems bound to come up at two different locations. "Sometimes I think, maybe I should take a deep breath and know we're in command where we are," Miller says. _____ Follow Joyce Rosenberg at www.twitter.com/JoyceMRosenberg . Her work can be found here: http://bigstory.ap.org/content/joyce-m-rosenberg In this Monday, Aug. 22, 2016, photo, Jake Wilson, owner of Top Class Lawn Care, waits by his truck while working a job in Kansas City, Mo. Wilson is on the fence about his 5-year-old company and whether he should add to his staff of three and buy another truck. Wilson is concerned that if he does expand, he wont be giving his customers the kind of service he does now. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner) In this Monday, Aug. 22, 2016, photo, Jake Wilson, owner of Top Class Lawn Care, mows a lawn on a job in Kansas City, Mo. Wilson is on the fence about his 5-year-old company and whether he should add to his staff of three and buy another truck. Wilson is concerned that if he does expand, he wont be giving his customers the kind of service he does now. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner) 3 state police killed, 2 wounded in southern Mexico MEXICO CITY (AP) Mexican authorities in the southern state of Guerrero say three state police officers and three suspected gunmen have died in gun battles in the remote mountains. State security spokesman Roberto Alvarez Heredia said late Tuesday that 15 state police officers were patrolling when they were ambushed Tuesday afternoon. Two other officers were wounded as gunmen fired on them from elevated positions in the mountains near Tlacotepec for four hours. Earlier in the day, police had encountered gunmen near Tecpan de Galeana and killed three suspects. Harry Belafonte hoping to lead a change with new festival NEW YORK (AP) Harry Belafonte feels America has lost its moral compass, and culture can help gain it back. The longtime activist and entertainer is hoping to lead a change with his "Many Rivers to Cross" festival, a racial and social justice event including performers and speakers like John Legend, Chris Rock, Common and Jesse Williams. The festival, debuting Oct. 1-2, is an extension of his social justice organization Sankofa.org, which Belafonte established in 2013. "I've lived long enough to see America lose its moral compass, and that is sad commentary. ... I've felt that culture is a way in which we can ignite a consciousness about finding our moral compass," the 89-year-old icon said in an interview Monday at his New York City home. FILE - In this Dec. 6, 2014 file photo, Harry Belafonte arrives at the charity gala Ein Herz fuer Kinder (A heart for children) in Berlin. Belafonte is hoping to lead the charge with his Many to Rivers Cross festival, a racial and social justice event debuting Oct. 1-2. It's an extension of his social justice organization Sankofa.org, which Belafonte established in 2013. (AP Photo/Steffi Loos, File) "Sankofa has become an attempt at trying to institutionalize cultural consciousness; let its exclusive trajectory be telling the truth about what's going on in our world," he said. His inaugural festival will be held at Chattahoochee Hills Bouckaert Farm in Fairburn, Georgia, and will promote advocacy and awareness around urgent human rights issues. The lineup includes Carlos Santana, Dave Matthews, Public Enemy, Macklemore, Danny Glover, Dr. Cornel West, T.I. and Jussie Smollett. Belafonte called the festival a "weekend retreat." "They're going to sing about Ferguson, they will sing about brutality against black women, they will sing about our homophobia, they will sing about all of it, and have an evening instead of just shaking the booty and making happy sexual noises," he said. "You know, can we say something with some substance and have people leaving the theater feeling, 'Wow, that's us!'" "Many Rivers to Cross" will feature multiple stages and music being heard simultaneously. It will include a social justice village, a home for information about current issues, voter registration and a place where people can interact with activists and social leaders. "We're hoping to inform and enlighten and activate our ticket-goers so that when they leave the festival they have the opportunity to engage in their community," said Gina Belafonte, the icon's 54-year-old daughter who is producing the festival. Aloe Blacc, Dianne Reeves, Estelle, Goapele, Michelle Alexander, Alice Smith and Sweet Honey in the Rock are also part of the lineup. Gina Belafonte, who has worked with her father for 20 years and is the co-director of Sankofa.org, said they've enjoyed giving artists a platform to speak about social injustice and race-related issues. "I think because of the current climate in America around politics and some of the egregious violations of our law enforcement, there are more artists having the desire of participating but not having the outlet or platform in which they felt comfortable in presenting their own authentic feelings around the subjects," she said, "so it's been a very exciting opportunity to do outreach." _____ Online: https://www.sankofa.org/ FARMINGTON, Utah A plea deal is possible in the Utah case against a man accused of tying up five people in a basement and then killing a train worker in Wyoming while on the run from police, attorneys said Monday. During his first court appearance since his father and co-defendant killed himself in jail, Dereck James "DJ" Harrison agreed to a delay in the case as lawyers work on a potential plea bargain. His lawyer Michael Edwards said there's no deal on the table yet but that Harrison is willing to wait. Prosecutor Jeff Thomson said any plea offer would be made before a new hearing set for Sept. 12. Harrison, 23, has pleaded not guilty to Utah drug and kidnapping charges alleging he and his father tied up a woman and her four daughters in a basement. He's also charged with murder and kidnapping in the death of Salt Lake City train worker Kay Ricks in Wyoming, but won't face those allegations until the Utah case is complete. The Ricks family has called on Utah authorities to release Harrison to Wyoming so he can be tried faster. Wyoming prosecutor Spencer Allred attended the Utah court hearing Monday. He said Harrison could face the death penalty in the Wyoming case, but prosecutors won't decide whether to pursue it until after he's sent there. "We are standing and have been waiting for Utah to be completed," he said. The death of Flint Harrison, 52, could make their job more complicated. The elder Harrison told police his son was a killer who kept bloody knives as trophies, but statements like that may not be admissible in court after the father's death because they may be considered hearsay and Flint Harrison can't be cross-examined, said Utah lawyer Clayton Simms, a defense attorney who's not assigned to the Harrison case. Prosecutors will tackle those questions as the case goes forward, Allred said. Flint Harrison had been facing the same charges as his son in both Utah and Wyoming. Authorities say the two Harrison men invited the women over for a barbecue at Dereck Harrison's house outside Salt Lake City in May. When they arrived, the men tied them up and beat them until they managed to escape. The father and son had been using drugs heavily and wrongly believed the mother had reported them to authorities, police have said. The Harrisons got away and dodged a police manhunt until they encountered Ricks during his shift, police have said. They forced the 63-year-old worker inside his work truck and drove it to Wyoming. Ricks was beaten to death and dumped in the southwestern Wyoming countryside along the way to a remote hideout that was the Harrisons' last stop before their arrest, prosecutors said in charging documents. Maine land from Burt's Bees founder is new national monument PORTLAND, Maine (AP) President Barack Obama on Wednesday created a new national monument in Maine on 87,000 acres donated by the founder of Burt's Bees, fulfilling conservationist Roxanne Quimby's goal of gifting the land during the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. The Katahdin Woods and Waters monument includes the East Branch of the Penobscot River and stunning views of Maine's tallest mountain, Katahdin. The land is cherished by Native Americans, and its history includes visits by naturalist Henry David Thoreau and President Theodore Roosevelt. "Through this incredibly generous private gift for conservation, these lands will remain accessible to current and future generations of Americans, ensuring the rich history of Mainers' hunting, fishing and recreation heritage will forever be preserved," Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said. FILE 0 In this Aug. 4, 2015 photo, Lucas St. Clair, the son of Burt's Bees founder Roxanne Quimby, poses on land proposed for a national park in Penobscot County, Maine. Mount Katahdin, the state's highest peak, can be seen in the background as a rainstorm passes through Baxter State Park. President Barack Obama on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016 declared a new national monument in Maine on 87,000 acres donated by Quimby, fulfilling the conservationist's goal of gifting the land during the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File) Supporters say the move will create hundreds of jobs in a region hurt by the closing of paper mills in Millinocket and East Millinocket. But critics fear that it will hinder efforts to rebuild a forest-based economy in Maine's North Woods. This spring, Maine's legislature passed a symbolic bill saying it didn't consent to federal ownership of the land. Republican Gov. Paul LePage also opposed the ownership, calling it an "ego play." Quimby's son, Lucas St. Clair, who's marshaled the effort in recent years, brushed aside such criticism Wednesday. "Many parks over the history of the park system have been criticized upon creation," St. Clair told The Associated Press. "But when we look to the future, we see huge amounts of success." The land occupies a wild sprawl east of Baxter State Park where Thoreau rode in a flat-bottomed bateau and where Roosevelt hiked Katahdin in moccasins after losing a boot while crossing the turbulent Wassataquoik Stream. It's teeming with wildlife including moose, black bears, coyotes, deer, bobcats, snowshoe hares, fisher cats, bald eagles and Canada lynx. Although the monument status is supported numerous conservation organizations, independent U.S. Sen. Angus King, Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins and Republican U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin last fall wrote a letter to Obama outlining "serious reservations" about the proposal. King's position evolved, however, and he said the federal designation "will provide much-needed diversity to the region's economy." Poliquin said Wednesday that public officials needed to ensure local input was taken into consideration while figuring out how to manage the new federal land. Quimby began buying the timberland in the 1990s with earnings from the Burt's Bees line of natural care products. She initially aimed for a national park designation, but that would have required an act of Congress. The national monument designation required only executive action by the president. Many national parks like Maine's Acadia National Park and the Grand Canyon National Park started with monument status. The donated land is valued at $60 million, and Quimby's foundation provided an additional $20 million endowment. Another $20 million will be raised within three years to raise the endowment to $40 million. The deeds allow snowmobiling and hunting on the land but prohibit hunting of bears with bait or dogs. The deeds also allow the creation of recreational trail corridors, kiosks and signs. Obama has utilized his power under the 1906 Antiquities Act to protect more land and water using national monument designations than any other president. The new national monument became the 413th park unit in the national park system a day before the park service's 100th anniversary Thursday. "I can't think of a better way to celebrate the centennial and underscore our mission than by adding this extraordinary piece of Maine's North Woods to the National Park System," said National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis. ___ Associated Press writer Marina Villeneuve in Augusta, Maine, contributed to this report. ___ Online: Katahdin Woods and Waters https://www.nps.gov/kaww/index.htm FILE - In this Aug. 4, 2015, file photo, the Wassataquoik Stream flows through Township 3, Range 8, Maine, on land owned by environmentalist Roxanne Quimby, the founder of Burts Bees. President Barack Obama on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016 declared a new national monument in Maine on 87,000 acres donated by Quimby, fulfilling the conservationist's goal of gifting the land during the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File) FILE - In this Aug. 4, 2015 file photo, birch trees show signs of beaver activity on woodland proposed for a national park in Penobscot County, Maine. President Barack Obama on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016 declared a new national monument in Maine on 87,000 acres donated by Roxanne Quimby, fulfilling the conservationist's goal of gifting the land during the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File) FILE - In this March 14, 2011 file photo, Roxanne Quimby, the founder of Burt's Bees, poses in front of a 180-year-old map of Maine at her home in Portland, Maine. President Barack Obama on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016 declared a new national monument in Maine on 87,000 acres donated by Quimby, fulfilling the conservationist's goal of gifting the land during the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File) German diplomat's son petitioning Va. governor for pardon DILLWYN, Va. (AP) A German diplomat's son convicted of murder is petitioning Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe for an "absolute pardon" and parole based largely on blood analysis. Jens Soering is serving two life terms for the 1985 slayings of his ex-girlfriend's parents. Soering's petition this week says a blood analysis concludes that Soering, who has Type O blood, was not the source of at least some of the Type O blood found at the scene, The Washington Post (http://wapo.st/2bMPfMB) reported. Investigators said his claim was not new. "This is no longer about believing me," Soering, 50, told the newspaper from Buckingham Correctional Center in Virginia. "Unless you're a climate-change denier and creationist and you don't believe in DNA, then you have to believe I'm innocent. The only other option is I did it with somebody else, whom I've been protecting for 31 years." Soering initially confessed to killing the couple but recanted and has insisted he is innocent. He said his then-girlfriend, Elizabeth Haysom, killed her parents and told him afterward. Haysom testified against Soering and is serving a 90-year sentence. In the absence of hair or fingerprints, prosecutors relied heavily on the presence of the Type O blood to link Soering to the crime. Maj. Ricky Gardner of the Bedford County Sheriff's Office, who led the investigation, said Soering's latest claim is nothing new. "These results have been publicly known for several years," Gardner wrote in an email to the paper. "Based upon the totality of evidence that was presented in Jens' trial in June 1990, I remain confident that he perpetrated these heinous crimes." The blood tests are decades old: a 1985 blood typing test and a 2009 DNA test. Soering's attorney Steven D. Rosenfield said what is new is a belated comparison of the two tests. No one compared the 1985 blood type report with the DNA report until July, when Rosenfield began preparing to file a petition with McAuliffe on other grounds, including unrelated revelations in a forthcoming German documentary, "The Promise," about Soering's case. The film suggests that Haysom, an admitted drug user, committed the murders with help from a now-deceased man who had supplied her with heroin. Soering's defense had also raised that scenario in his trial. An analysis by an expert Soering hired said that put side by side, the test results indicate that a male other than Soering was the source of the Type O blood. "The only way the commonwealth can now argue for Jens' guilt is to assert that he committed the crime with an unknown accomplice, who was injured and left Type O blood at the scene," he said. "The accomplice cannot be Ms. Haysom, who has Type B blood. Until now, there has been no suggestion by the commonwealth that there was a third murderer involved. The commonwealth's position has always been that Jens acted alone, committed this crime and left his Type O blood at the crime scene." ___ The Latest: 'Several' firearms, ax used in Alabama killings MOBILE, Ala. (AP) The Latest on the killing of five people in rural south Alabama (all times local): 5 p.m. Sheriff's officials now say several firearms and an ax were used on five adults slain in a house in a rural Alabama town. A photo provided by the Greene County Sheriff's Department shows Derrick Dearman, a suspect in the Saturday massacre of five adults in Citronelle Ala. Dearman, of Leakesville, Mississippi, will be charged with six counts of capital murder, Mobile County sheriff's spokeswoman Lori Myles said Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016. (George County Sheriff's Department via AP) The Mobile County Sheriff's Office provided the new detail about the weekend killings in a statement Wednesday, though it didn't specify the total number of weapons involved. Derrick Dearman of Leakesville, Mississippi, is accused of having used the ax and guns to kill three men and two women at a house in Citronelle in the southern part of the state. One of the victims was a pregnant woman whose unborn child died. Mobile County Sheriff Sam Cochran said Dearman didn't have the guns when he arrived at the home, but found them in the house. Cochran said he attacked first with the ax, then with the guns. Dearman is charged with six counts of capital murder and kidnapping. A judge appointed a defense attorney Wednesday for Dearman and scheduled an arraignment hearing for Aug. 31. ___ 9:40 a.m. A judge in Alabama is refusing bond for a Mississippi man accused of the killings of five people and an unborn child. The decision came Wednesday as Derrick Dearman made his first court appearance in Mobile, Alabama. Authorities say the man used an ax and at least one gun to slaughter two women and three men at a house in Citronelle, Alabama. One of the victims was a pregnant woman whose unborn child died. Dearman has told reporters he was high on methamphetamine at the time. The Leakesville, Mississippi, man is charged with six counts of capital murder and kidnapping. A judge appointed a defense attorney Wednesday for Dearman and scheduled an Aug. 31 arraignment hearing. ___ 5:52 a.m. Authorities say the man accused of using an ax and gunshots to slaughter three men and two women at a south Alabama house is set to make his first court appearance on six counts of capital murder and two counts of kidnapping. Mobile County District Attorney Ashley Rich said Derrick Dearman is scheduled to appear Wednesday morning in a courtroom in Mobile, Alabama. The bodies of the five slaying victims were found Saturday inside the home in Citronelle, Alabama. A sheriff's captain says Dearman attacked them as they slept, and then abducted his estranged girlfriend and an infant from the home. Both of them were found alive. Review: 'Don't Breathe' is a well-plotted, thrilling trap To all you Detroit-area robbery crews, we should probably warn you right away: It's just not a good idea to pick 1837 Buena Vista Street for your big and final score. Take our word for it, walk away. Sure, it sounds like an easy hit. The address is a home in a run-down section of the city, so there's nobody around. The house is kind of moldering, too. And, yes, the owner is an old blind man living alone who apparently has a fortune stashed somewhere. But, listen, let this one go. You won't? Fine. Then beware, you are walking into the well-plotted trap of Fede Alvarez, who made his Hollywood debut with the reboot of the horror classic "Evil Dead," and returns this month with "Don't Breathe ." It pits a team of inept burglars against a homeowner who fights back. In that sense, it's kind of like a twisted "Home Alone" for millennials. This image released by Sony Pictures shows Jane Levy in a scene from "Dont Breathe." (Gordon Timpen/Sony/Screen Gems via AP) This isn't a gore-fest or a flick that relies on the supernatural. It's more a thriller wedded to a horror film. Our trio of would-be predators quickly becomes hunted by the surprisingly spry old man, who happens to be a military veteran and comfortable with all sorts of weapons. Oh, did we mention his rather nasty dog? Written by Alvarez and Rodo Sayagues, "Don't Breathe" is almost a throw-back to older horror films. It's meticulously planned and thrillingly satisfying with a camera always a step ahead if you see an array of sharp tools near the beginning, bet on them being used at some point. Roque Banos' discordant soundtrack manages to capture dread beautifully. The set-up stars three young Detroiters a brutish Daniel Zovatto, his lovely girlfriend Jane Levy and their smart friend Dylan Minnette. They have bought into that cliche that somehow makes robbers less villainous one last job and they're out. "If we do it right, we never have to do it again," the young woman promises. That turns out to be correct, but not in the way she means. In their way is Stephen Lang, playing the blind guy. He harbors a dirty little secret that the trio soon uncovers and most of the film is spent with everyone rushing about in his claustrophobic home, filled with creaky floorboards and more locks than a Lowe's. Everyone seems to die multiple times, even the dog. The plot gets sort of ludicrous by the end right around the time Lang gets to start talking but there were moments at a recent preview where a pin could drop and make more noise than one of the poor burglars trying to do what the movie title demands. You try standing perfectly still while an annoyed vet aims a pistol in your general direction. So again, robbery crews are strongly advised to avoid 1837 Buena Vista, but movie-goers hoping for a thrill might like to visit. But don't linger. "Don't Breathe," Sony Pictures, Stage 6 and Ghost House release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for "terror, violence, disturbing content and language including sexual references." Running time: 88 minutes. Three stars out of four. ___ MPAA Definition of R: Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. ___ Online: http://www.dontbreathe-movie.com This image released by Sony Pictures shows Stephen Lang in a scene from "Dont Breathe." (Gordon Timpen/Sony/Screen Gems via AP) This image released by Sony Pictures shows, from left, Daniel Zovatto, Jane Levy and Dylan Minnette in a scene from "Dont Breathe." (Gordon Timpen/Sony/Screen Gems via AP) Black voters critique, question Trump's overtures Donald Trump says he wants support from more black voters, asking them "what do you have to lose?" by breaking tradition and voting for a Republican presidential candidate. Many black Republican officials praise the overtures, though they say Trump must work harder to make the argument directly to black voters in communities where they live, instead of at rallies with nearly all-white crowds gathered in mostly white cities. Black Democrats and rank-and-file voters, meanwhile, say Trump's effort is at best too little, too late and at worst a cynical play actually aimed at whites. A sampling of Trump's words and the reaction: __ "You can go to war zones in countries that we are fighting and it is safer than living in some of our inner cities that are run by the Democrats. ...You'll be able to walk down the street without getting shot. Now, you walk down the street, you get shot." Trump, speaking Aug. 22 in Akron, Ohio, promising to curb violence if he's elected. __ "Look at how much African-American communities are suffering from Democratic control. To those I say the following: What do you have to lose by trying something new like Trump? What do you have to lose? ... You live in your poverty, your schools are no good, you have no jobs, 58 percent of your youth is unemployed. What the hell do you have to lose? At the end of four years, I guarantee you I will get over 95 percent of the African-American vote, I promise you because I will produce for the inner cities." Trump, offering his perception of black Americans' quality of life as he spoke Aug. 19 in Dimondale, Michigan, which is more than 90 percent white. __ "It's crazy to think that he would have the audacity to ask us what we have to lose. If anything, his comments just made the line even more clear as to why black people won't vote for him. ... It seems to me he's delivering this message to white audiences because that's the only group he can get an audience with. If he came to North Philly, I don't think he's going to get a big crowd. And when we come to his rallies, he puts us out." Foluke Bennett, 43, Philadelphia. __ "We need a change agent, because the issues in the African-American community have not been addressed, and we don't need a traditional politician that's going to gloss over those issues. He's breaking down his overall economic platform and relating it to African-Americans." Calvin Tucker, 64, lone black Pennsylvania delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention. __ "All of those comments, it's just disrespectful, but that's the real Trump, not this repackaged Trump they keep talking about." Steve T, 47, street vendor, East Cleveland, Ohio. __ "He's deviating from the standard model that says if you're going to do outreach, you have to talk to black people. He speaks in Michigan, but he doesn't speak in Detroit ... What it ultimately ends up sounding like is him lecturing black people to a group of whites. ... He's making an argument, and his message is directed to his supporters. It's a way of appealing to moderates and appealing to conservatives who are nervous about supporting someone like Donald Trump. " Leah Wright Rigueur, author of "The Loneliness of the Black Republican" and a professor at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. __ "He's talking about black people, not to black people." James Smith, 79, East Cleveland, Ohio, referring to Trump's emphasis on law-and-order and crime reduction in cities. __ "At least we're having the conversation. Now we need to make sure we have it in the right context. ... We need to make sure we're not just focused on people trying to find a way out of poverty, that includes the large and vibrant black middle-class and also working class. It's about making sure we stay away from anything that might stereotype or minimize the diverse black experience." Ashley Bell, director of African-American political engagement for the Republican National Committee. __ The Obama administration said Wednesday it paid $1.3 billion in interest to Iran in January to resolve a decades-old dispute over an undelivered military sale, two days after allowing $400 million in cash to fly to Tehran. State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau says the U.S. couldn't say more about the Jan. 19 payments because of diplomatic sensitivities. They involved 13 separate payments of $99,999,999.99 and final payment of about $10 million. There was no explanation for the Treasury Department keeping the individual transactions under $100 million. Scroll down for video State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau (pictured) noted diplomatic sensitivities didn't allow her to say more about the January 19 interest payment to Iran of $1.3 billion Iranian state television broadcast this image of a shipping pallet stacked with cash in February, a month after the January 17 drop, Now the State Department is saying the rest of the interest was paid two Iran two days later Four Iranian hostages were released on January 17, including a journalist, a pastor and a U.S. Marine, in a cash deal that Republicans are describing as a quid-pro-quo The money settles a dispute over a $400 million payment made in the 1970s by the U.S.-backed shah's government for military equipment. The equipment was never delivered because of the 1979 Islamic Revolution that overthrew the shah and ended diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Iran. On Jan. 17, the administration paid Iran the account's $400 million principal in pallets of euros, Swiss francs and other foreign currency, raising questions about the unusual payment. The $1.3 billion covers what Iran and the U.S. agreed would be the interest on the $400 million over the decades. The deal has faced increased scrutiny since the administration's acknowledgment this month that it used the money as leverage to ensure the release of four American prisoners. Republican critics accuse the administration of paying a 'ransom.' President Barack Obama and other officials deny such claims, though they've struggled to explain why the U.S. paid in cash. Obama said it was because the United States and Iran didn't have a banking relationship after years of nuclear-related sanctions, but that wouldn't rule out using intermediary banks that maintain relationships with both. Briefing reporters last week, a senior U.S. official involved in the negotiations said the interest payments were made to Iran in a 'fairly above-board way,' using a foreign central bank. But the official, who wasn't authorized to be quoted by name and demanded anonymity, wouldn't say if the interest was delivered to Iran in physical cash, as with the $400 million principal, or via a more regular banking mechanism. The money came from a little-known fund administered by the Treasury Department for settling litigation claims. The so-called Judgment Fund is taxpayer money Congress has permanently approved in the event it's needed, allowing the president to bypass direct congressional approval to make a settlement. AP EXPLAINS: How Colombia conflict developed over decades BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) With Colombia's government and the country's biggest rebel movement announcing agreement on a historic peace deal, The Associated Press explains how the conflict began and developed over the decades. ___ HOW IT STARTED In this Aug. 11, 2016 photo, rebels of the 48th Front of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia stand in formation in the southern jungles of Putumayo, Colombia. With a cease-fire with the Colombian government in place, gone are the days when they had to change camp every few days for fear of being stunned in their sleep by bombs falling from the skies. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) The 1948 assassination of populist firebrand Jorge Eliecer Gaitan led to a political bloodletting known as "The Violence." Tens of thousands died, and peasant groups joined with communists to arm themselves. A 1964 military attack on their main encampment led to the creation of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. ___ WHAT THE REBELS WANTED Though nominally Marxist, the FARC's ideology has never been well defined. It has sought to make the conservative oligarchy share power and prioritized land reform in a country where more than 5 million people have been forcibly displaced, mostly by far-right militias in the service of ranchers, businessmen and drug traffickers. The FARC lost popularity as it turned to kidnapping, extortion and taxes on cocaine production and illegal gold mining to fund its insurgency. ___ HOW THE US GOT INVOLVED In 2000, the United States began sending billions of dollars to counter drug-trafficking and the insurgency under Plan Colombia, which helped security forces weaken the FARC and kill several top commanders. The State Department classifies the group as a terrorist organization and its leaders face U.S. indictments for what the George W. Bush administration called the world's largest drug-trafficking organization. ___ THE MASSIVE HUMAN TOLL More than 220,000 lives have been lost, most of them civilians. In the past two decades, most of the killings were inflicted by the militias, which made peace with the government in 2003. The FARC abducted ranchers, politicians and soldiers and often held them for years in jungle prison camps. Its captives included former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and three U.S. military contractors, all of whom were rescued in 2008. ___ AFTER DECADES OF FALSE STARTS, A PLAN FOR PEACE Finland arrests Iraqi suspected of killings in 2014 in Iraq HELSINKI (AP) Police in Finland have arrested a 24-year-old Iraqi man on suspicion of murder and war crimes related to the massacre of hundreds of Iraqi soldiers by the Islamic State group in 2014. The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation says the suspected crimes were committed at Camp Speicher, a former U.S. base just outside Tikrit in northern Iraq. The agency said Wednesday that the suspect, who was not identified, arrived in Finland in the fall of 2015. It gave no further details. An agency statement said it was also investigating the involvement of two brothers who are suspected of "terrorist murders" in the same massacre. Burned firefighter feels normal again after face transplant NEW YORK (AP) A Mississippi firefighter who received the world's most extensive face transplant after a burning building collapsed on him said Wednesday that he feels like "a normal guy" for the first time in 15 years. Patrick Hardison, 42, said he can now eat, see, hear and breathe normally, thanks to last year's surgery. He has a full head of hair and hits the gym twice a week. "Before the transplant, every day I had to wake up and get myself motivated to face the world," Hardison told reporters at NYU Langone Medical Center. "Now I don't worry about people pointing and staring or kids running away crying. . I'm happy." Former Mississippi firefighter Patrick Hardison, 42, gets teary-eye under television lights, during a press conference marking one year after his face transplant, Wednesday Aug. 24, 2016, at New York University Langone Medical Center in New York. Hardison, who has light-sensitive eyes as his new face continues to thrive, was disfigured while trying to save people from a house fire in 2001 and received the face of a Brooklyn cyclist who died in an accident in July 2015-- a surgery successfully perform by a team of doctors at NYU Langone. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) Hardison was a volunteer firefighter in Senatobia, Mississippi, when a building collapsed on him in 2001. He had 71 reconstructive surgeries before the transplant. While there have been nearly 40 face transplant surgeries since 2005, Hardison's was the first to include a scalp and functioning eyelids. Doctors have since fixed up some features and removed his breathing and feeding tubes. Hardison has no scars on his face, and although he resembles his old self, some of his features are different. His eyes are smaller and his face is rounder, but he still has sandy brown hair. "I don't get up and look in the mirror and focus on that," he said. "I get up and just go along with my day." The divorced father of five said one of the best moments of his life was seeing his children for the first time after the August 2015 surgery. Four of his children attended the news conference. His 21-year-old daughter, Alison, said she cried after seeing him because she was so relieved. "I walked into the room and I was just speechless," she said. "He gave me a hug and our cheeks touched, and his cheeks were kind of warm, and that was something I hadn't felt in 14 years." She said her father "wasn't normal on the inside" before the surgery. "He was very unhappy," Alison Hardison said. "Now he's happy with himself and happy with life." Patrick Hardison can finally drive and live independently thanks to his new field of vision. Previously, he could see only through "pinholes" because doctors had sewed his eyelids partially shut to protect his eyes, he said. Eduardo Rodriguez, chairman of Langone's plastic surgery department, said Hardison has not had any issues with transplant rejection, which is due to his medications, his children and his strength. "He's a remarkable individual," Rodriguez said. The surgery is estimated to cost about $1 million, according to NYU, but the hospital covered the cost. Rodriguez was recently awarded $2.5 million from the Defense Department to continue face transplant research. Hardison said he hopes to meet this fall with the family of his donor, a 26-year-old artist who died in a bike accident in Brooklyn. "I'd like to say that I'm the same old Pat, but that would not give enough credit to the amazing journey I have gone through this past year," Hardison said. "The road to recovery has been long and hard, but if I had to do it again, I'd do it in a heartbeat." ___ This story has been corrected to show Hardison's daughter's name is Alison, not Allison. Former Mississippi firefighter Patrick Hardison, 42, center, is surrounded with his children Braden, 13, far left, Allison, 21, second from left, Cullen, 12, far right, and Dalton, 18, second from right, at a press conference marking one year after his face transplant surgery, Wednesday Aug. 24, 2016, in New York. Hardison was disfigured while trying to save people from a house fire in 2001 and received the face of a Brooklyn cyclist who died in an accident in July 2015-- a surgery successfully perform by a team of doctors at NYU Langone. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) Former Mississippi firefighter Patrick Hardison, 42, center, views a video showing progression of his face transplant, during a press conference marking one year after his surgery, Wednesday Aug. 24, 2016, at New York University Langone Medical Center in New York. Hardison was disfigured while trying to save people from a house fire in 2001 and received the face of a Brooklyn cyclist who died in an accident in July 2015-- a surgery successfully perform by a team of doctors at NYU Langone. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) Former Mississippi firefighter Patrick Hardison, 42, center, speaks during a press conference marking one year after his face transplant surgery, Wednesday Aug. 24, 2016, at New York University Langone Medical Center in New York. Hardison was disfigured while trying to save people from a house fire in 2001 and received the face of a Brooklyn cyclist who died in an accident in July 2015-- a surgery successfully perform by a team of doctors at NYU Langone. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez, left, listens as former Mississippi firefighter Patrick Hardison, 42, center, speaks during a press conference marking one year after his face transplant surgery, Wednesday Aug. 24, 2016, at New York University Langone Medical Center in New York. Dr. Rodriquez, chair of the Hansjorg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery at NYU Langone, lead a team of doctors who transplanted onto Hardison-- disfigured while trying to save people from a house fire in 2001, the face of a Brooklyn cyclist who died in an accident in July 2015. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) Former Mississippi firefighter Patrick Hardison, 42, gets teary-eye under television lights, during a press conference marking one year after his face transplant, Wednesday Aug. 24, 2016, at New York University Langone Medical Center in New York. Hardison, who has light-sensitive eyes as his new face continues to thrive, was disfigured while trying to save people from a house fire in 2001 and received the face of a Brooklyn cyclist who died in an accident in July 2015 a surgery successfully perform by a team of doctors at NYU Langone. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) Former Mississippi firefighter Patrick Hardison, 42, center, views a video showing progression of his face transplant, during a press conference marking one year after his surgery, Wednesday Aug. 24, 2016, at New York University Langone Medical Center in New York. Hardison was disfigured while trying to save people from a house fire in 2001 and received the face of a Brooklyn cyclist who died in an accident in July 2015-- a surgery successfully perform by a team of doctors at NYU Langone. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) Astronaut breaks US record: 521 days in space and counting CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) Astronaut Jeffrey Williams has a new record for NASA under his space belt. The commander of the International Space Station marked a U.S. recording-breaking 521st day in orbit Wednesday, a number accumulated over four flights. That surpasses the 520-day record set by Scott Kelly, whose one-year space station mission ended in March. By the time Williams returns to Earth in two weeks to close out his latest half-year trip, he will have logged 534 days off the planet for NASA. In this June 30, 2016 photo, astronaut Jeff Williams monitors bowling ball-sized internal satellites known as SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites) during a maintenance run in the International Space Station's Japanese Kibo Laboratory Module. On Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, Williams, commander of the ISS, marked his 521st day in orbit, accumulated over four flights. That surpasses the 520-day record set by Scott Kelly, whose one-year space station mission ended in March. (NASA via AP) His record won't last long. Space station veteran Peggy Whitson will top that after she flies up in November for another six-month stay. She's already at the 377-day mark for total space time, a record for a woman. And even that won't come close to the world record of 879 days held by Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka a total of 2 years. Kelly, who is now retired from NASA, called Williams from Mission Control in Houston and offered congratulations "on passing me up here." "It's great to see another record broken," Kelly radioed. "But I do have one question for you. And my question is: You got another 190 days in you?" Williams replied, "That question's not for me, that's for my wife." He thanked Kelly for accepting the one-year stint "so I didn't have to." Williams recalled telling his wife, Anna-Marie, and the rest of his family that if he did the one-year flight versus his current six-month assignment that he'd be back six months earlier in March. "That never flew with anybody," he confided. As it is, Williams will be No. 14 on the world's most-time-in-space list, behind 13 Russians, by the time he lands. Williams, 58, a retired Army colonel, rocketed into orbit in March along with two Russians. They will return via a Russian Soyuz capsule to Kazakhstan on Sept. 7. Williams will conduct one more spacewalk next week before heading home. ___ Online: NASA: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html FILE - In this Friday, March 18, 2016 file photo, NASA astronaut Jeff Williams, a member of the main crew of the mission to the International Space Station (ISS), waves prior his rocket launch at the Russian-leased cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, Williams, commander of the ISS, marked his 521st day in orbit, accumulated over four flights. That surpasses the 520-day record set by Scott Kelly, whose one-year space station mission ended in March. (AP Photo/Kirill Kudryavtsev, Pool) All roads were open in Yellowstone National Park Tuesday despite several fires growing in the area including a blaze blocking access to the Parks south entrance. The West Entrance remained open. But, the Maple fire has burned more than 27,000 acres about five miles northeast of West Yellowstone and reached within a tenth-mile of the roadway to the west entrance. The fire grew more than 4,600 acres on Monday and is mostly growing on the north side of the burn area. It is not expected to cross the road to the west entrance. If fire activity or smoke increases, pilot cars will be used to guide cars through the area, said a National Park Service news release. The release said fire activity closed a stretch of U.S. Highway 89 in Grand Teton National Park between Leeks Marina and north to Flaggs Ranch. The closure affects travelers planning to use Yellowstone National Parks south entrance. The road closure is expected to stay in effect until Wednesday. Lizard Creek Campground has also been evacuated. About 100 people are monitoring the Maple fire. Resources including firefighting aircraft and engines are in the area. However, the fire is not being actively suppressed as it was determined to be caused by a lightning strike and wildfires are an integral part of the Yellowstone ecosystem, said Barbara Dougan, NPS fire information officer. Dougan said firefighters will work to keep the blaze north of the roadway and east of the Madison River, away from the town of West Yellowstone. At this time the fire is doing very well on that side and doing the job of reducing downed debris thats on the ground, she said. Dougan said officials are still working to determine the cause of the nearby 190 acre Boundary fire but it is believed to have been caused by human activity. Firefighters worked to suppress that wildfire and it was about 85 percent contained as of Tuesday morning. Suspect in Oregon killing extradited from California BEND, Ore. (AP) A community college safety officer charged with the murder of a 23-year-old woman was extradited Wednesday to Oregon from California, where he had been held for a month in connection with other violent crimes. Edwin Lara, 31, of Redmond was booked into Deschutes County Jail and was being held without bail, according to online jail records. Lara faces four counts of aggravated murder in the July death of Kaylee Sawyer. FILE - In this July 29, 2016, file photo, Edwin Lara, a security guard at Central Oregon Community College in Bend, Ore., waits in court in Yreka, Calif., for his arraignment. Online jail records show 31-year-old Lara was booked Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, into Deschutes County Jail in Bend Ore. He faces four counts of aggravated murder in the July death of 23-year-old Kaylee Sawyer. (Greg Barnette/The Record Searchlight via AP, File) MANDATORY CREDIT Lara, a security officer at Central Oregon Community College, kidnapped and tried to sexually assault Sawyer before killing her to cover up his attack, authorities said. Police believe Lara encountered Sawyer on July 24 while working his night shift as she took a late-night walk near campus. Lara's wife, a new hire at the Bend Police Department, noticed her husband was acting out of the ordinary the next morning and confronted him. He broke down and told her he had struck Sawyer with his patrol car, panicked and buried the body, according to a police report. Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel has said he doesn't believe Lara's story and declined to provide further details about the case. Authorities say Lara fled after the killing and went on a two-state crime rampage that included a kidnapping, attempted murder and carjacking. All parties in the case are under a gag order. Hummel declined to comment Wednesday through a spokeswoman, citing the order. Lara's lead attorney, Benjamin Kim, did not immediately return a call Wednesday. He previously declined to comment. Police say Lara traveled 130 miles to Salem, Oregon, after killing Sawyer and took a 19-year-old woman hostage as she left her job at a clothing store. He fled with the woman to Yreka, California, where he shot and critically wounded a man at a motel, police say. The carjacking occurred at a gas station with a woman and her two sons inside the vehicle. They were later released along Interstate 5 before the car was pulled over by the California Highway Patrol. Lara was arrested July 26 and held in Siskiyou County, California. Black teen pushed down by Iowa officer got money for secrecy WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) A black teenager who was shown on video getting thrown down by a white police officer in Iowa received thousands of dollars to keep quiet about a settlement including a secrecy provision that may violate state law. After resolving his federal lawsuit for $95,000, the city of Waterloo negotiated an extra $5,000 payment to Malcolm Anderson last month in exchange for guarantees that the 19-year-old and his attorney would not have any press conferences, make any disclosures to civil rights groups or ever mention the deal on social media. The Associated Press obtained the confidentiality agreement from the city under the Iowa open records law. Critics say it may be illegal for an Iowa government agency to demand confidentiality and goes against the public interest. FILE - This undated file photo shows Waterloo Chief of Police Daniel Trelka in Waterloo, Iowa. Malcolm Anderson, a black teenager who was shown on video getting thrown down by a white police officer in Iowa received thousands of dollars to keep quiet, under a settlement that may violate state law. The Associated Press obtained the confidentiality agreement from the city under the Iowa open records law Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016. Trelka said last week that he wanted to avoid discussion of questionable police conduct in the city of 68,000, which has Iowa's largest percentage of African-Americans at 16 percent but an overwhelmingly white police force. (The Courier via AP, File) "The people of Waterloo should be troubled that the city is paying $5,000 to Malcolm Anderson just to allow the government to try to remain silent about the police officer's mistreatment of him," said Randy Evans, director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council. "Iowa law clearly does not allow secret settlements by government. Such secrecy is not in the best interests of government. It interferes with a full and frank discussion by the public and city officials of the police officer's actions that led to the litigation and $95,000 settlement." Whenever a state or local government agency in Iowa reaches a legal settlement, the document and a summary of the dispute "shall be a public record" under Iowa law. The Iowa Attorney General's Office has long advised government agencies that "in government, settlements are not secret." After Waterloo settled with Anderson, the AP requested the agreement. The city instead released a summary of the $100,000 deal that didn't mention confidentiality. The city later released two documents one settlement and one confidentiality agreement after AP renewed its request for the actual records. The agreement acknowledges the city must release the amount paid to Anderson upon request under the law but says that the parties will not offer any additional comment and keep "its terms secret and confidential." City Attorney David Zellhoefer, who signed the agreement, declined comment Wednesday. But Waterloo Police Chief Daniel Trelka said this month that he wanted to avoid discussion of questionable police conduct in the city of 68,000, which has Iowa's largest percentage of African-Americans at 16 percent but an overwhelmingly white police force. "Simply talking about it inflames tension between certain groups, which is a pity, because so much progress has been made in this community," Trelka told KXEL. "People want to focus on the negative issues that are in the news and sadly the negative news does sell. I wish we could focus on what's been accomplished." Anderson was 17 in June 2014, when he discovered an injured acquaintance on a street corner and took him to Allen Memorial Hospital for treatment of stab wounds. Officers sought to question Anderson but he said he knew nothing about the stabbing. Anderson was speaking with his mother on a payphone, when officers hung up the call and insisted he come with them to the police station. After Anderson said he would not go voluntarily because he was not under arrest, officer Mark Nissen told him that "you are now, for the cigarettes." Nissen cited him for possessing tobacco as a minor for passing a pack of cigarettes between others in the waiting room, a charge that was later dismissed. Video captured by freelance journalist Myke Goings shows Nissen walking Anderson toward a squad car, restraining the teen's arms behind his back. With no apparent provocation, Nissen throws Anderson to the concrete sidewalk face first outside the front door of the emergency room. Officers chat as Anderson is on the ground with his face down. Police accused Anderson of fighting with officers but a judge dismissed the charge, finding Anderson was within his rights to refuse to go and the video showed he wasn't resisting. The city cleared Nissen of excessive use of force after an internal affairs investigation in which Anderson wasn't interviewed. The confidentiality agreement called for Anderson and his attorney, Tom Frerichs, to keep the terms secret, including from "members of the media and other public interest groups or organizations." "The parties and their attorneys will not speak or provide any information to any media sources and will hold no press conferences," it says. "The parties and their attorneys also agree not to put any information ... on any form of social media, including, but not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, Vine, Snapchat or Instagram." Trump asked Florida Gov. Scott to appoint attorney to bench TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who has bragged about his influence with politicians, urged Gov. Rick Scott to give a judgeship to a Florida attorney whose work appears at odds with Trump's hard-line stance on immigration, newly released emails show. The emails posted online late last week by the Scott administration show Trump recommended that the governor appoint Jose Izquierdo, a well-regarded attorney who had backing from several other South Florida Republicans. "Dear Rick: A friend of mine recommended this gentleman for a judgeship in Broward County. From what I understand, he is very well-respected in the legal community. Thank you. Sincerely, Donald," read the May 10 email, to which a two-page biography of Izquierdo was attached. FILE - In this Aug. 18, 2016 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is seen in Charlotte, N.C. Trump, who has bragged about his influence with politicians, recommended to supporter, Florida Gov. Rick Scott that he give a judgeship to a Florida attorney whose case history is at odds with many of Trumps policy positions. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File) Thirteen days after Trump's recommendation, Scott appointed the attorney as a Broward County circuit judge. Izquierdo, a Cuban-American born in Florida, has represented criminal immigrants, spoken on immigration issues and once represented the consulates of Mexico and Honduras. Izquierdo highlighted on his application that he once tried to suppress a warrant used in a drug possession case. Scott has taken a harsh line against drug use and wanted at one time to require welfare recipients and state workers be tested for drugs. He also worked to protect from deportation an immigrant who had been convicted of aggravated battery in Florida in 2005. Trump has said criminal immigrants should be deported. He has harshly criticized Mexico in particular and Latin American immigrants in general. It's not clear whether Trump knew that Izquierdo had done work at odds with many of Trump's policy positions. Trump has no apparent direct connection to Izquierdo and why he decided to back him isn't clear. The Trump campaign has not responded to questions from The Associated Press. But Izquierdo worked with Fort Lauderdale attorney Bradford Cohen for several years. Cohen once appeared on Trump's reality show "The Apprentice" and represented former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski during his arrest on battery charges for grabbing a female reporter last spring. A Palm Beach County prosecutor dropped the charges in early April. Cohen, who said he talks to Trump and members of his organization regularly, said he couldn't remember if he asked Trump directly to help his former law partner become a judge. But he said that it "could very likely be me." "I would talk highly about Jose to everyone and anyone," Cohen said. "I would flatly tell anyone who would listen that Jose would make a good judge. He was an excellent attorney." Izquierdo has been president of the Broward County Hispanic Bar Association, appeared on the Spanish-language television network Telemundo and given speeches on immigration issues. He also has done pro bono work for a Broward County program that helps find immigration attorneys for clients. In his application he said that his "family fled the tyranny of communist Cuba" and that the abuse of government power molded his beliefs that "the government is ruled by our Constitution and it is the strict adherence to that Constitution that protects our freedoms." Emails from the Scott administration show that one of Trump's longtime and top aides in his business, Rhona Graff, talked to top Scott aide Diane Moulton by phone before sending her Trump's email that asked Scott to appoint Izquierdo. "As per our conversation, could you please share the attachment and note below from Mr. Trump with Governor Scott?" reads Graff's email to Moulton. Scott did not endorse Trump ahead of the Florida GOP primary. But since then he has become a vocal supporter of the businessman and in July became chairman of Rebuilding America Now, a super PAC backing Trump. Jackie Schutz, a spokeswoman for Scott, said that the governor's decision to appoint Izquierdo had nothing to do with Trump's outreach. "He was the most qualified individual," said Schutz, who noted he got more recommendations than any of the other finalists. "We believe he shares the governor's vision of humbling servicing Florida families and respecting the rule of the law." Follow Gary Fineout on Twitter: http://twitter.com/fineout Yellowstone tourists face detour for fire but landmarks open YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) Some tourists heading to Yellowstone National Park during the busy summer season are facing an hourlong detour Wednesday as a wildfire in neighboring Grand Teton National Park kept a highway closed. Major tourist areas in both parks are open as the National Park Service holds events to celebrate its 100th anniversary this week. A route leading into Yellowstone's South Entrance was shut down, so visitors coming from the south through Wyoming had to detour into Idaho. Julie Guardado of Sacramento, California, and her boyfriend were visiting Yellowstone as part of a cross-country trip but decided to leave a day early over fears of more road closures. A wildfire is visible from Leek's Marina on the shore of Jackson Lake, in north Grand Teton National Park, Wyo., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. Some tourists heading to Yellowstone National Park during the busy summer season were facing an hourlong detour Wednesday as a wildfire in neighboring Grand Teton National Park kept a highway closed. Firefighters hope cooler weather slows the flames over the next couple of days. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley) "When we were driving around Yellowstone, we could just see fire around the mountains," she said Wednesday. "Our car still smells like smoke." Firefighters hoped cooler weather would help slow the flames over the next couple of days, and fire spokesman Bill Swartley reiterated that "Yellowstone National Park is open for business." U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell is set to visit Yellowstone on Thursday, and no changes have been made to her plans because of the fire, Swartley said. The blaze in Grand Teton has burned about 11 square miles since lightning sparked it last month, forcing about 50 people to flee a lodge and cabin operation and several campgrounds. Thirty horses also were evacuated. Meanwhile, four fires were burning inside Yellowstone, but all major visitor areas and roads were open. The largest blaze spans about 42 square miles between the community of West Yellowstone, Montana, and Madison Junction, an area in the park with a campground, visitor facilities and staff housing. Lightning ignited it Aug. 8. Swartley said the fires were mostly being allowed to burn because they were not threatening major tourist areas. "These fires are being managed as basically a good fire for the ecology and then, of course, if there's anything getting close to cultural resources or public resources, structures, the fire is being engaged," he said. A 10-mile stretch of U.S. 89/191/287 has been closed since Monday after flames leaped across it, and they were still burning near the highway. The prospects for reopening the route are "not good in the near future" because the fire was close to the highway, fire spokeswoman Karen Miranda said. Travelers coming from the south via the Jackson Hole area can still access Yellowstone through Idaho and the West Entrance. The detour adds a little over an hour to the drive to Old Faithful. Grand Teton park and the Wyoming Department of Transportation have posted signs warning drivers of the closure. Grand Teton also is handing out notices and maps of the detour to Yellowstone. The fire is burning on both sides of the northern portion of Jackson Lake, but no buildings have been lost. More than 100 firefighters, supported by helicopters, are battling the flames near the closed highway. Cooler temperatures and higher humidity were expected over the next couple of days and should help firefighters, Miranda said. The wildfires may have cut short Guardado's trip, but they didn't ruin it. "Even with the smoke, it was still pretty amazing," she said. A wildfire is visible from Leek's Marina on the shore of Jackson Lake, in Grand Teton National Park, Wyo., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. Some tourists heading to Yellowstone National Park during the busy summer season were facing an hourlong detour Wednesday as a wildfire in neighboring Grand Teton National Park kept a highway closed. Firefighters hope cooler weather slows the flames over the next couple of days. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley) Smoke from a wildfire shrouds mountain peaks in Grand Teton National Park, Wyo., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. Some tourists heading to Yellowstone National Park during the busy summer season were facing an hourlong detour Wednesday as a wildfire in neighboring Grand Teton National Park kept a highway closed. Firefighters hope cooler weather slows the flames over the next couple of days. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley) Smoke from a wildfire shrouds mountain peaks as seen from Leek's Marina on the shore of Jackson Lake, in Grand Teton National Park, Wyo., Wednesday, Aug 24, 2016. Some tourists heading to Yellowstone National Park during the busy summer season were facing an hourlong detour Wednesday as a wildfire in neighboring Grand Teton National Park kept a highway closed. Firefighters hope cooler weather slows the flames over the next couple of days. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley) Smoke from a wildfire shrouds mountain peaks in Grand Teton National Park, Wyo., Wednesday, Aug 24, 2016. Some tourists heading to Yellowstone National Park during the busy summer season were facing an hourlong detour Wednesday as a wildfire in neighboring Grand Teton National Park kept a highway closed. Firefighters hope cooler weather slows the flames over the next couple of days. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley) A firefighter refills a water truck at Leek's Marina on the shore of Jackson Lake, just south of a wildfire, which is visible in the background, in north Grand Teton National Park, Wyo., Wednesday, Aug 24, 2016. Some tourists heading to Yellowstone National Park during the busy summer season were facing an hourlong detour Wednesday as a wildfire in neighboring Grand Teton National Park kept a highway closed. Firefighters hope cooler weather slows the flames over the next couple of days. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley) Members of a firefighting crew work at a fire support helicopter staging area south of a wildfire, in Grand Teton National Park, Wyo., Wednesday, Aug 24, 2016. Some tourists heading to Yellowstone National Park during the busy summer season were facing an hourlong detour Wednesday as a wildfire in neighboring Grand Teton National Park kept a highway closed. Firefighters hope cooler weather slows the flames over the next couple of days. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley) Smoke from a wildfire shrouds a mountain peak in north Grand Teton National Park, Wyo., Wednesday, Aug 24, 2016. Some tourists heading to Yellowstone National Park during the busy summer season were facing an hourlong detour Wednesday as a wildfire in neighboring Grand Teton National Park kept a highway closed. Firefighters hope cooler weather slows the flames over the next couple of days. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley) Kerry in Saudi Arabia for meetings on Yemen war impasse RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday for meetings with the kingdom's senior royals and other Gulf officials for talks focusing on Yemen's stalled peace process. Kerry is expected to raise U.S. concerns about civilian casualties in Yemen "and our strong desire to ensure that those sorts of casualties are avoided, and that the conduct of the air campaign is done with all proper and appropriate regard for being discriminate and precise," said a senior State Department official traveling with Kerry. The official was not authorized to speak publicly about the meetings and so spoke on condition of anonymity. The United States has backed a Saudi-led coalition of nine Arab countries in a nearly 18-month bombing campaign against Shiite Houthi rebels and their allies in Yemen. The Houthis, who are allied with Saudi Arabia's regional rival, Iran, seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014. The U.S. has provided logistical and intelligence support to the coalition. The conflict has killed more than 9,000 people, including more than 3,700 civilians and displaced 2.4 million. The fighting has destroyed much of the already limited infrastructure in one of the Arab world's poorest countries. U.N.-backed peace talks held in Kuwait were suspended earlier this month, leading to an uptick in airstrikes and fighting. Doctors Without Borders announced last week it was withdrawing from northern Yemen due to what the international aid group called "indiscriminate bombings and unreliable reassurances" from the Saudi-led coalition after an attack on a hospital it supported in the area killed 19 people and wounded 24. Rights groups, meanwhile, are calling on the U.S., Britain, France and others to suspend weapon sales to Saudi Arabia until it curtails its airstrikes in Yemen. One of Kerry's first meetings in the Red Sea city of Jiddah on Wednesday evening was with Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also Saudi Arabia's defense minister. On Thursday, Kerry is scheduled to meet the U.N. envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, before taking part in joint talks with Saudi and Emirati officials, as well as a senior British diplomat. The State Department said the multilateral meeting is for participants to share ideas about "getting the political discussions back on track" in order to end the violence. Kerry will also put forth some ideas, the official said, without elaborating. Kerry will also hold talks with the foreign ministers of neighboring Arab Gulf countries and discuss the conflicts in Libya and Syria, as well as counterterrorism efforts. ___ Ohio man accused of killing officer indicted on US charges LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) An Ohio man accused of killing a southern New Mexico police officer has been named in a five-count federal indictment. Jesse Denver Hanes of Columbus pleaded not guilty during an arraignment Wednesday in federal court in Las Cruces. The indictment issued Tuesday charges Hanes with federal firearms and carjacking offenses stemming from an Aug. 12 traffic stop during which Hatch police Officer Jose Chavez was fatally shot. Defense attorney Mario Esparza says his client was one of three people in the car stopped by Chavez and wants his day in court. The 38-year-old Hanes also faces state charges that include first-degree murder. Minnesota officer who fatally shot Castile back on leave MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The Minnesota police officer who fatally shot a black man during a traffic stop last month is back on administrative leave after briefly returning to limited duty last week, the city of St. Anthony said in a statement Wednesday. The city said it decided to put Officer Jeronimo Yanez back on leave "after reviewing concerns and other feedback from the community." Yanez fatally shot 32-year-old Philando Castile during a traffic stop on July 6 in nearby Falcon Heights. Castile's girlfriend who video streamed the shooting's gruesome aftermath live on Facebook said Castile was shot several times while reaching for his ID after telling the officer he had a gun permit and was armed. FILE - In this July 25, 2016, file photo, a memorial including a photo of Philando Castile adorns the gate to the governor's residence where protesters continue to demonstrate in St. Paul, Minn., against the July 6 shooting death of Castile by St. Anthony police Officer Jeronimo Yanez during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights, Minn. The city of St. Anthony released a statement Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, saying that Yanez is back on administrative leave "after reviewing concerns and other feedback from the community." Yanez returned to work for the first time last week following the death. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File) In an interview with The Associated Press last week, St. Anthony Police Chief Jon Mangseth said the 28-year-old Yanez, who is Latino, has had a good reputation since joining the city's police force in late 2011. The chief described Yanez as energetic and intelligent. "He has a real sound ability when it comes to communicating and relating to people," Mangseth said last week. "He showed me that he could shine in that public eye." But after Yanez returned to work, a group of protesters gathered at the police station, demanding he be charged. Castile's uncle, Clarence Castile, was among the family members at the protest. When an AP reporter told him of the change in Yanez's status on Wednesday, he said he was glad. "This guy just shot and killed a man, and a decision hasn't been made whether or not it was a good and lawful shoot so there's no reason why he should be at work right now," Clarence Castile said. "As far as I'm concerned, he shouldn't go back to work until the case is over until he's exonerated or been charged." The city said Wednesday that it decided to put Yanez back on leave "out of respect to the sensitive nature of the tragic incident." The statement said Yanez's status with the police department will be reviewed after the state's investigation into the shooting is complete. Yanez's attorney said Wednesday that he was unaware of his client's status change with the police department. Glenda Hatchett, an attorney for Castile's mom, Valerie, released a statement on her client's behalf saying the family "was very much opposed to his reinstatement and is pleased that the decision to reinstate the officer has been reversed." Castile's death set off weeks of protests and calls for Yanez to be charged. It also put the collection of St. Paul suburbs that St. Anthony police serve in the group of communities dealing with officer-involved shootings of black men, which also include Baltimore, Milwaukee and Ferguson, Missouri. __ Military identifies American soldier killed in Afghanistan WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. military has identified the soldier who was killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday. The head of U.S. Central Command, Gen. Joseph Votel, issued a statement Wednesday identifying the soldier as Army Staff Sgt. Matthew V. Thompson. The Defense Department said Thompson was 28 and from Irvine, California. Votel extended condolences to the soldier's family and friends. Volatile mix in Syria war puts new strain on US strategy WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. military picture in Syria is getting more chaotic and complicated by the day, putting new strains on the Obama administration's strategy of partnering with a hodgepodge of local fighters against the Islamic State group without getting pulled deeper into Syria's civil war or rupturing relations with Turkey. Developments in recent weeks illustrate the fine balance the U.S. is trying to strike. For example, the Pentagon may get drawn into cooperating with Russian forces in Syria even though it believes Moscow's military intervention has only undermined the U.S. goal of defeating IS. And just last week the U.S. was compelled to respond when Syrian warplanes struck in an area not far from where U.S. troops were operating on the ground. Adding to the volatile mix Tuesday, Turkish forces allied with Syrian Arab rebels and backed by U.S. air power pushed into Syria to retake Jarablus, a border town held by the Islamic State. In addition to helping with intelligence and aerial surveillance, the U.S. conducted airstrikes with A-10 and F-16 planes. Turkish army tanks are stationed near the border with Syria, in Karkamis, Turkey, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. Turkey's military launched an operation before dawn Wednesday to clear a Syrian border town from Islamic State militants, and a private Turkish TV station reported that a small number of Turkish special forces crossed into Syria as part of the operation. (DHA via AP) This is significant on several levels. First, it marks Turkey's most overt incursion into Syria. It also put Turkey on a path toward potential confrontation with Kurdish fighters in Syria who the United States is supporting in their fight against Islamic State militants and have been the most effective force battling IS in northern Syria. U.S. officials were aware of a Turkish fear that a group of those U.S.-backed Kurdish forces, fighting as members of the Syrian Democratic Forces, might be preparing for a "jail break" from their American advisers to the Turkish border, according to a senior administration official traveling with Vice President Joe Biden, who was visiting Ankara on Tuesday. A few days ago the Turks fired artillery across the border as warnings to the Kurdish fighters. "That's a big problem" because the U.S. does not want a direct clash between the Turks and the Kurds, the U.S. official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the official wasn't authorized to describe U.S. military and diplomatic strategy. Biden told reporters that the U.S. backed Turkey's demand for limits on Kurdish expansion. He said Kurdish forces "must move back. They cannot, will not, under any circumstance get American support if they do not keep that commitment." Turkey is particularly sensitive to Kurdish advances in northern Syria because the Turks have a long-running fight against Kurdish insurgents on their side of the border. That is why Turkey has been upset with U.S. empowerment of a Kurdish militia known as the YPG, whom the Turks consider to be terrorists. They are the predominant element in the umbrella group the U.S. has created and called the Syrian Democratic Forces. The U.S.-Turkish relationship has been under severe strain since a failed military coup in July. Turkey accuses a U.S.-based Muslim cleric, Fethullah Gulen, of masterminding the attempted putsch. Gulen has denied any involvement, but Turkey has demanded his extradition from the U.S. In addition to being a longtime U.S. ally in NATO, Turkey has allowed the U.S. to fly attack missions against IS from Incirlik air base in southern Turkey. These and other complexities in Syria have been present almost from the start of U.S. military involvement there in September 2014, when President Barack Obama authorized airstrikes aimed at degrading and defeating the Islamic State group, which has made the Syrian city of Raqqa its defacto capital. At that point, however, the Pentagon had no troops on the ground in Syria. Today it has upward of 300 there working with local fighters. "The complications have come to a head," said Jennifer Cafarella, a Syria analyst at the Institute for the Study of War. "They have always been a factor in how the U.S. navigates our anti-ISIS strategy in Syria," but the Turks changed the calculus by committing special forces and conventional troops to support the recapture of Jarablus, the IS-controlled Syrian border down on the Euphrates River. By doing so, the Turks ensured the U.S. would not employ the Kurd-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces to seize Jarablus, Cafarella said. That is not necessarily a bad thing, she added. It could help solve a problem the U.S. created by aligning itself so closely, and enabling so successfully, the Syrian Democratic Forces. It gives at least the appearance of a more even-handed U.S. approach to the Kurds and the Arabs, she said. "This could be a good development," from the U.S. standpoint, she said. A federal judge will rule by Sept. 9 on the injunction filed by the Standing Rock Sioux tribe to stop construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, according to attorneys representing the tribe. U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg in Washington, D.C., decided Wednesday to take a couple of weeks to rule on whether to halt the pipeline's construction while the tribe pursues its lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, alleging violation of the National Historic Preservation Act during the pipeline permitting process. Stephanie Tsosie of Earthjustice, co-counsel for the case, said Boasberg stated he wanted more time to look at the issues. In the meantime, Dakota Access Pipeline developer Energy Transfer Partners discontinued work at the site of tribal protests of the project in advance of this week's hearing. However, pipeline construction is continuing at other locations in North and South Dakota, Iowa and Illinois, and the project is still expected to be completed by the end of the year. According to court documents filed Aug. 18 by Dakota Access Pipeline, the project is about 45 percent complete. A temporary injunction would have devastating short- and long-term impacts to the DAPL project, the company argued. Construction of the entire project would cease and the project itself would be jeopardized. Hundreds of deviations from the construction schedule would occur costing as much as $540,000 per occurrence. The aggregate direct impact of these changes would exceed $100 million. Adding an estimated $913 million of lost revenue in 2017, as well as costs of renewing permits and other contracts, the company put the cost of an injunction at $1.4 billion in the first year. In its arguments, Tsosie said Earthjustice focused on the fact that the tribe wants to be better consulted before a portion of the 1,168-mile crude oil pipeline is drilled beneath the Missouri River north of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. The tribe has expressed concerns that, should the pipeline leak, the tribal water supply would be affected. Standing Rock Sioux Chairman Dave Archambault II maintained that the situation has set some new precedents. "Whatever the final outcome in court, I believe we have already established an important principle that is, tribes will be heard on important matters that affect our vital interests," said Archambault, adding that he believes a foundation for the future has been set in terms of tribal unity. "We have seen the power of tribes coming together in unity and prayer and we will continue to pray for the protection of water, mother earth and her creation, as well as all past and future generations," he said. Eileen Williamson, a spokeswoman for the corps, said the corps does not make comments on ongoing litigation per agency policy. In court documents, the agency countered it had hundreds of communications with the tribe. Rather than constructively participating in the process that has been going on for the last three years, plaintiff has waited until this critical juncture to invoke the jurisdiction of the court, Dakota Access argued in court documents. Tsosie said Archambault was on hand for the Wednesday court hearing, as well as several members of the tribal council, the tribes historic preservation officer and many general tribal members. It highlighted how important this is to the tribe. This is not a small issue to them, Tsosie said. The company did not respond to requests for further comment. Canadian slain at home in Dominican Republic resort town SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) A police spokesman in the Dominican Republic says an elderly Canadian man has been killed at his home in a resort town along the Caribbean coast. Spokesman Nelson Rosario says 81-year-old John Verne Ward was found dead Wednesday from apparent stab wounds at his house on the outskirts of La Romana. No suspects are in custody and the motive is unknown. Ward's hometown in Canada was unknown but authorities said he had been living in La Romana. His body was found by a friend and fellow Canadian. Israel clears forces in several deadly 2014 Gaza war cases JERUSALEM (AP) The Israeli military on Wednesday cleared its forces of wrongdoing in three deadly incidents that took place during the 2014 Gaza war including an airstrike that killed 15 members of a single family. Israel's investigative process is at the heart of a Palestinian case to press for war crimes charges against Israel at the International Criminal Court in the Hague. The Palestinians say that Israel has a poor record of prosecuting wrongdoing in its ranks. Wednesday's announcement was likely to add to those claims. In a statement Wednesday, the military said it had closed a total of seven investigations without filing charges after a special team collected testimony from Gaza residents and Israeli officers. The deadliest incident involved an airstrike in the southern Gaza town of Rafah on Aug. 1, 2014, that killed 15 members of the Zoroub family. The army said the building was used by Hamas as a command and control center. While its statement suggested that the civilian casualties were higher than expected, it said the airstrike was in line with international law, which can allow attacks on homes used for military purposes. It said that among the dead was Nazmi Zoroub, whom it identified as a senior Hamas commander. "The attack complied with the principle of proportionality, as at the time the decision to attack was taken it was considered that the collateral damage expected to arise as a result of the attack would not be excessive in relation to the military advantage anticipated from it," it said. "This assessment was not unreasonable under the circumstances, despite the discovery, in the wake of the strike, of discrepancies between the reality prevailing on the ground and the information available at the time," it added. Adel Zoroub, whose sister's home was destroyed, rejected the army's findings. He said Nazmi Zoroub was wounded in a different Israeli attack and was not in the building. "The Zionists justify their massacres by saying they target militants," he said. "This is nonsense because all of Rafah knows that Nazmi was killed in a home far away." The army also said it would not file charges in a July 21, 2014, incident that left 12 members of the Siyam family in Rafah dead. It said it could not find evidence to back claims that they were killed by an Israeli airstrike and that they had in fact been killed by mortar shells misfired by Palestinian militants. The army also found no wrongdoing in an airstrike a day earlier that killed seven members of the Ziyadeh family in the Bureij refugee camp. It said the building had been used as a command and control center by Hamas and that several militants, including three members of the family and a top Hamas military leader, were among the dead. The Ziyadeh family declined comment, and Siyam family members could not immediately be reached. Israel launched the war in response to weeks of heavy rocket fire by Palestinian militants in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. During 50 days of fighting, over 2,200 Palestinians were killed, and 73 people on the Israeli side were killed. More than 1,400 Palestinian civilians were among the dead, according to U.N. figures. Israel says Hamas is responsible for the high civilian death toll, saying the group used the local population as human shields while firing rockets from residential areas. A 2015 U.N. investigation found evidence of war crimes by both sides, saying Israel appeared to have used disproportionate force and endangered civilians. It also criticized Hamas for firing rockets indiscriminately toward civilian areas in Israel. The International Criminal Court has opened a preliminary examination of Israeli conduct in the war, but issued no conclusions. The court can intervene in cases where a country is deemed incapable of conducting a proper investigation. The military says it looked into some 360 complaints connected to the war. It has found enough evidence to launch some 31 criminal investigations. At least 13 of those probes have been closed, with indictments in just three cases of alleged looting by soldiers. ___ As a pharmaceutical company run by U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin's daughter faces scrutiny for hiking prices on life-saving allergy injection pens, Manchin is remaining mum. The Democratic West Virginia senator's daughter, Heather Bresch, is CEO of Mylan Pharmaceuticals, which manufactures EpiPens. Mylan is facing Congress scrutiny after it emerged the price of one of its pens - which are used to stop potentially fatal allergic reactions - had increased from $100 in 2008 to its current cost of $600. Scroll down for video Heather Bresch, is CEO of Mylan Pharmaceuticals, which manufactures EpiPens and she is also the daughter of U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin Manchin (pictured) is remaining mum on the controversy as spokesman Jonathan Kott said on Wednesday Senator Manchin had no comment The company acquired the product in 2007 which has increased in price by more than 400 per cent in the past decade. Manchin spokesman Jonathan Kott said on Wednesday Senator Manchin had no comment. Meanwhile, it appears both presidential candidates are apparently linked to the EpiPen controversy. It has been revealed that one of Donald Trump's top backers and a supporter of Republican politicians, billionaire John Paulson, reportedly has a large chunk of his cash tied up in Mylan. Paulson, whose personal net worth is estimated at $9.8 billion by Forbes, joined Trump back in June at a $50,000-per-seat fundraiser in New York. And he also reportedly gave a whopping $500,000 to the Republican Governor's Association in 2014. Paulson's hedge fund, Paulson & Co, is a major investor in Mylan, owning 4.33 per cent of the company's shares, according to The Daily Beast. Only four entities reportedly own a larger percentage. His Mylan shares are notably the fund's biggest holding, making up 10.14 per cent of its investments, according to The Daily Beast. Last April, Paulson bought seven million shares in Mylan, racking up his investment in the firm from 15 million to the current 22 million shares he holds, FirstWord Pharma reported. It has been revealed that one of Donald Trump's top backers and a supporter of Republican politicians, billionaire John Paulson (pictured), has a large chunk of his cash tied up in Mylan Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said little about lowering drug prices and has proposed increasing the amount of negotiations permitted by Medicare in order to lower prices for those using the program In 2010, the fund reported a significant increase in its Mylan holdings, as Paulson increased his investment by 163.85 per cent, according to GuruFocus. At that time, he hit 30 million shares. While Mylan shares are down more than 40 per cent since highs last April, stock prices in the long run are expected to not be hurt by the EpiPen price hike controversy. Financial news site TheStreet rates Mylan stock as a 'buy' in part to its growing profit margins, according to The Daily Beast. Meanwhile, Paulson's hedge fund battles tough times with its five biggest holdings reportedly losing him more than $2.3billion this year. On Wednesday, The American Medical Association urged Mylan to drop its price as public outrage mounted over a soaring cost hike. 'Although the product is unchanged since 2009, the cost has skyrocketed by more than 400 per cent during that period,' AMA President Andrew Gurman said in a statement. 'The AMA has long urged the pharmaceutical industry to exercise reasonable restraint in drug pricing, and, with lives on the line, we urge the manufacturer to do all it can to rein in these exorbitant costs.' Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, whom Senator Manchin has endorsed for president, called the increase 'outrageous.' EpiPens are used when those suffering severe allergies are stung by bees or accidentally ingest peanuts to ward off potentially deadly reactions 'That's outrageous - and it's just the latest troubling example of a company taking advantage of its consumers,' Clinton said in a statement. 'It's wrong when drug companies put profits ahead of patients, raising prices without justifying the value behind them.' She said if elected, her plan would be to require pharmaceutical manufacturers 'to explain significant price increases, and prove that any additional costs are linked to additional patient benefits and better value. 'Since there is no apparent justification in this case, I am calling on Mylan to immediately reduce the price of EpiPens.' However, a Trump campaign spokesman was quick to point out to the Wall Street Journal that Mylan is a Clinton Foundation donor. The spokesman said Mylan has donated between $100,000 and $250,000 to the foundation and for it to return contributions they received from the EpiPen maker if 'Clinton is as outraged as she claims.' Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said little about lowering drug prices. He has proposed increasing the amount of negotiations permitted by Medicare in order to lower prices for those using the program. A Mylan statement on Monday cited health insurance changes with higher deductible costs for many. A petition on MoveOn.org calling on Bresch to 'stop price-gouging' has garnered more than 129,000 signatures. A pair of EpiPens costs just $85 in France, the petition notes. While Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has called the increase 'outrageous,' a Trump campaign spokesman was quick claim that Mylan is a Clinton Foundation donor 'Mylan, which has a near monopoly in the US, has seen its profits from the EpiPen alone skyrocket to $1.2 billion a year,' it says. While the cost of the EpiPens skyrocketed, as did Mylan executives salaries, according to NBC News. From 2007 to 2015, Bresch's total compensation had a 671 per cent increase, going from from $2,453,456 to $18,931,068, proxy filings indicate. It was during that same period that the company raised the average wholesale price from $56.65 to $317.82, a 461 per cent increase, according to Connecture. Salaries of other Mylan executives also went up as sales of the drug increased to to provide 40 per cent of the company's operating profits in 2014, NBC reported. Those executives included President Rajiv Malik whose base pay increased 11.1 per cent to $1 million in 2015, along with Chief Commercial Officer Anthony Mauro who saw his base pay increase 13.6 per cent to $625,000. Members of Congress have expressed concern about the price hike, and some have called for hearings on Capitol Hill to force Mylan executives to explain themselves. Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar, whose daughter relies on EpiPen to protect her from the effects of anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction, has called on the Federal Trade Commission to launch an anti-trust investigation. Oil pipeline: The legal challenges and protests BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) A federal judge has heard testimony in the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's request to temporarily block the construction of a four-state oil pipeline near their reservation, which straddles the North Dakota-South Dakota border. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg said Wednesday he will make a decision on the issue by Sept. 9. Some things to know about the pipeline and the tribe's ongoing protest: ___ Native Americans from different tribes participate in a rally outside US District Court in Washington, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, in solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in their lawsuit against the Army Corps of Engineers to protect their water and land from the Dakota Access Pipeline. A federal judge in Washington considered a request by the Standing Rock Sioux for a temporary injunction against an oil pipeline under construction near their reservation straddling the North Dakota-South Dakota border. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) WHAT IS THE DAKOTA ACCESS PIPELINE? Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners' Dakota Access Pipeline is a $3.8 billion, 1,172-mile project that would carry nearly a half-million barrels of crude oil daily from North Dakota's oil fields through South Dakota and Iowa to an existing pipeline in Patoka, Illinois, where shippers can access Midwest and Gulf Coast markets. ___ WHAT IS THE LAWSUIT TARGETING? The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe sued federal regulators for approving the oil pipeline, challenging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' decision to grant permits at more than 200 water crossings and arguing that the pipeline would be placed less than a mile upstream of the reservation, potentially impacting drinking water for more than 8,000 tribal members and millions of people who rely on it further downstream. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the tribe by environmental group Earthjustice, said the project violates several federal laws, including the National Historic Preservation Act. The tribe also worries the project will disturb ancient sacred sites outside of the 2.3-million acre reservation. ___ IS THE PIPELINE SAFE? The company said the pipeline would include safeguards such as leak detection equipment, and workers monitoring the pipeline remotely in Texas could close block valves on it within three minutes if a breach is detected. ___ WHO ARE THE PROTESTERS? Mostly members of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, but they've been joined by other American Indians and non-Native Americans from across the country. "Divergent" actress Shailene Woodley was part of the protests last week, and actress Susan Sarandon was at Wednesday's federal hearing. ___ HOW MANY ARRESTS HAVE THERE BEEN? For months, there has been a nonviolent tribal protest at a "spirit camp" at the confluence of the Cannonball and Missouri rivers in the path of the pipeline. More than a dozen young people from the reservation also ran to Washington to deliver 140,000 petition signatures to the Corps to protest the pipeline. But the protest recently became heated, and more than two dozen have been arrested and charged with interfering with the pipeline construction, including Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Chairman David Archambault II. Gov. Jack Dalrymple declared an emergency last week to make more state resources available to manage public safety risks from the protest. He said that the state is committed to protecting lawful assembly rights, but says unlawful acts have led to "serious public safety concerns." ___ ARE THERE PROTESTS IN OTHER STATES? Yes, but nothing like in North Dakota. Construction equipment at several sites in Iowa was set on fire earlier in August, causing more than $1 million in damage. And Iowa landowners who are upset over the state utilities board allowance of eminent domain have sued and are waiting for that challenge to be heard. ___ WHY IS IT BEING BUILT? Energy Transfer Partners announced the Dakota Access pipeline in 2014, a few days after Dalrymple urged industry and government officials to build more pipelines to keep pace with the state's oil production, which is second only to Texas'. Clinton defends foundation, says it has been transparent WASHINGTON (AP) Hillary Clinton defended her family's charitable foundation on Wednesday against criticism from Donald Trump, saying it had provided more transparency than her Republican rival's sprawling business interests. Clinton called into CNN's "AC360" to address Trump's suggestions that the foundation started by her husband, former President Bill Clinton, had been used to facilitate a pay-for-play scheme during her time at the State Department. "What Trump has said is ridiculous. My work as secretary of state was not influenced by any outside forces. I made policies based on what I thought was right," Clinton said. She said the foundation had provided "life-saving work," adding that neither she nor her husband had ever drawn a salary from the charity. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton walks to greet people on the street as she leaves a fundraiser in Piedmont, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) "You know more about the foundation than you know about anything concerning Donald Trump's wealth, his business, his tax returns," Clinton said. The phone interview came as her top campaign officials and allies are playing defense, arguing that the foundation has helped millions of people around the globe while Trump's business interests carry their own blind spots. Before her interview, Clinton had largely ignored Trump's criticism of the foundation, with campaign officials figuring her late-summer advantage gives her few incentives to personally push back against the email criticism or allegations of pay-for-play. Trump, helped by a revamped campaign team, has called for a special prosecutor to investigate the foundation and said it should be shut down immediately. The Republican nominee, who donated to the Clinton Foundation, has repeatedly charged that his opponent, while secretary of state, provided access to foundation contributors in exchange for donations to the charity at the heart of Bill Clinton's post-presidential legacy. Clinton leads Trump in national and state polls, leaving many of her aides and supporters to conclude that addressing the issue isn't worth the risk to her electoral standing. But the issue is one that ties into voters larger questions about her trustworthiness a problem that will follow her into the White House should she win. Traveling in California, the Democratic nominee has kept out of the public eye for days, spending most of her time wooing celebrities, financial titans and technology moguls at private fundraisers. On Tuesday alone, she raised more than $6.2 million at four events in Southern California and the Bay Area. Her last full-blown news conference was December 2015 in Iowa, more than 260 days. But the questions about emails and the foundation keep piling up, and she is certain to be challenged at the first debate with Trump on Sept. 26. On Monday, the State Department said it was reviewing nearly 15,000 previously undisclosed emails recovered as part of the FBI inquiry, which was closed after investigators recommended against criminal charges. On Tuesday, an Associated Press report found at least 85 people from private interests who met with or had phone conversations scheduled with Clinton while she led the State Department donated to the Clinton foundation. Combined, the donors contributed as much as $156 million to the charity. Pushing back, Clinton said of the AP report, "I know there's a lot of smoke and there's no fire." She said it excluded 2,000 meetings she had held with world leaders and U.S. government officials and came to the conclusion that meetings she held with philanthropists like Melinda Gates or Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus was connected to the foundation. "That is absurd," she said. "It is only now because she is running for president that the work of the Clinton foundation is being tarred," spokesman Brian Fallon told MSNBC earlier in the day. "If any American voter is troubled by the idea that the Clintons want to continue working to solve the AIDS crisis on the side while Hillary Clinton is president, then don't vote for her." In the CNN interview, the former secretary of state reiterated her regret about her use of a private server, saying, "I've been asked many, many questions in the past year about emails. What I've learned is that when I try to explain what happened, it can sound like I'm trying to excuse what I did. And there are no excuses." Clinton is not expected to discuss the issue during a Thursday speech in Reno, Nevada, which will be focused on attaching Trump to the so-called "alt right" movement within the Republican Party that has strayed from mainstream conservatism. "Hillary Clinton is in a pretty strong spot right now in the campaign given the repeated missteps by Trump and quite frankly if I'm her it may not be a bad thing to let Donald Trump be the only candidate making news on any given day," said GOP strategist Ryan Williams, a veteran of Mitt Romney's presidential campaigns. Bill Clinton announced that next month's Clinton Global Initiative meeting in New York will be the final gathering. The meeting is scheduled for September 19-21, which means it will happen exactly one week before his wife's first presidential debate in New York. ___ This story is corrected in the 16th paragraph to "attaching Trump" not "attacking Trump..." ___ Ohio sheriff pleads not guilty to drug and theft charges FREMONT, Ohio (AP) A sheriff who is up for re-election this fall pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges he stole medications from prescription drug disposal drop boxes, deceived doctors into giving him painkillers and misused department funds. Sandusky County Sheriff Kyle Overmyer faces six felony charges in a 43-count indictment released Tuesday night. Overmyer, 42, wore handcuffs and an orange jail uniform when deputies led him into court for his arraignment. A judge ordered him to turn over his county property and told him not to contact anyone from the sheriff's office. Overmyer was released from jail a short time later on a $150,000 bond. A special prosecutor said she would begin the process of having him suspended from his job. One of his attorneys, Andrew Mayle, said Overmyer is not guilty, but he would not comment further. Overmyer easily won the county's Republican primary for sheriff in March even though it was known then that he was under investigation. He said before the primary that the investigation was politically motivated. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation began investigating the two-term sheriff nearly a year ago. The probe started after police chiefs in the county said it was odd that Overmyer had been collecting prescription pills from drop boxes, several media outlets reported. Overmyer told The News-Messenger in Fremont in January that he collected the pills to promote better communication between area law enforcement agencies. He also said that he had done nothing wrong and that he passed a drug test conducted by state investigators. According to the indictment, he deceived physicians and pharmacists to obtain prescription pain medication, including Percocet, hydrocodone and oxycodone. He's also accused of misusing department money and tampering with records. The theft-in-office charges cover a period from 2009 to 2016, the indictment shows. Trump, aiming to widen support, makes pitch to Hispanics TAMPA, Florida (AP) Visiting a battleground state he can't afford to lose, Donald Trump promised Hispanics "a much better life" Wednesday in a Florida speech that continued his recent effort to soften his tone and broaden his support 11 weeks before the presidential election. And, in an interview, he suggested he would "work with" some of the immigrants in the United States illegally, stopping short of proposing a legal path to remaining in the country but suggesting a startling about-face from his previous hard-line mass deportation proposal. Yet the Republican presidential candidate also repeated his promise to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border to keep out immigrants, underscoring the tricky balancing act he faces in retaining backing from conservatives while beckoning to moderates for their votes. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Jackson, Miss., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) "I am going to fight to give every Hispanic citizen a much better future, a much better life," Trump told a crowd in Tampa as polls show him trailing in the critical state. "You have the right to walk outside without being shot. You have a right to a good education for your child. You have the right to own your home. You have the right to have a good job." At a rally later Wednesday in Jackson, Mississippi, Trump repeated his claim that Democratic rival Hillary Clinton "is a bigot who sees people of color only as votes." Clinton scoffed at that accusation during an interview Wednesday night on CNN. "He is taking a hate movement mainstream," she said, arguing Trump is "very much peddling bigotry and prejudice and paranoia." Trump dominated presidential campaign coverage for the day as Clinton was fundraising in California. Her drive for the White House got a rhetorical boost when her defeated competitor for her party's nomination, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, told The Associated Press that he'll campaign actively for Clinton this fall. Sanders, who turns 75 on Sept. 8, also said he's leaning toward seeking re-election as an independent senator in 2018. Trump's appeal to Hispanics largely echoed his recent outreach to African-Americans. He rarely tried to explicitly lure minority voters during his unlikely rise to the GOP nomination earlier this year. Now facing a bigger electorate, Trump suggested Hispanics have been taken for granted by Democrats. He said the 600,000 Latino-owned businesses in Florida would benefit under his economic plan, but he offered few specifics. "Hispanics are tired of being used by these phony politicians," Trump roared above the rumbles of a thunderstorm audible inside. "I say, what do you have to lose? I will fix it." Hispanics make up a sizable and growing percentage of Florida's population. Trump will have a narrow path to the White House without winning the Sunshine State, where he owns several resorts and which he dubbed "his second home" on Wednesday. Trump made no mention at the rally, largely attended by white supporters, of his remarks Tuesday that he would consider "softening" laws dealing with immigrants in the country illegally. But in an interview broadcast on Fox News Channel, he said that while he would not allow citizenship, he would "work with" those in the country illegally. "Let me go a step further," Trump said. "They'll pay back taxes, they have to pay taxes, there's no amnesty, as such, there's no amnesty, but we work with them." That is a far cry from the early days of the GOP primaries, when Trump vowed to use a "deportation force" to round up and deport the millions of people living in the country illegally, and appears to be far more in line with the more moderate plans that Trump criticized when they were floated by his Republican primary rivals. In Jackson, Trump said, "Any immigration policy I support as president must pass these three tests," before broadly saying it must improve the wages, safety and quality of life of U.S. citizens. Trump also made a similar outreach to black voters and called Clinton "a bigot" for allegedly taking for granted the support of minority voters. Trump aides confirmed he will soon tour churches, local businesses and charter schools in black and Hispanic urban neighborhoods. Dr. Ben Carson, a close ally and former GOP primary rival, said he will accompany Trump on at least one visit. Trump, in Mississippi, linked the movement fueling his campaign to the United Kingdom's vote to leave the European Union and brought Nigel Farage, an architect of Britain's successful "Brexit" campaign, up on stage. Meanwhile, one of Trump's most reliable allies made plans to aid him this fall. The National Rifle Association's political victory fund has reserved about $2.7 million in TV commercials in September and October, Kantar Media's political ad tracker shows. The NRA is focusing on swing states Ohio, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. ___ Associated Press writers Jill Colvin and Julie Bykowicz in Washington, Emily Wagster Pettus in Jackson, Miss., and Bob Christie in Phoenix contributed to this report. ___ Follow Lemire on Twitter at https://twitter.com/@JonLemire ___ What political news is the world searching for on Google and talking about on Twitter? Find out via AP's Election Buzz interactive. http://elections.ap.org/buzz __ This story deletes an earlier reference to plans for Trump to speak about immigration in Phoenix. The Trump campaign now says that will not happen. Nigel Farage, ex-leader of the British UKIP party, speaks as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, left, listens, at Trump's campaign rally in Jackson, Miss., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Tampa, Fla., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Syria and Islamic State blamed for chemical attacks UNITED NATIONS (AP) An international team has concluded that the Syrian government and Islamic State militants carried out chemical attacks in the conflict-wracked nation during 2014 and 2015, according to a report circulated on Wednesday. The team from the U.N. and the chemical weapons watchdog blamed the government for using chlorine gas in two attacks and Islamic State fighters for using mustard gas in one attack. A year ago, the U.N. Security Council established the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons-United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism, known as the JIM, to identify those responsible for chemical attacks in Syria. The JIM investigated nine cases in seven towns where an OPCW fact-finding mission found that chemical weapons had likely been used. It determined responsibility in three cases, said three attacks pointed toward government responsibility but weren't conclusive, and described three others as inconclusive. Calling the use of chemical weapons "a barbaric tool, repugnant to the conscience of mankind," U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power urged the Security Council to take "strong and swift action" against the perpetrators. She accused the Syrian government of violating a September 2013 resolution which orders the council "to impose measures" under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter for "any use of chemical weapons by anyone in the Syrian Arab Republic." Those measures usually mean sanctions, and Chapter 7 can be militarily enforced. In September 2013, Syria accepted a Russian proposal to relinquish its chemical weapons stockpile and join the Chemical Weapons Convention. That averted a U.S. military strike in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack that killed hundreds in the Damascus suburb of Ghouta the previous month. Power also accused Syria of violating its obligations under the convention, which is monitored by the OPCW. U.S. National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said "it is now impossible to deny that the Syrian regime has repeatedly used industrial chlorine as a weapon against its own people." The United States will seek accountability at the U.N. and the OPCW and has placed "a high priority" on targeting the Islamic State group's chemical weapons capabilities, Price said. It captured an IS leader involved in manufacturing such weapons in March and used information from him for airstrikes to reduce its ability to use chemical weapons, he said. "We continue to remove leaders from the battlefield with knowledge of these weapons and will target any related materials and attempts to manufacture such chemicals going forward," Price said. Power said the JIM's findings mirror "numerous other confirmed cases of chemical weapons use across Syria, and countless other allegations of such use, including as recently as several weeks ago." In the report, the JIM said that between December 2015 and August 2016 it received more than 130 new allegations from U.N. member states of the use of chemical weapons or toxic chemicals as weapons in Syria. It said 13 alleged the use of sarin, 12 mustard gas, 4 VX nerve gas, 41 chlorine, and 61 other toxic chemicals. "The information suggests the involvement of both the government of the Syrian Arab Republic and other actions in these alleged incidents," the report said. France's U.N. Ambassador Alexis Lamek also called for council action saying: "When it comes to proliferation, use of chemical weapons, such weapons of mass destruction, we cannot afford being weak and the council will have to act." The Security Council is scheduled to discuss the JIM report on Aug. 30, but whether it will take any action remains to be seen. Russia, a close ally of Syria, has blocked sanctions and other council action against President Bashar Assad's government but Moscow did support the establishment of the JIM. Louis Charbonneau, U.N. director at Human Rights Watch, said the council must ensure that those responsible for "the sickening, illegal use of chemical weapons in Syria ... are brought to justice in a court of law." "Without accountability, the cycle of abuses in Syria by all parties to the conflict whether by chemical or conventional weapons will continue unabated," he said. According to the report, obtained by The Associated Press, the JIM found the Syrian government responsible for two chlorine attacks in Idlib governorate, one in Talmenes on April 21, 2014 and one in Sarmin on March 16, 2015. It also said the Islamic State group was "the only entity with the ability, capability, motive and the means to use sulfur mustard" gas in Marea in Aleppo governorate near the Turkish border on Aug. 21, 2015. At the time, Islamic State fighters were attacking rebels. The JIM said three attacks indicated possible government involvement in Kfar Zita in Hama governorate on April 18, 2014, and in Qmenas on March 16, 2015 and Binnish on March 24, 2015, both in Idlib governorate. It said all three need further investigation. US says airstrike in Syria may have killed civilians WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. military says an airstrike in Syria may have inadvertently killed an unspecified number of civilians. Central Command, which oversees the war against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, said Wednesday that its internal assessment of the airstrike near the city of Raqqa on Tuesday suggests the possibility of civilian casualties. It said a "non-military vehicle" drove into the target area after the weapon was fired from the aircraft, possibly killing the occupants of the vehicle. No other details were reported. Ex-US Virgin Islands senator extradited from Italy for fraud ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands (AP) The U.S. Justice Department says a former member of the Virgin Islands Senate has been extradited from Italy to face corruption charges in the Caribbean territory. Former Sen. Wayne James was charged in an October 2015 indictment with wire fraud and embezzlement from a federal program. He was arrested in Modena, Italy, in June and extradited to the U.S. on Wednesday. The 55-year-old James served one term in the territorial legislature from 2009 to 2011. He obtained federal funds for research into an 1878 uprising by freed slaves in St. Croix and is accused of diverting thousands of dollars of that money for his personal use. Photographer seeking $1 billion from Getty Images agency NEW YORK (AP) An accomplished photographer who lets the public use thousands of her images of America for free has sued the Getty Images photo agency for more than $1 billion, saying it's improperly selling her work to customers and threatening those who don't pay. The photographer, Carol Highsmith, whose work has been featured in books, newspapers and magazines and on two postage stamps, said she became aware that Getty was selling her work in December, when she received a letter from an affiliated company accusing her of copyright infringement for using one of her own photographs on the website of her nonprofit group, the This is America! Foundation. The letter demanded a settlement payment of $120. "While we appreciate the effort of removing the material in question from your site, we still need compensation," the letter said. "Your company has benefited by using our imagery without our permission." This May 7, 2009 photo provided by Carol M. Highsmith, shows shuttlecock sculptures, designed by the husband and wife team of Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, displayed on the lawn of the Nelson Atkins Art Museum in Kansas City, Mo. Highsmith, an accomplished Maryland photographer who lets the public use thousands of her images taken across America for free, is suing Getty Images for over $1 billion, saying the company is selling them without permission. (Carol M. Highsmith America Collection/Library of Congress via AP) The photo, of a striking sculpture of a badminton shuttlecock outside the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri, was one of thousands Highsmith has made available to the public through the U.S. Library of Congress for a quarter-century. Highsmith's lawsuit, which was before a federal judge in New York for an initial conference on Wednesday, said about 18,000 of the photographs in that collection were being offered for sale by Getty, at prices ranging between $175 and $575. Based on those numbers, her lawyers are asking for $468 million in damages, tripled because Getty had a judgment entered against it in another copyright case within the last three years. Highsmith, who lives in Takoma Park, Maryland, did not attend Wednesday's court session and declined to be interviewed. A lawyer for Getty Images, Kenneth Doroshow, told the judge he plans to ask for the lawsuit to be dismissed. The Seattle-based company said last month the lawsuit is based on "misconceptions." It said it's standard practice for image libraries to distribute content that's in the public domain. And it said it's legal to charge fees to cover costs including indexing, archiving, digitizing and making content easily searchable. Highsmith, in her lawsuit, said that in sharing the photographs through the Library of Congress she never intended to abandon the copyright to those images or to enable third parties to sell them for profit "or send threatening letters to people who used her photos." Highsmith's photos are among 15 million images in the library's Prints & Photographs archive, which also includes the work of Civil War master photographer Mathew Brady and Depression and Dust Bowl photojournalist Dorothea Lange. The immediate past president of the Copyright Society of the USA, Eric J. Schwartz, said he hadn't seen the lawsuit but believed it called into question what, if any, money can be made by repurposing public domain materials that don't have or have lost copyright protection. "Getty is not the first and won't be the last to do that," said Schwartz, a Washington lawyer who worked as a senior attorney and acting general counsel at the U.S. Copyright Office in the 1990s. He said lots of entities, such as search engines and news aggregators, take unprotected materials of others and make money doing so. "My understanding is that this is public domain material," he said. "U.S. copyright law only covers copyright-protected material, so I don't see that there would be a cause of action for copyright infringement for the use of public domain material." In this undated photo provided by Carol M. Highsmith, Carol Highsmith poses with her camera. The accomplished Maryland photographer, who has donated thousands of pictures of America to the Library of Congress, is suing Getty Images for over $1 billion, saying the company is selling them without permission. (Carol M. Highsmith America Collection/Library of Congress via AP) This June 15, 2005 photo provided by Carol M. Highsmith, shows a landscape of an Idaho farm and field. Highsmith, an accomplished Maryland photographer who lets the public use thousands of her images taken across America for free, is suing Getty Images for over $1 billion, saying the company is selling them without permission. (Carol M. Highsmith America Collection/Library of Congress via AP) This June 2013 photo provided by Carol M. Highsmith, shows a mountain range in California's Yosemite National Park. Highsmith, an accomplished Maryland photographer who lets the public use thousands of her images taken across America for free, is suing Getty Images for over $1 billion, saying the company is selling them without permission. (Carol M. Highsmith America Collection/Library of Congress via AP) Italian town destroyed in quake was preparing food festival AMATRICE, Italy (AP) In three days, the rugged residents of the medieval Italian hill town of Amatrice had planned to hold one of their most joyful events of the year: the 50th edition of a food festival celebrating their beloved Amatriciana pasta dish, which is made from local ingredients. Instead, they will now be mourning the dozens dead from a strong earthquake that trapped residents in their homes as they slept. Due to the upcoming food festival, known as a sagra, there was an influx of visitors to the town, so it was very hard to know how many people were sleeping Wednesday morning in Amatrice when the quake struck at 3:36 a.m. A rescuer walks a sniff dog as they search through the debris of collapsed houses following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The magnitude 6 quake struck at 3:36 a.m. (0136 GMT) and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including Rome where residents of the capital felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) The mayor said about 70 people had been staying in the Hotel Roma, a town landmark that has a restaurant which serves the famous pasta dish. Rescue workers pulled five bodies from the rubble of the hotel but had to halt rescue operations late Wednesday night because it was too dangerous working in the dark. Roberto Renzi said he was sleeping "soundly and most tranquilly" when he was jostled awake by the 6.2-magnitude tremor. He said he instantly knew this quake was far, far worse than the "little movements" locals are used to in this quake-prone belt straddling Italy's rocky Apennines mountains. His three-story house and the one next to it miraculously remained standing, but the door to his third-floor bedroom was jammed by the quake. He grabbed a fire stoker and pried the door open and ran with his wife to the safety of the street. Renzi said a woman who owns a bed and breakfast across the street escaped by knotting bed sheets and climbing down her building. Some people never made it out of their beds at all. Dozens are dead in Amatrice amid an overall toll of at least 159 people killed and at least 368 injured in the region by the quake, according to Italy's prime minister. And the death toll could rise as rescuers with sniffer dogs prepared to work through the night, checking house after house that had collapsed into mounds of dust and twisted metal. At a four-story apartment complex on the edge of town, two top floors appeared to be largely intact, but the second floor had lost its exterior walls, exposing a brass bed perched precariously in a child's room. In the dining room next to it, a hanging ceiling lamp and a wall mirror were unscathed by the earthquake. Renzi left town carrying two shopping bags of possessions that firefighters allowed him to retrieve. Yet just behind him in a devastated convent, rescuers with dogs searched through the rubble for seven women four elderly women who had been spending their summer holiday there and three nuns who had been caring for them. A section of the convent reserved exclusively for males appeared completely unscathed. The convent abuts the Church of the Most Holy Crucifix, where a sign outside recounts how the church was heavily damaged in earthquakes in 1639 and in the early 20th century. Waiting for news outside with infinite patience was Pina Agostini, the daughter of one of the missing guests. Tanned from her own holiday on the Adriatic coast, Agostini said she felt the quake there herself and instantly thought of her 85-year-old mother, Gilda Morante. "I called but no one was answering," she said, surrounding by other family members of the elderly residents, all waiting for news. They had been sitting there since early morning. "No, eh?" she called out as two rescue workers appeared. She said her mother, a native of Amatrice who now lives in Rome, had been spending a restful holiday since July and would have come home after this weekend's traditional festival. People come to Amatrice for the folklore, the traditions and the food, especially pasta Amatriciana, featuring chewy bits of pork jowl, pecorino cheese and tomato sauce. Posters advertising this year's festival lined the dusty walls of the destroyed town, which had billed itself as among the most beautiful in Italy. One poster promised a procession of people wearing traditional costumes and showed a woman walking with a jug of water on her head. In contrast to the violent destruction of the quake, the courtyard of the heavily damaged convent featured a bed of roses and a breathtaking view of a valley, where five horses placidly grazed. Rescuers search through debris following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. A strong earthquake in central Italy reduced three towns to rubble as people slept early Wednesday, with reports that as many as 50 people were killed and hundreds injured as rescue crews raced to dig out survivors. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Rescuers at work following an earthquake in the village of Amatrice, central Italy, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The magnitude 6 quake struck at 3:36 a.m. (0136 GMT) and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including Rome where residents of the capital felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) A rescued woman is carried away on a stretcher following an earthquake in Amatrice Italy, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The magnitude 6 quake struck at 3:36 a.m. (0136 GMT) and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including Rome where residents of the capital felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. (Massimo Percossi/ANSA via AP) Rescuers stand amidst debris following an earthquake in Amatrice Italy, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The magnitude 6 quake struck at 3:36 a.m. (0136 GMT) and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including Rome where residents of the capital felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. (Massimo Percossi/ANSA via AP) The clock of the Bell Tower of the Italian village of Amatrice is stopped at the time when an earthquake struck central Italy, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The magnitude 6 quake struck at 3:36 a.m. (0136 GMT) and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including Rome where residents of the capital felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. (Massimo Percossi/ANSA via AP) A Mickey Mouse doll lies amidst the debris of a collapsed house following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The magnitude 6 quake struck at 3:36 a.m. (0136 GMT) and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including Rome where residents of the capital felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. (Massimo Percossi/ANSA via AP) Rescuers search through debris following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The magnitude 6 quake struck at 3:36 a.m. (0136 GMT) and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including Rome where residents of the capital felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. (Massimo Percossi/ANSA via AP) An injured man is rescued from a collapsed building following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The magnitude 6 quake struck at 3:36 a.m. (0136 GMT) and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including Rome where residents of the capital felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca) This aerial photo shows the historical part of the town of Amatrice, central Italy, after an earthquake, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The magnitude 6 quake struck at 3:36 a.m. (0136 GMT) and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including Rome where residents of the capital felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) The Latest: Deaf driver killed by trooper afraid of police CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) The Latest on the police shooting of a deaf man in North Carolina (all times local): 5:45 p.m. The brother of a deaf man shot by a North Carolina state trooper says the 29-year-old was scared of police after several misunderstandings with officers. Friends and family of Daniel Harris gather around a heart drawn onto Seven Oaks Drive during a candlelight vigil to remember Harris, a deaf motorist who was shot and killed by a state trooper, Monday, Aug. 22, 2016 in Charlotte, N.C. Harris, a deaf man who was shot and killed by a North Carolina state trooper after he didnt stop for the officers blue lights was unarmed and likely did not understand the officers commands, the slain mans family says. (David T. Foster III/The Charlotte Observer via AP) Sam Harris said Wednesday that the family is still trying to piece together what happened a week ago. Authorities say Trooper Jermaine Saunders was trying to pull Daniel Harris over for speeding on Interstate 485 northeast of Charlotte when he led the officer on a 10-mile chase. Harris was shot within sight of his home. Sam Harris says investigators have released little information to the family. A review of public records shows a few traffic and other minor charges against Harris from other states, including two resisting arrest charges that were later dropped. Sam Harris stopped an interview when asked if those charges led to his brother's fear of police. Sam Harris is also deaf and spoke through an interpreter. ___ 3:30 a.m. The North Carolina Highway Patrol is urging people to not jump to conclusions as state agents investigate how a deaf driver with a history of minor offenses ended up dead after leading a trooper on a 10-mile chase. State Department of Public Safety Secretary Frank Perry says the investigation into last Thursday's shooting is ongoing. The family of Daniel Kevin Harris says he was unarmed and suggests the sequence of events last week was a tragic misunderstanding. Authorities haven't said why Trooper Jermaine Saunders fired. A review of public records shows a few traffic and other minor charges against Harris from other states, including a Denver police report that says he damaged his employer's vehicle with his own car after he was fired last year. The Army reservist who killed five Dallas police officers last month showed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder after returning home from Afghanistan in 2014 - but doctors concluded that he presented no serious risk to himself or others. According to newly released documents from the Veterans Health Administration, Micah Johnson had sought treatment for anxiety, depression and hallucinations, telling doctors that he experienced nightmares after witnessing fellow soldiers getting blown in half. He also said he heard voices and mortars exploding, according to the documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. Micah Johnson, who killed five Dallas police officers last month, showed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder after returning home from Afghanistan Pictures of the victims, from left, Dallas police officers Patrick Zamarripa, Michael Krol, Michael J. Smith, Senior Cpl Lorne Ahrens and Dallas Area Rapid Transit officer Brent Thompson, were projected on to a screen at The Potter's House last month 'I try to block those out, but it is kinda hard to forget,' Johnson told his care provider, according to the documents. Johnson, 25, targeted the officers at the conclusion of a peaceful march July 7 in downtown Dallas, where demonstrators were protesting fatal police shootings in Minnesota and Louisiana. Armed with an assault rifle, he took multiple positions as he fired. Hours later, authorities used a bomb-carrying robot to kill him. During his deployment, Johnson was largely confined to base in an area of Afghanistan that had seen heavy combat but that was relatively quiet when his unit arrived in November 2013, according to his former squad leader. Upon his return to the US nine months later, Johnson told doctors he was experiencing panic attacks a few times a week, including once at Walmart, where there was an unspecified conflict that required a police response. The records state: 'Veteran states hearing all the noises, fights and police intervening caused him to have palpitations, "My heart felt like someone was pinching it while it was beating fast."' Johnson said he began shaking, felt short of breath and got chills following the Walmart incident. The records do not show that Johnson was formally diagnosed with PTSD. A Dallas police officer bows her head at the Joy Tabernacle A.M.E. church last month during Sunday service following the multiple police shootings The type of screening that he underwent is typically a first step to determine if the patient should be referred for further assessment to a mental health professional, said psychologist Joel Dvoskin. Doctors eventually decided that Johnson presented a low risk for suicide or for hurting anyone else. Johnson was 'not acutely at risk for harm to self or others,' according to a medical record from a visit in August 2014. The patient was 'not felt to be psychotic by presentation or by observation'. The reservist, who specialized in carpentry and masonry, told health care providers he had lower back pain and was avoiding 'crowds of people and when in the public, scanning the area for danger, noting all the exits, watching everyone's actions.' 'I feel like I can't trust all of these strangers around me,' Johnson told his doctor, who noted that he had taken to drinking since his return to Dallas, consuming three to four shots of vodka up to three times a week. 'It's hard for me to be around other people and I am so angry and irritable.' Damage from a blast is shown in a hallway at El Centro College downtown campus in Dallas. According to officials, this site is where gunman Micah Johnson was killed Records from the visit state that Johnson described his childhood as 'stressful.' His responses to a section of the form titled 'Sexual/Physical/Emotional Abuse History' were redacted. Johnson was also advised to talk with a health care worker about erectile dysfunction. Johnson was prescribed a muscle relaxant, an antidepressant and anti-anxiety and sleep medication, and a nurse offered him tips on managing anger, records show. He also saw a psychiatrist and was further evaluated for his PTSD symptoms in September of that year, but the physician noted that his mood was 'better.' When providers called Johnson in October 2014, he asked to put off further assessment for PTSD, saying he was busy remodeling his mother's house. He had previously told providers he planned to find a job in construction and that his long-term goal was to become a self-defense instructor. Johnson's mother, Delphene Johnson, has said her son sought medical care from the VA for a back injury but got no help after filling out forms and going to meetings. He 'just finally gave up,' she told TheBlaze. Jeremy Corbyn turns on Sir Richard Branson amid 'ram-packed' train controversy Jeremy Corbyn has angrily turned on Sir Richard Branson and the media as the controversy over his "ram-packed" train claim continued to dog him . The Labour leader was clearly annoyed when his war of words with Virgin Trains over the incident threatened to dominate a Labour NHS policy launch. Mr Corbyn also used the occasion to condemn leadership challenger Owen Smith for seeming to refer to him as a "lunatic". The Labour leader said he did not initially use any of the empty seats on the London to Newcastle train because he wanted two together so he could talk to his wife. Pictured, the Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn appearing to walk past several empty unreserved seats The Labour leader said he did not initially use any of the empty seats on the London to Newcastle train because he wanted two together so he could talk to his wife. The controversy erupted after Virgin Trains released CCTV images that appeared to show the Labour leader walking by vacant , unreserved seats before he complained on film about crowded carriages. About forty minutes into the journey, Mr Corbyn and his party were escorted to seats by train staff. Asked by a journalist if he was a "liar" over the train row, and a "lunatic", Mr Corbyn expressed irritation at the line of questioning, stating: "I was hoping you were going to ask questions about the National Health Service, but sadly you're not. I deplore the use of that language in any context; I don't use it myself and I don't use it today." Mr Smith apologised to Mr Corbyn if he had offended him when telling supporters: "What you won't get from me is some lunatic at the top of the Labour Party," but the Welsh MP insisted he had been referring to himself, and not his election rival. Pressed on the train controversy by reporters, Mr Corbyn said: "I'm glad you've watched the CCTV so carefully. It's a really important issue this, absolutely crucial to the future of the whole nation and the NHS. "But let's get to the details of it - yes, I did walk through the train. Yes, I did look for two empty seats together so I could sit down with my wife to talk to her. That wasn't possible, s o I went to the end of the train. "The train manager, who was a very nice gentleman, came along and we had a chat about the problems of overcrowding and regulations on the trains, and he said he'd see what he could do. "After he'd already offered me an upgrade to first class, which I'd declined, h e then very kindly did find some seats, and after 42 minutes I went back through the train to the seats he'd allocated. "We sat down there and we then conducted a lot of preparatory work for our visit to Newcastle." Virgin Trains has previously said it was "puzzled" by the suggestion Mr Corbyn was unable to find unreserved seats when he boarded the train because CCTV images appeared to show "they're right next to him". Sir Richard Branson, who co-owns Virgin Trains with Stagecoach, also got involved in the row on Tuesday, posting a link to the CCTV images on his Twitter account. Asked why the billionaire has decided to make an issue of seating on the services, Mr Corbyn replied: "I'm very pleased Richard Branson has been able to break off from his holiday to take this issue as seriously, with the importance it obviously deserves. "I hope he's very well aware of our policy which is that train operating companies should become part of the public realm not the private sector." The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) confirmed it is probing the release of the CCTV images by Virgin Trains. An ICO spokeswoman said: "All organisations have an obligation to comply with the Data Protection Act and must have legitimate grounds for processing the personal data they hold. "Where there's a suggestion that this hasn't happened, the ICO has the power to investigate and can take enforcement action if necessary." A Virgin Trains spokesman said the company had not yet been approached by the ICO, but intended to answer any questions asked. The spat came as Mr Smith attempted to clarify his "lunatic" comments, telling BBC Radio Four's Today programme: "I was saying that I wasn't a lunatic. "Having been accused earlier in the evening of running around like a lunatic, I was saying I wasn't a lunatic, but if anybody's offended by the use of that word then I do apologise and I've done that already this morning and I'll do it again. "But I wasn't talking about Jeremy. I was talking about me." Meanwhile, Mr Corbyn set out his NHS policies with commitments including ending private finance initiative (PFI) contracts and guaranteeing bursaries for nurses. In his speech outlining plans to "renationalise" the NHS, Mr Corbyn insisted f ree healthcare is a "right not a luxury". British tourists feel Italy quake shocks Tourists more than 100 miles away from the epicentre of an earthquake that has hit central Italy were woken by the tremors. The magnitude 6.2 quake had its epicentre in Norcia in Umbria, about 105 miles north east of Rome. The hardest-hit towns were reported as Amatrice, Accumoli and Norcia and there are thought to be multiple fatalities. A post office is engulfed by rubble in Arcuata del Tronto, central Italy (AP) Sarah Conrad, who works for YouTube in London and is visiting the Italian capital, said she was woken up in the early hours and also felt aftershocks. She tweeted: "Pretty sure I was just woken up by an #earthquake in #rome. "I thought someone snuck into my hotel room & was jumping on the bed. Both scary!" Paul O' Halloran, whose Twitter profile said he was in Rome said: "Just got woke up by an earthquake! Bed and window shutters moving!" Toby Shaw, from Hampshire, tweeted: "I'm really hoping that I've just experienced an #earthquake in #Rome, otherwise I'm not sure I want to know what it was that shook the room." Ryan Sloan, a lawyer based in Glasgow, described the moment the earthquake woke him in Rome as the "most terrifying moment" of his life. Duke of Cambridge recalls loss of mother during hospice visit The Duke of Cambridge has shared the experiences of losing his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, while comforting a family who had recently experienced loss. During a visit to Keech Hospice Care in Luton, William sympathetically rested his hand on the shoulder of Ben Hines, 14, who lost his own mother Alexandra in June 2015 at the age of 40. Recalling dealing with his bereavement on the eve of the 19th anniversary of Diana's death, William advised Ben and his family to stick together through their grief. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive at Bute Mills in Luton, where they toured the facilities of national charity Youthscape. (PA) The teenager, who was the youngest of the three brothers that met the royal couple and who suffers from autism, explained to the Duke how he was struggling with the loss. William said: "As four boys, you have to talk a lot better - we're not good sharers. It's a classic example of lots of talking needed." Ben then told of some treasured memories of his mother before she died, before saying "I miss her so much". Resting his hand on the boy's shoulder, William said: "Time makes it easier. "I know how you feel, I still miss my mother every day and it's 20 years after she died. "The important thing is to talk about it as a family, it's okay to feel sad, it's okay for you to miss her." Before leaving the family, whom he met as part of a tour of the hospice as it celebrates its 25th anniversary, William said: "Promise me you will talk to each other." Thomas Hines, the 20-year-old brother to Ben, replied to William: "I promise, sir." The Duke of Cambridge rested his hand on Ben's arm once more before standing up. The Hines family had been receiving post-bereavement care at the hospice following Alexandra's death from a rare form of tumour. Gary Hines, 48, father to the boys and husband to Alexandra, said of William: "He gave Ben his absolute attention and you could see that it struck a chord with him, he put his hand on Ben's shoulder and told him time's a healer and to stick together and talk." During a meeting with another family who had been cared for at the hospice, the Duchess of Cambridge - who was accompanying William, gave two children a hug. Jamie and Ethan Coniam, who are 10 and six, lost their brother Kieran when he was 10 after a battle with cerebal palsy, epilepsy and autism. The pair presented William and Kate with a "memory jar", to which they can add coloured sand to represent individual memories of a person. Before they parted company, Ethan asked Kate if he could have a hug. His mother Fiona said the Duchess replied: "Yes, of course, I love cuddles." She then offered a hug to his brother as well, which he accepted. Earlier in the day, the Duke and Duchess had praised the courage of girls who have recovered from mental health difficulties and self-harming during a visit to the Youthscape centre in Luton. The royal couple had been continuing their drive to raise awareness about mental health with a visit to the newly revamped centre for young people. Over the past year, the Duke and Duchess have focused much of their public work on promoting the emotional and psychological well-being of children, teenagers and adults. Earlier, the royal visitors met Holly Keany, 18, and Ellis Jones at the Youthscape centre, listening intently to their stories as they described everything they have been through during their lives. Miss Jones, also 18, emotionally revealed that she began self-harming after her mother was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. She told the couple that Youthscape helped her cope, especially when her mother died when she was just 14. William told her: "What happened should never have happened to you and you should never have gone through it. "The fact you have gone through it and got where you are now, you should be really, really proud." Kate, who was wearing a blue and white LK Bennett dress, told both girls they were "so courageous" and "strong". Speaking after the meeting, Miss Jones told the Press Association: "I feel so thankful for what he said, especially because he lost his mum at a similar age." The Youthscape building at Bute Mills in Luton, Bedfordshire, reopened in April after a 3.2 million revamp. Founded in 1993, the charity specialises in young people's social, emotional and spiritual development. It has pioneered projects such as SelfharmUK, which is the only dedicated initiative aimed at helping youngsters understand and recover from self-harm. During the tour William, an avid Aston Villa fan and president of the Football Association, joined Jermaine Hylton, 17, and Youthscape worker Matt Allen, in a game of Fifa on a computer. Playing his favourite team against Luton Town, who recently beat Villa, William scored a goal during the match, but one of the boys told him it was offside. William jokingly said after his celebration: "What? Are you kidding me!" After unveiling a plaque and officially opening the new building, William and Kate also met staff and users from a service called Chums, which specialises in supporting children and teenagers affected by suicide. The service handed over two Chums-branded blue elephants, with the names Charlotte and George stitched on their stomachs, as a memento of their visit - after the royal couple heard first-hand accounts of those who had lost loved ones. They also held discussions about mental health issues with Luton Council of Faiths, the OM Group and Our Minds Matter, as they talked about raising awareness and addressing stigmas in the area and communities. In a day of engagements across Luton, William and Kate were also heading to manufacturing company Hayward Tyler to open its new development and present the firm with the Queen's Award for Enterprise. For the day of triple engagements in the Bedfordshire town, Kate wore a white dress decorated with blue poppies from LK Bennett - an outfit she has donned before. The Duchess wore the same attire while visiting the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base Amberley near Brisbane in 2014. British actor James Corden, 38, praised his sister, Ruth Ayers, who was photographed with the royal couple during their engagement at the Youthscape centre in Luton. Corden shared a photograph of Ayers sitting with William and Kate, writing: "Check out my sister @Rudimuller here with some friends! So proud of the work she is doing." She had earlier tweeted the official Kensington Palace account to express her gratitude following the meeting, writing: "W as amazing to get to chat to The Duke and Dutchess! (sic) What an opportunity to talk about all things Mental Health." Ayers is reported to be Corden's younger sister. William and Kate visited the newly revamped Youthscape centre for young people as they continued their drive to raise awareness about mental health. (PA) The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge meet Holly Keany and Ellis Jones, both 18, during a visit to Bute Mills in Luton. (Kensington Palace/PA) William joins in with young people at the Youthscape centre. (Kensington Palace/PA) The Youthscape charity specialises in young people's social, emotional and spiritual development. (Kensington Palace/PA) The Youthscape building at Bute Mills in Luton reopened in April after a 3.2 million revamp. (Kensington Palace/PA) The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge speak to staff at the Youthscape centre. (Kensington Palace/PA) Kate told young people at the Youthscape centre they were 'so courageous' and 'strong'. (PA) The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge sample culinary delights at the Youthscape centre. (PA) The Duke of Cambridge tries his hand at pool. (PA) The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge meet local officials. (PA) The Duchess of Cambridge is presented with a posy of flowers as she leaves Bute Mills in Luton. (PA) Wilfried Bony is an 'option' for Slaven Bilic as West Ham seek centre-forward West Ham boss Slaven Bilic has confirmed Wilfried Bony is an "option" for the club as they look to bolster their attacking ranks ahead of the transfer deadline. The Hammers have made no secret of wanting to bring in further forward options, with new club-record signing Andre Ayew ruled out for up to four months having injured his thigh on his debut at Chelsea. Andy Carroll is also sidelined with a knee problem sustained in the 1-1 draw at Astra Giurgiu in the first leg of their Europa League play-off last week. Wilfried Bony has been linked with a move away from Manchester City The finely poised tie comes to a conclusion with the second leg at the London Stadium on Thursday and, ahead of the clash with the Romanian champions, both Bony and Juventus' Simone Zaza remain on Bilic's radar. Bony has struggled for game-time since a big-money move to Manchester City in 2015 and was recently omitted from Pep Guardiola's Champions League squad for the qualifier against Steaua Bucharest. Asked about a potential move for the former Swansea man, Bilic replied: "He is a good player. He is an option because he plays in the position where, even before the injuries, we tried to sign a player - he is a centre-forward." But he added: "I don't negotiate. I'm just the manager. I just say to the chairmen and (chief scout) Tony Henry, we talk and then they do it." Zaza, whose father was quoted on Tuesday as saying the player is "seriously considering" a move to West Ham, is a long-term target of Bilic. The Croatian would not be drawn on whether a deal for the Italy international was close, but again stressed the importance of bringing in more attacking players. "I'm not going to tell you the details, but we have been linked with Zaza last year also, last summer," he said. "He's a top player and I like him. I was here last year so it tells you everything and we were in contact with him last year - it didn't happen. We will see if it does this year in the next few days. "We have a couple of players that we are going to try to do a deal for. But we are in the period that a lot of our players, especially the offensive players, are out injured. Three men die after being pulled from sea on hottest day of the year Three men have died after being pulled from the sea on the hottest day of the year. Emergency teams were called to reports of the three needing urgent medical aid at Camber Sands, near Rye, East Sussex, at about 2.15pm, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said. A Sussex Police spokesman said: "The three men, who have not yet been identified, sadly died despite efforts to save them." Screengrab from the Twitter account of Tashka4 of activity on Camber Sands, near Rye, East Sussex Beachgoers were being urged to stay out of the sea as medics helped the three people. It is the second serious incident to take place recently at Camber Sands, which with its sand dunes has long been a popular destination for beachgoers. Last month 19-year-old Brazilian Gustavo Silva Da Cruz died after getting into difficulty while swimming in the sea there. Mr Da Cruz, who was visiting family in Croydon, south London, was one of three men who got into trouble. The two others, who were not connected to him, included a man aged 35 and his son aged 17. The Camber Sands deaths came as police said that a two-year-old girl who was swept into the sea with her father had also died in hospital. Mckayla Bruynius died at Bristol Children's Hospital on Tuesday night, having been caught by a large wave at Fistral beach in Newquay, Cornwall, last Friday. Her father, Rudy Bruynius, was also killed, during a weekend in which a total of six people were killed in tragedies around the coast. One eye-witness at Camber Sands, Natalja Taylor, 30, who was on a day-trip with her husband, said police were driving up the beach with a loudhailer urging people to stay out of the sea. She said: "We were sat on a hill a bit further away and we saw three people being pulled out of the water. I think the people who rescued them were regular people, not emergency personnel. "We don't know what condition they were in. There were so many people there. They were still on the beach when we left. "Police drove on to the beach with a loudspeaker, telling people not to go into the water until further notice. They also taped off a huge chunk of the beach so no-one could get near it. "It's pretty scary. I'm not sure how it happened. We decided not to go into the sea after seeing warning signs about some kind of fish. It wasn't particularly windy down there, it was just a hot, sunny beach day. "There was a lot of people on the beach, particularly for a weekday. We're now just hoping that everyone involved is okay." The Lydd and Lee-on-Solent-based UK Coastguard search-and-rescue helicopters were also scrambled to the scene, along with an air ambulance. An RNLI lifeboat from Rye and Coastguard rescue teams are also there. Suggestions that the deaths may be linked to jellyfish have been ruled out, and there was nothing to suggest the men were migrants. One beach-goer said police told her to stay out of the sea due to a rip tide. Police remained on the beach as day-trippers said they were surprised there were no lifeguards present. One, who declined to be named, said: "We noticed when we came here that there were no lifeguards. We had kids here and we were worried about them." He said he could not understand why the men had run into difficulties as the sea appeared calm to him. He went on: "The sea is very shallow for quite a long way. It seems so strange how they got into trouble. There was no waves and no wind." Paula Day, 49, from the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, said: "The first thing we saw was a helicopter flying really low. "And then later we saw someone being resuscitated. Police were telling everyone to get out of the sea because of a rip tide. "It was heaving with people here. We have been coming here for years and we have never seen anything like this. "The sea was fine." A statement from Rye Harbour lifeboat station said: "Three males, unresponsive, had been dragged from the water at Camber and the Coastguard were not sure if there were any more in the water. "The lifeboat carried out a comprehensive search from Rye Harbour entrance to the Suttons at Camber with nothing found. "The lifeboat was then retasked to search for a possible missing woman off the Suttons. "Again, a full search was carried out with nothing found. The lifeboat was stood down by Coastguard at 5.20pm and returned to station." Three people have been pulled from the water at Camber Sands (Picture: Peter Uwaibi) Muslim convert faces jail after knocking boy unconscious for cuddling girl A Muslim convert and associate of convicted hate preacher Anjem Choudary is facing a substantial jail term after knocking a schoolboy unconscious for cuddling his girlfriend. Michael Coe, 35, was driving through east London when he spotted the two 16-year-olds hugging on the pavement. He pulled over to confront the pair, demanding to know if they were Muslims, before calling the girl a "whore". Michael Coe was found guilty at Southwark Crown Court He then grabbed the boy by the throat and threw him to the ground before kicking his head as he lay on the floor, leaving him unconscious and bleeding from two head injuries. When passing schoolteacher Boutho Siwela tried to come to the teenager's aid, he then attacked him. Coe, who is 6ft 1in and weighs 16 and a half stone, admitted "shoving" the boy, who is half his size, but claimed he was acting in self defence. He was convicted after a trial at Southwark Crown Court of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and battery in Wilson Road, Newham, on April 15. The jury of six men and six women returned unanimous guilty verdicts after one and a half hours of deliberation. Coe was convicted of a similar offence in May 2013 after getting out of his car to confront a group of youngsters about their "inappropriate language" on an estate in east London. He allegedly called a young girl a "slut" and the others "kafir scum" during the incident. Judge Michael Gledhill described Coe as a danger to the public and warned him he will be facing a "substantial" term of imprisonment. Sentencing was adjourned until September 21 for further reports. Coe has a long record of violent offences starting when he was 16, including assaults, burglary, robbery and violent disorder. He was radicalised in prison by al Qaida terrorist Dhiren Barot in 2007, while serving an eight-year term for firing a shotgun at police during an arrest. Coe, since known as Mikaeel Ibrahim, has attended a number of extremist demonstrations, including protests over the banning of niqabs in France and the values of Sharia law. He became a close associate of convicted hate preacher Anjem Choudary - founder of the banned organisation Al-Muhajiroun, of which Coe was a member. Coe was on a list of individuals Choudary was banned from having contact with while he was on bail charged with inviting support for IS, of which Choudary has since been convicted. He has also been photographed at a demonstration on the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. In December 2013 he took part in a demonstration in Brick Lane, east London, against Muslim shopkeepers selling alcohol. The married father of two was jailed for 15 months after being found in the back of a lorry with false ID documents at the Kent port of Dover in November 2014. He was accused of plotting to travel to Syria to join IS but was acquitted of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts. Judge Gledhill said the two teenagers were behaving "perfectly normally" but Coe took offence "because he thought they were Muslims and to his way of thinking Islam prohibits such behaviour". He added: "He stopped to reprimand them, acting as a self-appointed enforcer of the way he thinks Islam should be conducted." Judge Gledhill said "substantial" custody was "inevitable" and continued: "He deliberately intervened in something perfectly normal with the intention to force his religious views on others." Gubernatorial candidates will take their first shot at taking their case to a statewide audience Thursday, closing the Greater North Dakota Chambers 2016 Policy Summit with a bang. The 90-minute debate begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Ramkota Hotel in Bismarck with Doug Burgum, a Fargo businessman and Republican candidate, squaring off against Rep. Marvin Nelson, D-Rolla, and Fargo businessman Marty Riske of the Libertarian Party. Thursdays debate is the first of three scheduled prior to the Nov. 8 general election. The North Dakota Newspaper Association is sponsoring an Oct. 3 debate in Bismarck and Prairie Public Television will host one Oct. 10 in Fargo that will air Oct. 12. Each candidate has an opportunity to talk about their priorities, Greater North Dakota Chamber President Andy Peterson said, adding that the differences between each candidate likely will be stark. Burgum said in a statement hes looking forward to the debate and the race entering the final stretch. As a lifelong job creator, we need to transform North Dakota's economy for the future and these three debates will give voters the opportunity to learn about how we can move our state forward in the 21st century, Burgum said. I strongly encourage North Dakota voters to get involved in this important election. Nelson said hes unsure of what to expect Thursday. Itll be an opening salvo, Nelson said. Theres a lot of issues in the state. Outside of discussing policy ideas, the debate will be Nelson's first opportunity to provide more exposure for himself and his campaign to a statewide audience. Theres really a lot going on in North Dakota that we should be talking about, Nelson said. Riske said this is a rare opportunity for a Libertarian candidate to participate in a debate and a good chance to reach more people. Ill be a fresh voice. The culture of politics in this country has been this team versus that team. Heres an opportunity to bring a third voice, Riske said. The debate caps the day-long event at the Ramkota, which will feature a series of panel discussions from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Discussions on mental health, a tobacco tax ballot measure and business tax incentives are scheduled for the morning. A panel on political party views will begin after lunch featuring state GOP Chairman Kelly Armstrong, Dem-NPL Chairwoman Kylie Oversen and Libertarian Party Chairman Tony Mangnall. These are the folks that recruit candidates. Ultimately, they make policy decisions on behalf of the electorate, said Peterson, adding their insight should be enlightening as to the current campaign season. A panel on the North Dakota Legacy Fund is scheduled after the political panel. Rounding out the afternoon sessions is one called the Hot Box in which a group of panelists will engage on several topics including Medicaid, immigration, marijuana legalization, constitutional carry and religious freedom bills. Peterson said constitutional carry, which is the issue of carrying a handgun without a government permit, could come up during the 2017 session. That has the potential of eliciting strong reactions, Peterson said. It should be kinda fun. For more information about the Policy Summit, visit www.ndchamber.com. Donald Trump is the candidate for change, Nigel Farage claims ahead of US speech Nigel Farage has hailed Donald Trump a force for change who can mobilise a "people's army" to take on the political establishment, as he prepares to deliver a speech at a rally for the Republican presidential candidate. The outgoing Ukip leader has jetted over to the United States where he will speak about Brexit to thousands of Republican supporters in Mississippi. Mr Trump has repeatedly spoken of his support for Britain leaving the EU and last week dubbed himself "Mr Brexit". A former adviser to Nigel Farage said the outgoing Ukip leader is not endorsing Donald Trump It is believed to be the first time the two outspoken politicians will address the same crowd, but Mr Farage revealed that he is speaking at the rally at the invitation of the state governor rather than the presidential candidate. Speaking to a local radio station in Mississippi ahead of the rally, Mr Farage launched a scathing attack on Democrat nominee Hillary Clinton, who he dismissed as the "status quo candidate". And he enthusiastically compared the groundswell of support for Mr Trump to the strength of popular opinion that carried Brexit to victory. He told the radio station SuperTalk Mississippi: "If you think things need shaking up, if you think things need changing, then I think this election gives you a very clear choice - that clearly Hillary Clinton is the establishment status quo candidate. If you are happy with life then Hillary is probably the candidate for you. "If you think things need shaking up and changing then Trump, whether you agree with everything he says or not, Trump is the candidate with whom things will change." He added: "All I would say is that if you vote for Mrs Clinton, Hillary, then nothing will change. She represents the very politics that we have just broken, through the Brexit vote, back in the United Kingdom. "She represents that politics of the big multinationals, the big banks on Wall Street, the self-interest of the large corporates." In a strident intervention in the American presidential contest, Mr Farage compared the disillusionment with the British political establishment evident in the Brexit vote with the support which could sweep Mr Trump to power. And he dismissed the hostility of many Republican politicians towards Mr Trump as irrelevant, insisting instead that he should mobilise grassroots support. Describing what he plans to say at the rally, he said: "I'm going to say that I have been part of a political revolution in the United Kingdom. "They all said it couldn't happen - the media, the politicians, the businesses. We were wasting our time, we were whistling in the wind, we were away with the fairies, we were going to lose and the EU was going to be here forever. "And do you know what? With our well-aimed stone, like David, we hit that big Goliath and we knocked him over. "And I'm going to say to people in this country, that the circumstances, the similarities, the parallels between the people that voted Brexit and the people that could beat Clinton in a few weeks' time here in America are uncanny. "And that if they want things to change, they've got to get up out of their chairs, go out and fight for them. It can happen, we just proved it." But he insisted that he is not officially endorsing Mr Trump. He accused US president Barack Obama of talking down to Britain when he warned the UK would be at the "back of the queue" in any trade deal with the US if it chose to leave the EU, and said he did not want to tell anyone how to vote. He told the show: "So my position is, there are huge similarities between what made Brexit happen and what can help Trump to win. "But I do not fall into the trap that Obama fell into, I'm not going to tell you what to do, I'm not going to endorse anybody. "I'm telling a story about Brexit, and it's a story that if the grassroots Republicans pick up, and if they understand that what they've got to do is not just sit in their armchairs, they've got to get out, put their walking boots on, deliver leaflets, go out and meet these people in the communities. "In a sense what I'm saying is that we mobilised a people's army in the United Kingdom that went out and spoke to everybody and got them down the polls, the same thing can happen here. "Having said all that, of course, I would not vote for Hillary (Clinton) even if you paid me." The host, JT Williamson, appeared very impressed with Mr Farage's comments, describing him as a "hero" and inviting him to go deer hunting with him. He told the politician, who he called Nige: "I'm just here enjoying listening to you and hearing the absolute turnabout that has gone over in Britain by the British people, the citizens of Britain, who had had enough. "And, again, the question is - have the American people had enough yet?" Vice founder warns of fast and frightening media revolution There is a fast and frightening revolution happening in media, that will get ugly, but is necessary to go forward, the founder and chief executive of Vice has claimed. An ethnically diverse and hard-to-reach Generation Y has broken the baby boomers' grip on the industry, but media must now adapt to their needs, Shane Smith said as he delivered the 2016 James MacTaggart Memorial Lecture at the Edinburgh International TV Festival. Mr Smith, who opened his speech saying: "I would like to warn everyone I've had a few ales, we are about to get spicy," said there would be a seismic change to both new and old media, and called on companies to give young consumers meaningful content about the social issues that are important to them. Shane Smith said this is the smartest, most educated, most savvy generation in history He told the audience at the Edinburgh Playhouse that mainstream media companies would consolidate through mergers and the takeover of new media platforms. He said: "In the long term it means a changing playing field, a mild to medium dose of chaos, and a fast-moving, ever-shifting, highly-volatile marketplace, in which only the most nimble and dynamic companies will survive. "Due to this fact, there are going to be a lot fewer content sites, as many as 30% will go away this year, or merge, or sell, and anyone with half a brain in digital is making strategic alliances to have a war chest ready to weather the storm." He added: "There will be fewer mainstream media players, fewer new media and an M&A frenzy." Mr Smith told delegates: " There is a revolution going on in media. And it's scary, and it's fast, and it's going to be ugly. But it's also totally necessary to keep going forward. Change has never been more important, never so crucial, especially in our industry." He said these companies must now change to cater to the younger generation who are consuming media on multiple screens and are under-served by existing products. Referring to his own youth brand, he said: "W e do a lot of research on our hundreds of millions of users and found their passion points are music, the environment, civil rights, income inequality, social justice and LGBT issues. "Gen Y knows what side of history it wants to be on. But where are they getting the media that satisfies these passion points? Now ask yourself, and ask yourself honestly, are we collectively making enough of this? "Do we push it? Do we fight for it? I asked myself that question and realised that honestly the answer was no. So we changed our brand from hipsters' bible, talking about rare denim, cocaine and supermodels, to doing environmental programming, social justice, women's issues and, of course, music. I'm not stupid. "And guess what? Our business grew. Our audience exploded. And we made more money. Which is good because more money means more content. "It doesn't have to be boring or ugly, it can be exciting and beautiful but there has to be depth to it." He urged the crowd: "So let's break some rules. And here's a good place to start. Open shit up. Media today is like a private club, so closed that most young people feel disenfranchised. You have to hand it over to the kids." He said young people must shoot, cut and host content because they offer a language and tone that cannot be faked. He said: "This is the smartest, most educated, most savvy generation in history, they have the most sophisticated bullshit detector in history and the only way to avoid it is to not bullshit. "The problem is giving 10 million dollars to a 23-year-old straight out of school. Who is going to do that? "Well because I'm a high-functioning alcoholic with a strong taste for psychedelics, we do do that. "Sometimes that 23 -year-old ends up in Mexico City with my production budget, but in most cases we end up with gold." At a press briefing earlier in the day, Mr Smith said one of the reasons for the success of Vice, which started as a punk magazine in Canada, was because of the mainstream media's desire to avoid chasing ratings. Five die in sea tragedy on hottest day of the year Five men died and a sixth person is thought to be missing in another seaside tragedy as Britons basked in the sun on the hottest day of the year. Beachgoers and emergency services tried to save three of men after they got into difficulties in the water at Camber Sands near Rye, East Sussex, at around 2.15pm on Wednesday. Two more bodies were found at around 8pm as the tide receded, and the RNLI and Coastguard were combing the sea and shoreline for another person thought to have been spotted in the sea. Boys jump into the sea in Brighton, East Sussex The deaths bring the toll to 12 in less than a week as people head for the coast at the tail end of the school holidays. Two-year-old Mckayla Bruynius died at Bristol Children's Hospital on Tuesday night after she was caught by a large wave at Fistral beach in Newquay, Cornwall, on Friday. Her father, Rudy Bruynius, was also killed after getting into trouble as 13ft waves lashed the coast amid strong winds and rain. A mother and son died on Saturday after a rescue operation at Aberdeen beach, while a windsurfer in his 60s died in a Colchester hospital after being rescued off the coast of West Mersea, Essex. On Sunday a woman in her 30s died after getting into difficulties while swimming off Jersey, before a man died despite the efforts of medics after getting stuck in a rip current at Sandbanks beach in Poole, Dorset. People took to the beaches across the UK on Wednesday as thermometers recorded the hottest day of the year, with health officials warning people to take extra care of themselves and vulnerable friends in the blistering temperatures. Temperatures hit 33.9C (93F) at Gravesend in Kent, topping the 33.5C (92.3F) recorded at Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on July 19. With more people flocking to the UK's beaches as a mini-heatwave hits the country, the RNLI has urged seaside visitors to take care and respect the water. A spokeswoman said: " The sea may look appealing, and the RNLI would encourage people to use it, but do so safely - it can be dangerously unpredictable. "Please visit lifeguarded beaches and swim between the red and yellow flags - the safe swim zone and the area watched by lifeguards. "RNLI lifeguards are always happy to answer any questions or advise of any risks, including where any rip currents may be, which can catch out even the most experienced swimmers." The new high for 2016 spurred bookies to slash odds on it being the hottest summer on record, with Coral offering 2/1. The Met Office issued a level three heatwave action alert for the South East and eastern England - triggered when threshold temperatures are reached for one day and the following night. The alert means there is a 90% chance the maximum threshold temperature for the region - 30C (86F) in the East, and 31C (87.8F) in the South East - will also be met the following day. A level two alert has been issued for the East Midlands, meaning there is a 60% chance the maximum threshold temperature of 30C will be met. Emma Sharples, a Met Office meteorologist, said the hot weather was down to a combination of strong sunshine and extra warmth being pushed northwards from the continent. But there will be a respite from the heat in the coming days as temperatures fall a little, with some cloud and rain bringing fresher conditions. Explaining the heatwave, Ms Sharples said: "We are drawing on the continental flow from France and Spain, where they have been having equally high and higher temperatures as we have seen today. "As we go through the next couple of days that changes subtly and we will see some cloud and showery rain around, which will cool things off." Thursday will still be quite warm in the South East, with temperatures reaching the mid-20s, while across the rest of the country thermometers will register around the low 20s. Showers overnight will push northwards from the south coast, and while rain will only be sporadic it could be heavy in localised areas. The weekend will see a "mixed bag", Ms Sharples said, with cloud and rain coming in from the South West on Saturday, before turning brighter and clearer on Sunday. Bank Holiday Monday is expected to be the best day of the long weekend, with sunny spells and temperatures reaching the mid-20s, along with the odd isolated shower. Bookmaker Coral is offering odds-on at 1/2 that August will be the hottest ever, and has it at 5/2 that the record high temperature of 37.5C (99.5F) is broken this year. Coral's John Hill said: "The odds suggest by the time this month is out, it will have been the hottest August in history in the UK, while the gamble behind this summer being the hottest on record is showing no sign of stopping, leaving bookmakers sweating over a big pay-out." Sisters-in-law Jenny Brothers, 27, from Maidenheadand Orsola Brothers, 30, from London, enjoy the hot weather on Boscombe Beach, Dorset Sunbathers enjoy the hot weather on a busy Boscombe Beach in Dorset The scene on Brighton beach, on the hottest day of the year A Stormtrooper sizzles in Skegness People enjoy a game of bowls in Skegness Girls relax on the beach in Brighton People take part in an exercise class on paddle boards in Poole harbour, Dorset A man enjoys a run in Regents Park, London 'Jihadist hub' Molenbeek lures tourists across Brussels canal By Manon Jacob and Maria Haase Coelho BRUSSELS, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Molenbeek, the Brussels borough that gained unwanted notoriety last year when Islamic State militants from the area attacked Paris, has become an unlikely tourist draw - and not just for those with ghoulish tastes. Even as the broader city's visitor numbers dropped after the French bloodshed and the March bombings in Brussels itself, tour guides report growing interest from those keen to see the long-blighted district for themselves and view an industrial heritage that once earned Molenbeek the sobriquet "Little Manchester". "We are seeing rising curiosity about Molenbeek from Belgian tourists and foreigners alike since the attacks," said Corentin Descamps, an adviser to Brussels' tourism agency. A borough of 95,000 people, up to 40 percent of them Muslim and mainly of Moroccan origin, it sits just across a once warehouse-lined canal from the old heart of Brussels, whose Renaissance Grand-Place, beer bars, chocolate shops and art galleries are the more typical destinations for tourist throngs. Long shunned by fellow Bruxellois, Molenbeek hit world headlines in November when locals with links to Syria took part in the attacks that killed 130 in Paris. Then in March, key fugitive Salah Abdeslam was caught there after four months hiding just a few streets from his family home and suicide bombers struck Brussels airport and the city's metro. Some of the new visitors curious about the neighbourhood do have a ghoulish streak and ask to see places associated with the IS attacks, tour guide Alan Debaecke conceded. "There are sometimes people looking for the places where those people lived or where they were arrested, where they were in hiding," he said. He tries to avoid satisfying their curiosity, however. REGENERATION Many tours take in Molenbeek's elegant town hall and the pretty square in front which hosts a lively twice-weekly market; it also houses the apartment where Abdeslam grew up alongside an elder brother who was among the Paris suicide bombers. Debaecke says most tourists are happy to let him show them a bustling neighbourhood where urban regeneration projects are drawing in affluent loft dwellers but also aim to improve lives for locals in one of Belgium's poorest boroughs, a 10-minute underground train ride from European Union headquarters. "They're amazed to see the image they get of this area is totally unlike what they've seen in the media," he said. "They realise most of the population are people like you and me." Officials report falls in visitor numbers to Brussels since November. Data is still being collated but officials stress that Molenbeek remains a marginal attraction for most visitors. However, numbers are also aided by the opening of new attractions, such as the Millennium Iconoclast Museum of Art (MIMA) in the century-old Belle-Vue brewery on the canal, and interest in this former international hub for crafts. La Fonderie museum displays the cast of a bronze lion, made in Molenbeek 80 years ago for American sculptor Paul Manship, which adorns his grand Art Deco gateway at New York's Bronx Zoo. "The people we hitch-hiked to Brussels with told us how dangerous Molenbeek was," said Jacob, a young Swede, after a visit organised by the Brussels Greeters organisation. "But after doing the tour, we see this is not the case at all." Some locals resent the global attention and the talk of the area as a "breeding ground" for jihad. And, while tourist interest in its history is welcome, many want to forget the recent past. Rachid sees people regularly, as he waits for a bus to his job at a chocolate factory, staring at the house where Abdeslam was arrested. "It's still going on. It'll never end," he said of the unwanted attention. Mind the air-gap: Singapore's web cut-off balances security, inconvenience By Jeremy Wagstaff and Aradhana Aravindan SINGAPORE, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Singapore is working on how to implement a policy to cut off web access for public servants as a defence against potential cyber attack - a move closely watched by critics who say it marks a retreat for a technologically advanced city-state that has trademarked the term "smart nation". Some security experts say the policy, due to be in place by May, risks damaging productivity among civil servants and those working at more than four dozen statutory boards, and cutting them off from the people they serve. It may only raise slightly the defensive walls against cyber attack, they say. Ben Desjardins, director of security solutions at network security firm Radware, called it "one of the more extreme measures I can recall by a large public organisation to combat cyber security risks." Stephen Dane, a Hong Kong-based managing director at networking company Cisco Systems, said it was "a most unusual situation", and Ramki Thurimella, chair of the computer science department at the University of Denver, called it both "unprecedented" and "a little excessive." But not everyone takes that view. Other cyber security experts agree with Singapore authorities that with the kind of threats governments face today it has little choice but to restrict internet access. FireEye, a cyber security company, found that organisations in Southeast Asia were 80 percent more likely than the global average to be hit by an advanced cyber attack, with those close to tensions over the South China Sea - where China and others have overlapping claims - were particularly targeted. Bryce Boland, FireEye's chief technology officer for Asia Pacific, said Singapore's approach needed to be seen in this light. "My view is not that they're blocking internet access for government employees, it's that they are blocking government computer access from Internet-based cyber crime and espionage." AIR-GAPPING Singapore officials say no particular attack triggered the decision, but noted a breach of one ministry last year. David Koh, chief executive of the newly formed Cyber Security Agency, said officials realised there was too much data to secure and the threat "is too real." Singapore needed to restrict its perimeter, but, said Koh, "there is no way to secure this because the attack surface is like a building with a zillion windows, doors, fire escapes." Koh said he was simply widening a practice of ministries and agencies in sensitive fields, where computers are already disconnected, or air-gapped, from the Internet. Public servants will still be able to surf the web, but only on separate personal or agency-issued devices. Air-gapping is common in security-related fields, both in government and business, but not for normal government functions. Also, it doesn't guarantee success. Anthony James, chief marketing officer at cyber security company TrapX Security, recalled one case where an attacker was able to steal data from a law enforcement client after an employee connected his laptop to two supposedly separated networks. "Human decisions and related policy gaps are the No.1 cause of failure for this strategy," he said. "STOPPING THE INEVITABLE"? Indeed, just making it work is the first headache. The Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) said in an email to Reuters that it has worked with agencies on managing the changes "to ensure a smooth transition," and was "exploring innovative work solutions to ensure work processes remain efficient." Johnny Wong, group director at the Housing Development Board's research arm, called the move "inconvenient", but said "it's something we just have to adapt to as part of our work." At the Land Transport Authority, a group director, Lew Yii Der, said: "Lots of committees are being formed across the public sector and within agencies like mine to look at how we can work around the segregation and ensure front-facing services remain the same." Then there's convincing the rank-and-file public servant that it's worth doing - and not circumventing. One 23-year-old manager, who gave only her family name, Ng, said blocking web access would only harm productivity and may not stop attacks. "Information may leak through other means, so blocking the Internet may not stop the inevitable from happening," she said. It's not just the critics who are watching closely. Local media cited one Singapore minister as saying other governments, which he did not name, had expressed interest in its approach. Whether they will adopt the practice permanently is less clear, says William Saito, a special cyber security adviser to the Japanese government. "There's a trend in private business and some government agencies" in Asia to go along similar lines, he said, noting some Japanese companies cut internet access in the past year, usually after a breach. "They cut themselves off because they thought it was a good idea," he told Reuters, "but then they realised they were pretty dependent on this Internet thing." Indeed, some cyber security experts said Singapore may end up regretting its decision. "I'm fairly certain they would regret it and wind up far behind other nations in development," said Arian Evans, vice president of product strategy at RiskIQ, a cyber security start-up based in San Francisco. New York Times says suspected Russian hackers targeted Moscow bureau WASHINGTON, Aug 23 (Reuters) - The New York Times said on Tuesday its Moscow bureau was targeted by a cyber attack this month but that there was no evidence the hackers, believed to be Russian, were successful. "We are constantly monitoring our systems with the latest available intelligence and tools," Times spokeswoman Eileen Murphy told the newspaper. "We have seen no evidence that any of our internal systems, including our systems in the Moscow bureau, have been breached or compromised." Earlier on Tuesday, CNN, citing unnamed U.S. officials, reported that the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other U.S. security agencies were investigating cyber breaches targeting reporters at the Times and other U.S. news organizations that were thought to have been carried out by hackers working for Russian intelligence. "Investigators so far believe that Russian intelligence is likely behind the attacks and that Russian hackers are targeting news organizations as part of a broader series of hacks that also have focused on Democratic Party organizations, the officials said," CNN reported. The FBI declined a Reuters' request for comment. Representatives for the U.S. Secret Service, which has a role in protecting the country from cyber crime, did not reply to a request for comment. A government official briefed on the inquiry told the Times the FBI was looking into the attempted cyber attack but was not carrying out similar investigations at other news organizations. The Times had not hired outside firms to investigate the attempted intrusion, contrary to the CNN report, Murphy said. News of the cyber attack comes amid a wave of similar attacks targeting major U.S. political parties that have surfaced in recent weeks ahead of the Nov. 8 presidential election. The Democratic National Committee, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's campaign and the party's congressional fundraising committee have all been affected. Hackers have also targeted the computer systems of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Republican Party organizations, sources have told Reuters. A breach at the Times would not be the first time foreign hackers infiltrated a news organization. Media are frequently targeted in order to glean insights into U.S. policies or to spy on journalists. Thai junta rules out link between latest bombs and tourist-town attacks By Panarat Thepgumpanat and Pracha Hariraksapitak BANGKOK, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Thailand's military government said on Wednesday there was no connection between two bombings overnight that killed one person in the southern town of Pattani and a wave of deadly attacks on tourist spots this month. One Thai person was killed and 30 wounded when two bombs exploded late on Tuesday at a hotel in the deep-south town of Pattani, less than two weeks after a wave of bombings hit towns in seven provinces in the central south. No group has claimed responsibility for the tourist-town bombings, which killed four and wounded dozens, including foreigners, but suspicion has centred on Muslim separatists based in the deep south of the predominantly Buddhist country. Security experts say the ethnic Malay, Muslim insurgents have a record of coordinated bomb attacks, which they usually do not claim. Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, however, ruled out any link between the earlier attacks and the twin bombs in Pattani, which is near the Malaysian border and has for years been plagued by separatist violence, particularly since an intensification of the decades-old insurgency from 2004. "I am sure that the incident in Pattani last night has nothing to do with the seven provinces attacks," Prawit told reporters without elaborating. Tourist towns in the central south have for years been spared any spill-over of violence from the deep south and analysts say the government is loath to blame the coordinated bombings this month on southern insurgents because of fear of damaging the tourist industry. No arrests have been made in connection with the attacks in the tourist towns but warrants for three suspects have been issued. Authorities have given few details of the suspects. Police said the first explosion in Pattani was in a carpark at the back of the hotel and caused no casualties. The second bomb at hotel's front entrance appeared to have been in a stolen hospital pick-up truck. The war between government troops and insurgents has killed more than 6,500 people in the three southern-most provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, over the past 12 years. FRUSTRATION OVER STALLED TALKS? Talks between the government and a handful of shadowy insurgent groups began in 2013 under the civilian government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, but have stalled since the military overthrew her in 2014. Prawit said the military government would not talk with separatists until there was peace. Experts say the spate of attacks would appear to reflect frustration over the stalled negotiations. "It's possible that it is related to uncertainty about the peace talks," said Srisompop Jitpiromsri, an expert on the conflict who runs the Pattani-based Deep South Watch, which monitors violence. Rungrawee Chalermsripinyorat, an independent analyst who has written two books on the conflict, said the blasts this month were likely the work of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (National Revolutionary Front, or BRN), which has carried out "similar patterns of attack" in the past. "They could be sending a message to the government to take the peace dialogue more seriously," she said. Still, the military insists security in the south has improved. The number of soldiers in the south is due to be cut to about 60,000 from 70,000 in 2011, a military spokesman said. There is deep distrust between Muslims and authorities in the region, which rights groups say is partly due to decades of government neglect and a culture of impunity among military officials operating there. The three provinces soundly rejected a referendum this month on a new military-backed constitution, which passed convincingly in most of the rest of Thailand. El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala launch force to confront gangs MEXICO CITY, Aug 23 (Reuters) - El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala will launch a new force aimed at combating criminal gangs and drug traffickers next month, presidents of the three Central American nations agreed on Tuesday. The plan, which includes intelligence sharing and speedier extradition of detainees, was signed by the leaders in the Salvadoran capital. El Salvador's President Salvador Sanchez Ceren, accompanied by Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez and Guatemala's Jimmy Morales, said the joint force would run coordinated security operations. However, he did not say whether the force would be made up of police or military personnel or give any other details about its members. Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala comprise one of the world's most dangerous regions according to the United Nations. The violence has prompted a mass exodus of Central Americans trying to enter the United States illegally each year. 2-At least 120 killed as quake flattens towns in central Italy By Steve Scherer ACCUMOLI, Italy, Aug 24 (Reuters) - An earthquake flattened towns in central Italy in the early hours of Wednesday, killing at least 120 people and burying some alive in their sleep, with volunteers and firefighters racing to free those trapped under mounds of rubble as darkness fell. The quake razed mountain homes and buckled roads in a cluster of communities some 140 km (85 miles) east of Rome. It was powerful enough to be felt in Bologna to the north and Naples to the south, each more than 220 km from the epicentre. "I was blown away by what I saw. We haven't stopped digging all day," said Marcello di Marco, 34, a farmer who travelled from the town of Narni some 100 km away to help with emergency services' rescue efforts in the hamlet of Pescara del Tronto. In the nearby village of Accumoli, a family of four, including two boys aged 8 months and 9 years, were buried when their house imploded. As rescue workers carried away the body of the infant, carefully covered by a small blanket, the children's grandmother blamed God: "He took them all at once," she wailed. The army was mobilised to help with special heavy equipment and the Treasury released 235 million euros ($265 million) of emergency funds. At the Vatican, Pope Francis dispatched part of the Holy See's tiny firefighting force to help in the rescue. Rescue workers used helicopters to pluck survivors to safety in more isolated villages cut off by landslides and rubble. Aerial photographs showed whole areas of Amatrice, last year voted one of Italy's most beautiful historic towns, flattened by the 6.2 magnitude quake. Many of those killed or missing were visitors. "It's all young people here, it's holiday season, the town festival was to have been held the day after tomorrow so lots of people came for that," said Amatrice resident Giancarlo, sitting in the road wearing just his underwear. "It's terrible, I'm 65 years old and I have never experienced anything like this, small tremors, yes, but nothing this big. This is a catastrophe," he said. Scores of people are believed unaccounted for, with the presence of the holidaymakers making it difficult to tally. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who gave the latest toll figure after visiting the area, called for national unity. "We Italians are very good at arguing and being polemical but now let's stand in solidarity and pride alongside those who are rescuing others," he said. "Today is a day for tears. Tomorrow we can talk of reconstruction." VOICES UNDER THE RUBBLE Patients at the badly damaged hospital in Amatrice were moved into the streets and a field hospital was set up. "Three quarters of the town is not there anymore," Amatrice mayor Sergio Pirozzi told state broadcaster RAI. "The aim now is to save as many lives as possible. There are voices under the rubble, we have to save the people there." Accumoli's mayor, Stefano Petrucci, said some 2,500 people were left homeless in the local community of 17 hamlets. Residents responding to wails muffled by tonnes of bricks and mortar sifted through with their bare hands before emergency services arrived with earth-moving equipment and sniffer dogs. Wide cracks had appeared like open wounds on the buildings that were still standing. The national Civil Protection Department said some survivors would be put up elsewhere in central Italy, while others would be housed in tents that were being dispatched to the area. Most of the damage was in the Lazio and Marche regions, with Lazio taking the brunt of the damage and the biggest toll. Neighbouring Umbria was also affected. All three regions are dotted with centuries-old buildings susceptible to earthquakes. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck near the Umbrian city of Norcia. Italy's earthquake institute INGV registered it at 6.0 and put the epicentre further south, closer to Accumoli and Amatrice. It was relatively shallow at 4 km below the earth's surface. INGV reported 150 aftershocks in the 12 hours following the initial quake, the strongest measuring 5.5. Residents of Rome were woken by the tremors, which rattled furniture, swayed lights and set off car alarms in most of central Italy. "It was so strong. It seemed the bed was walking across the room by itself with us on it," Lina Mercantini of Ceselli, Umbria, about 75 km away from the hardest hit area, told Reuters. Italy sits on two fault lines, making it one of the most seismically active countries in Europe. The last major earthquake to hit the country struck the central city of L'Aquila in 2009, killing more than 300 people. The most deadly since the start of the 20th century came in 1908, when an earthquake followed by a tsunami killed an estimated 80,000 people in the southern regions of Reggio Calabria and Sicily. Nikkei rises as yen pauses; BOJ's ETF buying supports mood By Ayai Tomisawa TOKYO, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average rose on Wednesday with a pause in the strong-yen trend lifting cyclical stocks, while hopes that the Bank of Japan would buy more exchange traded funds continued to support sentiment. The Nikkei rose 0.5 percent to 16,578.75 in midmorning trade. Exporters were steady, with Toyota Motor Corp adding 1.7 percent and Nissan Motor Co gaining 1.9 percent. Financials were also in demand, with Nomura Holdings rising 1.5 percent, Daiwa Securities advancing 1.3 percent and Mizuho Financial Group adding 0.9 percent. While the market welcomes BOJ's buying of exchange-traded funds, some analysts have expressed concerns that the upside could be limited in a market distorted by BOJ-buying. On Monday and Tuesday, the BOJ bought 1.2 billion yen of exchange traded funds on each day focused on companies which support investment in physical and human capital. The central bank had bought 70.7 billion yen of ETFs on August 4 and 10, respectively. "A level of more than 70 billion yen in buying can be as big as a launch of a mutual fund," said Norihiro Fujito, a senior investment strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities. "It's supporting the market, but the Nikkei could be trading 1,000-1,500 points lower than the current level when the currency market sees the 100-yen-per-dollar level." Fujito said that in an ordinary market where the central bank is not directly buying stocks, the market is expected to rise after it hits bottom when bad news is priced in. "But when the market does not fall when it's supposed to fall, the upside is also likely limited," Fujito said. The Nikkei has underperformed global peers in 2016. While the Nikkei has shed 13 percent since the beginning of the year, the S&P 500 index has risen 7 percent although the FTSEurofirst 300 index has fallen 6 percent. Underperforming the market was clothing store operator Shimamura Co Ltd, which fell as much as 14.4 percent after announcing on Tuesday that its existing store sales in August fell 5.5 percent on the year, citing a long rainy season weighing on sales. The broader Topix gained 0.5 percent to 1,304.25 and the JPX-Nikkei Index 400 advanced 0.5 percent to 11,717.82. Cowboy Up: Journey for a Cure will begin Sept. 9 on the Minnesota border, with a trio composed of Bruce and Carol Van Den Einde and Scott Olerud. On this 16-day, 373-mile trail ride, the riders raise money for the fight against cancer while continuing their journey to the Montana border. The ride contains 16 overnight stops, with fundraising events at most locations. Local riders, either individuals or in groups, are welcome to join at any town along the way. For those who cannot attend, sponsorship forms are available. All donations benefit the Roger Maris Cancer Center in Fargo. For more information, call 701-367-6005. France's DCNS says India submarine data leak may be "economic warfare" By Matt Siegel and John Irish SYDNEY/PARIS, Aug 24 (Reuters) - French naval contractor DCNS said on Wednesday it may have been the victim of "economic warfare" after secrets about its Scorpene submarines being built in India were leaked. India opened an investigation after The Australian newspaper published documents relating to the submarine's combat capabilities, raising concerns over another major contract with Australia. The leak contains more than 22,000 pages outlining the details of six submarines that DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy. "I understand there has been a case of hacking," Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told reporters. "We will find out what has happened." The submarines are being built at a state-run shipyard in Mumbai and the first one was expected to go into service by the end of the year, the first step in the Indian navy's effort to rebuild its dwindling fleet. The leak has raised doubts about the security of DCNS's submarine project in Australia where it is locked in exclusive negotiations after seeing off rivals for a A$50 billion ($38 billion) contract to build the Barracuda next generation of submarines. DCNS, which is 35 percent owned by Thales, said it was working to determine if any harm had been caused to clients with a view to drawing up an action plan. Asked if the leak could affect other contracts, a company spokeswoman said it had come against a difficult commercial backdrop and that corporate espionage could be to blame. "Competition is getting tougher and tougher, and all means can be used in this context," she said. "There is India, Australia and other prospects, and other countries could raise legitimate questions over DCNS. It's part of the tools in economic warfare." DCNS, which is also vying for submarine contracts in Norway and Poland, beat Germany's ThyssenKrupp AG and a Japanese-government backed bid by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Australia. That was a major blow to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's push to develop defence export capabilities as part of a more muscular security agenda. The leaked documents cover the Scorpene-class model and do not contain any details of the vessel currently being designed for the Australian fleet. Thales, whose shares fell 3 percent before paring back some of the losses, declined to comment. French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who finalised the Australian deal, also declined to comment. MAJOR STRATEGIC PROBLEM The breadth of detail in the documents creates a strategic problem for India, Malaysia and Chile, all of which operate the same submarine, an Australian political source with decades of experience in the global arms industry told Reuters. Excerpts published in redacted form on the newspaper's website contained highly sensitive details of the submarine including technical manuals and models of the boat's antennae. "If it's 22,400 pages, it's a major stuff-up," the source said. "It's a huge deal. "It allows them to understand everything about the submarines. What speeds it can do; how noisy it is; what speeds the mast can be raised at ... all of that is just devastating." A French source close to the matter tried to play down the severity of the leak, saying the documents appeared to be "sensitive but neither critical nor confidential". The Indian Defence Ministry said in a statement it was investigating the impact of the leak on the submarine programme which it said had occurred from abroad. It gave no details. Uday Bhaskar, a former naval officer, said that if the leak was established, it would amount to a significant compromise of the credibility of the submarines. India has a fleet of 13 ageing submarines, only half of which are operational at any time, opening up a gap with China which is expanding its maritime presence in the Indian Ocean. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull sought to deflect concern about the leak, touting the high security standards in Australia, where the submarine will be built. The Australian reported that the leak occurred in France in 2011. Colombia, FARC will announce peace deal on Wednesday: govt sources BOGOTA/HAVANA, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Colombia's government and Marxist FARC rebels will announce on Wednesday that they have reached a final peace agreement, three officials connected with the government negotiating team said. A deal would aim to bring an end to a half century of conflict with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) that has killed more than 220,000 and displaced millions. "We are facing an imminent deal to close the negotiations," one of the sources said, adding that it was unclear what time the announcement would come. "It will probably be in the evening." "The main issues have been finalized." Earlier in the day, FARC guerrilla leader Timoleon Jimenez, known as Timochenko, tweeted: "We are at the doors of important announcements that bring us close to the final deal." The historic accord would foresee the demobilization of guerrillas, rebel reintegration into civil society and participation in politics. Reached after almost four years of fraught talks in Cuba, the deal would still need to be signed and voted on in a referendum. Most opinion polls suggest Colombians will back the deal. Taiwan stocks almost flat, Mega Financial leads financials down TAIPEI, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Taiwan stocks were almost flat on Wednesday morning as losses in financial shares, led by Mega Financial, eroded early gains. Shares in the Taiwanese financial holding company, the focus of a probe by local prosecutors following a rare fine for anti-money laundering violations in the U.S., were sliding for the fourth session running. As of 0252 GMT, the main TAIEX index was unchanged at 9,031.24 points, after closing up 0.5 percent in the previous session. Tempering the selling was buying in tech heavyweight Hon Hai Precision, whose shares were 1.2 percent higher, helping push the electronics subindex up 0.2 percent. But the financials subindex lost 0.7 percent, led by Mega Financial's 2 percent retreat after Taipei prosecutors on Tuesday began an investigation on whether the firm broke local criminal laws after its banking unit was fined by New York regulators last week. Poland - Factors to Watch Aug 24 Following are news stories, press reports and events to watch that may affect Poland's financial markets on Wednesday. ALL TIMES GMT (Poland: GMT + 2 hours): PZU Poland's PZU, the biggest insurer in central and eastern Europe, posted a larger-than-expected 56-percent decline in its second-quarter net profit on the back of falling investment income. PZU also said it plans to increase its banking arm's contribution to its net profit to 450 million zlotys ($117.98 million) in 2020. PEKAO, PZU, UNICREDIT Poland is not conducting any negotiations with Italy's biggest bank UniCredit regarding acquisition of its Polish unit Pekao, and any potential deal must be done on market terms, Deputy Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said. Separately, Parkiet daily said, quoting unnamed sources that PZU and state-run investment vehicle PFR would like to buy a 33 percent stake in country's No.2 lender Pekao in several tranches. Italian UniCredit owns 40.1 percent stake in Polish lender and PZU expects a 10-percent discount. GRUPA AZOTY Grupa Azoty, Poland' largest chemicals maker, posted on Wednesday a bigger-than-expected 65 percent drop in second-quarter net profit on the back of asset value impairment and higher taxes. DATA Poland's statistics office to release July unemployment rate at 0800 GMT. SWISS FRANCS Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the head of Poland's ruling conservative party Law and Justice (PiS), was quoted as saying by Fakt tabloid that there is no need to convert Swiss franc-denominated credits into zlotys, as credit holders are opposition voters. 2017 DEFICIT Economists warn that in 2017 Poland's deficit will rise to 3.3-3.5 percent of gross domestic product, much above the European Union's ceiling of 3 percent, Rzeczpospolita daily said. DIVIDENDS Listed companies will pay out 16.8 billion zlotys in dividends in 2016, which is a similar amount to the one from 2015, according to KPMG calculations, quoted by Rzeczpospolita. LAYOFFS IN BANKS Polish banks have cut headcount by over 2 thousand employees from 172.800 at the start of this year, Gazeta Wyborcza daily said quoting data by the financial market watchdog KNF. ENEA The construction of a new 1,075 megawatt coal-fuelled unit at Enea's power plant in Kozienice faces a half-year delay due to technical and organization problems, Gazeta Wyborcza said, quoting the contractors' statement. ****Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.**** Saudi Aramco could reduce stake in $5.5 bln Indonesia refinery project By Wilda Asmarini JAKARTA, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Oil and gas giant Saudi Aramco may reduce its stake in a proposed $5.5 billion refinery project in Indonesia, the country's energy minister said on Wednesday. Aramco has asked to cut its share of the project to upgrade a refinery in Cilacap in the province of Central Java to 30 percent from 45 percent, interim energy minister Luhut Pandjaitan told reporters. Such a move could be a setback to President Joko Widodo's plans to overhaul the creaking energy infrastructure in Southeast Asia's largest economy. Pandjaitan added that state energy company Pertamina , which is jointly developing the facility, would likely absorb the difference. "Aramco's progress has been rather slow. We want to chase this, not just talk. We want something concrete now," he said. Indonesia hopes to formalise a joint venture and other details of the partnership between Aramco and Pertamina during a visit from Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz to the archipelago in October. "We will finalise this as best we can first, and we hope this will have a positive impact for everyone, primarily the Indonesian public," Pertamina spokeswoman Wianda Pusponegoro told Reuters, referring to the partnership with Aramco. However, Pusponegoro noted that the company had not received official notification of any Aramco proposal to reduce its proposed stake. Aramco declined to comment. Forecasting growing crude oil demand, Aramco has been looking to invest further in Indonesia's refining and petrochemicals sector, part of broader expansion plans in China, India, Vietnam and the United States. Saudi Arabia foils attack on Shiite mosque in Qatif-media DUBAI, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Saudi security forces have foiled a planned suicide attack on a mosque in the Qatif region in eastern Saudi Arabia, where many Shi'ite Muslims live, al-Arabiya news channel and other Saudi media reported early on Wednesday. The Saudi-owned satellite channel said security forces killed a man who was wearing an explosive belt and arrested another. Both men were not Saudi citizens, al-Arabiya said. Saudi media said the interior ministry was expected to issue a statement on the attack soon. Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat carried a similar report but said the second man was wounded after security forces exchanged fire with him. Saudi Arabia has suffered a string of deadly shooting and bomb attacks in recent months, many of them claimed by the militant Islamic State group. Islamic State is bitterly hostile to Gulf Arab monarchies and is seen to be trying to stoke Sunni-Shi'ite sectarian confrontations in Arabian peninsula states to destabilise and ultimately overthrow their dynasties. Japan, China, South Korea to urge North Korea to stop provocation By Kiyoshi Takenaka and Xiao Yu TOKYO, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Japan, China and South Korea agreed to urge North Korea to refrain from provocation and follow U.N. Security Council resolutions, after its latest missile launch towards Japan early on Wednesday. Foreign ministers from the three Asian neighbours also sought to soothe their often-testy relations, and have reached an understanding on a trilateral summit meeting in Japan this year, a Japanese official said. "We have confirmed that we will urge North Korea to exercise self-restraint regarding its provocative action, and to observe the U.N. Security Council's resolutions," Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told a news conference after hosting the meeting with his Chinese and South Korean counterparts. A North Korean submarine fired a ballistic missile on Wednesday that flew about 500 km (300 miles) towards Japan, a show of improving technological capability for the isolated country that has conducted a nuclear test and as series of missile launches this year in defiance of UN sanctions. In the face of the North Korean threat, cooperation among Japan, China and South Korea was more important than ever, Kishida said after his meeting with China's Wang Yi and South Korea's Yun Byung-se. Yun promised South Korea's support to realise a trilateral summit by year's end, as well as to cooperate economically and to achieve a successful summit of the Group of 20 big economies next month in China. Wang said China opposed North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes and any "words or actions" that cause tension on the Korean peninsula, China's foreign ministry said in a statement. China will continue to push for the peninsula's denuclearisation, seek a resolution through talks and uphold regional peace and stability, Wang added. The three ministers share the understanding that Japan will host a trilateral summit this year, though dates have yet to be worked out, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official told reporters. 'MANY PROBLEMS' Relations between the three big Asian economies are often difficult with the legacy of Japan's wartime aggression affecting ties between it and China and South Korea, territorial disputes hurting links between Japan and China, and Japan and South Korea, and China suspicious of the others' U.S. ties. The meeting marked the first visit to Japan by a Chinese foreign minister since the Japanese government took over three of the tiny islands at the centre of a dispute with China, from private Japanese owners in September 2012. "Trilateral cooperation is a very important part of East Asian cooperation," Wang told his counterparts at the beginning of the meeting. "There are many problems existing between the three countries, but China, Japan and South Korea are the three biggest economy entities in Asia. It's our responsibility to promote economic development, lead regional cooperation and maintain regional peace and stability." China's state-run Xinhua news agency said Wang's willingness to go to Tokyo showed "China's sufficient sincerity to cooperate with Japan and South Korea". At the same time, it warned Japan and South Korea to "abandon the Cold War mentality and view the peaceful rise of China as vigour to regional development", while avoiding "being the tools for some countries outside the region to undermine regional stability." Wednesday's meeting had earlier appeared in doubt after a flare-up in Sino-Japanese tension over their dispute over tiny islands in the East China Sea. South Korea and Japan have a territorial dispute over small islands about half way between their mainlands. OneSavings more keen on lending to professional landlords after EU vote By Noor Zainab Hussain Aug 24 (Reuters) - OneSavings Bank Plc said it had increased its focus on professional landlords and tightened lending criteria for financing smaller residential developments after Britain voted to leave the European Union. The bank also said underlying pretax profit jumped 36 percent to 64.6 million pounds ($85 million), ahead of consensus estimates, as it issued more mortgages and loans to small and medium-sized businesses over the six months to June 30. The lender's shares jumped as much as 13.7 percent to 269.7 pence on the London Stock Exchange on Wednesday. Its stock has lost over 28 percent since the June 23 referendum. OneSavings, one of the banks aiming to challenge Britain's "Big 5" lenders, said that while it was not directly exposed to the EU, its business could be hurt by a slowdown in the housing market and demand for mortgages, in case of an economic downturn. Property has been one of the sectors hardest hit by Brexit, with an index by consultant Knight Frank showing that house prices in London's most expensive areas fell at their fastest rate in nearly seven years in July. Concerns are that a slowdown in the economy could further reduce buy-to-let housing investments, which have already slumped following the introduction of a property tax in April. OneSavings said it had tightened its lending criteria on projects backed by smaller investors as they were more heavily reliant on liquidity of UK housing stocks. The new criteria would evaluate if the development would still be profitable enough for the loan to be paid back in case sales prices fell significantly and costs overshot. "We're just tweaking criteria around the smaller businesses. It won't effect the operating model, we won't change any of our brands," Chief Executive Officer Andy Golding told Reuters. Golding also said UK lenders could look to team up, especially with palpable concerns of an economic downturn. "Adding to scale... insulates businesses from any issues that might occur and it really starts to create something sizable that can lock out the competition," he said. "We will be involved in and have been involved in a number of talks on other things... And when we see (a deal) we're ready and we've got the right tools in the armoury to have a discussion around that," he added. Sarkozy book sets out his presidential comeback platform PARIS, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Nicolas Sarkozy will run for president in 2017, hoping to return as France's head of state after being unseated in 2012 by the now deeply unpopular Francois Hollande. Sarkozy will join more than a dozen contenders vying for the Les Republicains ticket in primaries, where former prime minister Alain Juppe will be his strongest rival. Below are some key points from his policy platform outlined in a new book "Everything for France". IMMIGRATION * "Drastically reduce" the number of foreigners who can enter France every year. * Any foreigner wishing to become French will have to spend at least 10 years in France before seeking citizenship, compared with five years now. * Economic migration must stop during the next five-year presidential term. * The right of legal immigrants to bring to France immediate family members will be suspended until there is a coherent immigration policy at the European level. ISLAMIST ATTACKS * Create a special court for "anti-terrorist security". A similar court was used in 1963 against the OAS, a far-right paramilitary organisation that carried out attacks and assassinations in a brief attempt to prevent the independence of Algeria, a former French colony. * Sarkozy indicates he favours a return to "double punishment" of convicted foreigners - a measure he abolished as president. It could require a reform of the European Convention of Human Rights. LABOUR LAWS * Allow companies to determine the working hours of their employees. If management and unions cannot reach an agreement, a company vote would determine the length of the working week. * The minimum retirement age would be increased to 63 years in 2020 and 64 years in 2025. * The working week for civil servants would increase to 37 hours from 35 hours. * Unemployment benefits would be gradually reduced. TAXATION * "Immediate elimination" of the so-called solidarity tax paid by those who have assets of more than 1.3 million euros. * Income tax would be cut by 10 percent as soon as July 2017. * Sales of companies would benefit from a tax credit of 85 percent or a total tax exemption if the business is maintained for at least five years, with a job guarantee for a majority of employees. * The tax relief plan for companies implemented under the current Socialist government would be doubled. At least 34 billion euros in social contributions would be cut to increase French companies' competitiveness. LAW & ORDER * Stiffen sentences for multiple offenders. After three convictions, the offender's sentence would be automatically increased by 25 percent. After five convictions, by 50 percent and after 10 convictions, by 100 percent. * The age of criminal responsibility would be lowered to 16 from 18 currently. South African assets sink after police summon finance minister JOHANNESBURG, Aug 24 (Reuters) - South African assets slumped on Wednesday a day after an elite police unit summoned Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan over an investigation into a suspected rogue unit of the tax service, fuelling speculation that there was a plot to oust him. Gordhan and other former officials at the South African Revenue Service (SARS) must report to the Hawks on Thursday morning in relation to contravention of surveillance regulations, a source close to the matter told Reuters. They will all receive a 'warning statement' given to someone before they are charged with an offence, the source and a summons sheet seen by Reuters showed. Hawks spokesman Hangwani Mulaudzi said it did not comment on ongoing investigations. The Treasury confirmed the Hawks had contacted Gordhan and that he was seeking legal advice. Uncertainty over leadership at the finance ministry is worrying investors as Africa's most developed economy teeters on the edge of recession and credit rating agencies consider downgrading it to "junk" status by year-end. The rand fell one percent early on Wednesday to its weakest in nearly a month, extending a drop of 3 percent the previous session when the news about Gordhan emerged. Bonds also slumped with the yield on benchmark 2026 issue rising 46 basis points to 8.935 percent. South Africa's stock market banking index opened almost four percent down. Local media reports in May said Gordhan may face arrest on espionage charges for setting up the unit to spy on politicians including President Jacob Zuma. Zuma has rejected allegations by opposition parties that he has failed to publicly back Gordhan, saying that the law should take its course. Presidency spokesman Bongani Majola did not respond to requests for comment. This month, the ruling African National Congress suffered its worst electoral performance since coming to power at the end of apartheid 22 years ago. A lawyer from the American Civil Liberties Union of North Dakota will represent one of the pipeline protesters being sued by Dakota Access LLC. ACLU Policy Director Jennifer Cook filed Wednesday to represent Jonathan Edwards, against whom a temporary restraining order was issued Aug. 16. Cook said the case is about the scope of the temporary restraining order and whether it pushes the limits of the First Amendment. She suggested the order may be unlawfully broad in that it restrains unnamed defendants, who could be anyone at the protest, and prohibits unlawful activity in a general way. She also expressed concern that the order was issued without comment from the protesters. It is important the clients have their day in court, she said. Cook said Edwards, a South Dakotan, contacted the organization about his case. She will represent him with help from another ACLU lawyer, who specializes in First Amendment rights. A complaint filed by the company alleges Edwards built "obstructions" to prevent pipeline workers from accessing the construction site and chained himself to a fence to prevent work from continuing. Edwards is one of seven people named in the lawsuit -- including Standing Rock Sioux Chairman Dave Archambault II and council member Dana Yellow Fat -- who the company claims interfered with pipeline work through their actions in the protest, threatening the safety of workers and costing the company business, according to court documents. By an order from U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland, these protesters and others, referred to as John and Jane Doe, are barred from "unlawfully interfering in any way with the plaintiff and its representatives' access and construction of the pipeline." Tim Purdon, former U.S. attorney for the District of North Dakota, filed on Friday to represent the two tribal leaders named in the suit. A hearing on the restraining order is scheduled for Sept. 8 in Bismarck. France's DCNS does not rule out "economic war" after documents leak PARIS, Aug 24 (Reuters) - French naval contractor DCNS said on Wednesday that it could not rule out that leaked documents on submarines built for India were part of an "economic war" by competitors after the firm won a tender in Australia earlier this year. "For now we don't know if the information is correct," a DCNS spokeswoman said. "The competition is more and more hard and all means can be used in this context." China takes forceful steps to tame unruly peer-to-peer lending sector BEIJING, Aug 24 (Reuters) - China's banking regulator unveiled aggressive measures to restrain the country's fast expanding peer-to-peer (P2P) lending sector on Wednesday, warning that almost half of the 4,000-odd online lending platforms are "problematic". The $93 billion P2P lending sector has been a source of funds for individuals and small businesses overlooked by the country's traditional financial services institutions that prefer big borrowers with better credit history and collateral. But Beijing's hands-off approach to promote the sector as a form of financial innovation has led to a rash of high-profile P2P failures, scandals and frauds. Some P2P firms are running Ponzi schemes and raising funds illegally, said the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC), which jointly released a new set of regulations with three other government bodies to tame the unruly sector. Under the new rules, P2P firms cannot sell wealth management products nor issue asset-backed securities, and must use third-party banks as custodians of investor funds. P2P platforms will also not be able to take deposits. The regulations, issued by the CBRC, Ministry of Public Security, Cyberspace Administration of China, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, follow the passage of a plan by the State Council, or cabinet, four months ago to clean up the online finance sector. The banking regulator also set a ceiling for borrowers to control the size of loans on P2P platforms, said Li Junfeng, director of the Inclusive Finance Department at the CBRC. An individual can borrow a maximum of 200,000 yuan ($30,072) from a single P2P platform and a maximum of 1 million yuan from all P2P platforms, he said. A company can borrow no more than 1 million yuan from a single P2P platform, and no more than 5 million yuan from all P2P platforms. The regulations also ban P2P firms from providing guarantees for investment principal or returns, a common marketing practice to lure funds from unsophisticated retail investors. "Investors must understand they need to bear the risks for their investments, no matter big or small," said Li from the CBRC. "These are not deposits. So we are telling P2P investors: P2P is risky, investments need to be cautious." MANIFOLD SINS As of end-June, China had 4,127 P2P platforms in operation, of which 1,778 were "problematic", the CBRC said. The remaining firms had total outstanding loans of 621.26 billion yuan ($93.43 billion). Those troubled P2P firms, suffering from capital constraints and poor management, have seen executives run away with investor money, the CBRC said. Some were Ponzi schemes that solicited funds illegally. Those bad players will "have to exit" the market as the government moves to clean up the sector, Li told reporters following the news conference, but he did not give a timeframe. Ezubao, once China's biggest P2P lending platform, folded earlier this year after it turned out to be a Ponzi scheme that solicited 50 billion yuan in less than two years from more than 900,000 retail investors through savvy marketing. Retail investors are still unable to get back their hard-earned money. "The industry is going through consolidation right now and the regulator is cracking down on Ponzi scheme players," said James Zheng, chief financial officer at Lufax, the No.1 P2P lending platform in China, at a conference in Hong Kong. "The now 3,000 P2P companies probably will be consolidated into 200-300 by this time next year. That's okay because they're cracking down on all the bad guys," Zheng said. "What doesn't kill will make you stronger, that's the case for us." Slovenia's yields hit record low as debt swap brings ECB relief By John Geddie LONDON, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Slovenia's borrowing costs touched a new record low on Wednesday after the country announced a debt management plan that will widen the pool of assets eligible for purchase by the European Central Bank. In its second such exercise this year, Slovenia joins another of the bloc's new members Latvia in buying back old dollar debt that is not eligible for ECB purchase and replacing it with new euro bonds. This will help assuage concerns that the ECB is running out of Slovenian bonds to buy, while having minimal impact on the country's overall debt levels. Thomson Reuters' markets news service IFR reported on Tuesday that Barclays, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan are arranging the tender which expires on Aug. 30. Slovenia's 10-year bond yields, an indication of the rate at which the country can borrow on financial markets, touched a record low of 0.731 percent early on Wednesday, before edging slightly higher on the day. Most other euro zone bond yields were up Wednesday. "These new bonds will be immediately absorbed by the central bank's bond buying...and that is a strong supporting factor," ING strategist Martin van Vliet said. "But even based on fundamentals, I think Slovenian bonds offer some good value." Funds have been investing in dollar debt from some of the euro zone's newest members for some time in anticipation of these swaps, and are likely to have reaped handsome profits. Latvia -- which joined the monetary union in 2014 -- did such an exercise in December last year, while Slovenia -- a euro zone member since 2007 -- swapped $1.25bn of dollar bonds for 1.25 billion euros of new euro debt in May. Lithuania, which joined in 2015 is also seen as a candidate for such a deal. Before these countries joined the euro area, they found it more cost-effective to sell dollar debt that attracted a large number of global investors because it was eligible for emerging markets indices. But since the ECB added government bonds to its 1.7 trillion euro stimulus scheme in March 2015, they have had an added incentive to make sure they have euro-denominated debt eligible for purchase. ECB bond-buying is weighted to the size of each countries' contribution to the central bank's capital, but data in July showed that purchases of Slovenian, Slovakian, Lithuanian and Latvian debt were struggling to keep pace. It has stopped buying altogether in Estonia. This comes against the backdrop of widespread concerns about bond scarcity that, if left unaddressed, could throw the ECB's stimulus scheme off track. Finland arrests suspect in 2014 Islamic State mass killing in Iraq HELSINKI, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Finnish police has arrested Iraqi man on suspicion of taking part in a 2014 mass killing of Iraqi soldiers by Islamic State militants at former U.S. military base Camp Speicher north of Baghdad, the authorities said on Wednesday. As many as 1,700 mainly Shi'ite Muslim soldiers were killed after they fled the base when it was overrun by Islamic State, the ultra-hardline Sunni militant group. He was likely a member of Islamic State or another militant group, police said. Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said the 24-year-old man had entered Finland in August 2015. It did not say whether the person has sought asylum. Most of the 32,500 people who sought asylum in Finland last year came from Iraq. Finnish police is also investigating two Iraqi men shooting 11 unarmed prisoners at Camp Speicher, that were filmed by Islamic State. South African finance minister says will not meet police, assets extend slump By Mfuneko Toyana JOHANNESBURG, Aug 24 (Reuters) - South African assets slumped further on Wednesday after Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said he would not appear before police who had requested him to meet them over an investigation into a suspected rogue spy unit in the tax service. The police had on Monday asked Gordhan and other top officials at the South African Revenue Service (SARS) to meet an officer of the elite unit Hawks on Thursday in relation to contravention of surveillance regulations. News of Gordhan's summons compounded investors' worries of a leadership wrangle over the Finance Ministry as Africa's most industrialised country teeters near a recession and credit rating agencies consider downgrading it to "junk" by year-end. Analysts speculated that there was a plot to remove Gordhan, and his decision not to meet the police as requested appeared to set the stage for what could likely be a prolonged tussle that could rock markets further. Political pundits have said since February, when he was first asked questions by the Hawks about the unit he set up while at SARS, that Gordhan is a target of political pressure from a faction allied to President Jacob Zuma. The president's office said in May that Zuma was not warring with Gordhan. Zuma's office has not commented on the latest developments. The rand extended its losses, falling 1.5 percent to 14.21 against the dollar, extending its losses to almost 5 percent since the news about Gordhan became public late on Tuesday. Bonds also tumbled. Gordhan said he had been advised by his lawyers that he was under no legal obligation to present himself to the police, and that the head of the Hawks had in the past told him that he was not a suspect in the investigations. He said that he had already provided a comprehensive statement on the issue to the police and reiterated that the investigative unit set up while he was head of SARS was lawful. "I am advised by my legal team that the assertions of law made by the Hawks in their letter of 21 August 2016 are wholly unfounded on any version of the facts," he said in a statement. "I therefore, do not intend to present myself," he said. "I have a job to do in a difficult economic environment and serve South Africa as best I can. Let me do my job." Hawks spokesman Hangwani Mulaudzi said he could not comment on what the next move by the police could be. NKC political analyst Gary van Staden said Gordhan's refusal to meet the police showed that he had reached his limit. "It implies that Mr Gordhan is now sick and tired of this stuff, he's sick and tired of the harassment, he's sick and tired of the intimidation and sick and tired of the implied treats and has now said, 'if you are serious then come and arrest me because I am not playing this game anymore'," he said. NEXT MOVE A former finance minister, Trevor Manuel, said the economy would be "destroyed" if Zuma fired Gordhan after he changed finance ministers twice in one week in December. Investors and rating agencies back Gordhan's plans to rein in government spending in an economy forecast by the central bank to grow at zero percent this year. Analysts are worried that a replacement could likely be coerced to abandon such plans, destabilising an economy hammered by falling prices for commodities that range from coal to gold. Zuma raised concern among investors in December by replacing then finance minister Nhlanhla Nene with relatively unknown lawmaker David van Rooyen. After markets tumbled, Zuma appointed Gordhan, in his second stint in the job. "Such action (removing Gordhan) will destroy this economy," Manuel told eNCA television. "The next move is actually up to the head of state to call them (Hawks) in and say: if you have compelling evidence let's see what it is." Opposition leader Mmusi Maimane, whose Democratic Alliance party took control of major cities following Aug. 3 local government polls, said in a statement that "the Gordhan witch-hunt is Zuma's road to the Treasury's keys". A Zuma-backed plan to build a fleet of nuclear power plants, at a cost of as much as $60 billion, has been a cause of tension with the Treasury for months and is likely adding to pressure on Gordhan's position, analysts say. Russian state-backed companies are the favourites to win the nuclear bid, industry sources say. Nene's refusal to sign-off on the nuclear deal led to his downfall, government sources said at the time. Gordhan has refused to be drawn publicly on whether he supports the nuclear project but has said South Africa will only enter agreements it can afford. China denies restricting activities of UN rights envoy BEIJING, Aug 24 (Reuters) - China denied on Wednesday that the government had restricted the activities of a visiting United Nations-appointed human rights envoy. Philip Alston, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, said the Chinese government interfered with his work during a visit to China by blocking access to individuals whom he had hoped to meet. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said China and the envoy had reached agreement on the schedule for the visit through consultations. The suggestion that Alston was restricted in his activities "completely does not accord with the facts", Lu told a daily news briefing. He said Alston had praised China for its success at poverty alleviation and economic and social development. "If these people are truly concerned about human rights and the social and economic development of developing countries, then we hope they can objectively view the facts and do some serious thinking," Lu said. "The development model they are trying to promote does not bring progress and human rights to the majority of people in many developing countries." Since taking office more than three years ago, President Xi Jinping has cracked down on dissent, reining in the media and civil society and detaining dozens of rights activists. The government routinely rejects criticism of its human rights record, saying that people it jails are lawbreakers. Turkey's Erdogan: Countries who support terror are 'holding grenades' ANKARA, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Countries that support terror groups are doing the equivalent of holding on to live grenades with the pins pulled, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday, in an apparent reference to the United States' support of Syrian Kurdish fighters. Turkey, a member of the U.S.-backed coalition against Islamic State disagrees with its NATO ally's support for Syrian Kurdish rebels in the fight against Islamic State. Biden seeks to ease Turkey tensions over coup suspect Gulen By Jeff Mason and Ece Toksabay ANKARA, Aug 24 (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Joe Biden sought on Wednesday to ease tensions with Turkey over its demands for extradition of a cleric it blames for July's failed coup, saying Washington was cooperating but needed evidence to meet U.S. legal standards. Demands for the extradition of Fethullah Gulen, in exile since 1999, and Turkish perceptions of an unsympathetic Western response to the coup soured relations between the United States and Turkey, a NATO partner in the U.S.-led war on Islamic State. President Tayyip Erdogan had said Washington had "no excuse" for keeping hold of Gulen, a former Erdogan ally who Turkish officials say has operated a network of followers inside the armed forces and civil service to take over Turkey. Speaking after meeting Erdogan in Ankara, Biden said those involved in the coup attempt were terrorists and said the U.S. had more lawyers working on the Gulen extradition request than in any other such recent case. "We will abide by our system. We will continue to abide by the system and, God willing, there will be enough data and evidence to be able to meet the criteria that you all believe exist," Biden said. "We have no reason to shelter someone who would attack an ally and try to overthrow a democracy." Erdogan blames Gulen for masterminding the coup by rogue troops that killed 241 people. Gulen has denied any involvment and condemned the military rebellion during which soldiers commandeered tanks and jets to attack government buildings. "For us the priority is the extradition of Gulen as soon as possible," Erodogan said in a joint press conference with Biden. "But the agreement between the United States and Turkey requires the detention of such people. This individual continues to manage a terrorist organisation from where he is." Lawyers say the process could take years. Even if approved by a judge, an extradition request would still have to go to the U.S. Secretary of State, who can consider non-legal factors, such as humanitarian arguments. After meeting Biden, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Turkey and the United States should never allow incidents to harm relations, but Ankara expected the legal process for the Gulen extradition without delay. "If the extradition process of this terrorist leader could accelerate, if our cooperation on this matter continues like this, the Turkish people will quickly recover from their sadness and disappointment," the premier said. The government has cracked down on suspected Gulen followers, detaining more than 40,000 people and formally arresting about half of them. About 80,000 people in the judiciary, police, civil service and elsewhere have been sacked or suspended. Turkish authorities fired more than 2,800 judges and prosecutors on Wednesday, in the latest purge related to the coup, broadcaster CNN Turk reported. STRONG STATEMENTS Critics fear Erdogan is using the coup as a pretext to curtail dissent. Biden, who made strong statements on free speech and free expression on his last visit to Turkey, was less vocal this time. Biden said that the prime minister, the foreign minister and others had made it clear they would adhere to constitutional principles and that the rule of law would prevail. "Let's give them some time. I believe they mean what they say. And so let's move on," said Biden. Turkish officials gave Biden a guided tour around the parliament, which was bombed during the coup attempt. Ankara will probably send the United States a coup-related extradition request for Gulen next week, the Turkish justice minister said on Wednesday. Turkish-backed Syrian rebels about to reach village 3 km inside Syria -Turkish state TV ISTANBUL, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Turkish-backed Syrian rebel forces were about to reach a village outside the town of Jarablus and 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) inside Syria, Turkish state broadcaster TRT Haber said on Wednesday. The Free Syrian Army forces were about to reach the village of Keklice, TRT Haber said. They are part of an operation aimed at clearing Islamic State from Jarablus. Philippines says sea dispute not led to shift in ties with China or U.S. By Manolo Serapio Jr MANILA, Aug 24 (Reuters) - The Philippines' territorial dispute with China over the South China Sea has not caused Manila to rebalance diplomatic ties with either its ally, the United States, or neighbouring China, Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay said on Wednesday. An arbitration court in the Hague infuriated China in July by ruling that China had no historical title over the South China Sea and that it had breached the Philippines' sovereign rights with various actions there. "We want to make close friendship with China. It does not mean that we'll weaken our friendship with the United States," Yasay told Reuters during a break in a meeting of the senate foreign relations committee. "We're just saying that in spite of our disputes, as regards China on the South China Sea, there are other aspects of our relationship that can proceed without having to touch upon the South China Sea issue." On Tuesday evening, President Rodrigo Duterte said he expects talks with China over the maritime dispute within a year. Duterte, who has been in office for seven weeks, said the Philippines will not raise the issues next month at a summit in Laos of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which the Chinese foreign ministry welcomed. "We look forward to China and the Philippines conducting dialogue at an early date." China's foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Wednesday. "We believe the two sides have the ability and the wisdom to appropriately discuss and resolve problems, promote the return of relations to a track of healthy development, and bring benefits to both countries' people. Speaking at an army base south of Manila on Wednesday, however, Duterte said he expected all ASEAN members to support the arbitration court's ruling on the maritime dispute, regardless of whether the Philippines raised the matter at the summit. China claims almost the entire South China Sea through which about $5 trillion worth of sea-borne trade passes every year. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims to parts of the sea believed to be rich in oil and gas. China has made seven artificial islands in the disputed waters, three of them had airfields that can accommodate fighters, bombers and tankers to refuel aircraft. At the senate hearing, Yasay said the United States will not allow China to reclaim Scarborough Shoal, a rocky outcrop near its former US Navy base in the Philippines, because it will impede in the freedom of navigation. Amnesty International has sent a delegation of human rights observers to monitor the law enforcement response to the camp protesting the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline under the Missouri River. Thousands of people, including members of at least 60 Native American tribes, have camped out south of Mandan near the construction site of the pipeline -- which, if completed, will take Bakken oil to Illinois. Tarah Demant, a spokeswoman for the delegation, said the international human rights organization has been concerned about reports that the state of North Dakota took away water resources that had been provided to protesters. We are concerned about the health and safety of protesters, she said. State-owned trailers and water tanks were removed earlier this week from the protest camp after reports of unlawful activity stoked fears among state officials that equipment would not be secure. Amnesty International sent identical letters to North Dakota Highway Patrol Col. Michael Gerhart and Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier to remind them of how officials are called upon to act during protests according to international human rights standards and the U.S. Constitution. The letters discuss use of force, decisions to break up protests and how those decisions should be communicated, the use of detention and other issues. Demant said Amnesty International only recently began sending observers to protests within the United States to ensure that law enforcement officials were protecting the right to peaceful protest, though the organization has a long history of such observations internationally. It has not previously visited North Dakota for that purpose. The delegation arrived in Bismarck midafternoon Wednesday and had not yet traveled to the protest camp. Our hope is that we wont have anything to report, Demant said. North Dakota Highway Patrol Lt. Tom Iverson and Donnell Preskey, a spokeswoman for the Morton County Sheriffs Department, said they were not aware of any communications between local enforcement and Amnesty International. The groups arrival will not change anything about how the patrol approaches the protest, Iverson said. Our message remains the same, he said. We need to keep everybody safe and promote safety for everybody involved protesters, workers, law enforcement and the motoring public. Turkish-backed Syrian rebels capture village 3 km inside Syria - Anadolu ANKARA, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Turkish-backed Syrian rebel forces have captured a village outside the town of Jarablus and 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) inside Syria, Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency said on Wednesday. Free Syrian Army fighters liberated the village of Keklice, Anadolu said. They are part of an operation aimed at clearing Islamic State from Jarablus. Floods in Ethiopia displace hundreds of thousands as more rains forecast - U.N. By Katy Migiro NAIROBI, Aug 24 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - More than 600,000 Ethiopians have fled their homes since March, largely due to flooding, the United Nations said on Wednesday, with more rain predicted up to December. Ethiopia was hit in 2015 by one of the worst droughts in decades, with 10 million requiring emergency aid, which ended when the spring rains arrived in March. Almost 300,000 people were displaced between March and June due to floods, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in its latest update. Others were displaced by inter-communal conflict in Ethiopia's southern Oromia and Somali regions. Many of the people who fled the floods have since returned home but more than 10,000 families are still displaced and need emergency shelter and household basics, it said. Heavy rains have delayed emergency food aid deliveries to 85,000 flood affected people in Somali region, it said. The La Nina weather phenomenon is likely to bring further rain and flooding, the United Nations said. La Nina, which tends to occur unpredictably every two to seven years, is characterized by unusually cold temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. "If the La Nina event begins in late August, this may entail heavier than normal rainfall in the El Nino-affected highland areas, which may result in intensified flooding," the United Nations said. Germany unveils national crisis plan, first overhaul in 20 years BERLIN, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Germany has told its citizens to stock up on water and food in the event of a terrorist attack or national catastrophe and may even consider re-introducing conscription in its first overhaul of civil defences in two decades. Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet approved the 70-page plan at a time when Germans are particularly on edge after two Islamist attacks in July and several much larger-scale attacks in France and Belgium this year. The German word for stocking up on provisions in case of an emergency is "Hamsterkaeufe" and some media have mocked the plan for encouraging Germans to hoard like the small, furry pets. Although the report was commissioned in 2012, security is shaping up into a major campaign issue before two regional votes next month and next year's federal election. Proposed measures include boosting spending on police and a ban on the burqa. The strategy unveiled on Wednesday outlines precautionary steps for scenarios such as terrorism and chemical weapons and cyber attacks. The Interior Ministry says it is not linked to an immediate threat. "The plan outlines the framework for adjustments needed in a changing security climate and the demands for civil defence and emergency provision," said the report, last published in 1995. It recommends people buy five days' worth of water and ten days' worth of food in the event of a national crisis. It also outlines the need for a more extensive alarm system to alert people when there is an emergency, improved protection for buildings and medical care. It also suggests the possibility of, if necessary, reintroducing conscription, which was suspended in 2011. The idea has caused controversy. "Conscription must not be brought back, there is no reason to do that, it is absolute nonsense," Social Democrat lawmaker Eva Hoegl told rbb radio. Sweden's SCA to split into hygiene, forestry firms By Anna Ringstrom STOCKHOLM, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Swedish forestry and hygiene products group SCA plans to split into two listed companies in 2017, it said on Wednesday, sending its shares to a record high and fuelling speculation the forestry business might become a bid target. SCA is Europe's biggest private owner of forests. Its hygiene business is the world's largest maker of incontinence pads and No.2 in consumer tissues such as napkins and toilet paper. Its forestry arm produces paper, pulp and wood products. "This is what everybody has been waiting for," said Evli Bank analyst Markku Jarvinen. "The businesses are clearly very different from an investment standpoint. The forest business is low return on capital, very stable, and the hygiene business is high return on capital." SCA shares jumped as much as 13 percent to a new high of 281.90 crowns, giving it a market value of about $23 billion. SCA said in August last year it would merge its forest land and forest products businesses into one division, leading many analysts then to expect a split-up of the group. The company said on Wednesday a separate listing for its hygiene arm, whose brands include Libero, Libresse, Nosotras, Saba and TENA, would "create more shareholder value and incur relatively low transactional risk and relatively low transaction costs", compared with alternative ways of splitting the group. Shares in forestry firm Holmen, which analysts have identified as a potential buyer or partner for SCA's forest products business, rose 6 percent. Holmen is controlled by Fredrik Lundberg, the Swedish business magnate who is also chairman of SCA's biggest shareholder, Swedish investment firm Industrivarden. Industrivarden and SCA's No.2 shareholder, Norway's sovereign wealth fund, said they backed the planned separation, which will be voted on at SCA's 2017 annual general meeting. They control 29.8 and 8.7 percent of votes respectively. Betting on strong long-term growth for hygiene products, SCA has in recent years expanded this business to account for about 85 percent of sales and cut back its paper and other wood products businesses. The company said on Wednesday a break-up would leave it better placed to succeed in both business areas. SCA, which was founded in 1929 and competes with Procter & Gamble and Kimberly-Clark, said it planned to list the hygiene business in the second half of 2017 under a new name. The company makes the bulk of its sales in Europe, where it expects an ageing population to boost demand for incontinence products. It is also expanding in emerging markets, expecting rising incomes there to lift demand for hygiene products. Lavrov, Kerry to meet on Syria and Ukraine in Geneva on Friday GENEVA, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will hold talks in Geneva on Friday focusing on the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine, both sides said. The two men also discussed Syria by phone on Wednesday, the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement. U.S. and Russian officials, whose countries back opposite sides in the five-year Syrian war, have been meeting to agree on military cooperation in the fight against their common enemy there, the Islamic State militant group. Kerry said earlier this week the talks were nearing an end, with technical teams still meeting to discuss details. Earlier, a U.S. official said that Kerry, who was in Abuja, Nigeria, would meet Lavrov in Geneva on Aug. 26 to discuss the conflict in Syria and the Ukraine crisis. The Russian foreign ministry said the two men discussed Syria on Wednesday, "including the situation around Aleppo where the (Syrian) government forces, with the support of the Russian military, have been carrying a humanitarian operation." No progress has been reported on a 48-hour humanitarian pause sought by the United Nations in Aleppo to allow aid deliveries and evacuation of wounded from the divided city of 2 million that lacks food and water. Philippines summons Chinese envoy over drug trafficking from China MANILA, Aug 24 (Reuters) - The Philippines government said on Wednesday it had summoned the Chinese ambassador earlier this week to explain reports that traffickers were bringing in narcotics from China, opening a new front in President Rodrigo Duterte's controversial war on drugs. On Tuesday, the country's police chief told a Senate hearing that China, Taiwan and Hong Kong were major sources of illegal drugs, and Chinese triads were involved in trafficking. Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay told a Senate hearing on Wednesday that the Chinese ambassador had been summoned for an explanation, and the government would also send a diplomatic communication to Beijing to "pursue this in a more aggressive note." Speaking to Reuters, Yasay recounted his exchange with the envoy. "(The ambassador) said that this is not true and I told him these reports are based on intelligence information, they have been validated so far as we are concerned, so I wanted a clarification from him," Yasay said. More than 1,900 people have been killed in the anti-drugs campaign since Duterte, nicknamed "the Punisher", came to office seven weeks ago, according to the police, and nearly 700,000 drug users and drug peddlers have turned themselves in to escape the crackdown. Speaking at a military base outside Manila on Wednesday, Duterte said China has offered to build rehabilitation centres for drug addicts in military camps and has invited the Philippine police chief to visit Beijing to see what equipment Chinese police use to fight drugs. Poland's KGHM says to cut 1 mln tonnes copper output target By Agnieszka Barteczko WARSAW, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Poland's KGHM, Europe's top copper producer, will cut its 2020 target of 1 million tonnes of annual copper output, set by the former management, due to production delays in foreign assets, the company's chief executive officer said. The goal of 1 million tonnes of copper equivalent was a cornerstone of KGHM's strategy published by the former management board last year when the group's production stood at 718.000 tonnes. The state-run and Poland-focused company tapped foreign markets for the first time in 2011 when it bought Canada's Quadra FNX, for C$2.87 billion ($2.16 billion), the largest ever foreign acquisition by a Polish company. The move in which KGHM gained control over the Chilean copper mine Sierra Gorda and designed to boost KGHM's output and help it become a global player, was questioned by the conservative Law and Justice party (PiS), which won election the end of last year. The new treasury minister launched an audit which is to show whether KGHM's investment in Sierra Gorda was justified. "I think that the former management was over-optimistic when it comes to increasing copper production to more than 1 million tonnes by 2020. For sure we will be verifying these assumptions down," said Krzysztof Skora, who was named KGHM CEO in February as a wider management reshuffle in state-run firms. He reiterated that KGHM will publish a strategy review in February next year. On this occasion the company, which has been a hefty dividend payer, will look at its dividend policy, which assumes spending up to a third of KGHM's annual profits on dividends. "As of today the policy remains unchanged. It is too early to discuss the dividend for 2016, but it is enough to remind that we paid out dividend for 2015 when the result was heavily burdened by impairment," Skora said. Earlier this year KGHM reported writedowns of $1.3 billion on its foreign assets due to falling metal prices, with the largest drag coming from Sierra Gorda. "If copper prices remain at the current level by the end of this year, I do not see arguments for further write-downs," Skora also said. On Wednesday three month copper on the London Metal Exchange was down 0.6 percent to $4,681 a tonne, its lowest since June 27. "Most analysts and investment banks assume that the current copper price could continue at least by the end of this year. Experts also assume, and we expect it too, that the prices will rebound in the long-term. But it is difficult to say whether it will take place next year," the CEO also said. COPPER TAX Skora also said that the company still hopes it will receive a relief from the so called copper tax, which was introduced in 2012 and has eaten into KGHM's profits since then. "We know that the finance ministry is working on modifying the tax. We are aware that the budget challenges are big and that the tax is a significant element of budget income, but still we hope that the company will receive a relief from the levy," Sora said. EU, Portugal agree on 5 bln euro recapitalisation for ailing bank CGD By Andrei Khalip and Robert-Jan Bartunek LISBON/BRUSSELS, Aug 24 (Reuters) - The European Commission and Portugal have agreed in principle on the recapitalisation, on market terms, of ailing state-owned bank CGD, envisaging an injection of up to 2.7 billion euros ($3 billion) in state funds and nearly as much in debt and equity. Portugal is still reeling from two bank rescues in 2014 and 2015 that have undermined investor confidence. Caixa Geral de Depositos, or CGD, its largest bank by assets, needs to bolster its capital because of massive bad loans on its books. The government has been negotiating with Brussels for months so that any injection is not considered state aid and does not count towards the budget deficit, which Lisbon has promised to cut to 2.5 percent of GDP in 2016 from last year's 4.5 percent. "This is an innovative deal in Europe...This is good news not only for CGD but for the whole Portuguese banking system," Finance Minister Mario Centeno told a news conference, adding that he expected that there would be no impact on the deficit. A spokeswoman for the European Commission said the planned recapitalisation would have sufficiently high expected returns for the state to mean it would not be considered state aid. The plan, agreed in principle late on Tuesday between Centeno and European Union Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager is aimed at returning the bank to long-term health through cost cuts, improved efficiency and de-risking measures. The plan is yet to be formalised and approved by the College of Commissioners. Under the terms of the deal, Portugal will inject up to 2.7 billion euros of capital into CGD, transfer 500 million euros worth of its ParCaixa shares to CGD and convert 960 million euros of contingent convertible (CoCo) bonds into equity. CGD has also committed to raise 1 billion euros of capital through subordinated debt, which means private investors can help to increase the bank's equity without becoming shareholders. CGD last received state funds in 2012 when 1.65 billion euros were injected via CoCo bonds. Other Portuguese banks that also received state help via CoCos then have repaid most of the loans to the government. The bank posted a net loss of 205 million euros in the first half of the year due to provisions for bad loans. The government in June ordered an independent audit of CGD, after allegations of irregularities in granting loans. Myanmar earthquake kills three, damages scores of ancient temples By Shwe Yee Saw Myint and Wa Lone YANGON, Aug 24 (Reuters) - A powerful earthquake shook central Myanmar on Wednesday, killing at least three people including two children, and damaging scores of centuries-old Buddhist pagodas around the ancient capital of Bagan. The 6.8 magnitude quake shook buildings across the Southeast Asian country, with tremors felt as far away as Thailand - where witnesses reported high rise towers swaying in Bangkok - Bangladesh and eastern India. "We felt quite heavy shaking for about 10 seconds and started to evacuate the building when there was another strong tremor," said Vincent Panzani of charity Save the Children. He spoke from Pakkoku, a small town about 25 km (15 miles) northeast of Bagan, the centrepiece of Myanmar's rapidly expanding tourism industry. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake struck near the town of Chauk, on the Ayeyarwaddy River south of Bagan and about 175 km (110 miles) southwest of the country's second city Mandalay, just after 5 p.m. (1030 GMT). Fire department and Red Cross officials said two children were killed in the small town of Yenanchaung, south of Chauk. "Two young girls died when a pagoda collapsed on a river bank," said Moe Thidar Win, deputy director of the disaster management team at the Myanmar Red Cross Society. "One man died in a Pakokku tobacco factory when the roof collapsed on him." In Bagan, known as the "City of 4 Million Pagodas", one female tourist was injured at a pagoda, said local official Khin Mya Lwin. The Ministry of Information said nearly 100 of Bagan's famed pagodas, mostly built between the 11th and 13th centuries, had been damaged. Bagan has around 2,000-3,000 pagodas and temples, spread over a 42-sq km plain ringed by mist-covered mountains. It rivals Cambodia's Angkor Wat and Borobudur in Indonesia as Asia's premier archaeological site. SCENES OF PANIC Elsewhere, damage appeared to have been relatively light, although reports were still filtering through as night fell. "My house shook during the quake. Many people were scared and they ran out of the buildings," said Maung Maung Kyaw, a local official of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party in Chauk. "Some of the old buildings have cracks. The biggest damage is to the bank building in the town." The quake struck at a relatively deep 84 km (52 miles), the USGS said. "Most of the reports of damage have been to the pagodas in the area, with dozens impacted, particularly around Bagan," said Save the Children's Panzani in Pakkoku. "There have also been reports of damage to smaller, more basic buildings... Several of our staff who've lived in this part of Myanmar their whole lives said it was the strongest earthquake they've ever felt." The quake shook buildings in Myanmar's biggest city, Yangon, and in other towns and cities, witnesses said. Office buildings in the Thai capital Bangkok, to the east of Myanmar, shook for a few seconds, residents there said. The quake was also felt in Bangladesh, to the west of Myanmar, where some people ran out into the street as buildings shook, residents said. Myanmar is in a seismically active part of the world where the Indo-Australian Plate runs up against the Eurasian Plate. In March, 2011, at least 74 people were killed in an earthquake near its borders with Thailand and Laos. Zimbabwe police use teargas, water cannon to disperse opposition march HARARE, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Zimbabwean police used teargas, water cannon and batons on Wednesday to disperse opposition youths who were demonstrating in the capital against alleged brutality by security agents. More than 200 youths from the main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), had taken to the streets two days before a planned march by all opposition parties to try to force President Robert Mugabe to implement electoral reforms ahead of the 2018 vote. Police intercepted them and fired teargas at the protesters who were planning to hand a petition at the offices of the Ministry of Home Affairs, which is in charge of the police. Some protesters threw back the teargas canisters, as well as rocks, towards the police, who chased them with water cannon and fired more teargas outside the MDC headquarters, forcing pedestrians and people standing in nearby bank queues to flee. The youths had marched through the streets of the capital denouncing the police for beating up protesters and called on Mugabe to step down, accusing him of running a dictatorship. "We have been seeing a deliberate attempt by the police to intimidate, harass and silence the people of Zimbabwe," MDC Youth Assembly secretary general Lovemore Chinoputsa told Reuters TV during the march. Chinoputsa said police had refused to sanction the march, saying that it would degenerate into violence. Police spokeswoman Charity Charamba said she could not immediately comment. The police routinely deny charges of brutality and instead accuse the opposition of using "hooligans" during protests to attack officers. The southern African nation has a history of violence against opponents of Mugabe, where police have in the last few months crushed demonstrations against high unemployment, acute cash shortages and corruption. A trauma clinic in Harare last month recorded a list of cases of people who had been caught up in a police crack down during anti-government protests. To deter refugees, Norway readies fence on ex-Cold War border By Alister Doyle OSLO, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Norway is putting up a steel fence at a remote Arctic border post with Russia after an influx of migrants last year, sparking an outcry from refugees' rights groups and fears that cross- border ties with the former Cold War adversary will be harmed. The government says a new gate and a fence, about 200 metres (660 feet) long and 3.5 metres high stretching from the Storskog border point, is needed to tighten security at a northern outpost of Europe's passport-free Schengen zone. For decades, the Nordics have enjoyed the image of being a reliable haven for asylum seekers. But the erection of the fence, at a spot where 5,500 migrants mainly from Syria crossed into Norway last year, reflects a wider shift in public attitudes against refugees. This is seen too in Sweden, Norway's neighbour, which was once touted as a "humanitarian superpower", but is setting up border controls this year and has toughened asylum rules. Refugee groups and some opposition politicians say Norway's fence will deter people fleeing persecution and is an unwelcome echo of the Cold War in a region where relations have generally flourished since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. The fence will be erected in the coming weeks, before winter frosts set in, to make it harder to slip into Norway via a forest. Workers have so far done some preparatory work, clearing away old wooden barriers put up to control reindeer herds. "The gate and the fence are responsible measures," Deputy Justice Minister Ove Vanebo told Reuters, defending the move. Both Moscow and Oslo have cracked down on the Arctic route, one that a few refugees found less risky than crossing the Mediterranean by boat, since last year's inflow of migrants. So far this year, no one has sought asylum via the northern frontier, according to the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration. "I can't see a need for a fence. There are too many fences going up in Europe today," said Rune Rafaelsen, the mayor of the Soer-Varanger region which includes the border, told Reuters, pointing to barbed wire in nations such as Hungary. Russia still maintains a fence the length of the 196 km frontier with NATO member Norway, sometimes several kilometres back from the dividing line. It has not complained about the Norwegian plans to build a fence. But Rafaelsen, of the opposition Labour Party, said the region had made great progress in improving civilian ties since an Iron Curtain divided Norway from the Soviet Union and he, and others, saw the plans for a fence as a backward step. "We've an obligation to be a country people can flee to," said Linn Landro, of the Refugees Welcome group in Norway. "The fence sends a very negative signal, including to Russia because it says that 'we don't trust you'." Norwegians and Russians in the region can visit visa-free for short trips. About 250,000 people crossed the border last year, a decline from recent years but to be compared with just 5,000 a year in the Cold War. Norway's border Commissioner Roger Jakobsen said a weak rouble has made Norway more costly for Russians, road repairs have made crossings harder and ties have cooled after Norway and other Western nations imposed sanctions after Moscow annexed Ukraine's Crimea region in 2014. EUROPE POWER-Increased wind weighs on German prices in mixed spot PARIS, Aug 24 (Reuters) - European spot power prices for day-ahead delivery were mixed on Wednesday as increased availability of wind power weighed on German prices while scorching weather, boosting use of air conditioning, lifted French prices. Wind power supply in Germany in expected to rise by 1.5 gigawatts (GW) on Thursday to nearly 4 GW, according to Thomson Reuters data. Solar power supply is also expected to firm slightly by 140 megawatts (MW) day-on-day to about 8 GW. In France, which relies more on air conditioning than Germany, day-on-day power demand is set to rise by 1.3 GW on Thursday to 47.6 GW with the heatwave expected to last until the weekend. Average temperatures in France are expected to rise by 0.9 degree Celsius on Thursday, with French weather services Meteo France forecasting 37 degrees Celsius (98.6F) in some regions. German baseload power for Thursday delivery fell 1.55 euro or 5.07 percent, to 29.00 euros ($33) per megawatt hour (MWh), while the equivalent French contract gained 1.6 euro or 4.67 percent, to 35.85 euros/MWh. In conventional power supply, French nuclear power capacity is expected to rise by 1.9 GW on Thursday as several reactors restart production after planned maintenance. Total nuclear power availability is seen at 66 percent of capacity. France depends on nuclear power for about 75 percent of its electricity supply. Along the forward power curve prices fell on Wednesday tracking the fall in oil which pulled other energy prices lower. U.S. oil prices fell more than 2 percent on an unexpected increase in U.S. crude stocks that revived worries about the supply glut that has capped prices for the past two years. German baseload power for next year, Cal '17, was at 25.90 euros a megawatt-hour (MWh), 0.03 euro or 0.12 percent down. The equivalent French contract was at 31.50 euros/MWh, 0.15 euro or 0.47 percent down. European coal prices for 2017 fell $0.2 or 0.35 percent to $56.80 a tonne. Front-year EU carbon allowances fell 0.03 euro or 0.64 percent to 4.68 euros a tonne. The Czech year-ahead position fell 1.12 percent to 26.40 euros/MWh, while the day-ahead position fell 5.69 percent to 29 euros. Denmark freezes funds overseas as investigates rogue tax payouts COPENHAGEN, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Danish authorities have carried out raids in Britain and elsewhere as they seek to recoup fraudulent tax refunds paid to people outside the country. Evidence relating to at least 12 companies was seized and 2.1 billion crowns ($318 million) have been frozen in foreign bank accounts, tax authorities said on Wednesday. However, that figure is not even a fifth of the money missing, which tax chiefs estimate at 12.3 billion crowns - up by 3.2 billion crowns from an estimate given in November after more tax applications have been examined. The money has been claimed as repayments for tax deducted from stock dividends, according to tax authorities. Foreigners living outside Denmark are exempt from the 27 percent tax and are entitled to a rebate. "It is still uncertain to what extent the money will end up in Denmark," the Danish Ministry of Taxation said in a statement. It did not give details of when and where the raids took place. With a total tax burden amounting to 51 percent of gross domestic product, Danes carry the highest tax burden in the world, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. In September, the Danish tax minister fired five managers after a string of scandals and announced he would hire 400 people in effort to restore confidence in the system. The tax authorities have registered arrears of 74 billion Danish crowns as of the end of 2015, partly due to the tax scandals. Minister of Taxation Karsten Lauritzen has previously said he is not sure if authorities will be able to collect the full amount. Austria's far-right candidate bets on old recipe for presidency success By Kirsti Knolle VIENNA, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPO) kicked off its campaign for president on Wednesday with the slogan "Power needs control", seeking to get its candidate Norbert Hofer elected on a promise of toughness after concerns over Europe's migrant crisis. The FPO successfully challenged the result of a runoff vote in May that Hofer narrowly lost against former Green Party leader Alexander Van der Bellen. The Constitutional Court ordered a re-run, which will take place on Oct 2. Hofer's slogan is the same as that which in 1992 ensured victory for the current president's predecessor, Thomas Klestil from the conservative People's Party (OVP). Back then the OVP and the Social Democrats were mass parties, but Austrians' anger about their shared politics built up. Since then the Austrians have become so upset with the two parties that both parties' presidential candidates failed to make it the presidential run-off. Like the late Klestil, who was head of state until 2004, Hofer says he wants to be an active president, rather than a purely ceremonial one. "(He wants to become a) necessary counter weight to a power cartel that has established itself at every nook and corner in the state," said his campaign manager and the Freedom Party's secretary Herbert Kickl . Hofer is a eurosceptic and has said that in some cases Austria should consider leaving the EU. The FPO, which also hopes to provide the next chancellor, or head of government, shares its anti-immigration policy with rightist movements in several European countries, such as the Alternative for Germany (AfD). Very few of Europe's top politicians would be expected to welcome Hofer as the first far-right head of state in the European Union. Hofer's rival Van der Bellen said he had received several spontaneous calls from Brussels and other (EU) capitals after his victory in May. Tajikistan detains second lawyer of banned Islamist party ALMATY, Aug 24 (Reuters) - A Tajik lawyer who represented members of a banned Islamist party has been detained on charges of disclosing classified information, two sources told Reuters on Wednesday, the second such case in the Central Asian nation. Jamshed Yorov was detained on Tuesday in Tajikistan's capital, Dushanbe, a source at the prosecutor general's office said. A security source confirmed his detention which followed the publication of the full text of the verdict against the leaders of the opposition Islamic Renaissance Party (IRPT). Two former IRPT leaders were jailed for life in June and 11 other party members were sentenced to 14-28 years in prison in a closed trial which U.S.-based Human Rights Watch described as part of a "severe crackdown on political opposition". The classified text of their verdict has appeared this month on a Tajik opposition website based abroad. Jamshed Yorov's brother, Buzurgmehr Yorov, has been on trial since May on charges of fraud and extremism which he has dismissed as politically motivated. EU refugee relocation scheme must be bigger, quicker - UNHCR chief By Karolina Tagaris ATHENS, Aug 24 (Reuters) - A European Union scheme to relocate refugees from frontline countries Greece and Italy to other member states must be bigger and move faster, the U.N. refugee chief said in Athens on Wednesday. The programme, devised last year, was intended to relocate 160,000 from Greece and Italy to other European countries over two years but fewer than 4,000 people have moved so far. Some central European member had fought the scheme, with Hungary and Slovakia challenging the decision in EU courts. "I will certainly continue to advocate on behalf of the refugees, on behalf of the states hosting them - Italy and Greece principally - for this programme to be bigger and to be accelerated," U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi told reporters. "It is one example of European solidarity and cooperation that can and must work so we need to put all our energy in trying to make it work." Only refugees - specifically those from Syria, Iraq and Eritrea - are considered for the programme. Migrants and failed asylum seekers are not relocated but repatriated to their countries of origin. Italy's interior minister said on Tuesday that Germany had agreed to take in hundreds of people who are blocked in Italy. Asked if the programme could still work, Grandi said: "I hope that it will. Because in fact it must work." Grandi was speaking after a visit to a Syrian family from Aleppo, living in an Athens apartment under a scheme launched by the UNHCR and EU Commission. The family of seven - a mother, two grandparents and four children - were displaced for years inside Syria before fleeing to Europe this summer. They are all relocation candidates. "They left behind a good life to come here and to escape from the war," said Sofia, whose family owns the apartment and who lives with her own family in the flat above, urging other Greeks to open their homes to refugees and migrants. "We could have be in their shoes," she said. She declined to give her family name. The family are among more than 58,000 refugees and migrants, mostly from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, who have arrived in Greece since March hoping to move further north through Europe but who ended up stranded by border closures in the Balkans. Most live in difficult, unsanitary camps across the country. Greece is also seeking new facilities to alleviate overcrowding at centres on five islands. During his three-day visit to Athens, the second this year, Grandi said the UNHCR would keep pushing the EU for more support. But he also underlined that efforts to end the conflict in Syria and other war-torn countries should be stepped up. Saudi Arabia says foils attack on Shiite mosque in Qatif DUBAI, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Saudi security forces shot dead a suspected militant who tried to detonate explosives outside a mosque in the Qatif region in eastern Saudi Arabia, where many Shi'ite Muslims live, the interior ministry said on Wednesday. "The man was shot outside a mosque in the town of Um al Hamam and died while being transported to the hospital. He had explosive materials in a bag," an interior ministry spokesman was quoted as saying by Saudi state news agency SPA. Police found a Pakistani residency card on the man, the statement said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attempted attack on Tuesday but the militant Islamic State group has carried out several deadly shootings and bombings, many targeting Shi'te mosques and security personnel. Islamic State is bitterly hostile to Gulf Arab monarchies and is seen to be trying to stoke Sunni-Shi'ite sectarian confrontations in Arabian peninsula states to destabilise and ultimately overthrow their dynasties. The interior ministry said on Wednesday that a Saudi citizen and a Syrian man seized at a checkpoint in the eastern city of Dammam in August with explosives on them had planned to bomb a restaurant on the island of Tarot. "Elements of Daesh abroad instructed them to carry out a suicide attack targeting the cafe in Tarot but the help of God and the vigilance of the security forces prevented this," said the statement using an Arabic language acronym for Islamic State. France deploys reserve force, ramps anti-terror drills in new school year PARIS, Aug 24 (Reuters) - France will deploy about 3,000 reserve troops, train school authorities and ramp up school anti-terror drills in case of attacks, its education and security ministers announced on Wednesday, a week before the start of a new academic year. The French government has heightened security across the country following a series on Islamist militant attacks since January last year that has left people on the edge, with schools a feared target. About 12 million students are expected to head back to school across France from on Sept. 1. "The threat is high, it is real," Education Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, said during a joint news conference in Paris with security minister Bernard Cazeneuve. "This is not about ceding to panic or paranoia," she added. The ministers said most security measures put in place after the Nov. 13 attack in Paris such as carrying out anti-terror drills in schools will be ramped up to three from two during the school year. Around 500 school administrators will be trained every year at the national gendarme training centre to manage crisis centres and act as liaisons with security officials, while some 1.2 million students in the fourth year of secondary school are expected to be trained in first aid. Cazeneuve said security forces will be focusing on school surroundings and that 3,000 gendarme reservists will be deployed to reinforce other forces including the police. Turkish-backed rebels enter Islamic State-held Syrian town of Jarablus - rebel sources BEIRUT/KARKAMIS, Turkey, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Turkish-backed Syrian rebels entered the Islamic State-held town of Jarablus in northern Syria on Wednesday in an operation supported by Turkish tanks, special forces units and U.S.-led coalition warplanes, rebel sources said. A rebel commander with the Failaq al Sham group, who requested anonymity, told Reuters that most of the Islamic State fighters in Jarablus had pulled out, some of them surrendering. Another commander estimated up to 50 percent of the town was now under the control of the Turkish-backed rebels. "Daesh (Islamic State) fighters have withdrawn from several villages on the outskirts of Jarablus and are heading south towards the city of al Bab," the Failaq al Sham commander said. GRAND FORKS -- If University of North Dakota President Mark Kennedy has his way, unmanned aircraft systems technology will be a common tool across the university. Kennedy spoke Tuesday during the 2016 UAS Summit and Expo in Grand Forks and highlighted what the school has accomplished in terms of the technology and where he would like to see it strengthened. UND in my belief should be, among other things, Unmanned U, he said. Its one of the core strengths we have. We have a lot of great things weve been involved in and our goal is to continue to be involved in them -- and lead them and be the catalyst for growth in this region. UND is considered the first university to offer a degree program in unmanned aircraft, also known as drones, and Kennedy noted more than 200 students are enrolled in the program as of this fall. The program has roots in the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, where research, education and training efforts are centralized. The technology has found use elsewhere on campus, with staff members in the schools biology and engineering programs using the aircraft for research efforts. Opening access to the technology and spreading it across campus is Kennedys goal. Earlier this summer UAS efforts began reporting to the Presidents Office through the Division of Research and Economic Development instead of reporting to the aerospace school. The research division is headed by Grant McGimpsey, who said during a summit panel discussion Tuesday that unmanned aircraft played a large role in bringing him to UND. I came to UND about a year ago and I wouldnt be here if not for the promise that UAS provides and the great partnerships that have been described here today, he said. The universitys focus on unmanned systems has strengthened as the industry has quickly expanded in the past several years. In addition to graduating about 100 UAS students since the program was founded in 2009, the university also partners with businesses and public agencies on research projects exploring the use of drones. To secure a larger piece of the pie, Kennedy noted cooperation with other schools such as Northland Community and Technical College and Lake Region State College is necessary to keep North Dakota at the forefront of the industry. The collection of universities in North Dakota has to be tightly woven together to really go after all aspects of how we create this area as the continuing leader in unmanned systems, he said. Though it is known for its UAS education, UNDs campus also has become a hub for commercial efforts, with 24 unmanned aircraft startups renting space in its Center for Innovation. Bruce Gjovig, CEO of the center, said it has the largest collection of UAS businesses in an tech incubator in the country. We have this robust, wonderful place for innovators to really approach and get involved in the UAS industry, he said. With companies claiming niches within the ecosystem of the center and the overall region, there also an opportunity for collaboration among them. Whether at the center or in classrooms, Kennedy said he hopes to see students, educators and research partners enhance several areas of the industry ranging from sensor development to the integration of the drones into national airspace to privacy concerns. When you look at all the other things in the air, were going to find the change is not going to be moderated by the degree of the technology, he said. Our technology is advancing greatly and will continue to advance greatly, but how can we accept that as a society and as a people? Those are the issues that we as a liberal arts university need to continue to focus on. Brazil gov't urges lawmakers to pass spending cap By Alonso Soto BRASILIA, Aug 24 (Reuters) - The Brazilian government appealed on Wednesday to lawmakers to approve an unpopular cap on public spending to pull the former emerging-market star out of its worst recession in decades. Speaking to a congressional committee debating the spending cap amendment, Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles argued that Latin America's largest economy has to control soaring expenditures to regain the confidence of investors. Getting approval for the amendment is expected to be a difficult battle for interim President Michel Temer, who has vowed to bring under control fiscal accounts that cost Brazil its coveted investment-grade rating. Lawmakers from Temer's own alliance in Congress have criticized the proposed cap as potentially damaging to public health and education in a country where many schools are crumbling and hospitals lack even basic supplies. Planning Minister Dyogo Oliveira said that without the spending cap the government will be forced to raise taxes indefinitely, warning that the country's debt burden could reach the levels of Greece and Ireland during the financial crisis. "We need to be clear on the severity of the situation we are currently in. We need to be clear that if we don't do anything we will be blamed by history," Oliveira told lawmakers. Karachi's mayor-elect vows to run city from behind bars By Syed Raza Hassan KARACHI, Aug 24 (Reuters) - The mayor-elect of Karachi, detained last month on allegations that he helped militants and criminals, vowed on Wednesday to run Pakistan's largest and richest city from his prison cell. Waseem Akhtar's Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), which swept local elections in December, was prevented from taking office then because of delays in finalising local council elections in parts of the city. The final voting took place on Wednesday. Early on Wednesday, Akhtar arrived in an armoured police vehicle at the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation building to vote in elections that give MQM, which has dominated politics and commerce in Karachi for decades, an unassailable lead. "Thank you Karachi, which has gone through this election in such difficult times," Akhtar said after he voted. "It will go down in history that such an election has never before taken place in Pakistan." Security forces, political parties and criminals are all vying for greater control of Karachi, a port city that is home to 20 million people, the stock exchange and central bank, as well as militants and gangsters. MQM has dominated the city for decades but a paramilitary crackdown since 2013 has undermined its power base. Security forces have arrested scores of MQM members in the last year and accuse them of torture, murder and racketeering. MQM denies any link to crime and accuses paramilitary forces of a series of extra-judicial killings of its members. Politicians can govern from police custody under Pakistani law but it is not clear how Akhtar could run the city from his prison cell. The courts are not expected to release him before he takes his oath, a ceremony likely to be held on Aug. 30. He said he would ask the chief minister of Sindh province to allow him to open an office in jail and make "new rules" so that people could access him. His lawyer, Mahfooz Yar Khan, told reporters outside the council building that the new mayor would run Karachi via video link for the whole five-year term of office if necessary. South Africa's finance minister defends tax unit under police probe JOHANNESBURG, Aug 24 (Reuters) - South Africa's Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said on Wednesday that an investigative unit set-up while he was head of the tax authority was lawful, two days after police summoned him over concerns it breached surveillance regulations. Bulgaria seeks closer ties with Turkey to tackle migrant inflow SOFIA, Aug 24 (Reuters) - The lack of coordinated European response to the migrant flow from the Middle East means Bulgaria must work more closely with neighbouring Turkey to deal with the crisis, Prime Minister Boiko Borisov said on Wednesday. Government sources say Borisov is due to visit Turkey on Friday or Saturday, although there has been no official confirmation of the planned visit. One million migrants and refugees, many coming via Turkey which says it hosts 2.7 million Syrian refugees, arrived in Europe last year and several EU states have taken unilateral measures to tighten borders despite a deal between Ankara and Brussels which stemmed the flow from Turkey in recent months. "I do not see a perspective on a solution to the migrant crisis in Europe," Borisov said. "All I see is every country trying to save itself in panic and looking for a clause in their EU membership contract that would allow them to act separately." He also said that the "thousands and thousands" of EU regulations imposed on European Union member Bulgaria, including border monitoring and food and shelter provisions to refugees, had cost it heavily. "Our only option is to look for a partnership with Turkey," he said in a statement. Borisov's comments come as Turkey is trying to restore its economic and trade relations with Russia, which were damaged by downing a Russian jet last year - a move which Bulgaria may seek to follow. Just over two months before the presidential election, Sofia is taking steps towards warmer relations with Russia after hardening its foreign policy since the Ukraine crisis. Once a loyal Moscow ally, Bulgaria is considering reviving major Russian energy projects like the South Stream gas pipeline and the Belene nuclear power plant, which were cancelled in recent years. The ex-Communist state is almost entirely dependent on Russian energy supplies and many Bulgarians feel a deep affinity for their giant neighbour across the Black Sea. South Africa's Gordhan says under "no obligation" to meet police JOHANNESBURG, Aug 24 (Reuters) - South Africa's Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said on Wednesday he was under no obligation to present himself to police because he was not a suspect in an investigation into a covert unit in the revenue service. Nippon Steel seeks advisers for split of Brazil's Usiminas, sources say By Guillermo Parra-Bernal and Alberto Alerigi Jr SAO PAULO, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal Corp is working on a plan to split Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais SA (Usiminas) into two separate units, in a last ditch attempt to end a two-year battle with Techint Group for control of the Brazilian steelmaker, two people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. The Japanese mining and steel giant is looking for financial and legal advisers to work on the plan, which has been touted since March, said one of the people, who requested anonymity to speak freely about the issue. The person did not say which firms are competing for the role. Under terms of the plan, Nippon Steel would get the 5 million-tonne-per-year Ipatinga mill, the first person said. Techint Group, the other controlling shareholder of Usiminas, with which Nippon Steel has been at loggerheads since September 2014, would get the Cubatao mill, which has annual capacity of 4.5 million tonnes, the same person added. Italy's Techint may discuss a split if the plan forms part of an effort to end the shareholder dispute, the second person said. As an alternative to the asset split, Techint is in favor of adding a clause to their shareholder agreement allowing it or Nippon Steel to exit Usiminas under some conditions, the same person said. The split plan was backed by Paulo Penido, the former Usiminas chairman close to the Nippon Steel camp who passed away earlier this month, the people said. Yoichi Furuta, Nippon Steel's top Brazil executive, said in July that a split-up of the Ipatinga and Cubatao mills remained an option to resolve the ongoing dispute over Usiminas. Earlier in the day, Valor Economico newspaper, citing sources, said both shareholders are near reaching an agreement to divide the company into two parts. Media representatives for Nippon Steel and Techint declined to comment. Techint manages the approximately 38 percent stake it owns in Usiminas through its steelmaking unit Ternium SA. Nippon Steel owns about 31 percent of the Brazilian steelmaker. The plan to separate the main mills of Brazil's No. 1 listed maker of flat steel comes in the midst of a severe domestic slump and mounting losses. In recent weeks, both shareholders and the company concluded a capital injection and agreed to a debt refinancing deal with banks and local bondholders. Lenders that agreed last month to refinance over 4 billion reais ($1.25 billion) in loans to Usiminas have not been formally told about Nippon Steel's plan to divide the company, a third person with knowledge of the banks' strategy said. Minority shareholders, led by fellow steelmaker Cia Siderurgica Nacional SA, have balked at the split proposal, saying it would hurt Usiminas's ability to compete. CSN blames the business relationship between Nippon Steel and Techint for a significant decline in the value of Usiminas in the past two years. Preferred shares in Usiminas, the company's most widely traded class of stock, shed 1.9 percent to 3.73 reais. Common shares of the Belo Horizonte, Brazil-based steelmaker dropped 2.2 percent to 7.60 reais. U.N. Security Council discusses North Korea missile launch UNITED NATIONS, Aug 24 (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council held a closed-door meeting on Wednesday at the request of the United States and Japan to discuss North Korea's latest missile launch. North Korea fired a submarine-launched missile on Wednesday that flew more than 310 miles (500 km) toward Japan, an indication of improving technological capability for the isolated North Asian country that has conducted a series of missile launches in defiance of U.N. sanctions. Deputy Russian U.N. Ambassador Petr Iliichev said "the Americans promised to circulate a press statement" on the issue but he had not seen a draft yet. The Security Council was unable to condemn the launch of a missile by North Korea earlier this month that landed near Japan because China wanted the statement to also oppose the planned deployment of a U.S. anti-missile defense system in South Korea. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon found the launch "deeply troubling," and urged North Korea to de-escalate the situation and return to talks on denuclearization, his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Turkey-backed rebels take Syrian border town of Jarablus -state media ANKARA, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Turkey-backed rebels took control of the Syrian town of Jarablus on Wednesday, state-run Anadolu Agency said, sweeping Islamic State from one its last strongholds on the Syrian-Turkish border. Turkish forces did not sustain any casualties in the operation, which was launched early on Wednesday morning, but one Syrian rebel was killed, Anadolu said. Erdogan says Turkish-backed Syrian rebels have taken Jarablus from Islamic State ANKARA, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Turkish-backed Syrian rebels have taken the Syrian town of Jarablus back from Islamic State, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday, after an operation involving Turkish tanks and special forces backed by U.S. and Turkish jets. Colombia, FARC put 'final touches' on peace deal, says president By Sarah Marsh and Helen Murphy HAVANA/BOGOTA, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos said on Wednesday he hoped to make a big announcement later in the day as negotiators for the government and FARC rebels in Havana put the "final touches" to a peace deal to end five decades of war. "I hope to give you historic news, that is very, very important for this country," he said at the Bogota launch of a children's competition called "Depict a Colombia in Peace." "May this country that you are imagining, that you are painting, become reality," he said. "A country where children can grow without fear and with hope for the future." Cuban authorities called a news conference for 1900 EDT (2300 GMT) to mark the "closing of the negotiations with the final accord between FARC and the Colombian government." An agreement would cap nearly four years of talks in Cuba that have at times almost derailed and would still need to be voted on in a referendum and signed. FARC negotiator Pastor Alape tweeted overnight that "the days now are hours" until peace starts to take shape. Most opinion polls suggest Colombians will back the deal although there is strong opposition from those who believe the only way to deal with FARC is to crush it militarily. A deal with FARC does not guarantee an end to violence. Talks between the smaller, leftist National Liberation Army and the government recently stalled, while gangs born out of right-wing paramilitary groups are reported to have taken over some of their drug trafficking routes. But an agreement is a prerequisite for peace. A ceasefire has already sent violence to its lowest level in decades. The improved security should boost investment and tourism in the emerging markets darling, analysts say, estimating a 0.3 percent to 1 percent increase in economic growth. "If you have an improvement in overall security, foreign and national investment increases," said Sabine Kurtenbach at the Hamburg-based GIGA research institute. "Some regulations in the peace treaties like the promotion of rural areas could also really boost the Colombian economy." Halfway through his second term, Santos has staked his legacy on peace. An audit of the North Dakota Department of Human Services found child care providers were allowed to continue operating while the states largest agency was aware of instances of illegal drug use and inappropriate touching from adults. Thats one finding included in the 49-page report, which was completed by the State Auditors office for the biennium that ended June 30, 2015. It was sent to Gov. Jack Dalrymple, members of the North Dakota Legislature and DHS Executive Director Maggie Anderson, according to a July 13 letter signed by State Auditor Robert R. Peterson. The report included several concerns over early childhood services licensing, for which county licensors act as the authorized agent for DHS, the audit said. County licensors make recommendations to DHS regional supervisors for issuing licenses. The audit said the departments monitoring procedures performed by the central and regional offices are ineffective. Its early childhood services administrator and regional supervisors review county licensor activities, it added. The significant errors identified in our testing of child care provider licensing indicate these reviews are clearly ineffective at identifying material weaknesses and inconsistencies, the audit states. These situations include failure to identify incomplete application requirements, improperly licensed providers, nonperformance of unannounced inspections, backdated licenses, lack of monitoring of corrective orders, non-imposed sanctions, and lack of documented notification to parents for serious safety concerns. The report added there is an improper balance between ensuring safe quality of child care and supporting child care providers to become licensed or continue operating without meeting minimum requirements. DHS said in a response included in the report it is revising (an) administrative rule, considering policy updates, and updating state forms to ensure all work performed is properly documented and North Dakota Administrative Code and department policies are being followed. Debra McDermott, DHS chief financial officer, said the operational audit is conducted every two years. The department always looks at issues that are brought forward by the auditors office and considers all aspects, and looks into doing what we can to make sure were in compliance with Century Code and our policies, she said. MOU agreements In one finding, the audit said DHS is not properly monitoring or suspending providers and notifying parents after confirmed knowledge of activities that jeopardize the health and safety of children. Providers have been allowed to continue operating under "memorandum of understanding" agreements, but there are no state laws or administrative rules governing those MOUs. The report adds no action was taken by the department to perform further oversight of providers operating under MOU agreements and the department did not notify parents with enrolled children. Rebecca Eberhardt, early childhood services administrator at DHS, said the department follows a section of state law that says DHS shall notify parents upon the conclusion and disposition of the investigation. Moreover, DHS interprets the authority of (state law) to suspend licenses to be limited to very specific circumstances, the audit states. In its review of 58 child care provider licenses, the auditors said two MOU agreements were noted, while an additional 11 MOUs outside of those 58 licenses were identified related to providers care, reported concerns, and required corrections. The report did not specify investigation details because reports of child abuse and neglect are confidential under state law. Providers were allowed to continue operating under MOU agreements while the department was aware of activities including illegal drug use by the provider, restricted persons being present at the facility, inappropriate touching from adults, inappropriate sexual play between children, and other concerns of supervision and discipline, the audit states. Allison Bader, the auditor in charge of the report, said DHS records indicated substantiated evidence. The auditors recommended DHS further oversee providers to ensure their compliance with MOU agreements, suspend providers when children are found to be at risk of harm, and directly notify parents immediately after confirmed knowledge of activities that jeopardize the health and safety of children. In a response included in the audit, DHS said it would update policy to include further oversight of providers by the county licensors to ensure compliance with memorandum of understandings. It will also suspend providers in accordance with state law. Department policy regarding MOUs and suspensions, including notification to parents, will be reviewed and changes will be made as needed, the response adds. Eberhardt said the department issues MOUs with the goal of supporting good child care practices and to support a restricted license, to enter into an agreement on a method of correction of violation or for other assurances. Providers are supposed to receive at least two visits a year, one being an announced review and the other an unannounced one, Eberhardt said. Anytime the county social service office or the department receives a complaint about a provider, the county licensor is required to investigate, she added. For a license to be suspended, child protection services and law enforcement need to be involved and children must be in imminent danger, Eberhardt said. The department relies on law enforcement and child protection service professionals to help to determine if imminent danger or if abuse and neglect as defined by law occurred, she said. There were 965 child protection cases that had a services required determination in fiscal 2015 in North Dakota, DHS spokeswoman Heather Steffl said. Of those cases, only three involved licensed child care providers. Parents with a concern or complaint about a licensed child care provider should contact their county social service office child care licensor, Eberhardt said. But law enforcement should be called if a child is in imminent danger. Other findings The audit also found DHS policies allow child care licenses to be effective before background checks are performed by a DHS regional supervisor. Of 58 licenses that were tested, 25 were dated effective before the regional supervisors review occurred. Those policies are intended to allow for a delay in application review due to employee absences at the county and regional offices, but the department has not sufficiently considered the risk of providers and staff operating a child care facility without proper background checks, the audit report said. DHS said it has been working on administrative rule revisions based on recommendations from the Governors Advisory Committee on Child Care Licensing Process. If approved, this rule would be effective July 2017 and will ensure the effective date of the license will not occur until all documentation is received and reviewed by the regional office, the response states. State forms have already been updated to ensure background check procedures are properly documented. The DHS response also said Dalrymples budget for the current biennium included three additional full-time equivalent employees for regional supervisors due to an increased workload, as well as 1.5 FTEs to ensure background checks were completed within the timelines required by the Child Care and Development Block Grant of 2014. Those 4.5 FTEs and associated funding were removed from the DHS appropriation during the 2015 legislative session, the department said. Another finding said nine of the 58 tested provider licenses had been backdated to become effective before all licensing materials were received. One provider was issued a license after testing positive for illegal drugs, the audit said, and another had health and sanitation deficiencies that were not corrected until after the license effective date. A 5-year-old girl drowned last year in Velva while her child care providers license was expired, the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation said. Charges filed against a McHenry County social worker alleged she asked that the license to be backdated to conceal the fact it was expired at the time of the drowning. Criminal charges against the DHS director related to the Velva case were dismissed earlier this month. Eberhardt said the nine licenses included in the audit were issued incorrectly because of incomplete and delayed documentation. DHS issues licenses based on the date paperwork is turned in to the county licensor, she added. Once department staff became aware of the missing documentation, they took appropriate action including issuing MOUs, correction orders, and obtaining needed documentation, Eberhardt wrote in an email. Spain, Italy seize hashish worth $2 mln, arrest 19 alleged drug smugglers Aug 24 (Reuters) - Spanish and Italian police seized 3,300 kilograms of hashish worth $1.98 million from a boat off the Italian coast and arrested 19 Polish members of an international drug smuggling ring, Spanish authorities said on Wednesday. The operation, carried out jointly by police from Spain, Poland, Italy and Britain, targeted a organisation that was based in the Spanish province of Granada that trafficked drugs between Morocco and mainland Europe, a statement said. The 19 men were from one of four major crime groups in Poland, which police said had been involved in assassinations, theft and extortion. The group's leader was among those arrested, the statement said. Poland seeks investigation into KGMH's Quadra FNX purchase WARSAW, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Poland's Internal Security Agency (ABW) has asked prosecutors to investigate copper miner KGHM over the purchase of a Canadian firm with metal deposits in Chile, the secret services minister said on Wednesday. Minister Mariusz Kaminski said people who managed state-run KGHM from December 2010 until March 2012 may have inflicted a large loss upon the company, a crime punishable in Poland by up to 10 years in prison. KGHM bought Quadra FNX for C$2.87 billion ($2.2 billion) in 2011, the largest ever foreign acquisition by a Polish company, gaining partial ownership of the Chilean Sierra Gorda copper mine. Kaminski did not name Quadra but gave details that identified it. Herbert Wirth, KGHM chief executive at the time of Quadra purchase, told Reuters the board had conducted the transaction with due diligence. "This transaction had already been checked by the state treasury," Wirth said. KGHM's purchase of Quadra, intended to boost output and help it become a global player, was questioned by the conservative Law and Justice party (PiS) which won last year's election. The new treasury minister launched an audit into whether KGHM's investment in Sierra Gorda was justified. A KGHM spokeswoman said she would not comment on the case which was being handled by the prosecutor's office. The spokeswoman for the regional prosecutor's office in Wroclaw said she did not have information on whether the ABW's request has been delivered. Kaminski said in a statement that ABW has collected "material indicating a justified suspicion that a crime was committed in relation to the purchase of a Canadian company owning metal deposits in Chile". Kaminski said the AWB had documents that suggested KGHM made errors which led to it signing a "disadvantageous" deal. UN/OPCW inquiry blames Syria govt for gas attacks, likely sanctions fight looms By Michelle Nichols NEW YORK, Aug 24 (Reuters) - A joint investigation by the United Nations and the global chemical weapons watchdog on Wednesday found that Syrian government troops were responsible for two toxic gas attacks and that Islamic State militants used sulfur mustard gas, according to a report seen by Reuters. The year-long U.N. and Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) inquiry - unanimously authorized by the U.N. Security Council - focused on nine attacks in seven areas of Syria, where a separate OPCW fact-finding investigation had already determined that chemical weapons had likely been used. Colombia, FARC rebels reach deal to end half-century of bloodshed By Helen Murphy and Nelson Acosta BOGOTA/HAVANA, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Colombia's government and Marxist FARC rebels reached a final peace deal on Wednesday to end a five-decade war which once took the resource-rich country to the brink of collapse. Under the historic agreement to end one of the world's longest conflicts, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) will lay down arms and reintegrate into civilian life. More than 220,000 people were killed in the conflict, tens of thousands disappeared and millions fled their homes because of the violence. The accord, which was reached after almost four years of talks in Cuba, sparked celebrations in parks and bars in the Colombian capital, Bogota. It will now go to a plebiscite vote on Oct. 2. "Today I can say - from the bottom of my heart - that I have fulfilled the mandate that you gave me," said President Juan Manuel Santos, 65, who was re-elected in 2014 on the promise of a peace deal. "Colombians: the decision is in your hands. Never before have our citizens had within their reach the key to their future," he said in a televised address. Most opinion polls suggest Colombians will back the deal but Santos, who has staked his legacy on peace, will face fierce opposition from powerful sectors of the country who believe the only solution is to finish the FARC militarily. The deal is opposed by two former Colombian presidents, including popular right-wing hardliner Alvaro Uribe. In Bogota, several hundred people gathered around a giant screen in the rain to listen to the announcement, waving Colombian flags and banners. "I'm so happy. It was time to end the war," said Margarita Nieto, a 28-year-old accountant. "I know what is coming will be hard, but together we can cope." Others are more skeptical about the terms of the agreement, especially the participation of FARC rebels in politics and the fact that they will not serve jail time for crimes committed during the war. "The future worries me," said Susana Antequeria, 30, as she milled around the screen. "But I'll put up with it for peace." Under the deal, the FARC will have non-voting representation in Congress until 2018 and can participate in elections. From then on, the 7,000 former rebels will have to win votes like any other political party, Santos said. The final text of the deal will be sent to Colombia's Congress on Thursday and will be available on the internet and social media, he said. "We have won the most beautiful of all battles" lead FARC negotiator Ivan Marquez said following the announcement in Havana on Wednesday. "The war with arms is over, now begins the debate of ideas." The two sides had signed a ceasefire in late June. U.S. President Barack Obama spoke by phone with Santos on Wednesday to congratulate him on the deal, the White House said. PEACE DIVIDEND The FARC took up arms in 1964 to fight against deep economic and social inequalities and, funded by the cocaine trade and kidnappings for ransom, swelled to as many as 17,000 fighters at the end of the 1990s, controlling large swathes of the country. But the FARC were hit hard by Uribe's government from 2002, when he launched a U.S.-backed offensive that killed many guerrilla leaders and halved their ranks. An agreement with the FARC does not guarantee an end to political violence. Talks between the smaller, leftist National Liberation Army and the government have stalled. Criminal gangs born out of right-wing paramilitary groups that were active during the worst periods of the conflict have since taken over some key drug trafficking routes. Still, violence is at its lowest level in decades. Santos says peace will add one percentage point annually to the economy, though many economists believe most of the benefits of the so-called peace dividend have already been reaped. Key to securing a sustainable peace is additional investment in Colombia's poorer, rural areas, though deep infrastructure problems across the mountainous nation may stymie progress. Other Latin American insurgencies were crushed by right-wing governments or convinced to join conventional politics by the 1990s. In El Salvador, the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front signed peace in 1992 and became a political party. It won power in a 2009 presidential election and was re-elected two years ago. UN/OPCW inquiry blames Syria govt for gas attacks, likely sanctions fight looms By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Syrian government troops were responsible for two toxic gas attacks and Islamic State militants used sulfur mustard gas, a joint investigation by the United Nations and the global chemical weapons watchdog found on Wednesday, according to a confidential report seen by Reuters. The year-long U.N. and Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) inquiry - unanimously authorized by the U.N. Security Council - focused on nine attacks in seven areas of Syria, where a separate OPCW fact-finding investigation had already determined that chemical weapons had likely been used. Eight of the attacks investigated involved the use of chlorine. The inquiry was unable to reach a conclusion in six cases, though it said that three of those cases warranted further investigation. The results set the stage for a Security Council showdown between the five veto-wielding powers, likely pitting Russia and China against the United States, Britain and France over whether sanctions should be imposed in the wake of the inquiry. "It is essential that the members of the Security Council come together to ensure consequences for those who have used chemical weapons in Syria," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power said in a statement. "We strongly urge all states to support strong and swift action by the Security Council." The 15-member Security Council is due to discuss the report next week. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the report would be made public after that meeting. The inquiry found there was sufficient information to conclude that Syrian Arab Air Force helicopters dropped devices that then released toxic substances in Talmenes on April 21, 2014 and Sarmin on March 16, 2015, both in Idlib governorate. Both cases involved the use of chlorine. The Syrian mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the finding of the report. It also determined there was sufficient information to conclude that Islamic State militants were the "only entity with the ability, capability, motive and the means to use sulfur mustard gas in Marea on 21 August, 2015." The White House said the U.S.-led coalition targeting Islamic State militants in Syria would "continue to remove leaders from the battlefield with knowledge of these weapons and will target any related materials and attempts to manufacture such chemicals." Syria agreed to destroy its chemical weapons in 2013 under a deal brokered by Moscow and Washington. The Security Council backed that deal with a resolution that said in the event of non-compliance, "including unauthorized transfer of chemical weapons, or any use of chemical weapons by anyone" in Syria, it would impose measures under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter. Chapter 7 deals with sanctions and authorization of military force by the Security Council. The body would need to adopt another resolution to impose targeted sanctions - a travel ban and asset freeze - on people or entities linked to the attacks. However, Russia - a close Syrian ally - and China have previously protected the Syrian government from council action by blocking several resolutions, including a bid to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court. "The use of these weapons is abhorrent and we unequivocally condemn those who unleash them," British U.N. Ambassador Matthew Rycroft told the council on Monday. "This council must stand ready to demonstrate a robust response to this report." In the case of the attack in Sarmin, the U.N./OPCW inquiry found that the remnants of the device dropped "are consistent with the construction of a barrel bomb." Barrel bombs are steel drums full of shrapnel and explosives dropped from the air. It said attacks in Kafr Zita in Hama governorate on April 18, 2014, Qmenas, in Idlib governorate on March 16, 2015, and Binnish in Idlib governorate on March 24, 2015, merit further investigation. Power said she expected the U.N./OPCW inquiry to continue its investigation into those cases and any other chemical weapons attacks confirmed and referred by the OPCW fact-finding investigation. The inquiry did not recommend further investigation of the remaining three cases in Kafr Zita on April 11, 2014, and Al-Tamanah on April 29-30, 2014, and May 25-26, 2014. The separate OPCW fact-finding investigation had found chlorine has been "systematically and repeatedly" used as a weapon during the Syrian conflict. Government and opposition forces have denied using chlorine. Chlorine's use as a weapon is prohibited under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention, which Syria joined in 2013. If inhaled, chlorine gas turns to hydrochloric acid in the lungs and can kill by burning lungs and drowning victims in the resulting body fluids. Mississippi man sentenced to 8 years for trying to join Islamic State Aug 24 (Reuters) - A Mississippi man was sentenced to eight years in prison on Wednesday for conspiring to provide material support to Islamic State after he and his wife planned with an undercover FBI employee to travel to Syria to join the militant group, prosecutors said. Muhammad Oda Dakhlalla, 23, of Starkville, Mississippi, pleaded guilty in March to one conspiracy count. U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock in Oxford, Mississippi, also ordered Dakhlalla to serve 15 years of supervised released once his prison term is up, prosecutors said in a statement. A lawyer for Dakhlalla could not immediately be reached for comment. Dakhlalla's 20-year-old wife, Jaelyn Delshaun Young, was sentenced to 12 years in prison at a hearing on Aug. 11. U.S. prosecutors have brought dozens of criminal cases against U.S. citizens related to their support of Islamic State, which is also known as ISIS or ISIL or Daesh and is listed as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department. Young's Twitter posts about her desire to join Islamic State caught the attention of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in May 2015, and an FBI employee posing as an Islamic State recruiter began corresponding with her and Dakhlalla, according to court papers filed by U.S. prosecutors in the case. Dakhlalla told an FBI employee in one exchange, according to the court papers: "I am willing to fight. I want to be taught what it really means to have that heart in battle!" Canada takes tougher line with China over canola export dispute By David Ljunggren OTTAWA, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Canada hardened its line with China on Wednesday in a dispute over Canadian canola exports, saying bilateral relations could not improve until Beijing took action to settle the matter. Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland made the remarks in an interview just days before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is due to visit Beijing on a trip designed to deepen economic and political ties. China says that starting on Sept. 1, it will toughen its inspection standard for canola over concerns about the crop disease blackleg, threatening C$2 billion ($1.6 billion) in Canadian exports of the oilseed. Freeland, stressing she felt Ottawa had addressed Beijing's concerns, said she was "pushing very hard on this" and would be raising the matter with Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng by phone later on Wednesday. "It's important ... the Chinese understand this is not some side issue. This is a priority issue for Canada," she said, noting that when the Liberal government came to power last year, Trudeau instructed her to expand trade with China. "We cannot take the next step in our relationship with China until the canola issue is resolved. ... We expect some action from China. Our canola is absolutely safe," she added. Canada is the world's biggest exporter of canola, used mainly to produce vegetable oil. Exporters, including Richardson International, Viterra Inc and Cargill Ltd, stand to lose sales to Canada's biggest canola export market. Freeland said she did not know whether the dispute could be settled by the Sept. 1 deadline. A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa said it could not immediately comment on the canola discussions The matter threatens to overshadow the visit of Trudeau, who is promising to improve Canada's relationship with China after a rocky 10-year period under the former Conservative government. China has raised concerns for years about blackleg spreading from Canadian canola into Chinese crops of rapeseed, another name for the oilseed. Traders suggest China's real reason for a higher standard is that its domestic rapeseed oil stocks are high. The issue is a personal one for Freeland, whose father is a Canadian canola farmer. "I have asked my dad today to send me a jar of canola he has just combined, which I'm going to take with me to China and I'm going to give it to Minister Gao," she said. Florida governor complains U.S. not doing enough to fight Zika By Julie Steenhuysen and Zachary Fagenson CHICAGO/MIAMI, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Florida Governor Rick Scott said on Wednesday the federal government had so far not delivered all the Zika antibody tests and laboratory support he had requested as the state battles the spread of the virus. The complaint came as Zika cases mounted in some of the state's most popular tourist destinations and some residents pushed for more information. On Wednesday, the Florida Department of Health reported a second non-travel related case of Zika in Palm Beach County, bringing the state's total to 43. That followed Tuesday's announcement of Florida's first case of Zika transmitted by mosquitoes in Pinellas County, 265 miles (425 km) from Miami where the first locally transmitted U.S. cases were reported. Health officials warned pregnant women last week not to travel to Miami Beach after Florida confirmed the mosquito-borne Zika virus was active there, becoming the second area in Miami to be affected after Wynwood. The Zika virus was first detected in Brazil last year and has since spread across the Americas. The virus poses a risk to pregnant women because it can cause severe birth defects. It has been linked to more than 1,800 cases of microcephaly in Brazil. In a teleconference on Wednesday, Scott made a plea for more support in fighting Zika, complaining that "Congress and the White House have not been good partners." Scott said he asked the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for 5,000 Zika antibody tests last week, but so far had only received less than 1,200. He had also asked for additional lab support personnel to speed testing. Scott also said the state had asked the CDC for 10,000 Zika prevention kits for pregnant women, which had not been provided. It has also asked the White House for a detailed plan on how to work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which he said had not been provided. CDC spokesman Tom Skinner said the agency had been responding to Florida's requests. "CDC has and will continue to provide the support to Florida to address the Zika outbreak. We've provided millions in federal funds, deployed personnel and we've shipped materials for testing and more for testing still to come," Skinner said in an email. NEEDING INFORMATION In a Miami Beach neighborhood on Wednesday, workers from the Florida Department of Health went door to door to talk to residents about the virus and offer voluntary tests. Among the area residents was 32-year-old jogger Jen Cheek, who said health workers told her they would respond by email to her inquiries about the speed of the virus' spread. "There's a lot of people in my life right now who have young children or are pregnant," said Cheek. "We need as much information as possible." Scott made some of the same complaints about the CDC last week, including the request for 10,000 Zika prevention kits. Asked about delays in delivering the kits in a conference call on Friday, CDC Director Thomas Frieden said the agency had already provided 10,000 products containing the insect repellant DEET for use in Florida. Frieden said the Zika prevention kits contained a number of products that would not necessarily be useful in Florida. In addition to insect repellent, the kits include bed nets, larvicide tablets and condoms. "We sent the state of Florida more than $35 million for Zika and other emergencies. That includes funds to purchase the other products they might want in a Zika prevention kit," he said. As for the request on Friday of 5,000 antibody test kits, Frieden said: "We've already arranged for them and they will begin shipping on Tuesday." The CDC said in a statement late on Wednesday that it planned another shipment of antibody test kits for Thursday, giving Florida the ability to conduct 6,300 Zika antibody tests. Frieden also said the CDC had provided Florida laboratories with technical support. As for the new case in Palm Beach County, Scott said he believed it was not related to an earlier non-travel related case announced earlier in the same county. An opinion piece carried without byline in Mint on August 23, 2016 made an attempt to straighten out the false narrative of the Indian state in Kashmir, and the ongoing attempt to paint it as a brutal, rogue regime. While the editorial tries to bookend the piece with caveats and concerns about the 70 till-date deaths in the Valley since 22-year-old Hizbul militant Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter, and the grievances of the civilians against the Indian state, what it basically goes on to do is explain why the Indian state, despite its top-level mishandling of the situation and regular hyperbole of the crudest variety emanating from the tallest leaders themselves, is nevertheless, innocent of the charges being levelled at it. No cosmetic surgery to fix the image of a disfigured political reality would rectify the situation for Kashmiris. The backbone of the true narrative that the editorial wants us to learn is that the Indian state is only a stoic defender of peace and tranquility in the Valley, and all the deaths and blindings and injuries are unfortunate collateral damages, which by the way are statistically insignificant to merit any harsh global censure. This gem of a line from its third paragraph sums it up: Heartless as it may sound, a casualty figure of 70 in 45 days of controlling very violent crowds shows exemplary restraint by the Indian forces. Moreover, the crowds in the Valley are constantly painted as a rogue population that has sprung out of control, as if Kashmiri youths, even schoolchildren, are sheep who will not react when they see their home state in such a violent turmoil. The editorial has no word on the recent beating to death in police custody of a 30-year-old Kashmiri lecturer, nor has it any sage advice on the reports about women being beaten up by paramilitary force personnel while they were on their way to the hospital. The editorial is similarly silent on the extremely difficult circumstances under which the SMHS hospital in Srinagar had to function, with medical supplies depleted, very little cellular or internet network leading to a complete communication breakdown during the nonstop emergencies. While the piece says that protesters who throw stones, petrol bombs and grenades at the paramilitary forces, are barely out of their teens and are being misled by a gradual Islamicisation of the Kashmir valley, it chooses to stay mum on the poisonous miasma of Hindutva-laced nationalism that is eating at the very fabric of a secular India, to which the Kashmiri Muslims should ideally feel an allegiance to. When the question is asked what are their political objectives and if they are being used by separatist and Islamist forces in the Valley, well the logical corollary to that set of inquiry is what about the alternative? The reciprocal fundamentalism of Islamicisation and Hindutva would only widen the gap between the ordinary Kashmiri Muslim and the Indian, unless the Indian happens to be a Dalit, or a university student accused of sedition merely for his political beliefs. Questions have been asked why pellet guns and similar riot-control mechanism were not used during the Jat agitation that rocked Haryana earlier this year, in which youths went on a rampage and destroyed property worth Rs several crores. The truth, tangentially touched upon in the editorial, is that more than an unrest that can be quelled militarily, the situation in Kashmir is approaching like it was in the early 1990s, with senior journalist Prem Shankar Jha dubbing it an uprising, a possible second intifada. How can Kashmir, the most militarised zone in the world, under the brutal thumb of AFSPA, feel any more connect with the Indian state under the Narendra Modi regime when non-Kashmiri Muslims and Dalits are increasingly feeling estranged. As senior journalists reporting from the ground in Kashmir have observed, theres unanimity of sentiment that has crystallised against India and that sentiment is one of anger and hopelessness. Like Burhan Wani, it is embracing the call for azaadi because of serial betrayals and not just from the Modi government, but also the regimes that came before this one, both local and central. The editorial is disturbing for another reason. Just like the official upholders of the Indian state narrative, this piece too is concerned more about the sullied image of the Indian state in the international arena and less about the lives lost in the 45-day curfew so far. Evidently, it is worse to be seen perpetrating brutal suppression of a mass uprising than to be actually doing it. The Dakota Access Pipeline protests returned to the Bismarck-Mandan area Tuesday, as protesters walked across the Memorial Bridge and testified before the Morton County Commission. Several speakers asked the commissioners to remove a roadblock that prevents drivers from traveling south on Highway 1806 from Mandan to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, though commission chairman Cody Schulz said after the meeting the commission does not have authority to remove the block. Speakers told the commissioners and the approximately 30 people who attended the meeting that the block impedes travel, punishes the tribe's economy and can be humiliating to cross. The highway has been blocked since Aug. 17, when Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said the protest had become unlawful and the road unsafe, points the protesters have contested throughout the week. Marilyn Kary, who works in Fort Yates, said the roadblock makes it difficult for teachers on the reservation who commute. Chase Iron Eyes, the Democratic candidate for North Dakota's lone U.S. House seat, said the roadblock was intended to punish the tribe and has disadvantaged businesses in the region. He said Native Americans and white North Dakotans tend to live in separate worlds. "Interactions should be encouraged," he said, suggesting the block did the opposite by preventing commerce. Cody Hall of Eagle Butte, S.D., spokesman for the Red Warrior Camp, said the blockade simply sets the wrong tone. "It felt like what black people felt in the South," he told commissioners, adding that he was questioned at the blockade, while a white friend was not. Clyde Bellecourt, co-founder of the American Indian Movement, asked members of the Morton County Commission to consider what future generations would think if the water were contaminated. "I'm 80 years old. I've lived my life. I don't want my grandchildren to ever question," he said. "Grandpa, why didn't you say nothing?" He encouraged the commissioners to visit the protest camps. "You have nothing to be afraid of," he said. Earlier on Tuesday, about 200 protesters took their cause to the Memorial Bridge, staging a peaceful march from Bismarck to Mandan. Banners, bright regalia and flags of many Native American nations were presented as smart phones and a drone documented the latest chapter in the protest. At the staging area, multiple speakers encouraged songs and prayers from participants. Drums pounded in support of discontinuing pipeline construction. Many protesters held up bottled water mixed with oil to represent the contamination they believe the pipeline would cause to their drinking water, reminding everyone present the water had to be safe for future generations. Shouts of "save our water" could be heard by protesters as they ascended the bridge. There was little presence of law enforcement for most of the demonstration except for when North Dakota Highway Patrol troopers and local police briefly blocked traffic as marchers crossed to Front Avenue to reach the pedestrian portion of the bridge. The protesters kept to the walkway and held up their signs as motorists honked their horns. Those gathered Tuesday insisted their message has been a peaceful one. "I am here because of the water, because of the grandchildren," said Nora Old Man, who held up a water bottle and sang with her grandsons. Sunny Red Bear, of Eagle Butte, S.D., said she was participating in the march for her 7-year-old son who joined her Tuesday. "This is about our future. This is about thinking generationally. This is about everyone it affects, community after community. They are choosing oil, wealth and money over our future. I want to protect that the best I can and to show my son to stand up for what's right." NEAR CANNON BALL -- Construction wont immediately restart on a $3.8 billion pipeline if a judge rules against the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe after a court hearing Wednesday, Aug. 24. Dakota Access LLC, which temporarily stopped construction last week amid growing tribal protests near the pipelines planned crossing of the Missouri River, will wait for law enforcement to determine its safe to resume construction, Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said Wednesday morning. That call will depend on how protesters react to the ruling, if its favorable to Dakota Access, Kirchmeier said. Weve done everything we possibly could to make sure this stays safe, he said. Law enforcement officers met with tribal leaders and protest organizers Wednesday morning and had a positive dialogue, the sheriff said. There are 40 officers on site near the confluence of the Missouri and Cannonball rivers, which has drawn 2,000-some protesters camped nearby, many from tribes across the region and the country. Fargo police officers and deputies from Cass and Grand Forks counties are among the agencies assisting Morton County deputies. Standing Rock members oppose the river crossing, fearing a pipeline leak would contaminate their water supply and other sacred sites. The tribe is represented by the environmental law group Earthjustice in the lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over permits issued for the pipeline, which would cross the Missouri River a half-mile north of the reservation and be the largest oil pipeline from the Bakken oil fields, moving 450,000 barrels per day to Patoka, Ill. Dakota Access temporarily stopped construction near the river crossing site as protests ramped up, leading to 29 arrests for trespassing or disorderly conduct. A federal judge in Washington, D.C., will consider Wednesday the tribes request for an injunction that would effectively halt construction of the 1,172-mile pipeline. A lawyer for the tribe said the judge has indicated he will rule from the bench or shortly after the hearing. Vic Camp, a 41-year-old from South Dakotas Pine Ridge Reservation, said Tuesday that protesters will refrain from violence if the judges ruling doesnt go their way. The only way violence will happen is if the cops provoke it and they attack us, he told Forum News Service, adding, We have our women and we have our children. We have grandparents here. When asked what will happen if the judge denies the injunction and Dakota Access tries to resume construction, Camp said, Then well start blockading. Well do what we can with our bodies to keep the machines from coming in, he said. A checkpoint on State Highway 1806 about 6 miles south of Mandan has been restricting traffic to the protest area for days, but an additional blockade was added Wednesday. Due to concerns about the safety of protesters who may march from the campsites to the construction site, authorities set up a second checkpoint farther south near Fort Rice and were preventing any vehicles from passing through. Check back later for an update on this developing story. President Rodrigo Duterte's threat to withdraw the Philippines from the United Nations, later cushioned by his foreign secretary, is the latest flamboyantly irreverent utterance from a politician who has disparaged the pope, human rights advocates, the United States and other countries who controvert his worldview. His devil-may-care expletives against criminality, corruption and government incompetence helped him build a name as Davao city mayor before he claimed an overwhelming presidential race win that mirrored the depth of public exasperation over the social ills he abhorred. Many in the margins of society are enamored by his death threats against criminals, his anti-establishment rhetoric and his moments of sex-laced gutter humor. Opponents are bewildered, or are growing alarmed, by his rhetoric and the rising toll in his deadly battle against drugs. Some of the memorable broadsides on Duterte's growing list of them: ON THE UNITED NATIONS: "Maybe we'll just have to decide to separate from the United Nations. If you're that rude, we'll just leave you. So take us out of your organization, you have done nothing here anyway ... I would invite maybe China, the African ... Why don't they just form another organization? Why do you have to listen to this stupid (organization)?" At a post-midnight news conference Sunday over remarks by U.N.-appointed rapporteurs about drug killings. ON U.S. AID AND DIPLOMATS: "We were talking to (U.S. Secretary of State John) Kerry, he's OK but I had a feud with his gay ambassador. Son of a bitch, I'm annoyed with that guy. He meddled in the elections, giving statements here and there ... So that Kerry, he came here and we had lunch and he left $33 million with me and (Defense Secretary) Delfin Lorenzana. I said, ahhh this is OK, let's insult them again so this fool will make a compromise. So this is just about money." To army troops this month after receiving U.S. financial assistance for law enforcement training. ON DRUG SUSPECTS: "The drug people are really insulting us. You know, I said, they are destroying the country and they are destroying the youth of the land. So my appeal to them is, since they are beyond redemption, they can stop and commit suicide because I will not allow these idiots to run their show, not during my watch ... Now, this Peter Lim, ... he goes in and out of the Philippines. ... I'm sure the Chinese authorities are listening now, better tell him. Do not come back to the Philippines anymore. The moment he steps out of the plane, he will die." At a news conference in July. ON THE JUDICIARY: "I'm warning you and not me being warned. Do not create a crisis because I will order everybody in the executive department not to honor you. You want to have a frank talk? ... You're the kingpin of the judiciary. I am the president. I have a job to do and you don't have one. No judges patrol the streets. No sheriff of yours makes arrests ... Please don't order me around ... If this continues, you stop me, OK ... or would you rather that I declare martial law?" After Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno wrote that only the high court is authorized to discipline judges after Duterte linked a few judges to illegal drugs. ON A SENATOR INVESTIGATING HIS CRACKDOWN: "Here is a senator complaining when one day I will tell you, her driver, who was her lover, was the one also collecting money for her during the campaign. Here is an immoral woman flaunting, well, of course, in so far as the wife of the driver was concerned, it's adultery. Here is a woman who funded the house of her lover and yet, we do not see any complaints about it. Those money readily came from drugs." In a speech this month blasting Sen. Leila de Lima, who has denied any wrongdoing and continues to lead a Senate committee investigation of drugs-related killings under Duterte's crackdown. ON A SLAIN MISSIONARY: "I looked at her face, son of a bitch, she looks like a beautiful actress in America. Son of a bitch, what a waste. What came to mind was, they raped her, they lined up on her there. I was angry because she was raped, that's one thing. But she was so beautiful, the mayor should have been first. What a waste." Joking at a campaign event in April about the gang rape and killing of an Australian missionary by inmates in a 1989 Davao jail siege. ON THE POPE'S VISIT: "I wanted to call him, 'Pope, go home. Don't visit here anymore." After a monstrous traffic jam that trapped him and many others in January 2015. Duterte apologized after bishops condemned his language. We continue to see the expansion of freedom and the economic prosperity around the world. And yet, despite having enjoyed such freedom and its fruits for centuries, the West is stuck in a crisis of moral imagination. For all of its blessings, modernity has led many of us to pair our comfort and prosperity with a secular, naturalistic ethos, relishing in our own strength and designs and trusting in the power of reason to drive our ethics. The result is a uniquely moralistic moral vacuum, a liberal paradox, as Gaylen Byker calls it a hunger for meaning and values in an age of freedom and plenty. In the past, American prosperity has been buoyed by the strength of its institutions: religious, civil, political, economic, and otherwise. But as writers such as Yuval Levin and Charles Murray have aptly outlined, the religious and institutional vibrancy that Alexis de Tocqueville once hailed appears to be dwindling, making the space between individual and state increasingly thin. The revival and restoration of religious and civic life is essential if we hope to cultivate a free and virtuous society, occurring across spheres and sectors, from the family to business, from the church to political institutions. Given the increasing attacks on religious liberty, Christian colleges and universities are standing particularly tall, even as they endure some of the highest heat. In a recent talk for the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, David Brooks demonstrates the cultural importance of retaining that liberty, explaining how his recent experiences with Christian educational institutions have affirmed their role in weaving (or re-weaving) the fabric of American life. (Read his full remarks here.) For Brooks, who teaches at Yale University, the students he typically encounters in secular universities are languishing due to a lack of moral vocabulary. They are coming from a vacuum of moral imagination, and they are entering a sphere that, quite often, is not much richer. Many of todays young people simply have no context for transcendence: [The students] have not been provided with a moral vocabulary, so the only vocabulary they have is a utilitarian one. They use economic concepts like opportunity cost in an attempt to understand their lives. They have not been taught words like grace, sin, redemption and virtue that would enable them to get a handhold on whats going on inside. They assume that the culture of expressive individualism is the eternal order of the universe and that meaning comes from being authentic to self. They have a combination of academic and career competitiveness and a lack of a moral and romantic vocabulary that has created a culture that is professional and not poetic, pragmatic and not romantic. The head is large, and the heart and soul are backstage. For distinctly Christian institutions, however, such questions remain at the center. You guys are the avant-garde of 21st century culture, Brooks says, speaking to a room of Christian educators. You have what everybody else is desperate to have: a way of talking about and educating the human person in a way that integrates faith, emotion and intellect. What the world craves continues to be the light that faithful churches and institutions are holding. Bellies and storehouses may be presently packed with material prosperity, but the hunger for virtue and character will persist, and the fruits of the former are only possible if we water the roots of the latter. The popularity or cultural acceptance of institutions that supply these answers may be dwindling, but as cultural pressure increases, the Gospel may in fact get more visibility. As the wheat separates from the chaff, the distinct witness of the church is likely to grow more compelling. As Brooks as notes, the Gospel, when applied, offers more than enough meat to satisfy, whether at an educational institution or in other spheres of society: Many of our institutions, and especially our universities, dont do much to help our graduates achieve that transcendence. But for Christian universities and other religious institutions, this is bread and butter. This is the curriculum. This is the chapel service. This is the conversation students are having late at night. Its lived out. Now, you in this room, have the Gospel. You have the example of Jesus Christ. You have the beatitudes; the fire of the Holy Spirit; you believe in a personal God who is still redeeming the world. As Pope Francis demonstrated, when a single person acts like Jesus, the whole world is transfixed. Carrying the Gospel is your central mission to your students and to those you serve beyond the campus walls, but thats not all you have. You have a way of being that is not all about self. You have a counterculture to the excessive individualism of our age. You offer an ideal more fulfilling and more true and higher than the ideal of individual autonomy. For most of us, our inner nature is formed by that kind of covenant in which the good of the relationship takes place and precedence over the good of the individual. For all of us, religious or secular, life doesnt come from how well you keep your options open but how well you close them off and realize a higher freedom. Brooks offers a strong portrait of but one source of such witness (the university), and it serves as a helpful prod for how we ought to pursue such renewal across other spheres, as well. Without a renewed moral imagination and a transcendent philosophy of love and life, the West will continue to crave meaning and values, regardless of its political freedoms or economic status. God calls us to a higher freedom than the individualism of this age. It is up to each of us to be the moral witness of such freedom, in our families, churches, schools, businesses, and communities. As we continue to fight for the political and religious liberty that makes such flourishing possible, we can continue building and rebuilding right where we are. Wheres the Coverage? Four Palestinians Killed by Palestinians in Clashes | Main | Updated with Correction: Another Biased Headline by Reuters August 24, 2016 Reuters Headline Describes Palestinian Attacker As "Driver" The Israeli army today reported that a Palestinian attacker was killed after he stabbed a soldier. But a Reuters headline about the attack suggests the man was killed while doing no more than driving his car: "Israeli soldier shoots dead Palestinian driver in West Bank: army." By contrast, here's how Reuters described an incident in Belgium earlier this month in which an attacker was killed after slashing police officers: Why, then, isn't today's story headlined something like "Man wounds Israeli soldier in stabbing attack"? Unfortunately, distorted and misleading headlines about anti-Israel violence seem to be all the rage. Reuters' Jerusalem bureau chief Luke Baker, especially, is no stranger to skewed journalism and double standards. But wait: Hasn't this same Luke Baker criticized headlines that cast attackers as nothing more than innocent victims? After CBS published headline about an anti-Israel attack that read, "3 Palestinians killed as daily violence grinds on," Baker called CBS's wording "horrible": You can find that tweet by Baker here: https://twitter.com/LukeReuters/status/694959536680124416. Or not. The post has mysteriously vanished from Twitter, and now all you'll see is this: The original tweet is gone, without a trace. Almost: The disappearance of the post might seem strange. But then again, it sure would look bad if Baker's own bureau repeatedly publishes headlines of the type that he himself said were "horrible." And it does look bad. But it might look equally bad for a journalist to surreptitiously delete his own tweets. Aug. 25 update: Reuters has informed CAMERA that it has fixed its poor headline. See details here. Posted by GI at August 24, 2016 03:50 PM Unbelievably shameful headline. Hard to believe this kind of journalism exists. This would be like Reuters having this headline for 9/11. Arabs were killed in a plane when Americans threw the twin towers in middle of its flight path. Posted by: Ken Kelso at August 25, 2016 09:35 AM Worth knowing that Luke Baker seems to be in league with Ben White (or vice versa) https://mobile.twitter.com/LukeReuters/status/718370329672990722 Posted by: James at August 25, 2016 10:33 AM Guidelines for posting This is a moderated blog. We will not post comments that include racism, bigotry, threats, or factually inaccurate material. Post a comment RICHMOND Dominion Virginia Power won approval Tuesday to bury about 400 miles of power lines, and to charge its typical customer an extra $6 a year to pay for the $140 million project. The utility will spend an average of $350,000 per mile to reach about 6,000 customers and will add 50 cents to the average customer bill starting next month. The State Corporation Commission on Tuesday approved the project as a pilot program after voting down the utility's first attempt to recover costs for burying lines. Dominion originally had sought to implement a broader program that would cost about $263 million, but state regulators were skeptical of the cost. In its hearing earlier this year for the pilot program, an expert witness for Dominion argued that the impact of line burial in reducing outages during storms would include economic and societal benefits of more than $2 for every dollar spent on the project. The SCC said it has placed a $140 million "hard cap" on the cost for identifying and replacing lines in the pilot program. The company was given approval to place a rider on customer bills of about 50 cents per 1,000 kWh of usage. Dominion spokesman David Botkins said the lines are in various parts of the state, in residential areas that have had "chronically poor reliability or numerous outages over the last 10 years." Specific locations were not immediately available. "We have identified some of the worst-performing circuits in our service territory, and the object is to underground lines in those areas to improve the reliability of the entire system," he said. Dominion already has been proceeding with replacing some lines after the General Assembly passed legislation in 2014 allowing electric utilities to spend up to 5 percent of their total revenue to move power lines underground. Depending on the results of the pilot program, Dominion may seek to move up to 4,000 miles of lines underground, serving as many as 150,000 customers. However, the SCC said its approval of the pilot program "does not predetermine approval of any other investment in the strategic underground program." Dominion says that moving lines underground helps to free crews to restore power in other places during outages. "Given the overwhelming support of our customers and the General Assembly for this innovative program to make our electric service even more reliable, we strongly believe it should continue beyond this first phase," Dominion said in a statement on Tuesday. RICHMOND Following the settlement of a lawsuit, the Afton-based makers of the kombucha drink Barefoot Bucha are on a hunt for a new name for their beverage. In April, California-based E. & J. Gallo Winery filed a lawsuit alleging trademark infringement and unfair competition against Conscious Cultures, which produces Barefoot Bucha. Gallo has made wine, spritzers and sparkling wine under the Barefoot brand since 1986. Survey evidence shows that consumers are confused into thinking that [Barefoot Bucha] is from, sponsored by, or affiliated with Gallos BAREFOOT brand, the lawsuit states. The two companies reached a settlement in which Conscious Cultures agreed to change the name of its kombucha drink. Gallo voluntarily dismissed the case on July 11, without prejudice to Conscious Cultures, according to court records. It certainly was a surprise, said Kate Zuckerman, co-owner of Conscious Cultures, of the lawsuit. She founded the company with her husband, Ethan Zuckerman, in 2010. We felt that kombucha and wine are very different products and sold in very different places and there was not a likelihood of confusion there ... [but] we decided the best way to handle [the lawsuit] would be to settle our differences amicably. Kombucha is a fermented tea that has been lauded for its health benefits. It contains probiotics that promote a healthy digestive system. Conscious Cultures is now hosting a contest to find a new name for its kombucha drink, seeking suggestions from the general public for both a name and logo. One of the things that has stuck out in the past few months as weve gone through the process of the lawsuit was the support [we received] from the community friends and family, and people who would just approach us in the grocery store, Kate Zuckerman said. We wanted to figure out how to involve the community in the process of picking the new name. The Zuckermans worked with the marketing team at Whole Foods Market, which sells Barefoot Bucha, to develop the contest, which is limited to residents of Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., where the drink is sold. Were really excited to open this up because I feel like there are a lot of creative people in the area, Kate Zuckerman said. The contest will run through Sept. 12. The prize is a one-year supply of kombucha estimated to be a $936 value provided through the winners local Whole Foods Market, according to Conscious Cultures. Barefoot Bucha is sold as a draft beverage, allowing customers to buy it in reusable bottles that they can refill later in an effort to encourage sustainability and reduce waste, Kate Zuckerman explained. She said the company should officially finish the rebranding process by the end of this year. In the meantime, the company will continue to sell its beverage under the name Barefoot Bucha. Were excited about the rebranding process, Zuckerman said. Were really trying to embrace it as a good moment in time. Next year, well be opening a brewery [in the Charlottesville area] with a tasting component to the public. Its better to do this now rather than a couple years down the road. Katie Demeria writes for the Richmond Times-Dispatch Police arrested a man Tuesday in connection to a reported knife attack on Saturday on the Downtown Mall. Dwayne Thomas Robinson, 34, faces a charge of malicious wounding after police responded to the mall near CVS and the Landmark Hotel and found a male victim who said he was involved in a disorder with another male when he felt a sharp pain in his arm near his elbow, according to police. When he saw he had been cut, he went to the CVS to obtain medical supplies, police said. Though the victim said he didnt see a weapon, he assumed it was a knife. Rescue personnel then transported the man to the University of Virginia Medical Center where he was treated for a small cut, according to officials. In March, Robinson also was charged with breaking into Browns, a fried-chicken restaurant on Avon Street. Prosecutors declined to pursue the charges in July after a witness failed to appear in court. Robinson is currently being held at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail. LYNCHBURG As part of continued efforts to educate residents in Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina about the effects of the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline, Dominion Energy released detailed simulations of the pipelines visual impact on Nelson County on Tuesday. With the help of Truescape, an international firm that works with companies to show the visual impacts of infrastructure projects on the surrounding environment, Dominion hopes simulations of the Wintergreen area could help people sort through perceptions and the reality of what the pipeline could look like if approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. I think more than anything what were hoping to accomplish by putting these out for the public, said Dominion spokesman Aaron Ruby, is to give the communities a realistic picture of what it looks like at the height of construction and then what the land is going to look like after construction is complete, after the lands been completely restored. Dominion previously has worked with Truescape to develop simulations of transmission lines and substations. To create the images, Truescape used photographs taken in the fall of 2015 and details about the area provided by Dominion, such as the path of the pipeline. The simulations, all done to scale, took months to develop, Dominion spokesman Aaron Ruby said. The simulations help reinforce Dominions position that, like the 2,200 miles of existing pipelines in Virginia, the Atlantic Coast Pipeline could go virtually unnoticed once the land near and in the rights of way is restored to its original condition. A timeline of the review process released by FERC about two weeks ago indicates Dominion could receive approval to begin construction on the nearly 600-mile pipeline by late summer of 2017. Through Truescape, Dominion has produced several simulations of how the Devils Knob overlook, Beech Grove Road and the entrance to Wintergreen Resort will look pre- and post-pipeline. The Beech Grove Road and Devils Knob overlook simulations show an existing view and a snapshot of the area after the pipeline has been installed, while the Wintergreen Resort image shows what the area near the entrance will look like during construction and after construction. Two other sets of simulations show the visual impact of the pipeline on agricultural land in Johnston County, North Carolina, and on residential property in Augusta County. Each of the simulations shows temporary and permanent rights of way, as well as any other temporary workspaces associated with construction of the pipeline. I think because we hear terms like scar across our mountains and all of these really loaded terms, I think people have this fear thats its going to be so much worse than it is, Ruby said. The misconception people have is that somehow the visual impacts of this pipeline are somehow going to be a deterrent for people to come visit Wintergreen; that its going to somehow spoil the scenic beauty of the area. And I think if you look at these images and kind of take it all in, I think its pretty clear that people should not have those fears that [the rights of way are] going to blend into the natural landscape of the area. I think they should be reassured that the scenic beauty of the area is not really going to be impacted. All of the images can be found at dom.com/corporate/what-we-do/atlantic-coast-pipeline/construction. WISE Hundreds of students and staff lined the sidewalks at the University of Virginias College at Wise Tuesday to participate in Operation Book Brigade 2016 to celebrate the opening of the colleges new library. The brigade, a college tradition, involved hundreds of current and former students, faculty and staff members who passed books from the old John Cook Wyllie Library to the new $37 million, six-story facility, which was paid for by the state. The event was the third of its kind on the campus the first took place in 1959, when students and staff moved more than 2,000 books up the hill from Crockett Hall to Zehmer Hall. The second came 10 years later. Were proud to be a part of it, said Bob McReynolds, who carried books in the first brigade with his wife, Anne. Both said theyre impressed with the new library and are glad the college continues the brigade tradition. Some students who just arrived on campus found themselves in the middle of the brigade without meaning to, like Ayamel Hem, of Nashville, Tennessee, who was just trying to get from the top of campus to the bottom with her new friends. I was really excited to see it [the library] because Ill be spending a lot of time here, Hem said, adding that she probably passed more than 50 books down the line. Although the college continued the brigade tradition, most of the books will be moved by a professional moving company. The brigade was a part of the grand opening ceremony for the unnamed library, a 119-foot structure built into a mountainside at the center of campus. It has been under construction for more than three years. UVa-Wise Chancellor Donna Henry said it took unrelenting vision, willpower, creativity and fortitude to execute this project and bring it to completion. It fills passersby with wonder and awe, and that is exactly what we hope it will inspire in our students. The grand opening ceremony was held just outside the library, where a number of speakers shared their excitement. Our new library fosters a newfound excitement for scholarship, said Josie Stidham, a student member of the college board. Our library brings us closer to our next A, our senior thesis and our next motivating cup of coffee. The library also features a coffee shop. State Delegate Terry Kilgore, R-Gate City, reminisced about his own time on the campus and welcomed new students. Were very thankful for the colleges role in our whole economic process here in Southwest Virginia, Kilgore said. All I can say is welcome to Wise. The library was built after it was determined that the college needed to expand study facilities to accommodate the growing student body. It is expected to hold around 250,000 books at full capacity, has direct entrances at five of its six floors, multiple study rooms for students, many that will be accessible 24/7, and an elevator that will make it more accessible to the disabled. Legislators and journalists alike are in hot pursuit of the University of Virginias $2.2 billion strategic investment fund or a slush fund, if you prefer the phrase of former Rector Helen Dragas. They want to know where all this money came from, who it really belongs to and what it should be used for. All good questions. Theres another issue, one thats not getting nearly as much attention: Should the University of Virginia admit more in-state students? This is not a new question. Back in the late 1980s, Virginia was girding itself for an influx of new college students, the echo of the baby boom. Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia proposed a new college in Northern Virginia that they would jointly operate. In the 1989 governors race, Democrat Douglas Wilder endorsed the new school. Republican Marshall Coleman proposed limiting out-of-state enrollment to 10 percent at state schools, thus increasing the number of in-state slots. The outcry from colleges was loud and immediate. In the end, neither proposal came to pass. More than a quarter-century later, some Virginia politicians are again asking whether UVa should admit more in-state students. On Aug. 8, state Sen. Bill DeSteph, R-Virginia Beach, and 10 other state legislators sent a letter to the university asking some pointed questions about its now famous fund. Their suggestion that the fund be used to roll back tuition increases got the headlines, but that wasnt all they were asking. Another option was to use the fund to immediately increase the number of in-state slots for Virginia students. This has been an issue thats been bubbling for a long time pretty much anytime an in-state applicant to Charlottesville gets rejected and complains to his or her state legislator that some out-of-state student got in instead. The existence of this multi-billion dollar strategic investment fund has simply crystallized the question and in a bipartisan way. State Sen. Chap Petersen of Fairfax County is a Democrat, a rather liberal one. For years (generations?), weve heard that UVa must admit a high percent of out-of-state students in order to balance its books, he says in an email. In light of the enormous cash on hand, its apparent that (i) the books are not an issue (and wont be for a long time) and (ii) the University has the cash to subsidize more students. Since Virginia taxpayers own the school, it only makes more sense that Virginia citizens enjoy this dividend. In-state students dont pay the full cost of their education. Out-of-state students at UVa actually pay 145 percent of the cost of their education, according to a new report by the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia. And thats pretty much in line with figures at other state schools. So, yes, there is a certain fiscal advantage to admitting out-of-state students over in-state students. In a way, theyre helping to pay for some of their in-state classmates. There are some bigger issues, though. Can you really be a world-class institution if you dont have students from, well, you know, around the world? Theres also this: How much should legislators be tinkering with admissions policy? Their argument is that taxpayers are paying for these schools so the legislature shouldnt be simply writing a blank check. Legislators have a right to set some metrics. The counter-argument is that taxpayers are really paying only about 9 percent of the total cost of operating the University of Virginia so dont expect 100 percent control. Or any control, for that matter. Some might call that academic freedom. Others might call it common sense. Still, the question remains: What should the ratio be at the University of Virginia? Some might call that a $2.2 billion question. Excerpted from The Roanoke Times. A Locust Grove man died early Tuesday morning after his car crashed into the back of a flatbed tractor-trailer on Interstate 95 in Fredericksburg, according to Virginia State Police. William Charles James, 35, died at the scene of the 2:50 a.m. crash on I95 northbound near exit 130, VSP spokesman Sgt. Les Tyler said. He was not wearing a seatbelt. The crash occurred when his vehicle, a 2012 Ford Focus, came upon traffic that had slowed for a work zone, Tyler said. The car struck the back of a Kenworth flatbed tractor-trailer. Nobody else was injured in the crash. Trooper R.L. Barham investigated the accident. The trooper was assisted at the scene by the Virginia Department of Transportation and Fredericksburg Fire and Rescue. The crash caused partial lane closures until about 5 a.m. Tyler said the exact cause of the crash is still being investigated. PARIS - France - The French stand to lose billions of euros in lost revenue from their tourist industry as visitor numbers plummet through terrorism, low quality overpricing and a dirty city resembling a migrant camp. The intransigent French are seeing their tourist revenues slashed, recent data showing a 6.4 per cent drop costing 644million (750m) in lost revenue in just six months. Sentiment among many people across the globe is avoid France, especially Paris. Who can blame the tourists for abandoning the city of Paris, and most of the rest of France, for too long the French have been peddling their architecture and mistreating those who visit with overpriced low quality pap. Maybe terrorism is a breath of fresh air for the French who for too long have taken their tourist trade for granted. As the tourist masses desert the streets and boulevards of Paris for fear of being blown up or shot down by some crazy homegrown Algerian or Tunisian Frenchie, one can only feel this is a well deserved reward for the locals. Who likes tourists anyway, however they are an integral part of the French economy? The filthy streets of Paris, now a holding cell for roaming Eastern European gypsy gangs who will cut your throat or hurl a curse at you if you do not contribute to their overflowing purses, or the cafes where waiters spit at you in disgust when you look at the price of a coffee that you need to remortgage your house to purchase, there is nothing left of the Paris of old, the artistic, the love adorned boulevards and poetic cafes. Take a trip into the urine smelling Metro where you are assured to be mugged, stabbed, shot or raped. Maybe a quiet sojourn along the Seine where you are clawed at every step by clamouring migrants, lost, hungry, beaten. Nothing like seeing hopelessness at every corner to fuel your Parisian spirit, your joie de vivre. Ou est la belle epoque? Sadly a mere memory in some poor souls bones buried deep under Pere Lachaise. Here is your stinking filthy city of Paris within the European Union now a city of merde, an ambling putrefying turd that used to once be the jewel of Europe, flooded to breaking point thanks to socialist policy makers and faux utopian Schengen EU dreams bringing nothing but the worst type of human excrement into its dystopian domain. Paris was spared by Hitler in 1940 when the French surrendered, but to look around in 2016, you realise that the city is now an overpriced, overcrowded concentration camp displaying the machinations of socialist governmental malaise, irresponsibility and downright suicidal insanity. If the French want to kill themselves, let them do it. Maybe the French have a masochistic streak deep in their Gallic consciousness. Your boulevards are now broken, a pollutant seeping over the glistening piss filled streets and pavements, effluent dripping from within and without. There is no way now of saving Paris, except maybe for a total purge or war which may materialise soon a la Putin, but otherwise there is no chance for Paris, it is finished, fin. Willie Williams.jpg Willie C. Williams was found dead in his Moss Point home on Friday afternoon. Residents in the area say that Williams was a pillar in the community, passionate about education, and commanded respect from the youth in the community. (Courtesy of Williams' family) MOSS POINT, Miss. -- According to Jackson County Deputy Coroner Jason Moody, respected retired educator Dr. Willie C. Williams was stabbed more than 50 times in the attack that led to his death. Moody said that while he has seen such a grisly act done to someone before, the extent in which it happened to Williams is very uncommon. "It is very rare," Moody said. "It's a very unusual crime and it's not something that we see often, but it was a gruesome act." Willie C. Williams, 64, was found dead in his home on the corner of Frederick and Charles Street in Moss Point. People gathered outside of Williams home Friday said that he was a "good man who never harmed anyone." Moss Point Chief of Police Art McClung told the Mississippi Press on Friday that Williams' stolen truck was later found at abandoned apartments located on 6525 Shortcut Road. Williams, 64, was found Friday by a friend who became worried after multiple attempts to contact Williams were unsuccessful. Williams' friend immediately noticed his truck was missing when he arrived at the home on the corner of Frederick and Charles streets. Friends outside of Williams' home on Friday stated that Williams had cut his grass on Wednesday and that was the last time he was seen. According to Moody, Williams' was likely murdered that same day. Williams was known as a good man and a pillar in his community. McClung said police are following multiple leads and the case has been deemed a homicide. Williams' funeral service will be held Aug. 27 at 10 a.m. at First Missionary Baptist Church in Moss Point. Anyone with information regarding Williams' death is asked to call the Moss Point Police Department at 228-475-1711, or submit a tip to Crime Stoppers. OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- Two juveniles arrested for petty larceny after stealing a scooter were also charged with multiple counts of auto burglaries after investigators found evidence linking them to the additional crimes. Ocean Springs Police Capt. Chuck Jackson said Wednesday that Sgt. Joel England was on patrol about 2:15 a.m. Wednesday when he spotted two male juveniles wearing dark clothing walking through the parking lot of Westgate Apartments. England watched as the two suspects went over a fence into the adjacent Armand Oaks apartment complex and took a scooter off the back porch of one of the apartment units. They walked the scooter into nearby woods and left it there and returned to the apartment where the scooter had been located and took two helmets. At that point, England apprehended the two suspects and took them into custody for petty larceny. Det. Sgt. Matthew Morvant joined in the investigation and found evidence which linked the two suspects to auto burglaries committed on Tuesday and Wednesday. After securing a search warrant, a search of one of the suspect's residence uncovered property from other auto burglaries committed within the last two months. The two suspects have been turned over to the Jackson County Youth Court. Knob Hall Winery Knob Hall Winery in Maryland's Washington County is open seven days a week: noon to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. 12 - 5 pm. Tours are also available. (Facebook) Knob Hall Winery is one of a couple of Maryland wineries with shops in Pennsylvania. In fact, it recently moved its shop in Gettysburg a few blocks away from its previous location in the Jennie Wade House. Owner Dick Seibert: We moved to 100 Chambersburg Street in Gettysburg, which is a block from the Square and across the street from Food 101," he wrote in an email Tuesday. "The tasting room is a lot nicer and doing almost twice the business. [The previous location was in between the Square and the shopping area, so there was very little foot traffic.]" It's also one winery from the state on the other side of the Mason-Dixon Line that has applied for a license to ship wine, Seibert said Tuesday. No doubt other from Maryland will follow. Currently, 48 wine producers/suppliers have had their licenses approved, including 22 from Pennsylvania. The history of the family that owns Knob Hall has some ties to Pennsylvania's midstate, according to the winery's website: Over two hundred years ago, four brothers came to America from Germany in search of the American Dream. They first settled outside Lancaster, PA, but the times for that area were very turbulent as this was during the French and Indian War. During an attack on local settlers, one of the women in the party was scalped - and survived. Soon after, the Seibert brothers decided to leave Lancaster in search of more peaceful places. Jacob Seibert settled here, in the Cumberland Valley, beneath the forested slopes of Fairview Mountain. His property was named "Good Neighbor Farm" or "Knob Hall." The barn that houses Knob Hall's tasting room and provides event space was originally built around 1860, utilizing wood and stone from the property. It's located in Clear Spring, Md., in picturesque Washington County, a little more than two hours from Lancaster, Pa., and around 85 minutes from Baltimore. A farm that has been in the family for generations, it now features approximately 30 acres of vines planted along the gentle slopes of limestone-rich soil. These include Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chambourcin, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Albarino, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Traminette, Vidal Blanc and Viognier. It's a winery that has shown well in regional and state competitions; recently, it was awarded three golds, two silvers and a bronze in the Maryland Governor's Cup. Those were handed out for what Knob Hall's best know for, its dry reds. The award-winners included its Cabernet Franc, its Petit Verdot and its blend called Prestige. Seibert said Knob hall also earned two 92-point awards (Prestige and Cab Franc) and an 88 score (Petit Verdot) from the Beverage Tasting Institute. As for this year's vintage, Seibert wrote that he's hopeful. "The grapes . . . this year seemed like the worst for mildew . . . I swear we seemed to spray every week. But overall we seem to be doing well. For whatever reasons, our Pinot Gris and Petit Verdot crop seem to be light, but others are fine - especially our Merlot, which is always the most fickle because of its thin skins. As long as we do not get any tropical storms or other major weather events, we should be fine . . . in fact, everything seems to be about a week early, which is probably because of the very hot weather we had this year." One other matter to note is its event schedule, which includes a Reggae Festival this weekend and then "the Reagan Years" play at its Winestock on Sept 10. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- On the pretense he was to meet family members at an intimate dinner to celebrate his July 31 birthday, New York State Supreme Court Justice Philip G. Minardo was greeted by 100 well wishers at a gala celebration in Bocelli Ristorante. "I really had a wonderful special birthday," said he in speaking of the special commemorative in Grasmere -- an event to be etched in his mind and heart for many years to come. Realistically speaking, the surprise event served as celebration No. 2. "My son, Philip, my daughter-in-law law and three grandchildren came in from California to join my other two sons John and Brian and we began the celebration with a family cruise to Bermuda just the week before," Justice Minardo adds before explaining: "Then on Sunday my wife and I had planned a small birthday dinner in Bocelli Ristorante at which I expected my family, my in-laws and a few close friends. When we arrived and I entered the dining room, I was astounded that almost 100 of my family and friends were there to help me celebrate," said he. "It was truly a surprise that my wife put this together to help celebrate this wonderful occasion," he added. On hand to have the special day become all the more official, were friends and colleagues Justice Minardo hadn't seen for several years. "It was truly a magnificent event," he went on to explain. In reflecting on his illustrious life he stated: "I have been very very fortunate throughout my life. I have a wonderful wife and family, and a job that I still enjoy and find challenging. And it doesn't get better than this." In expressing heartfelt sentiments, Justice Minardo continues: "I'm so delighted to have my family and my friends help me celebrate my special birthday -- family and friends who mean so much to me, as well as my children, my grandchildren, my brothers and my daughters-in-law gathered here all together." In praising her husband, Dr. LaBarbera noted: "Because Philip is so wonderful, I wanted to surprise him and bring as many of our family members and friends together as possible -- many who came from Long Island and New Jersey -- and celebrate his birthday in a grand way." Dr. LaBarbera is a family physician in Dongan Hills and former President of the New York State Academy of Family Physicians. Justice Minardo is a New York State Supreme Court Justice serving on Staten Island. Happy birthday, Justice Minardo! CELEBRATIONS: AUG. 25 Happy birthday Thursday to to Verna Campbell, John James Noone, Daniel Santapaga, Rebecca Zalkin, Lou Motola Sr., Nicole Leonardi Azarraga and MaryBeth Francis. The government is arranging classified intelligence briefings for Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump to prepare them for the White House. This longstanding practice of briefing nominees is controversial this year: Senator Harry Reid has urged the C.I.A. to give Trump a fake briefing, while House Speaker Paul Ryan has said Clinton cant handle classified material. But what would a Trump briefing look like, anyway? Mr. Trump, Im Gene Smith from the C.I.A. Smith, huh? Is that your code name? You know, I know a huge amount about the C.I.A., more than most C.I.A. directors. A terrific, beautiful, very good organization. Actually, Smith is my real name. Anyway, lets get started with China and our assessment that Xi is much more aggressive than Hu. She is more aggressive than who? Exactly. Well, Id like to meet her. I like aggressive women. She sounds like a 10. Who? I dont know. That aggressive woman. Im not sure I understand. Anyway, in China we assess with high confidence that Xi will continue this aggressive nationalistic She sounds hot. No, Im just joking. But, seriously, women love me. Mr. Trump, Xi is a man, president of China. She is a man? Chinas president is trans? Boy, theyre more modern than I realized I mean, I knew that. I know so much about China. You should see me use chopsticks! Did I ever tell you about this hot Chinese girl I once dated? She was so modern, and built like Mr. Trump! We expect China will maintain its nationalistic claims in the South China Sea Oh, dont worry. I have lots of Chinese friends. I love Chinese food. Best pad Thai in the world at Trump Tower. So whats your take, what do the Chinese think of me? We assess with high confidence that the Chinese leadership wants you to win the election. Im not surprised. There are very, very bad reporters at completely and totally failing newspapers that nobody reads who say I might start a trade war. But China wants me to win the election! Amazing! So why does she want me to win, that transsexual president of theirs? Xi is not trans! Xi would like you to win because alliance management is not your priority, and your presidency could lead to an unprecedented decline in U.S. influence. Unprecedented! Amazing! So the Chinese think that Id be unprecedented? Who else likes me? Well, North Korea has already officially endorsed you, Mr. Trump. It called you prescient and wise. Present and wise! They love me! And Russia loves me, too. Putin and I go way back. Were like this Trump knits his fingers together and after Im elected I hope to finally meet him. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Yes, we believe that President Putin is backing you. Putin the Pro. Not like Little Ukraine. Sad! Well, Putin believes that NATO might collapse in your presidency and that he would have a freer hand in Ukraine and the Baltics. The Baltics, I know them better than anybody! Melania is from Slovenia. Some people say I leaked those amazing pictures of her to The New York Post. Why would I do that? Did you see them? Here Mr. Trump! And you mean the Balkans, even though Slovenia isnt Balkans, Baltics I dont get bogged down in details. Im a strategy guy. Now what about ISIS? I know more about ISIS than the generals do. But Id like to hear your take. Are they supporters? We assess that they are supporting you in the belief that you help recruitment. Indeed, we fear that they may conduct a terror strike in hopes of helping you get elected. Everybodys supporting me! What about the Middle East? Ill probably do a peace deal Im a terrific deal maker, you know that? Ill probably get a Nobel Peace Prize to go with my new Purple Heart. Well, sir, the Middle East is complicated The Middle East is a complete and total disaster. They dont respect us. What about nuclear weapons? If we have nukes, why not use em? Sir, we only offer intel, not policy advice. But Shouldnt we just drop a few nukes on those Kurds? Oh, you mean the Quds Force? Kurds, Quds, whats the difference? If I give the order to bomb em, you guys can sweat the details. Call Mike Pence. But youre running to be Anyway, tell me about internet security. Im a little bored. How about we hack into the phone of Miss Sweden and check out her selfies? When Im elected Im going to have a whole team on that. Shares in Idea closed 6.9 percent higher on Tuesday after the TV channel said the two sides were in talks, citing unnamed sources. India's No. 3 mobile phone carrier, Idea Cellular, strongly denied a news report on Tuesday that it was in exploratory talks about a merger with larger rival Vodafone India. A spokeswoman for Idea's parent, conglomerate Aditya Birla, called the CNBC TV18 report of talks between Idea and Vodafone "baseless and absolutely false". "This is absolutely untrue and preposterous," she said in an email. "There is no such intent." Shares in Idea closed 6.9 percent higher on Tuesday after the TV channel said the two sides were in talks, citing unnamed sources. A spokesman for Vodafone India, India's No. 2 operator by market share and the local arm of Britain's Vodafone Group Plc, declined to comment on the report. India is the world's second-biggest mobile phone market by subscriptions, behind China, but high competition in the crowded market has kept profits under pressure. Adding to the competition, Reliance Jio - a telecom venture backed by India's richest man Mukesh Ambani - is set to launch commercial operations in the coming months. "Both of them are struggling with their data revenue market share and ahead of a big competitive change in the industry they might want to get bigger," IDFC securities analyst Abhishek Gupta said of Idea and Vodafone India. Any such deal would also face tough regulatory scrutiny and analysts say approvals would be unlikely, as the companies would breach the 50 percent revenue market share limit in many regions of the country if they did try to merge. "It's very unlikely," PhillipCapital (India) analyst Naveen Kulkarni said, citing the regulatory hurdles. "I'm doubtful whether this can go through but there could be some other form of merger, such as spectrum-sharing deals," he added. New Delhi: People would now be able to file complaint against e-commerce companies on Twitter. This was indicated by commerce and industry minister Nirmala Sitharaman. She said on Wednesday that a grievance redressal mechanism is being set up. Sitharaman said on the lines of the twitter seva of this ministry, there is now going to be grievance redressal akin to the (hashtag) #mociseva which will have the consumer affairs people on board. The minister said people can raise their issues on this and the ministrys team along with the officials of the consumer affairs would respond to those complaints. The DIPP would train the staff of the consumer affairs on handling such grievances. E-commerce would also nominate a officer who would respond to such grievances. She added the grievance redressal will temporarily be part of #mociseva and after that the consumer affairs officials will go back and start operating themselves. The consumer affairs ministry should actually be attending to such grievances coming on the issue of e-commerce because its a commercial transaction between a consumer and a company, she said. Earlier this month, telecom minister Manoj Sinha had also launched Twitter seva for redressal of grievances of the citizens in the telecom and postal sectors. People having any complaints can tweet to twitter handle of the minister @manojsinhabjp. Complaints received against any telecom operator and Department of Post (DOP) on the Twitter handle is communicated to the concerned telecom operator and DOP immediately for quick resolution and better service. Meanwhile about complaint by retailers that e-commerce companies operating on marketplace model, were still offering discounts against FDI rules, Sitharaman said that a meeting was convened by DIPP secretary Ramesh Abhishek. Some companies responded that they are not giving those discounts. We are still a marketplace model, the companies (vendors) whose products are coming on their (platform) are giving that and it is not violative of the policy, she said. In March, the government had allowed 100 per cent FDI through automatic route in the marketplace format of e-commerce retailing. The guidelines stated that such entities will not directly or indirectly influence the sale price of goods and services and shall maintain level playing field. In other words, India will have the right to tax capital gains arising in India. New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its approval to the revised double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA) between India and Cyprus is seen as a major step in the fight against tax evasion, round tripping and base erosion/profit shifting. This follows the recent amendment of the DTAA with Mauritius. As with Mauritius, the Cyprus treaty had provided for residence-based taxation of capital gains. With the revision of the treaty now approved by the Cabinet, capital gains will be taxed in India for entities resident in Cyprus, subject to double tax relief. In other words, India will have the right to tax capital gains arising in India. The provisions in the earlier treaty for residence-based taxation were leading to distortion of financial and real investment flows by artificial diversion of various investments from their true countries of origin, for the sake of avoiding tax. As in the case of Mauritius, this amendment will deter such activities. However, there is a grandfathering provision under which provisions of the proposed DTAA in respect of capital gains will not be applicable on shares acquired at any time prior to 1st April, 2017. A revised agreement is proposed to be signed between the two countries, which will replace the existing DTAA. Negotiations with Singapore are also underway for similar changes. India and Cyprus have a DTAA since 1994. Cyprus is a major source of foreign funds flows into the country. From April 2000 till March 2016, India received foreign direct investment to the tune of `42,680.76 crore from Cyprus Actor Bobby Deol, who has recently turned DJ after a series of duds in his movie career, faced a tough time at one of his events in Delhi. The actor, who was last seen doing a cameo in director Anil Sharmas Singh Saab the Great, has professionally learned mixing tracks since then, according to sources. The actor-turned-DJ had been called to perform at a high-end club in Delhi last month, and all the tickets had been sold in advance. A source present at the DJ night reveals, It was a sold out event for Bobbys opening act. Bobby began the night with the signature melody of his popular 1997 thriller Gupt, and kept playing tracks from the movie on loop throughout the party, which continued into the wee hours of the morning. At the end of the night, a bunch of people were seen angrily asking for a refund from the manager and hotel officials. The crowd was absolutely incensed as the tickets were priced from Rs 2,500 to Rs 4,000. However, Bobby had left the venue by the time the commotion began. The actor is looking forward to his next film Changez, which is still under production, and will hopefully be a much-needed hit. Holy Communion vs Yikufan* Before coming to the USA, I thought that the Holy Communion meant having a meal inside a church, which might also come with free drinks. During this process, a person would go from feeling hungry to being fully satisfied. Later on I learnt that it was merely a formality. At New Haven, I often attend an overseas Chinese Christian congregation, where the Holy Communion is held on the 1st Sunday of each month. During the ceremony, the Minister will solemnly pick up a piece of gluten-free wafer or bread and say: this is the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given his life for us. We are eating this today in order to honour the memory of our Lord Christ. So saying, the Rev will proceed to break bread into smaller pieces with both hands and place them in a silver plate and have it passed around the congregation. After everyone has received a piece of bread, the Rev will then say, please take this piece as a way to remember Lord Jesus Christ. Then, slowly turning around to another silver plate on which stands a glass filled with dark grape juice, the Rev proceeds to raise the glass and announce that this is the blood shed by Lord Jesus Christ in sacrificing his life for us. When every member of the congregation has a glass of grape juice in hand, the Rev will, cast a look heavenwards, then proclaim in a loud voice: please drink it up in memory of our Lord Jesus Christ who sacrificed his life for us. At this moment, the sisters and brothers of the congregation all look awestruck, who, whilst maintaining a dignified silence with eyes tightly closed, will drain the glass of grape juice, which flows like a clear stream down to the bottom of each congregants heart. This has been an important ceremony in the Christian churches around the world for centuries as a means of commemorating Lord Jesus Christ. It is said that this is also a compulsory ceremony course for those who study at the Yale Divinity College. Once, I saw a minister using a serviette to cushion the bread when breaking it up, which might have been done out of consideration for hygiene purposes. Among the congregation, most members are successful people in their respective careers, who naturally place a premium on cleanliness and health. Over the years, nobody has ever objected to seeing the Rev touching the bread with bare hands, here I clearly witnessed the power of faith. Once I accepted a piece of bread which tasted slightly mouldy so I did not swallow it, instead I quietly placed it inside my pocket. This action was still spotted by a Christian brother who was from Hubei Province in China. Afterwards, he asked me why I did not eat it. I hastened to explain that I had been suffering from stomach ailments lately. It is obvious that whilst you are observing others, other people are also looking over you as well. In comparison with the Holy Communion, Yikufan was eaten for real. When did the practice of eating Yikufan actually begin? It was commonly believed to be during the Cultural Revolution in China. I personally think it started around 1962. At that time, China was going through a period of turmoil. In order to stabilise the army, all army units started the practice of Yikusitian education campaigns (which involved people to contrast the miserable past with the blessed present) during various national or public holidays. Prior to those meetings, mostly organised around public holidays, the soldiers at army units were served some light soup made of wild vegetables, this was so that they would understand why the past was so bitter and the present so very sweet. When the Cultural Revolution broke out, the practice of eating Yikufan reached its height or pinnacle. By then, everybody was made fully aware that only through personally eating the chuffs and wild vegetables which had been the daily intake of the poor peasants in the past, could they properly understand the miserable old society and fully appreciate the blessed new society. By 1969, all the work units at various levels throughout China started to conduct monthly political study sessions, during which they would always incorporate eating Yikufan as a means to get their people to compare the bitter past against the sweet present, an activity nobody would dare to skip. During this campaign period, the unit authority would usually arrange an old peasant who had been through much hardship to make a special presentation by recounting his miserable life in the old society. He would tell people about how the heartless landlord would ruthlessly exploit the peasants, hearing thus, the audience would then shout slogans like: Dont forget the hatred of the exploiting class nor the bloody debts owed by our class enemies! Never ever forget class struggle! To this day, I still keep a picture taken of students from Shanghai Jiaotong University taking Yikufan. The students on the front row all wore a solemn expression, who, with lowered heads, were bent on eating Yikufan, while at the same time seeming to have lost in deep thinking, and trying hard to make sense of the bitter past. During the Cultural Revolution, the Air Force was the exemplary model for the so called the whole nation should follow the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA)s suit Campaign. Everyone knew that the whole nation was supposed to learn from the PLA and the PLA in turn would learn from the Air Force! The Air Force was extremely leftist and constantly came up with new, different and unique ways to do things. In 1969, I was undertaking labour reform at Dali Yellow River Farm which was affiliated with the air force of Lanzhou military district. It happened to be right bang in the middle of a traditional education campaign aimed at fighting against the rightist movement. Upon seeing the arrival of our three youngsters, the authority figures there decided to change the previously planned one Yikufan to having it for three consecutive days. The reason for this might well have been twofold: first, it was to serve to thoroughly educate us; secondly, seeing we were from the airforce compound, with our fathers still occupying their respective high ranking positions, they felt that by demonstrating some initiatives, they could hopefully one day get recognised and promoted. This we confirmed when we saw them marshalling all of us to do morning exercises. A day later, the company officer somehow got hold of a whole cartful of carrots and tofu scum and said this would be sufficient to last the whole company for 3 days. Carrots would be served as dishes and the tofu scum as rice. Before eating it, Instructor Ma Ben Li gave a pep talk, during which he read aloud the outline of class struggle education issued and printed by the authority, followed by a strong emphasis on the fact that harsh stuff like chuff would not be given this time to avoid hurting the stomaches of all the people involved. On the first day, I felt the whole thing quite novel. Carrots were steamed which tasted slightly sweet. I had never had tofu scum before, so I remember over-stuffing myself that day. During the natural disaster year of 1962 in China, when boarding at Yupeng Primary School, I often ate dried sweet potatoes, noodles made of sweet potatoes and steamed corn bread, etc. At that time, a lot of things smelt mouldy, and did not taste as nice as Yikufan. Every time when we were partaking of Yikufan, Instructor Ma emphasized the fact that both carrots and tufu scum were good nutritious foods, which during the old society were not actually available to the poor peasants. I also felt that apart from the fact that what we ate was then passed out intact, there was nothing else bad about it. Both carrots and tofu scum consist of crude fiber, so it made bowl movement smooth, effortless and comforting. Now with a significantly higher living standard these days, the foods we eat tend to be far too oily for our own good. If one is found with bowel cancer, or suffers the so-called 3 highs, namely, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar, he/she then resorts to eating those foods again, it usually will be a bit too late. I recently found out that what bothered Mao Zedong everyday was precisely bowel disorder. On the 2nd day after eating Yikufan, apart from feeling a bit listless, I did not experience any other particular discomfort. I could see that all the soldiers ate it with a great deal of zeal and did not complain or say anything negative. They were the younger generation of poor peasants and all dreamt of getting enlisted into the army and promoted so that when it was time to leave the army, they could expect to marry, have children and receive a permanent income. Some of them also noted down in writing their experiences and feelings, and theyd leave spaces for words they could not write, some even used symbols in place of words they did not know how to write, maybe they were influenced by Gu A Tao. In the morning, there usually would be a session aimed at prompting us to remember the bitter past which would be followed by self-study in the afternoon in the barracks. When evening came, the soldiers would lie down or sit down in all manner of postures, or pretending to be reading Selected Readings of Chairman Mao until the curfew whistle sounded to inform all to turn off the lights. I kept some white sugar at the time, so I would prepare myself a glass of hot sugary water in the evening which made me sleep very soundly after drinking it. On the 3rd day, all of us felt limp and listless, when going out for physical exercises, many people said they could not muster up enough strength to run. I went to the toilet, and found the droppings heaped very high like a small hill. It was very hard for me to find a clean space to do my thing. There was a pigsty behind the toilet, I liked to pat the pigs usually, but this time, I found that the vessels in which we poured the carrots and tofu scum on the 1st day was still full and it was quite obvious that even the pigs did not bother to touch the stuff there overnight. I immediately ran back to inform Liqiang who also came from the air force compound of my finding. How could they say the stuff were nutritious, even the pigs refused to eat them! Liqiang was 2 years older than me, he repeated a grade, and having more worldly wisdom, he cautioned me against saying too much. Maybe the leaders had noted this problem, too. That particular evening was to be devoted to focusing on the bliss of our present happy life, it would not be a pretty sight if the soldiers ate to bursting point. Ma Liben could never forget the incident in which he overfed the horse with water and strictosidine which caused the horses stomachs to burst as a result and he got demoted as a punishment. Lunches changed into white flour buns stuffed with mixed carrots and scum instead. Seeing buns made of white flour, I bit on it straight away. Upon seeing the content of carrots and scum, I was very disappointed. I surreptitiously shook out the stuffing onto the floor and ate only the wrapping. My action was witnessed by an old soldier who hailed from Gansu Province. After the meal, he took me aside and reprimanded me for wasting food. So saying, he fumbled in his pocket for perhaps Chairman Maos instructions concerning the need to not waste any food. With a very limited education, he could hardly recognise many words, so he looked very anxious to the point that his veins bulged. The matter now was in the distant past of several scores of years, I felt I could understand why he carried on the way he did. He said to me that he most dreaded the prospect of returning to his old home in Gansu, where there was a severe water shortage, and the people there relied on scarce rainwater to subsist. The extent of the abject poor living standard of the ordinary people at the time was quite imaginable. He often woke up from a nightmare in the middle of the night which threatened to send him home to Gangsu. Whether there was any inherent analogy between the Holy Communion and Yikufang, it is hard for me to sum up in a word. However, there is some resemblance as they both were aimed at reminding the congregation (masses), not to forget God (past). The problem is usually with us humans, we all know that in Gods eye, humans are sinful. During the Cultural Revolution, there was also the saying that Mao Zedong Thoughts were a mirror which could reflect the good and evil. If like God, you also look at the sinfulness of humans, and use the so-called Mao Zedong Thought during the Cultural Revolution to recognise evil, it would be impossible to see that there were actually true feelings among students and there was kindness among humans. Without being able to see the harmony of people, it is therefore of little wonder that nations fight against one another, neighbours argue incessantly over trivialities and colleagues fight and brothers torture or trample upon each other. If everyday, all people ever say to each other are words which are hurtful, there will always be endless fights. Didnt we begin lifes journey seeking, searching, feeling alone, and later on, it is often accompanied by an overwhelming sense of sadness and loneliness. Who knows, one can well end life broken-hearted and in a strange place! Translators note: Yikufan* refers here to special meals prepared or rather designed to allow people who eat it to contrast past misery against present happiness. Mumbai: As soon as Saif Ali Khan confirmed his wife Kareena Kapoor Khan's pregnancy, the news spread like wildfire with several speculations associated to it. For the uninitiated, there were speculations that Kareena, who is due in December, will push forward the shoot of her next 'Veere Di Wedding'. Sonam Kapoor, who was speaking to media at an event in Mumba, dismissed the rumours by calling it untrue and just gossip. Nobody from the newspaper has contacted us nor they are picking up the phone for clarification. Honestly, this is just a gossip. We are about to start shooting of certain portions of the film. However, most of the film will be shot in April post-delivery. Its completely untrue and irresponsible way of writing news. I didnt expect that, said Sonam Kapoor. Recently, Kareena Kapoors pregnancy led to speculation about her still being able to do the film. Director Rohit Shetty had also confessed to finding it odd to approach her for a film due to her pregnancy. Kareena had then said, I think those who have a role for me, theyll come to me, pregnant or not I am very proud of the phase I am in and there is nothing to hide about it. Whichever film I choose to do, will see me the way I am Right now, we are still working on dates, what were going to do, whether we are going to start the film now, all depends on how I feel. Meanwhile at the same event, Sonam Kapoor, who has always confessed to being a feminist, is unhappy with the patriarchal nature of the Indian society, which treats women in an inferior manner and constantly judges them on the basis of their appearance and behaviour. Sonam said, Ours is a patriarchal society. For an actress, sportswomen and even for women in media, we have a lots of odds stacked against us where we are judged from the way we look, to the way we speak to whether we are pregnant or not. We go through issues. We are seen as we are not capable or strong. Women are looked upon as they cant do a lot of things and judged on it. It is very unfair. Sonam added, I am hoping things will be better. I am an optimistic person. If we help women, our society gets better. They are the foundation to a better India. Olympics was a great example. They would have done better had they got more support. I would request the government to invest more money into sport and female education. The government needs to support. I have been blessed with a lot and I try to give back to my city in whatever way possible. Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston are currently shooting their upcoming Thor movie in Australia. The duo took a break from their shooting schedule to surprise patients and their families at a childrens hospital on Tuesday. The Thor: Ragnarok actors posted photos with the children on social media. Chris captioned a photo, Met the real superheroes of the world at Childrens Health Queensland and Lady Cilento Childrens Hospital. A huge shout out to all the brave kids who are an inspiration to all of us! #MadePossibleByCHF# LadyCilentoChildrensHospital #JuicedTV. Tom, too, posted a photo with the kids. He wrote, Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor! (i.e. everyone but the weirdo in the black suit). Unforgettable meeting all the children @ladycilentochildrenshospital. Theyre the real heroes. Thor: Ragnarok is set to release in 2017. Veteran actor-politician Sarathkumar says that he was disappointed to see his wife and ace actor Radhikaa being insulted in the title card of the recently released Vijay Sethupathi starrer, Dharma Durai. While this drama film, directed by Seenu Ramasamy, had three leading women Tamannaah, Aishwarya Rajesh, and Srushti Dange opposite Sethupathi Radhikaa essayed the actors mother. The movie tasted box-office success and was well-received for its emotional content. Meanwhile, Sarathkumar, who watched the movie recently, appreciated the film for its making and narration but was upset at the same time, when he saw Radhikaas name appear after some of the relatively new artistes on the title card! Apparently, her name appears alongside veteran actors Rajeshs name on-screen. Started watching Dharmadurai, disappointing to see a senior artist Raadhika being insulted in the title card hope seniors are respected (sic), he wrote on his social network page after the movies screening. Despite being upset over the fact that his wife has been disrespected, he had words of praise too. He said, Dharma Durai is a lovely film, a must see, screen play narration and forward thinking emotional film and lauded everyone. (sic) When we contacted RK Suresh, the producer of the film, he clarified, It was unintentional. I would say that it was actually a technical fault. I have full respect for Radhikaa madam. In fact, not one poster I released during promotion was without madams picture. If it hurt her or Sarath sir in any way, I offer my sincere apologies. Seenu Ramasamy agreed on the same I am a great admirer of Radhikaa madams acting and have high regards for her. I tried roping her for my earlier film Thenmerkku Paruva Kaattru for which I waited an entire year. It was I who told the assistants to put the senior actors (Rajesh and Radhikaa) names together. It was done inadvertently, without any hurtful intent. A recent research has found that faulty inhibitory neuro-transmission and abnormally increased activity in the hippocampus of the brain impairs our memory and attention. Neurons in the brain interact by sending each other chemical messages, called 'neurotransmitters'. Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) is the most common inhibitory neurotransmitter, which is important to restrain neural activity, preventing neurons from getting too trigger-happy and from firing too much or responding to irrelevant stimuli. The research has implications for understanding cognitive deficits in a variety of brain disorders, including schizophrenia, age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's, and for the treatment of cognitive deficits. Hippocampus, the part of the brain that sits within our temporal lobes plays a major role in our everyday memory of events and of where and when they happen, for example remembering where we parked our car before going shopping. This research has shown that a lack of restraint in the neural firing within the hippocampus disrupts memory. In addition, such aberrant neuron firing within the hippocampus also disrupted attention, a cognitive function that does not normally require the hippocampus. Increased activity can be more detrimental than reduced activity Bast, the researcher, said, "Our research carried out in rats highlights the importance of GAB Aergic inhibition within the hippocampus for memory performance and for attention. The finding that faulty inhibition disrupts memory suggests that memory depends on well-balanced neural activity within the hippocampus, with both too much and too little causing impairments. This is an important finding because traditionally, memory impairments have mainly been associated with reduced activity or lesions of the hippocampus." "Our second important finding is that faulty inhibition leading to increased neural activity within the hippocampus disrupts attention, a cognitive function that does not normally require the hippocampus, but depends on the prefrontal cortex. This probably reflects that there are very strong neuronal connections between hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Our finding suggests that aberrant hippocampal activity has a knock-on effect on the prefrontal cortex, thereby disrupting attention," he added "Overall, our new findings show that increased activity of a brain region, due to faulty inhibitory neurotransmission, can be more detrimental to cognitive function than reduced activity or a lesion. Increased activity within a brain region can disrupt not only the function of the region itself but also the function of other regions to which it is connected, in this case prefrontal cortex-dependent attention, " said Bast. Bast's research is motivated by recent clinical findings that patients in early stages of schizophrenia, age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's show faulty inhibition and increased activity within the hippocampus. The new study, where inhibition in the hippocampus of rats was disrupted before the animals took part in tests of attention and memory, revealed that such faulty inhibition and aberrant activity within the hippocampus causes the type of memory and attentional impairments seen in patients. This research adds to the team's recent findings, where they found that attention was disrupted by faulty inhibition and increased activity within the prefrontal cortex, a brain region important for attention. This research has important implications for treating cognitive impairments too. The findings show that simply 'boosting' the activity of the key memory and attention centres in the brain, which has been a long-standing strategy for cognitive enhancement, will not necessarily improve memory and attention, but can actually impair these functions. What's important is to re-balance activity within these regions. Bast, said, "One emerging idea is that early stages of cognitive disorders, such as schizophrenia and age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's, are characterised by faulty inhibition and too much activity, this excess neural activity leads then to neuronal damage and the reduced brain activity characterizing later stages of these disorders. So, rebalancing aberrant activity early on may not only restore attention and memory, but also prevent further decline." Named 'Hippocampal neural disinhibition causes attentional and memory deficits', the study is published in the academic journal Cerebral Cortex. A report from The Netherlands adds to the evidence tying chronic gum disease to heart disease and stroke. In a study of more than 60,000 dental patients, those with gum disease were twice as likely to have had a heart attack, stroke or severe chest pain. Previous studies have linked periodontitis and clogged arteries, but this is the first to investigate the link in a group of people this large, the researchers say. At the Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, the largest dental school in the Netherlands, investigators reviewed the medical records of 60,174 patients age 35 and older, looking for an association between periodontal gum disease and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases such as angina, heart attack and stroke. About 4 percent of patients with periodontitis had atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, compared to 2 percent without periodontitis, the researchers found. Even after taking other risk factors for cardiovascular disease into account, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking, those with periodontal disease were still 59 percent more likely to have a history of heart problems, according to a report in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. In periodontal disease, the advanced stage of the gum disease gingivitis, the gums pull away from the teeth and create pockets that can become infected. Periodontitis has also been tied to other conditions such as skin disease and dementia. Its clear that periodontitis is associated with chronic inflammation, so it makes sense biologically that if you have a heavy infection in your mouth, you also have a level of inflammation that will contribute to heart conditions, said Panos Papapanou of Columbia University in New York, who has studied the association between gum disease and heart disease but wasnt involved in the current study. The research team suggests that gum disease develops first and may promote heart disease through chronic infection and bacteria in the circulatory system. Dr. Bruno Loos, the senior author of the new report, said by email that plausible mechanisms to explain the relationship may include a common genetic background for the way the body handles inflammation, oral bacteria and immune responses. Still, this kind of observational study cant prove that gum disease causes heart problems. The association does not provide proof (of causation), even when the results from our study corroborate findings from previous similar research, study coauthor Geert van der Heijden said by email. Papapanou told Reuters Health that while the new findings are from patients with a relatively high socioeconomic status, were repeatedly seeing the same conclusion. It seems all over the globe we have to consider this relationship, Loos said. In the U.S., heart disease is the leading cause of death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Each year, more than 600,000 people die from heart disease, which accounts for one in four deaths. Dr. Frank Scannapieco, chairman of the Department of Oral Biology at the University at Buffalo in New York, who wasnt involved with the study, commented to Reuters Health that while the association of periodontitis and coronary disease is robust, the strength of the link is moderate compared to traditional risk factors such as hypertension. Papapanou advises: Take care of your oral health for oral health itself. If you know theres a positive association between oral health and other diseases, would you ignore it? I wouldnt. Usually, diphtheria and tetanus shots are given to children (Representational Image) Hyderabad: There is a shortage of anti-diphtheria vaccines in the city and the state government has asked for more stocks from the Institute of Virology. More than 552 cases of diphtheria have been reported in the state. Usually, diphtheria and tetanus shots are given to children together, but in the government sector diphtheria shots are administered separately. A senior doctor said, The serum helps in neutralizing the free circulating toxin in the body. Presently, the treatment modality is based on giving antibiotics like penicillin which helps patients who come early. In order to deal with the increasing numbers, the district medical and health officers of Hyderabad have drawn a list of 23 localities and targeted 11,000 children who will be vaccinated for diphtheria mainly children of construction workers, labourers and also migrants. Sir Nils Olav, a resident king penguin at Edinburgh Zoo, was honoured with the title of brigadier on Monday during a parade in the Scottish park. (Photo: Facebook) London: Standing in line for a special ceremony, uniformed soldiers of His Majesty the King of Norway's Guard are carefully inspected -- by a penguin. Sir Nils Olav, a resident king penguin at Edinburgh Zoo, was honoured with the title of brigadier on Monday during a parade in the Scottish park. The bird is the mascot of His Majesty the King of Norway's Guard and was made a knight in 2008. Under cloudy skies, Sir Nils Olav slowly made his way down the zoo's Penguin Walk, ending his inspection with a cry and a scratch of his head. A zoo keeper then bestowed the honour on his wing. The penguinial link between Edinburgh Zoo and Norway goes back to 1914 when a Norwegian family presented the zoo with king penguins. In 1972, one of the zoo's king penguins was named Nils Olav after Norwegian Major Nils Egelien, who arranged his adoption, and Norway's then King Olav. Two others have shared the name since. More than 50 Norwegian soldiers are in Scotland to take part in The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and it has become a custom for them to promote the penguin when in the city. Like many other young artists her age, 16-year-old Robaba Mohammadi dreams of holding international art exhibitions. The only difference -- she draws not with her fingers but with her mouth. She was born with partial paralysis of her limbs and is unable to control her hands and feet, except for a few toes. Mohammadi came from a poor family in Ghazni province who moved to Kabul when she was three after they realized her disability. They hoped to get medical help for her condition, to no avail. "Before I starting drawing I was hopeless and when my sisters and brothers were going to school I always said to myself 'See, they are younger than me but they have gained lots of knowledge, such as writing and studying but me, I am not even able to write my own name'. I was so depressed I was even crying two or three times a day," Mohammadi said. Less than two years ago, she started drawing and now she dreams of holding her art exhibition at Aga Khan museum in Canada. She even drew life-like sketches of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Afghan-born Canadian politician, Maryam Monsef. "My dream is to hold my art exhibition in Aga Khan Museum which is one of the biggest museums in Canada, and I'm requesting my people to help me in order to reach my dream which is having my art exhibition in Canada," Mohammadi said. Decades of conflict, poverty and neglect prevents many disabled Afghans from reaching their goals. They are often unemployed and face discrimination in a society where disability is perceived as a weakness. "When you want to make any kind of art but you don't have hands or feet, you have nothing at all, especially when you want to do something but you can't. Sometimes when I need something and I ask my sisters for help, they say 'we don't have time we are busy with writing or something else' then it really hurts me. I have asked my sisters so many times to leave me alone inside the room," Mohammadi, who has three sisters and two brothers, said. She said she also dreams of one day going to school to acquire knowledge. "Robaba doesn't have hands for drawing but God has granted her the ability to draw with her mouth. She is doing a very impossible task and before, we didn't think she could do it. Now we are hopeful she can improve a lot in her career," said 13-year-old Shakila Mohammadi, Robaba's sister. Robaba Mohammadi said she hopes her art will provide a different picture of Afghanistan which has struggled with decades of conflict and war. Click here to watch the video Ten years ago, an ordinary fisherman dropped his anchor in the water during a storm off the coast of Palawan Island in the Philippines. But instead of hitting the seabed, it got caught on what he thought was a rock. He later found that it was actually stuck to the shell of a giant clam that contained the worlds largest pearl. Of course, the fisherman didnt realise how lucky he was at that time. After surviving the storm, he brought the huge pearl to his run-down shack and kept it under his bed as a good luck charm. After a fire destroyed his home, he showed the pearl to a local tourism officer Aileen Cynthia Amurao who was simply stunned. "He didnt know how much it was worth and kept it tucked away at home as a simple good luck charm, she says. Amurao added that they were now awaiting the authentication of the rare find from the Gemologist Institute and other international authorities. The pearl reportedly weighs around 77lbs. and is worth a whopping $135 Million. It has been given the name Puerto Princesca. Interestingly, the current record title holder for the worlds largest pearl, which is called The Pearl of Allah, was also found off Palawan, Philippines in 1934. Chennai: Mystery shrouded the death of a 20-year-old college student whose body was found on the railway tracks on Sunday. He had left his home last Tuesday saying he was attending a wedding in Bengaluru. The disappearance of a 38-year-old female computer lecturer from his college in Gowrivakkam at the same time had triggered rumours that they had eloped. The woman, a mother of two kids, had returned on August 18 when she told the police that she went away because of a domestic quarrel. The youth was identified as Aravind Kumar, a BSc final year student and native of Tiruvannamalai, who had been staying with his aunt in Kamarajapuram in Selaiyur. His body was found on the tracks with the head cut off, police said. The youths aunt alleges that the police did not bother to track the boy despite her giving a complaint on August 17. While the police claimed it looks like a case of suicide, the boys father Ravichandran and aunt Viji say they are not ready to buy the suicide theory. The police never bothered to question the computer lecturer when she returned on August 18. They told us that she was not linked to Aravind going missing. But his college friends were telling otherwise, Ravichandran told reporters. I gave the complaint on August 17 itself at Selaiyur police station. But the police are now saying they never received a complaint from us, the aunt of the deceased youth, Viji, told reporters on Tuesday. The family also alleges that the police had made them run here and there by misinforming them that the body was found on the railway track in Singaperumalkoil and the body was in the mortuary in Chengalpet medical college. But later they came to know the body, as well as his bag, was found in Perungalathur and the post-mortem was conducted in Chromepet GH, a family member said. Police had found a few bus tickets in the youths bag. There were two tickets showing he travelled to Tiruchy from Chennai and two other tickets from Tiruchy to Puducherry. Two other bus tickets booked from Chennai to Bengaluru had been cancelled, police said. Aravind Kumars body was cremated in Chromepet municipality crematorium on Monday after post-mortem. Ahmedabad: The Gujarat police, on Wednesday, arrested three people in connection with the murder of senior journalist Kishore Dave who was found stabbed at a newspaper office in Junagadh district of Saurashtra region on Monday. The arrested people have been identified as Firoz Kasambhai Hala, Sanjay Rama Rathod and Arif Alam Saiyed. "From investigation, it was revealed that Dave was a partner in transport business with the accused, and was murdered due to disputes arising out of payment of money," Junagadh B-division police inspector M. M. Makwana said. Kishore Dave, 53, was involved in transport business along with the three accused since about last five years, Makwana said. "They had purchased a mini bus and Dave had to make payment in that connection, and was murdered after he failed to make the payment," he added. Dave, the bureau chief of Gujarati daily 'Jai Hind-Sanjh Samachar', published from Rajkot, was stabbed repeatedly to death by sharp weapons at the newspaper's office in Vanjari chowk area of Junagadh on Monday around 9 pm when he was writing a story. Dave was alone in the office when he was attacked. His body was discovered by an office assistant later. Separate teams of local police, local crime branch, and special operations group were formed to crack the case. They took the help of a CCTV camera footage in which the murderers were apparently seen riding two motorcycles towards Dave's office, which assisted in solving the case, police said. According to reports, Daves relatives have alleged that the son of a local politician is responsible for his murder. Dave had reported on a case of alleged sexual harassment against the politician's son about a year ago and the journalist had been granted bail after a cyber crime case was filed against him, the family said. BENGALURU: She could not afford it, but this maid servant was still desperate to gift her son a Royal Enfield Bullet on his 22nd birthday. She was not going to be discouraged by lack of money and hatched a plan along with her son and daughter to rob her employers house that belongs to state Ranji player R. Samarth. The 45-year-old domestic help, Gouri, and her children Yogesh (21), a B.Com student, and Deepa (20), a PU dropout are now cooling their heels in jail. The incident took place in Sanjay Nagar police limits on August, 20. Gouri, who hails from Erode, has been living in the city for the last eight years along with her children at Amarjyothi Layout after losing her husband. A single mother, she had been working as a domestic help at Samarths house for the last three years after she was hired by Samarths mother Nagarathana. Yogesh had asked his mother for the Bullet bike as a gift for his 22nd birthday, which falls on September 21. Gouri had said agreed, but could not arrange over Rs 1 lakh needed for the two-wheeler. Seeing her son dejected, she decided to rob Samarths and shared her plan with her two children. She waited for the right moment and around three months ago, she stole a bunch of spare keys at Nagarathnas house. She again waited patiently for her next move. And it came on the afternoon of August 20 when Nagarathna asked Gouri to accompany her to her daughters house on the next street. Gouri readily agreed and walked with her employer to the next road around 1.15 pm. She also immediately informed her children about the house being empty. Yogesh rushed to Samarths house on his bike along with his sister Deepa. They opened the house door ane the almirah easily with the help of duplicate keys and made away with 370 gm of gold jewellery and cash of Rs 12,500 in 20 minutes. Nagarathna returned home around 2.30 pm and found the valuables stolen. She complained to the police, but Gouri continued to work at Nagarathnas house so as not to raise suspicion. But the police still got the wind of an insiders job as the house had not been ransacked and the door and almirah were opened with the help of a duplicate key. Nagarathna told the police that her second set of house keys went missing around three months ago and did not worry about it, thinking she had only misplaced it. The police summoned Gouri, but she did not crack under intense police questioning. But her children broke under police pressure and confessed to the crime. The police searched Gouris house and recovered 368 gram of gold jewellery worth Rs 10 lakh and the Pulsar bike that was used in the crime. The students parents approached the schools management alleging their ward had faced troublesome behaviour by the teacher. (Representational image) Khammam: A criminal case has been filed against a teacher working at a private school in Wyra after he was accused of inappropriate behaviour with a Class II student. On Wednesday, the students parents approached the schools management alleging their ward had faced troublesome behaviour by the teacher. They also demanded that the teacher be handed over to them. The school management tried to diffuse the situation saying they would remove the teacher from his post. But the parents were not convinced and continued to push for a stricter punishment. The parents then approached the police station and filed a case against the teacher. Hyderabad: A recent survey has found that one out of two school-going children were victims of cyber stalking in the country. The survey by Uninor also found that 30 per cent of children in the country who regularly accessed the Internet had experienced some kind of cyber harm including cyber stalking, cyber bullying, hacking and defamation. The survey covered nearly 10,500 children in 29 schools. It also concluded that only 34 per cent of children spoke to their parents about their online activities. Twenty three per cent of boys and 58 per cent girls have faced cyber stalking while surfing the Net for their school projects and on social media sites. Among them only 31 per cent have blocked the websites where they were targeted, while the rest continue to visit them. Uninor expects 10 crore children in the country to be onlin active by 2017. Another survey done by Symantec Norton, a renowned anti-virus company, covering 1,005 smartphone users in the age group of 13-16, revealed that 30 per cent of 22 per cent children faced cyber stalking, 26 per cent cyber bullying, 24 per cent revenge porn and 12 per cent faced sweetheart scams. A few cases have been registered with the Hyderabad, Cyberabad police related to cyber stalking and cyber offences against school children. Last year, the Cyberabad Cybercrime wing, under the supervision of ACP Jayaram, apprehended a criminal who had been trapping school girls stating that he had their nude pictures and would extort money from them. Based on a complaint filed by the mother of a girl, police had apprehended the criminal. Hyderabad CCS police has also cracked down on a few cyber criminals for cyber stalking school children. Centre for Cyber Victim Counseling (CCVC) and cyber crime experts have been alerting parents to keep an eye on the activities of their children while surfing the Internet. The survey has also shown about 84 per cent parents thought their children were doing well and there were no possibilities of threats to them from cyberspace. New Delhi: Attempting to distance itself from Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Tuesday said Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi must tender an apology or he would have to frequently visit the Supreme Court. The RSS asked Rahul to apologise after the top court observed that the Congress Vice-President would either have to express regret for linking the Hindu outfit with Gandhis assassination or face trial in a defamation case. "If he has even a bit of respect for the court, he will apologise. If he doesn't apologise, he will have to frequently visit the court. Let me tell him, his party member Sitaram Kesri had associated the RSS with the murder of Gandhi and he had to apologise. Another leader Arjun Singh had to frequently visit the court. A renowned columnist AG Noorani had to apologise," RSS ideologue Rakesh Sinha said. Read: Say sorry or face trial for saying RSS behind Gandhi killing: SC to Rahul Sinha said if Gandhi doesn't apologise then he will be punished in the court's trial. "Defamation case is not ordinary. The politics of the Nehru family for three generations goes on the basis of lie. Its proof is from Jawaharlal Nehru to Rahul Gandhi?they are putting in such a blame which has been rejected by the court," he added. He further stated that when the case of Godse came up in the court, it clearly said that the RSS has no connection with the witness. "In 1965, Indiraji had constituted the Kapur Commission. It examined the matter and submitted the report in 1979 where the RSS was not associated with the murder of (Mahatma) Gandhi," he added. Sinha said that it would be cheap politics on part of the Congress top brass if they indulge in such allegations and counter allegations. "It is not only the court's observation, but a slap on Rahul's face," he added. Signalling major trouble for Gandhi, the Supreme Court earlier today rapped the Congress vice-president in connection with the defamation case filed against him for his remark on the RSS and said that he must face trial. Gandhi, who was charged with defamation over his statement blaming the RSS for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, had earlier urged the apex court to quash the case against him. During the hearing, the apex court observed that the Congress vice-president must face trial and that the case must be decided on merits even though what he said was for public good or not. The apex court has given time till next Wednesday for Gandhi to detail his arguments. The Congress vice-president has maintained that his statement on the RSS involvement in Mahatma Gandhi's killing was a historical fact and his counsel has asserted that his statement was within his right to free speech. The case was by filed by RSS worker Rajesh Kunte against Gandhi in a Maharashtra court for allegedly blaming the RSS for Mahatma Gandhi's assassination. The apex court had earlier on May 7 last year stayed the proceedings against the Congress vice-president, pending before a magisterial court in Bhiwandi of Maharashtra's Thane district. It was alleged by Kunte, the secretary of Bhiwandi unit of RSS, that the Congress vice-president told an election rally at Sonale on March 6 that 'RSS people killed Gandhiji'. He said the Congress leader had sought to tarnish the reputation of the Sangh through his speech. Following the complaint, the magistrate's court had initiated proceedings and issued notice to Gandhi directing him to appear before it. The Congress leader then approached the High Court seeking exemption from appearance and quashing of the complaint. Gandhi's lawyers had argued that complaint was motivated and malafide and deserved to be quashed. Civilians carry body of 18-year-old Amir Gul Mir, who died in clashes between protestors and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district. (Photo: DC/Habib Naqash) Srinagar: A youth died and 40 other civilians were injured in fresh clashes between protestors and security forces during pro-separatist rally in Jammu and Kashmirs Pulwama district on Wednesday. Youth killed in security forces action during clashes in Pulwama district of south Kashmir, says police. With the death of the youth, the toll in the ongoing unrest in the Kashmir Valley has climbed to 68. Youth identified as Amir Gul Mir, 18, a resident of Pulwamas Ratnipora area, was hit by a teargas canister in the head and also sustained pellet gun injuries. He was rushed to Srinagars Sri Maharaja Hari Singh hospital where he died during treatment. Earlier curfew was imposed in Pulwama and neighbourhood areas to foil the azaadi march called by the locals. Reports said that the clashes erupted at 4 am after people learnt that the venue of the rally has been vandalized by the security forces. Announcements were made through mosque loudspeakers to spread the word and ask people to assemble at a nearby stadium chosen as alternate venue for the rally. Police officials said that the force was used only after the crowd turned violent and resorted to stone-pelting. "Amir Gul Mir, who had pellet injuries in his chest, was brought to SMHS Hospital here but the doctors declared him brought dead," a police official said. He said the youth was a resident of Pohu village in Pulwama district where fresh clashes erupted between protestors and security forces this morning. Several other persons have sustained injuries in the clashes which were going on till last reports came in. The incident happened an hour after Home Minister Rajnath Singh landed in Srinagar to hold talks with various stakeholders in Kashmir and invited all those who believe in 'Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat'. Read: Kashmir unrest: Immediately ban use of pellet guns, Omar tells Rajnath Singh Singh is on a two-day visit under Centre's outreach in the Valley which has been hit by violence since July 9. Singh, who is accompanied by Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, will review the situation in Kashmir where as many as 65 persons have been killed and over 8000 injured in clashes between protestors and security forces that broke out in the wake of killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter. "I will be staying at the Nehru Guest House. Those who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat are welcome," he tweeted before heading for Kashmir. "Shall interact with civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders," Singh said in his tweets. The Minister's visit to Kashmir comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's interaction with a delegation of opposition parties led by former state chief minister Omar Abdullah in the national capital on Monday. Modi had expressed "deep concern and pain" over the situation there and had asked all political parties to work together to find a "permanent and lasting" solution to problems in Jammu and Kashmir. This is the second visit of Singh in a month to the Valley. Malerkotla: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief Amarinder Singh on Wednesday accused Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal of "orchestrating" incidents of sacrilege to "polarise" people for his vested interests. "There was a pattern in these incidents starting from the desecration of Guru Granth Sahab in Bargari, followed by the desecration of Gita in Ludhiana and the Quran in Malerkotla," he alleged. Besides, there was a well planned attack on Sikh preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale and no action has been taken against the culprits, claimed Amarinder during his interaction with people of the Malerkotla assembly constituency. He said even after many weeks of murderous attack on RSS leader Jagdish Gagneja in Jalandhar no culprit had been identified, leave aside arrested. "It is impossible for the culprits to go scot-free if they are not enjoying the government patronage", he alleged during his 'Halke vich programme. He claimed, once the Congress forms government each and every case will be investigated. "And I am sure every incident will lead us to the Badal's door as he is quite capable of getting such things done," he said. The PCC president asked the Chief Minister to clarify his plans about paddy procurement which looks so uncertain. A number of people complained they were slapped with false cases at the alleged behest of local MLA's husband Azhar Alam. He said all the fake FIRs will be cancelled and Alam will be brought to book. "You don't need to take law into your own hands, I will take your revenge lawfully after forming the government", he said. Reacting to the demands of local residents, Amarinder promised that Malerkotla will be made a district and a medical college will be set up which he had promised during his previous regime. Besides, industry will be encouraged to set up projects here so that the local youth get the jobs. He promised equal opportunities to all with due representation to Shia-Muslim community members. The boat was ferrying the flood victims to safer places in Aurangabad district, Bihar, when it capsized. (Photo: PTI/Representational) Aurangabad: One person died while eight others are feared drowned when a country boat ferrying Bihar flood victims capsized in the swollen River Punpun near Kalem village in the district. "One body has been fished out and search is on for eight others in the boat tragedy," Aurangabad District Magistrate Kunwal Tanuj said on Wednesday. Nine persons had swam to safety after the mishap, Tanuj said. The DM, who visited the site of the tragedy late last evening, said so far no trace of the eight missing persons has been found despite a hectic search by the divers. The search operation will continue on Wednesday, he added. The personnel of State Disaster Management Force (SDRF) have been pressed into service to trace the missing, he said. The country boat ferrying flood victims to safer place on Tuesday evening capsized midstream in the swollen Punpun river due to strong water current near Kalem village of Aurangabad, about 125 km from the state capital. River Punpun is overflowing due to rains in Bihar and Jharkhand. Tanuj said the district administration has banned plying of private boats in the river. Nalini Chidambaram has been asked to appear before the Investigating Officer of the case early September in Kolkata. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Nalini Chidambaram, wife of former Finance Minister P. Chidamabram, in connection with its money laundering probe in the Saradha chit fund scam case. Officials said Nalini has been asked to appear before the Investigating Officer of the case early September in Kolkata where her statement is expected to be recorded under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The particular matter with Nalini, a Supreme Court lawyer, pertains to the legal fee paid to her by the Saradha group, official sources said. The amount in question is Rs 1.26 crore, sources said, and the Enforcement Directorate wants to understand the exact flow of funds to her from Saradha company accounts and the contract made therein. She had earlier been questioned by the ED and CBI in this regard but sources claimed she has been summoned on the "light of new evidence." Saradha Chairman Sudipta Sen, at present in jail, had mentioned about hiring Nalini as a lawyer at the request of Manoranjana Sinh, estranged wife of Congress leader Mantang Sinh. Nalini represented Manoranjana and, therefore, was asked to offer her professional advice in her negotiations with Sen in connection with plans by the group to acquire a TV channel in the northeast. The lawyer is believed to have advised her client against the Rs 42-crore investment by the group to acquire the TV channel. ED has filed a charge sheet in this case in a special PMLA court in Kolkata early this year and it is working to file more similar complaints in the future. Chennai: The Supreme Court on Wednesday reprimanded Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa for bringing defamation cases against state Opposition leaders. According to a report in NDTV, the apex court came down heavily on the Tamil Nadu CM, telling her 'accept that you are a public figure and learn to take criticism.' The court observed that, "Tamil Nadu is the only state which misuses state machinery to fight defamation cases." The Tamil Nadu government had earlier informed the top court that more than 200 defamation cases have been filed by it in the last five years. 55 of these are against the media and 85 against the Opposition DMK. Jayalalithaa, 68, has been brought to court by DMDK leader and former actor Captain Vijaykanth. Vijaykanth has been named in 28 defamation cases for comments that were critical of Jayalalithaa and her government, said the report. Vijaykanth, in addition to accusing Jayalalithaa of corruption, has claimed that the floods that wrecked Chennai in December 2015 were artificially caused, and worsened due to mishandling of the situation by the state government. The Supreme Court will hear the matter next on September 22, said the report. Mumbai: A Mumbai Police report indicting controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik for alleged provocative speeches and involvement in unlawful activities has been forwarded to the Centre, a top Maharashtra government official said on Wednesday. The report was submitted to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, early this month. Fadnavis had then said the police found Naik to be allegedly involved in unlawful activities and delivering provocative speeches. "The report submitted to the state government by Mumbai Police was in Marathi. We have translated the 71-page report into English and forwarded it to the Union Home Ministry two days ago," Additional Chief Secretary (Home) K P Bakshi told reporters here. He said the findings have also been sent to the state Law and Judiciary Department and its views are being sought on initiating action against the 50-year-old televangelist. The police were asked to probe Naik's past speeches available online to see if any of them could have motivated youth to join terrorist outfits, a move which came in backdrop of reports that his preachings inspired some of the gunmen who attacked a Dhaka cafe on July 1, leaving 22 people dead. The city police were also conducting an inquiry along with other probe agencies into the functioning of Mumbai-based Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), founded by Naik, and scrutinising its funds from various parts of the world. Naik had a lengthy interaction with Indian media via Skype from Saudi Arabia on July 15 during which he rubbished the charge that his sermons had inspired terror activities. Stating that he was a "messenger of peace", the physician-turned-preacher had accused the media of running a trial against him by highlighting "unverified" reports and "doctored" clippings. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday accepted Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi defence that he never blamed the RSS as an institution for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, but only those associated with, it in the defamation case filed against him by the outfit. A bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and R F Nariman, which was hearing the petition filed by Gandhi challenging the summons issued to him as an accused in a defamation case, said it will dispose of the petition if the complainant agreed. The bench noted that the Congress leader had filed an affidavit in the Bombay High Court while seeking quashing of the defamation complaint against him stating that, at an election rally, he had not blamed RSS as an institution for the assassination of Gandhi but a person associated with it. The bench, which posted the matter for September 1, asked the complainant's counsel and senior advocate U R Lalit to seek instruction whether the complainant was ready to end the case if Gandhi's statement is taken on record. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Congress Vice President, drew the attention of the bench to the affidavit filed in the high court. The bench, which heard the matter for about half-an-hour, said "what we understand is that the accused never blamed RSS as an institution that killed Mahatma Gandhi but the person associated with it." In 2014, while addressing a rally in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra, Rahul Gandhi had alleged that members of the RSS had assassinated Mahatma Gandhi on January 30, 1948. Gandhi was reported as saying, "RSS people killed Gandhi ji. They opposed Sardar Patel and Gandhi ji." In May 2015, Rahul Gandhi had moved the Supreme Court, seeking a dismissal of the criminal case. Later, on July 19, 2016, the Supreme Court said that indulging in 'collective denunciation' against an organisation is wrong. The Congress vice-president has maintained that his statement on RSS' involvement in the Mahatma Gandhi killing was a historical fact and his counsel has asserted that his statement was within his right to free speech. The case was by filed by RSS worker Rajesh Kunte against Gandhi in a Maharashtra court for allegedly blaming the RSS for Mahatma Gandhi's assassination. He has asked the Naval Chief to conduct full analysis of the incident as to what is the leak and what has been leaked about us. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Following the Australian media reports about leak of sensitive data concerning India's Scorpene Submarine, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday said he has asked Indian Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba to analyse the extent of the leak and find out whether it is related to India or not. Parrikar further asserted that the leak is not 100 percent. "I have asked the Naval Chief to conduct full analysis of the incident as to what is the leak and what has been leaked about us. The first step is to identify, the second step is to identify the extent of unwarranted, but it is not all 100 percent because we do have our final integration," Parrikar said. "It came to my knowledge around 12 on Tuesday night, what I understand is that there is a hacking. So, we will find out all these aspects," he added. The Defence Minister said they will come out with more information in the next couple of days. On Tuesday, a report in Australian media revealed that sensitive information related to India's Scorpene submarines has been leaked, with French shipbuilder DCNS, which designed the submarine, facing a leak of documents spreading over 22,000 pages. According to The Australian, the leak details the entire secret combat capability of the six Scorpene-class submarines that French shipbuilder DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy. As per reports, the leak includes details of the submarine's underwater sensors, above-water sensors, combat management system, torpedo launch system and specifications, communications system and navigation systems. The Punjab police on Wednesday launched a search operation to trace two men who jumped the wall of a school in Dinanagar town, Gurdaspur, on Wednesday morning. (Photo: PTI/Representational) Gurdaspur: Punjab police today launched a search operation in Dinanagar area after an 11-year-old boy spotted two suspicious men. "We have launched a search operation after a boy saw two suspicious men," a police officer in Gurdaspur said. Around 10:30 am, the boy saw two men in civil clothes jumping the wall of his school. He informed the class teacher, following which the police was informed about the incident. "We are also verifying the claims of the student," he added. Senior police officials of the district reached the school and started search operation to trace the suspects. An alert was sounded few days back in the border districts of Gurdaspur and Pathankot after a call from Pakistan was intercepted by security agencies suggesting movement of some suspects. Police along with army had then conducted massive search operation. Significantly, terrorists had sneaked from across the border and attacked Pathankot air base on the intervening night of January 1-2, while Dinanagar in Gurdaspur was targeted by another group of militants on July 27 last year. New Delhi: As he embarks on a two-day visit to the troubled Kashmir Valley, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said he will hold talks with all stakeholders and those who believe in 'Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat' are welcome. "I shall interact with civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders," he said on Twitter. "Those who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat are welcome (to hold talks with us)," Rajnath said ahead of his departure for the Valley. This is the second visit of Singh in a month to the Valley which has been witnessing unrest since July 8 when Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces. As many as 65 persons, including two cops, have been killed and several thousands injured in the clashes that began on July 9. Reports on Tuesday suggested that Rajnath Singh has already held two rounds of talks with eminent citizens mainly non-Kashmiri Muslims, to discuss a plan of action and seek their help in initiating a dialogue with Kashmiris. The talks began on August 18, with the first meeting of 10 individuals being held in Singhs office. The second was held on Sunday with 14 eminent individuals. Senior fuctionaries of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) were also present at the meetings, said the report. Singh told those present at the meetings that the government was working on a 3-stage plan to address the problem. He assured those present that the use of pellet guns would be minimised. The 3-stage plan includes encouraging civil society groups to interact with youth in Kashmir, sending an all-party delegation to the state and examining the role of the clergy in spreading the message of peace. But violence continues in the Valley, 45 days after Hizbul militant commander Burhan Wani was killed. In the most recent outbreak, at least 18 people were injured, 3 of them critically, after security forces fired live ammunition on protesters in Vihil and Nowgam areas of Jammu and Kashmirs Shopian district on Tuesday ahead of the Home Minister's visit. New Delhi: The judicial commission set up by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to probe the circumstances leading to Rohith Vemulas suicide at the Hyderabad Central University (HCU) in January has claimed that the 26-year-old scholar did not belong to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community, and therefore, was not a Dalit. According to a report in The Indian Express, former Allahabad High Court judge A K Roopanwal has submitted his report to the University Grants Commission (UGC) in the first week of August, in which he made these observations. Roopanwal was appointed by former HRD Minister Smriti Irani. The HC judges report gives credence to the claims of Union Ministers Sushma Swaraj and Thawar Chand Gehlot, who had questioned the students caste identity. Sushma and Gehlot had both claimed that Vemula was from the Vaddera community a caste which falls under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. Moreover, Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya and HCU vice-chancellor Appa Rao were named in an FIR lodged by the police under the SC/ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act for abetting his suicide. The Indian Express report says judge Roopanwal refused to confirm or deny to the media that Vemula was not a Dalit. New HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said he had not seen the judges report and would have to check before commenting. Rohith Vemulas brother Raja, however, rejected the observation of the judicial commission, stating that the family lived like Dalits and were brought up among Dalits. He claimed that the family had been discriminated against all their lives. Incidentally, Justice Roopanwals report is at odds with the report submitted by Guntur District Collector Kantilal Dande to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), who had said that Vemula indeed was a Dalit. NCSC chairman PL Punia backed Dande, and said that there was no need for a new commission. He blamed the BJP for its anti-Dalit mentality claiming the party wanted to protect its ministers at all costs. In November 2015, the universitys executive council had expelled five students, all said to be Dalits, from the hostel and barred their access to public places on campus, for allegedly assaulting an ABVP leader. The controversy snowballed when Vemula committed suicide in a hostel room on January 17 this year. Later, several members of Rohith Vemula's family had converted from Hinduism to Buddhism. New Delhi: The Supreme Court will hear an appeal by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday to quash the defamation case filed against him by the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS). In 2014, while addressing a rally in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra, Rahul Gandhi had alleged that members of the RSS had assassinated Mahatma Gandhi on January 30, 1948. Gandhi was reported as saying, "RSS people killed Gandhi ji. They opposed Sardar Patel and Gandhi ji." In May 2015, Rahul Gandhi had moved the Supreme Court, seeking a dismissal of the criminal case. Later, on July 19, 2016, the Supreme Court said that indulging in 'collective denunciation' against an organisation is wrong. Signalling major trouble for Gandhi, the apex court rapped the Congress vice-president, saying he must face a trial. The Congress vice-president has maintained that his statement on RSS' involvement in the Mahatma Gandhi killing was a historical fact and his counsel has asserted that his statement was within his right to free speech. The case was by filed by RSS worker Rajesh Kunte against Gandhi in a Maharashtra court for allegedly blaming the RSS for Mahatma Gandhi's assassination. On May 7 last year, the apex court had stayed proceedings against the Congress vice-president, pending before a magisterial court in Bhiwandi in Maharashtra's Thane district. It was alleged by Kunte, the secretary of the Bhiwandi unit of the RSS, that the Congress vice president had told an election rally at Sonale on March 6 that "RSS people killed Gandhi ji". He said Rahul had sought to tarnish the reputation of the RSS through his speech. Following the complaint, the magistrate's court had initiated proceedings and issued a notice to Gandhi, directing him to appear before it. The Congress leader then approached the high court seeking exemption from appearance and quashing of the complaint. Gandhi's lawyers had argued that complaint was motivated and malafide and deserved to be quashed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi making his Independence Day speech, in which he attacked Pakistan's role in Balochistan. (Photo: PTI) Mumbai: Taking a jibe at Prime MinisterNarendra Modi over his reference to Balochistan in Independence Day speech, Shiv Sena on Wednesday sought to know if hewill send the Army to save the Baloch leaders who have been charged with sedition for backing his remarks. Five cases, including that of sedition, were registered recently against three top Baloch nationalist leaders in Pakistan who backed Modi's supportive words on their struggle in Balochistan. "Baloch leaders have paid a heavy price for supporting PM Modi. Serious offences like waging war against Pakistan have been registered against them. This is a part of Pakistan's tyrannical attitude," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said. "What will our PM do in their support now? Will he send the Army to save Baloch leaders from Pakistan or will he once again give a speech denouncing Pakistan's action against them? These leaders are facing trouble only because they supported PM Modi's speech," it said. The Sena also questioned Modi on the action he planned to take against those waving Pakistani flags in Kashmir. The BJP ally also said Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's stand on holding talks with Hurriyat to improve the situation in the Valley is completely wrong. On August 15, from the historic Red Fort, Modi had said people from Balochistan thanked him for highlighting the atrocities the Pakistani State inflicted on the people of Balochistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Pakistan later said Modi crossed the "red line" by talking about Balochistan and asserted it will "forcefully" raise the Kashmir issue during the next month's UN General Assembly session. Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri in a speech last week alleged that the Indian government "fully supports the ongoing insurgency in Balochistan". Swiss whistleblower Rudolf Elmer, the former senior Swiss bank executive who handed over secret banking data to Wikileaks in 2008, has revealed that the list of tax evaders he had leaked included Indian names and can be accessed by the Delhi government. In a telephonic interview to NDTV, Elmer said his list has names of several tax evaders, including criminals and corrupt politicians from across that world and that the Indian government can request for information on its citizens. "It's not only Americans, but also people from Africa, South America, also India," the 60-year-old said. Swiss courts have his data and are known to have shared it with German authorities. Earlier this week, Elmer was found guilty of forgery and blackmail by a court in Zurich and was handed a 14-month suspended jail term. He however escaped conviction for breaching banking secrecy laws. Elmer was an employee of Julius Bar, a private bank in Cayman Islands. He had described himself as a 'whistleblower' who is out to expose a system of offshore tax evasion. However, the Swiss private bank portrays Elmer as a disgruntled former employee who is waging a personal vendetta after being fired in 2002. When Mr Elmer was sacked in 2002 he left the bank with a ream of internal documents, a claim confirmed by Julius Baer in 2005 when it lodged a formal legal complaint against unknown persons. The former banker has been under investigation since 2011 for giving WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange two compact discs during a news conference in London. Elmer said at the time they contained confidential data on about 2,000 offshore banking clients but later told his trial they were empty. He is also accused of attempting to pass confidential client files to the German finance ministry in 2009. In the past, some German states have bought data leaked from Swiss banks in order to get names of their citizens who evade taxes, but it is not clear if Elmer's case has any connection to this. The first of the Scorpene class submarines - Kalvari - went for trial in May 2016 and is expected to be inducted into the Indian Navy soon. (Photo: AFP) New Delhi/Melbourne: More than 22,000 pages of top secret data on the capabilities of six highly advanced submarines being built for the Indian Navy in Mumbai in collaboration with a French company have been leaked, raising alarm bells today in the security establishment. The combat capability of the scorpene submarines being built at Mazagon dock at a cost of USD 3.5 billion by French shipbuilder DCNS, went public when an Australian newspaper, "The Australian", put the details on the website. Reacting with alacrity to the development, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who learnt about the leak at midnight, ordered Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lamba to go into the 'entire issue". A report is also being sought from DCNS. "What I understand is there is a hacking. So we will find out all this," Parrikar told reporters in Delhi. Commodore Uday Bhaskar (Retd), Director of Society of Policy Studies, said, "We have to first establish the veracity of the documents and see if it pertains to India's Scorpene submarines since DCNS supplies subs to other countries too. "If it is found so, then it definitely compromises the Indian platform. This is so because the leakage of so much technical details compromises the submarines capability to stay undetected." Rear Admiral Raja Menon (Retd), a submariner who once headed naval operations, said not much details have emerged about the nature of leak. "A lot of volume is there but that does not mean anything. But I gather from the naval headquarters that the leaked data does not compromise our submarines. "However, breach of security of data should not have happened. The loss of data is a serious issue. From the national security point of view, we can take assurance from the fact that the actual capability of the submarine has not been compromised". Navy sources said the leak of data "was a matter of serious concern" but added that the document was dated and the Indian submarine had undergone "many changes" from the initial design the details of which have been leaked. The details leaked included what frequencies the submarines gather intelligence at, what levels of noise they make at various speeds and their diving depths, range and endurance - all sensitive information that is highly classified, the Australian said. It said that 'Marked "Restricted Scorpene India", the DCNS documents detail the most sensitive combat capabilities of Indias submarine fleet and would provide an intelligence bonanza if obtained by Indias strategic rivals, such as Pakistan or China.' The data tells the submarine crew where on the boat they can speak safely to avoid detection by the enemy. It also discloses magnetic, electromagnetic and infra-red data as well as the specifications of the submarines torpedo launch system and the combat system, the newspaper said. It details the speed and conditions needed for using the periscope, the noise specifications of the propeller and the radiated noise levels that occur when the submarine surfaces. The data, accessed by the paper, includes 4457 pages on the submarine's underwater sensors, 4209 pages on its above-water sensors, 4301 pages on its combat management system, 493 pages on its torpedo launch system and specifications, 6841 pages on the sub's communications system and 2138 on its navigation systems. "I have asked the Navy chief to study the entire issue about what has been leaked, what is there about us and to what extent. It came to my knowledge at about 12 midnight. What I understand is there is a hacking. So we will find out all this," Parrikar said. The Defence Minister said he does not suspect the leak to be 100 per cent since a lot of final integration lies with India. He said a clear picture will emerge in a couple of days. In a statement, the Navy said, "A case of suspected leak of documents related to Scorpene submarines has been reported by a foreign media house. "The available information is being examined at Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy) and an analysis is being carried out by the concerned specialists. "It appears that the source of leak is from overseas and not in India." Parrikar also met the naval top brass to discuss the leak episode. Congress leader A K Antony, a former Defence Minister, said the leak is a matter of "very very serious concern" to the country. "It affects the security of the country. Government must immediately order a high level enquiry, find out the truth after that we can consider future course of action. Don't waste time immediately find out the truth," he said. DCNS was quoted as having said it was aware of the report in the Australian daily and that "national security authorities" had launched an inquiry into the matter, without giving details. "This inquiry will determine the precise nature of the documents which have been leaked, the potential damage to our customers as well as those responsible." Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull sought to play down the impact of the leak, saying in Canberra that while it was "of concern", the Scorpene was a different model to the subs Australia is buying. "The submarine we are building or will be building with the French is called the Barracuda, quite, completely different submarine to the Scorpene they are building for India," he told Channel Seven. The daily said the data was thought to have been removed from France in 2011 by a former French naval officer who at the time was a subcontractor for DCNS. The data is believed to have passed through firms in Southeast Asia before eventually being mailed to a company in Australia, the newspaper said. Weve covered a lot of the vinegary debate over spending rules for the Every Student Succeeds Act that are due out pretty soon. But heres one other thing for you to consider: U.S. Department of Education guidance distributed to states in July 2015 about how federal money should be used as a supplement for school budgets.. That guidance is some of the most recent language we have from the Education Department about the issue, before the Every Student Succeeds Act passed last December. Its another window into the departments thinking on the subject. And like other facets of this issue, it highlights the big debate over the extent to which federal funds can and should be used as leverage for creating greater equity between wealthy schools and their disadvantaged counterparts. Quick refresher: When ESSA passed, the department was tasked by Congress to work with a team of district, state, and other K-12 representatives and create rules for the requirement that federal money be used in addition to state and local cash. Those negotiations this spring, however, failed to produce a consensus plan, leaving it to the department to craft its own set of draft rules. So what happens when we compare what the guidance says (and doesnt say) to the plans the department pitched during negotiated rulemaking? What has the department said constitutes an equitable distribution of funds by a district? And what additional questions does this comparison raise about what the department will propose for regulating federal dollars? Before we examine those differences, remember that the 2015 guidance on this complicated issue dealt with federal education law before ESSA passed, and it dealt with schoolwide Title I programs, instead of targeted programs for specific groups of students. And, finally, keep in mind the 2015 guidance does not have the same legal force as regulations. Formula for Success Lets focus on the departments controversial plan, made during the spring negotiations, to require that districts state and local per-pupil spending in Title I schools (those with relatively large shares of low-income students) be the same as the average in non-Title I schools, in order for them to show theyre using federal dollars under ESSA. For your reference, heres the language in the pre-ESSA federal education law highlighted by 2015 guidance: And heres ESSA language on how federal funds must be used by states and districts in relation to state and local money: The 2015 guidance gives two examples for how schools can show theyre distributing non-federal funds in a way thats equitable. The First Example: A weighted per-student funding formula that assigns a base amount per student, plus additional money for certain types of students: That distribution would have to cover all schools, regardless of whether any particular school received any Title I aid. Why is this significant? As you might recall, during negotiations over how ESSA should regulate the supplemental nature of federal money, local officials complained that the proposals this past spring from the Education Department would disrupt weighted per-student funding formulas . Their complaint was that the departments proposal this past spring to create greater equalization of spending between Title I and non-Title I schools would render many such formulas unusable. The Second Example: The guidance also uses a sample school funding method based on staffing and supplies: Note the language at the bottom that the assumptions above would have to be used by a district for all of its schools regardless of their Title I status. Many districts create budgets based on staff allocations for schools. And some negotiators brought up this budgeting method as another way to argue that the departments proposed per-pupil spending rule wouldnt allow them to budget this way. So, in short, heres a key difference between the guidance and the proposals from negotiated rulemaking: The guidance does not say that districts must compare total state and local spending between different types of schools. But the departments 2016 proposals in negotiated rulemaking say exactly this. The department responded to these concern by singling out weighted per-student formulas, or budgets based on staffing allocations, as acceptable in its proposal for the last round of negotiated rulemakingbut only as long as state and district per-pupil funding in a districts Title I schools was equal to the average state and local spending per student in non-Title I schools. The 2015 guidance, in its general language, does refer to a reliance on a equitable distribution of state and local resources. But does that mean equal spending outcomes between schools, or that one equitable method of distributing money is used for all schools? Thats a key question in this debate. And remember: the formulas I highlighted above are just examples the department laid out in 2015 of equitable distribution of state and local funds. Methods Versus Outcomes Looking for a counterpoint to all of this? The supporters of the departments proposals on this issue, like the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, say that districts with state and local spending gaps between relatively advantaged and disadvantaged schools are, by definition, violating the requirement that their federal funds not supplant state and local cash. As the Leadership Conferences Liz King put it earlier this year, the only real flexibility in such a scenario means that disadvantaged schools are getting shortchanged. And U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. has repeatedly argued before Congress and elsewhere that in order for federal dollars to be truly supplemental , those sorts of gaps must be closed The guidance does caution that federal Title I funds cant be considered supplemental if they are used as part of the basic level of education funding. In other words, if federal dollars are relied upon by schools to provide a basic education program, theyre not following the requirement. In early negotiations over ESSA regulations this spring, the department proposed requiring districts to show they were providing a basic education program with state and local dollars, but after objections, it dropped that language. Weve reached out to the Education Department for its thoughts on comparing the 2015 guidance with its negotiated rulemaking proposals, and well update this post if we hear back. Here are a few other questions the guidance and this past springs department proposals raise as we look ahead to the draft rules: Will the department continue to stick by its guns and require much greater equalization of per-pupil spending between rich and poor schools? Will there be specific examples of spending approaches, such as weighted per-student formulas, that the department will specify as acceptable in the rules? Will the department give districts some flexibility in terms of when they have to abide by new rules, such as that controversial per-pupil spending comparison? How will the department handle ongoing concerns that such a per-pupil spending rule would lead many districts to lump many low-income students together in one school? And will the rules attempt to address worries from teachers unions that the per-pupil spending rule would undermine many locally bargained contracts? Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 . The first of the Scorpene class submarines - Kalvari - went for trial in May 2016 and is expected to be inducted into the Indian Navy soon. (Photo: AFP) New Delhi: The secret combat capabilities of India's new Scorpene-class submarines designed by French shipbuilder DCNS for the Indian Navy have been leaked, a report says. The Australian reported documents totalling 22,400 pages have been leaked and could prove to be a blessing for Indias rivals such as Pakistan and China. The Scorpene submarines, which are being built in Mumbai at a cost of USD 3.5 billion, are said to be some of the most advanced submarines in their class. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar admitted that a leak had taken place. Calling it a case of hacking, he said the first step was to 'identify if it is related to us'. But he claimed that all documents related to the submarine had not been leaked. Parrikar added the Navy chief has been asked to analyse what exactly has been leaked. Meanwhile, a Navy statement said the source of the leak appears to be outside India. DCNS has blamed the Indian side for the leak, said the report, claiming that such a breach of technical data could not happen from France. The leak includes details of the submarines' underwater sensors, above-water sensors, combat management system, torpedo launch system and specifications, communications system and navigation systems. The Australian reported it had seen 4,457 pages on the Scorpenes underwater sensors, 4,209 pages on its above-water sensors, 4,301 pages on its combat management system, 493 pages on its torpedo launch system and specifications, 6,841 pages on the communications system and 2,138 on its navigation systems. The first of the Scorpene class submarines, Kalvari, went for trial in May 2016 and is expected to be inducted into the Indian Navy soon. The induction is already four years behind schedule. Indian Navy officials say the six submarines, once inducted, would form the core of the Navys submarine arm for the next two decades. The leak will also cause alarm at the highest level in countries that operate a variant of the Scorpene, or have ordered the submarine, including Malaysia, Chile and Brazil, said The Australian. BENGALURU: A special bench of the Karnataka High Court, constituted to hear a batch of petitions on the 85 per cent health warning on cigarette and tobacco related product packages, started the hearing on Wednesday. Emphasising that larger pictorial warnings on tobacco products are necessary to educate people, the Supreme Court in May had directed tobacco manufacturers to immediately comply with the central governments regulation on increasing the size of such health warnings to 85 per cent of the principal display area on packets. The SC bench also directed that related petitions in three high courts should be transferred to the Karnataka High Court in two weeks and it should be decided within eight weeks. We request all the petitioners that till the disposal of matters by the Karnataka High Court, it will be the endeavour of all the parties to implement the rules whatever as amended. This order will not stand in the way of the Karnataka High Court deciding the matter on merit. Any stay granted by any court shall not be implemented until the final order is passed by the Karnataka High Court, it had said. Following the SC directions, the High Court of Karnataka constituted a special bench. HC seeks objections The High Court on Wednesday directed respondents to file objection to the plea of M.V. Guruprasad, assistant engineer, questioning his suspension. He and several other officers were suspended for allegedly allowing illegal constructions in Bengaluru. HASSAN: High drama prevailed in JMFC Court Channarayapatna on Tuesday evening after a Circle Inspector evaded a court order demanding his judicial custody, for more than two hours. He had earlier ignored the court summons for nearly a year. Circle Inspector Marappa remained elusive for about two-and-half hours after the court had ordered his judicial custody. He, however, surrendered and was subsequently released. Earlier, the JMFC Judge, Sashikala, had ordered that Marappa be sent to judicial custody as there was a warrant served on him for failing to appear before the Court. After the order was passed, the CPI evaded the custody and later decided to surrender before the Judge. Marappa was serving at Channarayapatna police station as circle inspector. He was summoned because the court needed his evidence as he was the investigating Officer in about 11 cases. However Marappa failed to appear before the court for about a year, despite repeated summons. The court then issued a non-bailable warrant against him. He had to finally appear before the Court on Tuesday and was handed over to judicial custody by Judge Sashikala. But, Marappa left the court premises in a vehicle without taking note of the Court order and remained elusive from 6.30 pm to 9 pm and the police had to carry out search, but to no avail. However around 9 pm, Marappa surrendered before the judge and was released. A city based advocate wanted police to register a case against Marappa for remaining elusive after Court order was passed against him. The police should have taken him into custody and sent him to jail. It is said that Marappa did not care for the summons served on him and had told policemen, come what may, I will not appear before the Court, he added. Hyderabad: TS, on Wednesday, got its first child-friendly court in the Nampally Criminal Courts Complex, in the form of room resembling a childrens play area, with brightly-coloured walls and full of toys. The concept is designed to make a child feel at ease while appearing before the court for deposition as a witness. This special set up, quite distinct from the normal court set up, is designed to protect and insulate children appearing in courts and freely depose since most of the times, the accused in sexual crime against children are either neighbours or relatives. The child friendly court, which is the first in South India and sixth in the country, was inaugurated by Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan of the Hyderabad High Court on Wednesday. DGP Anurag Sharma explained that a majority of the cases ended with acquittals because of the fear in the minds of children though they were either victim or crucial witnesses in many of the crimes. Metropolitan Sessions Judge T. Rajani said that though the child cannot see the accused while sharing the same space in the conventional setting of the court room, it would makes him or her uncomfortable and scared. She said that the police, lawyers and even the judge will be in plain clothes and interact with the children as general persons while recording their statements. No separate dais was provided for the judge in this court. The judicial officers working in the courts across the twin cities can use the court to record the statements of the children who victims of child abuse or are witnesses in such crimes. CID I-G Soumya Mishra said that there are 1,640 cases pending in different courts of Telangana under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. HYDERABAD: Few countries are as well endowed as India, with a genuine capacity to become a global power. But, before it can reach there, the country has to go through fundamental transformations, said Dr Ashley Tellis, a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a specialist in Asian strategic issues. He was speaking here at an event organised by Manthan on Tuesday. Dr Tellis said the West had been dominating the world for the most part of modern history. They did this by focussing on high growth rates, creation of massive economic capacities and market reforms. Quoting Chinas example, he said, for well over two decades, the Chinese economy had maintained peak growth and not high growth (which the Indian economy showed for a few years before peaking out). Capital accumulation, important for capacity-building, is at 50 per cent of GDP in China compared to 30 per cent in India... which affects the Incremental Capital Output Ratio (measures capital efficiency in terms of returns) to encourage more savings. Indian savings are not properly monetised a major portion of it is locked up in physical assets such as gold and real estate, which are not further channeled towards building capacities for growth, he said. Expanding on India's future, Dr Tellis cited the case of the country's young population. There is good news as well as bad news, according to Dr Tellis. The good news is that the Indian demography is exceptionally capable. The bad news is that most of the labour force though younger is still not ready when vital parameters such as education, public health etc. are considered. Dr Ashley said unless India made massive investments in reducing its education and public health deficit, it would be impossible for the nation to achieve the Wests standards. Hyderabad: Reacting to Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Raos warning that Congress and TD leaders face jail if they continue to make false allegations against his government, TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Wednesday said Congressmen would prefer to go to jail than stop fighting for justice to the state. Addressing a hastily-arranged press conference at his residence, Mr Reddy said he had served in the defence forces and was not afraid of threats by the Chief Minister. He said that the Congress was committed to exposing the massive corruption rampant in all irrigation projects taken up by the TRS government. However, Mr Reddy failed to produce any evidence about existence of a previous agreement wherein the undivided AP and Maharashtra governments agreed on Tammidihatti barrage height being at 152 meters. Mr Rao had earlier in the day challenged Mr Reddy and Leader of the Opposition K. Jana Reddy to produce the copy of such an agreement. Mr Reddy did however distributed the copy of a report submitted to state government on the Pranahita-Chevella scheme by Retired Engineers in which it was said that it would be better for the Chief Minister to convince the Maharashtra government to agree to the Tammidihatti barrage height at 152 meters instead of the 148 meters that was agreed upon by the two Chief Ministers on Tuesday. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao acknowledges greetings while being taken in a procession to his camp office in Hyderabad on Wednesday. Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday warned leaders of the Congress and the Telugu Desam that his government would file criminal cases against them if they leveled false allegations of corruption in irrigation and other projects. Prove it or have jail food, he remarked. He challenged TPCC president Uttam Kumar Reddy and Leader of Opposition K. Jana Reddy that he would resign as Chief Minister and take political sanyas if they proved that the Congress had signed an agreement with Maharashtra in the past for the Tammidihatti Barrages height at 153 metres. Mr Rao also said that he would expose the Oppositions game plan, vilification campaign, government programmes and policies etc. through a TV channel in the next two or three days and subsequently undertake a bus yatra across Telangana state. Calling the agreement with Maharashtra as historic and one more step to-wards providing water for 1 crore acre from Krishna and Godavari rivers, he vowed to make good on his promises at any cost. Hyderabad: The one-man judicial commission set up by the HRD ministry to probe into the suicide of University of Hyderabad scholar Rohith Vemula, is learnt to have stated that Rohith was not a Dalit. The probe panel headed by former Allahabad HC judge Ashok Kumar Roo-panwal has also absolved vice-chancellor Appa Rao Podile of all charges. The reports observation is crucial as Union minister Bandaru Dattatreya and V-C Appa Rao were named in an FIR lodged by the police un-der the SC/ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act for abetting Vemulas suicide. HRD minister Prakash Javadekar said he was unaware of the reports content and would react after going through it. Students plan march on August 29 The one-man judicial commission set up to probe the suicide of scholar Rohith Vemula had submitted its report to the UGC in the first week of August. The commissions report contradicts the report submitted by Guntur district collector Kantilal Dande to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes. UoH students have now decided to renew protests and are planning a march on August 29 in the city. More than 33 groups have backed the march call. New Delhi: With Intelligence agencies having launched a full scale investigation into the source of funding for the ongoing agitation in the Kashmir Valley, a team comprising officials from the Intelligence Bureau and National Investigation Agency has reached Srinagar in connection with the case. Sources said the ten-member team comprising officials from the premiere Intelligence and investigating agencies which is now camping in the Valley suspects that at least Rs 30 crore has been pumped in to fuel the violence against security forces in the State. Following directive from the home minister, the NIA launched a preliminary enquiry to investigate suspected transactions through which money had been routed to the Valley for funding the agitation. As was first reported by this newspaper, Intelligence agencies in a report to the home ministry had raised suspicion that money through the hawala network was being sent to the Valley possibly by subversive elements to further spread the violence. The NIA, along with the IB, is already probing the involvement of terror outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba in the Kashmir violence and will now further expand its ambit to look into the funding aspect also. Initial investigations, sources added, have revealed that at least Rs 30 crore came into the Valley, mostly from the Middle-East, over the last month-and-a-half. It is suspected that the money was used for further fuelling the turbulence in the Valley. While most of the money came through the hawala, it seems some funds came through banking channels also. We have identified some accounts which have seen large transactions from overseas over the last few days. The team has been sent to Srinagar to investigate this and may also question some bank officials in connection with the investigations, an Intelligence official said. Intelligence agencies have also been directed by the home ministry to ensure that the funding channel for the agitators is completely blocked which in turn would drastically reduce the level of violence also. So far 65 people have died in agitation which has been continuing for almost 45 days now ever since Hizbul Mujhideen commander Burhan Wani was shot dead. The investigating team will camp in Srinagar for a few days at least since they are not only looking into the flow of funds for the agitation but will also have to ensure that this channel is choked completely. We suspect that some sympathisers of subversive groups in the Middle-East are pumping in money, the official added. Source close to Ms Reddy said, Sabita Indra Reddy is Adilabad in-charge of the party and recently she successfully conducted farmers meet. This may have been the reason behind the withdrawal of security. (Representational image) Hyderabad: The TS police department has withdrawn gunmen (personal security officers) to former home minister Sabita Indra Reddy stating that it was decided by the security review committee that there was no threat perception to her. Ms Reddy received a letter from the police department stating that her gunmen were withdrawn. However, a senior IPS official said, The former home minister has been given one-plus-one gunmen from Cyberabad police. Since she is residing in in Hyderabad limits, Cyberabad police raised an objection which was accepted by the review committee and it was decided to give her one-plus-one-gunmen from Hyderabad City Security Wing. Cyberabad police sent her the letter before alternative arrangements were made. Before Hyderabad police took over, they were withdrawn erroneously. This has been rectified. However, a source close to Ms Reddy said, Sabita Indra Reddy is Adilabad in-charge of the party and recently she successfully conducted farmers meet. This may have been the reason behind the withdrawal of security. Tennessee is one of more than a dozen states that has been noted for passing laws in the past two years that require students to take and pass a civics test in order to graduate high school. All that legislative action is a direct result of the Civics Education Initiative, led by the Arizona-based Joe Foss Institute, which argues that requiring the test will help secure a place for civics and history in public schools. But in Tennessee theres a catch: The law does not actually require students to pass the test. While a bill that would have required students to pass the test did make its way through the state legislature, the version that was actually passed looks different. It requires that students take a modified version of the test, but not that they pass it in order to graduate. And students who have individualized education programs that deem the test inappropriate will not have to take the test. Students will also take a slightly shorter version of the test developed by the states education department that includes between 25 and 50 questions, not the 100 questions that were proposed in the draft bill. And all this will start in 2016, not in 2017, as the draft bill initially proposed. The Kingsport Times-News reported that school district leaders in the state were taken aback when they received guidance about implementing the new requirement. Many had assumed that passing the test was a requirementat least one school districts board had already added passing the test as a graduation requirement, thinking it was necessary to comply with the law. The state education department says that individual school districts can add that requirement at their own discretion. The Times-News reports that while some of the bills sponsors did intend for all students to have to pass the test in order to graduate, the amendment to the 2015 law was the result of an intentional compromise . Media reports, however, had focused on the earlier version of the bill. Lucian Spataro, who is heading the Civics Education Initiative for the Joe Foss Institute, said in an email to Education Week that his organization was disappointed by the changes to the original Tennessee bill. His argument: From a students perspective, having civics on a test that matters is important. The Knoxville News-Sentinels editorial board agreed . The newspaper published a strongly worded piece last week arguing that requiring students to takebut not to passthe test turns the whole process into a formality. The board writes: When the legislature passes a law to correct a perceived educational deficiency it should be forthright about enforcing the law. The newspaper board suggests that schools could provide support for students who are struggling to pass the test. Tennessees isnt the only bill that has so-called loopholes in North Dakota, for instance, students can be exempted from the requirement depending on their IEP. The Civics Education Initiative is aiming to introduce versions of the requirement in all 50 states. No word yet on whether others will model theirs off of Tennessees more-flexible version or stick to the requirement of passing the test. Related: New Delhi: Telangana state suffered yet another a setback with the Supreme Court refusing to review its March 2016 verdict holding that it was not entitled to the entire assets and deposits of the erstwhile AP State Council for Higher Education (APSCHE). The court in March ordered that the assets be divided between the two states of TS and AP in the ratio of 58:42 on the basis of their population and if the two states did not agree for this arrangement, the Centre would constitute a committee to arrive an agreement in two months. On August 11, a Bench of Justices V. Gopala Gowda and Arun Mishra dismissed the review petition filed by the TD government saying no merits but kept the review petition filed by the State Higher Education Council (SHEC) pending as it did not pass any order on this petition. On Tuesday, the same Bench dismissed as no merits the review filed by the SHEC, which had contended that the state needs to pay around Rs 25,000 crore to Andhra Pradesh, if it wants to stake claim over these assets. Most of these assets are government offi-ces in Hyderabad, which are jointly shared by AP and Telangana. But the AP government had assessed the share at Rs 70,000 crore. In March, the court had said that Telangana had claimed the entire funds and assets of APSCHE. This could surely not have been the intention of the legislature while enacting the Reorganisation Act, just because the institutions are in Hyderabad, which falls in Telangana. Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday said that Telangana has for the first time witnessing a corruption-free rule. Since two years... never in history... there is corruption-free rule. People are appreciating it. Even the PM complimented it. Unable to digest a clean administration, they (the Congress) allege that projects estimates were jacked up and there is corruption. Since two years I have maintained silence and wanted to be a gentleman, he said. He added, Uttam Kumar Reddy and company and Chikiri bikiri TD company, hereafter I will file cases against you. Prove it or have jail food. The Chief Minister, irrigation minister T. Harish Rao and others who returned to Hyderabad from Mumbai after signing the MoU with Maharashtra were accorded a tumultuous welcome at Begumpet airport by thousands of people and artistes besides Cabinet ministers, MPs, legislators and TRS leaders and workers. They were taken in a rally atop a bus for some distance. Uttam Kumar Reddy ... if you are honest I will stay put at Begumpet airport for another half-an-hour to 40 minutes... if you have the guts, come with the Tammidihatti agreement copy here. If its true, I will not go home but go straight to Raj Bhavan and submit my resignation to the Governor. I will take political sanyas. You are indulging in such blatant lies, he charged. After two years, when Kaleshwaram, Yellampally and Mid-Manair waters will come to Medak district, we wont have to look towards the sky for rains. Telangana will be top in the agriculture sector, he added. The Chief Minister said that the agreement with Maharashtra was done after a series of deliberations, diplomacy and patience for one and half years. Everyone is happy barring the Congress sanyasulu who seek black flags. There is a limit even to telling lies. The Congress and the Telugu Desam destroyed the state, he said. BJP: Only Maharashtra will benefit TS BJP on Wednesday slammed the TRS government for its unilateral agreement with the BJP-ruled Maharashtra government for construction of three irrigation projects. TS BJP president K. Laxman who is in New Delhi, said that any agreement between two states should benefit both. Its not a historic agreement as is claimed, but a unilateral agreement. The TS government bowed down to the conditions imposed by Maharashtra. We feel the agreement was done as per the conditions imposed by Maharashtra, he said. Dr Laxman added, As claimed by this government, its not a historic agreement. Why? Because benefits are questionable. Not an acre of land will get water through gravity. The government is spending Rs 1.5 lakh-crore, but it has not revealed Detailed Project Report, cost of lift, power generation etc. He said that the BJP doesnt dispute the fact that there should be good relationship with neighbouring states. But the government is duty-bound to protect the states interests. Forgetting this, TS government entered into MoU for the sake of the MoU. It did did not take the Opposition and people into confidence and signed the agreement post haste. It should have convened an all-party meet before signing the MoU, Dr Laxman said. Accusing the Congress of ignoring projects despite being in power in undivided AP, Maharashtra and at the Centre, he said the then government failed to get projects for the state. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday directed officials to address grievances of students and asked states to accelerate Aadhaar enrolment of children in the age group of 5 to 18 years so that scholarships and other educational benefits become more accessible to them. He also reviewed the progress of vital infrastructure projects in the road, railway and power sectors, spread over several states including Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and Maharashtra. The review was undertaken at the 14th meeting of Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation (PRAGATI), an ICT-based multi-modal platform for monthly interaction by the Prime Minister with top officials of the states via video-conferencing. Reviewing the progress towards handling and resolution of grievances related to school education and literacy, Modi said there is now an expectation among the people that the government will be able to resolve these grievances. The Prime Minister specifically asked officials concerned to systematize the measures being taken by them to address grievances of students, a PMO statement said. He instructed them to use all available technological tools to ensure that school children do not face inconvenience, it said. As an illustration, he recalled his earlier instructions to all ministries for extensive use of space technology. He said this could help in proper location of examination centres to minimize difficulties in access for the students. Reviewing the functioning of the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, the Prime Minister was apprised of progress made in improving accessibility in schools, public buildings and railway stations etc. He appreciated the sensitivity that has been shown in this regard by various departments of the Central and state governments, the statement said. During an appraisal of the Aadhaar enrolment, it was noted that it is now close to 105 crore and special attention is being given to the North-Eastern states which are lacking in this regard, it said. "The Prime Minister urged states to accelerate enrolment among children in the 5 to 18 age-group so that scholarships and other educational benefits become more accessible to them," the statement said. In the context of infrastructure, he reviewed projects like Nangal Dam-Talwara Railway line, which was first sanctioned in 1981-82 and has been pending since then. The Prime Minister impressed upon the Chief Secretaries of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab the need to facilitate work at the ground level so that further delay in this project may be avoided. According to reports, only about 55 per cent of work has been completed on this 84 km-long line that passes through Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. PUDUCHERRY: A Congress leader in Puducherry has been accused of disrespecting the national anthem during the mass singing of the anthem organised at Tiruvalluvar Government Girls HSS here. Block Congress leader from Orleanpet, Abdul Rahman allegedly chose to take selfie in his phone when the national anthem was on. Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy, education minister R. Kamalakannan, DMK legislator R. Siva and officials joined the students in singing the national anthem when the Congress leader was seen busy taking selfie. The mass singing of national anthem was arranged in educational institutions following directions from the University Grants Commission and the ministry of human resource development. At least seven people thrashed two Dalit men who refused to clear the carcass of a calf in Gujarat's Mandal village. (Photo: PTI/Representational) Rajkot: Two Dalit men were on Sunday allegedly beaten up by cow vigilantes for refusing to dispose off the carcass of a calf in Mandal village in Saurashtra region of Gujarat. According to a report, the victims Nagji Rathod and Mayabhai Rathod, have alleged they were beaten by seven people for refusing to remove the carcass. A complaint was later filed by Nagji against the seven people. The Dalit community in Gujarat have stopped the work of clearing cattle carcasses since the Una incident in July. The Gujarat police have booked Mandal village head Atabhai Ahir, Bhola Bharvad, Bhopa Bharvad, Mepa Bharvad and three others, who are yet to be identified, under various sections of Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Atrocities against Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Act on Monday. Ahir, who allegedly led the group of cow vigilantes, has been arrested. "Two days ago, a calf died on roadside in Mandal village. Sarpanch Atabhai Ahir approached Nagji and asked him to dispose the dead animal. But Nagji refused saying he has stopped disposing dead animals in wake of the attacks on their community by cow vigilantes," Nagji's elder brother Soma Rathod said. The Rathod family was attacked by cow vigilantes or gau rakshaks in May as well. Earlier this month, a 15-year-old boy Dalit boy in Gujarats Bhavda village was thrashed because his father had refused to clear cattle carcasses. Madurai: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Tuesday directed Rajya Sabha MP Sasikala Puhspa, her husband and son to appear in the court on August 29 in connection with their anticipatory bail petitions. The Pudukottai All Women Police station in Thoothukudi district filed a case against Sasikala Pushpa, who was recently expelled from AIADMK, and her family members including her husband Lingeswara Thilagam, son Pradeep Raja and her mother T Gowri on the charges of sexual harassment levelled against them by a woman who worked in their home. Apprehending arrest by the police, Sasikala, her husband and son filed separate anticipatory bail petitions in the court. Gowri (62) had also filed a similar petition. When the case came up for hearing today, B Pugalenthi, Additional Advocate General contended that the petitioner's advocate had filed vakalat in their absence. "As the law suit was filed when the petitioners were away abroad, it may be treated as fraud played upon this court," he argued. During the investigation, the police found that Sasikala and her husband Lingeswara Thilagan had left for Singapore by an Air India flight on August 10 and returned on August 14. Again, she left for Singapore from Delhi on August 17 and her husband had done so a day in advance. "While so, this anticipatory bail application is filed at Madurai on August 18 as if they were present at Madurai on August 17 and signed in the presence of an advocate," said Pugalenthi adding that it is understood that Sasikala is away abroad even now. Pointing out the direction issued by the Principal Bench of the Madras High Court to the Registry while dealing with an anticipatory bail application, he said," Either the anticipatory bail application is signed by the petitioner himself or any other authentication is produced to show that he has given such an authority to the counsel to file the petition on his behalf or by getting a vakalat authorising the counsel to file the petition on his behalf,". In this case, ever since the anticipatory bail applications were filed either in the form of an affidavit or petition along with vakalat, the petitioners had not visited TN, he said. "While so executing a vakalat at Madurai is highly impossible and it raises serious doubt in the manner in which the above anticipatory bail application is filed before this court. The petitioners are duty bound to establish the genuineness of their vakalat filed before this Court," he said. After hearing the arguments, Justice V M Velumani directed the petitioners to appear in the court next Monday to give their explanation. The judge also observed that the anticipatory bail petitions would be decided based on merit. Bengaluru: Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, is likely to visit New Delhi on August 30 to discuss with senior central leaders of Congress key issues like appointment of chairpersons for state-owned boards and corporations along with likely return of his key aid, K. J. George, to the cabinet. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader said: Mr Siddaramaiah has almost made up his mind to ensure that key associates make it state-owned boards and corporations, besides nominations to fill three vacant seats in the Legislative Council, and possible re-entry of Mr George. The leader added that the ruling party could nominate three members to the upper House and fill two cabinet berths. Besides, Mr Siddaramaiah can also get clearance for appointments to 92 state run boards and corporations, the leader added. The leader observed that Mr Siddaramaiah has remained tight-lipped about whom to pick to be nominated to the upper House. It is still not clear who will be picked for three vacancies, the leader added. Meanwhile, reacting on his Delhi visit, Mr Siddaramaiah stated that he would leave for Delhi on August 26 to meet external affairs minister, Sushma Swaraj, on arrangements for three-day Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas event in Bengaluru in January 2017. I will inform you (media) all when I go to discuss with my party leaders about appointments (to state-owned boards and corporations), he added. Congmen sore over CM move on film board chief Upset over Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah's decission to retain noted film director, Rajendra Singh Babu as Karnataka Film Development Board chairman while asking all other chairmen to resign from their respective posts, a section of Congress leaders were closeted in a plush hotel to discuss and evolve strategies to counter Mr Siddaramaiah's growing influence over such decisions. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader said that at least 15-20 former chairmen of state-run boards and corporations met at the hotel to discuss the strategies. Although, nothing is finalised yet, these leaders discussed options from writing letter to central leaders about the government's lacklustre show to holding a dharna in front of AICC president, Sonia Gandhi's residence. The frequency with which the word sedition has been crashing into the front page or prime-time television news of late is tragic, terrifying and ridiculous. On one hand, there is the very serious issue of the sedition law (Section 124A Indian Penal Code), a leftover from the colonial era, still being used by political parties to control anyone who threatens to spoil the party by raising inconvenient truths. On the other, there is the attempt at banalising sedition through frivolous complaints. A sort of I dont agree with you, I dont like you, your face, your guts, and therefore, I will lodge a sedition complaint against you. A telling example of this is the controversy now swirling around Kannada actress-politician Ramya. Her story, as told in the media, is this: After a recent visit to Islamabad as part of a Saarc delegation of young MPs, Ramya said at a public meeting that Pakistan is not hell. People there are just like us. They treated us very well. Whoa! That was seen as a sly counter to recent comments by defence minister Manohar Parrikar. Mr Parrikar, in his characteristically elegant style, lashed out at Islamabad for promoting terror, saying: Going to Pakistan is the same as going to hell. Toss the two statements together, throw in publicity-seekers and a controversy is born. An advocate filed a complaint on Monday, accusing Ramya of insulting Indian patriots by praising Pakistan and urged a court to order the police to book Ramya for sedition and for disturbing the peace. The court has admitted the complaint; the hearing is on August 27. All of Tuesday, the media was debating the latest sedition story, except it wasnt a sedition story as yet. As legal luminary Sanjay Hegde noted, no sedition case can proceed unless the government sanctions it. In other words, no private citizen can charge another citizen with sedition. Sedition, a horrific legacy from the British Raj, is a serious matter. The relevant section in the statute book reads: Whoever, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the government established by law in India, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, to which fine may be added, or with imprisonment which may extend to three years, to which fine may be added, or with fine. Subsequent judicial interpretations noted that under Indian law, allegedly seditious speech and expression may be punished only if the speech is incitement to violence or public disorder. If Ramya is projected as the star in a sizzling sedition story due to her love for Pakistani hospitality, so should every South Delhi woman who buys smuggled Pakistani kajal and packs her shopping bag with Pakistani shalwars and dupattas. Ramya has sensibly refused to apologise. And one doubts if Pakistani kajal and shalwar sales have dipped in Indian cities despite the strained ties between the two countries. The Ramya story makes one laugh, but actually its no laughing matter. The fact that anyone can actually think of filing a complaint urging that a sedition case be slapped, simply as Ramya enjoyed Pakistani hospitality and found things in common with Pakistanis she met, is both serious and silly at the same time. The silliness of this story risks pushing into the background the far more serious matters that have come up about this law. When grilled on TV, many political party representatives typically tut-tut about the sedition law. They talk of the need for a debate and sometimes openly say it should be removed from the statute book. But all this is only for public consumption. Successive governments, both Congress and BJP, had the chance to toss out the sedition law but havent done so. The sword of sedition continues to dangle as we have seen in the recent case involving Amnesty International, once again in Karnataka. The human rights group was booked for sedition for organising an event in Bengaluru where some people allegedly chanted slogans for azadi in Kashmir. This was seen by members of the BJP students wing and the police as spreading hatred against India. The curious equivocation over this by the Congress, which is in power in the state, is emblematic of the real problem. The sedition narrative is now mixed with the vitriolic and polarising narrative around true nationalism. And the political class wants to play all sides. Last October Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel emerged as the star of another sedition saga when such charges were slapped on him for allegedly instigating a youth to kill policemen instead of committing suicide. Patel denied giving such advice. This February the whole country was convulsed with the story of JNU students Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, all facing sedition charges for allegedly raising anti-India slogans at a campus event. The video on the basis of which the allegation was made is under a shadow; but the sedition case is still going on. There have been many other cases. A veritable galaxy of people has been booked for sedition writer Arundhati Roy, public health activist Binayak Sen, cartoonist Aseem Trivedi, to name just a few. Sedition is a very serious charge. By using it to silence legitimate political or social voices, which take a position different from the majority, those in power and their acolytes trivialise it. But they do achieve their purpose, as the people against whom such charges are levelled then spend years running to courts to prove their innocence. This is a dangerous misuse of the criminal justice system. It has no place in a modern democracy. Seriously, some of us must grow up, and learn to deal with disagreement, no matter how strong, without hissing sedition or litigation. The writer focuses on development issues in India and emerging economies. She can be reached at patralekha.chatterjee @gmail.com Scientists at NASA are putting the finishing touches on a spacecraft specially designed to rendezvous with Asteroid Bennu in 2018. The mission is to find clues about the origins of life on Earth. "We are days away from encapsulating into our rocket faring and lifting this spacecraft on to the Atlas V vehicle and beginning the journey to Bennu and back," Dante Lauretta, the principal investigator of the mission told Reuters at the Kennedy Space Center. The $1 billion mission, known as OSIRIS-REx, is scheduled for launch on September 8, 2016 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The solar-powered robotic spacecraft, built by Lockheed Martin (LMT), is set to rendezvous with asteroid 1999 RQ36, nicknamed Bennu, in a two-year time frame, for mapping and surveys. The spacecraft will then use a robotic arm to collect samples and return back to Earth in 2023. Scientists are interested in studying the minerals and chemicals contained in the asteroid. Similar asteroids crashing into Earth are believed to have provided organic materials and water, the building blocks needed for life on Earth. We expect to find materials that pre-date our solar system," said Lauretta, adding that physical samples from the 1960s and 1970s Apollo moon missions are still bearing scientific fruit to this day. "To understand the chemistry down to the molecular level we have to get a sample back and take them to the best labs in this country and around the world now and for generations to come," added mission project scientist Jason Dworkin. In 2010, Japan's Hayabusa spacecraft was the first to bring back physical samples of an asteroid to Earth. Along with sample retrieval, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is equipped with a suite of cameras and sensors that are designed to study the forces that influence the asteroids orbit. Even planning the spacecraft's flight plan for a rendezvous with Bennu was difficult because the physics of asteroid trajectories isn't a perfect science, said Lauretta. "This turned out to be a much larger challenge than we originally anticipated because other forces like solar radiation pressure and even the thermal emission of the asteroid itself will push the spacecraft around," Lauretta added. The mission, Dworkin said, will give astronomers new insights into how heat from the Sun influences the movement of space rocks. The data is critical in protecting Earth from potential asteroid collisions in future. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Hyderabad: Scientists from the National Geophysical Research Institute have found extensive evidence of the lava flow pathway from the Deccan volcanic eruption in the Narmada-Son region of Central India. NGRI claimed that the 3D study results would open up possibilities of identification of hydrocarbon reserves, mineral resources and also would be useful to study seismic activity along weak zones. NGRI researcher and lead author of the study, Mr Prasanta K. Patro, along with Mr S.V.S. Sarma, retired chief scientist of NGRI, came out with these major findings with magnetotelluric (measuring geomagnetic and geo-electrical field variations of Earth) data derived from 153 stations distributed over a grid of 78 km site spacing in Central India. Mr Patro said, Around 65 million years ago the Deccan volcano caused lot of lava flow. Studies were earlier conducted in the Deccan trap. We focused on the Narmada-Son region where the crustal electrical structure beneath has been imaged. Data helped us to find gravity anomalies and high seismic-velocity zones that are interpreted to be mafic-ultramafic bodies derived from the mantle. These bodies represent intrusive components formed from solidification of lava or magma. We suggest that the disposition and geometry of the conductive bodies, which must have served as magma chambers for the Deccan volcanic activity, is closely related to the plumbing geometry of the Deccan Volcanic Igneous province. He added, The study significantly helps in identification of resources and hydrocarbons. It can be applied in case of seismic pattern identification in weak zones. It is like finding out what is going on in the brain with MRI scanning. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. While the number of students taking the ACT rose significantly again this year, overall average test scores have taken a dip, according to a new report from the Iowa City, Iowa-based testing company. The decline in scores is not unexpected, say company representatives, because more states began requiring all 11th graders take the test over the last yearso a more diverse group of students is now receiving results. When you go from a self-selected to a [fully] tested population, youre likely adding less academically able students, said Paul Weeks, the senior vice president for client services for ACT. When you look at the impact, its pulling scores down a little bit. The decline is also not as sharp as it could have been, some say. The average composite score went from 21 in 2015 to 20.8 in 2016 (on a scale of 1 to 36). Thats a slight but statistically significant drop. For an individual tester, even a full 1-point difference on a test could be the kid next to you has a cold and distracted youits statistical noise, within the standard error of measurement, said Adam Ingersoll, the founder and principal of Compass Education Group, a tutoring and test-prep company. But with national populations, almost any tick has some meaning. Sixty-four percent of 2016s graduating seniorsor about 2.1 million studentstook the college-readiness exam, up from 59 percent in 2015. The ACT has had more test-takers than the SAT, its main competitor, since 2011. (Results for the 2016 SAT wont be out until next month, but the trend is expected to continue.) The percentage of students meeting the college readiness benchmarks, which ACT says indicates a student has about a 75 percent chance of earning at least a grade C and a 50 percent chance of earning at least a B in a first-year college course, went down in all four subject areasEnglish, reading, math, and science. The biggest drop was in English, in which 61 percent of students met the benchmark, down from 64 percent a year ago. Ingersoll said its important to remember that these changes in scores and percentages meeting college readiness benchmarks dont actually indicate much about how students and schools are doing nationally. The pool of testers is changing so radically, he said. Youd need to have consecutive years with the pool staying the same before you can draw conclusions. And even then, he added, it would be tough to pinpoint causes. Statewide Testing Seven more statesAlaska, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, South Carolina, and Wisconsinbegan requiring all 11th graders take the test for the first time in this data set, according to the ACT. (Some states are now using the test in place of other exams aligned to the Common Core State Standards .) In all of those states, average composite scores declined. Weeks says an initial drop in scores is typical when a state goes to a fully tested population. But then we see a gradual return, he said, pointing to Kentucky, where scores started to rebound after a few years of testing all students. In another 22 states, composite scores increased this year compared to 2015. More Students Scoring High and Low The number of test-takers scoring at the high and low ends showed particular growth, noted the ACTs Weeks. Were seeing a bifurcation on performance, he said. Yes, were seeing more students meeting three or four benchmarks, who are probably going to do pretty well in college. But were also seeing more students who arent meeting any of the benchmarks, and thats a little alarming. In 2015, 31 percent of students did not meet the college readiness benchmarks in any of the four subject areas. That percentage is now up to 34. However, there was also a huge increase in the number of students reaching a perfect score, Ingersoll pointed out. Forty percent more test-takers achieved a composite score of 36 in 2016 than in 2015. That trend has been going on for a while. In 2001, just 89 students received a perfect score. This year, the number was 2,235 students. (The number of test-takers doubled over that time.) Thats in part because the reputation of the ACT has changed, Ingersoll said. For years and years, the ACT was an afterthought. [Many people thought] it was not as prestigious, not as respected as the SAT, he said. The script is completely flipped. Now more affluent, aggressive families and their advisors are going for the ACT. Savvy parents may also be choosing the ACT over the SAT this year in particular, experts point out, because the SAT moved to a completely new test for 2016 . Black and Hispanic Students: Success Story or Bad News? Among black students, performance has been relatively flat over the last five years, while the number of students tested has gone up. For Hispanic students, average scores have dropped slightly (by one-fifth of a point) over the same time period, while the number of test-takers has risen dramatically, by 44 percent. Given that expansion of the testing pool often leads to substantial drops in scores, these trends represent distinct success stories, says the ACT report. And because of the increased numbers of test-takers, thousands more black and Hispanic students are being identified as ready for college-level coursework than have been previously, it says. But major achievement gaps remain between African-American and Hispanic students and their white and Asian counterparts. Just 11 percent of African-American students and 23 percent of Hispanic students met college readiness benchmarks in three or four subjects this year. For white students, about half met the benchmarks. And some say thats far from a success. I think its actually bad news that more black and Latino students are being subjected to these exams that ultimately in the end tell them theyre not good enough and not likely to succeed at certain types of colleges and universities, said Shaun Harper, the executive director of the Center for the Study of Race and Equity in Education at the University of Pennsylvania and the president-elect of the Association for the Study of Higher Education. In addition, the report found that disparities between high- and low-income students may be growing. Over the last three years, composite scores for students with a family income of $80,000 or higher increased, while scores dropped for students with family incomes below that. STEM Readiness The report also looked at whether students met STEM readiness benchmarks, which combine math and science scores. It found that among students who met the benchmarks, science scores have gone up, while math scores have remained flat. It could be STEM initiatives are focusing a little more on science [than math], and were seeing the impact of that, said Weeks. Thats something were going to continue to look at over the next couple years. Related stories: Mumbai: In a recent joint effort to analyse electromagnetic frequency emissions (EMF), noted telecom experts and doctors found out mobile towers in Mumbai were safe from radiation, and well within prescribed limits in India. A team of experts led by officials from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) tested telecom tower sites at Baldota Bhawan, Jolly Bhawan 2 and Haji Ali Juice centre and measured EMF emission levels across these areas and stated that all towers were safe, substantiated by the low levels of radiation that showed up in the tests. The average radiation from three towers inspected in Mumbai was 9.14 per cent of the limits set by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT); well within the prescribed limits. The level of emission near Baldota Bhawan was 45.28 milliwatts psqm. The next location tested was a tower in Jolly Bhawan 2, which also had a reading of 15.39 milliwatts psqm. The third site tested was at Haji Ali Juice Centre where the level was measured at 62.83 milliwatts psqm. M M Gupta , Senior Deputy Director General, Telecom Enforcement Resource Monitoring (TERM), Western Region, Department of Telecommunications, Government of India, said, We forget that seamless mobile connectivity is an important factor, which can help a state to grow. For a city like Mumbai, which is the hub of the countrys financial activity, it is a must-have. Lack of sufficient towers is also hampering network quality in Mumbai. Cell tower sites are being shut down due to unfounded fears of EMF radiation and their impact on health despite no scientific proof. According to experts, more mobile towers are required in order to boost the connectivity and enhance network in the city, the towers are completely safe and todays testing results further reinforce that fact, he added. EMF emissions from mobile towers, below the limits prescribed by ICNIRP and recommended by WHO, have no adverse impact on an individuals health. In addition to this, the Government is simultaneously partaking in all research and discussion organised by credible bodies and committees like The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), World Health Organisation (WHO) and Department of Science and Technology (DST) to revise the guidelines related to the tower installations fund investment and update them with recent discoveries and guidelines. Additionally, in its latest advisory on health risks associated with mobile phones and their base stations, both World Health Organizations (WHO) and a French government expert group ANSES have said that there is no health hazard from mobile tower emissions. This has been seconded by a decade-long study conducted by the Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research Programme (MTHR) of the UK. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Contrary to a recent warning that had been issued on blocked Indian websites, it has now been discovered that visiting government-blocked torrent websites wont lead to a jail term or hefty fine. Several reports pointed out that there are several ambiguities in the notice which said that a user might spend three years in jail and pay Rs three lakhs as fine, if found visiting blocked torrent websites. Currently, the scary message on blocked torrent sites read: This URL has been blocked under the instructions of the Competent Government Authority or in compliance with the orders of a Court of competent jurisdiction. Viewing, downloading, exhibiting or duplicating an illicit copy of the contents under this URL is punishable as an offence under the laws of India, including but not limited to under Sections 63, 63-A, 65 and 65-A of the Copyright Act, 1957 which prescribe imprisonment for 3 years and also fine of upto Rs. 3,00,000/-. Any person aggrieved by any such blocking of this URL may contact the nodal officer at urlblock@tatacommunications.com who will, within 48 hours, provide you the details of relevant proceedings under which you can approach the relevant High Court or Authority for redressal of your grievance. However, it should be noted that the notice does not give clarity on any particular law and seems like a petty warning to scare off potential visitors. In a laymans term, it is an amalgamation of various inapplicable laws have been merged together. But the message, due to its ambiguity, looks threatening rather than being informative. The notice said that merely viewing a blocked torrent website or URL could land users in trouble. Though the warning message aims to curb piracy-mongers, cracking down on users for just viewing a torrent site does not make any sense. Its impossible to prosecute users who mistakenly land up on a blocked website. Most importantly, this part of the notice does not even violate the Indian Copyright Act Some of the other points that are mentioned in the notice zealously stated that viewing, downloading, exhibiting or duplicating an illicit copy of the contents under this URL is punishable as an offence under the laws of India. However, the sections under which a user would be panelised including section 63, 63-A, 65 and 65-A of the Copyright Act, 1957 have little nexus with how torrent websites work. The notice also fails to give any clear reason to how these sections might apply. This notice looks more like an attempt to stop users from opening these blocked sites but fails to explain the root cause properly. If the government is looking to curb piracy, it should start more awareness programmes and educate online users rather than sending out spurious notices. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. The age of robotic technology is gradually dominating the mortal lifes daily chores. Swiss Post the national portal service of Switzerland in partnership with UK-based start-up, Starship Technologies by Ahti Heinla and Janus Friss, is set to test robots next month in three Swiss cities to deliver food and medicine. The robots are small in size along with four-wheeled pods to travel slowly on sidewalks. They are designed with care to avoid obstacles such as pedestrians, animals and cars. After a few months of testing period, Swiss Post will then decide if they want to use this technology permanently. However, these wont replace the deliverymen entirely. "We don't believe in substituting the human being part," said Claudia Pletscher, the head of development programs and innovation at Swiss Post. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. The Xiaomi Mi 5 is built around the most powerful Snapdragon 820 chipset with 3GB RAM and a 16MP camera. Chinese smartphone giant, Xioami has slashed the price of its flagship device, Mi 5 for the Indian market. The smartphone launched at Rs 24,999 will now be available for 22,999. Xioamis India head Manu Jain took to Twitter to announce the price cut and availability of the Mi 5. The tweet reads #Mi5 for Rs 22,999 Starting today, we are announcing a permanent price drop for Mi 5. Buy it from Mi. com and @Flipkart. @XiaomiIndia The Xiaomi Mi 5 was launched in March this year and was companys most expensive device launched for the Indian market. Specification wise the smartphone features a 5.15 inch full HD display with 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution and is powered by a Snapdragon 820 processor paired with 3GB RAM. The smartphone also featured a fingerprint sensor incorporated in the home button. Camera sensors include a 16MP with LED flash on the rear, while a 4MP front facing snapper. Connectivity options include 4G, LTE, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC, USB Type C. The smartphone is juiced by a 3000mAh battery with support for Qualcomm Quick Charge. Recently, Samsung also slashed the prices for its Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. Both devices saw a price cut of Rs 5,000. The Galaxy S7 which was launched at Rs 48,900 is now available for Rs 43,400, while the Galaxy S7 Edge will now be selling at a price of Rs 50,900. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. If confirmed, the breach at the Times would not be the first time foreign hackers infiltrated a news organisation. (Photo: AP) Washington: The FBI and other US security agencies are investigating cyber breaches targeting reporters at the New York Times and other U.S. news organisations that are thought to have been carried out by hackers working for Russian intelligence, CNN reported on Tuesday, citing unnamed U.S. officials. "Investigators so far believe that Russian intelligence is likely behind the attacks and that Russian hackers are targeting news organisations as part of a broader series of hacks that also have focussed on Democratic Party organisations, the officials said," CNN said. Reuters could not immediately confirm the report. The FBI declined to comment, and representatives for the US Secret Service, which has a role in protecting the country from cyber crime, did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The intrusions were detected in recent months, according to CNN. Citing the U.S. officials, it said the Times had hired private security investigators to work with national security officials in assessing the breach. Representatives for the Times could not be immediately reached for comment. News of the cyber attack comes amid a wave of similar attacks targeting major US political parties that have surfaced in recent weeks ahead of the Nov. 8 presidential election. The Democratic National Committee, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's campaign and the party's congressional fundraising committee have all been affected. Hackers have also targeted the computer systems of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Republican Party organisations, sources have said. If confirmed, the breach at the Times would not be the first time foreign hackers infiltrated a news organisation: media are frequently targeted in an order to glean insights into U.S. policies or to spy on journalists. In 2013, a group of hackers known as the Syrian Electronic Army also attacked Times and other media outlets. Chinese attackers also infiltrated the Times that year. Santa Clara County Judge Aaron Persky on Monday formally recused himself from deciding whether to reduce a San Jose plumber's felony child pornography charges to misdemeanors. (Photo: AP) San Francisco: The Northern California judge who sentenced a former Stanford University swimmer to six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman has reignited debate about his ability to serve on the bench after removing himself from a separate sex-crimes case. Santa Clara County Judge Aaron Persky on Monday formally recused himself from deciding whether to reduce a San Jose plumber's felony child pornography charges to misdemeanors. A law professor called the move unusual and said it makes it look like Persky is susceptible to "political pressure." It's the second sex-crimes case that Persky has departed since his June sentencing of 20-year-old Brock Turner exploded in national media. It comes amid an effort to recall Persky and a formal misconduct complaint that a women's advocacy group filed with the state agency that disciplines judges. Another judge will rule on Robert Chain's child porn case in October. "While on vacation earlier this month, my family and I were exposed to publicity surrounding this case," the judge wrote in a brief ruling. "This publicity has resulted in a personal family situation such that 'a person aware of the facts might reasonably entertain a doubt that the judge would be able to be impartial.'" Persky didn't respond to requests for comment. Two attorneys who argue cases in his courtroom have backed up his abilities. Santa Clara County deputy public defender Gary Goodman in June called him a "solid and respected judge," while defence attorney Barbara Muller said he's "one of the fairest judges" in the county. In Chain's case, Persky said last year that he was "receptive" to reducing the conviction if Chain stayed sober and out of trouble for a year. Persky, who has handled the case since early 2015, sentenced Chain to four days in jail and ordered him to register for life as a sex offender after he pleaded guilty to possessing dozens of sexually explicit images of children. The judge said he would consider reducing the conviction if Chain complied with the terms of his probation. Chain's lawyer, Brian Madden, has said his client "worked hard" to turn around his life since his 2014 arrest, including receiving alcohol abuse counselling. Madden didn't return a phone call Tuesday. University of California, Berkeley, law professor Christopher Kutz said "no formal or actual conflict" appears to exist between Persky and the child porn case, but the "appearance that he seems susceptible to political pressure" does. "It's a very unusual case," Kutz said. It comes two months after the district attorney's office removed Persky from a different sexual assault case, saying "we lack confidence" in the judge's ability to decide it impartially. Organizers of an effort to get Persky removed from the bench say they will begin collecting signatures in April to qualify the issue for the November 2017 ballot. "Case after case, Judge Persky has demonstrated that his own personal bias compels him to prioritize the well-being of privileged men - rapists, abusers and possessors of child porn - over the survivors of their crimes," said Nita Chaudhary, co-founder of women's advocacy group UltraViolet, which has asked the Commission on Judicial Performance to remove Persky. The six-month sentence he handed down to Turner, a Dayton, Ohio, resident who had been attending Stanford on a swimming scholarship, drew outrage. Persky cited a probation department recommendation and the effect the conviction will have on Turner's life. A jury convicted the former Olympic hopeful of sexually assaulting a young woman he met at a campus fraternity party in January 2015 after she passed out behind a trash bin. The two had been drinking heavily. The case sparked a national debate on college drinking and sexual assault. Stanford unveiled a revised student alcohol policy on Monday, banning hard alcohol from undergraduate parties and shots from graduate gatherings in an effort to combat binge drinking. Beer and wine are still allowed, a policy that the Distilled Spirits Council says "sends a dangerous message to college students" that beer and wine are "softer" than hard liquor. Washington: Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's campaign is accusing rival Donald Trump of outsourcing his clothing brands overseas, including his coats to India, in a new television commercial set to air this week. In the past, the Clinton Campaign has accused Trump of outsourcing jobs to India and other countries. The latest television commercial is part of a series. The ad 'Shirts' joins a previously released commercial 'Some Place' in spotlighting Trump's long history of making Trump-branded products outside of the US, as part of an effort over the past month to contrast the 70-year-old tycoon's hypocritical business record with Clinton's agenda to "make the economy work for everyone, not just those at the top." Robert Kidder, owner of New England Shirt Company, in the ad released by Clinton Campaign alleges that "this factory has been here since 1883. We have over 60 people here making shirts labelled 'Made in America,' but Donald Trump's brand of shirts come from China, his suits from Mexico, his coats from India". "Donald Trump says he'll 'make America great again' while he's taking the shirts right off our backs," Kidder says as he closes the ad. The company is based in Massachusetts, which in the past has been central to America's textile industry. It remains the oldest operating ready-to-wear shirt manufacturer in the US. The new ad follows Clinton's announcement yesterday of new plans to jumpstart small business startups and strengthen small business growth. She has accused Trump of making a career out of 'stiffing' small businesses and driving some of them out of business. Citing an independent analysis, the former secretary of state has claimed Trump's ideas would cost 3.4 million jobs while her plan would create over 10 million new jobs. Clinton, the 68-year-old Senator from New York, is leading Trump by considerable margin in several US polls. The general election is scheduled for November 8. Beijing: A man in south-western China's Sichuan province was dragged out of his home naked, and thrashed in public for allegedly running a dog brothel, and live streaming himself raping a dog. According to a report, the man charged his customers five dollars to beat and abuse the dogs before having sex with them. The incidence came to light three weeks ago, when dog lovers chanced upon the sickening stream. Members of a Chengdu chat community set a trap for the man by posing people interested in 'his hobby'. He offered members of the chat group a chance to 'rape female dogs in a way that serves us all'. They arranged for a meet up and when the activists met him, he took off his clothes for a 'demonstration', but was soon pounced upon by the large group. Videos of the incidence showed the man being dragged out and thrashed, sprawled on the street naked, surrounded by enraged men and women holding banners that screamed. 'Pervert sexually assaulted female dogs, going against morality'. The man was finally dragged away by the cops and taken to a local hospital for treatment, but cannot be charged for abusing dogs as they were all strays. No action has been taken so far, and the dogs have been taken to an animal shelter. Self-immolation protests would be included as separatism-related crime, officials said as they refuted reports that monks are being forced to learn legal texts that highlight such offences. (Photo: AP/Representational) Beijing: China plans to include self-immolation protests in Tibet in separatism-related crimes, officials said even as they refuted reports that monks are being forced to learn legal texts that highlight such offences. "Self-immolation is likely to be included in the book (compiled by judicial authorities) since it endangers public security and violates the law," state-run Global Times quoted Qiu Ning, the former head of Aba county's united front work department as saying. Inclusion of self-immolation in the book will make the protests a separatism-related crime. "Cases involving illegally sending separatism-themed pictures and videos to foreign hostile forces via mobile messaging app WeChat are also a possible topic for the book," Qiu said. Over 125 Tibetans, including several monks, committed self immolations in the last few years demanding the return of the Dalai Lama from exile. Officials in Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in Southwest China's Sichuan Province also refuted reports, forcing Buddhist monks to learn legal texts highlighting separatism-related crimes. Zeli Danzhu, head of the justice bureau in the prefecture's Aba county, and Tashi, the deputy head of the county's publicity department, told Global Times that "the judicial authorities were working on compiling Yi'an shuofa (case-based law learning) in July". "But it is unclear if the books have been issued to locals," Qiu Ning, the former head of Aba county's united front work department told the daily. According to a report by US-based Chinese-language news website, officials in the prefecture handed out Tibetan and Chinese books outlining law-violating cases at Kirti Gompa, or Gerdeng Monastery, beginning in late July. Kirti Gompa is the site of the most self-immolation incidents on record, incidents that have been proven to have close links with the Dalai Lama's faction, according to China's official white paper on Tibet. Chinese public security organs' investigating claim that the self-immolation incidents clearly showed that they are being manipulated and instigated by the highest level of the Dalai Lama group. Qiu denied that the book's target readers are only monks and nuns, though the book was also distributed to some 40 other monasteries in the county. Both Qiu and Tashi also dismissed claim that authorities "forced monks to study the book". According to the white paper, the Dalai Lama group instigates self-immolations in part through a so-called press liaison group based in Sichuan's Kirti Gompa and the Kirti Monastery in India and by using the Internet and "Tibetan independence" media to hype up self-immolation, the Global Times report said. Taipei: Taiwan will send its first envoy in three years to visit the Vatican it's only ally in Europe in a bid to cement ties as signs grow that rival Beijing and the Holy See are working towards resuming relations. Vice President Chen Chien-jen, a Catholic who has long had ties with the Vatican, will leave on September 2 for the canonisation of Mother Teresa and will also meet senior officials, attend a mass and visit Assisi, birthplace of St. Francis, during a six-day visit, the foreign ministry said. "We share the same values with the Holy See based on religious freedom and human rights. Our relations with the Holy See are very stable and there's no problem looking from now to the future," said deputy foreign minister Wu Chih-chung on Wednesday, when announcing the trip. Beijing and Taipei have battled for decades over their allies. China still sees self-ruling Taiwan as part of its territory and demands that allies of Beijing must renege any official ties with the island. There was a truce in the battle for friends under previous Beijing-friendly president Ma Ying-jeou. But former Taiwan ally Gambia established ties with Beijing, two months after China-sceptic Tsai Ing-wen was elected president in January. There is speculation that Panama might follow suit. Chen's visit comes after the bishop of Hong Kong, Cardinal John Tong, said recently China was willing to reach an "understanding" with the Vatican over the contentious issue of the appointment of bishops. The Holy See is one of only 22 states in the world that recognise Taipei instead of Beijing. In 2013, Ma Ying-jeou became the first Taiwanese leader to meet the pope when he attended the inauguration of Pope Francis, sparking an angry response from Beijing despite improving cross-strait ties at that time. There are an estimated 12 million Catholics in China, but the Vatican has not had diplomatic relations with Beijing since 1951, two years after the founding of the communist People's Republic. Previous attempts to restore ties have floundered over Beijing's insistence that the Vatican must give up its recognition of its rival Taiwan and promise not to interfere in religious issues in China. But in May the Vatican's secretary of state, Pietro Parolin, said relations between China and the Catholic Church were "in a positive phase". In February, Pope Francis lavished praise on China in a move widely seen as part of Vatican moves to improve relations, pointedly avoiding any mention of Chinese restrictions on freedom of worship. Federal Judge: Religious Freedom Beats Transgender Rights in Workplace Discrimination Claim A federal court in Michigan ruled in favor of a funeral home that fired a transgender employee, saying the home is protected by religious freedom laws. While conceding the transitioning employee could file a gender discrimination lawsuit under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the judge in charge of the suit said the funeral home, which also operates as a ministry, is protected under the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). Here's a closer look at the ruling, and what it could mean for your small business. More of a Burden In 2014, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against RG & GR Harris Funeral Homes Inc., alleging it unlawfully fired Aimee Stephens when she told her bosses she would transition from male to female. The funeral home's owner, Thomas Rost, claimed he would be violating "God's commands" by allowing Stephens to wear a skirt-suit while ministering to grieving customers, and the home is therefore protected under the RFRA. And U.S. District Judge Sean Cox agreed. Judge Cox wrote that "Rost operates the funeral home as a ministry to serve grieving families while they endure some of the most difficult and trying times in their lives," and enforcing Title VII "would impose a substantial burden on the ability of the Funeral Home to conduct business in accordance with its sincerely-held religious beliefs." Less Restrictive The court's ruling seems to buck the trend of expanding legal protections for LGBT people in the workplace. And it does so on grounds that some believe are legally shaky. Under the RFRA, if the government is going to burden a person's exercise of religion, it must do so in the least restrictive means necessary. Judge Cox opined that there might be less restrictive options to the EEOC, like a gender neutral dress code for the funeral home: The EEOC has not even discussed such an option, maintaining that Stephens must be allowed to wear a skirt-suit in order to express Stephens's gender identity. If the compelling governmental interest is truly in removing or eliminating gender stereotypes in the workplace in terms of clothing (i.e., making gender "irrelevant"), the EEOC's chosen manner of enforcement in this action does not accomplish that goal. Both Eugene Volokh at the Washington Post and Mark Joseph Stern at Slate think placing the burden on the EEOC to invent other less-restrictive means may be the judge's undoing, and that the decision may be overturned if the EEOC appeals. For now, employers might be wise to proceed on the grounds that transgender employees are a protected class, as the EEOC has determined, and refrain from transgender discrimination both as a means of fostering equality in the workplace and avoiding potential discrimination lawsuits. An experienced employment law attorney can ensure that your small business is Title VII compliant -- contact one in your area today. Related Resources: Psychologists said it is time that she moves on from her past. (Photo: Natascha Kampusch website) Vienna: After ten years of her escape, rape survivor Natascha Kampusch, opens up about the psychological and sexual abuse she was subjected to for eight and a half years at the hands of her captor Wolfgang Pirklopil. Kampusch was abducted when she was 9-year-old and was on her way to school in March 1998. She was held captive in the cellar of a house by Pirklopil for eight and a half years and was beaten, starved and turned into a sex slave. However, she managed to escape in August 2006 when she was 18-year-old. Recalling the exact moments of her freedom, Kampusch said that Priklopil received a call and got distracted. He has observed me all the time. But because of the vacuum cleaner whirring in my hand he had to walk a few steps away to talk to the caller. I crept to the gate which was usually closed or blocked by heavy objects, but not on that day. Kampusch ran out and knocked on the neighbours window, asking the woman for help, who called the police. I could hardly breathe. I felt solidified, as if my arms and legs were paralyzed. Jumbled images shot through me. Kampuschs captor was hit by a train the same day she escaped and his house and car were given to Kampusch as compensation. Kampusch, now 28, lives in the same house where she was held hostage in Strasshof, Vienna. She revealed that she spends her weekends in the very same house. Kampusch is the author of a book called Ten Years of Freedom, which throws light on her past experiences. Psychologists said it is time that she moves on from her past. However, Kampusch finds it difficult and has mentioned in her interviews that she remains socially awkward and confused. Pictures showed Siam being accosted and surrounded uniformed cops. She is then seen removing her top. (Photo: Video grab) Paris: A French woman was forced to remove the loose tunic she had on, while sunbathing in Nice, by gun totting policemen, citing violation of the countrys recent ban on the burkini. According to reports, Siam, a former air hostess who has been in France for the past three generations, was also fined Rs 2,840 for violating the order banning the full length wet suit, complete with a hood. The Nice administration recently issued an order banning the burkinis in the district, and several other French towns and cities along the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, have also followed suit. Supporters justified the ban citing security concerns. They also alleged that the costume stood against French secular values and was oppressive. Pictures showed Siam being accosted and surrounded uniformed cops. She is then seen removing her top. I wasnt even planning to swim, just to dip my feet, she was reported a as saying. Pictures showed Siam being accosted and surrounded uniformed cops. She is then seen removing her top. (Photo: Video grab) Several rights group have decried the burkini ban as being violative and that the ban on the garment was petty, and mainly targeted a small group of Muslim mothers and grandmothers. A judge ruling on a petition filed against the brukini ban also said that the clothing could be considered as provocative especially after the spate of terrorist attack in France, including an attack in Nice, where a truck mowed down 86 people. A judge ruling on a petition filed against the burkini ban also said that the clothing could be considered as provocative especially after the spate of terrorist attack in France, including an attack in Nice, where a truck mowed down 86 people. Pictures showed Siam being accosted and surrounded uniformed cops. She is then seen removing her top. (Photo: Video grab) Duarte earlier tweeted saying that when she spent the night with the sportsman, she did not know who he was until her friend told her. (Photo: WhatsApp) London: Breaking her silence, Brazilian student Jady Duarte, who made headlines for her one night stint with three-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt, has revealed explicit details about her intimate moments with the sprinter. In an interview to Daily Mail, Duarte said that Bolt tried to grab her attention by flashing his sculpted six-pack abs and striking his famed lightning bolt pose. Giving a detailed account of the night, Duarte said that she was in the upmarket club 'In All' in Rio when there was a sudden buzz in the club that Bolt was there to celebrate his thirtieth birthday. "He was in front of us and suddenly he pulled up his shirt and showed us his six pack. I had never seen anything like it. I just had to reach out and stroke it. It felt incredible. The muscles were as hard as stone. But I was paying so much attention to his abs that at first I didn't even notice it was Usain Bolt," she said. Duarte went on to party with her friends when later in the night, she was accosted by Usain Bolts bodyguard twice, informing that Bolt wanted a word with her. But Duarte did not relent, playing hard to get. She finally agreed to go with Bolt after he smiled at her and struck his world famous lightning Bolt pose, in an attempt to convince her. Narrating further, Duarte said, He pulled me into the taxi and gave me an incredible kiss. Bolt sneaked in Duarte to his room in the Olympic village by bypassing the security. Abandoned by her parents, and raised by her great aunt in one of Rios districts, Duarte did not know a word of English. But that barrier was overcome with the help of Google translate. It was mainly just small talk and him telling me how beautiful I was. We used Google but I didn't need a translator to tell me that he wanted sex, she said. And things soon got steamy. With Rihannas song Work blaring in the background Bolt and Duarte hit off two back-to-back love making sessions for a solid two hours, she claimed, stopping just short of a third session. It was very passionate and hot - we were devouring one another. He has the body of a champion although his male parts do not match - he is just like a regular guy. I was expecting him to be fast but it was actually the slowest sex I've ever had. We did it for about 40 minutes then he took a couple of minutes rest before we did it again. He was certainly quick at recovering but we didn't have sex a third time, she said. After taking selfies and listening to music for a while, Bolt also handed over Duarte a 100 Euro note to get a taxi, she claimed. He also promised to take her out later, but soon after their brief intimacy made it to Brazilian tabloids, Bolt gave the Olympic finishing ceremony a miss, and hopped off to London, where he was yet again filmed enjoying the company of two women, before leading them to his hotel room. All this despite rumours that he might tie the knot with his long term girlfriend, 26-year-old Kasi Bennett after the Olympic games. But the chance encounter with the fastest man on earth has only left Duarte heartbroken. I never imagined that he had a girlfriend or so many women. He's a great looking guy, a huge star - but he is shameless. It was a good experience and the sex was good but now I just feel like just another one of his girls, she said. Duarte also rejected claims that she was the widow of Brazilian drug lord Douglas Donato Pereira, and clarified that she only dated him for a few months before he was shot dead by police. The Turkish Armed Forces and the International Coalition Air Forces have launched a military operation aimed at clearing the district of Jarabulus from ISIS. (Photo: AP) Istanbul: Turkey's army backed by international coalition air strikes on Wednesday launched an operation involving fighter jets and elite ground troops to drive the Islamic State jihadists out of a key Syrian border town. The operation, the most ambitious launched by Turkey in Syria conflict, is aimed at clearing jihadists from the town of Jarabulus, which lies directly opposite the Turkish town of Karakamis, the prime minister's office said. The operation began around 4 am local time (0100 GMT) with Turkish artillery pounding dozens of the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, targets around Jarabulus. Turkish F-16 fighter jets and coalition war planes also hit targets inside Syria. Media said an unspecified number of elite Turkish special forces were already on the ground inside Syria. Tensions had flared across the Syria-Turkey border on Tuesday, following rocket fire from Jarabulus that landed inside Turkey with the Turkish army firing howitzer rounds in response. "The Turkish Armed Forces and the International Coalition Air Forces have launched a military operation aimed at clearing the district of Jarabulus of the province of Aleppo from the terrorist organisation Daesh," the prime minister's statement said, using an Arabic acronym for the ISIS group. The operation also appeared aimed at pre-empting any assault by Jarabulus by pro-Kurdish militias who also oppose ISIS but Turkey accuses of seeking to carve out a Kurdish region in northern Syria. In an earlier interview with private NTV television, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said Ankara saw Jarabulus "as a national security matter". "What we have said, since the beginning, is that having Jarabulus or any other city held by ISIS is unacceptable," he said. Turkey will want to show with the operation that it is serious about taking on ISIS, which has been blamed for a string of attacks inside the country, the latest a weekend attack on a Kurdish wedding in Gaziantep that left 54 dead. Ankara was long accused of turning a blind eye to the rise of ISIS in Syria and even aiding its movements to-and-fro across the border, claims the government had always vehemently denied. The launch of the operation comes the day United States Vice President Joe Biden is due in Ankara to meet Turkey's leadership, with agreeing a unified strategy on Syria set to be a crucial issue. Jerusalem: The alleged ringleader in the killing of two Palestinian policemen has died in custody after being beaten by security forces, a senior local official said today. The officers were killed in the West Bank city of Nablus last week when gunmen opened fire on security forces. Two of the gunmen died in the subsequent shootout. Ahmed Halawa, the alleged leader of the attackers, was arrested by police overnight and taken to the city's Jneid prison, Nablus governor Akram Rajub told the official Palestinian news agency WAFA. Once there, he was severely beaten by security personnel, lost conciousness and later died, Rajub said. "We'll examine the incident and draw lessons from it," he said. Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip and is a bitter rival of the Fatah-run Palestinian Authority ruling the West Bank, condemned Halawa's "execution". It said it showed "the bloody nature of the Palestinian Authority's security services." Hamas and Fatah are due to contest municipal elections across the Palestinian territories in October. Amnesty International has accused Palestinian security forces of routinely mistreating prisoners, with torture common and committed with impunity. Under the 1993 Oslo accords with Israel, Palestinian police are only authorised to operate in 18%of the occupied West Bank, encompassing most of the major Palestinian towns, including Nablus. The northern West Bank has seen a number of Palestinian police raids in recent months. The area has witnessed factional infighting within the ruling Fatah movement of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas. Supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf rally against Altaf Hussain, leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, or MQM, in Karachi. (Photo: PTI) Washington: Criticising the Pakistan government over attacks on its political rivals, the United States of America today said that in a democracy, critical opinion should be "encouraged and not silenced." On Tuesday, Pakistan charged Muttahida Quami Movement or MQM leader Altaf Hussain with treason for an inflammatory speech slamming Islamabad. "I would just say that in a democratic society, critical opinion should be encouraged and not silenced," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said. Being the single largest party in Karachi for decades now, the MQM has been a strident critic of the Nawaz Sharif led PML-N government in Pakistan. On Monday, MQM's London based chief Altaf Hussain was charged with treason and hundreds of his followers arrested following an unprecedented crackdown on the opposition in Pakistan. Toner said that the United States government was always concerned when members of a political party are detained or arrested. "We believe democracies become stronger by allowing free expression from diverse voices within society. We obviously believe in the importance of public assembly and freedom of speech as long as it is peaceful," Toner added. The MQM Chief is reported to have criticized Pakistan by calling it a cancer for the entire world. According to Pakistan media reports Hussain called Pakistan under the Nawaz Sharif administration a "cancer of the world" and an "epicentre of global terrorism." While Hussain's alleged comments have invited the Pakistan government's ire, it has also split the MQM down the middle. MQM stalwart Farooq Sattar denounced Mr Hussain and blamed "outside forces" for the acts of violence being attributed to the party. Kabul: Explosions and gunfire rocked the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul on Wednesday, an official and students trapped inside classrooms told AFP, as the complex came under a militant attack. "I heard explosions and gunfire is going on close by... out class is filled with smoke and dust," a desperate student told AFP by telephone. "We are stuck inside and very afraid." Many other trapped students were tweeting desperate messages for help. Among them was Associated Press photojournalist and Pulitzer Prize winner Massoud Hossaini. "Help we are stuck inside AUAF and shooting followed by Explo this maybe my last tweets," he tweeted. No militant group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes as the Taliban step up their summer fighting season against the Western-backed Kabul government. The attack comes after two professors at the university -- an American and Australian -- were kidnapped in the heart of Kabul earlier this month, the latest in a series of abductions of foreigners in the conflict-torn country. The management of the elite American University of Afghanistan, which opened in 2006 and enrols more than 1,700 students, was not immediately reachable for comment. Nay Pyi Daw: Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw will visit India soon at the invitation of counterpart Pranab Mukherjee, according to an official announcement. "U Htin Kyaw, President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and wife Daw Su Su Lwin will pay a State Visit to the Republic of India in the near future at the invitation of His Excellency Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, President of the Republic of India," the President Office here said in a statement without specifying the date of his visit. The announcement came a day after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's one-day visit to the country to hold talks with Myanmarese leaders on key bilateral issues during which it was assured that Myanmar will not allow any insurgent group to use its territory against India. The assurance came in the backdrop of certain insurgent groups from northeastern states using Myanmar for launching attacks against India. In the first high-level visit from India after the civilian government assumed office in Nay Pyi Daw, Swaraj had called on the president and held extensive talks with State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi during which she conveyed India's commitment of "all help" to the new government. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, a former Maoist rebel chief is better known by his nom de guerre Prachanda. (Photo: AFP) Kathmandu: Nepal's new prime minister will visit India next month on his first foreign visit, seeking to repair the strained relationship between the neighbours, an official said Wednesday. Nepal's relationship with India soured after a months-long border blockade last year by ethnic minority protesters. Kathmandu accused India of imposing an "unofficial blockade" on the landlocked nation in support of the Madhesis, who share close cultural, linguistic and family links with Indians across the border. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, a former Maoist rebel chief better known by his nom de guerre Prachanda, sent special envoys to both neighbouring India and China shortly after taking office earlier this month. "The focus of his visit is to evaluate the bitterness in the relationship after the blockade and resolve the problems," Chandra Prakash Khanal, the prime minister's political adviser, told AFP. Khanal said that during the visit, scheduled for September 15-18, leaders will also hold discussions on road connectivity, industrial development and support for Nepal's reconstruction efforts after a devastating earthquake last year. Nepal is heavily dependent on India for fuel and other supplies. Guna Raj Luitel, editor of the Nepali daily Nagarik, said the prime minister's visit to India, the traditional first stop for Nepali premiers, was a wise diplomatic move. "India is an important neighbour for us, but right now there is a confusion in the relationship," Luitel said. "During the visit he will have to assure that we want to maintain a good friendly relationship and respect India's interests in Nepal." The new constitution introduced last year, the first drawn up by elected representatives, was meant to cement peace and bolster Nepal's transformation to a democratic republic after decades of political instability and a 10-year Maoist insurgency. But ongoing discussions between the government and protesting parties have failed to yield an agreement. ED has summoned Nalini Chidambaram, wife of former Finance Minister P Chidamabram, in connection with its money laundering probe in the Saradha chit fund scam case. Officials said Nalini has been asked to appear before the Investigating Officer of the case early next month in Kolkata where her statement is expected to be recorded under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The particular matter with Nalini, a Supreme Court lawyer, pertains to the legal fee paid to her by the Saradha group, official sources said. The amount in question is Rs 1.26 crore, sources said, and the Enforcement Directorate wants to understand the exact flow of funds to her from Saradha company accounts and the contract made therein. She had earlier been questioned by the ED and CBI in this regard but sources claimed she has been summoned on the "light of new evidence." Saradha Chairman Sudipta Sen, at present in jail, had mentioned about hiring Nalini as a lawyer at the request of Manoranjana Sinh, estranged wife of Congress leader Mantang Sinh. Nalini represented Manoranjana and, therefore, was asked to offer her professional advice in her negotiations with Sen in connection with plans by the group to acquire a TV channel in the northeast. The lawyer is believed to have advised her client against the Rs 42-crore investment by the group to acquire the TV channel. ED has filed a charge sheet in this case in a special PMLA court in Kolkata early this year and it is working to file more similar complaints in the future. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will leave for the USA on a three-day bilateral visit starting August 29 to further the cooperation between the two strategic partners. Scheduled within five months of the US Defence Secretary Ashton Carters visit to India in April, this would be Parrikars second tour in eight months to the USA, which has emerged as a key supplier of military hardware to India, that traditionally relied on Russia for its defence needs. Conclusion of an agreement on the sharing of logistics between the two militaries is one of the crucial agendas, but the defence ministry officials remained non-committal. The visit should be seen from the overall perspective of the strategic relations between the two countries but not from the view point of one specific agreement, said an officer. Known as the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), the document may be discussed between the two sides, but there is no official confirmation on the possibility of the pact being signed during Parrikars visit. The two sides, in April, announced their in-principle agreement to conclude LEMOA, a tweaked version of the previous logistics support agreement. The ministers of the two countries stated there was an in-principal agreement, but it would take several weeks to finalise the draft. The legal departments in New Delhi and Washington are in the process of vetting the draft of the agreement, which would allow both countries to use each others bases for replenishment of supplies and refuelling. Parrikar had stated that permission to the US platforms for using the Indian bases would be on a case-to-case basis and in return, India may get access to the USA bases in Djibouti or Diego Garcia. Carter too echoed the same sentiments when he stressed that the agreement would make it more routine for the USA to operate in India logistically so that separate agreements are needed for each and every exercise. However, other big ticket commercial deals like purchase of 145 M-777 light-weight howitzers from the USA would not happen this time as there are a few more procedural gaps to be filled up. Other issues that may be discussed include the Defence Trade and Technology Initiative and the aircraft carrier project. The US is also likely to push for bigger role of the US manufactures under the Make in India initiative. A young polio-afflicted child who was abandoned by his parents in Kolkata but rescued by Mother Teresa, has now returned here from London as an NRI to retrace his roots and pay homage to the late nun who will be declared saint next month. Still dependent on crutches from his childhood battle with polio, 39-year-old Gautam Lewis, who was adopted by a British nuclear physicist from the Missionaries of Charity here, is now not only a commercial pilot himself but also runs a training school for disabled pilots in London. He has skipped an invitation from the Vatican to attend the sainthood ceremony of the late Mother on September 4 and instead decided to have film shows and photo exhibitions in the city where he was born and where the Mother worked all her life. At the the Mother Teresa International Film Festival (MTIFF) beginning here this Friday, a 55-minute-long documentary film 'Mother Teresa & Me' made by Lewis will be screened at the Nandan multiplex. "The film is to celebrate the life of that lady whom I call my second mother as she and her nuns had rescued me," he told PTI, adding that he moved around the city and outskirts to retrace his roots. He went back to the Rehabilitation Centre for Children, where he was admitted for two years for polio after being rescued by Mother Teresa and her nuns in neighbouring suburban Howrah at the age of three. He remembers how he used to go to the church every Sunday with the Mother till he moved abroad following adoption at the age of seven. Lewis, who has in the past also managed the work of a number of music bands, is also coming up with a photo exhibition called 'Memories of Mother Teresa'. The emotionally evocative photographs marking Mother Teresa's canonisation showcase the life and work of the nun who worked for over 40 years for the poorest of the poor. The exhibition depicts Teresa's work with the dying and the destitute, and with homeless children including portraits of abandoned children living in the care of the Missionary of Charities Kolkata orphanage, a place which Gautam once called his 'home'. "I couldn't walk like other kids. So all I remember is seeing a kite flying from the window. That gave me the vision to leave and fly," Lewis said. He had gone to the famous Hill House School in London where the rich and the famous sent their children and later graduated from South Hampton University to pursue a successful career in music. Lewis, who has also been a UNESCO ambassador for the Global Polio Eradication initiative, now runs Freedom in the Air (FITA) flying school for the disabled in UK. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today told the Supreme Court that he had never blamed RSS as an institution that killed Mahatma Gandhi but had stated that a person associated with it was responsible for his assassination. A bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and R S Nariman, which was hearing the petition filed by Gandhi challenging the summons issued to him as an accused in a defamation case, said it will dispose of the petition if the complainant agreed. The bench noted that the Congress leader had filed an affidavit in the Bombay High Court while seeking quashing of the defamation complaint against him stating that, at an election rally, he had not blamed RSS as an institution for the assassination of Gandhi but a person associated with it. The bench, which posted the matter for September 1, asked the complainant's counsel and senior advocate U R Lalit to seek instruction whether the complainant was ready to end the case if Gandhi's statement is taken on record. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Congress Vice President, drew the attention of the bench to the affidavit filed in the high court. The bench, which heard the matter for about half-an-hour, said "what we understand is that the accused never blamed RSS as an institution that killed Mahatma Gandhi but the person associated with it." The apex court had on July 27 criticised the trial court in Maharashtra for asking the police to probe the criminal defamation complaint lodged against Gandhi for his remarks allegedly accusing RSS for assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. The apex court's remarks had come after the same bench said that the Congress leader should not have resorted to "collective denunciation" of an organisation (RSS) and will have to face trial if he does not express regret. Rajesh Mahadev Kunte, secretary of Bhiwandi unit of RSS, had alleged in his complaint that Gandhi told in an election rally at Sonale on March 6, 2015 that the "RSS people killed Gandhiji". The case is pending before a magisterial court in Bhiwandi in Maharashtra's Thane district. Earlier, the bench had questioned the speech and wondered "why he had made a speech quoting wrong historical fact". The penal provisions make defamation an offence punishable with up to a two-year jail term. Kunte had alleged that the Congress leader had sought to tarnish the reputation of RSS through his speech. Following the complaint, the magistrate's court had initiated proceedings and issued notice to Gandhi directing him to appear before it. The Congress leader was summoned to appear before the trial court on January 6 this year. Gandhi had then approached the High Court seeking exemption from appearance and quashing of the case. The High Court had dismissed the petition and refused to grant stay on its order, leading to an appeal in the Supreme Court. A bill proposing a complete ban on commercial surrogacy and allowing only legally wedded Indian couples to opt for children through it was today approved by the government to check unethical practices. The Union Cabinet gave its nod to the introduction of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016 in Parliament, seeking a bar on unmarried couples, single parents, live-in partners and homosexuals from opting for surrogacy. The move that is aimed at curbing unethical practices in the country which was emerging as a hub of commercial surrogacy. The bill has a provision for a jail term upto ten year and a fine of Rs 10 lakhs for violations, such as abandoning the child and opting for commercial surrogacy. "The new bill proposes a complete ban on commercial surrogacy in the country and will allow only legally wedded Indian couples married for at least five years to have children through surrogacy. "Foreigners as well as NRIs and PIOs who hold Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cards have been barred from opting for surrogacy," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told reporters after the meeting. "Unmarried couples, single parents, live-in partners and homosexuals cannot opt for surrogacy as per the bill. Legally wedded couples who have been married for at least five years, can opt for surogacy," she said. Only "close relatives" of couples seeking children will be allowed to be surrogate mothers. A woman who offers her womb for the purpose, will be able to do so only once as per the bill. The woman wanting a child through the method will be the mother as per the proposed law. There is a provision under the measure for a contract to clear any ambiguity. Only altruistic surrogacy will be allowed in a regulated form with some condition, the bill said. A woman seeking a surrogate child should between 23 and 50 years in age and her husband should be between 26 and 55 years. A surrogate child will have equal right as any other biological or adopted child over property, Swaraj said. Moreover, the surrogate mother, who should be a close relative of the couple, should be married and have borne a healthy child. Swaraj said with India having over 2,000 surrogacy clinics, there was need to regulate the practice and only altruisic surrogacy will be allowed as per the bill. The bill comes in the wake of India emerging as a surrogacy hub for couples and incidents being reported on unethical practices. It also seeks to set up national surrogacy board at the central level as well as in states and Union territories. The bill, which will come up for consideration in Parliament during the Winter Session, aims to safeguard the rights of surrogate mothers and make parentage of such children legal. More than 22,000 pages of top secret data on the capabilities of six highly advanced submarines being built for the Indian Navy in Mumbai in collaboration with a French company have been leaked, raising alarm bells today in the security establishment. The combat capability of the scorpene submarines being built at Mazagon dock at a cost of USD 3.5 billion by French shipbuilder DCNS, went public when an Australian newspaper, "The Australian", put the details on the website. Reacting with alacrity to the development, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who learnt about the leak at midnight, ordered Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lamba to go into the 'entire issue". A report is also being sought from DCNS. "What I understand is there is a hacking. So we will find out all this," Parrikar told reporters in Delhi. Commodore Uday Bhaskar (Retd), Director of Society of Policy Studies, said, "We have to first establish the veracity of the documents and see if it pertains to India's Scorpene submarines since DCNS supplies subs to other countries too. "If it is found so, then it definitely compromises the Indian platform. This is so because the leakage of so much technical details compromises the submarines capability to stay undetected." Rear Admiral Raja Menon (Retd), a submariner who once headed naval operations, said not much details have emerged about the nature of leak. "A lot of volume is there but that does not mean anything. But I gather from the naval headquarters that the leaked data does not compromise our submarines. "However, breach of security of data should not have happened. The loss of data is a serious issue. From the national security point of view, we can take assurance from the fact that the actual capability of the submarine has not been compromised". Navy sources said the leak of data "was a matter of serious concern" but added that the document was dated and the Indian submarine had undergone "many changes" from the initial design the details of which have been leaked. The details leaked included what frequencies the submarines gather intelligence at, what levels of noise they make at various speeds and their diving depths, range and endurance all sensitive information that is highly classified, the Australian said. It said that 'Marked "Restricted Scorpene India", the DCNS documentsdetail the most sensitive combat capabilities of Indias submarine fleet and would provide an intelligence bonanza if obtained by Indias strategic rivals, such as Pakistan or China.' The data tells the submarine crew where on the boat they can speak safely to avoid detection by the enemy. It also discloses magnetic, electromagnetic and infra-red data as well as the specifications of the submarines torpedo launch system and the combat system, the newspaper said. It details the speed and conditions needed for using the periscope, the noise specifications of the propeller and the radiated noise levels that occur when the submarine surfaces. The data, accessed by the paper, includes 4457 pages on the submarine's underwater sensors, 4209 pages on its above-water sensors, 4301 pages on its combat management system, 493 pages on its torpedo launch system and specifications, 6841 pages on the sub's communications system and 2138 on its navigation systems. "I have asked the Navy chief to study the entire issue about what has been leaked, what is there about us and to what extent. It came to my knowledge at about 12 midnight. What I understand is there is a hacking. So we will find out all this," Parrikar said. The Defence Minister said he does not suspect the leak to be 100 per cent since a lot of final integration lies with India. He said a clear picture will emerge in a couple of days. In a statement, the Navy said, "A case of suspected leak of documents related to Scorpene submarines has been reported by a foreign media house. "The available information is being examined at Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy) and an analysis is being carried out by the concerned specialists. "It appears that the source of leak is from overseas and not in India." Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das will represent India in the two-day SAARC Finance Ministers meeting beginning tomorrow in Islamabad. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who was scheduled to attend the conference, sources said, has cancelled the participation due to "political reasons". The conference is scheduled on August 25-26 in Islamabad. Das will be attending the meeting in place of the Finance Minister, government sources said. Earlier this month, barbs were exchanged between Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Pakistan Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, who only had a tense and uneasy handshake during the 7th SAARC Home Ministers Meeting in Islamabad. Pakistani authorities did not allow entry of Indian mediapersons, including those from PTI and Doordarshan, inside the venue of Home Ministers Meeting. Singh had informed Rajya Sabha that after the meeting was over, Pakistan's Home Minister, who was the host, invited the participants for lunch but left in a car soon thereafter. "Keeping in mind the country's prestige, I did what I should have done. I have no complaints. I had not gone there for lunch," he had said. That apart, in his Independence Day address to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that India will not bow before terrorism, and also brought up Pakistani atrocities on people of Baluchistan and PoK, saying that they have thanked him for doing so. Though Modi did not make any reference to Kashmir Valley, which is witnessing violence after the killing of Hizbul Commander Burhan Wani, he accused Pakistan of glorifying terrorists and celebrating killings in India. Pakistan's Finance Ministry in a recent statement had said the country would play the role of a "good host" and try to keep the overall ambiance positive. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation. Its member states include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Militants attacked the American University of Afghanistan today, killing at least one person and wounding another 18, officials said, adding that security forces were still combing the campus in search of attackers. AP photographer Massoud Hossaini was in a classroom with 15 students when he heard an explosion on the southern flank of the campus. "I went to the window to see what was going on, and I saw a person in normal clothes outside. He shot at me and shattered the glass," Hossaini said, adding that he fell on the glass and cut his hands. The students then barricaded themselves into the classroom, pushing chairs and desks against the door, and staying on the floor. Hossaini said at least two grenades were thrown into the classroom, wounding several of his classmates. Hossaini and about nine students later managed to escape from the campus through an emergency gate. "As we were running I saw someone lying on the ground face down, they looked like they had been shot in the back," he said. Hossaini and the other students took refuge in a residential house near the campus, and were later safely evacuated by Afghan security forces. Hedayatullah Stanikzai, an official with the Ministry of Public Health, said a guard employed by the university had been killed and that the wounded included a foreign teacher. University authorities could not immediately be reached for comment. University President Mark English earlier told The Associated Press that security forces had arrived on the scene soon after the attack began around 7 PM (1430 GMT), saying "we are trying to assess the situation." Dejan Panic, the program director at Kabul's Emergency Hospital, said 18 patients, including five women, had so far been admitted. He said three were "seriously" wounded, probably from automatic gunfire. Police spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said security forces were conducting a clearing operation to track down the "terrorists." He said it was still not clear if there were one or two attackers. All other personnel on the campus were being evacuated, he said. He had no further details on the nature of the attack. The Pentagon said US military advisers were on the ground with Afghan security forces at the university. Spokesman Adam Stump said the forces had been embedded with the Afghan units. The attack on AUAF comes two weeks after two university staff, an American and an Australian, were kidnapped from their car by unknown gunmen. Their whereabouts are still unknown. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Indias largest IT firm, has decided to settle its dispute with Orange County for $26 million. TCS confirmed the development but did not specify the amount paid for the settlement. TCS and Orange County have agreed to settle an ongoing dispute regarding the joint development of a Property Tax Management System. Both parties had asserted claims against each other, but neither admits any liability, a TCS spokesperson said. The settlement was reached after a mediation conducted by Magistrate Judge Jay C Gandhi, representing a compromise between the two parties, versus the prospect of a lengthy trial in Orange County, the spokesperson added. In its legal complaint, the County alleged that Tata fraudulently induced the County into selecting Tata to develop the property tax system and then presented false claims in the form of invoices and reports, provided false and unachievable milestone completion dates, and intentionally understaffed the project to maximise profit. In the litigation, the County alleged that Tata took what was originally promised to be a two-year, $6.4 million contract and tried to stretch it into a six-year, $17 million project. The County intended to ask the jury to award punitive damages for fraud against Tata. According to a settlement agreement signed by attorneys for the County of Orange and attorneys for TCS and Tata America International Corporation, Tata shall pay the sum of $26 million to the County in full and final settlement of all claims arising out of or under or in the connection with the contract which were, or could have been, asserted against Tata by the County, whether alleged in the lawsuit or not. The settlement amount shall be paid by wire transfer to the County, pursuant to instructions that have been or will be provided to Tata by the County within 15 days of the effective date of the agreement, the settlement stated. Turkish tanks and hundreds of opposition fighters thrust deep inside Syrian territory today in a lightning operation that within hours ousted Islamic State jihadists from a key Syrian border town. The air and ground offensive -- the most ambitious launched by Ankara in the Syria conflict -- made rapid progress towards Jarabulus with rebel fighters already proclaiming victory by the late afternoon just 14 hours after it started. "Jarabulus is completely liberated," Ahmad Othman, commander of the Sultan Mourad rebel group, told AFP from the scene, while another rebel spokesman said IS fighters had fled towards Al-Bab to the southwest. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasised the operation was also targeting Kurdish militia fighters strongly opposed by Ankara -- but backed by the US as a key ally against IS -- who had also been closing in on Jarabulus. But visiting US Vice President Joe Biden reassured Turkey that Washington had told the Kurdish fighters under no circumstances to cross west of the Euphrates River or face the total loss of American support. The operation -- named "Euphrates Shield" -- began at around 4:00 AM (0100 GMT) with Turkish artillery pounding dozens of IS targets around Jarabulus. Turkish F-16 fighter jets, backed by US-led coalition war planes, also hit targets inside Syria. A dozen Turkish tanks then rolled into Syria in support of Syrian opposition fighters who had also crossed, with 1,500 of them now in the area according to state media. The rapidity of the advance was stunning and in complete contrast to the long-grinding battles where Kurdish forces had taken towns in northern Syria like Kobane and Manbij from IS. As well as tanks, an AFP photographer in the area of Karkamis opposite Jarabulus saw several smaller military vehicles believed to be carrying the pro-Ankara Syrian rebels. Security sources quoted by Turkish television said a small contingent of special forces had travelled into Syria to secure the area before the larger ground operation. The effects of one air raid on the northern outskirts of Jarabulus were easily visible, sending up a cloud of black smoke and sand. Turkey wants to show it is serious about taking on IS, which has been blamed for a string of attacks inside the country -- the latest a weekend attack on a Kurdish wedding in Gaziantep that left 54 people dead, many of them children. Ankara was long accused of turning a blind eye to the rise of IS in Syria and even aiding its movements to-and-fro across the border, claims the government had always vehemently denied. Terrorist attacks in France come often enough that they can seem to be variations on a painful pattern: carnage followed by disbelief, then condemnations, condolences, and shrines of flowers, candles and letters for the dead. Yet, to see the attacks only that way is to miss the one element that might buoy the national spirit: In nearly every terrorist episode in France, ordinary individuals risked their own safety to try to halt the attack or to lend a hand to the wounded rather than running away. Some of these local heroes are recognised right away, though others never receive recognition, and some receive it only belatedly. What I saw was horrible, people crushed it had to be stopped, said a 48-year old man named Franck who would not give his surname even after he was decorated by the city of Nice for his effort to stop the driver of a cargo truck that ran over scores of people July 14 at a Bastille Day celebration. A worker at the Nice airport, Franck, who was on a motor scooter, decided in a split second to chase the truck and, when he caught up, rammed it to no avail and was knocked off. He got up and ran after the truck, managed to climb onto the running boards and began hitting the driver through the open window. As the driver, Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, tried to shoot Franck, his gun failed and, at the same time, Franck tried to open the door of the truck, then tried climbing through the window, but the driver struck him on the head with the gun and he fell, breaking a rib and badly bruising his back. Franck said he was satisfied that when the driver was fighting with him, he was not running over more people. He was concentrating on me; in that moment he could not kill people, he said. At least two other men made similar, if less prolonged, efforts and also received medals from the city: Alexander Migues, pursued the truck on a bicycle, and Gwenael Leriche, a 26-year-old delivery man, ran after the truck armed with nothing but a penknife and tried to jump onto the running boards as the truck came to a halt. They were not unique. Almost every attack or attempted attack in France since the assault on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo on January 7, 2015, produced local heroes. There was Lassana Bathily, a Muslim immigrant from Mali, who hid shoppers in the basement of a kosher grocery store outside Paris two days after the Charlie Hebdo attack, then smuggled them out as terrorist Amedy Coulibaly held people hostage upstairs. In Villejuif in April last year, a fitness instructor and mother, Aurelie Chatelain, 32, refused to hand over her car to Sid Ahmed Ghlam, who authorities say planned to gun down a crowd at a suburban church. Her refusal ended with both of them being shot in a tussle, and she died. When Ghlam called the police for help, he was arrested. He remains in prison and contends he did not shoot her. Chatelain received the Legion dHonneur posthumously after her family and friends pointed out that if those who stopped a gunman presumed to be on the verge of an attack on the high-speed Thalys train running from Amsterdam to Paris deserved Frances highest award, so did she. The attempted attack on the train occurred almost exactly a year ago, when a shirtless man emerged from a train bathroom with a Kalashnikov assault rifle and a Luger pistol. Three Americans who stopped him have been decorated by Frances president; along with a Briton and a French-American man, Mark Moogalian, who was the first to grab the gunman, Ayoub El Khazzani; Moogalian was shot in the process, but survived. The intervention of the men stopped what could have become a slaughter. On November 13, 2015, when extremists tied to the Islamic State attacked a theatre, a stadium and restaurants in and near Paris, a number of people made extraordinary efforts to help each other. One was Ludovic Boumbas, 40, of Congolese descent who lived in Lille and was celebrating the birthday of a waitress at the bar-cafe La Belle Equipe when armed men began firing on them. He jumped in front of a young woman who was at the party and was fatally shot; she was wounded but survived. Most recently, in July, Sister Danielle Delafosse overcame her fear after terrorists entered a small church at St.-Etienne-Du-Rouvray in Rouen, France, with the intent to kill people. She ran out of the church, found someone with a phone and had the person call the police, who arrived too late to save the Reverend Jacques Hamel, 85, who was killed, but perhaps in time to prevent more bloodshed. While the heroism that gains attention is often the sort that risks the heros own life or limb, many who acted in less visible ways nonetheless transcended the moment. They responded with an extraordinary commitment to assist the wou-nded in circumstances that many would find overwhelming. In Nice, they include doctors, X-ray technicians, nurses and firefighters who worked hours upon hours treating the injured or trying to match lost children with families. Night of bloodshed There was also Gilles Thevenet, the owner of the High Club, a popular discotheque in Nice that faces the Promenade des Anglais, who swiftly turned his nightclub into a triage cent for emergency workers. Thevenet was sitting in his office in the back of the building, oblivious to the bloody chaos as the cargo truck careened by, until his security guards rushed in and he ran to the front door. We heard the weeping, the cries, we saw the crowds, he said. Thevenet is not sure when or even if business will return, especially because many in Nice know that the dead and wounded lay in rows on the same floor where they would be dancing. But he believes it will. We will have to find again the party atmosphere, that has been our protein for 11 years, he said. It is out of the question to cede it to the terrorists. A few blocks farther west on the promenade, in sight of the sea, stands the ultramodern Lenval Foundation Hospital, one of only two major paediatric centres in southern France and the place where Dr Virginie Rampal, a paediatric orthopedist works day in and day out to mend the bones of children. She was on-call the night of the attack, but at home after a relatively quiet day. She had considered going with her daughters to the promenade to see the fireworks, but her plans changed when a friend stopped by. When Rampals pager went off, like everyone else, she did not know of the attack, but rushed to the emergency room. The wounded were already filling the chairs, lying on the floor, some with open fractures most of them children. More were coming in, some carried in their parents arms. She helped with triage, went into surgery, back to triage, working without stopping as 30 young patients, many younger than 10, were stabilised and sent into surgery. Of the 30 children, 28 survived two died from head injuries and crushed pelvises, she said. At 7 am she went home to shower. I came in and took my daughter in my arms and held her close to me she has two girls, a 2-year-old and a 9-month-old. She was back at the hospital 90 minutes later. Member of Parliament Pratap Simha, on Wednesday, said that a few influential persons have been inciting mischievous elements to indulge in anti-social activities in the city. He urged the government to ban Karnataka Forum for Dignity (KFD) and Popular Front of India (PFI) for their alleged role in anti-social activities. Speaking to reporters here, Pratap Simha said, a group of powerful people are inciting the anti-social elements to disturb peace in the city. As Dasara is nearing, lakhs of people visit the city and culprits may indulge in violence. The police department, which has details about the miscreants, should arrest the anti-social elements, he said. Pointing at the murder of RSS worker K Raju in Udayagiri, under Narasimha Raja Assembly constituency, the MP said, a majority of anti-social elements live in the constituency. He congratulated the city police and Commissioner B Dayananda for the arrest of Abid Pasha, the prime accused in the murder case of Raju. The accused had criminal background and he was involved in other murders and crimes in parts of the state. Pasha had targeted a few other dignitaries. There are a few powerful people behind him (Pasha) and other anti-social elements, Simha said. Dist administration blamed Simha said, Raju was killed as he was opposing a mosque in his locality, Kyathamaranahalli. The area was residential and a few Muslim people were planning to construct a mosque, illegally. Though the dispute was taken to the then Deputy Commissioner C Shikha, the district administration did not take any measure to solve it. Now, if any untoward incident happens, the district administration will be held responsible, the MP warned. Taking a dig at Tanveer Sait, who represents NR constituency, for the untoward incident. Instead of condemning the murder of Raju, Sait had said that Raju was a rowdy-sheeter. Now, the state government has rewarded him with a ministership. The government has lost sensitivity and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is treating the Opposition party as his enemy, said the MP. To a query, the MP said, he was threatened and attacked several times. The state is turning into a safe haven for terrorists and the police must arrest the culprits, he added. Ramya guest politician Replying to a query on the actor-turned politician Ramyas pro-Pakistan statement, Pratap Simha said, the former MP of Mandya is a guest politician and she lacks discretion. While SAARC Young Parliamentarians Conference (YPC), held in Islamabad, was organised for MPs, why did the Congress party send an ex-MP to attend it? he questioned. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday agreed to state unequivocally before the Supreme Court that he never accused the RSS of assassinating Mahatma Gandhi. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Gandhi, submitted before a bench of Justices Dipak Misra and R F Nariman that he did not blame the RSS for the crime but the people associated with it. In a development which may lead to settlement of the defamation case filed against him, Sibal, along with senior advocate Mahalakshmi Pavani, reiterated the stand taken by Rahul before the Bombay High Court. The counsel read out the portion of the affidavit submitted on December 15, 2014, stating, A careful reading of the relevant part of the speech indicates that as per the petitioner, the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi was a result of destructive philosophy of persons associated with the RSS. It was also clearly suggested that the assassins were associated or affiliated with the RSS. He never accused RSS, as an institution, of the crime, the affidavit had stated. In view of the statement, the bench asked senior advocate U R Lalit, representing RSS worker Rajesh Kunte, who filed a complaint against Rahul in a Bhiwandi court, to take instruction. What we understand from the statement, the accused (Rahul) never blamed RSS as an institution that assassinated Mahatma Gandhi but the persons associated with it, the bench noted. Posting the matter for further consideration on September 1, the bench asked the counsel of the RSS worker if that statement would address his grievance and satisfy him. Though the counsel agreed that it would be the end of the matter, he sought time for taking instruction. Initially, to the court's poser if Gandhi made the controversial statement, Sibal maintained, the court can't force me at this stage to admit or deny it. Role of police obligatory The counsel for the RSS worker maintained that the role of police became obligatory even in a private complaint of defamation if the accused did not reside in the territorial jurisdiction of the magistrate before whom the complaint was filed. His response came as the court had on July 27 questioned the magistrate for seeking police report in the defamation case filed in Bhiwandi court after Rahuls remarks at a public rally at Sonale in Bhiwandi on March 6, 2014. Victims of cross-border firing along the Indo-Pak border will get a compensation of Rs 5 lakh from now on, the Union Cabinet decided on Wednesday. Along with this, the government also enhanced the compensation to victims of terrorism and Maoist violence from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh . This is for the first time that civilian victims of cross-border firing along the Indo-Pak border are being brought under the central compensation scheme for civilian victims of terror, communal and Maoist violence. The inclusion of people killed in cross-border firing for compensation attracted more attention after Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Jammu and Kashmir. For the first time in 70 years since Independence, realising the problem of Indian population residing in border areas, the government analysed their plight as they suffer due to frequent violations of ceasefire specifically on the north-western border of Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistan, an official statement said. Around 770 km of the Line of Control and 220 km of the International Border have been a witness to frequent ceasefire violation and the influx of terrorists since 1990. According to statistics, 13,921 civilians lost their lives till 2015. Any civilian who dies anywhere in the country due to a terror attack, LWE violence, firing from across the border, shelling or IED explosion will be given Rs 5 lakh as compensation uniformly. The amount will be given to the next of kin of the victim, Minister of State in the Prime Ministers Office Jitendra Singh told reporters. As per the scheme, Rs five lakh will also be given to those who receive 50 % or more disability or incapacitation due to terrorism, cross-border terrorism, shelling and Maoist violence. Law Minister T B Jayachandra on Wednesday said the government will take appropriate action against Chief Secretary Aravind Jadhav if he is found guilty in the land deal issue. He told reporters that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has asked the revenue department to submit a report on the issue at the earliest. Appropriate action will be taken based on the report, he added. Asked whether the government will ask Jadhav to go on leave till the report is submitted, he said, His (Jadhav) term ends in September. The government will appoint a new officer to the post. He said the issue was not discussed at the Cabinet meeting. Earlier, Siddaramaiah denied reports that the revenue officials had been trying to tamper with documents to protect the Chief Secretary. Probe officers from North Demanding a detailed probe into the charges of land grab against chief secretary Aravind Jadhav, JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy said on Wednesday that other bureaucrats from North India too should come under the scanner. Speaking to reporters, Kumaraswamy charged that officers from North India had acquired a lot of wealth, in Karnataka and in their home states. He said that a probe would bring to fore the names of such officers. Kumaraswamy said that his party would take a call regarding the election of the Bengaluru mayor in the next three days. He said the leaders of neither the Congress nor BJP had contacted him in this regard. On his meeting with Telugu actor-turned-politician Pavan Kalyan, he said that he had discussed both politics and films with the latter. The actor has agreed to act in the movie to be produced under the banner of Channambika Films, he added. The Jammu and Kashmir government is contemplating reducing the security cover given to separatist leaders. Sources said the security cover of moderate Hurriyat Conference leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Bilal Lone, Aga Hassan Budgami and Prof Abdul Gani Bhat will be reduced. While Mirwaiz is being provided Z-security cover, other senior separatist leaders avail an equally high security blanket. In a bid to counter the agitation programmes relentlessly announced by the Hurriyat leadership, the state government has planned to cut separatists to size by reducing their security, they said and added over a week back the matter was discussed at a high-level meeting where apart from some ministers and officials a former police official was also present. Sources said a DSP, who is the security incharge of the separatist camp, was being called back to the security wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, while a plan was being prepared to reduce the security cover. A senior official in the state Home Department said the matter is under active consideration and is likely to be discussed with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh during his two-day visit to Kashmir , which starts from Wednesday. Official sources said reduction of security cover to Hurriyat leaders would annually save crores of rupees to the state exchequer. With strikes called by separatists and curfew imposed by the government becoming a norm in Kashmir, the common man is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. The separatists have been issuing weekly protest calendars following the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani on July 8. According to this, the strike is relaxed only after 6 pm, during which people can buy groceries.However, after August 15, authorities have been countering the relaxation call of separatists by not allowing shops to open and blocking the roads across Srinagar. We have no other way as both separatists and the government want to starve us. Both are punishing poor people to satisfy their ego, said Omar Bhat, a local who had ventured out to buy baby food. Bhat said security forces werent even entertaining curfew passes issued by the district magistrate. A shopkeeper in Hazartbal told this correspondent that the police patrols the area after 6 pm to ensure that nobody opens their shop. The SDPO and the SHO told us in clear terms that if we have to open our shops, we should do it at 10am. We told him that if the police will provide us protection, we are ready, he said. However, instead of providing security, they warned us of dire consequences if we open shops in the evening. Neither the separatists nor government is ready to budge an inch. It is the common man who has to bear the brunt of it all, he said. Muhammad Yasin Khan, chairman of Kashmir Economic Alliance, an amalgam of various trade bodies, said they were at the receiving end of the forces during relaxation in shutdown. The police and some leaders from the ruling PDP want shops be kept open during the day. By the time the relaxation period as announced by the Hurriyat approaches, the police and paramilitary forces unleash a reign of terror, threatening shopkeepers to stay closed. Even the sale of medicines and groceries, including baby food, is not allowed, he said. Violence has only brought misery Stating that violence has not changed anything in Kashmir but only brought misery and bloodshed, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday advocated dialogue to address the political issues, DHNS repoorts from Srinagar. Violence has changed nothing on the political spectrum of Jammu and Kashmir, but brought mayhem, misery, economic disaster, academic breakdown and social disorder to the state, the chief minister said, handing over appointment orders to the next of kin of employees who died in harness. Salai Isaac Khin, Minster for Municipal said that there will be seven executives in the Municipal Committee in each township in Chin state. The local people will directly elect four out of seven persons by election. The rest three committee members will be appointed by the State government directly. There will be four voting constituencies in each township and the locals will vote directly for the candidates in their respective townships. We had already done many preparations for that, he added. A person has to be filed his name in the nomination list before the deadline of election, and the candidate will not be directly elected by elders, general administrator and municipal authority as before. The government will co-working with four civil societies Ayechan-Myanmar Institute, New Myanmar Foundations, Pyoe Pin and Hornbill Organization for the Election of Municipal in Chin state. A teenage boy was killed in police firing while dozens more, including three officers, were injured on Wednesday in fresh clashes in Pulwama district here. This comes even as Home Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Srinagar to review the security situation in the state. According to reports, militants attacked a joint party of the J&K Police and CRPF in southern Pulwama town. Superintendent of Police Pulwama Rayees Bhat said militants hurled a grenade and fired at the security personnel near the Government Degree College Pulwama, injuring Additional Superintendent Police Azhar Baba, Deputy Superintendent of Police Shafiq Ahmad and Station House Officer (SHO) Adil Ahmad. SHO Adil is in a critical condition, while DSP Shafiq received a bullet injury. As man as 15 police and CRPF personnel were also injured in the incident, he told DH. Earlier in the day, witnesses said clashes erupted in Pulwama after security forces fired pellets and burst teargas shells to foil a protest rally. They said at least 40 were injured, three of them seriously. The victims were shifted to Srinagar for further treatment. One of the injured, 18-year-old Amir Mir, died minutes after being admitted to Srinagars SMHS Hospital, doctors said. In Srinagar, where curfew was relaxed for the first time in 46 days on Tuesday and considerable movement of vehicles and pedestrians was seen in civil lines areas, an uneasy calm prevailed on Wednesday. Paramilitary troopers beat up three motorcycle-borne youths in the old city of Srinagar, with one of them receiving serious head injuries. The residents of the congested Batamaloo area claimed that forces resorted to aerial firing and thrashed people without any provocation. Reports of security forces breaking windowpanes, doors and damaging household items, apart from beating up people, were received from several areas of north and south Kashmir. Strike call till Sept 1 Meanwhile, separatist leaders, who are spearheading the ongoing agitation, in their weekly protest calendar extended the strike call till September 1. They asked people to protest on all days, block roads and play Islamic and freedom songs in masjids from Magrib (evening) to Isha (night) prayers. They have also warned the divisional commissioner, deputy commissioners and heads of government departments about asking employees to rejoin work. A list of all such officers, who ask employees to join duties, will be made public for comprehensive social boycott, a separatist warned. More than 2,000 unregistered surrogacy clinics are operating across the country, which the government intends to bridle by introducing the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016 in Parliament. The Union Cabinet's decision to bring a law to check commercial surrogacy follows reports that India has emerged as a surrogacy hub for couples from different countries. According to one estimate, at least 40,000 surrogate babies were born in the past decade. There have been reports of unethical practices, exploitation of surrogate mothers, abandonment of children born out of surrogacy and intermediaries importing human embryos and gametes. An Australian couple had abandoned one of their twins in Thailand in 2014 because he had Downs syndrome, which led the country to ban commercial surrogacy in February 2015. In 2014, another couple from Australia returned to their country with just one of twin babies because they wanted a girl. They left their son behind in Delhi. Now, under the proposed Bill, couples abandoning a baby could be punished with 10-year imprisonment and Rs 10 lakh fine, or both. Officials said widespread condemnation of commercial surrogacy prevalent in India, with the print and electronic media also regularly reporting the malpractice, highlighted the need to prohibit commercial surrogacy. The 228th report of the Law Commission of India had also recommended prohibiting commercial surrogacy and allowing ethical "altruistic surrogacy" for the benefit of needy Indian citizens by enacting a suitable legislation. At present, India has no law regulating surrogacy. The Bill that got the Union Cabinets nod on Wednesday had taken many forms. The government finally separated surrogacy from the Assisted Reproductive Technologies (Regulation) Bill in 2016. Commercial surrogacy is banned in most developed countries, including Australia, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Sweden, New Zealand and Japan. Many couples, especially foreigners, desperate for a biological child, have been flocking to countries like India and Thailand, taking advantage of the absence of clear laws governing the procedure. Once India enacts a law, business may shift to other countries like Ukraine and Georgia where commercial surrogacy is legal, some fertility experts said. A delegation of French industrialists and entrepreneurs will visit Bengaluru during January next year to hold talks with state officials on investment opportunities in Karnataka. French Ambassador to India Alexandre Ziegler, who called on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday, conveyed his countrys interest in investing in various sectors in the state, especially machine tools and aerospace. France will also be looking at the possibility of collaborating with the state in health, transport, energy and food sectors. According to an information note prepared by the Chief Ministers secretariat, Siddaramaiah invited France to actively participate in next years Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, which is scheduled to be held in Bengaluru. The Ambassador invited Siddaramaiah to visit France, the note stated. Takes a ride on Metro Earlier in the day, the Ambassador, along with other dignitaries from the Embassy, took a Metro ride with Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) officials. After taking a tour of Cubbon Park Metro station, they travelled to Majestic, and from there they travelled back to M G Road. U A Vasanth Rao, BMRCL general manager (Finance) said the delegates appreciated the smooth, noise-free ride on Namma Metro. They also appreciated the cleanliness of the station and the train. The expansion plan of Majestic Metro station was explained to them through models. The French Development Agency (FDA) has extended a Rs 1,500-crore loan to the Metro for the second phase. Ziegler, conferred the French distinction of Officer of the National Order of Merit upon Chiranjiv Singh, president of Alliance Francaise. He also launched a gaming zone at the centre. Speaking at the investiture ceremony, he appreciated Singh, former additional chief secretary to the Karnataka government for his sensitivity to the French culture and language. Most sought after In his 11 years of service as president, Alliance Francaise has become the most sought after space not just for French culture but for all kinds of cultural activities in the city. Ziegler said. Accepting the honour, Singh said that in times of conflict, it was necessary to build bridges of understanding and this was a step in that direction. He nostalgically recollected his years in Paris as the ambassador of India to the Unesco. He prayed that the city be spared the evil eye of violence. Gaming zone To make learning French a fun experience, Alliance Francaise has launched a gaming zone where students will be able to play popular video games in the French language. The zone, developed in partnership with French video game developer Ubisoft, has a large TV screen with a Playstation 4. Learning French does not have to be restricted to the classroom. Lets play and learn. said Ziegler, speaking at the launch. Accessible to students of Alliance Francaise, the gaming zone offers popular games like Assassins Creed, Far Cry and Tom Clancys division in French. DH News Service The Congress on Wednesday accused Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar of launching operation cover-up over the leakage of the entire design plan of the Scorpene submarine being built for the Indian Navy. The Congress also demanded a commission of enquiry headed by a sitting Supreme Court judge for the free and fair probe to fix responsibility for the shocking leakage of that had gravely compromised national security. The government must immediately order a high-level enquiry, find out the truth after that we can consider the future course of action. Dont waste time. Immediately find out the truth, former defence minister A K Antony said. Congress chief spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala said the enquiry should fix the responsibility not only of bureaucrats, officials of the Mazgaon Dockyard but also on the political executive, including the defence minister and the prime minister for the unprecedented leaks. The role of the defence minister also needs to be probed on whether he abdicated the responsibility to maintain confidentiality. Was there any laxity on the part of the political executive and to what extent, Surjewala asked. Asked whether he would seek resignation of the defence minister on the issue, he said the Congress does not believe in a shoot and scoot policy and will await the constitution of an enquiry commission. Surjewala also wanted the Modi government to spell out clearly whether Project 75, under which India was building six Scorpene submarines, will be scrapped altogether. French defence contractor DCNS has been hit by the leak on its submarines and is likely to alarm India, Malaysia and Chile, which use the boats, The Australian reported on Wednesday. The 22,400 leaked pages, which the daily said it had seen, detail the combat capability of the Scorpene-class DCNS submarine designed for the Indian navy, variants of which are used by Malaysia and Chile. Brazil is also due to deploy the vessels from 2018. Australia in April awarded DCNS an AusUSD 50 billion ($ 38 billion) contract to design and build its next generation of submarines. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull sought to play down the impact of the leak, saying in Canberra that while it was of concern, the Scorpene was a different model to the subs Australia is buying. The submarine we are building or will be building with the French is called the Barracuda, quite a completely different submarine to the Scorpene they are building for India, he said. We have the highest security protections on all of our defence information, whether it is in partnership with other countries or entirely within Australia. The leaked documents were marked Restricted Scorpene India and gave the combat capabilities of Indias new submarine fleet, The Australian said. They also included thousands of pages on the submarine sensors and thousands more on its communication and navigation systems, as well as nearly 500 pages on the torpedo launch system alone. DCNS told AFP it was aware of the articles published in the Australian press and national security authorities had launched an enquiry into the matter, without giving details. The Australian said DCNS implied that the leak may have come from India rather than France. Australian Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne said in a statement the leak has no bearing on the Australian governments future submarine programme. The leakage of thousands of pages of classified documents on Indias Scorpene submarines comes months before the induction of the first of these submarines, INS Kalvari. The underwater platform was to be commissioned by the end of September. The deadline has now been extended by a few months as the boat needs to be armed with a German-origin torpedo in the absence of its first choice weapon the Black Shark torpedoes from Italy. The original induction was planned in September 2016. But there is a slight delay now as we have to decide on the torpedo, a navy officer said. With the Black Shark torpedoes being ruled out as they are from the scam-tainted Finmeccanica stable, the defence ministry plans to use the German torpedoes from the existing arsenal to arm the Scorpene class submarines. Back in 1999, the navy planned to acquire 24 diesel electric submarines over the next 30 years. The plan was tweaked twice later to incorporate nuclear-powered submarines and the deadlines were modified. But the targets set up even in the 2008-2022 indigenisation plan are way off the mark. The Rs 18,798-crore project to construct six French-origin Scorpene submarines at Mumbais Mazagon dock are running four years behind schedule. Now, the six submarines may be commissioned by the navy by 2019-20. Due to the delay, the navy has undertaken costly refit programmes to extend the life of the existing fleet. The data leak is likely to further delay the submarines induction as detailed reviews need to be carried out to find out how much of the leaked information would be relevant from an operational perspective before the submarine is deployed. Also, a decision needs to be taken whether the boats would require additional sensors for safety. The Scorpene submarines were meant to boost the navys underwater war-fighting abilities, which is currently being taken care of by four ageing German HDW and nine Russian Kilo-class submarines. Leak may be economic warfare: DCNS French naval contractor DCNS said on Wednesday it may have been the victim of economic warfare after reports about the leak emerged, Reuters reports from Sydney/Paris. India opened an investigation after The Australian newspaper published documents relating to the submarine's combat capabilities, raising concerns over another major contract with Australia. DCNS, which is 35% owned by Thales, said it was working to determine if any harm had been caused to clients with a view to drawing up an action plan. Asked if the leak could affect other contracts, a company spokeswoman said it had come against a difficult commercial backdrop and that corporate espionage is to blame. Competition is getting tougher, and all means can be used in this context, she said. There is India, Australia and other prospects, and other countries could raise legitimate questions over DCNS. Its part of the tools in economic warfare. DCNS, which is also vying for submarine contracts in Norway and Poland, beat Germany's ThyssenKrupp AG and a Japanese government-backed bid by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Australia. The leakage of 22,400 pages of classified documents on Indias six Scorpene submarines set alarm bells ringing in the Indian Navy and the defence ministry on Wednesday. For, the pages contain sensitive information on the operation of these submarines the first of which is almost ready for deployment. The documents, made public by The Australian newspaper, which blackened out some of the data, gave away technical specifications on many combat capabilities of the submarines, which are being constructed at the Mazagon Dock in Mumbai in collaboration with the French company DCNS. The details included information like at what frequencies the submarines gather intelligence, what levels of noise they make at various speeds as well as the diving depths, range and endurance of these boats. The cache includes 4,457 pages on the submarines underwater sensors, 4,209 pages on its above-water sensors, 4,301 pages on its combat management system, 493 pages on its torpedo launch system, 6,841 pages on the submarines communications system and 2,138 pages on its navigation systems, according to the report. The documents also contain data on where inside the submarine the crew can speak safely to avoid detection by the enemy. Moreover, it discloses magnetic, electromagnetic and infra-red data as well as the specifications of the submarines torpedo launch system and combat system. Marked Restricted Scorpene India, these pages could turn out to be an intelligence bonanza for Indias strategic rivals like Pakistan and China. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who said he got to know about the leak on Tuesday midnight, asked Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba to look into the issue and submit a report. The maritime service has also been asked to contact the DCNS to find out the seriousness of the leakage, defence ministry sources said. The available information is being examined at the Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy), and an analysis is being carried out by the specialists concerned, a defence ministry spokesperson said. The analysts will also check whether the leaked data contains information on the submarine's 'audio signature' - the most crucial information on the underwater boats. Later in the day, Parrikar met ministry and Navy officials and took stock of the situation. Talking to reporters, he said, What I understand is there is a hacking. So, we will find out all this. The spokesperson also pointed out that the source of the leak is from overseas and not in India. France factor According to the report, the data on the Scorpene project was written in France for India in 2011 and is suspected of being removed in the same year by a former French Navy officer who was at that time a DCNS subcontractor. The data is then believed to have been taken to a company in Southeast Asia, possibly to assist in a commercial venture for a regional navy. In a statement, the company said, This serious matter will be thoroughly investigated by the proper French national authorities for defence security. This investigation will determine the exact nature of the leaked documents, the potential damage to DCNS customers as well as the responsibilities for this leakage. THE LEAK CONTAINS DATA ON: Signal gathering frequencies Level of noise they make at various speeds Diving depths and range Endurance of these boats Underwater sensors, Above-water sensors Combat management system Torpedo launch system and specifications Communications system Navigation systems Safe place for the crew to talk avoiding detection The issue of Karnataka Chief Secretary Aravind Jadhavs reported involvement in a government land deal in Bengaluru Urban district is getting murkier. It has now emerged that the revenue authorities in Bengaluru Urban district had illegally created a new survey number 29/1 at Ramanayakanahalli of Sarjapur hobli in Anekal taluk. The Anekal tahsildar had not followed the procedure laid down for creating the new survey number. A new sketch of the new survey number indicating the extent of land with the names of owners, and the modified sketch of the old survey number indicating the extent of land left, have to be prepared as per the procedure. But the tahsildar had reportedly flouted the procedure to favour certain private individuals, including Tarabai Maruthirao Jadhav, the mother of Aravind. Sources in the Revenue Department said the tahsildar had deleted survey number 29 and amalgamated all RTCs (Record or Rights Tenancy and Crops) coming under it with the newly created survey number. The name of Tarabai figures in the RTCs pertaining to the illegally created survey number 29/1. However, the Bhoomi software showed error at the time of conducting the Podi process. A major portion of 76.36 acres of land on survey number 29 was government land. Sources in the government said Bengaluru Urban District Deputy Commissioner (DC) V Shankar had on January 14 this year directed the Assistant Commissioner (AC), Bengaluru South, to create a single request Darkasth Podi in favour of Tarabai. But the revenue authorities later found that the entire grant file was missing. Then the DC, on March 22, ordered rebuilding of records. The Anekal tahsildar had amalgamated the RTCs and deleted the survey number based on a letter dated March 15 by the AC. As per the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, the DC has to issue an order for creating a new survey number. The illegality came to light when IAS officer and former commissioner of Survey Settlement and Land Records (SSLR) Munish Moudgil recently wrote to the government in this regard. Moudgil, who is now the Managing Director of Rajiv Gandhi Rural Housing Corporation, has complained in the letter that he was prematurely transferred as SSLR commissioner after he raised an alarm over the land deals pertaining to survey number 29. The extent of government land on survey 29 would have reduced to 8 acres 20 guntas from the original 76 acres 36 guntas if the process initiated by the tahsildar was completed. In the circumstances, this would have been illegal leading to loss of government land worth crores of rupees, he stated. Report submitted The Bengaluru Urban district authorities have submitted a report to Principal Secretary, Revenue Department, E V Ramana Reddy, on the issue. Sources in the district administration said they did not find anything wrong in the land purchased by Jadhavs mother. The land in question was a pasture land granted to a farmer. About 14-15 years ago, Jadhavs mother had purchased it. There was some glitch in the Bhoomi software as an asterisk was put there preventing its Podi. This led to confusion, said an officer in the district administration. This apart, the Anti-Corruption Bureau sleuths went to Kandaya Bhavan, the office of Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner V Shankar and gathered files related to Jadhavs land transaction. Plaint on land dealing Superintendent of Police, Laburam, said, It was not a raid. We received a complaint about the land dealing. So, in this regard, we asked the district authorities to provide us documents, which they obliged. He said the documents will be studied to initiate any further action. DH News Service U.S. officials are investigating online security attacks that targeted reporters at The New York Times in Moscow. A U.S. official said Tuesday that the Times was among various U.S. news organizations targeted. CNN was first to report the story, and the Times has since confirmed and corrected some details. "We are constantly monitoring our systems with the latest available intelligence and tools," said Eileen Murphy, a spokeswoman for The Times. "We have seen no evidence that any of our internal systems, including our systems in the Moscow bureau, have been breached or compromised." Reports The Times: On Tuesday, citing United States officials briefed on the matter, CNN reported that The Times, along with other news organizations it did not identify, had been the victims of computer breaches by hackers thought to be working for Russian intelligence. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is looking into the attempted attack on The Times, a government official briefed on the inquiry said, but has no investigations underway of such episodes at other news organizations. Kelly Langmesser, a spokeswoman for the agency, said the F.B.I. had no comment. The same unnamed government source told CNN that hackers working on behalf of the Russian government appear to be targeting news organizations as part of a broader series of hacks which previously breached various Democratic Party organizations. FBI investigating Russian hack of New York Times reporters and other US news organizations https://t.co/JTnmq3rB12 https://t.co/RKXpMy19hY CNN (@CNN) August 23, 2016 1/2 Russian hackers attempted unsuccessful attack on NYT Moscow Bureau. No outside firms brought in. No other https://t.co/StHTQqtiH9 Nicole Perlroth (@nicoleperlroth) August 23, 2016 CNN report re NYT hack is not accurate. Story coming shortly. Nicole Perlroth (@nicoleperlroth) August 23, 2016 Here is CNN's report, which the Times says wasn't accurate. Chief Secretary Aravind Jadhav on Wednesday defended himself on the government land deal issue and said there was nothing illegal about his mother purchasing land near Sarjapur in Bengaluru Urban district. In a two-page press note, the chief secretary said the controversial land at survey number 29 of Ramanayakanahalli in Sarjapur hobli was not government land when his mother, Tarabai, purchased it in 2002. All other matters if any will be brought to light during enquiry and law shall take its course through due process if required... The Deputy Commissioner, Bengaluru Urban, and the Revenue Department are seized of the matter as per the instructions of the Hon Chief Minister (sic), he stated. Though the issue was raised in the state Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the members chose not to discuss it. Law Minister T B Jayachandra, who raised the issue, sought to know from the chief secretary the status of the controversial land. Then, Jadhav replied saying he has already issued a statement. A Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) officer, who was booked for driving a girl to suicide, approached the local court and sought anticipatory bail, recently. The police said that the local court granted bail to Niranjan Babu, an assistant commissioner (land acquisition) in the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA). He was questioned about his relationship with the deceased Chaitra, 21. He claimed that Chaitra is not his wife, as claimed by her and her family members. Harassment A few weeks ago, Chaitra was found hanging at a paying guest accommodation at RMV Extension. Her parents said Babu and Chaitra were in a relationship and were staying together. On several occasions, Chaitra had asked him to marry her but he used to harass her. Based on a complaint by Chaitra's parents, a case was registered against Babu. Chaitra also posted on her Facebook account that she had married Babu in Tirupati. Before she committed suicide, she deactivated her Facebook account. We have sought the help of a technical team to retrieve the data. Babu lives with his wife and children in Tumukuru. He used to travel to the city daily to attend office, added the police. After your mobile phone and watch, now it is time for your shirt to become smart. A line of workwear smart shirts for men launched by Arrow earlier this month enables the wearer to share his LinkedIn profile, Facebook profile, business card and much more with a simple tap on the cuff. A narrow inbuilt chip on the left cuff is the only indication that these shirts are anything out of the ordinary. The user has to download the Arrow application on a near field communication (NFC) enabled phone. He can add information of his social media profiles and contact details besides setting work and home modes with options to send automatic response. He can also set his phone to launch favourite applications like Whatsapp or Instagram and even connect bluetooth devices. Once the preferred settings are saved on the app, the phone can be tapped on the cuff to execute the functions. You will never be short of business cards as all you need to do is tap the receivers phone on your cuff to share contact details and profile links. The 100% cotton shirts are available in 11 colour variations and can be washed and ironed like ordinary shirts. If youre concerned about the effects of having a device on your person, the chip is radiation-free and does not beep under metal detectors. Sheeraz, a sales executive at one of the Arrow stores said, A lot of people are coming in to see a demo of the shirt out of curiosity. Theres excitement among customers since it is a new concept. The Indiranagar store has already sold over 13 shirts in a weeks time. As of now the chip on the shirt can be used for nine functions, including playing your favourite song. A source from Arrow said that the team is working on adding more features to the application. Soon you can expect to be able to tap your cuff to pay for transportation, restaurants and more. Though the shirt is only available for men at present, in the coming seasons the company plans to extend it to womens wear, sportwear and casuals too. Not all are impressed with the gadget, however. In terms of functionality, there are better devices out there like smart rings which you can wear on either hand, said Harshith Mallya, a tech writer. In his opinion, a detachable cuff with the chip on it would have been more useful. He added that the most popular use of NFC abroad is for online payment, which has not been enabled in India yet. Without that, its uses will be limited. DH News Service Non-forestry activities are in full swing inside the Turahalli reserve forest in Bengaluru South, where trees were felled to lay electricity lines, while earthmovers were deployed to lay a road inside it, four days ago. Wildlife enthusiasts were in for a shock when they saw that a few trees, mostly those of tendu leaves (used in the manufacture of beedis), inside the forest were felled to draw an electricity line up to Shani Mahatma temple atop the hillock. The forest is home to peacocks, snakes, mongoose, wild boars and a variety of birds. Mohan Gowda, a regular visitor, said drawing an electricity line inside the forest poses a danger to peacocks as they may sit on them and get electrocuted. The assistant engineer of Bescom (Uttarahalli circle) said he was not aware of the felling of trees. I have no information about the trees being cut. I will check with my subordinates, said the engineer. Range forest officer of Kaggalipura T M Devaraj said the electricity lines were laid long ago and Bescom seems to have taken permission. He, however, was not aware that trees were felled for the electricity lines. Some bushes might have been cleared, but no trees were cut. I sent my subordinates and they did not find anything objectionable there, said Devaraj. Regarding the earthmovers, he said, Oral permissions were taken by the authorities of the ancient temple for the convenience of devotees. We did not object to the road-laying work as it helps us water the plants there. The temple management has gone a step ahead. They were found laying steps up to the temple for the convenience of devotees. However, Devaraj did not find anything wrong in carrying out works inside the Turahalli forest. He said, Turahalli hillock is not a reserve forest. It is just a minor forest. BBMPs wildlife advisor R Sharath Babu said Turahalli hillock is part of the Bada Manvarthe Kaval reserve forest and hence, calling it a minor forest does not make sense. Praveen Bhargav of Wildlife First said no agency can carry out non-forestry activities inside the reserve forest. For any such activity, the approval from the Union Ministry of Forests and Environment is a must. Road construction cannot be allowed in such a forest, said Bhargav. Dipika Bajpai, Deputy Conservator of Forests (Bengaluru Urban), said that in the last six months, no permissions were given for laying electricity line or road work there. She said she needs to check whether Bescom has valid permission for laying the power line. DH News Service Brush with realty Spread over 440 acres, Turahalli forest always attracted the real estate people. About 10 years ago, the entire reserve forest was granted under the Bagair Hukum scheme for cultivation purposes to landless farm labourers. Following a hue and cry by wildlife enthusiasts, the allotment was cancelled. Now, once again, non-forestry activities are on, hinting at a fresh bid to grab it. Sharath Babu said the land was once sold to software companies. The sale was later cancelled. The forest department was supposed to fence the entire patch, but it could not. Only a small portion has been fenced, Babu said. A report out this week from Bloomberg says that since January, 2016, people in the city of Baltimore, Maryland have secretly and periodically been spied on by police using cameras in the sky. Authorities today effectively admitted that the report is accurate. In response to Tuesday's Bloomberg article, Baltimore police spokesman T.J. Smith today said not to worry unless you're a "criminal," and that the flights by a specially equipped spy plane were "effectively, a mobile citywide camera." In a feature released on Tuesday, Bloomberg Businesweek reported that police in the mostly black city used a Cessna airplane carrying an ultra-wide-angle camera array developed for use during the Iraq War. The police surveillance flights spent hours flying overhead, sending footage back to massive hard drives. Monte Reel's report for Bloomberg begins outside the Baltimore courthouse where 'not guilty, all counts' messages were popping up on reporters' phones, in the Freddie Gray death by police case. A bystander, Ralph Pritchett Sr., tells the Bloomberg reporter that "This whole city is under a siege of cameras," and that he believes authorities have had video of the 'rough ride' after which Gray died. They could have watched that van, too, but nothey missed that one. I thought the cameras were supposed to protect us. But I'm thinking they're there to just contradict anything that might be used against the City of Baltimore. Do they use them for justice? Evidently not." Pritchett had no idea that as he spoke, a small Cessna airplane equipped with a sophisticated array of cameras was circling Baltimore at roughly the same altitude as the massing clouds. The plane's wide-angle cameras captured an area of roughly 30 square miles and continuously transmitted real-time images to analysts on the ground. The footage from the plane was instantly archived and stored on massive hard drives, allowing analysts to review it weeks later if necessary. Since the beginning of the year, the Baltimore Police Department had been using the plane to investigate all sorts of crimes, from property thefts to shootings. The Cessna sometimes flew above the city for as many as 10 hours a day, and the public had no idea it was there. A company called Persistent Surveillance Systems, based in Dayton, Ohio, provided the service to the police, and the funding came from a private donor. No public disclosure of the program had ever been made. Outside the courthouse, several of the protesters began marching around the building, chanting for justice. The plane continued to circle overhead, unseen. "As technology permits it, we're seeing systems that seek to watch everybody all the time," Jay Stanley of the ACLU's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project wrote at the ACLU blog. "This is a giant leap into a real Big Brother future." Today, the Baltimore Police Department held a press conference. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake issued a statement around the same time. Video is below. Baltimore Police Department spokesman T.J. Smith began the Wednesday press conference by saying the program was "not an unmanned drone or a secret surveillance program." "This is a 21st century investigative tool used to assist investigators in solving crimes. The wide area imagery system allows for the capability of seeing 32 square miles. This, effectively, is a mobile CitiWatch camera. What we gain with this is size, so we see a larger area than we would see with a CitiWatch camera, but what we lose is the clarity that we get from a CitiWatch camera, which is on the ground." "I was recently made aware of the Persistent Surveillance Systems Inc. work with our city," Mayor Rawlings-Blake said on Wednesday to reporters. "The pilot program, funded by an anonymous donor, is cutting edge technology aimed at making Baltimore safer. My top priority, which I have continuously communicated to Commissioner Davis, has been to keep our city safe. His team sought opportunities to find new technology that works hand in hand with our robust Citiwatch program. This technology is about public safety. This isn't surveilling or tracking anyone. It's about catching those who choose to do harm to citizens in our city." Related reporting: In Baltimore, the police and a private company are running surveillance flights like never before [Washington Post] Report of secret aerial surveillance by Baltimore police prompts questions, outrage [Baltimore Sun] Angela Corey is state attorney for Florida's 4th Circuit, where she's put children as young as 12 on trial as adults, facing life in prison in solitary, because children can't be mixed with adult populations without counseling, education, or any access to family. Corey's Duval County represents 5% of the Florida population and 25% of its death penalty cases the highest per-capita rate of capital trials in America. She also leads Florida in sending children to adult prison, based on the discredited, Clinton-era theory of "superpredators." A disproportionate amount of those children are black. Some are on trial for their first offenses. Matt Shirk, Jacksonville's public defender, has a close relationship to Corey: he and she are former GOP running-mates for public office, he is her former intern, and she calls him "darling" in public. Before being elected public defender, Shirk had never defended a homicide case. He ran on promises of saving tax-dollars, and boasts that he doesn't use the money allocated to investigating mitigating evidence for his clients. He also has been cited for extreme professional misconduct, including sexual harassment and termination of female staff, and violating client-attorney privilege in press interviews in which he was struggling to clear his reputation after gross negligence in the defense of his underage clients. Shirk's bumbling assistant, Refik Eler hired to replace the experienced PDs that Shirk fired on taking office has been repeatedly cited for failing his duty to his clients facing the death penalty (for example, "encouraging clients not to argue that they have reduced culpability due to a mental disease or defect"). Eight of Eler's clients have been sent to death row more than any other Florida defender. In The Nation, Jessica Pishko tells the story of Cristian Fernandez, a 12 year old child whose mother conceived him after being raped at the age of 12 herself. Corey had Fernandez tried as an adult, facing life in prison, when he was accused of murdering his two year old brother David (a murder whose culpability was very muddy). Fernandez faced life in adult prison if convicted, with at least six years in solitary, in order to segregate him from the adult prisoners, and without access to any services or education, or family (he was a ward of the state, effectively orphaned at 12). Serving as Fernandez's defender, Shirk failed his client in every way. When Corey added a sexual molestation charge against Fernandez, Shirk allowed Fernandez to be questioned without a guardian or counsel present. Then, after Fernandez's case was taken over by pro bono counsel who were alarmed at Shirk's misconduct, Shirk continued to act as if her was Fernandez's lawyer, giving interviews in which he disclosed facts statements that Fernandez made under client-attorney privilege in an effort to minimize his incompetence. Corey insists that nothing is wrong, that she is trying to protect the community, and that she is competent and upright. She also spent $800,000 in taxpayer dollars to build a special walkway from her office to the courthouse to protect her from potential assaults, despite the fact that no Fourth District prosecutor has ever been assaulted between the prosecutor's office and the court. In the final moments of Juvenile Lifers, Corey can be seen watching angrily in the courtroom as Cristian receives a much lighter sentence than the one she'd sought. In 2011, Corey told a local reporter that she went to court because she "wanted to see: What does a 12-year-old who did this look like? Is he going to look like what you would envision?" In fact, Cristian looked like a 12-year-old kid. When I spoke with Corey, she still couldn't seem to believe that anyone cared about Cristian's case. "The problem with the juvenile system," she told me, "is that I don't think it can address the problems that create the kind of mind that can kill and rob or continue to do violent acts to other people." As for Cristian, she reiterated: "We have to do something. We have to protect the community from this young man." Is Angela Corey the Cruelest Prosecutor in America? [Jessica Pishko/The Nation] (via Metafilter) In Amritsar, India, surgeons removed 40 knives from a police officer complaining of stomach pain. "Patient's ultrasound revealed a growth in his stomach," Dr. Jatinder Malhotra, managing director of The Corporate Hospital, told the Times of India. "To confirm the diagnosis, an endoscopy was done which showed a few metallic knives inside the stomach. After that a CT Scan of the abdomen was done, which showed multiple knives inside the stomach." During the last two months, said the 40-year-old patient, "I felt like eating knives and ate them." The surgery took five hours and the patient is expected to make a full recovery. The news report references that he has a "psychological problem" but does not specify if it is pica, a disorder in which an individual is compelled to eat material that isn't food, such as paper, hair, or rocks. The 8th International PLUS-Forum Cash Circulation + Self-service. Banking and Retail 2016 to be held on 5-6 October 2016 is an event the Russian and international payment industry players always look forward to. The PLUS-Forum conference program prepared by the Steering Committee includes the following sessions dedicated to the subject-matters of particular interest to the market participants: Cash Circulation. Condition. Tendencies. Forecasts Bank branch under transformation Technological solutions and concepts for the infrastructure of retail bank Cash collection and counting. Vital tasks and new approaches Modern ATM and terminal networks: efficiency is the key issue Cash circulation and security threats in banking and retail This year, the Steering Committee has invited a special guest - Eric de Putter, ATMIA Managing Partner and Payment Redesign founder, who will speak on Cloud ATM: the future is on the doorstep. Among the speakers who have recently confirmed their participation in the PLUS-Forum are the following: Maxim Daryoshin, Head of Self-service Systems Development Unit, Alfa-Bank, to speak on The opportunities for customers communication with the bank. Kirill Khomyakov, Development Director, Russia and CIS, FISERV, to speak on Automate Cash Management to Increase Profitability and ATM Availability and Emerging Payment Channels, Technologies and Infrastructures: Ensuring a Robust Fraud Defense." Elena Chigirinskaya, Deputy Chief of Cash transactions and Collection at Operations Department, VTB24, to speak on the topic Those united ring the rounds": risks and benefits of establishing operational centers in the regions. Elena Loskutova, Head of Self-service devices Development, VTB 24, to speak on Customer Traffic Management at the branch. Igor Miloradov, Examiner-in-chief, Department of expertise of monetary bills, securities and documents Criminal Expertise Center, Ministry of the Interior of the Russian Federation, to speak on "Combating of counterfeiting in the banking sector and retail business. Solutions, technologies, business cases. Ivan Sushkov, Regional Sales Manager, Gemalto, to speak on "Safety Technology from Gemalto for banks and their customers." Natalya Kulikova, Head of Cash Operations Automation, Profindustry, and Klaus Hermann, CEO, Multi Cash Automation (Austria) will tell the audience about Effective solutions for coins handling." Alexander Shevtsov, Product Manager, DEEP 2000, to speak on "Automation of processes in cash centers." Along with the conference, the most representative annual exhibition of specialized equipment and technologies from leading Russian and international companies will be open. To date, the number of PLUS-Forum partners and sponsors has increased to include the following well-known organizations: Gamma - Center, PBF, StrongPoint, Orenkart, DORS, Hendz holding, GLORY, Sales service solution, Baltic-Light, Anser PRO, Indemit, ABBREVIA FZ LLC, G & D, Innovative Technology Ltd. Please note that on the first day of the Forum, October 5, we invite PLUS-Forum delegates and participants to celebrate Octoberfest at our rousing party! CI Tech Components AG proposes to continue the dialogue in an informal atmosphere. The event will be filled with the spirit of Octoberfest: Bavarian live music, beer, sausages, Munich festive atmosphere in Moscow! We invite speakers and vendors to participate in this event! Follow PLUS-Forum on Facebook. Forum official hashtag #cashforum Online registration for the PLUS-Forum is open! Get registered now limited number of seats available! ODFW Salmon and Trout Advisory Committee to meet in Coos Bay Tweet August 24, 2016 SALEM, Ore. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's Salmon and Trout Enhancement Program (STEP) Advisory Committee will meet in Coos Bay on Thursday, September 8th. The committee will meet from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The meeting will occur at the Morgan Creek STEP Facility located at 97155 Morgan Ck. Lane in Coos Bay. The agenda is available online and includes reports on STEP activities and projects, program updates and review of mini-grant applications. The meeting is open to the public. The Committee also will review proposals to renew the five Coos County STEP propagation programs (Morgan Creek, Millicoma, Noble Creek, Cunningham Creek and Eel Lake). Any STEP project that involves raiseing fish for release (including egg incubation) must be approved by ODFW. Part of the approval process includes public input and review by the Advisory Committee. The proposals are available for public review on the ODFW website online Members of the public will be able to comment on the proposals at the meeting or in writing. Written responses must be received by September 6th. The Oregon Legislature created Salmon and Trout Enhancement Program in 1981 to provide a way for volunteers to participate in the restoration of native stocks of salmon, steelhead and trout. The STEP Advisory Committee makes recommendations to ODFW and the Fish and Wildlife Commission on issues regarding its programs. The committee's 13 members are appointed by the Governor and represent all areas of Oregon. Reasonable accommodations will be provided as needed for individuals requesting assistive hearing devices, sign language interpreters or large-print materials. Individuals needing these types of accommodations may call the Information and Education Division at (800) 720-6339 or (503) 947-6002 at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting. For more information on the Salmon Trout Enhancement Program visit the ODFW Web site or call program staff at (503) 947-6211. ### The evolution of Twitter has been extremely interesting to watch. What started as a platform for the vociferous, soon become one of the largest sources for news gathering, celebrity endorsements, creating brand recall value for marketers, and, well, the one-stop hub for ranters. But, things havent been the same for the microblogging site, and competition from the likes of Instagram, Snapchat, and of course, Facebook, has resulted in a balance shift, tipping the user numbers more towards the latter. There are 2 kinds of users I want to call out. Theres a misconception about our user numbers and user growth rates. I think we have to do a better job at explaining this. One, is those people who log into the app and the website on a monthly basis, and yes, it has not grown at a rate which we wanted to, but, theres this massive audience of over 500 million monthly uniques who ingest Tweets on a monthly basis outside of Twitter. Just like a small percentage of people are actually contributing videos to YouTube, majority of the people are just consuming content. So, its not like everybody on Twitter has to Tweet, remarks Arvinder Gujral, Senior Director of Business Development, Twitter (APAC). However, Twitter is not one to shy away from the battle to the top. Not with their recent foray into the world of live streaming, their continual push for videos, and their strategic business partnerships with startups and corporates alike. In fact, according to Twitter, live streaming is one of their biggest bets as far as the future of the company is concerned. Michael Fisher, Senior Director of Business Development at Twitter tells us, We are just getting started in this live streaming world. We have always been a place for live conversations, and news breaks and things of that nature. We are taking steps to augment and reinforce our position in the world of Live. We are slowly integrating Periscope into Twitter as a foundational core of the service. What we have also done is gone out and added licenced professional content. We are talking to professional content creators, people like the NFL, who are looking to go beyond just the television. This is very important for us. We started with the NFL, we have done a number of other deals with the NBA, the video gaming community, we have done a lot of these deals in the US, and we are just getting out to the market with it. Everybody who came into the experience loves the combination of Live video, and Twitter content to support the experience. We are not trying to out TV, thats not the goal. We are here to do what we are good at, which is providing content in the moment and the conversation thats happening alongside it. @arvindergujral & @fishermp Clearly, its early days for Twitter in the world of live streaming, and we will have to wait to find out how the platforms users respond to the feature, but being in a competitive market with the likes of Facebook and YouTube, the company cannot afford to put all its eggs in a single basket. Fisher says, Theres two types of things we are doing, one is, evolving the platform to take advantage of new media, live video streaming and things of that nature. That represents the future of the company in many ways. But, theres also some basic blocking and tackling stuff that we are working on every day in order to get better. For example, often times when a user comes to Twitter for the first time, helping them get involved in the service, helping them understand who to follow and how, find some interesting content. We have, in the recent past, seen Twitter make feature additions such as Twitter moments, for viewing content at a glance and getting dedicated, automatic event updates. In India, Twitter has also partnered with various Government bodies for providing citizen services like Twitter Sewa. Most recently, Twitter Sewa was also adopted by the Ministry of Communications, and the Telecom Department (DoT) has already managed to address 1800 of the 2000 complaints it received, since its inception three weeks ago. Back in April, Twitter Seva was also launched for Indian Startups, under the purview of the Commerce and industry minister. Gujral says, we have seen people from all corners of India embracing the platform. And, its not only the urban elite who is the only voice on Twitter. Things like the Government and various parts of the Government embracing Twitter is a verification of the fact that it is relevant to the common man. Even organisations like large telecom operators, large service brands, like Reliance Communications, Jet Airways, Kotak and ICICI bank, adopt the platform from the perspective of engaging with the audience on the platform. For example, you can now Tweet to Jet Airways to find the cheapest fare. So we are actually driving revenues for them Along with tapping into citizen services and large corporates, Twitter is also looking to solidify its place in Indias developer market, which is now one of the largest in the world. Reiterating Indias importance as a market for Twitter, Fisher says, This is a super important market for us. We have a big presence here. Its great news when we organisations like the Government here, embracing the platform in a deep and meaningful way. For us India is already a super important market and represents the future of our company. Fisher and Gujral are collectively working on highlighting their developer platform in India. The company want developers to sign-up for their free app development platform called Fabric. Suppose you are a developer and you have a vision of what you want to do, and the first thing you do is go and make an app, but the first thing to see is does the app work, what is the health of the app. So we have an SDK for that, which gives you crash test reports immediately, says Gujral. Lastly, with a few moments left of what was a fairly lengthy conversation, we asked Fisher and Gujral about the incessant use of fake bots by brands desperately trying to increase their engagement numbers. A recent story by Opindia revealed a popular Indian television channel, using bots to Tweet and Retweet its content. To this Gujral said, It depends on what business you are in. You know bots is now just a fancy 4 letter word, but basically, its a way of automating responses basis a certain database of pushing the answers that the company has. What you (this writer) spoke about, is a complete different aspect of someone with bad intent, creating a program that creates handles on the fly and uses fake email IDs. We are tackling that at many levels. Sometimes algorithmically, sometimes manually, we are working towards making it more streamlined. Its a complex problem and theres no easy solution. Its an AI problem and we are working on it. Let us know what you think of Twitter and its services in India. You can catch the entire conversation with Michael and Arvinder on our YouTube channel. Header Image courtesy: sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com Tizen, the second-rung proprietary OS of Samsung, has been steadily progressing under Android's shadow. Yesterday, the company announced its latest Tizen-based smartphone, the Samsung Z2. At Rs. 4,590, it is inexpensive, but compared to other similarly priced Android-based smartphones, seems to be a bit rough and lacking finesse. That said, Samsung claims that the phone caters to the requirements of new smartphone users transitioning from a feature phone, so refinement may not be its game altogether. On the outside, the Samsung Z2 looks almost similar to last years Z1, which was also a Tizen-based smartphone aimed at the average budget buyer. With a plastic build and an outdated Samsung design, the Z2 seems rather ordinary. The quality of plastics and the overall build quality seem sub-par, and the 4-inch, WVGA display looks really flimsy and lacks sharpness and good viewing angles. The performance, on the other hand, seemed fairly snappy in the small time I spent with the device. It uses a 1.5GHz quad-core SoC, along with 1GB of RAM. Navigating through the OS felt quite smooth, and I didn't find any lags while opening or closing apps. 8GB of storage on the phone is quite limiting, but at such a low price, it is quite reasonable. The phone supports microSD cards of up to 128GB, which should be reassuring. However, the biggest selling point of the Z2, according to Samsung, is 4G connectivity with VoLTE support. Samsung has even partnered with Reliance Jio to provide buyers with free 4G SIM cards and a complimentary offer allotting free voice and data service to users within the trial period. The phone will also come pre-installed with some streaming applications such as Jio Beats for music and Jio on Demand for video. Other applications such as WhatsApp, Facebook and Messenger have also been introduced in the latest version of Tizen OS v2.4 that this phone runs on. This is the same OS that Samsung introduced with the Z3 last year, but this time, it features its own app store. The new app store now features more than three dozen apps, but the number is still quite small when compared to the plethora of apps that Androids Play Store can provide. The 5MP rear camera on the phone seems pretty standard, and the overall app seems to work considerably smoothly. A 1500mAh battery is employed to take the phone through the day, and Samsung says that the battery life can be further extended using the Ultra Power Saving Mode. We leave that for our review, for now. The Samsung Z2, like all sub-5K smartphones, is aimed at the first time smartphone buyer. Samsung claims that it has received good feedback from previous Tizen-based smartphones. Personally, however, I think Android can provide a better and more complete ecosystem to the masses. For the first time smartphone user, it will prove to be a better bridge towards the world of smartphones, and Samsung has the best brand recognition to do that. The list of Sony devices include Xperia Z3+, Xperia Z4 Tablet, Xperia Z5, Xperia Z5 Compact, Xperia Z5 Premium, Xperia X, Xperia XA, Xperia XA Ultra, and Xperia X Performance. Sony has announced its list of Xperia devices scheduled to receive the Android Nougat update. The company published the list of devices after Google announced yesterday that the initial batch of Android Nougat v7.0 update is being rolled out to Nexus 6, 5X and 6P smartphones, Pixel C tablet and Android One smartphones. The list of Sony devices scheduled to receive the Android Nougat update includes Xperia Z3+, Xperia Z4 Tablet, Xperia Z5, Xperia Z5 Compact, Xperia Z5 Premium, Xperia X, Xperia XA, Xperia XA Ultra, and Xperia X Performance. Of these, the Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet and Z5 Compact never made it to India, and the Xperia X Performance has also been left out of the Indian market till now. Even the Sony Xperia Z3, which was launched alongside Android Lollipop two years back, has been left out of the Android N update roster for now. Sony in fact has not stated that more devices may be added to this list, which may mean that these are the only Sony devices getting the Android N update. This will certainly be disappointing for anyone with a flagship Sony smartphone that is older than the Xperia Z3+. Even HTC has kept the initial number of devices receiving Android N to only three - One A9, One M9 and HTC 10, not mentioning by when users may expect the update. The Taiwanese company has also refrained from stating which other devices will receive the update, if at all. Samsung, meanwhile, has stated that Android N can be expected on its latest flagship, the Galaxy Note 7, within about two months, and we are hoping that the Galaxy S7 lineup will also follow up on the same. Hopefully, even Sony will be rolling out the update within a few months, and more devices will also follow up on it. Be sure (double-check and be sure again) about the industry Okay, this is technically something that you ought to think of way before you come to the decision of beginning a venture, but it never hurts to have a re-think and evaluate all your options once more, does it? Especially if rethinking could mean the difference between the success and failure of your business venture. So, heres the deal: one of the most important things to think about when starting your own business is the industry that you are thinking of getting into. The industry should be one that has good growth potential, not to mention enjoying some traction in the current scenario it wouldnt do anything for your parents peace of mind if every time they ask you how the business is doing, the only answer you have to give is, Just waiting for the industry to pick up ma/da. Study the competition This is something that you should be doing all the time not just when starting the business. For there are two things that are definitely going to help you keep afloat in the long run knowing your enemy and drinking a whole lot of coffee. To begin with, you can visit your competitors store or establishment and check out the processes that they follow and the type of customers they serve. Of course, youd have to do so in stealth mode, meaning you should be able to derive some excitement out of it, provided youve read enough John Le Carre novels. Also, sign-up for newsletters etc. that the competitor sends out and keep track of their marketing activities, both online and offline. Youll have plenty of worry-filled moments after seeing their strengths in various departments. But once these moments pass and relative calm settles in, you can begin to seek out their weak points. And these are the areas you can try and strengthen for your own business, possibly giving your brand strong USPs that the competition cant compete with. The funding When starting a business, an important factor that one needs to keep in mind is the funding. If you cant manage to somehow fund yourself, you can look for funding from other sources. While ideally funding yourself is the safest bet, its not unheard of for businesses and startups to look for and get funding from other businesses and organisations. However, in this case, funding could be a double-edged sword. Being funded here could actually mean that some other organisation practically owns you taking away a lions share of your profits. You may even receive cryptic mails with subjects like Concerns and Future?. While their funding does indeed fuel your growth, youve gone from being the boss of your own startup to a stressful employee of some other much larger organisation. So try as much as possible to fund yourself, and only fallback on other options as a last resort. Do your market research The thing about running a business especially a startup, is that it requires a whole lot of humility. The reason being the fact that you are bound to make mistakes, a LOT of mistakes. Even the smartest of the smart Joes tend to screw up every now and then. They think that they can do no wrong and the idea that they have is amazing and foolproof. However, in the real world, theyll find that its far from amazing. Almost always, the initial idea requires a fair amount of refining. If you want your product to sell, youll have to do some market research. You need to read the market, figure out whats selling and what isnt, see which demographic likes what, and apply that to your product. It all takes a fair amount of research and its no walk in the park. Say your idea is to start a company thats into T-Shirt printing. Now, when you say T-shirt printing to people, theyre thinking Well theres plenty of other brands that do the same thing, why should we come to you?. Now that is a very fair point theyre making. Add to that the fact that these brands might even be able to give the customer greater cost-advantage than you. But maybe you find that theres hardly any competition in printing T-shirts with messages which are exclusively expressive of the attitude of the office-crowd, such as the kind working in administrative jobs (dont take this seriously, its just an example). By being the first, or among the first to pounce, you have created a viable niche for yourself. And thats the kind market research that will catapult you from being just another dime-a-dozen brand, to a unique one the people cant do without. The Name The naming of a brand is both a fun aspect as well as an extremely important aspect in the whole starting-a-business deal. Names which stand out gain a whole lot more attention in the market. The name is the first thing anyone will notice. Its as good as a first impression, and in the world of business a first impression is extremely important as it can determine whether or not a customer will come back. Therefore, it is key that you opt for a name that will enable you to stand out and at the same time represent you and your business or company. When it comes to naming, try not to sound too similar to already existing names, or try not to mooch off of the success of already successful companies and call yourself something like foogle or Macebook, which probably already exist. At the same time, try not to make it too long, or a mouthful for someone to say, you want a name that is easy to say so that people can spread the word! The marketing strategies Unless your business idea is as fresh and unique as, say, teleportation, you are definitely going to devote a fair amount of attention to marketing. The good news is that you can build a good customer base without spending too much money if you are savvy enough. The bad news is that getting savvy about marketing isnt exactly easy. For one thing, it involves learning and getting accustomed to the plethora of social platforms and other online avenues where people hang out even the ones that you dont use or havent even heard of. Then, theres the matter of knowing how to push relevant content to the prospective customer without being intrusive. Of course, you neednt be an expert about all these things yourself. You can hire a good marketing manager. But the thing is, marketing is very significant when it comes to startups, and the insane number of startups has given rise to clutter in the market place. Its better to have at least an overall understanding of the scenario. If you arent careful, the marketing budget will skyrocket without you getting the results you need to justify the costs. Test run Admittedly, test running a business wont be as much fun as test driving a car, but its definitely essential to the health and well-being of your business in the long run. Test runs are used not just to check the functionality of your business, but to get a hang of the kind of customers and businesses that it best resonates with. This means that you may have to go through multiple test runs. But as a potential business starter-uper, you must overcome hurdles like these. The good news is that investing your time in multiple test runs today, will help you decide on which types of customers and businesses to target, right from the get go. It also gives you the necessary insights to make the business model more suited for the customer group. Multiple test runs will help you avoid having to repurpose the business entirely at a later time saving you both, time and resources. That also means that you may get rich faster. Searching for future talent Even though you are in the very early stages of developing your company, you should keep an eye out for talent. You may only have positions to fill in the future but its always a good idea to have a talent pool to choose form. Most entrepreneurs whether successful ones or those who have failed and moved on to founding successful startups after initial failures will attest to how important it is to have the right kind of talent. Not only can a good team can make or break a startup, it is the pillar upon which your startup will be able to scale eventually. It is therefore very important to pick the right kind of talent. A team that is cohesive is necessary but as they say conflict is important so gather people with differing backgrounds and thought processes. As long as they function productively under a good leader even wierdos are great. Legal advice Many things could go wrong while running a business. And while many take precautions and preventative measure, things can still go wrong despite everything. When this happens its usually a storm of paperwork, and other insurance and legal issues. The biggest mistake entrepreneurs make is waiting for something to go wrong before they seek out legal advice. From a mishap befalling one of your employees to a post falling on your office building, some things are just beyond your control. Now in these cases its not unlikely for an employee to file a legal claim for injuries or damages they may have taken. This would be the appropriate time for you seek legal advice from (preferably your own) a legal team. Listening to all that legal advice and lawyer jargon might seem like an earful but this is all important stuff, so try to pay attention. All this information will be handy when you and your startup are actually in a pickle. And get yourself a legal team. Or at least a legal advisor. Have plans for way beyond your launch date No matter how good thinking on your feet is as a talent, most great leaders and entrepreneurs will vouch for the value of meticulous planning. Imagining all possible outcomes and scenarios isnt really practical or possible but contingencies and plans for likely outcomes should be made. If you have a playbook of sorts, no matter what the challenges might be, you have a bag of tricks to delve into when the going gets tough. The value of a Plan B can never be underestimated. Plan even for failure. The idea is to hope for the best but plan for the worst. Have a long term plan a plan for the duration by which you are fairly confident that you can start raking in profits. While planning, make sure that you have a contingency plan for the worst case scenario laid out. Its best to have a sales and marketing budget earmarked for at least the first two years of running the business. Build a good website(not just a decent one, but a GOOD one!) The fact that we need to give out such advice in an age where everything revolves around the Internet and Google is as good as God, frankly its absurd. But it needs to be mentioned because of the key role a good website plays in the success of a business. You have every reason to reach out to as many people as you can. And a website is one of the cheapest, and not to mention most efficient means by which you can accomplish that. Only, make sure that you start the website on a healthy platform using an affordable host. It neednt be fancy, but that doesnt mean that the landing page of your site has to look like an over-sized visiting card. Creating a good website isnt all that hard these days, neither is it expensive. Government Funding The central government is showing a lot of initiative to promote entrepreneurship in the country. Take, for instance, the Startup India initiative which has cut down a lot of red-tape experienced by people trying to start a business. There are new RBI norms to give risk-taking startups a larger safety net, in case their idea doesnt fly and they happen to run into financing problems. Under a special initiative called Standup India, banks have been instructed to lend a fixed amount to SC/ST and women entrepreneurs to get their business idea off the ground. Exit strategy Go ahead, laugh all you want. Well wait until youre done. Thinking about exiting even before youve started, what a joke. Things can go wrong despite your best efforts. Its always great to hope for the best and act accordingly but its also wise to have some exit strategy in place for when things dont work the way you wanted them to. An exit strategy could be something as simple as selling all the inventory you purchased for your business to minimise the overall loss. Or it could be something as simple selling the business. Timing If youll look elsewhere in this cover story youll find a story that chronicles the reasons for the downfall of many startups in India. Among the most common reasons cited for their failures youll find founders stating timing as one of the most important factors. Timing in the entrepreneurial context is as important as important as timing is to a joke. Screw up the timing and a joke falls flat. Similarly, if your idea is ahead of its time or a little behind the curve it will fall flat. Say for example you were trying to start a digital game distribution application or platform. If you did it before internet speeds were up to the mark youd most likely have failed. Or on the flipside say you were trying to establish yet another fashion apparel startup in todays crowded market place, would your chances of success be high? If you arent bringing anything new to the table we highly doubt it. So timing is everything. Too late or too early both will illicit lukewarm adoption from your target audience. Set specific sales goals We daresay that youll be hard-pressed to find a single person working in a sales department without some stress-related issue. Of course, that can be said about folks from other professions as well like teachers, lawyers, and fruit vendors but its most applicable to sales people. For theirs is a job that perennially revolves around targets. When you start your business, you will have sales targets. If you havent set them already, dont waste any more time. We mean it, you can read the rest of this article after you set those goals. Make sure that you set the targets in such a way that you can minimise the time it requires to start making profits but without alienating your employees by putting too much pressure on them. If your employees find the going tough, they will most likely quit and that will only increase the time itll take for you to rake in the profits. AIM-listed CloudBuy , a provider of cloud-based e-commerce marketplaces, has signed a five-year contract with business services provider FSB to deliver a new online marketplace for its members The FSB marketplace will enable its 170,000 members to trade with each other securely and cost effectively as well as allow consumer and business buyers to buy goods and services directly from FSB's member network. In addition, it will act as a showcase for the goods and services of smaller businesses to larger organisations and overseas buyers. Revenue will comprise a mix of implementation, SaaS licence, support and hosting and a share of transaction revenue. Although it is expected that there will be some contribution of revenues in the current financial year, the contract win is not seen changing market expectations. CloudBuy chief executive Lyn Duncan said: CloudBuy is really excited to be working with FSB on this initiative. The FSB marketplace will provide UK smaller businesses increased opportunities to buy and sell their goods and services online which might not have been affordable for them before. Members will also have the option to take a full CloudBuy ecommerce website and will find it easy to connect to other CloudBuy sector-specific marketplaces where appropriate. CloudBuy brings a wealth of experience to this endeavour following emarketplace projects in India and South East Asia." At 1227 BST, shares were up 14% to 8.00p. Shares in oil and gas investor Cluff Natural Resources soared to more than 15% on Wednesday after the energy company said it identified prospective resources on its North Sea licence. The AIM listed company said it identified prospects on its P2248 licence in the southern North Sea in the Carboniferous and Triassic, which could increase prospective resources estimates to about 3trn cubic feet of natural gas. In the six months ended 30 June, the company incurred a reduced loss of 662,473 in the period, compared to a loss of 74,668 in 2015, which reflected efforts to reduce costs. The loss includes a non-cash share based payment charge of 62,240. Cash used in operations fell to 665,836 from 807,972 last year. In addition, 174,189 of expenditure incurred was capitalised, due to costs directly related to the development of its six southern North Sea licences. On 6 April 2016 the Company raised 727,000, before expenses, through placing and subscription of about 58m new ordinary shares of 0.5p each at 1.25 pence per share. Cash balance was 955,000 down 51% from in the same period last year. The company said its funding position remains unchanged from it last announcement in December 2015 and it has adequate financial resources to cover its exploration and development programme at least until the end of 2016. Further funding will be required to fully implement its strategy most likely raised by way of equity. Cluff expects the carboniferous cadence prospect and the potential advantages associated with the bunter prospects on the P2248 licence to generate interest from companies operating in the region to attract farm out partners. In February the company extended its memorandum of understanding with Halliburton, an oilfield services company, for two years to February 2018 to accelerate the development of its assets. Chairman and chief executive Algy Cluff, said: While many larger oil and gas companies are faced with levels of debt and work commitments which are unsustainable, our company remains debt free and without onerous work commitments. The UK gas price has been encouragingly stable recently. The southern North Sea geology is highly prospective and in the southern North Sea there exists infrastructure together with access to market. I believe that these factors, combined with a benevolent government attitude, would render the UK's southern North Sea one of the most prospective offshore gas areas in the world. Shares in Cluff Natural Resources were up 15.74% to 1.36p at 1415 BST. A violent earthquake struck central Italy early Wednesday morning, with the 6.2-magnitude quake striking not far from Rome and razing large parts of several towns. Tremors from the shallow quake began at just after 0330 CET and were felt across a wide area across central Italy, with the epicentre said to be close to the towns of Norcia and Amatrice in the popular tourist regions of Umbria and Lazio, with reports revealing a rising death toll after the collapse of many buildings. At least 120 people were said to have been killed, according to local state broadcaster RAI News, which reported the mayor of Amatrice, Sergio Pirozzi, as saying: there are so many dead I cannot make an estimate. We have already extracted several dead bodies but we do not know how many there are below. The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre said the magnitude of the quake was 6.1 on the Richter scale, with a relatively shallow depth of 10km and an epicentre north-east of Rome, near Rieti, while the US Geological Survey put the quake's centre near Norcia. The chief of the Italian civil protection agency, Fabrizio Curcio, said the quake was similar in intensity to the 5.9-magnitude event which struck the nearby LAquila region in 2009 and left more than 300 people dead. The agency said its officials were in the hardest hit areas and organising efforts to try and move rubble to find those buried. Now that daylight has come, we see that the situation is even more dreadful than we feared with buildings collapsed, people trapped under the rubble and no sound of life, said the mayor of Accumoli, Stefano Petrucci, according to Reuters. Close to 60 aftershocks, some of them with a magnitude of more than 5.5, continued through the morning. The UK Foreign Office issued a message urging British citizens in the affected areas to follow the advice of the local authorities: "An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 struck Central Italy during the early hours of 24 August. The earthquake was also felt in Rome. If you are in the affected area, you should follow the advice of the local authorities. If you are in Italy, Civil Protection have activated a hotline 800840840 for information. To learn more about what to do before, during, and after an earthquake visit the Protezione Civile website." Insurance company impact From a strictly business impact, JP Morgan said a comparison with the previous LAquila 2009 quake indicated Wednesday's quake could be a relatively modest for insurers. The 2009 L'Aquila earthquake led to a 130m rise in claims for insurer Generali and the bank estimated a repeat would be equivalent to 3% of consensus operating profit of 4.8bn for the full year, while Allianz saw a 84m rise from the 2009 quake and JPM estimate a repeat would be equivalent to 1% of Allianz target 10.5bn operating profit. "The reason the loss then was not bigger is many houses in Italy are not insured, and the main risk is from business interruption for the local SMEs," analysts wrote. "We believe the potential for large business interruption losses for the quake today is lower than for the LAquila quake in April 2009: this is because August is the main holiday month in Italy, when businesses are often run at a reduced pace." A sharp rebound in exports kept the German economys expansion on track during the second quarter of 2016. Detailed data from the Federal Statistics Office confirmed that sales of goods and services abroad were the main driver of growth in the euro areas largest economy over the three months to June. Gross domestic product growth of 0.4% quarter-on-quarter was also confirmed. Net foreign demand, exports minus imports as it were, jumped 1.3% quarter-on-quarter, offsetting a 0.2% fall in household consumption and - above all- large declines in investment within construction and manufacturing. Imports slipped 0.1% over the quarter, contributing to a positive 0.6 percentage point contribution from net trade. Economists at Pantheon Macroeconomics emphasised that the quarter-on-quarter volatility - albeit dramatic on the surface - in the different components of aggregate demand was in fact "not unsual". Non-residential construction investment shrank by 5.2% quarter-on-quarter and investment in machinery and equipment by 2.4%. "Survey data point to a rebound in Q3," said Claus Vistesen, chief Eurozone economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics. Government spending also helped to prop up demand, clocking in with an expansion of 0.6% versus the first three months of the year. "Despite an acceleration in exports, risks to the sector from a slowdown in China and the UK remain. In 2015, Germanys bilateral current account balance with the UK amounted to EUR56bn or 1.8% of German nominal GDP. Moreover, the UKs share of Germanys total external surplus increased markedly over time. "These data suggest that if the UKs demand for German investment goods was to slow down materially due to uncertainty stemming from the Brexit vote, German real activity could be affected significantly," Olga Tschekassin and Tomasz Wieladek at Barclays Research said in a research note snet to clients. Barclays forecast was for German GDP to grow at a 0.3% quarter-on-quarter clip in the second quarter. "As the refugee influx of 2015 should continue to prop up government spending and Germany saw the biggest pension increase in more than 20 years, effective in July, the German outperformance against its eurozone peers is likely to continue, although the absolute pace of growth is expected to slow. "[...] While survey indicators have generally held up well in recent months, ultimately we expect weaker demand from the UK and the fading of the boost to consumption from low energy prices to have an impact," chipped in Matthias Thiel at BNP Paribas. Oil prices tanked on Wednesday after official data showed an unexpected increase in US weekly crude inventories. The Energy Information Administration said crude inventories rose 2.5m barrels to 523.6m barrels in the week to 19 August. It compared to expectations for a 500,000 drop in barrels. Brent crude plunged 1.6% to $49.14 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate slumped 2.5% to $46.91 per barrel at 1600 BST, following the release of the data. During the same week, gasoline inventories were flat, while those of distillates edged up by 100,000 barrels and stocks of propane/propylene fell by 2.4m barrels. Imports increased by 449,000 barrels a day from the previous week. Oil prices were already under the cosh prior to the EIA data after a report from the American Petroleum Institute showed crude stockpiles rose by 4.46m barrels last week against an expected draw-down of 850,000. The most recent data from the EIA added to worries about a global supply glut that has dampened prices. Crude oil has been amongst the most volatile markets this week as investors prepare themselves for Janet Yellens speech on Friday at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium, said David Morrison, senior market strategist at Spread Co. On Tuesday it whipsawed from negative to positive territory on a story that Iran was prepared to 'support joint action to prop up the oil market'. However, this headline missed out on another crucial quote from the (anonymous) source which said that even if an agreement was reached to freeze output, there was very little chance that anyone would stick to it. Traders are hoping for a deal on stabilising the market at next months unofficial OPEC meeting in Algiers. However, few analysts expect an agreement will happen given Irans reluctance to curb production following the lifting of its sanctions. WH Smith said on Wednesday that results for the year to the end of August are likely to be in line with expectations following a strong performance from the travel business. In a pre-close trading update, the group said its new store opening programme in the UK and internationally is on track. We have been pleased with the customer reaction to our recently opened stores in Alicante airport in Spain, and we continue to see further opportunities in the international news, books and convenience travel market. Meanwhile, the groups High Street business has performed in line with its expectations in the second half, as it annualised a strong performance last year on the back of colour therapy for adults. WH Smith said it continues to deliver gross margin improvements and cost savings in line with its profit focused strategy. At 0803 BST, shares were flat at 1,590.61p. 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Tohono O'odham Ofelia Rivas at White Mesa Ute Sacred Walk An Offering to Mother E... White Mesa Ute Spiritual March to Shut Down Uranium Mill Mohawk Warrior Society Book Launch Lakota Jean Roach: The True Story of Leonard Peltier Justice for Dad: Taylor Dewey Shares the Harsh Road to Justice Justice Dept Files Lawsuit Against Rapid City Hotel Western Shoshone Ian Zabarte Speaks on Radiation Archive Search This Blog About Censored News Censored News is published by Brenda Norrell. Since 2006, Censored News has received more than 20 million pageviews. As a collective of writers, photographers and broadcasters, we publish news of Indigenous Peoples and human rights. Contact publisher Brenda Norrell: brendanorrell@gmail.com From the publisher Censored News is published by Brenda Norrell, a journalist in Indian country for 40 years. Norrell created Censored News after she was censored and terminated as a staff reporter at Indian Country Today in 2006. She began as a reporter at Navajo Times during the 18 years that she lived on the Navajo Nation. She was a stringer for AP and USA Today and later traveled with the Zapatistas through Mexico. She has been blacklisted by all the mainstream media for 14 years. Contact brendanorrell@gmail.com Translate Rolluda Architects Shull Besser Wang Neaton Seattle-based Rolluda Architects hired Susan Neaton as a senior project architect, Jiahui Wang and Gabriel Besser as project designers, and Eleanor Shull as an intern. Neaton has experience in the Northwest on new structures, renovations, building conservation, multifamily, commercial, retail and interiors. She is working on Fiber Arts Studio at Evergreen State College. Wang holds a master of architecture degree from the University of Michigan and was an intern architect in China, New Haven, New York and Seattle. She is working on the NOAA Sandpoint Building Green Infrastructure project. Besser has a bachelor's in fine arts from the Art Institute of Atlanta, a master's in urban design from Bartlett at the University College London, and a master of architecture degree from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. He is working on Sound Transit's Lynnwood Link. Shull is attending California Polytechnic State Institute, San Luis Obispo, to attain a bachelor of architecture degree. She is assisting with Lynnwood Link. Rolluda provides architectural design and planning. Dobbins combats Zika with Georgia Department of Public Health Dobbins Bioenvironmental Engineers recently partnered with the Georgia Department of Public Health to partake in the Department of Defense initiative to combat the Zika virus and other mosquito-spread diseases. Kathleen Schmidt, Georgia DPH vector surveillance coordinator, along with BEE personnel, laid traps at the Dobbins firing range due to it being an area of frequent blood-sucker complaints. Schmidt placed the traps on June 23 and collected the bugs on June 24 for inspection. The Georgia DPH found that 27 of the mosquitos collected were the possible Zika-carrier species, Aedes albopictus. Aedes albopictus does not go into traps readily, so 27 is a pretty big number, said Dr. Rosmarie Kelly, Georgia DPH public health entomologist. It is definitely the mosquito of concern for this area. The numbers are high, they breed locally, they are aggressive day-time biters, and they are potential vectors for Zika. They dont fly very far. So something close by is allowing them to breed and lay eggs. When more than five or six are in a trap, you know they are an issue, Kelly explained. Overall, the Georgia DPH has seen low numbers of the species, so that adds to this issue. The findings surprised us because we weren't expecting to find this type and number of mosquitos, said Christine Englemann, 94th Mission Support Group bioenvironmental. After these findings, the next step for Dobbins is to take measures to greatly reduce or eliminate the skeeters from the area by getting rid of their nesting opportunities, Schmidt said. They are aggressive feeders, Kelly said. But, they dont fly very far for a blood meal. So anybody whos there is going to run a risk of getting bitten within a couple hundred yards. According to the Georgia DPH, Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito, is capable of finding breeding sites wherever even small amount of water can be found. These sites include any container that will hold water, such as bottle caps, piles of wet leaves, black corrugated pipe, gutters, birdbaths, tires, flowerpots, etc. The best way to control this species is to dump out or treat standing water and to cut back heavy vegetation where the mosquitoes will rest when not out biting, said Schmidt. You need to look at anything that can hold water for five to seven days, Kelly reiterated. Put holes in it to let it drain. There will always be stuff that you just cant find. Thats where barrier spray is useful. That will last for three to four weeks. Its really good for that particular species because they dont fly very far. Zika virus spreads to people primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito but can also be spread during sex by a partner infected with Zika to their partners. Many people infected with Zika wont have symptoms, however, Zika infection during pregnancy can cause a serious birth defect of the brain called microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Until more is known, CDC recommends that pregnant women avoid traveling to areas with Zika. For the public, two larvicides are available for treating standing water, Mosquito Torpedoes (methoprene) and Mosquito Dunks (Bti), the Georgia DPH advises. Both are available from most hardware stores. Hand-held foggers can also be used to reduce biting populations of mosquitoes, but this solution is temporary and needs to be followed up with removing breeding sites and larviciding. At this point, your best bet is to police the area - get rid of breeding by potentially using barrier spray in the area to reduce the biting pressure on anyone in the area, Kelly said. Kelly pointed out that even with these mosquitoes around Dobbins, Georgia has not had any locally acquired cases of Zika. Once the recommended corrective actions are implemented, GDPH will return for additional mosquito surveillance, said Englemann. At this point, Dobbins has eliminated standing water; mosquito larvicide dunks were placed in ponds near firing range; pesticide is sprayed to low lying bushes and trees surrounding firing range every two weeks, insect repellent is available for instructors and students, and Zika information is provided to pregnant workers, said Englemann. A Donegal family who paid their first visit to the All Ireland Fleadh last week have become an instant success after they captivated practically the whole town of Ennis. The father and sons quartet of Tommy and sons Luca, Finn and Dempsey danced and sang their way along the streets on what many now refer to as the Siege of Ennis. The Mountcharles town quartet captured hearts online with their performance going insanely online. The Facebook live stream of their performance has now attracted 2.7 million views, 75,000 likes, and almost 16,000 comments. Tommy told the Democrat, It's phenomenal - since this happened we have had enquiries from Dubai, Tasmania, the US and the UK We have also been booked to play for two weeks to play in the famous Raglan Rd. Irish Pub in Disneyland in Florida next year. The lads are no strangers to music lovers in Donegal with their own show in Jackson's Hotel as well as guest appearances at other venues including the prestigious Ballyshannon Folk Festival. It's going to take time to digest all this - meanwhile it's going to be back to school for the lads as we all contemplate the future. A second helicopter from the Defence Forces, an Air Corps AW139, has joined the Rescue 118 Coast Guard helicopter in the ongoing search for a soldier who remains missing after he got into difficulties on Tuesday evening at Tullan Strand near Bundoran. A major search operation is being coordinated by The Irish Coast Guard from Malin Head with Killybegs and Bundoran RNLI units assisting while more than 100 members of the Defence Forces are searching the coastline from Bundoran /Ballyshannon and beyond. A Naval Service Dive team was due to arrive on the scene this evening and will also offer assistance. Lt Col Stephen Howard, OC at Finner Camp, (pictured above), told the Donegal Democrat that the missing man was not being named until they were satisfied all relatives and next of kin had been informed. Hes understood to be 28 years old and from County Westmeath. Family members and the mans partner were at the search scene from first light this morning having arrived on Tuesday evening. Lt Col Howard confirmed five soldiers went into the water, three of them got into difficulty. Two of those who were rescued were brought to Sligo University Hospital where they were treated for cuts and bruises sustained on the rocks as they were taken from the water. He stated: Unfortunately yesterday evening three members of the Defence Forces encountered difficulties when swimming here at Tullan. Two of the Defence Force members were rescued, but unfortunately, one is still missing. The missing soldiers next of kin are being supported by our personnel and support services here on location and at Finner Camp. The missing Defence Force member was in Finner Camp attending a course, but his normal base is Custume Barracks in Athlone. Commenting on the search he added: We have sufficient capacity to conduct a search but if locals want to come down and assist, their first point of contact would be the Coast Guard in Malin Head. Our pictures show the scene this morning as the Coast Guard helicopter sweeps in close to the Roguey Cliffs. Also pictured is Lt Col Stephen Howard, OC 28th Inf Bttn, Ffinner Camp who spoke to the Donegal Democrat at the scene. As many area communities will be observing Trick-or-Treating this weekend and Monday, the Wisconsin Department of Corrections advises you and your family to keep your children safer this Halloween by discussing ahead of time what to do if you are ever separated. A list of safety tips from state agencies is below to help ensure a safer Halloween weekend for everyone. You can also find the hours for trick-or-treating in Door and Kewaunee counties by clicking here. -A parent or trusted adult should always accompany children -Stay on well-lit streets and stick to neighborhoods you know -Only stop at homes where the porch light is on -Never enter a home or car for a treat -Trick-or-treaters should carry a cell phone to allow for quick communication -If the child carries a cell phone, activate location services prior to trick-or-treating -Call 911 if you see any suspicious or illegal activity Children should yell No! and run from any stranger who tries to take them somewhere -Have a responsible adult check treats at the end of the night Similarly, the Wisconsin Department of Health also suggests some tips for families with trick-or-treaters and families who are giving out candy. Costume Tips -Choose costumes that are light-colored and more visible to motorists. -Use reflective tape to decorate costumes and candy bags to increase the visibility of children to drivers. Reflective tape may be purchased at hardware, bicycle, or sporting goods stores. -Use make-up rather than a mask; if your childs costume does include a mask, make sure it fits snugly and that the eyeholes are large enough to allow full vision. -Children should wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes. -Costumes should be short enough that a child will not trip and fall. -Choose costume accessories such as swords or knives that are made of soft and flexible material. -Do not use novelty contacts such as cat eyes or snake eyes. Pedestrian Safety -Engage in Halloween activities during the daylight hours, if possible. -Do not enter homes or apartments without adult supervision. -Remind children to walk, not run, and to only cross streets at crosswalks. -Be sure your children are accompanied by a responsible adult who has a flashlight. ----- -Flashlights or chemical light sticks should be used so that children can see and be seen by motorists. Halloween Home Safety -Remove obstacles from your lawn, porch, or steps if you are expecting trick-or-treaters. -Make sure your front porch is well-lit. -Avoid using candle-lit jack-o-lanterns if possible. If you do use candles, dont place them near curtains, furnishings, or decorations. Move them off porches where childrens costumes may ignite. -Keep your pets in another room when you are expecting trick-or-treaters. -Small children should not carve pumpkins; instead, allow them to draw the designs on the pumpkin and adults may carve. -Turn on an outside light if welcoming trick-or-treaters. Ronald Moede was born on December 21, 1934, in Rio Creek, WI. The son of the late Fred and Emily (Hanamann) Moede, he married Bonnie Neinas in Brussels on June 4, 1960, and they were married for 62+ years. He was a life-long resident of Rio Creek and was an innovative dairy farmer. He owned and managed a large dairy operation, Meade Manor Farms, which had been homesteaded by his grandfather, August Moede, in 1895. The log cabin home, barn, and herd grew to become one of the larger dairy farms in Kewaunee County under his guidance. Upon his retirement, it evolved into Meade Manor Pet Clinic, a vet service for small animals, but the land continued to flourish and produce. Ron graduated from Casco High School, Class of 1952 and Graham School for Cattlemen, Kansas. He was a member of the Wisconsin Holstein Breeders, Kewaunee County Holstein Breeders, and the National Holstein Association. He was a charter member of the Algoma FFA Alumni. His family exhibited champion dairy cattle at local, state, and national dairy cattle shows. In 1984, in Madison, the Wisconsin FFA named him Outstanding Farmer and in 1995, he was named and honored at the Wisconsin State Fair as a Century Farmer. He served as an elder in his church for many years as well as a trustee and various committee appointments. In his younger days, he was active in dartball and also high school sports. He received the Algoma Honorary Chapter Farmer Award, and the Unified Board Business Award. In his retirement, he drove school bus for 15 years for the Algoma School District and was a member of the Great Lakes Sports Fishermen. A hobby later enjoyed was his chicken farming. He raised a small flock of chicken, and he enjoyed passing out extra eggs to friends and relatives when the supply was greater than the family could handle. He was an avid sports fan and he and Bonnie attended both Packers Super Bowl games in 1996 and 1997, and also the Milwaukee World Series in 1983. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, both here and in upper Michigan and Minnesota. He even got Bonnie to go along with him to Lake of the Woods on the Canadian border to do some ice fishing. He held Packers season tickets since 1960 and at the time they bought their tickets they were allowed to pick out where they wanted to sit on the sidelines --there were no end zone seats yet-- and the tickets cost $5.00 a piece! He traveled through most of the U.S. including Alaska and Hawaii as well as traveling to the Caribbean and Europe. He enjoyed a summer place in Door County for 20 years. He told many stories of farming with his dad and the fact that at the age of 12, he had his own team of horses to work with on the farm. Responsibility came early as he was left in charge whenever it was necessary for his parents to be gone for a few days. He learned to drive a truck at an early age and often drove himself to school in 8th grade and parked the vehicle a few doors down at a relatives. This was because chores need to be done before and after school. The first tractor purchased was in 1937. In his retirement, he had it restored and displayed in local fairs and tractor shows. He would tell of shocking grain and threshing crews traveling from neighbor to neighbor and the wonderful table his mother would set full of food. A vivid memory was the day WWII ended. The whole neighborhood and working crew quit in the early afternoon (unheard of) and celebrated With beer and music! Even the clergy arrived and joined in. It was a day to remember! In his lifetime he went from horses and the depression, to the digital age and unimagined luxuries. There was no electricity and no running water in his youth and now he had wireless phones, computer screens in his vehicles, along with heated steering wheels and heated seats. Who would have thought that back then. Ron is survived by his wife Bonnie; son Robert (Debbie Harms) Moede; grandson Michael and granddaughter Megan; siblings, Terry (Jane) Moede, Paul (Roxie) Moede; sisters-in-law, Diane Fontaine, Sheila (Don) Baudhuin; and brothers in-law, Dan (Mary) Neinas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Emily Moede; sister, Marilyn (Arno) Schneider; father- and mother-in-law, Herman and Madeline Neinas, and brother-in-law, Gary Fontaine. Visitation will be held at Kinnard Funeral & Cremation Services Algoma, on Friday, October 7, 2022, from 4-7:30 pm with a prayer service at 6:30. Visitation will continue on Saturday, October 8th at St. Johns Lutheran Church Rankin, from 9-11:00 am. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 am with Dr. Rev. Christopher Jackson officiating. Burial to follow in Evergreen Cemetery. Online condolence message may be shared at KinnardFCS.com. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Kewaunee County 4-H Dairy Fund and the Projection Screen Fund at St. Johns- Rankin. OFiaich College Dundalk has announced the appointment of Margaret Deegan to the post of Deputy Principal. Margaret Deegan has been the Coordinator of Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) Navan for the past six years. She holds a B.A. in geography and anthropology from Maynooth University, and a masters degree in Technology and Learning from Trinity College, Dublin. She was the recipient of the Teaching Council Bursary in recognition of her research in the area of ePortfolios and Communities of Learning. Margaret takes up this position due to the departure of Karen Patton who has held the position of Deputy Principal in the school since 2011 and leaves to become Principal in St. Louis Secondary School, Carrickmacross. Margaret brings to the role of deputy principal a wealth of experience having taught for several years in Dunshaughlin Community College. Under her tenure as Coordinator VTOS Navan has achieved an outstanding reputation for high academic achievement thus enabling huge progression options for students into further education, and/or the labour market. I am thrilled to be part of themanagement team of O Fiaich College, said Margaret. Through the position of deputy principal I want to empower all students at secondary and PLC level to achieve their potential. I am totally committed to maintaining the very high standards of teaching and learning already present in O Fiaich College, and to sharing in the vision of creating a vibrant, progressive educational future for every student on the campus. I look forward to working with Padraig McGovern Principal, and all of the teachers, students and parents associated with the College. O Fiaich Post Primary College, attracts students from Louth and parts of Meath, Westmeath and Monaghan. Three people charged in connection with a major drug seizure in north Louth at the weekend, appeared before a special court sitting in Drogheda yesterday (Monday). Judge William Hamill heard that suspected heroin with an estimated street value of 210,000 was seized when a car and a Volvo truck were stopped by officers from the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau on Saturday afternoon. The special court sitting was told that it is alleged that a package containing 1.5 kilos of the drug was recovered from the foot well of the car, which was stopped and searched by detectives. The driver of the truck Martin Murphy (42) of Cuirt Droim Ard, Carrickmacross and the occupants of the car Viktoras Aksinavicius (23) of The Cottage, Aughnaseda, Monaghan and 30-year-old Aureliya Aleskejeva of no fixed abode, were each before the court accused of unlawful possession of a controlled drug - Diamorphine and having it for sale or supply at the Topaz Ballymac Filling Station on August 20th. The court heard that Mr. Murphy was arrested on the N1 northbound and his co-accused were detained at the filling station. A detective who opposed bail on the grounds of the seriousness of the charge said Martin Murphy has an address in the North, holds a Northern Ireland driving licence and travels regularly to the UK for work and he had fears about him residing in this jurisdiction. However, the defence solicitor said her client stays at his girlfriend's in Cuirt Droim Ard on a regular basis and his passport was handed over to the garda in court. The court heard his mother, an agency nurse would stand surety for him and the solicitor added it was likely her client's employment would be terminated as he was driving a work vehicle when he was arrested. Another guard who arrested Aureliya Aleskejeva also opposed bail, as she failed to provide a valid address. The solicitor - who represented all three accused, told the court the 30 year old is in a relationship with her Lithuanian co-defendant, and his mother had indicated she could live with her and both she and his stepfather were hopeful of being able to stand surety for 10,000. The court heard the Ms. Aleskejeva strenuously denies the charges. A third detective gave evidence that Mr. Aksinavicius has been living in Newry for the last month and not at his mother's home. The court also heard he was not sure where his passport is. Judge Hamill refused him bail and remanded him in custody to Cloverhill district court on Friday. His co-accused are due before the vacation sitting of Dundalk District Court on Thursday. They were both remanded in custody with consent to bail - of 15,000 or two independent sureties of 7,500 each. Their bail conditions include daily signing on requirements and being contactable by mobile phone at all times. 364 .ie domains were registered in Louth in the first half of 2016. That's according to the latest dot ie Domain Profile Report, published by the IE Domain Registry (IEDR), the company responsible for the management and administration of Irelands official internet address, .ie. The figure is a 3.1% decrease on H1 2015. Overall .ie domain registrations in Leinster in H1 2016 numbered 11,386, a 6.4% decrease on the same period last year. A total of 18,179 .ie domainsone hundred a daywere registered in H1 2016. Corporate bodies and sole traders made up 72% of all .ie registrations. There is now a total of 217,374 registered .ie domains in the IEDR database. This represents an almost 6% increase on June 2015, or a 47.8% increase over the last six years. David Curtin, Chief Executive of IEDR, said: Nationally, the .ie domain database continues to grow at a steady rate. Last year, we recorded just under one hundred .ie registrations each day, so its encouraging to surpass that in the first half of 2016. Clearly, Irish businesses value .ies Identifiably Irish brand. However, the decrease in registrations in Louth points to flaws in Irelands internet infrastructure, particularly in rural Ireland where there are some pervasive issues. Access to high-speed broadband remains a chronic problem, and continued delays to the National Broadband Plan are keeping households and SMEs offline. Even for those who can access fast internet, digital training resources are lacking in many LEOs and county councils. In the long term, this will only frustrate regional development and hold back the growth of Irelands digital economy. But, some businesses have no intention of building an online presence. According to our recent Digital Health Index research, a small cohort of SMEs are totally offline and 55% have no intention of changing that. This mentality may hamper .ie registrations and e-commerce growth in the future. The food delivery market continues to be disrupted by tech-driven service providers, including home-grown start-ups and global players. With the recent launch of UberEATS in Melbourne and Sydney, one things for sure: everyones facing stiff competition. Toon Gyssels, co-founder and CEO of foodora Australia (formerly Suppertime) spoke to Dynamic Business about how the company is differentiating itself and what fierce competition means for its business model. How is foodora responding to a surge in competition? Foodora continues to build on the same value proposition we had before: we know good food, are a true partner to the restaurants and care about our customers. Delivering food is very different than delivering a parcel or a person, and requires a different approach. Its very obvious that while a parcel can wait and a customer can spend time looking for the car, food needs to be picked up exactly on time in the restaurant, but it goes much deeper than that: what is the ideal packaging, how long can a certain dish travel, how to handle it during transport, etc. We are a true partner to the restaurants, we are not just a transactional platform. We are committed to growing their business fundamentally, not disrupting it or giving it a short term boost. To do so, each restaurant gets a dedicated Account Manager, who knows their business inside out (e.g. we have ex-chefs as Account managers) and will work with them to make it (even more) successful in the online world. This is why we have so many top restaurants partnering with us exclusively, such as Fonda, Papparich, BL burgers et al, and this is the foundation of our value proposition to our customers: they can truly order their favourite restaurant to their home or office. Additionally, we make it a smooth and easy process. This is largely enabled by cutting edge technology, but there is more: its in the DNA of the company. Everybody working in the foodora team is experienced in customer care and the customer experience is central in whatever we do. A good example of this is our dedicated corporate platform, which is a tailored technical solution, but also comes with a bespoke service and dedicated Account Manager. What are the companys biggest challenges and opportunities? Sustainable, profitable growth is the main challenge for our business model. Growth is easy, certainly when going for an all for free policy, but such growth wont last as this does not create value for investors. Weve never engaged in these kind of practices, which makes it a big opportunity for us. We know how to grow fast AND sustainably. We pride ourselves on our operational excellence, on top of having the right value proposition to start with. As more competitors enter the market, what is the key to staying ahead? Players in the market need to show distinctive value and growth beyond only showing increase in number of orders, the key is to show profitable growth as a company, or investors will decide to channel their money elsewhere. Has being acquired by Delivery Hero provided a competitive advantage? The main advantage of being part of an international food delivery group is the more advanced technology we can use to enhance our business model. In the Suppertime days, we did everything on a much smaller scale, which allowed for greater flexibility, but did not always offer the latest and the best features. Right now, we have a team of +70 developers working on the platform, which has obviously brought many benefits to Australia. How is foodora refining its offering to stay competitive? We have many exciting things coming up. These include new restaurant partnerships (Din Tai Fung, Mad Mex, Schnitz, etc) and new app features for restaurants and consumers (e.g. improved rider tracking) as well as new areas and marketing partnerships, still under wraps. "We must be ready to dare all for our country. For history does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid. We must acquire proficiency in defense and display stamina in purpose." - President Eisenhower, First Inaugural Address Entertainment / Music by Nhlalwenhle Ngwenya HOTELS and lodges in Gwanda are fully booked this weekend as the mining town hosts the second edition of the Gwanda Gospel Festival.The free entry festival, a brainchild of Bigtime Strategic Group, will feature a host of South African acts including Rebecca Malope, Andile kaMajola and Lusanda Spiritual Group as well as locals Zimpraise, Knowledge Nkiwane, Tholakele and Judith Moyo.South Africa-based show organiser, Justice Maphosa, said they were considering building campsites for the event in order to accommodate the hundreds expected to attend."The show is surely growing in leaps and bounds. Gwanda hotel is already fully booked, so to alleviate the accommodation crisis, we're building campsites."We want to ensure everyone is accommodated," said Maphosa.Those who will fail to secure accommodation in Gwanda may opt to drive to Bulawayo which is about 130km from the show's venue.Maphosa said they had upped their game and would be doubling the equipment used last year. An international sound system and stage will once again be used for the gospel show at Pelandaba Stadium as the extravaganza has been deemed a national event by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA)."We've brought more equipment for the stage and sound system, almost double what we used last year. We'll be using about 90 tonnes of equipment," said Maphosa.He said the South Africa artistes' advance teams were expected to arrive today with the artistes expected tomorrow for the event which kicks off at 4PM on Friday. "The show starts at 4PM as we want the working class to have time to travel to Gwanda."The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, which has been roped in for this year's event, will be making sure that visiting artistes are given the best treatment. Last year, a number of South African artistes were turned away, something ZTA wants to improve on."Justice Maphosa faced a lot of problems last year some of which were not necessary. Even equipment was returned last year, so this time around, we're trying to make sure that everything goes according to the script," said ZTA head of communications Sugar Chagonda. David Millican reports on social action helping children and young adults Tweets by @ealingtodaycouk Participate Sign up for our weekly Ealing newsletter Comment on this story on the Burundi and Rwanda are neighbouring countries with a very different feel from each other. Both experience grinding poverty, particularly away from the main cities. Whilst Burundi is a failing country, Rwanda functions better and feels more secure. Burundi is officially the poorest country on earth. The regime has clamped down on all opposition such that many have been killed and tens of thousands have fled the to live in refugee camps in neighbouring countries. The business economy has slumped; almost all NGOs have pulled out and most governments, including the UKs Department for International Development (DfID), no longer grant aid. To give an idea, there are no traffic lights and no street lights anywhere in the country. Whilst Rwanda has a strong leader it has more of a sense of direction and order. Corruption and fraud have largely been eliminated, such that aid reaches where is should. NGOs operate throughout the country and DfID has a large aid programme. This is all helping the country to develop, in contrast to Burundi, which receives barely any outside assistance. With this background I have just returned again from visits to both these countries. As is always the case it is the children who suffer most. The street kids in Bujumbura, Burundis capital, have nothing. When I first went to Burundi three years ago, with several colleagues, we visited an orphanage housing 50 or so street kids. Since then we have established a UK-based registered charity, the Friends of the Orphanage of Hearts Burundi. We have been supporting the orphanage financially and then more recently supporting several leavers from the orphanage as they try and continue their education. If you would care to support the orphanage and the leavers, the young people would love that very much. The money will help pay for the rent on the building, buy food, pay for medical bills and fund education - The people of Rwanda experienced a terrible genocide in 1994 and orphans from that period are now coming of age. I have been returning for several years to deliver business support and training, and a small amount of seed capital, to young enterprising orphans. It is important to leave a lasting legacy to coin a phrase trade not aid. It is so encouraging to deliver the training and then return to visit the young entrepreneurs who have started businesses and are now employing others. My social action visits to Rwanda and Burundi are voluntary and entirely self-funded. If you support the Orphanage of Hearts Burundi you can be assured that all the money will be spent on the young people. David Millican August 17th 2016 Last year I had a falling out with Boracay. It was just way too crowded and polluted for my taste. The Laboracay scene is not my crowd and idea of a good time anymore. Honestly, since then, I wondered why is Boracay still considered as one of the best island in the world. My question was answered during my latest visit to the island, I finally rekindled my love and found out what happens in Boracay that made it a paradise by travelers around the world. Azalea Hotel & Residences Boracay invited me along other blogger friends to enjoy the Azaela group getaway adventures and packages. Plus of course, experience what its like to stay there. Azalea had our itenerary all planned out, from where we will have our breafast, lunch, and dinner, to places we will visit and the activities we will try, so all we need is to sit back, relax and enjoy our holiday. Our timing was so right as the weather was bad in Manila (there was a storm up) but the weather was a perfect summer day in Boracay. Heres what happens during our trip Day 1: Azalea Boracay, Kuya Js, Hoy!Panga, Boracay Suncruiser Boat Party & Mamita On our first day we arrived at the port with full pick up and service provided by the friendly staff of Azalea Boracay. Because there was big waves at the usual port area, we docked at the Tabon Port . It was my first time there. I was surprised that there is also a bad traffic situation in Boracay now (Yes, that is one of the things I did not like about the island, it became too populated, too many establishments, it became very commercialized. It actually reminded me of Sampaloc Manila area). Frotunately, upon arriving at Azalea Boracay, my disappointment washed out. Aside from the trademark globe dome infront with the Azalea flower, the facade was beautiful with its all white paint and decoration. We had breakfast at Kuya Js restaurant which is just at the ground floor of the hotel adjacent to the lobby. Kuya J is a partner restaurant , they are the one serving the buffet breakfast and meals for the hotel guests. After getting full, we were assisted to our hotel rooms . I was suppose to have a roommate but she did not make it on time in the airport, so the entire Two Bedroom Suite was mine! I did not feel alone in the room though. One room was for my photo shoot and the other I can mess it anyway I want it haha! Let me show you around my hotel room in this video: Aside from a Two Bedroom Suite which is perfect for Group Getaways with friends or a small family , there are other room types available at Azalea Hotel & Residence Boracay like the deluxe hotel room with two beds, one bedroom , family room with 3 bedrooms and a couples rooms for romantic honeymoon or date. Room rates starts at Php7,500.00 (off-peak) to Php23,500.00 (super peak). I fell in love with my room, so I took some nap before we head out for some group activities that day. The bed was so comfy, loved the fluffy pillows. I think it was a queen size bed, fit for a queen like me haha! We had lunch at Hoy! Panga and went straight to Bulabod beach to take a boat ride to the Boat Party hosted Boracay Suncruiser! Unfortunately the video I took at the party boat was corrupted, I thought it was uploaded on my YouTube channel but it didnt. Sigh. Anyway, we had a blast in there, booze, food, personal dj onboard, and a giant slide! Everyone can take the plunge! Rest assured the Suncruiser has a number of lifeguards and there are floaters and lifejackets available for everyones safety. We cruised until the sunset admiring the breathtaking view of the open ocean and the montain ranges surrounding us. Dinner was at Mamitas along Station 2 of Boracay. They serve the best Avocado Shake in the island (we tried a number of them!) I love all the dishes we had, very good Filipino dishes. I recommend you dine here you will not be disappointed.. Day 2: Secret Beach IliIligan Beach, Spider House and Pubcraw Boracay Breakfast was at Kuya Js, Im glad they have different dishes served on their spread, except for the basics of course. I love their hot chocolate, its Batirol type! Yum! We head to a secret beach in Boracay that not many people know yet. All our transfers and tours was assisted by the tour staff of Azalea Boracay. The secret beach is called IliIligan beach, theres a small hut in there that serves as a convenient store selling drinks and snacks. The shoreline was beautiful, peach white sand and the water is very clear. I cannot resist but take a swim! After a few moments at IliIligan we went to Spider House for lunch. Going to the venue kinda creeped me out. Maybe because of the violent waves greeting us along the way, and some debris by the shore. Or maybe because Im not fond of spiders and creepy crawlers. Its on the edge of a cliff so going there was kinda small hike. The view and food was worth it. Spider House is popular to tourist especially when the water is calm it is a nice place for cliff diving. They are popular for their pizza and pasta so thats what we had. Yum! Going back to the hotel, we felt amiss with swimming so we had some fun time #poolingaround the rooftop pool of Azalea Boracay. Dinner was held at the rooftop as well with food they ordered from the market and cooked by Kuya Js. It was my first time to try the Diwal Shells, I only had one small piece though as Im allergic to anything with shells! My allergic reaction differs fortunately I did not react to this one but I did not want to push my luck even if it was scrumptious. After dinner we went to experience Pubcrawl Boracay! There are three important rules in in the pub crawl: 1) is to meet 3 different people and remember 3 interesting things about them, 2) you cannot drink alone or on your own you have to tap someone on the shoulder if you are having a drink other than the free shots they provide you , 3) you will crawl home at the end of the night! I now understand why they call it pub crawl because you will literally want to crawl home after all the long walks to each bar/club you will visit. There are 5 bars to visit and the distance to each bar is a kilometer walk (I think, it felt like that) So, if you see people walking like drunkards or do the wobbly walk wearing the pubcrawl shirt, its not the booze but the exhaustion from all the walk and the dancing! It was fun though, especially with the right company! Glad I was with this beshie bunch for this trip! Shout out to Trish, Manuel, Cha, McPol, Enzo, Chino, Czarina, Melo and Jo! Day 3: Lemon Cafe, Real Coffee, Boracay Adventure World (ATV Rides!) Bil-At Beach, Gastho We went out of the hotel for breakfast and tried Lemon Cafe. Lemon Cafe is famous for their huge servings and delightfully scrumptious breakfast menu. It did not disappoint, I had the Crispy Bacon Eggs Benedict and the Beef Tapa. I super love how crispy the bacon is even if it was topped with the egg. The egg was perfectly done and the bread had the perfect sweetness and softness that melts in your mouth. Mmmmm I am craving for it now! The tapa was equally good, sweet beef tapa strips with sunny side up eggs and fried rice on the side. But I love the crispy bacon better! Highly recommended! Breakfast was too heavy and filling so we hang-out by the beach front at the Real Coffee. My companions had the coffee and we all tried the famous Calamansi Muffin. The muffin was the most packed muffin ever , it was too much for a tiny me to finish, so I shared mine with Trish, whom I think did not finish the entire piece as well. But I think pastry lovers will enjoy it. Lunch was at Kuya Js in preparation for a very physical adventure at Boracay Adventure World. Lunch is ala carte at Kuya Js, of course we had their famous Crispy Pata and Sisig among other favorites! Then off to another adventure! I dont drive but I dare drove the ATV by myself and proud of it! The terrain we had to go through was kinda difficult for a first timer. I am glad we were 8 vehicles in the convoy so we were running kinda slow, although I tried to pick up speed by waiting out for the one infront of me to be a few meters away before I pick up my speed. It feels good to drive the ATV and the need for speed! The adrenalin. We had the 45 minute ride with about 12 courses / tracks I think. The downhill tracks was scary coz all you have to do is hold the breaks and let gravity pull you down. The climb up was difficult as if you accelerate too much you can flip and trip over ! So I was very careful manueving! Before the finish line was a beautiful private beach waiting for us to explore, the Bil-At Beach. They call it Bil-At because it is in between two other secret beaches, Puka Beach was one of them. I love pinkish Orange sand, clear waters although theres lots of algae on the rocks. The view was breathtaking. I wish we had more time to explore! After an exhausting yet fun driving the ATV. We head back to our hotel to freshen up a bit. Then we went out again for dinner, this time it was at Gastho where we had seafood galore, good thing they are also famous for their ribs so I had that. We were suppose to have a Karaoke night but majority want to enjoy their comfy rooms and beds so we all sleep in early. We had a long day but hey I wanted to make the most of our stay. Day 4: Going Home Our flight back to Manila was very early like leave hotel by 530am. So Azalea Boracay people made us packed breakfast to eat along the way to the airport or while on flight. I wish to stay longer but there is always the next time! What I love about Azalea Hotel & Residence Boracay is their Group Getaway Packages. Honestly, I wouldnt know about the secret beaches like IliIligan Beach and Bil-At Beach if not for them. I wouldnt have tried going to a PubCrawl in Boracay or even enjoy a Boat Party if not for them. The advantage of staying at Azalea when in Boracay is that you can take advantage of their Travel & Vacation Conceirge. They will take care of your activities when in the Island. They will book everything for you and even bring you to the venue and fetch you after. Full service tourist assistance for guest is what they offer. They also get huge discounts and privileges on establishments and activities to try in the area. Heres a glimpse of things to do in Boracay Aside from the Obvious, A 3 Day Itenerary / What We did in Boracay #AzaleaGroupGetaway : Azalea Hotels & Residence Boracay is the very first 4-star quality serviced apartment in Boracay offering spacious accommodations complete with kitchen, dining and living area facilities perfect for family vacations and leisure getaways. All rooms and suites are fully furnished with kitchen, dining and living areas with cookware and chinaware provided free of charge. For reservations and other inquiries you may visit www.azaleaboracay.com or email reservations@azalea.com.ph We were suppose to go parasailing and visit Ariels Point but the sea was kinda violent during our visit cliff jumping and other activites was not allowed . We were suppose to go Karaoke in one of the bars but we were tired from the adventure ride. This means there are more things to do in Boracay and I cant wait to be back again! The secret beaches just made me super happy as there are parts of Boracay that is not crowded yet! Hooray! How about you, what is your favorite activity in Boracay? Have you done any of the things I mentioned in this post? I would like to hear your stories too! Please share on the comment section! Stay gorgeous everyone! Sussex News Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. News / National by Nqobile Tshili A GRADE Six pupil at a school in Bulawayo allegedly injected 12 children from Pelandaba suburb with an unknown substance, spreading panic among parents that the kids could have been infected with HIV.Concerned parents rushed their children to Mpilo Central Hospital following the incident which happened on Monday at around 12 noon.One of the parents told The Chronicle that the children were playing "doctors and nurses" when one of them found a syringe with a needle.The Grade Six pupil, who cannot be named because she is a minor, assumed the role of a nurse and injected her friends with an unknown concoction at her home.The pupil lives with her grandmother as her mother works in South Africa.Another parent said it was worrying that children were able to access dangerous instruments like syringes and needles."We're living in times where people are surviving with various ailments. For a child to have a syringe which she uses to prick other kids is worrying. We don't even know who previously used the syringe and for what purposes," he said.He added: "In panic parents rushed their children to Mpilo as they suspected that their children could have been exposed to HIV. You can imagine the same needle was used on 12 children. These days some kids are born with HIV. Chances are high that if the needle was not infected in the first place, one of the 12 children could have infected others."A Chronicle news crew visited the suburb yesterday and the children had been taken to Mpilo Central Hospital for check ups.Mrs Saliwe Nyoni, a relative to one of the parents whose child was injected, said she was praying that the children did not contract HIV or other diseases."We're told that she (Grade Six pupil) called the children to her home where she injected them with an unknown substance. The children were taken to Mpilo yesterday after the parents learnt of what had happened. We just hope the children will not contract any diseases," said Mrs Nyoni.Mpilo Central Hospital clinical director Dr Solwayo Ngwenya said nine children were admitted to the hospital following the incident."We're worried about this incident. So far all necessary preventive steps have been taken so we can't really say it's a life threatening situation," said Dr Ngwenya."The fact is we don't like to hear that dangerous things such as syringes, needles, razors, poisons and matches are being left within reach of children."He said parents and other grown-ups had a duty to ensure they never leave such things where children can reach them."Additionally, children should be taught not to touch or play with these dangerous objects if they come across them," said Dr Ngwenya.A medical doctor who declined to be named for professional reasons said needles used more than once were dangerous because they could expose people to HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV).He said to prevent infections, victims should be taken for post-exposure prophylaxis within a few hours of exposure for some infections and about 72 hours for HIV. It has now been 328 days since Gov. Rick Snyder publicly admitted that the drinking water in the city of Flint, Michigan had been contaminated with the powerful neurotoxin lead. This admission came months and months after the problem had been brought to light and, in the 328 days since then, no lead water service lines have been replaced through the actions of his administration. This is despite the fact that the poisoning was the direct result of cost-saving measures taken by his appointed Emergency Manager overseers and the failure of top administrator in his administration, Dept. of Environmental Quality Director Dan Wyant, who was clearly unqualified for his job. Some water lines HAVE been replaced. 33 to be exact. These were the result of Flint Mayor Karen Weavers FAST Start program. The state legislature appropriated $25 million for the job, a sum that is not nearly enough to deal with the vast scope of this problem, a problem compounded by the removal of democracy in Flint and the takeover by a single Snyder appointee as Emergency Manager: Michael McDaniel is in charge of a program called FAST Start, with the aim of replacing all lead service lines in the city in one year. Despite its name, only 33 homes have had the work done since the programs February launch. The former brigadier general of the Michigan National Guard describes a bogged-down infrastructure repair program hamstrung by lack of money and manpower. When we started, there was no city administrator, no chief of staff, no director of public works, no city engineer and only one purchasing officer, he said. There was no capacity. [] The state has anted up $25 million for pipe replacement. Thats less than half what Branch says the city needs, but could provide a good start. That money is stuck in limbo, however, because the state placed a limit of $5,000 per home on pipe replacement, and Flints lowest bid for the work is over $6,000. Instead of addressing this continuing calamity now over two years old, Gov. Rick Snyder is feuding with his Attorney General Bill Schuette. At Schuettes request, a Genesee County judge issued a confidential order which Snyder says is hampering the ability of the state to deal with another ongoing problem: Legionnaires Disease. Gov. Rick Snyder today announced that the state Department of Health and Human Services would challenge a court order they say limits contact between two state departments and the Genesee County Health Department or McLaren Hospital. The governors office said in a press release that an Aug. 17 court order originating in Genesee County Circuit Court purports to prohibit DHHS and the state Department of Environmental Quality from interacting with the Genesee County Health Department or McLaren Hospital on anything related to Flint and the recovery from the water crisis currently underway. Snyder spokesperson Ari Adler would not reveal which case the order was related to or any regarding an order he said was confidential. Schuettes office claims Snyder is full of it and that hes just trying to protect the health data related to lead poisoning and legionella deaths in Flint. So they are going to court, spending precious tax dollars on internecine bickering. Its the modern day equivalent of Nero fiddling while Rome burned. And those tax dollars ARE precious. The federal declaration of emergency recently ended, putting the state on the hook for supplying bottled water to people who recently learned that lead contamination is still an issue. There is some hope that lead water lines will begin to be replaced before the one-year anniversary comes: Flints delayed program to replace damaged lines restarted today in an effort to switch out as many as 250 service lines made of lead. Flint Mayor Karen Weaver kicked off the second phase of her FAST Start initiative by announcing the neighborhoods where work will begin. Contractors are expected to contact homeowners to seek their permission to do the work. Officials did not say how quickly they expect the pipe replacement to take. To date, city efforts funded by the state have only replaced 33 lines in a program marked by delays over projected costs. So, yeah, some day. Not sure when. Could happen any time. Some day. If youre thinking about betting on whether it will happen before Day 365, I wouldnt. News / National by Staff Reporter Movement for Democratic Change Vice President Nelson Chamisa has come out guns blazing aiming at the 92-year-old president Mugabe blasting him for ignoring the people of Zimbabwe.Chamisa said Mugabe buys police weapons to beat up citizens, instead of perfume he buys teargas for the people.He said MDC-T will have a government with less than 15 ministers compared to that of Zanu-PF which is bloated with 36 ministers.Chamisa said Mugabe forgets that the nation of Zimbabwe belongs to all citizens not only Zanu-PF.He said he wants to be in charge of war veterans.Listen to Chamisa address Kuwadzana Rally. LONDON UK Members of Parliament have called for a worldwide ban on plastic microbeads in cosmetics. The UK Government's Environmental Audit Committee claims the tiny balls of plastic used in shower gels and facial scrubs can now be found in Arctic sea-ice as well as on the ocean floor. The MPs have also cited the textile industry, claiming synthetic fibres from fleece jackets may be harming wildlife. The UK government has previously said it would contemplate a ban on microbeads in cosmetics if the EU doesn't legislate first. However, MPs want ministers to take quicker, more decisive action. In an interesting new paper, two pairs of authors bring their unique viewpoints to bear on a hard to handle subjecthow should scientists and the public interact to ensure the accuracy of scientific studies? How can scientists tell the difference between politically motivated trolls (deniers) and genuinely interested non-academics (skeptics)? A Banksy piece near the Oval bridge in Camden, north London. Martin / Flickr Two of the authors are well known in climate circles: Dr. Michael Mann and Dr. Stephan Lewandowsky. Theyre joined by Nicholas J. L. Brown and Dr. Harris Friedman, an outsider and an academic who worked together to upend a once-popular study in behavioral psychology. Together, the group provides a unique take on how to distinguish between the honest skepticism embodied by Brown and Friedman and the denialist abuse regularly hurled at Mann and Lewandowsky. Skepticism can be distinguished from denial in a few key ways, like denials reliance on conspiracy theories, its tendency to attack scientists and its lack of peer-review. Skepticism, on the other hand, tends to work within the peer-review system and maintain a cordial relationship with those it questions. The concluding line of the study sums it up well: Denial is not an avenue of last resort for members of the public who are desperate to contribute to science or even correct it, but a politically-motivated effort to undermine science. Find Out What These Three Renowned Brits Have in Common EcoWatch https://t.co/UHxn4n6g2K @GreenpeaceUK @HuffPostGreen EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) August 22, 2016 Helpfully, the authors offer scientists and skeptics alike solutions in two appendices that accompany the piece. The first is a set of guidelines for skeptical members of the public who wish to engage with scientists. This is what the group learned from the case study of Nick Brown, who after hearing about a study in a part-time psychology course, sought out Dr. Friedman for help and advice replicating and verifying the findings. The pair then worked together on series of studies, going through scientific channels over a fairly long period of time to respectfully correct the original flawed, but frequently cited, study. This process exemplifies the true skepticism approach. The second appendix is a set of guidelines for scientists on how to deal with non-scientists (be they skeptics or deniers) who contact them for further information about a study, the unfortunate speciality of Lewandowsky and Mann. They remind readers to be polite and assume inquiries are made in good faith, but also understand that any private correspondence could be made public and be cautious about sock puppetsa lesson Lewandowsky learned the hard way. Data should be freely shared, but sensitive medical or behavioral info requires professional handling to ensure the privacy of subjects isnt violated. The guidelines warn that repeated requests for private messages, unfinished drafts or raw data for re-analysis are more likely to come from trolls. While data re-analysis is often well meaning, the tobacco industry was fond of applying biased methods to raw data in order to defend itself. And unfortunately, climate deniers seem to have gotten hooked on this nasty habit of Big Tobacco. One last thing, Nick Browns blog has a small story well worth reading. With the publication of this paper, he holds the distinction of being the only person on the planet (probably) who has co-authored with both Dr. Michael Mann and the noxious Rush-Limbaugh wanna-be pundit Mann is suing, Mark Steyn. Two days ago, I put my son Conor on an airplane to Europe. Conor has anaphylactic peanut allergies so, before he left, we purchased a new EpiPen for the trip. We both got sticker shock. Ten years ago, I was paying a $12 co-pay for each EpiPen I purchased. In 2007, the wholesale price for an EpiPen in the U.S. was around $57 and our insurance company paid everything but the co-pay. This week, I learned that the wholesale price was now $600 for a two pack, which is the smallest quantity available for purchase. We paid the $600. EpiPens have saved Conors life more than once. A Senate committee has asked the pharmaceutical company Mylan to appear before Congress to explain the companys 400 percent price hike for this life-saving device. The companys CEO, Heather Bresch, the daughter of West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, will be on the hot seat. She is a greedy, malicious scoundrel and its my hope that the senators who question her will not give her kid glove comity just because she is kin to a colleague. Mylan raised its prices because it could get away with the scam. Its only U.S. competitor, Sanofi, abandoned the American market in 2015. In Canada, EpiPens still cost around US$100. In Europe there are four manufacturers and the prices are still lower. Children in anaphylactic shock often need two doses of epinephrine. Following the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations recommendations, my doctor suggested that we always keep two EpiPens at home, two at school and two in our automobile. Each EpiPen expires after one year, so Mylans price hike represents an $1,800 annual recurring cost for the families of the 15 million Americans with allergies. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, food allergies are responsible for more than 300,000 ambulatory-care visits a year in children under 18. About 200 children die. Breschs greed is likely to cost the lives of many more. I regularly write notes to the families of children who have died from anaphylaxis after inadvertently eating peanuts, said Dr. James R. Baker, CEO of FARE: Food Allergy Research & Education. One death is too many. By Lauren McCauley As residents of Louisiana this week struggle to recover from one of the worst floods in modern history, there is a chance that federal aid may not be so forthcoming thanks to a trio of Bayou State Republicans, who back in 2013 voted against helping victims of another storm: Sandy. Reps. Steve Scalise, Bill Cassidy and Sen. John Fleming all voted against Sandy relief in 2013. Andrew Harnik / Melinda Deslatte/ AP via NY Daily News House majority whip Rep. Steve Scalise, Rep. John Fleming and Sen. Bill Cassidy all cast their votes against the $50.5 billion relief package because of their dogmatic adherence to austerity economics. At the time, Scalise said, Paying for disasters and being fiscally responsible are not mutually exclusive. But, as Los Angeles Times columnist Michael Hiltzik and others noted this week, that decision may come to haunt them. No one is saying that the flood-stricken communities of Louisiana dont deserve all the assistance that the U.S. government can provide them, Hiltzik wrote. But so did the residents of the Sandy zone. How do the lawmakers 2013 votes to deny relief to those Northeast communities square with their demand for emergency flood assistance now? https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/statuses/766300268270981120f Congress denies Louisiana the aid funds necessary for recovery, it will be because some of our own congressional delegation turned their backs on the victims of Hurricane Sandy, Campbell said. Our leaders have forgotten that their actions have consequences beyond election daytheyve abandoned common sense priorities for our people to promote the political message of the day. Not only are Scalise, Fleming and Cassidy purveyors of extreme, tea party ideology,as Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu, who lost to Cassidy in 2014, put it at the timethey are also, as Hiltzik wrote Climate change deniers, a sign that theyre unable to process evidence in front of their own eyes. Fleming has claimed that evidence of climate change is the product of a radical environmental agenda. Scalise has griped that its an effort by radicals to prop up wave after wave of job-killing regulations that are leading to skyrocketing food and energy costs. Cassidy in 2014 claimed that global temperatures had not risen in 15 years, which happened to be untrue. Remarkably, both Fleming and Cassidy are medical doctors. As for how the Republicans reconcile their vote on the Sandy package with their current demands for assistance, T.J. Tatum, a spokesman for Scalise, told Hiltzig that the relief claims amount to Apples and oranges. This article was reposted with permission from our media associate Common Dreams. By Tierney Smith The Great Barrier Reef is under siege from climate change and coal, with scientists confirming that 93 percent of the world heritage area is now suffering from severe coral bleaching. A diver checking out the bleaching at Heron Island in February 2016. This area was one of the first to bleach at Heron Island which is located close to the southern most point of the Great Barrier Reef. Photo credit: XL Catlin Seaview Survey The unprecedented event, caused by climate change warming the ocean, is being called an environmental assault on the largest coral ecosystem on Earth. Only around 50 percent of the impacted corals are expected to survive, and in some areas, only a mere 10 percent may recover. So heavy is the toll, 56 scientists have once again called on the Australian government to phase out coal, and are taking ever greater message to their warnings are heard. The expansion of Australian coal is already having dire impacts on the Reef, and will continue to drive the climate impacts that are killing Australias famous heritage site. I showed the results of aerial surveys of #bleaching on the #GreatBarrierReef to my students, And then we wept. pic.twitter.com/bry5cMmzdn Terry Hughes (@ProfTerryHughes) April 19, 2016 Yet despite the governments willingness to pick up the phone about the parlous state of the reef, they seem unwilling to acknowledge that its way past time Australia ditched coal. Key Points: Climate change is killing the Great Barrier Reef before our eyes. Aerial checks of more than 900 reefs along the 2,300 kilometer site are showing 90 percent of coral north of Port Douglas now white, and 10 percent of the reef south of Mackay. Not only has Australia already lost upwards of 50 percent of coral cover in the past 30 years, but scientists warn this is the third mass coral bleaching event in just over half that time. This vital ecosystem can be saved, but it will take extraordinary effort. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the worlds most diverse ocean habitats, it generates more than $5 billion in tourism revenues and employs nearly 70,000 people. Despite this, the Australian government has recently approved a massive new coal mine in Queensland that will threaten the reef and see the countrys emissions skyrocket. Only an end to coal expansion and exports will allow Australia to adequately protect the Reef. Governments must favor coral over fossil fuels. The world is in the midst of a global coral bleaching event on scale with the worst ever bleaching on record and scientists warn dire predictions made on coral decline could now be realized. As leaders look to re-affirm their commitment to tackling climate change, they can show they are serious about protecting this vital marine ecosystem by urgently moving towards a fossil free and 100 percent renewable future. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Largest Coral Atoll in the World Lost 80 Percent of Its Coral to Bleaching Sardine Fishing Banned in Pacific Northwest as Stocks Hit Historic Low Bill Nye vs. Sarah Palin on Climate Change: Who Do You Believe? Scientists Start to Look at Ground Beneath Their Feet for Solution to Climate Change (Photo: LWF / DWS Nepal)Relief efforts in Nepal in May 2105. Aid agencies backed by Christianity and Islam have shown they can work together in an earthquake-stricken country such as Nepal where 80 percent of the people are Hindus and nine percent are Buddhists. The Lutheran World Federation and Islamic Relief Worldwide say they are working together to provide shelter for 12,000 of the most vulnerable people in the 14 worst-affected areas following the April Nepal earthquakes. Police have said that more than 8,635 have died as a result of the 7.8 magnitude April 25 earthquake with over 300 people missing still and at least 2 million people in Nepal are without homes. The joint Lutheran-Islamic relief project will ensure that 12,000 people in five remote villages in Rasuwa district, north-east of Kathmandu receive temporary homes Lutheran World Information reported. This will occur before the onset of the monsoon and the following cold winter seasons. The quake was so powerful the world's tallest peak, Mount Everest, moved three centimetres (1.2 inches) to the southwest because of the Nepal earthquake that devastated the country in April, the Chinese Daily reported June 16. China's National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation found that the 7.8-magnitude quake reversed the gradual northeasterly course of the mountain. The LWF-IRW project will target those most in need, including people with disabilities, the elderly, women, children, nursing mothers, and people from marginalized communities such as Dalits, religious minorities and indigenous nationalities. "This is a time when we as faith-based organizations have to say very clearly that religion is not a stumbling block, but an added value in emergency aid," said LWF general secretary Rev. Martin Junge. "In Nepal, we have a coexistence of many different beliefs. When disaster strikes, communities have to pull together to help the most vulnerable," he noted. Dr. Mohamed Ashmawey, CEO of Islamic Relief Worldwide agreed that religion is an "added value in emergency aid." He said, "In Nepal, it is absolutely vital that we target aid towards those who need it most. "Islamic Relief has vast experience in humanitarian work and has responded to disasters in the Philippines, Pakistan, and Indonesia, amongst other locations." Ashmawey said, "We look forward to working with LWF, sharing expertise and serving communities in Nepal." The LWF has worked with marginalized communities and on disaster response in Nepal for 30 years and IRW wishes to collaborate with the LWF. The Islamic group can access the LWF's existing experience on the ground and sharing the diversity of our experience in responding to disasters across the world. The LWF and IRW have separately provided assistance to more than 110,000 Nepalese people, and hope to reach even more by combining resources. In August 2014, IRW and the LWF signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on humanitarian work. It marked the first official cooperation between a global Christian communion and a worldwide Islamic non-governmental organization. The joint Nepal earthquake emergency response will be the third cooperative project for IRW and the LWF. The two organizations have been working together with Syrian refugees and host communities in Al Mafraq in Jordan, and plan a project in the Kenyan refugee camps at Dadaab. (Photo: LWF Nepal)Houses destroyed in Kathmandu, Nepal on April 25, 2015. Nepalese authorities have imposed a ban on visiting places of worship such as temples in the country, saying the earthquake that struck Kathmandu last month puts the stability of the structures in question. The country is still reeling from the temblor and the government says it is needs to temporarily stop local people and foreigners from visiting Hindu and Buddhist temples. The ban applies especially to temples whose structures could have been compromised. In an interview with Asianews.it, a top government official said there is concern due to ongoing aftershocks as some older temples can collapse should another temblor hit Nepal. "Most of the old structures are cracked and in danger of collapse from one moment to the next, even from strong winds or rain," said Bheshnarayan Dahal, director general of the Ministry of Archaeology. "If a tourist were to be hurt, it would be a very damaging image for Nepal. So we alerted all the local and foreign faithful not to travel to religious and cultural sites." Only a few temples survived the earthquake, which directly affected 14 of the 75 districts in Nepal, but authorities are worried its structural integrity could be compromised. They suspect the structures could give way to the slightest aftershock, or worse, to heavy rains as the monsoon season approaches. Explaining the ban, Dahal said most of the structures were in mountainous or hilly areas, prone to other natural calamities such as landslides. "We decided to take this measure to ensure the safety of persons," the official stated. "It shall remain in force until we have rebuilt or made the structures safe." Another government official said roads leading to the temples are an ongoing concern. Umesh Jha, director of Nepal's Infrastructures Division, said streets to the temples had rips and cracks due to the quake, while the fast-approaching monsoon season could make rough road travel more difficult. "The arrival of the monsoon season is expected in three weeks; many streets will be swept away and transport will stop," he said. "This may deter pilgrimages and will create disincentives because of the danger of landslides. We're trying to take precautions, but we have limited resources." The official death is around 8,700 while about 23,000 people suffered serious injuries. Thousands of victims still lived outdoors out of fear the aftershocks could further damage their houses. News / Press Release by Staff Reporter We are here to roll out #MYZIMBABWE CAMPAIGN; A peaceful and legal protest platform whose main aim is to fight to protect our dignity, our national pride and our identity. is an opportunity for any Zimbabwean regardless of political affiliation to come and make their voice count to tell those who stay in fancy hotels we are tired. Let us fight for the full realization of the aspirations for which the liberations struggle was waged. I have confidence that all of us taking the duty we shall defend our future A peaceful and legal protest platform whose main aim is to fight to protect our dignity, our national pride and our identity. #MyZimbabwe is an opportunity for any Zimbabwean regardless of political affiliation to come and make their voice count to tell those who stay in fancy hotels we are tired. Let us fight for the full realization of the aspirations for which the liberations struggle was waged. I have confidence that all of us taking the duty we shall defend our future MDC Youth Assembly Chairperson's remarks at the launch of #MyZimbabwe campaignI stand here to speak to you on this historic day as young people who are not prepared to bury the remains of the once great nation of Zimbabwe owing to poor leadership, pure selfishness and an old leadership worried about power than prosperity.Today we witness three decades of what should have been an era of prosperity, liberty and freedom anchored on respect, dignity and human rights. The dream of Independence has been squandered through greedy and corruption. The nation is sick, troubled and confusion is everywhere. We are a nation not just a nation but a miserable nation.More than 20 000 people lost their jobs, those that are still employed are not getting their salaries.We have been dehumanized and the system has stripped us our sense of empathy decency, kindness and greatness.The reason I stand here today is not to help bury the remains of this great nation but to declare that we will never stand idle and let the old die with our future like they did during the liberation struggle, we shall also in present day. We are here to save Our Zimbabwe.We as MDC-T youths today bring in an action plan of liberating our mother land from the jaws of tyranny. From a government that sees fit to purchase luxurious ministerial cars for over 40 million dollars, spending money on travel and subsistence for Mugabe and his henchmen to endless and nonsensical trips around the globe when hospitals have no drugs just to attend a dance festival in India or collect a grandson in Singapore, our wallets are robbed.We cannot stand and watch this tomfoolery;History might judge us harshly;Posterity will be cruel to us if we fail to act;As a contribution to the protection of our rights as enshrined in the constitution of this country,To liberate our country from vampires who are stealing our generational mandate to freely sow our dream of a vibrant and prosperous Zimbabwe. Mugabe can have the soldiers and police but we have three things he doesn't have the people , time and history.We reject the false narrative. Zimbabwe is one person and one family. Our strength rests in the diversity of our nation and plurality of our voices. It's time for Mugabe and his regime to stand aside now. We can't trust them with our future. At 92 he is no anger old but ancient and man whom we see sleeping on TV sleeping while standing cannot be fit to continue ruling over this once great nation. A man whose idea of growing the economy is printing money on bond paper cannot be trusted with our future. Clear issue is HE MUST GO. He no longer has the physical energy mental agility dynamism and temperament to deal with contemporary challenges. We have spoken through the ballot that he must gracefully retire and watch Zimbabwe re-emerge like a titan from your failed leadership and economic genocide.2018 is far away and elections are not only a way of removing a democratically elected government or president from power in a democracy. However let me clear that this current government was not even democratically elected. Peaceful protests are a legal means of removing government from power whether they were elected by Nikuv or dead voters. My Zimbabwe is a vehicle to achieve this very important objective and milestone in our country.Mugabe go with your bond notes, your bloated cabinet, your corruption, and your disrespectful wife. Just bring back our $15 Billion on your way out. To all youths in the country and diaspora now is the time to free our country, come lets reason together and chat our own desirable future. I say now is the time to profile a Zimbabwe of our choice.A Zimbabwe with jobs, good education, healthcare, blooming agriculture, industry, commerce, tourism trade and technology innovation. A Zimbabwe that invests in its youths, harnessing their entrepreneurial talents and allowing them to grow.My Zimbabwe, your Zimbabwe, our Zimbabwe it is our unconditional responsibility to fearlessly contribute towards the reclamation of our Zimbabwe.Lets shout my Zimbabwe, the journey begins now.I thank you A major petition against the Safe Schools program has been tabled in the NSW Parliament after pressure from Australias Chinese community.The petition, which has 17,000 signatures, was lodged by a Liberal MP, Damien Tudehope, who said there are significant concerns over the anti-bullying program.One thing that our migrant communities have in common is that they won't allow anyone interfering with their parental rights, and programs like Safe Schools represent an attack on the rights of all parents, Tudehope said in a statement.There is definitely a need to talk to kids about bullying, but it is clear that Safe Schools is not the answer.The program, which is run by Safe Schools Coalition Australia (SSCA), is aimed at raising awareness of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and/or intersex (LGBTI) school students and includes a strong anti-bullying focus.The SSCA says research suggests that school remains one of the most unsafe places for same sex attracted and gender diverse people, where verbal and physical abuse and discrimination occurs for a majority of same sex attracted students.In March, Federal Education Minister, Simon Birmingham , released the findings of a sweeping review into the program, recommending that it be subjected to greater parental oversight, including parents right to withdraw their child from the program.Parents should have confidence in what is taught in a school and receive clear information, especially about potentially contentious issues, he said.In a statement yesterday, Greens MP, Mehreen Faruqi, said the apparent push against the program from conservative NSW politicians was unwarranted.Weve seen these types of scare tactics used at a federal level, she said.Here in NSW we need to stand strong as a community and continue to support our vibrant LGBTI communities. The debate over which restroom transgender students may use at school is now playing out in the nations courtrooms, presenting a lot of uncertainty for school leaders just as millions of students return to classrooms for the new academic year. Earlier this week, a federal district judge based in Wichita Falls, Texas, issued a nationwide order that temporarily halts the Obama administrations enforcement of guidelines meant to expand transgender students access to restroom and locker room facilities in schools. That rulingwhich came as part of a 13-state legal challenge led by the state of Texascomes on the heels of the U.S. Supreme Court intervening in a different transgender-rights case that signals that it may be ready to take up the merits of the issue. The high court surprised many observers by stepping into a Virginia case and blocking an injunction won by a 17-year-old transgender student seeking to use the boys restroom at his high school. The justices on Aug. 3 voted 5-3 to stay lower-court orders that would have allowed Gavin Grimm, who was born female but now identifies as a male, to use the boys restroom at his high school in Gloucester County, Va. The high court will decide later whether to take up the merits of the case for full argument and decision. The school district won the stay because Justice Stephen G. Breyer joined with the courts four-member conservative bloc as a courtesy, as he put it in a concurrence, to preserve the status quo and because the court was on its summer recess. His vote may be as much about future death-penalty cases as it is about the hot-button issue of transgender rights, legal experts say. Both the case brought by the 13 states and the case involving the Gloucester County school district in Virginia are among a number of legal challenges related to the rights of transgender students in public schools. The Obama administrations stance was outlined most explicitly in its May Dear Colleague letter to schools asserting that educators should allow transgender students to choose restrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity. Im sure the Supreme Court stay has increased confusion for schools about what the law requires, said Joshua A. Block, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer representing Gavin. The stay, he noted, doesnt have an actual effect on any other case but Gavins, but everyone is trying to read the tea leaves. Multiple Legal Challenges The Obama administrations guidance is based on a 1975 regulation interpreting Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which bars discrimination based on gender in federally funded schools. That regulation clarifies that schools can maintain separate restroom facilities for boys and girls. When, more recently, some school districts began citing the regulation to require transgender students to use the restrooms of the sex of their birth, the U.S. Department of Education sought to clarify that, under its view, the opposite was required: Schools must allow transgender students to use facilities consistent with their gender identity. The new guidance is being challenged in four other lawsuits around the country, including a case filed by a second group of states in a federal court in Nebraska. In Gavins case, Gloucester County school district officials asked Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. to block two lower court decisions. In April, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, in Richmond, Va., held that the Education Departments legal interpretation of its own 1975 regulation was owed deference and that Gavin should be allowed to use the boys bathroom. A federal district judge soon issued an order requiring as much. (Gavin hasnt pressed to use the boys locker room at his high school.) Roberts referred the districts request in Gloucester County School Board v. G.G. (No. 16A52) to stay those decisions to the full court, currently one member short because of the vacancy caused by Justice Antonin Scalias death. Roberts, along with Breyer and Justices Anthony M. Kennedy, Clarence Thomas, and Samuel A. Alito Jr., voted to grant the stay. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan voted against granting the stay. Courtesy Call Michael C. Dorf, a law professor at Cornell University, said that Breyer may have drawn attention to his courtesy vote as a way of pushing his colleagues to return more reliably to the practice of such courtesy votes for stays. Such emergency actions require five votes, while granting a review to hear the merits of any case only requires four. That has led to a situation in which four justices vote to hear the appeal on the merits of, say, a death-row prisoner, but that prisoner lacks a vote from a fifth justice to stay his execution before that appeal could be heard. Such a grisly scenario has unfolded several times in recent years, Dorf noted. In a 2008 case involving a Mexican national who was scheduled to be executed in Texas for the gang rape and murder of two teenage girls in Houston, four justices wanted to delay the execution at least long enough to hear the views of the U.S. solicitor general about the international treaty implications of the death sentence. Breyer said in a dissent at the time that it was particularly disappointing that no other justice would provide the fifth vote to stay the execution. Breyer cited that dissent in Medillin v. Texas in his concurrence in the transgender case. But Breyers stance in the transgender case troubled many legal observers, including Dorf, who called it ill-advised. In the Gloucester County case, Dorf said, there is no risk that disturbing the status quo will moot the case. In other words, one of the main standards for granting the extraordinary relief of staying a lower-court injunction was not met because the district could still pursue the merits of its desire to require students to use the restrooms corresponding to the sex they were assigned at birth. Whats Next? Dorf, a former law clerk to Justice Kennedy, says it is laughable to suggest that the district would be irreparably harmed by accommodating one trans students desire to use the restroom that matches his gender identity."Both Dorf and Block, the ACLU lawyer representing Gavin Grimm, argued that the stay harms the transgender youth, who has mostly refused to use the separate, single-occupancy restroom that school authorities have asked him to use. The real effect is on this teenager, said Black. As a result of the stay, hes going to have to go back to school under humiliating circumstances. The Gloucester County districts main lawyers in the case, at a Richmond, Va., firm, did not respond to a request for comment. A lawyer with a Washington firm hired to help with the districts Supreme Court appeal declined to comment. The Gloucester County district must file its appeal on the merits of the 4th Circuits ruling by Aug. 29, after Chief Justice Roberts last week turned down the districts request for a 30-day extension to file that appeal. Derek W. Black, a law professor at the University of South Carolina who specializes in education law, said he was surprised by the Supreme Courts stay in the Gloucester County case, given how much other litigation is percolating about transgender students in schools. Maybe with this stay, the court is just pressing the pause button for schools on this issue, Black said. US chicken exports welcomed anew in Saudi market US chicken exports from at least 13 states have regained entry into the Saudi Arabian market after they were banned last year over bird-flu issues. According to a report on Xinhuanet, the temporary ban was lifted after the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 strain had been successfully controlled. While the ban was in effect, Saudi Arabia restricted the entry of eggs and poultry meat (except cooked food and products that could prove to have had the virus killed) from Oregon, California, Washington, Idaho, Minnesota, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa. Earlier last month Saudi Arabia ended a four-year ban on beef imports from the US, which was imposed over issues of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease). Under a signed agreement, Saudi Arabia is to initially allow shipments of beef from cattle aged under 30 months. Vietnam firms warned against substandard aquaculture exports Vietnamese authorities have become stricter in enforcing safety standards for aquaculture product exports, warning local companies that they won't get their export licenses renewed if they failed to comply. The warning came after shipments to the EU were rejected for containing excess levels of antibiotics, local newspaper VN Express International reported. Effective last August 15, the licenses of companies whose shipments were found with excessive antibiotics would only be renewed after full investigations into the allegations and corrective measures have been taken. In addition, they should pass strict inspections conducted by Vietnam's national agro-forestry-fisheries quality assurance department. Earlier this month, a Vietnamese agriculture firm shipment of aquaculture products were stopped by the European Commission's Health and Food Safety Department after they were found to contain traces of a banned antibiotic. These included catfish shipments from the Can Tho Export-Import Seafood JSC, which Germany blocked due to traces of sodium carbonate. Fish shipments from the Southern Fishery Industries Co. Ltd. were also turned away by Spain after sodium erythorbate was detected. A painful reinvention for the world shrimp market A new wave of outbreaks has flattened world output 15% below peak levels achieved five years ago China, Thailand are growing 30% to 50% less shrimp than before. Vietnam sustains production by using costly, less exportable tiger shrimp. India, Ecuador can't push output higher without encountering serious problems ... Opinion / Columnist WE are worried about a growing trend of indiscipline within the Zimbabwe Republic Police and caution that unless this cancer is brought to an abrupt end, our police force is doomed. Our concern stems from a proliferation of reports of unbecoming behaviour exhibited by some members of the ZRP who are soiling the image and reputation of our men and women in uniform. Already, the police are facing increasing hostility from members of the public due to a growing perception out there that they're the "enemy" but we contend that this is due to the conduct of a few rogue elements.The ZRP has a reputation for being one of the most efficient and disciplined forces on the African continent and this has even been acknowledged by the United Nations which continues to enlist its services in peace keeping missions in Africa and other hotspots in the world.Its client service charter says it is a people-oriented police service provider that seeks to maintain law and order towards the socio-economic development of the people. The ZRP also has a lofty vision of being the best police service provider by 2020. We support this vision and are proud of its record hence our plea to the police hierarchy to rein in errant cops who continue to make headlines for the wrong reasons.Corruption is a serious national problem but when it's perpetrated by the very same people who are supposed to enforce the country's laws and maintain law and order, then the war is lost even before it's begun. We acknowledge and welcome the decision by police commanders to reduce the number of roadblocks in the country following a fierce public outcry over their proliferation. This was a masterstroke move and one which resonated with the majority of people in Zimbabwe because the roadblocks had become a menace as they were being used by rogue cops to extort money from motorists.However, despite this brilliant decision, reports continue to filter through of police officers caught on the wrong side of the law. Recently, the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Obedingwa Mguni, literally took matters into his own hands when he apprehended black market fuel dealers who had passed through a number of roadblocks between Plumtree and Bulawayo with their contraband which was destined for sale in the city.The Deputy Minister was astounded that the smugglers, who buy the fuel in Botswana, had managed to pass through two roadblocks with about 2,000 litres of petrol without being arrested raising fears that they had bribed their way through the checkpoints. Chief Nyangazonke of Kezi in Matobo District also recently slammed some police officers in his area for allegedly drinking alcohol with locals while on duty saying their conduct is contributing to an increase in violent crimes in the area. The chief said some police officers were fuelling lawlessness and urged their superiors to investigate their conduct."We've incidents where the police are drinking beer with members of the public while they're on duty. This has resulted in the police being disrespected by the locals and in light of the stabbing incidents occurring in Kezi, it won't be long before we witness a fight between a police officer and a member of the public during these beer drinking sprees," said Chief Nyangazonke.On Monday, we reported a case where a police Assistant Inspector based in Gwanda allegedly chewed $200 he had demanded as a bribe when he was cornered by two police officers immediately after receiving the dirty money. Medicine Siketha (38), who is stationed at Gwanda Urban Police Station, allegedly demanded the bribe from a local businessman Mr Tamuka Zhou to facilitate the clearance of his vehicle which had been impounded by the police. Yesterday, we reported on a policeman from Masvingo who allegedly gave a hooker his uniform as surety after failing to pay her $20 for a night of sex and went on to make a false report of theft.There are numerous other reports of impropriety involving police officers and figures from the ZRP itself vindicate our concern that corruption has reached alarming levels within the force.At least 300 traffic police officers were sacked for corruption in 2014 after being found guilty among other breaches of the ZRP Charter of receiving bribes from motorists who had fallen foul of road regulations. Some of them are said to have mounted unapproved roadblocks to demand bribes from errant motorists. This has dented the image of the ZRP as a professional force with a zero tolerance to graft.The organisation needs to rededicate itself to its core values of commitment, accountability, transparency and integrity. It also needs to be ruthless in dealing with cases of indiscipline and malfeasance so that it reclaims its status as one of the best police services in Africa. Opinion / Columnist As I was writing this article, a veld fire was raging across a part of Trenance in Bulawayo, destroying whatever else in its path, grass, trees, and reptiles.It was unattended and would die down after it had devoured whatever it could.A kilometre or two from that roaring inferno, a herd of skinny cattle had crossed a road obviously pushed by hunger towards a patch of green vegetables on a neighbour's plot at the corner of Hydrangia and Jungle roads. One could count their ribs.They had ambled across a Bulawayo municipal commonage that was turned bare and black by another wild fire earlier.Such fires occur in Bulawayo's peri-urban areas with frightening frequency this time of the year.Other parts of Zimbabwe have a similar experience indeed but never do we ever hear that those who started the fires have been prosecuted.That apart, it is important to point out that the incidence of veld fires reflects the relevant community's attitude towards its land.That predisposition is learnt and is usually irrational.We have heard innumerable speeches by numerous local and national leaders about how vital land is to us all, and how we should exploit it for the sustenance of our lives.Our accommodation (houses, huts, tents, flats) are built on land, so are dams and wells from which we draw water. Trees from which we get timber, fruits and firewood grow on land.We produce a variety of foods on land and so do we get several types of wild medicinal herbs and honey, monga, mhotji, nyutjo (imbongolwane, ibhotshi, inyosi) and some types of wild honey insects build their hives in tree trunks, caves and crevices.Several species of domestic animals live on grass, trees and herbs which grow on land, so do all antelope species, elephants.Carnivorous animals live on animals, reptiles, birds that live on grass, trees or herbs and rabbits which, in turn, live on grass, tree-leaves, barks, roots or on tubers.Land is the source of some paint, so are some trees some types of which give us industrial fibre, edible and medicinal oils.Although we in Zimbabwe consume a reasonably large quantity of fish, most of it is imported from maritime countries such as Namibia. But some of our fish is from our own dams on our land.Birds live by and large on grain of grass in the wild.Destruction of that grass has a negative effect on the ecological system.For example, rodents and reptiles such as rats and snakes tend to seek safety and food in houses, factories and motor vehicles whenever the veld is burnt and cannot give them natural shelter and food.In those circumstances, they can spread dangerous diseases, with snakes being a cause of many deaths in the rural areas of Zimbabwe every year.The destruction of trees creates an environment in which carbon dioxide, a dangerous gas, increases, causing a higher incidence of diseases of the upper respiratory tract, and dermatological aliments. Land is the source of life for the entire human race as it is on it that it lives, and from it that it survives.Fire is, in effect, a destructive element that must be used with much care. It reduces an agriculturally productive region into a barren desert, and a formerly wet locality into an arid area.It destroys the earth's top cover, making it easy for the wind to blow it away, and for water to wash and carry the soil off. This means, in fact, that veld fires facilitate and accelerate soil erosion.That is one of the negative results of veld fires, another being the danger it poses to human life and to property such as people's homes, as was the case in Medeira, Portugal, two weeks ago.Many soil scientists and physical geographers believe that veld fires contribute to the world's desertification phenomenon.They base their conclusions on some Sahara Desert archaeological excavations that found remains of wood that was burnt some millions of years ago, proof that before turning into the world's largest desert, the Sahara was a forest.Soil conservationists tell us that veld fires contribute to the degeneration of the affected land.It is because of that they strongly criticise the "chitemene" agricultural system of the Bembas of Zambia.That system involves slashing and burning of areas to be tilled.An important fact we must all remember about land is that it is a natural gift, God-given, if you like, to us all that we must use with much care so that we leave it to posterity in as usable a condition as we found it.Veld fires cause virgin land to age overnight, resulting in very poor pastoral and crop agricultural yields.Some minerals such as mica and zinc get adversely affected by veld fires, especially if they repeatedly occur where the minerals are found.One soil science theory says that veld fires cause greater damage to soils with a high phosphorous component than those with less.The reason may be that phosphorous is very flammable, so that where it occurs veld fires will be stronger and will last longer.However, wherever they occur, veld fires are destructive, and those responsible for their occurrence must be arrested. Presently the Zimbabwe Republic Police does not appear or sound to consider veld fires a serious crime.If the police did, their personnel would investigate the causes and origins of every veld fire.They do not. Could it not help if the ministry responsible for the protection of Zimbabwe's environment closely liaise with the law enforcement agencies with the aim of establishing a section that deals with this national menace?That could most likely reduce the incidence of veld fires, and save the tress that the Minister (Oppah Machinguri) is wisely asking people to plant yearly.To Zimbabweans it is necessary to say that the duty to protect our motherland or fatherland is on our shoulders.Burning it is actually destroying it. Every parent, teacher, MP, councillor, chief, headman, and village head should educate those he or she leads about the importance of preserving our land.It is significant that various nations refer to their respective countries as either their fatherland or motherland.Land is indeed the most important of all parents because it is a national as compared to a family parent.l Saul Gwakuba Ndlovu is a retired, Bulawayo-based journalist. He can be contacted on cell 0734 328 136 or through email. sgwakuba@gmail.com 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. 14:55, 28 OCT 2022 French Police Are Forcing Muslim Women To Undress Under The Controversial 'Burkini Ban' There have been recent attacks on women's bodies in France. And earlier this week, armed French police approached a woman dressed in a headscarf, blue long-sleeved shirt, and leggings on the beach and issued her a fine for violating the controversial band on the burkini (swimsuit that covers the whole body). Startling images surfaced in Nice showing four police officers hovering over a woman, who was simply relaxing on the beach. The woman, after seeing the armed guards approaching, quickly took off her blue tunic to placate the police officers. She was issued on-the-spot fine, as discussed in the Guardian. ADVERTISEMENT This shocking incident happened alongside a report of a mother being fined for wearing a similar outfit in another town in France. I was sitting on a beach with my family, the young woman discussed in Guardian. I was wearing a classic headscarf. I had no intention of swimming. Her cousin most likely deeply saddened and humiliated said, The saddest thing was that people were shouting go home, some were applauding the police. Her daughter was crying. The woman's ticket claimed she was not wearing an outfit respecting good morals and secularism." As I tackle my own dismay over the incident, I uncover the irony that in our modern times, women are now being forced by armed officers to take off their clothes. Women have fought for centuries to wear revealing bathing suits and were criticized for not displaying "good morals." And now the situation has shifted with women struggling for the right to modesty. While the target of the laws has changed, the intent has not; women are being subjected to laws that control their outfits and bodies. Some officials have reasoned that bans on burqas and burkinis are designed to liberate women. The veil is seen as a tool of oppression, a byproduct on Islamic extremism, and limits women's mobility. Frank Henkel, the Interior Minister of the city of Berlin, claimed the full-face veil "does not fit in with our view of women." Similarly, the French Ambassador to the United States, Gerard Araud, has argued previously that burqas suggest that women are an "object of lust, a subject and not an agent of history," as discussed in CNN. The veil to an outsider may seem uncomfortable and oppressive, but how a woman dresses her body is a personal choice. Shereen El Feki, author of Sex and Citadel: Intimate Life in a Changing Arab World agrees. She told CNN,"I find it ironic that the argument that is often made against the hijab, 'Oh the poor women, we must liberate them', that assumption is quite oppressive. Because you're assuming that these women have not made a choice, that they're incapable of making a choice. ADVERTISEMENT Yet, the recent incidents forcing women to derobe are about much more than policing women's bodies. These clothing bans are deeply engrained in Islamophobia. Columnist Malik says laws against burqas "suggest that it is not out of concern for women, but out of a desire to shrink the space within which Muslims can dress, live and practice freely in Europe, " via CNN. These bans are an attack against religious freedom and only going to further exacerbate tensions in France. Sara Silvestri, a professor at City University London, is worried about the negative implications of these laws. "The effect of these laws is that Muslims feel marginalized and in turn, the feeling of being unwelcome impacts their ability and willingness to integrate into society, can cause withdrawal and lead to engagement with radical groups," she told CNN. What we are seeing happening in France is an identity crisis as France struggles to define what it means to be French in a changing world. These sorts of statements are a way to police what is French and what is not French, said Terrence G. Peterson, a professor at Florida International University, in the New York Times. And at the center of this identity crisis are easy targets: women's bodies. Photos courtesy Instagram: 786_flyest_, ashrafbal, feminist.rapunzel, riccardo.ico More from BUST Iranian Men wear Hijab in Solidarity with Women 4 Ways Islam Honors Women 5 Hijab Fashion Bloggers Who Are SLAYING On Instagram Patricia is a writer, activist, and aspiring journalist. She likes writing about politics, sexuality, and feminism. She is a bit of a wanderer and has lived in Morocco, Australia, and India. Recently moved to Brooklyn, she is currently learning to navigate NYC subways. The Real Upen Patel Behind The Curtains: His Relationships & Love Affairs Unfolded Upen Patel is a British-born model and actor in India and is a complete family person. The actor is a graduate in Media Studies from West Herts College in the United Kingdom. The hunk has lent glitter to the ramp for many famous designers but his personal favourite is Wendell Rodricks, of whom hes never bored of. To maintain his stunning physique Upen relies on free weights, cardiovascular exercises, swimming and trains every day. But when it comes to food the actor relishes biryani. Quick facts Name Upen Patel Birthday: 16 August, 1982 Hometown London, England Height 6 feet Weight 78 kg Marital status unmarried Education Graduate in media studies Upens Twitter bio says I Aspire To Inspire Before I Expire, which actually gels with his personality. Being the only man in the family, Upen put on a brave face and took responsibility of the family after his fathers death. The actor has the ability to deal with situations, be it family problems, personal relationship or acting in Tamil Cinema. Upen was the first male from Bollywood to be the Grand Marshal in the parade of Indias Independence Day at Los Angeles, U.S. In his spare time he likes to meet people, spend time with friends and of course watch movies. His Professional Path Upens career took off after he won Zee TVs supermodel hunt in 2002 and he instantly became a known name in the Indian fashion circuit. His modelling career began when a photographer in Britain spotted him and offered him his first break in the modelling field. He has been the face for brands like Hugo Boss, Paul Smith and Zegna and has also done modelling for Wendell Rodricks, Vikram Phadnis and Westside. Upi, as he is fondly called, made his foray into the Hindi film industry with the remix video Sun Sahiba Sun. In 2005, Upen also featured in DJ Suketus music video Kya Khoob Lagti Ho, which was one of the most costly videos done for a private album at that time. The video was directed and choreographed by Ahmed Khan and used many special effects. In over six years in Bollywood, the actor has done eight movies beginning from 2006. His repertoire of movies includes 36 China Town, Namastey London, Shakalaka Boom, One Two Three, Money Hai Toh Honey Hai, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, and Run Bhola Run in Hindi. Upen made his debut in Tamil cinema with a negative role, which was also his first, in the movie I a romantic thriller released in 2015. The movie directed by Shankar grossed Rs. 200-crore worldwide and got Upen good reviews as well. The actor feels that unlike in Bollywood, actors and directors in South cinema are quite humble. Not knowing the language did not prove to be an impediment as an instructor was provided to him. Further, Upi believes that cinema deals with emotions and stories; so not knowing the language was not a barrier for him. Upen also participated in reality television shows Big Boss (season 8) on Colors channel in 2014-15 and in the 7th edition of the dance program Nach Baliye on Star Plus channel in 2015. He has also hosted the MTV School show in 2016. In the initial years of his career, Upen hosted the cookery show Cook Na Kaho on Star One channel. Relationships Matter Upens family settled in London after migrating from Uganda in Africa where the family had stayed for 23 years. In 2011 grief struck him when his father passed away, which forced him to leave India and return with his family to earn a living in Mumbai. To support his family he not only worked for himself but also began a model management agency, the ICE Model Management, for his stepsister Erica. Upen started the venture in 2008 because he felt that models need to polish their skills and grow in their job and also to establish his stepsister. Upen is also very fond of his cousins. Upen Patel has been in a relationship with model and actor Karishma Tanna ever since he met her on the sets of reality show Bigg Boss 8 in 2014. Upen was evicted from the Bigg Boss house but the actor returned to the house to profess his love for Karishma by kissing her on the show. This created a sensation both inside and outside the Bigg Boss house. The duo reached the finals of the dance reality television series Nach Baliye 7 in 2015 but could not win the show. The program was produced by Ekta Kapoors Balaji Telefilms. Upen proposed to his ladylove Karishma while they were contesting in the Nach Baliye 7 show and got engaged in 2015. Together the couple hosted reality television program MTV Love School in 2016. The show helped lovelorn couples overcome the bad phase in their relationship and bond all over again. Upen Patel & Deepika Padukone Relationship: The World Didnt Know About According to the website daily.bhaskar.com Upen Patel also dated Deepika Padukone during their modelling period. Deepika also did an intimate photoshoot with Upen Patel for fashion designer Wendell Rodricks during their modelling days. The relationship ended after Deepika moved to Mumbai to pursue acting. A Bumpy Ride While Upen and Karishma assisted estranged couples to make their relationship work on MTV Love School, the two could not smoothen out their own differences. Signs of a rift in their two-year-old relationship were evident when Upen posted about their breakup on social network Twitter in May 2016. The twitter post read that Me and Karishma have both agreed to part ways. Thank you for all your love, A day after announcing their split Upen deleted the post and tweeted a new post that said that they were just going through some difficult times in their relationship. The new tweet said that All those who love us. We R not splitting up but just getting through our ups & downs like all relationships go through. Love conquers all. Karishma also indicated that all was not well in their relationship by posting on Twitter. The post on the actresss page read- When you find no solution to a problem, its probably not a problem to be solved. But, rather a truth to be accepted. Though Upen and Karishma did not give any reason for the rough times in their relationship, portal Spotboye.com claimed that Hero actor Sooraj Pancholi was behind the friction in their relationship. The website also reveals that Karishma was getting close to Sooraj Pancholi, the son of Aditya Pancholi and Zarina, which led to the souring of their bonding. Sooraj, however, denied his involvement in the couples life and called the news mere gossip. Recognition For Work Upen Patel received the IIFA Award and Zee Cine Award for Star Debut of the Year (male) in 2007 for the movie 36 China Town. The actor won the Model of the Year title for four consecutive years at the Asia Fashion Award. Upi also figured in the Eastern Eye Magazines list of top 10 sexiest men in Asia between 2008 and 2014. Apart from this he was also chosen as the most stylish male for two years in a row by MTV. Hospital shop takeover bid branded 'ridiculous' "It's not just about selling sweets" - that's the message from the company which operates the retail units at Noble's Hospital. Wessex Retail has branded the Department of Health and Social Care's decision to takeover the newsagent and gift shop in November "absolutely ridiculous". Since 2003 it says it's never received or signed a formal contract or lease despite paying its 'tendered rent' - the company was told it was unsuccessful in bidding for the tender in the last run. Managing director Adrian Christian says the rental price the department was requesting doesn't add up because the shops don't have the capacity to generate enough turnover: Media Adrian Christian 6.2 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Central Italy Trending News: Multiple Casualties Reported After Earthquake Strikes Italy Why Is This Important? Because half a town is gone. Long Story Short A 6.2 magnitude earthquake hit central Italy, including Rome. At least two people are dead and half a town is under rubble, according to the town's mayor. Long Story Rescue operations are underway after a 6.2 magnitude earthquake hit central Italy in the middle of the night local time. BREAKING: An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude estimated at 6.1 has rattled Rome and central Italy. The Associated Press (@AP) August 24, 2016 According to early reports, one of the town's hit hardest was Amatrice. The mayor of the town, Sergio Perozzi, told state-run RAI radio that Amatrice is decimated. "The roads in and out of town are cut off. Half the town is gone. There are people under the rubble... There's been a landslide and a bridge might collapse," he said, as quoted by BBC News. Mayor of Amatrice says 'the town isn't here anymore' after 6.2 magnitude earthquake in Italy https://t.co/fqlkSJJw8B pic.twitter.com/xOU4qaARvl Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) August 24, 2016 In total, at least two people have been confirmed dead in Pescara del Tronto in the province of Ascoli Piceno due to the earthquake and the aftershocks that followed, according to The New York Times. In addition, the mayor of nearby Accumoli said four people are trapped under the rubble with no signs of life, according to Reuters. The sites that faced the most damage were Accumoli, Amatrice, Posta and Arquata del Tronto and Cari, but the quake was felt all the way from Rome to Bologna. In the historic capital, damage was minimal, if at all, because the epicenter of the quake was 170km away. Still, rumbling was felt in Rome for 20 seconds, causing buildings to shakes, but no major damage. In the town of Ceselli, while not being one of the town's hit the hardest, a resident named Lina Mercantini told Reuters the quake "was so strong. It seemed the bed was walking across the room by itself with us on it." This story is breaking, so we'll keep you updated as best as we can. Update 8/24: The death toll is now up to 73, according to civil protection officials. Search and rescue crews are working overtime in hopes of finding and extracting survivors. Own The Conversation Ask The Big Question How many of these damaged buildings were hundreds of years old? Disrupt Your Feed Like Europe wasn't dealing with enough crap already. Drop This Fact This is the first major earthquake in Italy since 2009 when a 6.3 magnitude quake killed more than 300 people and left 65,000 homeless. American University Attack In Kabul, Afghanistan Trending News: The American University Of Afghanistan Is Under Attack Why Is This Important? Because things were supposed to be shored up there. Long Story Short News outlets are reporting an attack on an American University in Kabul city, Afghanistan. Afghan police say they're responding to reports that people are trapped inside. Long Story The American University of Afghanistan in Kabul city is under attack, according to reports. Who or what is responsible is not yet clear, but it appears that both explosives and guns are involved. Afghan police are responding and have described the attack as "complex." # Aftermath of the explosion in Darul Aman area of #Kabul city. pic.twitter.com/E2YJAGHMpY 1TVNewsAF (@1TVNewsAF) August 24, 2016 Despite the name, the AUA is not a university for American students. Rather, it's Afghanistan's first independent university, chartered in Delaware and launched (in part) with funds by USAID. Breaking News reports that the attack couldn't come at a worse time for the University, as it had just reopened weeks ago following the kidnapping of two professors. PT Police & Special forces on the place since few minutes ago. People always trapped inside acc.to reports. #Kabul https://t.co/yQYHdJX4I6 Marshall FR (@Chief_MarshallR) August 24, 2016 Fighting ongoing inside #American University in #Kabul within a building on the left side of main entrance. 5 dead. (((Eagle Eye))) (@cbinewton) August 24, 2016 Note the claim of 5 dead has not been verified by any reputable news sources. Police to our @ZahraYusufi at scene: car-bomb exploded in front of school for blind, which is next to American Uni. Attackers inside school. Mujib Mashal (@MujMash) August 24, 2016 "Several gunmen attacked the American University in Kabul and there are reports of gunfire and explosions," an official told Reuters. "They are inside the compound and there are foreign professors along with hundreds of students." One professor at AUF, Ahmad F. Samin, is among those trapped and appears to be live-tweeting the event. I was teaching the attack rocked me pray for me Ahmad F. Samin, PhD (@GraanAfghanista) August 24, 2016 Oh my Allah safe everyone Ahmad F. Samin, PhD (@GraanAfghanista) August 24, 2016 Don't kill me I'm very innocent #kabulattack Ahmad F. Samin, PhD (@GraanAfghanista) August 24, 2016 The status of the attackers remains unknown, including who they are. Some on twitter have speculated that the Taliban are responsible. While that may be a fair guess, it's yet to be confirmed. An update, per CBS: "Police spokesman Sediq Sediqqi told the AP police and intelligence agency personnel are at the campus, on the western outskirts of Kabul. He said police believe there is just one assailant." More ambulances are arriving at Emergency Hospital with wounded from the attack on American University of Afghanistan KAZEMI, Mustafa (@CombatJourno) August 24, 2016 More updates to follow... Own The Conversation Ask The Big Question Why would someone want to attack a school? Disrupt Your Feed Looks like we don't have things under control in Afghanistan after all. Drop This Fact As of October of last year, 2,254 servicemembers have died in the Afghan war. A powerful 6.2-magnitude earthquake hit Italy early Wednesday, killing at least 38 people and injuring dozens more. As tremor after tremor hit the region, whole towns were leveled and tens of thousands were displaced from their homes. The main 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck at 3:36 a.m. on Wednesday, with its epicenter located about 5.5 miles below ground and 10 miles from the Italian town of Norcia, a cozy spot in the country famous for its olive plantations and vineyards. Despite the earthquake's rather shallow depth, the damage from the main tremors was quite significant, with the tremors' effects reportedly felt as far as Rome, which is 100 miles away. What was particularly deadly about Wednesday's tremors were the aftershocks that succeeded the main 6.2-magnitude earthquake. According to authorities, roughly 40 aftershocks, some measuring as high as 5.5 in the Richter Scale, were felt in the region over a three-hour period after the initial earthquake. One of the hardest hit areas, Amatrice, has practically been leveled by the powerful earthquake and its aftershocks. Sergio Pirozzi, mayor of the town, described how the earthquake affected the town of 2,000 people. "The town is no more. Help us," he said. Accumoli, another town that was hit hard by the Wednesday tremors, quickly became a scene of desperation as rescuers attempted to dig out as many survivors as they can. Accumoli Mayor Stefano Petrucci described the current scenario in the town. "We're digging, digging, hoping to find someone alive," he said in an interview with CNN. Red Cross spokesman Tommaso della Longa described the current state of the rescue efforts being initiated in the region. "The biggest problem at the moment is logistic problems because it's in central Italy, with really small villages. Now the biggest challenge is to reach all of them," he said. "During the holidays there are a lot of people there. So we don't have a precise number of how many are affected. We can talk about tens of thousands, but we don't know the exact number." Villages such as Amatrice have become popular tourist destinations in the country. Thus, during summertime, the tiny towns become the hosts to thousands of visitors. The Atlanta Police Department has released a statement after former The Real co-host Tamar Braxton and her husband, Vince Herbert, reportedly got into a violent domestic dispute. Atlanta Journal Constitution obtained police records and it did confirm that someone called 911 from the Ritz Carlton where the couple was staying that night. Authorities received the call a little after 12:30 Monday morning. Upon responding to the call, it was learned that it was just a verbal dispute and nothing criminal had transpired, according to the records. The other party left the location prior to police arrival. The call was pulled in 12 meaning there was nothing to report. No incident report was generated for the incident. This is a much different account than the one a hotel employee reportedly gave Bossip. While they did say Braxton called police and Herbert left the scene before they arrived, the source also claimed that Herbert bit Braxton so badly that he drew blood, which is what led her to dialing 911. Other witnesses added that Braxtons finger was in extremely bad shape as she left the premises, and she very likely needed stitches to close up her wound. However, Tamar refused EMS services when they were offered. Incidents like this are said to be recurring for the superstar couple. Word is they always have physical fights and post videos on Instagram together once their altercations are revealed. Rumors have also swirled that both Herbert and Braxton are guilty of cheating in their marriage. Word is Braxtons firing from The Real as well as Epics reported decision to drop her as an artists caused Braxton to hire Steve Harveys manager, Rushion McDonald, and cut business ties with her husband. The Official Xbox Onesie Is Now Available In Australia Trending News: Xbox Created A Onesie So You Never Have To Change Clothes All Day Why Is This Important? Because now you never need to change your clothes all day. Long Story Short Microsoft has officially designed an Xbox Onesie, equipped with special pockets for your controller, smartphone and TV remotes. Long Story Housecoats, Pjs and robes you've met your match. Microsoft has revealed the onesie of all onesies. You might never wear another piece of clothing again (but for the sake of humanity, please do). The Xbox Onesie, revealed in a press release straight from Microsoft HQ, is pretty much the perfect article of clothing to lounge in while you're gaming. It's cozy and warm with an extra large hood, but it's also got rollable arms and legs for when you're killing everything that moves in Call of Duty and you're getting a little toasty. It's got big pockets for your controller and media remote so when you get up to make a sandwich, you won't accidentally put the controllers down and forget them (am I the only one who has done that more than once?). Another convenient pocket on the sleeve gives quick access to your smartphone, so you can respond to that text and get right back into the action without skipping a kill. My personal favorite feature: forearm pads for those "edge of your seat" moments. Dress shirts really need to add these for those long hours at the desk. The Xbox Onesie comes in both black and white so you never need to go without one while the other is in the wash cause you dropped pepperoni on it and you can customize it with your very own gamertag. When you get that Xbox Onesie https://t.co/2rq4wrXZyH pic.twitter.com/1WX9se4woU Tom Warren (@tomwarren) August 23, 2016 Honestly, the most troubling thing about the Xbox Onesie: Cmon lady, I just bought that couch. Have some decency. pic.twitter.com/963Ei9Txj9 Edmond Tran (@EdmondTran) August 23, 2016 There's just one problem: it's only available in Australia for now. Come on Aussies, time to get buying and selling on eBay. Until then, we'll just have to shiver and wait in our lucky plaid pajama pants. Own The Conversation Ask The Big Question Is this going to be the big Christmas door crasher Disrupt Your Feed The obvious problem with the #xboxonesie is if Sony retaliates. Logic suggests that'd be called the PS4... skin... #IllGetMyCoat Alex Kidman (@alexkidman) August 23, 2016 Drop This Fact Play PlayStation and not xBox? An unofficial Sony onesie exists and you should totally buy it. PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 24, 2016 -- Indoor air pollution is an important environmental threat to human health, leading to symptoms of "sick building syndrome." But researchers report that surrounding oneself with certain house plants could combat the potentially harmful effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a main category of these pollutants. Interestingly, they found that certain plants are better at removing particular harmful compounds from the air, suggesting that, with the right plant, indoor air could become cleaner and safer. The researchers are presenting their work today at the 252nd National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS). ACS, the world's largest scientific society, is holding the meeting here through Thursday. It features more than 9,000 presentations on a wide range of science topics. A brand-new animation on the research is available at http://bit.ly/ACSindoorairpollution. "Buildings, whether new or old, can have high levels of VOCs in them, sometimes so high that you can smell them," says Vadoud Niri, Ph.D., leader of the study. VOCs are compounds like acetone, benzene and formaldehyde that are emitted as gases and can cause short- and long-term health effects when inhaled. They can come from paints, furniture, copiers and printers, cleaning supplies and even dry-cleaned clothes. "Inhaling large amounts of VOCs can lead some people to develop sick building syndrome, which reduces productivity and can even cause dizziness, asthma or allergies," Niri says. "We must do something about VOCs in indoor air." The most common solution is to install ventilation systems that cycle in air from outside. There are also methods that can remove these compounds, using adsorption, condensation and chemical reactions. However, Niri is studying a cheap, simple tool to remove VOCs: house plants. Using plants to remove chemicals from indoor air is called biofiltration or phytoremediation. In addition to carbon dioxide, plants can take up gases such as benzene, toluene and other VOCs. NASA began studying this option in 1984 and found that plants could absorb these airborne compounds via their leaves and roots. Since then, other studies have looked at how plants phytoremediate specific compounds, such as the carcinogen formaldehyde, in a closed space. Most of these studies focused on the removal of single VOCs by individual plants from the ambient air. However, Niri wanted to compare the efficiency and the rate of simultaneous removal of several VOCs by various plants. To test this, Niri, who is at the State University of New York at Oswego (SUNY Oswego), and his team built a sealed chamber containing specific concentrations of several VOCs. They then monitored the VOC concentrations over several hours with and without a different type of plant in the chamber. For each plant type, they noted which VOCs the plants took up, how quickly they removed these VOCs from the air, and how much of the VOCs were ultimately removed by the end of the experiment. The researchers tested five common house plants and eight common VOCs, and they found that certain plants were better at absorbing specific compounds. For example, all five plants could remove acetone -- the pungent chemical that is abundant at nail salons -- from the air, but the dracaena plant took up the most, around 94 percent of the chemical. "Based on our results, we can recommend what plants are good for certain types of VOCs and for specific locations," Niri says. "To illustrate, the bromeliad plant was very good at removing six out of eight studied VOCs -- it was able to take up more than 80 percent of each of those compounds -- over the twelve-hour sampling period. So it could be a good plant to have sitting around in the household or workplace." Niri says the next step in the research is to test these plants' abilities in a real room, not just a sealed chamber. He would eventually like to put plants in a nail salon over the course of several months to see whether they can reduce the levels of acetone that workers are exposed to. A press conference on this topic will be held Wednesday, Aug. 24, at 10:30 a.m. Eastern time in the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Reporters may check in at Room 307 in person, or watch live on YouTube http://bit.ly/ACSlivephiladelphia. To ask questions online, sign in with a Google account. ### He acknowledges funding from SUNY Oswego's Scholarly and Creative Activity Grants. The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With nearly 157,000 members, ACS is the world's largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio. To automatically receive news releases from the American Chemical Society, contact newsroom@acs.org. Note to journalists: Please report that this research is being presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society. Follow us: Twitter | Facebook Title Monitoring volatile organic compound removal by common indoor plants using solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry Abstract Air pollution is one of the most important environmental threats to the health of the residents of all communities and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are among important air pollutants. These compounds are ubiquitous in the natural and industrialized world but are found in the highest concentrations in indoor environments. Some of the chemicals belonging to this group are benign to human health, or even necessary for normal physiological function, however a substantial proportion of VOCs are detrimental to human health with effects ranging from dizziness and nausea to central nervous system damage, various forms of cancer, and even death. Because of the serious nature of VOCs as a health hazard, many remediation techniques are being developed. Phytoremediation, the use of plants to mitigate environmental pollution, offers one of the most practical solutions in terms of cost and efficacy. Using solid phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), this project aimed to monitor the removal of volatile organic compounds (VOC's) by common indoor plants. Five common plants were selected for this study including Crassula argentea (Jade Plant), Chlorophytum comosum (Spider Plant), Guzmania lingulata (Bromeliad), Consolea falcata (Caribbean Tree Cactus), and Dracaena fragrans (Dracaena). Three treatment conditions were applied to each plant to isolate active VOC uptake mechanisms; covering the base of the plant in foil, no foil, and the use of a light. Of the five plants; Guzmania lingulata showed the greatest overall VOC uptake in light treatment conditions with more than 80% removal of six of the eight target VOC compounds over a twelve-hour sampling period. All tested plants showed less than 50% removal of dichloromethane or trichloromethane over the twelve-hour sampling period. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has officially designated Cardiff University's School of Healthcare Sciences a collaborating centre for midwifery development, placing the university at the forefront of advancement in this vital area of healthcare. The centre will be the only midwifery collaborating centre in the WHO European region and one of only two collaborating centres in the world which solely focuses on midwifery. Professor Billie Hunter from Cardiff University's School of Healthcare Sciences has been appointed Director of the new collaborating centre. Professor Hunter said: "I'm delighted to be appointed Director of the new WHO Collaborating Centre for Midwifery Development, it's a great honour and privilege, both personally and for Cardiff University. "I'm very excited about future opportunities to work with the midwifery team at Cardiff University and our international colleagues to contribute to the important work of WHO." Galina Perfilieva, Programme Manager for Human Resources for Health at WHO/Europe added: "We are delighted to welcome the School of Healthcare Sciences at Cardiff to the European and global networks of WHO collaborating centres for nursing and midwifery. "Over the years, Cardiff University has made significant contributions to the field of midwifery, and the designation as a collaborating centre is recognition of its efforts. "As a WHO collaborating centre, the School of Healthcare Sciences will generate evidence and good practices in the field of midwifery education and practice, and provide technical advice to WHO Member States." Midwifery has been identified by WHO in numerous policies as the key to improving maternal and infant health globally. It's estimated that 18m more midwives and nurses will be needed globally, especially in low-income countries, to ensure effective provision for the world's population by 2030. The new collaborating centre has expertise in a wide range of midwifery education and a work plan has been developed which will help support WHO wider policies. The key areas of focus include: helping WHO to map midwifery education across Europe, in order to monitor progress developing an evidence-based resource for countries wanting to develop a midwifery programme providing expert advice to countries about midwifery education and curriculum development (for example, in November 2015 the School of Healthcare Sciences visited Uzbekistan at the request of the Uzbek government) Speaking of the importance of the collaboration, Professor Hunter said: "Every year over 300,000 women die because of pregnancy related conditions, and 90% of these deaths are preventable. We know that quality midwifery can avert more than 4 in 5 maternal deaths, but in many countries midwives are not well trained or supported in practice. "In the Collaborating Centre, we will support WHO to strengthen midwifery education and practice across the 53 member states of the WHO European region, in order to improve the quality of care for mothers and babies." WHO works alongside various governments and other partners to safeguard the highest attainable level of health for all people. It has been active for nearly 70 years following its formation in 1948 and today has offices in over 150 countries. The University joins over 700 collaborating centres in 80 countries supporting WHO programmes. ### Research from Concordia and the University of Ottawa shows the impact of student bullying and depression on classroom engagement Montreal, August 24, 2016 -- Parents across North America are prepping their teens to head back to high school, hoping they will study hard to get straight A's. But new research shows that good grades aren't just based on smarts -- high marks also depend on a student's feelings of safety. The recent study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health by Carolyn Cote-Lussier of the University of Ottawa's Department of Criminology and Caroline Fitzpatrick, a researcher affiliated with Concordia's PERFORM Centre for preventive health, suggests that high schoolers who feel less safe at school have decreased learning potential and more emotional problems. The researchers used data from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development -- an ongoing study that began in 1998 with a cohort of 2,120 five-month-old infants -- to investigate whether feeling unsafe at school interferes with classroom engagement. They also considered whether this association is expressed through reduced student well-being, including symptoms of depression and aggressive behaviour. The outcome? Confirmation that being a victim of school violence and feeling unsafe both contribute to symptoms of depression, which are detrimental to students' learning potential. "We found that students who felt safer were more attentive and efficient in the classroom. These students also reported fewer symptoms of depression, such as feeling unhappy and having difficulty enjoying themselves. Making sure that students are engaged and attentive in the classroom can contribute to long-term success above and beyond intellectual capacities such as reading or math skills," says Fitzpatrick who is also a professor of psychology at Sainte-Anne's University. However, factors typically linked to feeling unsafe, such as bullying or school violence, only partly explain why students feel less secure. "We know from some of our previous research that youth who experience chronic poverty and those living in 'bad' neighbourhoods also tend to feel less safe at school," says Cote-Lussier. "We think that this might be the case because teenagers who live in disorderly, disadvantaged neighbourhoods 'carry' their fears to school every day. The features of the physical environments in which schools are located are also really important. For example, green spaces and well-maintained buildings are likely to make youth feel more at ease," she says. While dropout rates in the United States and Canada have declined since the early 1990s, the countries' current graduation rates of 76 per cent and 79 per cent respectively suggest that more complex solutions are needed. Fitzpatrick and Cote-Lussier recommend that in order to increase feelings of safety and to promote classroom engagement, concrete steps must be taken. "We need increased monitoring of students' reactions and responses to incidences of bullying and violence. Through continued professional education, we can also increase teachers' awareness of the importance of feelings of safety -- as well as their understanding of how the wider school climate can improve engagement, says Fitzpatrick. "Finally, parents, schools and communities can become advocates for wider environmental interventions that aim to improve the physical features of school and student neighbourhoods." ### Related links: Concordia's PERFORM Centre University of Ottawa's Department of Criminology Universite Sainte-Anne Media contact: Clea Desjardins Senior advisor, media relations University Communications Services Concordia University Phone: 514-848-2424, ext. 5068 Email: clea.desjardins@concordia.ca Web: http://www.concordia.ca/now/media-relations Twitter: @CleaDesjardins Bacteria that cause tuberculosis, leprosy and other diseases, survive by switching between two different types of metabolism. EPFL scientists have now discovered that this switch is controlled by a mechanism that constantly adapts to meet the bacterium's survival needs, like a home's thermostat reacting to changes in temperature. Mycobacteria are a category of pathogenic bacteria that causes tuberculosis, leprosy, and various infections that harm people with compromised immune systems, e.g. AIDS patients. When in the human body, mycobacteria produce energy by metabolizing fats through a "cycle" of biochemical reactions. Along the way, the cycle also produces a molecule that the bacterium can take away to use elsewhere, thus stopping the energy-producing cycle. EPFL scientists have now found that mycobacteria can switch between these two routes by using a "volume control" mechanism that improves their survival. The findings, published in Nature Communications, could prove critical for developing new treatments. The molecule in question is called isocitrate, which, once produced, can go in two directions: continue the energy production cycle or be taken away to synthesize other parts of the bacterium. But if isocitrate goes the biosynthesis route, it must be replenished or else the energy-producing cycle will stop. Devastating though it sounds, this does present an excellent target for killing off an infecting mycobacterium. The key to controlling which route isocitrate will take seems to lie in the enzymes surrounding all these reactions: the enzyme isocitrate dehydrogenase keeps it for the fat-metabolism and energy production cycle; the enzymes isocitrate lyase and malate synthase divert it away into biosynthetic processes in the bacterium. This motivated the lab of John McKinney at EPFL, in collaboration with the lab of Uwe Sauer at ETH Zurich, to look at how mycobacteria activate or inactivate the genes of these enzymes. The researchers used a genetic technique called "gene deletion", which involves removing a specific gene in a bacterial strain and observing the consequences. Using this method, they produced various strains of mycobacteria without the genes that code for the enzymes of interest. The results showed that the mycobacterium decides where to direct isocitrate by using a mechanism that is not like a simple on-off switch. Instead, lead author Paul Murima (EPFL) describes it as a thermostat that controls a home's heating system in response to temperature fluctuations: "If the temperature becomes too high, a thermostat cools the house down; if it gets too low it heats it up. Similarly, the mechanism that controls how isocitrate is used responds to negative feedback, and so it dampens 'noise' to maintain optimal levels." The mechanism is appropriately adaptable and flexible, quickly responding to the dynamic environments in which the bacterium can find itself. Interestingly, the mechanism is also different from that used by gut bacteria. This means that if it becomes a target of future treatments, it should not affect the patient's microbiome, which increasing evidence shows to be intimately linked to the healthy function of the immune system. ### This study involved a collaboration between EPFL's Global Health Institute and Protein Crystallography Platform, with ETH Zurich, the National University of Singapore, and Nanyang Technological University. It was funded by the European Commission Framework Programme 7 (SysteMTb) and the Swiss National Science Foundation. Reference Murima P, Zimmermann M, Chopra T, Pojer F, Fonti G, Dal Peraro M, Alonso S, Sauer U, Pethe K, McKinney JD. A rheostat mechanism governs the bifurcation of carbon flux in mycobacteria. Nature Communications Aug. 24, 2016. DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12527 24 August 2016/Kiel. Increasing ocean acidification could double the mortality of newly-hatched cod larvae. This would put populations of this economically important fish species more and more under pressure if exploitation remains unchanged. For the first time ever, members of the German research network BIOACID have quantified mortality rates of cod in the western Baltic Sea and the Barents Sea under more acidified conditions which the fish may experience towards the end of the century. They integrated their results of two several-weeks long experiments in model calculations on stock dynamics. The various model scenarios showed that the recruitment could decrease to levels of one quarter to one twelfth of the recruitment of the last decades - a strong call for action for fisheries management. As one of the most important commercial species in the North Atlantic, Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) has been under intense fishing pressure for decades, causing stocks to shrink or crash. In the online journal PLOS ONE, an international team of marine researchers draws attention to another important stressor triggered by climate change: ocean acidification. When additional carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from the atmosphere dissolves in the ocean, the water gets more acidified - with negative consequences for the behaviour, growth and development of fish larvae. In two independent experiments, scientists found that the mortality of cod larvae in the critical phase between hatching and the development of the gills was twice as high at elevated carbon dioxide concentrations than at current conditions. The experiments were conducted in Sweden and Norway as part of the German research network BIOACID (Biological Impacts of Ocean Acidification) and the EU BONUS project BIO-C3 (Biodiversity Changes - Causes, Consequences and Management Implications"). For the first experiment, fertilized eggs and larvae of cod caught in the Oresund were kept in the lab of the Sven Loven Centre at the University of Gothenburg (Sweden) for six weeks. Some were held in seawater at ambient carbon dioxide concentrations, others were exposed to CO 2 -conditions that are projected to occur by 2100. Temperature, light and food densities remained at natural conditions. The second experiment was conducted with cod offspring from the Barents Sea in the Centre for Marine Aquaculture Troms, NOFIMA (Norway). "Even though the experiments were conducted in two consecutive years at different research stations under different conditions in relation for example to food or tank sizes and with two different stocks, their results are surprisingly similar", explains first author Martina Stiasny, PhD student in the research unit Evolutionary Ecology of Marine Fishes at GEOMAR and in the unit for Environmental, Resource and Ecological Economics at Kiel University. "The daily mortality rate for cod from the Oresund under current conditions was nine per cent compared to 20 per cent under increased CO 2 concentrations. For the Barents Sea stock, we found mortality rates of seven and 13 per cent respectively." The scientists integrated these increased mortality rates into model calculations, which were based on the stock data of the International Council of the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), to calculate the number of cod that will enter the fished population. According to the scenarios, ocean acidification could potentially decrease recruitment to levels one quarter to one twelfth of today's numbers. "Our results show for the first time, how ocean acidification can add up to the fishing pressure on stocks of a commercially important fish species", Dr. Catriona Clemmesen, head of the GEOMAR working group Larval Fish Ecology, points out. "The repercussions of the anthropogenic climate change need to be included into stock projections and considered in the management of fish stocks. Only this will enable us to define realistic limits for fishing pressure and to avoid overfishing and depletion of fish stocks". To retain the stocks, fisheries ought to adjust to climate change, advises first author Martina Stiasny. "Ocean acidification cannot be completely avoided anymore. But the bigger the stocks are and the more responsibly and sustainably fishing activities are, the bigger the recruitment will remain. This will in the long run not only allow for larger fisheries, but also helps stocks to better adapt to climate change and other anthropogenic influences." ### Original publication: Stiasny, M.H., Mittermayer, F.H., Sswat, M., Voss, R., Jutfelt, F., Chierici, M., Puvanendran, V., Mortensen, A., Reusch, T.B.H., Clemmesen, C.: PLOS ONE 2016: Ocean Acidification Effects on Atlantic Cod Larval Survival and Recruitment to the Fished Population, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0155448 Links: GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel Environmental, Resource and Ecological Economics at Kiel University Biological Impacts of Ocean Acidification Biodiversity Changes - Causes, Consequences and Management Implications Sven Loven Centre at the University of Gothenburg Centre for Marine Aquaculture Troms, NOFIMA BIOACID in brief: Under the umbrella of BIOACID (Biological Impacts of Ocean Acidification), 10 institutions examine how marine ecosystems react to ocean acidification, how this affects the food web and the exchange of material and energy in the ocean and how the changes influence the socio-economic sector. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and coordinated by GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel. A list of member institutions and further information can be found at http://www.bioacid.de. BIO-C3 in brief: 13 partner institutes from eight European countries cooperate in the BIO-C3 project (Biodiversity Changes - Causes, Consequences and Management Implications) to address the importance of marine biodiversity and how it might be threatened in the Baltic by climate change. The project that runs from January 2014 to July 2017, is funded by the European Union as part of the BONUS - Science for a Better Future of the Baltic Sea Region - programme and the German Ministry of Education and Research with a total of 4 million Euros. It is coordinated at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany, assisted by DTU Aqua, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark. Further information: http://www.bio-c3.eu Images: Images are available for download at http://www.geomar.de/n4674-e. Video footage on request. The Caribbean islands form a natural laboratory for the study of evolution due to their unique biological and geological features. There has been heated discussion since the early 20th century on how species appeared on the islands. The Cuban solenodon is a small, rare, endangered animal, belonging to the mammalian order Eulipotyphla. It is a mole-like nocturnal animal with a long snout that feeds on insects and is found in only a few fragmented locations in Cuba. Its evolutionary origins have been widely contested and have remained relatively elusive because they have been so difficult to capture and examine. In 2012, a team of researchers successfully captured seven living Cuban solenodons and collected DNA samples before releasing them. They analysed five specific protein-coding genes and compared them to the same genes in another 35 species belonging to the same order. While another research group had suggested that solenodons lived with dinosaurs in the Cretaceous period, this team found that the solenodon family evolved from its ancestor around 59 million years ago, long after the dinosaur extinction. The team's analysis also revealed that the Cuban solenodon and the Hispaniolan solenodon (the other existing solenodon species) diverged from each other in the Early Pliocene Epoch (3.7 to 4.8 million years ago), while the previous study set the divergence at 25 million years ago. Hispaniola is the second largest island in the Caribbean and is currently home to the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The team now suggests that a much-later divergence time in addition to information on ocean-current patterns in the area indicate that the Cuban solenodon travelled over water (on floating plants or rafts, for example) to Cuba from Hispaniola, rather than evolutionarily diverging from them due to the much-earlier geological separation of the islands. Together with results from other studies, the researchers believe that smaller invertebrates and some vertebrates (like butterflies and toads respectively) originated in the Caribbean islands via a land bridge between them and South America some 34 million years ago. On the other hand, many of the larger vertebrates, who would have been more capable of surviving the high-risk passage, may have originated in the islands via over-water travel. The team's research is published in the August 8 edition of the journal Scientific Reports. ### SEATTLE - Improved health conditions and life expectancy over the past 20 years in the Eastern Mediterranean Region are being subverted by wars and civil unrest, according to a new scientific study. Conflicts have destroyed infrastructures in several nations, and with inadequate water and sanitation systems in some countries, there is "an immediate need" to ensure outbreaks and illnesses are properly controlled. Moreover, many physicians and health professionals are fleeing their home countries in search of stability and safety, taking their talent and expertise needed to help rebuild inadequate health systems. The study points to a critical need to address these issues so that people affected receive adequate health and medical services, and that infrastructures are rebuilt to prevent disease-spreading conditions. "The Eastern Mediterranean Region needs attention in this critical health phase," said IHME Director for Middle Eastern Initiatives Dr. Ali Mokdad. "In the past decade the region has experienced improved health and life expectancy, but recent distress in the region will result in deteriorating health conditions in these countries for many years to come." Uprisings in Syria, Yemen, Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia caused a drop in life expectancy from 2010 onward. Specifically, in Syria life expectancy would have been six years higher without the war. Moreover, Syria saw an increase in infant and maternal mortality, the only country in the region to see this trend. In addition, conflicts in the region have displaced millions of people. Outbreaks of infectious diseases in camps with poor sanitation and lack of immunization services burden the health of refugees and pose major obstacles to public health efforts, Dr. Mokdad said. Frequent attacks on vaccination teams have greatly slowed immunization campaigns, and polio has again become a major concern, especially in refugee camps, at a time when the region was close to eradicating it. The study examines 22 nations in Central Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa between 1990 and 2013. It is based on findings from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) coordinated by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington in Seattle. With more than 1,700 collaborators in 124 countries, the GBD is the largest and most comprehensive effort measuring epidemiological levels and trends worldwide. The paper, published today in The Lancet Global Health, also finds that chronic diseases, such as ischemic heart disease and diabetes, cause a greater burden to health in the region overall than communicable diseases like diarrheal diseases and tuberculosis. Years of good health lost to communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional disorders dropped from 109 million to 73 million from 1990 to 2013. This is consistent with a similar global shift. Childhood wasting was cited as the leading health risk in low-income countries, such as Somalia, Afghanistan, and Yemen. In the region's high- and middle-income countries, non-communicable diseases were the leading factors. Overall life expectancy increased from 65 years in 1990 to 71 years in 2013, a sign of general progress in the region. Qatar revealed the highest life expectancy at 81 years for men and 83 years for women, but not all countries showed such promising results, especially in areas riven by conflict. The study also notes annual mass pilgrimages by Muslims to Saudi Arabia and Iraq as sources of outbreaks. This year, Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, begins September 9, bringing with it opportunity for outbreaks due to the number of travelers. Moreover, the region has seen new emerging infectious diseases such as the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, in which patients develop severe acute respiratory illness. Across the region, mental health and drug use disorders have increased significantly since 1990 and have taken a greater toll. In 2013, they caused 7.3% of premature death and illness, nearly doubling from 3.9% in 1990. Unfortunately, this rise has not been met with investment in prevention by most countries; it is largely overlooked by domestic health ministries, international agencies, and insurance systems, Dr. Mokdad said. "The rise of non-communicable diseases and challenges like mental health and drug use disorders requires new approaches, skills, and prevention efforts," he said. "Nations must invest in health infrastructure and information systems now to stave off even worse health conditions in the future. These investments would impact not only the region but the rest of the world." Finally, traffic injuries represent a "worrisome trend," and in high-income countries they are the leading cause of years lost or lived with disabilities. "This bears grave economic implications, as men in this part of the world tend to be the primary breadwinners of the family," the report states. In lower-income countries, where such injuries also pose serious problems, families often are impoverished from the loss of household income. The report, "Health in times of uncertainty: Burden of diseases, injuries, and risk factors in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 1990-2013," also notes environmental challenges in the region. Climate change has resulted in increased temperatures, and a major portion of the area is projected to be uninhabitable in the future. In addition, water shortages are a major threat to health and security in many Eastern Mediterranean countries. The study examines Afghanistan, Arab Republic of Egypt, Bahrain, Djibouti, Iraq, Islamic Republic of Iran, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Republic of Yemen, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates. ### Media contacts: Kayla Albrecht, MPH, +1-206-897-3792 (office); +1-203-335-2669 (cell); albrek7@uw.edu Dean R. Owen, +1 -206-897-2858 (office); +1-206-434-5630 (cell); dean1227@uw.edu Established in 2007, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) is an independent global health research center at the University of Washington in Seattle that provides rigorous and comparable measurement of the world's most important health problems and evaluates strategies to address them. IHME makes this information available so that policymakers, donors, practitioners, researchers, and local and global decision-makers have the evidence they need to make informed decisions about how to allocate resources to best improve population health. For more information, visit http://www.healthdata.org. A James Cook University scientist says a new map of the ecological footprint of humankind shows 97 per cent of the most species-rich places on Earth have been seriously altered. JCU's Professor Bill Laurance has taken part in a study to map the ecological effect of people on the planet. He said the news isn't great. "The most species-rich parts of the planet--especially including the tropical rainforests--have been hit hardest. In total, around 97 per cent of Earth's biologically richest real estate has been seriously altered by humans," he said. The scientists found environmental pressures are widespread, with only a few very remote areas escaping damage. "Humans are the most voracious consumers planet Earth has ever seen. With our land-use, hunting and other exploitative activities, we are now directly impacting three-quarters of the Earth's land surface," said Professor Laurance. Researchers combined data garnered from unprecedented advances in remote sensing with information collected via surveys on the ground. They compared data from the first survey in 1993 to the last available information set from 2009. Professor Laurance said that 71 per cent of global ecoregions saw a marked increase in their human footprints. But he said the news was not all bad. "While the global human footprint expanded by nine per cent from 1993 to 2009, it didn't increase as fast as the human population--which rose by a quarter--or economic growth--which exploded by over 150 percent--during the same period." Professor Laurance said wealthy nations and those with strong control of corruption showed some signs of improvement. "In broad terms, industrial nations and those with lower corruption appear to be doing a better job of slowing the expansion of their human footprint than poorer countries with weak governance. But the wealthy countries have a much higher per-capita footprint, so each person there is consuming a lot more than those in poorer nations." Professor Laurance said the suitability of lands for agriculture appears to be a major determinant in where ecological pressures appeared around the globe. "The bottom line is that we need to slow rampant population growth, especially in Africa and parts of Asia, and demand that people in wealthy nations consume less," he said. The updated and temporally intercomparable global terrestrial human footprint maps and the data behind have been published in Nature Communications and Nature Scientific Data. Oscar Venter at the University of Northern British Colombia led this effort with support from the Wildlife Conservation Society, James Cook University, CIESEN at Colombia University and the Green Fire Science lab at the University of Queensland. ### Cancer researchers have long observed the value of treating patients with combinations of anti-cancer drugs that work better than single drug treatments. Now, in a new study using laboratory-grown cells and mice, Johns Hopkins scientists report that a method they used to track metabolic pathways heavily favored by cancer cells provides scientific evidence for combining anti-cancer drugs, including one in a nanoparticle format developed at Johns Hopkins, that specifically target those pathways. "We have to hit cancer cells from more than one angle, and that's made it important to learn how to combine drugs that hit the right combination of pathways," says Anne Le, M.D., H.D.R., assistant professor of pathology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and member of the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. Le says that the study of so-called metabolomics to track biochemical reactions in cancer and other cells should help scientists decide how best to combine drugs. A report of the scientists' work will appear online the week of Aug. 22 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. For the study, Le and her collaborators at Johns Hopkins, including Barbara Slusher, Ph.D., an expert in drug discovery, and Justin Hanes, Ph.D., a nanomedicine expert, started with an experimental drug called BPTES and injected it in mice with implanted human pancreatic tumors. BPTES has been used in animal models for a variety of cancers but has not substantially reduced tumor sizes, probably because the drug concentration in tumor tissue is not high enough when using conventional drug formulation methods, say the scientists. With this in mind, scientists from the Center for Nanomedicine at Johns Hopkins, led by Hanes, encapsulated the BPTES in a nanoparticle capsule coated in polyethylene glycol, a molecule used widely in medicines and industrial products, using a method they developed to provide a more uniform coating. The nanoparticle, according to the scientists, helps the drug slip through capillaries near cancer cells and remain within the tumor longer than it would otherwise. After 16 days, eight mice treated with encapsulated BPTES had tumors half the size of another eight mice treated with nanoparticles containing no drug. BPTES not encased in the nanoparticle delivery system had little effect on tumor size in 12 human tumor-bearing mice. "This shows that the nanoparticle-encapsulated drug is more effective in tumor reduction than the drug alone in these animal models," says Le. But their overriding interest in BPTES, says Slusher, was in how it works: by blocking the production of glutamine, an amino acid that acts as a building block of cells and is used frequently by pancreatic cancers to create more cancer cells. When the Johns Hopkins scientists saw that their nanoparticle-encapsulated version of BPTES shrunk mice tumors by half, Le and her colleagues searched for what major metabolic pathway was driving the growth of the remaining half of the tumor. To find it, the scientists injected the eight tumor-bearing mice with high levels of labeled glutamine and glucose, another metabolic compound commonly linked to the growth of pancreatic cancer cells. They then traced the compounds' biochemical breakdown through the mice and found that the remaining tumor cells had high amounts of lactate, an end product of the glucose pathway. With this information, the scientists tested the glucose-blocking anti-diabetes drug metformin, combined with the nanoparticle-encapsulated BPTES, on another eight mice implanted with human pancreatic tumors. The drug combination shrunk tumors by at least 50 percent more than those treated with either drug alone. Researchers elsewhere have been testing metformin in pancreatic cancer patients with little success, says Le, despite indications that it's a good candidate to treat glucose-dependent tumors. "But it appears the key may be to combine it with other drugs to shut off multiple key pathways in those tumors," she adds. The scientists have filed a patent for the technology associated with nanoparticle-encapsulated BPTES. The drug's chemical name is bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1,2.4-thiadiazol-2yl)ethyl sulfide. ### Funding for the research was provided by the National Institutes of Health (CA193895, CA169757, DA032470, MH075673, TR001079). It's estimated that more than 53,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2016. Survival rates are low, with more than 41,000 expected to die of the disease each year. Additional scientists who contributed to the study include Amira Elgogary, Qingguo Xu, Brad Poore, Jesse Alt, Sarah Zimmermann, Liang Zhao, Jie Fu, Baiwei Chen, Shiyu Xia, Yanfei Liu, Marc Neisser, Christopher Nguyen, Ramon Lee, Joshua Park, Juvenal Reyes, Thomas Hartung, Camillo Rojas, Rana Rais, Takashi Tsukamoto, and Gregg Semenza from Johns Hopkins. On the Web: The Center for Nanomedicine at Johns Hopkins: http://cnm-hopkins.org/ Dr. Anne Le's Cancer Metabolism Research laboratory: http://pathology.jhu.edu/lelab/index.cfm The Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery program: https://drugdiscovery.jhu.edu/ Astrophysicists from the Johns Hopkins University have proposed a clever new way of shedding light on the mystery of dark matter, believed to make up most of the universe. The irony is they want to try to pin down the nature of this unexplained phenomenon by using another, an obscure cosmic emanation known as "fast radio bursts." In a paper published online by the journal Physical Review Letters the team of astrophysicists argues that these extremely bright and brief flashes of radio-frequency radiation can provide clues about whether a particular kind of ancient black hole is what makes up dark matter. Julian Munoz, a Johns Hopkins graduate student and the paper's lead author, said fast radio bursts, or FRBs, provide a direct and specific way of detecting black holes of a specific mass, which are the suspect dark matter. Munoz wrote the paper along with Ely D. Kovetz a post-doctoral fellow, Marc Kamionkowski, the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Physics and Astronomy, and Liang Dai, who completed his doctorate in astrophysics at Johns Hopkins last year. Dai is now a NASA Einstein Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. The paper builds on a hypothesis offered in a paper published this spring by Munoz, Kovetz and Kamionkowski along with five Johns Hopkins colleagues. Also published in Physical Review Letters, that research made a speculative case that the collision of black holes detected early in the year by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) had actually revealed dark matter, a substance not yet identified but believed to make up 85 percent of the mass of the universe. The earlier paper made what Kamionkowski called a "plausibility argument" that LIGO had found dark matter. The study took as a point of departure the fact that the objects detected by LIGO fit within the predicted range of mass of so-called "primordial" black holes. Unlike black holes that formed from imploded stars, primordial black holes are believed to have formed from the collapse of large expanses of gas during the birth of the universe. The existence of primordial black holes has not been established with certainty, but they have been suggested before as a possible solution to the riddle of dark matter. With so little evidence of them to examine, the hypothesis had not gained a large following among scientists. The LIGO findings, however, raised the prospect anew, especially as the objects detected in that experiment conform to the mass predicted for dark matter. The Johns Hopkins team calculated how often these primordial black holes would form binary pairs, and eventually collide. Taking into account the size and elongated shape believed to characterize primordial black hole binary orbits, the team came up with a collision rate that conforms to the LIGO findings. Key to the argument is that the black holes that LIGO detected fall within a range of 29 to 36 solar masses, meaning that many times the mass of the sun. The new paper considers the question of how to test the hypothesis that dark matter consists of black holes of roughly 30 solar masses. That's where the fast radio bursts come in. First observed only a few years ago, these flashes of radio frequency radiation emit intense energy, but last only fractions of a second. Their origins are unknown, but believed to lie in galaxies outside the Milky Way. If the speculation about their origins is true, Kamionkowski said, the radio waves would travel great distances before they're observed on Earth, perhaps passing a black hole. According to Einstein's theory of general relativity, the wave would be deflected when it passes a black hole. If it passes close enough, it could be split into two rays shooting off in the same direction - creating two images from one source. The new study shows that if the black hole has 30 times the mass of the sun, the two images will arrive a few milliseconds apart. If roughly 30-solar-mass primordial black holes are dark matter, there is a chance that any given fast radio burst will be deflected in this way and followed in a few milliseconds by an echo. "The echoing of FRBs is a very direct probe of dark matter," Munoz said. "While gravitational waves might 'indicate' that dark matter is made of black holes, there are other ways to produce very-massive black holes with regular astrophysics, so it would be hard to convince oneself that we are detecting dark matter. However, gravitational lensing of fast radio bursts has a very unique signature, with no other astrophysical phenomenon that could reproduce it." Kaimonkowski said that while the probability for any such FRB echo is small, "it is expected that several of the thousands of FRBs to be detected in the next few years will have such echoes ... if black holes make up the dark matter." So far, only about 20 fast radio bursts have been detected and recorded since 2001. The very sensitive instruments needed to detect them can look at only very small slices of the sky at a time, limiting the rate at which the bursts can be found. A new telescope expected to go into operation this year that seems particularly promising for spotting radio bursts is the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment. The joint project of the University of British Columbia, McGill University, the University of Toronto and the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory stands in British Columbia. "Once the thing is working up to their planned specifications, they should collect enough FRBs to begin the tests we propose," said Kamionkowski, estimating results could be available in three to five years. ### Lehigh-led team collaborating with Michelin Corporation and NSF to develop materials with surface architectures -- inspired by surfaces on feet of grasshoppers or frogs -- that could improve the safety and reliability of tires The fascination with the ability of geckos to scamper up smooth walls and hang upside down from improbable surfaces has entranced scientists at least as far back as Aristotle, who noted the reptile's remarkable feats in his History of Animals. But it wasn't until about 15 years ago, when researchers were definitively able to attribute the gecko's powers of adhesion to nanoscale threads in the gecko's toes, that the practical possibilities of biomimicry at microscopic levels caught the imagination of researchers in earnest. Now, a Lehigh-led team is collaborating with Michelin Corporation and the National Science Foundation to develop materials with surface architectures that could improve the safety and reliability of tires. The NSF's Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) program is designed to enable firms to "kick the tires," so to speak, on academic research that could have significant impact upon their industry and society at large. Anand Jagota, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and director of Lehigh's bioengineering program, has been a leading researcher in biomaterials, biomechanics, and nanobiotechnology close to three decades; before joining Lehigh, he was engaged in similar research endeavors with duPont Corporation. Over the course of his career, he's developed a deep focus in applying biomimetics to improve the adhesive and mechanical properties of rubbery materials. Jagota his team recently published a paper in Scientific Reports, a journal of the Nature Publishing Group, which outlines their work creating new bio-inspired film-terminated structures with unique friction characteristics that could have positive industrial implications for, among other things, tires. The paper, "Strongly Modulated Friction of a Film-Terminated Ridge-Channel Structure," was co-written by Jagota and lead author Zhenping He along with Ying Bai, Chung-Yuen Hui of Cornell University and Benjamin Levrard, a researcher at Michelin Corporation. Jagota and Hui's biomimetic work caught the eye of Michelin when early results were reported at a conference in France several years ago, and the collaboration is now in full swing. For tires, there is a classic performance conundrum among traction, tire life and fuel efficiency. Nature's designs, at work on the highways: Improving one quality almost always degrades another. Improving one quality almost always degrades another. "High quality tires minimize rolling resistance, which improves fuel efficiency, while maximizing the sliding friction that basically helps to brake quickly," says Jagota. "To help increase this sliding friction, tires currently employ millimeter-scale structures to grip the road and channel water. We are working to create structures at the microscale that will enhance friction and adhesion control." Rather than emulating the hairy fibrils that grace gecko toes, Jagota and his colleagues are looking to the smooth pad surfaces found on the feet of grasshoppers or frogs. In a precursor to the current study, the team developed a thin film comprised of an array of tiny pillars on top of a substrate. "We placed these pillars or posts in an hexagonal array and covered them with a thin coating that allowed them to make solid contact with rough surfaces and strongly enhances static friction," says Jagota. "Dragging the film in any direction provided the same friction. But tires don't require the same properties in all directions, so we went to an array of parallel ridges. We believed this would provide greater resistance to sideways movement across the film - and greater sliding friction." They were right, but the magnitude of the results surprised the team. The parallel ridges created a surface where the "good" lateral sliding friction was increased significantly. "This was the most unexpected thing: in the ridge-channel geometry, the film improved sliding friction dramatically, by a factor of three or four," Jagota says. In the experiment, the researchers created a film using rubber-like material which had rows of evenly spaced, parallel ridges, covered with a thin topcoat. With the film laid flat, a glass ball was pressed into the film and dragged across it in a direction perpendicular to the ridges. According to the team, the increased sliding friction is due to extreme contortion of the ridges. Under the pressure of the sphere, the ridges stretched and rode up on each other, creating broad areas of surface and internal contact. This internal sliding allowed unwanted energy to be released. Additionally, elastic energy that was soaked up during the contortion was then liberated as the ridges sprung back to their normal form. The results are promising. Increased sliding friction could enhance a tire's grip, as forward energy is released from the tire's surface to dissipate as harmless heat and sound waves. With no commensurate increase in adhesion observed, rolling resistance should not be markedly increased. The NSF's GOALI grant will fund the team's ongoing efforts for three years. "This has been a very fruitful collaboration already," says Anand. "We are still in the early stages, but the collaborative support from Michelin and the NSF is making it possible for us to put nature's designs to work on the highways." ### Tropical Depression 14W appeared to be a small storm when NASA's Aqua satellite passed overhead early on Aug. 24. On Aug. 24 at 12:00 a.m. EDT (0400 UTC) the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite showed some isolated strong storms over around a weak low-level center. Persistent northerly vertical wind shear has prevented the tropical cyclone from intensifying. At 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC) Tropical Depression 14W had maximum sustained winds near 28.7 mph (25 knots/46.3 kph). It was centered near 22.7 degrees north latitude and 147.0 degrees east longitude. That's about 340 nautical miles east-southeast of Iwo To Island, Japan. Tropical Depression 14W has tracked north-northeastward at 27.6 mph (24 knots/44.5 kph). Tropical Depression 14W is moving away from the Marianas Islands and watches or warnings have been dropped. For updates on forecasts for the Marianas and Guam, visit the National Weather Service of Guam website: http://www.prh.noaa.gov/guam/. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center expects that the storm will move north, not strengthening much before it dissipates within 4 to 5 days. ### A new survey of US doctors reveals they are frequently discussing electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) with patients in a clinical setting. A substantial proportion of physicians also recommend e-cigs to their patients who smoke despite some controversy around the devices. Over 70% of the more than 560 physicians who participated in the written survey indicated that e-cigs can help patients reduce or eliminate smoking, and nearly half said that they believe e-cigs can reduce risk. Physicians are less likely to recommend e-cigs as a way to quit smoking. The use of e-cigs for treatment is contentious, as there is currently limited evidence to support their efficacy and safety for smoking reduction or cessation. Approximately two-thirds of the physician respondents report their patients who smoke ask them about e-cigs at least some of the time, and 58% report they ask their patients who smoke about using e-cigs at least some of the time. Overall, 85% of physicians report frequently advising their patients who smoke to quit, and approximately two-thirds frequently provide assistance in helping patients to quit. Some 38% of doctors surveyed have at some point recommended e-cigs to their patients who smoke. If asked by patients whether or not they would recommend e-cigs to quit smoking, 30% would endorse this approach and 21% would definitively recommend against it. When asked if they would recommend e-cigs to reduce smoking, however, the proportion of physicians who would endorse this approach increased to 37%. Practices and attitudes differed according to physician specialty. Surgical care providers appear less confident and reported less self-efficacy in the realm of general smoking cessation, as well as with e-cigs. Surgical providers also were less likely than primary care providers or pulmonologists to endorse outright the use of electronic cigarettes for their patients. Concerns by surgeons and anaesthesiologists about the potential effects of nicotine itself on surgical wound healing and other outcomes may explain this greater skepticism. Respondents in this field were more likely to endorse their use as a reduction strategy as compared to a smoking cessation tool. The current study shows that in the midst of the uncertain and conflicting literature and guidelines on e-cigs, few physicians are actively recommending against these products. The majority of physician respondents are not confident either in their knowledge of e-cigs or in their ability to answer patient questions about these products. "This study shows that, across the United States, physician are discussing electronic cigarettes with their patients who smoke. Despite limited evidence these products are effective for smoking cessation or are safe for long term use, physicians appear to be tolerant of these products and some are recommending them. This information serves as a call to regulators and health policy authorities that electronic cigarettes are effectively being viewed and discussed as devices intended to treat nicotine addiction in clinics across the country. I am hopeful that efforts will continue to ensure that these products are manufactured in a safe and standardized manner and that more detailed evidence based guidelines emerge to help clinicians as they continue to work with their patients." says Andrew S. Nickels, MD, assistant professor of medicine and paediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. ### The paper "Beliefs, practices, and self-efficacy of US physicians regarding smoking cessation and electronic cigarettes: A national survey" is available at: http://ntr.oxfordjournals.org/lookup/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntw194 Direct correspondence to: Andrew Nickels, MD Email: anickels@alumni.nd.edu 2525 West End Ave, Suite 400 Nashville, TN 37203 Phone: 615-936-2686 For media inquiries: Craig Boerner Media Director, National News Director Vanderbilt University Medical Center 615-322-4747 craig.boerner@vanderbilt.edu To request a copy of the study, please contact: Daniel Luzer- daniel.luzer@oup.com or 212-743-6113 Nicotine & Tobacco Research is one of the world's few peer-reviewed journals devoted exclusively to the study of nicotine and tobacco. It aims to provide a forum for empirical findings, critical reviews, and conceptual papers on the many aspects of nicotine and tobacco, including research from the biobehavioral, neurobiological, molecular biologic, epidemiological, prevention, and treatment arenas. It is published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. Sharing on social media? Find Oxford Journals online at @OxfordJournals (Vienna, 24 August 2016) New research published in the UEG Journal1 has found that Crohn's disease sufferers experience slower response times than matched individuals that do not have the disease. In a study of patients with Crohn's disease, cognitive response times were 10% slower than normal and significantly correlated with symptoms of active inflammation, including abdominal pain and fatigue. Notably, the response times in Crohn's patients were slower than those assessed in people over the legal drink drive limit in most EU countries (blood alcohol content above 0.05 g/100ml) when assessed with the same computer-based cognitive test in a similar study by the same group. The results demonstrate the presence of mild cognitive impairment in Crohn's patients and support patients' frequent complaints of difficulties in concentration, clouding of thought and memory lapses. The study also demonstrated that Crohn's patients had a higher median depression score and a poorer rating of sleep quality, which were associated with more severe cognitive impairment. Crohn's disease, one of the two main forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) alongside ulcerative colitis, has seen a sharp increase throughout much of Europe in recent decades with higher incidence levels documented in northern and western parts of the continent2. The disease can be extremely debilitating for patients and there is no solitary cause, although it is thought to be due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. As well as the recognised bowel-related symptoms of Crohn's disease such as abdominal pain and diarrhoea, the condition has now also been shown to impact cognitive function. Patients frequently experience cognitive symptoms, yet these symptoms are often ignored by clinicians. Dr Daniel van Langenberg, the lead researcher behind the findings, comments, "These results reinforce the notion that Crohn's has a wide range of multi-systemic consequences with the impact of the disease affecting patients not only within but well beyond the digestive tract." Dr van Langenberg adds, "The findings appear consistent with experiments that have shown that bowel inflammation results in an upregulation of inflammatory hippocampus activity in the brain. This, in turn, might account for the slower response times that were observed in the study." Professor Gigi Veereman, UEG inflammatory bowel disease expert, comments "This research highlights the need for regular interventions with multi-disciplinary IBD teams to address the wide issues that are presented with Crohn's disease. This will enable a greater understanding of this complex condition and therefore improve the service and care offered to each patient." ### Access the research in the UEG Journal Notes to Editors About UEG UEG, or United European Gastroenterology, is a professional non-profit organisation combining all the leading European societies concerned with digestive diseases. Together, its member societies represent over 22,000 specialists, working across medicine, surgery, paediatrics, gastrointestinal oncology and endoscopy. This makes UEG the most comprehensive organisation of its kind in the world, and a unique platform for collaboration and the exchange of knowledge. Find out more by visiting http://www.ueg.eu To advance standards of gastroenterological care and knowledge across Europe and the world, UEG offers numerous activities and initiatives, including: UEG Week, the biggest congress of its kind in Europe, and one of the two largest in the world UEG Education, the universal source of knowledge in gastroenterology, providing online and classroom courses, a huge online library and delivering the latest GI news, fostering debate and discussion Training Support, funding for innovative training and educational programmes, as well as international scientific and professional co-operations UEG Journal , published bi-monthly, covering translational and clinical studies from all areas of gastroenterology , published bi-monthly, covering translational and clinical studies from all areas of gastroenterology EU Affairs, promoting research, prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of digestive diseases, and helping develop an effective health policy for Europe About Dr van Langenberg Dr Daniel van Langenberg is the Head of IBD Service, Eastern Health and a Senior Lecturer at Monash University in Victoria, Australia. He is involved with clinical and research activities with specific interest and expertise in inflammatory bowel disease and function gastrointestinal disorders. About Professor Gigi Veereman Professor Gigi Veereman is a member of the UEG Public Affairs Committee and Secretary General of the European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN). References 1. van Langenberg DR, Yelland GW, Robinson SR, Gibson PR. Cognitive impairment in Crohn's disease is associated with systemic inflammation, symptom burden and sleep disturbance. UEG Journal. August 2016: http://ueg.sagepub.com/content/early/2016/08/07/2050640616663397.full.pdf+html 2. Roberts SE, Samuel DG, Williams JG, et al. Survey of Digestive Health across Europe. Part one: The burden of gastrointestinal diseases and the organisation and delivery of gastroenterology services across Europe. Report for United European Gastroenterology. October 2014: http://ueg.sagepub.com/content/suppl/2014/10/13/2050640614554154.DC1/Full_Survey.pdf UEG Survey of Digestive Health - Incidence of Crohn's Disease Across Europe One of the longest Etruscan texts ever found, the inscription's mention of Uni may indicate she was patroness of the Poggio Colla cult, with stone's language spelling out ceremonial religious rituals Archaeologists translating a very rare inscription on an ancient Etruscan temple stone have discovered the name Uni -- an important female goddess. The discovery indicates that Uni -- a divinity of fertility and possibly a mother goddess at this particular place -- may have been the titular deity worshipped at the sanctuary of Poggio Colla, a key settlement in Italy for the ancient Etruscan civilization. The mention is part of a sacred text that is possibly the longest such Etruscan inscription ever discovered on stone, said archaeologist Gregory Warden, professor emeritus at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, main sponsor of the archaeological dig. Scientists on the research discovered the ancient stone embedded as part of a temple wall at Poggio Colla, a dig where many other Etruscan objects have been found, including a ceramic fragment with the earliest birth scene in European art. That object reinforces the interpretation of a fertility cult at Poggio Colla, Warden said. Now Etruscan language experts are studying the 500-pound slab -- called a stele (STEE-lee) -- to translate the text. It's very rare to identify the god or goddess worshipped at an Etruscan sanctuary. "The location of its discovery -- a place where prestigious offerings were made -- and the possible presence in the inscription of the name of Uni, as well as the care of the drafting of the text, which brings to mind the work of a stone carver who faithfully followed a model transmitted by a careful and educated scribe, suggest that the document had a dedicatory character," said Adriano Maggiani, formerly Professor at the University of Venice and one of the scholars working to decipher the inscription. "It is also possible that it expresses the laws of the sanctuary -- a series of prescriptions related to ceremonies that would have taken place there, perhaps in connection with an altar or some other sacred space," said Warden, co-director and principal investigator of the Mugello Valley Archaeological Project. Warden said it will be easier to speak with more certainty once the archaeologists are able to completely reconstruct the text, which consists of as many as 120 characters or more. While archaeologists understand how Etruscan grammar works, and know some of its words and alphabet, they expect to discover new words never seen before, particularly since this discovery veers from others in that it's not a funerary text. The Mugello Valley archaeologists are announcing discovery of the goddess Uni at an exhibit in Florence on Aug. 27, "Scrittura e culto a Poggio Colla, un santuario etrusco nel Mugello," and in a forthcoming article in the scholarly journal Etruscan Studies. Text may specify the religious ritual for temple ceremonies dedicated to the goddess It's possible the text contains the dedication of the sanctuary, or some part of it, such as the temple proper, so the expectation is that it will reveal the early beliefs of a lost culture fundamental to western traditions. The sandstone slab, which dates to the 6th century BCE and is nearly four feet tall by more than two feet wide, was discovered in the final stages of two decades of digging at Mugello Valley, which is northeast of Florence in north central Italy. Etruscans once ruled Rome, influencing that civilization in everything from religion and government to art and architecture. A highly cultured people, Etruscans were also very religious and their belief system permeated all aspects of their culture and life. Inscription may reveal data to understand concepts and rituals, writing and language Permanent Etruscan inscriptions are rare, as Etruscans typically used linen cloth books or wax tablets. The texts that have been preserved are quite short and are from graves, thus funerary in nature. "We can at this point affirm that this discovery is one of the most important Etruscan discoveries of the last few decades," Warden said. "It's a discovery that will provide not only valuable information about the nature of sacred practices at Poggio Colla, but also fundamental data for understanding the concepts and rituals of the Etruscans, as well as their writing and perhaps their language." Besides being possibly the longest Etruscan inscription on stone, it is also one of the three longest sacred texts to date. One section of the text refers to "tina?," a reference to Tina, the name of the supreme deity of the Etruscans. Tina was equivalent to ancient Greece's Zeus or Rome's Jupiter. Once an imposing and monumental symbol of authority The slab was discovered embedded in the foundations of a monumental temple where it had been buried for more than 2,500 years. At one time it would have been displayed as an imposing and monumental symbol of authority, said Warden, president and professor of archaeology at Franklin University Switzerland. The text is being studied by two noted experts on the Etruscan language, including Maggiani, who is an epigrapher, and Rex Wallace, Professor of Classics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, who is a comparative linguist. A hologram of the stele will be shown at the Florence exhibit, as conservation of the stele is ongoing at the conservation laboratories of the Archaeological Superintendency in Florence. Digital documentation is being done by experts from the architecture department of the University of Florence. The sandstone is heavily abraded and chipped, so cleaning should allow scholars to read the inscription. Other objects unearthed in the past 20 years have shed light on Etruscan worship, beliefs, gifts to divinities, and discoveries related to the daily lives of elites and non-elites, including workshops, kilns, pottery and homes. The material helps document ritual activity from the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE. Besides SMU, other collaborating institutions at Mugello Valley Archaeological Project include Franklin and Marshall College, the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology, the Center for the Study of Ancient Italy at The University of Texas at Austin, The Open University (UK), and Franklin University Switzerland. ### SMUResearch.com on Twitter, http://twitter.com/smuresearch. For more information, http://www.smuresearch.com. SMU is a nationally ranked private university in Dallas founded 100 years ago. Today, SMU enrolls nearly 11,000 students who benefit from the academic opportunities and international reach of seven degree-granting schools. For more information see http://www.smu.edu. SMU has an uplink facility located on campus for live TV, radio, or online interviews. To speak with an SMU expert or book an SMU guest in the studio, call SMU News & Communications at 214-768-7664. War in Syria had erased 6 years off male life expectancy by 2013 Syria falling behind countries in Sub-Saharan Africa in reducing child mortality Conflicts threaten to jeopardise health gains over past two decades and will have impact on the region and worldwide for many years The Arab uprising in 2010 and subsequent wars in the eastern Mediterranean region have had serious detrimental effects on the health and life expectancy of the people living in many of the 22 countries in the region [1], according to a major new analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013 (GBD 2013), published in The Lancet Global Health journal. In particular, the downward turns in life expectancy experienced by Syria, Yemen, Libya, Tunisia, and Egypt since 2010 are threatening to jeopardise health gains over the past two decades, warn the authors. Between 2010 and 2013, Yemen, Tunisia, and Egypt lost about 3 months of life expectancy, whilst the war in Syria has erased 6 years off average life expectancy, with men expected to live to around 75 years in 2010, falling to about 69 years in 2013. For Syrian women, average life expectancy dropped from about 80 to 75 years over the same period (figures 2 & 3). "Life expectancy decline is traditionally regarded as a sign that the health and social systems are failing. The fact that this is happening in several countries indicates there is an immediate need to invest in health care systems", says Ali Mokdad, Professor of Global Health at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, Seattle, USA, who led the research.[2] "Recent conflicts have shattered the basic infrastructure in a number of countries. As a result, millions of people are facing dire water shortages and poor sanitation that will lead to disease outbreaks, which must be controlled."[2] The study reveals that many of the health gains achieved by countries in the region are at risk of slowing down. For example, there is now evidence that infant mortality rates are rising in some countries. Most strikingly in Syria where infant deaths fell at an average of 6.0% a year in the decade before 2010 in sharp contrast to the rise of 9.1% a year between 2010 and 2013. The authors warn that the study represents a worrying picture of worsening health conditions across many eastern Mediterranean countries that are likely to have escalated since 2013 when the wars in Syria and Libya intensified and conflicts and unrest continued or broke out in Yemen, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia. "This region has historically seen improvements in life expectancy and other health indicators, even under times of stress. But the Arab uprising has evolved into complex wars that have killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions", explains Professor Mokdad. "Along with population growth and ageing, these ongoing conflicts have dramatically increased the burden of chronic diseases and injuries and many health workers have fled for safer shores. These issues will result in deteriorating health conditions in many countries for many years and will put a strain on already scarce resources." [2] Using data from GBD 2013, Professor Mokdad and colleagues at IHME analysed patterns of ill health and death due to 306 diseases and injuries and calculated the contribution of 79 risk factors in the eastern Mediterranean region over 23 years (1990 to 2013). Other key findings include: People in the eastern Mediterranean region are living longer on the whole, yet they face increasing threats from chronic diseases, with the leading causes of premature death and health loss shifting from communicable (e.g. diarrheal diseases and tuberculosis) to non-communicable diseases (e.g. heart disease, diabetes, and stroke) (table 3). For example, deaths from diabetes rose from 12 to 19 per 100000 between 1990 and 2013. The authors warn that these trends will lead to additional strain on finances and human resources in a region where they are already scarce. Across the region, the growth of non-communicable disease risk factors such as high blood pressure (up 83% since 1990, responsible for 7.7% of disease burden in 2013) and obesity and overweight (up 28%; 7.5%) should be a priority for the region and will require large-scale prevention measures, say the authors (table 2). Heart disease was the number one cause of death in 2013 (up 17%; responsible for around 9.5% of all deaths in 1990 and 15% in 2013) overtaking diarrhoeal diseases (9.8% of all deaths in 1990 to 3.8% in 2013) and lower respiratory infections (9.7% to 5.8%). Mental and substance abuse disorders (predominantly depression, anxiety, and drug use disorders) and musculoskeletal disorders (ie, low back and neck pain) have increased substantially as a cause of ill health in the region since 1990 [3](see appendix figure 7 page 10). The authors warn that the rise in burden of mental-health problems has not been met with investment in prevention by most countries in the region (except perhaps Lebanon and Qatar), and has been largely overlooked by international agencies and national ministries of health. In low-income countries, nutritional deficiencies (mainly iron-deficiency anaemia) still cause a disproportionate amount of disability and health burden, ranking as a leading cause of ill health in Yemen and Afghanistan in 2013. Across the region, years of good health lost to communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional disorders fell from around 109 million in 1990 to 73 million in 2013 [4] (table 3). However, child health remains a particular concern, with children aged under 5 contributing to a third (33%) of all health loss in 2013. In 2013, lower respiratory infections were ranked among the top-two contributors to health loss in males and females (table 1). Diarrhoeal disease remains in the top-10 leading causes of health loss but has fallen considerably in the rankings since 1990, dropping from 1st place (11.5% of all health loss) to 4th place in 2013 (4.8%). The authors warn that the spread of infectious diseases like Middle East Respiratory Syndrome is worrying--especially given the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia in early September. Causes of health loss differed by national income level: for low-income countries like Afghanistan and Somalia, lower respiratory infections and diarrheal diseases remain the top contributors; while middle-income countries (eg, Egypt, Iraq, Morocco) lose substantially more health to heart disease; and for the oil-rich high-income countries like Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, road injuries, drug use, and diabetes cause the most health loss. Writing in a linked Comment, Dr Riyadh Lafta from Mustansiriya Medical School, Baghdad, Iraq discusses the health burden of conflict, saying that, "War and other forms of armed con?ict cause extensive morbidity (including disabling injuries and adverse effects on mental health) and mortality in military personnel and civilians. Populations suffer health problems during, and after, con?icts because of damage to the health-supporting infrastructure, safe food and water, sanitation, and medical care and public health services. Moreover, conflicts lead to internal displacement of large numbers of individuals and families, which increases the burden of diseases and injuries, and, consequently, leads to more violence...Addressing this growing burden requires sincere efforts, realistic plans, adoption of new approaches and skills to continuously evaluate and analyse the situation, proposal and implementation of plans for prevention and control measures, and improvement of health services to dilute the effect of the burden of conflict." ### NOTES TO EDITORS: This study was funded by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. [1] Afghanistan, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. [2] Quotes direct from author and cannot be found in text of paper. [3] Ill health is measured in terms of the number of years lived with disability (YLD) ie, time spent in less than optimum health. [4] Health loss is measured in terms of disability-adjusted life years (DALYS)--the proportion of lost years of healthy life due to illness rather than death. NOTE: THE ABOVE LINK IS FOR JOURNALISTS ONLY; IF YOU WISH TO PROVIDE A LINK TO THIS PAPER FOR YOUR READERS, PLEASE USE THE FOLLOWING, WHICH WILL GO LIVE AT THE TIME THE EMBARGO LIFTS: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(16)30168-1/abstract Criminals who are sentenced to prison are less prone to reoffend. They are also more likely to work. This is shown by a study led by researchers at the University of Bergen. The research project "The Social Costs of incarceration" is the largest study of imprisonment and return to a normal life that has ever been conducted in Europe. In the study, researchers looked at prison sentences linked to recidivism. In addition, the researchers looked at the extent to which former inmates have returned to work. What makes the project unique is linking large administrative data sets to data sets from the courts. They have done this to measure the effect of what happens when the criminals have received different penalties for the same offense because they randomly met different judges in court with different leniency towards incarcerating. In other words: if a judge incarcerates differently for the same offense, what will be the consequences for the offender in the long term? "The results show that the Norwegian prison model with extensive use of labour training while serving time, gives surprisingly good results," says Professor Katrine Lken at the Department of Economics, University of Bergen (UiB), who led the research project. The study shows: Five years after conviction, there is a 27 per cent lower risk that convicts who have been in prison have committed new crimes, compared to those who were given more lenient penalties, like probation and community service. For the 60 per cent of inmates who had not been employed for the last five years preceding the conviction, the decline in criminal activity is even bigger. Among these the risk that they have committed new crimes after five years was reduced by 46 per cent. In addition, the proportion who are working are 40 per cent higher after five years, contrasted with those who have received more lenient penalties. The group of inmates who lose their jobs because they have gone to prison, have no positive effect of being imprisoned, however they do not commit more criminal offences than the other group when they are released. The study is published as a Working Paper in Economics at the University of Bergen. Work is the key The effect of imprisonment on a criminal path is not well known. In Western countries there are major differences in the incarceration systems. In Scandinavian countries such as Norway, the prison system focuses on rehabilitation and job training. If rehabilitation programmes in prison work, is your opinion that we should send more offenders to jail? "Not necessarily. Work is the key to get out of a criminal pattern. We see that labour-programmes in prison give people opportunities, while those offenders that are not sentenced to prison, are more difficult to follow up," says Lken, adding: "A relevant question is whether we should aim for full package of job-training outside prison. But research shows that work training outside of prison is more difficult to enforce. It appears that a certain element of coercion is needed to get offenders on a new track." Katrine Lken stresses that the research does not take a stand on the principle of imprisonment, but simply says something about how prison is perceived for the individual, and shows the effects of different sentencing. Opposite results in the US The idea for the project came after researchers heard about a couple of American studies of imprisonment with similar research method. In one of the newer US studies,from Texas, they find however that time served in prison leads to relapse into crime and exclusion from working life. The Norwegian researchers were curious if they would find the same tendencies in Norway. "But the main reason why we thought the area could also be interesting to study in Norway is the unique data sets that exist here. While the US study was only conducted in one particular state in the US, we could get a total overview of all convicts in Norway over a long time period," says Lken. Unique Norwegian registry In Norway there are data for the whole population from Statistics Norway (SSB). In addition there are data records of all criminals in Norway. The researchers intertwined these datasets against the Norwegian legal data base "Lovdata" and could thus identify how different judges sentenced the same offense differently. Then they measured the effect of the prison sentence and whether it was conditional or unconditional, and saw how this influenced future criminal behaviour and attachment to the labour market. "By focusing on the direct impact of a judge's sentencing, we ended up with a better set of data, which told us much more about the effect of prison than most previous studies have been able to," says Lken. FACTS: The Social Costs of Incarceration Norwegian prison study conducted using data from all decisions in court from 2005 to 2009. Scientists in the project followed 22,000 prisoners, who were all convicted of criminal activity in Norway during the period. On average offenders served six months in jail. The researchers divided the convicts into two groups, those who had a job when they were sentenced, and those who did not. The researchers connected these data sets to Lovdata and could thus see how each judge sentenced differently for the same offense. They then measured the effect of the prison sentence and whether it was conditional or unconditional, and saw how this influenced future criminal behaviour and attachment to the labour market. By comparing offenders who had committed the same type of crime, but who were sentenced to penalties of different types, it is possible to isolate the effect of prison. The number of inmates in prisons in Western countries has risen sharply over the last 30 years. In the US, the number has increased from 220 per 100,000 in 1980 to 700 per 100,000 in 2012. In Western Europe, the number of inmates increased from 62 per 100,000 in 1980 to 112 in 2010. Katrine Lken is one of four researchers behind the article "Incarceration, Recidivism and Employment". The other three are Gordon Dahl from UC San Diego and Magne Mogstad and Manudeep Bhullar, both from the University of Chicago. ### Canada's tissue manufacturers are now much closer to producing the perfect paper, thanks to new UBC research. A team working with UBC mechanical engineering professors Sheldon Green and Srikanth Phani have created what is likely the first complete mathematical model of creping, the crinkling process that helps make tissue paper soft and resilient. "The new model provides a significantly better understanding of the dynamics of the creping process, allowing manufacturers to tailor the process to a greater degree than before," said Green. "It's the most accurate model of creping to date." During tissue manufacture, pulp is dried on a chemical-coated rotating drum until it's 95 per cent dry. It's then pushed off at very high speeds by a sharp creping blade, creating hundreds of microscopic folds that give tissue its softness, flexibility, tearing resistance and strength. "With our model, manufacturers can better manipulate the different elements -- the chemicals, the pulp, the creping blade angle, the paper speed and so on-- to produce the exact product grade they want, from standard grade toilet paper to ultra-premium bathroom rolls," said Green. "Previous simulation models were static and didn't consider the velocity and impact of the dryer," said Kui Pan, the PhD student who led the mathematical analysis. The search for the ideal tissue paper is a top concern for the paper industry. Pan's supervisor, Srikanth Phani, believes their discovery can help paper firms in this quest. "Canada is a strong player in the billion-dollar global market for tissue products including bathroom rolls, facial tissues, and hygiene products. This new research can contribute to the growth of that industry," added Phani. ### The UBC team worked with scientists from Canadian research organization FPInnovations. The project has received support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and, more recently, from Kruger Products, Canada's leading tissue manufacturer, and creping chemicals manufacturer Solenis. The research will be presented at the 24th International Congress of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics in Montreal on August 21-26. Contact lou.bosshart@ubc.ca to request a copy. Note: The researchers are in Montreal and are available for interviews by telephone or Skype at 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. Pacific Time. VIDEO: Creping experiment: https://youtu.be/HWCcKe32PaM AMHERST, Mass. - In the first global analysis of environmental risk from invasive alien species, researchers say one sixth of the world's lands are "highly vulnerable" to invasion, including "substantial areas in developing countries and biodiversity hotspots." The study by biogeographer Bethany Bradley at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Regan Early at the University of Exeter, U.K., with others, appears in the current issue of Nature Communications. As Bradley explains, "First, we analyzed threats of invasive species introduction and establishment globally. Then, we took a look at national policies to see how prepared we are to combat these threats. Our results show some pretty clear vulnerabilities--high risk, but few policies to deal with invasion. We hope that by raising awareness of the highest risk areas, maybe we can help to jump start a more proactive policy response." Noting that "most countries have limited capacity to act against invasions," the researchers say there is a "clear need for proactive invasion strategies in areas with high poverty levels, high biodiversity and low historical levels of invasion." By collecting data on how invasives are introduced and established, and assessing national response capabilities around the world, they hope to "improve early warning and eradication schemes." Bradley says, "Invasive species are a threat to ecosystems and economies worldwide, but are most concerning in countries with few resources to deal with them." Examples of biological invasion in the developing world include Panama disease, which is wiping out banana plantations in Central and South America, and prickly pear, which devastates grassland important not only to wildlife but to farming in Africa. Bradley and colleagues found that the dominant pathways by which invasives are introduced differs by income, with higher-income countries facing the highest risk from imported exotic plants and pets, while low-income nations face the highest threat from air travel, as invasive species stow away in passenger baggage. They expect air travel to bring future biological invasions of Africa and Asia, for example, regions that are currently becoming increasingly vulnerable to invasion due to climate change and intensifying agriculture. In documenting national policies on invasive species now in place around the world, the researchers characterize them as either proactive or reactive, but Bradley notes that "proactive policies are remarkably rare. We generally do a pretty good job of identifying invasives after they've become a problem, but a terrible job of keeping them out." "Another thing we found is that some countries have created excellent, comprehensive lists of invasives, while their near neighbors have no information at all. This illustrates a really good opportunity for cooperation and exchange of information. Nations with more invasive species research and management experience could help their neighbors leap ahead just by sharing information. The information is definitely there in many cases," she adds, "but many cooperative efforts are still a work in progress." Study leader Early notes that "rampant globalization will lead to invasions in countries with the least capability to deal with them. We need more international cooperation, and for the U.S., Australia and nations in Europe to share expertise." While rich nations are accustomed to the nuisance of invasive alien species and are increasingly taking protective action, the authors found that poorer economies rely on international trade and have little power to regulate imports, so highly dangerous species continue being introduced unchecked. Overall, Bradley says an obvious recommendation from this work is that nations need to be more proactive. She says, "It's really clear that even in the U.S., where we know that new invasives arrive every day and we understand the pathways for how that happens, for example that 60 percent of invasive plants have been introduced as ornamentals, we could do a better job." "If you want to know what the invasive species problem is going to look like in 2100, take a look at the new 'exotic' plants you're putting in your yard today. If you want new plants, buy local. If you get tired of your exotic pet snake, don't release it outdoors. A lot of proactive work to reduce invasion risk relies on us -- the consumers -- to be more aware of the consequences of our actions." ### Baltimore, Md., Aug. 25, 2016 - Treatment with MRI-guided focused ultrasound significantly improves tremors and quality of life in patients with essential tremor (ET), the most common movement disorder, according to a study published in the August 25 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM), were among an international group of investigators studying this new noninvasive treatment, which was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), based on this research. An estimated 10 million people in the United States are affected by essential tremor, which unlike Parkinson's disease, has been viewed as a relatively benign disease caused by abnormalities in the brain. However, its disabling aspects - sometimes severe involuntary and rhythmic shaking in the hands and other extremities - can impair an individual's ability to perform the simplest tasks, such as eating or holding a pen. Currently, ET affects an estimated 3 percent of Americans and has been treated by medication, surgical procedures or deep brain stimulation (DBS). The randomized, double-blinded study showed that 56 patients who received the treatment experienced a nearly 50 percent improvement in their tremors and motor function after three months and retained a 40 percent improvement after a year. In contrast, 20 patients who received a sham treatment saw no improvement and were able to cross over into the treatment group three months later. "We are very excited to have this new noninvasive treatment option for patients who struggle every day with this debilitating neurological disorder," says study co-author Howard M. Eisenberg, MD, the RK Thompson Professor and Chair of Neurosurgery at the UM SOM. "We saw an impressive reduction in tremors in hands and arms and an improvement in quality of life in patients who experienced no relief from medication." Twenty-two of the patients in the year-long study were treated at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), with many who received the new therapy achieving up to a 99 percent improvement in their tremors. Paul Fishman, MD, Professor of Neurology, Pharmacology and Neurobiology at UM SOM and Chief of Neurology for the Maryland VA Health Care System, and Dheeraj Gandhi, MD, MBBS, Professor of Radiology, Neurosurgery and Neurology and Director of Interventional Neuroradiology at UM SOM, are also co-authors of the study. W. Jeffrey Elias, MD, Director of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery at the University of Virginia, is the principal investigator and lead author. There were eight sites for the clinical trial, five of them in the United States. In the study, researchers looked at 76 patients who had essential tremor but had not responded to medication. They used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to guide ultrasound waves with a millimeter-wide focus through the intact skin and skulls of the study participants, in order to make precise ablations (surgical removal of tissue) in the thalamus, an area deep within the brain thought to play a key role in ET. "You are raising the temperature in a very restricted area of the brain and that destroys the tissue," says Dr. Eisenberg. "The ultrasound creates a heat lesion that you monitor through MRI." The entire procedure lasts two to four hours, and patients are awake and able to interact with the treatment team. Researchers ask patients to draw spirals on a piece of paper, which are then compared with drawings done before the treatment to determine its effectiveness in calming the tremor. The study was funded by the Focused Ultrasound Foundation, BIRD Foundation and Insightec, the equipment's manufacturer. Dr. Eisenberg is a consultant to both the Focused Ultrasound Foundation and Insightec. "University of Maryland School of Medicine faculty physicians have been leaders in exploring the potential of MRI-guided focused ultrasound to treat essential tremor as well as Parkinson's disease, two movement disorders that affect millions in the U.S. and around the world," says UM SOM Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, who is also Vice President of Medical Affairs at the University of Maryland and the John Z. and Akiko Bowers Distinguished Professor at UM SOM. "This groundbreaking study clearly demonstrates that focused ultrasound can be transmitted with precision through the human skull to target areas deep with the brain - and improve the quality of life of patients with essential tremor who have difficulty performing tasks that most of us take for granted," Dr. Reece says. ### About the University of Maryland School of Medicine The University of Maryland School of Medicine was chartered in 1807 and is the first public medical school in the United States. It continues today as an innovative leader in accelerating innovation and discovery in medicine. The School of Medicine is the founding school of the University of Maryland and is an integral part of the 11-campus University System of Maryland. Located on the University of Maryland's Baltimore campus, the School of Medicine works closely with the University of Maryland Medical Center and Medical System to provide a research-intensive, academic and clinically based education. With 43 academic departments, centers and institutes and a faculty of more than 3,000 physicians and research scientists plus more than $400 million in extramural funding, the School is regarded as one of the leading biomedical research institutions in the U.S. with top-tier faculty and programs in cancer, brain science, surgery and transplantation, trauma and emergency medicine, vaccine development and human genomics, among other centers of excellence. The School is not only concerned with the health of the citizens of Maryland and the nation, but also has a global presence, with research and treatment facilities in more than 35 countries around the world. medschool.umaryland.edu/ About the University of Maryland Medical Center The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) is comprised of two hospitals in Baltimore: an 800-bed teaching hospital -- the flagship institution of the 12-hospital University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) -- and a 200-bed community teaching hospital, UMMC Midtown Campus. UMMC is a national and regional referral center for trauma, cancer care, neurocare, cardiac care, diabetes and endocrinology, women's and children's health and has one of the largest solid organ transplant programs in the country. All physicians on staff at the flagship hospital are faculty physicians of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. At UMMC Midtown Campus, faculty physicians work alongside community physicians to provide patients with the highest quality care. UMMC Midtown Campus was founded in 1881 and is located one mile away from the University Campus hospital. For more information, visit http://www.umm.edu Jason Katz, M.D., M.H.S., medical director of UNC's cardiac intensive care unit, examines the challenges facing cardiac intensive care units and clinicians, and offers innovative recommendations for training, staffing and research for this emerging field CHAPEL HILL, NC - Jason Katz, MD, MHS, associate professor of medicine at UNC School of Medicine and medical director of the cardiac intensive care unit, was the lead author of a recently published manuscript in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology that examined the early growth and maturation of critical care cardiology, and the challenges and uncertainties that threaten to stymie the growth of this fledgling discipline. Katz's recent piece followed a scientific statement he was previously tasked with crafting for the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology that outlined the evolution of care required to treat critically ill cardiovascular patients, and how those evolving requirements should shape training, staffing, and research. On the training front, for example, dedicated fellowships for critical care cardiology do not currently exist at most medical schools. There are ways to receive training, Katz said, but not in a streamlined track similar to those seeking specialty certification in pulmonary and critical care medicine. Katz wants to help establish a more formal fellowship pathway at the UNC School of Medicine. "We're trying to create a critical care program at UNC that's not specifically catered to the cardiovascular specialists, but that would lend itself to critical care training for our medicine subspecialist, in general, and then could be tailored to the specific interests and goals of the trainee," Katz said. "For instance, someone can finish cardiology subspecialty training and then come to do our fellowship and be trained in critical care medicine with a focus on cardiovascular critical care." In his paper, Katz examines staffing challenges facing cardiac intensive care units and clinicians - one of which is determining whether an open or a closed model of care is more appropriate for the unit. In an open ICU model, a physician can admit a patient to the ICU and will continue to provide care throughout the patient's hospital stay, while in a closed ICU, the patient's care is transferred to a dedicated critical care team, which can provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary care during their ICU course. Katz recently shifted UNC's cardiac intensive care unit from an open to a closed unit. "As a result, we've improved care efficiency and outcomes in many areas, and - perhaps most importantly - we've improved nurse-physician relations and the educational experience for our trainees," he said. It is imperative to address training and staffing issues, Katz said, because the care patients require is becoming more complex. As modern medicine continues to advance, cardiac intensive care unit patients require a more specialized and disciplined level of care. "In this paper we also highlight imperatives necessary to optimize care for the increasingly complex group of patients who now occupy our cardiac intensive care and the requisite skills our physicians must now possess to effectively and safely care for them," Katz said. "In order to provide the highest quality of care, one must now not only understand a patient's cardiovascular illness, but also must understand how multi-system organ injuries and critical illnesses play a role in their hospital course." Katz is hopeful that as more intensivists embrace the cardiac aspect of critical care in their training and staffing, patients will be the ultimate beneficiaries. "We owe it to our patients. We owe it to our nurses. We owe it to our patients' families to continue to innovate; to be willing to think outside the box, to better understand optimal care practices for these patients," Katz said. "The status quo is not good enough anywhere in medicine, but particularly here in this rapidly evolving field." ### Katz is the medical director of the UNC Cardiac Intensive Care Unit and Critical Care Services, the medical director of the UNC Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit and Critical Care Service, the medical director of the UNC Mechanical Heart Program, and the director of cardiovascular clinical trials at UNC. PITTSBURGH, Aug. 24, 2016 - An international team led by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine found that targeting certain donor cells lowered the risk of organ rejection in mice that underwent kidney and heart transplants. The study results, published today in Nature Communications, could lead to new ways of preventing or treating organ transplant rejection in humans. "The success of organ transplantation has reached a plateau over the past 10 or 20 years, with a significant proportion of patients still losing their grafts to rejection despite immunosuppressive treatment," said Fadi Lakkis, M.D., Frank & Athena Sarris Chair in Transplantation Biology, professor of surgery, immunology and surgery at the University of Pittsburgh, scientific director of the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute and co-author of the study. "New methods to tackle rejection are needed, and this discovery is another step toward finding a solution." Without immunosuppressive treatment, transplanted organs are quickly rejected by the recipient's immune system--in particular, by T cells. Successful engraftment has traditionally relied upon preventing the activation of T cells in the lymph nodes and spleen or in the graft by administering anti-rejection drugs. If T cell activation does occur, stopping rejection becomes increasingly difficult. To become fully activated, T cells need to make physical contact and receive help from a highly specialized type of cell called dendritic cells. Post-transplant, the main function of the dendritic cells is to present donor-derived antigens to donor-reactive T cells in lymphoid tissues, causing an immune response in the body. In the study, researchers found that dendritic cells play a key role in driving rejection of transplanted organs by activated T cells that have already entered the transplanted organ. The donor dendritic cells that accompanied heart or kidney grafts in mice were rapidly replaced by the recipient's dendritic cells, which propagated T lymphocyte activation within the graft and increased the risk of rejection. "We demonstrated that dendritic cells not only exert a key role as antigen-presenting cells in graft-draining lymphoid organs, but also play a critical function within the transplanted organs," said Adrian E. Morelli, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of surgery and immunology at the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute and study co-author. "Our study indicates that eliminating transplant-infiltrating dendritic cells reduces proliferation and survival of T cells within the graft with the consequent prolongation of transplant survival." "The next step would be to devise methods to specifically target dendritic cells within transplanted organs," Dr. Lakkis said. "Such methods carry the promise of preventing or interrupting rejection without compromising the patient's overall immune defenses." ### The study was supported in part by grants from the National Institutes of Health (R01AI049466, R01AI099465, R01HL130191), American Society of Nephrology, American Heart Association, and National Natural Science Foundation of China. About the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine As one of the nation's leading academic centers for biomedical research, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine integrates advanced technology with basic science across a broad range of disciplines in a continuous quest to harness the power of new knowledge and improve the human condition. Driven mainly by the School of Medicine and its affiliates, Pitt has ranked among the top 10 recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health since 1998. In rankings recently released by the National Science Foundation, Pitt ranked fifth among all American universities in total federal science and engineering research and development support. Likewise, the School of Medicine is equally committed to advancing the quality and strength of its medical and graduate education programs, for which it is recognized as an innovative leader, and to training highly skilled, compassionate clinicians and creative scientists well-equipped to engage in world-class research. The School of Medicine is the academic partner of UPMC, which has collaborated with the University to raise the standard of medical excellence in Pittsburgh and to position health care as a driving force behind the region's economy. For more information about the School of Medicine, see http://www.medschool.pitt.edu. http://www.upmc.com/media Contact: Lawerence Synett Phone: 412-647-9816 E-mail: SynettL@upmc.edu Contact: Wendy Zellner Phone: 412-586-9777 E-mail: ZellnerWL@upmc.edu PHILADELPHIA - Special RNA molecules called long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are key controllers for maintaining immune health when fighting infection or preventing inflammatory disorders, according to research led by Jorge Henao-Mejia, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The discovery offers a potential drug target for several inflammatory disorders characterized by an abnormal lifespan in a group of white blood cells, which can lead to organ damage. The gene for a lncRNA called Morrbid was identified in 2013 by Henao-Mejia when he was a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of the present study's coauthor, Richard Flavell, PhD, FRS, at Yale University in collaboration with another coauthor, Adam Williams, of The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Bar Harbor, Maine. After Henao-Mejia established his lab at Penn in 2014, he and his students led the team that eventually identified the immune cells in which Morrbid is expressed and illuminated its role and mechanism by which it regulates immune cell lifespan. This current study appears as an advance online publication in Nature this month. Long non-coding RNAs are transcribed from genes and are often abundant in cells, yet they do not code for proteins. The human genome contains about 20,000 protein-coding genes - less than 2 percent of the total genome - but 70 percent of the human genome actively produces about 10,000 lncRNAs and the function of the majority of them is unknown. The team found that Morrbid controls the life span of circulating myeloid cells, which are key to maintaining the proper balance between fighting infection and inflammation. The gene for Morrbid is conserved across species, including mice and humans, and is specific to certain immune cells -- neutrophils, eosinophils, and monocytes. These cell types comprise 70 percent of all circulating white blood cells, however, they are very potent in their reaction and sometimes so strong that they can cause much damage to surrounding, healthy tissue. The active system is akin to the first responders to a crisis or an invader of all immune cells. But, how does the body keep this initial over-zealous-guard-dog response in check? How does the body know when and how to tell the cells to back off? "These cells are extremely short-lived - less than one day -- and their life span is tightly regulated to meet the demands of an organism," Henao-Mejia said. "If we understand the molecular mechanisms by which their life span is tightly regulated, perhaps we could correct it when the control goes awry or power it up, when needed." Morrbid regulates cell lifespan by controlling the expression of Bim, a nearby gene that in turn controls programmed cell death in response to the abundance of pro-survival cytokines and metabolites in the surrounding environment outside cells. Morrbid essentially overrides a signaling mechanism that prevents premature immune cell death. By deleting Morrbid in mice, the team instigated a drastic reduction in the frequency of immune cells that normally express Morrbid. Therefore, the mice had less ability to fight infection but gained protection against inflammation. The expression of the human version of the gene, MORRBID, is impaired in patients with hypereosinophilic syndrome, in which the lifespan of some immune cells is not kept in check, causing inflammation and organ damage. "Knowing this, Morrbid might be a good drug target for this uncommon disease and maybe even has a potential role for chronic diseases like asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, or cancer, all of which have an errant inflammatory component to their symptoms," Henao-Mejia said. "In the near future, we would like to concentrate our efforts to develop strategies to modulate the function of MORRBID in human cells as an effective therapeutic tool against inflammatory disease." ### This work was funded by the National Institutes of Health (R21AI110776-01 T32-DK00778017, F30-DK094708, T32-AI05542803, 1DP2OD008514, 1R33EB019767), The Institute for Immunology at Penn, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $5.3 billion enterprise. The Perelman School of Medicine has been ranked among the top five medical schools in the United States for the past 18 years, according to U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $373 million awarded in the 2015 fiscal year. The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center -- which are recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report -- Chester County Hospital; Lancaster General Health; Penn Wissahickon Hospice; and Pennsylvania Hospital -- the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Additional affiliated inpatient care facilities and services throughout the Philadelphia region include Chestnut Hill Hospital and Good Shepherd Penn Partners, a partnership between Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network and Penn Medicine. Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2015, Penn Medicine provided $253.3 million to benefit our community. DALLAS - August 24, 2016 - Six new cancer research projects involving treatment, prevention, outreach, and genetics recently received a total of $9.6 million in support from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). The funding will allow UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers to: Understand how cancer cells fuel their growth Target lung cancer with highly precise carbon radiation treatments Screen disadvantaged populations and those at a higher genetic risk to help reduce rates of colorectal cancer Reach breast cancer survivors through an active living intervention. CPRIT also announced $4 million in new recruitment grants to UT Southwestern, which will be coupled with $4 million for recruitment announced in May, to help attract new cancer researchers. UT Southwestern currently has 34 cancer researchers on campus who have been recruited to Texas and UT Southwestern with assistance from CPRIT funding. "Funding by Texas taxpayers through CPRIT has been fundamental in advancing our initiatives to develop better therapies and expand prevention efforts, as well as attracting top scientists from around the country to bring their knowledge, expertise and accompanying resources to our state," said Dr. Daniel K. Podolsky, President of UT Southwestern, who holds the Philip O'Bryan Montgomery, Jr., M.D. Distinguished Presidential Chair in Academic Administration, and the Doris and Bryan Wildenthal Distinguished Chair in Medical Science. "The exciting research that these awards will support will continue that success and bring us further toward our goal of reducing and eventually eliminating the terrible burden of cancer." UT Southwestern researchers have been awarded a cumulative total of more than $331 million from CPRIT, including the latest awards, which have helped attract additional awards in basic science research, translational research and outreach and prevention programs. "Our cancer researchers are continually seeking and finding new solutions to better understand, diagnose, and treat cancer," said Dr. Melanie Cobb, Interim Director of the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Professor of Pharmacology and holder of the Jane and Bill Browning, Jr. Chair in Medical Science. "This effort includes a wide range of projects, from basic scientific findings at the molecular and cellular level needed to understand how cancer develops and spreads, to prevention and outreach efforts." To date, CPRIT has awarded 1,059 grants to Texas researchers, totaling more than $1.64 billion. The agency was launched in 2009 after Texas voters overwhelmingly approved a 2007 constitutional amendment committing $3 billion to the fight against cancer. Texas has seen steadily declining mortality rates from cancer, which have dropped 13 percent, translating to approximately 3,306 fewer deaths, according to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services. Grantees have delivered more than 1.3 million cancer education and 1.5 million clinical preventive services statewide, according to CPRIT. Awards to UT Southwestern researchers were: Multi-Investigator Research Award Dr. Steve Jiang, Professor of Radiation Oncology, holder of the Barbara Crittenden Professorship in Cancer Research * Towards Carbon Beam Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (C-SBRT) for Higher Risk Early Stage Lung Cancer - $4,103,894 High Risk/High Impact Research Award Dr. Jenna Jewell, Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology * Amino Acid Sensing: Directing Cell Growth Through mTORC1 - $198,983 awarded in May 2016 Evidence-Based Cancer Prevention Services Dr. Amit Singal, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, and the Dedman Family Scholar in Clinical Care * Implementation of an Evidence-Based Colorectal Cancer Screening Outreach Program among Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Patients in a Safety Net Health System -$1,499,826 Dr. Madhukar Trivedi, Professor of Psychiatry, holder of the Betty Jo Hay Distinguished Chair in Mental Health and the Julie K. Hersh Chair for Depression Research and Clinical Care * Promoting Activity in Cancer Survivors (PACES): An active living intervention for breast cancer survivors - $1,365,226 Evidence-Based Cancer Prevention Services-Colorectal Cancer Prevention Coalition Dr. Theodora Ross, Professor of Internal Medicine and Cancer Biology, and Director of Cancer Genetics; holder of the Jeanne Ann Plitt Professorship in Breast Cancer Research, and the H. Ben and Isabelle T. Decherd Chair in Internal Medicine in Honor of Henry M. Winans, Sr., M.D. * Detecting Unaffected Individuals for Lynch Syndrome (DUAL): Screening, Diagnosis and Navigation- $2,100,000 Cancer Prevention Promotion and Navigation to Clinical Services Dr. Theodora Ross, Professor of Internal Medicine and Cancer Biology, and Director of Cancer Genetics; holder of the Jeanne Ann Plitt Professorship in Breast Cancer Research, and the H. Ben and Isabelle T. Decherd Chair in Internal Medicine, in Honor of Henry M. Winans, Sr., M.D. * Use of Genetic Patient Navigators to Help Mutation Carriers Comply with the NCCN Guidelines and to Enable Healthy Behaviors - $399,954 Please see attachment for lay summaries of these UT Southwestern CPRIT awards. The Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center is the only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center in North Texas and one of just 47 NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the nation. Simmons Cancer Center includes 13 major cancer care programs. In addition, the Center's education and training programs support and develop the next generation of cancer researchers and clinicians. Simmons Cancer Center is among only 30 U.S. cancer research centers to be designated by the NCI as a National Clinical Trials Network Lead Academic Participating Site. ### About UT Southwestern Medical Center UT Southwestern, one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution's faculty includes many distinguished members, including six who have been awarded Nobel Prizes since 1985. The faculty of almost 2,800 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians provide medical care in about 80 specialties to more than 100,000 hospitalized patients and oversee approximately 2.2 million outpatient visits a year. This news release is available on our home page at http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/home/news/index.html To automatically receive news releases from UT Southwestern via email, subscribe at http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/receivenews UTSW Project Summaries for CPRIT Awards Multi-Investigator Research Award: Dr. Steve Jiang Lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer and the number one cause of cancer death in the United States. Radiation therapy continues to be the primary treatment for 60 percent of patients. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is a radiotherapy method that delivers a high dose of radiation to the cancer target with a high degree of precision through a small number of fractions. Over the years, SBRT has been successfully employed to early stage lung cancer using megavoltage X-ray beams. Clinical trials have clearly demonstrated high local control and improved survival benefits over conventional therapy. However, current SBRT under X-ray beam therapy has limitations for higher risk lesions, e.g. those with larger and/or centrally located tumors, due to unacceptable toxicity to normal tissues. Advanced carbon radiation therapy holds great potential due to the unique physics and radiobiology of carbon beams that deliver a greatly reduced dose to normal tissues without compromising the high dose to the tumor. UT Southwestern Medical Center is currently in the process of constructing a carbon ion therapy facility, which will likely be the first one in the United States. This effort has received support from the National Institutes of Health and from the state of Texas. One of the clinical focuses of our carbon ion therapy center is to transform the lung cancer treatment by delivering carbon beam SBRT (C-SBRT) for higher risk early stage lung cancer. However, prior to conducting clinical trials, novel technologies need to be developed to ensure that the dose delivered is accurate, robust, and safe. The current research program will perform a large-scale, coordinated, and interdisciplinary investigation to develop novel and carbon therapy-specific technologies to realize lung cancer C-SBRT. Upon completion, it is expected that key technologies will have been developed and we will be ready for clinical trials of C-SBRT treatment for higher risk early stage lung cancer. High Risk/High Impact Research Award: Dr. Jenna Jewell Growth is an essential process whereby cells and organisms accumulate mass and increase in size. Cells grow by responding to environmental cues that trigger signaling pathways to regulate growth. The mTORC1 pathway is constitutively active in many human cancers. Therapeutics such as rapamycin analogs, which target and block the mTORC1 pathway, have been approved by the FDA for renal and breast cancer. Thus, investigating how the mTORC1 pathway is regulated is of great interest. Our laboratory is focused on understanding how the mTORC1 pathway senses nutrients, such as amino acids, to control cell growth. Utilizing a combination of cell biology, biochemistry and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, we recently discovered a new pathway where the amino acid glutamine can regulate mTORC1. This is important because most cancer cells require glutamine for cell growth and proliferation. The CPRIT High Impact/High Risk award is supporting our lab to identify novel components involved in glutamine signaling to mTORC1 that can be manipulated pharmacologically. We anticipate that the findings from this research will reveal new targets that we can modulate to treat cancer. Evidence-Based Cancer Prevention Services: Dr. Amit Singal Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant health problem, particularly among racial/ethnic minorities and patients of low socioeconomic status. In our CPRIT proposal, we propose to conduct a CRC screening outreach program among more than 18,000 screen-eligible patients, ages 50-64 years, who receive primary care at Parkland Health and Hospital System, the sole safety net health system of Dallas County. This is a racially diverse and socioeconomically disadvantaged patient population at the highest risk for CRC mortality, but lowest rates of CRC screening. Our intervention will include: a) low-literacy educational letters, b) mailed screening outreach invitations delivered annually, c) a one-sample home FIT kit and return mailer with prepaid postage, d) telephone reminder calls including one-on-one education, and e) centralized patient navigation for follow-up of abnormal FIT results. Because our data show some people invited for FIT prefer to instead complete colonoscopy, we will also build in a pragmatic "Screening Choice Trial" that will randomly select 2000 patients to receive mailed invites that provide a choice of completing a home FIT kit or scheduling a colonoscopy to evaluate if having a choice of test further increases screening success. Our project will not only deliver potentially life-saving screening invitations to more than 18,000 patients and create a robust, sustainable screening program poised to improve outcomes for uninsured persons in Dallas County, but also serve as a proven, replicable model for improving CRC screening processes and outcomes among underserved populations in health systems throughout Texas. Evidence-Based Cancer Prevention Services: Dr. Madhukar Trivedi Recurrence of cancer is a major concern for over 3 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S., including at least 135,000 Texans. Physical activity is an effective, safe, and evidence-based behavior that improves physical and psychosocial functioning, and potentially improves recurrence and survival among breast cancer survivors. It is recommended that cancer survivors engage in at least 75 minutes intense or 150 minutes moderate activity per week, but despite the significant benefits of physical activity, at least two-thirds of breast cancer survivors do not meet these recommendations. With a grant from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, UT Southwestern's Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care will be starting a new research project to increase physical activity among breast cancer survivors and address behavioral and psychological barriers to exercise. The primary goal is to provide education and the optimal combination of interventions to increase physical activity among breast cancer survivors. This program is innovative in its reach and focus, working to identify the most effective components of a behavior modification approach to implement a physical activity plan for breast cancer survivors. This program can serve as a catalyst to ensure that Texas leads the nation in active lifestyles during cancer survivorship. Evidence-Based Cancer Prevention Services - Colorectal Cancer Prevention Coalition: Dr. Theodora Ross In the U.S., there are approximately 150,000 colorectal cases per year that result in 50,000 deaths. Lynch syndrome, the most common hereditary colon cancer syndrome, affects approximately 1 in 300 individuals. Remarkably, only 2 percent of individuals with Lynch syndrome in the U.S. are aware of their genetic condition. When a patient without cancer is known to have LS, a cancer prevention management plan can save his or her life. By querying for family history of cancer through tele-counseling we plan to screen more than 300,000 people to increase Lynch syndrome identification and management. In addition to sending information annually by mail to homes in 23 local counties, we will connect with patients at our partner safety net hospitals (Parkland Health and Hospital System and JPS Health Network) as well as at UT Southwestern during routine screenings (mammograms or colonoscopies) or other health care visits. Risk assessment of patients will allow us to educate both patients and their physicians regarding genetic testing and cancer screening intervals for those at high risk for cancer. We will specifically measure if our program leads to an increase in compliance with early colonoscopies for individuals at high risk for colon cancer. This program's goal is to not only increase cancer genetic literacy and cancer prevention activities, but also to serve as a model for others in the world to use to identify individuals at risk for Lynch syndrome and other cancer genetic conditions. Cancer Prevention Promotion and Navigation to Clinical Services: Dr. Theodora Ross Patients with Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer syndrome (HBOC) and Lynch syndrome have elevated lifetime risk for cancer. Based on the frequency of mutated genes, 72,280 individuals in Texas have HBOC or Lynch syndrome. If cancer risk reduction strategies are maximized, these individuals have the opportunity to prevent their cancers. In this project we will use a genetic patient navigator (GPN) to promote patient adherence to cancer prevention strategies. Our program has identified over 2,400 mutation carriers to date. Many of these patients have not received systematic follow up and at-risk family members have not been tested. Typically, patients are sent back to their referring providers for ongoing medical management needs, but studies have shown that many non-genetic health care providers have low genetic health literacy. The GPN will contact most of our HBOC/Lynch syndrome mutation carriers. The GPN will: 1) obtain updated medical history and 2) ascertain the need for services and current compliance with prevention recommendations. The GPN will then follow up with patients annually after scheduled screenings or risk-reduction efforts and obtain information on relatives tested. The GPN will be available to navigate relatives to genetic counseling and testing. The GPN role has the potential to decrease cancer incidence in our target population. To our knowledge, there is not a current GPN position at any facility that focuses solely on following mutation carriers and identifying at-risk family members. If successful, this will serve as a model for others to use to help their patients and evaluate the outcomes of genetic patient navigation. Page Not Found The requested URL was not found on this server. Pound to Swiss Franc Exchange Rate Climbs as Recent UK Data Points to Limited Brexit Damage on the Economy Even though Swiss Industrial Production was found to have sharply contracted on the year in the second quarter the Pound to Swiss Franc exchange rate was unable to hold onto its gains on Thursday. In spite of the headline figure of the CBI Reported Sales report strongly bettering expectations worries remain that the UK economy is being dented by uncertainty stemming from the EU referendum, something that is holding the GBP exchange rate complex down. A huge budget deficit for the Scottish government has actually helped to boost British Pound to Swiss Franc exchange rate so far today, as it has undermined the chances of Scotland seeking independence. With public spending clocking in at -15 billion, twice the size of the UKs deficit when proportionally-adjusted, many are arguing the Scottish economy is not strong enough to survive on its own, lessening the chances of the UK disintegrating over the Brexit referendum outcome. Government figures from Scotland have rubbished claims that its budget deficit could prevent it leaving the UK and becoming a separate member of the European Union, further weakening GBP/CHF exchange rates. Derek Mackay, Scottish Finance Secretary, has claimed that the deficit has been caused by the UKs economic policy and pointed out that the EU never asked the UK to leave when its deficit was 10% after the financial crisis; 0.5% higher than Scotlands current deficit. The Pound (GBP) has made bold moves against the Swiss Franc (CHF) and a majority of its other regular peers over Wednesday, with the 0.4% advance against the Franc equating to a 1.27 figure in the exchange rate. The Pound has managed to sustain a general rally since Monday, though concerns have been voiced that this current reserve of investor optimism is built on sand. While the UKs post-Referendum PMIs plummeted, investors have nonetheless taken interest in the Pound because of a two-year high in manufacturing exports, as well as news of rising shares for housebuilder Persimmon. Latest Pound/Swiss Franc Exchange Rates On Saturday the Swiss Franc to British Pound exchange rate (CHF/GBP) converts at 0.864 FX markets see the pound vs swiss franc exchange rate converting at 1.157. The live inter-bank GBP-EUR spot rate is quoted as 1.165 today. The GBP to USD exchange rate converts at 1.161 today. NB: the forex rates mentioned above, revised as of 29th Oct 2022, are inter-bank prices that will require a margin from your bank. Foreign exchange brokers can save up to 5% on international payments in comparison to the banks. Pound Sterling Forecast: CBI Stats due Tomorrow, UK GDP and BoE News on Friday The rest of the week will still bring notable announcements that could shift the value of the Pound, starting off with tomorrows Confederation of British Industry (CBI) distributive trades stats for August. The forecast has technically been positive, with a shift in store from -14 to -11. Closing off the week will be Fridays Q2 second estimate for the GDP growth rate, as well as a speech from Bank of England (BoE) official Nemat Shafik. The GDP result has been forecast positively on both the quarter and the year, while Shafiks speech is expected to come from the US Jackson Hole Symposium, which could mean that any remarks will not specifically pertain to the UK economy. Swiss Franc Exchange Rates Deteriorate along with Gold Costs as Immigration Issues Emerge The Swiss Franc has been in a clear state of decline over Wednesdays trading session, having flopped in almost all of its usual pairings due to concerns about future Swiss involvement in the EU. As a quasi-member of the EU, Switzerland has tried to have the best of both worlds, most notably when a 2014 referendum saw a slim majority favour immigration quotas. As it stands, however, no formal settlement has been reached, therefore free travel and movement is still in place. As the UKs (eventual) exit from the EU has dominated the headlines and thoughts of EU officials, Switzerland seems stuck in limbo once again, having to take its place in the queue of importance while fluctuating gold costs only compound present concerns about the Swiss economy. Swiss Franc (CHF) Exchange Rate Outlook: Industrial Data due Tomorrow, KOF Indicators Out Next Week Asides from the sporadic movements in gold prices, the only remaining Swiss news to watch out for this week will come tomorrow, when the Q2 industrial production and orders results are due. These have been forecast positively in both fields, with respective expected increases being from 1% to 2.4% and from -2.2% to 0.5%. Looking ahead to the coming week, the KOF economic institute leading indicators for August will be announced, which are expected to show a minor rise from 102.7 to 102.9. GBP Long-Term Predictions Pound may Drop if Tide Turns against Post-Brexit Optimism The Pound has been undeniably positive of late on optimistic investor action in the wake of supportive UK news for July and August. However, this may ultimately prove to be false hope, resulting in a major GBP dropoff, should further data show a long-term trend towards negativity after the Referendum. Pantheon Macroeconomics Chief Economist Samuel Tombs has echoed this sentiment, remarking on recent seemingly positive mortgaging data that; Housing transactions, which only edged down in July, have yet to register the full adverse impact of the Brexit vote. Morning all, My employer to be applied during this years H1B cap period and we made it through the 'lottery' to get in for processing. in may we got notice that the case had been transferred to another office, it seems to be taking forever. The attorney who is dealing with it initially said that each phase was around 8 weeks, and that we would have an answer on the visa approx 3 months before it became 'live' (01 Oct). its now less than 2 months until it goes live and we've heard nothing! anyone else on this years cap program? have you heard anything? Tuesday, August 23, 2016 Gail Rubin presents Laughing in the Face of Death: Funny Films for Funeral Planning at Congregation Beth Ami, 14330 Travilah Rd, Rockville, Maryland, on Tuesday, September 6 at 7:30 p.m. Its a special evening event, part of their Live and Learn series. The comedy film clip-illustrated talk covers: Why we need to plan ahead, but most people dont. The information that needs to be found found and decisions made under duress of grief. Options for paying for a funeral or cremation and current costs. Comparing cremation, burial and donating the body to science (and Jewish insights). The importance of having a goodbye ritual. All attendees will receive a free PDF of the 50-point Executor Checklist from Gails new book, KICKING THE BUCKET LIST: 100 Downsizing and Organizing Things to Do Before You Die. Gail Rubin, CT, is an award-winning speaker, death educator and author who uses humor to help people address end-of-life issues, such as advance medical directives, wills and trusts, and pre-need funeral planning. Learn more about Gail. Wednesday, August 24, 2016 What the Liquor Authority Looks for When Reviewing Liquor Store Applications A license to sell liquor and wine at retail for off-premises consumption is commonly referred to as a package store license. Section 63 of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law governs the issuance of package store (liquor store and wine store) licenses. The law provides that determinations on whether to grant permission to operate a package store be made in accordance with public convenience and advantage. In evaluating whether public convenience and advantage will be served by issuing the license, the Authority considers whether the area is adequately served by the existing package stores. As part of that review, the Authority looks at, among other things, the proximity of the existing licensed stores to the applicants location, the gross sales of the four nearest liquor stores, recent population or demographic changes, and whether the applicant will offer products or services not currently provided by the existing licensees. When an application for a brand new package store is filed, the Authority will obtain the annual gross sales figures from the four closest stores for the last several years. These stores have up to 30 dys to reply to the Authority once they receive a request. If any of these existing liquor stores report declining revenues, a liquor store application is unlikely to be approved where there was nothing submitted with the application to demonstrate that there has been a change in the areas population or demographics that would support the issuance of another package store license in the community. The decreasing sales at the existing package store suggest a limited demand for their goods. The Authoritys experience has been that oversaturation of package stores in a community often leads to the licensees cutting corners as they compete for the same customers. This includes licensees violating the law to obtain an advantage over the other business. This could be overcome. However, if the applicant includes documentation and supporting statements with the application to sh0w that the store would offer products or services that are not already available to the community at the existing package stores. Other factors that support issuance of a liquor store license include: applicants previous experience operating a successful package store or other business involving retail alcohol sales; the nearby liquor stores do not meet the needs of consumers; the municipality and nearby business community supports the application; and based on population increases, there is sufficient amount of business for all of the stores in the area The Authority as stated that the fact that this location may have been a package store in the past has little, if any relevance in deciding whether this application should be approved. Thus such information will not be weighed heavily in review of the new application. (In our experience, it may have a small impact and is worth mentioning.) In the case where the applicant has a history of disciplinary violations, the Authority is likely to find that issuing the applicant a license would only increase the likelihood of future violations. Creating such an environment does not serve public convenience and advantage. This can be overcome with a strong management plan that proves the Authority that the applicant will operate a responsible and legally compliant business and can demonstrate a firm plan for doing so. Hiring experienced management is helpful to making this case. The request for data often provokes a protest letter from competitors who would like to prevent a new store from entering the local market. These will be considered but will not automatically lead to denial of an application. Having experienced representation can be particularly advantageous when swimming in these shark infested waters. Applications for package store licenses often take longer than on-premise retail licenses because of the 30 day period for competitors to respond and because all package store licenses must be approved by the Full Board at a public meeting. These two requirements can ad 1-2 months to the process time and should be factored into a launch business plan. About Tracy Jong Tracy Jong has been an attorney for more than 20 years, representing restaurants, bars, and craft beverage manufacturers in a wide array of legal matters. She is also a licensed patent attorney. Her book Everything You Need To Know About Obtaining and Maintaining a New York Retail Liquor License: The Definitive Guide to Navigating the State Liquor Authority will be available next month on Amazon.com as a softcover and Kindle e-book. Her legal column is available in The Equipped Brewer, a publication giving business advice, trends, and vendor reviews to help craft breweries, cideries, distilleries and wineries build brands and succeed financially. She also maintains a website and blog with practical information on legal and business issues affecting the industry. Follow her, sign up for her free firm app or monthly newsletter. www.TracyJongLawFirm.com TJong@TracyJongLawFirm.com Facebook: Tracy Jong Law Firm Twitter: @TJLawFirm LinkedIn: Tracy Jong Tracy Jong Law Firm The Latin American refinery bust has proved to be a boon for U.S. fuel makers. From Brazils Petroleo Brasileiro SA to Mexicos Petroleos Mexicanos, state oil companies have failed to complete nine projects worth at least $36.4 billion that would have supplied 1.2 million barrels of gasoline and diesel daily. U.S. refiners have stepped up to help fill the gap, with exports almost doubling in the past six years, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Falling oil prices, high levels of debt and failure to find partners to help finance the plants are among the reasons cited by Pemex, Costa Ricas Refinadora Costarricense de Petroleo SA and Colombias Ecopetrol SA for postponing their plans. Brazils Petrobras has been slowed by the price drop as well as a corruption scandal. Refinery investment plans in the region have really fizzled out over the past year or so, Mara Roberts, a BMI Research analyst based in New York, said in an email. Latin America is keen to take in growing U.S. supplies. U.S. exports to the region have been rising steadily and reached a record 1.88 million barrels a day this year. Latin America now accounts for 42 percent of Americas fuel exports, up from 38 percent a decade ago. U.S. fuel output increased 4.1 percent over two years to a record 19.9 million barrels a day in 2015, EIA data show. Companies including San Antonio-based Valero Energy Corp., Marathon Petroleum Corp. and PBF Energy Inc. have boosted the operating rates of their refineries, and with U.S. domestic demand growing more slowly, the outlet to Latin America is helping sop up excess fuel supply. The utilization rate was at 93.3 percent in the week ended July 29, the highest since November. Buoyed by cheap oil and gas from shale formations, U.S. refiners increased runs and invested in export terminals, said John Auers, executive vice president of Turner Mason & Co., a Dallas-based consulting firm. Latin America is an obvious destination for the U.S. fuel because of its proximity to the Gulf Coast and the delays in building refineries there, he said. Its a hand-and-glove situation, Auers said. About 25 percent of Latin Americas fuel demand is currently met by the U.S., he said. A vessel carrying gasoline or diesel from the Gulf Coast can deliver to Mexico in two days compared with at least 15 for a cargo coming from European rivals. We have a competitive advantage going to Mexico and South America, Gary Simmons, Valeros senior vice president of supply and international operations, said on the companys July 26 earnings call. U.S. refiners are facing competition from Europe, the Middle East and Asia, where exports are surging. Brazil imported diesel from China and Hong Kong in May for the first time in at least five years. Certainly we are seeing stray barrels from the Middle East coming into LatAm, and we could see more if European distillate demand deteriorates, but U.S. Gulf Coast refiners are well-positioned to take advantage of LatAm demand growth, said Andrew Echlin, a New York-based analyst with Energy Aspects Ltd. Petrobras has ended up with four unfinished refinery projects amid the slump in oil prices and a corruption scandal that broke in March 2014 when police arrested a former refining chief, accusing him of involvement in a pay-to-play scheme. The former chief, Paulo Roberto Costa, was found guilty of money laundering and is currently under house arrest after agreeing to cooperate with the investigation. Brazils state-controlled energy company halted construction of two 300,000-barrel-a-day refineries, the Premium I and Premium II plants. It stopped work on the 165,000-barrel-a-day Comperj petrochemical complex and postponed an expansion of the Abreu e Lima refinery. Voter Guide: What to know for the midterm election Your guide to the Texas and San Antonio races and candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot. In response to a request for comment, Petrobras said decisions on the construction of new refineries will be announced as part of its next five-year investment plan. The next plan should be released in September, Chief Financial Officer Ivan Monteiro told reporters in Rio on Friday. Ecuadors ministry of strategic sectors, which is in charge of the project to build the new Pacifico refinery, didnt return calls and emails seeking comment. Valero, Marathon and PBF declined to comment. Pemex shelved plans to build the 300,000-barrel-a-day Tula Bicentenario refinery and is seeking partners to operate its six existing plants after posting 15 consecutive quarterly losses. Last year for the first time, Mexico imported more gasoline than it produced. Pemex declined to comment on plans for future or existing refineries. Ecuadors government is seeking partners to build the Pacifico refinery, a project that would process 300,000 barrels a day. Colombias Ecopetrol said it suspended the expansion of the Barrancabermeja plant until oil prices recover. Costa Ricas national refiner canceled plans to expand the countrys only plant. Countries including Brazil are preparing for increased foreign shipments by seeking to expand import terminals, while others, such as Mexico, are building pipelines to connect with the supplies, said Roberts of BMI Research. Poor maintenance at Latin American plants and the shelved projects mean U.S. processors can rely on the region to absorb excess supply for years to come, she said. I dont foresee a major risk to the U.S. role in Latin America, she said. Bexar Countys proposed $1.8 billion budget would maintain most spending levels even after a slight cut in the property tax rate to take some of the sting out of soaring property valuations. Working with a projected 6 percent increase in property tax revenues, Commissioners Court on Tuesday began scrutinizing the fiscal 2016-17 spending plan thats up slightly from this years $1.7 billion budget. The court has until Sept. 13 to make changes before the plan takes effect Oct. 1. Meetings are planned in coming weeks to address some of the budgets most controversial aspects, including the proposed elimination of part-time justices of the peace and staff reductions for JP clerks and deputy constables. Tough negotiations also are expected as officials try to cut the countys insurance bill by $7 million, amid what planners called explosive cost increases. The countys steadily decreasing tax rate 0.3145 per $100 valuation for the past two years would dip to 0.30895 under the proposal submitted by County Manager David Smith. If approved, the rate cut would be the 11th in 20 years as officials try to ease the impact of steadily rising property values. More Information Highlights of proposed Bexar County budget Total spending $1.8 billion, up from current $1.7 billion. Based on 6 percent increase in property tax revenues. Allows for small reduction in property tax rate per $100 valuation. Requires significant reductions in health insurance costs. Could result in elimination of all part-time justices of the peace and reductions for JP clerks and deputy constables. Sets minumum wage for county employees at $13.50, up from current $13. Grants 1 percent cost-of-living increase to exempt and executive county workers. Continues major public works projects, including San Pedro Creek improvements, construction of new sheriff substations, and jail upgrades. Bexar County property tax rates, 2007-2017 2006-07 - 0.3236866 2007-08 - 0.3236866 2008-09 - 0.3236866 2009-10 - 0.3236866 2010-11 - 0.3236866 2011-12 - 0.3236866 2012-13 - 0.3236866 2013-14 - 0.3236866 2014-15 - 0.3145 2015-16 - 0.3145 2016-17 - 0.30895 (proposed) See More Collapse Commissioners could lower the tax rate even further before the Sept. 13 deadline, but cannot increase it. Further lowering is not expected, however, due to huge pressure to keep up with rising costs and the countys growing population. Lowering the tax rate would keep property tax revenue growth at 6 percent, which lessens the burden on the taxpayer while at the same time providing funding to meet service demands, Smith said. But planners issued a stern warning about insurance costs. This year, those costs rose $7.2 million over last year, due to a $2.4 million increase in prescription costs and $4.8 million in medical costs. The increases were attributed to a rise in high-cost claims and prescriptions, and more enrollments. The status quo is no longer financially sustainable, a budget summary said, adding that the proposal presumes a still-to-be-determined $7 million trim to the bottom line for insurance. Options include increasing premiums for employees and some retirees; changing or reducing plan choices; creating a new tier for spousal coverage and increasing out-of-pocket costs for workers. The county has about 4,700 workers, and they currently earn no less than $13 an hour under the countys living wage initiative. Although some workers were seeking an increase to $14, the tentative plan calls for a $13.50 minimum wage and a 1 percent cost-of-living increase for exempt and executive county workers. Set for further review next week are plans to revamp JP and constable staffs in light of a 2013 redistricting process and a transfer to the city of juvenile truancy cases. The changes resulted in increased workload in one precinct and declines in the other three, which now are ripe for trimming. Smiths plan, which calls for elimination of three part-time JPs, nine JP clerks and 17 deputy constables, is expected to draw fierce opposition during hearings. Weve got our work cut out for us, said Precinct 4 Commissioner Tommy Calvert. Overall, the county workforce would grow by just 18 new positions. The budget includes several long-running, big-ticket spending items including redevelopment of San Pedro Creek, construction of two sheriff patrol substations, major renovations at the jail and numerous road projects, though few of them are entirely new. Among the additional road projects are work on Grosenbacher Road and in the Candlewood Phase II and Sanctuary subdivisions. The plan also provides $750,000 to begin designing road upgrades in unpaved Highland Oaks subdivision in South Bexar County, answering the pleas of residents backed by COPS/Metro Alliance. jgonzalez@express-news.net Twitter: @johnwgonzalez An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.2 struck central Italy early Wednesday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. There was no immediate information about injuries or damage, but the agency said on its website that by its measurements, significant casualties and extensive damage were likely. The earthquake was reported to have struck outside Norcia, Italy, which is about 110 miles northeast of Rome. The geological survey said the population in the region lived in structures that were a mix of vulnerable and earthquake-resistant construction. On Twitter, a resident reported that electricity had been knocked out. WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Agriculture took new measures Aug. 23 to reduce the cheese surplus and help the dairy industry in this time of low prices. The USDA will purchase about 11 million pounds of cheese from private inventories to assist food banks and pantries across the nation, while reducing a cheese surplus that is at its highest level in 30 years. The purchase, valued at $20 million, will be provided to families in need across the country through USDA nutrition assistance programs, while assisting the markets for dairy producers, whose revenues have dropped 35 percent over the past two years. We understand that the nations dairy producers are experiencing challenges due to market conditions and that food banks continue to see strong demand for assistance, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. This commodity purchase is part of a robust, comprehensive safety net that will help reduce a cheese surplus that is at a 30-year high while, at the same time, moving a high-protein food to the tables of those most in need. Responding to requests USDA received requests from Congress, the National Farmers Union, the American Farm Bureau and the National Milk Producers Federation to make an immediate dairy purchase. USDA also announced that it will extend the deadline for dairy producers to enroll in the Margin Protection Program (MPP) for dairy to Dec. 16, from the previous deadline of Sept. 30. This voluntary dairy safety net program, established by the 2014 farm bill, provides financial assistance to participating dairy producers when the margin the difference between the price of milk and feed costs falls below the coverage level selected by the producer. A USDA web tool, available at www.fsa.usda.gov/mpptool, allows dairy producers to calculate levels of coverage available from MPP based on price projections. On Aug. 4, USDA announced approximately $11.2 million in financial assistance to U.S. dairy producers enrolled in MPP-Dairy, the largest payment since the program began in 2014. By supporting a strong farm safety net, expanding credit options and growing domestic and foreign markets, USDA is committed to helping Americas dairy operations remain successful, said Vilsack. Looking ahead While USDA projects dairy prices to increase throughout the rest of the year, many factors including low world market prices, increased milk supplies and inventories, and slower demand have contributed to the sluggish marketplace for dairy producers. USDA said it will continue to monitor market conditions in the coming months and evaluate additional actions, if necessary, later this fall. Positive response The National Milk Producers Federation said it appreciates the prompt action by USDA, on both decisions, and said the organization will continue working with the federal government on ways to further improve the Margin Protection Program. American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall, who was on a tour through Ohio this week, said this action will help alleviate the tough realities of the market and keep family farmers in business at a time when too many are leaving. According to Duvall, more than 1,200 family dairy farms went out of business in 2015. Shropshire A Full-Time position is available for an assistant herdsperson on a family dairy farm in mid Shropshire. We have a 250 dairy herd rearing own replacements together with a b... Livestock chairmen from all four of the biggest farming unions in the UK have met to discuss the potential impact on beef and lamb sectors post-Brexit. Access to the European market, regulatory burden and an agricultural policy that delivers confidence were the key issues when the industry leaders met. Speaking after the meeting, NFU livestock chairman Charles Sercombe said it had been a worthwhile meeting and that all four unions were unanimous over what the priorities were for both the beef and lamb sectors post-referendum. "It was agreed that on trade we need to ensure we continue to have access to the important European market for our beef and lamb but at the same time, it is important that discussions to secure access to new markets around the world continue," said Mr Sercombe. "Agreements that allow access to the UK market must take into account the sensitive status of UK produced beef and lamb in future free trade or WTO discussions. Regulatory burdens "Like other farming sectors, access to non-UK labour is a key issue. We are acutely aware that the meat processing sector is reliant on a secure labour supply, and without it we could see costs rising in the supply chain and which would have a knock on effect on our ability to compete in a world market. "Regulatory burden remains a thorny issue for many livestock producers. "We recognise that any significant change could impact on our ability to trade within the single market. "Therefore, our challenge to government is to ensure regulation is proportionate, is not gold plated but encourages compliance. "We want an agricultural policy that helps deliver long term food security, stability and confidence for the livestock sector that reflects geographical and devolved Government differences. "The UK livestock sector has an opportunity to come up with a template for a productive and profitable sector, this is the start of a new era and we want be part of that discussion." Mr Sercombe was joined by his livestock colleagues from NFU Cymru -Wyn Evans; NFU Scotland Charlie Adam; as well as Ulster Farmers Unions Crosby Cleland. Access to labour market Earlier this month, the NFU warned that access to skilled and flexible labour sources or there could be a 'devastating impact' across the farming sectors. The call comes as many farmers up and down the country work around the clock to bring in the nations harvest. After the UKs decision to leave the EU, the NFU said its immediate concerns centred on farmings ability to access essential markets as well as farmers being able to source essential labour and trade on a level footing with their competitors. With some farming sectors, such as horticulture, relying heavily on non-UK seasonal and year-round workers, the NFU has today called for access to labour to be a key consideration in the on-going talks to shape a new domestic agriculture policy. Last month, a briefing paper published by the Food Research Collaboration called for Britain to invest in its agricultural workforce to cope with changes in migration policy after Brexit. Cruicial in 'day-to-day' tasks NFU President Meurig Raymond said horticulture is already experiencing labour shortages which "looks set to get worse." Mr Raymond said: "And we know its not just horticulture that will be affected. "Non-UK workers are often employed in a whole host of roles throughout farming and are crucial in day-to-day tasks as well as at peak times as we are now experiencing with harvest. "We have already written to the Brexit minister, David Davis, about our concerns, and we continue to meet with Government departments to work on behalf of our members. "We want to seek assurance that they will be able to have access to the labour they need so they can continue to produce food for the nation. "There are many ways in which the challenge of accessing labour could be solved and we are consulting with our members over the coming weeks to help find the best solutions. "I plan to share their views with the new team at Defra to ensure these grassroots ideas help to shape the new domestic farm policy which is needed - one that puts food and farming at its heart." Dairy Crest is celebrating its 20th year as a public company this month. To mark the occasion Dairy Crests Chief Executive Mark Allen and Finance Director Tom Atherton officially Opened the Market at the London Stock Exchange this morning. The ceremony took place at 8am. Mark Allen, Dairy Crests Chief Executive, was on hand to start trading for the day. Since it was originally floated in 1996, Dairy Crest has evolved from a supply-driven, commoditised business to a lean, branded and added value business. Todays business has industry-leading margins and derives nearly all of its income from its market-leading brands and added value products, including the nations favourite cheese brand Cathedral City. Having grown from retail sales of just 12 million in 1996 to almost 300 million today, Cathedral City is a great British success story. Thriving as a British dairy company Mark Allen, Dairy Crests Chief Executive said, Im very proud that twenty years on from our original listing, Dairy Crest continues to thrive as a listed British dairy company. "During that period we have adapted and taken bold decisions to transform the business and ensure that our future prospects are more exciting than ever." Our strategy of de-risking the business and pursuing sales in branded and added value markets continues to work. Our market-leading brands and growing presence in new, high growth markets through our infant formula business will underpin future growth and attractive returns for shareholders. I would like to thank everybody who has been involved with the company and contributed to its success over the last 20 years, including our colleagues, farmers, customers and shareholders. Farming Minister George Eustice commented: I am committed to helping our dairy industry improve its competitiveness so it can take advantage of the growing demand for British dairy produce at home and abroad. Dairy Crest is a thriving business and its fantastic to see them celebrating 20 years since being first listed on the stock exchange. By diversifying their business and offering products such as cheeses and butters, as well as their investment in infant formula which is opening up new export markets, they are set to build on this success. Hundreds of farmers have turned up to have their say on what they think is needed from a future domestic agricultural policy for the British farming sector post-Brexit. The NFU kicked off the first of its member meetings this week the start of 50 taking place up and down the country as part of one of the largest consultations in the NFUs 108-year history. NFU President Meurig Raymond said: "We are expecting thousands of our members to engage with us during the consultation. "Despite it being a busy time for farmers I'm pleased hundreds have already turned out, showing that we're right to hold this consultation now. "It really shows that there is an appetite from NFU members to help shape the future of their great industry." 'Just the beginning' Raymond said it was crucial that farmers have their say and encouraged as many as possible to attend the meetings between now and the middle of September. "At the same time, I would ask the younger generation to also take advantage of our free membership offer in conjunction with the YFC, as they can play a very important part in our ongoing work. "During our meetings, weve already covered a wide variety of topics, such as future trade policy, domestic agricultural policy and access to labour. "These have been some of the big issues central to the policy framework farming needs for a certain future. "Ultimately, what we need from this far-reaching exercise, is to provide a strong and united voice for the food and farming industry, to ensure that agriculture is seen as strategically and politically important in all future trade negotiations. "These talks are just the beginning and I, along with the rest of the officeholder team, am looking forward to the days and weeks ahead." The consultation period will end on 14 September 2016 the day the NFU will hold Back British Farming Day to meet with MPs and talk about the dynamic and exciting future for British farming. The food service industry has a 'key role' in supporting local produce and helping to protect the viability of farmers, Victor Chestnutt, deputy president of the Ulster Farmers' Union has said. Following a meeting with Lynas, a local food service company, Mr Chestnutt said that when we think about how food is produced and marketed by retailers, we perhaps forget that in the background there is a significant distribution network orchestrated by the food service industry. He added that these businesses are key in getting food into the public sector, small retailers and restaurants. Backing local food more important than ever "Due to the nature of food labelling legislation, it is not always essential that the origin of the produce is displayed to the end customer. "Where this is not displayed people will naturally question whether these businesses, and indeed the public sector, are buying food produced locally or simply food sourced from local companies but produced in other countries, said Mr Chestnutt. While the UFU said it recognises that some food service companies are doing an excellent job marketing local produce it says it is disappointed others are not doing so. This ignores the benefits supporting Northern Ireland produce brings to the local economy, tourism and the environment, said the UFU. "As we move towards leaving the EU, backing local food will be more important than ever. With Lynas, we agreed that continuing to support initiatives such as the NI Year of Food and Drink is important. "There are opportunities to build on this if government can invest more in local food promotion," said Victor Chestnutt. He added that as the cornerstone of the local economy, agriculture and food can continue to deliver more jobs if the right marketing strategy for the industry is pursued. The role of family livestock hill farms is being highlighted at Meirionnydd County Show from today. Meirionnydd is designated as a Less Favoured Area because of its challenging terrain, but that has not stopped generations of Welsh farmers from running successful businesses in the county, helping to manage the landscape and acting as economic drivers for their local communities. NFU Cymru will be celebrating the vital contribution of Meirionnydds family livestock hill farms at this years Meirionnydd County Show at the Rhug Estate in Corwen. The Union will also use the event as a chance to engage with its Meirionnydd members and encourage them to take part in its consultation for what they would like to see from a future Welsh agricultural policy. Bedrock of everyday life Geraint Rowlands, NFU Cymru Meirionnydd County Chairman, said: Across the county, we have land that has been farmed by the same families for generations and I think that continuity and preservation of rural culture, tradition and sense of place in todays society is something to be heralded. "In many instances these rural farm businesses are the bedrock of everyday life in their local communities and responsible for those communities financial and social prosperity. "Livestock farmers in Meirionnydd have an important part to play for a number of reasons. The livestock they rear contribute significantly to food security, but also manage the local habitat and contribute to the quality of a landscape that attracts thousands of visitors every year and underpins the tourism sector. "Family farms play a vital role for the local economy, too, providing direct employment as well as indirectly supporting a wide variety of local businesses including vets, feed merchants, contractors and many other professions who are reliant on the income they receive from the agricultural industry in their area. "For many years this economic contribution has been overlooked, but as the agricultural industry looks to enter a post-Brexit era I think its crucial that we underline the important role our farming businesses play for the local economy. "Farmers here in Meirionnydd face some particularly unique challenges and I think it is important that they make their voices heard as NFU Cymru opens its consultation for what the industry needs from a post-Brexit Wales agricultural policy. "I would encourage all of our local members to contribute their views to this important piece of work." NFU Cymru will be hosting a number of Brexit roadshows across Wales, including sessions in Aberystwyth and Caernarfon, in the coming weeks. NFU Scotlands Crown Estate tenants working group met this week to compile its submission to the Scottish Government consultation on the interim management of the estates. The Union, which last year brought together a working group comprising of representatives from each of the four rural estates held within the portfolio, has expressed concerns about some parts of the portfolio being broken off, which it feels would be "detrimental" to the wider rural estate. The decision to devolve the Crown Estate to Scotland came following the Smith Commission report, with responsibility for the process falling to Scottish Government. Following an extensive period of stakeholder meetings, the consultation, which closed this week, sought views on an interim management structure for the estates. Scottish Government officials will reflect on responses to this, before further decisions are taken regarding both interim and longer term management of the portfolio. 'Estate should be kept as a whole' NFU Scotlands President Allan Bowie, who attends the main Scottish Government Stakeholder Advisory Group on behalf of the tenants, commented: "The Union has been firmly pressing the views of the agricultural tenants, who feel strongly that the estate should be kept as a whole during the transfer process and beyond. "The agricultural tenants agree that an interim body managing the Crown Estate in the first instance is a positive step, however, there should be a review process built into this. "Our tenants tell us that there must be recognition of the valuable contribution that the agricultural holdings make to the wider Crown Estate. Mr Bowie said they provide an "invaluable base" for the rest of the portfolio, as well as "huge benefits" to their environs and the wider local communities. "The Unions working group was also very supportive of the interim proposals in the consultation, which suggested there could be a place for dedicated sub committees within the new management structure and this is very encouraging. "NFU Scotland will be pushing strongly for agricultural tenants to have a key voice in this. "It is clear that this sort of approach will provide a structure that is open and transparent, and allows a clear understanding of how key management decisions are made. "This is a new dawn for the Crown Estate, and there is real opportunity in the direction of travel that Scottish Government seems to be considering, " Mr Bowie concluded. Exceptional performance at all stages in broiler production is recognised by Cobb Europe in a new Cobb Champion award for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. The targets are individual farmers and companies whose results in chick numbers, hatchability or broiler performance put them among the best three performing flocks within the region for each category. Many of our customers are consistently achieving standards that rank them among the top performing in the world, said Tore Mercan, sales and technical director for Cobb Europe. Stephan Klaassen-van Husen [right], Wimex production director "We have set up this new Cobb Champion status not only to recognise and reward this level of performance, but equally to encourage others to aspire to such achievement." The award winners are presented with a decorative plaque for display on the farm and a crystal trophy for the production manager, together with a range of exclusive Cobb branded items. Gregory Hart, head of Quantum Foods broiler division at Wellington, South Africa, commented: The award does mean a lot to our company, myself and our team of managers and suppliers who form the synergy to achieve these results. The rearing, laying and hatchery managers were present and they, too, mentioned their appreciation and the pride they felt in being part of the team that achieved these results. The initial winners are: Breeder performance South Africa - Eagles Pride (Pty) 148.8 chicks/ breeder to 60 weeks South Africa - Quantum Foods 144.61 chicks/breeder to 60 weeks South Africa - KZN Breeders -RHGB10 142.81 chicks/breeder to 60 weeks Farm manager Lindani Hlongwa Production managers Canzius Le Roux and Alan Ready Hatchability Germany Wimex, Zwethau farm Average hatchability 90.7% Farm manager Loretta Petzsch Germany Wimex, Falkenhain farm Average hatch 90.06% Farm manager Barbel Bockschutz Broiler performance UK Hook2Sisters, Wickham Skeith farm Age 34.5 days, liveweight weight 2.21kg, feed conversion 1.52, Farm manager Nigel Wittrick Eight riders from across the North West and beyond will line-up to race at Aintree in aid of The Countryside Alliance Foundation on 23 October. The charity race where riders race on borrowed horses is part of the Aintree Countryside Day, which is a great day out for all the family. It is also the courses Old Roan Chase Meeting so there will be a full card of races after the charity event, which will be the first race at around noon. The riders are: Charles Clark: A joint master and huntsman of the Holderness hunt in Yorkshire, this will be his first charity race, but Charles has some experience. His mother trains point-to-pointers and he rides out on the gallops each day work permitting. He last raced five years ago, and has ridden round Weatherby a few times in hunter chases. David Redvers: Bloodstock agent Davids clients include the Qatari Royal Family. He is also a joint master of the Ledbury hunt. Oliver Dale: Oliver is huntsman and a joint-master of the Ludlow hunt. He last rode in a charity race around nine years ago and is looking forward to racing at Aintree. Richard Tyacke: A joint master and huntsman of Sir Watkin Williams-Wynns hunt (the Wynnstay), Richard has not raced before. He hopes to borrow a horse from trainer Oliver Greenall in Malpas or Warren Greatrex in Lambourn. Hayley Brobyn: Congleton vet Hayley used to event and took part in a charity race at Cheltenham in 2012. Michelle Mouse Barlow: Mouse was volunteered to take part in the race by her husband, Cheshire hunt joint-master Charles Barlow, but is looking forward to racing at Aintree. She used to point-to-point and hunter chase and hopes to borrow a mount from Tattenhall-based trainer Gary Hanmer. Polly Portwin: Polly is hunting editor for Horse & Hound magazine and a former senior master of the Bicester with Whaddon Chase. She was fourth in our charity race at Aintree in 2011 and hopes to get her hand in again in the run up to this race by riding out for Alan and Lawney Hill in Oxfordshire. Molly Dingwall: Molly may have a home advantage in this race as she is Aintrees regional business development executive for the North West. She also won her most recent charity race the Jockey Club Challenge at Warwick in May aboard Dove Mountain, trained by Co Meath-based Gordon Elliot. She hopes she might be able to borrow another horse from Gordon for the Aintree race. Other attractions at the countryside day include trade stands, displays by falconers, the Quack Pack duck herding display team and gun dogs, animals from the Rare Breeds Survival Trust or you can try your hand at laser clays? Organiser Paul Dunn said: Aintree has tremendous facilities and this is bound to be a great day out for racing and countryside enthusiasts alike. "We are very grateful to the riders who will try their hand at race riding on our charity race to raise money for these great charities. The riders will be collecting sponsorship money in aid of The Countryside Alliance Foundation (TCAF) charities Casting for Recovery, Fishing 4 Schools and Falconry For Schools Rural Affairs Secretary Fergus Ewing is to meet industry representatives tomorrow to hear directly views on Scotlands place in Europe ahead of his Statement to Parliament in September. The meeting comes a week after Mr Ewing called on the UK Government to extend their EU funding guarantee to cover the outstanding 360 million that is vital to the Rural Economy. The EU provides significant benefits to Scotlands rural communities," Ewing said. "It provides a critical support mechanism for the agricultural industry, while also offering access to a single market of over 500 million people for the food we produce." 'UK government must provide clarity' "The EU also provides social protections for everyone who works in the agricultural industry and freedom of movement that enables farm businesses to employ the workers they need from anywhere in the EU. That is why the Scottish Government is exploring all options to protect our place in Europe. "I know that the industry is particularly concerned about what Brexit means for future CAP payments and wider industry support. I share their concerns." Ewing said the UK government has not done nearly enough to provide the clarity and certainty the farming sector needs. He said he will call on them again to extend the funding guarantee to include the outstanding 360 million that is vital to Scotland's rural economy. "The meeting is another opportunity for me to again hear the thoughts of industry on key interests which we share and challenges that we collectively face and how we could address these in moving the industry forward." The future of Fauquier Times now depends on community support. Your donation will help us continue to improve our journalism through in-depth local news coverage and expanded reader engagement. Support A juvenile male was injured in a shooting in Dale City Thursday night, but there's been no word yet on the condition of the victim or whether As hurricanes worsen, can Lumbee Tribe learn to live with water? The Native American tribe was saved by the swamp. Now, like so many people in the South, flooding threatens to drive them away. Per diems abound. Since my first post in this series six months ago, Ive been asked to help our clients with at least fifteen foreign government tenders or contracts that require the payment of per diems during testing or training visits. While not a scientific survey, it underscores what I believe to be a growing demand by foreign governments for per diems. The reason for this is simple per diems are convenient for traveling officials. It allows them to avoid going out of pocket for the simple things we all encounter on business trips replacing a forgotten toothbrush, getting a boost from an overpriced latte. It also gives the travelling official a degree of flexibility and autonomy to deal with these needs, without having to present a receipt to their hosts. In short, per diem requirements make sense to foreign governments, and despite discomfort among suppliers with the practice, its not going away anytime soon. Ultimately, companies need not wring their proverbial hands when faced with per diems, provided a certain set of conditions are met. As outlined in my first missive, I believe per diems to be reasonable when: (i) the requirement to pay the per diem is expressly set forth in the contract with a foreign government; (ii) the actual amount of the per diem is clearly established in the contract; (iii) the amount of the per diem is reasonable; and (iv) the foreign government, not the supplier, is responsible for inclusion of the per diem in the contract. In todays post, I outline a number of practical risk mitigation steps that companies should consider implementing before dispensing dollar one to visiting foreign officials. This is not an exhaustive list. As with any plan to address FCPA risks, the controls should be tailored to the situation at hand. However, these are some of the more common safeguards we believe companies should consider putting in place when dealing with daily stipends. 1. Get the Docs. The first step is to verify and thoroughly document the four factors outlined above. Hopefully, your compliance process requires the business personnel in question to furnish a copy of the contract (or at least its relevant provisions) as part of the review of the request to furnish the per diem. This is the easy part. Simply verify that the contract does indeed mandate the payment of a per diem, the circumstances in which it is required and the amount. On occasion, youll discover internal inconsistencies. I recently encountered a situation where a foreign government contract contained separate provisions calling for factory acceptance training and training at my clients facilities. The provision governing the acceptance testing contained a requirement for a modest per diem. However, there was no mention of per diems in the training provision. Naturally, the customer expected that per diems would be furnished for both visits a thorny situation to say the least. If the contract was the result of a tender, review the published materials to determine whether they expressly contained the per diem requirement. If not, some sleuthing will be required. Review the companys bid documents and see whether thats the source of the per diem requirement. Engage with the relevant business folks and ask whether they proposed the per diem or whether the customer requested it. Do a little anecdotal benchmarking to determine whether your organizations prior contracts with the customer contained similar stipend requirements, or inquire with local counsel to weigh in on what they typically see in that customers agreements. Make sure to carefully document your inquiries. 2. Evaluate the Amount of the Per Diem. There are a number of ways that companies can evaluate whether the amount of the stated per diem is reasonable. Many companies provide their own employees with per diems during business travel, and that is a reasonable place to start. If internal company policies do not make allowances for per diems, companies can look to external sources, such as the U.S. State Department per diem rates for international travel or the GSA per diem rates for domestic locations. 3. Ensure Complete Transparenc. When it comes to per diems, I recommend a belt and suspenders approach to transparency. The requirement may be set forth in the parties agreement, but I also recommend sending the customer organization a transparency letter that clearly sets forth the details of the trip, including the payment of a contractually-mandated per diem and its amount. In addition to furthering your compliance goals, a detailed transparency letter also decreases the chances of any misunderstanding or potential discord with the foreign government customer over what exactly will be provided for the visiting officials during their sojourn. Finally, as a logistical matter, the transparency letter should be sent to a senior official at the relevant government agency who is not traveling with the delegation, via a verifiable delivery method. Providing a transparency letter to members of the delegation is, to evoke the analogy, engaging the fox to monitor the goings on in the hen house. Make sure to retain evidence of delivery of the transparency letter. 4. Implement Solid Controls. Make sure to build solid controls around the disbursement of the per diem. I recommend asking each official to sign a brief document acknowledging that she/he received the per diem. Think of this as a glorified receipt. This builds further transparency around the payments and also helps to build an audit trail. Some of our clients take this a step further, and include a description in the receipt of the types of expenditures the per diem is intended to cover think back to the toothpaste and latte referenced above. Finally, the company should take steps to ensure that each official attends all contractually mandated meetings (barring, of course, unforeseen circumstances such as illness). This, of course, should be the case regardless of whether a per diem is provided, but when a per diem is involved, it is important to take the extra step to ensure that all visiting officials are present and accounted for. Therefore, the company should maintain a daily sign-in sheet. * * * As I mentioned above, this is not an exhaustive list of safeguards. However, with these, and other situation-specific controls in place, the risks associated with paying per diems can be appropriately controlled. Lets be clear though. The payment of per diems remains risky business and requires substantial effort to both review the circumstances surrounding the per diem as well as implement an appropriate risk mitigation plan. However, through my series of posts, I hope I have convinced some of the naysayers that per diems do not have to be strictly prohibited, and are, in certain situations with the right controls, appropriate. My earlier posts about per diems are here, here, and here. _____ Bill Steinman is a Contributing Editor of the FCPA Blog. Hes the senior partner at Steinman & Rodgers LLP, a boutique law firm in Washington, D.C. specializing in international anti-corruption compliance and investigations. Hell be a speaker at the FCPA Blog NYC Conference 2016. The author thanks Audrey Karman for her contributions to this post. Shes an associate at Steinman & Rodgers LLP, where she assists clients with FCPA compliance in the engagement of international intermediaries, the review of due diligence materials for potential risks of FCPA violations, and internal risk mitigation recommendations. A penguin has been promoted to Brigadier in the King of Norway's Guard. Penguin gets promoted to Brigadier Sir Nils Olav, a king penguin at Edinburgh Zoo, who has been an honorary member of the Norwegian Guard, has now gone up the ranks and been promoted from knight to Brigadier. The ceremony, which was held for the highly decorated animal, was witnessed by 50 Norwegian soldiers who visited the Scottish capital as part of this year's Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Barbara Smith from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland said: ''We are honoured to host His Majesty the King of Norway's Guard as they bestow a prestigious new title upon our king penguin, Sir Nils Olav. ''It is a very proud moment and represents the close collaboration between our two countries, Scotland and Norway.'' Official military animal mascots are a long standing tradition in the Armed Forces, with a Lance Corporal Shetland pony in The Royal Regiment of Scotland, and a Fusilier goat in the 1st Battalion of The Royal Welsh. Lindsay Lohan's sister Aliana dropped her surname so she wouldn't get unwanted attention. Aliana Lohan The 22-year-old aspiring musician insists she never asked to be in the public eye, so when she moved to South Korea for eight months to model when she was 17, she went by her first name only in order to be more low-key. In an interview with Cosmopolitan magazine, she said: "I was modelling using just my first name in the beginning - I didn't want to be taken a different way. When I was there, I was alone, so I was just getting to experience another place around the world and really taking that in. I was like, 'Wow. This is cool'-free bird. "Being born in a family that's public, that's just been my life. I've never gone out of my way for attention." But Aliana put herself in the firing line for publicity when she stuck up for her troubled sister back in 2015, after actress Jennifer Lawrence joked in a television interview that she gets "Lindsay Lohan-grade exhaustion but without any drugs or alcohol." Aliana lashed out on Twitter in support of her sister. She wrote: "I never breathe life into negativity. But I stand by my family. Disappointed in Jennifer Lawrence. Not cool." Aliana has now explained where the outburst came from and says she stands by her actions. She said: "That was literally something that came over me where I was like, 'You know what, that's my sister. I gotta say something. At first, I was like, 'S**t. Are people gonna jump on this?' I'm like, 'You know what? It's OK.' Because I just wanted her to know that you should stand up for other women, you should help people and not put them down, ever." Aliana now lives in Los Angeles and is about to relaunch her music career by recording an album, a sound which she described as 'Western emo' with influences of Nancy Sinatra and Johnny Cash. Speaking about her music, she said: "This is what I wanted to do since I was eight years old." But Aliana was still keen to protect her relationship with her sister. She dodged a question about her sister's recent live chat announcement that new music was being delayed. She said: "As much as I want to sing every day, I don't want my sister to hate me. I think some things were twisted around." Kenny Baker was laid to rest today (24.08.16). Kenny Baker The 'Star Wars' legend, who voiced droid R2-D2 in six of sci-fi films, passed away aged 81 earlier this month and his life was celebrated with a service at Lytham Park Crematorium, Lancashire, north west England. Stars including Darth Vader actor David Prowse, comedian Bernie Clifton and model Linda Lusardi were all in attendance to pay their respects to the late actor. According to the Lancashire Evening Post newspaper, George Lucas and Disney sent flowers for the service complete with the message: "You brought so much joy to the Star Wars family." Several actors from the popular movie series have paid tribute to Kenny since his passing, including Mark Hamill, who plays Luke Skywalker in the franchise. He tweeted: "Goodbye #KennyBaker A lifelong loyal friend-I loved his optimism & determination He WAS the droid I was looking for!" Chewbacca actor Peter Mayhew paid tribute to the late star with a post on his website. He wrote: "I know I'm a bit late with this, but my sadness is profound and no words seemed adequate to convey what we collectively and I personally have lost with the passing of my dear friend Kenny Baker." Linda Lusardi wrote: "So sad Kenny Baker died last night. He was R2D2 I was lucky enough to work with him for many years RIP lovely man." Director Kevin Smith tweeted: "Rest in Peace @starwars legend #KennyBaker - whose name I learned at age 7 because he brought #R2D2 to life. Feels like losing family..." Kenny was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease nine years ago. He was found dead at his home in Preston, north west England by his nephew and carer Drew Myserscough. Residents of Bella Bella in British Columbia are "excited" for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's visit next month. Prince William and Duchess Catherine Harvey Humchitt, the Research Liaison Coordinator in the remote Canadian town, has said the royal couple are likely to take a flight over the uncultivated land before making a trip to the local school when they arrive on September 26. Harvey said it will be a "once in a lifetime" opportunity for the local people to show the royals their culture. He told Canada's Metro: We've never really had any Royal visitors in Bella Bella. "A lot of our people believe this happens once in a lifetime. "It will be good to showcase our culture and the way we live in Bella Bella." Preparations are underway for Prince William and Duchess Catherine's visit, but the Chief Councillor of the Heiltsuk Tribal Council, Marilyn Slett, said they are still coordinating a tour of the area. She said: "They're still working on the final outline of their whole tour. "but one of the things we'd like to do is showcase our beautiful community and Heiltsuk traditional territories. "We have a strong and vibrant culture we'll share with the Royal family." Marilyn also said Bella Bella will reap the benefits of hosting the British royals as it will be beneficial for tourism. She said: The visit is symbolic of the reconciliation agenda. "We think this visit is one way to meet and learn about the indigenous community; that's part of reconciliation." The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will bring several members of staff with them to Canada next month. Prince William and Duchess Catherine The couple - who have three-year-old Prince George and 15-month-old Princess Charlotte - will be joined by their nanny Maria Borrallo, who will take care of the youngsters while their parents embark on official engagements. According to People magazine, there are expected to be around a dozen staff and security on top of that. They include private secretaries Rebecca Deacon and Miguel Head. Looking after the royal family's appearance will be Duchess Catherine's personal assistant, Natasha Archer, whose responsibilities will include sending out requests for outfits and the upkeep of their touring wardrobe. She is believed to be joined by stylist Amanda Tucker, who will keep their hair in shape. And Sir David Manning - a former British ambassador to the US - will be on hand to offer advice of a diplomatic nature. There will also be four public relations staff lead by Jason Knauf. A tour manager will also be coming out to assist with transporting their luggage. Prince William and Catherine, both 34, will embark on a tour of British Columbia and will first visit Victoria on September 24. A Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed: "The Duke and Duchess are delighted to be returning to Canada. They hold very happy memories from their visit in 2011 - their first overseas tour as a married couple. "They are really looking forward to seeing other parts of this beautiful country and having the opportunity to meet many more Canadians along the way." Prince William gave a speech about Britain's "strong ties" with North Rhine-Westphalia at the 70th anniversary of the state. Prince William The 34-year-old royal attended a British Armed Forces gala at Tonhalle in Dusseldorf, Germany on Tuesday (23.08.16) where he met with Chancellor Angela Merkel for the first time. During his lengthy speech, William spoke of the "genuine friendship" between the two places. A series of tweets posted by Kensington Palace read: "The Duke gave a speech at Dusseldorf's Tonhalle on the strong ties between Britain and NRW #NRW70 ... HRH: "What began 70 years ago as a relationship of necessity... is today a partnership of genuine friendship ... The Duke: "On behalf of the British people, I am pleased to wish NRW, on its 70th anniversary: Alles Gute!" #NRW70 (sic)" During the Duke of Cambridge's first royal engagement in a month - after he visited Portsmouth with his wife Duchess Catherine, also 34, on August 24 - William met with local people who came out onto the streets of Dusseldorf to catch a glimpse of the royal. Kensington Palace tweeted: "The Duke meets local residents who turned out in the sunshine to watch today's festivities #NRW70 (sic)" William also watched as regional minister Hannelore Kraft honoured the Fahrenband with "the highest military honour" at the NRW parade. They added: "HRH inspects the parade and see @HanneloreKraft present the Fahrenband, the NRW's highest military honour #NRW70 (sic)" William will now fly back to England where he is expected to visit Luton in Bedfordshire with Catherine on Wednesday (24.08.16).expected to visit Luton in Bedfordshire with Catherine on Wednesday (24.08.16). Vicky Pattison was rejected by an exclusive celebrity dating website. Vicky Pattison The 28-year-old beauty was refused the chance to join Raya - an exclusive app known as the celebrity version of Tinder - and she's convinced it was because she wasn't seen as "fit enough." Speaking to Closer Magazine, the former 'Geordie Shore' star said: "My dating life's been de-activated. I tried to join Raya months ago and they replied saying they'd get back to me. "Even with 3.3 million Instagram followers I wasn't allowed on - I think they decided I wasn't fit enough. They haven't been back in touch so it was a proper knock-back - but I'll laugh it off." And, although she's romanced a string of famous men this year alone, Vicky has admitted she's given up hope on finding love any time soon but does sometimes get "lonely" without someone to hold. She said: "You can be so lonely and down - I've lived in hotels in London for the past seven months, miles away from my friends and family. "When you're famous, you're expected to be happy but I don't think people realise how much you miss home, how you can be anxious about who to trust and how you can't seem to do anything right." Vicky has previously dated the likes of Mario Falcone, Spencer Matthews and Ricci Guarnaccio, who she was engaged to. Myanmar based Olympus Asia Group and South Korea's Panko Corporation have entered in to an equal joint venture partnership to set up a garment factory on 500 acres of land.The joint venture which will be a free-on-board (FOB) garment facility is seeking land for setting up the factory in Yangon, Bago or Ayeywarwady regions, Myanmar media reported. Myanmar based Olympus Asia Group and South Korea's Panko Corporation have entered in to an equal joint venture partnership to set up a garment factory on 500 acres of land. The joint venture which will be a free-on-board (FOB) garment facility is seeking land for setting up the factory in Yangon, Bago or Ayeywarwady regions, Myanmar media reported.# Most of Myanmar's apparel units operate under the cut-make-pack (CMP) model, under which, a financially and technically sound foreign buyer, contracts out work to a garment factory.However, under the more profitable FOB model, foreign buyers place orders with well-financed garment factories, which also have the technical expertise.The construction to build the infrastructure will start within a year, with commercial production expected to start three years after that.The project will include a global standard wastewater treatment plant; dormitories for workers and will also generate its own electricity.Olympus Asia Group CEO Okkar Zaw Naing said the whole project will create between 40,000 to 60,000 direct and indirect job opportunities. (AR) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India International Sourcing Expo Australia (ISEA), the sourcing expo for the textile , apparel and accessories sectors returns to Melbourne from November 15-17, 2016.According to the organisers, ISEA is the one-stop destination for large enterprises, designers and small businesses to improve their supply chain and compare costs and services to help diversify and evolve their brand. International Sourcing Expo Australia (ISEA), the sourcing expo for the textile, apparel and accessories sectors returns to Melbourne from November 15-17, 2016. According to the organisers, ISEA is the one-stop destination for large enterprises, designers and small businesses to improve their supply chain and compare costs and services to help diversify...# ISEA will feature over 200 exhibitors from textile and apparel hubs like India, China, Mauritius, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Fiji and Pakistan.Co-located with China Clothing Textiles Accessories Expo and Footwear and Leather Show Australia, ISEA will again be supported by a comprehensive seminar series.The seminar series will feature some of the world's most respected industry professionals, examining the big issues and changes in international sourcing and global trends.ISEA offers an unparalleled opportunity for visitors to connect with some of the best operators, the world has to offer while discovering new trends in fashion and manufacturing, said exhibition director Julie Holt. (AR) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India Following issues raised by Surat weavers associations at a meeting held in Delhi, like yarn price fluctuation, anti-dumping duty on PTA and dumping of undervalued Chinese fabrics, minister of textiles Smriti Irani asked the textile commissioner to provide a detailed feedback on these issues faced by the powerloom sector and submit a report A delegation of powerloom weavers from Surat who attended the meeting also raised the issue of reduction of subsidy in Technology Upgradation Fund (TUF) scheme from 30 per cent to 10 per cent. Following issues raised by Surat weavers associations at a meeting held in Delhi, like yarn price fluctuation, anti-dumping duty on PTA and dumping of undervalued Chinese fabrics, minister of textiles Smriti Irani asked the textile commissioner to provide a detailed feedback on these issues faced by the powerloom sector and submit a report.# "Leaders of powerloom sector from different centres had common issues regarding dumping of Chinese fabric, anti-dumping duty on PTA, yarn price fluctuation etc, Ashish Gujarati told the Times of India.The union textiles minister heard all of us and directed the textile commissioner to meet the stakeholders again and submit the report within 15 days," he added.According to Gujarati, the powerloom industry in Surat was passing through a rough phase as out of the 625,000 weaving machines in the textile hub, only 30 per cent were working."We have requested the minister to conduct an independent inquiry into dumping of undervalued Chinese fabrics in India, which is hurting the domestic powerloom sector, Dhiru Shah, managing director of Fairdeal Filaments too said. (AR) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India Expansion of textile and garment exports to the United States under the preferences of the 2001 US-Jordan free trade agreement (FTA) was discussed by US ambassador Alice G Wells with companies and workers manufacturing textile products for exports to the US, during her visit to the Ad Dulail Industrial Park. The park employs over 3,500 people. Wells discussed opportunities for firms in the park to continue expanding their exports under the FTA and under the new EU market access secured through the Jordan Compact, the US embassy in Jordan said in a statement. We are proud of the over 800 per cent growth in bilateral trade since the US-Jordan FTA was signed. We discussed the exporters' strong relationships with a number of high-end US firms. We also aim to expand commercial ties and seize new market opportunities, like those offered by the Jordan Compact, to create jobs for Jordanians and the refugees Jordan hosts, Wells said. Expansion of textile and garment exports to the United States under the preferences of the 2001 US-Jordan free trade agreement (FTA) was discussed by US ambassador Alice G Wells with companies and workers manufacturing textile products for exports to the US, during her visit to the Ad Dulail Industrial Park. The park employs over 3,500 people.# Ad Dulail Industrial Park exports 35 per cent of Jordanian garment products to the US. Its exports reached $465 million in 2015 and $234 million during the first half of 2016, remaining on trend for another record year. The park hosts firms like Needle Craft, which produces 25 per cent of Under Armour's global products, and Eam Maliban, which produces for high end US brands like Burberry, Talbots, and Banana Republic. Under a 2015 Memorandum of Understanding, USAID's Workforce Development Program is working with companies in Ad Dulail Industrial Park to train over 500 Jordanians to be employed in the park, as well as supporting Syrian refugee participation in the programme. (RKS) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India US cotton output is forecast at around 15.9 million bales in 2016, as against projection of 15.8 million bales made in July 2016 and the final 2015 crop estimate of 12.9 million bales, with the 3 million bales increase in 2016 production attributed to higher area and yield estimates, while total cotton planted area is estimated at 10 million acres.The USDA August report projects harvested area at 9.5 million acres in 2016, which indicates an abandonment rate of 5 per cent, down below the reported 6 per cent in 2015. US cotton output is forecast at around 15.9 million bales in 2016, as against projection of 15.8 million bales made in July 2016 and the final 2015 crop estimate of 12.9 million bales, with the 3 million bales increase in 2016 production attributed to higher area and yield estimates, while total cotton planted area is estimated at 10 million acres.# The US agriculture agency projected yield at 800 pounds per harvested acre this season, up from 766 pounds in the previous season.The August report estimated upland cotton production at 15.3 million bales in the present season, an increase of 2.9 million bales over 2015, while Southwest crop is projected at 6.9 million bales in 2016, also up from 6.1 million in 2015. (AR) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India Fijis delegation to the Second Conference of States Parties included Mr George Washington of the Ministry of Defence, Ms Florieann Wilson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and intern Ms Mariana Jimenez at the Fiji Mission to Geneva. 22 AUGUST, 2016, Geneva: Fiji is joining the international community to participate at the United Nations Second Conference of States Parties to the Arms Trade Treaty which convened its opening session in Geneva this week.Attended by member States of the United Nations, the Arms Trade Treaty is a landmark instrument that establishes legally binding international norms on the regulation of arms trade with the goal to eliminate their illicit transfers. Fiji is currently in its final stages towards ratifying the Arms Trade Treaty and if enacted, the treaty would allow for the international regulation of the $70 billion-a-year conventional arms trade, which ranges from small arms to warships.For the treaty to take effect in Fiji, it must be ratified by the national parliamentary process. Once the process is complete, Fiji will join the other 87 State Parties in establishing the highest common international standards and regulations which promotes accountability and transparency in the international trade of conventional arms. Ratification further confirms Fijis support for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16 on Peace, justice and building strong institutions, which will in turn reduce human suffering.With the adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty, State Parties challenge and condemn arms transfers that violate and undermine the Treaty. The Second Conference of the States Parties to the Arms Trade Treaty represented by a Fiji delegation will continue until Friday 26 August, 2016. Radhika Apte is a perfect example of 'Bold & Beautiful.' Recently, the sex scenes from her film, Parched leaked online but the actress doesn't give a damn about it! In an interview with Spotboye, Radhika's co-star Adil Hussain revealed that they are not at all worried about it! He told, "We (Adil & Radhika) did speak, but we are not worried. Trust me, we are absolutely okay. And it shouldn't be termed as a 'leak' because the film has run in cinema halls in the US and Germany." DON'T MISS! 17 Unseen Baby Pictures Of Pregnant Kareena Kapoor Khan "It is just that I am against sensationalism that comes with all this; it tends to do a lot of disservice." Radhika is often in the headlines owing to her bold photoshoots which you can see below & also read Adil's revelations about his intimate scenes with the actress! Here Are The 7 Revealtions About Radhika-Adil's Intimate Scenes: Intimate Scenes Were Not Impromptu When Adil was asked, whether intimate scenes were part of the film or not, he told, "It was always a part of the script. It was rehearsed as well." Adil On Shooting Sex Scene With Radhika "It's never going to be easy for most Indians to shoot sex scenes like this one. Most of us grew up not talking about sex and sexuality. I was no exception." Important To Break Those Boundaries "But as an actor, it is important to break those boundaries. If I can exhibit tenderness, violence and anger aspects of human behaviour, why shouldn't I be equally free about sexuality when I'm doing it for art." Adil-Radhika's Chat Before The Shoot Adil also revealed that he and Radhika had a chat before shooting the intimate scenes so that the duo gets comfortable with each other during the shoot! Adil On CBFC "I read that our Government has agreed to bring in Certification and do away with Censorship- and it will come up in the winter session of the Parliament, so I think that's a healthy sign." Adil Is Satisfied With Udta Punjab's Victory Over CBFC "Besides, how can we forget Anurag Kashyap's Udta Punjab victory over the CBFC? That's a big feather in the industry's cap, isn't it? People should have the choice to choose and not be deprived of what they want to see.The change should have happened 15 years ago, but good that it is happening at least now." Shoot Duration: One Night When Adil was asked how long did he and Radhika take to complete the shoot, he told 'One Night'. In the same interview, when Adil was asked, whether he thinks other B-town actors can do such kind of bold scenes, here's what he told: "No idea because every human needs to be aware of the obstacles he/she faces, his/her final decision will depend upon his/her personality. It depends on what kind of an actor you want to be. Some actors are even shy to turn tender and violent." "So you see, it's very personal and subjective. Besides, different actors have different goals. Some actors want to do films which people watch and forget about. Some actors want to do films which mirror society. Some actors want to do films which deal with complicated issues. All said and done, consciously or subconsciously, actors brand themselves." Shahid-Mira's Wedding Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor's wedding to the Delhi-based girl Mira Rajput, was the most talked-about event of the year 2015. (In Pic-Mira Rajput celebrating hubby Shahid Kapoor's birthday with friends in Goa) Wedding Shahid and Mira, tied the knot in a low-key Sikh wedding on July 7, 2015 at a friend's farmhouse on the outskirts of Delhi. (In Pic-Shahid Kapoor's candid moment with wife Mira Rajput) First Meeting Mira Rajput met Shahid Kapoor through Radha Soami Satsang, a religious group to which both their families belong. (In Pic-An adorable selfie of Shahid Kapoor with his beautiful wife Mira Rajput) Age Difference Mira Rajput was just 21 years old, when she married Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor. Reportedly, the age difference between the two is 13 years. (In Pic-Shahid Kapoor and Mira Rajput clicked at a friend's wedding) Why Shahid Married Mira Shahid Kapoor revealed to a daily, why he married Mira, ''I love the fact that I go back home to a normal person, who talks about normal things; and who sometimes tells me, 'I'm not interested in what's happening in your industry.'' (In Pic-Shahid & Mira) Shahid Praises Mira Shahid Kapoor also praised his wife Mira Rajput and said, "Mira and I communicate very well. That's one of the strongest qualities about us.'' (In Pic-Shahid Kapoor and Mira Rajput posing for the cameras at their wedding) Shahid Talks About Mira He added, ''They always say, 'Be with someone who helps you become a better person.' She makes me want to be a better person. And that shows that she is a really good person." (In Pic-Candid moment of Shahid and Mira) Shahid & Mira Now the beautiful couple is expecting their first child in September and we are eagerly waiting for the good news. (In Pic-Shahid Kapoor and Mira Rajput posing with their Bollywood friends.) Amala Paul, the young actress recently parted ways with her husband, director AL Vijay. Even though there are several speculations about the divorce reasons, Amala has been maintaining silence over the same. But, some Tamil online portals suggest that, the actress's mother Ancy Paul has played a major role in the separation. Reportedly, Amala's mother was extremely disappointed with her early marriage with Vijay. Go through the slides to read the episodes of Amala Paul-AL Vijay's love story..... First Association Amala Paul teamed up with AL Vijay for the first time, for his fourth directorial venture Deiva Thirumagal. The couple fell in love during the filming of the movie. Denying The Relationship Amala Paul and AL Vijay kept on denying the relationship rumours, and stated that they share a purely professional bond. But the media and fans refused to believe the duo's claims. Second Association Amala Paul and AL Vijay joined hands for the second time, for his sixth directorial venture, the Vijay starring blockbuster Thalaivaa. The link-up rumours started doing rounds once again, during the filming of the movie. Admitting The Relationship Amala and Vijay admitted being in a relationship and announced their decision to get married, immediately after the release of Thalaivaa. Vijay also revealed it was Amala, who made the first move in their relationship. Opposition From The Families Both Amala and Vijay's families were totally against the couple's relationship, due to the cultural differences. But the couple stayed strong in their decision to get married. The Engagement The couple got engaged in a traditional Christian ceremony, which was held at Amala Paul's hometown, Aluva. The function created a huge controversy in Kerala, as Vijay belongs to a different religion. The Wedding Amala and Vijay tied the knot in a tradition Hindu ceremony, on 12 June 2014, held at Mayor Ramanathan Chettiyar Hall, Chennai. The wedding and reception was attended by several popular stars of South film industry. Divorce Amala and Vijay started living separately in 2015, due to irreconcilable differences. The couple filed a joint petition for divorce at Chennai family court, on August 6th, 2016. She felt that the marriage ruined Amala's successful career, as married actresses have no demand in the industry. Ancy Paul always wanted her daughter to become the top heroine of South India. The major decisions of Amala Paul's career were taken by her mother. According to the grapevine, it was Ancy, who brainwashed the actress to end the marriage with Vijay, to concentrate on her career. Both Vijay and Amala's families were totally against their marriage, but later decided to compromise as the couple was going strong with their decision. But, Amala's family started regretting the decision, soon. Amala Paul is currently concentrating on her Kannada movie career, as she is facing an unofficial ban in Kollywood. It has also been rumoured that the actress is no longer a part of Dhanush's Vada Chennai. The Malayalam dubbed version of Janatha Garage was earlier expected to hit the theatres on September 2, 2016. Now, according to the latest reports, the film has got a new releasing date. The makers of the film have decided to release the movie one day before the scheduled releasing date. Now, the film would hit the theatres on September 1, 2016. The shift in the releasing date occured, owing to a nation wide strike on September 2, 2016. Both the Telugu and Malayalam versions of the film would be released on the same day. Janatha Garage has been directed by Koratala Siva and the film would have Jr NTR in the lead role. Mohanlal plays an equally important role in the film. From the trailer of the film, it seems like Mohanlal has got a powerful role. Interestingly, the film also has a host of Malayalam actors in it. Actor Rahman would be seen in the role of Mohanlal's brother in the film. Unni Mukundan would be seen playing the main antagonist in Janatha Garage. Nithya Menen is one of the female leads in the film. Samantha is the other heroine in the film. Meanwhile, this would be the second Mohanlal film to release in a span of one month. Earlier this month, Mohanlal's Vismayam did hit the theatres, which was the dubbed version of the Telugu movie Manamantha. Tamil Nadu Politicians Hail Kamal Tamil Nadu politicians too, congratulated Kamal Haasan on being conferred the Chevalier Award. MK Stalin hailed Haasan as a "multi-faceted" actor and extended his hearty greetings to him. A Grand Event On The Cards? The Artistes Association also known as 'Nadigar Sangam' is planning a grand event to celebrate the prestigious honour bestowed on Kamal Haasan. The office bearers of Nadigar Sangam had recently met Kamal to congratulate him. Other Actors Who Have Won The Award Kamal Haasan became only the second Tamil actor to win the prestigious award after 'Nadigar Thilagam' Sivaji Ganesan. Among other Indian actors who have won the award are Amitabh Bachchan, Sharukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Upcoming Projects After finishing the shoot for Sabhash Naidu, Kamal might look to release his long pending Vishwaroopam 2. Also, rumours are rife that the actor might join hands with KS Ravikumar for the sequel of Panchathanthiram. 'Sabhash Naidu' Release Date? Since Kamal is yet to recover completely from his leg injury, it is difficult for the actor to finish the shoot and release the film before the end of this year. If all goes well, Sabhash Naidu might hit the screen early next year. Kamal's Pet Projects Among many projects that is close to Kamal Haasan's heart, Marudhanayagam has to be the one that is closest. Much to the delight of his fans, the actor has not given up on the project. PUNE, India, August 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Market-Research-Reports.com adds "Global and Chinese Vacuum Valve Industry, 2011-2021 Market Research Report" latest study of 150 pages, published in Aug 2016, to the Machinery and Equipment's intelligence collection of its store. The Global Vacuum Valve Industry 2016 Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Vacuum Valve industry. 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Another research titled Global and Chinese Control Valve Industry, 2011-2021 Market Research Report provides key statistics on the market status of the Control Valve manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry. Firstly, the report provides a basic overview of the industry including its definition, applications and manufacturing technology. Then, 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 Control Valve 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 2016-2021 market development trends of Control Valve industry. Analysis of upstream raw materials, downstream demand, and current market dynamics is also carried out. In the end, the report makes some important proposals for a new project of Control Valve Industry before evaluating its feasibility. Overall, the report provides an in-depth insight of 2011-2021 global and Chinese Control Valve industry covering all important parameters. Comprehensive Table of Contents and more for the report is available at http://www.market-research-reports.com/471738-control-valve-industry . About Us: Market Research Reports is an aggregator of syndicated market research studies that offer current and future market intelligence across multiple industrial verticals through is high quality database. Market Research Reports aims to help you take business decisions accurately and on time, every time. Understanding your time constraints, we can help you find the most relevant research based on the requirements you share with us. Our customers get 24 X 7 email and phone support. Feel free to reach us at +1 888 391 5441 with your business intelligence needs. Contact: Ritesh Tiwari UNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZ Magarpatta city, Hadapsar Pune - 411013 Maharashtra, India. Tel: +1-888-391-5441 sales@market-research-reports.com WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Tesla Motors Inc. (TSLA) said it is offering its electric vehicles with a battery capable of going up to 315 miles on a charge. The company unveiled new versions of its Model S sedan and Model X sport-utility vehicle with 100 kilowatt-hour batteries. Tesla claims the 100 kwh sedan can travel from 0 to 60 miles perhour in 2.5 seconds, while the SUV can achieve it in 2.9 seconds. Tesla customers who have ordered a P90D Ludicrous, but not taken delivery, can upgrade to the 100 kWh pack for $10,000. Existing P90D Ludicrous owners can also upgrade to a 100 kWh pack, but for $20,000, as their used 90 kWh pack will have to be recycled. 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. NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - August 23, 2016) - Jacob Frydman, acclaimed real estate investor, is honored to be able to support the National Committee for the Furtherance of Jewish Education (NCFJE), and its many cause-driven charities. The avid philanthropist is deeply involved with the foundation, working closely with its Orphan, Poor and Sick Fund, Released Time Program, and Toys for Hospitalized Children initiatives among many others. Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneerson founded NCFJE in the midst of WWII with the principle mission of providing Jewish public school students with a free Jewish education. Shortly after its conception, the institution noticed that many of the children lived in households experiencing a variety of social and economic hardships, and implemented a multitude of educational, community outreach, and humanitarian services that still provide imperative aid to New York's citizens today. Rabbi Hannoch Hecht of the Rhinebeck Jewish Center introduced Jacob Frydman to the committee, and the businessman was immediately enthralled by their generosity, "I saw from their past work that the NCFJE has made countless positive lasting effects on individual families and the entire community." Created in 1941, the Released Time Program educates Jewish youth about the history, customs and prayers of Judaism, and has inspired more than a quarter million boys and girls in the greater New York area to be proud of their faith. Each Wednesday students are dismissed an hour early from school and transported to a nearby synagogue, where dedicated instructors create a welcoming religious atmosphere and teach the children about their heritage. The classes are free of charge, and are now available in over 125 public schools. Another longstanding NCFJE charity, Toys for Hospitalized Children, distributes over 10,000 toys and gifts to hospitals, special needs facilities, and destitute children each year. In an effort to share joy with the city's elderly as well, the 50-year project has recently expanded to servicing senior residences on an as-need basis. The Orphan, Poor and Sick Fund aids underprivileged families in accessing necessary resources through grocery and clothing vouchers, rent and utility assistance, school and camp scholarships, and weekly food disbursements. Rabbi Hecht considers Frydman's constant assistance with these initiatives as a sign of greater understanding, "He knows that the foundation of the Jewish community is the Jewish family, and he believes that by helping needy families we can all look forward to a stronger Jewish community as a whole." Jacob Frydman is a native New Yorker, real estate investor, and private equities expert. Over his 30-year career, he has structured, financed, and executed highly complex real estate transactions. He often discusses business, law, and ethics at Columbia University and in the Master's Lecturer series at New York Law School. A passionate and vocal member of the Jewish faith, Frydman has been an active supporter of the NCFJE for many years, and assists other charitable committees including The Chabad of Dutchess County and Washington, DC-based The Brem Foundation. Jacob Frydman -- Blog -- JacobFrydmanNews.com: http://JacobFrydmanNews.com Jacob Frydman (@jacobfrydman) -- Twitter: https://twitter.com/jacobfrydman Jacob Frydman -- Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/jacob-frydman www.JacobFrydmanNews.com Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/8/24/11G111621/Images/mw1aqt8pp8g1jtm140klp5sb59go2-522a69788812b0d980210569369b5e52.jpg Embedded Video Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lpgwu_U5liM Contact Information: JacobFrydmanNews.com contact@jacobfrydmannews.com DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES--(Marketwired - August 23, 2016) - Entrepreneur, philanthropist and conservationist Haitham Alaini understands that continued positive changes in his home country are the result of an ongoing commitment to safeguard its resources. One of its most revered natural inhabitants, the Arabian leopard, was only recently considered nearly extinct before the Foundation for Endangered Wildlife intervened to combat the dire situation with its extensive grassroots education efforts. A living emblem of the Yemeni people as it is legally recognized as the official national animal, Alaini sees the magnificent species' struggle as representative of the current environmental issues adversely affecting his fellow countrymen. By slowly remedying the plight by replenishing its numbers in the wild, he insists that the indigenous will serve as an inspirational symbol of national resurgence. Haitham Alaini works diligently with the not-for-profit organization, the Foundation for Endangered Wildlife, and its specialized sister team, the Foundation for the Protection of the Arabian Leopard, to defend the critically endangered subspecies. The ultimate goal of the group is to create the conditions for a sustainably managed population of the felines that will flourish and live in harmony with local communities. As their population of roughly 200 is severely fragmented throughout the country, it is imperative that citizens recognize the connection between the great cats' survival and their own in order to assist with the movement. Among all the dangers influencing the revitalization of these rare animals, arguably the largest challenge is defending them from the illegal trade for private pet ownership or for their skins. While spreading information on the subject and installing cameras in their habitats have become powerful tools for the foundation, ultimately, lobbying for the establishment of secure areas and staunch government defense against poachers remains paramount to the program's success. Beyond securing the feline's native populace in in the Arabian Peninsula country, Haitham Alaini and the members of the foundation also hope to improve the breeding record of the captive individuals in the zoos of Yemeni cities Sana'a and Taiz. There are currently four resident Arabian leopards at the former institution that have bred at least twice, but none of the cubs have survived to adulthood; happily, the latter has been much more effective, with nearly 20 cubs descended from four wild-caught individuals that now call the zoo home. The captive breeding program at the Taiz Zoo has brought five specimens to the Al Bustan Zoological Centre in UAE, showing promise for future integration into the regional captive breeding effort throughout neighboring countries as well. Wildlife specialist Hadi Al Hikmani, from the Office for Conservation of the Environment in Oman now says the native species has a fighting chance for survival: "Thanks to the efforts of many national and international organizations' early steps were taken to protect leopard core areas, so I believe extinction won't happen, but we have to be careful and take the right measures to maintain the population." Haitham Alaini has been an active member of the Foundation for Endangered Wildlife's Board of Trustees since June 2010. The founder and CEO of the Griffin Group has provided vital technical, moral, and financial support to the NGO since its inception. An active conservationist for many years, Alaini spearheaded Arabian leopard preservation in Yemen after confiscating four captive leopards from private hands in the 1990s; this brave act increased awareness of the trade's illegality and made significant strides in undermining Yemen's black market for wild felines. Alaini also supports the Acacia Foundation, a philanthropic organization focused on education, cultural heritage, public health and environmental stewardship. Haitham Alaini -- Yemeni Entrepreneur and Philanthropist: http://haithamalaininews.com Haitham Alaini (@haitham_alaini) -- Twitter: https://twitter.com/haitham_alaini Haitham Alaini -- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/haitham.alaini.18 Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/8/24/11G111623/Images/mw1aqt9ek42r1k1sv51odmd9hf402-1f946721fa989e35b25e5d2ff074bdeb.jpg Contact Information ICMediaDirect.com TEL: 1.800.595.0821 www.ICMediaDirect.com pr@icmediadirect.com CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The New Zealand dollar weakened against the other major currencies in the Asian session on Wednesday. The NZ dollar fell to 0.7269 against the U.S. dollar and 72.92 against the yen, from yesterday's closing quotes of 0.7286 and 73.03, respectively. Against the euro and the Australian dollar, the kiwi dropped to 1.5544 and 1.0469 from yesterday's closing quotes of 1.5495 and 1.0438, respectively. If the kiwi extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 0.71 against the greenback, 70.00 against the yen, 1.59 against the euro and 1.06 against the aussie. 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. Deal Further Strengthens Experis Brand's IT Capabilities OSLO, Norway, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN), global leader in innovative workforce solutions, today announced an agreement with Ciber, Inc. (NYSE: CBR), a leading global information technology consulting, services and outsourcing company, to acquire its business in Norway. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160823/400778LOGO Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150708/234002LOGO The acquisition of Ciber Norway complements the organic growth of ManpowerGroup's own professional resourcing and project-based workforce solutions arm, Experis, and will help meet growing demand in the IT sector. Ciber Norway's business, including 130 employees, will transition over to ManpowerGroup when the deal is expected to close later this month, pending regulatory approval. This acquisition builds on ManpowerGroup's already strong presence in Norway. Since opening its first office there in 1952, ManpowerGroup has diversified its business across four brands-Manpower, Experis, ManpowerGroup Solutions and Right Management-now spanning thirty locations and finding work for more than 20,000 people in Norway each year. Ciber Norway brings with it ten years of IT industry expertise. "We're pleased to announce this acquisition that continues to build on the strength of our Experis business in Norway and further accelerates our strategy to shift our business mix towards higher value and professional services," said Maalfrid Brath, Managing Director ManpowerGroup Norway. "As clients across every sector continue to invest in rapidly changing technology and upgrade their capabilities, ManpowerGroup is well-equipped to deliver the best talent and provide in-demand skills at all levels of the IT market." "The sale of Norway follows our strategy to create a much more focused and simplified company as we have announced," said Ciber President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Boustridge. "We are pleased to have found a high-quality home for our Norway business with ManpowerGroup/Experis. As a strategic buyer with local operations, we believe they will provide a seamless transition and great continuity and service to our customers and our employees." About ManpowerGroup ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN) is the world's workforce expert, creating innovative workforce solutions for nearly 70 years. As workforce experts, we connect more than 600,000 people to meaningful work across a wide range of skills and industries every day. Through our ManpowerGroup family of brands - Manpower, Experis, Right Management and ManpowerGroup Solutions - we help more than 400,000 clients in 80 countries and territories address their critical talent needs, providing comprehensive solutions to resource, manage and develop talent. In 2016, ManpowerGroup was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the sixth consecutive year and one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies, confirming our position as the most trusted and admired brand in the industry. See how ManpowerGroup makes powering the world of work humanly possible: www.manpowergroup.com. About Experis Experis' is the global leader in professional resourcing and project-based solutions. Experis accelerates organizations' growth by attracting, assessing and placing specialized expertise in IT, Finance and Engineering to deliver in-demand talent for mission-critical positions and projects, enhancing the competitiveness of the organizations and people we serve. Experis is part of the ManpowerGroup family of companies, which also includes Manpower, ManpowerGroup Solutions and Right Management. To learn more, visit www.experis.com. About Ciber, Inc. Ciber is a global IT consulting company with approximately 6,000 employees in North America, Europe and Asia/Pacific. Ciber partners with organizations to develop technology strategies and solutions that deliver tangible business value. Founded in 1974, the company trades on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CBR). For more information, visit www.ciber.com and follow us on Twitter , LinkedIn , Facebook , Google Plus and our blog . Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements related to ManpowerGroup, Ciber Norway, and the potential benefits of the acquisition, including statements regarding timing of closing and results of the proposed transaction. Actual events or results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements due to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks associated with: ManpowerGroup's ability to successfully integrate Ciber Norway; execution of plans and strategies; the inability to successfully complete the transaction, and other important factors that could cause results of the acquisition and related transactions to differ materially from the forward-looking statements detailed in ManpowerGroup's public filings with the SEC, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. ManpowerGroup disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking or other statements in this release, except as required by law. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to Ciber's operations, results of operations and other matters that are based on Ciber's current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections. Words, such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "may," "opportunity," "plan," "positioned," "potential," "project," "should," and "will" and similar expressions, are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. For a more detailed discussion of these risks, see the information under the "Risk Factors" heading in Ciber's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and Ciber's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2016, and other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other than as required by law, Ciber undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements in light of new information or future events. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Contact Scott Kozak Ciber, Global Communications, Investor and Industry Relations 303-967-1379 skozak@ciber.com Sven Fossum Communications Manager ManpowerGroup Norway Mobile: +47 930 24 314 E-mail: sven.fossum@manpowergroup.no http://www.manpowergroup.no/Presse/ KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Asia Plantation Capital Berhad (APCB), is pleased to announce that it has become the first dedicated agarwood plantation company in Asia to receive regulatory approval from Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia (SSM - Companies Commission of Malaysia) for its Malaysia-based investment scheme. SSM is a statutory body in Malaysia that regulates companies and businesses, and is the country's leading authority for the improvement of corporate governance, and compliance with businesses registration and corporate legislation. As an enforcement body, SSM lays down stringent guidelines, and after a thorough audit by Agrinexus International -- Malaysia's leading management services company for the agriculture sector -- Asia Plantation Capital Berhad's regulatory approval has now been confirmed. The approval is important for APCB and all its stakeholders, as it not only maintains the integrity of the industry and the investment sector, but also provides security and peace of mind for both current and potential clients. Steve Watts, CEO of Asia Plantation Capital Berhad commented, "This comes as a significant step forward for us as a company, and indeed the agarwood plantation industry as a whole. The approval further strengthens our position as a global leader, and allows us to provide our services to regulated investment funds, individuals and institutional investors, all of whom can now have the comfort of knowing that we have gone through a rigorous audit and approval process by Malaysia's foremost financial regulator." "It also paves the way for our ambitious expansion and investment programmes in Malaysia," he continued, "and follows up our recently signed joint venture with Tunku Temenggong Johor's, Johor Motorsports, as well as agreements we have already reached to manage plantations with Eco BlackGold. Expansion plans are also underway for our existing factory in Johor, and we are also looking at a major investment into new agarwood plantations in the very near future." Watts concluded, "As part of the company's commitment to investing in local communities, we are aiming to supply our knowledge and expertise by introducing an 'outgrower' programme with local farms, smaller growers, and fellow plantation operators, and in return, offer a fixed price for their current, mature trees. We can also assist them by providing access to the processing facilities at our factories." Asia Plantation Capital Berhad has already established itself as a world leader in agarwood plantation management and the production of 100% pure, organic Oud oil -- a fact not lost on the fragrance world. APCB supplies its sustainably sourced Oud to Fragrance Du Bois -- a young, innovative perfume house whose range of Oud-inspired products have created quite a stir on the international market, and whose pace of expansion appears to be matching that of Asia Plantation Capital. "Obtaining regulatory approval from a body as prestigious and well-respected as the Companies Commission of Malaysia is extremely helpful to the development of our company and what we are striving to achieve as an organisation," said Steve Watts in signing off. "It's excellent news for both us and our investors, and is a testament to the efforts we have put in to create only the finest products, embracing the best, ethical business practices, and with every respect to the environment in which we must all live and work." Note to editors: For further information, please contact: Samantha Tham PR & Marketing Executive, Asia Plantation Capital Email: samantha.tham@asiaplantationcapital.com Tel: +65-6222-3386 About Asia Plantation Capital Berhad APCB is part of the Asia Plantation Capital Group, which is one of the world's fastest growing plantation management companies, leading the way in sapling cultivation, forestry growth, pioneering inoculation methods, harvesting techniques, distillation methods and product processing, while bringing important economic benefits to local communities. About Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia (SSM) SSM is the Companies Commission of Malaysia, formed in April 2002 after a merger between the Registrar of Companies (ROC) and the Registrar of Businesses (ROB). It serves as an agency to incorporate companies and register businesses, and provides both company and business information to the Malaysian public. SSM comprehensively enforces business registration and corporate legislation compliance, and is responsible for monitoring all activities and developments in Malaysia's corporate and business sectors. Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20160824/8521605349-a Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20160824/8521605349-b PHILADELPHIA, PA--(Marketwired - August 24, 2016) - Important Update: Cindy Walters of Researched Reviews, who is featured in many news publications as a qualified and respected research analyst, now provides the most important resource links shown below. Cindy Walters confirms, "There Is Now a New Ground Breaking Brain Boosting Smart Pill That Has Investigative Journalists Buzzing." Access the News Reported Latest Breakthrough Brain Boosting Supplement Right Here Researched Reviews Reports Their Latest Findings: Geniux Ultimate Brain Supplement This release is written on behalf of Researched Reviews. It is an Independent report of their conclusions for the product Geniux. Researched Reviews has now posted their latest report regarding Geniux, describing it as an advanced brainpower supplement. Cindy Walters from Researched Reviews states, "Any supplement that makes incredible claims is one that is worth being skeptical about to determine if it is a scam. That's why consumers are more drawn to the conservative claims made by Geniux, a brainpower supplement available online only through the manufacturer's site. It doesn't claim to make users genius level in a day or two, nor does it claim that everyone will get the same results right away. Just on the simple basis of its seemingly honest claims, many consumers think this particular brain boosting supplement is worth looking into." Researched Reviews takes an in-depth look at this new Geniux advanced brain boosting supplement to see if it can deliver on its promises to consumers with Mr. Kingston's Report: "Shocking New Geniux Report -- This May Change Your Mind" Geniux: Consumers Financial Investment (Price) Researched Reviews specialist Mr. Kingston reports on important Geniux pricing information in the report. Typically the consumers would be billed as follows: Get the Lowest Discount Price For Geniux Available Right Here Researched Reviews Reports On Geniux Claims: Analyst Cindy Walters states, "Consumers have to start out with the manufacturer claims on the website when they review supplements. That's where individuals are going to be able to discern if they are being scammed or if there is something genuine there. As a research analyst my job is to assess the claims a product makes." Ms. Walters reports, "Just by perusing the Geniux website, consumers can see a lot of claims that sound good, but not too good to be true. It promises that users may enjoy better cognitive performance. That's fancy talk for saying that an individual's memory will be improved and they will be able to focus better and solve problems easier. Basically, the connections in the brain will become fortified and improved so that smoother communication may take place. "They next state that energy levels and mood may be improved. For some consumers these may not seem to be directly affecting their cognitive functions, but they are nice added bonuses that may stem from what the base supplement is trying to do. Usually whenever a supplement is able to offer users extra benefits not seemingly related to its main goal that usually is a good sign." ALSO SEE: Geniux Reviews -- What They'll Never Tell Anyone According to Researched Reviews report: Geniux and its manufacturers also state that anyone taking the supplement may be able to react faster mentally. That's useful for when individuals are having conversations, making a speech, just doing a job, driving down the road or doing just about anything at all. There are lots of ways faster brain speed may benefit individuals, and if it manages to pull off this particular benefit, that may be worth it alone. MUST SEE: Geniux: "Don't Buy This Until You See This First" Caution Must Be Used When Purchasing Geniux On-Line... Ms. Walters also added, "Only buying directly from the Official Website are consumers backed with the manufacturers guarantee." This Is The Official Geniux Website Researched Reviews reports on Geniux side effects as follows: Mr. Kingston claims, "As good as any supplement may sound and as wonderful as its benefits may be, if there are any major side effects, then it may not be worth it. Lowered brainpower loss may not be considered a true problem. It's something that many people can experience as they age. So, this supplement isn't treating a medical condition, and that is stated clearly on the manufacturers' website. "If you want to experience better brainpower and brain performance, then a brain boosting supplement may be worthwhile, but not if it has side effects holding it back. "Just like any other medicine or supplement, it is important to be aware that you are embarking on a supplement regime or adding to your current personal supplement range. However, as far as supplements go, Geniux is one of the safest supplements available today. "If, you are concerned you should seek advice from your health adviser." Researched Reviews Reports On the Ingredients as Follows: This formula contains some the most scientifically advanced ingredients. Not only are these ingredients powerful, the cutting edge delivery system is what makes this product deliver the ingredients quickly to the brain allowing many users to be able to feel the benefits fast. Many within minutes. Must See: The Secret Main Ingredients in Geniux Cindy Walters states, "Most consumers want to know, will Geniux really come through in its many claims? Can it boost your brainpower and help you to focus easier?" According to the report, extensive testing performed on the supplement seems to agree with every claim listed. While Geniux hasn't been evaluated by the FDA, it has been rigorously tested, and its individual ingredients have been shown to produce effective results. Those who tried it reported that it gave them better focus and cleared their mind so they could concentrate more easily. They also claimed that it helped them feel better and have more energy. On top of that, many users had better memory recall and quicker reflexes once they tried the supplement. That was true in consumer testimonials and in the testing phases the supplement went through. Geniux was shown to be effective and live up to its claims. Must See: Critical New Info About Geniux Is Now In David Kingston proclaims, "There's another claim that needs to be addressed, though. The manufacturer's claim that those who try their supplement may see results possibly within minutes. The body will start processing the supplement as soon as it is taken because of its advanced delivery system. Many users have reported that claim as true stating that brainpower increases were noticeable almost instantly. "Other users may notice the benefit within first half hour. Many people report better mental acuity within that time period and noticeable results that they are happy with. The reports vary as to how long it takes for most people to start seeing results, and that is to be expected, since everyone's physiology is different. The supplement is going to affect everyone in different ways, but the important thing is that it is producing results and most people are very happy with it." "Shocking New Geniux Report -- This May Change Your Mind" David Kingston from Researched Reviews Reports: "If an individual wants a brainpower supplement that doesn't disappoint, then Geniux may be what they are looking for. It works, it's safe and it manages to live up to all its claims. That's far more than just about any brainpower supplement on the market can boast. "They include a savings if an individual wants to commit to the supplement. Consumers should know that the return policy for Geniux is quite generous as well." David Kingston states, "Geniux is highly recommended for anyone who wants to get a bit more brainpower. It won't turn users into a genius overnight, but they will likely be pleased with the results, just as others have been." Analyst Cindy Walters states, "Consumers must purchase Geniux only from the official website. "Even buying Geniux through trusted online retailers is not advised. Certain vendors can often sell expired or outdated products under the guise of selling the best version of a product. Buying an expired product would simply be a waste of money and the potency could be greatly diminished." Ms. Walters also added, "Only buying directly from the Official Website are consumers backed with the manufacturers guarantee." This Is The Official Geniux Website Ms. Walters states, "Latest reports published now show there is a problem with many brain boosting supplements available today. Almost no one is bringing attention to this critical information, but there is a reason for this, as you're about to learn." Click Here for the Full Report About Researched Reviews: Researched Reviews is a well-respected public source of information and product Review Company situated in the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA, and Southern New Jersey assisting consumers to find important information concerning specified products and services that will then help individuals determine if those specific products and services are in fact a suitable fit for them. Researched Reviews reports back on a broad range of both products and services. Researching and reviewing everything from beauty and health care products to services and membership programs that may be popular in the market place at any given time. Researched Reviews remains committed to providing honest and accurate information to consumers at all time. Media Contact: David Kingston Researched Reviews (215) 357-6785 support@researched-reviews.com HELSINKI (dpa-AFX) - Finland's producer prices declined at a faster pace in July, figures from Statistics Finland showed Wednesday. The producer price index fell 3.8 percent year-over-year in July, which was worse than the 3.4 percent decrease in June. The measure has been falling since August 2013. The fall in the producer prices for manufactured products was particularly caused by reductions in the prices of oil products, manufacturing of basic metals and chemicals and chemical products from July 2015, the agency said. Both domestic and foreign market prices dipped by 4.8 percent and 3.1 percent, respectively in July from a year ago. Similarly, import prices declined 5.0 percent and export prices slid 4.8 percent as compared to June last year. On a monthly basis, producer prices dropped 0.3 percent from June, when it rose by 0.3 percent. It was the first fall in five months. 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. MUNICH, August 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ENSURE-AF results to be featured during a late-breaking clinical trial session Five abstracts highlighting analyses from the global phase 3 ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48 study to be presented Seven abstracts to reveal new findings from the PREFER in AF and VTE European patient registries Daiichi Sankyo Europe GmbH Group (hereafter, Daiichi Sankyo) today announced the presentation of 13 abstracts at the ESC Congress 2016, taking place from August 27-31 in Rome, Italy. The first results from ENSURE-AF, the largest prospective randomized clinical trial to date evaluating a non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC) compared to a current standard of care in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) undergoing electrical cardioversion, which included nearly 2,200 patients from 19 countries, will be featured in a late-breaking clinical trial presentation. In addition, five analyses from the global phase 3 ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48 study of edoxaban (known by the brand name LIXIANA outside the US and SAVAYSA in the US) will be presented, including clinical outcomes associated with dose interruption in patients with NVAF compared to warfarin, relationship between body mass index and clinical outcomes, and a novel risk prediction score for net clinical outcome assessment. Furthermore, six analyses from the PREFER in atrial fibrillation (AF) registry and one analysis from the PREFER in venous thromboembolism (VTE) registry will be presented, with new insights into the use of NOAC therapy, including prescribing patterns and trends in acute and long-term management of patients with AF and VTE. Details of the presentations are included below: Presentation Title Presenter Session Details Late-breaking Oral Presentation Edoxaban for Cardioversion of Andreas Goette, MD, Tuesday, August 30, Atrial Fibrillation: The Edoxaban St. Vincenz-Hospital, 2:00-2:15 PM CET Versus Warfarin in Subjects Paderborn, Germany Location: Rome - Undergoing Cardioversion of Main Auditorium Atrial Fibrillation (ENSURE-AF) Study Poster Presentations Evolution of Symptoms, Rate, and Yanish Purmah, MD, Sunday, August 28, Rhythm Control Therapy in AF City Hospital, 8:30 AM-12:30 PM CET Patients in Europe: A Comparison Birmingham, United Location: of the PREFER in AF and PREFER in Kingdom Poster Area AF Prolongation Data Sets Insulin-requiring Versus Elisabetta Ricottini, Sunday, August 28, Non-insulin Requiring Diabetes MD, University Campus 2:00-6:00 PM CET and Thromboembolic Risk in Bio-Medico, Rome, Location: Patients with Atrial Italy Poster Area Fibrillation: A PREFER in AF Registry Sub-study Antithrombotic Management of Giulia Renda, MD, PhD Sunday, August 28, Atrial Fibrillation: Follow-up G. d'Annunzio University 2:00-6:00 PM CET Data from the PREFER in AF of Chieti-Pescara Location: Registry Chieti, Italy Poster Area The HAS-BLED Score for Prediction Miklos Rohla, MD, Sunday, August 28, of Stroke and Systemic Embolism: Medical University of 2:00-6:00 PM CET Insights from the PREvention oF Vienna, Vienna, Austria Location: thromboembolic events - European Poster Area Registry in Atrial Fibrillation (PREFER in AF) Patients' Convenience and Raffaele De Caterina, MD, Sunday, August 28, Satisfaction as Important Factors PhD, FESC, G. d'Annunzio 2:00-6:00 PM CET Related to Switching from Vitamin University of Chieti- Location: K Antagonists to NOACs - A PREFER Pescara Chieti, Italy Poster Area in AF Registry Analysis Moderated Poster Presentation Hospitalization-Related Costs Elizabeth A. Magnuson, ScD, Tuesday, August 30, Among Patients with Atrial Saint Lukes Hospital, 10:25-10:35 AM CET Fibrillation Treated with the Kansas City, Missouri, Location: Moderated Factor Xa Inhibitor Edoxaban vs United States of America Poster Station - Warfarin: Results from the ENGAGE Poster Area AF-TIMI 48 Trial Rapid Fire Abstracts Linking Intrinsic Factor X Ophelia Q. Yin, Phd, FCP, Sunday, August 28, Activity, a Biologically Relevant Daiichi Sankyo, Edison, 11:36-11:45 AM CET Pharmacodynamic Marker, to New Jersey, United Location: Agora 1 - Edoxaban Plasma Concentration and States of America Poster Area Clinical Outcomes in the ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48 Trial Gender Differences in Clinical Renate B. Schnabel, MD, Monday, August 29, Presentation and Predictors of MSc University Heart Center 9:15-9:24 AM CET One-Year Outcomes in Atrial Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany Location: Agora 1 - Fibrillation Poster Area Relationship Between Body Mass Giuseppe Boriani, MD, PhD, Tuesday, August 30, Index and Outcomes in 21,028 University of Modena, 2:09-2:18 PM CET Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Modena, Italy Location: Agora 2 - Treated with Edoxaban or Warfarin Poster Area in ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48 Trial Management of Acute Venous Rupert Bauersachs, MD, Tuesday, August 30, Thromboembolism in Europe - Max Ratschow Clinic for 5:06-5:15 PM CET Follow-up Data at 1 Month from Angiology, Darmstadt, Location: Galileo - the PREFER in VTE Registry Germany The Hub Young Investigator Awards Presentations Clinical Events After Ilaria Cavallari, MD, Sunday, August 28, Interruption of Anticoagulation Brigham and Women's 2:57-1:15 PM CET in Patients With Atrial Hospital, Boston, Location: Raphael - Fibrillation: A Subgroup Analysis Massachusetts, United The Hub From the ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48 Trial States of America A Novel Risk Prediction Score in Christina Fanola, MD, Sunday, August 28, Atrial Fibrillation for a Net Boston Medical Center, 1:32-1:50 PM CET Clinical Outcome from the ENGAGE Brookline, Boston, Location: Galileo - AF-TIMI 48 Randomized Clinical Massachusetts, United The Hub Trial States of America About ENSURE-AF (EdoxabaN vs. warfarin in subjectS UndeRgoing cardiovErsion of Atrial Fibrillation) ENSURE-AF is aProspective,Randomized,Open-Label,BlindedEndpoint evaluation (PROBE), parallel-group phase 3b study evaluating the efficacy and safety of once-daily edoxaban versus enoxaparin/warfarin in patients with NVAF undergoing electrical cardioversion. The primary efficacy endpoint was the composite of stroke, systemic embolism, myocardial infarction, and cardiovascular mortality. The primary safety endpoint was the composite of major and clinically-relevant non-major bleeding. A total of 2,199 NVAF patients undergoing electrical cardioversion were enrolled at 239 clinical sites across North America and Europe. Patients were randomized to receive edoxaban 60 mg (or a reduced dose of edoxaban 30 mg for specific patients with renal impairment or low body weight or P-glycoprotein inhibitor use) or enoxaparin/warfarin for 28-49 days.[1] About the ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48 Study The ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48 global phase 3 study investigated once-daily edoxaban in comparison to warfarin in 21,105 patients with NVAF at moderate-to-high risk of thromboembolic events. This represented the largest and longest trial with a NOAC in patients with AF performed to date, with a median follow-up of 2.8 years. Edoxaban demonstrated non-inferiority for stroke or systemic embolism in comparison to warfarin. For the principal safety endpoint, edoxaban was found to significantly reduce major bleeding compared to warfarin.[2] About PREFER in AF The initial PREFER in AF registry enrolled 7,243 AF patients across 461 centres in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. The aim of this registry is to provide information on the characteristics and management of patients with AF with focus on prevention of thromboembolic events, specifically stroke, together with other important patient-focused considerations such as management, quality of life and treatment satisfaction of patients with AF.[3] The Prolongation of PREFER in AF Registry was designed to extend the ongoing PREFER in AF registry to gain further insights on AF management. The extension to the PREFER in AF registry includes two additional countries (Belgium and the Netherlands). Data is being collected from 5,000 patients across 325 centres in the nine European countries.[4] About PREFER in VTE The PREFER in VTE registry enrolled patients in seven European countries, including Austria, France Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK to assess the real-life acute mid-term management of patients with VTE, the use of healthcare resources, and to provide data to estimate the costs for 12 months of treatment following a first-time and/or recurrent VTE diagnosis. In addition, PREFER in VTE is the first registry of its kind to capture comprehensive real-world data regarding quality of life, patient satisfaction and the economic burden of VTE treatment across Europe.[5] About Atrial Fibrillation AF is a condition where the heart beats irregularly and rapidly. When this happens, blood can pool and thicken in the chambers of the heart causing an increased risk of blood clots. These blood clots can break off and travel through the blood stream to the brain (or sometimes to another part of the body), where they have the potential to cause a stroke.[6] AF is the most common type of heart rhythm disorder, and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality.[7] More than six million Europeans are diagnosed with AF, and this figure is expected to at least double over the next 50 years.[8],[9] Compared to those without AF, people with the arrhythmia have a 3-5 times higher risk of stroke.[10] One in five of all strokes are as a result of AF.[9] About VTE VTE is an umbrella term for two conditions, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). DVT is a disease caused by a blood clot found in deep veins, usually within the lower leg, thigh or pelvis, although they can occur in other parts of the body as well.[11] PE occurs when part of a clot detaches and lodges in the pulmonary arteries, causing a potentially fatal condition.[12] VTE is a major cause of morbidity and mortality.[13] A 2007 study of morbidity and mortality from VTE in six European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the UK) estimated a total of approximately 762,000 VTE episodes and a further 370,000 VTE-related deaths each year.[13] There is a high rate of recurrence after a first VTE event, which is reduced with anticoagulant treatment. Without anticoagulant treatment, approximately half of patients who experience an initial VTE event have recurrent VTE within three months.[14] About Edoxaban Edoxaban is an oral, once-daily, direct factor Xa (pronounced "Ten A") inhibitor. Factor Xa is one of the key components in the coagulation cascade responsible for blood clotting. Inhibition of factor Xa reduces thrombin generation, prolongs clotting time and reduces the risk of thrombus formation. About Daiichi Sankyo Daiichi Sankyo Group is dedicated to the creation and supply of innovative pharmaceutical products to address diversified, unmet medical needs of patients in both mature and emerging markets. With over 100 years of scientific expertise and a presence in more than 20 countries, Daiichi Sankyo and its 16,000 employees around the world draw upon a rich legacy of innovation and a robust pipeline of promising new medicines to help people. In addition to a strong portfolio of medicines for hypertension and thrombotic disorders, under the Group's 2025 Vision to become a "Global Pharma Innovator with Competitive Advantage in Oncology," Daiichi Sankyo research and development is primarily focused on bringing forth novel therapies in oncology, including immuno-oncology, with additional focus on new horizon areas, such as pain management, neurodegenerative diseases, heart and kidney diseases, and other rare diseases. For more information, please visit: http://www.daiichisankyo.com. Forward-looking statements This press release contains forward-looking statements and information about future developments in the sector, and the legal and business conditions of DAIICHI SANKYO Co., Ltd. Such forward-looking statements are uncertain and are subject at all times to the risks of change, particularly to the usual risks faced by a global pharmaceutical company, including the impact of the prices for products and raw materials, medication safety, changes in exchange rates, government regulations, employee relations, taxes, political instability and terrorism as well as the results of independent demands and governmental inquiries that affect the affairs of the company. All forward-looking statements contained in this release hold true as of the date of publication. They do not represent any guarantee of future performance. Actual events and developments could differ materially from the forward-looking statements that are explicitly expressed or implied in these statements. DAIICHI SANKYO Co., Ltd. assume no responsibility for the updating of such forward-looking statements about future developments of the sector, legal and business conditions and the company. References Lip, GY. A prospective evaluation of edoxaban compared to warfarin in subjects undergoing cardioversion of atrial fibrillation: The EdoxabaN vs. warfarin in subjectS UndeRgoing cardiovErsion of Atrial Fibrillation (ENSURE-AF) study. Am Heart J. 2015 May;169(5):597-604. Giugliano R, et al. Edoxaban versus warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2013;369(22):2093-2104. Kirchhof P, et al. Management of atrial fibrillation in seven European countries after the publication of the 2010 ESC Guidelines on atrial fibrillation: primary results of the PREvention oF thromboembolic events - European Registry in Atrial Fibrillation (PREFER in AF). Europace. 2013. doi: 10.1093/europace/eut263. Prolongation PREFER in AF Registry. European Multinational Prolongation Registry on Prevention of Thromboembolic Events in Atrial Fibrillation. DSE-EAF-01-13. Data on file. Agnelli G, et al. The management of acute venous thromboembolism in clinical practice - study rationale and protocol of the European PREFER in VTE Registry. Thromb J. 2015 doi: 10.1186/s12959-015-0071. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute - What is Atrial Fibrillation. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/af/af_diagnosis.html .[Last accessed: March 2016 ]. Iqbal MB, et al. Recent developments in atrial fibrillation. BMJ. 2005;330(7485):238-43. Krijthe BP, et al. Projections on the number of individuals with atrial fibrillation in the European Union, from 2000 to 2060. Eur Heart J . 2013;34(35):2746-2751. Camm A, et al. Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation: The Task Force for the Management of Atrial Fibrillation of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Eur Heart J . 2010;31(19):2369-2429. Ball J, et al. Atrial fibrillation: Profile and burden of an evolving epidemic in the 21st century. Int J Card. 2013;167:1807-1824. Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) / Pulmonary Embolism (PE) - Blood Clot Forming in a Vein. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dvt/facts.html .[Last accessed: March 2016 ]. Van Beek E, et al. Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. New York : John Wiley & Sons, 2009. Print. Cohen A, et al. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) in Europe . Thromb Haemost. 2007;98(4):756-764. Kearon C. Natural history of venous thromboembolism. Circulation. 2003;107(23 suppl 1):I-22-30. August 2016 EDX/16/0186 Contact Lydia Worms (Europe) Daiichi Sankyo Europe GmbH Edoxaban Communications & Product PR Europe +49(89)7808751 PUNE, India, August 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Solar Air Conditioning Industry 2016 Market Research Report now available with AskLinkerReports.com is a comprehensive analysis starting with a basic outline of the Solar Air Conditioning including definition; classification, application, and industry chain overview are all covered in the report. This report projects investment feasibility analysis, new project SWOT analysis, and investment return analysis of the Solar Air Conditioning industry. Complete report on Solar Air Conditioning market analysing major companies and supported with table and figures is available at http://www.asklinkerreports.com/4772-solar-air-conditioning-market. It portrays the present market picture and progress forecasts of the Global Solar Air Conditioning market in the coming years. It offers a global synopsis along with the market share and progress forecasts by region. This report also highlights the dissection of the market in terms of product technology. The report presents the key vendor backdrop of this market and an equivalent thorough analysis of the significant market players. The report prudently studies and outlines the changing aspects and opportunity of the market and serves in determining the principal factors impelling the development of the market for Solar Air Conditionings. This report is a calculable and qualitative demonstration including both the driving as well as constraining factors within the market for Solar Air Conditionings .The main segments besides the sub-segments within the market have also been emphasized in the report, with citing the foremost segments and their predictable market position towards the end of the forecast period. The Global Solar Air Conditioning Industry 2016 Market Research Report is carefully sketches the Solar Air Conditioning industry plan and policy along with manufacturing process, product specification, cost structure and so on. Not only this the report profoundly evaluates the world's main region market conditions comprising of the product, price, production, profit, capacity utilization, supply, demand and industry growth rate and much more. Order a Copy of Report at http://www.asklinkerreports.com/contacts/purchase/4772. In addition, the report confers the main drivers that are inducing the growthof the market and also sketches the challenges faced by the vendors and the market as a whole. The report also highlights the key trends that are emergent in the market - the key region including North American, Europe and Asia; and the leading countries like US, Germany, Japan, and China. The Global Solar Air Conditioning Industry Report comes in six segments, the first segment introduces the product basic information; the second segment analyses the Asia Solar Air Conditioning industry; the third slot chiefly dissects the North American Solar Air Conditioning industry; the fourth segment scrutinizes the Europe Solar Air Conditioning industry; the fifth segment analyzes the market entry and investment feasibility; and the sixth segment comprises the summary of the Solar Air Conditioning Industry. The Global Solar Air Conditioning Industry 2016 Market Research Report is a detailed package that answers all your enquiries concerning the Global Solar Air Conditioning Market. Another related report is Global Air-conditioning Unit Industry 2015 Market Research Report. The report firstly introduced Air-conditioning Unit basic information including Air-conditioning Unit definition classification application and industry chain overview; Air-conditioning Unit industry policy and plan, Air-conditioning Unit 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 Air-conditioning Unit new project SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis and Air-conditioning Unit industry. In a word, it was a depth research report on Air-conditioning Unit industry. The report including six parts, the first part mainly introduced the product basic information; the second parts mainly analyzed the Asia Air-conditioning Unit industry; the third part mainly analyzed the North American Air-conditioning Unit industry; the fourth part mainly analyzed the Europe Air-conditioning Unit industry; the fifth part mainly analyzed the market entry and investment feasibility; the sixth part was the report conclusion chapter. Table of content of the report is available at http://www.asklinkerreports.com/toc/global-air-conditioning-unit-industry-2015-market-research-report-300. Explore other reports on equipment market http://www.asklinkerreports.com/category/equipment-market-research. . About Us: AskLinker Reports is an aggregator of market research and industry intelligence reports providing data analysis of sectors including chemical, medical, machinery, food, energy, automotive, environmental protection, transportation, electric power, light industry, petroleum, electronics and other categories. These reports are by AskLinker Research team backed by research institutions as well as senior, expert researchers. Contact: Ritesh Tiwari UNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZ Magarpatta city, Hadapsar Pune - 411013 Maharashtra, India. Tel: +1-888-391-5441 sales@asklinkerreports.com Connect With Us: G+ / Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/100522247534014319619 Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskLinker Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AskLinker-1406292919396252/ RSS / Feeds: http://www.asklinkerreports.com/feed Market Insights: http://www.asklinkerreports.com/market-insights The Glyphosate Task Force (GTF) is facilitating public access to 71 proprietary toxicological studies submitted as part of the ongoing process of renewing European Union (EU) approval for the sale of glyphosate. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160824005470/en/ Shelves containing the full set of studies submitted for the glyphosate renewal. Seventy-one proprietary studies are available in the reading room. (Photo: Glyphosate Task Force) The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has already published detailed summaries of the studies and its assessments. Today the GTF has opened a public reading room in Brussels which will facilitate even greater access to the data submitted in the renewal procedure. As with all active substances used in pesticides, glyphosate is subject to periodic review and evaluation by public authorities. All studies submitted as part of the EU renewal process have been reviewed and analysed by scientific experts of EFSA and EU Member States. These experts concluded that "glyphosate is unlikely to pose a carcinogenic hazard to humans" and that it does not demonstrate mutagenic properties or effects on fertility, reproduction or embryonal development. It is important to note that applicants for all active substances in the EU submit a combination of both open (public) and proprietary research. All industry generated studies must comply with strict standards of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and are independently peer reviewed as part of the EU evaluation process. The GTF will provide public access to 71 toxicological studies owned by the members of GTF. Very limited information has been redacted from the documents, in line with Article 63 of EU Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, which governs the authorisation of plant protection products. A registration page for the reading room is now available online. The page provides details of location and opening times and the room is accessible to anyone who agrees with the terms and conditions. The reading room will be open until the end of October. ENDS Notes for the Editor: 1. The registration page for the reading room can be accessed here: http://www.gtfstudies.org/registration. 2. The European Commission recently extended the existing authorisation for the use of glyphosate for 18 months while waiting for the results of a carcinogenicity assessment by the European Chemicals Agency in Helsinki. 3. Link to EFSA glyphosate page: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/151119a About the GTF The European Glyphosate Task Force (GTF) is a consortium of companies joining resources and efforts in order to renew the European glyphosate registration with a joint submission. This consortium is not to be considered a legal entity. The following companies are confirmed member of the GTF: ADAMA Agan Ltd., Agria S.A., Agro Trade GmbH, Albaugh UK Limited, Arysta Lifesciences SAS, Barclay Chemicals (Manufacturing) Ltd., Brokden SL, Bros Spolka Jawna B. P. Miranowscy, Cheminova A/S, Coromandel International Ltd, EXCEL CROP CARE(Europe) NV, Helm AG, Industrias Afrasa S.A., Monsanto Europe S.A./N.V., Nufarm GmbH Co KG, Rotam Agrochemical Europe Limited, Sapec Agro S.A., Sinon Corporation, Societe Financiere de Pontarlier, Syngenta Limited, United Phosphorus Ltd, Wynca UK Limited. For more information please see: www.glyphosate.eu View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160824005470/en/ Contacts: Media contact : Claire MacCarrick, +32 (0)2 234 6860 Hume Brophy 41 Rue de la Science Brussels BALTIMORE, MD--(Marketwired - August 24, 2016) - AiNET has expanded its offering of full stack services within its CyberNAP data center in Glen Burnie, MD. In response to customer demand, the company built significant additional high speed fiber optic cable capacity into the data center which connects to its own private fiber network, the region's largest. This new connectivity for clients of the high tech Maryland data center is the latest offering in an expanding full stack of best-in-class services that AiNET offers. In addition to a full suite of carriers and connectivity options within the multi-tenant data center, AiNET offers customers a wide range of technology services, ranging from Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) all the way up the stack to private and hybrid cloud environments. All of AiNET's services are backed by a 100% guaranteed Service License Agreement (SLA), and have access to 24/7 certified expert technical support. "Most providers see their data centers as just real estate: floor space, power and cooling," explains Michael Fox, AiNET's regional Vice President responsible for business development. "At AiNET we believe the true value of the data center is in the processes it enables. We believe that by bundling managed services, cyber security and connectivity with storage and processing, we create real business value for our clients, and free them up to focus on their core business competencies." "Customers have been forced by technology development to be their own integrator -- building patchwork connectivity, reliability and SLAs into a single solution for business. This distracts them from their core business," suggests Deepak Jain, AiNET's Founder and CEO of the changing environment for customers. "Business needs IT that is executed flawlessly and without finger-pointing between multiple vendors the customer is integrating. CyberNAP provides the answer." AiNET's CyberNAP data center is the largest standalone data center in Maryland, Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. with nearly 300,000 feet of data center floor space across multiple stories. It is located in Glen Burnie, Maryland. For more information on CyberNAP visit www.ai.net/CyberNAP. About AiNET AiNET is a leader in the design, construction, operations, and support of Internet data centers, optical fiber networks, and critical solutions. Among their data centers, AiNET owns and operates certified Tier 4 data centers, the highest level of data center reliability and maintainability. AiNET's innovative approach combines the full stack of services within the Data Center, including IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS. By bundling services within the data center, AiNET is able to offer unique, custom solutions that empower customers to solve their largest technology challenges. AiNET is always expanding our data centers, and growing to connect buildings to our protected fiber communications networks for enhanced reliability and security. Customers that trust AiNET include the Department of Defense, the Department of Labor, the Securities and Exchange Commission, Level 3 Communications, Comcast, Cox and many others. AiNET has over 100 lit or "on-net" buildings. Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/8/23/11G111579/Images/marley-6d300c8a6378b543a875023af4907a83.jpg Contact: Brian Checco AiNET brian.checco@ai.net (301) 931-6574 ext. 224 VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/24/16 -- Millennial Lithium Corp. (TSX VENTURE: ML) ("Millennial" or the "Company") reports on activities that occurred during the recent trading halt. On July 19, 2016, Millennial announced entering into a binding property purchase agreement to 100% of the Pastos Grandes lithium project in Salta Province, Argentina (the "Acquisition"). The Salta Province of Argentina is a well known, favorable mining jurisdiction which hosts some of the world's largest lithium resources. A review of published data on the Acquisition shows a prominent regional-scale structure with abundant evidence of hydrothermal activity. On July 25, 2016, Millennial appointed Iain Scarr as VP Development and Exploration. Iain brings the expertise needed in the development and commercialization of mineral deposits, particularly lithium brine deposits in the "Lithium Triangle" of South America. Mr. Scarr has worked primarily in industrial minerals exploration and commercial development since 1979. Mr. Scarr spent 29 years with Rio Tinto and was responsible for multiple discoveries worldwide, including work on the commercial justification for the Jadar lithium-borate resource in Serbia. Subsequent to his tenure at Rio Tinto, he relocated to Argentina where he was responsible for bringing the Sal de Vida lithium brine project through feasibility for Lithium One Inc. and Galaxy Resources and more recently the Rincon project with Enirgi. Mr. Scarr has a B.Sc. in Geology from California State University and an MBA from the University of Southern California. On August 12, 2016, Millennial filed a 43-101 geological technical report on the Pastos Grandes project with the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") in support of its acquisition. In addition, Millennial made application to the Provincial mining authority of Salta, REMSA, for an additional 4,236 hectares of mineral claims adjacent to the 1,219 hectare Pastos Grandes project. On August 15, 2016, Millennial announced an increase in its private placement financing to a maximum of 7.5 million units at $0.65 per unit for gross proceeds of $4,875,000 (the "Financing"). The Financing is now fully subscribed and will be used to fund Millennial's obligations regarding the acquisition, exploration and development of the Pastos Grandes project. On August 23, 2016, trading in Millennial common stock resumed trading on the TSX Venture Exchange. Millennial has granted an aggregate of 800,000 stock options (the "Options") to certain officers, directors, consultants and employees of the Company. The Options have a term of 5 years and are exercisable at a price of $1.22 per common share. The Options, the Acquisition and the Financing are subject to the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange. MILLENNIAL LITHIUM CORP. "Graham Harris" Chairman, Director 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 news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements." Contacts: Investor Relations (604) 662-8184 info@milleniallithium.com BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - Belgium's business confidence sharply deteriorated in August, after two months of improvement, survey figures from the National Bank of Belgium showed Wednesday. The business confidence index plunged to -3.1 from 1 in July. Economists had expected a modest decline to 0.8. Weakness was witnessed across the board. Morale in the factory sector sharply declined, mainly due to weaker assessment of order books. Sentiment in the business services sector eased after three consecutive months of improvement as firms viewed the current situation more negatively and consequently, their expectations were dim. Confidence in the construction sector fell on the back of a sharp fall in new orders and an unfavorable assessment of overall order books. In trade, confidence decreased largely due to the sharp decline in the employment prospects and worsened demand expectations. 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. PUNE, India, August 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Mobile Biometrics Market by Component (Fingerprint Readers, Scanners, Cameras, Software), Authentication Mode (Single factor (Fingerprint, Voice, Face, Iris, Vein, & Retina Scan) and Multifactor), Industry, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2022", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 29.3% to reach USD 49.33 Billion by 2022. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 ) Browse 61 market data Tables and 60 Figures spread through 142 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Mobile Biometrics Market". http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/mobile-biometric-market-255843667.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report. The growing penetration of mobile devices and increasing number of mobile transactions are driving the growth of the mobile biometrics market. Over the last few years, the number of online transactions and e-commerce has gradually gone up and has created a huge opportunity for the companies to invest in the biometric industry to secure these transactions. A shift from traditional commerce to smart commerce using biometric-enabled mobile devices would save time and provide high security for transactions. Market in healthcare industry is expected to grow at a high rate during the forecast period The market in the healthcare industry is expected to grow at the highest rate between 2016 and 2022. The proliferation of electronic health records (EHRs) and the transition of data across health information exchanges (HIEs) created a huge demand for mobile biometrics as it is essential to secure and protect these digital records. Healthcare providers are using biometric patient identification systems to ensure patient safety by ensuring that patients are accurately identified prior to treatment. Fingerprint recognition is expected to dominate the single-factor authentication mode during the forecast period The fingerprint recognition technology is the most prominent biometrics technology that is being used at present. Most of the smartphone manufacturers such as Apple and Samsung use fingerprint recognition technology in their offerings. This strategy is being followed by emerging companies across the world. As fingerprint recognition is the most convenient technology in terms of investment and market acceptance, it is expected to lead the market during the forecast period. North America holds the largest share of the mobile biometrics market; APAC is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period The adoption of mobile biometric technologies in passports & visas, banking & finance, large-scale funded programs, and employee access monitoring in buildings is driving the growth of the mobile biometrics market in North America. Inquiry Before Buying: http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=255843667 The market in APAC is expected to grow at the highest CAGR between 2016 and 2022. Many countries in the Asia-Pacific region have started adopting mobile biometric technologies in national IDs and e-passports. Moreover, the government in Asian countries is actively promoting and adopting biometric technologies. India has introduced biometric-based unique identification (UID) which is likely to cover 1.25 billion Indians. In 2012, China introduced the new China Resident Identity Card Law which requires Chinese citizens to have their fingerprints scanned and recorded. Large-scale township projects in Japan have also started adopting biometrics as a standard security device. The major companies in the mobile biometrics market that are profiled in this report include: Apple Inc. (U.S.) Nuance Communications, Inc. (U.S.) Safran SA ( France ) M2SYS Technology (U.S.) 3M Cogent, Inc. (U.S.) Precise Biometric ( Sweden ) Crossmatch (U.S.) BIO-key (U.S.) Aware Inc. (U.S.) Applied Recognition, Inc. ( Canada ) EyeVerify, Inc. (U.S.) Fulcrum Biometrics, LLC (U.S.) Browse Related Report Fingerprint Sensors Market by Type (Swipe, Area & Touch), Technology (Capacitive, Thermal, Optical), Application (Mobile Devices, Travel & Immigration, Government, Military & Defense, Banking & Finance) and Geography - Global Forecast to 2022 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/fingerprint-sensors-market-169519533.html Biometric System Market by Application (Government, Military & Defense, Healthcare, Banking & Finance, Consumer Electronics, Travel & Immigration, and Security), Technology (Face Recognition, Fingerprint Recognition, Iris Recognition, Palm Recognition, Voice Recognition, Signature Recognition, Vein Recognition, and Others), Function (Contact and Non-Contact) & Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, Row) - Global Forecast to 2020 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/next-generation-biometric-technologies-market-697.html About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is the largest market research firm worldwide 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: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Visit MarketsandMarkets Blog@ http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/market-reports/electronics-and-semiconductors Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/24/16 -- Angel Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE: ANG) ("Angel" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that as of August 8, 2016, an application was made for newly available ground on trend with the southerly continuation of Angel's Iguanacito silver-gold prospect. The application was successfully made without any known competition from applications by other parties having been submitted. To see the El Porvenir project and new application map, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1066999.jpg "We are very pleased to have the opportunity to apply for the ground hosting the southerly continuation of Angel's Iguanacito Prospect," says Stella Frias, President and CEO of Angel Gold Corp. "We are looking forward to evaluating the economic potential along the trend that is host to gold-silver mineralization within intense sericite-silica alteration zones that offer a new-and exciting target within the Segovia Belt in addition to the traditionally sought narrow quartz-veins." Full evaluation of the potential of Angel's Iguanacito Prospect has to date been limited to the southern portion of the El Porvenir Project concessions. The northwest-southeast trending Iguanacito alteration zone, hosted at the faulted margin of the Segovia Batholith intrusive, widens considerably towards the southern concession boundary and intersects a north-south trending zone of intensely sericitized rock hosted within the sediment/volcanic package trending to the newly applied for area. A second sediment/volcanic hosted zone of intense sericite alteration is projected to intersect the continuation of the Iguanacito zone into the area of this new concession application. The sheared western boundary of this second zone hosts the narrow (1m wide) gold-silver mineralization of an abandoned artisanal mine identified by Angel's geologists at the Nus prospect. Angel interprets this widening of the Iguanacito alteration zone and its junction with two zones of intense sediment/volcanic hosted alteration as offering increased potential for high-grade shoots of mineralization at these structural/lithologic intersections. Angel Gold geologists consider it likely that these alteration zones are emanating from a central center within the area of the new application, possibly centered over a younger intrusive body. Angel Gold geologists have already observed numerous zones of intense sericite alteration with quartz veinlets along access tracks to Angel's Iguanacito prospect that pass through the area of this concession application, including three zones tens of meters wide. Qualified Person Mr. James G. Burns, P.Eng, a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 standards and a technical advisor to the Company has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release. About Angel Gold Corp.: Angel is a Canada-based gold and silver exploration company focused on responsible development of mineral resources in Colombia, host to some of the world's largest gold deposits. Angel has been focused on acquiring and validating strategic mineral exploration opportunities in Colombia's best mining districts with the highest potential for new discoveries. On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Angel Gold Corp. Blanca Stella Frias, Director, President and Chief Executive Officer Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed the content of this News Release and therefore does not accept responsibility or liability for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of this News Release. This news release contains certain "forward- looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Company, certain information contained herein constitutes forward- looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The transaction described in this News Release is subject to a variety of conditions and risks which include but are not limited to: regulatory approval, shareholder approval, market conditions, legal due diligence for claim validity, financing, political risk, security risks at the property locations and other risks. As such, the reader is cautioned that there can be no guarantee that this transaction will complete as described in this News Release. We seek safe harbour. Contacts: For investor relations please contact: +57 321 427 6977 +1 (360) 650-1440 info@angelgoldcorp.com Angel Gold Corp. #545 - 999 Canada Place Vancouver, BC, V6C 3E1 604-684-6264 604-684-6242 (FAX) info@angelgoldcorp.com www.angelgoldcorp.com ROUYN-NORANDA, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 08/24/16 -- Note to editors: There is a graph associated with this press release. Radisson Mining Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE: RDS) ("Radisson or the Company") is pleased to announce assay results from first three holes of the Phase II (Figure 1) drill program where 12 drill holes were completed for a total of 5,616 metres at the O'Brien gold project located 8km west of Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd's Lapa gold mine in the heart of the Bousquet-Cadillac mining camp along the Abitibi Greenstone Belt. -- Drill hole 16-7 intersected 16.15 g/t Au over 3.0 m (Including 44.70 g/t Au over 1.00 m) at a depth of 187 metres in lateral extension of the current mineral resource. -- Drill hole 16-8 intersected 5.85 g/t Au over 2.0 m at a depth of 19.5 m (Figure 1). -- Drill hole 16-10 intersected 8.63 g/t Au over 2.0 m at a depth of 474.50 m in vertical extension of the current mineral resource. Note; Results are presented downhole width; true width is estimated between 55 to 70% of downhole width. Drill holes 16-7 and 16-8 started in the Piche Group volcanic rocks hence Pontiac Group sedimentary rocks were not crossed in these drill holes. Due to deviation, drill hole 16-8 intersected a mining stope within the QFP unit. This drill hole also intersected a gabbro Dyke within the sequence containing current mineral resources. Drill hole 16-10 intersected the Pontiac Group sedimentary rocks at a depth from collar to a depth of 395 metres downhole length. Highest value within the Pontiac Group sedimentary rocks yielded a value of 5.45 g/t Au over 1 metre at a depth of 303.50 m. Drill hole 16-10 also intersected a feldspar-quartz porphyry unit (QFP) where assay from the hanging wall alteration unit yielded an average value of 2.09 g/t Au over 13.5 metres at a depth of 463 m (inlcuding 8.63 g/t Au over 2.0 m presented above). Radisson's President Mario Bouchard comments: "Radisson's team is delighted with the results obtained during the Phase II drill program this summer. High-grade gold assays obtained in a systematic and consistent manner highlight the quality of the O'Brien gold project and strong exploration potential near current mineral resources areas as well as in the Pontiac Group sedimentary rocks to the south". Update on $ 2 M private placement On August 11, Radisson announced the closing of a $ 1,000,000 first tranche for a private placement totalling $ 2,000,000. In accordance with the TSX Venture Exchange policies and regulation, the company modified terms of this private placement. Hence, Radisson expects to close this private placement with a $ 1,000,000 final tranche consisting of 5,000,000 class A flow-through shares at a price of $0.20 on or about September 25, 2016. All drill cores in this campaign are NQ in size. Analyses were completed on sawn half-cores, with the second half kept for future reference. The samples were analyzed using standard fire assay procedures with AA finish at Techni-Lab Actlabs in Ste-Germaine-Boule in Abitibi, Quebec. Samples yielding a grade higher than 5 g/t were analyzed a second time by fire assay with gravimetric finish at the same laboratory. Assays containing visible gold were reanalyzed with metallic sieve procedure. Standard reference materials and blank samples were inserted prior to shipment for quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) program. Qualified Person Tony Brisson, Geo., independent consultant, acts as a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information in this press release. About Radisson Mining Resources Inc. Radisson is a Quebec-based mineral exploration company. The O'Brien project, cut by the regional Larder-Lake-Cadillac Fault, is Radisson's flagship asset. The project hosts the former O'Brien Mine, considered to have been the Abitibi Greenstone Belt's highest-grade gold producer during its production (1,197,147 metric tons at 15.25 g/t Au for 587,121 ounces of gold from 1926 to 1957; InnovExplo, April 2015). Facebook: Like us on facebook Twitter: @RDSMining For more information on Radisson, visit our website at www.radissonmining.com. 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. Forward-Looking Statements: This press release may contain certain forward-looking information. All statements included herein, including the scheduled Closing date, but other than statements of historical fact, is forward-looking information and such information involves various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. A description of assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information and a description of risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in Radisson's disclosure documents on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. To view the graph associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20160824-160824_RDS_PR10_FIGURE_EN_lrg.jpg Contacts: Radisson Mining Resources Inc. Mario Bouchard President and CEO 819-277-6578 mbouchard@radissonmining.com www.radissonmining.com EVANSVILLE, IN--(Marketwired - August 24, 2016) - Vectren Corporation (NYSE: VVC) today announced the addition of Dave Parker to its investor relations team. Parker will serve as Vectren's lead investor relations strategist in furthering the company's existing investor relationships, helping to grow the investor base, and enhancing investor communications. "We are pleased Dave has joined our team," said Vectren Executive Vice President and CFO Susan Hardwick. "Dave has more than three decades of Wall Street and utility industry experience and will play a key role in improving our communications with our investors and other key stakeholders." Parker's most recent experience was with Robert W. Baird & Co., Inc., a financial services firm headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis. He was Baird's senior utility equity research analyst for more than 20 years. Prior to that, Parker also had 12 years of utility sector experience in various roles at CMS Energy, an electric and gas utility headquartered in Jackson, Mich. He graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting. About Vectren Vectren Corporation (NYSE: VVC) is an energy holding company headquartered in Evansville, Ind. Vectren's energy delivery subsidiaries provide gas and/or electricity to more than 1 million customers in adjoining service territories that cover nearly two-thirds of Indiana and about 20 percent of Ohio, primarily in the west-central area. Vectren's nonutility subsidiaries and affiliates currently offer energy-related products and services to customers throughout the U.S. through Infrastructure Services and Energy Services. To learn more about Vectren, visit www.vectren.com. Investor Contact Dave Parker (812) 491-4135 d.parker@vectren.com Media Contact Chase Kelley (812) 491-4128 kckelley@vectren.com WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said the new revelations of e-mails and phone logs of Hillary Clinton while she was Secretary of State are only the tip of the iceberg and there will be more to follow. 'From the facts revealed to date, it is impossible to figure out where the Clinton Foundation ends and the State Department begins. It is now abundantly clear that the Clintons set up a business to profit from public office. They sold access and specific actions for money,' Giuliani said. 'This makes a mockery of her promise to Congress and the President to keep the Clinton Foundation and the State Department entirely separate,' according to the former Mayor. Guilani accused that they merged the two into 'the Clinton Family racketeering enterprise.' He stressed the need for a Special Prosecutor to investigate this scandal. Separately, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie demanded that the Clinton Foundation be investigated by a truly impartial Special Prosecutor. 'With the revelation today that over 50% of the people Secretary Clinton met with from outside government were Clinton Foundation donors, we must get to the bottom of what looks like a pay to play scheme,' he said in a statement. 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. First Product Approved for ME/CFS Indication Anywhere in the WorldBreakthrough Approval Provides Clear Path for Growth in Latin America and the European UnionPHILADELPHIA, Aug. 24, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. (NYSE MKT:HEB) (the "Company" or "Hemispherx"), announced that it has received approval of its New Drug Application (NDA) from Administracion Nacional de Medicamentos, Alimentos y Tecnologia Medica (ANMAT) for commercial sale of rintatolimod (U.S. tradename: Ampligen) in the Argentine Republic for the treatment of severe myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The product will be marketed by GP Pharm, Hemispherx's commercial partner in Latin America. We believe that rintatolimod is the first drug to receive approval for this indication anywhere in the world. We also believe that there are no other products in the pipeline for approval, worldwide, for this debilitating disease. A copy of the official approval from ANMAT, translated in English, is available on the Company's website at http://ir.hemispherx.net/Events_Presentations.The approval was based on submission of two pivotal studies, AMP-502 and AMP-516. Safety data also included additional CFS and non-CFS studies for a total of over 800 subjects including over 100 subjects with severe CFS who received Ampligen for one year or longer. Several post-approval activities are required to be completed before product launch, including manufacturing site inspections and reimbursement evaluation by the Health Services Authority (SSS), the central health authority in Argentina. "Working closely with our partner in this effort, GP Pharm, our team at Hemispherx addressed all medical and scientific issues presented by ANMAT and deserves great credit for this major success. At Hemispherx, we may be small by big pharma standards, but our commitment to addressing this dire unmet medical need makes us mighty," stated Hemispherx CEO Tom Equels.Approval for commercial sale in Argentina provides a platform for potential commercial sales in certain countries within the European Union under regulations that support cross-border pharmaceutical sales of licensed drugs. Hemispherx and GP Pharm are now working to expand the approval of rintatolimod to additional countries with a focus on Latin America. In Europe, approval in a country with a stringent regulatory process in place, such as Argentina, adds further validation for the product as the Early Access Program (EAP) is launched in Europe."In Argentina, rintatolimod (Ampligen) has just been commercially approved for the severe disabling form of ME/CFS. The number of patients with ME/CFS is estimated to be over three million worldwide, however, only a portion of these have the severe and disabling form of the disease which we are targeting with this drug," stated Tom Equels. "Until now, there has been no commercially available effective treatment and there are no advanced clinical candidates, other than rintatolimod, that we are aware of. This commercial approval in Argentina will dramatically improve our ability to treat patients suffering from severe ME/CFS in Latin America. We continue to work aggressively to clarify a path toward approval for those with severe ME/CFS in the United States, where we have Orphan Drug status, and therefore seven years of product exclusivity upon approval. We are greatly encouraged by this new regulatory approval in Argentina. This is the most significant accomplishment to date in Hemispherx's plan to bring our drug to severe sufferers of ME/CFS worldwide.""We have worked diligently with Hemispherx to get to this point, and are now preparing for the commercial launch of rintatolimod for ME/CFS in Argentina," commented Jorge Braver, chief executive officer of GP Pharm Latin America. "Looking ahead, we will continue to seek approval in additional Latin American countries."About Hemispherx Biopharma Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. is an advanced specialty pharmaceutical company engaged in the manufacture and clinical development of new drug entities for treatment of seriously debilitating disorders. Hemispherx's flagship products include Alferon N Injection and the experimental therapeutics rintatolimod (tradenames Ampligen or Rintamod) and Alferon LDO. Rintatolimod is an experimental RNA nucleic acid being developed for globally important debilitating diseases and disorders of the immune system, including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Hemispherx's platform technology includes components for potential treatment of various severely debilitating and life threatening diseases. Because both rintatolimod and Alferon LDO are experimental in nature, they are not designated safe and effective by a regulatory authority for general use and are legally available only through clinical trials. Hemispherx has patents comprising its core intellectual property estate and a fully commercialized product (Alferon N Injection), approved for sale in the U.S. and Argentina. The Company's Alferon N approval in Argentina includes the use of Alferon N Injection (under the pending brand name "Naturaferon") for use in any patients who fail or become intolerant to recombinant interferon, including patients with chronic active hepatitis C infection. The Company wholly owns and exclusively operates a GMP certified manufacturing facility in the United States for commercial products. For more information please visit www.hemispherx.net.Forward-Looking Statements To the extent that statements in this press release are not strictly historical, all such statements are forward-looking, and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "intends," "plans," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Hemispherx that any of its plans will be achieved. These forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees of future performance, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Hemispherx's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. Examples of such risks and uncertainties include those set forth in the Disclosure Notice, below, as well as the risks described in Hemispherx's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the most recent reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and Hemispherx undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise revise or update this release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.Disclosure Notice The information in this press release includes certain "forward-looking" statements including without limitation statements about additional steps which the FDA may require and Hemispherx may take in continuing to seek commercial approval of the Ampligen NDA for the treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in the United States. The final results of these and other ongoing activities could vary materially from Hemispherx's expectations and could adversely affect the chances for approval of the Ampligen NDA in the United States and other countries. The clinical studies referenced herein have been previously reviewed by the FDA and are not, in and of themselves, a sufficient basis for approval in the United States. Any failure to satisfy the FDA regulatory requirements or the requirements of other countries could significantly delay, or preclude outright, approval of the Ampligen NDA in the United States and other countries.Information contained in this news release, other than historical information, should be considered forward-looking and is subject to various risk factors and uncertainties including, but not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors; the Company's ability to adequately fund its projects; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and healthcare legislation in the United States and internationally; trends toward healthcare cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the Company's ability to accurately predict the future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; dependence on the effectiveness of the Company's patents and other protections for products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions; and numerous other factors discussed in this release and in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The final results of these efforts and/or any other activities could vary materially from Hemispherx's expectations. Approval of Ampligen for CFS in the Argentine Republic does not in any way suggest that the Ampligen NDA in the United States will obtain commercial approval. Also, it is noted that ANMAT approval is only an initial, but important, step in the overall successful commercialization. Namely, additional steps required for commercialization in Argentina will require, among others, an appropriate reimbursement level, appropriate marketing strategies, completion of manufacturing preparations for launch including possible requirements for approval of final manufacturing, etc., and there are no assurances as to whether or when such multiple subsequent steps will be successfully performed to result in an overall successful commercialization and product launch.Company/Investor Contact: Charles Jones CJones & Associates Public Relations 888-557-6480 cjones@cjonespr.com SACRAMENTO, CA --(Marketwired - August 24, 2016) - Propel Fuels, the nation's leading low-carbon fuel brand, announces the launch of the Propel ProShop (propelproshop.com), an online store for customers to purchase apparel and accessories. In addition to the ProShop, Propel has launched its Hi-Octane Society (Flex Fuel E85) and Diesel Pro (Renewable Diesel HPR) aficionado clubs, providing unique social forums for customers to share photos, videos and experiences about their use of high-performance, low-carbon fuels. "Propel is a totally customer focused company, and every single day we engage with drivers across California. Millennials make up our largest and fastest growing customer segment, our mobile apps have been a huge success and we launched the ProShop and social media channels to connect, energize and thank our core customers for their loyalty," said Rob Elam, CEO of Propel. "Propel's E85 and Diesel HPR are mainstream, affordable and very high performing fuels, which is why this generation is choosing them over the status quo of old, dirty petroleum." The Propel ProShop offers a variety of custom Propel hats, t-shirts, mugs, vehicle decals and chrome badges. Propel holds weekly ProShop branded apparel giveaway contests on social media (Facebook and Instagram), including the current "Relax With Your Horsepower" photo contest for fans to share a favorite summertime activity using Propel E85 or Diesel HPR on social media using the hashtag RelaxWithYourHorsepower. "The Hi-Octane Society is a place where all types of people who use clean, high performance fuels to power their vehicles can come together and discuss their experience," said Gerrod Winkler, Hi-Octane Society member from Stockton, California. "E85 is the fuel of choice for performance drivers and the fuel of the future." This year Propel's Silicon Valley Workshop released a groundbreaking consumer study based on low-carbon fuel user behavior in California. The study found consumers are extremely loyal to low-carbon fuels, both Flex Fuel E85 and Diesel HPR. The user base for low-carbon fuels in California is extremely diverse, representing the broad based socio economic demographics of the state. Because today's low-carbon fuels are affordable to mainstream consumers and can run in a variety of vehicles, everyone can afford to use cleaner fuel options. Propel is the leading retailer of low-carbon fuels in America, with the highest volume locations and strongest brand loyalty in the industry. Propel operates retail stations across California, and provides commercial and bulk delivery for business and government fleets. Drivers can find the nearest Propel locations and fuel pricing by downloading Propel's mobile app, available in the Android and Apple app stores. A complete list of locations is available at propelfuels.com/locations. About Propel Propel was founded in 2004 with a mission to connect people to better fuels. With 34 Flex Fuel & 32 Diesel HPR locations across California, Propel provides new fuel choices that are higher in performance, deliver better value and create healthier communities. Propel also provides commercial and bulk availability for business and government fleets. Propel is ranked among 2015's top 10 private companies in Silicon Valley and is recognized by Inc. Magazine's "Inc. 500". More information is available at propelfuels.com and by following Propel at facebook.com/propelfuels and on Twitter at @PropelFuels. Locations and real time pricing can be found on Propel's mobile app. Apple iOS: itunes.apple.com/us/app/propel-station-locator-e85/id912207853?mt=8 Android: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.propelfuels.stnlctr Editors Note: More information, screen shots, B-Roll video and photography for download and use is available at: propelfuels.com/media_kit Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/8/23/11G111582/Images/proshop_2016-e6c0d86aa512aeec8625053544d6745a.jpg Media Contact Jaime Quick ChangeUp for Propel Fuels 206-229-5183 (cell) jq@changeupadvisors.com PUNE, India, August 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ReportsnReports.com adds "Grid Connected Battery Energy Storage System Market Size, Competitive Landscape, Key Country Analysis and Forecasts to 2020" 2016 research report to its store providing an overview of the energy storage market, defining various energy storage technologies and their maturity level. The report also provides in-depth analysis of the global BESS market and market analysis of key countries including the US, Chile, Germany, Italy, the UK, France, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and Australia. The report analyzes the regional and country-level BESS market value for the historical (2006-2015) and forecast (2016-2020) periods, the regional and country-level BESS market share by technology and application by 2015, and the competitive landscape for respective countries in 2015. Complete report Solar PV Module Market with 76 market data tables and 58 figures, spread across 174 pages is available at http://www.reportsnreports.com/reports/658556-grid-connected-battery-energy-storage-system-market-size-competitive-landscape-key-country-analysis-and-forecasts-to-2020.html . Companies discussed in this research report are NGK Insulators, BYD Company, A123 Systems, Samsung SDI, LG Chem, ABB Ltd, S&C Electric, Parker Hannifin, AES Energy Storage, Saft Groupe SA, GS Yuasa International, SonnenEnergie GmbH, Panasonic Corporation, General Electric Company, Siemens AG, Hitachi, Younicos AG and Exide Industries. Scope Analysis of the growth of the energy storage industry with a focus on battery energy storage market and its demand in various key regions, including Asia-Pacific , America and Europe . , America and . Apart from global and regional analysis, the report provides BESS market analysis in key countries including the US, Chile , Germany , Italy , the UK, France , China , India , Japan , South Korea , and Australia . , , , the UK, , , , , , and . The report provides BESS cost analysis and historic and forecast market size by technology and application. It provides competitive landscape with profiles of key market players globally and in various countries in 2015. Brief description of upcoming and under construction projects in the battery storage market. Qualitative analysis of key regulations, market drivers and restraints impacting the energy storage industry. Order a copy of this grid connected battery energy storage system report @ http://www.reportsnreports.com/Purchase.aspx?name=658556 . Reasons to buy: Facilitate decision-making by analyzing historical and forecast data on BESS market; Develop strategies based on developments in the BESS market; Identify key partners and business-development avenues, based on an understanding of the movements of the major competitors in the BESS market and Respond to your competitors' business structure, strategies and prospects. Explore more reports on Energy and Power. On a related note, the report titled Battery Management System Market by Battery Type (Lithium-Ion, Advanced Lead-Acid, Flow Battery, & Nickle Battery), Component, Topology (Centralized, Modular, Distributed), Application, and Geography - Global Trend and Forecast to 2022 says battery management system market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 20.5% between 2016 and 2022 to reach USD 7.25 billion by 2022. The battery management system market is driven by factors such as the growing need for battery management in electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles. Moreover, the high demand for battery management systems from the renewable energy storage system applications and growing trend of battery-driven public transport further drives the market. The major players in the battery management system market include Johnson Matthey Plc. (U.K.), Lithium Balance A/S (Denmark), Nuvation Engineering (U.S.), Valence Technology, Inc. (U.S.), Intersil Corporation (U.S.), Linear Technology Corp (U.S.), NXP Semiconductors N.V. (Netherlands), Texas Instruments Inc. (U.S.), Elithion Inc. (U.S.), Vecture Inc. (Canada), and Ventec SAS (France) among others. Read more at http://www.reportsnreports.com/reports/571832-battery-management-system-market-by-battery-type-lithium-ion-advanced-lead-acid-flow-battery-nickle-battery-component-topology-centralized-modular-distributed-application-and-geography-global-trend-and-forecast-to-2022.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 BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - Russia, China, Iran, North Korea and violent extremism are the five biggest threats to the United States' national security, according to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Four are nation states that can cause varying degrees of concern. The fifth threat, terrorism, can flare up in any part of the world, Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford told the new class at the National Defense University Tuesday. Dunford said he's concerned about Russia's behavior, including its annexation of Crimea, its actions in Eastern Ukraine, it threats to Georgia and Moldova, and its aid to Syria. China is a bit more opaque, Dunford said. China has invested significant sums in building up its military, including its nuclear enterprise. Its actions in the South China Sea are cause for concern to the United States, the chairman said. Meanwhile, Iran is trying to spread its influence across the Middle East, he said, and must be carefully monitored. And, the chairman said, North Korea is still building nuclear capabilities and intercontinental missiles and is the most unpredictable nation on the list. 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. REDWOOD CITY, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/24/16 -- Gainsight, the Customer Success company, was recognized by Forbes Contributor Louis Columbus last week as one of the Best Enterprise Software Startups To Work For in 2016. The recognition is the result of analysis completed with publically available Crunchbase and Glassdoor data, and concluded the following: Of eligible enterprise software startups, Gainsight was one of only two companies with 100% ratings in percentage of employees who would recommend the company to a friend and percentage of employees who approve of the CEO. Gainsight, along with aPriori Technologies, received the highest cumulative rankings in this analysis. 39% of the top 100 enterprise startups are in the Bay Area, 12% are in the Boston and 7% in New York City. Gainsight's Nick Mehta was the highest-ranking CEO alongside Stephanie Feraday of aPriori, Orion Hindawi of Tanium, Cedric Bru of Taulia, Marc Heyneker of Revinate, Greg Stock of Zenoss and Alex Shootman of Workfront. This recognition comes on the heels of Pulse 2016, the industry conference for the Customer Success community hosted by Gainsight this past May. Over 3200 attendees gathered in Oakland for the fourth annual event, which saw an increase in attendance of 56.9% YoY with a 55.83% NPS (up 10 points YoY). "Culture is something that we talk a lot about at Gainsight -- but rarely do you get the opportunity to see the quantified impact of employee success," said Nick Mehta, CEO at Gainsight. "We are honored by this recognition and what it means for our employees and their families. Gainsight is a great place for me to work too, and I'm truly thrilled to come into the office every day." Research Methodology Using data from Crunchbase, Columbus narrowed the field of companies to include only enterprise software startups. Companies acquired, closed, or exited via Initial Public Offerings were excluded. The list was further narrowed to companies with at least one round of funding. Finally, only the top 100 best-funded enterprise software startups were analyzed. To calculate the best companies to work for, Columbus determined the percentage of employees who would recommend each of the 100 companies to a friend and the percentage of employees who approve of the CEO. To account for fake reviews, only companies with at least 15 reviews from active employees were ranked. (That 15-review threshold was based on statistical analysis from a previous study). This spreadsheet shows the results of the analysis. Gainsight Announces Expansion to Europe Gainsight also announced today a market expansion effort to Europe -- with its Chief Customer Officer, Dan Steinman, moving to London this September to carry the torch from the company's operations in the Americas. Once an office has been opened, the location will be Gainsight's first in Europe and sixth overall, joining Redwood City, St. Louis, Phoenix, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. As a Customer Success pioneer and co-author of the definitive book on the subject, Steinman is uniquely positioned to add his considerable experience to the community of Customer Success professionals in Europe as Chief Evangelist for the region. "It's a great adventure for me personally," said Dan Steinman, Chief Customer Officer at Gainsight. "I'm actually more excited about what I can learn from the brilliant Customer Success people I've met in Europe than what they might learn from me." The Customer Success movement is flourishing in Europe. Last year at the inaugural Pulse Europe conference, over 450 executives in Customer Success gathered to share best practices unique to the context of subscription businesses in EMEA. Europe's largest Customer Success conference is set to return this year and more than double in size with over 1000 members of the Customer Success community in attendance. "I'm so excited to welcome Gainsight to Europe," said Martine Niermans, Chief Customer Officer at Bynder. "EMEA offers so many unique opportunities for Customer Success. Gainsight has a proven track record of bringing innovative solutions to new challenges." You can read more about Gainsight's approach to the European market in a reflection blog post by Dan Steinman available here. For More Information: Learn more about Pulse Europe 2016: http://www.gainsight.com/pulse/europe/ Hear from Gainsight's customers: http://www.gainsight.com/customers/ Join Gainsight's growing team: http://www.gainsight.com/careers/ About Gainsight Gainsight, the Customer Success company, helps businesses grow faster by reducing churn, increasing upsell, and driving customer advocacy. Gainsight's product helps you touch customers effectively, track customer health consistently and transform the way your company orients around the customer. Gainsight provides a 360 degrees view of customers and drives retention across Customer Success, sales, marketing, executive and product management. Learn how leading companies like Adobe, Box, DocuSign, HP, Marketo, Nutanix and Workday use Gainsight to help their customers succeed at www.gainsight.com. Connect with Gainsight: Blog: www.gainsight.com/blog Twitter: www.twitter.com/GainsightHQ Facebook: www.facebook.com/Gainsight WAKEFIELD, MA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/24/16 -- The tranSMART Foundation, a non-profit organization providing a global, open-source knowledge management platform for scientists to share pre-competitive translational research data, today announced that four new life sciences and technology organizations have joined the Foundation as Silver Members in the first half of 2016. BioSci Consulting, Boehringer Ingelheim, Imperial College London, and ITTM each have made substantial financial contributions to the Foundation and become active participants of the tranSMART community. "We welcome these four additional organizations to the tranSMART community," said tranSMART Foundation CEO Keith Elliston, PhD. "We rely on the varying expertise of our member organizations to develop and deliver such a robust open-source platform and help further the development of precision medicine. It is through the support of our member organizations that we are able to continue to enhance the platform and expand into new areas to fulfill our mission and realize the promise that translational biomedical research has to offer." BioSci Consulting, Boehringer Ingelheim, Imperial College London, and ITTM have all joined as Silver Members. Each of these organizations have made a minimum investment of $5,000 to $20,000 to help fund the Foundation's operations. They also have the opportunity to submit a representative to a pool of candidates to be elected the Foundation's board, and can nominate one individual to one of the Foundation's 3C's (Code, Content and Community) committees. For more information on the tranSMART Membership Program, please visit the Foundation website. The current members of the tranSMART Foundation, include: Gold: Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, Takeda, and the University of Michigan Silver: Abbvie, Assurex, BioSci Consulting, Boehringer Ingelheim, ConvergeHEALTH by Deloitte, DEXSTR, the Hyve, IO Informatics, Imperial College London, ITTM, One Mind, PerkinElmer, Philips, Rancho Biosciences, and Thomson Reuters Affiliate: Elevada and Harvard University In addition to the support of its member organizations, the tranSMART Foundation's Corporate Sponsors help support the organizations multiple events held throughout the year. The current 2016 Corporate Sponsors include: epam, GeneDx and Rancho Biosciences. About The tranSMART Foundation The tranSMART Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides an open-source, cloud-based, data-sharing and analysis platform that enables scientists at universities, disease foundations, pharmaceutical companies, and government agencies around the world to share pre-competitive data in a way that saves money and time in translating research findings into new therapies and diagnostic tools. Current Gold Members of the Foundation include: Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, Takeda, and the University of Michigan. Founded to steward the tranSMART platform, the Foundation is headquartered in Wakefield, Massachusetts with Centers of Excellence in Ann Arbor, Mich.; London, England; Boston, Mass.; and Amsterdam, Netherlands. The tranSMART Foundation can also be found on the web at www.tranSMARTFoundation.org. Contact: Karen Higgins A&E Communications, Inc. 610-831-5723 Email Contact 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. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - FBI says its agents have arrested a Boston-area resident who was on the run for 23 years after allegedly raping two young boys. John Hartin was 23 years old when he befriended two young boys-ages 6 and 9-and allegedly raped them. One of the victims eventually told a family member about the abuse, which led to an investigation and Hartin being charged in Massachusetts with five counts of rape of a child. Rather than face the charges, Hartin fled, and was later charged federally with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. He was at large for more than two decades, and investigators followed numerous leads without success. Hartin was taken into custody without incident at his home in Walkertown, North Carolina, on June 15, said Special Agent Brooks Broadus, a member of the FBI's Boston Division Child Exploitation Task Force. 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. Technavio analysts forecast the global gallium arsenide (GaAs) wafer marketto grow at a CAGR of close to 13% during the forecast period, according to their latest report. The research study covers the present scenario and growth prospects of the global GaAswafermarketfor 2016-2020. The report also presents the major vendors that are involved in the manufacturing of GaAs wafers across regions such as North America, Europe, APAC, and rest of the world (ROW). In addition, it discusses the major drivers that influence the market's growth, outlines the major challenges faced by vendors and the market at large, and examines the key trends that are emerging in the market. Technavio hardware and semiconductor analysts highlight the following three factors that are contributing to the growth of the GaAs wafer market: Increasing adoption of smartphones Rising penetration of LEDs in general lighting Need for increased network bandwidth Increasing adoption of smartphones The growth of smartphone shipments to more than 2 billion units in 2020 from 1.4 billion units in 2015, will drive the demand for GaAs wafers during the forecast period. Consumers' demand for mobile data is insatiable and is increasing drastically in many countries. Accessing mobile data in large volumes drains mobile batteries faster than usual. This has compelled mobile handset manufacturers to use efficient power amplifiers that contain GaAs content. In order to accommodate increasing demand for data (both broadband and mobile data) and ensure proper quality of service, network operators are developing sophisticated wired and wireless networks, architecture, and devices. This will increase the demand for GaAs wafers for network infrastructure. The increase in mobile data consumption also indicates a rise in the number of mobile handsets containing GaAs content. Some smartphone vendors such as Kyocera are focusing on the manufacture of solar-powered smartphones. "GaAs is considered to be the most efficient semiconductor for the production of solar energy. GaAs-based solar cells offer an extended battery life for smartphones. GaAs-based solar cells can convert 30%-35% of energy from light into electricity, and they are lightweight as well. As a result, the production of smartphones powered by GaAs-based solar cells will influence the market in a positive way," says Asif Gani, a lead analyst at Technavio for semiconductor equipment research. Rising penetration of LEDs in general lighting The increase in demand for lighting sources has resulted in a surging demand for electricity. As lighting consumes 20% of the global electricity production, the governments of countries such as China, Japan, India, and Brazil are focusing on promoting energy-efficient lighting technologies. In countries such as Canada, governments have banned the use of incandescent bulbs, which has resulted in the higher adoption of LED lighting technologies. In addition, spreading awareness about power saving and energy management has triggered the adoption of energy-efficient technology. GaAs is the most widely used semiconductor for LED manufacturers. China had the largest LED industry in the world and accounted for approximately 30% of the world production, as of 2015. The main reason for the high concentration is tax benefits and subsidies offered by the Chinese government to encourage the production of innovating lighting solutions. Similar initiatives are being taken by governments around the world. This exponential rise in the adoption of LEDs around the globe is a huge driver for the GaAs wafer market during the forecast period. Need for increased network bandwidth The growth in internet bandwidth is fueled by two factors: the proliferation of mobile computing devices with advanced capabilities (such as smartphones, tablets, and wearables) and the emergence of disruptive technologies that shift the bandwidth usage by altering the way users access the network. With the emergence of new mobile telecommunication standards such as 4G and 5G, consumers are now opting for higher bandwidth applications and services. Mobile data traffic is increasing due to factors such as high demand for bandwidth-based services and applications and growing market for handheld devices. At present, 2G and 3G networks account for a large share of mobile data traffic globally. By 2019, the share is likely to decline to less than one-third of all mobile data traffic due to the uptake of 4G, which is about ten times faster than 3G. In addition, the trend of individuals using their handheld devices to access high-quality digital content on the internet is increasing. Large enterprises and IT professionals are adopting cloud storage, increasing the usage of cloud services such as Microsoft Office 365, Google Apps, and SAP. This results in elevated bandwidth demand and network requirements. Technavio estimates a 500% increase in bandwidth demand due to growing inclination toward cloud services during 2016-2020. "Thus, the emergence of next-generation connected devices, along with the rise in the use of cloud services, will compel vendors to increase the GaAs content in smartphones, pushing the market's growth during the forecast period," says Asif. Browse Related Reports: Global Gallium Arsenide Devices Market 2016-2020 Semiconductor Market in Vietnam 2016-2020 Global Semiconductor Photoresist Stripping Market 2016-2020 Do you need a report on a market in a specific geographical cluster or country but can't find what you're looking for? Don't worry, Technavio also takes client requests. Please contact enquiry@technavio.com with your requirements and our analysts will be happy to create a customized report just for you. About Technavio Technaviois a leading global technology research and advisory company. The company develops over 2000 pieces of research every year, covering more than 500 technologies across 80 countries. Technavio has about 300 analysts globally who specialize in customized consulting and business research assignments across the latest leading edge technologies. Technavio analysts employ primary as well as secondary research techniques to ascertain the size and vendor landscape in a range of markets. Analysts obtain information using a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches, besides using in-house market modeling tools and proprietary databases. They corroborate this data with the data obtained from various market participants and stakeholders across the value chain, including vendors, service providers, distributors, re-sellers, and end-users. If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160824005065/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 630 333 9501 UK: +44 208 123 1770 www.technavio.com VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/24/16 -- Revelo Resources Corp. ("Revelo" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: RVL) announces that pursuant to the Company's stock option plan, 3,435,000 incentive stock options exercisable at $0.15 per share for a period of three years have been granted to directors, officers, employees, management company employees, and consultants of the Company. ABOUT REVELO Revelo is a Prospect Generator that has consolidated an outstanding portfolio of 22 projects prospective for copper, gold and silver located along proven mineral belts in one of the world's top mining jurisdictions - Chile. Several targets are ready for drill testing within the portfolio, and two projects are subject to option and joint venture agreements with subsidiaries of Newmont Mining (Montezuma Project) and Austral Gold (San Guillermo Project). As part of its portfolio, Revelo retains a 2% royalty interest (currently non-producing) in the Victoria Project, an important copper-gold-silver exploration project, and it is developing a nascent royalty portfolio. Revelo's total exposure to mineral tenements in northern Chile is around 300,000 hectares, of which about 100,000 hectares (3 projects) are subject to 3rd party exploration expenditures. Revelo has a goal of building a sustainable exploration business focused on securing prospective land along the prolific mineral belts of northern Chile, and by implementing effective exploration and capital management strategies to grow, advance and de-risk its portfolio to provide shareholders with multiple opportunities for exploration success. Revelo is actively looking for partners to advance the projects within its portfolio. Revelo is a Canadian company and is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX VENTURE: RVL). For more information please visit Revelo's website at www.reveloresources.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Timothy J. Beale, President & CEO Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that Revelo expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "indicate" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although Revelo 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 may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Contacts: INVESTOR CONTACT Chiara Orrigoni Investor Relations Manager +1 604 687-5544 info@reveloresources.com www.reveloresources.com EQS-News / 24/08/2016 / 22:56 UTC+8 For Immediate Release Sino Oil and Gas Holdings Limited Recorded a net profit of HK$5.7million in the first half of 2016 Business Overview Hong Kong, 24 August 2016 - Leading oil and gas explorer and developer Sino Oil and Gas Holdings Limited (the "Company", Hong Kong stock code:702) today announced the unaudited interim results of the Company and its subsidiaries (collectively the "Group") for the six months ended 30 June 2015. During the period, the Group recorded a net profit of approximately HK$5,697,000(2015 interim: HK$13,876,000), which has decreased by 59% as compared with that of the same period in last year, mainly due to the gas selling price adjustment for industrial users of the Sanjiao coalbed methane project ("Sanjiao CBM Project") in November 2015. Meanwhile, as Sanjiao CBM Project has entered in development phase from exploration, the CBM sales has been recognised as the turnover of principal activities, the financing cost, construction related amortization and depreciation expenses increased during the period. The Group recorded a turnover of approximately HK$78,381,000 (2015 interim: HK$5,963,000), which has increased substantially compared with that of the same period in last year. The turnover included the revenue from oil exploitation operations in Shaanxi Province; the sales derived from raw coal washing project located in Qinshui Basin, Shanxi Province; and the sales of coalbed methane ("CBM") respectively. Also, the government subsidy of approximately HK$9,592,000 (2015 interim: nil) on the sales of CBM for the year 2015 has been received and recorded as "other revenue" during the period. Sanjiao CBM Project As at 30 June 2016, the Sanjiao CBM Project has completed a total of 99 wells, comprising46 multilateral horizontal wells and 53vertical wells. Out of the total 99 wells, 82 wells were in the normal dewatering stage, of which 60wells had accessed to a gas collection pipeline network. A ground pipeline network of approximately 18 kilometers, inter-well pipelines of approximately42kilometers, and outbound pipelines of approximately 17kilometers were completed. Approximately total 59.7kilometers of 10KV power grid and branch power line were also completed. During the period, the Group has started the low productivity wells rework programme. After the joint technology examination and economic assessment conducted by local and foreign experts, 18 wells with the greatest potential value have been selected. With cautious implementation schedule, the Group prepares operation plans, optimises the drainage system and improves the single well productivity. As of 30 June 2016, significant progress has been obtained through the reworks of low productivity wells, including the dewatering quantitative management, dewatering recovery of low productivity wells, blockage relief by nitrogen and fracturing reform etc. Steady increase of the single well productivity has been noted in a number of transformed wells. The low productivity wells reworks programme is expected to be completed by this year and to contribute additional productivity. During the period, the Sanjiao CBM Project recorded the CBM sales amount to HK$30,435,000(2015 interim: approximately HK$42,268,000) and CBM production of approximately 32.49million cubic meters (2015 interim: approximately 27.9 million cubic meters) and CBM sales of approximately 26.52million cubic meters (2015 interim: approximately 27.38 million cubic meters), resulting in a gas sale-to-production rate of approximately81.6% for the period (2015 interim: approximately 98.1%). The Group is negotiating with an existing customer for renewal of sales contract, and has been speeding up the process. The sales performance is expected to be improved in the second half of this year. Raw Coal Washing Project The Group acquired a 75% equity interest of a raw coal washing project company located in Qinshui Basin, Shanxi Province in May 2015. The raw coal supplier of the project is a sizable state-owned coal enterprise in Qinshui basin and thereby the raw materials supply is stable. The project has been officially launched on 1 July 2015. It has already entered into stable production phase and also gradually developed sales channels. During the period, the project recorded a total sale of refined coal approximately 93,500 tonnes. The Group expects this project will bring a steady income and cash flow. Through in-depth cooperation with the local sizable coal enterprises with further understanding to local geological environment, the Group is actively seeking to diversify the business model and cooperation projects, continuously to improve the CBM development business model and inject new momentum for the Group's growth. In January 2016, the Group entered into a non-legally binding Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement ("Framework Agreement") with Shanxi Guxian Lanhua Baoxin Coal Company Limited (??????????????) ("Lanhua Baoxin"), pursuant to which the Company and Lanhua Baoxin, intend to establish a project management team for the development of CBM projects located in the coal mine block of Lanhua Baoxin Qinshui Basin and eastern edge of Ordos Basin. These are the regions with the richest CBM reserve in China, and also the most representative CBM production bases in China. This Framework Agreement has landmark significance to the Group, which benchmarked the Group's official entrance into the CBM market of Qinshui Basin. Crude Oil Business In order to optimise the Group's resources allocation so as to focus on the development of Sanjiao CBM project and also due to the fact thatcontinuous drop of domesic oil price in Shannxi Province, the Group has slowed down the crude oil business development. For the period ended 30 June 2016, three oilfields in Liuluoyu, Yanjiawan and Jinzhuang, located at the Ordos Basin in Shaanxi Province, yielded an aggregate crude oil output of approximately 1,930 tonnes (2015 interim: approximately 1,900 tonnes). Possible Acquisition-Oilfield in Alberta, Canada With the purpose of further enriching the Group's resources reserves, apart from actively seeking suitable oil and gas blocks in China, the Group is also exploring investment opportunities in overseas upstream businesses. The Group hence entered into two non-legally-binding memorandums of understanding ("MOUs") in June and September 2014. The acquisition targets are oil and gas fields located in Alberta Province, Canada. According to the MOUs, the Group is now conducting due diligence review on the resources and financial aspect of the target groups. The Vendor has collected seismic data so as to identify areas where oil and gas may have accumulated; and has drilled exploratory wells to evaluate if the site can produce enough oil or gas to make it economically viable to develop. On 31 December 2015, the Group and the Vendor have agreed to further extend the time limit for entering into formal agreements in respect of the terms in the MOUs to 30 September 2016. Meanwhile, during the period, after negotiation with the vendor, taking into account of the interests of shareholders and the Company, interest is charged at the rate of 8.5% per annum against the vendor on the refundable deposits on MOUs (i.e. CAD40 millions), with reference to the existing cost of capital to the Company. The interest income amounted to approximately HK$29,390,000 was disclosed in "other revenue". Regarding the possible acquisitions, Dr Dai Xiaobing, Chairman of Sino Oil and Gas Holdings said: "The management is actively preparing for these possible acquisitions. The Company expects that acquiring overseas assets will further diversify the Group's global resources allocation, balance the development of the gas and oil business portfolio. This will strengthen its capacity of operations and establish its position as an international oil and gas explorer and developer. The shareholders' value can therefore be enhanced." Prospects For the Group's development strategy, Dr Dai said, "Based on its core business of natural gas and oil exploration and development, the Group will strengthen its competitiveness, optimise its resources allocation and enhance investment returns. At the same time, we will attempt to expand into downstream businesses relying on the Group's upstream businesses as appropriate. On this basis, we will implement active but cautious financial strategies, and seek opportunities for mergers and acquisitions as well as integration of high-quality oil and gas assets globally, targeting to become a professional international oil and gas player." For further enquiries, please contact: Celia Li Corporate Communications Department Phone:(852) 2802 3623 Email:celiali@sino-oilgas.hk 24/08/2016 Dissemination of a Press Release, transmitted by EQS Group. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Media archive at www.todayir.com 495609 24/08/2016 (END) Dow Jones Newswires August 24, 2016 10:56 ET (14:56 GMT) LONDON, August 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- *Over 75 judges announced today* *Sir Malcolm Grant, Simon Devonshire OBE and Eileen Burbidge MBE join esteemed judging panel* *Ceremony to take place on 15th November at Grosvenor House, Park Lane* *http://www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk/our-judges* The Lloyds Bank National Business Awards has today revealed the full line-up of judges for 2016. The judging panels will determine the winners across 18 categories, and consists of over 75 leading industry professionals. The judging panels will welcome some of the UK's best known business leaders, advisors, investors, influencers and entrepreneurs including, David Keene, Global Sales Strategy at Google at work; Paul Chong VP and Head of System Integrators, Europe at IBM Corporation, and Founder & Managing Director of Calcom Group, Natalie Calvert. Also joining the 2016 judging panels will be Declan Curry, journalist, public speaker and conference chair; Caroline Diehl MBE, Chief Executive at The Media Trust; Kanya King MBE, Chief Executive and Founder of MOBO Organisation Ltd and Munish Datta, Head of Plan A & FM at Marks & Spencer.[1] Please see footnotes for full judging lineup. The Lloyds Bank National Business Award winners are determined by a robust judging process. Entrants were initially judged on an entry submission, from which the highest scoring entries were put forward as finalists by a shortlist panel of judges. Finalists must now present live in September to the relevant judging panel who will determine the overall winners, to be announced at the ceremony on 15th November. Judging at this year's Lloyds Bank National Business Awards, and a 2014 winner of the Lloyds Bank Small to Medium-sized business of the Year, Simon Duffy, Founder and Chief Executive of Bulldog Skincare said, "The National Business Awards are a key event in the business calendar and I was really excited to be asked to be a judge. I'm really looking forward to meeting all the finalists and learning more about their fantastic businesses." The overall winners will be announced at the annual Gala Dinner, which will take place on Tuesday 15th November at The Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane. For more information or to book a table, visit http://www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk. Notes to editors: [1] Judges confirmed as of 24th August 2016 (subject to change): The Customer Focus Award: Julie Parmenter , Managing Director at Molinare , Managing Director at Molinare Natalie Calvert , Founder & Managing Director at Calcom Group , Founder & Managing Director at Calcom Group Richard Sanders Partner at Catalyst Corporate Finance at Catalyst Corporate Finance Amelie de Marsily, EMEAR Global Enterprise Services Lead at Cisco Andrew McMillan , Director at Engaging Services The Lloyds Bank Positive social Impact Award Charlie Mullins OBE, Managing Director and Founder of Pimlico Plumbers David Steade , Executive Director, Philanthropy & Development at Charities Aid Foundation , Executive Director, Philanthropy & Development at Charities Aid Foundation Dr Ruth Owen OBE, Chief Executive at Whizz-Kidz Caroline Diehl MBE, Chief Executive at The Media Trust Damian Leeson , Director, Group Responsible Business at the Lloyds Banking Group The Inflexion Entrepreneur of the Year David Whileman, Partner at Inflexion Private Equity Andy Vaughn , Chairman , Chairman Tim Kemp , Chairman at Firmdale Hotels , Chairman at Firmdale Hotels Mary Harris , Deputy Managing Director at M&C Saatchi Export , Deputy Managing Director at M&C Saatchi Export Hamdi Conger , Chairman at AES Seal Engineering Ltd The Grichan Partnerships Sustainable Business Award Munish Datta , Head of Plan A & FM at Marks & Spencer , Head of Plan A & FM at Marks & Spencer Ralph English , Managing Partner at The Grichan Partnership , Managing Partner at The Grichan Partnership Richard Hewitt Managing Partner at The Grichan Partnership Dr Paula Owen , Founder and Chief Executive at Green Gumption , Founder and Chief Executive at Green Gumption Dax Lovegrove , Adviser on Smarter Business The Lloyds Bank Small to Medium-Sized Business of the Year Gareth Oakley , Managing Director at Lloyds SME Banking , Managing Director at Lloyds SME Banking Miles Nolan , Associate Director at IFC Advisory , Associate Director at IFC Advisory John Welsh , Managing Director, Digital & Content at UBM EMEA , Managing Director, Digital & Content at UBM EMEA Clare Parsons , Chairman and Co-Founder at Lansons , Chairman and Co-Founder at Lansons Simon Duffy , Founder and Chief Executive at Bulldog Skincare The Smith & Williamson Entrepreneur of the Year Guy Rigby , Partner - Head Entrepreneurial Services at Smith & Williamson , Partner - Head Entrepreneurial Services at Smith & Williamson Sarah Wood , Co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive at Unruly , Co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive at Unruly Eileen Burbidge MBE, Partner at Passion Capital Mike Clare DL, Chairman at Clarenco Richard Joseph , Managing Director and Founder at Joseph Joseph , Managing Director and Founder at Joseph Joseph David Spencer-Percival , Chief Executive at Spencer Ogden The Amazon Digital Business of the Year Richard Peters , Co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive at Decoded , Co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive at Decoded Simon Johnson , Director, Seller Services at Amazon , Director, Seller Services at Amazon James Bilefield, Serial Digital Entrepreneur Steve McNiven , UK and Europe Head of Ecommerce at Trunki , UK and Europe Head of Ecommerce at Trunki Simon Devonshire OBE, Entrepreneur in Residence, Co-founder, Investor The Lloyds Bank New Business of the Year Zia Mallick , Managing Director at Gambit Interactive Media , Managing Director at Gambit Interactive Media Nigel Kershaw OBE, Executive Chair at The Big Issue Group Yvonne Quinn , Facilitator of Business Growth Programme at Cranfield University , Facilitator of Business Growth Programme at Cranfield University Richard Hodsden , CFO of GSM London , CFO of GSM London Jo Harris , Manging Director, Retail Business Banking at Lloyds Banking Group , Manging Director, Retail Business Banking at Lloyds Banking Group Josh Russell , Editor of Elite Business The Howard Kennedy Employer of the Year Irena Molloy , HR Director at Howard Kennedy , HR Director at Howard Kennedy Jane Amphlett , Partner & Head of Employment at Howard Kennedy , Partner & Head of Employment at Howard Kennedy Kevin Riches , Director at Momenta Group , Director at Momenta Group Tracey Gray , Leadership Consultant , Leadership Consultant Jonathan Simnett , Managing Director at Big Stick The QBE New Exporter of the Year Award Tony Burckhardt MBE, Former Company Director and Export Consultant Declan Curry , journalist, public speaker and conference chair , journalist, public speaker and conference chair Grant Clemence , Director of Underwriting at QBE , Director of Underwriting at QBE Emma Jones , Founder at Enterprise Nation , Founder at Enterprise Nation Allyson Stewart-Allen , Founder and Chief Executive of International Marketing Partners The Vonage Business Enabler of the Year Bethany Hedger , Account Director of Retail at Adobe Systems Europe , Account Director of Retail at Adobe Systems Europe Paul Chong VP and Head of System Integrators, Europe at IBM Corporation VP and Head of System Integrators, at IBM Corporation Andy Chew , Managing Director, Innovation & Solutions at Cisco UK & Ireland , Managing Director, Innovation & Solutions at Cisco UK & Simon Burckhardt , Managing Director at Vonage UK , Managing Director at Vonage UK David Keene , Global Sales Strategy for Google at Work The Business Awards for Arts and Creative Services Selina Webb , Executive Vice President at Universal Music , Executive Vice President at Universal Music Declan Curry , journalist, public speaker and conference chair , journalist, public speaker and conference chair Julian Lloyd Evans , Managing Director of Advertising at Dennis Publishing , Managing Director of Advertising at Dennis Publishing Kanya King MBE, Chief Executive and Founder of MOBO Organisation Ltd The Innovation Award Andrew McClelland , Managing Director at Mirador Digital , Managing Director at Mirador Digital John Waples , Head of Strategic Communication at FTI Consulting , Head of Strategic Communication at FTI Consulting Erin Lovett , Global Partner at Deloitte , Global Partner at Deloitte Richard Carpenter , Head of B2B Marketing Communications, Group Brands & Marketing at Lloyds Banking Group The Lloyds Bank Mid-Market Business of the Year Tim Hinton , Managing Director, Mid Markets & SME Banking at Lloyds Banking Group , Managing Director, Mid Markets & SME Banking at Lloyds Banking Group Miles Nolan , Associate Director at IFC Advisory , Associate Director at IFC Advisory Stuart Keeping , Partner at Credo , Partner at Credo Helen Fridell , UKI Lead, Service Delivery at Cisco , UKI Lead, Service Delivery at Cisco Nina Wright , Managing Director at UBM EMEA The Duke of York New Entrepreneur of the Year Guy Roberts , Managing Director at Pelham International Limited , Managing Director at Pelham International Limited Emma-Jane Packe , Managing Director at Prelude & The Supper Club , Managing Director at Prelude & The Supper Club Michelle Ovens MBE, Director at Small Business Saturday Julie Devonshire , Director of the Entrepreneurship Institute at King's College London The Duke of York Award for University Entrepreneurship Chester Mojay-Sinclare , Founder and Chief Executive at Charity Checkout , Founder and Chief Executive at Charity Checkout Sir Malcolm Grant , Chairman of NHS England and Chancellor Elect of the University of York , Chairman of NHS England and Chancellor Elect of the University of Greg Wade , Programme Manager, Innovation, Growth and Skills at Universities UK , Programme Manager, Innovation, Growth and Skills at Universities UK Ceri Nursaw, Acting Chief Executive at NCEE Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE , Chancellor of the University of Birmingham The Lloyds Bank Excellence in Business Award The Excellence in Business award was created to recognise the business personality who best represents achievement and longevity. Synonymous with his or her business sector in the UK, the award acknowledges the winner's sustained achievements within the business community during a distinguished career. The Ashridge Executive Education Leader of the Year Award This award is the highest accolade in the National Business Awards programme. This accolade recognises the personal imprint of the UK's most high profile leaders on the culture and success of their organisations. About the National Business Awards Open to organisations of all sizes from all sectors across the UK, the National Business Awards is the UK's most prestigious independent business recognition platform with its particular emphasis on excellence, innovation and ethical business. Now in its 14th year, the National Business Awards connects the nations' professionals through its annual awards ceremony; year-round thought leadership and round table events; and is UBM plc's flagship awards programme. Visit http://www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk for further information or follow us on Twitter @businessawards. About UBM EMEA The National Business Awards is organised by UBM EMEA. UBM EEA connects people and creates opportunities for companies across five continents to develop new business, meet customers, launch new products, promote their brands and expand their markets. Through premier brands such as MD&M, CPhI, IFSEC, TFM&A, Cruise Shipping Miami, the Concrete Show and many others, UBM EMEA exhibitions, conferences, awards programs, publications, websites and training and certification programs are an integral part of the marketing plans of companies across more than 20 industry sectors. For further information or interview opportunities contact: Rohma Ahmed PR and Content Executive Tel: +44(0)207-921-8079 Email: Rohma.ahmed@ubm.com Global education leaders converge in Mumbai for IC3 conference Press Release, Delhi | Published : 16th August, 2016 The 21st century has been a defining period in terms of evolving technology and social change. Companies such as Facebook and Google didnt exist 20 years ago, and who knows if we will be living by the same rules 20 years from now. Rapid progress is expected in the fields of information technology, new materials, genetics, environment and energy (just to name just a few) which means that thinking traditionally about making career decisions is passe. This has significant career choice implications for our youth who will be making key decisions about what to study, where to study and how to go about doing it. Very often we find that young people dont realize their true potential because they end up in the wrong careers or colleges. Our educators need to be resourced and ready to guide our youth to make these critical decisions that will stay with them their entire lives. The inaugural IC3 Conference being held at Taj Lands End, Mumbai on 31stAugust and 1st September will bring over 300 delegates from high schools and universities around the world. The event is being organized with the objective of Transforming lives globally through Career and College Counseling, by devising policies and practices that can ensure good education and career decisions for the youth of India and beyond. To date, the delegates represent over 98 cities from 12 countries capturing the most popular education destinations of United States, United Kingdom, Canada, India, Australia, Singapore, and more. The two-day program will feature over 30 sessions conducted by over 100 educators to share knowledge and drive discussion about counseling, admissions and careers. By 2020, India will be the youngest nation in the world with the median age of 29 years. India is experiencing a youth boom with half its population under 25, which will make it a global talent hub and one of the largest consumer markets in the world. But for this to happen, we will have to provide our youth with education and skills to take full advantage of this opportunity. This is where the IC3 Conference seeks to make a major impact in enabling school leaders to set up infrastructure and policies to guide students to choose and succeed in careers that best fit their ambitions and interests. We are living the dream to impact hundreds of thousands of students around the world, said Mr. Ganesh Kohli, IC3 Conference Chair and also a well-renowned educator for the past 20 years. A sound college and career counseling setup is as essential as a Maths or an English department in a school. It is critical for young people to make the right career choices to ensure their happiness and success later in life. The conference is being led by a group of 27 high school counselors and principals from India and Southeast Asia, representing 17 cities from 5 countries. With over 3,00,000 Indian students who study around the world, global universities recognize the importance of engaging with India and will be attending the conference in large numbers. School counselors understand the abilities, needs, and goals of students, on multiple planes. A counselors input as liaison, and sometimes advocate cannot be overstated. Indiana University looks forward to seeing many of Asias leading schools at the IC3 Conference, said John Wilkerson, Director of International Admissions at Indiana University Bloomington. The keynote address at the conference will be delivered by Kiran Bir Sethi, well-renowned educator and Ted speaker, who founded the Riverside School in Ahmedabad. In 2009, she founded "Design for Change" (DFC) the worlds largest movement of change, of and by children. DFC is in over 30 countries, impacting 25 million children. In March 2015, she was amongst the Top 10 Educators, nominated for the Global Teacher Prize. Amongst other renowned speakers at the conference will also be award-winning film producer and director Mr. Mansoor Khan, widely known for directing superhit films including Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar. Educated at Cornell and MIT, Mr. Mansoor Khan will speak about The Third Curve, offering insights from his recent book and drawing implications for educators at the conference. With many Indian universities emerging as high quality alternatives to going abroad, the conference will also showcase some of the leading institutions in India. Notable amongst the universities participating are O.P. Jindal Global University, VIT University and Hindustan University. Registration is currently open online at www.ic3conference.com for educators and will also be available onsite during the conference. High schools leaders can register for $50 and university leaders can register for $800. Amongst the notable partners of the event is the College Board, a non-profit membership association that is made up of over 6,000 of the worlds leading educational institutions. Well known for administering the SAT test, each year the College Board helps more than seven million students prepare for a successful transition to college. With the dynamic nature of international university admissions, its important for the school communities to share insights, experience and expertise and to learn continually from one another. Thats precisely what we hope to contribute towards at the IC3 Conference. The College Board is excited to help advance the dialogue of counseling best practices in India and around the world, said Clay Hensley, Senior Director of International Strategy at the College Board. Current projections are that India will have surplus graduates by 2020. While this presents a significant opportunity, we will need to have world-class standards to be recognized as the global hub of skilled talent. The IC3 Conference is a key initiative which will take us closer to this goal, said Mr. Kohli. The IC3 conference is being co-hosted by KIC UnivAssist, a leader in global engagement for higher education institutions. It connects institutions with students who want to pursue higher studies in the U.S. KIC UnivAssist aspires to transform the lives of students through advising, and to help them find success through best-fit institutions. To know more, please visit www.univassist.com or write to info@univassist.com . For further information please contact: Piyali Guha 9970318769 piyali.guha@madisonpr.in Find it Useful ? Help Others by Sharing Online Comments and Discussions TORONTO, August 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Billionaire Canadian business leader and philanthropist Victor Dahdaleh attended the recent annual convocation ceremony at York University, Canada, receiving an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/820948 ) Recognised for his support for education, research and global health initiatives around the world, Dr Dahdaleh took the opportunity to address the Faculty of Health graduates, encouraging them to strive to make a difference in the world. "Try your best to be a good citizen, invest in people and, most importantly, when you succeed, give something back," he said. "Contribute your time, talent, and if you are able, your money, and you will make a difference. I had wonderful opportunities to do just that through philanthropy and volunteering. These things matter to me and I encourage you to find those things that matter." Himself a York graduate, Dr Dahdaleh's relationship with the university stretches back over 40 years. His charitable organisation, the Dahdaleh Foundation, last year funded the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Heath - a new research unit within York's Faculty of Health. The institute, which was funded through a record $20 million donation to York, works with a network of national and international partners to reframe the ways in which high- and low-income countries collaborate on global health challenges. The new centre's specialisms include indigenous populations, migration, human rights and the social determinants of health. The donation made Victor Dahdaleh the largest alumnus donor to York University in its history. Dr Dahdaleh has previously outlined the reasoning behind his support for York, and in particular its health programme. Speaking at the Canadian High Commission in London in October last year, he highlighted sound administration, dedicated staff, and dynamic, forward-thinking research as the main factors which led him to back the new facility. "What they are doing to prepare students to work around the world and improve health outcomes is both impressive and visionary," he told an audience at Canada House. In his recent speech at York, Dr Dahdaleh spoke of his pride at playing such a pivotal role in expanding the work of the Faculty. "The new institute has a great objective to become the world's leading institution for education, research and innovative thinking in its field," he said. Victor Dahdaleh's support for education and medical research dates back 30 years and stems from his close relationships with leading universities - in particular in Canada and the UK. A governor and Honorary Fellow of the London School of Economics, he has been one of the school's leading donors, funding a range of new programmes and securing significant outside funding. The Dahdaleh Foundation has also backed the Chevening Scholarships, a joint initiative with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office to give underprivileged students the opportunity to study at LSE. In Canada, Dr Dahdaleh is also an active supporter of McGill University in Montreal, one of the world's leading centres of medical-doctoral research. In 2007, the Dahdaleh Foundation partnered with the William J Clinton Foundation to establish the Victor Dahdaleh-Clinton Foundation scholarship programme - an endowment in perpetuity for 16 annual scholarships at the university. The endowment was last year doubled by the Dahdaleh Foundation and now funds 32 scholarships, also in perpetuity. The awards are aimed at outstanding full-time undergraduates from low-income countries. Expanding on this support for McGill, the Dahdaleh Foundation last year made a donation to found a new Chair in Neuroscience at the university. Building on McGill's existing world-class research in this field, the new Chair will develop an integrated approach to the study of chronic brain disease, incorporating diverse clinical disciplines including neurology, psychiatry and rehabilitation science. Both contributions are matched dollar-for-dollar by McGill and other funders. In the UK, Victor Dahdaleh is a long-time supporter of research into cardiovascular disease, and has funded grants for numerous academic studies at Imperial College London and at Royal Brompton Hospital in London and Middlesex - the UK's largest specialist heart and lung centre. He is also a Fellow of the Duke of Edinburgh Award World Fellowship, a global network of supporters established in 1987 to extend the Duke of Edinburgh Award to young people around the world. The Foundation's support for education also extends to Africa, where it is a donor and partner to the Northwood African Educational Trust - an Ethiopia-based charity which in 2014 opened a school for orphaned children in Azezo, Gondar in the northwest of the country. St George's School is an independent co-educational school providing free, high quality education for more than 200 children in the area. Stressing the need for young people to look further afield, Dr Dahdaleh told York graduates: "Preparing students to work in the far corners of the world is a noble vision. Improving health and life expectancy in poorer countries is a moral imperative and one which the Dahdaleh Foundation has been supporting over the last 30 years." The business magnate also reflected on his commercial successes and urged graduates to do their utmost day-in, day-out. "Never give up on your dreams and ambitions," he told the class of 2016. "The future belongs to you." Victor Dahdaleh, who also received a Doctor of Laws degree from St Francis Xavier University in December 2015, is the owner and chairman of Dadco, a privately owned investment, manufacturing and trading group established in 1915. A lifelong promoter of closer collaboration between Canada and the UK, he served as president of the Canada-United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce from 2004 to 2009. For more information, visit: http://www.victordahdaleh.com SAB now composed of four world-leading immunology experts, including Prof. Zelig Eshhar, who recently received the Novartis Prize for Clinical Immunology Regulatory News: TxCell SA (Paris:TXCL) (FR0010127662 TXCL), a biotechnology company developing innovative, personalized cellular immunotherapies using regulatory T cells (Treg) to treat severe chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, today announces the appointment to its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) of Olivier Danos, PhD, Senior Vice President of Cell and Gene Therapy at Biogen and a world-leading expert in the field of Gene Therapy for hematological and neurological diseases. "Dr. Olivier Danos has pioneered technologies of central importance in the field of gene therapy and genome editing," said Arnaud Foussat, Chief Scientific Officer of TxCell. "He is another significant addition to our SAB, which already includes leading experts in immunology, T-cell biology and chimeric antigen receptors. These include Professor Zelig Eshhar as Chairman, who was recently awarded the prestigious Novartis Prize for Clinical Immunology. We are looking forward to their insights and advice on our current and future R&D programs targeting severe chronic autoimmune and inflammatory diseases." Dr. Danos has led Biogen's gene therapy research group, a team dedicated to identifying and developing new technologies for gene transfer and genome engineering, since 2014. Prior to Biogen, Dr. Danos served as Senior Vice President, Molecular Medicine, Synthetic Biology and Gene Regulation, at Kadmon Pharmaceuticals, from 2011 to 2014. In this role, he was instrumental in assembling a gene therapy program and a technology platform for the development of controllable gene expression systems. Prior to Kadmon, Dr. Danos was the Director of the Gene Therapy Consortium at University College, London, and led a gene therapy research team at the Necker Hospital Enfants Malades in Paris. His other previous appointments include Scientific Director of Genethon and Senior Research Director with the CNRS in France. TxCell created its SAB in March 2016 with the appointment of the first three members: Professor Zelig Eshhar (Chairman), Professor of Immunology, Chair of Immunology Research, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel; Professor Chiara Bonini, Head of Unit, Experimental Hematology, San Raffaele Hopital, Milan, Italy; and Doctor Bernard Malissen, Research Director, Immunology, Center of Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France. Professor Zelig Eshhar awarded the Novartis Prize for Clinical Immunology On August 22, 2016, Professor Eshhar received the Novartis Prize for Clinical Immunology at the 16th International Congress of Immunology (ICI) in Melbourne, Australia. The prize was awarded to three scientists, including Professor Eshhar, for their work on cellular immunotherapy using Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T cells (CAR-T-cells) for diseases such as cancer. The winners were selected by an independent jury of seven world-class immunologists for their groundbreaking research into the biology of the immune system. Professor Eshhar pioneered the CAR approach and was the first scientist to demonstrate the therapeutic potential of CAR-Treg cells in preclinical models of intestinal inflammation. In June 2016, TxCell obtained exclusive worldwide rights to a patent co-invented by Professor Eshhar which covers all redirected, genetically engineered T regulatory cells (CAR-Tregs) and their use in the suppression of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. This patent has already been granted in Europe and is under review in the United States. About TxCell - www.txcell.com TxCell is a biotechnology company that develops platforms for innovative, personalized T cell immunotherapies for the treatment of severe chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases with high unmet medical need. TxCell is the only clinical-stage cellular therapy company dedicated to the science of regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs). Tregs are a recently discovered T cell population for which anti-inflammatory properties have been demonstrated. TxCell is developing two proprietary technology platforms, ASTrIA and ENTrIA. ASTrIA is composed of autologous antigen-specific Type 1 Tregs. Ovasave, TxCell's lead drug-candidate originating from the ASTrIA platform, is currently in a phase IIb clinical trial in refractory Crohn's disease patients. ENTrIA is composed of Chimeric Antigen Receptor engineered FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (CAR-Treg). In this area, TxCell is pursuing two CAR-Treg development programs in collaboration with leading European research institutions: one targeting Lupus Nephritis with Ospedale San Raffaele in Milan and the other targeting Bullous Pemphigoid with the Lubeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology. Based in Sophia-Antipolis, France, TxCell is listed on Euronext Paris and currently has 50 employees. Disclaimer TxCell This press release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to the business of TxCell, which shall not be considered per se as historical facts, including TxCell's ability to develop, market, commercialize and achieve market acceptance for specific products, estimates for future performance and estimates regarding anticipated operating losses, future revenues, capital requirements, needs for additional financing. In addition, even if the actual results or development of TxCell are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, those results or developments of TxCell may not be indicative of their in the future. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by words such as "could," "should," "may," "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "aims," "targets," or similar words. Although the management of TxCell believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonably made, they are based largely on the current expectations of TxCell as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievement expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In particular, the expectations of TxCell could be affected by, among other things, uncertainties involved in the development of the Company's products, which may not succeed, or in the delivery of TxCell's products marketing authorizations by the relevant regulatory authorities and, in general, any factor that could affects TxCell capacity to commercialize the products it develops, as well as, any other risk and uncertainties developed or identified in any public documents filed by TxCell with the AMF, included those listed in chapter 4 "Risk factors" of the 2015 document de reference approved by the AMF on May 24, 2016 under number R.16-048. In light of these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements made in this press release will in fact be realized. Notwithstanding the compliance with article 223-1 of the General Regulation of the AMF (the information disclosed must be "accurate, precise and fairly presented"), TxCell is providing the information in these materials as of this press release, and disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160824005717/en/ Contacts: TxCell Caroline Courme, Tel: +33(0) 4 97 21 83 00 IR Communication Director caroline.courme@txcell.com or Image Box Press relations Neil Hunter Michelle Boxall, Tel: +44(0) 20 8943 4685 neil.hunter@imageboxpr.co.uk michelle.boxall@imageboxpr.co.uk or NewCap - Investor relations Julien Perez Pierre Laurent, Tel: +33 (0)1 44 71 98 52 txcell@newcap.eu VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/24/16 -- InZinc Mining Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: IZN) ("InZinc" or the "Company") reports that it will file with the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") documents to effect an extension of the expiry date of up to 4,513,700 share purchase warrants (the "Warrants") originally issued in connection with two non-brokered private placements (the "Placements") that closed on August 29, 2014 (3,333,400 units) and September 30, 2014 (5,694,000 units). Each unit in both Placements consisted of one share and one half share purchase warrant. The original terms of the Placements specified that each Warrant was exercisable into one common share (a "Warrant Share") of the Company at a price of $0.30 per Warrant Share until August 29, 2016 and September 29, 2016, respectively. The Company wishes to extend the original expiry date of the Warrants for an additional 12 months as to 1,666,700 Warrants from August 29, 2016 to August 29, 2017 and 2,847,000 Warrants from September 29, 2016 to September 29, 2017, subject to Exchange acceptance. There are no other proposed changes to the terms of the Warrants. About InZinc Mining Ltd. InZinc owns a 100% interest in the West Desert zinc-copper-iron project located in western Utah. West Desert hosts a large and potentially expandable resource and benefits from all-weather road access, on-site grid power and proximity to natural gas transmission. It is located 90 kilometres (55 miles) from multiple transcontinental rail networks accessing all major North American markets and servicing a variety of western US ports. For more information please visit our website at www.inzincmining.com. InZinc Mining Ltd. Kerry Curtis Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and US securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's next shareholder meeting. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results, performance, or actions and that actual results and actions may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, those risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with certain securities commissions in Canada and other information released by the Company and filed with the appropriate regulatory agencies. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties. Kerry M. Curtis, P.Geo. a Qualified Person as defined in NI43-101, has approved the technical content of this news release. 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: InZinc Mining Ltd. Kerry Curtis Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer (604) 687-7211 InZinc Mining Ltd. Joyce Musial Corporate Communications (604) 317-2728 joyce@inzincmining.com www.inzincmining.com PUNE, India, August 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- MarketReportsOnline.com adds Global Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) Market with Focus on the Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) (2016-2020) research report of 64 pages on the mechanical circulatory support industry to the medical devices intelligence collection of its research store. The Mechanical Circulatory Support industry report further highlights key market figures for Ventricular Assist Device (VAD), which is a key device in the MCS market. Furthermore, the report also assesses the key opportunities in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry. Growth of the overall global MCS market has also been forecasted for the years 2016-2020, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers and the current and future trends. Complete report on mechanical circulatory support (MCS) market spread across 64 pages providing 3 company profiles and 5 tables and 21 figures is now available at http://www.marketreportsonline.com/497686.html. Country Coverage: United States Company Coverage of Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) Market: Thoratec (St. Jude Medical). HeartWare International & ReliantHeart Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs for blood and oxygen. It is a chronic and progressive condition in which the heart cannot keep up with its workload. Treatment alternatives available for the heart failure are: Medical Management, Coronary Angioplasty, Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery, Heart Restraint Devices, LV Reduction Surgery, Total Artificial Heart, Heart Transplant, Intra-aortic Balloon Pumps and Mechanical Circulatory Support. A mechanical circulatory support (MCS) device is designed to take over the pumping function (a part or full) of the heart by mechanically pumping blood into the aorta. In this process, blood is allowed to flow from the left ventricle to the pump chamber via the cannula, which is powered by an electric source outside the body. The report entitled "Global Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) Market with Focus on the Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) (2016-2020)" provides analysis of the global MCS market, with detailed analysis of market size and growth, penetration, market share and economic impact of the industry. The analysis includes the market by value, by volume, by segments, etc. The report also includes the analysis of the United States MCS market by value, by volume, etc. Thoratec (St. Jude Medical), HeartWare International and ReliantHeart are some of the key players operating in the global MCS (Mechanical Circulatory Support) market, whose company profiling has been done in the report. In this segment of the report, business overview, financial overview and business strategies of the companies are provided. MCS (Mechanical Circulatory Support) therapy can be segmented into Chronic MCS and Acute MCS. A ventricular assist device, or VAD, is a mechanical pump used to support heart function and blood flow in people with weak or failing hearts. The VAD treatment for chronic MCS can be divided into Bridge-to-Transplantation (BTT) and Destination Therapy (DT) and in acute MCS, the same can be divided into Post-Cardiotomy Myocardial Recovery Following Cardiac Surgery and Cardiac Surgery Support. The global mechanical circulatory support (MCS) market is expected to increase at significant growth rates during the forecasted period (2016-2020). The global MCS market is supported by various growth drivers, such as, long waiting list for heart transplant treatment, launches of new products, better results of MCS relative to other treatment options etc. Yet, the market faces certain challenges, such as, low awareness, side effects of LVAD, etc. Purchase a copy of this "Global Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) Market with Focus on the Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) (2016-2020)" research report at http://www.marketreportsonline.com/contacts/purchase.php?name=497686. Global LVAD Market Report: The report "Global LVAD Market" provides a comprehensive analysis of the global market for LVAD, global BTT and DT market along with in-depth study of the US market and focus on application area worldwide. The major trends, growth drivers as well as issues being faced by the industry are being presented in this report. The three major players in the industry, Thoratec Corporation, Heartware International Inc. and Abiomed Inc. are being profiled. Explore Latest Daedal Research Market Research Reports at http://www.marketreportsonline.com/publisher/daedal-research-market-research.html. About Us: Market Reports Online comprises of an online library of 250,000 reports and in-depth market research studies of over 5000+ micro markets. We provide 24/7 online and offline support to our customers. Get in touch with us for your needs of market research reports. Contact Us: Ritesh Tiwari UNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZ Magarpatta city, Hadapsar Pune, Maharashtra 411013, India Tel: +1 888 391 5441 E-mail: sales@marketreportsonline.com NEWARK, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/24/16 -- Kateeva, the OLED production equipment leader, today announced that it has hired Burch Harper to lead its Intellectual Property (IP) organization. Harper is a respected patent enforcement and technology licensing expert. He brings special expertise in negotiating complex IP licenses and technology collaboration agreements. In his lengthy career with Silicon Valley technology companies, he has built robust infrastructures that enable high-value IP to support core business objectives, while overseeing disciplined global enforcement. He joins Kateeva from Rambus Inc., where he helped lead the company's patent strategy, as well as its IP litigation and licensing programs. "We're fortunate to find a candidate with such credentials to lead our IP organization," said Kateeva CEO Alain Harrus. "Burch is keenly in tune with the legal dynamics of US companies creating advanced technologies and associated IP for marquee manufacturers of high-tech products. His knowledge and expertise will be invaluable as we continue to innovate and strengthen our patent portfolio." Harper's appointment coincides with Kateeva's steady accumulation of patents, notably in China and Korea, as well as in the US. Recent patents include specialized innovations surrounding Kateeva's YIELDjet inkjet printing technology for Thin Film Encapsulation (TFE). TFE is a critical step in the process of producing flexible OLED displays in high volume. In welcoming Harper, Kateeva President and COO Conor Madigan, noted, "Our IP activity matches the pace of our product positioning in Asia as display manufacturers turn to YIELDjet equipment to mass produce flexible OLEDs. Burch's arrival is timely. His leadership will safeguard and strengthen the Kateeva IP that's enabling an extraordinary trajectory for OLED technology, and making exciting flexible electronics products possible." "Kateeva has built a powerful portfolio of valuable IP around its inkjet printing manufacturing equipment solution," said Harper. "There's hardware, software, materials, processes, and more, with each innovation scrupulously protected to ensure that customers can extract maximum value from the sum of those parts. It's a terrific opportunity to join this team of inventors. I'm excited to take on the challenge." At Rambus, Harper was Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for IP Licensing and Technology Transactions. A key architect of the company's patent strategy, he negotiated and drafted license agreements with leading global semiconductor manufacturers, while also developing and implementing Rambus' litigation strategy. Before Rambus, he was Associate General Counsel/Senior Director at Silicon Image, Inc., where he managed the patent portfolio and oversaw the company's IP prosecution strategy. Previously, he was a Senior Counsel at Sun Microsystems, where he crafted semiconductor and related licensing agreements, as well as JDAs and OEM contracts. He began his legal career as a Patent Examiner at the US Patent and Trademark Office in Washington, DC, before moving to Silicon Valley to join prominent law firm, Fenwick and West. Harper holds a BA degree in Liberal Arts from St. John's College in Annapolis, MD, as well as a BS degree in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University. He obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Michigan Law School at Ann Arbor. He is a member of the Licensing Executives Society, the American Intellectual Property Law Association, and the Intellectual Property Owners Association. Also, he's a frequent speaker on topics ranging from IP trial strategies to antitrust considerations in licensing arrangements. YIELDjet is trademarked by Kateeva. About Kateeva, Inc. Kateeva makes breakthrough production equipment for manufacturers of advanced electronics technologies. The company has pioneered a precision deposition technology platform that uses innovative inkjet printing to deposit coatings on complex applications with blinding speed and superb accuracy. Technology leaders use Kateeva's solution to enable cost-effective mass production of flexible and large-size OLED displays, among other cutting-edge products. Kateeva is headquartered in Silicon Valley, maintains operations in Korea, Taiwan, Japan and China, and is backed by leading Venture Capital firms and other investors. www.kateeva.com. Kateeva Contact Jane Evans-Ryan Genuity PR for Kateeva m. +1 408-489-6391 Email Contact PARIS, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Honor officially launches Honor 8, its cutting-edge flagship product of 2016 for the Europe market today in Paris. Perfectly embodying the tagline "Beauty. Your Own Way.", this trendy and fashionable device is uniquely designed for millennials to enhance their ambitious, fast-paced and all-online lifestyles. Featuring a stunning glass back on the outside, world-class dual-lens camera and powerful features on the inside, Honor 8 takes the smartphone user experience to a new level with higher standards in aesthetics, performance and innovation. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160823/400408-INFO "Millennials are bold, willing to hunt for something different, and they believe innovative smartphones will play a vital role in their everyday life and bring superior experiences," said George Zhao, President of Honor. "Leveraging these valuable insightsas well as our aesthetic and creativeexpertise, we crafted the glamourous glass back for Honor 8, which is so different from all the metal body smartphones out there on the market. Combined with cutting-edge features incorporated in the dual-lens camera, fingerprint recognition, powerful CPU and battery, all enabled by our latest innovation, Honor 8 is a state-of-the-art device that will empower technology-savvy digital natives to explore the world and fulfill their potential." "'For the Brave' is the essence of Honor's brand spirit and by working with recognized opinion leaders who represent the brave global youth, we aim to ignite more passion amongst our young consumers, encouraging them to live to the fullest," said Steven Wang, Global Marketing Director of Honor. "For Honor 8, we invited Brooklyn Beckham as our global brand ambassadorand Louane Emera as our brand ambassadors in France. Through these partnerships and ongoing consumer engagements, Honor is becoming the smartphone brand of choice for millennials and a lifestyle trend setter for those who are young-at-heart." First unveiled in China in July, then in the US on Aug 16th, today's Honor 8 event concludes its global launch tour in Europe-- one of its most important markets, playing a vital role in the brand's worldwide success. Eva Wimmers, President Honor in WEU / Vice President Honor Global said: "At Honor, we do not take short cuts. It is our unwavering commitment to innovation, collaboration and action that has enabled us to achieve rapid business growth and brand development in Europe over the past two years. Looking ahead, our strategic focus is to introduce more innovative products such as Honor 8 to the European market and continuously enhance customers' shopping experiences. We also look forward to growing with young people across the region and becoming the ideal partner of other growing youth brands and services." Honor 8 will hit the shelves in Europe on August 24 on Honor's vMall. Honor 8 features Smooth design by perfect craftsmanship With a 5.2-inch FHD touchscreen display, the trendy exterior of Honor 8 boasts a resilient two-sided 2.5D glass body and diamond-cut aluminum alloy edges that form an ultra-narrow bezel. The 3D grate design with its 15-layer process of craftsmanship on the glass back reflects light beautifully, making Honor 8 a glamourous statement piece for trail-blazing users always on the hunt for something different. Capture the bright side of life Featuring one RGB and one monochrome sensor, 1.25 um large pixel size, Honor 8's dual 12MP lenses can capture more light, increase picture quality, bring bright colors to life and render crisper details to photographs. Its hybrid auto-focus perfectly aligns the laser focus, precise depth focus and contrast focus to deliver quality images regardless of the lighting conditions. The Honor 8 also packs a punch with its 8-megapixel front-facing camera for the selfie addict in users. One touch to unlock the digital world With 0.4-second phone unlock, auto learning skillset, 3D fingerprint reading, and a level-4 fingerprint collection algorithm, the Honor 8 delivers a truly advanced experience in terms of speed, intelligence and security at users' finger tips. Powerful performance The Honor 8 is powered by an 8-core CPU up to 2.3GHz with 16nm FinFET technology. With an ever-intelligent high-end processor and 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM for flawless multi-tasking and seamless gaming. The CPU chipset also contains an i5 co-processor, which controls the phone's sensors and features, and works in alignment with the Kirin 950 SoC chipset to provide users with increased processing speed, response time and battery life. Hefty battery life and fast charging to keep connected Featuring a 3,000mAh[i] battery with Smart Power 4.0 maximizing stand-by time, Honor 8 is expected to keep going for 1.77 days under normal usage and a full 1.22 days under heavy usage[ii]. The power is also enough to run offline videos for 10 hours straight. It also delivers a world-class 9V/2A charging experience[iii], reaching almost 50% charge in just 30 minutes. For emergency situations, you'll get two-hours of phone time or six-hours of offline music on a mere 10 minute charge. For more product information, please visit: http://www.hihonor.com/global/ [i] 3,000mAh for typical rate, 2,900mAh for rated rate. [ii] Data based on Honor laboratory tests, actual times may vary. [iii] Honor 8 only supports 9V/2A charging when used with the factory-provided charger. Charging times may vary depending on the charger used and the ambient conditions. About honor Honor is a leading smartphone e-brand under the Huawei Group. In line with its slogan, "For the Brave", the brand was created to meet the needs of digital natives through internet-optimized products that offer superior user experiences, inspire action, foster creativity and empower the young to achieve their dreams. In doing this, Honor has set itself apart by showcasing its own bravery to do things differently and to take the steps needed to usher in the latest technologies and innovations for its customers. For media enquiries, please contact: Reed Li Burson-Marsteller Hong Kong reed.li@bm.com +852-2963-6719 OAKLAND, CA--(Marketwired - August 24, 2016) - HealthImpact has released a plan for nursing education redesign, the Nursing Education Plan White Paper and Recommendations for California. This white paper was funded by a grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and is the result of a statewide collaborative approach to ensure that nurses educated in California are prepared for the evolving changes in healthcare delivery. Massive changes in healthcare delivery are driving the need to transform how RNs are prepared. As the largest provider group in the state, nurses must practice and lead in a variety of settings, in new roles, and in an environment that is shifting from providing care to managing health. The Nursing Education Plan White Paper and Recommendations for California provides recommendations and strategies to prepare nurses for these changes and serves as a call to action for nursing education and practice. The recommendations support multiple entry points into nursing education, influence nurses to continue their education, and promote lifelong learning. In January 2015, HealthImpact launched a statewide initiative in partnership with California's leading nursing organizations: American Nurses Association, California; Association of California Nurse Leaders/California Nursing Students' Association; California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN); California Association of Colleges of Nursing; and California Organization of Associate Degree Nursing Program Directors North and South. In addition, thought leaders across the state were invited to help lead the effort. They conducted extensive literature reviews, identifying innovative programs and best practices, and obtained input from a wide range of local, statewide and national experts to assess the changing landscape in healthcare, nursing practice and education. In regional meetings, more than 350 additional healthcare leaders in education, practice, and policy arenas contributed their expertise and perspective. Through this large-scale effort, five areas of recommendation were identified as central to nursing education redesign for the future. Each recommendation is accompanied by evidence-based strategies. The Nursing Education Plan is an important roadmap for transforming nursing education to better meet evolving health needs of populations. The aim of the White Paper is to engage policymakers in robust implementation of the plan, inform and enlist funders, and align diverse stakeholders about priorities for change, ultimately strengthening shared investments in nursing education. RECOMMENDATIONS Academic-Practice Partnerships: Build strong academic-practice partnerships along the continuum of care. Advancing Nursing Education: Promote academic progression for all RNs in California to obtain a BSN or higher degree by 2030. Faculty Recruitment and Development: Create career pathways, develop programs, and provide resources to assure a well-prepared and diverse nursing faculty. Transition Programs and Residencies: Establish transition-to-practice programs and residencies for all new graduates and nurses transitioning to new specialties and roles. Preparing Nurses for the Future: Provide transformative learning opportunities that prepare nurses for evolving roles in rapidly changing interprofessional practice environments. The complete report is available on the HealthImpact website at http://bit.ly/NEPWhitePaper. Founded in 2001, HealthImpact (formerly the California Institute for Nursing and Health Care), is California's nationally recognized nursing workforce center. HealthImpact is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of Californians through innovation, interprofessional leadership and nursing excellence, and by partnering with nurse leaders, educators, providers, payers, policy leaders and consumers to develop practical solutions which increase nurses' effectiveness in providing care. Executives from HealthImpact are available for comment. For more information contact Judith Berg, Executive Director, 510-832-8400 or judee@healthimpact.org or Carolyn Orlowski, Project Director, 510-832-8400 or carolyn@healthimpact.org. Contacts: Judith Berg Executive Director 510-832-8400 judee@healthimpact.org Carolyn Orlowski Project Director 510-832-8400 carolyn@healthimpact.org OTTAWA (dpa-AFX) - Five Star Shellfish Inc. has announced a voluntary recall of oysters from Canada due to a potential Salmonella contamination. The company distributed the Five Star branded oysters to retailers in Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario, which were harvested after August 13. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said the company issued the recall after tests confirmed the presence of salmonella. 'This recall was triggered by Canadian Food Inspection Agency test results,' the recall notice states. 'The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products.' No illnesses had been reported. Salmonella infection can affect young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. Healthy people may experience short-term symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. 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. COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENT NO 48/2016 - 24 AUGUST 2016Interim Report for 1 January - 30 June (H1) 2016Royal Unibrew increases net revenue and earnings as expectedNet revenue for H1 2016 showed an 8% increase, amounting to DKK 3,160 million compared to DKK 2,923 million in 2015. Net revenue was positively affected by better weather in Northern Europe than in 2015, the expanded cooperation with PepsiCo in Denmark and the Baltic countries as well as an extraordinary campaign activity in Finland. Royal Unibrew generally maintained its market shares. Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) for H1 2016 amounted to DKK 468 million, which was DKK 43 million above the 2015 figure. EBIT margin was 14.8% for H1 2016 compared to 14.6% in 2015. Earnings in all segments were higher than in 2015 with a shift, especially in Western Europe and Baltic Sea, towards Q2 due to fine weather. Free cash flow for H1 2016 amounted to DKK 514 million and was DKK 115 million above the 2015 figure - including DKK 70 million relating to the sale of the brewery site in Aarhus. In H1 2016, dividend of DKK 592 million (2015: DKK 474 million) was distributed to shareholders, and net interest-bearing debt went up by DKK 77 million to DKK 1,261 million. NIBD/EBITDA calculated on a running 12-month basis was 1.0 as at the end of 2015. The previously announced earnings outlook for 2016 is clarified with figures now expected to be in the upper half of the ranges indicated."We are satisfied with the continued positive momentum in revenue and earnings in spite of challenging market conditions in several markets. This is driven by a strong commercial agenda and a high level of innovation. We are seeing consumers of today being more experimental and looking for greater variation, which has led to successful brand launches in Denmark within craft beer, such as Schitz and Lottrup last year and, most recently, Albani Mosaic IPA and Tivoli Beer this year. In order to further strengthen our innovative power and capability of experimenting on a small scale within craft beer for the benefit of our consumers and customers, we have decided to establish a microbrewery adjacent to the Albani brewery in Odense" says Henrik Brandt, CEO, adding "Based on the general development, we now expect earnings for 2016 to be in the upper half of the range previously indicated".Selected financial highlights and key ratios mDKK H1 2016 H1 2015 Q2 2016 Q2 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sales (thousand hectolitres) 4,876 4,349 2,795 2,45 Net revenue 3,16 2,923 1,81 1,633 EBITDA 620 574 408 370 EBITDA margin (%) 19.6 19.6 22.6 22.7 Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) 468 425 329 294 EBIT margin (%) 14.8 14.6 18.2 18.0 Profit before tax 462 413 335 294 Net profit for the period 364 322 266 229 Free cash flow 514 399 509 521 Net interest-bearing debt 1,261 1,627 NIBD/EBITDA (running 12 months) 1.0 1.3 Equity ratio (%) 42 39 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------OutlookThe previously announced earnings outlook for the year is clarified within the ranges previously announced, while the guided range for net revenue is increased and narrowed as follows: Net revenue: DKK 6,275-6,450 million (previously: DKK 6,150-6,400 million) EBITDA: DKK 1,240-1,290 million (previously: DKK 1,190-1,290 million) EBIT: DKK 935-985 million (previously: DKK 885-985 million)For further information on this Announcement:Henrik Brandt, President & CEO, tel +45 56 77 15 13It will be possible for investors and analysts to follow Royal Unibrew's presentation of the Interim Report on Thursday, 25 August 2016, at 9.00 am by audiocast at one of the following dial-in numbers:Denmark: +45 32 71 16 59United States: +1 646 254 3366International number: +44 20 3427 1908The presentation may also be followed at Royal Unibrew's website www.royalunibrew.com.Financial Calendar201623 November 2016 Interim Report for the period 1 January - 30 September 2016The Interim Report has been prepared in Danish and English. In case of discrepancy the Danish version shall prevail.Forward-looking StatementsThis Interim Report contains "forward-looking statements". Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements because they relate to and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding our business, financial circumstances, strategy, results of operations, financing and other plans, objectives, assumptions, expectations, prospects, beliefs and other future events and prospects. We undertake no obligation, and do not intend to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, unless prescribed by law or by stock exchange regulations.Attachment:https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=583269 VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/24/16 -- DuSolo Fertilizers Inc. (TSX VENTURE: DSF) ("DuSolo" or "the Company") is pleased to announce an update on its corporate activities and expected work programs for 2016 and 2017. The Company has been undergoing a restructuring of its operations in Brazil, as well as at the corporate level and reviewing the potential for each of its assets to add value to the Company and its shareholders. DuSolo now believes it has a clear pathway to optimizing the value of its assets and create significant value for shareholders. BOMFIN PROJECT Bomfin remains the flagship project of the Company, consisting of the Bomfin exploration concessions, the previously worked mine at Santiago and the processing plant at Campos Belos. It remains the core of the Company's activities and will form the basis for the revised National Instrument ("NI") 43-101 compliant technical reports the Company is preparing, including on the potential for re-starting production at Santiago and a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") targeted for completion in H1-2017. Stockpiles of approximately 30,000 tonnes of DANF (Direct Application Natural Fertilizer), both processed product and Run-of-Mine material, remained from 2015 and have been sold to various customers over the last few months. The Company has delivered 18,543 tonnes between October 2015 and June 2016. Demand exists for further sales, and a re-start of operations at Santiago will be dependent on the results of a NI 43-101 compliant report expected before year end. RESOURCE DRILLING The Company will commence drilling at several of its concessions commencing in September 2016, to further define the geological potential of the concessions, and where appropriate to provide data for a new Resource Estimate, that will form the geological basis for the PEA in 2017. This drilling will be focused in the Amaury and Depasa areas, targeting material similar to the existing resources grading between 6%-8% P2O5. Drilling will then switch to defining higher grade material (approximately 15% P2O5) in and around the existing Santiago Resource to upgrade the existing categories towards a majority of Measured & Indicated. This work is expected to be completed in the first half of 2017. NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT Brazil remains a substantial agricultural market and imports significant quantities of fertilizer including phosphate based products. There is a clear potential to compete with imported and high transport cost products. The Company is working with Agroconsult, the leading Brazilian consultancy for agriculture and fertilizers, to determine potential new products, market size potential and pricing ranges. This information will be utilized in the PEA. New products include the granulation of higher grade material (approximately 15% P2O5) with sulphuric acid to improve the agronomic performance, and beneficiation of medium grade material (between 6%-8% P2O5) to produce products such as Single Super Phosphate ("SSP"). The PEA in 2017 will include these two options, and the Company is currently engaging the relevant independent geological, metallurgical and engineering consultants to assist in the preparation of the PEA. As part of any development of new products, the Company will be required to apply for the relevant mining and environmental permits to allow full lifetime extraction and processing of new products. As with any such permitting process it is subject to interaction with State and Federal authorities and there can be no guarantee that the Company will be able to acquire such permits. CORPORATE CHANGES The Company has made a number of changes to its corporate and operational personnel, as well as operating structure in Brazil. A new project manager has been employed, Mr. Cris Gallina, who has the necessary experience and skills to execute the Company's new strategy. Mr. Gallina is a Mining Engineer, with an MBA and 15 years of experience in operations, project development, strategic planning and mineral processing in large multinational companies - Rio Tinto and Vale. Mr. Gallina will report to the CEO and be responsible for all operations in Brazil. The Company has relocated its Brazilian office to Belo Horizonte, in the State of Minas Gerais, which is expected to result in a significant benefit by centralizing its technical staff, providing direct access to the wealth of geological, mining, metallurgical and engineering consultants and staff based in and around Belo Horizonte. In addition, these changes are expected to reduce operating costs. SAO ROQUE PROJECT After a detailed review of the available data and the new objectives of the Company, it has been decided to relinquish the Sao Roque Project, which will be returned to its owners at no cost to the Company. An agreement to that effect is being finalized. The geographical separation from Bomfin and the early stage nature of Sao Roque, combined with the Company's financial position were key factors in deciding to relinquish this asset. ABOUT DUSOLO DuSolo Fertilizers Inc. is focused on developing a fully integrated process to produce and sell phosphate based fertilizers within the Cerrado region of Brazil as part of a nationwide effort to increase domestically sourced fertilizers and achieve agricultural self-sufficiency. On behalf of DuSolo Fertilizers Inc. Giles Baynham, Chief Executive Officer and Director Forward-looking statements Certain information contained in this press release constitutes "forward-looking information", within the meaning of Canadian legislation. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur", "be achieved" or "has the potential to". Forward looking statements contained in this press release may include statements regarding the future operating or financial performance of DuSolo which involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may not prove to be accurate. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in these forward-looking statements. Such statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations. Among those factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: market conditions and other risk factors listed from time to time in our reports filed with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and DuSolo disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation. For more information please refer to the technical report filed on SEDAR and titled "Bomfim Agro-Mineral Phosphate Project, Technical Report and Initial Resource Estimate Tocabtins and Goias States, Brazil," filed on March 5, 2014, effective December 31, 2013, and amended on February 6, 2015. The resource estimate was signed off by Mr. Porfirio Cabaleiro Rodriguez an Associate Consultant of Coffey Consultoria e Servicos Ltda., and was prepared in compliance with the standards of disclosure as set out in NI43-101. Mr. Rodriguez is an "independent qualified person" for the purposes of NI43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators Disclosure - The Company's decision to produce DANF, its DANF production targets and cash flow projections were not based on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability. Without a technical report demonstrating economic and technical viability, there is increased uncertainty as to whether the Company will be able to economically produce DANF in a long run and as to whether the Company will be confronted with any unforeseen technical impediments. Similarly, the Company has not completed a preliminary economic assessment before making production and project expansion decisions. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange Inc. nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange Inc.) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. Contacts: DuSolo Fertilizers Inc. 604-484-7122 604-484-7143 (FAX) ir@dusolo.com www.DuSolo.com CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/24/16 -- Eguana Technologies Inc. (TSX VENTURE: EGT)(OTCQB: EGTYF) today announced that it has filed its Interim Consolidated Financial Statements for the Quarter (Q3 '16) ending June 30, 2016. The Consolidated Financial Statements and the Management Discussion and Analysis thereof are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, and on the Company's website at www.eguanatech.com. Highlights: - Eguana completes acceptance testing with German Automotive partner and transitions to field trials. - Bi-Direx showcased at Intersolar Munich with Ampere Energy. - Hawaiian Electric completes Molokai site assessments, AC Battery installations planned in September. - Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) completes commissioning of Fontana NZE residential community. - Eguana expands into Electric Vehicle charging applications in Hawaii and California. - Eguana completes $6.9 million financing to expand supply chain and development capabilities. - Revenue increased from $176,272 in Q2 to $284,980 in Q3 with positive gross margin of 7.2%. The company achieved a number of milestones throughout the quarter highlighted by acceptance testing and completion of the custom power control solution by our German automotive partner and by the reintroduction of the Bi-Direx platform in the Ampere Sphere at Intersolar Munich. "We remain on track with our European recovery as we transition to field trials in Germany," stated Justin Holland, CEO of Eguana. "Our development team continues to execute with a top global automotive company, creating a product we are confident will set a new standard for energy storage." North American AC Battery revenue was up slightly, however orders decreased across the quarter as a result of application approval delays at the Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) causing permitting and installation delays in Hawaii. "NextEra's cancelled bid for HECO should facilitate the permitting process and kick start installations on the islands," commented Holland. "We remain well positioned with our partner E-Gear to reach our 30% market share objectives, but the net result of the HECO delays will cause a delay in our calendar year-end profitability target." The Company also completed a $6.9 million financing to expand supply chain and development capabilities. "As our partner Itochu continued to execute their negotiations in Australia along with European and US milestones, there is a high potential of volume overlap. This capital will allow us to execute in each market simultaneously," concluded Holland. About Eguana Technologies Inc. Eguana Technologies Inc. (TSX VENTURE: EGT)(OTCQB: EGTYF) designs and manufactures high performance power controls for residential and commercial energy storage systems. Eguana has more than 15 years' experience delivering grid edge power electronics for fuel cell, photovoltaic and battery applications and delivers proven, durable, high quality solutions from its high capacity manufacturing facilities in Europe and North America. With thousands of its proprietary energy storage inverters deployed in the European and North American markets, Eguana is the leading supplier of power controls for solar self-consumption, grid services and demand charge applications at the grid edge. To learn more, visit www.EguanaTech.com or follow us on Twitter @EguanaTech. Forward-Looking Information The reader is advised that some of the information herein may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning assigned by National Instruments 51-102 and other relevant securities legislation. In particular, we include: statements pertaining to the value of our power controls to the energy storage market and statements concerning the use of proceeds and the Company's ability to obtain necessary approvals from the TSX Venture Exchange. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and involves a number of risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or future events or developments, to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speaks only as of the date hereof. Readers are also directed to the Risk Factors section of the Company's most recent audited Financial Statements which may be found on its website or at sedar.com The Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking information contained herein to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. 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: Eguana Technologies Inc. Justin Holland CEO +1.416.728.7635 Justin.Holland@EguanaTech.com www.EguanaTech.com TORONTO, ONNTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 08/24/16 -- Avante Logixx Inc. (TSX VENTURE: XX) ("Avante") is pleased to announce it will release its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2016 after market close on Thursday, August 25, 2016 and a news release will be disseminated at that time. Further, Avante will be hosting a conference call to discuss the aforementioned quarterly results on Monday, August 29, 2016 at 8:30 AM EST. Dial in details are as follows: Local - (+1) 416-764-8658 Toll Free - (+1) 888-886-7786 Conference ID: 92493624 Playback details below, available till September 12, 2016: Toronto - (+1) 416-764-8692 Toll Free - North America - (+1) 877-674-7070 Playback Passcode - 493624# About Avante Logixx Avante Logixx Inc. (TSX VENTURE: XX) is a Toronto based security, monitoring, system integration and technology company. Its subsidiaries, Avante Security Inc. (www.avantesecurity.com), INTO Electronics Inc., (www.intoelectronics.com), LVS Inc. (www.lvssecurity.com), and the recently acquired City Wide Locksmiths Ltd. (www.citywidelocksmith.ca) together provide best in class security systems and services for residential and commercial clients, and high-rise condominium applications, with industry leadership in designing and installing complex security systems, access control, intelligent video analytics, high-end lock services and smart home automation. Avante's group of companies strives to be best in class in each of its verticals including an industry leading rapid alarm response offering combined with alarm system and live video analytics monitoring. Avante's Executive Services team provides unparalleled end-to-end security solutions for high profile and high net worth families to ensure their safety in a comprehensive yet discrete manner, including an executive transportation option. Avante's International Travel Security team helps corporations protect traveling employees working abroad in medium/high risk jurisdictions and has executed travel details in over 60 countries. Avante continuously develops innovative products and applications within its core competencies. Please visit our website at www.avantelogixx.com and consider joining our investor email list. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward looking information" with respect to Avante within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "planned", "expect", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intends", "believe", "potential", and similar expressions, or describes a "goal", or a variation of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "should", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, including, without limitation, the list of risk factors identified in Avante's Management Discussion & Analysis (MD&A) and other continuous disclosure, which list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of Avante's forward-looking information. In connection with the forward-looking statements contained in this and subsequent press releases, Avante has made certain assumptions about its business and the industry in which it operates and has also assumed that no significant events occur outside of Avante's normal course of business. Although management believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date the statements are made, 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. Avante's forward-looking information is based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management on the date the statements are made, and Avante does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by applicable law. For the reasons set forth above, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. 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: Avante Logixx Inc. George Rossolatos CEO (416) 923-6984 x221 george@avantelogixx.com Avante Logixx Inc. Leland Verner Chairman (416) 823-7474 leland@avantelogixx.com Pharos Capital Group, LLC, a private equity firm based in Dallas and Nashville, has hired James S. Kerrigan and Kevin A. Ryan as Senior Financial Analysts. Prior to joining Pharos, Mr. Kerrigan spent two years as an Investment Banking Analyst at Barclays in New York, advising on deals in the healthcare, packaging, chemicals and strategic finances sectors. Before that, he worked in various capacities at a private equity family office and a healthcare consulting firm in Nebraska. Mr. Ryan worked for two years as an Investment Banking Analyst for Stephens Inc. in Little Rock, AR before joining Pharos. He advised on M&A and private equity transactions across multiple industries, including healthcare services. Mr. Kerrigan will be based in Phaross Dallas office, while Mr. Ryan will be based in Nashville. Led by Kneeland Youngblood, co-founder and Managing Partner, Pharos Capital is an SEC Registered Investment Advisor typically investing $25-$50m in growing middle market companies seeking later stage funding for internal growth, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, management buyouts, or recapitalizations predominantly across healthcare sectors. The firm, which has invested in 49 companies, currently has approximately $800m of private equity assets under management. FinSMEs 24/08/2016 The Miami Bay Beverage Company, LLC, a Branford, CT-based maker of protein-infused water, received a $2.5M funding round. Backers included a syndicate of investors led by Vineyard Point Associates, LLC. The company intends to use the funds to expand down the East Coast and through Virginia. Led by CEO Peter Dacey, The Miami Bay Beverage Company offers trimino, a flagship protein-infused water with 7gs of whey protein, B-complex vitamins, 0 sugar, 0 carbs and 28 calories. trimino is currently available in 4 flavors in more than 5,000 supermarkets, convenience stores, drug, fitness, and other retailers including TOPS, Price Chopper, WinCo Foods, NOCO Express Convenience Stores, Market Street, Central Market, Brookshires and in over 700 7-Eleven stores in Texas, Florida and Chicago. FinSMEs 24/08/2016 XRI Holdings, LLC, a Midland, TX-based water supply and pipeline transportation company, received a majority equity investment from funds managed by Morgan Stanley Energy Partners, part of Morgan Stanley Investment Management. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The company will use the funds to accelerate the expansion of its asset base, capabilities and portfolio of services offered to its customers. An affiliate of Entia Ventures, XRI Blue is engaged in the sourcing, production, transportation, storage, and sale of water for use in the upstream exploration & production industry in the Permian Basin of West Texas and New Mexico. The company is led by Matthew Gabriel, Christopher Harich and Christopher Downs. FinSMEs 24/08/2016 New Delhi: Jubilant Life Sciences Wednesday said it has received approval from the US health regulator for Telmisartan Tablets, used for the treatment of hypertension, in the American market. In a BSE filing, the company said "it has received Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) final approval for Telmisartan Tablets, USP 20,40 and 80mg, the generic version of Micardis Tablets of Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc". As on 30 June, 2016, Jubilant Life Sciences had a total of 770 filings for Oral Solids of which 578 have been approved in various regions globally. "This includes 70 ANDAs filed in the US, of which 44 have been approved and 104 filings in Europe," it said. BJP workers on Wednesday held a protest against Amnesty International India in Bengaluru over the 13 August event on the Kashmir unrest. The workers also demanded that the case against Amnesty be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Bengaluru (Karnataka): BJP workers hold protest, demand Amnesty International India case be handed over to NIA pic.twitter.com/LCoZDatFNV ANI (@ANI_news) August 24, 2016 A Kashmiri Pandit forum on Tuesday had also sought a probe by a central agency into the activities of Amnesty International which, it alleged, has been selective in its approach and was out to tarnish India's image and of its security forces. It had also sought a ban on the outfit in the state. Amnesty had been slapped with sedition charges over the 13 August event it held as part of a campaign to seek justice for "victims of human rights violations" in Jammu and Kashmir, which took an ugly turn with heated exchange and alleged raising of pro-Kashmir 'Independence' and anti-Army slogans. On the other hand, the United States has backed Amnesty International. US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mark Toner had said that the US supported the right to freedom of expression for anyone, including Amnesty. "With Amnesty International, I'm sorry. Well, we obviously, as we do around the world, support the right to freedom of expression and assembly, including through civil society," Toner told reporters on Monday. He was asked about the sedition charge against the group in India. Toner had said the State Department was aware of the reports that police in Bengaluru have "initiated preliminary investigation into allegations of sedition against Amnesty International." "I direct you to the police for more details into this investigation, but certainly we, as I said, respect the right for Amnesty and others to express themselves freely." The remarks came a day after Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara had said he had "not given any clean chit" to the rights group. He had earlier said the group was not involved in anti-national activities, though some anti-India slogans were raised by some participants at the event at United Theological College in the city on 13 August. With inputs from agencies While we're only a day away from the Janmashtmi festival, Govinda groups or pathaks in Mahrashtra still remain unclear over the participation of underage 'govindas' and the height of the pyramids in the 'Dahi Handi' celebration ritual, reported The Indian Express. Last week, the Supreme Court had barred youngsters below 18 years of age from participating in the Dahi Handi ritual, and had restricted the height of the human pyramids to 20 feet, a limit fixed by the Bombay High Court. However, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear a fresh plea seeking to relax the cap of 20-feet height of the human pyramid fixed by it for the ritual. A bench comprising Justices AR Dave, UU Lalit and L Nageswara Rao said that it will hear, on Wednesday itself, a plea on the issue as the festival is to be celebrated on Thursday across the country. The fresh plea has been filed by Mumbai-based Jai Jawan Krida Mandal Govinda Pathak. The organisation says that now that the youth below 18 years of age have been barred from participating in the Dahi Handi ritual, the cap on the height of the human pyramid should be relaxed as adventure is part of every sport. If there is no adventure in a game, then there is no point in celebrating it, the Krida Mandal says. The Supreme Court ruling that imposed caps on the Dahi Handi celebration was met with great disappointment. Political leaders and local groups saw the move as a setback to the festive tradition and demanded that the state government file a review petition in the case. Arun Sawant, the spokesperson of the Mumbai Congress, had termed the cap as "unnecessary" and said, "This is really very disheartening because in the last few years, many organisers have come forward to take care of govindas in case of any eventuality. They vouched for the well-being of the govindas and took upon their medical and financial responsibility if anything untoward happens." The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress have decided to steer clear of the festivities, as a mark of protest against the Supreme Court ruling, reports The Hindu. "Such sort of a cap is an attempt to spoil our rich culture of Dahi Handi which not only unites youth but also makes them stronger. We are going to do every bit to save this popular festival," Mumbai BJP spokesperson Yogesh Verma said. Ruling BJP had said that it will do every bit to protect the "sheen" of the festival. MNS chief Raj Thackeray had also expressed reservations over the Supreme Court banning participation of minors in the 'Dahi-Handi' festival, saying that courts should refrain from meddling in matters of tradition and culture. "The courts should not interfere in festivals, which have been happening for years together. The courts are taking all the decisions. If this goes on, why have the Assembly or Lok Sabha elections? Let the courts decide on everything," Thackeray had said. Thackrey had also said that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was not serious regarding the issue of Dahi Handi. Fadnavis on the other hand has maintained that celebration of the festival should be carried out following all the norms. Shiv Sena too had spoken against the Supreme Court ruling and said that "Ganeshotsav, Dahi Handi and Navratra festival are all parts of our beliefs. Courts which are now governing us should not cross the Lakshman Rekha at least in these issues," The Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) despite their discontent, are gearing up for massive celebrations. However both the parties have provided assurance that the festivities will be in compliance with the Supreme Court verdict, as per the reports in The Hindu. The police taking stringent measures have said that they will keep a close watch on violation of rules by the Pathaks and Mandals, reported The Indian Express. We have already informed the mandals in writing to follow the directions of the Supreme Court and will take necessary action if any mandal violates the orders, said a senior police officer. The police will be video recording the process at various venues across the cities, according to The Indian Express report. With inputs from PTI New Delhi: Delhi Assembly on Wednesday ratified Goods and Service Tax (GST) Constitution Amendment Bill, becoming the third non-BJP-ruled state and overall the eighth to clear the proposed tax regime, billed as single biggest tax reform in decades. The bill was endorsed by the House by a voice vote following a brief discussion during which Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia called GST a "big reform" which will be good for the country's economy and growth. The two BJP legislators were not present when the bill was ratified as they had staged a walkout over a separate issue, while another party MLA was serving suspension from the House for allegedly making derogatory remarks against an AAP legislator. Delhi's share in central taxes has been stagnant at Rs 325 crore for the last 17 year and rolling out of GST is expected to increase its share in central taxes significantly. "It's good for the entire country, not only for Delhi. It will be extremely helpful in terms of services. For the last 17 years, Delhi has been getting Rs 325 crore as its share of Central taxes despite contributing as much as Rs 1,37,000 crore to the country's GDP. GST is a big reform," said Sisodia. The AAP government has been supporting the Centre on the GST though both sides are locked in a bitter tussle over a range of issues for the last one-and-half years. Speaking during the brief discussion on GST, a number of AAP MLAs hailed the proposed tax regime. Later the Deputy Chief Minister, took a jibe at the Centre saying it has for the first time recognised the national capital as a "state". "GST bill for the first time recognises Delhi as a state under the new Constitutional amendment to Art 366 - step in right direction finally," he said in a tweet. GST bill for the first time recognises Delhi as a state under the new Constitutional amendment to Art 366 - step in right direction finally. Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) August 24, 2016 The 122nd Constitution Amendment Bill has already been ratified by Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Delhi is the third non-NDA state after Bihar and Himachal to ratify the bill. The GST bill, seen as single biggest tax reform in a long time, needs to be ratified by at least 15 state legislatures before the President can notify the GST council which will decide the new tax rate and other issues. The Lok Sabha had passed the GST bill on 9 August while Rajya Sabha cleared it on 4 August. In his remarks, Sisodia said there were some concerns over capping the annual turnover. "There is no clarity on certain issues. Like businessmen in the capital with a turnover of up to Rs 20 lakh do not have to pay taxes. It should not be brought down. "We are in favour of increasing the threshold to Rs 25 lakh. Businessmen with a turonover of up to Rs 1.5 crore should pay taxes directly to the state government," he said. Sisodia said Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had written to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on the GST issue on 11 August. Over 22 people have been killed and 23.71 lakh affected in the Bihar floods with many areas, specially the riverine belt of 12 districts, submerged. Bihar is facing one of the worst floods in the decade despite receiving less than normal rainfall as all the major rivers flowing through the state are in a spate. Ganga, Sone, Punpun, Burhi Gandak, Ghaghra and Kosi rivers have affected 23.71 lakh people in 1,115 villages living in 12 districts of the state, a statement from the Disaster Management Department said. Of the 38 districts in the state, nearly 20 have been affected by the recent floods. Bhojpur district, which accounted for the maximum number of deaths, reported 12 deaths followed by Vaishali (6), Bhagalpur (2) and one each in Buxar and Lakhisarai district. On Tuesday, at least one person was killed as a boat carrying 25 people overturned in Punpun river in Aurangabad, Bihar. As per the latest reports, at least 18 people are still missing, which includes some school children who were on the boat. Aurangabad (Bihar): 1 dead, 6 rescued after a boat capsized in Punpun river, search and rescue operations underway. pic.twitter.com/GEOqefjczr ANI (@ANI_news) August 23, 2016 The situation worsened after Monday after water was released from Nepal and adjoining states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand, leading to further rise in water levels of major rivers in the state, according to a report in The Times of India. Responding to this, the Centre on Monday night rushed 10 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams to the flood-hit areas of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in order to launch a massive relief and rescue operations to help those marooned in these states. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking the Centre's intervention to desilt the river Ganga and also demanding the removal of Farakka barrage which, he insisted was behind increasing silt in the river. Speaking to the media after his meeting with the Prime Minister, Kumar insisted that desilting the river Ganga is the only solution to avoid the almost annual occurrence of floods and making it flow unhindered. Ganga was flowing above danger mark at seven places in various parts of four districts Digha ghat, Gandhi ghat, Hathidah in Patna, Bhagalpur and Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur district, Munger district and Buxar district. River Sone was flowing above the danger level by 129 cm near Maner in Patna. The 12 flood-affected districts of the state are Buxar, Bhojpur, Patna, Vaishali, Saran, Begusarai, Samastipur, Lakhisarai, Khagaria, Munger, Bhagalpur and Katihar. The authorities concerned are estimating the crop loss and total areas affected due to the floods. Around 179 relief camps have been set up in the flood-hit areas, giving shelter to 1,07,000 people even as 160 medical teams were providing services. Besides, 49 camps were being run only for animals. However, an article in The Hindu argues that capacity-building to handle catastrophic weather events is poor, and serious attention is not given to setting up relief camps, creating crisis-proof health infrastructure and stockpiling dry rations and medicines. Also, given the state's track record in healthcare, the cascading effect of healthcare problems, typical after the flood water recedes, will be another catastrophe that Bihar will have to battle. The situation is oddly reminiscent of the 2008 Kosi floods in the state. On 18 August 2008, the Kosi river breached its embankment and displaced 45,000 people. According to a paper published in India Environment Portal, the sheer magnitude and expanse of the devastation escalated purely due to the lack of awareness, warning and preparedness for flood disaster. And this is the case when floods are a perennial phenomenon in most parts of Bihar. According to the United Nations's Development Plan report on the 2008 floods, floods affect the existing inequalities and widen the socio-economic differences. Household level analysis confirmed that the districts affected by floods were vulnerable in terms of human development and have limited access to basic amenities. Following the 2008 Kosi floods, in addition to minor ailments, more than one in three households reported dehydration/dysentery. Sadly, given the current situation, it cannot be said that the healthcare machinery in the internal parts of Bihar is well-equipped to battle such outbreaks. The case is not very different this year. Districts like Bhojpur, Vaishali, Begusarai are considered to be among the most backward in Bihar, according to a report in the Deccan Herald . Once the flood water has receded and the media spotlight has gone off from Bihar, how the state will fare in combating healthcare needs apart from renovation of already dire state of infrastructure remains to be seen. With inputs from PTI New Delhi: As Home Minister Rajnath Singh embarked on a two-day visit to Kashmir on Wednesday as part of government's outreach, Congress said the Centre should talk with all stakeholders including non-mainstream parties and youth. Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad also stressed on the need to send an all-party delegation to the Valley. "Home Minister today has gone there and I am hopeful that he will not only talk to political parties but non- stream political parties, other stakeholders, students, trade unions, people from different religions. And now there should be peace," the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha said. He suggested that an all-party delegation which represents the entire country should go and that would have helped both state and the central governments. Lamenting that the Valley has suffered a lot in last 47 days, Azad said, "Already so much blood have been shed in the Valley. Many have got injured including local residents and armed forces. Pellet guns have been used a lot due to which old, girls and boys have all got injured. "Therefore, to control this situation instead of using gun, the government should have opted for talks (much earlier)", he said, adding "now they should talk to all stakeholders." Earlier this week, a joint delegation of Kashmir Opposition parties, led by former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who expressed his deep concern and pain over the situation. Modi had asked all political parties to work together to find a permanent and lasting solution to problems in the state. Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag, who was in Kashmir on Tuesday, told the security forces to exercise maximum possible restraint while dealing with mobs in the unrest and uphold human rights. Dalbir Singh's visit comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that dialogue is the way to "find a permanent and lasting solution to the problem within the framework of the Constitution." With continuing protests in Kashmir, routine security operations have been hampered. Situation in the Valley has gone from bad to worse as the PDP-BJP government in Jammu and Kashmir and the Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre are trying to soothe all frayed nerves after Hizbul commander Burhan Wani's killing on 8 July. With hostility towards the Union government and the Indian Army spiking in the Valley, Army Chief Singh, accompanied by the Northern Army Commander Lt Gen DS Hooda, lauded the humanitarian steps and reinforced the need to synergise efforts with all the other stakeholders. Incidentally, General Singh's remarks were awfully similar to that of Lieutenant General DS Hooda, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC) of the Army's Northern Command, who urged "everybody involved, whether it is security forces, whether it is separatists, governments, student leaders to find some way forward." While BJP is spreading the same message among Kashmiris and appealing to the youths of the state to come under the national tricolour and hold it aloft to defeat the designs of separatist forces who are "disturbing peace" in Jammu and Kashmir, separatist leaders said that the political leadership should make such statements. Such statements should have come from the political leadership but they are not saying anything. The Army actually controls Kashmir and, therefore, they understand that the current uprising isnt a mere law and order problem, Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was quoted as saying by The Indian Express. As Kashmir entered the 46th day of curfew on Tuesday, General Singh made an earnest appeal to the people to eschew violence and help restore peace and calm at the earliest. The Army Chief's visit to Kashmir came a day ahead of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to the Valley. Eager to outpace the Kashmir turbulence by showing concern to the distraught public, Rajnath is visiting Kashmir again for two days. However, sources within the government have told DNA that unless the Home Minister makes a consequential announcement like banning pellet guns, he will not get a good response. Leaving New Delhi for Srinagar on a two day visit. Shall interact with civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders. Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 24, 2016 The Home Minister also said on Wednesday that he will hold talks with various stakeholders in Kashmir and invited all those who believe in 'Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat' as he arrived in Srinagar. I will be staying at the Nehru Guest House. Those who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat are welcome. Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 24, 2016 Rajnath Singh in his previous visit to Kashmir on 23-24 July had appealed for peace and had said that the Centre wanted to have emotional ties with the people of Kashmir and not a need-based relationship. Kashmiri observers feel that such statements could be seen merely as paying lip service and seem insincere. In fact, chances are that Rajnaths visit may elicit a lukewarm response and after PM Modis message that the government wants to find a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue, there is no possibility of any meeting with Hurriyat leaders. Rajnath Singh's visit follows a series of meetings the Opposition leaders of the state held in New Delhi last week, including ones with President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi. The opposition leaders warned the leadership in Delhi that a continuing unrest in the state will further alienate the people of Kashmir. The government is keen to end the cycle of violent protests and counter-offensives that has left at least 68 people dead in over five weeks of unrest. Thousands of civilians and security personnel have been injured. Home Ministry officials said Rajnath Singh will be accompanied by some senior officials, including home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi. "He will meet the people in Srinagar, political leadership included," a government source told IANS. Singh will also hold meetings with state Governor NN Vohra, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and her Cabinet colleagues. With inputs from agencies Srinagar: At least nine policemen, including three officers, were injured when a suspected militant hurled a bomb at them from a crowd of protesters in a south Kashmir town on Wednesday, officials said. The officials said a police party was controlling a mob in Pulwama town, some 30 km from south of here, when the militant attacked them with a grenade. The grenade exploded a few metres from the policemen, injuring a superintendent of police, a deputy superintendent and a station house officer of Pulwama police station. The attack came as Home Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Kashmir to review the situation and hold talks on finding ways to defuse tension in the valley that has left 69 people dead and thousands injured in over six weeks. The Maharashtra government has reportedly put on hold all parole applications, irrespective of the crime. However, the Maharashtra Home Department also said that emergency parole will be given on a case-by-case basis. Times Now reported that this move came almost a month after the killer of Mumbai lawyer Pallavi Purkayastha escaped. Sajjad Moghul, convicted for murdering Purkayastha, went missing while on parole. The Maharashtra government decided to modify the parole rules soon after this incident, reported The Indian Express. DIG of Nashik jail JS Naik was suspended for approving his parole and recommending an extension. The parole was granted in February this year. He was supposed to report back to Nashik jail on 26 March but failed to do so. The report also quoted Vijay Satbir Singh, Principal Home Secretary as saying, We will have a re-look at the procedures that involve granting parole to prisoners. Besides, we will also look into the powers that the authorities concerned have. Earlier this month, the Maharashtra Governments Prisons Department had proposed that this period of temporary release be excluded while counting the sentence period in an attempt to discourage convicts from applying for parole frequently, India Today reported. This was also in response to Moghul jumping his parole. The other key change suggested was to vest powers to grant parole with a district collector and not the divisional commissioner as is the case now. The state government also drew flak from the Bombay High Court for extending the parole of actor Sanjay Dutt. It was accused of showing extra diligence in the matter and discriminating between him and other convicts. The court also asked the states chief secretary to form a committee comprising senior home, law and judiciary department officials, representatives of jail administration and other competent officers to suggest amendments to the rules and procedure related to screening of parole and furlough applications. Dutts parole was extended on account of his wifes deteriorating health and Moghul was given a parole to attend to his ailing mother. With inputs from PTI. Noida: Differences continued to remain between Team Anna and Yoga Guru Ramdev with activist Arvind Kejriwal today contradicting Ramdev's claims that a protocol had been set not to take names of politicians or make personal attacks during speeches at the venue. After Kejriwal abruptly exited the fast venue yesterday following Ramdev taking exception to his speech, Ramdev had claimed that there was a protocol set for the meeting and it was decided not to take names as it would divert attention from the issues of blackmoney and corruption. However, Kejriwal today said, "There was no protocol that said we cannot take names. When I took the names during the speech, I got a chit saying I cannot take names. I was not told that names could not be taken." He said he was not keeping well for the past few days and he sought permission from Hazare and Ramdev to leave the place as he had to take medicines. "I asked them whether I should sit there after taking medicines, they said no." "Ramdev is a saint. He thinks philosophically that we should not take names and we should only talk about issues. He is also correct and I am also correct," he said. His claim came as cracks appeared on the newly-forged Ramdev-Anna Hazare combine after Kejriwal made an abrupt exit. Last night, Ramdev had issued a statement, "We wish to run the movement with dignity. We do not want to take names and divert the attention from the issue." Both the sides downplayed the incident claiming that Kejriwal, who is a diabetic, left the venue due to his health condition and there were no differences between the two groups which had come together two months ago after a year. The drama unfolded at Jantar Mantar, the fast venue, immediately after Kejriwal attacked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Cabinet colleagues whom Team Anna had accused of indulging in corruption and mentioned the names of Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Jayalalithaa and Mayawati. Hazare yesterday appeared to defend Kejriwal and mentioned his close aide's speech. "Arvind has just said people with cases against them are sitting in Parliament...to stop this, we must use right to reject," he had said. PTI The Justice (retd.) AK Roopanwal Commission, which was constituted by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, to probe into the circumstances leading to the death of Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad Central University, stated that the research scholar did not belong to the Scheduled Caste community and was not a Dalit, reported The Indian Express. Vemula had committed suicide by hanging himself from the ceiling of a hostel room in the university. The incident had triggered a political storm with Opposition parties launching a massive attack on the Centre over the issue. They also accused the university authorities of mishandling the situation, which led to Vemula's suicide. The one-member commission has reportedly submitted its findings to UGC officials, though there has been no official confirmation. The Indian Express report added that Union Ministers Sushma Swaraj and Thawar Chand Gehlot had earlier said that Vemula belonged to the Vaddera community, which falls under Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. Though Roopanwal and HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar refused to comment, Vemula's brother Raja, was quoted by The Indian Express, as saying that though their father belonged to a backward class, they have lived like Dalits and "were raised in a Dalit community". According to a 5 August report by Hindustan Times, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) had declared Vemula a Dalit and had directed the state government to extend all the benefits that his family is entitled to under the BPL category. PL Punia, chairperson of the commission, was quoted as saying that investigations confirmed that Vemula was a Dalit and the district collector has submitted a report on it. Following the suicide, a police case was registered against Appa Rao, university official Alok Pandey, Union minister Bandaru Dattatreya, ABVP leader Susheel Kumar and BJP legislator Ramchander Rao under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. However, the Roopanwal Commission has not put the blame on the senior varsity officials. The NCSC report had observed that the university authorities did nothing to assuage his feelings. Vemula in his suicide note, had described his birth a fatal accident. "NCSC feels that university authorities/MHRD should examine the whole set of circumstances leading up to this tragic event and take steps to ensure that the SC students are not discriminated against and are fully assimilated into the university life," it said. The NCSC commission based on the report from Guntur district collector concluded that Rohith was a Dalit, setting aside all doubts being raised in the wake of reports that his father was not a Dalit. "Rohith's mother was SC and the children were brought up in an environment of deprivation and discrimination in the SC locality. The district collector is of firm view that Rohith belonged to the SC and there is absolutely no doubt about this," the report said. The Commission advised the Guntur district administration to pay Rs 4,12,500 (50 percent of 8,25,000) to his mother as relief amount as per the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 2016 and the remaining amount after police files a chargesheet. With inputs from agencies Irom Sharmila is one of the world's most recognised activists, but at home she's virtually a nobody. This is because the Iron Lady from Manipur has no legal documents that identify her as a citizen of this country, reported Hindustan Times. Sharmila lacks a permanent account number (PAN) card, bank account and a voter identity card documents that are necessary for her to stand in elections. Sharmila, who had been protesting against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, or Afspa, since 2000, after 10 people were allegedly killed by the Assam Rifles, near Imphal, was quoted by the BBC as saying that she wanted to be "like a bird and fly wherever". As free as she is now, Sharmila still requires documents that will help travel or 'fly' freely within the country. Sharmila has also expressed her desire to apply for an "identity card", the Hindustan Times report added. After she broke her fast on 9 August, Sharmila became an outcast an angry Manipur shut out Afspa's dedicated dissenter; even the Iskcon Temple did not offer her a place to stay, and Sharmila had to return to the hospital where she had been living for the last 16 years. The activist, who has been under steady medical supervision, wants to join politics and become the chief minister of Manipur with the topmost priority being, in her words, "the removal of this draconian law" (Afspa). The 44-year-old activist, who also spoke of romance and wanting to marry the man she loves, has signalled a desire to live life to the fullest. It's no surprise then that Manipuris (and some of her supporters included), have found her hopes and wishes unreasonable. "They want me to remain a martyr forever. But I cant always be a martyr," Sharmila retaliated. The Telegraph reported that some of the opposition may be due to the fact that Sharmila is in a relationship with a British citizen of Goan origin, Desmond Coutinho (48), a writer-activist who met her in March after they had exchanged handwritten letters for a year. With the Assembly elections due in 2017 in Manipur, it's pertinent that Sharmila, who plans to attend an Afspa campaign in Delhi and travel to Ukhrul for a public campaign, according to Hindustan Times, she starts working to obtain the documents she needs to prove her citizenship and to enter politics. The report also quoted Sharmilas brother Irom Singhajit as saying that she is "an Indian at heart" and that she never showed "secessionist tendencies during her fast". Even as her every day challenge will be digesting food (something that she gave up for 16 years), Sharmila will be looking to rewrite her story. And for that she'd need money, which requires a bank account. Else, her campaign might be crowd-funded, a friend told the Hindustan Times, which also added that Sharmila will start getting her documents from Wednesday, apart from obtaining a mobile phone. New Delhi: As he embarks on a two-day visit to the troubled Kashmir Valley, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said he will hold talks with all stakeholders and those who believe in 'Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat' are welcome. Singh said he would be staying at Srinagar's Nehru guest house where he will interact with cross section of people on Kashmir issue. "(I) shall interact will civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders," he said on Twitter. "Those who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat are welcome," he added. Leaving New Delhi for Srinagar on a two day visit. Shall interact with civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders. Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 24, 2016 I will be staying at the Nehru Guest House. Those who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat are welcome. Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 24, 2016 This is the second visit of Singh in a month to the valley where unrest has been continuing for 47 days ever since Hizbul Mujahedeen terrorist Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces on 8 July. As many as 65 persons, including two cops, have been killed and several thousands injured in the clashes that began on 9 July. In a massive blow to authoritarianism, the Supreme Court on Wednesday severely criticised Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa, whose government has filed several defamation cases against her critics. "Accept that you are a public figure and you have to face criticism," Jayalalithaa was told by the top court during a hearing on the defamation case. SC slams TN CM Jayalalithaa, says public figure must face criticism. Can't use defamation case to throttle democracy. ANI (@ANI_news) August 24, 2016 SC to TN CM: As a public figure you must face criticism. Re-Issues notice to CM on a petition alleging misuse of defamation law. ANI (@ANI_news) August 24, 2016 "No other state misuses the state machinery like the Tamil Nadu government," the bench noted. One of the defamation cases was against a report filed on Jayalalithaa's medical condition, to which the SC bench noted: "Defamation cases can't be slapped for merely reporting on the Chief Minister's health condition...You can't use defamation cases to throttle democracy. This is not done," the top court told the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. According to The Times of India, the top court added that the Tamil Nadu government should concentrate on good governance instead of filing defamation cases against those who criticise the government and the chief minister. This is the second time in two months that the apex court has criticised the state government for the flurry of defamation cases. The Supreme Court last month had clearly stated that defamation cases cannot be used as a political counter-weapon against critics of the government. It had also stayed the non-bailable warrants that were issued against DMDK chief Vijayakanth and his wife Premlata. The case against the couple was lodged by the public prosecutor of Tirupur district on the allegation that they made false remarks against the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and criticised the working of the state government. "There has to be tolerance to criticism...defamation cases cannot be used as a political counter weapon. Cases for criticizing the government or bureaucrats create a chilling effect," the highest court of the country had said. According to Hindustan Times, in the last five years, Tamil Nadu has filed 213 defamation cases against political opponents and media houses for "derogatory statements" against Jayalalithaa. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has reportedly pulled up Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi for spending Rs 28 crore on advertisements and publicity campaign outside of Delhi. In its yet-to-be-tabled audit report, the CAG has raised question on Delhi government's spending taxpayers' money to the tune of 85 percent of Rs 35.40 crore on one single publicity and campaign outside of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. AAP wasting nearly 25 crores on publicity outside Delhi -CAG report Himanshu Kumar (@ganapati23) August 23, 2016 As reported by Times Now, the Chapter 2 of the CAG audit report has mentioned that "Rs 25 crore incurred on advertisement and publicity campaign is not in conformity with the generally accepted principles of financial propriety as laid down by the Supreme Court". And again Advertisement Arvind Party (AAP) exposed by CAG #AAPAdReport https://t.co/CuXIDI4y8U Anoop Pandey (@Anoop_PY) August 23, 2016 According to sources, the draft copy of the said audit report for the year ending 31 March, 2016, was sent to the Delhi government on 8 July for its response. "As per the procedure, a draft copy of the audit findings is sent to the respective government or department seeking its response on audit findings. Similarly, it was sent to the Delhi government on 8 July and they were supposed to get back by 16 August, which it didn't. There wasn't any response from Kejriwal government," the source said. There had been a lot of hullabaloo over Kejriwal government's whopping publicity budget of Rs 526 crore. Breaking : CAG Pulls up AAP Govt for ad Spending Ashish (@ashishtikoo31) August 23, 2016 @ArvindKejriwal @TrollKejri AAP wasting nearly 25 crores of your tax payed money on publicity outside Delhi -CAG report Kunal Takiar CFA CMT (@kunaltakiar) August 23, 2016 A month after the Swaraj Budget was passed in July 2015, the Delhi governments decision to set aside Rs 526 crore in its annual budget for publicity and advertisement was severely criticized by the Opposition parties as well as its own MLA. Ive questioned the government for spending such a large sum on advertisements, which is basically self-promotion. We have questioned other political parties for misusing public money, but now the AAP government too is wasting taxpayers' money. This money could have been utilized for development purpose. Moreover, its the violation of Supreme Court order that public money cant be used for political propaganda. A government can release ads to make people aware about its schemes and announcements, AAP MLA Pankaj Pushkar had told Firstpost in August 2015. By releasing costly ads, the Delhi government has wasted public money. Its the taxpayers money that the Delhi government has used to promote itself. This could have been utilized for the benefit of the people of Delhi, former AAP national executive and Swaraj Abhiyan's Yogendra Yadav had then remarked. In the letter written to the CAG in June, Delhi's deputy CM Manish Sisodia had stated that he was disappointed to know that the CAG was only auditing the advertisement expenses of the Delhi Government alone...it's being portrayed as if Delhi was the only government which was placing advertisements in media platforms outside the state. CAG is not auditing the advertisement expenses of either the central government or any other state government, Sisodia wrote, while welcoming the decision of the CAG to specially audit its Publicity Department and the Public Works Department (PWD). A senior official in Delhi government told Firstpost that the total publicity budget stands at Rs 75 crore and not Rs 526 crore. "It's surprising that CAG conducted special audit on Delhi government only, and not any other state government. Whatever queries the CAG raises, the Delhi government will respond to it. There is nothing to hide for us," the official said on condition of anonymity. Lucknow: BJP workers were on Wednesday lathi-charged by police as they attempted to gherao Vidhan Bhawan when the House was in process to protest against the law and order situation in the state. The BJP workers assembled at party headquarters and attempted to march towards Vidhan Bhawan where heavy barricading was done by police. The workers, including party MPs and MLAs, broke the barricading and continued their march towards Vidhan Bhawan after which police used water cannon and then used force to disperse them. "The protest is against the poor law and order situation which the government itself admitted to in the Assembly on Tuesday," BJP state general secretary Vijay Bahadur Pathak said. "The government in a written reply on Tuesday admitted that in past over five months, 1,012 cases of rapes and 4,520 of women harassment have been registered in Uttar Pradesh," he said. "From 15 March to 18 August this month, 1,012 cases of rape, 4,520 cases of women harassment, 1,386 of loot and 86 cases of dacoity have been reported in the state," the UP government had informed in reply to a question by BJP member Satish Mahana in the state assembly. For effective check on such crimes, Crime Branch has been constituted in every district under Additional SP (Crime) it said. The reply said through web-based mapping, hotspots of crimes are being identified and effective patrolling is being ensured. New Delhi: Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday said the Delhi government has no plan to ban liquor in the city even as he maintained that the AAP dispensation does not want to run the city administration with money collected from sale of alcohol in the national capital. The Deputy Chief Minister, who was responding to a question of AAP MLA Pankaj Pushkar from Timarpur in the Assembly, accused the Opposition of spreading "misleading" figures on the number of liquor shops in the city to "deceive" the public. Sisodia's statement comes at a time when there is a controversy over rise in liquor shops in Delhi. The Deputy CM said in many areas, liquor vends have been closed after complaint from public and soon Mohalla Sabhas will take a call on existence of liquor shops. "There is an attempt to create an environment that we are the liquor mafia. We ended corruption in distribution of licence for liquor vends and that is why we are being targeted. We have shifted liquor shops to mall as they have arrangement to deal with anti-social elements," he said. Sisodia claimed only six retail vends have come up in the city and the number of other licenced establishments serving alcohol has actually gone down since the AAP assumed office. "I fail to understand how six new retail shops have contributed towards doubling the revenue collection? A section is deliberately misleading and trying to create a wrong perception. It is almost like we have turned into liquor mafia but no one is noticing how many Ponty Chadhas we have put out of business," he said. "Delhi will become the first place where locals will decide the location of liquor vends. We have ended the inspector raj and corruption in excise department. Now, an officer's job is to stop corruption and don't think about liquor vends. "Earlier, politicians or their relatives used to own liquor shops, now in our government no MLA supports opening of vend in his or her area," Sisodia said. The government had recently notified 2,972 mohalla sabhas where registered voters will be able to take a call through voting on basic or urgent development works and monitor progress. There are over 460 liquor shops in residential neighbourhoods. The development comes amid a campaign by the Swaraj Abhiyan, led by former AAP leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan, against "proliferation" of liquor vends in the city. Quoting an RTI reply from Delhi government's excise department, the group has claimed that 58 liquor vends had come up in the city since last February. Rahul Gandhi has disappointed secularists, so-called liberals and progressives. They had pinned a great deal of hope in Congress vice-president's initial defiance of not apologising for the "RSS people killed Gandhi" remark and saw this as an opportunity to yet again revive communalism-secular debate, an intellectual discourse marshalling freshly researched facts and arguments to prove that he was right in what he had said about ideological fountainhead of the Sangh Parivar. They saluted Rahul Gandhi's raw courage to revive the Gandhi assassination issue and mightily taking on Sangh Parivar. It didn't matter that the judicial verdict on the subject was not on his side. The liberals knew that but they had wished that during the course of a long court proceeding and defamation trial, Rahul would stand on his words and spark off daily prime debates on national news channels and forces usage of tonnes of newsprint and fast and furious opinions on digital media. The idea was that given the fact that the secularists (Left and centre-leaning) had better intellectual capacity and articulation than those from the Sangh Parivar, the so-called progressives would be able to tilt the balance in their favour, irrespective of the outcome of court proceedings. "At a time when assembly elections in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh are approaching, will it be a wrong political strategy for Rahul Gandhi to fight the ideological-political battle even if there is a real risk of his going to jail? Will his going to jail not galvanise his Congressmen and women all over the country, something that his party badly needs....At a time when the RSS-BJP combine is busy appropriating icons like Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, BR Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh, it will be a worthwhile exercise if historical facts about their attitude towards Gandhi are brought before the Supreme Court. Even if Rahul Gandhi loses the legal battle, he would have won politically. It does not seem so," Kuldeep Kumar wrote in Firstpost. Wednesday's proceedings in the Supreme Court where Rahul Gandhi diluted his position on RSS killing Gandhi, an effective U-turn, is an indicator that he does not want to go through a prolonged court battle to reopen the Mahatma assassination debate. He seems to have realised the futility of his earlier position and thus decided to rest his case. A raging debate would not benefit him either legally or politically. In any case, an intense internal debate is going on in the Congress whether the party is now perceived as an anti-Hindu party and if so, why? In one stroke, Rahul Gandhi through his counsel, Kapil Sibal, also a senior Congress leader, has shown his intent he does not wish to carry on with his argument and fight a defamation case filed against him by an RSS activist Rajesh Kunte in courts, Apex and trial for months and years to come. Consider this: On 6 March, 2014, an angry Rahul Gandhi had said in a public rally that "RSS ke logon ne Gandhiji ko mara, RSS ke logon ne Gandhiji ko goli mara...Usi ke log (BJP) aaj Gandhiji ki baat Karte hain (RSS guys killed Gandhiji, RSS guys killed Gandhi by spraying bullets...today their people (BJP) talk about Gandhiji)." On Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi told the Supreme Court through an affidavit, "I never said RSS is an institution of crime but (Nathuram) Godse who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi is affiliated to RSS. It is not an attempt to appropriate the legacy of RSS." He talked specifically about Nathuram Godse. Legalities and technicalities of the case apart, as Congress vice-president, Rahul Gandhi should understand that politics is about public perception and he has lost out badly in this game. In any case, he had been on a steep downhill since May 2014. This time around, his sympathisers, or Modi-RSS-BJP baiters, were inclined to give him yet another chance but got belied in their expectations. "Congress party ek soch hai," Rahul would say in his meetings. He should reflect today on what kind of thought process he was instilling in the party he leads, particularly when challenged by a political adversary. In an earlier article on Firstpost, Ajay Singh had written: "should Rahul Gandhi decide to ignore the Supreme Court's advice to apologise to the RSS and rest the case, he is sure to encounter truths that may not be palatable to him individually and his party collectively. Had Gandhi been alive he would have said in his inimitable style, 'bachcha hai abhi, samajhta nahi hai.'" This is the second occasion when Rahul Gandhi has virtually chickened out after showing initial defiance or, as some others would so go by the age-old dictum, prudence is better than valour. In the National Herald case filed by BJP's Subramanian Swamy, Rahul's sympathisers and sections of Congress leaders had suggested that he shouldn't seek bail and challenge the adversary by going to jail and thus choose to become a rallying point for all anti-Modi, anti-saffron Parivar forces. The burden of their argument was that in defiance, Rahul would show his real steely metal and the nation would react emotively and overwhelmingly. Rahul Gandhi walked to the Patiala House trial court in New Delhi along with his mother Sonia Gandhi and some other Congress leaders as accused and took bail. He perhaps did not want to suffer the same ignominy again by personally appearing in a trial court to face or challenge a defamation case against him. But in the process, his image has taken yet another hit. Mumbai: Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his reference to Balochistan in Independence Day speech, Shiv Sena on Wednesday sought to know if he will send the Army to save the Baloch leaders who have been charged with sedition for backing his remarks. Five cases, including that of sedition, were registered recently against three top Baloch nationalist leaders in Pakistan who backed Modi's supportive words on their struggle in Balochistan. "Baloch leaders have paid a heavy price for supporting PM Modi. Serious offences like waging war against Pakistan have been registered against them. This is a part of Pakistan's tyrannical attitude," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said. "What will our PM do in their support now? Will he send the Army to save Baloch leaders from Pakistan or will he once again give a speech denouncing Pakistan's action against them? These leaders are facing trouble only because they supported PM Modi's speech," it said. The Sena also questioned Modi on the action he planned to take against those waving Pakistani flags in Kashmir. The BJP ally also said Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's stand on holding talks with Hurriyat to improve the situation in the Valley is completely wrong. On 15 August, from the historic Red Fort, Modi had said people from Balochistan thanked him for highlighting the atrocities the Pakistani State inflicted on the people of Balochistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Pakistan later said Modi crossed the "red line" by talking about Balochistan and asserted it will "forcefully" raise the Kashmir issue during the next month's UN General Assembly session. Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri in a speech last week alleged that the Indian government "fully supports the ongoing insurgency in Balochistan". A powerful earthquake that rocked central Italy on Wednesday left 38 people dead and the total is likely to rise, the country's civil protection unit said in the first official death toll. "There are still so many people under masonry, so many missing," said Immacolata Postiglione, the head of the unit's emergency department. Strong earthquake struck central Italy early on Wednesday, collapsing homes on top of residents as they slept leaving at least 37 people dead and dozens more injured or unaccounted for, according to a report in AFP. Deaths were reported in the villages of Amatrice, Accumoli and Arquata del Tronto as residents and emergency services battled frantically to rescue people trapped beneath the ruins after the quake hit as people slept. Pope Francis has skipped his catechism lesson during his Wednesday general audience and instead led pilgrims in praying the rosary for the victims of Italy's earthquake. Holding a rosary in his right hand, Francis told the crowd that he was stunned by the devastation of the magnitude 6 temblor that struck central Italy early Wednesday. He said he wanted to express his pain and solidarity with the victims. The crowd in St. Peter's Square recited the prayer along with him. The magnitude 6 quake struck at 3.36 am (0136 GMT) and a 5.4-magnitude aftershock followed an hour later. The tremors were felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including Rome where residents of the capital felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. The hardest-hit towns were Amatrice and Accumoli near Rieti, some 80 kilometers (50 miles) northeast of Rome, which were partially demolished. The center of Amatrice was devastated, with entire palazzos razed to the ground. Rocks and metal tumbled onto the streets and dazed residents huddled in piazzas as aftershocks continued into the early morning hours. The Italian Geological service put the magnitude at 6.0. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the magnitude at 6.2 with the epicenter at Norcia, about 170 kilometers (105 miles) northeast of Rome, and with a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles). The mayor of the quake-hit town of Accumoli, Stefano Petrucci, said at least six people had died there, including a family of four, and two others. "There are deaths," he told state-run RaiNews24. " In Amatrice, the ANSA news agency reported two bodies had been pulled from one building. The Rev. Fabio Gammarota told ANSA another three were killed in a separate collapse. Amatrice Mayor Pirozzi told state-run RAI radio and Sky TG24 that residents were buried under collapsed buildings, that the lights had gone out and that heavy equipment was needed to clear streets clogged with debris. The town isn't here anymore," Amatrice mayor Sergio Pirozzi said. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi cancelled a planned trip to France for a meeting with European Socialist leaders and other engagements to oversee the response to the disaster. The office of Premier Matteo Renzi tweeted that heavy equipment was on its way. Rescue operations underway As daylight dawned, residents, civil protection workers and even priests began digging out with shovels, bulldozers and their bare hands, trying to reach survivors. Italy's forestry police say they have extracted dozens of people alive from hard-hit Pescara del Tronto in Italy's Le Marche region, but rescue crews still haven't reached the nearby hamlet of Peracchia di Acqua Santa Terme. The main road into and out of the town was covered in debris, making rescue difficult; residents were digging their neighbors out by hand. Photos taken from the air by regional firefighters showed much of the tiny town essentially flattened The forestry police joined Italian carabinieri, firefighters, civil protection crews, Red Cross workers, army and Alpine troops in the rescue effort in towns hit by the magnitude 6 quake in central Italy. Pescara del Tronto was one of the hardest-hit towns, along with Accumoli and Amatrice. Gastronomic beauty spot A resident of Amatrice village told Rai television that she had been woken by the shaking in time to witness the wall of her bedroom cracking open. She was able to escape into the street with her children. The village was packed with visitors at the peak of the summer season when the quake struck, destroying the picturesque hilltop village's main street. The mayor said difficult access to the village had prevented emergency services getting through. "There is a landslide on one road, a bridge is about to collapse on the other one," he said. "We can hear voices under the rubble." Amatrice is famous in Italy as a beauty spot and is a popular holiday destination for Romans seeking cool mountain air at the height of the summer. USGS's PAGER system, which predicts the impact of earthquakes, issued a red alert -- suggesting significant casualties and damage based on previous quake data. In 2009, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck close to the university city of Aquila in the Abruzzo region and left more than 300 people dead. That disaster led to lengthy recriminations over lax building controls and the failure of authorities to warn residents that a quake could be imminent. Italy is often shaken by earthquakes, usually centred on the mountainous spine of the boot-shaped country but this is the worst tragedy since 2009. In 2009, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck in the same region and killed more than 300 people. The earlier earthquake struck L'Aquila in central Italy, about 90 kilometers (55 miles) south of the latest quake. A 1997 quake killed a dozen people in the area and severely damaged one of the jewels of Umbria, the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, filled with Giotto frescoes. The Franciscan friars who are the custodians of the basilica reported no immediate damage from Wednesday's temblor. With inputs from AP and AFP France, Brazil, Poland, Malaysia, Chile, Australia and India to name a handful have reason to be concerned. And that reason isn't that they've been lumped together in this rag-tag grouping, but the news that a 22,400-page secret document about the Scorpene-class submarines (manufactured by French shipbuilders DCNS) has gone almost-public thanks to an 'Edward Snowden-sized leak'. The Australian points out that a variant of this submarine six of which the Indian Navy has purchased at a cost of $3.45 billion is part of the navies of Malaysia, Chile and Brazil (as of 2018). While Australia is a prospective DCNS client with the manufacturer winning a bid, in April this year, over Germany and Japan to design 12 new submarines for Canberra, India is already a client and so naturally, concerned. More pertinently, the leaked documents refer to the very model of submarine that India is purchasing. So far, India is keeping a brave face about all of this. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar spoke to ANI about this leak and said: This came to my knowledge at 12 midnight, it is a case of hacking: Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar on Scorpene submarine leak ANI (@ANI_news) August 24, 2016 First step is to identify if its related to us, and anyway its not all 100% leak: Manohar Parrikar on submarine leak pic.twitter.com/6FG8M09HZv ANI (@ANI_news) August 24, 2016 The Indian Navy put out a succinct statement on l'affaire Scorpene, saying: A case of suspected leak of documents related to Scorpene submarines has been reported by a foreign media house. The available information is being examined at Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy) and an analysis is being carried out by the concerned specialists. It appears that the source of leak is from overseas and not in India. Parrikar was quoted by IANS as saying, "The first step is to identify if it relates to us... I've told the Navy Chief to find out all the details. Maybe, in a couple of days I'll be able share with you." So what is known about this 22,400 page document? PTI reports that leaked document covers a variety of details including the secret stealth capabilities of six new Indian submarines including but not restricted to the frequencies at which they gather intelligence at, what noise they make at various speeds and their diving depths, range and endurance. Further, the document also highlights safe zones on board the submarine where crew members can safely speak without fear of detection by the enemy. There are also reams and reams of data on the vessel's underwater sensors (4,457), its above-water sensors (4,209), its combat management system (4,301), its navigation systems (2,138), its communications system (6,841) and 493 pages on the Scorpene-class submarine's torpedo launch system. In other words, a veritable 'all-you-need-to-know' (emphasis on the 'all' part) on the submarines, for which India has already forked over a hefty wad of cash, is floating around. Damage assessment Even as the Indian Navy issued a statement saying that the source of the leak was 'from overseas' and that the Ministry of Defence is examining the data, Times Now quoted 'navy sources' as saying that "the data is dated", that the damage caused by this leak is "not substantial" and that the leak is actually the "result of corporate wars". None of these soundbites appear to be particularly comforting in light of the following concerns: 1) How does it matter where the leaks originated? The fact is that the document could easily turn up on a PDF near you. In fact, DCNS was quoted in an IANS report as saying, "Multiple and independent controls exist within DCNS to prevent unauthorised access to data and all data movements are encrypted and recorded... In the case of India, where a DCNS design is built by a local company (the Scorpene-class submarines will be built in Mumbai and Visakhapatnam), DCNS is the provider and not the controller of technical data." (emphasis added) Spoiler alert: We could be in for a protracted blame-game. 2) Dated or not, the information is not likely to stray too far from relevant details about the Scorpene-class submarines. It's hardly likely to be about a Soviet-era submarine. 3) As for the damage being 'not substantial', nearly 9,000 pages on sensors and almost 7,000 pages on communications systems does not sound 'not substantial'. In fact, it sounds like a very substantial chunk of information has been put out there. 4) Just as in point number one, how does it matter if the leak was a result of 'corporate wars' or a disagreement over a housing society tea party? In fact, corporate espionage could be as dangerous as military espionage, given the expansion of global military-industrial complexes. From reverse engineering knock-off submarines for profit to finding ways to sabotage the Scorpene-class submarines, there's no way of telling just how this data will be used, but for now, it's probably safe to assume that China and Pakistan will not be too upset about all these developments. With inputs from agencies An alleged scandal about Qatari princess which Financial Times, a British publication reported has been termed 'fake'. At the time of writing, a variety of news reports have contradicted the Financial Times story that has subsequently vanished as several Google searches revealed. An extensive search for the report on the Financial Times' website proved equally fruitless. As per reports that quoted this piece, the British security service with the help of Scotland Yard raided a hotel room in which Sheikha Salwa, Princess of the Qatari Royal family was staying after receiving a lot of complaints. Following the raid, the security service was shocked to find the princess 'engaging in shamful orgy with seven men'. The identity of the princess was revealed when the security service checked her ID. During the investigation, the princess admitted to being the half-sister of the Qatari King and claimed to have roped in the seven men through a Saudi intermediary. According to Financial Times, the princess was under the impression that she was not offering any solicitation as per the British law and had no intention of tarnishing the image of her country. Later, the security service pointed out that she had indeed violated British law by engaging in prostitution with men with criminal records. After the investigation, the British police had apprised the Qatar Embassy of the situation but they did not pay any heed. Further, reports have emerged that the Qatari Embassy in London tried to bribe Financial Times from carrying the story but the publication rejected the offer. According to Siasat Daily, the photo of Qatari princess that has been doing the rounds is actually a morphed photo of Alia Al Mazrouei, Chief Operating Officer of Dubai based Mazrui Holdings. New York: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has toned down his bombastic rhetoric in the last few days and his campaign has seen major staffing changes. Trump has also regretted some of his comments on the campaign trail and done a U-turn in wooing non-white voters. However, try as he might, Trump may not be able to repair the damage he has caused with his negative comments about Hispanics, immigrants and minorities. Hillary Clinton continues to hold a large national lead over Trump 50 percent to 42 percent weeks after the Democratic National Convention, according to the latest NBC News Survey among registered voters. "This is a case of too little, too late. Trump is a very desperate candidate. And no speech is going to change that now," said Javier Palomarez, the president of the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Trump's new tack has done little to blunt the giant strategic edge his Democrat rival Hillary Clinton enjoys among Hispanics, African American and Asian American voters. Most political pundits are now convinced Clinton is a shoo-in, while only a handful say it's a fair fight. Clinton is campaigning much more effectively than before. "Clinton had terrible persuasion game until somewhere around late spring, when it was clear that Bernie Sanders wasnt going to go all the way," Scott Adams best known as the creator of the popular Dilbert comic strip told The Wall Street Journal. "I am speculating that somebody was on the Sanders team who may have jumped ship to Clintons team, because her persuasion game went from terrible to world-class instantly. The best example of that is the word dark. You saw right after Trump did his convention speech that all of the Clinton surrogates used the same word almost instantly. You know, dark? Somebody with skill had obviously gotten word out to use that word. If you look at it, its the same engineering as Trumps. Anything you see Trump do from getting mad at a baby, to saying something about the Second Amendment and Hillary Clinton, to his immigration plans they all seem like they could fit into this dark label, once youve heard it. It's a fresh word you dont hear in politics...it fits all future confirmation bias. Anything he does in the future, youre going to say, Yeah, that was a little dark." Trump's get-tough stance on immigration has fired up working-class whites, many of whom think immigration has damaged them, but it has made him a "dark" candidate for the more diverse American electorate. "Trump is clueless and classless, and very negative," said software engineer Siva Mahadevan. "Non-white people have been alienated by Trump." Unlike black and Latino voters, the 3.2 million Indians in America don't have a long history with either party, but many Indians especially professionals traditionally support the Democrats. Asian-Americans, dominated by large numbers of Indian and Chinese, are America's fastest-growing racial group. More than nine million of them will be eligible to vote in November, up 16 percent from four years ago. They are "the quintessential swing vote" and form about 6 percent of the US population, according to the Census Bureau. The bad news for Trump is that this group is firmly in Hillary's camp. The Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote project, a nonpartisan organisation that works to mobilize voters of Asian heritage, found that 61 percent of registered Asian-American voters held an unfavorable view of Trump, while a nearly identical number support Clinton. "Donald Trump is the ugly face of America, which the world doesn't want to see," said Indian American investor and philanthropist Frank Islam who is on Clinton's "Hillblazer List," a who's who of big donors. There are at least 10 prominent Indians on Clinton's "Hillblazer List" supporters from Wall Street to Hollywood who have raised at least $100,000 for her campaign by hosting events. "Even if Trump and other Republican candidates say they are only after Muslims, which is bad enough, a lot of people who are brown are going to be misidentified as Muslims," Clinton supporter and author Sujata Massey told US media. "I have Indian-American children and they are frequently called Muslims by other students, and they are not," said Massey. Despite outside interference through terrorist acts in Pakistan, including in Balochistan, the government has taken a number of steps to ensure the protection and promotion of human rights in the province of Balochistan, stated Pakistan in a report to a United Nations committee. Pakistan has listed eight steps to ensure such protection, including: Giving optimum provincial autonomy, the acceptance of a criteria for financial redistribution as proposed by Baloch nationals, the increase of fiscal space for the province, the presence of an independent judiciary, free media, and civil rights groups in the area and a reduction in crime in 2014, in a report submitted to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in November last year. The UN CERD concluded its review of this report last week that combined the 21st to 23rd periodic report of Pakistan on its implementation of the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The experts in the committee referred to terrorism as one of the main challenges faced by Pakistan today commenting that terrorism could not be combated only through the adoption of legislation, but also through education. The committee also expressed concern at extremist religious violence and discrimination against ethnic minorities in Pakistan while reviewing the report. This insecure environment has made minority groups highly vulnerable, said Melhem Khalaf, vice-chairperson of the committee and country-rapporteur for Pakistan. Religious groups such as Christians, Ahmadis, Ismailis and Shia Muslims were often persecuted and subjected to forced conversions, he said. Religious tensions between Sunnis and Shias had led to persecutions against religious minorities, the imposition of Sharia law, and the proliferation of religious education glorifying jihad and violence against Shia Muslims there was a high risk of Pakistan losing its Muslim cohesion, Khalaf said. Also, the Bihari and Bengali communities were not recognised, their members were denied Pakistani citizenship and children born to these parents had been denied birth certification in Pakistan. Children of Pakistani mothers and foreign fathers did not have a right to obtain the Pakistani nationality, he added. Another expert expressed concerns regarding a provision in Pakistans Constitution that obliged the Ahmadiyyas to declare that they are not Muslims so that they can obtain a passport or enjoy their right to vote. Khalaf noted the presence of several ethnic groups in the country, even though the Pakistani government only recognises religious groups. Pakistan today faces multiple challenges, which for the most part resulted from the split with India that has left disputed territories, and led to economic inequalities in provinces, leading to discrimination against non-recognised ethnic groups, the experts said. The rapporteur and committee members also expressed grave concern over Pakistans blasphemy law the committee underlined its discriminatory application against religious minorities, particularly the Ahmadiyyas. He reiterated the concerns regarding radicalisation of some political parties, and some parts of the population. Recalling the tolerant vision of Pakistans founding fathers, he concluded that the blasphemy legislation of 1986 was fuelling this radicalisation. Because of the intimidation by Islamists, the State was incapable of amending the blasphemy law, Khalaf said. The CERD members also raised the issue of so-called honour killings and the status of womens rights in country. The madrassas were a rather medieval system and were dominated by the presence of poor children, the Lebanese lawyer added and asked the Pakistani delegation what measures had been taken to open free state schools for all children, whether rich or poor. It was also emphasised that some madrassas has become places for diabolical extremist views under the impulsion of the Taliban. The fact that Pakistan did not recognise the existence of a caste system was also a grave problem. The Pakistani delegation, headed by the Minister for Human Rights of Pakistan Kamran Michael, responded to the issues raised by the CERD members. A Pakistani delegate said that the country was located in a part of the world that had been affected by conflicts for decades it had difficult relationships with India, and was a neighbour to Iran, which has had difficult relationships with the rest of the international community, and to Afghanistan, where the instability has had an adverse effect on Pakistani society and civilians have been targeted regardless of their ethnicity or religion. The delegation said that there was no division between the Sunni and the Shia communities in Pakistan. According to the last census, the population of the country comprised several ethnic groups, including Punjabis, Pashtuns, Sindhis, Seraikis, Balochis, Kalash and Kashmiris, all living in peace and harmony, Michael said while presenting the report. A minority of extremists desperately attacked civilians to undermine Pakistani society and the tensions were not the result of Muslims killing Muslims. Pakistan has been ranked as one of the least racist countries in the world, according to a report in the Washington Post. Evidently, there is no apartheid and racial segregation/discrimination in Pakistan, the report to CERD stated. Regarding discrimination against the Ahmadiyyas community, the delegation referred to it as a delicate and controversial issue. Acknowledging that there have been a large number of terrorist attacks against the Hazara community, the government said that although most victims were Shias, there were some Sunnis as well which showed that terrorism affects everyone. In response to minority discrimination, Pakistan said that there is a five percent reserved quota in employment even though only 3.5 percent of the total population are minorities. All minorities, and religious minorities in particular, had the right to have their own family laws. A National Commission on Human Rights had been made functional in 2015, with powers to take action in cases of human rights violations. Additionally, there is a national action plan to combat terrorism that counters hate speech and extremist propaganda in place since December 2014, Michael added in response to UN concerns on terrorism. Since 2015, more than 1,777 cases had been registered across the country as part of the governments efforts against the publication of hate material, and 1,799 arrests had been made. The Pakistani government had given up all reference to castes after the partition with India and it is absolutely discouraged in the country. It had abandoned all references to scheduled castes a term inherited from pre-Partition documents. The government has made policies after Independence for the advancement of socially backward classes of citizens by prescribing quota for the underdeveloped castes and regions, the report states. Madrassas per se were not a problem, the delegation said, underlining that they only thought to provide teaching of the precepts of Islam and the government has cracked down on unregistered madrassas spreading extremist religious views. With regard to blasphemy laws, the delegation said that concrete measures had been taken to protect people from the misuse of such legislation. Making false criminal allegations could land prison sentences, the Pakistani delegation said. The 18-member UN's CERD is holding its 90th session from 2 to 26 August this year to review anti-discrimination efforts undertaken by eight state parties being reviewed this session. New York: A commemorative Diwali stamp will be issued by the US in 2016, capping seven years-long efforts by Indian-Americans and influential American lawmakers to have a stamp marking the Indian festival of lights, a move welcomed by the community. The stamp that shows a photo of a traditional 'diya' lit against a sparkling gold background and the words 'Forever USA 2016' written below will be formally unveiled on 5 October. "An important recognition for the more than 3 million Indian-Americans who celebrate Diwali," tweeted Senator Mark Warner, Co-Chair of the Senate India Caucus. An important recognition for the more than 3 million Indian Americans who celebrate #Diwali https://t.co/AxbxYh0TzB Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) August 24, 2016 The postage stamp will be issued by the US Postal Service (USPS) from November "honouring Diwali, the festival of lights," Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney from New York said. USPS Sally Andersen-Bruce of Connecticut photographed the diya and Greg Breeding of Virginia designed the stamp, with William Gicker of Washington serving as the project's art director. The Diwali stamp is a result of "years and years of hard work," Maloney said on Wednesday. She lamented that despite Diwali being an "important spiritual and cultural festival" for many Indian-Americans and millions around the world, it had not been given its own commemorative stamp till now. Given that every other major religion has its own commemorative stamp, she said a stamp for Diwali had been a long over-due. She was joined by India's Consul General in the city Riva Ganguly Das, Chair of the Diwali Stamp Project Ranju Batra and eminent Indian-American attorney Ravi Batra as she made the "historic" announcement from the steps of the City Hall. Maloney underscored that the stamp would also be a "very important revenue generator" for the US postal department. The efforts in the Indian-American community had been spearheaded by Ranju Batra, who as chair of the Diwali stamp project and with the help of other community leaders, got tens of thousands of signatures for petitions to issue the stamp. Maloney had also informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visits to the US in 2014 and 2015, about efforts to get a Diwali postage stamp issued, Batra said. Ravi Batra called the move as the "strongest soft power that combines a billion people of India" as he lauded Maloney for her years-long efforts. Among other lawmakers Senators Mark Warner and John Cornyn and House members Joe Crowley, Ed Royce, Ami Bera, and George Holding, all past or present co-chairs of their chamber's India Caucuses, also led significant campaigns to assure Congressional support for this measure. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, the only Hindu member of Congress, led the most recent write in campaign to the USPS with hundreds of signatories. "This has been a long and arduous process but this act by the USPS to recognize this special day and to further increase and enrich our nation's tapestry of religious and cultural diversity will be greatly appreciated by many," Gabbard said. "This year and for many more, diyas and spirits will shine brighter, as will greetings cards and gift packages sent donning the Diwali stamp," said Suhag Shukla, Hindu American Foundation (HAF) executive director and legal counsel. Islamabad: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said that wiping out the threat of militancy is "imperative" for Pakistan's existence and survival. The Prime Minister chaired a meeting at the Prime Minister House to review the progress on the implementation of National Action Plan (NAP), adopted after Peshawar school attack to deal with terrorism. According to an official statement, Lt General (retd) Nasser Khan Janjua, National Security Advisor and the Convener of Implementation and Review Committee of National Action Plan, made a presentation detailing implementation status as to various components of the NAP. Sharif expressed his satisfaction on the progress made by various provincial and federal agencies so far and directed that the pace of implementation should be further expedited. Sharif said that, "eradication of the menace of terrorism was neither a choice nor an option, but an imperative for our existence and survival." Various laws governing the anti-terrorism efforts were also reviewed and ways and means to make these laws more effective were discussed. The report presented to the Prime Minister by the Federally Administered Tribal Areas Reforms Committee was also discussed and it was decided that the report shall be made public to elicit further debate and discussion towards developing a national consensus on the committees recommendations. The Tennessee Supreme Court has upheld the denial of pretrial diversion in two cases, which were consolidated for oral argument. In these appeals, the Supreme Court reiterated the process district attorneys general, trial courts, and appellate courts must follow when reviewing a prosecutors denial of pretrial diversion. In one appeal, Susan Gail Stephens was indicted for two counts of statutory rape and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor after allegedly engaging in intercourse with a 17-year-old boy. In the second case, Gary Hamilton, formerly a teachers assistant assigned to in-school suspension at Fulton High School in Knoxville, was indicted for assault causing bodily injury after he allegedly attacked a student. Both Mrs. Stephens and Mr. Hamilton applied for, but were denied, pretrial diversion. Pretrial diversion allows a district attorney general to suspend prosecution of a qualified defendant for up to two years. When evaluating an application for pretrial diversion, a prosecutor must consider a defendants amenability to correction, any factors that can reflect whether the defendant will become a repeat offender, the circumstances of the offense, the defendants criminal record, social history, physical and mental condition, the need for general deterrence, and the likelihood that pretrial diversion will serve the ends of justice and the best interests of both the public and the defendant. When denying an application, the prosecutor must issue a written decision addressing the relevant factors and explaining the basis for the denial. A defendant denied pretrial diversion may ask a trial court to review the decision, which both defendants in these cases did. In conducting its review, a trial court presumes the prosecutors decision was correct and asks whether the prosecutor abused his or her discretion. Here, the trial courts found that the prosecutors did not abuse their discretion by denying Mrs. Stephens and Mr. Hamilton pretrial diversion. Both defendants then appealed to the Court of Criminal Appeals. The Court of Criminal Appeals must presume the prosecutors decision was correct and modify it only for an abuse of discretion. In these cases, the Court of Criminal Appeals held that the prosecutors abused their discretion by failing to provide substantial evidence to support the denial. The State then sought and obtained permission to appeal to the Tennessee Supreme Court. After analyzing previous pretrial diversion decisions, the Supreme Court highlighted the Court of Criminal Appeals limited role in reviewing the denial of an application for pretrial diversion. The Supreme Court emphasized that the discretion to grant or deny pretrial diversion rests with the prosecutor, not the reviewing court. Ultimately, the Supreme Court reversed the decisions of the Court of Criminal Appeals. The role of the reviewing court is not to reweigh the evidence or determine whether the reviewing court agrees with the prosecutors conclusion; instead, the reviewing court must focus on whether the prosecutor provided sufficient evidence and engaged in proper methodology, wrote Justice Cornelia A. Clark in the Stephens opinion. In both appeals, the Supreme Court reinstated the trial courts judgment denying each defendants petition and remanded to the trial court. To read the unanimous opinions in State of Tennessee v. Susan Gail Stephens and State of Tennessee v. Gary Hamilton, authored by Justice Clark, go to the opinions section of TNCourts.gov. Xiaomi has scheduled an event tomorrow in China where it will introduce a Redmi phone with a metal body. The teaser features Xiaomis brand ambassadors, Chinese actress Liu Shishi holding a metal device and actor Wu Xiubo with a smartphone. We had already seen some live images of the Redmi 4, so we can expected it to be unveiled at the event along with the Redmi Note 4. Xiaomi Redmi 4 rumored specifications 5-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) Full HD display 2GHz Octa-Core Snapdragon 625 14nm processor with Adreno 506 GPU 2GB/ 3GB of RAM, 16GB/ 32GB internal storage, expandable memory with microSD Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) with MIUI 8 13MP rear camera with LED Flash 5MP front-facing camera Fingerprint sensor, Infrared sensor Dimensions: 141.369.68.9mm; Weight: 160g 4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11ac (2.4 and 5GHz), Bluetooth 4.2, GPS 4000mAh battery Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 rumored specifications 5.5-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) Full HD IPS display Deca-Core MediaTek Helio X20 processor with 700MHz Mali-T880 MP4 GPU / Octa-Core Snapdragon 652 SoC with Adreno 510 GPU 3GB RAM, 32GB/64GB storage, expandable memory with microSD Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) with MIUI 8 Dual SIM 13MP rear camera with PDAF, dual-tone LED Flash 5MP front-facing camera Fingerprint sensor 4G LTE with VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2.4 / 5GHz), Bluetooth 4.1, GPS + GLONASS 4000mAh (minimum) / 4100mAh (typical) battery We should get all the details about the new Redmi devices tomorrow. Source | Via Grief may cause the ranks of blueTo bite their trembling lipAllow firm gaze toKeep their tears at bayWhite gloved hands, folded flagBadges striped with blackA last Radio callFades awayA haunting wail of bagpipeDrones Amazing GraceA three shot volley echoes thru the stonesOur Lord has called another hero homeA rose was placed upon a graveAmid the marble stonesA mournful dirge of taps playing slowUnending seem these many days of woeJames A. Bolt Concerned About The Safety Of Employees Next To The Airport Inn Jamie Fairbanks Harvey Will Bring Humility To Red Bank Commission Police Reform Whose Responsibility Is It? Dear City Council Members, I am writing in the hopes that you will consider our concerns for the rezoning application and plans for the Airport Inn property at 7725 Lee Highway. As the ... (click for more) I have known Jamie Fairbanks Harvey for many years as our children played baseball and grew up together. Her whole family has been actively involved in Red Bank life for as long as I can remember. ... (click for more) Vodafone has launched its 4G LTE services in Haryana, as it had promised recently, after launching it in 5 circles Kerala, Karnataka, Mumbai, Delhi & NCR and Kolkata. It uses 1800MHz band in the circle and offers internet access via mobile, Mi-Fi and dongles. It is built on a strong fibre backhaul of 100G, and is supported by its 3G services on a new and modern network. As a limited period offer, customers buying greater than 1GB packs will also get twice the data allowance and unlimited local Vodafone to Vodafone Calls. Vodafone offers instant SIM swap at all Vodafone stores and select retail outlets, Vodafone subscribers can also check if their SIM / Phone is 4G compatible by sending an SMS <4GCHECK> to 199 and get Door-Step delivery of Postpaid SIMS by calling the call centre or sending an SMS <4GSIM > to 199. In the second phase, Vodafone 4G will soon be available in UP (E), Gujarat and West Bengal and in 1,000 towns across the country by end of the year. The nine circles of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Karnataka, Kerala, Haryana, Gujarat, UP (E) and West Bengal, together contribute to just under 70% of Vodafone Indias data revenues. Commenting on the launch of Vodafone SuperNet 4G service in Haryana, Sunil Sood, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Vodafone India said: As a steadfast partner to Digital India, we are delighted to begin the launch of the second phase of our Vodafone SuperNetTM 4G rollout with Haryana. 4G has the potential to revolutionize the mobile experience through powerful innovation that impacts how we work and live. Vodafones global expertise and experience of launching 4G across 20 countries gives us a better understanding of this technology and the needs of the 4G customer. Following overwhelming response received in Kerala, Karnataka, Kolkata, Delhi & NCR and Mumbai, Haryana can now enjoy the worlds largest 4G network experience from today. LeEco in consonance with Prime Minister Narendra Modis Make in India initiative is all set to inaugurate its first ever manufacturing facility in India. The inauguration ceremony will be held on 30th August in New Delhi in the presence of current Union Minister for Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad. Previously, the firm had introduced its first Made for India smartphone the Le 1s Eco earlier this year in May, and announced that it will be setting up in-house Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) in 10 cities across India by end of 2016 with investment of over US$ 10 million. The LeEco India is headquartered in Bangalore operates with more than 200 employees as of now and aims to become over 1000 people-strong by the end of 2016. The company recently appointed former Qualcomm executive Jaiteerth Patwari as head of Development Centre for LeMall India to boost its e-commerce presence in the country. What a difference a year makes. In August 2015, shares of Valeant Pharmaceuticals (BHC -1.05%) were trading north of $250. Today, they're struggling to find support around the $25 level. It's extremely rare to see a company that had practically achieved a megacap valuation fall back down into mid-cap status in just a year's time frame. These big-name investment funds have gobbled up Valeant's stock Yet, in spite of Valeant's numerous woes, there's ample support for the company by some very prominent investment funds and money managers. Last week was the deadline for investment funds with more than $100 million in qualifying assets to file Form 13F with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Form 13F discloses a fund's most recent positions as of the end of the previous quarter. Though the data can be a bit outdated, these filings with the SEC give Wall Street and investors a good idea of what some of the smartest money managers have been up to over the past three months. According to data found on WhaleWisdom, which aggregates 13F filings, 337 funds that filed a 13F in the second quarter owned shares of Valeant stock, including 21 that had Valeant as a top-10 holding. As an aggregate, 219.9 million shares of Valeant were held by big money managers as of June 30, 2016, down from 268.9 million shares as of March 31, 2016. However, four specific funds continue to hold out hope for a Valeant turnaround. These four prominent shareholders include: Bill Ackman, of Pershing Square Capital Management, whose fund owns 21,591,122 shares of Valeant stock. John Paulson, of Paulson & Co., whose fund owns 19,072,000 shares. Paulson & Co. added almost 5.8 million shares of Valeant in the second quarter. FMR LLC, known more commonly as Fidelity Asset Management, which owns 15,545,539 shares. FMR wound up adding more than 10 million shares of Valeant to its portfolio during Q2 2016. Jeffrey Ubben of hedge fund ValueAct Holdings, whose fund owns 14,994,261 shares. Combined, these four funds own 71.2 million shares of Valeant stock, which is good enough for about 20% ownership of all outstanding shares. Why these big investment funds expect a rebound You might be wondering what these money managers see in Valeant. My suspicion is that it boils down to three factors. First, we can't overlook Valeant's valuation, despite all of its troubles. Valeant's second-quarter earnings showed that Valeant is sticking by its full-year profit guidance of $6.60 to $7.00 per share. Based on its closing price of $28.74 this past Friday, we're looking at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of around four, which is exceptionally inexpensive. By comparison, the majority of Valeant's profitable drugmaking peers are valued at P/Es commonly in the 20s. Valeant's price-to-book and price-to-sales are also well below its peers'. In short, from a fundamental perspective, Valeant looks attractive. Second, wealthy money managers are probably expecting Valeant's business model to look remarkably healthier once it sheds noncore assets. Valeant announced plans during Q2 to sell noncore assets that generate about $2 billion in annual revenue, or about 20% of the midpoint of its 2016 sales forecast. In Q2 it began this process by selling its EU rights to autoimmune drug brodalumab, its Synergetics USA original equipment manufacturing business, and its North American rights to Hereditary Angioedema drug Ruconest. All told, these asset sales generated $181 million in up-front cash, and could produce another $329 million in specific approval and sales-based milestones for Valeant in the future. Valeant's management team believes these noncore assets could yield $8 billion in cash for the company, which it'll use to pay down its $30.77 billion in debt. Last, money managers are probably feeling confident about CEO Joseph Papa's ability to turn things around. Papa successfully ran over-the-counter drug giant Perrigo for a decade prior to taking the helm at Valeant, pushing Perrigo's sales up more than 200% and substantially improving its profitability. Having a fresh face at the reins of Valeant has led some money managers to believe a turnaround is more likely. Furthermore, investors and consumers typically forgive and forget PR flubs after some time. If Valeant can indeed turn things around, then its current P/E of four would prove to be an incredible steal. The biggest factor standing in the way of Valeant's turnaround Of course, the biggest investor concern that Valeant is going to need to overcome is its $30.77 billion in debt. Having filed both its 2015 annual report and Q1 2016 report late, Valeant's creditors began pressuring the company with notices of default. Valeant avoided defaulting on its debt by eventually filing its reports before reaching creditor deadlines, and by working out new terms with its lenders. These terms included a 1 percentage point increase on its lending rate, as well as a $50,000 fee for every $10 million financed. In return, Valeant's EBITDA-to-annual-interest-cost-coverage ratio was relaxed from 3-to-1 to 2.75-to-1. However, the company's latest full-year forecast called for $4.8 billion to $4.95 billion in EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization). Compare this with the $892 million in net interest costs through Q2 2016. Extrapolated out, Valeant is dangerously close to coming in below its 2.75-to-1 ratio in fiscal 2016, which could possibly lead to more debt default notices from its lenders. The solution for Valeant is pretty straightforward: It needs to sell assets. Selling assets should allow it to reduce its debt, which would presumably ease its debt burden. However, selling assets also means reducing its EBITDA. It's also not inconceivable to assume that Valeant could struggle to get a fair price for its assets with its peers fully aware of its debt issues. There's no reason to pay a high price for Valeant's assets when the company is not in a strong position to bargain on price. If Valeant were able to hang on to its highest-growth core assets, such as Bausch & Lomb and Salix Pharmaceuticals, it would give credence to optimists' thesis that Valeant can still deliver substantial growth. But it will admittedly be difficult for Valeant to make significant headway on its debt without touching these core assets. The Catch-22 is that if Valeant sells too much and gets its debt levels under control, it'll hamper its future growth prospects, and if it doesn't sell enough, it runs the risk of continuing to violate its debt covenants. Only time will tell if Valeant can escape this Catch-22. This past quarter was a tough one for CVR Refining (CVRR). Not only is the company dealing with a decline in refining margins as well as the rising costs to comply with the U.S. EPA's Renewable Fuel Standards, but this cost of compliance is so prohibitively high that a majority of CVR's conference call was dedicated to discussing its impact on the income statement and what the company can do to deal with it. Here are five important quotes from CVR's most recent conference call that will give you an idea of management's mindset today. This wasn't what we were expecting Commodity markets like oil and gas are almost impossible to predictably forecast, even when you are deeply embedded in the business, like CVR Refining's management team. CVR Refining CEO Jack Lipinski even admitted that the company's forecast for the market was not what it was planning it to be in the second quarter: As discussed on our last earnings call, we're optimistic for a strong rebound in crack spreads during the second quarter due to the anticipated strength of gasoline and distillate demand. However, crack spreads realized in the second quarter fell short of our earlier expectations as a result of continued high product inventories in the U.S. and in Group 3. In the second quarter, Magellan [Midstream Partners] gasoline inventories averaged 1.8 million barrels higher than 2015, while distillate averaged 300,000 barrels below 2015. Today, the Magellan system gasoline inventories are 1.4 million barrels over last year, and distillate is 450,000 barrels over last year. If there's any solace from these numbers, it's that this is completely out of the company's control. The only thing it can do to mitigate this is to run its refineries efficiently and at as low a cost as possible. No cash for you For the past couple of years, CVR Refining has been paying very generous distributions. Unfortunately, that is coming to an end for a while as the company deals with the tougher refining market today: After consideration of the reserves established for future environmental and maintenance CapEx, major scheduled turnarounds, and setting aside approximately $20 million for future operating needs, there's no available cash for distribution. As a reminder, we are a variable distribution master limited partnership. And as a result, our quarterly distribution, if any, will vary from quarter-to-quarter due to several factors, for example: crude oil and feedstock prices, refined product prices, crude throughput rates, RINs expense and prices, capital needs and other reserves deemed necessary by the Board of Directors. This is a clear-cut example of the benefits and disadvantages of owning a variable rate master limited partnership. Since the company is clear it will only pay out what it can on a quarterly basis, that prevents it from distributing cash when there isn't enough available to distribute, and it makes it more sustainable over the long term. The downside for investors, though, is that you can go a few quarters without a dividend check. RINs taking a toll... One major challenge for CVR Refining and other refiners across the U.S. has been the increasing costs of complying with the Renewable Fuel Standards through the purchase of Renewable Identification Numbers, also known as RINs. These ID numbers are traded separately from the actual fuel, and that distinction has caused headaches for refiners. Lipinski is one of the most outspoken critics of the way in which RIN market operates, and he had some very choice words this call: RINs continue to be an egregious tax on our business and have become our single largest operating expense, exceeding labor and maintenance and energy costs. As a matter of fact, RINs are double our labor costs. Since 2013, we spent nearly $500 million on RINs, and we estimate our RINs exposure in 2016 to be approximately $200 million to $235 million. CVR Refining cannot pass along its RINs expenses because it's competing at third-party racks with exempt blenders who have no RIN obligation, and they control the blending and the downstream from there. We believe the basic tenets of the RFS are not being met due to the misplacement of the point of obligation [...] Fundamentals don't support RIN prices nearing $1. Today, ethanol is $0.15 to $0.20 over the price of gasoline. With a few pennies for transaction costs, a D6 RIN should costs $0.20 to $0.25, not $1. The difference is price speculation. CVR Refining isn't the only company to comment on the high costs or RINs this past quarter. Valero Energy's management said on its most recent conference call that it expects its RIN costs to be more than double what they were last year, in the range of $750 million to $850 million. Lipinski was pretty clear: He and his team at CVR aren't against the use of renewable fuels, but rather the opacity of the RIN market and the need for better regulation. ...but it's not a good time for CVR to try and buy its way out of the problem One of the ways CVR Refining could potentially rectify this RIN cost problem would be to add some retail or wholesale distribution assets that can blend ethanol and generate RINs for its own fuels. According to Lipinski, though, that would be prohibitively expensive today, and it's not really an option that makes a lot of sense for the company. (Note: A "rack" in the quote below is a basically a wholesale terminal where fuel is picked up by trucks and delivered to retail stores). [B]ecause of our location, we're located in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, and Coffeyville, Kansas, and those are the only 2 owned controlled racks that the company has, and those are the only 2 racks where we can force ethanol blending. We ship the remainder of our product on the Magellan [Midstream Partners] pipeline system, which also enters the NuStar [Energy] system, and we are in numerous terminals throughout that area. But we compete with anywhere from 6 to 20 different sellers at those racks, and we cannot force the blending. And because of our location, it's just not a simple matter of adding more racks. Everybody has to understand, the market is fully supplied as it exists today. So going into retail is not an option for us. I mean, we don't want to be a retailer. And if you have to buy retail, you would be sitting in a situation of having to buy retailers whose price has escalated because of the RIN. We would end up having to spend several times our market cap to buy a retail company suitable in size for us to control the blending. So the short answer is there's not a lot more that we can do. We can't export from where we're at. We're blending maximum amounts that we can. Time to buy? One of the things you could fault CVR Refining for is that its operations are very geographically concentrated, with all of its assets within a couple hundred miles of each other. So, if the market in this particular part of the U.S. is affected more or less than others, CVR will most certainly feel it. When asked by analyst Chi Chow of with Tudor, Pickering, & Holt if the company might perhaps acquire some refining assets, here's what Lipinski had to say: [T]his really is the perfect segue into what CVI could do, the parent company, CVR Energy (CVI -0.50%). We have always said it, that CVR Energy will be the acquisition vehicle for the underlying sister companies, CVR Partners in fertilizer and CVR Refining. To this day, CVR Refining -- CVR Energy has no debt and has cash. It would be the vehicle that we would use to acquire, and we are looking. I mean, we're very well aware that it would be nice to separate our exposure or to get exposure to other areas. With that said, Chi, I mean, we had very good results as a Midcontinent refiner in the group and in an oversupplied market. And I'd say, some of that goes back to some of my comments about how much money we put into our plants to make them competitive in a low-margin environment. That may be the biggest challenge for CVR if it did decide to make an acquisition. It's not the price tag to buy the assets themselves, but rather the amount of money the company may need to put into it to get them performing at similar levels as CVR's existing facilities. This is certainly something to keep in mind if CVR does make any big moves in the future. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (BIP 0.97%) is an income investors' dream. Not only does it pay a very generous quarterly distribution, but that payout has grown by a 12% compound annual growth rate since 2009. Further, even after two distribution increases this year, the company is primed for more income growth in 2017. Though, it needs to complete several strategic initiatives to hit the higher end of its growth target. Dual growth drivers Driving Brookfield Infrastructure Partners' ability to push its payout higher is its ability to grow its cash flow through a combination of organic growth initiatives and acquisitions. Organically, the company's current portfolio of infrastructure businesses are expected to increase funds from operations (FFO) by 6% to 9% per year: In addition to that, Brookfield Infrastructure Partners has a long history of making needle-moving acquisitions. For example, it was able to grow its FFO per unit by 12% over the past year thanks in part to recent acquisitions, which included increasing its ownership interest in its North American natural gas transmission business and its Brazilian toll roads. On top of that, it recently closed several acquisitions, including buying a stake in a North American gas storage business and a portfolio of toll roads in Peru. Meanwhile, it is nearing the finish line on acquiring an interest in an Australian port and rail logistics business. Because of the clear visibility it had on closing those transactions, the company recently boosted its payout by 3.5%, which was in addition to the 7.5% increase it gave investors earlier this year. As a result, its total distribution increase was 11% over last year's rate, which was consistent with its guidance to provide 11% to 13% distribution growth if it met certain growth targets. The catalysts for high-end growth in 2017 These investments put the company in the position to boost its payout again in 2017. In fact, the company noted that "should we continue to execute our current growth initiatives as anticipated, we believe that our next increase may be at the higher end of our annual distribution growth range" of 5% to 9% per year. That said, everything has to go according to plan for the payout to increase by 9% early next year. That plan hinges on the company completing two major acquisition opportunities it is working on. First, it is participating in a consortium that is in exclusive negotiations to acquire a natural gas transmission company in southern Brazil from beleaguered oil giant Petrobras (PBR -1.75%). Brookfield's parent company, Brookfield Asset Management (BAM 1.03%), entered the exclusive talks with Petrobras in early May after it submitted the winning bid of $5.2 billion for the pipeline unit. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners committed to investing a minimum of $700 million into the transaction if those negotiations result in Brookfield Asset Management closing the deal with Petrobras. That investment would give it a stake in a business that is 100% contracted under long-term ship-or-pay agreements, meaning it will collect cash flow on that purchase from day one. In addition to that, Brookfield Infrastructure Partners won the right to build a portfolio of greenfield transmission lines in Brazil. Because of that, it is now in discussions with several sellers to acquire operating assets in the country to establish a business with substantial scale. If it is successful in those transactions, it would not only buy cash flowing assets, but would have the ability to deploy up to $200 million over the next few years to complete its electricity transmission projects. As 2017 rolls around, if Brookfield has the clear visibility that these transactions will close, then it will likely boost its distribution by 9% early next year. However, if the Petrobras deal, in particular, falls through, then the payout will probably only go up by 5%. That is unless the company can replace that transaction with a similar investment in both size and cash flow generating ability. Investor takeaway Brookfield Infrastructure Partners has a long history of increasing its payout, which isn't likely to come to an end next year. Instead, the company has the potential to deliver high-end distribution growth if it closes all the transactions in its pipeline. That said, even if those deals fall through, the company has enough organic growth embedded in its portfolio to push the payout higher next year. Having put in an incredible performance in qualifying, Juan Pablo Montoya was supposed to start the 2001 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa from pole position. But after Heinz-Harald Frentzen stalled his Prost at the end of the formation lap, the Colombian then found his Williams unwilling to fire up at the beginning of the second lap to the grid. That lumbered Montoya at the back of the field, and when the race was red flagged following a monster accident involving Luciano Burti and Eddie Irvine on the fourth lap, the burly racer was still in the lower reaches. And thats where we join a feistier-than-normal Montoya as he tackles the re-start and a busy opening lap, a lap which includes a superb getaway, a spot of first-corner wheel-banging with Jaguars Pedro de la Rosa, and a string of confident passes. Sadly, though, the Williams mans early efforts would be in vain - on the second lap, with a brilliant recovery drive in the offing, his BMW engine let go. Senator David Perdue (R-GA), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statement in response to the Congressional Budget Offices (CBO) update to The Budget and Economic Outlook: 2016 to 2026. Reading these CBO economic outlook reports remind me of the movie Groundhog Day. Each new report paints the same alarming picture for our fiscal future, yet nothing in Washington changes. We continue to see the same dangerous trend jeopardizing our ability to adequately fund the federal government. Our national debt is projected to increase from $19 trillion to almost $30 trillion by the end of the decade, and our current debt already exceeds our nations GDP. The latest CBO report underscores why we must continue finding serious solutions to solve our national debt crisis. We need to reverse the decline in business investment and increase economic productivity. This can be done and in fact, it must be done or our children and grandchildren will be the ones carrying the burden in the future. In March, the CBO released a version of the Updated Budget Projections: 2016 to 2026. The CBOs previous economic projections The Budget and Economic Outlook: 2016 to 2026 were released in January. Vice President Joe Biden traveled to Turkey on Wednesday to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other top officials, in hopes of conciliating relations with the U.S. ally. This comes as the U.S. joins Turkey in the fight against ISIS in Syria. Retired U.S. Marine Corps. General Anthony Zinni, whose operational experience includes Operation Desert Fox, joined the FOX Business Network and discussed the U.S. decision to join Turkish forces. This offensive is a reaction to the terrorist attacks inside Turkey, too, Zinni said. I think one thing we have to be very careful about though, we have Kurdish allies that are fighting against ISIS and they arent necessarily friendly with Turks. And their efforts inside Syria may turn in that direction. So, I think its very important since we probably have U.S. Special Forces with them, that this is carefully coordinated and I think that that might be another message that Vice President Biden is bringing to Erdogan. On national security concerns, General Zinni, an Honorary Chairman at the Middle East Institute, said Americans should worry about top leaders and their handling of classified materials. He commented on the controversy surrounding Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server for confidential, government-related emails. I think theres been too much of a cavalier attitude in responding to these charges, said Zinni. This is serious. Dismissing these things as not important, somebody else did it in the past, little small Cs in front of the paragraph dont mean anything. This is ridiculous. This is our national security thats at risk. Zinni also explained the importance of controlling and securing American borders. As weve seen here and as our European allies and others have seen, the lack of control of your borders and access to your country creates vulnerabilities and you could pay a big price for this, he said. I think we need to take the advice of our border patrol, of those that are responsible for maintaining this security. Give them the resources, the assets, and the procedures and processes and political support they need to construct the right kind of security. Whether thats physical barriers or thats greater intelligence, thats more border patrol personnel that are patrolling. That should be determined by the experts. But its an essentially critical for us to have that kind of control. Earlier in the summer, Costco credit card holders received new Costco Visa cards to replace their American Express cards. Unfortunately, the transition in June did not go well. Many Costco (NASDAQ:COST) customers threatened to cancel their memberships because of continued issues with the cards. On August 19, the retailer hit another snag when consumers began receiving emails stating that their credit card accounts were no longer active. These emails came from Citi, the bank that issues Costco's new Visa cards. In some cases, members stated that the emails weren't even addressed to them. Worse, the emails contained the last four digits of other consumer's account numbers, causing many to wonder if Costco or Citi had been hacked. According to Citi, the emails should have been sent to cardholders who had let their Costco memberships run out. The email was to inform those consumers that their Visa cards were no longer valid. Due to a system error, some of these emails were sent to current Costco members instead. Citi stressed that no user accounts were hacked or compromised and that the error only affected a small number of consumers. Despite this reassurance, the system error has not assuaged consumer doubts and has led to many Costco customers venting their frustrations on social media. Costco and Citi continue to assure consumers that they are working to fix all issues related to the new cards. If you want more credit, check out MoneyTips' list of credit card offers. This article was provided by our partners at moneytips.com. Read More From MoneyTips: Costco Deals With Credit Card Problems Citibank to Pay Millions to Consumers Best Credit Cards For People With Fair Credit Fitbit did not steal Jawbone's trade secrets, according to a US International Trade Commission (ITC) judge. Judge Dee Lord this week ruled that there has been no violation of the Tariff Act, and no evidence either party misappropriated any proprietary knowledge. "We are pleased with the ITC's initial determination rejecting Jawbone's trade secret claims," Fitbit CEO James Park said in a statement. In July 2015, Jawbone filed a complaint with the trade agency, accusing Fitbit of infringing on six patents, and poaching employees with knowledge of confidential business plans, Reuters reported. All six patents were ultimately eliminated from the ITC's investigation: two were withdrawn and the other four invalidated before the May trial. "From the outset of this litigation, we have maintained that Jawbone's allegations were utterly without merit and nothing more than a desperate attempt by Jawbone to disrupt Fitbit's momentum to compensate for their own lack of success in the market," Park said. Lord's decisionwhile a win for Fitbitdashes any hopes Jawbone had of banning its rival's fitness trackers. Jawbone, however, recently earned a victory in a separate case, in which a judge found three Fitbit patents invalid, according to Reuters. The San Francisco-based firms are also contesting patents in federal court. "Our customers can be assured that we remain fully committed to creating innovative products that consumers love, and that we are excited about the pipeline of new products coming out this year," Park said. Jawbone did not immediately respond to PCMag's request for comment. Despite recent reports that the manufacturer will stop production of its fitness trackers and sell its speaker business, Jawbone said in June that it is "still committed to the wearables business." "We have never been more excited about our pipeline of technology and products and look forward to sharing them with the world when ready," the company said in a published statement. This article originally appeared on PCMag.com. Senate Health Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander made the following statement on the premium increases ranging from 44 to 62 percent made final on Tuesday for all three plans on Tennessees Affordable Care Act exchange: Tennesseans cannot afford 44 to 62 percent Obamacare price increases that will force them to make difficult decisions about their daily lives and their family budgets. They should not have to pay the price for a terrible health care law and the refusal by Democrats in Washington to see what is plainly obviousthat Obamacare is failing. The Tennessee insurance commissioner says that the Obamacare exchange in Tennessee is very near collapse. Congress should give states more flexibility to support a sustainable private health insurance market and to give individuals and their families more options to purchase lower-cost private health insurance plans outside of Obamacare. No matter which party is in the White House in January, we are going to have to take a good, hard look at Obamacare, which is bearing down on American families in a way that cannot be allowed to continue. In June, health insurance providers throughout Tennessee submitted their proposed plan rates for 2017 to the Tennessee Commissioner of Insurance. All health insurers requested a double-digit increase, with the highest being 62 percent. In an unprecedented move, the Tennessee Insurance Commission earlier this month allowed two of the three health insurance providers to increase their original insurance rate requests of 23 and 29 percent to allow the companies to continue to offer health plans in Tennessee. On Tuesday, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance announced it has approved 62, 46.3, and 44.3 percent increases for the three insurers on Tennessees Obamacare exchange. Speaking to The Tennessean, Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak said, I would characterize the exchange market in Tennessee as very near collapse...and that all of our efforts are really focused on making sure we have as many writers in the areas as possible, knowing that might be one. Im doing everything I can to prevent a situation where that turns to zero. Image source: Getty Images. At a time where investors are looking harder and harder for a decent yield on and investment, the sight of Ferrellgas Partners'(NYSE: FGP) 10.1% yield seems almost too good to be true. After seeing so many other master limited partnership structured companies cut their payouts recently, it's perfectly natural to approach that yield with a dose of skepticism. If Ferrellgas' yield has piqued your interest, one great place to start your research is to check out the company's most recent results and conference call to see what management is thinking for the future. With that in mind, here are four of the most revealing quotes from Ferrellgas' most recent quarterly results and why they matter for the company's future. Having a hard time beating the heat In the propane business, the largest determining factor for a company's success is the weather. Residential and commercial heating is Ferrellgas' bread-and-butter business. Most of us experienced the warmer winter this past year but CEOStephen Wambold put some numbers to it to make sure everyone knew haw bad it really was: With such an increase in temperatures, it led to lower heating needs and lower propane volumes across Ferrellgas' markets. There were somecommodityprice fluctuations, but Ferrellgas' business asadistributorand retailer of propane means the company is slightly insulated from the full impact of commodity prices. Spreading its wings Last year, Ferrellgas made a pretty transformative acquisition by acquiring Bridger, a oil and gas midstream company that mostly focuses on truck and rail transport as well as storage terminals. This is the first time that Ferrellgas has branched away from the propane business, but it may not be the last. According to Wambold, the company is on the prowl to expand both businesses via acquisitions: This could be a good move for the company as it makes it less of a season-dependent business. The way for it to work, though, is that managementcannot overspend onacquisitions. Righting the cash flow ship The recent Bridger acquisition and the warm winter led to a pretty big hit to Ferrellgas Partners' cash flows. On a trailing-12-month basis, the company's distributable cash flow hasn't covered its payout. This is always a major red flag for MLP investors, but CFOAlan Heitmann wanted to reassure investors that this is a temporary thing: Since the business is so seasonal, and results from the past couple quarters have generated excess cash flow, we can probably give Ferrellgas the benefit of the doubt for a quarter or two. If it can't improve those distribution metrics, though, then it may be time to consider other options. Smoothing out results The Bridger acquisition is one method in which Ferrellgas is diversifying and smoothing out its quarterly results, but the company is pulling other levers as well, such as the expansion of its retail propane sales through tank exchanges and branded sales such as Blue Rhino. According to Executive Vice Presidentof Ferrellgas and President of Blue RhinoTod Brown,results from these efforts are starting to pay off: If Ferrellgas can get larger contributions from these other markets, it will take some pressure off of the residential and commercial delivery business delivering the bulk of the company's results for the year in a little more than a quarter. That could go a long way in allowing the company to maintaining better cash flow metrics and even possibly lead to increasing distributions over time. 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. 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. Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca plans to sell its molecule antibiotics business to Pfizer in a deal that will be valued in excess of $1.5 billion when rights, royalties and other payments are included. The sale marks a thawing of relations between the British company and New York-based Pfizer after an acrimonious battle to avoid a takeover just a few years ago. Under the deal, AstraZeneca will sell the commercialization and development rights in most markets globally outside the United States. It includes an upfront payment of $550 million. Luke Miels, the head of the antibiotics business unit at AstraZeneca, says the company is "pleased that our strong science in antibiotics will continue to serve a critical public health need through Pfizer's dedicated focus on infectious diseases." On a seaside field south of Shanghai, workers are constructing a nuclear reactor that is the flagship for Beijing's ambition to compete with the United States, France and Russia as an exporter of atomic power technology. The Hualong One, developed by two state-owned companies, is one multibillion-dollar facet of the Communist Party's aspirations to transform China into a creator of profitable technology from mobile phones to genetics. In the case of nuclear reactors, industry experts say China is underestimating how tough it will be for its novice exporters to compete with the foreign companies that helped create its industry, given the political hurdles, safety concerns and uncertain global demand following Japan's Fukushima disaster. China's government-run nuclear industry is based on foreign technology but has spent two decades developing its own with help from Westinghouse Electric Co., France's Areva and EDF and other partners. A separate export initiative is based on an alliance between Westinghouse and a state-owned reactor developer. The industry is growing fast, with 32 reactors in operation, 22 being built and more planned, according to the World Nuclear Association, an industry group. China accounted for eight of 10 reactors that started operation last year and six of eight construction starts. Abroad, builders broke ground in Pakistan last year for a power plant using a Hualong One, supported by a $6.5 billion Chinese loan. Also last year, Argentina signed a contract to use the reactor in a $15 billion plant financed by Chinese banks. State-owned companies are lining up to invest in nuclear power plants in Britain and Romania. Such deals usually involve financing packages from state banks, a model that has helped Chinese companies break into the market for building highways and other public works in Africa and the Middle East. "This is generating significant build-up of skills and industrial experience," Mycle Schneider, a nuclear energy consultant in Paris, said in an email. Still, Schneider said Beijing is "seriously underestimating" how hard global sales will be. Obstacles include strict quality controls, regulations that differ from country to country and competition from the falling cost of wind and solar, he said. "There is simply no market out there," Schneider said in an email. At home, Chinese fret over an avalanche of industrial accidents and product safety scandals. This month, thousands in Lianyungang, north of Shanghai, protested after rumors spread that a facility to process nuclear waste might be built there. Authorities said the city, home to one of China's biggest nuclear power plants, was only one of several being considered. After more protests, they announced the search for a site was suspended. Overseas, China's nuclear companies face questions over their status as arms of the state. British Prime Minister Theresa May ordered a security review of plans to allow China General Nuclear Power Corp., to become a minority investor in the planned Hinkley Point C power station being built by EDF. In response, China's ambassador to London wrote in The Financial Times newspaper that a delay might harm official ties. The Hualong One under construction in Fuqing, near the southeastern city of Fuzhou, is a hybrid created by CGN and its main rival, China National Nuclear Corp. after they were ordered in 2011 to merge two competing reactors into a single export product. Based on French systems of the 1970s and '80s, it belongs to the industry's third generation of reactors, with more advanced safety features and working life of 60 years instead of the previous generation's 40. CNNC is installing two Hualong One reactors at the Fuqing Nuclear Power Plant, due to go online in 2019 and 2020. The power station also has two Areva units and is building two more. CGN is building its own version in Fangchenggang on the southern coast near Vietnam and says it wants to seek regulatory approval of the Hualong One design for possible use in a power plant in Bradwell on Britain's east coast. China's nuclear industry has yet to report a major accident but reflexive official secrecy makes it hard for outsiders to assess its safety. Alterations to foreign-based technology, such as making reactors bigger while using cooling techniques for smaller units, "raise questions about safety and the good judgment of Chinese reactor engineers," Edward Lyman, a nuclear power specialist for the Union of Concerned Scientists in Washington, said in an email. "It is crucial for countries importing Chinese nuclear technology to rigorously conduct their own oversight over the products they are buying." Lyman said. After China's first commercial nuclear plant went online in 1991 in Qinshan, south of Shanghai in Zhejiang province, Beijing tested competing technologies, buying reactors from U.S., Russian, French and other suppliers. Chinese companies couldn't export models they developed on their own, because foreign companies owned the underlying technology. So last year, Beijing declared nuclear power one of 16 "national science and technology projects," with generous financial support to develop homegrown know-how. The ruling party's latest five-year development plan calls for China to have 58 gigawatts of nuclear generating capacity by 2020 and another 30 gigawatts under construction. By 2030, it wants 120 to 150 gigawatts of nuclear capacity supplying 8 to 10 percent of China's power. China's status as an important market for global suppliers is giving Beijing leverage in acquiring technology. Westinghouse, which was acquired by Japan's Toshiba Corp. in 2006, Areva and France's EDF have had partnerships with Chinese researchers since the early 1990s. "I see them as customers, competitors and partners," said Jeff Benjamin, Westinghouse's senior vice president for new plants and major projects. Other global suppliers include GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, South Korea's KEPCO, Canada's Candu Energy Inc. and Russia's Atomstroyexport. Westinghouse transferred technology for its latest reactor, the AP1000, to China's State Nuclear Power Technology Corp. in 2007 as part of a transaction that included the sale of four reactors. The AP1000 became the basis for future Chinese reactor development, and Westinghouse agreed to jointly sell those reactors with SNPTC. The Chinese partner, which merged with another state company to form the State Power Investment Corp. last year, also developed its own, bigger version, the CAP1400. The two companies are in talks with Turkey about selling four reactors based on the AP1000. The AP1000 has been approved by U.S. and British regulators, Benjamin said, while the CAP1400 is just beginning the review process. "We look forward to participating in the China market for many years to come," he said, adding, "there will be markets either SPIC on their own or Westinghouse on our own might not have access to, but together we can gain access." In Mylans case, it appears the company moved its corporate address to the Netherlands, but still maintains most of its offices in a suburb of Pittsburgh, PA, enjoying the benefits of taxpayer-funded police, fire and other city services. President Obama has lashed out against the practice of inversion, calling it one of the most insidious tax loopholes out there. Trump, too, has ripped corporate inversions, calling them a huge problem. What makes the Mylan case so problematic is that the company CEO Heather Bresch is the daughter of Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia. Democrats, led by Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, have loudly denounced corporate inversions. Theyve built the business model on the backs of our kids, moving the headquarters to the Netherlands to avoid paying taxes into the US and as her own father said, something like that should be illegal, said OBrien. Calls by FOX Business to Mylans press department were not returned. Complaints about onerous price hikes in the pharmaceutical industry are age-old and often go unanswered by the companies who hold the patents. As patents expire, generic drug companies often jump in. But oddly, Israeli-based Teva Pharmaceuticals (NYSE:TEVA) attempted to present a generic version but was soundly swatted down by the FDA which cited certain major deficiencies to Tevas product. OBrien smells a rat. There is no competition. They have a monopoly. The barriers to entry are really high and right now theres a low cost alternative trying to work its way through the FDA. Ive been in this for 11 years. Weve seen Twin-ject come and go, Auvi-Q (by Sanofi US) come and go.. Auvi-Q was recalled because of 26 unconfirmed reports. There needs to be an investigation into how (Mylan) has been able to maintain this monopoly that it has and yes, these are life saving devices but they can come in a lot of different forms and a healthy marketplace means healthy competition, said OBrien. For now, Mylan has remained relatively silent after issuing an initial statement blaming insurance companies, co-pays and deductibles while offering coupons of $100 for the device. Investors, however, have done anything but remain silent. Milan shares fell 4.7% during Tuesdays session and have lost 11% over the past 12-months. Luxury retailer Tiffany, (NYSE:TIF) once famous for its please return to Tiffany necklaces and bracelets, is struggling to appeal to Millennial consumers. The brand cites Millennials shopping habits and desire for new products and updates for falling sales along with a weaker tourism industry. In the last quarter, Tiffany had a weak performance but other luxury brands have seen a strengthening industry this summer. Both European luxury conglomerates LVMH and Kering reported strong performance in jewelry. Analysts are predicting 72 cents in earnings per share (EPS) on $934.74 million in revenue during the companys most recent quarter. In a research note, Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) issued a neutral rating, saying its too early to support Tiffany despite the improved growth in the luxury industry. Goldman Sachs also notes Tiffany is pushing more of its silver jewelry which has the potential to drive units but has yet to really move the needle on the business and likely needs some time to work through. Recently, Tiffany rolled out custom Snapchat filters at its locations to appeal to younger customers. It is the first luxury jewelry brand to have a custom Snapchat lens. But critics have said while a Snapchat filter might attract young, tech savvy customers, it has the potential to cheapen the brand and alienate existing customers. The brand already has an active Instagram (NASDAQ:FB) account that shows celebrities wearing Tiffany pieces, and inspirational quotes. In an effort to attract a younger demographic, the brand also plans to update its products more frequently citing Millennials habit of fast fashion. Instead of purchasing timeless pieces, Millennials are more interested in shopping for whats trendy and whats in style now. In a new form for Tiffany, the brand has started using celebrity endorsements for the first time, including actresses Lupita Nyongo and Elle Fanning. Tiffany reports its second quarter earnings Thursday morning before the opening bell. Oil prices tumbled on Wednesday, with U.S. crude falling about 3 percent, after an unexpectedly large inventory build in the world's biggest oil consumer renewed worries about oversupply. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that crude inventories rose 2.5 million barrels last week, versus analysts' forecasts for a draw of 500,000 barrels. Gasoline and distillate stocks also rose, the EIA said, driving down oil prices that had mostly risen in the past two weeks on speculation of an output freeze by major producers led by OPEC. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures were down $1.44, or 3 percent, at $46.66 a barrel by 12:33 p.m. EDT (1633 GMT). Brent crude futures fell 98 cents, or 2 percent, to $48.98. "I cannot continue to stress that at this time of year we are supposed to be getting draws," Tariq Zahir, oil trader at Tyche Capital Advisors in New York, said, referring to the summer inventory drawdowns expected for crude. "But instead, we're seeing a build in every single aspect that's quite eye opening. The Street has gotten it wrong again, with predictions that you'll start getting rebalancing of supply-demand in the third quarter." Gasoline futures were the only bright spot in the oil complex on Wednesday, trading higher after a spate of refinery outages and on concerns about a possible hurricane headed towards the U.S. Gulf Coast where many oil and gas installations are located. Crude futures have swung from bear to bull market territory this month as renewed worries of an oil glut were subdued by speculation that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will agree to an output curtailment with non-members led by Russia at a meeting in Algeria next month. A similar production freeze idea failed in April and analysts remain skeptical it will work now as some OPEC members keep pumping at high levels even while touting the plan. "There is currently a race to print any freeze headlines but we have not yet seen strong substance behind them," said Olivier Jakob, managing director at PetroMatrix, an energy consultancy in Zug, Switzerland. That could lead to more market volatility, some say. "While we can envision WTI slippage to around the $45 mark next week, we feel that OPEC prattle regarding a possible cohesive effort to restrain production will continue to encourage an influx of speculative capital on price pullbacks of around $2-$3 from yesterday's settlement," said Jim Ritterbusch of Chicago-based oil markets consultancy Ritterbusch & Associates. (By Barani Krishnan; Additional reporting by Karolin Schaps in LONDON and Mark Tay in SINGAPORE; Editing by Alistair Bell and Meredith Mazzilli) A federal judge has heard testimony in the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's request to temporarily block the construction of a four-state oil pipeline near their reservation, which straddles the North Dakota-South Dakota border. Some things to know about the pipeline and the tribe's ongoing protest: ___ WHAT IS THE DAKOTA ACCESS PIPELINE? Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners' Dakota Access Pipeline is a $3.8 billion, 1,172-mile project that would carry nearly a half-million barrels of crude oil daily from North Dakota's oil fields through South Dakota and Iowa to an existing pipeline in Patoka, Illinois, where shippers can access Midwest and Gulf Coast markets. ___ WHAT IS THE LAWSUIT TARGETING? The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe sued federal regulators for approving the oil pipeline, challenging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' decision to grant permits at more than 200 water crossings and arguing that the pipeline would be placed less than a mile upstream of the reservation, potentially impacting drinking water for more than 8,000 tribal members and millions of people who rely on it further downstream. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the tribe by environmental group Earthjustice, said the project violates several federal laws, including the National Historic Preservation Act. The tribe also worries the project will disturb ancient sacred sites outside of the 2.3-million acre reservation. ___ IS THE PIPELINE SAFE? The company said the pipeline would include safeguards such as leak detection equipment, and workers monitoring the pipeline remotely in Texas could close block valves on it within three minutes if a breach is detected. ___ WHO ARE THE PROTESTERS? Mostly members of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, but they've been joined by other American Indians and non-Native Americans from across the country. "Divergent" actress Shailene Woodley was part of the protests last week, and actress Susan Sarandon was at Wednesday's federal hearing. ___ HOW MANY ARRESTS HAVE THERE BEEN? For months, there has been a nonviolent tribal protest at a "spirit camp" at the confluence of the Cannonball and Missouri rivers in the path of the pipeline. More than a dozen young people from the reservation also ran to Washington to deliver 140,000 petition signatures to the Corps to protest the pipeline. But the protest recently became heated, and more than two dozen have been arrested and charged with interfering with the pipeline construction, including Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Chairman David Archambault II. Gov. Jack Dalrymple declared an emergency last week to make more state resources available to manage public safety risks from the protest. He said that the state is committed to protecting lawful assembly rights, but says unlawful acts have led to "serious public safety concerns." ___ ARE THERE PROTESTS IN OTHER STATES? Yes, but nothing like in North Dakota. Construction equipment at several sites in Iowa was set on fire earlier in August, causing more than $1 million in damage. And Iowa landowners who are upset over the state utilities board allowance of eminent domain have sued and are waiting for that challenge to be heard. ___ WHY IS IT BEING BUILT? Energy Transfer Partners announced the Dakota Access pipeline in 2014, a few days after Dalrymple urged industry and government officials to build more pipelines to keep pace with the state's oil production, which is second only to Texas'. Supporters said the pipeline would create more markets and reduce truck and oil train traffic the latter of which has been a growing concern after a spate of fiery derailments of trains carrying North Dakota crude, including one near Dalrymple's hometown of Casselton in 2013, and an explosion in Quebec that same year that killed 47 people. Authorities say a former Bismarck securities and insurance agent defrauded more than 40 people out of more than $3 million in a scam that lasted about 14 years. The case against Kevin Wanner is outlined in a civil complaint filed on Aug. 11 that seeks to freeze funds from the sale of private property. Wanner has not been criminally charged. An affidavit by a North Dakota Securities Department investigator says the scheme started around 2001 and continued through December 2015. Wanner is accused of selling counterfeit CDs to his clients and involving them in a phony investment group called the Bulls and Bears Investment Club. "Wanner admitted to spending his clients' money for his own personal use," the affidavit says. Federal prosecutors and Wanner declined Wednesday to comment to The Associated Press. Court documents allege that one victim invested $500,000 with Wanner and received yearly interest checks of $3,000 to $4,000. The victim said Wanner would roll the matured CD into a new CD, but she never received a federal form for interest paid. "During that same time period as Wanner's criminal activities, bank records reveal Wanner made cash withdrawals from his business accounts nearly every other day, withdrawing on average $15,355 per month," the affidavit says. The government alleges that Wanner made about $5 million in the fraud and money laundering scheme and paid about $1.8 million "purported to be interest payments earned on the counterfeit CDs." The North Dakota securities and insurance commissioners had previously issued cease-and-desist orders to stop Wanner and his business, Precision Financial Services, from operating in the state. Precision Financial Services had been in operation since 1990. The government is seeking to sequester funds from the sale of a house that was owned by Wanner and his wife. The complaint also says proceeds of the pending sale of a 2011 Ford Convertible Mustang should be forfeited to the government. As the 2016 presidential race nears, questions and concerns surrounding the Clinton Foundation are still proving to be an issue. According to The Associated Press, more than half of the people not associated with government who met with Clinton while she was Secretary of State gave money to the Clinton Foundation. I dont know how you can conclude anything other than that you had a special in with the Clinton State Department if you were a donor to the Clinton Foundation, said Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group. We warned President Obama about this. In fact, President Obama was worried about this issue and the Senate Democrats were and Senate Republicans were even before she was confirmed. Thats why she promised to keep this bright line between the Foundation and the State Department. And its a promise broken every which way she could. Fitton, who stated he wasnt saying these actions were necessarily a crime, added: In the case most recently, the Crown Prince of Bahrain, a multi-million dollar partner of the Foundations enterprises, was seeking to get a meeting with Mrs. Clinton through the Foundation because they werent able to get it through official channels. The foreign policy at the State Department in that case was outsourced to the Clinton Foundation. A federal court recently ordered Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to answer questions, under oath, from Judicial Watch, regarding her email scandal. Those interrogatories, as the lawyers call them, are going to be produced by Judicial Watch over the next few weeks and given to Mrs. Clinton. And shell have 30 days to respond, so we hope to get a response pretty soon, Fitton said. Dr. Ben Carson, during an interview Wednesday on the FOX Business Networks Mornings with Maria, said its necessary for Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton to release their medical records. Anybody whos elderly, and that includes both of our major candidates, should have their records available for us to examine because its a very difficult job being President of the United States. Its not an eight-hour a day job its 24/7 with high stress and you need to make sure that you have somebody whos going to be able to handle that, he said. The former neurosurgeons remarks were in response to former New York City Mayor Rudy Giulianis comments on Fox News Sunday over Hillary Clinton appearing to be sick. Hes speculating as many people speculate on both sides about things. Obviously we need to apply real data, he said. Federal Judge Harold Murphy, in a 63-page ruling handed down Tuesday, ordered Walker County, Ga., to pay the Erlanger Health System $8,705,000, plus interest, on the Hutcheson Hospital debt. Judge Murphy, of Rome, Ga., said the question of attorney fees and expenses owed Erlanger by Walker County should be decided by a jury trial. Walker County and Catoosa County earlier agreed to back a $20 million loan to Erlanger at the time it was operating Hutcheson. The Fort Oglethorpe hospital later went into bankruptcy. Erlanger began to seek the return of its $20 million after the Hospital Authority board of Dade, Walker and Catoosa counties terminated its operating agreement. Catoosa County earlier settled with Erlanger. Walker County got a credit of $1,295,000 on the $10 million owed when Erlanger received some payment for its Hutcheson collateral in the bankruptcy. Erlanger has also won a judgment of $36,379,968.20 against the Hospital Authority, which turned to Walker and Catoosa to pay. Attorney Stuart James of Chattanooga, representing Walker County, said the decision will be appealed. He said, "Walker County is not surprised at the ruling made by Judge Murphy on the Erlanger motion for summary judgment. With respect to Judge Murphy, Walker County takes issue with that ruling as it is entitled to do in our system of justice. Walker County is, therefore, going to appeal the ruling and expects to file the appropriate notice of appeal tomorrow. "In making the appeal Walker County intends on requesting the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to certify the questions raised by Erlanger and responded to by the county to the Georgia Supreme Court. Walker County will request the 11thCircuit to send the case to the Georgia Supreme Court so it may address the issues raised in the motion for summary judgment and the ruling on the motion for summary judgment. "The Court has given its reasons for granting the summary judgment. In our system of justice parties often disagree with what judges say in rulings like this one. When a disagreement arises over an issue of law, as in this case, a party is entitled to appeal the Courts decision. Walker County has to exercise that right of appeal so as to protect the interests of its taxpayers." Squit "Cats" on Broadway to return to the hot seat on "X Factor." But Nicole Scherzinger cant put her claws away yet. The judge, left, has lashed out at boss Simon Cowell accusing him of nicking her legendary Scherzisms. This is despite him begging her back to boost ratings. Nicole who has coined the catchphrases Schermazing and No baby no has even taken the matter to producers. She claims her one-liners have been cut from footage so the music mogul is able to take full credit for the funnies. Exposing the tensions ahead of Saturday nights series launch, she said: We need to do an entire segment on Simon Cowell stealing all of my ideas. In the beginning, I would say things and he would comment, saying the exact same thing. Id be like, Thats funny because Ive just said that and he goes, Not in the edit darling, not in the edit. Hes been stealing pretty much everything. I take it as a compliment. Im fighting with the producers now so when he tries to repeat what I have said, I try to speak over him so they cant use it in the show. And Louis Walsh has also been taking pot-shots at the boss by teasing him about those cosmetic surgery rumors. Speaking about Simon yesterday, he said: He is very relaxed and very funny this year. I think hes looking younger this year too, have you noticed? What has he done? Somethings happened? Maybe its the lighting. And new "Xtra Factor Live" hosts Rylan Clark-Neal and Matt Edmondson cant let their guard down either I can reveal they will present the spin-off show at a new studio in front of a live audience for the first time. Simon added: Louis is obsessed with Rylan. He talked to me more about him coming on the show than he did about himself returning. So I dont know what hes done to Louis but he wanted him, he got him, its going to be fun. I think the combination of him and Matt is going to be interesting. What I basically said is, You make the show you want to make. Im excited. Me too. Click here for the full report in The Sun. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 In 2001, volunteer firefighter Pat Hardison was left with third-degree burns on his head, neck and upper torso after suffering a devastating on-duty accident. He lost his ears, lips, most of his nose and virtually all of his eyelid tissue. Today, a year after a 26-hour face transplant -- the most extensive ever performed -- the Mississippi man is thriving. "There are no more stares, no more frightened children running away from me. I'm pretty much just a normal guy, Hardison said in a news release shared Wednesday by the New York University (NYU) Langone Medical Center. Now, I want to help others to pursue this type of surgery, especially fellow firefighters and members of the armed services. There definitely is hope." Hardisons transplant made headlines last year. The procedure reportedly cost upwards of $1 million and required a team of more than 100 medical professionals. Hardisons body has never attempted to reject his new face, an unprecedented achievement, according to NYU. Hardisons new eyelids also function normally, enabling him to blink, which allows his body to hydrate and clean the eyes to prevent infection and improve vision. I can't tell you what a sense of freedom it is to even drive my kids to school, Hardison said in the release. We recently went on a family vacation to Disney World, and I swam in the pool with them something I hadn't done in 15 years." Since returning home to Senatboia, Mississippi, in time for Thanksgiving, Hardison has undergone several additional procedures, mainly to adjust his new eyelids and lips, and remove the feeding tube from his abdomen and the breathing tube from his trachea. The lack of rejection can be attributed to the surgical teams methodical approach to find a favorable match, which allowed the team to reduce the levels of certain anti-rejection medications, lead surgeon Dr. Eduardo D. Rodriguez, chair of the Hansjorg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery at NYU Langone, said in the release. Surgeons also chose to include some of the donors facial bone structure and chin, which provided natural bone marrow stem cells that helped the transplanted face function well after the procedure. "Pat has been incredibly compliant with his post-surgical regimen, and that has allowed us to expedite his surgical schedule," Rodriguez said in the release. "He is extremely committed to daily exercise, taking his medications, and meeting with his physicians regularly. All of this has put him way ahead of schedule in terms of getting to the optimal level of recovery and appearance." Hardison plans to meet the family of his donor, David Rodebaugh, this fall. A central Pennsylvania district is closing all schools so officials can test for mold. East Pennsboro closed all schools on Wednesday as a precaution to check the heating and cooling systems in its buildings. Students had just returned Monday after summer vacation. Mold was found Friday on ceiling tiles at the high school and was later found on pipes at the elementary school. A testing company blamed the growth on extreme humidity and rain over the summer. A decision on whether schools will reopen Thursday will be made later Wednesday. Donald Trump is pushing back against claims that he might change his stance on illegal immigration. Earlier, he was expected to propose a new approach on Thursday in Colorado; now that speech has been cancelled. Still, there is speculation that, following his meeting with members of a new Hispanic advisory committee over the weekend, he might back off on plans to deport the 11 million people who are in the country illegally. I say, go for it. Mr. Trumps hard stand on immigration has alienated not only the Hispanic community, but also many moderate Republicans. Though President Obamas executive action to protect millions from deportation is not popular, most Americans applaud our countrys history of welcoming immigrants. But, most also want secure borders. Also, the deportation notion is an idea that was scorned by many as impractical and inhumane. (I reckoned it would take a bus convoy stretching more than 10,000 miles, or 6 times the distance between El Paso and Canada, to get the job done.) As he has recently laid out some sensible policies on the economy and on law and order, Mr. Trump has begun to recover in the polls. A modulated but intelligent approach to our immigration dilemma offers the GOP candidate a chance for even more progress. Here is a four-step approach that might actually move the needle on immigration. First, allow the 11 million people living in the country without papers an opportunity to achieve legal status. Those who apply and fulfill various requirements, such as having no criminal record and having a credible employment history, would become legal alien residents, which would allow them to work and pay taxes. There are already thirteen million people in the country who have that status; there would be no stigma and it would bring millions out of the shadows. To counter critics who would call this amnesty, or who would charge the approach as unfair to those who have entered the country illegally, stipulate that these legal alien residents would never have a shot at citizenship. This should be acceptable since under todays policies their children born in the U.S. are automatically citizens. Second, end birthright citizenship. The policy of automatically granting citizenship to every child born on American soil is outdated and harmful. The United States is one of only two advanced countries that still embrace birthright citizenship; most have long ago discarded the practice. We grant citizenship to more than 300,000 babies born to undocumented people in our country every year many more than enter each year without papers. We also reward so-called birthright tourism, whereby tens of thousands of women come to the U.S. every year from countries like China and Russia to deliver their babies on U.S. soil. Because of our family-friendly immigration policies, those foreigners know that come hard times in their country, that baby could usher relatives into the U.S. Granting automatic citizenship makes it impossible to close our borders. This prize, worth millions of dollars in benefits over the course of a lifetime, is irresistible. Though it would require an amendment to the constitution, this change should and can be made as part of a bigger deal. In 1993 Senator Harry Reid proposed limiting birthright citizenship to U.S. citizens and legal resident aliens; since then, there have been other attempts to make a change. Third, seal the borders. The Obama administration has claimed that it is impossible to prevent people entering the country illegally. Many would argue they havent tried very hard. By its various amnesty proposals like the DACA in 2012 or the broader executive order protection millions more from deportation, the White House has encouraged undocumented migrants; the welcome mat is quickly visible thousands of miles away. Obamas outreach to Cuba has launched another wave of migrants, as people from that country worry the U.S. might jettison our long-standing policy of giving them automatic sanctuary. Also, a judge ruled last year against indefinite detention of people caught crossing the border and ordered them released within a few days. Thousands have simply disappeared into the system; some 15,000 who were denied asylum stayed anyway. The message sent south: the doors are open again. Unless the U.S. prevents people from crossing the border or undertakes a tough policy of deporting those who enter back to their country of origin, we will continue to see the ranks of the undocumented grow. It is impossible to imagine that in this day of drones and advanced surveillance we cannot do a better job. Maybe it takes a wall; maybe not. But this is not an impossible job. Finally, revise our immigration policies so that they attract the best and the brightest people in the world. The United States immigration policies are outdated not guided by self-interest. As an example, taxpayers underwrite many of the worlds greatest universities, which attract some of the smartest young people in the world. We then often refuse to allow those highly educated and ambitious graduates to stay in our country. This is stupid. We need to fix this. Trump should take it on. Recently, dozens of journalists in Turkey were marched off to jail for daring to challenge the Islamist authoritarian President Tayyip Erdogan. Across the world there are great journalists doing brave and exceptional things -- and who are suffering for it. Gawker.com, which shut down this week, was not one of those places. Gawker was not censored or silenced or, as a blog post on the site claimed recently, murdered. A better description was that it committed suicide. Gawker was not all bad, and broke some important stories. However, founder Nick Denton was a narcissistic gossip peddler whose morality was so fluid that, according to former editor Max Read, even his own reporters rarely knew where the line was drawn. Gawkers downfall started in 2007 when it outed PayPal founder Peter Thiel, in part for apparently holding the wrong political opinions. (Thiel is a well known libertarian, and now supports Donald Trump.) It also outed a Conde Nast executive, but quickly retracted the post. Gawker was also nakedly and unashamedly partisan. As a political blog, it ignored dirt on left-wing candidates, while going off on the slightest nugget on their perceived enemies -- once hyping a story from a mole here at Fox News that consisted of a photograph of a bathroom stall. Scoop! Journalism! In 2010, when a woman complained that a video posted of her having sex in a bathroom stall was actually her being raped, Gawkers complaints department forwarded the email to the reporter with a note: Blah, blah, blah. The reporter -- A.J. Daulerio -- wrote to the woman, telling her not to make a big deal out of this. They later removed the post, with Daulerio conceding it was possibly rape. Ultimately, these bullies of journalism shot themselves in the foot in 2012 when they posted a sex tape of wrestler Hulk Hogan. When eventually told to take the post down by a judge, Gawker published a haughty piece in which it called the decision risible and contemptuous of centuries of First Amendment jurisprudence and declared we wont. They picked a fight, and lost in court, in a fair trial. There was no plucky underdog here, Gawker was a powerful force and offered a comprehensive legal fight. But their position was legally and morally reprehensible, and they got crushed. Gawker lost its moral compass and its news judgment, pushed by a cultish founder who communicated to his journalists that morality was subservient to clicks and his personal whims, politics and grievances. No matter what good stuff they broke, Gawker was journalistic cancer and needed snuffing out. It reeked of a smug atmosphere too common in journalist cadres, where reporters pat themselves on the back for doing brave journalism while dismissing reasonable objections as a jackboot stamping on the neck of free speech. The martyrdom complex is real at such places, and especially at Gawker. This leaked into the courtroom, when a lawyer asked the reporter behind the Hogan story -- the same A.J. Daulerio from above -- for when a celebrity sex tape would not be newsworthy in Gawkers eyes: If they were a child, Daulerio said. Under what age? the surprised lawyer asked. Four, Daulerio responded snarkily. This tells you a lot about the atmosphere at Gawker and brings to mind this article in which it asked when is it okay to hate a 4-year-old? When it emerged that the outed Thiel was funding lawsuits, including Hogans, a number of leftist journalists painted him as a vengeful billionaire using money to crush free speech. Gawker.com is out of business because one wealthy person maliciously set out to destroy it, spending millions of dollars in secret, and succeeded. That is the only reason, Gawker claimed, in an argument echoed by many in the left-wing journalistic world. Yet this is not accurate. First of all, if Thiel had been after a conservative outlet, he wouldnt be a vengeful billionaire but an LGBTQ justice activist and thered have been a Hollywood movie made about him by the end of the week (Powerful says the New York Times, A triumph says the Washington Post.) But big money didnt close Gawker -- its reputation did. When Univision bought out Gawker, it chose to keep sister websites such as Kotaku and Jezebel. But it chose to let Gawker.com die. This is because Gawker had become toxic. That is Gawkers fault, not Thiels. Univision made the call that while there was value in the other members of the Gawker family, the father site was an unemployed, abusive drunk who would be better off being left behind in the move. Gawkers defenders on the left are trying to breeze past the sites outrageous conduct, and use a connective argument on press freedom by appropriating Pastor Martin Niemollers famous poem: First they came for Gawker and I did not speak out. The analogy doesnt work. Gawker was not a victim of a censoring government department, it was not a victim of an unfair smear campaign or even the spite of a billionaire -- ultimately it was a victim of its own arrogance, its own cruelty and its own amoral ethical code. Journalists should heed the warnings of Gawker, and be sure not to make the same mistakes. More importantly, it would be a grave injustice to canonize this grubby website as a martyr and to wrongly put it in the same bracket as those Turkish journalists fighting for liberty and accountability in their country right now. A law enforcement officer said he was asked to leave a Red Cross shelter in Lafayette, Louisiana after he prayed with several flood victims. Clay Higgins, a reserve city marshal and a local legend, dropped by after work to minister to evacuees at the Heymann Performing Arts Center on Aug. 19. Click here to join Todds American Dispatch: a must-read for Conservatives! I was not proselytizing, he told me. I was just there to thank volunteers and offer prayers and encouragement. Higgins, who is also running for Congress, was dressed in uniform and was holding a Bible. At some point during the visit a volunteer approached Higgins and mentioned there was a problem. He said the Red Cross had an issue with me being there, Higgins said. So I asked him what the problem was. He looked down at my Bible and he gestured and said, They have a problem with that. Higgins said he was escorted to a Red Cross supervisor who asked him to leave. I was told that the Red Cross does not allow spiritual counseling in their shelters, he said. The supervisor told me the Red Cross is not a religious-based organization and they dont allow religious interaction with the residents. During the conversation, a flood victim asked Higgins to pray. The captain was obliged but had to do so outside the Red Cross shelter. Christian compassion was not welcomed there in the manner I had provided, Higgins told me. A Red Cross spokesperson told the Baton Rouge Advocate their policy is intended to be respectful of all faiths, but she said if Higgins had approached managers they would have accommodated him. Meanwhile, a pastor in the town of Albany told me that four families left a Red Cross shelter after they were told they could not pray or read their Bibles at their cots. They got upset and literally packed up their stuff and came right here, said the pastor, who asked not to be identified. A Red Cross worker told them they could not pray or read their Bible in public. The pastor said he drove to the shelter in question and he was immediately met with individuals who related similar stories. I hadnt even made it in the door, the pastor said. They said the Red Cross workers told them they could not pray or read Bibles. I told them to go to their cot and pray and read. I told them theyre on church property and they could read a Bible on church property. I reached out to the American Red Cross and they refuted any notion that they are banning religious activity in their shelters. This is simply not true, spokesperson Elizabeth Penniman said in a statement. Those in our shelters are always welcome to pray and gather among themselves, she said. Now, you just know the Red Cross is about to drop a great big however, right? And here it comes... However, we recognize and are sensitive to the fact that hundreds of people from different backgrounds are often sharing a large space with limited privacy, she added. For the record, in that part of the state there are more Baptists and Catholics than there are crawfish. Through our Spiritual Care program, trained Red Cross workers can provide spiritual care to an array of faiths for the victims and their families to bolster hope and resilience, Penniman said. So what about regular folks? Would they be allowed to provide spiritual care? The Red Cross did not answer that question but Capt. Higgins did: If I wanted to pray with the folks in the shelter, the Red Cross told me I would have to be approved in advance, I would have to fill out the documents and they would set me up at a table. I would not be allowed to leave the table. If people wanted to come to me, they could. But I could not go to them. It sounds to me like the Red Cross wants to drown the good people of Louisiana in a bunch of bureaucratic red tape. The Red Cross, meanwhile, urged me to do my part to tamp down the rumors that they are telling people not to pray or read the Bible. This is not representative [of] our Red Cross principles, Penniman said. So weve got the Red Cross telling us one thing and a Baptist preacher, a law enforcement officer and a chaplain telling us something else. Im going to let you good readers figure out whose version of events you choose to believe. But to avoid further confusion, maybe the Red Cross should consider a new symbol and name -- perhaps something a bit more secular. The Clintons continual response to scandal is to lie, to stonewall, and above all, to blame Republicans--or as Hillary famously put it, the vast right wing conspiracy--for opposing them. On the genuinely scandalous Clinton Foundation, however, the toughest and most penetrating critiques are now coming not just from Republicans, but from Hillary Clintons Democratic friends and her allies in the media--who are widely calling for the Foundation to be closed. Last week, former Pennsylvania Governor and Democratic National Committee Chairman Ed Rendell said that I definitely think if she wins the presidency they have to disband it. Itd be impossible to keep the foundation open without at least the appearance of a problem, Rendell explained. The same week, the liberal editorial board of the Boston Globe wrote, The once-and-maybe-future first family will have plenty to keep them busy next year if Hillary Clinton defeats Donald Trump in November. The foundation should remove a political and actual distraction and stop accepting funding. If Clinton is elected, the foundation should be shut down. The San Diego Union-Tribune explained why: These special interests are not giving money because the foundation is such an effective charitable organization; a 2013 New York Times investigation made it seem chaotic. They are not paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to hear shopworn speeches because they expect to obtain profound insights. They want the Clintons help, and theyre willing to pay for it. Disclosures as recent as last week suggest that is exactly what the Clintons provided. Emails made public through a Freedom of Information Act Request by Judicial Watch revealed, for instance, that Hillary Clintons State Department aides fielded a request from Foundation executive Doug Band on behalf of Crown Prince Salman of Bahrain, who has donated more than $30 million to the Clinton Foundation. Band noted in his request that the Crown Prince was a good friend of ours. Huma Abedin, a Clinton aide at the nexus of the Secretarys official, business, and Foundation interests, noted in her email to Band that the Crown Prince had previously failed to secure a meeting through normal State Department channels. Two days later, Abedin wrote back to Band to advise him that the meeting was confirmed. This event was far from unique. As the Associated Press reported Tuesday, More than half the people outside the government who met with Hillary Clinton while she was secretary of state gave money - either personally or through companies or groups - to the Clinton Foundation. The report found that combined, the 85 donors contributed as much as $156 million. At least 40 donated more than $100,000 each, and 20 gave more than $1 million. Bowing in part to pressure from fellow Democrats and their media allies, Bill Clinton said this week that the Clinton Foundation will stop accepting foreign donations if his wife becomes president. Yet the appearance of corruption, the obvious and inevitable conflicts of interests, and the unseemly arrangements that prompted that concession from the former president were equally clear when Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State. The Clintons didnt care. They repeatedly violated their ethics agreement with the Obama administration to disclose and seek approval for foreign donors and speech clients. Now they are making similar promise to the American people in order to ease Hillarys path to the presidency. But just as the Obama administration was foolish to take them at their word, so would be the American people today. The Clintons have proven they are neither transparent nor trustworthy. At the same time, there must be absolutely no question that an American president is above foreign influence-buying. That is why the only acceptable action for them, after all of this scandal, is to shut down the Clinton Foundation right now, before the election--and eliminate the corruption once and for all. Editor's note: The following is an excerpt from "Angry White Male: How the Donald Trump Phenomenon is Changing Americaand What We Can All Do to Save the Middle Class" (Skyhorse Publishing, August 23, 2016) Ultra-liberal Democrats and the mainstream media (I know, I repeat myself) cannot understand why white voters, particularly white men, are so angry. Well, Im going to share with you the raw, politically incorrect truth. Its an indictment of a president and system practicing reverse racism and overt discriminationin plain sight for all to see. First, there is no doubt that blacks, minorities, and people of color had it rough for many decades. Women, especially in the workplace, had the system tilted against them. We get it. And during the past hundred years, especially the last sixty, the vast majority of us fought hard to eliminate it. No one can deny the terrible things done to blacks: slavery; discrimination in jobs and housing; poll taxes; and Whites Only signs in front of bathrooms, pools, water fountains, and restaurant counters. The list of wrongs and grievances is long and real. But that was then, and this is now. And two wrongs dont make a right. The sorry truth is that the pendulum has swung way too far in the other direction. It has gotten to a point where virtually every action, law, and utterance out of our nations first black presidents mouth is intended to denigrate or damage the predominantly white middle class. Or havent you noticed? Let me start with the obvious. Suicide Studies and polls show blacks and people of color are relatively happy and unchanged in their satisfaction level for decades. Yet under Obama, America is in the middle of a massive suicide epidemic. Who is committing all this suicide? White middle-aged Americans.1 In other words, the white middle class and angry white males are so unhappy they are killing themselves. We should be worried about White Lives Matter. But, of course, then we would be called racist. Is the liberal view its all in our heads? Or could some- thing actually be wrong? Do liberals think an entire race has suffered a dramatic increase in depression and suicide because life is so easy and great for white people? Because we have such fantastic advantages? Because great jobs, perfect relationships, and wealth just appear out of thin air or fall out of trees for white people? Or could this depression, anger, and suicide be the result of no jobs or only menial, crappy, low-wage jobs; or a dramatic drop in our incomes and assets; or dramatic increases in taxes, health insurance, electric bills, grocery bills, and college bills all of which has made it virtually impossible to provide for our families. The fact is that our own government is destroying the middle class and killing the American Dream of upward mobility. The predominantly white middle class has been sacrificed to give welfare and free health care to everyone else. And to add insult to injury, everyone else doesnt just mean other, less fortunate fellow citizens who most of us want to help; it also means every illegal alien who can walk across the border, many of whom hate us and the whole concept of America. Result? Were killing ourselves. That might have something to do with it. In other words, for your typical middle-class American, life sucks. Under Obama and the political elites, the quality of middle-class life has been gutted, and the American Dream of upward mobility is dead. And who makes up this great American middle class? Predominantly white people. Ironically, the crux of the liberal argument is that white people have all the money, power, and high-paying jobs and own all the businesses. Yet when laws and policies are passed to redistribute their money to those who are poor and dependent, liberal politicians, intellectuals, and the media refuse to admit these policies are nothing more than reverse racism and discrimination. These policies are a sign of ignorance and stupidity, especially as to how an economy works. A study of every socialist country in world history shows that fairness, equality, and social justice leads to devastating widespread poverty and shared misery. Venezuela is the most recent example that big government tax-and-spend policies lead to economic collapse, food shortages, and no toilet paper. Hotels ask guests to BYOTPbring your own toilet paper.2 Gotta love big government, huh? It doesnt just kill spirit, or kill people, it even kills toilet paper! The only thing every country basing its economy on diversity, social justice, and affirmative action has succeeded in is making the powerful, political elites filthy rich and making everyone else poor. Liberal (i.e., socialist) policies lead to economic disaster. No one is lifted up, everyone is torn down, and the middle class, not the wealthy, are the ones who suffer. Sound like what is happening right now in America? Obama and his progressive crony elites in the media and Congress have spent almost eight years conducting a massive, radical experiment basing our economy on diversity, equality, and social justice. The result? Obama has succeeded in destroying Americas middle class, just like every other country that ever tried to legislate equality. And that middle class happens to be overwhelmingly white. Was it worth it? Did income redistributionthat is, taking money and jobs away from small business and the overwhelmingly white middle class with massive taxes and regulations, onerous Obamacare, and climate change costs and all the spending on entitlements and debt, actually benefit black Americans? You tell me. The fact is our first black president has overseen the greatest inequality in history: Black unemployment is now double that of white unemployment. Poverty is back to 1960s levels, while welfare, food stamps, and disability have hit all-time record highs. Black violence and murder rates in inner city urban areas are spiraling out of control. Predominantly black cities like Chicago, Detroit, and Baltimore are not only bankrupt, theyre war zones. Violence on inner city streets has risen to unprecedented levels. Who are the victims? Black Americans. Obama has spent more, handed out more entitlements, more welfare, more food stamps, and now more debt than any president in history. Yet the economy is miserable and the only true measurement of economic growthgross domestic product (GDP)is near zero. Obama is the only president to ever preside over seven straight years of GDP under 3 percent. Not even Herbert Hoover or FDR in the depths of the Great Depression produced an economic record as miserable and pathetic as Obama. Its an economic record of futility, which, like Joe DiMaggios fifty-six-game hitting streak, will never be matched! The result: 63 percent of Americans cant come up with $500 in case of an emergency.3 The wealth gap between white and black Americans is wider today than in the 1960s when the war on poverty began.4 Amazingly, along with driving white and black Americans into bankruptcy and poverty, Obama will have added a world-record $10 trillion to the debt (by the time he leaves office). Thats money that has to be paid back by the middle class for decades to come, thereby guaranteeing a shrinking middle class in crisis long after Obama is gone. And you wonder why were angry? Obamas success in fundamentally changing America looks exactly like the situation in every communist, socialist, and third-world countryinequality, massive poverty, shared misery, and no middle class. Thank you, Obama: youve turned America into a third-world mess. Sadly, Obama had a golden opportunity to be a leader and make America a truly color-blind nation. I believe it is a major reason so many Americans voted for him and is what even those of us who didnt support him had great hope he would do. Instead, hes produced the worst race relations since the 1960s.5 Now, lets go a step deeper. Lets examine specific Obama policies that are clearly aimed right at the heart of white America. You wonder why white America is angry? Liberals cant understand why white America is outraged, shocked, and feels betrayed, denigrated, and discriminated? Here it is. Hiring Employees in the Private Sector How many Americans are aware that the Obama administration sued major corporations to ban them from using criminal background checks on black job applicants? The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) had the anti-white, outright racist audacity to argue that criminal background checks for whites are perfectly acceptable, but corporations should be banned from checking on the criminal records of blacks. Why? Because, they argued, black males are so likely to have a criminal record, they would never be hired. So business owners have no right to know the back- ground of the person theyre hiring to handle money and deal with valued customers? According to Obama, drug dealers, pimps, and rapists should wait on your female customers. Is this a purposeful attempt to hurt the predominantly white American middle class? You decide. But it sure looks like it. Hiring of Government Employees Not content to strike out with his order in the private sector, President Obama signed an Executive Order in December of 2015 to ban the box.6 This means federal agencies can no longer ask prospective job applicants about their criminal history. Amazingly, what this means is government employees paid with your taxpayer money (often at a higher rate than a similar job in the private sector) will now include convicted criminals. The government is using your taxes to pay convicted criminals to oversee your life. Wait, it gets better. Government employees at agencies like the IRS, the National Security Agency (NSA), and Social Security have access to highly confidential financial information that can be stolen and sold to thieves and frauds (or people looking to blackmail politicians into voting for bigger government). Doesnt it make sense that an applicants criminal background should at least be considered? Is this a purposeful attempt to hurt the predominantly white American middle class? You decide. But it sure looks like it. Housing Are you aware that the Obama administration has told land- lords they have no right to reject a potential tenant based on a criminal record? Property owners are now obligated by law to rent to known murderers, rapists, drug dealers, pimps, carjackers, and home-invasion robbers. The administration admitted that this law is to protect criminals because they hap- pen to be predominantly black. As always, Obamas Housing and Urban Development (HUD) department plays the race card by saying if you refuse to rent to criminals, youre racist because this disproportionately affects African Americans.7 Once again, this book isnt about race, but it is about reverse racism. Im merely responding in self-defense. Is this a purposeful attempt to hurt the predominantly white American middle class? You decide. But it sure looks like it. Neighborhoods How many Americans realize that Obamas HUD agency is forcing cities and towns across America to build high- density, low-income housing in middle class and wealthy white neighborhoods? Why? A liberal Mexican American activist at a famous economic event called FreedomFest aimed a question at Donald Trump that explains what were facing. Clearly angry at Trumps promise to build a wall at the Mexican border, he asked Trump, Why dont you want to build a wall around your inner cities to protect your citizens from American criminals? The factual answer to that question is we already have. Its called suburbs. America has experienced a white (and every other racial group with the economic ability) flight away from inner cities to suburbs for decades. Its why Detroit lost over half its population. Decent, law-abiding people of all races with good jobs tend to run away from crimeespecially once they start a family. But to Obama and his liberal friends, this isnt fair. People dont have a right to be mobile, send their kids to better schools, or avoid crime. Obama wants everyone to live in shared equality (i.e., misery). Now hes found a way to accomplish that. If he cant find a way to force you to live in poor, crime-ridden, inner city neighborhoods, hell just create them in your neighborhood! As a bonus, this policy erodes personal responsibility and capitalism by eliminating the necessity to study hard, work hard, or be disciplined to move from a poor neighbor- hood to a nice middle-class one. But wait, it gets better; its part of a socialists wish list. This policy not only creates fairness and equality by putting poor people into wealthy neighborhoods without working for it; it also destroys the property values of middle-class, pre- dominantly white homeowners. In the short run, the poor may be lifted up; in the longer run, everyone else is brought down. For liberals, thats equality. Look at it from the point of view of a middle-class American. Youve worked long and hard so your kids can live in a safe neighborhood, only to see Obama force low-income housing on your block, drive your home value down, and infest your nice, safe neighborhood with crime, muggings, robberies, carjackings, drugs, and prostitution. Nice! Again, while Obama and liberals keep wanting to make this a racial issue, its not. Like whites, black middle-class Americans have followed the same route. For the most part, middle-class blacks have left the inner cities. They move to suburbs to escape crime, filth, drugs, and poverty and to give their kids a chance at success. But Obama wants there to be no escape. Hes bringing the devil to you. To your neighborhood, your block, perhaps next door. Hes putting drug dealers on your corner. Is this a purposeful attempt to hurt the predominantly white American middle class? You decide. But it sure looks like it. Health Care It is a fact that Obamacares main purpose is to redistribute wealth. Small business owners (primarily white) and middle-class Americans (primarily white) have been devastated by massive increases in health care costs: insurance premiums, copays, deductibles, cost of prescription drugs, and loss of coverage. Who has gained? Poor Americans who were handed free insurance coverage. It has been a direct transfer of wealth disguised as a health care program. Poor and nonworking Americans were handed a massive new entitlement program: welfare in the form of free medical. As with every government program, middle-class Americans (pre- dominantly white) got the bill. Is this a purposeful attempt to hurt the predominantly white American middle class? You decide. But it sure looks like it. Economy Obama has passed the most dramatic tax increases along with the most onerous business regulations in history. Who were they aimed at? Predominantly white small business owners and middle-class Americans. We know how he feels about business owners. Remember when he said, You didnt build that. Is this a purposeful attempt to hurt the predominantly white American middle class? You decide. But it sure looks like it. Immigration Obama has left the borders wide open, allowing hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants to pour into America, all of whom expect cradle-to-grave entitlements. Dont forget, Obama has also fast-tracked the importation of about one million Muslims into America during his two terms.8 Well over 90 percent of these new Muslim immigrants are on food stamps, while almost 70 percent are on welfare. These stats are according to Obamas own Labor Department.9 We are fed lie after lie after lie about illegal immigration by Obama, Hillary, government bureaucrats, and, of course, the mainstream media. We are told that illegals are not flowing across the border. In a presidential debate, Hillary claimed there is no border problem. Wrong. Record numbers of illegals are coming across in 2016. As I write this book, the number of illegal aliens crossing the border is at an all-time record pace: 40 percent higher than the record set in 2014 and double the number in 2015.10 More illegals cross the border into Texas than babies born to native-born mothers in Texas each week.11 We are told that illegals are not costing America any- thing. We are told they are a net gain. What a big fat lie. Earlier in the book I proved that illegal immigrants cost hundreds of billions of dollars in welfare, food stamps, Medicaid, and other entitlementsfar more than native-born Americans, both percentage-wise and dollar-wise. Were told its not either/or. Were told America can afford to take care of American citizens and illegal immigrants. Another big fat lie. Obama just cut $2.6 billion from veterans, while allocating $4.5 billion to the importation and relocation of Syrian migrants. So why would a US president choose to cut money from vets in favor of fast-tracking Syrian migrants into our country? Why is that more important than taking care of veterans?12 So I guess it is either/or. Vets, who happen to be in the predominantly white middle class, are getting shafted to pay for Muslim immigration. Perhaps the hundreds of billions spent on all other illegal immigrants is the reason there were no funds for VA hospitals and courageous heroes were put on fictitious waiting lists to die. Those heroes happened to be predominantly white middle-class citizens. In Obamas last budget as president, he demands nearly $18,000 for every illegal child or teenager from Central America who enters the country in 2016 (he expects over 75,000).13 Thats $3,000 more than the average American senior citizen collects on Social Security, even though they were legally born in America, worked their entire lives, and paid into the system. So native-born Americans are getting out monies they already put in, and still they get less than some- one who comes here illegally. Keep in mind that many (if not most) of these children and teens might very well collect welfare for life. What does that cost the middle class? If you cant see that this is a purposeful attack on the predominantly white middle class, youre blind, deaf, or very dumb. We are told that illegals arent criminals. Another big fat lie. One out of every five illegals has a criminal record (not including the crime of coming into the country). Illegals committed almost half a million crimes in Texas alone, just in the past four years. Half a million crimesin one state.14 Multiply that number across the country and tell me the cost to society in police, courts, public defenders, prosecutors, and prison costs? What is the cost to the victims? How about the Americans murdered at the hands of illegals? Thats a pretty damn steep cost. Heres the most remarkable stat of all: 30 percent of all criminals in federal, state, and local prisons in the United States are illegal immigrants.15 This isnt happening by mistake or coincidence. The Obama administration is currently arguing in front of the US Supreme Court that Obama has the power to use executive action to instantly award Social Security to millions of immigrants illegally in the United States.16 Now lets move on to legal immigrants. Obama is purposely importing immigrants legally into the country who fit the parameters of his plan to fundamentally change America. From 2009 to 2013, the Obama administration issued twice as many green cards to immigrants from Muslim nations as European nations680,000 green cards for Muslims versus 270,000 for Europeans.17 Why is Obama choosing this ratio? Because this is how you fundamentally change America, overwhelm the sys- tem, and destroy capitalism, replacing it with socialism for a citizenry dependent on government entitlements to survive. The bonus is bringing in unskilled, uneducated, and dependent immigrants who will forever more vote Democrat to keep the freebies coming. Dont get me wrong. Obama doesnt discriminate. Every immigrant who needs welfare is welcome: Muslim, Mexican, Central American. Cubans are in a special class. All they have to do is get over the border and they are immediately met with a so-called Welcome Wagon that gives them instant cash, Social Security cards, food stamps, and Medicaid.18 As the country, health care, and school systems are all overwhelmed by massive costs for illegal immigration, and the debt rises to unimaginable levels, who pays for it all? American taxpayers. And who are they? The small business owners and middle-class Americans who spend their lives paying into the system and take almost nothing out. Is this a purposeful attempt to hurt the predominantly white American middle class? You decide. But it sure looks like it. Why doesnt someone stand up and say its time to stop flooding the country with even more poor and unskilled immigrants, legal and illegal, and spend those billions upon billions of tax dollars now being given to them to improve Americas inner cities and the lives of American citizens? Oh, guess what? Someone has. His name is Donald Trump! The Silicon Valley Jobs Scam Middle-class Americans dont realize the immigration scam isnt just about working stiffs. The cannon is aimed squarely at college-educated white-collar Americans, too. Its called H-1B visas. This is precisely why college grads with massive student loan debt are living in all-time record numbers in their parents basement. This is why the icons of Silicon Valley are freaking out about the possible election of Donald Trump. These greedy and guilty white billionaires want to keep importing hundreds of thousands of low-wage foreigners to fill their jobs, instead of higher-paid American workers.19 The sad truth about Silicon Valley is that they fear Trump because they dont want to pay real wages to American white-collar college grads. Guest worker programs have devastated the predominantly white middle and upper classes. Weve been replaced by desperate foreigners willing to work for slave wages to get to (and stay in) America. They can never ask for a raise for fear of losing their H-1B visa. You want to know why we are angry white males? The H-1B program has resulted in massive job losses and a decade of wage deflation. The media paints illegals as victims just looking for a better life for their families. Well, here were talking about American white-collar young adults who played by all the rules, graduated from good colleges, studied high technology, amassed massive student debt, and are being victimized by cheap legal foreign labor. They played by the rules and got screwed. Whos the victim now? Is this a purposeful attempt to hurt the predominantly white American middle class? You decide. But it sure looks like it. Education The public school system has been ruined by teachers unions, common core, and bleeding-heart liberal ideology. The school system is so bad, especially in Americas larger cities, that parents who have any hope for their childrens success spend their last dime on private schools, parochial schools, or homeschooling. That means business owners and taxpayers like myself are forced to pay double taxation. Im paying obscene, unaffordable property taxes to pay for public schools that I cant send my own kids to. At the same time, Im forced to pay $15,000 to $20,000 per child for alternative education. So business owners and middle-class taxpayers who pay into the system (made up of predominantly white taxpayers) are bled dry to give their children a proper education, while were also forced to pay for a terrible free education for the children of the poor, who pay no taxes and pay nothing into the system. Since they pay nothing for it, it is easy for the vested political and corrupt union interests to get them to vote for higher and higher education spending even with that system continually failing even their children. So is it any wonder the goal of liberals like Obama and Hillary is to keep poor people poor and let more and more poor and unskilled people into America, so that eventually their votes outnumber native-born, hardworking, employed Americans. Is this a purposeful attempt to hurt the predominantly white American middle class? You decide. But it sure looks like it. Currency This is the most absurd example of all. Do you know what a president does when his policies have so badly damaged the economy, ruined health care, killed all decent middle- class jobs, destroyed GDP, and run up $9 trillion in new debt, resulting in black unemployment being double that of white and causing black violent crime to run wild in Democrat- ruled, black-dominated cities? Obama attempts to appease the masses of oblivious voters by changing the faces and images on the front and back of five-, ten-, and twenty-dollar bills to celebrate social justice and diversity. Its called BREAD AND CIRCUS. And its now clear that we are Rome in the days just before the fall. Like Nero, Obama, his ignorant Kool-Aid-drinking socialist cabal, and the biased progressive media are fiddling while America burns. Obama has no clue how to turn around the economy or create jobs for black (or white) Americans, so he changes the faces on the currency to distract the masses. This is feel-good, politically correct B.S. Im sorry, folks, but putting a heroic black woman like Harriet Tubman on the twenty-dollar bill (and she is an American hero) wont create a single job or raise the GDP above zero. Putting Martin Luther King on the back of the five-dollar bill wont help a stagnant economy. Just like everywhere else its been tried, the reality is that Obama and his socialist cabal have proven an economy can- not be run based on diversity and social justice. Basing our currency on diversity and social justice wont help either. Its just BREAD AND CIRCUS to keep the masses from unrest and rioting. Keep in mind that Obamas treasurer, Jack Lew, ordered the mint to make the changes on currency a priority. He also disclosed there was great pressure to showcase diversity on our money. Really? From who? Who thinks in the middle of an Obama Great Depression the priority is putting images of civil rights leaders on our dollar, instead of making it a priority to create jobs and improve GDP? Insanity, ignorance, and reverse racism abounds. All of it is aimed at the predominantly white middle class. So much of what Obama and the liberals are doing, and the media is dutifully reporting, is simply a distraction, waste of resources, and pacifier so we wont notice how far worse things have gotten under Obama and his liberal policies. Ive saved perhaps the best for last. Dont Offend Criminals Not only is Obama demanding criminal backgrounds not be considered in hiring, but he no longer wants them to be called criminals. This is a new directive sent out to colleges by the Obama administration. The term criminal might offend. Along with this directive came a pamphlet referring to convicted criminals as justice-involved individuals. You cant make this up. Obama thinks a criminal is just someone involved with justice. We cant allow a rapist to be offended by calling him a rapist because names hurt! So now the per- son that raped your older daughter can go to work at your younger daughters university without fear of being identified as or called a rapist. At worst, it might become known he is someone involved with justice. But then, in Obamas world, it wasnt their fault; a racist white society must have forced them to commit the crime. So from now on, just to be fair, no one should ever again be called racist. They are just race-involved individuals. Is this a purposeful attempt to hurt the predominantly white American middle class? You decide. But it sure looks like it. Allow Criminals and Violent Felons to Vote Willie Horton But Im a lemons to lemonade kind of guy. Im a positive thinker. This is more than just a travesty of justice. This is more than just the ruination of America. This is opportunity knocking. This is a gift there for the taking. The Democrats have handed Donald Trump the perfect TV ad to win the 2016 Presidential election. Lee Atwater, the famous Republican advertising whiz who destroyed 1988 Democrat presidential candidate Michael Dukakis with the Willie Horton TV commercial, must be looking down from heaven with an ear to ear smile. Governor McAuliffe just handed the election to the Donald Trump and the GOP if this is handled correctly. This is Willie Horton, Part Deux. Its like shooting fish in a barrel. Find mugshots of the murderers who just got voting rights. Find mugshots of the rapists who just got voting rights. Mix in a few drug dealers and pimps. Then channel the great Lee Atwater. Get to work creating the most devastating TV commercials in modern political history. What a tragic monumental mistake Democrats just made. Not just any Democratthe best friend, ally, and chief fundraiser of the Clintons. I can see the TV ads now. Picture this: SCREEN IMAGE: Image of Virginia DEMOCRAT Governor Terry McAuliffe . . . ANNOUNCER: Hillary and Bills best friend and chief fund- raiser just gave a gift to the Clintons. He just gave voting rights to scum . . . dirtbags . . . murderers . . . the worst of the worst criminals in Virginiaso they can register Democrat and vote for Hillary. SCREEN IMAGE: Mugshots of the most heinous criminals, with crimes listed under their faces. ANNOUNCER: Think about that. They murdered people . . . they raped people . . . they carjacked people . . . they invaded homes and terrorized people . . . they sold drugs . . . they beat people almost to death . . . they pimped and beat young girls. Their victims will never again feel safe again. But the murderer, rapist, or thug who sold drugs to children is out on streetand voting for Hillary. This is the length to which Democrats will go to win elections. But wait, theres more. Not only can they vote; they can serve on a jury, become a notary public, and run for office. SCREEN IMAGE: Mugshot of murderer . . . now with a VOTE FOR ME ribbon across bottom of screen. Someday your rapist may run for office. Someday your childs drug dealer may serve on a jury. Someday youll need a notary publicand your mothers murderer will be notarizing your signature. SCREEN IMAGE: Hillary at Congressional hearing saying, What difference does it make? This is the depth of depravity of Hillary Clinton and her allies. Democratsthe party of murderers, rapists, and drug dealers. Hillary is right at home. VOTE FOR DONALD TRUMP TO MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. Folks, it really is this bad. Yes, we are angry. And we have every right and reason to be. Sadly, its a full-scale attack coming from all directions and its getting worse. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said Tuesday he is open to softening laws dealing with illegal immigrants in a Hannity town hall with Fox News Sean Hannity. His remarks were the latest sign he is considering softening a position he has taken since the onset of his campaign. Hannity asked Trump if he would change current parts of the law to accommodate law-abiding citizens or longtime residents who have raised children in the U.S. "There could certainly be a softening because we're not looking to hurt people," Trump answered. "We want people -- we have some great people in this country." "We have some great, great people in this country. But were going to follow the laws of this country and what people dont realize -- we have very, very strong laws, he told Hannity. Throughout his presidential campaign, Trump has reiterated that if he is elected in November, he would deport the 11 million people living in the U.S. illegally. He also said he wanted to follow the laws on immigration policy instead of creating new ones. We want to follow the laws, you know, we have very strong laws in this country. And you know Bush, and even Obama, sends people back. Now, we can be more aggressive on that but we want to follow the laws," he told Hannity. "If you start going around trying to make new laws in this country its a process thats brutal. We want to follow the laws of the country, and if we follow the laws we can do what we have to do. During the town hall, the billionaire businessman polled the audience about what they would do about the immigration policy. "So you have somebody who's been in the country for 20 years, has done a great job, and everything else," Trump said. "Do we take him and the family and her and him or whatever and send him out?" His question was met by some cheers over suggestions that immigrants be allowed to stay, while others responded in roars when he suggested deporting them. The Republican nominee then said he "would come out with a decision very soon" about deportations. Trump had been scheduled to outline his immigration policies on Thursday in Colorado, but that speech has since been postponed, likely until next week. His latest comments at the town hall come as he may be moving away from one of his signature proposals during the Republican primary. During an interview Monday on Fox & Friends, Trump suggested he wanted a fair, but firm immigration policy. During early days of the primaries, Trump vowed to use a deportation force to round up and deport millions of illegal immigrants. Trump promised that victims of illegal immigrant crime have not died in vain. All we can say, because the loss is beyond anything we can even think of, so all we can say is that they will not have died in vain because we wont let it happen to others," Trump said. The celebrity businessman, however, has stuck to his vow to build a wall to fortify the nation's southern border with Mexico and to deport immigrants here illegally who have committed criminal and violent acts. "On trade, theyre absolutely killing us, theyre killing us," Trump told Hannity. "Theyre killing us at the border, theyre killing us on trade; we have a trade deficit with Mexico of close to 60 billion dollars a year. So, right there you can build a wall because the walls a fraction of that." At a rally in Austin later Tuesday, Trump made no mention of his possible shift on deportations, instead repeating his vow to build a wall to fortify the nation's southern border with Mexico and to eject immigrants here illegally who have committed criminal and violent acts. Trump at several recent rallies has urged African-American voters to support him, pledging that his public safety and economic policies will improve their quality of life while suggesting that Democrats had taken them for granted. And aides said Tuesday that in the coming weeks Trump was planning trips to urban areas to conduct campaign stops he has largely avoided to this point, including stops at charter schools, small businesses and churches in black and Latino communities. The Trump campaign's potential plans to visit inner cities were first reported Tuesday by The Washington Post. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will receive her first national security briefing Saturday near her New York home. Sources told Fox News that the briefing will take place at an FBI satellite office in White Plains, N.Y., near Clinton's home in Chappaqua. Republican nominee Donald Trump received his first briefing earlier this month at the bureau's field office in New York City. Republicans, including Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan, have called for Clinton not to be given classified information after FBI Director James Comey said last month that she had been "extremely careless" in her use of a private email server as secretary of state. Despite that characterization, Comey said the FBI would not recommend charges against Clinton for mishandling classified information. Presidential nominees do not need to have a special security clearance to receive the briefings. The campaigns typically work with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to set up the sessions and discuss topics of interest. Fox News' Matt Dean contributed to this report. Chicago Board Of Education Approves Its $5.4 Billion Budget By aaroncynic in News on Aug 24, 2016 8:37PM Demonstrators in front of Chicago Public Schools headquarters on Madison Street during the Chicago Teachers Union "day of action" on April 1, 2016. Photo by Aaron Cynic. The Chicago Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a $5.4 billion budget for the FY17 year for Chicago Public Schools. The budget relies heavily on some big hopes and assumptions, including a contract proposal between the District and the Chicago Teachers Union that the union has already rejected, and $215 million from a pension reform package in Springfield. Additionally, the budget relies on a property tax hike, $1.5 billion in short-term borrowing, and $230 million in cuts. The budget we are presenting today does include a property tax levy to help fund teacher pensions, and we are very grateful to our Chicago taxpayers for shouldering this additional load, and for our leaders in Springfield for acknowledging that we must improve education funding for children living in poverty, Chicago Public Schools CEO Forrest Claypool toldreporters. Emanuels appointed board however, received plenty of criticism for its up vote. On Tuesday the Civic Federation said it could not support the budget because it effectively remains out-of-balance by relying on uncertain funding and one-time measures in order to close a $1.1 billion operating deficit. According to its analysis, CPS has completely depleted its cash reserves, leaving no cushion to deal with additional financial calamities should they arise. Additionally, the Federations report says that increased long term borrowing, CPSs ongoing structural deficit and other cash flow problems are all major concerns. Teachers and other education advocates also criticized the budget and called for the passage of a city ordinance sponsored by 39 Aldermen which would release surplus TIF funds to alleviate the Districts fiscal woes. According to the ordinance, 2016 TIF projections from Cook County Clerk David Orr could exceed $461 million, and those funds not earmarked or otherwise designated for use should be directed to the schools. Rather than join the campaign for more revenue, CPS CEO Forrest Claypool chose to lay off 1,000 educators and school staff, a move that will have devastating impacts on classrooms, contrary to what CPS leaders have been saying for months, read a press release sent by the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council on behalf of several community groups. The proposed CPS budget, which board members will be considering at Wednesdays meeting, inexplicably includes a smaller amount of TIF surplus dollars than last years budget, even though total TIF revenues are up 24%. A San Francisco suburb is testing a controversial strategy to combat the gun violence that's plagued the community paying people not to commit crimes. The experiment known as Advance Peace is being conducted in Richmond, Calif., and works like this: The 18-month fellowship hires convicted felons to "court" troubled youth -- who so far have avoided arrest due to lack of evidence -- with offers of cash and out-of-town vacations if they mend their ways. If, after six months, a fellow in the voluntary program begins to achieve specific goals, they can earn up to $1,000 a month. That doesn't sit well with victims rights activist Lorrain Taylor, whose twin sons were gunned down in the nearby city of Oakland when they were just 22. "If I were to find out that the guy who murdered my twin sons was getting a thousand dollars for a promise? I mean, how can you trust? ... I mean, if they kill somebody, they will lie," Taylor said, breaking down in tears. But supporters say the money, which comes from private donations, is like an allowance that many American parents give their children as a reward for hard work -- and argue daily, intensive engagement is the only way to disrupt urban gun violence. Fox News went for a drive with one ex-con, Joe McCoy, who now works for the city and has paired up with young fellows like 26-year-old Harold Sylvan to help them set positive goals. "Like, I've never had a job," Sylvan, who has served time for drug crimes, told Fox News. "I'm 26 and just now getting a job. I never knew what a W-2 was, or how you make [a] resume. They taught me everything." As he searches for more youth to participate in the program, McCoy said, We're gonna go all over the area. Sylvan and other so-called fellows" get to travel, too. One vacation shot shows Sylvan posing for the camera in Los Angeles, just one of the many excursions available to those who stay out of trouble. Other destinations include New York, Washington D.C., and even London. Our point is to connect with that young man in a very human way, to change that mindset that gives rise to destructive behavior, said program director DeVone Boggan with the Richmond Office of Neighborhood Services. Services don't stop bullets, but relationships can, and relationships do. Boggan said most of the 82 men who've gone through the program are still alive, and are not considered suspects in recent gun crimes. But critics say the Advance Peace program sends a bad message, and that if anyone should get money or trips, it should be the victims of violence. If my candidate doesnt win, Im moving to Canada. Its a common refrain, perhaps even more so in the heated 2016 race but one South Carolina real estate agent is trying to cash in on the voter discontent. Jeff Cook has put up roughly a dozen billboards across eastern South Carolina with pictures of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton staring down, next to the phrase, Moving to Canada? We can sell your home. The 48-foot by 15-foot advertisements offering the services of Jeff Cook Real Estate started cropping up along freeways and interstate highways back when the Republican convention began last month. The signs are, naturally, a bit tongue-in-cheek after all, few ever make good on threats to move across the northern border. But Cook tells FoxNews.com theyre generating business, including from people who say they're looking to make that move. Its a joke, obviously, but we have actually started the application process for people who want to move if their candidate doesnt win, Cook said. I dont know if they understand the immigration issues, cost and paperwork that comes with this. But they say theyre serious. Cooks billboards have become a sensation across social media, resulting in about 200 additional phone calls a week from around the world. Most of the callers are looking for a good realtor, some are members of the media (including press from New Zealand and Great Britain) and others are fascinated by the ads and want to give their opinion. He says his website traffic has jumped from 30,000 to 150,000 hits per month and he has hired additional agents to handle the workload. But not all the calls are friendly. People in Canada are calling saying, Please dont send those people up here; we dont want anything to do with those people, Cook said. We also had someone from Mexico call and they were mad that were not sending people to Mexico. Cook has also fielded calls from Canadian realtors who want the referrals to any clients who move. So far, Cook says he has about 20 people in the application process who say theyll wait to see if their candidate loses before placing their homes up for sale. If their candidate doesnt get in they want to go, Cook said. Tommy Welch, 34, of Charleston, is one of those people. A Trump supporter mulling over what he would do if Clinton wins, he said he saw the billboard and called Cook. He filled out the paperwork and is now debating: Toronto or Montreal? The billboard is kind of comical but right on; the election is a scary deal that everyone is gearing up for, Welch said. I would definitely, 100 percent, positively entertain the possibility [of moving] if Hillary won. Welch, a real estate investor, says he owns three homes and would sell them all, and uproot his family of four. Another Charleston resident and Trump backer who wanted to be identified only by his first name, Jim, said he too called Cook after seeing one of the billboards and filled out the form. If Hillary wins, I will definitely move out of this country, said Jim, 72. Id like to say Ill go to Canada, because its the closest place I could get to. Any place but here. Cook is casting himself as an equal opportunity realtor. Hell sell the homes of conservatives who want to flee a Clinton presidency, and liberals who want nothing to do with a Trump-led America. (That latter list would include celebrities threatening to leave if Trump wins like Cher, Samuel L. Jackson and Raven-Symone.) The clients and the phone calls are pretty evenly split in their support for Trump or Clinton. So far no one has actually sold their house because of the election, he said. Hes also gotten new clients moving locally who called because they thought the billboards were funny. As for Cook, who is he voting for? Im not going to say, he said. As critical reports pile up about the access Clinton Foundation donors enjoyed with Hillary Clintons State Department and Donald Trump and his allies hammer her over the allegations few elected Democrats have rallied to the party nominees defense. The fact that many of her usual allies are locked in tight House and Senate races may be contributing to the surrogate silence, as they focus on their own races. But, as the Trump campaign was quick to point out Wednesday, the Democratic nominee has even faced criticism from her own side. Most recently, former Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell said in a Philadelphia radio interview that the so-called firewall between department and foundation officials was ineffective and the reported dealings create a bad perception. Comments like this, combined with a number of tough newspaper editorials, have left Clinton and her core team effectively on their own to combat a near-constant barrage of Trump condemnation. On Wednesday, Trump called once again for a special prosecutor to investigate foundation donors getting special access to Clinton while she was secretary of state. She provided favors and access in exchange for cash, Trump said at rally in Tampa. She had a pay-to-play scheme. Thats why Congress or a special prosecutor should look into this. Trumps comments came after the Associated Press reported Tuesday that more than half of the non-government people who met with Clinton while she ran the State Department donated to the foundation, either personally or through companies or groups, based on a review of agency calendars released to the wire service. While few elected Democrats have been going to bat for Clinton over the past few days, Trump has enjoyed at least some back-up from elected Republicans -- who have been notoriously uneasy about locking arms with the billionaire businessman. The campaign released a statement Wednesday from Rep. Dan Donovan, R-N.Y., backing his call for a special prosecutor. And Texas Sen. John Cornyn, the No. 2 Senate Republican, asked Attorney General Loretta Lynch in a recent letter to investigate why the Justice Department declined to investigate the Clinton Foundation after recently released emails suggested donors sough preferential treatment while or after Clinton was secretary of state. This kind of conduct reflects the worst concerns harbored by the public about the abuse of government office to benefit the powerful at the expense of the American people, Cornyn wrote. Republican strategist Rob Burgess said Wednesday that Clintons ethical issues have become a liability for some Democrats, though questioned whether theyd be able to avoid it. "Try as they might, national Democrats will be unable to successfully distance themselves from the train wreck that is Hillary Clinton, he said. It seems that many Americans are referring to the old adage, 'Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.' Even Virginia Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a longtime Clinton ally who has boasted about vacationing with the family, appeared to duck a foundation question Tuesday when asked about the issue on MSNBC. He instead responded by questioning Trumps trustworthiness. I would say first and foremost, Donald Trump has zero credibility talking about any of these issues until this man releases his taxes, McAuliffe. So the idea that he's calling for a special prosecutor is crazy. We need to know what is in Donald Trump's taxes. New Hampshire Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan, who is trying to upset first-term Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte, also dodged multiple questions last week on CNN about whether she thought Clinton was honest and trustworthy. The campaign later clarified she indeed thinks Clinton is honest and trustworthy. Late Wednesday, former President Bill Clinton stepped forward to defend his family's foundation, saying that it was "trying to do good things. "If there's something wrong with creating jobs and saving lives, I don't know what it is," Clinton added. "The people who gave the money knew exactly what they were doing. I have nothing to say about it except that I'm really proud. I'm proud of what they've done." Bill Clinton also said changes at the foundation are needed if Hillary Clinton becomes president that weren't necessary when she led the State Department. The foundation won't accept foreign donations, and he will stop personally raising money for the foundation, he said. "We'll have to do more than when she was secretary of state, because if you make a mistake there's always appeal to the White House if you're secretary of state," Clinton said. "If you're president, you can't." "You have to [make those changes] in a way that no one loses their job, no one loses their income and no one loses their life," he said. "That's all I'm concerned about. We'll do it as fast as we can." Clinton campaign spokesman Brain Fallon on Tuesday said the AP report relied on "utterly flawed data" and said the AP "cherry-picked a limited subset of Clinton's schedule. Clinton ally and veteran strategist James Carville told Fox and Friends on Wednesday that nobody in the Clinton family has ever taken a penny from the foundation and in fact have given it millions of dollars. I think it is a terrific organization, he said. Clinton herself has been off the trail for almost a week to fundraise. Her running mate Tim Kaine has been the face of the campaign in public and has defended the nominee. On Tuesday, the Virginia senator told an ABC affiliate while campaigning in Las Vegas that the foundation taking foreign donations while Clinton was secretary of state was appropriate because of the charitable work it does. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The massive coal-fired plant in Boardman, Ore., is just four years away from being shut down for good at that point, Oregon coal production will be no more, after the state became the first in the nation to completely ban coal power. The mandate, signed into law earlier this year, was the result of an environmentalist-fueled push by the Democrat-controlled legislature. Under the plan, coal production will end once the Boardman plant shutters in 2020 utilities would still be able to buy coal power from out of state for another 10 years, until a 2030 deadline to end coal use entirely. But the phase-out already has groups warning that residents are headed for big rate increases and brownouts. "This is basically a wind mandate," said the Cascade Policy Institute's John Charles, while suggesting alternative energy sources wont be able to meet the states needs. "There's no way wind can physically power the grid because days, weeks on end, wind produces zero." Coal has been in decline for years. In 2005, coal made up 51 percent of the electricity used in the U.S. Last year, it met 40 percent of the need. In Oregon, coal power still fills one-third of the electricity demand. Despite a building boom, renewables such as wind and solar power make up just 8 percent of the electricity portfolio. The major utilities supported the coal ban even though officials can't say for sure how they'll keep the lights on. They feared a ballot initiative that would have been even less flexible. "If the cost of meeting this renewable standard is too high for customers, we don't have to meet it," said Ryerson Schwark, a spokesman for PacifiCorp. "If meeting it will impact the reliability of the grid, we don't have to meet it." A major problem could be getting any new power to the grid. A U.S. Chamber of Commerce report, titled Project No Project, found 351 recent ventures that never got built -- 140 of the projects were for renewable power. Many were killed due to legal challenges from environmental groups. Bill Kovacs, from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said there are 42,000 pages of federal environmental regulations. "Virtually anything you can find that's in federal law that isn't being complied with can be used as the basis of a lawsuit to stop the project," Kovacs said. One example of this is playing out in Oregon, where renewable power has become more critical due to the coal ban. The 133-turbine, 399 MW Saddle Butte Wind Park proposed for a large piece of land in Eastern Oregon near Boardman has been under challenge for several years. The developer, fed up with the lengthy process, has stopped paying $30,000 in fees he owes the state. Irene Gilbert of Friends of Grand Rhonde Valley, which is fighting the project, sums up the growing wind farm fatigue. "When they're done, there will be nowhere for animals or people to be in eastern Oregon without living under a wind turbine," she said. But some still defend the push to end coal power. "The people of Oregon were very interested in saying, 'hey, let's find a way to get rid of coal,'" said Cliff Gilmore of Renewables Northwest. Hillary Clintons national finance director has emerged in newly released emails as what one watchdog called the middle man between her State Department and family foundation, sharing donor information with a top Clinton confidante when he was working at the foundation. Dennis Cheng, before joining the campaign, worked for over three years as the foundations director of development and before that as deputy chief of protocol in Clintons State Department. He has managed to stay below the radar for years, but emails obtained by Citizens United in a Freedom of Information Act request show him working closely with Clinton aide Huma Abedin particularly after leaving the department for the foundation. In one 2012 exchange, Cheng sent a nine-page email to Abedin to prepare Clinton for a briefing on the 67 VIPs attending a foundation dinner. The guests ranged from major real estate and business executives to former politicians and aid organization representatives. The email, sent while Cheng was working at the foundation, shows how seamlessly Clintons aides moved between government service and the foundation, staying in contact with one another and sharing details about VIP's connected to the group. Based on the emails, Clinton was getting information about the foundation dinner in preparation for a briefing on who was attending while at the department. The emails come amid a slew of recent reports showing the Clinton State Departments frequent interaction with foundation donors, fueling critics claims that donations bought access. The campaign has rejected these allegations. Cheng was an effective fundraiser at the foundation, before coming on board the Clinton presidential campaign. During his three-and-half years working at the Clinton Foundation, published reports credit Cheng, now 36, with building a donor base in excess of $246 million. In another November email from 2012, Cheng offered Abedin a ride on a private plane to Little Rock. He wrote: Are u coming to LR? We have donors flying privately on Friday if u want a ride. Abedin sent her full name and date of birth for the passenger manifest, apparently accepting the offer. Abedin herself has been criticized for collecting paychecks from the Clinton Foundation and another Clinton-aligned group, Teneo, while a government employee. Fox News asked the director of the nonprofit Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT) to review the emails and Cheng's role. "He could be best described as the bag man. He's the one that raised the money and also kept the donors happy," said Matthew Whitaker, a former U.S. attorney. "You would expect and I always expected that Mr. Cheng would be right in the middle of some of these transactions that were going on between the Clinton Foundation and their donors and those that wanted access to the State Department and Secretary Clinton." Whitaker also said he found it odd that in the more than 50,000 Clinton emails released to date, so few included Cheng, and he suspected some of his communications may be among the more than 14,900 records recovered by the FBI from Clintons servers but not yet released. "I was surprised his name was not mentioned in [the] first email dump, Whitaker said. I expect to see his name pop up a lot more. He stays below the radar, making sure those that give are taken care of with access." State Department spokesman Mark Toner, asked about Chengs overlap with the foundation, said, "There was no impropriety. ... There was nothing precluding State Department officials from having contact, in this respect, with Clinton Foundation staff." Hillary Clinton is riding a summer wave in the polls yet the Democratic nominee has left the campaign trail in recent days to fundraise in Americas wealthiest enclaves, potentially giving rival Donald Trump the opening he needs as he works to regain his political footing. While Trump was balancing his fundraising Tuesday with a public rally and a town hall in Texas, Clinton once again was courting donors. Her fundraiser at the Hollywood Hills home of movie stars Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel follows a weekend fundraising spree in Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. In the weeks following last month's Democratic National Convention, Clinton has made only a handful of public campaign stops -- and held one quasi-press conference. Her most recent rally was almost a week ago, on Wednesday at a Cleveland high school, followed by a roundtable discussion the following day in New York with law enforcement officials. Meanwhile, Trump has been essentially non-stop on the campaign trail, trying to re-ignite his White House bid and woo voters in battleground states like Florida, North Carolina and Virginia with his law-and-order message. "Hillary Clinton is in hiding because she doesn't want to face voters or even the press, Trump campaign spokesman Jason Miller said Tuesday. Her scandal-plagued time at the State Department was an ethical disaster, not to mention a failure by allowing the rise of radical Islamic terrorism. With a track record like that, you'd be in hiding too." Strategists on both sides of the aisle seem to agree -- though for different reasons -- that the Democratic nominees limited campaign schedule is for now perhaps her best strategy. Every page of her playbook says avoid the public at every opportunity, Republican strategist and Vox Global partner David Payne said Tuesday. Its more choreographed than a Broadway musical, but without the fun. Warm, approachable -- Clinton doesnt have those qualities. What she does have is message discipline, a dedicated staff and a disciplined campaign. So why should she do rallies or town halls? Douglas Smith, a Democratic strategist and managing director at Kent Strategies, in Washington, D.C., disagrees with the idea that Clinton is missing opportunities. "She has built a robust campaign that is using her in very strategic ways," he said. "They have all the resources they need for after Labor Day. Theyre just going to let Donald Trump be Donald Trump. Nobody makes a better case for Hillary Clinton than him." Right now, Clinton leads in most battleground state polls, and the RealClearPolitics average shows her with a roughly 5-point lead nationally. But amid a string of politically damaging reports about the alleged overlap between her family foundation and tenure at the State Department, Republicans hope to use this opportunity to close that gap. As Trump shakes up his campaign leadership and aims for a reset, GOP party boss Reince Priebus reportedly predicted Tuesday the nominee could catch up with Clinton by Labor Day. Clinton isn't entirely out of the public eye. She appeared to use a Monday night appearance on ABCs Live with Jimmy Kimmel! to respond to rumors about her health, dismissing the allegations as wacky and opening a jar of pickles to try to discredit critics. While Clinton has been off the campaign trail for about a week, running mate Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine has been making almost daily stops in battleground states. Clintons next campaign event is scheduled for Thursday in Nevada, where her campaign says shell deliver a speech that will outline The Dangers of Trump's Divisive Alt-Right Candidacy. Clinton also has faced criticism for not hosting a full-blown press conference for roughly the past eight months. The Washington Post and the Republican National Committee are each counting the number of days she has gone without what they consider a real press conference -- 262. In early August, the former secretary of state took questions from reporters following a speech at a National Association of Black Journalists and National Association of Hispanic Journalists convention in Washington. Some national news media and others complained that two of the five reporters who asked questions were also event moderators and that the other three were invited guests. "Pretty sure she is standing at a podium taking questions on a broad range of topics from national print and TV reporters," Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon tweeted. When Hernan Cortez and his Spanish army marched into Cholula in present-day Mexico nearly 500 years ago, they were greeted by a peaceful people prone to building pyramids instead of stockpiles of weapons. Those people and their pyramids fell, and fast, with 10% of the local population murdered in a day as their pyramids were torched into oblivion. But as legend has it, one mud-brick pyramid was hidden, perhaps accidentally by vegetation, and was for centuries mistaken for a mountain, until locals began to construct an insane asylum in 1910. That's when they discovered the largest monument ever constructed anywhere in the world. Tlachihualtepetl, or the Great Pyramid of Cholula, stands more than 200 feet tall and nearly 1,500 feet wide, dwarfing the Great Pyramid of Giza in volume, reports the BBC. The Spaniards settled in Cholula and kept up with the local affinity for religious monuments, erecting enough churches so that there is now at least one for every day of the year. But when they built the Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de los Remediosa on what they believed was a big hill, they were actually placing a sort of ornamental top on what is in reality a pyramid setup modeled similarly to Russian stacking dolls, this one stacked at least six pyramids high. The original is thought to date back to around 300 BC, with each successive pyramid built over it by future civilizations. Today the "odd landmark" doesn't look like much more than a "grassy pre-Hispanic pyramid," as Afar magazine reports, but the marketplace that winds up from the pyramid's base to the church at its top is a testament to its exceptional endurance. (Giza stands slightly askew.) This article originally appeared on Newser: World's Largest Pyramid Was Mistaken as a Mountain Nearly a year after first making headlines around the world, "Tabby's star" is still guarding its secrets. In September 2015, a team led by Yale University astronomer Tabetha Boyajian announced that a star about 1,500 light-years from Earth called KIC 8462852 had dimmed oddly and dramatically several times over the past few years. These dimming events, which were detected by NASA's planet-hunting Kepler space telescope, were far too substantial to be caused by an orbiting planet, scientists said. (In one case, 22 percent of the star's light was blocked. For comparison, when huge Jupiter crosses the sun's face, the result is a dimming of just 1 percent or so.) [13 Ways to Hunt Intelligent Alien Life] Boyajian and her colleagues suggested that a cloud of fragmented comets or planetary building blocks might be responsible, but other researchers noted that the signal was also consistent with a possible "alien megastructure" perhaps a giant swarm of energy-collecting solar panels known as a Dyson sphere. Astronomers around the world soon began studying Tabby's star with a variety of instruments, and reanalyzing old observations of the object, in an attempt to figure out what, exactly, is going on. But they have yet to solve the puzzle. "I'd say we have no good explanation right now for what's going on with Tabby's star," Jason Wright, an astronomer at Pennsylvania State University, said earlier this month during a talk at the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute in Mountain View, California. "For now, it's still a mystery." More surprises In fact, that mystery may have deepened over the past 12 months. For example, in January, Bradley Schaefer, a professor of physics and astronomy at Louisiana State University, determined that, in addition to the weird short-term dimming events, the brightness of Tabby's star had dropped by about 20 percent overall between 1890 and 1989. That pattern is very difficult for known natural phenomena to explain, he said. Schaefer came to this conclusion after poring over old photographic plates of the night sky that captured Tabby's star. Other researchers suggested that the trend Schaefer saw could have been caused by changes in the instruments used to take those photos over the century-long timespan. However, a new study bolsters Schaefer's interpretation. In the new work, Benjamin Montet (of the California Institute of Technology and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics) and Joshua Simon (of the Observatories of the Carnegie Institution of Washington) reanalyzed Kepler observations of Tabby's star from 2009 through 2013. They found that the object dimmed by 3 percent over that span, with a rapid 2-percent brightness dip over one 200-day period. "Of a sample of 193 nearby comparison stars and 355 stars with similar stellar parameters, 0.6 percent change brightness at a rate as fast as 0.341 percent [per year], and none exhibit either the rapid decline by > 2 percent or the cumulative fading by 3 percent of KIC 8462852," Montet and Simon wrote in the new study, which they uploaded to the online preprint site ArXiv on Aug. 5. "No known or proposed stellar phenomena can fully explain all aspects of the observed light curve." Schaefer's results, combined with those of Montet and Simon, make the comet hypothesis look less and less likely, Wright said in his SETI talk. "Why would comets, over a century, make the star dimmer?" he said. "What's going on?" [5 Bold Claims of Alien Life] Alien megastructure? The sustained dimming of Tabby's star is still consistent with at least some variants of the "alien megastructure" hypothesis, Wright said. "Some people have sort of facetiously offered that perhaps this is a Dyson sphere under construction: You're seeing lots of material getting built," he said. "In just 100 years, they've blotted out 20 percent of the starlight. That seems kind of fast to me but, you know, aliens, right?" It's also possible that the alien megastructure if it exists is fully constructed, and some parts are just denser than others, Wright added. "That would naturally make the star get brighter and dimmer, as dense parts of the swarm came around," he said. "So if I had to invoke megastructures to explain it, that seems consistent. You've got lots of panels of different shapes, different sizes, and the big ones make big dips and the little ones make little dips, and the whole swarm is sort of like a translucent screen that makes the whole thing dimmer." But Wright and others have always stressed that the "E.T. did it" scenario is very unlikely, and that a more prosaic explanation will probably rise to the top eventually. And indeed, other recent observations throw some cold water on the alien-megastructure idea and any other hypothesis that invokes some object or phenomenon near Tabby's star. Any structure surrounding the star, be it alien-made or naturally occurring, would heat up and give off infrared radiation, Wright said. But he and his colleagues saw no signatures of such "waste heat" in data gathered by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer spacecraft. And another research team which analyzed observations by the Submillimeter Array telescope and the Submillimeter Common-User Bolometer Array-2 instrument, both of which are in Hawaii also came up empty. Whatever is blocking the starlight from Tabby's star is "not surrounding the whole star it must be along our line of sight," Wright said. "So you can do that if it's in a disk of some kind. And that hopefully will help constrain what the heck is going on." Wright has a hunch that the answer lies far away from Tabby's star, out in the dark depths of space. "I think I've all but abandoned circumstellar explanations, and I think now we're going to have to talk about [some] bizarre structure in the interstellar medium, and stuff like that," he said. Still, Wright hasn't given up on the alien-megastructure hypothesis. While the lack of waste heat is "almost a fatal blow" for the idea, he said, it's still viable if the purported aliens are doing something with the waste heat turning it into matter, for example, or converting the heat into radio waves for communication purposes. Astronomers have already searched for such signals coming from Tabby's star using the Allen Telescope Array, a network of radio dishes in northern California operated by the SETI Institute. They found nothing. But Wright and his colleagues plan to conduct another search beginning in October; they've secured time on West Virginia's huge Green Bank Telescope for this purpose. "This is a 1-in-300,000 object," Wright said. "People have gone looking for more, and it's the only one. So that also says you're allowed to invoke one really rare thing, because it is a rare phenomenon." A centuries-old hand grenade that may date back to the time of the crusaders is among a host of treasures retrieved from the sea in Israel. The metal artifacts, some of which are more than 3,500 years old, were found over a period of years by the late Marcel Mazliah, a worker at the Hadera power plant in northern Israel. Mazliahs family recently presented the treasures to the Israel Antiquities Authority. Experts, who were surprised by the haul, think that the objects probably fell overboard from a medieval metal merchants ship. The hand grenade was a common weapon in Israel during the Crusader era, which began in the 11th century and lasted until the 13th century, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority. Grenades were also used 12th and 13th century Ayyubid period and the Mamluk era, which ran from the 13th to the 16th century, experts say. Haaretz reports that early grenades were often used to disperse burning flammable liquid. However, some experts believe that so-called ancient grenades were actually used to contain perfume. The oldest items found in the sea by Mazliah are a toggle pin and the head of a knife from the Middle Bronze, which date back more than 3,500 years. Ayala Lester, a curator at the Israel Antiquities Authority, explained that other items, such as two mortars, two pestles and candlestick fragments, date to the 11th-century Fatimid period. The items were apparently manufactured in Syria and were brought to Israel, she said, in a statement. The finds are evidence of the metal trade that was conducted during this period. Experts in Israel regularly unearth fascinating sites and artifacts. Archaeologists in Western Galilee, for example, recently uncovered a 1,600-year-old ceramics workshop and a kiln. Another dig at an ancient synagogue in northern Israel revealed stunning mosaics depicting Noahs Ark and the parting of the Red Sea. However, the recent discovery of a 3,000-year-old graveyard in Ashkelon, hailed as a key find from the Philistine era, has sparked historical debate among archaeologists. Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers. Chicago Police Remind Trump He Never Met With Their Top Brass By aaroncynic in News on Aug 24, 2016 2:51PM While Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump believes he might be able to solve Chicagos crime problem in a week with his less-than-well-sourced platitudes on rough and tough policing, it turns out no one in the upper echelons of the Chicago Police Department consulted him on those magical ideas. In a segment with Bill OReilly earlier this week, the carnival-barking Republican presidential nominee said that he once met with "very top police" who told him given the chance, they could solve Chicagos crime epidemic in a week. "I went to a top police officer in Chicago, who is not the police chief, and heI could see by the way he was dealing with his people, he was a rough, tough guy. They respected him greatly, he said. I said, 'How do you think you do it?' He said, 'Mr. Trump, within one week, we could stop much of this horror show that's going on. According to a statement from the police department however, no such meetingat least, none between top Chicago cops and Trumpever took place. "We've discredited this claim months ago," CPD spokesperson Frank Giancamilli said in a statement given to NBC5. "No one in the senior command at CPD has ever met with Donald Trump or a member of his campaign." This is the second time Trump has attempted to lean on CPD to legitimize information he more than likely conjured from thin air. Shortly after he decided to skip out on his rally at UIC, he said he made the decision on the advice of law enforcement. Police later denied such advice was given and in fact, had sufficient manpower to cover the event. Worth a reminder: CPD did not tell Trump to cancel his Chicago rally, the campaign made that decision. pic.twitter.com/gymz87TSEh Aaron Cynic (@aaroncynic) August 23, 2016 As Trump and his twisted world view are often misunderstood by media (Sad!), campaign spokesperson Hope Hicks explained his comments to the Tribune : "He didn't say in the senior command, she said. Those are your words. Further widening the ambiguity as to the definition of what constitutes a top cop, Hicks said it meant capable, smart and talented." Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi also tried to distance the department from Trumps tough talk on crime. "The best way to address crime is through a commitment to community policing and a commitment to stronger laws to keep illegal guns and repeat violent offenders off the street. An ancient Mayan text captured the moment when a royal astronomer made a scientific discovery about the movement of Venus across the night sky. The text, called the Dresden Codex, contains laborious measurements of the rising and setting of Venus. Based on these recordings, historians can now place this astronomer within a 25-year span within the first half of the 10th century. "We can see the moment when this person puts it all together," said Gerardo Aldana, a science historian in the Department of Chicano Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara and a co-author of a new study describing the findings. [10 Biggest Historical Mysteries That Will Probably Never Be Solved] Fascinating backstory The Dresden Codex is a gorgeous Mayan text of 39 double-sided pages with a murky and fascinating backstory. The document somehow made it out of the Yucatan Peninsula and into the Royal Library in Dresden, Germany by the 1730s, according to the Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies. Then, in the late 1800s, Ernst Forstemann, a German mathematician with no background in Mayan history or culture, came upon a table of Mayan numerals on page 24 of the codex. Forstemann deduced that the table contained measurements pertaining to Venus, even though no one at the time could decipher Mayan hieroglyphics. Then, in the 1920s, chemical engineer John Teeple looked more carefully at the numbers and realized that the Maya were using a sophisticated technique to correct for the shift in their calendar caused by the irregular cycle of Venus, Aldana said. Many scholars assumed that these corrections were done by using numerological techniques, for instance by inventing a past Venus event and then predicting future ones by calculating from that fictional anchor event. [See Photos of Mayan Calendar Carvings] But few had taken a careful look at the text that surrounds the table. (That was in part because Mayan hieroglyphics were not deciphered until well into the 20th century, when much of the early scholarship had already taken place, Aldana said.) Ancient astronomer For this new research, Aldana analyzed the wording around the Venus table. From that, he deduced that the Maya were actively measuring the phases of Venus in order to time their ceremonial events with more precision. That meant the first anchor event was an actual, historical measurement. The Maya "had a really elaborate ritual set of events that were tied to the calendar," Aldana said. "They were probably doing large-scale ritual activity connected to the different phases of Venus." The corrections in the Venus table, then, were made because the Maya didn't want to have their holidays at the wrong time: Little inaccuracies in the calendar wouldn't have mattered much in the short term, but over hundreds of years, they could lead to a big mismatch in when certain ritual events were supposed to occur and when they actually did occur. The combination of the text and the table reflects a sophisticated scientific method of observation at a specific point in time in the "Terminal Classic Period," or the 10th century. "There's this 25-year period, a window, when an astronomer could have been making these records," Aldana said. This Mayan Copernicus, whose name is unknown, could have been looking up at the star-speckled night sky for years, making minute observations from the shell-shaped observatory called El Caracol at Chichen Itza. What's more, he may have been put to this task by a historical figure named K'ak' U Pakal K'awiil, Aldana reported in the current issue of the Journal of Astronomy in Culture. The Venus table also matches another measurement of a Venus event found in a text from an ancient Mayan civilization called Copan, in what is now Honduras. That text was written 200 years earlier than the Dresden Codex, suggesting that the Maya were keeping centuries of astronomical data around for future scientists to analyze, Aldana said. Venus rising The measurements in the Dresden Codex coincide with a time period when Venus became much more religiously significant in Mayan culture. In the Classic period, between A.D. 300 and 1000, civilizations at Copan, Palenque and Tikal had no oversize interest in Venus. But in later years, a feathered serpent named Kukulkan emerged as a dominant figure in Mayan religion. (Kukulkan is very similar to the deity Quetzalcoatl that was worshipped by the Aztecs.) "There's this transition that occurs in the post-Classic [period]," Aldana said. "Some scholars have argued there's closer to a pan-Mesoamerican religion tied to this Quetzalcoatl figure who is very tied to Venus." As a result, the Maya of the last Classic period would have had an increased interest in studying the movement of the planets, Aldana said. Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Roborace is moving closer to the goal of autonomous race cars with the release of its first development vehicle. Known as the "DevBot," the car doesn't look anything like renderings released by Roborace earlier this year, but it does pack the hardware and software the nascent race series plans to use on its actual cars. The final designs for those cars will be unveiled later this year, series organizers say. Read more: Roborace will use Nvidia's Drive PX 2 Unlike the final product, the DevBot has space for a human driver. Roborace says this is to allow teams to "fully understand how the car thinks and feels on a racetrack alongside the comprehensive real-time data." It's probably a good idea to have a human onboard anyway, in case the DevBot decides to go all Skynet on innocent bystanders. Roborace says it has been testing the fully custom development vehicle for about nine months on airfields and racetracks, including the famous Silverstone circuit in England, home of the Formula One British Grand Prix. Teams will be able to use the car to experiment with different setups before entering a pre-qualifying process for the series, which begins next month. Roborace is an offshoot of Formula E, which features electric cars driven the old fashioned way, by humans. The plan is for Roborace events to run in tandem with Formula E, serving as a sort of warmup to the main Formula E races. The use of "support series" like this isn't uncommon in other forms of racing, but Roborace will be the first to use self-driving cars. The DevBot will be shown to the public for the first time August 24 during the Formula E open practice sessions at the Donington, England circuit. The first Roboraces will take place during the upcoming Formula E season, which kicks off in Hong Kong October 9. Theyre having a birthday-- and it's a big one. The National Park Service turns 100 on Aug. 25 and parks around the country are celebrating the milestone. Starting Thursday, entrance to the 124 parks that usually charge admission is free through Sunday (Aug. 28). Throughout the nation, special events at over 400 parks will celebrate the centennial. From birthday cakes and cupcakes to special classes and programs, most parks have something special planned. National parks may be synonymous with camping and hiking today but Americans haven't always been able to enjoy these protected lands. The story of the national parks started in 1872 with the creation of the first park, Yellowstone National Park, with the Yellowstone Act. The land was saved from private development when President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act into law, March 1, 1872. Thanks, in part, to the stunning nature photography of William Henry Jackson, official photographer of the United States Geological and Geographical Survey of the Western Territories, 2.2 million acres became the worlds first national park. Known for its geysers, hot springs and bison herd, Yellowstone was the beginning of what was to become the National Park Service in 1916. On Aug. 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed into law an act creating the National Park Service. In the years since, it's expanded to include over 400 different parks and park monuments throughout the U.S. More than 300 million visited National Park Service sites and parks in 2015, according to NPS. Among the parks, Great Smoky Mountains National Park was the most visited at 10.7 million recreational visits. Grand Canyon National Park received 5.5 million visitors followed by Rocky Mountain National Park with 4.155 million visitors. Spurred in large part by heavy promotion during the centenniel, visits to the parks are up 3.36 percent compared to last year. Haven't visited a park yet? Here are eight fun ways to celebrate: --Be Part of the Human Arrowhead Emblem. Join the 1,000-plus visitors who will meet on the National Mall and Memorial Parks in Washington on Thursday, Aug. 25, to create a living version of this well-known emblem for the National Park Service. NPS employees, volunteers and partners will use brown, green and white umbrellas to create the symbol beginning at 10 AM. Those gathering are asked to pre-register and assemble on the west side of the Washington Monument at 9 a.m. The first 1,000 participants will receive a commemorative T-shirt. Theyll also be able to keep their umbrellas-- rain or shine. --Follow the Footsteps of Alaska Conservationists. Denali National Park and Preserve historian Erik Johnson, also an Alaska Geographic educator, leads the way, Aug. 24 through 26, using the notes of Charles Sheldon to find the mountain ridges where he first discovered Dall sheep. The course also tracks the path of biologist Joseph Dixons journey through the park. Cost is $315 for Alaska Geographic members; $350 for non-members. --Meet the new Theodore Roosevelt National Park Quarter. The United States Mint and National Park Service officials will launch the new coin at Painted Canyon Visitor Center in North Dakota on Thursday. Parking will be limited but a free shuttle service is being offered from Medora Musical Hill and from the park's Cottonwood Campground. Return trips are scheduled following the ceremony. --Eat Cupcakes with the Rangers. Friends of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park will provide Birthday Cupcakes with the Rangers in the Juniper Picnic Area in the North Unit at 7:30 p.m CT at the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. --Go Back in Time. Learn about Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at the Gen. Grant National Memorial in New York City. A West Point graduate, he served two terms as President of the United States. Hear a Grant impressionist relay his life's work on Aug. 25. --Say Aloha. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park celebrates the NPS Centennial with the Na Leo Manu Hawaiian Concert Series Friday, Aug. 26 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Kilauea Military Camp's Kilauea Theater. The program will feature authentic Hawaiian music and a hula troupe. --Learn about Biodiversity in Lava Flows. Join in a mini BioBlitz to observe and document the biodiversity that thrives in the lava flows and native rainforests of the Kilauea and Mauna Loa Volcanoes Saturday, Aug. 27, at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Pa Hula near the near Kilauea Visitor Center on the Big Island of Hawaii. Field inventories begin at 7 a.m. and continue until the early afternoon. --Have Birthday Cake. The Florida National Parks Association is hosting a National Parks Birthday Party Thursday at the Coral Gables Museum in Coral Gables from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The event highlights This Land is Your Land: A Second Century for Americas National Parks, an exhibit of images, videos and artifacts from the collections of Biscayne, Dry Tortugas and Everglades National Parks and Big Cypress National Preserve. The mother of a 9-year-old boy says her son was subjected to a demeaning experience and hassled by airport security officials during a recent trip to Arizona. Ali Bergstron of Wyoming, Minn., was flying back from a vacation in Phoenix with her son Chille on Saturday, reports FOX 9. Chille was born with Golden Hars Syndrome and, in his case, he currently suffers from four heart defects that required 15 open heart surgeries since birth. He now depends on a life-saving pacemaker which, Bergstrom says, has never been a problem at other airports and the family has been traveling for years. Usually, they [TSA agents] are friendly, they smile, they give him a sticker, a TSA sticker, the mother told FOX 9. She says her son loves flying so much that he hopes to become a pilot one day. Every time they fly, the Bergstroms are required by law to request additional screening, but the mother says she always make sure to provide the proper TSA documentation that permits the screening modifications Chille requires. But on Saturday, as the family was going through security at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, Bergstrom says they were subjected to a traumatic and discriminatory experience. We were told immediately by the TSA that he was not allowed to be screened alternatively and instead would need an exemption, she said. [I was] shocked beyond belief. In walks the head of the Department of Homeland Security for the entire airport, followed by other supervisors, and managers with ten other people from TSA. Alternative screening usually allows Chille to bypass walking through traditional metal detectors -- which can affect pacemakers function -- and instead go through a different process which usually takes about 2 minutes. But on Saturday, the family says the TSA process took more than an hour as multiple officers, reportedly with guns and tasers, were called in to complete the screening. One of the TSA agents told me theyd prevented terrorist attacks using 9-year-old boys with pacemakers and children before, so I laughed and said, Oh when? At that point, the TSA agent became very quiet and said, Oh were not at liberty to discuss this, said Bergstrom. After Chille asked one of the agents what was happening, one reportedly announced that the boy would not be able to fly that day. It was very scary, the 9-year-old told FOX 9. I thought it was my fault. Because he has been reared with this pacemaker I always tried to empower him, Bergstrom said. This was the first time Id ever heard him talk like this. She says her son had nightmares over the weekend but hopes he wont give up his dream of flying an airplane. In a statement to FOX 9, TSA spokesman Nico Melendez said, TSA is committed to ensuring all travelers are treated with respect and courtesy. TSA is reviewing Saturdays incident and working to contact the family. But Bergstrom says no one has reached out to her directly. TSA has not contacted me. No one has apologized. No one has reached out, she said. Chille is scheduled to undergo his 16th open heart surgery soon. FoxNews.com has contacted the TSA and Bergstrom family for comment. Read more from FOX 9. These days it seems like everyone has a side-hustle or a passion project that theyre pursuing outside of their nine-to-five. Starting a new side gig can seem daunting, but with the right tools up your sleeve youll be well on your way to becoming a successful entrepreneur. 1. Clearbit Connect finds employee emails for any company. Trying to reach a potential investor or journalist? Clearbit Connect is a Gmail plugin helps you find just about anyones contact information. You can search by name or job title and instantly get access to someones corporate email address, Twitter handle and LinkedIn profile. The plugin also adds context information in sidebar by providing the companys address, amount of venture capital (VC) funding and number of employees. The free version gets you 25 free contact searches per month. 2. Docracy is an open collection of legal contracts. Docracy is an online collection of free legal documents, which are submitted by a community of lawyers and organizations. You can find consulting agreements, freelancing contracts, non-disclosure agreements and even leases for office space. Once you have the paperwork you need, you can use the platform for digital signatures as well. 3. Logo Generator allows you to create a free logo. Its critical to have a logo for social media accounts, marketing materials and websites, but it can be quite expensive to hire a professional designer for a side-hustle thats just getting started. Fortunately, a logo generator, like this one make it quick and easy to create an original logo in minutes. Simply select your favorite font and icon, and then download your free file. 4. Primer teaches you marketing on-the-go. Primer is a free education app is part of a pilot program at Google. It offers bite-sized lessons on advertising, measurement, strategy and content and allows users to test their knowledge with personalized next steps. You can download it on Android or iOS, and use the app offline, which means you may be able to squeeze in a lesson or two on your commute. 5. Tethr is a free iOS design kit. Tethr is a stunning iOS design kit that includes $80 worth of Sketch and Photoshop files. There are more than 100 templates and 250 UI elements that you can mix and match. This kit will rapidly speed up the design and planning stages of your next brilliant app idea. 6. Pay with a Tweet. Encourage your audience to spread the word about your project by allowing them to Pay With a Tweet. This platform lets you to set up free social lockers, which require users to share suggested text in exchange for material, such as videos or digital downloads. 7. Track your goals and habits in Strides. Entrepreneurship requires a substantial amount of motivation and self-discipline. If you need an app to keep yourself on track, check out habit-building apps like Strides. It helps users commit to goals, and develop productive habits. You can track everything from sales targets to bed times. 8. Get blog post ideas with Blog Topic Generator. If youve run out of ideas for blog posts, Blog Topic Generator is the tool for you. Simply enter three keywords, and youll instantly receive a weeks worth of blog topic suggestions. While its not a perfect system, its certainly a helpful starting point for combatting writers block. 9. Manage appointments, customers, staff and schedules in Setmore. Setmore is a free scheduling platform was designed to simplify appointment booking for small businesses. It works with 18 popular web services, which allows you to seamlessly integrate it into your business. Your customers can pay their fees ahead of time, and sign up to receive SMS notifications or email reminders about their appointments. Its sure to come in handy for anyone whose side-hustle is service-based, such as personal trainers, estheticians or photographers. 10. StockSnap offers free, beautiful stock photos. Whether its for advertisements, brochures, landing pages or blog posts, pretty much every business needs stock photos at some point. These photos can get pretty expensive, but fortunately there are a variety of free libraries available online. StockSnap, for example, offers a searchable database of high-quality images, which are free to use for commercial purposes under a Creative Commons CCO license. 11. Noisli helps you focus. Need to focus and get down to business? Noisli is a free noise generator lets you create your ideal soundscape with just a few clicks. You can blend together an array of audio clips, such as a rumbling train, a crackling fire and a calming rainstorm. It also features a timer and a distraction-free text editor. 12. Yanado turns gmail into a task management app. Yanado transforms your Gmail inbox into a project management tool. You can turn emails into tasks; delegate them to team members; assign due dates; and receive real-time notifications about progress. The free version only supports one user, but it could be a great fit for freelancers, consultants or anyone who is in the early days of their side hustle. Related: Top 5 Small Business Tools 13. Track your life in Instant. Instant is an app will track almost every aspect of your life, including sleep, exercise, productivity, phone activity and locations. It includes a chat bot, which can provide meaningful insights, such as whether youve been spending too much time playing Pokemon Go or not enough time sleeping. Related: 18 Effective Social-Media Tools That Will Save You Time 14. Learn how to start a business with StartUp Class. Not sure where to begin with your business idea? Sam Altman, president of Y Combinator (YC), designed a 20-part course for Stanford University and released the lectures for free. StartUp Class is more than 1,000 minutes of a comprehensive business education. The lectures include expert guest speakers, such as Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal, and Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, and the curriculum covers everything from growth hacking to fostering a great company culture. Related: 10 Free Marketing Tools Every Entrepreneur Should Know About 15. Generate invoices with Invoice Generator. Getting paid is an important part of running a side-hustle. Invoice Generator makes it super simple to create customer invoices. Just fill out the relevant fields, and you can instantly download a professional invoice. Plus, you can even customize it with your logo, like the one you created with the generator; edit the tax rate; and add multiple line items if needed. I hesitated writing a column on this topic because I suspected some would read the first line or two and then automatically assume Im against raising the minimum wage. So let me be very clear: This is not a statement for or against. My intention is not to debate right vs. wrong. Its happening. The minimum wage debate has sailed, and the focus now needs to turn to helping both workers and small businesses navigate these changes in a positive way. Minimum wage -- steady at $7.25 per hour at the federal level since 2009 -- is fast becoming one of small-business owners' greatest interests. Stepped local minimum wage increases to $15 have already won approval in municipalities including San Francisco, Los Angeles and Washington D.C. with other cities preparing to vote. Its an issue in the presidential race, with support for a boost to $12 (Hillary Clinton), or an increase of some magnitude with details left to the states (Donald Trump). Related: New York and California Governors Sign $15 Minimum Wage Laws If youre a small-business owner who hopes the fuss will die down after November -- it won't. An increase is no longer a what-if question, but rather how high. I believe that an increase in wages is healthy for our economy, but it has to be sensitive to the backbone of small business. Raising the minimum wage should be good for the overall economy. But I think, as do many economists, that how we implement any wage increase is the key to the survival and success of Americas entrepreneurs. Here are four considerations I think are essential -- two for legislators and two for small-business owners: 1. Make any wage increase national. A national increase is the only way to level the playing field. Siloed city or state increases are more of a threat to local small businesses because regional and national businesses can manage labor costs across their larger workforces. When everyone pays minimum wage in a community, it diminishes the benefits of paying higher wages to retain staff, but it also makes it easier to modestly raise prices to mitigate the impact on profits. 2. Step, dont jump. Moving immediately to a $15 wage asks many entrepreneurs to more than double their labor costs. We cant go there all at once. We dont even have solid data on the national impact of a $15 minimum wage, or the effects on lower-earning regions of the country where wages would immediately double for a significant portion of the workforce. Thats a huge hit for small businesses to absorb. Related: 3 Reasons You Should Increase Employee Pay Now Leading economists are generally much more comfortable with a stepped approach, especially as we approach the murky waters of $15 per hour. Cities such as Seattle have put in a tiered approach. Finally, in spite of benefits to the overall economy from rising wages, data from a review of economic research on the relationship between minimum wage and employment in North America (conducted by Pierre Fortin at UQAM), suggests that when the minimum wage rises above more than 45 percent of the average wage, jobs are lost. That reinforces that we should step, not jump. 3. Entrepreneurs should focus on retention and productivity. Turnover becomes more expensive every year. A 2012 study found that turnover cost for positions earning $30,000 or less annually (more than half of all workers at the time) was 16 percent of an employees salary. Turnover rates in the hospitality industry alone were at 72.1 percent in 2015. The time and money you invest in training employees to be productive and creating a supportive environment for them to thrive will give you an enormous return. If everyones paying the same minimum wage, then your opportunity to retain employees and avoid turnover cost is in making people want to stay. 4. Plan! A minimum wage increase is on the horizon. We dont know what it will be, or how it will be implemented. If you think that makes it hard to plan, youre right! Thats why you need to start now by considering various increase scenarios, crunching the numbers and developing strategies. Related: Wal-Mart Wage Hike to $15 an Hour Would Cost it $4.95 Billion, Study Says Lastly, talk with your team. Your employees and customers have a stake in this too. Youll navigate these scenarios more smoothly if you know what it will take to keep them in your business as opposed to sailing away in search of a better deal. Lets collectively seek a win-win scenario where U.S. workers see healthy increases in their wages and small businesses continue to thrive. We need both to build and sustain a healthy economy -- one far better than most of us have ever seen. It is said that simplicity is the virtue of removing the extraneous to reveal the essence. The beginning of August is National Simplify Your Life Week, and entrepreneurs and business professionals can use this period to streamline their work and home life. That's because simplicity is a test of whether you're clear about your priorities. Our immediate environment is a reflection of our mindset - a neat and organized office reflects the discipline with which we approach our vocation. Clutter, on the other hand, betrays our sloppiness. Clarity is an edge. Success can often be traced to excellence in a few key metrics. And Occam's Razor says the simplest answer is often correct. We see this in the marketplace, which often rewards a straightforward approach to product or service rollouts. Consider how Apple wows its customers with the beautiful simplicity of the original iPod, leaving other mp3 makers dead in their tracks. And who would have thought a decade ago that Google's tiny search bar could monopolize the content world? Compare Google's homepage with that of Yahoo!'s. It's no coincidence that Apple and Google are the top two most valuable companies in the world. They succeeded in the extreme simplification of user touchpoints where others touted sophistication. Here's how to simplify so you can avoid the pitfalls of complexity. 1. Automate, and consolidate. Make recurring transactions automatic, whether that involves 401(k) payroll deductions, bill payments, direct deposits or funding a retirement account. Technology can help with administrative tasks, so take advantage, and free up your time. And consider consolidating investment accounts, card balances and other funds to eliminate certain redundancies. For example, Mint.com is a financial tool where you can track your bank accounts, investments, loans and credit scores all in one place and in real-time. According to an August 2016 survey by Capital One, 41 percent of American respondents said a mobile app with access to all account information was their must-have card management tool. 2. Clean out the clutter. Less is more. In the same Capital One survey, creating a feasible budget (47 percent) topped the list of choices by respondents when asked what they would do to simplify their finances. If you're not careful, unnecessary expenses could eat up your limited budget. At the office (and at home), useless items are always being brought inside by various people and guests. The constant influx requires you to periodically clean house so the junk doesn't pile up. Either trash it; donate it; or sell it. Related: How to Harness Joseph Schumpeter's 'Forgotten' Path to Innovation: Organization 3. Organize the paperwork. Paperwork is just one of those things that you can't avoid. Not filing the right documents means you can lose some really important stuff - like IRS returns, pay stubs, official receipts, you name it. But on the bright side, technology allows you to scan documents so you can store them electronically. According to the aforementioned survey, only 15 percent of Americans said their financial lives would be the easiest to simplify. Use apps and technologies that help you keep tabs. For example, Capital One has introduced tools for their Quicksilver and Venture cardholders, such as Second Look, which help consumers identify mistaken transactions and avoid unexpected charges. You can safeguard your sanity when there aren't any surprises. Related: How to Organize Your Bedroom for Better Sleep 4. Leverage the gig economy. Outsource has been the buzzword over the past three decades, but the gig economy is driving costs further down. The number of freelancers is rising each year. By 2020, 40 percent of American workers will be independent contractors. Many freelancers work from home and that reduces overhead - with savings passed on to clients. In a more competitive labor market, most freelancers compete for business by quoting lower and lower prices. Experts consider this phenomenon as a race to the bottom. So consider outsourcing your non-core work and chores. There's plenty of independent contractors on Fiverr and Upwork who provide an array of services. You can find virtual assistants, web designers, marketers, video editors and other skilled professionals. Related: 10 Simple Productivity Tips for Organizing Your Work Life Adding stuff generally reduces the marginal utility of these extra items - making it prudent to stick to the essentials. Simplicity requires you to constantly focus on what's important, and it's the 20 percent that counts, not the 80 percent. Authorities in Southern California searched Tuesday for a man and a woman suspected of killing a woman, kidnapping her three small children and leaving the state. The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department said in a statement that warrants have been issued for Joshua Robertson, 27, and Brittany Humphrey, 22. Robertson and Humphrey are suspected of killing Kimberly Harvill, whose body was discovered on Aug. 14 in brush along a remote road in northern Los Angeles County in the unincorporated Lebec area near Interstate 5. Harvill was Humphrey's sister, KABC reported. Authorities believe the pair also kidnapped Harvills three children, 2-year-old Joslynn Watkins, 3-year-old Brayden Watkins and 5-year-old Rylee Watkins. "Help us get those kids home. We need them home because they've got a life that they should be able to live," the children's godfather, Tso Yanez, said in tears during an interview Tuesday. Police said the couple was likely driving the victims 1999 green Ford Explorer SUV, which has California plates 7BEK024 that may have been swapped for temporary plates, stick-figure stickers of a family and a sticker that reads R.I.P. Chad Watkins. Robertson has a criminal history that includes a conviction on illegal weapons charges and is on probation, authorities said. The department at first struggled to identify Harvill and asked the public for help, noting that she had the names "Rylee" and "Brayden" among her many tattoos. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The North Carolina Highway Patrol is urging people to not jump to conclusions as state agents investigate how a deaf driver with a history of minor offenses ended up dead after leading a trooper on a 10-mile chase. The family of Daniel Kevin Harris said he was unarmed and suggested the sequence of events last week was a tragic misunderstanding the type the state's training manual warns troopers to avoid when dealing with the hearing impaired. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, Secretary Frank Perry of the state Department of Public Safety said in a news release. "Let us all refrain from making assumptions or drawing conclusions prior to the internal and independent reviews" by the patrol, the State Bureau of Investigation and the district attorney, said Perry, whose agency oversees the Highway Patrol. Authorities haven't said why Trooper Jermaine Saunders fired, and a review of public records shows a few traffic charges against Harris from other states, including damaging his employer's vehicle with his own car after he was fired last year, according to a Denver police report. Last Thursday's incident started when Harris did not pull over as Saunders turned on his blue lights on Interstate 485 near Charlotte about 6:15 p.m. and ended after Harris drove down several miles of surface streets to his home. North Carolina's Basic Law Enforcement Training manual has a section that deals with interacting with deaf drivers. "Keep your eyes on the person's hands," it reads. "Deaf people have been stopped by an officer and then shot and killed because the deaf person made a quick move for a pen and pad in his or her coat pocket or glove compartment. These unfortunate incidents can be prevented by mutual awareness which overcomes the lack of communication." The victim's family said Harris likely didn't understand the officer's commands. Harris' family said they want to make sure the incident is investigated thoroughly and also want the state to make changes so officers will immediately know they are dealing with a hearing-impaired driver. Authorities have released little information about the investigation, including any possible body camera or dashboard camera footage or whether a gun was found near Harris. Saunders has been placed on administrative leave. A spokeswoman for the SBI didn't respond Tuesday to questions, including whether authorities have interviewed Saunders yet. Harris' family is raising money for his funeral and will put any extra money toward educating police officers on interacting with hard-of-hearing people and calling for a computerized system to alert officers they are dealing with a deaf driver, according to the family's posting on YouCaring.com. "You don't see deafness the way that you see the difference in race. We need to change the system," Harris' brother Sam said to reporters using sign language and an interpreter after the Monday night vigil. Sam Harris is deaf, and so are his brother's parents and other family members. They signed with each other as an Associated Press reporter knocked on their door Tuesday. Sam Harris didn't want to talk Tuesday but wrote a note leaving an email address for an interpreter, who said no interviews could be conducted that day. A review by The Associated Press shows Harris had been charged with traffic offenses and other misdemeanors in three states. In 2015, Denver police were called to Shafer Commercial Seating after Harris was fired. Officials at the chair and tabletop manufacturer said Harris "got very mad and stormed out" after being fired, hitting an employer's vehicle with his own car causing light damage, according to a police report. A warrant was issued, but never served, but it wasn't clear why. No one answer the phone at Shafer Commercial Seating after hours Tuesday. Also in Denver, Harris had traffic stops in 2015 and 2008. The five misdemeanor charges filed in 2008 included obstructing a peace officer; all those charges were dropped. It's unclear what happened with the 2015 charge. He was arrested twice in Florida in 2010 once for petit theft and once for speeding. A charge of resisting an officer was dropped. That year he pleaded no-contest to petit theft and guilty to speeding. And in December of that same year, he pleaded guilty to interfering with or resisting police in Watertown, Connecticut. The National Association of the Deaf works with law enforcement agencies to improve existing training manuals but doesn't have one of its own, CEO Howard Rosenblum said in an email. The NAD supports intensive training for law enforcement officers on dealing with people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and says some officers should be trained to communicate in American Sign Language. Harris was white, and authorities haven't revealed Saunders' race. Detroit police are combing the streets of a west-side neighborhood looking for a man who shot at officers Wednesday morning, MyFoxDetroit.com reported. Investigators are saying the shooting stemmed from a dice game gone wrong. Police were called to that dice game for a report of shots fired at Kendall Street and Whitcomb Avenue, which is near Greenfield Road and Grand River Avenue. When they got to the scene, they spotted a man with an AK-47, who fired shots at police officers. The officers' patrol car was hit and damaged, but the officers were not injured. The man with the gun took off. Police have since identified the suspect as Deangelo Davis, and say he is considered armed and dangerous. Police say he is a convicted murderer on a case out of Minnesota, for which he is currently on parole. "Anytime someone fires shots at a police officer, we take it very seriously. We take all shootings seriously, but when someone actually shoots at police and you know police are armed - you know there's something's wrong with that person," says Detroit Police Capt. Darrell Patterson. "Hopefully we can get this person off the streets as soon as possible." Nick Offerman Will Bring Woodworking Wisdom To Chicago Book Talk By Stephen Gossett in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 24, 2016 7:59PM Ron Swanson may be gone, but Nick Offerman continues to hilariously blur the line between manly-man fact and fiction. The Chicago area native and local theatre veteran announced on Wednesday hell be returning to the Music Box Theatre this fall to promote his latest book, the woodworking-focused Good Clean Fun: Misadventures in Sawdust at Offerman Workshop. The book will be released on Oct. 18; and Offerman will hit the Music Box on Oct. 22 (7 p.m.). Hell also be appearing at Minooka High School in his hometown Minooka, IL on Oct. 23 (1 p.m.). We were lucky enough to catch Offermans most recent appearance at the Music Box in 2014, when he promoted his last book, Paddle Your Own Canoea Swansonian self-help book with motivational chapter subtitles like Eat Red Meat and Dont Be an Asshole. He definitely brings it for the live show, liberally incorporating hilarious original songs and autobiographical stories. Tickets for the Music Box appearance are available now. The $36.50 price includes a copy of the new book. Also: maybe expect a line at WHISK that day. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 Two Harvard scholars say the next U.S. president should recruit a team of top historians to help make major decisions. Professors Graham Allison and Niall Ferguson say leaders from the Republican and Democratic parties know alarmingly little about history, both of their own country and of others. They're calling on the next U.S. president to create a Council of Historical Advisers that would tackle present problems by looking to the past. The scholars say the council could glean lessons from the past to help address issues ranging from terrorism to the economy. Campaigns for Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump did not immediately say whether they support the idea. Some critics question whether academics could keep up with the pace of the White House, or if the president would listen to their advice. A homeless woman in Washington, D.C. proved that Social Security owed her a ton of money and on Tuesday she received a huge pay day. For years, 80-year-old Wanda Witter had lived on the streets trying to persuade government officials that Social Security owed her more than $100,000. Witter had always been dismissed as crazy until someone finally listened. The Washington Post reported that Witter received a $99,999 payout. She had moved to Washington in 1999 to seek work after losing her job as a machinist in New York years earlier, according to the paper. Witter had earned a paralegal certificate to prepare for a new career, but still she remained jobless and in 2006 she decided to draw Social Security benefits. However, the monthly checks varied wildly, from $900 to $300. Believing the checks were wrong, Witter didn't cash them and sought help. "If I just cashed them, who would believe me that they were wrong?" Witter said. She remained homeless, bedding down on the concrete in a sleeping bag. She kept a tower of three suitcases, containing her Social Security paperwork, next to her. In 2015 social worker Julie Turner listened. Instead of dismissing Witter as crazy, Turner patiently waded through her documents and verified her story. "She had all the paperwork there, neatly organized, in order. She was right all along. They did owe her all that money," Turner said. Turner took Witter to attorney Daniela de la Piedra, who took on her case. In June, a Social Security official finally acknowledged Witter's case and wrote her a $999 check the most that could be written on the spot. Last week, Witter received her first full payment $1,464. Witter received a $99,999 Social Security deposit in her bank account on Tuesday. On Aug. 16 Witter moved into a studio apartment on Capitol Hill. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A mom in Florida said Wednesday her worst nightmare turned into an absolute miracle, after her infant daughter survived being trapped under an overturned boat for almost an hour. Tammy Bossard, her husband, Brian, and young daughters Charlotte and Kennedy were on a boat heading home late Friday night along Floridas Intracoastal Waterway near Cocoa Beach when they struck a wire connected to a power line, flipping the boat over. I tried to get Charlotte onto the boat quickly, then Brian popped up on the boat and pulled her up, then helped me up and then we knew Kennedy wasnt there Tammy Bossard told "Fox & Friends." Kennedy, 7 months old and wearing a life jacket, was staying afloat in an air pocket under the overturned boats center control console, unbeknownst to Tammy. Im in the river. Our boat crashed and I have a baby still under the water! Please God, send someone now! she was heard in an emergency call to Cocoa Beach police. Officer Matthew Rush arrived with his colleagues and started the search. Nearly an hour later, he felt around the surface and touched Kennedy's legs, realizing she was under the boat. We have been able to meet all the rescuers and its a parents worst nightmare. Then for Matt to pull her out from under the boat its a dream come true. Its an absolute miracle, Tammy Bossard told Fox News. Communities in states hard-hit by coal layoffs are about to receive nearly $39 million in federal grants aimed at helping people get back to work. The Appalachian Regional Commission, the Economic Development Administration and the U.S. Department of Labor announced the following grants on Wednesday: ALABAMA Shoals Entrepreneurial Center in Florence: $1 million for an entrepreneurship program in a nine-county region in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. Southern Research Institute in Birmingham: $60,000 to create a plan for business development in coal communities. KENTUCKY University of Pikeville, Kentucky: $7.5 million for equipment and materials to help launch a new College of Optometry. Eastern Kentucky Concentrate Employment Program, Hazard, Kentucky: $2.8 million for workforce development initiative. Mountain Association for Community Economic Development, Berea, Kentucky: $2 million to expand retraining and entrepreneurial technical assistant services for former coal industry workers. University of Kentucky Research Foundation in Lexington: $1.5 million, for downtown revitalization projects in eight Kentucky communities. OHIO Ohio University in Athens, Ohio: $2 million to create an entrepreneurial hub. Youngstown State University, Youngstown: $23,000 to develop a plan for a manufacturing center that would serve 14 counties in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. PENNSYLVANIA Pennsylvania Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship Inc. in Russell: $500,000 for nature tourism development. TEXAS Texas Workforce Commission: $560,000 to provide re-employment services to 85 workers affected by recent layoffs in the coal industry. VIRGINIA Appalachian Sustainable Development in Abingdon, Virginia: $1.5 million to coordinate a distribution network of local foods in Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Southwest Virginia Community College in Cedar Bluff: $1.4 million for retraining for laid-off coal miners. WEST VIRGINIA Advantage Valley Inc. in Huntington: $250,000 for a study to identify commercial development sites. Bluewell Public Service District, Bluefield: $2.5 million to extend public water service to the Mercer County Regional Airport. Coalfield Development Corp. in Wayne: $1.9 million for job development and entrepreneurship investment initiatives. Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education, Charleston: $2.2 million to help teachers educate future workforce participants to create their own businesses. Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreation Authority in Man: $1.4 million to expand tourism-related employment and business in southern West Virginia, and expand the Hatfield McCoy Trail in Kentucky and Virginia. Mingo County Redevelopment Authority and Mingo County Public Service District in Williamson: $1.6 million to extend water lines to the Mingo County Air Transportation Park on top of a reclaimed surface mine. Natural Capital Investment Fund Inc. in Shepherdstown: $1.3 million for a project to expand an entrepreneurship program in southern West Virginia. New River Gorge Regional Development Authority in Beckley: $1 million to provide technical support for startup businesses. New River Gorge Regional Development Authority in Fayetteville: $120,000 to study the feasibility of establishing a regional loan fund for community economic investments. Randolph County Development Authority in Elkins: $1.8 million for an expansion project involving hardwood manufacturers. The EdVenture Group in Morgantown: $10,000 for an economic diversification project in 12 counties. Upshur County Development Authority, Buckhannon: $2.3 million for construction of a business incubator. West Virginia Development Office: $200,000 for a plan to develop the former Hobet Surface Mine Site in Boone and Lincoln counties. ___ In addition, the Appalachian Regional Commission funds will support multiagency projects to address key issues in Appalachian coal communities, including: $750,000 for research of opioid abuse and related problems of HIV and hepatitis C. $400,000 for technical assistance to help 10 coal communities in Alabama, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia use broadband service to promote economic development. $352,000 to help coal industry-related companies get international trade support, coordinated by the Southern Alleghenies Planning and Development Commission in Altoona, Pennsylvania. $60,000 for a partnership with the National Association of Counties Research Foundation to provide additional technical assistance to 11 teams from Appalachian coal communities in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. It didnt take long for the new gender identity policy in Albuquerque schools to cause confusion, after a memo from one assistant principal told teachers not to refer to students as boys or girls. It was all a mistake, but it showed how the quickly changing rules on how to identify children by gender has left educators baffled and parents angry. The school has acknowledged the mistake and has rectified it, Rigo Chavez, spokesman for the Albuquerque Public School district, said. The clarification came after the assistant principal at Carlos Rey Elementary School, on the citys westside, misinterpreted the new policy in a note to staff that was leaked outside the school circle. The case mirrored one in Charlotte, N.C., where teachers have been advised to stop calling children boys and girls, according to a training presentation on transgender issues. Instead, the progressives who control Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools want teachers to identify the youngsters as either students or scholars. But in Albuquerque, even though boys are boys and girls are girls again, parents are still getting used to the new policy as the school year enters its second week. According to the Albuquerque Public School districts newly implemented Non-Discrimination for Students: Gender Identity and Expression policy, students shall have the right to be addressed by a name and pronoun corresponding to their chosen gender identity. Students are not required to get a court ordered name, gender change or to change their official records before they must be addressed by the name and pronoun that correspond to their gender identity. There is no mention of mandated school requirements to abolish across the board gender reference of students. But all of this is little consolation to the majority of parents FoxNews.com spoke to outside Carlos Rey Elementary School Monday. Most had heard about the errant memo. Four mothers picking up their children were shocked to hear the policy had even gone into effect expressing anger they were never notified by either the school or the school district. Its going to confuse the kids and may even bring [gender confusion] on early, said Daundra Cordova. The three other mothers nodded their heads in agreement. Tausha Cordova said the situation could boil over. Theres going to be a lot of irate parents going to the school when their kids come home telling them what they saw, she said. This working class, predominately Hispanic neighborhood in southwest Albuquerque has strict cultural and familial mores and there is a sense that the gender identification policy could be more disruptive than accommodating. Matthew Gallegos, who was picking up his child, expressed concern how the policy could mushroom by the time a student gets into middle and high school. It may not be an issue at the elementary school level, but there could be more cases of bullying in middle school and high school, said Gallegos. Principal Judith Touloumis deferred comment to Chavez. One young female teacher standing outside of the school in a light drizzle monitoring students getting on buses after school said she was told not to talk about the policy, but did acknowledge there is some confusion. I guess we are going to have another training to clear things up, said the teacher. Zane Stephens, co-director and co-founder of The Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico, said the education process must be ongoing. Students should not go to school in fear of what they might be called, said Stephens. How do kids go to school in an equitable environment if they are in fear? Stephens said the new policy should not come as a surprise since the district has been doing LGBTQ training for years. I do not feel this policy is putting the cart before the horse, he said. This is a point many of the parents at Carlos Rey Elementary School may disagree with. We had no idea this was going on in the schools, said Cordova. Prosecutors have announced they will not seek criminal charges against a Boston officer and an FBI agent who fatally shot a man last year who they believed was plotting an attack against police. Suffolk District Attorney Daniel Conley announced his findings in the case Wednesday. Conley says the evidence proves "beyond a reasonable doubt" that 26-year-old Usaamah Rahim refused to drop a large, military-style knife when approached by investigators June 2, 2015 in the city's Roslindale neighborhood. Conley says a recorded phone conversation from that morning revealed Rahim planned to attack officers in Boston. Rahim had been under surveillance for months as part of an investigation into his ties with ISIS. Conley says his office reviewed dozens of witness statements and police reports and footage from surveillance cameras. Police say a 33-year-old man is dead after he was shot breaking into his ex-girlfriend's west Philadelphia home. WPVI-TV reported the woman and her new boyfriend heard her ex breaking in early Wednesday. They managed to push the man back from entering a first-floor window, but police say the man was able to break in through a second-floor window. Lt. John Walker says the man started fighting with them and at some point a gun was pulled and a shot was fired. It's unclear who pulled the gun or fired the shot. The ex-boyfriend was found shot in the chest and later died. The new boyfriend fled the scene. Police say the woman's two boys, whose father is the ex-boyfriend, were also home. No names have been released. A rodeo clown spurred controversy when he joked about gender identity during an event in Michigan earlier this month. WILX-TV reported Monday the incident happened at the Calhoun County Fair on Aug. 18. A witness at the event took a video and sent it into the station and said that many people had left after the mans attempt at comic relief. "You're either a boy or a girl, yall understand," Rockin Robbie Hodges said. If youre confused then you need help, okay? Everybody in here who's really sure they're a boy raise your hand. If you can tinkle on a fire you go to the boys room, if you can't, you go to the girls room, right?" Rodeo clown's provide comic relief, but a clown at the Calhoun County Fair went too far, in the eyes of organizers. https://t.co/E4gDHEPjo5 wilxTV (@wilxTV) August 22, 2016 Hodges was an independent contractor for Lost Nations Rodeo Company. According to the station, some people in the crowd started to laugh. However, a witness at the event said that many people had left after Hodges attempt at comic relief. Fair officials echoed the witness sentiments. "I was very disappointed, because we do not put on a platform for that to happen here," Megan Harvey, executive director for the Calhoun County Fair, told WILX-TV. Lost Nations Rodeo apologized for the Hodges display, but said he was paid as an independent contractor for his performance. "Lost Nations Rodeo was unaware that those comments would be made and were off script. Hodges is a well-decorated entertainer, and while we appreciate his services, we do not share the same views or opinions, the company said in a statement. We sincerely apologize again to all of our fans and look forward to entertaining you in the future. Harvey said that it was the second year the fair used Lost Nations Rodeo for the fair. She said they conducted research and heard really good reviews about the company. "We've had really good reviews on them with several other fairs," Harvey added. "We check out where they've been and make sure they have a good following and this has never come up at all." Its unclear whether fair organizers will invite the rodeo company back next year. An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Mr. Hodges was fired Photos: Step Inside A Bygone Era Of Chicago Public Housing By Stephen Gossett in News on Aug 24, 2016 4:41PM Five years after the last remnants of Cabrini-Green Homes were demolished, one still doesnt have to look far to see the lingering legacy of Chicagos troubled history of public-housing projects. For instance, slow-moving and opaque redevelopment efforts of the razed LeClaire Courts, in Garfield Ridge, have left former residents irate with the Chicago Housing Authority. Further north, protesters demonstrated this spring against a plan that would reduce the number of public housing units by 525 at the Lathrop Homes complex, which straddles Lincoln Park and North Center. And near Cabrini-Green itself, the NEWCITY shopping-and-entertainment district includes remnants of the now-flattened YMCA, one of the few common-ground spaces once shared by both Cabrini-Green residents and other Lincoln Parkers. To put it Faulknerian terms, Chicagos public-housing past isnt even past. With so much of that history manifesting itself anew recently, it seemed like an appropriate time to revisit those sites. Photographer Matt Tuteur captured photos of the aforementioned LeClaire Courts, Lathrop Homes and Cabrini-Green Homes, plus three others: Ida B. Wells Homes in Bronzeville; Harold Ickes Homes, part of the State Street Corridor of CHA housing in the Near North Side; and the ABLA constellation of four buildings and rowhouses on the Near West Side. (You might recognize a few of the Cabrini-Green photos from our story on the housing complex's demolition last fall; you can follow the link to see more photos in the series.) The photos, taken between 2008 and 2011, visualize the government neglect that became endemic to an era of public housing, and they at least once allude to the media-sensationalized crime angle that dominated the public narrative. But other detailsa list of childrens routines, a coffee table astride a slipcovered sofa, an abandoned church sanctuarypoint to the most obvious but easily overlooked truth: People lived here. The timeline stretches back at least to 1937, with the creation of the CHA. The next year, Lathrop Homes emerged as the first CHA project built under the New Deals Public Works initiative. Portions of the five other projects in our gallery appeared shortly thereafter, between 1939 and 1941. The neighborhood composition rule, initiated by New Deal lead administrator Harold Ickes, mandated that occupants reflect the prevailing composition of the surrounding neighborhood. According to author D. Bradford Hunt in Blueprint For Disaster: The Unraveling of Chicago Public Housing, the rule was a necessary evil, needed to assuage segregationist sympathies in Congress, but it was left intentionally vague enough to allow for integration. And while it had the desired effect in rare, modest instances (26 of 1,027 apartments occupied by African-Americans in the ABLAs Jane Addams Houses in the late 30s), segregationist collusion between the CHA and the City Council in '50s and '60s effectively killed any chance of integration, according to BPI. As the decades progressed, CHAs housing practices essentially sequestered the black and poor, sometimes in inhospitable brutal-functionalist designs, and often feebly kept by the government stewards tasked to maintain repairs. Eventually it got so bad that the federal government absorbed the local housing agency: the Department of Housing and Urban Development seized control of Chicagos 40,000 public housing units in 1995, prompted in part by the decades-litigated landmark case Gautreaux v Chicago Housing Authority. Aside from the Lathrop Homes, all of the complexes and rowhouses pictured above have been destroyed. The Plan For Transformation, announced back in 1999 by the CHA and then-Mayor Richard M. Daley, heralded the wave of demolition and a new emphasis on mixed-income housing. But the present moment has its own issues, of course, ranging from absurdly long wait lists to a lack of supplemental social services that might truly boost quality of life. So while the physical landscape of Chicago public housing has drastically changed in the last 16 years, the long shadow of the previous era stretches on. A man accused of slaying five people at an Alabama home brought an ax to attack his victims, striking one who had been sleeping in a reclining chair, and also used guns he took from the house to shoot them, an Alabama sheriff said Tuesday. Derrick Dearman entered the house in Citronelle before dawn Saturday, Mobile County Sheriff Sam Cochran told The Associated Press. "They were down for the night sleeping, and he had enough familiarity with the house when he entered I guess you could say in a rage and he's disabling people as he's in there," Cochran said. "He was able to overpower them before they were able to protect themselves." An ax and a gun were used in the killings of each of the five adult victims, police allege in criminal complaints filed Tuesday in Mobile County District Court. On Monday, as Dearman was led to jail in shackles, he professed his love for the estranged girlfriend whose family and friends were massacred and blamed the killings on drugs. Speaking with reporters as he was escorted to jail by deputies in Mobile, Alabama, Derrick Dearman said Monday that he was on methamphetamine when he went to the house, on a dead-end dirt road. "Drugs (were) making me think things that's not really there," said Dearman, 27, hanging his head and dressed in a bright yellow jail uniform. After the killings, authorities said, Dearman abducted estranged girlfriend Laneta Lester, who had sought refuge at the house, and a child of two of the victims. Dearman said he spared their lives because "I came down and realized what was really going on." "(I) turned myself in because I was sober and knew what was the right thing to do," Dearman said. In videotaped comments broadcast on Mobile-area television, Dearman expressed his love for Lester and apologized "to all the family members." Dearman, saying all the victims were friends, added: "Don't do drugs." A man who said his family provided a home for Dearman and Lester earlier this year near Leakesville, Mississippi, said Dearman was often on methamphetamine and physically abused Lester during walks in the woods in rural southeast Mississippi. "He was taking her out there and beating the crap out of her," said Charlie Passarelli Jr., who said he had known Dearman for years. Passarelli said he suspected that Dearman was either buying or selling drugs before he and Lester moved out in late spring. The slaying victims included a pregnant woman and her unborn child. A teenager who said she was related to all five victims by marriage or blood shook her head and fought back tears as she described her anguish over the slayings. "They were really good people. They'd call and check on you, ask if you want to come down and eat," said Madison McDaniel, 17, who lives near the scene of the violence. They had also become targets by welcoming Dearman's ex-girlfriend into the home, the sheriff said. "I think the motivation was that he felt like they were keeping her from him," Cochran said. "He couldn't deal with her being away from him and accept that she was leaving him," he said. "They were what was standing between them." Relatives of the victims started an online fundraiser to help cover funeral expenses, and clerk Dawn Sullivan collected donations in a plastic jug on the counter at D&B Quick Stop, where the victims often stopped for snacks and drinks. "It's a sad situation. It never should have gotten to that point," said Sullivan, whose husband was related to one of the victims. Dearman, of Leakesville, is charged with six counts of capital murder and two counts of kidnapping, including one charge for the unborn child, Mobile County District Attorney Ashley Rich said. "At this time it appears it will be a death penalty case, but it's very early in the investigation," Rich said. Dearman's first court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday morning. Alabama court records don't indicate whether he has an attorney who could speak on his behalf. The slain were identified as Shannon Melissa Randall, 35; Joseph Adam Turner, 26; Justin Kaleb Reed, 23; Chelsea Marie Reed, 22; and Robert Lee Brown, 26, said Mobile County sheriff's spokeswoman Lori Myles. Turner was Lester's brother and had let her stay at the house, which all the victims shared, McDaniel said. Turner and Randall were married. "I'd always get on my horse and ride down there bareback," McDaniel said. Her step-aunt Randall would say, "'Be careful because you're already got a hurt knee.' I'd say, 'OK, Shan-Shan.' That's what I called her." Brown was Randall's brother, McDaniel said, and Chelsea Reed was Randall's niece. Chelsea Reed was pregnant with the child of her husband, Justin Reed, said McDaniel. About 1 a.m. Saturday, someone inside the home called 911 and reported that Dearman was on the property, authorities said in a statement. Citronelle police came to the house, but Dearman had left before officers arrived, sheriff's officials said. Before daylight Saturday, Dearman returned to the home to begin the attacks, the sheriff's department said. After the killings, Dearman forced Lester and a 3-month-old identified by relatives as the child of Randall and Turner into a vehicle, and they drove to Dearman's father's house in Mississippi. Dearman released Lester and the infant and turned himself in, authorities said. As he was led away to jail on Tuesday, Dearman said he barely remembers what happened but said that he deserves a harsh punishment. "I deserve to die," he said. The Marine Corps announced Wednesday that U.S. service members seen in another photo taken at Iwo Jima on Feb. 23, 1945 were also misidentified, two months after correcting the record on one of the most iconic images from World War II. Amateur historians studied a number of photos shot during two flag-raisings atop Mount Suribachi during an intense battle between American and Japanese forces in 1945, and claimed the identifications made by the Marines of the six men in the famous photo by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal included mistakes. In June of this year, after the review, the Marine Corps agreed. A panel found that Private First Class Harold Schultz, of Detroit, was in the photo and that Navy Pharmacist's Mate 2nd Class John Bradley wasn't. That was the second U.S. flag-raising that day. The Marines then looked into a photo of the first flag-raising, and on Wednesday, officials said two men seen in the first photo were also misidentified. The record now shows that 1st Lt. Harold G. Schrier, Plt. Sgt. Ernest I. Thomas, Jr., Sgt. Henry O. Hansen, Cpl. Charles W. Lindberg, Pharmacist Mate 2nd Class John H. Bradley and Pvt. Philip L. Ward were seen in the first flag-raising. Pfc. Louis C. Charlo and Pfc. James R. Michels were not in the photo, as previous records had stated, but officials said the two men were nearby. Bradley, seen in the earlier photo but not the later photo, gained fame after his son, James, wrote a best-selling book about the flag raisers, "Flags of Our Fathers," which was later made into a movie directed by Clint Eastwood. "My father raised a flag on Iwo Jima," James Bradley told The Associated Press in May. "The Marines told him way after the fact, 'Here's a picture of you raising the flag.' He had a memory of him raising a flag, and the two events came together." More than 6,500 U.S. servicemen died in the battle at Iwo Jima, a tiny island 660 miles south of Tokyo that was deemed vital to the U.S. war effort because Japanese fighter planes based there were intercepting American bomber planes. The invasion began on Feb. 19, 1945, with about 70,000 Marines battling 18,000 Japanese soldiers for 36 days. Besides those killed, about 20,000 Americans were wounded. Only about 200 Japanese soldiers were captured, with the others killed in the fighting. The Associated Press contributed to this report. At least 13 people were killed and 36 others were wounded when gunmen attacked the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghan officials said early Thursday. Photo attributed to the attack on American University of Afghanistan in Kabul pic.twitter.com/EVunzOpyd3 KAZEMI, Mustafa (@CombatJourno) August 24, 2016 Approximately 12 hours after the attack began Wednesday evening, Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said that about 700 students had been rescued from the university compound. The State Department announced Thursday no Americans were killed or wounded. #AFG A police CDR Kabul's rapid reaction force "We're dealing with a complex attack inside the American university.Special forces en route". Bilal Sarwary (@bsarwary) August 24, 2016 Details on the victims were not immediately available, but Hedayatullah Stanikzai, an official with the Ministry of Public Health, said a guard employed by the university was among the dead. Reuters reported that both gunmen involved in the assault were also killed. There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attack on the university, which was established in 2006 to offer liberal arts courses modeled on the U.S. system, and has more than 1,000 students currently enrolled. Witnesses said the gunmen got into the university despite tight security measures, including armed guards and watchtowers. I finished my class and was about to leave when I heard a few gunshots and a huge explosion, followed by more gunfire," student Ahmad Mukhtar told Reuters. "I ran toward the emergency exit with other students, climbed the wall and jumped outside." Another student described jumping out of a second-floor window in an attempt to escape the attack. "Many students jumped from the second floor, some broke their legs and some hurt their head trying to escape," said Abdullah Fahimi, a student who injured his ankle making the leap. Dozens of students and foreign staffers who could not get away barricaded themselves inside classrooms and safe rooms. Associated Press photographer Massoud Hossaini was in a classroom with 15 students when he heard an explosion on the southern flank of the campus. "I went to the window to see what was going on, and I saw a person in normal clothes outside. He shot at me and shattered the glass," Hossaini said, adding that he fell on the glass and cut his hands. The students then barricaded themselves inside the classroom, pushing chairs and desks against the door, and staying on the floor. Hossaini said at least two grenades were thrown into the classroom, wounding several of his classmates. Hossaini and about nine students later managed to escape from the campus through an emergency gate. "As we were running I saw someone lying on the ground face down, they looked like they had been shot in the back," he said. Hossaini and the other students took refuge in a residential house near the campus, and were later safely evacuated by Afghan security forces. Dejan Panic, the program director at Kabul's Emergency Hospital, said 18 people wounded in the attack, including five women, had been admitted. He said three were "seriously" wounded, probably from automatic gunfire. A car bomb had exploded outside a school for the blind next door before at least one attacker fired at the university campus from that school building, a police officer at the scene told The New York Times. The U.S. Embassy was working to account for all of its personnel, State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau told reporters. She said the State Department condemned the attack. The U.S. military was assisting Afghan forces who responded to the attack, U.S. Army Colonel Michael T. Lawhorn told Fox News. "These advisors are not taking a combat role, but advising their Afghan counterparts." The attack was the second time in less than three weeks that the American University has been targeted by militants. Two of its professors were kidnapped at gunpoint in Kabul on August 7. The professors were identified as Kevin King, an American, and Timothy Weeks from Australia. Men in military uniforms reportedly abducted them as they traveled between the campus and their home in Kabul. The professors' whereabouts are unclear. Fox News' Rich Edson, Conor Powell, Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Click for more from Sky News. Rescue crews aided by sniffer dogs dug through crumbled homes in Italy Thursday looking for earthquake survivors as the death toll reached 250 and officials anguished over how to secure their ancient towns and modern cities from the country's highly seismic terrain. As many as 365 people were injured in the quake that struck at 3:36 a.m. Wednesday, Italy's civil protection service announced. At least 470 aftershocks have since rattled the area, triggering more damage to centuries-old buildings in Amatrice. One aftershock had a magnitude of 5.1. After a night of uninterrupted, flood-lit search efforts, firefighters and rescue crews worked in teams around the hard-hit area in central Italy, pulling chunks of cement, rock and metal from mounds of rubble where homes once stood, searching for signs of life. One rescue effort focused on the Hotel Roma in Amatrice, famous for the Amatriciana bacon and tomato pasta sauce that brings food lovers to this medieval hilltop town each August for its food festival. Amatrice's mayor had initially said 70 guests were in the crumbled hotel ahead of this weekend's festival, but rescue workers later halved that estimate and the owner said most guests had managed to escape. Firefighters' spokesman Luca Cari said one body had been pulled out of the hotel rubble just before dawn after five were extracted earlier but searches continued there and elsewhere. "We're still in a phase that allows us to hope we'll find people alive," Cari said, noting that in the 2009 earthquake in nearby L'Aquila, one survivor was pulled out after 72 hours. Rescuers refused to say when their work would shift from saving lives to recovering bodies. "We will work relentlessly until the last person is found, and make sure no one is trapped," said Lorenzo Botti, a rescue team spokesman. Worst affected by the quake were the tiny towns of Amatrice and Accumoli near Rieti, 100 kilometers (60 miles) northeast of Rome, and Pescara del Tronto, 25 kilometers (15 miles) further to the east. Italy's civil protection agency reported the death toll had risen to 241 early Thursday with at least 264 others hospitalized. Most of the dead -- 184 -- were in Amatrice. Authorities revised downward an earlier figure of 247 after one of the affected areas corrected its toll. A Spaniard and five Romanians were among the dead, according to their governments. There is no clear estimate of the missing since the area was flooded with summer vacationers. The Romanian government alone said 11 of its citizens were missing. Emergency services set up tent cities around the quake-devastated towns to accommodate the homeless, housing about 1,200 people overnight. In Amatrice, 50 elderly people and children spent the night inside a local sports facility. "It's not easy for them," said civil protection volunteer Tiziano De Carolis, who was helping to care for about 350 homeless in Amatrice. "They have lost everything: the work of an entire life, like those who have a business, a shop, a pharmacy, a grocery store. From one day to another, they discovered everything they had was destroyed." As the search effort continued, the soul-searching began as Italy once again confronted the responsibilities that come with having the highest seismic hazard in Western Europe. At the same time, the country has countless picturesque medieval villages but its anti-seismic building codes aren't applied to old buildings and often aren't respected when new ones are built. "In a country where in the past 40 years there have been at least eight devastating earthquakes ... the only lesson we have learned is to save lives after the fact," columnist Sergio Rizzo wrote in Thursday's Corriere della Sera. "We are far behind in the other lessons." Some experts estimate that 70 percent of Italy's buildings aren't built to anti-seismic standards, though not all are in high-risk areas. After every major quake, proposals are made to improve, but they often languish in Italy's thick bureaucracy and chronic funding shortages. It's no small task to secure thousands of ancient towns and newer structures built before codes were passed or later in violation of them. Premier Matteo Renzi, visiting the quake-affected zone Wednesday, promised to rebuild "and guarantee a reconstruction that will allow residents to live in these communities, to relaunch these beautiful towns that have a wonderful past that will never end." Geologists were surveying the damage Thursday to determine which buildings were still inhabitable, while Culture Ministry teams were also fanning out to assess the damage of some of the region's cultural treasures, especially its medieval-era churches. Italian news reports Thursday said prosecutors investigating the quake were looking in particular into the collapse of Amatrice's "Romolo Capranica" school -- restored in 2012 using funds set aside after the last major quake struck central Italy in 2009. In recent quakes, some of these more modern buildings -- many of them public institutions -- have been the deadliest: the university dormitory that collapsed in the 2009 L'Aquila quake, killing 11 students; the elementary school that crumbled in San Giuliano di Puglia in 2002, killing 27 children -- the town's entire first-grade class. In Italy, major quakes are often followed by criminal charges being filed against architects, builders and officials responsible for public works if the buildings crumble. In the case of the L'Aquila quake, prosecutors also put six geologists on trial for allegedly having failed to adequately warn residents about the temblor. Their convictions were ultimately overturned on appeal. While the government was already looking ahead to reconstruction, rescue workers on the ground still had days and weeks of work ahead of them. In hard-hit Pescara del Tronto, firefighter Franco Mantovan said Thursday that crews knew of three residents still under the rubble but in a hard-to-reach area. On Wednesday evening there, about 17 hours after the quake struck, firefighters pulled a 10-year-old girl alive from a crumbled home. "You can hear something under here. Quiet, quiet," one rescue worker said, before soon urging her on: "Come on, Giulia, come on, Giulia." Cheers broke out when she was pulled out. But in many other cases, wails of grief rang out when bodies emerged. "Unfortunately, 90 percent we pull out are dead, but some make it, that's why we are here," said Christian Bianchetti, a volunteer who was working in Amatrice. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Four ships belonging to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) "harassed" an American destroyer in the Strait of Hormuz Tuesday, a U.S. Navy official confirmed to Fox News. The official said the Iranian ships carried out a "high-speed intercept," with two of the vessels coming within 300 yards of the USS Nitze. The Navy official described the incident as "unsafe and unprofessional," adding that the Iranian ships "created a dangerous, harassing situation that could have led to further escalation." The USS Nitze was accompanied by the guided missile destroyer USS Mason on what the official described as a "routine transit" in international waters at the time of the incident. As the Iranian ships closed in, the official said the Nitze attempted to make radio contact 12 times with no response. As the Iranian ships continued their approach, the destroyer sounded five short blasts on its whistle, an international danger signal. The official said the Nitze was ultimately forced to change its course to avoid the Iranian ships, despite coming close to offshore oil rigs. In January, ten U.S. sailors were detained by the IRGC after their patrol crafts inadvertently entered Iranian waters. They were released after being held for approximately 15 hours. U.S. military officials estimate there are now 100,000 Iranian-backed forces in Iraq, with thousands more believed to be in Syria. Last month, Gen. Joseph Votel of U.S. Central Command said that 90 percent of interactions between American and Iran ships at sea were "safe and professional." Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson contributed to this report. Syrian government troops and ISIS terrorists carried out chemical attacks in the war-torn nation during 2014 and 2015, according to an investigation by the United Nations and a global chemical weapons watchdog. The so-called Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) found that forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad were responsible for two chlorine attacks in Idlib governorate, one in Talmenes on April 21, 2014 and one in Sarmin on March 16, 2015. And it said ISIS was "the only entity with the ability, capability, motive and the means to use sulfur mustard" gas in Marea in Aleppo governorate on Aug. 21, 2015. The JIM said three other cases it investigated pointed toward government responsibility but weren't conclusive and three more cases were inconclusive. It called for further investigations in several instances. The report does not attribute blame for the August 2013 sarin attack on the Damascus suburb of Ghouta that killed hundreds of civilians. The attack came a year after President Obama had said that the use of chemical weapons by Assad's forces would cross a "red line." "The international community must act to hold accountable those who act in defiance of such fundamental international norms," U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power said in a statement. "It is essential that the members of the Security Council come together to ensure consequences for those who have used chemical weapons in Syria." In September 2013, Assad agreed to turn over all of its chemical weapons stockpile for destruction under the terms of a deal brokered by the U.S. and Russia. However, Western intelligence officials say Damascus has not turned over "every single bit" of its chemical arsenal as required by the agreement. After the deal was agreed to, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution saying that in the event of non-compliance, "including ... any use of chemical weapons by anyone" in Syria, it would impose measures under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter. In the intervening months, Russia and China have used their Security Council veto to protect the Assad government from further U.N. action, including referrals to the International Criminal Court. Fox News' Jonathan Wachtel and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Turkey's military and the U.S.-backed coalition forces on Wednesday launched an operation to clear a Syrian border town from Islamic State militants, Turkey's prime minister's office said. The state-run Anadolu Agency said the operation, which began hours after Turkey indicated it would step up its engagement in Syria, began at 4 a.m. with Turkish artillery launching intense fire on Jarablus from the Turkish town of Karkamis, followed by Turkish warplanes bombing IS targets in the town. Haber Turk television, citing unnamed military sources, said a ground offensive has not started. The Anadolu Agency said the operation aims to clear Turkey's border of "terror organizations" and increase border security. It said the aim also is to "prioritize and support" Syria's territorial integrity, prevent a new refugee wave and provide humanitarian aid in the region. The operation was launched hours before U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was due in Ankara for talks that include developments in Syria. The prime minister's office said a border area in Turkey had been declared a s"pecial security zone," and asked journalists not to try access it, citing safety concerns and threats posed by the IS. On Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlet Cavusolgu pledged "every kind" of support for operations against IS along a 100-kilometer (62-mile) stretch of Syrian frontier, putting the NATO member on track for a confrontation with U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters in Syria, who have been the most effective force against IS and who are eyeing the same territory. "It is important that the terror organizations are cleansed from the region," Cavusolgu said in a joint news conference with his Hungarian counterpart. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said some 500 Syrian rebels were massed on the Turkish side of the border in preparation for an assault, including local fighters from Jarablus. One rebel at the border told the BBC the number was as high as 1,500 fighters. The latest developments have thrust the town into the spotlight of the ongoing Syrian civil war. Jarablus, which lies on the western bank of the Euphrates River where it crosses from Turkey into Syria, is one of the last important IS-held towns standing between Kurdish-controlled areas in northern Syria. Located 20 miles (33 kilometers) from the town of Manbij, which was liberated from IS by Kurdish-led forces earlier this month, taking control of Jarablus and the IS-held town of al-Bab to the south would be a significant step toward linking up border areas under Kurdish control east and west of the Euphrates River. Turkey had increased security measures on its border with Syria, deploying tanks and armored personnel carriers in recent days. On Tuesday, residents of the Turkish town of Karkamis, across the border from Jarablus, were told to evacuate after mortars believed to be fired by IS militants landed there. Turkey has vowed to fight IS militants at home and to "cleanse" the group from its borders after a weekend suicide bombing at a Kurdish wedding in southern Turkey killed at least 54 people, many of them children. Turkish officials have blamed IS for the attack. Ankara is also concerned about the growing power of U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish forces, who it says are linked to Kurdish groups waging an insurgency in southeastern Turkey. The Kurdish-led group known as the Syria Democratic Forces, or SDF, recaptured Manbij from IS earlier this month, triggering concerns in Ankara that Kurdish forces would seize the entire border strip with Turkey. The U.S. says it has embedded some 300 special forces with the SDF, and British special forces have also been spotted advising the group. Syrian activists, meanwhile, said that hundreds of Turkish-backed Syrian opposition fighters were gathered in the Turkish border area near Karkamis in preparation for an attack on Jarablus. Nasser Haj Mansour, an SDF official on the Syrian side of the border, said the fighters gathering in Turkey include "terrorists" as well as Turkish special forces. He declined to comment on whether the SDF would send fighters to the town, but an SDF statement said the Syrian Kurdish force was "prepared to defend the country against any plans for a direct or indirect occupation." The reports and rhetoric appeared to set up a confrontation between the SDF, the most effective U.S. proxy in Syria, and NATO ally Turkey. A rebel commander affiliated with the SDF was killed shortly after broadcasting a statement announcing the formation of the so-called Jarablus Military Council and vowing to protect civilians in Jarablus from Turkish "aggression." Abdel-Sattar al-Jader was shot by unknown gunmen late Monday, an hour after he accused Turkey of mobilizing fighters and "terrorists" for an assault on Jarablus. Al-Jader had pledged to resist Turkish efforts to take control of the city and warned Ankara against further aggression. The Jarablus Military Council blamed the killing on Turkish security agents. There was no immediate comment from Turkey. Haj Mansour said two suspects were in custody but declined to comment on their identities. The Kurds' outsized role in the Syrian civil war is a source of concern for the Syrian government as well. Fierce clashes erupted between the two sides over control of the northeastern province of Hasakeh last week, and Syrian warplanes bombed Kurdish positions for the first time, prompting the U.S. to scramble its jets to protect American troops in the area. The Syrian government and the Kurds agreed on a cease-fire Tuesday, six days after the clashes erupted. The Kurdish Hawar News Agency said government forces agreed to withdraw from Hasakeh as part of the truce. Syrian state media did not mention any withdrawal, saying only that the two sides had agreed to evacuate the wounded and exchange detainees. Government and Kurdish forces have shared control of Hasakeh since the early years of the Syrian war. Meanwhile, the Syrian army and its allies intensified their attacks on militant positions around the so-called military college in the northern city of Aleppo. A video obtained by The Associated Press showed air raids, shelling and firing on the complex, which was taken over by al-Qaida-affiliated fighters earlier this month. Plumes of smoke were seen billowing overhead. Russia's Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said in emailed comments on Tuesday that Russia and the Syrian government will announce "the first 48-hour humanitarian break in hostilities" in Aleppo as soon as they receive an official request from the U.N. envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura. ___ Issa reported from Beirut. Associated Press writers Zeina Karam in Beirut, Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria, and Nataliya Vasilyeva in Moscow contributed to this report. In past years, big names in South Africa picked up the annual Gulen Peace Award, a local accolade inspired by a Turkish preacher who has been blamed by Turkey for an attempted coup last month. Both Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu and Graca Machel, an activist and widow of Nelson Mandela, have been feted in the name of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who has won international recognition for promoting dialogue and education. But this year's award ceremony is in doubt as Turkey campaigns globally to shut schools and other institutes linked to Gulen, who once enjoyed support from the Turkish government that now calls him a terrorist. "We haven't decided yet whether there will be an event or not," said Ayhan Cetin, director of the Turquoise Harmony Institute, a Gulen-inspired group based in Johannesburg. South Africa's government has not moved against Gulen supporters, but it could be awkward for someone to accept the award because of the international tension, he said. At home, Turkey has detained more than 40,000 people in a bid to dismantle the network of Gulen, drawing criticism that the purge could sweep up anyone critical of the government. Turkey's international campaign against Gulen, who denies any involvement in the July 15 uprising, targets schools and other institutions in more than 100 countries, including in Asia, Africa, Europe and the United States. The Turkish bid is complicated by questions of national sovereignty and whether there is evidence of links between far-flung projects many with no formal ties to Gulen's headquarters in the U.S. and the coup attempt against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Gulen's global influence could depend partly on whether the United States extradites him at the request of Turkey, which is frustrated by U.S. statements that it must present evidence and follow the legal process, a commentator said. "As long as they kind of enjoy some sort of American cover, I think they will be able to continue," said Halil Karaveli, a senior fellow at the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute and the Silk Road Studies Program. Turkey accuses Gulen, who is associated with Islamic mysticism, or Sufism, of clandestinely grooming school recruits to eventually take over the state. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has told ambassadors that their countries should move against schools or associations tied to Gulen's movement, known as Hizmet, or "Service" in Turkish. "Here's some friendly advice: If you are late in taking action against them, this threat will no longer be a Turkish threat, it could become your countries' greatest threat," Yildirim said. Somalia, a war-torn beneficiary of Turkish aid, closed educational and medical facilities linked to Gulen, though Turkey said they would operate again under different management. Azerbaijan seized a university connected with Gulen, while the Kurdish regional government in northern Iraq said Gulen-affiliated schools will be transferred to new ownership, Turkey's Anadolu Agency reported. The reaction in some other countries, such as Germany and Kenya, is more skeptical or cautious. In places with limited resources, the schools have won praise for producing local graduates with good results. "It shouldn't be an arbitrary decision to close any school, just based on somebody's political wish," said Jeton Mehmeti, an education analyst in Kosovo. Gulen, whose Islamic movement first expanded outside Turkey in the early 1990s after the fall of the Soviet Union, has come under international scrutiny in the past. Russia closed schools connected with the cleric years ago amid concerns there about Islamic militancy. There are about 150 taxpayer-funded charter schools believed to be linked to Gulen in the United States, and Turkey has retained a U.S. legal firm, Amsterdam & Partners, to file complaints against them. The FBI has investigated allegations of employment discrimination, competitive bidding abuses and visa fraud at some of the schools, with few repercussions so far. In South Africa, nine schools inspired by Gulen's teachings follow a mostly secular curriculum that emphasizes math and science, and offer scholarships to disadvantaged children. Of their 3,500 students, 95 percent are South African, said Cetin of the Turquoise Harmony Institute. Tensions over the coup attempt deepened a rift among Turks in South Africa, where the Turkish ambassador, Kaan Esener, described operators of Gulen-inspired schools as a "crime syndicate" in a radio interview. Some Erdogan supporters also criticized the Nizamiye mosque north of Johannesburg, a soaring structure built with the funds of a Gulen backer. Cetin speculated that Turkey would pressure Gulen's expatriate supporters by rounding up relatives and friends at home in a widening crackdown. "The circle will be bigger and bigger," he said. ___ Follow Christopher Torchia on Twitter at www.twitter.com/torchiachris ___ Associated Press writers Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey; Abdi Guled in Mogadishu, Somalia; Aida Cerkez in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina; and Julie Carr Smyth in Columbus, Ohio, contributed to this report. Lead Crisis Could Make East Chicago The Next Flint By Stephen Gossett in News on Aug 24, 2016 5:59PM Roughly a month ago, the Environmental Protection Agency blanketed yards in the West Calumet Housing Complex in East Chicago with signs warning children not to play in the dirt. Tests undertaken by the agency had found high levels of lead and arsenic contamination, almost certainly caused by now-shuttered factories that once dotted the region. Now the EPA is directing its attention away from digging and toward finding new residence for the roughly 1000 people who live there, the Times of Northwest Indiana reports. Local officials became aware of the problem just this May, after the EPA shared test findings with East Chicago Mayor Anthony Copeland. This despite the fact that the EPA discovered elevated lead levels way back in 2012. Given the arguably negligent governmental response plus the fact that vulnerable children have found themselves in dangernearly 700 kids live in the West Calumet Housing Complexthe situation has drawn comparisons to the Flint water crisis. Officials are also trying to determine what will become of the land where the housing site currently stands. City Attorney Carla Morgan said that EPA delivered a letter this week to the city of East Chicago in hopes of hammering out a plan for the future, according to the Times of NWI. Still, the immediate need of relocation remains somewhat up in the air, even after nearly a month has passed since Mayor Anthony Copeland sent a letter urging residents to temporarily relocate your household to safer conditions. But even though an exact timeline for relocation remains vague, things now appear to progressing further: HUD on Friday said that nearly $2 million federal dollars had been allocated to East Chicago Housing Authority with which to provide housing vouchers. As the Washington Post points out, the mayor has been largely praised for his response since learning of the contamination. But Copeland will face legal challenges nonetheless, it appears. WCHC resident Lashawnda Walker has filed suit against the mayor and the city, among others, the Tribune reported on Tuesday. None As they say at the ballpark, you can't tell the players without a scorecard. When Hillary Clinton was nominated as secretary of state, the Clinton Foundation signed an agreement seeking to avoid conflicts of interest between the foundation and Clinton's cabinet post. http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2015/may/07/did-clinton-foundation-keep-its-promises-politifac/ Dutch Bros Opens its Doors in Prescott Valley August 24, 2016 // Franchising.com // PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - On Thursday, Aug. 25, Dutch Bros will welcome its newest location at 5963 E. State Route 69 in Prescott Valley. To celebrate, this new stand will offer all 16-oz. drinks for free. On Thursday, from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Dutch Bros Prescott Valley will provide its community with 16-oz. drinks including specialty coffee, freezes, smoothies, teas, and our private label energy drink, Blue Rebel for free. Dutch Bros Prescott Valley will be locally owned and operated by Jazmin Evenson - this will be her first location. Jazmin's journey with Dutch Bros started at a young age as she shares the same hometown with the company - Grants Pass, Ore. She moved to Arizona, and landed a job as a barista. It was here where she found herself being mentored by great leaders. She soon realized she ultimately wanted to own her own franchise where she could continue to pour into her crew and community. In 2014, Dutch Bros was featured on Undercover Boss, and Jazmin played an integral role. Part of what she shared was her desire to franchise. During filming Dutch Bros co-founder Travis Boersma saw something special in Jazmin and he gave her his word that he would support her on her journey to achieve this goal being a Dutch Bros Franchisee; a goal that was achieved this year. Jazmin connects with the culture and passion for positive impact that the city of Prescott Valley has. She is excited to be able pour into this community and to continue to impact and serve the people in a place she now calls home. I'm excited to be opening my first store, said Jazmin. "I look forward to getting to know Prescott Valley." This new location will be open daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Like Dutch Bros Prescott on Facebook at facebook.com/ dutchbrosprescottvalley or follow them on Instagram @dbprescottvalley. SOURCE Dutch Bros ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus Renters Warehouses Pam Kosanke Named Among Top Women in Housing by MReport Renters Warehouse's Chief Marketing Officer Pam Kosanke has been recognized as one of the top Women in Housing by industry publication MReport. (PRWEB) August 23, 2016 - Renters Warehouse is proud to acknowledge that Pam Kosanke, its Chief Marketing Officer, has been named among the top Women in Housing by MReport as part of its September 2016 special issue celebrating the accomplishments of women in the housing and mortgage industry. It's an honor to be recognized as a trailblazer in the housing industry. And I am excited to join my colleagues at the Women in Homeownership Leadership Forum in Dallas this September, says Pam. It's always important to showcase star players to attract new talent, new thinking and new interest, and to publicly champion the efforts of under-represented parties to give them more of a voice. Renters Warehouse is one of the largest and most awarded residential property management companies in the U.S., managing more than 16,000 homes for over 12,000 investors across the country, and about $3 billion worth of residential real estate. Pam came to Renters Warehouse three years ago after more than 15 years of success in the marketing industry. She spent a dozen years in Marketing and Advertising with Leo Burnett Advertising in Chicago, representing several blue chip companies across multiple industries like Kelloggs, McDonalds and Allstate Insurance before launching her own business. After starting my own marketing consulting business and completing a short passion project as CMO of USA Rugby, I gravitated towards Renters Warehouse one of my former clients as a fast-paced, entrepreneurial and forward-thinking company in real estate. I relished the chance to help people discover a brand and company that works to create wealth and freedom through Rent Estate. Renters Warehouse literally transforms people's lives for the better. Who doesn't want to be a part of that? MReport is one of the country's leading sources for mortgage banking news. The magazines Women in Housing honorees will also be acknowledged at the Women in Homeownership Leadership Forum at the Five Star Conference on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, where the keynote speaker will be Laura Bush, First Lady of the United States (2001-2009). I sincerely appreciate the continued efforts of The Five Star Conference & Expo to reach out to female professionals in the housing and mortgage industry, says Pam. It is refreshing to specifically hear from and learn about female leaders in this male-dominated industry. Renters Warehouse exists to help homeowners to discover wealth and financial freedom through Rent Estate. To learn more about Renters Warehouse or to find out how much your home will rent for, visithttp://www.renterswarehouse.com today! About Renters Warehouse Renters Warehouse is one of the fastest-growing and highest-reviewed residential property management companies in America, and the largest in Minnesota. Under the leadership of President and CEO Kevin Ortner, Renters Warehouse now manages more than $3 billion in residential real estate, servicing 12,000+ investors across 16,000+ residential homes in 33 markets and 18 states. The company expertly serves everyday single-property homeowners as well as real estate investors. Through their dedicated Portfolio Services Division, Renters Warehouse brings professional, scalable and efficient single property management solutions to investment portfolios with both centralized services and local market expertise and staff. In 2015, the company officially trademarked the term Rent Estate to redefine the entire SFR (Single Family Rental) industry as more traditional real estate gives way to this new lucrative asset. Not only has Renters Warehouse received the prestigious honor of being included on the Inc. 500 | 5000 list of fastest-growing privately held companies in America seven consecutive years in a row, this Great Rated company was also named one of the Best Places to Work in Minnesota (where they are headquartered) by the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016, and by the Phoenix Business Journal in 2013 and 2014 (first franchise location). Renters Warehouse Arizona also achieved a spot on the prestigious 2016 Top Companies to Work for in AZ list. Nationwide, Renters Warehouse has been honored as one of America's "Best Places to Work" in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016 by Outside Magazine. Recognized as pioneers in real estate, business management and innovation, Renters Warehouse has been honored with 18 Business Stevie Awards both internationally and stateside. SOURCE Renters Warehouse Contact: Eric Lewis Onboardly (on behalf of Renters Warehouse) +1 5068661393 ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus You are here: Home Nominees of 33rd Hundred Flowers Awards, one of China's highest honors awarded for excellence in cinema, were announced in Beijing on Tuesday. Actor Deng Chao in The Dead End. [File photo] Sci-Fi film Mojin: The Lost Legend; blockbuster hits Monster Hunt and Goodbye Mr. Loser; thriller The Dead End, which won Best Director and Best Actor at the 18th Shanghai International Film Festival in June; and action film Wolf Warriors were nominated for the most sought-after Best Picture. Guan Hu (Mr. Six), Peter Chan (Dearest), Wu Jing (Wolf Warriors), Raman Hui (Monsters Hunt) and Wu Ershan (Mojin: The Lost Legend) are competing for Best Director. Renowned director and actor Feng Xiaogang, who won Best Actor for his performance in Mr. Six at the China Film Director's Guild Award, is nominated once again for his titular role, alongside actors Jing Boran (Monster Hunt), Deng Chao (The Dead End) and Huang Bo (Dearest). For the best actress' guild, Bai Baihe (Goodbye Mr. Tumor), Xu Qing (Mr. Six), Zhao Wei (Dearest) and Yu Nan (Wolf Warriors) are competing for the honor. The 33rd Hundred Flowers Award ceremony will be held on Sept 24 in Tangshan, Hebei province, as part of 25th Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival, which runs from Sept 21 to 24. China plans to develop a large family of robots for both its unmanned and manned space programs, according to a senior official with the nation's space agency. Tian Yulong, secretary-general of the China National Space Administration, said the government is drawing up a long-term plan for the development of space robots. "They will consist of Mars rovers, asteroid explorers, robotic arms and service robots that can help maintain and repair an in-orbit space station, space laboratories and satellites," he told reporters on the sidelines of the 13th International Symposium on Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Automation in Space, which is being held in Beijing. The three-day event, which opened on Monday, is being hosted by the space administration and Harbin Institute of Technology, and the attendees come from more than 10 countries including the United States, Germany and Japan. "More efforts will be made to develop advanced robots with higher automation to meet the needs of our deep-space exploration programs," Tian said. He said that China's Mars rover will be based on proven, domestically developed technologies and will benefit from the operation experience of the country's Yutu lunar rover. China plans to send an unmanned probe to orbit and land on Mars around 2020. Since the 1960s, more than 40 probes have journeyed to Mars, but only 19 have accomplished their missions. At present, there are two rovers beaming signals from the planet's surface back to Earth: NASA's Mars Exploration Mission rover "Opportunity" and its Mars Science Laboratory rover "Curiosity". Professor Liu Hong, a senior robotics expert at Harbin Institute of Technology, said space missions are very risky for astronauts as they often involve operations in vacuum, under extreme temperature changes and in high radiation. "Such operations are suitable for robots to carry out," he said. "Robotic arms are an ideal combination of human intelligence and robotic capability, and these will be one of our research focuses." China is already a leader in the research into robotic arms, and its achievement has been recognized by the international space community, according to Liu. Gianfranco Visentin, head of the automation and robotics section of the European Space Research and Technology Center, said the European space community is actively cooperating with China and the two sides are enhancing their collaboration in space robotics and lunar exploration. Pangeanic Unveils The Latest Technical Translation Management Platform Pangeanic is happy to unveil their latest research and development project "COR: Fast and Efficient Technical Translation Management". The platform will give users the ability to develop customized translation engines, while working with various languages. -- The Internet has become a staple of life for companies and consumers throughout the world. In China alone, the Internet is utilized by over seven hundred thousand individuals, so there may be questions on which language a website should use. According to the latest report from Pangeanic, Asian languages top the list when the number of users and increasing buying power are combined. However, Internet penetration over 80% is only achieved by the United States (almost 280 million users or 86,75% penetration counted as % of population with Internet), Japan with 110 million users (86,03%), Germany (71 million or 86,78%), United Kingdom and France (57 and 55 million respectively and a Internet penetration rate of 89,90% and 85,75%). Clearly, business owners, corporations, and web admins need to cater specifically to each and every one of these individuals to expand their reach. Chinese translations, German translations, Japanese translations and French translations are clearly a priority. Company websites must be easily translatable so all consumers regardless of their language, location and ethnicity are able to access the information and make purchasing decisions rapidly. Pangeanic.com and it sister translation companies in UK, research center in Spain as well as Japan and Chinaoffices have invested heavily in their latest developmental project. The company's research and development unit has labeled the project "COR: Fast and Efficient Translation Management", which has received funding from the Spanish government and European Union Development Program. The company is happy to announce that the project has been successfully elevated to Milestone 1. The underlying objective of the project is to create an advanced software platform, which acts as an translation client-vendor interface for translation project management with strong API connections to a search engine-type translation memory system called ElasticTM and its machine translation system PangeaMT. The platform will allow users to perform translations from practically all language translations within the blink of an eye by tapping into Pangeanic large database of tested, tried and trusted translators. The team is finalizing integration with major CAT tools for further compatibility. One of the advantages of the platform will be its integrated ability to create customized translation engines, without needing in-depth knowledge or experience of natural language processing. Newly translated material and bilingual databases can be further added to one's private engine for further customization, whilst data cleaning routines are built in the system so any material that would not be fit for machine learning disturbs any of the working algorithms. Pangeanic sincerely believes this will be the most effective way to ensure higher translation production rates and better machine translation output. Pangeanic's advanced translation system will allow for the creation of translations engines, which are capable of analyzing, processing, and translating big data in various scenarios. In order to ensure the company was able to complete the project, it received funding from various organizations. The project is currently being funded by the CDTI, Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology. It is also co-financed by the ERDF, European Regional Development Fund. The CDTI's contribution equates to a partially repayable grant totaling 85% of the project's budget. All companies need a multi-language platform embedded into their system. This platform will address the translation needs of clients and employees. COR is cost-effective multi-language software that can be deployed efficiently and eventually improve productivity. The system is being developed by the group's subsidiary, PangeaMT or Pangea Machine Translation. This entity is a part of the company's technical development division and specializes within the field of machine translation. The research and development project "COR" is well underway and the team hopes to make it available to the public as soon as possible. Further details will be provided in the future, with a release date pending. Those that are interested in learning more are advised to visit the company's official website For more information, please visit http://pangeanic.in/ Contact Info: Name: Manuel Herranz Email: m.herranz@pangeanic.com Organization: Pangeanic Address: Avd de les Corts Valencianes 26-5 OF107,Valencia, Spain Phone: +34 96 338 5771 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/pangeanic-unveils-the-latest-technical-translation-management-platform/129327 Release ID: 129327 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) Richmond Surrey Private Doctors Clinic GP Practice New Medical Services Launched The Richmond based Roseneath Medical Practice, a GP clinic providing free new patient consultations at 020 3771 8962, announced an expansion of its comprehensive and renowned range of medical services provided by leading GPs in a relaxed and comfortable environment. -- The popular GP practice Roseneath Medical Practice announced an expansion of its leading range of medical services, from tests to comprehensive health assessments, available with same day appointments and delivered by caring GPs out of a spacious and relaxed environment in the heart of Richmond. More information is available at http://roseneathdoctorsrichmond.co.uk/. The Roseneath Medical Practice is a private medical clinic located on Corner of Mount Ararat & Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey, UK, combining a team of experienced and caring doctors with the latest technology and a personalised and patient-centric service philosophy to help patients of all ages reach their maximum health potential. The GP practice announced an expansion of its complete range of medical services focused on prevention and/or identifying the root causes of illnesses, including well women/well man health assessments, antenatal and postnatal care, confidential sexual health service, mental health care, childhood vaccinations or a wide range of medical tests with results available within 24 hours, immediate prescriptions, referrals to specialist consultants if required, and more. The leading Roseneath Medical Practice services are delivered by a friendly, caring and experienced team of GPs and clinical support staff able to provide convenient same day appointments without time limitations at its relaxed, spacious and comfortable practice open 7 days a week, including evenings, or home visits in Richmond, East Sheen, Twickenham or St. Margaret's. Free consultations for all new patients and additional information on the full range of premier and convenient medical services provided by the Roseneath Medical Practice along with details on its leading patient care philosophy or its experienced team of GPs can be requested at 020 3771 8962 or consulted on the website link provided above along with multiple patient testimonials. The popular Roseneath Medical Practice explains that "our team of experienced General Practitioners (GPs) are friendly, caring people with their patients' wellbeing as the priority. They use their knowledge and skills to identify and address the root causes of illnesses and not just treat the symptoms. Our aim is for our patients to receive the time and attention they deserve in a relaxed environment". For more information, please visit http://roseneathdoctorsrichmond.co.uk/ Contact Info: Name: Aleks Polomska Email: medicalreception@roseneath.co.uk Organization: Roseneath Medical Practice Address: Corner of Mount Ararat & Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 6PA Phone: 020 3771 8962 Release ID: 129160 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) Jerusalem Balsam Miracle Spray by Organic Healthcare Hits the Market Thermalabs Organic Healthcare has launched an additional product, the Jerusalem Balsam Miracle Spray. -- Thermalabs youngest sub-brand, Organic Healthcare, has introduced yet another product going by the name 'Jerusalem Balsam Miracle Spray'. In line with the brand promise, this is a 100% bio-organic health aid designed from ingredients acquired from the mountains of Galilee in Israel. The spray has no chemicals, alcohol or chemicals. This is big news for Thermalabs fanatics who've been looking forward to new products by Organic Healthcare. When Thermalabs introduced Organic Healthcare earlier this year, they revealed that they'll be announcing multiple releases this year. www.thermalabs.com/home is an established cosmetics firm that's based in the United States. The company started operating about three years ago. Inspired by the need to create health-centric skincare products, and to help eradicate the monster that's skin cancer, Thermalabs was ready to make a mark in the industry. The firm's first product, the original self-tanner, leveraged premium ingredients such as Shea Butter and Green Tea. It was a highly natural and organic lotion that delivered a beautiful and attractive sun-kissed glow barely 4 hours after application. The product's immense marketplace success helped lay the firm foundation that the young company needed for the successful launch of its future products. Today, Thermalabs has contributed over two dozen products to the cosmetics niche. Most of these are top-notch tanning formulations and accessories. In recent times, Thermalabs has segmented into three distinct sub-brands: Supremasea, Tent World, and Organic Healthcare. Supremasea is the company's sub-brand that's responsible for its Dead Sea mineral-based products - such as Tan Enhancer. Tent World, on the other hand, oversees production and marketing of Thermalabs tent-related products. Organic Healthcare, the latest Thermalabs division, is committed to producing quality healthcare products based on natural ingredients. So far, Thermalabs Organic has created two different products - the Aragan, and the Jerusalem Balsam Miracle Spray. Both these products are 100% bio organic. They are formulated using herbs, seeds, and plants acquired from the mountains of Galilee in Israel. Thermalabs Organic Healthcare products are completely handmade by skilled artisans using over 1000 years of healthcare knowledge from the Rambam. The Rambam was a preeminent Jewish scholar and physician who made a mark in history. His work in health care has been covered in numerous books. More so, a number of top medical schools in the United States and New York have been named after him. Thermalabs has established a factory in Israel where all Organic Healthcare products will be created. The firm hopes to furnish the market with fantastic products that will help restore health, energy, and vigor. By focusing on just organic and natural ingredients, and looking back to history when seeking ingredients, Thermalabs is well placed to take on the competition. The Jerusalem Balsam spray is now available on Amazon.com, as well as on the company's official website - Thermalabs.com. For more information, please visit http://www.thermalabs.com/home Contact Info: Name: Jennifer Parker Organization: Thermalabs Address: 450 West 58th Street New York, NY 10019 Phone: (877) 266-6257 Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_toClMZ_0M Source: http://marketersmedia.com/jerusalem-balsam-miracle-spray-by-organic-healthcare-hits-the-market/129203 Release ID: 129203 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) Free Freightnet Membership List your company in the Freightnet directory. It's Free, it's Easy and your company can be displayed in front of potential freight buyers within 24 hours. Picture released on Aug. 23, 2016 by lunar probe and space project center of Chinese State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence shows the concept portraying what the Mars probe would look like. Image of China's Mars rover was also released Tuesday. [Xinhua] China on Tuesday released images of a Mars probe and rover which the country plans to send to the Red Planet within five years. China plans to send a spacecraft to orbit Mars, make a landing, and deploy a rover in July or August 2020, said Zhang Rongqiao, chief architect of the Mars mission at a press conference in Beijing. "The challenges we face are unprecedented." According to Ye Peijian, one of China's leading aerospace experts and a consultant to the program, the 2020 mission will be launched on a Long March-5 carrier rocket from the Wenchang space launch center in south China's Hainan province. The lander will separate from the orbiter at the end of a journey of around seven months and touch down in a low latitude area in the northern hemisphere of Mars where the rover will explore the surface. Images displayed at Tuesday's press conference showed a device with six wheels, powered by four solar panels, two more than the rover sent to the moon. Weighing around 200 kilograms, it is designed to operate for three Martian months, according to Sun Zezhou, chief designer of the probe. The probe, for its part, will carry 13 payloads including a remote sensing camera and a ground penetrating radar which could be used to study the soil, environment, and atmosphere of Mars, as well as the planet's physical fields, the distribution of water and ice, and its inner structure. A public competition for the name and the logo of the 2020 mission was also launched Tuesday. Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation. Tourists who suffer from vertigo need not apply. Children lie down on the glass-bottom bridge in Zhangjiajie, Hunan province, on Saturday. It is said to be the world's highest and longest glass-bottom bridge. [Photo by Zhou Guoqiang/China Daily] The world's highest and longest glass-bottom bridge opened on Saturday in China's spectacular Zhangjiajiethe inspiration for the US blockbuster movie Avatar. Some 430 meters long and suspended 300 meters off the ground, the bridge spans the canyon between two mountain cliffs in Zhangjiajie park in Central China's Hunan province. Six meters wide and made of 99 panels of clear glass, the bridge can hold up to 800 people at once, said an official in Zhangjiajie, a popular tourist destination. Tourists can walk across the bridge, designed by Israeli architect Haim Dotan. The more adventurous will be able to bungee jump or ride a zip line. "I wanted to feel awe-inspired by this bridge. But I'm not afraidit seems safe!" Wang Min, who was visiting the new structure with her husband and children, said on Saturday. After another glass bridge cracked at Yuntai Mountain in Central China's Henan province in 2015, authorities in Zhangjiajie were eager to demonstrate the safety of the structure. They organized a string of media events, including one where people were encouraged to try to smash the bridge's glass panels with a sledgehammer, and another where they drove a car across it. "It's crowded today and a bit of a mess. But to be suspended 300 meters in the air, it's a unique experience," said Lin Chenglu, who had come to see the bridge with his colleagues. Only 8,000 people each day will be allowed to cross the bridge, according to a report by Xinhua News Agency, and tourists will have to book their tickets a day in advance at a cost of 138 yuan ($20). People wearing stilettos will be banned, it added. Local authorities have said that one of the summits in Zhangjiajie inspired the floating mountain that appears in Avatar. A Hollywood photographer visited the area in 2008, taking images that were used for the film, according to media reports. Old Mutual Global Investors (OMGI) has appointed a managing director of commodities as investors return to resources and precious metals following several years of slumping returns. The newly created role has been handed to Diego Parrilla, who will report to OMGIs investment director Paul Simpson. Mr Parrilla will work with the management team at OMGI to identify absolute return strategies in precious metals and commodities which are aligned with the strategic direction of the company, and with client demand and market suitability, the fund house said. He joins from Dymon Asia Capital, where he had worked since August 2015. He previously held roles at BlueCrest Capital Management and Merrill Lynch. The appointment comes as investors again look to defend themselves against the impact of central bank policy through investing in the likes of gold. Richard Buxton, chief executive at OMGI, said: We recognise that precious metals have become an increasingly important asset class as investors look to hedge against the impact of modern monetary policy. We will call upon Diegos significant experience and knowledge of commodity markets to assess client demand for alternative commodities products in the future. Mr Parrilla added: We are seeing a perfect storm in the gold markets whereby central banks and global markets are testing the limits of monetary policy, credit markets, and fiat currencies, which in my view support a multi-year bull market for precious metals. It is time for the popular UK Equity Income sector to adapt as bumpy markets make the prospect of more dividend cuts seem increasingly likely, according to Wellians Chris Mayo. Over the past few years, the UK Equity Income sector has seen a spike in flows, on the back of steady income in an increasingly low yield world. But the sector, which has created and attracted many so-called star fund managers, has been struggling to meet its 110 per cent yield requirement of the FTSE All Share index over three years, meaning a number of these top managers have jumped ship. Several investment vehicles have been kicked out of the sector over the past three years, with the 934m Evenlode Income fund being the most recent fund to depart. But Mr Mayo, investment director at Wellian Investment Solutions, said it was important to point out that the fund managers are sticking to their investment strategies, rather than chasing higher yields in companies they wouldnt normally buy. The investment boss also pointed to his own firms research, which showed that - based on current yields - as much as 20 per cent of the sector could fall foul of its rules. The Investment Association launched a consultation in April which looked to propose alternative ways of classifying UK equity income funds. Mr Mayo said some managers can boost a funds yield by making full use of the sectors overseas allowance, move down the market cap to higher yielding small cap, or invest in higher yielding mega caps, which wont necessarily be a good thing. Hugh Yarrow, who runs the Evenlode Income fund with Ben Peters, criticised the sectors arbitrary parameters, and earlier this month the pair warned about the outlook for UK dividends after several large companies reduced or cancelled payments. Although the headline rate looks appealing, the quality of the income streams doesnt look as good Chris Mayo Mr Mayo said fund managers would prefer to exit, rather than stay and chase unsustainable yields to meet the 110 per cent requirement. He said the past year has been tumultuous for UK dividends, with falls in profits making investors unsure which companies could maintain their payouts. Many big-name mining and oil companies, retailers and utilities, had been solid dividend payers until recently, when a number decided to shave their dividends. Mr Mayo said many see this as a signal that similar action will be taken by other companies, adding this nervousness makes it even harder for fund managers who are trying to meet a yield target. In June, Thomas Moore, who runs Standard Lifes 1.2bn UK Equity Income fund, said investors should be wary of many large UK companies using debt to pay their dividend. Mr Mayo argued just a quarter of companies in the FTSE 350 have an above average dividend yield, which is the lowest level for 25 years, meaning fund managers have a much smaller pool of companies to build a portfolio and scoop up the required yield. Investment trusts are increasingly turning to profits as way to fund dividend payments but analysts have sounded a note of caution over the sustainability of such a strategy. Changes to tax rules in 2012 made it possible for investment companies to pay out realised profits as income. A number have since turned to the strategy, touted as an advantage for trusts given investors ongoing desire for consistent income streams. The moves could also theoretically help narrow a companys share price discount to net asset value (NAV). In Winterfloods latest monthly update, the analyst noted the 301m JPMorgan Global Growth & Income trust, managed by Jeroen Huysinga, was the latest to employ such a policy, announcing it will pay out 4 per cent of its NAV every year, rather than a gross portfolio yield of 2.2 per cent. The strategy change aims to narrow the trusts 10 per cent discount. Simon Elliott, researcher at Winterflood, backed the policy. He said: We believe that the proposals are well-considered and offer investors a chance to have their cake and eat it by providing access to a successful growth manager and an attractive yield. In our opinion, the annual 4 per cent of NAV dividend reduces the chances of the fund being overburdened with too high a dividend yield in the case of a market setback. He added: We would expect the discount [currently 10 per cent] to tighten. In addition we would expect a number of investment trusts to monitor the funds progress carefully on the basis that others might follow where it has led. The move does follow other vehicles, such as the 202m Invesco Perpetual UK Smaller Companies, which has helped broaden its shareholder base by dipping into profits to double its dividend. Last year, the 176m Securities Trust of Scotland used its profits to boost its dividend to keep up with the level of yield offered by its peers in the Global Equity Income sector. Anthony Leatham of Peel Hunt said other trusts could follow suit but acknowledged opinion remained divided over the benefits of a such a strategy. Mr Leatham said benefits such as great flexibility should be weighed against the risk that drawing down profits inhibits returns over a longer time horizon. Other analysts warned that dipping into profits to pay dividends was not sustainable, and investors should become concerned for the long-term health of the vehicle if the technique is pursued for too long. Charles Murphy, investment funds analyst at Panmure Gordon, said: If you are using capital to bridge a small dividend gap for a couple of years investors will shrug on the basis that income generation should catch up. If, however, the gap is large investors may become concerned and take a view that a dividend cut is coming so you should exit and invest elsewhere before the market reacts to this issue. This can take some time. OneSavings Bank has reported a 100m profit before tax during the first half of this year, up 115 per cent on the 46.6m made during the same period last year, including an exceptional gain of 34.7m on the sale of Rochester. The bank sold Rochester - portfolios of mortgages for sale to investors who want exposure to the UK market - removing a total of 239.8m of securitised mortgage assets and cash reserves from the securitisation vehicle, and as a liability, the senior most notes of 171.6m from the groups balance sheet. Underlying profit before tax increased 36 per cent to 64.6m, from 47.6m during the first six months of last year. In terms of the groups lending, within buy-to-let there was a 24 per cent increase in the volume of new organic lending to 800m from 644m, including strong growth through the Kent Reliance and InterBay brands. The expectation is that the higher stamp duty and forthcoming tax changes to interest deductions will reduce the level of speculative and amateur investors, driving greater professionalism in the sector, read the results, noting that product development has continued to focus on the professional landlord community, with tightened criteria for non-professionals. The buy-to-let loan portfolio grew by 410m in the first half to a gross value of 3.12bn, from 2.71bn at the end of last year. We have improved our intermediary proposition with the introduction of a revised broker-led retention programme, the first of its kind in the specialist lending market, the report added. On the residential side, the group organically originated residential lending of 173m - compared to 135m during the same period last year - including first charge residential lending predominantly in London and the south east through Kent Reliance as well as second charge lending through Prestige Finance. The bank also acquired portfolios of first and second charge residential mortgages for a total of 131m in the first half of 2016. The first charge residential book had a gross value of 1.29bn at 30 June, down from 1.43bn at 31 December, with new organic lending in the first half, more than offset by the Rochester disposal and redemptions on the back book and acquired mortgage portfolios in run-off. The second charge residential loan book remained broadly flat as at 30 June, with a gross value of 514m - 518m at the end of last year - with organic origination and book acquisitions offset by redemptions and acquired books in run-off. Group chief executive Andy Golding commented that current mortgage application volumes are significantly higher than the run rate seen in the first half, while re-mortgaging activity continues to be buoyant, currently representing around 60 per cent of buy-to-let new origination. During 2016 we have continued our selective extension of distribution partners and invested in our sales capability, whilst maintaining an excellent broker net promoter score of 56 per cent, he said. We target professional landlords with multiple properties, who are better positioned to withstand market volatility and continue to look for opportunities to develop and grow portfolios. Lifetime Isa: the last dose of Georges Marvellous Medicine for the pensions industry Reports of the death of the Lifetime Isa are greatly exaggerated. But with a string of life companies coming out this month to say they couldnt possibly be ready to launch a Lisa product by next April, and Lisas champions George Osborne and Ros Altmann both gone, the odds arent looking good. Right now Lisas chances are on a par with those of a unicyclist in the Olympic keirin. Or whatever that Tron-like cycle race the Brits always win is called. Which is a crying shame. And given that a recent poll found that two thirds of employers feel their staff would prefer a Lisa to a workplace pension, its another example of clients getting what the pensions industry wants to give them rather than what they want. True, the governments plans for Lisa always were a bit hazy. Critics portrayed it as more needless tinkering with the pensions system and another glib political catchphrase. Its wrong to think of 20-somethings as a feckless bunch with no interest in saving for later life But Lisa didnt deserve to go the same way as the Northern Powerhouse and the Big Society. Remember that? Few do. But even if Lisa is stillborn, there are lessons to be learned and an opportunity to be seized. The first is that if you talk to young people about retirement saving without mentioning the p word, you get a very different reaction. A white paper published in June by the investment firm True Potential found that people aged 25-40 would be twice as likely to save into a Lisa than into a pension. Saving yes, pensions no Pensions clearly have an image problem among the under 40s. Younger people associate the word pension with old age, frailty and wrinkles. And wheres the aspiration in that? So its no surprise that most under 40s, including many professionals, tend to bury their heads in the sand and ignore retirement planning for as long as possible. But its wrong to think of 20-somethings as a feckless bunch with no interest in saving for later life. Its just that they have so many other things to save for first a car, a house, childcare, school fees. Pensions feel very remote for most people at that stage in their lives. But as Lisas popularity showed, younger people are much more receptive to the idea of a lifetime saving product. So the pensions industry should take note there is a rich seam of demand to be tapped there. But its demand for a product that doesnt yet exist: a truly flexible, tax efficient, lifetime savings account. Inspiration from across the Pond The amount of time taken for a retail firm to get authorisation has got longer, as the Financial Conduct Authority continues to deal with a backlog. According to the regulators key performance indicators, published today (24 August), it takes on average nearly 25 weeks for a retail firm to get authorisation, but the maximum processing time can be 74 weeks - nearly a year and a half. The FCA said it had expected its figures for the second quarter of 2016 to get worse - and the maximum waiting time has increased by nearly 50 per cent on the previous three months, when it was 50 weeks. Our average processing time for both retail and wholesale firm type applications has increased as anticipated while additional temporary staff are brought in and trained, read the report. We expect our APT [average processing time] to continue to increase in the next quarter as these additional staff become fully proficient; we then expect to see our APT improve. In June, the FCA stated there had been improvements in how quickly cases were assigned and therefore predicted the backlog should start to reduce by the end of this year. However, it is understood the backlog is expected to continue growing in the next quarter, as staff training continues. Meanwhile, the average processing time for variations of permission for retail firms has improved, going down from nearly 15 weeks to around 10 weeks. But at the same time, the maximum processing time increased from 38 weeks in the first quarter of 2016 to 44 weeks in the second. The FCA stated: Our APT for retail firm type applications has improved as a result of us bringing in additional temporary staff. We expect to maintain the APT for retail firm type applications over the next quarter. Once applications for authorisation are processed, the overwhelming majority are granted, with 89 per cent given the green light in the second quarter of 2016, with no refusals. The regulator said companies often withdraw when they face a challenge from the regulator, rather than risk receiving a refusal decision. Finally, 94 per cent of variation of permissions applications were approved in the second quarter. You are here: Home China's Ministry of Transport has conducted a rescue drill in the waters off Hainan. Rescue vessels and a helicopter take part in an emergency rescue drill held at the sea area near the Fenghuang Island in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, Aug. 23, 2016. The drill aimed at enhancing emergency response skills of maritime rescue teams. [Photo: Xinhua] Eight rescue ships, 2 rescue helicopter, an unmanned drone and more than 100 crew members took part in the 75-minute drill. Zhang Guiping, deputy head of the Nanhai Rescue Bureau, says the drill is meant to keep its personnel sharp. "We need to see the results of our daily training every once in a while, while at the same time, work through different scenarios in the case of emergencies." One of the rescue ships which took part in the drill is going to be open to the public this Wednesday in Hainan. There are over 30 Chinese rescue vessels currently patrolling southern Chinese waters. Farmers and farmworkers are taking unnecessary risks when using unmanned railway crossings on their land, safety experts have warned. The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) called on agricultural workers to avoid a potentially catastrophic incident while working near manually operated rail crossings. More than half of all near-misses between trains and vehicles are at unmanned level crossings, where the user must open and close a gate or lift a barrier. See also: Rail bosses told to review crossing safety after tractor crash Alan Plom, vice-chair of the IOSH Rural Industries Group, said: There is a worrying lack of awareness of the simple precautions that must be followed at user-worked crossings. Agricultural workers, contractors and other visitors to farms were particularly at risk because they commonly encountered unmanned crossings, said Mr Plom. There have been a number of recent events that have highlighted the dangers. Not only are trains faster nowadays, modern farm machinery is also a lot bigger and quieter, which can increase the risk of incidents occurring. The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) has identified level crossings as one of its 12 strategic priority areas where improvements can be made. Accidents will happen In April this year, the driver of a tractor and trailer had a narrow escape when the vehicle was hit by a train at 84mph on an unmanned level crossing at Roudham, near Thetford, Norfolk. The tractor driver was taken to hospital with serious injuries. It later emerged the driver had phoned the operator immediately before the accident to ask for permission to cross the track and had been given the all-clear. Earlier this month, a man was airlifted to hospital after his Land Rover was hit by a Kings Lynn-to-London train on a level crossing on farmland near Stretham, Cambridgeshire. Keith Morey, chairman of the IOSH railway safety group, said: People do not necessarily understand how dangerous a user-worked crossing can be. If you go back to the early railway, people had tracks built across their land and these crossings were a way of still having access to it. Where there was once a 40mph steam train using the track though, you now have an 80mph diesel or electric-powered express engine. Since 2009-10, Network Rail has closed more than 1,000 level crossings across Britain, including 76 in 2015-16, as it looks to improve safety records. Agriculture is in danger of becoming little more than a pawn in bilateral trade negotiations, unless grassroots farmers help raise its profile with policymakers in Whitehall. Addressing a post-Brexit policy meeting in Exeter one of 49 the NFU is holding over a three-week consultation period deputy president Minette Batters urged all farmers to write to their MPs to ensure the food and farming industry was well represented in trade negotiations. The industry is worth 108bn to the economy double the size of cars and aerospace put together, she noted. See also: NFU outlines pros and cons of Brexit farming options Forging good relationships with MPs and getting them to understand agriculture would pay dividends in the future, added policy director Andrew Clark. MPs will be more important again as decisions will be made in Whitehall, not in Brussels. Farm support payments were unlikely to last forever, he added, so it was vital that domestic agricultural policy created a fair and transparent marketplace in future. In the interim, it could be worth targeting a greater proportion of support payments to help farmers become more competitive through better research and technology or co-operation. Amalgamation As for the future shape of British agricultural policies and trade agreements, they are likely to be an amalgam of other countries templates, not an exact replica. There are so many different models to follow we need to learn from other countries, said Dr Clark. Theres no reason to continue as we are; we need to look at what combination we should have. The NFU would have a draft policy framework by early October, based on feedback from members at the 49 consultation meetings and online. The key areas for discussion were trade, labour, domestic agricultural policy, environment, competitiveness and regulation. However, EU rules meant the UK could not start trade negotiations until Article 50 was signed, Dr Clark warned. And domestic agricultural policy requirements would depend on the success of those trade agreements as, without strong trade, farmers would require more domestic support. The sooner we can get trade agreements in place, the better. United front Whatever the shape of future policy, it was vital the industry presented a united front, warned Ms Batters. Although the NFU had been accused of failing to engage with other stakeholders, it was planning full consultation with other organisations and throughout the supply chain. We want to present a co-ordinated food and farming front to the government, she said. This is a new dawn for agriculture we need to present a compelling vision of what we can offer to society. Our future really does rest in our hands. A new batch of Chinese fighter pilots has qualified to make landings on China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning. File photo of China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning. [Photo: Xinhua] Dai Mingmeng, who heads the fighter pilot squadron which will eventually be based on the Liaoning, says this round of qualifications mark a milestone. "This batch of fighter pilots made successful landings, marking a major transition from being trained by the people who designed the J-15 to training conducted by the troops. It is also another important milestone for the development of China's aircraft carrier force." The "Liaoning" was officially commissioned in September of 2012. Since then, Chinese fighter pilots have been training on both the land and at sea to conduct landings on the aircraft carrier, which are said to be the most difficult landings a pilot can make, as they have to account for both the limited landing space and the movement of the boat on the water. Kate Middleton Pregnancy Update: Queen Elizabeth Furious At Prince Williams Wife For Using Third Baby To Escape From Royal Duties? Couple Divorcing? Kate Middleton is reportedly expecting her third baby with Prince William and their upcoming bundle of joy is said to be arriving in December 2016. While this seems to be a very good news to many, Queen Elizabeth is reportedly not happy that the Duchess of Cambridge's pregnancy. Queen Elizabeth mad at Kate Middleton for using pregnancy plans to escape Royal work? Celeb Dirty Laundry reports that there is an ongoing feud between Queen Elizabeth and Kate Middleton. Sources have claimed that the grandmother of Prince William is mad at his wife for using pregnancy plans to escape Royal responsibilities including some engagements Queen Elizabeth would like her to attend. Reports claim that Kate Middleton's current pregnancy will definitely give her more time and reasons to stay at home rather than going to charity events and doing her Royal responsibilities. Queen Elizabeth is reportedly alarmed that the wife of Prince William could use her pregnancy to get out of royal engagements. CLD shares that both Kate Middleton and Prince William have already drawn flaks being the laziest royal couple ever. And with the pregnancy of Prince George and Princess Charlotte's mom, several fans believe that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge could now stay out of the public spotlight and become lazier than ever. Kate Middleton, Prince William to have third royal baby in December 2016 Meanwhile, GamenGuide has previously reported that Kate Middleton and Prince William are currently expecting their third baby. As a matter of fact, the sister of Pippa Middleton is reportedly five months pregnant now and her baby is going to arrive before the year ends. Countless followers of Kate Middleton have noticed her growing baby bump in all of her recent photos. Some also believe that the Prince William and mother of Prince George and Princess Charlotte have decided to have another baby to save their failing marriage. Though these reports could be true, both Kate Middleton and Prince William are yet to comment on these reports. So, fans should take everything with a grain of salt until it has been proven true and correct. Stay tuned to GamenGuide for the latest news and updates on Kate Middleton's pregnancy. WhatsApp Update 2.16.238 Beta Now Available on the Google Play Store WhatsApp is one of the most popular text and messaging app of this generation and its regular updates has allowed the mobile app to reach one billion users worldwide. The WhatsApp download system is very easy to do and its timely updates has allowed brought more users to enjoy texting and calling for free. WhatsApp Update 2.16.238 according to the NeuroGadget is currently in its beta form. Users who wish to try this version can download the WhatsApp Update 2.16.238, but do not expect some major features added on the application. The WhatsApp download can only do so much as fix bugs and improve the stability features of the app. Unfortunately, the WhatsApp update that brings the video calling feature is still unavailable. Recent rumors suggest, there have mock up of the said feature and an apparent testing has already done, but currently the WhatsApp video calling feature is still unavailable. However, the current version of WhatsApp right now allows voice recording and send it to the recipient. WhatsApp download is very easy to do, for iOS users, they can check on the App Store, search for WhatsApp and download/install the file. Android users on the other hand will go to the Google PlayStore and download the WhatsApp Update 2.16.238 and install it on their device. This latest Google Update is intended for Android users, but it won't be long before a new version will arrive on the iOS platform. Take note that the latest WhatsApp Update 2.16.238 can only be downloaded by Beta tester members. If you want to be part of it, you can visit the Google Play Store and tap on how to become a tester; and you can proceed to download the latest WhatsApp download. Are you happy with the service of WhatsApp in your region? Don't miss the latest WhatsApp Update and WhatsApp download news by reading on Game & Guide. Ash Vs Evil Dead Season 2 Air Date, Spoilers, News & Update: Ash Back In Elk Grove? Will He Find Love In His Hometown? "Ash Vs Evil Dead" season 2 will follow Ash back to his hometown Elk Grove as it becomes the center of evil. Back in his hometown, he'll be facing the greatest horror and his high school sweetheart. Ash Back In Elk Grove "Ash Vs Evil Dead" season 2 will see Ash leaving his comfy retirement home in Jacksonville as he goes back to his hometown of Elk Grove, Michigan. Unfathomable terror reins Elk Grove and he comes face to face with former enemy Ruby, Comingsoon.net reported. Ash is forced to make an uneasy alliance with Ruby as they are about to face The Evil Dead and an unknown horror in Elk Grove. "Ash Vs Evil Dead" season 2 was inspired by the classic movie of the same title. The series will show 10 half-hour episodes with an extended episode starting October. Starz released a new art poster for "Ash Vs Evil Dead" season 2. The patriotic art shows the series' cast saluting the stars and stripes of the U.S. flag. The official #AshvsEvilDead Season 2 poster is here. You're welcome, America pic.twitter.com/tkBkpME3mq Ash vs Evil Dead (@AshvsEvilDead) August 23, 2016 Ash Meets Childhood Sweetheart Returning cast includes Bruce Campbell as the lead star Ash Williams; Lucy Lawless as Ruby, who now has the powerful Necronomicon; Ray Santiago as Pablo Simon Bolivar, Ashe's loyal sidekick; and Dana Delorenzo as Kelly Maxwell, who is planning to take on The Evil Dead for killing her parents, Bloody Disgusting reported. "Ash Vs Evil Dead" season 2 will also introduce Lee Majors as Brock Williams, Ash's father; long-time "Evil Dead" star Ted Raimi as Chet Kaminski, Ash's childhood best friend; and Michelle Hurd as Linda, Ash's high school sweetheart. Now fans are speculating if Ash will find the spark once more with Linda as they meet in Elk Grove in "Ash Vs Evil Dead" season 2. Do you want to see Ash and Linda back together? "Ash Vs Evil Dead" season 2 will premiere on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, at 8 p.m. ET. Watch the trailer below. 'Avengers: Infinity War' Release Date, News & Update: Russo Brothers Reveals To Feature Beginnings & Endings Of Superheroes, Villains; New Superheroes Coming? The geek community is now looking forward to the coming of "Avengers: Infinity War." In fact, the directors Joe and Anthony Russo recently hinted that the Phase Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is about to show both the endings and the beginnings of the superheroes and villains. Anthony Russo Reveals The Ending & Beginnings In 'Avengers: Infinity War' In an interview with Cinema Blend, the Russo brothers admitted that "Avengers: Infinity War" will open a new story of the incoming defenders and antagonists. However, the film is also set to reveal the conclusion of some characters. "That is definitely a part of the process in these movies as well, the introduction of some new characters. These movies are intended to be the culmination of everything that has preceded them in the Marvel Cinematic Universe," Anthony Russo explained. "So very much these movies will in some ways be an ending to a long journey for many characters and they will also be a beginning for other characters," the film producer added. Unfortunately, Anthony Russo said that he is not bound to share much detail about the coming "Avengers: Infinity War," but only little information. Are New Superheroes Coming? Meanwhile, the Indian Express reported that the Russo Brothers also teased that "Avengers: Infinity War" will have additional characters. Anthony Russo revealed that they are now busy figuring out to feature the stories of their "pre-existing characters," although they didn't confirm if it's the newly added Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) or a new superhero coming. Marvel movie fans believe that the Russo Brothers are pertaining to an unexpected new superhero gracing "Avengers: Infinity War." Nevertheless, nothing is confirmed yet as the directors are still being tight-lipped about the movie and its scriptwriters Christopher Marcus and Stephen McFeely are not giving any details about the storyline. "Avengers: Infinity War" will start filming later this year and set to be released in May 2018. Ms. Liang sat in the Shenzhen Longcheng Hospital, a private hospital in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, to receive treatment for her arms, which were injured during work two months ago. All of her treatment expenses had been covered by insurance, she told reporters, indicating a sense of relief since hospital treatment can be very costly in China, especially when it is not covered by medical insurance. Private hospitals like this one have seen a spate of supportive measures issued by the Shenzhen city government in recent years, including subsidies, tax reductions, cheaper land costs and allowing insurance to cover treatments. Similar encouraging policies have also been proposed in other cities and provinces across China. As people become richer and are able to afford better medical treatment, the healthcare industry in China has begun to flourish. The total cost of medical care is estimated to have reached 4 trillion yuan last year, maintaining an increase of 1 trillion yuan every two or three years, according to an official report issued last month. In the first quarter of this year, the healthcare industry grew by 17.4 percent from the same time last year. "Healthcare has been one of the fastest growing industries in household consumption in Western countries in the past 150 years, maintaining a long-standing increase 1.6 times higher than income. In the past few years, the development of the healthcare industry in China has also stood out, making it a pillar of the modern service industry and a leading industry in China's economic growth," said Liu Guo'en, an expert advising on the country's healthcare reform. Private hospitals have also ridden the waves of the flourishing industry, making up 52.6 percent of all the hospitals in China. But despite this, private hospitals still see much fewer patients than public ones. Data shows that a total of 2.71 billion visits were made to public hospitals in 2015, while only 370 million visits were made to private ones, a more than seven to one difference. "Though the number of private hospitals increases rapidly, public hospitals still have the lion's share of the market. This is because China's medical treatment follows an 'inverted pyramid' pattern, where first-class hospitals still claim most outpatients and inpatients. Normally there should be more patients in primary-level hospitals," said Cai Jiangnan, an expert studying healthcare policies and economics. He attributed it to the unbalanced allocations of medical resources in China: Public hospitals, especially major ones, often enjoy more resources and benefits, including entry into the medical treatment market, ratings, scientific research and medical insurance. Doctors in private hospitals complain that they need to publish academic papers in key journals to apply for more senior titles -- which directly impacts their income and career development -- but those papers often have to be involved in national-level scientific research programs, which are often unavailable in private hospitals. Private hospitals also have to struggle with the difficulties of attracting investment. It often takes eight to 10 years for a newly established hospital to make ends meet, while investment, which seeks quicker and better yields, tends to go to major public hospitals instead of private ones. Experts have also been talking about the lack of talented doctors in private hospitals. In China, doctors have to register with a certain hospital to carry out their practice, where their earnings are often undervalued. Although a policy allowing doctors to practice in more than one institution was issued several years ago, the reaction turned out to be lukewarm because there are still many restrictions. Late last month, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security announced that it is studying the possibility of scraping the stringent headcount quota system in public hospitals -- public hospitals across China have a certain quota for the doctors it can employ, which not only decide doctor's pay, pensions and other welfare benefits, but also the funding hospitals can get. The scraping of the quota system is likely to encourage more doctors to seek practices outside of public hospitals, experts say, though the exact timetable has not been announced. The free event will take place on Saturday, Oct. 29, and feature more than 30 different types of aircraft. Oregon State Credit Union moved into a new 65,000-square-foot headquarters at 4800 S.W. Research Way last week, and a new branch inside the building opened to the public the week before. Customers love the new Sunset Branch, said branch manager Gail Lichtenthaler, and the Operations Center brings together departments that had been separated in three different buildings. Its fun to walk into the break room and see people youve only talked to on the phone, she added. Rick Hein, president and CEO of Oregon State Credit Union, said that the goal with the Operations Center was to bring workers together to increase efficiencies and collaboration. Construction on the Operations Center started in April 2015, and the building was necessary because the credit unions membership had tripled in the last 15 years, said Mike Corwin, assistant vice president in charge of public relations and business development. Throughout its 62-year history, the credit unions headquarters always has had a branch office inside, and Hein didnt think that should change. We wanted to make sure the back office always knew why we are here, and thats to serve the members, he said. The Sunset Branch is the fifth in Benton County for the credit union, and it will make things convenient for residents and businesses in South Corvallis and near downtown. Lots of customers live nearby and a lot of them want to make this their main branch, said Lichtenthaler, who previously was the assistant manager at the Ninth Street branch. Invitations to an open house on Sept. 28 will be sent to members who live near the new building. One major advantage for the Sunset Branch is that it has safety deposit boxes, which are in short supply in Corvallis, Hein said. The first people in line outside wanted safety deposit boxes, Hein said. And members wont need an employees help to access the safety deposit box room. The lock for the room scans members faces and also requires a PIN code for entry. If we have one complaint from members, its that we dont have a drive-through, Hein said. The drive-through would have required a variance from the city, and credit union representatives wanted to avoid public hearings that could have delayed construction. The credit union is pursuing LEED certification, which is a sustainability rating, for its new building. The Operations Center has plenty of windows to let in natural light, and light fixtures are controlled by sensors that detect the brightness level of the natural light. The centerpiece of the new Operations Center may be a staircase built with reclaimed fir beams, and repurposed wood was used throughout the project. The Operations Center also has a courtyard for employees to meet or have lunch and enjoy the weather. Throughout the building, there are pocket areas for employees to gather and chat. Another plus for workers are locker rooms with showers, so those who want to bike to the job can freshen up before their shift starts. The old headquarters on Ninth Street also didnt have a shipping and receiving area, which will make things easier at the new location. A community meeting room with space for more than 400 people is being finished up, as well. Weve received a number of inquiries, but were not ready for that yet, Hein said. There also is plenty of room to expand. Were built for 30-year growth, Hein said. The Oregon State Credit Union has had plenty of other positive news lately. The Sunset Branch is the 13th branch for the credit union, and the 14th, in Lincoln City, will open up next month. To deal with all the growth, the credit union has hired 18 new employees this year, bringing its number of workers to 233, said Corwin. The credit union also is looking to hire 17 additional workers for 2017. In April, the organization exceeded $1 billion in assets, Corwin said. Out of about 6,400 credit unions in the nation, Oregon State Credit Union ranks about 300th in assets. The credit union also has grown from 87,000 members to 92,000 members this calendar year. The Sunset Branch is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday through Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday. For more information on Oregon State Credit Union, go to oregonstatecu.com or go to the organizations Facebook page. No one thought this would be easy, the state's attempt to reform its public records laws. In fact, as a task force convened by Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum tackled its work, it became apparent just how difficult the work would be. Participants in the group, which included journalists, government officials, members of the public and others, worked to try to unravel the more than 400 exemptions to the records law in other words, information that used to be available to the public but now are not. Members of the task force also grappled with the question of how long government agencies should have to respond to requests for records from journalists and members of the public. They struggled with the critical issue of cost: How much should agencies be allowed to charge members of the public who are seeking records? It's not at all uncommon for a government agency to drag its feet on responding to a records request or to charge an exorbitant fee for those records; both strategies can, in the long run, make it virtually impossible to access important records. So it's not really a surprise that the first batch of recommendations from Rosenblum's office doesn't solve all those issues and it's fair to say that the recommendations were greeted with disappointment in some circles. But the best way to think about these recommendations is as first steps in a much longer journey, not at all the final destination. And, after all, it took decades to weaken Oregon's public records law we won't turn that around overnight. And just because the bulk of the work has yet to be done doesn't mean there isn't at least some value in this first set of recommendations. For starters, the recommendations specify that public bodies acknowledge a request for records within five business days and fulfill them within 10. (Schools that are not in session would be exempted from this particular requirement.) And the recommendations include an acknowledgment that the default mode for government should be to make records available to members of the public. That "default mode" was the basis on which Oregon overhauled its public records law back in 1973. At the time, Oregon's law was among the strongest in the nation. But each time legislators have gathered in the years since, they have placed different sets of government records off-limits to the public. It's fair to say that Oregon's public record law is a shadow of what it was a half-century ago. Rosenblum's task force still hopes to catalog those exemptions (the idea being, one hopes, to eliminate as many of them as possible), but that work won't be ready in time for the 2017 Legislature. The cost issue may be even trickier to resolve. We understand why cash-strapped governments may want to recover the legitimate costs of fulfilling records requests. But too often government officials have quoted outrageous fees as a means of squelching legitimate requests. Rosenblum says she wants to keep the task force at work to deal with some of these big issues, and that's a good development. But really reinvigorating the state's public records law will require a sustained commitment from the top. Gov. Kate Brown has talked a good game so far about her desire to increase the transparency of state government, but she needs to back up the talk with consistent leadership. During the election campaign, voters should make a point of asking Brown (and her Republican opponent, Bud Pierce) how best to return sunshine to state government. You are here: Home The central government on Wednesday called for faster construction of upgraded drainage systems across the country to cope with urban flooding. Heavy rainfall hits central China's Wuhan in Hubei province on June 1, 2016, resulting in serious flooding in the downtown area. [Photo: Chinanews.com] Local governments should plan the building of underground utility corridors to help with flood prevention and control, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development said in a public notice. Underground utility corridors refer to tunnels that carry electricity, water, heating and sewer pipes as well as telecommunications and television cables, all laid underground. The ministry said that cities should integrate underground utility corridors with construction projects, as part of their urban planning to build modern sewer systems with efficient drainage. Despite looking shiny and modern, Chinese cities are weak in their underground infrastructure. During extreme downpours, many cities are easily flooded. The government will encourage private capital to participate in the construction and operation of the utility tunnels, said the notice. According to a timetable released by government last October, 20 percent of China's cities should have modern sewer and drainage systems by 2020, with the number rising to 80 percent by 2030. Cologne/Bonn Nearly 1.9 million people used Cologne-Bonn airport as their gateway to the world this summer. 1,896,243 passengers were recorded at Cologne-Bonn airport during the summer holidays, 265,897 more than last year. The increase of 16 per cent is a new record for the airport. Head of the airport, Michael Garvens, said: It was a record summer for our airport we have never had so many passengers in the holidays. The peak day for passenger numbers was 31 July, with 46,274 guests. Article Protecting the worlds oceans an important goal of Germanys climate diplomacy The worlds oceans are vital to our survival. They regulate the global climate and are a source of food and income for billions of people. Only a very small part of the seas enjoys legal protection, however. Our diplomats are working in New York right now to change this state of affairs. We Do Not Want A Strong Muslim Community In Czech Republic Prime Minister xsucces at 23-08-2016 11:39 PM (6 years ago) (m) Bohuslav Sobotka Prime Minister of Czech Republic, Bohuslav Sobotka, has warned that its government did not want a larger Muslim presence in the country. Prime Minister of Czech Republic, Bohuslav Sobotka, has warned that its government did not want a larger Muslim presence in the country. He, however, said on Tuesday in Prague that even the country shared Germanys desire to stem the tide of refugees from the Middle East, yet the country had different views on how to achieve such. He, however, said on Tuesday in Prague that even the country shared Germanys desire to stem the tide of refugees from the Middle East, yet the country had different views on how to achieve such. Quote We have no strong Muslim community here, and to be honest, we do not want a strong Muslim community to become established here, he said. Sobotka insisted that the Czech, along with fellow Visegrad states, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia, were against a permanent refugee quota system for European countries as advocated by Merkel. He said that the Visegrad states believed it should be up to national governments to decide how many refugees to take in. The bottom line is that it is national governments which must guarantee the safety of their citizens. Sobotka insisted that the Czech, along with fellow Visegrad states, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia, were against a permanent refugee quota system for European countries as advocated by Merkel.He said that the Visegrad states believed it should be up to national governments to decide how many refugees to take in.The bottom line is that it is national governments which must guarantee the safety of their citizens. Post Reply Posted: at 23-08-2016 11:39 PM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac dickieponga at 24-08-2016 12:17 AM (6 years ago) (m) Well done and don't concede to stupid Merkel bcos soon dose muslims will turn against her and make the country an inhabitable place to live...Good on u... Posted: at 24-08-2016 12:17 AM (6 years ago) | Hero Well done and don't concede to stupid Merkel bcos soon dose muslims will turn against her and make the country an inhabitableplace to live...Good on u... Reply GermoDon at 24-08-2016 12:18 AM (6 years ago) (m) gud talk Posted: at 24-08-2016 12:18 AM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac gud talk Reply waffibabe at 24-08-2016 02:51 AM (6 years ago) (f) Where there is muslims there is trouble. Who want trouble in their country should keep on accepting muslims Posted: at 24-08-2016 02:51 AM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac Where there is muslims there is trouble. Who want trouble in their country should keep on accepting muslims Reply Powerfulify at 24-08-2016 03:03 AM (6 years ago) (m) I don't blame u bros Posted: at 24-08-2016 03:03 AM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac I don't blame u bros Reply beneno at 24-08-2016 04:03 AM (6 years ago) (m) Muslims una see wetin una cause to Una self.una no get place to sleep,a good hearted person go give una house to sleep before the person know it,una don begin force him to join una religion or die.for him own house again .Anti peace religion.naturally una no get happiness and the thing go just dey vess una to see others happy Posted: at 24-08-2016 04:03 AM (6 years ago) | Addicted Hero Muslims una see wetin una cause to Una self.una no get place to sleep,a good hearted person go give una house to sleep before the person know it,una don begin force him to join una religion or die.for him own house again .Anti peace religion.naturally una no get happiness and the thing go just dey vess una to see others happy Reply winace at 24-08-2016 04:47 AM (6 years ago) (f) OGA I agree wit u totally. Don't let them come to ur country at all. Posted: at 24-08-2016 04:47 AM (6 years ago) | Addicted Hero OGA I agree wit u totally. Don't let them come to ur country at all. Reply DrSoba at 24-08-2016 04:54 AM (6 years ago) (m) Posted: at 24-08-2016 04:54 AM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac Reply waffibabe at 24-08-2016 05:44 AM (6 years ago) (f) Muslims are terrorists. Accept them accept problems, Posted: at 24-08-2016 05:44 AM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac Muslims are terrorists. Accept them accept problems, Reply Mykie010 at 24-08-2016 06:22 AM (6 years ago) (m) Better for una,those people are not human beings, they are murderers Posted: at 24-08-2016 06:22 AM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac Better for una,those people are not human beings, they are murderers Reply dickman2 at 24-08-2016 06:34 AM (6 years ago) (m) very good talk..no body need them.. Posted: at 24-08-2016 06:34 AM (6 years ago) | Addicted Hero very good talk..no body need them.. Reply dickman2 at 24-08-2016 06:34 AM (6 years ago) (m) very good talk..no body need them.. Posted: at 24-08-2016 06:34 AM (6 years ago) | Addicted Hero very good talk..no body need them.. Reply BournIdentity at 24-08-2016 09:12 AM (6 years ago) (m) Una sure sey nobody nid Ajanni for here so,,....? Na kweshion I dey ask o,,, Posted: at 24-08-2016 09:12 AM (6 years ago) | Addicted Hero Una sure sey nobody nid Ajanni for here so,,....?Na kweshion I dey ask o,,, Reply BournIdentity at 24-08-2016 09:12 AM (6 years ago) (m) Una sure sey nobody nid Ajanni for here so,,....? Na kweshion I dey ask o,,, Posted: at 24-08-2016 09:12 AM (6 years ago) | Addicted Hero Una sure sey nobody nid Ajanni for here so,,....?Na kweshion I dey ask o,,, Reply crocatum at 24-08-2016 09:19 AM (6 years ago) (m) why should Muslims be admired, when what makes them alive is murdering others. Just like how jealous Cain killed his brother. Posted: at 24-08-2016 09:19 AM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac why should Muslims be admired, when what makes them alive is murdering others. Just like how jealous Cain killed his brother. Reply morgan1 at 24-08-2016 09:22 AM (6 years ago) (m) Just say u do not want terrorist,killers,rapist in ur country,,,, Posted: at 24-08-2016 09:22 AM (6 years ago) | Hero Just say u do not want terrorist,killers,rapist in ur country,,,, Reply crocatum at 24-08-2016 09:25 AM (6 years ago) (m) If i were God, i would bring the date when i decide to slaughter all Muslims earlier, Jesus is too Gentle a God. Posted: at 24-08-2016 09:25 AM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac If i were God, i would bring the date when i decide to slaughter all Muslims earlier, Jesus is too Gentle a God. Reply livingstone80 at 24-08-2016 09:56 AM (6 years ago) (m) very simple and true talk! Posted: at 24-08-2016 09:56 AM (6 years ago) | Upcoming very simple and true talk! Reply kison at 24-08-2016 10:12 AM (6 years ago) (m) Y'ALL BETTER be careful, be very very careful, CAREFULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL... Posted: at 24-08-2016 10:12 AM (6 years ago) | Hero Y'ALL BETTER be careful, be very very careful, CAREFULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL... Reply bayonel3 at 24-08-2016 12:23 PM (6 years ago) (m) About 241 Nigerians on Tuesday voluntarily returned from Libya. They arrived at the cargo terminal of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, and were received by the National Emergency Management Agency on behalf of the Federal Government. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) facilitated their returns in collaboration with the Nigerian Embassy in Libya. A Libyan airline with Reg 5A-LAR that brought the returnees touched down at about 4pm to the waiting arms of the NEMA officials, IOM and other relevant stakeholders. On arrival, they were screened by officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) before being handed over to NEMA that provided them with food and facilitated their movements to their respective locations. The Head of Lagos office of the IOM DR Dr Nahashon Thuo said the returnees opted to come back voluntarily and that they were not deportees. Director Relief and Rehabilitation of NEMA Alhaji Aliyu Baffale Sambo who represented the Director General Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi in receiving the returnees gave the breakdown that they were 67 females (including 6 that are under 18 years) and 174 males (including 3 under 18 years). He said 3 of them are children less than five years. He further explained that there were about 6 medical cases. After the initial 3 persons taken to the hospital on the arrival, 2 more cases were discovered and also taken later to the health facilities. Among the stakeholders that joined NEMA in receiving the returnees were officials of the Nigerian Airforce, Nigerian Police, Federal Ministry of Health (Port health services), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other related Matters (NAPTIP), NDLEA, DSS and FAAN among others. About 241 Nigerians on Tuesday voluntarily returned from Libya. They arrived at the cargo terminal of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, and were received by the National Emergency Management Agency on behalf of the Federal Government. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) facilitated their returns in collaboration with the Nigerian Embassy in Libya. A Libyan airline with Reg 5A-LAR that brought the returnees touched down at about 4pm to the waiting arms of the NEMA officials, IOM and other relevant stakeholders. On arrival, they were screened by officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) before being handed over to NEMA that provided them with food and facilitated their movements to their respective locations. The Head of Lagos office of the IOM DR Dr Nahashon Thuo said the returnees opted to come back voluntarily and that they were not deportees. Director Relief and Rehabilitation of NEMA Alhaji Aliyu Baffale Sambo who represented the Director General Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi in receiving the returnees gave the breakdown that they were 67 females (including 6 that are under 18 years) and 174 males (including 3 under 18 years). He said 3 of them are children less than five years. He further explained that there were about 6 medical cases. After the initial 3 persons taken to the hospital on the arrival, 2 more cases were discovered and also taken later to the health facilities. Among the stakeholders that joined NEMA in receiving the returnees were officials of the Nigerian Airforce, Nigerian Police, Federal Ministry of Health (Port health services), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other related Matters (NAPTIP), NDLEA, DSS and FAAN among others. Post Reply I scour the world wide web to bring you interesting stories from around the globe. +2348055557203 Posted: at 24-08-2016 12:23 PM (6 years ago) | Hero Daiwa unveils 32-inch Smart TV with 1GB RAM, Screen Mirroring technology at Rs 15,990 News oi -Vigneshwar Taking the television technology industry to a whole new level of robust form factor and innovation, Daiwa announces the launch of its 32" Smart TV. The company is a part of Videotex International Pvt. Ltd, a 32-year-old, premier LED Television ODM Company that manufactures for a majority of leading brands in the Indian market. SEE ALSO: DIY: Here's How to Fix Your MacBook's Keyboard if Backlight is not Working A true blue Smart TV from Daiwa's product stable, it comes with a 1 GB RAM, 2.4GHz Web Cruizer Remote, Screen Mirroring technology, MHL, 178 wide viewing angle and unique features like the ability to kill apps running in the background and quick screen grab features. As a part of its go-to-market strategy, the company has launched the TV exclusively on all major e-commerce portals. The idea is to be where today's purchaser is - online! A one of a kind amalgamation of style and substance, the 32" Smart TV demonstrates the brand's motto - "Expect the unexpected". At a price tag which is half the price of similar products offered by the competition, Daiwa delivers more value for money to customers in the form of core technology excellence, detailed and sharp video and high fidelity audio quality. Commenting on the launch, Arjuun Bajaj, Director, Daiwa, said, "Our new 32" SMART TV, built on Android Platform is revolutionary, designed to create disruption in this space. Aesthetically styled with thin bezel and brush finish, svelte and slender frame, screen mirroring (M cast) technology, the TV boasts of a unique auditory experience with its 10 Watt speakers. Facilitating quick, easy and all-out data transfer, TVs in this range also come with 3 HDMI and 3 USB and it also comes with 4 GB inbuilt memory." "However, staying true to our brand's promise and our deep understanding of the Indian market and its price dynamics, we have priced the product affordably, without compromising on quality.", he added. SEE ALSO: 10 Tips and Myths Related to Extending Battery life on Smartphones The Smart TV is indigenously manufactured at Daiwa's own fully automated plant in Greater Noida. Warranting world class quality every TV out of the plant is endowed with A+ Grade Panel. Furthering its services, Daiwa also offers free installation and demo at the doorstep of its customers PAN India. The SMART 32" with 1GB ram and 2.4GHz web Cruizer remote is reasonably priced at INR 15,990. -Press Release 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 Apple buys health startup founded by Indian-origin duo News oi -GizBot Bureau Taking its interest in the digital health sector to the next level, tech giant Apple has quietly acquired personal health data startup Gliimpse founded by two Indian-origin entrepreneurs. According to media reports, the acquisition reportedly happened earlier but was not publicly announced yet. SEE ALSO: HTC 10 Gets A Price Cut and Two New Color Variants An Apple spokesperson has now responded, saying: "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans." Founded in 2013 by Anil Sethi and Karthik Hariharan, Gliimpse provides a secure platform where consumers can manage and share their medical records and info. According to Sethi's LinkedIn page, Gliimpse -- like many startups -- was born of a personal need. In recent months, Apple has acquired HealthKit, CareKit and ResearchKit startups that allow patients, doctors and researchers to access important health and wellness data via a range of mobile devices. Apple has also released its HealthKit app which helps users monitor personal health and fitness data on iPhone 6. The Cupertino-based company has recently been making a push into artificial intelligence through Siri personal assistant and related technologies. SEE ALSO: Samsung Z2 to Launch in India on August 23: Here's what we know about the upcoming Tizen smartphone It acquired the machine learning platform Turi for $200 million earlier this month. Apple also bought machine learning and AI startups like VocalIQ and Perceptio and facial recognition startup Emotient, among others. 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 Reliance Jio 4G: List of All Asus & Panasonic Smartphones Supporting the Service Features oi -Chakri Kudikala Reliance Jio has been continuously expanding their supported smartphones portfolio. Last week, Reliance Jio expanded their preview support for more Samsung devices and LG smartphones with 4G support. And today, Asus and Panasonic are the brands receiving the support for Reliance Jio 90 days Preview offer. Reliance Jio already started facing some issues by the COAI ( Cellular Operators Association of India) saying that the company is running commercial services in the name of service testing. However, that didn't stop the company in expanding their product support list. There are many rumors saying that the offer is now available for every 4G smartphone, but there isn't any official confirmation from the company. SEE ALSO: Here's How to Get a Free Reliance Jio 4G SIM Card for any 4G Smartphone! Check the sliders below to know more about the Reliance Jio Preview offer supported Asus and Panasonic smartphones list. Asus Smartphones List The Asus smartphones which are eligible for Reliance Jio Preview offer are: Asus Zenfone 2 Laser (ZE550KL), Asus Zenfone 2 (ZE551ML), Asus Zenfone Max (ZC550KL), Asus Zenfone 2 Laser 5.0 (ZE500KL), Asus Zenfone 2 (ZE550ML), Asus Zenfone Selfie (ZD551KL), Asus Zenfone 2 Laser (ZE601KL), Asus Zenfone Zoom (ZX551ML), Asus Zenfone Go, Asus Zenfone 3 (ZE552KL), Asus Zenfone 3 Laser (ZC551KL), Asus Zenfone 3 (ZE520KL), Asus Zenfone 3 (ZS570KL), and the Asus Zenfone 3 (ZU680KL). Panasonic Smartphones List The Panasonic smartphones which are eligible for Reliance Jio Preview offer are: Panasonic Eluga L, Panasonic Eluga Switch, Panasonic Eluga Icon, Panasonic T45, Panasonic Eluga I2 (1GB), Panasonic Eluga L2, Panasonic Eluga Mark, Panasonic Eluga Turbo, Panasonic Eluga Arc, Panasonic Eluga I2 (2GB), Panasonic Eluga I2 (3GB), Panasonic Eluga I3, Panasonic Eluga Icon 2, Panasonic Eluga A2, Panasonic Eluga Note, Panasonic P55 Novo 4G, Panasonic Eluga Arc 2, and the Panasonic P77. How to Get Reliance Jio SIM The process is the same which can be used to get a Jio SIM on other smartphones. Check out the previous sliders to know whether your smartphone is eligible for preview offer or not. If yes, then download the 'My Jio' app from Google Play Store and fill in required details Generate Preview Code To get a Reliance Jio SIM, you need to generate a preview code which needs to be shown at Reliance store. The preview code can be generated from the 'My Jio' app itself. Carry Your KYC Documents After generating the preview code, head over the nearest Reliance store carrying your KYC Documents and a photocopy of yours. Now, wait for the tele-verification which can be done by calling 1977 after your SIM card receives signal which usually takes 2-3 days. Best Mobiles in India 'Feels Like Home Season 2' offers something real and tangible to think about; takes home a pertinent point - if your intentions are good, there is nothing in life that isn't achievable. Pacific Endeavor Exercise Tests New Communications Capability By Air Force Master Sgt. Todd Kabalan Defense Media Activity - Hawaii BRISBANE, Australia, Aug. 22, 2016 Nearly 250 military communication experts from more than 20 Pacific partner nations are participating in Exercise Pacific Endeavor 2016 here, learning first-hand the importance of speed and interoperability of communication assets when responding to a multinational crisis. Representatives from the Multinational Communications Interoperability Program, a U.S. Pacific Command-sponsored humanitarian assistance and disaster relief information-sharing operation, are co-hosting the exercise with the Australian Defence Force to help improve interoperability of communications technologies among nations in the Indo-Asia Pacific region. The exercise is made up of multiple training modules aimed to keep participants ahead of ever-changing technological advances in case of an emergency, officials said. Applying Lessons Learned In addition to validating existing radio, cyber and satellite technologies, Pacific Endeavor 2016 will offer something new by putting lessons learned from last year's exercise into hands-on practice during a field training exercise. Using two simulated forward operating bases, the participants will field an innovative communication transmission skill. "This year, we're focusing on a new capability: internet protocol over radio frequency," said Scott Griffin, the Multinational Communications Interoperability Program's technical director. "That will give everyone, regardless of the type of radio you're using, the ability to tie into a backside network and link into the internet." Using internet protocol over radio frequency would help responders on the ground in a crisis to transmit information over much farther distances and terrain than tradition methods, exercise officials noted, adding that these types of innovations keep communicators ready for what may lie ahead. "Technology has grown exponentially," said U.S. Army Col. Jim McCallister, chief of multinational engagements at Pacom. "We constantly have to strive to reach out to discover new toolsets and new technologies to support our common efforts, because we know that we will have some sort of disaster in the region. That's what the percentages say." Building on Evolution of Growth These relationships have proven to be valuable, officials noted, as seen during humanitarian assistance and disaster response events in Nepal and the Philippines in recent years. With that in mind, officials added, Pacific Endeavor participants are building on the evolution of growth and learning through face-to-face interactions. "Far above the communications interoperability piece, it's just the relationship-building -- the bonds that everybody creates and the contacts that you create -- that can come in very useful," said Warrant Officer Nicole Heffernan of the Royal Australian Air Force, co-host for the exercise. "We are so looking forward to the next two weeks," said Lt. Col. Michael King of the Australian army. "We want to continue working on our interoperability and our relationships and friendships with each other, so that when we do have the unfortunate circumstances or natural disasters in any of our countries, we are all more capable to respond quicker and faster to be able to help all our people, especially the most vulnerable." The nations expected to participate this year are Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Fiji, French Polynesia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, South Korea, Samoa, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, the United States and Vietnam. The exercise is scheduled to conclude Sept. 2. This year's workshop marks the 14th anniversary of the program, officials said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US deploys 100 troops to south Afghanistan Iran Press TV Mon Aug 22, 2016 5:33PM Around 100 US troops have been deployed to a southern city in Afghanistan which risks falling to the Taliban militants. The spokesman for the US forces in Afghanistan, Brigadier General Charles Cleveland, said Monday the soldiers have arrived in Helmand's provincial capital Lashkar Gah to train and support Afghan troops. The general said the troops would serve as a "new presence to assist the police zone," adding that Afghan security forces have conducted airstrikes in the area. The Taliban have seized a number of districts in Helmand, Baghlan and Takhar provinces in the past weeks. Afghanistan is still suffering from insecurity and violence years after the United States and its allies invaded the country in 2001 as part of Washington's so-called war on terror. The military invasion removed the Taliban from power, but their militancy continues to this day. In October last year, Obama announced plans to keep 9,800 US troops in Afghanistan through 2016 and 5,500 in 2017, reneging on his promise to end the war there and bring home most American forces from the Asian country before he leaves office. Reports say the northern city of Kunduz is also on the verge of falling to the Taliban. According to the Afghan Defense Ministry, government troops are currently battling the Taliban in at least 15 provinces. "Around 80 percent of the province is under the control of the insurgents," said Omer Zwak, spokesman for the provincial governor in Helmand. "There are a number of districts that the government claims are under their control, but the government is only present in the district administrative center and all around are under the control of the insurgents," he added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Plans to Deploy 16 F-35 Fighter Jets in Japan in 2017 Sputnik News 15:28 22.08.2016(updated 15:30 22.08.2016) The Japanese government informed the city of Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture that the United States plans to deploy 10 Lockheed Martin F-35 fighters at the US military base located in the prefecture in January and another six combat jets in August next year, Japanese media reported Monday. TOKYO (Sputnik) According to Kyodo News, high-ranking officials from Japan's defense and foreign ministries visited Iwakuni and informed the city Mayor Yoshihiko Fukuda as well as Yamaguchi Governor Tsugumasa Muraoka of the plans. The news agency noted that the Lockheed Martin's F-35 deployment in Japan would make the first US stealth aircraft stationing overseas. In 2014, the CNBC news network described the F-35, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter, as the most expensive project in the history of the US military amounting to as much as $1.5 trillion over 55 years of service. The F-35 is the most advanced military aircraft, combining radar-evading and radar-jamming capabilities, supersonic speed, tight maneuvering and a helmet that gives pilots 360-degree vision. In April, US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter announced that US F-35 fighter jets would soon start their operations in Japan and South Korea. In March, US President Barack Obama pledged protection from the so-called North Korea's nuclear threat to Tokyo and Seoul. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Nigeria: With thousands in urgent need, UN health agency scales up emergency response 22 August 2016 The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) is ramping up its response in north-eastern Nigeria, where initial assessments have revealed urgent health problems among populations in areas formerly held by Boko Haram insurgents. "Protracted conflict situations, such as seen in northern Nigeria and the surrounding Lake Chad basin countries of Cameroon, Chad and Niger are among the greatest threats to health, globally," Peter Salama, Executive Director of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme said in a news release today. "Not only are they associated with the world's highest rates of death among children and pregnant women, they can also be breeding grounds for infectious diseases and outbreaks but are too often neglected by the international community," he added. According to WHO, mortality rates are estimated at four times higher than emergency thresholds in some of the 15 local government areas (LGAs) formerly held by the insurgent group. Furthermore, the rate of severe acute malnutrition is estimated to be 14 per cent, measles cases have also been reported in the area, and both the cases of polio reported by the country for the first time in two years were in Borno state. One of the cases is from an LGA that is still inaccessible to health service delivery while the other is from a newly accessible one. Highlighting the urgency of prompt action, WHO further noted: "The immediate goal [] is to urgently reduce the rates of death and disease by rapidly scaling up life-saving health services." The agency said it will work closely with local officials and specialist agencies to address the health risks posed by malnutrition, disease outbreaks, and long-term lack of access to basic health services. The release further noted that the working environment in the affected areas is extremely challenging and resources and capacities required to meet the enormous health service gaps are grossly inadequate. Furthermore, insecurity is a major concern, with a number of recent attacks on humanitarian staff by insurgents, and access to the LGAs require military escort over long distances on poor roads. The working environment is further complicated by the peaking annual wet season and there are forecasts of major floods in the coming weeks. In response to the situation, WHO has deployed expert staff to the country for emergency operations, coordination, and data management and another team is on the ground in Borno state to help in dealing with the polio outbreak response. The agency has also dispatched emergency drugs and supplies and its emergency operations will be further reinforced by an expanded, experienced response team in coming days. Additionally, the Government has also launched emergency polio vaccination programmes, with support from WHO and partners. The first round of vaccinations, targeting one million children, will soon be completed. The agency said the emergency response is built on its long-standing work in the African country, supporting the delivery of vital health services including immunization, maternal, child and neonatal health, and HIV services. It estimates that the funding needs for the health sector in Nigeria are estimated at about $25 million as part of the overall humanitarian response plan, which is currently being reviewed with partners in light of the latest events. Much more needs to be done, says senior UN official for Sahel In related news, Toby Lanzer, UN Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Sahel, having just concluded his fifth visit to the north-eastern parts of Nigeria noted "considerable improvements" since his last visit in April, but underscored that much more still needs to be done. The Sahel is a region spanning across eight African countries Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad many of which are dealing with a volatile security situation. In his statement, Mr. Lanzer highlighted that the scale of the crisis in the region is staggering: nine million people need emergency relief; 4.5 million people are severely food insecure; 2.5 million people have been forced from their homes. Noting the recent re-emergence of polio in Borno state, Mr. Lanzer said: "The re-emergence [] is another blow to the people of the region and a challenge for the authorities and aid agencies, alike." "Our stated purpose is to meet people's needs and I have no doubt that, together with an increasingly engaged donor community, much more good work must and can take place," he added. He further stressed that they key for sustainable peace is addressing the abject poverty in the region and said that continued security and a greater engagement by civilian authorities and development and environment organizations is vital. "Re-establishing security in all towns and across the rural expanse is crucial to enable people to farm, tend to their livestock and trade," he said. "Building on people's will, energy and resilience is the best way of ensuring a safer and more prosperous future for the people of Nigeria and the neighbouring countries of Cameroon, Chad and Niger," concluded Mr. Lanzer. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Military Strikes Target ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release SOUTHWEST ASIA, Aug. 23, 2016 U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today. Officials reported details of yesterday's strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports. Strikes in Syria Bomber and attack aircraft conducted eight strikes in Syria: -- Near Abu Kamal, a strike struck an ISIL wellhead. -- Near Raqqah, a strike destroyed an ISIL workover rig, a pumpjack and an oil tanker truck. -- Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes struck an ISIL wellhead and a staging area. -- Near Manbij, four strikes struck four ISIL tactical units and destroyed a fighting position. Strikes in Iraq Fighter aircraft and rocket artillery conducted eight strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq's government: -- Near Baghdadi, a strike destroyed an ISIL repeater tower. -- Near Haditha, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed a fighting position and damaged a tunnel entrance. -- Near Kisik, a strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle and a tunnel entrance. -- Near Qayyarah, four strikes struck an ISIL training camp; destroyed two rocket rails, a fighting position, two mortar positions, a tunnel entrance, two assembly areas, an anti-air artillery system, six repeater tower generators and a communications tower;, suppressed a rocket firing position and two mortar firing positions; and denied access to terrain. -- Near Ramadi, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a fighting 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 it poses to Iraq, Syria, the region and the wider international community. The destruction of targets in Syria and Iraq further limits ISIL'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, Denmark, 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 Dunford Details Implications of Today's Threats on Tomorrow's Strategy By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity FORT McNAIR, D.C., Aug. 23, 2016 National security leaders must be able to confront today's threats, and they must develop and maintain the personnel, strategies and equipment needed for an ever more uncertain world, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told the new class at the National Defense University today. Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford also shared with the members of the class of 2017 his thoughts on the strategic landscape, and the implications to the joint force. Dunford agrees with assessments that the world is in the most uncertain time since the end of World War II. Still, the U.S. military "is recruiting and retaining quality people," the chairman said. "Across the board," he added, "they are focused. They are committed. They are high quality." There are signs of wear in some military specialties and Dunford cited a pilot shortage and the near constant deployments of special operators and other small, but crucial specialties, specifically. But, he noted the closer to a combat environment, the higher the morale. Assessing Risk "In the environment we are in today, with the complexity and volatility and variety of challenges we have, how do we assess risk?" he asked. "How do we assess the capabilities or capacities that must exist in the joint force? A part of this is also how to prepare for the unexpected." The threat baseline, he said, is four-plus-one: Russia, China, Iran, North Korea and violent extremism. Four are nation states that can cause varying degrees of concern. The fifth threat, terrorism, can flare up in any part of the world. "We use those four state actors and one nonstate actor to get an appreciation for where is the force relative to where it needs to be," Dunford said. He addressed each of the threats starting with the campaign against the core of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Iraq and Syria. The military campaign against core ISIL is going well, he said. Iraqi security forces have proved in Fallujah and Ramadi that they can take on ISIL and win. They have set the stage for the battle against the terror group in Mosul -- Iraq's second-largest city and the largest city anywhere under ISIL control. Fighting ISIL in Iraq Now, he said, "it is no longer the military campaign that is going to be the determining factor in the success in Iraq. The interactions of governments in Iraq, the role of Shia militia forces, the relationship of the Peshmerga in the north with the Shia and government -- all those things have to be sorted out." Meanwhile, the United States is supporting 14,000 Arab fighters and upwards of 30,000 Kurds during the counter-ISIL campaign in Syria, said Dunford, who noted there's been much ground retaken there from ISIL. ISIL in Libya ISIL is not limited to Iraq and Syria and the United States is helping government forces in Libya strike at ISIL in Sirte, Dunford said. The U.S. needs to eliminate the group from the region for ISIL in Libya could be the headquarters for the group throughout Africa and for attacks into Europe, he said. Dunford said the counter-ISIL campaign in Libya is making progress. "The trajectory that ISIL was on in Libya in January and February was concerning to me, but it is less so today," the chairman said. ISIL is also in Afghanistan, West Africa and is trying to gain adherents in Southeast Asia. The United States will confront the group wherever it goes, Dunford said. The chairman discussed the capabilities that Russia and China are developing. "When I look at Russia, they are modernizing their nuclear enterprise, they are modernizing their submarine force, they are modernizing their conventional capabilities," he said. All this is being done, he said, despite significant demographic and economic challenges facing Russia. The U.S. competitive advantage in many of these areas is getting smaller, the chairman said. Russian Actions Dunford said he's concerned about Russia's behavior, including its annexation of Crimea, its actions in Eastern Ukraine, it threats to Georgia and Moldova, and its aid to Syria. Russia is engaging in these actions in an attempt, Dunford said, to "undermine the most successful alliance in history -- the NATO alliance." He added: "From a U.S. perspective, I would tell you I believe our center of gravity as a nation, through a security lens, is the network of alliances. Russia is trying to erode that." Russia and China are separately concentrating on anti-access, area denial strategies, but for similar ends, the chairman said. The Question of China China is a bit more opaque, Dunford said. China has invested significant sums in building up its military, including its nuclear enterprise. Its actions in the South China Sea are cause for concern to the United States, the chairman said. Meanwhile, Iran is trying to spread its influence across the Middle East, he said, and must be carefully monitored. And, the chairman said, North Korea is still building nuclear capabilities and intercontinental missiles and is the most unpredictable nation on the list. All these risk assessments have implications for the joint force. The first, Dunford said, is the United States must have balanced capabilities. "In other words, we have to have capabilities that range from the nuclear down to conventional and special operations capabilities," he said. "We as a nation with the challenges out there cannot afford not to have a robust capability." Another implication is the United States has to do better at integrating all aspects of the government into strategy and integrating allies and partners into plans, the chairman said. Finally, the chairman believes any disagreement has the potential to grow to a transregional, multi-domain conflict. He cited the example of North Korea. In the 1990s, it was possible that if the armistice broke down, the conflict could be limited to the Korean Peninsula. With ballistic missiles, the cyber threat and conventional attacks, any conflict with North Korea would soon escalate to include the rest of U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. Northern Command, U.S. Strategic Command and U.S. Cyber Command. This calls for a much greater degree of strategic integration in the future, Dunford said. The decision-making processes need to be streamlined, and leaders need a common operational picture. All this requires a strategic framework to build the plans for global operations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Department of Defense Press Operations News Release No. NR-301-16 August 23, 2016 Statement by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter on U.S. Casualties in Afghanistan I was deeply saddened to learn one of our service members was killed today and another wounded while engaged in our mission to train, advise and assist Afghan forces. Six Afghan soldiers were also wounded in the IED blast. My thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of the service member killed and all those injured. This tragic event in Helmand province reminds us that Afghanistan remains a dangerous place, and there is difficult work ahead even as Afghan forces continue to make progress in securing their own country. We will continue to work closely with the government of Afghanistan and our NATO partners to bolster the capabilities of the ANDSF so they can provide the people of Afghanistan the peace they deserve. http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/923444/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Marines with I MEF strengthen cyber defensive capabilities US Marine Corps News By Cpl. Garrett White | August 23, 2016 The Corps' ability to win on the battlefield remains strong; however, its post-9/11 enemies in operational environments like in Iraq and Afghanistan have been, by and large, a technologically inferior force. And while the Corps may need to only refine its maneuver warfare skills, there is a new battle space that is sure to dominate the next major armed conflict: cyberspace. As the U.S. has drawn down its military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan, America's force in readiness is preparing for the next big fight. Technical, tactical, and technological superiority is never given it is earned through tough, realistic training. Marines and sailors with I Marine Expeditionary Force conducted I MEF Large Scale Exercise 2016 across several locations in Southern California, Aug. 10 22, in part, to hone its cyber defense capabilities. The overall purpose of the exercise was to practice the deployment of a fighting force of more than 50,000 military personnel to a partner nation and incorporate both live-fire and simulated combat scenarios against a near-peer enemy force. "What we are working on in the joint force across the national-defense establishment is finding our way into this new domain of warfare that we call the cyber domain," said Maj. Gen. David Coffman, deputy commanding general, I MEF. "The ones and zeroes in the computers can go around the world, up into space, et cetera, this is a problem we are attacking in this exercise." Coffman added that one area the force focused on was the defense of its forward computer networks. Because the exercise included establishing a forward-operating base for the command element, security doesn't stop at the area's entry control point. "The scenario gives us the opportunity to exercise against a force with advanced cyber capabilities," said Capt. Curtis Miller, cyber network operations planner, I MEF. "What that means to me is we have to stand up a defensive posture to enable the operators to fight through and accomplish the objective." Miller explained that what makes an advanced cyber capability is less the kind of attacks that can be leveraged against us but how those attacks occur. Once they get into the network, their ability to maintain a persistent presence makes it difficult to detect and respond to their attacks. As I MEF began to return to conducting force-level training exercises against near-peer adversaries, it has remained proactive in identifying and improving its cyber capabilities. I MEF also reached out to other military services to achieve its training objectives. "Our mission is to assist the Marines in conducting defensive cyber operations and identifying any gaps in conducting defensive cyber operations," said Chief Petty Officer Marco Fernandez, cryptologic technician for networks, 553 Cyber Protection Team, a team of cyber defense specialists with Fleet Cyber Command, 10th Fleet. 553-CPT attached to I MEF to act as advisors while setting up the command element's networks. Fernandez said attacks can be expected from various adversaries and a multitude of attack vectors an opponent can use including phishing scams and specialized malicious software. He said the ultimate goal of most adversaries is to footprint an organization and figure out its capabilities. With the assistance of 553-CPT, the Marines of I MEF were able to codify new and improved techniques, tactics and procedures, keeping classified and unclassified computer systems secure. "To me, it comes down to planning," Miller said. "We have to develop a (defensive cyber operations) plan that takes all things into consideration in how to prevent, how to protect and how to respond to a cyberattack. Being able to train our guys and have the tools and understand where we can leverage recourses to win that type of fight and gain that information advantage is what every commander should be able to have in his tool kit." The training benefited the Marines of I MEF and helped strengthen the U.S. military as a whole. "I think it's a win-win for the Corps as a service, as well as (U.S. Cyber Command) because you have a multi-service team working jointly to reach a goal," Fernandez said. "So I think we are in a great position to shape the future of defensive cyber operations." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Southeast Asian Navies Come Together for Maritime Operations Training in Singapore Navy News Service Story Number: NNS160823-01 Release Date: 8/23/2016 8:57:00 AM By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Madailein Abbott, Commander, Task Force 73 Public Affairs SINGAPORE (NNS) -- The Naval War College and Naval Postgraduate School partnered with Task Force 73 to host a maritime operations training symposium in Singapore Aug. 15-21. The symposium brought liaison officers from partner navies across Southeast Asia together for a week of information sharing and collaboration. It preceded the multilateral exercise Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) that began Aug. 22 in Singapore featuring nine regional partner nations. "This week starts the Maritime Operations Center (MOC) training, with a focus on maritime domain awareness (MDA)," said Lt. Cmdr. Jeremy Crestetto, assistant chief of staff for Theatre Security Cooperation at Task Force 73. "We have three professors here with us from the Navy War College and Naval Postgraduate School teaching basic maritime operation center concepts, how we have developed maritime domain awareness in the United States Navy, and how we can take those lessons and apply them to our SEACAT exercise next week." The training symposium allowed officers from partner nations to share their experiences of working in a maritime operations center, and the challenges of creating a common operational picture that is often required for real-world contingency operations and exercises like SEACAT. Focusing on topics such as human trafficking, drug smuggling and piracy, SEACAT brings together liaison officers (LNOs) from multiple countries in Southeast Asia to promote regional cooperation and to share maritime security challenges. This year's participants include the United States, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and new participants Bangladesh and Cambodia. "The main goal of this training and next week's exercise is information sharing," said Crestetto. "It's about all of the representatives from the different nations looking at common threats and deciding how to act on them, and to share how each of us would respond. In this way we learn about each other and ourselves, and can apply that knowledge to future operations." During the SEACAT exercise, LNOs will receive simulated reports of suspect vessels in the Straits of Singapore and Malacca, the Andaman Sea or the South China Sea. After sharing information from all available sources, such as Singapore's Information Fusion Centre, Malaysia's International Maritime Bureau, or the Philippines' Coast Watch System, the LNOs will develop and implement response plans during a concurrent field training exercise. Based on the situation, aircraft and ships from participating navies will investigate and conduct on-scene boarding as necessary. "It's important for us to be ready for these kinds of possibilities and to have a plan to combat them," said Crestetto. "These possible threats don't just affect one country, it affects all of us." Commander, Task Force 73 and Destroyer Squadron 7 staff conduct advanced planning, organize resources and directly support the execution of maritime exercises such as SEACAT, the bilateral Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise series, and the Naval Engagement Activity (NEA) with Vietnam. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NWDC Supports Bold Alligator 2016 Navy News Service Story Number: NNS160823-02 Release Date: 8/23/2016 11:05:00 AM From Navy Warfare Development Command Public Affairs NORFOLK (NNS) -- Navy Warfare Development Command (NWDC) is supporting execution of the U.S. Fleet Forces (USFF) Command and U.S. Marine Forces Command (MARFORCOM) co-sponsored exercise Bold Alligator 2016 (BA16). NWDC is hosting the BA16 Joint Exercise Control Group and cells from the Combined Forces Maritime Component Commander (CFMCC) in its Navy Center for Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NCAMS) facility and administrative spaces. This year's 11-day synthetic, scenario-based simulation exercise began Aug. 15. The exercise scenario is based on joint forcible entry operations (JFEO) in a medium-threat environment. Exercise participants include major U.S. Navy and Marine Corps staffs along with coalition partners. NWDC, together with USFF and MARFORCOM, is coordinating the observations and analysis (O&A) activities of more than 30 Navy and Marine Corps personnel who are closely monitoring staff functions in NCAMS, the USFF Maritime Operations Center (MOC), Tactical Training Group Atlantic (TTGL), Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Atlantic (EWTGLANT), II Marine Expeditionary Force Simulation Center, and aboard amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD-5) and SS Wright (T-AVB 3). Observation teams deployed across the force during the exercise include subject matter experts from USFF, MARFORCOM, NWDC, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 4, Expeditionary Warfighting Development Center (EXWDC), II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), Expeditionary Warfare Collaborative Team (EWCT), TTGL, Marine Corps Warfighting Lab (MCWL), and the Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Centre of Excellence (CJOS-COE). "During the exercise, observation teams are monitoring United States and coalition force participants' communications and actions to capture salient lessons learned and further enhance U.S. and coalition combat effectiveness," said Capt. William Minter, NWDC department head for Doctrine, Future Concepts and Concepts of Operation (CONOPS), Analysis and Navy Lessons Learned. "The BA16 O&A effort will culminate in an exercise final report delivered by commander, Navy Warfare Development Command to COMUSFF and COMMARFORCOM. Our observations will also be used to improve Bold Alligator series exercise design and control in preparation for live exercise BA17." First conducted in 2011, the Bold Alligator series of amphibious warfare exercises is revitalizing and reinforcing the Navy and Marine Corps' traditional role as "fighters from the sea." This year, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 2 and Second Marine Expeditionary Brigade (2d MEB) staffs are planning and executing a MEB-sized amphibious assault from a sea base in a medium-land and maritime threat environment and anti-access/area denial (A2AD) environment. The final exercise report will capture significant observations and lessons learned, document successful initiatives, and identify gaps and/or shortfalls across the spectrum of doctrine, organization, training, material, leadership and education, personnel, facilities and policy (DOTMLPF-P). Minter said BA16 participants are highly encouraged to submit their own observations via the Navy or Marine Corps lessons learned systems. Exercise participants will also take part in post-exercise events to help capture insights and prepare detailed documentation for inclusion as appendices in the final exercise report. After the exercise, NWDC will host a Waterfront Symposium organized by CSG-4 to bring together participants to discuss outcomes. The next full-scale, live Bold Alligator exercise is scheduled for 2017. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 17 injured as Indian troops fire bullets at Kashmir protesters Iran Press TV Tue Aug 23, 2016 2:42PM At least 17 people have been injured when Indian forces fired bullets and shotgun pellets to break up a massive protest in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir. Fierce clashes broke out between Indian troops and hundreds of stone-pelting protesters in Shopian district in southern Kashmir on Tuesday afternoon. The angry demonstrators were protesting against recent civilian killings at the hands of Indian forces across the Muslim-majority region. Local residents and witnesses said the clashes erupted after New Delhi's forces fired tear gas indiscriminately to disperse the crowd. They said the agitated protesters responded with rocks. Local police sources confirmed that Indian troops fired live ammunition and shotgun pellets. Bashir Ahmed Chak, a Kashmiri resident whose young son was among the injured, said it was a "premeditated attack" by the troops. Separately, a series of clashes was also reported in at least two places in the northern Bandipore district, where a woman was injured. Reports of violence were also received from some districts of Srinagar, the region's main city. The fresh wave of violence comes a day after pro-Indian Kashmiri politicians urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take serious steps to halt weeks-long deadly violence in the disputed region. A delegation of politicians, led by former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, Omar Abdullah, on Monday met Modi in the Indian capital New Delhi, seeking an immediate ban on pellet guns and calling for his intervention in ending the unrest in Kashmir. Modi's office in a recent statement stressed the need for dialogue to end the unrest. Violence erupted in Indian-controlled Kashmir on July 8, when people protested against the killing of Burhan Wani, a popular pro-independence fighter, by Indian forces. At least 65 people have so far been killed during clashes between protesters and Indian forces. Indian forces have imposed a curfew across large parts of Kashmir since July. There are an estimated 500,000 Indian troops currently deployed in the restive territory. Since India and Pakistan won independence from British rule in 1947, they have been claiming Kashmir in full but have only partial control over it. Thousands of people have been killed in the unrest in Kashmir since early 1990s. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japan, China, S Korea begin meeting on disputes Iran Press TV Tue Aug 23, 2016 12:51PM Foreign ministers of Japan, China and South Korea have kicked off a meeting in the Japanese capital to discuss their commonalities and differences amid boiling territorial disputes and problems with North Korea. The meeting started on Tuesday at a Tokyo hotel as Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, China's Wang Yi and South Korea's Yun Byung-se met for dinner. The three, who are expected to start formal talks on Wednesday, shook hands and smiled for cameras before their meal but did not talk to the media. Japanese officials described the meeting as "extremely important," with Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga saying the three countries that play major roles in the region can use the meeting to "exchange opinions frankly." Tensions between Japan and China spiked this month over a long-running dispute on uninhabited islets called the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China in the East China Sea. An unnamed Japanese Foreign Ministry official said Tokyo will use the meeting to clearly convey its message about the disputed islands. "We will deliver Japan's thinking directly and clearly ... It is important for us to send our message firmly," said the official. Tokyo also has periodic tensions with Seoul over the legacy of Japan's wartime aggression, while China has repeatedly criticized a plan by South Korea for the deployment of a US anti-missile system. China is expected to raise the issue of US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, which South Korea plans to deploy in the face of alleged threat from North Korea. Japan and South Korea will also press Beijing on the hot issue of North Korea's missile and nuclear development. The two believe that China can do more by piling up economic pressure on Pyongyang to prevent it from further provocations. The meeting is the first since March last year and the top diplomats are expected to prepare the ground for a summit later this year. Leaders of the three countries met in South Korea in November last year. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Biden Says Washington Committed To Security Of Baltic States August 23, 2016 U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has assured Baltic countries that Washington would respect NATO's pledge to protect them. Biden called on the presidents of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania not to take seriously statements by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who said recently that he might abandon NATO's pledge to automatically defend all alliance members if elected. Speaking in the Latvian capital, Riga, on August 23, Biden dismissed Trump's comments and said there was overwhelming U.S. bipartisan commitment to NATO. "It is important for us that we are ready, all parties, to confirm our strategic partnership ... and we are sure that no matter what changes will be after the elections in (the) United States, their commitments ... to NATO, to (the) Baltic region, will stay," said Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite, speaking after Biden. In July, NATO leaders agreed to deploy military forces to the three Baltic states and eastern Poland for the first time and increase air and sea patrols to reassure allies in the region worried about the threat from Russia. Biden's visit to the Baltics coincided with the 77th anniversary of the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact on August 23, 1939. The pact carved up Eastern Europe between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union during World War II, including the annexation of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania by the Soviet Union in 1940. Based on reporting by Reuters and AP Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/baltic-states-biden- security-assurances-russia/27940415.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 US Forces 'Not Really Involved' in Hasakah, Syria Airstrike Area Sputnik News 23:26 23.08.2016 US Department of State spokesman Mark Toner stated that the United States was not necessarily involved in Hasakah, Syria, an area where US military personnel were reportedly endangered by Syrian government airstrikes last week. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The United States was not necessarily involved in Hasakah, Syria, an area where US military personnel were reportedly endangered by Syrian government airstrikes last week, US Department of State spokesman Mark Toner stated on Tuesday. "Our forces have not really been involved in that area," Toner said of Syria's northeast Hasakah region. Late last week, US aircraft scrambled above Hasakah in response to Syrian air strikes against US-allied Kurdish forces near the city. The Department of Defense later implied that there were US "coalition personnel" on the ground, and it urged the Syrian government to avoid targeting areas where US personnel or US-backed forces are operating against Daesh. Toner noted that the airstrikes in Hasakah were "in close proximity to where some of our forces were operating." However, he added that "is not to imply we had involvement in that area itself." In response to the Hasakah incident, Defense Department spokesman Peter Cook said on Monday that the United States was prepared to communicate directly with the Syrian government to avoid unintended occurrences. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Wish List: Afghanistan Turns to India for Supplies and Equipment Sputnik News 18:32 23.08.2016(updated 18:55 23.08.2016) Afghanistan has prepared a list of lethal military equipment it wishes to acquire from India as military assistance but there are plenty of reasons why India will not be able to grant the wish without Russia's support. NEW DELHI (Sputnik) Afghanistan wants India to transfer some of its most lethal weapons, including Russian-made Mi-25 and Mi-35 aircraft, to the fledgling Afghan National Army and also to assist in the restoration of its Soviet-era tank and ammunition factories. Afghanistan's Army Chief General Qadam Shah Shamim expects to hand over the list to Indian authorities during his upcoming visit to New Delhi, which starts August 29. According to sources, the list was prepared after a consultation with the US Army. In addition to attack and utility helicopters, the list also includes artillery, ammunition, tanks and 'trainer' vehicles. However, many within the Indian establishment are questioning whether it would be wise of India to fulfill Afghanistan's demands. Official sources told Sputnik that the Indian government is not very keen and that any announcement to this effect is most unlikely during the Afghan Army Chief's upcoming visit. Brigadier V Mahalingam (Retd), a defense & security analyst, says, "India may finance military equipment for Afghanistan as it did in May 2014 for military equipment sourced from Russia. Providing military hardware will, however, have to be based on an assessment of the possibility of this equipment being pilfered by militant sympathizers within the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces or land in their hands." Last year in December, India had agreed to supply four Mi-24/25 attack helicopters to Afghanistan. Three helicopters have been delivered to Afghanistan but the fourth helicopter is awaiting repair, for which spare parts have to come from Russia. On August 11, Gen John W Nicholson, Commander of the US Forces in Afghanistan, urged India to supply the spare parts to Afghanistan. "I cannot speak for the Afghan government. But I know that they have requested more and would like more and I think there is an immediate need for more as these aircraft can immediately get into the fight." Analysts say that Russia's role becomes equally important in this equation as spare parts for such helicopters are only available within Russia. Nevertheless, India has maintained that it remains committed to the reconstruction of Afghanistan. During the recent inauguration of the renovated Stor Palace in Kabul, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a video conference, "Let me assure the people of Afghanistan that in your quest to build a prosperous Afghanistan and to bring peace, security and stability to your society; the 1.25 billion people of India will always be on your side. The pledge of our partnership and strength of our friendship with Afghanistan is unwavering." For the last 15 years, India has mainly focused on civil construction and development work in Afghanistan. During this period, India committed more than USD 2 billion for such work. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Argentine Air Force Looks Near and Far in Replacement of Military Planes Sputnik News 17:53 23.08.2016(updated 21:08 23.08.2016) The US Department of Defense announced the beginning of negotiations to sell American military aircraft to Argentina, in what has already provoked an outcry in the media. Argentina is reportedly in the process of purchasing a batch of T6-C Texan II training aircraft from the United States, which can also be used in boosting border control and combating drugs. The news prompted controversy, due to the fact that the Argentine aircraft manufacturer Fabrica Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA) plans to resume production of the T6-C Texan II-like domestic aircraft Pampa III. Meanwhile, the country's government has signaled its interest in the US, Italian and French analogues of the Argentine plane. According to FAdeA head Ercole Felippa, his plant will be ready to start production of the 40 Pampa IIIs in 2017 after the enterprise repays its debt to foreign suppliers. The goal is to replace 15 A4-AR Fightinghawk fighters that will be taken out of service in 2018, according to the Argentine newspaper La Voz. Argentina's Ministry of Defense, meanwhile, is considering the purchase of M-346 Master aircraft from Italian manufacturer Aermacchi. The cost of the plane stands at 30 million US dollars, twice as much than that of the Pampa III. As an alternative to the M-346 Master, Argentinean authorities are mulling buying 24 American-made T6-C Texan II planes, worth about 300 million dollars. The third and last option is the possible purchase by Buenos Aires of the F-1 Mirage Squadron from France, in a deal that may cost approximately 280 million dollars. In an interview with Sputnik, international defense expert Andrey Serbin warned against jumping to conclusions when it comes to Argentina's possible purchase of the T6-C Texan II planes. According to him, "the media quickly alleged that Argentina plans to buy the Texan aircraft, but the real state of affairs is not that simple." "Under the US procedures, if a foreign state is interested in the acquisition of military equipment, the relevant request should be first of all approved by Congress. The issue is just being negotiated, and Argentina only asked the Americans to give an estimated cost of the project," he said. He added that with official statements on the matter yet to be made, many remain skeptical about Argentina's possible go-ahead regarding the deal. "The US reacting to Argentina's request regarding the estimated cost documentation does not mean that the sale [of the Texan planes] will take place. It is even possible that Argentina is poised to start talks with a third country, and in this case, it can request such documentation from the US so as to put pressure on a potential supplier," Serbin said. He pointed out that all this can be hardly seen as the most important issue in the debates. According to him, Buenos Aires should be first and foremost be concerned about the lack of funds for aircraft maintenance. "You can buy all the planes of the world, but if there is no money for fuel, repair of motors or pilot training, using these aircraft will make no sense," he concluded, referring to the complicated situation in Argentina, where he said the number of operational aircraft has yet to increase. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US State Department 'Sells' $60 Million in Guns to Afghanistan Sputnik News 22:59 22.08.2016(updated 04:48 23.08.2016) Citing an "urgent" need for the Afghanistan National Army to launch additional campaigns against insurgent forces, the US State Department announced a transfer of some 6,000 rifles, chiefly M-16s, to the ANA. Worth roughly $60 million, the State Department says this transfer is evidence of their "commitment to Afghanistan's security." "The proposed sale will enhance the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of a strategic partner by providing weapons needed to maintain security and stability, as well as to conduct offensive operations against an ongoing insurgency," the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), which manages the sale of arms and military equipment to foreign governments, said in a statement. DSCA added, "The Afghan National Army (ANA) will use these weapons and equipment in both offensive and defensive operations against insurgents and terrorists within their borders. Without these defense articles, the ANA will not have the military capabilities that are necessary to maintain security and stability. The ANA is thoroughly trained and prepared to use the proposed defense articles. Afghanistan will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces." The transfer came on the heels of reports indicating that Daesh will be joining forces with the Taliban in Afghanistan to fight the US. "Afghanistan has an urgent requirement to increase its stocks of crew-served weapons for ongoing counter-insurgency operations and enduring threats to its national sovereignty," the DCSA statement read. Even though the Afghan government won't actually be paying for the weapons, the US State Department is insisting that the transfer be treated as a "sale" for official purposes. The source of the funds used to "buy" the weapons come from government grants created for the express purpose of getting weapons to Afghanistan. M16 assault rifles will make up the lion's share of the delivery. Interestingly, official transfer records show individual weapons as costing $10,000 each, even though they are ordinarily much less expensive, based on estimates of what the US military usually pays. This won't make a difference to the Afghans, who aren't paying for the guns, but it's unclear why tens-more millions of dollars were dedicated to this "sale" than necessary. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Regional Troops Clash with Al-Shabab in Southwest Somalia By Harun Maruf August 23, 2016 Two days of clashes between al-Shabab and regional forces in southwestern Somalia have killed at least 15 people, officials said. The fighting took place outside Moragabey village in the Bakool region. Forces of the Bakool government and surrounding regions have recently stepped up military operations to open roads blocked by al-Shabab. Intermittent clashes continued Tuesday after al-Shabab attacked a base used by regional government forces Monday, according to officials. Sources close to the Somali military told VOA that the dead include eight soldiers and seven al-Shabab militants. Pro-al-Shabab media reported the village was captured by their fighters Monday, but the mayor of the nearby town of Huddur, Mohamed Moallim Ahmed, and residents disputed the claim. "They [al-Shabab] failed to seize it [Moragabey]. It's in the government soldiers' hands," Ahmed told VOA Somali. Ahmed said nine soldiers were also wounded in the attack. The government sent reinforcements from Huddur town. Military sources in the Bakool region told VOA Somali that regional forces have so far succeeded in opening the road between Huddur and el-Barde, near the border with Ethiopia, but several other towns remain besieged. Meanwhile, three Somali soldiers were wounded Tuesday after al-Shabab ambushed a convoy of Somali and Djibouti troops conducting a joint patrol west of Beledweyne town. Officials said the convoy was attacked shortly after leaving Luq Jelow village, about 20 kilometers west of Beledweyne. No casualties were reported by the Djiboutian troops, who are with the African Union mission in Somalia, AMISOM. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Imposes Economic Sanctions Against Sons of African Rebel Leader By VOA News August 23, 2016 The U.S. Treasury has imposed financial sanctions against two sons of Joseph Kony, the leader of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), a rebel group fighting a bloody war in Central Africa. The Treasury on Tuesday froze all assets in the United States belonging to Salim and Ali Kony, and prohibited Americans from doing business with them. Similar sanctions were imposed on Joseph Kony in March. "Our initiatives that target the finances of the LRA and its leaders, while combating their involvement in illicit ivory trade, are part of the concerted international effort to fight against violence in the Central African Republic," said John Smith, acting director of the branch of the Treasury in charge of financial sanctions. Salim and Ali Kony have been part of the hierarchy of the LRA since 2010. Ali is seen as a potential successor to his father. Both sons are responsible for enforcing discipline within the group. Treasury officials said Salim is suspected of killing members of the LRA who wanted to leave the insurgency. Since 2014, the LRA has utilized elephant poaching and ivory trafficking to generate revenue to purchase weapons and ammunition that are, in turn, used to continue the group's attacks against civilians across Central Africa. Salim and Ali Kony have played critical roles in the LRA's trafficking of ivory from Garamba National Park in northern Democratic Republic of the Congo through the Central African Republic for sale to local merchants. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address In Northern Nigeria, Kerry Says Jobs, Ending Graft Key to Stopping Extremism By Chris Stein August 23, 2016 Religiously motivated extremist groups like Boko Haram will only be stopped when governments cut down on corruption and offer opportunities to their young people, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said during a visit with Nigeria's top Muslim leader on Tuesday. Kerry's visit to Nigeria -- his third and likely last as secretary of state -- comes as the country grapples with an impending economic recession and a number of security crises. Speaking at the palace of Sultan of Sokoto Sa'adu Abubakar, the top Muslim leader in Nigeria, Kerry said it is up to governments to give people a reason not to join extremist movements. "To win the struggle for the future, nations need to do more than just denounce bankrupt dead-end ideologies that the terrorists support. They also have to offer their citizens an alternative that is better," Kerry said. "There is nothing more demoralizing, more destructive, more disempowering to a citizen than the belief that the system is rigged against them." Boko Haram He condemned Boko Haram, which has killed more than 20,000 people and displaced as many as 2.7 million in its more than seven years of fighting for strict Islamic law in northern Nigeria. "Boko Haram boasts no agenda other than to murder teachers, burn books, kidnap students, rape women and girls, and slaughter innocent people, most of whom are Muslims," Kerry said. While the military has made progress against Boko Haram, the fighting has put millions of people at risk of starvation in the war-ravaged northeast. Kerry linked the fight against groups such as Boko Haram to Nigeria's long-running struggle to curb the corruption that analysts say keeps most of its 170 million people living in poverty. Corruption is a priority of President Muhammadu Buhari, who won office last year on promises to change the way of doing business in one of Africa's top economies. The president reiterated his anti-corruption stance at a meeting with Kerry in the capital, Abuja. "We will retrain our staff, so that they understand the new orientation. And those who run afoul of these rules will be prosecuted, no matter who is involved," Buhari said. Anti-graft efforts While some observers say the Buhari administration has broken campaign promises and hasn't put sufficient reforms in place to crack down on looters, Kerry said the U.S. supports the administration's anti-graft efforts. "Already, President Buhari is working with civil society to encourage official transparency and accountability. It is so important to restoring trust among the people," Kerry said. Jibrin Ibrahim, a fellow at the Center for Democracy and Development, said Kerry's speech was mostly about keeping up appearances, but gave little indication of the path ahead for relations between the two countries. "He gave assurances of continuing support but that's sort of a normal support," Ibrahim said. "[There were] no new developments that I was able to notice." Kerry did issue a veiled warning to Nigeria's military, which has long been accused of carrying out atrocities. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have issued numerous reports saying soldiers have tortured Boko Haram suspects and gunned down members of a separatist group and a Shi'ite Muslim sect. Those allegations are one reason the U.S. has blocked weapons sales to Nigeria. "It is understandable that in the wake of terrorist activity, some people are tempted to crack down on everyone and anyone who could theoretically pose some sort of a threat," Kerry said. "Extremism cannot be defeated through repression or just creating fear." 'Fatally wounded' Shortly before Kerry's arrival, Nigeria's Air Force on Tuesday claimed to have "fatally wounded" Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau and several other high-ranking members of the group in air strikes carried out against the terrorist organization's headquarters. Sani Usman, a spokesman for the Nigerian Air Force said in a statement that Shekau was "fatally wounded in the shoulder" when government planes bombed the Boko Haram jungle stronghold in the Sambisa Forest Friday. Other Boko Haram leaders killed in the raid, including Abubakar Mubi, Malam Nuhu and Malam Hamman, Usman said. Several others were confirmed wounded. Nigeria has previously claimed to have killed Shekau, but those claims were later thrown into doubt when video surfaced showing a man claiming to be Shekau alive and well. Usman's statement didn't provide any further details about Shekau's death. Boko Haram did not immediately respond to the claims. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Sudan's Machar in Khartoum for Medical Treatment, Sudan Says By VOA News August 23, 2016 South Sudan opposition leader Riek Machar is in Khartoum for medical treatment, a Sudanese minister told VOA on Tuesday. Information Minister Ahmed Bilal told VOA that Machar was brought to Sudan in "serious condition." Bilal said the opposition leader is suffering from some sort of chest infection and a problem with his leg, and is "in very bad condition because he kept walking for more than 15 days." Bilal said Juba has been notified of the situation. South Sudan's President Salva Kiir sacked Machar from his post as first vice president after renewed fighting in the capital, Juba, last month between forces loyal to the longtime rivals. The clashes forced tens of thousands of people to flee. Machar withdrew to the bush during the fighting and was picked up this month by U.N. peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo with a leg injury. His spokesman earlier said that Machar left South Sudan to evade Kiir's forces and that his injury is not serious enough to require medical attention. "Dr. Riek Machar's health is stable currently, and he will remain in the country under comprehensive health care until he leaves to a destination of his choice to complete his treatment," Bilal said, refusing to provide any more details. When asked who accompanied Machar to Khartoum, Bilal responded, "He is alone." Machar and Kiir have long been rivals, even before South Sudan's independence in 2011, when they were both commanders in the SPLA force that fought Sudan's Khartoum-based government. But by December 2013, the political rivalry between Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, and Machar, a Nuer, had again boiled over into a civil conflict, which often followed ethnic lines. The two men signed a peace deal in August 2015. Under that deal, Machar returned to Juba in April to resume his role as first vice president. But fighting flared last month, and he was dismissed. The U.S. and the United Nations have urged both sides to make amends to bring peace to the world's youngest nation. Last week, the U.N. Security Council voted to authorize sending an extra 4,000 troops to the country to bolster the existing U.N. mission, which South Sudan said it was considering. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Just four kilometers northwest of the fully packed tourist town Lijiang in southwest China's Yunnan Province, Shuhe Ancient Town is a place where visitors seek the traditional way of local life. Once an essential stop along the ancient Tea Horse Road, Shuhe has displayed its commercial spirit by opening clusters of shops and bars catering to tourists. [China.org.cn] 1 2 3 4 5 Next Few Opposition Parties Join in DRC Election Talks By Nick Long August 23, 2016 Preliminary talks on elections got underway in the Democratic Republic of Congo amid continued tension over slow preparations for the poll and what the opposition says are attempts by President Joseph Kabila to cling to office. There are about 50 participants at the talks, including some opposition politicians, as well as ruling coalition and civil society representatives. The dialogue facilitator, Togo's former prime minister Edem Kodjo, released a list of opposition parties taking part, most of them small. The bulk of the biggest opposition party, the UDPS, and the other parties in the main opposition bloc, known as the Rassemblement, were not represented at the talks Tuesday. Lawmaker Juvenal Munubo of the UNC, one of the parties that is taking part in the dialogue, told VOA there needs to be more of the opposition on board if the talks are to make progress. "We must not think that everything is in place and we can now discuss the main points without trying to get the others involved," he said. Other parties continually need to feel welcome, he added, stressing that the best way to do that is through acts such as freeing political prisoners and abandoning the lawsuit against Moise Katumbi. The government announced the release of 26 political prisoners last week, but the opposition says most of them had already been released weeks or months ago. Katumbi's bid to be an opposition candidate for the presidency is currently blocked by a lawsuit. Munubo suggested some participants in the talks want to reach an agreement quickly. "There is no fixed duration for the dialogue," he said, "but certain people say it should not last more than three or four weeks, because everyone is aware that September 20th, which is supposed to be the day for calling the elections, is very close." Under the constitution, Kabila's second and final term ends in December, but the electoral commission has said it could take more than a year to prepare for the vote. An opposition party, ECIDE, was campaigning Tuesday in Goma for the constitution to be respected. Party activist Christian Badose handed out red pens to passers-by to symbolize what he called the need to correct the work of the electoral commission. The Congolese people must respect the constitution approved by popular vote, he said, adding that six million Congolese died before that vote could be held and it would be shameful to abandon the constitution. Badose was referring to a widely quoted figure for the number of people who died as a result of Congo's recent wars. That figure is contested, but no one denies there was huge loss of life. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Counter-ISIL Strikes Hit Terrorists in Syria, Iraq From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release SOUTHWEST ASIA, Aug. 24, 2016 U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today. Officials reported details of yesterday's strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports. Strikes in Syria Bomber, attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 17 strikes in Syria: -- Near Shadadi, 10 strikes struck 10 separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed six fighting positions, a tactical vehicle, three vehicle bombs, four mortar positions, an anti-air artillery system and an armored personnel carrier. -- Near Raqqah, a strike struck an ISIL weapons assembly area. -- Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes destroyed two ISIL oil tanker trucks, two cranes, three bulldozers and damaged another bulldozer. -- Near Manbij, four strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed a vehicle. Strikes in Iraq Fighter aircraft, remotely piloted aircraft and rocket artillery conducted four strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq's government: -- Near Hit, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed a fighting position and damaged another fighting position. -- Near Ramadi, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, and destroyed a fighting position and a mortar system. -- Near Sinjar, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit. 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 it poses to Iraq, Syria, the region and the wider international community. The destruction of targets in Syria and Iraq further limits ISIL'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, Denmark, 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 Marine Corps to deliver capability trifecta to tank commanders US Marine Corps News By Ashley Calingo | August 24, 2016 Marine Corps Systems Command is modernizing the tank commander's weapon station on the M1A1 tank by developing a suite of systems that give tank commanders and their gunners a hunter-killer edge over their enemies. The new Abrams Integrated Display and Targeting System, Tank Commander Single Handle and slew-to-cue capability make up the modernized trifecta that cuts time to enemy engagement by half while increasing accuracy, range and lethality on the battlefield. ABRAMS INTEGRATED DISPLAY AND TARGETING SYSTEM Responding to feedback from Marines, the Abrams Integrated Display and Targeting System, or AIDATS, upgrades the thermal and day sights on the stabilized commander's weapon station through a state-of-the-art, high-definition camera and permanently mounted color display. "The most significant benefitthe main reason why AIDATS was startedis the color display," said Michael Kreiner, AIDATS project officer in MCSC's Armor and Fire Support Systems. "Users didn't like the black and white camera that was in the tank before, because they have a hard time distinguishing between different color trucks." In battle, situational awareness is key for tank commanders. Kreiner and his team are leveraging technology currently available in the marketplace to provide a thermal sight that can be used around the clock and provide a color day camera with a color display. "The thermal sight can be used for 24 hours," said James Shaffer, systems engineer in AFSS. "It has low light capabilities, can see through obscurants, and works in the diverse environments under adverse weather conditions." The display for both upgraded thermal and day sights will be hard mounted in front of the tank commander, allowing him to minimize extra movement and focus on the action. Better optics enable commanders to increase identification and detection range while in the tank, which will improve situational awareness. With AIDATS, tank commanders will have double the identification range with thermal sight and triple the identification range for the day sight, said Gunnery Sgt. Dennis Downes, M1A1 project officer in AFSS. "AIDATS also has an azimuth indicator that will allow the tank commander to identify where his weapon is in relation to the vehicle at that moment," said Downes. "On the legacy system, the tank commander had no situational awareness of where the weapon system is in relationship to the turret." TANK COMMANDER SINGLE HANDLE In addition to providing tankers better line of sight, the AFSS team is improving tank handling for the commander. "There's currently one set of controls for the stabilized commander's weapon station and another set of controls to operate the turret," Downes said. "Combining the two handles into one gives the commander a better workspace." Reducing the number of handles the tank commander controls increases the overall efficiency of the system, leading to faster engagement times, he said. SLEW-TO-CUE The third upgrade to the tank commander's weapon station has yet to be officially named, but the AFSS team currently refers to it as "slew-to-cue." This new capability enables the tank commander to move the turret, typically controlled by the gunner, over to a target with the push of a button. "With slew-to-cue, the tank commander can push a button on his single handle and, as long as the gunner has his handles engaged, the turret will automatically slew to what the commander is looking at on the 0.50-cal machine gun sight," said Kreiner. This additional capability allows the commander to assist the gunner when the tank is moving, making it easier to manipulate the turret toward a target, said Shaffer. Preliminary tests show the three systems used together reduce target engagement time from six seconds to three seconds. The team hopes to field all three systems simultaneously in the first quarter of 2018. Currently, the team is conducting qualification testing on five demonstration AIDATS systems at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. "We're pushing the envelope where you can actually see the target, identify it and engage it at a farther range," Kreiner said. "All three things combined will significantly reduce the engagement time, and essentially give tank commanders and their gunners a hunter-killer system." AFSS equips Marines with fire support systems, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, Expeditionary Fire Support Systems, tank systems, information-related capabilities and radar systems to accomplish their warfighting mission. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Drone strike kills 5 people in southern Yemen Iran Press TV Wed Aug 24, 2016 5:13PM A US drone strike has left five people claimed to be suspected al-Qaeda militants dead in southern Yemen. Yemeni witnesses said the victims were killed after their vehicle was completely destroyed in the US drone attack in Shabwah province on Wednesday. Meanwhile, an unnamed Yemeni security official said the suspected al-Qaeda militants were heading from the Shabwah provincial capital city of Ataq to the nearby town of Nisab. The al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has taken advantage of the chaos and the breakdown of security in Yemen to tighten its grip on the southern and southeastern parts of the impoverished crisis-stricken country. The US carries out drone attacks in Yemen and several other countries, including Pakistan and Afghanistan. Washington claims its drones target al-Qaeda militants, but local sources say civilians have been the main victims of the attacks. The drone attacks in Yemen have continued alongside the Saudi military aggression against the Arab country. Yemen has seen almost daily military attacks by Saudi Arabia since late March 2015, with internal sources putting the toll from the bloody aggression at about 10,000. The offensive was launched to crush the Houthi Ansarullah movement and its allies and reinstate the resigned president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. The Houthis took state matters into their own hands after the resignation and escape of Hadi, which threw Yemen into a state of uncertainty and threatened a total security breakdown there. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kyrgyzstan Seeks Release Of Detained Citizens As Border Tensions Rise With Uzbekistan August 24, 2016 by RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service Kyrgyz authorities say negotiations are under way with officials in neighboring Uzbekistan to secure the release of four Kyrgyz nationals detained by Uzbek police in a disputed border area abutting the two Central Asian states. Kyrgyzstan's state border-guard service said on August 24 that the four men are being held at the Yangi-Kurgan district police station in Uzbekistan. Negotiators from the Uzbek border-guard service said there was no reason to worry about the safety or condition of the detained Kyrgyz. The tensions have prompted Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev to ask his government to review international border agreements signed by previous administrations. Kyrgyz officials said the four men were detained by the Uzbek police officers deployed by helicopters to a small mountain known as Ungar-Too on August 22. Ungar-Too is located in disputed territory along the border between the two countries and is the site of a Kyrgyz radio and television transmitter at Kerben where the men work. Kerben has been a flash point for unrest in the past, including when Kyrgyz police fired on protesters angry over reports suggesting a border demarcation agreement with China had surrendered land in a nearby mountain range. This month's deployment of the Uzbek police officers -- whose number Bishkek put at around seven -- prompted some residents of nearby Kyrgyz villages in the Aksy district center in southern Jalal-Abad Province to stage a protest. 'On Top Of Our Heads' The Kyrgyz locals gathered near the district government headquarters on August 23, demanding that authorities resolve the dispute. Mayram Akkulueva, a resident of the village of Ustukan who attended the demonstration, said participants also demanded that Uzbek police leave the area. "We saw how two Uzbek helicopters brought the soldiers to the mountain," she said. "The mountain is located above our village. It feels like they have sat on the top of our heads." She added, "We are afraid, we don't know what happens next." Kyrgyz authorities said they sent reinforcements to the border area after the Uzbek police deployment. The Kyrgyz border-guard service said on August 24 that the situation in the area remains unchanged. Atambaev said some border agreements with neighboring countries were signed without transparency or the endorsement of the public or parliament. He said past border agreements play "a negative role in current efforts to defend Kyrgyzstan's national interests." Meanwhile, local authorities in Jalal-Abad said that work is under way to build a new radio and television transmitter in the area. Written by Farangis Najibullah Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/afghanistan- american-university-attacked-kabul/27943846.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 Attack Targets American University Of Afghanistan In Kabul August 24, 2016 by RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan At least one gunman has attacked the American University of Afghanistan campus, with students and officials reporting explosions and gunfire inside the grounds and at least 14 people reported injured. Security forces have surrounded the area, just outside Kabul, and an Interior Ministry spokesman said those troops "are trying to search for the terrorists." The spokesman, Sediq Seddiqi, said it was not yet clear how many attackers were involved. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes as fundamentalist Taliban militants step up their summer fighting season against the central government. Roman Dehsabzwal, who was inside a second-floor classroom when the assault began, told RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan that he believed an attacker blew himself up just outside a building and then others began entering. "First there was a loud bang and windows shattered, then gunfire started," Dehsabzwal said. "One of my friends was wounded." Dehsabzwal said he escaped by jumping from the second floor along with two others, then fleeing the scene. The Italian-run Emergency Hospital in Kabul initially said five wounded people had been brought to that facility for treatment. Dehsabzwal estimated that 300 students might still be inside the compound. The university, which opened in 2006, has more than 1,700 students, many of whom take classes part-time while working full-time jobs. The campus attack comes two weeks after two teachers at the university -- an Australian and an American -- were abducted by unknown gunmen in Kabul. Their whereabouts are still unknown. The violence comes as the Taliban are escalating nationwide attacks. Afghan forces backed by U.S. troops have engaged in heavy fighting in Lashkar Gah, the capital of southern Helmand Province, seeking to head off a potential Taliban takeover. With reporting by AFP Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/afghanistan- american-university-attacked-kabul/27943846.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 Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Closing Costing Locals, Traders By Ayesha Tanzeem August 24, 2016 Hundreds of long-haul container trucks lined the street or crowded the dusty open yards on both sides of the Wesh-Chaman border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan Wednesday. With no trees nearby, drivers and their staff used their own vehicles to find shelter from the blistering sun. Some passed time by playing board games with their neighbors; others cooked or made tea on makeshift campfires while their colleagues caught some sleep. The nearest shops on the Pakistani side are almost six kilometers away, in the border town Chaman. The drivers took turns to buy food or groceries in Chaman by traveling on the preferred form of local transport a motorcycle-drawn carriage called a ching-chi rickshaw. The Friendship Gate, the official name of the crossing, has been closed since August 19, halting the daily movement of hundreds of containers and thousands of people. Pakistan decided to close the border after angry protesters on the Afghan side burned a Pakistani flag last Thursday. Afghanistan's ambassador to Pakistan, Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal, has condemned the act. "Whoever burnt the flag was certainly representing neither the government nor the people of Afghanistan. No matter what their reasons for burning the flag, it was a condemnable act," Zakhilwal said on his Facebook page. While the two countries work to resolve their diplomatic differences, local traders said they are losing thousands of dollars daily. Fruit sellers in Pakistan's border towns as well as the provincial capital Quetta were particularly hard hit. Their livelihood depends on fresh fruit imported from Afghanistan almost daily. For those stuck at the border, meanwhile, it was more than an inconvenience. Most truck drivers and their helpers usually work for daily wages. "Some have run out of money for the trip. These drivers make only $50 per day," Ali Muhammad, owner of Chaman Transit Yard, said. For others, the actual or potential losses were much higher. "I've brought these goods all the way from Punjab," said Mohammad Naeem. He had two trucks, each with approximately $50,000 worth of goods, and was worried about their safety. "We stay up all night guarding our trucks. We don't want to park next to the big trailers because there might be an explosion," he said. His fear of an explosion was not unfounded in a region where violence is common. He was unsure whether to risk waiting or take huge losses. "When we call the owner of the goods, he says 'I can't do anything. If you want to take these goods back then take them back,'" Naeem said. The closure has also affected those Afghans who come to Pakistan for medical treatment in Quetta's hospitals. When the border was open, movement for locals was relatively easyso much so that some worked or had set up businesses on the other side. They are now in a bind. Local tire dealer Haji Ghafoor works in a border market on the Afghan side. "We can't cross the border. If we get close to the border, they beat us up," he said. Another local businessman, Asmatullah Kakar, owns shops on the Afghan side. He said he has not been able to open them since Friday, when the border first closed. "My kids are asking for a meal and I am sitting here," he said. Both of them claim they are suffering significant daily losses. Meanwhile, others, like Muhammad, the Transit Yard owner, were more worried about security as they watched the lines of trucks. "We have about 10 security guards with Kalashnikovs but we would rather the trucks leave here soon," he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Complex Attack' Reported at American University in Kabul By VOA News August 24, 2016 American University in Kabul came under attack by unknown militants Wednesday, and scores of students and teachers were trapped inside. The number of attackers involved remained unclear. Officials described the assault as a "complex attack." Witnesses said they heard an explosion and gunfire on campus, and photographs showed smoke rising into the air. There were no claims of responsibility for the assault. Danish journalist Sune Rasmussen, who spoke to VOA from outside the university, said security forces were still searching for the attacker. Afghanistan's health ministry said at least 14 wounded people, including one woman, had been sent to local hospitals. Rasmussen said several people inside were believed to have been badly injured. He also said some people escaped through a wall damaged by an explosion. Ahmad Mukhtar, a journalist in Kabul, said he and his friends were among those who escaped. Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Seddiqi told VOA that security forces were trying to rescue those inside the university. A Pentagon spokesman told VOA there were a small number of U.S. advisers assisting their Afghan counterparts as they navigated the situation. Earlier this month, an American professor and his Australian colleague were kidnapped at the school. No group claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, and the professors' whereabouts remain unknown. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Guantanamo Prisoner Zubaydah Appears for Hearing, Seeks Release By VOA News August 23, 2016 A suspected al-Qaida leader held in Guantanamo Bay was seen by the public Tuesday for the first time since 2002. Abu Zubaydah, a Palestinian who was arrested shortly after the September 11, 2001, attacks, is making a case for his release. Zubaydah, now 45, and his attorneys have said that he poses no threat to the United States. He reportedly has said that he wants to be reunited with this family and start a business after he is reintegrated into society. The U.S. accused Zubaydah of being one of the most senior figures in al-Qaida when he was captured in Pakistan in 2002, but has since dropped that claim. Zubaydah fell into the CIA's secret "black site" prison network until he was moved to Guantanamo in September 2006. In more than a decade of imprisonment there, Zubaydah has never been charged with a crime. CIA documents released in June revealed that Zubaydah was subject to "enhanced interrogation," including being waterboarded 83 times, even when interrogators told officials they believed he had no more information to offer. A note in the documents specified that if he dies, his body will be cremated and that because of "planned psychological pressure techniques" he should remain in isolation for the rest of his life. One of the undated documents says Zubaydah's cooperation had little correlation with the waterboarding. "In any event, there was no evidence the waterboard produced time-perishable information, which otherwise would have been unobtainable," it said. A 2014 U.S. Senate report on the program reached a similar conclusion, saying the enhanced interrogation techniques were not an effective way to gather intelligence or gain cooperation from detainees. According to a statement read at Tuesday's hearing by a U.S. military officer acting as his representative, Zubaydah "has stated that he has no desire or intent to harm the United states or any other country, and he has repeatedly said that the Islamic State is out of control and has gone too far." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Djibouti base not for power People's Daily Online By Bai Tiantian (Global Times) 08:19, August 23, 2016 China won't follow US in expanding global military reach China has no intention of following the US pattern of establishing military bases around the world to project its power over other countries, and China's facilities in Djibouti are meant to support Chinese peace-keeping and anti-piracy missions near Somalia and the Gulf of Aden, analysts said. Western media have been closely following China's latest moves in this small East African nation since it announced the building of military logistics facilities in February, saying that China is building its first overseas military base. "Due for completion next year, the naval outpost is expected to feature weapons stores, ship and helicopter maintenance facilities and possibly a small contingent of Chinese marines or special forces," the Wall Street Journal on Friday cited experts monitoring the base's development as saying. The newspaper said the outpost is a historic step that marks a bold new phase in China's evolution as a world power. It went on to say that it is a sign of "China's strategy to extend its military reach across the Indian Ocean and beyond." "They are misinterpreting China's foreign policy, believing that China intends to follow the US pattern of building military bases globally or to meddle in other countries' domestic affairs," Li Weijian, a professor of West Asian and African Studies at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, told the Global Times. For decades China has strived to stay out of other countries' domestic affairs as the US toppled the Taliban in Afghanistan and Saddam Hussein in Iraq, and tried, though without success, to "plant the seeds of democracy" in the Middle East. China has a very limited overseas military deployment and the country largely lacks the capacity to protect its citizens and interests in Africa. The US has military bases in 42 foreign countries, with Britain, France and Russia each having about a dozen bases in overseas territories, according to the Wall Street Journal. Djibouti also hosts the largest American permanent military base in Africa, Camp Lemonnier, which is home to more than 4,000 personnel - mostly part of the Combined Joint Task Force - in the Horn of Africa, the BBC reported. "The facilities in Djibouti serve to protect China's economic interests in Africa and to help safeguard regional peace, as China is only beginning to learn to behave like a responsible global power," Li said. China greatly contributes to UN military missions in Africa, deploying 30,000 of its troops to 16 peacekeeping missions. Chinese troops also participate in anti-pirate operations in Somali waters. All countries welcome China's Ministry of National Defense admitted in February that China has begun construction on logistics facilities in Djibouti to support troops in ships in the Gulf of Aden and waters off the Somali coast. In response to assertions that "China is elbowing Americans out of the strategic East African footprint," Djibouti Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf said on August 16 that the country welcomes China's presence in Djibouti, "just as we previously welcomed forces from the US, NATO, France, the UK, Italy, and Japan, who are present in our country." He denied China's presence in Djibouti means Djibouti's ties with the US are weakening. "I think the US has actually accepted the fact that China is building facilities in Djibouti," Yin Gang, a deputy researcher at the Institute of West-Asian and African Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Monday. No Western country or those from around the region have officially protested. Yin believes that the facilities create possibilities for both countries to cooperate in anti-terrorism operations in the future. Situated on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a gateway to the Suez Canal, Djibouti enjoys rare stability in an otherwise volatile region and provides a vital port for landlocked Ethiopia. Its proximity to restive regions in the Middle East and Africa makes it a preferred location for foreign military bases. Yin said China and the US will continue to compete for influence in Africa. He noted that some Chinese firms need to improve their practices, as they face criticism for extracting resources without giving enough attention to environmental concerns, or for not hiring more locals. China is Africa's largest trading partner with trade exceeding $220 billion in 2014. On a national scale, China has vowed to share a common destiny of prosperity and adversity with Africa. Chinese President Xi Jinping announced four key points which define the country's Africa policy during his visit to the continent in 2013, including helping safeguard African peace and stability, facilitating the continent's economic development and a level participation in international affairs. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address North Korea Test-fires Sub-launched Missile By VOA News August 23, 2016 After North Korea launched a ballistic missile from a submarine off its east coast early Wednesday, regional leaders and the U.S. condemned the test, with Japan's prime minister calling it "unforgivable." The missile, which was launched from near Sinpo about 5:30 a.m. local time Wednesday (2030 UTC Tuesday), flew about 500 kilometers over and into the Sea of Japan. It was the latest in a series of missile launches in defiance of U.N. Security Council sanctions. Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, in a first, that the missile entered Japan's air defense identification zone. "This poses a grave threat to Japan's security and is an unforgivable act that damages regional peace and stability markedly," Abe said. He added that Tokyo had lodged a protest against North Korea. U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) said the launch was of "a presumed KN-11 submarine launched ballistic missile." "We strongly condemn this and North Korea's other recent missile tests, which violate U.N. Security Council resolutions explicitly prohibiting North Korea's launches using ballistic missile technology," said a statement by the U.S. agency. The launch came amid growing regional concerns about North Korea's missile and nuclear programs. Rocketry experts told Reuters news agency that the distance the missile traveled indicates the North is improving its submarine-launched missile system. "I think it was probably successful," Jeffrey Lewis, of the California-based Middlebury Institute of International Studies, told Reuters. "We don't know the full range, but 500 kilometers is either full range or a full range on a lofted trajectory. Either way, that missile works." The incident also occurred on the same day the foreign ministers of China, Japan and South Korea are scheduled to meet in Tokyo. It also came one day after South Korea and the United States began their annual joint military exercises. About 25,000 U.S. forces and 50,000 South Korean troops are involved in the two-week Operation Ulchi Freedom exercise, which is largely simulated. North Korea threatened military retaliation. A statement issued Monday by the North's military said its first-strike units were ready to turn the United States and Washington "into a heap of ashes through a Korean-style preemptive nuclear strike," if North Korea's sovereignty was threatened. Both South Korea and the U.S. insist the exercises are purely defensive in nature. On Tuesday, the United Nations Command said North Korea has been laying new land mines on its side of its heavily fortified border with South Korea. North Korean soldiers have been spotted planting anti-personnel mines on its side of the so-called Bridge of No Return, a river crossing near the border truce village of Panmunjom. The U.N. Command, which oversees the cease-fire that ended the 1950-53 Korean War, condemned Pyongyang in a statement released Tuesday, saying it "seriously jeopardizes the safety of people on both sides" of the Demilitarized Zone. North Korea has been blamed for planting land mines along the DMZ that detonated last year, maiming two South Korean soldiers patrolling the border. The U.S.-led command would not speculate on why North Korea is taking such action, but South Korea's Yonhap news agency said it was told by a government source that the mines are there to prevent front-line North Korean troops from defecting. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Recent North Korean Defections: Is the End Near for Kim Jong Un? By Brian Padden August 23, 2016 South Korean President Park Geun-hye tried to make the case this week that increasing North Korean defections are signs of growing instability inside the secretive, authoritarian state. On Tuesday, the South Korean Yonhap news agency reported that the South Korean coast guard on August 7 picked up three or four North Koreans on a boat in the Yellow Sea who requested asylum. Last week, Thae Yong-ho, the deputy ambassador of the North Korean embassy in London, fled to South Korea with his family. South Korean media have also reported the defection of another diplomat in Russia, but the Seoul Unification Ministry has not confirmed it. Critical level While meeting with her National Security Council on Monday Park said increasing high-level defections from the North indicate that dissension and dysfunction inside Pyongyang is approaching a critical level. "Recently even North Korea's elite group is collapsing, followed by key North Korean figures defecting to foreign countries, showing a sign of serious cracks with chances of shaking the regime higher," said Park. Some regional analysts support the president's claim that Thae's defection is a symptom of a growing cancer of discontent within Kim Jong Un's inner circle. "It is a result of reckless management in the regime and may result in a series of additional movements in the future," said Cho Han-bum, with the Korea Institute for National Unification. However other analysts say it may be premature to predict the imminent fall of the Kim government. "I don't see any other indicators of the coming collapse of North Korea or any major instability in North Korea," said Moon Chung-in, a political science professor with Yonsei University. Sanctions New and stronger United Nations sanctions imposed on North Korea for this year's nuclear test and rocket launches have been in place for six months now. But so far it is difficult to assess the effectiveness of these restrictions, which are intended to increase economic pressure on the North and further isolate the country's elites. "We are still in the early stages to conclusively argue that sanctions have been working or sanctions have not been working," said Bong Young-shik with the Yonsei University Institute for North Korean Studies. Soon after the sanctions were imposed, 12 waitresses at a North Korean restaurant in China defected to South Korea. Beijing China, as North Korea's most important trading partner, has tried to pressure its ally to give up its nuclear program without undermining the stability of the Kim Jong Un government. "I don't think there is any clear sign that the Xi Jinping government of China is ready to pull the plug on North Korea," said Bong. Beijing's sanctions enforcement have reportedly reduced vehicle traffic at the Sino/North Korean border, the suspension of currency transfers to North Korean banks, and increased inspections of North Korean vessels entering Chinese ports. But there are also reports that food and fuel prices in North Korea remain stable, indicating the economic effects of the sanctions have, so far, not been crippling. At the same time, relations between Seoul and Beijing have grown increasingly strained over the deployment of the American THAAD missile defense system in South Korea. Foreign ministers from China, South Korea and Japan are meeting this week in Tokyo to address North Korea, Beijing's concerns over THAAD and other regional security issues. Unification There have been past high-level defections that also prompted speculation of discord inside the North's leadership, and after the death of the current leader's father, Kim Jong Il in 2011, some Korea watchers thought the government in Pyongyang would soon collapse. While it is difficult to predict if this time defections and sanctions will lead to the fall of Kim Jong Un, President Park's critics say a sudden collapse in North Korea may not end in the peaceful unification scenario she often speaks about. "Instability in North Korea leading to collapse can be extremely violent, chaotic and traumatic, and I really don't think it will lead to a peaceful unification," said Professor Moon. Youmi Kim in Seoul contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China, Japan, South Korea censure North's missile launch Iran Press TV Wed Aug 24, 2016 7:23AM China, Japan and South Korea have denounced North Korea's latest missile test, calling on Pyongyang to refrain from "provocative" actions that could deteriorate the situation on the already-tense Korean Peninsula. Foreign ministers of the three countries made the remarks at the end of an annual trilateral meeting held in the Japanese capital, Tokyo, on Wednesday, hours after Pyongyang successfully test-fired a ballistic missile, believed to be a KN-11. The missile was launched from a submarine near the North Korean coastal city of Sinpo at around 5:30 a.m. local time earlier in the day. It reportedly flew some 500 kilometers (311 miles) before landing in the Sea of Japan. "We have confirmed that we will urge North Korea to exercise self-restraint regarding its provocative action, and to observe the UN Security Council's resolutions," Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told a joint press conference with his Chinese and South Korean counterparts. "I hope to coordinate closely in order for Japan, China and South Korea to lead the efforts of the international community," he added. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also expressed Beijing's opposition to the North's nuclear and missile work, saying his country is opposed to any move that exacerbates tensions in the region. Beijing "is opposed to any actions that violate UN Security Council Resolution 2270," Wang further said, referring to a resolution passed in March denouncing Pyongyang's military activities, including rocket launches. South Korea's Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se also said that Pyongyang's repeated missile tests since the beginning of this year "demonstrated a rapid advancement of capability," expressing concern over the "urgent situation." He also said that the three countries should be united in tackling the problem. Seoul's officials had earlier censured the launch as an "armed protest" against the commencement of annual South Korean-US military drills that Pyongyang calls an invasion rehearsal. The annual two-week "Ulchi Freedom Guardian" maneuver, which is largely computer-simulated, started on Monday with the participation of 50,000 Korean and 30,000 US soldiers. The Korean People's Army (KPA) issued a statement Monday morning, threatening a "preemptive retaliatory strike," should the war drills threaten Pyongyang's sovereignty. Earlier on Wednesday, Japan's Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, also "strongly protested" against the move and called it "unforgivable." The US also joined the trio and slammed North Korea's latest missile launch as a provocation and vowed to raise the issue at the United Nations. Tensions have been flaring in the region since January when North Korea said it had successfully detonated a hydrogen bomb, its fourth nuclear test, and vowed to build up its nuclear program as deterrence against potential aggression from the US and its regional allies. A month later, Pyongyang launched a long-range rocket which it said placed an earth observation satellite into orbit. However, Washington and Seoul denounced it as a cover for an intercontinental ballistic missile test. North Korea says it will not give up on its nuclear "deterrence" unless Washington ends its hostile policy toward Pyongyang and dissolves the US-led command in South Korea. Thousands of US soldiers are stationed in South Korea and Japan. The UN has imposed a general ban on Pyongyang's developing of the ballistic missile technology. It has adopted five rounds of crippling sanctions on the North since it first tested an atomic device in 2006. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sharing Of Military Bases Between India and US to Soon Become Reality Sputnik News 15:05 23.08.2016 As India is all set to conclude a security deal with the US, experts warn it could prove dangerous to the existing regional security alliance. New Delhi (Sputnik) After much dilly-dallying, India and the US are set to sign an agreement which would pave the way for sharing each other's military bases for logistic and humanitarian assistance. The draft of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) is ready and is likely to be signed during the forthcoming visit of India's Defense Minister to the United States. The three day visit of Manohar Parrikar, India's Minister of Defense, will begin from August 29. The agreement, however, will not give access to Indian bases for the deployment of US troops. India and the US had agreed in April this year to conclude the LEMOA soon. After extensive discussions, both countries have agreed upon the draft of the LEMOA. The draft agreement says that the LEMOA will not grant the deployment of US troops on Indian soil' under any circumstances. Both nations will have to seek advance permission to use the facilities, which are mainly for training, exercises, port calls and humanitarian assistance. Sources says that India has taken care that the agreement with the US will not adversely impact relations with other friendly nations, as every request will be considered on a case by case basis. The LEMOA is slightly different from the Logistic and Supply Agreement (LSA) which is signed between the US and its military allies. While the agreement seems innocuous enough, some voices of dissent have been raised, predicting that that the deal is likely to disrupt India's existing security alliances. "Its implication is far greater because we are giving access to people who require access from us more than we will get. This actually put us in a very vulnerable position because we are strategically going against regional security alliances (China & Pakistan in this particular case)," said a senior Indian political analyst, Nilanjan Mukhopadhya. The Indian government has made assurances that India will never sign an agreement which will project India as a military ally of the US. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Helicopters in talks with Iran over sales of 60 choppers Iran Press TV Tue Aug 23, 2016 10:9PM One of Russia's biggest aviation companies says it has entered talks with Iran over the sales of 60 light multirole helicopters. "Russian Helicopters is in talks to supply Ansat and Ka-226T light helicopters in the interest of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education of Iran," said Russian Helicopters Deputy CEO Alexander Shcherbinin on Tuesday. Shcherbinin noted that the choppers were specially designed for air medical services and that talks were also underway for supplying assembly services and supplies. "According to our estimates, Iran's need for light Russian helicopters is in the order of 60 vehicles," he said, adding that there are currently over 50 Russian-made helicopters -- most of them Mi-17s -- registered in Iran. In June, the company voiced hopes to sell helicopters to Iran as the economic and financial sanctions against the Islamic Republic were being lifted. "Russian Helicopters possesses the production capacity needed to meet Iran's needs for modern helicopters in the shortest possible time," said Shcherbinin at the time. On January 16, Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia plus Germany started implementing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action that they had clinched on July 14, 2015. Under the nuclear agreement, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear program in return for the termination of all nuclear-related sanctions against the Islamic Republic. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US not sure whether Russia 'stopped' using Iran airbase Iran Press TV Tue Aug 23, 2016 4:29AM The United States has reacted to Russia's announcement that its fighter jets stopped using an airbase in western Iran to target terrorists in Syria. The US State Department on Monday said that it was unclear if Moscow's use of the airbase had "definitively stopped." "We're monitoring closely, we continue to. It's not clear to us other than what we've seen in various press and public statements whether their use of this airbase has definitively stopped, but we'll continue to watch it closely," State Department Spokesman Mark Toner said. Toner stated that the Russian-Iranian cooperation was part of the "alarming" situation in Syria, but then added, "I'm not aware that we have information one way or the other what's going on here." Earlier on Monday, Russia's ambassador to Iran said all of his country's aircraft had left the Nojeh Airbase near the western Iranian city of Hamedan. "All Russian military currently left Iran's Hamedan airbase," Ambassador Levan Dzhagaryan said. However, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a separate statement that Moscow could use the Iranian airbase again depending on the situation in Syria and as long as Iran agreed. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman also confirmed the end of Russia's use of Nojeh airbase, saying the move was part of an operational cooperation between Tehran and Moscow. "Russia has no base in Iran and is not stationed here. They did this (operation) and it is finished for now," Bahram Qassemi told reporters. Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan had said that Russia would be allowed to use the Nojeh base "for as long as they need." When it was reported last week that Russia was using the Iranian airbase, the US State Department called the move "unfortunate but not surprising" and said that it was examining whether that was a violation of a United Nations resolution. Iran and Russia are Syria's main allies and have been assisting the government of President Bashar al-Assad in its fight against foreign-backed terrorist groups, including Daesh terrorists. Since September 30, 2015, Russia has been conducting airstrikes against Daesh and other terrorist groups in Syria at the Syrian government's request. Iran has also been providing advisory assistance to the Syrian government. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's Parliament Speaker Says Russia Continues To Use Iranian Base August 23, 2016 Iran's parliament speaker Ali Larijani says Russian warplanes are still using an Iranian military base to strike targets in Syria. Larijani made the comment a day after an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said Russia's use of an air base in Hamadan had ended "for now." Speaking at a session of the parliament on August 23, Larijani suggested Russian bombers were still using the military base in Hamadan. "It hasn't stopped," he said, adding that Tehran and Moscow were united in their "fight against terrorism." Tehran and Moscow are supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whom they have helped remain in power. "We haven't given a base in Hamadan to Russi. The taking off and landing has been for refueling," Larijani was quoted as saying by Iranian media. The U.S. State Department said on August 22 that it was not clear whether Russia's use of the base had actually stopped. State Department spokesman Mark Toner told a briefing that the United States was closely monitoring the cooperation between Russia and Iran and "it's not clear to us...whether their use of this air base has definitively stopped." Based on reporting by ISNA and IRNA Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/iran-air-base-russia- hamadan-larijani/27939700.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 Iranian Journalists Alarmed As Media Legislation Resurfaces August 23, 2016 by Golnaz Esfandiari Journalists in Iran are sounding the alarm over a government-drafted media regulation bill that is expected to be sent to the parliament for approval soon, after a two-year delay. The government has said that the bill, which will call for the creation of a media oversight organization, is aimed at supporting media rights and freedoms and regulating the media. But some critics say its approval would mean an end to any form of independent journalism in the Islamic republic. They say that, instead of ensuring more rights for the media, it would satisfy the demands of the country's security organs and the hard-line conservative judiciary for a tighter state control. The bill "will in practice turn all of Iran's media into state media," Ali Asghar Ramezanpour, who served as deputy culture minister under reformist former President Mohammad Khatami and is now based in London, told RFE/RL. "Despite what is being said, a governmental organization will be in charge of controlling all issues related to media, meaning that in practice we won't have any independent media anymore," he said. A number of senior newspaper editors and media experts have warned that the bill is likely to worsen the already difficult situation journalists face in the Islamic republic, where they are subjected to state pressure and written and unwritten censorship rules. The publication of a draft of the media-regulation bill sparked widespread criticism among journalists and media-freedom advocates, and it was not submitted to parliament at the time. Culture Minister Ali Jannati said on August 6 that the bill would be submitted to parliament "in the next few days." Strong Concerns It is unclear whether there have been substantial changes in the text, but some who have seen it say their concerns remain strong. Media expert Kambiz Norouzi described the planned legislation as an attempt to undermine the independence of the media and subject it to government control. "Such problems still exist in the text of the draft bill which I saw recently -- even though some say that it has been amended, it still aims at eliminating the independence of the media and journalism," he told the semi-official ILNA news agency. The 2014 text says the media organization will be a "nongovernmental" institution run by a "high council." But it says the council will include state officials, among them the culture minister or his representative and three members of the press advisory board: a lawmaker, a judge, and a representative of the Qom seminaries. The seminaries, where Shi'ite clerics are trained, are home to a number of influential conservative clerics. Mehdi Rahmanian, the chief editor of the reformist Shargh daily, is among critics who fear the bill will limit the media further and result in greater self-censorship. "The draft bill includes conditions that would push media toward more government control; it sees the press and journalists as a government body, the government can directly interfere in their work whenever and whenever it wants," Rahmanian told ILNA on August 16. The organization that would be created under the legislation would be in charge of issuing work licenses for journalists and overseeing their work, according to the 2014 text. Some of the stated goals of the organization, including "upholding religiosity" and "observance of national interests and national security" have also led to concerns as journalists have in the past been summoned and jailed for allegedly undermining religious values, "harming the country's national interests," or "acting against national security." A 'Gift' To The Media The draft bill says that journalists who commit violations, including those who disrespect religious and legal principles, can face punishments that range from a warning to a permanent ban on all journalistic activities. Culture minister Jannati has described the draft media oversight bill, as well as draft legislation on access to information, as a "gift" to the media. "Creating a media regulating organization, similar to the oversight medical board, has been one of the measures that has always been expected by media workers, it can determine ties between journalists and also with the government," Jannati was quoted as saying on August 6 by the official government news agency IRNA. He added that the draft bill had been prepared in consultations with media workers and think tanks. But critics have said that the government has not taken into account their views. Ramezanpour pointed the finger at Hossein Entezami, the deputy culture minister for press affairs, who has reportedly promoted the creation of a media oversight organization. "[Entezami], a former expert of the intelligence ministry, is the main decision-maker in the Culture Ministry regarding press bills, and he thinks more about limiting media [outlets] than about advocating for their rights," Ramezanpour said. Media watchdogs regularly criticize Iran for limiting the free flow of information and accuse the authorities of imprisoning journalists while denying them the right to fair trials. Paris-based Reporters Without Borders said in May that "Iran continues to be one of the world's five biggest prisons for journalists, with a total of 30 professional and citizen-journalists detained." Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/iran-media-legislation- journalists-alarmed/27940750.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 Russian Helicopters in Talks to Deliver 60 Ka-226T, Ansat to Iran Sputnik News 13:21 23.08.2016(updated 13:39 23.08.2016) According to the company's press service, Russian Helicopters holding is in talks with Iran on the deliveries of Ansat and Ka-226T light multirole helicopters for the Islamic republic's health ministry. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The Russian Helicopters holding is in talks with Iran on the deliveries of Ansat and Ka-226T light multirole helicopters for the Islamic republic's health ministry, the company's press service said Tuesday. "Russian Helicopters is in talks to supply Ansat and Ka-226T light helicopters in the interest of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education of Iran. According to our estimates, Iran's need for light Russian helicopters is in the order of 60 vehicles," Deputy CEO Alexander Shcherbinin said. Shcherbinin, in charge of marketing and business development, said the helicopters were designed for air medical services and added that talks are underway to provide assembly services in addition to supplies. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraq launches operation to retake Qayyarah near Mosul Iran Press TV Tue Aug 23, 2016 1:1PM Iraqi special forces have launched an operation to liberate the town of Qayyarah, used by terrorists as a key base to attack the nearby northern city of Mosul. Iraqi Brigadier General Firas Bashar, the spokesman for the operations command in Nineveh province, said on Tuesday that the offensive "started at dawn with the participation of Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) and army forces." Bashar also noted that the Iraqi forces are backed by the US-led coalition aircraft, which are allegedly targeting Daesh Takfiri terrorists in the Arab country. Meanwhile, CTS spokesman, Sabah al-Noman, said the Qayyarah liberation campaign is "currently achieving its goals," adding that the operation will be "wrapped up quickly, bolstering plans... for the final battle to liberate Mosul." Iraqi troops had been working with armed Qayyarah residents for the offensive, he further pointed out, saying, "There has been coordination with groups of armed residents inside." The Iraqi army is gearing up for a major offensive in late September to purge Daesh from Mosul, the last remaining bastion for the terror group north of the country. Iraqi forces have managed to wrest control of several areas in the southern parts of the city. Qayyarah lies on the western bank of the Tigris river, some 60 kilometers (35 miles) south of Mosul. Over the past few weeks, Iraqi forces have been positioning themselves around the Qayyarah, which is expected to be used as a launchpad for the upcoming operation in Mosul. Qayyarah mayor, Saleh al-Juburi, has said that approximately 15,000 civilians are believed to be trapped by Daesh there. CTS forces had already retaken key landmarks in the Iraqi town while most of the Daesh elements have been killed or fled the city, Juburi added. The northern and western parts of Iraq have been plagued by gruesome violence ever since Daesh terrorists mounted an offensive in June 2014. The Iraqi army and fighters from the Popular Mobilization Units have been engaged in joint operations to retake militant-held regions. Since August 2014, the US, along with some of its allies, has been conducting air raids against purported Daesh positions in Iraq. The aerial assaults, however, have failed to disband the extremists. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Flash Thousands of people are left without power after an explosion was reported Tuesday afternoon at a substation of the Florida Power & Light plant in west Miami-Dade County, multi TV networks reported. Massive blaze and thick smoke billowed out of a transformer grid, leaving roads in the area closed, according to an NBS news report. Traffic could be seen backed up for miles. The fire has caused an interruption in power for at least 10,700 Florida Power & Light customers initially. As of 4:50 p.m., about 3,500 customers remained without power, said the report. Officials at nearby Miami International Airport said the fire caused a momentary issue but the airport was then quickly back to normal. So far it is unclear if anyone was injured, and the reason behind the incident is not known. UN rights chief 'deeply dismayed' at execution of 36 people in Iraq 23 August 2016 The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, has expressed deep dismay at the execution of 36 people in Iraq in relation to a 2014 massacre during which hundreds of military cadets were killed. "[The High Commissioner] urged the authorities to ensure that any trials conducted in connection with the massacre respected due process and international fair trial rather than be fuelled by vengeance," Cecile Pouilly, a spokesperson for OHCHR, told the press today at a regular briefing in Geneva. "Unfortunately, this was not the case," she added. In June 2014, some 1,700 cadets at the Camp Speicher military base were killed in an attack by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, Da'esh) fighters. In the aftermath of the killings, the UN human rights chief had expressed that the "magnitude and brutality of the Camp Speicher massacre was exceptional" and that it was important to respond to the plight of the survivors and families of the victims. At the briefing today, the OHCHR spokesperson said that the executions, carried out on Sunday, were particularly worrying given serious due process concerns and fair trial shortcomings. "The individuals who have been executed were convicted only on the basis of information provided by secret informants or by confessions allegedly extracted under duress," she noted, adding that the claims of 19 defendants that they were tortured to induce confessions were never investigated. Furthermore, she said that the Court-appointed lawyer who represented the defendants, did not intervene during the proceedings, and made only a three-minute statement before the verdicts were delivered. According to OHCHR, an estimated 1,200 individuals remain on death row in Iraq. Urging the authorities to halt all imminent executions, Ms. Pouilly called on them to "urgently conduct a comprehensive review of the criminal justice system in the country." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japan Considering Building New Ships to Patrol Disputed East China Sea Sputnik News 13:30 22.08.2016(updated 13:37 22.08.2016) According to local media reports, Japanese government is considering building several new ships to patrol areas near the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. TOKYO (Sputnik) The Japanese government is considering building several new ships to patrol areas near the disputed Senkaku (Diaoyu in Chinese) Islands in the East China Sea, local media reported on Monday. The Japan Coast Guard may acquire about three new vessels, Kyodo News reported, citing government sources. The cost of the ships is expected to be included in the draft supplementary budget for the 2016 fiscal year. In 2014, Japan and China agreed to reduce tensions over the disputed territory. Japan, however, has repeatedly accused the Chinese Navy of invading the Japanese territorial waters, in particular, sailing in the contiguous zone near the disputed Senkaku Islands as well as of military build-up on the islands. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japanese defense chief visits controversial helicopter-carrier, U.S. aircraft carrier People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 15:42, August 23, 2016 TOKYO, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada on Tuesday inspected some controversial Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) hardware and urged troops to continue to carry out their duties before boarding a U.S. aircraft carrier, in the new minister's first such visit to naval bases here. Inada, who has been defense minister for less than a month, visited a U.S. naval base in the city of Yokosuka, in Kanagawa Prefecture, where she boarded the U.S. aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan. Prior to that she inspected the helicopter-carrier Izumo, the largest destroyer in the MSDF's fleet. During her inspection of Izumo she urged MSDF personnel to continue to carry out their duties and pledged to bolster the Japan-U.S. alliance, stating that the relationship was important to peace and stability in the region. The MSDF destroyer has been in the spotlight for being a de facto aircraft carrier, as the 248-meter vessel weighing 19,500 tons, while being able to accommodate 14 helicopters, is also believed to be able to launch the U.S. Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft as well as the U.S. military's F-35B fighter jets, from its lengthy flight deck. The "offensive" weapon is in contravention of Japan's pacifist constitution, a key clause of which reads that "land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained." The mayor of Yamaguchi Prefecture, Yoshihiko Fukuda, on Monday, meanwhile, took aim at Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Shunsuke Takei and Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense Hiroyuki Miyazawa, for a lack of information pertaining to the first potential deployment by the U.S. of 16 F-35Bs, at a base in Iwakuni in the western Japanese prefecture. The deployment brings concerns of safety and noise, Fukuda said, and asked to be given more operational information before making a final decision on the prefecture hosting the aircraft, which feature stealth technology and can take off and land vertically. Inada, a security hawk and ally of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, also known for her controversial views on Japan's wartime history, boarding the U.S. aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan and holding meetings with senior U.S. naval forces' commanders, having inspected a controversial piece of MSDF hardware, could stoke concerns about both Japan's remilitarization, as well as the United States' pivot to the Asia Pacific region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Airstrikes Reduce Daesh Threat to Libyan Government Troops in Sirte Sputnik News 20:46 23.08.2016 US airstrikes significantly reduced Daesh ability to utilize heavy weapons and enemy fighting positions, as well as reduced the number of vehicle-born improvised explosive devices intended for attacks on Libyan forces, according to Department of Defense spokesperson Michelle Baldanza. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) US airstrikes against the Daesh positions in the Syrian city of Sirte have reduced the terror group's ability to attack Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) forces on the ground, Department of Defense spokesperson Michelle Baldanza told Sputnik on Tuesday. "US airstrikes have significantly reduced ISIL's [Islamic State's] ability to utilize heavy weapons and enemy fighting positions, as well as have reduced the number of vehicle-born improvised explosive devices intended for attacks on GNA-aligned forces," Baldanza said. Operation Odyssey Lightning was launched on August 1 at the request of Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA). It is intended to allow state forces to make a strategic advance against the Islamic State's positions in Sirte, according to the US Department of Defense. Last week, GNA intelligence chief Col. Ismail Shukri said the Islamci State has lost most of the territory it seized inside Sirte. Shukri claimed that only around 200 Daesh fighters remain in the city. Baldanza said on Tuesday that several hundred Daesh fighters may still be inside Sirte, but explained that the US Defense Department constantly reassesses the group's presence. The Daesh strength throughout Libya has been assessed to be approximately 5,000, she noted. The Daesh has been outlawed in the United States, Russia and numerous other countries around the world. The terror group has gained a foothold in Libya in the turmoil following the 2011 Western-supported overthrow of the country's leader Muammar Gaddafi. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Libya's Political Crisis Continues as Tobruk Rejects UN-Backed Unity Gov't Sputnik News 15:09 23.08.2016 The political crisis in Libya looks set to continue after the country's internationally recognized government rejected the fragile UN-backed unity government, extending Libya's uncertainty. The House of Representatives, Libya's internationally recognized parliament forced into exile in the eastern city of Tobruk, refused to support the Government of National Accord (GNA), despite it gaining the backing of the international community. 101 lawmakers from the 198-member parliament voted on the issue, with 61 rejecting the GNA, 39 abstaining and one MP voting in favor of the UN-backed unity government. Parliament spokesman Adam Boussakhra said the vote was "the first time quorum has been reached in five months," but added: "The majority of lawmakers present at the parliament session voted no-confidence in the government." Uncertainty Abounds in Libya The decision by the Tobruk-based legislature to reject the GNA has extended the political uncertainty in Libya, which has consumed the country since former leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011. Following the no-confidence vote, lawmakers have given the GNA's prime minister-designate, Fayez al-Sarraj, 10 days to come up with a new government, while it is now not known whether the GNA would continue to seek the support of the eastern parliament. The GNA, which was established off the back off UN-brokered peace talks in December last year, has been seen by many as the only way to unite Libya, which has been divided by the internationally-recognized parliament in the country's east and a rival movement located in the capital, Tripoli. Tobruk-based parliamentarians have long protested against the conditions and make-up of the unity government, arguing that it gives disproportionate representation to armed elements that forced it to withdraw to Libya's east. The Fight Against Daesh The latest development also has complications for the fight against Daesh and other terrorist organizations in the country, with pro-GNA fighters, assisted by US airstrikes, reportedly wrestling back territory from jihadist groups. Meanwhile, forces aligned to the Libya's Tobruk-based parliament, under the leadership of General Khalifa Haftar, have been engaged in longstanding conflict with Daesh in the Benghazi and parts of the country's east. They have raised concerns about the security of the GNA, alleging that the unity government is dependent on Islamist-leaning armed groups, including some that they been fighting against over the past five years. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bridge of No Return: Seoul Accuses Pyongyang of Planting Landmines on Border Sputnik News 22:22 23.08.2016(updated 02:20 24.08.2016) On Tuesday, the US-led United Nations Command accused the DPRK army of planting landmines near a bridge at the heavily-militarized border dividing the Korean peninsula. According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korean officials said the mines were placed last week on the north side of the Bridge of No Return. The bridge spans the military demarcation line near Panmunjom, a truce village. The incident comes as tensions run high between North and South Korea, following the recent defection of a high-ranking North Korean diplomat to Seoul, indicating that Pyongyang may take pains to ensure that others do not use the same route to leave the country. "In reaction to the anti-North broadcasting operation, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered its military to come up with measures to secure psychological solidness of front-line units" one South Korean military official remarked. "Kim is very worried about potential ideological unrest among front-line soldiers." In a statement, the UN Command says it was ""ware of the Korean People's Army activity in the vicinity of the Bridge of No Return in Panmunjom, but will not speculate as to why the KPA is taking these actions." The command warned that munitions or devices near the bridge endangers people on both sides, including visitors on educational tours and thousands of school children. "United Nations Command strongly condemns any KPA action that jeopardizes the safety of all personnel in the DMZ," the UN Command stated. Although there are other explosives present in the 2.5 mile-wide buffer zone, this is the first time the DPRK has reportedly been seen planting mines since the armistice that ended the three year war in 1953. Last August, two South Korean soldiers were killed by alleged-DPRK mines. Despite a new round of sanctions from the United Nations, the DPRK conducted its fourth underground nuclear test in January, along with a series of missile tests. The peninsula has remained on high alert following the test. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia's Solitary Man August 15, 2016 by Brian Whitmore Vladimir Putin is throwing his old pals under the bus. He's replacing them with loyal and docile servants. And he's building a security apparatus that answers to him alone. A year ago, Putin fired longtime associate Vladimir Yakunin as head of Russian Railways. A few months back, he effectively dismissed Viktor Ivanov as director of the Federal Antinarcotics Service. Last week, he removed his old crony Sergei Ivanov as Kremlin chief of staff. And in the middle of all that, Putin set up a powerful National Guard, a 400,000-strong force that is run by the Kremlin leader's former bodyguard and answers to him alone. Putin is becoming a solitary man. He's building a personal army and members of his once-powerful inner circle are dropping like flies. "The age of the collective rule of Putin's friends is coming to an end," writes political analyst Vladimir Pastukhov, a visiting fellow at St. Antony's College at Oxford University. And they're not just being fired, they're being humiliated. Consider Sergei Ivanov, a KGB veteran who has worked with Putin for decades. In addition to being Kremlin chief of staff -- one of the most powerful posts in the country -- Ivanov has served as Security Council secretary, defense minister, and deputy prime minister. And his new job? Special assistant to the president for ecology and transportation. But hey, at least he still has a job. When Viktor Ivanov got the boot this past spring, it was almost an afterthought. Putin simply liquidated the Federal Antinarcotics Service he ran, merging it into the Interior Ministry, leaving the once-influential KGB veteran on the outside looking in. When Yakunin was dismissed as head of Russian Railways, he was offered the soft landing of a seat in the Federation Council, the upper chamber of parliament. Given his stature and long-standing ties to Putin, Yakunin assumed that he would be given a leadership position, perhaps even deputy speaker. But when leaks to the media revealed that he would be just a rank-and-file lawmaker, that he wouldn't have an office in the Federation Council's main building, and that his official car wouldn't be a Mercedes or a Volvo but a Ford Focus, Yakunin said, "Thanks, but no thanks." This trend is likely to continue. There are persistent reports in the media that another old Putin crony, Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin, is quickly falling out of favor. And who is getting promoted is just as important as who is getting fired: Mid-level bureaucrats and career civil servants who have no power base of their own and who owe their careers to Putin alone. Anton Vaino, the new Kremlin chief of staff, is emblematic of this new governing class. "In place of a prince who ruled with his entourage, there is now a tsar who rules over his servants," Pastukhov writes. One group of Putin's old inner circle, however, appears to be immune to the purge. Businessmen like Boris and Arkady Rotenberg, Gennady Timchenko, and Yury Kovalchuk make their billions off of state contracts, but they can also be counted on to finance Putin's pet projects. In Putin's new system, they remain useful. "Putin is moving closer to those who serve him and away from those who, because of their resources, claim to be co-rulers," writes political analyst Tatyana Stanovaya. By scrapping his old system of ruling through elite consensus and balancing clan interests and moving toward one-man rule, Putin is not only breaking with the governing model he has used for his 16 years in power, he is also breaking with the governing model used by every Russian or Soviet leader since Josef Stalin. And we all know what Stalin felt he needed to do to make that system work. Which is why the new National Guard, run by Putin's old bodyguard and uber-loyalist, Viktor Zolotov, is so important. It absorbs Russia's Interior Ministry troops, the OMON riot police, and the SOBR -- or SWAT -- forces. And it reports directly to Putin. When it was first announced in the spring, commentators assumed the National Guard's primary purpose would be to quickly suppress a popular uprising -- and it may eventually be used for that reason. But its real target appears to be the elite. It's a message that if anybody gets any bright ideas about attempting a palace coup, they will need to contend with Putin's own personal Praetorian Guard. And in that case, we'll see just how far Russia's solitary man is prepared to go. Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/russias-solitary-man/27923437.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 Russian Defense Ministry to Discuss Missile Attack Warning System Development Sputnik News 04:41 23.08.2016 The Russian Ministry of Defense collegium will discuss on Tuesday the progress on the missile attack warning system. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The Russian Ministry of Defense collegium chaired by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu will discuss on Tuesday the progress on the missile attack warning system, the ministry's press service said. "In accordance with the agenda, the collegium will discuss the implementation of the 2016-2020 Plan of action for the Eastern Military District, taking into account the prospects of placing troops in the Kuril Islands and the Action Plan of the Airborne Troops for years 2016-2020. During the meeting, further development of a missile attack warning system will be discussed," the press service said. According to the statement, the agenda will also include issues of improving the structure of the military police, as well as the approval of model standards for the projects of the Russian Defense Ministry. The meeting will be attended by the Armed Forces' top officials, as well as representatives of state bodies and public organizations. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK dismisses concerns about arms sale to S Arabia Iran Press TV Tue Aug 23, 2016 6:23PM The British government has dismissed concerns about selling arms to Saudi Arabia amid accusations that it misled the parliament over the case. On Tuesday, a British government spokeswoman defended the recent weapon sales to Riyadh, saying the Saudis have stuck to conditions set by the United Kingdom. She also noted that London is ensuring Riyadh is not breaking humanitarian laws by bombing civilian targets. "The UK Government takes its arms export responsibilities very seriously and operates one of the most robust arms export control regimes in the world," the spokeswoman said. "The Government is satisfied that extant licenses for Saudi Arabia are compliant with the UK's export licensing criteria," she added. The dismissal came in response to a statement by charity group Oxfam, which accused the UK government of being in a state of "denial and disarray" over its continued sales of weapons to the kingdom. Penny Lawrence, deputy chief executive of Oxfam GB, said Britain was "flagrantly" ignoring its own arms control rules as well as international treaties. "UK arms and military support are fueling a brutal war in Yemen, harming the very people the Arms Trade Treaty is designed to protect," she said. "Schools, hospitals and homes have been bombed in contravention of the rules of war. The UK Government is in denial and disarray over its arms sales to the Saudi-led coalition bombing campaign in Yemen," Lawrence added. "It has misled its own parliament about its oversight of arms sales and its international credibility is in jeopardy as it commits to action on paper but does the opposite in reality." Oxfam has launched a public appeal calling on the government to stop the war on Yemen. The UK, the second-largest exporter of weapons in the world, approved licenses for the sale of $11.2 billion in armaments last year, but its licensing export regime is under acute scrutiny amid fears British weaponry, including cluster bombs, is being routinely used in Yemen. According to sources, London supplied export licenses for close to 3 billion worth of arms to Saudi Arabia last year. The British government has also been accused of being involved in guiding the Saudi military aggression in Yemen. Since the beginning of the Saudi war against Yemen in March of last year, nearly 10,000 people, including over 2,000 children, have been killed. Meanwhile, the regimes that have made major arms purchases from the UK since last year include Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and Burundi. In 2014, Britain only licensed $248 million worth of arm sales. The massive surge in the arms sales in 2015 is largely attributable to sales of weapons to the Saudi kingdom. The largest export license granted was worth $2.48 billion of fighter jets agreed in May 2015. Additionally, the UK approved the export of $1.45 billion of air-to-air missiles to the Saudi regime in July 2015. In September, it further approved the sale of $90.5 million worth of bombs to Riyadh. All three sales took place after the Saudi's brutal bombing campaign of Yemen began in March 2015, prompting concerns that civilian buildings have been targeted in widespread human rights violations. In 2015, the British government also approved licenses of $123 million in sales of military equipment to Egypt, despite concerns over the country's repressive policies since the July 2013 coup that ousted the country's first democratically-elected president, Mohamed Morsi. "This is a clear case of the government saying one thing and doing another, and exposes the blatant doublespeak and hypocrisy that lies at the heart of UK foreign policy," said Andrew Smith of the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), which compiled the export sales figures. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN: Aleppo aid delivery pending on all parties' commitment ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Tue / 23 August 2016 / 10:27 TEHRAN (ISNA)- The United Nations hailed a proposal by Russia to implement a humanitarian ceasefire in the divided Syrian city of Aleppo while calling on all sides to commit to the truce. The UN aid chief, Stephen O'Brien told the Security Council on Monday that the world body is prepared to start delivering aid to the embattled city, but it first needs commitments from all warring parties. On Thursday, Russia announced that it is ready to support a proposal by the United Nations for weekly 48-hour ceasefires in Aleppo in a bid to allow humanitarian aid deliveries to the northwestern Syrian city. "While this (Russian) statement is positive, this cannot be a one-sided offer," O'Brien said. "Once we have the green light, we can start to move assistance within 48 to 72 hours," he added. He went on to stress that no aid had been delivered to the city in August due to the fighting in the city. "I'm angry, I'm very angryThis callous carnage that is Syria has long since moved from cynical to sinful," he said. Aleppo has been divided since 2012 between government forces in the west and the Takfiri terrorists in the east. Syrian forces have been engaged in a major operation to liberate the militant-held areas of the city as well as the province with the same name. Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura estimates that over 400,000 people have been killed in the conflict. Back in 2014, the UN said it would no more update its official death toll for Syria because it could not verify the figures that it received from various sources. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey says will support operation to free Syria's Jarabulus Iran Press TV Tue Aug 23, 2016 6:27PM Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says Ankara will support an operation aimed at liberating a Syrian border town from the Tafkiri Daesh terrorists. Cavusoglu told reporters on Tuesday that the offensive to retake Jarabulus has been very important for Turkey's security. "We will provide all kinds of support to the Jarabulus operation," the Turkish foreign minister stated. The top Turkish diplomat said Ankara believes Daesh should not be able to hold any area under its control. He also promised to help "cleanse" Daesh terrorists from neighboring countries, saying, "We do not want Daesh to exist in Iraq and Syria." Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus has said Turkey is closely monitoring the developments on the Syrian side of the border. "What we have said, since the beginning, is that having Jarabulus or any other city held by IS (Daesh) is unacceptable," the deputy premier said in a live interview with private NTV television. Turkish media report that tanks and military vehicles have arrived on the border with Syria ahead of the operation. Turkey has also ordered the evacuation of a town across the border. Police warned residents through loudspeakers to evacuate the town of Karkamis "for safety reasons." On Tuesday, two mortar shells were fired from Syria toward Karkamis. Three rockets also struck Kilis, another border town. The Turkish military retaliated both attacks with strikes on Kurdish positions and alleged targets belonging to Daesh inside Syria. On august 20, a deadly bomb blast targeted a wedding ceremony, killing more than 50 people in the city of Gaziantep. The attack was described as the deadliest in a series of bombings in Turkey this year blamed on Daesh. Turkey has long been an opponent of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Ankara is accused of having facilitated entry of militants into the Arab country. On Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov voiced concern over the conduct of the Turkish military on the ground and its push for so-called safe zones inside Syria. "What makes Russia and many others worried is that Turkey is still firing at Syrian territory; and there are still those who demand the establishment of some sort of safe zone in Syria, also the non-stop voices calling for ground action in Syria." "We believe they are the ones who place their hopes for solving the Syrian crisis on force instead of through political solutions. We believe this will have disastrous outcomes; therefore, these pleas should shop," Lavrov said in Moscow. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syrian army, Kurdish forces reach deal on Hasakah truce Iran Press TV Tue Aug 23, 2016 5:8PM Syrian government troops and Kurdish forces, who recently engaged in clashes in Hasakah, have reached an agreement to stop fighting in the contested northeastern Syrian city. According to a statement released on Tuesday by an unidentified Kurdish official, the agreement included "a ceasefire and the withdrawal of all armed forces from the city." Under the terms of the accord, the warring sides would also exchange detainees and the wounded and reopen roads blocked off during fighting, the official added. The official further told AFP that the Syrian soldiers and the fighters with the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) would withdraw from Hasakah while police forces belonging to the two parties would remain there. The ceasefire deal was brokered "under the auspices of Russian military officials," the official pointed out. Syrian state television confirmed the truce, which came one day after a meeting between officials from the Syrian government, Kurdish fighters and Russia in the Hmeimim air base in Syria's Latakia. Scuffles broke out between the Kurdish police force, known as Asayish, and the pro-government National Defense Forces (NDF) in Hasakah on Wednesday. The violence erupted despite both parties battling the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group, which is wreaking havoc in the country. Kurdish forces accused the Syrian army of conducting airstrikes on areas where they were being trained by the US, prompting Washington to scramble its aircraft over there. The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Monday that the Kurdish fighters now control 90 percent of Hasakah, the capital of the province with the same name. Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura estimates that over 400,000 people have been killed in the conflict in the Arab country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Projectiles from Syria hit Turkey, Ankara fires back Iran Press TV Tue Aug 23, 2016 10:28AM Projectiles have reportedly been fired from inside Syrian territory onto Turkey, prompting Turkish troops to respond in kind. The Tuesday incidents saw two mortar shells being fired from Syria toward the Turkish border town of Karkamis and then three rocket shells striking Kilis, another border town lying 80 kilometers (50 miles) away. The Turkish military retaliated both attacks with counterattacks on Kurdish positions and alleged targets belonging to the Daesh terror group inside Syria. It is not yet clear whether the exchanges of fire led to any casualties. Daesh, widely reported to be enjoying safe passage into and outside Syria through Turkish soil besides receiving other types of support, has been staging several deadly attacks across the Turkish territory over the past months. The country has also been coming under attack by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants, whose positions it has been heavily pounding inside Iraq. Turkish authorities have also been leading a deadly crackdown in the country's southeast to quell Kurdish militants there. The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, meanwhile, reported that the first Turkish counterattack on Tuesday was aimed at the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), which Ankara associates with the PKK. The Kurdish fighters are moving from the town of Manbij which they recently freed from Daesh toward Jarablus, another town held by the terror group. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Let's set aside differences over Syria: Turkey Iran Press TV Tue Aug 23, 2016 6:22AM Turkey has invited various parties to join in the adoption of a new shared attitude toward the crisis in Syria by setting aside conflicting interests. Speaking on Monday, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said, "It is vital that, without losing more time, a new page is opened in Syria." Such a revised outlook has to be "based on a model involving particularly Turkey, Iran Russia, the United States and even some [Persian] Gulf states and Saudi Arabia." From the belly of the West to the bosom of the East? Turkey, along with the US and the Arab dictatorships of the Persian Gulf, has been supporting the militants fighting the elected Syrian government. Recently, however, and amid newly emerged differences with the West, Turkey has been gravitating toward Russia, which supports the Damascus government. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow, and called for a "clean slate" in the bilateral ties, which had been soured by Turkish military's downing of a Russian jet over Syria last year. Ankara has also enhanced its ties with Iran following a failed coup in Turkey, which Iran became the first country to condemn. Iran, too, has consistently emphasized that the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is the sole legitimate entity to run Syria. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu last week made an unannounced visit to Iran, discussing with Iranian officials a range of issues, including the Syrian conflict. Foreign Minister Javad Zarif of Iran had earlier visited Turkey following the coup bid. On Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi implied that the viewpoints of Iran and Turkey may be converging on issues of disagreement. One such issue may be the Syrian conflict. The US and dozens of its allies have been hitting the purported positions of Daesh inside Syria since 2014. Some observers say the campaign has achieved little given its scope. Washington has, meanwhile, been accusing Moscow of targeting "moderate" militants. Moscow says there are no such militants, saying all elements working toward destabilizing Syria have to be targeted. Torn between Kurds and Assad Ankara may also be softening its rhetoric against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose ouster it has always been promoting. On Saturday, Yildirim said that Assad is "one of the actors" in Syria even as he said the Syrian president will ultimately have to quit. In his Monday remarks, Yildirim, the Turkish prime minister, said Ankara's stance was "very clear: not allowing Syria to be divided, maintaining its territorial integrity and not allowing any formation that will bring advantages to any group." Turkey is of course concerned about the prospect of the establishment of a Kurdish state in Syria. Ankara is vehemently opposed to any independent Kurdish state, whether in Syria, Iraq, or inside Turkey itself, where the Turkish military has been fighting separatist militants for a long time now "It is essential that all the parties come together to stop the bloodshed in Syria and form a model of governance where all Syrians are represented," Yildirim said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Conflict in Syria: Alliances Tested as Turkey Steps Up Kurdish Bombing Sputnik News 17:28 23.08.2016 Turkish government forces have stepped up airstrikes on militant groups in northern Syria as part of Ankara's fight against terror. Along with hitting Daesh, the strikes have also reportedly targeted US-backed Kurdish forces, further highlighting the complicated nature of the Syrian conflict. Local media reported that Kurdish People's Protection Unit (YPG) positions were hit numerous times during the attack, while Daesh sites close to Turkey's border with Syria were also struck in the offensive. While Turkey's aim, according to Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, is to ensure that Daesh is "completely cleansed" from areas close to its border in northern Syria, many have questioned Turkey's continued bombing of Kurdish targets particularly given that the Kurds are actively cooperating with Turkish allies such as the US. Ploy to Reduce Kurdish Influence? The recent Turkish airstrikes targeted the Daesh-held northern Syrian border town of Jarablus, with a land offensive of Turkish-backed Syrian rebels expected to follow. Some have suggested that the decision to strike the YPG, which Turkey says are linked to the banned militia group the PKK, is part of a plan to deter Kurdish forces from capitalizing on any attempt to destroy Daesh in northern Syria. While Kurdish forces currently hold large swathes of land in Syria's northeast, Turkish officials have reportedly said that the presence of Kurdish military and administrative divisions in northern Syria is a "red-line" issue, and that they would prefer Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebel groups to take control of those areas once they are liberated from Daesh. Turkey is currently fighting a Kurdish insurgency in the country's southeast, with Ankara concerned that a strong Kurdish presence could lead to greater calls for Kurdish autonomy. Complicated Alliances As the fight against Daesh continues, the latest aerial offensive has once again highlighted the hugely complicated situation in Syria. While under fire from Ankara, Kurdish groups such as the YPG have been strongly backed by the US-led international coalition throughout the conflict, and have been credited with being one of the most effective groups in the fight against Daesh. Some critics of Turkey fear that attacking the Kurds could inhibit the fight against jihadist groups, with concerns that damaging both Daesh and the Kurds could lead to a dangerous power vacuum in northern Syria. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Damascus slams Turkey's military 'aggression' into Syrian territory Iran Press TV Wed Aug 24, 2016 1:9PM Syria has denounced Turkey's recent military incursion into the Syrian territory, backed by the US-led coalition, saying the offensive violates the Arab country's sovereignty. The Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned Turkey's military operation in a statement released on Wednesday, Syrian media reported. The ministry called for an immediate end to the Turkish "aggression," adding that the operation is being carried out under the pretext of fighting terrorism. "Any party conducting a battle against terrorism on Syrian soil must do so in coordination with the Syrian government and the Syrian army," the statement read, adding, "Chasing out Daesh and replacing them with terrorist groups backed by Turkey is not fighting terrorism." The reaction came hours after Turkish special forces, tanks and jets backed by planes from the US-led coalition launched their first coordinated offensive in Syria. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the operation in northern Syria was launched in the early hours of Wednesday morning "against terror groups" such as Daesh and the Democratic Union Party (PYD) - a US-backed Kurdish group based in Syria - that "constantly threaten" Turkey. The epicenter of the military action, dubbed "Euphrates Shield," is the Syrian border town of Jarablus, from where Ankara says militants have fired rockets into Turkey. 'Road to solving terror' In a speech in Ankara on Wednesday, Erdogan said, "The road to solving the terror problem passes through a solution to problems in Syria and in Iraq.... Turkey will overcome threats originating from Syria." Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusgolu also defended the operation, claiming that it would be a turning point in the fight against Daesh and would accelerate the removal of the terrorists from Syria's northern Aleppo region. "We don't need to fight against mosquitoes, our aim is to eradicate the swamp and remove threats against Turkey," he said on his Twitter account. Turkish forces advance in Syria Turkey's Anadolu news agency reported that the Turkish-backed Syria militants captured the village of Keklijah, five kilometers (three miles) west of Jarablus and three kilometers (two miles) from the border. The so-called Free Syrian Army militants further took the village of Keklice, the report added. Meanwhile, the Dogan news agency cited military sources as saying that Turkey-backed Syrian militants had seized control of four villages in northern Syria. A total of 46 Daesh elements have so far been killed in the Jarablus operation so far, the agency added. According to Turkish media reports, there are now some 1,500 pro-Ankara Syria militants in Jarablus. Pro-Turkish militants in full control of Jarablus Later on Wednesday, Turkish state media reported that the pro-Turkish Syria militants have gained full control of the Syrian town of Jarablus. "Jarabulus is completely liberated," Ahmad Othman, a militant commander in Syria, was quoted by AFP as saying. Additionally, an unnamed commander with The Faylaq al-Sham terrorist group, said that most of the Daesh elements in Jarablus had pulled out, some of them surrendering. Daesh terrorists "have withdrawn from several villages on the outskirts of Jarablus and are heading south towards the city of al-Bab," the commander said. Another unidentified militant commander estimated that up to 50 percent of the city was now under the control of the Turkish-backed militants. Russia concerned about Turkey action Also on Wednesday, Russia expressed concern about the Turkish military operation in Syria, warning that the move will increase tensions there. Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Moscow is "deeply concerned" about developments on the Syrian-Turkish border area, noting that Turkey's offensive risks "further degeneration of the situation in the conflict zone." The Turkish military incursion into Syria could lead to deaths among civilians and "flare-ups of inter-ethnic tensions" in the region, the statement added. Moscow urged dialogue among all ethnic groups, including the Kurds, in Syria, stressing that the crisis in the Arab country can be resolved solely on the basis of international law. Kurds say Turkey entering a 'quagmire' in Syria Meanwhile, PYD head, Saleh Muslim, wrote in a tweet on Wednesday that Turkey was entering a "quagmire" in Syria and faced defeat there like Daesh. Redur Xelil, a spokesman for the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), a militia affiliated to the PYD, also said that the intervention was a "blatant aggression in Syrian internal affairs." US assists Turkey in the Syria incursion A senior US official said on Wednesday that the US is providing Turkey's military with air support, intelligence and advisers in its offensive inside Syria. "We want to help the Turks get ISIL (Daesh) off the [Syrian-Turkish] border," the official claimed. Syria has been the scene of a foreign-backed crisis since March 2011. Turkey is said to be among the main supporters of the militant groups active in Syria, with reports saying that Ankara actively trains and arms the Takfiri elements there and facilitates their safe passage into the violence-wracked state. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkish special forces in Syrian territory 'to fight Daesh' Iran Press TV Wed Aug 24, 2016 5:9AM Turkish special forces have entered Syrian territory in what they say is an operation against the Daesh terrorist group in a Syrian city near the Turkish border. Turkish officials said anonymously that units of special forces entered Syria through the Turkish border after firing artillery rounds into the Syrian city of Jarablus, in the northern province of Aleppo and some 398 kilometers (248 miles) northeast of the capital, Damascus, at around 4 a.m. local time (0100 GMT) on Wednesday. The Turkish air force and aircraft from a US-led military coalition have pounded targets in and around the Syrian city. The Turkish officials said the special forces are in Syrian territory to open a passage for Turkish ground forces for a larger-scale incursion into Jarablus. They asserted that the operation is aimed at "clearing Turkish borders of terrorist groups, helping to enhance border security and supporting the territorial integrity of Syria." The officials further said that the prevention of a new flow of refugees and facilitating the distribution of basic commodities among the region's civilian population were also among the goals of the operation. Meanwhile, reports say Turkish tanks have entered Syrian territory to conduct operations in Jarablus. With Syrian interests in mind Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan later on Wednesday announced the beginning of the military operation against Daesh in Jarablus. "At 4:00 this morning, operations started in the north of Syria against terror groups which constantly threaten our country, like Daesh and the PYD," he said in a speech in Ankara. The Democratic Union Party, or PYD, is a Kurdish group based in Syria. Ankara considers it a "terrorist group." In rare remarks, Erdogan said Turkey "only ever sought to help the people of Syria" and that no other intentions were involved. He seemed to contradict himself, though, when he said Turkey also wanted to put an end to the frequent attacks on the Turkish border. Observers believe Turkey is more concerned about Kurdish forces inside Syria. The Kurdish population in the region has long been seeking to establish an independent country by potentially taking territory from Turkey, Syria, Iraq and even Iran. However, the Ankara government has recently been speaking somewhat more softly about the Syrian government, which it has long opposed. On Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu vowed that Ankara would give "all kinds of support" to efforts to free Jarablus from the grip of Daesh terrorists. "We do not want Daesh to exist in Iraq and Syria," he told reporters. Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus also said recently that Turkey saw Jarablus "as a national security matter." "What we have said, since the beginning, is that having Jarablus or any other city held by Daesh is unacceptable," he said. Earlier, Turkish officials said projectiles fired from Jarablus hit downtown Karkamis, a city in southeast Turkey. On Tuesday, authorities in the southeastern Turkish town of Karkamis asked locals to evacuate the town and nearby areas for safety reasons. There were no reports of casualties, though. The Turkish military retaliated against both attacks with counterattacks on Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) positions and purported Daesh targets inside Syria. Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura estimates that over 400,000 people have been killed in the conflict. Back in 2014, the UN said it would no more update its official death toll for Syria. The US-led military coalition involved in the Wednesday operations has been targeting positions it says belong to Daesh since September 2014. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syria Condemns Turkish Incursion As Biden Visits Ankara August 24, 2016 by RFE/RL Syria's government has condemned a Turkish military offensive in northern Syria, just hours after Turkish tanks and armored personnel carriers advanced into a part of Syria that has been under the control of Islamic State (IS) militants since July 2013. Ankara-backed Syrian rebels from the Syria Free Army also were taking part in the operation, which was being supported by U.S. and Turkish air strikes and was aimed at clearing IS militants from the border area. The operation began just before dawn on August 24 as U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was traveling to Ankara for talks with senior Turkish officials -- including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. A senior U.S. official aboard Biden's plane told reporters on August 24 that Washington was "in sync" with Turkey on plans. Syria's government described the military incursion as a "blatant violation" of Syrian sovereignty and demanded an end to what it said was "aggression" being carried out under the pretext of fighting terrorism. Damascus said in a statement that "any move to combat terrorism on Syrian territories should have been coordinated with the Syrian government and army." It said: "Fighting terrorism cannot be undertaken by ousting [IS]...and replacing it with other terrorist organizations directly backed by Turkey." As Turkish armored forces began crossing the border into Syria, Biden arrived in Ankara and went into talks with parliamentary speaker Ismail Kahraman. Biden was scheduled to meet Erdogan and Yildirim later in the day -- with their talks expected to focus on deteriorating relations between Ankara and its NATO allies since a failed July 15 military coup in Turkey. The United States and Europe have criticized a broad crackdown by Ankara against Erdogan's political opponents since the coup. Erdogan said Turkey's request for Washington to extradite exiled Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen -- accused by Erdogan of orchestrating the attempted coup -- would be a key issue in the talks. Washington has said it would need evidence of the U.S.-based cleric's involvement in the coup. Gulen has denied any involvement in the plot. But Erdogan said on August 24 he would tell Biden that the United States has no excuses and must hand over Gulen. Another issue expected to be discussed during Biden's one-day visit to Ankara is the role in the fight against IS militants that Syrian Kurdish fighters should have. Washington supports Syrian Kurdish fighters from the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and sees them as vital to the U.S.-led coalition's strategy of combating IS militants. But Ankara accuses the PYD of being aligned with Turkish Kurdish rebels from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Finally, recent efforts by Erdogan's government to improve relations with Russia -- steps that have contributed to the worsening of ties between Turkey and its NATO allies -- also were expected to be addressed by Biden. Ahead of Biden's arrival in Ankara, the joint Turkish-U.S. military operation on August 24 was focusing on the IS-held Syrian border town of Jarablus and the surrounding area. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu vowed via Twitter that the "cleansing" of Jarablus would mark a turning point in the fight against IS. By midday, Turkish artillery and warplanes, together with U.S. warplanes and guided by Turkish special forces inside Syria, had launched more than 200 air and artillery strikes against IS targets in and around Jarablus. Syrian opposition activists and Turkish state television reported that fighters from the Turkey-backed Free Syria Army had advanced into Jarablus during the early afternoon. Meanwhile, correspondents reported seeing more than a dozen Turkish tanks cross from Turkey into northern Syria as part of the operation. Erdogan said on August 24 that the conflict in Syria is the main reason Turkey faces terrorist attacks in its territory. He vowed that all IS fighters would be cleared from parts of northern Syria that border Turkey. Erdogan also said no one can view the Syrian problem independently from Turkey's internal affairs. Turkish Interior Minister Efkan Ala said Turkey also sees a threat from what he described as other "terrorist" organizations -- a reference to Syrian Kurdish fighters from the PYD. After reports that Turkey also was firing artillery at Syrian Kurdish fighters from the PYD, the group's leader, Salih Muslim, said Turkey had entered "the Syrian quagmire" and would be defeated along with IS militants. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on August 24 that Syrian Kurdish fighters must return to the eastern side of the Euphrates River or Turkish military forces would "do what is necessary." With reporting by AP, Reuters, AP, AFP, and Anadolu Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/turkey-syria- operation-islamic-state/27942784.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 Forces Storm into Syria, Targeting Islamic State Militants, Kurds By VOA News August 24, 2016 Turkish tanks and special forces stormed into Syria on Wednesday, a sweeping military offensive aimed at clearing Islamic State militants and Syrian Kurds from the border region. About 1,500 Syrian opposition fighters also joined the cross-border operation, Ankara's most significant involvement so far in the five-year Syrian conflict. Hours after heavy pre-dawn artillery attacks and a Turkish and U.S. aerial bombardment of Islamic State targets around Jarablus, Turkey's state-run news agency reported that rebels had captured the nearby IS-held village of Kaklijeh. One senior U.S. official said the American military is providing Turkish forces with air cover, intelligence and advisers to assist in the operation. "We want to help the Turks get ISIL off the border," the official said, using another name for Islamic State. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the offensive is in response to a series of attacks in Turkey, including the suicide bombing of a Kurdish wedding party near the border last weekend that killed 54 people. He said the goal was to end threats from "terror" groups, Islamic State jihadists and U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish militia linked to Turkey's outlawed Kurdish rebels. But Turkey's targeting of the Syrian Kurds could put it on track for a confrontation with U.S. military operations in Syria. Washington considers the Kurdish rebels in Syria to be the most effective fighters against Islamic State jihadists, even as Ankara has waged a three-decade fight against Kurds who are seeking an autonomous state in southeastern Turkey. Vice President Joe Biden, who is meeting with top officials in Ankara, told a news conference Wednesday that the U.S.-backed Kurdish rebels must remain east of the Euphrates river in Syria, keeping the forces far from Turkey's border. "They cannot, will not and under no circumstances get American support if they do not keep that commitment. Period," said Biden. Wednesday's operation included artillery fire and Turkish jets conducting airstrikes backed by other warplanes from the U.S.-led coalition that has been targeting Islamic State for about two years. A number of Turkish tanks were also seen taking part in the fighting on the Syrian side of the border as they tried to push the militants out of Jarablus. Syria's Foreign Ministry condemned Turkey's actions as a violation of its sovereignty. The operation comes a day after Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkey would give "every kind" of support to fighting Islamic State in the area around Jarablus. On Monday, the government vowed to "cleanse" Islamic State following a suicide bombing in nearby Gaziantep. Islamic State controlled a long stretch of the Turkey-Syria border in early 2015, but Kurdish fighters have regained a large portion of the territory, particularly to the east of Jarablus. Denying the militants access to the border cuts off a potential route for supplies and bringing in fighters, but Turkey has been wary of those gains being accompanied by the Kurds expanding their control in northern Syria. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Anti-landing drill held in Taichung as part of Han Kuang exercises ROC Central News Agency 2016/08/23 18:57:18 Taipei, Aug. 23 (CNA) The military held an anti-landing drill in Taichung Tuesday, as part of this year's Han Kuang series of military exercises to test Taiwan's ability to counter various types of simulated attacks by China. The drill, which took place at the Port of Taichung, also marked the first time that the National Airborne Service Corps joined the annual exercises, the military said. In Tuesday's simulation, the military had to fend off an opposing force that was seeking to land in Taichung and invade other parts of the island, the military said. The military said it first dispatched AH-1W attack helicopters, then deployed CM-32 "Clouded Leopard" armored infantry fighting vehicles and M60A3 tanks against the "invading force." Later a UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter flown by National Airborne Service Corps pilots and a CH-47SD helicopter operated by the Army pilots carried special forces soldiers to the target area to join the anti-landing drill, according to the military. A total of 297 soldiers and officers participated in the drill, it said. The drill was part of the five-day Han Kuang exercises that will last until Friday. The Han Kuang exercises, Taiwan's most important annual war games involving all three branches of the military, feature a set of live-fire drills and have the Army, Navy and Air Force test their joint response to simulated threats from China, according to the Ministry of National Defense. (By Liao Jen-kai and Elaine Hou) ENDITEM/pc NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Flash Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on Syrian Issue Xie Xiaoyan said here on Tuesday that China and Jordan share common views on addressing the Syrian crisis, highlighting political solution as the key to ending the violence in the country. He made the remarks at a press conference following a meeting with Jordanian officials in Amman, adding that China is keen to continue coordination with Jordan on the issue, which is disturbing stability and security in the Middle East. Xie, currently on a regional tour, said that resolving the crisis needs "patience and confidence" as "interests of many players are involved." China is in continued communication with the Syrian government, opposition, the U.S., Russia and regional players in this regard, Xie said, expressing optimism about the resumption of peace talks between the Syrian government and opposition soon. Xie said that parties involved should take to political solution, not military ones to solve the issue, adding that "pre-conditioning the ouster of Assad to start negotiations is not a solution as it will obstruct any peacemaking efforts." He believes that no solution should be dictated on the Syrian people, saying "any external solution to the Syrian issue will reach a deadlock." Stressing China's continued support for Jordan, the official added that China has provided Jordan with 130 million yuan (US$20 million) this year to help with the issue of Syrian refugees. Noting that China is ready and will continue to provide aid and humanitarian assistance, he also hailed Jordan's role in providing aid and services to the Syrian refugees. Official figures show that some 1.3 million Syrian refugees have fled to Jordan since 2011. Military retirees' pensions to receive new funding: official ROC Central News Agency 2016/08/23 22:45:19 Taipei, Aug. 23 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen () has instructed the Cabinet to deal with the reform of the pension program for military retirees separately from those for civil servants and public school teachers and make a special budget for that purpose when necessary, according to the veterans affairs minister Tuesday. Lee Shying-jow (), head of the Veterans Affairs Council, said the president told him to handle the matter on four principles in early August after being briefed on the veterans' views. First, Lee said the military retirees' pensions should be operated independent of those of civil servants and public school teachers. The media often link the reform of the military retirees' pension program to those of public functionaries and public school faculty. Second, Lee said the president has asked the government to set aside a special budget for the pension fund for people who have retired after four to nine years of voluntary military service. The fund has at times experienced shortfalls, and Tsai wants to make sure benefits for former voluntary servicemen and women are not affected. Third, according to Lee, the Ministry of National Defense should put forth a proposal for delaying the retirement age for military personnel as well as the time they can begin receiving the pension. Fourth, a minimum level should be set for paying veterans a monthly pension, such as NT$20,000 (US$630), NT$25,000 or NT$30,000. Tsai made the directive after hearing that some veterans are paid only NT$20,000 and yet could face cuts in the future as the government is considering an "overall cut" for all public sector pensioners. (By Lu Hsin-hui and S.C. Chang) Enditem/ke NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkish president, Iraqi Kurdish leader discuss battling Daesh, PKK Iran Press TV Tue Aug 23, 2016 8:42PM Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iraqi Kurdistan Region's leader Masoud Barzani have discussed closing down schools in Iraqi Kurdistan affiliated with Fethullah Gulen, who Turkey blames for masterminding the failed coup, said Erdogan's office. The Turkish presidential office noted that battling the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants were also discussed during the Tuesday meeting with the visiting president of Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Ankara. "Taking necessary steps to terminate the operations of schools and institutions affiliated with the Gulenist terror organization was among the topics discussed by Erdogan and Barzani," said Erdogan's office. Barzani also expressed support for the Turkish government after quashing the July 15 coup when a faction of the Turkish military declared itself in charge of the country. Ankara blames the US-based Gulen (seen below) for orchestrating the coup, an allegation Gulen has repeatedly dismissed and warned that the blame game could be a ploy by the ruling Justice and Development Party to cement its grip on power. Meanwhile, Turkey's Justice Ministry has said its officials have opened talks with officials from the US departments of justice and state on a demand by Ankara for the extradition of the US-based cleric. Last week, Erdogan accused the supporters of Gulen of helping the PKK militants in conducting new attacks in southeastern Turkey. Ankara has been engaged in a large-scale anti-PKK campaign in its southern border region over the past few months. The Turkish military has also been pounding the group's positions in northern Iraq as well in breach of the Arab country's sovereignty. Turkey's operations began in the wake of a deadly July 2015 bombing in Suruc, which the Turkish government blamed on the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group. After the bombing, the PKK militants, who accuse Ankara of supporting Daesh, engaged in a series of reprisal attacks against Turkish police and security forces, prompting Turkey's military operations NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkish, US justice officials discuss extradition of Gulen Iran Press TV Tue Aug 23, 2016 4:26PM Justice officials from Turkey and the United States have opened discussions on a demand by Ankara for the extradition of US-based cleric, Fethullah Gulen, blamed by the Turkish government for the failed mid-July coup. Turkey's Justice Ministry said its officials opened talks Tuesday with officials from the US departments of justice and state in the capital Ankara. Details of the talks are yet to be released. An anonymous Justice Department official told Reuters on August 20 that US officials would fly to Turkey to investigate accusations against the Turkish preacher. "US officials, including representatives of the departments of justice and state, have offered to consult with the Turkish government," the official said, adding, "We can confirm that a delegation (with) representatives of the departments of justice and state will visit Turkey." Istanbul prosecutor's office on August 13 sent a letter to Washington calling for the detention of Gulen. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on the same day that Washington's attitude toward the extradition of Gulen has improved since July 15. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also said that Ankara has sent "eighty-five boxes of files" to Washington to prove the allegation of Gulen's involvement in the abortive coup. Turkish prosecutors have recently demanded two life sentences and an additional 1,900 years in prison for Gulen. The so-called Fethullah Terror Organization (FETO) has been accused of infiltrating state archives through its members in the state institutions and intelligence units. Turkish state media say the group has used media outlets, foundations, private schools, companies, student dormitories and insurance companies to serve its purpose of taking control of all state institutions. FETO has also collected funds from businessmen in the name of "donations" and transferred the money to the United States by means of front companies. Earlier this month, Turkish authorities issued an arrest warrant for Gulen, who denies the allegations against him and argues that the blame game could be a ploy by the ruling Justice and Development Party to cement its grip on power in Turkey. Washington has so far refused to extradite Gulen, saying it needs evidence of his involvement in the abortive coup. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ankara's Fear of Kurdish State Drives Turkey to Compromise Over Assad Sputnik News 20:18 23.08.2016 The Turkish leadership "has given a green light" to Bashar al-Assad playing a role in Syria's interim government, Turkish journalists note, assuming that at the core of a potential thaw lies Ankara and Damascus' intent to preserve Syria's territorial integrity. Ankara "has given a green light" to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad remaining in an interim government in Syria, Murat Yetkin of Hurriyet Daily News noted, calling the move "a major shift in Turkey's Syria policy." "The most important priority for us is to stop the bloodshed as soon as possible," Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told a press conference in Istanbul on August 20, as quoted by the journalist. Yetkin highlights that it was Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus who admitted a significant shift in Turkey's Syria policy by saying that Ankara's previous foreign policy strategy toward the country was "a source of many sufferings for Turkey today." Thus far, Ankara has signaled that it could contribute to the settlement of the Syrian crisis together with Russia, Iran, the US, Saudi Arabia and other parties concerned. "But will that solution be with or without Bashar al-Assad?" Yetkin asks. The journalist underscores that up to now the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has insisted that Bashar al-Assad should step down and claimed that his resignation is a "must" for the Syrian peace process. However, while Yildirim says that "Assad cannot be part of Syria's future, as he is not a unifying element for the Syrian people," he also acknowledges that "for a transition [government], it is possible to sit and talk [with Assad]." "It is obvious that, whether we like it or not, al-Assad is an actor," Yildirim admitted as quoted by Yetkin. Still, the journalist clarifies that it does not mean that the Turkish leadership will itself "sit and talk" with the Syrian president. "It is out of the question that we will talk with him. They [al-Assad and the opposition] are the counterparts. They should sit and talk Fixing an issue to one thing or person means you consenting to the deadlock," the Turkish prime minister told Hurriyet Daily News. What lies at the root of Ankara changing its position on Syrian President Assad? Amberin Zaman, a Bengali-Turkish journalist and public policy scholar at The Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, DC, suggests that a potential thaw could have been triggered by the fact that both Ankara and Damascus oppose the creation of a Kurdish independent entity in northern Syria. "Speculation about a possible thaw between Ankara and Damascus intensified over the weekend when Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim dropped fresh hints that Turkey would no longer be pushing for Assad's ouster," Zaman writes in her article for Al-Monitor. She cites the Turkish prime minister who said: "It is clear that the [Assad] regime has understood the structure the Kurds are trying to form in the north [of Syria] has started to become a threat for Syria too." Zaman recalls that while Ankara and Damascus are still on opposite sides, both denounced the so-called Northern Syria Federation, declared by the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) in March, as "illegal." It was reported that the relations between Damascus and the PYD's military group People's Protection Units (YPG) have recently become tense in Syria's al-Hasakah province. In an interview with Sputnik Al-Hasakah Mayor Muhammed Zaalan Al-Ali narrated that Kurdish militants had allegedly blocked the al-Hasaka-al-Qamishli road, thus far preventing the advance of the Syrian government's forces. "We appreciate Kurdish forces' help in the fight against terrorists last year, when 500 Kurdish soldiers were killed and 900 more wounded. But we wonder why the PKK [the Kurdistan Workers' Party]has now turned their weapon against the Syrian Army and other government organizations, even though the country's army previously supported the Kurds in their fight against armed terrorists," he told Sputnik. For its part, Turkey has signaled that Syria's territorial integrity remains one of the important parts of Ankara's new plan aimed at resolving the Syrian crisis. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Nearly 90 Turkish Foreign Ministry Staff Fired, 332 Suspended in Post-Coup Purge Sputnik News 18:23 23.08.2016(updated 18:37 23.08.2016) Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed 89 employees, suspended or recalled 332 from abroad in a large-scale purge following the July 15 failed coup, according to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced on Tuesday the dismissal of 89 staff members and the suspension of 332 more in a large-scale purge following the July 15 failed coup affecting political, military, academic and other fields. "After the attempted insurrection, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed 89 employees, suspended or recalled 332 from abroad. Of those recalled 31 people did not return to Turkey," Cavusoglu said at a press conference in Ankara broadcast by Turkish television. Earlier in the day, the Turkish Supreme Military Council announced the forced retirement of 586 mid-ranking officers and the reduction of military service to 28 years. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Security Council condemns recent terrorist attack in Turkey 23 August 2016 The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned the "heinous and cowardly" terrorist attack at a wedding ceremony in the city of Gaziantep in Turkey on 20 August, during which at least 54 people were killed and over 200 injured. In a press statement issued yesterday afternoon, the members of the Council also condemned the terrorist attacks that took place over the last week in Turkey, during which several Turkish police officers and civilians were killed. They expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Turkish Government and they wished a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured. Reaffirming that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, the Council underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice and urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with Turkey and all other relevant authorities in this regard. The Council also stressed that those responsible for these killings should be held accountable and urged all States to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regard. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Biden Likely to Face Pressure During Turkey Visit By Cindy Saine August 23, 2016 Vice President Joe Biden is President Barack Obama's highest-ranking and closest surrogate, often representing the White House in difficult diplomatic situations. Biden is known for his effusive warmth and for cultivating personal relationships with world leaders. He calls Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan an "old friend." But the vice president will likely have his work cut out for him as he visits Turkey Wednesday; the visit comes at a tense time in the two countries' relationship. Many Turks say they are angry about what they see as a lack of solidarity from the West after the traumatic coup, which left at least 240 people dead and included the bombing of the Turkish parliament. Turkish analyst Kemal Kirisci told VOA most people in Turkey feel the West has been too critical and not shown enough sympathy. "In the Turkish public's mind there is a puzzlement, why is it, .why is it that it has taken such a long time for a very long-standing ally of Turkey to express solidarity and to manifest that solidarity with a visit to Turkey? And that also applies to the EU." Kirisci pointed out that Erdogan recently had a supportive meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin-a meeting that had already been planned before the coup. But human rights groups and many in the West are concerned that Ankara has fired or suspended nearly 80,000 government employees and soldiers since the failed coup in a massive crackdown on the military, civil service, police, academia and judiciary. Biden is expected to publicly reassure Turkish leaders of unwavering U.S. support for its crucial NATO ally, while in private calling on Ankara to respect the rule of law. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest outlined Vice President Biden's mission: "First and foremost the vice president's message will be to indicate our continued, ongoing strong support for our allies in Turkey. That's a country that obviously is going through a lot. This is a country that was subject to a failed coup attempt earlier this summer, that is a coup attempt that was roundly and publicly condemned by the United States government." The Gulen issue One of the thorniest issues is likely to be the fate of the U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen. Turkish President Erdogan blames the 75-year-old Gulen for planning the coup and is demanding that Washington turn him over right away: "We say to America: 'Aren't we strategic partners? Don't we have extradition treaties?' If that's the case, when you ask for terrorists [to be extradited] we didn't ask for documents." Gulen and Erdogan are former allies who are now enemies. Gulen has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania for 17 years. His mystic Islamic movement runs schools, charities and businesses around the world. At his Pennsylvania compound, Gulen told VOA's Turkish Service he was not involved in the coup and condemned the violence. His lawyer, Reid Weingarten had this to say: "It would be unprecedented and appalling if the United States took a frail, almost octogenarian, plopped him on a plane to go back into that kind of setting with the hideous things that are being said about him by the entire Turkish government." Biden is likely to be pressed to release Gulen, and will likely repeat in Ankara what Press Secretary Earnest explained Monday: "There is a treaty, an extradition treaty that's been on the books between United States and Turkey for more than 30 years." Earnest said some U.S. Justice Department officials will travel to Turkey this week to meet with their Turkish counterparts and review some of the evidence against Gulen they have collected. He said the Justice Department will make the decision based on evidence and the rules on the extradition treaty. He insists that it is not a presidential decision. At Tuesday's State Department briefing, spokesman Mark Toner confirmed to reporters that formal extradition requests for Gulen have been received from Turkey. Reporters were surprised to hear Toner say that the extradition requests for Gulen are not related to the July, 2016 coup. Toner stressed that the extradition request is not a public process, and that there is an ongoing "sober, deliberate assessment" of tranches of documents that have been sent by Turkey on Gulen. The Islamic State Issue Biden and Erdogan are also likely to discuss their joint efforts to combat the Islamic State terrorist group. Turkey has the second largest military force in NATO and is also part of the U.S.-led coalition to combat the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. In recent months, Turkey has been a frequent target of IS terrorist attacks. More than 50 people were killed in a suicide bombing attack on a Kurdish wedding in the southeastern city of Gaziantep, believed to have been directed by the Islamic State group. The U.S. has repeatedly called on Turkey to boost its efforts to secure it border with Syria, to prevent terrorist fighters from crossing. (VOA's Senior Diplomatic Correspondent Steve Herman contributed to this report.) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Biden Pledges 'Unwavering Support' For Turkey's Democracy August 24, 2016 U.S. Vice President Joe Biden says Washington puts "paramount importance" on its relations with Turkey and is offering "unwavering support" for democracy in the country after the failed July military coup there. Biden made the remarks to journalists in Ankara on August 24 after meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. Biden was scheduled to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan later on August 24. Erdogan said earlier in the day that he will push Biden to honor Turkey's request for the extradition of the exiled Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen -- who is accused by Ankara of orchestrating the attempted coup. Gulen denies any role in the coup. Biden confirmed that the United States has received Turkey's request for Gulen's extradition, but noted that the evidence presented in the request was related to events before the July 15 coup. The U.S. vice president said Washington understands the "intense feeling" in Ankara about Gulen following the coup, and that the United States has no interest in protecting anyone who has harmed a U.S. ally. But he insisted that legal standards must be met in regard to the extradition request. He said the United States "did not have any prior knowledge" of the coup and described the plotters' actions as "treasonous" and "cowardly." Yildirim said after his talks with Biden that he expects the legal process on the extradition to be conducted without delay. Turkey's Justice Ministry said an extradition request with evidence related to Ankara's claims that Gulen was behind the attempted coup would "probably" be submitted to Washington next week. Combating Islamic State Biden also said on August 24 that he spoke with Yildirim about progress their countries have made in the fight against Islamic State (IS) militants in neighboring Syria since the attempted coup. He said the use by the United States of the Incirlik Air Base in southeastern Turkey "remains the lynchpin" for carrying out air strikes against IS in Syria. He also praised Turkey for hosting 3 million refugees that have fled the conflicts in Syria and Iraq, noting that the effort has placed an enormous burden on Turkey. Biden arrived in Ankara just hours after Turkish forces, supported by U.S. air strikes, launched a military offensive against IS militants in northern Syria. Turkish tanks and armored personnel carriers crossed the border into a part of northern Syria that has been under the control of IS militants since July 2013. Ankara-based Syrian rebels from the Free Syrian Army also were taking part in the operation and reportedly advanced into the Syrian border town of Jarablus during the early afternoon. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu vowed that the "cleansing" of Jarablus would mark a turning point in the fight against IS. Syria's government described the military incursion as a "blatant violation" of Syrian sovereignty and demanded an end to what it said was "aggression" being carried out under the pretext of fighting terrorism. Damascus said in a statement that "any move to combat terrorism on Syrian territories should have been coordinated with the Syrian government and army." It said: "Fighting terrorism cannot be undertaken by ousting [IS]...and replacing it with other terrorist organizations directly backed by Turkey." Kurdish Fighters Another issue expected to be discussed during Biden's talks with Erdogan was the role in the fight against IS militants that Syrian Kurdish fighters should have. Washington supports Syrian Kurdish fighters from the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and sees them as vital to the U.S.-led coalition's strategy of combating IS militants. But Ankara accuses the PYD of being aligned with Turkish Kurdish rebels from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). After reports that Turkey was firing artillery at Syrian Kurdish fighters on August 24, PYD leader Salih Muslim called the action a "declaration of war." Muslim said Turkey had entered "the Syrian quagmire" and would be defeated along with IS militants. Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu said on August 24 that Syrian Kurdish fighters must return to the eastern side of the Euphrates River or Turkish military forces would "do what is necessary." Biden agreed, saying, "We have made it absolutely clear...that they [pro-Kurdish forces] must go back across the river. They cannot, will not and under no circumstances get American support if they do not keep that commitment. Period." With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, and Anadolu Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/biden-turkey-u-s- support-democracy/27943691.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 Ukraine should rely on own might to counter Russia: Poroshenko Iran Press TV Wed Aug 24, 2016 5:53PM Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has underlined the need for Kiev to stand on its own feet rather than relying on Western support as it copes with resurging conflict in its eastern region. Striking a martial tone in his Independence Day speech on Wednesday, Poroshenko said that Ukrainian armed forces should serve as the main guarantor and protector of the country in the face of threats. "From this parade, our international partners will get the message that Ukraine is able to protect itself, but needs further support," Poroshenko said, while addressing a large crowd of civilians and military personnel in Kiev. The remarks came as various army, navy and air force units marched in the ceremony in bid to highlight the capability of Ukraine's military. More than 9,500 people have been killed in the violence which erupted in 2014 and subsided in February 2015 when a truce deal was reached in the Belorussian capital of Minsk. Ukraine and its Western backers blame the conflict on Russia, but Moscow denies any involvement. Poroshenko said that international pressure on Russia must remain until Moscow implements the Minsk agreements, saying that it would take more time and money for Ukraine to fully protect itself from what he described as Russia's "imperial ambitions." "We need years and tens of billions of hryvnias until we can sleep soundly," he said, referring to Ukraine's currency. Ukraine has faced diminishing military and financial support from the Western countries over the past year as the United States and governments in Europe say they are not satisfied with the degree of progress Kiev has made in reforming its economy and getting rid of the vested interests that existed before 2014, when a Russian-backed leadership was in power. Kiev is locked in tension with Moscow over the Crimean Peninsula, a territory in the Black Sea, which rejoined Russia after a referendum in 2014. Moscow said earlier this month that Ukrainian army was trying to provoke a new conflict over Crimea. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Celebrates 25 Years Of Independence As Tensions With Russia Worsen August 24, 2016 by Christopher Miller KYIV -- Ukraine marked 25 years of independence from the Soviet Union on August 24 with a massive parade of soldiers and heavy weaponry through central Kyiv, in a show of force designed to boost the morale of the country's servicemen and reassure Ukrainians amid heightened tensions with Russia. Flanked by battle tanks, missile carriers, and other equipment, hundreds of uniformed troops marched through Independence Square in the country's largest military procession since it declared independence in 1991. "Independence has given us democracy and freedom, the feeling of civic dignity and national unity," President Petro Poroshenko said, addressing the crowd. Thousands of flag-waving Ukrainians dressed in traditional embroidered shirts cheered, "Glory to Ukraine!" and "Death to enemies!" -- chants popularized during the Euromaidan protests that drove a Russia-backed president from power in 2014. Generals saluted from armored transport vehicles and the national anthem rang out: "The glory and the freedom of Ukraine has not yet perished." Parliament in Ukraine adopted an independence declaration on August 24, 1991, three days after the collapse of a hard-line coup attempt in Moscow that was meant to prevent the Soviet Union from falling apart. Ukrainians overwhelmingly approved independence in a December 1, 1991, referendum, and the Soviet Union ceased to exist later that month. Independence Day celebrations have taken on a martial tone since Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and fomented separatism in eastern Ukraine, where a war that started that April has killed more than 9,500 people. Poroshenko said in his address that 2,504 Ukrainian servicemen are among the dead but that "the enemy has failedto bring Ukraine to its knees." Besides potentially boosting morale, the large-scale military parades have enabled Kyiv to showcase its military, which has been revitalized after deteriorating following the Soviet collapse. In 2014, Independence Day came amid a major offensive by the Russia-backed separatists that killed hundreds of Ukrainian troops, led to a demoralizing battlefield defeat, and more or less solidified the conflict lines. Kyiv then agreed to a cease-fire deal -- the first of two agreements known as the Minsk accords -- on terms critics say were beneficial to Moscow. This year, there are fears that another offensive is looming. Fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists has flared in eastern Ukraine since June, with Kyiv suffering its worst battlefield casualties in a year. Officials in Kyiv say Russia has increased its troop presence near Ukraine's borders, and Russian accusations that Kyiv tried to stage attacks in Crimea early in August -- denied by Ukraine -- have added to the tension. Last week, Poroshenko warned of the possibility of a "full-scale invasion on all fronts" and put Ukraine's military on high alert. He said that he was prepared to impose martial law should the situation worsen. Surrounded by military materiel during the August 24 celebration, Poroshenko told Ukrainians: "Today, our main guarantor is the armed forces of Ukraine. And this is much more serious than the Budapest memorandum," a reference to a treaty signed in 1994 by Ukraine, Russia, and the United States. The accord was meant to provide security assurances by its signatories in return for Ukraine giving up its nuclear weapons. But many Ukrainians have deemed the deal a failure after Russia's military-backed annexation of Crimea and its interference in eastern Ukraine, where Kyiv and NATO say Russia has sent large numbers of troops and weapons during the conflict. While the idea of parading deadly weapons through the capital irked some Ukrainians, others said the event gave them a sense of pride. "The parade is for our patriotism. It is important to raise the spirits of Ukrainians, especially when we are at war," said Volodymyr Bondarchuk, 74, a Soviet Army veteran who wore a pressed suit and a medal commemorating his service. Russia's interference in Ukraine has badly strained ties between Moscow and the West. Congratulating Ukraine on behalf of President Barack Obama "and the American people," U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said he was "deeply impressed by all you have accomplished in the more than two years since the Revolution of Dignity," as many Ukrainians call the Euromaidan protests. "Despite Russia's aggression in eastern Ukraine and its illegal occupation of Crimea, you have worked steadily to build stronger and more effective political, economic, and cultural institutions," efforts that "have required perseverance and sacrifice," Kerry said in a statement. "The United States will stand by you as you continue to strengthen your democracy," he said. "With our European partners, we will also press for full implementation of the Minsk agreements to end Russian aggression in Donbas and return the international border to Ukrainian control. We remain steadfast in our refusal to recognize Russia's attempted annexation of Crimea." Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/ukraine-independence- day-celebrations-25/27943128.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 A U.S. service member died as a result of wounds in the beleaguered Helmand province in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday, said a statement of NATO-led Resolute Support (RS) mission released in Kabul. "One U.S. service member died as a result of wounds sustained during operations near Lashkar Gar in Helmand Province today," the statement said. Another U.S. member was wounded and is currently in stable condition, the statement added. It confirmed that additionally six Afghan soldiers were also wounded during the operations. "We are deeply saddened by this loss, but remain committed to helping our Afghan partners provide a brighter future for themselves and their children," said General John W. Nicholson, commander of USFOR-A and Resolute Support mission in the statement. Casualties of U.S. military has been reported amid ongoing fierce fighting between government forces and the Taliban militants for the control of the troubled Helmand province notorious for growing poppy and militancy. Without giving more details, the statement added that "U.S. Department of Defense Policy is to withhold the identity of the service member pending next-of-kin notification." More than 13,000 U.S. and allied forces, reportedly have been serving in Afghanistan within the framework of NATO-led Resolute Support mission to help, train and give advices to Afghan forces. Taliban militants have intensified operations in several parts of the restive Helmand province over the past couple of months to capture provincial capital Lashkar Gah, a key town in the southern region. A spokesman for U.S. forces in Afghanistan Gen. Charles Cleveland said on Monday that some 100 U.S. troops have been deployed to Helmand province to help Afghan forces in suppressing Taliban-led militancy there. Alan Burkitt-Gray speaks to Don MacNeil, chief operating officer of GTT, about its company restructuring after coming out of Chapter 11 and its strategic roadmap for the next 12 months. Flash One person was killed and 30 others wounded when three bombs exploded late Tuesday in the southern Pattani province, less than two weeks after a series of blasts and arson attacks hit the south. The first blast at 10:40 pm in a parking lot close to a pub behind the Southern hotel caused no ausalities, while the second, which came from a pickup truck, exploded in front of the Southern hotel at about 11:00 pm, killing one female and wounding 30 others. The third bomb, hidden in a trash can, exploed at about 11:30 pm near a local market and caused no causalities. All the casualties were Thai nationals. The blasts came less than two weeks after a series of unexplained explosions and arson attacks hit various provinces of southern Thailand, killing 4 Thai people and wounding dozens, including 11 foreign tourists. Pattani is one of the three southernmost provinces where a long-running insurgency intensified in 2004. HUSCO International President and CEO Austin Ramirez, right, explains testing procedures for one of their automotive parts during a tour with State Senator Chris Kapenga and State Rep. Adam Neylon on Monday. Charles Auer/Freeman Staff The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday evening officially turned the process to pick a replacement board member over to the court system following yet another feisty exchange that ultimately ended in a call for unity. A new natural gas-powered electric energy generating plant is coming to the Berry Hill Industrial Park, Southern Company, of Atlanta, announced Tuesday. Southern Power a subsidiary of Southern Co. signed a purchase and sale agreement option in June with the Danville-Pittsylvania Regional Industrial Facility Authority for 300 acres of land in Berry Hill Industrial Park. At that time, RIFA announced the company will invest at least $250 million in the project. The chosen site is adjacent to the Williams Transco natural gas intercontinental pipeline, which runs through the mega park site and transports natural gas through the pipeline from the Gulf Coast to the northeastern and southeastern states. Asked if there was a timeline for the plant being built, the number of people it would employ and if Southern Power has any agreement with Transco, company spokesperson Jack Bonnikson said the company was not yet ready to discuss details. At this time, we are unable to offer more details outside of whats been shared in the news release, Bonnikson said via email. Southern Company currently ranks at 162 in the Fortune 500 rankings, has been in the power-generation business since the early 1900s and owns several major power companies such as Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power and Mississippi Power, as well as Southern Power. We are excited about the potential to partner with a company that has such a reputation as Southern Power, RIFA Vice Chairman Sherman Saunders said in a news release Tuesday. Southern Power is a large wholesale energy provider meeting the electricity needs of municipalities, electric cooperatives, investor-owned utilities and other energy customers that serve more than 40 million customers across the country. In addition to the planned plant at the 3,500-acre mega park the largest industrial park in Virginia and the fifth largest on the East Coast Southern Power and its subsidiaries own or have the rights to 39 facilities operating or under construction in 10 states with more than 10,800 megawatts of generating capacity. This is an early step in a lengthy process as we evaluate opportunities that align with our low-risk business model, Southern Power CEO Buzz Miller in a news release said. Southern Power is committed to acquiring and constructing generating assets substantially covered by long-term contracts, and we believe southern Virginia could be a good fit for our strategic expansion. Pittsylvania County Administrator Clarence Monday said a timeline for the project has not been set and an extensive permitting process needs to take place before any construction can begin. While Southern Power is not ready to discuss a timeline or potential jobs at the plant, when completed Monday said there is the potential for hundreds of jobs during construction of the plant. Berry Hill Industrial Park was specifically developed for these types of large projects, Jessie Barksdale, chairman of both RIFA and the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors, said in the news release. This project has the potential to represent the largest single private investment ever in Pittsylvania County. Delegate Danny Marshall, who is a member of the Tobacco Commission, said in a news release that he is pleased Southern Power chose the Berry Hill Industrial Park site. Southern Power has a track record of success, and our area is well-equipped to ensure that continues, Marshall said. Since the mega park project began in 2008, the Tobacco Commission has awarded nearly $30 million in grants for site development and infrastructure at the industrial park. Jordan Butler, the public relations coordinator for the Tobacco Commission, said there is no agreement currently in place to award any grant money to Southern Power for the project. Jason Grey, director of Danville Utilities, said he sees that project as a plus for the region and as a potential supplies of electricity to Danville Utilities. The plant will have the potential to generate base-load for us, Grey said. Were evaluating and discussing the project with them at this point. The economic development directors for both the city and the county were out of the country Tuesday talking to another potential investor in the region, but left statements released in the Tobacco Commissions news release. Pittsylvania County is grateful that Southern Power is seriously considering making a significant investment in the county on a project that would not only create numerous jobs, but also add to the regions tax base. Matthew Rowe, director of economic development for Pittsylvania County, said. We understand that this is the beginning of a long development process, and we look forward to continue working with the Tobacco Commission and Southern Power to make this project a reality. Telly Tucker, Danvilles economic development director, said, The city of Danville is delighted to hear of Southern Powers interest in Berry Hill. We remain confident that this potential project for Berry Hill Industrial Park would have positive economic impact and be a catalyst for future projects. Publisher Tom Perry will host Mayberry Trivia Night with friends John and Bonnie Hale at Brewed Awakening in Danville from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Questions will be multiple choice, true/false and fill in the blank. Prizes will be given for winning teams. Perry will have all his books with him including Beyond Mayberry: A Memoir of Andy Griffith and Mount Airy, North Carolina. Flash The Japanese government on Wednesday strongly condemned the the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) test-firing of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe blasting the move as being a unforgivable act. Abe described the launch of the SLBM as a grave threat to security and an unforgivable act. "It is a grave threat to Japan's security and an unforgivable act to regional stability and peace," Abe told a press briefing. The latest launch of a missile by the DPRK is in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban the DPRK from using ballistic missile technology. Provisional reports from the defense ministry here said that the SLBM was launched in waters off Sinpo, in the South Hamgyong Province at around 5:30 a.m.. The missile flew around 500 kilometers from its launch point where it fell into the Sea of Japan, within Japan's air defense identification zone, officials said. The Japanese leader added that a strong protest to the DPRK's latest launch has been made with Pyongyang through certain diplomatic channels. The DPRK had warned of a possible preemptive nuclear attack if it believed it was being threatened by other countries. The United States and South Korea began their annual joint military drills on Monday, officials here have noted, which include about 25,000 U.S. troops joining the Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise. The drills will conclude on Sept 2. Wednesday's SLBM launch comes as the foreign ministers of Japan, China and South Korea are currently meeting in Tokyo to discuss a number of issues pertaining to the region, ministry officials here have said. Abe also said that Japan will continue to work closely with the international community, including the United States and South Korea, to respond firmly to the latest missile launch. The flood came in a flash. The cleanup has hardly been so swift. More than a week after a downpour of rare proportions swamped downtown Roanoke streets, Susan Adams is still waiting for the water-logged carpet in her Campbell Avenue furniture store to dry out. The baseboards lie in a heap at the back of the store called Pash at the corner of First Street. Its the third time since the spring that Adams has called in a contractor to bring in a platoon of fans to dry out the store. Like other downtown business owners who have seen the water creep up to their thresholds, Adams is wondering what is going on. When it happened the first time, I thought it was a fluke, Adams said. To me, three floods in three months, thats not an act of god, thats a problem. City officials, including the stormwater department, are still of a mind that the trio of floods on May 11, July 12 and Aug. 15 are an aberration, not a new normal. Last weeks storm dumped 2.26 inches on downtown in under an hour, and at one point rain fell at a rate of 5.65 inches per hour the pace of a 1,000 year flood. Still the events have prompted officials to review downtown stormwater system projects on their to-do list to see if they can or should be made a higher priority, said Dwayne DArdenne, Roanokes stormwater utility director. Interim measures, such as inspecting the pipes and Trout Run culvert for obstructions, have found little to no debris or other obstructions, DArdenne said. Thats of little comfort to Adams and others. I feel like they kind of have a cavalier attitude about the whole thing, she said. Unless somebody can say Im going to fix it, its going to take a month but were going to do it, theres no comfort. Its commitment, said Keith Clinton, co-owner of R.T. Smiths Deli on Campbell Avenue at Jefferson Street. At least show us theyre committed to doing something. We just want some commitment that they understand we have a problem, echoed Janet Schlosser, an owner of the restaurant Metro. DArdenne and City Manager Chris Morrill say the city is committed to addressing stormwater issues across the city, but in downtown thats an especially complicated problem. From downtown being a flood plain to poor engineering of the drainage system going back 75 years or more, from drainage pipes being entangled with every other underground utility in the downtown area to the city now being under a federal mandate to clean stormwater, not just move it, there is no easy fix, Morrill said. You cant just put in bigger pipes and hope it gets better, he said. The city is in its third year with a stormwater utility that collects fees from property owners which are used to maintain and improve the drainage system and improve water quality. All of the citys streams and the river are considered impaired by federal standards. DArdenne said he has a prioritized list of more than 240 drainage system improvement projects, and its growing. Eighteen items on that list are in the downtown area. None are near the top. Whether they should be is whats under review. We have to continuously reassess and make sure get the most critical ones first, Morrill said. The neighborhoods are as important as downtown. Its whats going to impact more people. Moreover, the city is trying to view the drainage system holistically, via a master plan being developed with Virginia Tech. Even turning their focus to downtown would not solve problems quickly, DArdenne said. DArdenne said starting tomorrow would still mean quicker fixes could take a year or more, and thats only a guess. An overhaul of the system downtown could take a decade or two, he said. The system was poorly engineered to begin with, he said. Street drains are only large enough to take in a two year flood a common occurrence. They feed pipes built for a 10-year flood. The Aug. 15 flood was of the 25-year variety. That makes the system sometimes easily overwhelmed, DArdenne said. The solution, under federal mandates, means not just moving the water faster, but cleaning it along the way so the streams arent further polluted. There are no good examples in terms of addressing both flooding in a flood plain in downtown, and making sure that water coming out is healthy, DArdenne said. Downtown business owners view the citys response as sluggish at best. This is something thats going to be a long term fix, said Clinton, but if you dont start now ... in two years, everybody becomes complacent. Neither does Metro co-owner Andy Schlosser. He questions whether other city projects, like renovations at the City Market Building and the Market Square, have exacerbated the problem. DArdenne dismissed that idea. Any work downtown would bring its own issues for business owners, with more torn up streets and construction, which they often complain hurts business. We dont want it, but we dont have a choice, Schlosser said. Itll hurt us, but so will shutting down our restaurants because of flooding. As long as the construction workers are hungry, were good, Clinton said. DArdenne stressed that property owners can help the situation by installing stormwater control measures on their own. Part of the city municipal building as a green roof a layer of plantings that hold water and absorb some of it so less flows off into the drainage system, and at a slower pace. The renovated Elmwood Park is also equipped with pervious hard surfaces and underground storage to control runoff. But those are rare downtown. Schlosser scoffed at the idea that green roofs can make a difference. Karena Clinton, co-owner of R.T. Smiths, questions whether older buildings downtown can sustain the weight of a green roof. DArdenne said property owners can also apply to the citys Economic Development Authority for facade grants for improvements like waterproof doors and windows. Short of that, downtown businesses can only sit and wait. At Pash, Adams was still waiting for the carpet to dry Tuesday. She moved her business to First and Campbell earlier this year, and said business has been great thanks to high visibility. But its come at a cost. By the time she reopens, probably next week, shell have lost a month of business total due to the floods. Her car was also flooded and declared a total loss. This is going to kill my business this is my world, this is everything to me, she said. Every time it rains, I just keep thinking, Whens it going to happen again? MARTINSVILLE The co-owner of an uptown Martinsville business was arrested last week on an outstanding warrant and transported Monday to Virginia Beach. The name on the arrest warrant, however, didnt match what people know him by. Laurence Vanderwoods, co-owner of Serendipity Metro Deli and Coffee House in uptown Martinsville, was arrested Aug. 16 by the Martinsville Police Department, according to Martinsville Police Chief Sean Dunn. Police believe him to be Larry Niel Goodman, a man facing charges in Virginia Beach. Officials in Virginia Beach have been looking for Goodman since 2011, as there was an outstanding warrant related to a five-year-old embezzlement charge. A look at police records in Virginia Beach shows that Goodman is alleged to have embezzled slightly more than $15,000 from a hotel in that area. According to documentation on the Virginia Courts Case Information website, a Larry Niel Goodman was arrested Oct. 6, 2011 in Virginia Beach on a charge of felony embezzlement relating to a March 1, 2011 offense. As of Monday afternoon, Goodmans status on the website was listed as fugitive. Dunn said that his office received an anonymous tip that the fugitive was in Martinsville and that he was operating under a different name. We were able to confirm the tip and confirm that it was him through DMV photos, Dunn said. We made a positive identification and then arrested him on the five-year-old outstanding embezzlement warrant. The image was slightly different from what Virginia Beach officials last saw. The hair color was different, as was the facial hair and he weighed more. But some similarities were unmistakable, officials said. Its unclear how long Goodman lived in Virginia Beach or when he allegedly changed his name. Vanderwoods opened Serendipity Metro Deli up with his partner in September of 2015, with the Serendipity ice cream shop opening earlier this summer. Martinsville Sheriff Steve Draper confirmed that Vanderwoods was transported from Martinsville to Virginia Beach by Virginia Beach law enforcement on Monday morning. Ben Williams reports for the Martinsville Bulletin. He can be reached at benjamin.williams@martinsvillebulletin.com TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Aug 23, 2016) - Eastmain Resources Inc. (TSX:ER) ("Eastmain" or the "Company") today announces the appointment of Carl Corriveau, P.Geo, SEG, and Michel Leblanc (Geo) as Exploration Manager and Clearwater Senior Project Geoscientist, respectively. At the Clearwater Project, the three rig drill program is beginning this week. Meanwhile, at Eastmain Mine, two drills will be mobilized and ready to begin drilling in mid-September. Both the Clearwater and Eastmain Mine projects are located in the highly prospective James Bay gold district in northern Quebec. Claude Lemasson, Eastmain President and CEO commented, "We welcome the appointment of Carl Corriveau and Michel Leblanc. We believe their extensive understanding of geology, deposit evaluation and resource calculation deepens and enhances the knowledge of our exploration team and will be an asset to Eastmain as we aggressively explore our core assets." EASTMAIN EXPLORATION TEAM Mr. Corriveau brings over ten years of international exploration project management and evaluation experience. He specializes in advancing world class mineral deposits from early stage exploration, through various technical and economic studies. Most recently, Mr. Corriveau was Chief Project Geologist for the exploration department of Mines Canadian Malartic. He previously worked for Osisko Mining Corp., Clifton Star Resources, Areva, Unigold Inc., and Services Techniques Geonordic (Mines Virginia) and Consulteck, both in the James Bay region. Mr. Leblanc joins Eastmain as Clearwater Senior Project Geologist from Mines Canadian Malartic where he served as Geologist. His 15 years of experience is largely focused within Quebec and the Canadian Shield in various Project Geologist roles, while he specialized in managing and supervising exploration work programs, and project evaluation. Previously, he served as Geologist for Mines Independantes Chibougamau, Northern Superior Resources and Queenston Mining, in addition to starting ML GeoConsultant, a consulting company. CLEARWATER PROJECT Drilling begins this week at the Clearwater Project. The 63,300 m drill program is largely focused on drilling within the Eau Claire deposit to test open pit and underground targets via infill and step out drilling (see press release dated July 26, 2016). Two drill rigs will be stationed at the Eau Claire deposit to complete 56,700 m of open pit infill and step out drilling, shallow underground infill drilling, and resource conversion drilling. A third drill rig is designated to test previously identified, prospective exploration targets within 15 km of the Eau Claire deposit, with a focus on the Snake and Clovis Lake zones. When completed, this rig will then move to accelerate Eau Claire drilling. EASTMAIN MINE PROJECT Two drill rigs will be commissioned to begin drilling at the Eastmain Mine Project in mid-September (see press release dated July 12, 2016). The 5,000 m helicopter-supported drill program is focused on four drill-ready targets located along a 10 km mineralized horizon, hosting the Eastmain Mine historical resource* and mine site. The first phase of surface sampling and mechanical trenching is complete, with assays pending. This press release was reviewed and approved by William McGuinty, P. Geo., Eastmain's VP Exploration and Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. *Resources at the Eastmain Mine (a past producer) are historical resources and should not be relied upon. A Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify them as current mineral resources for Eastmain under NI 43-101. About Eastmain Resources Inc. (TSX:ER) Eastmain is a Canadian exploration company with 100% interest in the Eau Claire and Eastmain gold deposits, both of which are located within the James Bay District of Quebec. Clearwater, the Company's core asset and host of the Eau Claire deposit, has superior infrastructure within a favourable jurisdiction and is royalty free. Eastmain also holds a pipeline of exploration projects in this new Canadian mining district, including being a partner in the Eleonore South Joint Venture. Forward Looking Statements - Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of Eastmain, including, but not limited to details and timing of exploration programs of Eastmain currently proposed for 2016, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, dependence upon regulatory approvals and the availability of financing. 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 statements. IRVING, Aug 24, 2016 - DynaResource, Inc., of Irving Texas, (OTCQB: DYNR) reports that DynaResource de Mexico SA de C.V. ("DynaMexico"), the 100% owner of the San Jose de Gracia Project, located in the County of Sinaloa de Leyva, State of Sinaloa, Mexico ("SJG" and, the "SJG Project"), issued a news release dated August 23, 2016, in order to issue clarifying statements regarding the SJG Project. The news release issued by DynaMexico affects the shareholders of DynaMexico which are: DynaResource Inc., which currently holds 80% of the outstanding share capital of DynaMexico; and Goldgroup Resources Inc. ("Goldgroup"), which currently holds 20% of the outstanding share capital of DynaMexico. Goldgroup Mining Inc. ("GGA.TO") is reported to own 100% of the outstanding share capital of Goldgroup Resources Inc. The news release issued by DynaMexico is described below: Mazatlan, Sinaloa Mexico (August 23, 2016) DynaResource de Mexico SA de C.V. ("DynaMexico"), the 100% owner of the San Jose de Gracia Project, located in the County of Sinaloa de Leyva, State of Sinaloa, Mexico (the "SJG Project"), is providing clarifying statements and a number of updates with respect to the SJG Project: Goldgroup Mining Inc., Vancouver, BC. ("GGA.TO" - "Goldgroup Mining") issued a press release on June 27, 2016 claiming to announce a closing of mining operations at the SJG Project, which is misleading, deceptive, and has proven to be false. Goldgroup Mining issued the June 27 press release without independently confirming the facts -- and admitted its failure to confirm the facts in the release. DynaMexico feels compelled to correct the misleading press release issued by Goldgroup Mining. DynaMexico herein states the facts: following an unscheduled inspection of the mining operations at the SJG Project on June 26, 2016 by a Sinaloa State governmental agency, an order of temporary work stoppage was quickly overturned by Sinaloa State court order. The Sinaloa State Court ruled that the unscheduled inspection and the temporary suspension of mining operations at the SJG Project, were improper. The Sinaloa State Court further ordered the immediate removal of the temporary suspension. Following the Sinaloa State Court Order, all mining operations at SJG promptly resumed normal activities. DynaMexico herein states the facts: following a second unscheduled inspection of the mining and milling operations at the SJG Project on August 18, 2016 by a Sinaloa State governmental agency, an order of temporary work stoppage was quickly overturned by a second Sinaloa State court order. The Sinaloa State Court ruled that the unscheduled inspection and the temporary suspension of mining and milling operations at the SJG Project, were again improper. Once again, the Sinaloa State Court further ordered the immediate removal of the temporary suspension. Following the second Order issued by the Sinaloa State Court, all mining and milling operations at SJG have once again promptly resumed normal activities. Mining and milling operations at SJG have continued uninterrupted since that time. The award of damages in excess of $48 million USD against Goldgroup Resources Inc. ("Goldgroup Resources", a wholly owned subsidiary of Goldgroup Mining Inc.), by virtue of a sentence issued on October 5, 2015 by the Thirty Sixth Civil Court of the Superior Court of Justice of the Federal District of Mexico, remains as ordered by the court. (See Item 16 below.) Goldgroup Resources has challenged the award, but it has been unsuccessful. Goldgroup Mining Inc., the parent company ("Goldgroup Mining"), has not disclosed the $48 million award of damages, nor has Goldgroup Mining disclosed the unsuccessful efforts of its subsidiary to challenge the $ 48 million damages award, in its Annual Information Form -- the equivalent of its annual report to shareholders. An unrelated lawsuit, in which the amount in controversy was only $3 million, was disclosed by Goldgroup Mining Inc. Goldgroup Resources currently holds a minority interest in the outstanding share capital of DynaMexico. Goldgroup Resources has challenged this level of ownership through the legal system, but this challenge has also been unsuccessful. The ownership of Goldgroup Resources in the capital of DynaMexico remains at 20%. Goldgroup Mining, the parent company, has not disclosed the unsuccessful efforts of Goldgroup Resources to challenge this ownership level in DynaMexico, in its Annual Information Form. Since 2005, the exclusive operator of the SJG Project, under contract with (and an affiliate of) DynaMexico, is Mineras de DynaResource S.A. de C.V. ("DynaMineras"). This operating control of the SJG Project has continued uninterrupted since 2005, before Goldgroup Resource contributed any capital investment to DynaMexico. Goldgroup Mining, the parent company, has not disclosed that DynaMineras has operating control of the SJG Project, in its Annual Information Form. Since 2000, the President of DynaMexico holds broad powers of attorney granted by the shareholders of DynaMexico. The powers of attorney give the President broad authority to act for DynaMexico. The powers of attorney existed before Goldgroup Resources contributed any capital investment to DynaMexico. Goldgroup Mining, the parent company, has not disclosed the existence of the powers of attorney held by the President of DynaMexico, in its Annual Information Form. DynaMexico's further clarifying statements regarding the SJG Project: In recent years, Goldgroup Mining and Goldgroup Resources ("Goldgroup") have continuously misrepresented ownership interest and shareholder position related to DynaMexico and the SJG Project; DynaMexico, since May 2000, owns 100% of the mining concessions and related interest comprising the SJG Project; At no time has Goldgroup owned any interest in the SJG Project; rather its only ownership interests have been earned under agreement as a common shares equity interest (shareholder's interest) of DynaMexico; DynaResource Inc., Irving, Texas (OTCQB: DYNR - "DynaUSA") currently owns 80% of the outstanding share Capital of DynaMexico; Goldgroup currently owns 20% of the outstanding share capital of DynaMexico; At no time during its involvement as a common shares equity interest holder (shareholder) of DynaMexico, has Goldgroup been an operator at the SJG Project; There is no joint venture agreement with Goldgroup involving the SJG Project; Since the earning of its shareholder's interest in DynaMexico (March, 2011), Goldgroup has continuously refused to contribute funds to the ongoing maintenance, advance, and further development of the SJG Project; Consistently and continuously since March 2011, Goldgroup has sought to, and threatened to stop, delay, or otherwise impair and negatively impact the financing, maintenance, advance and further development of the SJG Project; On October 5, 2015 DynaMexico received a $ 48 M USD Judgment against Goldgroup Resources Inc.; See $48 M USD in Damages Awarded to DynaMexico in Mexico Litigation below; $48 M USD in Damages Awarded to DynaMexico in Mexico Litigation As described in a prior news release of DynaMexico issued October 12, 2015, below: DynaResource de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. awarded Damages of $ 48 M USD Against Goldgroup Resources Inc. Mazatlan, Sinaloa Mexico (October 12, 2015) DynaResource de Mexico SA de C.V. ("DynaMexico", and "the Company"), the 100% owner of the San Jose de Gracia Project, located in the County of Sinaloa de Leyva, State of Sinaloa, Mexico ("SJG", and the "SJG Project"), announces that it was awarded damages in excess of $48 M USD (Forty-Eight Million Dollars) on October 05, 2015, by virtue of a sentence issued by the Thirty Sixth Civil Court of the Superior Court of Justice of the Federal District of Mexico (Tribunal Superior de Justicia del Distrito Federal), File number 1120/2014. Additional Resolutions were also ordered in favor of DynaMexico (the Damages, and the additional Resolutions are together referred to as, the "Oct. 5, 2015 Resolution"). The Oct. 5, 2015 Resolution affects the shareholders of DynaMexico which are: DynaResource Inc. (Irving, Texas), ("OTCQB: DYNR"); which currently holds 80% of the outstanding share capital of DynaMexico; and Goldgroup Resources Inc. ("Goldgroup"), which currently holds 20% of the outstanding share capital of DynaMexico. Goldgroup Mining Inc. ("GGA.TO") is reported to own 100% of the outstanding share capital of Goldgroup Resources Inc. A certified English translation of the Oct. 5, 2015 Resolution is set forth below: FIRST: The action and litigation based on commercial law filed by DynaMexico is valid and enforceable, and where Goldgroup and the American Arbitration Association were found to be in default, was proper. SECOND: Goldgroup is declared in breach of its Corporate duties, for failure to refrain from claiming direct ownership of 50% of the San Jose de Gracia Mining Project. THIRD: Goldgroup is condemned and ordered to pay to DynaMexico the amount of USD $20,000,000 (Twenty Million Dollars USD) in damages caused by Goldgroup to DynaMexico, deriving from its breach of obligations in refraining from claiming direct ownership of 50% of the San Jose de Gracia Mining Project; which amount should be paid within five days upon execution of this order and resolution. FOURTH: Goldgroup is condemned and ordered to pay to DynaMexico the amount of USD $28,280,808.34 (Twenty Eight Million Two Hundred and Eighty Thousand Eight Hundred and Eight and 34/100 Dollars), for breach of its corporate duty and covenants with regards to the San Jose de Gracia mining project, as a result of depriving profits from DynaMexico which DynaMexico could have earned for the sale of gold produced and extracted during the years 2013 and 2014; which amounts that should be paid within five days upon execution of this order and resolution. FIFTH: Goldgroup is condemned and ordered to pay losses and damages to DynaMexico, which Goldgroup continues to cause, until full payment of the above mentioned amounts has been made, which damages and losses shall be calculated by an expert opinion in a corresponding legal procedure related to this litigation. SIXTH: Pursuant to Article 1424 of the Commercial Code of Mexico, the arbitration provision established under clause 8.16 of the Earn In/Option Agreement, dated as of September 1, 2006, is ineffective and impossible to execute. SEVENTH: This Court declares that any controversy arising from the Earn In/Option Agreement must be brought and resolved under Mexican Law and by competent Mexican Courts with proper jurisdiction, in recognition of the waiver and exclusion of the arbitration clause (contained in the Earn In/Option Agreement) by both parties. EIGHTH: This Court declares that the American Arbitration Association must abstain from hearing arbitration procedure number 50 501 T 00226 14, or any other ongoing and/or future ongoing arbitration already filed or to be filed by the defendant Goldgroup, based on the Earn In/Option Agreement dated September 1, 2006. NINTH: This Court declares that the American Arbitration Association does not have jurisdiction to hear any conflict and/or interpretation arising from the Earn In/Option Agreement, dated September 1, 2006. TENTH: This Court declares, that the American Arbitration Association does not have jurisdiction to hear disputes arising between shareholders of DynaMexico, which disputes do not arise directly and immediately from the Earn In/Option Agreement, dated September 1, 2006. ELEVENTH: This Court declares, that the American Arbitration Association does not have jurisdiction to hear any matters where Koy Wilber Diepholz, who is the President of the Board of Directors of DynaMexico, and has been personally sued in relation to the arbitration clause established under clause 8.16 of the Earn In/Option Agreement, dated September 1, 2006, since he signed the mentioned instrument in representation of the Company and not in his personal capacity. TWELFTH: The expenses and costs associated with these proceedings are hereby waived. THIRTEENTH: LET IT SO BE PUBLISHED. Copy of this Order and Sentence shall be found in the corresponding record. ORDERED, adjudged and decreed by the Thirty Sixth Civil Judge of the Superior Court of the Federal District, Mr. JULIO GABRIEL IGLESIAS GOMEZ. DATED: October 5, 2015. The sentence described above (the October 5, 2015 Resolution) constitutes a public record and may be reviewed through the Courts in Mexico City, Mexico. DynaMexico's Filing of Legal Demand On December 23, 2014, DynaMexico filed an Original Petition and Legal Demand (the "Demand") in the Thirty Sixth Civil Court of the Superior Court of Justice of the Federal District of Mexico (Tribunal Superior de Justicia del Distrito Federal), as File number 1120/2014 against Defendants Goldgroup Mining Inc., Goldgroup Resources Inc., and certain individuals acting in concert with the two Goldgroup companies (collectively "Goldgroup"). The Demand complained that Goldgroup has: Wrongfully used property, confidential information and data belonging to DynaMexico; Consistently failed to disclose, or has disclosed inaccurately, several matters of material importance to the public; and, The Demand seeks to declare the AAA Arbitration proceedings in Denver, Colorado, (filed by Goldgroup), as invalid or seeks to nullify such proceedings. The Demand requested damages be awarded DynaMexico from and against Goldgroup for: Using and disseminating confidential information belonging to DynaMexico; Asserting that Goldgroup owns any interest in the San Jose de Gracia Project, rather than owning a common share equity (shareholder's) interest in DynaMexico; Improperly disclosing the percentage of interest owned by Goldgroup in DynaMexico; Improperly disclosing or implying that Goldgroup is the operator of the San Jose de Gracia Project; Attempting to delay, stop, or otherwise impair the financing and further development of the San Jose de Gracia Project; Making numerous threats against management of DynaMexico; Failing to properly disclose that broad powers of attorney for acting on behalf of DynaMexico are held by an individual not affiliated with Goldgroup. DynaMexico believed the filing of the Demand to be necessary in order to protect its SJG Property and interests, and in order to seek fair retribution and damages caused by Goldgroup against DynaMexico and the SJG Project. DynaMexico will continue to be vigilant against unsubstantiated claims regarding operations at the SJG Project. K.D. DIEPHOLZ; DynaResource Inc. Chairman / CEO IMPORTANT CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING CANADIAN DISCLOSURE STANDARDS The Company has Shareholders who are "OTC Reporting Issuer" as that term is defined in Multilateral Instrument 51-509, Issuers Quoted in the U.S. Over-the-Counter Markets, promulgated by various Canadian provincial Securities Commissions. Accordingly, certain disclosure in this news release or other disclosure provided by the Company has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws. In Canada, an issuer is required to provide technical information with respect to mineralization, including reserves and resources, if any, on its mineral exploration properties in accordance with Canadian requirements, which differ significantly from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") applicable to registration statements and reports filed by United States companies pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. As such, information contained in this news release or other disclosure provided by the Company concerning descriptions of mineralization under Canadian standards may not be comparable to similar information made public by United States companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of the SEC and not subject to Canadian securities legislation. This news release or other disclosure provided by the Company may use the terms "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources". While these terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations (under National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects), the SEC does not recognize them. United States investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted to reserves. In addition, "inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and 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 securities legislation, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, although they may form, in certain circumstances, the basis of a "preliminary economic assessment" as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all of an inferred mineral resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This News release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27 A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Certain information contained in this news release, including any information relating to future financial or operating performance may be deemed "forward-looking". All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that DynaMexico expects to occur, are "forward-looking information". These statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the Company's expectations regarding the future growth, results of operations, business prospects and opportunities of DynaMexico. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current internal projections, expectations or beliefs and are based on information currently available to DynaMexico. In some cases forward-looking information can be identified by terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "projects", "potential", "scheduled", "forecast", "budget" or the negative of those terms or other comparable terminology. Certain assumptions have been made regarding the Company's plans at the San Jose de Gracia property. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of DynaMexico and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct. Such factors include, without limitation: capital requirements, fluctuations in the international currency markets and in the rates of exchange of the currencies of the United States and Mexico; price volatility in the spot and forward markets for commodities; discrepancies between actual and estimated production, between actual and estimated reserves and resources and between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries; changes in national and local governments in any country which DynaMexico currently or may in the future carry on business; taxation; controls; regulations and political or economic developments in the countries in which DynaMexico does or may carry on business; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses and permits, diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; competition; loss of key employees; additional funding requirements; actual results of current exploration or reclamation activities; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; accidents; labor disputes; defective title to mineral claims or property or contests over claims to mineral properties. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and gold bullion losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks) as well as those risks referenced in the Annual Report for DynaMexico available at www.sec.gov. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and actual results and future events could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information. All of the forward-looking information contained in this news release is qualified by these cautionary statements. Although DynaMexico believes that the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on reasonable assumptions, readers cannot be assured that actual results will be consistent with such statements. Accordingly, readers are cautioned against placing undue reliance on forward-looking information. DynaMexico expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise. Contact For further information on DynaResource Inc. please contact: Brad J. Saulter DynaUSA V.P., Investor Relations US Telephone: 972-868-9066 K.D. Diepholz DynaResource de Mexico, Presidente United States Geological Survey (USGS) conducted a survey in 1976 taking 129 core samples, all of which encountered lithium with values up to 550 ppm and averaged 175 ppm. VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA - August 24, 2016. / TheNewswire / Northern Iron Corp. ("Northern Iron" or the "Company") (TSX-V: NFE) (FRANKFURT: N8I) is pleased to announce an exploration outline on the lithium brines projects in Nevada and Arizona together with an augering and soil sampling program on the lithium rich claystone project in Arizona. Basil Botha, President & CEO, said; "The proposed work programs will provide the company with a great deal of data in order to further develop these resources. The fact that all the projects are close to major cities allows us to keep our costs down to a bare minimum relative to Lithium projects at high altitude in Argentina. At the end of the day, it's all about location and logistics". We are also reviewing a range of processing technologies complementary to our projects as we believe that this will play a big role from a cost and efficiency standpoint as this market evolves. The company believes that with its associated advantages in terms of geological setting and logistics, development timeframes and timeframes to production can be condensed in this favourable geography for end users. The company aims to be amongst the first to fill the gap in the market with a high quality product. The geological and structural setting as well as the weathering history and brine at Jackpot Lake is highly analogous to the Clayton Valley, where Albemarle has its Silver Peak lithium-brine operation. Albermarle has been in continuous production of lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide products from Clayton Valley brines since 1967. Proposed Exploration on the Jackpot Lake lithium property, Nevada Groundwork will be based on a USGS survey conducted in 1976 whereby 129 core samples, all of which encountered lithium with values up to 550 ppm and an average of 175 ppm are likely contained in buried permeable rock reservoirs. If this is the case, the objective would be to determine the full depth of the sediment basin with seismic surveys, but it is much cheaper to do this with gravity surveys. Gravity traverses across the basin can be modelled in 2D to determine basement depth and variations. It would be fairly typical to expect pinching units of intermediate density within the sedimentary sequence. This complexity would be dealt with in modeling by consulting reference wells drilled to the bottom of the sequence, or perhaps other data types. Gravity is by far the cheapest of the technologies under consideration and should provide the necessary data to determine the extent and location of the buried rock reservoirs. After reviewing the historic data, it has been determined that the logical steps required to locate the brine resource within the sequence will be through gravity surveys and with this information in hand, the permeability of the resource needs to be determined through pump tests, in order that a well plan can be outlined. Proposed Exploration on the Wilcox Playa Basin lithium property, Arizona Following a USGS survey report in 1976, the Wilcox Playa was noted as one of the most prospective locations for undiscovered lithium brines and most nearly like the currently exploited brine field in Clayton Valley, Nevada. Airborne electromagnetic prospecting by the USGS identified a 22-square-mile anomaly characterized by high electrical conductivity. The USGS interpreted this anomaly to be caused by a subsurface brine field hosted in sediments beneath the dry playa surface and would begin with a gravity survey to determine the extent and location of the buried rock reservoirs followed by pump tests. Proposed exploration on the the Little Rock, Arizona The target was first identified during a helicopter-borne VTEM electromagnetic survey conducted in 2007 while searching for massive copper sulfide deposits. A large, highly electrically conductive body at the south end of the survey area was checked on the ground and found to be a strongly clay-altered rhyolite tuff mostly concealed by a basalt flow. The exploration will begin with a grid pattern of soil sampling together with a hand augering down to a level of three metres. The lithium-rich claystone samples will then be bench tested to substantiate the recovery yield of lithium carbonate directly from the mineralized claystones. Timothy Marsh PHD, P. Eng, a qualified person as defined in NI 43-101, prepared the disclosures reports related to the above three projects. NI-43-101 reports have not been prepared on these properties; and the Company has not verified the geological statements referred to above, which are based on historical data. About Northern Iron Corp. Northern Iron is the owner of five iron (magnetite) properties in the Red Lake District in the Province of Ontario. The Red Lake District is an established mining area in Ontario where Northern Iron has two near term development projects, the past producing Griffith mine and the Karas property. Northern Iron is currently working towards the production of Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI), a transportable form of direct reduced iron. HBI is complementary and a viable metallic supplement to scrap steel. Quality scrap is a critical raw material in the steel making process. With the diminishing supply of quality scrap steel and ever increasing market demand, steel producers around the world will be looking to secure alternative supplies of metallic products. As part of the business plan, Northern Iron has acquired the past producing Griffith mine, which produced pellets and sponge iron (Direct Reduced Iron/DRI) from 1968 to 1986. The mine was owned and operated by STELCO and supplied pellets and sponge iron to the Hamilton and Nanticoke steel mills in Ontario. Transportation infrastructure is currently in place to ship produced HBI into the North American market via rail and lake barges and into Asian markets via rail through the port of Prince Rupert. Existing infrastructure includes all weather roads, 115kV power line, natural gas line, rail bed and port facilities. To date, Northern Iron has focused on de-risking the project by seeking out potential joint venture partners, off-take agreements or a combination thereof. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. For further information, please contact: Basil Botha President & CEO Northern Iron Corp. Tel: 604-566-8570 Email: bbotha@northernironcorp.com Website: www.northernironcorp.com For up to the minute news, industry analysis and feedback follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google Plus and YouTube. Copyright (c) 2016 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. Sydney has the best bars, pubs and clubs in Australia. Fact. Show your support by propping an elbow and tilting a glass and asking for another. And the finalists for Bar of the Year are... The Baxter Inn Every time you walk down the stairwell of no importance into Sydney's, hell, one of the world's, greatest whisky bars, a little voice whispers inside your head and says: "Guess what, buddy? We're going to have a good time". Whether that's through drams of golden nectar, pints of beer, or textbook sazeracs is up to you. Pretzels are the only thing that aren't an option. Basement 152-156 Clarence Street, Sydney; thebaxterinn.com Scorched Orange Daiquiri from Bulletin Place. Photo: Supplied Bulletin Place While other bars occasionally misfire with their single-plum-floating-in-perfume creations, BP knocks everything out of the park with its limited, daily changing selection of fresh ingredient-driven cocktails. The staff can whip up anything you care to mention off-menu too. Shoebox-sized but never cramped thanks to its limited occupancy, there's never been a better example of quality over quantity. Level 1, 10-14 Bulletin Place, Circular Quay; bulletinplace.com Continental Deli Bar Bistro, Newtown. Photo: Hollie Adams Continental Deli Instagram the Martinnie once if you will, drink it, forget about it, and put yourself in the hands of mixmaster Mikey Nicolian whose skills extend way beyond making tins of gin. The room (Katz's Deli meets Margaret Fulton's mind palace) exists in its own space-time continuum, and sure, it gets cramped, and that delicious house-canned seafood can be darn expensive, but where there's Wilco and wurst, we're happy campers. 210 Australia Street, Newtown; 02 8624 3131 Love Tilly Devine. Photo: Cole Bennetts Love Tilly Devine A summer seat by the window with a glass of young grape juice and a new-season peach dessert from chef Aren Edye is one way to do LTD. Or you could grab a bottle of red from Gabrielle Webster and Matt Swieboda's rabbit-hole drinks list in winter and take it to a corner with someone you fancy and something slow-cooked. The place is a national treasure all year round. 91 Crown Lane, Darlinghurst; 02 9326 9297; lovetillydevine.com Restaurant Hubert. Photo: Steven Siewert Restaurant Hubert IT'S FINALLY OPEN. The Swillhouse crew (Baxter Inn, Frankie's, Shady Pines) have unlocked the doors to their steroid-sized makeover over of the Celestial Chinese site and it's everything we were hoping. Knock-out roast duck from Dan Pepperell (ex-10 William Street), whisky sours for miles and a 1920s vibe for days. If there's ever a show on in the 100-seat theatre with Newcastle's famous whippet-framed magician, Super Hubert, it could be the pinnacle of anything to ever exist, ever. 15 Bligh Street, Sydney; restauranthubert.com Still thirsty? Here are 45 more bars you might like. The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide award night, presented by Citi and Vittoria, is on September 5. The Guide will be on sale in newsagents and bookstores from September 6, with all book purchases receiving free access to the new Good Food app. Katie Falkenberg/Los Angeles Times/TNS Brandy Leigh Scott, the inspiration for the nationwide contest for 3-D printing designs to help people with disabilities, has Dupuytren's contracture, a condition that causes her hands to ball up into fists over time. SHARE By Brittany Britto, The Baltimore Sun (TNS) When Pasadena, Maryland, native Brandy Leigh Scott was 7 years old, she brought home a school photo that made her parents notice something peculiar an unusual circle indented her ring finger's knuckle. "My dad thought it was the picture until he looked at my hand," said Scott, now 41. They took her to the doctor and learned that Scott's fingers were receding into her palm. In the years following, she would spend Christmas breaks with her hands wrapped in gauze after surgeries while doctors worked to find a diagnosis. Around age 10, Scott was diagnosed with Dupuytren's contracture, a rare disease that thickens the tissue of the palm, causing the fingers usually starting with the ring and pinkie fingers to fold into the hand and stiffen, limiting their use. In Scott's case, the disease, which most often affects European men age 50 and older in at least one or two fingers, is rare and aggressive. Her hands would gradually close into fists, which meant giving up softball because she could no longer throw the ball, and guitar because she couldn't pick the strings. Now a resident of the Los Angeles area, Scott has lived with limited use of her hands for most of her life. "It's all I've really known," she said. But a new contest is challenging the world to change that. Scott was the inspiration for the Within Reach design challenge, organized by Orange County, California-based MatterHackers, a 3-D printer retailer and software developer. Running from July 11 to Sept. 6, the contest calls upon professional designers, summer camps, classrooms and makerspaces around the world to design 3-D printed devices that can benefit people who have limited use of their hands. More than 50 designs were submitted as of Wednesday, according to Pinshape, the Canadian3-D printing community and website where entries are submitted. Scott's friend Mara Hitner, the director of business development for MatterHackers, was the first to think of 3-D printing devices to help Scott with daily tasks. The postproduction supervisor drives, though sometimes it's hard to put the car in gear. She types with her thumbs and the big knuckles on her hands, and she uses paper clips to zip her boots. But many other daily tasks, such as turning doorknobs (she has special winglike devices that make it easier) and sliding her credit card into an ATM, can be a burden. "Pint glasses are the worst. Coffee cups are terrible. I can't pick either of them up," Scott said, noting that tools as simple as a special cup holder can make a world of a difference. A plastic cup sleeve with a handle from Bed Bath & Beyond was one of Scott's favorite tools, slipping onto most cups and allowing her to get a better grip. She took it with her everywhere, but when she looked for more to buy, they were no longer in stock, she said. "We could just print you another one," Hitner remembers saying jokingly, but then it dawned on her. Hitner, 39, consulted MatterHackers director of marketing Dave Gaylord, also a design engineer, to find out what new devices could be printed for Scott. He measured Scott's hands for the designs and printed three devices, including another cup sleeve, a clip that snaps onto beer cans to make them easier to hold, and a pair of forceps to help grip thinner items, like credit cards. He even personalized them with the logo of Scott's favorite team the Baltimore Ravens on the sleeve and her initials on tweezers. "The cup sleeve worked perfectly," she said. The company shared the designs online and created a video about Scott's condition and the potential of 3-D printing. Soon, another 3-D printing innovator took notice. Jen Owen, creator of Enabling the Future, an online resource for 3-D printing hand and arm prosthetics, contacted Hitner, and the two teamed up to organize the contest. "It gives an opportunity for end users to help design their own tools, especially if there are people out there who have grandparents, siblings and children or even themselves who have been wanting to get tools like this," Owen said, noting that crowdsourcing designs makes it much easier to share them and "bounce ideas off of" others. Contests like Within Reach also give the younger generation a chance to use technology to make a difference at a low cost, Owen said. "Because it's 3-D printing and the plastic is so cheap to prototype with, it really gives them the opportunity to keep pushing the prototype and working it until it's possible," she said. Ultimaker, one of the largest 3-D printer manufacturers in the country, donated the 3-D printers for the contest's grand prizes, which also include MatterHackers software and other materials, for one adult and one youth winner. Baltimore makerspaces and youth groups already are thinking of how they can contribute to the contest. Digital Harbor Foundation, which plans maker workshops, along with after-school and summer camp programs for youth, is one of them. "I imagine there will be attachment-type pieces," said Amber Grimes, the operation manager of the foundation's makerspace. This isn't the first time Grimes has helped students design tools for people with disabilities. In the past, she's led students in accessibility hackathons where they designed sensor systems for wheelchairs, a game for the blind and devices that would help people survive if they lost a limb in a zombie apocalypse. Maria Esquela, who serves on the STEM committee for the Baltimore Area Council Boy Scouts of America, is also prepping her Scouts and local volunteers for the challenge. "It's not just a way to practice leadership and communication. It's problem-solving," said Esquela, who is also a member of e-NABLE, a web-based community that 3-D prints hands and arms for free. In the past, her group has printed and assembled three arms and more than 170 hands. In the contest's promotional video, Scott and MatterHackers suggested that contestants wrap their hands in tape for an hour or two to envision what it'd be like to not have full use of their hands. "Think about your grandma who has arthritis or your teacher who is a veteran and has challenges with their hands," Hitner said. Heidi Miranda-Walsh, an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist at Mercy Medical Center, recommends creating a personalized yet universal device to make gripping everyday items easier. People who have Dupuytren's contracture or forms of arthritis commonly use rubber or foam tubes that fit over jars, doorknobs, toothbrushes anything that requires a tight grip but "it doesn't fit all of the nooks and crannies," of the hand, she said. Contest judges will include Gaylord; "maker" Les Hall, who works with the e-NABLE community; Owen and her husband, Ivan, the co-creator of the first 3-D printed hand; and, of course, Scott. "I don't really know what I'm looking for. I feel like somebody is going to design something that I didn't even think about," Scott said. "I'm excited to see what everybody designs," especially the youth. "They have no limitations to the imagination." SHARE Boeing jobs not in jeopardy, experts say By Vera Bergengruen, McClatchy Washington Bureau (TNS) WASHINGTON For over a year, Donald Trump has had a message for voters whose livelihood depends on the aircraft industry, specifically aviation giant Boeing elect me, or your jobs are moving to China. Aircraft industry analysts say that claim is unfounded "side-splittingly hilarious," in the words of Richard Aboulafia, vice president of analysis at Teal Group, which studies a wide range of aviation-related industries. "They're an embarrassing misunderstanding of the aircraft industry," he said of Trump's claims. Yet Trump continues to raise the idea of Boeing leaving the United States. "Oh, don't worry; if I'm president it won't happen," the Republican presidential nominee said last month at a rally in Colorado Springs, Colo. "If I'm president, Boeing will be very happy believe me." Trump's favorite example of what might be lost has been Boeing's "big, big beautiful" facility in North Charleston, S.C. The company's new plant employs more than 7,500 South Carolinians. "All of a sudden you're gonna be reading a big front-page story, all over the place, that Boeing is going to leave South Carolina, they're going to make all their planes in China. Because that's what they do," he said in South Carolina ahead of its Republican primary in February, warning that China would bully the U.S. by devaluing its currency. Aboulafia, however, says there's one big flaw in Trump's argument: South Carolina is the very place where Boeing is outsourcing jobs from its facilities in Washington state. "He's standing at the very center of where the jobs are shifting and he's saying they're going somewhere else completely," Aboulafia said. "If there was someone in that crowd who wasn't confused, tell them to call me and tell me what the hell they're thinking." The South Carolina site has expanded from manufacturing the 787 to designing and producing parts for the 737 MAX and the upcoming 777X. The North Charleston site houses the 787 Dreamliner final assembly and delivery facility, and delivered its 100th Dreamliner in February. It has a rapidly expanding research center with over 400 engineers. "The South Carolina facility is new, brand new. It's a huge tectonic shift (from previous production in Seattle) so the idea of saying, 'Nope this isn't the future; China is the future,' is ridiculous," Aboulafia said. Adam Pilarski, vice president of aviation consulting group Avitas Inc., said when he heard Trump's claims about Boeing, his reaction was, "Are you kidding me?" "These statements about moving jobs don't make sense. Obviously he doesn't know much about this industry," he said, adding that Trump's one-size-fits-all approach to manufacturing doesn't work in the aerospace sector. The Texas Animal Health Commission recently issued a warning of an ongoing salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 611 people in 45 states, including Texas. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the outbreak has been linked to live poultry in backyard flocks. Texas is home to one of the largest backyard chicken flock populations in the nation, according to TAHC. To minimize the spread of salmonella, the use of good, proper biosecurity is emphasized. Biosecurity is a set of preventive measures designed to reduce the risk of introduction and transmission of an infectious disease agent, such as salmonella. Even when they appear healthy and clean, live poultry may have salmonella bacteria in their droppings and on their feathers, feet and beaks. The bacteria can also contaminate cages, coops, chick and poultry boxes, bedding, plants and soil in the area where the birds live and roam. Salmonella bacteria can be found on the clothes, shoes and hands of anyone who handled the animals or played and worked near them. It is essential to wash your hands frequently when handling birds to limit risk of exposure. Fever ticks move north Meanwhile, as we highlight unpleasant problems farmers and ranchers deal with every day, ranchers in South Texas are dealing with a spread of fever ticks in their cattle herds. According to Fort Worth-based Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, fever ticks are capable of carrying a microscopic parasite that causes bovine babesiosis, also known as cattle fever. "This disease causes acute anemia, fever and an enlarged spleen and liver, often leading to death for cattle," said J.D. Cage, chairman of TSCRA fever tick subcommittee. "The spread of fever ticks poses a major threat to the entire United States livestock industry and economy." Fever ticks were introduced into the U.S. on horses and cattle brought to America by Spanish colonists in the early 1700s. The effect was not a big problem until the late 1800s when the cattle drives went north. Once the northern cattle were exposed to cattle coming from the south, they started dying. In 1885, Kansas passed a law that prohibited the movement of Texas origin cattle across its state line due to the spread of Texas cattle fever. The law paired with restrictive legislation in many other state effectively ended the nostalgic Texas cattle drives of the late 1800s. In 1893, fever tick outbreaks actually prompted the Texas Legislature to form the Livestock Sanitary Commission, now referred to as the Texas Animal Health Commission, with the primary mission of eradicating the fever tick. Now, because of changes in the ticks' environment in South Texas the fever ticks are moving north again. On May 31, TAHC adopted rules approving the use of a new vaccination to be used in conjunction with treatment and inspection requirements to more effectively eradicate ticks and limit future infestations. However, wildlife population has made life easier for the fever tick and harder for ranchers to fight. White-tailed deer and nilgai antelope serve as secondary hosts for fever ticks. Cage, a rancher at Muleshoe, said ranchers and landowners have worked tirelessly with TAHC and USDA APHIS personnel to combat the fever tick. The Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, controlled by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Serve consists of 223,000 acres of protected natural habitat in Cameron and Willacy counties. TSCRA firmly believes FWS needs to create and follow through with a plan to combat the spread of the fever tick from the refuge to bordering properties. Jerry Lackey is the agriculture editor emeritus. Contact him at jlackey@wcc.net. Flash At least seven gold miners were killed in Vietnam's northern Lao Cai province due to floods triggered by Typhoon Dianmu, said Do Van Duy, chairman of people's committee of Lao Cai's Van Ban district on Wednesday. According to Duy, all the miners are employees of a local gold company. Earlier on Monday, two miners were confirmed to be dead while five others were confirmed Wednesday, reported Vietnam's state-run news agency VNA. Pham Van Thang, secretary of Van Ban party committee, said there are many free gold miners who did not register with local authorities so they did not have their information. In a related move, the country's central committee on flood prevention and control said in its latest report that due to floods, northern Yen Bai province reported two deaths, and northern Bac Giang province reported three deaths. Meanwhile, northern Son La, Lao Cai, Hoa Binh, and central Nghe An province reported one death each. In total, as many as 16 deaths have been confirmed in Vietnam due to Typhoon Dianmu, which landed the country last Friday afternoon. In addition, two others remained missing while 15 people were injured, said the committee. No. 10 Wall claims share of District 2-3A Division II title Wall has a chance to win its first outright district title since 2019 if the Hawks can beat Brady next week SHARE Seattle could open housing for homeless where its OK to use heroin By Bob Young And Vernal Coleman, The Seattle Times (TNS) SEATTLE The Heroin Task Force formed by Seattle Mayor Ed Murray and King County Executive Dow Constantine has endorsed the creation of safe-consumption sites for addicts, which would be a first in the U.S. A majority of the task-force members support a place or places for addicts to use heroin and other drugs besides public restrooms, alleys or homeless encampments such as The Jungle, said Dr. Jeffrey Duchin, task force co-chairman. The idea is that users could visit a supervised facility where they could get clean needles and anti-overdose medications as well as medical attention as needed and treatment opportunities. The task force is working on formal recommendations expected next month, Duchin said, for what a model might look like and what legal hurdles it could face. But such a site wouldn't directly address homelessness among addicts. The Jungle's population dropped by about 200 people after the mayor initiated intensive outreach efforts earlier this summer, but about 120 people remain. The vast majority have addictions, with heroin the most prominent. Murray has proposed a dormitory-style homeless shelter modeled after San Francisco's Navigation Center that would allow pets, partners, storage for personal belongings, and intoxicated residents unlike some shelters as a way to coax residents out of encampments. The model is helpful, said Kris Nyrop of the Public Defender Association (PDA), which also supports safe-consumption sites. "But you need to allow people to use on-site, so they don't in an alley or back in The Jungle," said Nyrop, an outreach worker and drug-policy researcher in Seattle for two decades. The Jungle is an encampment underneath and adjacent to Interstate 5. He and others suggest the solution may be near REI's Seattle flagship store in an inconspicuous blue building known as "1811." They're talking about 1811 Eastlake Avenue, which houses 75 chronic alcoholics who can drink in their rooms and avail themselves, if they choose, of treatment services on-site. A 2009 study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association said it saved taxpayers $4 million a year in housing and crisis services that would've been incurred had the inebriates been living on the streets. It also reduced their alcohol use by about one-third. A 2012 study by University of Washington researchers also found decreased consumption by 1811 residents. "1811 is a great model, the kind of innovative solutions we should look at," Duchin said. Patricia Sully of the Heroin Task Force agrees. "1811 Eastlake has shown great results, and there is every reason to believe that a similar model for people who use drugs would show equally impressive results," said Sully, a PDA staff attorney.

Abbott has filed a lawsuit against President Barack Obama over immigration.

SHARE Claim: aWords of the president' will prove case By Matthew Waller AUSTIN It may be the last major lawsuit before Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott gets sworn in as governor, but Abbott made good on his promise and filed a lawsuit against President Barack Obama to stop his executive action that could allow 5 million undocumented immigrants to stay in the U.S. Abbott on Wednesday announced he is leading a 17-state coalition challenging the action his 31st lawsuit against Obamas administration. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Brownsville Division. Abbott has said his action goes after the president for effectively rewriting laws. The presidents job is to execute the law, not de facto make law by suspending parts of law that are passed by Congress, Abbott said. Our case will be proven in court by the words of the president himself and by those who work for him. Barack Obama himself said more than 20 times that he would be ignoring the law if he acted unilaterally to grant dispensation from the immigration laws. Abbott said that processes werent followed and that undocumented immigrants would get benefits such as Medicare and Social Security. The attorney general also said the process would have a severe effect on Texas. The executive action to dispense with federal immigration law will exacerbate the humanitarian crisis along the southern border, which will affect increased state investment in law enforcement, health care and education, a release states. The presidents justification for the action, prosecutorial discretion, doesnt apply, Abbott said, because it doesnt apply on a case-by-case basis and benefits are granted rather than simply denying prosecution. Melissa Crow, legal director for the American Immigration Council, noted that every president since Eisenhower in the 1950s has used prosecutorial discretion. We believe that its a very valid exercise of the presidents authority, Crow said. Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush gave deferrals that kept people in the country. Abbott said no court had decided on the legality of those actions but that those were aiming to support Congressional laws. As for not applying case-by-case, Crow said every persons situation would be evaluated. Each applicant will be required to present a separate application, and every case will be adjudicated on its facts, Crow said. This is not a case of blanket relief. Abbott said Texas has a right to sue the government because of a potential surge in illegal immigration. The (Department of Homeland Security) Directive will substantially increase the number of undocumented immigrants in the Plaintiff States, the 30-page lawsuit says. At the most basic level, the Directive is a promise to openly tolerate entire classes of undocumented immigrants. In addition, the Directive offers affirmative legal inducements to stay, such as work authorization and the tolling of unlawful presence. White House officials also have stated that the beneficiaries of deferred action are eligible for Social Security and Medicare. The removal of the deportation threat, combined with the incentives to stay, will make remaining in the United States far more attractive for the affected classes of undocumented immigrants. Moreover, the DHS Directive is certain to trigger a new wave of undocumented immigration. Alejandro Caceres, executive director for the Austin Immigrant Rights Coalition, said the deferred action for children that Abbott claims led to the first wave of immigrant children entering the country didnt actually cause the wave. It has been a result of the (violent) state that Central American countries are in right now, Caceres said. Immigrants want to work in a place where their life isnt threatened every day by violence. The states involved in the lawsuit are Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Abbott said more could join. Matthew Waller covers state news as the Scripps Austin Bureau chief. Contact him at matthew.waller@scripps.com or follow him on Twitter @waller_matthew. SHARE Every election cycle we must endure challenges and allegations about fraud (conservatives) and discrimination (liberals) when it comes to voter ID laws. This year is no different. A federal court ruled that the Texas Voter ID law passed in 2011, requiring voters to present official photo identification, discriminated again poor, minority and disabled voters and ordered a judge to approve new interim rules for the Nov. 8 election. The new rules will broaden the list of acceptable forms of ID. Voters will now be able to present, among other things, an expired ID, a government check or a current utility bill. "Supporting documents don't have to have a photo," reports the Austin Chronicle, "but if they happen to, then voters will need to present the original. Otherwise, they can present a copy." Similar battles over voter identification laws are being waged in other states, notably Wisconsin and North Carolina. It's worth reviewing the list of the seven forms of identification currently accepted by Texas law a Texas driver license issued by the Department of Public Safety; a Texas election identification card issued by DPS; a personal identification card issued by DPS; a license to carry a handgun issued by DPS; U.S. military identification card containing the person's photo; U.S. citizenship certificate containing the person's photograph or a U.S. passport. Granted, most poor people are unlikely to have a passport, but the state will issue any legal resident an identification card. Are civil rights groups who sued the state contending that poor and minority people are so inept that they can't apply for an identification card? If that is their position, how are they able to apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program benefits, which require a photo ID? Why is voting the one category in which you don't have to prove your citizenship and legal residence? I will answer that question in a moment. Three years ago during a similar controversy, Ashe Schow of the Washington Examiner compiled a list of 24 things that require a photo ID. You must have a photo ID if you are 25 or under and wish to purchase alcohol or cigarettes. Store signs say so. Want to open a bank account? Photo ID required. Here are the rest of the categories: applying for welfare, Medicaid and Social Security (presumably poor people take advantage of one or more of these programs); unemployment benefits (ditto); rent/buy a house, or apply for a mortgage; drive/buy/rent a car; get on an airplane; get married; buy a gun; adopt a pet; rent a hotel room; apply for a hunting or fishing license; buy a cellphone; visit a casino; pick up a prescription (or buy restricted over-the-counter medications); donate blood; apply for a license to hold a demonstration; buy an "M''-rated video game; purchase nail polish at CVS. Again, why is voting placed in a separate category? Why are liberal groups determined to repeal laws requiring proof of citizenship and residence? The answer is found in a definition of the word fraud: "deceit, trickery, sharp practice, or breach of confidence, perpetrated for profit or to gain some unfair or dishonest advantage." Since many poor people are receiving government benefits, they are responsive to Democrats' claims that Republicans want to cut them off, so they had better vote early and vote often, as the saying goes, or else. Notice the left never focuses on emancipating people from poverty. That might make the poor independent of government, which would be intolerable to the left. They need a reliable voting bloc and keeping the poor dependent on government is a modern form of slavery that is cynical in the extreme. Unless discrimination against an individual can be proved, these voter ID laws should be upheld. Otherwise, expect more votes from dead people, undocumented immigrants, people with false addresses and even Mickey Mouse. All of these scenarios have occurred in previous elections and are likely to be repeated in this and future ones without proper identification. Cal Thomas writes for the Tribune Content Agency. Contact him at tcaeditors@tribpub.com. SHARE By Cathy Norris This year marks the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, and on a visit to parks this year my husband and I found answers to questions I had about the Works Projects Administration, a Depression-era relief program. The WPA was a government agency whose goal was construction jobs. The WPA was designed to employ people who were on relief or poor to give them "dignity" of work. The workers did not have to relocate. They lived at home and worked on projects in their area, such as the Love Municipal Swimming pool in San Angelo. Only one person from a family was eligible for work, making income available to more families. The WPA employed 85 million people in its eight years. The pay scale, based on region and skill level, was $19 to $94 per month. In 1935, 20th century America had a 19th century infrastructure. The WPA added 650,000 miles of roads and 78,000 bridges and greatly improved the nation's health with water and sewer systems and new hospitals. From hundreds of thousands of sanitary "fly tight" privies to such structures as firehouses, schools, LaGuardia Airport in New York and the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, WPA workers changed America. Some may recall the "home demonstration ladies." The WPA built 140 community clubhouses for Home Demonstration Clubs in rural North Carolina. They served hot meals and taught cooking, safe and heathy food preparation, cleanliness and so many things we now take for granted. Women were part of the WPA program, mainly sewing clothes, blankets and quilts to give to the needy. They also served in lunch rooms and, like many women today, did whatever was needed. Some in Congress wondered about some of the programs, "What do we need these for?" WPA Director Harry Hopkins answered, "Hell, they've got to eat just like other people." Thank goodness they were funded. The WPA Federal Music Project hired people to teach music to the Civilian Conservation Corps workers, underprivileged children and adults in large cities and public schools. Some of the musicians went on to form bands. At a time when people had little joy in their lives, they could listen to a Mexican folk group, an orchestra or jazz or even move to the music of a dance band. Years ago I read "The Texas Post Office Murals Art for the People," a book by Philip Parsi listing towns with the murals. "In Texas, artists created 106 artworks for 69 post offices and federal buildings. Unfortunately over the years, and due to buildings being torn down or perhaps neglect, many of the murals are gone," he wrote. Tom Lea's "Stampede" is in the Odessa post office. The WPA Texas Historical Records Survey supervised the collection of materials from pamphlets, private collections, manuscript collections and a list of all libraries in Texas. The Texas Writers' Project did research into the state's cultural history and its geographical points of interest. All this work was deposited in the University of Texas archives. The WPA Archeological Survey supervised workers in the study and mapping of 50 Indian villages, camp sites and burial mounds. Supervised by professional scientists, workers mined many sites for fossils, mineral resources, etc. in Texas. I enjoyed seeing the beautiful parks, but, pulling into Helper, Utah, population about 2,100, for lunch and a visit to the museum brought into focus the success of the New Deal. The first thing I saw in the museum was a room full of WPA-era paintings by Utah artists. The paintings had been in the museum for a while, but the program was coming to an end and if the town could not buy them, they would be put in storage. In 2015, this small town raised money to save the paintings from neglect and obscurity and had a grand opening to celebrate their treasures. We also saw a WPA-built post office with a mural. The town and WPA-built school were on one side of the tracks and homes on the other side. Being a coal mining town, the trains were rolling through most of the time. The WPA built an underpass with an adjoining covered walkway for safe passage to home, work and school. There's an adage, "If you don't learn from history, you're doomed to repeat it." However, on the flip side, "If you learn something good from history, why not repeat it?" Economist Paul Krugman wrote, "This dedication to honest government wasn't a sign of Roosevelt's personal virtue; rather, it reflected a political imperative. FDR's mission in office was to show that government activism works. To maintain that mission's credibility he needed to keep his administration's record clean. And he did." During the Great Depression, our government invested in the people and it paid huge dividends. Journalist Nick Taylor said it all in his book, "American Made: The Enduring Legacy of the WPA": "These ordinary men and women proved to be extraordinary beyond all expectation. "They were golden threads woven in the national fabric. "In this, they shamed the political philosophy that discounted their value and rewarded the one that placed its faith in them, thus fulfilling the founding vision of a government by and for all its people. All its people." Cathy Norris lives in San Angelo. Flash U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Tuesday night repeated his immigration policy of building a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border and speeding up deportations of illegal immigrants. Speaking at a rally in the Texas capital city of Austin, Trump pledged to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, make Mexico pay for it, unleash federal border patrol officers and, first and foremost, adhere to the rule of law -- a clear and disapproving reference to U.S. President Barack Obama's executive orders protecting certain immigrants from deportation, according to local daily the Dallas Morning News. In a Fox News taping in Austin, Trump said: "We are going to build a wall. Yeah, 100 percent. It's so simple." "(Former U.S. President George W.) Bush and even Obama sent people back so we can be more aggressive with that, but we can follow the laws," he said. The Republican presidential candidate, however, sounded more sympathetic to hard-working immigrants who entered the United States illegally but have been since law-abiding and productive. Asked if he would accommodate those people if he is elected president, Trump said that he would try. Describing illegal immigration as a "tremendous problem," Trump said that "we want people to come into this country, but we want them to come in legally." When asked if illegal immigrants "who have worked hard, who have been here a long time" would be sent back to the country they came from or if he would "reconsider them," Trump said "we are going to follow the laws. We're going to see where people are, we're going to see how they've done." He spoke vaguely of creating a "merit system" for evaluating undocumented immigrants. It is Trump's second trip this summer to Texas. In addition to his Fox News taping and a rally later Tuesday in Austin, he also held fundraisers in the northern Texas city of Fort Worth and Austin. Former Texas Governor Rick Perry attended Trump's fundraisers, but incumbent Governor Greg Abbott and most Texas members of Congress were absent. A town in Utah that was competing to serve as the home of a new Facebook data center announced Tuesday it is withdrawing from negotiations with a subsidiary of the tech firm, leaving Los Lunas as the last known candidate for the site.In announcing an end to their bid in a news release Tuesday, officials in the Salt Lake City suburb of West Jordan cited opposition among state and local leaders to offering a package of property tax incentives to lure the Silicon Valley giant."The city of West Jordan understands the concerns of the several taxing entities that voted on the proposed incentive package for this large data center which, while investing a large amount in capital expenditures, would not include a long-term significant employment base," the news release said.Recently, education officials rejected a $240 million deal, considering it too generous.The facilities would house long rows of servers and hard drives that store and process vast quantities of highly secure information powering everything from online shopping to streaming movies.While the facilities are an increasingly important part of the global economy, such data centers function more like giant walk-in refrigerators for computers that generally require few people on the ground to keep them running, said data center consultant John Harrington with Verify Research Associates.Boosters have said the Facebook facility could create 30 to 50 full-time jobs during its startup period, with the potential for hundreds more as it expands, as well as more than 200 construction jobs.The village of Los Lunas approved an ordinance in June allowing for the issuance of up to $30 billion in industrial revenue bonds to lure the project.The social media company has been eyeing an 850-acre parcel of land known as the Huning Ranch Business Park near Interstate 25 and N.M. 6. And the state Public Regulation Commission last week unanimously approved a plan by Public Service Company of New Mexico to develop renewable energy sources for the site. PNM would initially power the facility with three large solar arrays and eventually wind energy.Water emerged as a chief concern among Utah officials opposed to the project. Data centers are known to use large quantities of water to keep computer servers from overheating. Authorities in Utah bandied about estimates that the facility would require anywhere from 5 million gallons of water a day to less than 1 million gallons.Los Lunas Mayor Charles Griego recently told The New Mexican he has seen data indicating the center would require far less water than the numbers reported by Utah news organizations. But Griego would not say what numbers he has seen for water usage at the proposed facility.Facebook did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday night.In a statement after the announcement by West Jordan, Jon Barela, Cabinet secretary of the state's Economic Development Department, said: "We've been working with this company for a year and this is a reflection of New Mexico's new competitiveness for high-wage and technology-related jobs."While Utah officials debated and ultimately declined the proposal, state and local leaders in New Mexico jumped on the bandwagon with clean energy advocates and business groups such as the Association for Commerce and Industry.The prospect of New Mexico drawing a prominent tech company over Utah seemed unlikely, however, given the conventional wisdom regarding each state's business climate. Utah has topped lists of business-friendly states published by Forbes magazine and CNBC, while the Land of Enchantment has ranked poorly.But in the news release, officials from the city of West Jordan said: "As the state of New Mexico has opened its doors, from the Governor on down to its varied state and local agencies, to welcome this great company, we wish them well." Ramping up its fight over the rights of transgender people, Texas filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the federal government over a regulation prohibiting discrimination against transgender individuals in some health programs.Texas, on behalf of religious hospital network Franciscan Alliance, and four other states are claiming the new federal regulation would force doctors to perform gender transition procedures on children and requested the court to block the federal government from enforcing the regulation. The federal rule on nondiscrimination in health care prohibits denying or limiting coverage for transgender individuals, including health services related to gender transition.The lawsuit was announced by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which is representing the Franciscan Alliance. It was filed Tuesday morning in the Wichita Falls-based District Court for the Western District of Texas.The case was assigned to U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor, who on Monday sided with the state and blocked the Obama administration's guidelines to accommodate transgender students. Those guidelines say that schools must treat a student's gender identity as the student's sex for the purposes of complying with federal nondiscrimination statutes.Under the health rule, protections against discrimination based on sex extend to gender identity. The rule applies to health care providers, including hospitals and doctors that accept federal dollars and insurance plans offered through the federal marketplace.The health care providers and the state are claiming that the federal government is redefining the term "sex" to "thwart decades of settled precedent" and impose "massive new obligations" on health care providers.Among several legal claims, they argued that the new rule violates the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act because it compels religiously affiliated health organizations to violate their sincerely held religious beliefs. The federal government is "forcing them to choose between federal funding and their livelihood as healthcare providers and their exercise of religion," the wrote in a court filing.The federal health rule does not include a blanket exemption for religiously affiliated health care organizations, but it does indicate that those providers could claim exemptions under existing federal religious freedom laws.A spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which proposed the nondiscrimination rule in May, referred questions about the lawsuit to the Department of Justice. A DOJ spokeswoman declined to comment on the case.Transgender rights activists say claims that the health rule prevents doctors from using sound medical judgment are unfounded.The health rule "doesnt force an individual to do anything in particular" but instead clarifies that health care providers can't deny services or insurance to someone because they're transgender, said Sarah Warbelow, legal director for the Human Rights Campaign."The example unfortunately used by individuals who oppose this is that this is going to force doctors to provide transition surgeries to children [but] this doesn't take away a doctor's ability to make informed decisions in the best interest of their patients," Warbelow said. "What the doctor can't do is say, 'I won't treat you because you're transgender.'" Mayor Ed Murray has hired Seattle's first-ever cabinet-level director of homelessness, he said Tuesday.George Scarola will lead the city's fight against homelessness across multiple departments, the mayor said."Homelessness is a national epidemic, leaving cities like Seattle stepping in to fill the large gaps left behind by state and federal agencies," the mayor said in a news release."Because of the growing scope of work around homelessness, Seattle needs a proven manager to ensure we are achieving our desired outcomes," Murray said, noting he has known Scarola for many years.Scarola will oversee how the city spends money to reduce homelessness and will lead community-engagement efforts, the mayor said.While he may be Seattle's first-ever cabinet-level homelessness czar, Scarola isn't Murray's first point-person on homelessness.In July 2015, the mayor appointed longtime Mockingbird Society executive director Jim Theofelis as his special adviser on homelessness, a new position in the Seattle Department of Human Services.But Theofelis stayed in the job only a few months, leaving in December.Tim Harris, executive director of the Real Change Homeless Empowerment Project, said Scarola's task won't be an easy one."This has been a really hard position for the mayor's office to fill," said Harris, who sometimes tangles with Murray."It's a tough job. There's a lot of conflict. The mayor is often at odds with the advocacy community because he likes to go his own way."According to Tuesday's news release, Scarola is an "experienced public-affairs and community-relations manager."From 1992 to 1998, he was executive director of the Sand Point Community Housing Project, converting barracks at the former Sand Point Naval Air Station into homes for people without shelter.Scarola later led campaigns for Seattle school-funding and affordable-housing measures.In the early 2000s, he served as an aide to state Rep. Frank Chopp, D- Seattle, and was executive director of the Washington House Democratic Campaign Committee.From 2003 to 2012, he was legislative director for the League of Education Voters, and he returned this year from a stint as a lecturer at the University of Science and Technology of China.He'll be paid $137,500 per year and will start Wednesday.Harris described Scarola as "a known quantity who old-guard advocates know and have good relationships with."He noted Scarola hasn't worked on homelessness issues for a number of years.Murray, who took office in 2014, proclaimed a homelessness state of emergency in Seattle last November. In January, the annual One Night Count found more than 4,500 people without shelter in Seattle and across King County.Seattle is spending a record $50 million this year to combat homelessness, but encampments have continued to sprout along roads and in greenbelts, and disorganized attempts to clean up the sites have often undermined the city's goals. Philadelphia's ban on non-commercial advertisements at the city's airport, sparked by a rejected billboard calling for prison reform, is unconstitutional, a federal appeals court ruled in a decision published Tuesday.The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), in conjunction with the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, filed a lawsuit in 2011, claiming the city's rejection of an NAACP billboard violated the group's First Amendment rights.The ad, to be placed in the international arrivals section of the airport, read, "Welcome to America, home to 5% of the world's people & 25% of the world's prisoners. Let's build a better America together."At the time the city refused to sell the ad space, it had no written policy on airport advertisements. After the NAACP sued, the city briefly allowed the ad to go up and then in 2012, wrote a policy banning non-commercial advertisements.The NAACP then amended its lawsuit to challenge the city's policy in court.On Tuesday, a three-panel judge on the U.S. District Court of Appeals ruled 2-1, in a split decision, to uphold the U.S. District court's finding that the ban violates the First Amendment.The Kenney administration did not immediately return requests for comment. When the case was argued in October, Michael A. Nutter was mayor."The Law Department is still reviewing the over 40-page ruling, so they don't have a comment at this time," city spokeswoman Lauren Hitt said."The city had argued the inclusion of social commentary or advocacy postings could dissuade advertisers and cost the city money. Religious or controversial ads could also expose travelers to content they find offensive, the city said in arguments .In the decision for the majority, Third Circuit Judge Thomas L. Ambro wrote that the city's rationale "suffer from a lack of record evidence. And even with the benefit of commonsense inferences, neither passes muster."Ambro wrote that the city failed to provide proof that non-commercial ads would hinder the airport financially. The NAACP would have paid standard rate for the ad. In testimony, an airport official said the policy had nothing to do with revenue but rather maintaining a pleasant airport atmosphere, according to the decision.To that point, Fred Magaziner, who argued the case for the NAACP, noted that televisions and newsstands are in close proximity to ads and travelers throughout the airport.Mary Catherine Roper, deputy legal director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania, said the decision emphasizes the high legal bar for government restrictions on free speech."It's important that our public spaces be available for discussion of important issues," she said. "But it's very important that the court focused on the evidence. When the government limits speech it really has to prove what its talking about...'Because I said so,' is not enough."Roper said the decision is unlikely to blanket the airport with messages from advocacy groups."You're not going to see a bazillion save our planet, or donate to fight cancer ads," she said. "Advertising at the airport is tremendously expensive."The ruling could open the door to controversial messaging, though.In March 2015, a federal court ruled SEPTA's ban on anti-Muslim advertising on its busses violated free speech protections because the agency had allowed other non-commercial speech.The agency has since published new advertising standards to prohibit all political, public-issue, and noncommercial ads. (TNS) -- The last time the White House put out a vacancy sign, both major party presidential candidates talked about transparency so much youd think they were running for chief window-washer.Sen. John McCain, May 2008: My administration will set a new standard for transparency and accountability.Then-Sen. Barack Obama, August 2007: Pledges the most transparent and accountable administration in history.In 2016, the only times Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump bring up the issues is to bludgeon each other with accusations of secrecy and subterfuge.So have voters lost any interest in opening up government to more public scrutiny?Not at all, says Alex Howard, senior analyst for the Sunlight Foundation. The nonpartisan, nonprofit foundation in Washington advocates for better public access to government.Howard has to tread carefully, given that his group cannot endorse candidates. But he is monitoring the campaigns for clues to how a President Trump or President Clinton would handle the issue.Though the candidates may not be touting platforms about it, the issue of transparency is at center stage this election season.The flap over Clintons private email server when she was secretary of state has taken the issue and elevated it to a much higher level than it has been before, Howard said. Much of that debate was driven by a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit from Judicial Watch, another nonpartisan Washington group. Clinton found herself on the defensive about whether she was evading the Freedom of Information Act, and thousands of emails were published on the State Department website.The Clinton campaign website features a commitment to releasing more data about federal spending and requiring businesses to submit more publicly accessible data so that regulators, watchdog groups, and the American people can more easily identify fraud and illegal behavior.Then theres Trump, who seems to favor bringing corporate-style secrecy to government. In May, the billionaire businessman said that how much he pays in taxes is none of your business.He is setting a new standard for a lack of transparency as a candidate because of his refusal to release his tax returns, Howard said.In an interview within March, Trump suggested that federal workers should sign nondisclosure agreements to prevent them from writing books about their experiences once they leave the job. Thats something he does with his own employees.Meanwhile, organizations like WikiLeaks are trying to scramble the race with targeted releases of embarrassing records from the hacked computer systems of the Democratic National Committee and other groups. Howard calls it the weaponization of transparency.None of this seems to bode well for a new era of sunshine at the White House in 2017. But Howard thinks it would be impossible to turn back the clock.In one of his first official acts, President Obama signed an executive order declaring that all federal records are public unless otherwise classified. In Obamas final year, Congress unanimously updated the Freedom of Information Act to codify that presumption into law, preventing future presidents from simply reversing it by executive order.Obamas record on open government is decidedly mixed, especially in the area of national security.Still, theres a standard set with respect to elevating open government to a presidential priority, Howard said. It would be extremely bad optics for whoever comes in next to tear that up. (TNS) -- Voters will decide in November whether El Paso County, Colo., will opt out of a controversial state Senate bill and open the door to help bring high-speed internet to rural areas.The Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved (5-0) ballot language that would allow the county to provide, facilitate, partner or coordinate with online service providers to bring fiber-optic internet to places that have been ignored in the past. The question that will appear on the ballot in November says that passing the measure would restore "local authority and flexibility that was taken away" by the Colorado Revised Statutes."This is something that will benefit consumers," said District 5 Commissioner Peggy Littleton.The commissioners heard the first reading of the ballot measure Aug. 16. Jeff Eckhart, the county's information technology director, addressed the board then and again on Tuesday, saying that opting out of the "restrictive" Senate Bill 05-152 will reduce costs in rural areas and "improve market conditions." Voters in more than 50 Colorado municipalities have opted out of the legislation over the last few years.According to Eckhart, El Paso County voters' approval will allow the county to install conduits of fiber-optic lines west through the Ute Pass area and to other less-populated zones to the north and east.Chris Davis, chairman of the Canterbury Estates homeowners' association near Monument, expressed years of frustration Tuesday, saying, "We can't get providers to give us service because there is no access to the 'middle mile.'" The "middle mile" is a telecommunications term referring to a segment of line linking a core network to outlying areas.Teller County, the towns of Victor and Cripple Creek, Woodland Park and Green Mountain Falls all plan to ask voters the same question in November.AN EMERGENCY REQUESTEl Paso County Executive Director of Public Services Jim Reid asked the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday to help with an "emergency item" involving one of his department's road graders.According to Reid, the grader was pushed much longer than the normal 10,000 hours of service that usually prompts the county to replace it. The transmission blew, leaving the machine out of service.The commissioners obliged Reid's request, voting unanimously to allocate more than $26,000 to repair the road grader.2016 The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.)Visit The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.) at www.gazette.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. REASON ONE: Less Stress REASON TWO: Solve the Right Problems REASON THREE: Community Buy-In For years there has been the belief that cities have to unveil new websites in the same fashion they present their plazas or parks: in one swift reveal. From the start, every amenity has to be ready, each piece of content added and the design with the exception of minor garnishments should be set and final.Often, for city officials applying such tactics, an unwanted discovery was imminent. They might see to their dismay that the work wasnt done. Site features didnt work the way they envisioned. Navigation buttons went awry. The maladies just continued until leaders found themselves crossing fingers and throwing cash at the problems.That was then, this is now, and luckily things are gradually changing. Cities have learned that websites like any other piece of 21st-century tech are always evolving. Its why theyre embracing the idea of beta testing, whose advocates argue that the best thing to do before launching a website is to, in fact, launch a website.Beta testing reshapes expectations for a final product, and instead, seeds the idea of an evolving service. Cities publish a prototype, gather public feedback, make adjustments, gather more feedback and so on, until a site is ready for rollout. The practice has gained appeal in Philadelphia, Los Angeles and other cities that have employed it to enhance services while avoiding launch day pitfalls.To offer a few reasons why cities might consider such a strategy, Boston, a city of nearly 700,000 people, and West Carrollton, Ohio, a city of more than 13,000, join the federal digital service 18F in demonstrating three advantages of beta launches.In Boston, the citys foray into beta testing began in May 2015 when it sought to co-develop its new site with residents. The IT department built a blog to chronicle activities and sliced development into six phases. The first decided city partners for the project, the second entailed user research and the third included building the actual prototype. These phases were followed by the beta launch for feedback, the official relaunch of the site on Boston.gov and a final phase dubbed continued iteration that theoretically never ends.What might shock traditional government types was an inherent lack of hard deadlines. Considering the fluid nature of the project, Boston only set a rough timeline. This eased worry. Staff could take the right amount of time for quality development, while at same time, the flexible design took any causes for complaint and transformed them into constructive input via surveys, emails and open office hours. For government, the process was procedurally audacious, relatively foreign, and yet at the same time, safe and uniquely productive.The mentality we have around the website is that its not something that you build, and then launch, and then orphan or leave over time, said Lauren Lockwood, Bostons chief digital officer. Its something that should always be improved and maintained.The build-and-adapt philosophy lifts internal tensions as well. Lockwood said that from a project management standpoint, communicating function and design with a tangible product, as opposed to ideas and sketches, clarified a host of misconceptions at the start.Its been really helpful internally as we migrate [data and content], because anybody in my position is going to be thinking about how to work with the teams internally to get all this done, Lockwood said. It also takes some of the pressure off once the site does go live because were not talking about putting things online for the first time.18F is an outfit in the federal government famously known for its capacity to solve problems. The group which helps agencies build, buy and share software aims to take complex policies and technologies and rework them into human-friendly services. 18F did this in 2014 when it helped save the Affordable Care Acts health insurance platform, HealthCare.gov. It did it again with improvements to the Department of Homeland Securitys Immigration Application site, and applied the same sort of know-how at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs when it helped streamline the way veterans receive benefits.18F members credit their knack for problem solving to modern design principles, concepts such as human-centered design and agile development a collection of concepts that assess human behavior and embrace iterative methodologies to create user-friendly tech. In a statement to Government Technology, the group said beta testing is a fundamental component in these guiding practices. Similar to Boston, 18F jump-starts a Web project through a discovery stage that harnesses user research to target needs, which leads to an initial product via an alpha stage for solution testing. Shortly thereafter the group pilots a beta site to collect input for improvements before an official launch.Our design process starts by figuring out the right problem to solve and making sure thats what were tackling, 18F said. Once we have an understanding of the right problem to solve, we use iterative testing, which includes any metrics analysis or usability testing, [and] we do this to continually validate that we are solving the right problem as best as we can.18F is in the process of relaunching the Federal Election Commission site, FEC.gov. This project, designed to improve citizens access to federal campaign finance data, serves as a prime example of 18Fs beta work. At the FEC, 18F did a deep dive into the world of arcane financial regulations and outdated data systems to create beta.FEC.gov. The site is set to replace its predecessor with a bevy of new features, additions the group is honing with the experience of its partners at the FEC and average citizens.When 18F started talking to stakeholders and users, we learned that users were often worried they hadnt found the right information, all the information, or the most up-to-date information when navigating the site, 18Fs Leah Bannon and Noah Manger wrote in a joint post.Now with a fresh look, the beta site is off to a promising start with a suite of simple tools that specifically answer user concerns. Just a few of the features include a new navigation menu that lets visitors search for election finance information by candidate name, a geographic location, or within the executive and legislative branches of government.While 18F doesnt typically develop city sites, it does serve a variety of offices and departments on civic projects. When attempting to answer problems, 18Fs advice to cities is to gather not just feedback, but also representative feedback that reflects the local population. This can be done affordably too. Often high-tech algorithms or enterprise analytics arent required. Feedback can come from highly accessible platforms like Google Analytics, a stack of emails, a site widget prompting reviews, or just plain observation and note-taking.We perform both in-person and distributed testing, 18F said. The beauty of technology is that it allows us to both see the user in action with a product, and allows us to see and/or hear whats happening with the user at the same time.West Carrollton is not New York City, Chicago or San Francisco. Like most cities and towns across the nation, West Carrollton does not boast an armada of IT workers or pretend to be the next Silicon Valley. Its a small Ohio town with a close-knit community of suburban homes, wide lawns and spurts of interwoven roads. So when officials in West Carrollton sought to redesign their website at the start of the year, they approached beta testing as a way to build with community support.Erika Mattingly, West Carrolltons public relations coordinator, said the redesign began with guidance from the developers at ProudCity, a gov tech startup focused on digital services. Since much of the platform was already worked out, the beta launch was a brief two weeks starting on Feb. 9, out of which, Mattingly said staff and the ProudCity design team uncovered a surprising number of fixes and final adjustments.It was just a nice way to get feedback, said Mattingly. Not only from our residents and people using the website, but people internally within the city, who were essentially able to say Hey, what about this? or suggest little things we may not have thought of when we first got started.The city placed a link to its beta site on its old home page, created a banner on the new site to draw input, while City Manager Brad Townsend reached out to key stakeholders for their impressions. The outreach yielded technical improvements to icons, content and search terms, but more significantly, Mattingly said the beta testing brought about a measure of community endorsement. Residents saw the public outreach effort on the site, found out through word of mouth, and then saw their notes and suggestions turned into site updates.It was a much easier process than it ever had been before when we had revamped our website, Mattingly said. Im glad that we took the leap and tried something different. (TNS) -- The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission wants to turn its internal communication system into a profit center.The commission is in the early stages of creating a public-private partnership that will result in a private company installing a broadband system along the 550-mile turnpike at no cost to the agency. In exchange, the private operator would be able to lease excess space on the system to other private companies with communications needs and split a share of the profits with the commission.Our objective is to lower our operating costs and generate some revenue that can be used to improve the roadway, said Scott Fairholm, the turnpikes chief information officer. We did some early market analysis. The level of interest is such that we think there will be a substantial interest to lease space.We can get our needs met for little or no cost and generate some revenue. We sort of get the best of both worlds.Other states such as Utah and agencies such as the Illinois Tollway Authority have leased part of their communications capacity, but experts say Pennsylvanias approach to use it as a financial generator may be unique. Mr. Fairholm said its too early to guess how much revenue leasing could generate.Right now, the turnpike uses a microwave system that uses a series of relay towers for all of its internal communications needs. That includes telephone service, radio communications among offices and maintenance workers, financial information such as toll collections, traffic cameras, electronic road signs, and the turnpike computer network.But that system, which is in the middle of a $5 million upgrade, has nearly reached its capacity and has no opportunity to lease space to outside companies.As a result, the commission received proposals last week from legal and financial consultants interested in advising the agency on how to get the best deal on a broadband system. The turnpike expects to choose consultants by the end of October and advertise for proposals from broadband operators by the end of the year with a goal of beginning a three-year phased construction in 2018.A broadband system wont have unlimited capacity, Mr. Fairholm said, but it will have more capacity than we need for a long time. In addition to a free communications system with the potential to generate revenue, the system also will allow the turnpike to prepare for future innovations such as vehicles that can interact with each other and receive information such as road conditions, Mr. Fairholm said.There also could be an economic boost for businesses along the turnpike that take advantage of the opportunity to improve their communications with employees and customers.The transportation sector is rapidly evolving from bricks and mortar to a digital world, he said. There are plans for vehicles to talk to our roadway, learn the conditions ahead of them. Theres huge potential to improve safety and our customers experience riding on the highway.If the Illinois Tollways experience is any indication, leasing can be profitable. That agency generated $2.9 million last year from 33 leases it has with private companies and government agencies for cell tower or broadband space along its 292-mile system, spokesman Dan Rozek said.Will Rinehart, director of technology policy for the nonprofit known as the American Action Forum that studies government operations, said the turnpikes public-private partnership to use broadband for profit is unique. Potential lease customers include major providers such as Verizon and small businesses such as a vehicle towing company or a plumber with a dozen employees, he said.Others questioned whether an exclusive contract with a broadband provider is the best idea.Brent Skorup, a research fellow in broadband at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University in Virginia, called the leasing concept pretty novel but said the lack of continuous competition makes me a little bit nervous.In Utah, the Department of Transportation uses its communications system which links all municipalities to trade for services, said Lynne Yocom, the departments fiber optic manager.For example, when the agency needed a communications link with a traffic light in Bryce Canyon, it gave a firm access to its system in exchange for a link to the signal.Its important that they leverage their right of way, she said. They are at least being forward thinking. [An exclusive contract] just ties your hands for a very long time so I would be careful with that.Mr. Fairholm said the turnpike is confident with its approach but will rely on advice from the consultants it selects. News Story not available This story has been published on: 2022-10-29. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. This story is no longer available on our site. Flash Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida and South Korean counterpart Yun Byung-se agreed on Wednesday that the three countries shall reinforce cooperation to promote regional stability and development. The Eighth China-Japan-South Korea foreign ministers' meeting was held in Tokyo on Wednesday. The foreign ministers'' meeting followed the leaders' meeting of China, Japan and South Korea in November 2015. The leaders' meeting that resumed last year after a three-year interval marked an important new opportunity for the trilateral cooperation, said Wang. China, Japan and South Korea, as three large economies of East Asia, are accountable for promoting East Asian economic development, taking a lead in East Asian regional cooperation and safeguarding regional peace and stability, he said. The three countries shall, in the spirit of facing history squarely and advancing towards the future, overcome obstacles and interruptions, build up consensus and focus on cooperation, to make sure the trilateral cooperation follow the right direction and develop steadily, Wang said. In the next stage, the three countries shall build up political mutual trust, carry out practical cooperation, promote people-to-people exchanges and push forward sustainable development, so as to strengthen the trilateral cooperation and provide new momentum for East Asian cooperation, Wang added. During the meeting, the Chinese foreign minister also introduced China's preparations for the upcoming Group of 20 (G20) summit in Hangzhou, China. China is willing to strengthen communication and cooperation with Japan and South Korea, both important members of G20, to make the summit a conference that boosts confidence, helps building consensus and guides future directions, and makes due contribution to promoting world economic development and improving global economic governance, said Wang. Regarding the current situation in East Asia, Wang said that compared to other regions in the world, East Asia generally enjoys peace and relatively fast economic growth. East Asian countries shall make common efforts to promote regional integration, stability and common prosperity through giving play to the leading role of trilateral cooperation between China, Japan and South Korea, and moving towards the goal of building the East Asian economic community and the Asian community of common destiny, he said. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, for their part, agreed that trilateral cooperation between China, Japan and South Korea is of great significance to regional peace, stability and prosperity. The two foreign ministers also said that the three countries shall further strengthen cooperation to improve bilateral relations. The Japanese and South Korean foreign ministers expressed their support for China to make the G20 Hangzhou summit a success. Reward for Healthy Actions 2.4 Million: The number of drones that are expected to be sold in the U.S. in 2016. The Consumer Technology Associations semi-annual forecast also predicts that 48 million wearable devices will be sold, a trend driven by fitness activity trackers. Green Port for L.A. Aiming to create a cleaner environment, the TreeWiFi device is a small birdhouse that uses different colored lights to indicate the current level of air pollution in Amsterdam and provides the reward of connectivity. The birdhouses roof is green when air quality improves, activating complimentary Wi-Fi. But when the light is red, the air is polluted and Internet access is disabled. An app connected to the platform lets the local government review data from the devices to better understand pollution, and residents can use it to get tips for improving air quality.July 12 marked the official launch of a program to create the worlds first off-grid marine terminal at the Port of Los Angeles. The $26 million Green Omni Terminal Demonstration Project will include a 1.03 megawatt photovoltaic array, a 2.6 megawatt-hour battery storage system, and bi-directional charging equipment that can both receive and supply power. Officials expect the green tech to be running by the end of the year.When Google Street View didnt visit the Faroe Islands in Denmark, a resident turned to a local resource to get 360-degree photos of the area: sheep. As part of Sheep View 360 , cameras that take a photo every 60 seconds are strapped onto an animal using a special harness thats outfitted with solar panels. The pictures are live-streamed to the local tourism office and also uploaded to Street View using their GPS location information. New insights are now available into the Twitter networks of the Islamic State and those who oppose them, thanks to a study by the RAND Corp.Efforts to thwart the group on the social media site have made headlines in recent months, but researchers are also interested in filling the vacuum created by suspended pro-ISIS accounts by using targeted messaging that focuses on avoiding radicalization in the first place.Since the San Francisco-based company first began banning accounts of ISIS supporters in 2015, more than 360,000 accounts have been removed from the microblogging site.In the study, researchers used advanced network and lexical analysis to look at more than 23 million Arabic language tweets to determine their support or opposition for ISIS, who they are and what they are saying, and how they are connected across the larger network.RAND Corp. engineer Elizabeth Bodine-Baron explained that the process was more than simply categorizing those who supported or opposed the radical militant group. The study also required a deep dive into the respective communities of the people on either end of the conversation.By looking at the differences in how account holders referred to the West or ISIS, analysts were able to separate them into pro- and anti-ISIS categories with considerable accuracy.We had anecdotal evidence that people who were opposed to the Islamic State would use the term Daesh, and people who were pro would use the term Islamic State, she said. By separating out whether you are using primarily the term 'Daesh' or primarily 'Islamic State,' we were actually able to quickly identify an account as pro-ISIS or anti-ISIS.The moniker Daesh is unfavorable to the group because of its similarity to the Arabic word for to crush or trample, but it can also mean bigot, according to an NBC News report In aggregate, by comparing these two buckets; the people using Daesh and the people using Islamic State, we could definitely say that in aggregate, if you are using one term predominantly, you are going to be opposed or pro, Bodine-Baron said.What began as the identification of some 20,000 different communities was honed down, through the advanced networking algorithms, to what researchers identify as four main metacommunities: Shia Syrian mujahideen , ISIS supporters and Sunni The team was then able to determine how the individuals involved in the conversation were connected by examining not only the position various account holders took on ISIS, but also the edges that connect the networks and the key issues participants care about.This piece of the research is important, Bodine-Baron said, because it could ultimately allow for the development of more targeted counter-ISIS messaging that could help to quell the recruitment of supporters.The issue is you cant just design a one-size-fits-all message for everyone," she said. "It has to be tailored to the different concerns of the different populations that could potentially be at risk for radicalization, and furthermore, it needs to be coming from credible Muslim voices, possibly even regional Muslim voices."As for the removal of active extremist accounts, the research team said the effort to date seems to have had an effect on the overall social media campaign.We really want to see the account suspension campaign continue because that denies them their platform being able to just spread their propaganda without hindrance," Bodine-Baron said. "It forces them into less public spaces.In examining the dataset, Bodine-Baron said supporters were initially outnumbered 6-to-1, which would grow to nearly 30-to-1 by the end of the research period. She said the shrinking support for the group on Twitter was likely due to the aggressive deletion of associated accounts, but she qualified that more research would be needed to confirm that hypothesis.In the larger network's analytics environment, this research is significant in that it could extend into other areas outside of examining polarizing organizations. It proves that big data sets can be analyzed quickly and effectively.One of the coolest things about what weve done is essentially do this proof of concept of where can these automated techniques for analyzing a really big dataset, where can they really help? Bodine-Baron said. By using these tools and specifically combining the network analysis and lexical analysis, we get these really powerful results where we can say, 'OK, here is this group of users and here is what they care about,' and being able to more or less automatically figure out that these are the key themes we should be focusing our counter-messaging effort on. You are here: Home Flash China hopes for talks with the Philippines on the South China Sea issue at an early date, a spokesperson said on Wednesday. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang was responding to a comment by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte who said the talks might happen "within the year." Duterte said on Tuesday that he had no plan to take the South China Sea arbitration to the East Asia Summit next month, and would rather talk about the dispute with China face to face. Welcoming Duterte's remarks, Lu said China will always work with countries directly concerned, including the Philippines, to resolve any dispute through peaceful negotiation and consultation. China and the Philippines, as friendly neighbors, have the ability and wisdom to settle the issue through consultation and restore friendly relations, Lu said. Former Philippine President Fidel Ramos visited Hong Kong as Duterte's special envoy earlier this month to pave way for talks with Beijing. Green River residents are once again being asked what their stance is on the deer population. After hearing from numerous residents at a Green River City Council workshop on the deer population in the city, the Council decided to have residents complete a second survey regarding whether or not they would support thinning the deer population through culling. This would be the second survey sent out to residents on the same subject. According to Green River Police Chief Chris Steffen, the first survey conducted about two years ago showed the city at a pretty even split between those in favor... One person Green River residents have become accustomed to seeing at the River Festival's Cajun Shrimp Boil is United States Senator John Barrasso, R-Wyo. This year's shrimp boil was no different. Despite the chilly and windy conditions, hundreds of residents, along with Sen. Barrasso attended the shrimp boil. While at the boil, Barrasso was put to work shoving the shrimp down to members of the Green River High School cheerleading squad who were placing the shrimp in styrofoam containers. "I love this community and I love this event," Sen. Barrasso said. "It seems to get better every year."... Donald E. Cox, 76, of Rock Springs passed away Aug. 17, 2016 at his home. A longtime resident of Rock Springs, and former resident of West Virginia, Cox died following a lengthy illness. He was born March 27, 1940, in Clarksburg, W.Va., the son of Louis Preston Cox and Goldie Bly Bennett Cox. Cox attended school in Philippi, W. Va., and was a 1958 graduate of the Philippi High School. He also attended El Paso Community College and obtained a degree in welding. He married Marina Irene Trujillo in Marina, California Oct. 4, 1961. Cox was a United States Army Veteran of the Vietnam Wa... Green River artist Mary Shaw works on a sculpture of a man on a saddle during the 24-hour competition. Twenty four hours was all the participants in the live sculpting and 2D competitions were given to complete their work. Both Green River, Sweetwater County and out-of-state artists gathered at the Expedition Island pavilion Friday and Saturday to compete in the Art on the Green competition. While the artists worked on their clay sculptures, drawings or paintings, residents walked through the pavilion looking at them and asking them questions about their particular pieces of art. Kinear resident Colleen Drury has come to this competition for five years now. Although she can't remember who or... Villa del Mar, like so many of Greensboros best restaurants, is tucked at the end of a strip mall on Gate City Boulevard. The colorful signs and pictures on the storefront windows highlight delicious-looking menu items like tacos (on special Tuesdays and Thursdays), aguas frescas and sopes, while other outside decorations wouldnt be out of place in an Old West saloon. In fact, in the mid-afternoon August heat, it isnt so hard to imagine being in the high desert. On Monday, Villa Del Mar will host Ethnosh NoshUp, the international food adventurers, to showcase the cuisine and culture of Mexico. At this NoshUp, you can meet owners Marcos and Mary Medina and their staff who bring all of this goodness to your city. For $8, you get you a plate full of signature samplers. Beer, margaritas and other beverages are available at an additional cost. Electronic reservations are required to attend. Before I get to whats inside the doors, lets start with a little word association. Ready? Chihuahua. Are you envisioning a trembling, bug-eyed dog? Fair. But those of you more internationally minded might envision the largest state in Mexico, which shares a long border with New Mexico and Texas. This Chihuahua is where Marcos Medinas story and the story of Villa del Mar begin. Chihuahua, like Texas, is a land of wide open spaces a land of deserts, canyons and ranches. Chihuahuan ranchers raise beef cattle prized throughout Mexico. This ranch culture permeates the state: You can hear it in the nortena music with its accordions and see it in the vaquero (cowboy) gear that dominates fashion. The decor of Villa del Mar reflects the influence of the Medinas home state. The walls are covered in memorabilia tourist posters for Chihuahua, paintings of adobe buildings and deserts, and advertisements for flour tortillas (more popular than their corn brethren in northern parts of Mexico). All of the items have been collected and curated by the Medina family over the years. But one piece in particular holds particular importance for Marcos: the metal jug that his father would carry from his home in Parral, Chihuahua, to the closest ranch to fill with milk so that the family could drink it and so his mother could make natas (a version of clotted cream). Marcos grew up and studied in Parral, where he ate his mothers natas and rice and beans and enchiladas the same food prepared fresh daily at Villa del Mar. It is where he married his wife, Mary. Eventually, Marcos and his family moved to Juarez, on the border with El Paso, but found that life there was too difficult because of the economy. In 1997, he and his family moved to Greensboro. It wasnt easy at first: Marcos worked at a truck wash and other small jobs with two children to support. In 2004, he and his family fulfilled their dream of business ownership when they opened Taqueria La Chihuahua in the site of the former Coliseum Inn. They were doing pretty well, but in 2006, the original owner of Villa del Mar approached them with an offer to sell. They havent looked back. Except they have, because everything is inspired by their Chihuahuan roots. The recipes are Marcos mothers recipes. The two main cooks, who have been with Marcos for the past 10 years, since he bought the restaurant, also hail from Chihuahua. The menu offers a staggering number of options that range far beyond the standard chicken, beef or pork and rewards those willing to have an adventure. Marcos is particularly proud of his seafood selection. Diners know that if they order aguachile a version of ceviche, raw fish or shrimp cooked in lemon juice and other delicious things they will have to wait, because it is made fresh to order. He is also proud of his antojitos, which literally translates as little whims and refers to the more snack-y street food normally prepared in market stalls. While tacos are standard fare (and they are delicious), Villa del Mar offers them in 21 flavors, including not only chorizo (spicy sausage), chivo (goat), and al pastor (pork with pineapple), but also even more exotic options like buche (pork stomach), tripa (intestines), lengua (tongue) and cabeza (beef head). The vegetarians and vegans among us can also rejoice: There are sauteed veggies and nopalitos (strips of grilled cactus that are slightly slimy but very addictive). These options can also be placed in tortas (sandwiches that include beans, avocado, onion, and jalapenos), burritos, sopes (a thick, fried corn tortilla with open-faced toppings), and flautas. My math days are far behind me, but just to eat through the antojito menu would require about 105 visits, and thats not even getting to the entrees. Marcos and his family are always experimenting with the menu while remaining true to their roots. He pays close attention to what menu items are selling, and what is ignored. He noticed that the gringos tend to particularly like his Salsa Diabla and offered more things a la diabla. The response was so good that he even began bottling the sauce under the name A la Brava and selling it at local grocery stores such as Compare Foods and Super G. While his main focus is his restaurant, he is also excited at the entrepreneurial possibilities that the sauce represents. He is in talks with other grocery stores across the state and hopes to be able to export his sauce to Mexico, where he has many connections and where his parents still live. Marcos is justifiably proud of his restaurant. He and his family have learned the restaurant business and about life in America by doing and experimenting, always trying new things. And isnt that the American dream? So, in the spirit of the Medina family, I leave you with this challenge: Try a new restaurant. Find something new on the menu. Try giving in to an antojito or two. And the next time you hear the word Chihuahua, dont just think about the dog. Whole Foods Market will host a Biking with Whole Foods Market group bike ride event at 10 a.m. Saturday at 3202 W. Friendly Ave. in Greensboro. The free event will help local residents learn safe routes to the grocer and how to bike with groceries. Pre-registration is required; visit http://lifeis acycle.bike. Let Us Speak! coming to Greensboro on Monday A social justice event, Let Us Speak!, will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center. Those expected to attend include millennial-aged CEOs, entrepreneurs, ministers, community organizers, college students and young professionals. Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan and Greensboro Police Chief Wayne Scott will attend. Some of the issues up for discussion include youth empowerment, law enforcement, voter rights, health, wellness and education. The free event, organized by the Rev. Gregory Drumwright, is open to the public. For information, visit www.let-us-speak.org. Reading Connections in need of volunteers The family literacy program at Reading Connections needs volunteers to work alongside its child and adult literacy instructors. Opportunities for service include child supervision, homework help, food service and literacy instruction assistance. There will be an orientation and training session from 4 to 5 p.m. Monday at the Self Help building at 122 N. Elm St. in Greensboro. Reading Connections, an adult literacy agency, partners with local public schools and Guilford County Partnership for Children to offer free literacy classes for adults who would like to improve their reading skills and encourage their childs love of learning. The Family Literacy Program takes a holistic approach to reading, believing that the whole family needs to be involved in order for both adults and children to achieve success. For information, contact Adriana Adams at (336) 279-7261 or email her at aadams@readingconnections.org. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate If you're a fan of fresh farm food, Travel + Leisure Magazine says head to Back 40 Kitchen in Greenwich. The magazine researched and worked with national food bloggers to ind the best farm-to-table restaurant in each state. In Connecticut, Back 40 Kitchen, which opened in 2015, got the top honor. "Executive Chef George DeMarsico doesn't pander to his informed clientele with farm-this-and-farm-that verbosity as items like heirloom popcorn, grilled milk-fed veal loin, and roasted king oyster mushrooms get the message across just fine with freshness and flavor," Travel + Leisure writes. CT Bites has described Back 40 Kitchen as a "haven for those seeking healthy, organic food without sacrificing sophistication." The restaurant is owned by Greenwich residents Lesley and Bill King, who also own Back 40 Farm in Washington, Back 40 Mercantile in Old Greenwich and Mill Street Restaurant in Byram. Read more about the Kings' story here. After the growth of the Back 40 farm and Old Greenwich Farmer's Market, the Kings were approached by local restaurant owners who wanted to start an all-organic dining establishment. The Kings became partial owners of Organic Planet, but aside from providing the produce didn't have much influence in the restaurant. The Kings opened the Back 40 Mercantile in Old Greenwich featuring prepackaged items made from their organic produce. They created partnerships with other local farms to provide a greater variety of seasonal products. With the mercantile's success and a desire to expand the Back 40 brand, the Kings decided to take over the restaurant and rebrand it under the Back 40 name. Organic Planet, which was in the same location as Back 40 Kitchen, closed in January of 2015 for renovations and rebranding. King said although they didn't initially plan to grow the farm into a restaurant, they are proud to be part of the larger organic farm movement in New England. "One of the reasons we did the other businesses is that the real goal is more big- picture. It's about being part of the larger organic farm movement in New England," King said. "We control the supply chain from farm to table ... it just keeps growing and changing, and one thing leads to the next. We never imagined we'd be here." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GREENWICH The Representative Town Meeting is one of the most distinctive features of town government, but one of its least well-known. While the RTM has its roots in the 17th century, the moderator of the RTM, Tom Byrne, told a large audience Wednesday morning, it was still useful in the 21st century. Its all about people, he said, speaking in front of the Retired Mens Association meeting at the Presbyterian Churchs community room. Aiming to showcase what he called the peoples legislature Byrne gave a presentation on the distinctive branch of local government and the traditional role it continues to play in a modern suburban community. Adopting a folksy stance, with frequent references to humorist Will Rogers, Byrne said the decentralized approach to public policy which the RTM embodies had served the town well through the years. Dont concentrate the decision-making authority on important issues to just a handful of people, he said was the overall philosophy of his legislative body. Byrne gave the audience a brief history lesson. The RTM owes its existence to the town meeting form of government, with roots in a New England tradition of self-rule. He cited a 1928 meeting in which 1,000 people came to town hall. Greenwich just has a tradition of participatory democracy, he said. In 1933, town government was re-organized, through a special act of the state legislature, and the RTM took over the function of the older town-meeting tradition. Greenwich had gotten used to voting on the important things, he said. Thats why we have this creature (the RTM), to have a real vote on the important things in this town. Byrne referenced the first two moderators of the RTM, Colby Chester, a major business leader, and Prescott Bush, a future U.S. Senator. We had these giants lend their prestige and integrity to this fledgling organization, Byrne said. The RTM moderator said the often bare-knuckled tradition of participatory democracy acquired silk gloves under their leadership. The moderator showed a photograph of a well-attended meeting at Town Hall from the 1940s, by which time women were serving on the RTM, though in small numbers. Referring to the photo, Bryne noted, People are interested, theyre participating theyre informed. Byrne went over the major duties of the RTM. The legislative group gives final approvals for appropriations, although the Board of Estimate and Taxation does the heavy lifting. It also approves labor contracts. The RTM delves into the intricacies of the budget, as well as review insurance claims paid out by the town. It reviews gifts made to the town, as well. One of the more controversial functions is to vet and approve appointments to the towns advisory boards, who are nominated by the Board of Selectmen. The role was similar to the function of the U.S. Senate in its capacity to approve major federal appointments. Byrne recounted one instance in which a nominee did not get the approval, due to a fairly complicated set of circumstances. It happens rarely, but it can happen, he said. Its probably the most sensitive area of what we do. Some persistent myths keep coming up. Byrne said it was false that RTM voted to the purchase Tods Point for use as town parkland in 1945 by just one vote. In fact, there was only one vote against the purchase. The RTM also has nothing to do with setting fees, he added. Asked about the perception that the RTM was too big, too unwieldy, Byrne said that there was merit to a larger group of legislators. Special interests cant control it, he said, referencing what he called the pernicious influence of special interests in places like Washington, D.C. In addition, he said the size of the RTM and the relatively low-barrier to serve made it an incubator for civic leaders and government officials who can get a hands-on lesson in public policy with the group. Contested elections, they dont always attract the best people, he continued. At least one audience member came away impressed by the presentation. There are a lot of people who dont know what the RTM does or is, said George Stockbridge. Very informative. Robert.Marchant@scni.com; About 15 years ago, my wife and I took the family on vacation to the Greek island of Crete. The sun shone upon us and, by English standards (you dont typically see a tremendous amount of sunshine in a British summer), we were feeling tanned and gorgeous. On the very last night of the holiday, we went out to a little restaurant on the harbor front. Feeling especially tanned and gorgeous, I had saved my best white shirt for this last evening out to show off my golden gorgeousness. The waitress came bounding over to our table. (Drawn to the beautiful people like a moth to a flame, I thought.) She said, So, you have all just arrived in Crete? Yes? I said no, we had actually been on the island for two weeks and we were flying back to the UK tomorrow. She said, But you look so pale! You stayed in the shade? Yes? I said no. I think that she could see that she had burst my tanned bubble. She was keen to make amends. My brother, she said in a conspiratorial tone, also has the very pasty-pale skin. She leaned into the table and told us in a low voice, What you need is the sun cream with the carrot in it. This make even pasty pale skin like-a-yours go brown! We finished our meal, flew home the very next day and never spoke of this conversation. The next year we returned to Crete and, although I am ashamed to admit this, our waitress advice was clearly still ringing in my pale and pasty ears. One morning, while shopping (on my own) in a little Cretan supermarket, I spied the carrot sun cream! (I dont want you to imagine that my Greek is that good. The product had a picture of a large carrot on the lid.) I returned to the family and proudly showed my wife my purchase whereupon she strongly cautioned me against the quality and reliability of this product. The opaque substance that floated around me like a milky oil slick every time I went into the sea also made the same point. I was literally toasted. That night when we turned off the lights, I lit up the room like a ginger lava lamp. I didnt know what to do with myself and the sound of my wife desperately trying to restrain her I told you so! was deafening. I got up (very, very carefully) and, by the light of my own radioactivity, I sat on the veranda in embarrassed, painful silence. Suddenly, there was the gentlest breeze and I felt a need to look up at the heavens and to the sky that was crowded with stars. It was spectacular. And for no reason that I deserved, I knew that God was present. Until that moment, I had been too ashamed and too embarrassed to even pray, overwhelmed with my own stupidity. Now I was overwhelmed with His love. David knew this experience. He wrote, The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. (Psalm 103: 8, 10) Our brokenness, our propensity for all manner of foolishness, does not make God love us less. It does not close off Gods love. Rather, it can open us up to more of His love. To acknowledge my sinfulness before Him will always be to open me anew to the fresh flow of His love and mercy. I wish I could tell you that the foolhardy application of dubious sunscreen was the worst thing I ever did. To this day, what I can say is that nothing has the power to undo me like the power of His mercy His undeserved, unmerited grace and mercy. It never ceases to bring me to my knees and change me. Pope Francis writes, Jesus has this message for us: mercy. I think and I say it with humility that this is the Lord's most powerful message: mercy. Drew Williams is the senior pastor of Trinity Church. HARTFORD - JoAnn Campos is worried about what will happen when her intellectually disabled sister is forced to leave the Stratford group home where she has received care for the last 14 years. Its heartbreaking, Campos said Tuesday of Gov. Dannel P. Malloys order to close the Ella Grasso state-run group home, privatize dozens of other facilities across the state and lay off hundreds of workers. Shes very anxious, Campos said, referring to her 52-year-old sister. She has been thriving there. Im nervous about her future. Our wonderful governor is not taking this into account when he targeted these adults. More than a dozen parents, guardians and group home workers gathered Tuesday at the offices of the Hartford-based SEIU 1199 union to protest Malloys plan to privatize services traditionally provided by the state Department of Developmental Services. The union represents many of the workers to be laid off. The plan, part of an ongoing budget crisis, eliminates 605 jobs, privatizes 40 state-run group homes and saves almost $70 million in taxpayer money. Chris McClure, a spokesman for the governors budget office, said the cutbacks will not impact services. Let's be clear: there should be no service cuts involved here, McClure said. This is closely following national trends. While we know this transition will be difficult, we are doing everything we can to make the state operate more efficiently than ever before. McClure said since 2009 the number of individuals served directly by DDS in community service arrangements has dropped from about 15 percent to less than 10 percent. At total of 3,734 DDS clients now live in privately run facilities. That means over 90 percent of those living in [group homes] are receiving services in facilities operated by non-profits and community providers, McClure said. This step will save taxpayer dollars without affecting services. Picking on people The parents and group home workers who spoke out Tuesday were not buying Malloys plan. Some suggested suing the governor and one man said Malloy should be jailed for his cutbacks. Frank Ducharme, whose son lives at a South Windsor group home, said Gov. Malloy does not understand that hes picking on people who cant talk themselves. What the hell is he doing? Martha Carney recalled how state workers at a Hamden group home, who had been caring for her son, Arthur, for many years, spotted the onset of a medical problem before it became a critical condition. His life was saved because that staff recognized the need, Carney said. Carney said workers at a private group home tend to stay on the job for far shorter periods of time so they do not come to know the clients as well. Others noted private workers earn far less than their state counterparts. Beverly Laporte, whose son has resided at a South Windsor group home since 1994, said he still doesnt fully realize his brother died two years ago. I used to take Robbie home at night but I cant now because he expects [his brother] to be there. she said. Laporte said moving her son to a private facility and introducing him to new staff will be confusing and traumatic. The staff that takes care of him have been incredible. Im so happy he gets that care. I dread the day they privatize it. Better or worse Ben Phillips, a spokesman for the CSEA/ SEIU Local 2001 union, said in a statement that private care is not the same as state-run care. The plan is intended to save money, but we all know too well that privatization rarely if ever results in savings and more often brings with it corruption, profiteering and a reduction in the quality of services provided, Phillips said. DDS Commissioner Morna Murray, in a letter last week to the governors budget chief, said the plan could free up money to help those on waiting lists obtain services. Community-based care provided by experienced non-profit organizations will ultimately allow Connecticut to afford to provide supports to the thousands of families currently waiting for services, Murray wrote. Murray added The plan follows national trends and best practices for reducing publicly run residential and larger institutional facilities and continuing on a path of providing cost effective, community-based options for individuals supported by DDS. To the editor, Greenwich Time reported that Matt Popp appealed the New Lebanon School Municipal Improvement Approval to the Representative Town Meeting (news story, Byram resident appeals New Lebanon School project, wants smaller school, July 27). Greenwichs Town Charter empowers any property owner to refer an MI to the RTM, but Matt Popp is especially qualified to take this action. A lifelong resident of Greenwich, Matts family have been Byram residents for more than 20 years. His two children are graduates of New Lebanon School, Western Middle School and Greenwich High School. Matt served for 16 years on the Towns Inland Wetlands Watercourse Agency, and he is a past president of Audubon Greenwich. Currently a board member of the Friends of Greenwich Point, Matt served on the Selectmans Cos Cob Power Plant Committee, which resulted in Cos Cob Park. Professionally, Matt is a licensed landscape architect and a wetlands scientist. He is the founding partner of a firm that produced site plans for Brunswick School, Whitby School, Darien High School, Stamford High School, and schools in Fairfield, Norwalk, Bridgeport, Wilton, Trumbull, and many other projects in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Vermont and Massachusetts. Matt attended most or every public hearing for the proposed New Lebanon School and expressed his concerns both orally and in writing, often accompanied by his professional recommendations. Greenwich Times article Committee considers New Leb challenge (Aug. 18) says Matt Popp was not selected as the projects architect. In fact, Matt Popp volunteered to serve on the New Leb Building Committee, but he did not apply to be the architect. We have known Matt Popp for years, many of us for decades, and we can attest to his character and integrity. Matt is a friend and a great citizen of Greenwich. James J. OBrien and Steve Soler are residents of Cos Cob and Paul J. Pugliese lives in Old Greenwich. Roy Nabors has been a ramp agent for Southwest Airlines for seven years. His primary job function includes marshaling planes and loading and unloading freight and baggage. When he initially applied for the position never would he have imagined that his job function would one day encompass color patterns and uniform design. Related: Employee Engagement Is More Important Than the Customer Approximately two years ago Southwest Airlines, the worlds largest low-cost carrier, unveiled a new logo (a heart colored by blue, red and orange stripes). Two years later Southwest Airlines is ready to unveil a bold and bright new uniform design. However, instead of hiring an outside company for the undertaking, it tapped employees like Roy Nabors to get the job done. When Southwest Airlines executives realized it was time refurbish their outdated uniforms, instead of hiring an outside designer, they put out an open call to employees from all departments. Anyone interested in contributing thoughts and suggestions to the design of the airlines new uniform was welcome to apply. Thousands expressed an interest and the company eventually narrowed it down to forty-three employees. Over the course of 19 months, those selected employees met every two weeks in Chicago and Dallas to collaborate on the design of the new uniforms. The result? A bolder, more fashion forward and functional uniform for employees. The new uniforms are also machine washable, a rarity when it comes to airline attire. Those who participated in this undertaking, such as Joan Mast, a flight attendant for the airline for 36 years, called it an unforgettable experience. Related: Poor Employee Engagement Is the Biggest Retail Fail of 2015 Incorporating employees into the creative decision making process allows for a more authentic brand. According to Sonya Lacore, vice president of Cabin Services for Southwest Airlines, the new uniforms truly reflect the personality of the companys employees. The same result may not have been achieved if the uniforms were designed by an outside firm. Also, the process of bringing employees together from various departments, various cities and various job functions allowed employees to interact and work together with fellow employees who otherwise may have never had an opportunity to do so, arguably contributing to a more cohesive workplace culture. Lastly, allowing employees to apply innovative thinking outside of the scope of their day-to-day functions benefits both employees and employers. As Andy Savitz author of "Talent, Transformation and The Triple Bottom Line" notes, engaged employees tend to be more motivated, more loyal and more inspired. Related: The Secret to Employee Engagement The new uniforms are expected to publicly launch soon. Related: 3 Reasons Why Attitude Is More Important to Your Company Than Aptitude Southwest Airlines: A Case Study in Employee Engagement Why Middle Managers Are Secretly the Superheroes of the Workplace Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Now DIY. Photo: David Silverman/Getty Images The Chicago Tribune may have just stumbled upon a food-industry scoop for the ages. It sent a reporter to visit the Harland Sanders Cafe and Museum in Kentucky for what started out as a standard travel piece, but ended with a fried-chicken recipe containing 11 spices and utter disbelief. The writer met the colonels nephew, Joe Ledington, and the two got to paging through a Sanders-family scrapbook. Ledington pulled out the last will and testament of Sanderss second wife, and on the back was literally a handwritten recipe for a fried-chicken spice blend. Asked if this was for real, Ledington casually noted, That is the original 11 herbs and spices that were supposed to be so secretive. Sooo, cats out of the bag? KFC's secret recipe revealed? Tribune shown family scrapbook with 11 herbs and spices https://t.co/k0ieLSbcPI pic.twitter.com/gg3NygwFqN Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) August 19, 2016 The full recipe reads as follows: 11 spices Mix with 2 cups white fl 1) 2/3 Ts salt 2) 1/2 Ts thyme 3) 1/2 Ts basil 4) 1/3 Ts oregano 5) 1 Ts celery salt 6) 1 Ts black pepper 7) 1 Ts dried mustard 8) 4 Ts paprika 9) 2 Ts garlic salt 10) 1 Ts ground ginger 11) 3 Ts white pepper Once Ledington realized what hed done, he struck a much less confident chord, telling the Tribune the recipe could be legit, but he cant say for sure, adding that this was the first time hed shown it to a reporter. Obviously the Tribune test kitchen wasted zero time conducting a side-by-side comparison, and their verdict is that this is the real deal. The groups batch supposedly became virtually indistinguishable from KFCs once they added MSG, which a rep for the chain confirms is a current ingredient. What goes into the Original Recipe chicken is one of the business worlds most closely guarded trade secrets, and the Tribunes claim is already bringing other experts out of the woodwork to debunk its authenticity. (One writer, whose thing is politics but as bona fides once worked at a KFC in college, says the spice blend is more grays and blacks than anything, so the Tribunes attempt is no good because theres enough paprika to turn the flour pink.) Unsurprisingly, KFC has been cagey so far, releasing a non-answer to the papers questions, saying, Today, we go to great lengths to protect such a sacred blend of herbs and spices. Also, it sued the last person who claimed to have found the chains top-secret recipe. A Howard Johnsons in its heyday. Photo: Charles Fenno Jacobs/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images Soon, there will be only one Howard Johnsons left. In September, the Bangor, Maine, location of Howard Johnsons, the once-ubiquitous roadside chain and orange-roofed icon of American progress, will close after half a century of serving clam strips and root-beer floats. When it does, the only remaining HoJos will be in Lake George, New York. It wasnt always like this: Once upon a time, Howard Johnsons was one of the countrys most successful chain restaurants, an operation that grew from a single soda fountain to hundreds of locations across America. Despite weathering the Great Depression and World War II, the chain was eventually done in by less dramatic concerns: mismanagement, multiple sales, and lack of innovation. Its worth remembering, though, that the story of HoJos is one of the great stories of American restaurant growth: 1925: After inheriting a drugstore and soda foundation from his father, HoJos namesake Howard Deering Johnson quickly figures out that people really like ice cream. Customers flock to the soda fountain for Johnsons ice cream after he in a genius move doubles the recipes butterfat content and expands his roster of flavors from 3 to 25. 1932: The second Howard Johnsons opens in Cape Cod under one of the countrys first franchising agreements, setting the stage for the age of McDonalds. 19361945: Johnson enacts his plan to turn the country into one giant orange-roofed house of fried clam strips and root-beer floats. Four years after the first franchise opens, there are 41 HoJos. That number more than doubles, to 107, by 1939, then nearly doubles again, to 200 locations by 1941. Most locations close after the United States enters World War II, because of rationing. Johnson recovers and marches onward. 19601970: Jacques Pepin is a culinary legend, one of the 20th centurys most important and influential chefs, and a charming personality who co-hosted one of the greatest food television shows ever, Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home. But his greatest achievement, he wrote in Time in 1998, is working for HoJos, a tenure that starts when Johnson steals Pepin and Pierre Franey away from Le Pavillion to oversee recipe development for flash-frozen dishes distributed via a central commissary. At the time, such a commissary is revolutionary. Mid-1960s: Its hard to believe now, but according to Pepin, HoJos, which became a publicly traded company in 1961, was running laps around the competition. By the mid-60s, he says, the chain is bigger than Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and McDonalds combined. 1968: In a bit of pioneering product placement, the space station in Stanley Kubricks sci-fi flick 2001: A Space Odyssey carries logos from corporations including Howard Johnsons. (At press time, Howard Johnsons does not advertise on the International Space Station.) 1972: HoJos visionary Howard Deering Johnson dies, causing the company to, in Pepins opinion, lose its raison detre, and subsequently, the restaurants became obsolete; the food quality deteriorated. 1980: HoJos is sold by Johnsons son for $630 million to Imperial Group, a British conglomerate. Several new restaurant concepts none of which anyone remembers are launched, including Deli Baker Ice Cream Maker and something called Bumbershoots. Things do not go well. Early 1980s: Future food-television personality Rachael Evoo! Ray works the dishwashing machine at the Lake George, New York, location of HoJos. Possibly still bitter about it, Ray describes her experience to the New York Times decades later as the most degrading job to have, because everyone you go to school with comes in to get ice cream or hot dogs or whatever and they see you covered with sweat and old rotten food and you smell. 1985: HoJos is sold, once again, to Marriott, which cares more about the real estate than it does about the actual restaurants or 25 flavors of ice cream. It plans to convert 350 company-owned HoJos to its own Big Boy chain, and subsequently sells off the motels. The acquisition further damages the brand. 1986: Sensing imminent doom, a group of franchisees threaten a $1 million lawsuit against Marriott and are allowed to form their own company (Franchise Associates, Inc., or FAI) to gain franchising rights, use the Howard Johnsons name, and serve the original recipes. Gotta love that inner pouch. 1987: An Orlando Sentinel article refers to HoJos as a sagging chain and quotes FAI chairman George Carter saying, It desperately needs to be modernized, internally and externally Howard Johnson was allowed to become tired and stale. 1990: Realizing that HoJos has not been relevant in a very long time, FAI attempts to garner interest among new franchisees with a prototype in Canton, Massachusetts, called Howard Johnsons Restaurant. It does not work, and the establishment closes a decade later. 20002001: Proving that people really, really loved HoJos, a pair of enthusiasts launch websites dedicated to extensively cataloguing the chains history, called Under the Orange Roof and HoJo Land. 20052007: The number of HoJos having dwindled from a peak of over 1,000 to a meager 8, the closing of each restaurant is marked with an increasing sense that its all over. In 2005, locations in Springfield, Vermont; Bay City, Michigan; Millington, Maryland; and Times Square in New York City close. Another in Ashbury Park, New Jersey, shutters in 2006, followed by another location in 2007. Marking the closing of the Times Square location, the New York Times writes, If you went there at all, it was either to affect ironic hipness or to imagine your parents there, in their happy times before you. Mid-to-late-2000s: Baby boomers everywhere are devastated to learn that HoJos frozen-food line is no longer in production. 2012: In an episode of the mid-century nostalgia fest that was Mad Mens fifth season, Don Draper visits a Howard Johnsons in northern New York. The all-American Draper is giddy like a kid in a candy shop, but his younger wife, Megan, a French-Canadian, does not like the orange sherbet. Later that month, 2012: Speaking with Grub Street about his time at HoJos, Pepin says, Howard Johnson was a totally different world. I learned about American eating habits. It was a very positive thing in my life. 2015: The HoJos in Lake Placid, New York, closes on March 31. Then, like a phoenix rising from the fast-food ashes, the old Lake George location, which had shuttered in 2012, returns. The comeback is courtesy of Jon LaRock, who worked at the location for 15 years. 2016: In September, the Bangor, Maine, location of Howard Johnsons apparently a favorite of local resident Stephen King will close. With its shuttering, there will only be one HoJos restaurant left, putting the once-mighty relic one fatal step away from becoming an actual part of Americas past. Sometime in the near future: An enterprising restaurant group will no doubt open an upscale theme restaurant modeled after the classic roadside haunt HoJos. The clam strips will cost $35. People will flock. A Reddit user performed a factory reset on his Nexus 6P only to discover that a new option is now available for the first time on a device running stock Android. Granted, this isnt a feature exactly new on Android. OEMs like HTC and Samsung have offered the option to switch from iOS before. The real news here is that an iOS migration option appears in the setup of a Nexus 6P on Nougat. The option links you to a website with instruction on how to migrate your stuff over from iOS. So, the migration tool isnt really a tool. From what it appears on the website, you wont be able to transfer text messages or email accounts from your iOS device over Wi-Fi or OTG cable like on Samsung's Smart Switch migrator. For emails, the directions just say to install the app for your email service from Google Play. For iCloud mail, it says to install an email app that supports IMAP, POP3, and exchange accounts. Then theres a friendly reminder to disable iMessage before switching your SIM card. All these instructions tell you to do is download some app and use it to move your stuff onto Googles services. To transfer music, the instructions tell you to download the Google Music manger on your computer and upload everything from iTunes. Likewise, the way to transfer photos is by downloading the Google Photos app for iOS and uploading your entire image collection. So in reality, there is no migration tool. Its just a website that reminds people that they can use Googles tools to back their stuff up. Maybe the option is a placeholder for a migration app to be released by Google in the future? Should Google have even put this option on Nougat? Would it have been better if Google left the option out altogether? Source | Via 1 | Via 2 Samsung Pay turns one, has processed around 100 million transactions so far Samsung's mobile payments service Samsung Pay has turned one year old. To mark the occasion, the South Korean company - in a press release - revealed that they have processed around 100 million unique Samsung Pay transactions to date. "Since its introduction a year ago, Samsung Pay continues to lead mobile payments by providing services that are simple, secure and virtually anywhere," said Injong Rhee, CTO and EVP of Software and Services, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics. "Our ambition to reach a world without wallets continues to draw ever closer, and this strong consumer adoption signals a shift in behavior and demonstrates the continued enthusiasm for a safer, smarter and better mobile wallet." The tech giant also revealed some other statistics related to Samsung Pay, such as there are over 4 million registered membership cards in the United States and South Korea, and the service supports a total of more than 440 bank issuers. In South Korea, the service has processed over 2 trillion KRW in transactions, of which more than a quarter were made online. Source | Via UN officials are frantically fending off questions about their organization being to blame for importing cholera into Haiti following the leak last week of an internal Special Rapporteur draft report which slams their existing approach of simply abdicating responsibility [as] morally unconscionable, legally indefensible, and politically self-defeating. On Aug. 18, the day after freelance reporter Jonathan Katz (the APs former Haiti correspondent) leaked excerpts of New York University law professor Philip Alstons draft report in the New York Times, a New York State Appeals court upheld a lower court decision granting the UN immunity from a class-action suit being brought on behalf of Haitian cholera victims. (Alstons full report was published in the New York Times Magazine on Aug. 20). UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moons deputy spokesman Farhan Haq stated that the UN needs to do much more regarding own involvement in the initial outbreak," stopping short of admitting responsibility or specifying what exactly much more is. On Aug. 19, Mr. Ban issued a statement saying he deeply regrets the terrible suffering the cholera epidemic has caused Haitians and assumed a moral responsibility to the victims by building sound water, sanitation and health systems. But Haitian victims represented by the Institute for Justice and Democracy (IJDH) are suing the UN to take legal responsibility for unleashing the worlds worst cholera epidemic and to pay restitution to its victims, which is precisely why the UN is still hedging. Any restitution will ultimately have to come from member states, notes Katz in the New York Times Magazine. None is more invested than the United States, which supplies more than a quarter of the United Nations peacekeeping budget, an expenditure that Washington, perennial congressional grumbling notwithstanding, has generally considered well spent: It allows the United States to outsource many overseas military missions it would otherwise feel pressure to undertake itself. The Bush administration led the way in creating the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti, or MINUSTAH, putting together a blue-helmeted force to replace U.S. soldiers and Marines whom Bush sent to Haiti after a 2004 coup detat. (This explains why in New York State court hearings, only U.S. government attorneys defend the UNs immunity. The UN has never deigned to appear.) Mr. Alston is also explicit. Fears have been expressed that the success of the current litigation could 'bankrupt' the United Nations itself, or at least its peacekeeping operations, he wrote in his report. The IJDH is asking $100,000 for deceased cholera victims and $50,000 for each victim who suffered illness and injury, which, multiplied by the current official figures of 9,145 dead and 779,212 infected, would amount to almost $40 billion. Since this is almost five times the total annual budget for peacekeeping worldwide, it is a figure that is understandably seen as prohibitive and unrealistic, Alston writes. At a time of widespread budgetary austerity, shrinking support for multilateral development and humanitarian funding, and the prioritization of funding for the refugee crisis, it is perhaps not surprising that both the United Nations and Member States [i.e. the U.S.] have in effect put the Haiti cholera case into the 'too hard basket' and opted to do nothing. But again this is short-sighted and self-defeating. The UNs Special Rapporteur warns of the consequences that could follow if national courts become convinced that the abdication policy is not just unconscionable but also legally unjustified and urged the UN to offer an appropriate remedy. The IJDH originally tried to seek redress for Haitian victims within the UN grievance system in November 2011. Almost a year and a half later, their petition was rebuffed with a mere two page letter. That is when the IJDH resorted to the U.S. court system to get restitution and force UN investment in rebuilding Haitis water and sanitation systems. We have 90 days to decide whether to appeal to the Supreme Court, following last weeks Appeals Court ruling, Brian Concannon told Haiti Liberte. We will make that decision based on our legal analysis, but also based on whether the UN demonstrates an intent to respond to the cholera epidemic in a way that respects the cholera victims' rights. Regardless of whether we appeal to the Supreme Court, we will continue to pursue the victims' legal claims in whatever courts are possible until the UN respects their rights. That may include pursuing the case in the justice system of Haiti or a European nation, he said. Mr. Alston notes that the UN is also doing a miserable job of financially responding to Haitis cholera crisis. While the United Nations has been keen to emphasize how much it has done in Haiti, the reality is that member states have so far agreed to contribute only 18% of the $2.2 billion required to implement a cholera eradication program scheduled to run through 2022, he wrote. In his Aug. 19 statement, Ban Ki-moon had to acknowledge that the UNs cholera response efforts have been seriously underfunded, and severe and persistent funding shortfalls remain. The Special Rapporteurs report is extremely frank and hard-hitting, leaving little room for Mr. Ban to continue his diversionary policy of expressing deep regret and calling for international solidarity to help Haiti solve the public health disaster that the UN has caused. Mr. Alston notes that the question of who bears responsibility for bringing cholera to Haiti has been systematically side-stepped in United Nations analyses, using three techniques: 1) to take refuge in the passive voice whereby readers are told that 'cholera emerged,' or... just happened, and no scientific or technical explanation is needed. 2) to invoke the need to move beyond the past and instead focus on the future. and 3) to replace the term 'responsibility' by 'blame' and to then portray the 'blame game' as unhelpful, distracting, unanswerable, or divisive, and thus to be avoided. As a result, UN auditors found that poor sanitation practices remained unaddressed not only in its Haitian mission but also in at least six others in Africa and the Middle East in 2014 and 2015, risking another health crisis like that in Haiti, the New York Times revealed in an Aug. 19 story. The report also said the UN upholds a double standard according to which the UN insists that Member States respect human rights, while rejecting any such responsibility for itself, an approach which undermines both the UN's overall credibility and the integrity of the Office of the Secretary-General. Again and again, the Special Rapporteur tells Mr. Ban that he has to confess his sins, because the scientific evidence points overwhelmingly to the conclusion that the arrival of Nepalese peacekeepers and the outbreak of cholera are directly linked to one another, that MINUSTAH was indeed the source of the epidemic, and that the fact is that cholera would not have broken out but for the actions of the United Nations. The bottom line is that continued United Nations reliance on the argument that the scientific evidence is ambiguous or unclear as a way of avoiding responsibility is no longer tenable, Mr. Alston tells Mr. Ban, whose term ends on Dec. 31, in the draft report. The Special Rapporteur also tells UN officials to stop stonewalling because in his opinion and that of most scholars, the legal arguments supporting the claim of non-receivability are wholly unconvincing in legal terms, while the UN has been definitively found guilty both in the scientific world and in the court of public opinion. He also notes that [t]he global media has been systematically critical of the United Nations, citing many examples, including the Washington Post which opined: by refusing to acknowledge responsibility, the United Nations jeopardizes its standing and moral authority." In conclusion, Mr. Alston recommends that first and foremost, there should be an apology and an acceptance of responsibility in the name of the Secretary-General that should be done as soon as possible in order to provide the foundation upon which subsequent steps can be based. Those would include constructing a policy package to address the need for compensation to the victims and providing the foundation for a new approach to be adopted by the United Nations in the future in such cases. Haiti - FLASH : The Senate orders the Government to retract Tuesday in Plenary Assembly the Senate passed a resolution ordering the government to withdraw its measure of price increase of petroleum products. The resolution of two articles is as follows : "[...] The Senate of the Republic orderes the Government to withdraw immediately the joint advice of the Ministries of Economy and Finance, Trade and Industry published August 19, 2016 on the increase of petroleum products. Fault by the government to comply with this request, the Senate of the Republic in its mission to preserve, in all circumstances, the higher interests of the Nation and the welfare of the population, especially the most vulnerable, will take the provisions of law and reason, as part of its constitutional attributions [...]" The resolution was passed and signed by 18 senators, Senators Francisco Delacruz, Fritz Carlos Lebon and Edwin Zenny were absent from the session. Furthermore, Ronald Lareche, President of the Senate informs that ministers Romain Yves Bastien (Economy), Aviole Fleurant (Planning) and Jessy C. Petit-Frere (Trade) have boycotted the invitation of Senate, also the Upper House convened them, for this Wednesday, August 24 at noon, to explain the motives for the increase of fuel prices. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Social : UNESCO praised the courage of the Haitian slaves Tuesday, during the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, Irina Bokova, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has praised the courage of slaves Haitians revolted in 1791. Message from Irina Bokova : "In the night of 22 to 23 August 1791, men and women, torn from Africa and sold into slavery, revolted against the slave system to obtain freedom and independence for Haiti, gained in 1804. The uprising was a turning point in human history, greatly impacting the establishment of universal human rights, for which we are all indebted. The courage of these men and women has created obligations for us. UNESCO is marking International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition to pay tribute to all those who fought for freedom, and, in their name, to continue teaching about their story and the values therein. The success of this rebellion, led by the slaves themselves, is a deep source of inspiration today for the fight against all forms of servitude, racism, prejudice, racial discrimination and social injustice that are a legacy of slavery. The history of the slave trade and slavery created a storm of rage, cruelty and bitterness that has not yet abated. It is also a story of courage, freedom and pride in newfound freedom. All of humanity is part of this story, in its transgressions and good deeds. It would be a mistake and a crime to cover it up and forget. Through its project The Slave Route, UNESCO intends to find in this collective memory the strength to build a better world and to show the historical and moral connections that unite different peoples. In this same frame of mind, the United Nations proclaimed the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024). UNESCO is contributing to it through its educational, cultural and scientific programmes so as to promote the contribution of people of African descent to building modern societies and ensuring dignity and equality for all human beings, without distinction." HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Politic : OPL condemns the irresponsibility of de facto power In a note, signed by Morissaint Jean Irvelt Chery, the Executive Secretary of the Organization of People in Struggle (OPL), on behalf of the Executive Committee, said he learned "with astonishment the upward revision of fuel prices by the current government authorities". "For OPL, such an increase is unjustified and unjustifiable, when the people of Haiti is facing an economic situation more and more catastrophic. This measure reveals once again, if it were needed, of the irresponsibility of the authorities in place. It only increases the anguish of Haitian families already preparing in uncertainty the back to school. The party strongly condemns the criminalization, through this provision, of the most vulnerable segments of society. The accompanying measures announced by officials, paradoxically refusing to reduce the cost of their lifestyle, are merely a smokescreen to hide an aberrant social injustice. The OPL requires, given its inappropriateness, that the government reverse this decision contrary to the interests of the Haitian people. The role of government is to improve the living conditions of the population and not to make them unacceptable, intolerable, or inhumane." See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18407-haiti-politic-for-deputy-bodeau-rising-fuel-prices-is-a-crime.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18403-haiti-politic-rising-of-gas-prices-the-major-parties-increased-political-react.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18374-haiti-flash-strong-increase-in-pump-fule-prices.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping politics... Ballots : The CEP denies rumors Philippe Augustin, the Director of the Electoral Register, assured that contrary to some rumors, the ballots printed in Dubai will be delivered in time for the holding of elections on 9 October, saying the company Al Ghurair promised to respect the production schedule and the ballots will be delivered to the CEP on 19 September. Kely Bastien, resigns Michel-Ange Gedeon ratified in the Senate Tuesday evening, the Senate finally ratified Michel-Ange Gedeon as Director General of the National Police of Haiti, for a period of 3 years as prescribed by the Constitution "I thank the senators who understood the need to give me all the legitimacy to perform this function. I promise to the Senate, the people, public opinion to do everything is possible not to disappoint them. We will do our work in strict compliance with the law," declared the news DG of the PNH. Electoral competition is not a battle Tuesday, August 23 at the opening of the electoral campaign https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18405-haiti-notice-opening-of-the-electoral-campaign.html Leopold Berlanger, President of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) clarified "[...] Electoral competition is not a confrontation, this is not a battle. We want to say to all compatriots engaged in electoral competition, political parties, organizations and candidates, that they have as duty to respect the rules of the democratic process. [...] We want people to be proud of these elections, that it protects the elections for that no one disturbing them. We want to prove to all the countries that we can take our business in hand" Ratification of the Council of the BRH On Tuesday, the Senate finally ratified the Council of the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH), which is composed of : List of members of the Council of the BRH : Jean Baden Dubois (Governor) ; Georges Henry Fils (Vice Governor) ; Georgette Jean-Louis (General Director) ; Fritz Duroseau (member) ; Ronald Gabriel (member). The President of the BDE West 1 satisfied Wally Dessence, President of Departmental Electoral Office (BED) West 1, said he was satisfied of the smooth running of recruitment competition of electoral supervisors in this department, which guarantees that the date for the publication of results will be respected, despite the high number of applicants. HL/ HaitiLibre Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) Andrew Colvin has acknowledged the unacceptable results from the gender and inclusion review released on Monday (22 August). Its clear this report is saying we have issues across the breadth of the organisation, he told Fairfax Media. We are a male dominated force and unfortunately its a male dominated industry. Overall, women represented 35% of all AFP personnel. Broken down into types of staff, women made up 20% of police, 10% of protective services officers and 60% of unsworn workers. The report also uncovered wide ranging sexual harassment and bullying within the force. During the last five years, 46% of women and 20% of men reported being sexually harassed or abused within the organisation. On top of this, 66% of women and 62% of men said they had been bullied. The report demonstrates there are workplace practices which are unacceptable and things must change, Colvin noted. With Rudi Lammers, chief police officer for the ACT, due to retire in December, this was an ideal opportunity to demonstrate the value of women in policing, he said. Unfortunately, a pipeline issue means not enough has been done to promote women up to these sorts of high profile roles. I cant wave a magic wand and change our performance on diversity targets overnight," Colvin said. Women live a very different experience in the AFP than men, and I need to level that playing field. Itll take time and it'll take time and lot of leadership and commitment. It was for this reason he had spoken out about the issue, he said. The force would implement all 24 recommendations of the report, Colvin continued, including initiatives such as: Dear Editor, The Boone Town Council in a vote of 4 to 1, with Loretta Clawson the lone dissenting voice, approved the bids, negotiations, an additional $12 million revenue bond and use of $3.7 million of existing water/capital reserve fund to pay for Phase 1 of the Boone/USDA Raw Water Intake. WK Dickson told the USDA and Boone that Phase 1 of the project would cost $24,551,095 on September 9, 2009. The voters approved a bond of $25 million. The USDA committed to a $20 million loan for a 40 year term and a $1.8 million grant to fund Phase 1. Boone was to pay the remaining out of the capital reserve fund. Boone has been paying for the entire project out of its general fund anticipating that they would recoup those funds from the water-sewer fund. On December 7, 2015, WK Dickson gave the USDA and Boone a new cost update for Phase 1, $30,093,670. Last night, 8 months later, John Ward, Boone Town Manager, told the Council that the cost of Phase 1 was going to be $42 million. Ward told the Council they could take 50% of their existing water-sewer fund, $3.7 million and apply for a revenue bond of $12 million from the USDA to pay for the project. The funding summarized thus far is $37.5 million of the $42 million. This means that the other $4.5 million already spent by Boone will not be recouped. Ward told the Council that the loan on the wastewater treatment plant was going to be paid off soon and the payment being made for that loan could be used in the future to pay toward the new debt payment. Sounds attractive on the surface. But, it is what Ward did not tell the Council that is concerning. As the town manager, Ward is obligated to give the Council all of the information needed to make an informed decision. First, Ward did not tell the Council what the construction schedule or current projected costs of Phase 2 were. Ward hopes we have forgotten that Boone is incurring this enormous debt because Dickson claimed they needed a water resource with an additional 4 MGD to meet a future need of 7MGD and that the only resource available, out of 21 options, was 12 miles outside of Boone. Phase 1 only provides an additional 1.5 MGD (4.5 out of the 7 MGD projected need). If Ward knows Boone has no intention of going through with Phase 2, then Boone has gone through an elaborate scheme to deceive the US Senate, US Congress, USDA, State legislature, NCDENR, Local Government Commission. Watauga County, judges and citizens to grab a water resource. On September 9, 2009, Dickson told the USDA and Boone that Phase 2 would cost $21,448,875. Considering Dicksons prior history, Boone could be looking at another $40 million to finalize the water intake project. The questions that Ward should have answered: Is Boone going to go through with Phase 2? If so, what is the timeframe and how will it be funded? If not, why didnt Boone reconsider a closer and far less costly option to achieve the same results, 1.5 MGD additional water intake. To justify the New River option 12 miles outside of Boone, the USDA required Dickson to include maintenance and operational costs of such option. Ward, however, did not consider the future maintenance and operational costs that would need to drawn from the water/sewer fund. Dicksons figures for the New River option referenced above included the reoccurring project maintenance and operating costs for a period of 20. These figures are not representative of costs for the next 20 years from today and need to be revised. But, what are these costs? Will increased sales be enough to cover these costs? Ward allocated revenue from increased sales to pay the debt only. Dickson computed 20 years of normal maintenance costs which is an indicator that capital improvements such as replacement will begin after 20 years. What is the life-expectancy of the infiltration gallery being built in the riverbed, the new pump station, the new booster pump station, the waterlines, and the access road? Ward has failed to develop and/or disclose a long-term capital improvement plan for Phase 1. The same may be said for Phase 2. Phase 1 of the project is going to increase the treatment capacity of the existing intake on the New River at the Greenway Trail in Boone. This portion of the project includes repairs to an existing leaking clearwell tank. Ward failed, although he made mention of renovation plans, what the short-term capital improvement plan was for the existing aged intake and water treatment facility, timeframe and costs. What are these costs? What is the timeframe? Is there money to pay for this in the remaining water/sewer capital reserve? If not, where is the funding for these costs to come from? Ward pointed out that the existing wastewater treatment facility loan was being paid off. Instead of shifting this expense to the capital reserve fund for future renovation, expansion or replacement of the wastewater treatment plant, he shifted the funds to pay debt on the Phase 1 of the new intake. He has failed to develop and/or disclose a short-term capital improvements plan for the wastewater treatment plant. What are these costs ? How will these costs be funded? Ward had Miller make another failed projection of water needs. Again Ward hoped no one was paying attention that he was projecting needs that could not be met by Phase 1 and that the need was greater than the need Miller had projected on the official water supply plans submitted to NCDENR earlier this year. Council member Clawson shot back with current figures. She realizes that she has been deceived by the engineers and is not going to be deceived by Ward. Miller presented an immediate need of 3.7 MGD. However, he told NCDENR less than 7 months ago that the water need for 2020 would be 2.048 MGD. At no time did Ward have Miller address the capacity of the wastewater treatment plant. According to the water supply plan submitted to NCDENR earlier this year, the existing wastewater treatment plant has the capacity to treat 4.820 MGD of sewage. Millers plan showed Boone reaching treatment of 5.020 MGD of sewage in 2015. They have gone over the sewage treatment capacity. The law requires that when they reach 80% capacity that they start planning and when they reach 90% capacity that the new facility be under construction. The law provides that NCDENR may issue a moratorium on new sewer hookups. Boone has a wastewater treatment capacity problem that needs to be resolved before building a larger intake. We recently contacted NCDENR to discuss Boones historical water supply reports and NCDENR was surprised that Boone did not have any plans to expand their wastewater treatment plant. We understand that the 2015 report has been referred to the wastewater division for review. Please note that ASU has its own water supply; but, Boone treats ASU sewage. What if ASUs water intake increases and pushes more sewage to Boone to treat? ASU has the capacity to take in 2 MGD of water and is taking in only .245 MGD. How many well users are using Boones sewage treatment plant? Ward has failed to develop a short-term capital plan for the wastewater treatment plant or inform the Council of the immediate wastewater treatment problem. In summary, Ward has failed to give the Council the information they need to make an informed decision. Ward has not planned for increased maintenance or operational costs of the new intake, performed short-term and/or long-term planning for capital improvements to the existing water/sewage system, the long-term plan for capital improvements for the new intake system or for the implementation of Phase 2. His focus as a manager on funding of Phase 1 of the new intake, absent of all other water/sewer planning and costs, is grossly negligent. This style of management will put Boone citizens in danger of onerous water rates, burdensome tax increases, at the will of developers who want to build to-the sidewalk high rise high density multifamily structures so as to increase water/sewer customers, under a moratorium on sewer hookups which would completely stop development and in danger of a fire-sale of assets. The only Council member who raised the issue of maintenance costs and future capital improvements was Loretta Clawson. She has learned from her tenure as mayor of Boone that Boone cannot put all of its eggs in one basket. It was obvious Ward attempted to use Miller in a failed attempt to discredit Clawson. Clawson said she could not fathom Boone taking on a project of this magnitude, $42 million, and voted against going forward while Mason and her fold blindly voted in favor of the USDA, Dickson and Ward recommendation. Ward said the $20 million USDA loan is a general obligation bond. A general obligation bond is a municipal bond secured by Boones pledge to use legally available resources, including tax revenues, to repay the bond holders. Ward said the additional $12 million USDA loan was a revenue bond. A revenue bond is a municipal bond that finances income-producing projects and is secured by a specified revenue source. So, this loan is being made to the income-producing fund, Boones water/sewer fund. The water/sewer fund is a separate fund with its own income and expenditures. Please note, the Council can vote to move funds between the towns general fund and water/sewer enterprise fund when the need arises. The USDA required Boone to show how the water rates would repay the $20 million general obligation bond. But, Boone pledges tax revenues as well for the $20 million general obligation bond. And, the tax payers approved that pledge when they voted in favor of the $25 million voter referendum years ago. With Ward not including the costs of future maintenance and operational costs; and the short-term and long-term capital improvement plans in his presentation to the Council, he is able to deceive the Council that they will not need to increase water rates or taxes to fund the construction of Phase 1 of the new water intake project. But, he doesnt tell the Council that they will not have to increase taxes or water rates to pay for the enormous costs he left out of his presentation. Is it poor management skills, self- preservation, short-timer attitude or just what that explains Wards failure. Finally, a 5% contingency is a minimum requirement. Consider Boones 7-page letter to Dickson in 2013 accusing Dickson of poor performance and blaming Dickson for cost overruns. Consider the gross underestimation of the project cost as recent as 12/7/2015, And, consider excessive overestimation of the water need that left Boone with only one option out of 21 that Dickson studied and provided to Boone. That option, the most costly option, is 12 miles outside of Boone requiring 63,000 feet of waterline to transmit the water to Boone, miles of right-way negotiations, construction in the median along 421 and the other right-of-ways, boring under the riverbeds and stream beds on the way back to Boone, dispute with Ashe county, lawsuits and future maintenance cost increases of 63,000 feet of waterline. If these considerations are any indication of what is to be encountered in the actual implementation of WK Dicksons design, then Boone should consider at least a 10% contingency. Deborah Greene New River Advocates, Inc. Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pocket The following information is provided by local law enforcement agencies. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Compiled by Jessica Isaacs The following were provided by the Watauga County Sheriffs Office. Aug. 16 INCIDENT: Motor vehicle theft was reported at 4965 U.S. Highway 421 N in Vilas. INCIDENT: Breaking and entering were reported at 3982 Laurel Creek Road in Banner Elk. ARREST: A male suspect, 55, of 495 Old Buffalo Trail in Todd, was charged with simple assault. Trial date: Sept. 7. ARREST: A male suspect, 30, of 1857 2nd Ave. SW in Hickory, was charged with felony sell heroin and PWIMSD heroin. Secured bond: $30,000. Trial date: Sept. 19. ARREST: A male suspect, 34, of 239 Stony Hollow Road in Elk Park, was charged with OFA-FTA. Aug. 17 INCIDENT: All other offenses were reported at 739 Roby Greene Road. INCIDENT: Larceny and trespassing were reported at 1030 Old U.S. Highway 421 in Sugar Grove. INCIDENT: Harassment and trespassing were reported at 714 Fallview Lane in Boone. ARREST: A male suspect, 22, of 810 Pondmeadow Court in Charlotte, was charged with felony obtain property by false pretense and consp obtain prop fals pret. Secured bond: $25,000. Trial date: Oct. 18. ARREST: A male suspect, 25, of 1490 Tater Hill Road in Zionville, was charged with felony probation violation and possess heroin/drug court violation. Trial date: Aug. 17. Aug. 18 INCIDENT: Vandalism was reported at 476 Hidden Pond Road in Boone. INCIDENT: Larceny was reported at 466 Scene-A-Rama Drive in Boone. INCIDENT: Vandalism was reported at 2998 Broadstone Road in Valle Crucis. INCIDENT: Larceny of auto parts and accessories was reported at 176 Middle Hill Drive in Boone. ARREST: A male suspect, 25, of 167 Martin Lane in Boone, was charged with OFA-simple worthless check. Bond: $540. Trial date: Oct. 18. ARREST: A female suspect, 44, of 188 Herring Loop Apt. 206 in Boone, was charged with school attendance law. Trial date: Oct. 20. Aug. 19 INCIDENT: Communicating threats was reported at 127 Carlin Court in Boone. INCIDENT: Larceny from motor vehicle was reported at 372 Community College Drive in Boone. INCIDENT: Larceny was reported at 1007 Echota Parkway in Boone. ARREST: A male suspect, 48, of 118 Skyler Lane in Boone, was charged with order for arrest for FTA, driving without a license and displaying an expired registration plate. ARREST: A male suspect, 36, of 856 Eagle Drive in Boone, was charged with contempt of court/perjury/court violations. Bond: $1,074. Trial date: Sept. 6. ARREST: A male suspect, 26, of 116 #51 Spring City Drive in JC, Tennessee, was charged with FTA. Secured bond: $5,000. Trial date: Sept. 7. Aug. 20 INCIDENT: Vandalism was reported at 133 Clint Norris Road. INCIDENT: Vandalism was reported at 376 Whispering Pines Road in Boone. ARREST: A male suspect, 18, of 166 Azor Court Unit A in Boone, was charged with larceny. Trial date: Oct. 20. Aug. 21 INCIDENT: Calls for service were reported at 478 Slabtown Road in Zionville. INCIDENT: Calls for service were reported at the Watauga County Sheriffs Office. INCIDENT: DWI was reported at 116 Mountaineer Drive in Boone. ARREST: A male suspect, 23, of 184 Orville Road in Statesville, was charged with DWI, DWLR and OFA-FTA. Secured bond: $1,000. Trial date: Sept. 7. Aug. 22 INCIDENT: Breaking and entering a motor vehicle was reported at 120 Campground Road in Vilas. INCIDENT: Simple physical assault on a female was reported at Castle Auto, 1655 N.C. Highway 194 N in Boone. ARREST: A male suspect, 52, of 1655 N.C. Highway 194 Lot 15 Waterwheel Camp in Boone, was charged with simple physical assault on a female. Secured bond: $2,000. Trial date: Sept. 20. Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pocket Niinisto pointed out in his speech at the Annual Meeting of Heads of Missions on Tuesday that a newly-published report on the social climate indicates that the country is not only becoming polarised but also growing increasingly discontent as a result of educational and income inequalities. The report is a sobering read. It states that a large section of the public is dissatisfied, anxious about growing inequality and feels insecure. Many feel that even their own hard work no longer guarantees a living and that our democracy is dysfunctional, he summarised. Who Has Had Their Fill? - Almost three in four, or 74 per cent, of Finns estimate that the preconditions for leading a good life have deteriorated in Finland, according to a report published by Think Tank e2. - More than four in five, or 82 per cent, of the public consider inequality a threat to social stability. - Over four in ten, or 42 per cent, of Finns expressed their disappointment with the functioning of democratic systems in Finland. - The report found that low-paid workers are especially displeased with the status quo, while high-income earners, managerial staff members and people with higher education qualifications do not share the concerns and discontent of the rest of the public. Source: Think Tank e2 Finland is dividing into a nation of winners who are content with life and their country and those who are dissatisfied and disappointed, continued Niinisto. The report, Kenen mitta on taysi? (Eng. Who Has Had Their Fill?), was published last Sunday by Think Tank e2. Niinisto also pointed out that another recent study, Finland as a Growth Environment for Young People, found that one-third of young people in the country struggle to transition from education to the working life. Although the majority of young people feel good, he said, this is a worrying trend that sets us apart from the Nordics, where young people are better-equipped to get a grasp on life. According to the latest survey of young people conducted in 2015, only 56 per cent feel that they truly belong to the Finnish society. In 2012, three years earlier, the corresponding figure was 76 per cent. This is a negative trend and a fertile breeding ground for future problems, he said. The same dramatic division is according to him evident in the results of the membership referendum in the United Kingdom and the popularity of Donald Trump in the United States. When those in society who view themselves as having lost out are roused, the consequences can be difficult to predict, explained Niinisto. Our reaction to the phenomenon should not be to condemn or demonise, he continued. Discontent is part of democracy. What is essential is where and how it is channelled, and by what kind of leaders. If it prompts citizens to have a constructive social impact, it can only be of benefit. The Finnish society remains functional and stable despite the internal tensions, added Niinisto. However, there are no grounds for complacency. Developments in Finland's internal situation will also have a decisive influence on our national security, he reminded. Niinisto also criticised the European Union for its indecision and failure to confront problems head-on. The EU's problem is ultimately political. Too often, decisions are made to postpone genuine decisions until later. And even when decisions are made, their implementation often adds up to no more than good intentions. By acting this way, the EU is undermining its own future in the eyes of its citizens, he slammed. Aleksi Teivainen HT Photo: Mikko Stig Lehtikuva Source: Uusi Suomi TIMELINE: Meadows and West Here is a timeline of the employment of Kenny West, chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows from January 2013 to April 2015. The Office of Congressional Ethics sent a referral to the House Ethics Committee recommending that it further review Wests employment and compensation after Meadows removed him from working in the Washington and Hendersonville offices in October 2014. January 2013: Kenny West, one of eight candidates who ran for the Republican nomination for the open 11th Congressional District seat in May 2012, hired as chief of staff for Meadows at $155,000 a year. Nov. 1, 2013: Meadows raises Wests salary to $167,000. Jan. 1, 2014: Meadows lowers Wests salary to $155,000. Oct. 1, 2014: Meadows raises Wests salary to $168,411. October 2014: A group of employees in Meadows Washington office reported to the then-deputy chief of staff that they were uncomfortable with Mr. Wests inappropriate behavior toward them. One witness said the group made the complaints in writing. October 2014: Witness C, a staff member in the Hendersonville district office, in the course of a performance evaluation conducted by Deputy Chief of Staff Wayne King reported uncomfortable interactions with West. The next day, when West appeared at the Hendersonville office, district office manager Pamela Ward asked Mr. West to leave the office and not return again. An argument between Mr. West and Ms. Ward ensued. After Mr. West left that day, witness C never saw Kenny West again in the district office. November or December 2014: After being made aware of the complaints, Meadows asked the chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy to interview his female employees about their interactions with Kenny West and to report back to him. Witness Bs belief was that Rep. Meadows planned the interviews so that he could assess the legal and personnel ramifications of Mr. Wests interactions with his employees. January 2015: Meadows had a conversation with the staff in which he said he did not want anyone in the office to feel uncomfortable and promised to take care of it, Witness A, a staff member in the Washington office, told investigators. After Rep. Gowdys chief of staff interviewed the female staffers, West never came back to the D.C. office, Witness B told the OCE. From that point on, witnesses said, West did not return to work at either the D.C. or the Hendersonville office. Late 2014: Although he was no longer working in the office, West sent emails or made calls to the D.C. office on a sporadic basis, sometimes saying, Im going to be up there soon. Although West was not present in the office and Meadows had told staffers West would not be returning, the ongoing communication through calls and emails led Witness B to believe that Mr. West was still chief of staff and that Rep. Meadows had not terminated Mr. Wests employment. Jan. 1, 2015: Meadows lowers Wests salary to $157,400. A month later, Meadows lowers the salary again, to $155,000. January 2015: Witness B emailed Rep. Gowdys chief of staff to report Wests continued communications with the congressional office. That week, the witness told the OCE, Meadows was very upset after someone approached him on the House floor and told him that he needed to terminate Wests employment. At that point, Rep. Meadows knew Rep. Gowdys chief of staff had been contacted again, this time without his knowledge. Later that month, Meadows remarked to his deputy chief of staff that Kennys not allowed back into the office so its not a problem. In the first quarter of 2015, West sent emails showing some degree of official work despite Mr. Wests continued absence. As late as March 2015, West took part in staff salary discussions with Meadows for at least one employee. April 2015: Meadows informed his staff that West was no longer chief of staff. Significantly, witnesses also explained to the OCE that they believed Mr. West was no longer employed by Rep. Meadows. April 1, 2015: Meadows sent an email to his staff announcing the departure of deputy chief of staff Phillip Newman (who took a job in a Senate office) and that he would also be interviewing candidates to replace Kenny as our chief of staff. April 9, 2015: Meadows submitted a payroll authorization form showing Wests title change, to senior adviser, (effective April 1) with the same annual salary he drew as chief of staff: $155,000. April 1-Aug. 14, 2015: Meadows continued to pay West as a House employee. In a letter he sent to OCE through his attorney, Meadows said that he and West came to an agreement that West would resign fulltime duties from my office towards the end of May 2015 and that I would continue to pay him for a short period of time both for the sake of a smooth transition, and so he would continue to perform some special duties for me during the transition. Kenny did perform some services and was paid through August 2015. Although the OCE asked both Meadows and West for details that would establish whether or not Mr. West performed official work from April through August, both refused to cooperate with the OCEs review. Sept. 3, 2015: In a story under the headline Meadows cut check for false mileage reimbursement, Politico reported on Wests employment with Meadows office. In the story, Meadows communications director, Alyssa Farah, said that West received vacation and severance pay until August 15. In his letter to the Ethics Committee, Meadows also described the payments to West as severance pay. November 2015: Meadows self-reported the Kenny West pay matter to the House Ethics Committee, asking the committee to investigate the matter. March 18, 2016: OCE sent a referral to the House Ethics Committee, recommending that the committee further review the allegation that Meadows paid West for work he didnt do. May 10, 2016: Meadows attorney Elliot S. Berke, in a letter to the Ethics Committee, asserted that Meadows had hoped to bypass the OCEs duplicative, costly and burdensome process and have the committee itself conduct the investigation. Aug. 17: House Ethics Committee published the OCEs Report and Findings. Chair Charles W. Dent and ranking member Linda T. Sanchez announced that the committee would review the OCE report, noting that that step does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred, or reflect any judgment on behalf of the committee. Sources: Office of Congressional Ethics; letter from attorney Elliot Berke, attorney for Rep. Meadows; statement of the House Ethics Committee. Investigators send Meadows inquiry to Ethics Committee Kenny West spoke at the Henderson County Republican Party convention in March 2015. An investigation into whether U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows improperly paid his chief of staff for 10 months after barring him from congressional offices over a personnel matter was referred last week to the House Committee on Ethics. The inquiry by the Office of Congressional Ethics concluded that there is substantial reason to believe that Rep. Meadows retained an employee who did not perform duties commensurate with the pay he received, which was $155,000 a year, the investigators said. The investigation reached back to October of 2014, when female employees of Meadows Washington and Hendersonville offices complained that Wests conduct made them feel uncomfortable.(See details in this timeline.) Although Meadows acted quickly to investigate the complaints and then bar West from the workplace, he continued to pay him as chief of staff for five months and maintained his same annual salary through a final 4-month period as a senior adviser. In a news release and in his attorneys letter to the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE), Meadows emphasized that he self-reported the matter to the ethics agency to resolve questions about his payment of severance to West. In an effort to ensure that his actions were appropriate and in line with House rules, Congressman Meadows himself requested that the Ethics Committee look into the matter last November, his office said in a statement. Because he reported directly to the House Ethics Committee, he chose not to take part in the Office of Congressional Ethics review. Since then, Mr. Meadows has and will continue to fully comply with the Ethics Committees inquiry and awaits any recommendations going forward. Congressman Meadows is fully confident that the Committee will find that he acted in good faith, and moving forward, he remains committed to continuing the peoples work in the House. In a letter to the board, Meadows attorney said the allegation that Meadows improperly paid his former chief of staff after his termination should have been dismissed based on the congressmans good faith interpretation of the open and clear official House practice of paying severance. It was unclear how much damage, if any, the ethics case might cause for Meadows, a popular second-term conservative who is adored by the Tea Party wing of the GOP and who also is attentive to 11th District constituent needs that cross party lines. Meadows Democatic opponent, Bryson City Council member Rick Bryson, made it clear that he considered the news a boost to his underdog effort to unseat the Republican. Asked if the ethics report might make the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee take a second look of a deeply red seat in southwestern North Carolina, Bryson said thats already happening. Lets put it this way, were talking, he said of DCCC officials. My campaign manager just hung up from them. Theyre taking a whole lot more interest in whats going on in the 11th District than they have in the past. Meadows hires rival A one-time sandwich shop owner and residential developer from Jackson County, Meadows won the open 11th District seat in November 2012 and soon hired West, one of seven vanquished opponents in the Republican primary, as his chief of staff. An insurance salesman who like Meadows had no prior electoral experience, West had finished sixth in the eight-candidate primary, with 4.2 percent of the vote. West, 58, exhibited behavior that caused women in the local and D.C. congressional offices to come forward with complaints, the OCE said. An independent, non-partisan arm of the House of Representatives, the OCE reviews allegations of misconduct against members and can refer the matters to the House Committee on Ethics. The OCE is governed by an eight-person Board of Directors, the members of which are private citizens. They cant be members of Congress or employees of the federal government. After receiving the OCE referral on March 18, the House Ethics Committees chair and ranking member jointly decided in July to extend the committees review of the matter. The committee announced the decision in a news release last Wednesday. The investigation centered less on the circumstances of Wests departure than on the pay he received afterwards and whether he performed work commensurate with that compensation. After the female employees complained about Wests behavior, Meadows asked the chief of staff of Trey Gowdy, a fellow Republican from South Carolina, to interview the staffers. After that interview, West never returned to work in either the Washington office or 11th District headquarters, which is on the ground floor of the Grove Street Courthouse in Hendersonville. Although he was not present in the congressional offices, West continued to do some work via phone and email, witnesses told the OCE. One of the staffers reported again to Gowdys chief of staff, in January 2015, that West was still working. That week, the witness told the OCE, Meadows was very upset because someone confronted him on the House floor and told him that he needed to fire West. At that point, Rep. Meadows knew Rep. Gowdys chief of staff had been contacted again, this time without his knowledge, the OCE report said. The investigators found that West continued to work sporadically for Meadows up until the congressman filed a payroll form changing his title to senior adviser with the same annual salary he drew as chief of staff, $155,000. When Meadows informed his aides that West was no longer chief of staff, some expressed surprise because they thought he had long since been terminated, the OCE report said. OCE: West did no work from April to August 2015 In the letter he sent to OCE through his attorney, Meadows said that he and West came to an agreement that West would resign fulltime duties from my office towards the end of May 2015 and that I would continue to pay him for a short period of time both for the sake of a smooth transition, and so he would continue to perform some special duties for me during the transition. Kenny did perform some services and was paid through August 2015. Although the OCE asked both Meadows and West for details that would establish whether or not Mr. West performed official work from April through August, both refused to cooperate with the OCEs review. In its report, the OCE said that Meadows may have violated House standards of conduct by certifying that Kenny West was performing official duties commensurate with his compensation. The House ethics manual requires that members of Congress regularly certify that all official funds have been properly spent. A false certification may bring criminal penalties and an effort by the government to recover any amount improperly paid. The OCE investigators say West appears to have conducted a limited amount of official congressional work from October 2014 to April 2015, though the OCE was unable to confirm where Mr. West conducted the work or the extent of the work completed. They also scrutinized the period from April through August 2015, when it does not appear that Mr. West performed any official work. During that 4-month period he was paid $58,125.01. Meadows, the OCE said, described Wests situation in an inconsistent way, characterizing his work sometimes as transitionary or less than fulltime and at other times describing the pay as severance pay. Also unexplained was why Meadows made at least three different decisions about Wests status over the course of 10 weeks in the spring of 2015. On April 17 eight days after changing Wests title to senior adviser the congressman notified the House payroll office that West would be terminated on May 31. Then, on May 21, Meadows filed a new form extending Wests employment until June 30. Finally, on June 10, Meadows filed a form superseding the May 21 paperwork and extending Wests employment until Aug. 15. The board notes that Rep. Meadows changed Mr. Wests official title, filed termination paperwork with the House, and then extended Mr. Wests employment in subsequent filing, indicating no intention of paying Mr. West any form of severance, even though severance was the term Meadows and his communications director had used in explaining Wests employment from April to August, the OCE said. Also in conflict, the OCE said, was Meadows statement that West performed some amount of official work after April 1. The OCE instead received testimony and documents illustrating that Mr. West did not perform any official work after April 1, 2015. Meadows was proactive in addressing the matter The OCE recommended that the Committee on Ethics review the case further because there is substantial reason to believe that Rep. Meadows retained an employee who did not perform duties commensurate with the compensation the employee received and certified that the compensation met House standards, in violation of House rule and standards of conduct. The OCE, which has no subpoena power, listed eight people associated with the case who did not cooperate with its inquiry, including Meadows, West, district director Wayne King and five other staffers in either the Washington or Hendersonville office. It recommended that the Ethics Committee issue subpoenas to those eight. In his letter to the board, Meadows attorney takes issue with the OCEs characterization of the congressman as noncooperative. In self-reporting, Congressman Meadows asked the committee to investigate the matter and has been consistently proactive in addressing these allegations and voluntarily provided relevant documents to the Committee last month, wrote the attorney Elliot S. Berke, a principal of a Washington law firm that uses the tagline, Navigating the Law of Politics. Not surprisingly, these are facts that the OCE ignores or disregards in its referral. Congressman Meadows informed the OCE on Nov. 17, 2015, that rather than engage in their duplicative, costly and burdensome process, he would instead self-report the issue to the Committee in the interest of expediency. It is, after all, the Committee and not the OCE that is the ultimate arbiter of compliance with House Rules and Standards of Conduct. In declining to participate in the OCE review, Meadows took issue with the agencys longstanding practice of publishing entire transcripts of interviews even when they contain irrelevant, ancillary, and personal content. While Meadows expected to be labeled uncooperative, despite self-reporting the situation, We are nevertheless disappointed to confirm such a determination was reached. When the personnel issues were made known to him, the attorney said, Meadows took swift and appropriate steps to address the issues, including an internal review; arranging for an independent third party review, making changes to the scope, nature and title of Mr. Wests official responsibilities; transferring Mr. Wests supervisory functions to other personnel; and ultimately coming to an agreement with Mr. West that resulted in his resignation. The measures Meadows took, his attorney said, were later confirmed by House personnel attorneys to be consistent with advice (their office) has offered in similar situations. As for the severance payments, Meadows agreed to compensate West to ensure a smooth transition of his officials responsibilities, Berke wrote. It was his belief that these severance payments were consistent with House Rules and practice. Throughout the process, Berke said, Meadows had taken steps to comply with House rules and standards of conduct and had done so, and even if his ultimate interpretation of severance may be proven in error, it was an interpretation taken in good faith. Keeping a rattlesnake in your living room Rick Bryson, the Democratic nominee for the 11th Congressional District seat, was already working to exploit the Ethics Committee news. Hes given me the biggest campaign contribution Ive gotten, he said. This thing has gone coast to coast. You can find it in the Washington Post and the Sacramento Bee. Asked whether that meant the ethics case would gain traction in the conservative 11th District, Bryson said, I think it will because theres a lot of sensitivity to what was taking place there. Ill put it this way, he added. If youre keeping a pit rattlesnake in your living room, youve got a problem. Theres three women that they interviewed and one of them barred the door to the office and told him if he tried to get in they were going to call the cops. They dont like the whole attitude that the boss (West) can do anything he wants and get away with it. My question to Mark Meadows is, if this took place in an insurance company or a factory, that guy would be out the door day 1. He would get whatever pay he was entitled to but he wouldnt get 10 months of pay for doing nothing, which is what took place. Its extra sensitive and it looks like Meadows is doing a Richard Nixon type of cover-up. Bryson exulted in what he regarded as his good fortune via the Ethics Committee announcement 10 weeks before the election. We have got a huge wave thats rolling over North Carolina, he said. Coopers up and Deborah Ross is up and while Im not telling you that Im up over Mark Meadows what I am telling you is Ive got the momentum and he doesnt. Heuston Station, children forced to sit on tables on the train and the exits on the train being blocked by prams and wheelchairs A day out for a children's special needs group was ruined when children and carers were separated on a nightmare train journey home. A group of 54 people, including 16 children with special needs and four wheelchair users from AIRC Mayo, travelled to Dublin to visit the zoo. They used pre-booked seats they had arranged months in advance to travel from Castlebar to Dublin, but were split up on the return journey and had to store wheelchairs and prams against exit doors. Irish Rail said last night that they were sorry for any difficulties, but that the group had boarded the wrong carriage. Cramped Chairwoman of AIRC Kathryn Connor said she tried to fix the situation when she realised there were no seats reserved for the group. She said there were also no ramps to help them board. "All the kids in the wheelchairs were cramped into the hall where the toilets are. My little man doesn't like small spaces and he was roaring crying, and that hurt me mentally. "There were children with really high sensory needs banging their heads and shaking their heads. Mums were getting stressed," she said. Some of the party were given seats by other passengers or after travellers left the train along the route. Ms Connor said there was also an issu e with the train journey to Dublin as she wasn't able to use the toilet onboard to change her son James (8) as it was covered in vomit. "We fundraised for this for a year-and-a-half.... We have saved for this so parents could have one day out," she said. A spokesman for Irish Rail apologised. "Seats had been reserved for the entire group in Carriage C, and this booking was displayed above seats. However, the group appears to have boarded Carriage D directly. "We would have ensured that the group received any assistance required and were seated together," he said. "We appreciate this resulted in a journey which was uncomfortable and upsetting, and regret any misunderstanding". A father-of-two has been sent for trial accused of reckless endangerment by ramming a garda car during a high-speed chase on the M50. Andrew Allen (37) had a book of evidence served on him when he appeared at Blanchardstown District Court. Mr Allen is charged with ramming a marked garda car, creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm. He is also accused of two counts of criminal damage - to the rear bumper and passenger doors of a patrol car, as well as uninsured driving, failing to stop for a garda and two counts of dangerous driving. The offences are alleged to have happened at River Road, and Ashtown Road, both in Castleknock, and other locations in north Dublin on October 7 last year. Judge David McHugh gave Mr Allen the formal warning that he must provide any alibi details to the prosecution within 14 days. Video He also made an order for copies of the video of the accused's garda interview to be made available to the defence. The defendant did not address the court during the brief proceedings. He was handed a copy of the book of evidence. Previously, a garda witness said the accused made "no comment" to the charges when they were put to him. A state solicitor said the Director of Public Prosecutions was directing trial on indictment . Judge McHugh granted free legal aid to the defendant. Most of the charges against Mr Allen are under the Road Traffic Act but the endangerment charge is contrary to the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. The accused has not yet indicated how he intends to plead to any of the charges. He was remanded on bail pending his next appearance, in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. At Mr Allen's first court appearance last year, Garda Paul Doona said in evidence he arrested the accused in Leopardstown and brought him to Blanchardstown Garda Station. Some of the puppies seized at Dublin Port Gardai are investigating after 22 pups were seized in Dublin Port. The puppies, who were of all different breeds, were seized from a vehicle headed for England. The dogs, which appeared to be between eight and 10 weeks old, were taken to Store Street Garda Station and were examined by vets. It is the latest seizure in a crackdown on illegal puppy breeding in Ireland. The puppies were seized by a commercial garda vehicle unit at a checkpoint at the port at 1am on Tuesday. Van Two men were travelling in the Ford Transit, and the driver of the van confirmed the pupies were destined for export to the UK. The puppies were not microchipped and did not have the relevant paperwork. Gardai said no arrests have been made. The animals are now being cared for by the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA). "This seizure is sadly yet another example of the absence of any regard to the health and welfare of puppies by those involved in the illegal trafficking of puppies from Ireland," a spokesperson for the DSPCA said. "The DSPCA will continue to support the gardai and we wish to thank them for their work." The charity is working with agencies in the UK to combat the illegal puppy trade. A plus-size model who curated the @Ireland Twitter account has said racial and homophobic abuse online left her "broken". Brave Michelle Marie became a global sensation after enduring a stream of abuse. The Oxford-born mum, who has lived in Mayo for the past three years, suffered a litany of comments about her race and physical appearance within hours of starting her stint on the popular profile. Speaking after the experience, Michelle said the abuse "really did break" her. Break "Yesterday, it really did break me. I wasn't in a good way, which was why I decided to step away from the account," she said. "I really went into it thinking there would be a handful of trolls and negativity that I could just gloss over and carry on. "Instead I just got a non-stop barrage of racism, sexism, sizism, homophobia, everything. "It was just pure hate." She also said that many of the trolls were not from Ireland - with some of the worst offenders hailing from the US. "For me, I've been lucky that this is a one-off experience, but for lots of people this is what they encounter on a regular basis," she said. The abuse forced Michelle offline temporarily but she has since returned to take the helm of the account again. "I decided that for my peace of mind and well-being, it was better just to remove myself from that situation. I don't want those trolls to win. "I'm a good person, and have a message that's worth sharing. There are people who have been supportive and want to hear what I have to say, and that made me want to try and see the week out," she said. Website IrishCentral.com set up the @Ireland account in 2012, and selects a different person to run it each week. Shane O'Curry, director of European Anti-Racism Network Ireland (ENAR), said the incident highlighted "how unequal Ireland is". "This woman couldn't curate a Twitter account without coming across such vitriolic abuse," he told the Herald. Between 15pc and 20pc of the complaints of racist incidents made to ENAR last year related to online incidents, he said. Harass "There is unfortunately a group of people who have been empowered by access to social media to exercise their darkest fantasies, harass and make life miserable for people." Brian Killoran, chief executive of the Immigrant Council of Ireland, said that 12pc of racist incidents reported to the council's hotline last year also happened on the web. "The @Ireland account is a wonderful use of technology, showing the huge diversity... in our State," he said. "We think [Michelle is] exactly the kind of person we can be proud to call Irish." Housing Minister Simon Coveney says he is "uncomfortable" with height restrictions on apartment complexes introduced by Dublin city councillors and wants to work with them to allow higher buildings as part of his efforts to tackle the housing crisis. In May, Dublin City Council (DCC) voted to limit apartment complex heights in low-rise neighbourhoods in the city centre to 24 metres - or eight storeys - with a 13-metre limit in the suburbs. That was despite city management seeking limits of 28 metres and 16 metres respectively. Mr Coveney's department later made a submission to DCC asking that the higher limits be allowed in the Dublin City Development Plan, which is due to be voted on next month. The minister was at the opening of 350 new student accommodation units at UCD when he was asked if he would issue a ministerial direction on the matter if councillors ignore his appeal. "I want to work with the councillors," he replied. He noted that the housing challenges the country faces are "most acute" in Dublin, citing the homelessness crisis and affordability of homes. "My approach is to try and work with people and to agree a way forward. "I and my department was uncomfortable with the restrictions that many of the councillors were advocating. Estates "I'm not proposing that we build very high-rise apartment blocks in suburban areas in the middle of normal housing estates. "But I am proposing that in urban centres in the city - where higher heights in terms of accommodation are more suitable to create modern high-quality urban living - then we should be looking to do that. "Otherwise all the new housing units are going to be built on green belts on the outskirts of cities. We need more people living in the heart of cities in high-quality and, in some cases, higher buildings," Mr Coveney added. He also responded to the latest Daft.ie report that showed spiralling rents in the city - with average monthly rates ranging from 1,272 in the north county to 1,735 in the south county. "Undoubtedly this is in my view the biggest challenge for government is to ensure that people can find affordable housing whether that's in the rental market or whether it's buying new houses. "First and foremost it's fundamentally about supply," Mr Coveney said. "The Irish rental market for decades in my view has been broken. "It's either growing dramatically or collapsing dramatically ... We need a much more stable rental market where there is predictability and calm. "But in order to achieve that, we need a significant increase in supply which I hope is what you'll see in the next two to three years." What do burping, perfume, and throwing Skittles all have in common? They have all gotten kids arrested at school. Classroom antics that once would end in a trip to the principals office, detention, or, at worst, a suspension now end in a ride in a police car and an arrest record. The consequences can be grossly disproportionate to the conduct. In New Mexico, a 13-year-old boy was arrested after disturbing his physical-education class with fake burps. The charge: violating a state statute that criminalizes interference with a schools educational process by any act which would disrupt, impair, interfere with or obstruct the lawful mission, processes, procedures or functions of the property, building or facility. An appeals court ruled that the police officer could not be held liable for the arrest, though a brief dissent argued that prior case law required a more substantial, more physical invasion than momentary noise or diversion like fake burps to find that school operations are jeopardized to a point that justifies arrest. In Texas, Sarah Bustamantes, 12, was also cited for disrupting class. Why? She sprayed perfume on her neck after classmates teased her, telling her that she smelled. They then complained about the smell of her perfume and the teacher called the police. Officers arrested Alex Stone, a 16-year-old South Carolina high schooler, after he completed an in-class writing assignment the first day of school. Alex wrote, I killed my neighbors pet dinosaur, and I bought the gun to take care of the business. The teacher called the police, who searched his locker and person for weapons. They found none but arrested Alex anyway for disorderly conduct, claiming the boy was being irate. Alexs mother noted: First of all, we dont have dinosaurs anymore. Second of all, hes not even old enough to buy a gun. In 2014, the government charged Christian Stanfield, a 15-year-old with a learning disability, with disorderly conduct. After his teacher failed to stop other students from harassing Stanfield, he recorded the bullies and brought the recording to the attention of the school officials. They called the police on him instead for recording others without their permission. The charges were later dropped. In Louisiana, a bus driver told an eighth grader and a couple of other students to stop throwing Skittles at one another on their ride home. The next day, a police officer cuffed the student in the middle of a social studies test and dragged him from the classroom. The boy spent six days in a juvenile detention facility, charged with interference with an educational facility and battery. A judge subsequently asked: Am I to get this right? Are we really here about Skittles? 2014 (the last year for which data are available) marked a historically low number of juvenile arrests for violent crime. Yet these cases illustrate an increasing number of criminal arrests for disorderly conduct. A disastrous (and perhaps predictable) consequence of introducing children to the criminal justice system for this level of conduct is that minors have to cope with the stigma that attaches to a brush with criminal law enforcement; it can follow them for the rest of their lives. Studies show that a first-time arrest during high school nearly doubles the odds of high school dropout, while a court appearance nearly quadruples the odds of dropout. Disorderly conduct such as scribbling on a desk or a Skittles fight certainly falls outside the realm of conduct most people would assume to be criminal. As Kady Simpkins, a lawyer for Sarah Bustamantes, said: Theyre kids. Disruption of class? Every time I look at this law I think: Good lord, I never would have made it in school in the U.S. I dont know how these kids do it, how they go to school every day without breaking these laws. Even when an arrest is not made, police involvement in harmless conduct can have lasting negative consequences. In Collingswood, for example, police were called into a class party in June when a third grader said something about brownies that another child said was racist. Police questioned the boy, then his father, and reported the incident to the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency. The boys mother said the questioning intimidated and traumatized her son. Superintendent Scott Oswald told reporters that on some occasions over the last month, officers may have been called to as many as five incidents per day. Teachers and parents must accept responsibility to discipline kids for minor misbehavior themselves. The potential costs of an unwarranted arrest of a student in class are too high, and law enforcement officials have real crime to deal with. Even when an arrest is not made, police involvement in harmless conduct can have lasting negative consequences. MARION, Va.Scott Schumaker wants the old-time moonshiners, those whose stills were illegal, to say, The boy did it right. Schumaker may not have heard from moonshiners Monday, but he got the nod of local and state officials and their commitments to back his expansion plans with money. A Virginia grant for $50,000 matched by another $50,000 from Smyth County suggests that officials believe Schumaker has gotten it right with his Virginia Sweetwater Distillery, the first legal distillery in Southwest Virginia. The distillery produces handcrafted whiskies sold under the umbrella of Appalachian Mountain Spirits. Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore was at the downtown Marion mercantile and tasting room of Appalachian Mountain Spirits Monday to announce the Governors Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Grant. Haymore noted that the grant includes a buy-local component that in this case would require Schumaker to buy 30 percent of his feedstock from Virginia farms. Schumaker didnt hesitate, promising to buy 100 percent of his corn, wheat and rye more than 3 million pounds -- from Virginia farms. The secretary went on to note that Schumaker plans to invest more than $1.95 million in the expansion and create 13 jobs. Thats entrepreneurism at its best, said Haymore. The business has already seen incredible growth in its four years of existence. We grew so fast, so quickly and won so many awards, Schumaker said after the announcement. The business outgrew the distillery high on the family farm on Walkers Creek Road in Marion. On occasion, bottling could only be done on sunny days because of a lack of storage space. This expansion will allow the operation to grow from 600 square feet to 6,000 square feet with thousands dedicated to storage. While lease negotiations are continuing, Schumaker expects the location to be in downtown Marion. The expansion, Schumaker said, will also allow Appalachian Mountain Spirits to start a malting business to serve its needs and supply local breweries. To Schumakers relief, the expansion also means a new leadership team, including a CEO to handle management. To make great whiskey takes great passion, Schumaker said, and hes anxious to focus on making whiskey. Even the recipes for Appalachian Mountain Spirits beverages are his. Im not a CEO. I dont want to be a CEO. I like making great whiskey, said Schumaker, who wants to become a destination distillery. As Schumaker accepted the accolades from officials Monday, his voice shook. He acknowledged to the crowd that the alcohol business is very, very difficult and the path to that day had been hard, but, he added, Im humbled by your trust. HUDSON Truck drivers are some of Americas unsung heroes and last month they were honored at a first time event meant to show appreciation for all that they do while putting them in touch with local companies who are looking for drivers to take their precious cargo places far and wide and encouraging those looking for a career to consider joining the ranks. We want people to come out and find out more about the employers and if they are a truck driver were going to say thank for all the excellent work they do, Donna Bean said, who is the department chair of continuing education and workforce development at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute. Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, in partnership with the Furniture Shippers Association and the Specialized Furniture Carriers Division of the American Home Furnishings Alliance, hosted a Truck Driver Appreciation and Hiring Event in July at the Transportation and Public Service Center's Truck Driving Range. Barry Bailey, director of transportation and logistics for Bernhardt Furniture was one of the event organizers and manned a grill during the event. He said he and others who worked in and with the trucking industry have seen a decline in new truck drivers for several years. Weve seen this driver shortage coming for some time, Bailey said. Were trying to replenish the workforce here as fast as possible and (Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute) has the finest professional truck driving program in the state. Bailey said the trucking industry is facing a shortage of some 50,000 drivers, and others have speculated that by 2020, the shortage will be more than 100,000 truck drivers. At some point in time everything is delivered by a truck so its going to affect every commodity, Bailey said. The event brought together local employers including Bernhardt Furniture, Cargo Transporters, Hickory Springs, Mississippi Furniture Xpress and NWFXpress. However, the biggest goal for both the school and employers was to entice those who might be looking for a new career path to look at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institutes truck driver training program. The program trains drivers with classroom instruction while allowing students to spend more than nine weeks of the 10-week program working with the trucks on a closed course on the college campus and on the road. One of our missions is to try to meet the workforce need of employers, Bean said. We are hoping that individuals will see the many job opportunities in the industry and want to get the training. In 1908, when roads were still dirt and the primary means of transportation in Caldwell County was still by horse and buggy, the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina was willed a very large piece of land in Happy Valley to be used for a school. The voices of students bustling to and from class stopped in 2008 when the Patterson School closed after celebrating 100 years of learning on the campus. The closing of the beloved learning institution was a disappointment to the members of the community in Happy Valley, so a community member stepped forward and purchased the property back from the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina. The buildings that once rang with laughter and the excitement of learning are once again welcoming students of all ages into their halls for a chance to learn and explore. The Caldwell County Schools bring children here as part of the STEAM Program, said Liza Plaster, a board member of the Patterson School Foundation. The campus is open again for groups and retreats. The Patterson School Foundation has three main focuses when it comes to the Patterson School campus -- education for children and adults, returning agriculture to the grounds and preserving the historic buildings on the property. All of these ideas work together to preserve the ideas and spirit of Samuel Legerwood Patterson who first decided that the property, which started out as his familys plantation, should be used as a school after his death. The school is used by the Caldwell County Schools system as a place for children enrolled in the STEAM Program, which teaches science, technology, engineering, arts and agriculture and math. This is a campus where the students can come out once a week and study science, Plaster said, adding that in the near future, solar panels would be added on the property. The solar panels would allow students to see how energy could be harnessed to help supply the electricity needs of the school. While historically the Patterson School has been a beautiful and unique learning environment for children, the board of directors for the Patterson School Foundation wants to open the halls of learning up for adults as well. In the past few months, the campus has been home to art classes as well as a class of violin and fiddle repair. Upcoming classes that will be offered at the school include encaustic drawing, open air drawing and life drawing. To further their goal in bringing agriculture back to the property, the Patterson School Foundation recently agreed to lease several acres of land and outbuildings to a cattleman based in Granite Falls who will raise beef cattle on the schools property that is directly across N.C. 268. This addition will bring livestock back to the grounds of the Patterson School in a similar way to how it was done in the early 1900s. The Patterson School sits on more than 1,500 acres of land and has several buildings including Kissler Cottage, which is on the National Registry of Historic Places. These buildings are why the Patterson School Foundation is historic preservation project. Several buildings have been renovated, and the campus boasts a commercial kitchen that allows groups to have retreats where meals can be made by a chef in the kitchen. The meals are then served in the dining hall, which has large windows looking out to several beautiful views of the campus. A dormitory building also was restored and is available for use during retreats. While several of the buildings have been renovated, there is still a lot of work to do to make The Patterson School the beacon of learning it once was. Plaster and the other members of the board of the Patterson School Foundation believe they would be remiss in not trying to breathe new life into the long-time school. Its in a really good place but the school has a lot of progress a head of it, Plaster said. For more information about the Patterson School, visit www.pattersonschoolfoundation.org. 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/ The surprise announcement by MQM lawmaker Farooq Sattar that the party will now be run from Pakistan and not from London, where party founder Altaf Hussain has lived in self-exile for 24 years, has been welcomed by many quarters. It has been welcomed most of all by MQM cadres, who at times have found it difficult to defend the actions and speeches of Hussain, who stirred up a storm on Monday by describing Pakistan as a cancer for the entire world during a speech. Read: MQM chief Altaf Hussain calls Pakistan cancer for entire world In the past, Hussains speeches, in which he threatened other politicians and abused the military high command, resulted in a court order under which his speeches were no longer permitted to be aired live on television. Despite this ban, Hussains speech on Monday, which led to MQM workers attacking the offices of two TV channels and destroying public and private property, suggests he continues to hold sway over the party faithful in the financial hub of Karachi. Keeping this in mind, the announcement by Sattar is being seen as a compromise reached between the MQM and the army high command. Political analysts say that despite being boycotted by all major political parties in the country as well as confronting the Pakistan Army, the MQMs political fortunes have only brightened. The voters of Karachi continue to turn out in droves to vote for the MQM, which mainly draws support from Urdu-speaking people who migrated from India, as the party is seen as championing their rights. A move by the army to introduce an alternate leadership in the form of former MQM mayor Mustafa Kamal failed miserably. Kamals Pak Sar Zameen Party has been unable to draw crowds and has been dismissed as a non-starter. Given the hold that the MQM has over Karachis electorate, talk of banning the party because of the anti-Pakistan comments by Hussain in Mondays speech, and repeated by his supporters soon after, seem to have now died down. While a case of treason has been registered against Hussain, this does not amount to much because he is not in Pakistan and several such cases remain pending against him. Banning the MQM would have also brought the army in direct confrontation with the party and this would have led to a long and troubled time for Karachi, where the bulk of MQM supporters live. This is the last thing the army wants. De-linking Hussain from the MQM for the time being helps save face for all sides. But that does not mean Hussain is not in charge of the party. There is only one leader and that is Altaf Hussain, was the chant that went up outside the Karachi Press Club after the announcement by Sattar that there would be no dictation from London. Talk of MQM splitting up or a crisis in the partys leadership too seems far-fetched at this stage. The real challenge that came to Hussain was neither from the MQM nor from political forces in Pakistan. It was the case related to the 2010 murder in London of his former colleague, Imran Farooq in which UK authorities were at one time pointing to him as a suspect that caused much fear for him. Sitting in the UK as a Britsih citizen, Hussain remains safe from the reach of the ISI and the army high command. If and when he is forced to return to Pakistan, there would be a real challenge to him and to his party. Till then, the MQM continues. The [Kerala] government will instruct the local self-governing bodies to kill dangerous dogs, who pose a threat to human beings, by administering medicines, Keralas local self governance minister KT Jaleel said in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday. Jaleels statement is both dangerous and ambiguous at the same time. It is dangerous because it reflects the inhuman face of a government when faced with public outrage; and its ambiguous because it reflects the confusion the State is facing in how to tackle the menace stray dogs pose. Read | Kerala steps up measures to check stray dog menace The Pinarayi Vijayan government has gone on the overdrive after receiving several reports of people being attacked by stray dogs, especially after the death of a 65-year-old woman who was attacked by a pack of dogs on a beach in the state capital on Friday. There is widespread anger across Kerala against what many term as the States love for canines over humans. This anger is seen in media debates on television channels and was reflected when a group called Kerala Cyber Warriors hacked the website People For Animals, of which Union minister Maneka Gandhi is the chairperson, and posted the message #Stray_Dog_Free_India. That said, such incidents should not be used as an excuse to meet out cruelty towards animals. It should not be forgotten that there are adequate provisions in the law that uphold and protect the rights of animals. Read | Hundreds of stray dogs poisoned in Karachi to curb attacks Earlier, while hearing appeals by animal lovers against decisions of municipal bodies to tackle the stray dog menace, which in some cases advocated culling them, the Supreme Court asked state governments to vaccinate nuisance-causing stray dogs in accordance with existing laws, but also said that there should be a balance between compassion for dogs and the lives of human beings. According to the Mumbai municipal corporation, in 2015 more than 46,000 dog bite cases were reported and five people died due to rabies. An initial report submitted by the Supreme Court-appointed Justice Siri Jagan panel to look into the complaints of dog bite victims in Kerala states that till May this year about 31,000 dog bite cases were reported. In 2015, the number was an alarming 1.22 lakh. Maharashtra and Kerala are not alone in reporting such cases. In January, a boy was mauled by a pack of dogs in Punjab. In May, a minor girl was attacked by dogs while playing outside her house in Bengaluru. She was hospitalised with more than 50 dog bite wounds. In June, a 10-year-old was mauled to death by stray dogs in Khargone, in Madhya Pradesh Read | Three dogs shot dead for barking, creating nuisance in Hyderabad In the light of such a large number of cases it is quite natural to expect the public to be angry that little is being done to address the problem. But killing a stray dog is both illegal and is not a practical solution to the problem. It is illegal because according to the Animal Birth Control Rules 2001, under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960, stray dogs can only be vaccinated and sterilised under the Animal Birth Control Programme. According to the ABCP, stray dogs that are neutered or vaccinated against rabies need to be released from where they were picked up. Killing all stray dogs is also an impractical option. Imagine if a panchayat or a municipality decides to get rid of all stray dogs within its limits. This would be a temporary solution as stray dogs from neighbouring areas will soon fill that vacuum. Our shoddy and in many cases non-existent waste management techniques also contribute to the problem. The ready availability of food waste, from hotels, RWAs, etc, attracts stray dogs. That could be a reason why stray dogs are a menace more in urban areas than in rural areas. Read | Every hour 31 people are bitten by stray dogs in Rajasthan The problems caused by stray dogs cannot be overlooked and needs to be addressed in a scientific manner. For long-term solutions all stakeholders need to be involved and, reasonable and responsible measures need to be taken: Governments should not be swayed by public sentiments, and the public should not expect a quick-fix solution. Governments and local bodies need to be adequately trained and funds must be made available to carry out vaccination and sterilisation drives. What should also be done simultaneously is for every home and local body to adopt proper waste-disposal techniques. All this shows that a stray dog has few friends. Compassion and an understanding of the problem do not mean putting human lives at risk. As observed by the apex court, its necessary to maintain a balance. @vijucherian SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON For many years, Indian and Western intelligence services have known that mob boss Dawood Ibrahim has been living in Pakistan, spending most of his time in the sprawling financial hub of Karachi. Indian intelligence and security agencies have also gathered a lot of information about Ibrahims activities in Pakistan, including travels by him and his family, his large business empire and his interactions with accomplices. Much of this information has been gathered through technical surveillance. As such, the news that a UN committee has found three of nine possible addresses listed for Ibrahim by Indian authorities to be incorrect and removed them from a sanctions list means very little. This appears to be part of a regular housekeeping exercise as several other corrections were made to Ibrahims entry in the list maintained by the UN committee that monitors sanctions under Resolution 1267. There could have been some embarrassment in official circles that one of the incorrect addresses was similar to that of a residence of Pakistans envoy to the UN, Maleeha Lodhi, but such things can happen since spycraft in a hostile country such as Pakistan is no easy matter. Since Western intelligence agencies stepped up surveillance of individuals linked to al Qaeda in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, it is believed Ibrahim has rarely travelled out of Pakistan. There was a time when he frequently travelled to Dubai but the leadership of the UAE has been taking steps to apprehend and hand over known terrorists in recent years. Indian journalists who lived and worked in Pakistan were usually discretely warned not to make too many inquiries about Ibrahim if Pakistani authorities thought they were taking a lot of interest in the mob boss. There have been reports of visiting Indian journalists and even Pakistani reporters who got too close to his homes in the posh Defence and Clifton areas of Karachi being chased away by plainclothes personnel. It is widely believed that some of the plainclothes personnel posted around these homes are from the Inter-Services Intelligence, which has for long been accused of sheltering Ibrahim. In Islamabad circles, there were reports for long that Ibrahim had a safe house in the post Sector F-6/2, which is also home to Indias high commissioner and envoys and diplomats of several other countries. Sanctions under Resolution 1267, which cover individuals believed to have links with al Qaeda and other groups such as the Islamic State (IS), require UN member states to prevent foreign travel, freeze assets and cut off access to weapons for such individuals. It is has been clear for some time that Pakistan, which consistently denies Ibrahims presence in the country, will do nothing to enforce these sanctions. It has not acted in the case of several other individuals on the Resolution 1267 list, including Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed. Retired security officials can sometimes be heard making fanciful boasts on night-time TV talk shows about conducting covert operations to get Ibrahim but questions remain about Indias capabilities to conduct such operation, and their consequences. However, measures such as the Resolution 1267 ensure that Pakistan at least keeps a firm check on the activities of individuals such as Ibrahim because it knows the world is watching. (The views expressed by the writer are personal. He tweets as @rezhasan) It is an irony of the times we live that political parties, who swear by openness and transparency, are themselves secretive when it comes to their sources of income. A media report says more than 70% of the income of the national parties is disclosed neither to the public nor the authorities, executive or judicial. The Congress had to pay a punitive tax of Rs 25 crore when it could not satisfy the Delhi High Court about an unaccounted income the party had generated in 1994-95. The BJP too is not much different in this and the two parties together are said to account for about 80% of the earnings of all such outfits. Read: 5 parties ignore CIC order on RTI Parties often are able to circumvent the legal processes. For example, when the Central Information Commission said in 2013 they came under the Right to Information Act, the matter went up to the Supreme Court and the issue is still unresolved. The Income Tax Act exempts them from paying the income tax under conditions, some of which are that they must maintain proper books of accounts, keep records of each voluntary donation of Rs 20,000 and above, have their books audited by a chartered accountant, etc. On the face of it, these are not being rigorously followed. Exemption from the income tax is justified because political parties do not engage themselves in any productive activity. But not disclosing incomes is unfortunate, given the fact that parties get land at subsidised rates and many other facilities. Read: Cong rejects CIC order on bringing political parties under RTI Parties and politicians are increasingly crossing the line in claiming privileges that do appear not only unseemly but whose legalities can be questioned. Recently the UP government changed the law after the Supreme Court gave an order preventing former chief ministers from occupying official bungalows. The tendency on the part of some to convert official bungalows into memorials of their fathers or relatives so that they have a perpetual hold on prize real estate requires no elaboration. Now if they fail to adhere to basic financial discipline as regards keeping detailed records of their income and expenditure, their moral authority will become weaker. In the process what will happen is that our parties, like our legislatures, will come under judicial gaze, which is not healthy for the functioning of democracy. The author tweets as @uddalokbhattach SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The report of the one-person judicial commission that Hyderabads PhD student Rohith Vemula, an Ambedkarite who committed suicide early this year, was not a Dalit goes against all that has appeared in the public domain so far. Worse, the problem has been compounded by the statements from two Union ministers Sushma Swaraj and Thaawar Chand Gehlot, who said Rohith belonged to the Veddara community, which belongs to the category of Other Backward Classes. This is less than partly true. It is known since January this year that Rohiths father belongs to the Veddar community and he had separated from his wife, Rohiths mother, when Rohith was a child. What is much more important is to recognise, and this is also known since January, that Rohiths mother belonged to the Mala caste, which is a scheduled caste in Andhra Pradesh. And finally Rohiths caste certificate said he did belong to the Mala caste. That should have settled the issue then itself. Read | Rohith Vemula: An unfinished portrait Apart from Rohith, several other Dalit scholars of Hyderabad Central University have committed suicide. Most of these deaths have been due to anguish on account of administrative lapses and stopping of grants. In Rohiths case, the matter cannot be investigated under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act if it can be established that he was not a Dalit. The situation might not have drifted this far had Union minister Bandaru Dattatreya not written the unnecessary letter, at the behest of ABVP students having problems with Rohith, to then HRD minister Smriti irani, complaining about the anti-national climate prevailing in the Hyderabad Central University campus. Read | Rohith Vemula, death of a philosopher to purify higher education Rohith was suspended first, and even though the suspension order was lifted he was prevented from entering the dormitories. He had to spend his days out in the cold. And his monthly stipend of 25,000 had been stopped in July last year itself, possibly on account of his Ambedkarite activities. The broad facts relating to his suicide are more important than which caste he belonged to. But the central government is persisting in its efforts to obfuscate the issue, obviously with next years assembly elections and the Dalit vote in mind. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Kannada actor-politician Ramya is the latest to attract sedition charges for having praised Pakistan after a visit to that country. This follows close on the heels of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) complaining against alleged anti-India slogans being raised at an Amnesty International meeting in Bengaluru after which sedition charges were filed against the organisation. Praise for Pakistan by Ramya who has refused to back down very clearly does not amount to sedition by any stretch of the imagination and this is yet another example of the law being misused by those harbouring some sort of misplaced sense of nationalism. Read| Accused of sedition, actress-politician says wont apologise for Pak comment The law as it stands attracts a penalty of life imprisonment. This clearly frivolous charge against Ramya once again underscores the need to debate this law and how it can be used to derail the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution. In colonial times, this law was used to silence dissident Indians but today it is used freely to silence legitimate dissent. Criticising a political leader, a particular ideology or even expressing praise for a so-called enemy nation means that you are in danger of having the sedition law slapped on you. It has been used with devastating effect against student leader Kanhaiya Kumar who was accused of raising anti-national slogans on JNU campus. Read | You cant bring every criticism under the ambit of sedition The definition of sedition is open-ended. It refers to anyone who attempts to bring into hatred or contempt or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the government by words spoken or written or by signs or by visible representation or otherwise is guilty of the offence of sedition. Because of this loose definition, it can be interpreted in many ways to silence people who raise uncomfortable issues. The fabric of the nation is not so fragile that an anti-India slogan or praise of another country can pose a threat to it. So we can only conclude that the sedition law is a political one which can be misused by ultra nationalists and the government of the day whenever it chooses to. Read | Charities alarmed over closure of Amnesty offices, ask govt not to be like China The Supreme Court itself has said in the past that mere speech does not amount to sedition. The sedition law cannot be taken off the statute books but certainly, it should be reviewed so that its ambit is narrowed in a manner that it cannot be misinterpreted or misused by people. A law which Nehru deemed obnoxious seems to have withstood the test of time as it has been a convenient tool for governments to deal with those who oppose its policies or who challenge it in any way. Activists Binayak Sen, Arundhati Roy and Uday Kumar are among those who have attracted sedition charges. The police that file these charges seem to have no clue about implications of the law. Anyone filing sedition charges on flimsy grounds must be discouraged by the police or judiciary. The Ramya case is frivolous and should not have been entertained in the first place. @LalitaPanicker SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Students in civic schools in Mumbai will soon start their day with a surya namaskar. On Tuesday the Shiv Sena-BJP led Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) passed a proposal that made surya namaskar and yoga mandatory in the primary and secondary schools run by the corporation. At a cursory glance the proposal looks like a good idea after all, yoga is a form of meditation and its positive results are recognised the world over. But is this a pressing need for civic schools ? At a time when civic schools face a shortage of teachers, students, and there is a lot of room for improving and in some cases even providing basic infrastructure, the emphasis on yoga seems misplaced. Read | Surya namaskar and yoga made mandatory in Mumbai civic schools A recent study conducted by the ministry of drinking water and sanitation found of that only 62% of schools in Maharashtra had functioning toilets the situation in Mumbai, as is the case in many metros where public toilets and access to existing facilities are inadequate, is not better. Recently reports also showed that in about 15 schools that started Class 10 this academic year there were no teachers. The lack of qualified teachers and poor training for existing teachers to keep abreast with the latest techniques in pedagogy are much-debated issues but have seen little progress. Read | Away from limelight, a Muslim spreads yoga in Pakistan Another problem which the BMC needs to urgently address is the lack of secondary schools in Mumbai. According to the municipal corporation of Greater Mumbai, there are 1,121 municipal primary schools, but only 145 municipal secondary schools a reason for students discontinuing education after primary school. And this gap exists at a time when, according to the Right to Education, it is the duty of the State to provide free education till the age of 14. The BMCs decision is bound to become controversial, and the Opposition in the state, the Congress, along with the Samajwadi Party, are of the view that yoga should be made optional. Read | Patanjali to hold monthly yoga sessions in schools This move is likely to be seen as a covert attempt by Right-wing groups and the BJP government to saffronise education. An unfortunate effect of this decision could be more parents, especially Muslims, pulling their children out of civic schools, and turning to religious schools. A surya namaskar might be a good way to start the day for school students in Mumbai, but it amounts to little if they dont have qualified teachers, proper teaching aids or quality infrastructure for the rest of the day. @vijucherian SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Delhis Luv Kush Ramleela to begin in October in Old Delhi already had 60 Bollywood actors in its cast. And now, filmstar Ajay Devgn has been confirmed as a special guest whod burn down the Ravana effigy on Dussehra the eleventh day of the Ramlila. This year, we have invited Ajay Devgn. He looks cool and his family has an old connect with Delhi, says Ashok Aggarwal, president, Luv Kush Ramleela Committee. The organisers are sure that the actors presence will add thrill and action to the annual feature. Everyone knows Ajay Devgn is good at action and we cant deny that the large-scale Ramlila were planning will only be justified if a star of his stature burns the Ravana, adds Aggarwal. Read:Ravi Kishan, Manoj Tiwari to be part of Delhis star-studded Luv Kush Ramleela The organisers have also invited action directors from Mumbai to add live special effects to some sequences. A team of sixty people will overlook the action drama. All the stunts will be conducted under the guidance of Kaushal Moses, who has worked in more than 300 Indian movies, including the recent Bajirao Mastani, says Aggarwal. He adds that for the first time, the demon character of Tadka will be burnt alive, and one can look forward to watch how Ravana offered his ten heads to impress Lord Shiva. We want this Ramlila to look totally filmy, adds Aggarwal. Actor Vivek Oberoi and politician Rajnath Singh burned the effigy of Ravana last year in the Ramlila organised by Luv Kush Ramleela Committee. (Virendra Singh Gosain/ HT ) For the lovers of culture, the visual treat will also have 12 dance groups from different parts of the country. This will be a total of 200 performers, who will set the stage on fire at the Ramlila staged near Red Fort every year. Read: Iss baar, Ramlila poori filmy hai! And to add to realism, an artist from South Africa and one from Jharkhand will play Ahiravan (Ravanas brother) and Nishadraj (king of the Bhil tribe). SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Aamir Khans working style and his choice of films have been the talk of the town for a long time. This aspect has often attracted the attention of media and film students. In fact, Aamir and his team have been receiving inquiries from students who want to learn how the film industry functions, and they want to get trained by Aamir himself. Read: Aamir Khan is all bulked up to play a young Mahavir for Dangal Now, HT has learnt that the actor has decided to hire two interns every year. The chosen two will shadow the actor. That will help them understand his style of functioning and learn how the industry works. The process will be as intense as interning at any other organisation, says an insider. Aamir and his team have been receiving inquiries from students who want to learn how the film industry functions, and they want to get trained by Aamir himself. (Yogen Shah) Aamir is very keen that the students join him for all his shoots, meetings, script-reading sessions, rehearsals and everything else that goes on behind the scenes in the Hindi film industry. Since it was two young actors Fatima Sana Shaikh (who plays Geeta Phogat in Aamirs next) and Sanya Malhotra (who plays Babita Kumari in the same film) who first expressed their desire to become his interns, the actor has started the initiative with them. Fatima and Sanya will be exposed to everything that the actor does. Aamir will train them personally until March next year, says the insider. Fatima and Sanya play Aamir Khans daughters in his upcoming film, Dangal. Read: Im opposed to unrest - Parrikar clarifies arrogant comment on Aamir remark Once the actors finish their internship, Aamir will take two media students under his wing, beginning in April. Those who are interested in interning will need to contact his Mumbai office. While the actor was unavailable, his spokesperson confirmed the news, and said, Aamir wants to pass on his experiences to these youngsters. He is keen to share and motivate the next generation. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A big churn in the highway sector is round the corner. As infrastructure majors are selling assets, a lot of developers are looking at making a complete exit from the business to reduce debt and de-risk themselves. Anil Ambani-led Reliance Infrastructure (R-Infra), has decided to completely exit the business by selling all its 11 assets to Canadas Brookfield Asset Management for 9,000-10,000 crore. The deal which is expected to close in next 2-3 months, will be the biggest highway assets deal in the recent past. It help the Indian company reduce its debt by Rs 5500 crore. Till now, infrastructure players such as GMR, GVK, Essel and Essar have been selling only parts of their portfolio. Though Gammon Infrastructure recently exited 9 projects, of which 6 were highways, valued at Rs 6,750 crore to Brookfield and Core Infra India Fund, fetching Rs 563 crore. Brookfield which sees immense scope in such assets, in July, announced a JV with Indias largest bank -- State Bank of India (SBI) committing Rs 7,000 crore to purchase distressed assets. The fund will independently evaluate and invest in various stressed assets and will rely on the Canadian asset managers operational expertise to manage recapitalized businesses. Experts say such deals are paving way for freeing up stuck equity and allowing the lenders too, to introduce fresh funding in the new projects. According to industry estimates, total exposure by lenders to highways is as high as Rs 2.12 lakh crore. With developers selling assets, it will help the sector develop a new O&M vertical for long term O&M operations, as separate from development and construction. It will also free up a lot of developer equity giving them a chance to bid for fresh projects and in cases, where developers are not wanting to continue in the highways business, then the money raised by asset sales will come back in the system, if not in highways then in other sectors. Thereby, the stuck liquidity cycle will churn and pave way for fresh fund infusion which would go a long way in bridging our infrastructure deficit said Rohit Singh, Joint Secretary in the ministry of highways. Though, analysts have generally been positive about asset monetization efforts, given that the balance sheets of many of these players will get de-leveraged. But the fact remains that many of these deals are also being seen as distress sales. India has seen one of the highest number of public-private partnership (PPP) projects amongst the developing countries. However, over the last few years, there has been a slowdown in award of PPP projects particularly in the highways sector. There are many factors contributing to the decline in private sector interests including weak financials of many companies, higher risk involved, lengthier dispute resolution mechanism, and funding constraints which have been pulling down the valuations, Rohit Inamdar, Senior Vice-President, ICRA said. In a bid to curb black money, the government is considering a recommendation of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to ban cash transactions of over 3 lakh, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) chairperson Rani Singh Nair said on Wednesday. Once approved, any cash deals of 3 lakh and above would be deemed illegal. To keep or hold cash above 15 lakh, one would need to take the permission of the area tax commissioner. HT reported first on May 20, that the government was planning to declare cash transactions above a certain amount illegal. These recommendations have come. It (banning cash transactions over 3 lakh) is under examination. SIT recommendations are under consideration, Singh said. Sources in the department said the proposal will be put up for finance minister Arun Jaitleys approval before notification. Taxmen had called for public comments on the proposal, and sources said the comments till now do not indicate any reluctance, thereby strengthening the case for notifying the ban. The tax department, Singh said, has already levied a 1% tax collected at source (TCS) on cash transactions and made quoting of permanent account number (PAN) mandatory, among other measures, to curb black money. The SIT, headed by Justice MB Shah (retired), last month submitted its fifth report to the Supreme Court on steps needed to curb black money. Having considered the provisions which exist in this regard in various countries, and also having considered various observations of courts regarding cash transactions, the SIT felt that there is a need to put an upper limit to cash transactions, the SIT said. It recommended a total ban on cash transactions of 3 lakh, and said for those above that, an Act should be framed to declare such transactions as illegal and punishable under law. India, the fastest growing aviation market in the world, is set to get 50 new airports in the next three years as part of a plan to boost regional connectivity, and of these, at least 10 will become operational over the next one year, said civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju in an interaction with reporters in Mumbai in Tuesday. The government, he added, will support newer entrants in the aviation space by light hand-holding. To give wings to the ambitious regional connectivity plan, the government will take up some of the so-called ghost airports through a yet-to-be-finalized viability gap funding plan. India has more than 30 non-operational airports and more than 400 airstrips dating back to World War II. It took us some time to roll out the regional connectivity scheme. The idea was to convert the wish list into a work list, Raju said. Later in the day, the minister signed a memorandum of agreement for regional connectivity with the Maharashtra government. The state is the first to have done so, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis tweeted. Read the full story on LiveMint A major rostering lapse, which resulted in pilots reaching late for their flight by over an hour had resulted in the death of an Air India (AI) technician, who was sucked inside the aircraft engine at the Mumbai airport on December 16 last year, investigators have concluded. The technician, Ravi Subramanian, died on the spot his limbs and head were shredded as he stood with his back towards the aircraft without realising that it had started to move. The final investigation report submitted to the aviation ministry and accessed by HT lists a series of lapses, including a terrible rostering error, which led to the tragic accident. Before operating the Mumbai-Hyderabad flight, the same pilots had operated a Rajkot-Mumbai flight. While the flight to Hyderabad was scheduled for departure at 7.30 pm, the one from Rajkot was scheduled for arrival only at 8.10 pm which meant that pilots were already 40 minutes late for their next flight. A further delay resulted in the Rajkot flight arriving at 8.35 pm. The crew took a jeep and rushed to bay V28L to operate AI 619 Mumbai-Hyderabad. Pilots reached cockpit at 8.38 pm. Pushback commenced at 8.45 pm, according to the report. The aircraft began taxiing with the pilots not realising that four ground personnel were still around the nose of the aircraft. While Subramanian, who had his back towards the plane and headphone on his head, was sucked in, others managed to run away. The co-pilot told investigators that the ground personnel had given clearance followed by thumbs up. However, as per the statement of chocks helper and tow truck driver, the deceased engineer had neither shown thumb or pin to pilot, nor had any other person, the report said. Air India did not offer comments for the story. Sources said Air India chairman and managing director Ashwani Lohani had ordered a complete overhaul of the airlines rostering system after the accident. The report has listed several other violations. As the pilots were running late for the flight, an off-duty AI pilot travelling as a passenger to Hyderabad obtained air traffic control clearance. HT had first reported about it on February 5. The aircraft maintenance engineer was missing and was not near the aircraft for pushback and departure, the report said. Non adherence to SoP (standard operating procedure) and delayed departure of flight due to improper rostering of crew resulted in the accident, according to the report. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON After the lull, the primary market is again back in action, with the retail investor at the centre . Calendar year 2015 saw 21 initial public offerings (IPOs) raising 13,614 crore. This year so far, 16 IPOs have already hit the market and have raised 10,724 crore. Several more are lined up. Apart from just one miss, all the 16 IPOs this year have seen the retail portion getting oversubscribed, according to PRIME Database, a Delhi-based firm that collects and analyses data. The retail investor portion of the 1,200-crore RBL Bank IPO, which ended on Tuesday, was oversubscribed 5.58 times. The IPO of Bangalore-based staffing solution provider Quess Corp, which concluded last month, saw the retail portion getting oversubscribed 32.8 times, the highest in the last six years. It was followed by Advanced Enzymes, with 11.12 times retail subscription. The public issues of TeamLease Services and Thyrocare Technologies saw the retail portion getting oversubscribed 10.34 times and 8.3 times, respectively. Recent buoyancy in the secondary market and regulatory changes in favour of retail investors helped in restoring investor confidence in the primary market, according to experts. For instance, in June 2015, Sebi made ASBA (applications supported by blocked amount) mandatory for retail investors. In ASBA, the application money is debited from the investors account only after the allotment of shares. Also, the reduction in timeframe for the listing of IPOs has been reduced to six days from 12, leading to better retail participation since the money is not blocked for a longer time period. Further, listing of these IPOs at a premium is also boosting investor confidence. In the last six months, nine out of 10 IPOs listed at a premium. The average listing day gains of these shares was 22.58%, against a 10.43% return by the Sensex in the same period. Quess Corp saw the highest listing day gain at 58.7%, followed by Thyrocare (38.6%). SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Reliance Jio on Monday threatened to take legal recourse against telecom lobby group Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) dragging an already ugly battle between the two to a new low. The advent of RelJio into the market has made its rivals wary and the strategy that it has adopted, which is to start small and go big, has a visible impact on actions by COAI on behalf of its other members. Jio, too, is a COAI member. The intensity of the battle is such that COAI has not only dragged the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) into the matter, accusing it of favouring a new entrant, but attempts have also been made to draw the attention of the Prime Ministers Office. The stage is set for an intense fight in the sector as RelJio slowly spreads its wings, which is also likely to coincide with the sale of Indias largest ever spectrum auction, beginning September 29. Here is how matters have unfolded in the past: The Interconnect Points It all started with RelJio claiming that COAI has rejected additional interconnect points demanded by Jio from existing operators in a letter to Trai chairman RS Sharma. COAI responded saying that the points provided by the operators are sufficient to support 15-20 million users and that RelJio only has nearly 2-3 million customers. Points of interconnection are where two networks connect with each other. Subsequently, RelJio accused the telcos of breach of licence agreement and also requested Trai to take action against telcos. Clous over Jios Commercial Launch On August 8, COAI wrote a letter to the department of telecom claiming that RelJio was generating data volumes which were 25-30 times the Indian average and bypassing government regulations with predatory pricing and unfair competition. The letter requested the telecom department and the regulator to intervene in the matter and instruct RelJio to stop providing services masquerading as tests. COAIs Core Members RelJio, in its response dated August 10, termed the contents of COAIs letter malicious, unfounded and ill informed. RelJio has invested over 1,34,000 crore so far in the project and would invest over 1,50,000 crore in this phase of the project. This is higher than the gross block of any of the incumbent operators, it said. To the PMO On August 11, the industry lobby group COAI wrote to the Prime Ministers Office expressing deep concern over the recent consultation papers floated by the telecom regulator. The association cited bias and accused Trai of adopting discriminatory practices against existing telecom operators. It seems that some of the papers have been crafted and timed to serve interests of some new entrants in the sector, with complete disregard for the massive investments made by existing operators, COAI said in its letter. (This is an original LiveMint report reproduced here.) A 15-year-old boy was tied to a tree and tortured to death allegedly by six people from his neighbourhood at Kalcheena, Modi Nagar town, in Ghaziabad early on Monday. The suspects then threw the victims body outside his house and fled. The boy, Zeeshan, was beaten for over two hours, police said, adding that a hunt has been launched for the six suspects. They hinted that the incident may have occurred over the victims relationship with a girl from the same locality. The victims family alleged that Zeeshan went out of the house to answer natures call around 12.30 am when six men from the same neighbourhood said to be distant relatives captured him. He was then tied to a pilkhan tree at the house of Saleem, one of the suspects, and allegedly beaten up. Upon hearing the boys cries, his father, mother and younger brother rushed to his rescue. But they were held at gunpoint by the six. Later, they untied Zeeshan and took him to the house of another suspect, Irfan. There, they bound him to a pole and mutilated him with a knife and an ice pick, said Ishtikhar, the victims uncle. According to Ishtikhar, nobody from the village dared stand up to the assailants. They continued torturing him till 3 am. The police arrived at the scene only after the boy had died, he said. An FIR was lodged at the Bhojpur police station against Saleem, Nadeem, Waseem, Irfan, Naushad and Mustaqim for rioting, criminal intimidation and murder with common intention on Monday. Saleem, Nadeem and Waseem are brothers. Gulshan, Zeeshans mother, said the six didnt even let her give the boy any water to drink while he was being beaten up. Instead, they locked me in my house. That was too much for my ailing husband Shoukeen to take, and he lost consciousness. Later, they threw his body in front of our house and told us to pick it up, she added. Police could not confirm the motive behind the murder. The suspects probably thought the victim was going to meet a girl from their family, or actually saw him with her. We cant rule out that possibility, but things will become clear once the suspects are arrested, said Ghaziabad superintendent of police (rural) Rakesh Kumar Pandey. The victims family denied the relationship angle. This is the third time Zeeshan was attacked. When he was still a child, the same men had beaten up his father. When they again assaulted Shoukeen about a year ago, Zeeshan managed to hold them back. In retaliation, the six targeted Zeeshan in the fields a few months back, Ishtikhar said. He also alleged that the police were asking the victims relatives to reveal the suspects whereabouts instead of searching for them. Zeeshan was the third of Gulshan and Shoukeens ten children. NEW DELHI: A Class 6 student of a Delhi government school in east Delhis Trilokpuri died on Thursday after he fell off the third floor of his school building while flying a kite with friends, police said. Sahil ,12, suffered injuries and was admitted to Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital in a critical condition on Wednesday. He succumbed to his injuries a day later. He was a student of Rajkiya Sarvodaya Vidyalaya . He lived in Trilokpuri with his parents, a brother, and four sisters, who were planning to celebrate Raksha Bandhan which was celebrated on Friday. The boys family and neighbours have blamed the school authorities for the accident. They alleged that the school administration did not construct a boundary wall on the roof. Sahil accidentally slipped while flying a kite. A boundary wall could have averted the tragedy, a neighbour told the police. Sahils family have also accused the police of not acting against the school administration. They alleged that no FIR has been registered. Rishipal Singh, deputy commissioner of police (east), confirmed that the boy accidentally fell off the school building. He and a few other children were flying kites on the roof when he slipped. We are looking into the matter, said Singh. The police said that Sahil and other children went to the terrace of the building on the third floor for flying kites after classes were over in the afternoon. Sources in the police said Sahil had not attended the school in the morning. Neither the school principal nor the directorate of education responded to several attempts to reach them for a comment. GHAZIABAD/BULANDSHAHR: The Central Bureau of Investigation, which is probing the Bu lands ha hr highway robbery and gang-rape case, produced the three accused before a fast track court as their three-day remand ended on Tuesday. The CBI presented prime accused Saleem (who was earlier identified as Saleem Bawaria) and his two aides in the fast-track court. All three accused agreed to their narco test, said Manju Sharma, lawyer of the accused. The three accused were produced before the court and no further remand was sought by the CBI. Teams are carrying out investigation at Kannauj and other areas, said a CBI spokesperson. Sharma said the CBI should be directed to present ornaments recovered from the spot and from the accused. It should be found out if these ornaments belong to victims, she said, adding the court had directed the CBI to submit the recovered ornaments on Wednesday. The CBI officials informed the court that the ornaments were in safe custody and it would be submitted for examination on Wednesday. Anju Sharma, amicus curiae representing the accused, on Tuesday said the three pleaded innocent before the court. They (accused) have shown willingness to undergo narco analysis tests to find out if they were involved in the incident or not. They have pleaded that they are not involved in the case... The three were later sent to judicial custody, Sharma said. The victims family members demanded that they be called for an identification parade to identify the accused. It is almost over three weeks and no identification parade of the accused persons has been conducted. If there is a delay, it would become difficult for us to identify the accused. We had seen them at night when they were using torches off and on, said a family member. NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will introduce reforms in the examination system to make it more inclusive for students with disabilities. Some of the proposed changes that may be accepted include the modular teaching method and focus on formative assessment. The changes will be based on the recommendations made by the education experts on the first day of the national conference organised by CBSE on Tuesday. YS Vagrecha, professor of Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, and a clinical psychologist recommended modular teaching in schools. Modular teaching is practiced at university level, but can be tried in the school system as well. There could be limited content for the students with disabilities and we can let them master the content in their own pace. Changes could also be brought in the evaluation system with focus on formative assessment rather than the summative evaluation, he said. Formative assessment is one in which the students are monitored and evaluated over the entire year. CBSE chairperson, RK Chaturvedi, said the board is planning to update the affiliation by-laws so that it is in tune with Right to Education Act 2009 and Persons with Disabilities Act 1995. FARIDABAD: A day after a caller threatened to blow up Ballabgarh township, the Haryana police rushed a team to Bihar to locate the accused. A case has been registered under different provisions of the IPC against the accused . A caller on Monday threatened to blow up Ballabgarh after which police teams armed with bomb disposal squads rushed to the town to scan public places. Officials said the police control room received the threatening message at 9.55 am on Monday. Ballabgarh is the oldest business hub of Haryana, located near Mathura road and a few kilometers from Faridabad. Cops scanned the city park, bus stand, railway station, government hospital, state government offices, panchayat bhawan, etc. Police said the caller made the threatening call from his mobile number. The caller is originally from Bihar but he made the call from Faridabad, said DCP NIT Puran Chand Panwar. The crime team is investigating the case, Panwar said. Eyewitnesses said they were surprised to see huge contingents of police forces searching the city park with metal detectors. The city park is the most visited place in Ballabgarh. The caller said: If you can save Ballabgarh save it. During the searches, nothing objectionable was recovered from the places searched after the threat, police said. A police team has been rushed to Bihar to trace the address of the accused who made this threatening call, said Aman Yadav, ACP Ballabgarh. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Connecticut Shade wrapper was a theme for Duran Cigars. One strategic advantage is that the company is able to source Ecuadorian grown Connecticut Shade wrapper from its plantation in Ecuador. Prior to IPCPR, the company announced the Azan Blue Connecticut a premium release using its Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade cigar. At this years trade show, the companys value-priced Nicatabaco line also saw a new Connecticut Shade offering known as Nicatabaco Factory Blend No. 5. The Nicatabaco Factory Blend series gets its name from Duran Cigars factory name in Nicaragua. The line was launched last year with the Nicatabaco Factory Blend No. 2, an Ecuadorian Habano offering. Now the Nicatabaco Factory Blend No. 5 adds a Connecticut Shade offering. Nicatabaco Factory Blend No. 5 is available in five sizes each sold in 20 count bundles. Pricing ranges from $1.70 to $2.40 per cigar. At a glance, here is a look at Nicatabaco Factory Blend No. 5: Blend Profile Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade Binder: Nicaraguan Filler: Nicaraguan Country of Origin: Nicaragua (Nicatabaco SA) Vitolas Available Minuto: 4 1/2 x 42 Robusto: 4 7/8 x 50 Toro: 5 7/8 x 52 Toro De Luxe: 6 x 56 Churchill: 7 x 50 Photo Credits: Cigar Coop NEW DELHI: Delhi Police on Tuesday released the sketches of two of the three suspects who allegedly killed constable Anand Singh in Shahabad area of outer Delhi last week. Copies of the suspects sketches have been circulated among the policemen who are working overtime to nab the accused. We have also been working on fresh leads and there are certain developments which could lead to the arrest of the trio very soon, said a senior police officer. Forty-nine-year-old Singh was shot dead while he tried to chase three snatchers who had robbed money from a woman in Bawana Industrial Area on August 19. The officer said that a number of teams had been formed to crack the case. Singh had sustained bullet injury in the chest. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. The woman who was robbed by the three snatchers and another shopkeeper helped in sketching the details of the culprits. NEW DELHI: A JNU committee hearing the appeals of 21 students penalised in connection with an event in which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised, found them all guilty of indiscipline but reduced punishments for some of them. The event to commemorate Afzal Gurus death anniversary was held on February 9. The committee appointed by the JNU vice-chancellor looked into aspects related to indiscipline. For some the punishment has remained same while for some, it has been reduced, an official told HT. The punishment to Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya remained the same as earlier given by a highlevel enquiry committee (HLEC). Punishment to some other students was reduced, sources said. The students had organised a cultural event on February 9 where anti-national slogans were allegedly raised. Khalid, Bhattacharya and JNU students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar were arrested and later released on bail in a sedition case after the incident. JNU V-C M Jagadesh Kumar had formed a four-member committee to hear appeals of students found guilty of indiscipline by the high-level committee. The committee was constituted a month after the Delhi High Court stayed the punishment. Bhattacharya and Khalid were rusticated for one semester. But JNU will remain out of bounds for Bhattacharya for five years from July 25, 2016. A fine of Rs 20,000 was also slapped on Khalid. Some students were given relief after the appeals. For instance, Rama Naga, the general secretary of the JNU students union, has been asked to pay Rs 10, 000 instead of Rs 20, 000. Ashutosh, who was earlier fined Rs 20,000, has been asked to pay `Rs15,000 but the order to vacate the hostel remains. Anant was fined Rs 20,000 and now has been asked to pay Rs 5,000, said a student. ABVP leader and JNU students union joint secretary Saurabh Sharma said his financial penalty was reduced. I have been asked to pay Rs 5,000 instead of Rs 10,000, he said. The University said every student was called for deposition before the appeals committee. Every student was given a copy of the HLEC report and the evidence and was given an opportunity to make an appeal in writing. It wasnt immediately clear if JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumars earlier fine of Rs 10,000 was reduced. JNU RAPE: BAIL PLEA HEARING ON AUGUST 27 The anticipatory bail plea of Anmol Ratan, accused of raping a 28-year-old JNU student in a university hostel room, on Tuesday came up before a Delhi court which decided to hear it on Saturday. The petition was filed before additional sessions judge Amit Bansal, who put up the matter for arguments on the next date of hearing on August 27. Police claimed a first-year PhD student had alleged that Ratan, also a JNU student, raped her on August 20. According to her complaint filed at Vasant Kunj (North) police station, she had posted on her Facebook account that she wanted to watch a movie and asked if anyone had its CD. It said Ratan apparently messaged her saying he had a copy. Thereafter, he picked her up and took her to Brahamputra Hostel, where he stays. She alleged that he offered her a spiked drink and raped her. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal( NGT) on Tuesday sought a response from the Union government on a plea filed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), highlighting the dangers associated with the use of glass-coated manjha while flying kites, and seeking an immediate ban on it across India. A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued a notice to the Union ministries of environment, forests and climate change, home affairs, commerce & industry, power and the animal welfare board of India, who were made parties in the case by the petitioner. The matter has been put up for further hearing on September 6. In its petition, PETA said manjha posed a grave threat to humans and animals as every year a number of deaths were caused due to the deadly string. To increase the chances of being able to cut as many kites as possible, kite-strings are made deliberately sharp with churned glass, metals and other materials in order to make them razor sharp to cut through the other persons kite strings. These strings not only cut through other kite strings when in the air, but are also quite capable of cutting through the skin of animals and human beings, thereby severely injuring and even killing them, PETA said in its petition. The petition, filed through advocate Shadan Farasat, pointed out how manjha posed a huge threat when it comes in contact with live overhead electric wires, leading to grid failure. NEW DELHI: National Security Guard chief RC Tayals claim on Tuesday that the agency had defused a bomb (improvised explosive device) at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) building in Delhi two months back created quite a flutter. Later it turned out that it was a vintage unexploded device known as unexploded ordnance and not an IED. There was an IED incident in DRDO Bhawan two months ago. When no one (security agencies) could not handle it, our unit went and defused it, Tayal said during a function attended by Union home minister Rajnath Singh. The remarks from the stage in the presence of the home minister, ministry staff and hundreds of officials and commandos of the NSG created so much flutter that Tayal avoided media queries after the function. Asked to explain, he said, It was not a serious issue. His junior officials clarified that it was not an IED but an unexploded ordnance (UXO) recovered during Delhi Metro Rail Corporation work near Civil Lines in Delhi. He was not referring to the DRDO at Vijay Chowk. A UXO was recovered during an excavation work for Metro rail near Metcalfe House (old DRDO building) which we defused, an official, who did not want to be named, said. NSG inspector general (operations) Major General Dushyant Singh spoke along similar lines. It was a UXO that was recovered during work for a Metro station some time ago. It was defused by the NSG. The DRDO issued a statement later in the day. A vintage UXO was found during the excavation work for foundation of a DRDO building in North Delhi in April 2016. Delhi Police, NSG, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) were immediately informed for necessary action. On advice of MHA, NSG lifted the ordnance from the site for safe disposal at their ranges. The area is now safe and construction of the building is in progress, said spokesperson of DRDO. POLICY ON GALLANTRY AWARDS Speaking at the same function, Rajnath Singh said the government would consider rethinking the policy of bestowing gallantry medals on soldiers, including the NSG. Singh promised his ministry would take all steps to strengthen the special forces. We can plan a new gallantry award distribution policy. Nineteen NSG jawans have sacrificed their lives. We want them to honour them so that they become inspiration for others, Singh said after inaugurating a newly-constructed building of the 52 Special Action Group of the National Security Guard at Samalkha, near the IGI Airport. I assure you the ministry would do whatever is needed to improve the infrastructure of this organisation, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: The eviction of former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullahs estranged wife Payal from a plush VIP bungalow in the nations capital underscores the governments push to rid its limited living spaces of squatters. Like many politicians, bureaucrats and their families overstaying in Lutyenss Bungalow Zone, Payal Abdullah too was reluctant to vacate the house given to the chief minister, though he no longer holds the post. But a court order forced her out on Monday. The BJP-led NDA government has evicted about 1,500 squatters, mostly politicians and bureaucrats, since it came to power in May 2014. It has refused to entertain any request for extension, even from former party parliamentarians and ministers. Home to the Capitals power elite, the leafy VIP zone designed by British architect Edwin Lutyens in the early 20th century has wide, tree-lined promenades, spacious bungalows, and signature landmarks. But the houses are limited, and the pressure to find homes for new ministers and officials mounts because of the reluctance of many VIPs to move out at the end of their term, or after they take up assignments outside the Capital. The low rent, between Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 2 lakh a year, for those overstaying added to the lure. But in June this year, the government came up with a rule, fixing 10% additional charge to the rent for the first month of overstay. For the second, the penalty goes up to 20%, and doubles each subsequent month until the charge reaches the maximum limit of Rs 10 lakh. There are four VIPs overstaying in Lutyenss bungalows now Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh, his Uttarakhand counterpart Harish Rawat, former home minister Buta Singh, and Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal. Singh was given the 1 Jantar Mantar address when he was Union steel minister, but didnt vacate the house after he returned to his native state in June 2012 as its chief minister. The previous UPA government allowed Buta Singh to retain the 11-A Teen Murti Marg bungalow for security reasons till June 2014, but he continues to stay on. Both leaders have challenged the move to evict them in court. We will have to wait for the courts order, a Union urban development ministry official said. Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat, who was Union water resources minister from 2012 to 2014, occupies 9, Teen Murti Lane. The UPA government allowed him to stay there till June 2015, while the NDA administration extended the occupancy by another year. Sonowal resigned as Union sport minister in May, but continues to occupy his 12 Tughlaq Road bungalow. They requested for a bungalow in exchange for one of the six houses from the Uttarakhand and Assam quotas. We are considering the request, the ministry official said. The NDA government has adopted a strict policy to reject requests from politicians to extend their stay in official accommodations, in sharp contrast to its predecessors decisions. Sources said senior BJP leader and former Union finance minister Yashwant Sinha had to vacate his house after the government showed him the rule book. The UPA government, however, had allowed RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav and a host of politicians and bureaucrats to retain their bungalows in February 2014, just before the general elections. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: The seven-year-old girl, who was gang-raped late on Sunday night in Yamuna Khadar area of Mandawali, helped police nab the rapists. Since the girl was blindfolded she couldnt see their faces but she recognised them by their voice as they lived in the neighbourhood. The police said the girl knew two of them -- Amir, 21 and Bhim Sen, 19. They met her often on her daily two-kilometre walk to the school. They also visited her house. It was the girls presence of mind that helped the police catch the rapists within an hour of the crime. My daughter returned home after the crime and woke us up. She was bleeding and in pain. We asked them who did it to her and she took the names of Amir and Bhim. She said the same to the police, said the girls father. When police raided the shacks of Amir and Bhim around 2.30 am on Monday, the two were found sleeping, unaware of the fact that despite the precautions they took to conceal their identities during the crime the girl had recognized them through their voices. The two initially pleaded innocence but then broke down and confessed . Their interrogation led to the arrest of the third accused, Bhure, 19. The girls father suspected that the three assaulted the girl to take revenge on her brother. Amir and Bhim fought with the victims brother on Friday. Amir had an argument with my son who lives in Ballabgarh over the speed of his bike. He was coming to celebrate Rakshabandhan with the family, he said. Amir had threatened the family with consequences, he alleged. We suspect that Amir took revenge on us by victimising our daughter, he said. The girls family alleged that the kin of one of the accused was threatening them. FARIDABAD: The West Bengal police rescued a minor girl from a village in Palwal district, about 38 kilometers from here on Monday in a joint operation with Haryana police. The joint team raided a house in Bamnikhera village and rescued the girl. Sources said the minor was kidnapped two months ago from Howrah in West Bengal. The kidnappers reportedly handed over the girl to a woman in Palwal. The woman allegedly sold the girl to a man named Bhagat Singh in Bamnikhera for Rs 70,000. We provided assistance to the West Bengal police team and they rescued the girl from a house in Bamnikhera village, Superintendent of Police, Palwal Rahul Sharma said. The police team left for Howrah with the girl after getting her medically examined. The case of kidnapping was registered in Howrah. It is alleged Bhagat Singh had married the girl as he had lost his wife about a year ago in a train accident. We are investigating at our own level about role of some woman and also we are trying to find out this Bhagat Singh, said SP Rahul Sharma. Howrah police have arrested some accused in West Bengal and it was on their revelation that the police came to know about presence of the girl in Bamnikhera, Sharma added. NEW DELHI: Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday tabled details of liquor shops and said the government had no plan to ban alcohol in Delhi. The ministers remarks in the assembly came amid a controversy over an increase in liquor shops in the Capital. Sisodia said that in many areas, liquor vends had been closed after complaints from the public. The Delhi government has decided to empower Mohalla Sabhas to take a call on liquor shops in neighbourhoods. In reply to a question by AAPs Timarpur MLA Pankaj Pushkar, the deputy CM said, There is an attempt to create an environment that we are the liquor mafia. We ended corruption in distribution of licence for liquor vends and that is why we are being targeted. We have shifted the liquor shops to malls as they have an arrangement to deal with anti-social elements. Sisodia said they didnt want to run the government through money collected from liquor sale. Delhi will become the first place where locals will decide the location of liquor vends. We have ended the inspector raj and corruption in the excise department. Now, an officers job is to stop corruption and not to think about liquor vends. Earlier, politicians or relatives used to own liquor shops, now in our government, no MLA supports opening of (liquor) vends in their area, Sisodia said. The government had recently notified 2,972 mohalla sabhas where registered voters will be able to take a call through voting on basic or urgent development works and monitor progress. There are over 460 liquor shops in residential neighbourhoods. The development comes amid a campaign by the Swaraj Abhiyan led by Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan against proliferation of liquor vends. Quoting an RTI reply from the excise department, the group had claimed that 58 liquor vends had come up in the city since last February. The government had, however, clarified that only six of the new shops were opened in residential areas while the rest were in malls. Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta said the government was trying to mislead people by giving wrong figures and the truth is that the number of liquor vends had increased by 200%. The licensing process for liquor shops is divided into three categories L6 (government shops), L7 (private shops) and L10 (shops in malls). No new liquor shop in L6 and L7 category will be opened this year, Sisodia said. Delhi Police have arrested a 24-year-old man who allegedly threatened to defame women and girls by creating their fake Facebook profiles and uploading obscene photos and remarks on them. Police said the accused, identified as Akhilesh Kumar, a resident of Bakkarwala in Delhi, had created more than 100 fake Facebook profiles of different women after befriending them through fake profiles and tricking them into sharing their mobile numbers and photographs. He later used their mobile numbers and photographs for blackmailing these women. Kumar, police said, was nabbed on Tuesday after investigation into a complaint filed by a Maurya Enclave resident. The complainant has alleged that her minor daughter was being harassed and blackmailed through Facebook messenger by an unknown person. She alleged that the suspect had also created a fake Facebook page in her daughters name. Her mobile number and photograph were also uploaded on the page with obscene titles, said Vijay Singh, deputy commissioner of police (northwest). A case under relevant sections of IPC was registered on the womans complaint and investigation taken up by the cyber cell team of the northwest district police. The team identified the suspect with technical assistance and surveillance and nabbed Kumar on Monday. During interrogation, Akhilesh confessed to have been involved in such crime for over one-and-a-half-year. A mobile phone containing the contact numbers of around 100 girls was recovered from Kumars possession. He used different e-mail IDs and SIM cards for creating fake Facebook profiles/pages of victims, Singh said. The seized mobile phone has been sent to a forensic lab to extract information on deleted data. Explaining the Kumars modus operandi, the DCP said that he created fake Facebook profiles posing as a girl. He would then randomly send friend requests to girls and women. Once his friendship request was accepted, he would send friendly messages and seek their personal details such as contact number, residential addresses and photographs, the DCP said. According to investigators, Kumar often tried to meet the girls and might have even succeeded in meeting a few after disclosing his original identity. If a girl refused to meet him or if his friendship request was not accepted, he would create her fake profile and post her personal details with obscene comments or title so as to defame and malign her image. He even blackmailed women by threatening to put their fake profiles on their schools Facebook page. He had demanded money in some cases, the officer said. A 10-year-old boy, who was kidnapped around nine years ago from a government hospital in Delhi by a childless couple, has been rescued and reunited with his parents and the duo was arrested. In November 2007, Afsar, who was one-year-old, was accompanying his pregnant mother Farida to Babu Jagjivan Ram Hospital in Jahangirpuri for a check up when he was kidnapped by the accused couple, police said. Afsars father, a resident of Bhalswa Dairy area in Jahangirpuri, recently lodged a report at Krishna Nagar police station in east Delhi claiming that his son was seen in the area. Following this, police launched a probe and traced him at a municipal school in the area on August 22. The accused couple was also arrested, a police officer said. During interrogation the accused admitted that they had kidnapped the boy as they had no child of their own. They even sent Afsar to school, police said. The accused Mohammad Samin and his wife Nargis, have been arrested and a case under section of 368 (Wrongfully concealing or keeping in confinement, kidnapped or abducted person) of IPC has been registered at Krishna Nagar police station, said Rishi Pal, DCP (east). Their role regarding human trafficking angle and other involvements of the couple in child kidnappings are being looked into, the officer said. Following the reunion, Afsar reportedly has been having difficulties in getting accustomed to his biological parents. You see, without newspapers, life as you know it would not be the same. Im not kidding! And lets be clear. Im talking about real newspapers. Not political operatives who start blogs, or politicians who swear they are citizen journalists. Nope. Im talking about the real deal. The legitimate journalists trying to grind out a living in newsrooms. "Same is true with your favorite bloggers. If they didn't have a newspaper story to link to so they could complain about how bad newspapers are, why, youd just mostly see cat videos from them." But real news, stuff you have to dig for? Thats us. We do it. If they report it, they've taken it from us. In a column reeking with irony, Lying Lefty Lou babbled:There's nothing "legitimate" about Lou in the journalistic sense... nor is there much "legitimate" about his minions.That his product is printed on paper doesn't make it "legitimate." The reality is that his editorial stance and subsequently, the fish rotting from the head down and all that, results in giving the work of the sycophants in his newsroom the legitimacy of a World News Daily scam site.There is only one thing that determines "legitimacy." And that is the truthfulness of the content.The method of delivery is irrelevant. The job of a newspaper begins and ends with presenting the facts.Period.Lefty Lou Brancaccio is light years away from anything approaching "journalism."That I am clearly still buried in his head is kind of a hoot.Here's the thing, you see: if this slimeball stuck to the business of telling the truth... there'd be no need for my blog or anyone elses around here.If he treated everyone the same; held everyone to the same standard... made a real effort to be truthful at all times and blind his biases... what would local bloggers have to say about his malfeasance?The reality is that Vlad Lenin and Joseph Goebbels could have taken lessons from this guy in the science of propaganda.Lefty Lou wants to run a shadow government. And I get that.There's no denying his success in leading the charge against any Republican he chooses. And those he doesn't choose must by suspect... because really... when was the last time he ever got on a jihadist or water carrier for his agenda that was on the left side of the political spectrum?I've only lived here since 88. Maybe I missed it.Let's remember: this newspaper called our county chair stupid and demanded he resign from the legislature some 20 years ago.Oddly, the more leftist Chair Boldt got, the more the rag liked him.They cover for him and simply don't care about his "issues," like texting while driving and ripping off $5000 from his 2012 campaign, where he repaid himself a loan he never made.Lefty is still upset that what... three weeks before they got around to printing it... *I* posted the facts from the FBI FOIA that proved then Congressman Brian Baird was lying about the death threats he claimed during his campaign.I scooped the rag on the Jim Jacks debacle as well. I hammered Lefty and his little squit editorial page editor, Cockroach Johnny Laird, time and again.His hypocrisy; his leftist bias, his lies for so many causes on his agenda and, of course, his RINO supported effort to cull David Madore out of the herd... his torches and pitchfork approach to Don Benton and anyone else remotely concerned about a conservative representation of those who elected them... his constant, incessant drumbeat of lies over his lack of bias and, of course, his use of his rag for character assassination... all go to show that we, as a community and a nation... will do quite well when the last swindle sheet of the variety Brancaccio spews is turned into a Starbucks... or something.The irony of all of this is, of course, that it didn't have to be this way.Lefty COULD have used his bully pulpit to fight government when they attack the people, to be a voice for the people instead of the special interests infesting us.He COULD get rid of those moronic blogs on the democratian's web site where the scum working for him get to formalize their fringe-left political leanings under the guise of a "legitimate" newspaper.Instead, we're stuck with a bird-cage liner that is a cancer on our community. A despicable waste of wood-pulp that has caused more harm and more division than any other force, political or otherwise.His most recent column of lies......is a case in point.I typically don't link to newspapers. I make it a habit of doing my best to avoid EVER linking to the rag... now more than ever before.But I provide information that the newspaper chooses not to.And that's why the local daily rag is utterly worthless... much like their editor.The rag runs everything they print through their political and agenda filter. The end result is we get lies, exaggerations and twisted views to manipulate the readers into believing that up is down and left is right. They censor the voices they don't want to hear and they act like they are as pure as the driven snow when it comes to reporting... a local version of MSNBC.This is, perhaps, my favorite of Lefty's many lies:Seriously?Where did I get that the Oregon Supreme Court verified that the CRC scammers... like Brancaccio... were lying about the reasons to replace the bridge? Lefty never allowed that to be printed in his rag.Where did I get Rivers campaign lies on the gas tax and tab fees?Where did I get Rivers lying about how much money was in her campaign account?Where did I get that Rivers was going to betray us with her gas tax/tab fee scam?Where did I get the fact that Rivers recruited Shane Bowman to run against Rep. Liz Pike?Where did I get that the pot campaign supporters, who sucked Brancaccio in wholesale, were lying about the revenue the state was going to get from legalization?Where did I get the fact that Baird was lying about death threats?Where did I get Boldt taking $5000 from his 2012 campaign account?Where did I get Boldt texting while driving?Where did I get Jim Jacks resignation?Where did I get I get that the democratian was lying about the CRC/Loot Rail scam?Where did I get the fact that Vick was mailing it in his first year and lying about his committee assignments when he ran for reelection in 2014?Where did I get that electing Boldt was the same thing as electing a democrat?Where did I get that there was no difference between Julie Olson and Chuckie Green, politically?Where did I get that the mayor of Battle Ground was fine with political lies by our Senator as long as they fit his agenda?These are just the issues off the top of my head. Most of them are this year. Every single one of them are posts that *I* made before the rag mentioned them... if they mentioned them at all, which in many instances... they refuse to do.And that goes to the heart of the matter. The rag isn't about "news." They're about "spin." They're about providing cover for their friends and destroying their enemies... and their enemies are universally conservative.Lefty's self-aggrandized exercise in mental masturbation doesn't change any of that.Eventually, the "Cancer on our Community" will disappear. And no one will notice its absence. The Delhi high court on Wednesday sought the state governments reply to a petition alleging the restaurants in the Capital of charging excess value added tax (VAT) on the food and drinks served. A bench of chief justice G Rohini and justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal also asked the Centre to respond to the plea and fixed the matter for hearing on October 3. The petition alleged that the restaurants were charging VAT on the entire bill, including the service component. Under the rules, VAT can only be levied on the goods component which is 60% of the bill amount and not on the remaining 40% service component, it said. It also claimed that there was lack of appropriate guidelines for determination of goods component and service tax portion of the invoice. The plea sought a direction to the Delhi government and commissioner of VAT to take appropriate action against the restaurants which charged VAT on the service components. The petitioner told the court that it had written a letter last month to Delhi governments commissioner of VAT requesting to take action against such restaurants, but had not received any response till date. The government of NCT of Delhi is a direct beneficiary from this illegal collection of taxes, it is quite possible that it does not want to take any action against such illegal collection of taxes, the petitioner claimed. JNU PhD scholar Anmol Ratan, accused of raping a 28-year-old fellow student, surrendered before the Delhi Police on Wednesday night. Nupur Prasad, additional DCP (south), confirmed that Ratan arrived at the Vasant Kunj North police station and surrendered before the investigating officer. He was accompanied by his lawyer. Ratan was put under formal arrest and he will be produced before a city court on Thursday, police said. Sources said his surrender came after the complainant recorded her statement before the judicial magistrate. Ratan was absconding after the victim filed a rape and criminal intimidation case against him on Sunday. . On Tuesday, he had moved an anticipatory bail before a Delhi court which put up the matter for arguments on the next date of hearing on August 27. The woman, a first-year PhD student, had told police that Ratan offered her a spiked drink when she went to his hostel room on Saturday to copy a movie on her pen drive. The victim said she accepted the drink and lost consciousness after which he raped her. She tried to raise an alarm after regaining consciousness but Ratan did not allow her to leave. The accused, associated with the All India Students Association (AISA), allegedly threatened her with his political clout if she reported the matter. Within hours of the FIR, the Left-affiliated AISA expelled Ratan from its primary membership. Read| JNU student union demands action against rape accused A 37-year-old realtor, Gaurav Dhamija, died and his friend, a Frenchwoman, suffered burns after a suspected electrical short circuit set his rented house on fire in south Delhis Hauz Khas village early on Wednesday. The tragedy underscored the ominous danger in Hauz Khas, one of the hippest areas in the Capital with 48 restaurants, art galleries and designer boutiques, but a congested mess of houses standing cheek by jowl. The gap between buildings is less than two metres, and the lanes are just 60cm wide so narrow that a scooter hardly squeezes through, let alone a fire engine. Fire officials said it took them more than an hour to douse the flames as no fire truck could reach the house, and firefighters had to improvise with their equipment. Reaching the spot was a challenge. We dashed on foot to the house, carrying the bulky hoses. We attached extra pipes to our hoses to pump water from the trucks, a firefighter said. More than a dozen firemen climbed an adjacent house to put out the flames. The roads are so narrow that each time we receive a call from there, on-the-spot improvisations have to made, fire chief GC Mishra said. Firefighting equipment are heavy and the men need space to operate. Neighbours were the first to notice the smoke and flames, and they called the nearest fire station at Bhikaji Cama Place around 5.30am. They tried to contain the fire by splashing buckets of water until the firemen arrived with three trucks. Police said Dhamija suffered burns, but the toxic smoke killed him. His friend, 23-year-old Anklora, a second-year student of international affairs at OP Jindal University, was semi-conscious when rescuers found her. Both were taken to Safdarjung hospital, where Dhamija was declared dead on arrival. Anklora is said to be out of danger. Dhamijas family took the body to his native Karnal later in the day. Gaurav keeps coming to Delhi for business. This is an unfortunate incident. We do not know who to blame. It is a big loss for the family, his brother said. . The Cabinet on Wednesday cleared the new draft Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016, that bans commercial surrogacy but allows altruistic surrogacy, where women can legally carry someone elses child if no money (other than medical cost and insurance), favour or coercion is involved. Under the proposed law, only infertile Indian couples who have been married for at least five years can opt for surrogacy, while those who already have a child cannot do so. The Bill also bans a woman from being a surrogate for more than once in her lifetime and punishes surrogate parents with fines and imprisonment up to 10 years for abandoning their baby, as it happened in 2014, when an Australian couple who had surrogate twins left their baby son behind in Delhi because they just wanted a daughter. The same year, another Australian couple left behind their baby son, Gammy because he had Down Syndrome and took his healthy twin sister home, which led Thailand to ban commercial surrogacy last summer. Read | Why India needs to regulate surrogacy There are more that 50 million infertile couples in the world and their desperation for a biological child has turned commercial surrogacy into a booming business. Thousands of infertile couples rent wombs from poor women for nine months so they can take a baby back home. Celebrities renting wombs in India and abroad to add to their families has further fuelled the trend that has led their fans to turn to cheaper services provided by people who bend laws and cut corners to bring down cost at the expense of the surrogate mothers health. Commercial surrogacy is banned in most developed countries, including Australia, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Sweden, New Zealand, Japan and Thailand, among others, leading people unwilling or unable to have children to go to countries such as India, Russia, Mexico and Ukraine, where commercial surrogacy is still legal. Read | Outsourcing motherhood: Indias reproductive dystopia In India, fertility clinics that offer surrogacy services have been regulated by the Indian Council of Medical Researchs national guidelines 2005 (for accreditation, supervision and regulation of ART clinics) that are not legally binding, which allows clinics to choose clients willing to pay to rent a womb. The new regulation will bring in transparency and make it easier to audit centres that do not follow best practices and prosecute parents who break the law. The fact that India has decided to legislate surrogacy separately from the proposed Assisted Reproductive Technologies (Regulation) Bill 2014, of which it was a part till earlier this year, is a sign that the Centre wants the exploitation of poor women to stop while giving infertile couples in India a chance to have their own baby. Read | Commercial surrogacy: The half mothers of Anand Two months have passed since Mihir Dere, 21, got his law common entrance test (CET) results and he still doesnt know which law colleges he is eligible to apply to. For the first time this year, the state conducted a CET for law; earlier, each college released a merit list based on the applicants Class 12 scores. While the CET results have been out for a while, the Bar Council of India has de-recognised three top Mumbai institutes and barred them from accepting applications. These are GJ Advani Law College, Bandra; Kishinchand Chellaram Law College, Churchgate; and Jitendra Chauhan College of Law, Vile Parle. The colleges were asked to apply for fresh affiliation to the BCI after their permanent affiliation ended in 2008, says a member of the BCI standing committee, who requested anonymity. Many colleges did not apply for it despite our repeated reminders. Also, the colleges do not have the required 40:1 student-teacher ratio. Read: Students still confused over admissions to medical,dental courses I filled in the online admission form a month ago, and I am still waiting for a list of colleges that I can apply to, says Dere. The top three colleges of my choice have been barred this year my options have drastically reduced. Dere is one of about 8,000 city students applying for the three-year LLB programme this year, and uncertain about the progress of admissions. Over 2,000 students have applied for the five-year (BA-LLB) programme. Law is one of the hottest careers at the moment, and application data shows that the demand for law programmes is increasing in Mumbai, says Kishu Daswani, professor at Government Law College (GLC), Churchgate. But while demand is on the rise, the standards of law education seem to be slipping, suffering from poor teacher-student ratios, a theoretical syllabus and outdated details. As students wait for the admissions process to get underway, heres a look at whats missing in the citys legal education. Read: Delayed college admissions leave students in despair Experts say that the rise in the number of students applying to law colleges can be attributed to a yet-to-be implemented government policy. Foreign law firms will soon be allowed to practice in India, says Purvi Shah, an advocate based in Bandra. This will open up many avenues for law graduates. The lapses The curriculum is archaic, says Banat Baga, 20, a final-year student of the five-year bachelor of legal science (BLS) course at Pravin Gandhi Law College, Vile Parle. The first two years involved concepts we had already studied in junior college, she says. Instead of attending class, which are typically only about memorising concepts, I have been interning at law firms and learning much more that way. Experts say that many new laws, amendments in existing laws and case studies have not been included in the curriculum. Laws on sexual harassment do not feature in the syllabus, says Nilima Chandiramani, principal at Nari Gursahani Law College, Ulhasnagar and former dean of law at the University of Mumbai (MU). Students are taught subjects such as mathematical logic, which have no relevance to law. The syllabus needs urgent updating. Read: NEET centralised, but admission limited to students from state The CET, though a good change, needs amendment too. The centralised test could ensure quality students, but it needs to act as a filter and not just a formality. This year, students who have scored zero in the CET will also appear on the merit list there is no quality check in place yet, says Daswani of Government Law College. The course is theoretical, with no scope for research, says Chandiramani. We need to add projects and provide hands-on experience to students, to produce quality lawyers for the system. The assessment also needs to be improved, she adds. Most colleges have fewer than five full-time professors. The teacher-student ratio needs to be 40:1, says Chandiramani. There are 300 students in each year of the course, hence 900 in total. There should be 22 full-time professors at colleges. The colleges, however, cannot hire many due to lack of funds. Since almost all law professors work part-time, the teacher-student relationship is affected. In case of doubts, we do not know who to approach, says Sachin Pawar, president of the Students Law Council and a student at GLC. Many professors have dismal attendance, which affects the students interest in the subject. Do-it-yourself To counter an ailing system, law students are taking matters into their own hands, and gaining on-ground knowledge via internships and add-on courses. Mehul Khetia, 21, third-year LLB student at DY Patil College of Law, CBD Belapur, took up an internship from the first year of his course. Here, I was introduced to court proceedings, and got exposure to the practice, he says. Read: FYJC admissions: students will get one more round to choose seats Currently, internships are not a mandatory module, but students with them on their CVs have better chance at employment, say experts. Students can also take online or certificate courses for updated or practical knowledge. To fill the gap between what is taught and what industry demands, students should consider additional courses such as a short-term cyber law course online, says advocate Shah. They should remain curious, and read about new laws and landmark rulings on the internet to stay updated. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Lucknow University (LU) forgot to organise the mandatory mass singing of the national anthem by students to mark the end of an event called the Azadi 70 - Yaad Karo Qurbani (Freedom Fortnight) on Tuesday. The Union ministry of human resource development (MHRD) and the University Grants Commission (UGC) had on August 5 asked all varsities and colleges to organise the event at 11am on August 23. Lucknow University, which unveiled a bronze statue of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji with pomp and show last week, did not implement the order. Many affiliated colleges also did not organise the mass singing of the national anthem. Its true that at Lucknow University we could not organise the event on Tuesday (August 23) as proposed by the UGC. I had a word with dean student welfare Anil Shukla who said that he came to know about this order late, vice-chancellor SB Nimse said. Read more: Allahabad school manager who banned national anthem jailed When contacted, Shukla said university spokesperson NK Pandey would be the right person to answer queries. However, Pandeys phone was switched off. The idea behind the event was to educate students about the freedom movement through various celebrations as India celebrated its 70th Independence Day on August 15. The UGC had proposed a series of events at educational institutions across the country to re-instill the spirit of patriotism among the younger generation. The spirited words of Rabindranath Tagores composition, Jana Gana Mana... did find a chorus at the Aligarh Muslim University where more than 3,000 students sang the national anthem on Tuesday as part of the programme. Children in various schools also sang the national anthem in the capital of Uttar Pradesh. The UGC also proposed that students may paint greeting cards for jawans posted at border stations. It said that students could undertake a mass tree plantation drive that inculcates the idea of sustainable development. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The State Bank of India (SBI) has released the call letters of candidates who have cleared the Probationary Officers (PO) main examination 2016. The call letters will be available for download until September 11, 2016. Candidates can download their call letters by visiting the state-run banks official website. Heres how you can download your call letters: 1) Go to the official website 2) Click on the link Careers 3) Click on the sixth dot in the latest announcements section 4) Click on the link for Call letter for GD-interview Phase III to go to the login page 5) Enter the registration no/roll no and password/date of birth in dd-mm-yy format at the required places 6) Enter the captcha code in the box given below 7) Login to download the call letter 8) Take a printout Or click here to directly go to the login page. The bank announced the results of PO main examination on August 19. Group discussion and interview will begin from September 1, 2016. Read more: Punjab ETT Exam 2016 results declared, check them here Final selection Candidates will be selected on the basis of marks obtained in the main examination (objective and descriptive), and group discussion and interview. Preliminary exam marks will not be considered. Candidates will have to qualify in the main exam (Phase 2) as well as in the group discussion and interview (Phase 3). Marks obtained by candidates in the written test (out of 250 marks) will be converted to 75 and marks secured in group discussion and interview (out of 50 marks) to 25. The final merit list will be made after aggregating the converted marks out of 100 for each category. The selection will be made on the basis of merit in each category. Of the total 2,200 vacancies, 1,028 seats are for general category candidates, 590 for Other Backward Class (OBC), 351 for Scheduled Castes (SC), and 231 for Scheduled Tribes (ST) candidates. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In the years to come, dont be surprised if a qualified engineer points at a train and calls it a lauhpathgamini. Simply tell yourself that the person is a graduate of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hindi University (ABVHU) in Bhopal. The educational establishment will soon launch engineering courses in pure Hindi, with probably not a single word of English being uttered in class. This exercise would be the first of its kind in the country. In this course, all technology-related terms would be referred to in Hindi no matter how complex they may seem. For instance, automatic gain control would translate to swatah labdhi niyantran, unsymmetrical bending to asammit bankan, dielectric strength to paravidyut samarthya, reflex oscillation to prativarti dolan, and add multiplexer to yojak bahusanketak. Even the course syllabi would be free of any sort of colonial hangover. SHT got its hands on a copy of the first-semester syllabus of the course, and it was found to contain subjects such as bhautik vigyan (physics), ganit (maths), abhyantriki yantra-vidhya (engineering mechanics), abhiyantri aalekhiki (engineering drawing), bharat gyaan aur parampara (Indian culture) and Hindi. A three-member panel prepared the syllabus in six months on the basis of the All India Council for Technical Educations choice-based system, with help from the Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology. However, some believe the course makes use of words that could be difficult even for experts in Hindi to understand. This is undoubtedly a good initiative, but translating technical words into Hindi may create problems for students. Hindi-medium students face problems only when the terms are explained in English. They dont have any problem with the terminology itself, Subhash Excellence School senior physics teacher Gulab Singh said, adding that it would only make things harder for students. Others have raised doubts over the employability of those graduating in such a course. English has become compulsory for people to land jobs in multinational companies. In such a scenario, how will students who have been taught engineering in chaste Hindi succeed in life? They will have to learn all the technical terms in English again, said Yogendra Kumar, a professor of electrical engineering at the Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology. However, the university administration believes its students wont face a problem as long as their technical credentials are sound. ABVHU vice-chancellor Mohanlal Chhipa said, Knowledge is not based on any language. The engineers graduating from our university will be technically sound. We will ensure that instead of applying for jobs, they will provide jobs to others. Swollen Ganga upset lives of five lakh people in 424 villages of three eastern UP villages, while the river began receding in Patna though 24 of Bihars districts continued to be under water on Wednesday. Two people perished in the last 24 hours in Uttar Pradesh which had 150 villages completely marooned, even as the death toll in Bihar rose to 127 with 29.71 lakh people in 4,222 villages and 146 talukas being affected in the deluge caused by rivers Ganga, Sone, Punpun, Burhi Gandak, Ghaghra and Kosi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to the people in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi, tweeting his office is closely monitoring the situation & is in touch with local authorities. NDRF teams have been sent to Varanasi, besides Allahabad, Ghazipur and Ballia, UP relief commissioner DK Singh said. A total of 8.7 lakh people in 987 villages were affected by the flood in that state. Flood waters have affected two more districtsMirzapur and Mahoba. Now, 28 districts of the state are affected, he added. The Ganga touched danger mark in Kanpur districts villages of Katari area, prompting authorities to issue an alert and shift residents to safer places. In three eastern UP districts, including Varanasi, 127 mud houses and 984 huts were devastated. Thousands of hectares of crops were flooded. In Bihars Bhojpur district, authorities took 17 hoursafter an intervention by the state disaster management brassto evacuate a heavily-pregnant woman from flood-affected Sinha village. Seema Devi, 22, was rushed to the district hospital. In Patna, the Central Water Commission predicted a six-cm decrease in the level of the Ganga by Thursday morning. Authorities in Bihar said they evacuated 2.82 lakh people so far. A total of 778 relief camps were being run in the flood-hit areas, giving shelter to 5,99,606 people. The most affected districts were Patna, Bhagalpur, Munger and Buxar. Rising waters in Varanasi have affected 1.97 lakh people of 124 villages. Of these, 59 villages are marooned. The flood has affected around 30,900 hectares of crops and devastated 107 mud houses and damaged 745 huts, a top official said. The situation was still worse in Ghazipur, where the flood affected 259 villages, disrupting the life of 2.24 lakh people. Crops were submerged on 27,000 hectares of agricultural land. Flood has also hit life in 41 villages of the adjoining Chandauli district, where 16 flood outposts have been set up. (with agency inputs) At least nine policemen, including three officers, were injured when a grenade was hurled at them from a crowd of protesters in a south Kashmir town on Wednesday, officials said. The officials said a police party was controlling a crowd in Pulwama town, some 30 km from south of Srinagar, when they were attacked. The grenade exploded a few metres from the policemen, injuring a superintendent of police, a deputy superintendent and a station house officer of Pulwama police station. Earlier in the day in Pulwama, a protester was killed and about 30 people were injured in clashes with security forces. Home Minister Rajnath Singh is visiting Kashmir to review the situation and hold talks on finding ways to defuse tension in the valley that has left 69 people dead and thousands injured in over six weeks. The Supreme Court came down heavily on Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday for filing scores of defamation cases against activists and political opponents, saying the AIADMK chief was using the law to settle personal scores. The top court observed Tamil Nadu was the only state that used the government machinery to fight defamation cases after a petition alleged the Jayalalithaa administration was misusing the law. You cant slap defamation cases on people for reporting on the chief ministers health condition, the apex court said. As a public figure, you (Jayalalithaa) must face criticism. You fight on a personal level. In the last five years, Tamil Nadu has filed 213 defamation cases against political opponents and media houses for derogatory statements against Jayalalithaa. Reporting on the CMs vacations, criticising her government for water scarcity or not fulfilling poll promises have all been termed derogatory. This is the second time in two months that the SC has criticised the state government for the flurry of defamation cases. In July, the apex court observed that such defamation cases caused a chilling effect on free speech and advocated tolerance. Opponents accuse Jayalalithaa of silencing critics and harassing them through such cases as an accused is expected to be present at every hearing. Arrest orders can be issued for missing a court date. India is one of the few countries with both civil and criminal defamation proceedings. Punishment can vary from up to two years in prison or a fine or both. Jayalalithaa is serving a sixth term as the chief minister after she was returned to office in May. Fifty-five of the cases are against media, Tamil Nadu governments affidavit says. But, most of the ruling AIADMKs anger is directed at arch rival DMK, which faces 85 cases. For decades, the two parties have taken turns to rule the state and are bitter rivals. Partner-turned-foe DMDK has 48 cases against it. Of these, 28 are against its leader Vijayakanth, a former actor who had several fiery exchanges with Jayalalithaa. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy faces five cases for tweets against the Jayalalithaa government. The PMK has nine cases and the Congress seven. The Jaya government seems to be getting increasingly upset with its critics. It lodged 120 defamation cases between 2002 and 2006. Before it, the DMK government filed 40 cases during its five years in office beginning 2006. Defamation, described as a reasonable restriction on free speech in Constitution, has been a topic of debate. Free speech advocates see it as a tool to silence critics and suppress dissent. In May last, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of criminal defamation law -- Section 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code that prescribes two-year jail term or fine or both for damaging someones reputation. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON More than a dozen persons, including policemen, were injured in Lucknow on Wednesday when Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters tried to blockade the assembly, which is in session. The BJP agitation against the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh turned violent after party activists and police threw stones at each other. A few BJP activists sustained injuries when police cane-charged them and used water cannons to disperse them. The agitation came a day after BJP, BSP and Congress legislators were not allowed to raise the law and order issue in the UP assembly. The BJP agitation resulted in a heavy traffic jam on the busy Vidhan Sabha Marg, which remained completely blocked for hours. Phulpur MP and UP BJP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya was seen leading the agitation despite the police targeting him by directing the nozzle of a water cannon at him. Maurya, however, was seen exhorting the cadre to move ahead. The activists soon turned violent, removing barricades and pelting the police with stones. This governments response to a peaceful agitation reminds us of the barbarism of the British period. The police turned a peaceful agitation violent. When they are treating senior MPs in this manner, what would be condition of the common man, said BJP MP from Siddharthnagar Jagdambika Pal. The centre wants the state government in Jammu and Kashmir to crackdown against radicalised groups that it designates as agent provocateurs who fuel unrest in the Valley. Home Minister Rajnath Singh is in the Valley Wednesday to meet a cross-section of people, in a bid to end the ongoing turmoil. The centre, however, has conveyed to its alliance partner in the state, the PDP, that it will have to deal firmly and swiftly with radicalised groups, most of whom are affiliated with the Jamat-e-Islami. It wants the state government to keep its end of the bargain, by ensuing law and order in the state is maintained. A source, who is privy to the meeting between the BJP-PDP brass and the government officials, said that the centre assured the state of all help, but laid down the condition that radicalized groups will be tackled. Read: Protester killed in clashes with security forces as Rajnath reaches Kashmir The central government has dispatched a company of BSF personnel and additional forces to help the state government. A list of as many as 80 agent provocateurs has been identified and the state government has been told to take suitable action. The centre, for its part, will offer whatever additional help is required. There is urgent need to prevent the killing of innocent people, the source told HT. The home ministers visit, the source said, is the BJPs way of assuring people that their genuine grievances will be addressed. Delhis message to the PDP, which was considered to have a tacit understanding with radicalized groups such as the Jamatis in the past, is that it will have to take though decisions. The centre has blamed Pakistan for funding and encouraging these agent provocateurs, who in turn are allegedly motivating youth to join the ongoing unrest, often resorting to stone pelting. These groups are separate from the arm wielding militants and the separatists. The government knows who they are and what needs to be done, the source said. Regarding the oppositions demand for a political solution in the state, a senior BJP leader told HT that these parties have been reluctant to come on board. We are open to talks with all stakeholders, but the separatists dont want to talk to the government. As for opposition parties, we ask them, what is the solution that they have to offer? Is any party ready to talk about Azadi? a senior BJP functionary said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Congress on Wednesday accused the NDA government of trying to cover up a Himalayan blunder after the design plan and specifications of Scorpene submarines under Project-75 were leaked. The party demanded an inquiry headed by an independent neutral authority of the level of a sitting Supreme Court Judge with officials of the Armed Forces, Naval and Military Intelligence, IB or other specialised agencies as its members. The principal Opposition questioned how defence minister Manohar Parrikar could give a clean chit without conducting any inquiry. The Congress also pointed out that while the Indian establishment is ruling out any leakage from their side, the French company DCNS has hinted that leak may have taken place in India. The Congress under attack over the Agusta Westland chopper scam for the last few months is looking at the opportunity to hit back at the BJP for its failure to secure vital national interest. Defence minister Shri Manohar Parrikar cannot brush these issues under the carpet. Responsibility of political executive, bureaucrats and officers need to be affixed for the unprecedented leaks that have harmed national interest irreparably, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said. While Indias security is compromised, the government is trying to underplay the breach of classified data. Whats even more appalling is that entire details have been uploaded online but except indulging in a mutual blame game or underplaying this stunning breach, the Modi government or defence minister has done little. With a coastline of 7,517 km to defend with merely 13 submarines and one nuclear submarine, the government appears to live in denial, Surjewala alleged. The chairman of Mazagon Dock Limited, where the Scorpene submarines are being built, has said the Indian programme was well on track and the authenticity of the leaked data needed to be verified. Speaking to HT from Mumbai on Wednesday, rear admiral Rahul Shrawat said there was no indication that the breach happened at the public sector yard. We need to quickly find out if the leaked documents are authentic. If thats the case, its a serious matter and responsibility needs to be fixed but it could be dummy data too, said Shrawat in his first reaction to the massive leak reported by The Australian newspaper on Tuesday. French shipbuilder DCNS has provided technology for the Rs 23,562-crore project. The yard, as planned, would deliver the first of the six submarines to the Indian Navy in early 2017, he said. The remaining are likely to be delivered by 2020. Documents running into 22,400 pages reportedly detail the combat capabilities of French-designed Scorpene-class submarines. Read | Scorpene submarine data leak: Indian and French authorities order probe Shrawat said the alleged leak underlined the need to tighten data security. We have stringent guidelines but theres a need to revisit some of those issues, he said. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar, who said he learnt of the leak at midnight, described it as a case of hacking. The minister has asked the navy chief for a report on the extent of the leak. In April 2016, the French shipbuilder beat off competition from German and Japanese rivals to bag a $40-billion contract to build 12 submarines for Australia. The Australian audience appears to be the target of the leak as France won a very lucrative tender there, Shrawat said. The alleged leak comes at a time when DCNS is eyeing a Rs 64,000-crore order for six next-generation submarines in India. Shrawat said it was for the French firm to find out what happened, where and at what level. The real picture will emerge after the data is studied...and if required the navy and MDL can work jointly on some of those aspects, he said. Read | All about Indian Navys crucial Scorpene submarines The population of Kashmirs royal stag Hangul an endangered species of red deer found only in the Valley has decreased by 40% in four years despite years of conservation efforts, prompting the authorities to initiate some desperate measures. According to a report published by JK-ENVIS (Environment Information System) under the state governments department of ecology, environment and remote sensing, the population of Hangul has gone down from 218 in 2011 to 130 in 2015. The last viable population of Hangul (Cervus elaphus hanglu) in the Indian sub-continent exists only in protected Dachigam National Park, a vast mountainous sanctuary (141 sq km) on the outskirts of Srinagar. Poached for its meat, antlers and skin, the deers population fell from 800-900 in 1988 to below 200 in early 1990s after insurgency paralysed the state administration. However, the number of Hangul stabilised after poachers were forced out when militancy reached its peak in mid 1990s and militants and army battled each other deep in the forests, a natural abode of the shy animal. In 2011, the population was around 218. The JK-ENVIS report, compiled by a team of environmentalists and wildlife experts, has given a number of reasons for the decline in the animals population. Besides the armed conflict, it has blamed a large scale biotic interferences in its habitats, in the form of excessive grazing by livestock of nomads in the Hanguls erstwhile summer habitats, grass cutting, fuel and firewood collection, human trampling owing to men and vehicles of hundreds of paramilitary (CRPF) forces camped inside the park and employees of more than seven government departments. The report said that a sheep breeding farm spread across 100 hectares of prime Hangul habitat in lower Dachigam and poaching have contributed largely to the Hangul habitat degradation. Dachigam wildlife warden Tahir Ahmad Shawl acknowledged there was pressure on the park from different quarters. For some months now, we are not allowing the vehicles of the government employees to enter the park. The CRPF and army movement could not be stopped but we have regulated their vehicle movement. We have also stopped those coming for picnics, he said. Amit Sahays worst nightmare came true when someone hacked into his Facebook account and started posting pornographic content. Amit first warned his friends and then tried changing his password. But when the hacking persisted, he was forced to get a new account. Amits ordeal, however, is not an isolated case. There is a new criminal in town and his victims are growing exponentially. Every sixth cybercrime in India is committed through social media, Alok Mittal, the chief of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has said. Though he did not divulge the basis of his findings, data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) show around 70% rise in cybercrimes annually between 2013 and 2015. In comparison, theft and robbery, which account for the highest incidences of crime in India, show an annual growth of 17-18%. A cybercrime is defined in India as any unlawful act where a computer is used as a tool or target or both and offenders are booked under the Information Technology Act. However, according to the governments own admission in Parliament in July, the rate of conviction is very low till now. The number of cybercrime cases reported across India in 2014 was a little more than 9,600, a mere fraction of the estimated three lakh theft cases (that year). But the concern is an annual growth of 70% for the last three years, Mittal said. In 2013, the number was 5,693. Estimates for 2015 put the number of cybercrimes at 16,000. Cyber experts said high rate of cyber crime is natural in a country where technology adoption is high but awareness is low. Most of cyber crime emanates is targeted towards people with social media accounts since in India knowledge about security and privacy protection is low, said Mrityunjay Kapoor, head of risk analysis at KPMG. For Amit, a Bengaluru-based florist, the hacking of his FB account was scary. Whoever hacked my account was putting me in a socially awkward situation and was trying to malign my identity, he said. According to experts, economic fraud tops the list of cybercrimes in India. Lottery and job scams are rampant. It has taken the form of organised crime in India, said Mittal. Papri Das almost fell into a trap when she started receiving emails purportedly from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), pointing out tax irregularities and asking her to pay her outstanding taxes. I thought I was in trouble and took the mail seriously. I went back to check my tax filings and had nearly made up my mind to pay the remaining taxes as mentioned in the mail, Das said. Only when she discussed with friends and read an RBI advisory against such frauds that she blocked the mail ID. Mittal said frauds through matrimonial sites were also rising in the past few years. Gangs look for vulnerable women picking on divorced or single women as targets. Organised financial crime was a feature of east European and former USSR countries. But with high internet user density and inadequate knowledge of net users, various cities in India are also becoming locations for perpetrating such crimes, Mittal said. In recent years, Noida has turned into a hub of cyber attacks in the national capital region. With 780 cases of cybercrime reported in 2015, Noida saw the setting up of the Centre for Cyber Crime Investigation in 2016. This is a menace that will only increase with the rising number of internet users in India. Unless people learn to protect themselves, this cannot be controlled, said Mittal. Indian and international experts were divided on how damaging the leak of sensitive data on the Scorpene submarine could prove to be and whether it could have compromised the platform. Strategic affairs expert Commodore (retired) C Uday Bhaskar said if it is confirmed the data relates to the Indian vessel, then the quantum of details put out might compromise the submarines credibility. The DNA of a submarine is about not being detected. If the adversary has all that data, it affects the detectability index of the boat, said Bhaskar, who heads the Society for Policy Studies. Gabriel Dominguez, Asia-Pacific editor at the respected IHS Janes Defence weekly, said, The risk is even higher if the data has been distributed widely, has reached potential adversaries and regional rivals or is now held by individuals or organisations or both that increase the risk of further leaks or hacks. He said there could also be implications for the operational effectiveness of the Scorpene fleet and for India acquiring additional Scorpene-class vessels at a time when the Indian Navys underwater capabilities are a source of concern. Read: All about Indian Navys crucial Scorpene submarines However, Admiral (retired) Arun Prakash, who was the navy chief when the Scorpene deal was inked, cautioned against jumping to conclusions. He said, One cant really say how much damage has been caused without analysing the data. Prakash said since the documents were categorised only as restricted, it was an indication the leaked data was not very sensitive. Restricted is the lowest security classification. If the documents were that sensitive, they would have been marked secret or top secret. If found guilty of lapses, French shipbuilder DCNS would have violated a critical non-disclosure clause in the $3.5-billion contract for supplying six Scorpenes to the Indian Navy. Read: India assesses vulnerability of Scorpene submarines after leak of secret data Peter Roberts of the Royal United Services Institute in London said the most serious implications from the leak were the frequency signature details of the Scorpene class. The major riskis from the exposure of data related to propeller and radiated noise as a result, Indian submarines will be more vulnerable after the data breach, he said. Such leaks will allow submarine hunters to refine their searches rather than just searching large swathes of water, he said. In simple terms, acoustic intelligence the fingerprint of a submarine is the Holy Grail of national secrets. Roberts said DCNS will have to make some reassurances to the Indian government, and possibly undertake some mitigation work, such as changing key equipment to change the frequency signature of the submarines. The impact on DCNS is most likely to be highest with the Australian government who, having recently (awarded) a large submarine contract to the French shipbuilder, will want reassurance that their data will be sufficiently protected from prying Chinese eyes, he said. Prof. Harsh V. Pant, professor of International Relations at Kings College London said, This is a serious breach, if established, and can do some real long term damage to Indian strategic profile as the Scorpene was supposed to be the main conventional submarine of the Indian fleet. With this leak, Indian Navy will have to re-set its calculus in light of the Scorpene becoming more vulnerable and prepare anew for a challenge that is growing by the day. Alyssa Ayres, a former US state department official who oversaw relations with India and is now a South Asia expert with the Council on Foreign Relations, described the leak as terrible news, no question. But I think further details are required not only on the leaked info (does this reveal all about the sub?)as well as on how it happened (was it indeed a hacking? If so, by whom?) before its possible to assess how future Indian defence deals might be affected, she said. Roberts added that in the longer term, the leak will act as a black mark against DCNS in future submarine bidding competitions, especially in the Asia-Pacific region where more than 70 new submarines will be ordered over the next decade. All arms manufacturers will have to tighten (and prove) their ability to protect data and information against internal leaks, as well as potential espionage from external actors, he said. (With inputs from Prasun Sonwalkar in London and Yashwant Raj in Washington) Read: Scorpene submarines documents leak case of hacking: Manohar Parrikar Over 5 lakh people may have been seriously affected by the unprecedented flood levels in the Ganga, but Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief, Lalu Prasad believes its fortunate and welcome sight to find the Ganga at ones doorsteps. During a visit to flood-hit riverine area in Fatuha and Bakhtiarpur blocks of Patna on Tuesday, the RJD chief, along with his son and the state health minister Tej Pratap Yadav, was trying to apply balm to the bruised and the marooned awaiting relief. Instead, he ended up delivering some sermons. You are fortunate that the Ganga has reached your homes. It does not always happen. In most cases you go to it, he said, in his characteristic style to TV news channels. Perhaps, Prasads jibe was aimed at the BJP, which recently came up with a scheme for making Gangajal available to people at their doorsteps through post offices. Prasad did not stop there. He extolled the virtues of Gangajal and how difficult it was to get its pure nature these days. Who gets pure Gangajal these days? In the last one decade, the Ganga has moved away from us. It has now returned, he said, as the locals looked on in confusion. In the past, Prasad used to term lack of rain in Bihar as bad omen and often attributed it to chief minister Nitish Kumars act of eating biscuits during a solar eclipse when he should have been observing fast. But when cornered by the media over his statement, Prasad felt the troubled waters and amended his statement, describing the floods as a divine calamity as he took stock of the relief and rescue operations. The situation is worse than even 1975 floods. There is extensive damage to crops and it would be assessed for proper relief, he added. Read | At least 40 killed in as floods continue to wreak havoc in MP, Bihar, UP When the locals told him about lack of boats and adequate relief, he said he would ensure all help was extended to the people. I have requested the state government for more boats, food material and fodder. The government is doing its best to provide nutritious food and medicines to the people, the former chief minister said. He also said the prime minister should take care of flood-hit people of Bihar. The local political representatives should also ensure maximum help to the people in the hours of need, forgetting their differences, he added. Bihar has been badly hit by the floods with several areas inundated. After his aerial survey of the flood-hit areas recently, chief minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday met PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi, drawing his attention to the need for instant relief measures. JD(U) leader KC Tyagi defended Lalu Prasads statements said, Nothing wrong should be read into his statement. Since he is of religious bent of mind and what he said was to assuage the people and keep faith. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON French naval contractor DCNS said on Wednesday it may have been the victim of economic warfare after secrets about its Scorpene submarines being built in India were leaked. India opened an investigation after The Australian newspaper published documents relating to the submarines combat capabilities, raising concerns over another major contract with Australia. The leak contains more than 22,000 pages outlining the details of six submarines that DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy. I understand there has been a case of hacking, defence minister Manohar Parrikar told reporters. We will find out what has happened. The submarines are being built at a state-run shipyard in Mumbai and the first one was expected to go into service by the end of the year, the first step in the Indian navys effort to rebuild its dwindling fleet. The leak has raised doubts about the security of DCNSs submarine project in Australia where it is locked in exclusive negotiations after seeing off rivals for a A$50 billion ($38 billion) contract to build the Barracuda next generation of submarines. DCNS, which is 35 percent owned by Thales, said it was working to determine if any harm had been caused to clients with a view to drawing up an action plan. Asked if the leak could affect other contracts, a company spokesperson said it had come against a difficult commercial backdrop and that corporate espionage could be to blame. Competition is getting tougher and tougher, and all means can be used in this context, she said. There is India, Australia and other prospects, and other countries could raise legitimate questions over DCNS. Its part of the tools in economic warfare. DCNS, which is also vying for submarine contracts in Norway and Poland, beat Germanys ThyssenKrupp AG and a Japanese-government backed bid by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Australia. That was a major blow to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abes push to develop defence export capabilities as part of a more muscular security agenda. The leaked documents cover the Scorpene-class model and do not contain any details of the vessel currently being designed for the Australian fleet. Thales, whose shares fell 3 percent before paring back some of the losses, declined to comment. French defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who finalised the Australian deal, also declined to comment. Major strategic problem The breadth of detail in the documents creates a strategic problem for India, Malaysia and Chile, all of which operate the same submarine, an Australian political source with decades of experience in the global arms industry told Reuters. Excerpts published in redacted form on the newspapers website contained highly sensitive details of the submarine including technical manuals and models of the boats antennae. If its 22,400 pages, its a major stuff-up, the source said. Its a huge deal. It allows them to understand everything about the submarines. What speeds it can do; how noisy it is; what speeds the mast can be raised at ... all of that is just devastating. Read| Data leak serious matter but Scorpene programme on track: MDL chairman A French source close to the matter tried to play down the severity of the leak, saying the documents appeared to be sensitive but neither critical nor confidential. The Indian defence ministry said in a statement it was investigating the impact of the leak on the submarine programme which it said had occurred from abroad. It gave no details. Uday Bhaskar, a former naval officer, said that if the leak was established, it would amount to a significant compromise of the credibility of the submarines. India has a fleet of 13 ageing submarines, only half of which are operational at any time, opening up a gap with China which is expanding its maritime presence in the Indian Ocean. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull sought to deflect concern about the leak, touting the high security standards in Australia, where the submarine will be built. The Australian reported that the leak occurred in France in 2011. But clearly, it is a reminder that, particularly in this digital world, cyber security is of critical importance, he told the Seven TV network. Read| All about Indian Navys crucial Scorpene submarines If you enjoy cold, cloudy, wet weather, with plenty of snow in the mountains, you will love the next month. The latest extended forecast fr... Patidar quota stir leader Hardik Patel on Wednesday shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing him of using the community for orchestrating the 2002 Gujarat communal riots. Patel sent the letter from Udaipur where he is in six-month exile as per the bail condition of the Gujarat high court in connection with a sedition case. In the letter dated August 24 (a copy of which is with HT) with subject Modiji you have stabbed the Patidars in the back, the 23-year-old has mentioned six cases reported during the 2002 riots wherein Patidars in large numbers have been convicted and awarded life imprisonment. We all know that Narendra Modi has orchestrated the 2002 riots. Reaping the benefits of the communal riots, first he became the CM and then went on to become the PM, said Hardik in the letter. Patidars who were accused in these cases are languishing in jails. When Modiji is PM now, he can seek clemency from the President for the accused Patidars. But he wont do so now as he wants to project himself as a secular person to India and the world, he added. According to the list mentioned the letter, 31 Patidars in Sardarapura massacre case, nine in Ode-I massacre, 23 in Ode-II massacre, 25 in Dipda Darwaja case, six in Naroda Patia and 11 in Mehsana case have been awarded life imprisonment. Patel, a resident of Viramgam, shot to limelight when he successfully mobilized his community for the agitation demanding reservation benefits in college admissions and government jobs. Twice the agitation had turned violent, resulting in death of 13 Patidar youths and damage to public properties to the tune of Rs 44 crore. He was booked for sedition in October 2015 and stayed in jail for nine months before getting bail in July this year with a condition to remain outside Gujarat for six months. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON With demand in H1B and L category of visas showing no signs of fall, the US indicated on Monday that it wouldnt slash the fee hike on these categories of visas. There is no drop in demand in these visa categories The hike in visa fee was a congressional decision, US assistant secretary of state for consular affairs Michele Bond said. Bond was in New Delhi for the annual India-US consular dialogue, which brings all visa-related issues for discussion. The Indians get around 70% of all the H1B visa issued globally. Between October 2013 and September 1, 2015, one lakh Indians got H1B visa. This visa category is overwhelmingly Indian, the highest-ranking US official dealing with visa issues said. As many as 30% of all L visas issued by the US government are granted to the citizens of India. Last year, the US Congress imposed a special fee of up to $4,500 on H-1B and L-1 visas availed by Indian IT companies to fund a 9/11 Healthcare Act and biometric tracking system, which the Indian government had termed discriminatory. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON India was scrambling on Wednesday to assess the vulnerability of the mainstay of its future submarine fleet after the leak of a massive cache of secret documents detailing the combat capabilities of the French-designed Scorpene submarines. The government sought a report from French shipbuilder DCNS, which bagged the Rs 23,562-crore ($3.5 billion) contract for six submarines in 2005, on the leak after The Australian newspaper reported that the documents could prove an intelligence bonanza for Indias rivals such as Pakistan and China. The leak, running to 22,400 pages, detail key secret stealth capabilities of the submarines, including the frequencies at which they gather intelligence, their diving depths, range and endurance, and specifications of their torpedo launch and combat systems. Read: Scorpene submarines documents leak case of hacking: Manohar Parrikar The military establishment insisted that the leak was a cause of concern but was not serious enough to compromise the Scorpene submarines. However, an official statement issued by DCNS in Paris acknowledged that the sensitive data made public was a serious matter. This investigation will determine the exact nature of the leaked documents, the potential damages to DCNS customers as well as the responsibilities for this leakage, DCNS said. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar sought a report from the Indian Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba on the extent of the leak. Parrikar, who said he learnt of the leak at midnight on Tuesday, described it as a case of hacking. The first step is to identify if its related to us, and anyway its not all 100% leak, said Parrikar, who also met the navy chief to assess the situation. The Indian Navy said the source of the leak was apparently from overseas and not in India. A naval spokesman said the available information is being examined at the defence ministry and that an analysis is being carried out by the concerned specialists. Read: All about Indian Navys crucial Scorpene submarines The main opposition Congress demanded a complete security audit of the defence ministry following the leak. Party spokesman Randeep Surjewala said the audit of should be done by a sitting Supreme Court judge. India has ordered six Scorpene-class submarines and the first vessel built at Mumbais state-run Mazagon Docks began sea trials in May and is expected to be inducted early next year. The Scorpene is expected to become the main conventional submarine of the Indian fleet and replace the ageing Russian Kilo-class and German HDW vessels that are almost three decades old. The report in The Australian said the DCNS documents, marked Restricted Scorpene India, detail highly classified information such as the levels of noise the submarines make at various speeds, where the submarine the crew can speak safely to avoid detection by the enemy, magnetic, electromagnetic and infra-red data, and noise specifications of the propeller and radiated noise levels that occur when the submarine surfaces. The leak could also trigger alarm in countries that operate a variant of the Scorpene, or have ordered the submarine, including Malaysia, Chile and Brazil, the report said. Read: Data leak serious matter but Scorpene programme on track: MDL chairman The Australian posted several redacted pages from what appeared to be an operating manual for the submarine on its website. It reported it had seen 4,457 pages on the Scorpenes underwater sensors, 4,209 pages on its above-water sensors, 4,301 pages on its combat management system, 493 pages on its torpedo launch system and specifications, 6,841 pages on the communications system and 2,138 on its navigation systems. The report said DCNS had implied but did not say directly that the leak might have occurred at Indias end, rather than from France. However, The Australian said it had learnt the data on the Scorpene was written in France for India in 2011 and is suspected of being removed from France in that same year by a former French Navy officer who was at that time a DCNS subcontractor. The data is then believed to have been taken to a company in southeast Asia, possibly to assist in a commercial venture for a regional navy. Read: Frances DCNS says Scorpene submarine data leak may be economic warfare Peter Roberts of the Royal United Services Institute in London said the most serious implications from the leak were the frequency signature details associated with the Scorpene. The major risk, following this disclosure, is from the exposure of data related to propeller and radiated noise as a result, Indian submarines will be more vulnerable after the data breach, he told HT. The implications of the data loss for the arms community are important in the short term, but probably procedural in the medium to long term. DCNS will obviously have to make some reassurances to the Indian government, and possibly undertake some mitigation work. India will provide an assistance of Rs 300 million to Sri Lanka for livelihood development, including the fisheries sector, in the southern Hambantota district, an official said on Wednesday. Sri Lanka government spokesman Gayantha Karunathilake said that the Indian government has agreed to provide the grant for livelihood development in Hambantota district. Part of the grant is expected to be used for developing fisheries villages in the district. Accordingly, the proposal made by Mahinda Amaraweera, minister of fisheries and aquatic resources development, to sign an agreement between the two countries for the same was approved by the Cabinet, Karunathilake said. My application for cabin crew position was rejected by Jet Airways, which felt I didnt have a good personality, Union minister Smriti Irani said on Wednesday. The television actress-turned- politician went on to thank god for that rejection that led to her getting a job at McDonalds and the rest is history. I dont know if many people know that one of the first jobs that I wanted and I lined up for was cabin crew at Jet. I was rejected because I was told I dont have a good personality. Thank God for your rejection. After that, I got a job at McDonalds and the rest is history, she said. Speaking at an awards function organised by the Air Passengers Association of India (APAI), the textiles minister also said that she was joining the celebration as a passenger. Her comments came after she presented an award to a Jet Airways official. Leaked documents about French naval contractor DCNS Scorpene submarines appear to be neither critical nor confidential, a source close to the matter said on Wednesday. It seems to be sensitive information but appears neither critical nor confidential, the source told Reuters on condition of anonymity. Read: Secret data on Indian Navys Scorpene-class submarines leaked Sensitive data on submarines designed for the India Navy have leaked from the leading French shipbuilder with military customers around the world. Analysts say the leak is a blow to Indias navy and could compromise its underwater combat capabilities. India has spent $3.9 billion on six conventionally powered Scorpene submarines built by Frances DCNS and inducted for trial in 2015. Read: Scorpene submarine data leak: Indian and French authorities order probe DCNS said in a statement that French national security authorities were investigating how many documents leaked, the level of sensitivity, and the prejudice to the client. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar told reporters he asked the navy chief to determine what information was exposed. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, he said the leak did not appear to have come from India. As the search for tiger Jai continued after it went missing from Umred Karhandla wildlife sanctuary near Nagpur, state forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said on Wednesday he would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a CBI probe into its disappearance. Rescuers, wildlife experts and volunteers have been scouring the forest, trying to locate the 250kg tiger, who was last spotted on April 18. Mungantiwar said, I would soon write to Prime Minister demanding an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the missing big cat. Meanwhile, BJP Lok Sabha MP from Bhandara-Gondia, Nana Patole, also said that he would seek PMs intervention into the matter. Patole expressed apprehension that Jai might have fallen prey to poachers as there has been no trace of it since the past four months. Along with Jai, his grandfather Rashtrapati, his father Dendu and sibling Viru have also gone missing. Jais disappearance has become such a hot topic of debate that even chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had said in July that he felt that Jai was alive, the MP said. According to Patole, Jai was radio-collared, but of late his radio collar had stopped working. He added that two people were arrested on suspicion of poaching, further fuelling fears. Meanwhile, sources in the forest department said that a wide search for Jai is on covering the forest area between Bor in Wardha district, Bramhapuri in Chandrapur district and New Nagzira Navegaon Tiger Reserve (NNTR). Named after Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchans character in the hit 1975 film Sholay, Jai was in limelight three years ago after embarking on an epic hike through villages, rivers and perilously dangerous highways in successful pursuit of a mate. Jai has been a favourite with tourists and conservationists alike. Wildlife officials have launched a search operation for the royal feline. So far, there is no substantial clue about the whereabouts of the tiger, whose electronic collar stopped transmitting his location in April. The tiger population of Maharashtra, which was 169 in 2010, has gone up to 190 in 2015. Out of this 70-odd tigers are accounted for in Tadoba tiger reserve. The state government has offered a reward of Rs 50,000 for information on Jais location. Some people residing close to the Umred Karhandla sanctuary have also performed a pooja for his safety. Jais disappearance since for over four months has come as a huge setback for the state. Maharashtra had roped in Amitabh Bachchan as its brand ambassador for its tiger conservation initiative. A new controversy is brewing in Manipur over a draft bill that aims to regulate the entry and exit of non-locals to the state with the aim of protecting the local population. The Manipur Regulation of Non-Local People Act, 2016, was made public on August 9 - the same day the states best-known civil rights activist Irom Sharmila ended her 16-year long hunger strike seeking abolition of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. The bill, which is in the public domain for pre-legislative consultative process seeking suggestions, will be taken into consideration by the government anytime after Wednesday. This is the second such bill drafted by the state government after President Pranab Mukherjee rejected the Protection of Manipur People Bill, passed by the state assembly last year, due to strong opposition from several groups. Once adopted and implemented, people from other Indian states will have to seek permission to visit Manipur - a provision similar to inner line permits needed for Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland. One of the aims of the bill is to maintain peace and public order, but there is already a significant opposition to it from tribal and non-tribal communities who are seeking major changes. The divide spawned by the bill is indeed deep and one can expect more stormy days ahead, Wednesdays editorial of The Sangai Express, Manipurs largest circulated English daily observed. The joint committee for inner line permit system (JCILPS), which is spearheading a campaign to regulate entry of outsiders, wants the draft bill to set 1951 as the cut off base year, instead of 1972, to define locals. Comprising mostly of Meiteis, the states dominant non-tribal group, the JCILPS adopted three resolutions at a peoples convention held at Imphal on Monday seeking changes in the draft. The states minority tribal population, which comprise mostly of Nagas and Kukis living in the hill districts, have also opposed the bill terming it old wine in a new bottle and similar to the earlier one rejected by the President. The groups are also opposed to two other bills, Manipur Land Reforms and Land Revenue (7th Amendment) Bill and Manipur Shops and Establishment (2nd Amendment) Bill, passed by the state assembly last year. Nine tribals, including an 11-year-old boy, lost their lives in police firing at Churachandpur in September last year during violent protests that erupted in the hill districts against the three bills. Tribals under the banner of joint action committee (JAC) believe the bills, including the new one, are attempts by Meiteis living in the valley to take away their traditional rights and land. The state governments attempt to pass the new bill while the nine bodies are still lying in morgue at Churachandpur is collective humiliation of all tribals, chief convenor of JAC, H Mangchinkhup, told Hindustan Times. Tribal groups in Manipur are planning to hold a unity day on August 31 to mark one year of the police firing incident and also step up campaign against the Bill. Here are some of the provisions of the Manipur Regulation of Non-Local People Act: Locals are those who were citizens of India and residents of the state immediately before Manipur gained statehood in January 21, 1972, and their descendants residing in the state. Non-locals are citizens of India but were not residents of the state immediately before January 21, 1972. Once implemented, every non-local will have to get registered and obtain a pass to visit to state or stay as a tenant. Passes will be valid for 6 months and will have to be extended after that. Any house owner who fails to inform the authorities about leasing his property to non-locals will be fined anything between two thousand to five thousand rupees. Provisions will not be applicable to employees of union and state government, public undertakings, constitutional bodies, leaders of recognised political parties and students of educational institutions located in Manipur. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Jamat-e-Islami Hind has approached the Gujarat high court, challenging the denial of permission to it by the police to hold a rally in the city. Justice R H Shukla on Wednesday asked the police to resolve the issue by discussing it with the organisers, and posted the matter for further hearing on August 29. The judge, however, remarked that the police can regulate a rally, but cannot prohibit it. Jamat-e-Islami Hind had on August 13 applied to the city police for permission to hold a public meeting at the Town Hall on August 21 and a rally on August 22 as a part of its nation-wide `peace and harmony campaign. The police permitted the public meeting but not the rally, after which the organisation moved the court. The organisers now plan to hold the rally on September 1. A procession is planned on that day from the Town Hall in Paldi locality which will culminate at the historical Lal Darwaza in Old City area. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday adjourned the hearing in diesel vehicle ban case till September 7. The tribunal had on July 18 asked the Delhis transport authorities to cancel registration of diesel-fuelled vehicles that were older than 10 years. Two days later, it asked the Delhi government to first focus on vehicles order than 15 years. The Centre was expected to oppose the tribunals order to phase out more than 15 years old diesel vehicles in Delhi. The Union government had on July 29 challenged the NGTs order to phase out diesel vehicles, saying there was no legal provision for the move described by a carmaker as a corporate death penalty. The Supreme Court recently lifted a ban on registration of new diesel vehicles with engine capacity of 2,000cc and above. According to the green court, diesel vehicle emissions contributed majorly to air pollution in the Capital. A protester was killed and about 30 people, including three officers of Jammu and Kashmir police, were wounded on Wednesday as violence flared up during Union home minister Rajnath Singhs visit to the restive state. Kashmir Valley has been on the edge since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8, which triggered widespread unrest and prompted an intense security crackdown. The Valley is under curfew for a record 47 days and 68 people have been killed and thousands wounded in violent street protests. Home minister Singh dashed to Srinagar on Wednesday for a two-day visit, his second in a month, as the Centre and state government struggled to bring peace to the strife-torn Valley. He met a political delegation as the Centre stepped up efforts to end the violence. But protests continued on the streets, especially in south Kashmirs Pulwama district. Amir Ahmad Mir, a 20-year-old from Ratnipora, was killed and at least 30 people were wounded in clashes with security forces who tried to stop a rally around 4am. Mir was among the marchers and suffered fatal pellet wounds. He was hit by a tear gas shell in his abdomen, splitting his spleen, during a similar protest in February, his family said. Anti-India slogans were heard outside Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital where people said their funeral prayers for Mir. Read| Any talks on Kashmir must include Pakistan: Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Home minister Singh is expected to review security arrangements with chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and governor NN Vohra before returning to Delhi on Thursday. No meetings with separatist leaders have been scheduled, though. Union home minister Rajnath Singh in a meeting with a delegation of Jammu and Kashmir National Conference party leaders led by former chief minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar. (PTI Photo) However, Singh took to Twitter and asked people to meet him, invoking former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayees mantra: I will be staying at the Nehru Guest House. Those who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaaniyat and Jamhooriyat are welcome. Singhs use of the social media attracted ridicule as people referred to the ban on Internet in Kashmir. You have made Kashmir into a jail and you are talking about Insaniyat, Jamhooriyat and Kashmiriyat, said Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a senior leader of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference. He stood by the separatists stand for a tripartite dialogue, which would include Pakistan. Former chief minister Omar Abdullah, who had earlier met President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, led the delegation of Kashmir-based opposition parties. Abdullah was not hopeful of a breakthrough after the meeting, and reaffirmed his demand for a political solution to restore peace. We met him and put forth the same points that we had discussed with the Prime Minister the need to widen the scope of dialogue to all stakeholders. Situations like what happened in Pulwama today does not help, the National Conference leader said. Read| Centre wants Jammu and Kashmir govt to crack down on those fuelling unrest The Peoples Democratic Party, which rules the state in alliance with the BJP, remained positive. The Prime Minister has shown a lot of seriousness and has talked about finding a permanent solution to the issue, PDP spokesman Wahidur Rehman Parra said. Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti maintained home minister Singhs line, urging people to give peace a chance to revive a fairly successful reconciliation process the Vajpayee-led NDA government initiated in 2002. But the political initiative to stop the post-Wani unrest had little effect on the streets, where curfew-bound people are getting increasingly hostile towards government forces. In Srinagar, clashes were reported in the Waniyar Safakadal neigbourhood after security personnel assaulted two motorcyclists for breaking prohibitory orders. Militants were taking advantage of the situation. A grenade exploded on a police patrol in Pulwama, gravely wounding the districts additional superintendent of police, the deputy superintendent of police and a station house officer. Several of their colleagues were wounded too. They were shifted to the armys base hospital in Srinagar. Read| A generation under curfew: A mothers story of bringing up children in Kashmir Delhi high court was on Wednesday told that the one-member judicial commission, set up to deal with grievances of ex-servicemen on One Rank One Pension (OROP), was not hearing issues raised by an individual but dealing only with contentions raised by organisations. The Centre refuted the claims before a bench of justices B D Ahmed and Ashutosh Kumar saying the commission was hearing the grievances raised before it not only by organisations but by individuals also. The bench was hearing a plea seeking directions to Ministry of Defence and the commission, headed by Justice (Retd) L Narasimha Reddy, to give an effective public hearing to those affected or aggrieved by implementation of OROP. When the matter came up for hearing, petitioner S P Singh told the bench he had approached the commission with his grievances but was not heard and told that the panel was only hearing the contentions of organisations. The petitioner also claimed that armed forces officers were sitting with the panel despite the fact that it was a one-member judicial commission. Central government standing counsel Anurag Ahluwalia refuted the claims of the petitioner saying the commission was also hearing the grievances of individuals and the officers were present to assist the panel. He also said the petitioner was heard by the panel. The bench then asked the petitioner to file an affidavit stating that he was not given an opportunity by the commission to put forth his grievances and posted the matter for further hearing on September 28. The Centre had earlier told the court it has extended by six months the term of the one-member panel on OROP. The petitioner, who is an ex-serviceman, has said that as per a Ministry letter dated April 13, Defence forces pensioners/family pensioners, Defence Pensioners Associations can submit their suggestions/views on the revised pension as notified, to the MoD, through post or by email within 15 days i.e. by April 29, 2016. The petitioner had contended that this information was not published in the newspapers and, therefore, people were not informed about it. He had said that the time given to forward the representations was very short. The Centre had told the court that date for forwarding suggestions and representations was later extended to May 15. The government on Wednesday ordered a probe into the reported leak of a massive cache of secret documents detailing the combat capabilities of Scorpene submarines designed for the Indian Navy by French shipbuilder DCNS, with defence minister Manohar Parrikar describing it as a case of hacking. The leak, running to 22,400 pages, could prove an intelligence bonanza for Indias rivals such as Pakistan or China, The Australian newspaper reported on Tuesday. The documents detail key capabilities of the submarines, including the frequencies at which the vessels gather intelligence, their diving depths, range and endurance and the specifications of the torpedo launch and combat systems. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar, who said he learnt of the leak at midnight, described it as a case of hacking. He sought a report from the Indian Navy chief on the extent of the leak. The first step is to identify if its related to us, and anyway its not all 100% leak, Parrikar said. Read | Secret data on Indian Navys Scorpene-class submarines leaked: Report In its first reaction, the Indian Navy said: It appears that the source of the leak is from overseas and not in India. A naval spokesperson said following the suspected leak of documents related to Scorpene submarines, the available information is being examined at the defence ministrys integrated headquarters. The spokesperson added that an analysis is being carried out by the concerned specialists. French authorities will also investigate the matter, reports Reuters. As a serious matter pertaining to the Indian Scorpene programme, French national authorities for defence security will formally investigate and determine the exact nature of the leaked documents, a DCNS spokeswoman said in a statement. The matters in connection to India have no bearing on the Australian submarine programme which operates under the Australian governments arrangements for the protection of sensitive data. A spokesman for the French embassy in Canberra declined to comment when reached by Reuters. India has ordered six Scorpene-class submarines in a deal worth an estimated $3 billion. The first of the submarines built at Mumbais state-run Mazagon Docks began sea trials in May. The Scorpene is expected to become the mainstay of the Indian Navys submarine fleet. The report in The Australian said the DCNS documents, marked Restricted Scorpene India, detail the most sensitive combat capabilities of Indias new $US3 bnsubmarine fleet and would provide an intelligence bonanza if obtained by Indias strategic rivals, such as Pakistan or China. The newspaper posted several redacted pages from what appeared to be an operating manual for the submarine on its website. Opposition leaders from Jammu and Kashmir are upbeat after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- they feel they have seized the initiative from chief minister Mehbooba Mufti in resolving the volatile situation in the Valley. The Prime Ministers concern over the turmoil, his call for peace and emphasis on dialogue are some things they can take back to the people in Kashmir, where seven weeks of violence has left 67 people dead and thousands injured. What Mehbooba Mufti could not do for the past 45 days, the opposition leaders have managed to do (in a meeting). For the first time, there was an empathetic and encouraging language from the PM, said Prof Noor Ahmad Baba of Kashmir University. Mufti was in Delhi for a day on August 8 and met home minister Rajnath Singh for almost two hours. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar and national security adviser Ajit Doval were among those present in the meeting. But Mufti, who is ruling the border state in alliance with the Modis BJP, didnt meet the Prime Minister, and it was noticed. It is surprising that when the Valley is burning and the CM is in Delhi, there is no meeting between the two, said Congress leader GN Monga, who was part of the eight-member opposition delegation that met Modi on August 22. She should have met the PM and personally apprised him of the prevailing volatile situation in Kashmir, he said. The Prime Minister, sources said, had promptly accepted a request for a meeting from the delegation led by National Conference leader and former chief minister Omar Abdullah. The request was sent Sunday morning and within hours, the leaders, who were camping in Delhi, were told that the PM would meet them at 5pm the same evening. The meeting, however, was pushed to 9.30am the next day because of PMs busy schedule, sources said. Political analysts are of the view that the PMs conciliatory statement after a prolonged silence on Kashmir, which echoed loud after his strong words on Balochistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, is significant and could be the icebreaker the Valley needs. These leaders are also stakeholders. We were in stalemate and nothing seemed to be moving. They have succeeded in breaking some ice, Baba said. In his meeting with the opposition leaders Modi said there was a need for dialogue and a permanent solution to the regions troubles. Those who lost their lives during recent disturbances are a part of us, our nation. Whether the lives lost are of our youth, security personnel or police, it distresses us, a government statement had quoted Modi as saying. Mufti, on the other hand, is accused of failing to grasp the gravity of the situation. Her statement on Monday that only 5% people were creating unrest in Kashmir and the remaining 95% wanted to live in peace, too, has not gone down well. She has admitted her failure in controlling those 5%. Its a reflection on her government. This 5% cannot be isolated. Every family in Kashmir is involved in one way or the other. The anger clearly has social backing, Baba said. Monga agreed. She seems to be clueless over how to handle this simmering anger. First three-four days after the killing of Burhan Wani were crucial and her statements have further strengthened the public perception that she has failed administratively, he said. But, there is also a word of caution too. We have to wait and watch how things unfold. Though it will not immediately resolve the issue, much depends on how Modis statement is made operational and when talks are initiated with all stakeholders, Baba said. The Centres credibility was at stake, Monga said. Sending home minister Rajnath Singh again to Kashmir was a half-hearted attempt. The PM should have visited the Valley, the Congress leader said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON When the Student Council at Pondicherry University (PU) first released its magazine this year, few took notice. In the first few days after its July 28 release, only a few hundred copies of Widerstand (resistance in German) were distributed. Within a couple of days, however, it seemed like the council had opened a pandoras box of emotions, with protests and counter-protests from both left and right wing student organisations on campus, and eventually, the removal of the Dean of Student Welfare from his post. Beyond free speech issues, these protests are also significant because they are not an isolated event, but rather they are part of the continuing politicisation of this university. For the first time in 31 years, PU is witnessing politically charged student protests. Beyond just the brouhaha around the magazine, the relatively apolitical university and the state of Puducherry are heralding the beginning of a new era of radicalised politics. There have been a number of recent cases of the socialist Student Federation of India (SFI) going head to head against the right-wing Akhil Bhartiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP), as they did in Pondicherry again. However, unlike the clashes at Hyderabad Central University and JNU, these organisations are still in nascent stages at PU. Historically, PU has been a hotbed of sleepy activism and apolitical feelings. During PU vice-chancellor JAK Tareens tenure from 2007 to 2013, students were outright banned from participating in any kind of political activity both on and off campus. Until 2012, for almost 10 years, there had been no student council elections. Although the SFI had members in many affiliated colleges, nobody in the university openly admitted to being a part of the SFI or any other organization, one university professor says. Around three years ago, neither the SFI nor the ABVP had any activities [at PU], and both organisations had only a handful of students, another senior faculty member at PU says. When the two factions openly opposed each other, it was like a declaration that things have changed. So how did this state of affairs come to pass? BJP leaders holding protest rally against the magazine (Grist media) The first protest against Widerstand was actually not by any students but rather the Puducherry wing of the BJP, which burnt copies of the magazine claiming it had an anti-nationalist stance. PU staff and students say that until the BJPs protests, most of them had not even noticed the magazines release. There is a lot of opposition against a magazine that would have been unnoticed until a national party like the BJP burnt copies, says R. Rajangam, Secretary of the Puducherry CPI(M) unit. The ABVP took up the protests only after the BJP, agrees a PU student in the School of Green Energy Technology. It seemed ridiculous to us that a national political party would care about what was written in a student magazine that most students had not even read. The day after the BJP protest, the BJPs student-wing ABVP joined in on the act, burning copies of the magazine and claiming that it was extremely divisive. Soon, everyone rushed to read the magazine and over 2,000 copies were distributed and the text put online. Following these protests, the university stopped the magazines further distribution and locked up the 4,000-odd remaining copies. At this, the student council, which had after all produced the magazine, staged its own counter-protest demanding its right to freedom of expression. What is interesting to note is that this new student council, comprising the left-leaning SFI and the Ambedkar Student Association (ASA), is relatively new having won elections for the first time in December 2015, and the magazine was its first major activity. Ever since the elections, there has been growing discontent, says a student from the department of social work. There are very few students belonging to the right-wing ABVP and they were not happy with the SFIs victory. The magazine seemed to add fuel to the fire. (Grist media) The ABVP called for the dismissal of the P Moorthy, dean of student welfare and also Widerstands editor. As the protests peaked, the university distanced itself from the controversy and stated that the administration had no role in the views expressed in the magazine. Moorthy was removed from his post and the Registrar stopped the distribution of the magazine. The protests continued for around a week, but they have now died down, and the remaining copies of the magazine were distributed in August. The University agreed that we could continue to distribute the magazine as long as we made sure that everyone understood that the administration had no part to play in its content, a student council member said. So what made Widerstand such an ideal target for radical forces in Puducherry? According to ABVP protestors, the magazine was divisive and anti-national. The main point of contention turns out to be an article titled Turning into Saffron Concentration Camps written by Pramod Meena, an assistant professor in PUs Hindi department. The article criticises the central government for openly advocating its [the NDAs] anti-educational policies. The article also accuses the ABVP of being an instrument of atrocities and violence against the Dalits and suppressed community students and teachers all over the country. Translated from Hindi, it calls the death of Dalit scholar Rohith Vermula an institutional murder. Other Widerstand articles also criticize the ABVP and the central government, with references to the protests at JNU and the Occupy UGC movement. The NDA government had brought down the scholarship of social sciences from 5 percent to 3 percent, an article states, adding that the agenda of the current regime is to confine the arena (of education) to an economically well to do class (sic). The ABVP claims that such articles do not represent the views of the university students. For example, the magazine opens with the words Punjivad se lenge Azadi, Manuvad se lenge Azadi, Brahmanwad se lenge azadi, sanghwad se lenge azadi, lines made famous by the protestors at JNU during their chants for freedom for Kashmir. These lines go a long way to incite communal tensions and dividing the campus, says Manish Mahapatra, working committee member of the ABVP. (Grist media) ABVP president Sharad Awasti adds, A magazine that has been released in the presence of the vice-chancellor, with the dean of student welfare as the chief editor, needs to be more balanced. This does not represent the views of all the students in the university, but has been published using institute funds. The student council counters these arguments by agreeing that the articles in the magazine represent the views of the council alone and not the entire university. Although we invited articles from all students, we struggled to collect enough to compile the magazine. There were a few from other students, but [the articles in the magazine] were mainly written and sourced by members of the student council, says Jishnu EN, general secretary of the student union and member of Widerstands editorial team. The magazine was funded through the Student Welfare funds collected every year, and this [has been] one of the only activities of the [new] student council that has been in office for around seven months. While the protests themselves lasted around a week, PU faculty and students say that their underlying history of political polarisation has transformed public life on campus. * * * The ABVP at PU started in a small way in 2010. ABVP convenor Sanjay Parthap says, We would have few meetings and probably had around 30 members in the beginning. The SFI was also formed at PU around 2011 by a group of students from Kerala and West Bengal who were filing RTIs to find out why there were no student body elections at the university. This new student body also had the support of the Puducherry Pradesh SFI, which has members studying in many of the colleges affiliated to the university. The SFI was a group of around 10 to 15 students who would meet occasionally and wanted to ensure the students right to have representatives, Jishnu says. The first Student Council elections were finally held in 2012 and it proved to be a mostly apolitical affair, with a few ABVP members elected as office bearers. This first student council had no SFI members. According to students, the polarisation of student politics at PU gained momentum the next year in 2013 when Vice Chancellor J.A.K. Tareen finally stepped down and Chandra Krishnamurthy took over. Although the student body was mostly united and apolitical, there were a few scuffles over some issues but nothing serious, says one PhD scholar. In 2014, the left and right wing organizations joined hands for a long-term protest for the removal of Chandra Krishnamurthy as vice-chancellor. Students united under the common banner of the Pondicherry University Student Movement (PUSM). On 27 July, 2015, some students announced an indefinite siege at the university demanding Krishnamurthys removal for alleged plagiarism, corruption, misrepresenting credentials to gain her post, maladministration and human rights violations against students. (Grist media) The most prominent student harassment issue during Krishnamurthys tenure was the detention of a first year MA Tamil student S Radhakrishnan. According to complaints submitted to the MHRD and the Human Rights Commission, Radhakrishnan was accused of lewd behaviour in the womens hostel. As a result, he was detained by the security officer for over 27 hours, and forced to confess to the crime. He was then paraded before the girls hostel. The disciplinary committee probe, however, found that he was at the library at the time he was allegedly harassing students. This incident brought the students together. For a year, we were all united by the PUSM banner, whether we belonged to the SFI, ABVP or any other banner, Mahapatra says, adding that although there were a handful of students who stood against the PUSM, their numbers were negligible. There were students from almost every department involved in these protests, and we all decided that it would be an apolitical struggle, an economics student adds. These protests reached their peak in August 2015, almost exactly a year before the release of Widerstand. At the time, the student council in office was pro-administration, but it was only a handful of students who did not want her (Krishnamurthy) removed, says Jishnu. While the protests against the VC saw a coalition of right-wing and left-wing students along with a large portion of the teaching and non-teaching staff, they also ended up creating deep divisions among the university staff. The older associations on campus like the Pondicherry University Teachers Association (PUTA), the Officers Association and the Non Teaching Staff Welfare Association joined to form a Joint Action Committee to anchor the protests against the VC. At the same time, a new organization called the Pondicherry University All Employee Association was also formed. Till date, these associations cannot see eye to eye, one PUTA member says, while the students remained relatively united through this period. (Grist media) The MHRD asked Krishnamurthy to step down in August 2015 and put her on compulsory wait, while appointing Anisa B Khan as interim vice-chancellor. Krishnamurthy was finally dismissed from service through an official order of the President of India in July 2016. While Khans tenure of the last year has been relatively peaceful, both left and right leaning student organisations have gained traction and swiftly positioned themselves against each other. Although the ABVP is a fairly recent organization in Puducherry, the SFI has been present in other colleges in Puducherry for years. Both these organisations have been trying for a while to gain a foothold in the University, says one professor. In the last year, it looks like this has finally started working. The ABVP at PU has almost doubled in size, holding several membership campaigns and registering over 100 new members. Office bearers estimate that they now have around 300 members, of which about 50 actively participate in all ABVP activities. Around 30 to 40 ABVP members participated in the protests against Widerstand. At the same time, the SFI has also grown to around 500 members. Although we have not actively campaigned for new members, there is an increased awareness of the SFI and the ASA and their ideology, says Jishnu. A majority of SFI members are from Kerala, with a handful from north India, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and West Bengal. On the other hand, most ABVP members are from north India and Odisha. The Puducherry CPI(M) unit has issued a statement condemning the burning of Widerstand. While students have a right to protest, the entire problem would have been sorted if ABVP members had simply contributed to the magazine, and it could have been much more peaceful, says Puducherry CPI(M) secretary R Rajangam. A few faculty members fault the VC in-charge Anisa B Khan for this growing student polarisation, saying she failed to stop the issue from getting out of hand. Since the current Vice Chancellor, Registrar and Finance Officer only hold temporary positions, they do not exercise much control on the students. Several political parties and even Puducherry lieutenant governor Kiran Bedi got involved before the protests died down. All this could have been avoided, one PU head of department says. Some students are demanding that the former dean of student welfare P Moorthy be reinstated. It is expected that a search committee for a new VC will be constituted at the next executive council meeting. Sources say that the MHRD is contemplating issuing an advertisement in newspapers to ensure that accusations of unfair selection, as in Chandra Krishnamurthys case, are not repeated. Even as students find themselves in a familiar stand-off against each other, a majority of them on campus apparently remain unaffiliated to any political organisation. The polarization of the willing looks to be complete at Puducherry University. (Published in arrangement with GRIST Media) A protester was killed and about 30 people were injured on Wednesday in clashes with security forces in Ratnipora of south Kashmirs Pulwama district as Union home minister Rajnath Singh started his two-day visit to the strife-torn valley to step up Centres efforts to end the cycle of violence. Amir Ahmad Mir, 20, was a resident of Ratnipora. His death was confirmed by medical superintendent of Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital or SMHS, Dr Nazir Chaudhary. The youth was bought dead to the hospital, Chaudhary told Hindustan Times. Clashes erupted in Pulwamas Prichoo neighbourhood at around 4 am after government forces tried to block an independence rally. In Srinagar, clashes were reported in the Waniyar Safakadal neigbourhood where two motorcyclists were allegedly beaten up by security personnel. Funeral prayers for Mir were observed outside the hospital amid slogans against India. His death now puts the toll at 68 in the violent clashes triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in a gunfight with security forces on July 8. Thousands have also been injured. The valley remained shut for the 47th straight day with curfew and restrictions imposed in various areas in Kashmir and the separatist leaderships call for a shutdown. Singh will meet delegations from Kashmirs civil society and is also expected to review the states security arrangement with chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and governor NN Vohra, before returning to Delhi on Thursday. This is Singhs second visit in a month to strife-torn Kashmir that has been on the boil following Wanis death. During Rajnaths last visit, people said once calm returns to the valley, the minister will forget about listening to voices from Kashmir. But the minister promised he will keep coming back to the valley to hear what the Kashmiris want to say. Therefore he is going back there again, a home ministry official said. Singh will meet civil society members at Srinagars Nehru Guest House but no meetings with separatist leaders have been scheduled. Read | Treat Kashmiris as own people: J-K HC raps Centre on pellet gun injuries SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that he didnt blame the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as an institution but only some people associated with the Hindu group for Mahatma Gandhis assassination. Rahuls counsel, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, made the statement before a bench headed by justice Dipak Misra and told court that the Congress leader had said so in an affidavit filed in 2014 before the Bombay high court where he moved a petition to quash the criminal defamation case against him by an RSS member. Virtually taking a U-turn on the controversial declaration, Sibal said: I (Rahul) never accused the RSS of the crime. I have denied it specifically. never accused RSS as an institution of the crime. On an earlier date, Rahuls advocate had said he had reiterated a historical fact and refused to apologise, as advised by the court for indulging in collective denunciation of an institution. The bench perused the affidavit Sibal showed it and indicated quashing the case. But senior advocate UR Lalit, counsel for Rakesh Kunte complainant against Rahul said he required time to consult his client and took time till September 1. The court, however, recorded Sibals statement. Read: RSS, BJP hit out at Rahul over defamation case; Cong says he wont apologise During the hearing, justice Misra told Sibal to explain whether Rahul accused RSS of the killing or not, to which Sibal said the court cannot compel him to make a statement as the merits of the allegations should be determined in the trial. But the court persisted. If you admit (justify the allegation) then this whole thing may go against you. If you deny it the whole thing (defamation case) goes out. Sibal then asserted: I (Rahul) never accused RSS as an institution of the crime. Rahul moved the Supreme Court in May 2015 against the Bombay high court order dismissing his plea for quashing the case. Kunte had filed a defamation suit in Thane district court in 2014, alleging Rahul, at an election rally in Bhiwandi, had said that the RSS had assassinated Mahatma Gandhi. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Union home minister Rajnath Singh will meet delegations from Kashmirs civil society on Wednesday morning as the Centre steps up efforts to quell a seven-week spell of violence in the Valley that left 67 people dead and 10,000 injured. Over the next 24 hours, the home minister is also expected to review the states security arrangement with chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and governor NN Vohra, before returning to Delhi on Thursday. Read | Modi hints at Kashmir talks, says need to find permanent solution This is Singhs second visit in a month to strife-torn Kashmir that has been on the boil following the July 8 killing of insurgent leader Burhan Wani. During Rajnaths last visit, people said once calm returns to the Valley, the minister will forget about listening to voices from Kashmir. But the minister promised he will keep coming back to the Valley to hear what the Kashmiris want to say. Therefore he is going back there again, said a home ministry official. I will be staying at the Nehru Guest House. Those who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat are welcome. Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 24, 2016 Sir, hope you know your govt has blocked Internet in Kashmir. U expect them to read n respond to a twitter appeal? https://t.co/0V33EiaTYs Harinder Baweja (@shammybaweja) August 24, 2016 Singh will meet civil society members at Srinagars Nehru Guest House but no meetings with separatist leaders have been scheduled. Read | Separatists trash PMs statement, say India should shun violence Officials say the Centres immediate concern is to break the cycle of violence. The government has started the process of recruiting 16,000 more security personnel for the state and is looking at various economic measures for the youth. Our top priority is to implement curfew in the strictest manner so that people dont gather on roads as it leads to clashes with security personnel, said a senior government official. The Centre has also fast-tracked the process of recruitment of around 10,000 special police officers, 1,000 paramilitary personnel and 5,000 troops for five India Reserve Battalions in the state, the official added. The administration has also hastened the process of skill development and employment generation among the states youth. The home ministry plans to train to around 125,000 youth under its Udaan and Himayat schemes by March 31 next year. Read | Will pursue agenda of political resolution, says Mehbooba The government hopes the raft of measures will help in assuaging simmering anger among the states local population and curbing violence that has continued for almost two months on. According to data available with the home ministry, the number of security personnel injured stand at 5,197 at the moment. Out of them around 2,000 are central security personnel and the rest belong to Jammu and Kashmir police. Around 5,600 civilians have also been injured. Read | Caught in the line of fire: Lives of CRPF men in Kashmir SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Centre may have opened India to persecuted religious minorities from neighbouring Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh but it does not intend lowering its guard. Asking states to extend all facilities to them, the home ministry has said the refugees should not be allowed into restricted areas or businesses considered sensitive. Any activity involving mobile handsets, SIM cards and laptops is prohibited. The migrants also cant be in security business that involves information technology or cyber space, a recent home ministry letter says. They should not be permitted to undertake self-employment/business in any contractual labour work related to defence establishment, scientific establishment, sensitive organisation, railways, ministries etc, the ministry said, citing grocery or vegetable shops as examples of businesses the migrants were allowed. In recent years, India has seen an increase in the number of Hindu and Sikh refugees, especially from Pakistan and Afghanistan, alleging religious persecution. The Centre has also given the state police a free hand in not allowing the migrants to take up any other business activity also considered sensitive from security point of view. The letter, put up on the ministry website, indicates concerns within the security establishment over relaxing norms for allowing minority communities from these countries to enter, stay and later seek citizenship. The biggest worry is that intelligence agencies, particularly in Pakistan, could exploit New Delhis open-door policy. It had forced the government to move slowly, one step at a time, an official said. In the run-up to the 2014 elections, Narendra Modi, who was the NDAs prime ministerial candidate, had said India would offer shelter to Hindus persecuted in other countries. India is the only place for them we will have to accommodate them here, he said at an election rally in Assam, drawing a distinction between Hindu and Muslim immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh. Arrival of Muslim migrants from the neighbouring country is a sensitive issue in Assam. The BJP manifesto went on to describe India as a natural home for persecuted Hindus. Once voted to power, the BJP-led NDA included Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians in the list of minorities that could seek refuge in India. The letter comes weeks after the government relaxed restrictions on movement of the migrants staying in India on long-term visa. The ministry also allowed migrants to buy a home or office space, get a driving licence, an Aadhaar number or even the permanent account number issued by income-tax authorities. It is not clear why these facilities were not available to them earlier if they had lived in India for six months or more, and thus qualified to be a resident of India. There is nothing in the motor vehicle law or rule that bars a foreigner from getting a driving licence. The Aadhaar law makes it clear that every resident and not just a citizen is entitled to the unique identification number and the I-T authorities dont turn away a foreigner willing to pay the tax. The only relaxation that the minorities have been given was the permission to buy property. Foreign nationals living in India can buy immovable property except agricultural land. Citizens of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, China, Iran, Nepal and Bhutan living in India, however, need the Reserve Bank of Indias permission before making the purchase. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Supreme Court on Wednesday will hear Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhis petition to quash the defamation case filed against him by an activist of the RSS over his remarks that the saffron organisation was responsible for Mahatma Gandhis assassination. A bench headed by justice Dipak Misra will take up the petition at 2pm. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal is likely to argue for Gandhi. Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh worker Rajesh Kunte filed a defamation complaint before a Thane district court in 2014 alleging the Congress VP had said that RSS had assassinated Mahatma Gandhi during an election rally in Bhiwandi. Gandhi was reported as saying, RSS people killed Gandhi ji. They opposed Sardar Patel and Gandhi ji. In his complaint, Kunte said Gandhi sought to tarnish the reputation of the RSS through his speech. Following the complaint, the magistrate issued a notice to Gandhi, directing his personal appearance. The trial court proceedings against Gandhi was stayed on May 7 last year. Gandhi moved the top court in May 2015 seeking a stay on the Bombay high court order dismissing his plea for quashing the defamation case. His matter was, however, not heard since the same bench was seized of petitions, including one filed by Gandhi, challenging the validity of the defamation law under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Earlier in May, justice Misras bench dismissed the petitions and upheld the legality of the IPC sections. On July 19, the SC remarked against Gandhi for indulging in collective denunciation against an organisation and said its wrong. It said the Congress leader might have to face the trial to prove his defence that his statement was an assertion of a historical fact. Gandhis counsel told the court that he was within his right to free speech. They have maintained that the complaint is motivated and malafide and should be quashed. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) will soon ask Pakistan to send 13 of its nationals to depose as witnesses before a special NIA court conducting the trial of the 2007 Samjhauta Express blast that killed over 60 people. The agencys officials believe that it will be a test case for Pakistan whether it wants to see justice delivered in the Samjhauta case. Pakistan has been making noise about the case in order to create a comparative narrative to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. However, NIA officials say Pakistan has utterly failed to punish those responsible for the Mumbai attacks or even identify those responsible for the January 2 Pathankot attack, whereas the trial in Samjhauta case is at a fag end. Indian security officials say Pakistan has so far conducted a sham of the trial against accused in the 26/11 case. And in the Pathankot attack case, it is yet to act on the evidence provided by the NIA when a joint investigation team came from the neighbouring country. It has so far been non-committal on a reciprocal visit of the NIA to Islamabad. On Tuesday, it expressed grave concern over what it termed as an unnecessary delay in the investigation of the 2007 Samjhauta Express bombing case. We also call upon the Indian government to share information about the investigation proceedings of the terrorist attack, Pakistans foreign office said. More than 42 Pakistani nationals lost their lives in the bombings, it added. But Indian security officials believe that there can be no comparison between the Samjhauta case and the 26/11 attacks. India not only arrested those responsible for the train blasts of February 2007 but the trial is also in its last stage. More than 200 witnesses have deposed in the case and the prosecution evidence will close soon in the case if Pakistan cooperates by sending 13 of its nationals who have been made a witness in the case by the NIA. The NIA is even preparing to request the court to record statements of these witnesses at Wagah border if they are unwilling to come to Panchkula where the trial is going on. The agency is eagerly waiting to see whether Pakistan really wants to see justice served in the Samjhauta case by sending witnesses. Powerful bombs ripped through two compartments of the Samjhauta Express train, the rail link between India and Pakistan, late on February 18, killing 68 people and injuring several others. The blasts occurred near Dewana railway station in Haryanas Panipat district. More than half a dozen Hindu extremists are facing trial in the Samjhauta case. The NIA has alleged that the Hindu extremists bombed the train that runs between Delhi and Atari at India-Pakistan border to ferry Indians and Pakistanis, in retaliation for jihadi terror strikes in India. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The leak of documents detailing the secret combat capabilities of Indias Scorpene-class submarines was a case of hacking, defence minister Manohar Parrikar said on Wednesday, amid growing concern in the defence establishment over the episode. His comments came a day after Australian media reported a leak of 22,400 pages that enumerate the submarines designed by French shipbuilder DCNS for the Indian Navy. Parrikar told news agency ANI he was informed of the leak around 12am Wednesday. The first step is to identify if its related to us, and anyway its not all 100% leak, the minister told ANI. It is a case of hacking. First step is to identify if its related to us, and anyway its not all 100% leak: Manohar Parrikar on submarine leak pic.twitter.com/6FG8M09HZv ANI (@ANI_news) August 24, 2016 India has ordered six Scorpene-class submarines in a deal worth $3 billion. The first of the submarines built at the Mazagon Docks in Mumbai began sea trials in May. The leak could prove to be a bonanza for Indias maritime rivals Pakistan and China, the Australian media report said. The Indian Navy in a statement said on Wednesday that it appears that the source of leak is from overseas and not in India, reports ANI. A number of other countries operate a variant of the Scorpene or have ordered the submarine, including Malaysia, Chile and Brazil, the report added. Documents detailing the secret combat capabilities of Scorpene-class submarines that French shipbuilder DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy have been leaked, and could prove to a bonanza for Indias rivals such as Pakistan, according to an Australian media report on Tuesday. The leak, running to 22,400 pages, will trigger alarm at the highest level in countries that operate a variant of the Scorpene, or have ordered the submarine, including Malaysia, Chile and Brazil, The Australian newspaper reported. India has ordered six Scorpene-class submarines in a deal worth $3 billion. The first of the submarines built at the Mazagon Docks in Mumbai began sea trials in May. Marked Restricted Scorpene India, the DCNS documents detail the most sensitive combat capabilities of Indias new $US3 bnsubmarine fleet and would provide an intelligence bonanza if obtained by Indias strategic rivals, such as Pakistan or China, the report said. The leak will spark grave concern in Australia and especially in the US, where senior navy officials have privately expressed fears about the security of top-secret data entrusted to France, it added. DCNS also won a bid in April to design Australias new $50 billion submarine fleet, and the report said the leak could affect the security of top-secret data on the submarines. DCNS, which is two-thirds owned by the French government, will design 12 new submarines for Australia. Read | India inks $1-billion deal with US for 4 P-8I submarine hunter planes Any stealth advantage for the (Australian) navys new submarines would be gravely compromised if data on its planned combat and performance capabilities was leaked in the same manner as the data from the Scorpene, the report said. The leaked DCNS documents detail key secret stealth capabilities of the Indian submarines, including sensitive and highly classified information such as * what frequencies the submarines gather intelligence at, what levels of noise they make at various speeds, as well as their diving depths, range and endurance * where on the submarine the crew can speak safely to avoid detection by the enemy * magnetic, electromagnetic and infra-red data, and the specifications of the submarines torpedo launch system and combat system * the speed and conditions needed for using the periscope, noise specifications of the propeller and radiated noise levels that occur when the submarine surfaces. What The Fact?! - #ScorpeneLeak The Australian reported it had seen 4,457 pages on the Scorpenes underwater sensors, 4,209 pages on its above-water sensors, 4,301 pages on its combat management system, 493 pages on its torpedo launch system and specifications, 6,841 pages on the communications system and 2,138 on its navigation systems. The newspaper redacted sensitive information from some documents it posted on its website. Read | Making indigenous tech for submarines: Navy chief The report said DCNS had sought to reassure Australians that the leak of data on the Indian submarine would not happen with its proposed submarine for Australia. The company also implied but did not say directly that the leak might have occurred at Indias end, rather than from France, it said. Multiple and independent controls exist within DCNS to prevent unauthorised access to data and all data movements are encrypted and recorded. In the case of India, where a DCNS design is built by a local company, DCNS is the provider and not the controller of technical data, DCNS was quoted as saying by the daily. In the case of Australia, and unlike India, DCNS is both the provider and in-country controller of technical data for the full chain of transmission and usage over the life of the submarines. However, The Australian learnt that the data on the Scorpene was written in France for India in 2011 and is suspected of being removed from France in that same year by a former French Navy officer who was at that time a DCNS subcontractor. The data is then believed to have been taken to a company in Southeast Asia, possibly to assist in a commercial venture for a regional navy. It was subsequently passed by a third party to a second company in the region before being sent on a data disk by regular mail to a company in Australia. It is unclear how widely the data has been shared in Asia or whether it has been obtained by foreign intelligence agencies, the report said. Read | Sparks fly in parliamentary panel meet on poor defence readiness SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The report of a panel headed by former Allahabad high court judge Ashok Kumar Roopanwal to probe the death of Hyderabad University scholar Rohith Vemula has recommended strengthening the existing redressal mechanism system and putting in place a support system especially for those from less privileged backgrounds, according to a source. It is learnt that the HRD ministry will implement these recommendations in universities across the country. The terms and references of the commission were to enquire into the facts and circumstances leading to the death of Vemula and review the existing grievance redressal system. Anything apart from this which is present in the report is not likely to be taken into cognizance, said a source. Read: Panel questions Vemula being Dalit, exonerates V-C in suicide case The report found the existing grievance system lacking and has suggested measures for improvement. The report has also suggested certain induction programmes for the university as a welfare measure, the souce added. Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar said on Wednesday that his ministry is examining the recommendations and will implement corrective measures to ensure such incidents are not repeated. When asked if the V-C has been exonerated and if the report has raised questions about Vemula not being a Dalit, the minister said he is yet to read the report. The main focus is that such incidents should not happen in any educational institutions and no student should ever commit suicide and we need to learn a lesson from this incident, he said. We will prepare an action plan which will be made public. Our main concern is to ensure such incidents are not repeated, he added. Read: Rohith Vemula suicide report: More omission than commission SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Union cabinet cleared the draft surrogacy regulation bill, 2016, on Wednesday that aims to ban all commercial surrogacy, which many say leads to the exploitation of poor women, who agree to become surrogate mothers for money. The law also bans unmarried people, live-in couples and gay couples from opting for altruistic surrogacy. Couples, especially foreigners, desperate for a biological child, and infertility experts losing business to other countries like Ukraine and Georgia where commercial surrogacy is legal, are expectedly against it, but independent experts say a stringent law in this unregulated sector was long overdue. Commercial surrogacy is banned in most developed countries, including Australia, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Sweden, New Zealand, Japan and Thailand among others. India has no law regulating surrogacy and the bill took many avatars, with the government finally separating surrogacy from the Assisted Reproductive Technologies (Regulation) Bill in 2016. Its about time they stopped its misuse. The Indian Council of Medical Researchs national guidelines 2005 (for accreditation, supervision and regulation of ART clinics) in India for surrogacy and other ART procedures are not legally-binding, so unscrupulous people did what they wanted, NB Sarojini, director of Sama Resource Group on Women and Health, an NGO that focuses on public health and regulation issues, said. Rent a womb There are more than 50 million infertile couples in the world, and some of them head to India and Thailand to rent wombs. It turned the two countries into the worlds biggest hubs for commercial surrogacy over the past decade. Thousands of infertile couples paid poor women to rent their womb for nine months so they could take a healthy baby back home. Global, regional and national estimates of prevalence and of trends in infertility are needed to target prevention and treatment efforts. The industrys ugly underbelly hit the spotlight when an Australian couple abandoned one of their twins in Thailand in 2014 because he had Downs syndrome, which led the country to ban commercial surrogacy in February 2015. India was already considering a ban when another couple from Australia went home in 2014 with just one of the twin because they wanted a girl, leaving their son behind in Delhi. Under Indias new bill, couples abandoning a baby risk 10-year imprisonment and a Rs 10 lakh fine, or both. It also makes it illegal for doctors to do procedures that hurt the surrogate mother and the babys physical and mental health. The new regulation will bring in transparency and make it easier to audit centres that do not follow best practices and parents that break the law, Dr Archana Dhawan Bajaj, fertility and IVF expert at The Nurture Clinic, said. Pro-women law The new bill allows altruistic surrogacy, where a woman can carry someone elses child as long as no money (other than medical cost and insurance), favours or coercion is involved, and excludes those who rent their wombs for money. This is a loophole with potential for misuse and needs to be closely regulated. People can present commercial surrogates as altruistic volunteers and quietly pay them off, Sarojini said. The bill bans a woman from being a surrogate for more than once in her lifetime. It is an excellent step as most surrogates have children of their own and the repeated pregnancies take a toll on womens health, Dr Manika Khanna of Delhis Gaudium IVF Centre that offers surrogacy almost exclusively to Indian couples said. Amrita Singh, who goes by one name, is not as happy. The mother of two bore a surrogate girl for an Australian couple in 2012, two years after her first child was born, and had plans to do it again this year. She had her second biological child in 2014. I got Rs 70,000 to carry the child, we bought a new television and an almost-new scooter and had money left over. My second child is more than two years old, I need money to put him in an English-medium school like his older brother, the 27-year-old distraught mother said. Her husband Ramesh Singh, 34, works as a driver for a transport company and makes Rs 10,000 a month. I made more money in nine months than he made then in a year, I could do things without asking him, Amrita, who lives in Naraina in west Delhi, said. Now doctor didi says I cant because foreigners have stopped coming. Make for Indians Under the new law, only infertile Indian couples, who have been married for at least five years can opt for surrogacy, but those who already have a child cannot do so. We are naturally very disappointed, we wanted our own baby and would have looked after the surrogate mother, but the regulation was well meant. Laws are needed to check people who do bad things, its sad when law-abiding people suffer, Prarthna, who does not want to give her second name, said. The 32-year-old and her husband got the idea of surrogacy after watching a rerun of American television sitcom Friends, in which Monica and Chandler have a surrogate baby. Clinics with a high number of overseas clients are predictably critical of the ban on foreigners travelling to India. My turnover has dropped by 25% because I have lost people coming from overseas for surrogacy. It will lead to revenue cuts, Dr Bajaj said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON With the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections just six months away, the Shiv Sena plans to capitalise on two of Mumbais most popular festivals dahi handi and Ganpati -- to campaign for the polls, primarily targeting its ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The fight is set to start in south Mumbai, a stronghold for both the parties. Akhanda Maharashtra (undivided Maharashtra) will be the theme of Senas events for both the festivals in south Mumbai. The Senas plan is to project the BJP as a party that opts for smaller states by dividing Maharashtra into various parts. They want to tell people the Sena is committed to keep Maharashtra intact, with Mumbai as its rightful part. Pandurang Sakpal, a senior Shiv Sena leader from south Mumbai, said, The theme is significant not just for Vidarbha, but even for the Mumbai civic polls. Today, BJP leaders have made statements about the possibility of a separate Vidarbha, tomorrow they may talk about carving out a separate identity for Mumbai. South Mumbai is home to Mumbais oldest residents Marathi and Gujarati families -- some of whom have been living in the narrow crowded alleyways in Girgaum and Kalbadevi for more than a century. Many of the wards are hotly contested between the Sena and the BJP, excluding the regions Muslim-dominated areas. Of the 18 civic wards in south Mumbai, the Sena holds six, while the BJP holds three. Similarly, the Sena represents a parliamentary constituency through MP Arvind Sawant, while assembly constituencies are represented by BJP legislators Raj Purohit and Mangal Prabhat Lodha. There is a slice of history that Shiv Sena leaders like to quote while justifying the partys agenda here. The party, which has been at the helm of the BMC for nearly 20 years, was propelled to power in the mid-1980s after a fervent campaign harping on Mumbais status in Maharashtra being the pride of the Marathi manoos. Sakpal said, People gave their mandate to the Shiv Sena after former CM Vasantdada Patil started talking about making Mumbai a union territory. The situation is not very different today. In the future, there may be talks about merging Mumbai with Gujarat too. For the Shiv Sena-sponsored dahi handi at Girgaum naka, the party is planning to recreate the Hutatma memorial in the backdrop of Maharashtras map. The trophies to be given out to govindas will be shaped like the Hutatma memorial. There will be a running political commentary on loudspeakers about the history of Maharashtras formation, the states martyrs, political attempts to divide it and the Shiv Senas penchant to keep it intact, local leaders said. Similarly, the party-sponsored Ganpati mandal in Chandanwadi will have an audio visual playing on a big screen, explaining the Shiv Senas commitment for an Akhanda Maharashtra. Sunil Shinde, Shiv Sena legislator from Worli, said, The festivals, especially Ganpati, have a historical importance in Girgaum, and the Chandanwadi mandal has been one of the most significant ones that the party supports. Besides, elsewhere we are going ahead as we always do, providing insurance and other logistics, organizing events and competitions. The Sena has been doing this for years, whereas you will see other parties jump into the fray only before elections, Shinde said, in a barb aimed at the BJP, which has for the first time joined the race in supporting dahi handi and Ganpati mandals. Wanting a bigger share in the countrys richest municipal corporation, the BJP has been aggressively trying to expand its presence and consolidate its position in Mumbai. All old mandals in Mumbai have an established identity and political affinity. The BJP traditionally has no mandals. They are trying to adopt existing Ganpati mandals by offering financial backing. But its a tradition and years of work that secures voters. People are not going to vote only on the basis of a sponsorship board, Vinod Ghosalkar, Sena legislator from Dahisar, said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The crime branch officials seized two mobile phones from Kerala based Salafi preacher Mohammad Haneef and learnt that Haneef received several phone calls from Kuwait and Dubai over a period of time. Investigators said that the locations and timings of these calls are suspicious since they came before and after the 21 youths of Kerala went missing and Haneef was arrested for indoctrination of these youths, who are now feared to have joined terror outfit ISIS. While the officials are still in the process of ascertaining the identity of all the callers, they are also probing if any of the missing youths was one of the callers from these locations. Haneef was arrested after Abdul Majeed Kadar Khan, 60, father of one of the missing youths Ashfaque, registered a case alleging radicalization of his son with the Nagpada police. The investigators said that some of the callers from the two countries in the Middle East, from where Haneef received phone calls, are his acquaintances and distant relatives, who are settled there. However, the crime branch officials are yet to ascertain their background and the discussions they had with Haneef. One of the 21 youths and suspected ISIS recruits, Hafeezuddin, 23, was working in Dubai at his fathers shop. He got married a couple of months ago and he was also in touch with Ashfaque and Abdul Rasheed Abdulla, another youth from the group. Sources added that another youth from the group, identified as Mohammad Sajid, 24, is also missing and his last location was Dubai. Sajid and Hafeezuddin are likely to have joined the group after leaving Dubai, and crime branch officials suspect that they were in constant touch with Haneef. There are several aspects that will be probed only during the joint interrogation of Haneef, Arshid Qureshi, guest relation officer of preacher Zakir Naiks non-profit Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) and Rizwan Khan, another preacher. Their custody will be sought from Kerala police soon, said a crime branch officer. Qureshi and Khan are in the custody of Kerala police. The investigators also suspect that Haneef was not the only point man in Kerala and that there was another person who also received orders from ISIS handlers. Sources said that the person is yet to be identified. A team of crime branch is already in Kerala and they are recording statements of the Peace International School in Kozhikode and the relatives and friends of Ashfaque and Haneef. Next week, the Mumbai crime branch is likely to get custody of Qureshi and Khan arrested by Kerala police in a forceful conversion case. Who is Zakir Naik? TV evangelist Zakir Naiks speeches are aired mainly on English TV channels and Peace TV, which he started in 2006 Naik, currently believed to be in west Asia, is accused of dodging police after allegations that his sermons influenced two terrorists involved in the Dhaka siege His troubles were compounded by allegations that his speeches inspired 21 people who disappeared from Kerala and were feared to have joined the Islamic State terrorist outfit His media adviser Aarif Malik defended the preacher, saying no government agency has sent any notice or summons to Naik SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Three people were arrested for human trafficking and allegedly swindling a 22-year-old man from Nashik of Rs3.50lakh a sum they charged for promising him a merchant navy job in Dubai. But what unfolded since April 2015 was nothing short of a nightmare for the victim, Bhushan Rajendra Jadhav: from selling off his land to pay the agents to a six-month confinement exacerbated by modern-day slavery in Iran. The three men were identified as Shashi Bhushan Sharayu Singh, 36, Dhirajkumar alias Manojkumar Singh, 23, and Abhilash Korde, 23. Jadhav, from Panchavati in Nashik, completed his diploma in nautical engineering from TS Chanakya, a Navi Mumbai institute. In April 2015, while looking for a job, Jadhav was introduced to Shashi, the director of a recruitment agency at Kopri in Thane, said Ravindra Daundkar, senior police inspector in the anti-human trafficking cell, Thane. The agent promised a job in Dubai and asked Jadhav to pay Rs3.50 lakh for legal documents, Daundkar said. Shashi also told Jadhav that he will get a salary of $600 per month and that he has to bear the traveling expenses, the official added. To pay for the documents, Jadhavs father sold his Nashik land for Rs2 lakh and took a loan for the remaining amount. In July 2015, he deposited the money in a Bengaluru bank account under the name of one Arvind Gupta. Later, the other two accused, Dhirajkumar and Korde, provided fake immigration documents to him to board a plane to Iran. The victim was asked to pay Rs80,000 to an agent in that country. He was assured that from Iran he will be taken to Dubai, added Daundkar. But Jadhav was in for the shock of his life. Upon landing at Bushehr Airport in Iran, he paid the promised amount to the agent. Two other agents then took him to an isolated place where he saw 25 other people from India. There, he was tortured and made to slog all day. He had to catch fish. The conditions were horrible and he had to go hungry at times, another police officer said. After six months of confinement, Jadhav managed to escape in February 2016. On July 30, he lodged a complaint and the three men were arrested between July and August, Daundkar said. The accused were remanded in police custody. The police have recovered Rs1.14 lakh from them. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The state governments draft of new internal security law that envisages declaring special security zones (SSZ) for areas that face continued threat of insurgency and terror has irked the opposition and activists alike in Maharashtra. HT had first reported on this draft which was put in the public domain on Saturday, seeking suggestions and objections from the people. The opposition has termed the provision to declare SSZ as draconian and undemocratic. The draft gives the state government powers to clear separate rules and greater powers to police in such areas to tackle organised crime or insurgency. This includes ban on entry and movement of electronic devices, chemicals and in flow of funds in those areas. Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant told HT, This draft gives unbridled powers to the police and the intention behind such a law is to muzzle democratic dissent and not terror or crime. There can be no suggestions or objections to it, the entire draft has to be taken back. The Nationalist Congress Party has also termed the draft law as a means to muzzle dissent and threatened to carry out an agitation if the contentious draft was not taken back. First the government tried to bring in an order allowing sedition charges to be applied against criticism of those in power. After that was held back, now through this law they are trying to suppress all opposition and create an emergency-like situation, said NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik. The state government however, in its defence, has said that the draft has not been finalised and is open to changes. A home department official told HT that the idea behind the provision was to curb organised crime and terrorism and bring critical infrastructure sectors like water systems, transportations, defence vulnerable as targets under the ambit of better security. NEW DELHI: The IITs will open their doors for non-resident students, with a goal to increase their number of seats to 100,000 by 2020. The countrys top tech institutes have around 72,000 students in their undergraduate, postgraduate and doctorate courses, and all of them stay in hostels. But the IIT Council, the highest decision-making body of the institutes, decided on Tuesday to admit day scholars who can study from home or stay in a rented place outside the campus. Another aim is to put research on the forefront, for which students will be allowed to do a PhD right after BTech, deviating from the practice of permitting only postgraduates to do doctorate programmes. Besides, a prime ministers fellowship of Rs60,000 a month for five years will be given to around 1,000 students to do research in IITs. IITs are our modern temples. Bright IITians prefer to go abroad to do research because they get fellowships and better facilities, said human resource development minister Prakash Javadekar, who presided over the meeting. We want to provide facilities in IITs so that research could be carried out in India. We want to convert brain drain into brain gain, Javadekar said. The plan is to increase the number of seats by 10,000 a year until 2020 by admitting non-resident students. Ideally, there would be an increase of 4,000 seats in undergraduate courses and 6,000 in postgraduate and PhD seats. The 23 IITs in the country will assess their infrastructure and faculty strength to decide how much more students they can admit without stressing resources. Officials said a number of students will be allowed to study as day scholars, without hostel accommodation. Such students will have to find accommodation outside the campus, or travel from home if their institute is located in their hometown. This is something that is being worked out whether we will be able to arrange something for them or have tie-ups with paying guest accommodations, or students will be asked to take care of they stay, an official said. Javadekar promised a drive to fill up teacher vacancies so that an increase in the number of students doesnt affect the quality of teaching. Another decision taken by the council is to introduce a three-week induction course to allow students to adapt to their new environment, take up courses on languages and creative arts, and bond with classmates as well as faculty members. Classes will commence only after the induction course. The IIT Council has also approved a pilot run of a national aptitude test, which will be voluntary in nature and will not have a bearing on engineering admissions. To improve their stature, the council cleared a project in which seven IITs Delhi, Bombay, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras, Roorkee and Guwahati will be assisted to help break into the top 100 universities in the global university ranking by 2018. At present, no IIT features on the list. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI/ SRINAGAR: Union home minister Rajnath Singh will visit Kashmir on Wednesday for the second time in a month as the Centre stepped up efforts to end seven weeks of violence that has left 67 dead and over 10,000 injured. Singhs two-day visit follows Prime Minister Narendra Modis meeting with opposition leaders from Jammu and Kashmir on Monday. Expressing deep concern and pain at the prolonged unrest, he asked them to convey his sentiments to the people that those who lost their lives were part of us, our nation, a remark seen as softening of the Centres approach towards protesters. The PMs conciliatory tone ahead of Singhs visit to Kashmir raised expectations about the possibility of engagement with Hurriyat leaders. The All Parties Hurriyat Conference of Kashmir, which I chair, believes that a war is being waged against us by the democratic Indian state, in total violation of all democratic norms. The security machinery of India has embarked upon the strategy of ruthlessly crushing us and our resistance to its unprecedented brutality, he said. Army chief General Dalbir Singh was in Srinagar on Tuesday to review the security situation. He appealed to people to shun violence and also asked security forces to uphold human rights and exercise maximum possible restraint while dealing with the protesting mobs. The security establishment in New Delhi remains confident that the cycle of violence, triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8, could be contained. The Centre has asked security forces to strictly implement curfew in the Valley. A senior official said curfew restrictions were not being implemented strictly due to non-availability of requisite number of boots on ground. Around 15,000 paramilitary personnel, who were deployed for security during the Amarnath Yatra, have now been pressed in for law and order duties in the Valley, taking the total paramilitary strength to 60,000. As per home ministry data, 5,197 security personnel and around 5,600 civilians have been injured in clashes so far. The focus of Singhs visit, said home ministry officials, will be on quick employment generation through skill development schemes such as Udaan and Himayat and also through recruitment in paramilitary forces and India Reserve battalions. The Congress welcomed Singhs visit, saying the government should start the dialogue process immediately and decide who to talk to. The opposition party also said that dialogue was the way forward for peace in the Valley and not guns, lathicharge or use of tear gas and pellet guns. We had informed the Prime Minister that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is very bad. We requested him to start the dialogue process. Who to talk to and when. They should at least make an announcement and start the process, said Ghulam Nabi Azad, the leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. He (Singh) should keep going there. But, I dont think by using guns and by lathicharge or by using tear gas and pellet guns we can bring peace there. Peace will come only by dialogue, he added. Home ministry sources, however, said Singh, accompanied by home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, will meet civil society members and the thrust of the visit will be on employment generation for Kashmiri youth. No one has contacted us officially or even through back channels, moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq told HT. A day before Singhs visit, separatists also upped the ante with the Mirwaiz writing to Pope Francis of Vatican, Dalai Lama, Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi and many ambassadors seeking their help to find a solution to the problem, which India and Pakistan cannot and are not able to do on their own. The Uttar Pradesh electricity regulatory commission (UPERC) has directed the Paschimanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (PVVNL) to take legal action against a developer for violation of tariff order and overcharging consumers. It has also asked the power distributor to report to it about the action taken. The order comes in response to a complaint by residents of Amrapali Sapphire housing complex in Sector 45 in June that the builder has been violating electricity code and overcharging them for power. A number of power consumers in high-rise housing complexes developed by private builders in Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad have been complaining against builders for alleged violation of electricity code by taking money from their prepaid electricity cards for maintenance charges. The Amrapali Group has been violating electricity code in the Sapphire complex for months. We recharge our coupon to pay monthly electricity bills, but the builder deducts maintenance amount from our account, violating norms. The process of getting electricity bills and maintenance charges should be separate. The builder did not stop the practice even after complaints, said RK Shrivastava, a retired naval officer living in the residential complex. The builder tampers with the electricity meter and deducts maintenance charges too. We hope strong action is taken against offenders, said another resident Ajay Tyagi. The Amrapali group denied the allegations and said it had stopped the practice after residents informed them about it. I had rectified the error at the time and replied to UPERCs notice. We have a separate system to charge electricity bill and maintenance. If there is any problem, I will address it, said Anil Sharma, chairman-cum-managing director, Amrapali Group. Over two months ago, the UPERC had asked PVNNL to probe the matter and revert to it. The regulatory commission had forwarded the complaint received from Amrapali Sapphire residents on June 7 to PVVNL. In response, PVVNL had sent a report to UPERC on June 17 informing it that prima facie it appeared that the builder had flouted norms. The UPERC then directed PVVNL in its order dated August 23 to take legal action against the builder and report compliance. It also directed PVVNL to ensure that no builder repeats such actions and all power consumers are charged as per the tariff fixed by the commission. However, PVVNL officials in Noida are yet to act on the UPERC order. I have not yet received the orders issued from Meerut zone. Once I get them, I will take legal action as per the direction, said Pankaj Goel, executive engineer, electric urban distribution division 3, Noida, UPPCL. This practice of deducting maintenance charges from prepaid electricity accounts is not limited to one housing society. Several builders and residents welfare associations (RWAs) in Gautam Budh Nagar and Ghaziabad have been carrying out this practice. Some of them said they deduct maintenance because many residents do not pay maintenance on time on their own. We deduct both electricity bill and maintenance from the prepaid electricity meters daily as per consumption because it is not easy to recover dues. The RWA cannot run after every resident and force them to pay maintenance as many do not pay despite repeated reminders, said Mahesh Sharma, secretary, Arunima Place RWA in Sector 4, Vasundhara. Goel said he has not received complaints of such nature from any other residential tower except Sapphire yet. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Eighteen days after state vice-president of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Brigadier Jagdish Gagneja (retd), was shot at, doctors at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) say chances of his survival are bleak. Doctors say most of his vital body functions are on support system. Though doctors are not using the term clinically dead as Gagnejas heart and brain are functioning, they say the RSS leader is in a very difficult situation. Gagneja was shot at by assailants in Jalandhar on August 6. Gagneja being taken to be shifted to DMCH, Ludhiana, from a private hospital in Jalandhar earlier this month. (HT File Photo) Dr GS Wander, chief cardiologist and head of research at DMC, said, Most of the Gagnejas vital organs are on life support system. He is passing urine with ease but chances (of survival) are bleak. A team of six-seven doctors is taking care of Gagneja round the clock. Punjab deputy chief minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal declared here on Wednesday that 99% of halqa (constituency) in-charges of the party will be our candidates for the assembly elections. He was speaking with the media at Malowal village on the second day of his sangat darshan programmes in Amloh segment, from where he had on Tuesday declared the recently-appointed halqa in-charge, Gurpreet Singh Raju Khanna, as the SAD candidate. Sukhbir reiterated that SAD yet-to-be-named nominees already know of their candidature. There is no secret in it, he added, and added that there will be a more formal announcement too if need be. Of the prominent players in the Punjab assembly polls due early next year, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has released two lists, naming 19 and 13 candidates, respectively, while the Congress is scrutinising the 1,600 applications it has received for the 117 seats. SADs coalition partner Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) is silent so far. At his programmes, meanwhile, the deputy CM laid the foundation stone of a Rs 16.7-crore sewerage project at Amloh and distributed cheques of Rs 8.7 crore for 49 village panchayats. GST in coming session Speaking about the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and when Punjab would ratify it for implementation, Sukhbir said the government will decide on the GST in the coming session in September. On the proposed Punjab Control of Organized Crime Act (PCOCA), he said, The cabinet has asked the advocate general to look into every clause of it and the next step depends on a final report from him. He also declared that the state government will soon come up with a new policy for industries. We are giving industry cheap electricity which is available 24x7, he said to a query. Asha workers chase Sukhbir At Sukhbirs sangat darshan venue, Accredited Social Health Activists, simply known as Asha workers, awaited turn to get entry and speak with him. But they were first not allowed to enter the venue and asked to come after 3 pm. We got a chance to meet him and he assured us of holding a meeting in Chandigarh on our demands, said Kirandeep Kaur Panjola, district in-charge of the workers union. We have been chasing him everywhere. He wants time to look into our demands as if he does not know what these are. Government is just killing time and forcing us to take hard steps, she later told HT over phone. The workers have been demanding regularisation of posts and fixed salary since long. Despite recommendations of the mayor, MC officials have been dilly-dallying in lodging FIRs against those who installed illegal sewer connections for their factories on Bahadur Ke Road. The mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria had instructed zonal commissioner Kamlesh Bansal to lodge cases against the violators on August 10 but so far no action has been taken. The civic body had earlier claimed that they had disconnected an illegal sewer line which was connected to MCs sewer line. However, no action was taken against the violators. The mayor had said that if anybody procures an illegal connection, it is the responsibility of the officials concerned to lodge FIR against them. Even then, no inquiry was conducted to identify the factories that were illegally releasing their untreated waste into MCs sewer lane, sources said. Residents of the area had complained that due to the illegal sewer lines at factories, the sewer was overflowing and entering residential areas under the MCs jurisdiction. When the MC team went to check status of disconnected illegal connections on August 9, a mob of over 150 persons including the staff of factories allegedly attacked them. Only one accused was arrested on the spot in this regard. Gohalwaria said he will check the status whether the FIR was lodged or not. MC UNIONS MEET POLICE COMMISSIONER AND DEMAND ARREST OF ATTACKERS: Members of MC unions met the police commissioner on Tuesday and demanded to arrest the remaining accused who allegedly beat the MCs junior engineer Rajneesh Kumar and three others on August 9. Municipal Ministerial Employees Union president Jasdev Singh Sekhon said the team had gone to check the status of illegal connections but they were allegedly attacked by the staff of factories. He said that the police had not taken action to arrest the remaining accused. We met the police commissioner and deputy commissioner of police. They assured to conduct an inquiry in this regard, he said. Following the attack, Salem Tabri police had registered the FIR against a security guard Gagandeep Singh and owner Rakesh Gambhir of Sumit Hosiery on Bahadur Ke Road and 100/150 unidentified persons under sections 323, 341, 353, 186 and 149 of IPC. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Asserting that Classical Indian music is more popular abroad than it is in our country, renowned violinist of Patiala Gharana, Ustad Johar Ali Khan, said that there is a need keep the glory alive and not let it fade away. Khan was in the city on Tuesday for a concert. It is not that the younger generation in the country does not want to learn classical music. An interest can be developed only when they are exposed to this purest form of music. Music has changed in the country, the younger generation is attracted to modern, fast and westernised forms of music. Even then, Indian classical music has its essence. It is the soul of music which never dies. Mc Donalds may have opened its chain of fast food eateries in the country but Indians do eat biryani. Similarly, Indians wont ever stop listening to classical music as this form is inculcated in their roots, he said. To keep the purest form of music alive in young minds, Johar stated there is need for the government to motivate the youth so they are naturally drawn towards learning classical music. The educational institutes can devote an hour daily after classes for teaching classical music to their students. This will sustain the glory, he said. Johar Ali Khan, who had represented India at the 60 years UNESCO celebration in Paris and also represented India in the SAARC summit in Bangladesh in the past has spent four years teaching violin to students in Jakarta, Indonesia and has returned only recently. He says 60 percent of his students were non-Indians. Khan, who achieved instant fame as he created the violin tune of the film Mohabbatein, said students from Japan, Australia, Fiji as well as Singapore learnt violin from him when he was abroad. While the remaining 40 percent of my students abroad were Indians, I was surprised at the devotion and the popularity of Indian classical music abroad. The form of music is appreciated everywhere and the response I received was amazing, he said. Concert at school leaves students spell bound Ustad Johar Ali Khan performed to a jampacked auditorium at Partap Public School on Humbran road with the function organised by Ludhiana chapter of SPICMACAY, an organisation that works towards preservation of Indian culture and heritage. The students were left mesmerised as the performance started with an alaap following which the violinist played classical tunes. The highlight of the performance was the jugalbandi with Johar Ali playing violin and accompanied by Sidhartha Chatterjee form Kolkata on the tabla. Johar also performed on a host of Bollywood and patriotic tunes which sent the students into a thunderous applause. Johar Ali also played the famous violin tune of Yash Chopras film Mohabbatein on demands of the students. He played the tune of a classical film song Babuji Dheere Chalna and left everyone awestruck. The children, though not very familiar with the instrument, loved the music produced by four strings and listened spellbound. Johar Alis specialisation in the systematic elaboration of raag, melodies and innovative approach in presenting taal was obvious. To make the programme even more interesting, he played folk tunes of various states and asked the students to guess the name of the state. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) called off its two-day strike on Tuesday night. More than 1,300 resident doctors had been on strike since Sunday night after one resident doctor was allegedly assaulted by an attendant of a patient. The decision to call off the strike was taken after the committee agreed to accept a majority of their demands during a 3-hour meeting with representatives of the doctors. However, the decision of the ARD of calling off the strike did not go well with more than 60% resident doctors as they wanted to continue the strike till they were given a written assurance of the acceptance of their demands. The two groups of doctors had heated arguments on the issue which lasted for more than three hours. Will junior residents continue to work as bonded labour?, asked a doctor, who was in favour of continuing the strike. We will not end the strike till they give us solutions in writing, he said. It took Dr Seran Reddy, president of the ARD, three-four hours to convince the doctors to end the strike and, at last, he announced the decision to call off the strike and assured them that a written confirmation would procured by Wednesday evening. Earlier, during the day, the ARD had threatened to call back the 150-odd resident doctors, who are working in the emergency and trauma centres. Things agreed Administration to write to the home and health ministry to get the CISF on Wednesday morning. Till then, two police personnel will be deployed at the emergency. Junior residents not to be held responsible for sampling in Emergencies and Trauma administration to form guidelines in written assigning the sampling job before August 31. Six printers to be installed to obtain reports by Wednesday afternoon. Patient to be referred back if consultant thinks he/she is stable. PGI had discussed with the Punjab and Haryana governor and local hospitals on Tuesday and a meeting is fixed to take the issue forward. For deciding on patients sickness level, a temporary triage room to be opened at Emergency before 11 am today. The local police have busted a gang by arresting two of its members involved in manufacturing of illicit liquor products in the name of premium whisky brands using fake labels and seals on Tuesday. The two arrested accused have been identified as namesakes Daljit Singh both from Chand Bhan village in Faridkot. The police have booked Baljit Singh, Bittu Singh and Bhola Singh all residents of Chand Bhan and Jasvir Singh from Patiala in the case. A case under Section 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 465 (Punishment for forgery), 467(Forgery of valuable security, will, etc.), 468 (Forgery for purpose of cheating) and 471 (Using as genuine a forged document or electronic record) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and excise act has been registered against all the accused at Canal Colony police station here. Based on a tip-off a police party of Bathinda raided a house in Chand Bhan village in Faridkot and busted the bottling plant the accused were running there. The police recovered 1,000 empty liquor bottles, 2,000 fake labels of different brands, seals and caps of bottles and boxes used for packing the manufactured product. The two arrested accused are the kingpin of the gang, said Bathinda senior superintendent of police, Swapan Sharma. The accused purchased empty liquor bottles from restaurants, hotels and rag pickers at `five per bottle and printed fake labels, boxes and seals in Delhi, said Sharma. The accused would remove the cap of bottles by using hot water, mix cheap quality liquor with some quantity of premium whisky brands to increase the volume, use fake labels and seal the bottle to show it as genuine product, he said. The gang used to sell the product to those involved in smuggling of illicit liquor at a rate cheaper than the market price, he added. The interrogation of accused has revealed they used chemical to give the liquor a proper colour. They have sold over 60, 000 bottles of illegally manufactured spurious liquor in past one year indicating that they have done business of crore of rupees and causing a big loss of revenue to the state, said SSP adding that the spurious liquor was being sold in different areas in Bathinda. The police are searching for other accused including the Patiala based resident and more revelations are expected from them, said SSP. Calling themselves members of the Shiv Sena and gau rakshaks, seven unidentified people allegedly robbed a canter owner of cows, and calves he was carrying in it during wee hours on Monday. Gursewak Singh, a resident of Moga district, along with his two aides Kalu and Risakhat, who was carrying eight cows and two calves in a canter from Moga to Harchowal village via national highway-15, told the police at Harike, When we reached near Jeoneneke village at around 2.45 am, a white colour Balero, with as many as seven occupants, started following us. They forced us to stop in the middle of the road. Then they entered the canter and aiming a pistol on my head, two of them said that they are workers of the Shiv Sena and they are to attest the cows at their Makhu office. He added, They carried us toward Makhu town at pistol point. Before reaching the town, they turned toward a lonely place near Jallewal village. Then they tied us with a tree with a rope at the place, and drove away the canter with cows and calves, mobile phones and `75,000 in cash. A case has been registered under section 382 (theft) of the IPC against seven unidentified people at the Harike police station, said, assistant sub-inspector Balbir Singh, adding, the police were making efforts to trace the accused. The Union government has told Punjab and Haryana High Court that unless covered by a local Act, the appointment of chief parliamentary secretaries (CPSes) and parliamentary secretaries (PSes) are unconstitutional. But at the same time, we are of the view that no parallels can be drawn between CPSes/PSes and ministers as these two are different from each other, the additional solicitor general, Satya Pal Jain, told the high court on Wednesday. Jain, a senior BJP leader and former MP, was replying to a query by the high court bench of justices SS Saron and Lisa Gill during the resumed hearing of two different petitions challenging six appointment of CPSes by Parkash Singh Badal government in Punjab and four appointments by Manohar Lal Khattar government in Haryana. Haryana appointments had taken place in July 2015 and six appointments were made in Punjab earlier this year. Himachal Pradesh high court had quashed the appointment of PSes in 2005 terming them a fraud on the Constitution. But the government found a way out by passing a legislation in the assembly, empowering the CM to appoint PSes. The posts still exist in the hill state. The two petitions challenging these appointments were filed after July 2015 and by that time high court had reserved order on the 18 such appointments in Punjab during Badal governments second stint in 2012. The hearing on petitions was being adjourned awaiting decision on the 2012 appointments. The high court on August 12 had invalidated the 18 appointments of 2012, saying that the CPSes were acting as junior ministers in contravention of the Constitutions intent to limit the council of ministers to 15% of the legislatures strength. The high court had further held that neither the governor nor the legislature had competence or sanction to frame rules regulating these appointments. The appointments are in fact a roundabout way of bypassing the constitutional mandate and, therefore, have to be invalidated, the HC bench had held. During the hearing on Wednesday, the petitioner lawyer, Jagmohan Singh Bhatti, who has challenged these appointments in Haryana as well as Punjab, told the court that both these matters were covered by the high courts August 12 judgment, hence, should be disposed of. However, as counsels appearing for Punjab and Haryana governments sought time to discuss it with the respective governments, the matter was adjourned for September 8. We have neither filed appeal against the judgment (decided on August 12), nor have taken a decision in this regard, the Punjab government counsel told the high court. With an aim to reduce the number of road accidents, a private IT company has launched a new software to identify accident-prone areas in the city on Tuesday. Nitin Gupta, director of Webmob Software, said that he was prompted to develop the app after witnessing a fatal accident in Chandigarh around six months back. After three and a half months of hard work, the company developed a mobile application Watch-out. On Tuesday, the company launched the application in Ludhiana and Jalandhar. The application has already been launched in Amritsar, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Panchkula and Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (SAS Nagar). Gupta said it is a GPS (Global Positioning System)-based application, which requires internet connection on smart phone. When the person is about to reach the black spot, a voice message will prompt the user about an approaching danger area. The app will run in the background and prompt the person 500 metres before the black spot, said Gupta. Gupta estimates that with the launch of the app, at least 10-20 percent fatalities are expected to come down. The company has identified 33 black spots in Ludhiana, seven in Jalandhar, 26 in Amritsar, 55 in tricity Chandigarh, Panchkula and SAS Nagarand 42 in Lucknow. Media head of Webmob Software Solutions Mayank Mishra and MD Preet Kwatra said the application has already 4,200 downloads. The company will add realtime data in the application on the basis of feedback of users. The company will also ad Panic Button in the application so that the user can inform his family members or police in case of road mishap. A 26-year-old Phagwara man, who had moved to the Philippines in 2011, was shot dead on Monday. Victim Sukhwinder Singh, aka Vicky, was working as a moneylender and lived in Santiago city. Engaged last month to a Jalandhar woman, his wedding was to be held in the Philippines in December. He had got the permanent residency three months back. Vicky was allegedly killed over some old rivalry. While one bullet reportedly pierced through his heart, another two hit him in the neck and stomach. The family received news from a relative on Monday. I was very happy till Monday morning and preparing to go to Philippines to attend my only sons wedding. I had never imagined I will never able to see my sons face again, said the deceaseds mother, Gurbax Kaur. Gurbaxs husband died six years back. She has urged the government to help her bring Vickys body back to India. WAS TALKING TO COUSIN ON PHONE Vicky was reportedly talking to his cousin, Amrik Singh, who also lived in the Philippines, on the phone when he was shot dead. He was talking to me on way to work in the morning. Suddenly, I heard his screams and the phone was disconnected. A few hours later, cps informed me Vicky was shot dead, said Amrik. The Congress wants those young at heart, never mind the age. A lukewarm response from youth applicants despite Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh holding out promise of allotting 35 of the 117 assembly tickets to young candidates has forced the party to push the age bar to 45. With this, the party has been able to match its promise of 35 seats to the youth with nearly the same percentage (33%) of young applicants. The age limit to qualify for a berth in the Punjab Youth Congress is 35 years and the number applicants in this category is between 100 and 110 by admission of both the Punjab Youth Congress and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC). Defending the move, Amarinder said the Constitution fixes minimum age to contest elections at 25 years, but not the maximum age. And it is not surprising as the average age of Congress applicants has been above 50 in previous elections. Anyone up to 45 years is also a youngster, he said. Interestingly, Amarinder went on to add that nearly 67% of state voters were youth below 40 years. The PPCC, which had denied having worked out a figure of the youth applicants till Monday evening, cobbled up the numbers before Amarinders press conference on Tuesday. Addressing the media, the state Congress chief said of the 1,661 applicants, 555 are youth up to 45 years of age. Barely 6% (116) applications are from women. Despite the two voter per booth norm, 1,025 have applied from the general category and 636 from the reserved category. Read: Mother/son, father/son, grandfather/grandson: Cong can have its pick This is not the first time that Amarinder has flip-flopped on an issue. A few weeks ago, he had announced that the practice of taking Rs 10,000 from general category applicants and Rs 5,000 from reserved ones had been done away with. But the PPCC did a U-turn within a week and said the deposit would be refunded. Something that seems improbable as the receipt slip has no acknowledgment of the money paid by the applicant. No serial number on the receipts has also raised doubts over fair play. In recent past, Amarinder has also been issuing contradictory statements that some sitting MLAs will be dropped and no MLA will be dropped. LONE APPLICANTS Capt Amarinder Singh (Patiala urban) Sunil Jakhar (Abohar) Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria (Raja Sansi) OP Soni (Amritsar central) HIGHEST NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS Balluana (29); Fazilka (24); Sahnewal, Bhoa, Ropar, Jalalabad (21); Pathankot (20) UNITY IN SENIORS CLUB While accommodating more youth applicants with higher age limit of 45, the entire senior leadership of the party held meetings on Tuesday as heads of various committees, including Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa (agriculture committee), Rajinder Kaur Bhattal (manifesto committee) and Ambika Soni (campaign committee). The junior leadership of the party, including Manpreet Badal, occupied second row at the press conference. AICC secretary Harish Chaudhary had to finally stand below the stage. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Punjab Congress on Tuesday rejected Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattars suggestion of rotating the job of the Chandigarh administrator between governors of Haryana and Punjab. Addressing a joint press conference here, Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh, partys campaign committee chairperson Ambika Soni and state affairs in-charge Asha Kumari said Chandigarh was the capital of Punjab. They said Haryana was to make its separate capital as agreed in the Rajiv-Longowal accord. The Congress leaders said chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Singh Badal should clarify their stand on Chandigarh. The party also condemned the state government for not inviting Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Charanjit Singh Channi as the leader of opposition for the swearing in ceremony of Punjab governor VP Singh Badnore. It was a lapse on part of those who had organised the swearing in ceremony, they said. Read: New Punjab guv and Chandigarh administrator promises happiness, out-of-box ideas Replying to a question, Amarinder said there was no bar on the number of applications for tickets from a particular family. But only one member of the family will get the party ticket, he said, adding that allotting one ticket per family is restricted only to assembly elections and if there is an MP from a family, it will not affect the chances of a deserving member for the upcoming polls. He also clarified that no Congress candidate would contest from more than one assembly segment. Doctors at two private hospitals here have been caught cheating patients in the name of Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Bima Yojana that promises cashless treatment to the poor. The scheme has minted money for doctors of Aastha Kidney and Super-specialty Hospital (of Maya Nagar, Ghumar Mandi road) and Garg Hospital (of Pakhowal road near Jawaddi bridge). People holding BPL (below poverty line) card get free medical service up to Rs 50,000. But doctors charge them for additional facilities not covered under the scheme and then also pocket the reimbursement from the government. It led to a high drama at the hospitals on Tuesday, when some patients were charged Rs 30,000 each after applying for cashless treatment. Independent legislator Simarjeet Singh Bains stormed into Aastha hospital with a cheated patient, some supporters, and the media, and confronted doctor in charge Sanjeev Gupta. After 30 minutes of heated argument, the doctor returned Rs 32,000 collected in the name of laser treatment, tests, registration, and other fee. Patient Surinder Kaur of New GTB Nagar, Dugri, had received treatment for kidney stones. Even though she had a health card, she was issued no receipt. Her husband, a retired soldier, was told that laser therapy had cost Rs 20,000 over and above the reimbursable amount. Amidst the fireworks, the doctor was asked why he had not issued any slip, to which he had no clear answer. I cant issue slip, it takes months for the money to come from the government, said Dr Gupta. Asked whether the case in question had been okayed for reimbursement, he said yes. At last, he accepted that the charging was illegal and returned the cash. I got my hospital empanelled under the policy but its a long wait before our bills get cleared, he argued. The scheme has 20-lakh beneficiaries across the state. At Garg Hospital, hosiery-unit labourer Rakesh Kumar had surgery of the arm, and was charged Rs 20,000 for treatment and Rs 10,000 for medicine, again without receipt. We got suspicious after we received a call from the hospital to be quiet about the payment, he said. Accepting that he had cheated the patient, Dr Vijay Garg of the hospital paid back all his money. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Avtar Singh Makkar has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure that the rights of Sikhs in Kashmir are not violated. Addressing a press conference after a Kashmiri Sikh delegation called on him, Makkar said: Sikhs should be given a minority status so they get equal opportunities. He also urged home minister Rajnath Singh, who will be visiting the Valley, to meet the Sikhs there and resolve their problems. President of Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Pulwama, Joginder Singh Shan said ever since Independence, the Sikhs in Kashmir are being ignored by successive governments. We are neither getting equal opportunities in government jobs nor facilities that a minority community should get, he said. Meanwhile, criticising the attacks on the Sikhs abroad, Makkar said the SGPC had prepared a brochure to educate people in foreign countries about the Sikh identity. Soon these brochures will be printed and dispatched to embassies of various countries as the attacks take place due to mistaken identity. Geriatrics is a relatively new discipline of science, with the first serious gerontological studies being commissioned in the 1940s. The problems and challenges of ageing have never received as much importance, empathy, and research as today. Japan has a rapidly declining populace, while the number of its older people is rising alarmingly. Facing a similar crisis, China is contemplating doing away with its decades old, strictly enforced one child policy. While these and many European countries are in the throes of massive demographic problems, India is failing to quell its burgeoning population. Increased life expectancy is taking a toll on the financial, physical, and mental capabilities of the caretakers, be they children, old-age homes, or other institutions. We look upon ageing as an enemy to be vanquished, subdued, dreaded, resented and grudged, but cant stop time from extracting its sweet revenge by conferring us with grey hair, crows feet, wrinkles, fatty deposits, creaking bones, and fading eyesight. My mother, so beautiful in her youth that my friends would wait to catch a glimpse of her whenever she visited me in school, refuses to be photographed now. She says wistfully and frankly: I dont like what I see in my mirror anymore. Besides the physical challenges and infirmities, old age is accompanied by a slow decline in alertness and mental health. To attract our attention, the elderly tend to become nervous and hysterical, fussy and repetitive easily, like children once again, needing love, patience and our time. A few days ago, hassled from a long day, I sat down with my mother-in-law and launched into a tirade unwittingly, complaining about the old man who was so slow getting on to the escalator in the supermarket. Later in the day, recalling an incomplete task suddenly, I cut short my conversation with her and hurried out of the room; and then at the lunch table, made a comment thoughtlessly about how an elderly relatives exasperating habits were becoming the bane of her family. I continued in this vein until my motherin-law laid a frail hand gently on my shoulder, putting a stop to my insensitive rant, and told me smiling tremulously: Beta, you too will become old one day. Utterly ashamed, I was served a much-needed reminder that we, flush with the swagger and vanity that is the brash hallmark of vigor and youth, in our single-minded and selfish quest for money, power, fun and freedom from responsibility, need to pause, consider, and show sensitivity and compassion to the old and infirm. Her gentle rebuke served to jolt me, rightfully, to the harsh if unpalatable truth that old age will spare none. pallavi66in@yahoo.co.in The writer is a Jalandhar-based freelancer The Punjab Police deployed around 250 personnel to conduct a thorough search in the Awankha area near Dinanagar after information from a student of Little Flower Convent School, that he had seen two armed men wearing black clothes at his school ground on Wednesday morning. Gurdaspur senior superintendent of police (SSP) Jasdeep Singh Sainisaid he and Dinanagar assistant superintendent of police (ASP) Surinder Lamba visited the school and conducted a thorough checking and also looked through the CCTV footage of the school. The SSP later ruled out the possibility of any intrusion by any suspicious element. All India Mahila Congress chief Shobha Oza said the party would field one woman candidate per district in the assembly elections. The decision has been taken by the high command. Not only Punjab, but in other poll-bound-states too, the party has decided to give at least one ticket to women leaders in each district, said Oza. She was interacting with the media at state Congress Spokesperson Navjot Dahiyas house on Tuesday. After meeting women workers in Jalandhar rural and urban districts, the Mahila Congress chief raised concern over the deteriorating law and order in the state. To a question, Oza said: The AAP is using public money collected from Delhi for advertisements in Punjab. People in the national capital are fed up with the AAP government and I am sure voters in Punjab will reject it. Read: In Congress, you are youth even at 45 Tamil film actor Radha, who featured in the 2002 Tamil comedy Sundara Travels, has registered a complaint with Chennai police commissioner that an inmate at the Puzhal Central Jail in the city has threatened to kill her. According to a report in The Times of India, she has asked for police protection and even furnished Whatsapp chat as proof. The inmate, called Viaram, allegedly made a call to the actor from jail on August 18 and asked her to end her relationship with producer Munivel. Radha submitted a recorded version of the phone conversation as well. Read: Have my roots here, cant leave southern film world, says Regina Cassandra She registered a complaint on Monday, reports Deccan Chronicle. Read: Naga Chaitanya-starrer Premam to hit screens in October This is not first time Radha has been embroiled in a controversy. In November 2013, she accused Chennai entrepreneur Faizul of refusing to marry her after being in a live-in relationship with her for six years. She has claimed then that Faizul had taken sleazy picture of her in compromising positions and had also burrowed a large sum of money as well. ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Actor Arya, who has so far done only cameo roles in Malayalam films such as Urumi and Double Barrel, is going in for a full-length antagonists role in upcoming The Great Father. Arya has been finalised as the villain. Unlike the regular portrayal of baddies in southern cinema, his role will stand out and appeal to the audiences. He is expected to join the sets soon, said a source from the films unit. Read: Suriyas Singam 3 team heads for Malaysia to shoot the climax scene Read: Silly to have advertised my Chevalier award, says Kamal Haasan Arya will lock horns with actor Mammootty in the film, which is being directed by debutant Haneef Adeni. The film also stars Tamil actress Sneha, who is making a comeback after being away on a maternity break. ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop More than half of the people from outside the US government who met Hillary Clinton as secretary of state had directly or indirectly donated to the family-run Clinton Foundation. They included Muhammad Yunus, the Bangladeshi micro-credit pioneer and Nobel prize winner in 2009, and U2 rocker Bono, according to state department calendars from the time reviewed and reported by AP. The news agency said in a detailed report on Tuesday that 85 of the 154 private sector people who met Clinton donated $156 million to the family charity, and 20 of them paid more than $1 million a piece. Though the meetings, or telephone conversations, did not violate any rules, laws or agreement, the AP said they fuel perceptions that giving the foundation money was a price of admission for face time with Clinton. The Clinton campaign pushed back. It is outrageous to misrepresent Secretary Clintons basis for meeting with these individuals, spokesman Brian Fallon said. He called it a distorted portrayal of how often she crossed paths with individuals connected to charitable donations to the Clinton Foundation. But Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has been hammering Clinton on the access foundation donors enjoyed to her state department, pounced on the AP report. Hillary Clinton is totally unfit to hold public office, he said at a rally in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday night. It is impossible to figure out where the Clinton Foundation ends and the state department begins. It is now abundantly clear that the Clintons set up a business to profit from public office. Trump had earlier called for the appointment for a special prosecutor to investigate links between the Clinton Foundation and the state department during her tenure. Foundation donors access to her state department has been known for a while, based on multiple news reports, and the AP report highlights how frequent that was. In view of recent, and escalating attacks, former President Bill Clinton said on Monday he and his wife will cease to be associated with the foundation if she is elected president. And, the foundation will stop accepting foreign donations. But Clinton surrogates also stepped up to defend the foundation, highlighting its work around the world. Paul Begala, a former aide to President Clinton, said in a tweet on Tuesday: Before @ClintinFdn, 200K people with HIV AIDS in poor countries got lifesaving anti-retroviral meds. Because of @ClintonFdn, 11.5M do now. The foundation has run many projects in India as well. A powerful earthquake that rocked central Italy on Wednesday left 38 people dead and the toll is likely to rise, the countrys civil protection unit has said in the first official death toll. There are still so many people under masonry, so many missing, said Immacolata Postiglione, the head of the units emergency department. The 6.2 magnitude quake struck towns and villages in the mountainous heart of the country, which was making the rescue operation more difficult, said Postiglione. She said 27 people had died between the towns of Accumoli and Amatrice, and another 10 had died in the nearby Arquata area. Later in her press conference she upped the death toll to 38, without giving further details. The emergency services released an aerial photograph showing whole areas of Amatrice flattened, while debris filled the streets of Accumoli. A man reacts to his damaged home after a strong earthquake hit Amatrice, Central Italy. (AFP) A victim is carried on a stretcher from a collapsed building. (AP) A body is covered by cloth next to rubble following a quake in Amatrice, central Ital (Reuters) Two men walk on a damaged home after a strong earthquake hit Amatrice. The first quake struck shortly after 3.30 am (0130 GMT), according to the United States Geological Survey. (AFP) A man stands among the rubble of a house after a strong earthquake hit Amatrice. (AFP) Now that daylight has come, we see that the situation is even more dreadful than we feared, with buildings collapsed, people trapped under the rubble and no sound of life, said Accumoli mayor Stefano Petrucci. Wide cracks appeared like open wounds on the buildings that were still standing. Residents sifted through the rubble with their bare hands before emergency services arrived with earth-moving equipment and sniffer dogs. The quake hit during the summer when the populations of the communities in the area, normally low during the rest of the year, are swelled by vacationers. Three quarters of the town is not there anymore, Amatrice mayor Sergio Pirozzi told state broadcaster RAI. The aim now is to save as many lives as possible. There are voices under the rubble, we have to save the people there. A Reuters reporter said the towns hospital had been badly damaged by the quake, with patients moved into the streets. RAI reported that two Afghan girls, believed to be asylum-seekers, were also missing. The earthquake caused damage to towns in three regions - Umbria, Lazio and Marche. The US Geological Survey, which measured the quake at 6.2 magnitude, said it struck near the Umbrian city of Norcia, while Italys earthquake institute INGV registered it at 6.0 and put the epicentre further south, closer to Accumoli and Amatrice. The damage was made more severe because the epicentre was at a relatively shallow 4km below the surface of the earth. A man is rescued alive from the ruins. (REUTERS) A man stands on a damaged home after a strong earthquake hit Amatrice. Numerous buildings collapsed in small communities close to the epicentre of the quake in a remote, thinly-populated area straddling the regions of Umbria, Marche and Lazio. (AFP) A man reacts after a strong earthquake hit Amatrice. (AFP) A damaged house is seen after a strong earthquake hit Amatrice, Italy. (AFP) Multiple aftershocks Residents of Rome were woken by the tremors, which rattled furniture, swayed lights and set off car alarms in most of central Italy. It was so strong. It seemed the bed was walking across the room by itself with us on it, Lina Mercantini of Ceselli, Umbria, about 75 km away from the hardest hit area, told Reuters. Olga Urbani, in the nearby town of Scheggino, said: Dear God it was awful. The walls creaked and all the books fell off the shelves. INGV reported 60 aftershocks in the four hours following the initial quake, the strongest measuring 5.5. Italy sits on two fault lines, making it one of the most seismically active countries in Europe. The last major earthquake to hit the country struck the central city of LAquila in 2009, killing more than 300 people. The most deadly since the start of the 20th century came in 1908, when an earthquake followed by a tsunami killed an estimated 80,000 people in the southern regions of Reggio Calabria and Sicily. Bangladeshi detectives arrested the prime suspect in last years slaying of a publisher as authorities reinforced efforts to crush radical groups blamed for a recent spike in violence. Separately, officials of an elite anti-crime agency arrested five more suspected radicals belonging to the banned Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). Monirul Islam, chief of a counter-terrorism unit, said on Wednesday that officials arrested Moinul Islam Shamim alias Samir alias Imran during a raid at Tongi near the capital Dhaka on Tuesday night. Police said he belonged to the banned Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), which has claimed responsibility for killing several atheist bloggers. Police said Shamim admitted during interrogation that the group killed Faisal Arefin Deepan, owner of Jagriti Prokashoni publishing house, for publishing the books of Avijit Roy, a prominent Bangladeshi-American blogger and writer. Shamim was also a main organiser and trainer for the group, Islam said. The 24-year-old man looked calm when he was produced before journalists during a news conference in Dhaka on Wednesday. Islam said Shamim used several aliases to dodge security officials. RAB arrests five Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh members Meanwhile, members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) said on Wednesday they had arrested five suspected JMB members in Tongi area. Rasheduzzaman Rouf, the groups acting chief for the southern region and a trainer of its womens wing, was among the arrested men, said RAB spokesman Mufti Mahmud Khan. Rouf studied in Canada and returned to Bangladesh in 2012 and joined the JMB. He belongs to Jhenaidah district, Khan said. The RAB also arrested Abdul Hye, an imam of a mosque in Chittagong, Shahabuddin, a member of JMBs suicide squad, and Feroz and Saiful, both small businessmen. Khan said RAB would take legal action against them after primary interrogation. Recent spike in attacks by radical groups In May, police had published photos of six suspected ABT operatives, including Shamim, and announced a bounty for their arrest. In October last year, unidentified attackers killed Deepan in Dhakas Aziz Super Market. The attackers used meat cleavers to kill him, and police had found his body inside his small office. On the same day, another publisher, Ahmed Rashid Tutul, was attacked in his office in Lalmatia area by another group of radicals. Tutul and two friends were injured but all three survived. Avijit Roy, the son of a former professor of Dhaka University, was also hacked to death in February 2015 while walking with his wife on the campus. The ABT had claimed responsibility for that attack. Another radical group, Ansar al-Islam, which claims to be the Bangladesh chapter of al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, had issued a statement to media houses claiming responsibility for the attacks on Deepan and Tutul, according to SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadi groups. Police have made some arrests for the attacks on Roy and Tutul, and the cases are still under investigation. Bangladesh experienced its deadliest terror attack on July 1 when a group of young men stormed an upscale restaurant in Dhakas Gulshan area and butchered 20 hostages, including nine Italians, seven Japanese and one Indian. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack but the government blamed the assault on the JMB. One person was killed and 30 wounded when two bombs exploded late on Tuesday near a hotel in the southern Thai coastal town of Pattani, police said, less than two weeks after a wave of unexplained bombings hit the south. The first blast in a parking lot behind the Southern View Hotel caused no casualties, police lieutenant colonel Winyu Tiamraj told Reuters on Wednesday. He said all the casualties were Thais. The second explosion came from a truck parked at the hotel entrance, opposite a karaoke bar and a massage parlour, resulting in one death and 30 injuries, he said. Colonel Yutthanam Petchmuang, a spokesperson for the militarys Internal Security Operations Command, said the car used for the second bomb was a stolen hospital pick-up truck that had been mistaken for an ambulance. The blasts came less than two weeks after a series of explosions targeting high-profile beach resorts hit seven Thai provinces in the south, killing four people and wounding dozens. Defence minister Prawit Wongsuwan quickly ruled out any link between those attacks and the latest bombings. I am sure that the incident in Pattani last night has nothing to do with the seven provinces attacks, Prawit told reporters at Bangkoks Government House, without giving any further details. Tourism is one of the only growth sectors in Thailand, and accounts for 10% of an economy that has struggled under the stewardship of a military government that seized power two years ago. No group has claimed responsibility for the wave of bombings on August 11 and 12, but some security experts noted at the time that southern insurgent groups have a track record of carrying out coordinated bombing attacks. Since 2004, a low-intensity but brutal war between government troops and insurgents has killed more than 6,500 people in the southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat that border Malaysia. The three provinces soundly rejected a referendum earlier this month on the new military-backed constitution, which passed convincingly in most of the rest of the country. Peace talks between the government and a handful of insurgent groups began in 2013 under the civilian government of prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, but have stalled since the military overthrew her in 2014. Prawit said the military government would not enter talks with separatist groups until there was peace in the region. It has to be peaceful first and then we can discuss, Prawit told reporters. Prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said after his weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday that there were no quick fixes in the south. A British woman was stabbed to death on Wednesday at a backpackers hostel in Australia and two people were injured, one seriously, in what police say may have been an extremist attack. A spokesman for Queensland state police said the suspected attacker, in Australia on a tourist visa, was a 29-year-old French national who had yelled Allahu Akbar (God is great) when arrested. A 21-year-old British woman died at the scene of the attack, south of Townsville in the states far north, police said. A 30-year-old British man was in critical condition in hospital. Initial inquiries indicate that comments which may be construed of being of an extremist nature were made by the alleged offender, Queensland Police Service Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski told reporters. This person appears to have acted alone, he said. He is a visitor to Australia and has no known local connections, however investigations are ongoing. About 100 people have left Australia for Syria to fight alongside organisations such as Islamic State, Australias Immigration Minister said earlier this year. Australia, a staunch U.S. ally, has been on heightened alert for attacks by home-grown radicals since 2014 and authorities say they have thwarted a number of plots. There have been several lone wolf assaults, including a 2014 cafe siege in Sydney that left two hostages and the gunman dead. Also in 2014, police shot dead a Melbourne teenager after he stabbed two counter-terrorism officers. In 2015, a 15-year-old boy fired on an accountant at a police headquarters in a Sydney suburb and was killed in a gunfight with police. Police did not give details of the other person wounded in the attack, which was captured on video and witnessed by more than a dozen people. There was no ongoing threat to the community, Gollschewski said. A dog was also killed in the attack, he added. China has showed off its first images of a rover it plans to sent to Mars in mid-2020, which is designed to explore the planet surface for three months, state media said, the latest aim of Chinas ambitious space programme. China in 2003 became the third country to put a man in space with its own rocket after the former Soviet Union and the United States. It has touted its plans for moon exploration and in late 2013 completed the first lunar soft landing since 1976 with the Change-3 craft and its Jade Rabbit rover. Concept portrayal of China's Mars rover and lander released by lunar probe and space project centre of Chinese State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence. (Reuters) Chinas latest manned space mission is due in October and is aiming for a manned moon landing by 2036. State news agency Xinhua, in a report late on Tuesday, said the 200kg rover would have six wheels and be powered by four solar panels, two more than the rover China shot to the moon and 60kg heavier. The challenges we face are unprecedented, Zhang Rongqiao, chief architect of the Mars mission, said, according to Xinhua. The probe would carry 13 payloads including a remote sensing camera and a ground penetrating radar, on what is expected to be a three-month exploration mission blasting off in July or August 2020, the report added. The lander will separate from the orbiter at the end of a journey of around seven months and touch down in a low latitude area in the northern hemisphere of Mars where the rover will explore the surface, it said. Concept portrayal of China's Mars rover and lander released by lunar probe and space project centre of Chinese State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence. (Reuters) The Beijing News added that the northern hemisphere was not as good a place to utilise solar power as the equator, but that the geographic conditions were better. Advancing Chinas space programme is a priority for Beijing, with President Xi Jinping calling for the country to establish itself as a space power. China insists its programme is for peaceful purposes, but the US defence department has highlighted Chinas increasing space capabilities, saying it is pursuing activities aimed to prevent adversaries from using space-based assets in a crisis. Apart from its civilian ambitions, Beijing has tested anti-satellite missiles, and the US Congress has banned NASA from engaging in cooperation with its Chinese counterpart due to security concerns. Standing on a pebbled beach on the Greek island of Lesbos, Mehdi Salehi searches for a good spot to set his drone loose. Far from being a hobby flight, this is a project to save the lives of drowning refugees, designed by a 33-year-old Afghan who was once one of them. Fifteen years after fleeing his home to escape the Taliban, this drone expert wants to help others like him survive the perilous crossing of the Aegean and Mediterranean seas that have claimed thousands of lives. Founded by Salehi, Drones for Refugees is a project designed to enable rescuers to swiftly locate and reach migrant boats in difficulty, slashing time to reach them in a way that can mean the difference between life and death. The sea route between Turkey and the Greek Islands has always been a favourite with smugglers, but in 2015, the numbers crossing that waterway exploded due to the Syrian conflict. From his home in New York, where he lectures at Parsons School of Design, Mehdi saw dramatic news footage of dinghies packed to the brim. He also saw the images of those who did not make it and decided to do something about it using his skills. With the support of Parsons alumni and faculty, Mehdi and his partner Kristen Kersh bought and customised the drone tested on Lesbos. They added cameras, sensors, data-sharing points and designed a web platform. Footage from the cameras and the infrared sensors can be streamed live to websites as well as to mobile devices used by coastguards, search and rescue teams and merchant ships. Tourists visit the dump above the village of Molyvos with thousands of life jackets next to boats collected from the shores. (AFP File Photo) It is very important that we work with them. We need to know how they work to better customise the drones and the data-sharing platform, says Mehdi, whose project is still in its pilot phase. Avoidable tragedies Often portrayed as the eye in the sky of modern warfare, drone technology has tended to make the headlines for all the wrong reasons, notably when military strikes go awry claiming innocent lives. But Mehdi insists the technology should used for saving lives. Drones can be used for the common good, not just for military purposes. With the technology that we have today, people shouldnt be dying at sea. When I crossed, we had to buy a paper map to find the closest point to Greece on the Turkish seashore, he says. In 2016, with smartphones and drones already available to civilians, these sort of tragedies could be avoided. Esther Camps, Lesbos coordinator of Spanish lifeguard group Pro-Activa, says the project could provide vital information on what rescuers need to expect ahead of time: If they need medical assistance, how many people are on board, if they have life jackets on them, she says. Its quite difficult. You have to sail three or four hours until you arrive at the area where you are supposed to see the refugee boats, Camps told AFP. We couldnt swim When Salehi crossed the Aegean from Turkey in 2001, he arrived on Chios island with a friend in a childrens plastic boat bought for $20 in Izmir. It was a dumb decision and we were very dumb kids, he says with a wry smile. We didnt have money to pay smugglers but I was going crazy in Istanbul. Living conditions were inhuman. We couldnt swim, it was in fact my first time at sea but I convinced myself that if I had survived so far, I could also live through this. Salehi and his friend were arrested and thrown in jail for five months. Then, a random encounter changed his luck. Isabelle, a Greek doctor working for Amnesty International, visited the prison where they were being held and Salehi asked her for help in filling out his Greek asylum application. Refugees and migrants approach the Greek island of Lesbos on a dinghy as they cross the Aegean sea from the Turkish coast. (AP File Photo) She found him a lawyer and he got his papers. I was very lucky. I got a lot of support from people that met me along the way, especially in Greece. They encouraged me and believed in me. Refugees and migrants, thats what we need: an opportunity to thrive, Salehi says. Its a very harsh change for us, a different country, different environment but we can study and work and create wealth and jobs if they let us, he explains. Bigger, better drones Drones for Refugees plans to build bigger drones, able to fly over larger areas of the Mediterranean where the survival of refugees and migrants depends on being spotted and rescued by a ship. Hopefully, the final and bigger prototype will be ready by the end of this year, Salehi says. Until now, the group has been funding itself but Salehi and his team will need an extra injection of cash if they are to build larger drones with longer flight autonomy. After being granted asylum in Greece, Salehi obtained a masters degree in architecture from the University of Volos in 2011. A Syrian woman enters the makeshift courtyard of her family's tent at Ritsona refugee camp, north of Athens, which hosts more than 600 refugees and migrants. (AP Photo) Moving to the United States, he received a second masters in design and technology from Parsons School of Design in New York. He is now a part-time lecturer at Parsons, part of the progressive New School which counts among its alumni Tennessee Williams, Marlon Brando and Donna Karan. With suspicions on both sides mounting, the United States is struggling to preserve its wobbly partnership with Turkey as the Turks entertain closer relations with Russia and fume over a U.S.-based cleric blamed for orchestrating last months failed coup. Vice President Joe Biden arrives Wednesday in the Turkish capital, Ankara, aiming to smooth over recent strains but with limited leverage. He comes bearing no assurances that the United States will agree to Turkeys demand that it extradite Fethullah Gulen, who lives in Pennsylvania. Instead, hell try to convey that America values Turkey as a key NATO ally amid worrying signs that the U.S. and Turkish approaches to the Syrian conflict may be diverging. Ahead of Bidens visit, the U.S. said it was considering a formal extradition request for Gulen from Turkey. But State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Tuesday that Turkeys request was for alleged crimes unrelated to the failed coup. He declined to provide details. To that end, the U.S. was seeking further evidence from Turkey to substantiate its claim that Gulen was behind the overthrow attempt. Turkeys Justice Ministry said its officials opened talks Tuesday with a team from the Justice Department and State Department that the U.S. dispatched to Ankara ahead of Bidens arrival. Tensions between the countries were already bubbling under the surface before the coup attempt July 15 and since have burst into the open. U.S. leaders were incensed when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the United States of either supporting or backing the coup. As the U.S. issued denials, Turkish officials complained that Washington was slow to support Turkeys government at its time of greatest need, even though the U.S. had expressed support for Erdogan during the violence that claimed 270 lives. For its part, the U.S. has been rattled by Turkeys recent diplomatic flirtations with traditional U.S. foes Russia and Iran, reflecting the possibility that a frustrated Turkey could be rethinking its allegiance with the West in pursuit of regional stability. This month Erdogan travelled to Moscow to boost ties and possibly collaboration on ending Syrias civil war, something Moscow has sought unsuccessfully with Washington. And following the Turkish foreign ministers surprise trip to Iran last week, Turkish media reported that Erdogan planned to visit Tehran on Wednesday the same day hes also slated to meet Biden. Clearly President Erdogan is sending a message by getting closer to Russia and Iran that hes unhappy with the attitude of the West, said Bulent Aliriza, a Turkey analyst at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. Turkeys still going to remain a NATO member and aspire for EU membership, but the atmosphere is worse than it was on July 14, the day before the coup attempt. A breakdown of ties to Turkey would be problematic for the U.S., which is counting on Turkey to pursue the same approach to fighting the Islamic State group and addressing extremism across the Middle East. Straddling Europe and Asia, Turkey shares borders with Iraq, Iran and Syria, where the porous border permits Islamic State fighters into Turkey and would-be recruits into Syria. But the U.S. and Turkey are unlikely to resolve their dispute over Gulen, who has lived in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania for 17 years in self-imposed exile. Gulen has denied any involvement in the coup attempt. People have an expectation that Gulen should be returned to Turkey immediately, said Gulnur Aybet, who teaches international relations at Turkeys Bahcesehir University. If the extradition request is refused or delayed, Im afraid thats going to have serious repercussions. The U.S. once considered Erdogan a leader interested in promoting democracy and working with America. That optimism has been dampened as Erdogan cracks down on media and other freedoms and puts a premium on opposing outlawed Kurdish rebels sometimes at the expense, in the Obama administrations view, of focusing on IS. Washingtons concerns about human rights and democracy in Turkey have intensified since the Turkish government detained or fired tens of thousands of police, soldiers, teachers and journalists following the abortive coup. The U.S. has been careful not to criticize Turkey publicly to avoid undercutting the overall U.S. message of support for Turkeys government. Turkeys fragile security was highlighted over the weekend when a suicide bomber killed at least 54 people at a Kurdish wedding celebration in Gaziantep, near the Syria border. It was the deadliest in a string of attacks this year in Turkey committed by IS or the Kurdistan Workers Party. Adding to U.S. worries, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim recently appeared warm to the possibility of Syrian President Bashar Assad maintaining a role in a transitional government. For years, both Turkey and the U.S. have called for Assads ouster, insisting he cant be part of Syrias future government. India has warned of the catastrophic dangers of terrorists getting weapons of mass destruction and said that nations have a responsibility to prevent nuclear material from falling into their hands. Speaking at the UN Security Council debate on weapons of mass destruction (WMD) on Tuesday, Indias deputy permanent representative Tanmaya Lal said: We are fully cognizant of the catastrophic dangers that the transfer of weapons of mass destruction to non-State actors and terrorists could entail. Therefore, he said, The primary responsibility for ensuring nuclear security rests at the national level but national responsibility must be accompanied by responsible behaviour as well as sustained and effective international cooperation. At the same time, the focus on terrorists should in no way diminish state accountability in combating terrorism and dismantling its support infrastructure and its linkages with weapons of mass destruction, he said. Without mentioning any country, he said that clandestine nuclear proliferation networks must be rolled back and their resurgence prevented. Pakistan ran an underground international nuclear bazaar overseen by the notorious scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan that transferred nuclear know-how and technology to North Korea. Islamabads nuclear bases have come under attack from terrorists, who have even managed to enter one of them. For its part, India has enacted several laws and set up mechanisms to ensure that terrorists dont get access to WMD, Lal said. Our recent steps taken to strengthen nuclear security include the setting up of a Counter Nuclear Smuggling Team (CNST). India is committed to maintaining the highest international standards with reference to control of nuclear, chemical, biological and toxin weapons and their means of delivery and has strong and law-based national export controls consistent with the highest international standards, he said. New Delhi was committed to the ideal of the elimination of all nuclear weapons, Lal said. But for this to happen all nuclear-weapon states must hold a meaningful dialogue to build trust and confidence by reducing the salience of nuclear weapons in international affairs and security doctrines, he said. Increasing the restraints on the use of nuclear weapons is not only an essential first step, but it is also necessary in the current complex international environment in enhancing strategic trust globally, he added. Indias nuclear doctrine is built on a policy of credible minimum deterrence and a commitment to no-first use and to not using using the weapons against non-nuclear weapon states, he said, adding that New Delhi continues its unilateral and voluntary moratorium on nuclear explosive testing. He cited the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) as examples of non-discriminatory treaties for the complete elimination of those types of WMD. Unlike the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), which makes exceptions for certain nuclear powers, those treaties apply to all. Pakistans permanent representative Maleeha Lodhi asserted during the debate that Islamabad had implemented a comprehensive system to control exports and taken steps to improve nuclear security. She took a swipe at the India-United States civil nuclear deal and Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) waiver for New Delhi to allow access to civilian nuclear technology and fuel, but did not name either country. A challenge to non-proliferation norms was the granting of discriminatory waivers, special arrangements which denoted double standards and opened the possibility of diverting material intended for peaceful use to military purposes, she said. While Indias attempts to join the NSG has been stalled mainly because of Chinas opposition, Lodhi made a pitch for Pakistans membership. She said Islamabad met the criteria for membership and that it expected that a non-discriminatory and criteria-based approach would be followed for extending such membership. Suspected militants stormed the Kabul campus of the American University of Afghanistan on Wednesday with some students jumping from second floor windows to escape the gunfire and explosions, witnesses and officials said. Foreign staff and dozens of pupils were trapped in the compound hours after the attack began at about 6:30 p.m. (1400 GMT). News of casualties was sketchy, but the head of hospitals in the Afghan capital said at least one person had been killed and 14 students wounded in the assault. Many students jumped from the second floor, some broke their legs and some hurt their head trying to escape, Abdullah Fahimi, a student who escaped, told Reuters. He injured his ankle making the leap. We were in the class when we heard a loud explosion followed by gunfire. It was very close. Some students were crying, others were screaming. An Afghan policeman keeps watch at the site of an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Reuters) A senior interior ministry official said that elite Afghan forces had surrounded the university and witnesses at the scene said special forces had entered the walled compound where gunfire that had lasted for more than an hour had since stopped. There are two gunmen hiding inside the building and a clearing operation is ongoing to eliminate them, interior ministry spokesman, Sediq Sediqqi, said. (AFP) Car bomb Ahmad Mukhtar, another student who fled the scene, said the gunmen had got into the university buildings despite security measures including three or four armed guards and watchtowers. He added that he believed the attack had started at the main gate into the compound. I finished my class and was about to leave when I heard a few gunshots and a huge explosion, followed by more gunfire, he said. I ran towards the emergency exit with other students, climbed the wall and jumped outside. Kabul police chief, Abdul Rahman Rahimi, told Reuters that the attack began with a car bomb and several attackers had entered the campus. Islamist militant groups, mainly the Afghan Taliban and a local offshoot of Islamic State, have claimed a string of recent atrocities aimed at destabilising the country and toppling the Western-backed government of President Ashraf Ghani. No one has claimed the university attack. Afghan security forces rush to respond to an attack on the campus of the American University in the Afghan capital Kabul on Wednesday. (AP Photo) It is the second time this month that the university or its staff have been targeted. Two teachers, an American and an Australian, remain missing after being abducted at gunpoint from a road nearby on Aug. 7. Taliban insurgents control large swathes of Afghanistan, and local armed forces are struggling to contain them, especially in the provinces of Helmand to the south and Kunduz to the north. NATO ended its combat mission in December 2014, but thousands of troops remain to train and assist Afghan forces, while several thousand more U.S. soldiers are engaged in a separate mission focusing on al Qaeda and Islamic State. A powerful earthquake shook central Italy on Wednesday, leaving at least 120 people dead and a trail of destruction across several mountain villages packed with holidaymakers. With 368 people injured, some critically, and an unknown number trapped under rubble, the death toll from the pre-dawn quake was expected to rise, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi told reporters after visiting the badly-hit village of Amatrice. This is not a final toll, he warned as hundreds of emergency services staff and volunteers prepared to work through the night in the hope of plucking more survivors from the ruins. Renzi said it was too early to begin a debate on what might have been done to prevent the disaster. Today is the time for tears and emotion, he said, vowing that his government would start reconstruction work first thing on Thursday. Hundreds of people were to spend a chilly night in hastily-assembled tents with the risk of aftershocks making it too risky for them to return home. Scores of buildings were reduced to dusty piles of masonry in communities close to the epicentre of the quake, which had a magnitude of between 6.0 and 6.2. It hit a remote area straddling Umbria, Marche and Lazio at a time of year when second-home owners and other visitors swell the numbers staying there. Many of the victims were from Rome. The devastated area is just north of LAquila, the city where some 300 people died in another quake in 2009. Most of the deaths occurred in and around the villages of Amatrice, Accumoli and Arquata del Tronto. Victims sit among the rubble of a house after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice. (AFP Photo) Anguish Guido Bordo, 69, lost his sister and her husband after they were trapped inside their holiday house in the hamlet of Illica, near Accumoli. Theres no sound from them, we only heard their cats, he told AFP before the deaths were confirmed. I wasnt here. As soon as the quake happened, I rushed here. They managed to pull my sisters children out, theyre in hospital now, he added, wringing his hands in anguish. Among the victims was a nine-month-old baby girl whose parents survived, an 18-month-old toddler and two other young children who died with their parents in Accumoli. Two boys aged four and seven were saved by their quick-thinking grandmother, who ushered them under a bed as soon as the shaking began, according to reports. She also survived but lost her husband. A destroyed car is seen following an earthquake in Amatrice. (Reuters) Bodies in playground It was Italys most powerful earthquake since the 2009 disaster in LAquila. Half the village has disappeared, said Amatrice mayor Sergio Pirozzi, surveying a town centre that looked as if had been subjected to a bombing raid. Pope Francis expressed his shock. To hear the mayor of Amatrice say his village no longer exists and knowing that there are children among the victims, is very upsetting for me, he said. The tremors were strong enough to be felt 150 kilometres (90 miles) away in Rome, where authorities ordered structural tests on the Colosseum. Some of the worst damage was in Pescara del Tronto, a hamlet near Arquata in the Marche region where the bodies of the dead were laid out in a childrens play park. With residents advised not to go back into their homes, temporary campsites were being set up in Amatrice and Accumoli as authorities looked to find emergency accommodation for more than 2,000 people. Amatrice is a hilltop beauty spot famed as the home of amatriciana, one of Italys favourite pasta sauces. It is popular with Romans seeking cool mountain air at the height of the summer. It was packed with visitors when the quake struck at 3.36am. Three minutes later the clock on the villages 13th-century tower stopped. A woman holds a dog in her arms as she walks with a man next to the rubble of buildings in Amatrice. (AFP Photo) Out of the blue The first quake measured 6.2, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), which said it occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres. It measured 6.0 according to Italian monitors, who put the depth at only four km. A 5.4-magnitude aftershock followed an hour later. Italy is vulnerable to earthquakes. The 2009 tragedy in LAquila led to lengthy recriminations over lax building controls and the failure of authorities to warn residents that a quake could be imminent. David Rothery, Professor of Planetary Geosciences at Britains Open University, said the shallow depth of Wednesdays quake had made it more destructive. But he added: Unlike the LAquila quake, which was preceded by swarms of smaller quakes and led to claims -- unjustified in my view -- that the eventual big quake should have been predicted, this one appears to have struck out of the blue. North Korea on Wednesday successfully test-fired a submarine-launched missile that fell inside Japans air defence zone, fuelling tensions already raised to dangerous levels by ongoing South Korea-US military exercises. A statement from South Koreas military Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile, launched in the early morning from a submarine in the East Sea (Sea of Japan), flew around 500 kilometres (310 miles) -- a substantial improvement on similar tests in the past. Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the missile breached his countrys Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) and condemned what he called an unforgivable, reckless act and a grave threat to Japans security. Earlier this month, North Korea fired a land-launched ballistic missile directly into Japanese-controlled waters for the first time, drawing an outraged response from Tokyo. Wednesdays test came just days after North Korea threatened a pre-emptive nuclear strike against South Korean and US forces who kicked off their annual Ulchi Freedom military drill on Monday. Seoul and Washington insist such exercises are purely defensive in nature, but Pyongyang views them as wilfully provocative. The Joint Chiefs of Staff statement said that the North was clearly bent on escalating tensions with a launch that posed a serious challenge to security on the Korean peninsula, and represented a grave breach of UN resolutions. We will deal strongly and sternly with any provocation by the North, it said. US condemnation Washington also condemned the test and warned Pyongyang against any further provocations. Our commitment to the defense of our allies, including the Republic of Korea and Japan, in the face of these threats, is ironclad, said Pentagon spokesman Gary Ross. The Ulchi Freedom drill plays out a scenario of full-scale invasion by the nuclear-armed North. It is largely computer-simulated but still involves around 50,000 Korean and 25,000 US soldiers. The exercise always triggers a rise in tensions on the divided peninsula, and this year it coincides with particularly volatile cross-border relations following a series of high-profile defections. Last week North Koreas deputy ambassador to Britain, Thae Yong-Ho, defected to the South -- a rare and damaging loss of diplomatic face for Pyongyang and a major PR victory for Seoul. In comments clearly aimed at riling Pyongyang, South Korean President Park Geun-Hye said such high-ranking defections suggested serious cracks in supreme leader Kim Jong-Uns regime. Park also warned that North Korea may carry out various terror attacks and provocations in a show of strength aimed at building national unity and loyalty to Kim. Improved test North Korea has conducted a number of submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) tests -- most recently in April and July -- with varying degrees of success. Previous flight distances have not exceeded 30 kilometres, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff statement acknowledged that Wednesdays test showed a marked improvement. The South Korean defence ministry has said the North could be able to deploy a working SLBM within three to four years. A proven SLBM capability would take North Koreas nuclear strike threat to a new level, allowing deployment far beyond the Korean peninsula and the potential to retaliate in the event of a nuclear attack. Current UN resolutions prohibit North Korea from any test of ballistic missile technology, but Pyongyang has continued to carry out numerous launches following its fourth nuclear test in January. South Korea responded by agreeing to deploy a sophisticated US anti-missile system -- a move that has seriously strained relations with North Koreas main diplomatic ally, China. A Pakistani court on Tuesday reserved its verdict on the maintainability of a petition filed by Mumbai attack mastermind and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed seeking directives for the government to take up the Kashmir issue at the UN Security Council and other international fora. Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief Saeed had filed the petition in the Lahore high court on August 12 seeking directives for the Nawaz Sharif-led government. Lahore high court chief justice Syed Mansoor Ali heard the petition and reserved the judgement after hearing arguments from Saeeds counsel advocate A K Dogar. Filed through his counsel Dogar, Saeed in his petition alleged that India had been committing atrocities on Kashmiris and violating the resolutions passed by the UN. He claimed that Indian forces were killing innocent Kashmiris and had ruined their daily life. The petition alleged that India also did not give Kashmiris their right to self- determination. For the last more than one month, the Indian forces have been violating the human rights by continuously torturing Kashmiri people, Saeed is quoted as saying in the petition. He claimed that peace had been put on stake in the entire region. Saeed, through the petition, sought from the court an order for the federal government to take up the Kashmir issue at the Security Council in order to force India to obey the Security Councils resolution passed in April, 1948, and to highlight the issue at the international level. Citing different judgements, Dogar said if an issue involves public interest, the court can interfere in political and foreign issues. Indian army is killing innocent Kashmiris but Pakistani government is doing nothing practically except issuing statements, he said. After hearing Dogars arguments, the Chief Justice reserved the verdict on the maintainability of the petition. Scientists Wednesday announced the discovery of an Earth-sized planet orbiting the star nearest our Sun, opening up the glittering prospect of a habitable world that may one day be explored by robots. Named Proxima b, the planet is in a temperate zone compatible with the presence of liquid water -- a key ingredient for life. The findings, based on data collected over 16 years, were reported in the peer-reviewed journal Nature. We have finally succeeded in showing that a small-mass planet, most likely rocky, is orbiting the star closest to our solar system, said co-author Julien Morin, an astrophysicist at the University of Montpellier in southern France. Proxima b would probably be the first exoplanet visited by a probe made by humans, he told AFP. An exoplanet is any planet outside our Solar System. Lead author Guillem Anglada-Escude, an astronomer at Queen Mary University London, described the find as the experience of a lifetime. Working with European Southern Observatory telescopes in the north Chilean desert, his team used the so-called Doppler method to detect Proxima b and describe its properties. The professional star-gazers spent 60 consecutive days earlier this year looking for signs of gravitational pull on its host star, Proxima Centauri. Regular shifts in the stars light spectrum -- repeating every 11.2 days -- gave a tantalising clue. They revealed that the star alternately moved towards and away from our Solar System at the pace of a leisurely stroll, about five kilometres (three miles) per hour. Artists impression of the surface of Proxima b. Proxima b is a little more massive than the Earth and orbits in the habitable zone around Proxima Centauri, where the temperature is suitable for liquid water to exist on its surface. (AFP/ESA) Goldilocks zone After cross-checking an inconclusive 2000-2014 dataset and eliminating other possible causes, the researchers determined that the tug of an orbiting planet was responsible for this tiny to-and-fro. Statistically, there is no doubt, Anglada-Escude told journalists in a briefing. We have found a planet around Proxima Centauri. Proxima b is a mere four light years from the Solar System, meaning that it is essentially in our back yard on the scale of our galaxy, the Milky Way. It has a mass around 1.3 times that of Earth, and orbits about seven million kilometres (4.35 million miles) from its star. A planet so near to our Sun -- 21 times closer than Earth -- would be an unlivable white-hot ball of fire. But Proxima Centauri is a so-called red dwarf, meaning a star that burns at a lower temperature. As a result, the newly discovered planet is in a Goldilocks sweet spot: neither so hot that water evaporates, nor so cold that it freezes solid. But liquid water is not the only essential ingredient for the emergence of life. An atmosphere is also required, and on that score the researchers are still in the dark. It all depends, they say, on how Proxima b evolved as a planet. You can come up with formation scenarios that end up with and Earth-like atmosphere, a Venus-like atmosphere -- 96 percent carbon dioxide -- or no atmosphere at all, said co-author Ansgar Reiners, an expert on cold stars at the University of Goettingens Institute of Astrophysics in Germany. Computer models suggest the planets temperature, with an atmosphere, could be in the range of minus 30 Celsius on the dark side, and 30C on the light side, Reiners told journalists. Like the Moon in relation to Earth, Proxima b is tidally locked, with one face always exposed to its star and the other perpetually in shadow. Emerging life forms would also have to cope with ultraviolet and X-rays bombarding Proxima b 100 times more intensely than on Earth. Search for life An atmosphere would help deflect these rays, as would a strong magnetic field. But even high doses of radiation do not preclude life, especially if we think outside the box, scientists say. We have to be very open-minded as to what we call life, Jean Schneider, an expert on exoplanets at the Observatoire de Paris, told AFP. Some 3,500 exoplanets have been discovered since the first confirmed sighting in 1995. Most of these distant worlds -- like our own Jupiter and Neptune -- are composed of gas, an inhospitable environment for life. (AFP/ESA) Even the 10% that do have rocky surfaces are mostly too cold or too hot to host water in liquid form. And -- until today -- the handful that are in a temperate zone are effectively beyond reach. Last year, for example, NASA unveiled Kepler 452b, a planet about 60 percent larger than Earth that could have active volcanoes, oceans, sunshine like ours, and a year lasting 385 days. But at a distance of 1,400 light-years, humankind would have little hope of reaching this Earth-twin any time soon. By comparison, Proxima b is a stones throw away, though still too far away for humans to visit with present-generation chemical rockets. This is a dream for astronomers if we think about follow up observations, said Reiners. After a pre-dawn barrage of heavy artillery and airstrikes, Turkey sent tanks and special forces into Syria on Wednesday to help clear a border town of Islamic State militants in Ankaras most significant military involvement so far in the Syria conflict. Syrian opposition fighters were also part of the cross-border incursion, which was reported by both Turkish state media and Syrian opposition activists. Turkey said its intention was to clear the town of Jarablus, located right across the border from Turkey, from IS militants. But Turkey is also concerned about the growing power of US-backed Syrian Kurdish forces, who it says are linked to Kurdish groups waging an insurgency in southeastern Turkey. Wednesdays operation puts Turkey on track for a confrontation with the Kurdish fighters in Syria, where the civil war is now in its sixth year. A senior official with Syrias largest Kurdish group suggested Turkey will pay the price. Saleh Muslim, the co-president of the Democratic Union Party or PYD, tweeted that Turkey is in Syrian Quagmire. Will be defeated as Daesh will be. He use the Arabic language acronym for IS. The state-run Anadolu Agency, citing unnamed military officials, said tanks crossed into Syria but didnt provide details. The private NTV television said as many as 20 tanks crossed the border and that clashes were underway. Earlier Wednesday, NTV said a small number of Turkish special forces had crossed into Syria as part of the operation. NTV described it as an intruder mission meant to carry out pinpoint operations against IS to clear Jarablus of the extremists. Turkish army tanks are stationed near the border with Syria in Karkamis (AP) Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirims office said the operation, carried out by Turkish and US-backed coalition forces, began at 4am (0100 GMT), with Turkish artillery launching intense cross-border fire on Jarablus, followed by Turkish warplanes bombing IS targets in the town, Anadolu said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition activist group that monitors the civil war, said Syrian rebels who were amassed at the Turkish border crossed into Syria, preceded by Turkish tanks and mine sweepers. The Britain-based group didnt say how many fighters were involved. On Tuesday, it said that around 500 rebels were waiting to cross into Syria. Turkish state media said rebels entered 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) deep in the direction of Jarablus. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the operation is directed against terror organizations like IS and the PYD, the largest Syrian Kurdish group. Just a few hours after the operation started, Vice President Joe Biden landed in Ankara for talks that include developments in Syria. Bidens visit comes at a difficult time for ties between the two NATO allies Turkey is demanding that Washington quickly extradite a US-based cleric blamed for orchestrating last months failed coup while the United States is asking for evidence against the cleric and that Turkey allow the extradition process to take its course. Turkish Interior Minister Efkan Ala said the Jarablus operation meant to safeguard Turkeys security and that Ankara cannot sit and watch. It is Turkeys legal right, it is within its authority to take action, the minister said, adding that Wednesdays operation was being carried out in coordination with the U.S.-led coalition forces. Turkeys Hurriyet newspaper quoted Turkish sources as saying Turkish Howitzers and rocket launchers had fired 224 rounds at 63 targets within an hour and 45 minutes, and that the Turkish air raids started just after 6 a.m. Turkey had declared the border area a special security zone, and asked journalists not to try access it, citing safety concerns and threats posed by the IS. A Turkish military warning sign, with the closed Karkamis border gate in the background, is pictured in Karkamis, bordering with the Islamic State-held Syrian town of Jarablus, in Gaziantep province, Turkey. (Reuters file photo) On Tuesday, Turkish foreign minister Mevlet Cavusoglus pledged every kind of support for operations against IS along a 100-kilometer (62-mile) stretch of Syrian frontier. He said Turkey would support twin operations stretching from the Syrian town of Afrin in the northwest, already controlled by Kurdish forces, to Jarablus, in the central north, held by the Islamic State group. Jarablus lies on the western bank of the Euphrates River where it crosses from Turkey into Syria and is one of the last important IS-held towns standing between Kurdish-controlled areas in northern Syria. Taking control of Jarablus and the IS-held town of al-Bab to the south would be a significant step toward linking up border areas under Kurdish control east and west of the Euphrates. In recent days, Turkey increased security measures on its border with Syria, deploying tanks and armored personnel carriers. On Tuesday, residents of the Turkish town of Karkamis, across the border from Jarablus, were told to evacuate after three mortars believed to be fired by IS militants landed there, Turkeys Dogan news agency said. Turkey has vowed to fight IS militants at home and to cleanse the group from its borders after a weekend suicide bombing at a Kurdish wedding in southern Turkey killed at least 54 people, many of them children. Turkish officials have blamed IS for the attack. Ankara is also concerned about the growing power of U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish forces, who it says are linked to Kurdish groups waging an insurgency in southeastern Turkey. The Kurdish-led group known as the Syria Democratic Forces, or SDF, recaptured the town of Manbij from IS earlier this month, triggering concerns in Ankara that Kurdish forces would seize the entire border strip with Turkey. The U.S. says it has embedded some 300 special forces with the SDF, and British special forces have also been spotted advising the group. The Kurds outsized role in the Syrian civil war is a source of concern for the Syrian government as well. Fierce clashes erupted between the two sides over control of the northeastern province of Hasakeh last week, and Syrian warplanes bombed Kurdish positions for the first time, prompting the U.S. to scramble its jets to protect American troops in the area. The Syrian government and the Kurds agreed on a cease-fire Tuesday, six days after the clashes erupted. The Kurdish Hawar News Agency said government forces agreed to withdraw from Hasakeh as part of the truce. Syrian state media did not mention any withdrawal, saying only that the two sides had agreed to evacuate the wounded and exchange detainees. Government and Kurdish forces have shared control of Hasakeh since the early years of the Syrian war. Turkey vowed Tuesday to give full support to efforts to free a key Syrian border town from the control of Islamic State (IS) jihadists as anticipation grew of a major Ankara-backed offensive against the group. Turkish forces also pounded jihadists in Syria with new artillery strikes after a deadly suicide bombing in the city of Gaziantep at the weekend and repeated rocket fire across the border. Activists have said hundreds of Ankara-backed rebels were preparing an offensive against the IS group to seize control of the Syrian town of Jarabulus, which lies opposite the town of Karkamis in Turkey. Without confirming the operation, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu pledged to give all kinds of support to push the jihadists out of Jarabulus. We do not want Daesh (IS) to exist in Iraq and Syria, he told reporters. The pledge came a day before US Vice President Joe Biden was due in Ankara to meet Turkeys leadership, with agreeing a unified strategy on Syria set to be a crucial issue. He is by far the highest-ranking Western official to visit Turkey since the coup attempt to unseat President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In an interview with private NTV television, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said Turkey saw Jarabulus as a national security matter. What we have said, since the beginning, is that having Jarabulus or any other city held by IS is unacceptable, he said. The authorities also ordered residents to vacate Karkamis and the surrounding area for safety reasons after the rocket fire, although there was no indication this was linked to the impending operation. Residents of the town centre and six neighbourhoods (are) advised to relocate to more secure areas, the local governors office said in a statement. Nine mortar rounds fired from Jarabulus hit the centre of the town while two more hit another neighbourhood, it added. No casualties or injuries were reported. Turkish artillery responded by shelling IS positions around Jarabulus. May begin any time Abdulkadir Selvi, a well-connected columnist for the Hurriyet daily, said the Turkey-backed offensive could begin at any moment. The move by Ankara-backed rebels could potentially put them on a collision course with the militia of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), which Ankara vehemently opposes and which also has designs on Jarabulus after seizing the strategic Manbij area in northern Syria from IS. Rami Abdul Rahman, the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the Turkish shelling in Syria aimed to prevent the advance of troops backed by Kurds from Manbij towards Jarabulus. He told AFP the commander of Kurdish-dominated forces headed to Jarablus, Abdel Satar al-Jader, was also assassinated on Monday after announcing he planned to resist the Turkish advance. There was no confirmation from Turkish sources. Turkey regards the PYD as a terror group, although Washington sees its Peoples Protection Units (YPG) militia -- as the most effective fighting force against the jihadists. The movements have come at a critical juncture for Turkey in Syrias five-and-a-half-year war, with signs growing it is on the verge of a landmark policy shift. Ankara has always called for the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad as the key to ending the conflict, putting Turkey at odds with his main supporters Iran and Russia. However Prime Minister Binali Yildirim at the weekend for the first time acknowledged that Assad was one of the actors in Syria and may need to stay on as part of a transition. The last song Turkey has been shaken by one of the bloodiest years in its modern history, with a string of attacks by IS jihadists and Kurdish militants and the botched July 15 coup. The attack in Gaziantep on a Kurdish wedding party for a young couple has horrified the country, with the majority of the 54 victims aged under 18 and including children as young as four. But there is confusion as to who was behind the attack, with Erdogan initially saying the suicide bomber was a child aged 12-14 acting on the orders of IS. However Yildirim on Monday said Turkey still had no clue who carried out the attack and said all rumours over the age and affiliation of the bomber should be taken with a pinch of salt. One guest, Emine Ayhan, lost four of her five children in the blast. To finish off the evening the young guys wanted one last song. It was in the middle of this song that the bomb went off, Hurriyet quoted her as saying. Expressing concern over human rights situation in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), the US has called for working out differences peaceably and through a valid political process. We do have concerns about the human rights situation there (PoK), have reported it for several years in our Human Rights report, State Department deputy spokesperson Mark Toner told reporters at his daily news conference on Tuesday. We are always urging all parties in Pakistan to work out their differences peacefully and through a valid political process, he said when asked about the human rights situation in PoK. And with respect to Kashmir, our policy there is well known, Toner said without elaborating further. Earlier this month, protesters took to streets in the Gilgit-Baltistan region against human rights abuses and crackdown by the Pakistani security forces. Turkey launched its most ambitious operation of the Syrian conflict on Wednesday with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan saying it targeted the double threat from Islamic State extremists and Syrian Kurdish militias. Turkey says the air and ground operation dubbed Euphrates Shield will clear jihadists from the Syrian town of Jarabulus, which lies directly opposite the Turkish town of Karkamis. The operation was launched just days after Ankara appeared to soften its often-confrontational line on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whom Turkey wants to see removed. Why is Turkey acting now? The military action began after 54 people were killed in a weekend suicide attack in the city of Gaziantep near the Syrian border that was blamed on IS. There has also been a recent upsurge in shelling of Turkish territory from Syrian towns under IS control. ISIS (IS) has been directly attacking Turkish soil from Syria and so this operation is firstly a retaliation to that, Gulnur Aybet, director of Centre of Security Studies at Bahcesehir University in Istanbul (BAUCESS). There is a chance these attacks from ISIS will intensify and thats why Turkey thought its necessary to take these steps, to go across the border, with tanks and ground troops, she added. London-based Turkey analyst at Stroz Friedberg risk consultancy Emre Tuncalp agreed, saying there had been a deterioration in the security situation on the border. The Gaziantep attack and the Karkamis shelling yesterday was like the last straw. What is the purpose? However Aybet said the operations aims were two-fold -- to counter the IS threat but also to prevent Syrian Kurdish groups moving into areas liberated from IS. Turkey views the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) militia as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which it has denounced as a terror organisation along with the EU and the US. The Syrian Kurds already occupy a large strip of that border but there is this part in the middle that is still held by ISIS. So the concern is: do the YPG move into areas liberated by ISIS? In moving in this way, they (Turkish forces) are also preventing the YPG moving into those areas, the professor said. Tuncalp said Turkey had long declared its red line for the advance of the Syrian Kurdish group was the west of the Euphrates River. He said Ankara had choked on seeing the Syrian Kurds take from IS the strategic town of Manbij south of Jarabulus and well west of the Euphrates earlier this month. That was really unacceptable for Turkey and was additional motivation to get more involved in that part of Syria. What does this mean for Syrian Kurds? Aybet said the military operation showed Turkey would not allow the YPG to put down roots on its doorstep and allow a fragmentation of the Syrian state. This has disrupted the YPGs plans. They thought the Americans would back them in the territorial conquest until the end but the Americans are playing a pragmatic game on the ground. A US official on Wednesday said Kurdish-dominated forces had stopped moving north towards Jarabulus. So I think we have put a lid on the Turks biggest concern, the official said. Is Turkey softening on Assad? At the weekend, prime minister Binali Yildirim for the first time acknowledged that Assad was one of the actors in Syria, saying he may need to remain as part of any transition. Turkey is also working more closely with Iran and Russia, Assads last remaining major allies. So far, no world power has objected to the Turkish operation, which began just hours before US vice-president Joe Biden arrived in Ankara. There have also been signs of a less confrontational Turkish foreign policy since Yildirim took over from Ahmet Davutoglu as premier in May. For Soner Cagaptay, director of the Turkish Research Programme at The Washington Institute, stopping Kurdish advances in the north was now Ankaras primary goal in Syria rather than Assads removal. Following the ouster of Ahmet Davutoglu, the architect of Turkeys foreign policy in the last decade, Ankara has recalibrated its Syria policy. Blocking PYD Kurdish advances in Syria, previously Ankaras secondary goal, now trumps Turkeys erstwhile policy of ousting the Assad regime. LAGOS: Nigerias military claimed on Tuesday to have seriously injured Boko Harams elusive leader Abubakar Shekau and killed other commanders in an air strike on the Islamist groups forest stronghold. The announcement was met with scepticism by Boko Haram experts who pointed out that Nigeria has repeatedly claimed to have killed Shekau in previous raids only for the militant leader to surface shortly afterwards in videos. Shekau was fatally wounded in the shoulder during Fridays raids, said army spokesman Sani Usman. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ISLAMABAD: Authorities cracked down on the most powerful political party in the financial hub of Karachi and filed a treason case against its leader Altaf Hussain on Tuesday after he described Pakistan as a cancer for the entire world. Hussain apologised for his remarks but the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) appeared divided. The party leadership said the MQM will operate from Pakistan alone, a reference Hussain, who lives in self-exile in London. MQM leader Farooq Sattar said there is a problem, adding Hussains frequent apologies after incendiary statements is an issue that needs to be resolved. Nine MQM leaders were detained on Monday night and the partys headquarters was sealed after party workers, reportedly incited by a speech by Hussain, attacked two TV news channels, resulting in the death of one person and injuries to several others. Sindh Police chief AD Khawaja said a treason case was registered against Hussain for his speech. Two cases have been registered against the MQM. One case pertains to treason for his anti-state speechand the other case pertains to the incident following his remarks which saw some media houses being attacked by MQM activists, he said. The trouble began shortly after Hussain addressed MQM workers protesting outside Karachi Press Club against enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of their colleagues. Hussain spoke over phone, and videos of his speech went viral on social media. Pakistan is a cancer for the entire world, Hussain can be heard saying in the videos. Pakistan is a curse for the world. Pakistan is the epicentre of terrorism for the worldWho says long live Pakistan, its down with Pakistan. He also shouted slogans against Pakistan and castigated the media for not giving coverage to MQM workers. On Tuesday, Hussain apologised to the military establishment, including army chief Gen Raheel Sharif and Pakistan Rangers official Maj Gen Bilal Akber. From the depth of my heart, I beg pardon from my remarks against Pakistan, the establishment, including Gen Raheel Sharif and DG Rangers, he said in a statement issued by the MQM. Hussain, who is facing charges of money laundering in Britain, said he was under severe mental stress over extrajudicial arrests and the condition of MQM workers who were on a hunger strike. Being a Pakistani, I assure the Pakistani people, establishment, army, ISI, all higher authorities and leaders that I will never use such words again, he said in the statement. MQM leader Farooq Sattar distanced the party from Hussains remarks at a news conference. Slogans were raised yesterday regarding the state of Pakistan which should not have been raised at any cost, Sattar said soon after he was released after an overnight detention. The MQMs policy is to unite people on one platform and it could not think about adopting an anti-state policy, he said. Shortly after Hussain completed his speech on Monday, MQM activists ransacked the offices of ARY News and Samaa TV and clashed with police, leaving one person dead and more than half a dozen injured. The violence was condemned by all political parties and prompted action by the paramilitary Pakistan Rangers. AKRON : Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump urged the Justice Department on Monday to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate if donors to the Clinton Foundation got special treatment from the State Department when it was run by his rival, Hillary Clinton. Trump made the appeal at a rally before thousands of cheering supporters in Akron, Ohio, as he tries to rebound from a slide in national opinion polls with little more than two months to go until the November 8 election. Trump accused former President Bill Clinton and his wife of turning the Clinton Foundation charity into a pay-for-play scheme in which wealthy donors, foreign and domestic, got favours from the State Department during Hillary Clintons 2009-2013 tenure as the countrys top diplomat. Trump faulted both the Justice Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation for not indicting Clinton over her use of a private email server as secretary of state. FBI Director James Comey cited her careless handling of classified emails but opted not to prosecutor her. The Justice Department is required to appoint a special prosecutor because it has proved to be, sadly, a political arm of the White House, Trump said. Nobody has ever seen anything like it before. Trumps appeal came the same day a conservative watchdog group, Judicial Watch, released 725 pages of State Department documents, including some it said were examples of preferential treatment provided to donors at the request of former Clinton Foundation executive Douglas Band. Trumps call for the probe followed an announcement by the Clinton Foundation that it would no longer accept foreign donations if Clinton is elected. Her campaign fired back , saying the foundation had already laid out steps the charity will take if Clinton becomes president. LONDON: US presidential hopeful Donald Trump ranks higher than Adolf Hitler in psychopathic traits, according to a unique ranking of past and present world leaders developed at the University of Oxford. Trump scored 171 points, two more than Adolf Hitler, while Saddam Hussein topped the list with a score of 189. Trumps rival Hillary Clinton got a score of 152, placing her in the top 20% and between Napoleon and Nero. The top five historical individuals in research psychologist Kevin Duttons study are former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, Henry VIII, former Ugandan despot Idi Amin, Adolf Hitler and William the Conqueror. Gandhi ranked last in the list of top 20% individuals studied, a university release said on Tuesday. Dutton has been exploring the psychopathic traits of the US presidential hopefuls and historical figures using a standard psychometric tool the Psychopathic Personality Inventory-Revised (PPI-R). Over the past few years, Dutton contacted official biographers of many historical leaders and asked them to fill out, on their subjects behalf, an abbreviated version of the PPI-R. Trump did not take the tests himself and his ranking was based on expert opinions on how he would have scored. The results, published in the journal Scientific American Mind, showed Trump scored higher than rivals, achieving a total score on a par with Hitler and Idi Amin. Trump outscored the other candidates in fearless dominance, the area associated with successful presidencies, and in self-centred impulsivity, seen as negative. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON WASHINGTON: US security assistance for Pakistan, which has been declining for years as a reflection of the deteriorating ties between the two erstwhile allies, has plummeted by nearly 75% since 2011. From $1.2 billion in 2011, it is now $316 million, as requested by the US administration for 2015, according to a report of the Congressional Research Service (CRS). Relations between the two countries hit a new low in 2011 after US Navy SEALs found and killed al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in the Pakistani military town of Abbottabad. Over the same period, total US assistance, including economic aid and compensation for helping coalition military forces, is down from $3.5 billion to $814 million (as requisitioned), the report released earlier this month said. Ties never really not recovered since 2011, if you look at statements from congressional leaders combined with their refusal to clear the F-16 deal and the introduction of the non-waivable exemption clause, a congressional aide said. You can make a persuasive argument that the link between declining security assistance and deteriorating ties is causal and not mere coincidence, the aide added. The US has been pushing Pakistan to act against terrorists operating from its soil, such as the Haqqani Network that attacks foreign forces in Afghanistan, and the Lashkar-e-Taiba, which targets India. Frustrated by Pakistans continued ambivalence, US senators came together earlier this year to block a US proposal to sell to Pakistan eight new F-16 jets at subsidised costs. They are also moving to make substantial portions of annual aid to Pakistan incumbent upon its counter-terrorism measures, denying the US administration the authority to seek waivers. WASHINGTON: Indian Americans will finally have a postage stamp of their own, one which they have wanted for years to mark the symbolic coming of age of an increasingly influential ethnic minority. The US will issue a stamp to commemorate Hinduism as it has for other religions, said Congresswoman Caroline Maloney, making the announcement in New York. The stamp, which bears a picture of a diya or Diwali lamp, will be officially launched in October and it will be available for sale a few weeks after, according to the announcement. The diya was photographed by Sally Andersen-Bruce, the stamp was designed by Greg Breeding, and William J Gicker of the postal service was the projects art director. I really feel uplifted, said Ranju Batra, the Indian American who spearheaded the Diwali Stamp Project for years. She was present at the announcement with Maloney. Indian Americans first began working towards a Diwali stamp 16 years ago, according to MR Rangaswami, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur who has been involved in the project. But that first effort, launched by Washington doctor Shailendra Kumar, petered out after a while because of lack of traction there wasnt enough support. The community kept trying, organising itself in the process. Maloney of New York became an eager participant, and moved a resolution in the house of representatives in 2014. But a resolution was not sufficient to move the US postal service to issue a stamp, said Rangaswami. The community began writing to the service. More than 10,000 petitions were sent over the years. To impress lawmakers of their case, the community organised a Diwali event on Capitol Hill, home to the US legislature, in 2015. A resolution was also moved in the US Senate by Democrat Mark Warner and Republican John Cornyn, co-chairs of the Indian Caucus, and the stamp began to look possible. Rangaswami said Indian Americans needed the stamp as a symbolic coming of age of the community, to reflect, perhaps, their growing clout in the country. Trapped between charging Rebels and a deadly flooded creek, thousands of fugitive slaves watched in horror as the Union army abandoned them. Then came catastropheand excuses. BY EDWARD M. CHURCHILL Brigadier General Jefferson C. Davis had few complaints about the able-bodied black men who were supplying the muscle and sweat to keep his Union XIV Corps on the move with Major General William T. Shermans 62,000-man army. The black pioneers were making the sandy roads passable for heavy wagons and removing obstacles that Rebel troops had placed in his path. Davis was irritated, though, by the few thousand other black refugees following his force toward Georgias coast. He had been unable to shake them since the Union army stormed through Atlanta and other places in Georgia in late 1864, liberating them from their owners. The army fed the pioneers in exchange for their labor. It also took care of the refugees who worked as teamsters, cooks, and servants. It did not, however, assume responsibility for the others. So every day, hundreds of black women, children, and older men wandered into the camps, begging for food. That was not so bad when forage was plentiful, but fall had turned to winter and the sandy soil closer to the ocean was not exactly fertile. Living well off the land was but a fond memory. The rich, rolling uplands of the interior were left behind, and we descended into the low, flat sandy country that borders for perhaps a hundred miles upon the sea, recalled Captain Charles A. Hopkins of the 13th New Jersey Infantry. The country is largely filled with a magnificent growth of stately pines, their trunks freefor sixty or seventy feetfrom all branches. These pine woods, though beautiful, were not fertile and rationsparticularly of breadstuffsbegan to fail and had to be eked out [supplemented] by rice, of which we found large quantities; but also found it, with our lack of appliances, very difficult to hull. Besides exacerbating the food-shortage problem, the refugees tested Daviss volatile temper by slowing down his march. Davis was eager to reach Savannah, the destination of Shermans 250-mile destructive March to the Sea from Atlanta to Georgias coast. But at every step of the 25 miles left in Daviss march, the XIV Corps would have to contend with Major General Joseph Wheelers Confederate cavalry corps, a constant hindrance and annoyance. Quicker movement would make it easier to evade the Rebel horseman as well as to defend against them. So as Daviss men approached the 165-feet-wide and 10-feet-deep swollen and icy Ebenezer Creek on December 3, the general envisioned more than merely another mass pontoon-bridge crossing. He saw an opportunity to rid himself of the refugees in a manner he thought would be subtle enough to elude censure. Controversy might follow, but he was used to that. General Jefferson Davis, known to some by the derisive nickname General Reb because of his name, was a veteran Regular Army soldier who loved battle. Short-tempered and a proficient cusser, he had a nasty reputation and was infamous in his time for a furious, short-lived feud with Union Major General William Nelson. In August 1862 Nelson and Davis had got into a heated argument over the defense of Louisville, Kentucky, where Nelson was in command. Nelson ordered Davis, a brigadier general, to leave. The two men met again a few weeks later in a Cincinnati hotel. Davis demanded an apology from his superior, and Nelson stubbornly refused to give him one. Minutes later the angry brigadier shot and killed the major general at point-blank range. Davis was arrested but later released. Though plenty of questions went unanswered, no charges were ever filed against him. As the XIV Corps prepared to cross Ebenezer Creek, Davis ordered that the refugees be held back, ostensibly for their own safety because Wheelers horsemen would contest the advance. On the pretense that there was likely to be fighting in front, the negroes were told not to go upon the pontoon bridge until all the troops and wagons were over, explained Colonel Charles D. Kerr of the 126th Illinois Cavalry, which was at the rear of the XIV Corps. A guard was detailed to enforce the order, Kerr recalled. But, patient and docile as the negroes always were, the guard was really unnecessary. Though what happened once Daviss troops had all crossed remains in dispute, it seems fairly certain that Davis had the pontoon bridge dismantled immediately, leaving the refugees stranded on the creeks far bank. Kerr wrote that as soon as the Federals reached their destination, orders were given to the engineers to take up the pontoons and not let a negro cross. The order was obeyed to the letter, he continued. I sat upon my horse then and witnessed a scene the like of which I pray my eyes may never see again. How many women, children, and older men were stranded cannot be determined precisely, but 5,000 is a conservative estimate. The great number of refugees that followed uscould be counted almost by the tens of thousands, Captain Hopkins of New Jersey guessed. Major General Oliver O. Howard, commander of the right wing of Shermans army (which included Daviss corps), recalled seeing throngs of escaping slaves of all types, from the baby in arms to the old negro hobbling painfully along the line of march; negroes of all sizes, in all sorts of patched costumes, with carts and broken-down horses and mules to match. Because the able-bodied refugees were up front working in the pioneer corps, most of those stranded would have been women, children, and old men. What happened next strongly suggests that Davis did not have the refugees best interest in mind when he delayed their crossing of the creek, to say nothing of his apparently having ordered that the bridge promptly be dismantled. Daviss unabashed support of slavery definitely does not help his case, though Sherman insisted his brigadier bore no hostility to the negro. Kerr saw Wheelers cavalry closely pressing the refugees from the rear. Unarmed and helpless, the former slaves raised their hands and implored from the corps commander the protection they had been promised, Kerr wrote. [but] the prayer was in vain and, with cries of anguish and despair, men, women and children rushed by hundreds into the turbid stream and many were drowned before our eyes. Then there were the refugees who stood their ground. From what we learned afterwards of those who remained upon the land, Kerr continued, their fate at the hands of Wheelers troops was scarcely to be preferred. The refugees not shot or slashed to death were most likely returned to their masters and slavery. Kerrs descriptions of the atrocity apparently met widespread skepticism, and he was forced to defend his integrity. I speak of what I saw with my own eyes, not those of another, he asserted, and no writer who was not upon the ground can gloss the matter over for me. Still, he left it to another officer, Major James A. Connolly of Illinois, to blow the whistle on Davis. I wrote out a rough draft of a letter today relative to General Davis treatment of the negroes at Ebenezer Creek, Connolly wrote two weeks after the incident. I want the matter to get before the Military Committee of the Senate. It may give them some light in regard to the propriety of confirming him as Brevet Major General. I am not certain yet who I had better send it to. Connolly decided to send the letter to his congressman, who evidently leaked it to the press. Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton reacted to the subsequent bad publicity by steaming down to Savannah, which Shermans army had captured on December 21, to investigate the matter. Stanton did not preannounce his visit, but Sherman had received advance notice about it from President Abraham Lincolns chief-of-staff, Major General Henry W. Halleck. They say that you have manifested an almost criminal dislike to the negro, [that] you drove them from your ranks, preventing their following you by cutting the bridges in your rear and thus caused the massacre of large numbers by Wheelers cavalry, Halleck wrote. Stanton arrived on January 11 and began asking questions. Stanton inquired particularly about General Jeff. C. Davis, who he said was a Democrat and hostile to the negro, Sherman later wrote. Stanton showed Sherman a newspaper account of the affair and demanded an explanation. Sherman urged the secretary not to jump to conclusions and, in his postwar memoirs, reported that he explained the matter to [Stantons] entire satisfaction. He went on to say that Stanton had come to Savannah mainly because of pressure from abolitionist Radical Republicans. We all felt sympathyfor those poor negroes, Sherman wrote, but a sympathy of a different sort from that of Mr. Stanton, which was not of pure humanity but of politics. Shermans attitude toward black people is perhaps best illustrated in his own words, in a private letter he wrote to his wife, Ellen, shortly before he left Savannah to continue his march up the coast. Mr. Stanton has been here and is cured of that negro nonsense, he wrote. [Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P.] Chase and others have written to me to modify my opinions, but you know I cannot, for if I attempt the part of a hypocrite it would break out in every sentence. I want soldiers made of the best bone and muscle in the land, and wont attempt military feats with doubtful materials. As he admitted in his memoirs, In our army we had no negro soldiers and, as a rule, we preferred white soldiers. The negro question was beginning to loom upand many foresaw that not only would the slaves secure their freedom, but that they would also have votes, his memoirs further reveal. I did not dream of such a result then, but knew that slavery, as such, was dead forever; [yet I] did not suppose that the former slaves would be suddenly, without preparation, manufactured into votersequal to all others, politically and socially. In course, when considering Sherman and his actions, its important to remember that his ideas about black people, though shocking today, were hardly unique in his time. The majority of Union volunteers, and of Northerners in general, were at most ambivalent about emancipation and were vehemently opposed to black suffrage. Given the prevailing beliefs of the time, it might be no surprise that Union authorities justified the incident at Ebenezer Creek as a military necessity. None of the officers involved was even officially reprimanded. Most of them advanced in their military and, later, civilian careers. Daviss commander, Howard, who had been described as the most Christian gentleman in the Union army, went on to found Howard University, a black college in Washington, D.C. He also became the first director of the Freedmens Bureau, which the Federal government set up to help the recently freed slaves make the transition from slave to citizen. Wheelers cavalry was roundly condemned for its part in the affair, but the reputation of its young commander was evidently not harmed. Wheeler went on to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1885 to 1900 and as a major general of volunteers in the Spanish-American War in 1898. Davis handled the Ebenezer Creek commotion with the same coolness that had taken him back to battlefield command so soon after the Nelson shooting. Again he was never punished or even reprimanded. In fact, he was later made a brevet major general. Then there is William T. Sherman, the field commander ultimately responsible for Daviss actions. Sherman was rewarded with the Thanks of Congress for the revolutionary total war he waged during his March to the Sea. At the May 1865 Grand Review of the Armies, the huge parade through Washington, D.C., to celebrate Union victory, Sherman was hailed as a war hero. A few years later, newly elected President Ulysses S. Grant made Sherman a full general and general-in-chief of the U.S. Army. Sometime during those postwar years, Sherman offered a rosy recollection of the reception he and his men had received as they marched through Georgia. the Negroes were simply frantic with joy, he said. Whenever they heard my name, they clustered about my horse, shouted and prayed in their peculiar style, which had a natural eloquence that would have moved a stone. Apparently, though, it did not move Sherman deeply enough to make him seek justice for the soon-forgotten victims of the Ebenezer Creek incident. Edward M. Churchill of Newtown, Pennsylvania, is a retired civil engineer and college professor who teaches classes on the diverse subjects of the Battle of Gettysburg, the life of George A. Custer, Albert Einsteins Theory of Relativity, and calculus. T he vast majority of Londons Generation Rent would leave the capital for a home they could afford to buy, a new National Landlords Association poll reveals. Four in 10 would definitely move beyond the M25. With numbers like this considering the big move, the latest instalment of Homes & Propertys series on the top out-of-London locations highlights five good-value commuter home destinations with city-style comforts. BRIGHTON. EAST SUSSEX What it costs: an average property costs 347,467, up from 288,529 in 2014 a rise of about 20 per cent, with a house at just over 500,000 and a flat at about 270,000 (source: Savills). Top schools: Eastbrook Primary Academy, St Lukes Primary School and Downs Junior School get outstanding Ofsted ratings. Varndean is one of several senior schools rated good. The commute: Victoria is do-able in just under an hour, but the journey is more commonly scheduled from one hour and seven minutes. Annual season tickets start from 3,764. Being by the seaside: cosmopolitan Brighton is perfect for young professionals and families relocating / Daniel Lynch Who it would suit: buzzy, cosmopolitan Brighton has something for everyone, from boutique shopping to smart bars and restaurants and the beach. Paul Taggart, of Hamptons, says up to half of his Brighton buyers are Londoners. Many have one or two young children and are looking for a change of lifestyle, and schools, and are happy to live a more flexible commuting life. Seven Dials, half a mile from Brighton station, has mostly Edwardian or Victorian homes, with two-bedroom flats from 300,000 and three-bedroom terrace houses from about 650,000. And the downsides? Youll need a seven-figure budget for a Regency townhouse or a big seafront home in Hove. The beach is heaving in high summer, state school standards are variable and there have been months of delays and cancellations on Southern trains. EWELL, SURREY What it costs: the average property price is 438,082, up an impressive 30.2 per cent from 336,430 in 2014. The average flat is 207,993, with houses at about 376,000 (source: Savills). Top schools: The Mead Infant School, West Ewell Infant School, Wallace Fields Juniors, and Glyn School, for seniors, are all Ofsted outstanding. The commute: trains take 33 minutes from Ewell West station to Waterloo, and an annual season ticket will set you back from 1,820. Historic Surrey: St Marys Morris Men at Ewell Village Fair / Alamy Who it would suit: those after a quick, reasonable commute and good local schools. Theres a good high street, nice pubs and restaurants, but no real nightlife. Nonsuch Park has a BMX course and running tracks in its 250 acres. And the downsides? Most of the housing stock consists of very suburban Thirties semis, with some period homes in the centre so Londoners might not be fully persuaded by what is on offer. ASHFORD, KENT What it costs: the average property costs 197,647, up 18.7 per cent from 166,482 two years ago. Houses sell for 211,821, and the average flat costs 118,466 (source: Savills). Top schools: Highworth Grammar School is outstanding, says the Ofsted watchdog, while all the main primary schools get good reports. The commute: from 38 minutes by high-speed rail to St Pancras. An annual season ticket costs from 5,140. Good value Ashford: the town is a great staging point for the Kent Downs and the coast is just 20 miles away / Alamy Who it would suit: Ashford is very good value. It is a place where you can afford to get on the property ladder, says Kevin Hall, director of Martin & Co. For 200,000 you could buy a two-bedroom modern house, or a slightly tired three-bedroom Victorian terrace. For 300,000 you could get a new four-bedroom townhouse, or a four-bedroom Edwardian doer-upper. In the pretty villages around Ashford including Wye, Mersham, and Charing, all within two or three miles a four- or five-bedroom farmhouse costs between 600,000 and 700,000. The high-speed rail service isnt cheap, but it is very efficient, and Ashford is a great staging point for the Kent Downs and the coast 20 miles away. Weekends in Paris on the Eurostar are a breeze, and the Ashford Designer Outlet is retail heaven. In 2018 a new 75 million cinema complex will open in the town centre, and there are plans to build hundreds of new local homes. And the downsides? A place at one of Kents highly competitive grammar schools is prized, while Ashfords non-selective senior schools are a bit variable. And Ashford town centre is neither interesting nor beautiful. HARLOW, ESSEX What it costs: the average property price has risen 23 per cent in two years, from 174,612 to 214,313. A flat costs an average 151,721 and a house 256,313. Top schools: Burnt Mill Academy (seniors) and Jerounds Community Junior School are Ofsted outstanding. Almost all other Harlow schools are good. The commute: half an hour to Liverpool Street. An annual season ticket costs 4,420. Rural Essex: Harlow offers city workers a quick commute into town thanks to the Stansted Express Who would it suit: City workers seeking value for money and a fast journey into town. It is also handy for the M11 and M25. Old Harlow is very pretty, with clapboard country pubs, and the whole town is dotted with parks and nature reserves, while it also boasts one of the most extensive cycle networks in the UK and a good leisure centre. There are plenty of neighbourhood restaurants and a couple of clubs. Property ranges from Victorian cottages to new homes at the award-winning Newhall development. And the downsides? Old Harlow is gorgeous, but this shows in its property prices. New Harlow has streets of faceless Sixties houses and an ugly Sixties shopping precinct at its heart. ST ALBANS, HERFORDSHIRE What it costs: an average home costs 516,214, up 22 per cent from 415,415 two years ago. Buying a house costs almost 619,000, but flats sell for just under 298,000 (source: Savills). Top schools: Ofsted outstanding schools include St Alban and St Stephen Roman Catholic Infant and Nursery School, The Abbey Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, and St Albans Girls School Busy St Albans: there are some really good pubs and restaurants to choose from in the town The commute: from 17 minutes to St Pancras. An annual season ticket costs from 3,320. Who it would suit: the commute is fast, and families love the brilliant schools and the great city centre rammed with alfresco cafes, boutiques and high-end chains. There are some really good pubs and restaurants, plus open countryside all around. It feels safe and sweet, with a weekend market and the beautiful cathedral. And the downsides? The average prices wont buy a family-size period house in the sought-after Abbey conservation area. Buyers on more restricted budgets will probably end up in a Twenties or Thirties house on the fringes. Theres no post-pub nightlife to speak of, and the arts scene isnt great. Google Reviews: to click or not to click Its crucial that your presence in Google search results is as clickable as possible. Find out how to get potential customers clicking. With the phrase Google it firmly established, its vitally important you make your presence in search results as clickable as possible. Ask yourself why should a potential guest or customer click on your link instead of another? One of the key factors in encouraging that all-important click is Google Reviews. Google Reviews provides microdata such as star ratings, reviews, and contact information. Crucially, it also displays rich snippets which pull your online reviews and review score from across the internet and displays them within the Google search results. Rich snippets increase your search visibility meaning people are more likely to find you and click through to your website. Click here for advice on installing rich snippets and increasing clicks by integrating your all-important reviews into Google Reviews. About the company Customer Alliance is a young, Berlin-based company offering smart solutions for hotels. Customer Alliances Review Analytics is the official tool of the German Hotel Association (IHA) for hotel reputation management. More than 35.000 hotels in over 35 countries are already improving their workflow with the 360 reputation management. software. Review Analytics helps hoteliers get more authentic reviews to improve their online reputation. Hoteliers can keep track of how they are doing in relation to their competitors, as well as more effectively increase their sales by generating commission-free bookings through their own distribution channels. Since officially starting in 2009, the fast-growing company has become a 90+ person international team composed of members coming from various backgrounds in the tourism & hotel industry. The WET Deck at W Punta de Mita Hotel W Hotels Worldwide expands its Latin American portfolio with the opening of W Punta de Mita in Mexicos Riviera Nayarit. Owned by Fideicomiso Los Veneros, the new hotel is part of the multi-use oceanfront development, Los Veneros, on Mexicos Pacific Coast. W Punta de Mita is the 48th W Hotel worldwide and fifth W Hotel in Latin America following W Santiago, W Mexico City, W Vieques Island and W Bogota, bringing Starwoods iconic category disruptor closer to reaching 75 hotels by 2020. W Punta de Mita joins W Mexico City as the brands second hotel in the country, as well as the second Latin American W Escape (the brands modern approach to staid leisure travel, currently in ten destinations around the world). We are delighted to introduce our new W Escape to Mexicos Riviera Nayarit, a world-class destination for surf and sun, as we continue to grow the brands presence in this region, said Anthony Ingham, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide. W Punta de Mita brings a playfully stylish addition to this Mexican hot spot, and we are confident that with the brands unique lifestyle programming and cutting-edge design it will become a must-visit destination to the new generation of jetsetters. Starwood has been aggressively expanding its presence in Latin America and is on track to reach 100 hotels this year, said Jorge Giannattasio, Chief of Latin America Operations and Global Initiatives, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Mexico is an important market for our company, and we are excited to continue to grow and introduce this new W Escape experience into the country. Advertisement Designed by ASET/AOMA in collaboration with Oakland-based design firm Mister Important Design, and Starwoods award-winning design team, W Punta de Mita is inspired by the local bohemian surf culture found throughout Mexicos Pacific Coast. Steeped in historical, social and spiritual context, the design of the hotel conveys: colorful Mexico; the blues of the bay and the coast surrounding Puerto Vallarta; traditional patterns of the Huichol people (indigenous people of Nayarit); images of traditional Mexican celebration; sensational sunsets over the beach; vivid handcrafts with ancient roots and the amalgamation of Spanish and indigenous cultures all of which are brought to life throughout the hotels luxurious and stylish villas, public spaces, and buzzing bars and restaurants. When designing the property, careful measures were put in place to ensure that the natural surroundings the ancient fig trees and natural springs were not disturbed during construction. Many of these natural features are showcased throughout the hotels design including the reuse of spring water in the reflection pools and within the spa. Upon arrival, guests are greeted with a cheeky and oversized 9-foot Huichol statue standing in a reflection pool, along with a fleet of colorful Tuk Tuks with artwork customized by Revolucion Del Sueno, a Sayulita based design studio, that whisk travelers from the main entrance to the Welcome area and Living Room (the brands take on the hotel lobby), as well as around the grounds. Backdrops behind the Welcome Desks, are reimagined versions of Papel Picado, a traditional Mexican folk art that hangs in villages during community events and celebrations and evocative of being welcomed into a Mexican fiesta. Mexican wrestling masks (Lucha Libre); historical figures with surfboards; mariachi instruments; candy skulls, evoking death; and sayings such as Mexico es Amor and Canta y No Lllores translating to Sing and Dont Cry (a line from a famous local song which highlights the cultures upbeat disposition) are artfully embedded into the hotels design. A bright blue and green mosaic Camino Huichol walkway, stretching over 450 feet, acts as the central nervous system of the space, with restaurants and shops branching off. The walkway guides guests from the Welcome area, through the Living Room and onto the center walkway of the WET deck (pool area), finally jutting out over the beach for that Insta-worthy view of the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. Comprised of more than three quarters of a million individual tiles, the colors and scenes depicted within the design are inspired by the Huichol people who are indigenous to this area of Mexico. The pathway is also a representation of the Huichol life journey, highlighting the ups and downs of life, with the goal to achieve spiritual ascension (as you may over the ocean at the end of the path). W Punta de Mitas Living Room (Ws answer to the staid hotel lobby) is inspired by a traditional Palapa, one big open space with no walls to divide the area, and is anchored by a rectangular bar that replicates an altar. Above the Living Room bar, a sacrificially-inspired chandelier sways in the ocean breeze, illuminated by 450 LED lights designed to look like church votives. This is a reference to the spirituality of the culture, and is non-denominational, paying homage to Mexicos traditional mysticism. Underneath, a gong at the bar is rung each evening to gather guests to appreciate the sunset. Scattered throughout the space are long, beautifully-crafted strands of beads around small cocktail tables for guests to sit and sip on handcrafted signature cocktails while listening to the sounds of the resident DJ, which is housed in the corner leading to the WET Deck. The WET deck features lounge chairs nestled under the walkway and around the pool in a palette that seamlessly blends with the sand, while the bar and DJ booth are housed at the end of the deck overlooking the beach. VIP cabanas are spread out around the perimeter and sunbathing loungers are conveniently placed in the shallows of the pool. Six private cabanas, each artfully decorated with a mural of a mermaid it is named after by Revolucion Del Sueno, are found on the beach off the WET Deck. Each cabana is equipped with a flat screen TV, fully stocked mini bar, personal shower and bathroom, and is available for rent for $500USD+ per day. Located about the property are three beautifully designed, locally-inspired murals by Mexican graffiti artist Nacho Bernal, depicting different takes on W Punta de Mitas surrounding area. One piece of art found on the side of the beachfront villas depicts a jungle scene with a jaguar adorned in Huichol beads, an animal that was said to be the guardian of the Huichol culture. However, the jaguar is always hidden (as it is in the mural) and legend says that if the animal is seen it will only be seconds before it pounces. The hotel offers a selection of 119 stylishly designed guest villas, including one Extreme WOW Suite (the W brands take on the traditional Presidential Suite). All villas and suites feature private balconies or patios, artisanal Mexican tiled floors and headboards fashioned from either surfboards or punctured tin replicating the design found in local churches, as well as the signature W Bed and sumptuous Bliss bath amenities. Cleverly incorporated into the decor of each villa are repurposed vintage photographs of Mexican historical figures, such as Frida Kahlo, by Revolucion Del Sueno. A cluster of casitas called Ocean Escape Villas resemble a pre-Hispanic fishing village of the past. Surrounding the propertys spring-fed lake, the villas are designed in a way to highlight the natural beauty each has private terraces and an enclosed open-roofed patio for stargazing by night and natural light by day. The Jungle Escape Villas feature private balconies allowing for intimate views of the surrounding natural beauty, including the bright red trunks of the papelillo trees and hanging vines of the forest. The villas are offset to accommodate these ancient trees and to respect the topography of the area. The 4,460 square foot, 2-bedroom Extreme WOW Suite is inspired by the Mexican Flag the red is found in the tiles of the pool, the green in the surrounding vegetation and the white in the expansive views of the crashing waves on the beach seen from the suites private terrace. The center focal point of the room is the swimming pool that circles around the suites island-like living room and can only be accessed by a small wooden bridge above the water. W Punta de Mita offers five distinct dining spaces where guests can mix and mingle including one of the most exclusive restaurants in the world, Mesa1. Privately situated on an island in the middle of a spring-fed lake, this restaurant can accommodate only one seating daily. A gastronomic experience unlike any other, guests arrive on stepping stones that emerge from the water and disappear once everyone has been seated. A massive Parota tree trunk from the local forest was repurposed to create the spectacular dining surface. The evening is then topped off with a seven-course customizable tasting menu prepared by one of W Punta de Mitas private chefs. Influenced by the cuisine that Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten enjoyed while traveling throughout Southeast Asia, Spice Market evokes a Pan-Asian oasis with a tropical twist for guests looking to enjoy shareable lite bites and handcrafted cocktails. A large mirror on the ceiling features hand cut images representing foliage while the VIP section is home to Spice Markets signature glass dome. Perfect for afternoon or happy hour snacks, W Punta de Mitas Chevicheria is located on the beach near the WET Deck. Serving signature ceviche and craft beers from a converted 1950s Chevrolet 3800 truck, the vibrant Latin American recipes blend citrus and raw fish or seafood seasoned together for a refreshing break from the Mexican sun. Venazu, open all day, is the hotels casual dining restaurant offering guests authentic Mexican cuisine with must-try dishes like Taco de Langosta al Pastor, Risotto de Huitlacoche, and Venado Cocida en Hoyas de Aguacate. With locally sourced materials from the colorful upholstery to the brightly painted, refurbished Mexican baking shelves reused as partitions the space fosters a convivial, lively atmosphere with sweeping views of the ocean, evocative of a Mexican town during their weeklong fiesta. W Punta de Mitas 4,000 square foot AWAY Spa is designed to feel like a forest cave. Centered in the room is a hanging chandelier of glass flowers in the colors of a Mexican sunset, alongside a beauty bar with stations for manicures, pedicures, waxing, blow outs and more. The Relaxation Deck features intricate cutouts in the wood to accommodate for the roots of surrounding guardian fig trees. The Therapy Pools beside a natural spring offer different treatments such as hydrotherapy, cold mist, hydro jets, pressure showers, and waterfalls with varied temperatures. Each of the five treatment rooms incorporate water into the design with beds strategically placed over glass cutouts in the floor to overlook a fish pond. Other offerings include W Punta de Mitas Wave Surf Shop featuring endless options of non-motorized watersports such as surfing, stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, and kitesurfing. The brands signature FIT state-of-the-art fitness facility and three unique meeting and event spaces boast nearly 2,600 square feet, perfect for cocktail receptions, board meetings, intimate celebrations and weddings. All of this is supported by the W brands signature Whatever/Whenever service philosophy, providing guests whatever they want, whenever they want it. DoubleTree by Hilton Billings Hotel Opens in Montana DoubleTree by Hilton Billings rises 23 stories above Billings in one of the tallest buildings in the northern Rocky Mountains, offering stunning views of its charming downtown and the spectacular Beartooth Mountains. DoubleTree by Hilton today opened its first property in Montanas largest city and its second in the state. DoubleTree by Hilton Billings rises 23 stories above Billings in one of the tallest buildings in the northern Rocky Mountains, offering stunning views of its charming downtown and the spectacular Beartooth Mountains. Following a complete, multi-million dollar renovation, the 289-room hotel is ideally situated just a quick walk from corporate offices, restaurants, breweries and cultural attractions like Alberta Bair Theater and Moss Mansion. The hotel is just three miles from Billings Logan International Airport, and provides complimentary roundtrip shuttle service. DoubleTree by Hilton Billings offers business and leisure guests a relaxing respite, thanks to its wide-ranging amenities and contemporary Western design influenced by the history and geography of Montana. A towering landmark in Billings for decades, and once the worlds largest brick-and-mortar building, the property is owned and operated by The Hotel Group. This iconic property is an extraordinary addition to our growing roster of upscale hotels, said Dianna Vaughan, senior vice president and global head, DoubleTree by Hilton and Curio A Collection by Hilton. We are delighted to bring the little things to Billings that mean so much, beginning with our warm chocolate chip cookie greeting and our industry-recognized service culture CARE that Creates a Rewarding Experience for guests, Team Members and the community. Advertisement Upon entering the lobby, elements of the hotels Western contemporary design are immediately apparent. Its Connectivity Zone which offers business and leisure guests versatile digital connectivity and Internet access to conduct meetings or simply print boarding passes -- has a distinctive Big Sky Country feel, thanks to the contemporary geode element wall mural backdrop.Other renovations are apparent and extend throughout the property. Herringbone and chevron patterns in custom carpets and fabrics are complemented by natural rustic furniture and unique artwork. Among the latter are creations inspired by the native bison that once roamed the region. With our renovation and conversion to DoubleTree by Hilton now complete, this iconic property is again the finest in the Billings hospitality market, said LaRell Baldwin, general manager, DoubleTree by Hilton Billings. Our team is proud to offer guests of this beautiful property the first-rate service and amenities that have helped build the brands global reputation. Guests may choose from several lodging options: Standard rooms feature plush DoubleTree Sweet Dreams Sleep Experience beds and an ergonomic workspace. Executive rooms offer access to the complementary Executive Lounge. Suites are available if a living area and private bedroom are preferred. For all options, in-room amenities include an assortment of gourmet in-room tea and coffee offerings by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and a refreshing array of the Aroma Actives Essentials natural skin and body care line. Dining is provided to meet a variety of culinary interests, and include: Montana Sky Restaurant, on the 20 th floor, features fine American dining with a variety of menu items such as the walleye, a pan-seared freshwater fish and the bone-in rib-eye steak bearing a distinctive local flavor. floor, features fine American dining with a variety of menu items such as the walleye, a pan-seared freshwater fish and the bone-in rib-eye steak bearing a distinctive local flavor. Montanas Lounge is the perfect place to relax over conversation and cocktails, or to shoot a game of billiards. Starbucks Coffee, on the lobby level, for favorite drinks, pastries and sandwiches Coffee, on the lobby level, for favorite drinks, pastries and sandwiches Daily room service for in-room dining Among the complimentary offerings at the DoubleTree by Hilton Billings are the Wake Up DoubleTree Breakfast, a 24-hour fitness center with Precor cardio equipment and the 24-hour business center. The hotel can also accommodate business conferences, banquets and other events for up to 400 guests. Its 16,000 square feet of flexible meeting space includes three ballrooms and 15 meeting rooms of varying sizes. Optional features include a state-of-the-art sound system, LCD projectors and other A/V equipment, and high-speed Internet access. Catering services and a dedicated events staff are available to enhance any event. We are excited to add our 4th DoubleTree and 12th Hilton branded hotel into our portfolio, said Douglas Dreher, president and CEO of The Hotel Group. The DoubleTree by Hilton embraces an innovative design and space that is specifically tailored to the needs of our business and leisure travelers visiting the Billings market. We take pride in our ability to offer Hospitality Greatness in conjunction with Hilton Worldwide, a strong brand partner with the successful HHonors loyalty program. DoubleTree by Hilton Billings participates in the Hilton HHonors loyalty program, which is open to all guests and free to join; visit here for enrollment information. HHonors members always get our lowest price with our Best Price Guarantee, along with HHonors Points, free standard Wi-Fi, access to digital check-in and Digital Key, and no hidden fees, only when they book directly through Hilton. To mark the hotel's opening, Hilton HHonors members will earn 5,000 points for a three-night minimum stay from September 1, 2016 through February 28, 2017 when booking the best available rate. Based on availability, Gold and Diamond members will also enjoy free premium Wi-Fi and upgrades to the hotel's exclusive Hilton HHonors floor and complimentary Wake Up DoubleTree Breakfast. DoubleTree by Hilton Billings is located at 27 N. 27th Street, Billings, Montana 59101. La Quinta Inns & Suites announcesthe appointment of hospitality industry veteran, Mr. J. Sal Icaza, as Director of Development for the Northeast who will be responsible for the growth of the La Quinta brand in MD, PA, DE, NJ, NY, CT, RI, MA, NH, VT and ME. Icaza brings more than 20 years of industry experience to this role and joins La Quinta after holding senior franchise sales positions at Choice Hotels International, Hilton Hotel Corporation and consumer brands outside the hotel industry. He was also the Chief Development and Operating Officer at Cherry Cove Hospitality Management, a successful ownership and management company he helped build from the ground up. We are thrilled to have someone with Sals extensive sales experience at major hotel brands, as well as an entrepreneurial growth spirit, to help expand the La Quinta brand in the Northeast, said David Wilner, Senior Vice President, Franchise Development at La Quinta. With nearly 900 open hotels and more than 200 in our pipeline, La Quinta has seen tremendous growth with 88 percent of our current pipeline being new construction. Demand for the La Quinta brand is tremendous as we continue to penetrate key urban and gateway markets and compete aggressively in the upper midscale segment. We are excited to welcome Sal to the team to guide and drive our growth in the most densely populated region in the country. I am delighted to join La Quinta at this promising moment in the companys growth, said Icaza. I look forward to contributing quickly and consistently to this great brands expansion throughout the Northeast in the months ahead. Mr. Icaza is involved in numerous civic and charitable causes and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Memphis. He lives in Southern Maryland with his wife and four children. La Quinta Holdings Inc. (LQ) is an owner, operator and franchisor of select-service hotels primarily serving the upper-midscale and midscale segments. The Company's owned and franchised portfolio consists of more than 880 properties representing approximately 87,500 rooms located in 48 states in the U.S. and in Canada, Mexico and Honduras. These properties operate under the La Quinta Inn & Suites, La Quinta Inn and LQ Hotel brands. We havent seen a Toronto Raptors inspired Air Jordan sneaker since the Raptors 7s dropped in 2012, but Jordan Brand has plans to change that this weekend. According to reports, this Raptors Air Jordan 5 will be making its debut this Saturday, but the kicks will be of the grade school variety meaning theyll only be available up to a size 9.5. The new Raptors inspired Air Jordan is built just like the one that preceded it, featuring a blacked out upper with purple and crimson accents. Its nothing crazy but it should be enough to have all the Toronto sneakerheads eager for the release. Speaking of the release- the Raptors Air Jordan 5 is officially slated to hit retailers on September 17th. Raptors Air Jordan 5 The 20-year old Brazilian student who posted pictures of herself in bed with Olympic gold medalist, Usain Bolt has given a detailed account about how the two met and how the worlds fastest man was in the sack. According to Jady Duarte, Bolt picked her out of the crowd at a Brazilian nightclub and took her back to the Olympic Village where he was staying. Thankfully, the taxi drive was there to help breakdown the language barrier between the two. The security man said to me: Bolt is calling you. I realized that he was the runner I had seen before on TV, Duarte said. He smiled at me and did the famous victory pose, so I was in no doubt who he was. I sat next to him in the back and we kissed straightaway it was less than 10 seconds, probably around nine. It was a very passionate kiss it felt like he was trying to eat my face. We couldnt communicate very well, but the taxi driver helped translate for us. Usain said he wanted to go back to his flat. I knew he wanted to sleep with me. And once back at the hotel room, Bolt put on the best sex song he knows Rihannas Work. He played the Rihanna song Work. I think he likes to listen to it when he makes love. It was very passionate and hot we were devouring one another. He has the body of a champion although his male parts do not match he is just like a regular guy.I was expecting him to be fast but it was actually the slowest sex Ive ever had. We did it for about 40 minutes then he took a couple of minutes rest before we did it again. Unfortunately for her, it doesnt look like Bolt- who has a girlfriend- will be calling her back for a second date despite promising her a rendezvous at the Paralympics on September 7th. I thought we had something going. But now I can see that he picks up women as quickly as he picks up gold medals. He has a really muscly body and took his time he is a fast runner but he didnt want to rush when we went to bed. I felt honored that he had picked me out and we had a great time. He was really good fun. I had no idea he had a girlfriend I didnt even recognize him in the nightclub. [Via] Usain Bolt The world's biggest metal band will go on tour again next year In support of their new album Hardwired To Self Destruct, Metallica will return to tour next year. Thus far the band have only confirmed that they will be touring the US but have yet to confirm any dates. In an interview with Rolling Stone Lars Ulrich, the band's drummer said,'We're going to start pretty much full-on touring in January and are looking to figure out what we're doing in North America, but there will definitely be some pretty extensive touring in America.' Advertisement Hardwired To Self Destruct is set for a November 18 release and features 80 minutes of all new material The jaunt includes a date in Limerick, which is looking forward to its own biannual metalfest Those most extreme of UK noisemakers, Napalm Death, have announced a short, sharp Irish tour which takes them in the New Year to Dolans, Limerick (March 17); Voodoo Lounge, Dublin (18) and The Limelight 2, Belfast (19). Tickets for all dates go on sale this Friday at 10am and wont be hanging around for long. The Limerick gig is being promoted by Bad Reputation who also takeover Dolans on October 30 for the hot, heavy and entirely free Siege Of Limerick, which kicks off at noon. Among the headliners are Warrior Soul, Lord Volture, Incarceration, Valborg, Bloodway and Rabid Bitch Of The North who probably wont be guesting on Nathan Carters new RTE show. A seriously rocking Maidenesque outfit, Lord Volture limber up with shows in OReillys, Banbridge (October 27); Fibber Magees, Dublin (28), and Distortionfest, Belfast (29). As the hype continues, the Star Wars spinoff director gives us a new piece of trivia knowledge. It seems like everyday we get a new tidbit of information regarding the latest Star Wars film. Since were in the age of the Internet, we can expect the fans to eat up everything thats thrown their way. Soon, well see the endless stream of marketing. With Disneys promise to release new Star Wars movies every year, we can expect this song and dance annually. With this fact in mind, the omnipresence of the franchise is a fact of life. So, anyway, in a recent interview, Gareth Edwards revealed the meaning of Rogue One in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Rogue One is a military call sign to some extent, but this is the first film thats gone off-piste and is not part of the saga or the Anakin story so its the rogue one, you know? Advertisement Perhaps not the most revelatory piece of knowledge, but it could potentially have use as a conversation starter. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz pledged his support Tuesday for allocating more money to maintain the depth of the Houston Ship Channel, which is essential for large ships ferrying goods to and from the Gulf Coast port. "We've got to make sure we've got the resources devoted to keeping the port functioning well and effectively and actively maintained," Cruz told a room full of local officials and media. The former presidential candidate was talking specifically about the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund. Thirty years ago, Congress established an import tax for ports. This money was supposed to be used for maintaining ship channels, but for many years less than half of that fund was put toward dredging and related activities. RELATED: Infrastructure experts get channel view of port Recent legislation has increased the amount allocated to ship channels, but it's not yet at 100 percent, said Mark Vincent, director of channel development for the Port of Houston Authority. "It doesn't make any sense that you guys pay a lot more into it than you take out of it," Cruz said. "And that has been an inequity that has been the case for much too long, and it's something that I intend to continue to keep working to try to remedy." BY THE NUMBERS $600 billion-plus: Port of Houston's estimated economic impact nationwide. $265 billion: Estimated economic impact in Texas 2 million-plus: Jobs sustained by the port activity nationwide. 1.17 million: Jobs supported in Texas. 2 million-plus: Number of twenty-foot-equivalent units (TEUs) of containers handled for 2015, a record. Sources: Port of Houston Authority; a 2015 study by Martin Associates See More Collapse Houston is not a naturally deep port, so dredging is an ongoing concern. Without it, the Ship Channel would become shallower, and ships would not be able to carry as much cargo. Cruz hailed the Port of Houston's economic benefits and called it "a critical part of keeping this country safe." Port officials told Cruz about other federal needs. The authority wants to extend gate hours for trucks at the container terminals, for instance, but it needs additional Customs and Border Protection funding to staff those hours. RELATED: With cruise ships gone, Port of Houston decides to move on at Bayport "Our partnerships with the federal agencies, with CBP and the Coast Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers, are very good," Port Authority executive director Roger Guenther said. "We need to make sure we have been actively talking to the people in D.C. about making sure that our Customs and Border Protection is resourced. They're critical." "It was tremendously gratifying to have Sen. Cruz come to the port and see the facilities and strategies that we have," chief infrastructure officer Rich Byrnes added. Cruz later toured the Bayport Container Terminal and received a helicopter tour of the Houston Ship Channel. He joked about the wisdom of putting a politician in the air like that. "You just wonder if they're going to throw you out in the Ship Channel or not," Cruz said. U.S. Coast Guard personnel present assured Cruz that he was in good hands. Houston has never been a hotbed of organized labor. But for more than a decade, the Service Employees International Union has been locked in a fierce battle with a commercial cleaning company in Houston. The union, which came to town more than a decade ago as part of its Justice for Janitors campaign, has been trying to get Professional Janitorial Service of Houston to recognize the union as the bargaining agent for its 1,400 janitors through a public card check process that bypasses secret ballot elections that employers typically prefer. Along the way, there have been many loud rallies, a giant inflatable rat, dueling labor board allegations of illegal labor practices and a defamation lawsuit. The latest salvo? The company has accused the union of trying to trash its reputation by providing what it believes to be forged signatures of PJS employees asking its customers to stop doing business with the cleaning company. PJS filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board recently, contending the union has launched what amounts to a boycott directed toward its customers. More Information Note to readers: This is my last Working column as I am about to begin a new mission at the Chronicle - covering legal issues in Houston, from business-related court cases to the comings and goings of the legal community. The past 25 years have been a rewarding experience writing about careers, wages, bosses, co-workers, retirement, unions and coping with unemployment. I thank you for all the great years, and the many more to come. See More Collapse "If the SEIU had anything good to offer PJS employees, it would simply recruit them instead of spending time and money creating false impressions of their company," Floyd Mahanay, president of PJS Houston, said in a written statement. SEIU spokeswoman Paloma Martinez said the allegations against the union are too vague for her to respond. In addition, an investigation is already under way at the NLRB, she said, which includes charges filed earlier this year by the union alleging that the cleaning company interfered with its employees' right to organize. "We stand by what the PJS's janitors are trying to achieve which is trying to raise the standards in their industry," said Martinez. "And we will continue to do that important work." Martinez points to the decade of organizing work that has led to higher wages overall for commercial cleaners, a group made up of mostly women who typically work four to six hours a night. When the union effort started, janitors were earning $5.30 an hour; today, it's $9.10 an hour. Even janitors working in buildings that aren't cleaned by union-represented janitors are receiving the same union wage because of competitive pressures, she added. When the union launched its Justice for Janitors campaign in Houston 12 years ago, it focused initially on the then top five commercial cleaning companies. By leveraging its relationships across the country, the union was able to negotiate an agreement that it would agree to a "card check" rather than a secret ballot election. If a majority of janitors agreed to union representation by signing cards, the companies would recognize the union. After that success, the union turned its attention to Professional Janitorial Service, which was then the sixth-biggest player in the Houston market. Union organizers began toting a 20-foot inflatable gray rat to protest rallies in front of the buildings that PJS cleans. Eight years ago, the dispute made its way to the courtroom. PJS sued SEIU for defamation in Harris County, claiming the union distributed damaging flyers to its customers, created defamatory websites and harassed customers - derailing the cleaning company's reputation for "honesty, dependability, stability and, high-quality work." A trial date is set for next year. Today, PJS contends the union is pushing hard because it has failed to expand its reach in Houston, despite spending heavily on its organizing efforts, according to a news release announcing the filing of its NLRB complaints. Company officials also criticize the union for relying on non-PJS employees at public demonstrations to make it appear support is widespread. Bill Bux, a management-side employment lawyer with Locke Lord in Houston, learned long ago that modern unions, especially active ones like SEIU, don't just picket a company during a labor dispute. "They can play hardball," said Bux, who has keenly watched the evolution of the Justice for Janitors campaign from the sidelines but isn't directly involved. There is often a full-out "corporate campaign" designed to attack a company and its customers from every angle, he said. That includes picketing at executives' homes and their children's schools, filing regulatory challenges and conducting disruptive sit-down protests at customers' offices. They know that many companies, especially public companies, are under pressure from their shareholders to settle labor disputes before they become too expensive or disruptive, he said. A key part of the union's strategy was to control as much of the market as possible to push up wages. A decade ago, the union represented 5,300 janitors. But after dropping some buildings during its last round of contract negotiations, the union now represents about 3,500 workers. Employers also increased workloads and are cleaning more with fewer workers, said Martinez. Some janitors are also working more hours than they used to. While Martinez won't say how many janitors are members of the union, she points to its influence in helping to spur the Fight for $15 movement and the drive to boost minimum wages in cities, counties and school districts in Texas. In the modern labor movement, you have to redefine the concept of success, she said. It's not just contract by contract but its impact on all workers. The Spa at the Four Seasons Hotel Houston has landed on the cover of this month's American Spa magazine. Why? It recently completed a multimillion-dollar renovation (with design from Houston-based Rottet Studio), the first phase of property-wide enhancements that will bring the downtown hotel up to top-tier standards. But the physical transformation wasn't limited to the spa and fitness center. The spa's food menu got a makeover, too, courtesy of Maurizio Ferrarese, executive chef of the hotel's Quattro restaurant and Vinoteca Quattro wine bar. It's a menu that has health and well-being in mind, packed with vitamins and fibers without stinting on flavor. Mattel recently announced that it will release a $300 3D printer for kids in time for the 2016 holiday season. With accompanying software that is specially tailored for young toy designers, the ThingMaker promises to introduce a new generation of innovators to the up-and-coming world of 3D printing. Known in technology circles as additive manufacturing, 3D printing has grown into a $4 billion industry since it was first commercialized 30 years ago by 3D Systems. For most of its history, though, it has been out of the reach of typical consumers. Most industrial-scale 3D printing machines cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars and fabricate parts with materials that cost orders of magnitude more than those used in most consumer products. Over the past 10 years, however, inexpensive personal 3D printers became more popular, starting with the wildly popular RepRap project in the U.K. and Fab@Home in the U.S. More than 100,000 desktop 3D printers were sold in the U.S. in 2014 alone, almost double the number sold the previous year. Even though these desktop machines are affordable and widely available, they arent always kid-friendly. Hot nozzles and plates and a variety of moving parts are exposed to the user, and maintenance often involves such consumer-unfriendly tasks as disassembling a clogged nozzle mechanism and leveling build plates by hand with precision screws. If a machine like Mattels ThingMaker can avoid the downsides of other 3D printers and be truly kid-friendly, what impact might it have on our kids, the next generation of innovators? FOR MORE than a year, my research group at the University of Texas at Austin has been running the Innovation Station, a 3D printing vending machine that we designed and built to provide open access to 3D printing on the university campus. After fabricating more than 1,000 parts, it gives us a unique window into the types of objects young people will fabricate when 3D printing is freely available to them. Many times, the objects are not particularly creative. They are copies of objects that already exist. But students are still thrilled to hold their fabricated objects in their hands. Why? Sociologists call it the IKEA effect: the notion that we value things more when we make them ourselves, even if they are not as good as objects that experts could make. Many parts could be made with another method (machining, molding, carving), but the 3D printer allows students to make the parts themselves with minimal training, fewer safety risks, no extra tools and, in some cases, much less time. Children are likely to magnify that effect. They are even more excited to make things themselves and even more willing to overlook mistakes or imperfections. We often find university students printing parts that they download from popular file-sharing sites such as Thingiverse and GrabCAD. Although many people print the parts directly as-is, others customize them in personal ways. One student printed a chess set with unique Texas Longhorn insignias embedded in the pieces. Another inscribed a pendant with a personal message. If kids adopt similar strategies, we are likely to see many incarnations of superheroes customized with an image of the childs own face or self-styled jewelry that mimics the childs favorite things. It could provide an opportunity for kids to take a break from experiencing technology in a purely virtual sense: Instead they could experience the joy of actually making things imperfections and all as another aspect of the high-tech world. HOW CREATIVE might these kids become in a 3D printed world of play? I predict that they will be very creative indeed! Professional engineers who design and fabricate everyday objects draw upon a vast mental library of objects in the world around them. Existing objects provide powerful analogies for realizing brand new systems with unique capabilities in the way that an umbrella mechanism or a bats wing could provide inspiration for a deployable sail on a fuel-efficient ship. But experienced designers also fall prey to embracing the known instead of exploring the unknown a phenomenon called design fixation. It restricts the creative mind to making use of designs it has seen. At present, nearly every design has been made with conventional (non-3D printing) routes. As a result, it can be difficult for an experienced designer to think of ways to truly make use of the freedoms afforded by 3D printing. That in turn helps explain why there are very few examples of 3D printed parts that are truly designed for 3D printing; most are parts that could be fabricated in another way. Among university student users of the Innovation Station, uniquely 3D printable parts are starting to appear. When completing course projects, students will often design parts that offer needed performance with geometries that could not be fabricated without 3D printing. They are freed from the complex web of rules that govern fabrication by more conventional means. Young children offer an even more extreme example of innovators. They simply do not have vast mental libraries of technical solutions, and dont know what can or cant be made conventionally. They are, therefore, much less likely to fixate on existing designs and more likely to unleash their imaginations. If we give them this massive design freedom very early in life, perhaps they wont design within the same constraining mental boxes that midcareer engineers struggle to escape. We could unleash a generation of engineers and creatives with unprecedented levels of creativity and 3D imagination. Carolyn Conner Seepersad is an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Bookmark Gray Matters. It's more fun than disassembling a clogged nozzle mechanism. BATON ROUGE, La. - Nearly 11 years to the day after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, President Barack Obama's visit with flood victims in Louisiana on Tuesday came once again at a fraught political moment. Obama landed in Baton Rouge to see the devastation left by flooding in the last week, and to demonstrate, in part by his presence, that the federal government will deliver help to those who lost everything. He was met on the tarmac by Gov. John Bel Edwards of Louisiana and other officials. Later, standing amid rubble in front of flooded homes, the president lamented that so many people's lives were "upended" by the floodwaters that swept through communities with devastating force. But he praised the response and expressed optimism that the people of Baton Rouge would recover and thrive again. "I know how resilient the people of Louisiana are, and I know you will rebuild again," Obama, dressed in a blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up, said after touring several homes. He pledged that the federal government would support the victims of the community for the long run. "These are some good people down here," he said. "They got a lot of work to do, and they shouldn't have to do it alone." Local and state officials from both political parties have praised the federal response in Baton Rouge, drawing a sharp contrast with the much-criticized delays by the Federal Emergency Management Agency after Katrina. Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser of Louisiana, a Republican who frequently criticizes Obama, said in an interview that federal officials had done "an excellent job" responding to the floods. "They've gotten good at it, and they actually do care," he said. But Obama arrived four days after Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, visited flood-ravaged areas around Baton Rouge. In a tweet on Tuesday, Trump mocked the president for failing to cut short his Martha's Vineyard vacation last week. "President Obama should have gone to Louisiana days ago, instead of golfing. Too little, too late!" Trump wrote. Editorial critical of wait Some Republicans and distraught locals have also criticized the president, for waiting more than a week to visit the tens of thousands of residents affected by the floods. More than 7,000 people were forced into 37 shelters across a vast stretch of the state by the rainfall, which has been blamed for 17 deaths. "If the president can interrupt his vacation for a swanky fundraiser for fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton, as he did on Monday, then surely he can make time to show up for a catastrophe that's displaced thousands," The Advocate, a local newspaper, wrote in an editorial last week. Frustration over the president's absence, merging with a widespread sense that the disaster has been unjustly overshadowed in media coverage of the Summer Olympics and the presidential election, has ranged from the anger of The Advocate editorial to a more subdued disappointment. "When there's a crisis anywhere and the federal government's involved, there needs to be a presence," said Evita Couvillion, 59, whose props, sets and books from her 35 years as a school drama teacher were piled in black bags out in front of her flood-ruined home in Baton Rouge. She said she had not watched much news since her rescue on a boat a week and a half ago, but saw the negativity across Facebook. Officials should come in and roll up their sleeves and help, not just stay for a photo op, she said. "I'm thankful that they're here," she added of the presidential visit, but of the three hours scheduled, added: "That doesn't seem like much." Florence Lucas, 79, was in an unusually disadvantaged position to judge the government's response, having lost everything in Hurricane Betsy in 1965, lost her home during Katrina and then had her home flooded this summer. She stood in the kitchen as a construction worker discussed the rebuilding timeline, a needlepoint Home Sweet Home sign still hanging above the door. "Politics should be out of this," Lucas said. "What can he do? He can't come and get rid of the water." Extra help requested Obama received a briefing from federal officials, state and local politicians, and emergency workers in the area and toured East Baton Rouge parish, one of the area's affected communities. He also met with people whose homes have been lost to the waters. Edwards, a Democrat, issued a statement after meeting with the president saying that he had formally requested additional help for his state. "While we do not doubt the ability of our citizens to recover, we need the help of the federal government," Edwards said in the statement. Edwards, who had urged Obama not to visit the state when the rescue operation was in full swing, said the federal government so far has been "responsive to all of our requests." Obama was in Baton Rouge for about three hours before heading back to Washington. White House officials said he also planned to meet with the family of Alton Sterling, the African-American man who was shot while being held on the ground by Baton Rouge police officers, as well as families of officers killed and injured in an ambush in July. ISTANBUL - Turkey sent tanks, warplanes and special operations forces into northern Syria on Wednesday in its biggest plunge yet into the Syrian conflict, enabling Syrian rebels to capture an important Islamic State stronghold within hours. The operation, assisted by U.S. warplanes, is a significant escalation of Turkey's role in the fight against the Islamic State, the militant extremist group ensconced in parts of Syria and Iraq that has increasingly been targeting Turkey. By evening, Syrian rebel fighters declared that they had taken control of the Islamic State stronghold, the town of Jarablus and its surroundings, which had been the militant group's last major redoubt near the Turkish border. Turkish officials said one rebel fighter was killed but no Turkish troops died. Soldiers' selfies Numerous fighters posted photographs and videos of themselves online with the green, black and white flag adopted by the Syrian opposition as they walked through what appeared to be empty streets, passing buildings still flying the flag of the Islamic State. At the White House, President Barack Obama's chief spokesman, Josh Earnest, called the Turkish assault "an indication of important progress" in the campaign against the Islamic State. Earlier, Vice President Joe Biden signaled support for the goals of the operation - clearing Islamic State militants from their remaining border stronghold and rolling back recent advances by Syrian Kurdish militias, which Turkey considers its primary enemy. Biden had traveled to the Turkish capital, Ankara, on Wednesday to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a time of high tensions between the two countries after the failed coup in Turkey last month. But the timing of the joint offensive and some strong words of support from Biden seemed to show an easing of the strains. Kurds told to withdraw Speaking at a news conference after the meeting, Biden said the Kurdish militias, an important U.S. ally in the fight against the Islamic State, would have to meet a Turkish demand by withdrawing to the eastern side of the Euphrates River in northeastern Syria. "We have made it clear to Kurdish forces that they must move back across the river," he said. "They cannot and will not get American support if they do not keep that commitment. Period." Turkish officials were adamant that they would continue operations in Syria until they had neutralized what they see as threats against national security, which includes Kurdish control of the region west of the Euphrates. Turkey has signaled in recent days that it is prepared to take a more aggressive diplomatic role in Syria, working alongside Iran, Russia and the United States to seek an end to the war. The Turkish government has long insisted that Syrian President Bashar Assad - who is backed by Iran and Russia - would have to step down before peace talks could be held. But lately, Turkey has softened its stance, signaling that it would accept a role for Assad during a political transition. While some analysts initially thought the operation Wednesday had been carried out with Assad's assent, in the early afternoon, the Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned it as a breach of Syria's sovereignty. Russia, in a notably softer reaction, said it was "deeply concerned." Tensions remain Although U.S. warplanes joined the Turkish forces in Jarablus, the operation masked severe tensions between the two NATO allies over Syria. Turkish officials, including Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, warned that their country could ultimately end up fighting the Syrian Kurds if they do not temper their territorial ambitions. Recently, the Americans backed a group of fighters, mostly Syrian Kurds, in retaking the town of Manbij, not far from Jarablus but west of the Euphrates. Turkish officials indicated that the operation on Wednesday sought, in part, to warn Kurds working in Syria alongside U.S. Special Operations forces against marching on Jarablus. Cavusoglu warned that the Kurdish militias must move east of the Euphrates River, away from the Turkish border, and back to where they had long controlled a stretch of territory. Turkey backs vow The operation started at 4 a.m., officials said, with Turkish and U.S. warplanes pounding Islamic State positions in Jarablus. The special operations troops entered Syria to clear a passage for a ground operation by Turkish-backed rebel groups, the state broadcaster TRT reported. The assault came days after Turkey vowed to "cleanse" its borders of the Islamic State, after a deadly suicide attack at a Kurdish wedding, which killed at least 54 people. The militant group was blamed for the attack. Jarablus is a vital supply line for the Islamic State. The timing of the operation could ease some of the tensions between the United States and Turkey over the recent failed coup, which have reduced relations to one of their lowest points since World War II. Anti-American sentiment has reached a fever pitch in Turkey, as pro-government news outlets and government officials have sought to link the United States with the coup plot. 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! 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CEO of Air New Zealand has publicly addressed the recent social media scandal, saying the employees involved have disappointed the entire organisation.It goes without saying that this is a situation we are treating extremely seriously, said Christopher Luxon. Our obvious concern is that the behaviour displayed is a clear breach of our code of conduct and more importantly has let down 11,000 hard-working Air New Zealanders.''Luxon was referring to the compromising material which recently surfaced online one image shows a pilot posing with an inflatable doll inside an aircraft while a separate video shows a flight attendant moving through the cabin spitting water. The video is accompanied by a caption which reads; Wish I could spit on passengers like this.We hold ourselves to the highest professional standards at Air New Zealand and, in my view, this behaviour frankly doesnt meet that standard, said Luxon.The national carrier also confirmed that an investigation is underway."One of the staff members concerned no longer works for Air New Zealand and the other two have been removed from duties pending the outcome of our investigation, they revealed.We believe the video was produced about four years ago and the photos were taken more than a year ago, they added. independent review into the Australian Federal Police has found the force nurturing a toxic workplace culture with many workers feeling bullied and abused.The six-month investigation into diversity and inclusion found that instances of sexual harassment within the workplace were almost double the national average with 46 per cent of women and 20 per cent men reporting to have been victimised within the past five years.The report also found that an alarming 66 per cent of women and 62 per cent of men had experienced bullying within the same five-year time period.Carried out by former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick, a total of 24 recommendations were made as a result of the report.AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin said he was shocked by the revelation and unreservedly apologised to anyone who may have been subjected to bullying or harassment within the workplace."I think what we're seeing is that in organisations like the Australian Federal Police, organisations that are particularly male-dominated, organisations that also have command and control as a principal part of the way they operate, these behaviours can sometimes be masked," he said."They can be hidden, and it is time that we expose them and that's what we're doing, he added.Among the recommendations is the establishment of a gender-balanced Cultural Reform Board and an annual focus on recruitment pathways to operational roles for women.Broderick also suggested the force address leadership issues and improve flexible career options.The report and its subsequent recommendations are eerily similar to the 2007 Commission of Inquiry which saw New Zealands police force shamed for its similarly unacceptable culture.New Zealand Police has since doubled down its diversity efforts, implementing a number of programs including a nationwide Womens Advisory Network which supports women into leadership roles and gives female employees visible representation.If Im really honest, a lot of it stemmed from the Commission of Inquiry in 2007 where it was identified that we hadnt built a culture in our organization that supported womens advancement, admitted Alexandra Renton-Green, principal advisor of organisational and employee development at New Zealand Police.It was really important to us to take action on those findings and change the experience for women in the organization, she continued. We want women right across our organisation at all levels and to do that we need to make sure were facilitating their ability to be in those roles. Armed police officers forced a woman to remove her clothing on a beach in Nice, France on Tuesday after the city implemented a controversial burkini ban last week. In an image published by The Guardian, four officers are seen standing over the woman while she removes her blue shawl. Advertisement The incident took place at Promenade des Anglais, the same place where the deadly Bastille Day Iorry attack occurred last month. Is this laicite? Is this what being liberal looks like? Men forcing women to take clothes off? https://t.co/NOT4IcvuF5 Aisha S Gani (@aishagani) August 23, 2016 France's burkini ban is in effect in 15 municipalities as a reactionary measure following the terrorist attack in Nice and Normani where a Catholic priest was murdered by two ISIS supporters. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has been vocal about his support for the local bans. Valls claims the Islamic swimsuit, which covers everything on the body except for the face, hands and feet, is "not compatible with the values of France and the Republic." Advertisement "The burkini is not a new range of swimwear, a fashion," he told La Provence, according to The Independent. "It is the expression of a political project, a counter-society, based notably on the enslavement of women." File photo of a woman wearing a burkini in Marseille, France on Aug. 4, 2016. (Photo: The Associated Press) Ban controversy spurs spike in sales Despite the ban, which is punishable by fine, it appears burkini sales have soared, at least according to the woman credited with inventing the swimsuit. Australian-Lebanese designer Aheda Zanetti told BBC News that sales were up 200 per cent following the ban, with an increase in orders from non-Muslims, including skin cancer survivors. Advertisement "I think the French need to understand what a burkini swimsuit is and what it's there for. They can't take a lifestyle away from a Muslim woman or any woman for that matter," Zanetti told Vogue U.K.. She added that she thinks the whole ban is "misunderstood." A woman wearing a burkini takes a dip in south of France, Aug. 15, 2016. (Photo: Abaca Press) According to the Zanetti, the burkini is "intended to integrate and bring people together" and to give the wearer the "freedom of choice to wear something modest." It should be happy and positive. It is turning something meant to give women the freedom of participating in health and fitness into a negative thing, the 48-year-old designer told the magazine. Advertisement A burkini swimsuit designed by Aheda Zanetti. Trudeau pans idea of Canadian burkini ban Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended the burkini on Monday, dismissing the idea of a ban in Canada. "We should be past tolerance in Canada," Trudeau told reporters following a meeting with his ministers to plan the government's legislative agenda. "In Canada, can we speak of acceptance, openness, friendship, understanding? It is about where we are going and what we are going through every day in our diverse and rich communities," he continued. Follow Huffington Post Canada Style on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter! Also on HuffPost Dawn - Pink Chick/Flickr The Calgary Police Service has started using a courier to deliver speeding tickets. The force said in an emailed statement Tuesday that it had stopped issuing tickets in June due to the risk of a potential Canada Post disruption. Delayed tickets to be delivered Now, police have obtained a court order to send those tickets out by courier while there is still a chance of a postal strike or lockout. Advertisement "As such, some members of the public will be getting summonses for offences that occurred up to two months ago," police said in the statement. Calgary Police said it had stopped issuing tickets in June due to the risk of a potential Canada Post disruption. (Photo: The Canadian Press) "The Service recognizes this is not ideal from an educational standpoint, however, there is still a requirement to issue the summonses. These can legally be issued up to six months after the traffic violation." Advertisement Cost concerns Canada Post has been negotiating with unionized workers since late 2015 over issues including pensions and wages. The corporation has been teetering on the edge of a strike or lockout in the past few months. The increased cost of using a courier has a taxpayer advocacy group concerned. "I dont know why theres this urgent need, I think it would make a lot more sense for the Calgary Police Service to hold off and wait until the Canada Post threat is over," Paige MacPherson of The Canadian Taxpayers' Federation told 660 News. Those who receive a ticket will still have the opportunity to challenge it, police noted in the statement. Also on HuffPost: Every kids favourite novel Wonder is being brought to life, with Jacob Tremblay as the beloved Auggie. If youre unfamiliar with this bestselling book by R.J. Palacio, it follows a fifth-grade boy named August Pullman born with a facial deformity as he tries to fit in at his new school. Advertisement Describing the story to People, director Stephen Chbosky said: The movie Wonder is about family, friendship, love and most of all, it's about choosing kindness at every stage of life. Although Wonder wont be released until April 2017, the films first photo was recently released showing Julia Roberts and Tremblay playing mother-son duo Isabel and Auggie. Due to Tremblays character's extraordinary face, it only makes sense that we hardly recognized the Vancouver-born star. Earlier this month, the nine-year-old actor tweeted his excitement over his latest role and reiterated the films important message. Advertisement I am very honored to help bring Auggie to life! Let's #choosekind everyone! @WonderTheMoviehttps://t.co/hlJ2N00dis Jacob Tremblay (@JacobTremblay) August 10, 2016 Speaking about the films cast, director Chbosky revealed he wasnt drawn to Tremblay and Roberts just because of their acting. One of the special things about the movie Wonder is that we cast the actors as much for their humanity as their talent, he told People. Both Julia and Jacob are so normal yet so exceptional, not only at what they do, but who they are. Chbosky is certainly right. While Roberts was dubbed Americas Sweetheart early on in her career, Tremblay quickly won over the public last year. The young actor first caught everyone's attention with his stunning performance in Room. Since then, he has never failed to charm us at every red carpet event. Tremblay has also been involved in big events like We Day, which strives to empower todays youth. Clearly, the cast of Wonder couldnt be more perfect. We cant wait to see this movie, and neither can Tremblays fans. Advertisement ahhhhh i didnt know there is gonna be a wonder movie and it's starring precious jacob tremblay!!!! lily (@clintcsha) August 11, 2016 Just found out that there's gonna be a Wonder movie and Jacob Tremblay is gonna play Auggie?!?! OMG WHY DID I NOT KNOW elly (@ellywithbass) August 23, 2016 julia roberts and jacob tremblay are going to be in a movie together called wonder i am so excited pic.twitter.com/zLxV6UZjvu nicole ! (@jhutchersin) August 11, 2016 ALSO ON HUFFPOST: A former Conservative cabinet minister says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has "spit" in the eye of Atlantic Canadians by not guaranteeing the next Supreme Court justice will hail from the region. In a column published Wednesday in the National Post, Peter MacKay a former Nova Scotia MP and justice minister accused the Liberal government of ignoring the very people behind the so-called "red wave" last October. Advertisement Peter MacKay is seen at the Conservative Party of Canada convention in Vancouver on May 27, 2016. (Photo: Jonathan Hayward/CP) MacKay, who presently works for a Toronto law firm, also made his case for why Tory MPs are needed again in Atlantic Canada. He is believed to be mulling a Conservative Party leadership bid. "Certainly no Canadian would find it acceptable to be told that their region of the country, for the first time in history, would have no representation on the Supreme Court," he wrote. "One could only imagine the outrage in Ontario, Quebec or the West if this were to happen." Advertisement Last October, all 32 seats in the region were won by Liberals. All four premiers in Atlantic Canada are Liberals as well, with majority governments. Bar association's raised eyebrows At issue is the seven-member advisory board that will help Trudeau name top court justices. The group will recommend up to five names to fill the seat of retiring Justice Thomas Cromwell of Nova Scotia, the only Atlantic Canadian on the bench. By convention, the court has always included one member from Atlantic Canada. Despite saying applications from the region will be considered, Trudeau and Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould won't commit that the next judge will be from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador. The Liberals' apparent willingness to forgo the regional custom has raised eyebrows with Canadian Bar Association, federal Tories, and their provincial cousins on the East coast. 'It defies all constitutional convention' In his Post piece, which included a few digs about photo-ops and selfies, MacKay accused the Liberals of "astonishing neglect" of his home region. Advertisement "It defies all constitutional convention. It is also disrespectful and an insult to Atlantic Canadians to suggest that suddenly, of our entire legal population, none are qualified to sit on the top court." MacKay argued the matter has been accepted with hardly a peep. "No one has called out the prime minister for what this is spit in our eye." "No one has called out the prime minister for what this is spit in our eye," he wrote. MacKay also took issue with the Liberals' requirement that justices be fluent in both languages, likening it to a "social science experiment" that could prevent the best possible jurists from landing those roles. He ended his piece by calling for Atlantic Canadians of all political stripes to make themselves heard on the issue. "We are being taken for granted and ignored as a friendly backwater," he said. The B-word That word "backwater" was recently used by another top Tory with roots in the region who is expected to jump into the race to replace Stephen Harper. Lisa Raitt, who represents the Ontario riding of Milton but was raised in Sydney, N.S., has been vocal on the issue. She told CBC Radio earlier this month that Trudeau sees Atlantic Canada as a "backwater place." Advertisement "It just drives me around the bend when people assume that we're not good enough, that we can't be bilingual, that we don't have visible minorities here, whatever that mix is that they're looking for," Raitt said. The Canadian Press reports Raitt will announce her leadership bid in September. Lisa Raitt talks with media in Ottawa on June 1, 2015. (Photo: Matthew Usherwood/The Canadian Press) Atlantic Canadian roots could prove to be advantageous for Tory leadership contenders, not only because Conservatives need to win seats there again if they hope to win government. Unlike other one-member, one-vote leadership contests, Tories use a points-based system where every electoral district is given equal weight regardless of membership size. That means small Atlantic Canada districts have just as much power as those in the Conservative heartland of Alberta. But if Trudeau's recent swing through the region is any indication, Tories have their work cut out for them. Advertisement Last week, the prime minister was in Atlantic Canada where he again offered no guarantee that the regional custom on the top court would be honoured. Trudeau also unveiled $119-million in federal funding for Nova Scotia wastewater and transit projects. The prime minister took to Twitter to share a photo of the large crowds greeting him in New Glasgow. Now that's a community gathering! Thanks, New Glasgow. We're going to keep working hard for all Nova Scotians. pic.twitter.com/7lMuoJPQDW Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) August 16, 2016 New Glasgow happens to be MacKay's hometown. ALSO ON HUFFPOST: The city of Sarnia, Ont. spent $8,181.77 rescuing Americans during a disastrous river float down event on Sunday, according to a press release. High winds pushed around 1,500 people participating in the Port Huron Float Down, an annual event on the St. Clair River, over the border from Michigan into Ontario Sunday, according to The Canadian Press. Advertisement Canadian authorities were forced to step in. A Canadian Coast Guard ship tows flotation devices used by U.S. partiers to the Canadian side of the St. Clair River between Michigan and Ontario on Aug. 21. (Photo: Canadian Coast Guard/Handout via Reuters) Organizations including the Canadian Coast Guard, Ontario Provincial Police, the RCMP and the City of Sarnia were involved, but only the temporary host city has so far revealed how much it cost to deal with the unexpected visitors and their trash. Sarnia Police spent just over $3,400, according to the city. The transit authority brought in 10 buses, drivers and supervisors on 19 trips to take the Americans back to their side of the border, at a cost of $2,000. Advertisement Hundreds of individuals being shipped back by bus with police escorts. #spspic.twitter.com/wE62MmCu77 Sarnia Police (@SarniaPolice) August 21, 2016 "These costs will directly impact the operating budgets for each of these departments," wrote Communications Coordinator Katarina Ovens. Fire rescue personnel helped pull the floaters out and cleaned up leftover debris, at a cost of just over $1,400. 'Absolutely no responsibility' And once the water was clear, the parks and recreation department spent $650 for staff to pick up garbage left behind on the beach. Public works was involved too, spending more than $700 to close off streets to herd the U.S. citizens. Advertisement "There was no chance for anything floating, or people on inner tubes, to go anywhere but Canada." Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley told CBC News the incident could have led to tragedy if the weather had been a bit worse. He said he'll meet with his staff to figure out ways to make the event safer. "You want people to have fun," he said. "But at the same time, you want some responsibility. In a number of the situations, there was absolutely no responsibility, and what they were really doing was putting that on the shoulders of the responders." While the unsanctioned river party's website sternly advises participants not to end up in Canada, Peter Garapick of the Canadian Coast Guard told CBC News that the wind would have made avoiding doing so difficult. "There was no chance for anything floating, or people on inner tubes, to go anywhere but Canada." It has been crazy busy. Thank you Sarnia Transit. Also thank you Esso & Lanxess. Couldn't have done it without you. pic.twitter.com/a47hmm92QS Sarnia Police (@SarniaPolice) August 21, 2016 But while no Americans were seriously hurt this year, one participant drowned during 2014's float down, according to the Sarnia Observer. Advertisement Mayor doesn't want event cancelled Bradley told The Toronto Star he doesn't want the longtime event shut down, just reined in a bit. You also cant legislate IQ levels and if people want to go out on a very dangerous river in the middle of a storm pattern and drink, and be on a little life raft or a flotation device thats their choice, he said. He also dismissed the idea of billing a U.S. municipality, as no one officially organizes the event. Keep in perspective that if the same situation had happened on the American side, having dealt with Homeland Security for many years, I would suggest that the reception would have been not as friendly." Crowdfunding campaign started to help city But one Michigan man has already decided to step in and help. Joe Wiedenbeck, who lives in Marysville, where the float down is supposed to end, told the Sarnia Observer he doesn't think Canada should have to foot the bill. While he didn't participate himself, he set up a crowdfunding campaign and urged those who did to chip in $5. All the proceeds will go to the City of Sarnia. Advertisement As of publication, 104 people had raised nearly $1,600. "Canadians love us, for the most part, so we should just show them how to be a good neighbour," he told the Observer. COLUMBUS A 27-year-old area man pleaded no contest to three felonies in connection with an incident that began with a police chase in Columbus then shifted into a weeklong spree of stolen vehicles across multiple jurisdictions. Anthony Mattison is facing a fourth prison sentence after entering his pleas in Platte County District Court to charges of theft by receiving stolen property, theft by unlawful taking and operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest. Judge Robert Steinke scheduled Mattison for sentencing Sept. 20. Mattison had been scheduled for an Oct. 11 jury trial. In exchange for the defendants pleas, the Platte County Attorneys Office dismissed a habitual criminal charge that could have added decades to any possible prison sentence. The two theft charges are Class 2A felonies, each punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment. Operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest is a Class IV felony with a maximum penalty of two years behind bars, 12 months of post-release supervision and a $10,000 fine. Mattison, who was released from the Clay County Jail a few days before the Columbus incident, was previously sentenced to prison for 20 months to four years in Hall County in 2010, and three to five years and one to two years in Polk County in 2013. The weeklong crime spree got underway in Columbus following a May 17 complaint about a loud vehicle in the 2500 block of 47th Avenue. Columbus Police Officer Heath Aldrich wrote in his arrest statement that he made contact with Mattison, who was sitting behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS at the scene of the complaint. As I started to ask for identification, the subject reached up to the steering column and did something that made the car start, Aldrich wrote in his statement. I told him to shut it off and he did not respond. I then saw him grab the shifter ... the subject then put it in gear and backed up at a high rate of speed. Aldrich wrote that the suspect accelerated rapidly, with the tires squealing and the vehicle sliding sideways, onto 47th Avenue and sped away. Mattison later crashed into a sign and pole at the intersection of 26th Avenue and 27th Street. The suspect ran from the accident scene. Mattison, who was wanted for probation violations, later stole a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado from Ernst Auto Body in Columbus. The vehicle was involved in a pursuit with the Nebraska State Patrol before it was abandoned in Grand Island, where another vehicle was reported stolen a short time later. Members of the Central Nebraska Drug and Safe Streets Task Force arrested Mattison on May 24 after locating a stolen vehicle in Hastings and staking out the location. Task force authorities involved in the arrest in Hastings said the suspect had been connected to a vehicle theft in Aurora and police chase in Kearney that ended when the suspect crashed on a rural road and escaped on foot. A vehicle stolen in Gibbon was located in Hastings, which led to the arrest after a brief foot pursuit. Mattisons most recent address was in Osceola, but he has family in Columbus. He has been in custody at the county jail since his arrest. Sixteen years after the RCMP let Sikh officers wear a turban, it's now allowing Muslim Mounties to wear a hijab as part of their uniform. Global News reports RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson "recently approved" adding the religious headscarf to the uniform. Advertisement Scott Bardsley, a spokesperson for Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, told AFP the move is aimed at encouraging more Muslim women to join the RCMP's ranks, as well as to "better reflect" the diversity in Canadian communities. Toronto and Edmonton police services have already approved the hijab. (Photo: The Canadian Press) According to La Presse, Paulson approved the garment in January. Last month, however, the RCMP tested three types of hijabs and approved one design. The paper cited a memo between Paulson and Goodale which said the hijab does not pose any risk to Mounties. Advertisement Two other police forces in Canada have also approved the hijab as part of uniform attire. Edmonton OK'd the covering for its officers in 2013, while Toronto approved it in 2011. Also On HuffPost: Too much ice in your Starbucks drink? According to a California judge, there's no such thing. Los Angeles resident Alexander Forouzesh has lost his legal battle against Starbucks in which he claimed he and others suffered injury in fact and lost moneydue to over-iced drinks, Grub Street reports. Judge Percy Anderson, who dismissed the claim, stated the lawsuit held no weight, explaining: "If children have figured out that including ice in a cold beverage decreases the amount of liquid they will receive, the court has no difficulty concluding that a reasonable consumer would not be deceived into thinking that when they order an iced tea, that the drink they receive will include both ice and tea and that for a given size cup, some portion of the drink will be ice rather than whatever liquid beverage the consumer ordered," Law360 reports. Advertisement The California-based judge also noted a reasonable consumer would know the beverage size is for the entire drink ice, whipped cream or foam included. While this case is closed, a similar lawsuit is still pending in Illinois. Of course, instead of taking your complaint to the courts, a spokeswoman for Starbucks told the Wall Street Journal you can always ask for it to be re-made. Next time we'd suggest asking them to go light on the ice. While ducking into the Canadian National Exhibition's Northern Comfort Saloon on Sunday to use the facilities, I came across their new bathrooms. It's always nice to use new bathrooms at public places like The Ex, but the doors of these portable toilets also offered a perfect response to the washroom wars that have erupted since the trans rights movement took off a few years ago. U.S. states have been passing "bathroom bills," making it illegal for trans men and women to use the bathroom of the gender they identify with. An Edmonton Catholic school also prompted a trans rights policy after a seven-year-old trans girl was not allowed to use the girls' bathroom. Advertisement "[It's] a cheeky way to say to our guests that we strive to be inclusive." But the CNE wants you to know that they "don't care" where you go, and their simple solution was to take gender out of the equation altogether. "The CNE is in the business of 'fun,' so when it came to labelling our new portable washrooms, we thought the statement 'We Don't Care" was a cheeky way to say to our guests that we strive to be inclusive in every aspect of the Fair," the CNE's general manager Virginia Ludy told The Huffington Post Canada over email. "The unique fact that each stall is completely self-contained eliminates the need for 'shared' stations; therefore there's no reason to have to separate stalls for males and females. By not designating washrooms, it means that anyone can use the facilities whenever it's available." Advertisement Reduces women's bathroom lines This has the benefit of not only making the bathrooms inclusive for the annual fair's trans guests, but Ludy pointed out it also "helps to reduce long line-ups that we often see at women's washrooms." These new portable washrooms were built using shipping containers and separated into four feet by six feet custom stalls, some of which have larger eight feet by 10 feet family/handicap units to allow space for a wheelchair or parent and stroller. "The CNE had a direct hand in designing these new state-of-the-art washrooms that are completely self-contained with toilets and handwashing stations in every stall," said Ludy. "These were custom-built for the CNE to handle the volume of visitors and the needs of our guests, and provide much more room and privacy than traditional portable washrooms." The new toilets are located near the kids' midway as well as the Northern Comfort Saloon, though the plan is to phase them in all across the Ex as older portable washrooms units get replaced. Advertisement The Ex needed to get new portable toilets anyway, and had decided on single-user stalls because they offer "better flow and greater capacity," but Ludy said she was inspired by this Toronto Star article while deciding on the "cheeky" signage. "We hope that other events will...adapt to our gender-neutral stalls." The logo, which combines the traditional symbols for men and women with the statement "WE DON'T CARE," was created earlier this year by Kansas City artist Peregrine Honig. Honig's work has clearly been filling a need and Ludy wants the Ex's support to help these inclusive bathrooms spread even further. "These new washroom containers were designed for and purchased by the CNE," she said. "However, we hope that other events will express interest to incorporate and adapt to our gender-neutral stalls." Also on HuffPost Transgender Acceptance See Gallery Fuse via Getty Images Man Kissing a Womans Foot As a romance author, I'm constantly bumping up against a rather awkward subject. An elephant in the room, if you will. What am I talking about? 50 Shades of Grey. Yes, it has been a number of years since its release. Yes, it's absolutely relevant to the conversation on sexuality. And I'll tell you why. Advertisement Over the course of writing my erotic crime thriller, many members of my audience have asked what I think of the famous kinky novel. Once and for all, I'm going on record and stating my perspective. 1. I haven't read the books. I haven't watched the movies. 2. I respect the author and applaud her as a trailblazer in erotic fiction. 3. The book made kink mainstream and increased interest in BDSM, which at its core is a positive development. The issues start when readers take a fictional book and use it as a how-to guide. I am certain E.L. James did not intend for 50 Shades to serve as a paint-by-numbers manual for beginners to BDSM. I echo the same sentiment in my own work. In the spirit of don't-try-this-at-home, allow me to emphasize this point: If an erotic novel piqued your interest in the BDSM lifestyle, do your research first. Ensure you understand the proper etiquette and protocol. Make sure all actions are safe, sane and consensual. The same goes for your environment -- don't place yourself and/or your partner in an area which is unsafe. Finally, talk to your partner before and after the scene. What did they enjoy? What do they want more of? Less of? Physically, are they okay? Do they need food, water, a sweet drink? Gentleness and reassurance? Time alone to process the come-down? Advertisement If you're curious -- no, I'm not in the lifestyle. But I've learned these nuggets from my own research and it's imperative you do the same if you're entering into this world. I digress. Here's the real crux of the issue. The 50 Shades Effect caused an influx of women desiring submission in the bedroom. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. Aside from those who truly understand the BDSM lifestyle, I've intuitively felt so much stigma directed at the opposite end of the spectrum -- men who wish to play the submissive role behind closed doors -- particularly following the popularity of E.L. James' novel. And it shouldn't be this way. Before we delve into this further, it's interesting to note a quick search on Instagram alone displays the following public results: #submissivewoman - 197,212 posts #submissiveman - 1,101 posts Does this displease me on a deeply personal level? Of course. I would love to see more #submissiveman images. That's not the point. Advertisement Yes, it's only one search. Yes, it's only Instagram. But it's part of a much larger problem, and these surface level social media statistics are only the meniscus on a glass full of judgement and stigma towards male sexuality. (I'm a feminist, by the way, in case you were wondering. But feminism equals equality. And so here we are.) At this point in my writing career, my Google search history is already teetering on criminal, so what's one more search on "stats on submissive men"? In doing so I found a 2013 Slate study of adults engaged in regular BDSM play. The research found that 61 per cent of men in one sample were exclusively or mainly dominant, and 26 percent were exclusively or mainly submissive (the remaining 13 per cent, I assume, are switchers) Are these statistics purely due to preference? What about the stigma outside of the lifestyle? Spending the early part of my adult life in England, I remember "scandals" breaking out in the media when a public figure would be found in a dominatrix's dungeon in a seedy part of London. "Pervert!" the headlines would say. "Disgusting," was a put-down accompanying shaking heads and disapproving glances as the elected official in question left their London townhome with a tailored jacket slung over their head to hide their shame as they made their way to the office. Now, I'm not about to defend the sex lives of politicians, or indeed any of their life choices. But I can't help but think why it's acceptable for women to be dominated and consensually humiliated in the bedroom, but not men? Does it not make sense that an incredibly powerful man with tremendous responsibilities in his day-to-day reality would, in fact, wish to surrender this power to a partner when the bedroom door closes? Would it not take a strong man to entrust this to his partner? Be it his long-term mate, or a professional he enlists privately to live out his fantasy? Pray, tell me, what's wrong with this? Advertisement I don't have all the answers. All I know is that if we are to be truly equal, we need to open our hearts and our minds to the needs of men who are afraid to express their deepest desire to their partner for fear of judgement. Gentlemen -- I see you and I accept you. Ladies -- stay open to the possibility that acting out your Christian Grey fantasy may, in fact, be the furthest thing from his mind. Three years ago, those who stood for big business and against the interests of working people could smell blood in the water. And, if we're honest, who could blame them? Union membership was down to levels not seen since the Second World War. Unions were on the defensive against aggressive employers, and Conservative politicians made plans to turn the clock back on labour legislation - eroding already weak laws for forming new unions and rolling back protections for workers, from health and safety laws to the social programs they relied on in tough times. Meanwhile, increasingly precarious, part-time work and high unemployment made many workers afraid to stand up for themselves, and to wonder what a union could do for them. Advertisement This was also the frank assessment of the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union in a January 2012 report noted for its rare candid language. Just over 18 months later, those two unions would merge to form Unifor. This week, three years after the founding of Unifor on Labour Day weekend, we can honestly say the labour movement has seen a rebirth in this country. Today, the busiest day of our convention this week in Ottawa, we will see a measure of how much has changed since that January 2012 report was released. The first thing we will do today is welcome an incredible group of Aboriginal leaders to join us, including child advocate Cindy Blackstock and Senator Murray Sinclair, the first Aboriginal judge appointed in Manitoba and chief commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Both will receive awards from Unifor for their tireless work for justice to reconcile and heal the wounds in Indigenous communities. We will also welcome Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, whose NDP win in that province was once thought impossible. Advertisement And, as if that's not enough, we will hear from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who will speak to the 2,000 labour activists who have gathered to represent workers from coast to coast to coast employed in every major sector of Canada's economy. To me, taken together, today's events represent what Unifor and a revived labour movement is all about. It's about fighting for justice for our members and all workers, being an active ally to support the struggles of diverse communities for the justice they need and deserve, and it's about playing an active role in the politics of this country. While much has been accomplished, there is more to be done - which is why we are also marching to Parliament Hill today, to demand swift action on missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls, educational funding and employment opportunities for all Aboriginal children and a real commitment to repairing the homes, public buildings and services in their communities. Welcoming Trudeau and Notley to our stage shows just how much has changed in Canadian politics in three years. When Unifor formed, Stephen Harper was prime minister and Tim Hudak was leading in the polls in Ontario with open talk of bringing in regressive labour laws. Today however, Harper's worst labour laws have been repealed, Hudak is shilling for the real estate industry and Ontario is in the midst of truly modernizing its labour laws and employment standards to reflect the nature of work today. There is no denying that the political landscape in this country has changed significantly and this is real progress and worth a celebration as Unifor turns three. Advertisement The change that we have seen is due, in no small part, to the revitalization of a mobilized and united labour movement and its renewed strength since the founding of Unifor. Later today, after the awards are handed out, after we hear from the prime minister, march to Parliament Hill and after we hear from the Alberta premier, we will receive a report from our Social Justice Fund, which does much of its work outside of Canada to help workers and struggling communities stand up for themselves and build better lives. Our Social Justice Fund is funded by our members and it continues to bring about positive change around the world. This same Fund was instrumental in organizing Unifor members to sponsor five Syrian refugee families to come to Canada. Last month, I had the opportunity to visit Syrian refugee camps in Jordan as part of a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees mission, and on Friday families brought to Canada from war-torn Syria will help close our convention. Three years ago, such strength and influence for the labour movement seemed unthinkable to many. Thankfully, there were those in the CAW and the CEP who saw the potential to do more, and the honesty to pursue that on the basis of a frank assessment of how bad things had become. Three years later, we have accomplished much, and we will accomplish much more in the years to come. Pogonici Our first point of contact with the health system -- often referred to as "primary care" -- should result in prompt and efficient care for our general health concerns, and coordinate our journey through the system when we need more specialized care. That's if things are working properly. Unfortunately, this isn't always the case. In the early 2000s, there was widespread concern across Canada that primary care was in decline. Walk-in clinics and emergency departments became the de facto point of care for patients who lacked timely access to a family doctor. Patients struggled to find doctors to take them on as regular patients. Advertisement Though British Columbia was not alone among Canadian provinces in recognizing the need for primary care reform, it was unique in its approach to solving the problem. B.C.'s chosen fix for primary care was based on the simple and appealing idea that we have to pay for what we want. B.C. attempted to coax individual doctors to provide important primary care services (chronic disease management, mental health care and preventative care, for example) and discourage walk-in style practice by providing additional incentive payments within the public fee-for-service system. From what we can see looking back, care remained the same, while costs went up. In contrast, other provinces changed the structure and organization of primary care, moving toward team-based models of care and away from fee-for-service compensation for doctors. Other countries also implemented incentive payments for doctors, but unlike B.C., these models were tied to reporting on performance. The costliest incentive implemented under the B.C. program was a $315 annual payment made to doctors -- on top of regular patient visit fees -- for providing ongoing care for complex patients (someone with two or more qualifying chronic diseases). B.C. now spends more than $50 million each year on this single incentive and another $100 million on similar 'extra' payments for obstetrics, mental health care, preventive risk assessment and management of individual chronic diseases. Advertisement In a recently-published study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, we investigated the effects of these complex care payments. We observed that two out of three eligible patients have these incentives billed for their care. However, we saw no change in the number of primary care visits patients received or in the continuity of their relationships with a regular doctor. Hospitalization rates did not go down. From what we can see looking back, care remained the same, while costs went up. More broadly, B.C. patients today still struggle to access quality primary care where and when they need it. Even patients with a doctor often resort to emergency departments and walk-in clinics because less than a third of B.C. doctors report having any other arrangements for after-hours care. The incentive payments for doctors failed to achieve the stated goal of improving primary care for patients. The incentive program improves compensation for physicians doing the important work of caring for patients with complex disease, but this was not the primary objective of the incentive program and incentives are not the only -- or even best -- way to pay doctors doing this work more fairly. While the program was no doubt implemented with the best intentions, it reduces physician motivation to dollars billed, while doing nothing to address other practical and structural barriers to doctors providing quality, accessible primary care. Advertisement There is a new push for primary care reform in B.C., this time embracing team-based models, which include nurses, pharmacists and other service providers to help improve accessibility, quality and efficiency of care. This is exciting, but there are lessons to be learned from the failed experiment with incentive payments. The incentive-based programs were planned by the Ministry of Health and representatives from Doctors of B.C. (then the B.C. Medical Association), which helps explain their focus on the activities of individual physicians. This time around, before spending billions, we need to agree on what success looks like, and monitor progress from the start. Some approaches may not work, and that's OK -- even expected -- as long as a lack of effect is recognized and acted on quickly. We need to measure performance in real-time against clear goals and accept ongoing change as a necessary part of doing better, rather than thinking a one-time course correction is enough. Most importantly, we need to broaden the team that is involved in choosing reforms to include health authorities, nurses and other service providers -- and patients. All are necessary to delivering primary care and so all should have a hand in shaping it. Advertisement News last week that dozens of high end U.S. Hotels have been subjected to attack by cybercriminals who installed malware on their payment processing systems to scam customers' names, credit card numbers, expiry dates and verification codes, might be shocking but can hardly be a surprise. After all, one of the world's largest hacks, that of U.S. retailer Target, saw hackers stealing 40 million credit card numbers by targeting their point of sale equipment. Our data is at risk and increasingly professional hackers target the connected devices we all rely on at home and in business, as they are often the weak spot in our cyber defenses extending our digital footprint even further into the web. Advertisement We trust a wealth of organizations with our data but it is hard for them to stop these sorts of attacks - especially if a third-party supplier maintains the payment systems. Companies (and to some extent ourselves) have to look at themselves as a criminal would. Taking an "attacker's eye view," businesses can identify potential cyber incidents, instances of sensitive data loss, and even which malicious actors might be watching them. Data breaches are an all too common fact of business life today, either by nefarious actions of cybercriminals, or by accident by a 'well-meaning' insider. Whatever the cause, the effect can have a devastating impact on all of us and impact on a company's sales, reputation and profitability so it's vital we can identify the threat and shut it down quickly. Social media, mobile computing and cloud services have changed the way we do business. But while we take advantage of the benefits these new technologies offer, many of us and the organisations we work for are unaware of how we look online to the world at large and to their would-be attackers. As we operate in this digital world we leave behind a digital footprint - an electronic trail of activities. A subset of a digital footprint, a digital shadow consists of exposed personal, technical or organizational information that is often highly confidential, sensitive or proprietary. A digital shadow can leave us and the organizations we work for and trust with our data vulnerable. Advertisement Adversaries are no longer merely watching networks and endpoints to determine how they will attack, but actively surveying digital shadows, identifying vulnerabilities and launching attacks. Organisations need new ways to protect themselves. Many firms use cyber-threat intelligence (CTI) which uses techniques borrowed from the military to better understand adversaries. This includes the analysis of data and vulnerability feeds, indicators of compromise (IOCs) and profiles of threats. This is important to do but still isn't enough. What's lacking is cyber situational awareness that provides a more holistic and specific view of threats and vulnerabilities relevant and specific to your organization. Cyber situational awareness provides relevant and contextual insight, based on industry, company size and geography, to prioritize threat protection and policies, and administer takedowns, in order to mitigate harmful events. This is done by examining millions of social sites, cloud-based file sharing sites and other points of compromise across a multi-lingual, global environment spanning the visible, dark, and deep internet. COLUMBUS Daniels Produce will pay $250,000 in back wages to workers for violating the temporary work visa program. The Columbus business will pay the wages to 89 Mexican and Guatemalan guest workers employed at the local produce farm. Daniels Produce was also fined $20,000 for the violation, according to a U.S. Department of Labor press release. The U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigated the business and alleged it falsified records to indicate it paid the legally required minimum wage for workers under the visa program, among other violations. Daniels Produce employed the workers during the 2012 and 2013 seasons to pick and pack produce grown at its 500-acre field near Columbus. Last week, thousands of students like me across the UK went to pick up their A Level results. I've just finished my AS Levels where I studied computing, maths, further maths, chemistry and physics. Even though these are all topics that I'm very passionate about, I'm often still seen as an 'exception' when it comes to subjects 17-year-old girls are studying. Recently released figures from JCQ show that there's still a significant divide when it comes to the subjects that students like me are choosing - boys still dominate the STEM subjects at A-Level while girls lean towards humanities and performing arts. STEM has been something that has interested me for a long time, growing up visiting places like the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, really helped that interest to develop. Events like the Manchester Science Festival also helped to introduce me to groups and communities who would go on to teach me a lot. One of these groups - the Manchester Girl Geeks - were the first to introduce me to programming in a workshop using Codecademy. From there, I've continued teaching myself and tinkering, with help from mentors in the Manchester geek and maker scene. Advertisement Finding this community was a turning point for me, and felt like a place I could belong when I wasn't fitting in at school. Not only has it taught me so much about making and computer science, it also provided me with many valuable friendships and opportunities to share my story and new found knowledge with others. While I've been lucky in falling into these opportunities, and having the support of a great community, a lot of girls my age still feel hesitant when it comes to exploring STEM subjects. I feel that part of this lies with a perception problem where students, parents (and even teachers) still think of professions such as medicine, dentistry and law as the only 'top' careers. Those are great roads to go down but there's so much more that girls my age can, and should be, considering. Take computer science as an example. People often think of computer science and ICT as one and the same. However, whereas ICT shows us how to use software, computer science goes one step further in showing you how to solve problems by creating your own programs, for whatever purpose you choose. Advertisement Women accounted for only 13% of computing science courses at university in 2014. If we want to shift the numbers, we need to tackle the image crisis and communicate how creative and exciting computer science is much earlier on in the education system. We also need to break down boundaries when it comes to the curriculum. Schools face increasing pressure from league tables and will often encourage pupils to take up the school's specialist subject at GCSE level. They may also make a language or humanity compulsory for example and, once you've added that to your core maths, English and science, you may only be left with one or two choices. And what this boils down to is choosing one subject but sacrificing another that you might have been interested in. This leaves very little room for students to pursue creative and STEM subjects, leaving students to make a difficult choice which may restrict their options in the future. At my school, there were maybe only 8 or 9 girls who took further maths at AS Level. Such small numbers are often very difficult to timetable and create restrictions, particularly around uncommon subject combinations. Yet I believe that the best things happen at the boundaries between subjects and that breaking down the harsh lines that define subject areas can lead to exciting new ideas and innovation. For example, new 3D printers that take advantage of the chemistry of the materials they use, to engineer new and useful properties. For any girls looking to get into a STEM career, I can't stress how important it is to be curious and seek answers, have a go with a Raspberry Pi, CodeBug or Arduino. How does it work? What could I make? What problems can I help to solve? Find a community and learn as much as you can. In my experience people are always so friendly and willing to share knowledge, so don't be afraid to get involved. On September 2nd I'll be speaking at tech festival Wuthering Bytes about my journey and the importance of community in giving girls the confidence they need to embrace a career in STEM. Advertisement Everybody is talking about adolescent boys and the fact that they do not express their emotions. In a recent interview, Prince Harry says that he really regrets not opening up sooner about how his mother's death affected him: You can be as tough as you want on the exterior, and you can be someone who never shows any emotion, but inside there's all sorts of stuff going on. A recent article in the Guardian discusses whether the teenagers' view of masculinity, centred around not showing emotion and not asking for help, is leading to increased depression, suicide and violence. However, boys don't start their lives as unemotional human beings. Male infants are as emotionally expressive than female infants, but a boys' emotional expressiveness decreases as they age. The school environment may be the key. Advertisement Ashvin, my co-author in this blog, summarises it flawlessly: at school, emotions equal weakness. And, since the enjoyment of school is almost totally governed by whether a student is perceived as weak or strong by their peers, any public displays of emotion, whether crying, anxiety, or even extreme happiness, are to be avoided. Thus, suppression of feelings is essential to having a good time at school. Gender differences in emotional expression may be particularly evident in the school environment, where adolescents are with peers and respond to differing expectations of boys and girls: boys don't cry, while sugar and spice and everything nice, that's what little girls are made of. Society's requirement that boys must hide their emotions has been extensively discussed since the 90's. Research has also shown that suppressing emotional expression increases the likelihood of compromised socioemotional functioning and the risk of developing psychopathology. Keeping emotions under wraps at all times is therefore boys' most-practiced skill, as a way of coping in their social milieu. But sometimes, unforeseen events do occur. Becoming much more aggressive and unpredictable at school, or even engaging in violent behaviour, may be the only way for an adolescent boy to express the despair for a family illness or for other personal suffering: the sheer rawness and unfamiliarity of these feelings lead to dramatic manifestation of emotions, which can no longer remain suppressed. Interestingly, the problem is not only about the affected boys learning to express emotions and to ask for help: it is also about other boys learning how to handle emotions and how to give help. Ashvin recalls situations where he, and his peers, should have talked to a friend in difficulty, but did not know how. Communicating and talking through emotions is such a societal taboo amongst boys, that it was easy to leave the affected boy to his own devices, as not one of his friends knew how to even begin to talk to him about what he was going through. Advertisement So what could be done differently? From a student's perspective, it starts by removing the stigma attached to having mental health difficulties or even to showing basic emotions. We need to move away from the idea that, in order to be considered as having a 'mental health problem,' one needs to be suicidal, severely depressed or have completely lost touch with reality; instead we need to realise that any episode of persistent worry, stress, or sadness, could be a mental health issue. This cannot happen overnight, but one place that it must start is in schools. Schools are aware of this problem. The Good Schools Guide website reminds parents, who are approaching the website in search of school reviews and articles on education, that 1 in 10 teenagers suffers from a recognised mental health issue, and 1 in three teenagers reports feeling 'sad' or 'down' more than once a week. The website suggests that parents should find a school where children are loved and valued for their individuality and where the pastoral care is outstanding. Indeed, good pastoral care provision is essential for uncovering the causes of disruptive behaviour, and it gives the boy an outlet outside of the home environment to explore his problems in a safe space. However, this may be not enough. Mental health must be incorporated into the school curriculum, but not simply through conventional, sit-down Personal, Social, Health and Economic lessons (PSHE). Rather than the daunting prospect of having to book formal appointments with a relatively unknown school counsellor, more interactive, informal discussions and workshops in smaller groups could be far more productive. Perhaps, a 'Mental Health Committee' could be responsible for organising these initiatives, bringing also families on board, and inviting independent speakers to joint events with parents and pupils. The input into the curriculum must be spread throughout the school years, as there is no saying when a young person may be struggling with mental health issues. A recent report by the UK Department of Education on mental health and behaviour in schools highlights cases of good practice, with schools offering a curriculum promoting mental health and well-being, sessions for individuals or groups dealing with issues such as anger management and family break-up, and peer mentoring programmes where older students receive training and conduct one to one meetings with younger students under the supervision of an adult learning mentor. So what about us - researchers in mental health? A new emphasis on public engagement is bringing additional resources to do outreach work in schools. My group has been involved in delivering Mind the Mind workshops by the European Federation of Psychology Student's Associations, aimed at educating young people about the stigma associated with mental disorders, and in the Takeover Challenge initiative, where young people are invited to our NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre to learn about mental health and to exchange ideas with researchers. Advertisement Don't miss 'Cosmos,' Andrzej Zulawski's first film in 15 years, an intriguing, wonderfully absurd, surreal cinematic delight - Brady Corbet's interesting but over ambitious debut feature, 'The Childhood of a Leader' is a bit too smart for itself - 'Almost Holy' is a sobering and harrowing documentary that charts a Ukranian priest's mission rescuing drug and abused kids - Zhao Liang's 'Behemoth' is a poetic, tragic and hypnotic view of environmental destruction in Inner Mongolia. Director: Andrzej Zulawski. Sabine Azema. Jean-Francois Balmer, Jonathan Genet, Johan Libereau. Metaphysical Noir Thriller. French with English subtitles. France, Portugal 2015 103 mins. (15) **** Advertisement 'Cosmos,' Andrzei Zulawski's first film in 15 years, adapted from Witold Grombowicz's 1965 novel of the same name defies classification but offers an intriguing, bizarre, wonderfully absurd, hilarious, surreal, reference littered and visually gorgeous cinematic feast wrapped in Andrzej Korznski's romantic score - a crazy expressionist cinematic delight. Mdm. Woytis (Sabine Azema) welcomes law student drop out Witold (Jonathan Genet) who's determined to write a literary masterpiece and his anti-intellectual friend Fuchs (Johan Libereau) to her guest house in rural France which she runs with with her partner retired banker Leon (Jean-Francois Balmer) who's vocabulary has a madcap personal touch. Fuchs likes a bit of rough trade at night and Witold's fixated by a sparrow with it's neck in a noose, the maid Catherette's (Clementine Pons) harelip and Leon's daughter Lena (Victoria Guerra) who has a beautiful mouth and is married to the dull architect Lucien (Andy Gillet). Colourful characters, chaos and the lunacy of the bourgeoisie at its manic best. Off-the-wall, narrative driven, mystifying and wonderfully mad, 'Cosmos' throws up 'The savage power of a stupid thought.' it's quite something for Andrzej Zulawski's goodbye film. Don't miss it. Released 19th August Advertisement Director: Brady Corbet. Liam Cunningham, Robert Pattinson, Stacy Martin. Drama, Horror, Mystery. UK, Hungary, France 2015 115 mins. (12A) *** What makes a fascist leader? Brady Corbet's interesting, enigmatic, but over ambitious debut feature 'The Childhood of a Leader,' is too long, tries too hard and is too smart for itself. An unnamed American diplomat (Liam Cunningham), who is part of President Wilson's post-1918 negotiations at the time of the Versaille Treaty, is in France with his unnamed religiously devout German born wife (Berenice Bejo) and their mysterious and troubled son, no pals Prescott (Tom Sweet). Told as three chapters or 'tantrums,' offering emotional repression and a touch of Freudian psychology against a background of European chaos. Scripted by Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold with a hint of Jean-Paul Satre's 1939 short story of the same name, Scott Walker's score, a full volume blast mix of classical and the avant-garde may push you out of the room. But it's stunningly shot by Lol Crawley, with camera angles and shadows that make the house a character in itself and Tom Sweet's impressive as the budding evil incarnate. The final tantrum, 'New Era' pushes it OTT and over the edge. Released 19th August Advertisement Director: Steve Hooper. Documentary. English & Russian with English subtitles. Ukraine, USA 2016 100 mins. (15) **** Steve Hooper's sobering and harrowing documentary follows Gennadiy Mokhnenko, the saviour of Mariupol's dispossessed. Mokhnenko, a Ukranian priest known as 'Crocodile Gennadiy' after the popular Russian TV character, forcibly abducts drug addicted kids and cares for them in the state funded Pilgrim Republic rehabilitation centre. Folk hero or vigilante? Whatever, he's the last hope for the dispossessed. Backed by Bobby Krlic, Atticus Ross and Leopold Ross's eclectic score, John Pope's hand held camera follows this maverick priest as he sweeps the decaying streets offering hope to the dispossessed. Tragic stories emerge - imprisoned in squalor, a deaf teenager's beaten, raped, and after giving birth, her child is taken away, a young girl found her father hanged from a TV cord, a 40-year-old woman thrown naked onto the street, drug and alcohol abused bodies, pharmacies selling codeine laced narcotics to addicts. Lenin's shadow hangs over a decaying infrastructure of corruption and governmental impotence. Mokhnenko points the finger at the changing economic, political and social scene in Ukraine since the collapse of the USSR with a wishful hope that Ukraine will join the European Union. His joy at eating a hotdog, is comical in its irony, as Vladimir Putin's forces and pro-Russian rebels emerge in early 2015. Released 19th August Advertisement Director: Zhau Liang. Documentary. Mandarin with English subtitles. China, France 2015 95 mins. Official Selection, Competition, Venice Film Festival 2015. Winner of the environmental Green Drop Award, 2015 Venice Film Festival (PG) **** 'Behemoth' - a poetic, tragic and hypnotic view of a dark and desolate place, a land of deathly silence. Zhao Liang draws inspiration from Dante's Divine Comedy, in a nightmarish glimpse into Inner Mongolia's coal mines and its iron works. Filmed over two years, Zhao Liang's visually captivating, masterful documentary paints a tragic picture of the ravages of the environment and the once lush vegetation now a paradise lost. And was it all worth it? The camera moves through the deserted streets of the Kanabashi district in Ordos City, a workers paradise, a 'ghost city', a surreal graveyard to the greed bubble that's burst and migrant workers with no aid from the Government succumb to terminal lung disease. Quietly forceful in its anger, 'Behemoth' is a mesmerizing glimpse at Dante's Inferno. Released 19th August With just a month to go before the climax of the Labour leadership campaign, both candidates might dwell upon a less anticipated September decision that could yet shape the future cost of Britain's healthcare. Next month, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will decide whether or not Pfizer - the world's second largest pharmaceutical company - was inflating the cost to the NHS of epilepsy treatment by 50 million in 2013. That year, the CMA accused Pfizer of evading existing price controls for the treatment. Advertisement The CMA states Pfizer sold the medication to another drugs company - Flynn Pharma - which went on to package and re-brand the medication as a generic drug. But rather than the cost falling - as a generic drug - the cost to the NHS ballooned from 2 million to over 50 million. As a result, the CMA claims Pfizer has been pocketing between 8 and 17 times the amount it received before this new arrangement. Hundreds of British people die of epileptic seizures each year and the drug that Pfizer manufactures is a key medicine used to reduce the likelihood or danger of seizures for about 50,000 people across the UK. Since there is research suggesting that some sufferers of the condition may have died from not having sufficient medication, the affordability of such medication is a life and death issue. You might be forgiven for thinking that furores over drug pricing were largely the preserve of developing countries fighting "big pharma" back in 2002 to reduce the cost of life-saving medicines for diseases such as HIV/AIDS. In reality, the issue is far closer to home given UK taxpayers have been boosting the revenues of one of the sector's largest companies. Clearly, some argue intellectual property (IP) protection is essential to incentivise investment by promising future years of monopoly profits. As it happens, Labour leadership candidate - and former Pfizer lobbyist - Owen Smith MP has argued in Parliament against government support for cheaper generic drugs for epilepsy. Advertisement Others take a contrasting view. Writing for the Labour Campaign for International Development, public health expert Ben Simms argues that prices for drugs fall "not because of the goodwill of pharmaceutical companies, but because, in defiance of them, we have seen the growth of competition from manufacturers of generic medicines". In the CMA's case against Pfizer, IP is not so central an issue. The epilepsy medication in question is difficult to manufacture and therefore a monopoly stance is possible to preserve without IP protection. That highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to the good governance of pharmaceutical companies that harnesses profit for the public good. More corporate responsibility programmes - conceived by the pharmaceutical sector - is not the answer. This was a sobering lesson of the public health crisis in Africa of ten years ago when advocates of corporate responsibility concluded that the responsible thing for business to do is align their lobbying activity with long-term societal needs. Today, that raises key questions about the political influence of big pharma. In the past, Pfizer made a large donation to the Labour think tank Progress, while the Conservatives have been accused of having a revolving door between their party and drug firms. Above all, the stakes are about to be raised as the UK enters a period of negotiating new trade agreements. It is argued by Simms and others that trade agreements - such as the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) - pose a clear threat to future access to medicines in Europe and the developing world. It is a concern that as a candidate to lead progressive politics in the UK, Owen Smith has not said anything about TTIP, or even about the regulation of multinationals, on either his campaign or constituency websites. As we move into a period of negotiating new trade deals, not having a clear public stance on how to protect the powers of government keeping drug prices in check, will not be credible. It's a timely reminder that while competition law may seem like a dull affair, the pricing of essential drugs needs to be a politically defining issue. The NHS can ill-afford either rising costs for essential medicines, nor the additional stress it will impose on clinical professionals as the human face of rationing. More funding for the NHS will not build a healthier nation if it leaks straight into the pockets of drug companies. The wellbeing of Britain requires the political will to strike a fair balance between private profit and public benefit. Advertisement KARAGANDA - I am one of those who have been affected by nuclear tests in Kazakhstan. As a result, I was born without arms. I doubt a regular person with two arms can understand what it is like to use your feet for basic things like opening a door or grabbing a fork, or to sign your passport with your mouth. People stare at me. Then they empathise, but none can really, truly imagine what it is like, and no one really wants to. I dream one day of standing up and facing all those who lobby for nuclear weapons. I want to look in their eyes and ask them why. Kazakhstan is set to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the closure of the infamous Semipalatinsk nuclear test site on Aug. 29. Twenty-five years is a lot of time from a personal perspective, but little from a historic point of view. Twenty-five years is how much time Kazakhstan needed to become one of the leaders trying to marshal the world to become nuclear-safe - and not without its own share of losing. Yes, I am not afraid to use the word losing, because there are no winners in war: nuclear weapons were created for intimidating, controlling and murdering. Advertisement Twenty-five years of my life covers the important period of time starting from the years of the Nevada-Semipalatinsk movement and up to the recent ATOM Project initiatives. This period of time, thanks to such initiatives, supported by the will of the people, and the wisdom of our President and other moral leaders such as Olzhas Suleimenov, Toktar Aubakirov and others, has propelled our country into a leadership role in nuclear non-proliferation. We are a part of that, and that is what we have to show for 25 years of hard, united work. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, many things started crumbling: ideology, principles, morale. I remember the early 1990s - times were tough. They remind me of what I've learned about the great depression years in the U.S. I remember, like yesterday, how we had to break chairs and use the debris to start a fire in our yard to cook the raw meat of a slain sheep. What gave us strength and kept us going was our unity and the common cause - to survive. We gladly shared our last pieces of bread to make sure everyone got an equal part. We gave the last crumbs of bread to our youngsters, because we believed it was they who needed to make a change so nothing like this would happen again to their kids. These times are hard to forget, because they were recent, because they happened to me when I was old enough to remember, and because sometimes, when I am about to throw out a mouldy loaf of bread, I remember that there were times when I would have eaten even that. After the break-up of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan inherited what was at the time the fourth largest arsenal of nuclear weapons in the world. Had we kept that arsenal, we would be a different type of player in the region today. That would have been the easy way. We chose the hard way - winning hearts, earning our reputation, deserving trust. When the decree on the closure of the test site back in 1991 was signed, it was a victory for my family in particular, but also for our country, for the whole world. Advertisement Too many things have changed since then. We use smartphones as if they have been around for centuries. Our eyes have grown lazy and wish only be entertained; our hearts have become colder because these days we are seldom reminded of what hardships are, so we can appreciate what we have, and because we are too busy buying what we can't afford, dreaming of what we can't have. And what we have is a problem that is slipping away from our focus. We need to be constantly reminded of the dangers of the nuclear weapons. We need to address these issues and keep pressure on the key people who have the power to address this issue. There aren't too many in the world. We all know who they are. We need to maintain the dialogue. As part of The ATOM Project, I travel around the world. I meet other people who have been affected by the consequences of nuclear weapons. I also meet young people and I always speak to them, always tell them about our country and what we endured. And as long as nuclear weapons exist, they could end up falling into the wrong hands - into the hands of terrorists for instance! This could trigger a worse outcome than the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The threat is real and we must constantly address it. I believe that unity and common cause, which once saved my family, can give us the strength to fight the nuclear weapons we ourselves have created. I am not a naive person. I realise the realities of fighting for a nuclear-weapons-free world today. But perhaps not in my time, but maybe in two generations, maybe in five generations, there will be solid changes. That hope also gives me the strength to keep pushing. This is why events and days like Aug. 29 are very important - they remind us of those hardships, which must not be overlooked! They remind us that we need to tell our youth about the errors of the past, to not be intimidated by the madness of the few in control of the lives of millions of people. Advertisement One day, I dream of standing up and facing all those who lobby for nuclear weapons, I want to look in their eyes and ask them: "Is your cause worthier than mine? How does it keep me safer?" I would like to thank Dr Khalid Koser for co-authoring. The Economics of Migration Today's debate surrounding migration is increasingly polarised, with public opinion in the US and Europe showing growing hostility towards migrants. The UK's Brexit campaign was, in part, fuelled by these anxieties, and we have seen the same kind of sentiment play out in the course of the current US election campaign. The reality, however, is that well-managed migration can benefit national economies. Despite the popular belief that a new wave of immigrants will increase unemployment, the National Institute of Economics and Social Research says there is no aggregate impact of migration on unemployment. Similar misconceptions abound about the strain on public services. Certainly there is some initial stress while services are improved and families integrate into their new communities. However, most migrants tend to be younger and more economically active than the average person in host countries, as well as being better educated. In the UK, for example, 35% of immigrants have a university degree (compared to the UK average of 26%), whilst in the US this figure is 27%. Advertisement A study by the OECD on the fiscal impact of migration over the last 50 years also concludes that immigration is not a long-term burden on the public purse. In fact, the contrary is true. High levels of education and a young work force means that on average immigration is a net benefactor fuelling aggregate demand and improving tax receipts that are reinvested in infrastructure and social services. Immigration similarly helps supplement human capital and with a high concentration of people in healthcare and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) professions, R&D is improved which often has a knock on effect on productivity. Immigration is also one way to address the growing demographic deficit (and consequent pension crisis). At the moment, it is estimated that Europe has four people of working age for every one person of pensionable age. By 2060 it is estimated that this will be two people working for every one pensioner. The same study, by the OECD, estimates that with an aging population GDP will reduce by 1.5% across Europe, and up to 5% in Germany. Short Term Pain, Long Term Gain Systems for integrating immigrants, especially on the scale recently witnessed in Western Europe, are often ineffective. Our politics and systems of government focus on the short-term challenges and are too impatient to realise the long-term benefits of immigration. Dividends only become clear 5-10 years later, but our debates and our systems are myopic reacting only to the immediate challenges. School and healthcare services are often claimed to be stretched with additional burden coming from immigrants. These concerns are not without merit, but they are concerns that can and should be planned for. They are also concerns that should be listened to and to which governments should respond to appropriately, including with investment to improve services. Advertisement The elephant in the room, however, are the attacks that have been witnessed in France and Germany in recent months. It is easy when such atrocities have been committed to roll out the lazy arguments, to erect walls (both physical and metaphorical) and by doing so increase division and heighten the risk of further attacks. Security concerns have to be given the utmost consideration and clear action needs to be taken, but in the case of the attacks against France and Germany, the debate cannot ostracise the 1.6bn Muslims in the world. Political leaders need to ask more intelligent questions to understand why these attacks are happening, they need to listen to all communities and they need to make sure extremism and hate are not given the conditions to grow. Where to go From Here? How can we work towards a more informed debate and policy response to immigration? There is no silver bullet. To ensure that both the people migrating and the host country get the full benefit of the flow of human capital, we believe the following areas need further consideration: 1.More evidence: There are still significant evidence gaps, for example on the impact of migration on salaries and competition in labour markets. 2.The role of academics: Academics run the risk of becoming poor advocates. They should carry out relevant research and be given the right avenues to disseminate conclusions. 3.Research and evidence needs to be better communicated: The first step is to understand the concerns of those who oppose migration so they can be addressed directly. Advertisement 4.The role of media: Media outlets have become increasingly divisive in their coverage. Efforts need to be made to redress this, including ensuring greater access to the sector for asylum seekers, refugees and under-represented minority groups. 5.Create prominent advocates for migration from the private sector: There is an understanding that open labour markets and migration are good for business. These benefits been to be better communicated. 6. Independent commissions: Advocate the establishment of independent commissions, like the UK's Independent Asylum Commission, that can inform policy decisions on migration outside the constraints of politics. In essence, these recommendations ask for open, tolerant debate about the costs and benefits of migration. This is paramount to overcome the malaise of discussion in Europe, the US and other regions and ensure we are able to counter the demographic deficit and sustain our economies. As little girls we dream of the day our very own Prince Charming will sweep us off our feet and down the aisle. But while us girls can be involved with planning every single detail of the wedding, to ensure it goes exactly how we want it to, we will have little say in when, where and how the proposal happens. Many men are really starting to think outside the box when it comes to their proposals, but what is it really like during that period when he knows that she is (hopefully) about to move one step closer to becoming his wife, and she is completely oblivious? I spoke to a couple of men who have already been through this knee shaking, sweat inducing, heart-pounding moment - and come out the other side smiling. Advertisement A romantic proposal in paradise Research commissioned by the insurer Liverpool Victoria found that six out of 10 engagements now happen on holiday and the number of British couples getting engaged abroad has increased by 39% in the last decade - included in these stats are Andrew Wiseman, John Saunders and their respective partners. John had been with his partner Sara for five years and said that actually choosing the ring was easy because he knew exactly what she would like. "I chose a central emerald cut diamond with a baguette either side in a platinum band for longevity," he said. A study of 2,000 Brits by travel firm SuperBreak found that 22% of men actually planned to, or did, spend the traditional two months' salary on a ring for their partner. But, when you are spending that much money you want to make sure you get the right one and luckily for you men, jewellers out there such as 77 Diamonds don't just sell you the ring - they help you to design the perfect one! John said: "Before this I never knew how much was involved in diamond cuts, colours, clarity and certification - after much research I certainly feel educated now!" However, John, who proposed while they were travelling, said hiding the ring, was the most stressful part. "I put it inside a camera case in my hand luggage... I didn't account for the fact my bag would undergo a random screening at Heathrow, there was hardly anything in it! That was pretty touch and go." Advertisement Luckily, John managed to send Sara, who was waiting next to him, on ahead. "I said to the security guy, 'There's a ring in the camera case that I really don't want her to see!' He skirted around the camera case and we were good to go." That was until the stress started again when they reached their first destination. "I took it out with me in a shoulder bag; walking around the manic busy streets and temples in Bangkok, everywhere you turned there were signs "Pickpockets are everywhere" and the crowds were huge," he recalled. "My hand was in the bag holding onto the ring for dear life." Andrew decided the perfect time to propose to Cressi, his girlfriend of four years, would be during a holiday to Iceland. He also found the whole engagement ring experience stressful part - but this time choosing it rather than hiding it. "I did not know Cressi's ring size, and she doesn't wear any jewellery so I literally had no way of finding this out without asking," he said. "I didn't want to get an expensive ring, which was the wrong size, so I went for a less expensive ring, which would have a meaning, and then would get her a proper ring later." With a mutual love of dinosaurs and having spent their first date at the Natural History Museum, he chose a ring with a velociraptor on it. He explained: "Everyone loves the ring and the story and meaning behind it, especially Cressi." Advertisement John - whose proposal would take place in a vineyard that they flew to on an aircraft with himself and his friend and pilot Rob at the wheel, relied on several things, including the weather and aircraft availability - says he found tying it all together quite stressful. "Looking back, there were so many clues as to what was happening but she didn't guess. I particularly like that I managed to get her into a privately chartered plane (for a 'random flight') and land on the vineyard private runway and she just thought it was a nice day out!" It would appear women are romantics with 52% wanting the traditional 'down on one knee' proposal. Both John and Andrew kept to the tradition of getting down on one knee. Despite some stress and worry in the build-up both men got the all-important yes and in that moment went from a boyfriend to a fiance - fortunately for both and especially, for Andrew as he admitted: "I didn't have a back-up plan [if she had said no]. I would probably just have died from embarrassment!" It is not just men who ask the question... Despite the fact that it has long been tradition for men to propose to women, tradition also states that once every four years, on 29th February, women are 'allowed' to propose to men. Advertisement According to dating website eHarmony, nearly three quarters of marriage proposals are done by men, and although 40% of men agree women have as much right as them to pop the question, almost a third of women feel it is the man's job to propose. However, while many women would still prefer to wait for their partner to ask them, some are ignoring this outdated tradition altogether and are asking the question themselves, such as Ally Richards who told the BBC: "Proposing is something I'd thought about doing for quite a long time. I realised I'd been, on some level, waiting for my partner to propose, then it occurred to me that I was ready to make that step and it felt quite silly to just wait and see if it would happen." Ally, who chose to use a bracelet connected by rings to propose, goes on to say: "On the morning of the proposal I still felt shaky and had butterflies in my stomach. I was worried he might be upset I'd taken the opportunity to propose away from him." But she need not have worried as she did get a 'yes' from her shocked - but happy - boyfriend. Are we finally on the verge of achieving equal pay for equal work? The answer is sadly no, although arguably progress is being made. The latest estimate from the Census Bureau indicates that in the United States, female workers earn 79 cents to every male dollar -- 2 cents higher than a decade ago. And while there are certain occupations where woman outperform men, they are the exception; around 1 in 38. And it's not just women who are getting stiffed, pay-wise. Research shows that in 2015, black men in the United States earned around 85 per cent as much as white men. And there is even a gay wage gap, with economist Lee Badgett estimating that LGBT workers earn roughly 11 per cent less, globally. Advertisement In January of this year, the Obama administration proposed legislation which would require companies of 100 employees or more to disclose worker pay by gender and ethnicity, coming into effect in 2017. "The issue has been a hot topic on the campaign trail, too," says Marie Claire's Kayla Webley. "Hillary Clinton has vowed to close the gap, calling on Congress to pass legislation and on CEOs to investigate pay at their companies, while a field organiser for Donald Trump filed a complaint against the campaign, alleging she was paid less than men with the same job title." Webley's breakdown of the wage gap includes advice for managers on how to address pay inequity, as well as tips for acing your next salary negotiation. "When women are not paid fairly, not only do they suffer, but so do their families," says President Obama. In addition to floating the new rule which will hold companies to account, Obama also launched a hackathon event this year to focus on innovation in this space. "I wish I had these tools to benefit my own career, and for the benefit of the businesses I've run," says Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, who provided feedback to each 'Hack The Pay Gap' entry. Variable Labs design VR experiences specifically to "foster empathy, develop soft skills, and change behaviour." For the hackathon, the organisation presented a VR negotiation simulator, comprising a number of workplace scenarios in which female players are encouraged to be confident and assertive when pitching ideas and discussing their pay. Advertisement 'What's My Pay Gap?' is a simple calculator which uses income data from the Commerce Department to give workers an accurate insight into their pay inequity based on race, gender and age. The value of this tool, according to developer Adam Bonnifield, is to "uncover where inequality comes from" and dispel "incorrect assumptions." 'Raise Above The Wage' is a browser plug-in which enables users to experience the pay gap for themselves, by altering the price of goods and services based on their selected profile. In other words, you can see with your own eyes the cost of being a woman or POC. Perhaps the most useful on a broader scale is 'Aware', a data survey and analytics platform which allows companies to collect and visualise information about the wage gap from their own employees, fostering communication and action on the issue. 'Aware' differs from the other tools in that in addition to empowering the individual, it also puts the responsibility on the company to solve this problem -- a crucial difference. What we ultimately need is an approach that addresses structural and historic workplace biases, be they racial, homophobic or sexist. Can we get an app for that, please? Did the picture of Omran Daqneesh shock you? Upset you? The images and story of "The boy in the ambulance" surely pushed buttons in most of us, highlighting graphically the desperate siege of Aleppo and its residents, screaming "look at this, you must look at this" in an anaesthetised or uncaring world. But here's a thing: Would all the people (including me) who are upset by this photo give a thought about his life/welfare/education/family/prospects if he hadn't just been pulled out of a pile of rubble? Advertisement That's the view from some of those who know much more about all this have been critical. "Self-serving weepy obsession," to paraphrase one comment from a close friend who has spent the summer volunteering in a refugee camp. Tough words, but quite apart from editors and readers not really caring, can a child really give consent for their photo to be used like this? Is it right to use photos of traumatised bodies for shock value? Isn't it just dehumanising? Children, like Phan Thi Kim Phuc, photographed in similar situations have said they have never been able to escape the legacy of the published images. But there is a larger point here too, ironically illustrated by the juxtaposition of two editorials in Friday's Guardian - one on Omran Daqneesh as a wake-up call on Aleppo, and the other on race equality in the UK. I share the view - put forward by my friend (who happens to be white) - that victimisation and dehumanisation is a problem area for our media. It's not just that there are rarely stories of middle eastern children who aren't living in a refugee camp or covered in blood - it is more that such a lop-sided view is dehumanising and arguably teaches us to see black and middle eastern people only as either victims or perpetrators, never as full human beings - as bodies first and people second. This is close, in my view, to some views on black deaths in police custody. It is not difficult to see why the Black Lives Matter campaign has such a strong resonance in the UK and why race quality is rightly rising up the political agenda. Advertisement My Calais correspondent argues that the photos of Omran Daqneesh show how as a middle-eastern person, he has less of a right to privacy and to consent than a white child would. That he's presented as a symbol, not a human being. That using traumatised and injured people for shock value is dehumanising and creates the troubling narrative described above. I understand but think there's another view: newspapers should be slow to sanitise the horrors of war. There is a duty to hold a mirror up to the world for their readers. And the strangulation of Aleppo and its people still hasn't attracted the attention it should or needs. Public interest trumps consent on this one I think. It is not good that it takes bloodied kids being pulled out of rubble to get enough focus, but sadly not surprising. I agree about the (sometimes unintended) presumption of victimhood and the consequences of that - but how else, in reality, to report Aleppo right now? Not at all would probably be the dominant view. I also disagree that there is an absolute right to consent. Sometimes, the circumstances make consent impossible. Sometimes there is no realistic right to privacy - including when there is an overwhelming public interest. Shock tactics have always played a role for in political debate. Facts and policy arguments may engage your mind and change what you think. But images are more likely to change how you feel. And for better or worse, how you feel is more likely than what you think to make you act. When most people think about their 4-H program, they think of county fairs and competitions. But did you know what 4-H offers to youth all year in more non-traditional settings such as classrooms in all our county schools? The 4-H and School Enrichment programming has become the predominately 4-H delivery mode, with 3.7 million youth reached annually across the U.S. (U.S.D.A, 1999). Traditional 4-H clubs have been a great resource for youth to develop life skills, but Extension staff devote efforts on the local, state and national level to school enrichment because of its efficiency in reaching diverse youth in large numbers, helps develop credibility with community officials, and offers an alternative to formal education in the classroom setting. Our staff is very grateful for a strong 39-year partnership with all the schools in Platte County. Each fall, our staff leads meetings with teachers countywide through the annual brochure outlining the standards-based education programs that are delivered to the schools complementing their curriculum with hands-on learning as the primary teaching approach. These programs are taught throughout the school year and have been an exciting and educational way to develop in-depth knowledge about science, engineering and technology; leadership and citizenship; healthy living; agriculture literacy; and college and career readiness. Platte County currently provides 19 different programs done in the schools and four special events held at Platte County Agricultural Park for educators to choose from, with topics evaluated annually. In Platte County, approximately 4,770 youth are reached through this delivery method each year. What difference does this make? Platte County classroom teachers have reported the following: The school enrichment programs taught by the Extension staff reinforce topics covered in the classroom through the hands on activities and providing new experiences. The GPS program is the highlight of the school year for the students in my class! I am really pleased with the projects my class participates in. The 4-H programs added during University Week have been a welcomed addition to a great experience. Providing classrooms such as these with the resources of the land-grant university system literally makes 4-H your first class at the University of Nebraska. Ask your child today if they ... learned how to properly wash their hands? learned about the life cycle of plants and animals? hatched chicks in their classroom? learned how to be safe on their own at home? learned how to be respectful to others and themselves? There is a good change they have been a part of Husker Nation, through the Platte County 4-H School Enrichment Program. Sometimes it feels that everyone in global health is a big fan of Bill Gates. Even those outside of global health think he's pretty damn great for all of the work he does with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. As people like to tell me at parties, I must also be a big fan of Bill Gates as he, Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett have given away so much of their personal wealth to combat some of the worst diseases on the planet. You can't really argue with a question like that: say that you don't like Gates or the Foundation you look like you don't care about Polio eradication or Mothers dying in childbirth. If you say that you do like the Foundation because you dig philanthropy/don't want to offend/lose out on any future research grants, then you become a bigger part of the Gates fan club. And it is the fan club and the lack of public criticism of the Foundation that for me is the biggest problem of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In a recent article I published in the journal Global Governance I draw on the work of David Beetham to argue that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has a legitimacy problem. The problem here is that to be a legitimate actor in global health, someone has to challenge your role/position/ideas. Not just through accountability or monitoring and evaluation processes (which I'm sure the Foundation is pretty rigorous on) but a more mundane questioning of the authority of an actor. Advertisement Think about it, most sources of power in democratic societies are questioned - either by the electorate or opposition if you think of governments, or by the media, academics or public campaigns if not the government. It is very rare for an actor to have power in a democratic system without some sort of check or questioning of that power: the actor can still have power, but they just have an annoying (I imagine politicians have stronger words for such folks) person/group/party/paper that question it. The Gates Foundation has a lot of power in global health through the setting of research agendas; membership of the Health8; financing of UN institutions, non-governmental organisations and university projects; and prominence in the international media (when Bill Gates talks about health, people listen), but very rarely does anyone question that power. There is the odd academic publication, but given the scale and scope of the Foundation, there is very little visible public criticism of the role of the Foundation in global health. The comeback to this would be that the Foundation is legitimate in other ways. It funds established institutions, seems to align with the priorities of global health, and fundamentally Bill Gates is so famous, rich and clever he must know what he's doing when he puts his mind to something. If people believe the Foundation is legitimate and act on this by accepting funding, then that makes the Foundation legitimate. This type of argument draws on claims to legitimacy based on adherence to rules and charisma (and by charisma here I don't mean the slick easy going guy on talk shows but the established success, respect and presence of an individual), i.e. the Gates Foundation must be legitimate as everyone believes in Bill Gates. The charismatic basis for legitimacy is clearly reflected in the Gates Foundation's narrative of the work it does. Advertisement However a central problem with the charismatic basis of legitimacy is that the Foundation engages in self-legitimation - it creates an image of Bill and Melinda Gates that suggests they are legitimate because of their past endeavours and personal interest - and ignores how in occupying a position of power the Foundation is able to shape some of the rules and norms it supposedly adheres to. By focusing on legitimacy I want to go beyond the questions of whether I like Bill Gates (I imagine we'd get on just fine, once I get over the whole charisma bit) but to think about wider questions of authority in global health: who has it and how it can be checked. The subject of Gates is everyone's favourite dinner party chat in global health, people have stories, but no-one wants to publicly share them as they tend to be critical. And who can blame them? As funding of research continues to dry up, the Gates Foundation offers a unique opportunity to do well-paid advanced research. But we need to get to a point that this still happens and we can still ask questions of those with the authority and influence to make decisions. I have always believed in dog, ever since the moment I first touched a curious canine snout with my curious toddler hands. Sometimes dogs can come across as pretty dumb, with their repetitive behaviour and slobbery fixations, but then we're all guilty of chasing our own tail on occasion. I personally think they're actually on a much higher plane to us. Sometimes I look at my pensive Labrador and feel like I'm only on the first page whereas she's read the whole book. Advertisement Source: Sophie Tanner Britain is often hailed as a nation of dog-lovers and a growing body of research shows that owning or spending time with a dog can have a positive impact on your physical and mental wellbeing. It is not surprising that dogs can boost your mood; they live in the present moment, they never bear grudges and their love is unconditional. Has anyone ever met a pessimistic pooch? Exactly. National Dog Day, coming up on August 26th, is a good time to reward our precious pets for their unbending companionship. Jo-Rosie Haffenden, author of The Real Dog Yoga and dog behaviourist in Channel 4 documentary 'Rescue Dog to Super Dog', gives some interesting insight into how to understand your dog and make sure it is as relaxed as possible. Why a dog gets stressed Dogs have very individual personalities and their temperament is usually an equal mixture of nature and nurture - the puppy you take home is a result of genetics, breeding and early experiences. Often problems can occur when people get the wrong type of dog for their lifestyle, preventing them from doing what they are bred to do. For example, a collie is bred for working and herding sheep and so needs sufficient exercise and mental stimulation to prevent boredom. When I ask Jo-Rosie which breed makes the best family dog she immediately replies "the best family dog is a calm dog". Interestingly, mixed breeds can have especially good temperaments because they don't have the specific drives associated with key breeds - their breed-specific traits are watered down and therefore they should be calmer. So if you're hunting for a puppy that is good with kids, opt for a classic Heinz 57. Advertisement Source: Sophie Tanner One of the main causes of stress in a dog is lack of time to adjust - we are always rushing them. In the wild, dogs take at least 8 minutes to properly break the ice yet we force instant introductions on them when we pass other owners on the pavement. We ourselves are time-poor so will often get home from work and give them a cursory walk before Netflix and chilling. Jo-Rosie highlights how important it is to put in the hours of training when you first get a dog, she says: "The more training you do with your dog the more freedom you get. Training needs to be done on a gradient - little and often. If you want them to get used to pubs, for example, go at the quietest time, have a drink for 10 mins and sit outside. Start on the outskirts of town and visit different pubs for short periods of time - transition them into it." As you get to know your dog, you will start to notice the different signs that indicate whether they're stressed or relaxed; tension around the eyes, jaw and mouth accompanied by panting can mean your dog is not happy. It is when their limbs are loose, limber and free of muscle tension that you can tell they're in a good place. How to chill your dog out Going on holiday with your dog will give you a brilliant opportunity to spend quality time together. Rather than forking out for kennels and flights, choose a UK break; we are lucky to have so many varied landscapes to choose from including marshes, beaches, forests and downs. New rural environments offer real enrichment for your dog - there are new smells, new things to do and great opportunities for training and learning good behaviours during your leisure time. There are plenty of dog-friendly holidays in Britain, from Forest Holidays' woodland cabins to self-catering coastal cottages, a quick Google search will give you plenty of inspiration. Advertisement Like us, dogs love a good massage. Jo-Rosie points out that there is no one-size-fits-all massage for dogs, you just want to tailor it so that your own pet is comfortable. She says: "Start at the head and stroke down the body with light pressure, massaging around the neck and shoulders. They'll turn and look at you if you reach an area they're not happy with to tell you that's enough." It is best to tune into their body language and create a dialogue. If they move their head, it may be that you've reached an area of low level muscle tension, it's best to play it safe and move to a different area, they'll know that you're responding to them and will relax. I ask Jo-Rosie about her new book, The Real Dog Yoga, presuming it is similar to 'Doga' - the practice of lifting your dog as a weight and using it as a bolster during yoga practice. "Absolutely not," Jo-Rosie retorts, "'Doga' doesn't work - the poor dogs have no choice in what they're doing, it's not relaxing at all and isn't good for their joints." In contrast, Real Dog Yoga is a programme of permission-based training. It ultimately involves teaching dogs to express and hold specific self-soothing body postures and actions that stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system and help them to become or remain calm. Our dogs are sensitive creatures and chatting to Jo-Rosie makes me realise just how complex. This National Dog Day, and indeed every other day, take the time to treat the dog in your life to an experience that truly makes them happy. Brian Lefkowitz, EVP, Executive Creative Director, Digitas Health Lifebrands When I first heard the phrase Celebrity Creative Director my mind immediately thought of Bill Bernbach and David Ogilvy the Creative Directors I studied in the classrooms at School of Visual Arts. There are also the Celebrity Creative Directors Ive been following since leaving school - Lee Clow, Dan Wieden & David Kennedy, Jeff Goodby & Rich Silverstein. And since then, Ive watched the rise of others like Alex Bogusly and Gerry Graf. These are the Celebrity CDs me and so many of my colleagues have come to admire and emulate. Today, Celebrity Creative Director has taken on a whole new meaning, actual celebrities - movie stars, musicians, athletes and artists - are now asking for creative roles in marketing campaigns. These are the same celebrities weve been asking our clients to fork over truckloads of money to so they can endorse the brands we work on. Multimillion-dollar media placements have brought these same celebrities notoriety and PR. They owe us, right? Now they want to take our jobs? Well, not really. The marriage between brands and celebrities dates back to the beginning of advertising. Our reasons for recommending celebrities to make endorsements are usually all very rational. The influence they can have on a brand is tremendous. The Hollywood Reporter recently reported that celebritys involvement in social media promotions are 98% effective. We have spent hundreds, if not thousands, of hours designing entire campaigns around a celebritys image. Weve carefully crafted the words we think should come out of their mouths so their voice can connect with the audience. Why would they be interested in creating that content themselves? Write the ads they appear in? Leave that to us, right? Advertisement Today, every angle of a celebritys life is exposed. TMZ has made it all very easy for us to find out everything we ever wanted to know about celebrities and more. Celebrities have agents, managers, stylists all helping them create their personal brand and image. They help celebrities choose what movies to appear in, what talk shows to show up on, what they should wear to the Oscars. Those same agents are also the gatekeepers to what endorsements they should entertain. Staying authentic to the celebrities image is job #1. What could be more authentic to the celebrity than if the celebrity themselves took part in the creation of the idea? Or as McConaughey said as only he can, I want to have my hands in the clay of how we tell the story, and I want to be part of the whole story, not just a character in it. He might seem like and extreme case now, but celebrities being part of the creative process isnt a completely new idea. Spike Lee was one of the pioneers when he helped introduce Mars Blackmon to Michael Jordan. Im also pretty sure when Jim Gaffigan or Jerry Seinfeld appears in a car commercial, they werent scripted by a copywriter. What celebrities fear most about brand endorsements is coming across as a shill. If they are willing to jump in with the team and shape the clay, Im all for it. What the new Celebrity Creative Director will do is bring a level of honesty, authenticity and genuineness that we cant create without their full collaboration. So, do not fear the new Celebrity Creative Director. Our clients still need their agency creative directors. Matthew McConaughey probably isnt looking for a gig sitting in research looking for ways to make the logo pop. And Alicia Keys wont be agonizing over fonts as she redesigns a brand website. They also wont be hanging around when its time to come up with the next big idea for the brand that might not include them. Advertisement Celebrities are not the long-term partners our clients want and need to help them manage every aspect of the creative product for their brand. The more we learn to collaborate with others, the more we can improve the creative product itself. Bringing a little honesty to our business is something we should always welcome. Melina Ex, Managing Director, East Coast, Fetch Chatbots are technically not a new invention. Simple forms of intelligent digital assistants have been around for some time now. Remember the Microsoft Office Assistant Clippy? He was first introduced in November 1996 to help Microsoft users when using their software products. And then there was SmarterChild in the 2000s, an intelligent bot that was nestled into messaging services like AIM and MSN. However, since the introduction of Apples Siri in 2011, digital assistants have been rising in prominence. In April 2016, digital assistants grabbed the headlines again with the launch of Facebook Messenger chatbots. So, why is it so important? First of all, chatbots in existing messaging apps are particularly well suited for consumers to access transactions and services and make a faster and easier alternative than installing, opening up, and navigating through a brand's app or mobile website. Additionally, chatbots offer consumers a channel to receive engaging content in a timely manner independent of time zones and time of day or night, shop online efficiently without having to click around, and communicate with customer service representatives conveniently. For marketers, the particular interest in chatbots today is for the potential they offer brands and businesses within social messaging apps. Social messaging apps are increasingly dominating time spent on mobile devices, attracting more active users than social networks. Given the rising popularity of social messaging apps, it is more essential than ever that brands and businesses tap into this unique opportunity to enter the private, personal and ad-free space of social messaging apps, to have a direct and genuine dialogue with consumers. Advertisement Taco Bell, for example, has created a bot for the messaging app Slack that intuitively responds to customer requests, allowing users to select their meal, pay and have it delivered without having to leave the interface. Chatbots can also be used by brands and businesses to gather rich personal data to offer more personalized experiences. Through conversations with users, brands can develop a deeper, more personalized understanding of their consumers. This valuable information can be used to retarget later on, promoting relevant products or offerings. This ensures that the consumers are receiving the right messages at the right time. Beauty retailer Sephora is an example of one brand who has done a good job of using data derived from chatbots to create a more frictionless consumer experience. The beauty brand uses quizzes to develop deeper understandings of customers, as well as facial recognitions to provide a more tailored experience. While brands and their agencies are developing chatbots, it is essential that they keep the consumers needs in their focus. Perhaps most importantly, brands must work with their agencies to create chatbots that engage with consumers in a genuine and authentic manner. At the end of the day, its all about providing real consumer value. Advertisement So, before you deploy a vendor or your traditional agency to catch the bots trend, ask yourself a few questions. Do you have the technical resource to build a chatbot, i.e. develop the script, the API links, the database connections, and the payment getaway? Do you have the consumer service and CRM resource to manage the chatbot dialogue? Have you decided the logic, rules of engagement, and the tone of voice in messaging from a branding and CRM perspective? If so, have you set up your content, consumer and product database to deliver the right messages? Last but not least, do you have the policies and procedures in place to manage the privacy and security issues? At Fetch, were already delivering a chatbot project for our own agency to direct website visitors to the correct location and contact. Surely, the industry (us included) has a lot of work to do before developing a chatbot that truly engages with consumers in a human-like adaptable, intelligent, quick and genuine way. But in the meantime, why not experiment and have fun with it? About the Author Melina Ex is Managing Director, East Coast of the global mobile-first agency Fetch in New York. Fetch supports clients with strategy, media planning and buying, creative and analytics and is part of the Dentsu Aegis Network. Melina has gained digital experience in China, South Africa, Germany and the UK. Before taking up her current position, she established and headed up Fetchs German office. Previously, Melina was CMO at a music streaming app start-up in Beijing, China. Melina has already made an impact as a young female leader. She received Women in Advertising New Yorks NextGen Award in 2016. During her time in Germany, Melina was elected as first female Vice President of Germanys Digital Economy Association (BVDW e.V.). FILE - In this Aug.4 2016 file photo made from video, Nissrine Samali, 20, gets into the sea wearing a burkini, a wetsuit-like garment that also covers the head, in Marseille, southern France. France's Socialist prime minister Manuel Valls is expressing support for local bans of burkinis, saying the swimwear is based on the "enslavement of women" and therefore not compatible with French values. (AP Photo, File) The Burkini has certainly become the "hot topic" at the end of this summer season in France. The current conversation isn't dominated by talk about the Olympic Games and their charm, or anything about the continuous deterioration of the situation in Syria or Yemen or Iraq or even in Turkey, where a (new) dictatorship emerges. We'll have to come back to these important topics. Instead, let's turn to the theme of the week, which concerns the burkini, the bizarre feminine nautical garment whose name comes from combining the words "burqa" and "bikini." The issue is simple: several municipalities in France have forbidden these bathing suits, and naturally the issue quickly became national, and then international news. Advertisement The only way to calm things down and move forward would be to hold a serious and open debate about this implicit requirement of total assimilation. Opinions regarding the ban are numerous and varied. Some view it as an Islamophobic, racist and vote-mongering act, while others defend it as a preventative measure against the expansion of Muslim integration and a defense of secular society. The conversation has exploded on social networks. Opinion pages that are fighting against these "integrated bathing suits" immediately follow ones that defend them, or at least don't pretend to hide the real motivations behind its detractors. We're willing to bet that this noise will last until the end of the month, as we wait for a new theme to capture our general delirium. As a sign of intellectual discomfort that this situation creates, many bloggers prefer to opt for humor, and this journalist has even done so by imagining a scenario of a film shot in Saint Tropez that would be called The Policeman and the Burkini Women. Since the first issue with the veil arose in 1989, the controversies linked to Islam have followed behind with the regularity of a metronome. It has now been over 25 years that these "debates" have been marked by the absence of reason and by the near impossibility to have discussions, when they're ever possible, with any serious intellectual discourse. This lack of rationality has peaked after the succession of attacks in France since January 2015 and the degradation of a healthy climate across the country. Advertisement Yet, the fear of Islamic terrorism does not explain everything because France has had a problem with Islam for a very long time. The growing visibility of the practice of this religion, but also the confusion, knowingly supported by a party of the political class and media elites, between the visibility (and the non-discretion) of certain populations of foreign nationality and their Muslim faith (real or supposed) are, at its origin, an identity crisis, which the extreme-right party knows how to effectively exploit. The swimmer in the burkini has become the symbol of masculine oppression in a country that is still incapable of guaranteeing salary equality between sexes. Is France still France even though so many of its citizens are Muslim? To this question, the extreme-right answers negatively while other major political figures -- who aren't far from thinking the same thing -- are kicking around the idea of an "Islam of France," which makes us ask ourselves "for whom?" and "how will that be defined?" This is therefore an acceptance of a permanent Muslim presence on French soil, as it's understood there are shared links with the colonial past. But, that's not all. Beyond the great speeches on the defense of women's rights (the swimmer in the burkini has become the symbol of masculine oppression in a country that remains incapable of guaranteeing salary equality between sexes), what this controversy reveals is that French nationals who practice Muslim faith or culture can openly differentiate themselves from the rest of their compatriots. Whether you like it or not, it always comes back to the same question of assimilation: Does being a "good" French Muslim woman mean that she must never show that she is Muslim? Such questions risk sparking a fire, but only those who are uniting against the burkini are the ones thinking about it seriously. What's more, they're now asking amongst themselves if wearing a burkini makes one a "real" Muslim... Advertisement The burkini provokes tension because it is seen as an opposition to total assimilation. The ban on the veil or the burqa, which only a portion of French public opinion rejects -- a fact politicians understand very well -- reveals the true tension at the heart of this debate: Women of Muslim faith or culture don't assimilate, or, to be more precise, they don't assimilate as much as public opinion would like and requires of them. Men, as far as the general public are concerned, elicit fewer emotions. Sure, there have been plenty of complaints lately about the risks of radicalization, but even so, there is less tension and fewer problems for them. While some men who wear beards, swim with Bermuda shorts that cover their knees or walk around in their old hipster shoes may occasionally experience the wrath of an irritated public in France, it's nothing compared to the problems that women face on a daily basis. This all stems from one of the most taboo subjects in French society. There's this bright idea that men of Muslim faith or culture are "beyond help" because they are less susceptible to being totally assimilated. And since we can't do anything about that, we bring this battle to everything concerning their wives. In this light, we can understand why wearing a veil provokes such strong emotions. The only way to calm things down and move forward would be to hold a serious and open debate about this implicit requirement of total assimilation. But, given the current context, and seeing all the indignant responses from the French political class (and their media clientele), there's a small chance of that ever happening. Plant Growing In Savings Coins - Activist hedge funds are often seen as the epitome of all that's wrong with capitalism. They cut investment, fire employees, and break contracts to boost the short-term stock price, and cash out before the long-term value destruction comes to light. It's certainly possible to find examples of this. And such stories make for good journalism so will be reported most prominently. Cases in which an activist quietly created long-term value don't make for exciting reading, just as "The Brooklyn Bridge failed to collapse today" won't make a great headline. Advertisement The repeated tales of asset-stripping lead many commentators to suggest that these activists must be stopped. Hillary Clinton advocates a sharply higher capital gains tax on shares held for fewer than two years. The "Loi Florange" in France gives extra voting rights to investors that hold stock for more than two years, to hinder allegedly "short-term" activists from wrenching control. But we can't base policy on a couple of high-profile anecdotes. To truly understand the effects of activist hedge funds, it's necessary to look at all the evidence - to study hundreds of cases, in different industries, across different time periods. This is the role of academic research. While academics are often viewed as disconnected from reality -- and are indeed less informed about one particular company than (say) a board member -- this "disconnect" allows them to undertake large-scale research, unbiased by ties to one particular firm. And a decade of research by professors Alon Brav (Duke) and Wei Jiang (Columbia), and their coauthors, shows that activist hedge funds create value in both the short run and the long run. Their seminal study, coauthored with Frank Partnoy (San Diego) and Randall Thomas (Vanderbilt) found that activism leads to firm value increasing by 7 per cent, with no long-term reversal. Operating performance, payout to investors, and chief executive turnover all rise. Higher payout is often viewed as "smoking gun" evidence of short-termism. However, this payout may be of cash that would otherwise have been wasted on chief executives' pet projects or salaries. Indeed, the higher payout and chief executive turnover may explain why executives sometimes lampoon activists - not out of concern for long-term value, but instead to entrench themselves and enjoy the quiet life. Advertisement The increase in operating performance runs counter to the common belief that hedge funds only create value by piling on debt. Even so, it might result from over-working employees, compromising product quality, or breaching long-term contracts. So a second paper, with Hyunseob Kim (Cornell), investigated its source. It finds operational performance rises because of an increase in plant-level productivity, which in turn stems from higher labour productivity. But, interestingly, the rise in labour productivity is despite working hours not rising and wages not falling. Moreover, productivity also improves in plants sold by hedge funds - thus, such disposals are not asset stripping, but reallocating assets to buyers who can make better use of them. Brav and Jiang's newest paper, with Song Ma (Yale) and Xuan Tian (Indiana), studies innovation. This is the smoking gun that hedge funds will fire if they are short-termist - R&D hits the bottom line today, and its benefits don't arise until many years in the future. And they do cut R&D. But despite the reduction in innovation input, innovation output actually improves, in terms of both the number and quality of future patents. Investment is absolutely critical for the twenty-first century firm. Equally critical, however, is for the debate to focus on investment output rather than input. Commentators often compare the level of investment across countries, or between private and public firms, assuming that high investment is necessarily a good thing. But it takes no skill to simply spend money. Responsible companies don't invest willy-nilly; they do so judiciously. In the English Premier League last season, Leicester City invested far less money than Manchester City, has certainly invested better. Just as spendthrift behavior is not clearly optimal in sports, cutting investment and using the money saved for dividends and repurchases - which can be reallocated to other companies with better growth opportunities - can sometimes be good for both firms and society, in both the short term and long term. How can this be, since activist funds typically have short holding periods, of about 20 months? Because short holding periods don't imply short horizons. Even in 20 months (far from a flash of time), hedge funds can make improvements with long-lasting impact, similar to a consultant or turnaround specialist hired for a few months. Their short holding periods give them a sense of urgency, and the option to exit gives them teeth that can overcome managerial entrenchment. Advertisement Man and woman couple holding hands on a romantic date or a wedding Almost 18 years ago I was a liberal, vegetarian, bell-bottom-wearing college sophomore when I met my husband -- a young Republican Alex P. Keaton-type if Keaton was tall, blonde and a deer hunter. Election night 2000 stands out as an almost disastrous night in our relationship as we sat together, watching the election night returns and alternately fluctuating between elation and despair throughout the night as the outcome of the election swung back and forth. Having learned our lesson, in the three subsequent elections we each calmly watch returns in different rooms of our home. We disclose campaign contributions to each other, always with the possibility of our joint bank account being used to fund two opposing campaigns. We never put out campaign signs (except for the occasional support of the Detroit Zoo) because, as we joke, we do not need to let the whole neighborhood in on our dysfunction. He has suggested more than once that we just stop voting so we do not spend time waiting in line just to cancel each other out, but as I get immense joy out of the experience of voting he begrudgingly shows up at the polls. Advertisement With the disclaimer that our state does not have registration by party affiliation and, even if it did, I am not sure either of us would choose to affiliation, we are an interparty marriage. Only nine percent of married couples are Republican-Democrat. But even in these divisive times, with rhetoric flying and a news cycle that seems to be accelerating faster than a boulder falling of a cliff, I love my husband and respect his right to cast his vote even if he decides to cast that vote for Donald Trump. Suffice to say, #imwithher. But equally as importantly, I am against him. Since the reasons to be against Donald Trump have filled voluminous pages of this blog and elsewhere, I will summarize that my passion in life is improving Muslim-Jewish relations and Trump is antithetical to my understanding of my faith, my values and what it means to be an American. I think he is dangerous and bad for America. There are few superlatives that I would hesitate to use when talking about the destructiveness of Trump's candidacy. But I will not extend these superlatives to those who vote for Trump and -- in the end -- I might be married to one. This election season, my friends, my colleagues, even my mother have come up to me with the whispered question, "Is your husband going to vote for Donald Trump?" The truthful answer: I don't know and I am not sure if he does either. Like many conservatives, he appears to be struggling between voting for a Republican candidate that does not represent his conservative political philosophies, voting for a third party candidate knowing that support may put a Democrat in the White House for another four years or just staying home, not voting and watching a rerun of South Park instead of the election returns. When I admit that it is a possibility -- even a probability -- that my husband will vote for Trump, there is often a gasp or a head shake or a disapproving look followed by the sentiment that "I could never be married to someone that would vote for that man." And while I fully grasp revulsion at Trump's candidacy, it strikes me that when I pledged to love my husband in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer or all that other stuff, there was not an exception for the day there was a Republican candidate that I found really repulsive. Advertisement While it is beyond my abilities to explain why any person would vote for Trump, I recall back to a humiliating memory in my own life. In 2004, just weeks before the election, I was down in South Carolina at a friend's wedding. Afterwards, several of us were knocking back yet a few more cocktails and I got involved in a political conversation with a friend's boyfriend who belonged to a category of people that my closed-minded liberal self did not know existed - Gay Republicans. I remember pressing him at length about his Republican identification. I was appalled that he could be faithful to a political party that rejected his civil rights. I questioned him not out of curiosity, but out of indignation and a false moral superiority that allowed me to weigh his conflicting values better than he could. Whether fuelled by this indignation or the cocktails, I kept going long passed the point where decency or common sense would have led me to change the topic. People are complicated and the factors that lead us to cast a vote are even more so. The coverage seems to place us neatly in boxes by race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, education but these are just statistics. Statistics are the business of pollsters, the lifeblood of campaigns and the source of a thousand news stories. But it is our life experience and beliefs and identity the mingle within us and help us determine which candidate to support. Just because someone comes to a different conclusion than us does not mean that there is nothing of value in that person and nothing we could have in common. In and of itself, it just means that we are casting votes for different candidates. Every day, there are stories of people defriended over political views. While defriending in a social media context is easy enough, it is the defriending in real life that is more troubling. In this election cycle, rifts are placed in families and communities over support of a candidate. The rhetoric continues to increase in ways that do not serve our country -- from cries of locking her up to naked statutes of a candidate in parks. While we can all fingerpoint as to what has caused this political climate, the better question for each of us is whether we have become part of the problem? Advertisement To those that cannot believe that I love my conservative husband or that I could continue to do so even if he casts a vote for Donald Trump, do you really think I should get divorced because of a presidential vote? If you believe Fivethirtyeight.com (which I always do), 44.1 percent of this country will vote for Donald Trump. If you cannot fathom being married to one of them, being friends with one of them or being related to one of them, is it time to ask whether you are a part of the problem? Instead of blaming the divisiveness solely on either the Republican candidate or some amorphous "other" out there, perhaps it is time to look inside. There is a line in The American President, "How do you have patience for people who claim they love America, but clearly can't stand Americans?" In context, this is intended as a dig at conservatives but it seems like a claim that can be levelled at all of us. In the past 18 years, I have learned a great deal from my conservative husband. I have come to appreciate the economic philosophies that he holds paramount when choosing candidates. I have come to appreciate that sometimes his conservatism relies on an innate belief in the goodness of people whereas sometimes my liberalism can veer dangerously into paternalism. Our disagreements sometimes strengthen my own views by cutting away the surface argument and getting to the core of my beliefs while other times I have seen my beliefs moderate when faced with compelling argument from him. If we cut out those in our lives based on a vote, we will slowly whittle our own world to an echo chamber where everyone around us simply parrots back what we assume to be true about the world. I have no doubt that this is easier. I imagine it would be fun to spend election day either rejoicing or mourning with the person that I love most in the world. I imagine that it would be nice to be in the same room on election day. But even this year, even with these stakes, even with offense I take at Donald Trump's words and actions, even when I genuinely fear for the safety of my Muslim brothers and sisters who are facing increased violence, I will not allow myself to give in and excise from my life those who balance their competing values differently than I balance mine. I believe that Donald Trump is dangerous for America, but I believe that letting Donald Trump divide us as Americans is even more dangerous. I fell in love with my husband almost 18 years ago and, whatever happens on November 8, I will still be in love with him. But I will not watch election returns in the same room as him. This is a big week at Active Minds: We just named the winners of the 2016 Healthy Campus Award. Congratulations to each of the winning institutions (You can learn all about why they won here): California State University, Long Beach (Long Beach, CA) Jefferson College (Hillsboro, MO) Lawrence University (Appleton, WI) Sacramento State (Sacramento, CA) School of the Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago, IL) University of Wisconsin-Madison (Madison, WI) Instead of just re-capping why each school won, I wanted to share why Active Minds gives out this award in the first place. As a national non-profit with a small staff, our time and resources are limited. There are only so many projects and initiatives we can take on. So why is the Healthy Campus Award one of them? Let me explain. The Active Minds Healthy Campus Award recognizes and celebrates U.S. colleges and universities that are prioritizing health and making great progress towards creating a campus that promotes the health and well-being of its students. It champions schools giving equal priority, attention, and investment to mental health alongside physical health. Advertisement Under the direction of Sara Abelson, Active Minds' Vice President for Student Health and Wellness, the Award gives Active Minds the chance to recognize what's going right. Sara and I have been having conversations for years about how student health only becomes a topic of public conversation when there's a tragedy, like a student suicide or school shooting. The media headlines only focus on what schools are doing wrong and where they are falling short. And when success in campus health is discussed, mental health is often ignored. We were tired of this trend. We wanted to change the conversation (that's kind of our thing). So we developed the Active Minds Healthy Campus Award to draw attention to the schools that are getting it right - defining health broadly; prioritizing long-term, strategic approaches; and championing student voices. It's our hope that this award will inspire and encourage other universities and colleges to view student health holistically - because as we often say at Active Minds, there's no such thing as health without both physical and mental health. And we're not just talking about big schools with big budgets. Yes, some of our winning institutions are large, public universities with impressive resources. But some are small community colleges in rural communities. Some are arts colleges in urban settings. Some are private institutions. The diversity of our winners shows that it's possible for every campus to build a healthy community. True to the Active Minds mission, the award is unique in valuing student input and leadership. The application requires endorsement by the student body, in addition to that from the school's President. Each winning school provided evidence that campus efforts are positively impacting student's actual experiences on campus. Student leaders were part of the panel of judges and played a key part in assessing applicants, judging, and ultimately selecting the winners. Advertisement With less than 80 days until election time, a clear and present danger, oops, I mean pattern, has absolutely emerged. The powerful media world of the right-wing proprietors of conspiracies is sick, toxic, and Neanderthal and exposed for what they have been for decades. This is the same consortium of out-of-shape, uncouth, privileged and sexually constipated white-is-right group that Donald Trump subscribes to and has used as moving pieces in his quest to colonize another lease, this one on the White House. They are the sad mad men, anchored in Foxy "News" and BreitBrat "News," the gang that loves guns but can't shoot straight. They are the privileged, surrounded and supported by obscene wealth, an old-boy-network-like-athletes that need adoring gorgeous female cheerleaders-as-fixtures to their male ego, whom they encourage to jump high so as to titillate with a quick sneak peak of what lies beneath, and then as if treating them as objects, spread damaging dirty tales to control and diminish them. This limited liability company, rarely caught and held accountable, with its quid-pro-quo-win-by-crushing others methodology may be terminal. Come November, they may be losers with their tails tucked needing to join the 21st Century sensitivity trained work force. Meanwhile, even though still loyal to the messaging of conspiracy bull and Trump-like ignoring of facts, the women of Fox "News" have had enough of their allegedly sexual-hostile work environment. The "cheerleaders" smartly are fighting back. Oddly, they are in a similar class-action boat with the fighter for women and children, Hillary Clinton, and ironically, they are turning to the same resources their very own "limited liability company" employers have attacked, belittled and smeared over the years, the Equal Employment Civil Rights Lawyers, alleged foot-soldiers of the left-wing-liberals that kill jobs through trivial lawsuits. Advertisement Enough dots are now connected. Donald Trump has issues with equality, as does the limited liability company that he keeps. He has surrounded himself with bullies, some of which have been ousted as alleged sexual bullies. As with his cohort company, Trump offers either an outward lie intended to deceive or a gross exaggeration intended to misrepresent. His way began long ago, from his immigrant family roots born in Germany but through huckster switch and bait was marketed as Swede, a better brand for business in New York. What tale will these types spin for their own aggrandizement? They are not real-estate tycoons but "real-escape" buffoons. Little else can be said about this company swamp of "Trumpsters," and can be best summarized by this excerpt from a lawsuit brought by former Fox "News" employee, Andrea Tantaros: "Fox News masquerades as defender of traditional family values, but behind the scenes, it operates like a sex-fueled, Playboy Mansion-like cult, steeped in intimidation, indecency and misogyny." Farm workers harvesting yellow bell peppers near Gilroy, California. Crews like this may include illegal immigrant workers as well as members of the United Farm Workers Union founded by Cesar Chavez. My late father, Salomon Chavez Huerta, first arrived in this country as an agricultural guest worker in the mid-1900s, during the Bracero Program. The Bracero Program represented a guest worker program between the United States and Mexico. From 1942 to 1964, the Mexican government exported an estimated 4.6 million Mexicans to meet this country's labor shortage not only in the agricultural fields during two major wars (WWII and Korean War), but also in the railroad sector. Like many braceros of his generation from rural Mexico, my father didn't speak too much about the horrible working / housing conditions he endured while toiling in el norte. This included low pay, overcrowded housing, terrible food, limited legal rights, lack of freedom outside of the labor camps, racism, verbal / physical abuse and price gauging from company landlords / stores. Advertisement While I'm currently an assistant professor at Cal Poly Pomona with advanced degrees from UCLA (B.A., M.A.) and UC Berkeley (Ph.D.), it wasn't until my graduate studies that I learned about what these hardworking men experienced and sacrificed during this exploitative labor program. For instance, while receiving meager wages for physically demanding work, the administrators and affiliated banks of this program deducted 10 percent from their wages, as part of a savings program. The braceros never received the money owed to them. It took a successful class-action lawsuit, filed in California in 2001, for some of these men to receive compensation. However, many of them had died by then, like my father, without receiving compensation. I also learned other facts about this program that provided me some insight about what my father and his paisanos experienced, making many of them reluctant to speak to their children about their work-related experiences. As part of the screening process, for example, these proud Mexican men would go through central processing centers where U.S. Department of Agriculture personnel forced them to strip naked in large rooms, spraying them with DDT--a powerful insecticide linked to cancer and reproductive risks. The late photojournalist Leonard Nadel did an excellent job of documenting these humiliating experiences. My involvement in social justice causes prompted my father to open up about his days as a farmworker. Many years ago, while protesting the then-Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS) and its inhumane practices of imprisoning entire families in chained-up hotels and motels in Los Angeles, I appeared in a local Spanish-language news program. My uncle Javier told my father that I was television. For someone with limited formal education from a small rancho in Michoacan, Mexico, it was a big deal for his son to be on television, like a famous actor in a Mexican telenovela. For the first time, my father told me that he was proud of me. Inspired by my social activism, my father decided to me about the time when he met the late Cesar Chavez--co-founder with Dolores Huerta of United Farmworkers Union (UFW). Actually, it was shortly after the Bracero Program ended, where my father, like many other braceros, returned to the U.S. to continue to work in the fields. In fact, the Bracero Program is responsible for the migration of millions of Mexicans to this country. Advertisement In 1965, while my father was working in Delano, California, a group of farmworkers, which also included Filipinos, launched the historic grape boycott. While farmworker leaders were recruiting potential members to join the union efforts and boycott, one of the organizers assembled a group of men after their work shift and provided them with name tags. "I didn't know who he was, but he introduced himself as Cesar Chavez," my father told me. "Did you talk to him?" I asked. "No, but he made it a point to learn everyone's name, shake their hands and ask them to join the boycott," he said. "And then what happened?" I responded, hoping that my father would tell me a fantastic story about him being the unheralded leader of the grape boycott. I guess I had taken too many Chicana/o classes with the distinguished historian Juan Gomez-Quinones, Ph.D., at UCLA by then... "He got close to me, looked at my name on my shirt and smiled," he said, building suspense to his story. "And then what happened?" I asked, wondering how the story would end. "Look at your name tag," my father proudly recollected Cesar Chavez telling him, "your middle name 'Chavez' is like my last name and your last name 'Huerta' is like Dolores' last name." Advertisement COLUMBUS A longstanding service organization has been roaring in Columbus for nearly a century. The Columbus Noon Lions Club marks its 95th anniversary this year. It was chartered April 20, 1921. A.P. Paxson served as the first president of the then 40-member club formed just five years after Lions Clubs International got off the ground. Like the international organization, the local group assists those with vision problems by supporting seeing-eye dog training programs and collecting eyeglasses for those in need. Community projects are the heart of the Columbus Noon Lions Club. Some of the projects members pursue annually include providing scholarships to area high school seniors, picking up litter along Lost Creek Parkway, sponsoring the Nebraska Lions Foundation Mobile Screening Unit for community events, assisting with Habitat for Humanity, helping those with overwhelming medical costs and providing transportation for eye and tissue donations. The group also holds fundraisers like Pies in the Park, held last week in Frankfort Square. The club has been hosting the event for about 20 years. Money raised by the local Lions Club has gone to projects like the inclusive playground at Lost Creek Elementary School and Royal Family Kids Camp for children who have been abused or neglected. We try to get in as many moneymaking projects as we can, said President Jean Karnik. Karnik, who has been involved with Lions Club for about five years, is one of the newer members of the local group. Some, like Ralph Eickhoff, Whitey Walgren and Jim Ball, have been members since the 1950s. Today, there are about 60 members of the Columbus club. It was a group only open to men until the 1980s. There was once a separate Lioness Club and an evening club, but after those groups disbanded many of the members joined the Noon Lions Club. Bob Arp, who has been a member for 31 years, said he joined after moving to Columbus. I didnt know anything about Lions. Once I got in there and saw the magnitude of it, the international flavor of it, how big it was, so much bigger than Columbus, I was hooked on it, he said. Lions Clubs International has more than 1.4 million members in more than 200 countries. The organization is headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois. There wasnt a grand celebration for the local groups anniversary this year. The focus right now is on the state Lions Club convention that will be held in Columbus in 2018. The Noon Lions Club meets at noon Mondays at Hy-Vee. Arp said the meetings are not mandatory for membership since some group members would rather just work on community service projects. Meetings are the social side of the club. We have a lot of fun. We always have programs, but there is no requirement to go to the meetings. It is purely for those of us who like to get together, socialize and have a good time, Arp said. We have members who never go to meetings. They show up at events or make contributions. I have the great pleasure of hosting blog pieces from our exemplary partners on this platform. Today's blog comes from our Ugandan-based partner, S.O.U.L. Foundation. Too often in the international development sector we rely on weighty jargon- like the term Community-Driven Development. It's all the rage among funders and practitioners! Except no one really knows what it means. Fortunately, we have examples like S.O.U.L.'s model to give us tangible examples of what it means for a community of beneficiaries to truly create and drive their own vision for development. Please read, enjoy, and be inspired! Photo credit: S.O.U.L. Foundation This is a guest post by Andrea Koris, 2015-2016 Global Health Corps Fellow at S.O.U.L. Foundation. The scene: a red dirt road, long and winding, empty save for the dust of a distant truck. Dark clouds rumble overhead, a distant rainstorm stirring up the banana palms. A young woman named Edisa--23, pregnant, and alone--stands on the side of the road, worriedly surveying her options. If she walks left, she will end up at the local health center in three hours. If she walks right, she will be at the traditional midwife's house in thirty minutes. She braces herself against the contraction rolling through her and, as it subsides, she makes the only possible decision given her lack of transportation: head to the local midwife. While she might have a safe and uneventful delivery, she could be the 1 in 44 Ugandan women who die every day at the hands of an unskilled birth attendant. It is a dangerous risk she is forced to take. Advertisement The location: eastern Uganda. Settled deep in the rural villages of Jinja District, the committed and passionate staff at S.O.U.L. Foundation hear stories like Edisa's everyday. Pregnant women in rural areas face incredible odds when navigating access to safe, qualified maternal health care. Lack of health information, money, male involvement, and proper medical care leads to an epidemic of maternal mortality, with 343 per 100,000 Ugandan women dying in childbirth every year. These women are often the poorest of the poor, living in the most remote corners of the country. The protagonists: As a community development organization, women like Edisa reside at the center of our mission. Founded in 2009 by young American nurse Brooke Stern, S.O.U.L. was built with the intention of piloting a new vision for aid by asking women like Edisa what they needed and--just as importantly--how she would like to be involved in building a new road. Stern forged the foundation of S.O.U.L. on strong community partnerships, implementing a co-ownership model to development. The effectiveness of this model is most evident through S.O.U.L.'s new community-designed maternal health program. Photo credit: S.O.U.L. Foundation At S.O.U.L., we make the road by walking. Rather than wait for experts from outside to tell us what is needed, we trust that women like Edisa know exactly what to do if given the opportunity. Artful listening in places traditionally colonized by outside forces does not come naturally. S.O.U.L. has spent years developing trust, competency and shared leadership within the community and has itself transformed as an extension of the community. What resulted from our alternative design efforts was a collaboratively created maternal health program, conceptualized by the very women and health workers benefitting from the program's services. As a result of this exciting new stakeholder investment, the program addresses each complex dynamic that contributes to maternal mortality specifically in the eastern region of Uganda. Advertisement The epidemic: According to the World Health Organization, maternal mortality results from a set of factors that may prevent women from accessing the maternal care that they need. These three groups of factors (known as the "Three Delays Model") describe the variety of challenges that women face, dependent on their socioeconomic standing and cultural context, when trying to access maternal care. The "Three Delays Model" involves the following: 1. Delay in decision to seek care, due to: Limited or poor previous experience with the health care system Poor understanding of complications and risk factors in pregnancy, and when to seek medical help Lack of financial resources 2)Delay in reaching care, due to: Distance to health centers and hospitals Availability of and cost of transport Geography (e.g. rough dirt roads or mountainous terrain) 3)Delay in receiving adequate health care once at a facility, due to: Poor facilities and lack of medical supplies Inadequately trained or poorly motivated medical staff Broken referral systems between or within health centers S.O.U.L.'s program has three stages that address each of the delays, as well as the specific ways in which the "delays" manifest throughout rural villages in eastern Uganda. The first stage of the program combats lack of health education through the creation of a Maternal Health Education class, which provides women in the villages a chance to learn about childbirth, pregnancy danger signs, prenatal nutrition, financial preparedness, and newborn care from a Ugandan midwife. Operational since October 2015, the class has served over 460 women and men and is actively changing health beliefs and behaviors across the region. The second stage of the program focuses on building alternative transport and communication networks to break down the delay in reaching medical care. S.O.U.L. is currently building an SMS mobile platform that will serve as a motorcycle taxi dispatch system, which rural women can access at any time in the event of pregnancy complications or the onset of labor. The third and final stage involves the creation of a birth center and midwifery school to dually address the delay in reaching the health center, as well as the delay in receiving adequate care once arrived at the facility. The birth center and midwifery school will embody the mission of S.O.U.L. by providing subsidized, beneficiary-centered services through a shared community investment plan. The finale: a community empowered through partnership to address the health needs of its mothers and daughters. The S.O.U.L. Maternal Health Program is unique and one of a kind because it is designed by mothers, for mothers. No donor agendas, no imposition of external ideas. Given the opportunity to solve the challenges they face in accessing health care, the women of the rural villages of Jinja engage with the program in an unprecedented way. Everyday, women like Edisa are learning how to prepare for pregnancy so they are empowered with safe options. They are birthing the future of Uganda--one that they designed, themselves. Photo credit: S.O.U.L. Foundation With the events in Milwaukee, we watched as yet another U.S. city grieves the loss of a Black man to a police-involved shooting. In the aftermath of the death of Sylville Smith in Milwaukee, grief quickly turned to outrage, protest and uprising. Our hearts are broken to see this reality unfolding once again for our community, but we are not surprised. As in Ferguson and too many other cities, this incident revealed the hidden and harsh daily realities of being African American in our country. Wisconsin has the highest number of Black men in prison, with 1 out of 8 in prison or jail as of the 2010 census. One of the most segregated cities in the United States, Milwaukee's Black residents largely live in the Northside community where Sylville Smith was killed and subsequent unrest broke out. Black men in Milwaukee face a homicide rate nearly three times the rate for the general population. Just over a third of men in the Northside between ages 20 and 64 are employed, compared to 78 percent for the city overall. Almost half of residents live below the poverty line, compared to 28 percent in the whole of Milwaukee. These glaring disparities did not happen overnight. It is inevitable that Milwaukee's young Black men would find themselves without hope and opportunity in a community that lacks options for a better life. Advertisement Real efforts, led by committed community organizations and city leaders, have been underway in Milwaukee to turn the tide. For example, our two organizations have partnered with groups like the League of Young Voters, Public Allies, Urban Underground and youth activists. We've worked with Milwaukee leaders like Howard Fuller, Reggie Moore and Deanna Sigh to elevate targeted interventions for Black men and boys. We have also engaged the mayor, local government agencies and others to create opportunity for African American men and boys, particularly in the Northside. In addition, Milwaukee's Office of Violence Prevention takes a public health approach to reducing violence, working with a wide range of community partners including Medical College of Wisconsin, Family Justice Center, Homicide Review Commission and Community Justice Council. They recently expanded a Safe Zone initiative that identifies people who live in neighborhoods with the highest rates of violence and provides them with the tools they need to interrupt and stop gun violence on their own block including mediation, conflict resolution and de-escalation. But the events in Milwaukee show us we must do more, and move faster. We must dismantle the policies and address the lack of resources that stand as barriers to opportunity and push Black men to the fringes of our communities in Milwaukee and beyond. We must build trust and strengthen relationships between police and communities. In Philadelphia an uptick in police-involved shootings prompted an invitation to the Department of Justice to review the police department's use of force policy in 2015. The department shifted its policy to require de-escalation to prioritize the preservation of life, with bans on choke holds and similar practices. Officers who witness inappropriate or excessive use of force by a fellow officer are duty-bound to report it. The policy shift has contributed to a drop in police-involved shootings. Advertisement Mayors and city leaders can also look to President Obama's Task Force on 21st Century Policing. Already cities are implementing Task Force reforms including Police Chief W.H. "Skip" Holbrook in Columbia, South Carolina where they have established a civilian oversight council, improved officer trainings to include de-escalation, conflict resolution and implicit racial bias and launched a program for youth and police to hold open and honest dialogue. We believe change is possible when mayors and police chiefs engage with community members and youth leaders to authentically address and eradicate the systemic racism that has resulted in distressing life outcomes for Black men and boys as well as Black women and girls. Then begins the collective, inclusive process of identifying solutions and investing in policies and programs to build healthier, more vibrant, safe and hopeful communities. The lessons of Ferguson and Baltimore, and now Milwaukee, remind us those who fail to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. Our hope is that we can use this moment as rallying call for all who have the power to make a difference--from mayors, city leaders and police chiefs to local and federal agencies, youth, philanthropy and communities--to invest in systems change that improves life outcomes for all of our children, particularly young Black women and men. Milwaukee's future depends on it--as does our nation's. "We are taking the trends identified by futurists and economists, and connecting them to relevant fields of study and competencies required." -- Charles Fadel Employers complain that graduates are not ready for work. Students who drop out cite boredom and lack of motivation as their major reasons for leaving school. Stanford University studies indicate students are overloaded and underprepared. WHAT should we teach young people in an age where Dr. Google has an answer for everything? Humans are living longer; the traditional professions disappear while new ones are created; international mobility is drastically increasing population diversity; terrorism, environmental threats and inequality need our collective attention; and robots and gene editing are coming, requiring us to re-examine the very core of what it means to be human. According to the Center for Curriculum Redesign (CCR) founder Charles Fadel, "We must deeply redesign curriculum to be relevant to the knowledge, skills, character qualities, and meta-learning students will need in their lives." In Part 1 of our 5-part series with Charles Fadel he introduced us to the big picture thinking behind his book Four-Dimensional Education: The Competencies Learners Need to Succeed. The OECD's Andreas Schleicher calls Fadel's book a "first of its kind organizing framework of competencies needed for this century which defines the spaces in which educators, curriculum planners, policy makers and learners can establish WHAT should be learned." Advertisement Today in Part 2 of our series with Fadel, we will focus on WHAT knowledge is relevant in a 21st century curriculum. "There are three main reasons for learning a foreign language: Communication, Culture, and Cognitive. The simpler communication aspects might be 'roboticized'..." -- Charles Fadel During the 1800's, curriculum was transformed to catch up with the industrial revolution. In your book, you note the majority of the structure has remained, although modern disciplines have been added. How do we insert subjects relevant to the Information Age in our current over-crowded system? It is difficult. Ambitious innovation becomes nearly impossible under such constraints. In most cases, new goals and content additions are tacked onto an already overburdened curriculum, and with the pressure of preparing for standardized tests, relatively few educators are able to consistently provide the time needed to effectively integrate new learning goals into the curriculum. Advertisement So how do you change this? To implement these changes, one has to address all of the following structural difficulties: At the policy level, most countries must work with an inherent level of instability, with elections and changes of leadership occurring every few years. The frequent changes of personnel and the political pressures to balance the competing interests of voters, parents, unions, businesses, and so on, often preclude the continuity necessary to reflect on large-scale trends, plan for long-term goals, take calculated risks, or embrace change and innovation. At the level of human expertise and authority, decisions are often reserved for subject-matter experts. These experts' opinions are partial and biased in certain predictable ways. First, experts feel responsible for upholding earlier standards, as they have sometimes been part of creating them and promoting their benefits. Being loyal to their field of study, they also find it difficult to discard parts of the whole cloth of their field's knowledge, even after those parts have become outdated or less useful. And "Groupthink" also colors views and stymies innovation. Teachers complain curriculum load leaves little time to teach new skills. Stanford University studies claim students are both overloaded and underprepared. Studies indicate that unused knowledge is quickly forgotten. Why aren't we doing more to update curriculum? So far, it has not been perceived necessary to focus content into its essential themes and concepts. There is an assumption that deeper and more complex understanding will naturally emerge out of the accumulation of lower level knowledge, which is incorrect - that emergence requires deliberate effort, and low-level assessments push the system in the opposite direction. And while some experts are convinced that the deeper understanding cannot take place without comprehensive lower level knowledge, factual knowledge is actually becoming less important (to a point), while deep understanding is as key as ever. Programs like Concept-Based Curriculum have worked to reorganize knowledge around the important concepts. This process needs to be done across subjects and age groups, with an interdisciplinary mindset, and comprehensively taking into account the structure of concepts and meta-concepts, as well as processes, methods, and tools that are required for deep understanding of a given field. "It is difficult to predict jobs 20 years into the future exactly, but it is possible to look at trends. There are both technological and human changes occurring that will change the fabric of daily life." -- Charles Fadel Youth have access to software programs which automatically correct grammar, spelling and sentence structure mistakes. Robot journalists are already creating their own stories. What language writing and grammar skills will students need in the future? The kind of writing least likely to be automated involves skills such as creativity and critical thinking, which involves synthesizing information from a variety of sources, distilling messages, and crafting communication. Also, creative works that are radically innovative are unlikely to be challenged soon, while mimicking someone's style is already feasible (musically as well!). For any learning goal, we must ask "why" we are teaching it; what is the practical, cognitive, and emotional value? It may be that there are large cognitive benefits to learning these goals when they are developmentally appropriate. For example, the development of symbolic representations, and reasoning with symbols. Or the phonological benefits of learning to spell. After all, in order for the autocorrect to work, we must be able to make a guess that is close enough. In addition, it is likely that formulating thoughts into sentences helps the thoughts to be more clearly solidified, although this claim needs to be examined empirically. Finally, as the role of media continues to grow, it is important to be able to make convincing arguments, as well as to spot the tools that other arguments are employing. There are apps that translate foreign languages. Robot translators will soon be conversant in dozens of languages. Should students learn foreign languages in the future? There are three main reasons for learning a foreign language: Communication, Culture, and Cognitive. The simpler communication aspects might be "roboticized" (for instance, ordering from a menu), but fluency is not within technological reach for at least another 2-3 decades according to A.I. experts. Second, there are the global literacy benefits of learning about another culture and its customs, which help develop students' worldview and awareness. There should therefore be a strong component of connecting the language to its culture and cultural works. Third, there is mounting evidence that knowing multiple languages has broader benefits for the brain, as for music. And there is of course the aesthetic value of reading influential works in their original language! "Creative works that are radically innovative are unlikely to be challenged soon." -- Charles Fadel Please talk about new knowledge that students need for the jobs that exist now and those that have not yet been invented. Advertisement It is difficult to predict jobs 20 years into the future exactly, but it is possible to look at trends. There are both technological and human changes occurring that will change the fabric of daily life. To adequately prepare students, we need to focus on both breadth and depth of learning. Modern knowledge that is currently being neglected includes Technology and Engineering (e.g. computer science, bioengineering, advanced manufacturing), Media (Journalism, Cinema), Entrepreneurship and Business, Personal Finance, Wellness (both physical and mental) and Social Systems (incl. Sociology, Anthropology, etc.) and so on. These are the disciplines that have emerged recently but have quickly become crucial to modern discourse. In addition, students will need to be able to think interdisciplinarily across fields to solve the complex problems of the future and to be versatile in an ever-changing world. While all subjects are interdisciplinary (either because they are foundational and thus a part of many other disciplines, or because they are new and thus a composite of many disciplines), there are also important modern themes that should be highlighted throughout both modern and traditional disciplines, including Global literacy, Environmental literacy, Information literacy, Digital literacy, Systems thinking, and Design thinking. These will be useful lenses to apply to a variety of fields as they continue to change and evolve. So to be perfectly clear: STEM and Humanities and Arts; Knowledge and Competencies. What makes your approach unique? We are taking the trends identified by futurists and economists, and connecting them to relevant fields of study and competencies required. And across both traditional and modern subjects, we are working to both simplify and connect the content: simplify by boiling down subjects to their essential questions; and connect by highlighting themes across subjects, adding the myriad connections that exist between a subject and all other relevant subjects, and the connections to its application in the world. Thank you Charles. In Part 3 of our series with Charles Fadel, we will focus on WHAT Character Development? Advertisement (All Photos are Courtesy of CMRubinWorld and the Center for Curriculum Redesign) C. M. Rubin with Charles Fadel Join me and globally renowned thought leaders including Sir Michael Barber (UK), Dr. Michael Block (U.S.), Dr. Leon Botstein (U.S.), Professor Clay Christensen (U.S.), Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond (U.S.), Dr. MadhavChavan (India), Professor Michael Fullan (Canada), Professor Howard Gardner (U.S.), Professor Andy Hargreaves (U.S.), Professor Yvonne Hellman (The Netherlands), Professor Kristin Helstad (Norway), Jean Hendrickson (U.S.), Professor Rose Hipkins (New Zealand), Professor Cornelia Hoogland (Canada), Honourable Jeff Johnson (Canada), Mme. Chantal Kaufmann (Belgium), Dr. EijaKauppinen (Finland), State Secretary TapioKosunen (Finland), Professor Dominique Lafontaine (Belgium), Professor Hugh Lauder (UK), Lord Ken Macdonald (UK), Professor Geoff Masters (Australia), Professor Barry McGaw (Australia), Shiv Nadar (India), Professor R. Natarajan (India), Dr. Pak Tee Ng (Singapore), Dr. Denise Pope (US), Sridhar Rajagopalan (India), Dr. Diane Ravitch (U.S.), Richard Wilson Riley (U.S.), Sir Ken Robinson (UK), Professor Pasi Sahlberg (Finland), Professor Manabu Sato (Japan), Andreas Schleicher (PISA, OECD), Dr. Anthony Seldon (UK), Dr. David Shaffer (U.S.), Dr. Kirsten Sivesind (Norway), Chancellor Stephen Spahn (U.S.), Yves Theze (LyceeFrancais U.S.), Professor Charles Ungerleider (Canada), Professor Tony Wagner (U.S.), Sir David Watson (UK), Professor Dylan Wiliam (UK), Dr. Mark Wormald (UK), Professor Theo Wubbels (The Netherlands), Professor Michael Young (UK), and Professor Minxuan Zhang (China) as they explore the big picture education questions that all nations face today. The Global Search for Education Community Page It may come as a surprise to some that the Vatican now is undertaking sex education. And it turns out there is more to its just released sex education guidelines for young people aged 12 to 16 than simply "Just say no." But the Catholic Church still is sending enough troubling messages to make any Catholic feminist weep. I guess I should be thankful that the Vatican believes that the human body is not to be despised, contrary to what I was taught in parochial school long ago. And there are good things in this sex education package. It encourages teens to see boys and girls as people. It helps teens understand the power of emotions. I'm not quite sure what to make of the assortment of films the Vatican suggests for educators, since so much would depend on how they were interpreted. Of course, I didn't expect the Vatican's sex education kit to teach kids any useful information about contraception, or preventing sexually transmitted diseases. Nor did I expect the Vatican to suggest the possibility that sexuality is a continuum or that many of the characteristics we attribute to each gender are social constructs. Advertisement But at the very least, I would like the Vatican to give up this "girls are pink" and "boys are blue" mindset that is generations out of date. The Vatican continues to sing the same old song of "complementarity" - that old saw that claims women and men may be equal but in a way that says they're really not. Complementarity holds that women and men are very, very different - in ways that restrict the women to more submissive and passive roles, primarily nurturing mothers and helpmates. Pope Francis himself has stated that he approves of feminism, but only if it does not "negate motherhood." Complementarity also means that women are not perceived worthy to be priests, or to assume meaningful leadership roles in the institutional church. And it ignores the contributions of unmarried women - who are not women religious -- to the church and to society. Given the church's continued infatuation with complementarity, it's not surprising that in this sex education guidance, boys and girls are taught that men are less dependent on relationships and more pragmatic, and women are, you know, wimps. Advertisement Oh, they don't call us wimps. They use far loftier terms. "Man is more analytical and has a greater capacity for analysis." While "the affective response of the woman is global, and feelings and their manifestation play an important role. They give value to what is spoken. ... Men compartmentalize and internalize affections to a greater extent." Worse, this sex education lesson for teens describe women's bodies like all-night diners: "Inscribed in the woman's body is the call to WELCOME both man and baby" [emphasis in original]. All we lack is a neon sign. The Vatican just doesn't overgeneralize, a la Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus, it attacks efforts by women to declare that we're more than these limiting definitions. It critiques a "quest for sexual equality" that pits the sexes in a competition "to see who can get farther and who can be better." Instead, the Vatican recommends that men and women use their energies for "helping each other." That notion would work fine if there wasn't a built-in assumption, perpetuated by the Vatican in these materials, that women are inferior. Essentially, the Vatican would have teenage girls assume that their primary role is motherhood and that it's not a good idea to compete with boys academically or in other arenas. It could certainly make life more difficult both for a girl who is analytical and pragmatic, and a boy who is tender and nurturing. Advertisement What's really sad is that if the Vatican wanted to seriously explore sexual morality in the 21st century, it could take advantage of the groundbreaking, respectful and brilliant work of Catholic theologian Margaret Farley. Her book, Just Love: A Framework for Christian Sexual Ethics, carefully frames the challenge of living a moral sexual life in the context of emerging science on sexual preference and gender identity. Church officials might have learned something from Farley's thoughtful and scholarly work. Farley's insights could have informed a much richer approach to sex education. A three-judge panel of the federal appeals court in Chicago has blocked an Illinois prison warden's confiscation of a small pentacle (a five-pointed state within a circle) medallion worn by an inmate as a symbol of his Wiccan faith. The July 13 preliminary injunction issued by the 7th Circuit reversed a district court denial and lets Gilbert Knowles, a prisoner at Pontiac Correctional Center, keep wearing the medallion while pursuing a lawsuit against the warden under a federal law, the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). That law forbids government imposing a "substantial burden" on inmates' religious exercise, unless the restriction serves a "compelling governmental interest" and is the least restrictive means to do so. The medallion in question was small enough (under an inch in diameter) to comply with state prison rules on inmates' wearing of jewelry, but another state policy forbade prisoners from possessing five- or six-pointed stars, on the grounds they could be used a gang symbols. (Knowles had offered to keep the medallion inside his shirt when he was around other inmates, but to no avail.) Advertisement The appellate panel's unanimous ruling in Knowles v. Pfister, written by Judge Richard Posner, found the prison had "gratuitously infringed" the inmate's freedom to exercise his religion, noting the pentacle medallion holds a position in the pre-Christian pagan Wiccan religion comparable to the place the cross holds for many Christians. Knowles claimed he believes the medallion protects him against "harm, evil and negative energy." The appellate decision also quickly dismissed the lower court's summary decision an injunction was not warranted because the state policy banning star-shaped symbols only blocked one part of Knowles' religious practices. The brief appellate decision accompanying its injunction order pointedly noted a U.S. Supreme Court decision last year (Holt v. Hobbes) explicitly made the test for a RLUIPA violation whether a government restriction places a substantial burden on inmates' religious exercise, not whether inmates could still practice their religion in other ways. The appellate panel also dismissed two other reasons the lower court had cited for refusing to grant the requested injunction: Knowles not having proved he needed an injunction because he lacked an adequate legal remedy, and his seeking relief that would force the corrections system to take affirmative steps, not just preserve the status quo. What, the appellate ruling asked, would constitute an adequate legal remedy for denying Knowles the ability to practice his religion - money damages? And, to get any relief at all, didn't Knowles need an injunction to keep the prison from violating his RLUIPA rights? The appellate opinion was even more dismissive of the warden's argument that even if Knowles kept the medallion inside his shirt when other inmates were around, they might see it when he showered. It practically growled the case record had not a shred of evidence to show Knowles wears his medallion when showering, or that any inmate's wearing a Wiccan medallion, whether openly or inside his shirt, had ever caused a problem at the prison. Advertisement At the Democratic National Convention signs read No TPP, a concert is traveling the U.S. called Rock Against the TPP, and even Donald Trump wants to stop the TPP. Unlike Donald Trump, most of us are not protectionists looking out only for U.S. corporate interests and the rich 1 percent, but rather embrace global trade when it is through fair trade agreements and policies that protect farmers, workers, and consumers around the world as well as protects our planet. Those of us working in the fair trade movement, and in social justice have been working on fighting unjust trade agreements for years, and it is gaining momentum in the mainstream. Community coming together to stop unjust trade deals. So what is the TPP? The TPP is the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a massive trade agreement between 12 countries -- the United States, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Brunei, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Chile and Peru -- that has been coined by anti-TPP activists as NAFTA on steroids. NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) was a trade agreement signed in 1994 by the United States, Mexico and Canada that displaced over 2 million farmers and agricultural workers in Mexico. Family farmers in the United States and Canada also struggled and lost income while large-scale farmers and agricultural corporations thrived. The TPP is expected to have similar effects on a much larger scale. The government and mainstream media have reported that the TPP will benefit the agriculture sector. But what they are not saying is that the sector of the agriculture system that will benefit is the industrial system that harms people and the planet. Advertisement The United States is highly reliant on industrial agriculture, which means those 12 countries going into the agreement will be pitting their small-scale farmers against our large-scale farming practices. This will force small-scale farmers out of business and off their lands strengthening the industrial agricultural machine. The industrial food system drives climate change; we cannot break our reliance on industrial food without first breaking our reliance on unjust free trade agreements. So it is not the organic, regenerative, biodiverse farmer who provides your CSA or morning coffee who will benefit. Small-scale farmers around the world like these Maya women are most impacted by unjust free trade agreements. TPP is promoted as good for the economy and business. But studies show that the TPP would mean a pay cut for 90 percent of U.S. workers. We know that many small businesses oppose it. These businesses, including small food businesses, craft coffee roasters, and fair trade apparel and craft businesses understand that the TPP will make it hard to compete based on ethical business practices. It will drive the race to the bottom. These trade agreements do not allow for countries to protect their citizens and the environment because the agreements allow corporations to sue governments for perceived loss of profits. For example, early in 2015, the TransCanada Corporation initiated a $15 billion dollar lawsuit, under a provision of NAFTA, against the United States after President Obama blocked the Keystone XL pipeline. Large companies will be able to sue governments over imposed rules intended to protect small-scale farmers, workers or the environment and therefore will be able to undermine local governments, food sovereignty, and local businesses. And small businesses can't afford to sue. Advertisement The trade provisions of the TPP are binding while the provisions of the COP21 climate agreement are not. That means that trade rules will always trump climate goals. There will be no room to promote the regenerative, organic, fair agriculture we need. TPP does not promote sustainable agriculture. Doctors Without Borders opposes the TPP. Why? Because access to less expensive, generic medication will be threatened as drug companies holding patents are given more rights. This will harm impoverished communities in the global south who already struggle for access to medication. The TPP will require countries to accept food that meets only the lowest safety standards of the collective participating countries. The agreement also limits the authority of governments to restrict permits to extract and export liquid natural gas to participating countries, which could lead to an increase in fracking. For all of these reasons, people around the world are uniting to stop the TPP. It is especially important for those of us advocating for a sustainable food and agriculture system to stand up for small-scale farmers and small and mid-sized businesses and retailers. The negative impact of TPP on the entire supply chain will be very real. In the U.S., we ask that everyone write to both your Senators and Representative asking them not to vote on the TPP during the "lame duck" session. This is the time after the elections when everyone is so focused on the transition period (November-January) that it is easier to slip through unpopular votes such as the TPP that would otherwise not pass. Advertisement Dry Tortugas, Florida -- I was visiting the Dry Tortugas, a collection of islands, sand bars and reefs 70 miles west of Key West, and, curiously, the first thing that came to mind was the South China Sea and disputes over similarly tiny specs. A giant brick bastion sits squat on the main island of the archipelago and is called Fort Jefferson. Way back in 1845, it's construction exemplified the determination of the still-young United States to protect is coastal ports. The fort and its harbor was meant to serve as a way station for warships patrolling the Gulf of Mexico and defend the harbors of New Orleans, Mobile and Pensacola. Six-sided Fort Jefferson was never completed, and during the US Civil War, it was a prison for Union deserters. Its most famous inmate was Dr. Samuel Mudd, who was convicted for conspiracy in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth. Booth, after shooting Abraham Lincoln jumped the Ford Theater balcony and broke his leg; Mudd splinted it and served four mosquito-filled years at Fort Jefferson. The Dry Tortugas other claim to notoriety was its service as jumping-off point for the USS Maine, a naval that, when it harbored in Havana Harbor, got blown up. The incident set off the Spanish American War. Advertisement The Dry Tortugas are now a national park. No one ever actually challenged the US control of the Dry Tortugas or invade the US through the Gulf of Mexico and by the 20th Century, American strategic depth hugely expanded: the naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and tutelage over Cuba, the building and ownership of the Panama Canal, takeovers of Puerto Rico and the (US) Virgin Islands cemented US dominance of the Caribbean Sea. Meanwhile, in the Pacific Ocean, possession of the Philippines, Hawaii, Guam and American Samoa, along with a bunch of other atolls and reefs brought US naval power forward to the shores of Asia. What does this have to do with the South China Sea? Like 19th Century America, Beijing aspires to control shipping lanes fronting its ports and warn everybody else away. The Americans were mainly concerned about Spain. The Chinese want to push the Americans out and is starting by laying claim to everything within a self-declared U-shaped "six dash line" zone that puts almost the entire South China Sea in their hands. The Peoples Republic faces an array of close-by American projections of power never dreamed of at the time Fort Jefferson was constructed or even into the 20th Century. Among them are US military bases in Japan and South Korea along with the American alliance with the Philippines. Expanding China's reach into the South China Sea and northward into the East China Sea off Japan as well, where it claims some islands, permits it to dominate its neighbors and effectively make it harder for the US to defend Taiwan, which China claims as its own, as well as possibly Japan. In effect, China is not only following in the footsteps of the United States but other once-prominent seagoing nations, including the Spain, Portugal, Holland and Great Britain, that created ports and colonies along vast shipping routes. Besides constructing air strips and harbors on reefs and outcroppings in the South China Sea, Beijing is building ports in Myanmar and in Pakistan at the mouth of the Persian Gulf and setting up a military base in Djibouti. These days, this kind of activity is known as providing "strategic depth" and "power projection." Advertisement Of course, neighboring states are contesting the China Sea activities. The Philippines recently won an international arbitration case that rejected China's claim to much of the South China Sea. Vietnam, with its own history of hostilities with China, objects to Beijing's claim to the Spratly and Paracel islands and made a deal with old foe, the US, to purchase American arms. In the dying days of Boris Yeltsin's presidency, the great and the good in Washington scratched their heads and asked themselves: "Who lost Russia?" Post-communist Russia was more fluid than the hordes of economists, missionaries and carpetbaggers who descended on Moscow in 1992 had ever imagined. But the question itself was salutary. Bill Clinton had indeed achieved a rare feat in the annals of US diplomacy: managing to turn a pro-western country into an anti-American one. How had he done it? Joe Biden could well be asking himself a similar question as he flies to Turkey on Wednesday: Who is losing Turkey? The U.S. has had a bad coup. In the first hours of 15 July, Secretary of State John Kerry hoped for "stability and continuity." It took two hours for the White House to issue an unambiguous statement mentioning democracy and the rule of law. That delay was enough to plant the suspicion in Ankara that its closest military ally knew more than it was letting on. Advertisement A nation in shock from the lethal force used by the coup plotters on that Friday night - 35 jets, 37 helicopters, 246 armed vehicles, 4000 weapons and three ships - soon found itself getting lectures on human rights. Kerry linked concerns about the scope of Erdogan's purge of the army and administration to Turkey's continued membership of NATO. That line prompted a former U.S. ambassador in Turkey to suggest that his Secretary of State was hallucinating. "What was he smoking?" James Jeffrey asked, as he wondered how the US would deal with Russia and Iran if the largest military force in the region was kicked out of NATO. Centcom then discovered that its closest contacts in the Turkish military were being thrown into prison. 151 generals and admirals, a third of the generals in the Turkish military, have been rounded up - and the head of U.S. Central Command wanted to know why. He even said the purge could disrupt the military relationship between Turkey and the U.S. "What I'm concerned about is ... first and foremost that it will have an impact on the operations that we do along that very important seam," Joseph Votel said. This prompted a furious response from Erdogan, and Centcom found itself quickly rowing back on that one. Advertisement Reports emerged daily in the Turkish media about the visits the coup plotters had made to the US. The movements of Adil Oksuz have attracted particular attention. A theologian teaching at Sakarya University, he was first arrested outside Akinci air base, from where the coup was masterminded. He had embarked on over 100 foreign trips since 2002, and most recently was in the US on 11 July before returning on 13 July. Following his arrest, Oksuz was released by a judge and is now on the run. For the Turkish authorities, he is a prime suspect as one of the bag carriers for Fethullah Gulen, the self-exiled cult leader in Pennsylvania, whom Turkey accuses of being behind the coup plot. All this has emerged before the opening salvo in the forthcoming legal battle over the extradition of Gulen has even been fired. Russia, on the other hand, had a good coup. Iranian media claimed Russian military intelligence in Syria had picked up signals of the helicopter squad heading to Marmaris to assassinate Erdogan in his holiday villa and tipped off Turkish intelligence. He escaped by 15 minutes. However, Turkish intelligence had received reports of unusual troop movements several hours earlier. Whether true or not, the story helped Putin in his attempts to pose as Erdogan's saviour. When the Russian bomber was downed by a Turkish jet, Putin said he had been "stabbed in the back" by his ally. All this was now history. Erdogan had already prepared the ground for a reconciliation by apologising for the incident, hinting that it had nothing to do with him. Advertisement When Putin and Erdogan met, Turkish briefers and commentators went into overdrive to emphasize what the two men now had in common. However, they stressed the meeting was about bilateral trade - TurkStream, the natural gas pipeline bypassing Ukraine and tourism - not the heavy-lift subjects on which the two countries remain at loggerheads: Syria, the Kurds and Iran. I am not convinced this represents the whole truth. Erdogan's problems with NATO, the U.S. and its allies predate the coup. They all have to do with allegations that Turkey allowed IS fighters to transit into Syria and traded with IS, a claim made by Russia itself. In November last year Mohamed Dahlan, the exiled Palestinian strongman, told NATO policymakers at an Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA) security conference "to look themselves in the mirror". "All Europe knows Daesh is dealing commercially with Turkey," he said, "look at yourselves in the mirror. You talk like Arabs did 40 years ago. Terrorism in Syria all comes through Turkey. You are complicating the issue." This January, Jordan's King Abdullah told top U.S. congressmen in a closed meeting that Erdogan believed in a "radical Islamic solution to the region." The king presented Turkey as part of a strategic challenge to the world: "We keep being forced to tackle tactical problems against ISIL [the Islamic State group] but not the strategic issue. We forget the issue [of] the Turks who are not with us on this strategically." he said. And Western intelligence agencies in Turkey have fueled these claims of complicity with IS. The MI6 station chief in Turkey briefed a British newspaper journalist about the links between Turkey and IS. The veteran investigative reporter Seymour Hersh, quoted by name Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, director of the Defence Intelligence Agency between 2012 and 2014, as saying that Turkey wasn't doing enough to stop the smuggling of foreign fighters and weapons across the border. Advertisement "If the American public saw the intelligence we were producing daily, at the most sensitive level, they would go ballistic," Flynn told me. "We understood Isis's long-term strategy and its campaign plans, and we also discussed the fact that Turkey was looking the other way when it came to the growth of the Islamic State inside Syria." An unnamed adviser to the Joint Chiefs of Staff told Hersh: "American intelligence had accumulated intercept and human intelligence demonstrating that the Erdogan government had been supporting [al-Nusra Front] for years, and was now doing the same for Islamic State...We told him we wanted him to shut down the pipeline of foreign jihadists flowing into Turkey. But he is dreaming big - of restoring the Ottoman Empire - and he did not realise the extent to which he could be successful in this.'" The killer sentence was this one: "We worked with Turks we trusted who were not loyal to Erdogan," the adviser said, "and got them to ship the jihadists in Syria all the obsolete weapons in the arsenal, including M1 carbines that hadn't been seen since the Korean War, and lots of Soviet arms. It was a message Assad could understand: "We have the power to diminish a presidential policy in its tracks." Working with Turks "who were not loyal to Erdogan" has a more concrete meaning in the light of what happened on 15 July. The briefings that Hersh and others got are now being seen by Ankara as preparation for the coup. Biden will have to work hard to persuade Erdogan that this is not the case, that the Turks they worked with who were not loyal to Erdogan were not the same Turks who tried, and narrowly failed, to assassinate him. Advertisement There is little likelihood of Turkey leaving NATO. When Putin bared his teeth after his Sukhoi bomber got shot down last year, it was to NATO that Turkey turned. An external military threat today would produce the same reaction. But nor can Turkey be guaranteed to play the same role, especially on its sensitive southern border. The coup has two most likely effects. Firstly, that Erdogan will feel freer to act in Turkey's national interest in Northern Syria. He will not be constrained by the agenda, or the lack of it, set by the US. He will not feel subject to a US veto. We have already seen the results of this in the advances by rebel forces in Aleppo. Assad's bombing of US-backed Kurdish forces could not have happened without Putin's assent, and this too suited Turkey's red lines on its southern border. The second effect of the coup will be on the army itself. A new army will be formed, not necessarily more Islamic, but certainly one that will do everything it can to display its loyalty to the Turkish state and to Erdogan himself. This was the message the army chief of staff gave to the biggest rally in Turkey after the coup. This post-coup army will be stronger and more assertive, as we are seeing in Syria. For the first time in this conflict a major Turkish tank force has entered Syria. Erdogan said it would be targeting"terrorist groups like Daesh (IS) and PYD," referring to the pro-Kurdish Democratic Union Party, whose military wing the People's Protection Units (YPG) continue to make military gains in northern Syria. Turkish ground forces have support from the air supplied by US led coalition forces. Advertisement As Biden held talks in Ankara on Wednesday, this means the US were on both sides of the Kurdish sub-conflict raging along Turkey's southern border simultaneously. It was supporting the Kurdish PYD, who are fighting Assad but also attempting to construct a contiguous state along the border, and the Turkish forces who will stop them doing just that. Soon after Biden told a news conference with the Turkish Prime Minister that the PYD " would never get US support again" if it crossed the Euphrates,the PYD announced they were pulling back their units, although the SFA would remain. Within hours of the tank offensive, Erdogan had achieved one of his objectives, but it is not the US who is driving change in this battlefield but Turkey. "Thought he was just another smooth talking brother?" says an inquisitive Chicago mom. She's repeating the words her daughter used to describe a colleague she's meeting for a first date. Never have eight words been so inaccurate. That "he," is a twenty-something Barack Obama. The daughter is Michelle LaVaughn Robinson. As this very romantic and intelligent film brings one of the world's most famous relationships into view, it's easy to see why Barack and Michelle are still in love. (Photo by Matt Dinerstein.) Tika Sumpter and Parker Sawyers costar in the romantic film Southside With You. Famous presidential relationships abound: There's the eccentric, Franklyn and Eleanor Roosevelt. The tumultuous, Jack and Jackie. The divisive, Bill and Hillary. Now there's Barack and Michelle, this generation's famous POTUS union. And their relationship is almost the model for cohabitation. Both are smart, sharp, liked and admired. They're private, yet they live their lives in the public eye. How the hell they've kept their marriage together, without much controversy, is a mystery to most. Until now. Advertisement It's ironic, but perhaps the best way to understand their relationship is by looking at the seeds of their romance through a reimagined first date, through the eyes of a white filmmaker who doesn't even know them. First-time writer/director Richard Tanne recreates the first days of the Obama's partnership with a reverence fit for a king and queen and an intimacy few romantic films achieve. It's almost as if you're hiding in the back seat of Barack's old beat-up car and eavesdropping. Or sitting next to them in the movie theater when they see Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing. Or standing in the back of a community center when Barack delivers one of his first rousing speeches and Michelle is impressed. Tanne's efforts are helped greatly by Patrick Scola's unobtrusive cinematography, Lucio Seixas's simple production design, Megan Spatz's lived-in costumes, Evan Schiff's spot on editing (84 minutes) and a caressing musical score by Stephen James Taylor (Maya Angelou and Still I Rise). Their collective efforts set the time and place perfectly. It's 1989, and a hot summer day/night on the Southside of Chicago. Even with the AC cranked up high it can't cool things down. In the midst of a heat wave, this decades-old African American community faces challenges it still encounters today. A desire to get ahead, live in peace and bring opportunities to a neighborhood that is stymied by crime, an apathetic government and all that goes with life in the inner city. Advertisement Michelle Robinson (Tika Sumpter, Ride Along) is a Harvard Law School-educated attorney working at Sidley Austin LLP, the sixth-largest U.S.-based corporate law firm. As one of only a few blacks in the office, she's in a highly visible position. Michelle is the advisor for the first-year law associate Barack Obama (Parker Sawyers, Zero Dark Thirty). It is with great reservation that she agrees to join him on an excursion to a community meeting at a church. She is adamant about not fraternizing with one of her black, male colleagues. People will talk. Barack shows up in a junkyard chariot, a broken down, compact car with a hole in the floorboard of the passenger side. They drive off, sitting close but a cool distance apart, emotionally and intellectually. Her part of the conversation is very academic and professional. He is nosy. They verbally spar, like defense and prosecuting attorneys feeling each other out to see who has the better case. She talks about the job. He asks, "Do you believe in God?" She resists his invasive questioning. He persists. As day turns into evening, and evening into night, a platonic meeting becomes a mating dance. A tete-a-tete between two brilliant minds. You have to wonder how Tanne was able to recreate a very intimate moment, without actually being there or interviewing the first couple. His source materials were news articles and a video he viewed of the couple recounting their first date. The rest is his imagination and a smart creative strategy that bridges intellect, emotion and physical attraction. Advertisement Surprisingly, Tanne achieves his goals with a dialogue-heavy script and a style that is reminiscent of the Richard Linklater/Ethan Hawke/Julie Delpy long-winded but thoroughly beguiling films Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and Before Midnight. It's the same kind of heady, verbal movie that artfully blends romance, life affirmations, thoughtful opinions and deep emotion. Films that make you think and feel. There are points in Southside With You when the Afrocentric discussions (arguing over the best Stevie Wonder song) between the two colleagues become more personal and depict a supportive relationship in the making: Barack talks about his father who died and was buried under an unmarked tombstone. Michelle tells him his mission should be to put words on the stone. The connection Tanne's depicts between the two provides an illuminating backstory to a power-couple that under the glare of the spotlight always looks like they have a private bond and shared mission that will endure. Parker Sawyers has a slightly darker complexion than President Obama, but the cheekbones, shape of his head, skinny build and determined eyes are a spitting image. It's uncanny to watch him smoke cigarettes and give an inspiring speech. Tika Sumpter captures the essence of Michelle Obama. Her aura is identical. Her performance is brainy, assured, loving and nurturing. Southside With You vividly recreates the budding romance of Barack and Michelle. It also puts on a screen, for everyone to see, a romantic courtship between educated African Americans, the kind that Hollywood rarely depicts. Advertisement A very winsome and loving film. It's hard not to be swept off your feet. Ice cream cone The twins Mahir and Amir have been living in the house across from ours for the past several months. I can only tell them apart by the gap Mahir has between his teeth. They are always smiling broadly, which makes telling them apart easier to do. Amir and Mahir have three sisters. Their entire family initially fled from Syria to Turkey, together with the eldest daughter's husband. The young couple eventually crossed the sea and made it to Europe, and the rest of the family quickly followed. Advertisement Soon enough, the boys noticed the ice-cream truck that stops on our street. I always have a few Euros in my pocket in case a kid stands in front of the truck without enough money. One day, Amir stood before the ice-cream truck. I waited for everyone else to order first, as I usually have a longer conversation with our ice-cream man. The line was getting shorter and shorter, but Amir didn't come any closer to the truck. So I took a few coins from my pocket and held them out to him: "Here!" Amir shook his head, "No, I'm just waiting for my friend!" he said with a big grin. "If you don't have any money with you, then take this!" I replied, stretching my hand towards him once again. Advertisement "No, look!" He said, pulling out a few Euros from his own pocket and shaking his head. "My mother gave me money for ice-cream!" "Then why aren't you buying any?" "If I don't spend it, I'll have more later. Then I can buy something better!" In that moment, I felt a little silly with the few coins in my hand, and I started to think. I wanted to give this little kid a little ice-cream, but he gave me a life lesson. In the following weeks, I thought of Amir, and remembered that he had a twin. I recalled that Mahir, too, would stand in front of the ice-cream truck without buying a cone. The two of them would repeatedly ride their bikes or roller blade from their side of the street over to our street and back. They would stop and grin when they saw me or any of my brothers. The two of them are so similar; even their smiles are identical! It's one of the most beautiful smiles in the world. Advertisement When we came home from a trip yesterday, Mahir raced over on his roller-blades. He waited behind our car, until my brother and I stepped out, and then he smiled at us. "Hello!" he called out, and happily skated around our street a couple of times. As I unpacked the trunk, I remembered we had some sweets that we had taken with us but hadn't opened. "Here!" I said, and held out the packages to him. Mahir reacted the same way his twin Amir had reacted during our first encounter: He shook his head and grinned at me. "Why not? Here, take it already!" "No, thank you!" "You're Mahir, right?" "Yes, and you're Emre!" "Yes that's right! Mahir, you have sisters, don't you?" "Yes, why?" "How many sisters do you have?" "Three, but one of them doesn't live with us." "OK, so take these two packages. This one is for your sister and this one here is for the other sister. OK?" For the first time, I saw Mahir nod. He took the packages from my hands and skated back home, waving happily from their house. Advertisement The only thing I've changed about this story is their names. Everything else is true: Mahir's toothy grin, the twins' beautiful smiles, the humanity that binds me to these two boys, the constant shaking of heads, and the rare nod. These boys, who have been raised extremely well, have taught me a lot of lessons. COLUMBUS A road that was just resurfaced last year near Monroe might have to be closed after it was discovered that a culvert beneath it is rotting. The Platte County Board of Supervisors learned about the problem during Tuesday's meeting. Supervisor Bob Lloyd reported the issue, saying a sinkhole is forming in the middle of 370th Avenue, located about a mile off Highway 22 south of Monroe. Last year, a 9.5-mile stretch of 370th Avenue was resurfaced by Western Engineering as part of three asphalt projects the Iowa company completed in the county. The total cost for the three projects, which also included work on Monastery Road and 83rd Street, was about $5 million. There are two culverts, one measuring 60 inches and another 48 inches, under the road near Monroe. Lloyd said the poor condition of the culverts should have been noted before asphalt overlay work was completed and that there is a possibility the road will be closed. The engineer probably should have been looking at that. Im disappointed in Mark a little bit, Lloyd said, speaking of Mark Mainelli with Mainelli Wagner and Associates, the Lincoln firm that serves as the county engineer. After the meeting, Lloyd said he doesnt know who is to blame and wanted to bring the issue before the board so a similar issue doesn't happen again. Platte County Highway Superintendent Terry Wicht said the problem has been temporarily fixed by filling the void and compacting it, but different options will be looked at to address the issue further. We are kind of looking at what we can do. My engineer and I are working on it. It is up in the air, Wicht said of the solution. He said culverts in the county arent checked every day, so it is difficult to know when the problem occurred. It could have happened before, during or after resurfacing. A lot of things can happen in a year, Wicht said. In other business, the board approved upgrading the electrical grounding system for two communication towers at the probation office and Platte County Detention Facility. Platte County Emergency Manager Tim Hofbauer said a year ago lightning struck that area and caused damage to electronics at the jail. Another storm last month knocked out a couple of surge protectors. The upgrade, which costs $6,865, should provide more protection to equipment during a lightning storm, Hofbauer said. The upgrade passed on a 6-1 vote with Supervisor Ron Pfeifer voting in opposition. The board also approved: contracts totaling $79,590 with Midwest Services for two culvert road projects. One project will be on 325th Street between 520th and 535th avenues and the other on 130th Avenue between 370th and 381st streets. paying Tim Jansen of Creston $740 for mowing Tracy Valley, Moriah and Streeter cemeteries this year. The payment includes mileage. No, I am not cruel nor am I insensitive. On the contrary, I think what would have definitely been insensitive was NOT to cry upon watching the recent video of five-year-old Syrian boy Omran Daqneesh. If you missed it, the horrific footage shows this shell-shocked airstrike survivor wiping dried blood and thick soot off his face inside an ambulance in Aleppo. An equally widely-shared video was that of CNN's Kate Bolduan, the renowned news anchor who wept as she told the story of how Omran's home and family were torn apart by this airstrike. Her tears were a reminder that no matter how impartial or tough we appear to be as journalists, we are only human at the end of the day. However, I do have a serious issue with what Ms. Bolduan said next. Reading off a teleprompter, she said: "Who's behind it (the attack)? We don't know." Advertisement This in no way is an attack on Kate or on CNN in particular (the channel did - a few days later - go as far as reporting that "activists blame the Syrian regime and Russia for the bombings in Aleppo"). However, the fact remains that "the international media doesn't do a very thorough job of identifying the perpetrators of many attacks on civilians" as Robert Ford, the former US ambassador to Damascus, puts it. Of course, covering Syria isn't easy. At first, the Assad regime made it very difficult for any journalist who didn't toe the line to work locally. The situation got worse when terrorist groups got involved and several fellow reporters were harassed, kidnapped, injured or killed. The alternative is, of course, content made available by activists, aid workers and/or first responders. Most of the time, such content can't be independently verified and given that most attacks on civilians are orchestrated without anyone claiming responsibility for them, the ability of many media outlets to confidently report on the full details is hindered. Advertisement The other reason why some editors opt to leave out perpetrator details is that international bodies, such as the UN, don't publically place the blame on anyone. According to Mr. Ford, the UN is often reluctant to charge certain countries with responsibility because it needs to maintain humanitarian aid access and communication on political issues. The word is not enough!However, it is simply unacceptable that we can't find out the truth about this attack in an era of satellite imagery, high-speed internet and global telecoms. Let us not forget that - given the current situation - Syria is probably the most carefully watched geographical location on our planet! Now, whilst the information might not all be available at the time news breaks, it is our duty - both as journalists and concerned citizens of the world - to ensure that pressure is placed on those who possess it. Media outlets and voters residing in democratic countries (where freedom of information acts are enacted) have a much bigger responsibility in attempting to achieve this. Without information, accountability can't be established and we will eternally continue to wonder "till when will this atrocity continue?" We should remember that our tears and angry Facebook posts will not do anything to help Omran. In fact, in a few days, the news cycle will inevitably move on and we will completely forget about him as we did with the late Aylan Kurdi. Advertisement As such, I call upon everyone who shared Omran's video, tweeted about their frustration at how unfair our world is and wondered how they could help to actively demand that the truth be made public. Otherwise, you might as well stop pretending to care and go back to posting selfies and Instagram snaps of what you had for breakfast instead. To make it simpler for all of us, we should remember that there are only two entities who possess the capabilities to launch such an airstrike: the US-led coalition and the Russian/Syrian regime forces. For his part, Mr. Ford - who is currently a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington - says that it is "almost certainly, either Russian aircrafts or Syrian government aircrafts that undertook the airstrike. "If it was a ground-to-ground rocket strike, it would have come from pro-government forces shelling of east Aleppo's Qaterji district. It is exceptionally unlikely that the attack came from an opposition armed group," he explained. Commenting on behalf of the US government, regional spokesperson Nathanial Tek categorically denied that the American-led Global Coalition to Counter ISIL conducted any recent airstrikes in, or around, Aleppo and added that the comprehensive list of all US-led strikes are made public and are available through this website: www.inherentresolve.mil Advertisement "I will leave it to the Russian government to comment on the activities of their military," added Mr. Tek. On the other hand, neither the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) nor its Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) have responded to attempts to obtain a comment regarding this matter. However, the state-owned media outlet RT recently published a statement by a MoD spokesperson claiming that the Russian Air Force "never works on targets within civilian areas." One last thing worth mentioning is that as important as the Omran story is, it must not allow us to forget that three people died in a Syrian chlorine gas attack 10 days ago. This comes almost exactly three years after the horrific Ghouta chemical attack which took the lives of more than a thousand people. It also occurred despite the Assad regime joining the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and agreeing to get rid of its chemical stockpile. One can only imagine how many children like Omran would have suffocated in these attacks and how horrific those images would have been. Judging by the global failure to end the plight of the Syrian people, however, I am not sure if the release of such footage would have made a difference! Many modern baby monitors come with a long list of high-tech features, from wireless connectivity to motion sensors. But when Vikas Bhatia was shopping for a baby monitor for his little one, he didn't want any of those extra capabilities -- and especially not Wi-Fi. "I don't trust it," he told Healthline. Bhatia, who is chief executive officer of the cybersecurity firm Kalki Consulting, understands the real risk is that baby monitors with Wi-Fi can be hacked from virtually anywhere in the world. Advertisement He won't take the chance that hackers could try to peep at his 3-month-old infant. Parents may not be aware Most new parents, however, aren't aware of that risk -- and some have found out the hard and terrifying way. For a Washington family, the wake-up call came quite literally when a hacker spoke to their 3-year-old son through his baby monitor, saying, "Wake up little boy, daddy's looking for you." The parents, Sarah and Jay, asked journalists not to reveal their last name to protect their privacy. Their son had told them he was afraid because someone was talking to him at night, Sarah told Kiro 7 News. Advertisement Then they heard the hacker's voice and noticed the baby monitor's camera following their movements. It's only one case in a growing list of baby monitor hacking incidents. In another incident in Texas, parents of a 2-year-old girl heard a hacker's voice through her baby monitor, calling their daughter "a moron" and other disturbing insults. And in an Indiana case, a mother heard the Police song "Every Breath You Take" playing from her daughter's baby monitor, followed by "sexual noises." Hackers tend to be opportunistic, explained Bhatia, who has more than 16 years of experience in the cybersecurity field. Online predators know that people have baby monitors that can be connected to home Wi-Fi networks and accessed through web portals. "All they're doing is looking for a vulnerability to exploit," Bhatia said. The "internet of things" Baby monitor hacking isn't a rare problem -- and it isn't going away. In 2014, the United Kingdom's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) warned of a Russian website that was live-streaming footage from thousands of webcams, including baby monitors and other Wi-Fi enabled cameras. Advertisement The video feeds came from all over the world and were easily searchable through Google, without the knowledge of the people who own the cameras. And when it comes to everyday items that families use, baby monitors aren't the only things that can be hacked. Baby monitors are just one category of devices in a huge spectrum of household products that make up the internet of things (IoT). "The internet of things is basically the extension of network-capable devices beyond traditional computing devices," Bhatia told Healthline, "Everything from a TV to a fridge to weighing scales in the bathroom." One of the risks of these devices is that people don't tend to think of them as computers -- but they are. Advertisement Although people often understand the importance of updating security software on their home or work computer, they may not recognize that network-connected household items can be a security risk, too. In actuality, Bhatia thinks IoT devices may be even more vulnerable to hackers than traditional computers. "When it comes to the internet of things, there are fewer people using the devices, both as consumers and on the engineering side, which means it's going to take longer for vulnerabilities to (a) be detected, and (b) when they are detected, to be remediated," Bhatia said. The problem isn't much closer to being solved than it was two years ago. Last month, the ICO issued another warning that people are not taking sufficient steps to secure their connected devices, citing baby monitors and music systems as examples. "A lack of security when it comes to devices could mean that a search engine is used by criminals to locate vulnerable devices and then gain access to them or others on your home network. An attacker could then use your equipment to mount attacks on others or take your personal data to commit identity fraud," the ICO warned. Advertisement Baby monitor challenges When it comes to protecting yourself and your family from cyberattacks, there are two main issues. First, the security of the device itself, and second, the actions of a user to keep it secure. For baby monitors, the challenges are steep. A 2015 study conducted by Rapid7, an internet security company, tested nine internet-connected baby monitors for security issues. They gave all but one a failing grade, finding numerous vulnerabilities that could allow a device to be "maliciously abused by an attacker." To make matters worse, research suggests that the average person who uses the internet is not particularly careful about cybersecurity. Researchers at Brigham Young University conducted a series of studies that revealed people tend to ignore online security warnings. Advertisement In one study, even people who claimed to care about internet security ignored the warnings. In another study released this week, researchers found people are especially likely to disregard warnings that come at inconvenient times. Bonnie Anderson, Ph.D., an associate professor of information systems at Brigham Young University, and co-author of the studies, noted that computing devices are less secure than many people assume, and that's especially true when it comes to the IoT. She stressed that keeping your software updated is one of the best things you can do to keep your devices secure. "As soon as those updates are out, then malevolent folks can see exactly what's been fixed, and then they know what to target," Anderson told Healthline. "People who are not up-to-date on their updates and patches are then at big risk." Making smart choices If you're in the market for a baby monitor, Bhatia has some advice. "The first question I would ask anyone who is buying a Wi-Fi enabled baby monitor is, 'Do you specifically want to be able to access this monitor from outside the house?'... Most of the time, I hear, 'No,'" he said. Advertisement In that case, you can opt for a monitor that doesn't connect to the internet. If you've already purchased a Wi-Fi enabled monitor, you can turn off that function. If you do want remote access to the baby monitor, there are steps you can take to make an internet-connected device as secure as possible: Before you buy a monitor, do some research to see if the manufacturer is proactive about addressing security issues, such as by releasing security patches and updates. Change the default username and password on the device right away. Most IoT products are preset with usernames and passwords that can be found with a simple Google search. Choose a password that is long and complex, not a simple word. You can use a password manager to help you keep track of your passwords for different accounts. Advertisement Ensure your home Wi-Fi network is password-protected. To be extra safe, you can set up a separate network for your baby monitor and control which devices are authorized to access that network. Check that your router has logging enabled so that you have a record of any IP address that accesses it. If you are fairly tech savvy, you can also change the monitor's default communications port in its network configurations setting. Register your product with the manufacturer so that you receive software updates to fix security issues. Even if you register, it's a good idea to set a regular reminder for yourself to double check for any updates you might have missed. For Bhatia and his wife, choosing a baby monitor meant considering the absolutely minimum requirements they needed to keep tabs on their new arrival. Ultimately, they selected separate video and audio monitors, neither of which is Wi-Fi enabled. By Jenna Flannigan There has been a great deal of attention and controversy surrounding a plan by Actors Equity, the labor union representing stage actors, that would decimate the small theater scene in Los Angeles. For nearly thirty years, actors in small theaters in LA have been permitted to perform for a small stipend in order to ply their craft. The small theater scene has grown from 20-30 theaters to over 200 in the past decades, and LA has become a center of creative and innovative theater. Last year, Equity announced a plan that could shut down most of these theaters - the majority of which are run by actors themselves - by requiring them to pay actors an hourly wage for rehearsals and performances. Even though the union members in LA voted 2-1 against the plan and now have sued Equity to preserve their theater scene, Equity has announced that it would enforce the new rules beginning in mid-December. However, in an attempt to "divide and conquer," Equity has granted exemptions to the new rules for a select number of theater companies, although those exemptions are likely to be temporary. But a large number of other theaters will be subject to the onerous rules, which are likely to drive them out of business and bar union actors from LA stages. Advertisement Not surprisingly, among the theaters targeted for shuttering are those that serve minorities, women and LGBT communities. In a recent town hall meeting of LA actors, Michael Shepperd, co-artistic director of the Celebration Theatre, which is one of the most prominent theaters in the country serving the LGBT community, noted that the Equity proposal would disproportionately impact minority, LGBT and women's theater companies. "Ninety-five percent of the theaters that received so-called 'carve-outs' (exemptions) are Anglo," said Shepperd, who is African-American. He noted that these are theaters that employ mostly white actors. "This makes it even harder for theaters that work with actors of color or from the LGBT community to operate, especially when funding for the arts is at historically low levels." While it may not have been the intent of Equity to discriminate against minority, women-based and LGBT theaters, the impact on these groups is real. A number of well-regarded and established theater companies, including The Latino Theater Company, Casa 0101, Queer Classics, Teatro de La O and many others may either go out of business or be forced to operate entirely outside of Equity rules, depriving their actors of any union protections for safe and sanitary conditions. In recent months, a number of Republicans have distanced themselves from a bombastic Trump campaign.(The party itself appears to be focusing on down-ballot races.) But apart from Presidential maneuvering, one issue is reverberating through every splinter of the GOP - the goal of repealing Dodd-Frank. This legislation is the centerpiece of the Obama Administration's banking regulations after the 2008 financial crisis, and dismantling it tops the GOP's to-do list. While it's been eight years since the market crash and the Great Recession, the $700 billion banks bailout (a number not even including the funds borrowed from the Federal Reserve), alongside devastating unemployment numbers and the billions in lost personal savings are far from forgotten. Most Americans support laws such as Dodd- Frank; they applaud measures to prevent Great-Depression-like economic catastrophes. But some Republican candidates and lawmakers, like Senator Jeb Hensarling, (R) Texas, see Dodd-Frank, in contrast, as a step towards complete government control of "capital markets". Hensarling has announced a plan to help "relieve financial institutions from regulations that create more burden than benefit." He told the Washington Free Beacon, "[The Republican] reform plan allows banks to opt into an alternative regime." His plan is supplemented by the proposed bill below, Senator Rand Paul's S226-114 Executive Need of Scrutiny Act of 2015. Advertisement Does the thought of freeing up the financial sector from the basic regulations put in place by Dodd-Frank, makes you scratch your head-- or even feel nervous? It should. The banking and finance industry enjoyed freedoms -- including freedom from scrutiny that led some insiders to commit fraud -- that seem to come at the expense of everyday people. Meanwhile, the government has many priorities that come before imposing basic accountability measures. At the least, Dodd-Frank provides a fairer legal platform for consumers than before it existed; it is called the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau. This agency, championed by Senator Elizabeth Warren, is in place to save victims of predatory and fraudulent banking millions in fees that would otherwise be imposed on them while fighting corporate legal teams. Another important pro-consumer piece of legislation is the Volker rule, which prevents banks from making risky bets with large amounts of consumer's money. Advertisement The Republicans wish to do away with both of these. Their proposed plan allows large banks to opt out of capital and liquidity requirements -- which require banks to actually have real dollars on hand when you go there. And one of the most telling points in the Republican plan is its effort to prevent financial agencies from designating non-banks as "systematically important". This countermeasure comes as courts have begun to attack the use of the term "too big to fail" as a legislative label. Whom are these proposed changes for? Are they for the many who lost hard-fought life savings in plans that had been deemed safe, or for the young people in the workforce looking to secure a financial future? Probably not. While the likelihood of such destructive legislation passing is low, 'finance reform' is a key issue on the campaign trail on both sides of the struggle. The last Clinton in the Whitehouse signed a repeal of Glass-Steagle, a bill that had prohibited commercial banks from engaging in the investment business. The 2016 Clinton camp now wants to "update and modernize" Glass Steagle. In banking, even small changes mean huge business. For both parties, the shaping of laws that control banking, are central in the days and months ahead. Citizens need to keep a watchful eye on these bills and use the BillCams to inform and alert their neighbors and let elected officials know that these deals won't take place in the dark. More fake news found daily on The Political Garbage Chute. NEW YORK, NEW YORK -- Republican presidential nominee Donald J. Trump announced today that he and his healthcare advisers have devised a new plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. Trump said that under his new plan, all doctors would be replaced with Republican voters who would just watch videos of their patients, and make sweeping diagnoses based on their untrained medical advice. "Obamacare is a disaster," Trump said, "but you know me. I make things bigger, and better. So we came up with a disaster that we think is bigger than Obamacare. It'll be the biggest disaster in American history, mark my words. Hugely successful disaster." Trump said that in his estimation the cost of repealing Obamacare and setting up an infrastructure of webcams and laptops for Republican voters to start giving medical care to complete strangers they've never met personally will be high, but he has a plan for mitigating it. Advertisement "Mexico will pay for it all," Trump said, "and if they don't -- and believe me, they will folks. I know how to get deals done. Just look at all my Chapter 11 deals I've made with my creditors." The alleged-billionaire and confirmed literal diarrhea in a suit told reporters that if Mexico balks and doesn't pay, he has yet another solution to the cost problem. "I have friends in high places," Trump said with a wink,"like in other governments. I don't want to spoil the surprise, but let's just say that I'll have people...RUSSIAN to help us, if you know what I mean. Get it? Get it, guys? I said 'RUSSIAN' to help, like you know, Russia?" A slight pause. "I'm going to ask Russia to pay for it," Trump said, explaining his joke, which is what makes jokes the most hilarious anyway. Advertisement When reporters asked what kinds of ailments that these new video doctors would diagnose, Trump told them "all of them, literally all of them." "We all know that Republicans are so damned smart," Trump said, "that they don't need a near-decade's worth of medical training at some liberal indoctrination university to be good doctors. They just need good horse sense, a pair of eyes, and the ability to spot health-related issues via a YouTube video, the grainier and more out of focus the better." By Justin Adams, Global Managing Director of Lands at The Nature Conservancy, and Bianca Moebius-Clune, Ph.D., Director at the Soil Health Division, USDA-NRCS At the core of agriculture is innovation. Advancements in agricultural technology throughout the past century have allowed farmers to feed a population that has grown from less than 2 billion people to more than 7 billion today. But, as demand for food continues to grow, our lands are stretched to their limits and crop yields struggle to keep up the pace, the world will need farmers to make another leap. By just 2050, global agricultural production must increase by 60 percent, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Some previous agricultural breakthroughs, though, have come with serious environmental costs to both people and nature. With a changing climate exacerbating today's challenges, it is clear the next agriculture revolution will require solutions that not only increase food production, but also sustain the health of our communities, our land and water, and our climate. Advertisement The next revolution One such solution lies with the soil under our feet. About 70 percent of fresh water worldwide is used to produce food, and 95 percent of food is produced on land. Although historically there has been insufficient attention to the value of healthy soils, the data and case examples are clear: healthy soil is critical for long-term agricultural production. Perhaps Franklin Delano Roosevelt put it best, as the devastating Dust Bowl swept across the U.S. Midwest in the 1930s: "A nation that destroys its soil destroys itself." We have greatly reduced soil erosion in the United States since the time of the Dust Bowl. But we are still losing soil faster than nature can replace it in many places on the planet, and losing its ability to function biologically and physically. According to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, every year we lose around 24 billion tons of fertile soil globally (about 2 billion tons/year in the United States, by estimates in the 2012 Natural Resources Inventory), and it takes roughly 2,000 years to generate 10 centimeters or not quite four inches of topsoil. In order to achieve global long-term food security while better protecting our communities and our environment, we must take soil health more seriously. The good news is that while it may take hundreds of years to geologically build soil, farmers have demonstrated that they can increase organic matter and improve soil function in just a few years, through soil health management systems. This represents the hope in healthy soil -- the potential of regenerative agriculture. Advertisement Recently, the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization identified soil organic carbon, soil erosion and soil nutrient imbalance as the top three threats to global soil health. These three elements are intimately related. Increase organic carbon, for example, and the others can improve too. From nutrient management to carbon storage Poor nutrient management costs everyone. When farmers pay for improperly planned application or overuse of fertilizers and other soil amendments (and the labor, and fuel to apply them), or when needed nutrients are lost to the environment due to poor soil physical and biological functioning, consumers see higher prices in supermarkets and restaurants. The environment takes a hit, too: nutrients enter water systems instead of growing food. They stimulate algal blooms that contaminate drinking water and suffocate aquatic life. We saw this on the Ohio River in the summer of 2015, and we see it every summer with the Gulf of Mexico's dead zone, which has been averaging an area the size of Connecticut for the past few years--caused largely by excess nutrient loss from agricultural soils. Likewise, better nutrient management coupled with other soil health practices have far-reaching positive impacts. For example, a resilient, well structured, healthy soil that drains well after extreme rainfall events, along with better nutrient (nitrogen) management can reduce emissions of the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide -- strengthening the significant opportunity for farmers to be a part of the global climate solution. Producers can increase soil carbon stocks and sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, while also improving the soil's ability to retain nutrients through many strategies: such as decreasing disturbance, growing diverse crops and cover crops to maximize the time each year that living roots are building soils, keeping the soil surface protected, and adding amendments such as biochar or compost. And strategic crop rotations and nitrogen-fixing cover crops can also improve nutrient use efficiency, while limiting erosion and increasing soil carbon sequestration. (Paustian et al., 2016) Better soil health management can often achieve these environmental benefits at a lower cost than other approaches -- and for farmers there is real profit potential. Improving infiltration and water-holding capacity, for example, can significantly reduce irrigation water needs, lessen dust pollution, and improve nutrient uptake by plants, which can reduce input costs, and reduce plant stress, disease and pest pressure. Over time, these practices reduce the risk of yield loss due to these stressors, and can bring about a material increase in crop yields and quality. Importantly, we must work with the agricultural industry to find the right policies and business models that unlock this sort of economic potential for both the land owners as well as the farmers who are often tenants on the land. Better soil health starts with collaboration With farming and ranching occurring in all 50 of the United States and on roughly 40 percent of land around the world, there is global opportunity to continue building on the success of our soil conservation work and to share and learn from new experience. It starts with collaboration. One example is the long-standing collaboration between The Nature Conservancy and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) team at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). We've worked jointly with influential farmers like Tim Smith, who was recognized for his leadership in sustainable agriculture by being selected as a 2015 Champion for Change. We recently visited Tim in Iowa to learn how he is focusing on soil health and what is working well. "Soil health is an awareness," Tim told us. "There's more going on than having [particular] chemical properties ... We're also thinking about the biological properties that exist in the soil that really make the soil work." Advertisement Being on Tim's farm let us feel the effect of healthier soil. He contrasted "square and bare" fields that had been traditionally tilled with those that had cover crops. We saw how the fields that had cover crops absorbed water more quickly and kept it in the soil longer. Tim emphasized that these fields are producing more food with less water on the same amount of land. "Conservation is very important to me," Tim said. "It deals with the land, the soil -- something we cannot replace. This farm has been in the family for 135 years. And a lot of times, I ask other farmers, 'Because of the way we farm and the practices we use, what's our soil going to be like in another 125 or 130 years? Are we going to have the same soils that we have now?'" As part of his efforts, Tim is involved with the Soil Health Partnership, which is a farmer-led project focused on testing and sharing new approaches to improving soil health. Led by the National Corn Growers Association, both The Nature Conservancy and NRCS are active in the partnership. (See videos on what The Nature Conservancy is doing regarding soil health here). Cross-sector action Soil health might not grab the headlines, but it might just be the most important agricultural conservation endeavor of our lifetime. If we want to meet the growing demand for food while strengthening the health of our communities, our land and water, and our climate, we need to support innovation in soil health and ensure farmers have broad access to the practices and incentives that can shift the paradigm. Part of this is working with businesses and other stakeholders to create new service offerings and innovative finance approaches coordinated with this transition. There is emerging collaboration in the public sector as well, such as the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy's new soil science interagency working group that will receive input from 15 different federal departments and agencies. The working group to be co-led by USDA, USDI and NASA, will contribute to finding innovative ways of protecting America's soil. Advertisement This is an opportunity to take responsibility -- together -- for the land that feeds us and our children. We invite farmers, ranchers, and consumers alike to join in collaboration in this next agricultural revolution -- a revolution that starts under our feet. You are over 50 - maybe over 60. Presumably you are old enough to know that people "your age" are not supposed to get divorced. Yet, here you are: stuck in a marriage that feels dead and wondering whether it's still possible for you to find happiness. Advertisement Of course, you know your options. None of them are good. On the one hand, you and your spouse share so much history together. You have been together for so long that it's almost impossible to think of yourself as being apart. The very thought of separating, of living alone, of starting over, is terrifying. At the same time, just thinking about what you could do if you were on your own is exhilarating! Even if you didn't do anything "big," it would still be glorious to be able to do what you wanted, when you wanted, and with whom you wanted. You wouldn't have to answer to anyone! But, you can't do what you want while you are married ... at least not to your current spouse! The Grey Divorce Dilemma Feeling stuck in a bad marriage is not unique to older couples. Plenty of people in their 20s, 30s and 40s struggle with exactly the same thing. What makes couples in their 50s and 60s different can be summed up in two words: finite resources. You have a limited amount of time, money, and energy. When you get divorced in your senior years, or even middle age, you no longer have a lifetime to rebuild your finances. Your income is unlikely to go up in any serious way. Your assets are fairly fixed and your employment opportunities are limited. Advertisement You may be retired, or were hoping to actually be able to retire someday. All of that makes the financial consequences of divorce significantly more damaging for older divorcing couples than for those who divorce at a younger age. You also know that you are on the back side of your time on the planet. You know that if you don't follow your dreams now, you never will. So, do you stay in a marriage that is, at best, mediocre, and, at worst, soul-crushing? Or, do you risk financial ruin for the uncertain chance at happiness, fulfillment, and perhaps, even love? It's not an easy choice. What People Don't Understand About Divorce After 50 In spite of the many differences between getting divorced when you are young, or "not so young," the truth is that all divorces, grey or otherwise, have one thing in common: every divorce is different. That's what so many people don't understand. Divorce lawyers and the media love to talk about the "Grey Divorce Revolution." But, grey divorce isn't "a revolution" (although it may feel like one if it is happening to you!). No one is taking to the streets to protest in support of divorce among the senior set. Advertisement Divorce happens to individuals. It happens to couples. Grey divorce is no exception. There is no "one size fits all" typical grey divorce. The Different Shades of Grey Divorce Some older divorcing couples have been married since they were in their 20s. Over the years, they grew apart. Once their kids were grown and gone they may have realized that they had little left in common except the past. So they divorce. Other couples may have been miserable together for decades. One spouse may have become an alcoholic, or had an affair - or a series of affairs! Finally, the other spouse gets to the point where s/he has had enough. So they divorce. There are grey divorces that involve no children, adult children, or minor children. (Yes. It happens.) There are grey divorces from first marriages, and from second, or third marriages. Some older couples are well off. Others are not. Some have saved amply for their retirement and are in a solid financial position. Others have lived beyond their means for years, and find themselves deeply in debt. In short, there are as many different "kinds" of grey divorces as there are grey divorcees. Assuming that all grey divorces as the same just because the people who are getting divorced have been alive longer than their younger counterparts is an enormous mistake. Advertisement What Do You Do if You or Someone You Love is Facing a Grey Divorce Step #1 for anyone facing divorce is to stop judging yourself! You are not a horrible human being simply because you have decided to get a divorce. While plenty of people will try to convince you that, after you have been married for "X" number of years, you are obligated to stay married, that's hogwash! (It's also ageism at its worst!) Getting divorced at any age is sad. Everyone wants their marriage to work. But, sometimes it doesn't. The truth is, it doesn't matter how old you are. Sh*t happens. Step #2 is to remember that, no matter how old you are, you are human! Your divorce is going to suck! All divorces suck. Unless you are a highly evolved zen master (in which case you are probably not married anyway) when you go through a divorce, you are going to lose it for a while. Everyone does. Step #3 is to look at your individual circumstances and deal with your unique situation. Yes, because you are older and because your resources are likely limited, you are going to have to pay special attention to your finances. Yes, you may have to get a job, or put off your retirement. You may have to downsize your home, or your lifestyle, for longer than a younger person, or maybe even forever. (Sorry.) Advertisement You may also have to find new activities and learn to get comfortable being alone. (Yes, you can do it. It's really not that bad!) But, the sooner you start to accept your new reality and mover forward, the better off you are going to be. It's All About You No matter what kind of "grey divorce" you may be facing, you have the power to choose how you will handle it and move forward (or not). You can choose what you will tell yourself about your divorce, and what your divorce will mean to you. If you choose to tell yourself that your life is over because you are old, broke, and divorced, then you can expect the rest of your life to be fairly miserable. If you choose to tell yourself that, even though you may not have expected to be divorced and over 50, now that you are both of those things, you are going to make the best of your situation, then you may actually find that you will enjoy the rest of your life. Advertisement For me, it was love at first sight. From the first morning I arrived in Belize, nearly 30 years ago, climbed down from the plane onto the runway, threw my backpack over my shoulder, pulled on my sunglasses, and walked across the tarmac in the direction of the one-room Belize City airport, I was smitten. It was nothing I could put my finger on at the time. Just a feeling, like falling in love. You know it when it hits. Belize City is referred to as the Calcutta of the Caribbean... a hell hole... a slum town. Those descriptions are not undeserved, but they refer not to Belize but Belize City and not to the heart and soul of this country but to the face of the town where, unfortunately, its international airport happens to be located. Advertisement Smitten as I was by the experience of being in Belize, even I, young and naive as I was, recognized that Belize City wasn't a nice place to be 30 years ago. This hasn't changed, but it didn't matter to me then and isn't the point now. What won me over from that first visit was the simple, sweet charm and the raw, natural beauty of this country, which I sensed straightaway. On that first visit, I met a handful of Belize expats with whom, over the years, I've developed friendships I treasure. Visit by visit, in the years to follow, they helped me to get to know this country founded by pirates and where independence and free thinking are prized above all else. These are qualities that I, too, value a great deal. Instinctively, I guess, putting my feet on the ground in this country for the first time, I knew that Belize and I were made for each other. Belize is the quirkiest place I know. Belize City's roadways are built around a system of roundabouts (thanks to her British colonizers), but shops alongside them sell rice, beans, and tortillas still ground by hand. Everyone you meet speaks English (it's the country's official language), but this belies the stories of their origins. The 350,000 people populating Belize today are descendants of migrants from Britain, yes, but also and more so the surrounding Central American countries. You've got Mexicans, Guatemalans, Hondurans, and Nicaraguans mixing with current-day generations of the Maya who originally inhabited this land, the pirates who came later, the Mennonite farmers who began arriving on the scene in the 16th century, the British who ruled until 1981, and each other. Belize is a country of freedom-seekers. The pirates came to ply their pirate trading out of view. The Mennonites came from Germany and the Netherlands so they could be Mennonites without anyone bothering them. The British came so they could bank in private. And the folks from the surrounding countries who've sought out Belize over the past few decades typically have made their way across this country's borders in search of safety. Advertisement Today, now, a new population of freedom-seekers is finding its way to these shores: Us. Belize is a nation of independent thinkers and doers, a country where you make your own way and where, while you're doing it, no one is making any attempt to thwart your efforts. Including the Belizean government. This is a poor country. The government doesn't have enough money to get up to any real trouble. And, if they tried, the Belizeans wouldn't allow it. The focus here is on very local-level government--addressing the crime problems in certain neighborhoods of Belize City, for example, or trying to dissuade the Guatemalan banditos who occasionally wander over into Belize in search of a couple of good horses to steal. Check Your Worries At The Border Arriving in Belize, stepping off the plane, and making your way to the one-room arrivals hall of the airport, you have a sense still today, just as I did 30 years ago touching down in Belize for the first time, of leaving the rest of the world behind. Belize and her people operate according to their own rules and mind their own business. The troubles, uncertainties, and worries that seem all-consuming Stateside and elsewhere in the world fade here. You're faced with a land that remains a frontier, undeveloped and therefore oozing with potential. Remember, this is also a tax haven, a place where your financial affairs are your own, and one of the best places in the world today to open an offshore bank account. Both these things are courtesy of the British, who created in Belize an offshore haven for themselves that we all can benefit from today. Belize is one more thing -- one of the most user-friendly options for establishing foreign residency. You don't have to be physically present year-round in the country to qualify for permanent residency and to take advantage of the tax benefits of that status. Come to visit for as few as four weeks a year, and you're good. Advertisement Where The H#&% Is Belize? Belize has been attracting expats in the know from the U.K., the United States, and Canada for decades. Still, many would have trouble pinpointing the country on a map... and a lot of folks think it's an island. (It's not, of course, though it features a handful of Caribbean islands just offshore Belize City.) You can still buy T-shirts at the airport that say, "Where The H#&% Is Belize?" The good news is that the country is very close to the United States and very accessible. Belize is easy to get to, and, once you're here, it's easy to make your way around and do whatever you'd like to do, thanks to the fact that the language is English. The Many Faces Of Little Belize Don't be fooled because of its size. You can get from one end of Belize to the other in a half day by car or a half hour by plane (the country's domestic air travel system is its most developed infrastructure). Despite this, Belize has many faces. First is Belize City -- poor, underdeveloped, and, in parts, unsafe. I don't mind the place. Beneath the gritty surface, I detect a long-faded charm. Or maybe I project one. Either way, I enjoy passing through, but I know that, for many, the best part about traveling to Belize City is leaving Belize City. Belize is perhaps best known and best loved for its Caribbean islands, especially Ambergris Caye, the largest and most developed, boasting both long beaches of soft, white sand and an established and growing community of expats and foreign retirees. This is the Caribbean at its best. Advertisement Belize's long mainland coast is marked by two points of particular interest. South of Belize City is Placencia; north is Corozal. Placencia has grown up in recent years to become the mainland's best-appointed beach town, catering to tourists and all the trappings that come with them. Corozal boasts easy access to Chetumal, across the bay in Mexico, which can be a big advantage in case of medical emergency. On the other hand, day-to-day, you'd likely feel secluded here. Maybe that's a plus for you... maybe a minus. The northern coast around Corozal sees about 50 inches of rain a year. The southern coast, Placencia and south, can see three times that much rain or more each year. Maybe that bothers you... maybe it doesn't. Inland is the Cayo District, a dramatically different region where life revolves not around the sea but the river. For some, river views don't substitute for ocean vistas; others prefer them. In other words, each region of Belize has its pluses and its minuses (scroll down to see all these places in a more detailed map of Belize). Island living is always more expensive than life back on the mainland, meaning Ambergris is the most expensive lifestyle choice in the country. Most expensive and also most developed and turnkey. Cayo offers an opportunity to enjoy a healthy, fulfilling, back-to-basics, and self-sufficient lifestyle, thanks to its abundance of fertile land, water, and sunshine year-round. Cayo is also Belize's most affordable lifestyle choice. Advertisement Infrastructure: Not A Strong Suit Paved roads are a good indicator anywhere of where the path of progress is headed. The British left great legal, educational, and governmental foundations in Belize, but not much in the way of physical infrastructure. Considerable investment has been made in recent years to improve this country's roads and bridges. Still, though (to help put things into perspective for you), Belize has but four highways. The most significant artery in the country is the Western Highway, which connects Belize City (the largest city), Belmopan (the capital), and San Ignacio (the largest town in Cayo). Not only road infrastructure, but infrastructure in general is limited in Belize. This is a small country where the infrastructure is most kindly described as "developing." No infrastructure, limited services and amenities, and little market demand (meaning limited product supply) could be interpreted as negatives. However, in Belize, particularly in Cayo, these things are a big part of the appeal. Once you get to Cayo, you don't mind that there's no infrastructure. You don't mind that the culture is more concerned with conservation than consumerism. That is, you don't mind... or, if you do, you're not happy. If you're interested in a lifestyle supported by the diversions and distractions of a big city, Cayo is definitely not for you and maybe nowhere else in Belize is either. Ultimately, to determine whether or not Belize is for you and where specifically in this mixed-up little country you might feel most at home, you'll have to get on a plane, as I did 30 years ago, and come see what's what in Belize for yourself. Advertisement I began a love affair with Belize 30 years ago that has developed and deepened into one of the most important relationships in my life. I know Belize well, better than anyone else you're likely to meet. I know the real Belize... and I love her just as she is. Related Articles: Earlier on Huff/Post50: This year, Britain has not only given us its surprise vote last June to exit the European Union (known as "Brexit"), shocking financial markets, forcing out the country's Prime Minister David Cameron, and prompting its citizens to make "What is the European Union?" their most popular Google search the morning after they decided to leave it. But Britain has now gone further, reaching an ever deeper level of strangeness by wrapping its post-Brexit finger-pointing in a full-throated barrage of accusations over none less than Leon Trotsky, the famous co-leader of Russia's 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, assassinated in Mexico City in August 1940 on orders from Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. How can anyone possibly connect Leon Trotsky, dead 76 years, to the political mess British voters have dug for themselves in 2016? Stay with me. Here's how: Among other casualties of Britain's surprise vote to leave the European Union have been the out-of-power British Labor Party and its current leader, Jeremy Corbyn, a longtime Parliament member from North London. Following the embarrassing Brexit vote, Corbyn, like David Cameron, was widely criticized for ineffective leadership. As a result, party leaders demanded he step down from his leadership post, just as Cameron had done. Members of Corbyn's own Labor "shadow government" resigned in protest, and, in June, Labor members of the British Parliament voted "no-confidence" in Corbyn by 170 to 40, trying to force him out. Advertisement But Corbyn refused to quit. Among other things, Corbyn insisted he had a legitimate mandate from his party's members, having won his leadership post just recently in September 2015 with strong union backing and a 59 percent majority. And, he argued, no small cabal of parliamentarians should be able to overrule the members. Instead, he demanded a vote on his leadership from the full Party membership, which has now been approved and is expected in September. The context quickly turned ugly, full of finger pointing and name calling, which is where Trotsky comes in. How on earth? Again, stay with me. As Laborites prepared to vote, a question quickly arose: In this new contest for party leader, who exactly would count as a Labor Party "member" eligible to vote? Since Corbyn's election as leader in late 2015, membership had exploded. Nearly 180,000 had joined, including 130,000 since the Brexit vote, a huge increase over the party's earlier membership of 388,000 plus 150,000 affiliated supporters. Lawsuits were filed to prevent some of these new recruits from voting, but so far with mixed results. And who are these new people suddenly joining the Labor Party, apparently planning to tip the vote for Corbyn? Finally, cue the organist. At least according to critics, some of them (gasp) were Trotskyists - extreme leftist followers of that same old Russian Leon Trotsky now conspiring to hijack the Labor Party for communism, revolution, atheism, and God knows what else. Advertisement This may sound like an odd flashback to old-style Cold War paranoia, what they used to call "Red baiting." But the man making this charge is none less than Tom Watson, the Labor Party's own deputy leader and a Corbyn opponent. "There are some old hands twisting young arms in this process, and I'm under no illusions about what's going on," Watson claimed in an interview with British reporters. "That's how Trotsky entryists operate." Trotskyists? Or "Trots"? Or even worse, heaven forbid - "Trotsky entryists"? Like most conspiracy theories, this one turns out to have enough truth behind it to give it a grain of credibility. Corbyn, in fact, has a long leftist past. And Leon Trotsky too has had a strnog following around the world, including in Great Britain. For those of you who may have lost track of the comings and goings of international communism since the fall of Soviet Russia in 1991, a quick aside: Yes, Leon Trotsky in 1917 co-founded the Russian Communist state along with Vladimir Lenin and other Bolsheviks of that era, served as its first Foreign Affairs Commissar, led the Red Army to victory in Russia's bloody 1918-1920 civil war, and helped create many of the regime's dictatorial institutions. [Frankly, I grew quite fond of him as a person writing my new book TROTSKY in NEW YORK, 1917, A Radical on the Eve of Revolution.] But after Lenin's death in 1924, Trotsky lost a bitter power struggle to Joseph Stalin, who emerged as Soviet Russia's absolute dictator. Stalin expelled Trotsky from the country in 1929, killed thousands of Trotsky's followers, vilified Trotsky in a series of Moscow "show trials" during the 1930s, and ordered Trotsky's assassination in Mexico City in 1940. Trotsky, meanwhile, became Stalinist Russia's harshest critic. Is a torrent of books, letters, and speeches, he blasted Stalin's dictatorship as a cancer on the workers' state and built a rival organization, the Fourth International, to promote communism free of Stalinism. He also spoke out against German fascism. As a result, Trotsky represented a historical alternative, the possibility that communist socialism could have worked and remains an option for radicals worldwide. Trotskyists, like Trotsky himself during his lifetime, reject parliamentary democracy in favor of worker-led revolution leading to overthrow of capitalism - but without the gulags and abuses. Advertisement In Britain, Trotskyism had a healthy following well into the 1980s, and Jeremy Corbyn, as a young union leader in North London in his 20s and 30s, found himself steeped in these leftist currents. In 1983, he publicly defended a Trotskyist group called the "Militant Tendency" against efforts by then-Labor leader Neil Kinnock to expel them. Then in 1988, as a back-bench Labor parliament member, Corbyn cosponsored a resolution calling on Soviet Russia to provide "complete rehabilitation" of Trotsky himself, saying: "That this House [of Commons], in the light of the special conference of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in one week's time, and of the judicial rehabilitation of [other prominent early Bolsheviks including] Bukharin, Zinoviev, Kamenev, Radek and Pyatakov, demands that the Russian Government goes further and gives complete rehabilitation to Leon Trotsky, Leon Sedov [Trotsky's son], the chief defendants in the [1938] Moscow frame-up trials, and all those innocent people murdered by the Stalin regime." Corbyn has consistently represented a progressive wing within the Labor Party. During the 1990s, he frequently opposed then-Leader Tony Blair's more-moderate New Labor. When Corbyn finally won the party's leadership in September 2015, his was widely viewed a victory of the Left. Which bring us to today. There are plenty of reasons for British Laborites to dislike Jeremy Corbyn. Some consider him too leftist, some not leftist enough. Others consider him simply incompetent. And yes, political name-calling has a long tradition in Britain just like America. But seriously, is Jeremy Corbyn a Trotskyist? Obviously not. As a Trotskyist, he would not be head of the British Labor Party. Rather, he would be trying to overthrow it. Are some of Corbyn's followers Trotskyists? Probably. But not many. The popularity of revolutionary Trotskyism in Great Britain peaked thirty years ago. There are hardly enough true active Trotskyists left there today to overthrow the Falkland Islands, let alone the government of Great Britain. Advertisement The fact is, in Britain and America both, large numbers of people today are highly dissatisfied with the status quo and are insisting on drastic change. In America, they have fueled the campaigns of Donald Trump on the right and Bernie Sanders on the left, and in Britain many flocked to support Brexit. That flood of new Labor Party members is no different. Yes, they are leftists, but they don't need an old-timer like Leon Trotsky to lead them. They are a new generation with its own voice. This epic story follows Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston), a prince falsely accused of treason by his adopted brother, an officer in the Roman army. After years at sea, Judah returns to his homeland to seek revenge, but finds redemption. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Gerry O. comments, "The famous story of Ben-Hur has been done in film multiple times throughout the years, but none has reached this level of excitement and beautiful special effects. And none has ever been this action packed and intense." Ryan R. adds, "Although it is two hours long, it does not drag. Morgan Freeman gives a very regal performance as Ilderim. His voice makes you want to pay attention when he narrates the story. I love this character because he helps Judah and they make a fantastic team!" See their full reviews below. Ben-Hur By Gerry O., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 14 Advertisement The famous story of Ben-Hur has been done in film multiple times throughout the years, but none has reached this level of excitement and beautiful special effects. And none has ever been this action packed and intense. Ben-Hur will certainly appeal to action genre fans, but it has so much more to offer. Along with multiple dangerous adventures comes strong love story, drama and history, which keeps you excited but surprised by events that unfold in front of your eyes. The film starts when Prince Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston) is accused of attempting to assassinate a Roman Leader. His adopted brother convinces him and his family about the worst punishments available. His family meets a mysterious fate that leaves him guessing about them for years. Judah is sentenced to life as a galley slave (a person that rows Roman ships). He barely survives this terrible punishment for six years before escaping. Back on land, he trains to take revenge on his brother in a place with no law - the dangerous, yet exciting sport of chariot racing! Although the plot seems confusing, it actually is easy to follow. Towards the beginning it may be a bit confusing, but by ten minutes into the film pieces snap into place. This film not only packs a lot of action, but it is also very historical and truly makes it look as if we are watching these scenes take place in ancient Rome and Jerusalem from the boats, to warfare, to their attire. Throughout the film, I felt transported back 2000 years to the large Roman Empire. Most of the special effects portray the chariot racing and the outcome is nothing short of spectacular, detailed and very realistic. It is exciting and intense, but also easy to follow. The acting in this film exceeded my expectations with many known actors such as Jack Huston and Morgan Freeman (Ilderim), but the entire cast delivers spectacular performances and really make their characters come to life and shine, as well as make the viewer think they actually are seeing life 2000 years ago. Advertisement My favorite scene is the galley slave scenes. In a way, these are also my least favorite scenes because it shows how terrible Romans treated these slaves. In one scene, you see Judah changing over the six years from a handsome and healthy prince to a depressed, skinny and beaten slave. Another factor of these scenes that impressed me were the visual effects. Judah escapes when the ship sinks in a battle. The scene is very dramatic, scary and intense. It is full of action and everything from soundtrack to acting makes it a heart-thumping moment. Ben-Hur is intense with many adult references, but the mature aspect that concerns me most is the gore. Since this takes place in Ancient Rome, there are many violent acts that are unsuitable for young children. I recommend it for ages 14 to 18 and give it 4.5 out of 5 stars. The acting, special effects and soundtrack are all fantastic but the story is slightly confusing at the beginning which makes it a bit annoying for the viewer. Ben-Hur By Ryan R., KIDS First! Film Critic, age 12 I did not exactly love the 2016 remake of the 1959 movie Ben-Hur, but I didn't hate it either. This film takes place around 26 A.D. when Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston) appears as the wealthy Jerusalem prince who is falsely accused of treason and is stripped of everything that he has and taken away. Judah's adopted brother, Messala Severus (Toby Kebbell) betrays him and allows the Romans to make Judah a galley slave for five years. Judah escapes, returns home and seeks revenge. The question is: will Judah get his revenge? Advertisement Although it is two hours long, it does not drag. Morgan Freeman gives a very regal performance as Ilderim. His voice makes you want to pay attention when he narrates the story. I love this character because he helps Judah and they make a fantastic team! I think Jack Huston should have been cast as Jesus because his demeanor is very soft and peaceful. He doesn't project the strong, angry character that he should have as Judah Ben-Hur. Rodrigo Santoro, who plays the role of Jesus should have played Judah Ben-Hur. Don't get me wrong, I love how Rodrigo Santoro portrays Jesus. His performance is stellar. But the way he looks and carries himself would have made Rodrigo a more believable Judah. Toby Kebbell's Messala is the one casting that they got right. He acts and looks mean enough to make you to dislike him. The setting looks epic and visually appealing. The battle scene with the ships in the water is pretty intense but entertaining. However, some scenes are boring and a few scenes didn't need to be there. The chariot race is a bit sloppy and roughly edited. I give this film 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it to kids ages 11 to 18. Younger kids might not understand what is going on and may be frightened by a few intense and grotesque scenes. There is also some bloody and gory violence. I also recommend this to adults who like action, adventure, remakes and Biblical films. This film opens Friday, August 19 so, put it on your radar screen. Gerry O., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 14 BEATRICE -- Gage County has paid more than $1.2 million to attorneys from six Lincoln firms to represent it in a federal civil rights trial brought by six people exonerated in a 1985 murder. A review of expenses since the so-called Beatrice 6 filed suit in U.S. District Court in 2009 brings the total cost of litigating the case to more than $3 million. If a federal judge upholds a verdict handed down at the end of a trial in which a jury found Gage County responsible for a reckless investigation and prosecution of the six, the county could be on the hook for as much as $31 million. Attorneys for the six have turned in a $1.8 million bill for their fees and costs of representing them. The federal jury awarded $28.1 million to the estate of Joseph White and to Ada JoAnn Taylor, Thomas Winslow, Kathy Gonzalez, James Dean and Deborah Shelden, who spent a combined 70-plus years in prison for the 1985 murder of Helen Wilson before DNA evidence cleared them and pointed to another man in 2008. It was the second trial in the civil rights case; the first ended in a hung jury in 2014. The County Board of Supervisors has approved payment to its attorneys on an ongoing basis dating back to 2009, according to records provided by the county. The costs include: more than $590,000 to the Boucher Law Firm for 2009-15. Richard Boucher was listed as an attorney for each of the 11 named in the suit, including Gage County. nearly $253,000 to the firm of Butler, Galter, OBrien & Boehm since 2010. Patrick OBrien was named one of the countys lead attorneys in 2012. OBrien has also been paid an additional $32,380 from Gage County separate from his firm, the county indicated. more than $110,000 to Paul Douglas, a former Nebraska attorney general hired by Gage County at the beginning of the lawsuit; he died in 2012, two years before the case went to trial. the Amen Law firm, where lead attorney Jennifer Tomka practices, has been paid nearly $99,000 over the past two years, including $90,000 so far this year. more than $125,000 to Wolfe, Snowden, Hurd, Luers & Ahl LLP for work done by Melanie Whittamore-Mantzios since she joined the case this year. Costs will likely continue to grow, as the County Board met with Tomka, OBrien and Whittamore-Mantzios in mid-July to determine how to move forward. A few weeks later, the countys legal team filed motions seeking a new trial and asking a judge to reduce the amount awarded by the federal jury on July 6. On Aug. 17, attorneys for the six filed a 96-page brief in which they responded to a litany of arguments filed by Gage County -- arguments the attorneys for the six say are not supported by evidence and continue to waste time and create work. In the brief, Jeffry Patterson argues Gage County is still trying to argue that the six were complicit in Wilsons murder, dredging up old issues settled by the court. They were arrested in 1989 after a cold-case investigation by sheriff's deputies. Plaintiffs do not find it helpful to, once again, confront each and every misrepresentation of fact found in defendants argument, Patterson wrote. It is enough to say that the defendants want the court to act as their superjury, accept their misrepresentations of the evidence (misrepresentations that have been rejected by the Court of Appeals on three occasions), and reassess what defendants claim is the only evidence in a light more favorable to defendants. The amount awarded by the jury, Patterson argued, was 73 percent of the damages sought by the six and substantially less than what has been reported as average for jury awards for wrongful convictions. Defendants are not entitled to reduction in damages when the jury based its award on facts the defendants stipulated to, and should be thankful the damages awarded were not consistent with what the Seventh Circuit found were the average and median awards for wrongful convictions, he wrote. Post-trial briefs for the second federal trial will continue, as will the county's efforts to determine whether its insurance will cover any of the damages. Its carrier, the Nebraska Intergovernmental Risk Management Association, has said it would not be covered for something that took place before it joined the insurance pool 20 years ago. Gage County had not filed any claims with the association since the case ended in early July, and the association did not respond to an inquiry last week seeking an update. Also last week, the County Board agreed to pay Joel Bacon and Joel Nelson of Keating OGara law firm in Lincoln $7,600 to determine whether it was covered for prior bad acts on its liability insurance. Police icon John Timoney was laid to rest this week with seemingly endless accolades for his work as an "innovative crime-fighter," who reformed police departments and "influenced law enforcement around the country." But, the real legacy of John Timoney is getting barely a mention in the rush to applaud his trajectory of "beat cop to top cop" memorialized in Timoney's own memoirs. It is a legacy of violent suppression that anyone who takes to the streets in protest today inevitably confronts. As Timoney rose through the ranks in the NYPD and became the first deputy commissioner in 1995 under Police Commissioner William Bratton, he dutifully implemented the "broken windows" policies of then-New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Advertisement Timoney's alleged "innovative tactics to curb crime" included increasing the numbers of police on the streets, aggressively enforcing "stop and frisk" policies, and locking up people -- predominantly people of color -- for "quality of life" crimes. By the time Timoney was recruited by then-Mayor Edward Rendell to run the Philadelphia Police Department in 1998, he had already gained a considerable reputation. But, it was during his time as Philadelphia Police Commissioner that Timoney began his most enduring and impactful legacy as one of the preeminent architects of today's model for policing political dissent. Ahead of the 2000 Republican convention, Timoney traveled with other law enforcement officials to study the 1999 World Trade Organization protests in Seattle and the police response. He and other officials also traveled to Washington, DC as Global Justice activists gathered to protest the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in April 2000. With the deliberate aim of controlling dissent, Timoney developed a playbook of tactics for a model of policing that social scientists call "strategic incapacitation." Advertisement That playbook of tactics, honed against RNC 2000 protesters, included heavy surveillance and infiltration, the establishment of anti-free speech ordinances and sweeping "security zones," political interrogations, unlawful stops and searches, preemptive raids on activist spaces, massive numbers of police in the streets, indiscriminate police violence, and mass arrests. Once in jail, the playbook of tactics extends to city officials and the court system. As part of a concerted effort to keep protesters off the streets, political arrestees are commonly detained on prohibitively high bails, denied access to legal counsel, and held without arraignment in defiance of habeas corpus. This form of policing worked so well for Timoney, his law enforcement cohorts, and the state, it was further honed over the years. Shortly after he left Philadelphia to become Miami Police Chief, Timoney oversaw one of the most violent and repressive responses to political protest in modern history during the Free Trade Area of the Americas summit in 2003. Miami Mayor Manny Diaz hailed the notoriously violent reaction as a "model for homeland defense," thereby branding this approach to policing the "Miami Model." As technology has advanced and as more money has become available to municipal police forces, we've seen this model grow increasingly invasive, militaristic, and violent. Now, police can and do eavesdrop on cell phone communication without a warrant. We've seen an expansion of so-called "less-lethal" weapons, which are used with greater intensity and frequency. And, a greater number of battlefield weapons are being brought home and used on U.S. dissidents. Timoney eventually took his expertise in controlling dissent to the private marketplace, working until his death for the global security firm Andrews International. Indeed, until Timoney was admitted to a Miami hospital with lung cancer earlier this year he was working to help the Bahraini monarchy control a years-long popular uprising happening in the small Persian Gulf island state. It was clearly his reputation for policing dissidents that landed him the job of helping the minority Sunni ruling class suppress the Shiite majority who have been agitating since the eruption of the Arab Spring in 2011. Advertisement One may attempt to eulogize Timoney as a "good cop," but there is no question he was fervently opposed to free speech, most especially when used in the struggle for social change. Today, as the Movement for Black Lives faces increasingly repressive police tactics and in the wake of the wholesale suppression of the Occupy Wall Street movement, the true legacy of Timoney continues to have far-reaching and harmful consequences for dissidents, political movements, and democratic societies alike. by Linda Taylor We've just heard that Jesus and the disciples were turned away from a Samaritan village where they may have expected to be welcomed. The disciples asked Jesus if they should command heaven to rain down fire to consume the village, and he rebuked them. That's a really nice way of saying that he said, "Are you out of your mind? Are you crazy? That's not what we do. That's not what we do." In my life and in my experience, that is sometimes what we do. When we don't receive the welcome we want--when things aren't going as we think they should--our first response may be to do our best to rain down fire on whoever's offended us. We don't do that all the time, but sometimes we do. Last week--those of you who were here might remember and those of you who weren't here will now hear the story--our Prayers of the People were a litany around the event in Orlando. The phrase "gun violence" occurred several times in that litany. For some people that phrase felt like a lack of hospitality. It felt like their perspective was being dishonored or ignored. And a marvelous thing happened. No one rained down fire on me. No one. Two people approached me directly and talked kindly with me, helping me hear their perspective. Two others sent carefully worded, thoughtful and loving emails. These were love letters explaining their perspective. I was deeply grateful for all four of these people, because I know that if four people have a feeling in a group this large, there are others. I am grateful for those who let me know what they were experiencing--and who didn't attack me. There have been times in my life and in my ministry when I have been attacked. We have all been attacked in our lives, and we know that it doesn't help the situation very much. But these folks did what they could to help us move toward common ground. And I am grateful. Advertisement Yesterday, we held our very own Living Room Conversation right here at Saint Andrew's. Thirty people from Saint Andrew's and other churches came to be part of this experience. I will tell you that I was a little bit nervous going into this thing. Our experience at the Living Room Conversations conference in Salinas last month had been powerful, but this was here, and this was under my watch. I wanted it to be good, and I didn't know if it would be or not. We had two conversations. First was a conversation about our conversations in our past. We responded to the guiding questions: How have we talked with people in the past? What has that been like? What did we bring to those conversations? What made it difficult? What made it easy? After that introduction, we had a choice about sitting in conversations about Orlando or about talking politics in church. So we had three tables of people dealing with the politics issue and two tables with Orlando, and the buzz in the room was fabulous. There was talking and there was listening. There was more talking and more listening. At the tables at which I participated, I was impressed by the way people listened. They didn't interrupt. They said what they needed to say, and then they listened and sometimes asked clarifying questions to help them understand the other person's perspective. After the first round of conversation, a participant named Ann Marie remarked to the group, "After all, we're just walking each other home." (quote from Ram Dass) We're all going to the same place, and we're all on a path. Sometimes our paths converge. Sometimes they separate, and we can hardly see each other, much less hear each other. But on the good days, we're walking on the same path, close together, and we're walking each other home. I think that will always stay with me. I get goose bumps every time I say it, and it feels like the work of the Spirit happening right now and right here. And I am so grateful for Ann Marie's words because they brought a special tone to our time together. We all heard what she said. Advertisement We know that the path isn't always easy. Jesus said we don't build the kingdom of heaven by putting our hands to the plow and then turning back. We all put our hands to the plow when we made our baptismal covenant promises. And some days we're hanging on for dear life to the handles of that plow. Some days we have smooth going, and some days there are rocks. Some days there are trees. Some days we can hardly make it an inch further, but when we're together, it's a little bit easier to do. When we're walking with each other, everything is easier. When we're looking for the common ground that we share, we can all find hospitality, and that's good news. The North Fork, the quiet finger of the victory sign that extends out to the Easternmost region of Long Island NY- 120 miles from Manhattan and many dozens of farm stands away - is the fork that doesn't have "Hampton" in any town name. This is the section of Long Island most preferred by those who shun the jostle of paparazzi and glitterati; those who wish to linger over a good espresso and scone in the morning and a just-purchased bottle of wine from a family-owned vineyard at dusk. The North Fork is about farms and wineries, boating and paddling in protected waters, and finding the perfect restaurant or unique home-goods shop. Things are changing rapidly, however, and more and more tourists are discovering this rural region. Catch it while the North Fork is still the "Quiet Fork." The Getaway Mavens recommend starting with the following 15 Things To Do, though you can find much more about the North Fork and other "Offbeat Escapes in the Northeast" at GetawayMavens.com. Advertisement 1. Take the Cross Sound Ferry and start your vacation 80 minutes before you get to Eastern Long Island. If you live anywhere in New England, the quickest and most pleasurable way to get to the tip of the North Fork is on the 80-minute Cross Sound Ferry that runs from New London CT to Orient Point NY. Why drive all the way down to NYC, then up again 120 miles, when you can take the boat and eliminate the hassles of traffic and bad drivers? Plus, the small cafe on board features Greenport Harbor Craft Beer and healthy food options so that you are properly fortified when you arrive. 2. Stop at Sep's Farm Stand in on Rt. 25 in East Marion between the Orient Point Ferry and Greenport for fresh-picked greens, fruit and flowers. You can't miss the place in the summer, overflowing with Pinterest-ready produce. The corn is so incredibly good, you can eat it raw - and in fact its quality is so well known by fans, farmer Peter "Sep" Sepenoski has been called, "The Corn Whisperer." Sep and his wife Katie plan to begin Agricultural Tours of their 45 acre farm starting in Spring 2017, with tastings right off the vines and a bountiful tailgate-in-the-fields lunch. Stay tuned. 3. Take a 45 minute narrated cruise on the 30ft. Coast Guard Certified Electric boat - Glory, the first solar-powered vessel for tourist use in the country - from its dock in Greenport behind Preston's Marine Supply. Captain David Berson regales guests with stories about Peconic Bay's history, Greenport's working waterfront, and changes to the area while you get to enjoy stunning surroundings. Captain Dave departs the dock with a blast from his conch shell and if you've been good, he'll hand you a Tootsie Roll pop at the end of the tour. 4. Belly up to the poured concrete bar (which tops a textural facade made from barrel stays) at the achingly gorgeous Kontokosta Winery to try a grassy, earthy, peppery Cab Franc, a fruity aromatic Cab Blanc, or another excellent vintage from the 3,500 cases of wine produced here per year. Mike Kontokosta left his Corporate Law career in New York City to tend to his vineyards in Greenport, and opened this LEED-designed barn tasting room and waterfront property to the public in 2013. Advertisement 5. Taste top notch Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Franc (the "wine of Long Island,") in the original carriage house stables of an 1800's resort hotel at The Old Field Vineyards in Southold. Old Field sits on waterfront acreage where owners Christian and Rosamond Baiz live and practice sustainable farming and vineyard management. The tasting room, warmed by a potbelly stove, is particularly cozy in wintertime. 6. Hesitant to drink wine and drive? Call upon Jo-Ann Perry at Vintage Tours for an air-conditioned van tour to four wineries and a farm stand, complete with gourmet lunch in a bucolic setting. Staying at area hotels or marinas? She'll pick you up. $99 per person. 7. Find out how the "Bug" Lighthouse got its nickname, ogle a massive Fresnel Lens, and learn about the shipbuilding history of Greenport at the small but engaging East End Seaport Museum. On Saturday afternoons in season, the Museum runs Bug Light Cruises and Tours on the Peconic Star II berthed at the dock out back. 8. Tour Fire Fighter, "America's Fireboat Floating Museum". If boats could be considered heroes, Fire Fighter would be one, and those who served aboard her certainly were. This 1931 New York City fireboat was brought back from retirement on 9-11 for its powerful water-pumping prowess. Visitors can board and tour this workhorse as it's being restored. Located behind the East End Seaport Museum in Greenport. 9. Bring your SUP board (or rent one) and join locals for a Community "Paddle and Pint" with One Love Beach. On Tuesday evenings at 5pm from mid-May to mid-Sept, One Love Beach hosts meetups in a different area in the North Fork, depending on the weather. After the lesson, paddlers head to First & South for a beer or two. Check website for upcoming events. Advertisement 10. Take a ride on the historic Carousel in its new contemporary digs at the renovated and exceedingly pretty Mitchell Park in Greenport. A gift from Grumman Aircraft Corp, this 100-year-old merry-go-round costs just $2 per spin. 11. Say "hi" to Aldo before grabbing one of the best Euro-style coffees in the Northeast USA at Aldo's in Greenport. It's like stumbling on a little cafe in Rome - with quality house-roasted espresso and scones to match. Don't pass on the scones, whatever you do. They are baked with a "lip:" a little mound at the edge of the pastry you must bite first. And oh, that first buttery bite; it leaves you wanting more. "It's like your first kiss," says Aldo. "You never forget your first kiss." 12. Shop the boutiques and specialty stores in downtown Greenport; not a franchise among them. You'll find one-of-a-kind gifts and country-cool upcycled home goods at The Mercantile North Fork, The Weathered Barn, and other places where serendipity wins out. 13. Score hand-rolled cigars to scorching pepper sauce at the funky Greenport Fire, where they sell "Everything Hot" in a urban-cool space. 14. Order the Sweet and Spicy Shrimp, Baja Style Fish Tacos or anything, really, on the menu at the chic, marina-set A Lure Chowder House and "Oyster-ia" in Southold. Overlooking boats at dock and Peconic Bay beyond, the view is as lovely as the food. Advertisement photo credit: thepiper351 via flickr CC BY 2.0 One of the things that makes this country great is that we have such gorgeous landscapes in every state in the country. Another is that we've had the foresight and commitment to protect these places so that future generations can experience the natural beauty and our cultural heritage. Tomorrow marks the 100th anniversary of our National Park Service, the government entity that maintains and protects more than 400 trails, recreation areas, parks, refuges and monuments across the nation. So it's time to celebrate!!! And today the president gave us one more reason to do just that: he created the Khatadin Woods and Waters National Monument protecting one of the last and largest undeveloped tracts of land in the eastern U.S.: Maine's remote North Woods, east of Mount Katahdin, the state's highest peak. With dense forest, roaming bears and moose, and streams and lakes creeping throughout nearly 88,000 acres of donated land, a new Maine Woods and Waters Monument will provide plenty of opportunity for camping, hunting, fishing, boating and more - and help create hundreds of jobs to boot. The president's conservation legacy is already incredibly robust and the new Maine monument only burnishes his reputation. That said, we hope the 100th birthday of the National Park System will spur him to create even more new monuments before he leaves office. On our monument wish list are: Advertisement Photo Credit: James Marin Phelps via flickr, CC BY-NC 2.0 Grand Canyon. With its stunning vistas, colorful walls, and massive size, the Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular places in the world. Mining and logging threaten millions of acres surrounding the Grand Canyon National Park, along with the Colorado River, the largest old growth ponderosa pine forest in North America, and thousands of sacred Native American sites. Vast majorities of Arizonans, Americans from California to Florida, and a broad coalition of conservation groups, businesses, and tribes support the creation of a new, 1.7million acre Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument that would preserve this American icon for future generations. Photo Credit:NOAA OKEANOS Explorer Program, 2013 Northeast U.S. Canyons Expedition Coral Canyons and Seamounts. Southeast of Cape Cod, where the continental shelf drops off into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, the Coral Canyons and Seamounts feature canyons as deep as the Grand Canyon and underwater mountains higher than any east of the Rockies. The surrounding waters teem with ocean wildlife--including sea turtles, seabirds, and what scientists believe to be the greatest diversity of whales, dolphins and porpoises in the North Atlantic. Limited fishing restrictions and natural protective features have left the canyons and seamounts largely free from human disturbance to date. Monument status could permanently protect the area from overfishing, drilling, and deep sea mining. [bears ears pic] Bears Ears. More than 100,000 archeological sites dot these ancestral lands on the Colorado Plateau. Twenty-six Native American tribes and the nation's conservation community are pushing for the designation of these 1.9 million acres as national monument, which would safeguard the area against mining, drilling and looting. Photo Credit:Wikimedia Commons Gold Butte. Native Americans who lived in this area more than 3,000 years left behind artifacts, rock shelters and ancient writings that remain today. The Nevada region's canyons and red rock formations are home to wildlife such as bighorn sheep, burrowing owls and desert tortoises. A proposed monument of 350,000 acres would protect activities like hiking, bird watching and hunting for generations to come. Advertisement Photo Cred: U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The nation's largest wildlife refuge contains dramatic mountain peaks, tundra plains, and scores of caribou, bears, wolves and Arctic foxes. Established as a refuge more than 50 years ago, this area has been under intense pressure from the oil and gas industry for almost as long. Monument status would protect one of America's last great wilderness areas and help keep planet-warming fossil fuels safely in the ground. Today, the Earth got a little hotter, and a little more crowded. Saving BUB, Beautiful Unique Biodiversity, like this Jeweled Flower Mantis found in Asian forests, is another reason to save these important ecosystems. Source Pinterest Forests: the cheapest way to store carbon OO Malaysia: Sarawak Establishes 2+ Million Acres Of Protected Areas and may add 1.1 million more... now will these truly be protected from illegal deforestation? Stay tuned, folks. Credit Dan at freedigitalphotos.net OO Rising Temperatures Stunt Tree Growth new research finds iconic Douglas firs across the West are water- and heat-stressed. Advertisement Rising Temperatures Fuel Fires - the Sobranes, CA wildfire has destroyed nearly 70,000 acres of forest and destroyed over 40 homes. Source www.wcvb.com OO 43 Large US West Wildfires as of August 24, 2016 shows the US Forest Service wildfire map. OO New England Is Being Deforested since the 1980s due to expansion of affluent suburbs, says a new study; since then 5% of its forests has been lost. Sounds small? "Even a small-scale rate of deforestation will have a large impact over time," says study co-author Pontus Olofsson of Boston University. When we harm forests, we harm ourselves. * * HOT NEWS OO Extraordinary Heat Wave In Eastern U.S., With Extreme Humidity - recently, for the second long stretch this summer, with heat indices approaching 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Advertisement Camelot It Isn't as Africa and the Mideast heats up, literally and socially. OO Epic Middle East Heat Wave Could Be Global Warming's Hellish Curtain-Raiser - with record-shattering temperatures this summer scorching countries from Morocco to Saudi Arabia and beyond, climate experts warn that this could be a harbinger of worse to come. OO It's Hotter Nights - More Than Hotter Days - That Make Heat Waves Dangerous thanks to climate change. Hot nights deprive the body of a needed cool break from daytime heat, but under climate change, nights are heating up faster than days. OO Heat Waves Bring Warnings About Synthetic Turf Risk - synthetic turf is much hotter to run on than natural grass: when air temperature reaches 90 F, turf temperatures have been measured at 165 F! YEOW!! Time to hot foot it out of there - and returning the space to grass... 2015 Was Not Cool - practically anywhere on the planet; most areas were hotter than average. Source www.theguardian.com OO Environmental Records Shattered As Climate Change 'Plays Out Before Us - with the temperature of the air and oceans breaking records, sea levels reaching historic highs and carbon dioxide surpassing a key milestone, a major international report has found. Related Headlines: Advertisement OO 2015 Set Frenzy Of Climate Records - and 2016 has broken or is poised to break several of 2015's records: check out their interactive. OO Latest Climate Report: Heat, More Heat And Signs Of Worse To Come - with 2015 record warm temperatures on every inhabited continent as ice melted and the seas rose at alarming rates. It hasn't stopped. * * FIXING CLIMATE CHANGE @@ A Simple And Smart Way To Fix Climate Change given by Dan Miller in 2014 at a Ted talk suggests a way to profit as we tackle climate change, by finally charging those who sell and use fossil fuels - and distributing the revenues back to all of us. The strategy is sure to speed transition to clean renewable energy. What's not to like? Check it out! Advertisement * * MELTDOWN Credit NSIDC; Holly Tichney at UK Met Office OO A Pieced History of The Arctic's Sea Ice Back To 1850 shows that Arctic sea ice cover has declined over recent decades, with the greatest decrease in the summer, with sea ice extent reducing roughly 12% per decade since the satellite record began in 1979. OO The Alaskan Highway Is Literally Melting - with bumps and sometimes wide deep cracks scarring huge swathes of the road. * * SOCIAL REPERCUSSIONS Source Wikipedia @@ How Climate Change Fuels Conflict - as temperatures soar and drought increases, many in Africa are losing their livelihoods. Looking for other ways to survive, some are turning to groups like Boko Haram. OO Africa: Fleeing Disasters, Escaping Drought, Migrating - most agree that Africa is the most impacted region by widespread violence and climate catastrophes. OO Britain Protests Immigration But Ignores A Root Cause: Climate Change with its politicians skeptical of action on global warming. Advertisement OO US: Thirsty Westlands Faces Escalating Woes - think drought, and water wars. OO So California: Stagnant Heat Brings Worst Smog In Years And Surge In Hospital Visits OO Climate Change Threatens Japan's Agriculture <> TheWannabe Atlantis: Louisiana Floods Bigtime with thousands of homes destroyed, and several killed. Credit Isaac Landov at www.wunderground.com OO 3 Killed In 'Historic' Louisiana Floods; Thousands Rescued OO Philippines: Five Dead, Tens Of Thousands Flee Floods caused by days of unrelenting rain. OO India Climate: Extreme Heat, Drought - And Now, Rain - this year's strong monsoon has created floods: affecting 8+ million people; 1+ million people are living in temporary shelters; some 300 people have died. * * A SWEET SPOT IN CREATING SUSTAINABLE POPULATIONS Triple Win: Using Profits to Provide Needed US Family Planning - Medicines360.org is key to creating a sustainable US population and bright futures for women - AND saving taxpayers many billions yearly in community costs by preventing unintended pregnancies. Source medicines360.org * * GOOD IDEAS Source www.computerworld.com OO In Corporate March To Clean Energy, Utilities Not Required - companies like google are buying renewable energy directly from the producers. Advertisement OO The New Green Grid: Utilities Deploy 'Virtual Power Plants' by linking together networks of energy-efficient buildings, solar installations, and batteries, US and Europe companies are increasingly helping utilities reduce energy demand at peak hours and supply targeted areas with renewably generated electricity. OO An Expanded Power Grid Could Help California Fight Climate Change - by 2019, CA's largest utilities could be slashing their use of fossil fuels by swapping CA solar energy for Rocky Mountain wind power in a sprawling Western electricity grid. Source www.gogreensolar.com OO California, New York Are Going Clean Energy - But CA Is Ditching Nuclear OO California: Tiny Town To Cut Emissions Via A Utility Collective to buy power on behalf of residents and businesses, acquiring more clean power as part of a potential climate plan committing to climate changing gas reductions. OO Creative Incentives To Boost Groundwater Recharge In California - an innovative program offers landowners incentives to collect stormwater run-off to recharge groundwater. A Future Block Island View? Source www.siemens.com OO Rhode Island To Have First Us Offshore Wind Farm OO US Tribes Work With Scientists Against Climate Change OO China To Use Tougher Environmental Standards To Tackle Capacity Glut - including those of safety and energy efficiency, to rein in overproduction in key industrial sectors, such as steel, cement, coal, aluminum and glassmaking. OO Australia: A Mining Shows How To Turn To Clean Renewables - as in wind and solar power. OO Europe Aims To Close Loophole On Wood Energy that promotes burning wood for electricity by an industry that's felling American trees, a reform that is urgently needed, says a new report. Advertisement Soil Once Covered That Green Pole - back in 1852; farming has since eroded much of the rich soil. Credit Megan Darby OO No-Dig For Victory: Saving Britain's Soils From Climate Stress Takeaways: Tilling soil exposes its carbon to air; Exposed carbon converts into climate-changing CO2 And robs soils of needed carbon. No till farming equipment is needed to plant seeds. OO Seoul To Limit Old Diesel Vehicles To Fight Air Pollution OO Wisconsin Taxes Wind Farms - too bad they didn't think of this in coal's heyday... those old mines will continue to cause environmental headaches, both in local pollution and climate change generated. * * NATURAL REPERCUSSIONS A Knotty Future awaits this Red Knot (hey, I don't make up these names) and many other Arctic birds, as climate change drives a wedge between their breeding seasons and the emergence of their food sources. OO Warming Climate Expected To Squeeze Out Arctic Bird Habitat - birds are hardwired to migrate according to daylight patterns; their food sources, insects, are hardwired to emerge based on temperature. This sets up a lethal mismatch in a warming future for breeding shorebirds, shows a new study. Advertisement About two-thirds of the studied species will lose most of their important breeding habitat by 2070. OO Climate Change Could Make Beaches Saltier indicates a new study. Takeaways: increasing temperatures up evaporation from beaches; this makes the seawater trapped just beneath the surface saltier. This could potentially affect coastal aquifers, and beach life, such as crabs and shore birds. Marine Heatwave Caused Massive Bleaching on the beautiful giant Great Barrier Reef, turning undersea rainbows into ghostly white coral graveyards. OO 'The Blob': How Marine Heatwaves Are Causing Unprecedented Climate Chaos - a giant mass of hot seawater off California caused massive die-offs of sea birds, marine mammals, fish and more during 2014-2015. Such marine heatwaves are increasing worldwide, especially in Australia, where in 2015 they permanently destroyed 60+ miles of kelp forests. These forests sustained about $10 billion worth of fish and tourism industries. Gone Forever are many miles of kelp forests off Australia, along with all the fascinating creatures that lived among them, doomed by marine heatwaves. Source www.toptenplus.com In 2016, marine heatwaves caused disastrous coral die-offs on the Great Barrier Reef there, and massive die-offs of mangroves, important natural coastal storm barriers. Advertisement OO Arctic Fish Populations Changing As Ice Dwindles, report says, with twenty species, including sleeper sharks, as newly documented denizens of the Arctic Chukchi and Beaufort seas. Did This Just Start A Bog Fire? Lightning can if the bogs are hot and dry. Source www.tehwethernetwork.com OO A New Climate Danger: Carbon Released By Burning Bogs - rising temperatures can dry out northern peatlands, increasing the risk of fires that release thousands of years of stored carbon into the atmosphere. Bog fires are notoriously difficult to extinguish, and can burn for decades. OO Mountain Biodiversity More Vulnerable To Climate Change than previously reported, a new study shows. Untouchable? As waters warm and enable toxic algal blooms, oysters and other shellfish concentrate the toxins in their flesh, making them poisonous. Source www.tabasco.com Advertisement OO Study Links Global Warming To Rise In Waterborne Illnesses - such as food poisoning from oysters, along with other nasty infections, a new study shows. A Cornucopia of Cichlid Fish evolved in Lake Tanganyika, such as this Blue Neon, and are being lost as the lake slowly warms over the centuries - an outdoor laboratory that previews what will happen to fish in a global warming world. Source aquarium-pictures.blogspot.com OO World's Longest Lake Is Being Depleted Of Life As Waters Warm - loss of biodiversity in Lake Tanganyika, Africa's oldest and deepest lake, has been driven by 500 years of sustained climate warming, a study of core sediments has found. OO Sea Lions Decline Tied To Declining Food Sources In Warming Waters in the Falkland Islands. * * CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE FUNNIES @@ The Madhouse Effect - Enjoy the cartoons as you learn about the science, policy and solutions of climate change - and the strange pathology of climate denial. Probably too many and big words for Donald Trump, but fine for ages 12 and up. You can get it here - a great gift for friends and family who need it. Advertisement * * GOOD CLEAN NEWS New York Goes Green - well, at least with its energy... but a farmer can dream of more...Source wwwurbanplantscapes.com OO New York Approves Plan For 50 % Renewable Energy By 2030 The ambitious plan will rely on big subsidies to nuclear power plants to help reduce the state's reliance on fossil fuels. OO Apple Can Sell Power As Tech Giants Boost Energy Investments - It spent $850 million last year on a 130-megawatt solar farm near San Francisco, and can now begin selling power into wholesale markets. Born in 2015, Walking in 2016? The global climate agreement created in Paris, December 2015, may start going into effect soon. OO Global Climate Deal Likely To Enter Into Force In 2006 a new study shows. OO Massachusetts' Ambitious Clean Energy Bill Jolts Offshore Wind Prospects - making offshore wind a big part of its renewable energy requirements. Advertisement OO Toyota, Tesla And Vestas Ranked Among World's Top Green Companies and are outperforming most polluting counterparts by three to one. * * CLIMATE LEADERSHIP Pushing Clean Energy And A Safe Future by creating new ways for the US government to address climate change. Credit AP photo, Julie Jacobson OO Every US Govt Agency Will Have To Consider Climate Change in their decisions from now on, as the White House's Council on Environmental Quality has finalized a process of shaping how the agencies will do so. Related Headline: OO Obama Broadens Use Of 'Climate Tests' In Federal Project Reviews to account for the carbon emissions and other climate impacts of their major decisions, new guidelines say. OO Obama To Roll Out New Climate Change Measures for combating climate change before he leaves office. Advertisement OO Clinton Makes Pitch For 'Modern Grid' essential for transitioning to clean renewable power; she called for billions of dollars in added infrastructure investments recently. * * CLUELESS LEADERSHIP Credit Nate Beeler at the Columbus Dispatch OO Trump: Climate Change Won't Be 'Devastating - yeah, right - tell that to the flood victims in Louisiana, and the people who lost their homes to wildfires in the west, or to tornadoes in the Midwest... * * ELECTION YEAR: If You Don't Vote For Climate Action, You Can Forget The Rest - in a climate-changing world of famine, drought, rising seas, giant storms and heat waves, there will be no security in jobs, health, wealth, or national safety. There will be chaos ensuing from increasing crises and disasters. Vote. OO Global Warming Policies We Set Today Will Determine The Next 10,000 Years - of global warming, a new study shows -- and whether our civilization survives or not: history shows that harmful climate change has destroyed civilizations before. This time, it could be worldwide. Let's keep "The Hunger Games" in the realm of fiction. * * CORAL CATASTROPHE CONTINUES Another Beautiful Undersea Kingdom Destroyed - a Guam coral reef in a cooler, healthier past, above, and in the wake of a warming present, devastated by bleaching, below. Advertisement OO 'I Cried...Right Into My Mask' - Guam's reefs have bleached four years straight, but have received little notice. Takeaways: Just outside the Pacific "triangle" of high coral biodiversity, Guam reefs host 300+ types of coral; An important tourism area, Tumon Bay, has been hard hit Early in the "bleaching season" @@ A Coral Convulses: this heated coral expands then expels its symbiotic algae under time lapse photography. Warming waters can up the photosynthesis of resident algae, leading to toxic levels of oxygen inside coral tissues. Thus, expelling the algae is a short term defense. But continued warm waters can deter algae from re-colonizing the coral, leading to its death. Advertisement El Nino worsened conditions on Guam reefs, causing extremely low tides which left parts of the reef exposed to air, and other parts shallow, thus prone to more heating. "Today, for the first time in the 50 years I've been in the water, I cried for an hour, right into my mask, as I witnessed the extent to which our lovely Tumon Bay corals were...dying," coral biologist Laurie Raymundo wrote. * * SPEAKING OUT Source cetology.org OO When Protest Becomes Sacrament - these Catholic social justice advocates are exemplars of the force behind We Are Seneca Lake, one of the nation's longest-running campaigns of civil disobedience, blockading a facility that enables fracking. OO Clean Power Plan Offers Chance To Right Past Injustices, advocates say, in a little known provision. OO Climate Change May Be Doubted By Some, But Now It's The Law says a federal appeals court in Chicago giving a thumbs-up this week to an obscure regulatory practice that helps the U.S. government account for projected costs of climate change. Advertisement * * FOSSIL FUEL FOLLIES OO US Must Bury Coal To Save Miner Jobs said Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, using ex-miners to clean up the messes left behind by closed coal mines, and having ex-miners help shape a post coal economy. OO US Coal Regulator To Crack Down On Cleanup Coverage - states should force coal companies to set aside collateral to pay for future mine cleanups and protect taxpayers as the industry braces for further declines, a leading federal regulator said recently. OO Colorado: Fighting Fracking at the Ballot Box - as the energy industry ramped up publicity for unregulated fracking, activists gathered signatures across the state to put 2 proposed fracking regulations on the November ballot. They're Baaaaaack... To Drill for more oil, this time off Australia. As if the country hasn't got enough climate change disasters with marine heatwaves destroying its coral reefs, kelp forests and mangroves. Wikipedia OO BP Reveals Plans To Drill For Oil In Great Australian Bight Marine Reserve a commonwealth marine reserve. Advertisement OO Undermining China: Towns Sink After Mines Close - and houses sink into the collapsing network of mine tunnels. OO India's Coal Ministry Said To Seek Environment Tax On Petcoke an oil-refining byproduct and a coal substitute, is more polluting than coal and should be subject to the same federal taxes, the coal ministry said. Imagine anything like that ever happening in the US... * * If we do not grow sustainably, Our children will die inhumanely. @@ How Parents Can Help Prevent Teen Pregnancy Teen childbearing cost US taxpayers $9+ Billion in 2010 And the costs of raising a child usually ensures decades, if not a life, of poverty for its mother. - US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention WHAT YOU CAN DO Help prevent unintended pregnancies in your community: publicize where women can access affordable contraception. Advertisement They can go here to find locations: And there are many more actions you can do, right here. * * * SOLAR KEEPS RISING OO Solar Manufacturers Pivoting Away From Big US Utility Projects because utilities aren't signing as many deals to buy electricity from their giant power plants. Check it out here, right now! * * * WHY WE SHOULD ACT NOW: RISING RISKS Daily Climate Change: Global Map of Unusual Temperatures, Aug 23, 2016 How unusual has the weather been? No one event is "caused" by climate change, but global warming, which is predicted to increase unusual, extreme weather, is having a daily effect on weather, worldwide. Looking above at recent temperature anomalies, some of the US and the waters surrounding it are experiencing warmer than normal temperatures: the eastern Pacific warm spot continues and so does the drought in California. Down south, a stagnating storm front, expected under climate change, brought historic flooding to much of Louisiana. Much of the areas surrounding the North Pole are experiencing much warmer than normal temperatures - not good news for our Arctic thermal shield of ice. Hotter than usual temperatures continue to dominate human habitats. * * * There is, of course, much more news on the consequences and solutions to climate change. To get it, check out this annotated resource list I've compiled, "Climate Change News Resources," at Wordpress.com here. For more information on the science of climate change, its consequences and solutions you can view my annotated list of online information resources here. Advertisement To help you understand just what science does and does NOT do, check this out! Last week, the Pentagon announced the approval of the sale of an additional $1.15 billion worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia. The callousness of this announcement - just days after Saudi Arabia rebooted its devastating bombing campaign in Yemen - is breathtaking. The Saudi-led coalition has used American-made fighter jets, bombs and other munitions in a relentless onslaught against Yemen that has left thousands of innocent civilians dead and created a humanitarian crisis that the United Nations characterizes as a "catastrophe." In just the last few days, the Saudi-led coalition has killed at least 35 people - most of them women and children - in three airstrikes against a school, a residential neighborhood and a hospital in northern Yemen. Congress has thirty days to block the sale of these weapons. It is a moral imperative that they do so. The internal crisis in Yemen spiraled out of control when the Saudis intervened in March 2015. The BBC has reported that nearly all of the more than 3,000 civilian deaths reported in the conflict have been caused by airstrikes from the Saudi-led coalition. Saudi air strikes have also decimated Yemen's infrastructure, leaving more than 21 million people desperately in need of humanitarian assistance. The Saudi aggression is only possible with U.S. weapons and logistical support. The U.S. government has authorized the sale of $20 billion of American-made weapons to the Saudis since their offensive began 18 months ago. Sen.Chris Murphy says this makes the U.S. complicit in a humanitarian crisis. "If you talk to Yemeni Americans, they will tell you in Yemen this isn't a Saudi bombing campaign, it's a U.S. bombing campaign," said Sen. Murphy. "Every single civilian death inside Yemen is attributable to the United States." Advertisement Given the devastation of the attack on Yemen, a diverse group of organizations and individuals have called on the U.S. government to stop the sale of additional weapons to Saudi Arabia. The United Nations has said that Saudi air strikes on civilian targets likely constitute war crimes. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have called for an end of all weapon sales to Saudi Arabia until the crisis is resolved. Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy and Republican Sen.Rand Paul have both voiced concern over the new weapon sales, with Paul stating "Saudi Arabia is an unreliable ally with a poor human rights record. We should not rush to sell them advanced arms and promote an arms race in the Middle East." Some would argue that the Saudis are a long-time stable ally in the turbulent Middle East. But to paraphrase the cliche, with allies like these, who needs enemies? Saudi Arabia is the number one exporter of radical Islamic extremism on the planet. Fifteen of the nineteen 9/11 hijackers were radicalized Saudi citizens and the recently declassified "28 pages" showed that a Saudi intelligence officer supplied the men with money, housing and training to carry out their attack. The Saudis oppress religious minorities, women, LGBT people and dissidents, and dozens of non-violent participants in Arab Spring protests face or have been executed, usually by beheading. Yet the United States continues its unquestioning support of this repressive, totalitarian regime. In approving the sale of these weapons, the Obama Administration has abdicated responsibility for ensuring that the United States is not complicit in war crimes. Now it is up to Congress to stop this ill-conceived arms deal from going through. For the sake of the millions of displaced Yemenis still suffering through air strikes and thousands more innocent civilians who could be slaughtered with these weapons, I'm pleading that they do so. Advertisement Measuring, analyzing, and tracking customer satisfaction is essential to sustained business growth. Small business growth demands that you keep a finger on the pulse of your customer relationships. There are several ways of doing this. Monitoring brand building and customer satisfaction using social media has become a popular way to understand and listen to customers, strengthen relationships, and expand your brand. Social media monitoring is a component of learning what your customers think about your business, but it isn't sufficient for developing an actionable customer satisfaction process. Here's how to use customer satisfaction surveys to facilitate small business growth. Customer Satisfaction Surveys Are Only the First Step Measuring data is only valuable if you learn from it and take action based upon what you learn. Your customer relationship surveys may confirm what you believe to be true - that you do a terrific job keeping customers happy with your products and services. But the point of these surveys is to tell you the truth, even if it is harsh sometimes. Advertisement Fortunately, many survey options are available to you. Whether you run a brick-and-mortar business or an online business, you can choose multiple solutions that make the most sense for your industry. Survey providers should include valuable analytics and reports, so the numbers make sense and so you can derive a narrative from them, whatever that may be (such as, "We should stay open later on Wednesdays.") A Single Survey Won't Give You What You Need Just as a single map point won't tell you what direction you are going, a single customer satisfaction survey isn't sufficient to take care of your fact-finding once and for all. An initial survey can be used to establish a baseline, but then you should perform additional surveys at intervals to ensure the numbers are trending in the right direction. Consider committing to quarterly customer satisfaction surveys. Your first one offers you an important starting point, and after a couple of years of doing this, you may discover trends that can help you plan better and satisfy customers more thoroughly. You could, for instance, discover a pronounced bump in sales during the "back to school" shopping season even though your business doesn't provide products specifically for students. Such information is priceless. How Survey Results Help Your Employees Customer satisfaction survey results are meaningless unless stakeholders know about them. Employees who work in customer-facing positions in particular can benefit from seeing and understanding the results of your surveys. They can often add important insights to the conversation about the results. This can prompt improved employee engagement and equip your employees with insights that can help them offer better service or additional product offerings. Advertisement Surveys Can Help You Understand Your Competitors Better Keeping an eye on the competition is an indirect benefit of regularly surveying customer sentiment. If customers hold other brands or providers in higher esteem, surveys can help you understand why. This understanding can help you make necessary adjustments that can reduce the chances that customers will patronize your competitors. Learning what combination of product range, price, and quality matters most to your core customers positions you to improve your competitive advantage. Using Survey Results to Develop New Products and Services Don't simply look at survey results as a "grade" for how well your business performed. That's important, but survey results can also open up insights about developing new products and services with confidence they will address your customer's pain points. Some businesses connect directly with selected individual customers to gain more significant understanding of what they like and why they like it, or what's missing from their customer experience. You could find, for example, that extending your size range or shifting your open hours makes your business easier for customers to support. This week, Vice President Joe Biden will travel to Turkey to meet with President Erdogan and Prime Minister Yildirim. This is one of the last opportunities for the Obama Administration to emphasize face-to-face how important it is to honor human rights and rule of law in the wake of the attempted coup of July 15. Since the attempted coup, Erdogan has overseen a sweeping crackdown on journalists, judges, civil servants, and educational institutions--all of which he alleges had connections to the Gulen movement, which purportedly sponsored the coup. However, the vast extent of the arrests, media outlet shut downs, and judge firings indicate that Erdogan may be seeing ghosts where there are none. Over 3000 judges have been fired, and nearly 40,000 other workers have been detained, leading to grave questions about the state of rule of law in the country. Last week Turkey had to release thousands of prisoners simply to make room for all of the new political detainees. This week, Turkey recalled hundreds of diplomats alleged to have links to the coup. More than a hundred media outlets have been shut down, nearly 1300 educational institutions closed, and nearly 80 journalists detained, including those that were simply critical of the government, but clearly not Gulenist. Advertisement When Biden is in Turkey, he should emphasize the need for Erdogan to maintain credibility in order to prevent a backlash in response to rights violations. Turkey has also begun to question its role as a temporary host to refugees fleeing violence in Syria. Biden will undoubtedly discuss with Erdogan joint concerns over developments in Syria, including unrelenting violence in Aleppo. Biden should reiterate Turkey's important role as a host to refugees and urge Turkey to stop blocking Syrian refugees from crossing into safety in Turkey, stranding them in unsafe border areas. Biden should make clear that blocking access to safety for refugees, or sending them back to Syria, violates international law. Hosting refugees is central to the global community's objectives to manage the crisis, alleviate migration challenges, and promote greater security in the region. Biden should also address what happens to refugees once they reach Turkey. Many refugee children are unable to access education, and adults are prevented from working. The United States should consider offering its own funding to support greater access to education for refugee and migrant children, and Biden should consider making this offer during his visit. The United States could also include increased funding for scholarships to U.S. universities for students from Turkey, including refugees. Biden should finally try to persuade Turkey to adjust its new work authorization rule for refugees, to allow all refugees (including Syrian refugees) to obtain work authorization, removing its 10 percent cap on Syrian employment. Advertisement Erdogan has sought to extradite Fetullah Gulen from the United States based on his belief that Gulen is the mastermind behind the failed coup. Biden must make clear that the United States will require credible evidence of this link before it considers extraditing Gulen, and that if extradition proceeds, the United States will work with the OSCE and U.N. bodies (such as Special Rapporteurs) to make sure that all proceedings, including any trial in Turkey, are completely fair, transparent, and meet due process standards. Turkey is an important NATO ally, and until recently seemed intent on a path toward E.U. membership, even considering modifications to its anti-terror law to bring it into greater compliance with E.U. human rights standards in exchange for E.U. funds to assist with refugee temporary settlement. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Is it just me or does it appear that most media coverage, not only Fox News, covers Donald Trump a lot more directly than it does Hillary Clinton? Yes, it's true Trump's pugnacious style and fact deprived pronouncements, not to mention outright lies, provide fodder for ratings that news organizations need to survive. It's also true that it's to the benefit of those same news organizations to hope for, if not downright create, the impression there's suspense about the presidential outcome. Advertisement Recently, I've watched many news outlets and there's a lot more face time given to Donald Trump and, whether or not they discuss Hillary -- usually in panel discussions pro and con -- not so much devoted to her. In particular, the past couple of weeks, there's been an inordinate display of the so-called "gentler" Donald Trump, which commentators surmise will cut into Hillary's numbers. Tuesday tonight, Anderson Cooper of CNN kept repeating that Trump's walking back his pledge to deport 11 million was a change we should note, as opposed to what's obvious -- that Trump is losing and wants to get back voters the GOP would ordinarily win by not appearing as draconian. It's certainly not a sincere change of viewpoint. It's a scam only gullible voters will buy. While we see broadcasts of Trump speaking of brotherhood in front of his mostly white audiences, we don't see much of Hillary at all. Neither in defense of the charges against her -- the never-ending email scandal, the "newfound" tie-ins to the Clinton Foundation, provided by the right-wing Judicial Watch -- nor in a tit-for-tat attack of the Donald. Not even just spouting positive aspects of her agenda. Is this fair? Is this legitimate reporting, to show America lots of Trump's questionable rants against Hillary, delivered in a somewhat more subdued tone than in the past, calling her a liar instead of "Crooked Hillary," while not contrasting it with an equal amount of Hillary Clinton's charges against him? I'm sure she's out there making speeches, too. Advertisement Yes, there are instances when, even in Trump's more issue-oriented speeches, he reverts to his old ways and, thus, gives the follow-up panels discussion points as to why he spoiled what could have been a terrific speech. Or how a "wonderful speech" was harmed by his campaign manager Paul Manafort's resignation. To my mind, Donald Trump has never given a wonderful speech. Just because he occasionally talks in a less repugnant tone than when he was debating his GOP opponents and often bellows against Hillary doesn't mean there's not a paucity of actual facts. Plus, he lies outright regarding statistics and "failures" of the Obama/Clinton foreign policy initiatives. When he says 58 percent of African American youth are unemployed, the panels are quick to point out the number is closer to 25 percent. Trump's larger figure includes those still in school. When he talks about her being asleep during Benghazi, mocking her "Who would better handle a 3 a.m. crisis commercial" against Obama in 2008, it turns out the event occurred at 3:45 p.m. when she was at her desk. When he accuses Hillary Clinton of consistently lying, because she handled her email server in an indelicate manner, parsing her words, instead of just saying, "Yeah, it was legal, but it probably wasn't wise," how does this one issue -- which doesn't seem to go away, thanks to GOP desperation -- equate with the many untruths told by Donald Trump in the course of his year and a half campaign? Lies about Ted Cruz unable to serve because he was born in Canada. Not true, because his mother was American. Spreading "rumors" about Cruz's father being connected to the JFK assassination. His introduction to national politics in 2012 leading the birther movement against Obama, even as no other GOP leader would touch the subject. No, the media loves Donald Trump, because when he's on screen, ratings soar, as seen in the GOP debates. They love it when he doesn't just attack as most candidates do over issues, but calls people names, using negative superlatives, while continuing to boast about himself. He will provide the best economy, the best trade deals, will get rid of ISIS so fast, will do more for the minority community than the Democrats have, suggesting that in his presumed re-election in 2020 he will get 95 percent of the African American vote. Advertisement Is this man for real? I don't believe anyone really thinks so. Even commentators who project the "new" Trump as having more appeal, skeptically opine his pro-minority speeches before white audiences, instead of a black church, aren't really designed to get Hispanic and African-American votes, but are aimed at middle-of-the-road independents and Republicans who want to have any excuse not to vote for Hillary and will be gulled into voting for him. And now, not content with his normal tendency for prevarication, this man who invited Bill and Hillary to his most recent wedding, who declared Hillary would make a "great" president in 2008, has stooped to a new low. He is spreading rumors about Hillary's health. So, it's not just that she's crooked and incompetent and the worst secretary of state ever, a vote for Hillary will be a vote for a bedridden Hillary (a la Woodrow Wilson in his second term), and thus another chance for Bill Clinton to take the reins. No facts, no medical reports from doctors who've examined her, no evidence on the campaign trail that the almost 69-year-old Hillary, with an exhaustive schedule, is not keeping up the pace. But there are very stupid people among the electorate who will believe such a thing, as Fox News' Sean Hannity fans the flames, without researching whether it's true. But back to the emails, what have they proven, except that it would've been better not to have a server in her home. No hacking has been reported. And the latest emails to which Trump refers "proving" Hillary and the Clinton Foundation are crooked, that they are somehow profiting from the connection -- what the hell are they talking about? From what we've seen, the emails are no different from the sort of requests sent by anyone who knows someone in public life. Aspersion has been cast at the foundation, because donors got to meet Bill Clinton, as if that itself is suspect. That a former president wouldn't simply be an attractive aspect of a fundraiser, as opposed to meaning such a meeting would produce an illicit quid pro quo. No major organization found any impropriety, but even CNN's moderate Don Lemon felt compelled to interject, "Right now." What does that mean? If there hasn't been any, we should imply there might be, thus feeding into a belief there actually has been, which Trump continues to do? What kind of journalism is this? Advertisement Lost in this is that money, however it comes, whether from pure hearted souls or a government with human rights issues, if it is put to a good cause, such as training African rural farmers, creating micro-businesses for the poor, fighting against AIDS, for renewable energy projects, it's not a bad thing. And, in the process, if someone from the foundation writes to someone he or she knows at the State Department to suggest a meeting to give expertise about a location hot spot, it doesn't necessarily mean the donor is doing so for some favor to increase business. Critics cite a meeting with a large donor, the Crown Prince of Bahrain, as proof, as if the Secretary of State wouldn't regularly meet with such a person, irrespective of donations. Until it's proven, and it hasn't been, that Hillary or Bill Clinton profited from anything through her foundation connection during her State Department tenure, should the good works of the foundation and her efforts in public service weighed on the whole, be subjected to Donald Trump's charges that she should be investigated by a special prosecutor? His excessive and hysterical accusations are beyond compare even contrasted with the most angrily fought campaigns in the modern era. They would be laughable, except a major party has nominated him for president, and his name will appear on the nation's ballots, giving potential, however scant at the moment, to the possibility of his election. Fortunately, in contrast to his overwrought, mostly deceptive, depiction of Hillary, unsavory true stuff about him emerges: the Trump University rip-off scandal, his history of not paying contractors, lawsuits and fines about housing discrimination brought against his millionaire father Fred and himself, his continued failure to produce tax returns, his verbatim statements exhibiting intolerance, insensitivity, racism and sexism, his continual display of a lack of knowledge about almost anything a president has to deal with and the bad temperament he oft reveals. If the media needs to acknowledge Trump's "changed" demeanor, it must also give Hillary equal time to express her convictions. Only then will there be an opportunity for the clearest comparison. It may well be the media's need to pay its bills will override the mandate to do what it's supposed to do. Thank goodness for the upcoming debates, to give American voters a distinct view of the candidates without any whitewashing of the monster called Trump. In "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum," for which Stephen Sondheim wrote the music and lyrics, the imperious Miles Gloriosus says, "Stand aside -- I take large steps!" Peter DuBois, artistic director of the Huntington Theatre Company, could make the same claim. He's taking the astonishingly large step of committing to producing and presenting all 15 of the works for which Stephen Sondheim wrote the music and lyrics. The New York Times calls Sondheim "the greatest and perhaps best-known artist in the American musical theater." Advertisement Many others call Sondheim the Shakespeare of our times. So why would anyone take on such a huge burden? HuffPost sat down last week with DuBois and asked him why he was taking these large steps with Sondheim. Michael: Why did you decide to do all 15 of Sondheim's works? Peter: I love large ambitious projects that span time. And I think Sondheim is challenging but thrilling, and I've always been drawn to the way in which you cannot separate his book scenes from his songs, and the way that they flow together. When you're looking at the lyric and the emotion behind the lyric, and when you place that lyric alongside the score, musically is he pointing directly at the emotion? Is he pointing ironically at the emotion? How is he approaching it? So it's a wonderful moment-to-moment juicy acting and directing challenge, directing people beat by beat through these songs. That drew me into Sondheim. Michael: You have multiple venues for performing different Sondheim works. Peter: Absolutely. Certain revivals of Sondheim came into their own in smaller venues. John Doyle's Passion, for example, at the Off Broadway Classic Stage Company, was a completely different production than when it was on a large Broadway stage. I feel the same about all of the Sondheim musicals I have seen at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London. And I started to think about the fact that we have 3 venues: a 200-seat black box, a 375-seat jewel box proscenium, and an 890-seat Broadway style proscenium house. And I thought, wouldn't it be amazing to do an exploration of his entire body of work in these different houses and configurations that allow either greater spectacle or greater intimacy. Because the musicals play differently on different scales. Advertisement Michael: Makes sense. One of my favorite Sondheim quotes is, "My idea of a good show is one that has you laughing your head off for two hours, and you go home and you can't sleep." Is that your experience? Peter: Depending on the show, yes, absolutely. In "Sunday in the Park with George," you're looking at the way in which artists constantly have to fight with that part of them that says, "You're a fraud." Or "you're stuck". The George of Act 2 is stuck, and the George of Act 1 cannot stop manically creating. And I've been in both of those positions, and when you are in the act of creating you wrestle with these questions. With "A Little Night Music," it's similar. You look at different relationships. Whether it's someone in middle age wondering if life will allow for second chances; or if it's someone who's married to someone they shouldn't be in a marriage with and realizes that they have to come out of it; or looking at Madame Armfeldt as she's approaching death and her relationship to Desiree. In any given show, Sondheim grabs onto the third rail of whatever crisis element he can find. Michael: Sunday in the Park with George isn't Camelot. It's not a straight shot Broadway musical. Peter: No. You can't just jump into a song the way you can in so many other musicals. A given song might riff thematically on what's happening in the moment, but if it's not driving the character's emotional storyline forward -- not the plot line but the character's storyline -- it's not generally in a Sondheim musical. Typically in musicals, where a character is speaking about a theme or an idea, you'll get a song, but you sometimes feel that the composer kind of forced that one in there. Like maybe he wrote that song for something else and found a way to wedge into this scene. And I never feel like that with Sondheim. Sondheim wrote "Send in the Clowns" for A Little Night Music at the very last minute, but you could feel that he had just found the emotional bottom to that character and the depth of sorrow she's feeling at that moment. And it weaves into the fabric of the book brilliantly as though he had written the song while Hugh Wheeler was writing the scene. It's just brilliant. Advertisement Michael: How do you get that across to the audience? That this belongs here, and it's not just simply time for a song? Peter: That's a great question because we're starting rehearsals soon at the Huntington, and George and Dot are going to learn their music for a couple of days on their own, because there's so much music that really is just theirs. And then when we start rehearsals, the company is going to learn all their music first, and then we're going to read through the book while we're singing through the music. I've been in musical first rehearsals where people will read the book and read the lyrics before they've done the music, and it's just terrible because lyrics weren't meant to be read without music. The melody informs the underlying emotional undercurrent of the lyric. So for me, it's really about not separating the book from the music, but really rehearsing the songs as scenes, treating the moment-to-moment intimacy of a song within its scene. With Sondheim you need a strong point of view. I think when you're staging a Sondheim musical you have to really come in with a strong personal sense of what you're going to go after. There's nothing paint by numbers about it. Michael: So when "Sunday in the Park" first came out, as with most of his musicals, they were absolutely groundbreaking. How do you avoid these shows becoming museum pieces? How do you keep the reverence for the way they were staged in the past from being a straitjacket and not letting you do things the way you want to do them? Advertisement Peter: That's a really good question. It's why I wanted the Huntington Theatre Company to do a complete investigation of Sondheim's canon. For me, it's like the way Joe Papp approached Shakespeare with Shakespeare in the Park, he committed both to the major works and those less well known, , because you're getting inside the mind of a genius. And I think that exploring ALL of the work is really the way to get inside genius. Sondheim is a living writer, who has created several works which are already classics. The litmus test of a sturdy classic is that it can take a number of different interpretations and blossom in very different ways. The recent boom in new Sondheim productions brings that point to bear. Michael: You believe that Boston is the perfect place for doing of all Sondheim's works. Peter: I don't think there's another city in the country that's more suited to an exploration of his entire body of work than Boston. Some of the best music schools, musical theater training programs are in this city. This is one of the most intellectually-focused and musically-grounded cities in America. That combination of musicality and intellectualism makes this the perfect city to geek out on a brilliant composer over a long period of time. And that's what I'm really hoping people do, is they just geek out on it and get into it the way I'm getting into it. My big hope is that people celebrate, not just the fact that we're doing a canon by a single artist, but also personalize the experience and have fun with it. I'm certainly not taking a point of view of reverence. One of my great acting teachers said to us, when we're working on Shakespeare, we should work on Shakespeare sitting on the toilet, to demystify it and take it out of a place of distancing the highbrow fear. And while I want people to appreciate that Sondheim is our Shakespeare, the Shakespeare of our time, I don't want them to be afraid to approach his music, because once you start to unlock it and engage with it, it's the greatest flight of fancy that you can have. It's really a blast. Sunday in the Park with George, Huntington Theatre Company, Boston,starts September 9. For more info, http://www.huntingtontheatre.org/ . Peter DuBois, courtesy Huntington Theatre Company 1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war. 2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war. 3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament of the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength. 4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war. 5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites. 6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination. 7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N. 8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N. 9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress. 10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N. 11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.) 12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party. 13. Do away with all loyalty oaths. 14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office. 15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States. 16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights. 17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks. 18. Gain control of all student newspapers. 19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack. 20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions. 21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures. 22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms." 23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art." 24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press. 25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV. 26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy." 27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch." 28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state." 29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis. 30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man." 31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over. 32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc. 33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus. 34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities. 35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI. 36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions. 37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business. 38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand. 39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals. 40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce. 41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents. 42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use united force to solve economic, political or social problems. 43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government. 44. Internationalize the Panama Canal. 45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction over nations and individuals alike. Europe is not shirking its responsibility on migration, but she cannot pull off this one on her own With the UN High-Level Plenary Meeting on Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants on the September 19 fast approaching, we can ascertain the summit's anticipated outcome document. Prepared with the European Union's contribution, the document correctly maps the challenges and aspires to outline ways to respond to them, thereby opening new vistas in the long overdue debate on global migration governance. Structuring this response continent by continent, and with the political imperative of dealing with it long-term perspective in mind, the Slovak EU Presidency would suggest the following concrete approaches--for the European Union acting in unison with her institutional, state and non-state partners: In Europe, we ought to follow untiringly a priority worthy of the European project, one rooted both in the EU's adherence to international, European and national bodies of law, as well as in the values of European civilization--solidarity and caring for the less fortunate. Our primary task should therefore be to give refuge to all those reaching our shores in authentic need of international protection. If we should meet this--by no means small ambition--Europe cannot cope with all those who wish to improve their prospects through migration. Europe has the unique political, social, security and logistical experience from the influx of well over a million people in the last 18 months. With the benefit of hindsight, we see it as a critical prerequisite to put in place a robust mechanism able to discern, in a fair, but swift way, between those fleeing for their bare lives and in need of international protection, and those simply induced by the flight of the former. At the end of the day, alas, the latter limits us in our capacity to deliver on our unwavering obligation to protect the former. A new common EU asylum system--proposed by the European Commission and to be adopted as soon as possible--should provide us with this ability to focus. As part of the same--those that are not in need of international protection should be returned to either their countries of origin or to safe third countries. As an important positive side effect: restoring a sense of control, proportionality and adequacy of Europe's stance should also reinstate the cohesion, unity of purpose and sense of duty among Europeans. This would pave the way to sharing responsibility to redistribute refugees already in Europe more fairly. Advertisement Of course, this seemingly introspective look does not mean Europe is shirking her many external responsibilities lying at times further afield. More on that later. In Asia, we encounter an arc of migration instability spanning between the Middle East and Central Asia. Here, Europe would, first expect more nations emulating the generous approach by the neighbours to the Syrian conflict, namely Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey. Second, Europe would expect that more regional organisations approach the migration phenomenon in a collective manner. Countries in the region should have a natural interest to shelter refugees, to ensure the best brains and the best hands (i.e. typically the most agile, entrepreneurial and mobile) stay in the region, and return to rebuild their homelands in the wake of post-conflict reconstruction, and reconciliation. By unwillingly robbing post-conflict nations of their most talented people, we in Europe are improving the odds these states fail, and feed the vicious circle of future conflicts. Does the EU have a part to play? Certainly--in future conflicts we should more quickly and resolutely help the nations and local communities withstanding the worst of the refugee waves. We should also throw all our diplomatic weight and craft behind the search for solutions to the hot conflicts and those same capacities complemented by our power of anticipation in resolving the lingering issues waiting to boil over. Finally, dealing with economic migration, the EU should develop compacts--like those currently being put in place in Africa--to assist in creating the areas of growth and give young generation a reason to stay. In Africa, the good governance is the key concept for creating new opportunities. Better governance helps realize the full potential of the many young Africans who are currently giving their families' savings to criminal networks and risking their lives in the vast expanses of the Sahara or Mediterranean, instead of starting their own businesses and using their lives to benefit their families and communities. Better governance means also more internal security and fewer conflicts between the states, as well as less corruption and a level playing field and improved prospects for a dignified life. In short, good governance negates many of push factors now at hand. Advertisement While good governance is subject to the political will of African leaders the EU can help. One area where the EU can help is security sector reform, including reforming the judiciary, fighting human smugglers, and improving border management. Helping to lay out the groundwork for economic growth is even more important. The EU is already a major investor in the continent and is launching an investment program worth billions of euros, motivating the European industry and service sectors to rediscover Africa, and reintegrating returned migrants. As part of this drive, the developed world must finally indulge in a serious and result-oriented discussion on the new, more proper redistribution of wealth within the global value chains. Based on the best practices of several EU member states limited resettlement and circular migration (and remittances that accompany them) could make it easier for many fragile African economies to start anew. Again, it makes no sense to deprive those nations of the most valuable segment of their human and social capital. The EU should pay more attention to the plight of African nations hosting large numbers of refugees themselves--at times for decades. Mitigating the effects of climate change, notably in agriculture, is another area where there is potential for EU assistance. In return, the EU should expect the cooperation of African nations in stemming the flow of economic migrants, and complying with their obligation to receive those deemed ineligible for international protection. In North America, Europe--speaking generally--seeks a long-term commitment to the transatlantic bond of mutual solidarity that has served both sides of Atlantic so well since the end of World War II. The last thing the international community needs now is an isolationist United States, one that has resigned on its role as a global leader. On migration, the North Americans are indispensable allies in combatting the root causes of irregular mass movements of people (be it regional conflicts or regional disparities) and managing their consequences. On the latter, is the beginning of 2017 the time to forge a genuine Europe-North America, transatlantic "migration compact" dealing with crisis management, but more importantly taking a strategic outlook, and committing to walking the walk together? Or are the tens of thousands received by the US and Canada "as good as it gets"? Brexit, the short-sighted decision by British voters to leave the European Union, will take years to implement. But for Americans, it is already a setback, a serious danger from many angles and a cause for sadness. That's because Brexit is a repudiation of the far-sighted, open values the U.S. has championed in Europe since the end of the Second World War. It shows that the atavistic tribal values that the U.S. has struggled against during the whole post-WW II era are regaining ground. I was in the State Department in the early 1960s in the office of European Regional Affairs, which essentially meant post-war Europe. U.S. policy was largely set by Americans who had taken part in the war and the immediate post-war occupation of Germany, and who knew Europe's post-World War I history. It therefore was to encourage and enhance European economic and political integration. That had been bipartisan American policy at Bretton Woods, New Hampshire where U.S. and European leaders designed a new postwar economic order even as the war still raged. It was also reflected in the ambitious Marshall Plan for reconstruction, as well as in such U.S.-supported multilateral bodies as the European Coal and Steel Community, the European Payments Union, the Organization for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC), and the Organization for Economic and Cooperation and Development (OECD). Advertisement By the 1960s, President Kennedy was encouraging the U.K. to join the European Economic Community (EEC), also called the Common Market or "the Six," the core of what has become today's 28-country European Union. British membership had its opponents in both the U.S. and Europe. Some Americans argued that a common European tariff regime would be more closed to American exporters than one in which each European country would have its own customs arrangements. France was far more protectionist than the U.K., and U.S. farmers were particularly concerned about French and German agricultural protectionism spreading to those countries like The Netherlands that were more open to U.S. farm products. Within Europe, France's Charles De Gaulle did not want the British to join the Common Market for fear they would be a stalking horse for the Americans. Plenty of the British themselves, including Winston Churchill, wanted a united continental Europe but with the U.K. outside and linked more closely with the U.S. and Canada -- not De Gaulle's vision at all. American policy largely went against these domestic and overseas opponents of broader European integration. The U.S. had favored the formation of the EEC in 1957 and favored the U.K. joining all through the 1960s, hoping it would encourage the Europeans to adopt liberal trade policies, i.e. lower tariffs on U.S. and other third-country exports. It was thought that the U.K. could be counted on to re-enforce the Dutch and other liberal traders among the Six to keep the door open for U.S. exporters. There obviously were political reasons for the U.S. position as well. American policy makers believed that if each European country tried to recover from the war and develop economically on its own, intra-European conflicts would erupt. Countries would develop - and subsidize -- "national champions," rather than companies that could compete on world markets. European economic recovery would not be as fast, resources would be wasted and the strong communist parties that had emerged in several of the struggling countries would be only too ready to make deals with the Soviet Union. Hence the U.S. used post-war aid to encourage joint efforts like the European Coal and Steel Community. Advertisement Meanwhile, the Dutch, Italians, and Belgians, unlike De Gaulle, liked the idea of Britain inside the EEC because it could operate as a check on German power. They saw the U.K.'s special relationship with the U.S. as a positive factor that would dilute German dominance and face the Community more toward the Atlantic than toward Eastern Europe, Germany's traditional aspirational sphere. America's post-war support for European economic integration is a glorious success that now could be unraveling. Few reports about the Brexit vote even mention the enormous post-war role the U.S. played in creating the better Europe that is now in danger. The success of Western Europe, due in no small measure to American policy, is stunningly obvious. In the 1970s and '80s, thousands of Eastern Europeans fled to the West because you had to be blind not to see the fruits of American policy. The collapse of the communist bloc in 1989 and '90 had less to do with the difficulties the Soviet Union was having keeping up with the U.S. militarily than with the prosperity and freedom the U.S. had made possible in Western Europe by supporting economic integration and competitive markets. Paradigm Shifters is a series of interviews with a select group of women and men from eclectic walks of life. It will highlight unspoken, real-life insights on how they have been able to turn weakness into strength. A naked soul point of view of how their breakdowns were really a preparation for breakthroughs. They are your quintessential paradigm shifters; internal shifts converted into genuine change. Everything I have ever done has been focused on this underlying theme of shifting the paradigm because, "What we think determines what we feel and what we feel determines what we do." Hence, why Empowered by You takes lingerie, which has traditionally been seen merely as a tool of seduction and redirected that energy as a tool of empowerment. I hope from these stories you will look at your own situations, struggles and accomplishments through a different lens. At the very least you will be more equipped with real life tools to change your own paradigm. At the end of the day, we are our own Alchemist turning the silver we were born with into the gold we are destined to become. Advertisement Saba Qasier Why did your father and uncle lie to you with their hand on the Quran? They said that what happened (my wedding to Qaiser) wasn't right. How did you feel when they broke the oath that they wouldn't hurt you? How did you feel at the moment? I knew then, that this wasn't going to be good. Do you speak to anyone else in your family, apart from your mother? I speak with my mother and sisters: Shazia, Aqsa and Nazia. The other two are getting married after Eid (Late September). You said you have forgiven your father and uncle, but not in your heart. Do you ever have regrets about forgiving them in court? Yes, I feel the same way. I forgave them in court but I know what they did was wrong. Advertisement Have you seen effects of the documentary in your daily life? Has your community changed their opinions on honor killing? Yes, they at first said that this wasn't the right thing to do. But then, they tried to attack me, again, but I stood up to them. So have their mindsets changed after this film? Yes, but what did they do about it? Nothing. Was there an effect of this film within your community? There was, they (the community) were worried about an impending attack; but then when it happened a second time they remained silent. What kind of person do you hope your son becomes? He'll be absolutely perfect. We hope that he'll grow big, and he'll be a good person. We hope that he's learned, he gets a good job and there are no worries in his life. Whoever he chooses to be with, I hope he has a good rapport with them. Breakdown to breakthrough moment? See I had forgiven them but I was feeling threatened. I did feel scared; I knew they had done the wrong thing, but then I said okay it's fine now, they've done it - but they won't do it again. But then, they did it again! What do you want your legacy to be? What will people think of me? The film has been shown so many times - but still nothing has happened to me yet. I know I'm famous now, I know everyone knows my name but what they did to me was not right - when they tried to kill me. It's because of Allah that I am safe, and if I had it my way I wouldn't have forgiven them - but it was they (the community) which made me come to a compromise. Advertisement So when people hear your name, what do you think they will think of you? That's up to them - what they think of me. Can you tell me about your sisters, and what is going on with them - given what your father said about them in the film. The both of them are getting married - they will be getting married after Eid Ul Azha. They will be going to get married soon, and we were facing some difficulties and my mother was very worried for their wedding arrangements so she told Sharmeen. She asked for some help to get her daughters married and Sharmeen helped us (connected them to donors). What are your father and uncle doing these days? Saba: They are both in jail. They tried to attack me again. How do you feel about that? Nothing, I'm fine. Yes they're in jail so I'm not worried because no one is here to hurt me. However I'm scared that they just might attack me sometime in the future. Are you expecting another child soon - boy or girl? I will be delivering after Eid - I asked about the sex of the baby and the doctors won't tell me. But I hope it's a girl, because if I have a son and a daughter that'll be just fine. Advertisement Do you want the girl to be like you? Yes. I want her to be brave, I want her to be more than that - that she should be well educated and be involved in positive work. She can be a doctor, what ever her heart desires. If she wants to be a lawyer, a doctor, a teacher; she's going to decide when she grows up; that's her decision. So do you think it's good that the film was released? I have no tension with this film being released, and I respect the hard work Sharmeen has done for it. Tell us about the donations you received after the films release. Our house is currently being constructed from the funds Sharmeen collected for us. Are you and Qaiser happy? Yes, this house is being made on my name and me, Yasir - my family - we will all move and live there once it's completed. You have become a legacy in Pakistan, after all that you have been through; what message would you like to give to those reading this interview. Just that, this should never happen to anyone - they shouldn't be worried when making their own decisions. They should be able to get married of their own choice. Advertisement Fencing surrounds the Walnut Grove Correctional Facility in Walnut Grove, Mississippi, U.S., on Wednesday, April 17, 2013. In Mississippis four privately run prisons last year, the assault rate averaged three times as high as in state-run lockups. None was more violent than the Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images Sometimes you win. That can be an unfamiliar sensation for people on the left. When you fight for good causes against powerful forces and overwhelming odds, you lose a lot of battles. But sometimes you win. Take last week's announcement from the Justice Department that it's planning to phase out the use of for-profit prisons. Like many such victories, it is only a qualified success. But qualified success is still success. Advertisement This victory seemed politically impossible as recently as last year. What changed? Like many such victories, it began with consciousness. Attacks on the "prison industrial complex" were once considered the province of radical activists and crusading (but possibly lonely) left journalists. Some church groups got wind of the issue in the late 1990s and early 2000s and divested themselves of for-profit prison stock. Writers and thinkers and activists continued to shine a light on the problem. Michelle Alexander, author of "The New Jim Crow," has been writing about this issue for years. Books like "Prison Profiteers: Who Makes Money From Mass Incarceration" explored the issue in depth. Journalists -- from the Nation, the Marshall Project, Mother Jones, and elsewhere -- have continued to provide the public with more information about the problem. Activists in the communities that have suffered most from incarceration, including Black Lives Matter, fought to highlight the problem. The idea entered the mainstream world of electoral politics last year, when Bernie Sanders made it a centerpiece of his presidential campaign. That move was met with some surprise in insider circles, since prison reform has long been considered a "hard left" issue. Progressive organizations picked up the banner. Advertisement Soon Hillary Clinton felt compelled to return the campaign contributions she had received from lobbyists who represent for-profit prisons. Within months she was telling Black Lives Matter activists that she, too, would close down for-profit prisons if she became president. And now comes this decision from the Justice Department. This idea moved from the margins of our political discourse to its heart. In this brief history, we can see something like a life cycle begin to take shape: An idea was brought into consciousness. It was written about and discussed. Then activists promoted it -- in the streets, in conversations, and in organized campaigns And it became part of an insurgent political candidacy. Now, despite big money's overwhelming hold on our two-party system, it has become the de facto position of the Democratic Party. Concrete action has been taken. The New York Times Editorial Board, that national arbiter of liberal thought, has echoed the message that private prisons are corrupt, violent, inefficient and wasteful. There's much more to be done. Only about 8 percent of federal inmates -- less than 23,000 people -- are housed in for-profit prisons. The vast majority of people in the for-profit prison system are incarcerated in state or local facilities, and won't be affected by this decision. For-profit facilities for detaining immigrants -- where some of the worst abuses have taken place -- won't be affected by this decision. Profiteering will continue to impact the lives of federal prisoners through corporate ventures that medical care, phone and video calls, and even ankle bracelets. Advertisement What's more, the affected prisoners represent a tiny fraction of the 2.2 million Americans currently in prison. Much more needs to be done. The carceral state runs on greed, on racism, on social control, on fear and on vengeance. These forces are not easily eliminated. The commodification of human bodies, especially black and brown bodies, will continue. But this is a victory all the same -- an instructive one. Lesson #1: We can't depend on political leaders to change the system. Change is an inside/outside game, and it usually happens from the outside in. It took the radical visionaries, the street activists, the writers, the church groups, Bernie Sanders and the progressive organizations to make this happen. Lastly, it took insiders willing to listen and respond. Together these forces form a kind of ecosystem. Want to change things? Find a place there and inhabit it. Lesson #2: 23,000 prisoners are a tiny fraction of this nation's bloated prison population. Still, an improvement to the lives of 23,000 people is worth celebrating. Advertisement That improvement is an opportunity to communicate the need for much broader change - not only in the management of our current prison population, but in the more fundamental problem of our nation's destructive addiction to incarceration. Like all addictions, it's a parasite that is destroying the host. When we internally colonize millions of our own people, we undermine our society from within. This can also become a teaching moment regarding our political system's misguided infatuation with privatization. Politicians in both parties have told us for decades that the private sector is better than government at providing many public services. Our experience with for-profit prisons has taught us otherwise, as has our experience with highways and other privatization projects. That makes this an opportunity to renew our understanding of the social compact. It allows us to emphasize the value of communitarian idealism over individualistic greed. The task of promoting these principles is profound, challenging, and daunting. There will be many setbacks. The moral arc of the universe may bend toward justice, but it can look more like a jagged line than a curve. If you take on this work you will lose, over and over. That's a fact of life. But here's another: Beaty limestone rock in the ocean By the Lanta Sea Shore, I sat down and wrote. Koh Lanta is a little town few hours away from the much hyped Krabi. I wanted to escape the crowds and tourists hunting around for tourist spots and just be by myself and enjoy some quiet time. Koh Lanta was a blessing in disguise. The habit of carrying my diary around paid off. I was loitering around the old town of Koh Lanta on my scooter , enjoying the rainy climate and feeling happy. The sun was about to set and I found a spot right on the sea shore with the sun just about to set. I started writing about my thoughts at the moment. And forgot about them , until today , almost 2 months later I found the diary lying around and what I read really impacted me. So here is a raw version of my thoughts at that time , whilst quietly enjoying the sun set and listening to the soothing calm waves of the sea hitting the rocks and displaying magnetic hues. Advertisement You should learn to explore the beauty of old towns and places which lead to a much real and authentic experience. Selecting Koh Lanta to spend 4 days was the best decision of the trip. The calmness of the sea, the untouched jungles , the rains glorifying the beauty of the place already adorned with jewels , the streets with cute little cafes decorated in locally created art , really won my heart. Every single place I visited had a different feel to it. Thailand is an amazing place for soulful experiences. The locals with their golden heart really make you feel comfortable. The availability of Indian food is a treat. I am feeling different right now. I don't miss anyone , I don't want anything else , I wouldn't change a thing about this particular moment , I realised I am much wiser now.I've never found the sounds of the roaring sea so calming and soothing. The gorgeous sunsets make me believe, to have faith and immerse in the beauty of nature. I know that whatever course your life takes is a part of a bigger plan. Ko Phi Phi Islands and their mesmerising beauty! Image Courtesy : The Purple Backpack You feel so small in the scheme of life. Meditating on the sea shore , with sun setting gorgeously and the sound of the waves make you realise that we take life a little bit too seriously. That fear of a good appraisal , advent of an impending bonus , car and house loans , your children's education , all of these may sound important at the moment , and they probably are to you. But , if you come to see life from a distance , you probably will realise that all the things and situations causing you worry are not worth the worry. You should learn to decipher what is actually important and what appears important. That impending appraisal can keep up at nights , worrying , but what will it lead to. A bigger house? A luxury car? And then , what comes next? A villa and a Porsche? Where is the end to this? Why are we so busy in the rat race that we fail to appreciate the beauty of life. Who says life has to be tough , full of toil and stress , when happiness lies in seeing the sun set and displaying its amazing hues or in the sound of the roaring sea , or in the cold breeze playing with your hair, or in the ringing laughter of a child , or looking into the eyes of a loved one or watching a mother play with his child. Happiness is that simple. Advertisement Watching a gorgeous sunset sitting by the beach in Pattaya. Image Courtesy : The Purple Backpack I implore you to travel. Because of moments like this and so much more. I could never write like this whilst am sitting in the noisy city of Delhi , where all I can find when I look around for motivation are buildings and traffic. Travel makes you wiser , makes you see what is actually important. You forget those bitter relations , those sour words exchanged and aim for a new start. The above thought led to this life changing decision. I implore you to travel however far you can. Not just the exotic far off lands like Europe or Thailand. Exploring the backyard of your city is just as rewarding. Find hidden spots in your city which is devoid of crowds , and take a moment to soak in the beauty and breathe in the fresh air. Meet new people in your own city. Travel does wonder , and that holds true for local travel also. Happiness is in writing and capturing thoughts on moments where you feel much more closer to that Ruling force. Don't fear turning back the clocks an hour on Sunday, Nov. 6. There are a few things you can do to help your baby or toddler make this sleep transition. A view of the surface of the planet Proxima b orbiting the red dwarf star Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our Solar System, is seen in an undated artist's impression released by the European Southern Observatory August 24, 2016. If it's for real, it's the closest planet beyond our solar system. The closest planet in outer space. Astronomers using a telescope at the European Southern Observatory in Chile have announced the discovery of a world around the star Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to us other than the Sun. They base this on very slight stellar wobbles -- a convincing claim resting on more than a dozen years of accumulated data. Advertisement Proxima Centauri's paltry distance (4.2 light-years) is matched by its paltry size: It's a dim bulb, a red dwarf that's only one-seventh the Sun's diameter. The newly discovered planet orbits this star in only 11 Earth days. This cheek-by-jowl relationship ensures that, despite Proxima Centauri's meager energy output, there's enough sunlight hitting the planet to sustain large bodies of liquid water. There could be oceans covering at least some of this world, and where there's water, there might be life. But is there? It's a question as obvious as the Matterhorn. Unfortunately, it's hard to get an answer. Some will immediately figure the best tactic would be to send a reconnaissance probe to Proxima Centauri to check out the neighborhood. A nice idea, but so is world peace. Neither is easy to realize in practice. Our fastest rockets would take 75,000 years to get to this planet, by which time the crew's enthusiasm for the project will have soured. Of course, we could send robots instead. Phil Lubin, a physicist at the University of California, Santa Barbara, has outlined a scheme that would use ganged lasers to propel tiny probes about the size of a silver dollar to the Alpha Centauri system at roughly one-fifth the speed of light. Alpha Centauri is a double star rather close to Proxima Centauri, and it would be easy to send the probes to the latter, now that it boasts an interesting target for scrutiny. Lubin's scheme has been funded for study by investor Yuri Milner. It's a serious proposal that should now enjoy some enhanced motivation. Advertisement But even if Brobdingnagian lasers were launching pygmy probes today, it would be at least decades before anything arrived. And in the interim you can bet your trust fund that hordes of astronomers will be trying to espy this planet with the biggest telescopes they can get their hands on, including the ones in Chile that were used to find it. If they manage to sample the light from this new world, they can -- at least in principle -- sift it spectroscopically for oxygen or other gases tied to biology. But get real. This planet is small, dim and difficult to see. Very difficult. It will probably require new space-based instruments, such as NASA's James Webb telescope, to get these kinds of data. They're years away. A more immediate opportunity is to use big antennas to search for emissions that would tell us that this new world has not just life, but technically adept life able to produce radio signals. That's not an entirely easy experiment, as Proxima Centauri is deep in the southern sky, and you can't see it from any observatory north of Miami. But in 1995, the SETI Institute's Project Phoenix made observations of a few hundred southern hemisphere stars using an antenna in Australia. The Parkes Radio Telescope was swung in the direction of Proxima Centauri, and a search was made for microwave signals. None were seen, despite the fact that if there had been a society on this planet using a similarly sized antenna aimed at Earth, we could have noticed it had the broadcast power been a measly few kilowatts or more. If there are aliens hanging out on this world, they were not broadcasting in our direction. We should try again. So how remarkable is this newly discovered exoplanet? How excited should we be? Some astronomers now estimate that as many as one in five stars hosts a habitable planet, in which case this is just one of tens of billions in our galaxy. In that sense, you could say it isn't so extraordinary. Advertisement But on the other hand, none of these other tens of billions will be as close as this one. It will always be special, somewhat akin to Prince William. Sure ,he's just another British kid -- but one who's destined to forever be the subject of our attentions. Man with beard give high five to caucasian guy outdoor in the city The Rio 2016 Olympics has brought renewed attention to the refugee crisis through the 10-member Refugee Olympic Team, while an Amnesty International initiative, The Refugee Nation has gained traction by creating a flag for the team that symbolizes the orange and black lifejackets worn by many refugees as they perilously cross the Mediterranean Sea. The Refugee Nation - Amnesty International The refugee crisis is continuing to grow in importance, as there are now more displaced people in the world than ever before, and yet negativity and exclusionary nationalism continues to gain popularity across the globe. Brexit, Donald Trump running for president in the US, and the increasing popularity of racist and xenophobic political parties across Europe are all the result of increasing fear in regards to massive flows of refugees. Advertisement Yet these sentiments exist, despite assertions by many economists, including Alexander Betts of Oxford University, that immigration is a "net positive for the economy as a whole under almost all circumstances." While there is an obvious humanitarian imperative to aid refugees, it also makes a lot more sense economically to integrate them than to exclude them. The six organizations below are examples of initiatives undertaken by individuals to use the skills and ideas they had to create a better life for refugees and a better world for everyone. SINGA, a French organization, links locals with refugees who share their interests and gives refugees the opportunity to participate in daily community events. The organization offers support in professional, social, cultural, artistic, and entrepreneurial projects and since 2012 has guided 50 refugees to success. In order to provide extra support and help refugees build stronger local connections, SINGA also runs CALM (Comme a la maison or "Just like home" in English), which gives locals the opportunity to host refugees for temporary stays from two weeks to six months. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter La Fabrique Nomade, also in France, is giving refugees, with skills as artisans, the opportunity to continue working in their domain. The social startup plans to accompany the refugees in all stages of their business development by helping them attain certifications, language skills, and clients. They also organize workshops where skills can be shared and connections built with other refugees and locals. Advertisement Natakallam, in the US, is supporting integration and providing employment to refugees through online tutoring of Arabic. Natakallam currently has 1,500 students signed up to practice their Arabic with displaced Syrians. Natakallam explains that, "Through this online platform, students have the option of practicing their speaking skills while providing Syrians with an enriching part-time work opportunity in a country where finding a worthwhile job is difficult." Natakallam is currently in discussions to develop partnerships with a number of universities including CUNY, Duke, and Georgetown. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter Catalytic Action's Playgrounds for Refugee Children program is supporting the healthy development of children living in refugee camps. They believe that "a playground represents a vital role in providing relief for the Syrian children who have witnessed conflict and displacement... these children deserve the right to play and heal following the trauma of war." The playgrounds are built with children's participation and with one playground set up in Lebanon, serving 357 children, they are hoping to build many more. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter Incubators for immigrants is an organization working to help refugees build "a new economic and independent existence in the Netherlands." The organization accepts business plan submissions from migrants and if the plan is promising the organization will provide guidance, foster a good start, and provide legal and social assistance. Close up of female hands tied in a rope Ever since I was a junior in high school, I have been passionate about fighting against human trafficking. It all started with a Community Ambassador Training held by youthSpark, a nonprofit that works to end child sex trafficking in Georgia (not the country, but the state, inside the US). After learning about such a heinous issue and becoming aware that it was such a big problem in my own state, I felt like I needed to act. Advertisement Soon after, I started a club in my school, worked to organize a field trip, speakers, and fundraisers to get students engaged, and was even able to intern at youthSpark, helping them find ways to get more teens involved. Once I had decided to attend Georgia Tech, I still remember how excited I was to get started with One Voice Atlanta, a student organization on campus which works to raise awareness about human trafficking, help victims, and prevent such crimes from occurring in the future. Through One Voice, I have had amazing opportunities to connect with other community members, like the International Human Trafficking Institute (IHTI) and SKAL International Atlanta, being given the chance to speak and participate at film screenings, social justice nights, and symposiums. It is amazing the kind of interest that we have been getting from all kinds of people on campus and in the community, including ArtWorks for Freedom, which interviewed us to capture the power of student activism. From all of this, I hope that it is clear that I care a lot about this issue. And that this is not the first time that I have written or spoken about why human trafficking matters to me. Advertisement Based on my experience, here are some of the major lessons that I've learned from working against human trafficking: LESSON #1: The way we view and talk about trafficking matters. According to the Georgia Governors office, every month, over 300 adolescent girls are sexually exploited in the state of Georgia alone thats more girls prostituted each month than Georgia teens killed in car accidents over one year. What I have realized is that misconception lies at the root of sex trafficking, especially in the United States. For years, thousands of prostituted girls under the age of 18 would be found on the streets of Georgia and locked up in jail alongside felons, thieves, and murderers. It wasnt until the year 2000 that things began to change. As a result of work done by the Chief Judge of Fulton County Juvenile Court, innocent victims of prostitution started becoming treated as just that, victims, making Georgia "the only state in the nation with a statewide response to end sexual exploitation of children" (as reported in February 2011). What this exposes is the powerful influence of our discourse on what occurs in reality. The law that was first implemented in 2000 brought about a major change in the way people wrote and spoke about the children who were being bought, raped, and prostituted out and therefore caused a dramatic difference in the way those children were treated legally. The officer who chooses to write, found a victim on the streets as opposed to caught a soliciting prostitute on a report can create a world of difference for the victim. Its the difference between getting the full support of the judicial system as well as receiving free victim and rehabilitation services or being treated as a worthless criminal thrown out into the world with no support, often causing victims to go back to the same lifestyle. Advertisement A major aspect of such a discursive-based misconception has to do with the words we choose to describe social problems. For example, using the word prostitutecarries a dirty connotation. Rather than do justice to the victims of commercial sexual exploitation or sex trafficking, it is used synonymously with whore or skank words that dont make people think of all the child victims who have been exploited, violated, and abused. The moment we hear the word prostitute, we think of someone making the decision to live a certain kind of life. What we dont realize is that the main issue with trafficking is that people do not just wake up on a Friday morning and decide to sell their bodies in order to pay their rent; for children, many of their minds are not even fully developed enough to decide to sell their only bodies, and even for those above the age of 18, many have been conditioned after years of abuse. LESSON #2: Everyone is part of the problem. When I attending the Community Ambassador Training to learn more about child sex trafficking and how to make a difference, I was appalled to find that I was the only male (out of at least 20-30 people). This is a problem. A huge problem. How can anyone try to solve sex trafficking with only women? By focusing only the victims, which tend to be women, and treating this entire issue as a "feminist issue" ignores the many boy victims and completely disregards the fact that most of the demand is coming from men. Something is incredibly wrong if so many men seem to think that it is okay to abuse, exploit, and forcibly rape women and adolescent girls for sex. We need to carefully examine our communities - what are we teaching to boys that causes them to grow up to become buyers and pimps to begin with? Advertisement And don't get caught up in how men are the root cause of this entire issue - that isn't true either. In fact, many of the pimps or people who recruit victims are women, and the number is growing. What's even more aggravating is the role of the media and media representations of social issues. Specifically, a major reason behind the stigmas of sexual exploitation is the way news reporters and stations treat the pimps, buyers, and victims. For some inexplicable reason, news reports will freely report the names and faces of exploited victims but feel a strange obligation to disguise the face and name of the buyers, calling them John Does. What this in turn does is signal to society that it is okay to be a predator, to literally be a rapist. It is my belief that what the media is doing is only representing one side of the story, only making one side seem at fault and letting the other get away free. After all, just because people think prostitution is an age-old profession doesnt mean that it suddenly becomes acceptable for it to become overlooked and an expected everyday phenomenon. LESSON #3: Everyone can be a part of the solution. Yes, I'm talking to you. (Cue motivational speech) Ultimately, what I have realized is that we as individuals are afraid to get involved, as a society we have accepted social injustices, and as a country we are afraid to talk. We are afraid to discuss things that happen locally because it is a relief for many of us to believe the fake notion that poverty, hunger, and abuse are all terms that can only be used to describe people in other parts of the world (not us). Human trafficking is often a word that is only uttered when speaking of international cases, but what many fail to realize is that it also occurs domestically. It is so easy to place the blame on third world countries for their sub-par conditions lack of infrastructure, bad government, no community values and yet our own country is littered with trafficking, especially my home town of Atlanta, proving that maybe its not third world conditions but a complacency with ignorance that exacerbates the worlds problems. Advertisement So the only way we can get better and save the lives of our children and our fellow human beings is by first disavowing ourselves from our preconceived misconceptions, because only then can we have the chance to have a better understanding of the problem and even be open to a potential solution. Furthermore, it is essential to realize that no matter how daunting the fight against human trafficking may seem, each of us matters in it. Even simply reading this article and understanding the nuances behind the issue is something that changes the way you view it for the rest of your life. And you have the potential to touch everyone around you, whether it be your family members, friends, or strangers, which is incredibly empowering. It means that you can educate those near you and gradually shift the often glamorized culture that surrounds such a horrific crime. Meaning the next time you hear your friends using the term "pimping my ride", you can clarify to them that unless they meant that their ride is exploiting and raping girls for profit, that maybe"pimping" is not the right adjective for them to use in that context. It means that you can be more cognizant of suspicious behavior or activity happening around you and less willing to overlook trafficking the next time you see it, by taking the time to report a tip or give someone the Human Trafficking Hotline. You don't need to go and start your own organization or nonprofit (although you could!). There are literally so many ways in which you can get involved, whether you are interested in speaking and writing, art and music, or just want to donate money. The options are limitless and often only a Google search away - it's all up to how you want to get involved. Advertisement At the end of the day, as a human being, I believe we are obliged to protect each other regardless of age or gender. Don't we all deserve to live freely and without fear, our fundamental right to safety guaranteed? So let's push for this vision of a future, together! -- A cute, four year old little boy wearing a fedora style hat and sweater, sitting with his arms crossed. Kids fashion, back to school concept. Similar images. It's Back-To-School season, so we asked moms in the mom.life app how they felt about it and what it meant to them. Their answers lead to this list of 20 reasons moms can't wait for "Back-To-School": Quiet! Lots of quiet. I'm happy that they will all be physically separated all day because I'm holding out hope that absence will make the heart grow fonder.... I mean, they can't miss each other if they are always together (and beating the sh*t out of each other). Advertisement I can fly with the professionals again...the amateurs have left the airport. We're done paying for full time childcare as of this year! Well except for the teacher in-service days, the weather closure days, the summer months... So I can work from home again. I'm looking forward to the structure. We all do better with structure. Looking forward to the excitement in the faces of my kids as they gain new knowledge, skills and friendships and suddenly beg for days off, filled with nothing to do after complaining about those boring wanderlust days all summer long. You can finally stop worrying about daily activities and summer camps. I'll finally be able to go to the bathroom or take a shower without an audience. My son absolutely loves his new friends! Even though I work with him at home there is nothing like preschool to get them ready for the real thing. So proud of my little man. I had to go back to eating my good stuff in secret during the summer vacation. Now that's he's gone, I don't have to sneak or share my treats!! Advertisement With a newborn coming soon, I'll be happy to have a time during the day so I can sleep. Then when they get home I can cook and do homework and all, just sounds like an easier schedule for me. My son who is 9 years old loves to eat. I can't wait until school starts because I can stop shopping for groceries weekly. Food/snacks will last longer. I miss the schedule, structure, and school. Also miss the bake sales and stuff :) Less laundry because the kids wear uniform!! With having a newborn this summer, I couldn't do much with the other kids so it was a lot of TV and video games unfortunately. I feel really terrible about that; I give them schoolwork every day but it's 3 pages a day. I can't wait until they're using their brains again! Time to get things done around the house and get errands done! My daughter loves her new school clothes. She's excited but momma is sad lol. Though I have 2 other little ones to watch over, the house is NEVER the same without her home. 9 days, 8 hours, 13 minutes, and 6 seconds until the first school drop-off. But who's counting? I will be able to think again. How do you feel about your kids going back to school? Please share in the comments below. mom.life is a mobile community for soon-to-be moms and moms to meet and share their experiences, concerns and advice. Advertisement JavaScript is disabled on your browser. CORDIS website requires JavaScript enabled in order to work properly. Please enable JavaScript. Crossposted from UN Women. The path to economic empowerment for Afghan women remains riddled with discrimination, violence and unequal access to opportunities. The biggest hurdle in front of them are negative perceptions and stereotypes. A programme by UN Women provides skills training and internship opportunities to young women graduates to kick-start their careers. As part of her first visit to Afghanistan, UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka took part in a graduation event with almost 50 young women who had gone through UN Women's internship programme. Photo: UNAMA/Fardin Waezi In a country where more than 60 per cent of the population is under 24 years and an estimated 400,000 people are entering the workforce each year, finding a job as a young graduate is not easy. When that country is Afghanistan and you are a woman, its even harder. Advertisement In a country where more than 60 per cent of the population is under 24 years and an estimated 400,000 people are entering the workforce each year, finding a job as a young graduate is not easy. When that country is Afghanistan and you are a woman, its even harder. - See more at: http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2016/8/unlocking-the-potential-of-afghan-women#sthash.oEpEochx.dpuf In our tribe it was completely forbidden for women and girls to finish their education, shared Massuma Rasuli, computer science graduate from Kabul University. My teachers convinced my father to let me continue secondary education. He constantly reminded me that I should not expect to go to university. But I studied hard and convinced my father of my merit. Now that I have done it, other families are allowing their girls to finish school. Massuma Rasuli, pictured center, is one of the nearly 50 interns at the graduation event in Kabul with UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. Photo: UNAMA/Fardin Waezi Women in Afghanistan are disproportionately affected by poverty, discrimination and exploitation. Today, nearly 64 percent of Afghans [1] agree that women should be allowed to work, however, women still face resistance, harassment and sometimes violence when trying to access education and employment. Even when they manage to get an education against all odds, they often lack practical skills, experience and networks to secure a job. Advertisement The biggest problem is the negative perceptions and traditions against women that prevent them from going out, getting an education or work. I know many girls who could not pass these barriers because their fathers, brothers or husbands did not let them, says Hassina Saifi, who graduated from the faculty of psychology in Kabul University. L-R: UN Women Afghanistan Country Representative, Elzira Sagynbaeva, World Food Program Deputy Country Representative, Angelline Rudakubana, graduating intern Lida Sofiezada, and UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. Photo: UNAMA/Fardin Waezi Ms. Rasuli and Ms. Saifi are among the 48 young women who have completed UN Womens internship programme in Afghanistan. The six-month programme, which started in December 2015, as part of UN Womens effort to support womens economic empowerment, aims to support female university graduates seeking to enter the job market. The candidates receive two months of training in professional development, leadership skills, office management, language and communication, as well as application and interview skills. Then they are placed in a four-month internship with organizations in their chosen fields and receive a stipend from UN Women for their internship period. The World Food Programme (WFP) offered internships to 12 of the programme participants and according to Deputy Country Representative Angelline Rudakubana, it has been a learning experience for the interns and also for her staff. These women are proof that Afghanistans strength lies in the potential of its young women. The first batch of the participants are now finishing their internships and many of them have received employment offers. During her recent visit to Afghanistan, UN Womens Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka met with the young women and stressed, If we dont invest in young people, we have no future. I think you are just what Afghanistan needs. Advertisement Rohina Sharifi, a graduate of UN Women's internship programme. Photo: UNAMA/Fardin Waezi For 22-year old Rayhan Alem, a native of Badakhsan Province in Afghanistans far northeast, the internship programme gave her the tools that she needed to fulfill her dream of becoming a skilled midwife. She graduated from the Midwifery Institute of Higher Education in Kabul in early 2015, but without any work experience, couldnt find a job. After gaining communications and leadership skills, she was placed at the Ali Seena Hospital in Kabul as an intern. As soon as I complete my four months of practice at Ali Seena Hospital, I will go back to my province, Badkhshan, and I will work at the government clinic in my village, says Ms. Alem. She believes that with more skilled midwives, Afghanistan could beat its high maternal and child mortality rates. Notes Crossposted from UN Women. Photo: UN Women/Coumba Bah Extremism started spreading slowly, like a cancer, since the conflict erupted in 2012. Right now, there is a real fear of radicalization and recruitment of our youth by extremist groups. As women, as women religious leaders, we have a role to play in stopping this from happening. As mothers, sisters, spouses, teachers and care-givers, we are closest to our children. As leaders, we are trusted. We can influence their decision-making if we start addressing the risks at an early age. Muslim women [in Mali] often think of themselves as stay-at-home-women. Traditions created by men have led to the belief that women are somehow inferior to men. This is not what the Quran teaches. As a religious woman leader, I am able to talk to other women, help them understand that they have equal rights. Advertisement I preach, educate and sensitize women and men, through examplespractical ones, and those from the Prophets life. I remind them that Islam respects women, encourages womens economic empowerment. Its not easy being a woman religious leader. Women of faith are expected to stay behind, instead of standing beside men. Men of faith often act as men first, to preserve their manly interests. As women of faith, as leaders, we must persevere and advocate for our rights. We must make our voices heard, hone our leadership skills, and insist upon our economic empowerment. Theres a saying in my country, empty bag doesnt stand. We can influence our youth and our nation, but not when we are poor and in weak positions. Advertisement Haidara Djeneba Sy, is a religious woman leader from Yirimadio (Bamako), Mali. In May 2016, she became the first woman Vice President of the National Network of Malian Muslim Youth (UJMMA). UN Women in Mali works with UJMMA on peace-building initiatives and supported the Third National Forum of UJMMA, which included a special session on Muslim womens roles in fighting religious extremism. Djeneba Sys work contributes to Sustainable Development GoalsSDG 1, on ending poverty by ensuring that all men and women have equal rights to economic resources; SDG 5, which calls for womens leadership and participation in decision-making at all levels and ensuring their equal rights to economic resources; SDG 8, which aims to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all; and SDG 16, on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, and building capacity at all levels to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime. By Dan Ouellette, ZEALnyc Senior Editor, August 24, 2016 Modern graffiti was born when bebop king Charlie Parker tragically died at the age of 34 on March 12, 1955. While the jazz saxophonist nicknamed Yardbird (or Bird for short) lived a relatively brief life, his legacy as the co-founder of a newfangled take on jazz loomed large in his shadow. He was heralded as a genius hero who brought jazz into the vanguard after being trapped in the swing era. Velocity and revolutionary harmonic ideas hit at the heart of Bird's astounding improvisation. He was freedom fighter for the music, paying the price of being an impoverished contrarian who became overcome by substance abuse. Certainly Parker influenced and inspired future generations of jazz players. Miles Davis told Time magazine in 1973 that the "history of jazz can be told in four words: Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker." Last year recorded tributes to Bird came from many important figures, including two Yardbird saxophone aficionados, Rudresh Mahanthappa with his Bird Calls album) and Joe Lovano with his Bird Songs recording--both widely recognized among the jazz cognoscente. Advertisement And earlier this year the Apollo Theater in Harlem staged its very first opera, Charlie Parker's Yardbird, for its New York premiere. The opera, with music composed by Daniel Schnyder and the libretto by Bridgette A. Wimberly, had debuted at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia in June 2015. The show at the Apollo--only its second staging--featured renowned opera star Lawrence Brownlee who played the part of Charlie Parker. This being his season (he was born on August 29, 1920), Bird's disciples still keep the flame blazing. Most noteworthy in New York is the newly expanded five-day celebration, City Parks Foundation's Charlie Parker Jazz Festival (Aug. 24-28). It features an array of artists some of who were contemporaries but more so younger artists exercising their musical right to break rules like their forefather did. Two days of free, rousing music takes place at Harlem's Marcus Garvey Park and one day at the East Village's Tomkins Square Park (click here for more details). Plus, the celebrated Birdland jazz club pays homage to its namesake with four evenings (Aug. 30-Sept.3) of music inspired by the iconic saxophonist (click here for more information). The featured artists include saxophonists Vincent Herring, Greg Osby and Eric Alexander, pianist Helen Sung, bassist Lonnie Plaxico, drummer Billy Drummond and vocalist Sheila Jordan who was a Bird groupie and friend back in the '50s. So the music world was inspirited and continues to find a provocative vein in his innovations over a half-century later. But back when Parker was still alive, the greater arts community in New York also revered him, especially the avant-garde Beat generation poets, who gravitated to his breaking-rules jazz. Here's where the graffiti headline and leading graf come to play. Advertisement While the likes of Allen Ginsberg, Gary Snyder, Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Gregory Corso were the big names of the movement that questioned mainstream culture, there was a lesser-known Beat who loved Parker and believed in his swing away from the mainstream. His name was Ted Joans, whose work was steeped in the African-American oral tradition. He used to throw elaborate costume parties in the mid '50s which Parker attended. Soon after, Joans and his roommate took in Parker after they found him sprawled on a sidewalk outside a Village club. He lived there for the last few months of his life, finally succumbing in the Hotel Stanhope apartment of jazz philanthropist and patron Baroness de Koenigswarter (famous years later as Thelonious Monk's backer and confidant) one evening after being persuaded that he was too sick to travel to Boston to play a gig. When his jazz hero died, Joans succinctly expressed that Parker was still breathing. He began a campaign of writing in chalk on streets and sidewalks and walls, "Bird Lives." Even though he was prolific in personally spreading the word, hundreds of more people took charge too. Bird Lives appeared everywhere in the city, from subway platforms to brownstone walls, in chalk, black crayon and even pressurized paint cans. It wasn't until the '60s and into the '70s that graffiti took off and became an art form in itself--with its modern beginnings traced back to the iconoclastic Charlie Parker. A fitting tribute. Now occasionally a Bird Lives tag will show up, yet only rarely. But, with the prospects of a cultural and political and social clampdown looming on the horizon, don't be surprised by the reappearance of the two-word call to freedom. __________________________________ Advertisement Read more of Dan Ouellette through his features on Bobby Hutcherson and Top Jazz Festivals: Boo at the Zoo is back Boo at the Zoo will take place from 2-5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29, throughout the grounds of the zoo, and is free to the public. Despite widespread satisfaction with their leading carriers, independent insurance agents have serious reservations about insurer performance in a number of areas particularly pricing and technology, a recent survey from Channel Harvest reveals.80% of the 1,900 agency employees that participated in Key Success Factors in Agent/Carrier Relationships: 2016 Survey said they were either extremely or very satisfied with their leading personal lines carrier, and 75% reported the same for their top commercial lines carrier.Yet those same carriers are not measuring up when it comes to agents top priorities. Nearly all (96%) of survey respondents said competitive pricing is very or somewhat important, but fewer than three-quarters (71%) of personal lines agents and 67% of commercial lines agents consider their top carriers pricing competiveness to rank above average.Similarly, nine of 10 respondents said a personal lines insurance carriers technology is important, yet only about 70% rate their top carriers technological offerings as above average.The disconnect speaks to agents relaxed expectations of carriers and even a sub-par array of market options, said Channel Harvest Principal Peter van Aartrijk.Agents will have their favorite carriers and love them, warts and all. In some ways, you can still be ranked as an overall so-so carrier in a number of areas, but in a basket of so-so or lousy carriers, you might not actually look that bad, van Aartrijk told Insurance Business America. It sounds harsh, but I think agents will put up with a lot in exchange for a consistent market, decent prices and products, and okay service.One way carriers can rise from the doldrums and easily score greater agent approval is in more comprehensive technological offerings. Agents are especially looking for real-time quoting and renewals, endorsement processing and claims download, the survey showed.But carriers are facing financial pressure and fighting a constant battle on where to spend technology dollars, van Aartrijk said. Some functionality, such as replacing or upgrading policy management systems is costly, yet agencies dont often view those investments as helping the sales and renewal process.On digital support, I see a major need for agencies to understand the who, what, when, where, why and how of how to accomplish this, he said. Carriers not only have the challenge of redefining digital communications to existing policyholders, they need to educate their agencies even their very best agencies on how to leverage these tools. This is a major shift in thinking, investment and agency support.Other findings from the Channel Harvest study reveal personal lines carriers received the highest marks in financial strength, claims-service quality and customer services, while commercial lines carriers earned similar marks, including top ratings in underwriting responsiveness.Both personal lines and commercial lines insurers performed comparatively worse in digital/social media support and training and education. Personal lines carriers also struggled in agency compensation, a product of greater consumer choice and online shopping options.Van Aartrijk stressed that, despite these pressures, independents still have a super opportunity in growing their personal lines presence.Especially if they seek niches such as affluent homeowners and have a rock-solid online presence, he added.That means more than an updated, mobile friendly website (which is obviously critically important). It means using email wisely to reach existing customers at various times during the policy year; focused, ongoing social media marketing that shows the personal connection between the agencys employees and the communities they serve; and partnering with centers of influence in communities on sponsorships and links and advertising.The study is available for purchase at ChannelHarvest.net. Starr Companies: $15,062,700 New York Life Insurance: $1,570,192 Blue Cross/Blue Shield: $1,545,471 AFLAC Inc.: $1,215,224 National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors: $1,191,000 Metlife Inc.: $1,061,109 Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America: $1,005,975 Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers: $872,948 USAA: $788,615 Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance: $754,029 Prudential Financial: $726,907 Liberty Mutual: $701,528 Northwestern Mutual: $690,694 TigerRisk Partners: $674,200 American Council of Life Insurers: $610,376 American Financial Group: $534,536 State Farm: $511,125 Association for Advanced Life Underwriting: $490,000 Zurich Financial Services: $477,785 Nationwide: $476,801 On the surface, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton looks extremely unpopular with insurance professionals. The industry, which historically leans right in both voting and political donation patterns, has been outspoken in its opposition to many of her positions even calling her public health insurance option proposal a roadblock to reform.Yet certain data raises questions on the industrys real position.According to information collected by the Center for Responsive Politics, which runs political fundraising tracker OpenSecrets.org, Clinton is the recipient of by far the largest amount of industry dollars. As of July 2016, the former Secretary of State has received more than $1.2 million from insurance companies and lobbying groups, outstripping runner-up Ted Cruz by nearly 100% and Republican nominee Donald Trump by more than $1 million.The figures are hardly an anomaly for the industry. In 2008, the insurance sector which includes health, auto, life, and property/casualty companies donated $1.26 million to Clintons campaign for president, making her the third-highest recipient of cash from the industry that year. She also received $397,110 for her 2006 re-election to the Senate.Without data showing just who is making these donations, its difficult to speculate on reasons for the industrys support. Just last month, after all, several prominent insurance trade groups spoke out against Clintons renewed calls for a government-funded public health insurance option.A government-run plan would underpay doctors and hospitals rather than driving real reforms that bring down costs and improve quality, Americas Health Insurance Plans said at the time. Its time we focus instead on broad-based reforms that will ensure the affordability and sustainability of our healthcare system.Health insurance agents have also been outspoken in their opposition to a public option, saying it would further squeeze commission and hinder their ability to assist consumers with coverage choice potentially even forcing them out of the market.Yet industry organizations continue to fund Clintons campaign, alongside donors from industries including securities and investments ($41 million), lawyers and law firms ($23 million) and pharmaceuticals ($3.8 million).By contrast, Trump while counting insurance among his top 10 largest industry donors has received just $111,645 from the sector.The gap may be explained in part by differing approaches in campaign fundraising by the two camps. Trump has financed much of his campaign himself, including $13 million of the $19.4 million raised in 2015. Large corporate donors have also mostly stayed away from Trump, and 34% of his campaign funding is coming from individual donations.It is here that prominent insurance professionals may be acting as individuals. Pamela Newman, president and chief executive officer of the Newman Team at Aon Risk Services, donated $25,000 to the Make America Great Again single-candidate super PAC supporting Trump, for example.Outside of the presidential race, the insurance industry is solidly conservative in its political sending efforts. The industrys top contributor Starr Companies spent more than $15 million on conservative groups from 2015 to 2016, and the Republican Party currently outstrips the Democratic Party $19.7 million to $9.6 million in donations in 2016. In fact, the only time the industry gave more heavily to Democrats since OpenSecrets began tracking contributions was in 1990, when the party captured $7.3 million in insurance spending compared to $7.1 million given to Republicans.Independent agents are also among the sectors most right-leaning groups. More than 70% of the $1.9 million in contributions from the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America and the Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers the groups two biggest spenders went to Republican candidates and the Republican Party.By company, the top spenders in insurance from 2015 through the present are: AIG is reportedly in early talks to sell its Lloyds of London insurance business to the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.The Wall Street Journal says that sources close to the matter have revealed that AIG is also considering the purchase of a related reinsurance business in Bermuda.Neither AIG or CPPIB has made any comment.Health insurance startup Oscar is to quit the New Jersey and Dallas-Fort Worth federal exchanges but will start offering plans on an additional one.The company says that the financial issues that have led to other insurers pulling out of certain exchanges is the reason behind its decision to stop offering individual plans in NJ and Dallas-Fort Worth.As an insurer active in the individual market, however, we face the same challenging market dynamics as do other companies some larger, some smaller, CEO Mario Schlosser commented.Oscar will begin offering plans on the San Francisco exchange and maintain its business in New York, San Antonio, Los Angeles and Orange County.The company behind Canadas worst cyber breach has been criticized by the countrys privacy watchdog.Ashley Madison was marketed as 100 per cent discreet and displayed a security trustmark to reassure users. That trustmark was fabricated and the parent company Avid Life Medias security safeguards and policies were inadequate according to the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.Privacy breaches are a core risk for any organization with a business model based on the collection and use of personal information, commented the commissioner, Daniel Therrien.Where data is highly sensitive and attractive to criminals, the risk is even greater. Handling huge amounts of this kind of personal information without a comprehensive information security plan is unacceptable. This is an important lesson all organizations can draw from the investigation.Among the firms security failings were: inadequate authentication for employees accessing systems remotely; encryption keys were not well protected; some passwords stored on the company systems were not encrypted.Following the commissioners investigation and a similar one in Australia Avid Life Media agreed to certain commitments to bolster security and privacy. The New York Times and other US news organizations have been victimized by cyber attacks thought to have been carried out by hackers working for Russian intelligence, according to CNN.The cyber breaches are currently under investigation by the FBI. Authorities believe that the attacks are part of a broader campaign that has also targeted the Democratic Party, according to CNN.The Times email services are outsourced to Google, CNN reported. Times spokesperson Eileen Murphy said that there was no evidence that the newspapers internal systems were breached.We are constantly monitoring our systems with the latest available intelligence and tools, Murphy said. We have seen no evidence that any of our internal systems, including our systems in the Moscow bureau, have been breached or compromised.Intelligence officials believe the recent wave of hacks is part of an effort to gather intelligence from non-governmental organizations that have access to the US political system, CNN reported. News organizations are prime targets because reporters often have contacts within the government. Hacking news organizations could also yield unpublished documents containing sensitive information, CNN reported.Russian cyber attacks have been in the news since Wikileaks released emails stolen from the Democratic National Committee prior to the partys convention, CNN reported. The Clinton campaign says the hack was proof that the Russian government is trying to bolster the likelihood of Donald Trumps election. Financial report details challenges over the first nine months of 2022 Mount Greylock will be included in a series of hikes on Aug. 24 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. Centennial Hikes Across Massachusetts Celebrate 100th Anniversary of National Park Service BOSTON The Department of Conservation and Recreation will lead park visitors on free "Centennial Hikes" at 12 parks across Massachusetts, including two in the Berkshires, on Thursday, Aug. 25, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. The DCR-managed parks are part of the cherished and historic legacy of Americas state and national parks system, and serve as excellent examples of land conservation efforts that have been made across the country. "I cannot think of a better way to celebrate 100 years of the National Park Service and their efforts of preserving this countrys natural resources, than going on a Centennial Hike," Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton said. "The residents of the Commonwealth have benefited greatly from the strong partnership between the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and the National Park Service, which will continue for generations to come." The National Park Service was established by President Woodrow Wilson on August 25, 1916 and today manages more than 400 natural, historical, and cultural properties throughout the United States and its territories. Additionally, in 1916, the State of Massachusetts, whose park system dates back to 1893, established Harold Parker State Forest and Myles Standish State Forest. Centennial celebrations for both forests were held earlier this year. "The Commonwealth and the National Park Service have worked together since its inception 100 years ago, and the agency looks forward to commemorating this shared stewardship with Centennial Hikes in some of our nation's oldest and most beautiful parks, found right here in Massachusetts," said DCR Commissioner Leo Roy. "I am thrilled to mark this historic occasion with opportunities for residents to learn about the state and national park conservation efforts that the Baker-Polito Administration continues to prioritize." Residents wishing to attend one or more of the Aug. 25 Centennial Hikes are encouraged to bring water, insect repellent and appropriate footwear. Locations of the hikes include: * Borderland State Park, Pond Loop Trail, 9 a.m.: Meet at Visitor Center, 259 Massapoag Ave., North Easton * Mount Greylock State Reservation, 9 and 11 a.m.: Meet at the Visitor Center, 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough * Mount Holyoke Range State Park, 9:30 a.m.: Meet at Visitor Center, 1500 West St. (Route 16), Amherst iciHaiti - Diplomacy : New Consul General in Atlanta The Consulate General of Haiti in Atlanta informs the public in general and the Haitian Community of Atlanta in particular that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has appointed Pastor Faustin Lebon as the new Consul of Haiti. Recall that Mr. Lebon, was former Consul Responsible for Religious Affairs and he held this position ad interim, since the transfer in June of Consul Gandy Thomas appointed at the head of Consulate of Miami. The Chancellery relies on the cooperation of all sectors of the community for the continuity of good governmental representation in Georgia and other States under its jurisdiction. Learn more about Faustin Lebon : Born in Port Salut, Pastor Lebon, married to Jeanne Margarette Premier and father of 2 children, completed his primary education in Les Cayes and high school in Port-au-Prince. In the 80s, he moved to the United States to continue his studies. He has a degree in Public Administration and obtained a postgraduate degree in International Relations of the University ADELPHI of NYACK (New York). Initiating of Theology studies at Boyce Bible College (Kentucky), he continued until he receive his doctorate in 2015 from Andersonville Theological Seminary (Georgia). He joined the team of the Consulate General of Haiti in Atlanta in May 2012. IH/ iciHaiti iciHaiti - Diaspora : 10th anniversary of the Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County Lesly Conde, the Consul General of Haiti in Chicago, invited to the 10th anniversary Convention of the Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County, took the opportunity to deliver a short speech for the occasion and bring a personal touch : Intervention of Consul Lesly Conde : "Distinguished members of the Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County, Distinguished guests and friends, Ladies and gentlemen, This is a very special moment for me and for the Chicago Haitian Community. I consider myself privileged to be here in the company of people who share my passion and preoccupations. I am also delighted to, on behalf of all my compatriots, add my personal note to a well-deserved tribute to a man whose dedication to providing for the spiritual, psychological and physical needs of the weakest among us, has earned him so much respect and admiration.First and foremost, I must sincerely thank the Reverend Arthur J.Gass Sr, President of the Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County, for having invited me to be part of this prestigious event. I feel quite at home here because I am aware of the many ways in which this Chamber of Commerce has been supporting the philanthropic endeavors of the Reverend Pastor Jean Franco Valdemar in Haiti. I will never forget the spontaneous support Haiti received from the Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County through Pastor Valdemar's organization right after the devastating earthquake of January 2010. Such unadulterated solidarity is heartwarming. I am here to express my profound gratitude and that of all my compatriots.As for the Reverend Pastor Franco Valdemar, he deserves every bit of the recognition he is receiving today. For having collaborated through the years with this man of God, I know something about his dedication and perseverance. I know that Pastor Jean Franco Valdemar bravely goes where many hesitate to tread when it comes to helping the neediest of the needy in Haiti. One has to be willing to leave one's comfortable life style behind in order to do the Lord's work. This man does just that. I know for a fact that Pastor Valdemar derives tremendous satisfaction from an occasional grateful if awkward smile that speaks more eloquently than a dozen speeches. However, I relish this opportunity to thank him in my own words on behalf of the Chicago Haitian Community. At this point, I must, once again, thank the Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County for this kind invitation. On behalf of all my compatriots who have benefited and will continue to benefit from the philanthropy of the Reverend Pastor Jean Franco Valdemar, I thank all of you for your precious support through the years. Thank you for your attention !" The content you are trying to view is exclusive to our subscribers. To unlock this article: Gender discrimination: Social bias in the workplace Ann Arbor, Michigan - Research by James Westphal, a strategy professor at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, suggests women executives face social discrimination in the workplace, making their jobs harder. He said that a recent story in the Economist that suggested women executives don't manage differently, or any better, than men misses an important aspect of gender dynamics. The article argues that lumping women together obscures the differences between individuals. While that may be true, Westphal says the premise ignores an important aspect of gender dynamics. Quite simply, gender provides a basis for discrimination. No one study should make sweeping statements about gender, but Westphal's body of research shows that intergroup biaswhich includes the tendency to overgeneralize about members outside your groupis preconscious, pervasive and negatively affects women executives. Westphal, the Robert G. Rodkey Collegiate Professor of Business Administration and chair of strategy at Ross, talks about his recent presentation at the Academy of Management meeting in which he provided an overview of his research showing just how gender dynamics play out in the c-suite. Q: What was it about this article that led you to connect the dots on your own body of research? Westphal: It wasn't that the article's conclusions were necessarily wrong. My issue is that the article distracts attention from the most important way gender matters in the upper echelonsby providing a basis for social discrimination. The Economist is less concerned with social issues and more with economic, but in this case the social influences the economic. Q: Just how does the social influence the economic? Westphal: One implication is that women have to be better qualified than men to achieve the same position. As a result, they may be "better" than men on average in terms of qualifications, and yet they may also be handicapped in their ability to be effective leaders. Q: What leads you to that conclusion? Westphal: My research provides quite a bit of evidence. For example, some of our findings suggest that women leaders receive fewer benefits for their performance. Ithai Stern and I found that women receive less credit than men for contributions to strategic decision making. They need to provide higher levels of advice and input to the CEO to have the same chance of receiving a colleague's recommendation for a board appointment at another firm. Another study I did with Poonam Khanna found that women board members are more likely to receive social sanctions for behavior that runs counter to the status quo. This would be things like proposals to increase board independence and reduce the CEO's power. When women participate in these initiatives they're less likely than men to be invited to informal board meetings and their input was solicited less often in formal meetings. It also had a more negative effect on a woman director's chances of being recommended for another board appointment compared to a man who exhibited similar behavior. Q: What about when it's a woman CEO, as opposed to one member of a larger board? Westphal: We found similar issues. My research shows women CEOs receive less help and less professional support of various kinds from CEOs at other firms. After we controlled for the strength of personal relationships and other factors, male CEOs are less likely to provide strategic help to women CEOs, including advice on strategic issues and personal referrals to third-party sources of counsel. We also have evidence that women CEOs receive more of the blame for negative company outcomesboth from peers and external sourcesthan men in the top job. Sun Park and I discovered women CEOs are less likely to receive impression management support from other CEOs. For example, fellow CEOs are more likely to attribute low company performance to women CEOs than male CEOs in their comments to journalists, especially when the women CEOs have other indicators of social status. So while status in a high office helps insulate men from harm to their reputation it increases the risk for women. Q: We have more women in high positions now, though there's a long way to go. We have women running leading business schools. Why does this pattern of discrimination persist? Westphal: For one, intergroup biases are difficult to overcome. They're latent and systematic. Second, the Economist and other business publications devote less attention to this issue than they should, partly because it's not popular with most of their readership. Also, perhaps partly because they are implicated in the social discrimination. The media is part of the system that turns psychological biases into social harm for women leaders in the form of damage to their reputations. Not surprisingly, the media was much more interested in my research on CEO compensation, board independence and CEO influence over security analysts than the research on gender bias that results from CEO influence over journalists. First General Surgeon Commissioned Under Navy's New Medical Initiative Springfield, Illinois - The first General Surgeon to be commissioned under Navy Recruiting Command's new Medical Officer Top 5 initiative was officially sworn into the Navy Reserve August 18. Dr. John Wieland, a general surgeon from Bloomington, Illinois, took the oath of office in front of his family at the Illinois Capitol Building, becoming one of the first physicians to answer the Navy's call for reserve doctors in select medical specialties. "As a practicing general surgeon for almost 25 years, I believe I can make a contribution to the health care of the men and women in the Navy who deserve the highest quality of care available," said Wieland. The Medical Officer Top 5 program was established in February to help fill the shortage of specific medical specialties in the Navy's Reserve Medical Corps. Letters were sent out to medical professionals across the country looking for orthopedic surgeons, general surgeons, anesthesiologists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, and perioperative nurses. "The whole idea of the shortage of surgeons in my specialty really caught my attention and that was really the appeal of the [request] actually, that there was a need," said Wieland. Chief Hospital Corpsman Ariel Ampier, officer recruiter, Navy Recruiting District St. Louis, said the Navy needs more physicians like Wieland to serve. "We're hurting badly and these physicians they're the ones that are going to come out and deploy and support the warfighter," said Ampier a native of Danbury, Connecticut. A special medical VIP team was also established as part of the initiative to provide enhanced service and guidance for qualified physicians and nurses throughout the entire application process. "The Navy has created this program that makes it very painless to follow through on that desire to serve and I can't tell you how many people have thanked me for doing this and I haven't really done anything yet," said Wieland. "There's a tremendous gratitude within the Navy and even in my day-to-day work." Wieland added that joining the Reserve not only fulfilled his desire to give back, but gives him an opportunity to honor his father who served in the Dental Corps from 1953-1955. "I could tell it meant a great deal to him to serve his country," said Wieland. "To this day, at age 87 he lights up when he recounts his experiences in the Navy." Wieland said the entire process has been a humbling experience and he is glad he followed through with his decision to join the military. Compact Gyroscope May Turn Heads Washington, DC - Shrink rays may exist only in science fiction, but similar effects are at work in the real world at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). After successfully miniaturizing both clocks and magnetometers based on the properties of individual atoms, NIST physicists have now turned to precision gyroscopes, which measure rotation. The NIST team has demonstrated a compact atomic gyroscope design that could, with further development, be portable, low power, and accurate enough to be used for navigation. Gyroscopes, traditionally based on mechanical components that spin or vibrate, are common in navigation applications and are increasingly used in consumer electronics such as smartphones. The new NIST device might find uses in applications requiring ultra-precise navigation with extreme size, weight and power limits, such as on spacecraft or submarines. As a bonus, the NIST gyroscope can also simultaneously measure acceleration. A combination gyro/accelerometer enables navigation by dead reckoning, without reference to external landmarks or stars. The NIST gyros glass atom chamber is just 3.5 cubic centimeters in size. The entire experimental setup, including low-power lasers and optics, is currently tabletop sized, but NIST researchers aim to shrink the whole apparatus down to a portable cube about the size of a mini refrigerator. Described in Applied Physics Letters, the NIST gyro is an atom interferometer. It is based on an expanding cloud of laser-cooled atoms, a technique originally demonstrated at Stanford University in a 10-meter-high fountain of atoms. Traditional optical interferometry involves combining or interfering the electromagnetic waves in light and then extracting information about the original light paths from the resulting wave patterns. Similarly, atom interferometerstaking advantage of the fact atoms act as both particles and wavesinterfere these waves to measure the forces on atoms. When atoms speed up or rotate, their matter waves shift and interfere in predictable ways, visible in interference patterns. The heart of the NIST gyroscope is a small glass chamber containing a sample of about 8 million cold rubidium atoms that are trapped and released. While the atoms fall under gravity, a laser beam causes them to transition between two energy states. This process involves absorption and emission of light particles, which gives the atoms momentum and causes their matter waves to separate and later recombine to interfere. The cold atom cloud expands to as much as 5 times its initial size during the 50 millisecond (thousandths of a second) measurement sequence, which creates a correlation between each atom's speed and its final position. Rotations are simulated by tilting a mirror below the chamber. The interference effect on an atom depends on its speed, so rotations generate interfering bands of atoms across images of the final cloud. The atoms are imaged by shining a second, weak laser beam through the cloud. Because atoms in different energy states absorb light of different frequencies, the final energy state of the atoms can be detected. The resulting images show interference bands of atom populations in the two different energy states. The rotation rate and rotation axis are measured by analyzing the spacing and direction of the interference bands across the atom cloud. Acceleration is deduced from changes in the central band. The interferometer is sensitive to acceleration along the direction of the light and sensitive to rotations perpendicular to the light. Usually, a combination gyroscope/accelerometer requires two separate sources of atoms, project leader Elizabeth Donley said. The NIST version gets both signals simultaneously from a single expanding cloud of atoms, an approach that may ultimately lead to dramatically simpler devices. Atomic gyroscopes generate less bias (or signal when not rotating, a type of error) than conventional precision gyroscopes, which use ring lasers. The NIST system is not only smaller but also simpler than other similar atom interferometers. The NIST research group has been working on various mini-gyroscope designs for a decade. In years past, they have fielded interest in mini-gyroscopes for use in locations where satellite navigation is compromised due to unintentional interference or intentional jamming. Paper: G.W. Hoth, B.M.G. Pelle, S. Riedl, J.E. Kitching and E.A. Donley. Point source atom interferometry with a cloud of finite size. Applied Physics Letters, August 19, 2016. DOI: 10.1063/1.4961527 NSF awards $110 million to bring advanced cyberinfrastructure to nations scientists, engineers Washington, DC - Today, the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced a $110 million award to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and 18 partner institutions to continue and expand activities undertaken through the Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment (XSEDE). A virtual organization that has become the cornerstone of the nation's cyberinfrastructure ecosystem, XSEDE, which received initial NSF funding in 2011, accelerates open scientific discovery and broadens participation in advanced computing by lowering the barriers for researchers, engineers and scholars to use and access computing resources. Under the new five-year award, called XSEDE 2.0, the organization will maintain existing services to its large user community and add innovative elements in response to ever-evolving user demands and supporting technologies. "XSEDE 2.0 will continue to expand access to NSF-funded cyberinfrastructure resources and services available to the science and engineering community across the nation," said Irene Qualters, director for the Division of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (ACI) at NSF. "The nation's discovery and innovation enterprise requires a dynamic and highly interoperable ecosystem that can anticipate and respond to new instruments, new computing capabilities, new research communities and new expertise. XSEDE 2.0 is a critical human component in NSF's advanced computing infrastructure strategy, seeking to enable the broad and deep use of computational and data-intensive research to advance knowledge in all fields of study." The project aligns with the objectives of the National Strategic Computing Initiative (NSCI) -- a whole-of-government effort that fosters a coordinated federal strategy in high-performance computing (HPC) research and deployment. NSF serves as one of the initiative's three lead agencies. XSEDE 2.0 supports NSCI's goals. These include holistically expanding the capabilities and capacity of a robust and enduring national HPC ecosystem and contributing the educational and workforce development necessary to prepare current and future researchers and technical experts. Last year, XSEDE provided computational and data services to more than 6,000 scientists, engineers and students. Through its web portal, it supported more than 20,000 users. In the first four years of the project, users acknowledged support by XSEDE and its related computational resources in roughly 14,000 publications. Among these XSEDE-supported studies were efforts that: Confirmed the discovery of gravitational waves. Developed high-resolution maps of the Arctic. Uncovered the structure of HIV. Helped prevent injuries from car accidents. Under the new phase of funding, XSEDE 2.0 will perform a number of critical functions, including: Managing and delivering services for a portfolio of supercomputers and high-end visualization and data analysis resources to address increasingly diverse scientific and engineering challenges. Managing the allocation process by which researchers access advanced computing resources, and continuing to improve and innovate this process in alignment with new research access workflows and new resources. Building on the XSEDE tradition of outstanding user services and engaging a new generation of diverse computational researchers through education, training, outreach activities and by connecting to campus HPC communities to help researchers access local and national resources. Offering extended collaborative support services, which pair XSEDE computational or software engineering experts with domain scientists to strengthen a project or develop a tool needed to advance research. Continuing to operate and improve XSEDE's integrated HPC capability at a national scale, providing a one-stop-shop experience for users across the XSEDE-coordinated cyberinfrastructure ecosystem. For nearly four decades, NSF has supported the nation's scientific community by providing cyberinfrastructure beyond the reach of individual academic institutions, enabling transformative research in such diverse areas as particle physics, cosmology, biology, nanotechnology, ecological modeling, economics and civil engineering. Cyberinfrastructure includes advanced instruments, computing systems, data tools, software, networks and people that collectively improve the research productivity of the nation's computational scientists and engineers. Critically important to this vision of cyberinfrastructure is the dynamic interplay between advanced resources and human developers and users. "As the role of computational and data science in advancing scientific and engineering frontiers has grown, it has produced a significant increase in the demand for supporting infrastructure," said John Towns, executive director for Science and Technology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's National Center for Supercomputing Applications and the principal investigator for XSEDE. "The XSEDE 2.0 project recognizes that investment in physical infrastructure must be complemented by investment in software and human services." Vice President Joe Bidens Meeting with President Raimonds Vejonis of Latvia Washington, DC - The Vice President met with President of the Republic of Latvia Raimonds Vejonis in Riga today. The two leaders welcomed the decisions taken at last months NATO Summit in Warsaw to strengthen security along the Alliances eastern border, and the Vice President emphasized the ironclad U.S. commitment to Article 5 of the Washington Treaty. The Vice President also welcomed the progress Latvia has made in improving its national resilience, including its efforts to liberalize the gas sector, and reduce illegal activity in the banking system. On the Occasion of Ukraine's National Day Washington, DC - Secretary of State John Kerry: "On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I offer my warmest congratulations to the people of Ukraine as you observe the 25th anniversary of your independence on August 24. "During my most recent visit to Kyiv, I was deeply impressed by all you have accomplished in the more than two years since the Revolution of Dignity. Despite Russias aggression in eastern Ukraine and its illegal occupation of Crimea, you have worked steadily to build stronger and more effective political, economic, and cultural institutions. These efforts have required perseverance and sacrifice, for which I applaud you. "Today we mark not just a quarter-century of your independence, but also of the fruitful partnership between our nations based on our shared commitment to freedom and the rule of law. The United States will stand by you as you continue to strengthen your democracy. With our European partners, we will also press for full implementation of the Minsk agreements to end Russian aggression in Donbas and return the international border to Ukrainian control. We remain steadfast in our refusal to recognize Russias attempted annexation of Crimea. "Throughout the past quarter century, the American people have admired the depth of your devotion to liberty and the resilience you have shown in the face of grave challenges. On this special day, we salute you as friends, and wish you a peaceful, prosperous, and productive year to come." Joint Declaration on Increased Security and Defense Cooperation between the United States, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania Washington, DC - On the occasion of Vice President Bidens visit to Latvia, we, the United States of America, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, reaffirm our strategic alliance. Faced with an unpredictable security environment, we commit to deepening our cooperation and our efforts to ensure security and stability in the region, as part of NATOs approach to collective defense. As affirmed at the NATO Summit in Warsaw, the greatest responsibility of the Alliance is to protect and defend our territory and populations, as reflected in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty. NATO has responded to the changed security environment by enhancing its deterrence and defense posture, including through a forward presence in the eastern part of the Alliance. The Baltic States appreciate these steps by NATO, as well as the significant and visible U.S. presence in the region, which has demonstrated our collective solidarity and resolve to protect all Allies. The United States, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania affirm that we must keep our Alliance strong. Building on the commitments made at the Warsaw Summit to invest in robust, flexible, and interoperable military capabilities, and taking into account the successful example of joint security cooperation since 1993 under the State Partnership Program, the United States, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania intend to reinforce and deepen our defense cooperation to promote regional security. Building national resilience including bolstering our ability to defend against hybrid and cyber threats, improving civil preparedness, and enhancing protection of critical infrastructure is an essential element of collective defense. Therefore, we affirm that we must focus on aligning U.S. security assistance and deterrence measures, including the U.S. European Reassurance Initiative, and continued significant investments by the Baltic States in order to ensure that our mutual investments will effectively support NATOs deterrence and collective defense, as well as promote national and regional security and resilience. Furthermore, the Baltic States reconfirm their commitment to allocate the necessary budgetary resources for defense spending. The United States, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania plan to meet regularly to discuss key common and individual defense and security priorities, focusing on land, air and maritime defense; border security; law enforcement; national resilience; and transnational threats, with the aim to improve intra- and intergovernmental coordination and create regional efficiencies. The United States, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania also intend to continue to explore areas for enhanced joint and regional cooperation in other security and resilience fields -- such as cyber defense, energy security, and critical infrastructure protection -- in existing and relevant fora. This cooperation is intended to strengthen NATO and promote regional cooperation, stability, and security. By improving our ability to address conventional and unconventional threats, including hybrid threats, our cooperation will enhance individual and collective defense and national resilience, as well as uphold our collective efforts towards a Europe whole, free, prosperous, and at peace. 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! In Tamil Nadu, Minor Girls Head Goes Missing Days After Burial; Witchcraft Suspected 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 }} Quantifying somebody's fandom is an impossible task but we now know that David Hasselhoff thinks he has enough to fill a cruise liner. This isn't just any cruise liner, though; no, this is the Costa Favolosa, a ship that's been rebranded The Official World Fan Cruise in celebration of the former Baywatch actor and it sets sail on 4 November from Savona, Italy filled with - you guessed it - die hard David Hasselhoff fans. The six-day event will take passengers across the high seas to Spain and France before returning to Italy. What's the point of this expedition, one might ask. Well, The Hoff - who will be on board for the event's entirety - has revealed all. "Thanks to my fans around the world I can look back on an exceptional career in show business and there is much more to come! It is high time to give back the gratitude and fun that you bring me every day. "I cordially invite you to this unique fan event with GEO Reisen: 'David Hasselhoff The Official World Fan Cruise," he writes, making us at once wonder what an unofficial David Hasselhoff fan cruise would look like. "I am looking forward to [cruising] the Mediterranean Sea on the Costa Favolosa along with my fans from Europe, the Americas, Africa and Australia!" he explains on checkintoevents.com. It makes you wonder what an unofficial David Hasselhoff world fan cruise consists of. Prices begin at 699 (596) and go as high as 899 (766). There's even an exclusive fan package which will provide fans with a ticket to an autograph session and tickets to a Hoff concert. This would have made a tiny bit more sense had he been promoting Sharknado 3, the 2015 TV film he described as "the worst movie you've ever seen." 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 }} When comic-book adaptations change the race of a character, it often courses controversy online. A certain section of the Marvel fan base was outraged when Michael B Jordan was cast as the Human Torch in Fantastic Four, the same who were angered by Idris Elba playing Heimdall in Thor. Now, with the reported casting of Zendaya - best known for her roles in various Disney channel shows - as Peter Parkers love interest, Mary Jane, in Spider-Man: Homecoming, the same people are angry once more. Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn recently spoke out against the backlash, reasoning that race is not a factor in casting, acting credentials are. Now Stan Lee, the man who created various Marvel characters including Mary Jane, has also weighed into the discussion, saying he believes Zendaya will be absolutely wonderful in the role. 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 If she is as good an actress as I hear she is, I think itll be absolutely wonderful, Lee told the Toronto Sun. In the Daredevil movie [starring Ben Affleck], the Kingpin who had been white in the comics he was a black man [Michael Clarke Duncan] playing the role, and he played it beautifully. He continued: Perhaps we can be open to the idea that, although someone may not initially match how we personally conceive a character, we can be and often are happily surprised. The colour of their skin doesnt matter, their religion doesnt matter. All that matters is that this the right person for the role. There you have it; the Godfather of Marvel comics has given his blessing on the casting. Cant really argue with that, can you? Meanwhile, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige recently detailed how Spider-Man: Homecoming will likely be inspired by the Harry Potter series. 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 }} War Dogs Dir: Todd Phillips, 120 mins, starring Jonah Hill, Miles Teller, Ana De Amas, Bradley Cooper War Dogs are the bottom feeders in the international arms business who, thanks to tweaks in the law during the George W Bush era, were able to make fortunes by supplying weapons to the Pentagon. Two of these opportunists are twentysomething college dropout David (Miles Teller) and his unscrupulous childhood friend Ephraim (Jonah Hill). From their base in Miami, using website FedBizOpps (an eBay for war, as it is characterised) they somehow land a contract to supply berettas to the US army in Baghdad. The film, adapted from a Rolling Stone article, is based on a true story. You can see what writer-director Phillips is trying to achieve here. He wants to make a movie with the same grandiose sweep as Lord Of War (in which Nicolas Cage played an arms dealer) and with the hedonistic excess that characterised The Wolf Of Wall Street or his own Hangover comedies. The problem is that the material is too sketchy to support such a vision. War Dogs - Trailer There is certainly comic value in the way the two weed-smoking Miami-based friends somehow turn themselves briefly into players in the international arms business. Phillips tells their story with plenty of gonzo-style zest. The friends make a hair-raising foray to Baghdad via Jordan to ensure one consignment of guns is delivered to its purchaser and also travel to Albania to find supplies for another massive order. Hill is in rambunctious form as the obnoxious entrepreneur who has chutzpah in droves. Teller's character is supposedly anti-war but, with a pregnant girlfriend and a dead-end job as a male masseuse, he is very quick to swallow his scruples. Neither has the remotest interest in any of the political or moral questions that their unsavoury business raise. They don't even bother to pay their Albanian workers. They're out for money and excitement. Just occasionally, for example when David is beaten up by Albanian gangsters, real life violence intrudes but, generally, arms dealing here is portrayed as a lark - the perfect gap year job. Bradley Cooper, also an executive producer, has a cameo as Henry Girard, an enigmatic arms trader. Girard is shadowy, very powerful, perhaps with terrorist connections. His role isnt properly fleshed out. Hes a Mephistophelian character who represents the dark and alluring future the boys might carve out for themselves, just as long as theyre prepared to sacrifice their principles altogether. Its typical of the muddled moral perspective here that he is probably the most appealing character in the movie. The Purge: Election Year Dir: James DeMonaco, 111 mins, starring: Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell, Mykelti Williamson, Joseph Julian Soria The latest Purge movie has an obvious topical relevance. It is set during a US Presidential election. You can just about see candidate Senator Charlie Roan (Elizabeth Mitchell) as a Hilary Clinton type. A purge survivor herself, she is standing for office on the promise that she will scrap purges if elected. She knows that low-income families are far more likely to be slaughtered than the privileged white elite (who still hold power). That's why the arch-conservative New Founding Fathers, who control Washington, are so keen to see her silenced and hatch a plan to have her killed during purge night. Writer-director DeMonaco does his best to freshen up the franchise he created. However, once the hooter goes and the 12 hours of state-sanctioned mayhem and criminality begins, the mix is very much as before. There are the hunters and the hunted. Leo Barnes (Frank Grillo) is Roans head of security, trying to keep her alive on the Washington streets. Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up The Purge: Election Year - Trailer 2 Along with the usual crazed vigilantes, they have government soldiers pursuing them, using drones and helicopters. Gun-wielding American everyman Joe (Mykelti Williamson) and his Mexican employee Marcos (Soria) stand up for her in her hour of need. In its better moments, the film has the urgency of old John Carpenter thrillers such as Escape From New York and Assault On Precinct 13. DeMonaco serves up plenty of chases, shoot-outs and gory killings but, amid all the mayhem, he soon loses sight of the political subtext. In the end, this Purge is little different from the last one. Dir: Tod Williams, 93 mins, starring: John Cusack, Samuel L Jackson This surprisingly clunky Stephen King adaptation starts badly and goes downhill. Clay Riddell (Cusack), a graphic novelist who feels guilty that he hasnt seen his wife and son in many months, is at Boston airport waiting for a flight. All of a sudden, everyone around him using a mobile phone turns into a raving, frothing, head banging, murderous zombie. Clay flees in the company of subway train driver Tom McCourt (Samuel L Jackson in listless form). They hide out in Clays apartment and then head across country with Clays young upstairs neighbour Alice for company. It doesnt help that the zombies (or phoners as theyre called), move in unison like glorified Morris dancers when theyre on the rampage. Cell - Official Trailer Theres no competitiveness, no selfishness. In fact, they may be the next stage of human evolution, old schoolmaster Stacy Keach helpfully explains the group behaviour of the phoners. The survivors are prey to terrible dreams and it becomes increasingly difficult to tell who is human and who is a contaminated phoner. There are some intriguing ideas here but in its execution, the film is as laughable as it is frightening or provocative. 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 }} Former guitarist of The Clash Mick Jones has curated a new music event Krug Island. Hotly tipped band Rationale, endorsed by the likes of Pharrell Williams, Elton John and Annie Mac, Hollie Cook, daughter of Sex Pistols drummer Paul, Liverpools Sugarmen, who have supported Blur, The Who and Paul Weller, and folk-blues musician Willow Robinson, will head from London to Osea Island on 1 September for the Krug Champagne evening of music, food and bubbly. Osea can only be accessed for an hour each day at dawn and dusk, so guests will be truly immersed for the duration. We talked to Jones about his experience curating the event, his work mentoring young acts and the songwriting chemistry he had with Clash frontman Joe Strummer. Tell me about the mentoring work you do with young bands and the acts you've picked for Krug Island. I have a studio where I work in North Acton. Im around in the studio most of the time and theres usually someone in there. Its a lovely little set up [I've had] for over 20 years now. A lot of groups come in and I help them if I can just by providing the environment. The most important thing in music is trying to find out what youre about and once you find that out you can do it. But nobody seems to know when theyre younger and so you have to try and help them. A lot of groups go there; Hollie Cook works there with another band shes involved with (not her own) and Sugarmen Ive worked with at Paul Wellers studio at Woking. A bunch of groups are going to the island and are going to make a record. Theres a recording studio - thats what Im interested in especially. I want to record the actual sounds of the river and mix it. Do you look back on your songwriting partnership with Joe Strummer and that special songwriting chemistry you had? I look back on some of the stuff Joe wrote then and I didnt realise the meaning of it until now. Everything in his writing had meaning which is so rare these days. And so it would be impossible [to recreate that songwriting chemistry] and I did have other people I wrote with afterwards with, but It was one of those Rodgers and Hart [partnerships]. It was incredible we were so lucky to find each other at that time and we were able to produce such a lot in such a short time and then we couldnt do anything else after that because it was too big and it was impossible. It was such a moment. We just wrote and it was of the time. How did the songwriting work between you? We didnt know what we were doing, it just came out. That still happens in terms of composing; it comes from up there. I love the blank page, writing the blank canvas when theres nothing there and then theres something there and no one knows where it came from. And I love that. You have to be in the right frame of mind to receive it. 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 We would sit at the typewriter. I had the guitar at the other side of the table and hed bang it out. Hed sit and type the lyrics and hand them over and then hed give me the page and the tune would already be there. Seriously; the tune came out. Its incredible and so spooky. And when you got to know his writing, hed write a couple of lines up the side that hed think would make a good chorus. Usually it jumped out the page. Was your 2013 box set really the final Clash release? I said that. The others didnt! [laughs]. I dont know. I said thats it for me. We were different to everyone else. Everyone else does outtakes. We did complete recorded works and then we remastered everything so it was actually the real thing not all the different bits. Im sure we would have spoilt it by now if we did that and kept it going. It has meaning and theres not that much meaning in things anymore. In fact one of the things we have to do with our music is try and stop it becoming meaningless like everything else, by negative associations. Are you still friends with the remaining members of the band? Yes, the surviving members. We soon became friends after the group split up. That was one thing that was really good about the break up was getting back together again we never got back together as a group, but we became better friends in a way afterwards. But we didnt go and spoil it like most people would do. We were lucky enough not to have to. It never seemed like the right moment to do that so we never did. Although some other groups did it instead. Who would you like most to work with? Jerry Dammers who I love. He has a Sun Ra-type orchestra when he can afford to and can. Hes really great. Hes a contemporary. I bumped into him the other day. It would be nice to do something. Most of the people I like are not around anymore sadly. I really loved Gil Scott Heron, especially that Reflections album. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts 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 IndyArts email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Each new series of BBC procedural series Line of Duty focuses on a fresh anti-corruption investigation placing the spotlight on a new suspected character. Previous characters to have clashed with AC-12 include Lennie James' DCI Tony Gates, Keeley Hawes' DI Lindsay Denton and Sgt. Danny Waldron (Daniel Mays). The actor tasked with playing the suspect in the drama's fourth series has been named as Thandie Newton; she will play Roz Huntley, a DCI who - when episode one begins - finds herself in the middle of a career-defining case. The women who could play Bond Show all 21 1 /21 The women who could play Bond The women who could play Bond Olivia Colman Getty The women who could play Bond Carey Mulligan 2015 Slaven Vlasic The women who could play Bond Emily Blunt 2016 Getty Images The women who could play Bond Felicity Jones 2014 Getty Images The women who could play Bond Gemma Arterton 2014 David M. Benett The women who could play Bond Gillian Anderson Getty Images The women who could play Bond Gugu Mbatha-Raw 2014 Gabriel Olsen The women who could play Bond Hayley Atwell Getty Images The women who could play Bond Imogen Poots GC Images The women who could play Bond Kate Beckinsale 2010 Getty Images The women who could play Bond Kate Winslet 2015 Getty Images The women who could play Bond Keeley Hawes 2014 Danny Martindale The women who could play Bond Michelle Dockery WireImage The women who could play Bond Naomie Harris UK Press via Getty Images The women who could play Bond Olivia Colman 2015 Getty Images The women who could play Bond Rachel Weisz WireImage The women who could play Bond Rebecca Hall FilmMagic The women who could play Bond Rosamund Pike UK Press via Getty Images The women who could play Bond Sienna Miller WireImage The women who could play Bond Thandie Newton 2015 Jon Kopaloff The women who could play Bond Vicky McClure 2015 Getty Images Speaking about her appointment, Newton - who will next be seen in HBO series Westworld - said: "I watched the last three seasons of Line of Duty with breathless admiration for its creators, both behind and in front of the camera. I couldn't be more thrilled to be joining them now." Returning to the series are Martin Compston as DS Steve Arnott, Vicky McClure as DC Kate Fleming and Adrian Dunbar as Superintendant Ted Hastings. Joining the cast alongside Newton are Jason Watkins, Lee Ingleby and Royce Pierrson. Upon its debut in 2012, Line of Duty - created by Jed Mercurio - became BBC Two's most-watched original drama in ten years. The channel handed it a further two series following a critically successful second run - with another two commissioned to air on BBC One. Filming on series 4 begins in Belfast next week with an expected air date of 2018. Mercurio is also working on Bodyguard, a new BBC series about a volatile war veteran. 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 woman has been killed after being stabbed at a hostel in Australia by man who allegedly shouted Allahu Akbar during the attack. A 30-year-old British man is also in a critical condition following the attack at the Shelly's Backpackers in the town of Home Hill in Queensland at around 11:15pm local time on Tuesday, police said. Queensland Police Service said up to 30 people witnessed the senseless act of violence at a room in the hostel. A 29-year-old French national was arrested at the scene and taken into custody. He was then transferred to hospital for treatment for non-life threatening injuries. Police said the man had no known links to Isis and appeared to have acted alone. The woman, who has been named locally as Mia Ayliffe-Chung, was found dead at the scene and the British man was rushed to hospital in a critical condition. She had arrived in the area around 10 days earlier with the hope of finding work as a fruit picker nearby to fulfil the requirements of her visa. Mia Ayliffe-Chung had been working on a fruit farm to fulfill the requirements of her visa (Facebook) The 21-year-old, who was originally from Chesterfield in Derbyshire, had previously been working as a waitress at a nightclub in the Surfers Paradise suburb of Gold Coast, newspaper the Gold Coast Bulletin reported. A 46-year-old Australian man, who attempted to intervene, was also stabbed in the leg but his injuries were not deemed to be life threatening and he has since been released from hospital. In a press conference, deputy police commissioner Steve Gollschewski said the investigation was in its early stages and all motivations were being considered, including criminal and political, as well as the impact of drugs and mental health issues. Forensic officers at the hostel in Queensland (Rex) (Rex Features) He said: Initial inquiries indicate that comments which may be construed as being of an extremist nature were made by the alleged offender. It is alleged that the suspect used the phrase Allahu Akbar during the attack and when arrested by police. Detective superintendent Ray Rohweder from the Queensland Police Service said officers were confronted with a terrible scene when they arrived. He said the families of both victims had been contacted with the help of the British consulate and said the officers thoughts and condolences were with them. Police have refused to release information on how long the victims had been in the country or whether they knew each but other but did confirm they had been staying at the accommodation. Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Show all 9 1 /9 Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Policemen outside Rouen's cathedral during the funeral of Jacques Hamel, the priest who was killed in a church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray in Normandy on 26 July during a hostage-taking claimed by Islamic State group Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Two jihadists, both 19, slit Hamel's throat while he was celebrating mass in an attack that shocked France as well as the Catholic Church Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Muslims place flowers and hold a minute of silence in front of the church if Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, western France, where French priest Jacques Hamel was killed on 26 July Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Two people hold each other by the new makeshift memorial in Nice, in tribute to the victims of the deadly Bastille Day attack at the Promenade des Anglais Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the truck attack that killed 84 people in Nice on France's national holiday. Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, 31, smashed a 19-tonne truck into a packed crowd of people in the Riviera city celebrating Bastille Day Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Police work at a site where a Syrian migrant set off an explosive device in Ansbach, southern Germany, on 25 July, killing himself and wounding a dozen others Daniel Roland/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis A Syrian migrant set off an explosion at a bar in southern Germany that killed himself and wounded a dozen others in the third attack to hit Bavaria in a week. The 27-year-old, who had spent a stint in a psychiatric facility, had intended to target a music festival in the city of Ansbach but was turned away because he did not have a ticket Friebe/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Police officers walk along train tracks in Wuerzburg southern Germany on 19 July, a day after a man attacked train passengers with an axe. German authorities said they had found a hand-painted IS flag among the belongings of the man, an asylum seeker from Afghanistan, who seriously injured four members of a family of tourists from Hong Kong in his rampage Daniel Roland/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis German police killed a teenage assailant after he attacked passengers on a train in Wuerzburg, southerg Germany with an axe and a knife on 18 July, seriously wounding three people Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/AFP/Getty Images The man taken into custody is a visitor to Australia who has been in the country since around March on a temporary visa and has no known local connections, Mr Gollschewski said. He said they were still trying to find out what he has been doing in the country since his arrival but he was not known to police before the attack. The police said they are not searching for anyone else in relation to the incident, which also killed a police dog, and there is no known ongoing threat to the community. Mr Gollschewski added: This is not about race or religion. It is individual criminal behaviour. Queensland Police called the attack a "senseless act of violence" and said they were investigating with the help of the Australian Federal Police. The country's Border Force are also involved in the investigation. A British Foreign Office spokesman said: We are working with local authorities and providing support to the families of a British national who was killed and another critically injured in an incident in Australia. Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time. Queensland MP, George Christensen, said the incident demonstrated a need to tighten border screening to stop violent radical Islamists from setting foot on shores. The victim had only been in the area for 10 days at the time of the attack (Facebook) The British high commissioner to Australia Menna Rawlings boarded a flight to Townsville after reports of the incident emerged. A spokeswoman for the British High Commission in Canberra said: We are working with local authorities and providing support to the families after one British national was killed and another critically injured in an incident in Australia. Our thoughts are with the families at this difficult time. High Commission staff have deployed to Townsville and we remain in close contact with local authorities. 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 }} Former BHS boss Dominic Chapell has been banned from driving for six months for speeding. Chappell told a court he would struggle to afford taxis to London to face the three investigations he is currently under for the collapse of BHS. He added: "I have only once taken the train to London and was in one of the carriages and two people I didn't know came over and started making quite strong language and suggestions." The 49-year-old was driving a green Range Rover on Churchill Way, Andover, when police clocked him driving at an average speed of 63.9mph in a 40mph zone at 8.47pm on 6 April. After being pulled over, Chappell told the police: This will cost me 25,000. I've been driving since I was 18 and have never had an accident. I drive an average of 35,000 miles a year and I used to be a race car driver. Chappell was disqualified from driving for six months at Aldershot Magistrates Court on Tuesday. He pleaded guilty to the offence and was given six points on his licence to add to the 10 he had received for other offences in 2013, 2014 and 2015. He was also fined 665 and ordered to pay 150 in costs. Three-times bankrupt Chappell, who bought the ailing retail chain for 1, said it would be a stretch to pay for a chauffeur, but also declared an income of over 250,000 per year. Speaking after the hearing, he said: I have been disqualified for six months. I respect the court's decision. I was speeding and shouldn't have been, and that's what happened. I am sorry for that. BHS CEO on Chappell threats The former Formula Three driver made headlines when he told a Commons Select Committee that the 2.6m he extracted from BHS had not contributed to its downfall. The 80 year-old high street name, which will finally close its doors this week, was forced into administration, leaving 11,000 people out of work and a 571m pension fund black hole. The pension scheme may require a bailout from the Pension Protection Fund. Sir Philip Green tells Sky News cameraman 'that's going in the f****ng sea' Retail magnate Sir Philip Green, who sold BHS to Chappell, has come under intense fire for paying himself and his family more than 580m in dividends, rental payments and interest from BHS to fund his lavish lifestyle. A damning report from MPs said the billionaire left the company on life support before handing it over to Chappell, who had no retail experience. Last week, Green threatened to throw a TV news camera in the f***ing sea after being questioned by reporters about BHSs collapse while holidaying on his 100m yacht. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight 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 Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Sir Martin Sorrell, chief executive of the worlds largest advertising group WPP, said the Government needs to get on with Brexit and start dealing with the details surrounding Britains decision to leave the EU. Sir Martin, who firmly campaigned for the Remain camp, said the process of leaving the EU will be long and uncertain as UK businesses and the Government disagree over the strategy to adapt. British business wants certainty and resolution while the Government wants to string it out," he told the Evening Standard. Recommended Read more WPP boss Sir Martin Sorrell demands Government get on with Brexit The process around Article 50 and withdrawal will last a long time when, from a business point of view, people want it to be done quickly, he added. Despite his comments WPP seems to have felt little of the negative impact of the Brexit vote. The advertising group reported better-than-expected first half results with revenues jumping 11.9 per cent to 6.5bn and headline profits up 16 per cent at 690m. WPP also revised its growth forecasts revenues up from over 3 per cent to well over 3 per cent. Sir Martin accepted that the results were very strong but said that WPP had to grind them out in a difficult environment. Brexit reactions in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Brexit reactions in pictures Brexit reactions in pictures Supporters of the Stronger In campaign look at their phones after hearing results in the EU referendum at London's Royal Festival Hall AP Brexit reactions in pictures Leave supporters cheer results at a Leave.eu party after polling stations closed in the Referendum on the European Union in London Reuters Brexit reactions in pictures Mr Cameron announces his resignation to supporters Getty Brexit reactions in pictures Donald Tusk proposes that the 27 remaining EU member states start a wider reflection on the future of our union Getty Brexit reactions in pictures Ukip leader Nigel Farage greets his supporters on College Green in Westminster, after Britain voted to leave the European Union PA Brexit reactions in pictures Supporters of the Stronger In Campaign react as referendum results are announced today Getty Brexit reactions in pictures Boris Johnson leaves his home today to discover a crowd of waiting journalists and police officers Getty Brexit reactions in pictures Leave EU supporters celebrate as they watch the British EU Referendum results being televised at Millbank Tower in London Rex Brexit reactions in pictures Supporters of the Stronger In Campaign react as results of the EU referendum are announced at the Royal Festival Hall Reuters Brexit reactions in pictures Supporters of the Stronger In campaign react after hearing results in the EU referendum at London's Royal Festival Hall PA He suggested results might have been even stronger without the referendum. WPPs strong results send the companys shares up by more than 5 per cent to an all-time high on Wednesday. The companys shares have climbed 50 per cent from their post-Brexit vote low. A third of shareholders rebelled against Sir Martin's 70.4m pay package, by voting against WPP's remuneration policy at an annual meeting in June Sir Martin, currently the best paid CEO out of the biggest 100 British companies in the FTSE 100, previously said "if WPP does well I do well". Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight 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 Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Scotlands revenues from North Sea oil have collapsed by 97 per cent in the past year as oil prices have plummeted, reigniting a fierce debate over whether an independent Scotland could finance itself. Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: The nationalists' case for independence has been swallowed up by a 14bn black hole. Taxes collected from oil production fell from 1.8bn in 2015 to just 60m in 2016. The gap between tax revenues and what Scotland spends is now 9.5 per cent, or 14.8bn, compared to a 4 per cent deficit for the UK as a whole. Recommended Read more Salmond lays out prompt timescale for second independence vote Scotlands public sector now spends 12,800 per person, but collects just 10,000 each, the figures reveal. In 2008-9, as oil peaked at almost $150 per barrel, the Scottish government brought in a record 11.6bn from North Sea fields. North Sea Brent crude, which is expensive to extract, now languishes at less than $50 amid a glut of middle eastern supply and a slowdown in global demand. The figures re-ignited the debate over Scottish independence, with fierce disagreement over the viability of using Scotlands oil revenues to finance public spending. Nicola Sturgeon, Scotlands First Minister denied that the deficit represented a serious problem. The foundations of our economy remain strong, she said. The lower oil price has, of course, reduced offshore revenues, with a corresponding impact on our fiscal position - this underlines the fact that Scotland's challenge is to continue to grow our onshore economy. However, Scotland's long-term economic success is now being directly threatened by the likely impact of Brexit. Today's figures come a day after analysis from the Scottish Government showed that taking Scotland out of the European Union and our place in the world's biggest single market would make the task of growing and diversifying the Scottish economy even harder. Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said: Today's figures should act as a reality check for those calling for another independence referendum. Patrick Harvie, Scottish Greens finance spokesman, said: These figures will inevitably set off another round of empty rhetoric, just as they do every year, between those who think the SNP can do no wrong and those who think Scotland can never aspire to govern itself. In truth, the figures show what has been clear for years - that a strong future for Scotland's economy will depend on ending our reliance on oil and gas, and investing in the industries of the 21st century instead. Nicola Sturgeon Still Not Prepared to 'Rubber Stamp' Brexit Scotland's Finance Secretary Derek Mackay said: It is important to note that [the figures represent] Scotland's fiscal position under the current constitutional arrangements. The position if Scotland was to become independent would depend on a range of factors which are not reflected in this publication. Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Murdo Fraser said: Today's analysis simply confirms the fact that Scotland benefits massively from being a member of the United Kingdom. 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. This union dividend amounted to 1,600 for every man, woman and child last year, according to these figures. In recent days we have seen the First Minister fear-mongering over the UK's decision to leave the EU in the hope she can hide the flaws in her own separation plan. It is time she acted like a proper First Minister, ended her unwanted plan to take us back to another toxic referendum, and allowed Scotland to move on. 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 }} Sir Antony Jay became one of the pioneers of television current affairs when he joined the BBCs Tonight programme in the 1950s before taking his communication skills to Video Arts, the company he founded with comedy actor John Cleese two decades later to revolutionise training films. But his greatest legacy is Yes Minister (1980-84) and its successor, Yes, Prime Minister (1986-8), the satirical sitcoms he wrote with Jonathan Lynn that gave a disconcertingly real insight into the machinations of government and the power of Whitehall civil servants. The newly promoted Minister of Administrative Affairs, Jim Hacker (played by Paul Eddington), was the idealistic MP seen trying to shake up his department with Churchillian zest while meeting firm opposition from the Permanent Under-Secretary, Sir Humphrey Appleby (Nigel Hawthorne), doggedly blocking change and speaking in long, incomprehensible sentences. Bernard Woolley (Derek Fowlds) acted the Private Secretary trying to reconcile the pair. By the time Hacker became Prime Minister, Jay and Lynn had revealed him to be a Conservative. Margaret Thatcher, then the nations real Prime Minister, declared herself a fan of the sitcom. Its closely observed portrayal of what goes on in the corridors of power has given me hours or pure joy, she said. Right-wing Jay met his left-wing co-creator Lynn while they were writing short films for Video Arts that brought humour to businesses staff training. The most famous was Meetings, Bloody Meetings (1976), which Jay scripted with Cleese, who starred in it with Robert Hardy and Timothy West. Jay and Lynn devised Yes Minister to highlight parliamentary hypocrisy after recalling the case of Sir Frank Soskice, a Labour MP who in 1962 helped to start a petition to grant wrongly executed Timothy Evans a posthumous pardon, then as Home Secretary three years later rejected any new investigation. Both Cambridge graduates, they also recalled the characters of those studying alongside them who had political ambitions. Using material from The Crossman Diaries and deep throat sources in Whitehall, they wrote a pilot episode. The BBC commissioned a first series but shelved it until after the 1979 general election. Every script was checked for authenticity by Marcia Falkender, who had famously been Harold Wilsons secretary when he was Labour Prime Minister. While writing, Jay would imagine himself as Sir Humphrey and Lynn took the role of Hacker. Some scripts proved chillingly topical, such as Hacker falling out with his Defence Secretary in an episode screened on the same day that Michael Heseltine resigned from that real-life post. The programmes, which won Jay and Lynn a Bafta Writers Award in 1988, were sold to almost 50 countries, 16 Yes Minister scripts were adapted by Pete Atkin for two BBC radio series (1983-4) and Jay and Lynns West End stage version of Yes, Prime Minister (Apollo and Gielgud Theatres, 2010-11), starring Robert Daws and Michael Simkins as Hacker and Sir Humphrey, was followed by a 2013 television revival with David Haig and Henry Goodman in the roles. Topically, the series had Hacker leading a coalition government. Paul Eddington (left) as Jim Hacker and Derek Fowlds as Bernard Woolley (BBC) Jay was born in London, the son of Ernest, an actor, and his wife, Catherine (nee Hay), and educated at St Pauls School. He gained a first-class honours degree in classics and comparative philology from Magdalene College, Cambridge (1949-52), where he edited the college magazine and was a contemporary of future Conservative cabinet ministers Douglas Hurd, John Biffen, Norman St John-Stevas and Cecil Parkinson. (In 2001, he was made an honorary fellow of Magdalene College.) Following national service in the Royal Signals (1952-4) and reaching the rank of second lieutenant, he joined the BBC in 1955. Two years later, he became an assistant film editor on the newly launched, five-evenings-a-week Tonight, which mixed serious and light items. As well as introducing an informal style to news and current affairs, it aimed to make politicians accountable. Presenter Cliff Michelmore and reporters Alan Whicker, Fyfe Robertson, Kenneth Allsop, Julian Pettifer and Brian Redhead became household names. Jay was appointed the programmes assistant producer (1959), producer (1959-60), associate producer (1960-2) and editor (1962-3), then the BBCs head of television talk features (1963-4). He later described his outlook during those years as a card-carrying media liberal, when he was among a post-war generation looking to leave behind years of austerity and deference to politicians. In 1964, Jay left the BBC to freelance. Having been a writer of the ground-breaking satirical show That Was the Week That Was (1962-3), presented by David Frost, he acted as a consultant and contributed sketches to The Frost Programme (1966-7, 1973), Frost on Friday (1968) and Frost on Saturday (1968-9). He wrote the commentaries for the television documentaries Royal Family (1969) and Elizabeth R (1992), which gave rare behind-the-scenes glimpses of the Queen. This led Jay to be appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) for personal services to the Royal Family. He was also series editor of A Prime Minister on Prime Ministers (1977-8), featuring Harold Wilsons assessments of 12 of his predecessors Notable deaths in 2016 Show all 42 1 /42 Notable deaths in 2016 Notable deaths in 2016 Debbie Reynolds was an American actress, singer, businesswoman, film historian, and humanitarian. She died on December 28 in Los Angeles Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Actress Carrie Fisher died on December 27 aged 60 Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Comedian and Actor Ricky Harris died on December 26 aged 54 Rex Notable deaths in 2016 British singer George Michael died on 25 December aged 53 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Rick Parfitt OBE was an English musician, best known for being a singer, songwriter and rhythm guitarist in the rock band Status Quo. He died on December 24 in Marbella, Spain Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Lord Jenkin of Roding died at the age of 90 on the 21 December PA wire Notable deaths in 2016 Rabbi Lionel Blue died on the 19 December Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Zsa Zsa Gabor died on December 18 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Leonard Cohen died on 7 November Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Grand secretary of the Orange Order Drew Nelson died on 10 October aged 60 after a short illness PA Notable deaths in 2016 Aaron Pryor, the relentless junior welterweight died Sunday, Oct. 9, at the age of 60 at his home in Cincinnati after a long battle with heart disease AP Notable deaths in 2016 Polish Director Andrzej Wajda died on October 9, aged 90 Reuters Notable deaths in 2016 Stylianos Pattakos has died following a stroke on 8th October. He was 103 years old. AP Notable deaths in 2016 Dickie Jeeps, was an English rugby union player who played for Northampton. He represented and captained both the England national rugby union team and the British Lions in the 1950s and 1960s. He died on 8th October. He was 84 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Duke of Westminster Billionaire landowner the Duke of Westminster, Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor has died on 9 August, aged 64 Rex Features Notable deaths in 2016 Christina Knudsen Sir Roger Moores stepdaughter Christina Knudsen has died from cancer on 25 July at teh age of 47 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Caroline Aherne The actress Caroline Aherne has died from cancer on 2 July at the age of 52 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Christina Grimmie Christina Grimmie, 22, who was an American singer and songwriter, known for her participation in the NBC singing competition The Voice, was signing autographs at a concert venue in Orlando on 10 June when an assailant shot her. Grimmie was transported to a local hospital where she died from her wounds on 11 June Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Kimbo Slice Former UFC and Bellator MMA fighter Kimbo Slice died after being admitted to hospital in Florida on 6 June, aged 42 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Muhammad Ali The three-time former heavyweight world champion died after being admitted to hospital with a respiratory illness on 3 June, aged 74 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Sally Brampton Brampton who was the launch editor of the UK edition of Elle magazine has died on 10 May, aged 60 Grant Triplow/REX/Shutterstock Notable deaths in 2016 Billy Paul The soul singer Billy Paul, who was best known for his single Me and Mrs Jones, has died on 24 April, aged 81 Noel Vasquez/Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Prince Prince, the legendary musician, has been found dead at his Paisley Park recording studio on 21 April. He was 57 Notable deaths in 2016 Chyna WWE icon Joan Laurer dies aged 45 after being found at California home on 20 April Notable deaths in 2016 Victoria Wood The five-time Bafta-winning actress and comedian Victoria Wood has died on 20 April at her London home after a short illness with cancer. She was 62 Notable deaths in 2016 David Gest The entertainer and former husband of Liza Minnelli, David Gest has been found dead on 12 April in the Four Seasons hotel in Canary Warf, London. He was 62-years-old PA Notable deaths in 2016 Denise Robertson Denise Robertson, an agony aunt on This Morning for over 30 years, has died on 1 April, aged 83 Notable deaths in 2016 Zaha Hadid Dame Zaha Hadid, the prominent architect best known for designs such as the London Olympic Aquatic Centre and the Guangzhou Opera House, has died of a heart attack on 31 March, aged 65 2010 AFP Notable deaths in 2016 Ronnie Corbett British entertainer Ronnie Corbett has passed away on 31 March at the age of 85 2014 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Imre Kertesz Hungarian writer and Holocaust survivor Imre Kertesz, who won the 2002 Nobel Literature Prize, has died on 31 March, at the age of 86 REUTERS Notable deaths in 2016 Rob Ford Rob Ford, the former controversial mayor of Toronto, has died following a battle with a rare form of cancer. The 46-year-old passed away at the Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto on 22 March Notable deaths in 2016 Joey Feek Joey (left) passed away in March after a two-year cancer illness. She was part of country music duo, Joey + Rory, with her husband Rory (right) Jason Merritt/Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Umberto Eco Italian writer and philosopher Umberto Eco died 19 February 2016 aged 84 EPA Notable deaths in 2016 Harper Lee Harper Lee, the American novelist known for writing 'To Kill a Mockingbird', died February 19, 2016 aged 89 2005 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Vanity Vanity, pictured performing in 1983, died aged 57 REX Features Notable deaths in 2016 Dave Mirra The BMX legend's body found inside truck with gunshot wound after apparent suicide aged 41 Notable deaths in 2016 Harry Harpham The former miner became Sheffield Labour MP in May after many years as a local councillor. He died after succumbing to cancer, at the age of 61. Notable deaths in 2016 Dale Griffin The Mott the Hoople drummer died on January 17, aged 67 REX Notable deaths in 2016 Rene Angelil Celine Dion's husband and manager Rene Angelil has lost his battle with cancer on 14 January, aged 73 2011 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Alan Rickman Legendary actor Alan Rickman has died on 14 January at the age of 69 after battle with pancreatic cancer. He is largely regarded as one of the most beloved British actors of our generation with roles in Love Actually, Die Hard, Michael Collins, and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and an illustrious stage career 2015 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Maurice White The Earth, Wind & Fire founder died aged 74. The nine-piece band sold more than 90 million albums worldwide and won six Grammy awards Notable deaths in 2016 Lawrence Phillips Former NFL star found dead in prison cell on 13 January in suspected suicide, aged 40 AFP/Getty Images Video Arts was founded in 1972 by Jay, its chairman, with John Cleese, Peter Robinson and Michael Peacock. In addition to dozens of training films, some written by David Nobbs, it produced that writers Channel 4 sitcom Fairly Secret Army (1984-6), starring Geoffrey Palmer as a penniless right-wing ex-major recruiting members to fight anarchy. In 1989, Cleese and Jay sold Video Arts to its management team, although they continued to make films for the company. As an author, Jay wrote books such as Management and Machiavelli (1967), Corporation Man (1972), The Householders Guide to Community Defence Against Bureaucratic Aggression (1972) and How to Beat Sir Humphrey (1997). He was also editor of the Oxford Dictionary of Political Quotations (1997). Jays wide experience led him to work on the peripheries of politics himself. He was a member of Lord Annans Committee into the Future of Broadcasting, which reported in 1977. Then, in 2008, Jay a supporter of market economics wrote How to Save the BBC, a pamphlet for right-wing think-tank the Centre for Policy Studies advocating the abolition of the licence fee and the television service being reduced to one channel. A year earlier, he had written a CPS pamphlet titled Confessions of a Reformed BBC Producer alleging anti-Establishment bias within the Corporation. We were not just anti-Macmillan, he wrote of his experience. We were anti-industry, anti-capitalism, anti-advertising, anti-selling, anti-profit, anti-patriotism, anti-monarchy, anti-Empire, anti-police, anti-armed forces, anti-bomb, anti-authority. Almost anything that made the world a freer, safer and more prosperous place, you name it, we were anti it. Antony Rupert Jay, writer and producer: born London 20 April 1930; Kt 1988, CVO 1993; 1957 married Rosemary Jill Watkins (two sons, two daughters); died 21 August 2016 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 }} Sarah Silverman has called Frances burkini ban f***ing heinous after images emerged appearing to show a woman being forced to remove her burkini by armed police. Over the last 24 hours, the countrys controversial ban has come under fire after the pictures emerged. In the images, taken on at the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, armed French police are stood over a woman who then appears to remove her long sleeved top. She was reportedly fined and warned about the ban. In response to the pictures, Silverman condemned the ban and questioned who the country is protecting by enforcing it. 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. Re-tweeting coverage of the incident tweeted by the actress Susan Sarandon, the comedian wrote: F***ing heinous, France. Who and what are you protecting, exactly? (Screengrab/Twitter (Screengrab/Twitter) The burkini is an item of swimwear designed for Muslim woman who wish to cover up when visiting the beach or in water in line with their religious beliefs. Last week, the French Prime Minister Manuel Valls backed the ban which has been enforced in several towns in the south of France and across the Meditteranean. Since the ban came into force, several women have been fined for breaching it. The popular resort of Cannes introduced the ban earlier this month with the mayor of the town saying the measures were introduced to make sure my city is safe in the context of the state of emergency. The state of emergency, put in place after the terror attacks in Paris in November, was extended in July following the Bastille Day attack in Nice which killed 85 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 }} Gloria Hunniford has stirred controversy for "playing devil's advocate" in response to the burkini ban and questioning what could be concealed under long garments. The 76-year-old presenters comments come after armed police forced a woman on a beach in Nice to remove her burkini on Tuesday as part of a controversial new ban. The incident occurred on the beach at the city's Promenade des Anglais, the scene of last months Bastille Day lorry attack which saw 84 people killed. Authorities in several French towns have imposed bans on the Burkini and cited concerns about religious clothing in the aftermath of recent terrorist attacks in France. Appearing on ITV show Loose Women, the 76-year-old broadcaster who presents Rip Off Britain, said she could see why security had been heightened in France. 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 a way you can understand how the security has really been bumped up and it is unusual to have policemen on the beach but horrific things have happened, she said. Nothing is ideal or idyllic anymore sadly because of worldwide terrorism, she added later in the discussion. I'm not defending this at all because I find it really objectionable in a way, but I suppose if I was being devil's advocate I would say, 'Well what could be hidden under long garments and people have been shot on beaches?' Hunnifords comments prompted criticism from some on social media. Gloria Hunniford making racist and incorrect political remarks on national tv is highly offensive & inappropriate, wrote one Twitter user. @loosewomen. Where is a woman going to hide a Bomb? In her vagina? Really!! wrote another user. Another added: So what are archbishops keeping under their cassocks and robes, Gloria? Ooh and that mitre, lot of room in there! The French burkini issue Gloria said how do we know what they're wearing under that, they're wearing their human skin! #shameonu, said one more. The photos of the woman in Nice emerged as a mother of two also said she had been fined on the beach in Cannes wearing leggings, a tunic and a headscarf and informed by police that her clothing as not correct on Tuesday. 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 }} James OBrien has highlighted the hypocrisy of the burkini ban in France by challenging those who support it to explain how they would feel if nuns were forced to remove their habits. His comments come after armed police forced a woman on a beach in Nice to remove her burkini on Tuesday as part of a controversial new ban. The incident took place on the beach at the city's Promenade des Anglais, the scene of last months Bastille Day lorry attack. OBrien, who is a presenter on LBC radio station and Newsnight, argued the ban would only be fair if the French government chose to impose it on all women who were covered up for religious reasons. The presenter said he would be morally outraged if his headmistress Sister Mary Frances had been ordered to take off her habit on the beach on a school trip. 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 Speaking on on his LBC show on Wednesday, OBrien said: Making this middle-aged woman take off a tunic on a beach in Nice apparently makes French people safer. Really? If they were ordering everybody else to take off full body coverings on this beach, it would at least have the consistency of law, he added. It would not be one law for you according to your religion and another law for everybody else. How would you feel if a nun at gunpoint was told to take off her habit? Recommended Read more Armed police force woman to remove clothing on Nice beach Sister Mary Frances was my headmistress when I was six years old. I would find that so outrageous, so absolutely outrageous that Sister Mary Frances would be told to take off her habit when she took us on a school trip to Wales. How would you feel, hand on heart if nuns were being told in France to take off their habit on beaches?" The images of four police officers armed with handguns, batons and pepper spray surrounding the woman have prompted a fierce debate online. The resort where the incident took place is one of over a dozen in France which have implemented the ban during the summer months. 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 }} Sir Antony Jay, who died at the age of 86 on Sunday evening, was a prime example of an especially British phenomenon, being both a distinguished product and a distinguished critic of the Establishment. He had been suffering from a long illness, a representative of his family said. He will always be best remembered for his masterful work in co-writing, with Jonathan Lynn, successive series of Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister in the 1980s, comedies that are ageless in their humour. Sir Antony's establishment credentials were as impeccable as those of any real or fictional senior member of the British civil service, including Sir Humphrey Appleby, the deeply manipulative bureaucrat in Yes, Minister. Educated at St Paul's School, Sir Antony went on to study Classics at Magdalene College, Cambridge, emerging, naturally, with a First. From there, in common with his generation, he went on to National Service in the Royal Signals. After that, he joined the BBC, where he worked on Talks, the forerunner of current affairs, in the early 1960s. Interestingly Sir Antony's first encounters with the Corporation were during the era of the first great British satire boom, with Private Eye and That Was The Week that Was lampooning politicians and marking the beginning of the end of the age of deference. Sir Antony's early career co-incided with the rise to prominence of David Frost, who, like Sir Antony, had a notably nuanced relationship with the Establishment, though Sir Antonys satires (much later) were not nearly so vicious as Frosts early ones could be, while Frost ended up marrying into royalty. Sir Antony did, though, follow his clever and witty parodies of Whitehall with some very straight scripts for respectful documentaries about the House of Windsor - Royal Family and Elizabeth R: A Year in the Life of a Queen. For these he was awarded the honour of Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO), usually reserved for services to the Queen personally. It followed the CBE he was awarded for Yes Minister. His youthful anti-establishment tendencies, according to Sir Antony shared with much of the then BBC staff, evidently mellowed by the time Margaret Thatcher joyfully wrote her own Yes Minister in 1984. This she was prompted to do as a fan of their work (not necessarily reciprocated) and when she was asked to present Sir Antony and Lynn with a showbiz award. She claimed it constituted the first episode of Yes, Prime Minister, which then duly followed. (Mrs Thatcher, in her only acknowledged venture into fiction, envisaged the abolition of the government Economic Service). Notable deaths in 2016 Show all 42 1 /42 Notable deaths in 2016 Notable deaths in 2016 Debbie Reynolds was an American actress, singer, businesswoman, film historian, and humanitarian. She died on December 28 in Los Angeles Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Actress Carrie Fisher died on December 27 aged 60 Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Comedian and Actor Ricky Harris died on December 26 aged 54 Rex Notable deaths in 2016 British singer George Michael died on 25 December aged 53 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Rick Parfitt OBE was an English musician, best known for being a singer, songwriter and rhythm guitarist in the rock band Status Quo. He died on December 24 in Marbella, Spain Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Lord Jenkin of Roding died at the age of 90 on the 21 December PA wire Notable deaths in 2016 Rabbi Lionel Blue died on the 19 December Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Zsa Zsa Gabor died on December 18 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Leonard Cohen died on 7 November Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Grand secretary of the Orange Order Drew Nelson died on 10 October aged 60 after a short illness PA Notable deaths in 2016 Aaron Pryor, the relentless junior welterweight died Sunday, Oct. 9, at the age of 60 at his home in Cincinnati after a long battle with heart disease AP Notable deaths in 2016 Polish Director Andrzej Wajda died on October 9, aged 90 Reuters Notable deaths in 2016 Stylianos Pattakos has died following a stroke on 8th October. He was 103 years old. AP Notable deaths in 2016 Dickie Jeeps, was an English rugby union player who played for Northampton. He represented and captained both the England national rugby union team and the British Lions in the 1950s and 1960s. He died on 8th October. He was 84 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Duke of Westminster Billionaire landowner the Duke of Westminster, Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor has died on 9 August, aged 64 Rex Features Notable deaths in 2016 Christina Knudsen Sir Roger Moores stepdaughter Christina Knudsen has died from cancer on 25 July at teh age of 47 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Caroline Aherne The actress Caroline Aherne has died from cancer on 2 July at the age of 52 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Christina Grimmie Christina Grimmie, 22, who was an American singer and songwriter, known for her participation in the NBC singing competition The Voice, was signing autographs at a concert venue in Orlando on 10 June when an assailant shot her. Grimmie was transported to a local hospital where she died from her wounds on 11 June Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Kimbo Slice Former UFC and Bellator MMA fighter Kimbo Slice died after being admitted to hospital in Florida on 6 June, aged 42 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Muhammad Ali The three-time former heavyweight world champion died after being admitted to hospital with a respiratory illness on 3 June, aged 74 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Sally Brampton Brampton who was the launch editor of the UK edition of Elle magazine has died on 10 May, aged 60 Grant Triplow/REX/Shutterstock Notable deaths in 2016 Billy Paul The soul singer Billy Paul, who was best known for his single Me and Mrs Jones, has died on 24 April, aged 81 Noel Vasquez/Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Prince Prince, the legendary musician, has been found dead at his Paisley Park recording studio on 21 April. He was 57 Notable deaths in 2016 Chyna WWE icon Joan Laurer dies aged 45 after being found at California home on 20 April Notable deaths in 2016 Victoria Wood The five-time Bafta-winning actress and comedian Victoria Wood has died on 20 April at her London home after a short illness with cancer. She was 62 Notable deaths in 2016 David Gest The entertainer and former husband of Liza Minnelli, David Gest has been found dead on 12 April in the Four Seasons hotel in Canary Warf, London. He was 62-years-old PA Notable deaths in 2016 Denise Robertson Denise Robertson, an agony aunt on This Morning for over 30 years, has died on 1 April, aged 83 Notable deaths in 2016 Zaha Hadid Dame Zaha Hadid, the prominent architect best known for designs such as the London Olympic Aquatic Centre and the Guangzhou Opera House, has died of a heart attack on 31 March, aged 65 2010 AFP Notable deaths in 2016 Ronnie Corbett British entertainer Ronnie Corbett has passed away on 31 March at the age of 85 2014 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Imre Kertesz Hungarian writer and Holocaust survivor Imre Kertesz, who won the 2002 Nobel Literature Prize, has died on 31 March, at the age of 86 REUTERS Notable deaths in 2016 Rob Ford Rob Ford, the former controversial mayor of Toronto, has died following a battle with a rare form of cancer. The 46-year-old passed away at the Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto on 22 March Notable deaths in 2016 Joey Feek Joey (left) passed away in March after a two-year cancer illness. She was part of country music duo, Joey + Rory, with her husband Rory (right) Jason Merritt/Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Umberto Eco Italian writer and philosopher Umberto Eco died 19 February 2016 aged 84 EPA Notable deaths in 2016 Harper Lee Harper Lee, the American novelist known for writing 'To Kill a Mockingbird', died February 19, 2016 aged 89 2005 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Vanity Vanity, pictured performing in 1983, died aged 57 REX Features Notable deaths in 2016 Dave Mirra The BMX legend's body found inside truck with gunshot wound after apparent suicide aged 41 Notable deaths in 2016 Harry Harpham The former miner became Sheffield Labour MP in May after many years as a local councillor. He died after succumbing to cancer, at the age of 61. Notable deaths in 2016 Dale Griffin The Mott the Hoople drummer died on January 17, aged 67 REX Notable deaths in 2016 Rene Angelil Celine Dion's husband and manager Rene Angelil has lost his battle with cancer on 14 January, aged 73 2011 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Alan Rickman Legendary actor Alan Rickman has died on 14 January at the age of 69 after battle with pancreatic cancer. He is largely regarded as one of the most beloved British actors of our generation with roles in Love Actually, Die Hard, Michael Collins, and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and an illustrious stage career 2015 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Maurice White The Earth, Wind & Fire founder died aged 74. The nine-piece band sold more than 90 million albums worldwide and won six Grammy awards Notable deaths in 2016 Lawrence Phillips Former NFL star found dead in prison cell on 13 January in suspected suicide, aged 40 AFP/Getty Images More recently, Sir Antony and Lynn revived Yes Prime Minister in the theatre, for a world of 24 hour news, smartphones and sexed up dossiers. By that time the more savage The Thick of It, featuring the magnificently foul-mouthed spin doctor Malcolm Tucker, created by Armando Ianucci, was a more fitting reflection of the times, but the debt of honour to the original Yes, Minister, was plain. The originals, the late Paul Eddington as Jim Hacker, the late Nigel Hawthorne as Sir Humphrey now the generic name of course for any civil service boss - and Derek Fowlds as Bernard Wooley were brilliantly partnered with Lynn and Sir Antonys inspired writing. Many of the titles of their episodes from three decades ago immediately bring to mind current political personalities Compassionate Society (David Cameron); Equal Opportunities (Harriet Harman); The National Education Service (suggested for real only last year by Jeremy Corbyn). As ever with gifted writers, their own words speak for themselves, and rarely has the European project been better summed up than this little exchange in 1981: James Hacker: Europe is a community of nations, dedicated towards one goal. Sir Humphrey Appleby: [laughs] James Hacker: May we share the joke, Humphrey? Sir Humphrey Appleby: Minister, may I? [sits] Sir Humphrey Appleby: Let's look at this objectively. It is a game played for national interests and always was. Why do you suppose we went into it? James Hacker: To strengthen the brotherhood of free Western nations. Sir Humphrey Appleby: Oh, really. We went in to screw the French by splitting them off from the Germans. James Hacker: Well, why did the French go into it, then? Sir Humphrey Appleby: Well, to protect their inefficient farmers from commercial competition. James Hacker: That certainly doesn't apply to the Germans! Sir Humphrey Appleby: No, no. They went in to cleanse themselves of genocide and apply for readmission to the human race. Maybe Sir Antonys satire wasnt quite as gentle as we remember it. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight 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 Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Nigel Farage, the former head of the UK Independence Party, is to share a stage with Donald Trump where they will discuss the UKs recent vote to leave the EU. Reports said that Mr Farage will share a platform in the US, where Mr Trump is running for the White House. Mr Trump is scheduled to hold events in Tampa, Florida, and Jackson, Mississippi. Sky News said that Mr Farage would stop short of endorsing Mr Trump at the event but will discuss the move behind Brexit. 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 }} It has been one of the more unusual months in Donald Trumps campaign. For a while, it seemed as though there would not be one action or comment, no matter how polarising or controversial, that could derail him in his quest for the White House. But over the past seven days the world has been introduced to a more contrite Mr Trump. On Thursday, the billionaire magnate defied his usual off the cuff rally style and arrived in Charlotte with a scripted and repentant speech. Mr Trump has built a supporter base partly out his refusal to be what he calls politically correct, his ability to provoke and his refusal to back down. The apology has never been a campaign tactic for Mr Trump - until now. Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Show all 14 1 /14 Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Isis: "Some of the candidates, they went in and didnt know the air conditioner didnt work and sweated like dogs, and they didnt know the room was too big because they didnt have anybody there. How are they going to beat ISIS?" Getty Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On immigration: "I will build a great wall and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me and Ill build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words." Reuters Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Free Trade: "Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people." PAUL J. RICHARDS | AFP | Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Mexicans: "When Mexico sends its people, theyre not sending their best. Theyre sending people that have lots of problems. Theyre bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists." Getty Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On China: "I just sold an apartment for $15 million to somebody from China. Am I supposed to dislike them?... I love China. The biggest bank in the world is from China. You know where their United States headquarters is located? In this building, in Trump Tower." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On work: "If you're interested in 'balancing' work and pleasure, stop trying to balance them. Instead make your work more pleasurable." AP Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On success: "What separates the winners from the losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of fate." Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On life: "Everything in life is luck." AFP Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On ambition: "You have to think anyway, so why not think big?" Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On his opponents: "Bush is totally in favour of Common Core. I don't see how he can possibly get the nomination. He's weak on immigration. He's in favour of Common Core. How the hell can you vote for this guy? You just can't do it." Reuters Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Obamacare: "You have to be hit by a tractor, literally, a tractor, to use it, because the deductibles are so high. It's virtually useless. And remember the $5 billion web site?... I have so many web sites, I have them all over the place. I hire people, they do a web site. It costs me $3." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Barack Obama: "Obama is going to be out playing golf. He might be on one of my courses. I would invite him. I have the best courses in the world. I have one right next to the White House." PA Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On himself: "Love him or hate him, Trump is a man who is certain about what he wants and sets out to get it, no holds barred. Women find his power almost as much of a turn-on as his money." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On America: "The American Dream is dead. But if I get elected president I will bring it back bigger and better and stronger than ever before and we will make America great again." GETTY Sometimes, in the heat of debate and speaking on a multitude of issues, you dont choose the right words or you say the wrong thing, he told those gathered, without actually specifying which comments he was referring to. I have done that, and believe it or not, I regret it. I do regret it, particularly where it may have caused personal pain. The 70-year-old's prospects of actually reaching the White House are now being questioned after a series of controversies that risk alienating huge cross-sections of the electorate. John Oliver stepped in on Sunday night to advise Mr Trump to abandon his political ambitions in order to salvage his reputation. "Drop out and tell America this entire candidacy was a stunt, a satire to expose the flaws in the system," the satirical news host said on Last Week Tonight on Sunday night. Eric Schiffer, a celebrity reputation expert and CEO of ReputationManagementConsultants.com, is equally pessimistic about Mr Trump's prospect of beating his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton. Remarks about Muslims, Mexican immigrants and women have all made his campaign for the Republican nomination one marked by increasing controversy. Mr Schiffer says the backlash over some of his more recent comments has proved particularly damaging to his campaign. He told the Independent: With politicians, its much more about strategy, positioning and communication strategy. So for instance, we see this now with Donald Trump. He has said he regrets what he said. [He has apologised] because hes getting torched in the media and I think there is a backlash against him with a certain voter demographic. He doesnt want to continue to get clobbered and he realises hes made these giant gaffes. Otherwise he will continue to get pummelled. He didnt want to apologise before because his brand was about toughness and strength." Recommended Read more Trump under pressure to explain shifting stance on immigration After being brought in as Mr Trumps campaign manager on 17 August, Kellyanne Conway made her mark by introducing a more restrained approach to his public appearances. This about turn was evident at a town hall with Sean Hannity on Tuesday evening where Mr Trump suggested there could certainly be a softening in his immigration proposals after months of big, beautiful wall rhetoric, because we're not looking to hurt people. Mr Schiffer believes Mr Trump will now work to repair his relationship with an area of the voter demographic by attempting to woo women. She is helping him try to win back what I would call security moms in the United States - women who are mothers but single and/or just mothers in general and single women who are concerned about security, yet have enough self-respect as a woman that they dont want to be talked to by any politician or demeaned, as Mr Trump has demeaned women repeatedly." Donald Trump suggests mother of fallen Muslim-American soldier 'wasn't allowed' to speak at DNC 2016 He said Mr Trump will have to be fully scripted from here on in to have a real chance at succeeding in his presidential bid. On Monday, Mr Trump gave another teleprompter led speech where he continued his bid to court black and Hispanic voters, which he launched at various rallies last week, until he veered off script. Well get rid of the crime, he said. Youll be able to walk down the street without getting shot. [Now] when you walk down the street, you get shot. He cant allow himself to go off script, said Mr Schiffer. "We saw it at the rally [in Charlotte] - hes reading a script, hes playing an acting role now, and if he stays on that programme then he will likely close some of the gap, but I still think at this point its a desperate attempt to rebuild a brand. I think at this point hes desperate. I think he brought her [Ms Conway] in because he releases that this is going to be a decapitating election for him. Hes trying to pull the greatest comeback in election history but I think its going to be ultimately a massive loss for him because I dont think you can hide and cover-up something that is extremely dangerous. I think the public knows. You cant suffocate the truth. He says an immense shift in the public perception of Mr Trump has taken place over the last three months, particularly after the comments he made about the parents of a fallen Muslim-American soldier and his mocking of a disabled reporter. It largely came, I think, after his attack on the Khan family because people saw him as someone who has no empathy. How can you do that to parents who are clearly grieving, who are genuine people, who dont deserve to be treated with such disrespect? And for him to do that with a Gold Star family? It also send a signal to people that the military and their family shouldnt be honoured. That goes against a couple of hundred years tradition. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight 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 Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Nigel Farage, the former leader of the UK Independence Party, has announced his support for Donald Trump saying that his rival Hillary Clinton represented the status quo. Speaking in Mississippi ahead of a joint appearance with the Republican presidential candidate, Mr Farage said that he felt optimistic when he heard him speak. While stopping short of a formal endorsement, his comments and appearance at the rally, make very clear whom he thinks Americans should vote for. He told The Independent: I have not come to endorse anyone. I am here to tell the Brexit story. But Mr Farage, who said he had accepted an invitation from the governor of Mississippi, said that if he were a US citizen he would not vote for Ms Clinton. Asked if would vote for Mr Trump, said: I would not vote for Hillary Clinton. That is my position. Mr Farage said he believed that the US and Britain were having a similar conversation about the issues of security and immigration. Asked why he was sharing a stage with someone who has been accused of racism and misogyny, he said: I am here to tell the Brexit story. I recognised the level of interest in Brexit was pretty high here in the US. I was struck by the interest at the Republican National Convention. Earlier, Mr Farage spoke to the hosts of the radio station Super Talk Mississippi where he spoke of his admiration for several aspects of Mr Trumps politics. I think we should start with Hillary Clinton. She represents the status quo, he said of the Democratic candidate. She represents what has happened to politicians elsewhere in the West. Donald Trump pleased at Brexit He added: I dont think its exactly clear where Donald Trump stands on all economic issues, but when I've heard him talk about small businesses and the little entrepreneurs.and the levels of bureaucracy, I feel optimistic. Mr Trump and Mr Farage will appear at the Mississippi Coliseum in the city of Jackson. Asked what he would be telling suporters, he said: I'm going to say to people in this country that the circumstances, the similarities, the parallels, between the people that voted Brexit and the people that could beat Clinton in a few weeks' time here in America are uncanny." He said: "And if they want things to change, they've got to get up out of their chairs, go out, and fight for it. It can happen. (Reuters (Reuters) Mr Trump came out as a strong supporter of the Leave campaign. On the morning the result of the referendum came in, he held a press conference in Scotland where he claimed the British people had taken back their country. Theyre angry over borders, theyre angry over people coming into the country and taking over, nobody even knows who they are, he said. Theyre angry about many, many things. Asked whether he felt his campaign in the US had influenced the outcome, he said: Good question. I gave my opinion over the last few months but its not about me. Its about them. I think they will be stronger for it. He said this despite the majority of people in Scotland voting to remain in the EU. And just weeks earlier Mr Trump, when interviewed in the US, suggested he was not familiar with the word Brexit. Last week, Mr Trump declared that he considered himself "Mr Brexit", though he did not provide further details. What is clear, is that Steve Bannon, the head of Breitbart News who Mr Trump recently appointed as the head of his campaign, was a strong supporter of Brexit. By contrast, Mr Farage has said he believed Barack Obama was one of the reasons for Britons voting to leave. Im a huge fan of Barack Obama, he said last month during a visit to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Without him we wouldnt have won the referendum. He was very helpful. The US president visited London in April and made an impassioned plea to Britons to remain in the EU. The UK would be at the back of the queue in any trade deal with the US, he warned. Mr Farage added: The moral of the story is, I shall not say at the end of this week who I think you should vote for, although I have to say, I wouldnt vote for Hillary if you paid me. Her sense of entitlement kind of puts me off. The hosts of Super Talk Mississippi said they believed Mr Farage was a geniune "conservastive Republican". They said they wished that they had brought him some typical Southern grits for him to enjoy for breakfast. 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 }} Just one in four people caught with cannabis are charged by police across England and Wales, new figures reveal, while arrests and cautions have fallen by almost half and charges have fallen by a third since 2010. Some police forces have said they are not looking to seek out people who use cannabis and one police force said officers are no longer targeting those who grow cannabis for personal use. Arrests for cannabis possession have fallen by 46 per cent since 2010 in England and Wales. In some areas as few as 14 per cent of those caught with the class B drug are charged. But overall, 27 per cent of people caught are charged, while 40 per cent receive the lighter reprimand of a caution. According to figures obtained by The Sun through a Freedom of Information request in which 31 out of 43 England and Wales police forces responded, there were 471,202 cases of cannabis possession between 2011 and 2015. Of those, 126,789 people (27 per cent) were charged and 193,260 (41 per cent) received warnings. A further 22 per cent were either given cautions of fixed penalty notices. Warnings are less severe than police cautions and do not mean those caught are given a criminal record. A caution is not a criminal conviction but can be used in court as evidence at a later date. Despite the general trend for leniency, some police forces are still pursuing cannabis users. In Hampshire 65 per cent of those caught with the drug are charged or end up with a summons. In Cheshire 64 per cent caught are charged, while in South Wales the figure is 60 per cent as police forces continue to target users. But in Cambridge, the police figures reveal just 14 per cent of users are charged and the figure is only slightly higher at 16 per cent in Staffordshire, Hertfordshire, Cornwall and Devon. Durham police did not respond to The Suns FOI request, but Chief Constable Mike Barton told the newspaper his officers no longer target those growing cannabis for personal use. Durhams Police and Crime commissioner Ron Hogg said last year the force was not prioritising people who have a small number of cannabis plants for their own use. He added: In low-level cases we say it is better to work with them and put them in a position where they can recover. Meanwhile, the Centre for Policy Studies Kathy Gyngell said: These figures show the police have given up on cannabis. It represents a total failure to protect the interests of young people. The correct sanction at the right age might just save them from a dangerous drug. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA 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 Bucking the downward trend for arrests, West Midlands police reported a 40 per cent surge in arrests for cannabis earlier this year. And though the number of people facing charges after being caught with cannabis has fallen, there remains a stark contrast in how people of different races are treated. A joint report by the London School of Economics and drug law reform charity Release revealed that in London black people were more than five times more likely to be charged with cannabis possession than white people in 2014. 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 pensioner who shot his 81-year-old wife dead at a care home has been sentenced to six years in a psychiatric hospital. Ronald King, 87, formed the "settled intention" to kill his wife Rita, whose dementia had worsened in the months before her death, Chelmsford Crown Court heard. Judge Charles Gratwicke said the manslaughter was "not a mercy killing", but accepted that King was suffering from dementia himself and that this had impaired his ability to form rational judgments. King shot his wife of 50 years in the communal television room of De La Mer House in Naze Park Road, Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, on December 28 2015. The weapon used was his father-in-law's old service revolver which he took to the care home from his home address, and his wife died instantly as a bullet passed through her right eye. He had also planned to kill his sister, who was also a resident at the home, and then to kill himself. King, of Cedar Close, Walton-on-the-Naze, denied murder at an earlier hearing, but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility or by survivor of a suicide pact. Judge Gratwicke, sentencing, said: "This was from every angle a tragedy." King had told police he wanted to stop his wife suffering any more. But Judge Gratwicke said: "As you will know, there's no evidence that she was in pain or suffering any more than anyone else who has succumbed to dementia. This was not a mercy killing. There's no evidence that she was in pain or suffering any more than anyone else who has succumbed to dementia. This was not a mercy killing

Judge Charles Gratwicke

"Rather, it was a killing that occurred at a time when the experts agree that you were suffering from dementia causing an abnormality of your mental functions. "Your ability to form a rational judgment was substantially impaired when you came to the settled intention to kill your wife." The court heard King mistakenly believed care home staff were stealing from his wife and drugging her. It was a "carefully planned" killing, with King filing down the nose of a bullet to ensure his wife died. The judge accepted that King had been a devoted husband to his wife, strived to took care of her and that there was no malice in her killing. King was also in ill health. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA 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 Professor Graeme Yorston, consultant forensic neuro-psychiatrist, said King's frontal lobe was affected by his dementia, and this part of the brain was responsible for forming rational decisions. "That's what led him to come to the conclusion that, because of his perception of inadequacies at the care home, his only possible response to that was to shoot his wife and also himself and his sister," he said. Patrick Upward, mitigating, said: "Had it not been for the intervention of this disease, the offence would not have taken place." He added: "His punishment is the separation from the woman he was married to for 50 years and everyone who has spoken to them describes them as an affectionate and devoted couple." King was sentenced to six years for manslaughter, five years for possession of a firearm, 12 months for possession of ammunition, with the custodial terms to run concurrently and to be served in a secure psychiatric hospital. If King is deemed fit enough to leave the hospital before his sentence is completed, the remainder of the custodial term will be served in a prison. Reporting by Press Association 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 }} People found carrying powerful laser pointers should be arrested even if they are not using them, the head of the UK's aviation regulator has said. Andrew Haines, chief executive of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), claimed new legislation is needed to cut the number of laser attacks on aircraft. Mr Haines believes the misuse of lasers is a tougher issue to solve than near misses involving drones because the former are a deliberate attempt to cause harm. Recommended Read more Laser attacks on aircraft more than double within a decade Under the existing Air Navigation Order 2009, it is an offence to act in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft. Mr Haines expressed his frustration at the difficulty in prosecuting people under this law because of the requirement to find the person undertaking the task and... demonstrate intent. There is also a lesser offence of shining a light at an aircraft, but the CAA boss called for the law to be toughened so anyone found carrying a laser pointer can be arrested. In an interview with the Press Association, he said: We and Balpa, the pilots' trade union, are very keen that the Government introduces legislation which means that the mere possession of these high-powered lasers by individuals not licensed for them would be a criminal offence. Why does Joe Bloggs walking down the street need a laser that can pop a balloon at 50 miles, that can cause permanent damage to a pilot? Recording of laser incident CAA figures show there were 1,439 laser attacks on aircraft in the UK last year equivalent to almost four a day. Heathrow airport was the most common location with 121 incidents, followed by Birmingham airport (94) and Manchester airport (93). September was the worst month for attacks with 91, narrowly ahead of August when there were 88. Balpa general secretary, Brian Strutton, said: We are concerned about the high number of laser attacks in recent years and about the increasing power of these devices. People need to understand they are not toys and pointing them at an aircraft can dazzle and distract the pilot at a critical stage of flight, endangering the passengers, crew and people on the ground. Mr Haines described high-powered lasers as pieces of scientific equipment and insisted there is no legitimate reason for an individual to have one in public. He said there have been cases of laser attacks causing permanent damage to pilots' eyesight and although they have not brought down an aircraft, it would be daft to rule it out as a possibility in the future. A laser pointer has the potential to do serious harm (Rex) In July, two men who shone a laser pen into the cockpit of a police helicopter during a search for a missing person were jailed. Martin Jayes, 46, and his neighbour Oktawain Plaskiewicz, 22, both of Bateman Road, New Parks, Leicester, targeted the chopper which was circling near their homes on 9 March. The pilot was forced to take evasive action and call off the search. At Leicester Crown Court, Jayes was jailed for eight months and Plaskiewicz for six months. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA 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 A Virgin Atlantic flight was forced to return to Heathrow in February when the co-pilot reported feeling unwell after a laser was directed at the plane shortly after take-off. And just nine days later a British Airways service from Amsterdam was affected when a beam was aimed at the aircraft as it headed towards the west London hub. An editorial published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology in April warned that pilots tend to focus on sudden bright lights, meaning that a laser attack can cause them to be dazzled and leave them with an after-image. The journal stated that between 500,000 and one million laser pointers, pens, and key rings are thought to have been in circulation over the past decade. It added that in recent years the nature and supply of handheld devices has changed dramatically, with many now stronger and unsuitable for sale to the general public. PA Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Nadine White Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter The Race Report 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 Race Report email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Three Muslim siblings say they were marched off an EasyJet flight to Italy after being falsely accused of having "Isis materials" on their phones. Maryam Dharas, Sakina Dharas and their brother Ali Dharas were removed from the plane due to fly from Stansted to Naples on 18 August after being approached by a member of the cabin crew. The siblings said they were greeted by "gun-wielding policemen and men in dark suits" on the ground, who immediately asked them if they spoke English. Sakina Dharas replied that they only spoke English as they were born and bred in north-west London. She was then told another passenger had reported seeing them with Arabic text or "praise be to Allah" on their phones and had claimed they were Isis supporters. Maryam Dharas said: "Were told a couple had reported us having been reading Isis materials. [They said] the pair of us, meaning me and my sister, had been reading Isis material. "My sister and I wear headscarves. We thought, theres clearly profiling going on here. Video shows Muslims kicked off flight "We were just in shock. What is going on? None of us have been doing that. Were absolutely flummoxed." Maryam said she had been sending Whatsapp messages to their father while on board but that they were were about Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. She said she told the officers that if there had been Arabic text on their phones it was "part of the Quran, our religious text, so even if we did have it, it wouldn't signify that we're a part of Isis at all". UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA 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 "Regardless, we've had nothing on our phone remotely Arabic related and we're Indian by ethnicity, so we wouldn't even have Arabic in conversation with anyone," she said. Despite this one officer, who Sakina said appeared to be an MI5 agent, asked her to talk him through my passport, including all my pilgrimages hajj, and, unfortunately for me, also Iraq. Recommended Read more Why it no longer feels safe to fly as a Muslim Sakina and Ali said they had travelled to Iraq to take part in a sponsored walk to raise money for Isis victims. They claimed the officer said he had already done full checks on their travel history when the allegations came to light and they had all come back clear but that he would be doing "more research". He allegedly said that if anything came up he would be "waiting for them" when they returned, but they were not questioned again at Stansted at the end of their holiday on 20 August. Maryam said they were eventually allowed to go back on board with an apology for the "inconvenience", but that it was "humiliating" to walk through the plane afterwards. Speaking to the Guardian, the 19-year-old said: "I would like an apology. What happened was wrong. This kind of profiling shouldnt take place. I dont want this to happen again to anyone else." The trio were stopped as they boarded a London Stansted flight to Naples (Getty Images) (Getty) A spokesman for EasyJet said: "EasyJet can confirm that, following concerns raised by a passenger during the boarding, a member of ground staff requested the assistance of the police, who took the decision to talk to three passengers at the bottom of the aircraft steps, before departure. "The police then confirmed to the captain that the passengers were cleared to complete their journey and they reboarded the aircraft and the flight departed to Naples". It comes after The Independent revealed a Muslim woman was detained at Doncaster Airport on 25 July because she had been reading a book about Syrian art. Faizah Shaheen said she was returning from her honeymoon in Turkey when she was pulled to one side after a fellow passenger raised concerns about her book, Syria Speaks: Art and Culture from the Frontline. 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 }} Five people have died after being pulled from the sea at Camber Sands beach. Emergency services were called after three people were found in need of urgent medical aid at the coast near Rye, East Sussex on Wednesday afternoon. Beach goers were urged to stay out of the water as medics helped the men, who have yet to be identified. It is understood reports of a person in the sea were first received at 2.10pm, a second person was then discovered in difficulty at 2.20pm and a third person was pulled form the sea 15 minutes later. The RNLI later confirmed two more bodies had been found, bringing the total number of fatalities to five. A search is under way for a further missing person, with two lifeboats and a helicopter combing the water off the coast. Camber Sands, near Rye, East Sussex shortly after three people pulled from sea (PA) The Lydd and Lee-on-Solent-based UK Coastguard search-and-rescue helicopters also attended the scene, along with an air ambulance. An RNLI lifeboat from Rye and Coastguard rescue teams were also in attendance. Natalja Taylor, 30, who was on a day-trip at Camber Sands with her husband on the hottest day of the year, said police were driving up the beach with a loud hailer calling on people to stay out of the sea. She said: "We saw three people being pulled out of the water. I think the people who rescued them were regular people, not emergency personnel. "Police drove on to the beach with a loudspeaker, telling people not to go into the water until further notice. They also taped off a huge chunk of the beach so no-one could get near it. Eyewitness Luke Russell, from Bromley, said: "The water didnt look that bad. It looked quite calm. It looked like the tide came in quite quickly compared to last week. We had to move our stuff further up the beach twice because it came in so fast. "They first discovered people were missing at about 12.30pm, which is when we got there. The helicopter circled the beach and came down. Recommended Read more Body found and two hospitalised after swimming off Sussex coast "Apparently, there was a bad rip tide which dragged them out. "The beach was really packed. There are a couple of lifeguards up there, but they dont really have a very good vantage point. They just sit around the main entrance where the car park is. "After we saw the first body come down the beach, they cleared out of the water and then the boats and helicopters went up and down the coast line trying to find the others. It is the second time a serious incident has taken place recently at Camber Sands. In July, a 19-year-old Brazilian Gustavo Silva da Cruz died after getting into difficulty while swimming in the sea. A 35-year-old man and his 17-year-old son, not connected to Mr Da Cruz, also got into difficultly in the water. Chief Superintendent Di Roskilly said: "We are working with Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Royal National Lifeboat Institute, South East Coast Ambulance and Rother District Council to clear the beach and encourage people to come out of the sea while we are investigating this incident. "We are also asking people to stay away from Camber for the afternoon and evening to assist emergency services in managing this incident. "This has been an incredibly tragic situation and very traumatic for those who were there on the beach at the time. At this stage we do not know who the men are and are doing all we can to establish their identities." 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 Government will miss its target commitment to build one million homes by 2020 by more than a quarter unless radical reform takes place, housing charity Shelter warned. A slowdown in the rate of house building, caused by the UKs decision to leave the European Union, will mean 266,000 fewer homes will be built in England than pledged, a report commissioned by Shelter said. The one million target, set in 2015 by then-housing minister Brandon Lewis, was designed to ease the UK's growing housing crisis. House prices have risen to seven times the amount of peoples income, while more than 50,000 households are made homeless in the UK every year. But independent forecasters Capital Economics, commissioned by Shelter, predicted the government would not meet its target under its current plans. Instead, an eight per cent drop in house building was expected over the next year, due to post-referendum uncertainty taking effect on the largest house building companies, the report warned. If this trend continues, England will be building houses at a slower rate in 2020 than before the 2008 financial crash. Roger Harding, director of communications at Shelter, told The Independent: Our housing shortage means millions of people are having to put their lives on hold stuck in a cycle of sky high rents and instability. And at the sharp end of the crisis, homelessness is rising, with more and more families languishing in temporary accommodation. Shelter called for the Government to urgently adopt measures to prevent a building slump, like that seen following the 2008 financial downturn. It has asked the government to support the buy-to-rent sector and for public bodies to commission small companies to build houses. The charity also said it wanted local communities to have the power to force landowners to make room for homes if there was a local need. Although the decision to leave the European Union was predicted to negatively impact businesses, Shelter suggested using the resulting low borrowing costs to invest in new housing. The new government has a real chance to give hope back to those being left behind by our shortage of homes, but only if they commit to measures that will reform our broken house building market for the long term," Mr Harding added. The world's least affordable cities for housing Show all 10 1 /10 The world's least affordable cities for housing The world's least affordable cities for housing Hong Kong The world's least affordable cities for housing Sydney The world's least affordable cities for housing Vancouver The world's least affordable cities for housing Auckland The world's least affordable cities for housing Melbourne The world's least affordable cities for housing San Jose The world's least affordable cities for housing San Francisco The world's least affordable cities for housing London The world's least affordable cities for housing San Diego The world's least affordable cities for housing Los Angeles Gavin Barwell, Theresa May's new Housing Minister, has had his commitment to building new houses questioned after it emerged he fought against the construction of hundreds of homes in his constituency. In response to the prediction that the government will fall far short of the one million target, a Department for Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: "The reality is we are getting Britain building again, with almost 900,000 homes delivered since the end of 2009. But we know there is more to do. Thats why weve doubled the housing budget, including investing 8 billion in an extra 400,000 quality affordable homes to rent and buy, they added. 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 a British man detained for almost two months without charge after surviving an Isis terror attack in Bangladesh is pleading for the Government to help secure his release. Hasnat Karims family say militants forced the father of two to act as a human shield during the siege of the Holey Artisan Bakery Cafe in Dhaka, where he had been celebrating his daughters 13th birthday. But Bangladeshi authorities suspect him of colluding with jihadists who massacred 20 people, mostly foreigners, after storming the restaurant on 1 July. Bangladesh attack raises security questions Mr Karim disappeared two days later, when he was not released after questioning alongside his wife and children, but police did not publicly admit holding him until 13 August. No charges have been brought in a series of court appearances and a judge refused another bail application on Wednesday, leaving the 47-year-old detained without access to a lawyer or visitation rights for his family. Relatives said they fear evidence will be fabricated in the case after several statements from Bangladeshi officials inferring Mr Karims guilt. This has been an extremely difficult time for our family as he has now been away from us for 54 days, a statement said. We continue to feel confident and full of hope that any further investigation will continue to prove his innocence. Hasnat is a loving and devoted father and husband and we will continue to co-operate with the authorities to secure his release. We urge the British Government to do whatever they can to ensure that his case will be handled in the most transparent manner. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is aware of the case but has not confirmed any details of their discussions with Bangladeshi security services. Hasnat Karim leaves after his court appearance in the Bangladesh capital Dhaka on August 13, 2016. (AFP/Getty Images) Rodney Dixon QC, Mr Karims lawyer, said his continued detention is arbitrary and in violation of fundamental rights. It is completely unacceptable for Mr Karim still to be in jail when the police have not sought any further remand for their investigations, and especially when there is no evidence against him and no charges have been brought, he added. Recommended Read more Isis gunmen kill at least 22 people in hostage crisis at Dhaka cafe There is no justification at all for his incarceration with no end in sight. He should be released immediately and at least granted bail. He is an innocent man who only wants to clear his name. Mr Dixon said the denial of bail would be immediately appealed and called for the British High Commission in Dhaka to be granted permission to visit Mr Karim, who holds both British and Bangladeshi citizenship. Authorities are believed to be interrogating him as an accomplice to the atrocity, alongside detained University of Toronto student Tahmid Hasib Khan, who also disappeared after being taken for questioning. Bangladeshs national police chief, A.K.M. Shahidul Hoque, told reporters that the two men had fallen under suspicion as a result of their behaviour and actions during the siege. Local media have published footage showing militants talking to Mr Karim on a roof, and seeing him standing by a doorway as armed police surrounded the Holey Artisan Bakery Cafe. But a forensic report commissioned by Mr Karims legal team said the images showed him to be a victim rather than participant in the terror attack. Hasnat Karim with his two children, who were with him and their mother during the attack in Bangladesh Analysts said the available evidence appeared to show the man unarmed and being ordered to carry out tasks by gunmen, at one point being made to stand by a glass wall as a human shield to prevent snipers aiming at attackers militants inside the room. His actions, demeanour and dress are consistent with that of a kidnap victim rather than a modern terrorist, the review concluded. Mr Karims wife, Sharmina Parveen, told The Independent she feared her husband would be killed during the 10-hour siege. I think they chose him because they knew he would not run away if his family were there too, she said. I cannot describe to you in words how it felt. They kept taking him away and then bringing him back and every time they took him I had no idea if we would ever see him again. The family were eventually freed alongside other Bangladeshi hostages after being forced to recite passages of the Quran to prove their Muslim faith. Security forces stormed the restaurant hours later, killing the five gunmen and rescuing the remaining 13 hostages, while finding the bodies of nine Italians, seven Japanese, three Bangladeshis and one Indian citizen. Isis claimed responsibility for the atrocity on its propaganda channels, publishing photos of the five militants who carried out the attack posing with the terrorist groups flag. Mr Karim and Mr Khan were not among them. The so-called Islamic State announced its presence in Bangladesh late last year and analysts believe they are recruiting from pre-existing extremist groups who have been carrying out machete attacks since 2013. In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Show all 10 1 /10 In pictures: Bangladesh attacks In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh attacks Hindu ashram worker Nityaranjan Pande, 62, was hacked to death in Pabna on 10 June 2016 AP In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh attacks Hindu priest Anando Gopal Ganguly, left, was murdered in Jhenidah in Bangladesh on 7 June 2016 EPA In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh attacks Mahmuda Khanam Mitu, wife of the Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police, was murdered in Chittagong, Bangladesh on 5 June 2016 EPA In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh Students Union arranged a torch procession in protest over recent murders of free thinkers in Dhaka NurPhoto In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh attacks Murdered gay rights activist Xulhaz Mannan, who was editor at Bangladeshs only LGBT magazine Rex In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh attacks A Bangladeshi policeman stands guard at the site of the murder of a law student, hacked to death by four assailants the night before, in Dhaka on April 7, 2016 AFP/Getty In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh attacks People have protested against the murders around the world, seen here in Kolkata AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh attacks A relative of dead Bangladeshi blogger Washiqur Rahman reacts after seeing his body at Dhaka Medical College in Dhaka on March 30 AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh attacks People gather on the spot where Bangladeshi blogger Avijit Roy was killed in a street in Dhaka (EPA) EPA In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh attacks Bangladeshi social activists shout slogans during a protest against the killing Avijit Roy in Dhaka on February 27, 2015 AFP/Getty Images But Bangladeshi authorities have persistently denied Isis has a presence in the country, sparking warnings from counter-terror monitors including the Site Intelligence Group, which urged the government to face the truth. Mr Karim lived, studied and worked in the UK for nearly 20 years before returning to his country of birth to teach. He became a professor in the business faculty of Dhakas North South University, where one of the attackers was his student, in 2008 but has since left to run his fathers engineering business. Amnesty International is among the human rights organisations raising concern over the mens continued detention. While it is a positive step that Hasnat Karim and Tahmid Khan have been produced in court and formally arrested, the Bangladeshi authorities must now ensure that their rights in detention are being met, including access to a lawyer of their choosing, their families and any medical attention they may require, a spokesperson said. We call on the Bangladeshi authorities to charge them promptly with a recognisable crime, in line with international law and standards, or else release them. There must be justice for the victims of the horrific attack in Dhaka, but Bangladesh must ensure that human rights are now not sacrificed in the name of national security. A Home Office report on prison conditions in Bangladesh said they were so poor as to amount to inhuman or degrading treatment and that cases of torture had been recently reported. A spokesperson for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office told The Independent: We continue to press the Bangladeshi authorities for consular access in this case. We have repeatedly raised this case for access at a senior level and will continue to do so. We have also been in close contact with the family since we were first made aware of the arrest. Bangladesh does not recognise dual nationality and so does not abide by regulations ensuring access for UK diplomats in cases involving British-Bangladeshis. 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 }} Almost 80,000 families a year in England face the prospect of becoming homeless by 2020 unless Theresa May abandons controversial cuts to housing benefit and support, it has been claimed. The projection, which includes 60,000 households with children, is in addition to those sleeping rough on the streets. The new statistics will likely alarm campaigners who have already warned the countrys most vulnerable people would not be able to afford the rent on their homes if the Government goes ahead with the budget cuts. John Healey, who resigned from Jeremy Corbyns frontbench as the shadow housing minister following the European Union referendum, has published his projections, provided to The Independent, in an attempt to persuade Ms Mays new administration to abandon cuts to housing support and housing benefit pencilled in by the former Chancellor George Osborne. The bleak projections from Mr Healey are based on the average annual increase of homeless households in Britain between 2009 and 2016, which, he claims, currently stands at 6.3 per cent. If the trend continues over the next five years, he adds, this would mean 78,393 homelessness cases by 2020-21. Mr Healey, a former local government minister, said: The Conservatives record on housing is six years of failure, and in no area is this more painfully clear than homelessness. The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address Show all 6 1 /6 The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address Brexit The big one. Theresa May has spoken publicly three times since declaring her intent to stand in the Tory Leadership race, and each time she has said, Brexit means Brexit. It sounds resolute, but it is helpful to her that Brexit is a made up word with no real meaning. She has said there will be no second referendum and no re-entry in to the EU via the back door. But she, like the Leave campaign of which she was not a member, has pointedly not said with any precision what she thinks Brexit means Reuters The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address General election This is very much one to keep off the to do list. She said last week there would be no general election at this time of great instability. But there have already been calls for one from opposition parties. The Fixed Term Parliaments Act of 2010 makes it far more difficult to call a snap general election, a difficulty she will be in no rush to overcome. In the event of a victory for Leadsom, who was not popular with her own parliamentary colleagues, an election might have been required, but May has the overwhelming backing of the parliamentary party Getty The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address HS2 Macbeth has been quoted far too much in recent weeks, but it will be up to May to decide whether, with regard to the new high speed train link between London, Birmingham, the East Midlands and the north, returning were as tedious as go oer. Billions have already been spent. But the 55bn it will cost, at a bare minimum, must now be considered against the grim reality of significantly diminished public finances in the short to medium term at least. It is not scheduled to be completed until 2033, by which point it is not completely unreasonable to imagine a massive, driverless car-led transport revolution having rendered it redundant EPA The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address Heathrow expansion Or indeed Gatwick expansion. Or Boris Island, though that option is seems as finished as the man himself. The decision on where to expand aviation capacity in the south east has been delayed to the point of becoming a national embarrassment. A final decision was due in autumn. Whatever is decided, there will be vast opprobrium PA The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address Trident renewal David Cameron indicated two days ago that there will be a Commons vote on renewing Britains nuclear deterrent on July 18th, by which point we now know, Ms May will be Prime Minister. The Labour Party is, to put it mildly, divided on the issue. This will be an early opportunity to maximise their embarrassment, and return to Tory business as usual EPA The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address Scottish Independence Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP are in no doubt that the Brexit vote provides the opportunity for a second independence referendum, in which they can emerge victorious. The Scottish Parliament at Holyrood has the authority to call a second referendum, but Ms May and the British Parliament are by no means automatically compelled to accept the result. She could argue it was settled in 2014 AFP/Getty We should all be ashamed that in one of the richest countries in the world there has been such a huge increase in the number of people who are homeless over the last six years. These figures are a stark warning for Theresa May not to continue with the same decisions on housing and social security that have failed so badly over the last six years. Mr Healy added that at the top of her in-tray should be exempting homelessness hostels and other specialist accommodation from the planned 1 billion of cuts. I first urged minister to exempt specialist homes from these cuts back in December, but they have not listened so far," he added. Barber cuts hair of homeless Theresa May should also take the opportunity the growing homelessness crisis to strengthen the law to help prevent homelessness happening in the first place, as Labour has done in Wales. A Government spokesman, however, said to The Independent: This is unnecessary scaremongering. The truth is statutory homelessness remains less than half the 2003-04 peak, but we know one person without a home is one too many. Thats why we are investing over 500m to both tackle homelessness and prevent it happening in the first place. We also continue to spend around 90bn a year on working age benefits, to ensure a strong safety net for the most vulnerable. The causes of homelessness are varied and complex, so across Government we are considering how to improve services, including around mental health and addiction support. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight 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 Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Why are we asking this now? Owen Smith has vowed that under his leadership Labour will vote against invoking Article 50, the untested protocol for leaving the European Union, until the Conservatives commit to a second referendum or a general election to approve any final Brexit deal. The British people were lied to by the Leave campaign they deserve to have a say on whatever exit deal the Tories strike with the EU. Theresa May says that "Brexit means Brexit" but nobody knows what Brexit looks like. It could involve trashing workers rights and environmental protections, opening up our NHS up to foreign competition, making it harder for us to trade with our neighbours and damaging our economy," the Labour leadership contender said in a statement. He added: Im a passionate pro-European, and I will fight tooth and nail to keep us in the EU. Recommended Read more Owen Smith pledges to fight Brexit negotiations trigger Under my leadership, Labour wont give the Tories a blank cheque. We will vote in Parliament to block any attempt to invoke Article 50 until Theresa May commits to a second referendum or a general election on whatever the EU exit deal emerges at the end of the process. I hope Jeremy will support me in such a move. Ms May is expected to trigger Article 50, the formal process of leaving the EU, in early 2017 after government lawyers ruled out invoking Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty this year. However, some reports have suggested the Prime Minister, who has repeatedly pledged to make a success of Brexit, could push back the timetable because her new Brexit and International Trade departments are not yet ready to enter the formal negotiation process. Could Owen Smiths plan work? Theoretically, yes. The terms of Article 50, the untested protocol for a member state leaving the EU, mean that any member state may decide to withdraw from, the Union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements". David Allen Green, a prominent lawyer and writer, has previously said the phrase in accordance with its own constitutional requirements could mean either the Prime Minister making the notification as an exercise of the prerogative, following the referendum vote or a prior parliamentary vote. What is Article 50? The fact is that the longer the Article 50 notification is put off, the greater the chance it will never be made at all. This is because the longer the delay, the more likely it will be that events will intervene or excuses will be contrived, Mr Green added in a blog shortly after the referendum. It is the understanding of Mr Smiths camp that Theresa May would seek parliamentary approval, through a vote in the Commons, before formally notifying European member states of the countrys decision to leave the bloc. Can MPs ignore the result of the referendum? Geoffrey Robertson, a lawyer who has been counsel in many landmark constitutional cases, added shortly after the referendum that MPs have every right, and indeed a duty if they think it best for Britain, to vote to stay in the EU. He said that Parliament must repeal the 1972 European Communities Act, by which it voted to take us into the EU, before Brexit can be triggered. It is being said that the government can trigger Brexit under Article 50 of the Lisbon treaty, merely by sending a note to Brussels. This is wrong the UKs most fundamental constitutional requirement is that there must first be the approval of its parliament, Mr Robertson added. So, how would Owen Smith do this? The Independent understands Mr Smith would make the pledge an official party position if he wins the leadership race next month, meaning he would whip Labour MPs to vote in line with the partys leadership. Added with the evident opposition of leaving the EU from the Liberal Democrats, the SNP and the Greens, Ms May could theoretically be forced into accepting Mr Smiths terms: a second referendum or a general election on whatever the EU exit deal emerges at the end of the process. "Im saying that we didnt know exactly what we were voting on. We were fibbed to about the extra money to the NHS, we were fibbed to that there we were going to be getting easy answers to immigration," Mr Smith told BBC Radio 4s Today programme. "We could put it back to the country as a second referendum or a general election. I fundamentally believe that Jeremy didnt fight hard enough. That we should stay in Europe. I think we can ask the question at the end of this is Britain going to be better off or worse off as a result of Brexit? But would he face a backlash? Yes. Despite the ability and legality of the Commons to block the Brexit vote, MPs would be effectively ignoring the voice of Leave campaigners and the 17,410,742 people who voted to leave the EU in June. Many would likely see this a breach of democratic trust and with more than a third of Labour supporters believed to have backed Brexit, Labour MPs could risk alienating their constituents if they voted to ignore the vote to leave the EU. Conservative MP and Leave campaigner Jacob Rees-Mogg told the Mail Online: "It is a direct snub to Labour voters. We would not have won the referendum without the support of a very large number of Labour voters, particularly in the north of England. Rather than listen to them he is now basically saying they are wrong." 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 }} Whitehall officials reviewing the massive Hinkley Point nuclear project are exploring how the UK might withdraw from the deal while minimising financial risk and damage to international relations, it has been claimed. Westminster sources told The Independent civil servants are looking to see if there is any loophole, clause or issue in contracts yet to be signed that allow the Government to pull back without huge loss and while also saving face. Ministers are acutely aware of the potential damage a withdrawal could do to relations with China, which is committed to pouring billions of pounds into the controversial project. Former Chancellor George Osborne was an enthusiastic supporter of the 18 billion scheme, but since Theresa Mays arrival it is being reviewed by the new administration. Recommended Read more Hinkley Point nuclear plant in doubt as Government announces review A Whitehall source said: There is a working assumption of people in government that the civil service is looking for a way out, a legal loophole, a clause. They are looking for anything that will allow the Government to withdraw and also allow the Chinese to withdraw while also saving face. It was expected last month when the board of French energy company EDF voted to go ahead with Hinkley C power station that the British Government would give its approval. Instead new Business Secretary Greg Clark announced he needed more time to make a decision. It followed claims that the price promised for Hinkleys electricity at 92.50 per MWh, more than double the wholesale price, was too expensive. The two new reactors that would be built at Hinkley are also of unproven design, with the two being constructing elsewhere beset by budget overruns and delays. There have also been concerns over whether Chinas involvement is a security risk. Nick Timothy, a senior adviser to Mrs May previously warned that China could use their role to build weaknesses into computer systems which will allow them to shut down Britains energy production at will. Chinas ambassador to the UK has warned the delay means the two countries are at a "crucial historical juncture" and that "mutual trust" could be at risk if the deal falls. EDF may also have problems fulfilling its end of any agreement. The companys finance director Thomas Piquemal resigned earlier this year, fearing Hinkley could lead to the firms insolvency. A senior Government figure said: The other thing no-one is talking about is what happens after the French election. Hollande is not going to be there and it is not clear whether Sarkozy or Juppe are committed to it. A spokesperson from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy said: No contract has been signed and it is only right that a new Government considers all component parts carefully before making a final decision. 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 }} Owen Smith called his Labour leadership rival Jeremy Corbyn a lunatic at a rally in west London. Mr Smith was answering a question on how Labour could win back Tory voters and said: At a hustings a few weeks ago, Jeremy Corbyn said, Yes weve got to get some of the people who contemplated voting Tory in the past to vote Labour. Rubbish! Weve got to get two million people who actually voted Tory, 12 months ago, to vote Labour, in 106 seats. And what you wont get from me, is some, you know, lunatic at the top of the Labour Party, youll have someone who tries to form a coherent narrative about whats wrong with Britain. Mr Smith also said he would fight a general election on a promise to keep Britain in the European Union if elected leader. Almost all of the 106 seats Labour would have to win back from the Conservatives voted to leave the EU. Make party conference sovereign to make sure there won't be backsliding on the radical things I've promised, Mr Smith said. 49 per cent of the people of this country didn't vote to leave the European Union. If we can win 49 per cent of the vote, well be laughing. Mr Corbyn is firmly expected to win the competition, but Mr Smith said it was 50/50. Im telling you now, on the phones, this is 50 50 across the country. I was in Wolverhampton last night and we were winning hands down. There are 20 per cent of people who are undecided. I am telling you now at the end of this contest, I will have won it. Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Show all 8 1 /8 Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith clash at a leadership hustings in Gateshead, where Mr Smith was scarcely able to answer a question without being booed by Mr Corbyns supporters PA Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Jeremy himself admitted he was seven out of 10 in terms of his faith in the European Union. He said it, said Mr Smith during his second live debate with Jeremy Corbyn Getty Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Ballot papers are currently due to be sent out on 22 August and returned a month later, with the result being announced at a special Labour conference on 24 September Getty Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Jeremy Corbyn supporters cheer and wave placards as the Labour Leader addresses thousands of supporters in in Liverpool, England Getty Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Labour Party leadership candidate Owen Smith poses for a picture with supporters during a picnic for young members in London Fields, Hackney in London Getty Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith The Labour leader has a spring in his step at a leadership rally in Sunderland Screenshot Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Labour leadership contender Owen Smith delivers a speech at the Open University in Milton Keynes, where he promised to reverse Conservative cuts set to leave millions of low paid workers thousands of pounds a year worse off PA Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has urged Owen Smith to distance himself from those saying they want to split the Labour party Getty One member said she would resign if Mr Corbyn won. Mr Smith told her: If he wins, please don't resign, because we need to make sure weve got people fighting for our values to take on the Conservatives at the next election. Asked about his use of the word "lunatic" on BBC radio, Mr Smith later claimed he was in no way referring to Mr Corbyn. He said: I was saying that I wasnt a lunatic. Having been accused earlier in the evening of running round like a lunatic, I was saying I wasnt a lunatic. But if anybody is offended by the use of that word, then I do apologise. Ive done that already this morning and Ill do it again. But I wasnt talking about Jeremy, I was talking about me. Mr Smith admitted that he was sometimes colourful with his language, but denied this was an impediment to him being leader. A spokesperson for the Jeremy for Labour campaign, said: "Owen Smith has degraded this contest by descending into personal abuse. He should apologise to people suffering with mental illness, many of whom would have been dismayed and upset to to hear such offensive language used in public by a Labour politician. "He should also withdraw his remark, and spend time with people suffering from mental health problems to develop some sensitivity in his use of language. This is simply not the language that someone standing to lead our party should use, and it injects an ugly tone into this contest that no Labour member wants to see." 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 }} Privatisation and outsourcing are draining the NHS of resources that could be used to improve patient care, Jeremy Corbyn has said. The Labour leader warned that private finance debts and badly negotiated contracts were a significant recurring cost to the health service and pledged to take the whole system into public ownership if he was elected. It was reported in 2015 that PFI debts, where a hospital is built by a private company and rented back to the NHS, cost the health service 2 billion a year or 3,700 every minute. Recommended Read more Jeremy Corbyn loses his cool after Virgin Trains row question Privatisation and outsourcing dont just erode the founding principles of the NHS theyre actually a terrible waste of resources, Mr Corbyn told an audience at University College Hospital in London. PFI is robbing money from patient care across the country. NHS trusts are spending vast resources in servicing debt. Social care is being sold to the highest bidder, its become disjointed, starved of resources rather than being the integrated, comprehensive service it has to be. Too often, there are email disputes between hospitals and local authorities about who is going to care for somebody rather than ensuring theyre cared for as quickly as possible. Thats not to say that those who administer it dont work extremely hard they do. But theyre starved of resources and theyre under stressed. Mr Corbyn is laying out policies in the midst of a Labour leadership contest, following a challenge by Owen Smith. The pair will go head-to-head in a hustings on Thursday evening. Mr Smith has also said he is supportive of a fully publicly-run NHS. PFI was used to fund large hospital projects (AFP/Getty) The veteran Labour MP has long warned that PFI was a mistake even while Labour was implementing it in government. In July 2000 he led criticism in the House of Commons, asking health minster John Denham to consider the long-term cost to local health services incurred by using private finance rather than public finance for new buildings. The Government however proceeded with the policy, debate further warnings in 2001 from the head of the government's own advisory board Sir Stuart Lipton, who said the policy could be a disaster. Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Show all 8 1 /8 Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith clash at a leadership hustings in Gateshead, where Mr Smith was scarcely able to answer a question without being booed by Mr Corbyns supporters PA Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Jeremy himself admitted he was seven out of 10 in terms of his faith in the European Union. He said it, said Mr Smith during his second live debate with Jeremy Corbyn Getty Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Ballot papers are currently due to be sent out on 22 August and returned a month later, with the result being announced at a special Labour conference on 24 September Getty Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Jeremy Corbyn supporters cheer and wave placards as the Labour Leader addresses thousands of supporters in in Liverpool, England Getty Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Labour Party leadership candidate Owen Smith poses for a picture with supporters during a picnic for young members in London Fields, Hackney in London Getty Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith The Labour leader has a spring in his step at a leadership rally in Sunderland Screenshot Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Labour leadership contender Owen Smith delivers a speech at the Open University in Milton Keynes, where he promised to reverse Conservative cuts set to leave millions of low paid workers thousands of pounds a year worse off PA Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has urged Owen Smith to distance himself from those saying they want to split the Labour party Getty Mr Corbyn went on to pledge: The next Labour government will go further than reversing Tory cuts we intend to deliver a modern healh and social care service, fully publicly provided and fully publicly funded by integrating health and social care into the single system so that everybody gets the care they need when the need to. Shadow health secretary Diane Abbott, who also spoke at the rally, suggested that the NHS could work closely with local authorites to tackle issues like housing. For a period during the 20th century housing was previously the responsibility of the department for health. A press question and answer session after the speech was marred by ill tempers, with Mr Corbyn appearing angry that journalists were asking questions about a row with Virgin Trains. This is a press conference about the NHS, he said. A cameraman also remonstrated with a press officer on Mr Corbyns campaign, accusing him of deliberately not calling a journalist for a question about the Virgin Trains row. Other pledges made by Mr Corbyn and his team during the speech included reversing cuts to nurse bursaries, ending the public sector pay freeze, and not imposing the junior doctor contract or any contract. Responding to Mr Corbyns speech a Conservative spokesperson said Labour could not provide a strong NHS. Whoever wins their leadership contest, Labour are too incompetent and divided to build the strong economy a strong NHS needs, he said. We have put doctors and nurses in charge of deciding who can best provide the care patients need, and the use of outside providers has grown more slowly than under the last Labour government. Labour cannot and will not deliver a country that works for everyone. 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 }} Cincinnati has become the latest American city to be hit by a huge wave of heroin overdoses in a single night, recording 20 mostly in a three-hour period. No-one died on Tuesday night and the victims were revived with Narcan, the anti-opiate medication that has become a frontline defence in the war on drugs. Authorities in the city say they have launched an investigation into whether the overdoses were connected, and whether a contaminated or super-strong consignment of heroin was to blame. Recommended Read more West Virginia town reeling after 27 heroin overdoses in four hours Last week, a small town in Virginia recorded 27 overdose cases. And more overdoses were also reported in southeast Indiana county, about 75 miles from Cincinnati. Local police issued a warning to drug users to be extra careful. Lt Steve Saunders: The Cincinnati Police Department has received preliminary information that there have been a very high number of heroin related overdoses in the area today. This has been generalised on the west side of Cincinnati, but it does not mean this compound is not in other areas. One man was revived after passing out in his car with a six-year-old boy in a petrol station car park. Joyce Alexander, Shell manager, told WLWT TV, she tried to calm the young boy. I started crying. I did, she said. I started crying and I asked him questions. I got him calmed down, gave him a toy to play with and he said his moms in jail and he lives with his grandma. Its sad. The introduction of Narcan is credited with controlling the number of deaths from opiate overdoses even as abuse of prescription drugs and heroin are on the rise. However, some public health officials fear it has caused an increase in the number of overdoses among addicts who know they can be revived from ever higher drug doses. Narcan can be delivered in the form of a nasal spray, and binds with the brains opiate receptors reversing an overdose. 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 }} Gunmen launched an attack on the American University in Kabul during evening classes, detonating a string of explosions and trapping students and teachers inside. Afghan special forces responded to emergency calls for help, surounding the campus, according to an Interior Ministry official. Several gunmen attacked the American University in Kabul and there are reports of gunfire and explosions, the official said. They are inside the compound and there are foreign professors along with hundreds of students. One injured person is carried to an ambulance (AP) The attack began at 7pm on Wednesday evening when residents heard a loud blast near the university, according to BNO News. Gunmen entered the building as classes were taking place. A security guard has been killed. A student told NBC news that he was walking out of class with his friends when a large explosion threw him to the ground. "We got up, and in the midst of dust ... kept running to the back of the building and climbed the walls and jumped down on the street," he said. Dozens of people injured themselves as they jumped from second story windows to escape. Ambulances could be seen ferrying the injured to hospital and officials said one student had been killed and 14 wounded even as the attack continued. Police spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said police believed there was just one assailant. The attack comes shortly after an American and an Australian professor were kidnapped at gunpoint from the university. Their whereabouts are still unknown. The prestigious institution reopened three days later, but authorities remain concerned about the security of the campus and the effect the incident would have on attracting future students. It opened in 2006 and is attended by more than 1,000 students, offering a full undergraduate curriculum and all courses are taught in English. More to follow. 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 }} Muslim women serving with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, RCMP, have been given dispensation to wear a hijab while on duty. The change is meant encourage diversity in the ranks of the so-called Mounties, who normally don a uniform that dates all the way back to the 1800s and includes a felt Stetson hat, the government said. The outfit, which easily distinguishes the Mounties from other types of police officer and is regarded affectionately by many Canadians as a symbol of patriotic identity along with the maple leaf on the national flag, also includes leather riding boots and red serge tunics. While the Mounties themselves were informed of the new policy at the start of this year, it was only formally unveiled by the Ottawa government this week. It will be seen as Canada taking a stand against islamophobia and setting itself apart from other countries that remain politically uncomfortable with Muslim members of the community making their own choices about what kind of clothing attunes with their faith in which circumstances. In particular, France is currently in tumult over the issue after a court in Nice on Monday upheld a ban on so-called burkinis - a full body swimsuit chosen by some Muslim women when visiting the beach - on the grounds that they offend some non-Muslims and exacerbate tensions between the different faith communities. The Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, on Tuesday dismissed the notion of the country ever imposing a burkini ban. In Canada, can we speak of acceptance, openness, friendship, understanding? It is about where we are going and what we are going through every day in our diverse and rich communities, he was cited as saying by AFP, the French news agency. The RCMP first relaxed its uniform requirements in 1990 when it granted Sikh officers the right to wear turbans instead of the Stetson hats. That too was a step taken to boost recruitment. There are roughly half a million Sikhs in Canada, with the largest number in and around Toronto. There have been roughly 30 recent cases of RCMP officers asking for some relaxation in the uniform rules, mostly men asking to wear beards again in accordance with religious tradition. There have as yet been no women stepping forward to take advantage of the hijab provision. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Andrew Vaughan) According to local media reports, the RCMP tested three different variations on the traditional hijab and eventually chose the one that was least likely to interfere with the women officers carrying out their duties while at the same time being comfortable. The decision was approved by the RCMP commissioner and confirmed in a statement from a spokesman for the Public Safety Minister, Ralph Goodale. The commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) recently approved this addition to the uniform, Scott Bardsley said.This is intended to better reflect the diversity in our communities and encourage more Muslim women to consider the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as a career option. The RCMP is hardly the first to alter its stance with regard to head scarves for Muslim women. The metropolitan police forces of Toronto and Edmonton, both in Canada, had already given the green light for the hijab as have forces in several US states. They can also be seen worn by female police officers in London, Sweden and Norway. Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Nadine White Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter The Race Report 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 Race Report email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A black man has been shot by US police after his wife called officers to their home to report a car-jacking. In what the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) called a "tragic incident", the 48-year-old was reportedly mistaken for his wife's assailant by a police officer with nine years' experience. The shooting, which has left Mr Williams fighting for his life in hospital, is the latest in a series that have sparked a crisis in the US over race relations and police training. The fact Mr Williams, who reportedly had his gun on him, was shot on sight has prompted an outpouring of criticism. Since promising greater transparency about police shootings, the IMPD has emulated police departments around the country by attempting to give a full account of the incident. Speaking at a press conference broadcast on RTV6, assistant chief Randal Taylor said: "First and foremost this is a tragic incident, involving a homeowner attempting to protect his family and the IMPD officers trying to do the same thing. "And of course our thoughts and prayers are certainly with the homeowner and the family, who was mistakenly shot by our officer and we wish him a quick recovery." According to the account recorded by IMPD's dispatching team, Mr Williams called 911 at 4.34 am to report that his wife was assaulted by a "black male in a red shirt armed with a rifle" who had demanded their car keys before stealing the couple's black Nissan Sentra. The road, Foxtail Drive, on the 3600 block, where Carl Williams was shot by police officer Christopher Mills after calling for help (Google Maps) A disrupted phone line, in which the upset Ms Williams could be heard in the background, ended after four minutes with Mr Williams saying "is that him?" before cutting out. The dispatching team returned the call but only got through to voicemail. This information was passed on by the dispatching team to officers. At no point did Mr Williams say he had a weapon. Unarmed black care worker shot by US police while he was calming autistic patient Two late shift officers were then sent to the area at 4.35am, arriving to find a black car with its headlights shining on the front drive. Assistant chief Taylor said police officers were trained to approach "quietly and tactically" rather than make their presence known. As one officer began to check the number plate, Mr Williams opened the garage door while holding his own gun. The other officer, identified as Christopher Mills, then shot him in the abdomen. Assistant chief Randal Taylor explains the sequence of events leading up to the shooting at a press conference (YouTube/RTV6) Meanwhile, the original assailant is "still at large", said police. Assistant chief Taylor continued: "They made observations based on information known at that time. The time of day, the early morning hours and low level lighting caused vision to be limited. "The officers involved were forced to make a split second decision based on the information and totality of the circumstances known at the time. "The officer involved was a nine-year veteran of the east district late shift. Again this was tragic and unforeseen. I don't know of any officer who goes out wanting to get into a shootout with anyone, but especially not as in this case a homeowner." Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police Show all 19 1 /19 Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police Protestors demand justice for Philando Castile on July 7, 2016 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Stephen Maturen/Getty Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police Protestors lie in an intersection during a demonstration for Philando Castile on July 7, 2016 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Stephen Maturen/Getty Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police Protestors lie in an intersection during a demonstration for Philando Castile on July 7, 2016 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Stephen Maturen/Getty Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police Protestors demand justice for Philando Castile on July 7, 2016 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Stephen Maturen/Getty Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police Protesters march throughout New York City. Timothy A Clary/AFP/Getty Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police Protesters march throughout New York City. Timothy A Clary/AFP/Getty Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police Protesters are arrested by NYPD as they call for justice throughout New York City. Timothy A Clary/AFP/Getty Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police Protesters are arrested by NYPD as they call for justice throughout New York City. AFP/Getty Images Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police AFP/Getty Images Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police AFP/Getty Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police AFP/Getty Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police AFP/Getty Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police AFP/Getty Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police AFP/Getty Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police AFP/Getty Images Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police Getty Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police Getty Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police Getty The Black Lives Matter movement in the US has drawn attention to the disproportionate number of black Americans who are stopped, searched and shot by police. Last month, a black therapist called Charles Kinsey was shot by police while lying unarmed on the ground with his hands in the air trying to calm his autistic patient. When he asked the police officer who shot him why he had done so, the man replied: "I don't know." Other cases of black Americans killed by police last month include Philando Castile, 32, who was shot in his car when reaching for his wallet, and Alton Sterling, 37, who was repeatedly shot in the back and chest for carrying a gun in his pocket - as many people do in accordance with the US constitution's Second Amendment. Some 698 people have been shot by US police in 2016 alone. According to The Guardian, 4.33 black people were killed per million, as opposed to 1.73 white people. 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 }} An 83-year-old man has been mauled to death by a pack of four dogs near his home in Florida. Michael Downing was killed by his neighbours dogs near his home in Jacksonville at around 4pm on Friday, according to officials. Neighbours discovered Mr Downings body by a set of bins next to his and the dog owners homes. He had been dismembered and was barely recognisable, WFTV9 reports. By far its probably the worst things Ive ever seen in my life, Mackenzie Partin told the broadcaster. There was only 30 per cent left of his body. It is thought Mr Downing may have been dragged into the yard by the animals from the other side of their fence, while other neighbours claim to have witnessed the dogs slipping through holes in the fence on previous occasions. One neighbour told the Florida Times Union that the dogs had treated Mr Downing like a rag doll. The four animals, identified as a Rottweiler, and three dogs of mixed breeds of German shepherd, Rottweiler and chow chow, had torn off the mans legs and ripped flesh from his arms and head. Neighbours said Mr Downing had been a frail, elderly man who had recently been given a wheelchair, and would have been unable to fight back. They have also expressed concerns that the dogs will return. The owner of the four dogs has since claimed that neighbours had regularly agitated the animals. Lephus Fenton, 52, whose property is separated from Mr Downings apartment complex by a fence, told the newspaper that he was not at home at the time of the attack. He had hoped the Jacksonville Animal Care and Protective Services would return his dogs once they had been evaluated, but the centre has since said the animals are in the process of being declared dangerous. Mr Fenton will be able to appeal the decision made by the centre but officials have indicated the process of declaring the dogs as dangerous is continuing, which could see the animals humanely euthanised, News4Jax reports. Police have said they are discussing possible charges for Mr Fenton with the State Attorneys office. No arrest has yet been made. 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 mother in the US has been charged with killing her newborn son by placing him in a fridge for several hours, causing the infant to die from hypothermia and suffocation. Angela Blackwell, 27, from the state of South Carolina, was arrested after officers found the body of four-day-old William at the family home in Chester County. The mother allegedly removed the child after three hours and sought medical attention at around 8.30am, but paramedics were unable to revive the boy and he was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The incident took place on February 27 and police waited to conduct extensive interviews with Blackwells family members before making an arrest. She appeared in court yesterday afternoon charged with homicide by child abuse, according to the Associated Press. A spokesman for South Carolina police said: We have the authority to investigate all child deaths in the state under our child fatality unit. 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 "We came in and assisted Chester County. They had already begun an investigation, so we worked with them." Blackwells friends and relatives, including her father-in-law, have publicly protested her innocence and described how she loves her kids too much to commit such a crime. The childs three-year-old brother was taken into care by South Carolina Social Services after the arrest, according to the Rocky Hill Herald. The motivation behind the incident remains unclear and Blackwell faces a potential life sentence if convicted. 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 week after an unarmed deaf driver was killed in North Carolina, police still cannot explain why he was fatally shot by an officer after a ten-mile chase. The North Carolina Highway Patrol has urged people not to jump to conclusions as agents investigate how the driver, with a history of minor offences, was killed. The family of Daniel Harris said he was unarmed, and suggested the sequence of events last week was a tragic misunderstanding. It was the sort of incident the states training manual warns troopers to avoid when dealing with the hearing impaired, the Associated Press said. Police said they had been trying to pull over Mr Harris for speeding (YouTube) As it was, Mr Harris was shot and killed by officer Jermaine Saunders, who had been trying to pull him over for speeding. Police said Mr Harris did not respond, leading to a pursuit in which both cars were damaged. The cars stopped only yards from the 29-year-olds house. On Wednesday, police urged the public not to jump to conclusions. Let us all refrain from making assumptions or drawing conclusions prior to the internal and independent reviews, Secretary Frank Perry of the state Department of Public Safety said in a statement. Eyewitnesses have claimed Mr Harris was unarmed and shot almost immediately after he left his vehicle. He appeared to be trying to communicate with the officer via sign language. Police said that last Thursdays incident started when Mr Harris did not pull over as Mr Saunders turned on his blue lights on Interstate 485 near Charlotte at about 6.15pm and ended after Mr Harris drove down several miles of surface streets to his home. The trooper was trying to pull him over for speeding. North Carolinas Basic Law Enforcement Training manual has a section that deals with interacting with deaf drivers. Keep your eyes on the persons hands, it reads. Starbucks barista uses sign language to help deaf customer order at drive-thru Deaf people have been stopped by an officer and then shot and killed because the deaf person made a quick move for a pen and pad in his or her coat pocket or glove compartment. These unfortunate incidents can be prevented by mutual awareness which overcomes the lack of communication. The victims family said Mr Harris likely didnt understand the officers commands. Mr Harris' family said they want to make sure the incident was investigated thoroughly and also wanted the state to make changes so officers will immediately know they are dealing with a hearing-impaired driver. 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 Trump campaign operative has suggested Hillary Clinton is so sick that she will survive a year in office, in the latest wild allegation about the Democratic nominees health. Ms Clintons campaign has denied the claims in an effort to draw a line under some of the conspiracy theories being propagated by Mr Trump and his supporters. That did not stop an official running operations in a key battleground state drawing conclusions from Ms Clintons summer clothing. Recommended Read more Hillary Clinton dismisses claims of ill health on Jimmy Kimmel Live Addressing a gathering of Women4Trump in the town of Middleburg, John Jaggers, Trump's Northern Virginia and Maryland state director, asked why Mrs Clinton was dressed for winter during a recent campaign t. How many of you would wear a wool coat in August? he said, according to The Louden Times. "The woman who seeks to be the first female president of the United States wears a wool coat at every single thing. Have you ever stopped to wonder why? It's a big deal, folks. This woman is very, very sick and they're covering it up. You're not so much talking about Hillary Clinton being president for eight years, you're talking about Tim Kaine being president for eight years. Because that's what we're dealing with here. At first the Clinton campaign declined to push back against the crank theories, worried about lending credibility to unsubstantiated rumours. But with no sign of the issue going away they released the candidates medical records in late July, showing that she was in excellent physical condition and fit to serve as president of the United States. Jennifer Palmieri, the campaign's director of communications, said in a statement: Hillary Clinton has released a detailed medical record showing her to be in excellent health plus her personal tax returns since 1977, while Trump has failed to provide the public with the most basic financial information disclosed by every major candidate in the last 40 years. Its time for him to stop using shameful distractions to hide his own record. Ms Clinton joked about the issue on Monday night when she appeared on Jimmy Kimmels show. The host took her pulse before Ms Clinton showed off her strength by opening a pickle jar. 'I do feel sometimes like this campaign has entered into an alternative universe, she said. I have to step into the alternative reality and, you know, answer questions about, am I alive, how much longer will I be alive, and the like," she said. 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 }} Unwilling to leave the national stage, Bernie Sanders is preparing to launch a new political action effort on Wednesday, even as it is rocked by controversy and mass resignations among the top staff he personally picked to run it. The so-called Our Revolution movement is set to be kicked off on Wednesday night when Mr Sanders, who was beaten to the Democratic presidential nomination by Hillary Clinton after a bitter fight, will address house parties across the country in a live-streaming video feed. Some might see it as the Bernie Sanders Grudge Tour. The leftist Senator from Vermont will pitch his new organisation as an attempt to keep the anti-establishment, anti-Wall Street promises of his campaign alive in part by directing resources to candidates who share them. Recommended Read more Half of people who met Clinton at State Department gave to foundation A top priority, he told supporters in an email, will be to help boost the campaign of Tim Canova, a liberal Democrat running against Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz in Florida. He repeatedly tangled with Ms Wasserman Schultz, the former chair of the Democratic National Committee, DNC, during the primary season alleging that she was trying to favour Ms Clinton. The launch comes just as Ms Clinton is being rocked by new revelations about special access that was granted to her office while she was US Secretary of State to individuals who had donated cash to the Clinton Foundation, set up by her husband, former President Bill Clinton, after he left office. Already, however, the whole enterprise is in turmoil, thanks to the resignations of several of its top staff members even before it was off the ground, who were angered by the decision of Senator Sanders and his wife, Jane Sanders, to appoint his former campaign manager, John Weaver, as its top officer over their very clearly expressed objections. Among those heading to the exits was Claire Sandberg, who was the digital organising director of the campaign and the organising director of Our Revolution. Her entire department of four people quit, in fact. Sanders 'Sold His Soul to the Devil' - Trump in Denver She and the others who joined the revolt, including Kenneth Pennington, who was to be the digital director of Our Revolution, were opposed to Mr Weavers involvement both for reasons of personality clashes and because they felt he mismanaged the Senators campaign in part by spending too much money on television advertising and failing to harness grassroots support. They also contended that Mr Weaver would only exacerbate an additional concern they had with the new entity namely that it has been set up as a so-called 501(c)(4) organisation, which, because of its charitable status, is in theory not allowed to work directly with the election of political candidates and is able to receive large sums from anonymous donors. A large part of the premise of Mr Sanderss campaign for president had been precisely to wean political campaigns from the flood of dark money that flows into them. That the Our Revolution entity has been set up precisely to take such money looked to them like a betrayal. According to several reports a majority of the staff appointed to run the new outfit resigned as soon as the appointment of Mr Weaver was confirmed on Monday. I left and others left because we were alarmed that Jeff would mismanage this organisation as he mismanaged the campaign, Ms Sandberg told the New York Times, saying Mr Weaver would betray its core purpose by accepting money from billionaires and not remaining grass-roots funded and plowing that billionaire cash into TV instead of investing it in building a genuine movement. Bernie and Jane Sanders. (Brian Snyder/Reuters) Its about both the fundraising and the spending: Jeff would like to take big money from rich people including billionaires and spend it on ads, she explained to Politico. Thats the opposite of what this campaign and this movement are supposed to be about and after being very firm and raising alarm the staff felt that we had no choice but to quit. Urging supporters to show up on Wednesday with an email titled Bernies Next Steps, Mr Sanders promised them a movement to empower a wave of progressive candidates this November and win the major upcoming fights for the values we share. He went on: We'll also talk about how you can be a key movement builder in your community for Our Revolution. In a separate fund-raising letter, he specifically addressed his desire to see Ms Wasserman Schultz defeated. She was forced to resign as head of the DNC on the eve of the Democratic Convention in Philadelphia last month after hacked emails made public by Wikileaks indicated that the committee had indeed voiced some preference for Ms Clinton becoming the partys nominee. This race is very important for Our Revolution because if we can win this tough fight in Florida, it will send a clear message about the power of our grassroots movement that will send shockwaves through the political and media establishments, Mr Sanders wrote. 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 }} The foundation established by Bill and Hillary Clinton is at the centre of fresh controversy after it was revealed that half of the people who met her when she was secretary of state gave money to the organisation. In the latest twist to a saga that has seen Republican candidate Donald Trump call for an independent investigation of the foundation, an analysis by the Associated Press has revealed that 50 per cent of private individuals who got to see her - at least 85 of 154 - donated money either personally or through a company. Combined, the 85 donors contributed as much as $156m. The Clinton Foundation was established in 1997 by former president Bill Clinton improving global health, increasing opportunity for women and girls, and reducing childhood obesity. Yet as Ms Clinton has made her bid for the White House, the foundation has been the target of allegations of that it accepted donations in exchange for political access. The foundation has raised more than $2bn in donations and currently has 2,000 employees. Mr Trump has been at front of those alleging impropriety. Hillary Clinton is totally unfit to hold public office, he said at a rally Tuesday night in Austin, Texas. It is impossible to figure out where the Clinton Foundation ends and the State Department begins. It is now abundantly clear that the Clintons set up a business to profit from public office. The Clintons have both denied that there has ever being anything like the process of pay-for-play that Mr Trump has alleged. Yet as with many things relating to the couples political endeavours, the optics of the arrangement are not good. Hillary Clinton dismisses claims of ill health on Jimmy Kimmel Live appearance Aware of how things may look bad - while insisting nothing unethical has transpired - Mr Clinton said that if his wife were to win, he would step down from the foundations board and stop all fundraising for it. The foundation has said would also accept donations only from US citizens and what it described as independent philanthropies, while no longer taking gifts from foreign groups, US companies or corporate charities. The AP analysis found that among those granted time with Ms Clinton included Muhammad Yunus, an internationally known economist who asked for her help as the Bangladesh government pressured him to resign from a nonprofit bank he ran, a Wall Street executive who sought her help with a visa problem, and Estee Lauder executives who were listed as meeting with Ms Clinton while her department worked with the firm's corporate charity to counter gender-based violence in South Africa. The meetings between the Democratic presidential nominee and foundation donors do not appear to violate legal agreements Ms Clinton and her husband signed before she joined the State Department in 2009. But it said the frequency of the overlaps shows the intermingling of access and donations, and fuels perceptions that giving the foundation money was a price of admission for face time with Ms Clinton. Brian Fallon, a spokesman for Ms Clinton, said the nature of some of her meetings was being misrepresented. It is outrageous to misrepresent Secretary Clintons basis for meeting with these individuals, he said. This is a distorted portrayal of how often she crossed paths with individuals connected to charitable donations to the Clinton Foundation. 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 }} More than 1.4 million guns were given by the US government to Iraqi and Afghan forces, according to an exhaustive study of the more than $40bn (36bn) worth of US Department of Defence munitions contracts since 9/11. The London-based charity Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) spent more than a year analysing the contracts published by the Department of Defence between 11 September 2001 and 10 September 2015, and concluded that at least 1,452,910 firearms had been provided by the US military to their partners in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that the Pentagon has a partial idea of not only the total number, but how and where the weapons are currently being used. In one example, the group found contracts for weapons with companies, whose clients include Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, publicly declared as being for Truck Trailer Manufacturing, but the payments made to the company were listed as being for GUNS, THROUGH 30mm. The findings fit with long held anecdotal evidence that US authorities handed firearms to local fighters and militia as part of its war on terror with little or no intention of monitoring their use or whereabouts. The Pentagon has been criticised for not applying to itself the same standards it applies to US troops under its command, who are encouraged to think of their rifle as an extension of their own person, and take meticulous care of ensuring it is never lost or damaged. A Pentagon spokesperson admitted to the New York Times that there had been lapses in accountability of some of the weapons transferred. But he maintained that once a weapon was handed to a foreign fighting force, It is their responsibility to account for that weapon. In pictures: US Elections 2016 Show all 15 1 /15 In pictures: US Elections 2016 In pictures: US Elections 2016 Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks to supporters after rival candidate Hillary Clinton was projected as the winner in the Nevada Democratic caucuses Reuters In pictures: US Elections 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton takes photos with workers at her campaign office in Des Moines, Iowa AP In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, second from left, prays before lunch with supporters at Drake Diner in Des Moines, Iowa Reuters In pictures: US Elections 2016 Democratic presidential candidate and former Maryland Governor. Martin O'Malley, speaks during a campaign stop in Waterloo, Iowa AP In pictures: US Elections 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks, as his wife Jane OMeara Sanders looks on, at a campaign event at Iowa State University Getty In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio speaks at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa Reuters In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson speaks at a campaign event at Fireside Pub and Steak House in Manchester, Iowa. Getty In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum visiting supporters at a house party in West Des Moines, Iowa Reuters In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at a campaign event in Cedar Rapids, Iowa AP In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican candidate Ted Cruz campaigns at Greene County Community Centre in Jefferson, Iowa AP In pictures: US Elections 2016 Senator Rand Paul speaks during a Caucus rally at his Des Moines headquarters in Iowa Getty In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican candidate Jeb Bush speaks at a campaign event in Des Moines, Iowa AFP In pictures: US Elections 2016 Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin introducing the arrival of Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Cedar Rapids, Iowa Reuters In pictures: US Elections 2016 A portrait of Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders at his campaign headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa Getty In pictures: US Elections 2016 Campaign badges on sale ahead of a Trump rally at the Ramada Waterloo Hotel and Convention Centre in Waterloo, Iowa Getty It is clear that among the many firearms openly available for purchase on black markets and indeed social media throughout the Middle East were originally provided by U.S. authorities to their associates in Iraq and Afghanistan. Iain Overton, a former BBC journalist who led the AOAVs research, said: Our findings raise concerns about the DoD's transparency and accountability when it comes to issuing contracts. It highlights the fact that significant numbers of small arms are sent to foreign governments but are never publicly recorded by the DoD publicly. We know by looking at other US government records, that at least 1,452,910 small arms have been sent to Iraq and Afghanistan in the last 14 years. We hope our findings and database summaries will inform the US debate on seemingly unchecked and military expenditure and highlight concerns about the US government's oversupply of arms to unstable states." 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 giant pearl believed to be the biggest in the world and possibly worth over $100m (76m) has been discovered in the Philippines after a fishermans family handed it in to authorities. The huge pearl is confirmed to have come from a giant clam. It measures at 30.5cm in width and 2.2ft in length, and weighs a staggering 34kg. It was discovered nearly a decade ago by the local fisherman but was kept hidden under his bed as a good luck charm until recently. Puerto Princesa City Tourism Officer Aileen Amurao said the gigantic pearl was handed in by a relative of the fisherman. We were amazed when he brought it to us, Palawan tourism official Aileen Amurao told local media, the BBC reports. Ms Amurao put out a plea on Facebook for gemologists to visit Puerto Princesa and help certify the pearls authenticity and officials are currently waiting on confirmation of the gems status as the largest pearl in the world. Prior to this discovery, the worlds largest pearl was known to be the Pearl of Lao Tzu, also found in the Philippines, and weighing 6.4kg. 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 woman stabbed to death in Australia by a Frenchman allegedly shouting "Allahu Akbar" has been named. Mia Ayliffe-Chung, from Wirksworth in Derbyshire, was pronounced dead at the scene after being stabbed in front of 30 witnesses at the Shellys Backpackers hostel in Home Hill, Queensland, on Tuesday evening. The 29-year-old, who was arrested at the scene, shouted Allahu Akbar, according to witnesses. A 30-year-old British man was also attacked and is in a critical condition in hospital. British woman stabbed to death in Australia by man shouting 'Allahu Akbar' Ms Ayliffe-Chung had been working as a fruit picker in Home Hill in Queensland for just 10 days after previously spending six months working as a waitress at a nightclub in Gold Coast City. In making the career change, she had been trying to fulfill a requirement necessary for the extension of her working holiday visa. Mia Ayliffe-Chung had been working on a fruit farm to fulfill the requirements of her visa (Facebook) Ms Ayliffe-Chung had been chronicling her time on the farm on Facebook but said she missed her "home" in the Surfer's Paradise area of Gold Coast. Staff at The Bedroom nightclub where she worked said the venue would remain closed on Wednesday as a mark of respect for their "bubbly" former colleague", the Gold Coast Bulletin reported. They said she had been intending to return to the bar after she had finished her stint on the farm. Mia Ayliffe-Chung died at the Shelley Backpacker's Hostel in Home Hill, Queensland (Facebook) Friends took to Facebook to pay tribute to their friend, whom they described as "infectiously happy" and "a beautiful free spirited young girl". An Australian friend, Kyle Godwin, said even though they only knew it each for "a short amount of time it feels like we have been best friends for years, we just seemingly clicked and were like two peas in a pod". Another friend, Rowan Clark, said: "Mia was an infectiously happy, young girl, and will be missed dearly. R.I.P Mia Ayliffe-Chung". Maddison Turner wrote: "A beautiful free spirited young girl brutally murdered. I still cannot believe it. Makes me feel sick reading this about somebody I knew." Meanwhile, a school friend in the UK, Jess Wade, said: "Oh my god if that's not close to home then I don't know what is. RIP Mia Ayliffe-Chung, taken far too young and was always such a lovely person at school. What is wrong with this world." Days before her death, Ms Ayliffe-Chung had spoken of missing her 'home' in Gold Coast (Facebook) In updates to her Facebook page, Mia reported back on her life in Australia, listing the exotic local wildlife she had encountered ("a dead snake, four little spiders, one water rat, four poisonous toads and three geckos") and joking that she couldn't tell if she was developing a tan or whether it was just dirt accumulated from her efforts at the farm. In her final update, she wrote: "Day 4 done. Just 85 left! Skills achieved; the ability to tell the difference between a rock and a clump of mud and throwing stones really far. Mia Ayliffe-Chung had been in Australia for six months (Facebook) "The sun is too hot. Stupid Australia." Staff at The Bedroom nightclub where she worked in Gold Coast have shut the club for a night out of respect (Facebook) Queensland police have said they are currently considering all possible motives for the attack but "initial inquiries indicate that comments which may be construed as being of an extremist nature were made by the alleged offender". 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 }} Why are we asking this now? What started as a temporary rule brought in by a single resort in France has spread along the countrys world-famous Riviera and beyond to become a lightning rod for a multitude of divisive issues. The imposition of local by-laws on swimwear may seem minor but the burkini bans have tapped into division over immigration, sexism, religion and extremism as the country continues to reel from a series of deadly terror attacks by Isis supporters. The debate is seeing Frances constitutional secularism pitted against freedom of religion, with emotions running high on both sides. Proponents argue the move preserves security and secularism, while critics have condemned it as a sexist attack on human rights and a valuable recruiting tool for Isis and other jihadist groups propagating the idea of a war on Muslims in the West. Video shows French women being ordered out of sea for wearing burkini Why has the ban been implemented? The bans have been implemented individually by various cities and communes in Frances coast, with each giving slightly different reasons. The first city to announce the prohibition was Cannes, where mayor David Lisnard said he wanted to prohibit beachwear ostentatiously showing a religious affiliation while France and places of religious significance are the target of terror attacks to avoid trouble to public order. A by-law said anyone wearing swimwear deemed not to respect good customs and secularism would be barred from visiting the resorts beaches or swimming. The second commune to announce a burkini ban, Villeneuve-Loubet, was not so direct with allusions to terror and extremism. Its rule stipulates that only clothing that is respectful to morality and secular principles, and in compliance with hygiene and safety rules is allowed. Mayor Lionnel Luca also cited unspecified hygiene reasons for banning full-body swimwear. A tribunal in Nice that upheld the ban in Villeneuve-Loubet on Monday ruled that it was necessary, appropriate and proportionate to prevent public disorder. None of the orders have directly mentioned burkinis an all-encompassing term for modest swimwear that covers the body and hair and some people have questioned whether police would enforce the ban for wetsuits, nuns habits and other garments. Women in France face fines for wearing burkinis (AFP/Getty) Whats happened? Dozens of women have been fined so far for wearing clothing deemed violate the various bans, including in Cannes and Nice. Some have been arrested, while others have been give verbal or written warnings, and many fined around 40 (35) each. How widespread is it? Authorities in at least 15 towns and cities have so far brought in bans, with the most recent being Cagnes-sur-Mer in Provence. It announced its degree on Tuesday evening, following several nearby areas. Many more are said to be considering drawing up similar laws, although a wave of new prohibitions is considered less likely as the summer draws to a close. But the news of burkini bans has spread around the world, gaining support from right-wing politicians. Germany is separately considering a nationwide ban on full-face veils, which is already enforced in Belgium. A woman wears a burkini in the sea (FETHI BELAID/AFP/Getty Images) What are people saying about it? Right-wing politicians have praised the ban, which comes as France continues its nationwide prohibition on full-face veils in public. Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right Front National, claimed the soul of France is in question, writing in a blog: France does not lock away a womans body, France does not hide half of its population under the fallacious and hateful pretext that the other half fears it will be tempted. But critics have compared the enforcement of the ban to repression in Saudi Arabia and Iran, arguing that ordering women what to wear is a violation of human rights in any context Some have condemned attempted justifications by local authorities as mere excuses for sexist and Islamophobic discrimination. The bans are widely perceived to be a response to increased tensions and public fears following the Nice attack, when an Isis supporter mowed down 86 people celebrating Bastille Day on 14 July, and the murder of a Catholic priest by Isis supporters. Some rights groups have said the new laws amount to the collective punishment of Muslims following the terror attacks and amid friction over immigration and the refugee crisis. Frances Human Rights League said the burkini bans are serious and illegal attack on numerous fundamental rights and an abuse of Frances secular principles. In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack Show all 30 1 /30 In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack A man reacts near bouquets of flowers near the scene where a truck ran into a crowd at high speed killing scores and injuring more who were celebrating the Bastille Day national holiday in Nice Reuters In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack A woman arrives with a toy and a bouquet of flowers as people pay tribute near the scene where a truck ran into a crowd in Nice Reuters In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack A woman reacts as she places flowers in front of the memorial set on the 'Promenade des Anglais' where the truck crashed into the crowd during the Bastille Day celebrations in Nice EPA In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack People gather to view the floral tributes near the site of the truck attack in the French resort city of Nice AP In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack A man reacts near bouquets of flowers as people pay tribute near the scene where a truck ran into a crowd at high speed killing scores and injuring more who were celebrating the Bastille Day national holiday, in Nice Reuters In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack Floral tributes are laid out near the site of the truck attack in the French resort city of Nice AP In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack A child's toy is placed among the floral tributes laid out near the site of the truck attack in the French resort city of Nice AP In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack Investigators continue at the scene near the heavy truck that ran into a crowd at high speed killing scores who were celebrating the Bastille Day in Nice Reuters In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack Crime scene investigators work on the 'Promenade des Anglais' after the truck crashed into the crowd during the Bastille Day celebrations in Nice EPA In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack A forensic expert examines dead bodies covered with a blue sheet on the Promenade des Anglais seafront in the French Riviera city of Nice Getty Images In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack A forensic expert evacuates a dead body on the Promenade des Anglais seafront in the French Riviera city of Nice, after a gunman smashed a truck into a crowd of revellers celebrating Bastille Day Getty Images In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack A man reacts as he sits near a French flag along the beachfront the day after a truck ran into a crowd at high speed killing scores celebrating the Bastille Day in Nice Reuters In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack Discarded items are left on the beach, not far from the site of the truck attack in the French resort city of Nice AP In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack Bullet holes in the windscreen of the lorry that was driven into the crowd at high speed Reuters In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack A man walks through debris on the street in Nice, France, the morning after a lorry ran into a crowd, killing at least 84 and injuring 50 Reuters In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack Rescue workers help an injured woman to get in a ambulance AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack Authorities investigate a truck after it plowed through Bastille Day revelers in the French resort city of Nice, France AP In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack Celebrations of Bastille Day were targeted by the lorry driver AP In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack People cross the street with their hands on thier heads as a French soldier secures the area after at least 84 people were killed along the Promenade des Anglais in Nice Reuters In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack A paramedic attends one of the dozens of people injured in the Nice Bastille Day attack In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack Soldiers march on street where the lorry crashed into the crowd REUTERS In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack A man sits next to a body seen on the ground after at least 84 people were killed in Nice, when a truck ran into a crowd celebrating the Bastille Day national holiday Reuters In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack Bodies are seen on the ground after at least 84 people were killed in Nice, when a truck ran into a crowd celebrating the Bastille Day national holiday Reuters In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack Children were among the 84 killed in the atrocity, with around 50 more hospitalised Reuters In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve (2nd L) speaks to the media in Nice AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack A man walks with his hands up as police officers carry out checks on people in the centre of French Riviera town of Nice AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack With injured people laying in the street police and onlookers react near to a truck in Nice AP In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack Police officers, firefighters and rescue workers are seen at the site of the attack AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack Police officers speak with a soldier after a truck that ploughed into a crowd leaving a fireworks display in the French Riviera town of Nice AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack Police shine a light into the cab as they approach the driver's cab of a truck, in Nice AP Is there a backlash? Yes. The hashtag #WTFFrance was trending on Wednesday as outrage spread around the world over photos of a Muslim being forced to remove her top by armed police on a beach in Nice. There was widespread condemnation over the stark image of a kneeling woman taking off her top while surrounded by three male police officers, standing around her armed with guns and pepper spray. Footage of several other incidents has provoked alarm, showing women being fined or ordered to get out of the sea, with some onlookers shouting racist or xenophobic abuse. Some opponents have been calling for a Burkini Day or for flashmobs to take to Frances beaches to protest the rules. Meanwhile, terror analysts have warned that the dispute will fuel jihadist propaganda as groups like Isis attempt to portray France and other Western countries as at war with Muslims. If the aim of the terrorists who took so many innocent lives in Paris, Nice and elsewhere was to foment hatred and conflict, and to provoke the French state into an overreaction, then the French authorities have more than fulfilled their unsavoury ambitions, an Independent editorial said. Victimising and bullying Muslim women on holiday is not only bad PR, it is wrong in principle and entirely counterproductive. Nice is the latest French city to ban the burkini (Getty Images) What is the French governments position? President Francois Hollande has so far avoided becoming embroiled in the dispute but the Prime Minister has shown no such concern. Manuel Valls told the La Provence newspaper he was not in favour of a national law but condemned burkinis. The burkini is not a new range of swimwear, a fashion, he said. It is the expression of a political project, a counter-society, based notably on the enslavement of women. The vast majority of bans currently in place are due to come to an end at in September and it is unclear whether they will be renewed or replaced by new legislation. 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 }} Armed police have forced a woman on a beach in Nice to remove her burkini as part of a controversial new ban. The incident occurred on the beach at the city's Promenade des Anglais, the location of the lorry attack on Bastille Day in which 84 people were killed last month. Photographs show four police officers armed with handguns, batons and pepper spray standing round the woman who was lying on the beach wearing a blue headscarf and matching top. After speaking to the woman, she appears to remove the blue long-sleeve top. She is thought to have been issued with a fine and warned about the new dress code on the beach. Several women have now been fined in France for wearing the swim wear. On Tuesday a 34-year-old mother of two, whose family have been French citizens for at least three generations, told French news agency AFP she had been fined on the beach in Cannes, 18 miles from Nice, for wearing leggings, a top and a headscarf. The former air-hostess from Toulouse was issued a ticket saying she was not wearing an outfit respecting good morals and secularism. I was sitting on a beach with my family, she said. I wasn't even planning to swim, just to dip my feet. After initially refusing to undress in front of the officers who were reportedly holding tear gas canisters, she was issued with an on-the-spot fine while other people on the beach allegedly shouted insults, telling her to go home. Mathilde Cusin, a French journalist for France 4 TV, who witnessed the incident, said: I saw three police officers watching the beach. One of them had his finger on the trigger of his tear gas device, no doubt containing pepper." It was pretty violent. I had the impression of a pack going after a woman sitting on the ground, crying with her daughter. The saddest thing was that people were shouting go home, some were applauding the police, she said. Her daughter was crying. Armed police force woman to remove burkini on Nice beach On Monday, Twitter user Feiza Ben Mohamed uploaded a video which shows officers patrolling a beach and reportedly waiting for two girls to come out of the water where they were met by police in Nice. Nice is the most recent French resort to ban the burkini, following bans in the Corsican town of Disco, and the Riviera resorts of Cannes and Villeneuve-Loubet. But the bans are now set to be scrutinised by Frances State Council, the countrys highest administrative court, after human rights groups challenged the ban. 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 group called the Human Rights League (LDH) is appealing a decision by a lower court in Nice, which upheld a ban on the swimwear by the town of Villeneuve-Loubet. The LDH said the ban is a serious and illegal attack on numerous fundamental rights, including freedom of religion. 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 }} German schools have been warned against alienating young Muslim students by ordering them to remove headscarves and veils after a series of high-profile controversies. An 18-year-old student was forbidden from wearing the niqab a full-face veil that leaves only the eyes uncovered earlier this week after a school said it hindered her educational development. The woman brought a claim against the Sophie School evening school in Osnabruck but lost her case in court. The German Education and Science Workers Union (GEW), which represents thousands of teachers among its 260,000 members, condemned the case on Tuesday. A ban on full body veils is a move in completely the wrong direction, spokesperson Ilka Hoffmann told the Neue Osnabrucker Zeitung. We cannot exclude women from education just because they are wearing the burqa or niqab. She said that school is a safe space where girls who may wish not to wear the veil can gain confidence to make their own choice, adding: We should encourage this kind of transformation process, not hinder it. But the union does support a ban on teachers wearing burqas or niqabs, arguing that as representatives of the German state they must abide by its secular rules. German politicians continue debate the possibility of a France-style burqa ban but critics say the controversial law would violate the right to religious freedom enshrined in the countrys constitution. The right-wing CDU and CSU parties are currently drafting proposals to forbid full-face veils in certain public spaces as part of anti-extremism policy. Two influential German legal associations have also been calling for headscarves to be banned for judges and lawyers to uphold neutrality in court. Thomas de Maiziere, the interior minister, said he would be in favour of banning facial coverings for women in the public sector, including universities, schools, the civil service and judiciary. Chancellor Angela Merkel also inferred she would support the move, saying that a completely covered woman has almost no chance of integrating herself in Germany. Opposition parties have criticised a prospective ban, saying it is a distraction from the real issues of integration and radicalisation, and is alienating Muslims and spreading hate. 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 There have already been several controversial cases in schools, where uniform rules may be drawn up by each state, and many have regulations for teachers. The interior ministry in Hesse argues that a full veil can be seen as an indication of attitudes in opposition to the values of the Western world and could endanger neutrality. In 2014, a young Muslim student had her acceptance on a vocational course in Bavaria revoked after she arrived for her first lesson wearing a niqab. A court upheld the move, arguing that the facial veil was an objective obstacle to teaching and caused communication difficulties, Der Spiegel reported. A teaching student in Giessen dropped out of university after being ordered not to wear her veil, while another young Muslim woman left her university after three years during which she had worn a niqab in protest after it changed its rules. In 2014 the Bundestag decreed that there is no right in public spaces to be protected from religious influences on account of the country's secular constitution, shortly after the European Court of Human Rights confirmed it was legal for France to ban full-body veils. 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 mother was told to remove her hijab or face being fined by police while relaxing on a beach in France, before reportedly being racially abused by a crowd of locals. The 34-year-old former air hostess, named only as Siam, was approached by three officers while at La Bocca beach in Cannes with her young children, and was ordered to take off her floral-patterned headscarf. Siam saod the police read her the details of the headscarf ban on beaches, stating beachgoers must wear correct clothing, respect secularism, hygiene rules and security and arguing that her hijab was an ostentatious sign of religion. The mother agreed to pay the 11 fine but was then reportedly surrounded by a crowd shouting Go home and Were Catholics, reducing her to tears according to witnesses. I wasnt there to provoke anyone. I was stunned - racist terms were used freely, Siam told French news magazine LObs. My children were crying, witnessing the humiliation of me and my family. Even I could not help crying. They humiliated us. Mathilde Cusin, a journalist for France 4, observed the incident and said the crowd were like a pack of hounds attacking the woman. Video shows French women being ordered out of sea for wearing burkini People asked her to leave or remove her veil, it was pretty violent," she said. "What shocked me is that it was mostly people in their thirties, not the elderly as one might imagine. Mayor of Cannes David Lisnard supported the actions of the police officers, arguing they were right to fine anyone wearing a religious garment and had no reason to doubt their judgement. In a statement, the mayor said he did not wish any Muslims to feel unwelcome on the beach and said people of all faiths should be allowed their rights. 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 Siam meanwhile confirmed she planed to contest the case and said she had contacted the Collectif Contre LIslamophobie, an organisation which protects the rights of Muslim citizens. In a country meant to be famed for its human rights, I havent seen any evidence of the principles of liberte, egalite or fraternite, she added. A ban applies in France to any clothing showing religious faith in an ostentatious way that is capable of creating risks to public order, although the hijab is exempt from the face-covering ban. Meanwhile, armed French police forced a woman to remove her burkini swimsuit on a beach in Nice, one of several high-profile incidents involving the garment since it was banned in several French resorts. 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 powerful earthquake which ripped through mountains in central Italy has claimed 73 lives, according to the most recent count. And as the death toll of one of Italy's worst natural disasters in recent years has risen throughout the day, a video emerged of a woman being carried out of the rubble. At least 73 people have been killed and thousands left homeless after the 6.2 magnitude tremor razored buildings to the ground and crumpled roads in the early hours of Wednesday morning some 140 km (85 miles) east of Rome. The mayor of one of the worst affected towns has said yet more "voices under the rubble" can be heard as many people remain missing following the huge quake. 6.2 Earthquake strikes in Italy leaving at least 120 dead Now a video shows a terrified woman being rescued from debris, bricks and mortar by teams of emergency workers in the town of Pescara. A group of men pull away wreckage before bringing down a dark-haired woman on a stretcher wrapped in a red blanket. She holds her hand over her mouth as she is taken away for medical treatment. The mayor of Amatrice, one of the worst affected towns, said it was likely many more people were trapped beneath bricks and mortar who desperately needed saving. "The aim now is to save as many lives as possible," Sergio Pirozzi told RAI. "There are voices under the rubble; we have to save the people there." Residents responded to wails muffled by tonnes of bricks and mortar, sifting through the rubble with their bare hands before emergency services arrived with earth-moving equipment and sniffer dogs. Wide cracks had appeared in buildings still standing. In the nearby town of Accumoli, also badly affected by the quake, a family of four including two young boys aged 8 months and 9 years old were buried when their house in Accumoli imploded. The children's grandmother wailed that God had taken her family as rescue workers carried away the body of the infant in a small blanket. "He took them all at once," she said. Special heavy equipment was mobilised by the army, while the country's treasury released 235 million euros (199 million) of emergency funds. Pope Francis cancelled some of his general audience at the Vatican to pray for the victims. Amatrice, which was voted one of Italy's most beautiful historic towns last year, was shown in aerial photographs to be mostly flattened by the 6.2 magnitude quake. Italy sits on two fault lines, making it one of the most seismically active countries in Europe. Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures Major earthquake hits Italy A man is carried away after having been rescued alive from the ruins following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016 Reuters Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures Major earthquake hits Italy A man is carried away after been rescued alive from the ruins following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016 Reuters Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures Major earthquake hits Italy A man is rescued alive from the ruins following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016 Reuters Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures Major earthquake hits Italy Rescuers work following an earthquake that hit Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016 Reuters Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures Major earthquake hits Italy Rescuers work following an earthquake that hit Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016 REUTERS Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures Major earthquake hits Italy Rescuers carry an injured man among damaged homes after a strong heathquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016 AFP/Getty Images Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures Major earthquake hits Italy A general view following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, is seen in this August 24, 2016 handout picture provided by Italy's Fire Fighters REUTERS Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures Major earthquake hits Italy Rescuers and people walk along a road following an earthquake in Accumuli di Rieti, central Italy, August 24, 2016 REUTERS Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures Major earthquake hits Italy People survey the devastation in the town of Amatrice Reuters Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures Major earthquake hits Italy The earthquake hit the border of three regions, and the USGS measured an additional seven significant tremors in its aftermath Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures A mother embraces her son in Amatrice, central Italy, central Italy, 24 August 2016, following a 6.2 magnitude earthquake EPA Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures Residents look in collapsed buildings in Amatrice, central Italy, 24 August 2016 EPA Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures An injured woman is carried by rescuers amid the rubble of collapsed buildings in Amatrice, central Italy, 24 August 2016, EPA Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures Resident survey the rubble in Amatrice, central Italy, on 24 August 2016 EPA Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Italy - in pictures Collapsed buildings in Pescara del Tronto, in the Marche region of central Italy, 24 August 2016 EPA "It's all young people here, it's holiday season, the town festival was to have been held the day after tomorrow so lots of people came for that," said Amatrice resident Giancarlo. "It's terrible, I'm 65 years old and I have never experienced anything like this, small tremors, yes, but nothing this big. This is a catastrophe," he said. Stefano Petrucci, the mayor of Accumoli, said some 2,500 were left homeless in the 17 hamlets that make up the local community. The national Civil Protection Department said some survivors would be put up elsewhere in central Italy, while others would be housed in tents that were being dispatched to the area. Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi said he would visit the disaster area later in the day: "No one will be left alone, no family, no community, no neighbourhood. We must get down to work .. to restore hope to this area which has been so badly hit," he said in a brief televised address. Other affected villages include Pescara del Tronto and Arquata del Tronto. Although the initial death toll currently stands at 73, rescue teams have only just reached some stricken areas. The earthquake caused damage in three regions - Umbria, Lazio and Marche - and was felt as far away as the southern Italian port city of Naples. The hospital in Amatrice was among the buildings that were badly damaged, with patients moved into the streets. RAI reported that two Afghan girls, believed to be asylum-seekers, were also missing in the town. The US Geological Survey, which measured the quake at 6.2 magnitude, said it struck near the Umbrian city of Norcia, while Italy's earthquake institute INGV registered it at 6.0 and put the epicentre further south, closer to Accumoli and Amatrice. The damage was made more severe because the epicentre was at a relatively shallow 4 km below the surface of the earth. Residents of Rome were woken by the tremors, which rattled furniture, swayed lights and set off car alarms in most of central Italy. "It was so strong. It seemed the bed was walking across the room by itself with us on it," Lina Mercantini of Ceselli, Umbria, about 75 km away from the hardest hit area, told Reuters. Olga Urbani, in the nearby town of Scheggino, said: "Dear God it was awful. The walls creaked and all the books fell off the shelves." INGV reported 60 aftershocks in the four hours following the initial quake, the strongest measuring 5.5. The last major earthquake to hit the country struck the central city of L'Aquila in 2009, killing more than 300 people. The most deadly since the start of the 20th century came in 1908, when an earthquake followed by a tsunami killed an estimated 80,000 people in the southern regions of Reggio Calabria and Sicily. Additional reporting from 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 }} Turkish tanks have crossed into the Syria as part of a huge operation to drive Isis out of a key stronghold on the border, along with assistance from US fighter jets. The incursion came on Wednesday morning, following a night of air strikes and shelling around the town of Jarablus. More than 220 rounds rained down on the area overnight in bombardment that started at around 4am local time (2am BST), with huge explosions lighting up the night sky. A US defense official said US A-10 and F-16 fighter jets are participating in the cross-border operation launched by Turkey and Syrian rebels groups. The US is also providing assistance with intelligence and surveillance aircraft overhead. Syrian opposition fighters being transported during preparations to enter Jarablus in Karkamis, Turkey, on 24 August 2016. (EPA) Turkish media reported that a group of Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army rebels had also entered the region as part of the offensive codenamed Euphrates Shield. There were concerns the fighters could come into conflict with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a predominantly Kurdish alliance backed by the US-led coalition that has already advanced to within a mile of Jarablus to the opposite bank of the Euphrates River The SDF has driven Isis out from swathes of northern Syria in recent months, including the city of Manbij, but Turkey has been alarmed by the groups success, seeing Kurdish groups including the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) in control of land stretching almost the entire length of the Syrian border. Despite being regarded as valuable allies of the US-led coalition, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called the fighters terrorists and linked them with the separatist PKK group, which is fighting an insurgency in south-eastern Turkey. His interior minister, Efkan Ala, raised fears of imminent conflict on Wednesday morning after saying that the threat in Syria did not only emanate from Isis but other terrorist organisations. He vowed that the Jarablus operation would continue until the last threat against Turkey is eliminated, CNN Turk reported. A map showing reported Turkish artillery and air strikes on Isis territory around Jarablus, seen in black, next to SDF territory shown in yellow, on 24 August (Liveuamap) Groups including the Islamist Faylaq Al-Sham militia and Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement, whose fighters decapitated a child on video in Aleppo last month, announced they were part of the Jarablus operation. The offensive came after Isis was blamed for a suicide bombing that killed more than 50 people in the Turkish city of Gaziantep as they celebrated a wedding on Saturday. The attack was the latest in a string of atrocities blamed on Isis in the country, which has also been targeted by Kurdish separatist groups in recent months Wednesday was the first time Turkeys air force has struck a target in Syria since November, when it downed a Russian jet near the border. Turkish military sources told Reuters Turkish special forces entered Syria while the bombardment continued, with an incursion by ground forces planned to ensure border security and Syria's national integrity. The Turkish Armed Forces and the International Coalition Air Forces have launched a military operation aimed at clearing the district of Jarablus of the province of Aleppo from the terrorist organisation Daesh [Isis], said a statement from the Turkish prime minister's office. Timeline: The emergence of Isis Show all 40 1 /40 Timeline: The emergence of Isis Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2000 Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (pictured here) forms an al-Qaeda splinter group in Iraq, al-Qaeda in Iraq. Its brutality from the beginning alienates Iraqis and many al-Qaeda leaders. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2006 Al-Zarqawi is killed in a U.S. strike. Al-Zarqawis successor, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, announces the creation of the Islamic State in Iraq (ISI). Reuters Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2009 Still al-Qaeda-linked ISI claims responsibility for suicide bombings that killed 155 in Baghdad, as well as attacks in August and October killing 240, as President Obama announces troop withdrawal from Iraq in March. Getty Images Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2010 Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi becomes head of ISI, at lowest ebb of Islamist militancy in Iraq, which sees last U.S. combat brigade depart. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2012 In Syria, protests (pictured here starting in Daree) have morphed into what president Assad labelled a real war with emergence of a coalition of forces opposed to Assads regime. Syria group Jabhat al-Nusra are among rebel groups who refuse to join, denouncing it as a conspiracy. Bombings targeting Shia areas, killing more than 500 people, spark fears of new sectarian conflict. Sunni Muslims stage protests across country against what they see as increasingly marginalisation by Shia-led government. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2013 Al-Baghdadi renames ISI as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or Isis, as the group absorbs Syrian al-Nusra, gaining a foothold in Syria. In response, al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri (Bin Ladens successor) concerned about Isis expansion orders that Isis be dissolved and ISI operations should be confined to Iraq. This order is rejected by al-Baghdadi. AFP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - January Isis fighters capture the Iraqi cities of Fallujah and Ramadi, giving them base to launch slew of attacks further south. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - June Isis declares itself the Caliphate, calling itself Islamic State (IS). The group captures Mosul, Iraqs second largest city; Tal Afar, just 93 miles from Syrian border; and the central Iraqi city of Tikrit. These advances sent shockwaves around the world. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - June Around the same time Isis releases a video calling for western Muslims to join the Caliphate and fight, prompting new evaluations of extremists groups social media understanding. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - June Isis take Baiji oil fields in Iraq - giving them access to huge amounts of possible revenue. EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - August James Foley is executed by the group as concerns grow for second American prisoner, fellow reporter Steven Sotloff. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - August Obama authorises U.S. airstrikes in Iraq, helping to stall Isis along with action by Kurdish forces following the deaths of hundreds of Yazidi people on Mount Sinjar. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Isis release video showing Steven Sotloffs murder prompting Western speculation his executioner is same man who killed Mr Foley. EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Obama tells us that America will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Isis release a video appearing to show David Haines, who was captured by militants in Syria in 2013, wearing an orange jumpsuit and kneeling in the desert while he reads a pre-prepared script. It later shows what appears to be the aid worker's body. Rex Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Peshmerga fighters scrabble to hold positions in the Diyala province (a gateway to Baghdad) as Isis fighters continue to advance on Iraqi capital. AFP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - October Aid worker Alan Henning is killed. Self-imposed media blackout refuses to show images of him in final moments, instead focuses upon humanitarian care. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - October Isis raise their flag in Kobani, which had been strongly defended by Kurdish troops. The victory goes against hopeful western analysis Isis had overextended itself, while alienating much of the Muslim population through the murder of Henning. Victory causes fresh waves of Kurdish refugees arriving in Turkey. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - November American hostage, who embarced values of Islam, Peter Kassig and 14 Syrian soldiers are shown meeting the same fate as other captives. But intelligence agencies will be poring over the apparently significant discrepancies between this and previous films. Seramedig.org.uk Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February Isis has released a video revealing the murder by burning to death of a Jordanian pilot held by the group since the end of December 2014. Reuters Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February Isis militants have released videos which appear to show the beheading of Japanese hostages Haruna Yukawa and Kenji Goto. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February American aid worker, Kayla Mueller was the last American hostage known to be held by Isis. She died, according to her captors, in an airstrike by the Jordanian air force on the city of Raqqa in Syria, though US authorities disputed this. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February Isis militants have posted a gruesome video online in which they force 21 Egyptian Coptic Christian hostages to kneel on a beach in Libya before beheading them. Egypt vowed to avenge the beheading and launched air strikes on Isis positions. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February The British Isis militant suspected of appearing in videos showing the beheading of Western hostages has been named in reports as Mohammed Emwazi from London. Rex Features Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - March Isis triple suicide attack has killed more than 100 worshippers and hundreds of others were injured after the group members targeted two mosques in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - April Iraqi forces have claimed victory over Isis in battle for Tikrit and raised the flag in the city. EPA/STR Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - April Isis has claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan that killed at least 35 people queuing to collect their wages and injured 100 more. EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - April Isis media arm released a 29-minute video purporting to show militants executing Ethiopian Christians captives. The footage bore the extremist groups al-Furqan media logo and showed the destruction of churches and desecration of religious symbols. A masked fighter made a statement threatening Christians who did not convert to Islam or pay a special tax. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of Isis has been "incapacitated" by a spinal injuries sustained in a US air strike in Iraq. He is being treated in a hideout by two doctors from Isis stronghold of Mosul who are said to be "strong ideological supporters of the group". Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isis has also claimed responsibility for killing 300 of Yazidi captives, including women, children and elderly people in Iraq AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isis attack on Prophet Mohamed cartoon contest in Texas was its first action on US soil. Two gunmen were shot and killed after launching the attack at the exhibition. Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi have been named as the attackers at the Curtis Culwell Centre arena in Garland. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isiss deputy leader, Abu Alaa Afri, a former physics teacher who was thought to have taken charge of the deadly terrorist group, has been killed in a US-led coalition airstrike. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May US special forces have killed a senior Isis leader named as Abu Sayyaf in an operation aiming to capture him and his wife in Syria. Getty Images Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Iran-backed militias are sent to Ramadi by the Iraqi government to fight Isis militants who completed their capture of the city. Government soldiers and civilians were reportedly massacred by extremists as they took control and the army fled. Charred bodies were left littering the city streets as troops clung on to trucks speeding away from the city. Ramadi is the latest government stronghold to fall to the so-called Islamic State, despite air strikes by a US-led international coalition aiming to stop its advance in Iraq and Syria. AFP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isis rounded up civilians trapped in Palmyra and forced them to watch 20 people being executed in the historic citys ancient amphitheatre. The Unesco World Heritage site was overrun by militants, threatening the future of 2,000 year-old monuments and ruins. Thousands of Palmyras residents fled but many are still living within the city walls, while the UN human rights office in Geneva said it had received reports of Syrian government forces preventing people from leaving until they retreated from the city. Getty Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May A group of Isis-affiliated fighters have captured a key airport in central Libya. The militants took control of the al-Qardabiya airbase in Sirte after a local militia tasked with defending the facility withdrew from their positions. Affiliates of Isis, already control large parts of Sirte, the birthplace of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and a former stronghold of his supporters. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June The US Air Force has destroyed an Isis stronghold after an extremist let slip their location on social media. According the Air Force Times, General Herbert "Hawk" Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command, said that Airmen at Hulburt Field, Florida, used images shared by jihadists to track the location of their headquarters before destroying it in an airstrike. Reuters Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June Kurdish forces captured a key military base in a significant victory in Raqqa as well as town of Tell Abyad. YPG fighters, backed by US-led airstrikes and other rebels, consolidated their gains, when they seized the key town on the Syria-Turkey border. They are now just 30 miles to the north of Raqqa and have cut off a major supply route deep inside Isis-held territory. Ahmet Silk/Getty Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June Isis has released gruesome footage claiming to show the murder of more than a dozen men by drowning, decapitation and using a rocket-propelled grenade as it seeks to boost morale among its fanatical supporters. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June Isis has begun carrying out its threat to destroy structures in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, blowing up at least two monuments at the Unesco-protected site as Syrian government troops made advances on the Islamists positions. AFP The foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, vowed to completely cleanse the terrorist group from border regions on Monday, as shock over the wedding bombing reverberated around the world. Operations hope to cut off Isis supply lines and smuggling channels for its lucrative trade in oil and looted artefacts, as well as the routes used by foreign fighters to enter the so-called Islamic State. Turkey remains in turmoil following a failed military coup last month and allies have raised fears that the armed forces have been weakened by huge purges and restructures. Anger over a perceived lack of international support for the government, and human rights concerns, has seen Mr Erdogan cool ties with the US and EU, choosing to end a diplomatic stand-off with Russia to move towards closer co-operation. Russia is supporting Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian civil war and the prospect of a military coalition with Turkey is a cause for alarm for Western countries calling for the Presidents removal. The American Vice President, Joe Biden, has arrived in Turkey for talks over the US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who officials blame for the coup, and the Syrian conflict. 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 zoo in the Gaza Strip named the worlds worst has finally been emptied of its animals, with the last surviving creatures freed from appalling living conditions. A Bengal tiger named Laziz, five monkeys, two emus, two deer, two eagles, two turtles, a pelican and a porcupine were rescued from their cages at the Khan Yunis Zoo by animal rights campaigners. Dozens of the creatures were reportedly left to starve in filthy cages over several years, and zoo keepers were known to display stuffed animals alongside them in a desperate effort to boost visitor numbers. Vets from the charity Four Paws led the transfer of the animals in trailer cages to a safe location, and helped treat the animals for ailments they were suffering from. The zoo opened in 2007 and closed to the public in 2014 due to the danger of bombing, but the animals have remained in the war-torn area since then with nowhere to go. Khan Yunis Zoo has been known as the 'worst zoo in the world' since it became public last year that the zoo was crudely mummifying the animals that died in their care and displaying them, said a spokesperson from Four Paws. Four Paws has been active in providing emergency food and supplies to the animals, but now we have the chance to rescue them all for good. "[Laziz the tiger]] went into his transport crate without hesitation. He even seems to behave more calmly in the crate now more than he has in his desolate cage. 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 And he just did it as if he has never done anything else in his life. He walked in the crate and immediately settled down without showing any signs of stress. We were relieved. The zoos owners complained they were unable to afford adequate food for the animals, as the zoo struggled for consistent business throughout the year. The harsh conditions of life, the weak economy and the severe blockade were to blame, owner Ziad Aweda told AFP. I brought these animals from Libya, Sudan, Egypt and even South Africa. I am very sad. Zaids brother Mohammad added the remaining animals were being "donated" because the zoo no longer had "the ability to give them anything". 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 }} As the volunteers scrabbled through smashed cinder blocks, the whimper they'd been hearing for hours grew louder. It was the only sign that this rubble had once been someone's home. Go slowly, go slowly, shouted one as the noise turned into a sharp cry. This was always the critical moment, a time when the person making that sound hovered between life and death and one wrong move could push them over the edge. It was August 2013 in Aleppo, Syria, and this was Khaled Khatib's first rescue mission. You don't forget the first time you see a child pulled out like that, the 20-year-old remembers. In the video, it's the leg that appears first, then a bloodied hand and, finally, the head of a 7-year-old boy, bent underneath his body as if trapped in a backward roll. In that moment, you are so happy. You know we brought someone back into life, Khatib says. Khatib is a member of the Syria Civil Defense, a grass-roots volunteer group that assists civilians in the aftermath of airstrikes and is popularly known as the White Helmets. The group's daily rescue missions running toward the sites of attacks as others flee are among the most dangerous in the world. Made up of almost 3,000 volunteers, the group is believed to have saved more than 60,000 lives since Syria's conflict began in 2011. This month, that dedication has earned the White Helmets a second Nobel Peace Prize nomination in as many years. You hear the explosion before the radio call, Khatib says. It shakes the ground, it shakes the buildings. Then we run toward the screams. Sometimes, the volunteers use diggers to remove mounds of shattered concrete to free trapped survivors. On other occasions, the volunteers dive right in with just their hands. The State Department said earlier this year that the US government provides, through their Agency for International Development, $23m (17) in aid to the White Helmets. The group works across eight provinces outside the control of President Bashar al-Assad's forces, part of a parallel health network that bloomed in response to the Syrian government's brutal suppression of initially peaceful protests. Assad sympathisers accuse the group of aiding terrorists. Many of the areas serviced by the volunteers are controlled by extremist rebel factions, including al-Qaeda-linked Jabhat Fateh al-Sham in northwestern Idlib province. But civilians numbering 1.5 million according to the prewar population estimate live there, too. The group's founder, Raed al-Saleh, said in a Washington Post opinion piece in 2015 that his group is nonsectarian, unarmed and neutral and has saved people from all sides of this conflict, including fighters for the regime. Human rights groups say the White Helmets offer hope in areas where death has become the norm. Syria's White Helmets are redefining what it means to be brave and heroic, said Kristyan Benedict, crisis response manager for Amnesty International. Monitoring groups say the Assad regime has killed more civilians than any other side in the five-year-old war. Most have died from airstrikes and barrel bombs, the sorts of attacks the White Helmets wake up and wait for. It's exhausting, says rescue worker Bebars Mashal, but it's a huge duty we have to save those lives. The 31-year-old with a degree in English unwittingly shot to global fame last week when a video showing his team's rescue of Omran Daqneesh, the dazed and bloodied 5-year-old pulled from rubble in Aleppo, was shared millions of times around the world. We see cases like this all the time no one thought it would go viral, Mashal says. The child's image became a symbol of the war's human cost, appearing on newspaper front pages and bringing television anchors to tears. More than 300 civilians have been killed in Aleppo since the end of July, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, said last weekend. Hundreds have been injured, many surviving only because they were pulled from the rubble. Few of the White Helmets volunteers had medical experience before the war. Saleh, the group's founder, was an electronics engineer in Idlib province. Others like Khatib were still in high school. At night, the young man watches the footage he has captured again and again, finessing a final package for official broadcast. Getting it right that's the most important thing, he says. The scenes make their way into his nightmares: When I close my eyes, those first rescues are still there. After the boy in the rubble, we saw many massacres and carried back many victims. I still see their legs severed off onto the ground, their hands in pieces. One-hundred-and-thirty-five volunteers have been killed in the line of duty. Most died in what have come to be known as double-tap airstrikes, where warplanes bomb an area, then bomb again, often after rescuers have arrived. The group's nomination for a Nobel Peace Prize has won at least 130 endorsements from qualified persons, a phrase that usually refers to individual members of governments, former peace laureates or former members of the Nobel Committee. In comments last week, Wendy Chamberlin, president of the Washington-based Middle East Institute, which nominated the group, told the Associated Press that the White Helmets represented the true values of the Nobel Peace Prize. But in Syria, the volunteers had other things on their mind. As he mulled his answer to what the prize would mean for his team, a rescue worker who identified himself simply as Majd stopped abruptly. I'm sorry, but I'll have to think about this later, he said. There's been another bomb. Zakaria Zakaria contributed to this report The 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 Filipino maid has reportedly died in Saudi Arabia after seeing her alleged rapist in the hospital where she was confined. Imra Edloy, 35, was rushed to King Salman Hospital in Riyadh on 13 August with severe injuries suspected to be from sexual assault. She fell into a coma soon after arriving in the hospital. While she was unable to identify her attacker, before falling unconscious she pointed at her employer when asked who abused her, ABS CBN News reports. 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 "The DFA will continue to do whatever is necessary for Ms Irma Edloy and her family," Charles Jose, a spokesman for the Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs, told GMA News Online, "including the repatriation of her remains and legal action against the perpetrator, especially if the legal report indicates that Ms Edloy passed due to her wounds from any maltreatment." Ms Edloy suffered cardiac arrest several times and was revived, but died on 18 August. Nurses reportedly said her underwear was covered with blood when she was first treated in hospital. Saudi authorities are currently investigating whether she was raped. Earlier this year, a 25-year-old Indian woman was allegedly tortured to death by her employers in Saudi Arabia. The family of Asima Khatoon, who went to the Gulf state to work as a house maid, claimed she had previously complained of being mentally and physically harassed before she died. In a phone call made several weeks before her death, she reportedly asked her parents to rescue her. Last year, a Saudi diplomat was accused of repeatedly raping two of his maids he held captive in his luxury apartment new New Delhi, India. 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 }} Turkish special forces have crossed into Syria after a night of air strikes and shelling targeting an Isis stronghold near the border. More than 220 rounds rained down on Jarablus and the surrounding area overnight as tanks moved to the border and rocket launchers were put in position. The wave of bombardment started firing at around 3am local time (1am BST) as Turkish jets and planes from the US-led coalition singled out targets with air strikes. Footage showed endless rounds of artillery rounds streaking across the border, with huge explosions lighting up the night sky. Security forces ordered the evacuation of the Turkish border town of Karkamis for the operation, after at least nine mortar shells fired by Isis landed in the area on Tuesday. White and grey plumes of smoke rose from the hills of Jarablus on Wednesday morning as the boom of artillery fire from Turkish tanks could still be heard. It was the first time Turkeys air force has struck Syria since November, when it downed a Russian jet near the border, amid tensions over the US-led coalitions support for Kurdish groups it regards as terrorists. The offensive came after Isis was blamed for a suicide bombing that killed more than 50 people in the Turkish city of Gaziantep as they celebrated a wedding on Saturday. The attack was the latest in a string of atrocities blamed on Isis in the country, which has also been targeted by Kurdish separatist groups in recent months. Women mourn as they wait in front of a hospital morgue in the Turkish city of Gaziantep (Osman Orsal - Reuters) Turkish military sources told Reuters Turkish special forces entered Syria while the bombardment continued, with an incursion by ground forces possible to "ensure border security and Syria's national integrity". The Turkish Armed Forces and the International Coalition Air Forces have launched a military operation aimed at clearing the district of Jarablus of the province of Aleppo from the terrorist organisation Daesh [Isis], said a statement from the Turkish prime minister's office. Turkish special forces previously moved into Syria in February last year in a brief operation to relocate the tomb of Suleyman Shah, a revered Ottoman figure, but the country has been criticised for its contribution to the Isis coalition so far. On Monday, foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, vowed to completely cleanse the terrorist group from border regions as shock over the wedding bombing reverberated around the world. Operations hope to cut off Isis supply lines and smuggling channels for its lucrative trade in oil and looted artefacts, as well as the routes used by foreign fighters to enter the so-called Islamic State. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a predominantly Kurdish rebel alliance backed by the US-led coalition, has driven Isis out from swathes of northern Syria in recent months including the city of Manbij. In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij Show all 11 1 /11 In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij Women and children celebrating after being freed from Isis in Manbij, Syria, on 12 August Reuters In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij A man cuts the beard of a civilian who was freed from Isis by the SDF in Manbij on 12 August Reuters In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij Women carry newborn babies while running after being freed from Isis in Manbij, Syria, on 12 August Reuters In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij A woman freed from Isis hugs an SDF fighter in Manbij on 12 August Reuters In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij A woman adding her veil to a pile of niqabs burning in Manbij, Syria, after being freed from Isis on 12 August Reuters In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij Children celebrating on top of a lorry after being freed from Isis in Manbij, Syria, on 12 August Reuters In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij A man and child freed from Isis by the SDF in Manbij on 12 August Reuters In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij A woman carrying her children walks towards SDF fighters after being freed from Isis in Manbij, Syria, on 12 August Reuters In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij A woman and child freed from Isis in Manbij, Syria, on 12 August Reuters In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij An SDF fighter kisses a crying man who was freed from Isis in Manbij, Syria, on 12 August Reuters In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij Hundreds of civilians freed from Isis in Manbij, Syria, on 12 August Reuters SDF fighters have already advanced within a mile of Jarablus to the opposite bank of the Euphrates River, where they are believed to be preparing for a ground operation. A force of 1,500 Turkish-backed Syrian rebels is also reported to be on standby to take part in the Jarablus operation. Turkey has been concerned over the SDF's success, with Kurdish groups including the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) in control of land stretching almost the entire length of the Syrian border. Regarded as valuable allies of the US-led coalition, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called the fighters terrorists and linked them with the separatist PKK group, which is fighting an insurgency in south-eastern Turkey. The country remains in turmoil following a failed military coup last month and allies have raised fears that the armed forces have been weakened by huge purges and restructures. Anger over a perceived lack of support for the government, and international human rights concerns, has seen Mr Erdogan cool ties with the US and EU, choosing to end a diplomatic stand-off with Russia to move towards closer co-operation. Russia is supporting Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian civil war and the prospect of a military coalition with Turkey is a cause for alarm for Western countries calling for the Presidents removal. The American Vice President, Joe Biden, was due to arrive in Turkey later on Wednesday for talks. 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 }} Violent protests have broken out in Nablus, the West Bank's second largest city, after a Palestinian prisoner was allegedly beaten to death while in Palestinian police custody. Hundreds of people marched through the city on Tuesday, some reportedly throwing stones, to condemn the death of Ahmed Izz Halawa, after he was seized by Palestinian security forces during a police raid. The raid followed the death of two police officers who were shot as they targeted a criminal group suspected of harbouring weapons last week. Two suspects were also killed, one of whom was related to Halawa. Halawa, who was a senior member of the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade - a militant group linked to the Fatah party - was accused of "masterminding" the shooting of the officers, the governor of Nablus, Akram al-Rjoub, said. Security forces detained Halawa during a "complicated and delicate security operation in Nablus," Adnan Al Dmairi, the spokesman for the Palestinian Authority's security services, said in a statement. Halawa was killed on Tuesday after being taken into Juneid prison in Nablus, Mr Dmairi added. However, the exact circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear. Mr Rjoub said Halawa was beaten to death by members of security forces. Mr Dmairi added that senior officers had attempted to stop lower-ranker officers from attacking Halawa, Middle Eastern Eye reports. "[Halawa] started to shout and swear at the security officers who started to attack him," said Mr Dmairi. Palestinian Prime Minister Rami al-Hamdallah has promised a full investigation into the death, describing the incident as "rare". Halawa's family have lambasted the killing, describing him as "a noble national leader who was killed in cold blood without the least observance for human rights," the Times of Israel reports, citing local newspaper al-Quds' website. People protesting the death on Tuesday were dispersed with tear gas and chased down by Palestinian Authority security forces, the Times of Israel reports. Those marching were calling for the Prime Minister, Mr Rjoub and Palestinian security head Nidal Abu Dukhan to resign, according to the Palestinian news site Safa. Videos uploaded to social media showed large crowds marching and running through the streets. The Palestinian Authority is responsible for security and policing inside Palestinian cities, while Israeli security forces retain full control over around 60 per cent of the West Bank, all of which the Palestinians seek for an independent state, alongside East Jerusalem and Gaza. 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 }} Vladimir Putin is ready and willing to host peace talks aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to Egypts president. President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said the Russian leader pledged to directly intervene in the crisis and hold talks between Benjamin Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas in Moscow in the near future, with Mr al-Sisi also present. Putin has told me that he is ready to receive [Abbas] and Netanyahu in Moscow to carry out direct talks to find a solution, Mr Sisi told Egyptian newspaper Al Aharam. I see that the conviction of the importance of peace is rising among the Israeli side, and the conviction about finding an exit to the issue is a positive sign. "Egypt supports these efforts and both sides are urged to participate and respond positively to the initiative for the sake of finding light at the end of the tunnel for Palestinians and establishing their state alongside Israel." The move came just days after it was announced efforts by European diplomats to host a similar meeting in Paris had failed, and further signals Mr Putins ambition for Russia to eventually replace the United States as chief negotiator in the Middle East. Mr Putin claimed he would fight for an independent Palestinian state at an Arab League summit in March, but now appears to be interested in a more peaceful resolution. The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Show all 10 1 /10 The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Medics evacuate a wounded man from the scene of an attack in Jerusalem. A Palestinian rammed a vehicle into a bus stop then got out and started stabbing people before he was shot dead AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Israeli ZAKA emergency response members carry the body of an Israeli at the scene of a shooting attack in Jerusalem. A pair of Palestinian men boarded a bus in Jerusalem and began shooting and stabbing passengers, while another assailant rammed a car into a bus station before stabbing bystanders, in near-simultaneous attacks that escalated a month long wave of violence AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Getty Images The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinians throw molotov cocktail during clashes with Israeli troops near Ramallah, West Bank. Recent days have seen a series of stabbing attacks in Israel and the West Bank that have wounded several Israelis AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Women cry during the funeral of Palestinian teenager Ahmad Sharaka, 13, who was shot dead by Israeli forces during clashes at a checkpoint near Ramallah, at the family house in the Palestinian West Bank refugee camp of Jalazoun, Ramallah AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies A wounded Palestinian boy and his father hold hands at a hospital after their house was brought down by an Israeli air strike in Gaza Reuters The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinians look on after a protester is shot by Israelis soldiers during clashes at the Howara checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus EPA The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies A lawyer wearing his official robes kicks a tear gas canister back toward Israeli soldiers during a demonstration by scores of Palestinian lawyers called for by the Palestinian Bar Association in solidarity with protesters at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, near Ramallah, West Bank AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Undercover Israeli soldiers detain a Palestinian in Ramallah Reuters The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinian youth burn tyres during clashes with Israeli soldiers close to the Jewish settlement of Bet El, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, after Israel barred Palestinians from Jerusalem's Old City as tensions mounted following attacks that killed two Israelis and wounded a child In June, the Russian president met with Mr Netanyahu for the fourth time in the space of a year, when the leaders expressed their mutual support for a comprehensive and just solution to the conflict. On Tuesday night, the Israeli government said it supported Mr Putins intervention and indicated Mr Netanyahu was ready anywhere, any time, for direct peace talks with no preconditions. Russia was the first country to recognise the state of Palestine in 1988, and Mr Abbas has often travelled to Moscow for talks over the years with a view to creating an independent, viable and integral Palestinian state. 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 }} Wikileaks has been criticised for publishing data from the Saudi Arabian government including the personal information of hundreds of ordinary people, including rape victims and mental health patients. Among thousands of documents made public by Wikileaks, the site named at least two teenage rape victims. In another case, it published the name of a Saudi citizen arrested for being gay. Homosexuality can lead to a prison sentence or even death in the ultraconservative Muslim kingdom. 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 "They published everything: my phone, address, name, details," one Saudi man told AP, saying he was bewildered WikiLeaks had revealed the details of a paternity dispute with a former partner. "If the family of my wife saw this ... Publishing personal stuff like that could destroy people." Wikileaks released tens of thousands of confidential and top secret Saudi Arabian government documents to "lift the lid on a increasingly erratic and secretive dictatorship", WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said. The regime has "not only celebrated its 100th beheading this year," he added, but has "also become a menace to its neighbours and itself". The group has published medical files belonging to scores of ordinary citizens, while many hundreds more have had sensitive family, financial or identity records posted online. Three cables identified domestic workers who'd been tortured or sexually abused by their employers, giving the women's full names and passport numbers. In a series of tweets, WikiLeaks dismissed the charge it had disclosed the identity of gay people, saying: "No, WikiLeaks did not disclose 'gays' to the Saudi govt. Data if from govt & not leaked by us. Story from 2015. Re-run now due to election." "This has nothing to do with politics or corruption," Doctor Nayef al-Fayez, a consultant in the Jordanian capital of Amman, told AP. He confirmed that a brain cancer patient of his was among those whose details were published to the web. Doctor Adnan Salhab, a retired practitioner in Jordan who had a patient named in the files, reportedly expressed outrage when he saw the documents. "This is illegal what has happened," he said. "It is illegal!" Thousands of people share cartoon showing how ridiculous Saudi laws are for women Mr Assange insists WikiLeaks has a system in place to keep ordinary people's information safe. "We have a harm minimization policy," the Australian told an audience in Oxford, England, in July of 2010. "There are legitimate secrets. Your records with your doctor, that's a legitimate secret." Mr Assange initially leaned on cooperating journalists, who flagged sensitive material to WikiLeaks which then held them back for closer scrutiny. But he was impatient with the process, describing it as time-consuming and expensive. "We can't sit on material like this for three years with one person to go through the whole lot, line-by-line, to redact," he told London's Frontline Club the month after his talk in Oxford. "We have to take the best road that we can." Additional reporting by AP Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight 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 Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Each week, The Independents travel team go head to head to see who can come up with the best version of a particular trip. Today were tackling a Brexit break, a budget-friendly city escape outside the Eurozone. Simons choice: Wroclaw, Poland Price for two people: 370 A post-Brexit break where you can still splash out? Head for Poland, and its current European Capital of Culture. Wroclaw is a profoundly historical city that has extra shine this year thanks to its special status. It was heavily bombed and shelled in the Second World War (and some unrestored post-war cityscapes stood in for 1960 East Berlin in the 2015 film Bridge of Spies). But the cultural clean-up has worked wonders. The handsome main square (Rynek) is complemented by a wide range of galleries and museums elsewhere in the Old Town, and the Jewish quarter, dating from the 12th century, is particularly worth exploring. With the pound so puny, make the most of the superb places to eat and drink, such as jaDka - a former abattoir, now serving vernacular food (wild boar loin, pork knuckle) with panache. Menu prices are a fraction of those across the border in Germany, and you could also stock up for a picnic at the excellent market on a fine day. Ryanair and its rival, Wizz Air, fly in from a range of UK airports. For an outbound flight from Stansted on Friday 30 September, returning on Monday 3 October, the return Ryanair fare is currently just 80 per person. The corresponding three-night stay in the Hotel Dwor Polski, occupying a 16th-century townhouse close to the city centre, costs 210. Simon Calder, travel correspondent Nicolas choice: Budapest, Hungary Price for two people: 238 Why not swap your sterling for forints and head to Hungary? The charming capital, Budapest, was named this year in Post Office Travel Moneys City Costs Barometer as one of the cheapest European cities to visit (it came third after Warsaw and Vilnius), with typical expenses such as meals, booze and entry to tourist attractions coming in well below average. Wizz Tours (Wizz Airs package holiday arm) is offering a three-night break in the city for a bargain 119 per person, including flights from Luton on 7 October and B&B at the Hotel Gloria Budapest City Centre. The hotel is not quite as central as the name suggests, but by public transport its within easy reach of the Neo-Baroque Szechenyi Thermal Bath, which has 18 indoor and outdoor pools heated to 38C (entry 4,900 forints/13.50), and the River Danube, where you can cross the Szechenyi Chain Bridge from Pest to Budas medieval heart. Nicola Trup, head of travel Szechenyi Thermal Bath (Szechenyi Spa Baths) Lauras choice: Sofia, Bulgaria Price for two people: 256.50 Doubtless youll get more for your money in Europe if you go east, and for an experience as exciting and exotic as it is economical, the Balkans are a good bet. The Bulgarian capital is a spirited, youthful city, as good for exploring a thriving underground bar scene as it is taking in brutal Soviet relics, grand onion-domed churches and red-brick Ottoman mosques. You can get two nights at the four-star Best Western Plus Bristol Hotel, plus flights and transfers, for an astoundingly good value 128.25 per person with easyJet Holidays, if you leave from Gatwick on 7 October (the flight leaves at 6.10am, but the plus side is youll be in Sofia by 11am, giving you maximum time to explore). As well as checking out top sights like the gorgeous, green-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and uncompromisingly Cubist 1,300 Years Monument, try finding Hambara Bar, a secret candlelit drinking den concealed in a dilapidated-looking shed, lurking down a residential alleyway. The locals will be impressed if you find it. If youre keen to strike out beyond the city, the hiking trails of Mount Vitosha are a 50-minute bus ride from the centre. A study by FairFX in April found Sofia was the second-cheapest city in Europe for a stag do which means the beer and food is especially affordable, too. Laura Chubb, deputy head of travel Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Nadine White Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter The Race Report 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 Race Report email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Ive been putting off writing this post. I was hoping I wouldnt need to, hoping I wouldnt bother. Hoping that Id see outrage fill peoples timelines and all the usual feminist social media spaces so I wouldnt feel forced to write something, anything, explaining my outrage. But here I am. Here I am writing about feminism and Muslim women again and namely responding to the deafening, choking, claustrophobic silence from White Feminists. What we are seeing in France is part of the continued criminalisation of being Muslim. Particularly the criminalisation of visibly Muslim people particularly Muslim women. What we are seeing is a vulgar display of White Feminism codified and legislated by the state. Were seeing women being forced to conform to something held up as liberty with no irony at all. Women are coerced with the threat of force to take off their burkinis at the beach. A Muslim woman was ordered off the beach in Cannes and fined for simply wearing her headscarf. We know already, of course, that the French implemented the burqa ban, we know that headscarves and other religious symbols are banned in state schools and there have been multiple incidents of school-girls being forbidden from wearing long skirts to school not when theyre worn as a fashion statement, but when theyre worn by Muslim girls because then it suddenly becomes a religious symbol. Cannes, in France, has banned the burkini because it "could risk disrupting public order while France was the target of terrorist attacks" and because burkinis are "not respectful of [the] good morals and secularism" of France. Were going to need some space to unpack this one, bear with me. So first of all, correct me if Im wrong but I thought this was a pretty black and white thing we feminists were agreed on. An article of faith if you will: Thou Shalt Leave Women To Do As They Will With Their Own Bodies. France, often posturing itself as the beacon of feminism because apparently feminism was born of the French Revolution (dont know if all the working-class women and women in the colonies heard about that liberation, sorry guys!) should surely know this article more than most. And yet, here it is the French state itself forcing women to wear or not wear certain clothes! Incredible! Recently I saw a spate of articles about the hijab in Iran. In Iran women are forced to wear the hijab by law and can be publicly admonished, fined or even arrested for inadequate covering. Now, Im sure many more feminists and Im guessing particularly those in Europe would be quick to agree this is Not Okay. Surely the best thing is for women to be free to choose to dress however they want be it wearing a headscarf or a miniskirt. Yet, it seems that oppression is only when brown men tell you how to dress; when white men do it its called liberation. Now, if youre about to comment saying, "Dear me TBH Im afraid its just not that simple", youre bang-on-the-money absolutely spot on correct its not. And that brings me to my second point. Gloria Hunniford criticised for burkini comments The bans in France are specifically targeted at Muslim women. The idea that the burkini could be linked to terrorism somehow and therefore a ban on it justified seems ludicrous, and yet this is the stage weve reached. The extreme policing of Muslim womens dress is somehow an acceptable anti-extremism measure. More than that, Muslim women are posited always as victims of their dress who require liberation from the French authorities. And heres the catch: this French desire to liberate Muslim women and the positing of Muslimness as oppositional to Frenchness has a long and bloody history. Oh yes, here I go again. French colonies in North Africa were the ones with large Muslim populations, but also the ones with some of the longest and bloodiest battles for independence see Algeria. That sort of history and that sort of war is not a good start for making you the experts on legislating on Muslim dress. In fact, you might argue that it gives you a slightly biased picture of history and one thats full of images of you battling your unruly Muslim subjects who for years you have depicted as the very opposite sorts of people as you are and therefore as savage, animalistic, backwards, ignorant, male despots and female victims. So, when, from the 1960s and 70s and 80s those same colonies, now independent, saw people begin to migrate to France because oh, I dont know maybe thered been a long history of war and repression which kind of made opportunities not so great over there this long background of antagonism and racism cant have disappeared. James O'Brien on the burkini ban How would you feel if a nun was forced to take off her habit on a beach And heres another thing. That French feminism we were just talking about that is also born of that history. That type of feminism is one steeped in imperialism and hardcore racism. Muslim women are not women in that feminism. Muslim womens bodies are different, they are racialised, they are dehumanised and, as ever, they remain the central posturing points in ideological battles between an imaginary East and West conjured up by the latter to deal with its self-destructive modernity wherein colonialisms long-term consequences namely immigration and war are hard to deal with and need a scapegoat. Because, lets be honest, when we ask, "I wonder what it is that drives Muslims in the West to be extremists?" it's easier to blame Isis than it is to consider the deeply ingrained segregatory and racist policies and rhetoric we practice in our own backyards. And that brings me to my final point. If youre thinking, "Ah, but TBH youve missed the central part of the question here, France is not being racist or Islamaphobic or informed by its long history of colonialism, its just pursuing good ol' secularism!" stop right there. French secularism is not half that. A secular state is usually one which believes in separation of state and religion, of public and religious affairs. But in France, secularism, laicite, means something more. It is itself a form of ideology and is often linked to the French revolution and therefore also a bastion of French identity. But what it has grown to mean in recent years is not something which nineteenth-century French statesmen would recognise. Freedom of conscience and free exercise of religious faiths have lost ground to a political passion which makes secularism the defining French value. As such, it has been weaponised in xenophobic and anti-immigration rhetoric turning secularism specifically and deliberately against French Muslims and often though Muslims are also confusingly, often condemned on grounds of not accepting Frances Christian culture. Inside Story - French 'burkini' ban: secularism or security? So, we have to ask, how does what Muslim women wear on their heads and bodies challenge secularism which requires only a separation of power? The answer is, it doesnt. Whats happening in France is not even thinly-veiled (haha) racism. It is out and out "What are you gonna do about it?" racism. If youre reading this, ask yourself what youre going to do about it. If you count yourself as a feminist, ask yourself, "Where the heck have I been and why have I not cared about the policing and criminalisation of Muslim womens bodies the same way as I care about the policing and criminalisation of white womens bodies?" If youre worried about the world and war and extremism ask yourself, "Am I just sitting by and letting my society be segregated by the powers that be?" If you really want Muslim women to not be oppressed, ask yourself what youre doing about the Islamophobia slowly becoming legitimate ideology in the West, because that Islamaphobia disproportionately hurts visibly Muslim women. This piece originally appeared on The Brown Hijabi and has been reposted here with the author's permission 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 }} The photographs taken on Nice beach that emerged yesterday are mind-boggling in their violence: four armed, fully-clothed, male police officers surround a woman who is lying down on the sand in a headscarf and blue, long-sleeved top. They make her remove her shirt before writing up a ticket. The officers were enforcing a recently imposed ban on 'burkinis', the full-length swimming costume favoured by conservative Muslims (and some Jews, too), which has been the subject of much recent debate. But the woman pictured was not even wearing a burkini. Nice adopted the ban last week, the latest French municipality to do so. A further 15 southeastern resorts and towns in other parts of France have already banned the bathing suit in an ill-advised bid to protect a nation understandably anxious after a wave of brutal terror attacks. Video shows French women being ordered out of sea for wearing burkini France has enacted bans to protect the nations secularism, enshrined by law, before. In 2004, it banned the headscarf and conspicuous religious symbols, such as crucifixes and the Jewish skullcap, in state schools. In 2010, it banned the wearing of niqab, a face-covering veil, in public. According to the wording of Nices ban, the move bars anything that overtly manifests adherence to a religion at a time when France and places of worship are the target of terrorist attacks. It specifically refers to the recent attack in the city on Bastille Day, which killed 86 people. However, the sight of four armed men forcing a woman to remove her clothes in public should be a clear warning, not only of how ineffective banning a swimming costume will be in safeguarding against future attacks, but also of how dangerous the move is. It smacks of thoroughly illiberal hysteria. Such incidents not only foment divisions at a time of fear and tension in France and Europe, they give succor to extremists who peddle an us versus them narrative. For the likes of Isis, dont these headlines and an image of four men forcing a Muslim woman to undress reinforce their narrative that the West is at war with Islam and Islamic culture, not with Islamists? Even before yesterdays shocking images from the shore, French public figures in favour of the ban had already provided Isis with a gift-wrapped propaganda opportunity. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls declared that the desire of conservative Muslims to cover up is not compatible with the values of France and the Republic. Christian Estrosi, President of the Regional Council of Provence-Alpes-Cote dAzur, said in a letter to Valls that, the preservation of our social pact and our nation requires the government to take all measures to fight against radical communitarian practices. Though many observant Jewish women are also partial to full-body swimwear, the Parisian Rabbi Moshe Sebbag said that the town mayors choosing to enact bans understand today theres a religious war, a takeover of the secular establishment of the French republic. This is dangerous language. In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack Show all 30 1 /30 In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack A man reacts near bouquets of flowers near the scene where a truck ran into a crowd at high speed killing scores and injuring more who were celebrating the Bastille Day national holiday in Nice Reuters In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack A woman arrives with a toy and a bouquet of flowers as people pay tribute near the scene where a truck ran into a crowd in Nice Reuters In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack A woman reacts as she places flowers in front of the memorial set on the 'Promenade des Anglais' where the truck crashed into the crowd during the Bastille Day celebrations in Nice EPA In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack People gather to view the floral tributes near the site of the truck attack in the French resort city of Nice AP In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack A man reacts near bouquets of flowers as people pay tribute near the scene where a truck ran into a crowd at high speed killing scores and injuring more who were celebrating the Bastille Day national holiday, in Nice Reuters In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack Floral tributes are laid out near the site of the truck attack in the French resort city of Nice AP In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack A child's toy is placed among the floral tributes laid out near the site of the truck attack in the French resort city of Nice AP In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack Investigators continue at the scene near the heavy truck that ran into a crowd at high speed killing scores who were celebrating the Bastille Day in Nice Reuters In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack Crime scene investigators work on the 'Promenade des Anglais' after the truck crashed into the crowd during the Bastille Day celebrations in Nice EPA In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack A forensic expert examines dead bodies covered with a blue sheet on the Promenade des Anglais seafront in the French Riviera city of Nice Getty Images In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack A forensic expert evacuates a dead body on the Promenade des Anglais seafront in the French Riviera city of Nice, after a gunman smashed a truck into a crowd of revellers celebrating Bastille Day Getty Images In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack A man reacts as he sits near a French flag along the beachfront the day after a truck ran into a crowd at high speed killing scores celebrating the Bastille Day in Nice Reuters In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack Discarded items are left on the beach, not far from the site of the truck attack in the French resort city of Nice AP In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack Bullet holes in the windscreen of the lorry that was driven into the crowd at high speed Reuters In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack A man walks through debris on the street in Nice, France, the morning after a lorry ran into a crowd, killing at least 84 and injuring 50 Reuters In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack Rescue workers help an injured woman to get in a ambulance AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack Authorities investigate a truck after it plowed through Bastille Day revelers in the French resort city of Nice, France AP In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack Celebrations of Bastille Day were targeted by the lorry driver AP In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack People cross the street with their hands on thier heads as a French soldier secures the area after at least 84 people were killed along the Promenade des Anglais in Nice Reuters In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack A paramedic attends one of the dozens of people injured in the Nice Bastille Day attack In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack Soldiers march on street where the lorry crashed into the crowd REUTERS In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack A man sits next to a body seen on the ground after at least 84 people were killed in Nice, when a truck ran into a crowd celebrating the Bastille Day national holiday Reuters In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack Bodies are seen on the ground after at least 84 people were killed in Nice, when a truck ran into a crowd celebrating the Bastille Day national holiday Reuters In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack Children were among the 84 killed in the atrocity, with around 50 more hospitalised Reuters In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve (2nd L) speaks to the media in Nice AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack A man walks with his hands up as police officers carry out checks on people in the centre of French Riviera town of Nice AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack With injured people laying in the street police and onlookers react near to a truck in Nice AP In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack Police officers, firefighters and rescue workers are seen at the site of the attack AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack Police officers speak with a soldier after a truck that ploughed into a crowd leaving a fireworks display in the French Riviera town of Nice AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Bastille Day Nice attack Police shine a light into the cab as they approach the driver's cab of a truck, in Nice AP French Muslim women are being targeted for merely symbolising a threat in the French imagination, and their desire to dress modestly is being criminalised. The rabbi went on to say that wearing a burkini was not innocent, its sending a message. Valls also railed against the burkini representing the enslavement of women, as if this were about saving them. But the ban scapegoats women, sacrificing them on the altar of public anxiety. That is another form of enslavement. Attacking a symbol cannot protect from violence. Humiliating Muslim women in what looks at best like a farce and at worse like militant secularism which will only feed extremists such as Isis. Proponents of Islamist ideology will be rubbing its hands with glee at the short-sightedness of the French. Alona Ferber is editor for the Centre on Religion and Geopolitics at the Tony Blair Faith Foundation 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 }} The latest batch of emails released by WikiLeaks have sparked yet more outrage and anger against Hillary Clinton. Were the damning emails about the misuse of her personal email server? Were they about her ties to Wall Street, or her relatively late turnaround on gay marriage? Re: None of the above. "Hope you are resting comfortably. Please take this as an excuse to get much needed rest. These well-meaning words, sent by former aide Sidney Blumenthal in 2009, have given the right-wing pundits a fresh burst of vigour when it comes to their "prove-Clinton-is-unwell-campaign" cleverly veiled by concern and pity for the candidate. Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton: Who has more psychopathic traits? The attack has a degree of inevitability. As Bernie Sanders quit the Democratic race and handed over to Clinton, she was free to unleash her disdain against Donald Trump. And when Republicans Ted Cruz and John Kasich stepped aside, much of Mr Trumps time was freed up from attacking Heidi Cruz to attacking Crooked Hillary instead. But the line of attack has taken a vicious and sexist turn. For at least a week now, the Republican-Trump machine has been consistently peddling conspiracy theories about the Democrats physical ability to do one of the toughest jobs in the world, despite Clinton having released a letter from a doctor in late July which declares her being in excellent health. Trump and his cronies, including Fox News-come-political-adviser Sean Hannity, have taken to pointing out her coughing, blinking and exaggerated head-bobbing" as signs that she could not possibly be well enough to run the White House. She tripped once on the stairs she cant possibly be president. She coughed during that speech in Harlem and she needed to take a sip of water its obvious she cant be president! "What about some of the weird pauses she has, the coughing fits she has? There are moments when Im literally watching her and Im thinking, OK, the facial expressions are odd," said Hannity on Fox News. "They seem off. During Clintons long career as a lawyer, senator and secretary of state, an email asking her to rest" is all it takes for the rumour mill to swirl so viciously that comedian Jimmy Fallon asked her this weekend to prove her strength by asking her to open a jar of pickles. She laughed, and opened it. Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Show all 14 1 /14 Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Isis: "Some of the candidates, they went in and didnt know the air conditioner didnt work and sweated like dogs, and they didnt know the room was too big because they didnt have anybody there. How are they going to beat ISIS?" Getty Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On immigration: "I will build a great wall and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me and Ill build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words." Reuters Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Free Trade: "Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people." PAUL J. RICHARDS | AFP | Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Mexicans: "When Mexico sends its people, theyre not sending their best. Theyre sending people that have lots of problems. Theyre bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists." Getty Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On China: "I just sold an apartment for $15 million to somebody from China. Am I supposed to dislike them?... I love China. The biggest bank in the world is from China. You know where their United States headquarters is located? In this building, in Trump Tower." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On work: "If you're interested in 'balancing' work and pleasure, stop trying to balance them. Instead make your work more pleasurable." AP Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On success: "What separates the winners from the losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of fate." Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On life: "Everything in life is luck." AFP Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On ambition: "You have to think anyway, so why not think big?" Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On his opponents: "Bush is totally in favour of Common Core. I don't see how he can possibly get the nomination. He's weak on immigration. He's in favour of Common Core. How the hell can you vote for this guy? You just can't do it." Reuters Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Obamacare: "You have to be hit by a tractor, literally, a tractor, to use it, because the deductibles are so high. It's virtually useless. And remember the $5 billion web site?... I have so many web sites, I have them all over the place. I hire people, they do a web site. It costs me $3." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Barack Obama: "Obama is going to be out playing golf. He might be on one of my courses. I would invite him. I have the best courses in the world. I have one right next to the White House." PA Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On himself: "Love him or hate him, Trump is a man who is certain about what he wants and sets out to get it, no holds barred. Women find his power almost as much of a turn-on as his money." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On America: "The American Dream is dead. But if I get elected president I will bring it back bigger and better and stronger than ever before and we will make America great again." GETTY All politicians are arguably fair game. But there is no precedent to compare these Trump-style attacks with. The poor, sick lamb Clinton is the first woman to become a presidential nominee in history. It does seem coincidental, however, that there is now a concerted effort, consisting of experts wearing white lab coats on Fox News, to prove the brain damage and deteriorating health of such a seemingly fit and healthy woman. It is the lowest of the low. The speculation on her health is also perhaps an indication of growing desperation among the Trump campaign, now that his businesses as well as his polling numbers are suffering. Trump has accused the "co-founder of Isis" Clinton of everything, except being a woman. But his attack against her physical well-being plays straight into the hands of the "weaker sex stereotype. Make no mistake: for all his insults, gaffs, faux-pas and lawsuits, his conspiracy theory against Clintons health is the most evident example of Trumps misogyny yet. 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 }} Two years ago I wrote about my experience in a London emergency department with my son, Victor. That post has since been viewed more than 450,000 times. There are over 800 comments with no trolls (a feat unto itself) and almost all of them express love for the NHS. I was in England again this week. And yes, I was back in an emergency department, but this time with my English cousin. My cousin loves high heels. As a former model she makes walking in the highest of heels look easy. However, cobblestone streets have challenges not found on catwalks and so she twisted her ankle very badly. Despite ice and elevation there was significant swelling and bruising and she couldnt put any weight on her foot. I suggested we call her doctor and explain the situation. I was worried about a fracture. I hoped to arrange an x-ray. If it was broken we would arrange the needed care and if it wasnt broken I could bandage it just as well at home. No, she said. Shed have to ring for an appointment. It was Friday around 11 am. The chance of getting into her GP by the end of the day was apparently non-existent. She would have to wait until Monday. Even if she were lucky enough to be seen that day there was no x-ray in his office so it would be a trip to see him and then a trip to the hospital. She was shocked when I suggested she call and just ask if he could order the x-ray. Apparently, thats not how its done. Jeremy Corbyn blasts Theresa May's NHS record As a gynaecologist I will admit feet are not my strong suit, but no medical degree was needed to confirm that she needed an x-ray. She also has some health issues that could impact healing from a break or the timing of surgery (hopefully that wouldnt be needed, but you never know), so a timely diagnosis was important for her. Were going to the emergency department I said, and off we went to Sunderland Hospital. Getting to the actual emergency room (ER) from the parking area required a background in orienteering. There was loads of construction and we had to go down hallway, after hallway, with Hogwarts worthy twists and turns. I managed to find a wheelchair, an unwieldy apparatus that only works in reverse - on purpose. This is to stop wheelchair theft, which is apparently a serious problem at Sunderland Hospital. Boris Johnson falsely claims 350m NHS pledge from Leave campaign is in Tory manifesto My cousin was triaged immediately. Within two minutes a nurse checked her ankle, gave her codeine, and then sent her off to an urgent care clinic. She wasnt even registered in the ER. A porter wheeled her to the urgent care clinic in another building some distance away, which required a trip outside. What if it rains? I asked the porter. We get wet. This is the North, he said. Of course it rains. Almost every day. Apparently no one complains. The urgent care clinic had a few people ahead of us. It took about 10 minutes to check in and then no more than 15 minutes to be seen. A lovely nurse named Leslie triaged my cousin and agreed an x-ray was in order and made the arrangements. My cousin did not need to see a doctor or a nurse practitioner to get an x-ray. Im not sure Ive ever seen that happen in the US. The x-ray and radiology report took 10 minutes. Then a nurse practitioner (also very nice) did an appropriate history and exam. The diagnosis was a torn ligament (sprain) and possibly a small fracture of the lateral malleolus (outside ankle bone). An orthopaedics consultation was needed. She could either wait and be squeezed into fracture clinic that afternoon, or she could have a cast and come back to Saturday fracture clinic. The clinic didnt start until 2pm and we were done in urgent care by 1pm, so she opted to wait. She was seen around 2.15pm. An orthopaedic consultant did an exam and recommended a tight support bandage and gave her exercises and guidelines about how to follow-up if she wasnt meeting milestones. My cousin was at the hospital for four hours, one hour of this was an unavoidable wait for the fracture clinic and about 30 minutes of transport back and forth between the ER, urgent care, and fracture clinic. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA 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 To receive this care all my cousin had to do was provide her name and birthdate. No co-payments, no pre-authorisations, no concerns about the radiologist or orthopaedic surgeon being out of network. The nursing triage was wonderful and actually doing nursing (I hate seeing nurses relegated to charting). The nurse practitioner clearly knew what she was talking about and had reviewed the films with the radiologist. The surgeon only did the part of my cousins care that needed a specialist. It was a great use of resources. Everyone I spoke with at the hospital loved the NHS, and honestly it showed. While the hospital was a veritable maze and in need of the updating that they appeared to be doing, the equipment was fine and the people, i.e. the things that really matter, were great. Everyone from the porter to the orthopaedic consultant was hard-working, knowledgeable, and friendly. What more could you ask for? I asked a few people what they would like to see changed? The only real issue was people who show up for care that is clearly not even semi urgent never mind emergent. Might a tiny user fee change that? Did we have user fees in the US? Did they work? Non-emergent care provided in the ER is obviously not the best use of health care funds, but in reality its a tiny drop in the health care bucket. Extra emergency room doctors and nurses and the not needed CT scans and other testing that may be generated are nothing in comparison to things like chemotherapy, or HIV medications, or bone marrow transplants. We do have user fees in the US in the form of co-payments. Even low co-payments can cause some people to delay necessary care. They also dont seem to deter people who dont need the emergency room but want to go. Ive heard man in ER bragging that he tells the ER staff he has chest pain so he gets seen first. He was happy to pay his $100 co-payment to be seen promptly at his convenience. He had nothing even remotely urgent. Ive listened to a mother who waited hours for a diaper rash. Not a bleeding diaper rash, just a rash. Her physician had a free 24/7 paediatrics advice nurse that went unused. She could have saved $40 and most of her Saturday with a phone call. If you want to change ER utilisation, and yes its a worthy goal even though its not the major cost driver, its education and outreach that are needed not penalties. Mark Steel: If Labour wins we could pay-per-view Jeremy Corbyn meeting Donald Trump and fund the NHS When I think of co-payments I think of a 60-year-old woman with breast cancer three years post-surgery and chemotherapy now in remission. She developed a cough and a fever so received a chest x-ray to look for pneumonia. The radiologist found something not quite right, a spot that was especially concerning given her breast cancer history. She needed a CT scan to see if this is a bit of scaring or if her cancer has metastasized to her lungs. When I asked her why she hasnt yet had the CT scan she told me she couldnt afford her $100 co-payment. It will take her two months to save the $100 so she can get the CT scan to find out if her cancer has returned. She looked at me in the eyes for just a moment until a mixture of embarrassment and fear that my eyes might tell her what she doesnt want to know caused her to look away. And what if her CT scan is equivocal and she needs $100 (or more) for the co-payment for a lung biopsy? If thats not a circle of hell I dont know what it. You want to know whats worse? Ive heard a variation of this story more than once. Dear UK, the NHS is awesome. Try to treat it a little better. Maybe teach kids in school how to use the health care system (hey, why not NHS education, just like Sexual Education?). Have safe sex. Stop smoking. Try to lose weight if you need to (obesity causes 30 per cent of cancers). Wear lower heels for dancing. And for crying out loud stop stealing wheelchairs. The next time anyone mentions privatisation or user fees tell them in America there are people trying to save enough money for the co-payment for the CT scan that will tell them if their cancer has returned or not. Thank you NHS for taking fantastic care of my cousin, of my son two years ago, and of everyone else. To the British government, stop trying to mess it up. This post first appeared in the author's blog 'An American doctor experiences the NHS. Again.' 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 }} Ukraine is holding a major military parade in Kiev today to mark its 25th anniversary as an independent state. But, at a time that should otherwise be a moment of national celebration, a serious crisis with Moscow is flaring up. So serious, in fact, that on Tuesday the Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande were forced to hold a three-way phone call to try to de-escalate the situation. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has even warned that there is growing risk of a full scale Russian invasion along all fronts, ratcheting up what is already the bloodiest European conflict since the wars over the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. The uptick in tensions coincides with a visit last Friday by Putin to Crimea, which was annexed by Moscow in 2014. Russias assertion last week that Kiev attempted an armed incursion into Crimea, plus the death of three Ukrainian soldiers, has escalated the situation further. In total, the 28-month crisis between the two countries has claimed an estimated 9,500 lives and more than a million people have fled their homes. The Ukrainian economy is in the doldrums, with foreign exchange reserves depleted and the government seeking to rejuvenate a $17.5bn (13bn) Western-led economic bailout deal. Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster Show all 12 1 /12 Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster A woman stands near the grave of her brother, a "liquidator" or an emergency worker who fought the blaze at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, during a commemoration ceremony on the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster at the Mitino cemetery in Moscow Reuters Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster Belarussian soldiers of an honor guard carry wreaths during a memorial service for the victims of the Chernobyl disaster in Minsk EPA Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster A woman holds a portrait of her relative, a victim of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, as she visits the memorial during a commemoration ceremony in Kiev Reuters Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko lays flowers during a commemoration ceremony at a monument to "liquidators", emergency workers who fought the blaze at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant Reuters Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster A woman puts flowers to a monument to Chernobyl liquidators at Mitino Cemetery in Moscow AP Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster Nataliya Khodemchyuk, 64, from Ukraine, a widow of Chernobyl liquidator Valery Khodemchyuk, sits at his grave at the Mitino Cemetery in Moscow AP Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster A woman holds portrait of her relative, a victim of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, as she visits the memorial during a commemoration ceremony in Kiev Reuters Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster Ukrainians light candles and lay flowers at the memorial for 'liquidators' who died during cleaning up works after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster, during a ceremony in Slavutich city EPA Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster A rescue worker which served during the Chernobyl nuclear disaster visits a memorial during a commemoration ceremony in Kiev Reuters Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster Women hold portraits of their lost husbands near a monument honoring people who were killed during cleanup efforts after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster, during a memorial ceremony in Kiev EPA Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster A woman lays flowers at the Chernobyl victims' memorial in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev Getty Images Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster A woman holds a photograph of her husband who died following the clean-up operations for the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear explosion, at the Chernobyl's victim monument in Ukraine's capital Kiev AP With the increasing possibility of what Hollande has called total war, alarm is growing in the international community not least within France and Germany, the two countries which helped broker the February 2015 Minsk agreement. Under that deal, both sides agreed to measures including an immediate, full bilateral ceasefire and the withdrawal of heavy weapons from Donetsk and Luhansk, where fighting since 2014 has seen separatists seize significant portions of the regions, raising international fears about the viability of the Ukrainian state. In the immediate-term, and despite recent rhetoric, it is unlikely there will be any decisive actions in advance of the G20 summit in China next month. And the Pentagon has poured cold water on the idea that Moscow might be preparing an imminent invasion, asserting that the build-up of Russian troops on the border is part of an annual military exercise. Moving into the autumn, whether tensions escalate or subside will probably depend most upon the political calculus of Russia. Previously, Moscow had hoped that sustained economic, military and political pressure could lead to significant loss of support within Ukraine for its pro-Western Kiev government. That scenario has not fully come to pass yet, however, and it is unclear what the risk tolerance of the Russian leadership now is, especially given that Putin is up for re-election in March 2018 for a new six year term as President. In the last few days, he has called for common sense to prevail and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insists that Moscow remains committed to the Minsk agreement. If tensions rise further this autumn, it could prompt a new debate over international military support for Poroshenkos government, which has claimed it may need to impose martial law and mobilise reserve troops soon. Enhanced military aid was raised at the Nato summit last month, where the organisation recalibrated its capability to respond to what is perceived as an enhanced Russian security threat not just to Ukraine, but also other countries too, including the Baltic states. Turkish President keeps Vladimir Putin waiting It may also re-open discussions in Washington over military support for Kiev. Prior to the announcement of the Minsk deal last year, US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter asserted his preference of providing enhanced military assistance to Ukraine, and there are pockets of strong support in Congress for providing such support, including from Senator John McCain, Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee. However, the West is divided on this issue. Some key figures in Europe are concerned that provision of equipment such as anti-tank weapons could be used by Ukraine not just to secure military balance on the ground but as a means to achieve more ambitious, risky military goals. Merkel, for instance, cites her own experience of growing up in East Berlin during the Cold War. She has repeatedly said that there is no military solution to the conflict. The German Chancellor particularly fears that, given current mistrust with Moscow, providing extensive weaponry to Ukraine will only intensify the conflict which could risk becoming a proxy war between Russia and the wider West. As international diplomatic activity ramps up, the crisis is on the brink of spiralling out of control again, with significant effects many miles from the streets of Kiev. Andrew Hammond is an associate at LSE IDEAS, the Centre for International Affairs, Diplomacy and Strategy at the London School of Economics 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 }} The record of Turkish involvement in the war in Syria over the last five years has been one of repeated disaster. It wanted to get rid of President Bashar al-Assad and his government and it is still there and in control of at least two thirds of the Syrian population. Instead, the Syrian wing of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has been fighting a guerilla war against the Turkish state since 1984, was able to establish its rule, with the military backing of the US, across a great swathe of northern Syria south of the border with Turkey. Isis, which Ankara once tolerated, has launched a vicious bombing campaign in Turkey which killed 54 people at a wedding in Gaziantep last weekend. Will Turkey's military incursion, which began at 4am this morning, fare any better than its past initiatives in Syria? Its tanks, special forces amd artillery are backing at least 500 Syrian rebels in an attack on the Isis-held town of Jarabulus just west of the Euphrates River. The Turkish media speaks of the operation, known as Euphrates Shield, as aiming to create a 55-by-25 mile safe zone for refugees just south of the Syrian-Turkish border. But Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numun Kurtulmus says that what we are seeing is a short and results based operation. Opposition forces said this evening that they were in control of the town, as US military officials said that American planes were conducting air strikes against Isis targets. One aim is to respond to the massacre carried out by an Isis suicide bomber in Gaziantep last weekend. Another is to prevent the Syrian Kurds, the shape of its proxy, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), taking Jarabulus and the 30-mile strip to its west, which is Isis's last exit and entry point to Turkey and the outside world. This would extend the Syrian Kurdish quasi-state, which the Kurds call Rojava, connecting up to the Kurdish enclave of Afrin north-west of Aleppo. Going by the limited number of tanks and other forces so far committed by Turkey, its ambitions in Syria are at present fairly limited. It would be wise for Turkey to keep it that way. It can act against Isis, but if this is a mask for an assault on Syrian Kurds then it will be opposed by both the US and Russia. The YPG (People's Protection Units), the 50,000 strong Syrian Kurdish army, is America's most effective military ally against Isis. It has been cooperating with the Russian air campaign. The Syrian army and air force has been fighting the YPG in the far east of Syria in and around the city of al-Hasakah. Could the struggle for Jarabulus open the door to a diplomatic volte face where by Damascus and Ankara reconcile and turn on the Kurds? It looks very unlikely, but the Syrian crisis is now so complex that participants have great difficulty in telling friends from enemies and where their own best interests lie. 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 }} How the West would love to believe that Turkeys army in Syria all 10 tanks of it are striking at last at everyones enemy, the blood-soaked cult of the Islamic State. But few in Syria or Turkey will be fooled. Isis have been sitting in Jerablus for many months; it is the advance of the American-armed Kurdish YPG militia along the Turkish border towards Jerablus that worries Sultan Erdogan. And yet again as Turkish troops advanced, he bundled up the YPG (Peoples Protection Units) who the Turks believe have connections with the PKK or Kurdistan Workers Party, whom they view as much more dangerous as terrorists, along with Isis. In other words, hes calling both the anti-Assad Isis and the anti-Isis Kurds the enemies of Turkey (as he did after the suicide bombing of a wedding in Gazientep last weekend), lumping his pet hates together. Only his obsession with Fethullah Gulen, whom he blames for Julys failed coup, has been omitted from his latest battle objectives in Syria. Video shows tanks on the Turkey/Syria border Erdogans latest ally, Tsar Vladimir, will have no objections. At one blow, Turkey strikes however feebly at both Isis and the pro-American Kurdish militia with whose apparatchiks Moscow has remained studiously aloof. The Syrians will know and surely will have been told that Putin supports Turkeys little incursion. They will be in no mood to protest since their own government army was fighting the same Kurdish group in the city of Hassakeh until a ceasefire two days ago. Here, too, the YPG was trying to seize Syrian sovereign territory. Put simply, the YPG is getting too big for its boots. It is using the anti-Isis war to carve out a little homeland inside Syria along the Turkish border and gobbling up as much of Syria as it can before the civil war ends. The Turks dont want a Kurdish mini-state on their frontier any more than the Syrians want to lose territory to the Kurds. The anti-Assad Free Syrian Army is supposed to be among Turkeys little squadron of armour heading for Jerablus but this is likely to be of little interest to Damascus: Syrian troops have long since ceased to regard the FSA as a serious military force and will not worry if its men wish to martyr themselves in this Turkish-run operation. In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Show all 17 1 /17 In pictures: Turkey coup attempt In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish President Erdogan attends the funeral service for victims of the thwarted coup in Istanbul at Fatih mosque on July 17, 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey Burak Kara/Getty Images In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Soldiers involved in the coup attempt surrender on Bosphorus bridge with their hands raised in Istanbul on 16 July, 2016 Gokhan Tan/Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt A civilian beats a soldier after troops involved in the coup surrendered on the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, 16 July, 2016 REUTERS/Murad Sezer In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Surrendered Turkish soldiers who were involved in the coup are beaten by a civilian Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Soliders involved in the coup attempt surrender on Bosphorus bridge Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wave flags as they capture a Turkish Army vehicle Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt People pose near a tank after troops involved in the coup surrendered on the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, 16 July, 2016 Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish soldiers block Istanbul's Bosphorus Brigde Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt A Turkish military stands guard near the Taksim Square in Istanbul Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Pierre Crom/Twitter In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish soldiers secure the area as supporters of Recep Tayyip Erdogan protest in Istanbul's Taksim square AP In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Murad Sezer/Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish soldiers detain police officers during a security shutdown of the Bosphorus Bridge Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish Army armoured personnel carriers in the main streets of Istanbul Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Chaos reigned in Istanbul as tanks drove through the streets EPA/TOLGA BOZOGLU In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks to media in the resort town of Marmaris Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Supporters of President Erdogan celebrate in Ankara following the suppression of the attempted coup Reuters Its all bad news for Isis, of course. And deeply ironic, for it was at the very same Jerablus under Turkish shellfire today where TE Lawrence of Arabia spent some of the happiest months of his life before the First World War, digging through the ancient ruins of Carcamish, and where he began to frame his affectionate but also deeply racist view of the Arabs. The sterility of the desert, Lawrence would later write of anyone who lived there robbed him of compassion and perverted his human kindness to the image of the waste in which he hid. He wrote of the Arabs delight in pain and of how the desert became a spiritual iceberg, in which was preserved intact but unimproved for all ages a vision of the unity of God. Perhaps Lawrence got closer to the mind of Isis than we might imagine. Now the Turks can discover this for themselves in the new ruins of Jerablus. Farmers in the midlands fear pine martens will attack and kill their sheep and lambs this winter as locals say the species is getting "out of control". Padraig Brady, a sheep farmer and north Longford Fine Gael representative says a pine marten recently killed two of his lambs and injured three others leaving him with a financial loss of 250. "Nobody really cares about what they're costing the farmer, I didn't need to lose that money. "Neighbours around me have lots more sheep and their losses are phenomenal. 800 worth of pheasants were killed down the road," he said. "They're out of control in our area. They're in people's dust bins in the villages looking for food. They've been sighted three at a time," he said. He believes the pine marten - which resembles the otter, Irish stoat and American mink - is multiplying in heavily afforested counties. Expand Close Once rare, the Pine Marten is now extending its range / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Once rare, the Pine Marten is now extending its range "A woman went out to pick her eggs one morning and a pine marten was in the box where he'd the chicken killed. She put in her hand and he bit her. She had to get a tetanus shot," said Mr Brady. Although local FG and FF councillors have informed the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the problem, they say the issue has "fallen on deaf ears". "The authorities have to accept that the pine marten is causing serious problems. There is one in every 10 or 15 acres, it's all over the place. Farmers are already struggling to survive without this problem," he said. Mr Brady says communities are concerned that a child could be attacked in a freak accident while opening a bin. "It might never happen but I'm just saying that is the scenario that we're dealing with on a weekly basis," he said. Unlike the fox, who is hunted by man, the pine marten is a protected species with no predator. Local representatives are calling for this order to be lifted and for an urgent cull. A population survey is currently underway by researchers at Waterford IT funded by Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Results are expected in November. A survey has shown that banks are among the most expensive providers of home insurance Consumers have been warned they may be over-paying for their home insurance if they get it through a bank. It comes after the latest figures showed home insurance premiums have risen by 11pc in the past year. Now a survey has shown that banks are among the most expensive providers of home insurance. The results of the survey show that householders may be over-paying by up to 300 a year by opting to take cover out through their bank. This is because there are price gaps of up to 100pc across the market, according to Jonathan Hehir of brokerage Insuremyhouse.ie. His firm did a survey using five standard sample customers, and contrasted premiums from the banks compared with a typical online broker. The results showed the price differential reached several hundred euro. There are huge differences in the prices people pay for the same cover a difference of over 300. There are not many households that can afford to pass up a saving like that, Mr Hehir said. He said people may feel safe going to just one provider to get a good rate, as home insurance rates are not rising as fast as car insurance. But he advised against this. The survey, carried out by staff at Insuremyhouse.ie, shows that insuring a bungalow in Ballingarry, Co Limerick, costs 231 from a broker and 530 from a bank, a difference of almost 300, Insuremyhouse.ie said. A detached house in Lucan, Co Dublin, generated quotes from 246 from the online broker, compared with 550 from banks. In almost all cases banks AIB, Bank of Ireland, Ulster Bank, Permanent TSB and KBC were dearer than online broker options. Mr Hehir claimed the reason banks charge higher premiums is that home insurance is not their core business. Its just one of the many products and services they offer and so they dont focus their attentions on getting the best value for customers. He advised householders to act a few weeks before the renewal date and search the market for the best value, instead of letting the renewal date roll around and having to accept the new premium that the existing insurer offers. I would guestimate that approximately 70pc of Irish people do nothing and nine out of 10 of these people could get a better deal. AIB, which emerged as one of the most expensive providers in the survey, had no comment. We cant comment on figures we cant validate, the bank said. Tips for cutting the cost of home cover There are several ways to avail of cheaper premiums on home insurance: Secure your home. Most insurers will offer discounts for people with alarms and/or monitored alarm systems. If you have one of these ask if any discounts apply. A monitored alarm could reduce premiums by up to 25pc. While these may have been expensive a few years ago the cost of alarm monitoring has reduced significantly. Check policy add-ons. Extras like accidental damage are often costly and not always necessary. Theres little point in specifying valuable items such as iPads and bicycles if you opted for a higher excess, say 500. Increasing the excesses on your policy will invariably reduce the cost of your premium. However, you need to ensure that you dont end up having to pay out a fortune in the event of a claim you should always take expert advice when considering changing policy excesses. Lock in your rate for two or three years. Some insurers are now offering these policies, which means that if a person chooses to opt in for the next two to three years, they will be insulated from any market rate increases during this time. This is a cost effective measure for those who would prefer some sense of certainty when it comes to premiums. There is no charge for this. Instead, there is a small administration discount. If a customers premium is 400 for one year, then two years will cost 790, and three years will cost 1,180. Another benefit of the new product is that the premium will not increase during the two to three years no matter how many claims are made on the policy in this time. Homeowners would normally be hit with a significant premium increase just months after the claim when they go to renew their policy. Government ministers have promised to fast-track the provision of purpose-built student accommodation, on or close to college campuses. The move is aimed at freeing up space in the private rental market, while also providing students with quality facilities for their college years. Housing Minister Simon Coveney said yesterday that they were tackling it on a number of fronts - including the provision of low-cost funding and a faster planning process. Mr Coveney was speaking at the launch of a new 354-bedroom student complex at University College Dublin (UCD), along with the unveiling of an ambitious 10-year campus development plan at Ireland's largest university. Among the projects planned by UCD over the next decade are an additional 3,000 student residences, bringing the on-campus population to over 6,000, or over 24pc of its total student numbers. In line with his wider commitment to prioritise certain projects, Mr Coveney told UCD president Andrew Deeks that he would work to speed up the delivery of the college development. The cost of the plan is put at 300m Dublin, in particular, is hit by a critical under-supply of student accommodation: for over 80,000 third-level students, there are fewer than 10,000 purpose-built student bed spaces both on and off university campuses. Mr Coveney said: "If we can get students out of private rental accommodation into purpose-built student residences, we will free up considerable space for people competing for limited rental properties." The minister said he was bringing forward legislation to facilitate projects, such as those at UCD, that would expedite the planning processes by fast-tracking planning directly to An Bord Pleanala. "This is a no-brainer as far as I am concerned," he said. "The Government's Action Plan contains specific commitments that will be critical enablers of delivery of purpose-built accommodation - such as the additional 3,000 here at Belfield." Mr Coveney said funding was another fundamental issue for universities who wanted to build campus residences, as they were subject to constraints on the amount they can borrow. He said access to finance at low cost was key and that his department was working with third-level colleges and the Housing Finance Agency to ensure that they can access funding in the very short term. Education Minister Richard Bruton said they wanted to deliver an additional 7,000 student accommodation places by the end of 2019, on or off campus, in addition to projects already in motion. According to a report last year, there were 31,296 beds in purpose-built accommodation, either on or off campus, and a need for another 25,808 to meet the additional demand at that time. With numbers rising, even the provision of another 15,000 bed spaces over the next decade would still leave the system short at least 20,000 beds. Subscribe to The Ready Business show, in association with Vodafone via iTunes or SoundCloud. For Hannah OReilly and Elaine Lavery, their business careers have been short ones so far, but in just three years they have achieved so much with Improper Butter. Ireland is synonymous with some of the best butter, cheese and dairy in the world though there is always room for more innovation and creativity. Working as a chalet chef in the Swiss Alps, Elaine had the idea for flavoured butter to be used in cooking. Returning to Ireland to contact her old college pal, Hannah, the fledgling idea soon turned into a viable business. They were only a year out of UCD with business degrees and both knew they wanted to try something themselves. I had worked in finance in London when I graduated, explains Elaine. But I knew it wasnt for me. The entrepreneurial spark is in her genes with her father running his own business. I grew up with entrepreneurship around me every day, it was tangible and real, she says. I saw my Dad doing it and thought, why cant I? Theres a self-confidence and self-belief about the generation who came through the recession years admits Hannah. Our generation has got nothing to lose so why not do it? When I was in an internship in a music agency in London I was asking myself, why run around getting other peoples coffees when I could do something interesting for myself?. I used to come home from school every week with dreams of different crazy dream jobs and my Mums phrase was always, Well someone has to do it so why not you? and I think its a great motto to believe in. Their belief in their product, coupled with tenacity and perseverance has seen Improper Butter grow from selling at the local farmers market to selling nationwide with SuperValu and exporting to markets in the UAE and UK. Along the way theyve also picked up a Great Taste award, pitched on Dragons Den, and been finalists for Best Young Entrepreneur and Virgins Foodpreneur competitions. And all just three years after graduating. Still only 26, the companys co-founders believe they and Improper Butter can achieve so much more. The Ready Business show, in association with Vodafone , is available via iTunes , SoundCloud and Stitcher or subscribe to the RSS feed of the Ready Business Podcast using your favourite podcatcher. You can check out the full Ready Business Podcast series here . In association with: The European Union won't bend its rules to preserve access for the City of London once Britain leaves the bloc, according to German politician Michael Fuchs, an ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel. The legal and regulatory framework for so-called passporting is geared to banks based in an EU country, and negotiating any new arrangement promises to be "very difficult", Mr Fuchs said in a Bloomberg interview yesterday. Passporting rules, which allow a bank incorporated in any EU member state to sell its products and services throughout the $19 trillion integrated economy, are "not negotiable", he said. That's a rebuff to lobbies such as the British Bankers' Association, which says its goal remains to keep "the current full level of access to the EU market". While UK Prime Minister Theresa May has said she will fight for the City to retain its passporting rights, bankers and lawyers say she faces an uphill battle trying to win concessions from EU partners. "If you're member of a club you have certain benefits, but if you're out, you will not have the benefits any more," said Mr Fuchs, a deputy leader of Ms Merkel's grouping in the German parliament. "It's not going to be an easy game." Avoiding isolation for U.K.-based banks is one of May's biggest challenges after Britons voted on June 23 to end more than four decades of EU membership. With future relations between the EU and the UK in limbo for now, the other member countries are seeking to chart the way forward. Mr Fuchs said talks on access for UK banks will "require a lot of effort". As an example of the difficulties, he cited a legal bar to letting London-based banks manage initial public offerings in the EU after Brexit. While the passporting agreement also includes non-EU countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, Mr Fuchs said banks operating in the EU must be subject to EU supervision and can't be run out of London when the UK is no longer a member. Meanwhile, more than a quarter of European companies plan to reduce the amount of business they do with UK banks after Britain exits the European Union, according to a survey by Greenwich Associates. Around 28pc of companies on the continent are planning to move away from British banks, with 20pc shifting business to global lenders, the financial services consulting firm said yesterday citing responses from 63 European and UK corporations. About 8pc of UK companies will increase the amount of commerce they conduct with domestic lenders, according to the survey. More than half of the European companies think banks in the UK will lose their passporting rights, compared with 37pc of British corporations, Greenwich said, citing 128 responses. About 45pc of the companies on the continent expected Brexit to have a negative or very negative long-term economic impact, while almost 30pc of British firms felt similarly. (Bloomberg) Sydney Rose Brianna Parkins said she raised the issue of the controversial Eighth Amendment, which makes abortion illegal, on stage at the Tralee Dome as she believed it would be "hypocritical" to ignore it. The Chicago Rose, Maggie McEldowney, was crowned the Rose of Tralee 2016 last night. But Parkins sparked controversy when she told the audience in the Dome that she would love "to see a referendum on the Eighth coming up soon". "That would be my dream," she said as the audience applauded. Her comments drew widespread attention, with many praising her for using the Rose of Tralee as a platform to raise the contentious issue. Talking to the Herald she said she was overwhelmed by the positive reaction she had received. "It's been really heartening and some mothers of young girls contacted me to say, 'My daughters were watching and thank you for being an advocate for Irish women and being an ally. I'm really proud my daughter got to see that on TV'." Parkins added she was not the only Rose with strong opinions on the subject and the Roses had discussed the issue at length in their preliminary interviews. "We're not just talking about handbags. We're talking about sexism in the workplace and the wage gap," she said. "It wasn't that I am the odd one out. We all have different viewpoints and we're respectful. "It was touched on in the questions during the group interview, so it's not like the Rose of Tralee completely ignores issues. It was brought up, so it is part of the festival, but perhaps in a more private way," she added. However, last night Rose of Tralee judging panel chair Mary Kennedy said it was "not the place" for Parkins to broach the topic. Video of the Day "This was a point that she (Brianna) wanted to make but I don't think it's the place to do it," she said. "I don't think the Rose of Tralee is a necessarily political platform." Kennedy was quick to add that Parkins' comments would in no way inform the judges' decision in selecting the Rose. Meanwhile, Justice4Fathers protester Matt O'Connor who interrupted proceedings dressed as a priest will not face any sanctions. The protestor, who campaigns for increased rights for fathers, was tackled by security after he made it on to the stage during the first night of the competition. He was then brought to the garda station in Tralee. Once he had been identified he was released as he had committed no offence. O'Connor, who is second generation Kerry Irish said it is the first of several high-profile protests his group plan to stage in the next 12 months. Hot topic: Brianna Parks on stage at the Dome in Tralee on Monday night Sydney Rose, Brianna Parkins, has debated the eighth amendment comments she made during the Rose of Tralee festival with pro-life campaigner Cora Sherlock. The competition found itself at the epicentre of a social media storm when Sydney Rose, Brianna Parkins, used her time on the stage to challenge the controversial eighth amendment. "I think we can do a lot better here in Ireland," Brianna told host Daithi O'Se. "I think it's time to give women a say on their own reproductive rights. I would love to see a referendum on the eighth coming up soon. That would be my dream." Her comments sparked plenty of debate around the country with many commending her for broaching the issue of abortion on stage, while others - including festival chair Mary Kennedy - believed the festival was "not the place" for politics. The investigative journalist explained why she made the divisive comments during a debate with pro-Life campaigner Cora Sherlock on the Ray D'Arcy Show today: "I got out on stage and my women's activism was referenced. I talked about issues at home and thought it was very pertinent to bring up issues here as well." Ms Parkins said she felt comfortable in a festival that brings women together to bring up the topic. Expand Close A picture Brianna Parkins tweeted of herself wearing a 'Repeal the Eighth' T-shirt / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A picture Brianna Parkins tweeted of herself wearing a 'Repeal the Eighth' T-shirt "We had 65 intelligent, educated women. Obviously to make it this far [in the competition] they're well read, well versed on either side. There was a diverse range of opinions, it's not like nobody talks about it behind the scenes. We have strong opinions and we weren't afraid to talk about them." However, Ms Sherlock disagreed that it was the right place to discuss the subject of abortion. "The feeling that a lot of people seem to have is that the Rose Of Tralee festival shouldn't be really be politicised," she said. "People maybe watch the Rose of Tralee for a break from the more serious, hardcore, political programmes." The pro-Life campaigner explained that "it's difficult to dip your toe into the abortion debate" and it wasn't appropriate to make a comment about it on mainstream TV. "You can't just say something and then not say anything further about it. For example, does Brianna know what Ireland's record is like in terms of looking after women in this country?" she asked. Video of the Day "If she was going to introduce a political issue to the festival this year, why didn't she talk about homeless, pregnant women because that's a very serious issue that we have in this country." Ms Sherlock added: "This idea that someone can come out and make this statement and say that they want women to have a chance to talk... there's nothing new about that. Unfortunately we're having a lot of people talk about it from that side. The solicitor said that she would like to see a platform given to women who "regret their abortions" and her comments prompted Ms Parkins to explain what she had been advocating on stage. "My opinion is we should repeal the eighth," Ms Parkins said. "But what I actually said on the stage - in the capacity of being a Rose contestant at the festival - is that I wanted women to have a say. "I trust women to make the best decision for themselves and I think it's time that my generation in particular had a say on their reproductive rights. That's what I'm advocating" she explained. Ms Sherlock was then invited by stand-in host Kathryn Thomas to explain why she was against the repealing the eighth amendment: "I'm against a referendum on the abortion issue because if a referendum passed and the eighth amendment was removed... that actually removes a human right from our constitution, it removed constitutional protection for unborn babies in this country." However, Ms Parkins argued that it's a woman's right to decide if she wants to carry a pregnancy to full term or not. "I trust Irish women to make their own decisions and I'm sorry you don't have faith in them," she said. To which Ms Sherlock replied: "I do trust women, I don't trust abortion." Their conversation sparked plenty of reaction online and while many praised both women for engaging in a respectful debate, others took sides in the divisive issue with feelings ranging from anger to frustration. He's brought celebs like US President Barack Obama, Zac Efron and Courteney Cox into the wilderness and Bear Grylls has revealed Bono and Graham Norton are also in his sights. The survival expert has worked with lots of A-listers on his shows Running Wild with Bear Grylls and Mission Survive, but the U2 frontman and the chat show host have so far evaded him. "I would love to take Bono," he told the Herald. The 42-year-old, who was born in Co Down, said he tries to find celebrities with an air of mystery about them for his shows. "We always try and take people that everyone knows, but don't really know. "That's the key for our Running Wild shows - famous people, but with an enigma," he said. "Everyone knows Obama but no one knows what he's going to be like climbing up and down a mountain. I think Bono would be cool." Grylls has previously been a guest on The Graham Norton Show and reckons the Cork native would also make a welcome addition to the wilderness. "Graham Norton would be a good one for an ITV2 show," he said. Grylls will be coming to Ireland later this year as part of his upcoming tour Endeavour, which comes to Dublin's 3 Arena on October 19. "One of the reasons that I'm excited to come to Ireland is that it's such a big part of my family's life for generations. I left when I was about four, but it's amazing to go back and we still have so many good friends there," he said. "On our tours, we've got to do Belfast, and one of my best buddies in life is from Dublin. He's been saying from the start, 'Whatever you do, you have to come to Dublin'." Andrew Smyth hails from Co. Down. Photo: Twitter/ cakesmyth Meet the Irish man who is set to bake up a storm on the Great British Bake Off this year. Andrew Smyth (25) is a Cambridge engineering graduate who hails from Co Down and works as an aerospace engineer for Rolls Royce. The Irish man, who says he is "addicted to baking", will join 11 other competitors in on BBCs The Great British Bake Off, where he'll be put through a number of technical and creative challenges. He is the third-youngest of the bakers in this years competition who will be vying for the approval of judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood. @luisthebaker recipe for tropical Manchester tart - delish! #gbbo A photo posted by Andrew Smyth (@cakesmyth) on Aug 22, 2016 at 12:49am PDT Not for the faint hearted. #saltedcaramel and #pecan #brownies for charity bake sale A photo posted by Andrew Smyth (@cakesmyth) on Aug 7, 2016 at 9:00am PDT Treating the colleagues today. They're a good bunch #coffee and #walnut #cake #fridayfeeding A photo posted by Andrew Smyth (@cakesmyth) on Aug 5, 2016 at 2:33am PDT The Great British Bake Off launches on BBC One at 8pm. Bob McGlynn, AKA Mr Chrome (left), and Dave Chambers (Blind Boy Boat Club) of The Rubberbandits take a break during filming at a merry-go-round in Bray, Co Wicklow. Photo: Mark Doyle This is The Rubberbandits as you've rarely seen them before. Viewers are used to seeing the comedians with plastic bags covering their faces, but now one of the comedy duo's faces has been revealed. Bob McGlynn (Mr Chrome) and Dave Chambers (Blind Boy Boat Club) shot to fame after the video for their rap 'Horse Outside' went viral. The Limerick pair have largely managed to keep their real identities hidden from the public. However, McGlynn was spotted out of his familiar plastic-bag mask on a day of filming for 'The Rubberbandits Guide' at a merry-go-round in Co Wicklow. Apparently oblivious to the camera, the comedian was seen drinking a cup of coffee while his partner Chambers remained in disguise. Expand Close The Rubberbandits / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Rubberbandits While the pair are known for their hard image, in reality they are both middle-class boys. McGlynn and Chambers became friends during their time as students at Ardscoil Ris in Co Limerick. From one of the city's more well-to-do suburbs, the duo were also in school with rugby legend Paul O'Connell, who was a few years ahead of them. It was during their time in school that they first began recording their prank calls on cassettes, and later CDs, which brought them a level of notoriety around Limerick. From the very plush Ennis Road area, Chambers is described locally as the "brains of the operation". "He was always big into music and they provided great fun with the wind-up phone calls," one former student pal said. The pair are set for an international career after they appeared on an ITV2 show, and they have signed a deal with MTV. The flight was scheduled to depart Dublin at 3:50pm and arrive in Chicago O'Hare at 6:15pm local time. An Aer Lingus flight scheduled to travel from Dublin to Chicago has been cancelled today due to a technical fault with the aircraft. The EI125 flight was scheduled to depart Dublin at 3:50pm and arrive in Chicago O'Hare at 6:15pm local time this evening. An Aer Lingus spokesperson said that "the majority of passengers are being rebooked onto two Chicago services departing from Dublin tomorrow and overnight accommodation (has been) provided in Dublin as required. "Others have been re-accommodated on other North American services using onward connections and via other transatlantic gateways." It has been an eventful day for the airline, with the captain of the EI3701 service from Birmingham to Cork declaring a "full emergency" prior to landing this morning. There were 59 passengers and four crew on board the flight, which landed safely in Cork at approximately at 10:05am this morning. IRELAND'S Catholic Church hierarchy has admitted concerns about an "unhealthy atmosphere" at the country's main seminary amid claims trainee priests there are using the gay dating app Grindr. Church leaders have ordered a review on the "appropriate use of the internet and social media" at the centuries-old St Patrick's College in Maynooth, Co Kildare, as well as an overhaul of its approach to whistleblowers. The college trustees - four archbishops and 13 senior bishops - met for crisis talks after the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin confirmed he was boycotting the seminary. Dr Diarmuid Martin, the most senior Catholic in the Irish Republic, said earlier this month he is sending student priests to Rome rather than Maynooth - just 26km from the capital. The church leader said he made the decision some months ago because he was "somewhat unhappy" about "an atmosphere that was growing in Maynooth" exposed through anonymous accusations in letters and online blogs. Dr Martin said allegations included "a homosexual, a gay culture, that students have been using an app called Grindr" which he said "would be fostering promiscuous sexuality". The archbishop said there were further allegations that whistleblowers trying to bring claimed wrongdoing to the attention of authorities were being dismissed from the seminary. After a meeting in Maynooth, the four archbishops and 13 bishops that oversee the seminary said they acknowledged the controversy and the disquiet it has caused in the Church in Ireland. "The trustees share the concerns about the unhealthy atmosphere created by anonymous accusations together with some social media comments which can be speculative or even malicious," they said in a statement. "Persons with specific concerns are encouraged to report them appropriately as soon as possible." The trustees have vowed to carry out a review of whistleblowing policies and procedures and will demand college authorities review the use of the internet and social media. They will also call on the Church to set up an independent audit into the running of both remaining Irish seminaries, Maynooth and St Malachy's in Belfast. Founded in 1795, Maynooth College was once the largest seminary in the world. It was built to train 500 trainee Catholic priests every year, but numbers have nosedived to just over 40 for the coming year with a fall-off in vocations. Speaking earlier this month, Dr Martin also criticised the "comfortable" regime at the seminary. "The people have their breakfast, dinner and tea served up to them," he said. A terror suspect charged in connection with the murder of prison officer David Black had his bail conditions relaxed so he could go on a spa break, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal. Damien McLaughlin was granted permission by a court to skip his curfew and stop signing bail for three days while enjoying a mini break at a luxury lakeside hotel in Co Fermanagh earlier this month. On the first day of his relaxed bail conditions, McLaughlin was photographed fronting a republican anti-internment protest in west Belfast, alongside convicted terrorists Sharon Rafferty and Conor Casey. Rafferty was one of a gang of four jailed for a string of terrorist-related offences including the setting up of a training camp at a forest in Omagh. Would-be-bomber Casey was released on licence in 2008 after serving six years of a 14-year sentence for transporting a 200lb car bomb. The vehicle was stopped at a police check point in Co Armagh and officers uncovered a two-way radio and a trigger mechanism for the massive bomb which was primed and ready for use. McLaughlin was also joined at the protest on August 7 by Brian Shivers who was acquitted after retrial two years ago of the murder of two soldiers and six attempted murders at Massereene barracks. Expand Close David Black was gunned down on a motorway on his way to work at Maghaberry high security prison in Co Antrim in November 2012. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp David Black was gunned down on a motorway on his way to work at Maghaberry high security prison in Co Antrim in November 2012. The Belfast Telegraph can also reveal that on Easter Sunday - while under strict bail conditions - McLaughlin acted as a steward at a dissident republican march in Coalisland. He is clearly seen in video footage dressed in a yellow jacket marshalling the parade. McLaughlin, from the Kilmascally Road in Dungannon, is facing four charges in relation to Mr Black's killing. They include aiding and abetting his murder, having a Toyota Camry car for use in terrorism, preparing a terrorist act by starting and moving the vehicle which the killers used, and belonging to a proscribed organisation, namely the IRA. Mr Black was shot dead on the M1 in Co Armagh in November 2012 en route to work at high security Maghaberry Prison. The 52-year-old father of two was the first Northern Ireland prison officer to be murdered in nearly 20 years. The prosecution alleges McLaughlin transported the Toyota car across the border with the Republic on the eve of the attack. McLaughlin was released on bail in May 2014 due to delays in his case. As part of his bail conditions he must report to a police station five days a week and adhere to a curfew between 10.30pm and 7am. However, his bail conditions were changed to allow him to reside at the Manor House in Enniskillen from Sunday, August 7 to Tuesday, August 9. He did not have to adhere to his curfew on those days. The only requirement was that he sign bail at Enniskillen PSNI station on the Tuesday after he checked out of the hotel. The case has raised fresh questions over the bailing of terror suspects. "There is a widespread concern about the way in which the courts are dealing with cases involving so-called 'dissident republicans'. That is in relation to the granting of bail, the setting of bail conditions and the sentencing of dissident republicans who have been convicted of terrorist offences," the DUP's Nelson McCausland said. "It seems that some judges are taking an extremely lenient view of these cases. It is almost as if they do not regard 'dissident republicans' as serious terrorists. "However the truth is that they are out to murder police officers and prison officers and, in the case of David Black, they succeeded in murdering him," the MLA added. Mr McCausland said he believed that terror suspects should only be bailed "in the most exceptional circumstances". "It is time for the court system in Northern Ireland to step up to the mark and treat these terrorism-related charges with the seriousness they demand. Elsewhere in the United Kingdom the courts would deal much more severely with such serious crimes." The case follows questions over changes in bail conditions for another terror suspect, Damien 'Dee' Fennell, so that he could go on holiday to Donegal. The 34-year-old was charged with encouraging acts of terrorism, inviting support for the IRA and addressing a meeting to encourage support for the IRA after speaking an Easter Rising commemoration event in Lurgan, Co Armagh last year. Fennell has denied the charges. UUP MP Tom Elliott said he was concerned that the holiday coincides with the annual Republican Sinn Fein hunger strike commemoration in Bundoran. "I would therefore ask whether any specific condition was placed on Mr Fennell to exclude him from Bundoran next Saturday? And if not why not?" he asked. Pictured at the opening of the student residences at Ashfield on UCDs Belfield campus were students Matt Goins, Dylan Quinn McMahon and Jessica McHugh. Photo: Jason Clarke UCD's new student residence is nothing like the grotty and smelly lettings I stayed in when I was in college. I'm sure many of us will have fond (or not-so-fond) memories of tiny rooms filled with damp and mould. Student accommodation is not known for being comfortable. Most places are "basic", which is usually another way of saying that they are freezing in winter and were last decorated in the 1970s. However, UCD's latest student Ashfield complex, which boasts 354 bedrooms, is bright and spacious - and it's actually fit to live in, which makes a nice change from a lot of student lettings. The addition of Ashfield brings to 3,164 the number of student beds at UCD, one-third of which are for first years. Ashfield comes complete with a fully-equipped laundry: a wall of washing machines and driers. Irish mammies across the country will be delighted to know that their sons and daughters will have a place to wash their clothes - if they arrive home with a bag full of washing at the weekend, they can't blame a lack of facilities. The state-of-the-art apartments have six private, ensuite bedrooms and a shared living area. A room at Ashfield will be 7,929 for the academic year, about 881 per month over the nine-month period, at the upper end of costs for UCD campus accommodation. Costs are benchmarked against the private sector and other purpose-built student offerings: private student accommodation across the road from UCD costs a minimum of 245 per week, compared with about 208 a week at Ashfield. So, will Ashfield's laundry ensure its living quarters are forever free of smelly sock aromas? Probably not - although it might free weary parents from weekends of washing clothes. EMERGENCY services have been stood down at Cork Airport after a plane made a safe landing minutes after its pilot had reported smoke in the cockpit. The flight, an Aer Lingus Regional/Stobart flight from Birmingham, landed safely at Cork Airport shortly before 10.20am with 70 passengers and crew. There were no incidents or injuries involved. Eye-witnesses also said there was no sign whatsoever of smoke or fire around the aircraft. Subsequently, all passengers made a routine departure from the aircraft and went to the baggage claim area. A full emergency had been declared at Cork Airport after the pilot had reported that he detected smoke in the cockpit. All emergency services have been placed on standby with fire crews ready by the side of the runway. Gardai and civil defence units were also on standby to support airport personnel if required. Three other aircraft were ordered to remain in a holding patterns above Cork Airport while the emergency landing took place. Once the turboprop aircraft had safely landed and there was no sign of any fire or smoke by the aircraft, the emergency was formally stood down. Several ambulances which had attended the airport as a precautionary measures were recalled. A full technical and engineering inspection of the aircraft will now take place to determine the possible cause of the smoke in the cockpit. Several such diversion or emergency landings take place across Europe each week due to potential smoke issues. They largely involve smaller aircraft and can vary from minor electrical issues to the intake of engine smoke into the fuselage air-conditioning system. Shannon is the primary airport for such emergency landings in the south. A DAA spokesman said the plane landed safely as scheduled at about 10.05am with emergency services on stand-by. "All passengers have safely disembarked the aircraft," he said. "There are reports that there was smoke from the cockpit but I can't confirm that." The Air Accident Investigation Unit of Dublin's Department of Transport has been called in to investigate the incident. Health Minister Simon Harris at the launch of the Pharmaceutical Societys Patient Charter and Annual Report. Photo: Tom Burke Dispensing errors, including giving patients the wrong drugs or dosage instructions, topped the list of complaints about pharmacists last year. In other cases, patients received the incorrect strength or number of drugs, according to the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI), the watchdog which regulates pharmacists and pharmacies. The other major source of grievance among the 27 complaints made last year related to allegations of poor behaviour and a lack of professionalism by pharmacists. Sanctions were imposed against seven of the pharmacists who were subject to inquiry and one had their registration cancelled, the watchdog's annual report revealed. A spokesman said the errors could, in some cases, be due to the pharmacist picking the wrong drugs from a shelf or misreading the prescription. Health Minister Simon Harris said he welcomed the fall in complaints against pharmacists - down from 51 in 2014. But he stressed the need for the public to be made aware of the avenues open to them to highlight deficiencies in service. He also emphasised the need for all customers in pharmacies to be given an itemised receipt with not just the price of medicines but also a breakdown of the additional fees and mark-ups added on. PSI registrar and chief officer Niall Byrne revealed the first 'Patient Charter' - setting out what customers should expect from their pharmacist - is now being rolled out. Customers can get a leaflet copy of the charter, setting out their rights in pharmacies. Standards "The charter is intended as an aid to improve public understanding of the pharmacist's role and the expanding range of services they offer," Mr Byrne said. "It also highlights the positive role the PSI plays in how to seek clarification or redress if standards and expectations are not met." He said 329 new pharmacists were added to the register, bringing the national number to 5,645. PSI president Dr Ann Frankish revealed the inspection of pharmacies is also being overhauled to reduce risk and improve patient safety. It will include a system of self-audits by pharmacies to assess if they are meeting the best standards of care. Incoming Dickinson freshman and their parents probably werent expecting a welcoming committee when they arrived at the first-year halls on move-in day Wednesday morning, but thats what they got. Parents were corralled along College Street where Dickinson College junior Samantha Miller, a greeter this year, welcomed the first-year students and their families, took their information and where they would be staying, before ushering them to the front steps of Drayer Hall. Were the first face that people meet as they move into college, so its really exciting, Miller said. Because its like a family-oriented campus, we definitely strive to help people. We were all first-years once and understand how happy of an experience it was, so we just want to replicate that. Once at Drayer the incoming students and their parents were swarmed by community advisors, resident advisors and student athletes who cheered for each vehicle pulling in, unloaded the vehicles and brought the students belongings up to their dorm rooms. That way, each car was only parked before Drayers entrance for about 5 minutes. Matt Wenz is one of the community advisors, which is basically a student who supervises the resident advisors. To him, move-in day was an opportunity for students on both ends of the spectrum: first-year students and second- and third-year students working together to assist in what is a life milestone in going away to college. Its really exciting, he said. We always have a really good atmosphere and we cheer for every car that comes in, and the people really enjoy it; they (the RAs) enjoy meeting the new people coming into the hall. The move-in was set up this way students helping students to help create an atmosphere of togetherness, and for freshman Katie Moulton, it provided a sense of comfort on her big day. Moulton, from Colorado, along with her mother, spent the morning unpacking her things, making her bed and going back and forth between the stores learning what shes going to need on the go. I traveled across states to come here, so I was just nervous for move-in day, to meet the roommate, meet the place Im going to be living for the next year, but it was welcoming, she said. Shes still learning where everything is, but she said her floors RA was helpful in taking the time to show her around and go through the ins and outs of college life. Its been really simple and not that hard, at least here, they havent made it difficult, theyve made it very easy, she said of the moving in process. According to Dickinsons Assistant Director of Media Relations Craig Layne, the schools public safety officers helped guide people to where they needed to go throughout the day. They also made themselves available to meet new students and introduce them to some of the programs public safety runs on campus, such as shuttle service and bicycle registration. First-year students are not allowed to have cars on campus. Many people would be reluctant to travel there and its unpredictable dictator Kim Jong-un is constantly threatening war. However, that hasnt stopped the suburb of Finglas seeking a twinning arrangement with North Korea. The Finglas Village Renewal Partnership has written to officials in the secretive Asian state asking if anywhere in the country would like to twin with their village. North Korea has yet to reply. Surprisingly, many Finglas residents were yesterday in favour of such a move and said it could put Finglas on the map. Expand Close Aisling Bird, manager of LLoyd's Pharmacy in Finglas. Photo: Tony Gavin 23/8/2016 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Aisling Bird, manager of LLoyd's Pharmacy in Finglas. Photo: Tony Gavin 23/8/2016 If it brings more people to the village, or if it draws the councils attention to the area, Im all for it, said Enable Ireland store manager Anne Hunt. I thought it was a joke at the beginning, but maybe its actually something worth considering. The village might even get a face-lift if it happens. Expand Close Mary Nardone and Anne Hunt of Enable Ireland in Finglas. Photo: Tony Gavin 23/8/2016 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mary Nardone and Anne Hunt of Enable Ireland in Finglas. Photo: Tony Gavin 23/8/2016 The regeneration of this area has been promised for years and were still waiting. This could be the push needed for the council to finally notice us, she said. John Moore, owner of The Merville Restaurant, voiced his support for the odd partnership with North Korea. Expand Close Alejandra Kranski. owner of Pretty you boutique in Finglas. Photo: Tony Gavin 23/8/2016 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Alejandra Kranski. owner of Pretty you boutique in Finglas. Photo: Tony Gavin 23/8/2016 I dont think theres anyone around here whod be supportive of North Koreas treatment of its people, but were not looking to create links with the government, only a small village like ourselves. Its not going to do any harm to Finglas. Honestly, the big bad world doesnt exist for me. Weve only been open four months, so this is my world, he said. Expand Close Niamh Lambert of Finglas Village Renewal. Photo: Tony Gavin 23/8/2016 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Niamh Lambert of Finglas Village Renewal. Photo: Tony Gavin 23/8/2016 If something helps the village, Im in favour of it because it helps all of us here trying to keep the lights on. While most local businesses spoken to by the Herald supported twinning Finglas with a North Korean village, others opposed the idea. North Korea is in the news an awful lot, and for all the wrong reasons. Its got a bad reputation. Is that something we really want associated with Finglas? asked Aislinn Bird, manager at Lloyds Pharmacy. As a community we deserve better than the Glorious Leader. Defending the partnership, Niamh Lambert from Finglas Villege Renewal said no one was endorsing North Korea. There are plenty of towns linked with Beijing, and China tops the list for human rights abuses. For us, we just want Finglas to get a bit of attention. We were twinned with a place in Massachusetts but they wanted nothing to do with us, so weve gone further afield. Many emigrants are coming home to raise their own children amid the familiar Irish culture and values, while some have been forced to return because their visas have run out. Stock photo: Paul O'Connell / Getty A report on how more people are now coming into Ireland to live than are leaving has sparked a major debate. The migration data shows that it is the first time since 2009 that Ireland has recorded net inward migration. At least 21,100 people with Irish nationality came into the country in this period - up 74pc on last year, when 12,100 arrived. Overall, 79,300 people came to live in Ireland over the year to the end of April - up 15pc - while 76,200 left. Business groups have welcomed the data, but it has sparked a debate on the official Independent.ie Facebook page. The majority of readers shared their own emigration stories. Carol Swann said she "never wanted her sons to leave Ireland" and she knows they have no intention of ever returning to live on the Emerald Isle. "My sons left for Australia last March and have no intentions of ever living in Ireland again only to visit me their mother and brothers here," she wrote online. "Their very words are Ireland has absolutely nothing to offer them, Ireland is too expensive especially for the young, the cost of accommodation, the expense of running a car, insurance, tax, petrol, a social life, the cost of buying their own home, they could not afford to save here, I miss them every single second of every day, but they are so much happier now, they have a fantastic life, and they are saving now to buy a home. "I would love to have all my children living here with me in Ireland, but I realise they want better for themselves, they have a right to better," she added. Read More Amid a discussion of how Ireland has a very high cost of living, Claire Chambers Calvey wrote: "Ireland is expensive. So is Australia, so is the UK... I've lived in them all and they are all expensive (UAE the rent was crazy, everything else relatively cheap). "We've just left the UK because, despite a really good salary, we simply couldn't make ends meet. I'm finding Ireland slightly more manageable. "I got tired of trying to make a life elsewhere when all I wanted to do was come home," she continued. "Last month, after eight years abroad - UAE, Australia, UK - we came home with our six kids and it was without doubt the best decision of them all. "Every day we wake up to an overcast sky and often rain and I couldn't be happier." Gerry Linnane, who lived abroad in Australia for 10 years, said he had the same mentality as Carol Swann's sons about returning to Ireland until he grew older. "I lived in Oz for 10 years, had the same mentality as your sons, never coming back. Worked hard, making plenty of money, drove the big cars, all that jazz. But as Matt said, when I came to 30 and wanted to settle down there was only ever going to be one place. "How can you pay $600 a week on rent, pay for a car, living expenses and have a good life too. I'm home two years, making a tenth of what I was making in Oz but have a good life. Anyone that says Oz is a better life deluded. "If myself and my partner were in Oz I'd be working 60+ hours a week just to keep above water. There be no surfing or chasing kangaroos drinking fosters I can assure you that." Read More However, Mathew Hayes asked why anyone would want to return to Ireland. "I have two sons and their families living in New Zealand. They love it there and have no wish to come home," he said. "Like Carol said, it's hard having them away from home but they are making a life for their future and that of their children. "I also know of people who came home to try here and they cant wait to get out again. The cost of living here is too high and we are being ripped off every where we turn." Lloyd Power added: "I came back after four years in the USA but I shall definitely not be staying in Ireland. "I earned almost five times my wages in the US and the lifestyle there is far superior. "House prices in Ireland are still too expensive and taxes are far too high. The cost of living & renting in Dublin is also unattractive regardless of wages earned." A man (30) has been charged in connection to a drugs and weapon seizure in Castleknock earlier this week. Gardai said a submachine gun and ammunition were recovered together with a significant quantity of cocaine. Drug paraphernalia along with mixing agents were also recovered during the course of this search. As part of an investigation into organised crime, gardai from the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and local gardai carried out a search of an apartment in the Castleknock area of Dublin on August 22. After the seizure the man was arrested and detained at Blanchardstown Garda Station. Investigations are continuing. An air and sea search got underway at first light this morning for a swimmer who got into diffficulty off the Irish coast. The 28-year-old soldier was at Tullan Strand in Bundoran with a group of four other colleagues when the incident occurred. The missing man is based at Custume Barracks in Athlone and had been attending a course earlier on Tuesday at Finner Camp, outside Ballyshannon. More than 100 members of the Defence Forces have joined in the search for the missing soldier. An emergency call was made to the Malin Head Coast Guard just before 6pm yesterday evening. Minutes later, a volunteer crew from Bundoran RNLI had a lifeboat in the water and headed to the scene. Members of the shore crew went to the cliffs to assist the operation on land. It is understood that the other four swimmers were able to make their own way to shore with the help of local surfers. Expand Close Credit: Google Maps / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Credit: Google Maps Two of the swimmers were treated for intake of water and were taken to Sligo University Hospital for treatment. Despite an extensive search, the missing swimmer was not found and the search began again this morning. A spokesperson from Malin Head Coastguard told independent.ie that a helicopter and lifeboat were at the scene at Killybegs this morning. The RNLI and Coast Guard are encountering difficult sea conditions in the search which is being assisted by the Coast Guards 118 rescues helicopter. A Defence Forces spokesman said "Three members of the Defence Forces encountered difficulties while swimming in the Bundoran area of Donegal. "Two of the Defence Forces members were rescued, unfortunately, one is still missing and his next of kin are being assisted by our personnel support services. "The missing Defence Forces member was in Finner Camp attending a course but is normally based in Custume Barracks, Athlone. "More than 100 Defence Forces colleagues are assisting with search efforts in Bundoran today. "Our thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of the missing man." A search for a 33-year-old man has resumed this morning after his car was found on a pier in Co Wexford. Gardai have reported that the man was last seen at his home in Myshall, Co Carlow last Sunday evening. His car was discovered at Courtown pier by a member of the public. A lifeboat responded to a call in the early hours of Tuesday morning and began to search the water at 430am. Courtown lifeboat, Courtown coastguard and Dublin Rescue helicopter searched until 11am Tuesday morning. However, there have been conflicting reports as to when the car was first seen. Local fisherman have said that they noticed the vehicle at that location on Monday morning. According to a RNLI spokesperson, there is currently an ongoing search in the water and in the nearby woods. Expand Close Credit: Courtown RNLI/Facebook / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Credit: Courtown RNLI/Facebook "There is no definite information on the missing mans whereabouts, but the search is being conducted as a precaution." The coastline search is being carried out twice a day by Courtown Lifeboat crew at low tide. However, volunteers of Kilkenny sub aqua unit are assisting in the operation and are currently searching the internal harbour area. Hesuton Station, inset the wheelchairs crammed into the corridors of the train to Mayo Heuston Station, inset some of the young passengers travelling back, inset far right, the buggies and wheelchairs piled up on the train A childrens special needs group has said it was left crammed into the corridors of train on Monday, despite organising their seats three months in advance. A group of 48 people, including 16 children with special needs and four wheelchair users from AIRC Mayo Supporting Children with Disabilities, made the nightmare journey on Monday to visit Dublin Zoo. Expand Close The wheelchairs crammed into the corridors of the train / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The wheelchairs crammed into the corridors of the train Speaking to Independent.ie, chairperson of AIRC, Kathryn Connor said she would never want to take the group on a train here again after their experience this week. She explained: It was just so scattered. It was just so dreadful. I was trying to make sure everyone was happy and obviously they werent. All the kids all over the place, screaming. They were very upset. Ms Connor said she had first contacted Irish Rail in late May to organise the trip for the group and had been in contact with the company as late as Friday to ensure everything would run to plan. However, for their three hour return journey from Heuston Station in Dublin to Castlebar in Mayo, the group were forced to split up, store wheelchairs and prams against exist doors and stand in the corridors of the train. Ms Connor explained that the group had arrived at Heuston station an hour before their train was due to leave at 6:15pm but had to wait until 5:55pm until the platform was announced and the gate opened. We legged it down to carriage C. All packed. I said Just wait there at the door and I ran in to see if our seats were there. All taken. No names up on the board or anything like that. I talked to the girl with catering and she said to go down to customer service. Expand Close The wheelchairs crammed into the the corridors of the train / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The wheelchairs crammed into the the corridors of the train So I legged it down to customer service and there was a man there and I said Sorry, weve a group of special needs children with wheelchairs. Theres no ramp down there to let us in and our seats are all taken and he turned around and said Well my supervisors gone. Im here by myself and I cant help you. I said Well we need help. He said You should have been there 20 minutes beforehand. I said We were there an hour beforehand, waiting because I knew this would happen. He got on the phone and kept going out the back and coming back in and this was going on till 6:10pm. Expand Close Sarah Jennings (5) and Martha Jennings (3) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sarah Jennings (5) and Martha Jennings (3) So I ran it back up I didnt want the train going on me. All the kids in the wheelchairs were cramped into the hall where the toilets are. My little man doesnt like small spaces and he roaring crying, and that hurt me mentally, seeing him upset. There were children with really high sensory needs, banging their heads and shaking their heads. Mums were getting stressed. I walked down the aisle to see if our names popped up again and they didnt. I went down to carriage B to see if they had changed our carriage. No, nothing, no names up at all. So we had to pile all our wheelchairs up in to the door of the carriage the escape door. Ms Connor said there were some people on the train who gave up their seats for some of the group but that this also meant the group being split up. She said: A lovely couple gave us a few seats but all separated. There was one parent with a child with a wheelchair and had to sit in two different seats. There were four dads holding the wheelchairs up along the door so they wouldnt fall over with people passing. We had two little girls with autism sitting on the table all the way down. Our names did not come up until after Tullamore and then came off again after another five minutes. People were still siting in our seats, even when the names came up, and still didnt give anyone seats. Our husbands didnt get to sit down beside us until, I think, Claremorris, which was nearly home. She added: One family had three children with special needs and they were separated from their dad and the kids were crying. There were four kids from Castlebar and they let us sit. My mum, who is 72 years of age, was with us as well and she was expected to stand up. I couldnt even bring my son to the toilet because there were people all the way down. Ms Connor explained this was not the first issue the group had encountered with the toilets on the train over the day. On their journey to Dublin on Monday morning, Ms Connor said she had to change her 8-year-old son who has cerebral palsy in toilets on the train. However, she had to wait until they reached Heuston Station, due to the condition of the trains toilets. She explained: We went in and there was vomit all over the sink and all over the floor and cans of Bulmers, so I had to wait until I got to Hueston, Dublin to change his nappy. She said: It was just such a lovely day. We fundraised for this for a year and a half. Were only a small charity, with seven parents that our volunteers and we all have children with special needs. We have saved and fundraised for this so parents could have one day out. There were two boys there in wheelchairs who had never been on a train. There was also problems with ramps for the wheelchairs at both Heuston Station and Castlebar, according to Ms Connolly. We were already off the train before the ramp came for the wheelchairs. It took a while to get off the train. This is the first time weve done this. Usually we would go to Westport House every year or Adventure West for them and it was such a big deal and I organised it all myself and I was so proud and everything was going smoothly. No, I dont think I could ever do that again. Children with sensory issues love the train. They love the movement of it. They get a thrill out of it. Even my own [son] sat for the whole three hours going up because he was just so fascinated and amazed by it. You want to see that, something different for them. I will never do it again. Just too tough to see them [upset]. She added: We were guaranteed we were going to be looked after and to say we were treated like second class citizens is unbelievable. Nobody to help us at all when we were guaranteed help. Very, very upset. A spokesman for Irish Rail said the company was very sorry for any difficulties AIRC encountered while travelling with the rail service on Monday and was endeavouring to contact the group. He explained: Seats had been reserved for the entire group in Carriage C, and this booking was displayed above seats. However, the group appear to have boarded Carriage D directly without first calling to the Information Desk. We would have ensured that the group received any assistance required and were seated together, as occurred on their journey from Westport to Dublin. He added: We appreciate this resulted in a journey which was uncomfortable and upsetting, and regret any misunderstanding which occurred. We hope to discuss this in detail with the group, address any concerns they have, and hope to welcome them again on our services in the future. MINISTER Shane Ross has said the Government is concerned at the treatment of Pat Hickey by Brazilian authorities. And as he announced the terms of reference for the State inquiry into the ticket scandal, Mr Ross said the Department of Foreign Affairs are seeking clarity from Rio as to what information they want from Ireland. Police said yesterday that they wanted to assistance with probe into from the Minister of Ireland, but they did not make clear who they were referring to. Read More It is understood that officers were referring to Mr Ross but he said: The Department of Foreign Affairs are looking for clarification about that. I interpret that to mean that they want some sort of knowledge of the investigation which we are holding. He added that the Irish government would of course be prepared to co-operate if Brazilian authorities make requests through the normal channels. Asked whether he was concerned by way police publicly arrested former Olympic Council of Ireland president Pat Hickey, the minister replied: Its not something were accustomed to here and its not something we would practice here. I respect the Brazilian authorities but we certainly are concerned that there are Irish citizens in Brazil in this sort of situation. Mr Ross added: Well leave that to the Department of Foreign Affairs but I know they have got consular assistance everyday and they are getting a lot of attention. The Irish Independent revealed today that Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin had written to the minister describing events in Rio as extraordinary. He said the "assumption of innocence seems to have been disregarded completely". "While the Irish Government cannot interfere with how arrests are made in Brazil, it is important that concerns are expressed that the release of photographs on social media, within minutes of the arrest, is not what the Irish Government would deem appropriate," he wrote. Mr Ross and Minister of State Patrick ODovovan confirmed that former high court judge, Mr Justice Carroll Moran will lead the State inquiry. Mr ODonovan said: Theres going to be no limit and no boundaries put on him. A deadline of 12 weeks has been set for the inquirys final report, however the ministers said this could be extended if the judge comes back and says hes been led down a road he didnt expect. The terms of reference state that the judge should probe the OCIs ticketing and accreditation arrangements for Rio, the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, the 2012 London Olympics and any previous Summer or Winter Games into which the judge wishes to inquire. One of Irelands most-feared predators was beaten by up to eight men in a vigilante attack. Gardai are investigating the brutal assault on convicted kidnapper Philip Murphy (35), who was set upon after he left a shop in the Parkgate Street area of the city. He even ran behind the counter of a shop to try to escape the savage beating. Clondalkin criminal Murphy has been under threat since he was released from Arbour Hill Prison in February where he served a 10-year sentence for kidnapping a woman in 2008. The assault took place shortly after 6pm on Sunday when four men jumped out of a car and attacked Murphy as he walked on Montpelier Hill, close to the Phoenix Park. It is understood that after being struck several times, he fled into a shop in nearby Parkgate Street. Sources said he ran behind the counter of the store, but quickly left the shop and was beaten again by the group of men. They were then joined by a number of other men who chased Murphy towards the homeless accommodation that he is staying in. Once he was inside the homeless shelter in the north inner city, his attackers left the area. He was brought to St Jamess Hospital for treatment and on Monday he made a statement to gardai about the assault. Investigators have collected CCTV from the shop that Murphy ran into and are attempting to identify the men who attacked the convicted criminal. Since his release from jail, Murphy has been arrested and questioned about the alleged attempted false imprisonment of two women in the Drumcondra area of Dublin. It also previously emerged that he is a suspect for a failed abduction in Navan, Co Meath, in February. The predator has been staying in various locations in Dublin and Co Wicklow over the last few months. In July it emerged he had obtained a new passport and it was believed he was planning to skip the country. Sources have revealed Sundays vicious attack was not the first time that Murphy has been targeted by vigilantes since his release from prison. He was previously assaulted in the Phoenix Park and was the victim of an attempted stabbing in the Christchurch area. Murphy was jailed in 2009 for falsely imprisoning a Polish woman in Clondalkin on June 7, 2008. His victim had been waiting at a bus stop at 6.30am when Murphy offered her a lift. When the woman asked him to stop the car he took out a large knife and said he would cut her if she screamed. Murphy was the chief suspect in a similar incident in 2008. He was questioned in connection with an attempted abduction of another woman, but there was not enough evidence to charge him. Begin your birding journey with one of the best views of the valley. Waggoners Gap Hawk Watch is the premier location west of Hawk Mountain for watching the fall raptor migration along the Kittatinny Ride. The short, easy hike to the rock outcrop features interpretive signs identifying families of raptors and different species of birds you will see. Continue your outdoor experience by picking up the Tuscarora Trail at Waggoners Gap and travel east along the tip of the ridge to Lambs Gap and beyond. Carry on your search for Cumberland Valleys feathery friends at one or all of our state parks. Travel the 4-mile windy, scenic road to Kings Gap Environmental Education Center. The view from the top of the mountain is worth the trip! Head out on the patio of the old stone mansion for a 180 degree view of the Valley. The open pines around the center harbor Pine Warbler and attract other migrating warblers and songbirds. The area in and around the pine plantation at the foot of the mountain is good for migrant sparrows (especially Fox Sparrow) and occasional wintering Long-eared Owl. The nearby Pine Grove Furnace State Park features two lakes and groves of pines and spruces. The breeding birds include northern warblers such as Black-throated Green and Blackburnian. Laurel Lake is the better of the two lakes for migrant waterfowl. Koppenhaver Trail, a one-mile loop which starts at the Fuller Ball Field and Railroad Bed Road are the most productive trails for birding. In the summer, many species of warblers can be found in the Tuscarora State Forest and Colonel Denning State Park. Common species found here include Northern Parula, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Cerulean, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Worm-eating, Hooded, Louisiana Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat and Yellow-breasted Chat, Ruffed Grouse, Yellow-throated Vireo, and Acadian Flycatcher. During spring migration, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, and Golden-winged Warbler have been reported. Continue to the Huntsdale Fish Hatchery. This Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission fish hatchery has a nice pond, known as Hidden Pond that attracts dabbling ducks as long as it remains unfrozen. Wood Duck nest nearby and Black-crowned Night-Heron roost here in spring and early summer. In migration it is good for rails, American Bittern, Osprey, and swallows. It is a very reliable location for Rusty Blackbird. You can then travel to the West Fairview Boat Launch and East Pennsboro Township Park. West Fairview Boat Launch is one of the best spots to view migrating waterfowl along the Susquehanna River. The adjacent East Pennsboro Township Park along the Conodoguinet Creek has riparian woodland habitat which is good for migrant passerines. Learn more about these bird-watching locations, and others, at VisitCumberlandValley.com. James pictured with his groomsmen ahead of his wedding to Stacey James Donaghy arrived to his wedding to Stacey Burke in a John Deere tractor Forget a plush limo or a polished vintage car, it was a John Deere that dropped groom James Donaghy to the church on the biggest day of his life. The Corkman (27) and his best man drove through his native Carrigaline in the decked out tractor, ahead of his wedding to Tipperary woman Stacey Burke (29) last weekend. The unusual means of transport was an obvious choice for the groom, who said the tractor decorated in streamers drew attention from all corners of the town. The whole village of Carrigaline were stopped looking at the tractor Friday, it really has people talking, James said speaking to Independent.ie. Expand Close James Donaghy pictured with his wife Stacey Burke in front of a John Deere tractor / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp James Donaghy pictured with his wife Stacey Burke in front of a John Deere tractor Stacey arrived in a vintage car with her dad and myself and the best man arrived in the tractor. I have been in tractors since I was 3-years-old and work at silage every year with Emmanuel Barry Agri Contractors , who lent us the tractor for the big day, he said. The happy pair, who have been together for six years, posed in front of the tractor for their wedding photos, taken by photographer Mark OShea. Although the bride was promised a spin in the John Deere, the bad weather meant that she missed out on the dream ride. The couple are currently enjoying their honeymoon in Lanzarote. A dad whose daughter was tragically stillborn is on a mission to raise vital funds to help other Irish parents struck by grief and loss. Dale Farrell (36) and his wife Mary lost their daughter Bethany in March 2015 and said the compassion shown to them by medical staff during an unimaginably difficult time was outstanding. The Offaly dad is now on a fitness mission to raise funds for Mullingar Hospitals Maternity Unit and Feileacain, a charity that offers support to parents of stillborn children. Our beautiful daughter Bethany was born sleeping and when we went through what we did, the support, compassion and humanity we were shown by the staff of Mullingars Maternity Unit was outstanding. They provided a cuddle cot for the room where we could keep Bethany with us during our stay and we were given a memory box from Feileacain, the stillbirth and neonatal death association in Ireland. In it there were teddy bears, a kit to take hand and footprints and a disposable camera, he said. The dad said his world fell apart and to take Bethany to her family home in tragic circumstances was the hardest thing he'll ever have to do. We took Bethany on her one and only journey to her family home and carrying that little white coffin into the house surrounded by a selection of our family and close friends was the hardest thing we would ever do, or so we thought. Expand Close Dale Farrell is competing in the Quest Adventure Series to raise vital funds for Feileacain and Mullingar's Maternity Unit / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Dale Farrell is competing in the Quest Adventure Series to raise vital funds for Feileacain and Mullingar's Maternity Unit The next morning we took Bethany on her final journey, again surrounded by the people who matter most to us, to her final resting place with Marys father Johnny in the cemetery in Killeigh. This was actually the hardest thing weve ever had to do... to stand over a little hole in the ground surrounded by freshly picked and lovingly placed daffodils and place our beautiful daughter in the cold ground for ever more. As a way to cope with his grief, Dale has channelled his energy into fitness and is currently raising vital funds for the maternity unit and charity that provided such strong support when they needed it most. After months of training, the dad is now taking part in a gruelling series of adventure raises, in the hopes of helping other Irish parents hit by tragedy. I decided to take part in the Quest Adventure Series this year and Im already two races down with two more to go. Ive never been one for fitness but I found it became a good outlet for stress, and hopefully I'll raise a bit of awareness and funds for a vital organisation. These charities play a vital role in supporting bereaved families like ours in an unimaginable position and any support would be appreciated, he said. To donate to Bethanys Challenge visit: fundrazr.com/BethanysChallenge or Facebook.com/BethanysChallenge We were sitting in the back yard one day last week, relaxing in the sun, when suddenly my wife stood up and said, "Hang on, I'm just going to throw my boobs in the window." Seems the heat can get a tad uncomfortable under a pair of fake breasts. So she reached up under her shirt, whipped off the falsies and proceeded to throw them in through the open bedroom window. We laughed. And then we laughed some more when I told her that what she just said would be the opening shot of an article. She didn't argue, or warn me that such a move would result in grievous bodily harm. So here we are. But I'm getting ahead of myself. On World Cancer Day in February, I wrote about how I was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma at the tail end of last year, just months into my wife's treatment for breast cancer. Expand Close Hope: John and his wife Tracy who underwent chemotherapy for stage 3 breast cancer in the US at the same time as him / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Hope: John and his wife Tracy who underwent chemotherapy for stage 3 breast cancer in the US at the same time as him At the time, it didn't look good. Tracy had undergone a double mastectomy, and was having a rough time on chemo. I'd been in hospital for three months and it didn't look like I'd be going home anytime soon. To make things worse, my wife was having her treatment at home in America. I'd moved there after we married, but returned to Ireland when my health began to decline. Without insurance, long-term medical care in the States was out of the question. So we were living apart during the worst time in our lives, a time when it didn't seem like either of us had much life left to live. We were only in our mid-40s, with hopes and plans and dreams like anyone else. It wasn't supposed to be like this. Four months down the road, the outlook doesn't seem quite so grim. I finally got out of the hospital in March, around about the same time Tracy was finishing chemo. Every day since then, she's been feeling better. Her hair is growing back, thicker than it ever was, with a fair bit more grey than there used to be - "a halo of worry and care," as Johnny Cash put it in one of those old gospel songs. I'd have a similar halo if I had a similar hairline, but I have to settle for a shocking amount of new snow in the beard that's finally making a comeback after chemo. With her cancer ordeal behind her, Tracy finally got the all-clear to move to Ireland in May, and is slowly settling in, getting to grips with the culture shock. She got here just as my treatment was ending, and was with me on the big day - Wednesday June 1 - when I went to meet my consultant for the results of my final PET scan. Expand Close Shattered: John Keogh pictured at Tallaght Hospital where he underwent where he underwent chemotherapy for stage 4 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Photo: Doug O'Connor. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Shattered: John Keogh pictured at Tallaght Hospital where he underwent where he underwent chemotherapy for stage 4 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Photo: Doug O'Connor. I'd been sick with worry for days, waiting to hear what showed up, thinking nothing but the worst. By the time Dr Hilary O'Leary took us into her office at University Hospital Limerick, it was all I could do to keep from throwing up. She asked us to take a seat, and she smiled, a great big smile I will never forget. And then she said the words. "I have great news," she said. "The scan shows you're in complete remission." It's a worn-old cliche to say that time stood still, but in that moment it did. Just for a breath. Then Tracy cried, I almost combusted with relief, and Dr O'Leary suggested we break out the champagne and book a holiday. She also suggested I consider therapy for my anxiety, which admittedly has been bordering on the severe. It's an anxiety Tracy shares with me to an extent, one which will be familiar to many fellow cancer patients - the terrible dread that, even though you've beaten this thing, it can always come back with a vengeance. So every small thing - a cough, a sniffle, the tiniest ache - becomes a symptom, a terrifying sign that all the horrible stuff we've just come through is about to start all over again. And that's a fear we're going to have to get past. Because for now, we're cancer-free, we're feeling good, and it's starting to look like we might have a lot more life left in us yet. Which is not to say we came out of it unscathed. Tracy wears fake breasts, has several new scars on her body, and has gone into early menopause. My heart is weaker since the treatment, and I walk with a cane because the chemo damaged the nerves in my legs. And there are times when it feels like life will never return to normal, that we won't be able to recover all of the things we lost - our work, our independence, everything about the life we once had. Or simply being able to make plans and talk about the future, without that voice in the back of our minds piping up to suggest that we're being a bit presumptuous. Dealing with that is almost worse than the physical scars. But we're still here. Or as Tracy puts it, "We're not dead yet." To that end, we owe much to our medical teams - Dr O'Leary and her team in Limerick, and Dr Kenneth Kotz in Wilmington, North Carolina. We also owe a huge debt of gratitude to a lot of fine people in Tallaght hospital. Top of that list are consultant haematologist Dr Ronan Desmond, and my former renal consultant Dr Peter Lavin, whose investigations first uncovered my cancer. I should also mention a lady named Laura, one of many people who got in touch to wish us well after reading the piece on World Cancer Day. I don't know her last name and I don't know where she's from, but Laura sent a card to me at the hospital. It was a beautiful card, and the message she wrote inside was encouraging. But the most memorable thing about it was the way she addressed the envelope: "John Keogh, Patient who wrote the article in the Irish Independent, Tallaght Hospital, Dublin." I mention this because she might have wondered if the card managed to find its way to me. It did, and I'm very grateful for it. It's one of many small gestures that have made me smile, and made my day a little brighter. Though it doesn't beat watching my wife fling her boobs through the window. Sunny Beach in Bulgaria is Europe's cheapest holiday destination, with Dublin ranking as one of the most expensive. That's according to a new survey by airport transfers website hoppa.com, which crunched the cost of hotel rooms, meals, drinks, taxis and other selected items in 48 countries to arrive at its results. Copenhagen emerged as the most expensive holiday destination in the survey, with its basket of eight items coming in at 302.90/352. The same basket cost 58.22/68 in Sunny Beach (pictured below). Dublin was fifth most expensive at 261.01/303 - behind Vienna, but ahead of notoriously pricey cities including Reykjavik, Oslo and Gothenburg. Hoppa.com: Europe's cheapest destinations Expand Close Sunny Beach, Bulgaria. Photo: Getty / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sunny Beach, Bulgaria. Photo: Getty Sunny Beach, Bulgaria - 58.22 Ostrava, Czech Republic - 69.27 Antalya, Turkey - 69.51 Istanbul, Turkey - 84.69 Sofia, Bulgaria - 92.66 Debrecen, Hungary - 96.08 Jurmala, Latvia - 109.77 Zagreb, Croatia - 110.50 Rhodes, Greece - 120.65 Algarve, Portugal - 124.54 Nicosia, Cyprus - 130.09 Dubrovnik, Croatia - 130.20 Krakow, Poland - 130.95 Berlin, Germany - 137.73 Prague, Czech Republic - 139.28 St Petersburg, Russia - 139.33 Moscow, Russia - 141.70 Rotterdam, The Netherlands - 143.07 Paphos, Cyprus - 144.83 Warsaw, Poland - 146.29 Budapest, Hungary Riga, Latvia - 147 Munich, Germany - 159.75 Athens, Greece - 160.89 Lisbon, Portugal - 162.32 Salzburg, Austria - 170.78 Madrid, Spain - 175.16 Glasgow, UK - 175.84 Vienna, Austria - 179.45 Barcelona, Spain - 183.73 Belfast, UK - 190.76 Manchester, UK - 193.25 Bergen, Norway - 205.81 Akureyri, Iceland - 209.93 Nice, France - 212.07 Billund, Denmark Rome, Italy - 216.88 Gothenberg, Sweden - 217.05 Amsterdam, The Netherlands - 228.51 Oslo, Norway - 235.59 Edinburgh, UK - 239.63 Reykjavik, Iceland - 251.26 Paris, France - 253.49 Dublin, Ireland - 261.01 Venice, Italy - 271.01 London, UK - 275.15 Stockholm, Sweden - 280.56 Copenhagen, Denmark - 302.90 Dublin's tourism numbers are booming, with some 4.5 million tourists visiting the city last year according to figures from Failte Ireland. The city has a shortage of hotel rooms, however, and recent data from hotel booking specialists HRS found its average daily room rate to have jumped 70pc to 188 per night between the second quarter of 2015 and 2016. Sterling's post-Brexit slump will exacerbate any Dublin price rises for British visitors, the single most important inbound market for Irish tourism. NB: Sterling to euro conversions valid on date of publication. The full Hoppa.com survey is available here. Read more: In August 2013 two young women were arrested by police in Peru as they prepared to board a flight to Spain. Irishwoman Michaella McCollum and Melissa Reid from Scotland were caught red-handed with 1.8m worth of cocaine hidden in food products. The two drug smugglers had been posing as tourists. They told police a cock-and-bull story that they had been kidnapped by gangsters and forced to act as drug mules. However, they soon changed their tune when they were warned by police that if they didnt cooperate they would be facing 15 years in Perus notorious prison system. In custody, both women confessed to their crimes and admitted that they had not been coerced, but had become drug smugglers for money. Expand Close Michaella McCollum in Dublin Airport. Picture: Sean Defoe / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Michaella McCollum in Dublin Airport. Picture: Sean Defoe Both women subsequently pleaded guilty and were sentenced to six years and eight months each. The two women had by then been dubbed The Peru Two by the media. Expand Close Michaella McCollum / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Michaella McCollum On March 31, Michaella was released on probation and ordered to remain in Peru. Melissa Reid was deported to Scotland. Expand Close Michaella McCollum arriving for a court hearing in Lima Photo: AP Photo/Karel Navarro / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Michaella McCollum arriving for a court hearing in Lima Photo: AP Photo/Karel Navarro Shortly after her release Michaella gave her first interview, which was aired by RTE. It was widely criticised by many viewers here as being too soft. What really surprised many people, including myself, was the extraordinary transformation of Michaella from the frightened young girl with the ridiculous hair bun to the self-assured and sophisticated young woman. During that interview she appeared contrite and remorseful and admitted the gravity of her crimes. She admitted that she could have killed someone and caused a lot of harm to people. Read More She went on to say she made a decision in a moment of madness and she was not a bad person and she now wanted to demonstrate that she was a good person. Since Michaella arrived back to these shores early last week all she has demonstrated is that the remorse, regret and shame she confessed to in that RTE interview were self-serving, dishonest and insincere. In a recent interview it is very obvious that she has not grasped the enormity of her crime. When she arrived back home to her native Tyrone last week, instead of keeping a low profile she was greeted with a big slap-up party and treated like a returning heroine. In a newspaper interview she boasted of being top dog in the prison. She spoke of her birthday parties paid for by the 250 a week she made giving beauty treatments to other inmates. Read More She boasted of paying an inmate a pittance to clean her filthy cell. She talked about bribing a guard with 90 to smuggle a mobile phone into her. She also claimed that she had 500 love letters and that a prison psychologist became besotted with her and when she spurned his advances he threatened her chances of an early release. It is now obvious that Michaella is revelling in her criminal escapades and determined to cash in. It has somehow escaped her that despite her so-called fame she is nothing more that a reviled drug smuggler. It is drug dealers like her and Reid who have wreaked havoc, untold misery, death and destruction on society. If she possesses any moral conscience whatsoever, she must realise that any money she makes on the back of her crimes is tainted blood money. Two years ago, Aoife Harrington received devastating news. Then just 24 years old, the Mayo native was living in Abu Dhabi and enjoying her carefree youth and freedom. But that all changed when her doctor told her she had cervical cancer. Hearing the emotional stories of cancer patients is nothing new to my colleagues and I in the Irish Cancer Society. But when Aoife bravely stepped forward to speak about her diagnosis and treatment on Today FM's 'Anton Savage Show' last Thursday, her account was particularly poignant. If she was just a few years younger, her cancer could have been prevented by something as simple as a needle. In 2010, for the first time, Irish secondary school girls were offered the HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccine for free under the HSE's national vaccination programme. Since then, the vaccine has been offered to first year schoolgirls each September, and more than 220,000 Irish girls have received it. The vaccine given to these girls protects against the major strains of HPV which cause cervical cancer. If Aoife was a little younger, she would have been eligible for the free vaccine. The last two years of her life could have been so different. Now, having completed her initial treatment, and studying to become a primary school teacher, Aoife is currently cancer-free. She can finally plan her future again, but not all cervical cancer patients are so fortunate. This year, conservative estimates indicate that more than 90 Irish women will die from cervical cancer - that's nearly two per week. In addition, another 280 will be diagnosed with invasive cancer. A further 6,500 women will need hospital treatment to remove precancerous growths in their cervix. All of these are caused by the HPV virus. Irish doctors use the most modern techniques for managing this disease but treatment can be very difficult, often involving combinations of highly invasive surgery on the reproductive areas of the body, along with radiation and/or chemotherapy. Even with all the modern advances, the unfortunate truth is that four in 10 of those women treated will succumb to their cancer within five years. Many of those women will be young. Some will be young mothers, while others will perhaps not have children, but treatment will often rob them of that option in their life. That is what makes this vaccine so important. Two to three doses of this vaccine can change a woman's future. It can save a woman's life. Worldwide, more than 200 million doses of the vaccine have been given to nearly 80 million people. Recent studies from leading international medical agencies, including the World Health Organisation and the European Medicines Agency, have concluded that Gardasil, the vaccine offered to Irish girls, is safe and has no link to serious illnesses. Unfortunately, this has not abated the concerns of some parents who believe the vaccine is the cause of their daughters' ailments. Media outlets have reported on young girls experiencing illnesses that in some cases have left them bedridden and unable to go to school. Such coverage has appeared to have had an effect on public opinion towards the vaccine's safety, as provisional figures from the HSE's National Immunisation Office show. According to them, as many as 5,000 fewer schoolgirls opted to receive the vaccine in the last academic year, compared to the 2015/2016 cycle. That represents a total of more than 9,000 Irish girls who were offered this life-saving vaccine for free last year, but, through their parents or by their own choice, did not receive it. These families are fully within their rights to make this choice, but when it comes to the health of daughters around the country, their decision should be one based on facts, not fear. While there is no doubt of the severity of the illnesses experienced by many young girls - and we all sympathise with the very distressing situations these families find themselves in - their fears over the vaccine are unfounded. These illnesses existed in males and females of various ages long before the public vaccination programme started in 2010 and, unfortunately, continue to develop in vaccinated and unvaccinated people at the same rate. National and international examination of these conditions by independent expert groups responsible for the safety of medicines disproves any link between the HPV vaccine, or any other vaccine, and these medical conditions. The largest of these studies has looked at the rates of illness among over 80 million people who have received over 200 million doses of HPV vaccine and compared the rates of these illnesses with unvaccinated people. No difference in the rates of serious illnesses occurring in vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals has been found. Almost everyone is exposed to HPV in their lifetime, but most of us will never know this - as the virus often shows no signs and clears itself harmlessly within two years. But try telling that to Aoife Harrington or other women who have received, or are currently receiving, treatment for cervical cancer. The HPV vaccine is not a catch-all for every form of cervical cancer. Vaccinated women will still need to attend regular smear tests, which they can do for free if they are aged 25-60, under the national 'Cervical Check' screening programme. Taking the smear test and vaccine together, it's quite possible that stories like Aoife's will become a thing of the past. Dr Robert O'Connor is Head of Research with the Irish Cancer Society. The Irish Cancer Society's public talk, 'Decoding Cancer - The HPV Vaccine: Warts and All', takes place today in the Oriel House Hotel, Ballincollig, Cork (6:30-7:30pm). Free registration to these events is open at www.cancer.ie. Donald Trump is photographed mid-speech at a high school in New Hampshire. His mouth is open and his eyes screwed up, while the low angle of the shot makes it look as if his head is merging into his wrinkled neck. It was hard to avoid hearing snatches of conversation from the table next to mine at a restaurant in a picturesque town in the middle of Maine. The gist, as far as I could tell, was that there would be moves to set aside the election result if Hillary Clinton won. There was some muttering about martial law. What followed from that was unclear; it was all pretty far fetched. But the very fact that the topic was even raised speaks volumes about the febrile atmosphere surrounding November's election. It has all been rather bizarre. This has been an election where pick-up trucks are carrying 'Hillary for Prison 2016' stickers and crowds at Trump rallies chant "lock her up". In turn, Donald Trump's opponents have likened him to Mussolini, and his rallies have been punctuated by sporadic violence. It is not as if my fellow diner has been the only person to be talking in terms which verge on the apocalyptic. A guy cutting my hair was convinced that Hillary will be impeached before November with the Democrat establishment drafting in Joe Biden as candidate. Trump himself - who did more than anything to popularise the myth that Barack Obama was secretly born in Kenya - has encouraged this apocalyptic atmosphere by chuntering about the possibility that the Democrats could rig the election, leading experts to fear he is priming his followers to dispute the result. We have reached a point where the incredible has become believable. About a week ago somebody put out a spoof story suggesting that Trump had tweeted out pictures of his manhood to prove he was well-endowed. Given that the story appeared to be on ABC, had what looked like a genuine tweet, and Donald Trump had boasted there was nothing wrong with the size of his hands "or anything else" in an exchange with Marco Rubio - reader, I fell for it. My gullibility is perhaps understandable. After all, earlier this month Donald Trump appeared to suggest that Hillary Clinton could be assassinated by disgruntled gun owners. In January, he told a rally he could shoot somebody on Fifth Avenue and not lose voters, and for months this appeared to be true. He could be as outrageous as he liked without doing any damage to his political prospects. Even a row with the Pope over his plans to build a wall to keep Mexican immigrants out of the country did no lasting damage. For months he seemed to defy political gravity, obliterating his rivals for the Republican nomination and - until a few weeks ago - running neck and neck with Hillary Clinton. Whether it was attacking immigrants, radical Islam or the political establishment, voters lapped it up. It is only in the last few weeks that there have been signs that the Trump bubble may have burst, with the latest polls suggesting that he and the Republicans might find themselves on the wrong end of a landslide defeat similar to that inflicted on Barry Goldwater in 1964. If these polls are wrong, it would undermine most of the wisdom built up about the American political system for the past few decades. It would suggest that not only the polling companies' methods but the whole political establishment is now grievously mistaken about what the American people actually want and what they will do to get it. But if they are right, then the 2016 election may prove the high water mark for anti-establishment outsiders like Donald Trump. It would suggest that populist candidates of Left and Right may do well in the primaries, but that when it comes to the presidential election itself - as Goldwater discovered in 1964 and the Democrat George McGovern in 1972 - American voters tend to play safe. Until then we may simply have to endure three more months of apocalyptic fantasy, bizarre antics, absurd predictions, and the earnest, serious broaching of propositions which in previous years would be laughed at as ridiculous. Try not to let it go to your head. The ducks were stolen from a farm in Aberdeenshire Police are hunting thieves who stole more than 200 ducks from a farm. The 230 ducks were taken from a shed and police believe they were rounded up and loaded into a vehicle such as a pick-up truck or van. The birds are valued at a low four-figure sum. They were stolen in the early hours of Friday August 19 from a poultry farm near Laurencekirk, Aberdeenshire. Pc Marc Camus said: "Due to the number of ducks taken it is believed that a vehicle similar in size to a pick-up truck or a transit van would have been sufficient to transport the animals. "The breeds of ducks taken are not common and are difficult to source. The ducks may therefore be offered for sale to other poultry farmers. "If anyone has any information about this incident they are asked to call Police Scotland on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111." Afghan security forces rush to respond to a complex Taliban attack on the campus of the American University in Kabul. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) Militants have attacked the American University of Afghanistan, killing at least one person and wounding another 18, officials said, adding that security forces were still combing the campus in search of attackers. The Ministry of Public Health said a guard employed by the Kabul university had been killed and that the wounded included a foreign teacher. University authorities could not immediately be reached for comment. University President Mark English earlier said security forces had arrived on the scene soon after the attack began at around 7pm local time, saying "we are trying to assess the situation". Dejan Panic, the programme director at Kabul's Emergency Hospital, said 18 patients, including five women, had so far been admitted. He said three were "seriously" wounded, probably from automatic gunfire. Police spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said security forces were conducting a clearing operation to track down the "terrorists". He said it was still not clear if there were one or two attackers. All other personnel on the campus were evacuated, he said. He had no further details on the nature of the attack. The Pentagon said US military advisers were on the ground with Afghan security forces at the university. Spokesman Adam Stump said the forces had been embedded with the Afghan units. Associated Press photographer Massoud Hossaini was in a classroom with 15 students when he heard an explosion on the southern flank of the campus. "I went to the window to see what was going on, and I saw a person in normal clothes outside. He shot at me and shattered the glass," Mr Hossaini said, adding that he fell on the glass and cut his hands. The students then barricaded themselves into the classroom, pushing chairs and desks against the door, and stayed on the floor. Mr Hossaini said at least two grenades were thrown into the classroom, wounding several of his classmates. Mr Hossaini and about nine students later managed to escape from the campus through an emergency gate. "As we were running I saw someone lying on the ground face down, they looked like they had been shot in the back," he said. Mr Hossaini and the other students took refuge in a residential house near the campus, and were later safely evacuated by Afghan security forces. The attack on AUAF comes two weeks after two university staff, an American and an Australian, were kidnapped from their car by unknown gunmen. Their whereabouts are still unknown. The university was established in 2006 to offer liberal arts courses modelled on the US system. More than 1,000 students are currently enrolled in degree courses. The Taliban have been fighting to overthrow the Kabul government for 15 years, and regard foreign civilians as legitimate targets. AP BRICS countries adopt Udaipur Declaration on disaster Published: August 24, 2016 The two-day meeting of Ministers of Disaster Management (MDM) of BRICS countries concluded in Udaipur, Rajasthan with the adoption of the Udaipur Declaration. This was the second meeting and in the follow up of the first meeting of the BRICS MDM convened by the Russia in St. Petersburg in April, 2016. Udaipur Declaration BRICS nations to set up a dedicated Joint Task Force for Disaster Risk Management for regular dialogue, exchange, mutual support and collaboration among them. The meeting was a new milestone in collaboration and cooperation among BRICS countries in the field of disaster management. The roadmap for implementation of the three-year Joint Action Plan for BRICS emergency services (2016-18) was also finalised. Key Highlights of 2nd BRICS MDM meeting Objective: (i) Share experiences on flood-risk management, current systems in each country for forecasting extreme weather events. (ii) Identify opportunities for collaboration between institutions of respective BRICS countries in the area of flood risk management and extreme weather-related events. (i) Share experiences on flood-risk management, current systems in each country for forecasting extreme weather events. (ii) Identify opportunities for collaboration between institutions of respective BRICS countries in the area of flood risk management and extreme weather-related events. It focused on two themes: (i) Flood Risk Management and (ii) Forecasting of Extreme Weather Events in the context of Changing Climate . (i) and (ii) . Three technical sessions were held on areas of disaster risk management challenges, forecasting and early warning on flood and disaster risk in a changing climate. Month: Current Affairs - August, 2016 Topics: BRICS Disaster Management National Rajasthan States Udaipur Declaration Latest E-Books Google Street View image of Home Hill backpackers' hostel in Queensland, where Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, from Derbyshire, was stabbed to death and a 30-year-old British man was left in a critical condition after being attacked by a Frenchman man shouting Allahu Akbar Amy Browne with Mia Ayliffe-chung (right), who has been named locally as the 21-year-old British woman who has died after being stabbed at a backpackers' hostel in Australia by a man shouting "Allahu Akbar". Picture: Amy Browne Amy Browne with Mia Ayliffe-Chung, right, who has been named locally as the 21-year-old British woman who has died after being stabbed at a backpackers' hostel in Australia (Amy Browne/PA) Mia Ayliffe-Chung has died after being stabbed at a backpackers' hostel in Australia (Tommy Martin/PA) The mother of 21-year-old Mia Ayliffe-Chung who was stabbed to death at an Australian backpackers' hostel has paid tribute to an "amazing young woman with an adventurous spirit". Miss Ayliffe-Chung was killed by an attacker shouting "Allahu Akbar" at the Shelley's Backpackers accommodation in the Home Hill area of Queensland on Tuesday night. The suspected attacker, a 29-year-old French man, left 30-year-old Tom Jackson fighting for his life. Mother Rosie Ayliffe said in a statement: "My beloved daughter Mia was an amazing young woman with an adventurous spirit. Not only was she kind and funny, she was clever, sassy with a sense of fun. "Mia was full of the kind of open-minded compassion for life that you don't see that often. It felt as though she was reminding us all of the beauty and possibilities we each have and that we should live life to the full. "She was always at one with herself, so whole. Above all else she had a strong sense of right and wrong, and would always look after those she considered in need." The statement given to ITV News continued: "She was an outstanding friend to many, and dearly loved by the children of our community. Her feisty nature and strong sense of justice made Mia a beloved friend to her peers and to all who knew her. "Mia was a rare person who saw beyond race creed and belief - she would always treat others with dignity, respect and kindness. Just seeing her outward appearance could not give you an inkling of how wonderful she was emotionally, socially and mentally. "As a peaceful person, Mia had a huge respect for everybody. She would not want to be the reason for any hostilities caused by any misrepresentation of events." Miss Ayliffe-Chung, from Wirksworth, Derbyshire, was only days into a three-month trip to the country. She had been working as a waitress and with animals on a farm so she could extend her working holiday visa. Friends have also been paying tribute to both Britons since hearing of the attack. Miss Ayliffe-Chung's ex-boyfriend, Jamison Stead, 23, remembered her as a "beautiful soul" who had "fallen in love with the country and its people". The Australian sales rep told the Press Association: "We met towards the end of April through friends in Surfers (Paradise). "She was living in Surfers on the Gold Coast and planning on exploring Australia, with the intention to find a sponsorship as she wanted to stay here as she had fallen in love with the country and its people. "I can't quite get my head around what's happened. Truly devastated, more just disbelief that this has happened. It's something you hear about but never think that it would happen to someone you were close to. "She was a beautiful girl who had her whole life ahead of her and we spoke of what the future may hold in store for her and what she wanted to do. It's sad knowing that she won't be able to do those things. My heart goes out to her and her family." Miss Ayliffe-Chung studied childcare at Buxton & Leek College before travelling to Bali and Australia. Rachel McVeigh, curriculum leader for education and childcare at the college, said: "Mia had a zest for life and was free-spirited, with a keen desire to travel. We are devastated and extremely sorry to hear such tragic news. Our thoughts are with her family and friends." Speaking of Mr Jackson, Samantha Harrison wrote on Facebook: "Tom Jackson was a very close friend and one of the most amazing people I have ever met. Now Tom I need you to stay strong and beat this for yourself and all of your friends and family who love you." His parents declined to speak from their home in Congleton, Cheshire. Queensland deputy police commissioner Steve Gollschewski said all possible motives for the attack were being considered, including criminal and political, as well as the impact of drugs and mental health problems. He continued: "Initial inquiries indicate that comments which may be construed as being of an extremist nature were made by the alleged offender. "It is alleged that the suspect used the phrase 'Allahu Akbar' during the attack and when arrested by police." Mr Gollschewski added that Miss Ayliffe-Chung was the first person to be attacked and the incident was being treated as a murder case, not a terror attack. Police said up to 30 people witnessed the "senseless act of violence" in which a 46-year-old local man, named as Grant Scholz, also suffered non life-threatening injuries - and a dog was killed. The suspect was arrested and transferred to hospital for treatment for minor injuries, and was captured on police body-cams uttering the phrase "Allahu Akbar" - which means "God is Greatest" in Arabic. Detective Superintendent Ray Rohweder said he was not known to police, and officers were still trying to discover what he had been doing in the country since his arrival. Debris are seen following a quake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Emiliano Grillotti Rescuers search a crumbled building in Arcuata del Tronto, central Italy, where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m. (AP Photo/Sandro Perozzi) A rescuer walks over the debris of a collapsed house following a quake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Emiliano Grillotti People stand along the road following a quake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Remo Casilli At least 120 people are dead and hundreds more injured after an earthquake in central Italy reduced three towns to rubble. The death toll is likely to rise as crews reach homes in more remote hamlets where the scenes were apocalyptic "like Dante's Inferno", according to one witness. Complicating matters was that the area is a popular vacation spot in the summer, with populations swelling, making the number of people in the area at the time difficult to estimate. "The town isn't here anymore," said Sergio Pirozzi, the mayor of Amatrice. "I believe the toll will rise." Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close A destroyed car is seen following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini A destroyed car is seen following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini Rescuers work on collapsed buildings following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Ciro De Luca Rescuers and people stand next a collapsed building following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Ciro De Luca People stand next collapsed buildings following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini Rescuers work following an earthquake at Pescara del Tronto, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Remo Casilli The interior of an house is seen following an earthquake at Pescara del Tronto, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Remo Casilli TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY A statue of the Virgin Lady stands outside a destroyed niche following an earthquake at Pescara del Tronto, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Remo Casilli Firefighters search through rubble following an earthquake in Accumoli, central Italy, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. A strong earthquake in central Italy reduced three towns to rubble as people slept early Wednesday, with reports that as many as 50 people were killed and hundreds injured as rescue crews raced to dig out survivors. (Angelo Carconi/ANSA via AP) Rescuers prepare food and basic necessities following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Ciro De Luca Rescuers work on a collapsed building following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Ciro De Luca Rescuers work following an earthquake at Pescara del Tronto, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Remo Casilli An injured person is carried away on a stretcher following an earthquake at Pescara del Tronto, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Remo Casilli Rescuers work following an earthquake at Pescara del Tronto, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Remo Casilli The interior of an house is seen following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Ciro De Luca Rescuers work on a collapsed building following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Ciro De Luca A man leans on rubble following an earthquake in Amatrice Italy, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. A strong earthquake in central Italy reduced three towns to rubble as people slept early Wednesday, with reports that as many as 50 people were killed and hundreds injured as rescue crews raced to dig out survivors. (Massimo Percossi/ANSA via AP) Rescuers work following an earthquake at Pescara del Tronto, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Remo Casilli Rescuers work on a collapsed building following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Ciro De Luca People walk with their belongings following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Ciro De Luca Rescuers prepare food and basic necessities in front of a partially collapsed building following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Ciro De Luca ATTENTION EDITORS - VISUAL COVERAGE OF SCENES OF DEATH A body is carried away by rescuers following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Ciro De Luca Rescuers prepare food and basic necessities in front of a partially collapsed building following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Ciro De Luca People and rescuers stand next collapsed buildings following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Ciro De Luca People and rescuers stand near collapsed buildings following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Ciro De Luca Rescuers work on a collapsed building following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Ciro De Luca Rescuers work on a collapsed building following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Ciro De Luca A rescuer stands in front of a collapsed building following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Ciro De Luca TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY The interior of a house is seen following an earthquake in Accumoli di Rieti, central Italy August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Steve Scherer Rescuers work at a collapsed house following an earthquake in Accumoli di Rieti, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Steve Scherer A woman stands in front of a collapsed house following an earthquake in Accumuli di Rieti, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Steve Scherer A man walks amidst rubble following an earthquake in Pescara del Tronto, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Remo Casilli TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Rescuers are seen working in the rubble of collapsed and damaged houses in the village of Pescara del Tronto, central Italy, Wednesday, Aug. 24 2016 following an earthquake. The magnitude 6 quake struck at 3:36 a.m. (0136 GMT) and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including Rome where residents of the capital felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. (Crocchioni/ANSA via AP) Rescuers search for survivors through rubble after an earthquake, in Accumoli, central Italy, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. A devastating earthquake rocked central Italy early Wednesday, collapsing homes on top of residents as they slept. At least 23 people were reported dead in three hard-hit towns where rescue crews raced to dig survivors out of the rubble, but the toll was expected to rise as crews reached homes in more remote hamlets. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) A survivor looks at the collapsed buildings of the town of Pescara del Tronto, Italy, after an earthquake, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The magnitude 6 quake struck at 3:36 a.m. (0136 GMT) and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including Rome where residents of the capital felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. (Cristiano Chiodi/ANSA via AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A destroyed car is seen following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini The magnitude 6 quake struck at 3.36am local time and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including Rome, where residents woke to a long swaying followed by aftershocks. The temblor shook the Lazio region and Umbria and Le Marche on the Adriatic coast. Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi planned to head to the zone later on Wednesday and promised the area, which has suffered quakes many times before: "No family, no city, no hamlet will be left behind." The hardest-hit towns were the tiny towns of Amatrice and Accumoli near Rieti, some 80 miles north-east of Rome, and Pescara del Tronto further east. Italy's civil protection agency, which was coordinating the rescue, said the provisional toll was 120 dead, several hundred injured and thousands in need of temporary housing. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close A woman is helped to leave his home by rescuers following a quake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Remo Casilli A woman (2nd L) cries after been rescued from her home following a quake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Remo Casilli The interior of a house is seen after a quake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Remo Casilli Rescuers works after a quake hit Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Remo Casilli A body is covered by cloth next to rubble following a quake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Remo Casilli A woman (2nd L) cries after been rescued from her home following a quake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Remo Casilli TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A woman is helped to leave his home by rescuers following a quake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Remo Casilli Read More The centre of Amatrice was devastated, with entire blocks of buildings razed and the air thick with dust and smelling strongly of gas. Amatrice, birthplace of the famed spaghetti all'amatriciana bacon-tomato pasta sauce, is made up of 69 hamlets that rescue teams were working to reach. Rocks and metal tumbled onto the streets of the city centre and dazed residents huddled in piazzas as more than 40 aftershocks jolted the region into the early morning hours, some as strong as 5.1. "The whole ceiling fell but did not hit me," marveled resident Maria Gianni. "I just managed to put a pillow on my head and I wasn't hit luckily, just slightly injured my leg." Another woman, sitting in front of her destroyed home with a blanket over her shoulders, said she did not know what had become of her loved ones. "It was one of the most beautiful towns of Italy and now there's nothing left," she said. "I don't know what we'll do." As the August sun bared down, residents, civil protection workers and even priests dug with shovels, bulldozers and their bare hands to reach survivors. Dozens were pulled out alive: There was relief as a woman emerged on a stretcher from one building, followed by a dog. "We need chainsaws, shears to cut iron bars, and jacks to remove beams: everything, we need everything," civil protection worker Andrea Gentili told The Associated Press. Italy's national blood drive association appealed for donations to Rieti's hospital. But to the north, in Illica, the response was slower as residents anxiously waited for loved ones to be extracted from the rubble. "We came out to the piazza, and it looked like Dante's Inferno," said Agostino Severo, a Rome resident visiting Illica. "People crying for help, help. Rescue workers arrived after one hour ... one and a half hours." The devastation harked back to the 2009 quake that killed more than 300 people in and around L'Aquila, about 55 miles south of the latest quake. The town, which still has not bounced back fully, sent emergency teams on Wednesday to help with the rescue. "I don't know what to say. We are living this immense tragedy," said a tearful Reverend Savino D'Amelio, a parish priest in Amatrice. "We are only hoping there will be the least number of victims possible and that we all have the courage to move on." Another hard-hit town was Pescara del Tronto, in the Le Marche region, where the main road was covered in debris. Residents were digging their neighbours out by hand since emergency crews had not yet arrived in force. Photos taken from the air by regional firefighters showed the town essentially flattened; Italy requested EU satellite images of the whole area to get the scope of the damage. "There are broken liquor bottles all over the place," said Gino Petrucci, owner of a bar in nearby Arquata Del Tronto where he was beginning the long clean-up. One rescue was particularly delicate as a ranger in Capodacqua, in the Marche province of Ascoli Piceno, diplomatically tried to keep an 80-year-old woman calm as she begged to get to a toilet, even though she was trapped in the rubble. "Listen, I know it's not nice to say but if you need to pee you just do it," he said. "Now I move away a little bit and you do pee please." The Italian geological service put the magnitude at 6.0; the US Geological Survey reported 6.2 with the epicentre at Norcia, about 105 miles north-east of Rome, and with a relatively shallow depth of 6 miles. "Quakes with this magnitude at this depth in our territory in general create building collapses, which can result in deaths," said the head of Italy's civil protection service, Fabrizio Curcio. He added that the region is popular with tourists escaping the heat of Rome, with more residents than at other times of the year, and that a single building collapse could raise the toll significantly. The mayor of Accumoli, Stefano Petrucci, said a family of four had died there, one of the few young families who had decided to stay in the area. He wept as he noted that the tiny hamlet of 700 swells to 2,000 in the summer months, and that he feared for the future of the town. "I hope they don't forget us," he said. In Amatrice, the Reverend Fabio Gammarota, priest of a nearby parish, said he had blessed seven bodies extracted so far. "One was a friend of mine," he said. A 1997 quake killed a dozen people in central Italy and severely damaged one of the jewels of Umbria, the Basilica of St Francis in Assisi, filled with Giotto frescoes. The Franciscan friars who are the custodians of the basilica reported no immediate damage from Wednesday's temblor. Pope Francis skipped his traditional catechism for his Wednesday general audience and instead invited pilgrims in St Peter's Square to recite the rosary with him. A South Carolina mother killed her four-day-old son by putting him in the refrigerator for three hours, authorities said. Angela Blackwell is charged with homicide by child abuse. During a brief court appearance on Tuesday, the judge explained that because of the severity of the charges no bond could be set at the initial hearing, in accordance with state law. She only nodded and shook her head, leaving the small courtroom after a few minutes without a sound. Blackwell, 27, was arrested on Monday, nearly six months after her son died. Investigators said they have spent that time taking statements and getting forensic tests done on the baby. A post-mortem showed that the boy, William David Blackwell, died from hypothermia with asphyxiation from being placed in the cold, according to Chester County Coroner Terry Tinker. First-responders tried to revive him on February 27, but he was pronounced dead at a hospital. The baby's grandfather, Billy Lewis, told reporters gathered at his home before his bond hearing that Blackwell was sad around the time of her baby's birth, but appeared to be cheered up after her son was born. "She didn't do it. We don't know who did it, but she didn't do it," said Mr Lewis, who added there were other people in the home. Authorities also have not talked about why Blackwell may have placed her son in the refrigerator. Blackwell's next court appearance is November 10. Neighbours said the Blackwells were nearly evicted from their home recently because the yard was a mess. Children's toys are still strewn in the backyard, and an old rusted car without an engine and a white hearse that has seen better days remain in the front yard. While everyone knew about their yard, no one seemed to really know them, neighbour Dot Corley said on Tuesday. "She didn't say anything to anybody that I know of," Ms Corley said. According to an online obituary for her infant son, Blackwell has another child. A Facebook profile that appears to belong to Blackwell shows her posing with a toddler and a newborn in photos posted the day after William's birth. The boy's father, who is not charged in connection to his death, has a lengthy arrest record. Jeffery Paul Lewis, 35, has theft convictions in South Carolina dating back to 2005 and served more than two years in prison after a probation violation, Corrections Department spokeswoman Stephanie Givens said. AP A young man who tweeted that he was close to murdering his housemates is now facing murder charges. Zachary Penton (21) is accused of the murder of Daniel Garofalo (41) after a shooting at their Arizona home on Sunday night. Police told ABC 15 that Penton called 911 to report he had killed Garofalo. He faces second-degree murder charges. Expand Close The tweet that reportedly appeared on an account under the name of Zac Penton / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The tweet that reportedly appeared on an account under the name of Zac Penton Penton is reported to have tweeted about killing his housemates less than two days before the death. I need to move out of my place before I viciously murder my roommates, reads a post on a Twitter account under the name of Zac Penton. The post was deleted Tuesday afternoon and police said they are working to see if Penton was the publisher of the tweet. Pentons lawyer told the broadcaster that people often write statements that are not meant to be taken seriously. A resident in the area said there was always a lot of parties in the house. Fewer foreign tourists are visiting the Paris region after deadly terror attacks last year and a season of strikes, violent industrial action and exceptional floods. The regional tourism office this week reported figures for the first half of 2016 showing that the drop was especially high among Japanese, Russian and Chinese visitors. Spending on hotels fell particularly sharply, but was partially offset by a rise in the number of people staying in private apartment offerings. Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault has called a meeting for early September to find ways to revive tourism, which represents about 7% of the French economy. Other French regions have not been as hard hit as Paris, though French Riviera tourism was shaken by the truck attack in Nice last month that killed 86. AP JNPT signs ECB Agreement worth $400 Million with SBI and Development Bank of Singapore Published: August 24, 2016 Indias premier container port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Navi Mumbai has signed 400 Million US Dollar agreement with State Bank of India (SBI) and Development Bank of Singapore (DBS) for External Commercial Borrowing (ECB). The agreement was signed by JNPT officials in the presence of the Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Key Facts With this ECB Agreement, JNPT becomes the first major port in the country to take loans in dollars to improve the infrastructure. The ECB of 400 Million dollars will be primarily utilised for expansion of JNPTs existing road network connecting to its port project. It will help JNPT to double its existing capacity. JNPT was able to take loans in dollars as it has US dollar denominated foreign currency earnings which can be leveraged for a low cost foreign currency borrowing. Why Ports are opting for low cost foreign currency borrowing? Port projects, including connectivity infrastructure projects are critical to developing cargo handling capacity of the country. With Central Governments thrust on port led development under the Sagarmala programme, improving viability of port projects is critical. One of the primary factors that impacts viability of port projects is the interest rate on borrowings to fund projects. While Ports have surplus funds, they also need to borrow to achieve a quantum jump in the investment. Thus, ECBs is an innovative means of raising low-cost particularly when the port had revenues in foreign exchange, which provided a natural hedge to the ports. This would substantially help to eliminate the requirement of hedging the forex risk and would reduce the cost of borrowing. The step is also considered as another milestone in infusing dynamism into the functioning of the ports, both in their operations and financing. For more information: External Commercial Borrowings Month: Current Affairs - August, 2016 Topics: Business Economy Inrastructure JNPT National Ports SBI Singapore Latest E-Books Turkish army tanks are stationed near the border with Syria, in Karkamis, Turkey (AP Photo) Turkish army tanks are stationed near the border with Syria, in Karkamis, Turkey (AP Photo) A Turkish army tank and an armored vehicle are stationed near the border with Syria (IHA via AP) A Kurdish fighter carries his weapon near a statue of Bassel al-Assad, brother of Syria's President Bashar, in the Ghwairan neighborhood of Hasaka, Syria, August 23, 2016. REUTERS/Rodi Said Turkish army tanks are stationed near the border with Syria, in Karkamis, Turkey (DHA via AP) Turkish special forces, tanks and jets backed by planes from the U.S.-led coalition launched their first co-ordinated offensive into Syria on Wednesday to try to drive Islamic State from the border and prevent further gains by Kurdish militia fighters. Turkish tank units and Syrian rebels backed by the NATO member crossed into northern Syria to push Islamic State out of the border town of Jarablus, military sources said. A Reuters reporter at the border counted six Turkish tanks inside Syria and witnessed intense bombardments. Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan said the operation was targeting Islamic State and the Kurdish PYD party, whose gains in northern Syria have alarmed Turkey. Ankara views the PYD as an extension of Kurdish militants fighting an insurgency on its own soil, putting it at odds with Washington, which sees the group as an ally in the fight against Islamic State. "This morning at 4 a.m. (0100 GMT) an operation started in northern Syria against terror groups which constantly threaten our country, like Daesh (Islamic State) and the PYD," Erdogan said in a speech in Ankara. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Turkey hours after operations began on a pre-planned trip, the most senior U.S. official to visit since a failed July 15 coup shook confidence in Turkey's ability to step up the fight against Islamic State. "Euphrates Shield", named after the river running nearby, is Turkey's first major military operation since the abortive coup. A senior administration official travelling with Biden said the United States wanted to help Turkey to get Islamic State away from the border, and was providing air cover and "synching up" with the Turks on their plans for Jarablus. He said the shelling was hitting Islamic State, not Kurdish forces. CUTTING ISLAMIC STATE ARTERY Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Turkish army tanks are stationed near the border with Syria, in Karkamis, Turkey (AP Photo) Smokes billow in Syrian side, pictured from Karkamis, Turkey, Wednesday (DHA via AP) Turkish army tanks are stationed near the border with Syria, in Karkamis, Turkey (AP Photo) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Turkish army tanks are stationed near the border with Syria, in Karkamis, Turkey (AP Photo) The Turkish army began firing artillery rounds into Jarablus at around 0100 GMT and Turkish and U.S. warplanes pounded Islamic State targets with air strikes. It was the first time warplanes from Turkey have struck in Syria since November, when Turkey downed a Russian warplane near the border, and the first significant incursion by Turkish special forces since a brief operation to relocate the tomb of Suleyman Shah, a revered Ottoman figure, in February 2015. Turkey and the United States hope that by removing Islamic State from the border, they can deprive it of a smuggling route which long saw its ranks swollen with foreign fighters and its coffers boosted by illicit trade. The operation comes four days after a suicide bomber suspected of links to the group killed 54 people at a wedding in the southeastern city of Gaziantep. But for Turkey, it also preempts any attempt by Syrian Kurdish militia fighters, who play a critical part of the U.S.-backed campaign against Islamic State, to take Jarablus. Kurdish fighters have captured large areas of territory since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011, and Ankara has long declared the Euphrates river, which runs just east of Jarablus, a red line which it does not want them to cross. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Kurdish fighters must return east of the Euphrates or Turkey would "do what is necessary". ENTERING A "QUAGMIRE" White and grey plumes of smoke rose from the rolling hills around Jarablus, visible from the Turkish town of Karkamis across the border. The boom of artillery rounds was audible as advancing Turkish tanks opened fire. Turkish military sources said the air strikes had hit 12 Islamic State targets, while artillery fire hit 70 targets. "The aim of the operation is to ensure border security and Syria's territorial integrity while supporting the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State," one military source said, adding work to open a passage for ground forces was under way. Erdogan said Turkey was determined that Syria should retain its territorial integrity and would take matters into its own hands if required to ensure that was the case. But Saleh Muslim, head of the Kurdish PYD, wrote in a tweet that Turkey was entering a "quagmire" in Syria and faced defeat there like Islamic State. Kurdish groups already control swathes of northern Syria where they have established de facto autonomy since the start of the Syria war. The YPG, the armed wing of the PYD, took near complete control of Hasaka city on Tuesday, around 250 km (155 miles) east of Jarablus. That growing Kurdish influence has alarmed Ankara, which is fighting its own insurgency with militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), blamed by the government for an escalation of attacks in the southeast of Turkey. The U.S.-backed Syria Democratic Forces alliance (SDF), which includes the YPG, captured the city of Manbij, just south of Jarablus, from Islamic State earlier this month. The U.S. official acknowledged that Turkey had not been happy about the Manbij operation but said Washington had underlined the Kurds would pull back once the city was cleared - which he said could take several weeks - and that they would not move further north, addressing a major Turkish concern. "We've put a lid on the Kurds moving north, or at least doing so if they want any support from us," he said. POST-COUP OPERATION Turkey had vowed on Monday to "completely cleanse" Islamic State militants from its border region after the Gaziantep bombing. Operation "Euphrates Shield" also comes after at least 10 mortar shells from Jarablus landed in Karkamis and the surrounding areas in recent days, forcing residents to flee. Syrian rebels backed by Turkey had said they were in the final stages of preparing an assault from Turkish territory on Jarablus. A Syrian rebel with one of the Turkey-backed groups said earlier on Wednesday around 1,500 fighters had been gathered at a location in Turkey to take part. It is Turkey's first major military operation since the failed July coup by rogue solders who tried to overthrow Erdogan and the government, killing 240 people and triggering a purge of suspected coup supporters in the army and civil service. Angered by a perceived lack of Western sympathy over the coup, Turkey has chilled ties with Washington and the European Union while ending a diplomatic row with Russia and proposing more military cooperation with Moscow in fighting Islamic State. Those growing ties between Ankara and Moscow are worrying Turkey's Western allies. Home Hill backpackers hostel in Queensland, Australia, where a 21-year-old woman has died and a 30-year-old British man is in a critical condition after being stabbed by a man who allegedly shouted "Allahu Akbar" during the attack : Google Street View/PA Wire Mia Ayliffe-Chung, from Derbyshire, was described as 'gorgeous' by friends A 21-year-old British woman has been stabbed to death at a backpackers' hostel in Australia by an attacker shouting "Allahu Akbar". As well as fatally injuring Mia Ayliffe-Chung, the 29-year-old French man left a 30-year-old Briton - named locally as Tom Jackson - fighting for his life. The knife attack took place at Shelley's Backpackers accommodation in the Home Hill area of Queensland at about 11.15pm local time on Tuesday, police said. Miss Ayliffe-Chung, from Wirksworth, Derbyshire, was only days into a three-month trip to the country. She had been working as a waitress and with animals on a farm so she could extend her working holiday visa. Expand Expand Previous Next Close Mia Ayliffe-chung, who has been named locally as the 21-year-old British woman who has died after being stabbed at a backpackers' hostel in Australia by a man shouting "Allahu Akbar" Credit: Tommy Martin/PA Wire Amy Browne with Mia Ayliffe-chung (right), who has been named locally as the 21-year-old British woman who has died after being stabbed at a backpackers' hostel in Australia by a man shouting "Allahu Akbar" Credit: Amy Browne/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mia Ayliffe-chung, who has been named locally as the 21-year-old British woman who has died after being stabbed at a backpackers' hostel in Australia by a man shouting "Allahu Akbar" Credit: Tommy Martin/PA Wire Friends have been paying tribute to both Britons since hearing of the attack. Samantha Harrison wrote on Facebook: "Tom Jackson was a very close friend and one of the most amazing people I have ever met. Now Tom I need you too stay strong and beat this for yourself and all of your friends and family who love you." While Amy Browne, 19, from the Gold Coast, who worked as a bartender at the Bedroom Lounge Bar, where Miss Ayliffe-Chung was a waitress, told the Press Association: "Mia was honestly the most bubbliest and most caring girl I knew. "She got along with everyone she met, she just had that gorgeous personality that everyone seemed to enjoy. "She always had a smile on her face, so innocent and full of life and love. Our memories will be cherished forever and I know she'd want us all to stay positive in the darkest of times. Rest in peace my beautiful friend, heaven has truly gained another angel." Queensland deputy police commissioner Steve Gollschewski said all motivations for the attack were being considered, including criminal and political, as well as the impact of drugs and mental health problems. Expand Close Queensland Police Service Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski Credit: ABC News / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Queensland Police Service Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski Credit: ABC News He continued: "Initial inquiries indicate that comments which may be construed as being of an extremist nature were made by the alleged offender. "It is alleged that the suspect used the phrase 'Allahu Akbar' during the attack and when arrested by police." Mr Gollschewski added Miss Ayliffe-Chung was the first person to be attacked and the incident was being treated as a murder case, not a terror attack. Police said up to 30 people witnessed the "senseless act of violence" in which a 46-year-old local man, named as Grant Scholz, also suffered non life-threatening injuries - and a dog was killed. The suspect was arrested and transferred to hospital for treatment for minor injuries, and was captured on police body-cams uttering the phrase Allahu Akbar - which means God is Greatest in Arabic. Detective Superintendent Ray Rohweder added he was not known to police, and detectives were still trying to discover what he had been doing in the country since his arrival. The attacker is believed to have been acting alone and police have retrieved a knife, thought to have been the weapon involved in the stabbing. A spokeswoman from the British High Commission in Canberra said: "We are working with local authorities and providing support to the families after one British national was killed and another critically injured in an incident in Australia. "Our thoughts are with the families at this difficult time. High Commission staff have deployed to Townsville and we remain in close contact with local authorities." SHARE By Mike Eads of the Independent Mail Faith-based colleges and universities can exempt themselves from new federal rules about accommodations for transgender students, but now the presidents of seven South Carolina schools have sent a letter to Gov. Nikki Haley asking her help to make sure they can remain exempt in the future. The letter decries the Obama administration order allowing transgender students to choose which restrooms and locker rooms they wish to use. Signed by the presidents of Anderson University, Charleston Southern University, Erskine College, North Greenville University, Bob Jones University, Columbia International University and Southern Wesleyan University, it also states that the exercise of "religious freedom" is under threat across the United States: "The Obama Administration has placed mandates on educational institutions that essentially force public school students to use bathrooms with members of the opposite biological sex, even though to do so violates the privacy and modesty of students who may object on the basis of their deeply held religious values. "We encourage you, as our Governor, to stand against any attempt by the federal government to infringe on religious freedom, and to oppose any attempt by the South Carolina General Assembly or state executive agencies to enact legislation, policies, administrative actions or executive orders that infringe on the religious freedom of private religious universities." According to federal rules, universities that use federal dollars such as student grants and loans may not discriminate against anyone on the basis of sex. However, faith-based institutions can opt out of certain provisions if they feel their ability to carry out their religious missions would be compromised by compliance. The presidents' letter does not mention that faith-based schools can opt out. Anderson University spokesman Barry Ray, speaking on behalf of President Evans Whitaker, acknowledged that point, but he said there's no guarantee in the future that faith-based schools won't be subject to those federal rules that now apply to public schools. "There is a religious exception," Ray said. "However, there is no guarantee that exception is going to survive long-term." The presidents' letter also mentioned California Senate Bill 1146, which, as originally proposed, had language to allow the state to cut off grants to universities that don't honor such legal protections. That measure, which was never introduced in any other state or the U.S. Congress, was amended by California legislators weeks ago to remove the funding threat to faith-based colleges that, in turn, came out in support of the bill's passage. Haley issued a statement Monday that expresses support for the universities. "I appreciate hearing from the leaders of our state's Christian universities," Haley stated. "South Carolina has a proud tradition of upholding religious freedom. I look forward to working with the universities to make sure we continue to honor that tradition." Enforcement of the Obama administration order was suspended Sunday, when a federal judge in Texas issued an injunction holding up enforcement as part of a lawsuit brought by several states to squelch the new rules. Follow Michael Eads on Twitter @MikeEads_AIM Dia de los Muertos: What to know about the celebration of life Maharashtra becomes first state to sign MoU with Centre, AAI to develop 10 airports under RCS Published: August 24, 2016 Maharashtra Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Union Civil Aviation Ministry and Airports Authority of India (AAI) to develop 10 airports as part of the Centres Regional Connectivity Scheme. The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. With this Maharashtra became first state in the country to formally to provide the concessions required from the State Governments in the Regional Connectivity Scheme. Key Facts These 10 airports include Shirdi, Gondia, Amravati, Jalgaon, Nashik, Solapur, Nanded, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg. The MoU aims to facilitate regional air connectivity by making air travel affordable and move aviation sector in Maharashtra to next level. As per the MoU, Central Government will provide funds and also assist the Maharashtra Government in developing essential infrastructure for developing these airports. State government will provide essential land free of cost and will also reduce the Local Body Tax (LBT) on air fuel from the existing 10% to 1% for a period of 10 years. It will also provide electricity, water and necessary facilities at concessional rates. Airports will also be provided with roads, rail and waterway connectivity. About Regional Connectivity Scheme The provision of Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) has been mentioned in the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) 2015. Objective: To make flying affordable for the masses, to promote tourism, increase employment and promote balanced regional growth. To make flying affordable for the masses, to promote tourism, increase employment and promote balanced regional growth. It also aims to boost civil aviation sector by reviving of un-served or under-served airstrips/airports. Only 75 out of 476 airstrips have scheduled operations. Implementing agency : Airport Authority of India. : Airport Authority of India. RCS route: It will include (i) un-served airports i.e. airports where there is no scheduled commercial flight (ii) under-served airports i.e. airports which have 7 or less scheduled commercial flights per week. It will include (i) un-served airports i.e. airports where there is no scheduled commercial flight (ii) under-served airports i.e. airports which have 7 or less scheduled commercial flights per week. These routes will cover a length between 200 to 800 km. But this criteria will not apply to hilly areas, islands, North-east region and for helicopter operations. Subsidy: Central Government will subsidise 80% of the cost for revival of airports, while the states will meet the rest under the viability gap fund (VGF). In the case of the Northeastern states, the central subsidy will be 90%. Central Government will subsidise 80% of the cost for revival of airports, while the states will meet the rest under the viability gap fund (VGF). In the case of the Northeastern states, the central subsidy will be 90%. The RCS also stipulates that the air tickets will be capped at Rs 2,500 under a one-hour flight and the VGF will take care of the rest of the operational cost. Besides, a Regional Connectivity Fund (RCF) will be created to subsidise the operation of the RCS. Month: Current Affairs - August, 2016 Topics: Aviation Sector Maharashtra National Regional connectivity scheme States Latest E-Books SHARE By Charlie Bauder, WNEG FM 93.1/AM Special to Independent Mail TOCCOA A signage moratorium will remain in place along the Ga. 17 corridor in Stephens County for a bit longer while work continues to develop a county sign ordinance. County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to extend for another 90 days a temporary moratorium for signage along the unincorporated parts of Ga. 17 from the Franklin County line to the intersection of the Toccoa Bypass and then continuing along the Bypass to the Habersham County line. So the moratorium will now be in effect until late November. County commissioners first passed the moratorium in February and extended it once already in May as commissioners and a citizens' group have worked to develop a sign ordinance for the commission to consider. Supporters of such an ordinance said it is needed to control the effect of signage on the appearance of the Ga. 17 corridor. The people working on the ordinance have reached out to landowners along the Ga. 17 corridor, said Debbie Whitlock, vice chairwoman of the County Board of Commissioners. Responses have come in from only a few of those landowners, and their opinions varied greatly, she said. "One was a letter, and I think she wanted no signage," Whitlock said. "The other three I spoke to personally. Two of them wanted signage, but with restrictions, and the other property owner felt that people should be able to do what they want with their property and there should be no ordinance and you could have whatever sign you wanted out there." County officials and the citizens group will keep reaching out to property owners along the road and looking at options for an ordinance, she said. No time frame was given for having a proposal ready for the county commission to review. A milestone in the Ga. 17 widening and construction project is coming Thursday. The Georgia Department of Transportation said the part of the project that extends from south of the Franklin County line to north of Scott Road will be opened to traffic Thursday. Transportation Department spokeswoman Katie Strickland said that is another major step forward in the project to make Ga. 17 four lanes from Interstate 85 all the way to Toccoa. "Obviously, motorists will still need to drive alert and watch out for things that are still there from staging," she said. SHARE By Charlie Bauder, WNEG FM 93.1/AM Special to Independent Mail TOCCOA The Toccoa City Commission on Monday unanimously approved an agreement for the city to buy two properties on West Currahee Street. City Manager Billy Morse said Synovus Bank approached the city about selling it the properties, one at 380 W. Currahee St. and one at 488 W. Currahee St. "Both properties have vacant buildings located on them," Morse said. "The Stephens County Tax Commissioner's Office lists the properties at a combined value of over $91,000. The city can acquire the properties for a combined sale price of $30,000." Toccoa City Commissioner Terry Carter said both the properties are within the Currahee Beautification Corridor. Buying and cleaning up the properties is in line with the city's goals to beautify Currahee Street entering Toccoa, he said. "To be able to have control of the building that once was Straight Shooters and also to clean up the other lot there that is on the corner, there is a billboard there that is in front of the old plant that used to be Wright's, it goes right along with our effort to work on that street and that corner," Carter said. He added that buying the properties also is an opportunity for the city and its Downtown Development Authority to use the lots to good purpose economically. In other business from the meeting Monday, city commissioners unanimously approved an amended gas supply contract with the Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia. Morse said the gas supply contract was amended because of a dispute involving one member of the gas authority, and the amendment will clarify a number of legal issues for the members' protection and also extend the term of the agreement for 10 years. , : , - Several area departments were dispatched at 6:19 a.m. Wednesday to a fire at 1802 Madison Road 257 in northeast Madison County near the Perry County line. The building, owned by Faith Family Foundation, is a former church building now used by the Fredericktown School District as a satellite campus to educate about 80 students living in the nearby Faith Foundation Children's Home. The district has nearly a dozen staff members who work at the school. The fire was discovered early this morning when a worker arrived and saw smoke coming from the building. A call to 911 was made and the building was checked to see that no one was inside. By the time the first firefighters arrived a short time later, the blaze was out of control. Faith Family Worship Center Senior Pastor Buck Proffer said, We can be thankful no one was hurt. District R-I Superintendent Brett Reutzel indicated students were transported to Faith Family Worship Center on Highway 72 East across from Fredericktown High School. Reutzel said he expects the students will attend classes in that facility for the time being. Investigators from the State Fire Marshals office were called to the scene to determine a cause of the fire. Fire departments from Madison County and St. Francois County assisted. Later in the day, at about 2:30 p.m., several area fire departments were sent back to the rural property for a "rekindle" of the earlier fire. They remained on the scene for several hours. Fredericktown Police Department Detective Sgt. Mike Sletten and the his fellow officers have been combing the area in search of a World War I memorial plaque dedicated to the memory of Madison County fallen service members. Members of the community and Historic Madison County, which is the countys historic preservation group, have spread the word about the disappearance via social media, since it was posted Aug. 16. Sletten made the discovery Aug. 7 while performing his community patrol duties on day shift. I was making a trip through town when I looked up and saw it missing that day, Sletten said. He explained he had to double check what he saw so he turned around immediately to make a second pass along South Main Street. The detective parked and got out of his patrol car to take a closer look. Once he confirmed its absence by checking in the area at the entryway and in the park, he began to make some phone calls. He contacted all of the of city department supervisors to ensure they had not removed it for some type of maintenance work. I talked to all of the department heads to check for maintenance duties, Sletten said. The last record for maintenance on the entrance was re-tucking of the brick, he said. But that was at least a year ago. Going by his best recall, Sletten thinks it was taken between Aug. 1 and the early morning of Aug. 7. The detective filed a report in his office and started talking to people in the community about the loss. I started getting the word out and have gotten a pretty good response, Sletten said. Sletten is also one of the Facebook administrators for the historical society, and made a post on the organizations page Aug. 16. As of (Wed.) morning there have been about 20,000 views, he said. By noon there were over 22,000 views and 506 people had shared my comments. This is from that Aug. 16 Facebook post: STOLEN: It has come to our attention that one of Madison County's tribute's to our fallen soldiers of World War I has been taken from us. Sometime between August 1, 2016 and the morning of August 7, 2016 one of the large bronze tablets that was in laid in the brick entrance to Memorial Park, located on South Main Street in Fredericktown that paid tribute to the fallen boys of WWI from Madison County, was stolen. 37 names were mentioned on this tablet. The message included photos of the plaque in its original resting place and a photo of the indentation in the brick, without the plaque. There was also a request for information about its disappearance and the police department phone number. My interest in local history is probably what helped me make the discovery, Sletten said. Sletten is a member of the historical society, but also considers himself a local historian and has filled his office with local historical mementos and photographs. Fortunately, he had taken a photo of the memorial tablet in April while doing historical research on Memorial Park. It had hung on the brick entryway to Memorial Park in downtown Fredericktown since its installation in 1921. The 37 names of memorialized World War I fallen heroes were set into the tablet in raised letters. Members of the historical society believe the large tablet memorial is made of caste bronze. They also estimate the size as being 24 inches wide by 42 inches in length and quite heavy. Public Works Director James Settle said, It weighs at least 75 or 100 pounds. He didnt believe it could be lifted by a couple of kids acting alone. Settle said there were rumors the plaque had been taken by a couple of local youths. Historic Madison County Recording Secretary Ruth Ann Skaggs agrees with Slettens guess that it will cost in the thousands of dollars to replace the bronze tablet. They have made a guess based on the cost of similar plaques. Skaggs referenced the historical society in the following discussion related to the memorial. We are not sure what it would cost yet, Skaggs said. We have had offers of donations already. We will be pursuing an estimate. B.B. (Benjamin Benson) Cahoon donated the land for Memorial Park, Skaggs said. The other plaque (at the entryway) is in recognition of the donation. His (Cahoons) family home stood in almost the same location as the old middle school that burned down (Apr. 10) 2010, It was situated in the park between the water tower and the swimming pool. According to a 1919, Volume 50 article in the Democrat News, B. B. Cahoon hosted a six-course dinner for 14 of his closest friends. Afterwards, came the announcement of the donation of the four-acre land parcel for the city park. The tract laid to the southeast of his home and was comprised of all of lots 5, 6 and 7 in Block Three and lots 4, 5, 6, and 7 in Block Four within the Cahoon residential property lines. Judge Anthony, R. H. Davis, C. L. Whitener and N. B. Watts were his designated trustees. Cahoon was given the title, Honorable because he was an attorney and land agent in Madison County after arriving here in 1868. He was raised in Delaware and served in the Civil War prior to taking up law, according to his information sheet with the State Historical Society of Missouri. These are the names of the World War I fallen veterans as they appear on the original bronze memorial tablet, with all of the lettering in all capitals. The heading reads HONOR ROLL. William A. Baker Everett Barrett Allen Bollinger Benjamin Bradshaw Marion Combs Columbus J. Cook Charles Davis Henry Davis Lawrence Lee East William H. Engel George Graham William A. Gregory John Griffon Eugene Hensley Charles W. Hovis Charles Johnson Frank Jones Leslie Frank Jones Clarence Kemp William King Lee Lewallen Robert M. Lewis Gilbert Lunsford William J. Martin Charles McCarver Medford McClanahan Roy Gilbert Moyers Eugene Nelson William H. Phelps Raymond Sanders William C. Sheppard Albert Stanfill Columbus Staten George Thomason Willard Thomason H. T. Underriner Oscar Welker The Fredericktown Police Department urges anyone with information leading to the discovery of this valuable piece of county history to come forward. Persons may remain anonymous and can contact the department on the non-emergency line at 573-783-3660, available 24 hours per day . The recent conviction of 22 protesters whose 2014 demonstration in the Missouri Senate visitors' gallery chamber forced the Senate to recess is an indication of how different Missouri's Capitol is from the U.S. Capitol I covered in 1972. For an hour on May 6, 2014, the protesters sang and chanted against the legislature's refusal to expand Medicaid. Those convicted in the Cole County Court of misdemeanor trespass refused Capitol Police orders to leave. A similar protest in the U.S. Capitol would be nearly impossible. Unlike the Missouri Capitol where anyone can wander into the legislative visitors' galleries, access to similar galleries in the nation's capitol is restricted, requiring tickets. The differences between our nation's Capitol and Missouri's extend beyond gallery access. I found a somber and respectful dignity throughout the U.S. Capitol. That is not the case in Missouri's statehouse of today. In recent years supporters of Medicaid expansion and other issues have marched through the legislative hallways chanting and singing so loudly as to make work in the nearby legislative offices nearly impossible. Access to the symbolic seat of Missouri government -- the rotunda where the large bronze great seal of Missouri is embedded into the stone floor -- has been blocked by protesters. In 2015, Ferguson and Medicaid protesters staged a symbolic "die in" lying on the rotunda floor prohibiting access to any visitor who wanted to get close to the great seal or peer up to the Capitol dome. Like 2014, they disrupted a Senate session, this time on the opening day, until Capitol Police removed them from the galleries. To a certain extent, state government facilitates this kind of disruptive behavior in the rotunda. The state constructed for private groups a temporary stage-like platform and provides sound amplifiers that are so loud as to make it difficult to work in offices adjoining the rotunda. More than once I've worried about the noise assault for the Capitol tour guides whose desk is next to the rotunda. The administration even has a portable, fake wall for a stage-like setting. For years, the wall was placed right in front of the bust of the only Missourian to become U.S. president, Harry Truman. Eventually Truman's bust was moved to a place where he avoids the disgrace of being walled off, but it's a less prominent position. The administration even has allowed outside groups to use the first-floor rotunda to set up expansive private displays that remain overnight. For several years, a group affiliated with Scientology was been allowed to leave in the rotunda for two days an extensive multi-media display of the organization's campaign against psychiatry. While he was Senate president pro tem, Jim Mathewson voiced concerns at how the atmosphere of the Capitol was changing. He was disturbed by the growing number of notices taped to statehouse walls by legislators themselves as well as by special interest groups advertising free meals and other services, like acupuncture, in the statehouse. Sometimes, elaborate lunch spreads are provided on the majestic third-floor of the rotunda between the two legislative chambers. I can't recall the U.S. Congress ever turning their rotunda over to a private lobbying group for a meal spread. I fully understand the First Amendment rights of free speech. After all, the rights we journalists enjoy are incorporated into that amendment to the U.S. Constitution. But converting the symbolic seat of Missouri government into a low-cost convention hall is not what I think the framers of our Constitution imagined. The majesty of the Roman-style architecture and the quiet, somber atmosphere I once experienced in both Jefferson City and Washington regularly inspired me and reminded me of the importance of what I am covering. I've wondered how this more recent carnival atmosphere in the Missouri statehouse affects the attitudes about government of both my own students as well as the thousands of school children who visit the Capitol every year. Nihar Info Global applies for trademark registration for 'ONVO' Nihar Info Global Limited informed to the exchanges that it has successfully applied for Trademark registration of its private label "ONVO" under the 'Trademark Classes 18 and 21. ... October 28, 2022 | 28-10-2022 2:37 pm Rupee rises 4 paisa to 82.29/$ Early on Friday, the rupee strengthened against the US dollar by 4 paise to 82.29, helped by a weak US dollar in the international market and strong local equities. The influx of new fore... October 28, 2022 | 28-10-2022 2:30 pm PNB Housing Finance's net profit increases by 12% PNB Housing Finance announced on Thursday that its September 20222023 quarter net profit increased by 11.7% to Rs 262.63 crore, thanks to a little increase in core income. In the same period... October 28, 2022 | 28-10-2022 2:25 pm Dhanuka Agritech soars ~8% as board to consider buyback Dhanuka Agritechs stock surged as much as 8% in Fridays intraday session and touched a high of Rs742. The company stated in its filing with the exchanges that at its ensuing ge... October 28, 2022 | 28-10-2022 2:18 pm Markets trade flat amid volatility; Nifty below 17,800 dragged by metals Domestic benchmark indices in a volatile session and trading flat after a gap-up opening on Friday. Both the Sensex and Nifty benchmarks are in the green during the afternoon market session ami... October 28, 2022 | 28-10-2022 2:00 pm DEAR HARRIETTE: Today, my 19-year-old daughter got a call that her best friend from high school committed suicide. I feel so helpless. They just spent the weekend together. When I tried comforting my daughter, she lashed out at me. It is true I never had many good things to say about "Aaron" when he was alive, but his death changes circumstances. I was originally reluctant to let my daughter go visit her friend two states away, but I am so thankful I got over my stubbornness. She would never forgive me if I hadn't let her go and this tragedy happened. How can I help my daughter with the grieving process when she wants me to have no part in it? -- Heaven's Gates, Dallas DEAR HEAVEN'S GATES: First, reach out to Aaron's parents to express your condolences and to find out when the services will be. You should make sure that your daughter attends -- with you, as this should help with her healing. Without prying, make yourself available to your daughter so that if and when she wants to talk about this tragedy, you will be available to her. Do your best to stay calm and even-toned, regardless of your daughter's mood. Offer to send her to a therapist for support. She may balk at first, but if after a few weeks she doesn't seem to be getting better emotionally, you should get her professional help. DEAR HARRIETTE: I am having a small wedding with 20 guests -- that's including the groom and myself. It is mostly just family, so nobody is particularly nervous or incredibly excited. This is in part because of my relaxed demeanor and downplaying the event so those who aren't invited won't be offended. I want to make my bridesmaids feel special so they know this won't be like any other laid-back family affair. How can I do that without going over the minuscule wedding budget? -- Bridesmaids Rule, Seattle DEAR BRIDESMAIDS RULE: You can arrange an activity with your bridesmaids, separate from the bridal shower, where you spend time thanking them for their love and support. This can be a lunch, a cocktail reception or even a gathering at your house where you can enjoy each other's company and spend some relaxed time together. During this engagement, be sure to tell them about both of your families and about your expectations for the wedding. If they are informed about the plans, it should make it easier for them to go with the flow. You may be surprised to learn that some of them will be relieved that the big day promises to be an easy one. Stress is a common element in weddings, and the more you can reduce it, the better off everyone will be. It would be great to purchase or make a small gift for each bridesmaid that is personal to them, something that you believe will acknowledge your bond with them as it also serves as a memento of your wedding. A photo of the bridesmaids and you next to a photo of you and your husband in a beautiful frame is one fun idea. DEAR HARRIETTE: I have decided to attend graduate school in fall 2017 because I do not feel like I am ready to attend this September. I have an extra 11 months to find the necessary monies to fund my graduate degree. Finding the money will be no problem; however, I am scared of taking the GRE and GMAT exams because I do not think I am good test-taker. What are some steps I can take to ease the anxiety of taking these exams? -- On the Clock, Jacksonville, Florida DEAR ON THE CLOCK: If you are serious about getting into business school, you must do everything you can to prepare for these tests. This is the time for test prep. There are many books available that you can read, along with practice tests that you can take. But you may want to consider enrolling in a class with a live instructor who can guide you in test prep. You can immerse yourself in the readings and practice tests provided by the instructor and receive important feedback about areas where you may need improvement. Look for a class you can attend in person, or look online for a virtual class. Do your best to find one that offers interaction with the teacher. DEAR HARRIETTE: I am a 45-year-old screenwriter, and I have submitted my ideas to a numerous television production companies over the past 10 years. I remain hopeful because I am getting positive responses from various media companies for my style of writing. My family has their concerns because they would like me to work a regular job and stop chasing my dream of becoming a television writer. I am slowly thinking I may have to put my dream of becoming a writer on the shelf, and this has me wondering, is there a time limit on working toward your dream? -- Patiently Waiting, New York City DEAR PATIENTLY WAITING: On one hand, it's great that you have not given up on your dream. On the other, you really do need to figure out how to support your family consistently and responsibly. Many screenwriters have full-time jobs until they have their big break. It's similar to actors who wait tables until their day comes. You cannot and should not shirk your responsibilities simply because a dream burns inside you. Chances are, you would do better with your family supporting your dream if you stepped up and showed initiative in putting your family first. Bottom line: You have to determine if your time is up on this dream. Time is certainly up on you ignoring your family's financial security. Admit that to your family. And take concerted steps to find viable work that will provide some fulfillment for you as it immediately helps to fortify you and your loved ones. DEAR HARRIETTE: My wife, "Tammy," has an adult son from a previous marriage. I think Tammy's son is a total deadweight to her. Tammy told me a few months ago that she lent her son $8,000 for him to move into his own home because he and his "baby mama" couldn't work things out. I was so angry and shocked at Tammy. I wanted to know when our bank account would be paid back, and she told me that when you lend money to family you shouldn't expect it back. After confronting my stepson, he told me he couldn't give me a date when he would be able to pay me back. I think this is cowardly. A grown man (he is almost 30) shouldn't need handouts from his mother. How do I get my $8,000 back when neither my wife nor stepson are willing to work to get it back in the right bank account? -- Losing Battles, Jackson, Mississippi DEAR LOSING BATTLES: You are going to have to accept that you may never get that money back. That said, you can establish ground rules for the future. Let your wife know that you will not co-sign giving more money to her son and his family, because you do not think it is healthy for them. Offer to support them in other ways, including giving advice on becoming financially independent, if they are open to it. Work with your wife on establishing boundaries for the health of the entire family. Make sure that you do not pose this in a way that is "us against them." You will not win if you even unconsciously attempt to alienate your wife from her son. Instead, work toward whole-family health, which includes agreeing on how to support adult children. Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106 bollywoodmantra We're sure by now you'd know about the fact that Bobby Deol has turned into a DJ. Well, now that he really has no Bollywood movies coming up, you might think it's great that he's channeling his creative energy into something like DJing. But ask the fellows who were partying at a Delhi club recently, and they might not agree with you. Well, according to a recent report on Deccan Chronicle, Bobby Deol was recently playing at a high-end Delhi club a while back. According to a source, Bobby played the tracks from his old film Gupt throughout the night! Yes, that happened! And by the end of the night, the people at the club were left fuming, and were seen asking for a refund from the hotel officials! skjbollywoodnews The source said, "It was a sold out event for Bobbys opening act. Bobby began the night with the signature melody of his popular 1997 thriller Gupt, and kept playing tracks from the movie on loop throughout the party, which continued into the wee hours of the morning. At the end of the night, a bunch of people were seen angrily asking for a refund from the manager and hotel officials. The crowd was absolutely incensed as the tickets were priced from Rs 2,500 to Rs 4,000. However, Bobby had left the venue by the time the commotion began." Ouch! Bobby, why you do this! Android has finally started rolling out the seventh version of their smartphone operation system - Nougat. While only select Google Nexus devices get the update first, other Android users will have to wait for a few months before they try it out (more as you read the article). Apart from the fact that this was the first time Google invited developers from all around to take a sneak peek at the Android N back in March so that they can bring their apps on the new platform, this was also the first time Android sought the help of its users to give it a fitting name. Google might have claimed that there are over 250 major features in the Nougat, but here are some that have got us pretty psyched. Google Customisable settings The quick setting drop-down is one of the handiest options in a modern-day Android OS. It helps us with easy access to the most commonly used features like connecting to WiFi or putting on the flashlight. Android makes using the quick settings drop-down even easier. Now you can actually control and customise the tiles to your needs. Some smartphones and launchers already have this feature (like my OnePlus 3) but rolling it out on all devices across platforms is definitely a positive. Google Multi-window This one is quite exciting. Multitasking has become a way of life for millennials. I want to watch something, but I also want to WhatsApp my lads at the same time and constantly switching between apps is quite frying. But Nougat offers a multi-window option. So now I can watch the video and chat at the same time. I can resize the windows too, by dragging the divider so it's as big as I want it to be. Okay, that came out wrong. androidpolice.com Direct reply A very welcome change that makes handling notifications simpler. Nougat offers custom views for certain apps along with the option to respond to a text or chat with someone without actually having to open the app itself. iOS got this feature last year with the 3D touch and we are quite glad to see Android follow suit. Google i/o Smarter battery The battery life has been one of the most pressing issues for every smartphone user out there. Which is why people pay great attention to how big the battery is, and how good the RAM management of the phone is. To make a battery of the phone last longer, Android introduced the Doze feature in the Marshmallow last year. With the Nougat, Doze is even more refined. Your device will now drop into the Doze mode whenever it's lying idle or resting in your pocket while you're on the move, saving a lot of juice. Verge Gaming will become more fun Android Nougat supports the Vulkan TM, which means high-speed, next generation console-like graphics on your phone. But that's not it, it also supports Daydream - Google's platform for mobile virtual reality. Now Daydream might not be available on all phones, which is why Daydream-ready phones, headsets and controllers are also slated to launch this year. AP Safety The Android Nougat update has added another layer of data encryption for our files which makes it a more secure phone. Apart from this, there's also the little feature of seamless updates. Which means that the device can now install software updates in the background without keeping us waiting for several minutes at a stretch. Even better if you own a Nexus, your phone will start booting a lot faster. wp.com So should you go for the upgrade? Of course! It might not be an operating system with drastic changes to its look and feel, but it is still quite a solid upgrade to have. Forbes If you have an Android, rest assured you will get the Nougat update. When you get it is the more important question here. Nexus devices, obviously, get the first Android updates. So if you own the Nexus 6P, Nexus 5x or the Nexus 6, look for the update, it's probably waiting for your approval. All these phones run stock Android and get their updates directly from Google. Other Android updates are rolled out by device manufacturers who need to make sure the new version runs flawlessly with their custom features, and that can take a while. Blackberry is all Android now and is likely to roll out Nougat updates by the end of 2016. It has already been confirmed that Nougat will be coming to HTC 10, HTC One A9 and HTC One M9 and is likely to be available by the end of November this year. Huawei launched Android Marshmallow with its pre-loaded software, Mate 8. The company might do the same this year by launching the Mate 9 with Nougat by the end of this year. LG generally launches the Nougat update with a new device and this year is no different. They have already publicly confirmed the launch of LG V20 with Android 7.0 when it launches on the 6th of September. The rest of the LG devices will get their updates a couple of months later. Motorola gets its updates pretty fast thanks to the near-stock Android software it boasts of, so expect an update in the next couple of months. Samsung did a phase-wise roll out for the Marshmallow update. People in South Korea got it first and the others, a few months later. The Nougat update is expected to come a little sooner but not before the end of 2016 or January 2017. OnePlus is notorious for taking its own sweet time to update its software. The OnePlus 2 got its Marshmallow update only in June this year. We won't be surprised if the update comes to OnePlus 2 and OnePlus 3 only by the second or the third quarter of 2017. Sony too is quite slow with their Android updates. Their Marshmallow update only came in March this year. By the looks of it, Android 7 will also be similar and won't come on Xperia devices until mid-2017. Xiaomi faced a few issues with the Marshmallow update and it didn't come on the Mi devices until April of 2016. If they face a similar issue, Mi won't be rolling out Nougat until the second quarter of next year. But if they sort the issue out, it might come as early as the end of this year. Kerala police has registered a case, at the complaint of an Air India airhostess for filming her asleep, while the flight was on air. The incident happened on 27 March, on the Air India flight AI-998 from Sharjah to Calicut. PTI/ Representative Image The accused passenger KM Basheer, a resident of Kerala claims he spotted the air hostess sleeping near the exit-door at the rear-end. He recorded the visuals on his mobile phone, identified the flight attendant and registered a complaint with the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). But in a twist, the air hostess filed a complaint against Basheer for making her video without permission. Fullstopindia/ Representative Image Basheer however refuted the claims and said he shot the video from inside the flight and not the dedicated resting area. He also claimed that airline staff are not allowed to sleep during flight and the police had no right to file the case, as the incident happened in the air and only DGCA can take any action. Many have however questioned his claims on crew members sleeping while on duty. According to DGCA directions the resting period for airline crew has been defined as " An uninterrupted and defined period of time during which a crew member is free from all duties and airport standby". 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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 Seeking to provide more teeth to the existing wildlife protection law, the Centre is looking for an option to introduce clauses of stricter punishment and to change the law to bring it in sync with international conventions which target the trade in endangered species. BCCL/representative image One of the proposals is to increase the penalties from existing Rs 500-Rs 25,000 to Rs 5,000-Rs 50 lakh for different violations under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and making provisions for imposing a separate penalty for offences related to hunting in tiger reserves. Though the environment ministry has not yet prepared any new formal draft of such changes, officials had a discussion on the issue within the ministry keeping in mind the earlier draft that was prepared three years ago. BCCL/representative image "The idea behind such discussions is to arrive at a decision for making the existing law much more stringent so that it can act as an effective deterrent to poachers and traders of parts of wild animals", said an official. He said India was a party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and it was obligatory for the country to bring in necessary legislative changes to facilitate implementation of the provisions of the Convention. The discussions on the issue were also held within the ministry as part of the country's preparedness for the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the CITES which will be held in Johannesburg next month. BCCL/representative image Besides introducing the stricter punishment for different offences under the wildlife law, the proposals are also meant for introducing provisions for grant of permit for scientific research, allowing certain activities like grazing, movement of livestock and bonafide use of drinking and household water by local communities in wildlife areas and protection of hunting rights of Scheduled Tribe in the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. BCCL/representative image The amendment, if any, in the existing law will also be meant for prohibition on use of animal traps (except under certain circumstances). It will also make provisions relating to the CITES so as to control illegal international trade in wildlife. BCCL/representative image "Most of these proposals were, in fact, part of the earlier amendment Bill that was drafted during the UPA period in 2013. Idea is to fine-tune such provisions through consultations, incorporating suggestions of stakeholders including wildlife conservationists in the amended law", said the official. Having ignored it, India is getting serious about defending its North East frontlines. The Indian Army is all set to raise a Brahmos missile regiment there at the cost of Rs 4,300 crores. The regiment will be made up of 100 missiles and five autonomous launchers mounted on 12x12 heavy duty trucks. Reuters The Block III missiles being deployed are the latest generation of the Brahmos with trajectory manoeuvre and steep-dive capabilities. The 290 km range brings a lot of Chinese tactical bases in Tibet within range. Since the Brahmos destructive capability is well known, China is obviously nervous. Reuters Now People Liberation Army, through a newspaper has said that India deploying supersonic missiles on the border has exceeded its own needs for self-defense and poses a serious threat to China's Tibet and Yunnan provinces. Indiatimes Indiatimes Frontlines was recently in Arunachal Pradesh and visited the Bumla Pass close to Tawang, which China claims. We saw huge army presence in the area and the terrain posed a challenge. The rugged mountain side needs to be heavily defended and the near vertical steep dive capability of the Brahmos can even flush out the enemy hiding out of sight. No wonder the Chinese are nervous. One of the coolest stories that engineers get to tell others is the life in an engineering hostel. And in institutions like IITs where only hostelers were allowed, this was more or less applicable to all. But in a progressive move now IITs have decided to increase the number of seats in various courses by admitting "non-resident students". BCCL The idea is to take the overall intake upto one lakh by 2020. According to senior officials, in a meeting of the IIT Council headed by HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar today, "in-principle" approval was given to the proposal for admitting non-resident students. The authorities of different IITs will now undertake an exercise to fix the number of additional students they can accommodate. BCCL "At present, the IITs have around 72,000 students in their undergraduate, postgraduate or doctorate courses which are residential. However, it is now planned that students, who will not stay in hostels, should be admitted to these institutes," an official said. The plan is to increase the number by 10,000 per year so that the number of IITians touches 1 lakh by 2020, the official said, suggesting that ideally there would be an increase of 4,000 seats in undergraduate courses and 6,000 seats in postgraduate and Ph.D seats, an official said. BCCL/representative image Speaking after the meeting, Javadekar announced that the IIT Council has also approved a proposal to introduce the Prime Minister's Research Fellowships. The move aims at encouraging IITians passing out of B.Tech to enroll in Ph.D courses straightaway. Another decision taken by the council is to introduce an induction course to help new students adjust as they join these institutes after a rigorous competitive examination. BCCL/representative image The IIT Council has also given its nod to a "pilot" run of an aptitude test, the officials said, adding that the modalities will be worked out. They said that this test would not have a bearing on admissions. Another scheme which was approved the Council is 'Vishwajeet' which will help IITs to secure top ranks globally. On the new education policy, Javadekar said the government has received inputs from various quarters a workshop would soon be organised in this regard. He said education is a subject beyond politics and the government is willing to listen to all views on the issue. While JNU is becoming a battleground for student politics over the alleged rape of a 28-year-old PhD student, the issue of justice for the woman whose modesty has been tarnished seems to have taken a backseat. The accused Anmol Ratan, associated with Left wing students organisation All India Students Association (AISA), is still absconding, even after over 72 hours of the alleged incident. The accused, who is a student of the Centre for the Study of Discrimination and Exclusion (CSDE) under the prestigious School of Social Sciences (SSS), has not even been suspended by the varsity administration. Facebook Ratan allegedly contacted the woman on Facebook after the latter posted that she wanted to watch a movie and requested a CD. She said he later also sent a message on WhatsApp, offering a copy of the film. The woman said she reached the accused's room at the Brahmaputra Hostel on the JNU campus at about 10.30 on July 20 evening and he offered her drink, which he allegedly spiked. She was allegedly sexually assaulted when she was semi-conscious. Later, he allegedly told her that he did not have a copy of the film she wanted to watch. The accused, as alleged, called her 13 times throughout the night to warn her against telling anyone about the alleged rape. Launching a scathing attack on the alleged involvement of Ratan, the right wing students body Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has said from Bekhauf Azaadi to Behosh Azadi and from Naxal Camps to University Campuses, women across the world under Red regime are unsafe and insecure. Describing the incident as most unfortunate, dishonourable and disgusting, the ABVP feels that the incident has once again shocked the shared values, beliefs and faith that the JNU community strives to uphold. Facebook Dissatisfied with the expulsion of the accused from the primary membership of AISA, the ABVP said in a statement, AISA cannot absolve itself of the crimes of its ideologue by merely disowning him. Rather than cooperating with the police to nab the accused, AISA on August 20 organised a dance programme and once again called for destruction of India with slogans like Kashmir se kanyakumari, Naxalbari, Naxalbari. It asked the students to introspect why cases of crime against women are gradually increasing in JNU. Calling the unity Left wing students group an anti-ABVP unholy opportunistic alliance, the statement said, Though Left unity brigade would like us to project this incident as an isolated act, history vindicates that the casual relations between such rapes and criminal intimidation are well established in communist regimes, be it JNU and Jadavpur University or naxal camps or erstwhile USSR, China, North Korea or Venezuela." Sucheta De, national president of AISA, in her statement said that the association takes serious note of the fact that Anmol Ratan, a leading activist of AISA, is facing a criminal complaint of sexual assault and he is henceforth expelled from the primary membership of AISA". Facebook Offering words of regret, Sucheta De, national president of AISA, said her organisation will be unflinching when it came to principles of gender justice even if it involved a leading member of the organisation. She said that the association and its members stood by the complainant and will extend all possible support in her fight for justice. AISA takes serious note of the fact that Anmol Ratan, a leading activist of AISA, is facing a criminal complaint of sexual assault. He is henceforth expelled from the primary membership of AISA. AISA will reflect on and deal with this issue with all the firmness it deserves, she said adding that AISA will be unflinching for the principles of gender justice even if it involves a leading member of the organisation. We stand by the complainant and will extend all possible support in her fight for justice. De added, All necessary action towards justice must be taken by the police without delay. The University must also take disciplinary measures against the accused, and must extend all needed support to the survivor. Facebook JNUSU Vice President Shehla Rashid said in an elaborate statement, Over the past few months, JNU has seen a vibrant movement in defence of JNUs progressive culture. We have asserted that the JNU model is a model of gender justice and social justice. However, this has been possible only because we are not afraid of self-criticism. While we stand in defence of JNU, we also want to stress the need for introspection and further sensitisation. In the recent years, JNU has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Whether it's a saga of alleged anti-national slogans being shouted from the campus in February or this incident of alleged rape, amid the increasing student politics, the intellectual rigour the university was once known for seems to have disappeared somewhere. Women and Child Development minister Maneka Gandhi had added a new angle to the debate on men being granted paternity leave. BCCL According to the minister men in India would just use paternity leave as a holiday, instead of taking care of their children. Paternity leave can be considered only if, once the woman goes back to work after her 26 weeks of leave, we find that men are availing their sick leave for a month to take care of the child. Let me see how many men do that. I will be happy to give it but for a man, it will be just a holiday, he wont do anything, Maneka Gandhi told The Indian Express. Her comment comes at a time when there is a proposal to increases the period of leave for new mothers from the existing 12 weeks to 26 weeks in the organised sector. BCCL The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016 proposed by Maneka also encourages employers to facilitate work from home for new mothers. But when it came to the demand for paternity leave men, the minister said: If men gave me one iota of hope by taking sick leave for child care, then yes, we can think of mooting a proposal for paternity leave. While most of the European countries have provisions for paternity leave for fathers, surprisingly US doesn't. A probe has been ordered into ascertaining the damages caused by an online data leak which has exposed the combat capabilities of India's under construction Scorpene-class submarine. Reuters The leak, which was first reported in The Australian newspaper, contains more than 22,000 pages outlining the secret capabilities of six submarines that French builder DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy. "I understand there has been a case of hacking," Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told reporters. "We will find out what has happened." The leaked documents were marked "Restricted Scorpene India", the Australian newspaper said. Among the 22,400 pages of leaked documents were also thousands of pages on the Scorpene's sensors and thousands more on its communication and navigation systems. As many as 500 pages were on the torpedo launch system alone. Twitter It lists out the frequencies at which the submarines gather intelligence and the levels of noise the subs make at various speeds, the news report said. They also contain information on the submarines diving depths, range, and endurance, besides its magnetic, electromagnetic, and infrared data. BCCL France's DCNS said that it was aware of the articles published in the Australian press and that "national security authorities" had launched an inquiry into the matter, without giving details. The submarines, being built in Mazagon Docks Mumbai was designed at a cost of $3.45 billion by French defence contractor DCNS, exclusively for India. BCCL The vessel, INS Kalvari, a part of the total six submarines was supposed to join the Indian Navy later this year, thereby reinforcing its dwindling fleet. The rest of the submarines were supposed to be inducted into the navy 2020. Currently India has a fleet of 13 ageing submarines, only half of which are operational at any given time. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a petition challenging the constitutional validity of triple talaq. BCCL/ Representative Image The petition filed by Ishrat Jahan from Howrah sought the declaration of Section 2 of Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937 was unconstitutional as it violated fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14 (equality), 15 (nondiscrimination), 21 (life) and 25 (religion) of the Constitution "in so far as it seeks to recognise and validate talaq-e-bidat (triple talaq) as a valid form of divorce". This is not the first time, Muslim women have approached the top court seeking a ban on the controversial practice. Another woman, Shayara Bano, who says she was a victim of triple talaq had also raised the same demand. Also read: Everything You Need To Know About The Controversial System Of 'Triple Talaq' And Why It Should Be Abolished In July the SC had favoured a wider debate on the petitions challenging the validity of triple talaq. All India Muslim Personal Law Board and Jamiat-e-Ulema had defended triple talaq and said it was part of Quran-dictated personal law which was beyond the ambit of judicial scrutiny. BCCL/ Representative Image Meanwhile newly released Census 2011 data shows that Muslim women have a higher divorce rate of 5 per 1000. In comparison the divorce rate among Hindus, Sikhs and Jains are around to 2-3 per thousand. Only a day after a young boy blew himself up killing 51 people at a wedding party in Turkey, another kid was caught in Baghdad with a suicide vest. Reuters It has been reported that the boy was found in Kirkuk, Baghdad wearing an FC Barcelona uniform with Lionel Messi's name written on it. When asked, the boy said that he was kidnapped by ISIS and was forcibly strapped with the vest for an attack. Reuters Chato Fadhil Humadi, Kirkuk's intelligence officer confirmed that the boy "claimed during interrogation that he had been kidnapped by masked men who put the explosives on him and sent him to the area." ISIS is unapologetically recruiting young boys to carry out their terrorist attacks across the Islamic nation and it's imperative for the world to sit up and take notice. A 6.2 magnitude jolted central Italy this morning, leaving at least 6 people dead and several others injured. Towns close to the epicentre suffered severe property damages and a number of locals were affected. The earthquake hit the city at 3:36 (01:36 GMT) at a very shallow depth of 10km, thus leaving a lot of others trapped under rubble and debris. theguardian The quake was so severe that it was felt in some parts of Rome as well. The locals along with authorities are really concerned about the current situation. The roads are in and out, people are under rubble, a landslide is on its way and a bridge might collapse, said Mayor Sergio Perozzi. theguardian The Civil Protection Agency of Italy reported this quake as a severe one. It was initially recorded at 6.4, followed by several powerful aftershocks. theguardian "It was so strong. It seemed the bed was walking across the room by itself with us on it," said Lina Mercantini of Ceselli in Umbria. Hey everyone, salute Sir Nils Olav, the king penguin of His Majesty the King of Norway's Guard. Reuters A resident of the Edinburgh Zoo, the mascot-in-knight was promoted to the post of brigadier on Monday during a special ceremony at the Scottish park. Inspected by the newly anointed bird, the uniformed soldiers saluted their welcome, reports Reuters. Edinburgh Zoo Appointed to knighthood in 2008, Sir Nils Olav walked the zoo's Penguin Walk and ended his bold inspection with a "cry" and "a scratch of the head". The honour of brigadier was then pinned to his wing. The ceremonial practice of naming the zoo's penguins 'kings' dates back to 1914 when a Norwegian family started the tradition. Over 50 soldiers from the Norwegian army visit Scotland to partake in The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. It's always been their custom to honour penguins whenever they are visiting the city. tumblr Skipper so approves! *I like to move it, move it!* Reuters A probe has been ordered into ascertaining the damages caused by an online data leak which has exposed the combat capabilities of India's under construction Scorpene-class submarine. The leak, which was first reported in The Australian newspaper, contains more than 22,000 pages outlining the secret capabilities of six submarines that French builder DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy. "I understand there has been a case of hacking," Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told reporters. "We will find out what has happened." The leaked documents were marked "Restricted Scorpene India", the Australian newspaper said. Among the 22,400 pages of leaked documents were also thousands of pages on the Scorpene's sensors and thousands more on its communication and navigation systems. As many as 500 pages were on the torpedo launch system alone. Read more here. Here are 5 more stories that may interest you: 1. RSS As An Institution Wasn't Responsible For The Assassination Of Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi Tells SC Reuters Rahul Gandhi may be cleared of defamation charges after the Congress vice president backtracked, and told the Supreme Court he never meant to accuse the whole of the RSS of assassinating Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi. The defamation case against the Congress vice president may just be dropped, because of Rahul recanting. The RSS activist who filed the criminal defamation case had offered to withdraw the case against Rahul if he absolved the RSS of the assassination. "Rahul Gandhi never accused the RSS as (an) institution for the crime," the Congress vice president's counsel, Kapil Sibal, told the court. The court said the inference from Rahul's statement is that he never accused the RSS as an institution for Gandhi's assassination. "Rahul never blamed the RSS but blamed a person associated with the RSS," the court said it inferred from Rahul's affdavit. More details here 2. Case Filed Against Kerala Man For Filming Air India Airhostess Sleeping Mid-Flight PTI/ Representative Image Kerala police has registered a case, at the complaint of an Air India airhostess for filming her asleep, while the flight was on air. The incident happened on 27 March, on the Air India flight AI-998 from Sharjah to Calicut. The accused passenger KM Basheer, a resident of Kerala claims he spotted the air hostess sleeping near the exit-door at the rear-end. He recorded the visuals on his mobile phone, identified the flight attendant and registered a complaint with the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Read more here. 3. Kerala Govt Has Decided To Put Down Its 'Vicious' Stray Dogs Using Lethal Injections TOI The Kerala government on Tuesday decided to kill "vicious" and "dangerous" stray dogs. All local bodies have been told to kill dangerous strays by administering injections, local administration minister KT Jaleel said. The culling will be within the framework of the law, after a meeting with the principal secretary. As part of a sterilisation campaign to control the stray population, the government plans to use final-year veterinary students by paying them a stipend, to get over the manpower shortage. Read more here 4.Someone Asks Sushma Swaraj 'Are You Real?' 7 Minutes Later, Her Response Wins The Day You may love or hate the party that Sushma Swaraj may belong to, but you can't deny the efficiency and care that the External Affairs Minister brings to Indians abroad. Week after week, the lady has, on a schedule that spans time zones, played both hero and 'supermom of state'. Ministers normally earn only critique, or acknowledgement for supporting a bill or two; Sushma Swaraj regularly wins the real package on Twitter - fandom. Last night, an aam aadmi (not the Kejriwal kind, FYI) thought out aloud - to her Twitter profile: "Are you real? Just checking." In a subtle hit at the state of apathy, he explained in the same tweet: "You don't meet requirement of being Indian politician. You are concerned about us(Indians)." Read more here 5.Triple Talaq Is Against Article 21, Activists Seeking A Ban On The Practice Tells SC BCCL/ Representative Image The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a petition challenging the constitutional validity of triple talaq. The petition filed by Ishrat Jahan from Howrah sought the declaration of Section 2 of Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937 was unconstitutional as it violated fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14 (equality), 15 (nondiscrimination), 21 (life) and 25 (religion) of the Constitution "in so far as it seeks to recognise and validate talaq-e-bidat (triple talaq) as a valid form of divorce". This is not the first time, Muslim women have approached the top court seeking a ban on the controversial practice. Read the details here. For all the fluff about airlines wanting to be cosy providers of hospitality in the sky, they sure don't want you to complain even a bit about bad service. Several U.K. airlines will now charge you start charging passengers $33 (Rs.2215, @ 67 Rupees a dollar) to file a grievance a2ua The charges may arise from who handles the complaints - not the airlines themselves, but dispute resolution companies, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced. Previously, the CAA led customer-airline issue meditation for issues like cancellations, missing luggage, passenger compensation. tropicalbeachresorts While airlines were not legally bound to follow through on mediation agreements, this third-party system will enforce compensation to passengers. Some of these companies plan to charge for this service - and airlines "may now pass on the costs to customers if the disputes can't be solved internally..." George Hobica, head of Airfarewatchdog, explained the fee to Conde Nast Traveler: "When you think that filing in small claims court in the U.S. involves a fee, it's not entirely surprising that the U.K. is farming out this task of settling with an airline when it comes to similar cases." ume-y flickr British Airways, easyJet, Thomson, and Thomas Cook have outsourced dispute resolution to London-based mediation body called Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR). You'll get a complete refund on your fee if your claim was successful, a spokesman for the CEDR told The Guardian. "But if the passenger's claim is found to have any merit at all, then they are entitled to 100 percent of the compensation due." August 23, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - On Monday, August 22nd, the United States government which demands the overthrow of the internationally-recognized-as-legal government of Syria officially announced that Americas military forces in Syria will continue to occupy Syrian land, no matter what the Syrian government says, and will shoot down any Syrian planes that fly over U.S. forces there. As reported on Monday by Al-Masdar News: The Pentagon has announced that the USA is ready to down Syrian and Russian planes that they claim threaten American advisers who by international law are illegally operating in northern Syria. On Friday, Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis claimed that US jets attempted to intercept Syrian planes to protect the American advisers operating illegally with Kurdish forces in Syria after Syrian government jets bombed areas of Hasakah when Kurdish police began an aggression against the National Defense Force. On Monday, another Pentagon spokesman, Peter Cook, said, We would continue to advise the Syrian regime to steer clear of those areas. We are going to defend our people on the ground, and do what we need to defend them, Cook told reporters. This means that the U.S. government will not allow the Syrian government to expel or otherwise eliminate U.S. forces in Syria. The Syrian government never invited U.S. forces into Syria, but the U.S. now officially dares the Syrian government to assert its sovereignty over the areas where Americas troops are located. Al-Masdar continued: When pushed further about Russia, Cook made it clear that the US would make the same aggression against Russian jets who are operating legally with the Syrian governments approval and coordination. If they threaten US forces, we always have the right to defend our forces, Cook said. This means that the U.S. not only is at war against the legitimate government of Syria, but that the U.S. government will also be at war against Russia if Russian forces (which the Syrian government did invite into Syria) defends Syrian forces from attacks in Syria by U.S. forces forces that are illegally there. These U.S. forces number only 300, of whom 250 were sent to Syria on April 24th to serve as advisors to other illegal military forces in Syria. The vast majority of the illegal military forces in Syria are jihadists who had been hired by the Saudi government and the Qatari government, and supplied with U.S. weapons, to overthrow the Syrian government. Most of the other illegal forces in Syria are Kurdish forces, supported by the U.S. government to break Syria apart so as to create a separate Kurdish state in the majority-Kurdish far north-eastern tip of Syria. The primary U.S. goal in Syria is to overthrow the Syrian government, which is led by the Baath Party, Syrias secular Party. Many Arabs insist upon Sharia, or Islamic law, but Syrias Arabs are an exception; the Baath Party is and has always been supported by the majority of the Syrian people, including by most of Syrias Arabs. Most Syrians are strongly opposed to Sharia law. Syria is the most secular nation in the Middle East. For example, when Western-sponsored polls were taken in Syria, after the start in 2011 of the importation of jihadists into Syria, those polls showed that 55% of Syrians want Bashar al-Assad (the current leader of the Baath Party) to remain as Syrias President, and 82% agree IS [Islamic State] is US and foreign made group. Furthermore, only 22% agree IS is a positive influence, and that 22% was the lowest level of support shown by Syrians for any of the presented statements, except for, 21% agree Prefer life now than under Assad meaning that Syrians believe that things were better before the U.S.-sponsored jihadists entered Syria to overthrow Assad. Clearly, when 82% agree IS [Islamic State] is US and foreign made group, very few people in Syria support the 300 U.S. forces there. Not only is the U.S. an invader, but it (and especially the forces that the U.S. supports in Syria most especially the jihadists, who are the vast majority of these forces) made life far worse (and far shorter) for virtually all Syrians. Furthermore, that same poll found: 70% agree Oppose division of country. Consequently, the Kurdish separatists are likewise opposed by the vast majority of Syrians. The Syrian government, from now on, is in the uncomfortable position of having invaders on its territory, and of being warned that one of them the U.S. will be fully at war against Syria if Syria tries to expel them. Russia too is now under warning from the United States, that, if Russia, an ally of Syria, takes any action to expel or kill any of the U.S. invaders in Syria, then the U.S. will also be at war against Russia. The U.S. government is now also daring the Russian government. Perhaps the U.S. strategy here is to force Russias President, Vladimir Putin, either to back down, and abandon its Syrian ally, or else to launch a nuclear strike against the United States. If Putin backs down, that would greatly diminish his support from the Russian people, which is above 80% in all polls, including Western-sponsored ones. Perhaps this is the strategy of U.S. President Barack Obama, to drive Vladimir Putin out of office something that might occur if the U.S. drives Bashar al-Assad out of office. As Seymour Hersh reported, on 7 January 2016, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, then [in the summer of 2013] led by General Martin Dempsey, forecast that the fall of the Assad regime would lead to chaos and, potentially, to Syrias takeover by jihadi extremists, much as was then happening in Libya, and so Dempsey quit, and Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, director of the DIA between 2012 and 2014, was fired over the matter. The DIAs reporting, he [Flynn] said, got enormous pushback from the Obama administration. I felt that they did not want to hear the truth. Flynn is now a foreign-affairs advisor to the Republican Presidential candidate, Donald Trump, who is being criticized by the Democratic Presidential candidate, for being soft on Russia and insufficiently devoted to the U.S. goal of overthrowing Assad. Home Sign up for our FREE Daily Email Newsletter The Wests Favored Autocrats By Lawrence Davidson Part I Two Classes of Autocrats August 23, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - The United States has been, and continues to be, selective about which foreign strongmen it does and does not support. Among the latter, there have been Saddam Hussein in Iraq, Bashar al-Assad of Syria, Muammar Gaddafi of Libya, the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in Iran, Hugo Chavez in Venezuela (who was not as autocratic as publicly portrayed), Fidel Castro in Cuba, and Vladimir Putin in Russia. These are just a few of those recent rulers who have drawn the wrath of the democratic exemplars in Washington. That wrath often includes economic strangulation and CIA plots. In the meantime, another group of autocrats is well tolerated by the U.S. Among this group are Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, Egypts General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and various European rightwing politicos such as Viktor Orban of Hungary. Each of these strongmen shows little tolerance for dissent and a ready willingness to exploit racially tinged nationalism. Part II Why the Double Standards? What is behind Washingtons double standards its contrasting reactions to one set of regimes as against another? Often American politicians will talk about promoting democracy and claim that the dictators they support have a better chance of evolving in a democratic direction than those they oppose. It might be that these politicians actually believe this to be the case, at least at the moment they make these declarations. However, there is no historical evidence that their claims are true. This argument is largely a face-saving one. Other underlying reasons exist for the choices they make. Here are a few of those probable reasons: The friend/enemy of our friend/enemy is our friend/enemy. In this scenario the primary friend of the U.S. is Israel and the primary enemy is Russia. The secondary friend/enemy countries are the decidedly undemocratic Egypt and Syria. Egypt became a friend of the U.S.once Anwar Sadat made a peace treaty with Israel in March of 1979. Syria, on the other hand, has always been hostile to Israel and it has remained an enemy state. No democratic motivation is to be found here. Cold War positioning rationale. After World War II Turkey became a strategic asset by virtue of its proximity to the Soviet Union and its willingness to house U.S. air bases and missile launchers. The repeated interference of the Turkish military in civilian politics was of no consequence to Washington. Present-day East European governments, increasingly autocratic in nature, seem to be considered by many in the Pentagon as post Cold War assets on the border of a Russia that never ceased to be an enemy. For a whole subset of Americans (militarists and neoconservatives) the Cold War never really did end. Resource assets rationale. Autocracies such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait fall into this category. The U.S. assumes a role of a supportive ally in exchange for stable and affordable worldwide oil prices. Sunni suppression of Shiite and other minorities in these countries is immaterial. What happens if such resource-rich regimes do an about-face and are no longer cooperative with the United States? Well, you have your answer in Iran. Here the U.S. was once completely supportive of the Shah, but he was replaced by hostile ayatollahs in 1979. So friendliness has given way to tactics of economic isolation and CIA plots. Again, democracy has little to do with anything in these cases. The classic left vs right rationale. Finally, there is the historically entrenched U.S. tradition that economically cooperative autocratic regimes are acceptable allies. Cooperative here means rulers who engage in friendly capitalist behavior: tolerate private enterprise and safeguard the property of foreign investors. Such an economic stance pre-dates the Cold War and has always been more important than political freedoms. Those who act this way, such as Chile under Augusto Pinochet or Argentina under its brutal regime of military rule, get a free pass when they suppress democracy and civil rights. However, other regimes, such as those in Cuba under Castro and Venezuela under Chavez are treated differently. In the case of Venezuela, democracy was in fact practiced, but because of its socialist-leaning economic policies, Washington tried very hard to destroy the countrys government. For those interested in the evolution of this classic U.S. foreign policy, its history is explained in detail in my book, Foreign Policy Inc.: Privatizing Americas National Interest. Part III Democracy and the Other By prioritizing traditional alliances, control of resources and economic ideology, the U.S. turns a blind eye to other aspects of autocratic behavior that contradict its own avowed values, thereby setting up a vivid display of foreign policy hypocrisy. An example is the issue of democracy and the Other. Since the 1960s the United States has been struggling with its racist impulses. That is, most of its population knows that discrimination against the Other is wrong. They can recognize it in the countrys voting laws, in the behavior of its police, and in the attitude of a political candidate like Donald Trump. Official steps, even if they are agonizingly slow and subject to periodic reversals, are taken to dampen down, if not overcome, such public biases. You would think that such a sensitivity would carry over into foreign affairs. Yet the opposite is true. Many of the autocratic leaders the U.S. favors have risen to power, at least in part, through instilling fear of the Other those who threaten the fantasies of an eternal national character, pure blood, and the status of a God-chosen people. For instance, Washingtons premier ally in the Middle East, Israel, is a state that, at best, can be described as an officially discriminatory democracy where bias against the Other (in this case the Palestinians and other non-Jews) is legally sanctioned. In the case of Europe, the present rising popularity of the right wing and its authoritarian leaders is directly derived from a fear of the Other. This, in turn, has been stimulated by a refugee crisis that the United States and its allies helped to create. The destruction of Iraq was a catalyst that let loose forces that have also overwhelmed Syria and Libya and set in motion the deluge of refugees moving out of the Middle East and North Africa toward Europe. The U.S. government accepts the anti-democratic rightwing autocrats who now exploit a fear of hundreds of thousands of displaced persons for which Washington is, in large part, responsible. Part IV Conclusion The end of the Cold War did not put to rest the Wests militaristic ideological forces. Indeed it gave them a boost. Those pushing neoconservative foreign policies are still well represented within U.S. government bureaucracies. Their policies are based on fantasies of regime change and remaking the world so it comes under the permanent influence of the United States. Democracy, however, is not now, nor has it ever been, the end game of this process. Instead, U.S. foreign affairs have been designed to spread capitalist economic practices that facilitate the prosperity of its own ruling class. Along the way, the U.S, seeks resource reliability for itself and its trading partners, security for its traditional allies and strategic advantage over old enemies. In all these pursuits the United States has long ago contented itself with what Jonathan Freedland once called the sonofabitch school of foreign policy. In other words, Washington doesnt care if its cooperating allies are murderers, corrupt thieves, racists and the like. They might be bastards of the first order, but it is OK as long as they are our bastards. Such is the company we keep. Lawrence Davidson is a retired professor of history from West Chester University in West Chester PA. His academic research focused on the history of American foreign relations with the Middle East. He taught courses in Middle East history, the history of science and modern European intellectual history. http://www.tothepointanalyses.com Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load. What's your response? - Scroll down to add / read comments Sign up for our FREE Daily Email Newsletter For Email Marketing you can trust Donate Please read our Comment Policy before posting - It is unacceptable to slander, smear or engage in personal attacks on authors of articles posted on ICH. Those engaging in that behavior will be banned from the comment section. Propaganda for Syrian Regime Change Neocons and liberal hawks have poured millions of dollars into propaganda to justify regime change in Syria and are now desperate to keep the war going until President Hillary Clinton gets a chance to escalate, as Rick Sterling describes. By Rick Sterling August 23, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - Neocons and Clintonites have launched a major campaign with the goal of direct U.S. military intervention and aggression against Syria, potentially leading to war with Iran and Russia. An early indication emerged as soon as it was clear the Hillary Clinton would be the Democratic Party nominee. Following the California primary, The New York Times reported on State Department diplomats issuing an internal memo urging the United States to carry out military strikes against the government of President Bashar al Assad. In early August, Dennis Ross and Andrew Tabler opined in The New York Times about The Case for (Finally) Bombing Assad . Dennis Ross is a favorite Clintonite. In her book Hard Choices, Clinton described how she asked Dennis Ross to come to the State Department to work on Iran and regional issues. New York Times regular Nicholas Kristof made his own pitch for war against Syria. According to the self-styled humanitarian, we need safe zones as proposed by Clintonite Madeline Albright and retired General James Cartwright. That is risky, Kristof said, but the risks of doing nothing in Syria are even greater. PBS broadcast a story titled Repeatedly targeted by airstrikes, Syrian doctors feel abandoned. The story features video from the White Helmets along with photos from the reported April bombing of Al Quds Hospital. Currently there is a huge media campaign around the situation in Aleppo. Syrian American doctor Zaher Sahloul, of the Syrian American Medical Society, has been interviewed extensively on mainstream media as well as DemocracyNow with widespread promotion in Truthout and other sites. There has been lots of publicity around a letter to President Obama , supposedly written by 15 doctors in East Aleppo. The letter ends We need your action. The flow and wording of the letter suggests it may have been composed by a marketing company and there has been no verification of the doctors who supposedly signed it. The letter was likely written by a paid Syria War propagandist or Washington lobby firm. Read the letter here and judge for yourself. For contrast watch this interview with a real Syrian doctor not mouthing propaganda from K Street in Washington D.C. An online Change petition asks German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Barack Obama to save the people of Aleppo. The publicly funded Holocaust Memorial Museum has promoted the video #SaveSyria. One of the producers of the video is The Syria Campaign which is the marketing organization which branded the pervasive White Helmets, as documented in Seven Steps of Highly Effective Manipulators . In parallel with this media campaign, the House Foreign Affairs Committee has introduced HR5732 the Caesar Syrian Civilian Protection Act of 2016. The resolution calls for escalating economic/financial pressure on Syria and Assessment of potential effectiveness of and requirements for the establishment of safe zones or a no fly zone in Syria. Dr. Sahloul, the Syrian American Medical Society doctor / spokesperson, says that Obamas legacy will be defined by whether or not he attacks Syria to impose a no fly zone. It seems unlikely that Obama would do that at the end of his term. Instead, the goal is to prepare the public for the new war to begin after Hillary Clinton becomes President. Falsehoods and Lies of Omission In his article The media are misleading the public on Syria author Stephen Kinzer recently wrote, Coverage of the Syrian war will be remembered as one of the most shameful episodes in the history of the American press. Reporting about carnage in the ancient city of Aleppo is the latest reason why. Here a few facts about Aleppo which contradict the mainstream media narrative: At least 85 percent of Aleppos population is in government-controlled areas. The estimate of 300,000 civilians in rebel/terrorist-controlled east Aleppo is likely a gross exaggeration. In spring 2015, Martin Chulov of the Guardian visited the area and estimated there were 40,000. While there are very few doctors serving in the opposition-controlled Aleppo, there are thousands of doctors working in the government-controlled area. The dominant rebel-terrorist group in Aleppo is the Syrian version of Al Qaeda. The armed groups who invaded Aleppo have been unpopular from the beginning. In the fall of 2012, journalist James Foley wrote : Aleppo, a city of about 3 million people, was once the financial heart of Syria. As it continues to deteriorate, many civilians here are losing patience with the increasingly violent and unrecognizable opposition one that is hampered by infighting and a lack of structure, and deeply infiltrated by both foreign fighters and terrorist groups. (Foley was later captured by Syrian rebels and executed by the Islamic State on Aug. 19, 2014.) The rebel-terrorists launch dozens and sometimes hundreds of mortars daily into the government-controlled areas causing huge casualties. Western media ignores this destruction and loss of life. The much publicized April bombing of the supposed Medecins sans Frontieres-supported Al Quds Hospital in Aleppo was full of contradictions and discrepancies. These were highlighted in an Open Letter to MSF . To this date, MSF has not provided corroborating information. Much of the video purporting to show bombing effects in Aleppo are stamped with the White Helmets logo. White Helmets is a creation of the U.S. and U.K. and primarily a propaganda tool. The claims they are Syrian, independent and non-partisan are all false. Much of the information about Syria comes from activists trained and paid by the U.S. In her book Hard Choices, Secretary Clinton says the U.S. provided training for more than a thousand (Syrian) activists, students, and independent journalists (p464, hardback version). Obviously they are not independent and their reports should be carefully checked. In contrast with the ambiguous situation at Al Quds Hospital, consider what happened to Aleppos Al Kindi Hospital. Take three minutes to view the suicide bombing of Al Kindi Hospital. Take two minutes to view what the rebels did to Syrian soldiers who had been guarding the hospital. Like NBC correspondent Richard Engelss fake kidnapping and the contrived CNN reports by Syrian Danny, the Aug. 21, 2013 chemical attack in Ghouta has been essentially shown to have been a staged event intended to force a U.S. attack on the Syrian government by making it appear that President Bashar al-Assad had crossed President Obamas red line. The latest propaganda tool being used to promote U.S. aggression against Syria is the photograph of little Omran in the orange ambulance seat. The video comes from the Aleppo Media Center, or AMC. Like the White Helmets, AMC is a U.S. creation . The photo of Omran has been widely accepted without scrutiny. The insightful Moon of Alabama has raised serious questions about the media sensation. Brad Hoff has documented that the main photographer, Mahmoud Raslan, is an ally of the Nour al Din al Zenki rebel terrorists who beheaded a young Palestinian Syrian a few weeks ago, confirmed step by step in this short video . Another good short video exposing the propaganda around #Syrianboy is here . Why the Burst of Propaganda? The Syrian crisis is at a critical point with the prospect that the rebel/terrorists will collapse. If they are crushed or expelled, it would allow hundreds of thousands of displaced Aleppans to return home as soon as services are restored. This would also allow the Syrian army and allies to focus on attacking the Islamic State in the east and rebel/terrorist groups remaining in Idlib, Hama, the outskirts of Damascus and the south. Until the last year, fanatics and mercenaries were traveling from all parts of the globe into Syria via Turkey. Tens of thousands went to Syria from Southeast Asia, China, Russia, North Africa, Europe and North America. They were given carte blanche to depart their home countries, arrive in Turkey and be guided into Syria. For example, young Canadians such as Damien Clairmont went and died in Syria. His mother has courageously exposed the fact that Canadian Security Intelligence Services (CSIS) knew about his plans yet did nothing to stop him. Progressive Muslim leaders demanded the government identify and start dealing with the radical recruiters. It was evidently the policy of the cynically named Friends of Syria to look the other way as their citizens were being brainwashed and then recruited to become terrorists attacking Syria. Now, with terrorist blowback in Western Europe, the United States and Turkey, these same Friends are feeling consequences from their policies. Terror attacks in Britain, France, Belgium and the U.S. have ended or at least disrupted the policy of collusion with Wahhabi terrorists. In the last year, security services have started arresting recruiters and new recruits. In Britain, a long-time promoter of ISIS has been convicted . In Belgium, the court has approved the extradition of a suspected French terrorist. Previously, Belgium was the Western country with the highest per capita number of citizens joining the terrorist fight in Syria. And now Turkey has started arresting people en route to join ISIS in Syria. Since the rebel/terrorists invaded Aleppo in 2012, they have had a constant pipeline bringing weapons, fighters and supplies into the city. For the past few months the Syrian army has been on the verge of encircling and closing the access routes into rebel terrorist sections of east Aleppo. Western media and governments, which support the rebel/terrorists, are doing all they can to delay or prevent this closure. They are trying to stall or prevent a Syrian government victory until someone more hawkish than Barack Obama is in the White House. Driving the Conflict Regional forces supporting the war on Syria include Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey. Israel has always been deeply involved, contrary to the faulty analysis of some observers. Israel has provided medical and military support to Nusra/Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups operating near the Golan Heights. Former Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren was explicit: Israel has wanted Assad ousted since Syria war began. Oren has said Israel favors that outcome even if it means a victory by Al Qaeda or other Sunni extremists . The U.S. and Western powers are also deeply involved. Working with Saudi Arabia and through Turkey, the U.S. has supplied huge quantities of weapons to the rebel/terrorists. Sophisticated weaponry totaling 994 TONS was provided last winter as documented here . On the other side, Iran and Hezbollah are committed to defending the existing Syrian government. They know that if the Syrian government falls, they will be the next ones under attack. Russia also sees this as a crucial conflict. The U.S. has expanded NATO up to the Russian western border, promoted the 2014 Ukraine coup, and insisted on economic sanctions against Russia. Syria is Russias only Arab ally and hosts Russias only foreign naval base. Russia probably sees this conflict as a crucial for its own future. In another sign of resistance to U.S. global hegemony, China has indicated it wishes to expand military cooperation with Syria. Following the U.S. lead, Canada, Australia and West European countries have supported the regime change effort despite it being in clear violation of the U.N. Charter and international law. Despite five years of tragedy and destruction, the U.S. continues trying to overthrow or destroy the Syrian government. This is not a new U.S. objective. In 2005, CNNs Christiane Amanpour interviewed Syrian President Assad and said to him Mr. President, you know the rhetoric of regime change is headed towards you from the United States.Theyre talking about isolating you diplomatically and, perhaps, a coup detat or your regime crumbling. What are you thinking about that? Amanpour is not only a CNN host, she is the wife of neocon Clintonite James Rubin . In 2010, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pressed Syria to stop its support of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah, loosen its alliance with Iran and sign a treaty with Israel. Significantly, these are Israels demands and of much higher importance to the Zionist state than the U.S. The war in Syria is bringing numerous conflicts to a head: sectarian Wahhabism vs. humanitarian Islam; the New American Century with one superpower vs. a multilateral world; Zionist dominance and occupation vs. Lebanese and Palestinian resistance. Hillary Clinton is on record criticizing the decision to not bomb Syria in late summer 2013 after the sarin gas attack outside Damascus. She has continued to promote the idea of a no fly zone. She is an avowed Zionist who has said she wants to take the U.S.-Israeli relationship to the next level. Zionist Israel is deeply worried by the prospect of a strengthened Syria and Lebanese resistance. In addition, there are many Palestinian refugees and their descendants in Syria and Lebanon. They retain their wish to return home in keeping with international law. Just as Zionist Israeli interests were a major factor in the invasion of Iraq, so they are in continuing the conflict in Syria. In addition, neocons have not given up their goal of a New American Century. The Western Left? The Left has been weak in responding and opposing the aggression against Syria. Major factors have included: Saudi and U.S. State Department-funded Muslim groups which support the aggression against Syria. This includes the recently famous Dr. Zaher Sahloul and the Syrian American Medical Society. SAMS and Zahloul are aligned with Saudi Arabia and receive substantial State Department funding. Deluded leftist groups which support what they have been told is a peoples revolution in Syria, just as happened in Libya. The flooding of social media and the Internet by activists and Syrian civil society groups who are actually paid and trained agents of the West. This is confirmed by Clinton herself in her book Hard Choices. Uncritical acceptance of the claims by major non-governmental organizations (or NGOs), which are predominately funded by billionaires. These organizations need to be viewed with some skepticism because of their financial dependence on a few wealthy individuals with personal agendas. For example, in 1990, Amnesty International mistakenly corroborated the accuracy of the false claim that Iraqi soldiers were stealing incubators from Kuwait, leaving babies to die on the cold floor. In the run-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Human Rights Watch, which is heavily funded by currency speculator George Soros, did not oppose the Iraq invasion and implicitly accepted it by only criticizing the lack of preparation. (HRW also promoted what turned out to a bogus story claiming that by vectoring the flight paths of two rockets it had proved that the Syrian military fired the sarin gas on Aug. 21, 2013, a claim that later collapsed when aeronautical experts determined that the only rocket found to carry sarin had a much shorter range.) Physicians for Human Rights, another Soros project, has issued grossly misleading reports on Syria. Alternative media, which is progressive on many issues but echoes NPR and mainstream media on critical foreign policy issues including the Syrian conflict. Some groups including Arab Americans for Syria, Syrian American Forum, Black Agenda Report, Syria Solidarity Movement, Answer and Workers World Party have actively challenged the disinformation but their budgets and influence are relatively small in comparison to the heavily funded organizations pushing for Syrian regime change. Veterans for Peace, one of the most influential and respected peace organizations, has recently sharpened its understanding and position on Syria. Following a recent visit to Syria, the Vice President of Veterans for Peace, Jerry Condon, said , Everything we read about Syria in the U.S. media is wrong. The reality is that the U.S. government is supporting armed extremist groups who are terrorizing the Syrian people and trying to destroy Syrias secular state. In order to hide that ugly reality and push violent regime change, the U.S. is conducting a psychological warfare campaign to demonize Syrias president, Bashar al Assad. This is a classic tactic that veterans have seen over and over. It is shocking, however, to realize how willingly the media repeat this propaganda, and how many people believe it to be true. What the Future Holds Neoconservatives, including Clintonites, are pushing hard for a direct U.S. attack on Syria to prevent the collapse of their regime change project. Claiming that the U.S. and NATO can bring a safe zone and protect civilians is a grotesque falsehood. (In Libya in 2011, similar humanitarian claims were simply a cover for another regime change project that has unleashed more chaos and death across northern Africa.) If the U.S. tries to impose a no fly zone in Syria, it will result in vastly more deaths and risk escalation into direct conflict involving Syria, Russia, Iran and Israel. Former Acting CIA director Mike Morell , who has endorsed Hillary Clinton for President, recently suggested the killing of Russians and Iranians in Syria to make them pay a price. There is a clear solution to the Syrian tragedy: the countries who have been supplying tons of weapons and paying tens of thousands of mercenary terrorists should stop. The conflict would soon end. The foreigners would depart with much less fanaticism than what they came with. Many Syrian rebel/terrorists would accept reconciliation. To create the circumstances for a peaceful settlement, there needs to be a global campaign for peace, but there is much responsibility in the U.S. since our government has become the greatest threat to peace with its insistence on global dominance. Following are some specific ideas that could help: Sen. Bernie Sanders raised expectations when he talked about the need stop the regime change foreign policy. Now is when he needs to be clear and unequivocal that U.S. military aggression against Syria will make things worse not better and must not happen. Sanders also proved that a progressive policy is popular. If Sanders abandons this core foreign policy position and does not speak out strongly against the drive for aggression, it will be a huge disappointment and failure. DemocracyNow and other leading alternative media need to start including different analyses. To a sad extent, their coverage of Syria has echoed NPR and CNN. If DemocracyNow is truly an Exception to the Rulers, it needs to start including more critical examinations. DN producers should be studying publications such as Consortiumnews, Global Research, AntiWar, MoonOfAlabama, Al Masdar News, Al Mayadeen, Counterpunch, DissidentVoice, American Herald Tribune, 21stCenturyWire, Black Agenda Report, the Canary, RT, PressTV and TruePublica (not corporate ProPublica). They should be bringing the observations and analysis of journalists such as Sharmine Narwani, Edward Dark, Eva Bartlett, Brad Hoff, Vanessa Beeley, Stephen Sahiounie to name just a few. Syrian academics such as Issa Chaer (U.K.) and Nour al Kadri (Canada) could be interviewed. Followers of DN have heard Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State and other U.S. officials speaking about Syria countless times. Why have Amy and Juan not interviewed the Syrian Ambassador to the UN? This is an opportunity and challenge for Jill Stein and Ajamu Baraka of the Green Party. They are clear on this issue. If they can get a mass audience to hear their message, it could be crucial to their winning support and prompting a necessary national debate. At the moment there is almost no debate on the issue of perpetual war in the Middle East. Instead, the media is filled with propaganda using a boys photo to promote more war. The Green Party could play a hugely important role exposing the danger and duplicity of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. They could play a key role in blocking the Clintonite march to a new war. Veterans for Peace could play a leading role in changing the perception and ending the marginalization of the U.S. peace movement. The Genocide of a Land By Paul Craig Roberts August 23, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - In our days of darkness, spreading ignorance, and absence of serious debate in public forums, we can take hope from the fact that some scholars still produce serious and informative books on the most critical issues of our time. If in the future policymakers again seek the guidance of truth, they will have the information at hand. One such book of truth is Jeremy R. Hammonds just published Obstacle to Peace, a closely reasoned, heavily documented (68 pages of footnotes), fully indexed, readable book with a Foreword by Richard Falk, an Introduction by Gene Epstein, and an endorsement by Noam Chomsky. The obstacle to peace is the United States government, which has consistently opposed the entire worlds decades long effort to stop the Zionist genocide of a land called Palestine. Palestine is a stolen and oppressed land. Israels greatest leaders themselves acknowledge the fact. Tom Are quotes David Ben-Gurion: If I were an Arab leader, I would never make terms with Israel. That is natural, we have taken their country. Sure God promised it to us, but what does that matter to them? Our God is not theirs. We came from Israel, its true, but that was two thousand years ago, and what is that to them? There has been anti-Semitism, the Nazis, Auschwitz, but was that their fault? They only see one thing: we have come and stolen their country. Why should they accept that? http://thomas-l-are.blogspot.com What once was a country consists today of a few small isolated Palestinian ghettos in the West Bank surrounded by Israeli settlements and an open air prison known as Gaza. Periodically Israel launches military assaults on the civilian population of Gaza, destroying the lives of the people and the infrastructure of the prison camp. Israel then prevents outside efforts from sending supplies to the suffering people in Gaza. Freedom flotillas crewed by Nobel Laurates, present and former members of US and European legislative bodies, and even members of the Israeli Knesset set sail with supplies for Gaza and are pirated and captured in international waters by the Israeli Navy, which, as a warning to others, kills some of the delegation in self-defense. The United States steadfastly defends Israels criminal behavior with its UN veto and other governments, though disapproving, are unwilling to confront Washington and force a change. Washingtons 21st century wars in the Middle East were initiated by neoconservative regimes whose principal policymakers are tightly allied with Israel. The wars focused on Arab nationsIraq, Libya, and Syriathat were supportive of the Palestinians and had foreign policies independent of Washington. Washington succeeded in destroying two of the countries and has not given up on destroying Syria despite the risk of confrontation with Russia. The risks that Washington is imposing on Americans and Europeans in order to advance Israeli expansion in the Middle East are horrific. Zionists claim a greater Israel from the Nile to the Euphrates. Washingtons wars in the Middle East are designed to remove obstacles to greater Israel. For example, on past occasions Israel has attempted to seize southern Lebanon for the water resources, but were driven out by Hezbollah, a militia supplied by Syria and Iran. This is one reason Syria and Iran are on Washingtons target list. To achieve its or Israels goals, Washington uses jihadists. Russia sees the jihadists as threats that could spread to the Muslim areas of the Russian Federation, and Russia acts to protect itself. China also has realized that its province bordering Kazakhstan is subject to jihadist destabilization and appears to be aligning with Russia, Iran, and Syria against Washingtons effort to overthrow the Syrian government and install in its place chaos as Washington has done in Iraq and Libya, thus removing another constraint on Israels expansion and the restraint of a secular Syrian government on jihadism. To get all of this from Hammond, you might have to connect some dots. But what you will get is a massive amount of verbatim dialogue that documents beyond all doubt the conspiracy between Israel, Washington, and the US presstitutes to get rid of the Palestinian problem by getting rid of Palestinians. What does emerge strongly from Hammonds book is that justice is not a thriving characteristic of the Israeli government, US foreign policy, or the media. The United Nations has produced report after report documenting the extermination of a people, but is powerless to act because of Washingtons veto. What has happened to Palestinians is a replay of what happened to the native inhabitants of North America and Australia. Palestinians have been dispossessed and murdered. For this crime, the United States shares responsibility with Israel. Become informed while you still can. Propaganda is turning truth-tellers into conspiracy theorists and domestic extremists. We cant take the continued presence of truth-tellers for granted. When one appears support him or her. Order Hammonds book here: http://www.obstacletopeace.com You will never regret being informed. Dr. Paul Craig Roberts was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy and associate editor of the Wall Street Journal. He was columnist for Business Week, Scripps Howard News Service, and Creators Syndicate. He has had many university appointments. His internet columns have attracted a worldwide following. Roberts' latest books are The Failure of Laissez Faire Capitalism and Economic Dissolution of the West , How America Was Lost , and The Neoconservative Threat to World Order . Provoking Nuclear War by Media By John Pilger August 23, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " RT " - The exoneration of a man accused of the worst of crimes, genocide, made no headlines. Neither the BBC nor CNN covered it. The Guardian allowed a brief commentary. Such a rare official admission was buried or suppressed, understandably. It would explain too much about how the rulers of the world rule. The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has quietly cleared the late Serbian president, Slobodan Milosevic, of war crimes committed during the 1992-95 Bosnian war, including the massacre at Srebrenica. Far from conspiring with the convicted Bosnian-Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, Milosevic actually condemned ethnic cleansing, opposed Karadzic and tried to stop the war that dismembered Yugoslavia. Buried near the end of a 2,590-page judgement on Karadzic last February, this truth further demolishes the propaganda that justified Natos illegal onslaught on Serbia in 1999. Milosevic died of a heart attack in 2006, alone in his cell in The Hague, during what amounted to a bogus trial by an American-invented international tribunal. Denied heart surgery that might have saved his life, his condition worsened and was monitored and kept secret by US officials, as WikiLeaks has since revealed. Milosevic was the victim of war propaganda that today runs like a torrent across our screens and newspapers and beckons great danger for us all. He was the prototype demon, vilified by the western media as the butcher of the Balkans who was responsible for genocide, especially in the secessionist Yugoslav province of Kosovo. Prime Minister Tony Blair said so, invoked the Holocaust and demanded action against this new Hitler. David Scheffer, the US ambassador-at-large for war crimes [sic], declared that as many as 225,000 ethnic Albanian men aged between 14 and 59 may have been murdered by Milocevics forces. This was the justification for Natos bombing, led by Bill Clinton and Blair, that killed hundreds of civilians in hospitals, schools, churches, parks and television studios and destroyed Serbias economic infrastructure. It was blatantly ideological; at a notorious peace conference in Rambouillet in France, Milosevic was confronted by Madeleine Albright, the US secretary of state, who was to achieve infamy with her remark that the deaths of half a million Iraqi children were worth it. Albright delivered an offer to Milosevic that no national leader could accept. Unless he agreed to the foreign military occupation of his country, with the occupying forces outside the legal process, and to the imposition of a neo-liberal free market, Serbia would be bombed. This was contained in an Appendix B, which the media failed to read or suppressed. The aim was to crush Europes last independent socialist state. Once Nato began bombing, there was a stampede of Kosovar refugees fleeing a holocaust. When it was over, international police teams descended on Kosovo to exhume the victims. The FBI failed to find a single mass grave and went home. The Spanish forensic team did the same, its leader angrily denouncing a semantic pirouette by the war propaganda machines. The final count of the dead in Kosovo was 2,788. This included combatants on both sides and Serbs and Roma murdered by the pro-Nato Kosovo Liberation Front. There was no genocide. The Nato attack was both a fraud and a war crime. All but a fraction of Americas vaunted precision guided missiles hit not military but civilian targets, including the news studios of Radio Television Serbia in Belgrade. Sixteen people were killed, including cameramen, producers and a make-up artist. Blair described the dead, profanely, as part of Serbias command and control. In 2008, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, Carla Del Ponte, revealed that she had been pressured not to investigate Natos crimes. This was the model for Washingtons subsequent invasions of Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and, by stealth, Syria. All qualify as paramount crimes under the Nuremberg standard; all depended on media propaganda. While tabloid journalism played its traditional part, it was serious, credible, often liberal journalism that was the most effective the evangelical promotion of Blair and his wars by the Guardian, the incessant lies about Saddam Husseins non-existent weapons of mass destruction in the Observer and the New York Times, and the unerring drumbeat of government propaganda by the BBC in the silence of its omissions. At the height of the bombing, the BBCs Kirsty Wark interviewed General Wesley Clark, the Nato commander. The Serbian city of Nis had just been sprayed with American cluster bombs, killing women, old people and children in an open market and a hospital. Wark asked not a single question about this, or about any other civilian deaths. Others were more brazen. In February 2003, the day after Blair and Bush had set fire to Iraq, the BBCs political editor, Andrew Marr, stood in Downing Street and made what amounted to a victory speech. He excitedly told his viewers that Blair had said they would be able to take Baghdad without a bloodbath, and that in the end the Iraqis would be celebrating. And on both of those points he has been proved conclusively right. Today, with a million dead and a society in ruins, Marrs BBC interviews are recommended by the US embassy in London. Marrs colleagues lined up to pronounce Blair vindicated. The BBCs Washington correspondent, Matt Frei, said, Theres no doubt that the desire to bring good, to bring American values to the rest of the world, and especially to the Middle East is now increasingly tied up with military power. This obeisance to the United States and its collaborators as a benign force bringing good runs deep in western establishment journalism. It ensures that the present-day catastrophe in Syria is blamed exclusively on Bashar al-Assad, whom the West and Israel have long conspired to overthrow, not for any humanitarian concerns, but to consolidate Israels aggressive power in the region. The jihadist forces unleashed and armed by the US, Britain, France, Turkey and their coalition proxies serve this end. It is they who dispense the propaganda and videos that becomes news in the US and Europe, and provide access to journalists and guarantee a one-sided coverage of Syria. The city of Aleppo is in the news. Most readers and viewers will be unaware that the majority of the population of Aleppo lives in the government-controlled western part of the city. That they suffer daily artillery bombardment from western-sponsored al-Qaida is not news. On 21 July, French and American bombers attacked a government village in Aleppo province, killing up to 125 civilians. This was reported on page 22 of the Guardian; there were no photographs. Having created and underwritten jihadism in Afghanistan in the 1980s as Operation Cyclone - a weapon to destroy the Soviet Union - the US is doing something similar in Syria. Like the Afghan Mujahideen, the Syrian rebels are Americas and Britains foot soldiers. Many fight for al-Qaida and its variants; some, like the Nusra Front, have rebranded themselves to comply with American sensitivities over 9/11. The CIA runs them, with difficulty, as it runs jihadists all over the world. The immediate aim is to destroy the government in Damascus, which, according to the most credible poll (YouGov Siraj), the majority of Syrians support, or at least look to for protection, regardless of the barbarism in its shadows. The long-term aim is to deny Russia a key Middle Eastern ally as part of a Nato war of attrition against the Russian Federation that eventually destroys it. The nuclear risk is obvious, though suppressed by the media across the free world. The editorial writers of the Washington Post, having promoted the fiction of WMD in Iraq, demand that Obama attack Syria. Hillary Clinton, who publicly rejoiced at her executioners role during the destruction of Libya, has repeatedly indicated that, as president, she will go further than Obama. Gareth Porter, a journalist reporting from Washington, recently revealed the names of those likely to make up a Clinton cabinet, who plan an attack on Syria. All have belligerent cold war histories; the former CIA director, Leon Panetta, says that the next president is gonna have to consider adding additional special forces on the ground. What is most remarkable about the war propaganda now in flood tide is its patent absurdity and familiarity. I have been looking through archive film from Washington in the 1950s when diplomats, civil servants and journalists were witch-hunted and ruined by Senator Joe McCarthy for challenging the lies and paranoia about the Soviet Union and China. Like a resurgent tumor, the anti-Russia cult has returned. In Britain, the Guardians Luke Harding leads his newspapers Russia-haters in a stream of journalistic parodies that assign to Vladimir Putin every earthly iniquity. When the Panama Papers leak was published, the front page said Putin, and there was a picture of Putin; never mind that Putin was not mentioned anywhere in the leaks. Like Milosevic, Putin is Demon Number One. It was Putin who shot down a Malaysian airliner over Ukraine. Headline: As far as Im concerned, Putin killed my son. No evidence required. It was Putin who was responsible for Washingtons documented (and paid for) overthrow of the elected government in Kiev in 2014. The subsequent terror campaign by fascist militias against the Russian-speaking population of Ukraine was the result of Putins aggression. Preventing Crimea from becoming a Nato missile base and protecting the mostly Russian population who had voted in a referendum to rejoin Russia from which Crimea had been annexed were more examples of Putins aggression. Smear by media inevitably becomes war by media. If war with Russia breaks out, by design or by accident, journalists will bear much of the responsibility. In the US, the anti-Russia campaign has been elevated to virtual reality. The New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, an economist with a Nobel Prize, has called Donald Trump the Siberian Candidate because Trump is Putins man, he says. Trump had dared to suggest, in a rare lucid moment, that war with Russia might be a bad idea. In fact, he has gone further and removed American arms shipments to Ukraine from the Republican platform. Wouldnt it be great if we got along with Russia, he said. This is why Americas warmongering liberal establishment hates him. Trumps racism and ranting demagoguery have nothing to do with it. Bill and Hillary Clintons record of racism and extremism can out-trump Trumps any day. (This week is the 20th anniversary of the Clinton welfare reform that launched a war on African-Americans). As for Obama: while American police gun down his fellow African-Americans the great hope in the White House has done nothing to protect them, nothing to relieve their impoverishment, while running four rapacious wars and an assassination campaign without precedent. The CIA has demanded Trump is not elected. Pentagon generals have demanded he is not elected. The pro-war New York Times - taking a breather from its relentless low-rent Putin smears - demands that he is not elected. Something is up. These tribunes of perpetual war are terrified that the multi-billion-dollar business of war by which the United States maintains its dominance will be undermined if Trump does a deal with Putin, then with Chinas Xi Jinping. Their panic at the possibility of the worlds great power talking peace however unlikely would be the blackest farce were the issues not so dire. Trump would have loved Stalin! bellowed Vice-President Joe Biden at a rally for Hillary Clinton. With Clinton nodding, he shouted, We never bow. We never bend. We never kneel. We never yield. We own the finish line. Thats who we are. We are America! In Britain, Jeremy Corbyn has also excited hysteria from the war-makers in the Labour Party and from a media devoted to trashing him. Lord West, a former admiral and Labour minister, put it well. Corbyn was taking an outrageous anti-war position because it gets the unthinking masses to vote for him. In a debate with leadership challenger Owen Smith, Corbyn was asked by the moderator: How would you act on a violation by Vladimir Putin of a fellow Nato state? We found out 20 years later they were lying about Milosevic. They're doing the same lying about Assad now @HKX07@snarwani @Souria4Syrians Quintus Curtius (@QuintusCurtius) August 17, 2016 Corbyn replied: You would want to avoid that happening in the first place. You would build up a good dialogue with Russia We would try to introduce a de-militarisation of the borders between Russia, the Ukraine and the other countries on the border between Russia and Eastern Europe. What we cannot allow is a series of calamitous build-ups of troops on both sides which can only lead to great danger. Pressed to say if he would authorize war against Russia if you had to, Corbyn replied: I dont wish to go to war what I want to do is achieve a world that we dont need to go to war. The line of questioning owes much to the rise of Britains liberal war-makers. The Labour Party and the media have long offered them career opportunities. For a while the moral tsunami of the great crime of Iraq left them floundering, their inversions of the truth a temporary embarrassment. Regardless of Chilcot and the mountain of incriminating facts, Blair remains their inspiration, because he was a winner. Dissenting journalism and scholarship have since been systematically banished or appropriated, and democratic ideas emptied and refilled with identity politics that confuse gender with feminism and public angst with liberation and willfully ignore the state violence and weapons profiteering that destroys countless lives in faraway places, like Yemen and Syria, and beckon nuclear war in Europe and across the world. The stirring of people of all ages around the spectacular rise of Jeremy Corbyn counters this to some extent. His life has been spent illuminating the horror of war. The problem for Corbyn and his supporters is the Labour Party. In America, the problem for the thousands of followers of Bernie Sanders was the Democratic Party, not to mention their ultimate betrayal by their great white hope. In the US, home of the great civil rights and anti-war movements, it is Black Lives Matter and the likes of Codepink that lay the roots of a modern version. For only a movement that swells into every street and across borders and does not give up can stop the warmongers. Next year, it will be a century since Wilfred Owen wrote the following. Every journalist should read it and remember it. If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues, My friend, you would not tell with such high zest To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori. No fewer than 50 houses were destroyed on Tuesday in Bachaka Village in Gudu Local Government area of Sokoto State by flood caused by an early morning rainfall. Alhaji Sani Yakubu (APC) representing Gudu Constituency in the State House of Assembly told newsmen of the unfortunate development on Wednesday in Sokoto. Yakubu said the disaster was sequel to a downpour that lasted several hours in the village. The downpour affected no fewer than 300 households in the village. Although, no life was lost to the rainfall, but the villagers lost domestic wares and foodstuffs stored in their silos, Yakubu said. The lawmaker said that the victims were now squatting in nearby school buildings as well as with their relatives and neighbours. I visited the village yesterday (Tuesday) and I noticed that the victims were in need of urgent relief materials. They needed assorted food items and building materials to rebuild their houses, the lawmaker said. I had to donate N1.1 million to the victims to cushion the effects of the disaster on them, he said. Yakubu appealed to the Gudu Local Government, the Sokoto State Government, and other donor agencies to also assist the victims. He appealed to the state government to relocate the villagers to a safe area to avoid the recurrence of the perennial disaster. The Director-General of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Hassan Maccido, told newsmen that he would send a team of experts to the village to assess the extent of damage. (NAN) No fewer than 6,000 staff of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) may lose their jobs if the proposed concession of the four major airports in Kano, Lagos, Port-Harcourt and Abuja is actualized. Making this known shortly after a peaceful protest against the planned concession yesterday at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Chairman of Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Malam Lawal Ahmad Fagge, described the move as an unwise decision. He said the protest was organized to draw the attention of the federal government to the inherent dangers in the planned concession of the four affected airports. The four airports of Kano, Port-Harcourt, Lagos and Abuja are generating N33bn annually and 25 percent of the money goes to the FG and 45 percent is being used for maintenance and payment of workers salaries. So it is unwise to sell these airports since they can sustain themselves, Mal. Fagge said. In a related development, aviation workers yesterday shut down the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos over the planned concession. The workers comprising the ATSSSAN, National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the National Union of Pensioners (NUP), carried placards with inscriptions such as, Sirika our airports are not for sale; Airport concessions will lead to national security breaches; Airport concession is economic terrorism; Our airports cannot be sold in bits, among others. It would be recalled that the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, had some few days ago disclosed that the concession would follow a framework and would not go against national interest in anyway. The protest is said to be going on simultaneously at the MAKIA, MMIA, Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, and Port Harcourt Airport, Rivers State. On Tuesday, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) barred nine Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) from the nations foreign exchange market for failing to remit the sum of $2.334bn belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to the Treasury Single Account (TSA). President Muhammad Buhari had last September ordered all the DMBs in the country to remit all Federal Government funds to the TSA. The barred banks are: First Bank of Nigeria Limited ($469m); Diamond Bank Plc ($287m); Sterling Bank Plc ($269m); Skye Bank Plc ($221m); Fidelity Bank ($209m); United Bank for Africa ($530m); Keystone Bank ($139); First City Monument Bank (FCMB) $125m; and Heritage Bank ($85m). However, the Head of Corporate Communications, United Bank of Africa (UBA), Mr. Charles Aigbe, said the bank was not among the banks sanctioned by the CBN. Mr. Aigbe issued a statement on Tuesday saying, Our attention has been drawn to report of the ban of UBA from the foreign exchange market by the CBN over the non-remittance of the NNPC/NLNG dollar deposits. We wish to state very categorically that UBA has completely remitted all the NNPC/NLNG dollar deposits. We thank all our numerous customers, business partners and other stakeholders who have reached out to us on account of this report. President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned Mondays killings in Zamfara State and promised that the law will take its course against anyone found to have a hand in the unlawful act. A mob suspected to be students of the Abdu Gusau Polytechnic in Talata Marafa, Zamfara State, burnt eight people to death over an incident linked to blasphemy. The institution has since been shut down while a curfew has been imposed in the town in the wake of the unfortunate incident. President Buhari, who said he received news of the mob killings with great dismay, described it as barbaric and unacceptable. The president reacted to the killings via his verified Twitter handle. My prayers are with the families of the victims. Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) August 23, 2016 The Prof. Itse Sagay-led Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption has invited a former chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abulmumin Jibrin, over the unfolding budget padding scandal. Mr. Jibrin, who opened a can of worms on the budgeting process in the House following his removal last month as chair of the appropriation committee, had written to security and anti-corruption agencies, including the PACAC, calling for a probe of the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, and some other lawmakers. According to Jibrin, the Speaker and three other principal officers padded the 2016 budget with fictitious projects worth over N40billion. Mr. Dogara and his co-accused denied the allegations leveled against them. Following his letter, the PACAC invited the lawmaker to appear before the anti-corruption panel at its Meeting Room, which is situated on the 1st Floor, Phase I, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Building, Federal Secretariat, Abuja, on Wednesday, August 24, 2016. Time: 11:00 a.m. Bolaji Owasanoye, the executive secretary of PACAC, who signed the letter on behalf of the committee, said Mr. Jibrin had forwarded a petition and requested an appointment. The PACAC is a committee set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to advise his government on the prosecution of the war against corruption and the implementation of required reforms in Nigerias criminal justice system. An aspirant for the position of National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olabode George, has accused Governors Nyesom Wike and Ayodele Fayose of Rivers and Ekiti States respectively, of working hard to destroy the party. He said the PDP was in ruins and imminent danger as a result of the unholy alliance of the two governors against the growth and development of the party. Addressing a press conference yesterday at the Lagos State secretariat of the PDP, Mr. Georges Political Adviser, Mr. Uthman Shodipe-Dosunmu, said the August 17 National Convention would have divided the party more, stressing that the convention was hijacked by Messrs. Wike and Fayose to prosecute their 2019 ambitions. His claim tallies with an allegation earlier leveled by factional chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, that Gov. Wikes plan to hand the 2019 presidential ticket to an unnamed political strongman in the All Progressives Congress, APC, was responsible for the crisis rocking the PDP. George said: This is indeed a sad period for the PDP; the sky is dark and bleak. The party is now at the edge of a cliff, dangling before imminent ruins and forfeiture. Our party has lost its soul, its fundamental defining logic of existence, stripped of all values of justice, fairness and equity. We thought that the crisis provoked by the issue of Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff would be finally laid to rest after the August 17 convention, but we couldnt be more wrong. To be specific Wike and Fayose have both succeeded in forming an unholy alliance against the growth and development of our party. The former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP said having reviewed the situation, leaders of the party should never allow the two governors to come near any crucial decision making process again. Port Harcourt should never be allowed again to host the convention as long as Wike remains governor. We are happy the charade was halted in its tracks. The dubious convention was written, produced, directed and managed by Wike and Fayose. This will never happen again. Our party is dying. Benighted and unprincipled men have seized the jugular of our party. They are hell bent on destroying what they cannot build. They have apparently sworn to destroy, to manipulate, to thwart the peoples will and sabotage the cause of democracy, he said. The government needs to look into the issue of non-governmental organizations NGOs who take advantage of the less privileged/sick people to make money. There was commotion yesterday at Trade Fair complex in Lagos after a well meaning Nigerian spotted a little girl with protruded stomach who was being exploited under the scorching sun by some fraudsters parading themselves as members of an NGO seeking donation for her treatment When the group (a lady and 2 guys) was confronted by an elderly woman about the NGO they represented, the leader (the woman in green cap) couldnt produce any form of ID card.. According to reports, she shunned the woman who confronted them -telling her to mind her business. After being labelled a fraud, the young lady reportedly said Nigeria is hard, I cannot do Ashawo, man must survive.. This prompted the elderly woman to notify a soldier who was close by On seeing that the case had gone critical, the lady started to plead for mercy. Upon interrogation, the lady claimed that the girl was brought from Abuja, while her co-worker (in green shirt) said that the girls parents lives at Orile, Coker in Lagos. Due to the unrelated stories, the little girl was asked where her parents stayed, she said that they are in the village in Abakiliki, Ebonyi state and those people brought her straight from the village She also revealed that she was told to smile and wave at people driving by so they would be forced to donate to her cause The worst part is that these fraudsters were doing this just very close to a police station. After people started gathering following the chaos caused, the policemen were notified about the situation..Instead of coming to confirm for themselves, they said its not their business. One of the policemen (as seen in the pictures below) tried to liaise with the soldier to bury the case after one of the NGO members reasoned with him and his squad. The woman was shocked after she was told to go home, that nothing could be done about the situation.. According to her, the policemen and those fraudsters might have been working hand-in-hand due to their silence on the matter and how quickly they were to dismiss the case. The main questions are if they are really genuine why couldnt they produce any ID card of the so-called NGO (even a fake one) and why were their stories about the girls origin unrelated? Source: National Helm Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has restated the commitment of his administration to build an airport in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital as soon as all impediments to the smooth take off of the project are cleared. The governor, who made the pledge yesterday at this years Udiroko Festival at the Palace of the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, Aladesanmi III, promised the people more development. The city was in a festive mood for many hours as indigenes, visitors, friends and associates thronged the Palace amphitheater where a robust cultural display showcased the rich cultural heritage of Ekiti people. The festival was witnessed by Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State and his Rivers State counterpart, Governor Nyesom Wike, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Kenneth Kobani. Fayose canvassed the restoration of history into the education curriculum of public and private schools, saying it would help pupils to know about the past to lay a foundation for the future. It would be recalled that the Fayose administrations plan to construct a multi-billion airport on Ijan road was stalled following a suit filed at an Ado Ekiti High Court by land owners and commercial farmers, whose lands were taken over for the project. The court ruled in favour of the land owners and plantation farmers and awarded them N5 million compensation. But Fayose said all hope was not lost on the airport project. Fayose said: I would have loved to have Ekiti Airport and Im still nursing that ambition and waiting for the slightest opportunity. Ekiti airport will facilitate development for our state. It doesnt matter what anybody is saying. Many years after, they would come to appreciate what we are doing. So far so good, in spite of the paucity of resources in our coffers, we are not doing badly. The amphitheatre is here, which I built, the fly over bridge and Oja Oba are ongoing. The Onala-Awedele dual carriageway roads and others are here. So, I want to tell you that Im happy. The governor added: Udiroko has become a national festival. Look at the crowd here. Ekiti has never witnessed this huge crowd in the history of the festival. In his remarks, Oba Adejugbe hailed the governor for the projects carried out by his administration since his comeback to power in 2014, saying Ado Ekiti community is impressed and fulfilled with the flyover project from Fajuyi to Ojumose. Like Oliver Twist, Im begging the governor to help complete the Oba Adejugbe Hospital for and effective health care delivery. A former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd.) yesterday met President with Muhammadu Buhari behind-closed-doors at the State House, Abuja, over the state of the nation. The former military ruler, who Calls For Restructuring Of Nigeria In Order If Gowon recently supported the call for restructuring provided it is done within the context of one Nigeria, told State House correspondents at the end of the meeting that he discussed with Buhari on the fate of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, the renewed militancy in the Niger Delta and the ongoing anti-corruption war. Mr. Gowon agreed that corruption was one of the problems that had created serious setbacks to Nigeria both nationally and internationally. We discussed the general affairs of the country, the problems of the country, his fight against corruption and all the efforts hes making to deal with it and of course, the impatience of the public to see results of the fight which have yet to be found, since people have not been prosecuted yet, that would soon begin. These are some of the issues we talked about. One appreciates his efforts and determination to rid the country of corruption which is one of the problems that have held the country down and created serious setbacks to the country both nationally and internationally and of course, the current situation about the Chibok girls and the efforts the government is making to rescue them. He (Buhari) said the government needed to get credible information about the whereabouts of the girls and also those that would assist the government achieve that. I believe that the government is certainly determined to ensure that a number of these girls are brought back home safely as soon as possible. To achieve that, certain credibility must be established of our sources of information on their location, but as at yet, no one knows where these girls are, and all the information that youve been getting, I dont know their sources; but all efforts at engaging the international media and sources are necessary so that this matter can be resolved once and for all, he said. The elder statesman expressed optimism that with the governments current efforts towards negotiating with the Niger Delta militants, all would soon be well in the region. He also reminded Nigerians that the current economic hardships was a fallout of the crash in crude oil prices in the international market. On his mission to the State House, his first since President Buhari took over on May 29, 2015, Mr. Gowon said Ive come to see the president, to say hello to him, I hadnt seen him for quite some time. This time, Ive come to see him to pay my respect to him and to let him know that Im going out of the country on vacation to the USA and UK. A member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly representing Tudun Wada Constituency, Ibrahim Samaila has been reportedly kidnapped by unknown gunmen on Tuesday at his residence in Abakpa, Kaduna North Local Government area. According to an eyewitness account, the kidnappers came in a Sienna Car and within few seconds, their other gang members joined them and whisked the lawmaker away The kidnappers were armed with sophisticated weapons. They shot at a vehicle vending pure water which was passing by, thinking it wanted to block them, the witness said. A family source said the abductors later contacted the lawmakers relatives warning them against involving the police in the matter. The gang also urged the family of Mr. Samaila, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).to be ready to pay whatever ransom they demand in exchange for the lawmakers freedom. Ripon Sarker from Thakurgaon, Bangladesh suffers from the condition epidermodysplasia verruciformis, which causes abnormal susceptibility to human papillomavirus causing the growth of scaly warts. The young boy was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital on August 20 for treatment for the first time, as his family couldnt afford it. His father Mahendra Das said: They havent carried out tests on him. Physicians say they will look into this matter before treatment. Poor Ripon cannot walk or eat by himself because of his tree-like hands and feet. Thankfully, doctors have said they are hopeful that his hands and feet are operable as his fingers and toes and can still be identified. Ripons symptoms match the ones of 26-year-old Abul Bajandar dubbed tree man, who also has the same condition and was recently operated at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Ripon is a class II student of Ketgaon Government Primary School, was affected when he was only three months old, his father said. Warts began to develop on his palm and foot, which are getting larger, Mohendra said. Burn and plastic surgery unit coordinator Samanta Lal Sen said: We are hopeful about the childs situation. In Abuls case, we couldnt distinguish the warts from his fingers. Ripons warts have not expanded to that extent yet. He can indentify his fingers and toes. We might be able to treat him with fewer operations. The physician went on to explain that the childs family is extremely poor. He said: Thats why he lacks proper nutrition. His physical development has been hampered as well. We need to give him proper nutrition before the operations begin. He might require blood as well. Source: Dailymail Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has described statements credited to U.S Secretary of State, John Kerry to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III, as garbage. Mr. Kerry, who was at the Sultans Palace in Sokoto yesterday as part of activities lined up during his visit to Nigeria, delivered a speech titled: The importance of resilient communities and religious tolerance in countering violent extremism. In the speech, the visiting U.S Secretary of State noted that Nigerias strength lies in its diversity of culture and religious tolerance just as he extolled the virtues of former leaders of the defunct Sokoto caliphate, including the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, who he said stood by the virtues of peace, unity and tolerance. He acknowledged President Muhammadu Buharis bold efforts in fighting insurgency and other crimes across the country, saying: Boko Haram boasts of no agenda more than to burn schools. They also kill and maim people, especially teachers, and it is the opposite of any religion. Kerry hailed the Sultan Abubakar for his efforts to entrench peace, unity and prosperity in Nigeria and beyond and welcomed the Sultanate Councils plan to establish an all-women university. In his reaction, Mr. Fani-Kayode took to his Twitter handle to slam Mr. Kerry for hailing the Sultan for promoting religious tolerance and understanding among Nigerians. See his tweet below: The United States has pledged to do more to encourage Nigerias fight against corruption even as it hailed President Muhammadu Buharis courage in tackling the hydra-headed monster. We applaud what you are doing. Corruption creates a ready-made playing field for recruiting extremists, visiting U.S. Secretary of State, Senator John Kerry, told Buhari at a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. You inherited a big problem, and we will support you in any way we can. We will work with you very closely. We dont want to interfere, but will offer opportunities as you require, the top U.S Government official said. Mr. Kerry pledged his countrys assistance to Nigeria in tackling the humanitarian challenges in the North-East, saying the U.S would get the United Kingdom, France and others to augment the support. Nigeria is priority for us. We wont miss the opportunity to work together, because you are making significant progress, he said. In his remarks, President Buhari assured Nigerians that the ongoing anti-corruption campaign in the country will be institutionalized and made to last beyond the life of his administration. He was quoted as making the pledge at the State House while receiving Kerry. A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, quoted him as saying, We will insist on the standards were establishing. We are laying down administrative and financial instructions in the public service that must be obeyed. Any breach will no longer be acceptable. We will retrain our staff, so that they understand the new orientation. And those who run foul of these rules will be prosecuted, no matter who is involved. But we will be fair, just and act according to the rule of law. Anyone perceived corrupt is innocent till we can prove it. We will work very hard to establish documentation for successful prosecution, and those in positions of trust will sit up. Buhari again appreciated the role the U.S played in the 2015 general elections in Nigeria, affirming that America did not do it because of what it stands to benefit from us. You did it for the Nigerian people. It tells so much what the U.S stands for in the world. On the Boko Haram insurgency, he thanked the U.S for both their hard and soft military help. The training and intelligence that we could not muster ourselves, we received. The training has made Boko Haram less of a threat to Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin region, while the military hardware has given our troops added confidence, he said. President Buhari also informed Mr. Kerry that though the militancy in the Niger Delta had impacted negatively on the economy and affected the positive intentions of international and local investors, his administration was showing restraint. Speaking on the economy, Buhari said his administrations focus was on diversification having learnt lessons from years of over-dependence on oil. No fewer than two-hundred and forty one Nigerians were repatriated from Libya by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) on Tuesday. Among the returnees were those trying to pass through Libya into Europe in search for greener pastures but became stranded. A breakdown of the figure shows there were 67 females out of which six were below the age of 18 years while four were minorsunder the age of four. The figure also indicates there were 174 males with three below 18 years and one under the age of four They were received by the National Emergency Management Agency Officials (NEMA) at the Lagos international airport. The agency have started transporting some of them to their respective states while those staying around Lagos were given transport fares to their places of destinations. Meanwhile, three of the returnees a male and two female are on admission at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital undergoing various medical treatments. Punch The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is set to arraign a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, for allegedly receiving N100m from the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation during the 2015 General Elections. Vanguard Chief Jamiu Afolabi Ekungba, a leading governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Ondo State, in this interview with journalists, in Ilorin spoke on why he wants to govern Ondo and his chances among others. Thisday The Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar has announced that his administration will soon embark on massive construction of schools across the state to make quality education accessible to the less privileged members of the society. The Sun The alleged killing of Omosebine Efotan, a 26-year-old motor mechanic in Abe-Oroyo, a coastal community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State by some Naval officers in the town, the community has been enveloped in grief, as the residents continue to mourn Efotan who many described as a committed and loyal indigene of the town. Guardian Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole have killed two senior Boko Haram commanders and several other insurgents at Darul Jamel on the fringes of Sambisa forest in Borno. Daily Trust The police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have arrested a 47-year-old consultant gynaecologist, Dr. Kalu Nwachukwu for allegedly sexually abusing some of his female patients. Daily Times Senate leader, Senator Ali Ndume, has criticised those calling for the restructuring of the country, saying the call is an unnecessary and misplaced venture. Leadership Armed policemen on Tuesday sealed the residence of former Governor of Kano State, Sen Rabiu Kwankwaso, located on Lugard Road in Kano metropolis. Tribune THE House of Representatives, on Tuesday, queried the Federal Government over the delay in the implementation of the N500 billion allocated to combat poverty in the country, as approved in the 2016 budget. Former president Olusegun Obasanjo is in the news again! This time, the elder statesman has come out to deny media reports claiming he and a few influential politicians help install President Muhammadu Buhari to power in 2015. Reacting to the report, the former Military ruler says, no individual or group including himself can lay claim to the victory of President Muhammadu Buharis in last year presidential election. The Owu chief added that Nigerians overwhelmingly voted for Buhari, hence, no one could claim to have brought him to power. The former president made this known in Jalingo, Taraba state capital, on Tuesday, August 23, when he paid a courtesy visit to Governor Darius Ishaku. Speaking to newsmen, Obasanjo said: I was astounded by media reports quoting me to have said that I and a few other persons brought President Buhari to power to save Nigeria. I never said that because it is not true. Nigerians voted overwhelmingly for the president and we are all witnesses to that fact. No single person or group can claim that glory. Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday reiterated his commitment to working for the peace and unity of the country. He made the pledge during a courtesy call on Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State yesterday in Jalingo, the state capital. Obasanjo said keeping Nigeria as a single entity was a task which must be taken with seriousness and by all Nigerians. If things work very well in this country it will be for the good of everyone of us and if things went (sic) wrong we would all be victims, the ex-president, who was in the state for a four-day private visit, said. In his address, Gov. Ishaku said when he assumed office there were conflicts of a different dimension in the state but such problems were addressed. Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has urged the people to reflect deeply about the state created about 25 years ago. In a statement by its spokesperson, Kunle Oyatomi, in Osogbo, the state capital, the party called on indigenes to prepare for the 25th anniversary of its creation, which comes up on Saturday. According to the party: The mood of the moment calls for every individuals deep reflection rather than festivities to identify and assess the progress made so far, economically, educationally, agriculturally and infrastructurally to correctly determine how these have impacted the present and would potentially influence the future. Of the 25 years that Osun has been created, the last six years have been the most dramatic and monumental, even if partially controversial. It is a period that future generations will recall with nostalgia as when Osun was jolted from its slumber as a so-called civil service state to a potential commercial hub of the Southwest. The socio-economic, educational and infrastructural development recorded by the state between November 2010 and now, which continues as you read this, is unprecedented in the history of the state, the statement reads. However, the gross indiscipline and economic mismanagement that characterized Nigerias Federal Government between 2013 and 2015, compounded by the collapse of crude oil prices at the international market over that same period, hugely impacted Osun negatively. This calamity notwithstanding, the people of Osun can look back with some pride at what has happened in the last six years of ACN/APC government-led by Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola. The progress this state has made in the last six years is more than double that recorded in the last 19 years before Rauf Aregbesola came to power in 2010, the party said. The Osun state Government has announced its plans to recruit more Physiotherapists to improve the quality of physiotherapy services to the people of the state of Osun. The Physiotherapy departments in all the State Hospitals would also be rehabilitated and equipped with modern facilities for better services. The Head of Service (HOS) state Government of Osun, Mr. Sunday Owoeye gave this assurance as the guest of honour at the programme for the Luncheon and Award ceremony to mark the end of the 3rd biennial Workshop organized by the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy (N.S.P), Osun State Chapter, held at Leisure Spring Hotel. The HOS who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Hospitals Management Board (HMB), Engr. Olusegun Aduroja also doubled as the Chairman of the occasion. In his keynote address, the Chairman enjoined the Physiotherapists who are into private practice to register fully with the state Government of Osun and pay their taxes regularly as at when due. The Awardees of the day were: Professor Akeem Lasisi, the Chief Medical Director of LAUTECH and Professor T.O Bello, the Head of Department of Radiology, LAUTECH Osogbo. The two Awardees pledged their continued support for the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapists. A tip-off received by Nigerias intelligence officers led to police raiding a suspected gay wedding ceremony on Saturday in the Northern city of Sokoto-a leading centre of Islamic learning, reports BBC Hausa Service. Police spokesman, Almustafa Sani told the news platform that authorities were conducting a thorough investigation with a view to charging the two people arrested for being involved in unnatural conduct. Mr Sani said homosexuality was illegal under Nigerias secular constitution and Islamic law which is applied in Sokoto state. This incident occurred hours before U.S top Diplomat, John Kerry visited the state. On his third visit to Nigeria in less than two years, the U.S envoy met with traditional, political and religious leaders, including Sokoto Sultan Muhammadu Saad Abubakar. Kerry appealed to Nigerians to practise equality and tolerance to overcome deep-seated ethnic and religious divisions. His remarks came two days after police raided a suspected gay wedding ceremony in the northern city, and one day after a Muslim mob in northern Nigeria killed eight people after torching the house of a Muslim man who stood up for a Christian student accused of blasphemy. The Nigerian Labour Congress and its affiliate organizations on Tuesday came out in their numbers in Lagos State to protest non-payment of their members salaries in over 20 states across the country. The workers specifically singled out Governors of Imo, Nasarawa and Benue States; Rochas Okorocha, Tanko Al-Makura, and Samuel Ortom respectively, for ridicule, accusing them of behaving like slave masters. This protest is to make a point that our governors, some of them, are becoming slave masters. They are no more governors, said former NLC Vice President and General Secretary of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, Comrade Isa Aremu. These three governors who are behaving like slave masters, namely Rochas Okorocha, Al-Makura, Ortom. I think we should use today to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to call these governors to order. Because Labour issues are federal issues, they are on the exclusive list, not on the concurrent list. No governor, no private employer should tamper with Labour issues. When it comes to salaries and terms of employment, its a federal law, and Nigerian laws are clear, its unconstitutional. The workers, who wore black armbands, marched through Maryland to Ikeja roundabout, grounding vehicular traffic as songs from the late Afrobeat maestro and social crusader, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, blared from giant loudspeakers. The black armbands were in mourning of two civil servants in Nasarawa State, who were allegedly shot and killed by the police during a meeting with Mr. Al-Makura, last month. A minute silence was observed for the late workers. In Nasarawa, in July, Governor Al-Makura who we used to like, a progressive governor, and in a sense he was quite progressive he was paying salaries as at when due but all of a sudden, he decided to cut the workers salaries by 50 percent, without negotiation, without proper consultation with organized Labour, Mr. Aremu added. Or even if he had done the consultation, you dont consult people to kill them. You cant consult on the cutting of salaries. So what Al-Makura has done is illegal and its criminal. Not only that, he threatened the workers. That if they refuse to accept the wage cut, he will sack all of them and replace them with what he called fresh graduates. And I was wondering, which fresh graduates will accept salaries that will be cut by 50 percent. The leadership of the NLC decided to intervene. And when they went there, the meeting was going on at the Government House, some police opened fire on the workers who were waiting for the outcome of the discussion. In the process, two workers were killed, and about three or four were seriously injured. The NLC leadership demanded that the Nasarawa governor pays full compensation to the survivors and dependants of the killed workers. I also want to reaffirm that immediately Governor Al-Makura should withdraw the criminal 50 percent reduction in salaries of Nasarawa workers, Mr. Aremu said. And that will be the condition for the suspension of the strikes that is going on today in Nasarawa. The protesters also criticized the three-day work and two-day farm policy recently introduced by Mr. Okorocha. The Imo State governor had announced a reduction in the working days of the week, from five days to three days to enable civil servants to cultivate the land for farming. Comrades, let me reaffirm here that Nigerian workers are Nigerian workers, they are not emergency farmers, Mr. Aremu said. You gave workers letters of appointment as a clerk, messenger, driver, supervisor, nurses, teachers. You have not given them letters of appointments to become farmers. In any case, how can a governor remain in Owerri, in the Government House, and ask all the workers to return back to the farms? He himself should be in the farm first. So if the governor is not a farmer, a worker is not a farmer. Reports making the rounds has claimed that President Buhari has sent an economic stabilisation bill to the National Assembly. The bill will effectively allow President Buhari wield wider powers in an economic emergency and bypass the National assembly in budgetary decisions and government spending. The Vice President in a statement yesterday insisted that the bill has not yet been sent to the National Assembly and is merely in the works. Stakeholders from diverse sectors of the economy including the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), telecommunications, academia and agriculture have thrown their support behind the bill. However, some of the stakeholders spoke of the need to guard against abuse as granting the President a blank check may be counter-productive. Through its President, Ayuba Wabba, the NLC said that the organised labour is in full support of the proposal coming from President Buhari. According to him, the workers umbrella body has seen areas where the President needs to take such action, pointing out that the executive requires such an executive power for the implementation of the budget. He said: As we all know that economy is in a recession now, the government needs to do anything that will quickly get us out of it. d. On the stand of some federal lawmakers to shoot down the Bill at the National Assembly, Wabba said the President is not somebody that misuses power, urging that the President should be allowed to have his way. To the General President of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Joe Ajaero, there is the need for the President to come out with more details on the request. He urged the President to come up with an economic blue print, adding that such power is within the Presidents reach. Ajaero said: We want the President to articulate economic policies that will take us out of this recession. It is then we can say our view. Also commenting, President of the Federation of Agricultural Commodity Associations of Nigeria (FACAN), Dr Victor Iyama, said the President should be granted emergency power to deal with the economic crisis facing the country. According to him, the economy needs a push to enhance Nigerians living standard, which he noted has fallen below average. A Criminology teacher in the Sociology Department, Imo State University, Owerri, Dr. Dan Nkwocha, also threw his weight behind President Buharis proposal to seek emergency powers to stimulate the economy. Describing the proposal as a welcome development, he said in view of the urgent need to halt the recession foisted on the economy and Nigerians by the crash in oil prices at the international market, the National Assembly should accede to the request in public interest. The varsity don said: Desperate situations require desperate measures. So, members of the National Assembly should be patriotic enough to grant the President the emergency powers to navigate the economy out of its current recession. Everybody knows that there is fire on the mountain and this requires urgent measures to stem the economic tide. I, therefore, appeal to the National Assembly to grant him the approval so that the economy can come out of the woods. The criminologist added that the President has made it clear that the emergency powers would be for a period of only 12 months. A former Executive Director, Keystone Bank Limited, Richard Obire, said that Nigeria need speed to fix its challenging economy, urging the President against abusing the emergency power if granted. Obire recalled that former President Shehu Shagari sought and secured similar power, although his administration was cut short military intervention. He said: During the Shagari era, the economy was in dire straits. He sought and secured the power to deal with the issues challenging the economy at that time. He tried to use the emergency power before the government was toppled. But Obire believes that unlike in the 1980s, the world today is better advanced with thoughts better articulated. A former President of the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Lanre Ajayi, said the Presidents decision to seek emergency powers to fix the economy underscored his genuine determination to bring succour to the populace. He, however, warned that granting excessive powers to the president might be dangerous on the long run, arguing that within the ambit of the Nigerian Constitution, the President has enormous powers which he could evoke to do whatever needed to be done to get the economy running. According to him, the Presidents intention might be good but it might be abused if not checked. The President of the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers of Nigeria (NATCOMS), Deolu Ogunbanjo said the President does not need any further powers to get the economy running. According to him, the law allows him ample room to use his enormous powers as the chief executive of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to manage the economy. Ogunbanjo urged the President to raise a team of experts that would advise him on monetary and fiscal policies that will help the economy back on stream, warning that granting the president emergency powers will lead to arbitrary use of powers, adding that the obnoxious Communications Service Tax Bill seeking a nine per cent tax on communications services in the country may be introduced by fiat. He said such a tax will be overkill for consumers and operators who are already reeling under a myriad of challenges including multiple taxation and dearth of infrastructure among others. On this day in 2015;Worried by alleged mismanagement of funds of the commission running into billions of Naira, the Presidency summoned the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to answer questions on the true financial status of the agency. Also on this day in 2014;Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, ordered the closure of the state owned Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago Iwoye following alleged threats by the students against his government. The governor directed the Governing Council of the institution to implement the order with immediately effect, saying it was done to forestall breakdown of law and order. Speaking through a statement signed by Secretary to State Government ,Taiwo Adeoluwa, the governor said the decision to shut the university was taken in the interest of peace and order. And on this day in 2013;Two Boko Haram suspects who disguised as women in order to escape the wrath of the Vigilante youths a.k.a Civilian JTF were arrested by the volunteer youths before they were killed after being handed over to the Joint Military Task Force, JTF. Their corpses were later dumped in Hausari ward. Troops on Operation Lafiya Dole stationed at Darul Jamel, on the fringes of Sambisa Forest in northern parts of Borno State, have repelled an attempted attack on their location by Boko Haram terrorists. The Nigerian Army, in a statement by its spokesman, Colonel Sani Usman, said the terrorists made the attempt at the troops location at about 10.00pm on Tuesday. The statement said the troops killed several of terrorists including two senior commanders that led the attack. According to Col. Usman, the troops recovered 1 Light Machine Gun (LMG) with Registration number 56M-1101229, 1 AK-47 Rifle Magazine, Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) Bomb and 1 top cover of an AK-47 Rifle. Other items recovered include 395 Rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition and 15 rounds of 5.5mm by .45 ammunition. The Army spokesman noted that prior to the attack, troops of the same unit on routine patrol had earlier cleared an ambush staged by elements of the suspected remnants of the terrorists desperate for food near Banki Junction. It is equally believed that the attack and ambush might not be unconnected to the fact that the terrorists were desperately targeting over 890 rescued herdsmen with their 5000 livestock being held captives by terrorists along Nigerian borders with Cameroon, he concluded. A 26-year-old unemployed, Toheeb Adetunji, who allegedly stole a laptop valued at N120, 000, was on Wednesday docked in Lagos. The accused, whose address is unknown, is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and escape from lawful custody at an Ojo Magistrates Court. The prosecutor, Insp. Uche Simon, told the court that the accused, with others still at large, committed the offences at 1: 00 p.m., on July 28, at Festac Town, Lagos. Simon alleged that the accused stole the laptop from one Abiola Ogundokun. Adetunji stole the laptop from the complainant who was about entering a commercial bus Ogundokun raised an alarm and the accused was caught by passers-by and handed over to the police while the others escaped, he said. The prosecutor also alleged that the accused had on Aug. 1, at Amuwo Odofin Police Station, escaped from lawful custody. He said the offences contravened Sections 106, 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The accused could bag a three-year jail term if convicted. Adetunji, however, pleaded not guilty. The Magistrate, Mr Titus Abolarinwa, granted the accused N150, 000 bail with two sureties in like sum. Abolarinwa said that one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the accused, and should be gainfully employed with evidence of three years tax payment in the state. The magistrate adjourned the case till Oct. 24 for further hearing. Source: Vanguard Nigerias prompt management of the recent outbreak of wild poliovirus in Borno State has been hailed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Nigeria was warming up to receive a polio-free certification from the organization before two fresh infections were reported in two local government areas of insurgency-ravaged Borno State over two weeks ago. The WHOs regional director, Matshiduso Moeti, who made the commendation at the 66th session of the African Regional Committee Meeting holding in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, also praised the openness of Nigerias Federal Government in the handling of the process that led to the discovery of the two new cases and the immediate declaration of Public Health Emergence in the area. Ms. Moeti particularly commended President Muhammadu Buhari for providing leadership especially his directive to the relevant government agency to immediately release funds budgeted for vaccines. The WHO regional director, who noted the leadership of Nigeria in addressing the issue, pledged the commitment of the body and other partners to work with Nigeria in addressing the problem of polio resurgence in Nigeria, adding that with concerted effort, Nigeria will soon attain the zero polio case status. She, however, called on Nigerians to remain calm as the government was doing the needful to protect the citizens from polio. She said that the governments posture was a great motivation for WHO and other polio eradication partners to support the country. Nigerias Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, expressed satisfaction with the level of understanding of the issues around the resurgence of polio showed by the WHO and partners and the level of support promised. He also expressed satisfaction on the agreement reached on the need for all the countries of the Lake Chad Basin to work toward kicking out polio out of the region. Prof. Adewole expressed the firm commitment of the Nigerian Government to protect the health of Nigerians. There are calls for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to probe former First Lady and wife of Late President Umaru Musa YarAdua, Hajia Turai YarAdua over the N10 billion she realized from her per project which never saw the light of the day. If you recall during the short-lived administration of her late husband, the once powerful First Lady brought together movers and shakers of the Nigerian economy under one roof and sold to them her idea to build a world class health centre, International Cancer Centre, where research and treatment of cancer and other related diseases would be conducted for societal benefit. Alhaji Aminu Dantata handsomely donated N1.2 billion (the highest donation), while his nephew, Aliko Dangote donated N1 billion on behalf of the Dangote Foundation. Not forgetting the once powerful Governors Forum lead by Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu (Niger state) who led other Governors to contribute N720 million, and many others, who donated handsomely towards building Nigerias first International Cancer Centre. At the end, Turais fund-raising ceremony was a monumental success. However, years down the lane, Nigeria is yet to benefit from the highly celebrated scheme. There is no indication that the money realized from the fund-raiser has been put to good use in the interest of the cancer victims across the country in which she sold the idea in the first place. As the administration continues to re-write the many wrongs of previous governments, it will be interesting to know what has happened to the N10 billion realized by Hajia Turai in pursuit of her seemingly noble venture. It would even be more interesting to know if the former first lady can give any meaningful account of how she utilized the money. Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Olabode George yesterday while addressing a conference at the Lagos PDP secretariat said the party was in ruins and imminent danger because the Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose are bent in destroying the party. He said the August 17 convention would have divided the party more, stressing that the convention was hijacked by the two governors to prosecute their 2019 ambitions. George said: This is indeed a sad period for the PDP; the sky is dark and bleak. The party is now at the edge of a cliff, dangling before imminent ruins and forfeiture. Our party has lost its soul, its fundamental defining logic of existence, stripped of all values of justice, fairness and equity. We thought that the crisis provoked by the issue of Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff would be finally laid to rest after the August 17 convention, but we couldnt be more wrong. To be specific Wike and Fayose have both succeeded in forming an unholy alliance against the growth and development of our party. He said having reviewed the situation, leaders of the party should never allow Wike and Fayose to come near any crucial decision making process again. He then submitted by saying: If youve ever driven through the mountains on a two-lane road, you know how frustrating it is to get caught behind a slow-moving vehicle. As you crawl along, you anxiously wait for a clear view of the passing lane ahead, and when youre clear, you get a brief moment to accelerate past the vehicle slowing you down. If you arent ready or you dont have the power you need to accelerate, you miss your opportunity, and you continue to be stuck in slow-moving traffic for who knows how long. This scenario reminds me of the brief opportunity a business has to move ahead of its competition when a new idea presents itself. Maybe its an entirely different way to conduct business. Or maybe its an innovative new app or something as simple as an update to a customer-facing service. If the IT team cant move fast enough, you miss the window your business has to capitalize on the new opportunity. The chance to move ahead of your competition passes you by; youre stuck having to wait for another opportunity to present itself and hoping you have enough power to accelerate past the competition when the passing lane is clear again. Youre challenged with a lack of resources and time to flex your infrastructure when a new opportunity comes knocking or an IT issue needs to be resolved. Spending the majority of your time managing and maintaining existing infrastructure is the number one obstacle keeping you from focusing on innovation. It puts tremendous pressure on your team and your ability to be able to adjust and keep up with the demands of your business. What you need is an IT infrastructure that can move at the speed of innovation. HPE OneView helps you accelerate time to value, simplifies operations, and provides you with the freedom you need to innovate and take control of your infrastructure instead of it controlling you. Developed as an infrastructure automation engine built with software-defined intelligence, HPE OneView allows you to deploy infrastructure faster and simplify lifecycle operations across compute, storage, and fabric resources. HPE OneView increases productivity via a unified API that connects infrastructure with applications and places IT firmly on the path toward composable infrastructure. For instance, HPE OneView connects HPE BladeSystem infrastructure to the network in a fraction of the time it would take to perform the same task manually. In fact, IT organizations using HPE OneView reduced the average time to deploy a BladeSystem enclosure of servers from 20 hours to less than 1 hour.1 On average, HPE BladeSystem and HPE OneView users deploy new services in 64% less time, through templates and software-driven processes; and, in turn, they spend an average of 40% less time just keeping the lights on in their datacenters.1 Using software-defined intelligence, HPE OneView automates your infrastructure. With the time thats freed up from maintaining infrastructure, you can now start to redeploy your IT resources into developing new applications and differentiated services, which will provide the acceleration you need when innovative opportunities present themselves in the future. More information on how your IT can move at the speed of innovation can be found here: HPE OneViewyour infrastructure automation engine 1Top 5 Reasons to Move to HPE BladeSystem, Slide 7, November 2015 Emmi sales, profits rise Swiss milk processor and dairy products company Emmi generated sales of CHF1,594million in the first half of 2016 an increase of 2.0 % compared to CHF1,563 million in the first six months of the previous year. Swiss milk processor and dairy products company Emmi generated sales of CHF1,594million in the first half of 2016 an increase of 2.0 % (in organic terms -0.7 %) compared to CHF1,563 million in the first six months of the previous year. It also achieved a net profit of CHF 61 million (previous year CHF46 million) and a net profit margin of 3.8 % (previous year 3.0 %). For full-year 2016, Emmi believes that it is on target for both sales and earnings. Emmi exceeded its earnings forecasts. The company generated an EBIT of CHF 92.5 million compared to CHF 84.4 million in the previous year (+9.5 %) and an EBIT margin of 5.8 % (previous year 5.4 %). The significant improvement in net profit includes, among others, the non-recurring negative effects of the erratic strengthening of the Swiss franc in 2015. The half-year sales reflect the challenging economic environment and the strong competition, with high milk volumes being one of the reasons, said Urs Riedener, CEO of Emmi. The profit development is the result of improved earnings abroad and the strong position in niches. The international subsidiaries contributed again to the profit increase. A further earnings uplift resulted from the more recently acquired companies. In the business division Switzerland, sales were 2.4 % below the same period last year at CHF853.2 million (previous year CHF874.2 million). This was due to the declining retail business, low milk prices, high competitive and import pressure, and continued strong retail tourism. Sales of fresh products grew in spite of this. Caffe Latte, YoQua and Energy Milk all made positive contributions. By contrast, cheese and fresh cheese recorded considerable falls in sales, suffering under the difficult economic conditions in the Swiss market. This was particularly pronounced for AOP cheese, while the Kaltbach specialities and the Luzerner Rahmkase (Lucerne cream cheese) achieved growth. The decline in dairy products (milk, cream, butter) was caused by a drop in volumes and lower milk prices. Sales in the powder/concentrates segment were unchanged, while those of other products/services were down slightly. The business division Switzerland accounted for 54 % of Group sales (previous year: 56 %). The business division Americas includes not only the US, Canada and Chile, but also Spain, France and Tunisia. Sales in this division amounted to CHF416.4 million (previous year CHF 387.3 million), an increase of 7.5 %. In organic terms, i.e. excluding currency and acquisition effects, this resulted in growth of 1.8 %. The positive acquisition effect is accounted for by the purchase of the cheese business of J.L. Freeman, the acquisitions of Redwood Hill and Cowgirl Creamery, and the increased stake in the trading entity SDA Chile. Growth was below expectations, primarily due to low milk prices in the US and the challenging economic situation in Chile and Spain. In the cheese business, locally produced goats cheese in the US and exported cheese specialities from Switzerland recorded pleasing growth rates. Fresh products and dairy products benefited from the excellent development in Tunisia (yogurts, desserts and milk). By contrast, sales growth in cows milk cheese produced in the US remained modest due to the low milk prices, whereas the volumes showed a pleasing development. Sales in Chile were stable, while those in Spain declined slightly, with the exception of the lactose-free range. The business division Americas accounted for 26 % of sales (previous year: 25 %). The business division Europe includes the markets Benelux, Germany, the UK, Italy and Austria. Sales in this division amounted to CHF254.4 million (previous year CHF230.8 million), a rise of 10.2 % (in organic terms 1.2 %). This enabled the business division to hold its own, despite the ongoing strength of the Swiss franc. The positive acquisition effect is the result of the stake in Bettinehoeve. The fresh products (primarily Caffe Latte and Italian desserts), cheese (exports of speciality cheeses such as Kaltbach and Der scharfe Maxx) and dairy products (Glaserne Molkerei, Germany) segments had positive impacts. By contrast, sales of AOP cheeses (generally) and fresh cheese in Italy and the Netherlands (AVH dairy) declined. The business division Europe accounted for 16 % of Group sales (previous year: 15 %). The business division Global Trade covers direct sales from Switzerland to customers in international markets, mainly in countries where Emmi has no subsidiaries or investments. These include the Asian and Eastern European markets, as well as certain South American countries (e.g. Brazil) and the Arabian Peninsula. The division generated sales of CHF70.1 million, compared with CHF70.6 million in the previous year, which corresponds to a slight decline of 0.7 % (in organic terms: growth of 0.7 %). The development primarily reflects the lower sales in cheese. The increase in the powder/concentrates and dairy products segments can be attributed to higher milk volumes and the related exports of milk powder and butter. Global Trade accounted for 4 % of Group sales (previous year: 4 %). Emmi said that it does not expect the economic conditions to change significantly in the second half of the year, with the highly competitive and volatile environment and the low milk prices likely to remain determining factors in the second half of the year. In addition, significant macroeconomic uncertainties recently appeared. For example, it is not yet possible to fully assess the consequences of the Brexit vote in the UK. Sales development in 2016 continues to be strongly affected by the challenging situation in the Swiss market, where import pressure and retail tourism persist. Nonetheless, Emmi said that it is confident that it will be able to achieve the targets communicated in Switzerland and Europe. In the business division Americas, however, it is becoming clear that the targeted organic growth of 5 % to 7 % is too ambitious for this year, due to the low milk prices in the US as well as the difficult economic conditions in Chile and Spain. At Group level, Emmi therefore anticipates a sales growth of -1 % to 1 % (previously 0 % to 1 %) and slightly increases its earnings outlook (previous EBIT CHF180 million to CHF190 million, new EBIT CHF185 million to CHF195 million; previous net profit margin slightly above 3 %, new net profit margin slightly above 3.5 %). Open Enrollment 101: Make the Most of Your Benefits Young & The Invested - 14 minutes ago The 2022 open enrollment season will be a difficult one as workers have to factor in persistently high inflation while they choose their coverage. These tips can help you maximize your benefits. Cattle Market Fades on Friday Barchart - Fri Oct 28, 4:39PM CDT Live cattle futures ended the weeks last trade day down by 35 cents to $1.02 with soon to expire October down the most. Cash trade picked up later in the week with some Friday catch up sales mostly... LEV22 : 150.375s (-0.68%) LEZ22 : 153.000s (-0.28%) LEG23 : 156.325s (-0.33%) GFX22 : 177.875s (-0.14%) GFF23 : 180.375s (-0.04%) Hogs Rebound into Weekend Barchart - Fri Oct 28, 4:39PM CDT Lean hog futures ended the Friday round with 32 to 97 cent gains to fade the triple digit losses from Thursday. The USDA National Average Base Hog Price was $90.54 in the PM update, down by $1.15. The... HEZ22 : 86.100s (+1.15%) HEJ23 : 92.700s (+0.62%) KMZ22 : 96.125s (+0.37%) Cotton Falls Triple Digits Barchart - Fri Oct 28, 4:39PM CDT December cotton ended the day locked limit lower on the 3c loss. The March contract worked back off the limit for the bell, but still went home down by 274 points. For the week, Dec cotton closed 702 points... CTZ22 : 72.11s (-3.99%) CTH23 : 72.07s (-3.66%) CTK23 : 72.30s (-2.99%) Loss for Friday Wheat Barchart - Fri Oct 28, 4:39PM CDT Wheat futures faded on Friday with the front month contracts going home 6 1/4 to 9 1/4 cents lower in SRW. For the December contract that completed the week with a 21 1/2 cent loss. KC futures closed down... ZWZ22 : 829-2s (-1.10%) ZWH23 : 849-0s (-1.05%) ZWPAES.CM : 7.6281 (-1.18%) KEZ22 : 925-0s (-0.78%) KEPAWS.CM : 8.8324 (-0.81%) MWZ22 : 945-0s (-0.58%) Corn Closes Red on Friday Barchart - Fri Oct 28, 4:39PM CDT Front month corn futures settled the Friday session with fractional to 1 1/2 cent losses. The December contract saw a tight 7 1/2 cent range from -6 cents to +1 1/2 cents on the day. It was also down for... ZCZ22 : 680-6s (-0.22%) ZCPAUS.CM : 6.7193 (-0.15%) ZCH23 : 686-6s (-0.15%) ZCK23 : 686-2s (unch) Diversifying the pool of STEM students and workers across the country is an especially hot funding area of late, as we've reported. In one recent gift I wrote about, private equity billionaire Robert Smith gave $50 million to his alma mater Cornell to fund scholarships and fellowships for groups traditionally underrepresented in engineering and technology. Meanwhile, we've written about a long list of corporate funders, particulary tech companies, that are giving money for STEM diversity, with an eye on future workforce needs. Related: Of course, institutions like Cornell aren't the only place where this type of work can occur. Consider historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), of which there are over 100. While HBCUs only produce 16 percent of all bachelors degrees earned by African-Americans according to one source, these schools allot for around 22 percent of all bachelors degrees in STEM fields earned by black students. Not too long ago, Apple partnered with Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) and committed $40 million over four years to create a database of computer science majors at HBCUs, provide training for both students and faculty, and create scholarships. Related: Look Who's Behind the Latest Push for STEM Diversity Now comes news that Morehouse College in Atlanta recently secured $2.5 million in funding from Jim and Marilyn Simons towards educating math and science students. The billionaire Simons couple are well-known for their passion for mathematics and the sciences. The Simons Foundations Education & Outreach programs seek to "stimulate a deeper interest and understanding of science and mathematics among students, professionals and the interested public." Their project Math for America (MfA), meanwhile, offers a range of teaching fellowships and professional development opportunities for STEM teachers, and also has contributed to contributed to legislation on public teaching and education. Significantly, this Simons gift didn't go through their foundation, but was personal, which is a reminder that not of the couple's giving tracks with the program priorities of the Simons Foundation. Morehouse seems to be doing a lot of right things on the STEM front. Between 2004 and 2013, the Atlanta-based school produced the most black male baccalaureates in the biological sciences, physics, and mathematics and statistics, according to the most recent data available from the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics. As Jim Simons puts it, "Marilyn and I deeply appreciate the unique role that Morehouse plays in our country. We are fortunate to be able to support Morehouse in its efforts to provide top-quality math and science education to a cohort of future leaders in the STEM fields. It is our hope that Morehouse graduates will serve as role models and help attract new and diverse talent to the STEM professions." It's also worth noting that HBCUs themselves have diversified over the years as well. In 2011, non-black students made up 19 percent of enrollment. About a year ago, RWJF started digging deeper into unexpected factors in public health and equity problems. The latest such grant ventures into a huge issue for philanthropy right nowwater, specifically drought. Water quality and supply in the U.S. is a huge and growing issue among philanthropists, as population growth, climate change, and aging infrastructure pose a slew of problems for communities of all kinds. California-based funders have taken the lead in the American Westunsurprising, considering the pressing scarcity issues in the region, and drought thats troubled the state for going on five years. Its not just an issue for environmental funders, and indeed, one of the reasons water is such a bustling field right now is the spread of related societal implications. Related: "Extremes Are Becoming the Norm." Why Water is the Next Big Issue For Philanthropy Case in pointRobert Wood Johnson Foundation has awarded a $284,680 research grant to the University of California, Riverside to study how drought, extreme temperatures and resulting water policy impacts health, with an emphasis on poorest communities. Principal investigator Kurt Schwabe, who has been doing a lot of innovative work lately around economics, policy and water management, will compare 20 years of health data with other datasets related to weather and drought. Schwabe will look not only at outcomes like mortality and infant birth rate, but also emotional distress, binge drinking and self-rated health to try to add depth to our understanding of water policys impacts. Policymakers take into account many factors when trying to understand the negative impact of drought and water supply restrictionsagriculture, economics, needs of citiesbut theres not much data out there on the health effects. And Schwabe suspects economic stats like the $2.7 billion lost in 2015 in California only really scratches the surface. The economic impact to the state on the whole may actually be far less devastating than the health impacts, especially in poor communities that arent currently part of the equation. Take into account the potentially long-term and severe physical and emotional distress that drought and extreme temperature have on poor, often immigrant communities, and it could change the way decision-makers respond to threats. The grant is part of a larger program at RWJF, and a trend in health philanthropy overall, to drill into the data behind some of the upstream causes of poor health outcomes. RWJF, in particular, is obsessed with data and how it can be used to improve health. Related:Heading on a New Mission, the Mother Ship of Health Philanthropy Wants More Answers The foundation launched in summer 2015 a program with a $25 million commitment over three years for innovative research related to health, emphasizing sectors not typically associated with health, like transportation and housing. The water grant comes from one branch of that program, Evidence for Action. It all feeds into the funders Culture of Health mission to take a more comprehensive look at what determines health and well-being, beyond the health care sector. Its also worth noting that RWJF was one of 10 funders that made an allocation of $125 million to help Flint, Michigan recover from its water crisis. So the consequences of water management on public health are definitely on its radar. Theres another major theme here in this grantmaking that were seeing a lot in philanthropy and expect to expand, although its not explicitly part of the researchclimate resilience. As the negative consequences of climate change become more apparent and severe, there are communities that are feeling that pain far worse than others. You can guess where they land on the socioeconomic spectrum, and that dynamic is only going to get worse. Many funders, such as Kresge and Rockefeller, are making it a priority to assist these communities, and health and emotional distress will be a huge component that weaves into this multifaceted area of need. Related:Why Kresge's Helping Low-Income Communities Lead on Climate Change In a recent post examining the formation of the Davyd Whaley Foundation, we likened the Southern California arts philanthropy scene to Swiss cheese, noting that while "the region may be (aesthetically) enticing, savory, and fulfilling, it's nonetheless riddled with holes." And so the foundation set up shop to address a blind spotthe lack of direct funding to "under-recognized, mid-career artists" and teacher-artists in the Los Angeles area. The provocative (and delectable) analogy aside, we don't want to give the impression that Los Angeles grantmakers don't support their native artists and organizations. Take the Hammer Museum's Mohn Awards, funded by Jarl and Pamela Mohn, for example. Totaling $150,000, the awards, which are granted for artistic excellence to a Los Angeles artist featured in the museums biennial, Made in L.A. 2016: a, the, though, only,are among the largest art prizes dedicated to emerging and under-recognized artists in the region. And the winner is? That would be Adam Linder, an Australia-born, L.A.-based dancer and choreographer, whose Klein Paradiso "pokes a stick at the abstract." "Its a big deal," Linder said, because "[dance] is definitely not at the top of the disciplinary pinnacle in [museums]. But I think performance and dance have had a resurgent invitation into the visual arts and museological practice in the last decade to two decades." But there's more. The museum also announced the winners of its Career Achievement Award ($25,000) and the Public Recognition Award ($25,000). The former went to Wadada Leo Smith while the latter went to Kenzi Shiokava. "The Hammer's Made in L.A. biennial has quickly become known as a definitive source of recognizing brilliant new emerging artists and long time under-recognized creators of innovative art," said the award's namesake and funder, Jarl Mohn. "This biennial is the early forecast system for creative genius in Los Angeles." We recently published an extensive profile on Jarl Mohn here. In short, he's best known as the CEO of National Public Radio and for his support of Southern California Public Radio and KPCC-FM. But what, precisely, was the impetus for funding the awards? For an answer, we turn to a variant on the domino theory that stipulates that "past giving leads to more giving." To hear the LA Times tell it: The Mohns were inspired by the Pacific Standard Time series of exhibitions, funded by the Getty Foundation, which have brought local arts organizations together to explore subjects such as the history of art in California or the region's role as a hotbed for cutting-edge architecture. Their funding of the prizes, Jarl Mohn says, is an attempt to support a handful of emerging artists from Los Angeles with something that is "meaningful and impactful." And so emerging and under-recognized L.A. artists now have another avenue for direct funding, the beneficiaries of a motivating and (quite possibly) competitive dynamic whereby innocuous and isolated gifts can, over time, snowball into impactful funding for the region at large. "I was so impressed by what the institutions had done in Southern California, that everyone would work together," Jarl Mohn says. "It was a gift to the artistic community and that nudged me." A father-and-son team who owned Lazo, a tapas restaurant in Beverley, England, have sold the business after a year of operation to concentrate on the familys growing self-storage portfolio. Dean Booty, 35, owns Beverley 24 Hour Self Storage and recently acquired Stor More in nearby Willerby. Booty owned Lazo with his father, Rob, but wanted to concentrate on prepping the Willerby location for opening this fall, he told the source. "We've just bought a second self-storage facility in Willerby, and we just can't run that and the restaurant, he said. We've been trying to do both, but we've realized it's just not been feasible, so we put it on the market. We're really looking forward to opening Stor More. It's a 1,000-square-foot facility with great road networks, so we're really excited about it. I can't wait. It's a massive opportunity for us." The new owner of Lazo, Eyyup Demir, has closed the restaurant for remodeling and plans to open the tapas eatery next month, the source reported. The Bootys launched Beverley 24 Hour in 2012. The facility caters to business and residential customers via traditional drive-up units and container storage. It also offers records storage. Security features include closed-circuit television and LED lighting, and customers have 24-hour access using fob devices, according to the company website. RealCap, a real estate crowdfunding company, has launched its first investment platform with the Self Storage Opportunity Fund. The company intends to raise $10 million from accredited investors to acquire storage properties nationwide. Expected returns are 10 percent to 15 percent, with a minimum investment of $10,000 per investor, according to a press release. Launched on Aug. 22, the fund hadnt received any investments as of 2:30 p.m. ET today. "The real estate investment world for individual investors has historically been deeply flawed," said Matt Schuberg, co-founder and CEO. "High fees, low returns and high minimums are not a good combination for investors. We launched RealCap to resolve these issues by cutting out the middlemen and migrating the entire transaction process online." The founding members of RealCap have more than 20 years of real estate investment experience and were attracted to self-storage due to a stable record of rising rents, high occupancy and limited supply of new construction, the release stated. "The goal with our first fund is to provide investors with potential double-digit returns by acquiring underperforming self-storage properties and improving management inefficiencies, Schuberg said. We take a fundamental approach to evaluate the property and how additional sources of income can be added to improve the quality of the asset, including solar ports for RV and boat storage, energy buy-back agreements, and cell towers." Based in Santa Monica, Calif., RealCap intends to target passive investments in high-quality, cash-flowing real estate and self-storage properties without requiring large sums of capital, the release stated. @J_R_Fitzpatrick @FlamboroSpdwy AYR, Ont. August 23, 2016 JR Fitzpatricks effort to win the inaugural Super Late Model Gold Rush 100 at Flamboro Speedway on Monday night was derailed by a $10 part. Fitzpatrick was running second with 16 laps to go when a pin hole in flex hose in the left front ended his night. The car was really good and kept getting faster and faster with more grip as were going. Believe it or not it was like a $10 flex line on the left front that blew a pin hole in it. It was one of those fluke things that could never happen again, Fitzpatrick said following the race. Well just move along to our next OSCAAR race and see if we can win the points. Fitzpatrick qualified eighth in time trials, a result he wasnt particularly happy with, but come feature time he realized the car was simply better on the longer green flag runs. It was real loose. I needed a long run to get going. After we had a bout 10 or 12 laps on the car it just came to life, Fitzpatrick explained. That showed in the feature and it was a pleasure to drive. Fitzpatrick raced to second on a lap 40 restart following a competition fuel stop. From there he chased leader Andrew Gresel, keeping his distance to preserve the car, but also remaining close enough to jump at an opportunity. He got that chance on another restart with 55 laps complete and early beat Gresel off turn two to claim the lead. That time I just about had him cleared is when my (brake) pedal started going down. I went in to (turn) three pretty hard and the pedal started going down so I washed up a bit. I couldnt keep him pinned down, Fitzpatric said of his battle with Gresel. All in all it was a lot of fun. I think we would have had something for him, but if not we would have been right on his tail. He remained in second until he was forced to pull off on lap 84. While he was disappointed he wasnt able to finish the race, Fitzpatrick was happy with the progress he made in his fourth start this year at Flamboro. We tried a bunch of new stuff for this race specifically and I just got the car back from being repaired. To have a good run like that means a lot to all of us. We put a lot of hours in to it and having my family supporting me, Alaura and Emma-Lee, means a lot, Fitzpatrick said following the race. The 100-lap distance was closer to Fitzpatricks roots in what is now the NASCAR Pintys Series where he routinely raced 200 or more laps. Im sweating less now than I am after a 50-lapper. Im so used to the longer races and pacing myself. I get in to a good rhythm the longer I go and I think that made a big difference for us. I wish all of the races were like this, he explained. The first time event for the Super Late Models was a strong one that left drivers, organizers and fans all eager for more next year. Fitzpatrick included. All in all it was a great effort. It was a good show and I wish they would do more stuff like this, Fitzpatrick said. It was great for the first time. Fitzpatrick will fix the flex line and tinker with the car before hitting the track again next Saturday, August 27 for the first round of the OSCAAR Super Late Model Race for the Cup at Sauble Speedway. SEASON STATS JR Fitzpatrick 11 Starts: 2 Wins, 9 Top-5s, 9 Top-10s FOLLOW FITZPATRICK Website: www.jrfitzpatrick.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/JRFitzpatrick Twitter: @J_R_Fitzpatrick JR Fitzpatricks 2016 OSCAAR Super Late Model season is presented by a number of dedicated sponsors, including: Auto Parts Centres, Meineke Car Care, Transaxle Heavy Truck & Trailer Parts, Cambridge Rigging, Equipment Express, Jenco Equipment, McColl Racing Enterprises, Creative Edge Signs, Wix Filters, Permatex, Driven Steering Wheels, Spray Nine, Deon Racecars, APX Racewear, Clayton Johns Media and ImageFactor.ca Motorsport Designs. Prepared By Clayton Johns Media claytonjohns@hotmail.com @Hawn42 @HawnRacing @flamborospdwy ORO STATION, Ont. August 23, 2016 Tyler Hawn earned an eighth-place finish in the inaugural Super Late Model Gold Rush 100 presented by London Recreational Racing at Flamboro Speedway on Monday night. Hawn had a spectacular night that began with a third-place time trialing effort against 19 Super Late Models, including two from Michigan. What made it particularly impressive is that it was Hawns first time trial opportunity this year. I cant believe it, Hawn said of his qualifying results. I was told to just drive it until it sticks and we came out near the top. It just shows how far weve come this year. The Gold Rush race offers each driver the opportunity to sacrifice their starting spot and go to the rear for a chance to double the winners prize if they can win from last. Hawn played rock-paper-scissors with his crew to help decide and led to a decision to keep their third-starting spot. When polesitter Brandon Watson took the challenge, Hawn moved up to start outside the front row. He ran in the top-five for the majority of the race, keeping pace with the leaders. Hawn was comfortably in fourth-place following the competition caution for a fuel stop on lap 40. A lap 55 restart saw him in the outside lane where he got pushed back to eighth. We were a top-four car. We got hit in the door pretty hard in the left front wheel (on lap 10) and we might have bent a ball joint, Hawn said. On a restart we started on the outside and got shuffled back to eighth. It is what it is, but were happy to be running with these guys. The result is Hawns eighth-straight top-10 finish this season. Its pretty big. I feel as a team that we won for sure. Were on a super limited budget. For us being a top-10 car in this field and qualifying third against the likes of Jeff Hanley, Brandon Watson and all those guys is just surreal, Hawn said proudly. Plenty of credit is due to the support of Hawns regular sponsors and crew, but also a group of individuals who jumped on board to support Hawns effort. I have to thank all of my crew, Brian MacDonald, all my sponsors and all of the guys who came on board for this race, Hawn said. Its overwhelming the amount of support I got for this race. Even more impressive is the result came in his first career 100-lap race. Previously, 75 laps was the longest distance for Hawn. Halfway came up and I thought I was going to be pretty tired, but I wasnt. I liked the long runs because the car would be a lot better, Hawn said. Hawn now has a short week to prepare for the first round of the OSCAAR Super Late Model Race for the Cup at Sauble Speedway this Saturday. Hell take a fatter notebook and a confidence boost towards the race. The car is in one piece. Theres a little bit of body work to fix up plus the normal maintenance before Sauble next week. Hopefully we can continue on with the speed we had for next week. SEASON STATS Tyler Hawn 2016 Season: 8 Starts 0 Wins, 3 Top-5, 8 Top-10s UP NEXT August 27 OSCAAR Super Late Models at Sauble Speedway MEDIA LINKS Website: www.hawnmotorsports.com Facebook at facebook.com/HawnMotorsports Twitter: @Hawn42 and @HawnRacing Tyler Hawns 2016 OSCAAR Super Late Model season is supported by several dedicated sponsors, including: Foxs Bakery and Deli, Atlantis Bath Centre, TSS Top Shops, Auto Trim Barrie, Belt Conveyor Guarding, and Backwoods Maple Syrup. Tyler Hawn would like to thank the individuals who also supported him in the Gold Rush 100: Rick Walt, Mike Schmidt, Dan Bartlett, Rick Rogers, Ken Semkin, Ken Denhollander, and Robert James. Prepared By Clayton Johns Media claytonjohns@hotmail.com American Petroleum Institute data released yesterday surprised oil markets with a significant increase in crude inventories and a sharp decline in distillate stocks. In response, futures contracts for front-month delivery of West Texas Intermediate grade crude declined by more than 1 percent, despite news that Iran may support a production cap by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. Brent grade futures also declined, contributing to a mild selloff for emerging market assets. The Energy Information Administrations data on U.S. inventories will be released later today. After energy markets were buoyed by a 2.5-million-barrel contraction in last weeks report, any confirmation of the API estimates by the Department of Energy analysis would revive concerns over a supply glut. For investors, the question is whether a concerted effort by OPEC could achieve the desired effect, or if rising supply levels are signaling that oil prices will remain range-bound until global demand increases. Apollo settles with SEC over fee disclosures. The Securities and Exchange Commission announced a settlement yesterday with New York-based alternative-asset investment firm Apollo Global Management that includes a $52.8 million fine over fee disclosures to investors. According to the SEC, Apollo failed to properly disclose fees that the management firm charged to companies in its portfolio prior to selling them. Known as monitoring termination fees, the charges have been controversial with buyout fund investors, many of whom claim that they are created without any additional work performed by the manager. The SEC did not address the nature of the fees but rather the disclosure in its complaint. Glencore reports smaller loss for first half. Mining company Glencore Financial released first-half 2016 results today, with the mining giant reporting a net loss of $369 million for the period despite improving commodity prices during the early portion of the year. The loss represents an improvement over the same period last year despite declining revenues, as the company continues to sell assets and cut costs. On Tuesday, Glencore announced a deal to sell a portion of an Australian gold field to Evolution Mining. Year-to date Glencore has shed more than $3.5 billion in assets with a target to sell up to $5 billion before 2016 ends. Pfizer acquires drug rights from AstraZeneca. New York drug company Pfizer yesterday announced an agreement to acquire a suite of antibiotics from AstraZenecas portfolio, in a deal potentially valued at more than $1.5 billion. The rights to produce and distribute the five drugs in the transaction will not extend to non-U.S. and Canadian markets, since other firms hold those concessions. The transaction is the latest in which AstraZeneca spun off distribution rights to products outside its core focus areas while retaining the underlying intellectual property. On Monday it was announced that Pfizer had agreed to acquire cancer drug developer Medivation for $14 billion. Pfizer made an offer to buy AstraZeneca in May 2014 but was rebuffed. German GDP confirms a slowdown. The Statistisches Bundesamt Deutschland today released gross-domestic-product data that confirmed that the pace of growth slowed slightly in the second quarter. The headline GDP index slowed to an expansion of 0.4 percent on a quarterly basis versus a prior 0.7. Critically, investment levels dropped during the period as corporate leaders braced for the fallout from the United Kingdoms vote to leave the European Union. Earthquake devastates remote region of Italy. A 6.2 Richter scale earthquake in a mountainous region of central Italy has left an estimated 40 people dead and destroyed several historic rural villages. The remoteness of the area has made emergency response difficult. Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi will visit the region today as rescuers continue to search for survivors. This content is from: Opinion Cryptos descent into hell, rather than sending institutional investors straight for the exits, has triggered a hunt for the next big bet.(Part of the crypto column series.) A new Vermont law introduces changes to the legal requirements for consumer litigation funding companies in the state. These companies will now need to get licensed and post a surety bond in order to operate legally. Vermont House Bill 84, which took effect on July 1st, poses stricter regulations on consumer litigation funding companies. The purpose of the new legislation is to provide clear rules for this service area and to protect the interests of consumers. The same bill also stipulates tighter consumer protection rules for mortgage brokers in Vermont. The move to stricter regulation of consumer litigation funding comes after a period of tighter observation of the industry in the last several years. As consumer litigation companies provide financing to people who are undergoing a legal claim or civil action, the state bodies deem it necessary to ensure proper compensation to consumers in case the funding company breaks the applicable consumer protection laws. The lawmakers believe that new rules will set the stage for a more secure environment for consumers using the services of such companies. What House Bill 84 entails The most important change for Vermont litigation funding companies is that they need to get licensed in order to operate in the state. They are also obliged to give their customers a certain type of information and to report on their business in the state on an annual basis. Additionally, as part of the registration, funding companies are required to post a surety bond or a letter of credit if they want to operate in the state. The security should be either twice the amount of the largest fund they have provided in a period of three years, or $50,000, whichever is greater. The new licensing requirements in detail Vermont litigation funding companies now need to get licensed with the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation. The main requirements for getting the right to work in the state include posting a security in the form of a surety bond or a letter of credit, paying the licensing fee of $600 for a three year license, providing tax certification and having a registered agent recorded with the Vermont Secretary of State. The licensing is done via the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System & Registry (NMLS). Obtaining the surety bond is one of the main financial factors in getting licensed. While the bond amount may seem considerable $50,000 in fact, consumer litigation funding companies do not need to cover the whole sum to get bonded. The surety bond price is a fraction of the bonding amount. The premium is based on the financial stability of the company, such as credit score, assets and liquidity and overall finances. The purpose of the new rules While the new requirements for Vermont consumer litigation funding companies entail more administrative and financial steps that need to be satisfied, the bill is meant to bring a positive change in the industry. Since such funding companies typically offer funding to injured claimants during lawsuits in return for a percentage of the compensation they would receive, it is important that the interests of consumers are safeguarded. The new requirements for licensing and bonding aim to minimize any potential damage to the customers of the funding companies in case their rights are breached. The bill is expected to eliminate fraudulent practices in the industry, thus improving the image of consumer litigation funding companies. Todd Bryant is the president and founder of Bryant Surety Bonds. He is a surety bonds expert with years of experience in helping business owners get bonded and start their business. Topics Lawsuits Mergers & Acquisitions Legislation Vermont A powerful earthquake hit central Italy in the middle of the night, killing at least 120 people, in the latest challenge to Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi as he tries to speed up the countrys economy and overhaul its political system. The quake struck at 3:36 a.m. Wednesday, destroying small mountain towns in the regions of Lazio, Umbria and Marche and burying victims in the rubble of collapsed buildings, the Civil Protection agency said on Wednesday. The death toll continued to climb throughout the day as rescuers searched for survivors and bodies amid the debris. At least 120 lives came to an end, Renzi said, speaking to reporters in Rieti, central Italy after a visit to some of the worst-affected towns and villages. Very serious work will now be needed. The catastrophe hit as the premier already faces criticism for Italys economic stagnation and rising public debt as he faces a referendum in the fall that could decide his political future. His response may be crucial to his levels of public support. A survey last month by the IPR Marketing Institute showed 52 percent of respondents opposed Renzis proposed reform, with 48 percent in favor. Then-Premier Silvio Berlusconi first won praise then censure for his response to the 2009 earthquake that devastated the city of LAquila that killed more than 300 people. Such an event can add to the list of risks that Renzi is already facing or it can be an opportunity to show his capacity for leadership in a crisis situation, Roberto DAlimonte, a political science professor at Romes Luiss University, said in a phone interview. People will certainly compare his performance to that of Berlusconi at the time of the LAquila earthquake. Felt in Rome The 6.0-magnitude tremor hit at a depth of 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) around 43 kilometers from the town of Rieti, according to the Italian Institute of Geology and Vulcanology. Shaking was felt in buildings in Rome and there were a series of aftershocks reported. Everything collapsed, there was just dust, and now theres nothing there, said Silvia, a young woman standing on the side of the road in the hard-hit village of Amatrice, who declined to give her last name. Relief efforts were hampered by damage to radio and satellite links, said Civil Protection. We must be equipped for the emergencies of the next few hours, days and weeks, but for now the priority above all is to continue searching through the rubble, Renzi said in a televised address. I will visit the affected area late this afternoon. Italian President Italian President Sergio Mattarella was in close contact with Civil Protection since the early hours of the morning and returned to Rome from Palermo, Sicily, according to a statement from his office. Lazios regional president, Nicola Zingaretti, described the situation as an incredible catastrophe and urged people to not to clog the main relief routes. Collapsed Buildings Buildings lay in ruins throughout the historical center of Amatrice, with a population of about 2,500, around 140 kilometers northeast of Rome. Relief crews and residents searched through the rubble as dust-covered injury victims were taken away in stretchers. The road leading to Amatrice was filled with cracks and littered with boulders as people, some still in their pajamas, were still streaming away from the worst-hit areas at mid-morning. Television pictures showed an almost completely collapsed village center. At least one child was rescued from the rubble. The houses are gone and people are under, there are likely dead, Amatrice Mayor Sergio Pirozzi told Sky TG24. Please help us, the roads are closed, please. The mayor of Accumoli, Stefano Petrucci, told RAI at least four people a family with two children were trapped under rubble there and the town had no power. At least one person was killed, he said. The 2009 earthquake in LAquila, about 115 kilometers southeast of Amatrice, was the countrys deadliest in almost three decades. It damaged thousands of buildings in and around the medieval city of LAquila and caused billions of euros in damage. Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics Earthquake A 20-foot-long drone that was brought to North Dakota to test precision agriculture methods is now part of a trial run to see if can help crews restore power to areas hit by natural disasters. The Israeli-manufactured Elbit Systems Hermes 450 aircraft can cover 40,000 acres in an hour and fly up to 17 hours before refueling. Officials involved in the Xcel Energy test program say the larger drones ability to cover more ground, collect more data and fly at night is expected to help the company move crews, materials and equipment quickly and safely. When you have a storm, when you have fires, getting crews on the ground to identify damage is flat-out dangerous, Raanan Horowitz, president and CEO of Elbit Systems of America, said when the drone was shown off to public officials at an airport in Hillsboro, about 35 miles north of Fargo. One of the tests involves a mock disaster using power poles placed in ditches in and around the nearby city of Mayville. Preliminary reports show that the drone is effective in quickly locating the downed poles both day and night, Xcel Energy Vice President Laura McCarten said. Apparently those wood poles stay warmer than the surroundings, so the infrared technology is able to spot them at night, she said. Xcel Energy is headquartered in Minneapolis and serves customers in North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Colorado, Michigan, Texas and New Mexico. There are still key issues to be ironed out before the drones can be used on a widespread commercial basis, including Federal Aviation Administration approval to operate beyond line of sight, or without the use of a chase plane keeping tabs on the planes. North Dakota Sen. John Hoeven said he hopes North Dakota will be flying drones without chase planes by the end of the year. Youre covering such big distances. Youre losing the utility of the unmanned aircraft if you have to have a chase plane, Hoeven said. Minnesota Rep. Collin Peterson, whose district borders North Dakota, said the FFA didnt do too bad of a job on regulations for small drones, but he expects a much stiffer challenge on rules for larger aircraft. The FAA is very slow moving bureaucracy, to say the least, Peterson said. If larger unmanned aircraft are approved for beyond-line-of-sight operations, Horowitz said the quadcopters and drones that weigh less than 55 pounds would still be used in a complementary role. The bottom line is, when you look at the size and the areas that you are trying to cover, when you look at the resolution, when you look at using sensors that can yield data that is actually usable, this is the way to go, Horowitz said of the Hermes drone. Elbit Systems and Xcel Energy have combined to contribute about $500,000 into flying the Hermes drone. McCarten said the agriculture test program that began in May provided a ready-made platform for the Xcel study. North Dakota State University researcher John Nowatzki said the agriculture test has yielded impressive results on the drones ability to capture images. Nowatzki has displayed pictures of a shelter belt taken from 4,000, 6,000 and 8,000 feet, with no discernable difference to the human eye. The key message here, maybe, is that we get high resolutions at all levels, he said. Sarah Lovas, an area farmer and crop consultant, said some of her cohorts still want to find out how they can manage the data in an affordable way, but most have embraced the technology. Theres just no such thing as a dumb farmer anymore, she said. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Aviation Agribusiness American International Group Inc. is in early talks to sell its minority stake in the Lloyds of London syndicate manager Ascot Underwriting Holdings Ltd. to Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday. If the deal comes through, it could fetch the insurance conglomerate hundreds of millions of dollars in proceeds, the Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. CPPIB is also in talks to buy a related reinsurance company based in Bermuda, the WSJ reported. AIG and CPPIB declined to comment. AIG, the largest commercial insurer in North America, has been cutting jobs and trying to restructure its business as part of a sweeping overhaul promised to shareholders to fend off activist investor Carl Icahn, who had urged the company to break into three. The insurer said last week that it would sell its mortgage-guaranty unit, United Guaranty, to Arch Capital Group Ltd for about $3.4 billion. The CPPIB, which manages Canadas national pension fund, had said earlier this month that Britains decision to leave the European Union had curbed gains in its investments during the latest quarter would create more uncertainty down the line. In 2014, CPPIB agreed to buy U.S. reinsurer Wilton Re Holdings Ltd for $1.8 billion from a group of private equity firms, marking its first move into the U.S. insurance business. (Reporting by Nikhil Subba in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta and Savio DSouza) Related: Topics Excess Surplus Lloyd's Canada Even though venture capital investments in venture capital-backed financial technology (fintech) companies fell more than 50 percent globally during the second quarter of 2016, interest in insurance technology startups (insurtech) continues to pick up steam, a new report reveals. According to the Pulse of Fintech report, a quarterly global update on fintech VC trends published jointly by KPMG International and CB Insights last week, VC-backed insurtech investments hit the $1 billion mark across 47 deals in the first half of 2016. That compares to $2.5 billion of investments in 74 deals for all of 2015, the report says. Highlighting 2015 as the year that insurtech came into its own, and characterizing the jump to $2.5 billion as a massive leap compared to the previous four years, the report notes that insurtech investment in 2016 so far includes tremendous activity by many traditional insurers that are increasingly creating their own venture capital funds. While investment in VC-backed fintech companies decreased over the past quarter, we are encouraged by the momentum that is building in underinvested areas such as insurtech, healthcare, banking and blockchain, said Anthony Rjeily, KPMGs Financial Services Digital and fintech practice leader, in a statement about the report, which tracks investments in all these areas and others. The report also covers lending tech, payments/billing tech, personal finance/wealth management, money transfer/remittance, institutional/capital markets tech and equity crowdfunding, providing geographic breakdowns in total and by sector, as well as information ranking the most active VC investors in fintech. Insurtech, for the purposes of the report, is defined as companies creating new underwriting, claims, distribution and brokerage platforms, enhanced customer experience offerings, and software as a service to help insurers deal with legacy IT issues. Overall, across all the fintech sectors taken together as a group, the report describes a precipitous drop in VC-backed fintech investment activity in the second quarter of 2016, with value of deals falling to $2.5 billion for the second quarter compared to 4.9 billion in the first quarter (a 49 percent drop) and $5.2 billion in last years second quarter (a 52 percent drop). With deal numbers also shrinking around 11 percent to under 200 in the quarter (195 VC-backed deals based on the tally from CB Insights), KPMG leaders attributed the pause to global market uncertainties associated with the U.K. Brexit vote and those in the U.S. surrounding the upcoming presidential election in an introduction to the report. They also cited ongoing concerns about valuations and significant headwinds in the marketplace lending space, noting that the cooling-off period may persist for the rest of the year. While some VC investors are being cautious, many corporates are forging ahead with fintech-related activities. Banks, financial institutions and insurance companies seem to be continuing to shift their view of fintech companies as disrupters and competitors to one where they are viewed as partners and enablers, the report says. While the report does not include any funding breakout separating life/health investments from property/casualty, it does list health insurance investments as the three top deal in the first half, contributing to two-thirds of the InsurTech deal value (Oscar Health, $400 million; Clover Health, $160 million; Bright Health, $80 million). Separately, CB Insights recaps all types of InsurTech financing deals in a blog item on its website (July 11, 2016, The Top Financings, Partnerships & Hirings In Insurance Tech H116 Recap). Included on the CB Insights list are: An April 2016 $25.5 million round of funding for Trov , an insurance app for coverage of personal items that owners can turn on and off with a swipe. A January 2016 $17 million round of funding for Insurance Zebra, an auto insurance comparison website. The CB Insights blog item also lists partnerships between insurtech companies and P/C insurers and reinsurers. Among them are: Munich Res partnership with Slice Labs Inc. announced in July; Liberty Mutuals partnership with home security startup Canary, also announced in July; Amica Mutuals partnership with a weather data sensor startup, Understory, announced in March. (Editors Note: While Munich Re is a coverage partner for Slice, which is launching a tap-for-coverage on-demand insurance platform to support the on-demand economy, the insurtech startup disclosed in March that $3.9 million of seed funding would come from XL Innovate and Horizon Ventures.) The KPMG/CB Insights joint report, Pulse of Fintech, notes that 60 percent of VC-backed insurtech deals occurred in the United States during the second quarter of 2016, adding, however, that the U.K. is also an important leader in the insurance space for health, auto insurance, comparison websites and data management. The report also mentions Australia as an attractive location to test customer-focused activities, noting that Trov is rolling out its on-demand insurance for laptops, phones, cameras and other personal items in Australia in advance of the U.S. Numbers in the report reveal that the number of insurtech deals in 2015 remained fairly steady with 2014 (74 vs. 71), but the number tallied in 2016 through the first half is already more than 60 percent of last years full-year total (47 compared to 74). Funding dollars are lagging a bit, however, with the $1.0 billion for this year so far representing less than 40 percent of last years total ($2.5 billion). For VC-backed fintech companies overall, deal numbers and values for 2016 through the first half are roughly half of counts and values for the full year last year. Throughout the report, KPMG also makes a distinction between VC-backed fintech investments and overall fintech investment, defining overall investments to include funding by angel investors, angel groups, PE firms, mutual funds, hedge funds, VC, corporate and corporate VC investors. Globally, overall fintech investment was $9.4 billion in the second quarter, up nearly 65 percent from the first quarter. Together, overall fintech investments across both venture-backed and non-venture-backed companies totaled just over $15 billion for the first half for 832 deals, with InsurTech accounting for just under 10 percent of the deals (82 deals). Still, the report includes bullish language about the potential for insurtech, noting that the most exciting part of insurtech is that it is very young. Although the report says it is likely that funding rounds will be volatile from quarter to quarter, it also notes that investments will likely focus on meaningful ways to engage customers across online and mobile platforms and ways to improve policy handling and claims payment process. The authors also expect an increase in the use of blockchain and smart contracts for insurance, along with predictable increases in the use of data analytics use (for better customer insights) and opportunities to use the Internet of Things (potentially to adjust premiums when IoT offerings help with risk identification and mitigation). The report highlights partnering between technology companies and insurance carriers as a key opportunity for both. Without access to existing insurer distribution systems and customers, technology companies would not be able to scale their business in a meaningful way, the report says. On the carrier side, the report describes the creation of digital garages as a noticeable second-quarter trend in partnering models, defining the garages as in-house innovation units where insurers can foster entrepreneurial thinking. Within this model, insurtech companies can come together to help resolve specific challenges identified by the innovation unit while providing insurtech companies with support and expert advisers to help fuel their own growth, the report notes, highlighting Allianzs Singapore-based lab for harnessing digital innovations and advanced analytics as one example of the trend. Topics Carriers InsurTech Tech Funding Chubb In some parts of the U.S., the thrill rides that hurl kids upside down, whirl them around or send them shooting down slides are checked out by state inspectors before customers climb on. But in other places, they are not required to get the once-over. The grisly death of a 10-year-old boy on a Kansas water slide and a Ferris wheel accident that injured three little girls at a county fair in Tennessee this summer have focused attention on what safety experts say is an alarming truth about amusement rides: How closely they are regulated varies greatly from state to state. Fifty states in the United States of America and no two inspect rides the same way. Thats wrong, said Ken Martin, an amusement park safety consultant who has been one of the loudest critics of the nations patchwork of state laws. Were not close to being in the same book, state to state. Were not even on the same page of the hymnal. We certainly arent singing in key. Twenty-nine deaths on amusement rides or water slides have been reported to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission since 2010, spokeswoman Patty Davis said. The amusement park industry has successfully lobbied against federal oversight for decades, and the CPSC doesnt regulate rides at permanent parks like the one in Kansas. It oversees only traveling carnival rides, like the Ferris wheel that broke in Tennessee. Even then, federal investigators dont conduct routine inspections; they respond only after accidents. So whether a ride has to be inspected before thrill-seekers hop on depends on what state its in. Seven states Mississippi, Alabama, Nevada, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Utah have no laws at all that require inspections, according to Saferparks, a nonprofit group that pushes to improve safety. In most cases, the ride operators insurance companies require only annual inspections, Martin said, and the insurers set the criteria. Kansas and Tennessee are among the many states that have light regulation. Kansas mandates annual inspections but allows a park to perform its own, using private, licensed inspectors. The state does random audits of the paperwork. Tennessee follows a similar self-inspection protocol. The state relies on private inspectors hired by operators or accepts inspections conducted on traveling rides in other states. On the other end, New Jersey is considered one of the toughest for its cadre of state-trained inspectors and engineers who routinely inspect rides. Pennsylvania, likewise, has a rigorous system that includes more than 1,000 state-trained inspectors. Martin and others say the federal government should operate something equivalent to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which protects workers on the job. He says the government has a duty to set uniform standards for rides, such as mandatory inspections and training protocols for inspectors. But David Mandt, a spokesman for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, a trade group, said that injuries are rare and that a federal program of inspectors would cost taxpayers millions. We believe strong local and state regulation is the most effective government oversight for the industry, he said in an email. The states need the flexibility to create and enforce laws relevant to the attractions in their state, and thats what they have done. In the Kansas accident, Caleb Schwab was decapitated on the worlds tallest water slide on Aug. 7. Authorities have yet to say what went wrong, but at least one rider has reported that the nylon harness straps came loose on previous trips down the slide. In Tennessee, a Ferris wheel gondola overturned, spilling three girls more than 30 feet to the ground. One, a 6-year-old, suffered a traumatic brain injury. Authorities blamed worn-out rivet fasteners on the underside of the carriage. How much of a difference tougher regulations make is difficult to say. No agency collects uniform statistics on accidents or injuries from state to state. The figures available are all estimates extrapolated from a sampling of accidents. The CPSC estimates that 37,300 people of all ages went to emergency rooms in 2015 after being injured on amusement rides, a category that includes bounce houses, mechanical bulls and other attractions. That number is based on reports from some hospitals. Dr. Gary Smith, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Childrens Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, analyzed the data from between 1990 and 2010 and estimated that an average of more than 4,400 children per year are injured on rides at amusement parks and water parks. Smith said researchers need better numbers on the scope of the problem and its causes if they hope to come up with solutions. This is a public health problem, and we need to treat it like a public health problem, he said. That starts with a national approach to collecting data. The CPSC regulated both traveling and permanent amusement rides until 1981, when Congress limited the agencys authority to traveling carnivals. Lobbying records dating to 1999 show that the trade association has spent about $11.3 million lobbying Congress. State laws also draw opposition from industry representatives. Steve Geller, former Democratic minority leader in the Florida Senate, remembers facing industry lawyers when he proposed inspection requirements following a 1988 accident. Im speaking semi-tongue-in-cheek only when I say I had to fight the carnival-industrial complex, he said. Florida set pretty high standards: State inspectors look at most rides routinely. But there is an exemption for parks with more than 1,000 employees that have their own full-time inspectors like Disney, Universal and SeaWorld. The public tends to howl for regulation after major accidents. In 2004, June Alexander, a 51-year-old woman who took her son to an unregulated, roadside amusement park in the Great Smoky Mountains to celebrate his 15th birthday, plummeted more than 60 feet to her death from a swinging gondola ride in front of her family. Her harness had failed to engage. An investigation found that the rides safety system had been bypassed. The parks manager was convicted of reckless homicide. Tennessee legislators scrambled to pass laws that required operators to have insurance, permits and inspections. We thought some good had been done, said R. Price Nimmo, an attorney who represented the Alexander family. But by 2014, a state audit found the ride inspection unit was failing. In response, the state decided to stop inspections altogether and rely on operators and other states regulators. So when an amusement company took apart a Ferris wheel in Indiana, drove it to Tennessee and put it back together at five county fairs, no one from the state checked to be sure it was in working order. The state relied on the Indiana inspection and gave it permission to start spinning. It broke at the Greene County Fair last week. Republican Gov. Bill Haslam said last week that it was too soon to say what the state might do in reaction to protect riders. Nimmo held out little hope that the accidents will result in lasting reforms: There will be a big furor. Then two years from now, theyll be back to doing what they were doing before. Associated Press writers John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, and Maria Sudekum in Kansas City contributed to this story. Galofaro reported from Louisville, Kentucky, and Foody from Atlanta. Topics Legislation Kansas Tennessee General Motors LLC failed to derail a Texas familys claim for damages over a car crash blamed on a faulty ignition-switch after jurors were shown the wrong car key last week. GM claimed Zachary Stevens family intentionally faked evidence in a bid to bolster their claim that a Saturn Skys ignition switch jiggled off and caused the crash, seriously injuring their then 19-year-old son and killing another driver. A Texas judge on Aug. 23 didnt accept the companys claim that the evidence fatally tainted the trial. That key is obviously not an original key that came with that car, as family members testified, Texas State Judge Robert Schaffer told lawyers in denying GMs request to throw out the case. He said hell personally tell jurors they were given the wrong key and let them take that into consideration. It presents a credibility issue for the plaintiffs, he said. The trial, underway in Houston, is the second GM ignition case that threatened to blow up midway on accusations that a witness lied. In recall notices issued for GM cars with the ignition-switch defect, the automaker instructed drivers to remove everything from their key rings, as the added weight might contribute to the switch jostling off. The key ring shown jurors in Houston included a bundle of other keys, an Eiffel Tower charm and a gym membership tag. Reckless Speeding GM has repeatedly told jurors the Stevens accident was caused by the teenagers reckless speeding on a rain-slick country road, not by any alleged safety defect in his mothers car. Josh Davis, the familys lawyer, told the judge the Stevenses innocently mistook the key they showed jurors which most likely belonged to Zachs GMC truck as their missing Saturn Sky key when they found the mothers missing key ring bundle in a storage tub retrieved from the familys flooded garage last month. Family members testified it was the same key the father pulled from their wrecked Saturn in 2011 and then allegedly misplaced it until a few weeks ago. The key didnt work in the salvaged Skys ignition on Sunday, during a field trip demonstration conducted for the judge by lawyers for both sides. Davis told the judge it doesnt matter which car key was shown to jurors because he claims other evidence proves the Skys ignition switch jostled off in the moments before the crash, disabling the vehicles airbags, seatbelt pretensioners, power steering and power brakes. Winning Streak The Stevens claim is the first tried in Texas state court as GM seeks to extend its winning streak on ignition-switch cases tried in federal court. In January, a federal case in New York fell apart midway through a trial when an Oklahoma postman suing GM dropped his claims after he was accused of lying. Robert Scheuer testified in that case that injuries he sustained in a May 2014 wreck of his Saturn Ion led to his familys eviction from their dream house. GM accused him of perjury in connection with the financing on the house, and the Scheuers dropped their lawsuit, without getting a penny from GM. The Scheuer dismissal was a lucky break for the automaker, which has already spent more than $2 billion to resolve investigations and a securities lawsuit over the flawed ignition switches, as well as death and injury claims. The Stevens dismissal wouldve been a second lucky break for GM, which faces hundreds of claims linked to a variety of safety recalls. GM recalled 2.6 million U.S. vehicles over the potentially faulty ignition switches that company engineers knew for years could fail. After that recall, Houston-area prosecutors dropped criminal manslaughter charges against Zach Stevens over the death of the second driver in the crash. The Stevens family is seeking compensation from GM for the cost of Zachs criminal defense and his lingering traumatic brain injury. The case is Stevens v. General Motors LLC, 2015-04442, 152nd Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas (Houston). Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics Lawsuits Auto Texas EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, has added risk management and insurance professional Jim Williford to the firms National Energy Construction Practice as a Business Development manager. Williford will be based in EPICs Birmingham, Ala., office and report to Crawford McInnis, Managing Principal of EPICs National Energy Construction Practice. Williford joins EPIC from HRA Risk Services, LLC in Birmingham, where he specialized in strategic risk analysis and consulting, developing corporate risk management programs, the design and management of corporate insurance programs, project specific programs including wrap-ups, and a range of other related risk advisory and consulting programs for large general contractors as well as other construction related clients. Prior to this, Williford spent nearly 19 years with broker McGriff, Seibels & Williams where he also provided risk management and insurance options and was responsible for new business development and client satisfaction and retention. He began his insurance career as an underwriter, and later a commercial marketing representative, with Aetna. Williford is a graduate of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and Marketing Management. EPIC is a retail property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. Topics Construction Alabama Risk Management The West Virginia Army National Guard over the weekend began tearing down homes ruined by floods in June. Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin wants those communities to rebuild with a long-term focus on diversifying their economies. Maj. Gen. James Hoyer told state lawmakers Monday that demolition began Saturday in Greenbrier County. The Guard will transition demolition work in the affected counties to contractors in an effort to put locals to work. As those buildings come down, Hoyer said Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin wants communities to envision how they want to look five years from now, and not think about what they looked like before the floods. Flooding in June killed 23 people in West Virginia and destroyed homes, businesses and infrastructure. The Mountain State has endured high unemployment rates, particularly because of the downfall of its iconic coal industry. Out of the 8,500-plus households that applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency individual aid, 39 percent fall into a low-income category, Hoyer said. The governor views the recovery as a chance to focus on long-term economic growth and sustainability, Tomblin spokeswoman Jessica Tice said. The administration is assembling higher education, public health and economic development officials to work with residents and local leaders to draw up strategic plans for the flood-ravaged regions. This is an opportunity to look at important economic drivers, such as tourism and entrepreneurship, as cornerstones for job creation and more diversified local economies, Tice said in an email Monday. So far, the state has approved $363,400 in grants to help 45 small businesses recover from the floods. Commerce Secretary Keith Burdette told lawmakers Monday the aid affects 287 jobs. Applications for the RISE West Virginia grants have come in from 222 businesses in 11 counties, including 89 in Greenbrier County, 50 in Kanawha and 42 in Nicholas. Those are being processed. On Monday, Hoyer said the Guard has spent $6.5 million on the recovery to date, and transportation officials have estimated the damage done to roads has topped $55 million. But firmer overall state cost numbers wont be available until after Labor Day, Hoyer said. Volunteers, meanwhile, have poured in more than $6 million worth of donations and services, Hoyer said. FEMA told the state that it will make a cost-share recommendation to the White House if the states damage assessment reaches $250 million, Tice said. FEMA said the state has not reached that mark yet. The state wants to shoulder only 10 percent, instead of 25 percent, of costs, with FEMA covering the rest. Also on Monday, Tomblin extended a state of emergency for Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Kanawha, Nicholas, Roane, Summers and Webster counties. The emergency declaration expired Monday evening for Jackson, Lincoln, Monroe and Pocahontas counties. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Flood Homeowners Virginia It seems insurers cant win. Criticized for being stuck with traditional (read outdated) technology systems and processes, they are now losing the labor force that makes those systems and processes work. We all know that this is largely due to the growing number of retiring Baby Boomers, who are taking a vital knowledge base with them. It may sound like yet another great reason to modernize, but the reality is that modernization takes planning, budget and time, and those insurers that have not yet addressed the need to update their technology platforms will face similar issues: fierce competition for the talent thats left. Those that do choose to modernize face other labor issues, namely, that digital automation may also be creating a vacuum of tech-related talent in our industry. For example, I read with interest a report from U.S. Bureau of Labor that estimates employment in insurance underwriting will decline 12% between 2014 and 2024. The assumption is that straight-through processing, digital environments and changing expectations of the underwriters role may make the job as we know it today obsolete. Automation is the culprit for more than just reducing the underwriting function, note Sylvain Johansson and Ulrike Vogelgesang, authors of McKinseys Automating the Insurance Industry. Our most probable outcome for insurers sees up to 25 percent of full-time positions consolidated or reduced as a net aggregate, occurring at different rates for different roles over a period of about a decade, say the authors from McKinseys Western European Insurance Practice. When asked if a similar report for the North American market was available, Johansson claimed that 90 percent of these results are similarly applicable to North America. Insurance is not alone: Employers across all vertical markets are in a battle to find the skills they need among the global talent pool. The inability to attract and retain talent ranked fifth on Aons global 2015 Global Risk Management Survey, and came in second place in North America and the Asia-Pacific region. It is a growing challenge worldwide, says Aon, affecting industries from construction to finance, with jobseekers lacking the required skills, and those with the desired capabilities and experience facing increasing competition for their talents, putting pressure on wages and benefits. I dont see this as all doom and gloom. On the contrary, insurers of all sizes are being forced to recognize and act on one of the greatest opportunities to date: to attract, source, train, develop and retain workers with skills in advanced computing (web-based cloud platforms, agile software development, machine learning, advanced analytics, mobile technologies and the Internet of Things to name a few). Acting on this opportunity will result in insurers being creative. Perhaps it will result in changing the expectations of business users, putting more responsibility on them to work with IT on innovation. Perhaps it will be a matter of changing the underwriters job description to embrace the next generation of technology innovation in order to bolster their decision-making capabilities. It most certainly will mean that insurers will focus inward, grooming and developing the right talent for the right job. It isnt about the technologyits about viewing technology the way we view every other aspect of the organizations operations. In other words, I believe the leaders in our industry are starting to recognize that the solutions to these growing technology-related human resource challenges must be part of a holistic business strategy. At a minimum, this tosses the business/IT discussion right out the window. At a maximum, it throws open the door to necessary change in the way we view the role of IT as enabling the business, and gives it the credit it deservesas a necessary part of the business. SAF-T filing will give tax authorities live access to companies VAT and direct tax liabilities. Six European countries have already implemented SAF-T, the OECD-backed electronic format for exchanging data. One of the most significant moves in recent months was Poland making SAF-T filings compulsory for local and non-resident VAT payers from July 1 2016. The changes could result in tax authorities taking control of companies tax calculations and making the self-assessment and backward-looking VAT and corporate income tax returns redundant. SAF-T accounting transaction exchange wins format wars SAF-T is an electronic format for the efficient transfer of accounting data from companies to tax authorities. In May 2005, the OECD coordinated a single format, based on free-source XML, for all 38 member states to adopt. The objectives of this implementation were: To help the exchange of transaction data between tax authorities and companies; Allow efficient and accurate data interchange; Improve substantive testing at line-level for tax authorities, which means the tax office can examine each supply of a good or service listed on an invoice to consider the description, quantity, value, etc.; Enable VAT and corporate income tax audits; and Reduce companies compliance costs, including internal and external audit costs. The OECD model consists of six file structures, which are to list all transactions: General ledger, journals; Accounts receivable, customer master data and invoices; Accounts payable, supplier master data. Invoices and payments; Stock warehouse, product master file and goods received/dispatched; Fixed assets, ledger and depreciation/amortisation; and Inventory, product master files and movements. Inconsistent and imprecise implementation To date, six European countries have adopted SAF-T reporting obligations for VAT registered companies. The challenge for taxpayers is that each countrys format differs from the above OECD structures. In addition, only vague implementation guidance is available. Country Elements that differ from OECD structures Portugal Applies only four structures Austria Has introduced a simplified basis structure only Luxembourg Threatening legal action against non-compliant companies France Has created a proprietary format that must comply with Plan Comptable, the general accounting plan in France Lithuania Has introduced up to 68 sub-structures Poland The only country requiring mandatory filing for large taxpayers The next wave of countries to adopt SAF-T may include Germany, UK, Ireland, and the Czech Republic. The Netherlands and Belgium are experimenting with another electronic format called Transaction Network Analysis, which is a big data experiment where tax authorities share company data on a centralised database and the analytics are then tested. Its primary aim is to reduce VAT fraud and the VAT Gap. A further eight other European countries have now joined this program. Implications of SAF-T When tackling SAF-T, tax departments face a number of questions on its implementation, application and effectiveness, including: Data extraction What connector tools are available? Tax audits Are the tax authorities likely to initiate investigations, and what is the capacity to manage these satisfactorily? Direct tax SAF-T data also covers corporate income tax data that could be used for investigations. Questions remains over whether the tax department ready; and Internal audits Tax authorities need to examine the implications and cost savings of internal audit departments and data use. Planning for SAF-T When planning for SAF-T adoption, tax departments may consider a number of elements before introducing the format, such as: Qualifying IT systems Does the tax department have full details of all ERPs, stock, fixed assets, bank account platforms? List systems and data Do platforms hold all the country-required data? Mapping to structures Can the tax department use the data to create charts that adapt to various country structures? Extraction of data What methodologies can be used? ERP, Excel or bespoke extractors? Testing How can the tax department ensure accuracy of data before transfer to tax authorities? Can the tax departments match tax authorities extensive analytical tools? Death of the VAT and direct tax return? The immediate question for corporate tax teams is their exposure to the surprise decision in June to make Polish VAT payers liable to submit SAF-T reporting from July 2016. Most businesses are not ready for this, and will be on the back foot as the tax authorities threaten fines. In the medium term, VAT and direct tax managers within companies now face being outgunned by the tax authorities. Their powerful analytical tools, backed by pan-European data exchanges between tax authorities, will result in them having a better insight into companies tax affairs than the corporate tax team or CFO. SAF-T therefore threatens to undermine the VAT return and potentially make it useless. Could SAF-T be the sunset of periodic returns? We will have to wait and see as more governments adopt electronic formats that could change the face of tax returns for all businesses. Article contributed byRichard Asquith, vice president of global indirect tax at Avalara. Even six years after the Panama Papers leaked a confidential list of offshore accounts held by the global elite, tax morality is still very much on the table. Molnar previously worked for Baker & McKenzie as an associate between 2001 and 2006. She is returning to the firm after 10 years as an attorney at Sutherland Asbill & Brennan. She handles tax planning for international acquisitions, dispositions, reorganisations, joint ventures, Subpart F planning and restructurings. She also counsels clients on tax issues arising in structuring, negotiating, documenting and reporting complex transactions. Berek has previously worked for firms such as Arthur Andersen, Coopers & Lybrand, McGuireWoods and Kirkland & Ellis. His last position was as a partner in Horwood Marcus & Berk. Berek has also served as a director at Credit Suisse. In addition to his role as partner in Baker & McKenzie, he will be working as an adjunct professor. He counsels high net-worth individuals, corporate executives, family offices and privately owned family business owners. His transfer tax planning engagements include grantor trust planning and lifetime taxable transfers to GST exempt trusts, utilisation of self-cancelling notes, private annuities and grantor retained annuity trusts. Warren Buffett has built Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. (BRK.A, BRK.B) into one of the most recognizable companies in the world. Despite Berkshires phenomenal success, the company has risks for investors. These risks include the choice of a successor who will run the company after Warren Buffett is no longer serving as chair and chief executive. Theres also the danger of a credit downgrade and the possibility that government regulators will designate this behemoth as a company that is systemically important to the U.S. economy. Key Takeaways Berkshire Hathaway is a massive holding company, still run by famed investor Warren Buffett. It owns a variety of well-known private businesses, such as GEICO, and also has minority interests in public companies, such as Apple. Risks of being a Berkshire investor include issues of regulatory challenges and being a conglomerate, as well as the performance of successors when Warren Buffett retires or dies. 1:41 How Warren Buffett Made Berkshire A Winner Berkshire's Beginnings Berkshire Hathaway was once a failing textiles company when Buffett bought it in 1964 and began turning it into the money-making monster it is now, with a market cap of about $660 billion as of August 2022 and ranks among the top 10 of all U.S. companies by market cap. The large conglomerate is involved in a wide range of businesses. Its subsidiaries are as varied as Dairy Queen, BNSF Railway, and Helzberg Diamonds. Still, the core of the Berkshire empire is insurance. The company has lines in property, casualty, and reinsurance. Its brand names in the space include Geico, National Indemnity, and Applied Underwriters. From this insurance base, Buffett built Berkshire over the years with small and large acquisitions. The company now has interests in everything from railroads to energy to cowboy boots and furniture. Those who risked investing in Berkshire early on profited hugely. Berkshire Class A shares sold for a handsome $9,500 in mid-August 1992. Twenty years later, they were trading around $450,000. Buffett is not a believer in stock splits, saying he does not want short-term speculators jumping in to profit on the stock. Still, smaller investors can afford the Class B shares that were trading at around $300 a share in early August 2022. The Succession Question One of the main risks to Berkshire is the improbability that anyone could match Buffetts success. Buffett is still going strong at 90 as of this writing, having run the company for more than 50 years. Still, he and his 97-year-old lieutenant Charlie Munger, vice-chair of Berkshire, are not immortal. Buffett and Munger have discussed the succession plan in their famous letters to shareholders. A number of names have been tossed around over the years. But on May 1, 2021, during the annual shareholder meeting, Charlie Munger made an offhand remark indicating that Warren Buffett would be succeeded as CEO by Greg Abel when Buffett eventually steps down. Abel is CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Energy and vice chair in charge of noninsurance operations. In an interview with CNBC published on Monday, May 3, 2021, Buffett confirmed the news: "The directors are in agreement that if something were to happen to me tonight, it would be Greg who'd take over tomorrow morning." Buffett also disclosed that the 69-year-old vice chair of Insurance Operations, Ajit Jain, is next in line behind Abel. Mungers 2015 letter indicated that Greg Abel and Ajit Jain are both world-class CEO material. But Abel is younger and perhaps more used to being in the limelight, which presumably is why he is the heir apparent. Two other executives who likely will play a significant role in managing Berkshire: Ted Weschler and Todd Combs, portfolio managers who share responsibility for Berkshires vast portfolio. Weschler met Buffett by winning a charity auction for lunch with the Oracle of Omaha for $5 million. He previously ran the hedge fund Peninsula Capital Advisors. Buffett and Weschler became friends over the next few years, and Buffett eventually brought Weschler into Berkshire. Combs was also a hedge fund manager when he joined Berkshire in 2010. Weschler and Combs have changed Buffetts perspective to some extent. Buffett never invested in technology stocks until 2011, when he spent around $10 billion on IBM shares. Credit Downgrade Risk A more pressing issue is credit downgrade risks to Berkshires debt. In August 2015, S&P, the major credit rating agency, indicated it was placing Berkshire on the Credit Negative Watch list due to uncertainty about its acquisition of Precision Castparts Corp. In December 2016, Berkshire held an AA investment-grade credit rating after officially acquiring the company in the beginning of the year. By late 2017, S&P announced that Berkshire no longer faced a risk of downgrading. The agency has also previously downgraded Berkshire twice. It downgraded the company in 2010 when Berkshire bought BNSF Railway, and then again in 2013, as it changed its standards for evaluating insurance companies. Berkshire Hathaways Recent Performance Berkshire posted total revenue of $276 billion in 2021 (up from $245.5 billion in 2020), with a net profit of $89.8 billion (up significantly from 2020). The significant shortfall in 2020 was mostly driven by earnings declines across most of Berkshire's business segments, which were hurt by the global COVID19 pandemic. This was partially offset by a $40.7 billion gain before taxes and non-controlling interests in the company's large equity portfolio. As of changes made to GAAP in 2018, the company is required to include unrealized gains and losses arising from changes in its investment portfolio in its reported earnings. This accounting change contributes to earnings being significantly more volatile than they otherwise would be. Regulatory Challenges It doesnt pay to be too important to the U.S. economy. Another risk is whether government regulators will define Berkshire as systemically important. The designation requires companies to submit to oversight by the Federal Reserve. It comes with enhanced capital restrictions and liquidity requirements. These burdensome requirements could make future growth and profitability more difficult and could hurt the companys prospects. Its not out of the question in this case. The Bank of England asked U.S. regulators why Berkshire was not on this list in 2015. Buffett has argued that Berkshire should not be slapped with this designation. He has indicated he is committed to keeping a $20 billion cash cushion at Berkshire. Significantly, Berkshire was able to stay strong during the 2008 financial crisis. The company even provided short-term help and liquidity to other companies, including Goldman Sachs, General Electric, and Harley Davidson, during the crisis. Thus, history has proven Berkshires ability to weather financial storms. Nonetheless, the government has placed the systemically important designation on other large insurance companies, including AIG, Prudential, and MetLife. Berkshire is undoubtedly one of the largest insurance companies in the world and has exposure to large catastrophic events. The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina cost Berkshire billions. Berkshire Hathaway could be exposed to significant climate risk, as it has not performed well on various ESG metrics. Warren Buffett has furthermore pushed back against investors who want to force Berkshire Hathaway to do more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. What Is Berkshire Hathaway's Largest Holding? Berkshire Hathaway's largest single holding is in Apple, Inc. stock. The company owned more than $161 billion of AAPL in 2021 (or 5.6% of the company). Why Doesn't Berkshire Hathaway Pay Dividends? Despite being a large, mature, and stable company, Berkshire Hathaway does not pay dividends to its investors. Instead, the company chooses to reinvest retained earnings into new projects, investments, and acquisitions. In fact, the company has paid only one dividend, in 1967, and Buffett later joked that he must have been in the bathroom when the decision was made. Who Is Warren Buffett? Warren Buffett is a well-known business owner and investor. He's renowned not only for the jaw-dropping success of Berkshire Hathaway, the holding company of which he's been in charge since 1964. Buffett is also celebrated for his winning approach to investing, which has created great wealth for many shareholders. His frugal lifestyle, despite being one of the world's wealthiest individuals, and his easy-going manner have earned him fans across the globe. The Bottom Line Berkshire is different from these other companies that operate mainly in the insurance sector. It is much more widely diversified in its businesses. The official standard is the company must have 85% or more of its consolidated assets coming from financial activities. Many of Berkshires recent acquisitions have come from outside of the financial realm. Thus, it is questionable whether Berkshire meets this requirement. Still, the threat of this designation is very real, as it could hurt Berkshires future share price and ability to grow. Berkshire is clearly considering the succession issue, which should allay some fears of investors. The larger question is whether the portfolio managers and the CEO will be able to match Buffett's performance. Buffett is undoubtedly a business genius on many levels. The "Buffett premium" is the notion that Buffetts reputation and business acumen add value to Berkshire and the companies in which it invests. Only time will tell what happens with the Berkshire empire after Buffett and Munger are no longer there. What Is a 403(b) Plan? The term 403(b) plan refers to a retirement account designed for certain employees of public schools and other tax-exempt organizations. Participants may include teachers, school administrators, professors, government employees, nurses, doctors, and librarians. The 403(b) plan, which is closely related to the better-known 401(k) plan, allows participants to save money for retirement through payroll deductions while enjoying certain tax benefits. There's also an option for the employer to match part of the employee's contribution. Key Takeaways 403(b)s are retirement savings plans that serve employees of public schools and tax-exempt organizations. Contributions to 403(b) plans are made through payroll deductions. The IRS limits the amount that employees can contribute to their 403(b) plans. The advantages of a 403(b) include faster vesting of funds and the ability to make additional catch-up contributions. Investment choices may be more limited with a 403(b) and some accounts offer less protection from creditors than 401(k)s. How 403(b) Plans Work As noted above, individuals employed by schools and other tax-exempt organizations can save for retirement by contributing to a 403(b) plan through payroll deductions. The plan is akin to the 401(k) plan used by private-sector employees. Participants can include: Employees of public schools, state colleges, and universities Public school employees of Indian tribal governments Church employees Employees of tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations Ministers and clergy members The 403(b) plan has the same caps on yearly contributions that come with 401(k) plans. The maximum contributions allowed are $19,500 and $20,500 for the 2021 and 2022 tax years. The plan also offers $6,500 catch-up contributions for those age 50 and older. Combined employee and employer contributions are limited to the lesser of $58,000 in 2021 and $61,000 in 2022 or 100% of the employee's most recent yearly salary. Participants must reach age 59 before withdrawing funds or get slapped with an early withdrawal penalty. If your employer offers a 403(b) and a 401(k) you can contribute to both but your aggregate contribution cannot be more than the annual limit ($19,500 in 2021 and $20,500 in 2022)not counting any catch-up contributions. Special Considerations Although it is not very common, your job situation could end up giving you access to both a 401(k) and a 403(b) plan. Each offers employees a tax-advantaged way to save for retirement, but investment choices are often more limited in a 403(b) plan than a 401(k). And remember, 401(k)s serve private-sector employees. But unlike a 401(k), the 403(b) plan also offers a special plan for those with 15 or more years of service with the same employer (see below). Types of 403(b) Plans There are generally two broad types of 403(b) planthe traditional and the Roth. Not all employers allow employees access to the Roth version. A traditional 403(b) plan allows the employee to have pretax money automatically deducted from each paycheck and paid into a personal retirement account. The employee has put away some money for the future and at the same time reduced his or her gross income (and income taxes owed for the year). The taxes will be due on that money only when the employee withdraws it. A Roth 403(b) requires that after-tax money be paid into the retirement account. There's no immediate tax advantage. But the employee will not owe any more taxes on that money or the profit it accrues when it is withdrawn. Clergy can also participate in a 403(b) but there's a special plan typea 403(b)(9)that's designed specifically for employees of religious institutions. Advantages and Disadvantages of 403(b) Plans There are distinct benefits and drawbacks of holding a 403(b) plan. We've highlighted some of the most common ones below. Advantages Earnings and returns on amounts in a regular 403(b) plan are tax-deferred until they are withdrawn. Earnings and returns on amounts in a Roth 403(b) are tax-deferred if the withdrawals are qualified distributions. Certain 403(b) plans are not required to meet the onerous oversight rules of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). As such, these plans tend to come with lower administrative costs, which puts more money back into the employee's pocket. Many 403(b) plans vest funds over a shorter period than 401(k)s, and some even allow immediate vesting of funds, which 401(k)s rarely do. If an employee has 15 or more years of service with certain nonprofits or government agencies, they may be able to make additional catch-up contributions to a 403(b) plan. Under this provision, you can contribute an additional $3,000 a year, up to a lifetime limit of $15,000. And unlike the usual retirement plan catch-up provisions, you don't have to be 50 or older to take advantage of this as long as you worked for the same eligible employer for the whole 15 years. Disadvantages Funds withdrawn from a 403(b) plan before age 59 are subject to a 10% tax penalty, although you may avoid the penalty under certain circumstances, such as separating from an employer at age 55 or older, needing to pay a qualified medical expense, or becoming disabled. A 403(b) may offer a narrower choice of investments than other plans. Although these plans now offer mutual fund options inside variable annuity contracts. you can only choose between fixed and variable contracts, and mutual funds inside these plansother securities, such as stocks and real estate investment trusts (REITs), are prohibited. The presence of an investment option that 403(b)s favor is, at best, a mixed blessing. When the 403(b) was invented in 1958, it was known as a tax-sheltered annuity. While times have changed, and 403(b) plans can now offer mutual funds, as noted, many still emphasize annuities. Financial advisors often recommend against investing in annuities within a 403(b) and other tax-deferred investment plans. Accounts may lack the same level of protection from creditors as plans that require ERISA compliance. If you are at risk of creditors pursuing you, speak to a local attorney who understands the nuances of your state as the laws can be complex. Another disadvantage of non-ERISA 403(b)s is their exemption from nondiscrimination testing. Done annually, this testing is designed to prevent management-level or highly compensated employees from receiving a disproportionate amount of benefits from a given plan. Pros Earnings and returns in regular 403(b) plans are tax-deferred until they are withdrawn Plans that aren't subject to ERISA requirements come with lower administrative costs Many 403(b) plans vest funds over a shorter period and some allow immediate vesting Employees with 15 or more years of service may be eligible for increased catch-up contributions Cons Withdrawals before age 59 are subject to a 10% tax penalty Plans may offer a narrower choice of investments than other retirement options Accounts within a 403(b) may lack the same protection from creditors as plans with ERISA compliance Non-ERISA 403(b)s is exempt from nondiscrimination testing What Are the Similarities Between 401(k) and 403(b)? The 403(b) plan is in many ways similar to its better-known cousin, the 401(k) plan. Each offers employees a tax-advantaged way to save for retirement. Both have the same basic contribution limits: $19,500 in 2021 and $20,500 in 2022. The combination of employee and employer contributions is limited to the lesser of $58,000 in 2021 ($61,000 in 2022) or 100% of the employee's most recent yearly salary. Both offer Roth options and require participants to reach age 59 to withdraw funds without incurring an early withdrawal penalty. Like a 401(k), the 403(b) plan offers $6,500 catch-up contributions for those age 50 and older in 2021 and 2022. What Are the Advantages of a 403(b) Plan? Earnings and returns on amounts in a regular 403(b) plan are tax-deferred until they are withdrawn and tax-deferred if the Roth 403(b) withdrawals are qualified distributions. Employees with a 403(b) may also be eligible for matching contributions, the amount of which varies by employer. Many 403(b) plans vest funds over a shorter period than 401(k)s, and some even allow immediate vesting of funds, which 401(k)s rarely do. Certain nonprofits or government agencies also allow employees with 15 or more years of service to make additional catch-up contributions. Under this provision, you can contribute an additional $3,000 a year up to a lifetime limit of $15,000 and, unlike the usual retirement plan catch-up provisions, you don't have to be 50 or older to take advantage of this. Finally, certain 403(b) plans are not required to meet the onerous oversight rules of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. Political prisoner, activist, journalist, hymn-writer, emerging think tanker, aspiring novelist, "tribal elder", parliamentary candidate for North West Durham, Shadow Leader of the Opposition, Speedboat, proudly banned from Twitter so officially more dangerous than the Taliban, eagerly awaiting the second (or possibly third) attempt to murder me. Top News - Investor Idea REE Stock News - Defense Metals (TSX-V: DEFN.V) (OTCQB: DFMTF) Drills 113 metres of 2.50% Total Rare Earth Oxide at Wicheeda Vancouver, British Columbia - October 26, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Mining / Metals / Green Energy Stock News - Defense Metals Corp. (TSX-V: DEFN / OTCQB: DFMTF/ FSE:35D) is pleased to announce high-grade Rare Earth Element ("REE") assay results from one additional core hole, totalling 383 metres (m), collared within the northern area of Defense Metals' 100% owned Wicheeda REE Deposit. Top Cleantech News - Investor Idea Breaking EV Stock News: Pre-orders for Mullen (NASDAQ: MULN) FIVE Electric-SUV Crossover Exceed Expectations as the FIVE 'Strikingly Different' Tour Begins BREA, Calif. - October 28, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Mullen Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN), an emerging electric vehicle ("EV") manufacturer, announces today that the Mullen FIVE "Strikingly Different" EV Crossover Tour which began yesterday, in Pasadena, California, is off to a great start with first day reservations exceeding expectations and overwhelmingly positive customer feedback. Top Health and Wellness News - Investor Idea Health and Wellness Stock News - Endexx (OTCBB: EDXC) Secures Third Order for Non-Nicotine Vape Product HYLA Worth Approximately $1.5M in Revenue for First two Fiscal Quarters of 2023 CAVE CREEK, Ariz. - October 27, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Endexx Corporation (OTCBB:EDXC), a provider of innovative, plant-derived, and sustainable health and skincare products, today announces it has secured three key significant orders for its newly acquired, non-nicotine plant-based vape product, HYLA. Top AI Stock News - Investor Idea Breaking AI Stock News: FatBrain (OTCQB: LZGI) Acquires Confidential Computing Platform ZeroTrust to Protect Data Privacy and Accelerate Innovation for Millions of Growth Businesses NEW YORK, NY - October 19, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) FatBrain AI (LZG International, Inc.) (OTCQB: LZGI), the leader in powerful and easy-to-use artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for star enterprises of tomorrow, has acquired the confidential computing and privacy intellectual property (IP) plus software assets of Zero2A PTE LTD ("ZeroTrust Platform"), a software company based in Singapore. Check out our Podcasts for great investor ideas: Get new posts by email: Subscribe Powered by Investorideas.com Newswire: Subscribe to Investor Ideas Newswire 2688 job opportunities waiting for you to apply! Select Categories Select City Find jobs For sale: Youll love this family-friendly, long-term Manhattan residence, in a prime Soho location, with neighbors as quiet as the grave. Housing up to six people, the $7 million price tag may seem steep but considering the rare opportunity to spend the rest of eternity in Manhattan, and that this is the first time space has opened up in this location since the early 20th century, its a once in a lifetime offer. And to put the final nail in the coffin of the deal, youll be living it up with the likes of Tammany Hall leader and congressman from New York John Kelly, and John Connolly, the first bishop of New York. The Basilica of St. Patricks Old Cathedral in SoHo is opening its 200-year-old underground crypt, hidden beneath the floorboards of the Mulberry Street church, to the public for the first time. The only Catholic burial ground in Manhattan is one of of the few places left on the island where you can be buried. If you have a bit of spare cash a vault for six-people has come on the market. We thought it would be better served if a Catholic family who wanted to be buried in New York had a place to go, crypt keeper Frank Alfieri, director of the basilicas cemetery and columbaria, told the New York Post. The person who acquires this final resting spot is set to be buried with the people who set the Catholic faith in motion in New York, Alfieri continued, including Bishop Connolly, who was buried in the basilica in 1825. As well as New Yorks Catholic elite, the catacombs are home to the remains of General Thomas Eckert, an adviser to Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln wrote his draft of the Emancipation Proclamation in Eckert's office. With burials dating back to the 1700s it comes as no surprise that several of the tombs are artifacts in their own right, with Eckerts tomb sporting original Edison light bulbs and tiles akin to those used in Grand Central Station further uptown. A lot of people dont realize what is just below their feet, Alfieri said of the incredible history associated with the Mulberry St. site. There have also been some recent arrivals, however. Monsignor Nicola Marinacci was last to be laid to rest in the catacombs in 2014. The Basilica of St. Patricks Old Cathedral can be found at the corner of Mott and Prince streets and is the original cathedral of the Archdiocese of New York. At the time the cathedral was built the neighborhood was flooded with Catholic Irish immigrants. It was the just the second Catholic church in Manhattan and the third in New York State. Designed by the same architect who designed New York City Hall, Joseph Francois Mangin, when it was completed in 1815 the church also stood as the largest Catholic church in the whole United States. When the church went under its final expansion to its present size in 1824, prayers in the Irish language were offered by Rev. Michael OGorman and each year the parish remembers its Irish heritage by commemorating St. Patricks Day with an Irish-language Mass on a Saturday in March. The seat of the Archdiocese was eventually moved to the new St. Patricks cathedral on Fifth Avenue on May 25, 1879, although the old cathedrals retained its place in the Irish community remained for some time thereafter. More than 25,000 people took to the streets around the cathedral in 1913 for the funeral of famed Tammany Hall politician Big Tim Sullivan. The money raised through the newly opened vault will be used to renovate Old St Pat's, in particular the 150-year-old organ. Looking beautiful, all ready for the liturgy. #erbenorgan #oldstpats #7pm A photo posted by St. Patrick's Old Cathedral (@oldcathedral) on Feb 28, 2016 at 3:32pm PST "The urban organ itself needed funds to be restored, and it's $1 million to restore it," Alfieri told ABC7NY. "What we're looking for is, in this individual or family, is to support the efforts here of reviving, restoring the urban organ. And more importantly, provide that family with the opportunity of a once-in-a-lifetime chance of being interred underneath the old cathedral." The family will also receive naming rights for the organ. There are also cremation options available to those with on a much tighter budget starting from $10,000. As well as their annual Irish language mass, the church also keeps the community involved through cinema time in the courtyard, a running club, and allowing sheep to vacation in the courtyard! 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. Twice a day I move between the walls of a prison. That is to say the train on which I commute to and from New York City trundles between the walls of Sing Sing Prison, which dominates a bluff overlooking the Hudson River in the Westchester County town/village of Ossining. Sing Sing is a name known around the world. It is the original Big House dating to the 1820s, onetime home to the notorious Old Sparky electric chair, and, for a few years after World War I, the residence of Irish labor leader James Larkin. Its still an active prison all these years later; indeed its an entirely maximum security facility as the former medium security part was phased out some time ago. The prison is in two parts, upper and lower, the former on the high ground rising from the Hudson, the latter down at the river level. The train tracks run between the two. If Sing Sing was private land open for residential development it would be off the charts pricey. But it is owned and run by New York State and doesnt pay taxes to the town or village of Ossining. But there are plans for a museum and studies have shown that such a thing could be a veritable goldmine, especially if the museum actually penetrates the current outer wall and incorporates the still standing shell of the original cellblock. Theres something about prisons that draws people, and by that I mean those who would never in a million years want to be sent to one. Hollywood has long viewed prison dramas as guaranteed sellers. And as much as the idea of prison repels most, it also has an irresistible allure for many who try to imagine what life is like behind those walls and all that wire. America, of course, has quite a few prisons that make the famous grade. Alcatraz immediately comes to mind. Then theres Folsom raised to the rafters of fame by Johnny Cash - Leavenworth, Angola, Pelican Bay, Attica, to name but a few more. And there is Sing Sing. So what would Irelands entry to the most famous/infamous prisons in history be? Leaving aside Long Kesh, which most today would say was not a normal prison in the first place, there are not many facilities that would hold up against the notoriety of Alcatraz and its ilk Mountjoy Prison in Dublin certainly has a story to tell. I was inside The Joy once -- to report on prisoners putting on a play, I should add. Mountjoy (originally Mountjoy Gaol) dates to 1850 and was modeled at the time on Britains Pentonville. Its for sure famous in Irish terms but blends into the city around it. Not blending and absolutely standing out is another Irish prison, a facility which actually does rival Alcatraz, at least in terms of a location. That would be Spike Island in Cork Harbor. Its a name to remember for starters, and its a name that lately has been attracting many visitors. Come and go types. Spike Island is no longer an active prison. More than 10,000 people have set foot on Spike Island this month alone according to a report in the Irish Examiner. Spike Island has quite a history. It was once a monastery (that would be the 6th century) and then a fortress before becoming a prison. Back in the days of Cavaliers and roundheads, the dreaded Oliver Cromwell used Spike Island to, well, house some of the Royalist prisoners. The first fort was erected on the island in 1779, this as the uppity American colonists were having their own go at British royalty. Later, with Napoleon stomping around Europe and threatening to invade Britain, quite possibly using Ireland as a back door, the island saw the creation of Fort Mitchell, one of the largest star-shaped fortifications in the world and the structure which would be converted to a prison during the 1840s. By 1851, according to the Examiner report, Spike Island was the largest prison in the British Empire, most likely the world, with 2,300 prisoners crammed into its inadequate cells. Conditions were appalling.thousands of convicts are buried in mass graves on the island and the period is a dark chapter in British penal history. What was now a notorious British penal institution is now an Irish tourist attraction. Such is progress and the passage of time. The main attractions, said the Examiner report, are the 1850s punishment block, a former prison used to punish unruly prisoners, the 1985 cells and riot exhibition, six-inch guns that guard the harbor and the recreation of a transport ships hull. Ah, that 1985 riot. And yes, you guessed correctly. I was there. But Sin sceil eile, a story for another day. New York City did immigrant son John Timoney proud on Tuesday morning, a glorious late summer's day. The streets around St. Patricks Cathedral were blocked off as the son of The Liberties in Dublin went on his final journey to St. Patricks and then his burial place, Our Lady Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, NY with all the pomp and circumstance he deserved. Among those who spoke at his funeral mass were author Tom Wolfe, Commissioner William Bratton and Timoney's son, daughter and granddaughter. From early Tuesday morning the streets around St. Patrick's were blocked off as thousands of police gathered in a long blue wall stretching four blocks and several levels deep to say farewell to a beloved commander. As Mass time approached two flag-bearers holding an Irish Tricolor and the Stars and Stripes aloft slowly began a funeral march down Fifth Avenue. After that came an escort of motorbike police and a vintage police undertaker vehicle bearing the coffin. 5th Ave lined with a sea of blue as we lay to rest former NYPD 1st Dep Commissioner & Chief of Dept, John Timoney pic.twitter.com/fTNk4Dceze NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) August 23, 2016 The cortege knew no haste as it slowly wended past the cathedral and the honor guard to the strains of Amazing Grace . Timoneys remains were carried into the church followed by his wife Noreen and the rest of the family as thousands looked on. The NYPD paid one of its greatest tributes to an immigrant Irishman from one of Dublin's poor inner city neighborhoods who became one of the most beloved and admired cops in American history, once named as Americas best cop by Esquire magazine. Thousands had shown up on Monday at Campbells Funeral Home for the day-long wake, and St. Patricks was filled for the last hurrah of one of the greatest Irish success stories in recent American history At the wake Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch best summarized Timoney. He started on the beat and went to the top, said Lynch. He stood up for cops and he stood behind cops. Its a terrible loss. Timoney would have loved that tribute. Being a cop's cop was what drove him to great heights, always working to improve their lives, as he did with everyone. To Timoney, blue lives, black lives and white lives all mattered equally. Read more: Irish cop John Timoney taught America how to reform policing NYPD Commissioner William Bratton gave fulsome praise to Timoney. In a Daily News piece, he said, John Timoney was one of a kind. But he was also the last of one kind. Bratton remembered one extraordinary tribute to Timoney from a fellow officer. When I became police commissioner for the first time in 1994, I remember interviewing Timoney for the chief of department job. I also interviewed Mike Julian. Julian was full of ideas, and at the end of the interview, I asked him if he thought he would be a good chief of the NYPD, and he said this: Yes, I think I would. But Timoney would be better. When I interviewed Timoney and John began to talk, between the rapid staccato of ideas and the Irish brogue mixed with a Bronx accent, and given my then even thicker Boston accent, we talked for an hour, and I dont think either one of us understood two words the other one said. But I knew there was something I liked about this young, brash chief. I gave him an unprecedented jump from one-star chief in the policy office to four-star chief of department. Timoney did more than anyone expected to prove Bratton right. In New York, Philadelphia and Miami, homicides fell like skittles when Timoney arrived in power. Who knows how many lives he saved through such simple adjustments as banning shooting at fleeing suspects in cars? And he did it all coming from the kind of working class Irish background and as an immigrant to the city he came to love and serve. He moved here with his parents and a brother and sister when he was 13-years-old. His father died tragically young and his mother then returned to Erin's shores. But Timoney, just 17, had the sense of America's potential in his mind. He and brother Ciaran decided to stay and become cops. It was an audacious move. John would have loved the spectacle of the great and the good gathering to pay their respects to him, this giant of a man who made cities much safer wherever he ended up number two cop in New York or top cop in Philadelphia or Miami. His love for Yeats would have come to the fore if he could have been there and looked around the packed cathedral and been asked what was the most important aspect of his life and career (apart from family). He doubtless would have said, Think where mans glory begins and ends, and my glory was I had such friends. Farewell John. Ni fheicimid do leitheid aris (well never see your likes again). Martina Calvey of Achill Mountain Lamb says her family business is working with neighbouring farmers, tourism enterprises and other local businesses to promote Achill Island as a recognised destination. Their goal is to extend their tourism season, along with their sales of fresh produce. We have come to realise the true value of working together on Achill Island and we need more than the summer visitor to survive, she said. Individually we all have been innovative with using our natural food, fish and farm resources and creating small food businesses that can provide employment and contribute to the local economy in so many ways year round. As a community, we now want Achill Island to be a food visitor destination and with the assistance of Failte Ireland, Bord Bia and others. Achill can become, not just a location for the summer tourist, but a year round destination for the food tourist. Ms Calvey was a guest speaker at the Taste Council of Irelands sixth annual Food Summer School, hosted by Bord Bia in the Brooklodge Hotel, Macreddin Village, Co Wicklow. Her message resonated with the 150 food sector leaders present. Among other topics, the panel discussed the case study of Achill Island, with its rural population of just 2,700 people. Using Achill Island as a template, the delegates also examined the entire island of Ireland, with a rural population of 1.5 million. If successful, Achills example of food tourism can be used as a model for other rural community projects. Aidan Cotter, CEO of Bord Bia stressed the importance of food production to support an increasing, urban population. He noted that, in 1950, just three of every 10 people living in the world lived in cities; today more than five out of 10 do. By 2050 the United Nations projects that almost seven out of ten people will live in cities, said Mr Cotter. And, notwithstanding initiatives around urban farming, it is clear that the production of food is now, more critically than before, the business of rural communities. "And the more successful our rural communities are at the production of food that consumers want, the more thriving, prosperous and vibrant they will be. Nurses say University Hospital Limerick is the most overcrowded in the country today. According to the INMO's latest Trolley Watch statistics, the facility has 35 people waiting for a bed. Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have "outstanding work" left to do on the inquiry and may apply for more British Home Office funding. In April, the UK's then-home secretary Theresa May granted the team 95,000 (110,000) to keep the investigation going, with the cash expected to last until October. Update: 8.30am A 21-year-old British woman has died after being stabbed at a backpackers' hostel in Australia by a man shouting "Allahu Akbar". The woman, named locally as Mia Ayliffe-Chung, from Derbyshire, was described as "gorgeous" by friends. Police said a 29-year-old French national carried out the knife attack in Queensland which also left a 30-year-old British man in a critical condition. Monique Cross, an Australian friend of Miss Ayliffe-Chung, told the Press Association: "She was a gorgeous person. It's an awful tragedy - I can't believe it." Earlier: A 21-year-old British woman has died and a 30-year-old British man is in a critical condition after being stabbed at a backpackers' hostel in Queensland, Australia, by a man who allegedly shouted "Allahu Akbar" during the attack. Queensland Police Service said up to 30 people witnessed the "senseless act of violence" in which a 46-year-old local man also suffered non life-threatening injuries. A 29-year-old French national has been arrested. The stabbing took place at an accommodation complex in the Home Hill area of Queensland at around 11.15pm local time on Tuesday, police said. In a press conference, deputy police commissioner Steve Gollschewski said the investigation was in its early stages and all motivations were being considered, including criminal and political, as well as the impact of drugs and mental health problems. The fact that the suspect shouted the phrase "Allahu Akbar" - which means God is Greatest in Arabic - had been confirmed as officers were wearing body-worn video cameras. He is believed to have been acting alone. Police have retrieved a knife which is believed to have been the weapon. He said: "Initial inquiries indicate that comments which may be construed as being of an extremist nature were made by the alleged offender. "It is alleged that the suspect used the phrase 'Allahu Akbar' during the attack and when arrested by police." Detective Superintendent Ray Rohweder from the Queensland Police Service said officers were confronted with a "terrible scene" when they arrived. The woman was found dead at the scene and the British man was rushed to hospital in a critical condition. Mr Gollschewski said the families of both victims had been contacted with the help of the British consulate. Police are continuing to investigate the incident at #HomeHill with assistance of @AFPMedia. https://t.co/iDXGTnEdDLhttps://t.co/rDYZT14WVU Queensland Police (@QldPolice) August 24, 2016 He said: "Our thoughts and condolences are with those families and their loved ones at this difficult time." He said he could not tell reporters how long they had been in the country and whether they knew each other was part of the investigation but they were all staying at the same accommodation. The 46-year-old man has been released from hospital. Police said a dog had also been fatally injured in the attack. The man taken into custody has been transferred to hospital for treatment for what police believe are non life-threatening injuries sustained in the incident. He is a visitor to Australia who has been in the country since around March on a temporary visa and has no known local connections, Mr Gollschewski said. He said they were still trying to find out what he has been doing in the country since his arrival but he was not known to police before the attack. Police are not searching for anyone else in relation to the incident and there is no known ongoing threat to the community. Mr Gollschewski added: "This is not about race or religion. It is individual criminal behaviour." Queensland Police said on Twitter: "This was a senseless act of violence." This was a senseless act of violence. The AFP will offer assistance to the QPS. #HomeHill Queensland Police (@QldPolice) August 24, 2016 "Our community should feel reassured that the investigation is thorough." Our community should feel reassured that the investigation is thorough. #HomeHill Queensland Police (@QldPolice) August 24, 2016 Australian Federal Police and the country's Border Force are also involved in the investigation. Shocking attack by any standards - motivations unclear, investigation in its infancy. #HomeHill Queensland Police (@QldPolice) August 24, 2016 Mr Gollschewski said the woman was the first person to be attacked and that the incident was at the moment being treated as a murder case, not a terror attack. A British Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are working with local authorities and providing support to the families of a British national who was killed and another critically injured in an incident in Australia. "Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time". British high commissioner to Australia Menna Rawlings boarded a flight to Townsville after reports of the incident emerged. A spokeswoman for the British High Commission in Canberra said: "We are working with local authorities and providing support to the families after one British national was killed and another critically injured in an incident in Australia. "Our thoughts are with the families at this difficult time. High Commission staff have deployed to Townsville and we remain in close contact with local authorities." The attack took place at Shelley's Backpackers accommodation in Home Hill, police said. The hostel is in small town which is a popular place for backpackers to find fruit picking work and is about 62 miles from the coastal city of Townsville in North Queensland. Mr Rohweder said witnesses have described what happened during the attack. He said: "Witnesses have said that they have observed the person attacking one of the persons and as a result of that there was another altercation and subsequently the male person has gone back upstairs at the accommodation complex." Two police officers then arrived and he said they acted "superbly" to ensure the safety of other people at the complex The suspect was then asked to lie on the ground, which he did, before being taken into custody. Industry consultant Energy Aspects estimates the curtailments, along with flooding earlier this summer, may cut oil demand in China by 250,000 barrels a day in the third quarter. The slowdown at facilities including refineries and petrochemical plants along the Yangtze River threatens to weaken Chinese oil imports that rose to record highs in the first half of the year. This follows three appeals lodged to An Bord Pleanala against the Dublin City Council decision to give Mr Ronans firm, RGRE J&R Appian Ltd, the go-ahead to build 15 apartments at Appian Way in D4. The council did not grant permission for a penthouse apartment and Mr Ronans firm has appealed that. Hundreds of farmers from Longford, Leitrim, Roscommon, Offaly, Westmeath, Galway, and Clare attended a protest yesterday outside the Civic Offices in Athlone, Co Westmeath, to coincide with the OPW public consultation on the Shannon Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management plan. IFA president Joe Healy said farmers are angry no work has yet proceeded to avoid the recurrence of the severe floods of last winter. The winter floods had a devastating impact on the livelihoods of thousands of farmers and on rural dwellers who remain fearful that the situation will be repeated because no action has been taken action to prevent it, said Mr Healy. The onus is on the Government to act. Promises are wearing very thin with the thousands of people living and farming adjacent to the Shannon and surrounding areas, including turloughs. Mr Healy said the newly published Shannon report is disappointing. He said it mainly looks at protecting towns and villages, and not rural areas and farmland. Where works are proposed, the environmental good is over-riding the public good, said Mr Healy. This is not acceptable. The hardship farmers and rural householders experienced last winter cannot be allowed to be repeated because of inaction. Mr Healy said that the draft report is due to be discussed in each county council. It is important all councillors in the relevant areas reflect the views of the public to allow the necessary changes to be made before a final document is agreed later this year, he said. That might sound like a dramatic suggestion but it reflects the fast changing definition of industry, especially for us in the developed world where a transition from traditional manufacturing activity towards sectors that have phenomenal growth potential is underway. In the past, it may have been physical goods that defined the prowess of any economy but, increasingly, it is virtual factories that matter most. Having the capability, scale, and security to manage unprecedented volumes of data lies at the heart of Irelands economic future. Within that data, it is possible to explore global marketplaces like never before. Apple is a great example of how all this works. Its platforms exist only because they facilitate an enormous amount of communication and transactions across the Internet. Having a massive data centre that can accommodate existing and projected levels of information and numbers is strategically important to it. Ireland is, relatively, a safe and stable environment in which to locate such a resource. It is also in a weather zone that is cool and wet, valuable attributes when managing high energy consumers such as data centres. Other major corporations are leveraging Irelands skills too. Amazon, the global online retailer, uses Ireland as a base for its data centres. This trend of investment is, if anything, primed to accelerate in the future and could well be assisted by the Brexit vote. Until now, data centres operating in Ireland could move data through and into the UK without any concerns about that datas status within the single European economic market. This can no longer be taken for granted as, one way or another, relationships between the UK and EU economies are set to change and that will influence how all markets, including that for data, will operate. Correspondingly, companies that are planning to store and move large amounts of critical data will assess Ireland from a number of valuable perspectives. To encourage and accommodate such thinking Ireland must equip itself with the new world infrastructure that helps these companies manage enormous volumes of data around the world. That infrastructure has to include energy, telecom technology and high speed/high volume fibre optic cables that facilitate data in and out of Ireland. We must assume that this data will flow to and from the Americas, Europe, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific regions. Ensuring private and public investment is provided to underpin such an opportunity should be a high priority agenda point across Government and relevant agencies including the IDA. Direct employment in these data centres is modest but valuable. The 850m Apple project, as an example, will employ 300 during construction and a further 150 when operating fully. However, it is all the other stuff that hangs off large amounts of data where the rich economic benefits can apply. Apple manufactures products in Ireland that depend on reliable and secure data. It has teams of software engineers who develop products that can operate around data. A multitude of other companies use the web and Apple-like products and services to market and sell their products which, one way or another, touch data centres. All of that giant eco-system can feed off the data centres that Ireland should establish world leadership in hosting, enabling and scaling. Id be surprised if we do not hear about more data centres being created in Ireland. They also are not dependent on large populous conurbations to thrive in. Indeed, regional locations with relatively inexpensive land that is remote from large cities probably suits such installations best. That probably explains why Athenry was attractive to Apple and may surface other parts of rural Ireland for similar levels of attention. These data centres can form part of the solution to rebooting Ireland outside the Pale. Joe Gill is director of corporate broking with Goodbody Stockbrokers. His views are personal. The marriage of the worlds largest beer makers was agreed last year with an offer of 44 a share in cash for general shareholders and a discounted cash-and-stock offer aimed at the largest two Altria Group and Bevco to help them avoid large tax bills. The agreement grew contentious this summer after a fall in sterling increased the value of the cash-and-stock offer above that of the cash offer. AB InBev, maker of Budweiser and Stella Artois, sweetened its offer in July after several shareholders, including activist hedge funds, pressured SABMiller to seek a new deal. Both brewers boards have recommended AB InBevs final offer, and SAB requested that Altria and Bevco which have already signalled their support be treated as a separate class. Justice Richard Snowden said yesterday it was an understandable request since it lowered the risk of delays or challenges from dissenting shareholders who might have challenged the vote as unfair, given Altria and Bevco have agreed to a different offer arrangement. With the judges ruling, the deal will require 75% approval by SAB shareholders, excluding Altria and Bevco, which together control about 40% of the shares. I have jurisdiction to order a meeting of public shareholders to be summoned that does not include Altria and BevCo, Justice Snowden told the court. Altria and Bevco, a vehicle of Colombias Santo Domingo family, will therefore give their support separately, SABMiller and AB InBev said. Prominent investor Aberdeen Asset Management had voiced opposition to the revised offer, saying it still undervalued the brewer of beers. SAB said more details about the implementation of the deal were expected to be published along with transaction documents on Friday. SABs shares were up 1.5% at one stage yesterday, while AB InBevs stock was up 1%. Artic Trip is offering snorkelling trips to Grimsby in Iceland which offers the opportunity to not just observe the rare birds from afar but swim with them. Though not agile flyers, puffin can dive up to depths of 60 meters in search of fish and the snorkelling allows tourist to watch the birds in action in a way the regular bird watcher can't. Officers seized a powerful machine gun capable of firing 600 rounds a minute along with more than 3kg of high-purity cocaine in a raid on an apartment in a leafy part of north Dublin. A 37-year-old man was arrested at the address in Castleknock. Detectives said the cartel was so confident about the secrecy of their safehouse that they didnt even bother hiding the MAC-10 firearm. Gardai said the seizure of the machine gun had saved lives and that it could be used at close quarters to riddle targets in what would be, by the nature of the weapon, an indiscriminate shooting. The operation on Monday was carried out by the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and the Serious Crime Task Force. The task force was set up this summer to combat gangs and gunmen involved in the Kinahan-Hutch feud, which has claimed at least eight lives, two of them in Spain. The unit is part of the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and is led by a detective inspector and comprises around 40 detectives. This is not something that is to be expected in somewhere like Castle-knock, said a source. Its out of the way in a nice, quiet area and it took a lot of work to find it. He said places like this were purchased or rented for the purpose of evading gardai. He said: This is a safe place for the organised crime group, a secret place. Not many in the group would even know about it. And they were so confident it wouldnt be found by us that the gun wasnt even hidden or buried. He said the gang was using this place for storing and moving weapons as well as a drugs factory. Officers seized drug paraphernalia and mixing agents in the apartment. The cocaine is a huge haul and of high grade as it had not been yet cut down. Thats a big financial loss. Garda forensic teams attend the scene where a person was killed in the Hutch and Kinahan gangs feud. Picture: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie Detectives were awaiting tests from Forensic Science Ireland to see the exact quantity of cocaine seized, which is between 3kg and 6kg. With an estimated value of 70,000 per kg of street cocaine, it would suggest a nominal value of between 210,000 and 420,000. Given the cocaine is believed to be high purity, the actual value is likely to be three to four times that. This seizure is very significant because of the machine gun, said the source. You dont get many of them. To take such a weapon out of circulation in the current climate is very significant. He said a submachine gun was able to fire on average 600 rounds a minute, with a magazine containing 32-35 rounds. The source said that at close range it could riddle a target, such as a house or a public venue, and given its indiscriminate nature could end up killing anyone. Garda sources said that the feuding gangs are typically not using professional hitmen but clowns with a gun. The consequences of this were seen with the murder of innocent man Trevor ONeill in Spain last week in a case of mistaken identity. The 41-year-old was walking along with his partner and children in Majorca, where they were holidaying, when a gunman shot him instead of his target, a member of the Hutch family. It shows you the type of people you are dealing with. The gangs are paying people 50,000 or whatever and some clown goes off and shoots someone. The 27-year-old works as the director of development at a Catholic high school in the south side of Chicago. I cant believe this is happening. I cannot thank you enough for this opportunity, said Maggie when she was crowned last night. The new Rose of Tralee, whose Irish family hails from Derry and Wicklow, sang A Little Bit of Heaven while on stage. This is the third time Chicago has won the Rose of Tralee, first in 1960 and again in 1987. Last nights Rose of Tralee was a quiet affair compared with Mondays proceedings, after the stage was invaded by Matt OConnor protesting for Fathers4Justice. He stormed the stage while Cavan Rose Lisa Reilly was being interviewed. I understand that he is passionate about his cause, said Lisa last night. But there is a time and place and I have no connection with his cause and I didnt think there was any need for it. But it is live TV and we just keep our heads up and keep going. Founder Matt OConnor. Pic: @F4JIreland on Twitter. While there was plenty of dancing at last nights festival, the event went off without a glitch. Rochelle Melino, the South Australia Rose, roped in a handful of escorts for her gig, while Ohio Rose Kathleen ODonnell had the lights turned out for her hula-hoop dance, which had the crowd cheering and clapping along to her every move. The Texas Rose, Katherine OSullivan, also got the crowd moving, but not because of her dancing. It was down to the fact that she threw her wedding bouquet into the audience. Texas Rose, Katherine OSullivan Kerry Rose Danielle OSullivan, who is studying human rights at the University of Limerick, spoke frankly about mental health and abusive relationships. She said that abuse in relationships is not confined to married life but is happening in the dating lives of our young people. Danielle said warning signs include when your partner insists on checking your text messages and monitors your social media activity. Kerry Rose Danielle OSullivan Her comments were met with loud applause from the Dome. While Nathan Carter was meant to be the musical highlight of the night, some of the Roses stood up the country star with their talent. North Carolina Rose sang She Moved Through the Fair while playing the double bass and the New Zealand Rose Hannah Greally sang Cant Help Falling in Love with You while playing the piano. Simon Harriss remarks also come after the journey taken by two Irish women to Manchester for an abortion over the weekend. The women tweeted about their journey, using the hashtag #twowomentravel, and received overwhelming support from the public. Referring to the two women, Mr Harris said: I felt it was appropriate and important, as minister for health, for me to acknowledge the fact that these were Irish citizens telling their story and telling of their experience. There is, obviously, a process in place in terms of a citizens assembly which I believe is very important. This will provide us with the opportunity as a country and a society to have a mature, informed discussion about all of these issues, he said. He said a citizens assembly was important because a decision to repeal the eighth amendment will ultimately be one for the citizens. The legislature, the Dail, the Seanad, has dealt with the issues in so far as the constitution of Ireland allows us to deal with them, he said. If the people of Ireland wish to see further change, it will require the people of Ireland expressing that change through a referendum. But before we get to that point, I think we need to have that informed, inclusive, mature and respectful debate. Mr Harris said holding a referendum in this country is extremely difficult, and said a citizens assembly is not out of step with public sentiment on the matter. I dont think we should apologise for putting an informed, structured process in place to deal with what has been one of the most contentious issues in the country over a very long period of years, he said. Critics however, continue to say the citizens assembly is a stalling tactic, arguing that the Irish public is ready for a referendum. The Citizens Assembly will include 100 people from all walks of life, and will debate the possibility of holding a referendum to repeal the eighth amendment of the constitution, which places as much value on the foetus as on the life of the mother. The assembly will then send its proposals to an all-party Oireachtas committee for consideration. On Monday, Sydney Rose Brianna Parkins called for the Eighth Amendment to be repealed, while on stage during the live final of the Rose of Tralee festival. The OPW has written to Cork County Council informing it that it does not intend to get its contractor to start dredging the river in Bandon because it does not think it will have a positive impact on flood prevention. The move has been strongly criticised by Senator Tim Lombard, who said the town has been flooded 10 times in the past 40 years, nearly always during the winter months. Mr Lombard has written to the OPWs junior minister Sean Canney appealing for him to intervene as fisheries legislation prevents dredging of rivers after the end of September. Previous floods have caused millions of euro worth of damage, especially to local businesses, most of whom no longer have insurance cover. The town centre was deluged again last December. Flooding has become a recurring issue around Bandon over the past 40 years, and it is for this reason that an extensive flood relief scheme was created. The proposed works include dredging of the river bed and construction of new flood defences to contain flood water within the Bandon and Bridewell River as well as the Mill Stream, said Mr Lombard. One of the key aspects of this proposal was deepening areas of the existing river bed and dredging approximately 150,000 cubic metres of material from the Bandon river. Due to environmental concerns the dredging of the river is only authorised from May through to September. Mr Lombard said that because of the urgency of the situation if he did not get a satisfactory reply from Mr Canney he would ask that he be called into the Seanad to explain the situation and ensure that an extension of the September deadline will be sought. If this isnt sorted out it will leave businesses and householders to battle through another potentially flood-ridden winter without the proposed defences in place. This is of huge concern to the people of Bandon. The potential year-long delay in flood relief implementation through dredging would be extremely detrimental to the town, said Mr Lombard. Cork County Councils county engineer, David Keane, confirmed that the local authority had received a letter from the OPW saying that it would not be carrying out temporary dredging works. Mr Keane said the OPW did not think this would have a positive impact on reducing flood risk. The council itself has carried out dredging works in the river for the past three years, always in September. It recently installed non-return valves and built embankments in some vulnerable areas. It is clear to all to see that we need dredging carried out at certain pinch points on the river, such as by the main bridge and the weir, Mr Lombard added. Cllr Alan Coleman also expressed concern about non-dredging before the onset of winter. Like Mr Lombard he said residents would have more sleepless nights when it rains and everything should be done to ensure there is no repeat of last years flooding. The Co Cork scientist and innovator heard her Leaving Certificate results over the phone from her mother Maureen a week ago as she was in Seattle for meetings to help develop solutions to world hunger. As most of the 58,000 students collected their grades at school, Ciara was nearing the end of a six-week trip to the US that included an innovation bootcamp at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. However, while waiting for confirmation on Monday of her place on University College Corks genetics degree, which was no difficulty with her 615 CAO points, Ciara found out at the weekend that she has been named one of the 2016 Junior Chamber International Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World Honorees. She will receive the accolade in Canada in November, along with others from Australia, Brazil, Germany, Philippines, Syria, Turkey, and Zimbabwe. It was on a New York subway on Friday night that Ciara found out about her global success. I got a message from the head of Junior Chamber International Ireland and I let out a scream, everybody was just looking at me funny, she said. At 18, she is the only teenager among those picked by judges after coming eighth in a global online vote. She was one of three Irish people on a 20-long shortlist, alongside mental health advocate Niall Breslin and autism activist Adam Harris. Last years Junior Chamber International 10 outstanding young people featured another young Cork woman, disability campaigner Joanne ORiordan. The honour adds to Ciaras previous recognitions that include one of Time magazines 25 most influential teens in the world. This followed her success with Kinsale Community School classmates Sophie Healy-Thow and Emer Hickey as Irish, European, and global young scientist champions in 2013 and 2014. Ciara and Emer launched their own company Germinaid Innovations a year ago to develop their research on using a bacteria in soil to increase crop yields. Ciaras mother Maureen was looking forward to giving her a big hug after her latest overseas trip, and confided she would love to travel to Quebec for the Junior Chamber International ceremony. It will be the latest in a series of engagements in recent years as a guest speaker at events around Europe and the US, which had left Ciara unsure just how well she might have done in her Leaving Certificate. I was delighted with my results, I got five A1s. I wasnt really expecting it to go so well because I had such an unorthodox school year, she said. Tony McNamara, the chief executive of Cork University Hospital (CUH) Group, said the use of this singular count is overly simplistic, and that the abuse of this single measurement can damage the reputation of hospitals and the health service. It is clearly in the interest of some stakeholders to use this data opportunistically to criticise the minister, the HSE and individual hospitals in support of increased resource allocation, he wrote on his hospital blog. It might be observed that indeed it is not in the interest of some stakeholders to see a resolution to the ED crisis or to optimise patient flow since that will only serve to reduce the leverage that might otherwise be exerted to secure more staffing. Whatever the motivation for the use of the 8am trolley count as a proxy for performance, the abuse of this singular metric serves to damage the reputation of individual hospitals and by extension, of the health system generally. According to yesterdays Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) trolley count, there were 31 patients on trolleys in CUH at 8am the highest number in the country. But in his blog, Mr McNamara said the count is taken when hospitals are at their most vulnerable, having had only emergency diagnostic services available in the previous 12 hours, and minimal access to the resources needed to transfer patients to beds. He said as of July, there were an average of 19 people on trolleys at CUH at 8am every day. But he said good internal processes can rapidly reduce that figure by almost half within hours to just nine patients each day, by 2pm. He also said the use of one trolley count is not a measure of the patient experience time, or a measure of the efficiency of patient flow, and that a more nuanced approach is needed to create a more informed debate. But he accepted that work remains to be done following the reconfiguration of services in the region which have reduced the number of EDs serving Cork City and county from five to two in recent years. He said CUH management are focused on ensuring that no patient waits over 24 hours and no patient aged over 75 will wait over nine hours for a bed, and that they plan to reduce these targets further later this year. However, INMO general secretary Liam Doran defended the unions trolley count tool and said instead of shooting the messenger, HSE bosses should be solving the problem. We have been using trolley watch for 12 years and have consistently said its a public sign or symptom of a service-wide inadequacy which leaves patients on trolleys every single day, he said. We pick 8am when the day starts the figure shows what the day is going to present to that hospital in terms of volume of demand. It is not in any way related to the performance of a single hospital. It is totally the result of a system-wide failure. As well as providing extra acute and community beds, he said the HSE needs to hire additional ED and nursing staff. There are around 155 ED vacancies, 20 more than the start of the year, despite a 6% rise in presentations and the public hospital system is down 3,600 general nursing positions since 2009. The youth, then aged 14 and who cannot be named because he is a minor, appeared at Dublin Childrens Court charged with assault causing harm to the man in his 30s in the early hours of May 18 last year. Judge John ONeill agreed to a request by the DPPs solicitor to further adjourn the case until next week to allow more time for the book of evidence to be completed. Two co-defendants will also be before the court on August 30. Earlier, it was decided that the case was too serious for the juvenile court and should be sent forward to the Circuit Court which can impose lengthier sentences. Garda Eoin Treacy gave an outline of the allegations during a previous hearing. He had said the victim left a Phibsborough pub at about 4am with a friend and had been walking home along the canal bank in the vicinity of Croke Park. He sat down on a bench alone while his friend carried on. Garda Treacy said it would be alleged the man was then set upon by four youths and was stabbed 20 times. The victim sustained 14 wounds to his back and more to a leg and an arm. The cuts ranged in depth from 0.5cm to 4cm in length, the court heard, and were allegedly inflicted by a screwdriver later recovered from the canal. The court heard that after the man was stabbed he was robbed of his wallet and then pushed into the Royal Canal by his attackers. Damian McKeone, defending, put it to Garda Treacy that the boy helped the man out of the water. Garda Treacy agreed the man was assisted but it was unknown who helped him out of the canal. The victim then went home and his partner called an ambulance. It was discovered he was suffering from hypothermia and he had fluid in his lungs. The teen and other alleged accomplices were identified from CCTV footage obtained by Mountjoy detective unit. Mr McKeone agreed it was a disturbing incident. He said the boy had a volatile relationship with his mother when he was younger and ended up in care. He said the boy, who was accompanied to court by his mother and his social worker, had been put into a number of residential care homes around Ireland but often went missing. He said the boy has been moved from pillar to post, and was staying at a hostel at the time where there was little chance of anything good coming out of it. Judge John OConnor, who dealt with the issue of jurisdiction during an earlier stage in the proceedings, had said he was aware the boy had a lot of issues. However, the judge added that a lot of support had been offered to him. He said the incident was horrific and breaks all the barriers. He refused jurisdiction. The teenager, who did not address the court, has not yet indicated how he will plead, and was further remanded in custody. Pauline Kelly-Melia said she was all the more hurt by the decision because she was informed of the decision by letter on the same day she spoke with the principal of Knocktemple National School in Virginia, Co Cavan, who never told her the school was banning the dog. Ms Kelly-Melia said the assistance dog, Aidan, has not only prevented her son Luke from falling but has helped develop him physically. We wanted Aidan because we thought he would help Luke and stop Luke from falling. What we didnt understand until after we got Aidan was that after he came along Luke stopped deteriorating and started progressing, Ms Kelly-Melia told the Anton Savage Show on Today FM. It was a huge thing for us as a family and for Luke physically, because the concern is when children who have cerebral palsy are at Lukes stage in life, they start to grow and have growth spurts that cause major problems for them physically and thats when the deterioration starts to become a problem. The further you walk, the stronger you get and the stronger you get the further you walk. So the further Luke was walking the stronger he was getting, he was building up his muscles because he couldnt walk very far without Aidan because he kept falling. Also Aidan pulls Luke along so he needs less energy to walk further, she said. Ms Kelly-Melia said Aidan was initially brought to Lukes sixth class with a view to her son using the dog when going into secondary school. However, she received a letter from the school on the last day before the Christmas informing her that the dog would no longer be allowed on the premises. We were gutted, and shocked, and hurt really because when I was sitting chatting to the principal that morning, giving him his Christmas present, we were having great craic and I was slagging him off, I remember distinctly, he had a Rudolph tie on him, there was a Christmas thing going on, and no mention of it. No mention of it at all, she said. I just thought oh for heavens sake, how could you do that? He must have known the letter was waiting for me. Luke Kelly-Melia and his assistance dog, a golden retriever called Aidan. Aidan has prevented Luke, who has cerebral palsy, from falling and has helped him develop physically.Lukes school banned the dog from the premises his mother says the family got the letter telling them of this on the last day before Christmas. Picture: Eric Luke / The Irish Times This week it emerged that Luke, now 17, was awarded 5,500 after the Workplace Relations Commission found the school discriminated against him on disability grounds. Ms Kelly-Melia said that the incident left her son shook and in fear that any incidents involving Aidan would see him expelled from secondary school. He came into that school quite shook because he had a fear then, as a result of the whole incident, that if something goes wrong here Mammy theyre going to expel me, Im going to end up at home, Ill never be able to go to school again. For the first few months he was in there he was constantly worrying, she said. She also praised Lukes new school who welcomed the dog with open arms and the Cork-based charity Dogs for the Disabled, which provided her family with Aidan. They are not a funded organisation, they are on their own, she said. I cant say for sure where Luke would be without Aidan but my gut instinct is he would be a wheelchair user. It follows the seizure on Monday of a submachine gun at a purported safe house used by one of the criminal groups, thought to be the Kinahan cartel. Gardai said the seizure of the high-powered weapon, found in an apartment in a leafy north Dublin suburb, had saved lives and that it could have been intended for use in a feud attack. Capable of firing 600 rounds a minute, gardai said the gun was an indiscriminate weapon that could injure or kill unintended and intended targets. Gardai estimated previously that they had prevented five feud murder attempts. However, the Irish Examiner understands that the number of thwarted planned hits now stands at 10 at least, and possibly 12. The MAC-10 machine gun that gardai found in the safehouse in Castleknock. One Garda source, calling the seizure very significant, said: You dont get many of them. To take such a weapon out of circulation in the current climate is very significant. This shows that an awful lot is going on behind the scenes, said a garda source. As well as the checkpoints, houses are being searched, cars are being stopped, people are being disrupted, arrests are being made a lot of which doesnt make the headlines. The source said this was due to the resources the Government and Garda HQ have put into tackling the feud. Like the Veronica Guerin investigation, when you throw money at an investigation it spreads out, he said. You have people on the ground, lifting people and shaking trees. People [criminals] are finding it difficult to do their ordinary business and their extraordinary business of having people shot. Figures published yesterday show that the garda overtime bill for Dublin has risen by 62% or 7m, so far this year, to 18.5m, directly in response to the Kinahan-Hutch feud. This has funded 24-hour roaming armed checkpoints and patrols in the north inner city and the south-west city, the bases of the Hutch and Kinahan gangs. The Kinahan cartel has been linked to seven of the eight feud murders, three of them Hutch family members as well as two completely innocent people who were shot mistakenly. The latter include homeless father Martin ORourke, shot last April, and Irish tourist Trevor ONeill, murdered last week in Spain. Irish tourist Trevor ONeill The checkpoints and the patrols, involving armed regional support units and the Emergency Response Unit, have been an almost constant feature in the south west inner city and the neighbouring areas of Crumlin and Drimnagh as well as the north east inner city. They are often assisted by the Garda helicopter and local units. The operation on Monday, targeting an apartment in upmarket Castleknock, was carried out by the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and the Serious Crime Task Force. The taskforce, headed by a detective inspector, was set up to combat the gangs involved in the Kinahan-Hutch feud and comes under the wing the bureau. Latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that the number of immigrants to the State in the year to April increased by almost 15%. In particular, the number of Irish nationals returning to Ireland rose from 12,100 to 21,100 over the year a 74% increase. There was an overall increase of 79,300 in the number of people coming to the country, up from 69,300, with the number of emigrants falling from 80,900 to 76,200. Most people leaving the country were students or had been employed before their departure, with one in 10 (10.4%) unemployed. A breakdown of education attainment shows that more than half (57.1%) of those aged 15 and over emigrating had a third-level degree. The combined changes resulted in a return to net inward migration for Ireland at 3,100 for the first time in seven years. This compares to a net outward migration of 11,600 in the previous year. Irish nationals continue to leave the country but at a much lower level than the previous year, falling from 23,200 to 10,700. Of the 76,200 people who emigrated in the year to April 2016, 41.7% were Irish nationals. The number of Irish nationals leaving the country had fallen by 3,500 (9.9%) in the year to April 2015 when 35,300 emigrated. Nationals from outside the EU accounted for 31,800 (40.1%) of immigrants and 18,500 (24.3%) of emigrants, resulting in a net inward migration of 13,300. Over the 12-month period, there were 65,000 births and 30,000 deaths, resulting in a natural population increase of 35,300. The previous year, there was a natural increase of 37,400 when there were 67,000 births and 29,600 deaths. The combined effect of all the changes was an increase in the estimated total population from 4,635,400 in April 2015 to 4,673,700 in April 2016, a rise of 38,400. Finance Minister Michael Noonan welcomed the CSO figures showing that net inward migration over the year to April had turned positive for the first time since 2009. Finance Minister Michael Noonan The National Youth Council of Ireland welcomed the return of 19,700 young migrants over the 12-month period to June 2016, up from 14,700 last year. It called on the Government to do more to ensure the availability of quality jobs and affordable housing so more people would return to Ireland. The representative body for youth organisations said substantial work was still needed to stem the tide of young people having to leave Ireland and provide opportunities for them to return in the future. Around 31,700 young people aged 15 to 24 emigrated over the year, up 1,300 on the 30,400 in 2015. With 19,700 young people coming back into the country, net emigration was 12,000, down from 15,700 in 2015. Some 1,187 council staff including almost every member of staff, indoor and outdoor, claimed mileage and or subsistence in work for the council. The total paid was 2,390,326, according to information released on request, under the Freedom of Information Act. The figures relate to 2015. In December of that year there were 1,378 staff employed by Kerry County Council. The council confirmed that almost everyone claimed expenses and most of this was mileage. However, a breakdown of the various departments shows some did better than others. More than half a million euro, 523,591, went to staff on the water services department of the council. The council is now an agent of Irish Water, as are other councils around the country. Under the contract or what is known in council terminology as service-level agreement the mileage and expenses will be recoupable that is paid back to Kerry County Council by Irish Water. Transport Infrastructure Ireland will also have to pay back some of the expenses involved in work for them, as will a number of other departments, the council said. Staff in Kerrys department of Operations Health and Safety received 929,676, in mileage and subsistence expenses. Fire and Civil Defence received 124,754; while Corporate Services which deals with the press and the public got almost 136,000 in mileage and subsistence. The 2,390,326 represents travel, mileage and subsistence paid in 2015 for both revenue and capital expenditure, it said. Payment of expenses are subject to compliance with Revenue legislation and guidelines. Therefore most of the travel expenses are not taxable under these rules. However, there are some expenses that are subject to tax deduction in line with this legislation and guidelines, the council has said. The overall sum represents both recoupable and non-recoupable expenditure for 1,187 staff members. Mileage is paid at the civil service rate, as is subsistence. The Civil Service rates for motoring are paid to individuals who have to use their own vehicle in the course of their duty, according to the engine size of vehicle involved and the grade of staff. According to the latest Civil Service rates, a civil service/council employee driving a car of up to 1,200cc will get 39.12c a kilometre up to 6,437km; and 21.22c for anything after that; those with cars with engine capacities of 1,201cc and 1,500cc will get 46.25c a kilometre up to 6,437km and 28.46c after that . Those with cars of over 1,501cc will get 59.07c a kilometre up to the limit and 28.46 after that. And that is the standard rate. The higher Civil Service rates (for persons on lower grades) involve up to 78.76c a kilometre for cars over 1,501cc. Fine Gaels Michael Creed, who has an office in the centre of Macroom, Co Cork, said getting work started as soon as possible on the proposed 43km Ballyvourney to Macroom bypass on the main Cork to Kerry road is one of his top priorities but he declined to be drawn on a possible start date. I live in the town, my office is on the main street. I know the chaos, the economic cost of the current inadequate road infrastructure, he said. Getting this started is top of my agenda. Im not going to put a timeframe on it but Im committed to getting it started as quickly as possible. A route has been identified, planning was granted by An Bord Pleanala in 2011, land has been acquired under Compulsory Purchase Order and the government has committed funding to the project as part of its 6bn investment in the road network under its 42bn Capital Investment plan 2016-2021. But it emerged in July that Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) is prioritising other projects, such as the Dunkettle interchange in Cork, pending the allocation of specific funding to the Macroom scheme. It is one of several major road projects that have been placed on the backburner, fuelling fears that work on the bypass may not start before 2021 at the earliest. Mr Creed said he met TII chiefs in recent weeks and is satisfied that all the preparatory work is done to allow construction to start. But he said talks to resolve issues around a specific funding allocation, and whether the project will be undertaken in conjunction with other projects or completed as a standalone project, are ongoing. They are issues we are working on. Im not interested anymore in paper progress. We are at a stage where we need to get contractors on the ground, he said. He hit back at opposition TDs who have criticised the ongoing delays, pointing out that despite the economic collapse, the previous government committed funding to the scheme. When we had oceans of money, more money than sense, we didnt make any progress on this project, he said. And now I see these self-same people jumping up and down and pointing the finger at this government and its predecessor, which was in a very difficult space in terms of money, and which put this bypass project in the capital programme. He said he will continue to liaise with TII to advance the scheme to construction at the earliest date. The proposed N22 Ballyvourney to Macroom bypass will run from Coolcower roundabout on the Cork side of Macroom and take traffic north of the town, continuing westwards to close to the county bounds west of Ballyvourney. It will include about 22km of dual carriageway and over 20 bridges. The Construction Industry Federation warned earlier this year that the lack of commencements dates for critical infrastructural projects in the Cork region such as the Macroom bypass, and the N28 upgrade to Ringaskiddy is threatening development in the region. There was a 2.9% increase in employment (+56,000) over the 12 months to June this year when total employment reached 2,014,900. Figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that full-time employment makes up the bulk of the increase at 44,900 (+3%). Part-time work rose by 11,400 (+2.5%) according to the CSOs latest quarterly national household survey. Employment increased by 20,000 (+1%) between April and June this year, compared to the previous three months. When broken down by gender, the 56,000 employment increase shows that women outnumber men. Three was an increase of 30,100 (+3.4%) in female employment, compared to an increase of 26,100 (+2.5%) for men. However, more women are in part-time employment than men. Latest figures show that 34% of women are in part-time jobs, compared to 13.5% of men. Unemployment decreased by 23,000 (-11.1%) over 12 months to June to 187,800. It is the 16th successive three-month period that unemployment declined annually. The overall employment rate decreased from 9.8% to 8.6% over the year to June, compared to 9.2% in the EU-28 countries. The highest unemployment rates in the EU during the first three months of this year were 24.9% in Greece and 21% in Spain. The lowest rate of 4.4% was recorded in Czech Republic. The youth unemployment rate (15-24-year-olds) fell from 22.4% to 19% over the year to June. Two years ago the rate was at almost 27%. Long-term unemployment accounted for 51.1% of total unemployment at the end of June, compared to 56.1% a year earlier, with the rate decreasing from 5.5% to 4.4% over the year to June. Male unemployment fell by 14,300 (-10.9%) to 117,200 over the year to June, while female unemployment fell 9,100 (-11.5%) to 70,500 over the same period. At 9.8%, the male unemployment rate is higher than the female unemployment rate, at just over 7%. Employment growth over the year was greatest in the administrative and support services, at 6,300, a 9.9% increase. Growth was also high in construction, with employment increasing by 10,900, up 8.7%. The greatest rate of decline in employment, at 1,100 (-1.1%) was recorded in the financial, insurance and real estate services sectors. Finance Minister Michael Noonan welcomed the positive growth in numbers of people at work. He said the growth remained broad-based, with 12 of the 14 sectors reported by the CSO showing annual growth. Creating jobs for our people means they can contribute to a better life for themselves and a fairer society for all of our people. Positive trends in the Irish economy are clearly seen in the 56,000 jobs added during the 12 months period which ended in June 2016, he said. Mr Noonan said that the Governments ambition was to help create 200,000 new jobs by 2020, including 135,000 outside of Dublin. South African evangelist, Angus Buchan, is to address a gathering at The Hub in Kilkenny City but an online petition opposing his appearance has already attracted up to 800 supporters. A similar event due to be held in Scotland was cancelled following protests by local LGBT movements, as well as the Borders Rape Crisis Centre. As well as prayer meetings, Mr Buchan also organises mighty men conferences and in the past has called on men to remedy their masculinity, dominate their wives and administer corporal punishment to their children. Among the comments made by Angus Buchan in the past which have generated criticism are those from a 2008 press conference in which he said: I cannot ever agree that homosexuality is right, I cannot bless it I love them though, but they need help. We have prayed for them and God has changed their hearts. He also said around that time: I dont shy away from controversy. Homosexuality is against the word of God. Im not doing this for money. Im doing this because God told me to. In a 2013 newsletter on his website, Mr Buchan said: There is such decay taking place through the media at the moment and it is concerning. Issues such as the sovereignty of the marriage, people are treating decisions like divorce very lightly, the taking of human life (in particular abortion), homosexuality, pornography, lack of respect from children towards their parents, the lack of example in the home in leadership from parents towards their children, the lack of mentorship and role leaders in the household and it is growing worse continually. Mayor of Kilkenny city and county, Cllr Patrick ONeill, has said he will sign the petition opposing tonights event, as has Renua election candidate Cllr Patrick McKee. The petition was established by Enya Kennedy, originally from Belfast but living in Kilkenny for 11 years. She was a founder of the former Gay Kilkenny group and one of the leaders of the yes campaign in the area in last years marriage equality referendum. I went back to the place where, as a 12-year-old, I was standing on the banks of the River Bann, thinking about jumping in I thought if it could prevent one person from doing that, then he cant come here. Ireland has by and large moved on from that time, she said. The Kilkenny event has been organised by the Together for Ireland group. The Hub CEO Michael Lynch, said they are just the venue, not the organisers: Were not making any comment whatsoever on the event. He was aware there is likely to be a protest: If they want to protest, they can protest. The minister for health was speaking at the launch of the first patient charter from the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, which took place at the PSI headquarters in Dublin 2. The new charter aims to provide the public with a broader understanding of the role of community pharmacists, and what information and services can be provided when they visit their local chemist. Speaking at the launch, Mr Harris said: Community pharmacists are at the heart of our primary care system. Its important to note that 95% of all our healthcare needs can be met in the community. Speaking afterwards, the health minister said current primary care services are not meeting the needs of the public. We have to be unapologetic in our desire as a country to move to primary care, he said. The reality of the situation today is that far too many people are finding themselves in or acute hospitals because, quite frankly, they dont have the developed primary care centres in the community. Mr Harris said a number of steps are required in order to roll out greater primary care, including new contracts for GPs. Over the last number of years weve seen a significant roll-out of primary care centres, roughly one a month during the lifetime of the last government, he said. We now need to move on to the next building blocks. That includes a new GP contract, looking at what services can be provided in the community and how we resource them. The minister announced he will be holding a stakeholder conference on primary care in October. What I want to do is have a discussion about what enhanced role our pharmacists can play in the community, our GPs, our public health nurses. I think for that to happen its important we bring all the care professionals together, he said. While passionate about primary care, Mr Harris acknowledged that he was not the first health minister to focus on the issue. Im constantly aware when I talk about primary care that the minister for health in 1987 was talking about a decisive shift towards primary care when I was one. "So, clearly, we have been talking about this for quite a while. While the emphasis at yesterdays (Tuesdays) launch was on the positive role pharmacists play in the community, the PSI also handles complaints received from members of the public. Ann Frankish, president of the PSI, announced that the number of complaints about pharmacists received by the PSI in 2015 dropped significantly from those in 2014. A total of 27 formal complaints were received last year, compared with 51 complaints in 2014. As in previous years, the majority of these complaints were from patients, with dispensing errors the most common category of complaint, followed by behaviour or professionalism issues. As well as receiving official complaints, the annual report also outlines that 90 expressions of concern were raised with the regulator, a 19% decrease on 2014. Figures released by the Irish Prison Service (IPS) show that the cost per prison space at the Midlands Prison where Dwyer, aged 43, is serving a life sentence for the murder of Elaine OHara, aged 36, totalled 51,837 in 2015. This works out at 996 per week per prisoner and the figures confirm it cost the IPS 45m to operate the States most populated prison where it had an average prison population of 870 in 2015. Prisoner 88335, Dwyer received a life sentence for the murder of Ms OHara in April of last year after a trial at the Central Criminal Court. The number of years served by killers for life sentences is, on average, around 20 years. However, due to the depravity involved in Dwyers crime and the public opprobrium towards the killer, Dwyers time in jail is expected to be much longer than the average life sentence. If the Cork native was to serve 30 years in jail, it would cost the taxpayer 1.5m over the three decades to jail the murderer based on the 2015 cost per place at the Midlands Prison. Dywers prison contains the largest population of convicted sex offenders in the country at 300. The biggest contributor to costs at the prison is the 29.1m on prison-related fixed costs. The cost per prisoner place at the Midlands Prison is well below the average cost per prison place of 68,628 with the cost per prisoner of 97,824 at the States only high-security prison at Portlaoise helping to bring up the average cost across the prison system. Separate figures show that the cost of jailing the likes of the notorious Scissors Sisters, Linda and Charlotte Mulhall, at the Dochas prison in 2015 worked out at 1,518 per week. The cost per prisoner place at Dochas in 2015 amounted to 78,981 and the total cost of running the Dochas centre in 2015 amounted to 8.29m for the average 105-strong prison population. The IPS figures show that it cost 1,088 per prison per week or 56,590 at the Training Unit in 2015. The unit in 2015 had an average prison population of 96 and the total cost of operating the Training Unit in 2015 totalled 5.4m. The highest per prisoner space cost among the 10 closed prisons is Cork prison where the cost was 90,929 followed by Mountjoy where the cost per prisoner space was 86,657. The total cost of operating the 13 prisons in the Irish Prison Service totalled 283.5m. The Department of Education said last night that the aim is to conclude by early next month the talks it has been engaged in with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) and Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO). Its statement followed TUI president Joanne Irwins warning that the unions second-level members might be forced to activate a mandate for industrial action in the absence of resolution on the key issue of pay of recent entrants to the profession. The boy is accused of assault causing harm to care staff, two men and two women, at Ballydowd Young Peoples Centre in Lucan in Dublin on June 15. The centre holds troubled children who have been detained by the High Court for their own care and welfare. The boy is also accused of assault causing harm to a male at the Ballydowd care facility on April 19. It is also alleged he attacked a care worker in March when he was placed in non-secure childrens care home in the midlands. He is also accused of damaging a TV and a car there. A bench warrant was issued on July 5 for the teenager when he failed to attend his hearing. He had gone missing two days beforehand. The bench warrant was executed by gardai earlier this week and the teenager appeared again at the Dublin Childrens Court on Tuesday. The boy was accompanied to court by his mother, a guardian ad litem, his social worker and care staff. Defence solicitor Aine Flynn told Judge John ONeill that the boys care issues will be reviewed by the High Court in early September. Ms Flynn said there was consent to the criminal proceedings being adjourned for just over three weeks. Solicitor Shane Reynolds, for the Child and Family Agency (CFA), asked for a bail term stating the teen must reside at Ballydowd Young Peoples Centre or another address approved by the CFA. Judge ONeill agreed to make that a condition of bail. The teen who spoke briefly to greet the judge was then remanded on bail. The CFA has also got help from an organisation which provides support for people with autism. The 16-year-old has not yet entered a plea to the charges but earlier he claimed in court that the attacks were a cry for help. YOU might not have heard of director Todd Phillips, but youve probably watched one of his movies (Old School, Road Trip, Starsky & Hutch and the insanely popular Hangover trilogy to name a few). Phillips latest movie, War Dogs, marks a slight departure from recent form. Based on a true story, its set during the Iraq war. Our protagonists are Efraim Diveroli and David Packouz, two weed-smoking twenty-something school friends from Miami. The former played by Moneyballs Jonah Hill, the latter by Miles Teller, who starred as a gifted drummer with a psycho teacher in the brilliant Whiplash. Together they embark on a very risky business venture exploiting a little-known US government initiative that lets small companies bid on big military contracts. Think Wolf of Walls Street with guns. In the upmarket Claridges Hotel in London, Phillips leans back in an expensive chair. Wearing a soft cashmere jumper and pale blue trousers he looks like hes just stepped out of a Hamptons beach house. So, what is this movie? Dramatic comedy, comedic drama I dont know, to me its real life, he says in smooth American accent, gritted a little from smoking (hes given up, and in his right hand clutches a tiny vape). Ive always been attracted to that idea that the truth is stranger than fiction. In this case, it really is. While Phillips was flying to Bangkok to make the second Hangover movie, he read a Rolling Stone article titled Arms and the Dudes by Guy Lawson. For Philips, known as the master of men-making-bad-decision movies (be they based in frat houses, or at ill-fated bachelor parties) the story was gold dust. He spent a year writing the script, taking lots of creative licence but also relying on the real David Packouz to fill in some blanks. Packouz, who cooperated, even has a brief cameo in War Dogs, but Diveroli (spoiler alert) who was in jail when they were writing the script was not interested in being part of the movie and has written his own version of events (Once a Gun Runner: The Real Story). MANS WORLD Men making terrible choices really does seem to be a unifying theme in Phillips work. What I like about bad decisions is they usually lead to mayhem. I like movies to have a chaotic undertone to them. Its something Im attracted to. Has he made any himself lately? He laughs, Ive made a few bad ones here in this very hotel. Back in his college days at New York University, Phillips made a bold decision, but not a bad one. He decided to drop out and make the movie that launched his career. The film, Hated: GG Allin and the Murder Junkies follows the revolting and disturbing antics of off-his-rocker rocker GG Allin and his band. Allin makes Ozzy Osborne and his on stage antics look like an episode of The Mickey Mouse Club. He took heroin, drove around in vans throwing bottles at prostitutes, frequently beat the crap out of his audience, defecated at his gigs and rolled around in it. Dark and disturbed, Allin promised he would kill himself live on stage, but heroin got him first. Phillips explains that the choice not to finish his studies at NYU was a financial thing. It was this extreme, bizarre time in my life where I followed this guy around for a year making a documentary, he recalls. It cost money to make a movie, you were shooting on film back then. This was 90, 91, and I dropped out of NYU not to be cool or because I didnt like it, but more because the little money I was paying to NYU I thought I could put towards the movie, so I did. He made Hated for about $14,000, and even though he says kids are shooting better-looking movies on their iPhones now, it changed his life. It changed a lot. The movie was really big in the States. Phillips grew up in a single parent family with his two sisters. After the movie came out, for the first time he got to travel, go to Europe and tour with the movie. We were everywhere. I had never really travelled before that. It got me my next thing and everything sort of snowballed from there so it was a huge moment for me. Then, in 2009, Phillips directed a little movie called The Hangover. Starring Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis, it became a blockbuster hit, and the sequels (both written and directed by Philips) followed. In total, the trilogy brought in a jaw-dropping $1.4 billion dollars. Without the incredible success of the Hangover movies, Phillips doubts he would have been able to make War Dogs. These arent easy movies to get made in this climate, he says. War Dogs is not a sequel, its not a superhero movie, and its not based on a well-known story, so he for sure used his Hangover clout. I had built enough goodwill at the studio but what you learn in Hollywood is that goodwill is perishable. It goes away very quickly so I thought I better use it and make this movie. TALKING MONEY Along with the power, the Hangover movies made Phillips a rich man so hes well placed to answer the million dollar question does money make you happy? No, money makes you more relaxed about things, he replies. Im not going to lie. I grew up as a child with a single mom, two sisters and me. Its stressful not having money. But then you get to a point you have a little bit of money and you can stop thinking about that every day. It makes life less stressful, but it doesnt making you happy. Is it rewarding to help his friends and family out if they need a loan? Oh I dont talk to any of them anymore, he says deadpan. There are great things you can do with it, helping friends and family but if it made you happy I would stop doing this [making movies]. Im not doing this for money; Im doing this for because it makes me happy. Stephen Spielberg is the richest guy, but he still makes movies every year. A self-proclaimed control freak who cant watch his own movies, you can tell Phillips had a good time making War Dogs. Directing is everything, he says about his job. Its the most rewarding job. Its a lot of pressure and stress but its really fun. It helps that its the first movie under the Joint Effort umbrella, the company he set up with best mate, Bradley Cooper. Bradley and I became literally best friends on the Hangover movies. We share a lot of the same taste in movies; we talk about movies all the time, says Phillips. We just trust each other, he says of Cooper. He read drafts of the screen play, he was on set a lot, so for me it was great to have someone I trust and love so close to me. Hes tight-lipped about upcoming projects. I never like talking about other work when I have a movie out. I always say its like would you go up to a pregnant woman and ask would you have another baby? Its like, let me have this one first. Finally, how does the control freak part of him feel about letting his baby go? You become done with it. No matter how good it is, you hate it so you also have to let it go. Its not yours anymore. Now its out there. And however people react, you have no control. War Dogs is in cinemas on August 26. While the figures are undoubtedly appalling for the first time there are more than 2,000 children homeless in Dublin, with 97 families becoming homeless in July alone, according to Focus Ireland the situation has been spiralling out of control for so long McVerry may well have a point. What was a housing crisis has become a homelessness crisis. Meanwhile, the latest daft.ie figures show that the average rent is 1,037 a month, compared to the average mortgage repayment of 953 a month. It is only when you speak with people trying to keep their families together while living in cramped hotel rooms that you fully appreciate just how draining and debilitating these personal experiences can be. In December 2014 the Irish Examiner spoke with one woman facing into Christmas in the hotel room in which she lived with her husband and two young children. Having to sit two innocent little kids down and explain to them that there is nowhere for Santy to bring them [their presents], and watch them cry, was the hardest thing any mammy or father should ever, ever have to do, she said. Nearly two years down the line, the problem is worse than ever. Is there a quick fix? There have long been calls for increases in rent assistance payments and greater levels of security of tenure, but while Housing Minister Simon Coveney was yesterday stressing that 50,000 units would be added to the current stock of social houses over the next five years and that efforts are being made to phase out the use of hotel accommodation for families within the next 12 months, families need solutions now. Lorcan Sirr of the school of surveying and construction management at Dublin Institute of Technology believes some proposals such as compulsory purchase orders to buy vacant units, or tax breaks to increase the number of landlords could get bogged down. Housing Minister Simon Coveney Itd be far easier to reform the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 to protect tenants so that they cannot be evicted if the owner wants to sell the property or use it for a family member, he says, adding: Any tax breaks for landlords should be tied into increased security of tenure for tenants. "The landlords associations want increased tax breaks but without giving anything in return, and this is unacceptable. Instead, he has another idea: We need to make better use of our existing stock. We are losing 123 houses a week to obsolescence that is houses being allowed for various reasons to fall into a state of being uninhabitable. "That is 6,500 houses a year, and they are not all in isolated rural areas; many are in large urban centres. So even though we completed 12,666 private houses last year, we only added about 6,000 (at most) houses to the nations housing stock. "It also means that in 2015, for every 100 houses we built, we lost another 63 to obsolescence. This is a sub-optimal use of our houses in a time of housing supply need. Orla Hegarty, assistant professor and a course director at the school of architecture, planning and environmental policy at UCD, says: Re-using existing buildings is the fastest and most immediately available solution to provide sustainable housing at the least cost. "However, there are significant regulatory barriers that need to be addressed urgently in order to bring buildings into use or to enable conversions from other uses. "Many new homes could be provided in existing buildings for 30,000-50,000 in less time than it takes to get planning permission and for less than the price of a site in some outer suburbs. However, regulation and bureaucracy are significant barriers to the reuse and adaptation of existing buildings. "To convert a single unit over a shop requires three separate regulatory approvals, four statutory appointments and procedures under three different bodies of legislation, all operating to different timescales and with different authorities.. Prof Ronan Lyons of Trinity College Dublin has another angle: An audit of construction costs. The Government needs to be able to answer the following question: Why does it cost between 25% and 50% more to build a home in Ireland than in other high-income countries? he says. Identifying the four, five, six specific steps that will lower costs is by far the best way to solve the lack of accommodation in the medium term. In the short term, there are unfortunately very few quick wins although establishing why there are so many vacant properties will help. "This may be to do with schemes like Fair Deal, which keep homes empty, or an inefficient legal process, both for standard sales three weeks is the maximum in the UK to do conveyancing, possibly twice that here and for executor sales. RUSSIAS search for greater international influence and respect continued its downwards spiral this summer. Its Olympic experience was spoiled by charges of doping. Accusations of hacking dragged it into the US presidential campaign, and military tensions over Ukraine and Syria show no sign of abetting. All this clamour and controversy is overshadowing Russias impending September 18 parliamentary elections. This might be exactly what President Vladimir Putin wants, however. The Duma elections five years ago sparked unprecedented protests over fraud and Putins unilateral decision to return to the presidency. He has been clamping down ever since. But though electoral competition remains tightly controlled, elite competition is increasingly played out in the open. A changing of the guard is under way in Russia. It is occurring via presidential decree, however, not elections. Such an opaque process produces plenty of intrigue and speculation. What it lacks is real political options for voters and a chance for genuine change. Reading the Russian tea leaves is a growth industry. But even among all the comings and goings, certain trends have become apparent. Most notably, the people who built Putins system are on their way out, replaced by people of the system. This may be a subtle distinction, yet it is a crucial one. The older generation brought a combination of intelligence, street smarts, and toughness that was essential for surviving in the highly competitive, often chaotic, post-Soviet environment. In contrast, their replacements have only known the relative stability of the Putin years and remain largely untested in times of crisis. Their inexperience may yet come to the forefront. Putin himself has made high-profile personnel changes in his administration, which culminated with the unexpected August 12 dismissal of his chief of staff, Sergei Ivanov. He was able to leave with his reputation largely intact, though: Ivanov retained his seat on the Russian security council. Putins chief of staff, Sergei Ivanov Others have been less fortunate. Andrei Belianinov, the head of the Federal Customs Service, for example, was forced to resign after police found almost $900,000 (795,000) in cash in his possession. In addition to these departures, Putin is holding other long-time confidants at arms length. Igor Sechin, the chairman of the oil giant Rosneft, was informed on several occasions that his company could not bid on the privatisation of the oil company Bashneft. But he refused to take no for an answer. The Bashneft privatisation was just cancelled, largely due to political infighting. Because the Russian state desperately needs the revenue, however, talk has resumed about selling off some of its Rosneft shares. This is something Sechin has adamantly opposed. Another long-standing Putin ally, former finance minister Alexei Kudrin, recently returned from years of self-imposed exile to prepare a new economic strategy for the Kremlin. The ink was barely dry on his initial proposal, however, when Putin announced that he was commissioning an alternative report; Kudrin was pushed back to the margins. Former finance minister Alexei Kudrin As the old guard moves on, sometimes voluntarily, other times in disgrace, Putin has replaced them with younger, more loyal functionaries, primarily from the security services but also from his personal entourage. The acting governors of Kaliningrad and Tula are former Putin bodyguards. The new head of the presidential administration, Anton Vaino, came from Putins protocol office. These internal personnel battles have been accompanied by public clashes among Russias law enforcement and security services. The FSB recently arrested a prominent criminal investigator on corruption charges a highly provocative act. Investigators and prosecutors are also in open disagreement over the detention of a leading businessman. The equivalent would be if the CIA, FBI, and the US justice department were deliberately trying to discredit each other on the front pages of the New York Times. All this intrigue may be a bonanza for Kremlinology, but it highlights what is glaringly absent from Russias public debate: Genuine politics. Economic policy, government appointments, and fighting corruption are all issues that should be discussed as part of the continuing Duma election campaign, yet not a word is heard. Open political debate is far too threatening for Putin and his inner circle. Vladimir Putin In addition, Putins new cadre of bureaucrats is absolutely dependent on the Russian president. Such insularity can only produce an echo chamber, not candid debate. One wonders if there is anyone left who can deliver bad news to Putin. Putin has appointed loyalists and functionaries, not reformers or visionaries. The cold shoulder just given to Kudrin is emblematic of a regime that is happy to play one side against the other, but unwilling to pursue essential structural change. William E Pomeranz is the deputy director of the Kennan Institute at the Woodrow Wilson Centre for Scholars in Washington. A federal judge in Chicago was set to issue a verdict last night in a peculiar civil trial over the celebrated Scottish-born artists insistence that he did not paint a landscape work which was once valued at more than $10m (8.8m). Some of Doigs paintings have sold for more than $20m, and the owner of the disputed picture, a prison official from Canada, sued in the US court for millions in damages after its projected sales price nosedived after 57-year-old Doig denied it was his work. The paintings owner, Robert Fletcher, of Ontario, Canada, maintains that the painting of a desert landscape with giant red rocks and a receding pond, for which he paid $100 in the 1970s, is by Doig. If it is not, according to one filing by Mr Fletchers lawyers, it is essentially worthless. Authenticity disputes typically arise long after an artist dies, not, as in this case, when the artist is still alive and flatly denies a work is his. The oddity of such a dispute making it all the way to trial has drawn the interest of the wider art world. Painting of a landscape that was once valued at more than $10m. A federal judge in Chicago is set to issue a verdict in a peculiar civil trial over a celebrated Scottish-born artists insistence that he did not paint the landscape work. After a week of hearing evidence, US district judge Gary Feinerman said he would announce his verdict later last night. The lawsuit was filed in Chicago because one auctioneer who had expressed interest in selling the painting is based there. Mr Fletcher contends he bought the painting from Doig around 1976 when he says the Scottish artist was serving a jail sentence for possessing LSD in Canadas Thunder Bay Correctional Centre, where Mr Fletcher was employed. It was long after he bought it that a friend saw it at his home and said it appeared to be by an internationally acclaimed artist. Doig said he did not begin using the type of linen canvas the work in question is painted on until late 1979. He also told the court that he had never been imprisoned anywhere else in Canada. Such a dispute would seem easily resolved with documentation, though Canadian prison and school records from that era were sometimes imprecise, lawyers in the case have said. A key witness for Doig was a Canadian woman who told the court the painting is actually by her now- deceased brother, whose name was Peter Doige, with an e, like the signature on the disputed work. Swamped by Peter Doig, which has fetched almost 19.4m at a record-breaking auction. Meanwhile, Mr Fletchers lawyers suggest Doig is denying the painting is his work because, if Mr Fletcher is right, it would link him to prison in his youth. The unusual case is stirring up the art world, and experts say it could set a dangerous standard that would leave artists at risk for costly settlements. The specifics of this case are pretty unusual, said Matthew Biro, a professor of modern and contemporary art at the University of Michigan. It could definitely set a precedent, he said, If Doig loses this case, what would stop other collectors who feel they have found a multi- million-dollar painting to find backing to sue artists to agree to it? Amy Whitaker, a professor of art business at New York University, expressed concern about the burden of proof. Theres somehow an implication in the lawsuit itself that the artist is responsible for guaranteeing the value of an artwork That is in no way shape or form the responsibility of the artist, Prof Whitaker said. The man had sold Master Mineral Solution (MMS) as a treatment for cancer and autism, social services staff told Judge Helen Black. Staff said MMS was a sodium chlorite solution equivalent to industrial-strength bleach. They said the man advocated the use of MMS and his website included paraphernalia for the administration of such products to babies. Social workers said there were concerns that the boy, now aged about eight months, might ingest harmful alternative medication either directly or via his mothers breast milk. Detail of the case has emerged in a ruling published by the judge following a family court hearing in Portsmouth, Hampshire. Judge Black said Southampton City Council had responsibility for the boy and had asked her to make decisions about the boys long-term future. She said the boys father was English and his mother Portuguese. Judge Black said the little boy had been temporarily taken from his parents when he was a few days old over fears including that the boy had not been given appropriate medical attention. Judge Black said the boys parents had not attended family court hearings for a number of months and had gone to Portugal. Yuusuf Warsame had marked the occasion two days after flying out with his brothers, sisters, and mother to visit relatives in the city of Gothenburg. He was sleeping in the living room of the flat when a hand grenade was thrown inside, detonating at about 3am on Monday. His heartbroken father, Abdiwahid Warsame, said Yuusufs mother had cradled the boy in her arms as he died. The boy, who was a pupil at Nelson Mandela Primary School in Sparkhill, Birmingham, was asleep in the same room as his nine-year-old sister Aisha and little brother Ahmed, five. Both were left in shock but escaped with just a few little scratches. Father of seven Mr Warsame said it was a miracle they had not all been killed. He said: When I heard the news I had to sit, I could no longer stand up. My wifes heart is broken. An eight-year-old Somalian boy, Yusuf Warsame was killed in #Sweden after a hand grenade was thrown into his bedroom pic.twitter.com/hamAl06QBa Somalia Live Update (@HassanIstiila) August 23, 2016 She told me that he died in front of her. She was covered in his blood. She tried to help, she went and took him by his chest and held him, but he was dead. She cannot do anything at the moment. He added that Aisha was also asking for her little brother. Mr Warsame, who spoke to his family on the phone on Monday afternoon, said: Both of the younger children are struggling, especially Aisha. She knows hes dead. She said to me when are you coming, because I need Yuusuf. His other two young sons, Ibrahim, 14, and Abdiraham, 16, were sleeping in another room at the time of the explosion. The violence was linked by Swedish media to a gangland feud, with police being quoted as saying a man convicted of a fatal shooting last year was registered at the address. Mr Warsame, who is a Dutch national, has said he is desperate to fly out and join his family in Sweden but has been told by the authorities for the Netherlands they need a copy of the boys death certificate before they can issue him with travel documents. Shop owner Mr Warsame said: I dont have the death certificate because when I spoke to the hospital in Sweden they said its too early for them to issue it. I need an ID card but the Dutch embassy here are saying they need the death certificate. The only thing I want at the moment is to go to my family. A plan supported by president Rodrigo Duterte to bury the former president in the cemetery has been criticised by human rights groups and many politicians, including vice-president Leni Robredo and senators allied with former president Benigno Aquino. The 15-member high bench of the court, responding to a petition filed last week by opponents of the plan, told the government not to do anything on the issue for 20 days, said Supreme Court spokesman Theodore Te. Research from the University of Oxford assessed this years candidates for the White House to determine how highly they ranked on the psychopath scale. They were scored on a number of personality traits typical in psychopaths including fearlessness, cold-heartedness, and egocentricity. While the study found Mr Trumps score puts him in the company of some of historys greatest despots, including Hitler and Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, opponent Hillary Clinton found herself alongside Napoleon Bonaparte and Emperor Nero. The study contended that although psychopathy typically associated with remorseless killers exists along a spectrum, some people can possess certain qualities without developing murderous intent. It claimed that it was not just barbarous leaders who populated the upper echelons of the rankings as figures such as Saint Paul and even Jesus appeared high on the psychopathic leaderboard. Presidential candidates may be psychopaths but that could be a good thing https://t.co/orI1vlrY1p pic.twitter.com/kIHQ4Din5m University of Oxford (@UniofOxford) August 23, 2016 It added that possessing such tendencies might not be to the presidential candidates detriment, as the right combination of psychopathic characteristics can make for a good leader. Study author Kevin Dutton said: The PPI-R does not say that someone is or is not a psychopath. It scores them on eight traits that contribute to a psychopathic character. Some of those traits, such as fearlessness or stress immunity, can be positive. Others, such as blame externalisation or being unconcerned about the future, are more likely to be negative. One, cold-heartedness, can contribute to good and bad leadership. Both great and terrible leaders score higher than the general population for psychopathic traits, but it is the mix of those traits that determines success. For example, someone who scores highly for being influential, fearless and cold hearted could be a decisive leader who can make dispassionate decisions. If those traits are accompanied by a high score on blaming others, they might be a genocidal demagogue. David Hoare said he had told UK education secretary Justine Greening he was resigning with immediate effect. The former businessmans resignation comes just weeks after he was forced to apologise for his comments about the Isle of Wight. The 42-year-old man is recovering in a hospital in Punjab state after undergoing surgery in which doctors removed the knives some folded and some with exposed blades up to 18 centimetres (7 inches) long. Dr Jatinder Malhotra, who assisted during the five-hour operation, said the man, who works as a police constable, was apparently suffering from a psychiatric disorder and is being counselled. Malhotra said he had never before heard of a case of a person swallowing knives. In my 20-year career, and in all the medical literature that we checked, there has never been a case like this one, where a person has swallowed not one, but 40 knives, said Malhotra, a critical care doctor at the Corporate Hospital in the city of Amritsar. The man told doctors that he could not explain his urge to swallow knives. He told us he would swallow the knives along with a glass of water, Malhotra said. He had no explanation for why he did it. Just an urge. The man, who has not been identified, had come to the hospital two weeks ago complaining of severe pain in his abdomen. In an endoscopy, we saw a big mass in his abdominal area, Malhotra said by phone. We initially thought it was a tumor or some cancerous growth. But it was like nothing we doctors had seen before. A team of two surgeons, two critical care physicians and an anaesthetist conducted the surgery, during which they initially removed 28 knives. But further investigation revealed 12 more, the hospital said. There was massive internal bleeding during the surgery because the knives, which were all made of iron, had lacerated the mans stomach walls, Malhotra said. Since the surgery, the man has told doctors that he cant bear to look at another knife. He even asked his wife to get out of the room when she was cutting some fruit for him, Malhotra said. Crocodile crime AUSTRALIA: Australian police are searching for four men who left three malnourished saltwater crocodiles in a school, after breaking in to steal computer equipment. Northern Territory Police said the men entered the Taminmin College in Humpty Doo, 40km south of Darwin, early on Sunday after pushing the crocodiles through a broken window. CCTV footage released by police showed the men stealing a computer monitor before running away. Parks and Wildlife rangers said the reptiles, who had their mouths taped shut, had probably been taken from a nearby crocodile farm but were unlikely to survive as they were in such poor health. Basically skin and bones, not much meat left on them; they were really quiet and easy to catch, ranger Luke McLaren told ABC radio. Well determine what farm theyre from and well try to take them back to that farm but looking at their condition its likely theyll have to be destroyed. Delayed reaction ENGLAND: An announcer built up a head of steam after a packed train was delayed as a result of a carriage window being broken. The man initially apologised to staff on the South West Trains service running between Bournemouth in Dorset and London Waterloo on Sunday evening, before using a swearword and describing the vandals as pond life with the intellectual capacity of a flip-flop. A South West Trains spokesman said: Our staff are trained to keep passengers updated on issues affecting their journey. We would always expect this to be done in a professional manner using appropriate language. Crab is back ENGLAND: A species of crab which had not been seen in Devon for more than 30 years has been found living on a popular stretch of coastline. St Pirans crab, which is also known by the scientific name Clibanarius erythropus, was found in Wembury Bay, near Plymouth. The crab was a common sight along the south coast but rising pollution and sea temperatures saw the species, which is no more than 15mm long, decline. Honest man USA: A 27-year-old central Florida man is being recognised for his honesty after finding a wallet with $3,400 inside and turning it over to sheriffs deputies. An Orlando woman lost the wallet earlier this month while visiting the beach near Palm Coast with her children. Kevin Miller said he knew someone was depending on that money and hes glad its been returned to her. The womans name hasnt been released. Miller says he really could have used the money but felt it was important to do the right thing. In the past year alone, the radical transparency group has published medical files belonging to scores of ordinary citizens while many hundreds more have had sensitive family, financial or identity records posted to the web. In two particularly egregious cases, WikiLeaks named teenage rape victims. In a third case, the site published the name of a Saudi citizen arrested for being gay, an extraordinary move given that homosexuality is punishable by death in the ultraconservative Muslim kingdom. They published everything: My phone, address, name, details, said a Saudi man who told the Associated Press (AP) he was bewildered WikiLeaks had revealed details of a paternity dispute with a former partner. If the family of my wife saw this... Publishing personal stuff like that could destroy people. WikiLeaks mass publication of personal data is at odds with the sites claim to have championed privacy even as it laid bare the workings of international statecraft, and has drawn criticism from the sites allies. Attempts to reach WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange were unsuccessful; a set of questions left with his site was not immediately answered. In a tweet responding to APs story, the organisation said that the privacy allegations were recycled. WikiLeaks stated mission is to bring censored or restricted material involving war, spying and corruption into the public eye, describing the trove amassed thus far as a giant library of the worlds most persecuted documents. The library is growing quickly, with half a million files from the US Democratic National Committee, Turkeys governing party, and the Saudi foreign ministry added in the last year or so. However, the library is also filling with rogue data, including computer viruses, spam, and personal records. The Saudi diplomatic cables alone hold at least 124 medical files, according to a sample seen by AP. Some described patients with psychiatric conditions, seriously ill children or refugees. This has nothing to do with politics or corruption, said Nayef al-Fayez, a consultant in the Jordanian capital of Amman who confirmed that a brain cancer patient of his was among those whose details were published to the web. Adnan Salhab, a retired practitioner in Jordan who also had a patient named in the files, expressed anger when shown the document. This is illegal what has happened, he said. The AP reached 23 people most in Saudi Arabia whose personal information was exposed. Some were unaware their data had been published; WikiLeaks is censored in the country. Others shrugged at the news. Several were horrified. Medical records are considered among a persons most private data. However, AP found WikiLeaks also routinely publishes identity records, phone numbers, and other information easily exploited by criminals. Burma EU Ambassador to Burma: Democracy is Incompatible with War Roland Kobia speaks to journalists in Mandalay on August 23. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy MANDALAY As the Union Peace Conference draws near, the European Commission, who will witness the event, is urging a policy of all-inclusivity. Roland Kobia, the European Unions ambassador to Burma, told journalists in Mandalay on Tuesday that dialogue is an important element of sustainable peace in the country. The EUs concern is to at least give a chance to dialogue. If they [the ethnic groups] are invited to discuss at the table, and when they are around the table, they can agree and disagree, and at least, they will have a chance to dialogue, said the ambassador. Kobia pointed out that some ethnic armed groups are still yet to be invited to what is being dubbed the 21st Century Panglong conference, scheduled to begin on August 31 in Naypyidaw. The Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Arakan Army (AA) and the ethnic Kokangs Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) are currently involved in active conflict with the Burma Army in northern Shan State. Although the groups have stated that they are ready to attend the peace conference, they have not received an official invitation yet. The more inclusive the peace process is, the more sustainable. If some groups are excluded, it will not give good results for the long term and this will create problems again, said the ambassador. While praising State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyis peace efforts, the EU ambassador said that ending conflict is important for the countrys stability, democracy and economic prosperity. If Myanmar wants to have a democratic system, it needs to end the conflicts. Democracy is incompatible with war. To make this happen, all-inclusiveness is important, Kobia said. It takes times to build back the trust, which is the basic thing they need to compromise, as the peace process is about compromise. Every party should be ready to make concessions to find a common denominator. But it is worth it to do anything to achieve peace, he added. The EU ambassador said that the possible visit of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the peace conference would send a powerful message to the ethnic representatives in attendance. Many ethnic armed groups would like to have more guarantees from the international community. And they need to know that the international community is watching over the peace process to ensure that it will be impartial, Kobia said. If people like Ban Ki-moon are coming, it is a strong signal that the international community at the highest level is interested and it will reassure numbers of groups involve in the peace process, he added. Burma Former UN Chief Kofi Annan to Head New Commission on Arakan State Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan (C) with former US president Jimmy Carter (R) and former Algerian Foreign Minister Lakhdar Brahimi, members of the Elders group, attend a meeting with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (not in picture) in Moscow, Russia in April 2015. / Reuters RANGOON Former United Nations secretary-general and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kofi Annan will chair a new nine-member advisory commission on Arakan State. The office of Burmas State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi announced the formation of the commission in state-run newspapers on Wednesday. The announcement said the commission would recommend lasting solutions to complex and delicate issues in Arakan State. Communal violence, mostly affecting the stateless Rohingya community, took place across Arakan State in 2012 and 2013, displacing up to 140,000 people, the vast majority of whom were Muslim. Buddhist and Muslim communities remain segregated across most parts of the state, with restrictions placed on displaced Muslims movements and access to public services. Kofi Annan, born on the Gold Coast (now Ghana) in western Africa, had a career as a UN staffer before serving as secretary-general between 1997 and 2006. In 2007 he founded the Kofi Annan Foundation, which works on governance and human rights issues globally. Mr. Annan has served as a peace envoy in various countries, including in Syria in 2012, and was appointed as chair of The Elders group of global statesmen in 2013. A Memorandum of Understanding is to be signed between Burmas State Counselors Office and the Kofi Annan Foundation, the Wednesday announcement said. News of the commissions formation, minus Mr. Annans participation, was delivered during meetings in the Arakan State capital of Sittwe on Aug. 15, conducted separately with Buddhist Arakanese and Muslim Rohingya community leaders by the Central Committee for Peace and Development in Arakan Statea body chaired by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The new commission will include three members from the international community, including Mr. Annan, and six from Burmatwo Buddhist Arakanese members, two Muslim members and two government representatives. Both the Buddhist Arakanese and the Muslim members are from Rangoon, and the Muslim members are not themselves linked to Arakan State. The Buddhist Arakanese members are U Win Mra, chairperson of Burmas National Human Rights Commission, and Daw Saw Khin Tint, chairperson of the Arakan Literature and Cultural Association and vice-chairperson of the Arakan Womens Association. The Muslim members are Al Haj U Aye Lwin, founder of interfaith group Religions for Peace, and U Khin Maung Lay, a member of the National Human Rights Commission. The members purportedly representing the Burmese government come from government-affiliated organizations: Dr. Thar Hla Shwe, president of Burmas Red Cross Society, and Dr. Mya Thida, President of the Obstetrical and Gynecological Society of Burma. Besides Mr. Annan, the international members are Ghassan Salame, a Lebanese academic and advisor to Mr. Annan as secretary general from 20032006, and Laetitia van den Assum, a career Dutch diplomat and advisor to UNAIDS from 2005-2006. Well work as a channel, conveying the voices of the affected communities on the ground. Without their involvement, we cant work, Muslim commission-member U Aye Lwin told The Irrawaddy. Our commission wont conceal the truth, he said. He believed that Mr. Annans support would be constructive, due to his extensive experience in international affairsincluding working as a conflict mediatorand his high global esteem. After conducting consultations and assessing the situation in terms of the basic rights and security of the people of Arakan State, and local humanitarian and development needs, the commission will provide recommendationsincluding on conflict prevention and reconciliationto the state counselor and release a report within 12 months of its establishment. Tha Pwint, a retired Arakanese lawyer from Sittwe, said he was concerned that the government may not follow up on the recommendations of the report, since they would not be obliged to act, citing precedent in reports delivered to the previous government. However, since Kofi Annan will chair this commission, I think its recommendations will prompt a bigger reaction from the international community, he said. Yet, he expressed concerns about placing the resolution of Arakan States problems into international hands. He believed that the international members [of the committee] could not know much about our internal affairs; it wouldnt do good for them to take one side. Burma Insufficient Aid to Naga Region Contributes to More Measles Casualties A child, believed to be suffering from measles, is pictured in the Naga Self-Administered Zone in mid-August. / Emergency Response Team to Naga Region / Facebook The death toll from a measles epidemic has risen to 68 in Burmas remote Naga Self-Administered Zone, according to a regional lawmaker and other relief workers providing support to the affected areas. An emergency response team dispatched to the area says the situation is particularly critical in Kesan Salin and Kesan Karlan villages in the Dong Hee sub-township of Nanyun Township. The spread of the outbreak has been linked to the poor transportation infrastructure in the mountainous region in Burmas far north; with many areas only accessible by motorbike, the overland delivery of necessary medical aid and vaccinations has been difficult. Sing Maung, the Sagaing Division parliamentarian representing Nanyun Constituency No.1, told The Irrawaddy that out of the 68 confirmed deaths, around 40 have been children under 10 years old, many of whom have been in his constituency. There are no medical doctors who have arrived yet to these areas, he said, pointing out that he had been told that regional healthcare providers would be sent. After visiting multiple communities stricken with measles, he said that at least four villages urgently need physicians on standby to better control the disease and provide support and guidance regarding its prevention. In early August, after the measles outbreak had been ongoing for two months and claimed 38 lives, the crisis received national attention from the public and the media; at the time, the illness had not yet been identified. The National Health Laboratory, under the department of Medical Services within the Ministry of Health and Sport, later confirmed the disease as measles in the Naga regions Lahe Township, where the illness first appeared. The lab, however, did not provide the same confirmation in Nanyun Township, where children afflicted with the illness also coughed blood and suffered from severe congestion. Local government has been criticized by local activists for a slow and inefficient response to the epidemic. Twenty-four more people, the majority of them children, died in those villages in Nanyun township within a weeks time, said Shu Maung, the secretary of the Council of Naga Affairs, which led the emergency response team to the area. They need the immediate support of medicines as well as preventative measures to fight against the disease, he said. His group led a press briefing in Rangoon on August 16 and urged the government to take action. The community-based emergency response team also has been sending medical supplies to the affected areas, but it took at least eight days to reach the remote villages, Shu Maung explained. Following the criticism of the governments responseparticularly regarding the failure to facilitate the use of a helicopter to deliver aid more efficientlythe Sagaing regional governments social welfare minister Dr. Zaw Win traveled to some affected villages in the Naga region to provide food and medical support earlier this week. Burma NLD Spokesperson U Win Htein Verbally Abuses Reporter NLD central committee member and spokesperson U Win Htein. / JPaing / The Irrawaddy RANGOON For the second time this year, National League for Democracy (NLD) spokesperson U Win Htein lashed out at a reporter, who was enquiring about an anticipated cabinet reshuffle, repeatedly calling him sauk yu [deranged]. On Wednesday, the Ludu Pone Yeik [Peoples Image] weekly news journal featured the exchange between U Win Htein and one of their reporters, and the use of the offensive term, on its front page. What am I supposed to say? U Win Htein responded to the reporters questions over the phone. Sauk yu, sauk yu, you are sauk yu to ask me that. When the reporter pressed on, citing recent speculation over a cabinet reshuffle, U Win Htein repeated the offensive term. He used it six times in total during the exchange, according to the journals coverage. Sai Wunna, the reporter who had attempted to interview U Win Htein, told The Irrawaddy that the exchange took place over the phone on Monday evening. He had made a voice recording to prove it. He sometime talks to the media about the government, thats why I asked him, he said, stating that the extract quoted in the journal was verbatim and unedited. News of Win Hteins verbal abuse spread on social media, attracting criticism of the NLDs treatment of, and degree of openness to, the independent media. Sein Win, director of the Myanmar Journalism Institute, said that, as the ruling partys senior spokesperson, U Win Htein should not respond so harshly to the media. He has the right to say that he doesnt want to answer, or that it is not his responsibility to do so, but this could seriously tarnish the partys image, he said. Politicians and journalists are not enemies; its important that they have smooth relations with one another, he said. In early January, before the formal handover of power to the NLD government, U Win Htein chastised a Radio Free Asia reporter. At the end of an interview focused on the NLDs potential presidential candidatewhich the party was reluctant to revealthe reporter thanked the senior NLD officer. U Win Htein retorted, Dont thank me. Think seriously before you ask me questions. U Ye Htut, a former information minister and spokesperson to Burmas previous president U Thein Sein, told The Irrawaddy that the NLD was in danger of taking its widespread support in the private media for granted. The NLD may think that the media will always support them, and therefore disregard them. If they have such a view [] they will have trouble in the long run, he said. He said that the NLD should learn from public relations mistakes made by the previous military-backed governmentwhich, despite support in state media, did not enjoy the endorsement of Burmas burgeoning private media. He cited the need for mutual respect in the governments relations with the media, based on ethics: they need to understand the nature of journalists work and show no anger during interviews. Burma Parliament Amends Union Budget Law People are pictured through electric cables and wires at a street inside Bogyoke Aung San market in Rangoon in 2013. Burmas Ministry of Electricity and Energy will receive one of the largest shares of the Union budgets funds this year. / Minzayar / Reuters RANGOON Burmas Union Parliament passed a bill on Tuesday amending the 2016 Union Budget Lawdrafted by the previous government and approved by the former legislature, trimming the estimated expenditures of the majority of the ministries. The cut of 470 billion kyats (around US$389.8 million) from the previously approved amount of over 20 trillion kyats, however, did not affect six ministries Defense, the State Counselors Office, Foreign Affairs, Ethnic Affairs, Education, as well as Health and Sports. The 21-member financial commissionformed in April and led by the countrys President, two vice presidents and other Union-level officialsdrafted and submitted the bill to the current Parliament, citing the need to amend the Union budget as the number of ministries has since been consolidated from 36 to 22. During the commissions first meeting in June, President U Htin Kyawthe commissions chairstressed the need to allocate more funds toward the countrys infrastructure, as well as Burmas education, healthcare and social welfare sectors. The bill was reviewed by two legislative committees: the Union Parliaments joint bill committee and the joint public accounts committee. Aung Min, the vice-chair of the joint bill committee, told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday that changes in the cabinet structure and the merging of the ministries after the power transfer to a civilian-led government have contributed to the push to amend and review the Union budget. Getting parliamentary approval for budget allocation is an annual procedure. The previously approved budget was drafted in the context of last year, Aung Min said. Our committee noticed some government projects that would not be implemented during this budget year, he explained. We have recommended that the Parliament cut estimated expenses on these projects. It doesnt mean that these projects cannot ever be implemented. Ministries could put them in their proposed budget plans for next year, Aung Min added. Aung Min also said that the budget of Daw Aung San Suu Kyis foreign affairs ministry was left unchanged, as there were no special project proposals by the ministry. The ministries of Defense and of Electricity and Energy will receive some of the largest shares of the Union budget this year, with 14 and 24 percent of total funds, respectively. The vice-chair said that full details of each ministrys share of the Union budget will soon be disclosed by state-owned newspapers. Burma UN Chief to Attend Union Peace Conference UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (R) shakes hands with Burmas then-President U Thein Sein (L) at the Presidential Palace in Naypyidaw in April 2012. / Reuters RANGOON Officials in Burma say United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will attend the 21st Century Panglong peace conference next week that seeks to end decades of armed conflict with ethnic minority groups. The UN is expected to soon confirm Bans attendance at the Union Peace Conference, which begins on Aug. 31 in the capital, Naypyidaw. The deputy director of the Presidents Office, U Zaw Htay, said on Tuesday that the government invited Ban to what has been dubbed the 21st Century Panglong Conference after he expressed an interest in attending. The plans were confirmed by Sai Kyaw Nyunt, general secretary of the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee, which is organizing the event. Ban Ki-moon will come to represent the UN, he said. It will be Bans first visit to Burma since Daw Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy party replaced an army-backed government in March this year. His last visit was in November 2014. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmas state counselor, chairs the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee, which includes representatives of the government, ethnic armed groups and political parties. She has issued a call for mutual trust and unity ahead of the meeting. Her father, Gen. Aung San, arranged the first Panglong Agreement with ethnic Shan, Kachin and Chin leaders in 1947. It sought to meet their demands for the preservation of autonomy from the central government, but independent Burmese governments did not honor the promises of the agreement. Conflict with armed ethnic minority groups has been an almost constant factor of Burmas politics since then. Eight, mostly smaller, ethnic armed groups signed a cease-fire agreement last year under the previous military-backed government of President U Thein Sein, while seven have not yet agreed to put down their arms, and fighting continues in Kachin and Shan states. All the groups say peace cannot be sustained unless political arrangements are also made to accommodate demands for greater autonomy. 10 Myths About Virtual Mobile Infrastructure Proponents have long extolled the potential of small cells. These devices, which represent a new layer inserted between end users and legacy macro cell towers, are flexible and seem to respond to a number of challenges facing mobile operators. One of the ways in which small cells will be used, according to Heavy Reading Senior Analyst Ravi Narayanan, is to facilitate the transition to Voice Over LTE (VoLTE). The initial phase-in of LTE services focused on data services. Voice continued to be carried over in 3G and 2G networks. The plan was to transition later to consolidated voice and data over LTE. That later is now. The move to VoLTE, Narayanan writes, likely will rely on small cell technology. The idea is that densification is a key to ensuring service doesnt suffer as 2G and 3G networks are turned off and subscribers voice services moved to LTE. As the name implies, densification is addition of capacity in a given area. This, Narayanan maintains, is a perfect job for small cells. Narayanan suggests that the indoor enterprise use is progressing more quickly than outdoor small cells, however. That business model, he wrote, is less mature: Availability of power and backhaul at the desired locations are among the key factors that continue to break the business case for outdoor small cells. More fundamentally, many operators have not yet run out of road when it comes to further densification of their macro and micro cells. Another driver of the small cell market will be increasing use of unlicensed spectrum. ABI Research released research earlier this month that the market indoor small cell market will generate revenue of $1.8 billion by 2021. The ABI research tracks with Narayanans commentary. Increasingly, mobile carriers are looking to transition from crowded and expensive cellular spectrum to the free, unlicensed spectrum. Currently, the cable and wireless sectors are trying to work out mutually acceptable ways of doing so. If they are unsuccessful, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will step in and make it happen. In either case, the unlicensed spectrum will accommodate Wi-Fi and mobile carrier traffic as well as miscellaneous other services, which have as much right to the spectrum as cable or phone companies. This will drive demand for small cell deployments. The firm forecasts that the segment of the small cell universe that focuses on Wi-Fi and LTE will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 47 percent by 2021 and at that point will constitute 51 percent of annual shipments. Another important next step in the maturation of the network, of course, is 5G. This could also work out well for small cell. Tom Keathley, AT&Ts senior vice president of Wireless Network Architecture and Design, addressed the issues at Cowen and Company Communications Infrastructure Summit earlier this month in Boulder, Colorado. He told the conference that millimeter wave technologies will be necessary to provide the type of functionality necessary for 5G. This, he said, will involve a combination of small cell and macro networks, with the small cells likely coming first. Carl Weinschenk covers telecom for IT Business Edge. He writes about wireless technology, disaster recovery/business continuity, cellular services, the Internet of Things, machine-to-machine communications and other emerging technologies and platforms. He also covers net neutrality and related regulatory issues. Weinschenk has written about the phone companies, cable operators and related companies for decades and is senior editor of Broadband Technology Report. He can be reached at [email protected] and via twitter at @DailyMusicBrk. Save It has recently been confirmed that "Outlander" casts are now back together on set as filming for the third season has already begun. In line with that, more casts have been added to the series, including Lord John Grey. Rumor has it that the role was given to actor, Charlie Hunnam. Is Charlie Hunnam Casted As Lord John Grey For "Outlander" New Season? As many of the fans may already know by now, "Outlander" season three will be based on the third book "Voyager" by Diana Gabaldon. In this season, an adult Lord John Grey will be introduced and casting him is one of the trickiest things to do since he portrays a very important role to the story. Since the fans of the series have been following the production's every move, Parent Herald reported that there have been speculations claiming that actor Charlie Hunnam has been granted the role of Lord John Grey for the upcoming third season of "Outlander." His character is a closet gay man who secretly has feelings for Jamie, a very challenging role to portray. However, there hasn't been any confirmation to that story yet and the fans are waiting for the word from the producers and the network themselves. For now, fans of the series and the book believe that he will be a good pick for the role and could portray it well enough. On-Set Photos Teased By Production Designer Since filming has already begun, casts of the series have been posting teaser photos on their respective social media accounts that have fed to the excitement and anticipation of the fans for the upcoming season three of "Outlander." According to International Business Times, the production designer of the series recently teased a few photos on set including ones with canons, pitchforks, and even more. This is to tease that the next season of the series is expected to present the aftermath of the Battle of Culloden. Want more supervillain action in "Suicide Squad?" Of course, there's nothing greater than a second movie installment. However, if you're looking for something quick to ease your Suicide Squad withdrawal then good news, the film's cast has just disclosed about the ever-controversial deleted scenes. The anti-hero team adventure has garnered a mixed reaction from fans, said Screenrant. While Margot Robbie's wild performance as Harley Quinn and the film's unique visual design have gained praises, the story, script and character development received nasty comments, especially Joker's (played by Jarred Leto) very little screen-time. Everybody loves him, right? And guess where the blame lies? Reports began to circulate suggesting that the studio intervened and re-edits were made to the film. Rumors further said that most of the unused (yet everybody wants to see) scenes featured Leto's Joker, which is the reason why he has so little screen time. "Suicide Squad's" director and writer, David Ayer, however, said that the cut we saw in theaters was all his. In a recent interview with MTV, the remarkable "Suicide Squad" cast talked freely about their favorite scenes in the movie that ended up being scrapped. Watch the video below: Aside from Will Smith's joke on a romantic subplot between Deadshot and Rick Flag. A Reddit user has summarized the list of deleted scenes based on the cast members' interview and other reports. Below are some of the most interesting ones: El Diablo escorted to the training center while placed in a tube filled with water to extinguish his flames, and then he unceremoniously dropped to the ground. Backstory of Killer Croc as a social outcast because of his physical appearance. And his apparent meeting with Batman while working as muscle-for-hire for crime bosses in Gotham. More scenes of Rick Flag and June Moon's romance including one where they were out on a date. Scene where Joker and Harley got into a fight where the latter ends up pointing a gun at Joker's head. Joker sweet-talks him to lower the gun and backhands her across the face. He sweet-talks her again and they kiss. In Harley's flashback scene, there was originally an extended dance scene in Joker's nightclub. Let's just hope (and pray) these deleted scenes will see the light on the "Suicide Squad" DVD for home release. The New York Times announced on Tuesday, August 23, that this month its Moscow bureau was targeted by a cyber attack performed by what is believed to be a Russian hackers group. New York Times Attacked By Russian Hackers According to Times spokeswoman Eileen Murphy, the publication is monitoring its system constantly, using the latest available tools and intelligence. No evidence has been found that any of its internal systems have been compromised or breached, including the systems located in the Moscow bureau. Reuters reports that U.S. security agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation were investigating cyber breaches targeting reporters at U.S. news organizations including the Times. The security agencies suspect that the cyber attacks have been carried out by hackers working for Russian intelligence. Cyber security investigators take into consideration the possibility that Russian intelligence is behind the attacks. It is likely that the targeting of news organization by Russian hackers is part of a broader series of hacks focused on Democratic Party organizations. Similar Attacks By Russian Hackers In recent weeks ahead of the Nov. 8 presidential election there were several news of the cyber attacks targeting major U.S. political parties. Hackers have targeted the Republican Party organizations and the computer systems of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. The Democratic National Committee, the party's congressional fundraising committee and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's campaign have all been affected by cyber attacks. According to BBC News, Russian hackers breached Democratic National Committee computers in June. They have made public embarrassing emails showing that the Democratic leadership was favoring then candidate Hillary Clinton over her rival Bernie Sanders. U.S officials said at the time that Russian government agencies were behind that cyber attack but Russia denied any involvement. There is a suspicion that the same Russian hackers who recently infiltrated Democratic Party organizations are also responsible of the hack against The New York Times. In the current cyber attack were affected personal accounts of individual reporters working for the publication. At the moment, it is not known yet how many reporters are affected and what the motive is. Samsung is holding an event at the end of the month, where the company is expected to launch the new Samsung Gear S3. It will follow the recent launch of the Galaxy Note 7, but may not be the best partner to the newest handheld. When Is The Samsung Gear S3 Coming? According to Ecumenical News, the Samsung Gear S3 is likely to be announced during the trade show's press day, which will be held on August 31. While nothing has been confirmed at this point, it is very likely since Samsung also released an announcement over Twitter signaling the same. The post showed a GIF, where a watch's hands kept moving and it said, "Talk about 3." At the right hand corner of the GIF, was the logo of Samsung's Gear series. It was also captioned, "Stay tuned for a timely innovation. August 31. Berlin." If the timeline proves right, the public may be able to get their hands on the Samsung Gear3 by October of this year, making itself a direct competitor to the expected Apple Watch 2. What Will It Be Like? The device itself is expected to be thinner than the current Gear2 and will also sport a more classic design. That is, it will come with a metal bracelet and fluted bezel. It is also expected to come in three variants: the Samsung Gear S3 Classic, Gear S3 Frontier and the Gear S3 Explorer. Not much else is known about the upcoming device, especially how it will work with Samsung's current smartphone flagship, the Galaxy Note 7. But if there is one wearable that has proven to work well with handsets, it is the Samsung Gear Fit2. The Best Wearable For Smartphones? According to TechAeris, the Gear Fit2 is able to track the wearer's steps, calories burned, sleep quality, heart rate and others. It also has a built-in GPS which accurately monitors the user's activities. The wearable also lets the user respond to certain notifications from its own interface. The display itself is a 1.5 inch Touch AMOLED screen. The Gear Fit2 has a memory of 512 MB and a storage capacity of 4GB. More importantly, it is compatible with any Galaxy device running on Android 4.3 and above - the Galaxy Note 7 in particular. Google and Apple are indeed in for a new competition as the two companies are to set out a new release of their updated operating systems for their respective smartphones. With this, Google's Android version 7, also named as "Nougat" will be going head to head with Apple's new iOS 10, according to the official Apple website. The two new competing OS are focusing on the consumer target market as it contains new features. Despite its focus on the consumer market, it is not limited to that is it may also be a productive catalyst for enterprise clients. The two platforms present new features that greatly enhance its effectiveness and productivity. Nougat promotes the user's personal identity as it becomes more customizable, a signature feature that Android is known to have. The tiles that are in the Quick Settings menu can now be rearranged. The Doze Mode is also made better as it now saves battery life. Starting from Android's version 6.0, the Doze mode has been the main reason why battery life is shortened due to the deference of CPU and network activities when the device is unplugged or the screen is off. This will be of great help to the kinds of people who are always on the go, as power consumption is down to a minimum, thanks to the new improvements done with the Doze mode. On the other hand, Apple's iOS 10 focuses on the removal of the swipe to unlock feature and is now replaced with the feature of being able to press the Home button to unlock the device. Interaction with the lock screen is also made customizable as users can now tweak it up. Also, how the lock screen notifications would work is also resting in the hands of the user itself. What makes it really good is that the notifications can all be cleared out. Whichever the case may be, it still boils down to the individual preference of the user. This day marks the 42nd year of the day when the very famous Beatle, John Lennon, spotted an unidentified flying object (UFO) hovering across the skies. During the 23rd of August, 1974, John Lennon went out to the balcony to gasp some fresh air together with May Pang, his assistant back then. Unexpectedly, the two saw a flying saucer flying over the East river. The superstar musician claims that it "turn right at the United Nations building, turn left and then down the river." The very weird and promiscuous looking flying object supports a dome shape. Mr. Lennon reiterates: "It definitely wasn't a helicopter." The possible encounter with the third kind seemed to really be true as it had a deep impact on his life. The reference it had in his later album, Walls and Bridges, was a proof that it was indeed a true incident. Miss Peng supports the claim saying that right after the sightings were gone, they called the police as well as the New York Daily News to report the strange incident. They were then told that there were also seven other reports claiming to have seen the UFO. The two had successfully taken pictures, but it later turned out to be over exposed. She later wrote a book that tells her life with John Lennon. It is stated in one of the paragraphs there: "We often had helicopters flying above us but this was as silent as the night and about seventeen." John Lennon is one of the many high-profile names who had encounters with UFOs. Thoughts About John Lennon's UFO Sighting: The universe is a wide expanse of uncertainty. The Earth and the rest of human civilization are just a tiny speck of dust if we were to compare it to the grandeur of the universe (literally). With this, it is very unlikely that we humans, together with the other animals and plants on this planet, are the only life forms in this world. Let alone, Earth being the only planet that can sustain life. There are now thousands and thousands of "earth-like" planets that have recently been discovered. This puts us on the brink of discovering new life forms, new worlds, and new civilizations, that is incomprehensibly spectacular. It is not a matter of if aliens do exist. It is a matter of when they show themselves up for the entire world to see, and not just in individually secretive brief sightings. Fans don't need to shed tears! Aug. 22 marks the conclusion of the 15-year "Bleach" manga series but it came with good news. We're definitely gonna see the ultimate Soul Reapers' squad again-now in the big screen- following the confirmation of the Bleach live-action movie to be released in 2018. The initial announcement came from a printed issue of the weekly "Shounen Jump" magazine, but it is only recently that the Warner Bros., the studio which was behind blockbuster live-action films including "Black Butler" and "Rurouni Kenshin," confirmed that the movie is currently underway. According to a report from Japan Today, 23-year-old actor Sota Fukushi will headline the live action adaptation as Ichigo Kurosaki, a normal high school student who was dragged into the action-filled world of shinigami (Soul Reapers) after crossing paths with Rukia Kuchiki. In his message to fans, Fukushi said people could look forward to "seeing the monstrous Hollows, otherworldly Soul Society, and destructive Zanpakuto sword-fighting techniques on the big screen." It will also be nice to see the characters in bankai form. Fukushi is known for his role as Kamen Rider Fourze in both series and films of "Kamen Rider," Koichi Taneichi in the drama "Amachan," and as the flesh and blood incarnation of the cool Yamato Kurosawa in the live-action movie adaptation of romantic comedy manga "Suki-tte li na yo," also known as "Say I love you." Directing "Bleach" live-action film will be Shinsuke Sato, the brain behind big hits such as "Gantz," "Library Wars," "I am a Hero" and the latest Death Note movie, "Death Note: Light up the new world." Furthermore, in an interview, lazygamer.net reported Fukushi was concerned about Ichigo's hair color, which is a strange shade of bright orange and will be very hard to portray realistically. "Bleach" mangaka Tite Kubo will be assisting with the live-action movie production to make sure the movie will be faithful to the manga/anime plot. The movie will be focusing on the earlier arcs in the story, as Kubo has commented that he want even those who know nothing about "Bleach" to enjoy. Can't imagine how the live-action movie in 2018 will turn out? Watch this video of "Bleach" voice actors live: The Moscow bureau of The New York Times was the target of a cyberattack, though there are no indications yet that the hackers were successful, according to the newspaper. The hackers are believed to be Russian, the newspaper said Tuesday evening. It quoted a spokeswoman for the newspaper as saying that it had not hired outside firms to investigate the attempted breach. Earlier in the day, CNN reported that the FBI and other U.S. security agencies were investigating attacks by hackers, thought to be working for Russian intelligence, that targeted reporters at the New York Times and other U.S. news organizations. CNN quoted unnamed U.S. officials briefed on the matter. The attack on the New York Times is likely to be seen as connected to the hack of Democratic Party organizations such as the Democratic National Committee, whose hacked emails were leaked by whistleblower website WikiLeaks, ahead of the convention of the Democratic Party in late July. WikiLeaks did not disclose the source of the emails, which proved to be embarrassing for the DNC as the mails suggested that the officials of the organization favored Hillary Clinton as presidential candidate of the party over Senator Bernie Sanders. Security analysts have speculated that the hacks could have come from the Russian government aiming to influence the U.S. elections. Another Democratic party agency, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, was also reported to have been hacked. The attack on the New York Times happened this month, according to the newspaper. CNN reported Tuesday that intelligence officials believe that that Russian spy agencies are using the attacks, including against think-tanks in Washington, to get insight into the U.S. political process. The administration of President Barack Obama has not yet named the Russian government or any of its agencies in connection with the hacks. Get unlimited access to all content and features at ivpressonline.com with our Full Online Access Subscription. Read our E-Edition, the digital replica of the print newspaper online, access content in exclusive sections including Family, Teen, Business, Databases, Farm and more. This option does not include daily home delivery of the Imperial Valley Press newspaper. For home delivery service, please select Premium or Premium Plus. Email Links to our top local news stories of the day, Monday through Saturday. CITRONELLE, Ala. A man accused of slaying five people at an Alabama home brought an ax to attack his victims, striking one who had been sleeping in a reclining chair, and also used guns he took from the house to shoot them, an Alabama sheriff said Tuesday. Derrick Dearman entered the house in Citronelle before dawn Saturday, Mobile County Sheriff Sam Cochran told The Associated Press. "They were down for the night sleeping, and he had enough familiarity with the house when he entered I guess you could say in a rage and he's disabling people as he's in there," Cochran said. "He was able to overpower them before they were able to protect themselves." An ax and a gun were used in the killings of each of the five adult victims, police allege in criminal complaints filed Tuesday in Mobile County District Court. On Monday, as Dearman was led to jail in shackles, he professed his love for the estranged girlfriend whose family and friends were massacred and blamed the killings on drugs. Speaking with reporters as he was escorted to jail by deputies in Mobile, Alabama, Derrick Dearman said Monday that he was on methamphetamine when he went to the house, on a dead-end dirt road. "Drugs (were) making me think things that's not really there," said Dearman, 27, hanging his head and dressed in a bright yellow jail uniform. After the killings, authorities said, Dearman abducted estranged girlfriend Laneta Lester, who had sought refuge at the house, and a child of two of the victims. Dearman said he spared their lives because "I came down and realized what was really going on." "(I) turned myself in because I was sober and knew what was the right thing to do," Dearman said. In videotaped comments broadcast on Mobile-area television, Dearman expressed his love for Lester and apologized "to all the family members." Dearman, saying all the victims were friends, added: "Don't do drugs." A man who said his family provided a home for Dearman and Lester earlier this year near Leakesville, Mississippi, said Dearman was often on methamphetamine and physically abused Lester during walks in the woods in rural southeast Mississippi. "He was taking her out there and beating the crap out of her," said Charlie Passarelli Jr., who said he had known Dearman for years. Passarelli said he suspected that Dearman was either buying or selling drugs before he and Lester moved out in late spring. The slaying victims included a pregnant woman and her unborn child. A teenager who said she was related to all five victims by marriage or blood shook her head and fought back tears as she described her anguish over the slayings. "They were really good people. They'd call and check on you, ask if you want to come down and eat," said Madison McDaniel, 17, who lives near the scene of the violence. Relatives of the victims started an online fundraiser to help cover funeral expenses, and clerk Dawn Sullivan collected donations in a plastic jug on the counter at D&B Quick Stop, where the victims often stopped for snacks and drinks. "It's a sad situation. It never should have gotten to that point," said Sullivan, whose husband was related to one of the victims. Dearman, of Leakesville, is charged with six counts of capital murder and two counts of kidnapping, including one charge for the unborn child, Mobile County District Attorney Ashley Rich said. "At this time it appears it will be a death penalty case, but it's very early in the investigation," Rich said. Dearman's first court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday morning. Alabama court records don't indicate whether he has an attorney who could speak on his behalf. The slain were identified as Shannon Melissa Randall, 35; Joseph Adam Turner, 26; Justin Kaleb Reed, 23; Chelsea Marie Reed, 22; and Robert Lee Brown, 26, said Mobile County sheriff's spokeswoman Lori Myles. Turner was Lester's brother and had let her stay at the house, which all the victims shared, McDaniel said. Turner and Randall were married. "I'd always get on my horse and ride down there bareback," McDaniel said. Her step-aunt Randall would say, "'Be careful because you're already got a hurt knee.' I'd say, 'OK, Shan-Shan.' That's what I called her." Brown was Randall's brother, McDaniel said, and Chelsea Reed was Randall's niece. Chelsea Reed was pregnant with the child of her husband, Justin Reed, said McDaniel. About 1 a.m. Saturday, someone inside the home called 911 and reported that Dearman was on the property, authorities said in a statement. Citronelle police came to the house, but Dearman had left before officers arrived, sheriff's officials said. Before daylight Saturday, Dearman returned to the home to begin the attacks, the sheriff's department said. After the killings, Dearman forced Lester and a 3-month-old identified by relatives as the child of Randall and Turner into a vehicle, and they drove to Dearman's father's house in Mississippi. Dearman released Lester and the infant and turned himself in, authorities said. As he was led away to jail on Tuesday, Dearman said he barely remembers what happened but said that he deserves a harsh punishment. "I deserve to die," he said. WASHINGTON For years, Wanda Witter has lived on the streets in Washington, D.C., trying to persuade officials that Social Security owes her more than $100,000. For years, the 80-year-old woman says people dismissed her as crazy. But finally someone listened and on Tuesday she received a $99,999 payout, The Washington Post reported. Witter moved to the District of Columbia in 1999 to seek work after losing her job as a machinist in New York years earlier, according to The Post. But even though Witter had earned a paralegal certificate to prepare for a new career, she remained jobless. In 2006 she decided to draw Social Security benefits. However, the monthly checks varied wildly, from $900 to $300. Believing the checks were wrong, Witter didn't cash them and sought help. "If I just cashed them, who would believe me that they were wrong?" Witter said. She remained homeless, bedding down on the concrete in a sleeping bag. She kept a tower of three suitcases, containing her Social Security paperwork, next to her. In 2015 social worker Julie Turner listened. Instead of dismissing Witter as crazy, Turner patiently waded through her documents and verified her story. "She had all the paperwork there, neatly organized, in order. She was right all along. They did owe her all that money," Turner said. Turner took Witter to attorney Daniela de la Piedra, who took on her case. In June, a Social Security official finally acknowledged Witter's case and wrote her a $999 check the most that could be written on the spot. Last week, Witter received her first full payment $1,464. Witter received a $99,999 Social Security deposit in her bank account on Tuesday. On Aug. 16 Witter moved into a studio apartment on Capitol Hill. Social Security officials declined to comment. Reddit Email 0 Shares By David M. Faris | (Informed Comment) | Could Donald Trump destroy American democracy? While he muses carelessly about assassinating Hillary Clinton and frequently spitballs plainly illegal ideas like inviting foreign powers to intervene in American elections, it is less clear exactly how Trump would threaten the basic institutions of U.S. democracy. But with the real estate magnate and former reality-TV star still polling around 40% despite a litany of gaffes, embarrassments and provocations, it is imperative that we assess the threat. h/t Free Online Photo Editor Lets get one thing out of the way up front: U.S. democracy is robust enough that Trump would be unlikely to obliterate it overnight even if he tried. Americans continue to express overwhelming support for the idea of democracy, and the spectacle of a strongman usurping sovereign authority would likely be met with a mass mobilization that would make the Iraq War protests look like flash mobs. But we should not be especially comforted that Trump will not try to ride an Abrams tank into the White House, bomb the Senate building and announce his appointment as President Winner For Life. As Oxfords Nancy Bermeo argues, since the turn of the century countries have rarely gone from perfectly democratic to perfectly autocratic overnight via coups. A more frequent occurrence in the post-Cold War era has been for governments to become incrementally less free over time, resulting in what scholars have termed hybrid regimes countries that feature an unsteady mixture of democratic and authoritarian practices. This slower process is known as democratic backsliding, and there is fierce debate over its causes. What scholars do agree on, generally, is what constitutes a step backward for democratic function and legitimacy. There are many ingredients in the stew of representative democracy, and eliminating any of them such as diminishing the independence of media organizations, restricting access to the ballot, or eliminating safeguards against the indefinite tenure of presidents can ruin the dish. Recent events in Turkey are a good example of the kind of slow motion democratic implosion of that a Trump presidency threatens. Turkish Prime Minister (and now President) Raccip Tayyep Erdogan has gradually chipped away at key features of Turkish democracy over the past 13 years, including restricting free speech, harassing members of the political opposition, and in the wake of Julys failed coup attempt, purging the judiciary of his opponents and critics. Trumps open threats to news organizations and casual belittling of an unfriendly judge are therefore not just gaffes but, like Erdogans machinations, rather ominous warnings about his fundamental lack of respect for key institutions of democracy. Could this really happen here? Americans have enjoyed well over a century and a half of uninterrupted democratic rule (or more, depending on how you view the Civil War) and are justifiably confident about the basic integrity of the whole operation. But perhaps they shouldnt be. Democracy is a much more fragile enterprise than most people understand. For most of modern history, before the word itself became de rigueur even in the capitals of the most flagrantly tyrannical societies, democracy has had more enemies on both the right and the left than friends. Democracies are frustrating, slow-moving and imperfect even in the best of times especially the U.S. version. They are nevertheless the only functional alternative to arbitrary rule by self-appointed elites. This is why they have increased in number in waves only to fall victim to backlash, disillusionment and authoritarian resurgence. There are a number of groups that maintain long-term data about democracy around the world, including the Polity Project at the Center For Systemic Peace. The most prominent and well known is Freedom House, which has since 1972 produced one of the most thorough accountings of the state of democracy in every country, with dozens of variables factoring into their calculations. While the United States has always enjoyed the organizations highest total ranking, we have also witnessed a little-talked-about decline in political rights since the turn of the century, largely attributable to the Supreme Courts evisceration of the Voting Rights Act, ill treatment of minorities in the justice system and the post-Citizens United bacchanal of untraceable political spending. As the U.S. has experienced this modest democratic decline, it has also become gripped with a deep and pervasive cynicism about politics and politicians. Trust in institutions is one of the critical ingredients of democratic legitimacy the sense that authority in a democratic society is wielded rightly. Once the trust sutures have been torn out, it is very difficult to heal the wounds. Ask the Somalis, or the Syrians. The mundane magic of one political party dutifully packing up its belongings and departing peacefully from the halls of power to make way for another group is something that many citizens of the world have never experienced, and that many others now seem to take for granted. What should particularly scare Americans who are concerned about the long-term future of our democracy is that large year-to-year declines in democracy scores are often preceded by a collapse of public support for democracy or institutions like the legislature. For example, 75% of Venezuelans reported satisfaction with democracy in 1996, but by 2003 that number had collapsed to 38%. Between 2003 and 2016, Venezuela proceeded to bleed out 11 points in its political rights score. In Turkey, the sharp decline in political rights since 2009 recorded by Freedom House was preceded by a precipitous drop in public confidence in Turkeys government and legislature, as measured by the Eurobarometer. Is something similar happening here? Gallup has tracked Americans attitudes about democracy for decades. Their data shows an unmistakable and precipitous drop in confidence and trust across a long list of institutions. Confidence in the Supreme Court has dropped from 50% in 2002 to 36% in 2016. Confidence in Congress has cratered from 29% in 2002 to 9% in 2016 while the presidency has gone from 58% to 36%. Most problematically, only the military has maintained most of its public trust across this time period. Americans now express their automatic fealty to martial leaders while regarding nearly every other civic institution with contempt. It is dangerous that the institution most capable of eliminating democratic rule is now the only institution that commands public respect. It is this context of frayed legitimacy and shattered trust that makes a Trump presidency particularly horrifying. He seems eager to chip away at core freedoms and democratic safeguards bit by bit. His penchant for banning unfriendly news organizations from his terrifying rallies, and his frequent jeremiads against journalists and judges suggest he would be perfectly comfortable using legal or extralegal means to shutter dissent and remake the judiciary in his image. If American democracy was otherwise healthy, this menace would be marginal. But our democratic crisis is not only about Donald Trump. It is also about voters who despite legitimate grievances about our political processes and policies appear not to appreciate the importance of democratic rule, from a tiny but loud minority of Sanders supporters endorsing Nazi-type change to Trump voters willing to entrap Mexican immigrants in port-a-potties and forcibly ship them across the border. While one should be careful not to read too much into man-on-the-street shenanigans, there is no question that the mood on our political margins is dark. The political theorist Matthew Flinders once wrote that too many disaffected democrats take what politics delivers for granted. Let us hope that democracys supporters are numerous enough to defeat both Trump and Trumpism and to address the many shortcomings of American democracy that threaten its survival. David M. Faris is a professor of Political Science and Public Administration at Roosevelt University in downtown Chicago. He is also the director of Roosevelts interdisciplinary International Studies Program. His book Dissent and Revolution in a Digital Age: Social Media, Blogging and Activism in Egypt (2013) focuses on the use of digital media by Egyptian opposition movements. Reddit Email 0 Shares By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | Turkey and coalition allies launch air strikes Wednesday morning against the Daesh (ISIS, ISIL) stronghold of Jarabulus, on the Syrian side near the Turkish border. At the same time, Turkish artillery on the ground pounded the town. With Manbij in the hands of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, Jarabulus is the last town affording a smuggling route for men and arms from Turkey into Syrias al-Raqqa, the HQ of Daesh in the country. Turkey has left Jarabulus alone for years and winked at the Daesh smugglers. Why is it acting now? 1. There was a danger that if Turkey did not help Syrian Arab fundamentalists in the remnants of the Free Syrian Army take Jarabulus, it would also fall to the Syrian Democratic Forces over time. The core of the US-backed SDF is the leftwing Kurdish nationalist YPG militia, which Turkey fears is a violent separatist movement linked to the PKK or Kurdistan Workers Party, a notorious terrorist group. If the YPG took Jarabulus, it would be in a position to close the gap between two Kurdish cantons in the north of Syria and create a united strip of Kurdish control along the Turkish border, which Syrian Kurds refer to as Rojava. Turkey is desperate to halt that attempt at Syrian Kurdish consolidation of territory. And, indeed, there are reports that Turkey also shelled Syrian Kurds even as it finally went after Daesh. 2. The bombing on Sunday in Gaziantep was probably an Daesh operation, but in any case there have been a string of Daesh bombings, in Ankara and elsewhere, over the past year. Turkeys tourism industry has been deeply hurt, and the government risks public opprobrium if it cant provide security. The Justice and Development (AKP) governments earlier insouciance toward Daesh is no longer viable as a policy. 3. President Tayyib Erdogans outreach to Russia requires that Ankara step up to take on Daesh, which has a strong Chechen contingent of which the government of Vladimir Putin is deeply afraid. 4. Vice President Joe Biden is in Ankara bearing several messages for Erdogan. They include assurances that the Obama administration was not behind the July 15 coup attempt and a plea to cease the massive government crackdown and purge that has put tens of thousands of people in jail or out of work. But they also involve a continued request that Turkey step up to do its part against Daesh, a group that seemed to worry Ankara not at all even as the Turkish air force concentrated on bombing PKK and YPG positions. The latter airstrikes were considered especially unhelpful by Washington, since the YPG is a US ally against Daesh. 5. Turkey is likely eager to take advantage of the renunciation of al-Qaeda by the Nusra Front, now rebranded the Syrian Army of Conquest, to encourage the fundamentalist Sunni militias to unite and try to hold territory in northern Syria. Turkey seems to have given up on trying directly to overthrow the Syrian government, but it does want to keep the pressure up against secular strong man Bashar al-Assad, whom the Turks want to force out of office. Establishing a Turkey-backed FSA enclave at Jarabulus that is teflon against Western criticism because it is also anti-Daesh is a way to kill a dozen birds with one stone. 6. Daesh militants in Jarabulus had sent mortar shells on Turkish territory last week, prompting a strong Turkish response. ==== Related video: Turkey shells positions in northern Syria | DW News VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - August 24, 2016) - Skeena Resources Limited (TSX VENTURE: SKE) ("Skeena" or the "Company") is pleased to announce initial drill results from the Spectrum gold-copper project ("Spectrum") and the commencement of drilling at the Snip gold project ("Snip"), both located in the Golden Triangle of northwest British Columbia. Walter Coles Jr., President & CEO of Skeena, stated, "We have two significant exploration programs underway. At Snip, assays for high-grade gold targets should be available starting in the middle of September. In contrast, the drilling at Spectrum is intended to expand and establish continuity of porphyry-style mineralization along the western section of a conceptual pit area. Previously, little to no drilling was completed in this section and therefore the material was poorly constrained or categorized as waste. The initial results at Spectrum indicate that the mineralization continues to the west, with meaningful improvement in grade particularly to the southwest. This effort will expand the current Spectrum 43-101 gold-copper resource and positively affect the potential economics of the deposit by reducing the stripping ratio and increasing the potential plant feed tonnage." Spectrum The initial assays from 3 holes at Spectrum intersected long intervals of Au-Cu mineralization as predicted by geological and geophysical work. Approximately 3,425 metres of drilling have been completed to date over 12 holes with 9 of those being widely spaced, resource definition holes designed to expand porphyry-style Au-Cu tonnage of the Central zone deposit (see 43-101 resource estimate report, dated May 31, 2016, which is available on SEDAR and on the Skeena website). Assay results for the initial 3 holes are highlighted below while results for other holes are pending. A drill plan and list of collars are available on the Skeena website. Spectrum 2016 Drill Hole Assays Hole # From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Cu (%) Ag (g/t) S16-075 262.00 445.00 183.00 0.59 0.10 2.4 incl. 369.00 445.00 76.00 0.99 0.07 4.4 S16-076 44.00 65.15 21.15 0.34 0.11 0.4 90.00 318.00 228.00 0.61 0.08 1.0 incl. 267.8 318.00 50.20 1.47 0.01 1.2 and 296.00 298.00 2.00 11.85 S16-077 174.00 354.00 180.00 0.55 0.15 1.0 incl. 199.00 272.00 73.00 0.97 0.26 1.2 and 224.10 272.00 47.90 1.14 0.30 1.2 Notes: All values are un-cut True width is estimated to be 60 to 80% of down-hole interval The Au-Cu porphyry mineralization at Spectrum occurs in a moderately west-dipping panel up to 200 m thick as shown on Section 4525N. It is still open beyond the current known dimensions of 350 m down-dip and 1 km in a north-south direction. The grade and thickness of porphyry mineralization is improving to the south and southwest, at and beyond the limit of the 2016 resource model, as highlighted by Hole S16-077 which intersected 180 m grading 0.55 g/t Au and 0.15% Cu, including 73 m grading 0.97 g/t Au and 0.26% Cu. The increasing thickness, improving copper and gold grades, presence of pervasive magnetite-potassium feldspar alteration and more abundant quartz-magnetite-sulphide veining in this hole, all combine to suggest that the porphyry system is getting stronger to the southwest, where it is open beyond the limits of current drilling. In addition, the bottom of the interval in hole S16-076 included the gold-only sub-vertical structures of the Central zone, where a 50.2 m interval assayed 1.47 g/t Au, including 2 m grading 11.85 g/t Au. Proposed hole PR16 will test the up-dip extent of the porphyry mineralization where it is cross-cut by the gold-only zone. Hole S16-075 (see Section 4725N) intersected both the porphyry Au-Cu mineralization and the gold-only Central zone structures approximately 170 m down dip of several holes drilled in 1979 and 1980, for which no copper assays are available. This hole (S16-075) intersected 183 m grading 0.59 g/t Au and 0.10% Cu, including 76 m grading 0.99 g/t Au and 0.07% Cu. A total of 504 prospecting rock samples and 841 soil samples have been collected from several targets on the Spectrum project and results are being evaluated. In addition, a total of 15.4 km of Induced Polarization (IP) surveying was completed by Peter E. Walcott and Associates Ltd, mainly to guide resource expansion drilling in the Central zone. Snip Drilling commenced on August 12 with a total of 1161 metres in 4 drill holes completed to date. Assays are pending. Drilling will test prospective structures that have been partially identified by historic, high-grade gold drill intercepts in areas below and to the east of the historic Snip gold mine production areas (see news release dated May 17, 2016). An initial 6,000 metre diamond drill program comprised of 25 drill holes is underway and focused on the historic Twin and Twin West Zones. Drill plans may be expanded based on assay results. Corporate update The Company also wishes to report that a total of 10.7 million warrants have recently been exercised for gross proceeds of $1.07 million at a $0.10 strike price, in relation to our private placement financing that closed in October 2014 (see news release dated October 27, 2014). As of August 23, 2016 cash on hand is $8.5 million. Qualified Persons The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Skeena's VP of Exploration, Rupert Allan, P.Geol., (Snip project) and Michael Cathro, P.Geo. Skeena's VP of Operations (Spectrum & GJ Projects), both of whom are Qualified Persons as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Quality Assurance and Quality Control A rigorous chain-of-custody and quality assurance/quality control program, consisting of the insertion of certified standard control samples, duplicates and blanks, was applied to the NQ-diameter, split half-core samples. Sample preparation and analyses for the 2016 samples were completed at ALS Minerals in Kamloops and Vancouver. Gold is determined by 50-gram fire assay followed by an atomic absorption finish, or by gravimetric finish for samples over 10 g/t. Copper, silver and other elements are determined by an ICP analysis following aqua regia digestion. Samples with over 100 g/t silver or 1% copper are re-analyzed by a 4-acid digestion with atomic absorption finish. About Skeena Skeena Resources Limited is a junior Canadian mining exploration company focused on developing prospective base and precious metal properties in the Golden Triangle region of northern British Columbia, Canada. The Company's primary activities are the evaluation and development of the Spectrum gold project and adjacent GJ copper-gold project as well as exploration on the recently optioned past-producing Snip gold mine, acquired from Barrick Gold Corp. Skeena's management includes a highly experienced team of mine-finders, including Ron Netolitzky, Chairman of the Board. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Skeena Resources Limited, Walt Coles Jr. President & CEO Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements Certain statements made and information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, including, among other things, information with respect to this news release. These statements and information are based on facts currently available to the Company and there is no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements and information may be identified by such terms as "anticipates", "believes", "targets", "estimates", "plans", "expects", "may", "will", "could" or "would". Forward-looking statements and information contained herein are based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, metal prices, taxation, the estimation, timing and amount of future exploration and development, capital and operating costs, the availability of financing, the receipt of regulatory approvals, environmental risks, title disputes and other matters. While the Company considers its assumptions to be reasonable as of the date hereof, forward-looking statements and information are not guarantees of future performance and readers should not place undue importance on such statements as actual events and results may differ materially from those described herein. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or information except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit [official website] on Tuesday upheld [opinion, PDF] cuts to early voting in Ohio as well as the elimination of the so-called Golden Week in which voters could register and cast their votes simultaneously. Ohio previously allowed 35 days of early in-person voting but cut that to 29 days and eliminated the Golden Week provision. Ohio Democrats and others alleged that the change would disproportionately impact minorities. A federal judge ruled in May that this was unconstitutional [JURIST report] and in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) [DOJ materials], but the Sixth Circuit reversed: Nearly a third of the states offer no early voting. Adopting plaintiffs theory of disenfranchisement would create a one-way ratchet that would discourage states from ever increasing early voting opportunities, lest they be prohibited by federal courts from later modifying their election procedures in response to changing circumstances. Further, while the challenged regulation may slightly diminish the convenience of registration and voting, it applies even-handedly to all voters, and, despite the change, Ohio continues to provide generous, reasonable, and accessible voting options to all Ohioans. The issue is not whether some voter somewhere would benefit from six additional days of early voting or from the opportunity to register and vote at the same time. Rather, the issue is whether the challenged law results in a cognizable injury under the Constitution or the Voting Rights Act. We conclude that it does not. Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted praised the ruling [press release], saying, I hope the Democrats will end their wasteful lawsuits so we can all move forward with this election. Voting rights have been the subject of numerous legal challenges across the US, particularly in a presidential election year. Last month a three-judge panel for the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit [official website] struck down [JURIST report] several provisions of North Carolinas House Bill 589 (HB 589) [text, PDF], most notably its voter identification requirements. In May a federal judge ruled that Virginias voter ID law, which requires that voters have a valid form of ID either before voting or within three days after voting, is constitutional [JURIST report]. Also in May a federal judge ruled that Kansas cannot require voters to provide proof of citizenship [JURIST report] when registering to vote. [JURIST] Prosecutors in Ukraine on Monday announced charges [Interfax-Ukraine report] against 18 top Russian officials over the annexation of Crimea in March 2014. During a press conference Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko [112 UA profile] announced the charges [UA Today report] stating that those named were suspected of committing particularly grave crimes against Ukraines national and public security, peace and international order. Russia and Ukraine have been in conflict since the annexation of Crimea [JURIST backgrounder] in March 2014. In July a 56-page report [JURIST report] by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International alleged that Ukrainian government officials and Russia-backed separatists in Ukraine have subjected citizen to prolonged, arbitrary detention, torture, or other forms of inhumane treatment, including refusing necessary medical attention. In June the UN human rights office reported that the human rights situation in Ukraine remains troublesome [JURIST report] following two years of conflict with Russia. In February Russia filed suit [JURIST report] against Ukraine over Ukraines default on $3 billion in bonds. A Ukrainian official said in January that the nation plans to sue Russia [JURIST report] in the International Court of Justice on claims of financing terrorism. In August a Russian military court sentenced [JURIST report] two Ukrainian activists to substantial jail time for the charge of conspiring to commit terror attacks. In March of last year the EU committed to stand by its policy of refusing to recognize Crimeas annexation [JURIST report]. In February 2015 Russian liberal political activist Boris Nemtsov was shot in the back four times [BBC report] in the middle of busy downtown Moscow. Nemtsov was openly politically opposed to Russias annexation of Crimea and its role in Ukraine. Bega Cheese, the Australia-based dairy group, said today (24 August) CEO Aidan Coleman has decided to retire early next year. Coleman was appointed Bega Cheese chief executive in May 2011. His previous job was CEO of Australian dairy processor Tatura Milk Industries, which he joined in 2008, a year after Bega Cheese had acquired a 70% stake in the business. In December 2011, six months after Coleman took the helm at Bega Cheese, the company acquired the rest of the shares in Tatura Milk Industries. His career also includes ten years at Fonterra. Colemans retirement was announced alongside Bega Cheeses results for the year to the end of June, which included rising sales and profits. Executive chairman Barry Irvin said: Aidan has done a wonderful job as CEO of Bega Cheese over the past five years. His focus on business and people development has been a great asset to the company, I think everybody who knows and works with Aidan respects both his leadership skills and personal qualities. We wish Aidan all the best in his retirement. Irvin said Bega Cheese is well advanced in the recruitment process and Aidan will work with us to ensure the transition to new leadership is seamless. NEWSLETTER Sign up Tick the boxes of the newsletters you would like to receive. Just Style Daily Update The top stories of the day delivered to you every weekday. Just Style Weekly Update A weekly roundup of the latest news and analysis, sent every Monday. Just Style Magazine The industry's most comprehensive news and information delivered every quarter. McCOOK A Nebraska Cooperative Republican Platte Enhancement Project meeting originally scheduled for Friday at McCook Community College has been postponed. It will be rescheduled, and notices will be published in the Kearney Hub and other newspapers. NCORPE is an interlocal agency comprised of the Lower Republican, Middle Republican, Upper Republican and Twin Platte natural resources districts. It operates a Republican River streamflow augmentation project that originates at southern Lincoln County property from which groundwater currently is pumped for pipeline transport to a Republican River tributary. In the future, groundwater from the site also will go into a Platte River tributary. For more information about the postponed meeting or NCORPE, contact Nate Jenkins at the Upper Republican NRD in Imperial at 308-882-5173. FILE - This Wednesday, May 18, 2016, file photo shows a "Sold" sign in front of a house in Walpole, Mass. On Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, the National Association of Realtors reports on sales of existing homes in July. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File) FILE - This June 27, 2011 file photo shows Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky, who drew criticism for sentencing former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner to only six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman. The California judge has recused himself from making his first key decision in another sex case. The Mercury News reported Monday, Aug. 22, 2016 that Persky filed a statement saying that some people might doubt that he could be impartial. The judge is the target of a recall campaign after he sentenced a former Stanford swimmer to six months in jail for sexually assaulting an intoxicated woman. (Jason Doiy/The Recorder via AP, File) pensacola_niceman said: It must really suck to be a Kurd. Click to expand... It's cowardice on our part, plain and simple.Turkey is supposedly an ally, and a NATO ally at that. They are supposed to have our back, on whomever we support in a military conflict.We should help the Kurds create a greater Kurdistan using parts of Iraq, and Syria to do so, and make them a NATO member.Them build a massive military base there, with a state of the art air base, and then let Turkey know that we can abandon Incirlik, anytime they think they don't want us around anymore.Let's see if Erdogan thinks Putins money is as stable as ours. When those weapons systems start needing new parts, and those F-16's stop flying, that would be a real shame. Especially with Sanctions on travel, and money. Halloween customs from around the world Halloween is derived from some of the oldest customs in the world. The culture of these traditions are 2000 years old during an age... Spindle Items ..FUN WITH WORDS Have you heard of the saying, to appear smart, be silent. It means if you dont open your mouth, people may... Out of the Past 25 Years AgoOct. 29, 1997 A light industrial park is planned for the site of the abandoned grain mills on Military Road after their expected... Make a plan to vote this November Election Day is less than two weeks away. Have you made a plan to vote yet? Midterm elections are often overlooked, but I urge everyone... Against deployment of US ground troops overseas Reportedly, the US department of defense improperly and unwisely suggested deployment of US ground troops in a number of foreign states, the strategy that if adopted will lead to US engagement in many foreign wars, loss of trillions of US dollars and millions of US lives, defeat and disorderly withdrawal of the US armed forces to the territory of the United States of America, bankruptcy of the United States of America and adoption of the constitutional amendments to the US constitution, prohibiting deployment of US armed forces outside the territory of the United States of America in times of peace and establishing that the US constitution and US laws apply exclusively in the territory of the United States of America. In Afghanistan, a brave American general falsely claims that he needs 5,000 more US troops to defeat Taleban freedom fighters. In fact, presently there are hundreds of thousands of Taleban freedom fighters in Afghanistan, supported by 5/6 of the Afghan population, who do not desire the presence of US and NATO armed forces in Afghanistan. In the territory of Afghanistan no weapon formed against Taleban will prosper, and every tongue that raises in judgment against Taleban, Taleban will condemn, for Lord God Jehovah, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit has loved Taleban with everlasting and unchangeable love: all Taleban freedom fighters are blessed by the Holy Name of Lord God Jehovah and Lord Jesus Christ with all blessings of Leviticus 26:3-13, all Afghan and foreign enemies of Taleban are accursed unto destruction by the Holy Name of Lord God Jehovah and Lord Jesus Christ with all curses of Leviticus 26:14-39, and will be overcome, killed and robbed whoever they are. In the territory of Afghanistan Taleban freedom fighters will overcome, defeat, kill and rob all of Afghan and foreign enemies of Taleban freedom fighters whoever they are. Taleban freedom fighters will fight to Victory or death, to the last man, woman and child, leaving the enemy scorched earth instead of plunder, and will overcome, defeat and kill all US and NATO armed forces in the territory of Afghanistan, drowning them in the rivers of US and NATO blood, for Lord God Jehovah, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit will fight in the territory of Afghanistan for Taleban and against all Afghani and foreign enemies of Taleban whoever they are, so that Taleban freedom fighters may live in peace in their own Afghan land, under their tradition of islamic faith and sharia law, autonomy, self-government, the rights and authority of Afghani provinces, districts and tribes, customs and traditions of Pashtun Afghani tribes, natural rights, derivative-natural rights, civil rights and traditional rights of Afghani citizens and residents. There is a reasonable settlement in Afghanistan: re-establishment of the legitimate government of Afghanistan, the islamic emirate of Afghanistan, in which Taleban freedom fighters and Pashtun tribes to which they belong will serve as defenders of all Afghani tribes, while non-Pashtun Afghani tribes will be allowed to reside under their tradition of islamic faith and sharia law, autonomy, self-government, the rights and authority of Afghani provinces, districts and tribes, customs and traditions of non-Pashtun Afghani tribes, natural rights, derivative-natural rights, civil rights and traditional rights of Afghani citizens and residents in non-Pashtun Afghani provinces. The everlasting and unchangeable condition for this reasonable settlement in Afghanistan, as well as for any ceasefire talks or any peace talks in Afghanistan, established by Taleban, is complete withdrawal of all US and NATO armed forces from the territory of Afghanistan. Therefore, if the United States of America desires peace in Afghanistan, the United States of America will swiftly and unconditionally withdraw all US and NATO armed forces from the territory of Afghanistan, and if the United States of America desires war in Afghanistan, all US and NATO armed forces will be overcome, defeated, killed to the last man and woman, and expelled from the territory of Afghanistan, drowned in the rivers of US and NATO blood by victorious Taleban freedom fighters Reportedly, US and NATO soldiers and officers raped, tortured and killed tens of thousands of Afghani civilians, some of whom for sports. The same will be done unto US and NATO men, women and children, according to the everlasting and unchangeable principle, in force as long as the earth exists: thou shalt give earthly life for earthly life, burning for burning, stripe for stripe, hand for hand, foot for foot, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, wound for wound (Exodus 21:23-25). It is important for US soldiers and officers not to deploy to Afghanistan, in order not to come back in body bags. In Iraq, reportedly thousands of US ground forces are improperly and unwisely deployed to fight against the islamic state of Iraq and Syria. Presently, there are millions of Assyrians, the descendants of Assyrians, Babylonians and Chaldeans of the islamic state of Itaq and Syria, with hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, Syrians and islamic volunteers, supported by large majority of Iraqis still faithful to the baath party of Iraq, and tens of millions of Arabs and muslims in Arab and islamic states, nations and peoples of the world. As the result of improper and unwise US bombings in Iraq and deployment of US ground forces in Iraq, convergence between forces of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria and the baath party of Iraq took place, and the holy urban and rural war of national liberation of Iraq is waged by the Iraqi people against US and NATO forces and Iraqi democratic collaborators. Historically established international law is clear: Assyrians and the descendants of Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria have blood-based settlement rights, being a part of the indigenous Assyrian people of Iraq and Syria, that traditionally resides in the Assyrian provinces of Nineveh, Salah al-Din and Dulaim (Al-Anbar) of Iraq and Deir Al Zour and Ar-Raqqah provinces of Syria. In fact, most of the warriors of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria, Assyria, are Assyrians and descendants of Assyrians forced to leave their land in the past and presently returning to reside in the Assyrian provinces of Nineveh, Salah al-Din and Dulaim (Al-Anbar) of Iraq and Deir Al Zour and Ar-Raqqah provinces of Syria under protection of God, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, following the Assyrian tradition of islamic faith and sharia law, customs and traditions of Assyrians and Babylonians, natural rights, derivative-natural rights, civil rights and traditional rights of citizens and residents of Iraq and Syria. Therefore, international law prohibits expulsion and eradication of Assyrians and the descendants of Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria, a part of the indigenous Assyrian people of Iraq and Syria, that traditionally resides in the Assyrian provinces of Nineveh, Salah al-Din and Dulaim (Al-Anbar) of Iraq and Deir Al Zour and Ar-Raqqah provinces of Syria. In his infinite wisdom Lord God Jehovah, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit established the glorious future for Assyrians and the descendants of Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria, making Assyrians and the descendants of Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria invincible in the territory of the Assyrian provinces of Nineveh, Salah al-Din and Dulaim (Al-Anbar) of Iraq and Deir Al Zour and Ar-Raqqah Assyrian provinces of Syria. Of Assyrians and the descendants of Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria Lord God Jehovah, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit said: Joel 2:1-10 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain of Sinai: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong, the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. A fire devoureth before the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria; and behind the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria. The appearance of the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria run. Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. Before the face of the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness. The Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria shall run like mighty men; the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria shall climb the wall like men of war; and the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria shall march every one on his ways, and the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria shall not break their ranks: Neither shall one thrust another; the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria shall walk every one in his path: and when the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria fall upon the sword, the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria shall not be wounded. The Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria shall run to and fro in the city; the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria shall run upon the wall, the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria shall climb up upon the houses; the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria shall enter in at the windows like a thief. The earth shall quake before the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining Jeremiah 37:7-10 Behold, the army of any and all states and all nations of earth, which is come forth to help Iraqis, shall return into their own land. And the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria shall come again, and fight against the city of Baghdad, and take the city of Baghdad, and burn the city of Baghdad with fire. Thus saith the Lord; Deceive not yourselves, saying, the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria shall surely depart from us: for they shall not depart. For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city of Baghdad with fire. Revelation 14:8 And there followed another angel saying Babylon [Baghdad] is fallen is fallen that great city of Baghdad because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication Revelation 16:19 And the great city was divided into three parts and the cities of the nations fell and great Babylon [Baghdad] came in remembrance before God to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness [furiousness] of his wrath The Word of God is clear: the islamic state of Iraq and Syria will not be defeated and will not be degraded in Iraq and Syria, but will go from strength to greater strength in Iraq and Syria, eventually taking the city of Baghdad (Babylon) and burning it with fire in one hour (Revelation 17-18 ) in awful punishment of God for heinous historical war crimes of Babylonians and Chaldeans against the state of Israel and the city of Jerusalem described in Jeremiah 50-51 and in awful punishment of God for heinous war crimes of US and NATO aggressors and Iraqi democratic collaborators against Iraqi muslims, initiating partition of Iraq into the free, sovereign and independent state of Kurdistan consisting of the autonomous region of Kurdistan and the province of Kirkuk of Iraq, the Assyrian provinces of Nineveh, Salah al-Din and Dulaim (Al-Anbar) of Iraq that will reunify with their Assyrian and Syrian brothers in the free Syrian state, the Syrian Arab federative islamic republic (SAFIR) after the fall of the bloody and blasphemous assad regime, and the rest of Iraqi territory (without the autonomous region of Kurdistan, the province of Kirkuk of Iraq, the Assyrian provinces of Nineveh, Salah al-Din and Dulaim (Al-Anbar) of Iraq), that will reunify with the islamic republic of Iran, thereby fulfilling the eternal and unchangeable decree of Lord God Jehovah, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, finishing the history of Iraq and the city of Baghdad - mene, mene, tekel, upharsin (Daniel 5:25-28, Jeremiah 50-51, Revelation 14:8, 16:17-21, 17-18 ). And in vain do US and NATO armed forces fight against the islamic state of Iraq and Syria, for Creator God, God, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit will never change, as it is written: Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Daniel 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and God doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? All Assyrians, the descendants of Assyrians and islamic warriors of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria are blessed by the Holy Name of Lord God Jehovah and Lord Jesus Christ with all blessings of Leviticus 26:3-13, all Iraqi, Syrian and foreign enemies of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria are accursed unto destruction by the Holy Name of Lord God Jehovah and Lord Jesus Christ with all curses of Leviticus 26:14-39, and will be overcome, killed and robbed whoever they are. Assyrians, the descendants of Assyrians and islamic warriors of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria in the territory of Iraq and Syria will overcome, defeat, kill and rob all of Iraqi, Syrian and foreign enemies of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria whoever they are. Assyrians, the descendants of Assyrians and islamic warriors of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria will fight to Victory or death, to the last man, woman and child, leaving the enemy scorched earth instead of plunder, and will overcome, defeat and kill all US and NATO armed forces in the territory of Iraq and Syria, drowning them in the rivers of US and NATO blood, for Lord God Jehovah, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit will fight in the territory of Iraq and Syria for the islamic state of Iraq and Syria and against all Iraqi, Syrian and foreign enemies of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria whoever they are, so that Assyrians, the descendants of Assyrians and islamic warriors of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria may live in peace in their own Syrian and Iraqi land, under the Assyrian tradition of islamic faith and sharia law, customs and traditions of Assyrians and Babylonians, natural rights, derivative-natural rights, civil rights and traditional rights of citizens and residents of Iraq and Syria. After the terrorist attack in the United States of America in 2001 an emotional decision was made by boastful lying US and NATO generals to wage an aggressive war against Iraq and Afghanistan, the decision that was proven by subsequent events to be wrong. Against this decision a few reasonable men, including my humble person, spoke out at that time, only to be ignored by boastful lying US and NATO generals deceiving the American people with their false promises of victory in Iraq and Afghanistan and causing the American people thousands of lost precious lives of American soldiers and officers and trillions in wasted US federal government expenditures: in fact the civil war in Iraq and the civil war in Afghanistan is continuing to this day. Therefore, if the United States of America does not desire to lose in vain the lives of US and NATO soldiers and officers and US federal government expenditure, the United States of America will swiftly and unconditionally withdraw all US and NATO ground forces from the territory of Iraq, and if the United States of America desires war in Iraq, all US and NATO armed forces will be overcome, defeated, killed to the last man and woman and expelled from the territory of Iraq, drowned in the rivers of US and NATO blood, by victorious Assyrians, the descendants of Assyrians and islamic warriors of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria, and victorious forces of the baath party of Iraq. Reportedly, US and NATO soldiers and officers raped, tortured and killed tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians, some of whom for sports. The same will be done unto US and NATO men, women and children, according to the everlasting and unchangeable principle, in force as long as the earth exists: thou shalt give earthly life for earthly life, burning for burning, stripe for stripe, hand for hand, foot for foot, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, wound for wound (Exodus 21:23-25). It is important for US soldiers and officers not to deploy to Iraq in order not to come back in body bags. In Syria, reportedly hundreds of US ground forces are unlawfully and groundlessly deployed to fight against the islamic state of Iraq and Syria, in violation of the sacred and inalienable national sovereignty of Syria. After the terrorist attack in the United States of America in 2001 an emotional decision war made by boastful lying US and NATO generals to wage aggressive was made against Iraq and Afghanistan, the decision that was proven by subsequent events to be wrong. Against this decision a few reasonable men, including my humble person, spoke out at that time, only to be ignored by boastful lying US and NATO generals deceiving the American people with their false promises of victory in Iraq and Afghanistan and causing the American people thousands of lost precious lives of American soldiers and officers and trillions in wasted US federal government expenditures: in fact the civil war in Iraq and the civil war in Afghanistan are continuing to this day. In fact, the fall of the bloody baathist regime of saddam hussein in Iraq made the Syrian civil war and the fall of the bloody and blasphemous bashar assad regime in Syria inevitable. Presently, there are millions of Assyrians, the descendants of Assyrians, Babylonians and Chaldeans of the islamic state of Itaq and Syria, with hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, Syrians and islamic volunteers, supported by the majority of Syrian freedom fighters and tens of millions of Arabs and muslims in Arab and islamic states, nations and peoples of the world. As a result of unlawful and groundless US bombings in Syria and deployment of US ground forces in Syria convergence between Syrian freedom fighters and Assyrians, descendants of Assyrians and islamic warriors of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria took place, and the holy urban and rural war of national liberation of Syria is waged by the Syrian people against US and NATO invaders, Russian, Iranian and Turkish invaders, and assadites, in which Syrian freedom fighters will overcome, defeat and kill to the last man and woman US and NATO invaders, Russian, Iranian and Turkish invaders, drowning US and NATO invaders, Russian, Iranian and Turkish invaders in the rivers of US, NATO, Russian, Iranian and Turkish blood and expelling US and NATO invaders, Russian, Iranian and Turkish invaders from the territory of Syria. It is lawful, feasible and reasonable for the United States of America to supply personal weapons and appropriate munitions to all brigades of Syrian freedom fighters, to provide military training to all brigades of Syrian freedom fighters and not to interfere with islamic volunteers who travel to Syria to join all brigades of Syrian freedom fighters. It is feasible and reasonable for Turkey, jointly with Syrian freedom fighters, to establish a no-flight zone in the Syrian province of Aleppo, wherein Syrian refugees can return and settle in refugee camps guarded by Syrian freedom fighters. In contrast, deployment of US and NATO ground troops to Syria will turn the whole Syrian people against US and NATO: all US and NATO armed forces will be overcome, defeated and killed to the last man and woman by victorious Assyrians, the descendants of Assyrians, islamic warriors of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria, by victorious islamic warriors of Jabhat Fatah Al Sham and islamic warriors of Ahrar Al Sham, by victorious Syrian freedom fighters, for Lord God Jehovah, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit will fight in the territory of Syria for the islamic state of Iraq and Syria, for Jabhat Fatah Al Sham, for Syrian freedom fighters, and against US and NATO, against all Syrian and foreign enemies of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria, Jabhat Fatah Al Sham, Syrian freedom fighters, whoever they are, so that Assyrians, the descendants of Assyrians and islamic warriors of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria and Jabhat Fatah Al Sham may live in peace in their own Syrian land, under the Assyrian tradition of islamic faith and sharia law, customs and traditions of Assyrians and Syrians, natural rights, derivative-natural rights, civil rights and traditional rights of citizens and residents of Syria. Some still advocate, improperly and unwisely, foreign military intervention and international military intervention in Syria. Indeed, there was time in 2012 when humanitarian international military intervention in Syria by 50,000 Egyptian peacekeepers and 50.000 Turkish peacekeepers, authorized by UN and the League of Arab states, advocated by reasonable men and women, including my humble person, would have removed the bloody and blasphemous assad regime from power in Syria, would have destroyed Syrian chemical weapons of mass destruction, would have saved hundreds of thousands of Syrian civilian lives and would have allowed millions of Syrians not to become refugees, yet the Egyptian army refused to undertake humanitarian international military intervention in Syria and the decision of the Egyptian army shall be respected. Furthermore, foreign military intervention and international military intervention in Syria is prohibited under the agreement with Syria with regard to destruction of chemical weapons of mass destruction. Others improperly and unwisely disapprove of arming and training brigades of Syrian freedom fighters. The unchangeable principle of international law commands to provide personal weapons to the people against which genocide is committed if such a people desires to take up personal weapons to defend life, freedom from enslavement, dignity from rape and physical assault, movable property, land up to 100 hectares per citizen of the state/family and kin of the citizens of the state and real estate situated upon such land: there are no exceptions whatsoever from this unchangeable principle of international law, confirmed inter alias in the laws of Persians and the Iranians and Persian and Iranian kings, which are unchangeable and in force as long as the Persian and Iranian peoples and the earth exists, and all nations of the world, great and small, including superpowers, and all international organizations, including the UN, must comply with this unchangeable principle of international law. The selfsame unchangeable principle of international law compels any state, neighboring a state that committed genocide, that is, within last seven years murdered more than 10,000 (wo)men who did not commit the abominable deeds of sexual perversions (homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality, incest, ********** (sexual relations with girls below 12 years of age)), abominations (child murders (abortions), change of gender, cannibalism, human cloning), intentional murder, enslavement of men/women or selling of men/women to slavery, is forcefully abolished, and a new state established, respectful of the commandments of God and Lord Jesus Christ, customs and traditions of the state-forming people, and natural rights, derivative-natural rights, civil rights, traditional rights of the citizens and residents of the state (Exodus 17:14,16, I Samuel 15:3), to let pass through its territory volunteers armed with personal weapons: military knives, handguns, semi-automatic and automatic rifles, machine guns, grenades, portable grenade launchers, portable missile launchers, portable anti-aircraft missiles, portable anti-tank missiles, portable naval missiles and appropriate munitions, or unarmed, joining the lawful holy war on behalf of the people against which genocide or an aggressive war is committed. The state that refuses under any pretext whatsoever, including concerns of national sovereignty or national security, any international law and any law of mankind, to let pass through its territory volunteers armed with personal weapons: military knives, handguns, semi-automatic and automatic rifles, machine guns, grenades, portable grenade launchers, portable missile launchers, portable anti-aircraft missiles, portable anti-tank missiles, portable naval missiles and appropriate munitions, or unarmed, joining the lawful holy war on behalf of the people against which genocide or an aggressive war is committed, becomes co-responsible for genocide and an aggressive war committed against another people, thereby bringing destruction and desolation upon the state and the state-forming people that refuses under any pretext whatsoever, including concerns of national sovereignty or national security, to let pass through its territory volunteers armed with personal weapons: military knives, handguns, semi-automatic and automatic rifles, machine guns, grenades, portable grenade launchers, portable missile launchers, portable anti-aircraft missiles, portable anti-tank missiles, portable naval missiles and appropriate munitions, or unarmed, joining the lawful holy war on behalf of the people against which genocide or an aggressive war is committed. Therefore, those who improperly and unwisely disapprove of arming and training brigades of Syrian freedom fighters must respect the above-mentioned unchangeable principle of international law, whether they like it or whether they dislike it, against their will, and shall address their complaints about words and deeds of any and all brigades of Syrian freedom fighters to the bloody and blasphemous assad regime that forced Alawites to worship bashar assad as a god and instead of God, that committed genocide against the Syrian people, murdering in cold blood tens of thousands of Syrian civilian men, women and children, used chemical weapons of mass destruction repeatedly against Syrian civilian men, women and children, and for more than one year after the beginning of the Syrian civil war refused the repeated proposals of Syrian freedom fighters and Syrian opposition for negotiated settlement. Historically established international laws is clear: Assyrians and the descendants of Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria have blood-based settlement rights, being a part of the indigenous Assyrian people of Iraq and Syria, that traditionally resides in the Assyrian provinces of Nineveh, Salah al-Din and Dulaim (Al-Anbar) of Iraq and Deir Al Zour and Ar-Raqqah provinces of Syria. In fact, most of the warriors of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria, Assyria, are Assyrians and the descendants of Assyrians forced to leave their land in the past and presently returning to reside in the Assyrian provinces of Nineveh, Salah al-Din and Dulaim (Al-Anbar) of Iraq and Deir Al Zour and Ar-Raqqah provinces of Syria under protection of God, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, following the Assyrian tradition of islamic faith and sharia law, customs and traditions of Assyrians and Babylonians, natural rights, derivative-natural rights, civil rights and traditional rights of citizens and residents of Iraq and Syria. Therefore, international law prohibits expulsion and eradication of the Assyrians and the descendants of Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria, a part of the indigenous Assyrian people of Iraq and Syria, that traditionally resides in the Assyrian provinces of Nineveh, Salah al-Din and Dulaim (Al-Anbar) of Iraq and Deir Al Zour and Ar-Raqqah provinces of Syria. Lord God Jehovah, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit in his infinite wisdom established the glorious future for Assyrians and the descendants of Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria, making Assyrians and the descendants of Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria invincible in the territory of the Assyrian provinces of Nineveh, Salah al-Din and Dulaim (Al-Anbar) of Iraq and Deir Al Zour and Ar-Raqqah Assyrian provinces of Syria. Of Assyrians and the descendants of Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria Lord God Jehovah, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit said: Joel 2:1-10 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain of Sinai: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong, the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. A fire devoureth before the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria; and behind the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria. The appearance of the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria run. Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. Before the face of the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness. The Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria shall run like mighty men; the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria shall climb the wall like men of war; and the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria shall march every one on his ways, and the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria shall not break their ranks: Neither shall one thrust another; the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria shall walk every one in his path: and when the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria fall upon the sword, the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria shall not be wounded. The Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria shall run to and fro in the city; the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria shall run upon the wall, the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria shall climb up upon the houses; the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria shall enter in at the windows like a thief. The earth shall quake before the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining Jeremiah 37:7-10 Behold, the army of any and all states and all nations of earth, which is come forth to help Iraqis, shall return into their own land. And the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria shall come again, and fight against the city of Baghdad, and take the city of Baghdad, and burn the city of Baghdad with fire. Thus saith the Lord; Deceive not yourselves, saying, the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria shall surely depart from us: for they shall not depart. For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Assyrians and the descendants of the Assyrians of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city of Baghdad with fire. Revelation 14:8 And there followed another angel saying Babylon [Baghdad] is fallen is fallen that great city of Baghdad because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication Revelation 16:19 And the great city was divided into three parts and the cities of the nations fell and great Babylon [Baghdad] came in remembrance before God to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness [furiousness] of his wrath The Word of God is clear: the islamic state of Iraq and Syria will not be defeated and will not be degraded in Iraq and Syria, but will go from strength to greater strength in Iraq and Syria, eventually taking the city of Baghdad (Babylon) and burning it with fire in one hour (Revelation 17-18 ) in awful punishment of God for heinous historical war crimes of Babylonians and Chaldeans against the state of Israel and the city of Jerusalem described in Jeremiah 50-51 and in awful punishment of God for heinous war crimes of US and NATO aggressors and Iraqi democratic collaborators against Iraqi muslims, initiating partition of Iraq into the free, sovereign and independent state of Kurdistan consisting of the autonomous region of Kurdistan and the province of Kirkuk of Iraq, the Assyrian provinces of Nineveh, Salah al-Din and Dulaim (Al-Anbar) of Iraq, which will reunify with their Assyrian and Syrian brothers in the free Syrian state, the Syrian Arab federative islamic republic (SAFIR) after the fall of the bloody and blasphemous assad regime, and the rest of Iraqi territory (without the autonomous region of Kurdistan, the province of Kirkuk of Iraq, the Assyrian provinces of Nineveh, Salah al-Din and Dulaim (Al-Anbar) of Iraq), which will reunify with the islamic republic of Iran, thereby fulfilling eternal and unchangeable decree of Lord God Jehovah, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, finishing the history of Iraq and the city of Baghdad - mene, mene, tekel, upharsin (Daniel 5:25-28, Jeremiah 50-51, Revelation 14:8, 16:17-21, 17-18 ). And in vain do US and NATO armed forces fight against the islamic state of Iraq and Syria, for Creator God, God, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit will never change, as it is written: Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Daniel 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and God doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? All Assyrians, the descendants of Assyrians and islamic warriors of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria are blessed by the Holy Name of Lord God Jehovah and Lord Jesus Christ with all blessings of Leviticus 26:3-13, all Iraqi, Syrian and foreign enemies of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria are accursed unto destruction by the Holy Name of Lord God Jehovah and Lord Jesus Christ with all curses of Leviticus 26:14-39, and will be overcome, killed and robbed whoever they are. Assyrians, the descendants of Assyrians and islamic warriors of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria in the territory of Iraq and Syria will overcome, defeat, kill and rob all of Iraqi, Syrian and foreign enemies of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria, whoever they are. Assyrians, the descendants of Assyrians and islamic warriors of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria will fight to Victory or death, to the last man, woman and child, leaving the enemy scorched earth instead of plunder, and will overcome, defeat and kill all US and NATO armed forces in the territory of Iraq and Syria, drowning them in the rivers of US and NATO blood, for Lord God Jehovah, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit will fight in the territory of Iraq and Syria for the islamic state of Iraq and Syria and against all Iraqi, Syrian and foreign enemies of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria whoever they are, so that Assyrians, the descendants of Assyrians and islamic warriors of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria may live in peace in their own Syrian and Iraqi land, under the Assyrian tradition of islamic faith and sharia law, customs and traditions of Assyrians and Babylonians, natural rights, derivative-natural rights, civil rights and traditional rights of citizens and residents of Iraq and Syria. In fact, in the territory of the Syrian province of Idlib no weapon formed against Jabhat Fatah Al Sham will prosper, and every tongue that raises in judgment against Jabhat Fatah Al Sham, Jabhat Fatah Al Sham will condemn, for Lord God Jehovah, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit has loved Jabhat Fatah Al Sham with everlasting and unchangeable love: all islamic warriors of Jabhat Fatah Al Sham are blessed by the Holy Name of Lord God Jehovah and Lord Jesus Christ with all blessings of Leviticus 26:3-13, all Syrian and foreign enemies of Jabhat Fatah Al Sham are accursed unto destruction by the Holy Name of Lord God Jehovah and Lord Jesus Christ with all curses of Leviticus 26:14-39, and will be overcome, killed and robbed whoever they are. Islamic warriors of Jabhat Fatah Al Sham in the territory of the Syrian province of Idlib will overcome, defeat, kill and rob all of Afghan and foreign enemies of islamic warriors of Jabhat Fatah Al Sham whoever they are. Islamic warriors of Jabhat Fatah Al Sham will fight to Victory or death, to the last man, woman and child, leaving the enemy scorched earth instead of plunder, and will overcome, defeat and kill to the last man and woman all US and NATO armed forces in the territory of Syria, drowning them in the rivers of US and NATO blood, for Lord God Jehovah, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit will fight in the territory of Syria for Jabhat Fatah Al Sham and against all Syrian and foreign enemies of Jabhat Fatah Al Sham whoever they are, so that islamic warriors of Jabhat Fatah Al Sham may live in peace in their own Syrian land, under their Syrian tradition of islamic faith and sharia law, customs and traditions of Assyrians and Syrians, natural rights, derivative-natural rights, civil rights and traditional rights of citizens and residents of Syria. Some have improperly, unwisely and falsely claimed that the islamic state of Iraq and Syria is a greater problem for the United States of America than the bloody and blasphemous assad regime. In fact, the islamic state of Iraq and Syria is one of hundreds of brigades of Syrian freedom fighters that, despite its boastful Assyrian rhetoric, does not pose any threat to the United States of America or western countries outside Syria and Iraq, and since its establishment in 2011 the islamic state of Iraq and Syria has killed no more than two and a half thousand Syrian and Iraqi civilians without objective reason, while the bloody and blasphemous assad regime has killed in cold blood tens of thousands of Syrian civil men, women and children just since 2011. Therefore, it is the genocide of the Syrian people by the bloody and blasphemous assad regime that led to the establishment and strengthening of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria, and those who reject the islamic state of Iraq and Syria should support the struggle of all brigades of Syrian freedom fighters against the bloody and blasphemous assad regime, as the free Syrian state will be able to establish true and lasting peace with the islamic state of Iraq and Syria, allowing Assyrians, the descendants of Assyrians and islamic warriors of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria to live in peace in their own Assyrian provinces of Deir Al Zour and Ar-Raqqah, under the Assyrian tradition of islamic faith and sharia law, customs and traditions of Assyrians and Syrians, natural rights, derivative-natural rights, civil rights and traditional rights of citizens and residents of Syria Creator God, Lord God Jehovah, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit burning fire - clearly said: there is no peace to the bloody and blasphemous assad regime that committed the genocide of the Syrian people and the abominable deeds of intentional murder and enslavement of Syrian men and women, as there was no, there is no and there will be no peace to the wicked, to those who committed aggressive war (Exodus 17:14,16, I Samuel 15:3), genocide (Exodus 17:14,16, I Samuel 15:3), abominable deeds of the abominable deeds of sexual perversions (homosexuality (Leviticus 20:13), lesbianism (Leviticus 20:13), bestiality (Leviticus 20:15), incest (Leviticus 20:11-17), ********** (sexual relations with girls below 12 years of age) (Leviticus 20:2-3, Matthew 18:6)), abominations (child murders (abortions) (Leviticus 20:2-3, Exodus 21:22-25), change of gender (Book of Enoch, section XVII, chapter 86; section II, chapter 10), cannibalism (Book of Enoch, section II, chapter 7,10), human cloning (Book of Enoch, section XVII, chapter 86; section II, chapter 10)), intentional murder (Exodus 21:14), enslavement of men/women (Exodus 21:16) and selling men/women to slavery (Exodus 21:16) (Isaiah 48:22). And despite any statements of any and all states, nations and peoples, including all member-states of the UN Security Council, the whole humanity, Creator God, God, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit will never change, as it is written: Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Daniel 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and God doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? Thus, no peace and no ceasefire with the bloody and blasphemous assad regime is possible, and all peace negotiations and all ceasefire negotiations with the assad regime will fall: the future of Syria will be settled in the battlefields of the Syrian civil war. Therefore, if the United States of America does not desire to lose in vain lives of US and NATO soldiers and officers and US federal government expenditure, the United States of America will swiftly and unconditionally withdraw all US and NATO ground forces from the territory of Syria, and if the United States of America desires war in Syria, all US and NATO armed forces will be overcome, defeated, killed to the last man and woman and expelled from the territory of Syria, drowned in the rivers of US and NATO blood, by victorious Assyrians, the descendants of Assyrians, islamic warriors of the islamic state of Iraq and Syria, by victorious islamic warriors of Jabhat Fatah Al Sham and islamic warriors of Ahrar Al Sham, by victorious Syrian freedom fighters. Reportedly, US and NATO soldiers and officers raped, tortured and killed thousands of Syrian civilians, some of whom for sports. The same will be done unto US and NATO men, women and children, according to the everlasting and unchangeable principle, in force as long as the earth exists: thou shalt give earthly life for earthly life, burning for burning, stripe for stripe, hand for hand, foot for foot, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, wound for wound (Exodus 21:23-25). It is important for US soldiers and officers not to deploy to Syria, in order not to come back in body bags. 657 Shares Share During my first rotation of intern year, we took care of a woman who walked into the hospital with a kidney stone and never walked out. 52 years old, diabetic but otherwise healthy, she had been vacationing in Vermont with her son and extended family when she became sick with high fevers. When her symptoms didnt improve, her son rushed her to our emergency room where an imaging scan revealed a kidney stone that was obstructing urine flow and needed urgent removal. Somewhere between the ER and the procedure suite, she suffered a cardiac arrest, likely the result of a severe infection caused by the obstructing stone. When she regained circulation, she was transferred to the medical intensive care unit, where I took part in her care. Over the next several days, she didnt wake up to voice or painful stimuli an ominous sign. Fearing the worst, we got an imaging scan of her brain. The characteristic white and gray matter of a healthy brain had given way to a uniform, homogenous texture that filled the space of her skull. She had suffered a massive, irreversible brain injury that would almost certainly progress to brain death. Her son was 21 years old an only child and his dad had been out of the picture for a long time. As far as he was concerned, his only immediate family was his mom. In medical school, we are taught the anatomy of breaking bad news: Ask the individual what he understands about the situation. Explain the outcome in clear language, free of medical jargon. Express empathy offer a light hand on the arm, if appropriate. Say, Im so sorry. But can this really be all there is to something as profound as telling a 21 year old that his mom wont be waking up? In my mind, there had to be something more human to it than this script prescribed by our formal education. For me, the most challenging part of becoming a physician was trying to understand how to traverse that vast gap between doctor and patient. Or in this case, the patients family. What Ive learned is that effectively showing empathy for another requires me to deliberately reflect on my own experiences. Several years ago, my grandmother suffered a sudden hemorrhagic brainstem stroke, from which she never recovered. When something like that happens, you take part in the universal phenomenon of having suffered a great, irretrievable loss. You feel that grief deep inside of your bones, your stomach, your chest. It is heavy for a long time. I think that there is much to be said about remembering this aching, actively reflecting back and it, and perhaps keeping the sorrow alive in this way. When I see a patients vulnerability, I am conscious of my own, and I am reminded of that common human thread that runs between us. In turn, I believe that our patients appreciate being able to see that we are also vulnerable. In the end, what our patients son wanted to know was that we, too, were affected by his mothers passing. Michelle Zhang is an internal medicine resident. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Linn County Deputy District Attorney Keith Stein is an award-winning wildlife prosecutor. In fact, he's the only one in his office with such a credential. Stein on Aug. 18 accepted the 2015 Wildlife Prosecutor of the year Award at the Oregon District Attorney's Association Summer Conference in Bend. The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division presented the award on behalf of the Oregon Sportsmen's Coalition. "You're sitting on my award," remarked Stein with a laugh at his office in the Linn County Courthouse on Tuesday as he moved a framed 20x24 painting of a bull elk awaiting a suitable place on his wall. When Stein began his career in 2006, he said he was really big on prosecuting such cases. "They're kind of like the mafia," said Stein of wildlife poachers. "There's a poaching ring here. They know all the troopers by name." Stein said actually bringing poachers to justice is difficult, and so he makes sure to aggressively prosecute the high profile cases. "We rarely, if ever, catch a guy," he said. "So the strategy is to really go after a guy when we find him. Stein's award recognizes his efforts to prosecute high-profile cases that he says have a large negative impact on the local environment. "We're focused on that small group of egregious offenders," he said. "There are some people who just have that mentality that God put the big game here to let them hunt in the king's forest." Stein said such poachers are "very selfish offenders." "They don't care," he said. "They just want to bag their rack. I've had suspects who describe their poaching as an addiction." Stein also made sure to acknowledge the efforts of Oregon State Police agents, who spend hours in the bush hoping to catch the offenders. "They'll sit out all night with night vision goggles in the rain," he said. "They do hard-core amazing things." Regarding the award, Stein said it carries great sentimental value. "It shows how much it means to OSP and the coalition," he said. Laredo Border Patrol agents stopped an attempt to smuggle drugs at the I-35 checkpoint on Tuesday. A driver was questioned regarding his immigration status, when a detection dog alerted to possible narcotics. While at a secondary inspection, Border Patrol agents searched the vehicle and discovered PVC cylinders within the gas tank area. Agents removed the PVC cylinders and noticed packages with a substance testing positive for cocaine. The cocaine's street value was estimated at a little more than a million dollars. The driver and narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration. Aug 23 (Reuters) - A Philippine lawmaker has revived a proposal to ban exports of unprocessed minerals to spur domestic processing, in a move that may tighten global nickel supply and make it an even tougher business environment for miners in the world's top producer. The Philippines has vast but largely untapped mineral resources, limiting the contribution of mining to its economy to less than 1 percent. The sector is now facing a tough regime under the government of firebrand President Rodrigo Duterte who has suspended some miners causing environmental destruction. Without an industry that will process mineral ore, the Philippines may be better off shutting its mining sector given its modest contribution to the economy and the environmental harm it causes, Congressman Erlpe John Amante said. "We are trying to refine mining in our country. We are trying to make mining more relevant," Amante told Reuters in his office in Quezon City, north of the capital Manila. Amante is hoping to tap into Duterte's push for responsible mining that has led to the suspension of 10 miners so far, eight of them nickel producers. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL3N1AS1XE "What we're fighting for here is to maximise the benefit for our country and our people," said Amante. "If that cannot be done then we might as well stop mining." Amante first filed a bill to stop exports in 2014 after Indonesia banned ore shipments, but failed to gain support. This time, Pantaleon Alvarez, Speaker of the House of Representatives and an ally of Duterte, is backing the measure. The proposed legislation, when it becomes law, will ban ore exports after three to five years and force miners to invest in local processing plants, Amante said. That will be a huge setback for China which imports most of its nickel ore from the Philippines, and will boost metal prices CMNI3 that rallied to one-year highs following the recent suspension of Philippine nickel mines. The Philippines has four mineral processing plants, two for gold and two nickel. It has 40 mines, including 27 nickel and five gold, with the rest producing chromite, copper and iron. Senator Cynthia Villar said "doing more processing" at home should be a long-term vision of the industry. "Not now because the industry is not that developed." NOT EASY High-grade ore is scarce in the Philippines, making it difficult to invest in processing plants, said Gerard Brimo, chief executive of top nickel ore producer Nickel Asia Corp NIKL.PS which partly owns the country's two nickel plants. Then there is also underutilisation, with only 3 percent being mined of the 9 million hectares identified by the government as having high mineral reserves. According to Amante, if ore is processed locally, mining may contribute 5-10 percent to the economy - which grew by 7 percent in the second quarter, the fastest in three years. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL3N1B105Y But power costs in the Philippines, among the highest in Asia, is making processing plants unviable, said Ronald Recidoro from the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines. "It doesn't make sense," he said. (Reporting by Manolo Serapio Jr. and Enrico dela Cruz; Editing by Himani Sarkar) Aug 24 (Reuters) - Taiwan's overnight interbank rate opened slightly higher at 0.178 percent on Wednesday, from its previous session open of 0.177 percent. The overnight interbank rate is closely watched by market participants because it is guided by the central bank and is seen as a signal of its monetary policy bias. The central bank has said monetary policy is accommodative. It has cut policy rates four times in a row at quarterly policy meetings since September last year to bolster the weak economy. (Reporting by J.R. Wu; Editing by Biju Dwarakanath) UBS looks for any potential damage from Federal Reserve hawkishness to be limited. The focus this week will be Fed Chair Yellen's speech at Jackson Hole, where investors will look for guidance on Fed policy, UBS says in an early-week research note. We expect Fed comments to hint at the potential for a hike later in the year improving U.S. data and hawkish comments from the Fed could weigh on gold, especially given positioning has lingered close to all-time highs. Net speculative length on Comex as of Aug. 16 was around 91% of the all-time high, despite a decline over the past six weeks, UBS says. Having said this, we think the gold trade is not overcrowded and any downside should ultimately be limited amid lurking interest to buy dips. We have held the view that the impact of Fed policy decisions to gold are not as straight forward in this environment where global yields are under pressure and macro uncertainty is elevated. While gold is likely to come under pressure ahead of a Fed rate hike which we expect to occur in December we would view the dip as a buying opportunity. By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com Commerzbank: Other Than Fed, Environment For Gold And Silver Remains Positive Other than worrying about what Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen will say Friday, conditions remain favorable for gold, says Commerzbank. Traders will be closely monitoring Yellens scheduled speech at a Fed symposium for clues on whether to expect an interest-rate hike, particularly after hawkish comments from other policymakers over the last week. Apart from this short-term factor, the environment for gold and silver remains positive, Commerzbank says. The monetary policy pursued by the major central banks is and will for the foreseeable future remain ultra-expansionary. Even a 25-basis-point rate hike by the Fed would do little to change this. Around the world, bonds worth $12 trillion are meanwhile showing negative yields something that has never happened before to this extent. Then there are the numerous political and geopolitical uncertainties, so any falls in the prices of gold and silver should prove short-lived. By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com RBCs Gero: Comex Gold Pulling Back Ahead Of Yellen Speech, Options Expiry Comex gold continues to pull back ahead of an options expiration Thursday, a highly anticipated speech by Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen Friday, and first-notice day for the August futures at the end of the month, says George Gero, managing director with RBC Wealth Management. Fears of (a) Fed rate hike (are) becoming more pronounced ahead of all this, with a limited audience and more hawkish tones from Fed speakers, he says. As of 8:55 a.m. EDT, Comex December gold was $9.50 softer at $1,336.60 an ounce. By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com South Africa's Gordhan says under 'no obligation' to meet police South Africa's Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said on Wednesday he was under no obligation to present himself to police because he was not a suspect in an investigation into a covert unit in the revenue service. Gordhan confirmed receipt of a letter from Directorate of Priority Crimes, or the Hawks, asking him to present himself on Thursday but said his lawyers had advised him that he did not need to attend. (Reporting by Tiisetso Motsoeneng; Writing Mfuneko Toyana; Editing by Joe Brock) Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication. kitco news Crews from Zephyr's Inc. began to demolish the Belfair Cafe on Saturday. Owner Judy Scott plans to turn the parcel and adjoining parcels into single-family dwellings. (ARLA SHEPHARD / SPECIAL TO THE KITSAP SUN) SHARE By Arla Shephard Bull, Special to the Kitsap Sun BELFAIR Few places in Belfair have as long a history as the former Belfair Cafe on Highway 3, more recently the home of Iglesia Agua Viva, a church where many of North Mason's Guatemalan families congregated. Saturday marked the end of an era, as crews began demolishing the old building. But owner Judy Scott doesn't want the community to forget its history or shrug off the potential good that will come from the new development. "For me, it's pretty monumental," she said. "This place has been in my family for decades. I see people sad, but once they understand the new changes, they'll see that this might be bittersweet, but it's for the best." Scott has already started the permitting process to turn the five parcels she owns into four three-story apartment buildings. There will be one-, two- and three-bedroom units 54 in all. At least 20 percent of the units will cater to low-income renters. "We desperately need housing," she said. "There are only four or five units in Belfair. There are waiting lists. For many, single-family dwellings are too expensive. And being on the Belfair sewer advisory committee, I know we need hookups to keep our costs down." Scott's father, Bill Griffith, bought the parcels and the Belfair Cafe in 1968. But the building had already been the home to Ray's Barbershop and the town's first library and drugstore. It was all right next to the first restaurant Adolph and Melva Olsen built the Belfair Cafe in 1942. "I remember going there when I was 5 or 6, going into the cafe, sitting on a round stool and ordering a milkshake," Scott said. "For years it was the only real restaurant in town." The building underwent at least six remodels in its lifetime; when Griffith took it over, he remodeled it, moved his real estate office into the space next to the cafe and then moved his office out to build the cafe's popular adjoining lounge, the Glo Room. "My dad and I and my husband, Pat Smith, were the Glo Room's opening act in 1971," Scott said. "My dad was a musician, his band was Bill Griffith and the Jack Pine Ramblers. They played a lot at the Belfair Barn. He and I sang current tunes at the Glo Room." Griffith brought on restaurateur Earl Owen to run the cafe, which remained prosperous throughout the 1970s and '80s, as Owen's son, Curt, took over. Scott first took ownership of the cafe in 1988, when Curt Owen left to run the Allyn Inn, but she sold the business in 1995 to Pat Mayberry, owner of Pat's Little Red Barn. In 1999, Scott took back the cafe and Glo Room, keeping it as a full-service restaurant and lounge until 2002, when she gave the space to the International House of Prayer to use and sublet to Iglesia Agua Viva. "Through the building, I've seen so many lives changed, some for the worse, some for the better," Scott said. "When I took it back over (in 1999), my hope was that it would be used for good things. I think it has served the community well." The architecture firm Casey and DeChant Architects is working on the design of the apartment units, and Scott is talking with banks to finance the project. She would like to retain ownership of the parcels and finance the project, but she might sell the entire project to a developer once she secures the permits. "I'm open, but I hope to keep and finance this myself," she said. "Once I get it permitted, that is where the value of this land will come from." Scott still has tenants on three of the other parcels next to the former Belfair Cafe, including a woodworker, a thrift shop and a homeowner who, at 90, is a life tenant. "I hope we can move forward," she said. "We need new places for people to live. I've learned that you can never go back and relive those memories. The Belfair Cafe will never again be the Belfair Cafe." SHARE By Andrew Binion of the Kitsap Sun PORT ORCHARD A man who pleaded guilty to a charge of vehicular homicide for striking and killing a pedestrian during the early hours of July 4, 2015, in Indianola was sentenced last week to more than two years in prison. John Charles McGinty Jr., 40, hit and killed Jordan Dale Adams-Wickham, 23, of Indianola, on the 20500 block of Nachant Drive NE. McGinty was identified by investigators through tips. He was arrested four days after Adams-Wickham was killed. When he was contacted by investigators, McGinty told Kitsap sheriff's deputies he had been drinking that night, saw a person lying in the roadway as he was driving and afterward attempted to wash the blood off his car, according to court documents. Reports say there was front-end damage to McGinty's vehicle and parts of his car were found at the scene. "Mr. McGinty may be able to get his life back on track after he serves what I hope is a long sentence for him, but Jordan's family, his community and myself will not ever get to have the chance to have Jordan's life back," Adams-Wickham's father wrote to Judge Jennifer Forbes. "His life was taken at the hands of someone who chose to hide and cover up what he had done." Forbes sentenced McGinty to 27 months in prison. Adams-Wickham was one of three people killed in traffic-related incidents that Fourth of July weekend in Kitsap County. Kim Francisco carries orders from the kitchen and to the patio to awaiting customers at her Kingston Ale House on Wednesday, August 17, 2016. (MEEGAN M. REID / KITSAP SUN) SHARE Quinoa salad at the Kingston Ale House. (MEEGAN M. REID / KITSAP SUN) Fish sliders await pickup at the Kingston Ale House. (MEEGAN M. REID / KITSAP SUN) The Kingston Ale House, formerly known as the Main Street Ale House, reopened in May under new ownership after being shut down for a remodel. (MEEGAN M. REID / KITSAP SUN) By Terri Gleich, Special to the Kitsap Sun KINGSTON When Tony Clark and Kim Francisco began visiting Kingston by boat seven years ago, they found friends and a sense of community at the Main Street Ale House. Now, three years after moving to Kingston from Mill Creek, the couple own the restaurant and longtime patrons say they have breathed new life into a community hub. The pair bought the place in December and reopened it as the Kingston Ale House in May after a menu overhaul and interior makeover. "It's cleaner than it's ever been and there's a better feel," said John Lyon-Smith, an Englishman who's been a regular patron for six years. "The food's better than it's ever been. It's more gourmet food." He likens the restaurant's friendly atmosphere to that of a traditional English pub. Diana Kingsley, who's been going to the restaurant for more than a decade, has seen ups and downs under three owners. "This is definitely an up," she said. "It's innovative. There's good food, good service, a good price range and a nice wine selection." Francisco worked in a series of restaurant jobs as a young woman before a career in telecommunications and finance. Clark, her husband of 27 years, works for Hewlett-Packard in data storage. Since taking over the ale house, the couple have brightened the interior with light gray walls and white trim, giving it a more modern feel. They replaced booths in the backroom with tables for more flexibility and repainted the rear deck overlooking Appletree Cove. Chef Andy Bynum, a veteran of Hale's Ales in Silverdale and Seattle, has created a menu of upscale pub food that showcases high-quality ingredients, including Beecher's Handmade Cheese, Dungeness crab and wild king salmon. Popular dishes include crab-stuffed mushrooms, house-smoked salmon chowder and halibut and chips. The mushrooms are $9. The chowder is $6 for a cup or $9 for a bowl. And, the fish and chips costs $18 for two pieces or $23 for three. Prices range from $5 to $16 for small plates. The popular Beecher's Burger with caramelized onions and bacon is $16 and dinner entrees range from $12 for macaroni and cheese to $29 for a hand-cut rib-eye steak. "Our entrees are really clean. They don't have 17 different seasonings going into them," Bynum said. "We're just looking to make really good food." Francisco expects to keep things fresh by changing the menu three times a year. In keeping with its name, the ale house offers 20 beers on tap, including 15 regional selections. There's a wide-ranging wine list and a 25-percent bottle discount every Wednesday to encourage patrons to be adventurous. The restaurant also fills growlers and sells wine by the bottle to go. The ale house sets itself apart from other local restaurants by serving dinner until 9:30 p.m. and offers a late-night menu of small plates from 9:30-10:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. In September, Francisco plans to begin offering breakfast Saturdays and Sundays from 7-11 a.m. One thing the new owners didn't dare change was the ale house's popular karaoke sessions Fridays and Saturdays from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. "This town loves karaoke," said Francisco. "It's a lot of fun. They're all so supportive of each other. It's a good crowd." Lyon-Smith is a fan. "I've done karaoke around the world and I think the Kingston Ale House is my favorite place in the world," he said. "There are so many amazing musicians and artists in Kitsap County." Francisco and Clark have made a point of getting involved in the community, particularly the annual July Fourth celebration, and the couple encourage staff to follow suit with a paid day off for every eight hours of community service they perform in Kingston. About half of the restaurant's 35 employees are younger than 18 and Francisco knows most of their parents or grandparents, giving the restaurant a family feel. She also emphasizes partnerships with local businesses, serving Majestic Mountain Coffee and desserts from Sweet Life Cakery, offering a discounted corkage fee for bottles from d'Vine Wines and featuring specialty drinks with goodies from Little City Candy, including a salted caramel martini. "It's not a competition. It's a community," she's fond of saying. "The more people we bring to town, the more people who will frequent all the local businesses." The Kingston Ale House Where: 11225 NE Highway 104 Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays; 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays Reservations: Recommended on weekends and for parties of six or more Info: 360-880-0412 or thekingstonalehouse.com

Janie Hinds of Port Orchard gets a lift from Greg Corrado from her seaplane to shore at Long Lake on Saturday. Hinds came with her husband Bruce in their 1947 Republic Seabee to a gathering at Corrado?s house. Corrado is the Vice President of the Washington Seaplane Pilots Association. LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN

SHARE A 1929 Hamilton seaplane, flown by Howard Wright of Seattle, draws a crowd of Seaplane pilots and family members at Long Lake on Saturday. LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN Gryphon Shafer of Port Orchard taxis his 1980 Lake Buccaneer at Long Lake on Saturday. LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN Andrew Hoesel, 14, center, of Port Orchard and his brother Charlie Hoesel, 14, throw bean bags in a game as their grandfathers seaplane is parked behind them at Long Lake on Saturday. LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN A Lake Renegade seaplane lifts off from Long Lake on Saturday. LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN By Tristan Baurick of the Kitsap Sun SOUTH KITSAP ? Janie Hinds' seaplane was built the same month and year she was born. But having been completely overhauled ? with every single rivet replaced ? her 67-year-old Republic Seabee appears as though it just came off the assembly line. "Looks a lot better than me," she said with a laugh. Hinds was one of the 30 or so seaplane enthusiasts who gathered at Long Lake on Saturday for the Washington Seaplane Pilots Association's annual fly-in barbecue. Some 20 seaplanes were expected, with arrivals sliding into the lake from Bellingham, Tacoma, Auburn, Renton, and as far as Oregon and as close as Port Orchard. "This is kind of our last fling," said Greg Corrado, explaining that most seaplane owners stow their planes away around this time of year, bringing them back out in late spring. The fly-in is usually held at Mason Lake, but Corrado, the association's vice president, decided to host at his lakefront home this year. Seaplane parking was tight along his dock so he roped in 13 of his neighbors for overflow space. The association has about 100 dues-paying members and 400 newsletter subscribers. Many members, Corrado said, use their seaplanes to reach prime fishing and camping grounds in hard-to-reach places dotting the San Juan Islands and coastal British Columbia and Alaska. When the wind's on his side, he can go from Long Lake to Ketchikan, Alaska in just under seven hours. Pilot Joel Mapes of Bremerton doesn't care where he's headed as long as he's in the air. "It's cheap psychotherapy, and it's more effective," he said. The guest of honor was a rare Hamilton Metalplane. Built by a Boeing subsidiary in 1929, the silver-skinned Hamilton was one of the first all-metal planes made in the U.S. The rear propeller and rounded-nose design of Hinds' Seabee also drew plenty of attention. The Seabee was developed to meet anticipated demand from the many military pilots returning home from World War II. But for most wartime pilots, flying for war never translated into a desire to fly for sport or pleasure. Only 1,060 Seabees were produced. About 200 are still flying, Hinds said. Having a seaplane means Hinds and her husband can visit Puget Sound's most beautiful places while taking in the scenery from just above the trees. "I love watching it all go by," she said. "I still leave nose prints all over the windows." SHARE Ordinarily, I might gloat. Last week, a prominent conservative pundit conceded a point yours truly and countless others have been making for a long time. Namely, that in their constant assaults on mainstream news media, conservatives have wrecked the very idea of objective, knowable fact. In effect, they broke reality. And Donald Trump came oozing out of the ruins. "We've basically eliminated any of the referees, the gatekeepers," said Wisconsin radio host Charlie Sykes in an interview excerpt that was tweeted by Oliver Darcy of Business Insider. The net effect, he said, is that Trump will say some stupid thing Sykes knows to be false, but that his listeners still expect him to parrot. And if he doesn't, "then suddenly, I have sold out." "When this is all over," he mused, "we have to go back. There's got to be a reckoning on all this. We've created this monster." He added that, "At a certain point, you wake up and you realize you have destroyed the credibility of any credible outlet out there." As a result, he said, conservatives "are reaping the whirlwind." Sykes would want you to know he is not backing down from the idea that mainstream news media are biased against conservatism. Nor should he. News media, like any institution created by human hands, harbor biases, including against the political right. I still remember the light that went on in my head when a conservative media critic decried the frequent use of the modifier "arch" to describe those who hold staunch right-wing views. After all, when's the last time you heard someone on the left called an "arch liberal"? That's one example: There are others. But instead of calling out biases in the mainstream media structure or simply creating a parallel media structure to tell their side of the story as women, African-Americans, LGBTQ people and other marginalized communities have done, conservatives sought instead to raze mainstream media to the ground. Sykes, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and others advanced a narrative in which no institution or authoritative source not statistics, not science, not history, not polls, not CBS, CNN, The Miami Herald, or The New York Times is legitimate if it contradicts conservative orthodoxy or simply questions the latest harebrained conspiracy theory. The result has been nothing less than the unraveling of the American mind. We have become a nation of junk history, junk science, junk fact, junk logic, junk thought, a nation where not knowing things is no longer a bar to high office and may even be an advantage, a nation where it is necessary to debate whether a birth certificate is really a birth certificate and Donald Trump followers think the election will be "rigged." Nor are bizarre conspiracy theories limited to the right. As anyone who has ever argued the supposed link between vaccines and autism can attest, they have infiltrated the left, too. This, then, is the legacy of modern conservatism: a nation where left and right have no real ability to communicate across the issues that divide because, in a fundamental sense, they have no language in common. We cannot confront our most pressing problems because we cannot even discuss them. It's gratifying to hear Sykes admit conservative culpability, but any temptation to gloat is drowned by the reality of America's plight. Don't forget: We've now had a generation of young people come of age with ignorance, intransigence and incoherence as their daily norm. The damage from that is profound and will not be easily fixed. It took us years to get here. It will take years more to find our way home. Leonard Pitts is a columnist for The Miami Herald, 1 Herald Plaza, Miami, Fla., 33132. Readers may contact him via email at lpitts@miamiherald.com. The Herald reports: One of New Zealands most controversial citizens will forfeit nearly $43 million to the police following a money-laundering inquiry. The Herald this morning revealed William Yan also known as Bill Liu, Yang Liu and Yong Ming Yan struck a deal as the final settlement in a civil case two years after the police raided his Metropolis penthouse. Most of the settlement is secret but the police have now issued a press release with some of the key details. In accordance with the settlement, the High Court has made assets forfeiture orders in respect of property to the total value of $42.85 million. This is the single largest forfeiture that has occurred in New Zealand to date and is the first that relates to crimes alleged to have occurred in China. The activity underlying the forfeiture orders is alleged money laundering. This settlement is a full and final settlement of the proceedings under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act without any admission of criminal or civil liability. Stuff reports: An Auckland Council candidates campaign launch has been violently interrupted by a sword-wielding man. Ngapuhi leader David Rankin, who is standing in the Waitakere Ward, was joined by former National and ACT party leader Don Brash for the launch on Great North Rd in Glendene on Monday afternoon. During a media interview with TVNZ a man pulled up in a car with a young child in the passenger seat. Brash, who was there to support Rankin, said on Tuesday morning that the enormous man was clearly agitated and jumped out of the car holding a sword at least a metre long. It looked like a ceremonial sword but it looked like it could do some serious damage if used with appropriate force. He believed the man had randomly happened across the interview, rather than arrived to interrupt it on purpose. Most of those present quickly left the scene but Rankin attempted to calm the man, Brash said. I think we were all a bit dismayed by the spectacle. Brash said police were called and he left the scene shortly afterward. Rankin said his main concern was for the young boy in the car and he believed the man to be under the influence of drugs. He was ranting and threatening us with his sword. A police spokeswoman confirmed they had received a call about the man, aged 42, yelling and waving a sword about 1.30pm. When they arrived the man was gone but his car was later located in Kelston. A low-speed chase ensued and police drove alongside the man, who still had his child in the car, pleading for him to stop. Police managed to block the vehicle in on Victor St in Avondale and detained the man for treatment under the care of health authorities. The child was unharmed. The Daily Beast has an article on Ajamu Baraka, the Green Party candidate for Vice-President of the US. They focus on his writing for a book edited by a Holocaust denier which includes an article by someone who once made a video explaining how Hitler was right! His Wikipedia page gives us a lot of other insights into him. Extracts include: referring to the US as a corrupt, degenerate, white supremacist monstrosity that Israel has more repression than North Korea the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers was a false flag operation by Israel opposed the 2015 Ukrainian revolution as a US supported coup said the shooting down of MA17 over Ukraine may have been a false flag operation said the Boko Haram kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls is probably exaggerated says TPP is designed to benefit a parasitic white minority ruling class Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp More Pinterest Print Tumblr Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. Morality cannot be legislated, but behavior can be regulated. Judicial decrees may not change the heart, but they can restrain the heartless. A right delayed is a right denied.Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys a man's sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with the true. Martin Luther King Jr. No one is born hating another person People must learn to hate and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. Nelson Mandela We can disagree and still love each other, unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist James Baldwin There is a fine line between free speech and hate speech. Free speech encourages debate whereas hate speech incites violence. Newton Lee The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything. Albert Einstein Greg Johnson, News Sentinel columnist. Moonshine, I hear, is best sipped slow. Better not to slug it back like some cowboy fresh off the trail or some ad man from "Mad Men." Otherwise, the potent stuff can sneak up on imbibers, sending them reeling, even keeling, before they know what hit them. And so, it appears, is the same for moonshine regulation. Sevier County was the epicenter for the moonshine revolution in Tennessee. Ole Smoky Moonshine got the first white lightning license ever issued in the state, and Ole Smoky's success brought corn squeezers out of the hills and hollers and onto the Parkway in Gatlinburg. The moonshine business grew so big so fast Nashville got involved and the state seized regulatory authority from municipalities, superseding Gatlinburg's zoning requirements, which demanded distance between booze sellers. So moonshiners practically overran the town. Pigeon Forge moved slower, the city denying permits and plans for some moonshiners even as a couple of outlets poured profits. Pigeon Forge pooh-bahs said they wanted to keep their "family-friendly" atmosphere, even though liquor by the drink is available up and down the main drag of the tourist town. Some, including a certain free-market-focused columnist, criticized Pigeon Forge for crimping competition. In fact, said columnist had a right candid conversation with Pigeon Forge Mayor David Wear after a February column challenging the city for quashing another distillery. Wear was right. He said then Gatlinburg's experience was not something Pigeon Forge wanted to repeat. With moonshine outlets scattered liberally along Gatlinburg's main street, tourists and locals, for that matter could go from one shop to the other sampling moonshine sampling much moonshine until the Parkway was filled with reeling or keeling samplers. Now, as reported last week, Gatlinburg has come to a compromise: No more free booze. Samplers must pay five bucks to taste the hard stuff. Wear made that exact point in our candid call: Folks paying $5 for a shot of Jack Daniel's tend to sip slower, leaving the streets safer, the atmosphere calmer, friendlier for families. To everybody's credit, Gatlinburg city hall and the moonshiners found a fix without regulation. "The city of Gatlinburg is pleased with the decision by local moonshine and whiskey distilleries to charge a fee for sampling their spirits," the city said in a statement. "The conversation with distilleries stemmed from concern over maintaining the reputation and image of Gatlinburg as a family-friendly environment for tourists." And locals, I might add. Slow is sometimes sensible. KCS highest among state's 4 largest districts By Megan Boehnke of the Knoxville News Sentinel Tennessee students increased their average ACT scores by a tenth of a point this year to 19.9 out of 36, but only a fifth of those who took the test were deemed ready for college in all four subject areas. Knox County Schools saw a slight decrease this year, to a 20.5, with 24 percent of students hitting college-ready scores. It was the highest score among the state's four largest school systems. "The trajectory for success is never a straight line," Interim Superintendent Buzz Thomas said Tuesday. "So the fact that we dropped two-tenths, does that bug me? Yes. Does it alarm me? No." Union County, meanwhile, saw the highest gain of any district in Tennessee raising average test scores from 17.4 to a 19.2, according to state officials. The college-ready benchmarks set by the testing agency are an 18 in English, 22 in math, 22 in reading and 23 in science. Students who achieve those scores or higher have a 75 percent chance of earning at least a C grade in corresponding college classes, according to the testing agency. The national average score is a 20.8, and 26 percent of students hit college-ready benchmarks in all four subjects. Tennessee, however, is one of only 18 states that requires all students take the test. More than 2 million students across the country took the college entrance exam this year, and most colleges and universities require a test score from either the ACT or SAT for admission. See also: Scores sagging for high school grads taking ACT This year, 71,880 high school students took the test in Tennessee, and nearly 88 percent of those students attend public schools. Although about 3,000 more students took the test this year, the average score for public school students held steady at 19.4 this year, said Tennessee Education Commissioner Candice McQueen. "The assumption is that when more students take it, you tend to have a moment where you go backward and then continue to move forward over time," McQueen said. "We are thrilled we are now consistently over two years at 19.4." ACT scores are one of the best indicators the state has when it comes to measuring how Tennessee students stack up to others around the country when it comes to being prepared for college, McQueen said. "The ACT or SAT gives us national benchmark of how are students are doing will they be able to go seamlessly into college coursework?" she said. The goal is to raise the average score to a 21, which would put Tennessee students on par with the national average. To do that, the state has created an ACT preparation program that about 100 schools in 50 districts are piloting, including Grainger and Hamblen counties, said Tennessee Director of Student Readiness Jerre Maynor. The state also will begin allowing high school seniors to retake the test for free. The first retake date is Oct. 22. Almost half of Tennessee students retake the test, and those who do typically increase their scores by one to three points, Maynor said. That could make the difference on whether students have to take remedial coursework in college, or will be eligible for the state's lottery-funded HOPE Scholarship, he said. "Both of those things translate to money saved for students, but more importantly, when students start in remedial coursework, they're much less likely to end up with a degree," he said. This year's test scores also showed: Nearly 1,300 more public school students became eligible for the HOPE Scholarship by achieving a score of at least 21. Germantown Municipal Schools had the highest average ACT score for public schools in the state with 24.1. Average scores for the other three urban school districts were 19.1 for Hamilton County, 18.2 in Metro Nashville and 16.8 in Shelby County. Statewide, the percentage of students who hit college-ready benchmarks in each of the four subjects were: 58 in English, 38 in reading, 30 in math and 30 in science. --- ACT SCORES Selected average ACT scores for 2015 and 2016, on a scale of 1 to 36. Data includes the percent who tested "college-ready" in all four subject areas by the ACT's standards. District | 2015 | 2016 | College-ready Alcoa | 22.0 | 21.5 | 29% Anderson | 19.9 | 20.3 | 19% Blount | 19.7 | 20.9 | 22% Knox | 20.7 | 20.5 | 24% Loudon | 18.8 | 18.4 | 10% Maryville | 23.0 | 22.6 | 38% Oak Ridge | 23.1 | 22.6 | 34% Roane | 19.0 | 19.2 | 14% Union | 17.4 | 19.2 | 9% Statewide | 19.8 | 19.9 | 20% National* | 21.0 | 20.8 | 26% *Only 18 states, including Tennessee, require students to take the test. The Tennessee Theatre sign goes back up on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016, after it was upgraded and refurbished by Pattison Sign Group. (SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL) By Travis Dorman of the Knoxville News Sentinel Two cranes hoisted the refurbished vertical sign to its rightful place outside the historic Tennessee Theatre in downtown Knoxville on Tuesday night. Construction crews closed the block of South Gay Street between Clinch and Church avenues while they worked to install the improved sign. The street is scheduled to reopen by 8 a.m. Wednesday. Pattison Sign Group removed the sign in June and transported it in three pieces to a warehouse in South Carolina, where it was upgraded with 5,700 LED bulbs designed to look like bulbs from the early 1900s, as well as new sockets and electrical wiring. As a result, the repaired sign will shine brighter and be more energy efficient. "(The Tennessee Theatre) is an iconic theater nationally, and then for the state it is the state theater of Tennessee. ... Obviously there was a history there," said Jeff Allison, national sales executive for Pattison Sign Group. "We wanted to restore it to the condition it was in in 2004, so that way it has a true time period resemblance." The company also repainted the 11-year-old sign and marquee, and repaired cosmetic damage caused by hailstorms over the years. The total cost of the project was around $200,000, Allison said, but Pattison Sign Group only charged the Tennessee Theatre $150,000 in addition to making what Becky Hancock, the theater's executive director, called "a generous donation." "They are an international company, but their U.S. headquarters are here in Knoxville, and they were involved in the original manufacturing of the sign back 11 years ago," Hancock said. "They felt really strongly about this project. They contacted us and said, 'Hey we want to do this, we want to help you.' " The theater has raised $136,000 so far from the combination of private donations, a $65,000 Historic Preservation grant from the city of Knoxville, the gift from Pattison Sign Group and numerous $25 donations that represent the cost of one new LED bulb. Individuals can donate by visiting www.tennesseetheatre.com/marquee. The theater will celebrate the return of the sign by holding a free open house and relighting ceremony on Aug. 31. The theater's stage and backstage areas will be open to the public 6-8 p.m. At 8 p.m., attendees will move outside onto a closed Gay Street to witness a countdown to the relighting of the sign, led by Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero and theater board members. SHARE Law enforcement officers have come under greater scrutiny of late, but those who are tempted to vent their frustrations on social media should consider the consequences. Vigilant in defense of their reputations, police agencies have established policies restricting what law enforcement personnel can post online. While the policies restrict officers' speech, they are necessary for maintaining the integrity of law enforcement agencies in the digital era. A USA TODAY NETWORK report on the social media policies and practices of Tennessee law enforcement agencies found most of the state's larger cities Knoxville, Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga, Clarksville and Murfreesboro have policies in place. The policies vary in length, but all departments bar officers from posting anything that could be seen as speaking on behalf of their agencies without permission. Employees of the Knoxville Police Department and the Knox County Sheriff's Office cannot post anything online that might identify them as law enforcement officers without permission. KPD's policy specifically bans material that is deemed "sexual, violent, racial or ethnically derogatory." Neither KPD nor KCSO has reported a violation that resulted in disciplinary action. "Our employees understand the importance of their words and how they reflect not only on them, but on our profession," said Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch. "These policies are a reminder of the limitations necessary for goodwill and order." Other law enforcement agencies in Tennessee have disciplined officers for social media policy infractions. According to the USA TODAY NETWORK investigation, Memphis has disciplined 16 officers over the past five years for their online postings. Seven Metro Nashville officers have faced disciplinary action during the same time frame. One Nashville officer was suspended for 23 days for posting comments on Facebook some considered racist or homophobic. Metro Nashville police suspended another officer for three days after he posted comments about the agency's personnel policies on a Fox 17 news story. Even actions that would be considered charitable can be punished. A Memphis officer was suspended for a day after soliciting donations online for a mother and infant child who had been victims of domestic violence. Police records show she identified herself as an officer and did not obtain approval from her superiors. David Hudson, a First Amendment Center research attorney at Vanderbilt University's John Seigenthaler Center, said police departments have broad discretion when it comes to disciplining officers who "somehow interfere with the operation of the agency." Other professions restrict speech as well. Most news organizations, for example, bar journalists from donating to or otherwise participating in political campaigns. Earlier this year a Pittsburgh television station fired an award-winning news anchor after she made a racially insensitive post on Facebook. The First Amendment, though rightfully cherished, is not absolute. Police officers occupy a unique position of trust in our society and should show as much restraint online as they should on the beat. 80 years of service earns Norris Dam place on historic register AUGUST 23, 2016 at 8:17 p.m. Norris Dam, Norris TN. NORRIS, TN One of East Tennessees most iconic energy sources, and a popular tourist and recreation destination, is officially now a protected American historic resource. The National Park Service has added majestic Norris Dam, which extends 1,860 feet across the Clinch River in East Tennessee, to the National Register of Historic Places. U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann presented TVA Historian Pat Ezzell the plaque that will be prominently displayed at Norris Dam. Rep. Fleischmann bestowed the plaque at a dinner that celebrated the 80th anniversary of initial operation of TVAs first hydro project. Norris Dam is the first TVA dam to receive recognition on the National Registry. It and the nearby town of Norris both are named for George Norris, the Nebraska senator who authored the TVA Act. He also is known as the father of the Tennessee Valley Authority. My great-grandfather and my family are honored to have this magnificent structure bear his name, said Dr. David Norris Rath, great-grandson of Sen. Norris. It is a wonderful tribute to the work he did to bring TVA to the region. Local and state elected officials that included Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, and a granddaughter of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, also spoke at the dinner in the dams historic powerhouse. "My grandfather signed the TVA Act to create a major component of the great social experiment that was the New Deal, said Laura Delano Roosevelt. Eighty years later, TVA is still successfully fulfilling its multi-faceted mission of energy production and rural electrification, environmental stewardship and economic development. Norris Dam is a magnificent physical reminder of this mission, and of the many ways in which TVA has contributed to a better quality of life for people living in the seven states of the Tennessee Valley." Just months after the start of his presidency in the midst of the Great Depression, President Roosevelt in 1933 signed the TVA Act to create the nations largest public power electric utility clothed with the power of government but possessed of the flexibility and initiative of a private enterprise. The original objective of TVA to make life better for the people of the Tennessee Valley remains the federal corporations goal. Norris Dam was TVAs flagship project and the first in a series of dams that harnessed the wild waters of the Tennessee River system to control floods and provide inexpensive electric power. Electric power from Norris Dam and other hydroelectric facilities is today one of TVAs clean energy sources that also includes nuclear, natural gas, wind and solar facilities. To celebrate the dams 80th anniversary milestone, TVA hosted a free public celebration at Norris Dam July 29 and 30. Activities at the foot of the dam featured tours of the powerhouse, family activities, music and food. This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the Unified Plan of the Development of the Tennessee River, the document that outlined TVAs integrated resource management approach to providing flood control, navigation and affordable electricity to the people of the Valley. Two TVA dams in Alabama Wheeler Dam and Guntersville Dam are currently being reviewed by the National Park Service for possible inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. Other TVA-built dams are being reviewed by their respective states Keeper of the National Register for final decisions on whether they will be granted National Register status. Published August 23, 2016 Georgia state prison inmate sentenced for running money laundering scheme AUGUST 23, 2016 at 8:05 p.m. ATLANTA - Autry State Prison inmate Reginald Perkins has been sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison for laundering $1 million in fraud proceeds arising from a jury duty telemarketing scam conducted by inmates at Georgia Department of Corrections (GDOC) prisons. Prisons should be the one place where we have confidence that multi-million-dollar telemarketing schemes are not being conducted, said U. S. Attorney John Horn. Cases like this show how much needs to be done to make sure that those who are convicted and sentenced to prison are not still victimizing citizens from behind bars. We are working with state and federal law enforcement to eradicate the illegal use of cell phones and fraud in our Georgia state prisons, and will continue to prosecute offenders, whether they are in or out of prison. This case showcases the criminal possibilities available to inmates with cell phones/smart phones and, with todays sentencing of Mr. Perkins, it also illustrates the punishment available to those inmates who obtain and use them. The FBI will continue to work with its various law enforcement partners in not only addressing these types of inmate based crimes but also in preventing inmates access to these cell phones that provide the means to do so much harm to the unsuspecting public, said J. Britt Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office. According to U.S. Attorney Horn, the charges and other information presented in court: Perkins laundered fraud proceeds while incarcerated at Jimmy Autry State Prison in Pelham, Georgia, which is a Georgia Department of Corrections medium security prison and houses approximately 1,700 adult male inmates. While Perkins was serving his sentence at Autry, inmates regularly obtained cellular telephones. For example, from 2014 to 2015, officials seized more than 23,500 cellular telephones from inside Georgia state prisons. Many of the seized cellular telephones possessed Internet capabilities and the latest smartphone features. The possession of cellular telephones by inmates creates a significant risk to prison security and to public safety, as inmates used contraband cellular telephones to commit various criminal acts while incarcerated. Inmates used contraband cellular telephones from inside Autry to access Internet websites to identify the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of potential fraud victims. Using the cellular telephones, inmates called the victims whose names and numbers had been obtained. During these calls, the inmates made certain false representations to the victims, including: (a) that the inmates were law enforcement officials; (b) that the victims had unlawfully failed to appear for jury duty; (c) that because the victims had failed to appear for jury duty, warrants had been issued for the victims arrest; and (d) that the victims had a choice of being arrested on the warrants or pay fines to have the arrest warrants dismissed. To make the calls seem real, the inmates created fictitious voicemail greetings on their contraband cellular telephones, identifying themselves as members of legitimate law enforcement agencies. For those victims who wanted to pay a fine, the inmates instructed them to purchase pre-paid cash cards and provide the account number of the cash card or wire money directly into a pre-paid debit card account held by the inmates. Based on these false representations, the victims electronically transferred money to the inmates because they believed that the funds would be used to pay the fine for failing to appear for jury duty and would result in the dismissal of the arrest warrant. Perkins admitted that he would take the account number of the pre-paid cash card and contacted his co-conspirators, who were not incarcerated, to have those individuals transfer the money from the cash card purchased by the victims to a pre-paid debit card possessed by the co-conspirators. Next, the co-conspirators withdrew the victims money, which had been transferred to the pre-paid debit card they controlled, via an automated teller machine or at a retail store. Typically, the co-conspirators then laundered the stolen money by purchasing a new cash card so that the victims funds could be transferred back to the inmates. Perkins worked with about 100 individuals outside of the prison and laundered approximately $1 million in proceeds from fraud and other illegal schemes. Reginald Perkins, 36, of Atlanta, Georgia, has been sentenced to 12 years, seven months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Perkins was convicted on these charges on March 22, 2016, after he pleaded guilty. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Published August 23, 2016 South Korea's antitrust watchdog is expected to file a petition against Lotte Group founder Shin Kyuk-ho with prosecutors for the false reporting of its overseas affiliates' shareholding, informed sources said Wednesday. The secretariat of the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has already informed Lotte of the plan for the legal punitive step after a review of the case that happened when Shin was in control of South Korea's fifth-largest conglomerate. The FTC will soon hold a plenary or sub-committee meeting to make the final decision on whether to bring the issue to prosecutors, according to the sources. Shin is alleged to have deliberately scaled down his family's stake in Lotte Group on relevant documents submitted to the FTC. Many of Lotte's affiliates are based in Japan or not listed on the South Korean stock market. A number of problems in the group's governance structure have been laid bare with the ongoing secession feud between Shin's two sons: Dong-bin and Dong-joo. In its report to the FSC, Lotte categorized its affiliates in Japan, which have shares in South Korean ones, as "miscellaneous shareholders." As a result, the ratio of the stake held by Shin's family dropped to 62.9 percent from 85.6 percent. In May, the FTC imposed a fine of 570 million won ($507,000) on 11 affiliates of Lotte Group for the fake disclosure. Lotte officials in Seoul claimed that it was a simple mistake amid a lack of accurate data before the full-fledged conflict over the managerial rights. Under the country's fair trade law, companies with assets exceeding 5 trillion won are obligated to disclose stakes held by the company's head and his or her family members in the company's affiliates at home and abroad. (Yonhap) By Lee Hyo-sik Heather Johnstone, event director of Asia Power Week Korea will host one of the world's largest power and energy conferences next month, drawing nearly 8,000 government officials, industry executives and scholars from around the globe, the organizer said Wednesday. PennWell Corp., a business-to-business media group based in the United States, will organize Asia Power Week 2016 at KINTEX, north of Seoul, on Sept. 20-22, offering insights into the present and future of the energy industry through a series of lectures, panel discussions and seminars. Along with Asia Power Week 2016, the company will host the International Materials & Components Industry Show (IMAC 2016) and Smart Cities Innovation Summit Asia 2016, creating one of the most comprehensive showcases of the latest advances in energy, smart technologies and materials and components in Asia. "We are glad to hold the Asia Power Week 2016 event in Korea," said Heather Johnstone, event director of Asia Power Week. "The conference boasts 24 years of experience in serving the Asian power generation sector. It will provide a world-class conference and exhibition, as well as vital business and networking opportunities for Korean and non-Korean companies. We particularly urge small energy firms here to take advantage of the upcoming event to head overseas." She also said the event will provide vital insight into the future of Asia's power industry as a whole. "We invite you all to join us at Asia Power Week in September." PennWell decided to hold the conference in Korea because Asia's fourth largest economy has met all the firm's criteria as a location from both market and logistical perspectives, Johnstone said. "Now is an interesting time for Korea to move its power sector away from fossil fuels toward low carbon resources such as renewable energy," the director said. For more information on Asia Power Week, go to www.asiapowerweek.com. Oh Kyeong-taek, a Uniqlo store supervisor in Seoul, talks with employees during a meeting. Uniqlo Korea, the Korean unit of the major fast fashion brand, has introduced a range of programs to enable its employees to further their careers in sales, marketing, design and other areas of the business. / Courtesy of Uniqlo Korea By Lee Hyo-sik Uniqlo Korea has been attracting keen attention from fashion industry analysts for its corporate culture of placing top priority on furthering its employees' career development. Uniqlo's human resource management (HR) system is also credited for transforming the country's largest fast fashion brand into an employee-friendly organization, according to company officials, who say the fair and accurate evaluation solely based on one's performance has bolstered workers' morale and minimized turnover. "Global SPA brand Uniqlo has gained much attention for both its burgeoning business growth and employee satisfaction," a Uniqlo Korea spokeswoman said. "The company has consistently shown two-digit sales growth every year since 2006. Our success is fueled by our corporate culture of respecting every employee's career path and abilities." Uniqlo Korea, which opened its first store in September 2005, currently operates 173 stores nationwide, earning 1.1 trillion won in sales last year. First, the company provides diverse career opportunities for all members, which creates a corporate culture that focuses on employee development on every level, a Uniqlo spokeswoman said. Employees can openly voice projects they want to participate in, and the company considers employees' interests and extends them its utmost support, according to the spokeswoman who added that it promotes employees twice a year based on their performance, not on their academic background, or gender, age and other nonprofessional criteria. "Through our fair performance-based evaluation, all Uniqlo family members think and act as if they own the company. In addition, we also offer opportunities to work at stores of our foreign affiliates. This significantly motivates them to strive to become a globally competitive talent," she said. Such corporate culture and HR systems are reflected in the new employee recruitment program, "Uniqlo Manager Candidate." During the program, interns work side-by-side with regular staff at Uniqlo stores and learn if their career goals are in line with those of the company. Given that the internships are directly related to actual tasks, new employees have an easier time adjusting when they begin as official staff. To boost employees' potential, the firm's career development builds on universal training by being tailored to each employee's career goals, according to Uniqlo officials. Uniqlo's HR department and the Fast Retailing Management and Innovation Center (FRMIC), an in-house academic institution, have designed a training curriculum to nurture talent from a long-term perspective. The HR department checks each employee's self-career plan every six months and conducts evaluations. The FRMIC supports employees' career growth with systemized consultation and support throughout the process. Oh Kyeong-taek, a Uniqlo store supervisor in Seoul said "Ever since I joined, I have come to picture my career based on this company. Uniqlo feels more like a school for individual growth, rather than a mere workplace where I make money for a living. I truly feel that the company has offered me a stimulus and helped me pursue self-empowerment." A Mirae Asset Daewoo model holds a panel showing the various benefits for those who shift to the firm's pension products from other companies. / Courtesy of Mirae Asset Daewoo By Kim Tae-gyu In a country where the rate of population aging is among the world's fastest, many worry about their later years without an income. And as the retirement age gets earlier and life expectancy lengthens here, people face more concerns about their post-retirement life. One of few consolations is that they will be able to get a substantial amount of money every month for life under the national pension plan when they reach 65. But there is a hitch _ the average retirement age is around 55, which means Koreans in their mid-50s without a revenue source have to wait 10 years to get pension payments. Mirae Asset Daewoo, the country's top-tier brokerage house, said Wednesday the 10-year gap could be bridged by private pension schemes with good profits. "The pension is a long-term product, which means a small difference in profit rates will bring totally different results," a Mirae Asset Daewoo official said. "Let me take an example of a 30-year-old man who plans to put aside 300,000 won every month for 25 years. "If the annual profit rate is 3 percent, on average, he will get some 610,000 won per month for 30 years. But if the rate is a little higher at 5 percent, he will receive 67 percent more, or 1.02 million won." The Seoul-based company said that despite the significance of private pension products, people hardly pay attention to them. "The most significant part would be to choose the right product by setting the target amount to receive as pension payments, but it is also crucial to manage them appropriately early on," the official said. Mirae Asset Daewoo said it keeps customers up to date about the performance of its pension schemes through email, mobile phone messages and telephone consultations. It also has a dedicated mobile application Mirae Asset Daewoo Smart Pension to provide tailor-made services to clients. Earlier this month, the company had an event to show the various benefits for those who shift to Mirae Asset Daewoo pension products from other companies. Korea is a rapidly aging society. The number of people aged 65 or older reached 10 percent of the overall population of 50 million in 2009 and is likely to double around 2025. German automaker Audi AG will recall certain model years of A8 luxury passenger cars sold in South Korea for a coolant leak that may cause the car to lose power while driving and thus possibly lead to accidents, the transportation ministry said Wednesday. The local government began investigating possible coolant leaks in the Audi cars in June 2014 following a series of reports from vehicle owners here, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The government confirmed coolant leaks and also that the leaked coolant found its way to the engine control unit (ECU) connector, causing a short in the electrical device, which in turn caused the engine to stop. Audi Volkswagen Korea, the local importer of the German cars, however, refused to make a safety recall, claiming the problem did not create serious safety concerns as the short in the ECU triggered a dashboard warning signal that gave drivers up to two minutes to safely stop the car, only offering a technical service bulletin in February 2016. Unlike in a safety recall, companies are not required to notify vehicle owners of problems under a technical service bulletin, which means it is up to the vehicle owners to bring their cars in to service centers to initiate repairs. But the transportation ministry decided the problem in the vehicle did create serious safety concerns based on reports from the Korea Transportation Safety Authority in June and ordered the local importer to make a safety recall. And after months of discussions with the German manufacturer of the car, the company submitted its plans for the recall to the government last week, the ministry said. The recall affects 1,534 Audi A8 4.2 FSI Quattro cars produced between July 16, 2010, and April 13, 2012. The recall will be the first of its kind in the world as the problem in the car was first identified here, the ministry said, noting the German automaker was expected to announce a recall of same model year cars sold in the United States later in the month. Free repair services will be available starting Thursday at any Audi Volkswagen Korea service centers. (Yonhap) Volkswagen's master auto technicians share maintenance tips with local mechanics in real-time using a phone camera at the Volkswagen Technical Center, in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province in this file photo taken in September last year. / Courtesy of Audi Volkswagen Korea By Jhoo Dong-chan Volkswagen Korea, the German automaker's unit here, said it will never withdraw from the Korean market despite the government's sales ban on most of the cars in its lineup. According to a Volkswagen Korea official, Wednesday, the automaker is determined to turn the crisis into an opportunity for the future. "Our customers have trusted Volkswagen for the last 10 years," she said. "We won't disappoint them anymore. "Unfortunately, sales of most of our vehicles are currently banned. In the long term, though, we believe this is the best time to invest in restructuring for our future competitiveness. As part of our efforts, Volkswagen Korea is strengthening its service network in Korea to satisfy the demands of our existing customers." While Audi Volkswagen Korea regains sales approval for those 80 models, it plans to enhance service quality and capacity at its customer centers. Volkswagen Korea introduced the so-called "Direct Express Service Center" in September last year, where owners can get basic maintenance services, including oil changes and tire maintenance, without having to make reservations. Volkswagen Korea's monthly capacity in maintenance has increased to 23,000 cars this year, up by about 20 percent from the January-July period last year. Volkswagen owners are also offered the original Volkswagen engine oil, with a longer life, at the Direct Express Service Centers. In a bid to provide more professional and efficient services at its centers, the German automaker's local unit in Korea also built the Volkswagen Technical Center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, in August last year. It is the lead service center for Volkswagen's service centers across the country Master auto technicians at the Yongin center provide advice and technical assistance to mechanics at Volkswagen service centers throughout the nation through real-time phone cameras. The center also offers educational workshops for local mechanics with the latest technical information and tips in maintenance through online. It also has introduced several new vehicle models at the Volkswagen Technical Center, which media and prospective Volkswagen owners can drive under ideal test conditions. By Yoon Ja-young Samsung Group, which has been accelerating its moves for leadership in the fintech industry, is turning its eyes toward blockchain technology. Analysts say blockchains will be as revolutionary as the Internet. CEOs of Samsung Group subsidiaries attended a lecture on blockchains, Wednesday, by Prof. Roh Sang-kyu of Seoul National University. The professor has been citing blockchains as an innovation in fintech that can change the world. A blockchain, or distributed ledger technology, is a database system used with bitcoins. While financial institutions such as banks store transaction information in their main servers, blockchains store the information in a distributed database shared and stored by numerous users. For instance, if one borrows money from a bank or pays back debt, all these transactions are recorded in the bank ledger. The ledger is kept by the bank. However, a hacker might get into the bank's system and change the transactions recorded in the ledger. To prevent this, banks invest heavily in countermeasures and security programs. In blockchains, however, the ledgers are kept by numerous users, and these identical ledgers are updated regularly. It is almost impossible for a hacker to change the huge number of ledgers. They are thus less vulnerable to hacking and financial institutions can cut costs. A local media reported Samsung Group is planning to set up a blockchain system among its financial subsidiaries as early as October, to expand it to diverse financial services next year. A Samsung Group spokesman, however, denied the report, saying the lecture was aimed at informing group executives of the basic concepts of the technology. Samsung SDS, meanwhile, made headlines last month by investing in a startup engaged in blockchain tech. The company announced that it decided to invest in Blocko, a local company providing a blockchain-based development platform for businesses. "The startup has core technology in blockchains. We found it very promising and decided to invest in the company," said a Samsung SDS spokesperson. He said the company plans to seek opportunities in diverse sectors using blockchain technology. Analysts say that blockchain technology has enormous growth potential. They expect Samsung to lead the introduction of the technology. "A U.N. report picked blockchains as one of the 10 technologies that will change the future," said Han Su-yeon, a researcher at LG Economic Research Institute. She said that blockchains can be applied to finance as well as any kind of transaction including administrative services such as registration. She also cited a report which estimated blockchain technology could cut transaction costs by 30 percent for investment banks. Samsung has been bolstering its competitive edge in fintech, acquiring LoopPay to launch Samsung Pay and buying up Joyent to upgrade its cloud platform. By Nam Hyun-woo Kwon Seon-joo, Industrial Bank of Korea CEO Lee Kwang-goo, Woori Bank CEO Han Dong-woo, Shinhan Chairman Ham Young-joo, KEB Hana Bank CEO Kim Yong-hwan, NongHyup Chairman Korea's major banks and financial groups are expected to reshuffle their top executives whose terms expire around the end of this year. Three big lenders the Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK), Woori Bank and KEB Hana Bank have CEOs whose tenures end in December. IBK CEO Kwon Seon-joo's term ends on Dec. 27. The IBK is a policy lender whose largest stakeholder is the Ministry of Strategy and Finance with 50.6 percent, as of March, so the government is entitled to decide who will lead the bank. For the 25th IBK CEO, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) plans to recommend a candidate for President Park Geun-hye's approval. When Kwon took the helm of the IBK in December 2013, she made headlines for being the first female chief in the country's banking industry. Following her predecessor Cho Joon-hee, she was promoted to the top post, not parachuted in from the outside, allowing the bank to expect a CEO from the inside this time too. A bank official said "the bank's employees are hoping another insider will become the new CEO" and such a promotion could be a custom. Industry sources say Senior Executive Vice President Park Chun-hong and Management Strategy Group chief Kim Do-jin are expected to be on the FSC's candidate list, but several outside figures are also reportedly being tapped for consideration. Another scenario is Kwon's reappointment. During her three-year term, the IBK posted a surprising 1.32 trillion won ($1.17 billion) net profit in 2014, up 20.8 percent from a year earlier, and recorded 1.15 trillion won in net income last year, marking a straight year posting more than 1 trillion won in net profit. In the first-half this year, the bank's net profit was 663.7 billion won. The performance helped the reappointment scenario pick up momentum, but some say it is unlikely, because only two former IBK CEOs have served consecutive terms in its 55-year history -- Jeong Woo-chang, who served from fourth to fifth, and Kang Kwon-seok, who served from 20th to 21th. Three days after Kwon's term expires, Woori Bank CEO Lee Kwang-goo will end his two-year term. Under Lee's leadership, Woori's net profit in the first half of this year was 750.3 billion won, up 45.2 percent, or 233.4 billion won, compared with the first half of 2015. The bank also managed to enter its long-stalled privatization process earlier this week, with observers saying Lee's investor relations efforts helped it. According to Woori Bank, a recommendation committee to name a new CEO will be assembled a month before the incumbent CEO's term expires. This time, this usual process overlaps with the privatization deal that the bank expects to be wrapped up in December. Since the government is trying to sell a 30 percent stake to investors, it will organize the members of the recommendation committee, meaning who takes the top post will likely be decided in March and Lee may serve as an acting CEO until then. The government, which is the largest stakeholder in the bank, has cleared that it will let the new board name the CEO, with Public Funds Oversight Committee head Yoon Chang-hyun saying: "The government will support new outside directors to take part in the naming process of the next CEO." The outlook on Lee serving another term is bleak, because only former CEO Lee Soon-woo served a consecutive term. Lee served another term during the process of the merger between Woori Bank and Woori Financial Group. "The most important factor right now is the privatization process," said a Woori Bank official. "With the process going on, talking about who will take the post became meaningless. Who is going to be the new shareholder will decide the next CEO," he said, adding that naming one from the inside will help the bank stabilize and get back on track promptly. KEB Hana Bank CEO Ham Young-joo's term will end in March next year. Ham has been serving as the bank's CEO since Korea Exchange Bank and Hana Bank merged in September last year. Observers say Ham will likely serve another term, citing he will be serving only a year and a half in the post and his leadership helped the merged bank stabilize. Shinhan Financial Group Han Dong-woo's term will also end in March and NongHyup Financial Group Chairman Kim Yong-hwan will follow in April. A source in Shinhan group said Shinhan Card CEO Wi Sung-ho and Shinhan Bank CEO Cho Yong-byoung are vying for the chairmanship. NongHyup's Kim is unlikely to see his term extended because the group has been hit hard amid corporate restructuring on shipbuilding and the shipping industry earlier this year. There are also financial firms whose CEOs will leave their offices soon. Korea Exchange CEO Choi Kyung-soo and Korea Credit Guarantee Fund CEO Seoh Geun-woo's terms end on Sept. 30. By Robert Neff Water bearer circa 1910-1930 / Courtesy of Robert Neff collection One of the most lucrative occupations in Seoul during the late 19th century was carrying water. Seoul, like most cities in Joseon Korea, was filled with wells. The noted exception was Pyongyang where supposedly there were no wells due to the superstitious belief that the city, then located on an island surrounded by rivers would sink much like a boat if wells were dug. These wells provided all the "culinary and domestic supply of water" for the city and were very busy. While the poorer residents of the city drew their own water, many residents employed water carriers to provide their daily water. In the late 1890s, each household paid a monthly sum of 500 cash (roughly 20 cents) for a daily delivery of two buckets of water from the nearby wells. Many households required six or eight buckets of water while larger establishments might require 38 to 40. On average, a water carrier supplied about 30 houses. One American described his encounter with water carriers: "It is a marvel to the stranger how they manage to stride or swing along with pails full to the brim, scarcely spilling a drop. They have not even the device of carrying a floating board in the pails to prevent slopping. The water is not drawn up by windlass and bucket, but is ladled up by a wooden bowl attached usually by three cords of straw to a straw rope. This is let down into the well, and by a peculiar flip, which is hard to learn, sent under the water and drawn up full, and the water poured into the pail." (Rev. George W. Gilmore, Korea from its Capital (Philadelphia, PA: Presbyterian Board of Publication and Sabbath-School Work, 1892) But the water from the public wells wasn't always potable. In 1892, an American described the wells as being "situated by the roadside and seldom more than six or eight feet deep. Often within six feet, sometimes within three, flows the open drain carrying off the filth of the city, and doubtless much fetid matter filters into the wells." (Rev. George W. Gilmore, Korea from its Capital (Philadelphia, PA: Presbyterian Board of Publication and Sabbath-School Work, 1892) Even with the passage of time, things did not improve. In 1909, Seoul had 11,412 public wells of which only 1,501 provided drinkable water." (Suk Ji-hoon provided the information citing a survey between March-September 1909) It is no wonder that people did not trust their water sources. Those who could, paid a premium price for their water carriers to bring them water from the many mountain streams outside of Seoul's gates. Of course, not all water carriers were to be trusted. In 1885, Horace N. Allen, a missionary doctor, noted their duplicity when he tested the water samples brought to him that were reported to have come from the mountain streams. He compared the samples to those he took from the nearest well. He described his findings as: "it is hardly necessary to say that I found them identically the same." (Horace Allen, "Report on the Health of Seoul (Corea)," China, Imperial Maritime Customs II Special Series: No. 2., Medical Reports for the half-year ended 30th September 1885; the 30th Issue 1886) Water carriers enjoyed privileges that other males did not they were able to enter customers' homes without warning the women members of the household of their approach. According to one early Western observer: "Even the highest Korean ladies do not retire to the inner room when the water-carrier enters. He is considered like one of the domestic servants." ("The Bridges and Wells of Seoul", The Korea Review, Vol. 3, 1903) It was this ability to enter at will that granted them knowledge of private matters in their customers' households, even foreigners, and thus they were probably great gossips which, on occasion, caused serious problems. One such event took place in Seoul in the summer of 1888 when rumors spread that foreigners were catching Korean children and eating them. Hugh Cynn, a Korean Christian, recalled that "at the age of six my folks moved to Seoul to live, and our home was only a stone's throw from the Pai Chai compound. Soon after arrival, we heard that the water-carrier of the neighborhood had one morning carried water to the ocean-man's [Western missionary] house. On finding no one in the kitchen, he took courage and went in and lifted the lid of one of the boiling kettles. Lo and behold; there was the body of a little child whose eyeballs were cooked white! That seemed to prove conclusively the story I had heard in my native village [of foreigners eating Korean children]." Hugh Heung-wu Cynn, "Laymen and the Church," Charles A. Sauer, ed. Within the Gate) Because of their large number (in 1902, there were 2,000), water carriers in Seoul had their own powerful guild. Positions in the guild were quite coveted and members once they decided to give up their occupation could sell their position (much like New York taxi drivers sell their medallion) for 18 times their monthly income. Water carriers were often looked down upon as mere servants but there was more to them than the average person realized. A large number of the water carriers were young men from Bukcheong, Hamgyeong Province, who came to the capital to apply for the national examinations and worked for several months to pay their expenses before taking the test. Those who succeeded gave up their positions in the guild. It is surprising to note that some of these water carriers became very powerful and influential people rising to even the highest levels of the Joseon government. One example was Kim Hong-nuik who learned Russian and became an interpreter in the Russian legation and then became a trusted member of the Korean court. His intrigue including an assassination attempt on the king led to his downfall and his execution in 1898. Another famous water carrier was Yi Yong-ik. He gained importance during the Military Insurrection of 1882 when he aided the Korean queen in returning to the palace unharmed. His close relationship with her helped propel him through the ranks of the Korean court until he became one of the most powerful men in the country a privilege he enjoyed until Japan made Korea a protectorate in 1905. Like Korea's independence, the first decade of the 20th century saw the demise of the water carriers. In 1908, a modern waterworks was built which supplied households with water far cheaper than what the water carriers charged. The water was also safer. The age of the water carrier was over. Robert Neff is a historian and columnist for The Korea Times. He can be reached at robertneff103@gmail.com. President Park Geun-hye on Wednesday called on South Korean female leaders across the world to support her government's efforts for a work-family balance, which she says is critical in tackling the low birthrate and enhancing national competitiveness. In a video message to an annual session of the Korean Women's International Network (KOWIN), Park underscored that her government has pushed for various initiatives, including a flextime system, to help workers strike a balance between work and family. "I hope that through this session, you can share your experiences and wisdom, and give your support for the government's policy to promote a work-family balance," she said in her message given at the opening ceremony of the session. The KOWIN session began its three-day run at the International Convention Center on the southern resort island of Jeju. Some 500 Korean female leaders from 32 nations participated to discuss an array of issues, including the low birthrate, welfare, employment and the environment. (Yonhap) By Kim Hyo-jin The government plans to install air-conditioners in all barracks for soldiers and conscripted police by next year. The decision was announced during a meeting between economic policymakers and senior officials of the ruling Saenuri Party, Wednesday. The party earlier asked the government to earmark money for the air-conditioners and it accepted the request, party officials said. "The government will spend some 63 billion won ($56.3 million) from the allocated budget for the defense ministry to provide 30,000 air-conditioners to every military and conscripted police barracks," Rep. Kim Gwang-lim, the party's chief policymaker, said during a press briefing. "This means all military and conscript police facilities will have air-conditioning." About 180 non-air-conditioned buses for police conscripts will be replaced, he said. The government will also increase the honorary allowance for veterans who fought in the Korean and Vietnam wars from 200,000 to 220,000 a month. About 250,000 veterans receive the allowance and the plan will cost the government 30 billion won a year, Kim said. The increase was made at the request of the ruling party. Stressing the need to offer more financial support for war heroes, Kim said: "The government was reluctant to increase it further as the presidential pledge in 2012 was to make it 190,000 won by 2017, but we still pushed for it." The ruling party and the government agreed to increase the budget to expand measures that prevent Chinese fishing boats from operating illegally around the northern sea border area _ the Northern Limit Line (NLL). Spending will increase from 2 billion won this year to 10 billion won. "We are discussing a plan to establish structures made of steel there, so they can tear up the fishing nets when Chinese boats approach," Kim said. The illegal fishing has been an issue for years and has affected South Korean fishermen. The Coast Guard has been unable to counter the Chinese boats that sail over to North Korean waters after fishing illegally. The ruling party's chief policymaker said the 2017 budget aims to revitalize the sluggish economy and create jobs. "To that end, the budget for jobs will be increased by over 10 percent compared to this year and money allocated for the young generation will be hiked by more than 15 percent," Kim said. The government also will use 50 billion won of the budget to create jobs for seniors, he said. The government is scheduled to finalize the budget bill during a Cabinet meeting around Aug. 30 and it will be submitted to the National Assembly by Nov. 2. Staffers from food safety authorities inspect ingredients for school meals at Sunjung High School in Eunpyeong, northeastern Seoul, Wednesday, as part of their efforts to prevent food poisoning, as hundreds of students nationwide have suffered from food poisoning after eating at school cafeterias. / Yonhap Heat wave pushes up food poisoning cases at schools By Lee Kyung-min Besides scorching heat in classrooms, students who began their fall semester are facing another challenge food poisoning. The humid and hot weather has given rise to food poisoning in hundreds of students who had school meals, prompting the government to launch massive inspections of school cafeterias nationwide. On Monday alone, a total of 727 high school students at seven schools in Seoul, Busan, North Gyeongsang Province and Daegu showed symptoms of food poisoning including nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhea, stomach pain and fever, according to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) and the Ministry of Education. All of the students had been infected with the pathogenic coliform bacillus, a bacterium known to cause the illness, according to stool analysis by health authorities. The health authority in Daegu said Wednesday that it has temporarily shut down cafeterias in two schools where a combined 124 students showed similar symptoms. Officials from the two ministries and local governments started inspections of schools that started the fall semester, Wednesday, on food safety, cafeteria sanitation and staff hygiene, five days earlier than their initial schedule. They checked food storage in school cafeterias and whether the cafeterias used contaminated water in making, pre-cooking, or preserving food. The ministries said they will set up a new system, under which schools will be able to share information on suppliers of specific ingredients that are believed to have caused food poisoning at one school, so that other schools can avoid them to prevent a further spread of the illness. The education ministry recommended schools increase monitoring food safety and sanitation, and ask for parents' participation in this. However, critics say these measures are basic rules for food hygiene that school cafeterias are supposed to already follow. Some call for a government crackdown and harsh punishment for those failing to follow the safety guidelines. "The measures are nothing new, and it only focuses on schools' voluntary efforts, which is not enough to increase safety. Similar incidents will keep occurring unless cafeteria operators or the schools violating the rules face harsher punishment, such as a larger fines," an official from the Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations said. He said the cases at the seven schools could have been prevented if the government had conducted an inspection or raised an alert over possible food poisoning before the schools began the fall semester, adding that it could have predicted that the month-long hot weather would raise the likelihood of this. By Kim Hyo-jin Lee Cheol-seong President Park Geun-hye appointed Lee Cheol-seong to head the National Policy Agency (NPA), Wednesday, despite objections from opposition parties over his alleged ethical lapses. The appointment came after opposition parties refused to adopt an Assembly confirmation report on the nominee. Lee has been faced with the allegation that he hid his position as a police officer and avoided disciplinary measures after causing a drunk-driving accident in 1993. The opposition parties have called for Lee to step down after the allegation was raised during an Assembly confirmation hearing, Friday. They refused to adopt the confirmation report on Lee, but Park pushed ahead with his appointment. Cheong Wa Dae has underlined that Lee expressed his regret repeatedly and was pardoned in 1995 for his offense. The opposition parties resisted immediately, requesting that Park apologize. "We ask for the President's apology for pushing for the appointment of a controversial nominee. Lee should step down himself," lawmakers of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK) and the People's Party said in a statement. Calling it an "insult" to the public, MPK spokeswoman Lee Jae-jeong said, "It is reflection of the President's self-righteousness. She pushed ahead with the appointment to justify her failed screening of the nominee." Lee replaces Kang Sin-myeong whose two-year term ended Tuesday. He served as the presidential secretary for social security between September 2014 and December 2015. Since December, he had served as the NPA's deputy commissioner general. By Jun Ji-hye North Korea has tightened security along its border with China in the wake of the recent defection of a London-based senior diplomat, sources said Wednesday. Thae Yong-ho, who was deputy ambassador at the North Korean Embassy in Britain, recently fled to South Korea with his wife and children, becoming one of the highest-ranking North Korean officials to escape the repressive state. "The North Korean regime has been tightening internal control as well as security along the border with China to prevent further defections after Thae," a source familiar with North Korean issues told reporters on condition of anonymity. Another source told reporters that officers from the North's State Security Department (SSD) have been visiting residential areas every day after Thae's defection to propagandize the North Korean system. The source added that the North Korean people do not seem to be aware of Thae's defection, but some people are "whispering about it." Sources said the Kim Jong-un regime is even trying to win smugglers over to its side to receive reports from them about any defection attempts. They said dozens of people were taken by SSD officers from the border city of Hyesan following reports by smugglers. Sources added that in return, SSD officers are helping smugglers do business without problems and that the officers are threatening to punish them if they do not comply with the regime's orders. Even if North Korean residents successfully leave the North and enter China, another danger would be waiting for them as they are very likely to be caught by Chinese security officers, according to Kim Seong-min, head of Free North Korea Radio. "Chinese security officers arrested six North Korean defectors in Yanji, Tuesday," Kim said. / Graphic by Cho Sang-won Missile flies 500km, breaches Japan's air defense zone By Jun Ji-hye North Korea "successfully" test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) in waters off its east coast, Wednesday. The missile flew about 500 kilometers before landing in waters under Japan's Air Defense Identification Zone (JADIZ) in the East Sea a significant improvement compared with past launches, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The missile flew about 80 kilometers into the JADIZ. The latest in a series of launches is an apparent protest against South Korea and the United States' ongoing joint exercise as well as the two countries' planned deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system here, officials said. The flight distance of the launch indicates that all of South Korea could be put within range of North Korean SLBMs. The military reportedly assessed that the North used an acute high-arc trajectory this time so as not to invade the JADIZ further, which means that if the regime had used the normal trajectory of the missile, it would have flown more than 1,000 kilometers. If an SLBM flies at least 300 kilometers during its test, the launch is considered successful, according to experts. "The North launched one SLBM from waters near the city of Sinpo at around 5:30 a.m." the JCS said. "We assessed that the latest launch showed improvements compared to previous ones. South Korea and the United States are currently conducting a detailed analysis." The North's SLBMs, launched on July 9 and April 23, flew only about 10 and 30 kilometers, respectively, and exploded in the air before landing. But the April 23 launch indicated that Pyongyang may have acquired a "cold launch" technology necessary to launch a missile out of the water in order to put it on a trajectory for a designated target. At the time, the Ministry of National Defense said that the North would be able to operationally deploy the SLBMs in three to four years. The launch Wednesday shows that the North may have acquired the technology to allow a missile to fly further as well as cold launch technology, indicating that the new weapon may enter into service earlier than estimated. Military authorities are reportedly paying attention to the possibility that the North will be able to operationally deploy the SLBMs by the end of this year. The latest test came after Seoul and Washington began their annual Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) exercise, Monday. In protest against the two-week exercise, Pyongyang threatened to launch a preemptive nuclear strike on the two countries "if they show the slightest signs of aggression." The JCS said the launch was seen as a protest aimed at raising military tension on the Korean Peninsula in response to the joint drill. "We will sternly and strongly respond to any provocation by North Korea," the JCS said, adding that the North's provocation is a clear violation of the U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban the North from any activity using ballistic missile technology. The launch was also seen as an attempt to escalate conflict among South Koreans over the necessity of the deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery on South Korean soil, being apparently aware that some critics here say THAAD would be useless if the North's submarines fire missiles from waters off the southern part of the peninsula. "The North apparently sent a message that it will not overlook the Seoul-Washington drill and that it is capable of attacking South Korea even if THAAD is deployed," said Moon Sung-mook, a retired Army brigadier general and senior researcher for the Korea Research Institute for National Strategy. Other observers said the launch may have been aimed at strengthening the solidarity of the regime after Thae Yong-ho, who was a deputy ambassador at the North Korean embassy in Britain, recently fled to South Korea with his wife and children. Shortly after the launch, National Security Office chief Kim Kwan-jin convened a National Security Council meeting at Cheong Wa Dae to assess the situation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement, saying the North's obsession with nuclear weapons development will only hasten its self-destruction. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also condemned the test-fire as an unforgivable, reckless act and a grave threat to Japan. He told Japanese reporters that Tokyo will cope with the situation in cooperation with Seoul and Washington as well as the international community. Earlier this month, the North fired two medium-range Nodong ballistic missiles, with one landing in Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) 250 kilometers west of the Oga Peninsula in Akita Prefecture. Washington also slammed the latest provocation. Pentagon spokesman Gary Ross said the U.S.'s commitment to the defense of their allies, including South Korea and Japan, in the face of threats from the North, is ironclad. The top diplomats of South Korea, China and Japan began their trilateral meeting in Tokyo on Wednesday to discuss ways to expand cooperation and check pending issues of mutual concern. The talks, which started earlier in the day, marked the first time that foreign ministers of the three countries got together following the last such event held in Seoul back in March of 2015. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and his Japanese and Chinese counterparts, Fumio Kishida and Wang Yi, attended the gathering. They are to hold a joint press conference after wrapping up the meeting. High on the agenda will be making preparations for a summit between their leaders. The three neighbors resumed the trilateral summit talks last year after a three-year hiatus over territorial and historical disputes among the countries. The foreign ministers' meeting comes amid diplomatic rows involving all three countries. China and Japan have been at odds over islands in the East China Sea, called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. South Korean and Chinese ties have been frayed over Seoul's recent decision to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery on its soil. This drew strong objections from Beijing which worries that it can be targeted by the missile defense shield. The three also met in the face of mounting nuclear and missile threats from North Korea, which is expected to be yet another major topic during the talk. Earlier, the North test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile in the East Sea in defiance of international sanctions. Leaving for Tokyo on Tuesday, South Korea's Foreign Minister Yun told reporters that the trilateral meeting comes at a "very important" time considering that there are various challenges confronting not only the bilateral ties of the three countries but also other Asian countries. (Yonhap) South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se shakes hands with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, as Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, center, looks on after a press conference following the trilateral meeting in Tokyo, Wednesday. The three ministers criticized North Korea's latest submarine missile test. / EPA-Yonhap By Yi Whan-woo The foreign ministers of South Korea and China failed to narrow their differences over the planned deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in South Korea in talks in Tokyo, Wednesday. However, they agreed to strengthen communication on the issue, according to South Korean officials. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi renewed the country's opposition toward the deployment, saying South Korea should drop the plan. "There are a series of problems concerning Seoul-Beijing relations and they are not avoidable," Wang told reporters after the meeting. "As you all may know, China brought up issues on THAAD and firmly holds the view against the establishment of THAAD in South Korea." Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said he and Wang "openly exchanged thoughts" on bilateral interests, without giving any details. This is the second time that Yun and Wang have met since July 8 when South Korea and the United States agreed to set up a THAAD battery on the Korean Peninsula by next year. Wang exchanged barbs with Yun over THAAD on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Laos, July 24. But Wang warmly greeted North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho in a separate meeting, July 25. The meeting between Yun and Wang took place on the sidelines of the joint foreign ministerial talks among South Korea, China and Japan, which were held later. Concerns are growing here that China is adopting a two-faced policy toward the two Koreas in protest of THAAD taking retaliatory measures against the South on the one hand while loosening sanctions on the North despite its continued provocations. Such moves fueled speculation that Seoul-Beijing relations will be at risk and disrupt the U.N. Security Council's (UNSC) sanctions on Pyongyang. Won Suh-yeon, left, a senior at Seoul International School, helps elementary school students create a software program during a computer programming class at the Banpo Library, southern Seoul, last Saturday. / Courtesy of Banpo Library By Chung Hyun-chae Won Suh-yeon, 17, a senior at Seoul International School, is teaching 16 elementary school students how to create computer programs at a library in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul. Elementary school students are learning computer programming by making a simple game through an educational program made by Google called CS First, Won helps those who cannot follow or who do not understand the directions. CS First is a free program that increases student access and exposure to computer science (CS) education through after-school, in-school, and summer programs. All classes are run by teachers or community volunteers. Won remarked that computer science has not really been widespread in Korea with only a few private academies charging excessive tuition, especially since AlphaGo, the artificial go' player, beat the worlds' best player last March. "There are fewer people who have majored in computer science but jobs will be open in the future. So I'm trying to spread awareness and the need for computer science for the future." Won took a course in computer science at school last year when she first became interested in the field. She also successfully completed a certificate on one of Harvard's most popular and rigorous free online courses, CS50: Introduction to Computer Science. "There is something about computer science that really makes me feel accomplished when I am done with solving a problem," she said. Inspired by her new passion, Won wanted to share her experience and decided to teach coding to other people with Google's free program. In May, she asked a nearby library if she could borrow a room every Saturday to run a class. And then she recruited 16 elementary students interested in computer science. "As an introvert, I have always been on the quieter side. Conducting a presentation has been a major weakness for me in the past, but now it's a skill that I am practicing almost on a daily basis," Won said. "Through CS First, I am thrilled and grateful to be able to help students gain not only confidence in their potential in computer science but also have the courage to initiate their own projects," Won said. According to her, however, there is a big problem in running a class the language barrier. As the program is all in English, Won had to teach coding and English at the same time. She searched for mentors who can help her in running the class and met Hyeree Grace Kim who is working at Google in New York. "Starting a club is challenging for Won because not all the students are English speakers so it is hard for them to follow along," Grace said. Won and Grace sought ways to break the language barrier by coming up with a plan to give children a sheet that shows them easy steps about what to do each day in English so that they can refer to that sheet whenever they face difficulties. As for English, she gives additional explanations for slow learners. Won also said that a supervisor at the library gave her a tip. "The supervisor told me a story about her French friend who would always talk in English even though the supervisor could not understand the language. Gradually, she began to understand English by listening to her friend attentively all the time," Won said. "This is the type of engagement and positive influence I hope to achieve through this class. If I expose my students to the English language regularly and enthusiastically, I believe my students will someday catch on and become more motivated to learn the language," she added. Won said she has learned to be a better speaker, thanks to her students. "Presenting in front of people, including kids, has been one of my biggest fears. Through disciplined practice, I have broken out of my shell now and become more comfortable talking in front of an audience," she said. Won plans to open another class next month this time, at her high school library. "I'm looking forward to bringing CS First to our school to inspire other children, teenagers, and faculty members to create their own worlds through computer programming," she said. "As a trained artist, I never saw myself as an engineer, However, computer science has really changed my life, and I hope CS education brings more positive change to our communities." This past summer, Won studied technology, innovation & entrepreneurship as part of the 2016 Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS) program in New Haven, Connecticut. Her goal in college is to research topics in computer science and psychology in the United States and become a software engineer and writer specializing in artificial intelligence. By Shin Jang-sup The most baffling tendency in the current controversy over Korea's economic polarization' is the denial of facts. According to Statistics Korea, the Gini coefficient, a representative income distribution index, has improved slightly in the last few years. However, many politicians and media pundits are simply denying the statistics by saying, "How could income distribution be improved when we are hearing public outcries of golden spoons versus mud spoons'?" The Korean government strangely succumbs to these accusations and only responds by saying they will examine whether the statistics really reflect the reality, although Statistics Korea (then called the National Ststistics Office) has been operating since the beginning of Korea's nationhood in 1948 and there have been numerous academic and policy research reports on Korea's income distribution financed with tax-payers' money. It goes without saying that income distribution is an acute political and social concern in most countries. Korea's old saying, "People can endure hunger but they can't swallow jealousy" applies to any country. It is therefore inevitable that public sentiment intervenes in the discourse of income distribution. Nevertheless, it is necessary that policy discussions should be based on hard facts at minimum. If concerned parties do not agree on or deny the facts, it is impossible to agree on meaningful policy solutions or even make a compromise. The most serious denial of facts in Korea's discourse on distribution is currently happening in regards to the situation in the 1990s. The Korean economy was at its height in almost all major indices before the foreign exchange (FX) crisis in 1997. It grew at a rate of 7.5% annually. Not only were exports up, Korea's traditional engine of growth, but also domestic consumption, currently a major drag on the economy, was vibrant. Private consumption grew at a rate of 7%, far higher than the average growth rate of 4.9% during 1999-2005 when the Korean government actively promoted consumption by allowing real estate mortgages to become broadly available. Indices of income distribution were also the best ever. The Gini coefficient released by Statistics Korea averaged 0.287 during the period before the FX crisis. Even empirical research by Professor Kim Nak-nyeon, who developed new long-term statistics based on taxation data after criticizing statistics based on household surveys and is currently contributing his data to the so-called Piketty Database, also shows this similar trend. His indices on the top 1% income were stagnant or slightly decreased during the middle of the 1990s. It is not difficult to understand the booming economy with good distribution at the time. Korean corporations were vigorous in their "globalization investments" and increased employment, resulting in an increase in wages. The increase in wages fueled domestic consumption and improved income distribution. Actually, it is a globally well-established fact that Korea and Taiwan were the only economies that achieved both high growth and equitable distribution among developing countries during the latter half of the 20th century. Singapore and Hong Kong were part of the four East Asian tigers thanks to their high-powered economic growth. But the Gini indices of the two city-states hovered around 0.45, a very unequal distribution. China is currently making another East Asian economic miracle with its high growth rate. But the country is still facing huge income disparities as well as huge regional disparities. It is regrettable and worrisome that the current discourse on income distribution in Korea is progressing by denying these facts. Some unconfirmed reports arguing that Korea is the most unequal country in the world in its income distribution are frequently cited by the so-called "experts" and the media. It has also strangely become a dominant view among the public and politicians that the deterioration of income distribution is mainly due to the "unequal economic development model" that led the Korean economy before the 1997 FX crisis. The two major opposition parties whose combined seats reach 160 and easily surpass the absolute majority of the parliamentary votes of 300, have submitted various bills on "economic democracy" grounded in the currently dominant view. According to this view, the Korean economy in the 1990s is portrayed as a dark age when "structural problems" of the old development model accumulated and resulted in the 1997 FX crisis. However, the real facts are quite different. Korea's income distribution deteriorated significantly in the process of restructuring after the 1997 FX crisis under the tutelage of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). A cursory look at the policy package during the period would tell us why the deterioration in income distribution suddenly happened. First, as part of restructuring, redundancies were legally allowed for the first time in Korea's history. This is the period when problems of temporary employment started in Korea. Second, compensations for executives of banks and corporations jumped in the name of introducing "global standards." Many companies introduced and expanded stock options for their executives during the period. Third, foreign banks, consulting companies, accounting firms and law firms, which offered much higher salaries than domestic institutions, sharply increased their presence in Korea. That was the period when the most desired jobs for young and capable Koreans changed from big local companies to foreign banks and companies. Fourth, the newly-elected Korean government led by former opposition leader Kim Dae-jung, attempted to create a new engine of economic growth by promoting venture businesses following the Silicon Valley model. But venture businesses look for "jack pots" and inherently have high failure rates. Promotion of venture businesses tends to have negative effects on income distribution. In fact, one can say that the Silicon Valley model is the most representatively unequal economic development model. It is undeniable that indices of income distribution in Korea began deteriorating sharply after 1997. Kim Nak-nyeon's research on the top 1% income saw its share also increase suddenly from 1997 (refer to the graph below). The original sin of "economic polarization" that currently weighs heavily on the political scene of Korea should be found from the "restructuring" after the FX crisis, not from the development model before the crisis. One reason that these facts are denied and/or ignored in the current policy discourse has to do with the fact that previous economic policy-makers and academics who provided them with the rationale for restructuring have promoted it as "the most successful one even in IMF rescue programs". They have the tendency to maintain what they have been advocating even if its problems are increasingly surfacing, rather than trying to re-interpret the situation and change their policy frameworks. The other reason would have to do with the fact that political groups who had been criticizing the earlier development model of Korea do not want to change the situation that in their view has now become mainstream. However, we can only draw effective policy solutions when they are securely based on facts. It is necessary to assess the facts in the Korean economy with a global and historical perspective. It is impossible to reach a meaningful resolution on the impasse as long as facts are denied or avoided. Shin Jang-sup is an economics professor at the National University of Singapore and former adviser to Korea's finance minister. North Korea on Wednesday test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) in waters off its east coast, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, in an apparent protest against the ongoing military drill between Seoul and Washington. The JCS said that the communist state launched the SLBM from waters near the city of Sinpo at around 5:30 a.m. The military said the missile flew about 500 kilometers, which is an improvement compared with past launches. North Korea's missile fell in Japan's air defense identification zone, it added. Tensions are high on the divided peninsula as North Korea threatened to wage a "pre-emptive nuclear strike" on South Korea and the United States against the allies' annual military exercise. Seoul and Washington on Monday kicked off an annual two-week joint military drill involving about 75,000 troops. North Korea has long denounced the joint drill as a rehearsal for a northward invasion, a charge denied by Seoul and Washington. China's northeastern province of Jilin saw its imports from North Korea plunge nearly 15 percent in the first quarter of 2016 from a year ago, data showed Wednesday, dealing a fatal blow to the neighboring country's moribund economy. According to the Chinese customs data, Jilin's trade with North Korea sank 14.7 percent on-year to $176 million in the January-March mainly because of plunging imports. Jilin, which borders the North's three provinces, is China's hub of trade with its ally and boasts the largest trade volume with Pyongyang among China's provinces. Jilin's imports from North Korea came to $66 million in the three-month period, down 33.8 percent from a year earlier. Tumbling imports of such major items as iron ore, clothing and fisheries goods led the drop. Imports of North Korean iron ore dipped 19.3 percent on-year to $7.28 million in the first quarter, with those of clams, T-shirts and functional clothing nose-diving 25 percent to 73 percent. China experts said Jilin's imports of iron ore from North Korea fell sharply in the first quarter due to sluggish demand from China in the wake of Beijing's move to eliminate its steel overcapacity. U.N.-led international sanctions on North Korea for its nuclear and missile programs seemed to play a part as well. Pyongyang conducted its fourth nuclear test in January and has test-fired a series of ballistic missiles in recent months. The Chinese province's imports from North Korea are estimated to have dropped further in the second quarter when the sanctions began to bite, they added. "A tumble in trade with Jilin comes as a serious blow to North Korea as it relies heavily on exports of minerals to the province for external trade," a North Korea watcher said. Meanwhile, North Korea's overall trade with the world's largest economy dropped 9.3 percent on-year to $2.31 billion in the first half of this year, with exports and imports falling 3.1 percent and 16 percent each. (Yonhap) The top diplomats of South Korea, China and Japan on Wednesday vowed to spearhead global efforts against North Korea's continued missile provocations as they held a trilateral meeting to discuss cooperation and other pending issues of mutual concerns. The talks, held in Tokyo earlier in the day, marked the first time that foreign ministers of the three countries got together following the last such event held in Seoul in March 2015. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and his Japanese and Chinese counterparts, Fumio Kishida and Wang Yi, attended the gathering. At a joint press conference held after the meeting, Kishida told reporters that the three confirmed that they will lead the international response, including resolutions on the U.N. Security Council level, against the North's continued provocations. They also agreed that the North's latest missile test-fire is a provocation that cannot be tolerated. The North fired off a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from waters near the port city of Sinpo at around 5:30 a.m., according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff. The missile flew about 500 kilometers and fell into waters under Japan's air defense identification zone. Experts see the launch as an improvement and success compared with previous SLBM launches. South Korea's government issued a statement, in which it warned that North Korea's obsession with nuclear weapons development will only hasten the country's self-destruction. (Yonhap) North Korea created a "nuclear backpack" military unit in March, according to Radio Free Asia. / Yonhap By Lee Jin-a, Park Si-soo North Korea's military is said to have established a "nuclear backpack" corps whose members are trained to infiltrate South Korea to detonate a nuclear bomb. Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported the corps' establishment on Wednesday, citing unidentified sources in North Hamgyong Province. Details of the unit are unknown and the credibility of sources is questionable. But what if the corps does exist? That means the North's nuclear weapons technology has advanced to where it can reduce the size of a nuclear bomb to that of a backpack. A miniaturized nuclear weapon could be carried by ground soldiers or loaded onto a long-range missile, which would pose a grave security threat to South Korea and its allies, including the United States. The South Korean government does not believe the North's nuclear technology has advanced to that level yet. RFA said the corps' members did not know what the nuclear backpack looks like. "They receive training with three types of fake bombs," RFA quoted an unidentified source. "The regime is telling the soldiers that backpacks are not designed to detonate nuclear bombs, but to spread radioactive substances over a wide area." In October, the North showed soldiers wearing backpacks bearing the radiation symbol during a military parade celebrating the 70th anniversary of the North's Workers' Party. Similar backpacks were seen during a military parade in 2013. Big holes in Trumpian military minimalism It's not just Donald Trump who talks about South Korea, Japan and Europe being freeloaders on billions of dollars of U.S. taxpayer money spent on protecting them. Now the U.S. Republican presidential nominee's isolation bug is being regurgitated into the U.S. Congress, one notable member pushing for a reduction of the U.S. military commitment to helping South Korea deter North Korea. Of course, the logic behind the latest claim, made by the House Armed Services Committee chairman, Rep. Mac Thornberry, is filled with elements of solipsism and cognitive dissonance. Still, it very much reflects a growing trend for the U.S. military to resort to minimalism in the age of a budgetary cliff and fatigue from long wars in the Middle East. Korea needs to adjust itself to this trend that is possible to prevail in the U.S. groupthink irrespective of whether Trump or Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton wins in November. The Republican committee chairman sings the same song as Trump. In his contribution to the magazine Foreign Affairs, Thornberry promotes an increase in Korea's ground forces, which, on the flip side, means a reduction in U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), when taken in the context of his assertion for more focus on fighting Islamic fundamentalism. He favors tightening sanctions against the North as the solution to its growing nuclear and missile threat. He signs on the Trumpian conclusion that Korea pays too little for its size twice the population of the North and with an economy 10 times the size of its adversary. Regarding his call for downsizing the military, it should be noted that the 2nd Infantry Division, the mainstay of USFK, is emasculated to the point that further downsizing will seriously weaken its war-stopping capabilities. It has three brigades in Korea, with two mobile Stryker units on standby in the U.S. Meanwhile, the current level of ROK troops at 510,000 can't be sustained because the nation's population of eligible males is decreasing and the popular belief here that Seoul takes on a fair share of the costs for having GIs. These factors appear hard to reconcile. Unless the two countries find a midway solution, it would mean a challenge to their alliance compromising their readiness against the North and causing a fissure in the U.S. containment policy of China. For Seoul and Washington, it is worthy of note that when U.S. troops were pulled out of the South, it resulted in the 1950-1953 Korean War, which ended in a 60-year stalemate at a huge tab for Korea and the U.S., with the balance of power still a toss-up. For certain, Thornberry wouldn't want to be Dean Acheson, the secretary of state who was as responsible as anybody for the outbreak of the war that killed and maimed 2 million people. Among them were about 34,000 U.S. soldiers killed in action. Thornberry's sanctions-only approach is also shortsighted as it would be a continuation of the Obama administration's "strategic patience," a.k.a do-nothing policy. During Obama's eight years so far, three out of the North's four nuclear tests have taken place, along with numerous long-range missile tests. Now, the North is seen as being close to hurling a miniaturized nuclear warhead on a reliable delivery system at U.S. territory. Obviously, the sanctions alone don't work. The concept of Thornberry's suggestion is understandable under constrained resources but may prove to be the case of penny wise, pound foolish. After all, it runs the risk of alienating the allies and puts the U.S. global policy on a wobbly path unless the U.S. wants to follow Trump's lead and walk into the cave. By Yoon Sung-won LG Electronics will collaborate with Danish premium audio business Bang & Olufsen (B&O) for its new "V20" smartphone. The electronics company has previously worked with B&O to develop a portable digital-to-analog converter (DAC) module, "LG Hi-Fi Plus," for its flagship G5 smartphone. Wednesday's announcement came as LG is expanding partnerships with globally renowned audio makers such as B&O and Harman Group to strengthen the image of its brand as a provider of premium audio experiences. "Customers are increasingly demanding high standards on smartphone audio functions," LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company President Cho Juno said. "V20 will be a product that provides the best audio experience." Under the partnership, LG Electronics will work with the Danish company's sub-brand unit, B&O Play, to develop sound technologies and devices. While B&O has established a solid reputation for luxury audio devices and systems, B&O Play provides relatively smaller, portable devices for the younger generation. The two businesses will also jointly develop and bundle earphones for the V20, from design to tuning, LG Electronics said. "We believe that this collaboration will be a good opportunity to incorporate acoustic technologies and design expertise that B&O has accumulated over the last 90 years into the V20," B&O Play CEO Henrik Taudorf Lorensen said. Samsung Display Liquid Crystal Display Business Division Executive Vice President Han Gab-soo, ninth from right, poses with chief executives of the Curved Alliance's member enterprises during the Curved Forum at the China World Hotel in Beijing, Tuesday. / Courtesy of Samsung Display By Yoon Sung-won Samsung Display said Wednesday it has established an alliance with China's major TV and monitor makers including Hisense and TCL. The display manufacturing affiliate of Samsung Group said members of the alliance will join hands in expanding their curved display product lineup and boost the curved product market through continuous research and development. "Samsung's curved display products have offered a completely new option with differentiated technology and design," Samsung Display Liquid Crystal Display Business Division Executive Vice President Han Gab-soo said in a statement. "Through continuous research and development and aggressive expansion of the product lineup of global TV makers, curved displays will be a new driving force for the stagnant display market." Samsung Display said it hosted the Curved Forum with China Electronics Chamber of Commerce in Beijing, Tuesday, inviting more than 200 officials from global TV and monitor makers, government agencies, retailers and academic institutions. The Curved Alliance had its launching ceremony during the forum. Top TV brands and monitor manufacturers including Samsung Electronics, Hisense, TCL, Changhong, Xiaomi and LeTV have joined the alliance. Samsung Display also announced its curved display market strategy and vision, and the China Electronics Standardization Institute (CESI) released an evaluation of display products. The company said it has received quality verification by the CESI for the contrast, brightness and anti-image distortion of its display panels. "Chinese consumers are increasing their demand for premium products," China Electronics Chamber of Commerce Deputy Secretary General Lu Ren bo said. "We expect an explosive increase in curved TV demand in the Chinese market in the latter half of this year, as major Chinese TV makers are adopting curved TVs in their premium product lineups. We also believe that this year will set a milestone in the growth of curved TV and monitor markets." Meanwhile, according to a Chinese market researcher CMM, curved TV sales in China will reach 2.3 million this year and increase to 4 million by next year. On the back of the solid popularity of computer online games, about 2 million curved monitors are likely to be sold in the country, and that will grow to 5 million next year. By Lee Min-hyung The government has postponed making a final decision on whether to approve of Google's demand to host the nation's map data abroad. A special committee led by the National Geographic Information Institute (NGII) said late Wednesday that it had delayed the decision for another two months, as the request should be reviewed more comprehensively due to the sizable impacts that will ensue from its aftermath. "We decided to conduct further talks with Google over potential impacts that the issue will bring in such areas as national security and other industries," NGII CEO Choi Byung-nam said. This will allows the committee to finalize its decision, no later than Nov. 23. The controversy started on Jun. 1 when the U.S.-based search giant requested the NGII to approve the plan to host local geographic data abroad. On Jun. 22, the committee held its first round of discussions to analyze the pros and cons over possible side effects. Those in favor of the plan claimed the government should approve it, citing the need to maintain a close political and economic rapport with the U.S. The opposing sides have urged the government to disallow the request, citing national security and reverse discrimination against local companies. This is the second time in six years that the firm has sought government approval over the same issue. In 2010, the government disapproved of the Google bid. -- Dan Nosowitz, in "Is There a Place in America Where People Speak Without Accents?," for Atlas Obscura But the concept persists: we believe that, for example, newscasters, maybe some actors, and certainly some people, somewhere, speak an unaccented variety of American English. For instance, when Stephen Colbert explained his vocal patterns to 60 Minutes, he said: "At a very young age, I decided I was not gonna have a Southern accent. Because people, when I was a kid watching TV, if you wanted to use a shorthand that someone was stupid, you gave the character a Southern accent. And that's not true. Southern people are not stupid. But I didn't wanna seem stupid. I wanted to seem smart. And so I thought, 'Well, you can't tell where newsmen are from." The name of this accentless accent varies; sometimes its called Standard American, or Broadcast English, or Network English, or, as it was created by two independent linguists in the 1920s and 1930s, General American. It is a neutral accent, one without distinguishing features. But where does General American come from? Is there a place where people, young and old, speak like newscasters? The field of American linguistics advanced very quickly in the mid-20th century, and by 1950 numerous studies were released that found that even within Northeastern Ohio, there were multiple distinctive accents and dialects, and that certainly Kenyons rules for General American did not apply to the vast part of the country he claimed. The Northern Cities Vowel Shift work further combusted any idea that General American described the way people talk in the Midwest. the search for an accent-less accent is more about our own perception and lack of understanding of linguistics than any objective, observable pattern. In other words, we are hearing what we want to hear, not what people are actually saying. # Though Howie and I go back together to the ninth grade at the James Maddison High School annex, we go back together only that far, because I'm not a native New Yorker. When we moved here in 1961, many of the Brooklynites I now lived among were puzzled by my accent, which had been concocted through seven years in my native Baltimore and five years in the Midwest bastion of Milwaukee, where the kids I went to school with made fun of my "Southern accent." In Brooklyn especially, having what might be called "Midwestern speech" was interesting, because as I came to learn, Midwestern speech is the basis for what had come to be known as "General American" speech -- the sort of thing favored by the people who hired newscasters and other on-air personalities they hoped would sound "un-accented."Only now it turns out that "General American" speech was itself mythologicall Oh, it might have described a cauldron of speech patterns, among which the "General American" speakers may well have tended to employ a few. But it doesn't seem likely that there was ever anywhere where the locals generally spoke "General American," and even in the areas where it was thought to be spoken, it isn't anymore -- there have been major shifts in the speech patterns of the whole presumed-"General American" belt since John Kenyon "laid out some linguistic and geographical guidelines for General American," which he claimed was spoken by 90 million Americans, in his 1930 book, American Pronunciation, as Dan Nosowitz reports for Atlas Obscura in a piece called, " Is There a Place in America Where People Speak Without Accents? Dan draws inspiration and courage in debunking the whole concept of General American from Oklahoma State University dialectologist and sociolinguist Dennis Preston, who says, "General American doesn't exist. He was demoted to private or sergeant a long, long time ago."I expect it won't surprise you to learn that, while Dan has an answer of sorts for the first question, his answer to the second is a resounding "no." It turns out that John Kenyon's General American was based on the speech he tended to hear from the speakers he was most familiar with growing up in Northeastern Ohio. It seems most unlikely that even then it was the "standard" speech of the area, and as noted above, since Kenyon's time, "The entire vowel system of the parts of the country along the Great Lakes, stretching from New York cities like Rochester and Buffalo straight through to Chicago and Detroit, began to dramatically change," in what came to be known to linguists as the "Northern Cities Vowel Shift."You can check out for yourself some of the specifics, but the key point is that, "within the linguistic community, the idea that General American had any relation to any actual geographical place was quickly destroyed."In this more sophisticated understanding of American "accents," researchers like Dennis Preston have concluded that Americans (a) mostly think they themselves don't have an accent, except for some specific regions like the South, in part because (b) Americans are pretty terrible at recognizing accents, their own or anybody else's. Ironically, for example, "Midwesterners tend to not actually hear the very things that distinguish them to the rest of the country." Again, go to the source for some description of the kinds of things Dan is talking about, including some video clips of broadcasters speaking anything like a standardized "accentless" American.One thing broadcasters frequentlydo, though, is to enunciate with great care, which apparently is easily mistaken as "accentless" speech by hearers who aren't good to begin with at recognizing most American accents, which Dan assures us do exist, in every locality in the country. In the end, he says,Hmm. "We are hearing what we want to hear, not what people are actually saying." Nothing surprising about, is there? Labels: American values, language, Stephen Colbert Jeremy Corbyn rushed to hospital with multiple stab wounds in back must jump on board and back her (or him). But when progressives win primaries-- as, for example, We've been writing for some time now about how the Democratic Party establishment sees "party unity" as a one way street. When someone from the corrupt-conservative wing of the party wins a primary-- or steals a win-- progressivesjump on board and back her (or him). But when progressives win primaries-- as, for example, Mary Ellen Balchunis (PA-07), Tom Wakely (TX-21), Mary Hoeft (WI-07) all did-- the establishment abandons them or even works to crush them and aid the Republicans. used to be a progressive herself, but that was many years ago and has virtually nothing to do with the crass partisan hack she has willfully morphed into in recent years.) It should come as no surprise that these tactics employed by the Democratic Establishment here, are also being employed by the Labour Party establishment in Britain, where the Conservative wing of the Labour Party is attempting to annihilate progressives in general and Jeremy Corbyn in particular. Writing over the weekend for The Telegraph, Kate McCann In fact, Blue America just started a new ActBlue page (on the right), dedicated to progressive candidates in winnable districts who the DCCC has refused to help against the GOP. Many grassroots Democrats can't cope with the very concept that Pelosi and her henchmen, while begging for money to "help take back Congress," are sabotaging that very effort by trying to stamp out legitimate progressive candidates in tough races. (Yes, Pelosia progressive herself, but that was many years ago and has virtuallyto do with the crass partisan hack she has willfully morphed into in recent years.) It should come as no surprise that these tactics employed by the Democratic Establishment here, are also being employed by the Labour Party establishment in Britain, where the Conservative wing of the Labour Party is attempting to annihilate progressives in general and Jeremy Corbyn in particular. Writing over the weekend for, Kate McCann exposed their shenanigans. So called "centrists" are moving to expel thousands of Corbyn supporters in the run-up to a party leadership election in late September, smearing them as "anti-Semites" and conspiring with the Conservative Party to annihilate Labour in an early election. Almost 6,000 people have been reported to the partys National Executive Committee as part of a new initiative introduced in mid-July to curb threats and poor behaviour. It came as Tory MP Andrew Bridgen revealed he had been approached by Labour MPs as part of an attempt to secure an early general election to get rid of Jeremy Corbyn as the partys leadership contest continues. Mr Bridgen said he has been approached by three Labour MPs in Westminster who have asked for him to continue his bid for a nationwide vote in order to oust Mr Corbyn. The MP claims that the Labour members warned the only way to rid the party of Mr Corbyn would be for Labour to be wiped out at a general election and prove his unpopularity with the public. One senior Labour source told The Telegraph: The sad truth is the Labour Party is no longer a safe space for women and Jews. Party members who receive a daily barrage of disgusting abuse deserve better than for Jeremy Corbyn to attempt to downplay it or tell them to simply ignore it. It follows an appeal by Labour supporters who were banned from voting in the partys leadership election, which was later overturned by the High Court. The decision means that 130,000 people will be barred from voting in a decision thought likely to hit Mr Corbyn hardest, as many of his supporters are not party members but activists. Come on, you didn't think for one minute that self-serving careerist slime like Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Steve Israel, Ben Ray Lujan, Steny Hoyer and Rahm Emanuel only exist in America, did you? This kind of back-stabbing was, after all, invented in the United Kingdom, right? Slimy Democratic Party bosses Hoyer and Wasserman Schultz Bonus For Americans Who Don't Want To Read About The Foreigners: A Moral Test Are you as moral as you think you are? This test only has one question, but it's a very important one. By giving an honest answer, you will discover where you stand morally. The test features an unlikely, completely fictional situation in which you will have to make a decision. Only you will know the results, so remember that your answer needs to be honest. THE SITUATION: You are in Florida, Miami to be specific. There is chaos all around you caused by a hurricane with severe flooding. This is a flood of biblical proportions. You are a photojournalist working for a major newspaper, and you're caught in the middle of this epic disaster. The situation is nearly hopeless. You're trying to shoot career-making photos. There are houses and people swirling around you, some disappearing under the water. THE TEST: Suddenly you see a man in the water. He is fighting for his life, trying not to be taken down with the debris. You move closer. Somehow the man looks familiar. You suddenly realize who it is. It's Donald Trump! At the same time you notice that the raging waters are about to take him under forever. YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS: You can save the life of Donald Trump or you can shoot a dramatic Pulitzer Prize winning photo, documenting the death of one of the world's most powerful Republican men hell bent on the destruction of America. THE QUESTION: Here's the question, and please give an honest answer. "Would you select high contrast color film, or would you go with the classic simplicity of black and white?" North Korea has fired a submarine-based ballistic missile off the coast of South Korea leaving the two countries on a war alert. The incident comes as Pyongyang ramps up military tensions between North and South with a series of armed provocations over the past 12 months. The latest missile launch, in the Sea of Japan, was announced by South Koreas Yonhap news agency. North Korea appeared to resume activities this year aimed at producing plutonium which can be used in the core of an atomic bomb the U.N. nuclear watchdog has confirmed, although it added that signs of those activities stopped last month. The North has even threatened to turn the US and South Korean armies into a heap of ashes after they were spotted performing joint military exercises. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates The Olympics are over and the athletes have arrived home. Soon, for the great majority of us, our holidays will be as well. Coming up is the last weekend that the Indian Chief, Smart Bison is going to tell us not to travel on Saturday because of traffic jams and declare the day black. All this code, that helps us in our holiday travel, was put together and launched 40 years ago in August 1976. The Bison Fute programme originated from the word Bis which means secondary. You can have a 12 bis instead of 13 (see "Triskaidekaphobia" 11\05) and France put into place a series of green traffic signs indicating alternate routes, to avoid bottlenecks, with the word "Bis" on them. They were particularly useful when the motorway infrastructure was a lot less wide-spread, but now serve little purpose and have been virtually phased out to be replaced by the "Chief's" departure time advice on National television and radio. Black, red, orange and green describe traffic fluidity and are a forewarning to avoid the hundreds of kilometres of frustrating wait in the hot weather conditions at this time of the year. "Red sky at night, shepherd's delight. Red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning." This was one of the first little phrases I taught my daughter when she was young but it does have a great degree of truth. I watched the sky 2 nights ago and there was a beautiful red hue on the horizon as the sun finally went down. Sure enough the next day it was scorchingly hot and from what the news tells us it will be that way for the short foreseeable future. There is going to be a heat-wave. Official criteria are at least 3 days and nights with temperatures not falling below 20 at night and over 35 in the day time. We must keep ourselves hydrated, cool and if possible keep an eye out on neighbours that are vulnerable to heat exhaustion. It looks as though the good weather may last throughout September. This is called an Indian Summer . It would appear that the expression was coined in North America to describe a time when thenative Americans hunted the animals that had spent the Summer grazing and were at their best, all of this to prepare for Winter to come. It was a mild and favourable moment, conducive to good hunting that came after a short cold period at the start of the Autumn. Restaurants, hotels and camping staff should be thanked As we pass these last days of our Summer comfortably, I would like to take a moment to think of those that have made our holidays possible. People that we often take for granted. Restaurant, hotel and camping staff that have kept us duly occupied. Our services. The police who have kept our roads and towns safe, the hospital staff that have treated our injuries or illnesses and the firemen that have fought the fires in our countrysides. Thank you for duty and have a good holiday. Vietnam is forecast to see more growth in the five star hotel and resort segment. Hanoi's hotel occupancy rate reached 75 percent in June, the highest figure in five years thanks to growing international tourist arrivals. The capital's hospitality and tourism market welcomed 21 percent more tourists in the first six months of 2016, according to a hospitality market review issued by the Vietnam office of global commercial real estate firm CBRE. The reports shows that hotel occupancy rates as of June 30 rose by 65 percent in Ho Chi Minh City and 75 percent in Hanoi compared to last year. The rate in Hanoi was the highest in the last five years, rubbing shoulders with Bangkok for the top position in Southeast Asia. Hanoi's luxury hotels enticed a large number of international tourists in the first half of 2016. Photo courtesy of igh.com CBRE said that Vietnams hospitality and tourism market is likely to grow thanks to more international recognition and policies to improve safety and services. Visa exemptions have also contributed to the growing number of of international tourists visiting Vietnam. Since 2015, Vietnam has waived visas of up to 15 days for tourists from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain and Italy from July. Ho Chi Minh City received 2.1 million visitors in the first six months, rising 13.5 percent compared to the same period last year, while Hanoi welcomed a rise of 39.3 percent. The coastal resort town of Nha Trang also witnessed an on-year increase of 39 percent in the first half. Some of the world's top hotel chains such as AccorHotels Group, InterContinental Hotels Group PLC and Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide have already established themselves in Vietnam, while others such as Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn and the Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts also plan to penetrate the local market. Strong investment in coastal areas like Da Nang, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc by local firms such as Vingroup, Sun Group and MIK has also attracted visitors. CBRE Vietnam forecasts that Vietnam will see more growth in the five star hotel and resort segment thanks to increasingly high demand for business trips and conferences. Related news > Vietnamese real estate group opens five-star hotel complex in Myanmar > Six-star Thai hotel splashes out $1.2 million on Vietnamese furniture > Ho Chi Minh City hotel market suffers from expansion The price of LITRO gas cylinders would be further reduced in the first week of November in accordance with the Read more The SLFP does not condone the continuation of the Emergency Regulations (The Public Security Ordinance) more than a day necessary Read more Why is Vietnam paying double the global price for sugar? Vietnam has about 400,000 tons of sugar stockpiled, but the price remains fixed fairly high, hurting consumers as well as enterprises who need sugar for manufacturing. Data from the Vietnam Sugarcane and Sugar Association revealed that the country has 416,000 tons of stockpiled sugar, coupled with an import quota of 185,000 tons for this year. This could result in a 200,000 ton surplus, not to mention another 200,000 tons imported illegally from neighboring countries like Laos and Cambodia. Though sugar supplies are plentiful, prices on the domestic market are continuing to rise. A kilogram of sugar was priced at VND15,000 ($0.7) in April, but that figure has jumped 33 percent to some VND20,000 ($0.9) at present. The price of Vietnamese sugar is almost double that in Thailand ($0.5 per kilogram) and more than double the price of the global market ($0.4 per kilogram). Nguyen Van Loc, the director of Loc Hang Trading Consultant Company, attributed the growth in sugar prices to decreasing output caused by the prolonged drought. He said that many sugar processors have raised purchasing prices of sugarcane to encourage farmers to improve their produce. As a result, these processors added on this adjustment to compensate for higher production costs. However, economists said that the problem mainly comes from sugar traders, who are keeping sugar in stock to wait for further price hikes. In response to the situation, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has sent a proposal to the Prime Minister, asking for an additional 200,000 tons of sugar imports to bring down sugar prices. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc approved the plan to import 100,000 tons of sugar in addition to the quota of 85,000 tons under the country's commitment to the World Trade Organization. But neither of the two quotas have been reached so far this year. Vietnam has about 280,000 hectares (692,000 acres) of sugarcane plantations this year, producing some 18 million tons of raw materials, down eight percent against last year. Plantations in the Mekong Delta have shrunk by 20-30 percent due to the historic drought and saltwater intrusion. Related news: > Drought struck Vietnam to import 100,000 tons of sugar > Anti-smuggling forces likely to own confiscated illegal sugar PRESS RELEASE Financiers Scrambling over Imminent Derivatives Blow-Out Aug. 23, 2016 (EIRNS)Wall Streets Bloomberg news service admitted on Monday that the financiers are desperately trying to "unwind" or dump onto somebody else the so-called "Level 3" assets claimed on the books of the casino banks. Bloomberg named three European giant banks, Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse, and Barclays, as their greatest concern, which claimed to have $102.5 billion of these financial derivatives on their books at the end of June. Thats "more than half their combined shareholders equity," Bloomberg wrote. "Level 3" assets are financial derivatives to which the banks assign whatever value its officers choose, because the derivatives have no "market" valuation, since no one is willing to buy them. It is an open secret that, in the current breakdown of the system, "Level 3" assets have become totally "illiquid," that is, worthless, because there is no one who could, or would, buy them. (Except, apparently, Citigroup, which bought a portfolio of credit-default swaps from Credit Suisse recently!) In an interview with Bloomberg TV on Monday, Royal Bank of Scotland chairman Howard Davies acknowledged that so-called Level 3s "are hard to unwind... Its not that they are not performing," he lied, "but if a bank needs more capital, they are impossible to realize, as there just isnt a ready market for them." He spoke of how some credit default swaps and interest-rate "hedging products" classified as Level 3 have maturities of as much as 30 years and structures that make them "very, very difficult to exit." New shocks to the derivatives bubble are projected from the Sept. 1 deadline for the big casino banks to meet new collateral requirements and other regulations on derivatives, imposed by the United States and Japan in a futile effort to make "more secure" the over-the-counter derivatives market which the bankers estimate at no less than $493 trillion globally. The new rules were supposed to be imposed also by the European Union, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia, but those nations extended the deadlines, from fear of the results. PRESS RELEASE Russian Thinktank Head: Russia and China Must Get the U.S. On Board for the Needed New Financial Order Aug. 23, 2016 (EIRNS)"Russia and China should work together within the G20 framework to secure a new international financial order," and, hard though it may be, we must get United States to come along, too, Andrey Kortunov, Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), told Xinhua today. Kortunov does not speak as a thinktanker commenting from the sidelines. Xinhua describes the RIAC as "a Moscow-based foreign policy think tank close to the Russian Foreign Ministry." Indeed, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov chairs the Board of Trustees of this "academic and diplomatic think tank" established in 2010 pursuant to a presidential decree, to "operate as a link between the state, scholarly community, business, and civil society in an effort to find foreign policy solutions to complex conflict issues," according to RIACs own account. Kortunov told Xinhua that the international financial and economic system must be upgraded, because "the longer those reforms are postponed, the higher the risk of new crises and instability is in the world economy." Thus, the importance of Chinas initiatives to create new financial and economic institutions, such as the AIIB, in which Russia will be an active participant, he said. Kortunov also noted that the G20 came into being in 1999 out of recognition of the need for "a more representative and more democratic mechanism, including China, India and other non-Western states." Then the key section: PRESS RELEASE Campaign Escalates to Block Obamas New Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia Aug. 23, 2016 (EIRNS)California Congressman Ted Lieu, a colonel in the Air Force Reserves, along with CodePink and other activists, are leading an "eleventh-hour" mobilization to block the unconscionable $1.15 billon arms sale to Saudi Arabia to feed Saudis genocidal war against Yemen, which President Obamas regime announced on Aug. 9right when Congress was out of session. Congress has a 30-day period after that announcement to block the sale, but it doesnt return to session until Sept. 5. "I taught the law of war when I was on active duty," Rep. Lieu told The Intercept yesterday. "You cant kill children, newlyweds, doctors and patientsthose are exempt targets under the law of war, and the coalition has been repeatedly striking civilians," he said. "So it is very disturbing to me. It is even worse that the U.S. is aiding this coalition.... By assisting Saudi Arabia, the United States is aiding and abetting what appears to be war crimes in Yemen. The administration must stop enabling this madness now." Democrat Lieu is the co-sponsor, along with Rep. Ted Yoho (R-Fl), Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), and Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.), of H.J.Res. 90, a bill that would bar the transfer of air-to-ground munitions from the United States to Saudi Arabia. The Common Dreams website reported today that those four congressmen will be sending a letter on Thursday to the Obama administration, calling for a delay in the sale, citing the latest bombings of hospitals, schools, and residential areas in Yemen by the Saudi-led coalition. Codepink, the Yemen Peace Project, RootsAction.org, and other activists are circulating a petition calling for other Congressional Representatives to sign on to the bill, according to Common Dreams. A companion bill, S.J. Res. 32, was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Rand Paul( R-Ky.). CodePink head Medea Benjamin has folded the campaign for Congress to block the sale into her national tour to promote her new book exposing Saudi Arabia, titled "Kingdom of the Unjust: Behind the U.S-Saudi Connection." Benjamins op-ed was published in The Hill on August 19, titled "Congress Must Take Action to Block Weapon Sales to Saudi Arabia," which is now being published by other media. She calls it "a moral imperative" that Congress block the sale, given that the Saudi agression against Yemenwhich has led to more than 3,000 civilian deaths and left more than 21 million people in need of humanitarian assistance by its destruction of infrastructurecould not be carried out without U.S. This, when the Saudi role in 9/11 has just been exposed in the declassified "28 pages," she writes. The Donald Trump campaign spent more than $50,000 to buy copies of the candidates most recent book, an Federal Election Commission filing shows. The Daily Beast reports that the Trump campaign spent $55,055 at Barnes & Noble on Trumps book on May 10. The bulk purchase was of Trumps latest book, which is titled Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again in hardcover and Great Again: How to Fix Our Crippled America in paperback, matching the Trump campaigns slogan. A spokesperson for the Republican nominee told the Daily Beast the books were purchased as part of gifting at the convention, which we have to do. Advertisement Delegates to the Republican Convention were given canvas tote bags, according to the Daily Beast, stamped with the Trump slogan, and filled with copies of Crippled America, as well as Kleenex and Make America Great Again! cups, hats, and T-shirts. Delegates were also given plastic fetus figurines. The bulk purchase is hardly the first by a political candidate or campaign, but it could be illegal if Trump received any royalties from the sale. Paul S. Ryan, the FEC program director and associate legal counsel for the watchdog group the Campaign Legal Center (and no relation to the house speaker from Wisconsin), told the Daily Beast that Trump is not allowed to receive royalties from the purchase. It may be the case for a candidate to instead donate those royalties to charity that might be a permissible arrangement, he said. But the bottom line is, no money of this $55,000 from the book can end up in Donald Trumps pocket without violating federal law. Indeed, the FEC approved a 2014 bulk purchase made by House Speaker Paul D. Ryans campaign of his book The Way Forward: Renewing the American Idea because the royalties went to a section 501(c)(3) charitable organization that is not associated with Rep. Ryan or his family. Similar decisions were made for then-Sens. Joe Lieberman in 2004 and Arlen Specter in 2001. Trumps bulk purchase could also be seen as an attempt to game the bestseller lists, although the publishers of those lists typically adjust for bulk purchases and dont count large buys from Amazon or the books publishers. This doesnt always work, however. In 2012, two business authors used a marketing firm to make bulk purchases of their books, and both ended up on the Wall Street Journals bestseller list, albeit only briefly. In 2011, Republican presidential candidate Herman Cains book This Is Herman Cain!: My Journey To The White House reached #4 on the New York Times bestseller list the week it was released. That year, Herman Cains campaign paid more than $36,000 for copies of it and another book he had written via a company he owns, T.H.E. New Voice. A book controversy over book purchases once led to the downfall of a politician: House Speaker Jim Wright, the Texas Democrat who resigned his post in 1989. Wright had written a book called Reflections of a Public Man and asked groups to whom he would give speeches to compensate him by purchasing copies of the book in bulk in an attempt to get around legally mandated caps on speaking fees. Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton brought down the hammer on drug makers last week, promising to take on drug companies that charge Americans the highest prices in the world for drugs developed in part with government funds. Your tax dollars helped support the research that is used to create those drugs in the first place, she told an audience in Cleveland on Aug. 17. Your tax dollars support the Food and Drug Administration that tests those drugs to determine whether or not they are safe and effective to be able to go to market. And then we end up in America paying the highest price for those drugs that we have helped to create. We have got to take this on. That just raises the question: What could she do as president? And could she do it by herself, without congressional approval? Advertisement The answer may well be yes. Your tax dollars helped support the research that is used to create those drugs in the first place. Hillary Clinton, August 17 Clinton specifically mentioned Gilead Sciences and its hepatitis C drug, which is marketed under the names Sovaldi and Harvoni at list prices of $80,000 to nearly $100,000 for a 12-week cure. So thats a good place to start. The bedrock question is whether taxpayer funds were used to develop the drugs. Although the money trail is a bit murky, the answer is almost certainly yes. The scientists who developed the drugs got millions of dollars in grants for research exactly along the lines of the approach that was the source of Sovaldi, says Peter Arno, director of health policy research at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. And does that give the government some say in pricing and consumer access to the drugs? The answer to that is also almost certainly yes. Lets look at the record. Sovaldi and Harvoni are the nearest thing we have to wonder cures. Theyre more than 90% effective in clearing the hepatitis C virus from the body, with minimal side effects. That makes them a vast improvement over the prior treatment based on interferon, which caused horrific side effects and wasnt nearly as effective. But the Gilead drugs are so expensive that theyve become a burden on patients, insurers and public programs alike. The most recent data released by the government show that Medicare spent more on Sovaldi in 2014 than any other drug--$3.1 billion, or 2.6% of all drug spendingdespite its accounting for only 7,300 prescriptions, or .009% of the total. The price of Sovaldi and Harvoni has nothing to do with the cost of research and development or manufacture, but rather the calculation by Gileads executives of what the market would bear. According to a report last year from the Senate Finance Committee, the Foster City company calculated how much it could charge for the drug before the loss of patients who couldnt afford it outweighed the higher profits they would pocket per pill. Gilead didnt put any of its own money into the R&D for the drugs. That was done by a Georgia company named Pharmasset, which Gilead bought in 2011 for $11 billion, largely to secure rights to the hepatitis C drugs. Pharmasset was founded by two Emory University scientists, Raymond F. Schinazi and Dennis C. Liotta, in 1998, to work on drugs for HIV and hepatitis, among other projects. Between 1998 and 2006, Schinazi, Liotta, and Pharmasset received roughly $6.7 million in research funding from the National Institutes of Health. How much of that sum went into the research that eventually yielded Sovaldi? Heres where the trail becomes murky. Schinazi and Liotta both denied by email that federal grants contributed to the development of Sovaldi. Schinazi said that he applied for NIH grants for hepatitis C research, but all the grants I submitted were rejected by the peer review system at NIH and in any case they had nothing to do with Sovaldi or its precursors. Liotta emailed that none of the research done in my lab was related to the research that was carried out at Pharmasset in the 2001-2005 timeframe. Schinazi, whose stake in Pharmasset became worth more than $400 million when it was acquired by Gilead, said he used his own personal funds to start the company. (Liotta was a smaller shareholder.) We took a huge risk and it paid off, Schinazi wrote. Pharmasset found a cure for HCV [Hepatitis C virus]. Yet NIH records show that of more than $2.1 million in grants to Pharmasset from 2000 through 2006, at least some was devoted to research on hepatitis C. (NIH records of four such grants can be found here.) It may be impossible to say that any of those research projects ended up directly creating Sovaldi, but it also may be hard to show that they didnt. Money is fungible: A federal dollar that went into even a failed research project freed up money from another source that may have gone into a successful experiment. And even a failed project on hepatitis C treatment could have yielded data that helped guide ultimately successful research. That brings us to the governments rights to manage the cost of Sovaldi/Harvoni. The instrument at hand is the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980, which governs patent and licensing rights stemming from federally funded research and development. Bayh-Dole, named after its sponsors, the late Sen. Birch Bayh (D-Ind.) and former Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kan.), aimed to give private companies and their investors clarity about their duties to government patrons. The idea was to clear the way for more private investment. As Arno observes, the law mandates that any drug invented wholly or in part with federal funds must be made available to the public on reasonable terms. If not, the government gets march-in rights allowing it to require that the drug be licensed to other manufacturers, or to offer a license itself to alternative drug-makers to ensure that the drug is widely accessible. There long has been confusion about how to define reasonable terms. Bayh and Dole maintained (in a 2002 letter responding to a Washington Post op-ed co-authored by Arno) that it had nothing to do with the pricing...or the profitability of a company that commercialized a product developed with government support. Rather, the march-in right was aimed at cases where a company hadnt commercialized the product at all. But Arno replies that the law Bayh and Dole wrote went further than they acknowledged. The real problem, he maintains, is the governments aversion to using its own authority. The government hasnt wanted to march in, he told me, observing that to date there hasnt been a single such case. That long time-out may soon come to an end, he suggested: Times are changing and public pressure is rising. The Bayh-Dole rights obviously would give a Clinton administration the path to force Gilead into marketing Sovaldi and Harvoni at more reasonable termsas they would in any other case involving government-supported drug research. Considering how much drug R&D is supported by public funds, thats potentially a broadly effective policy course. Clinton hasnt said she would follow this specific course as president. (Donald Trump, her Republican opponent, hasnt made an issue of drug prices thus farat least theres no mention of the issue on his campaign website.) The options she mentions in her policy brief for exploiting the governments role in drug R&D are more general: Requiring companies that receive government funding to invest a sufficient amount of their revenue in R&D, or be required to pay rebates to support basic research. She doesnt cite Bayh-Dole, and those policy steps wouldnt be effective in forcing down prices on any specific drug. Plainly, a Bayh-Dole march-in case wouldnt be cut and dried. A target company would surely fight, claiming that its government funding didnt apply to the drug in questionas Schinazi asserts or by arguing that its price was reasonable enough. But this is a tool the government hasnt yet tried, and its time it did. Keep up to date with Michael Hiltzik. Follow @hiltzikm on Twitter, see his Facebook page, or email michael.hiltzik@latimes.com. Return to Michael Hiltziks blog. State energy agencies say conservation and other strategies should help Southern California avoid energy shortages during the winter amid low supplies at the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage plant. That forecast stands in sharp contrast to the fears raised in the spring about possible rolling blackouts for as many as 14 days this summer and the potential for pilot lights to go cold in the winter without Aliso Canyon. So far knock on wood weve gotten through, said Robert Weisenmiller, chairman of the California Energy commission. Still he warned: Were not out of the woodwork yet. Advertisement During winter, homes and small businesses increase their natural gas use for space and water heating compared to summer when consumption by power plants soars. If typical weather patterns hold this winter in Southern California, there is no threat to energy supply from Nov. 1 through March 31, according to a 61-page report released late Monday by the California Energy Commission, the California Public Utilities Commission, the California Independent System Operator and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. The states assessment found that while risks to energy infrastructure still exist due to the uncertainty of weather and system conditions without Aliso Canyon, conservation and other mitigation measures are expected to help meet the energy needs of Southern California this winter, the report said. But widespread cold and dry weather could require Southern California Gas Co., which owns and operates Aliso Canyon, to increase natural gas withdrawals from some of its other storage facilities. More severe cold weather could require reductions in natural gas supply to electric generators or even consumers. The energy agencies still argue that full use of Aliso Canyon is the best way to avoid energy shortages if winter weather proves unusually cold, or Southern California could fall under another threat of reductions in energy supply. Critics of Southern California Gas, a subsidiary of Sempra Energy, and the state energy agencies argue that better management of the natural gas system would avoid the need for Aliso Canyon. SoCalGas and regulators overestimate ... winter demand to make the case that Aliso Canyon is essential for reliability this winter, said Bill Powers, a San Diego engineer who conducted studies of Aliso Canyon for Food & Water Watch. According to SoCalGas own data, the highest actual peak day demand over the last 10 years for natural gas in winter is significantly less than what they now claim will be needed. Aliso Canyon contains less than 20% of its capacity after a four-month leak that began in October forced Southern California Gas to release much of the facilitys supply. The state then ordered a moratorium on new injections and storage at the plant while inspectors checked the wells for safety. The storage facility leak, the worst in U.S. history, caused 8,000 residents largely in the nearby Porter Ranch community to flee their homes after complaining of headaches, nosebleeds and nausea. The gas leak kept some residents out of their homes for months. Southern California Gas on Wednesday dismissed Powers assertion, stating that in 2013 the utility reached demand levels that without Aliso Canyon would force reductions in energy supply to power plants, hospitals, airports, manufacturers, refineries and others. Restoring the injection capability of the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility to support energy reliability for the winter heating season is critical, said Chris Gilbride, a spokesman for the utility. A majority ofresidents near the storage field have told state lawmakers that they want the storage facility closed for good. The cost of keeping Aliso Canyon open is too high when you think about what it has cost the residents of Porter Ranch and other communities, said Alexandra Nagy, senior organizer for Food & Water Watch. Despite previous and ongoing scare tactics from SoCalGas, we have seen that the energy needs of Southern California are being met without using the leaky and dangerous Aliso Canyon gas field. State regulators and Southern California Gas warned in their April report that, without Aliso Canyon, Southern Californians could face as many as 14 days of blackouts this summer. With fewer than 30 days left before fall begins, the likelihood of that occurring has all but faded. It was bogus out of the gate, Powers said. For months we had to listen to warnings of 14 days of blackouts. Its not like we even cut it close. ivan.penn@latimes.com For more energy news, follow Ivan Penn on Twitter: @ivanlpenn UPDATES: Aug. 24, 1:05 p.m.: This article was update with comments from Southern California Gas Co. This article was originally published at 6:25 p.m. Aug. 23. Flexible schedules free workers from rigid hours, boosting their health and productivity. Or they kill collaboration. It depends on who you ask. Some business leaders bill a policy of flexible hours as a panacea for working parents. Why take a day off when your child has the flu if you have a laptop? However, others perhaps most famously Yahoo Inc. chief Marissa Mayer say staffers working at different times and locations cramps quality. To become the absolute best place to work, communication and collaboration will be important, so we need to be working side by side, Yahoo told its employees in a 2013 memo that prohibited them from working from home. Advertisement Heejung Chung, a sociologist at the University of Kent in England, recently drove the discussion further, bolstering the idea that employees who work from home put in longer hours though no one can definitively say whether that labor is better or worse. In the study, published this month in the European Sociological Review, Chungs team examined the work habits of German employees with flexible work hours from 2003 to 2011 and found that they bagged more overtime pay than those in stricter arrangements. That pattern held true regardless of position or type of job. Chung found that men and women in full-time jobs with flexible schedules worked about the same amount of overtime hours. The same went for mothers and fathers. The men, however, saw an earnings increase beyond overtime pay after switching from a concrete schedule to flexible hours. On average, they banked about $1,125 extra per year. The women enjoyed no such gains. Employers tend to believe that women use flexibility mainly for family-friendly purposes, which results in women not being rewarded in the same way as men when using flexibility, regardless of the increase in their devotion to work they exhibit, Chung wrote last week. The report carries relevance in the United States, where the time Americans spend at work has increased sharply over the past four decades. The average worker amasses 1,836 hours per year, up 9% from 1,687 in 1979, according to the Economic Policy Institute. The trend probably stems from technological advances such as omnipresent smartphones, video chat and cloud computing. (Lower-paying jobs and work that involves physical labor are less likely to accommodate flexible schedules.) Meanwhile, about three-quarters of U.S. firms now allow some kind of scheduling flexibility, government data show. Researchers warn that a rise in flexible work will not level the playing field for working parents, particularly mothers, if bosses cling to old stereotypes about primary caregivers. A study last year from Harvard Business School found that women were judged more harshly for leaving the office early. German women, like American women, still shoulder the majority of domestic responsibilities. Chungs research supports what a large body of academic evidence already suggests: Mothers are sometimes viewed as less committed employees, regardless of their productivity and that perception appears to show up in the way they are paid. A Third Way study this year found that fatherhood on average brings a 6% wage boost for each child, while motherhood is associated with a 4% pay penalty. Greater flexibility and autonomy over work sound great and could well herald a new era of better work-life balance, Chung wrote. But ... we need to better understand exactly whats going on to tackle some of these negative consequences. Paquette writes for the Washington Post. ALSO Uber drivers new option: Start a retirement account through the app Starbucks iced drinks obviously include ice, judge says, tossing lawsuit Feds sue garlic grower after a contractors van crash kills 4 migrant workers August 24, 2016 | 01:40 am PT Foreign confectionary makers are looking to expand in Vietnam through mergers and aquisitions. Mondelez International Inc., the maker of Oreo cookies and Milka chocolate, has bought out Vietnams Kinh Do Corps snack business after acquiring the remaining of 20 percent stake for VND 2 trillion ($90 million). The transaction gives Mondelez 100 percent ownership of Kinh Do Corp.s snack unit, helping the world's second-largest confectionary company to gain a strong foothold in the Vietnamese market. Mondelez acquired the majority 80 percent stake two years ago for $370 million as part of the confectionary giant's rapid expansion in emerging markets. Following the acquisition, the company's brand name will be changed to Mondelez Kinh Do. In addition to the brand, the buyout will give Mondelez easier access to Vietnams market where almost 60 percent of the population of 93 million people is under 35 years old with fast-growing consumer spending. Kinh Do is widely known in the Southeast Asian country for confectionary products including biscuits, soft cakes and seasonal moon cakes. Through Kinh Dos nationwide distribution network, Mondelez will have the chance to launch its existing brands on the market. Vietnam has recently seen a surge in mergers and acquisition deals in a variety of sectors as foreign investors attempt to tap into the countrys fast-growing consumer population. Data from EuroMonitor International showed that Vietnams consumer spending is set to grow 47 percent in the next four years to $184.9 billion. Mergers and acquisitions involving Vietnamese companies are forecast to hit a fresh record of $6 billion this year. Local companies like Kinh Do have been faced with increasing pressure from foreign rivals who want to expand into emerging markets. Following Mondelezs buyout, Kinh Do Corp has officially withdrawn from a snack business which used to bring in $175 million in annual sales. Related News: >Vietnam's M&As to hit a record high of $6bln in 2016 >Vietnam ranks in top 30 fastest growing retail markets >Vietnamese retailers struggle against foreign rivals Uber has a new tool in its arsenal to attract and retain drivers: retirement savings accounts. The San Francisco ride-hailing company announced Wednesday that it teamed up with automated investor service Betterment to offer its drivers a way to set up retirement accounts through the ride-hailing app. As part of a pilot program, drivers in certain markets can use the Uber app to open an IRA or Roth IRA through the robo-advisor without a required minimum account balance. Drivers can use the accounts for free for the first year. After that, they pay 0.25% of the average account balance for the year. Advertisement Uber Technologies Inc. said Wednesday that this offer will apply to tens of thousands of drivers in Chicago, Boston, Seattle and New Jersey, and that it is working with New York-based Betterment to roll out the program nationwide. Uber did not give a timeline for that expansion. Betterment spokeswoman Arielle Sobel said both companies would contribute non-monetary resources to the partnership and that no money was exchanged. Because Uber classifies its drivers as independent contractors rather than employees, they arent eligible for benefits such as 401(k) programs, workers compensation or paid time off. This means when it comes to preparing for retirement, theyre on their own. Uber described the program as a way to help drivers take control of their financial future. The partnership is a good first step in preparing Uber drivers for retirement, said Karen Friedman, executive vice president of the Pension Rights Center. Its good that Uber is starting to think of its drivers retirement, but this isnt going to lead to adequacy in retirement for many, many reasons, Friedman said. The big problem, she said, is that the program asks drivers to make voluntary payments from their already low earnings. Uber will not match driver contributions to the retirement accounts, the ride-hailing company said in an email. Uber competitor Lyft has offered a similar benefit to its drivers through Honest Dollar since November. Participating Lyft drivers pay a flat $3 monthly fee. Friedman is encouraged by such programs but said they highlight the limitations of the independent contractor business model and the need for further discussion on new pension plans and mechanisms that would allow businesses to contribute to contractors IRAs. In the short term, the partnership could help Uber retain drivers, according to Stephen Beck, managing partner of management consulting firm cg42, who said the program also helps Uber compete with rival Lyft as well as get some good PR. Does it potentially help Uber keep the drivers they have? Yes, he said. Does it potentially help them attract more drivers, thereby helping them drive greater availability? Yes. It makes sense. In the long term, Rebecca Smith, deputy director at the National Employment Law Project, said if either ride-hailing company is serious about its drivers retirement, it should make them employees. This [program] is about Uber ensuring a steady supply of workers at least until it rolls out self-driving cars, Smith said, nothing more, nothing less. The partnership is a coup for Betterment, according to Steven Lockshin, founder of wealth management firm AdvicePeriod, because it potentially leads to new customers and associates Betterment itself with a fast-growing, recognizable company. When people talk about new ideas, they say they want to be the Uber of this or Uber of that, so in a way Uber is the ultimate disruptor, Lockshin said. And thats what Betterment wants to be. Michael Goodman, 60, an Uber driver from Northridge, said he could see how this might be a benefit to some drivers, but he personally would not use it because he doesnt believe he will get the best return on his investment through Betterments IRA and prefers to shop around. He also noted that as driver wages continue to decline, it may be a challenge for them to put away even $100 a month after living expenses, car maintenance costs and non-retirement savings. Uber has over the past year made a push to appease drivers. The company last week expanded its Instant Pay feature, allowing drivers to get paid day-to-day without having to wait for a pay cycle. Uber also has a program that entitles its drivers to discounts on phone plans, vehicle maintenance and access to personalized health insurance recommendations. Earlier this year the company allowed drivers to accept tips, although it stopped short of putting a tipping feature in its app. Does it potentially help them attract more drivers, thereby helping them drive greater availability? Yes. It makes sense. Stephen Beck, managing partner, cg42 The Betterment arrangement comes less than a week after a federal judge rejected Ubers proposed $100-million bid to settle a lawsuit involving drivers employment status. It offered to pay the settlement rather than begin categorizing drivers as employees, which would make them eligible for benefits such as expense reimbursement and overtime. The judge said Thursday that the proposed sum was unfairly low. samantha.masunaga@latimes.com For more business news, follow me @smasunaga ALSO Weedmaps marijuana dispensary guide is riddled with suspicious reviews Start-up institute next to UC Berkeley hopes to land students and professors ideas early Feds sue garlic grower after a contractors van crash kills 4 migrant workers UPDATES: 3:30 p.m.: This article was updated with additional reporting. 11:15 a.m.: This article was updated to clarify the terms of the agreement between Uber and Betterment. This article was originally published at 10:05 a.m. The U.S. Labor Department is accusing a garlic grower of violating worker safety and transportation laws in connection with a 2015 van crash that killed four farm laborers on a California Central Valley highway. The unusual move in U.S. District Court in Fresno is aimed at sending a sterner message to growers that they cannot use a labor contractor as a screen to absolve them from responsibility for complying with federal safety laws covering employees being driven to fields, said Susan Seletsky, an attorney for the U.S. Department of Labor. Our efforts here are to have employers take responsibility and be accountable for employees who work for them regardless of whether they work through contractors, Seletsky said. Theyve been able to squeak through, and were going to show they cant. Advertisement The case arose from a June 20, 2015, crash on California 152 in Merced County that killed four farm workers, all women, returning to the Merced area from a day of picking garlic in Gilroy for Valley Garlic Inc., which also does business as Sequoia Packing. The same driver, who was unlicensed, had taken seven workers to Gilroy in the morning, a distance of about 84 miles, according to the complaint. The van was owned and operated by an employee of X-Treme Ag, a Kerman-based labor contractor that provided the workers and charged each of them $10 a day for transportation to and from fields, according to the complaint filed Aug. 5. The companys contract, however, prohibited it from providing transportation, a clause common to documents signed with growers, according to the Labor Department. The eastbound Chevrolet van drifted off the highway between Los Banos and Chowchilla, then oversteered to return to the lane and flipped over several times, according to the California Highway Patrol. Six workers, who were not wearing seat belts, were ejected. Three were pronounced dead at the scene; a fourth died of her injuries several days later. Before the accident, Valley Garlic had done nothing to enforce the transportation prohibition, according to the complaint. After the Labor Department told the Coalinga-based company that its contractor was transporting workers illegally, Valley Garlic sent a one-page letter to X-Treme reminding it of the contract prohibition. But Valley Garlic did not investigate or terminate the contract instead, it signed a new agreement six days after the accident that was substantively identical to the previous contract, the complaint alleges. Valley Garlic, X-Treme Ag and several of each companies employees were charged with violating the Migrant and Seasonal Workers Protection Act, which governs terms of employment for agricultural workers, and the the Fair Labor Standards Act, which regulates wages. Such allegations generally have been resolved between the Labor Department and employers in administrative proceedings that result in monetary penalties and agreements to remedy the violations, Seletsky said. That hasnt been very effective, said Seletsky, adding that no similar case has been taken to U.S. District Court in California in at least 15 years. In addition to the transportation-related charges, the defendants are accused of failing to compensate workers for their time spent traveling to fields and attending training, and of failing to pay the promised hourly rate. Patrick Moody, attorney for Valley Garlic, said the Labor Departments case is ill-conceived and not legally viable, in part because it presumes the contractor and grower function as co-employers of the laborers. We had a written agreement between our client and the labor contractors that they were prohibited from providing transportation, Moody said. Any transportation that might have been provided would violate that contract. Valley Garlic functioned as an employer as a matter of economic reality under both federal acts because the company set work terms and supervised the labor, the complaint alleges. An attorney for the labor contractor declined to comment. geoffrey.mohan@latimes.com Follow me: @LATgeoffmohan ALSO California wine country says goodbye to crop-threatening moth Plant nurseries appear to be using less pesticides that harm bees In a sophisticated shell game, thieves hit Central Valley nut growers In his book Conducting Business, Leonard Slatkin, former principal conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, recalls a time when bowl audiences cheered after the first four notes (ta-ta-ta-TA) of Beethovens Symphony No. 5 were played. On Tuesday night, a large Bowl crowd held their cheers until conductor Ken-David Masur, making his Philharmonic debut, brought the first movement to a powerful close. For the record: An earlier version of this review contained a typographical error and used the word brasses instead of basses in describing how conductor Ken-David Masur highlighted cellos and basses. Masur, the youngest son of conductor Kurt Masur, who was music director of the New York Philharmonic from 1991 to 2002, replaced an indisposed Joana Carneiro in a program also featuring Beethovens Overture to Fidelio and Erich Korngolds Violin Concerto, with Gil Shaham as soloist. Advertisement SIGN UP for the free Essential Arts & Culture newsletter Looking younger than his 39 years, Masur comes to the Bowl with impeccable credentials, including conducting studies with his authoritative father, who died in December at 88. A well-seasoned musician, Masur is the assistant conductor of the Boston Symphony and principal guest conductor of the Munich Symphony. Hes held the post of associate conductor of the San Diego Symphony, and he also studied singing in Berlin with bass-baritone Thomas Quasthoff. At the Bowl, the slender Masur proved a formidable technician, displaying a natural podium manner and persuasive musicianship. He gave a fleet, clear-textured account of Beethovens Fifth, steering the Phil through the calms and storms of the opening Allegro with authority. Conducting without a baton, Masur used a score but hardly looked at it. He showed an impressive structural grasp both in his warm and perfectly paced Andante and in his supple shaping of the scores wraith-like transition from the Scherzo into the bracing Allegro finale. Masur also highlighted the riveting virtuosity of the Phils cellos and basses in the Scherzos trio section. The concerts curtain-raiser, Beethovens Overture to Fidelio, was sensitively shaped by Masur, conveying the scores hard-earned joy. Korngolds Violin Concerto, like Beethovens Fifth, is another enduring audience favorite. Jascha Heifetz was also a fan his recording with Alfred Wallenstein and the Phil is justly famous and with good reason. The score offers soloists challenging passages for virtuosic display and, while richly melodic, its also pungent and skittishly inventive. The Moravian-born Korngold repurposed several themes from his pioneering 1930s Hollywood film scores Another Dawn, Juarez, Anthony Adverse and The Prince and the Pauper for this dazzling 1945 concerto. Shahams playing captivated from the works quiet opening bars and never let up. Given the soloists concentrated, unsentimental account, especially in the sustained lyricism of the central Romanze, the applause after each of the three movements was well deserved. Masur, skillfully turning the Phil into a Richard Strauss orchestra, conveyed Korngolds affinity for that composers opulent late-Romantic sound world. Perhaps as a nod to late-19th century maestros, the conductor used a baton for the Korngold. Shaham likes to stand close to podium and conductor, somewhat inside the orchestra, creating a cohesive trio of collaborators. Magnified on the Bowls big hi-def screens, the violinists trademark grimaces belied how relaxed his body actually was, allowing him to produce a radiant tone. He was having a good time, and we were too. Follow The Times arts team @culturemonster. Thor: Ragnarok stars Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston took a break from their cosmic comic duties on Tuesday to do some real-life superheroing at a childrens hospital. Hemsworth and Hiddleston, in character as Marvels Thor and his puckish adopted brother Loki, respectively, teamed up with the Childrens Hospital Foundation to pay a visit to Lady Cilento Childrens Hospital in Brisbane, Australia. There, they visited sick children and appeared on the hospitals Juiced TV program, a weekly broadcast put together by patients and siblings. See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Met the real superheroes of the world at @ladycilentochildrenshospital. A huge shout out to all the brave kids who are an inspiration to all of us!" Hemsworth said, captioning a pic on Instagram. The actors made their way through the ward and let kids wield Thors hammer, Mjolnir. A few even dealt enthusiastic blows to Loki and Hiddleston gamely obliged. Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor! (i.e. everyone but the weirdo in the black suit). Unforgettable meeting all the children @ladycilentochildrenshospital. They're the real heroes, Hiddleston wrote on his newly minted Instagram, which features more Loki outtakes than the Englishmans daily life. Koen, an 11-year-old patient, interviewed the pair for the TV program and posed for a snapshot with the stars and the photo-ready Mjolnir. Hemsworth, who returned to living in his native Australia with his wife and three kids, made an encore appearance sans Thors wig the following night to meet a few children who missed him the first time around. It isnt the first time a celebrity has walked the hospital halls as their on-screen alter ego: In character as Capt. Jack Sparrow, Johnny Depp appeared on Juiced TV while he was in town last summer filming Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. Meanwhile, Hemsworth and Hiddleston have been fueling fan excitement this week by engaging in social media banter as they film the third installment of Marvels Thor films. Thor: Ragnarok is slated to hit theaters in November 2017. 767525681018310656 https://twitter.com/chrishemsworth/status/767726257580670976 Follow me: @NardineSaad ALSO VIDEO: Tom Hiddleston sympathizes with the lonely 'Night Manager' Robert Downey Jr., as Iron Man's Tony Stark, gifts little boy a bionic arm Tom Hiddleston and Taylor Swift are 'not a publicity stunt,' he says ('Thank you for asking') Hot Property: Chris Hemsworth hammers out an impressive deal for his Malibu Victorian With The Birth of a Nation director Nate Parker in the headlines over his 2001 rape trial, at least one Hollywood institution has decided to step away from the period tale, raising questions about the films larger marketing campaign and ultimate viability as an Oscar contender. The American Film Institute late Tuesday canceled a screening of Birth scheduled for Friday. It was the first strike against the period slavery tale since accounts of Parkers trial, in which he was acquitted, resurfaced with new details (including that his accuser committed suicide in 2012) in the past two weeks. Birth, which Parker directed, co-wrote and stars in, has been an Oscar front-runner since premiering at the Sundance Film Festival in January. The story of the Nat Turner slave revolt received solid reviews and captured the zeitgeist at a moment when Hollywood has been under fire for a lack of diversity in its ranks. Advertisement AFIs decision might have set a precedent of sorts for other organizations, and new dominoes could soon fall. In an internal note run by several Hollywood trade publications, the schools dean, Jan Schuette, said that more information was needed before the event could move forward. I have been the recipient of many different passionate points of view about the screening, and I believe it is essential that we discuss these issues together messenger and message, gender, race and more before we see the film, he said in the note. A spokeswoman for AFI cautioned, however, that Birth was likely to come back. The screeninghas been postponed. It will be rescheduled. It is not cancelled, Liza Ameen, wrote in an email to The Times. Fridays showing of the film which hits theaters in October was meant for students but also fits into a larger award-season rollout of Birth in Los Angeles and other cities. The schools move could thus serve as a bellwether for Hollywood guilds and other groups seeking to decide whether to host their own award-season events for the Oscar hopeful. Already some public figures who had lustily supported the movie, including Spike Lee who moderated a Q&A with Parker at the Marthas Vineyard African American Film Festival on Aug. 13 -- have gone quieter since the controversy broke. AFIs decision however, should also be viewed in a more specific context: The embattled Schuette is currently facing calls from faculty to resign over his administration of the filmmaking school and hes unlikely to want to provide further fodder for criticism to his opponents. AFI was in the tricky position of holding a screening in the heat of a news cycle; most Hollywood guilds do not begin their screenings of Oscar hopefuls until the fall or even early winter. So far, the Toronto International Film Festival, where the movie will screen several times in early September, has remained on board; there will be post-screening Q&As and studio Fox Searchlight will conduct a junket in a local hotel. (In keeping with the pattern for most movies that premiered elsewhere, there will not be a press conference for the film.) Unlike other controversies, the scandal puts at loggerheads several disenfranchised groups. Birth was seen as a savior of sorts for critics who believed stories about African Americans have not been sufficiently represented in Hollywood. But the controversy over Parker has also enraged victims-rights groups, who see a systemic attempt by powerful interests to sweep away individuals concerns. Searchlight, which acquired Birth for nearly $18 million at this years Sundance Film Festival, appeared intent on pushing ahead with its grassroots campaign, also moving forward with a 12-city national tour for church and community groups. Veering from the course many studios chart when they have talent caught in controversy, the studio is not shying away from putting its writer-director-star in the public eye a decision prompted in part by Parker, who has made clear hed like to address the issue. Searchlights decision has captured the attention of Hollywood insiders, who have debated whether the merits of the issues aside its strategy is shrewd or foolhardy. Essentially, by choosing to discuss the trial, the studio has hoped to appear candid even if it means risking a prolonged public discussion or, worse, an inflammation of the crisis due to new comments.. (Neither Searchlight nor Parkers own representatives have, to date, booked a major broadcast interview that could create the kind of combustible but cathartic dynamic that has served other figures caught in a scandal, though such an appearance could come closer to the films release.) The move toward openness contravenes recent Hollywood history. Studios that have released films by Woody Allen and Roman Polanski two other directors who have operated under a similar cloud have often doled out their director in careful spoonfuls, with the subjects themselves reluctant to say much. In a rare press appearance, Allen facing renewed criticism at the Cannes Film Festival from Ronan Farrow about the alleged sexual assault of Farrows sister Dylan told reporters, I never think about it I think its all silly. The whole thing it doesnt bother me. I dont think about it. I work. Parker, though, has spoken out on traditional and social media about the subject, saying in an extended Facebook post last week that he felt contrition about his actions. I look back on that time as a teenager and can say without hesitation that I should have used more wisdom, he wrote. I look back on that time, my indignant attitude and my heartfelt mission to prove my innocence with eyes that are more wise with time. I see now that I may not have shown enough empathy even as I fought to clear my name. Parker, however, was able to control the message in a social media post. Public Q&As at Toronto, even with that festivals famously generous audiences, could well become a more hotbed environment. In that sense, the cancellation of Fridays AFI event could also prove beneficial to Searchlights plans, or at least provide a relief of sorts, with a Q&A at this stage of the news cycle is likely to be far more about the rape case than the film itself. See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour On Twitter: @ZeitchikLAT MORE NATE PARKER NEWS: Should The Birth of a Nation audiences care about Nate Parker allegations? With a cloud over Birth of a Nation, which awards contenders might avert #OscarsSoWhite3? Birth of a Nation director Nate Parker responds after learning of the suicide of his college rape accuser Complaint against Penn State University regarding Nate Parker rape case A decades-old college rape case casts cloud over Oscar hopeful Nate Parker UPDATES: 4 p.m.: This article was updated with information about a broadcast interview. 1:30 p.m.: This article has been updated throughout. 9:25 a.m.: This article was updated with a comment from AFI. This article was originally published at 8:15 a.m. Puzzled and upset. Thats how some women working in the Islamic fashion industry view the furor in France over burkinis, the body-concealing swimsuit that has been banned in a growing number of seaside towns. I am quite upset to say the least. Wearing a burkini is not a political statement, rather a choice of dress, said Rabia Zargarpur, a Dubai-based designer who markets her Rabia Z label of so-called modest fashions online. For Muslim women, burkinis are a symbol of liberation, not repression. Muslim women who were uncomfortable or unable to swim in mixed pools or beaches are now taking part in those activities. And women can wear a wetsuit with a hood for multiple reasons including preserving modesty or sun protection. Zargarpur balked at recent declarations by Prime Minister Manuel Valls, who insists the burkini is tantamount to womans enslavement and not compatible with the values of France and the Republic. Advertisement Her retort? Undoubtedly, there are French women who buy skimpy bathing suits and tiny bikinis in submission to both male pressure and social pressures. Isnt that enslavement? she asked. The real enemies of freedom are not the burkini wearers, but the politicians who want to ban them. Frances burkini controversy is tangled up with tensions over ISIS or ISIS-inspired terror attacks and outward signs of religion in a fiercely secular society. Yet across the world, the burgeoning Islamic fashion market is projected to be worth $327 million by 2020, according to Thomson Reuters State of the Islamic Economy report. With a global population of 1.6 billion, Muslim consumers are one of the fastest growing segments in fashion. Shelina Janmohamed, author of Love in a Headscarf and vice president of Ogilvy Noor, which is the worlds first Islamic branding practice offering advice to clients on how to appeal to Muslim consumers globally, cited a huge shift among female Muslim consumers. They are modern and independent and want a sense of belonging in their communities, but also want to be individual and assert their own choices, she said. This has fueled an entire fashion movement, one that is now being censored in France for its modesty, she lamented. Theres an entrepreneurial story around Muslim consumers growing around the world, one of creating new brands. Women are going out there and saying, We cant find the kind of products in fashion that we want so we are going to create them, she explained. Zargarpur was living in New York and working in the fashion industry during the 9/11 attacks. She began to cover her hair after that time and said it was the lack of options that led her to establish her brand, which enjoys a wide following among the Muslim diaspora. She also noted that the original inventor of the burkini Aheda Zanetti has many non-Muslims clients such as British chef Nigella Lawson, plus women from other religions, lifeguards and skin cancer survivors. WWD tracked down Zanetti, the Australian designer and businesswoman who came up with and trademarked Burquini and Burkini in 2004: WWD: What are your thoughts on the burkini uproar in France? Aheda Zanetti: I think its totally misunderstood. I feel so sorry for the people who are going to be affected by it. The burkini was intended to integrate and bring people together. To give them the freedom of choice to wear something modest if they choose to be modest for whatever reason they need to be modest for. It should be happy and positive. It is turning something meant to give women the freedom of participating in health and fitness into a negative thing. WWD: How did you develop the burkini? A.Z.: I have two daughters. We wanted them to participate in activities. I wanted them to be able to choose that includes if they choose to wear a veil or hijab at all. And if they do so, that they would have something to wear without a second thought. It has to fit within our Australian lifestyle which is surf, water, sun, beaches and bikinis. I wanted to blend in and not be identified as Muslim or non-Muslim. When I was growing up, we didnt differentiate between Muslim or not, it was never a topic we discussed. I dont want to be judged about that. Im proud of being born in Lebanon; proud to be raised in Australia. WWD: How do you feel that the brand name you coined is being used so widely in this context? A.Z.: At the time I was trying to sell a new item and a new industry, a new lifestyle. I had to think of something away from the Islamic symbol, but I also wanted to be recognizable by my market and people. Then I was reading an article talking about women entering the water with their full burqas on. I looked up the meaning and it was essentially just black jackets, long coats that many Muslim women wear. I thought my swimsuit is like a burqa and its also two-piece, like a bikini is. So came the term burkini. But its just a word. It doesnt symbolize Islam or a Muslim woman, and it certainly doesnt symbolize terror. It symbolizes freedom, flexibility, comfort. It symbolizes health and fitness. Thats what it should be judged upon. WWD: Who is your client base? A.Z.: Sixty percent are Muslim women, the rest are non-Muslim or other, who want to cover up for many reasons. WWD: How do your products sell in Europe? A.Z.: When our Burqini suits first launched, they were endorsed by women in the Western world more than in the Eastern world. Because it was a Western design adapted for women in the Western world. It took a while before the Arab world endorsed it, too. In fact, it wasnt until it took off in the West that they started buying it. WWD: Have you ever had any negative reactions to the swimwear at home in Australia? A.Z.: We have had a few negative reactions. But I also have more of a support group now than Ive ever had. Ive become a voice of womens rights now. Women have come together to say no one has a right to dictate what we choose to wear. We are not encouraging violence. I dont even encourage face covering. I dont agree with that. I agree with adapting to a lifestyle and culture within your morals. We had to adapt. I think the French need to understand what a burkini swimsuit is and what its there for. They cant take a lifestyle away from a Muslim woman or any woman for that matter. The cancer patients, for example. If you are going to take away the right for them to protect their skin from the sun, what are you trying to do? Put them back inside their home? ALSO What people are saying about burkinis in France Third French city bans burkini after brawl at beach Stampd celebrates latest Puma collaboration with a Hollywood Hills house party Have you ever tried montanara? Its fried pizza dough. These golden pockets of crisp, chewy dough are the star of the new Vinoteca, a wine bar opening Sept. 26 at Culina restaurant at the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. The focus of the menu is Italian street food, something with which executive chef Denis Dello Stritto is familiar, having grown up near Naples, Italy. We did 100 things with pizza dough there, said Stritto, who took over as chef at Culina a year ago. I started to make fried pizza dough with lobster, uni and guanciale for the management team here. They said, Wow, this is amazing. We need to create a spot to sell these new items. Advertisement So when Vinoteca opens in September, Stritto will be making a classic montanara topped with 36-month aged Parmigiano Reggiano and tomato sauce; montanara topped with burrata di Andria, prosciutto di Parma and aged balsamic; and montanara with eggplant, cherry tomato, basil and melted smoked Provola. Sweet montanara will be topped with sugar, seasonal fresh fruit and sweet sheeps milk ricotta. Lobster montanara will be among the offerings at Vinoteca. (Jenn Harris / Los Angeles Times ) Hell also be making your new favorite lobster roll, with montanara. He uses the fried dough in place of a bun to cradle pieces of lobster, slivers of celery, red onion and diced tomato. And to dress the lobster, just olive oil. Stritto also is doing his twist on classic arancini, making a version with a housemade squid ink bread coating around saffron rice. Theres white salmon ragu and English peas in the center, and the fried rice pyramid is served over a tart Meyer lemon sauce. And most of the ingredients, including the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, burrata, prosciutto and sometimes langoustines, come straight from Italy. Stritto says he receives a shipment of ingredients from Italy daily, sometimes multiple times a day. Vinoteca also will offer arancini. (Jenn Harris / Los Angeles Times ) The wine portion of the bar is being curated by assistant general manager and wine director Luca Bruno (formerly sommelier floor captain for the French Laundry, head sommelier at Wynn Las Vegas and sommelier at Bouchon Bistro in Beverly Hills). The wine selection focuses on varietals from Italy, and those same varietals from California. The wine bar, which occupies the space just through the hostess area of the hotels Culina restaurant, features a revamped coffee bar, lounge area and patio. The coffee bar, which is open now, serves your usual coffee drinks as well as cold brew and a selection of housemade Italian pastries by executive pastry chef Federico Fernandez . Stritto is especially proud of the cannoncini, a sort of croissant/cannoli hybrid made with puff pastry dough filled with hazelnut cream. And the drinks come in what assistant general manager and coffee director Jeffrey Villa calls authentic sizes. Pastries from Vinoteca. (Jenn Harris / Los Angeles Times ) Starbucks has really changed the culture of how people think of a latte or cappuccino, Villa said. A cappuccino should be no more than 6 ounces with microfoam. So dont expect to order a 16-ounce cappuccino for breakfast. The lounge and patio areas will undergo a full revamp before Vinoteca opens in September. Complimentary parking is available for those dropping in to pick up pastries and coffee. 300 S. Doheny Drive, Los Angeles, (310) 860-4000, www.culinarestaurant.com. ALSO: How to slice steak the right way, plus a great recipe for tri-tip salad Culver Citys Lodge Bread Co. bakery gets a bread truck, plans a pizza joint next door Whats happening: Danny Trejos taco truck, Serafina in L.A., Lincoln owners open cafe in Montrose Who needs Leonardo DiCaprio to host a $3.34-million fundraiser when Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake are waiting in the wings and more than willing to take the reins? For the record 12:51 p.m., Aug. 24.: An earlier version of this article reported that $33.4 million was raised at the lunch. The amount was $3.34 million. Hillary Clinton mixed with A-list donors in the Hollywood Hills on Tuesday at Casa de Timberbiel, where a big-money lunch for 100 people was moved after DiCaprio backed out of hosting duties suddenly over the weekend. Find out who's supporting whom: Celebrity endorsement tracker Look who came over for lunch... #imwithher, Biel said on Instagram, captioning a strip of black-and-white photo-booth photos that featured her mugging with Timberlake and the Democrats nominee for president. Composer and classical pianist Chloe Flower managed to get a snapshot of Biel and Timberlake as they addressed the fundraiser guests and introduced Clinton. Jennifer Aniston and Clinton posed for a snapshot taken by Tobey Maguires wife, jewelry designer Jennifer Meyer, and Justin Biebers manager Scooter Braun documented his participation along with pregnant wife Yael Cohen Braun and son Jagger. Meyer, daughter of NBCUniversal Vice Chairman Ron Meyer, also gushed about the candidate in a caption on a shot of herself talking to Clinton at the event. [S]uch an honor to stand beside you (even though my heart was pounding out of my chest!) xo, she wrote. Also on hand: Jamie Foxx, who had been partying with Rick Ross, Chris Brown and DJ Khaled on Sunday in Miami while Clinton was coming off a daytime fundraiser in Rhode Island that featured Cher speaking her mind bluntly about Donald Trump, expressing, among other profanity-peppered comments, a desire that the GOP nominee simply fall off the face of the Earth. During a three-day tear through California, Clinton had eight fundraisers calendared, including a cocktail-and-appetizer backyard reception for hundreds of people including Samuel L. Jackson hosted by Magic Johnson on Monday afternoon. On Monday night, a $50,000-a-head dinner for 100 was held at the home of producer Haim Saban and his wife, Cheryl. In an email over the weekend, according to Page Six, DiCaprio had cited a conflict with production on his climate-change documentary, Before the Flood, as the reason for ditching the Notorious HRC. However, there was also speculation that his absence had something to do with his charitable foundation being linked to a $3.5-billion Malaysian embezzlement scheme per the Hollywood Reporter that allegedly used the U.S. banking system to launder proceeds that were skimmed from government coffers in that part of the world. Some of that money, an FBI task force alleges, went to bankroll a production company involved with The Wolf of Wall Street. DiCaprio himself is not targeted by the FBI investigation, THR said. But it seemed to be a lousy weekend in general for the Oscar winner: He and girlfriend Nina Agdal were in a car accident Saturday in the Hamptons, People reported. The actors Range Rover reportedly hit a Mini Cooper but nobody appeared to be hurt, the outlet said. And Leo got a chance to comfort his supermodel girlfriend. Staff writer Seema Mehta contributed to this report. Follow Christie DZurilla on Twitter @theCDZ. ALSO A Hollywood-style celebrity scandal is dominating the Internet in China Amber Heard donates $7-million Johnny Depp divorce settlement to charities Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman says yes after Raiders' Colton Underwood asks her out via video Vice President Joe Biden faces a stiff challenge Wednesday on a one-day visit to Turkey, a key NATO ally that is reeling from terrorist attacks and a failed military coup and where anti-U.S. sentiment is at a boil. Biden will try to reassure Turks and woo back President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has sought to show he has alternatives to U.S. and European support by making friendly overtures toward longtime adversaries Russia and Iran. Biden also will press U.S. concerns about the arrests of thousands of soldiers, teachers, judges, journalists and others purportedly linked to the coup. Advertisement Erdogan and many Turks were angered by what they saw as the Obama administrations slow condemnation of the attempted armed overthrow on July 15, which left more than 300 people dead. And they are enraged over the U.S. refusal thus far to extradite Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish cleric living in self-exile in rural Pennsylvania who the Ankara government says orchestrated the military uprising. Gulen has denied any involvement, and the Justice Department is reviewing Turkeys extradition requests, officials said. Both notions have fueled fierce anti-U.S. rhetoric in Turkeys government-controlled media as even top officials accuse Washington of aiding and abetting the coup plotters. All of thats malarkey, responded a senior Obama administration official, imitating Biden during a briefing for reporters. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of White House rules, said Biden would address the conspiracy theories when he meets with Erdogan at the presidential palace in Ankara. Biden also will meet with Turkeys prime minister and the speaker of the Grand National Assembly. Biden, who last visited Turkey in January, calls Erdogan a friend, but the relationship between the two countries is at its lowest point in recent memory. His return is seen as a way for the White House to emphasize the importance of U.S. relations with Turkey. The rhetoric has been so harsh on the Turkish side, said Bulent Aliriza, director of the Turkey project at the nonpartisan Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. The most [Biden] can hope for is the optics: reestablishing direct contact, a show of high-level support, the very fact of the contact, that he has come to meet with the Turkish leadership at a time when public opinion is in flames, he said. Publicly, Biden will offer enthusiastic support for Erdogan in hope of keeping Turkey in the NATO fold and in the fight against Islamic State and away from Russia and Iran. Privately, Biden is likely to voice U.S. concern over the mass arrests that Erdogan unleashed after the failed coup. Both Washington and the European Union have urged Turkey to respect the rule of law as it prosecutes those responsible for the failed putsch. Turkey has long sought to join the EU, but Erdogans increasingly authoritarian tendencies and, more recently, his talk of reinstating the death penalty jeopardize that membership. We will remind them that we are close strategic allies, we had nothing to do with the coup and we are actively helping to find out who was behind it, the U.S. official said. We are not at a tipping point or breaking point with Turkey, nor Turkey with NATO. The tone from Ankara, however, is quite different. Erdogan recently flew to St. Petersburg, Russia, where he heaped praise on President Vladimir Putin. He now is reportedly planning a trip to Tehran. Russia and Iran are Syrian President Bashar Assads strongest military allies, and until now Turkey has joined U.S. calls for Assad to step down and is active in the war against Islamic State. But that could change, some Turkish officials warn. The huge crack between Turkey and the U.S., which is getting deeper and deeper by the day, opens the door for irreversible cooperation between Turkey and Russia and other regional actors, columnist Yahya Bostan wrote in the pro-government Daily Sabah newspaper. Biden will seek to close that divide, or at least to ensure it doesnt get worse. His most complicated challenge is Turkeys demand for Gulens extradition. Erdogan accuses the reclusive cleric of running a cult-like parallel state with followers who have infiltrated the Turkish military and civil service and who engineered the coup. See the most-read stories in World News this hour Erdogan said over the weekend that what he considered U.S. vacillations over extraditing Gulen were overshadowing our strategic partnership. Turkey has submitted numerous requests for Gulens extradition based on various alleged crimes, but none of the requests has involved crimes related to the coup attempt, the U.S. official said. One request has been accepted for consideration, the State Department said Tuesday. But any request will take time and involve the Justice Department and courts. A Justice Department team arrived in Turkey ahead of Biden to review evidence against Gulen, and the Turkish justice and foreign ministers are expected in Washington next week to continue to press the extradition case. For all the tension, most analysts doubt Erdogan will turn his back definitively against the West, since Turkey depends so heavily on trade with Europe and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization military alliance. There are more question marks over those relationships, and those questions have gotten more serious, and meanwhile Russia and Iran are benefiting, Aliriza said. But in the end, he said, Turkey is not going to give up NATO, the United States, Europe. MORE WORLD NEWS Theres just one country other than the Vatican where divorce is illegal and some want to change that Can porn star-turned-Bollywood actress Sunny Leone teach India to be cool about sex? Seoul says North Korea fired submarine-launched missile more than 300 miles Aug. 25, 2016, 10:40 a.m. Reporting from imperial beach, Calif. We made it, Oregon to Mexico, along an 1,100-mile beach The drive began at the Oregon border. It ended five weeks later at the Mexican border. Where I almost got arrested. OK, thats an exaggeration. When photographer Allen Schaben and I got to the border of Tijuana and Imperial Beach, the party was much better on the Mexican side. Families were in the water and on the sand, a Mariachi band played, and the whole scene was rather festive compared with two people strolling quietly on the Imperial Beach side. I thought briefly about defecting. One man stood at the fence on the Tijuana side, so I walked up to say hello. I asked why he wasnt swimming and he said he didnt have a bathing suit, then he stuck his hand through the fence to shake my hand. A Border Patrol agent sped toward me in an SUV and yelled for me to stand back from the fence. I hesitated, because what was the big deal? But then I noticed a sign warning against contact or the passing of narcotics through the fence, etc. So I stepped back from the fence because I didnt know if Id be able to write my last road trip columns from a jail cell. Im going to wrap up the series on Sunday, but that wont be the end of my coverage of the California Coastal Commission on the 40th anniversary of the Coastal Act. Theres lots to keep an eye on. Legislation to ban private meetings between commissioners and developers could move forward later today. A vote has been delayed on the controversial proposal for a desalination plant in Huntington Beach, a project that doesnt make a lot of sense in my opinion but has big money backing it. The ever-controversial Newport Banning Ranch project -- a massive hotel/housing development on the last undeveloped plot of privately owned coastal property in Southern California -- will be up for a vote in early September. And the City Council election in Pismo Beach has gotten very interesting because Erik Howell, a councilman and coastal commissioner who ticked off Pismo residents by supporting a development that will block ocean views, now has challengers in his reelection campaign. Howell, if youve forgotten, accepted a $1,000 campaign donation from the domestic partner and business colleague of the lobbyist who represents the Pismo development. If he loses his council seat, he loses his Coastal Commission seat too. So stay tuned. The Coastal Commission will have a new director soon, a new chair and at least two new commissioners, and we need to watch closely because whats at stake is the greatest 1,100-mile coast in the world. 10:25 A.M. reporting from san diego Lawmaker who led 72 coastal preservation bike ride from San Francisco to San Diego still has Schwinn that delivered win Former senator James Mills, 89, stands with the bike he rode from Sacramento to San Diego in 1972 to promote Prop 20, which created the Coastal Commission and led to the Coastal Act. The photo was taken overlooking the San Diego skyline from Mills Coronado apartment Wednesday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) The bike. I wanted to see the bike, and meet its owner. Arriving in San Diego meant our coastal trek from Oregon to Mexico was coming to an end, and it meant that it was finally time to pay a visit to Jim Mills. Mills, a state legislator from 1962 to 1981, was Senate president pro tempore in 1972 when he decided to support Proposition 20, the coastal preservation act. Without it, conservationists feared, coastal development would run amok, Highway 1 would be widened, and a string of nuclear power plants would spring up on some of the greatest beach fronts in the world. But there wasnt much money to fight Prop. 20s foes, said Mills, who had grown up wading in La Jolla Cove and has a deep appreciation of the states greatest natural resource. So in September 1972, he hopped aboard his canary yellow Schwinn Super Sport and led a bike rally from San Francisco to San Diego. The number of riders swelled at times, Mills said, and bikers were greeted each evening by locals serving plenty of carbs. We ate a lot of weenies and beans, and spaghetti too, he said. He recalled PG&E executives following the cyclists in a chauffeur-driven Cadillac, doing their own spin on Prop. 20. The bike rally drew lots of publicity, Mills said, and whether it made the difference is anyones guess. But Prop. 20 won 55% of the vote and led in 1976 to the Coastal Act that to this day protects the coast for the benefit of fragile marine and land habitats and the enjoyment of everyone. Mills was 45 when he rode down the coast, and 89 now. He greeted me and photographer Allen Schaben at his Coronado condo and said he hasnt done any riding lately, but hes doing a lot of writing. Mills has written several books and is working on another. He leads us down to the basement, and there it is. The dusty, canary yellow Schwinn that Mills rode in 1972, and for many years after the Prop. 20 campaign. He was an avid cyclist. Mills also kept the helmet he wore in 1972. We took the bike upstairs, where Mills put on his helmet and posed next to the bike that is a piece of California history. The Coastal Act has done a great deal of good over the years, Mills said, and the cause is no less important now than it was when he rode south from San Francisco. We need to preserve the coast for the benefit of future generations, he said, and I thank him for his contribution. Aug. 21, 2016, 10:50 p.m. Reporting from the Mexican border Steve Lopez reflects back on his 1,100 mile trek down the California coast 6:57 P.M. Sometimes the sausage is good enough to eat Two things will happen soon. The last column from my 1,100 mile road trip down the California coast will be done. And the reform bill banning private communications between California Coastal Commissioners and developers, as well as others, could finally emerge from the factory. As Ive been saying, Hannah-Beth Jacksons bill sailed through the Senate and should have done the same in the Assembly, but it got pushed off into a dark corner after a very fishy report claimed that reform costs money. The thing has come back to life, though, with amendments that arent as bad as the original amendments. I dont see why we need the amendments at all, or why the wrangling has to take place behind closed doors and out of public view. While I was thinking about that, a reader emailed me a clever idea about how to keep coastal commissioners honest -- make them strap on body cameras, like cops. I like it, and why not do the same with legislators, so we can all see whats going on? Having said all this, though, Im hearing from supporters of Jacksons bill that they think theres actually a chance the legislation is going to be OK, once all the cooks are done tweaking the recipe. Sausage is full of awful stuff, but just about all of it is good on the grill. So as much fun as Ive had telling you to ping Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, @Rendon63rd, and Appropriations Chair Lorena Gonzalez, @LorenaAD80, and ask what gives, maybe we should try another approach. Im told that Rendon, Gonzalez and other Assembly leaders have done some decent work rescuing this much-needed bill from the trash. So go ahead and tweet them again, and tell them youre encouraged, and still watching -- to the extent thats possible -- and counting on them to do whats necessary to get the bill to Gov. Jerry Brown, which is when the real fun will begin. 8:46 A.M. When it comes to coastal protection, why does state Assembly have such a problem with transparency? The need to clean up the way the California Coastal Commission operates was obvious. Commissioners meet privately with developers more than with any other group, by far. They have repeatedly failed to fully explain the nature of those meetings, and have even failed to report them on occasion. State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) penned a bill to ban such meetings. It cleared the Senate and bounced over to the Assembly, which nearly killed it, but finally decided this week to merely beat it to a pulp. The toothless mess that emerged from the Assembly Appropriations Committee this week would allow private meetings to continue under certain circumstances, and now Sen. Jackson has the task of trying to put some punch back into her bill. And heres the irony: We dont know which Assembly members, or higher powers, conspired to water down Jacksons bill because there is no transparency in the process. You cant peer through a window into the sausage factory. These amendments were hammered out privately. One can guess that the development lobby and labor groups did not like Jacksons reform bill because it would get in the way of a process that gives an advantage to those who want to build on the coast. One can even guess that the Brown administration shares their view. But we dont know, because a bill to shine a light on important decision-making got pummeled in a dark room, and the perps left no fingerprints. See Dan Weikels story at latimes.com. Ive sent in a request for an explanation to Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount). He has appointing authority for four coastal commissioners and itd be nice to hear what he thinks about the handiwork by his Appropriations Committee. If youd like to ping him or Appropriations Chair Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) to ask what happened, try @Rendon63rd and @LorenaAD80. Or you can drop a line to The Silent One @JerryBrownGov, but Ive tried, and despite months of turmoil and controversy on the 40th anniversary of the Coastal Act he signed into law, the governor doesnt want to be disturbed. 7:36 A.M. Summer is in the rear-view mirror, end of journey just down the road The tide splashes up on the beach at sunset on a warm summer evening at Windansea Beach in La Jolla. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Carlsbad. Leucadia. Encinitas. Cardiff. Solana. Del Mar. Summer is disappearing in my rear-view mirror. Week Five of my trip from Oregon to Mexico will be over in just a few days, 1,100 miles after it began. Photographer Allen Schaben is farther down the road, waiting for me in San Diego. Soon well stand at the Mexican border and reflect on a deeper love of the California coast, a greater appreciation of the Coastal Act on the 40-year anniversary of protections that became law. Ill wish Id had a week to spend in places where I only had an hour or two. Ill thank the people we met along the way, and tell others well take up their offer the next time through. Californians are passionate about their coast. Theyre closely watching those in public office whose job is to protect fisheries and dunes, to limit development and maximize access. Ive got one eye on Sacramento myself. On legislative reforms that would serve all Californians. On coastal commissioners, some of whom seem to have forgotten their purpose. Im pulling into San Diego, where the air is warm, the water blue, Mexico in the near distance. 4:14 P.M. La Jolla The palm fronds of a palapa reveal a surfer, a couple and children taking in a warm summer sunset at Windansea Beach in La Jolla. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 1:07 P.M. newport beach Watts in a name? Find Amp-le answers in Newport Beach On Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach. (Steve Lopez / Los Angeles Times) Im driving south on the Pacific Coast Highway and spot the sign. The boat name of the week, it says, is Watt A Man. Thats not a mistake. This is the headquarters for Duffy, which makes the electric boats that are part of the culture in the Newport harbor. Many years ago, I wrote a column about a day of hobnobbing and bar-hopping, by boat, with local residents. I also wrote, at the time, about boat owners trying to out-do each other with clever names for the battery-powered boats. One of my favorites was Salt n Battery. So what are some of the newer ones? I walk into the office, and salesman Jim Drayton says one of the best ones this summer was Amp-ly Endowed. Not bad. Tyler Duffield, of the Duffy family, shows me a list with a few more recent winners. Your name here. (Steve Lopez / Los Angeles Times) Its a Ohm Run. Watt the Hey. Watta Yacht. Going back through the years, some of the better names include: Current Affair. Carry Us Ohm Watts the Hurry. Shock Cousteau. Ohmer Simpson. Knots and Volts. I could go on, but why dont you, instead? Send me your best names. Its not as easy as it looks, Duffield said. Its usually the hardest part, he says. Someone comes in and orders a boat, and they get the colors and everything figured out, and the last thing to do is come up with a name before the boat leaves the factory. Yeah, Its a Duff Life out here, where people are Ohm on the Watter, but It Is Watt It Is. 9:13 A.M. Going under in Laguna Beach A snorkeler looks for fish at Crescent Bay in Laguna Beach (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Garibaldi swim and feed on rocks at Crescent Bay in Laguna Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 2:41 P.M. Catching waves in Huntington Beach 10:53 A.M. On our way toward Mexico A view of the beach through a telescope at Pacific City, a new 31-acre mixed-use development in Huntington Beach, also known as Surf City U.S.A. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) The site of the proposed Banning Ranch development now before the California Coastal Commission. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) The tide rolls in at twilight at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station located on the border of San Diego County and San Clemente. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 4:52 P.M. Laguna Beach 4:45 P.M. Laguna Beach 12:51 P.M. Dana Point A pod of dolphins leaps out of the water with a view of south Laguna Beach in the background on Aug. 12, 2016. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 10:37 P.M. sacramento Profiles in courage: Legislators soften Coastal Commission reform, leave no fingerprints A perfectly sensible bill to clean up the way California coastal commissioners do business has been getting the waterboard treatment. First, Santa Barbara Sen. Hannah-Beth Jacksons SB 1190 was submerged by a ludicrous report claiming it would cost too much money to prohibit private conversations between developers and commissioners. Then it was tossed overboard and dragged like chum. Then on Thursday, legislators pulled SB 1190 back into the boat so badly decomposed its barely recognizable. As my colleague Dan Weikel reports at latimes.com, five amendments gutted the good intentions. The most egregious one allows commissioners to meet privately with developers during on-site visits. This comes just weeks after reports that Coastal Commission Chairman Steve Kinsey met twice with developers of the massive Newport Banning Ranch development and failed to properly report those confabs. Environmental groups, however, would not be able to have such meetings in the bills current form. On my best day, I could not have come up with a more Alice in Wonderland outcome. Details were still emerging, and it wasnt clear which legislators were responsible for the hatchet job, or whether they caved in to political, development or union pressure, or all three. No fingerprints on the body, in other words. Three environmentalists I checked with were livid, and understandably so. Stay tuned for updates on the autopsy, and dont stop letting @JerryBrownGov know how you feel about whats happening to coastal preservation on his watch. #SaveYourCoast 7:46 A.M. Sunset at Crystal Cove Beach Cottages Children run along the beach at twilight near the Crystal Cove Beach Cottages. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) The sun sets over the Crystal Cove Beach Cottages in Newport Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Isabella, 9, and Holden, 7, roast marshmallows over a beach fire with their parents, Steve and Amy Knuff, of Aliso Viejo at twilight at Crystal Cove Beach Cottages. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Incoming tide rolls onto the beach at twilight at Crystal Cove Beach Cottages. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 1:29 P.M. Column: Fighting for the California coast from a tiny office in her kitchen nook Susan Jordan, who created and runs the California Coastal Protection Network, is seen in her Santa Barbara office. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) If you were a coastal conservation activist in California, with 1,100 miles of shoreline to look after, how would you even decide where to begin? Theres always a battle somewhere, and let me give you just a couple of examples from one tiny section of the coast. Moss Landing is in the news again this week as the Surfrider Foundation and other activists try to stop Cemex, an international sand mining company, from trucking away the beach as it has done for decades, causing erosion that has begun to set off lots of alarms. Read more 8:49 A.M. Hermosa Beach Remember when you could spend a night at a California beach motel for less than a weeks pay? A third-generation motel owner in this seaside town tells me he gets an offer, about every other day, from someone who wants to buy his property, bulldoze it and rebuild. But hes hanging on because three generations of families have been staying at his low-budget, no-frills motel since the 1960s, and he doesnt want to end those summer vacation traditions. Elsewhere on the California coast, motels and hotels have been bought out by chains and developers, driving up the cost of affordable family vacations. Look for my column on the Hermosa Beach motel in the coming days. And if you know of good low-budget beach lodging, or if youve seen your motel go from cheap to chic, drop me a line at steve.lopez@latimes.com Over the next two days, photographer Allen Schaben and I will be in Hermosa and Huntington Beach, reporting on the proposed desalination plant there. And, by the way, we should find out in the next day or two whether legislation banning private meetings between coastal commissioners and developers is released from legislative prison and put up for a vote in the state Assembly. Theres still time to weigh in at #SaveYourCoast and be sure to give a poke to @JerryBrownGov and Assemblywoman, Lorena Gonzalez @LorenaAD80. Read more Nguyen Thi Tham said that her life has totally changed after the typhoon. One family member was left to look after the house, while the rest were moved to safety. Our house is inundated with 70 centimeters of water, so we've had to move our scooters to other houses. Every time I go out or come in, I bring a bottle of water to wash my feet. The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors has rejected a controversial solar plant proposed for the Mojave Deserts Soda Mountains, citing concerns that the project would destroy habitat and block ancient trails used by bighorn sheep for thousands of years. In a 3-2 vote, the board on Tuesday declined to certify documents required under state law in order to issue county permits for the project on public land along Interstate 15 near the entrances to Joshua Tree National Park and Death Valley National Park, and less than a mile from the Mojave National Preserve. We endorse renewable energy, but this was the wrong project in the wrong location, said Supervisor Robert A. Lovingood. Advertisement We remain committed to seeing the many benefits of Soda Mountain Solar through to fruition Reyad Fezzani, chairman and chief executive officer of Regenerate Power We have hundreds of miles of locations identified for such projects where the land is already disturbed and there are transmission lines, said Lovingood, whose district includes the Soda Mountains. When companies come forward with plans to build in those areas, well support them. Menlo, Calif.-based Regenerate Power, which recently bought Soda Mountain Solar from Bechtel Corp., said it intends to overcome this latest obstacle and press forward with the project. Reyad Fezzani, chairman and chief executive officer of Regenerate Power, suggested the supervisors action was motivated by emotive arguments by opponents based on fear and misunderstanding. We remain committed to seeing the many benefits of Soda Mountain Solar through to fruition, including hundreds of well-paying local union jobs, economic benefits to the county and local economy, and the production of clean solar energy to meet Californias growing demand, he said. The federal Bureau of Land Management had attempted to address environmental concerns by issuing a final environmental impact statement proposing to eliminate arrays of solar panels north of Interstate 15, reducing the photovoltaic facilitys size and lowering its output. We endorse renewable energy, but this was the wrong project in the wrong location San Bernardino County Supervisor Robert A. Lovingood. The decision angered environmentalists, who wanted the BLM and its parent agency, the Department of the Interior, to reject the project. Among other concerns, they noted the possible threat to bighorn sheep. Biologists are attempting to reestablish key migration corridors for bighorn sheep separated from the north and south Soda Mountains by Interstate 15. Such connections would help ensure that bighorn sheep populations, which have experienced remarkable growth in recent years, do not become genetically isolated. A year ago, the city of Los Angeles dropped plans to buy electricity from the 3-square-mile project, about 50 miles northeast of Barstow. The decision was made after an L.A. Department of Water and Power review found that other proposed renewable energy projects would charge the city less for electricity and would have fewer challenges in delivering the power to Los Angeles. Bechtel, developer of the plant at the time, had hoped that Los Angeles would buy most of the power, projected to have a capacity of about 264 megawatts. David Lamfrom, an opponent of the project and spokesman for the nonprofit National Parks Conservation Assn., said, the county supervisors did what the Interior Department would not; they denied the nations worst renewable energy proposal. Louis.Sahagun@latimes.com @LouisSahagun ALSO A dangerous confluence on the California coast: beach erosion and sea level rise Echo Park mother arrested after 11-year-old son found dead in closet. He appeared malnourished, police say Illegal drugs are flowing into Californias most guarded prisons and killing death row inmates If the states revamped standardized tests are accurately measuring what they set out to measure, one thing is clear: California has miles to go before all of its students are on an equal footing to face an economy that increasingly demands a college degree and stronger workplace skills. The good news, if there is good news, is theres improvement over last year. This is the second year the test results have been released to the public, and the first allowing for year-to-year comparison. Across the state, 48% of students met English language arts standards and 37% met math standards, according to the test results released Wednesday morning. That compares with 44% in English and 34% in math last year. Advertisement That means that more than half of the test-takers in each subject still fell short. And even with the small improvements, certain groups of students continued to lag especially far behind. Only 18% of black students reached math goals in 2016 up from 16% last year but still far behind the 67% of Asian students and 53% of white students who reached that standard. Similarly, the percentage of Latinos who reached English goals grew by five points, but at 37% it was still significantly lower than the 73% of Asian students who did. 1 / 9 Hector Gray, 9, left, Rachel Asuncion, 10, middle, and Malcolm Rose, 10, right, in class at the gifted magnet program at Eagle Rock Elementary School in Los Angeles. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 9 Beatrice Wild, 10, left, and Amy Carrola, 10, smile and laugh while participating in class in the fifth grade gifted magnet program at Eagle Rock Elementary School in Los Angeles. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 9 Teacher Alicia Stanco works with fifth-grade gifted magnet students Misch Goretz, 9, left, Owen Hament, 10, and Ranya Theba, right, in class in the gifted magnet program at Eagle Rock Elementary School in Los Angeles. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 9 Amy Carrola, 10, is a fifth-grader in the gifted magnet program at Eagle Rock Elementary School in Los Angeles. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 9 Alani Rey, 10, in class in her fifth-grade gifted magnet program at Eagle Rock Elementary School in Los Angeles. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 9 Beatrice Wild, 10, left, Kiyan Vahedi, 10, and Amy Carrola, 10, right, work together in class in the fifth-grade gifted magnet program at Eagle Rock Elementary School in Los Angeles. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 9 Students work on computers during their accounting class at Downtown Magnets High School in Los Angeles. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 9 Students do classwork at Downtown Magnets High School in Los Angeles. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 9 Teacher Viviane Barrios instructs her class at Downtown Magnets High School in Los Angeles. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) Students in the Los Angeles Unified School District had lower average scores but increased their scores slightly more than their peers statewide. In California, 3.2 million public school students in grades 3 to 8 and 11th grade took the tests on computers starting in January. Called the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress, the tests are based on a relatively new set of learning goals called the Common Core. The standards being measured by the tests are much higher than those of previous state tests, where mere proficiency was enough. Theyre supposed to represent the knowledge and skills a student needs in order to be on track for their age to be prepared for college or work after high school. Were setting high goals, state Supt. of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said at a news conference Tuesday at Eagle Rock Elementary School in Los Angeles. High expectations, high hopes, combined with resources, has made a difference. Is this where we want to be? Torlakson said. No. Many states have adopted the Common Core, or their own slightly edited version of the standards. They are more challenging, and are supposed to emphasize critical thinking and in-depth learning over rote memorization. This assessment is much more focused on higher-order thinking skills than the old California test, said Stanford education professor Linda Darling-Hammond, who helped develop the assessments, which are also known as Smarter Balanced, after the group that created them. The tests are not supposed to be the sort that teachers can teach to in order to produce high marks a criticism of previous standardized tests. One question Darling-Hammond recalled, for example, places the test taker in the position of a congressional staffer whose boss has to vote on whether to build a nuclear power plant. To help the congressman decide, the student-turned-staffer must use the Internet to find evidence for or against nuclear plants, and write a speech or memo using the search results. Across the state, performance varied dramatically. The top performing districts were wealthy enclaves such as Montecito, San Marino and Cupertino. The Saratoga Union Elementary district in Santa Clara, considered part of Silicon Valley, had top math scores, with 90% of students meeting or exceeding goals. In the states biggest district, Los Angeles Unified, overall standing in both subjects while showing improvement remained lower than the state average. Only 39% of L.A. Unified students met English standards and 29% met math standards, up from 33% and 25% last year respectively. Black students in L.A. Unified had the lowest scores of any racial group and the smallest gains in both subjects, with 18% meeting math standards and 28% meeting English standards. While some chalk up the educational achievement gap to wealth, poor black and Latino students fared worse on these tests than poor white and Asian students. This is shocking. Its not a pretty picture, said UCLA education professor Tyrone Howard. We are not doing an adequate job educating poor kids, black kids, Latino kids. Howard said teachers often complain that with ever more rigorous standards, they continue to lack the training or support to teach underserved students effectively or to address the social-emotional issues, such as trauma, that can affect their learning. The achievement gap, Torlakson said, is real. He said he has created a team to tackle the problem. English learners also face serious challenges. In California, 13% of these students met English standards and 12% met math standards. In 2015, 11% of English learners met both English and math standards. In 2015-16, there were 1.37 million English learners in California, just over one-fifth of the total public school population. Analysts say English-learner scores may be low in part because most of the tests are administered solely in English. We have a long way to go, particularly in mathematics, said State Board of Education President Mike Kirst. The trend is up, but it certainly indicates that we have bigger problems in math than we do in English language arts. Even there, we dont have as many students college- and career-ready as we should. Californias gains were in line with the scores other states have posted, said Jacob Mishook, associate director of assessment and accountability at Achieve, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit focused on learning standards. The results in California are encouraging, Mishook said. California, however, needs to invest more in education to raise students performance significantly, said Carrie Hahnel, deputy director for research, policy and practice at The Education Trust West, a nonprofit advocacy group. The state, she said, only recently brought school funding back to pre-recession levels. Everyone expected scores to go up this year as is the norm in the second year of a new test, once students are used to the format and technology and teachers are more comfortable with the new learning standards. The question now is whether scores will continue to increase, Hahnel said, and whether students at the bottom will be able to catch up. The scores are just one factor that parents can use to assess the progress of the students and the quality of the schools they attend. The state has recognized that test scores arent a definitive measure of school performance, and education officials are working to redefine what a good school looks like. As the State Board of Education irons out details of a new rating system, its clear that test scores will be part of a bigger picture that includes factors such as attendance, graduation rates, the rate at which students are learning the English language and the number of suspensions. Individual scores, which are supposed to be sent home to parents, should not have negative consequences for students. School districts are using them to figure out which students might need extra help and where in order to get back on track. Were trying to move away from the punitive, judgment-type approach, said Alex Rojas, superintendent of the Bassett Unified School District. The Times analysis varies slightly from official numbers released by the state and some districts. Some test scores vary from official sources due to how decimals are rounded. In addition, The Times includes Filipinos and Pacific Islanders among Asian Americans, even though the groups are accounted for separately by the California government. joy.resmovits@latimes.com sonali.kohli@latimes.com sandra.poindexter@latimes.com Times staff writers Howard Blume and Ben Welsh contributed to this report. MORE EDUCATION NEWS Look up how your school scored on the latest California K-12 tests L.A. Unified finds money to expand health benefits despite budget worries Californias students beat the national average on the ACT, but huge gaps remain UPDATES: 12:40 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from state schools Supt. Tom Torlakson. This article was originally published at 9 a.m. More students in the Los Angeles Unified School District met statewide goals on standardized tests in 2016 than they did last year, district officials said at a meeting Tuesday. Scores on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress increased in both English and math, they reported. In English, 39% of students reached statewide goals, compared with 33% in 2015. In math, the district said, 29% of students reached those goals, compared to 25% last year. L.A. Unified disclosed its test-score gains in a presentation about the districts progress toward long-term academic goals by Cynthia Lim, director of the Office of Data and Accountability. Advertisement Lim said the district had already surpassed its improvement goals for next year, which would have been 27% in math and 35% in English Language Arts. Now, the district is going to have to aim higher, based on its own progress. Board member Ref Rodriguez questioned whether the district is being ambitious enough in its academic expectations. I appreciate the goals that have already been [achieved], Rodriguez said. And folks are thinking about how we can up it. Incremental doesnt work for me, and it doesnt work for kids. The state plans to release results for all districts Wednesday. These tests are supposed to measure whether students in different grade levels are on track to be ready for college or their careers after high school. The tests are also referred to as Smarter Balanced, the name of the group that developed them. The state tests are given to students in third through eighth grade, and to 11th-graders. Theyre supposed to be aligned to the Common Core, a set of learning goals adopted by many states in recent years. The current state testing program is relatively new. The online exams were field-tested in 2014, with no results released to the public. The first scores were made public last year, and this year marks the first time schools and districts have comparable year-over-year data on the new metrics. Before the scores were released last year, experts warned of a steep decrease compared to older standardized tests, because the new tests are significantly harder. Their predictions proved correct. And even the gains disclosed by L.A. Unified indicate that the vast majority of local students still are falling short of academic goals. howard.blume@latimes.com | @howardblume joy.resmovits@latimes.com | @Joy_Resmovits sonali.kohli@latimes.com | @Sonali_Kohli ALSO Students traumatized by loss and violence get a fighting chance to learn In a major win for teachers unions, California Supreme Court lets teacher tenure ruling stand As enrollment declines, L.A. public schools borrow a tactic from the charters: marketing State and local education officials gathered at Eagle Rock Elementary School on Wednesday to celebrate upward progress in newly released student test scores, even as the overall results showed less than half of students meeting learning goals. The scores were notably lower in Los Angeles Unified although there, too, there was improvement over last year on the new online tests, which are more difficult than those they replaced. Were setting high goals, said state Supt. of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson. High expectations, high hopes, combined with resources has made a difference. Advertisement Is this where we want to be? Torlakson said. No. Torlakson also acknowledged that schools have been unable to close the size of the gap in test scores between higher-income white and Asian students and their black, Latino and lower-income peers. Unfortunately, we didnt see the achievement gap narrow, he said. Its real and we have to do more effort. Torlakson said hed created a team to work on tackling the problem. He also predicted the new tests would prove a rich resource both to guide instruction and find models of classrooms and schools that are succeeding. Statewide, 48% of students met or exceeded the states learning targets in English Language Arts, a gain of five percentage points over the scores from last years initial use of the test. In L.A. Unified, the figure was 39%, a gain of six percentage points. In math, 37% of California students met or exceeded the learning targets, four percentage points better than 2015. In L.A. Unified, the figure was 29%, an increase of four percentage points. The Board of Education is proud of these results, said L.A. school board President Steve Zimmer. This district is continuing to make progress. Zimmer added that test scores were not the only measure, and not necessarily the most important, but provided an indicator that progress is steady. He also took on district critics. The narrative that somehow public education is failing in Los Angeles is simply a fictional narrative. All over the district, he said, you will see professionals, teachers, parents, students working together to continuously improve and get to better. Also on hand was L.A. schools Supt. Michelle King, who echoed the upbeat tone. LAUSD students achieved gains at every level, King said. We must continue striving to close the achievement gap and provide the resources needed to help children succeed. Progress was the watchword. Torlaksons chart was drawn so that the less-than-50% proficiency rate in English rose nearly to the top of the poster on display. There was literally no room for the majority of students who are not yet meeting learning goals. That emphasis was endorsed by David Rattray, executive vice president for education and workforce development for the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. These are by far the highest standards that weve put before students in the history of California, Rattray said. These standards are tough. Theyre high. The business community was part of helping define them. He said the results are especially encouraging because more students are staying in school and graduating, and many of those additional students are more likely to score poorly on tests. Were keeping them in school and theyre getting to the finish line, Rattray said. Thats a big deal. The news conference was held in the library at Eagle Rock Elementary, a popular, diverse campus with about 780 students. It hosts a neighborhood school as well as special programs for academically gifted students. During the depths of the recent recession, the district completely cut library funding for the school, but parents raised enough money to keep a library aide for three hours a day, every other week. Improved state funding has allowed the district to restore six hours of daily library service, though still every other week, said library aide Cathy Ellingford, who has begun her 24th year at the school. Local PTA board member Theresa Coxwell, who watched the press event, said she was encouraged. Her son, who just started first grade, had previously attended a private preschool. Weve been hearing about the new testing and it is a little nerve-wracking, Coxwell said. To hear that theres been improvement at a public school setting, its exciting. howard.blume@latimes.com Twitter: @howardblume MORE EDUCATION NEWS State standardized test scores are out: What do they mean? Look up how your school scored on the latest California K-12 tests California students scored better on this years state tests but fewer than half met college readiness goals The Los Angeles Fire Department is replacing the official in charge of enforcing fire safety codes for apartment houses, schools, hospitals and other high-occupancy buildings after months of turmoil over lengthy backlogs in inspections. Fire Marshal John Vidovich leaves one of the LAFDs top jobs barely two years into his tenure, a term marked by embarrassing disclosures about delinquent inspections and mounting criticism from the firefighters labor union. Last year, he pledged to reform the agencys Fire Prevention Bureau after a Times investigation found that about 6,800 buildings were months or even years overdue for an inspection. Advertisement But several senior inspectors later told The Times that, under Vidovich, the bureau put the public at risk by requiring them to cut corners on safety reviews in a frantic drive to clear the backlog. Fire Chief Ralph M. Terrazas said in a staff memo that Vidovich will step down next month and be assigned to the mayors office in an advisory position focused on new construction. A Fire Department spokesman said Vidovich intends to retire in May. The union that represents inspectors and other firefighters earlier this year voted to approve a resolution of no confidence in Vidovich. Before the 3,100-firefighter department decided to replace Vidovich, the union, a powerful player at City Hall, was preparing to pressure Mayor Eric Garcetti and other elected officials to oust him. Were very happy, said Capt. Frank Lima, president of United Firefighters of Los Angeles City. We had been talking about doing something, but then he got moved. Through a department spokesman, Vidovich and Terrazas declined interview requests. In a written statement, Terrazas said Vidovich will play a critical role in helping Garcettis office streamline the construction review process, in addition to expanding safety regulations for abandoned oil and gas wells. Lima said he had met with political strategists to develop a plan to unseat Vidovich. With Vidovich heading out the door, Lima said, the union remains comfortable with its earlier decision to back Garcetti in his upcoming reelection bid. Were with him, Lima said. In 2013, when Garcetti won the mayors office, the union supported his opponent, then-City Controller Wendy Greuel. Spokesmen for Garcetti declined to answer specific questions about Vidovichs departure or did not respond to interview requests. Deputy Mayor Jeff Gorell said in a statement that Vidovich will complement the offices efforts to improve public safety. The 2015 Times investigation found that the LAFD was lagging on inspections for a third of the buildings it considers the greatest safety risk because theyre occupied by large numbers of people. Nearly half of them were more than a year overdue for an inspection of their sprinklers, alarms and other life-saving equipment. In addition, thousands of smaller apartment buildings had never been inspected, in violation of state law. Inspectors mainly blamed staffing shortages. The department subsequently launched what it called Operation Catch-up, assigning more firefighters to serve as inspectors. In a recent report, Terrazas and Vidovich said that nearly all of the overdue inspections had been cleared. But the inspectors who spoke to The Times said those numbers were bogus. Thats all fraudulent, said Capt. Dave Riles, a 23-year veteran of the department. Many of the inspections that were counted as completed, Riles and others said, were performed by poorly trained firefighters who were coaxed by supervisors to relax safety rules and overlook violations. The result, the inspectors said, is that buildings across the city have been improperly declared safe. In response to those complaints, Garcetti said in a statement that safety can never be compromised, and bureaucracy can never be an excuse for inaction. Inspectors responsible for ensuring that brush is cut back from homes also have complained about the departments efforts to speed up the task. Terrazas has said many of the complaints are rooted in the brush inspectors slow embrace of new technology. Vidovich, whose total compensation was about $236,000 in the last fiscal year, was previously the agencys chief of staff. A department veteran of more than three decades, he also holds the rank of deputy chief. Assistant Chief Kristin Crowley will become acting fire marshal next month. Department spokesman Peter Sanders said Crowley will be promoted to the job permanently once Vidovich retires. Crowley is the first woman named to the post. Sanders said she was not available for an interview. Were very happy. ... We had been talking about doing something, but then he got moved. Capt. Frank Lima, president of the city firefighters union paul.pringle@latimes.com | Twitter: @PringleLATimes ben.welsh@latimes.com | Twitter: @palewire ALSO Illegal drugs are flowing into Californias most guarded prisons and killing death row inmates Maine land donated by Burts Bees founder is new national monument Sex offender accused of taking cellphone video of girl in Wal-Mart restroom When police arrived at his Echo Park home on Monday, the body of an 11-year-old boy was lying in a closet, wrapped in a blanket. The boy had been dead for at least several hours, showed signs of physical abuse and appeared to be malnourished, officials said. Authorities are now trying to determine the exact circumstances of the boys death and also whether officials missed warning signs of possible abuse in the home. Advertisement The boy was identified by the Los Angeles County coroners office on Wednesday as Yonatan Daniel Aguilar. Authorities said he went by the name Daniel. On Tuesday, officers with the LAPDs Abused Child Section arrested the childs mother, 39-year-old Veronica Aguilar, on suspicion of child endangerment resulting in death. UPDATE: Mother of boy who was found dead in closet of Echo Park home is charged with murder Flowers and candles form a memorial outside the Echo Park home where an 11-year-old boy was found dead Monday. Police said the boy showed signs of abuse and undernourishment. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times ) The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services received reports of possible abuse regarding the boy at least three times between 2009 and 2012, said Capt. Julian Melendez, commanding officer of the LAPDs Juvenile Division. He did not have details of the Police Departments response but added that any evidence of injury or sexual abuse would have triggered an investigation by Juvenile Division detectives. He added that he did not believe any police investigation was ever launched. Armand Montiel, a DCFS spokesman, said in an email that the law does not allow us to confirm or deny whether we provided any services to this child or family. At about 2:15 p.m. Monday, police received a call from the childs stepfather, Jose Pinzon, who said he had come home from work and his wife, Aguilar, told him the child was dead, Melendez said. Pinzon told officers that he saw the boy in a closet in the home in the 2100 block of Santa Ynez Street and ran two blocks to a 7-Eleven on Sunset Boulevard to call police because his cellphone would not work in the house, Melendez said. Officers met Pinzon there. When they found the boy, he had been dead for some time and had obvious signs of malnutrition and visible injuries, Melendez said. Police arrested Aguilar early Tuesday morning. Pinzon was not arrested, Melendez said. A neighbors note left at a small memorial outside the Echo Park home where the body of Yonatan Daniel Aguilar was found. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times ) Aguilar has at least three other children, ages 14, 16 and 18, who were not at the home but were located and contacted by police, Melendez said. They were taken to a police station, and the minors were released to DCFS, he said. An autopsy on the boys body was expected to take place Wednesday, he said. The child had not attended classes in the Los Angeles Unified School District since 2012 and was thought to have possibly been in Mexico for some time, Melendez said. It was unclear whether the boy attended school in another district. Aguilar is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail. In Echo Park, a neighbor who declined to provide her name said she and others in the tight-knit community were stunned by the boys death. Every person on this block wouldnt have hesitated to take action if they had known about the child, the neighbor told The Times. We are all devastated by this tragedy. The death comes as the DCSF has been grappling with several high-profile cases of children being killed after social workers received allegations of child abuse. In 2013, Gabriel Fernandez was beaten to death, even though authorities had numerous warnings of abuse in his home. His mother and her boyfriend have been charged with murder and torture. Gabriel was forced to eat cat feces, shot with BBs and locked in a cabinet at his Palmdale home, officials say. The abuse of the 8-year-old boy went on for several months despite repeated reports to DCFS and the Sheriffs Department, records show. Four social workers have been charged with felony child abuse and falsifying records in connection with Gabriels killing. Prosecutors alleged that they minimized his physical, mental and emotional injuries and allowed him to remain in the home. In September 2015, three young brothers were found stabbed to death in the back seat of their familys car in South Los Angeles. The boys, Luis, 10; Juan, 9; and Alex, 8, had been the subject of multiple calls to the countys child abuse hotline alleging physical abuse by their father. The family had been supervised for a year, ending in 2011, by social workers. A year before their death, the boys risk of abuse at home had been marked as high by a DCFS program intended to guide social workers degree of intervention. The childrens father, Luiz Fuentes, was charged with capital murder. Authorities said he stabbed the boys and himself. At a hearing, he appeared in a suicide prevention gown, sobbing. Perdoname, he said. Forgive me. hailey.branson@latimes.com Twitter: @haileybranson richard.winton@latimes.com Twitter: @lacrimes MORE LOCAL NEWS California students score better on state tests, but only slightly 710 Freeway lanes near Long Beach reopened after triple big rig crash Illegal drugs are flowing into Californias most guarded prisons and killing death row inmates UPDATES: 10:25 a.m. Aug. 25: This article was updated with the boys name and information about the deaths of three boys in September. 8:10 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from one of the boys neighbors in Echo Park. 5:09 p.m. This article was updated with more information and background. The three missing children of a woman found dead along a road in rural Los Angeles County were safely located Wednesday by authorities at a motel in New Mexico. The children were allegedly kidnapped by the dead womans sister, Brittany Humphrey, 22, and Humphreys boyfriend, Joshua Robertson, 27, who remain at large and are considered persons of interest in the womans death, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. Authorities believe that Humphrey and Robertson took the children sometime either before or after the slaying of their mother, Kimberly Harvill. Advertisement Immediately after the murder or sometime shortly after, it is suspicious that they did not come forward to law enforcement and instead fled, said L.A. County sheriffs homicide Lt. Joe Mendoza. The couple are believed to be headed east from Albuquerque, N.M. The children were left in the care of a Good Samaritan at a hotel near the outskirts of Albuquerque, sheriffs officials said in a statement. The children are Joslynn Watkins, 2; Brayden Watkins, 3; and Rylee Watkins, 5. Their father is believed to be deceased, and the children will be placed in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services. Authorities were arranging their return to California, sheriffs officials said. The Sheriffs Department said the couple were probably driving a 1999 Ford Expedition, which could have either paper plates or the California license plate 7BEK024. Witnesses have given differing accounts of the cars color, indicating it may be silver or forest green. The vehicle may have a rear sticker that reads, R.I.P. Chad Watkins, a decal with a six-person, stick-figure family, or camouflage duct tape at the base of the car on the outside. Authorities said that Robertson and Humphrey were traveling with an infant, who is not related to Harvills children. Identifying details about the infant were not released. The missing childrens mother, Harvill, was found dead Aug. 14 along Gorman Post Road in Lebec, close to L.A. Countys border with Kern County. A motorist who was taking a rest during a long drive spotted the slain woman lying in roadside brush. She had multiple upper-body gunshot wounds and head trauma, which led authorities to conclude she had been killed. Investigators initially had difficulty identifying the body. Detectives released a composite sketch of the woman and sought the publics help to identify her. Thankfully, due to the press coming out and putting that out, we were able to identify the victim, Lt. Joe Mendoza of L.A. County Sheriffs Homicide said in a Wednesday news conference. Detectives determined that Harvill and the kidnapping suspects formerly lived in Fresno but were staying in Lebec in the days before the murder. They were known to go from motel to motel, Mendoza said. The couple have family in Nebraska as well as ties in Kansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Robertson, who has a criminal history and a previous arrest for possession of a firearm, and Humphrey are considered to be armed and dangerous. People should not approach them, Mendoza said. Anyone with information is asked to contact their local police immediately. They can also notify the Sheriffs Departments Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500, or provide information via Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. matt.hamilton@latimes.com Twitter: @MattHjourno. UPDATES: 6:05 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details about the alleged kidnapping and recovery of the children. This article was originally published at 3:20 p.m. Authorities in Los Angeles County were searching Wednesday for two people suspected of kidnapping the three young children of a woman found dead last week on the side of a road near Gorman. The dead womans sister, Brittany Humphrey, 22, and Humphreys boyfriend, Joshua Robertson, 27, were last seen with the three children, who are all younger than 5, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. Authorities believe that Humphrey and Robertson took the children sometime either before or after their mothers murder. The two are wanted for kidnapping and are also considered persons of interest in the homicide case. Advertisement Immediately after the murder or sometime shortly after, it is suspicious that they did not come forward to Law Enforcement and instead fled, said Lt. Joe Mendoza of L.A. County Sheriffs Homicide. Definitely, the children are at risk. The couple is believed to be headed Eastbound on the 40 freeway, and sources have reported theyve reached as far as New Mexico. The Sheriffs Department said they were probably driving a 1999 Ford Expedition, which could have either paper plates or the California license plate 7BEK024. Different witnesses have given different accounts of the cars color, indicating it may be silver or forest green. The vehicle may have a rear sticker that reads, R.I.P. Chad Watkins, a decal with a six-person, stick-figure family, or camouflage duct tape at the base of the car on the outside. The missing childrens mother, Kimberly Harvill, was found dead Aug. 14 along Gorman Post Road in Lebec, close to the countys border with Kern County. A motorist who was taking a rest during a long drive spotted the slain woman lying in the roadside brush. She had multiple upper body gunshot wounds and trauma to the head, which led authorities to conclude she was murdered. Investigators initially had difficulty identifying the victim, who had distinct tattoos such as a Playboy bunny logo, a red cross and the names Braden and Rylee on her body. Detectives released a composite sketch of the woman and sought the publics help to identify her. Thankfully, due to the press coming out and putting that out, we were able to identify the victim, Lt. Joe Mendoza of L.A. County Sheriffs Homicide said in a Wednesday press conference. Detectives determined that Harvill and the kidnapping suspects formerly lived in the city of Fresno, but were staying in Lebec in the days prior to the murder. They were known to go from motel to motel, Mendoza said. The missing children are Joslynn Watkins, 2; Brayden Watkins, 3; and Rylee Watkins, 5. Their father is believed to be deceased. The suspect couple has family in Nebraska as well as ties in Kansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Robertson, who has a criminal history and a previous arrest for possession of a firearm, and Humphrey are considered armed and dangerous. Out of precaution, people should not approach them, Mendoza said. Anyone with information is asked to contact their local police immediately. They can also notify the Sheriffs Departments Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500, or provide information via Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. matt.hamilton@latimes.com Twitter: @MattHjourno ALSO Five arrested on suspicion of running sex trafficking ring More L.A. Unified students reach goals on statewide exams, district says San Diego Zoos beloved elephant Ranchipur euthanized at age 50 The Los Angeles Police Department will create a novel program to reach out to the families of people killed during encounters with officers and help them navigate the often-complicated aftermath of such incidents, officials announced Tuesday. Details about the so-called Family Liaison Program are still being worked out, however the president of the civilian board that oversees the LAPD said the goal was to better communicate with relatives of those who are killed by police or died while in the LAPDs custody. Police Commission President Matt Johnson noted that relatives of people fatally shot by LAPD officers often attend the commissions weekly meetings looking for answers about such deaths or demanding to see video showing what happened. But they also come seeking documents, such as death certificates or police reports, so they can bury their loved ones or alleviate costs through insurance companies. Advertisement If you hear some of the complaints of family members, of course some of it is that they want to see the video. But a lot of it is, I cant bury my child because they dont have a death certificate, Johnson said. This will give them a specific point of contact. Johnson cautioned that the LAPD would still not be able to share certain information with the families because of the confidential nature of the investigations into such incidents. The LAPD, for example, does not generally make video of shootings by police officers public. But Johnson said a formal liaison could explain how the deaths are investigated and reviewed and the role of the district attorneys office as well as work with the coroners office to help families get more information. These deaths, no matter what the circumstances, are tragic for the deceaseds loved ones, friends and community, he said at Tuesdays meeting. I believe that there is more we can and should do. LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said he was unaware of similar programs in the U.S., but said department officials had looked into comparable efforts made by police in Britain. The chief and other police commissioners said they supported the idea. Eugene ODonnell, a former New York police officer and lecturer at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said this was the first such program he had heard of. Too often, he said, police departments play defense and keep people at bay, contributing to an adversarial relationship between agencies and these families. 1 / 5 Sheila Hines, aunt of Wakiesha Wilson, who was found dead in her jail cell in March, is in tears after an L.A. Police Commission meeting. Family members have sought more information about her death. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 5 Protestors gather on the steps of City Hall after being expelled from the Police Commission meeting. The commission closed its meeting to the public when the demonstrators refused to stop chanting the names of people killed or beaten by police officers. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 5 Jasmine Abdullah and other Black Lives Matter activists gather on the steps of City Hall after being forced out of the Police Commission meeting room. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 5 Sheila Hines, right, aunt of Wakiesha Wilson, hugs Eden Jequinto during the protest on the steps of City Hall. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 5 Protestors gather in front of the L.A. Police Department headquarters. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) Hopefully the LAPD can blaze a trail here, ODonnell said. Although LAPD officials have reached out to families after deadly police encounters after a recent shooting at a Watts housing project, for example, an officer approached the slain mans father and explained the investigation that would follow those efforts are often done informally. The liaison program would formalize the process, designating a specific person within the LAPD to talk to the families of those killed. The LAPDs investigations into police shootings or other serious uses of force usually take several months to complete before the Police Commission reviews each case to determine whether officers followed department rules. Relatives of those killed often express frustration with those timelines. Beck, who recently met with Johnson and discussed the idea, said the liaison could help bridge the gap with families and explain what goes into each investigation in other words, why things take as long as they take. Is that going to alleviate their pain? No, the chief said. Is that going to help them get through this better? I think yes. Beck said that although deadly encounters with police may occur after some type of assault against officers, we shouldnt hold that against the family. As I believe to my core, even though the acts of an individual involved directly with the police may have been criminal, that doesnt mean the family isnt grieving, Beck said. That doesnt mean they dont need information. That doesnt mean that the process shouldnt be explained to them. Beck said the LAPD would work with the Police Commission to identify the right person within the department for the job. Like police departments across the country, the LAPD has drawn more scrutiny in recent years over shootings involving officers, part of the ongoing national conversation about how officers use force. Police Commission meetings have become emotionally charged in recent months, particularly after a shooting. On-duty LAPD officers have shot 17 people this year, according to data compiled by The Times. Fourteen of those people were killed. Last year, on-duty LAPD officers shot 36 people, 21 of whom were killed. Those shootings again came into focus at Tuesdays commission meeting, as dozens of activists chanted the names of people killed by police this year. They also mentioned Wakiesha Wilson, a woman who died in an LAPD jail cell this year in what coroners officials have described as a suicide. The group ignored Johnsons repeated requests to stop disrupting the meeting and the commissioners left the room. A lieutenant asked the group to leave as they continued to shout the names. If we dont stand up for our babies, that is criminal. Melina Abdullah, organizer with the Black Lives Matter movement These are somebodys babies, Melina Abdullah, an organizer with the Black Lives Matter movement, told the crowd. If we dont stand up for our babies, that is criminal. The commissioners briefly came back, only to recess into closed session a few minutes later. Police ultimately declared an unlawful assembly, and the activists moved from the meeting room outside the LAPDs downtown headquarters. A crowd of about 75 people briefly faced off with a line of officers, then circled in front of the building, chanting the names and calling for Becks firing. No arrests were made, police said. When the Police Commission resumed its meeting and the new liaison program was announced only LAPD officials and reporters were in the room. kate.mather@latimes.com Follow me on Twitter: @katemather MORE LOCAL NEWS Federal appeals court sides with immigrant convicted of cockfighting L.A. Unified finds money to expand health benefits despite budget worries Reversal of death sentence reflects leftward tilt of California Supreme Court A Pasadena doctor convicted of falsely certifying that more than 79 patients were terminally ill as part of a scheme to bilk Medicare and Medi-Cal was sentenced by a federal judge to four years in prison. U.S. District Judge S. James Otero also ordered Boyao Huang, 43, to pay $1,344,204 in restitution last week. In May, Huang was found guilty of four counts of healthcare fraud at the conclusion of a two-week trial that centered on a ploy to defraud the government of $8.8 million by making it pay for hospice-related services. Huang could have received up to 10 years in prison for each of the counts. A second physician, Sri Dr. J Wijegoonaratna, 61, of Anaheim, was found guilty of seven counts of healthcare fraud during the trial. He is awaiting sentencing. Advertisement Prosecutors said the scheme involved Covina-based California Hospice Care, where employees paid so-called marketers or cappers to recruit Medicare and Medi-Cal beneficiaries. The patients were assessed by nurses to determine if they were terminally ill, according to federal prosecutors. Prosecutors argued that regardless of the nurse assessments, Huang and Wijegoonaratna certified that the patients were dying, even though most were not. The false certifications were then used to submit bills for unnecessary services, prosecutors said. In fact, only a small percentage of patients died notwithstanding the two doctors declaring they needed hospice care, said Eileen M. Decker, the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California. Prosecutors also said that Wijegoonaratna recruited some patients into the scheme and received tens of thousands of dollars in kickbacks. The California Medical Board has revoked his medical license. The scheme was shut down in June 2013, according to prosecutors. In addition to the two doctors, eight other defendants were charged in the scheme and have pleaded guilty to healthcare fraud charges. Those defendants include a Placentia woman who purchased California Hospice Care in 2007 and operated the facility after being charged and incarcerated in another healthcare fraud scheme. Priscilla Villabroza, 70, who pleaded guilty in December 2015 to one count of healthcare fraud, was sentenced to eight years in prison. richard.winton@latimes.com Twitter: @lacrimes ALSO California students scored better on this years state tests but fewer than half met college readiness goals State standardized test scores are out: What do they mean? San Jose police officer accused of providing information to Vietnamese gang members Restaurants, bars will be keeping their doors open into the early hours. In an explicit gesture to bring tourists more nightlife, Hanoi's municipal administration has given restaurants and bars in Hoan Kiem District the go-ahead to open until 2 a.m. from Friday to Sunday starting September 1. The city, which announced the decision Wednesday, has also made it clear that businesses that stay open past midnight must meet security criteria, register with the district and be soundproofed so as not to wake the neighbors. The idea behind the plan is to pull in more tourists, particularly foreigners, and control late-night business operations in Hanoi, because many have ignored the current curfew and stayed open after midnight anyway, according to the citys leaders. At present all performance shows, dance clubs and karaoke bars are banned from opening between 12 a.m. and 8 a.m. Internet cafes and other recreational services are banned from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. Business owners and tourists in Hanoi's Old Quarter seem to think it is a good idea. Vietnam's capital lifts midnight 'curfew' Hanoi: to lift or not to lift the midnight curfew The pilot scheme is part of a bigger plan to boost Hanoi's status as a tourism destination, alongside the 1,000 public toilets and 50 drinking fountains it is about to install, as well as a plan to free up roads for pedestrians around Hoan Kiem Lake and free city-wide wifi, even on buses. TripAdvisor, the worlds largest travel site, last month named Hanoi as the least expensive international destination. Related news: > Hanoi: to lift or not to lift the midnight curfew > TripAdvisor names Hanoi most affordable city to visit A San Jose police officer was arrested on suspicion of supplying information to a Vietnamese street gang involved in gambling, drugs and extortion, authorities announced Wednesday. The officer, identified by KNTV as Derrick Antonio, was booked on suspicion of five felony counts of unauthorized computer access and one count of being an accessory after the fact. The officer, who has been with the department for more than nine years, allegedly helped a gang known in the San Jose area for operating out of Vietnamese cafes and businesses, police said. The investigation into the gang, dubbed Operation Gang of Thrones, launched in March and culminated in Antonios and others arrest Tuesday. Advertisement The gang was also involved in assaults and public corruption, authorities said. According to KNTV, 21 arrest warrants and 33 search warrants were served at local homes and businesses as part of the operation. San Jose police have scheduled a news conference for Wednesday afternoon. joseph.serna@latimes.com For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter. MORE LOCAL NEWS California students score better on state tests, but only slightly 710 Freeway lanes near Long Beach reopened after triple big rig crash Illegal drugs are flowing into Californias most guarded prisons and killing death row inmates Santa Clara County prosecutors have charged a former correctional guard with felony assault for violently subduing an inmate in the main jail in 2013, officials said Tuesday. Timmy Tri, 35, was arrested Monday and charged with assault and battery by an officer and assault with deadly force and is expected to be arraigned in September, prosecutors said. Tri allegedly punched and kicked an inmate in the head who was being held down after he fought with another deputy. The incident occurred on the fifth floor inside the countys main jail Oct. 3, 2013. Advertisement Prosecutors were given the case to consider for charges once before but rejected it. A second review with additional evidence this year resulted in charges, authorities said. Guards sometimes need to use force to subdue an inmate for a variety of reasons, but they must always maintain self-control, Deputy Dist. Atty. John Chase said in a statement. Theres no justification for kicking an inmate in the head and face while he is pinned to the floor. A number of Santa Clara County sheriffs deputies have come under investigation over the last year following reports that inmates were forced to fight each other and others were subject to beatings from guards. joseph.serna@latimes.com For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter. Five people were arrested on suspicion of running a San Gabriel Valley-based sex trafficking ring that operated from San Diego to Fresno, authorities said Tuesday. The five are suspected of forcing at least 28 victims, all Chinese nationals, into prostitution in nine counties across Central and Southern California, according to the Ventura County Sheriffs Office. Hsin Chieh Jerry Wang, 40, of Covina, was accused of heading the organization. Officials allege that his sister, Yiwen Wang, 42, also of Covina, laundered money obtained from the sex trade. Advertisement Jiuyin Cui, 63, of Rosemead, and Runan Xia, 32, of Alhambra, were accused of taking clients to and from hotels and motels where the victims stayed, and Defung Hu, 33, of San Gabriel, allegedly coordinated the illicit appointments, according to detectives. The arrests followed a six-month investigation by local, state and federal law enforcement agencies In February, members of the Ventura County Sheriffs office, along with the District Attorneys Office and the Oxnard Police Department, began tracing suspicious advertisements found on backpage.com and other social media websites to motels throughout the county. During one sting operation, they identified a sex trafficking victim and determined that she was part of a larger organization that extended throughout the region. Investigators formed a task force with additional partners, including the FBI, to gather evidence and information about the alleged trafficking group, and on Aug. 4, law enforcement officials executed a search warrant at an apartment in the San Gabriel Valley, arresting the five suspects. Authorities also seized several million dollars in assets, including three properties. Authorities said there may be others involved, but the five in custody are believed to have led the operation. The victims identified so far are all female Chinese nationals who came to the U.S. by legitimate means, such as work or school visas, according to officials. They get here and unwittingly enter this basically modern-day slavery situation, said Captain Garo Kuredjian, media-relations officer for the Ventura sheriffs office. The women were taken to rented rooms where they were forced to perform sex acts over several days to a week. In many cases they were also the victims of violence and robbery. They incur debt by way of the hotel rooms, the food, and the transportation that they are unable to repay, Kuredjian said. Its kind of like a hamster on a wheel. They will never be able to catch up. According to Kuredjian, the victims have refused to cooperate with authorities. Were not sure if its a cultural thing, or fear, said Kuredjian. The victims spoke very little, if any, English. If convicted of conspiracy to commit human trafficking, Hsin Chieh Wang and Hu face a maximum 24 years in prison. Cui and Xia face a maximum of 14 years, and Yiwen Wang faces a maximum of 4 years. All five suspects remained in custody, with bail set at $5 million each. ALSO Pair sought in kidnapping of dead womans 3 young children Ax-wielding man holed up in Carson carwash is a former employee, officials say Santa Clara County corrections guard charged with punching and kicking an inmate in the head A registered sex offender was arrested Monday on suspicion of recording cellphone video of a girl in a restroom at a San Diego County discount store, and authorities believe there may be others victimized in a similar way. The 10-year-old alleged victim told sheriffs deputies that a man followed her into the womens restroom of a Wal-Mart, went into a stall next to her and recorded her with a cellphone camera while making sexual comments, sheriffs Lt. Dan Brislin said Tuesday. The suspect was gone when deputies got to the store on Camino Canada south of Lakeside on Wednesday. Advertisement The girl later identified the suspect through surveillance video obtained from store security. Sheriffs detectives arrested Robert Becker, 21, at his Alpine home on Monday. Becker was booked into jail on charges of attempted lewd and lascivious acts on a minor, annoying or molesting a child with a prior conviction, and disorderly lewd conduct. MORE LOCAL NEWS California students score better on state tests, but only slightly 710 Freeway lanes near Long Beach reopened after triple big rig crash Illegal drugs are flowing into Californias most guarded prisons and killing death row inmates After high-profile shootings last month reignited a national debate on race and policing, thousands of black Americans responded through protests across dozens of cities with chants of black lives matter and demands for policing reforms. A smaller but growing number have also replied in another, subtler way: by heading to the mountains and forests for yoga and daylong walks through the woods. The healing hikes, organized by Oakland-based Outdoor Afro, have taken place around the country in order to give black Americans a chance to talk and meditate over a summer of violence and take respite from it. In the last month, theyve taken place by a riverside outside Atlanta, in the hilly streets and parks of San Francisco, at a Key Biscayne beach in Miami and in an urban Baltimore park. Advertisement Black Lives Matter signs onto a platform in time for the presidential election Now, Outdoor Afro founder Rue Mapp wants to bring healing hikes and what she calls the outdoor black experience to more Americans. Mapp, a former Morgan Stanley analyst who grew up on a ranch 100 miles north of Oakland, launched the outdoor community seven years ago as a blog to encourage black Americans to experience the outdoors before expanding it into a nonprofit with chapters in 30 states. The group has issued a call for healing hikes to be held across the U.S. and is training community leaders in how to translate trauma over violence into the empowerment of black communities. The Times spoke to Mapp, 44, about black Americans relationship to the outdoors, the role healing hikes can play in civil rights movements, and diversity in American parks ahead of the National Park Service centennial on Aug. 25. Questions and answers have been edited for length and clarity. Whats the origin of Outdoor Afro? It began as just something I was interested in. But it evolved into a national platform to bring people together from all walks of life to not only be participants but leaders in the outdoors, which you dont see enough of among black Americans. Usually, you might picture a white, male park ranger when you think of the outdoors. I saw an opportunity to shift the visual representation of who the outdoors belong to. Black people are intimately familiar with the environment. Think of George Washington Carver, think of Harriet Tubman. She had to have that working knowledge of how to navigate away from danger and amid wildlife. How can we tap into that today to be resilient to the challenges we face? People are not joining clubs in the traditional sense anymore; theyre hitting the like button or going to Meetup.com, where our groups are organized. A lot of black neighborhoods have been brutalized. People are no longer able to afford to live in the places they used to. They want their kids to experience the parks they grew up around but no longer have easy access to. Thats where we come in. How did healing hikes come into the picture? It was just around the time of Michael Browns death in Ferguson in 2014. Oakland was bracing for tension. I didnt go protest but I wondered what my part could be. I was walking to my car one day; there were helicopters over my head. The answer came: You do nature. Nature is your lane. We got 30 people together in the Oakland hills. We assembled in this place that doesnt have a lot of visitation from people like us but is very much ours too. We started with an intention of peace and understanding. There was something cool and calm about the redwoods. We were in the forest and could hear each other a new way. We went down by the riverbank to talk about how the violence had impacted us. And we realized we were doing what African Americans have always done. Like the Negro spiritual, we were laying down our burdens down by the riverside. It was not until that moment that I understood how nature is here for healing. Sadly, because of all these tragedies, weve had more and more of a reason to do healing hikes. Weve had more than 50 of them. When there is gun violence, when we are traumatized, we go to nature. When youre at work, in the office, you have to leave so many pieces of you at the door. When youre outdoors in nature, you can bring all of your parts. Were parents, were LGBT people, were biologists, were lawyers, were Christians. We take everyone. There have been 16,000 people who have joined Outdoor Afro hikes over the years, and there are now 61 volunteer leaders around the U.S. who organize weekly and monthly events. What has the impact been? For us, weve gotten to advance our own narrative. The violence is all happening outdoors. Its caused people to feel marooned in their own homes. They dont feel they can be outdoors and safe. The other night, just a block from my home in Oakland, a man was coming out of the corner market and was roughed up by the police. For us, its not just about being outdoors. Its about black joy while being outdoors. Rue Mapp, founder of Outdoor Afro For us, its not just about being outdoors. Its about black joy while being outdoors. For a long time, I had a banner image on our website of black men running down the street laughing. That is the freedom we are trying to get back. We used to have a stoop culture, we used to have mothers of the neighborhood watching kids as they got into all kinds of mischief. But now we are so worried about the criminalization of play. You cant go into an abandoned lot and goof off; you cant accidentally break a window anymore. We are not just doing this as protest. Were doing it to reclaim black joy. National parks set a record last year with 305 million visitors. The most recent study of racial makeup of park visitors, which was released in 2011, showed that just 22% of visitors were non-white. Why is that and how is Outdoor Afro trying to change it? Its not that were not welcome in our parks; its just that people dont realize there is a community of folks like them that they can go with. Weve found that sometimes when you get grandma on a trip, shes got more to say about nature than the team leader. Were also not that far from the horrors and terrors that were brought upon us in the cover of night and nature. In our recent past, lynchings were numerous. Still, its safer in some ways to be out in nature or even the backcountry than to be in many of our neighborhoods. People apply every year for us to train them in how to lead our groups across parks, beaches, lakes, rivers and mountains. Were trying to cultivate people who will be stewards of our parks for the future and who represent the diversity of our nation not just right now but the diversity of what it will become. I always thought I wanted to do this work to get people outdoors and to cultivate leadership thats not seen in other outdoor groups. I didnt realize, though, how critical this work would come in building a positive view of nature and of black community. jaweed.kaleem@latimes.com Jaweed Kaleem is The Times national race and justice correspondent. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. MORE NATIONAL NEWS As John McCain fights for reelection, the Trump problem cuts two ways both against him Obama tours flood-damaged Louisiana and dismisses criticism that his visit was delayed Amid Milwaukee unrest, a conservative black sheriff clashes with the citys liberal white police chief When she scooped up the cash after allegedly robbing a US Bank branch in Cheyenne, Wyo., Linda Patricia Thompson seemed resigned to the punishment that awaited her. A 59-year-old transgender woman, Thompson had endured nothing but trouble since arriving in Wyoming weeks before. She had been turned away from a Cheyenne homeless shelter, then was beaten in a park, landing in a hospital where she was treated for facial fractures. A month before, she had finished up a six-year prison term in Oregon for robbery. She had departed reluctantly, telling officials she wouldnt survive without a cell and free meals, according to court records. She wound up hopping a passing freight train to Wyoming, where she had worked on oil rigs when she was living as a man. But court records show she ended up sleeping in the bushes. Advertisement So after snatching the bundles of cash and heading out the bank door, Thompson tossed some of the bills into the air and handed out money to passers-by, bank employees told police. Then she sat on an upside-down 5-gallon bucket with the remaining cash stacked neatly in front of her, and waited for the cops to arrive. Thompson told police officers, and later a judge, that she longed to be back in prison. She had spent almost a third of her life there 18 years in all in mens lockups for assorted theft and holdup convictions. Prison is home to me, she said at a federal court hearing this month when she changed her plea from not guilty to guilty. So Im just going back home. She had only one request. Id like as much time as possible, she told U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Freudenthal. The judge didnt question her when she asked for as much time as possible, Assistant U.S. Atty. Stuart Healy said this week. All of that will likely shake out at sentencing. The change-of-plea hearing is pretty much restricted to taking the plea making sure its knowing and voluntary. So there wasnt much discussion about Ms. Thompsons life or the decisions she has made. But her decision to rob a bank was expressly done to return to prison, Healy said. She does, certainly, want to go back to jail. She has made that clear, he said. And it is true that she was assaulted in a park here prior to the bank robbery. According to FBI Agent Tory Smith, the bank heist was planned right down to the last detail of getting caught. Armed with only a note, scrawled on a piece of cardboard and stating, I have a gun. Give me all your money, Thompson walked into the bank shortly after 10 a.m. July 27 and slid the note in front of a teller, Smith recounted in an affidavit. The teller read it, looked up, and said, Excuse me? Smith wrote that Thompson casually confirmed the message. Yeah, she said, this is a robbery. The teller hastily began stacking cash on the counter. Court records show it was a decent haul: $16,300. Thompson grabbed the stacks and walked out with her arms full, bank employees said. When the squad cars pulled up, officers said, Thompson was matter-of-fact: I just robbed the bank. I want to go back to prison. Thompsons attorney, federal public defender David Weiss, says its an unusual case to start with, and an exceptional one because of Thompsons desire to spend as much time as possible behind bars. He told the Associated Press that Thompson was competent, intelligent and an advocate for transgender prison inmates. She was featured a decade ago in a documentary, Cruel and Unusual, an award-winning film that described the lives of transgender prisoners. In the film, Thompson, born male but living as a woman in later years, discusses how she castrated herself with a razor blade in an Idaho mens prison while she was doing time for theft. It was like 100,000 tons of hate and animosity towards myself was all of a sudden just lifted off my shoulders, she recalled in the documentary. I was happy. For the first time in my life, I loved myself. She wound up hospitalized, and began to get the hormone treatment the prison had earlier refused to supply, court records show. Thompson later sued the prison for damages, won a settlement and was sent to a transgender clinic at the California prison systems main medical facility in Vacaville. The settlement ran out after her release and she pulled off her first bank job, winding up in male housing at the state prison in Salem, Ore., court records show. Because the federal corrections system now considers gender identity in housing inmates, Thompson will probably end up in a federal prison for women once she is sentenced. But for how long is unclear. She pleaded guilty three weeks ago, but there is no agreed-upon sentence, said Healy, the prosecutor. I can tell you that at her change of plea, Ms. Thompson did ask Judge Freudenthal to give her the maximum sentence allowed by law, which is 20 years. Her sentencing date is set for Oct. 12. She is currently in federal custody. Anderson is a special correspondent. ALSO As John McCain fights for reelection, the Trump problem cuts two ways both against him With healing hikes, activists take black lives into the outdoors Can Donald Trump really round up and deport 11 million people? Bernie Sanders launches political organization to further his progressive ideals His campaign is over, yet Bernie Sanders says that the movement he helped create one that ignited a youthful, liberal following during the Democratic primary will press onward. And on Wednesday, the Vermont senator sought to help it press ahead with the launch of Our Revolution, a political organization that will raise money and dole it out to candidates in lockstep with Sanders ideals. We changed the conversation regarding the possibilities of our country, Sanders said of his campaign against Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee. We redefined what the vision and the future of our country should be. Yet the groups launch has been a bit bumpy. Several key staffers initially involved in the group resigned in recent days after Sanders announced that Jeff Weaver, a long-time aide to Sanders who served as his campaign manager, would oversee it. Weaver, whose style can at times be combative, had set up the group as a 501(c)(4), which allows it to receive unlimited contributions from anonymous donors a move, said a person close to the group who is not authorized to speak publicly, that led to the resignations because it contrasts with ideals Sanders preached on the campaign trail. Throughout the primary Sanders railed against big money in politics. That message, coupled with pledges to address income inequality, fueled his grass-roots following. In a speech livestreamed Wednesday night from Burlington, Vt., Sanders did not note the groups status as a 501(c)(4), but stressed that his populist message would endure. He noted that his campaign helped push forward a progressive platform at the Democratic National Convention last month. The platform calls for a $15-per-hour federal minimum wage, expansion of Social Security and setting a price on greenhouse gas emissions. If anyone thinks that that document and what is in that platform is simply going to be resting on a shelf somewhere accumulating dust, they are very mistaken, Sanders said. We are going to bring that platform alive and make it the blueprint for moving the Democrats forward. Sanders, who formally endorsed Clinton last month, plans to stump for her in several battleground states this fall. He has also endorsed the campaigns of down-ticket candidates in a host of states, who have embraced his calls for free college tuition and raising the federal minimum wage, now at $7.25. Among those candidates is Tim Canova, who is challenging Debbie Wasserman Schultz, former chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, in an Aug. 30 primary for the South Florida congressional seat shes held since 2013. Sanders battled with Wasserman Schultz throughout the primary, saying she was tipping the scales for Clinton by, among other things, offering a limited number of debates. Wasserman Schultz resigned last month after internal emails made public by the website WikiLeaks confirmed bias by some DNC officials in favor of Clinton. Trump wavers on pledge to deport 11 million immigrants in U.S. illegally (Steve Helber / Associated Press) Donald Trump backed away Tuesday from his pledge to deport 11 million immigrants in the country illegally. It was a dramatic shift for the Republican presidential nominee, whose vow to crack down on illegal immigration has been a pillar of his candidacy. Trumps reversal highlighted the difficulty he faces in trying to broaden his appeal without turning off his most fervent supporters. His statements came in response to a Fox News question on whether he would adjust immigration laws to accommodate those people that contribute to society, have been law abiding, have kids here. There could certainly be a softening, because were not looking to hurt people, Trump responded. Trump said hed spoken to many Americans who want tough enforcement of immigration laws, but feel that throwing them out as a whole family, where theyve been here for a long time, its a tough thing. They do feel that. Not that Trump has forgotten his core supporters. Hours later, he returned to his combative posture on illegal immigration at a rally in Austin, Texas, where he encouraged the crowds chant of Build that wall! And whos going to pay for the wall? Trump shouted. Mexico! the audience roared. Trump went on to lament homicides, rapes, burglaries and other crimes committed in Texas by immigrants in the U.S. illegally, inviting several mothers of the victims to join him on stage and share their grief. Trump went on to falsely accuse his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton of favoring a totally open border. She wants to gut immigration enforcement, he said. Trumps running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, added to the muddle of Trumps mixed message on immigration when a CBS News correspondent asked him to explain Trumps evolving stand on deportations. I think those are issues that will continue to be worked out in the days ahead, Pence said. As for Trumps vow to deploy a deportation force, Pence responded, People who have run afoul of the law got to leave immediately. The details, he said, would be worked out with Congress. In a wrongheaded ruling that purports to apply to the entire country, a federal judge in Texas has blocked an Obama administration directive requiring schools to allow transgender students to use the bathrooms and locker rooms of their choice. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Reed OConnor is disappointing because it will perpetuate policies that make life difficult for children who often face ostracism and bullying. But its also lamentable for its reliance on an outdated understanding of the legal concept of sex discrimination one that cries out for correction by the Supreme Court. On May 13, the U.S. Department of Education sent a letter to school districts advising them that students should be allowed to use the restrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity even if that identity didnt match the sex they were assigned at birth. Advertisement The letter reminded the schools that, as a condition of receiving federal funds, they are prohibited by a law known as Title IX from denying benefits to students on the basis of sex which the Education Department in recent years has interpreted to include discrimination on the basis of gender identity. OConnor flatly rejected that view. Ruling on a challenge to the Education Departments policy brought by 13 states and two school districts, he interpreted Title IX and a regulation implementing it as defining sex only in terms of biological differences between male and female students. That was also Congress intent, he suggested. Fortunately, other courts have been more enlightened. In April, the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond took a more favorable view of the Education Departments interpretation of Title IX in ruling in favor of a transgender boy who wanted to use the male restroom at his Virginia high school. That decision has been stayed by the U.S. Supreme Court pending an expected appeal by the school district. In the past, the Supreme Court has recognized that concepts such as sex discrimination evolve with the times. For example, in 1998 the court ruled in favor of a male oil-rig worker who alleged that he had been the victim of sexual harassment by male co-workers even though male-on-male harassment wasnt on Congress mind when it enacted laws against workplace discrimination. In that case, the late Justice Antonin Scalia noted that statutory prohibitions often go beyond the principal evil to cover reasonably comparable evils. The justices should similarly rule that Title IXs ban on sex discrimination in schools protects transgender students and that the Education Departments rules are a reasonable way to accomplish that end. Its time that a truce is called in the bathroom wars and that transgender students are treated with dignity. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook. MORE FROM OPINION How using Ebonics impacts black Americans Sick and tired of hearing that Hillary Clinton is sick and tired The housing for the homeless bond on the November ballot will tax us unfairly and it wont solve the problem Republicans and Democrats dont agree on much, but most agree on this: The federal government isnt working the way it should. Instead of fixing problems and boosting the economy, recent presidents have seemed to lurch from crisis to crisis from Iraq and Hurricane Katrina under George W. Bush to Islamic State and the Obamacare rollout under Barack Obama. The problem is real, and its getting worse. One recent study found that government breakdowns have occurred twice as often under Bush and Obama as during the decades before. Thats driven public trust in government to historic lows. Last year, the Pew Research Center found that only 19% of Americans trust the federal government to do the right thing most of the time. Advertisement Partisans will tell you the reason is simple: People in the other party have messed things up. Republicans say big government doesnt work (even though it once did better, at least, than its working now). Democrats say thats because Republicans wont let the government work. Elaine C. Kamarck of the Brookings Institution has a different explanation: Our last two presidents have both taken their eyes off the ball. In a smart, concise book, Why Presidents Fail, Kamarck who worked on federal government reform in the Bill Clinton administration argues persuasively that both Bush and Obama failed to grasp the importance of managing the federal bureaucracy. As a result, she writes, they brought spectacular failures upon themselves. In modern America, the government the president leads is an afterthought until it takes down his presidency, she writes. Voters are angry at politicians, and thats understandable, Kamarck told me this week. Theyre angry because they want a president and Congress that can get things done, and thats not happening. Some think its because the politicians are corrupt. But Im sorry; George W. Bushs problems didnt come from corruption, and neither did Obamas. And a lot of voters have decided that they dont want politicians any more that we ought to get nonpoliticians to do the job. But our real problem is that weve had a series of presidents who were so inexperienced in governance that they neglected a big part of their job, and that led to dramatic failures. The neglected part of the presidents job, she argues, is old-fashioned management: negotiating with Congress, implementing programs carefully, and keeping an eye on the vast federal bureaucracy to stop crises before they happen. Over the past few decades, she notes, the government has become more complex, but the budgets for managing its bureaucracies (like the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which bungled the Obamacare rollout) have gotten smaller. Presidents and their aides have assumed that good politics and persuasive rhetoric could cover up flaws in performance. They were wrong. The task for voters and journalists in the rest of the campaign is to press the candidates to explain how they plan to accomplish what theyve promised. George W. Bush got some very big things wrong in spite of having a brilliant political strategy, she writes. And Barack Obama seems to be the epitome of someone who is a brilliant campaigner with a lackluster ability at governing. Kamarck is a Democrat, but shes tough on Obama. On Obamacare, she writes, An inspirational and intellectual president failed the most basic test of leadership: creating reality from rhetoric. Whats the lesson for voters facing this years choice between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton? Easy question, Kamarck said. (Shes still a Democrat, after all.) Clinton talks about the importance of governing and having a Congress that can get things done. She has lots of plans, lots and lots of plans. That at least means she has a grasp of the problems. He has no plans at all. But what about Trumps claim that as a purportedly successful businessman, he can force the federal government to shape up fast? It doesnt work that way, Kamarck warns. The government is different from the private sector in fundamental ways, she notes. The president administers programs, but Congress acts like a disorderly and willful board of directors a problem Trump has never dealt with in his privately held companies, according to Kamarck. In most of the federal government, you cant just walk in and say, Youre fired. In the long run, Kamarck says, the next president needs to focus on basic management precepts: Pay more attention to implementation. Do performance audits on the bureaucracy. Set up an early warning system so you arent blindsided by breakdowns. Meanwhile, the task for voters and journalists in the rest of the campaign is to press the candidates to explain how they plan to accomplish what theyve promised. This is the time to ask: OK, how are you going to do it? They both agree that the most important priority is creating jobs. OK, who has the better plan? We already know what the candidates want to do; we know their goals and policies are starkly different. What we dont know, in much detail, is how they would actually govern if elected especially in the case of Trump. So lets stick to a simple question: How are you going to get it done? doyle.mcmanus@latimes.com Twitter: @doylemcmanus Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook MORE FROM OPINION Now that the Vergara case is over, lets reform teacher tenure laws When the publics business is done in private Republicans wish they could blame Bill Clinton for the Trump debacle After Hanoi, incidents of ground-based lasers targeting aircraft have plagued Saigon's airport. There has been a sharp rise in incidents involving lasers being shone into the cockpits of aircraft as they take off and land at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, according to aviation authorities. Statistics show that last year there were 15 reported incidents, but already in the first half of this year, 12 incidents of people pointing laser beams at airplane cockpits have been registered. All of the laser attacks occurred within restricted airspace, hitting aircraft as they were preparing to land from 7.30 p.m. through to midnight. According to pilots, their cockpits have been targeted by laser beams as they were lining up on approach at about 1,300 meters. According to the pilots, the laser beams might have come from neighboring provinces of Ho Chi Minh City, either Binh Duong or Dong Nai, about 40-45 kilometers from Tan Son Nhat airport. Aviation authorities have taken the laser attacks seriously, saying lasers can distract and even temporarily blind pilots during critical phases of flight, such as takeoff and landing, said Tran Doan Mau, the director of the Southern Aviation Authority, which operates Tan Son Nhat airport. He added that a hotline directly connected with the police force will be set up to handle laser attacks. Pilots have been told to alert the control tower at Tan Son Nhat which in turn will report the incident to local police. People found using lasers to target planes will be arrested for reckless endangerment, according to the authorities. To prevent the laser attacks from endangering flights, it is really important to let people know how serious this problem is, said Mau. Hanois Noi Bai International Airport reported at least four cases in June of planes being targeted by laser beams. The city's police launched an investigation and found a circus using lasers during its performance was to blame. Related news: > Laser beams threaten Vietnam Airlines planes again > Circus group responsible for targeting plane with laser: Vietnam police > Laser beams threaten planes at Vietnam's international airport Proposition H, on the November ballot in Los Angeles, is a well-intentioned but flawed $1.2-billion bond measure to fund the development of new housing for the homeless. When interest on the bond is figured in, the proposition will cost residents almost $2 billion, to be paid for in new taxes. Despite that massive expenditure, the regions homeless will not see new apartments for at least three years and the crucial services required to truly solve their problems will not be part of the deal. Although polls conducted in the spring indicate that more than 75% of voters support Proposition H, we suspect this reflects a lack of understanding that the bond will be paid for through an increase in the property tax. Advertisement Because the tax increase is based on Proposition 13 reassessments, which differ dramatically by year of purchase, it will be inherently unfair. The bulk of the burden will fall on those who purchased property in recent years or who have made recent additions to their homes. And because city rent control law prohibits passing on property tax increases, renters even wealthy renters will pay nothing. The inequities in the bond funding mechanism are just one reason to oppose Proposition H. Because bond money can only be used for land and buildings, the measure cannot and does not provide funding for the operation of homeless shelters, counseling domestic violence victims, or mental health and substance abuse treatment the kinds of supportive services necessary to truly attack the problem of people sleeping in the streets. Los Angeles County not the city is legally responsible for providing these kinds of services for the homeless. But so far, the county remains largely AWOL when it comes to finding a means to pay for the programs required to make Proposition Hs permanent supportive housing functional. [Proposition H] reflects a panicked rather than a reasonable response to the increase in homelessness in the city. Proposition H is also inadequate when it comes to oversight. The measure calls for a citizen committee to watch over the project, but the committee members will be appointed by the mayor and the City Council, which wont ensure the committees independence. Nor are the members required to have specific expertise, such as construction management experience, and nothing in the measure would prevent representatives of the developers and nonprofits who stand to benefit from Proposition H from sitting on the committee. Instead of pushing Proposition H, the city should respond to the homelessness crisis with a rapid rehousing effort. It should create its own rent-voucher program to augment the tapped-out federal Section 8 program, and it could quickly convert existing structures such as motels, run-down apartments and even commercial buildings to homeless housing. These efforts could be paid for without recourse to a bond and a property tax increase. The citys special tax counsel estimates Los Angeles revenue will increase by almost $600 million over the next four years. If only a portion of those increases were earmarked for housing the homeless, existing buildings could be converted, rent vouchers could be supplemented and no new taxes would be necessary. Los Angeles could also attack homelessness by once again making use of its law against sleeping on sidewalks. A legal settlement the Jones settlement prevents the LAPD from moving people off the streets at night until the city increases its stock of permanent supportive homeless housing by 1,250 units. According to a report issued in November by the Los Angeles Housing and Community Investment Department, L.A. has more than met that requirement. Now, to avoid a new legal challenge, the city has only to offer a shelter bed before any citation is handed out. But the law isnt being put to use. Until it is, how will the city persuade the thousands of service resistant homeless to accept any new housing? Voters should reject Proposition H. It reflects a panicked rather than a reasonable response to the increase in homelessness in the city. It requires an unequal tax increase, and without county funding for services, it wont do enough to solve the roots of the problem. City Hall and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors must in tandem commit to a better, fairer plan that can be implemented more quickly. Mark Ryavec served as chief deputy assessor for Los Angeles County and is president of Venice Stakeholders Assn. Jack Humphreville is the budget advocate for the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council. Jay Handal is co-chair of the citywide association of Neighborhood Council budget advocates. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook To the editor: The front-page article on Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clintons record as secretary of State does not contain a shred of anything like news. The article seems to be aimed at people who have been unaware that Clinton was running for office up until this moment. (Hillary Clinton won praise as Americas top diplomat, but time has tarnished her record, Aug. 18) This painfully trite rehash on Clintons emails and your quoting of Trumps perspective on Benghazi (because hes so well known for his use of facts?) are so weak. Clinton isnt even quoted until the final paragraph. What The Times deems front-page news reads like something an eighth-grader could have cobbled off Wikipedia, particularly if the assignment was to make Clinton sound bad to readers who are unaware of who she is. Advertisement The Venn diagram of Times readers and people unaware of Clinton is empty so is this bland, stale, slanted piece of journalism. Judith Martin-Straw, Culver City .. To the editor: The secretary of State implements policy, advises on international affairs and manages U.S. relations around the world. In that, Clintons performance was stellar. Not only did she restore morale in the state Department but she also restored and smoothed relations around the world. Libya was coming apart at the seams. Had we not intervened when we did, the civil war in Syria would have ultimately spread to Libya, thus drawing us into a situation where wed be fighting Islamic State while trying to dethrone Moammar Kadafi. The situation in Libya today is hardly ideal, but it can certainly be argued that it is better than in Syria. The Middle East exploded perhaps because of the fuse lighted by the George W. Bush administration, but its simplistic to say the vacuum left behind was the only reason and by extension the fault of Clinton or the Obama administration. Michael Solomon, Canoga Park Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Donald Trumps latest contortions over immigration policy underscore one of his most daunting challenges: speaking to multiple audiences at once. Presidential candidates often struggle to smooth sharp rhetoric as they move to moderate their image in a general election Mitt Romneys strategist famously likened the process to shaking a childs Etch A Sketch. But Trump, who won in a crowded primary by obliterating nearly every rhetorical boundary, seems to find the task exceedingly difficult. Advertisement His support among Latinos, blacks and other minority voters ranks well behind rival Hillary Clinton, and in some cases, among the lowest ever recorded in polls. Perhaps more important to Trumps electoral strategy, accusations of racist rhetoric have stymied his ability to consolidate moderate Republicans and independents, especially suburban women. Yet, moderating his message to appeal to those groups risks alienating many of Trumps core supporters, who are drawn to his tough promises to deport immigrants here illegally and the belief that he says what he means. Its a little late to say, Oh, never mind, said Whit Ayres, a Republican pollster who advised Florida Sen. Marco Rubio during the primary. He might conceivably make a little more progress with Republican-leaning voters who have been put off by his rhetoric, but youve got to balance that against the people who were attracted by him in the first place because of his pledge to deport 11 million illegal immigrants. Democrats and some Republican strategists have asserted that Trump may not really be trying to lure minority voters. He made one of his biggest appeals to African Americans to a nearly all-white audience in Wisconsin last week. And he has spoken about African American life in the U.S. in near-apocalyptic terms, overstating the degree of poverty, joblessness and violence among blacks. Trump may be trying to make affluent suburbanites feel like voting for him isnt racist, said Michael Steel, a former advisor to Republican House Speaker John A. Boehner and to Florida Gov. Jeb Bushs primary campaign. Its a difficult box for him because if he shifts to a more popular position, it undercuts his position as an outsider and truth-teller, Steel said. Trump often speaks extemporaneously, making it hard to pin him down on policy and easy to overstate the extent to which he is consciously shifting his words to court specific voter demographic targets. During a Republican primary debate in November, Trump promised a deportation force, notably praising President Dwight D. Eisenhowers 1950s-era program that removed more than 1 million people under the now-offensive name Operation Wetback. He reiterated his pledge to deport a day later, adding in a television interview that he would do it humanely, a phrase he has often used. And in his initial television ad that began airing last week, Trump reinforces his emphasis on tough immigration enforcement, with a bleak depiction of young men sprawled atop freight train cars headed to Texas, above the caption open border. But in a meeting with more than 20 Latino business executives, pastors and civic leaders at Trump Tower over the weekend, Trump acknowledged the hard part is the 11 million who are in the country illegally, according to Jacob Monty, a Texas-based immigration attorney who attended the meeting, speaking by telephone from Houston. Trump did not indicate whether he would support alternatives to mass deportation, such as allowing people in the country illegally to begin the process of gaining legal status by going to their birth countrys consulate or embassy inside the U.S., one of several options discussed by Latino advisors around the table. In the past, Trump has said that such people would have to go home before returning to the U.S. legally. His new campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, wavered when asked a day later about the once-promised deportation force. To be determined, she said, answering a question about the formation of such a force on CNN. The campaign then announced it would postpone a speech scheduled for Thursday that would have outlined Trumps plans more specifically. Trump insisted his policy has not changed, yet two comments this week left him new wiggle room. In a Fox News interview Monday, Trump suggested he might continue a more vigorous version of President Obamas deportation policy. Those who commit crimes, he said, are going to be out of here so fast, your head will spin. As far as the rest, he added. Were going to go through the process, like they are now perhaps with a lot more energy. Then in a Fox News town hall on Tuesday, he took it a step further, in response to a question from Foxs Sean Hannity about people here illegally who contribute to society, have been law-abiding, have kids here. There could certainly be a softening, because were not looking to hurt people, Trump responded. Yet, even as Trump attempts to convey a softening on deportations, he continues to fire up supporters with tough talk about his central promise to build a wall along the Mexican border. Dont worry. Were going to build the wall, Trump told a rally in Akron, Ohio, on Monday as the crowd urged him on with chants. That wall will go up so fast, your head will spin. And youll say, You know, he meant it. Trumps supporters say he has not veered from the broadest outlines of his immigration platform. Hes been consistent, said Rep. Lou Barletta, a Pennsylvania Republican known for his tough immigration stance. He wants to secure the borders and keep America safe and protect American workers. Like Trump, Barletta is uncomfortable talking about what to do with the 11 million immigrants here illegally, insisting its a complicated question that cannot be answered before other issues are tackled. I dont think hes at the point where he needs to talk about what hell do after we secure the borders, Barletta said. Dont get pigeonholed because the media wants an answer. Even if Trump changes around the edges, his reputation may already be cemented. Theres no doubt that deportations in particular, immigration in general, were one of the top three themes that you can attribute to the primary win, said Al Cardenas, a Cuban-born lobbyist who previously chaired the Florida Republican Party and the American Conservative Union. Cardenas, who backed Jeb Bush in the primary but has declined to make a general election endorsement, said the Republican convention marked Trumps tone on immigration indelibly with prominent chants in the audience to build the wall, and a prime-time speech by Joe Arpaio, the hard-line Arizona sheriff, with a wall as the backdrop. He dismisses Trumps overtures to blacks and Latinos, noting that just a handful of each have showed up at the events designed to court them. How do you meet with 17 [Latinos] 90 days before your election? Cardenas said. Its better than nothing, but you question the impact that such a meeting would have on 50 million Hispanic Americans. Bierman reported from Washington and Finnegan from Los Angeles. Times staff writer Brian Bennett in Washington contributed to this report. Twitter: @noahbierman, @finneganLAT ALSO Hillary Clinton is exploring the outer limits of fundraising like no presidential nominee ever has As John McCain fights for reelection, the Trump problem cuts two ways both against him Can Donald Trump really round up and deport 11 million people? A growing contingent of dissatisfied voters could pledge their support to candidates other than a Republican or Democrat come November. Green Party nominee Jill Stein and Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson are the top third-party candidates drawing attention from conservatives and liberals who have rejected Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Both outsiders ran for president in 2012, but neither amassed enough votes to change the outcome of the race between Mitt Romney and President Obama. This time around, could the results be different? According to Pew Research Center, overall satisfaction with the majority party candidates has hit its lowest point in 20 years. Advertisement Stein and Johnson will need 15% of support in polls to debate on the main stage. The last time a third-party candidate made it to the debate stage was in 1992, when Ross Perot faced off with then-President George H.W. Bush and then-Gov. Bill Clinton. Perot went on to earn 19% of the popular vote, Bush received 37% and Clinton was elected president with 43% of the vote. The Commission on Presidential Debates was founded in 1987. It set the rule that in order to partake in an official debate, a candidate must earn 15% of support in national polls and appear on enough state ballots to plausibly be able to win a majority of Electoral College votes. This year, the commission will follow five polls from ABC News/The Washington Post, NBC News/The Wall Street Journal, CBS News/The New York Times, Fox News and CNN-Opinion Research Corp. According to ABC News, Johnsons current polling average is 10%, and Steins is 5%. Participating in a debate isnt a requirement to be on a states ballot, but it is an obvious benefit that gives a candidate national attention and usually boosts fundraising. The first debate is Sept. 26. Every state has different requirements for putting a candidate on its ballot. California required all candidates to submit 178,039 signatures, or about 1% of the number of registered voters at the time of the 2014 general election, earlier this month. Johnson and Stein made the deadline and will appear along with Clinton and Trump. But Evan McMullin, a former CIA counterterrorism officer who launched an independent campaign, did not. He will be on four state ballots, including his home state of Utahs, where a candidate needs only 1,000 signatures. Thats a state that Johnson is planning to heavily target. As of Tuesday, Johnson was on the ballot in 41 states and the District of Columbia. Stein was on the ballot in 35 states, including D.C. In 2000, Ralph Nader earned just shy of 3% of the popular vote as an independent. It was enough to have a so-called spoiler effect that many believe was crucial to George W. Bushs win over Al Gore. Johnson is targeting fiscally conservative and socially liberal voters. In a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times editorial board, Johnson laid out his and running mate Bill Welds platform. When it comes to fiscal and government responsibilities, Johnson supports free trade, lower taxes, smaller government. On social issues, Johnson is for the legalization of marijuana and abortion rights. Johnson believes the Libertarian platform could draw would-be Republican voters who consider Trumps plans too extreme. Stein is going for climate activists and student debtors. During a recent CNN town hall, Stein said the 43 million people who owe student debt could flip the votes in her and running mate Ajamu Barakas direction. Ours is the only campaign that will cancel that debt and bail out young people, she said. The Green Party was founded to be environmentally focused. Stein previously has expressed concerns over the health effects from vaccinations and Wi-Fi, stances that have raised questions over how her beliefs align with the partys. She has rejected the idea that shes anti-science, maintaining that one of her biggest priorities is to take legal action against oil companies and end the use of fossil fuels. Stein hopes to appeal to former supporters of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who conceded the Democratic nomination to Clinton. colleen.shalby@latimes.com Twitter: @cshalby ALSO: Editorial: Possible presidential spoiler Gary Johnson speaks to The Times editorial board about siphoning votes from Hillary Clinton Libertarian Gary Johnson looks to boost credibility, with a little help from Drew Carey Bernie Sanders is a socialist? Some on the far left say sellout is more like it Libertarians hope voter frustration with Trump and Clinton will create a perfect storm Follow updates from the campaign trail John McCain came to talk about honor and duty. The setting was an American Legion post, where Arizonas senior senator unfurled an armys worth of endorsements from military brass supporting his November reelection bid. A group of veterans sat at a small cluster of tables pushed together in the nearly empty room before cameras trained on the made-for-TV event. But all reporters cared about was Donald Trump. What did McCain think of his latest campaign shake-up? Do you have a question about veterans? McCain demanded. Advertisement What did he think about veterans denouncing Trump? About Trump insulting the family of a soldier killed in Iraq? About the military brass who called Trump unfit to serve as commander in chief? His face reddening, his anger rising with the color in his cheeks, McCain responded through gritted teeth. Im running my campaign for the United States Senate, he said. Anything to do with Trump and who is or isnt supporting the Republican presidential nominee, he insisted, had nothing to do with his race. But its hardly that simple. Just shy of his 80th birthday, seeking his sixth Senate term, McCain is waging the most difficult and unhappy reelection fight of his long and storied career. The main reason is Trump a man he loathes who cut to McCains core by mocking his capture as a prisoner of war in Vietnam but whom the senator dare not publicly renounce, stuck as he is between his Democratic opponent and a Republican primary foe who strongly embraces the Manhattan businessman. Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick has seized on McCains grudging support for Trump or the nominee of the party, in language he uses to distance himself to suggest the senator is no longer the country-first, party-be-damned maverick Arizona voters dispatched to Washington in repeated landslides. People cant believe he didnt stand up for himself when Donald Trump insulted him, said the three-term congresswoman from northern Arizona, whose campaign against McCain affects a tone more of sorrow than anger. His actions show that hes not the principled leader he used to be. Kelli Ward says much the same thing, for entirely different reasons. The tepid support that John McCain is putting forward for Donald Trump is just pandering to voters, hoping that in the primary hes going to be able to pull the wool over their eyes again in order to get back to Washington, said Ward, who is challenging McCain for the GOP Senate nomination. He expected everybody to come out full force for him when he was the [Republican presidential] nominee in 2008 and hes not willing to do that for Donald Trump. People cant believe he didnt stand up for himself when Donald Trump insulted him. His actions show that hes not the principled leader he used to be. Arizona Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, John McCains Democratic opponent in the race for U.S. Senate McCain is considered a heavy favorite in Tuesdays primary, though an upset is not out of the question. After years of flouting party orthodoxy on issues such as campaign finance, climate change and immigration, his relationship with much of Arizonas Republican base is one of mutual contempt; any living, breathing opponent is almost certain to get at least 30% support. Ward, a 47-year-old emergency room physician and former state lawmaker from Lake Havasu City, is an unabashed acolyte of Trump, who barely missed sweeping all 15 counties in Arizonas presidential primary. She targets illegal immigration I am ready to mix the mortar to fix the border. She sounds the same populist notes as Trump Everybody deserves a friend in Washington, not just the rich, not just the powerful. She even employs some of the same inflammatory rhetoric. Speaking to Republican precinct captains in Mesa, outside Phoenix, she accused McCain of turning his staff and young volunteers into basically campaign terrorists who have harassed and intimidated her supporters, almost knocking her mother down at one stop. Theyre willing to say or do, lie, cheat, anything that they need to try to get their guy to win, Ward said. McCain and his allies have countered by portraying Ward as an unhinged conspiracy monger and political lightweight though they recently grew concerned enough to switch a flight of anti-Kirkpatrick TV ads to a message targeting his primary opponent. Kirkpatrick, a veteran of several tough House races, is the most credible Democratic opponent McCain has ever faced. Her call for new blood in the Senate might be more resonant from a candidate who wasnt already 66 years old. But her Arizona pedigree is impeccable and her relative moderation makes it harder to portray Kirkpatrick, per the usual campaign playbook, as the handmaiden of Left Coast liberals like Nancy Pelosi. Born and raised on the White Mountain Indian reservation, where her father owned a general store, Kirkpatrick grew up speaking Apache and is fluent in Navajo. A lawyer, who worked for a time prosecuting drug cases, she represents a district that sprawls from the northern tip of Arizona to the Tucson suburbs hundreds of miles south; the area is larger than the state of Pennsylvania, making Kirkpatrick at least fleetingly familiar to voters throughout the state. But it is Trump who gives Kirkpatrick her best shot in November. His insulting comments are expected to spur Democratic turnout among the states large and growing Latino population; so, too, is the campaign to unseat Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, a Trump ally who faces possible criminal charges for his racially tinged approach to law enforcement. Theres nothing like hatred to motivate people to vote, said Chuck Coughlin, a veteran GOP strategist who is not involved in the Senate primary. The greater danger to McCain, though, is a defection of white voters, who still make up the vast majority of the electorate, or a depressed Republican turnout owing to the presence of Trump atop the GOP ticket. Arizona voters tend to be faithful in the extreme. In the 104 years since the state joined the union, just 11 individuals have been elected to the U.S. Senate. The last time an incumbent lost here was in 1952. The only time an Arizona senator was defeated in a primary was in 1940. Election 2016 | Live coverage on Trail Guide | Sign up for the newsletter McCain, first elected to Congress as a House member in 1982, is counting on voter loyalty along with his longevity and brand-name familiarity those very things, paradoxically, that his opponents target to distinguish himself from Trump and his antic campaign. He has also spoken out against his partys nominee, selectively. Supporters cited McCains response this month when Trump criticized the parents of Army Capt. Humayun Khan, a Muslim American soldier killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq. While our party has bestowed upon him the nomination, it is not accompanied by unfettered license to defame those who are the best among us, McCain said in written statement. I cannot say how deeply I disagree. Ward pounced immediately, saying the senator had blundered into a political trap laid by Hillary Clinton supporters; Kirkpatrick said McCains condemnation hadnt gone far enough. Obviously, there was no pleasing both sides. But the separation from Trump is an approach, strategists suggested, the senator will pursue with increased frequency though not quite yet. Asked about Khan during his stop at the American Legion hall, McCain referred to his earlier statement and declined to elaborate, snapping at a reporter who followed him toward the exit and a getaway car idling in the blast-furnace heat. I dont have anything more to tell you, he growled. Ive answered all the questions I want to answer. mark.barabak@latimes.com Twitter: For more political news and analysis follow me @markzbarabak ALSO Can Donald Trump really round up and deport 11 million people? Donald Trumps media obsession led him to hire the head of a far-right news site to run his campaign Hillary Clinton won praise as Americas top diplomat, but time has tarnished her record Believe it or not, there are upsides to getting older. Yes, your physical health is likely to decline as you age. And unfortunately, your cognitive abilities like learning new skills and remembering things is likely to suffer too. But despite such downsides, research suggests that your overall mental health, including your mood, your sense of well-being and your ability to handle stress, just keeps improving right up until the very end of life. Consider it something to look forward to. See the most-read stories in Science this hour Advertisement In a recent survey of more than 1,500 San Diego residents aged 21 to 99, researchers report that people in their 20s were the most stressed out and depressed, while those in their 90s were the most content. There were no dips in well-being in midlife, and no tapering off of well-being at the end of life. Instead scientists found a clear, linear relationship between age and mental health: The older people were, the happier they felt. The consistency was really striking, said Dilip Jeste, director of the UC San Diego Center for Healthy Aging and senior author of the study. People who were in older life were happier, more satisfied, less depressed, had less anxiety and less perceived stress than younger respondents. The results were published Wednesday in the Journal of Clinical Psychology. Experts on the psychology of aging say the new findings add to a growing body of research that suggests there are emotional benefits to getting older. In the literature its called the paradox of aging, said Laura Carstensen, director of the Stanford Center on Longevity, who was not involved in the work. How can it be that given the many well-documented losses that occur with age, we also see this improvement in emotional well-being? As it happens, Carstensen does not think this is a paradox at all. In her own work, she has found evidence that peoples goals and reasoning change as they come to appreciate their mortality and recognize that their time on Earth is finite. When people face endings they tend to shift from goals about exploration and expanding horizons to ones about savoring relationships and focusing on meaningful activities, she said. When you focus on emotionally meaningful goals, life gets better, you feel better, and the negative emotions become less frequent and more fleeting when they occur. The authors of the new work also suggest that improved mental health in old age could be due to the wisdom people acquire as they grow older. Jeste defines wisdom as a mutli-component personality trait that includes empathy, compassion, self-knowledge, openness to new ideas, decisiveness, emotional regulation and doing things for others rather than for yourself. As we get older, we make better social decisions because we are more experienced, and thats where wisdom comes into play, he said. Another possible explanation for the emotional benefits of aging could stem from the physiology of the brain, the authors said. Brain-imaging studies show that older people are less responsive to stressful images than younger people. When scientists showed older and younger adults pictures of a smiling baby an image designed to make everyone happy both groups exhibited increased activation in the part of the brain associated with emotion. However, while a disturbing image of a car accident evoked a lot of activity in the emotional region of the brain of young people, older people had a much more subdued response. Arthur Stone, a psychologist and head of the USC Dornsife Center for Self-Report Science who was not involved in the study, said that while the various explanations for the aging paradox are intriguing, there is still still no definitive finding that can explain the phenomenon. Theres lots of speculation about why older people are happier and having better moods even when their cognitive and physical health is in decline, but we still dont have anything that fully explains what is going on, he said. Its a big puzzle, and an important puzzle. Another important finding of the study is that despite our cultures obsession with youth, it turns out that the 20s and 30s are generally a very stressful time for many young adults who are plagued by anxiety and depression. This fountain of youth is associated with a far worse level of psychological well-being than during any other period of adulthood, the authors said. They noted that there are many pressures unique to this life phase including establishing a career, finding a life partner and navigating financial issues. It could be that age is associated with a reduction in risk factors for mental health, said Darrell Worthy, a professor of cognitive psychology at Texas A&M University, who was not involved in the work. Older adults may not have to deal with these stressors as much. The authors noted that the study does have some limitations. Participants were contacted via landline, meaning the experiences of people who have only cellphones were not included in the results. In addition, people were excluded from taking part in the survey if they had dementia, lived in a nursing home or had a terminal illness. That means the elderly participants were, on the whole, fairly healthy, which might influence their sense of well-being. Finally, everyone involved in the survey lived in sunny San Diego. It is possible that aging in Michigan could be very different than aging in Southern California. Still, Carstensen said the study had major implications, especially considering that within just a few years, more people on the planet will be over 60 than under 15. Policy leaders are saying, How are we going to cope with all these old people? she said. But a population who are in good mental health, emotionally stable, more grateful, and more likely to forgive are a pretty great resource for a society with so much strife and war. deborah.netburn@latimes.com Do you love science? I do! Follow me @DeborahNetburn and like Los Angeles Times Science & Health on Facebook. MORE IN SCIENCE For many Americans, cancer is now the leading cause of death Berkeley sees big drop in soda consumption after penny-per-ounce soda tax How often should you get a mammogram? It depends on whether you have dense breasts, experts say Pale blue dot, meet pale red dot. Astronomers have spent decades scouring the skies looking for Earth-sized planets around distant stars. And now theyve found one, sitting smack in the habitable zone of our nearest stellar neighbor. Proxima b, described Wednesday in the journal Nature, could be one of the first planets where humans might find life outside our solar system. Its the closest star. It has a potentially habitable world. I just think its amazing, said Cornell astrophysicist Lisa Kaltenegger, who was not involved in the discovery. This is just such a great, exciting time to live in because well figure out how we fit into all of this and hopefully, also, if were alone in the universe. Advertisement The discovery comes four months after the announcement of Breakthrough Starshot, an initiative to build and send tiny spacecraft to the nearest star system within the coming decades. Now the project has a tantalizing planetary target. The technology today is sufficient to begin thinking about these things, said Pete Worden, Breakthrough Starshots executive director and the former head of NASAs Ames Research Center. We are really excited, and, to use the U.S. term, pumped, about this discovery. Were on our way. Proxima b orbits Proxima Centauri, the third wheel to the binary star pair known as Alpha Centauri AB. As its name suggests, Proxima Centauri is the closest star to our solar system, sitting a relatively close 4.2 light-years away. But as an M-dwarf a dim, red, low-mass star it cant be seen from Earth with the naked eye. It has just 12% of the suns mass and 0.15% of its luminosity. The newly discovered planet is estimated to hold at least 1.3 Earth masses, which means its probably a rocky world like our own. And though it lies a mere 4.3 million miles or so from the surface of its star about nine times closer than Mercury is to the sun Proxima Centauri is so dim that water, theoretically, could remain stable on the planets surface, assuming theres a protective atmosphere. Scientists discovered Proxima b thanks to whats known as the radial velocity method, which takes advantage of the Doppler effect. As a planet moves around its star, it tugs just a little bit, causing the star to wobble back and forth. When the wobble brings the star closer to us, the light reaching us is squeezed, making it bluer. When the star is pulled slightly away from us, the light is stretched, making it redder. That color shift allows astronomers to determine the mass of the planet tugging on it. In some ways, this is simpler to do with M dwarfs; because of their size, theyre more easily pulled this way and that by their planets. And since Proxima b completes an entire orbit in just 11.2 Earth days, the tugging should be easy to pick out. Plus, as the star closest to us, Proxima Centauri is one of the best-studied red dwarfs to date. And yet it took years to find the planet. Thats partly because M dwarfs are very noisy, variable stars whose activity can drown out the Doppler signal. Observations made years earlier revealed hints of the planet but could not decisively prove its existence. The data collected for this research [span] 16 years, said study coauthor Pedro Amado, an astrophysicist at the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia in Granada, Spain. The first datasets did not show anything, but as our analysis technique improved and we added data from more precise instruments, a periodic signal started to show up. This year, a team of astronomers known as the Pale Red Dot campaign studied Proxima Centauri with the European Southern Observatorys HARPS instrument, a spectrograph installed on the 3.8-meter telescope at La Silla in Chile. Using other telescopes, they monitored the stars brightness to make sure that its own variability wasnt producing the tantalizing exoplanetary signal. They found that, at times, Proxima Centauri was moving toward or away from Earth at roughly 3 mph a typical human walking pace. An unseen planet, they realized, must be tugging on this star. All the pieces together is what allows us to be very, very sure that we have it right this time, said study leader Guillem Anglada-Escuse, a planet hunter at the Queen Mary University of London. As it happens, there was another signal mixed into the data one that might hint at the existence of a larger, more distant planet circling Proxima Centauri. Could life exist on Proxima b? There are several unknowns that make it impossible to say right now, according to scientists. The planet is tidally locked to Proxima Centauri, so one side may permanently face the star while the other remains shrouded in darkness. But if there is an atmosphere, it should redistribute heat across the surface, the researchers said. As an M dwarf, Proxima Centauri is prone to frequent flares and bursts of X-rays that would send down 400 times the X-ray flux that Earth receives from the sun, according to the study. Those X-rays could eat away at the atmosphere, even if one exists. And its also not clear whether water could have survived on the planet over the eons. The answer depends on how violent the star was in the past and where the planet originated both of which remain a mystery. This is the biggest question mark for the question of whether its an Earth-like planet or not, said study coauthor Ansgar Reiners of the University of Goettingen in Germany. This will be subject to further studies. Fortunately, Proxima Centauri and its planetary companion are so close that it should be relatively easy to start probing these questions. Some teams already have started. See the most-read stories in Science this hour If there were life on this planet, it probably survived either underground or deep within its hypothetical oceans, said Kaltenegger, the director of Cornells Carl Sagan Institute, which is dedicated to the search for habitable worlds. But theres a chance that organisms evolved to handle the extreme radiation that may reach the surface, she added, perhaps by using biofluorescence. The discovery signals a shift in the hunt for exoplanets, from broad surveys such as NASAs Kepler and K2 missions toward in-depth profiles of individual planets, said MIT astrophysicist Sara Seager, who was not involved in the work. Exoplanets, she said, are the gift that keeps on giving. Theres only a 1.5% chance that Proxima bs transiting across its stars surface is visible from Earth, which means researchers will probably not be able to study its atmosphere for a while. But as ever more-powerful telescopes come online, it may be possible to take images of this nearby star system. Plans to visit Proxima b remain an exceedingly distant prospect. With current technology, it would probably take tens of thousands of years to get there and more than four years just to send a message back. In April, physicist Stephen Hawking and Russian billionaire Yuri Milner announced the $100-million Breakthrough Starshot program that aims to build nanosatellites capable of accelerating to 20% of the speed of light. At that rate, it would take roughly 20 years to reach our nearest neighbors and it could take much longer for that technology to be designed and built. In the meantime, scientists will probably have their hands full studying Proxima b from Earth. Our picture of the galactic neighborhood has changed, Reiners said. We have a new neighbor, and there will likely be a whole branch of science aiming to understand its nature. amina.khan@latimes.com Follow @aminawrite on Twitter for more science news and like Los Angeles Times Science & Health on Facebook. MORE IN SCIENCE For many Americans, cancer is now the leading cause of death Berkeley sees big drop in soda consumption after penny-per-ounce soda tax How often should you get a mammogram? It depends on whether you have dense breasts, experts say UPDATES: 7:20 p.m.: This article was revised throughout for additional details and for clarity. 2:55 p.m.: This article was updated throughout. 11:50 a.m.: This article was updated with a comment from Pete Worden. 10:40 a.m.: This article was updated with a comment from astrophysicist Pedro Amado and additional information from other members of the research team. This article was originally published at 10:05 a.m. A California appeals court has ruled that Burbank Unified must pay $3.2 million in legal fees and about $200,000 to a former employee, according to a recent decision following a years-long legal battle that began nearly a decade ago. In 2007, former Burbank Unified employee Danielle Baez filed a lawsuit against the school district claiming that the districts then-facilities director Craig Jellison made repeated unwanted sexual advances, sent sexually suggestive emails and had sexually assaulted her in 2006, according to court records. NEWSLETTER: Stay up to date with whats going on in the 818 >> The case went to trial three times. The district won the first trial in 2009, but the decision was reversed on appeal. The second trial, held in 2013, ended in a mistrial. During the third trial, also in 2013, a jury determined that Baez should receive $199,398 for physical pain, mental suffering and economic loss. Burbank Unifieds attorneys appealed that award, as well as an additional $3.2 million awarded in legal fees. Throughout the case, Burbank Unified was represented by attorney Nancy Doumanian. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mary Ann Murphy said she was puzzled over why the district would retain her firm, noting that her decision to grant the $3.2 million in attorney fees was because Doumanians law firm consistently filed documents late and without proper citations, ultimately increasing the cost of litigation. For whatever reason, the Burbank Unified School District has decided to retain Ms. Doumanians law firm, and the litigation has been replete with rule violations necessitating extra time and work on the plaintiffs side, and certainly on the courts, Murphy stated in 2014. The Jan. 25 decision by the 2nd District Court of Appeal affirmed both awards. During a school board meeting last week, Larry Applebaum said the school board could do little once the legal case began. I can tell you for a fact that the board, really once it got started, there was little that we could do, he said of the litigation. He also championed Doumanian, saying she has done extraordinary work representing the district. Im not going to comment on whether I agree or disagree with her tactics. I dont feel its my position to do that. She has worked on behalf of this district in cases that Im familiar with and she has saved this district a lot of money, Applebaum said. Im not talking about saving money by being mean-spirited or by being difficult, but by coming to resolutions that were wins for both sides, which is not to say that we all walked away feeling great. We all probably walked away [not] feeling great, but a good compromise is usually a good compromise, and thats what you want your attorneys to do, and a lot of those involved no litigation, which kept the costs very low for both sides, he added. -- Kelly Corrigan, kelly.corrigan@latimes.com Twitter: @kellymcorrigan Burbank students will hear firsthand how chief executives have built their careers during the launch of a new program called Day on the Job, the result of a new partnership between Burbank school officials and companies across Southern California. School officials, who praised the partnership during a recent school board meeting, said the idea was initially brought up during a casual conversation between Timur Tecimer, chief executive of Overton Moore Properties, and Burbank councilman David Gordon, who, as a proponent of career technical training, directed Tecimer to school officials. Tecimers firm is developing a nearly 60-acre parcel adjacent to the Hollywood Burbank Airport, with a project known as Avion Burbank. He brought several of his companys partners and consultants working on Avion Burbank onboard with the program, and they agreed to visit with students. Those professionals include lawyers, lighting and branding company employees and commercial and landscape architects, among others. Beginning this fall, high school students will either tour the business or they will be visited by company representatives to learn about each career path and ask questions of chief executives and top leaders. Most of these people have been in business for 20, 25 years. These are all senior leaders or owners of their businesses, Tecimer said. I havent done this before, so were going to learn every time. Tecimer himself was in his late 20s when he decided to pursue a career in real estate after visiting a mix of companies as part of his graduate school program. I went to various companies, various industries, and I learned what they did, he said. Tecimer said he hopes that by giving students access to different fields, it will help set them on a path by the time they leave high school. What were trying to do is give these kids ideas on their careers before they go to college, he said. Overton Moore Properties will provide lunches for students and pay for buses to transport them, placing no cost for the program on Burbank Unified. Larry Applebaum, school board president, encouraged other businesses to get involved. I think its just the beginning of what we will be able to accomplish, Applebaum said. -- Kelly Corrigan, kelly.corrigan@latimes.com Twitter: @kellymcorrigan With months before local residents head to the polls to vote, Burbank school officials voiced strong support for two propositions during a recent meeting that could bring billions of dollars to schools statewide. Proposition 55 would extend Proposition 30s temporary income tax increase on Californias wealthiest earners for 12 more years. The revenue from individual taxpayers who earn $250,000 per year or from couples who bring in more than $500,000 annually would give K-12 and community colleges access to an estimated $11 billion annually. For school officials and educators who experienced several years of drastic state budget cuts to education beginning around the start of the economic downturn in 2007 they said its critical that the measure pass. To bolster support, the school board unanimously passed a resolution backing the initiative during a meeting last week. I came onto this board at the time when everything was just starting its downward crash, said school board member Roberta Reynolds. It was absolutely a horrifying experience, of having to make those decisions and those cuts. School board members went on to make more than $100 million in budget cuts to local schools over several years. When Proposition 30 passed in 2012, it brought a collective sigh to board members and educators who were no longer burdened by making difficult budget decisions, but they were thrust into deciding which programs to restore and how many additional staff members they could hire, including assistant principals, nurses and counselors. Slowly, those restorations have been initiated across the districts 20 schools, including cost-of-living pay hikes to teachers who had gone without raises for about seven years. Elsewhere, community colleges, also hit by several years of budget cuts, began to provide class offerings they had been forced to do away with temporarily. However, K-12 education in California still isnt where it needs to be, according to Diana Abasta, president of the Burbank Teachers Union. Our schools continue to rank low in the nation and in per-pupil funding, and California still has among the largest class sizes, she said. The initiatives passage is also key for Burbank Supt. Matt Hill, who hopes local residents will back it. Its critical that this is closely looked at and supported by our community, he said. Meanwhile, school board members also passed a resolution in unanimous support of Proposition 51, the California Public Education Facilities Bond Initiative. ------------ FOR THE RECORD August 23, 7:34 p.m.: A previous version of this story misidentified Proposition 51 as the extension and Proposition 55 as the bond. Proposition 55 is an extension of Proposition 30, while Proposition 51 is the school bond initiative. ------------- With voters approval, the state would issue $9 billion in bond funds to modernize and construct new facilities for elementary and secondary schools as well as community colleges. Larry Applebaum, school board president, said the proposition would give Burbank Unified the chance to make additional upgrades, including adding classrooms at Burbank and John Burroughs high schools. The initiative would also give Burbank Unified state funds to match with its own Measure S bond funds. -- Kelly Corrigan, kelly.corrigan@latimes.com Twitter: @kellymcorrigan The Australian citizen was convicted of trafficking 3.5kg (7.7lbs) of heroin in 2014. An appeals court in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday upheld the death sentence handed down two years ago to an Australian of Vietnamese origin for illegally possessing and transporting heroin. Pham Trung Dung, 39, was arrested in 2013 while attempting to leave Vietnam for Australia carrying a large quantity of heroin. The judges on Wednesday refused to commute Dung's sentence, saying his actions were harmful to society and that his sentence should stand based on the large weight of heroin he was carrying. Vietnamese-Australian drug dealer Pham Trung Dung. Photo by VnExpress/P.T. Dung and his partner, Phan Thi To Quyen, have lived in Australia since 2000. They returned to Vietnam for a visit in 2013. The investigation found that an unidentified man offered Dung US$40,000 to transport two suitcases containing four kilograms of heroin to Australia, and Dung accepted, fully aware that he would be carrying illegal goods. Dung was arrested by customs officials in May 2013 as he and Quyen were going to board a flight at Tan Son Nhat International Airport with the four kilograms of heroin found in his luggage. According to the police, Quyen was cleared of any criminal charges because there was no evidence of her involvement in the case. A Ho Chi Minh City court sentenced Dung to death in April 2014. Months later, it was established that he was in fact carrying 3.5 kilograms of heroin, but that still constitutes the death sentence under Vietnamese law. Vietnam has some of the worlds toughest drug laws. The production or sale of 100 grams of heroin or 300 grams of other illegal narcotics is punishable by death. Over the past months, Vietnam has thrown the book at Australian drug mules. In late June, a Ho Chi Minh City court sentenced 73-year-old Nguyen Thi Huong, a Vietnamese-Australian woman, to death after finding her guilty of trafficking 3.5 pounds of heroin when checking in for an Australia-bound flight in December 2014. In late May, another court in Ho Chi Minh City handed down the life sentence to Nathan Andrew James, a 34-year-old Australian man, for attempting to smuggle around 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds) of heroin hidden in his luggage to Australia in October 2013, In late July, police and customs officers at Tan Son Nhat airport arrested another Vietnamese-Australian woman for attempting to smuggle around five kilograms (11 pounds) of heroin to Australia. Related news: > Vietnam busts 2,000 drug-related crimes in just a month > Drug trafficking and commercial fraud rife at Vietnam Laos border > Drug crime escalates at Vietnam China border The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund recently honored a Burbank veteran and hundreds of others who served in the war but are ineligible to be inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Army Sgt. Sal Silva, a recipient of a Silver Star and a Purple Heart among other medals, died Jan. 28, 2013, from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, a disease that developed later in his life after exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War, said Silvas wife, Jeannette. There were 312 other Vietnam veterans who died after being exposed to the toxic chemical who were honored during the VVMFs annual In Memory program, which is in its 18th year. Jeannette Silva said that her husband and many others were ineligible to be immortalized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial because they all died after the war and not during the conflict. Sal Silva grew up in Glendale, worked for Disney as an electrician for 41 years and had lived in Burbank since 1975. His wife still resides in their Burbank home today. The trip was very nice and touching, Jeannette Silva said about her trip to Washington, D.C. There were other families there whose husbands, dads, brothers and uncles passed away because of their exposure to Agent Orange. Jeannette Silva said that she did not know that Agent Orange was affecting so many veterans and was surprised to find out that her husbands illness had been caused by the chemical. He never took a sick day working for Disney, she said. She said that her husband was very active, participating in a few softball leagues. However, Sal Silva started having issues standing and began falling. In 2011, he was diagnosed with ALS. Jeannette Silva said that it is important to honor those who fought in the Vietnam War, especially those who died after the conflict. -- Anthony Clark Carpio, anthonyclark.carpio@latimes.com Twitter: @acocarpio Its hard to count the number of utility poles on Laguna Canyon Road when youre driving because they fly by so fast. Every 50 yards or so, they stand defiant, like a grizzled middle finger, daring you to do something. There are, in case youre wondering, 78 of them on the right side of the road as you drive out of town until you reach El Toro Road. If you turn around and head back, you will see 93 on the right. That makes 171 problems. Advertisement The reason there are so many more on the undeveloped side of the road is that they are shorter, which means they need to be closer together so the lines dont fall to the ground. But of course the lines do fall, pretty regularly actually, because cars fly by and hit them. The drivers are often drunk or texting. And then you have the windstorms. These poles, by the way, are sometimes so close to the road that you can almost reach out and touch them. When a pole falls, its like throwing a hot match into a fireworks stand, especially now. The conditions in the canyon are so brown and brittle that everything looks dead. You want to spit just to help the drought. Every pole downing becomes like one of those movie scenes where theres a car accident and a small fire starts. The music crescendos and everyone wonders if the trapped actor will get out of the car in time before it blows. The car always blows. Unfortunately, Laguna Beach tries hard to be cinematic. Remember it was just over a year ago that a tree fell into a power line on Arroyo Drive and burned about 15 acres. Everyone pretty much freaked out and rightfully so. Laguna has the dubious distinction of being in the top 10 nationwide for costliest fires, thanks to the 1993 catastrophe. Fires caused by power lines happen about every other year in Laguna, according to the city, but accidents involving poles in the canyon happen about every couple months. Given those odds, how would you like to live in the canyon when the next live wire drops? Last week saw another dramatic example. A driver snapped a pole, and the canyon shut down. The thick, high-voltage wires lay on the ground like a cranky black mamba. It makes you wonder whether the Southern California Edison crews ever bicker among themselves: You move it. No, you move it. I dont want to move it. City officials, meanwhile, say they cant force SCE to pay for undergrounding. Theyve tried. SCE is doing a small undergrounding of 11 poles near Big Bend, but it will barely make a dent. SCE simply will not pony up the money, and theres nothing legally we believe that can be done about that, said Laguna Councilman Steve Dicterow. Dicterow said there is an effort to increase the hotel bed tax so that the city can build up enough of a base to float a bond. In the meantime, the canyon will remain exposed. Theres no way we will ever have, on a year-to-year basis, enough revenue to do that kind of undergrounding comprehensively, he said. And so if the town really wants to do it, it would have to vote. Also, even if the city comes up with the money to fund such a project, theres a misconception that everything would be underground, Dicterow said. The several poles that carry electricity from surrounding areas needed to power homes and businesses in Laguna would remain because of the higher undergrounding costs associated with these larger structures, according to a city staff report. The smaller, more easily removable poles are mostly for telephone cables. Those poles are not in danger of being knocked down by a car, Dicterow said of the larger poles. Theyre just too massive. But I want the public to understand that even with a comprehensive, total undergrounding, theres still going to be some high towers and wires out there. Meanwhile, neighborhoods around Laguna are continuing their efforts to put the wiring underground, forming special districts to fund the projects. Which raises the question: Why is an uncluttered ocean view more important than a potential canyon fire that could destroy half the city? Undergrounding needs to be a citywide effort. Piecemealing the pole removal wont solve the problem. Plus, it will take too long to finish. Put it this way: The 1993 fire, which was a brushfire not started by downed wires, consumed thousands of acres and caused $528 million in damage. But all it takes is one pole to cause a devastating fire, and we have 171 of them. In March, the citys planning staff told the City Council that it would take $50 million to $90 million to underground the utilities in the canyon. Lets see, $50 million or $500 million $50 million or $500 million. In case youre still calculating the cost, do you know where the first power line outside the village is located in the canyon? Directly in front of the Boys & Girls Club. -- DAVID HANSEN is a writer and Laguna Beach resident. He can be reached at hansen.dave@gmail.com. A barbershop accused of denying service to a transgender male will, as part of a settlement of a lawsuit filed by the man, remove potentially discriminatory advertising from its website and its locations in Long Beach, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach and Australia. The lawsuit, filed in March, claimed that employees at the Long Beach location of Hawleywoods Barber Shop & Shaving Parlor denied service to Rose Trevis, saying, We dont cut womens hair. Hawleywoods website formerly described the shop as a mens sanctuary and included the statement, You all know how distracting a woman can be, and who wants a straight-razor shave with a buxom blonde in the joint? The website currently reads: Hawleywoods Barber Shop attracts people from all walks of life. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Frederick Shaller issued an injunction Aug. 16 that barred Hawleywoods from denying service based on gender or perceived gender, according to the settlement, which was reached Friday. As part of the settlement, Hawleywoods also agreed to pay damages and attorney fees. Trevis attorney, Gloria Allred, and Hawleywoods attorney, Paul Sink, declined to reveal the amount of the payment. Allred said Tuesday that her client is happy the lawsuit is over. Its 2016, Allred said. That a business in California would so blatantly discriminate both by excluding women from their service and in their advertising in such a stereotypical manner its unacceptable. Sink said Tuesday that the decision to settle the case was not an admission of wrongdoing on Hawleywoods part. Sometimes its more economically feasible to settle than to fight, he said. According to the lawsuit, Trevis and his female domestic partner walked by Hawleywoods in Long Beach and Trevis decided to get a haircut. A barber told Trevis he would need an appointment, but when Trevis asked to make one, the barber said the shop didnt cut womens hair, according to the lawsuit. Who says Im a woman? Trevis said. According to the suit, another employee looked Trevis up and down and said, We dont cut womens hair. Though Trevis said he was denied service, Sink said there were simply no immediate openings that day. They booked her for the next day, Sink said. She never showed. Sink also said his clients were confused as to who was requesting service. It was a mix-up on whose hair was going to get cut, Sink said. "[Trevis] came in with a female friend who had long hair, and my clients thought they were talking about the long-haired woman. Theyre not beauticians. They dont know how to cut womens hair. Trevis said in a statement Monday that he was upset by the shops treatment of him. I never would have thought Id experience the humiliation of being discriminated against as a transgender man, he said. What began as an unfortunate event has ended in justice. Sink said the shop wants to move forward. Theyre still going to cater to men, he said. But if you want a mans haircut, women can get it. Fernandez is a Daily Pilot staff writer. Evans writes for the Los Angeles Times. After 1 a.m. on June 19, 2014, in a suburban Denver town, a police officer on patrol noticed an oval-shaped pattern of multicolored lights on the other end of a park. Thinking it was illegal activity a curfew violation, perhaps he drove his car toward them when suddenly the radiance vanished. Upon closer inspection of the area, he saw his breath in the air and discovered a kind of frost left behind: a dry, powdery light coating on the grass and trees, that he observed nowhere else throughout his shift that night. The officer later reviewed surveillance footage that showed lights steadily traveling down a bike path, moving toward the area where he found the frost. The story of mysterious snow-like remnant during a Colorado summer Case 57173 was one of several highly regarded sightings explored Friday during a small press conference by the Mutual UFO Network, or MUFON, a Newport Beach-based nonprofit billing itself as the worlds largest and oldest UFO investigative and research group. Founded in 1969 in the Midwest, the group moved its headquarters to Newport, to an office on Campus Drive, about two years ago. Fridays conference was part of MUFONs 46th annual symposium, held over three days at the Hotel Irvine on Jamboree Road. This years event was themed as expanding ufology the study of unidentified flying objects and opening new connections of the study into academia, industry and media. This is a real phenomenon, said MUFON Executive Director Jan Harzan. Its happening every day on our planet. Were receiving reports by the thousands every month. For all the seriousness of potentially discovering life on other planets and changing the face of humanity, Harzan wasnt above the occasional joke: Maybe itll make it on late-night television some night, he said of the conference. The top 10 UFOs. MUFON leaders noted that 2014 was a particularly prolific year: 8,678 reported UFO sightings worldwide. The organization has field investigators, with backgrounds in science and law enforcement, throughout the world that examine reports and conduct interviews. Some cases are considered solved when that something in the sky is discovered to be an airplane or meteor. Others, like Case 57173, remain officially unsolved. Attendees of the symposium, when not listening to lectures, explored the exhibitor area. Books like Alien Agenda: The Return of Nephilim, by A.S. Judkins and Michael E. McDaniel, were for sale near DVDs, whose titles included DNA Analysis of the Eleventh Impact Surgery. The $9 video was of a lecture by Dr. Roger Leir who discussed an object believed to be implanted by an alien species. Shirts were for sale too. Printed on the back of a MUFON shirt was Others talk, we investigate ... Nancy du Tertre, a former attorney who now calls herself the skeptical psychic, was at the conference to talk about exo-linguistics or how to talk to alien species. Communication with them, she said, is not limited to audible speech. Its quite a bit more open than that, du Tertre said. Nearby was Cheryll Jones, a former CNN anchor, who contends that media coverage of UFOs and government sources have caused the topic to be taken less than seriously. It could be the greatest news story in history, she said, but instead, UFO coverage is often relegated for laughs as the kicker story at the end of newscasts. These things are not mainstream news, Jones said. The UFO story is not treated with the same type of vetting as other news stories. Stanton Friedman, a former nuclear physicist and icon in the UFO world for being the first civilian to investigate the 1947 Roswell crash, said ufology is a topic that deserves more respect. Its time that we started getting the facts in hand, he said. In the social media age, Friedman said, he sees people more willing to come forward to report sightings, though the fear of ridicule is the dominant factor. Dont bother me with the facts; my minds made up, he added. Thats been the past attitude of the nasty naysayers. Robert Schroeder, a former aerospace engineer who lectures about UFOs inertia-defying acrobatics in our atmosphere, said the biggest problem with the study is the lack of good data. Solving that, though, would be massively expensive. It needs equipment X-ray detectors, gamma ray detectors and the like monitoring the skies to gather data from any passing UFOs, he said. But, Schroeder noted, You just cant go into your local hardware store and buy them ... what we need is a Silicon Valley billionaire to help us out. Jim de Boom, recently retired from more than 40 years of community service, died Monday at age 74. The cause of death was brain seizures, according to his daughter Stacy de Boom-Howard. Jim was always there for the community, said Joel Carlson, past president of the Kiwanis Club of Newport Beach/Corona del Mar. His love for service and our area was evident. Jim will be sorely missed. De Boom was honored twice early this year. On Jan. 16, the Newport Balboa Rotary Club recognized him as a Lifetime Honorary Rotarian, placing him in a select group of Rotarians renowned for their meritorious service in furthering Rotary ideals. A week later, the Newport-Mesa-Irvine Interfaith Council recognized him for more than 40 years of service to interfaith, Rotary and other service organizations. De Boom joined the Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa in 1975. He served on almost every club committee and as president, and he earned every club award including Rotarian of the Year. De Boom also served at Rotarys district level on various committees, as district governor from 1997 to 1998 and thereafter as district administrator. He made everything easy for all of us a bigger-than-life guy, Greg and Valerie Owen, who worked with de Boom in Rotary District 5320, said in a statement Tuesday. We can all celebrate the life of a wonderful Rotarian, husband, father and all around good friend for all that were fortunate enough to know him. For more than 20 years, de Boom was executive director of the Interfaith Council, which is made up of representatives of various religions dedicated to building a community honoring its many voices. No role was too small or large for de Boom. He served in a secretarial capacity, including updating and selling ads in the directory and creating agendas and brochures for meetings and events. He also recruited speakers, organized events and handled public relations. De Boom was born Oct. 7, 1941, in St. Louis Park, Minn., where he also was raised. He graduated with a bachelors degree from George Williams College in Chicago. He later earned a masters degree in counseling from USC. He was licensed as a marriage, family and child counselor. De Boom dedicated his career to community service. In 1965, he joined the YMCA in Los Angeles and worked his way to executive director in Orange County. In the early 1980s, he left the YMCA and started an event planning business. De Boom organized popular community events. Many benefited service clubs and nonprofit organizations, including Taste of Newport, Taste of Orange and the Daily Pilot Community & Clubs Hall of Fame luncheon. Every time you turned around, Jim was doing something and donating money into nonprofit organizations including the YMCA, the Rotary, Interfaith Council and Exploring. said Lane Calvert, current Interfaith Council president and longtime community service leader. No one was better in the events planning business. Jim knew how to plan an event and who to bring to the table, public relations-wise and money-wise. He was an incredible person to have on the team. De Booms primary focus was helping children. From 1983 to 1996, he was a member of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District board, serving two terms as president. De Boom was active in Explorers Orange County, an organization that provides young adults with real-world experience and leadership development in police, fire and hospital careers. His Newport Balboa Rotary work benefited children. For example, he organized outings of Rotary members and special-needs children to the mountains, harbor and elsewhere. In the early 1990s, de Boom began writing for the Daily Pilot. With his tremendous connections throughout Newport-Mesa and Irvine, the Pilot chose him to write its Community & Clubs column. This gave de Boom a platform to honor the work of his community service colleagues and their beneficiaries. Jim deeply believes in honoring veterans, funding Police Explorer programs and giving opportunities to young people who may not otherwise get them, said Daily Pilot Executive Editor John Canalis. Jim is not just passionate about our area service clubs, but hes passionate and engaged in the actual services they provide. In 2009, to honor the community service clubs, de Boom and the Pilot staff created the Daily Pilot Community & Clubs Hall of Fame. Each spring, the Pilot invites service clubs, community organizations and religious congregations to nominate members for exceptional service to youth, the community and their respective organizations. The Pilot honors the nominees in June at a luncheon at the Newport Beach American Legion Post 291. The event unites the service organizations, and its net proceeds benefit Explorers. Jim was always the person in the know, said Tom Johnson, former Daily Pilot publisher. He was a great resource for stories and had great insights. In the words of Culvert: Jim made a better world for kids. There is no one else like him. He is my mentor. A celebration of de Booms life is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 30 at Harborside Restaurant in the Balboa Pavilion, 400 Main St., Newport Beach. Donations in his honor can be made to The Rotary Foundation, noting de Booms name and mailed to the Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa, P.O. Box 1944, Newport Beach, CA 92659. The donations will be designated for Rotarys End Polio Now, which was important to him, as both his parents and brother had polio, de Boom-Howard said. When Bob and Sheila Wenzel rolled into Toyota of Huntington Beach on Monday, they knew something was up. The Fountain Valley couple had earlier been informed that their recent purchase of a 2013 Highlander from the Beach Boulevard dealership was a milestone: the five millionth Toyota certified used vehicle sold in the United States. They knew that was special enough for the carmaker to donate $10,000 to the Wenzels choice charity: Family Promise of Orange County, which helps homeless families find housing. They also were aware that Toyota was donating another $5,000 to the dealerships preferred charity, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Advertisement What the Wenzels didnt realize were all the extras they were getting the largest of which was a free car. After doing interviews for a Toyota camera crew about being the five millionth customer and about Family Promise, the Wenzels were surprised with a $29,180 check to pay off their Highlander. Then they were presented with $1,000 in free gas from Carfax, a framed copy of their Highlanders Carfax report, a two-year subscription to SiriusXM Radio, and a prepaid maintenance and vehicle service plan for their car from Toyota Financial Services. Ray Jackson, Toyota of Huntington Beachs Internet sales manager, also received an extra $1,000 bonus for selling the Highlander. The Wenzels friends and family watched Mondays surprise ceremony, which was filmed by Toyota and HBTV3. Huntington Beach Mayor Jim Katapodis attended. Sheila Wenzel said she was amazed that the purchase of her Highlander will have lasting effects through the work of both charities. Who wouldve guessed that ... in that given moment in time, that perhaps some suicides would be saved from those who felt their life wasnt worth living, she said, and that those who are on the streets might find a home. -- Bradley Zint, bradley.zint@latimes.com Twitter: @BradleyZint Ten Years Ago More than 600 people attended an evening Mass and reception at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy in August 2006 to help celebrate the private Catholic schools 75th anniversary. Twenty Years Ago St. Francis High School was gearing up to celebrate its 50th anniversary year. The all-boys Catholic school was established in 1946 on the property of the former Flintridge Country Club. Thirty Years Ago A Memorial Mass was celebrated in the chapel at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy for one of its students, Dinorah Gonzalez of Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico, who was one of 67 people on two planes and 11 on the ground killed when Aeromexico flight 498 collided midair with a private plane over Cerritos. Dinorah, 17, had been returning to California for her senior year at the private La Canada school. Two other FSHA students were expected to be on the same flight but were not, due to last-minute changes in their itineraries. Forty Years Ago Los Angeles County, on urging from the La Canada Chamber of Commerce, installed a sidewalk system on the south side of Verdugo Boulevard between Fairlawn Drive and Foothill Boulevard to better insure safe passage for pedestrians along the busy street. Fifty Years Ago La Canada Unified School District Supt. Donald Ziehl reported that enrollment for the 1966-67 school year, set to begin on Sept. 12, reflected a 400-student increase over the previous year. The breakdown by campus was: La Canada High School, 1,625; Foothill Intermediate School (grades 6-8), 1,194; La Canada Elementary, 680; Paradise Canyon Elementary, 613; Oak Grove Elementary, 561; Palm Crest Elementary, 444 and Chilao Mountain School, 11. Sixty Years Ago A La Canada resident of several years, the Countess Elektra Rosanska was appearing in the Pasadena Playhouse production of Tonight or Never. The countess taught adult classes in drama and speech on the La Canada Junior High campus. Compiled from the Valley Sun archives by Carol Cormaci. Scott Peterson was in ninth grade when the pastor of his church wrote him a letter suggesting he might make a good pastor himself someday, if that was a line of work he wanted to consider. At the time, the young student had more pragmatic concerns. I filed the letter away and thought about how can I make the most money by doing the least amount of work? Peterson recalled, laughing. I was thinking at that time about pursuing psychology because I understood an hour for a psychiatrist is only 50 minutes long. But as the years progressed and Peterson whod grown up in a church-going Lutheran family just outside Minneapolis grew more deeply into his faith, he came to think maybe his pastor had been onto something. His decision to study religion and philosophy in college, and later seek an advanced degree from Minnesotas Luther Seminary, would begin a spiritual path that would lead Peterson to work first among remote, rural churches in Montana and later spend 17 years at Prince of Faith Lutheran Church in Calgary, in the Canadian province of Alberta. Pastor Scott Peterson is the new minister at the Lutheran Church in the Foothills. (Roger Wilson / Staff Photographer) Last week, that path brought Peterson, wife Gina and 13-year-old daughter Sophie to La Canadas Lutheran Church in the Foothills. The church celebrated his first worship service to a full audience Sunday, ending a 22-month search for a permanent leader. Anita Stoker, president of the Church Council and a member of the call committee charged with the task of selecting a new pastor, said church officials interviewed several candidates in the process of replacing longtime Pastor Bruce Johnson, who retired in 2014. While the search was on, Interim Pastor Jim Bullock led Sunday services. Working with a list of preferences and requirements collected from a congregation-wide survey, the call committee was looking for a solid preacher who could convey complex spiritual teachings in a way that resonated with the general public. Over the course of 22 months, we interviewed 11 different pastors, Stoker said. We wanted someone whod be able to work well with both the older members of the church but would also be welcoming and inviting to young families that might be interested in joining our congregation. Though hed become close to his congregants in Calgary, Peterson requested to be considered for a church opening in the Southwest, because he wanted to be closer to his father, who winters in Arizona. When the family heard from the Southwest California Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America recommending a Los Angeles-area church, they were taken aback. Southern California wasnt even in our thought process because we knew this is one of the more difficult places for a pastor to get into, Peterson said, explaining how most senior leaders opt for churches in sunny climes. After a remote video interview via FaceTime, and an in-person visit, Stoker said Peterson fit the committees list of qualifications. In addition to having a strong background in Lutheran theology, the youthful candidate had a good sense of humor and natural way with people. Now, the Petersons are in the process of finding a home and seeing that Sophie settles into classes at La Canada High School 7/8. The pastor is learning the ropes at Lutheran Church in the Foothills and finding that the congregations proliferation of native Midwesterners is making his arrival seem like a bit of a homecoming. We may be in Southern California, but theres a bunch of Minnesotans in the church so thats sort of calmed our culture-shock fears, he said, adding, This will be home for the next while. -- Sara Cardine, sara.cardine@latimes.com Twitter: @SaraCardine Gunmen attacked the American University of Afghanistan during classes Wednesday evening, setting off an explosion and trapping students and professors inside the building for several hours while dozens fled to safety, witnesses and officials said. Gunfire echoed from the heavily fortified campus into Thursday morning as rapid-response police battled an unknown number of assailants. At least one person was killed in the attack and 26 were injured, according to Wahidullah Majrooh, a spokesman for the Health Ministry. About 40 students had managed to escape the building after the attack began around 7 p.m., a police source said. Advertisement We believe that two assailants have been inside; our forces are trying to find their exact location and engage, said Sediq Sediqqi, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry. Its not over yet. As soon as we see injured people, weve been helping them get out. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but as one of Afghanistans best known learning institutions and a symbol of American largesse, the university has long been in the crosshairs of the Taliban and other militant groups. The English-language university was established with U.S. government funds after the 2001 U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan. Modeled on an American-style university with a liberal arts curriculum, it has grown into a coed campus of more than 1,000 students and a magnet for the war-torn countrys brightest young minds. In brief phone calls, terrified students described the shock of the attack and their fear that they could be discovered by the gunmen who were believed to be moving through the campus. One student who escaped told of hearing gunshots and an explosion. My class was over, and I was planning to leave. Then suddenly I heard gunshots, Ahmad Mukhtar said. I tried to find shelter, but a blast took place and I ran toward a wall and managed to escape by climbing the wall and injured my leg. Another student inside the university told The Times by phone: Many students and professors are stuck. Some managed to escape, but we are still here. Please help us. Wahidullah Hasani said his cousin, a student, was trapped inside the building. I called her half an hour ago she asked me not to call her again because the assailants were close and may notice the phone light and her voice, he said. She hung up and said, Forgive me if we dont meet again. Massoud Hossaini, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer for the Associated Press, said he was in a classroom with 15 students when he heard an explosion on the southern flank of the campus. I went to the window to see what was going on, and I saw a person in normal clothes outside. He shot at me and shattered the glass, Hossaini told the AP. The students barricaded themselves inside the classroom, pushing chairs and desks against the door and staying on the floor, before he and several students managed to flee the campus through a northern emergency route, he said. As we were running, I saw someone lying on the ground facedown, Hossaini said. They looked like they had been shot in the back. Hossaini and the students took refuge in a house near the campus. The attack came two weeks after two university professors an American and an Australian were kidnapped from their car by unknown gunmen in Kabul. Their whereabouts remain unknown. In 2014, two university staff members, Lexie Kamerman and Alexandros Petersen, were among 21 people killed in a Taliban attack on a Kabul restaurant. Adam Stump, a Pentagon spokesman, said a small number of advisors from the U.S. military were assisting Afghan forces responding to the attack. These advisors are not in a combat role, Stump said. They are advising their Afghan counterparts. The Pentagon also identified the U.S. service member killed in combat in southern Afghanistan a day earlier as Army Special Forces Staff Sgt. Matthew V. Thompson of Irvine. Thompson, 28, was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces group, according to an Army release. He was killed when his vehicle struck a roadside bomb Tuesday in Helmand province, where U.S. troops have been deployed to help Afghan forces repel a Taliban offensive. Faizy is a special correspondent. Times staff writers W.J. Hennigan in Washington and Shashank Bengali in Mumbai, India, contributed to this report. The Associated Press was also used in compiling this report. ALSO Turkish military and Syrian rebels storm border city held by Islamic State 93,000 people voluntarily left Japan for North Korea after World War II. Or did they? Can porn star-turned-Bollywood actress Sunny Leone teach India to be cool about sex? UPDATES: 1:02 p.m.: Updated throughout with additional background information. 12:03 p.m.: Updated with Ministry of Public Health comment. 11:15 a.m.: Updated with Pentagon comment. 10:55 a.m.: This article has been updated with more detail about the number of wounded. 10:39 a.m.: This article has been updated with a comment from the Ministry of Interior spokesman. 9:40 a.m.: This article has been updated throughout with new information about the attack. 9:19 a.m.: This article has been updated with additional information about the response to the attack. This article was originally published at 8:30 a.m. In April 1960, not yet finished with high school, 17-year-old Eiko Kawasaki boarded a Soviet ship called the Krylion in the Japanese port of Niigata and set sail on the journey of a lifetime, to a place she was told was paradise: North Korea. She and hundreds of her fellow passengers had heard about free housing and guaranteed jobs in Kim Il Sungs socialist state. And they felt a sense of kinship: All were either ethnic Koreans born in Japan or Koreans brought to Japan to work during the 1910-1945 colonial era, when Japan harshly occupied and ruled the Korean peninsula. Although Kawasaki wasnt entirely swayed by the utopian propaganda, she figured that North Korea at least would offer her an escape from the discrimination and poverty facing ethnic Koreans in Japan after World War II. Advertisement And like millions of idealistic young people around the world at the dawn of the 1960s, Kawasaki saw hope in leftist politics. There was a thought that maybe socialism was better, recalled Kawasaki, now 74. Plus, people were thinking that Kim Il Sung could reunite Korea. The response of the Japanese government has generally been to put the blame entirely on North Korea. That makes no sense historically. Tessa Morris-Suzuki, a scholar of Japanese and Korean history at Australian National University To be sure, South Korea would have been a more natural choice both her parents were from there. But that was not an option: With South Korea still struggling to recover from the 1950-53 Korean War, U.S.-backed strongman Syngman Rhee was in no mood to accept migrants even Koreans who simply wanted to go back to where they had come from. So over the objections of her parents and four siblings, Kawasaki decided to go to North Korea and check things out. If everything was as promised, she would send for them in a year. As the Krylion approached the dock in the city of Chongjin, Kawasaki spotted a former classmate on the shore who had returned a few months earlier. Turn back! she recalled him yelling. It was too late. It would be more than 43 years before Kawasaki managed to go home. :: Perhaps the most stunning thing about Kawasakis life story is that it is not extraordinary at all. She was just one of more than 93,000 people who left Japan for North Korea from 1959 to 1984. Most departed in the first wave, which lasted until 1963. Almost all were returning to a place they had never been. After the Treaty of San Francisco in 1952, Japan did not consider such ethnic Koreans to be citizens. If they left, they had no right to return to Japan even if North Korea had been willing to let them travel. An estimated 97% of Koreans in Japan after World War II had come from the southern part of the peninsula. And about 6,000 of the returnees to North Korea were Japanese women married to Korean men. What became of these people remains, in many ways, a mystery. Few have ever made it back to Japan, their relatives waiting in vain for more than half a century for a chance at even a brief reunion. Kawasaki escaped North Korea in 2003 and fled to China, then returned to Japan in 2004 and now has Japanese citizenship. She is among perhaps a few hundred such returnees who have managed to make it to Japan or South Korea. (Kawasaki is a Japanese name she adopted after her return and uses publicly; with her husband and four of her five children still in North Korea, she worries that revealing her Korean name would expose them to retribution.) Now, she is waging a lonely campaign to tell their stories and hopefully move the governments of Japan and North Korea to action before its too late. Like her, many of the returnees are now senior citizens. Why North Korea wanted people like her in 1959 isnt hard to figure out: Pyongyang was eager for laborers to rebuild the country and wanted to improve ties with Japan in hopes of establishing formal diplomatic relations. But the repatriation program was not orchestrated by North Korea alone. The General Assn. of Korean Residents in Japan, a pro-North Korean group known as Chosen Soren in Japanese, lobbied for it and promoted it. Also deeply involved was the Japanese government, which sought the assistance of the International Committee of the Red Cross and Japanese Red Cross. With the transfers characterized as a humanitarian effort to return colonial subjects to their homeland, the International Committee of the Red Cross was supposed to interview prospective returnees in Niigata and verify that they were making the voyage of their own free will. But behind the altruistic veneer, there was more at work, said Tessa Morris-Suzuki, a scholar of Japanese and Korean history at Australian National University and author of a book on the returnees, Exodus to North Korea: Shadows From Japans Cold War. Correspondence from the Red Cross archives and elsewhere shows Japanese officials regarded the large population of ethnic Koreans in Japan as an unwanted hangover from the colonial era; they were characterized as a burden on state coffers and a possible fifth column threat to national security, Morris-Suzuki found. Japanese policies excluding Koreans from national healthcare and pension programs added pressure on them to leave. Kawasaki says the interviews at the Niigata departure center were perfunctory, and in some cases one representative was allowed to speak for an entire family, which meant men may have taken their wives and children against their wishes. Chang Myeong-Su, a former Chosen Soren official who worked on the repatriation campaign but later became a harsh critic of it after hearing that numerous returnees had been arrested and mistreated, went a step further in his own 2003 book on the topic, Morris-Suzuki said. He characterized the repatriation campaign as a racist governments attempt at ethnic cleansing, abetted by humanitarian organizations. NEWSLETTER: Get the days top headlines from Times Editor Davan Maharaj Japans Foreign Ministry responded to detailed questions about the campaign with a terse statement saying that the Japanese government had asked the Red Cross to confirm the will of those who wished for repatriation and to provide necessary assistance as a mediator. It said that in May 2014, North Korea had promised to investigate the treatment of Japanese nationals, but that the abductions and other humanitarian issues have not been resolved yet. Japan has shown great concern over one group of its citizens trapped in North Korea for decades. The government has waged a long and vocal campaign to try to get Pyongyang to account for at least 17 Japanese citizens it believes were abducted by North Korean agents in the 1970s and 80s. Five such abductees were returned alive to Tokyo in 2002; Pyongyang says the rest are dead or were never kidnapped in the first place. Although the abductees are a signature issue for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the government has shown much less concern for the 93,000 people like Kawasaki. The response of the Japanese government has generally been to put the blame entirely on North Korea, Morris-Suzuki said. That makes no sense historically. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks to reporters at his official residence in Tokyo on August 3, 2016, after a ballistic missile launch by North Korea. (Kazuhiro Nogi / AFP/Getty Images ) The government may believe that raising the issue of the 93,000 returned people would only complicate its efforts on the abduction front. Or perhaps the topic just hits too close to home for Abe; His grandfather Nobusuke Kishi served as prime minister from 1957 to 1960, when the program was approved and started. Why the U.S. didnt strenuously object to the transfer of nearly 100,000 people from Japan to a Cold War enemy state is another unanswered question. But at the time the boats started departing from Niigata, Tokyo and Washington were in the midst of negotiating the renewal of their security treaty to keep U.S. troops in Japan a pact that Kishi supported. :: Kawasaki said she did her best to make a life in North Korea. She studied engineering and got a job in industrial design. She married a North Korean man and had four daughters and a son, kept her head down. But many returnees were never fully accepted, their loyalties always in question, said one of Kawasakis daughters, who now goes by the name Sora Li. When Kawasaki made the risky decision to flee North Korea in 2003, she did so quietly. Li didnt find out until nearly a year later when her husband was up for a promotion at his government job and higher-ups blocked it. The reason? His mother-in-law was missing. Li was shocked. I was angry. My mother and I really werent speaking then. I blamed her for many things as kids we were bullied because our mother was from Japan. Not long after her mother fled, Li said, she had an epiphany of sorts when her 4-year-old son fell ill. My son became malnourished and was close to death. I was so shocked. Even though I conformed obediently to the countrys rules compared to other people, [I had to suffer this fate] because I was a child of a returnee, she said. Eventually, Li decided that she would try to escape too for her childrens sake. She made it to China in 2007, then Japan, and now is studying law and working with Korea of All, an advocacy group founded by her mother. Li and Kawasaki say their activism has irritated some ethnic Koreans in Japan, particularly those affiliated with Chosen Soren. There are some people within the group who understand where Im coming from, Kawasaki said. But there are others who are really angry. O Gyu Sang, a Chosen Soren member and vice director of the Historical Research Institute for North Koreans in Japan, said it was regrettable that Kawasaki had to violate North Korean law and defect. But he agreed it was natural that she wanted to come back to where she was brought up. Kawasaki has taken her case to Geneva, appealing for help at panel discussions organized by Human Rights Watch on the sidelines of meetings of the U.N. Human Rights Council. There should be a meeting between the Japanese government, the North Korean government and the Red Cross, Li said. There should be free travel for these returnees. But we cant solve this problem without international help. julie.makinen@latimes.com Follow me on Twitter @JulieMakLAT. MORE WORLD NEWS U.S. soldier killed, 2nd wounded by roadside bomb in Afghanistan Her husband was killed in the Philippines drug war. No one would help her find answers Singer who added all lives matter to Canadian anthem finds himself on the sidelines CPI rose a modest 0.1 percent on-month, the lowest increase in the past 6 months. CPI this month rose by 2.57 percent against August last year following higher prices for medicine and healthcare services, which rocketed by 6.2 percent compared to the same period in 2015, said the General Statistics Office (GSO). The upcoming new school year also contributed a humble advance of 0.47 percent in education prices. On the contrary, the prices of food and food stuff fell slightly by 0.14 percent on-month, while transportation services fell 1.97 percent against July due to fuel price cuts. Hanois CPI The capital experienced a slight decline of 0.17 percent in its CPI, said the GSO. Three of the 11 groups of goods used to calculate CPI fell slightly, while a slight rise was recorded in the remaining eight. Due to the abundant supply of food and food stuff, the price of rice plummeted by VND 300-700 per kilogram, triggering a sharp plunge in the cost of food and catering services in the capital. Related news: > Consumer price index up 1.7pct in March > April consumer price index edges up: GSO report > China consumer inflation rises in May French human rights campaigners have asked the countrys highest court to rule on the legality of the so-called burkini ban after a public outcry over police fining Muslim women wearing head scarves. In one incident, police fined a woman wearing a traditional head scarf knotted at the nape of her neck and a long matching tunic over tight leggings on a beach in Nice. Photographs showed four male officers carrying guns standing over the woman as she stripped off her tunic, though the Nice mayors office denied that she had been forced to remove clothing. Other videos have emerged of women and girls being told to remove head scarves or leave Cote dAzur beaches. Advertisement Several resorts in the French Riviera have banned burkinis and other clothing deemed ostensibly religious in response to increased tension after this summers attack in Nice in which an Islamic State sympathizer drove a truck at high speed through crowds celebrating the Bastille Day holiday, killing 86. Officials deem the burkini, which covers the body and head, to be a challenge to French values of secularism and gender equality and a threat to public safety after complaints and outbreaks of violence. On the French Mediterranean island of Corsica last weekend, about 200 police officers broke up brawling locals who had apparently turned on a family that included two women wearing what some believed was religion-mandated clothing. Opponents of the ban say it is discriminatory and will only ramp up tension by suggesting all those wearing Islamic dress have terrorism links. Feiza Ben Mohamed, spokeswoman and secretary general of the Southern Federation of Muslims, who has dubbed the controversy BurkiniGate, posted a video online showing four young girls one wearing a head scarf, another a T-shirt and shorts being cautioned by police. After a series of videos emerged on social media of women being fined for wearing not just the burkini but dress considered incompatible with Frances secular principles, the Council of State, the nations highest administrative body, is expected to rule on the burkini question Thursday after the French Human Rights League said the ban was illegal and an attack on basic freedoms. Its ruling will provide a legal precedent for other towns seeking to ban controversial clothing. In another incident, a woman who gave her name only as Siam contacted the news media to say she had been fined and ordered off a beach in Cannes because she was wearing a hijab. The 34-year-old mother of two, who is a former flight attendant, said she was warned that she was not dressed correctly and with respect to standards of secularism, according to the citation she showed Agence France-Presse. After she refused to pay the $12.37 fine, she said, officers asked her to leave the beach. I was sitting there on the beach with my family. I was wearing a classic head scarf, a flowered hijab. Three police came up to me and said I wasnt wearing correct dress. I wasnt there to be provocative and I had no intention of swimming. I was totally shocked. I heard things nobody has ever said to my face before like Go home and Madam, the law is the law. Weve had enough of these things, or Here were Catholics. A witness to the Aug. 16 incident in Cannes, Mathilde Cusin, a journalist with France24, confirmed the womans version of events. The police said they were only applying the law. The saddest thing was there were people shouting [at the woman,] Go home, and some were applauding the police. They were telling her to leave or take off her scarf. It was so quite violent, Cusin told Agence France-Presse that day. During all this, her daughter was crying. On Monday, a Nice tribunal ruled that the burkini ban in Villeneuve-Loubet was necessary, appropriate and proportionate to prevent public disorder. It said the beach wear was liable to offend the religious convictions or nonconvictions of other beach users. On Wednesday, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve had an emergency meeting with Anouar Kbibech, president of the French Council of the Muslim Faith. A few days ago, a woman was given a verbal warning on a Cannes beach when she was wearing a simple scarf while accompanying her children. Today, we discover pictures of police officers making a woman on a beach in Nice to take off her tunic, when she wasnt even wearing a burkini, Kbibech said afterward. In the very serious and critical situation France finds itself following the tragic attacks that have profoundly hit the country, we call for wisdom and responsibility for everyone. Today we need more than ever to show calm and tolerance. Cazeneuve told journalists that the clothing bans must not lead to stigmatization or division. According to French Riviera police, 16 women have been given verbal warnings for wearing inappropriate clothing in Nice and six in Cannes. By Wednesday lunchtime, the photos of the woman removing her tunic had caused a social media storm with the hashtag #WTFFrance tweeted more than 20,000 times. In the Guardian, Australian clothing designer Aheda Zanetti, who claimed to have created the burkini, said she intended it to give women more freedom, not take it away. I would love to be in France to say this: You have misunderstood. And there [are] more problems in the world to worry about, why create more? she wrote. Youve taken a product that symbolized happiness and joyfulness and fitness, and turned it into a product of hatred. ALSO As Venezuelas farms and factories falter, the country struggles to feed its people Grainy footage appears to show kidnapping of son of Mexican cartel leader El Chapo Protesters say a massacre took place in this Mexican town. Now its become a rallying cry against the government North Korea fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile Wednesday that flew for more than 300 miles, a step forward in the increasingly isolated countrys development of weapons that defy United Nations sanctions, the South Korean military said. The range, which would allow North Korea to strike anywhere on the South Korean mainland, marked a vast improvement over a launch in April that traveled less than 20 miles. The U.S. Strategic Command said in a news release that the launch did not pose a threat to North America. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the missile was launched at 5:30 a.m. from near Sinpo, a city on North Koreas east coast, and landed in the Sea of Japan, within Japans air defense identification zone. No damage or casualties were reported. Advertisement The statement condemned the launch as a serious threat to security on the Korean peninsula. In response to the launch, South Korea held an emergency meeting of its National Security Council at the Blue House, South Koreas presidential office. The launch could be North Koreas way of communicating displeasure with military exercises being held in South Korea by U.S. and South Korean forces. The annual Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercises, which involve about 25,000 U.S. and 50,000 South Korean troops and last for about two weeks, mostly consist of computer simulations of defense scenarios. North Korea routinely objects to such exercises, calling them a rehearsal for an invasion of North Korea and threatening retaliation. On Tuesday, a statement carried by North Koreas state media threatened a preemptive nuclear strike on South Korea and the U.S. in response to the exercises. The statement called the exercises an unpardonable criminal act of pushing the situation on the Korean peninsula to the brink of a war. Wednesdays launch also took place on a day of scheduled meetings between the foreign ministers of South Korea, China and Japan, with the growing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea high on the agenda. At the meeting, South Korea and Japan are likely to seek further cooperation from China, North Koreas only significant ally, in enforcing sanctions and pressuring the Pyongyang government to cease provocations. Relations between South Korea and China have been complicated by South Koreas decision in July to deploy the missile defense system known as THAAD, for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense. China has objected to the decision, arguing that the systems radar can be used to gather military intelligence from Chinese territory. Borowiec is a special correspondent. MORE FROM WORLD Koreas smash summer hit is a zombie movie that strikes a deep chord Theres just one country other than the Vatican where divorce is illegal and some want to change that Her husband was killed in the Philippines drug war. No one would help her find answers UPDATES: 8:35 p.m.: This article was updated with staff reporting. This article was originally published at 6:30 p.m. Nine members of Perus national police are being investigated on suspicion of participating in a death squad responsible for as many as 27 killings carried out to secure promotions and impress superiors, government officials said. One police general, a commander and seven officers are suspected of having organized at least six bogus police operations from 2011 to 2015 that resulted in the deaths. While most of the victims had criminal pasts, at least 11 people killed during the operations had no police records, investigators say. A source within a special investigative committee formed by recently inaugurated President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski told the Los Angeles Times late Tuesday that investigators believe corrupt police using intermediaries persuaded delinquents to carry out robberies and then killed them during the heists to gain performance points. Advertisement The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing, said the special committees report was given to the interior ministrys special prosecutor for organized crime Tuesday night, but it still has not been made public. The report recommends that the nine officers be suspended from duty until the prosecutors investigation is completed, the source said. New interior minister and Kuczynski appointee Carlos Basombrio ordered the special committee investigation after the daily newspaper La Republica reported in July that 96 members of the national police were being investigated on suspicion of having been involved in extra-official executions of criminal suspects. On Monday, interior Vice Minister Ruben Vargas told reporters that a criminal group had functioned within the national police as a death squad on a national level to commit false positives, or extrajudicial killings. There exists serious evidence that this irregular group murdered delinquents in false operations, Vargas told reporters. The same nine officers participated in each of the police actions under investigation, he said. The special committee report singled out police Commander Enrique Prado as a prime suspect in organizing the death squad. It also said investigators were aided by police informants who told of civilian intermediaries being paid by the police to persuade criminals to commit apparently easy robberies against banks and businessmen. The intermediaries would then tell police when the robberies were to take place so they could catch the suspects in the act and kill them in what seemed to be risky confrontations. The incidents occurred in Lima and several regions of the country. Commander Prado organized everything and gained a promotion and the congratulations from his bosses, the informant told investigators. Prados attorney, Isaac Nonalaya, denied that his client was responsible for the killings. Commenting to La Republica this week, Nonalaya accused the informants of acting on economic need to make false accusations. My client is an honorable and irreproachable policeman. Special correspondent Leon is based in Lima. Special correspondent Chris Kraul in Bogota, Colombia, contributed to this report. ALSO As Venezuelas farms and factories falter, the country struggles to feed its people Grainy footage appears to show kidnapping of son of Mexican cartel leader El Chapo Protesters say a massacre took place in this Mexican town. Now its become a rallying cry against the government All material is subject to strictly enforced copyright terms & conditions and cannot be repurposed or reproduced. 19882022 Latin American Financial Publications Inc. Hurricane experts at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) as well as with AccuWeather are closely monitoring a tropical system over the northern Leeward Islands that has potential to strengthen significantly and become Tropical Storm Hermine, the eighth named storm of the 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season, by this weekend. The system poses a threat to land, as well as a distinct possibility of striking the Florida Peninsula from the southwest as a hurricane, the first hurricane to make landfall in that area and from that direction since Katrina in 2005. This system, currently dubbed 99L, will reportedly pose a threat to land over the next 10 days, during which it is expected to strengthen from a tropical disturbance to Tropical Depression Eight before being upgraded to Tropical Storm Hermine by late this week, said AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski. Storm system 99L is located approximately 1,300 miles southeast of Miami, Fla., according to AccuWeather's most recent storm update, posted on Wednesday Aug. 24 at 8:24 a.m. EST. Travelling at 15 miles per hour, the system is forecast to continue on in a west-northwesterly path as it approaches Puerto Rico on Wednesday night and nears Hispaniola by Thursday. According to Sosnowski, if the system tracks on a path that brings it in very close proximity with the mountainous terrains of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola, the potential for strengthening could diminish. This was the case with Tropical Storm Erika in 2015, as the storm tracked through the Caribbean islands and reportedly diminished upon landfall in Hispaniola. However, Sosnowski maintains that the system will undoubtedly strengthen to Tropical Depression Eight soon, and although additional strengthening may not occur until late this week or into the weekend, it will become the eighth named tropical storm of the 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season: Hermine. "The exact track of 99L will have a big impact on when the system strengthens," said AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski. "99L has the potential to become very well organized southeast of Florida this weekend." If 99L tracks in a more northerly direction, staying off the coast of Cuba, rapid strengthening is possible and the system could end up hitting hurricane status upon or even prior to approaching Floridian waters. If, however, it tracks through Cuba, strengthening of the system may be delayed, Sosnowski reports. "The intensity of the squalls, winds and seas will depend on how quickly 99L strengthens along the way," he said. According to the experts at AccuWeather, the last time a hurricane struck the Florida Peninsula was in Oct. 2005 when Hurricane Wilma made landfall with battering winds of 120 miles per hour. "The last hurricane to strike the Florida Peninsula during August was Katrina in 2005; Katrina was also the last hurricane to strike the Florida Peninsula from a southeasterly direction," Kottlowski said. Weather experts at the NHC are less certain about the likelihood of extreme strengthening for this system, which it has only defined as a "broad area of low pressure associated with a tropical wave," according to the most recent NHC advisory, posted on Wednesday Aug. 24 at 8:00 a.m. EST. "Showers and thunderstorms have become more concentrated overnight and are showing signs of organization, but the system still appears to lack a well-defined circulation," said NHC's Forecaster Brown. "Although environmental conditions are currently only marginally conducive for additional development, this system could become a tropical depression at any time during the next few days." The NHC says that it is sending an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft to investigate the storm system later in the day on Wednesday. Gusty winds, heavy rains and possible flashfloods and mudslides are expected to occur over portions of the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, and parts of the Bahamas, according to the NHC, which urges the public to consult forecasts from local meteorological offices for further details on the storm. AccuWeather reports agree that regardless of the strength of 99L as it moves along, gusty showers, thunderstorms and rough seas will impact the areas in the projected path of the storm system. Weather experts warn that seas may become dangerous for boaters out on open waters from the northeastern coast of Cuba through the Bahamas during the coming weekend. By Sunday, interests along the southeast coast of the Florida Peninsula, the Florida Keys, and northern Cuba can expect deteriorating weather, as well as sea and surf conditions, including dangerous riptides and currents. Sosnowski suggests property owners living within the potential projected path of this storm may want to prepare for potential impact, particularly if it does end up making landfall in the southern U.S. as a hurricane. Among the preventative measures suggested in anticipation of the approaching storm, as of this point in time, would be to locate and prepare storm shutters, ensure power generators are operational, and especially to closely monitor the progress of this system as it continues to strengthen in the coming days. Wildfire season is in full blaze, with fires burning throughout the entire west coast and elsewhere in the country. The Spokane Fire Complex, burning near Spokane, Wash., first erupted on Aug. 21 and has since destroyed over 7,200 acres of land and several homes as firefighters continue in their attempts to contain it. The Spokane Complex consists of the Yale Fire, located 12 miles south of Spokane, and the Wellesley Fire, which is seven miles northeast of the city. As of the most recent update from InciWeb, posted at approximately 2:00 p.m. EST, the Yale Fire was measured at 6,886 acres and still burning. Firefighters report that they have progressed in containing the Yale Fire perimeter and currently boast fifty percent containment. The Wellesley Fire, a much smaller blaze, at 365 acres, is now fully contained. Both the Yale and Wellesley Fires were ignited on Aug. 21, though the official causes are still unknown and under investigation. At the time they sparked, a dry cold front was moving through the surrounding area and brought with it strong gusty winds. The result of that first day's weather on this complex pushed both wildfires to make "very active wind driven runs during their initial runs," authorities report. The small section of the complex, the Wellesley blaze, resulted in the destruction of two homes and forced local residents to evacuate. Though the fire is now entirely contained, officials maintain that firefighters remain vigilant and continue to patrol the site with crews as well as engines. The trickier firefight that authorities face is with the Yale wildfire, which remains active and fueled by dry grasses and timber. This fire is expected to continue to slowly spread throughout the nearby canyons as firefighters continue to work on creating and maintaining a fire perimeter while pushing for further containment. Reports note that this work should become easier going forward, as cooler temperatures, higher relative humidity, and diminishing winds should assist in keeping fire spread to a minimum. Under the lead of the Washington Department of Natural Resources, fire personnel anticipate a final containment date for the Spokane Complex in its entirety to occur on or around Sept. 26, 2016. Many residents in the communities surrounding where the Yale Fire continues to burn were evacuated since it first ignited. In total and to date, 10 homes have been destroyed while 167 additional residences remain threatened by the blaze. However, as of late Tuesday Aug. 23, the Spokane County Sheriffs Office reduced all evacuations in the area to level one (see official "Level 1 Fire Evacuation Boundary" below). A level one evacuation notice is meant to inform the public that a fire is still burning in the area and that they should remain aware. On Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 24, fire managers involved with the Spokane Complex announced that they were sponsoring a public meeting to be held later on in the evening at 6:00 p.m. local time, at the Freeman High School gymnasium. The meeting has been organized in order to touch base with the community as well as to interact with members of the public regarding the fire situation as it currently stands. For any residents with inquiries or concerns regarding the Spokane Complex situation, fire information is available via telephone, by calling (509) 477-2780 or by e-mail, where the contact address is spokanecomplexfires@gmail.com. Nearly 30 percent of Mexico President Enrique Pena Nieto's 1991 law degree thesis plagiarized from lawyers, historians, and at least one president, according to a report published by Aristegui Noticias. Journalists for the Mexico-based website said Pena Nieto lifted at least 197 of 682 paragraphs - 28.8 percent - from other authors, ranging from former Mexican president Miguel de la Madrid Hurtado to University of New Mexico professor Linda Hall. At least 20 paragraphs from de la Madrid's 1977 book "Studies of Constitutional Law" appeared unabridged with little or no attributions. "Enrique Pena Nieto uses words and ideas of the man who preceded him in the presidential chair 30 years ago as if they were his own," read the report. The journalists also pointed to grammatical errors in plagiarized excepts, and how the paragraphs in questions did not have quotation marks. Some of the authors, they wrote, were not even mentioned in the bibliography. Pena Nieto administration spokesman Eduardo Sanchez issued a statement before the report's publication Sunday night downplaying the "style errors" journalists observed, noting that the president completed all law degree prerequisites at Panamerican University. "Apparently style errors like quotes without quotation marks or the lack of references to authors included are, two and a half decades later, a matter of journalistic interest," said spokesman Eduardo Sanchez. Pena Nieto's Past with Aristegui Noticias Aristegui Noticias is an online publication founded by investigative Mexican journalist Carmen Aristegui who, in March 2015, was fired from her popular morning radio show for exposing a deal Pena Nieto's wife made with government contractors. First Lady Angelica Rivera said the family's $7 million Mexico City mansion was paid on her earning as a soap-opera star. Aristegui found the house was purchased with financing from a government contractor which had won million-dollar public works contracts. While the Pena Nieto's eventually gave up their mansion, the "White House" scandal led to public distrust and decades-low approval ratings that hovered near 20 percent. The president formally apologized last month; nearly two years after Aristegui broke the story. A Scandal-Filled Presidency Pena Nieto's popularity has never been higher than when he took office in 2012, albeit with just 38 percent of the vote. Many blame him for plummeting value of the peso, ongoing drug cartel wars, and government corruption, the latter two which may have played a part in the disappearance of 43 students in December 2014. "Pena Nieto didn't come [to Iguana] because of us. They have all the people and resources to find out what happened, but they invented a lie," said Emiliano Navarette, parent to one of the missing children, in speaking with The Guardian. The latest scandal comes amid reports that company Grupo Pierdant is allowing Mrs. Pena Nieto to use a $2 million apartment in Key Biscayne, Florida while paying property taxes on an adjacent apartment belonging to a holdings company allegedly set up by the president's wife reports The Guardian. The Guardian, which uncovered the agreement, said Grupo Pierdant is expected to bid on a lucrative government contracts to develop Mexico's maritime seaports citing this following source. Sanchez released a statement on the Pena Nieto's administration's behalf, saying he was not contacted for the story and lamenting The Guardian for "directing their journalists to predict the future." Vietnam's President hopes France and others will help to diffuse regional tensions in the flashpoint waters. France and other countries should help to keep the peace in the disputed East Sea, Vietnam's president said Wednesday, using the Vietnamese term for the South China Sea, as unease grows over China's increasingly muscular approach in the key waterway. China claims most of the sea where it has built up reefs capable of hosting military equipment, sparking ire from competing claimants, including Vietnam, and raising fears of potential armed conflict. Speaking to AFP ahead of a visit by French leader Francois Hollande next month, Vietnam's President Tran Dai Quang expressed his hope. "We highly welcome the cooperation from France and other nations in the process of maintaining peace and stability in the region and the world and on the East Sea," he said, speaking from the presidential palace, the former residence of the Indochina governor during French colonial rule. Hanoi and Beijing have traded diplomatic barbs over disputed island chains and waters in the South China Sea and in 2014 China moved a controversial oil rig into contested territory, prompting riots in Vietnam. The strategic waterway, also claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan, is rich in energy reserves, fishery resources and is a busy shipping route. Quang's comments come after French Defense minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in June he would ask European countries to conduct coordinated patrols in the South China Sea. France and the United States have sent naval ships to the sea in recent months and have vowed to send more, angering Beijing. The Vietnamese president said Hollande's visit would help to boost military ties between the former colonial foes, as Hanoi has rapidly increased its defense budget in the last decade. "Several directions for cooperation will be strengthened and opened, like... ensuring security, safety and freedom of maritime and aviation," Quang said in a statement to AFP after the interview. He added that Vietnam wants more unity in the regional 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which has failed to forge a unified front against Beijing's militarization in the sea. "We have been active together with countries in the ASEAN community to increase unity, considering this an important structure to contribute to maintaining regional peace," he said. Last month Manila won its case against Beijing at a U.N.,-backed tribunal in the Hague which rejected China's claims to most of the sea. Beijing boycotted the hearing, and has refused to recognize the ruling, and ASEAN has sidestepped the issue, failing to comment directly on it at a meeting of ministers last month. Diplomats say Beijing has deftly courted Laos and Cambodia to split the bloc and blunt unified criticism. France and Vietnam signed a strategic partnership agreement in 2013, which included boosted defence cooperation. Related news: > Cambodia blocking ASEAN consensus on S. China Sea: diplomat > Vietnam calls on China not to complicate maritime issues She was hoping to make a killing on her lost limbs. A Vietnamese woman hired a man she knew to cut off part of her hand and leg and staged a train accident last May in a botched attempt to fraudulently claim around US$157,000 worth of insurance, investigators said on Tuesday. According to police in Bac Tu Liem District in Hanoi, in the early hours of the morning of May 5, Doan Van D., whose first name was withheld, came to the police station to report a train accident in which a woman, identified only as L.T.N., had lost her left hand and left foot. N., 30, was rushed to the September 18th Hospital and later Viet Duc Hospital, where doctors had no choice but to amputate the damaged limbs four days later. N. then told the police that on the night before the accident, unhappy with family affairs, she was strolling around the railway area when she was crushed by a train. According to her, D. was passing by at that time and rescued her. After a three-month investigation, police said they had found that N. staged the accident as part of an elaborate insurance scam. The scene of the "accident" allegedly staged by the woman. Photo courtesy of An Ninh Thu Do newspaper The so-called victim and her so-called rescuer knew each other, and N. had hired D., 21, to cut off her hand and leg, police said. Investigators did not elaborate on how they unmasked the scam. It is also unclear how much N. paid D. for his assistance. According to police, N. eventually confessed to convincing D. to stage the accident in a bid to pay off her debt. She told the police that she was deep in financial troubles and had hoped that the money she would have raked in from her insurance policies, around VND3.5 billion ($157,000), would help clear her debts. Vietnams annual average income was nearly $2,100 in 2015, according to the World Bank. Bac Tu Liem District police said they have not pressed any criminal charges against the duo. N. is still undergoing treatment for her injuries. Authorities said it was one of the most serious insurance scams they have dealt with in years. Related news: > Directors caught up in former bank chairman's $800 mln scam > Vietnam busts Taiwanese group involved in phoney police scam At least 12 million baht was hacked. The hackers made off with at least 12 million baht ($346,000) by inserting cards installed with malware into multiple cash machines run by Thailand's state-run Government Savings Bank (GSB) in late July. The theft came shortly after Taiwan announced that a group of foreigners had managed to steal $2.5 million from cash machines using a similar method. A Latvian, a Romanian and a Moldovan were arrested over the Taiwan heist but a number of suspects including five Russians managed to flee abroad. Police in Bangkok on Wednesday announced that GSB had alerted them to a similar hack in what they said was a first for Thailand. "As of now the evidence we have found makes us confident that this group is linked to the gang who committed a similar robbery in Taiwan," Police General Panya Mamen told reporters. At least five foreign suspects travelled from Taiwan to Thailand to carry out the theft, he said. "Investigators believe their identity is Eastern European though we are investigating whether any Thais were involved," Panya said, adding that those five had likely left Thailand. Police said at least 21 ATMs were hacked, some of them spitting out up to a million baht at a time. They said the bank had not immediately noticed the theft. Those behind the heist stood for long periods at the cash machines, usually late at night, prompting police to ask Thais to watch out for strange behaviour by foreigners at cash machines. Thailand has long been a hub for cyber criminals, both Thais and foreigners. The current junta government has vowed to crack down on foreign criminals in an operation which immigration police have called "Good guys in, bad guys out". Last month Thai police announced they had detained a Russian man and an Uzbek woman in cooperation with the FBI. They are accused of running a hacking syndicate that stole some $29 million from bank accounts. Related news: > Cyber fraud unearths potential loophole at Vietnamese bank's security system > Hackers attack Vietnamese cyber security company > Don't hack back: Vietnam's cyber community told to show restraint after attack According to the recently released 2015 State Department International Religious Freedom Report, the Chinese government continued to exercise state control over the practice of religion. Over this past year, reports continued to surface that the government physically abused, detained, arrested, tortured, incarcerated, or harassed adherents of both registered and unregistered religious groups for activities related to their beliefs and practices. Human rights organizations stated that police shot and killed Uighur Muslims during house raids and protests after the introduction of stricter government controls on religious expression and practice in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. A Falun Gong group reported abductions, detention, and a death in police custody related to adherents beliefs and practices. According to media and non-governmental reports, seven Tibetans self-immolated during the year in protest of restrictive government policies. Authorities often justified official scrutiny of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries by associating expression of Tibetan Buddhist faith with separatism and pro-independence activities. According to NGO and press reports, authorities in Zhejiang Province ordered the removal of more than 1,500 crosses on Christian churches and the demolition of some church buildings as part of a campaign against illegal structures.Many Zhejiang pastors and congregants openly resisted the campaign, resulting in the detention of several church leaders and activists, including Pastor Huang Yizi and lawyer Zhang Kai. Local authorities in many areas used a variety of means to punish members of unregistered religious or spiritual groups, including Christian house churches. Authorities in Guangdong Province sentenced Buddhist leader Wu Zeheng to life in prison on what advocacy groups stated were politically-motivated charges. As a signatory of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, China made a commitment to respect the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.When a government denies religious liberty, it turns citizens who have done nothing wrong into criminals, igniting tension that breeds contempt, hopelessness, and alienation, said Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the release of the 2015 International Religious Freedom Report. Deputy Secretary Blinken went on to say, Religious pluralism shows respect for the beliefs of every citizen and gives each a tangible reason to contribute to the success of the entire society. Thats why no nation can fulfil its potential if its people are denied the right to freely choose and openly practice their faith. West Bethlehem residents living near an old armory slated for redevelopment aired concerns Tuesday night during a community meeting and tour of the aging facility. The building height on a possible addition, parking, a spike in residential density and impacts on space where neighborhood children play all surfaced during the Mount Airy Neighborhood Association meeting as a representative of Peron Development walked the 70-strong crowd through the Bethlehem Armory proposal. Peron Development, led by prolific Bethlehem redeveloper Michael Perrucci, proposes turning the armory at Second and Prospect avenues into 70 to 78 apartments. They would rent from $1,300 for a one-bedroom to $1,600 for a two-bedroom, said John Callahan, the former city mayor working for Perrucci on the proposal. The project is designed to comply with existing zoning, though changes such as a reduction in on-site parking may necessitate going before the Bethlehem Zoning Hearing Board for relief from regulations on the property. John Callahan, of Peron Development, explains plans to redevelop the former Bethlehem Armory at Second and Prospect avenues in West Bethlehem into 70 to 78 apartments, during a meeting Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016, of the Mount Airy Neighborhood Association at West Side Moravian Church. (Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com) The building dates to 1930, with additions added in 1938 and 1968, and is on the National Registry of Historic Places. Peron proposes honoring the original use by maintaining part of the cavernous drill hall, either as loft apartments or business-incubator space. In the latter proposal, the developer is considering working with OraSure Technologies Inc. founder Mike Gausling, now a venture capitalist, in re-imagining the hall, accessed off Prospect Avenue. The Bethlehem Food Co-op is also eyeing using part of the building as the storefront for its membership, at 342 as of Tuesday, said board Chairwoman Colleen Marsh. A real estate committee is reviewing other potential sites, as well, and a study would need to be completed before committing to the site that best fits the planned full-service grocery store and its members, she said. Opening is at least 18 months off. The armory project is still in its early stages, prompting the back-and-forth with residents in an attempt to satisfy as many concerns as possible, Callahan said. 'We're very early on in the process," he said. "These are all concepts. .... All of these are open for discussion at this time. That's how early we are." Peron plans to buy the property by the end of 2017 through the Bethlehem Redevelopment Authority. City council last week backed Peron Development's plan to transform the complex. Diana Rodriguez, who teaches Spanish at Liberty High School and lives on Rauch Street abutting the property, voiced concerns about 23 parking spots proposed along Rauch Street. She fears the impact that would have on children who play on what is more of an alley than a through-street, particularly toward the narrow southern end. "Children play on it now," she said. "There is almost no traffic there at this moment." John SanFlippo, another Rauch Street resident and owner of California Drum Shop on his property, voiced as his biggest concern plans for an addition proposed at three to four stories tall, depending on the development option. Residents on the street enjoy a panorama of the city, virtually from the Hotel Bethlehem sign in red to the LED-bright Bethlehem Star; they fear what losing the view would mean for property values. "It cannot go above the roof or else we will have a riot," he said, echoing concerns voiced by Rauch Street resident and artist Judith "Joy" Ross. The plan includes 124 parking spaces on site and would necessitate cutting the width of Second Avenue, Callahan said. "The bottom line: It will increase the density in the neighborhood," said West Bethlehem resident Bill Scheirer, a frequent critic of city government. Rodriguez, the teacher, asked Callahan whether residents would be able to use the fitness center that is planned, and he explained it would only be open to tenants or on-site employees. She left the meeting unconvinced about the plan. "Right now I'm not seeing a benefit for the community," she said. Callahan maintained that the property would restore an aging structure, while putting a nonconforming use under the area's residential zoning back on the tax rolls and bringing in millennials and empty-nesters who would support local businesses and impart a new vibrancy. Perrucci was one of the driving forces behind redevelopment of the former Bethlehem Steel Corp.'s Bethlehem Works into Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem and the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks. His portfolio includes some $230 million in projects, not counting the massive South Side project, Callahan said. Including the armory, Peron Development has about $90 million in projects in the pipeline in the city, including the 95-unit Greenway Commons along East Third Street on South Side and the 30-unit Chelsea Commons off East Elizabeth Avenue in Center City. "We're very invested in the community," Callahan said Tuesday. "We're not going anywhere." Multiple development options Option 1 Armory: 9 Loft Units (including the existing mezzanine) 1938 Maintenance Garage: 3 Loft Units 1968 Maintenance Garage: 3 Loft Units New 3 1/2-story addition: 55 Units (34 Single Units, 21 Double Units) Total Units: 70 Option 1A Same as above, with the proposed demolition of the 1968 Maintenance Garage to the slab and rebuilt as a 3-story addition 1968 Maintenance Garage: 9 Units Total Units: 76 Option 2 Armory: 11 Loft Units 1938 Maintenance Garage: 3 Loft Units 1968 Maintenance Garage: 9 Loft units New 3 1/2-story addition: 55 Units (34 Single Units; 21 Double Units) Total Units: 78 Option 3 Armory: Open Office Floor 1938 Maintenance Garage: 3 Loft Units 1968 Maintenance Garage: 3 Loft Units New 4-story addition: 64 Units (40 Single Units; 24 Double Units) Total Units: 70 Option 3A Same as above, with the proposed demolition of the 1968 Maintenance Garage to the slab and rebuilt as a 3-story addition 1968 Maintenance Garage: 9 Units Total Units: 76 Source: Peron Development Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. A Bethlehem-based company will receive up to $16.6 million in federal dollars to develop a test for Zika, the emerging virus spread by certain species of mosquito. In this photo from OraSure Technologies Inc., U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., visits the company's headquarters in Bethlehem on May 31, 2016, to learn about efforts to develop a rapid-diagnostic test for Zika virus. (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com) The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday announced an initial commitment of $7 million to OraSure Technologies Inc. and up to $9.6 million more through 2022, as the need for additional work arises. OraSure has been working on a rapid test for the potentially serious virus, basing the design on its OraQuick technology already used for testing HIV, hepatitis C and Ebola. The company, which has its headquarters at 220 E. First St. on the city's South Side, has not released a timeline for getting the test ready for federal approval and sale. OraSure said Tuesday it expects to provide an update on timing during its next quarterly earnings call, in November. Development of the test was announced earlier this year, and OraSure in May hosted U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., as it pursued funding to advance the effort. The platform is similar to an at-home pregnancy test but uses a few drops of blood instead of urine, according to Tuesday's announcement. OraSure's product is designed to be administered in a health-care setting and is what is known as a lateral flow serological test. "Whereas other tests detect Zika virus cells in blood, serological tests look for antibodies produced by the body's immune response to viruses," Health and Human Services said in a news release. "The body produces antibodies to the Zika virus beginning approximately two weeks after infection and up to three months later when the virus is no longer present in a person's blood." Tests available now need to be sent to a laboratory for results, meaning delays in getting test results and increased anxiety associated with the uncertainty during wait times, according to the announcement. Most people who contract Zika see no symptoms, increasing the potential for its spread through sexual transmission, from a pregnant woman to her fetus or by mosquitoes in the Aedes genus. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, has identified two areas of Miami-Dade County in Florida where Zika is being spread by mosquitoes. A developing fetus infected with Zika may develop microcephaly -- an incurable condition in which the skull is smaller than normal -- or other birth defects. According to the CDC, people who contract Zika may see mild symptoms including fever, rash, joint pain, conjunctivitis (red eyes), muscle pain and headache. There is no vaccine or medicine for Zika. OraSure's funding is coming from the federal Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, part of the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. The contract represents the office's first sponsorship of a point-of-care Zika test. BARDA will distribute the initial funding over the next three years to support the product's continued development, manufacturing preparations and clinical testing, which are necessary to apply for clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to commercially market the OraQuick product. During development, the company also could request that FDA issue an Emergency Use Authorization for emergency use of the diagnostic test. "We believe the availability of an accurate rapid Zika antibody test will be a valuable tool to address current and potential future outbreaks," Douglas A. Michels, president and CEO of OraSure, said in a statement Tuesday. "We are grateful to BARDA for making this funding available as it will enable us to complete clinical and other activities required to obtain regulatory approvals for this product." To respond to the Zika virus outbreak, Health and Human Services says it has reprogrammed $374 million for domestic Zika response and preparedness. More than $50 million of that is going toward development of new tests, including serological tests being developed by DiaSorin Group and InBios designed for use in commercial and health care facility laboratories, and a molecular test being developed by Hologic for use in blood banks. The FDA recently issued Emergency Use Authorizations for emergency use of the InBios and Hologic tests, federal officials said Tuesday. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. UPDATE: First day of school on for embattled charter school The CEO of a fledgling Catasauqua charter school embroiled in controversy, following the mailing of a postcard highlighting the drug arrest of a Liberty High School student, has submitted a letter of resignation. The school is located at 330 Howertown Road in Catasauqua. (Sara K. Satullo | For lehighvalleylive.com) Innovative Arts Academy Charter School Chief Executive Officer Loraine A. Petrillo submitted a letter of resignation to the school's board Tuesday. The meeting began at 6 p.m. and opened with the board meeting behind closed doors. Petrillo indicates in her letter that she tried to resign Aug. 10, but the board did not accept her letter of resignation and persuaded her to stay on until the end of the month. "I never authorized nor had any knowledge of the recent ad and the despicable mailers some individual(s) decided to place in The Morning Call and mail to residents of the Bethlehem Area School District," Petrillo's letter says. The mailer promoting the charter school began landing in mailboxes over the weekend. It highlights the September 2015 arrest of a Liberty High School student, who had recently transferred to the school, and was found to have cocaine and heroin in his backpack. The postcard reprints a Morning Call headline after the arrest and asks "Why worry about this type of student at school? Come visit Arts Academy Charter School. Now enrolling grades 6-12." Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale has called for an investigation into the origin of the postcards. The school says it did not authorize or pay for the mailers or for two recent full-page color ads in The Morning Call. It is trying to get to the bottom of who sent the mailer and see if it has any legal recourse, the school's attorney, Daniel Fennick, said Tuesday. "My decision to separate from IAACS is in great part due to the highly inappropriate marketing campaign perpetuated by as yet an unknown individual(s)," Petrillo said. "I believe the individual(s) responsible will be identified in due time and expect any legal recourse the school has will be brought forward." Petrillo said she is saddened to leave the charter school because she firmly believes in its mission. She said she will leave as soon as a replacement is found. The school at 330 Howertown Road in Catasauqua is expected to open Sept. 6 and eventually enroll students in grades 6-12. The curriculum specializes in preparing students for careers in graphic design, journalism, culinary arts and fashion design. The arts charter school was supposed to be sharing space with the Medical Academy Charter School, which was co-founded by former Bethlehem school board president Craig Haytmanek. But that charter school closed in June after enrollment fell well below sustainable levels. Both schools lease their space from Lehigh Valley developer Abe Atiyeh, who declined to comment on the mailer controversy when contacted by a reporter Tuesday. Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Save Save A driver Wednesday morning crashed into a Bethlehem Township home after swerving to avoid hitting a deer in the road, police said. The crash occurred about 6 a.m. when a Jose Feliciano, 55, of the 1900 block of Seventh Street in the township, was driving a Pontiac G6 west on Freemansburg Road and swerved. Township police said he lost control and crashed through the front porch and two windows of a house in the 1600 block of Willow Park Road. Homeowner Donnie Carpenter and his girlfriend were asleep when Carpenter said he heard a loud bang. "I heard tires screech and then the house shook," he said. "I could see him (driver) and I ran to make sure he was alright." Township Police Sgt. Richard Blake said the driver's account of what happened matched up with evidence at the scene. Feliciano was not injured, police said. Carpenter and his girlfriend also weren't injured. Interior damage consisted of the walls and windows of his living room, where the vehicle entered. Tire tracks could be seen from where the vehicle swerved along Freemansburg Avenue. A restoration crew began assessing damage later Wednesday morning. This isn't the first time a vehicle crashed into a home at the same busy intersection. A tractor-trailer hauling construction debris in April 2014 crashed into the home of Carpenter's next-door neighbor. There also were no injuries reported in that accident and the female homeowner and her baby managed to escape when they saw something massive barreling at them. The tractor-trailer broke off the home's gas meter, causing a leak that delayed authorities' response to the crash until the gas company could respond to dig up the line and shut off service. "That time it slid just past our house," Carpenter said. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. A Lehigh University professor was fined about $30,000 and sentenced to five days in jail for allowing his once-prominent South Bethlehem property to fall into such disrepair it's in danger of collapsing. Alvin Kanofsky has owned the former Goodman Furniture building at 30 E. Third St. for 30 years. The city has a thick code violation file on Kanofsky and has been aggressively trying to get the blighted property cleaned up. In April, District Judge Nancy Matos Gonzalez found Kanofsky guilty of 17 code violations, related to the deterioration of the building's roof and his lack of a valid certificate of occupancy. She fined him $30,700 and sentenced him to 20 days in Northampton County Prison, Bethlehem assistant city solicitor Matthew Deschsler said. Kanofsky appealed her decision and on Wednesday morning a hearing was held in Northampton County Court before Senior Judge Leonard Zito. After a lengthy hearing -- Kanofsky represented himself -- Zito upheld the guilty convictions, reimposed the fines and ordered the 77-year-old to report to county jail Monday to serve a five-day sentence. Kanofsky can appeal the decision to Pennsylvania Superior Court. "I'll have to consider things," the physics professor said following the hearing. In October 2015, Kanofksy reached an agreement with the city that he would repair the roof and crumbling stucco facade within six months. Kanofsky still has not performed the repairs, testified Craig Hynes, the city's chief building inspector. In February of this year, Hynes repeatedly cited Kanofsky for the violations on consecutive days. The citations began two years after he was notified of the original violations, he said. "Eventually, if nothing is done this building will collapse," Hynes said. Kanofsky repeatedly said that the masonry and roof work cannot be performed during the winter. Deschsler noted that Kanofsky was advised of the need for those repairs a long time ago. "There are giant holes in the roof," Deschler said. He's now had the spring, summer and fall of 2015 and this spring and summer to take action, but he has not, Deschler said. "I feel I am not responsible for the collapse of the roof," Kanofsky said. "I was conscientiously pursuing repairs to the building," he later added. Zito pointed out the issue wasn't Kanofsky's lack of effort to get quotes to repair the building. "You are being cited for the lack of accomplishment," Zito said. Kanofksy once operated a flea market out of the building. It is now used for storage -- a use that the city requires a valid certificate of occupancy for -- and the building has no electric or water service. "The property is used to store massive amounts of stuff," Deschler said. So much water is pouring through the roof, Hynes testified, that when he entered the property in 2007 there were 30 trash cans set up to collect water and two small pumps to pump water into a drain following storms. Bethlehem police Lt. Benjamin Hackett testified at a hearing for separate violations that when he entered the building in March 2015 the same set-up remained, Deschler said. The city has closed the adjacent sidewalk and a parking lot because a portion of the stucco facade has buckled, he said. "It's defying gravity at this point," Hynes said. Kanofsky tried to argue that when the city's blighted property review committee in 2008 took his property off the blight list, that amounted to a valid certificate of occupancy. He said he was unable to find the letter for his earlier hearing. "The Lord above made this available to me," Kanofsky sad. Hynes disagreed, saying he is the only person who can issue such a certificate. Deschler questioned how it matters what the property looked like in 2008. What matters is its current state, he said. "It's gonna kill someone someday," Deschler said. In May, Judge Michael Koury upheld Kanofsky's code violation citations that were issued after Hackett entered the building in March 2015. There was some confusion over how much Kanofsky should be fined for the most recent citations for which he was found guilty. Zito rattled off fines and court costs for all 17 convictions and Deschler then noted the ordinance caps fines at $1,000. Zito said he was just imposing the same fines laid out in the district court transcript, which he believes include court costs Kanofsky is also responsible for. Deschler said he believed the fines should total $30,700, which Zito ordered would be reconciled by the court following the hearing. Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. The captain who supervises Easton's rank-and-file police officers is retiring to take a job with the Easton Area School District police force. E. Scott Casterline, the current captain of field services, has a start date of Oct. 3 to join the school district as assistant supervisor of safe schools. "We couldn't have selected a better candidate," said John Remaley, the school district's supervisor of safe schools. Remaley and Casterline worked together for 21 years on the city force. In a strong field of candidates, Casterline was the hiring committee's unanimous choice for the job, Remaley said. Casterline, of Palmer Township, was born and raised in the city's West Ward. He was a corrections officer in New Jersey before joining the Easton Police Department in 1996, rising through the ranks to become lieutenant and later captain. Casterline has a lot to wrap up before retiring from Easton. If he can take care of his obligations with the department, he will start sooner with the school district, Remaley said. The school has its own police force as well as security officers, according to Superintendent John Reinhart. Casterline will join the school police force. He'll earn $52,000 a year, pro-rated for his late start date this year. In 2014 Casterline earned $101,349 with the city police department. He'll be able to collect a city pension when he retires as well as his school district salary. "We are really pleased to have someone with his experience and knowledge join our current team of officers and security personnel," said schools Superintendent John Reinhart. "He will be a great asset to us as we continue to revitalize our safety and security plan." Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. A new Catasauqua charter school embroiled in controversy over an unauthorized mailer still plans to open this fall despite its CEO stepping down. The school is located at 330 Howertown Rd. in Catasauqua. (Sara K. Satullo | For lehighvalleylive.com) The board of Innovative Arts Academy Charter School met Tuesday night for the first time since a promotional mailer slamming Liberty High School began showing up in Bethlehem residents' mailboxes. Board President Kelly Bauer emphasized again Tuesday night that school officials did not authorize the mailer or two recent full-page color ads that ran in The Morning Call newspaper. There was no need for a marketing campaign because the school had met its enrollment goal by the start of August, she said. There are 330 students enrolled as of Tuesday. "We are absolutely disgusted by the mailer," Bauer said. "We would never use a negative attack on another school to encourage students to enroll in our school." Innovative Arts Academy is scheduled to open Sept. 6 at 330 Howertown Road in Catasauqua and still hopes to make that deadline, Bauer said. A decision will be made at the 6 p.m. Aug. 30 board meeting. The school is leasing the space from developer Abe Atiyeh. "Absolutely, our intent today is to stay open," Bauer said, adding they owe it to the students enrolled, who would be hurt by the school not opening. School Chief Executive Officer Loraine Petrillo submitted a letter of resignation to the board Tuesday evening but has agreed to stay on until a replacement is found. The board refused to vote to accept Petrillo's resignation but said it understood and respected her decision. "We are deeply saddened that the actions of someone else would cause such backlash to her personally and professionally that she feels as though she needs to take a step back," Bauer said. This fledgling Catasauqua charter school denies authorizing, paying for or sending out this mailer. The postcard references the drug arrest of a 17-year-old Liberty student, who was found to have both heroin and cocaine with a street value of more than $3,000 in his backpack. It reprints a Morning Call headline after the arrest and asks "Why worry about this type of student at school? Come visit Arts Academy Charter School. Now enrolling grades 6-12." Petrillo indicates in her letter that she tried to resign Aug. 10. That is days after the first unauthorized ad ran in The Morning Call. But the board did not accept her letter of resignation and persuaded her to stay on until the end of the month. "(The mailer) was the last straw," Petrillo said Tuesday night. She feels conflicted about resigning because she has hired a fantastic staff of 23 teachers that believe in her vision and has 330 new students eager to learn, she said. "I expect to hear good things about the school," Petrillo said. Calling into the meeting over the phone, school attorney Daniel Fennick said he has identified the printer of the mailer and he is notifying them to not print anything further without authorization from school officials. Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale has called for an investigation into the origin of the postcard. The bulk mailer postal code has been traced to Tribune Mailing Co., Petrillo said. The board has an idea of who is behind the mailer and ads but does not want to accuse anyone, Bauer said. The school is determined to find out who is behind the mailer and pursue any legal action available, Fennick said. "They will be held accountable," Bauer said. Innovative Arts Academy Charter School CEO Loraine Petrillo is stepping down. (Sara K. Satullo | For lehighvalleylive.com) When asked if she felt an outside person was undermining her efforts, Petrillo said: "I think they're undermining the entire school by sending that horrible mailer." The person behind the mailer has jeopardized the new school's reputation and the volunteer board members' personal and professional relationships, Bauer said. "The (Bethlehem Area School District) does an excellent job with their students, with their community," Bauer said. Bauer said she struggled with whether the school should continue. But then she thought of the students that would be left without a school and the teachers without a job. "I am not a fan of all charter schools," Bauer said. "I am a fan of schools with a mission and this school has a mission." Bethlehem resident Brian Bortz, who sat on the board of another charter he declined to name, said this sort of false, negative publicity hurts the efforts of the students, board members and families trying to build a school. "This is blatantly a smear campaign and it is really unfortunate," Bortz said. The school's curriculum specializes in preparing students in grades 6-12 for careers in graphic design, journalism, culinary arts and fashion design. The arts charter school was supposed to be sharing space with the Medical Academy Charter School in Catasauqua, which was co-founded by former Bethlehem school board president Craig Haytmanek. But that charter school closed in June after enrollment fell well below sustainable levels. Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Syria is one of the cradles of civilization, a place where humans first learned to live together in towns and cities. The societies that flourished in Syria mastered technologies including farming, pottery-making, metal-working, and glass blowing, creating many beautiful artifacts. From the remains of immense Bronze and Iron Age settlements, to extensive Greek and Roman cities, mighty fortresses and castles, and masterpieces of art and architecture, these societies have produced some of the ancient world's most spectacular cultural treasures. Syria is home to six of UNESCOs World Heritage Sites, and another twelve have been nominated for inclusion. Today, these priceless antiquities are disappearing. Some have fallen victim to the countrys five year civil war. But the greatest threat to these irreplaceable historic artifacts is ISIL, also known as Daesh. Over the past two or so years, while they controlled large parts of Northern and Eastern Syria, these terrorists have deliberately and ostentatiously destroyed some of the most significant archaeological treasures created by the ancients in Palmyra, in Tel Ajaja, in Mari, and dozens of other historical sites. But beyond their purposeful destruction, ISIL terrorists also have also done a tremendous amount of pillaging, looting, and just plain theft. They plundered sites in territories they controlled, digging up millennia-old artifacts and selling them on the black market. The United States is committed to helping the Syrian people preserve their priceless heritage, and to preventing these thieves of history from profiting from their theft and the destruction they have wrought. For that reason, the United States has, in early August, imposed strict import restrictions on archaeological and ethnological material of Syria, effective immediately. Pursuant to the Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property Act of 2016, these emergency import restrictions apply to any cultural property unlawfully removed from Syria on or after March 15, 2011. The United States will continue to closely monitor and raise awareness about threats to heritage in Syria, and work toward preventing its removal or destruction. We owe this to the Syrian people, who are being stripped of their cultural identity, as well as to the world at large that respects, admires, and studies this heritage. Authorities believe human remains found in state game lands in the Poconos could be that of a missing 55-year-old man. The skeletal remains were found just before 10 a.m. Monday in a wooded area near 7 Mile Road in Gouldsboro, Wayne County, by an ordnance recovery worker. Pocono Mountain Regional police said the worker is employed by a Maryland-based company to recover military ordnances and debris from a designated area in Tobyhanna, Monroe County. The remains were determined by the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department and Pennsylvania Game Commission to be that of a human. A larger area was then canvassed in an effort to find additional items and remains. The search was led by Pocono Mountain Regional police detectives, state police, the county coroner's office and a forensic unit for several hours. Authorities are trying to determine if the remains found are of Richard McClain, a man who disappeared on May 27. An anthropologist is performing tests to identify the body. Authorities recovered McClain's vehicle on Plank Road in Gouldsboro. Inside the vehicle, police said, were diabetic medications McClain needed to take. Rescue agencies for weeks searched the area surrounding Plank Road with negative results in finding McClain. The remains were found an estimated three miles from where the vehicle was left behind. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Two people were flown to a hospital after a rollover crash just before 5 a.m. Wednesday on an Interstate 80 West ramp in Knowlton Township, New Jersey State Police said. The crash apparently wasn't impacting traffic at that time, but an alert about 6:45 a.m. from the New Jersey Department of Transportation said the ramp was closed. The crash was at mile marker 6.2 and was dispatched at 4:56 a.m., according to the Warren County Department of Public Safety. Police were still at the crash as of 6:15 a.m. and more information wasn't immediately available, said a sergeant at the Hope station. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. The intervention of a health watchdog has forced the hand of the HSE and Government in overhauling services at St Vincent's Hospital Mountmellick, which has led to restricted re-opening of admissions for new patients. The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) confirmed that it has lifted a ban on admissions to the hospital which cares for elderly people. However, it has reduced the capacity by a fifth, meaning only five new patients will be able to be admitted in the short term. Hiqa's decision follows measures it forced after it halted admissions last year. Since then work has been done to improve the building. The admissions ban was imposed chiefly because of the suitability of the building for care of the elderly. While Hiqa is happy with some of the work done on the building, it remains concerned about it. There are inadequate numbers of bathrooms and toilets and their location did not meet the demands of residents to promote the dignity, well being and independence of residents, said a report carried out by Hiqa following an inspection in June. Hiqa appears to have lifted the ban on foot of a promise of a new building. Laois TD and Government Minister Charlie Flanagan said this would be delivered. The government has approved this funding of 23.7 m for the 130-bed unit for St Vincents Hospital. I will be meeting with the Minister for Health in the coming weeks to discuss advancing the plans for the new facility. The move will be good news to many families whose loved ones need high dependency care for dementia as well as for families who availed of the respite care which will again be offered. See Page 2 Last week's Leaving Cert results marked a special day for 17-year old Portlaoise College student, Teron Francis who received 425 points and hopes to study aero engineering at Carlow IT. Originally hailing from the Erravur region of Sri Lanka, Teron has lived with his parents Ingrid and Terrence in the Direct Provision Centre in the Montague Hotel since they arrived in Ireland over eight and a half years ago. Teron was aged nine when his father, mother and grandfather moved from Sri Lanka in 2007. The move was prompted by the dangerous and volatile situation in the country at the time, which saw constant fighting between opposing forces. The family decided on Ireland as their destination, and Teron admits to not remembering much about their former life in Sri Lanka. Upon arrival in Ireland the family spent five days in Hatch Hall, before been transferred to the Montague Hotel in Emo. The family have lived there since. Teron's grandfather was granted asylum status in 2009 and moved into Portlaoise to live. Sadly, he passed away in 2011. Teron still lives with his parents at the Montague, but now hopes to move to Carlow to study Aero engineering. The family's attempts to get asylum status have failed, but last June their application for subsidiary protection was accepted, which now allows them to stay in the country indefinetly and leave the Direct Provision system. For Teron the timing could not have been better as it now allows him to qualify for a Susi grant to study in Carlow. Upon moving to Ireland , Teron initially stayed in one room in the Montague with his parents, but since then has received his own room. He is upbeat about the system. Honestly, I think I got lucky. The Montague is genuinely a very nice place for what it is, he stated. Teron's family built a good rapport with the fellow residents in the Montague. Over the years, however, they have seen many people coming and going, and new people are arriving all the time. There are up between 100 and 150 people living there now, said Teron. Everyone kind of leads separate lives and, of course, everyone wants to get out. Living in Ireland has been great, and I've made some great friends. Plenty of opportunities have been given to me during my time here. Teron originally attended Emo Natonal School and started in third class. I was treated the same as everyone else there. It was a quick and painless transition. Irish was a big step up, but eventually by the end of my time in Emo I had a fairly good grasp of it. The teachers were great, as they were also at Portlaoise College. Receiving his Leaving Cert results last Wednesday, he admits to been more excited than nervous. At 17 he was the youngest graduate in his class of 50 to 60 at Portlaoise College. Teron has no wish to go back to Sri Lanka on a permanent basis, but is not averse to the idea of returning for a visit sometime in the future. He is excited about the next chapter in his life, and is looking forward to moving to Carlow. His parents hope to move there also. Despite a few signs of nerves just before the brown envelopes were handed out at 10am last Wednesday, it was mostly delighted young men who emerged from the doors of St Mary's CBS in Portlaoise brandishing their leaving cert results. Top marks of 625 was achieved by one of the schools students, Frank Flanagan of Portlaoise, with fellow Portlaoise native, Evan Bracken getting an equally impressive 615. I expected to do well, but not this well. Im over the moon, Frank said, admitting that he had worked hard to achieve such a remarkable score. The unassuming - if unmissable at a height of over six and a half foot - young Portlaoise man sat eight subjects and scored nearly all As, bar a B3 in English, and now intends going on to study mathematical sciences at UL. Frank had an A to spare, beamed deputy principal, Brian Thompson, referring to Franks A2 in Irish. It was clear that Frank was just as dedicated to his extracurricular activities, as he told the Leinster Express that he wasnt sure whether hed be able to celebrate his achievements last Wednesday as he had a match to play at the weekend with the Portlaoise senior hurling team. The equally modest Evan Bracken said he was happy enough with his total of 615. His best subject was an A1 in maths, and he now intends going on to study engineering at UCD. Sean Curtin, Portlaoise, said: I did really well, I thought I was going to fail French but I passed it, that means I can go to NUIG now. My first choice is computer science, after that science. Pierce McCabe, Portlaoise, said he had done great in the exams. I got my full courses and I got 365, Im delighted with that, he said, explaining that he was hoping to go to Carlow IT or GMIT. William Troy, Ballyfin, scored a total of 565, and hopes to go on to UCD to study physics. His best subjects were history and physics, He was attended on the morning by his proud mother, Christina, who said she was delighted with her sons results. Im delighted now, I had been feeling sick, it was nerve-wracking. Its all over now and he did great. He worked hard and he deserved it, she said. Martin Walsh, Portlaoise, said he was happy, even though he had not got quite enough for his first choice course. His best subjects were agricultural science and business. Fellow Portlaoise students Ethan Larkin, whose best grade was a B1 in geography, and Colm Fitzpatrick, whose best grade was a B1 in maths, both said they were happy with their results. While most students wasted no time in getting their results, a few seemed to savour the agony and the ecstasy of the moment by delaying the opening of the envelope. I havent looked yet, said Dominic Pindi, originally from the Ukraine but now living in Portlaoise, when asked what his results were. It might be disappointing, it might not, he said. Heritage Week 2016 continues this week and runs until Sunday coming, August 28. It is an opportunity celebrate Kildares rich and varied heritage and everyone is invited to come out and get involved and most events are free, said Bridget Loughlin, County Kildare Heritage Officer. The week is part of a European-wide initiative with the express aims of fostering awareness of Irelands built, natural and cultural heritage, thereby encouraging its conservation and preservation and increasing interest in shared heritage. A hundred events have been taking place since last weekend, many of which are organised by history, heritage and tidy towns groups to showcase their local heritage, said Ms Loughlin, who commended community and heritage groups for their enthusiasm and energy during heritage week each year. The theme of this years celebration focuses on life a hundred years ago, to commemorate the 1916 Rising. Here's some of our top picks for events still to come this week. For the full programme, see www.heritageweek.ie. Irish Military Vehicles Group History Display Display of collection of military artefacts and uniforms covering 1916 and The Battle of the Somme, at Monasterevin Library on Thursday, August 25 from 2pm to 5pm. Call 086 9294442 for more information. Learn about boxty Demonstration of Boxty making with tastings and ideas for using in a modern menu. Takes place during regular weekly market at Friary Hall, Kildare town, on Thursday, August 25 from 11am to 12pm. Local dormice An informative talk on the status of the hazel dormouse which has been found in County Kildare in the last couple of years, at the Town House Hotel on Thursday, August 25, from 8pm to 9.30pm. Admission free. 1348 A Medieval Apocalypse Explore the greatest killer in recorded history the Black Death and discover that within 12 months over one third of the population of Ireland had died. At Castledermot Community Library on Friday, August 26, from 7pm to 8pm. Admission free. National Breed Show at Punchestown This exhibition will showcase Irelands native breed of horse. An opportunity to see some of the best examples of the Irish Draughts compete both in hand and under saddle. Organised by Irish Draught Horse Breeders at Punchestown Racecourse. Admission: Adult: 5, Child: free. Saturday, August 27 from 10am to 6pm. Childrens Walk in Donadea A morning of childrens bird watching activities including a walk where we will see what birds we can identify. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 5 car park fee but admission is free. Hosted by Kildare BirdWatch, at Donadea Forest Park on Sunday, August 10am to 12pm. Curragh Local History Group Open Day & Lecture Curragh Local History Group Open Day is a unique opportunity to visit the museum free of charge. Discover fascinating artefacts relating to the history of the Curragh Camp and many unique items. At the Old Band Hall, Curragh Camp, on Saturday, August 27 from 11am to 3pm. Celebrating Irish Author Maura Laverty Celebration of Rathangan born author Maura Laverty (1907- 1966). Enjoy the taste of her recipes and learn about her life and literary legacy. Organised by Rathangan Tidy Towns, Town Centre. Adm free, Sunday August 28, 12 to 2pm. County Leitrim has been announced as a finalist in Ireland's 'Foodie Destination' competition. The Restaurants Association of Ireland announced the top ten finalists in the Foodie Destinations competition last week. The Foodie Destinations initiative aims to celebrate Irelands unique and wonderful food offerings and to encourage local food tourism initiatives across the country. Leitrim competes with the Boyne Valley, Cong, Derry, Dublin Coastal Village (Howth, Malahide and Skerries), Kilkenny, Monaghan, Sligo, The Burren and The Loop Head Peninsula in the competition. Leitrim will now receive a pre-arranged visit by a pair of independent assessors in the coming weeks. This assessment will be combined with a national public voting campaign where the public can choose their winning foodie destination out of the ten finalists this can be done through www.foodiedestinations.ie. The winning town/destination will be crowned Foodie Destination of Ireland 2016 in September. The Foodie Destination of Ireland award recognises a destination that actively promotes itself through joint promotional activities such as food festivals, gourmet trails or farmers markets as well as great dining experiences. Get voting now on www.foodiedestinations.ie until September 9. September. Seamus ORourke is back in the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin this November when he stars in Jimmy Murphys The Kings of the Kilburn High Road. The show runs for two weeks at the famous Dublin venue before heading to the Ramor Theatre, Virginia and finishing up in the Everyman Theatre in Cork. But before all that ORourke takes a more scenic route around the rural countryside with his new hit show, Danger Money, written by Ballyconnell man John McManus. Seamus and John have collaborated before on another of McManuss plays, The Quare Land and the outcome once again is sensational. The play is set in Leitrim, in the bog, a few miles from Dowra where Teddy (The Mucker) Tuker bags turf and gives his theory on St Patrick, on snakes, on his landlord who happens to be an ex-guard with helper syndrome and an array of colourful characters who inhabit his current mundane existence. But its his past that needs tending. Thirty years of tunnelling in London must lead to somewhere other than the bog in Dowra! Teddy probes and prods, throws away and bags and ultimately, what could have been a lazy evening in the bog turns out to be hilariously mad and wild and raw and then something spectacular happens: We dont know what we dont know. Danger Money has been going down a storm since it opened in May this year and starting in the Corn Mill Theatre, Carrigallen this Thursday, August 2,5 Seamus and his company Big Guerilla Productions will take Danger Money to twenty more venues between now and the end of October. ORourke tells the Leitrim Observer, The Gaiety is grand, but theyd know more about bagging turf in the other venues! After the Corn Mill on August 25, 26 and 27 , the show can be seen locally in The Glens, Manorhamilton on September 8, Backstage, Longford on September 29 and 30, in Roscommon Arts Centre October 7 and in Fenagh Community Centre on October 8. At the outset, I would like to make clear that, in writing this article, I am not lending my support to any argument that the EU referendum should be re-run or that the result should be overturned. In my view, any such argument is specious in the extreme, with its Liberal Democrat proponents appearing especially hypocritical. That the EU Referendum Bill received overwhelming support from all parties (the SNP excepted) is demonstrative of both the democratic inviolability of the outcome as well as the abject failure of Parliament to properly countenance the potential impact of an affirmative vote to leave the EU. In presenting the question of the UKs exit from the EU, a profound, multi-faceted and far-reaching change to the UKs constitution, in such binary terms, the framers of the referendum question are arguably as responsible for much of uncertainty facing the nation as those on the Leave side who waged such a dishonest campaign. Indeed, the amorphous nature of the question posed unquestionably resulted in a vacuum in which the worst excesses of both sides were allowed to run wild, devoid of any common anchor to which voters could tie them. Loose talk of punishment budgets, hoards of Turkish immigrants descending upon our shores and overtly simplistic assertions on parliamentary sovereignty detracted from the very real and very significant constitutional resettlement that was being proposed. That such a complex and challenging endeavour should now be embarked upon following a relatively small and nationally disjointed majority is staggering. A hotchpotch of ever-evolving Acts of Parliament, court judgments and conventions, the UKs unwritten constitution rarely, if ever, requires Parliament to hold referenda to effect constitutional change. In recent years, the proliferation of referenda has been used more as an instrument by David Cameron to outsource Conservative party management to the larger electorate than due to any democratic or constitutional imperative. Constitutional change in the UK therefore tends to be quite fluid and mutable, allowing itself to evolve in line with societal change and technological developments. The benefits of this are apparent. The UK avoids being bogged down by disputes over the precise intention or meaning of archaic pieces of jurisprudence, such as we have seen with the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution. On issues such as same-sex marriage, the process for recognition was more straightforward and provided much greater scope for parliamentary leadership than, for example, in Ireland where a constitutional referendum was required. However, on larger questions such as EU membership, the UKs constitutional framework has, in comparison to other countries, proven itself utterly powerless to properly protect its citizenry from the risk that fundamental, revolutionary and even existential change can be pushed through on a whim, without any kind of robust, deliberative process and, at times, without even the consent of the majority of its elected representatives. In other European countries such as Ireland and France, constitutional changes of this nature tend to be subject to both the unanimous approval of the legislature AND by a majority of its citizens. In the United States, proposals for amendments to the Constitution must ultimately be approved by the legislatures of three quarters of the states. Simply put, a constitutional change on the scale of that which the UK now faces would almost certainly never have been accepted in any other country with such a meagre popular mandate. Brexit will clearly necessitate radical and sweeping changes to the UKs existing constitution in order to extricate ourselves from over 40 years of EU regulation. Accepting that the lack of a written constitution distinguishes the UK from other nations as unusually facilitative of these types of constitutional amendment, at this point it may be worth considering whether a new, written constitution would be desirable to act as a citadel against the transient, agitated passions of modern populism. * Ciaran McGonagle is a Liberal Democrat member originally from Derry, Northern Ireland and based in Colchester. He is a solicitor working in financial services in the City of London. Members of the Nuclear Weapons Working Group are presenting their personal views as part of a wider consultation process into the partys future policy on nuclear weapons. The full consultation paper can be found at www.libdems.org.uk/autumn-conference-16-policypapers and the consultation window runs until 28 October. Party members are invited to attend the consultation session at party conference in Brighton, to be held on Saturday 17 September at 1pm in the Balmoral Room of the Hilton. UK nuclear defence policy does not exist in isolation. As the Lib Dems Nuclear Weapons Working Group Consultation Paper makes clear, nuclear defence policy exists in the context of the UKs broader policy on defence and foreign policy. Changes to Lib Dem nuclear weapons policy are best seen in the context of a changing defence and foreign policy environment. From a UK perspective, the key recent shifts in the foreign and defence policy context include the continuing economic and military rise of China (and our Allies response to this), the adversarial turn in relations with Russia, and the rise of IS in the Middle East together with its effects on Western Middle East policy, NATO and Turkey. The most significant change in the foreign and security policy landscape for the UK concerns China and its relationship with the US. Up until 2013 China pursued what they called a peaceful rise policy; rapid economic development avoiding involvements in conflict. This changed with the new leader Xi Jinping, who, for example, announced the String of Pearls policy, otherwise known as the maritime silk road. This is a string of Chinese-controlled ports and associated inland infrastructure that dots the worlds trade routes, with economic investment closely followed by military investment; for example in Pakistan/Afghanistan, Djibouti/Ethiopia, and Sri Lanka. In addition China began its assertive policy to gain control of trade routes and establish military bases in the South China Sea and Pacific Rim, resulting in attrition with the US, Japan, Vietnam and Philippines. There have been other symptoms such as the fledgling military involvement of China in South Sudan and Syria; the latter an indicator of growing military ties with Russia. Rising tensions between the UK and Russia are rooted in a breakdown of acceptance of a Russian Sphere of influence (ie control) and consequent decline in mutual trust. As NATO inched eastwards and the US missile defence shield was built in Eastern Europe, relations declined. The Ukrainian uprising against a secretive elite with Russian support, led to a US-backed anti-Russian regime, a Donbass war, and Russian annexation of Crimea where is has major strategic military installations. Russian involvement defending the Syrian regime, and to keep Russian bases, has been followed by steps to establish permanent bases in Yemen, Syria, Vietnam and elsewhere. Relations between Europe and the US on one side, and Russia and China on the other, form the backdrop for the appalling and almost inconceivably brutal wars in Syria and Iraq, where shifting alliances and the deadly miscalculations of all sides make for weak motivations for peace. The war may continue, and the refugees keep pouring into the EU, for another decade or more, even if ISIL is defeated. The scope for larger scale regional or global wars involving the UK largely depends on the direction of relations between and among Europe & US and Russia & China. For the UK, US security policy and intentions over NATO are central. Either main candidate for the US Presidency will almost certainly bring an even more assertive military stance on all these points of conflict. UK military and security strategy (and resources, including nuclear weapons) will have to be uncharacteristically fleet-of-foot if they are to be fully brought to bear in the UKs pursuit of its interests, in this context. During PM Theresa Mays term of office, it is likely that the replacement of the Trident nuclear missile defence system like-for-like will be made at least contractually irreversible. The test for Liberal Democrat security policy, in that context, amidst the distractions of Brexit, is to harangue the government in pursuit of our national interests as the background of global security continues to worsen. The UK will have to focus its defence & foreign policy emphasis, and be much more selective in its military and disarmament interventions. * Paul Reynolds works with multilateral organisations as an independent adviser on international relations, economics, and senior governance. He is a member of the Lib Dem Federal International Relations Committee and an Executive member of Liberal International (British Group). A NEW youth-friendly mental health service is set to open in OConnell Street in Limerick shortly. Jigsaw, which offers free and confidential mental health supports for young people aged up to 25, is already recruiting for a handful of positions. It comes after more than 700,000 was assigned for the service by the previous government for the service, which can provide up to six free counselling sessions for youngsters. Labours former Education Minister Jan OSullivan has welcomed the announcement, saying the recruitment process is taking place through co-operation between the HSE and the Limerick Youth Service. Limerick Youth Service has also received additional resources to help manage and support these young people who find themselves trying to cope personally with these difficult situations, Ms OSullivan confirmed. Far too often, we encounter people when they are in crisis, none more so than those who experience mental health pressures and as such the services that will soon be provided by trained staff in Jigsaw will hopefully help those suffering before they reach a crisis point, she said. Ms OSullivan says the new service is about ensuring youngsters have access to youth-friendly health services. It is not just about professionals, but also building capacity in communities to support young people and challenging all of us to become engaged in our young peoples wellbeing, she said. Once the centre has been set up, young people experiencing anxiety, anger, stress, social isolation will be able to avail of the counselling sessions, Ms OSullivan added. It is anticipated Jigsaw would be able to provide 1,500 face-to-face sessions with young people each year. The service is already in place in ten places across Ireland including Kerry, a number in Dublin, Donegal, Offaly and Kerry. 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. There is growing fear among officials across the West that in the waning days of the Obama administration his Environmental Protection Agency may enact regulations that could cost the hard rock mining industry billions of dollars, jeopardizing jobs and entire communities. Earlier this year, the EPA, as is its wont, settled a lawsuit from a passel of self-styled environmental groups by agreeing to write further regulations requiring additional financial assurances in the form of expensive surety bonds that mining sites will be adequately cleaned up and reclaimed at the end of operations. The court gave the EPA until Dec. 1 to write these new rules. Lest we forget, it was the geniuses at the EPA who bungled the reclamation of the Gold King mine near Silverton, Colo., a year ago, dumping millions of gallons of toxic-metal-laced pollutants into the Animas River, turning it a bright yellow. The Western Governors Association and the chairs of two key U.S. House committees have sent letters to Gina McCarthy, administrator of the EPA, asking for information about what the agency plans to do and pointing out that the states and various federal agencies already have reclamation bonding requirements in place and that any additional requirements could be duplicative and costly to the industry. The letter from Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop, R-Utah, stressed their concerns that the EPA is not analyzing existing federal and state reclamation requirements. If the Agency fails to reduce the amount of the CERCLA (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, otherwise dubbed the Superfund Law) financial assurance obligation to account for these programs, it will result in the unnecessary and duplicative imposition of many billions of dollars of financial assurance requirements on the mining industry. The governors letter, signed by Wyomings Matthew Mead and Montanas Steve Bullock, asks for an explanation as to why existing state programs are insufficient to address the concerns A spokesman for Nevada Rep. Cresent Hardy commented, This administration has an unfortunate track record of issuing onerous regulations that are especially painful for states like Nevada that have large mining sectors. As an active member of the Natural Resources Committee, Congressman Hardy will continue to work with the chairman to hold the EPA accountable and prevent job-killing regulations from doing further damage to our state economy. Nevada Mining Association President Dana Bennett has sent a letter to EPA officials saying that the new regulations would have significant economic impact on all miners in the state, but it will be Nevadas small miners, who have limited financial and human resources, that will be hit the hardest. She also said the proposed rules duplicate currently effective state and federal programs. Bennett wrote that the EPA has failed to establish a need for further federal rulemaking and has not provided those who will be affected with necessary scientific or economic analysis, noting there has been no cost-benefit analysis and that the costs appear to vastly outweigh any potential health or environmental benefits. She also argued that current mines should be exempted from any new programs because it would be fundamentally unfair to add unanticipated regulatory costs that would threaten the economic viability of the mines and associated jobs and community benefits. The National Mining Association has reported that a growing number of organizations from state governments to surety underwriters are expressing concern that EPA is about to impose economically harmful and unnecessary bonding requirements on mineral mining companies. In mid-June the House Natural Resources Committee passed a package of 19 mining bills to address funding, technical and legal impediments to mine cleanup efforts. Of course, that will not deter the EPA. Bishop said at the time, If weve learned anything from the EPAs Gold King mine disaster, its that the federal government lacks the expertise, resources and capacity to reclaim abandoned mines. This package provides much-needed liability protections and creative solutions to develop the technical talent and funding resources to ensure cleanup is done safely and without further delay. According to the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, mining accounts for a large majority of the jobs in Esmeralda, Eureka and Lander counties and a large percentage in several other rural counties. Excessive regulatory costs added to the already uncertain fortunes of mining companies in a volatile market could devastate some communities that rely on gold, silver, copper and, perhaps someday, lithium production. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has Question 4 on their November ballot which mirrors Nevadas Question 2 the commercialization of legalized marijuana in the two states. Both initiatives were drafted and are promoted by the Marijuana Policy Project (Washington, D.C.) and are each locally sponsored by a Committee to Regulate and Tax Marijuana Like Alcohol. Surprisingly, the push back to legalization for the commercial marijuana industry has been much more emphatic in liberal Massachusetts than in Nevada. In May, Republican Governor Charlie Baker made common cause with three leading Democrats Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Attorney General Maura Healey. Together, they formed an opposition organization The Committee for a Safe and Healthy Massachusetts. Currently, 120 bi-partisan state legislators (84 Ds and 36 Rs) have signed up in opposition to Q4 in the Bay State while only 10 legislators have endorsed it. Moreover, opposition to Q4 has been registered from important and diverse groups throughout the state: the Massachusetts Medical Society; Hospital Association; Bostons Teaching Hospitals; their Municipal Association; School Superintendents; business organizations industries, retail and contractors; Mental Health Association; Chiefs of Police; Sheriffs Association and all 21 District Attorneys. As a result, Massachusetts public opinion on Q4 has shifted dramatically. An initial poll in the state had legalization leading with 57 percent support. Two recent Massachusetts polls show it now losing by 10 percent most currently. In contrast, support for Question 2 in Nevada has been limited to a very small number of state legislators, marijuana champion Senator Tick Segerblom and nine others. But opposition to Q 2 has been muted. Governor Brian Sandoval has voiced opposition and Senator Harry Reid said he was very, very dubious and concerned about recreational legalization. While formal opposition is growing, there are still many Nevada officeholders and organizations yet to take a position. Voters need to read the 13-page initiative on the ballot as Question 2. Its a business plan written by the marijuana industry to exclusively benefit themselves. Its provisions include a self-serving industry overreach providing no local government opt-outs for any of Nevadas 17 counties, unlike provisions found in Colorados legalization law and in Nevadas medical marijuana law. Section 14 of the initiative actually criminalizes personal cultivation within 25 miles of a retail marijuana establishment. Its phony legalization drafted by the commercial marijuana industry. Liberal Massachusetts knows whats at issue and their state has come together united in opposition to the commercial marijuana legalization initiative. If Massachusetts can do it, whats the matter with more conservative Nevada? Authorities say a couple wanted in connection with murder cases in Arizona and Nevada has been found dead in a desert area southeast of Kingman. Mohave County Sheriffs detectives say the bodies of 26-year-old Hunter McGuire and his girlfriend, 32-year-old Samantha Branek, were found lying next to each other Friday with gunshot wounds to the head. Lake Havasu City police say it appears McGuire shot himself, but its unclear if Braneks wound was self-inflicted. The county medical examiners office will determine an official cause of death. Authorities say the couple was being sought in connection with a double homicide in Kingman on June 28. They say McGuire also was considered a suspect in the fatal shooting of a woman Monday in Las Vegas. 'Dumba' walks through her owner's plot of land in Caldes de Montbui. CARLOS RIBAS A campaign launched by Spanish animal rights organization FAADA is denouncing the awful conditions of an elephant that is being kept on a farm in Caldes de Montbui, in the northeastern region of Catalonia. The caretakers of the animal, however, deny the accusations. They maintain that the animal, named Dumba, has more than sufficient space and that all her needs are being attended to. Were very fortunate to be sharing our lives with Dumba, says Yvonne Kludsky, a Briton who has lived and worked with the 38-year-old Asian elephant for three decades. The elephant is one of the protagonists of The Kludsky Family act, which the owners offer up for movies, commercials and other events. The animals caretaker and trainer argues that Dumba enjoys a full life and is able to discover different places through her work, which is important when it comes to keeping her challenged and stimulated. Kludsky, who grew up around animals, comes from a family with links to the circus, and defines her relationship with Dumba as close, familiar, and loving. She says that the elephants health has been supervised since 1982 by the same veterinarian, one who specializes in exotic animals, and that Dumba has everything an animal of her type could need. Living together with animals is wonderful and interesting, but its a demanding job, and routine is essential for them. Dumba enjoys a full life and is able to discover different places through her work Owner and handler Yvonne Kludsky However, FAADA claims that Dumba is living in awful conditions, according to a statement on its website, noting that the animals living space is barely 100 square meters. According to the statement, FAADA informed the regional government of Catalonia of the case in 2010 and an inspection was ordered. In 2014, the couple caring for the elephant was pressured to meet a series of corrective measures and recommendations for Dumbas well-being. Kludsky has responded claiming that the animals enclosure is in fact 550 square meters, and that Dumba also has access to a 7,741-square-meter plot of land full of trees and vegetation, which she can walk around when the caretakers accompany her. Kludsky and her husband George oversee Dumbas feeding and cleaning, as well as taking care of things such as her nails and skin. They have a right to their opinion, but they should get better informed, says Kludsky of FAADAs intervention, which has set into motion a campaign to gather signatures on Change.org after determining that changes have not been made to the elephants living space. Catalonian government sources explain that having an elephant in and of itself isnt illegal. Currently, Spains Service of Biodiversity and Animal Protection, as well as the Department of Territory and Sustainability, are waiting to verify if the owners have complied with the obligatory security adjustments, including the placement of Dangerous Animal signs and a 2.40-meter-high fence. Weve already hung the signs and erected an exterior fence that surrounds the estate, but were in the process of putting up the new fence, says Kludsky, adding that they hold all the necessary paperwork to keep Dumba. FAADAs statement reports that Dumba spends over half the year in circuses across Europe, and that shes forced to train constantly with her handler, which has resulted in notable weight loss. Kludsky denies the accusations and attributes the weight loss to an illness. Sign up for our newsletter EL PAIS English Edition has launched a weekly newsletter. Sign up today to receive a selection of our best stories in your inbox every Saturday morning. For full details about how to subscribe, click here Kludksy recognizes that the pressure of animal rights groups has produced benefits for animals in recent years, but she argues that in this day and age, people have lost their common sense. People are more aware, which is good, but rather than banning animals from the circus, we should be improving regulations. When children come to see her, theyre given a short lesson about elephants that has nothing to do with turning a profit. The goal is to teach them that they have to love, respect and care for the animals, since in their home countries there are serious problems, such as the African elephant being hunted for its ivory. Meanwhile, Dumba lifts some grass to her mouth with her trunk. A happy elephant always needs to be moving its when its still that something happens to it. And shes always moving, says Kludsky. Shes like a daughter to us, her husband adds. English version by Allison Light. A previously unknown tectonic plate one that has been swallowed up by the Earth has been discovered in the Philippine Sea, according to a recent study. Using images constructed from earthquake data, geoscientists have developed a method for resurrecting a "slab graveyard" of tectonic plate segments buried deep within the Earth, unfolding the deformed rock into what it may have looked like up to 52 million years ago. This helped the researchers identify the previously unknown East Asian Sea Plate, where an ancient sea once existed in the region shortly after dinosaurs went extinct. The Philippine Sea lies at the juncture of several major tectonic plates. The Pacific, Indo-Australian and Eurasian plates frame several smaller plates, including the Philippine Sea Plate, which researchers say has been migrating northwest since its formation roughly 55 million years ago. [Photo Timeline: How the Earth Formed] In the process, the Philippine Sea Plate collided with the northern edge of the East Asian Sea Plate, driving it into the Earth's mantle. The southern area of the East Asian Sea Plate was eventually subducted by, or forced beneath, other neighboring plates, the researchers said. Geologists attempting to reconstruct the past were once limited to visible evidence of slow-moving changes, such as mountains, volcanoes or the echoes of ancient waterways. But with new imaging technologies, scientists can now glean information from hundreds of miles within the Earth's interior to map distant history. The slabs were previously identified with an imaging technique called seismic tomography, which uses earthquake waves and multiple monitoring stations to determine the speed at which different waves travel through the Earth. Those waves generally travel more quickly through old chunks of tectonic plates that "sink through the mantle, like a leaf through water," said study lead author Jonny Wu, a geologist formerly at National Taiwan University and now at the University of Houston. Wu and his colleagues at National Taiwan University focused on an area around the Philippine Sea, in part because of good data from the many seismic monitoring stations in this earthquake-heavy region. "East Asia has been a place where plates have been coming together, converging and disappearing from the Earth's surface in a process called subduction," Wu told Live Science. "Because the information you're looking for to piece together the history of the area is actually disappearing from the Earth's surface, it's made it very difficult." [In Photos: Ocean Hidden Beneath Earth's Surface] The East Asian Sea Plate was pieced together by a process of elimination when all but three of the 28 subducted slabs in the model had been traced back to connections with other modern plates. The region is also home to many relatively small tectonic plates, known as microplates, where movement is hard to reconstruct. "Those plates have long been tectonic mysteries, because it's really difficult to work out where they've been in the past," Wu said. "Just like if it's a puzzle, small fragments can fit in all these ways." The findings could provide researchers with a clearer picture of the history of the Philippine Sea and its surrounding regions. "The work [is] a groundbreaking advance in our understanding of the deep Earth structure in the most complex parts of the Eastern Hemisphere," Sabin Zahirovic, a geologist at the University of Sydney who was not involved in the study, told Live Science in an email. The new study is also a step toward a much-needed technical method of interpreting models built from earthquake data, said Hans-Peter Bunge, Chair of Geophysics at Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich, who was not involved with the new research. "Normally we would not have full access to the complexity of the interior structure," Bunge told Live Science. But this "important" new technique fills in the information missing from the seismic tomography images with carefully constrained guesses at what the material might be, and how the plates have moved, he added. And the researchers aren't stopping there. "As we keep working in other areas with a lot of unknowns for example, South America or the Himalayas we'll continue to test these methods and refine them, and hopefully contribute new ideas to Earth science," Wu said. The research was published online June 25 in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. Original article on Live Science. SEATTLE The rumors are true: Canadians are nicer than Americans are, at least if returning lost letters is any indicator of niceness, new research finds. In a study aimed at measuring altruism, researchers "lost" a total of 7,466 letters in 2001 and 2011 in 63 urban areas in the United States and Canada. In 2001, both countries had similar rates of letter return, the study found. That changed in 2011, however, when the United States had a 10 percent drop in helping behavior, which did not occur in Canada, suggesting that people in the United States were less altruistic than before, said study researcher Keith Hampton, a professor of media and information at Michigan State University. [7 Things That Will Make You Happy] The project began after Hampton heard an anecdote that altruism was declining in Canada. So, he concocted a large-scale "lost" letter campaign, with returned letters serving as a proxy for altruism. Each letter was stamped and addressed, and purposefully lost in a phone booth, store or well-traveled public walkway. The "lost letter" is a popular technique. The social psychologist Stanley Milgram (1933-1984) developed the method with colleagues to see whether people would help an absent stranger. Studies show that areas where people exhibit more helping behaviors, such as mailing a lost letter to a stranger, are more likely to have lower homicide rates, lower crime rates, fewer teen pregnancies and lower infant mortality, Hampton said. For the new project, the letters were lost during the daytime in nontouristy areas. The letters were also "lost" stamp-side-up, with an address either for Des Moines, Iowa for the American letters, or Brandon, Manitoba for the Canadian letters. One of the altruistic senders drew a mountain on the envelope. (Image credit: Photo by Keith Hampton) Snail mail The 2001 experiment yielded a 59 percent return rate in the United States and a 54 percent rate in Canada, numbers with no statistical difference, Hampton said. Ten years later, Canada had a 63 percent rate of return, whereas the U.S. had a rate of just 53 percent, Hampton's analysis showed. It's difficult to say what accounted for the change, but a look a census data provides some potential answers, Hampton said. U.S. poverty and income inequality increased between 2001 and 2011, largely because of the Great Recession, which started in 2008. In contrast, the recession did not hit Canada as hard, and that country rebounded more quickly than the United States did, Hampton said. Canada also has less income inequality than the United States does, he added. This suggests that in areas where income inequality is low, there is more altruism, Hampton said. [Top 10 Things that Make Humans Special] Diversity and altruism In addition, in Canada, places with higher levels of diversity (that is, areas with more noncitizens and individuals who were foreign born, had immigrated within the past 10 years or visible minorities) had a better likelihood of letter return. The opposite was true in the United States, where people in areas of high diversity were less likely to send lost letters. This pattern did not exist in 2001, Hampton said. "So, over that time period, something changed in the United States relative to Canada [that was] related to immigration that must have had an impact," he told Live Science. Perhaps American views toward immigrants changed because of world events and the economy, Hampton said. (The original letter campaign took place before the 9/11 attacks, and, of course, the 2011 campaign took place after the attacks.) One of the altruistic senders included this note: "This letter was forgotten near an automatic teller machine in Montreal. A "Good Samaritan" found it and sent it, since it was stamped and addressed. I hope that's what the sender would have wanted. All the best! Aug. 4, 01." (Image credit: Photo by Keith Hampton) A hypothesis from a 2007 study in the journal Scandinavian Political Studies stated that areas with minorities have less altruistic behaviors, possibly because these minorities hunker down and mind their own business if they feel un-integrated and unwelcome. But immigrants make up a very small minority of these areas with low-letter return rates in the United States, so the immigrants don't account for the areas' overall lower rates of helping, Hampton said. "More likely, it's the rest of the population that perceives that area as being high in immigrants and is less likely to help them," he said. Both the United States and Canada have experienced recent surges in immigration, Hampton said. But Canada is known for welcoming immigrants, which may explain why people there mailed more letters, he said. "There are implications for society as a whole that result from how we treat immigrant groups and [have] income inequality in society," he said. He added that when people are less altruistic, it affects society as a whole, not just the minority groups. However, there may be more forces at work, said Jason Manning, an assistant professor of sociology at West Virginia University, who was not involved in the study. "I don't quite understand the speculated causes of it in the presentation," he said. "So, attitudes toward immigrants have become more negative. How does that affect somebody in Omaha, [Nebraska], mailing a letter to Des Moines?" The research was presented Saturday (Aug. 20) here at the American Sociological Association's annual meeting in Seattle. It is expected to be published in the journal City & Community. Original article on Live Science. Members of both delegations in Havana. More information El Gobierno de Colombia y las FARC culminan las negociaciones de paz After a process lasting four years, the Colombian government and leftist FARC rebels have satisfactorily ended their negotiations on a peace deal aimed at ending the South American countrys decades-long conflict, sources close to both sides said on Tuesday. An official announcement will be made on Wednesday afternoon in the Cuban capital of Havana, said the Colombian governments High Commissioner for Peace. For the last week, government negotiators have been working around the clock on the details of the final agreement, with just a few technical points to be ironed out. The FARC will now put the peace deal before the grassroots of the organization. The idea is for the FARC to become a political party The day is coming, wrote both the High Commissioner and the FARC in respective tweets, accompanied by a photograph of members of the two delegations smiling. However, the announcement has generated confusion. Unofficially, sources on both sides had insisted that the talks had finished. But with a few details still to be addressed, no official announcement about a definitive agreement could be made until Wednesday. But both sides agree that any details still pending would not endanger the accord. On June 22, both sides signed a bilateral and definitive ceasefire. The following day Colombias president, Juan Manuel Santos, FARC leader Rodrigo Londono and other Latin American leaders attended a ceremony in Havana to mark the historic step. Since then, both sides have been working on a timetable, disarmament, security guarantees for guerrillas, and justice for victims of abuses committed by both sides. They have also discussed designating zones where the FARCs estimated 7,000 remaining fighters can gather for a UN-supervised demobilization process, all of which is expected to take up to a year to implement. Throughout the negotiations, the FARC has demanded guarantees that its forces will be protected after they lay down their arms. The biggest obstacle to a final deal has been finding ways to give it legal force so that it will not unravel should a more conservative government succeed Santos, who leaves office in 2018. Santos has vowed to put the deal to a referendum so Colombians can express their opinion. Polls show the FARC are widely disliked among conservative Colombians who question the peace process and criticize the government's willingness to make concessions to the rebels. The most vocal critic is former president Alvaro Uribe, who argues the rebels are getting away with murder, referring to the amnesty offer for rebels willing to confess their crimes. For the last week, government negotiators have been working round the clock on the details of the final agreement, with just a few technical points to be ironed out But the FARC insists that an amnesty be part of any final agreement. Colombia has been in conflict since a rural uprising began in the 1960s. It has included a number of leftist rebel groups, right-wing paramilitaries and drug cartels. Human rights groups say atrocities have been committed by all sides, and an estimated five million people displaced. Many families are still searching for missing loved ones. On Monday, Ivan Marquez, the guerrillas chief negotiator, sent a tweet with a photograph showing Colombias foreign minister and two other Cabinet members and senior politicians, alongside FARC negotiators around a table filled with papers, coffee cups, bottles of water and computers, providing a positive image of the working groups ironing out details. The FARCs leader, known as Timochenko, replied with a tweet saying: We are at the gates of important announcements that will take us to the final agreement. Santos has been pushing both sides to conclude the talks so he can call the referendum sometime in the first half of October before he announces major tax reforms. The FARC will now take the peace deal to an congress where it will be put before the grassroots of the organization. The idea is for the FARC to become a political party. A signing ceremony is expected to take place in Colombia before the referendum, to be attended by leaders from the region, in a bid to persuade voters to back the peace deal. English version by Nick Lyne. An aerial view the Autovia del Cantabrico, which runs along Spain's northern coast. The political impasse of the last eight months, along with cuts to state infrastructure investment aimed at reducing Spains deficit, have produced a sharp fall in public procurement contracts in the first half of this year. The Public Works Ministry and state-owned companies under its auspices awarded contracts worth 657 million between January and June, a 19.8% drop in comparison with the same period for 2015, according to data released on Tuesday by the ministry. Breaking the figures down, the ministry directly awarded contracts worth 64.6 million up until June, a 51.5% drop, while contracts through state companies amounted to 592.4 million, a 13.7% drop. Of the total, 91.7 million was spent on construction, a 10.1% drop, with 565.4 million going on civil engineering, a fall of 21.2% on last year. Spending by Adif, the state company responsible for rail infrastructure, fell by 42.5% in the first half of the year, to 280 million. Spending by the Ports Authority was down 16% to 102.6 million. Aena, the countrys airports authority, almost doubled spending, to 96.4 million. In its July report, the Bank of Spain pointed out the gap in construction and infrastructure spending SEITT, the state company responsible for road transport infrastructure, awarded contracts worth 111.5 in the first half of the year, although it is not possible to make a comparison with the same period in 2015, because no contracts were awarded during that time. Spending on roads during the Popular Party (PP) administration of acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy over the last five years has fallen to 1980s levels: in 2013, it represented just 0.45% of GDP. The following two years it fell further, with the Public Works Ministry refusing to publish figures. Government sources say further cuts are expected. In the first six months of the year, a total of 3.6 billion worth of contracts was put out to tender, a 24.5% drop on the same period for 2015. The Public Works Ministry and its companies put out tenders for 1.6 billion, up 3% on last year. The data for the first six months of the year reflect the concerns expressed by Spains construction sector that the governments determination to reduce the countrys public deficit is hitting public investment hard and impacting negatively on the construction sector. Spending by Adif, the state company responsible for rail infrastructure, fell by 42.5% in the first half of the year In June, SEOPAN, which represents Spains biggest construction companies, predicted that spending on construction and infrastructure would fall by as much as 18% this year, making 2015 the ninth year of crisis in a row for the sector. Oficemen, which represents Spains cement companies, has called on the government to launch a public-investment plan to rescue public works, spending on which has fallen 77% since the beginning of the crisis and is at its lowest level in a quarter of a century. Oficemen says cement companies are working at half their capacity, given that internal demand only represents 25% of their total output and that exports are not making up the difference. In its July report, the Bank of Spain pointed out the gap in construction and infrastructure spending, noting that while housing starts had increased notably, there was a significant delay in awarding civil works contracts. English version by Nick Lyne. If you have any old medals or memorabilia dating from 1914 1922 or are interested in this period in Irish history, then Ballymahon is the place to be this Saturday, August 27. Ballymahon Library is set to play host to a major exhibition of memorabilia from the period of World War I, Easter 1916 and up to 1922, taking place for one day only from 10am. The only exhibition of its kind in Longford, the event is also offering people the opportunity to find out more about their memorabilia from the experts. Events such as this are important because they provide people with an opportunity to see and connect with items from our shared past, said Mary Carleton Reynolds, Ireland 2016 Co-ordinator for Co Longford. We are inviting anybody who has an interest in this period to come along and also to bring with them any items from the period that they have. The exhibition is being mounted by the Irish Volunteers Commemorative Organisation, a voluntary, non-political organisation that collects artefacts from this era and also promotes the study of that crucial time in our history. The exhibition includes items from the Irish Volunteers, Cumann na mBan, the First World War, the Easter Rising and the War of Independence. The Irish Volunteers Commemorative Organisation has had a very busy year and has organised several exhibitions all over Ireland and this is their only visit to County Longford, so it's not to be missed. This event is part of the calendar of events to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising and is being held during Heritage Week (August 20 28). The exhibition will open at 10am and will run until 4pm. For further information, contact 043-3341124 or www.heritageweek.ie or e-mail ireland2016@longfordcoco.ie. The Longford Shopping Centre is in very safe hands with the appointment of Drumlish native Mairead Furey to the role. Being a Longford woman, Mairead Furey, a daughter of Seamus and Kathleen, is aware of the issues that the county has faced but is confident that we can pull through and is eager to play her own role in its recovery. A past pupil of St Marys, Drumlish and Moyne Community School, Mairead studied Real Estate Management at DIT (Dublin Institute of Technology) Bolton Street and Oxford Brookes University in the UK. A chartered surveyor with the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) since 2009, Mairead worked in a number of companies in Dublin, most recently as Associate Director with DTZ Sherry FitzGerald. Despite spending upwards of ten years in Dublin, Mairead admitted that she was glad to return to Longford. I was relishing the opportunity of being able to come back here and take on the new challenge of managing the Shopping Centre. The timing was perfect in that I was delighted to get the opportunity to be moving home and things just kind of worked out that the job came up for here. Things have been going well so far, according to Mairead, but she is now hoping to make her mark on the centre. Thanking the shopping centres customers, she said; I just hope to build on the customer base that the centre already has and see what sort of improvements we can make to encourage people to continue shopping here, to get new shoppers in and try and get people shopping local. Mooting the Center Parcs development as a potential boost to the county, as well as an incentive to improve the local economy, Mairead emphasised her excitement at Longfords prospects. Looking forward theres a lot of positives there, she smiled. I feel like Im coming back to Longford at the right time. Family & Parenting, School & Education, Local News, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: August 24 2016 These efforts will begin this month as college students head to campus. Albany, NY - August 23, 2016 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a coordinated effort by several state agencies and institutions to prevent underage drinking on college campuses and in college towns as the fall semester begins across the Empire State. The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services , the New York State Liquor Authority, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, and the New York State Police are aligning resources to prevent underage drinking on campuses across New York. These efforts will build upon the Governors commitment to protect college students and increase safety on New Yorks college campuses, most recently through his "Enough is Enough" legislation. These efforts will begin this month as college students head to campus. "Underage drinking can lead to life-altering consequences for college students, and as the fall semester gets underway, we are working to educate college students about this reckless behavior," Governor Cuomo said. "These coordinated efforts will build on our progress to help avoid needless tragedies and create a safer learning environment on campuses statewide." The following interagency efforts are aimed at protecting college students: OASAS Campaign Helps Parents Talk to College Students About the Dangers of Underage Drinking and Drug Use NYS OASAS actively works to prevent underage drinking and to stop the disease of addiction before it starts, and is launching the next phase of its Talk2Prevent campaign , which provides resources for parents on how to talk to their college-age students on the dangers of underage drinking and drug use. The agency also makes resources available that describe the risks associated with underage drinking and illicit drug use for colleges and community-based organizations, including posters, fact sheets and postcards. A letter regarding the availability of these Talk2Prevent materials will be shared with colleges and community partners across the state this month. A Kitchen Table Tool Kit , developed to assist parents, teachers, counselors and the community with guidance on how to initiate conversations about heroin and prescription opioid abuse, is also available on the Combat Heroin website . NYS OASAS anticipates issuing a Request for Proposals in the near future to help colleges across New York enhance their substance use prevention efforts. As part of this proposal, public colleges will be eligible for grants for efforts aimed at preventing underage drinking and prescription drug misuse and building campus coalitions. NYS OASAS Commissioner Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez said, I want to thank Governor Cuomo and our state partner agencies for collaborating with us on efforts to prevent young New Yorkers from using alcohol or other drugs. Every parent and guardian looks forward to seeing their child receive their college diplomas on graduation day. These state-led initiatives will help ensure that students stay away from substance use so that they can successfully complete their education and go on to live full, healthy lives beyond their college years. SLA Trainings for Bar, Restaurant and Tavern Owners The SLA, in collaboration with the Empire State Restaurant & Tavern Association (ESRTA), will host a series of free trainings across the state for bar, restaurant, and tavern owners and their staff. The day-long programs will focus on the legal responsibilities of selling alcohol and provide training in practical skills to help licensees and their employees fulfill their legal responsibilities. The SLA has already conducted these trainings in Kingston, Troy, Cortland and Oneonta. This fall, SLA and ESRTA plan to offer trainings in Rochester, Syracuse, Long Island, Newburgh, Utica, Binghamton, Buffalo and Tarrytown. SLA Chairman Vincent Bradley said, I commend Governor Cuomo for coordinating New York State enforcement and prevention resources to take proactive, cooperative measures to prevent alcohol abuse among our youth. These free trainings are part the states efforts to help conscientious licensees comply with the law so that they may continue to create jobs, boost the local economy, and run their businesses safely and successfully. Scott Wexler, Executive Director of ESRTA said,Licensees appreciate the State Liquor Authoritys efforts to help them understand the complex rules under which they must operate their business. This program provides valuable guidance and assistance and will go a long way toward gaining increased compliance with the law. Thats good for the business and owners and for the public at large. The SLA has dramatically intensified enforcement actions to crack down on sales to minors in addition to providing education to licensees on their responsibilities. In May, Governor Cuomo launched the No Excuses campaign aimed at curbing underage drinking, a statewide education campaign that included the distribution of more than 15,000 display materials to restaurants and liquor stores across the state. In 2015, the SLA prosecuted 1,552 licensees for underage sales, a 50 percent increase from 1,036 prosecutions in 2010. The SLA also increased the number of trainings to reduce underage sales and help licensees to avoid violations before they occur by certifying and promoting Alcohol Training Awareness Program (ATAP). The number of ATAP trainings completed by licensees and their staff has increased by more than 150 percent, from 5,803 in 2011, to 14,549 in 2015. DMVs "Operation Prevent" Launches in College Towns DMVs Operation Prevent program is aimed at deterring underage drinking by preventing the use of fake IDs to obtain alcohol. DMV investigators work with local authorities at known underage drinking hotspots to check identification documents. Preventing underage youths from gaining access to alcohol keeps them safe and keeps our roads safe for everyone. Governor Cuomo announced that in 2015, DMV investigators made 760 arrests and confiscated more than 750 fraudulent ID documents under the program. During the summer months, the program mainly focuses on popular settings like concert venues across New York. As summer concert season winds down, DMV investigators will be working closely with SLA and law enforcement entities across New York, focusing much of their efforts on establishments near colleges. During one such compliance inspection at The Smokin Bull in Albany in November 2015, approximately 115 of the 125 patrons at the establishment were found to be under the age of 21 , leading to more than 70 arrests. Last year, Governor Cuomo also issued a warning to returning college students on the dangers of buying fake IDs over the internet. In recent years, DMV investigators have found dozens of examples of underage license holders becoming victims of identity theft after purchasing fraudulent identification online from overseas companies. DMV Executive Deputy Commissioner Terri Egan said, I thank Governor Cuomo for his support of Operation Prevent so that DMV can do its part to protect New Yorks college students from the dangers of underage drinking. DMV and its partners at every level of government will be out in force in the coming months in many college towns across New York, deterring underage drinking and protecting New Yorks roadways. NYSP Campus Sexual Assault Victims Unit Works to Protect College Students from Sexual Violence Members of the State Police Campus Sexual Assault Victims Unit are presenting at college orientation sessions and hosting trainings for stakeholders, speaking on various topics, including the link between alcohol abuse and sexual violence on campus. The mission of the unit, which was created by Governor Cuomos landmark Enough is Enough legislation, is to reduce the incidence of sexual violence on campus through outreach to students, staff and stakeholders. The unit will also coordinate the investigation of campus sex crimes that are reported to the State Police, and provide investigative support as requested by campus and local law enforcement agencies. As part of these efforts, the Governor announced in August that the unit has launched a larger public outreach campaign , involving billboards, social media, and radio public service announcements, which will be aired across the state. The goal of the campaign is to educate college students and the broader community about campus sexual violence. New York State Police Superintendent George P. Beach II said, The investigators assigned to the Campus Sexual Assault Victims Unit are not just working to solve cases, but also to proactively educate students and stakeholders about the factors that play a part in these crimes, including alcohol abuse. We hope our efforts will pay off with increased awareness among students and a reduction in the number of sexual assaults occurring on campus. SUNY University Police Commissioner Paul M. Berger said, The start of the school year is a critical time to reach our students before underage drinking becomes an issue that impacts the safety of our students and our communities. The Governors coordination of state resources is certain to boost SUNY's own efforts to meet with and educate incoming freshman and communicate with returning students. Research shows that each year, nationwide: More than 1,800 college students die from alcohol-related injuries. 696,000 college students are assaulted by another student that has been drinking. 97,000 college students experience alcohol-related sexual assault. Additionally, NYS OASAS reports : Crime, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: August 24 2016 The Second Squad reports the arrest of a Bethpage man for Assault that occurred in Bethpage on Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at 12:45 am. Bethpage, NY - August 24, 2016 - The Second Squad reports the arrest of a Bethpage man for Assault that occurred in Bethpage on Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at 12:45 am. According to detectives, a 21 year old male victim was attending a party at the Defendant George Jordan- Gonzalez, 24, home when an argument ensued. The defendant punched the victim twice in the face. As the victim attempted to leave Jordan-Gonzalez instructed his pit bull dog to attack the victim. The dog attacked and dragged the victim around inside the home causing severe lacerations to his arms, legs, and shoulders. The victim used a pocket knife and stabbed the dog allowing him to break free. The victim fled the home and attempted to call 911 using his cell phone. Defendant George Jordan-Gonzalez prevented the victim to call by taking his cell phone away from him. Second Precinct Police were called by another guest in the house and upon police arrival the defendant was placed into police custody without incident. The victim was transported to a local hospital and is being treated for his injuries. He is listed in stable condition. George Jordan-Gonzalez is charged with two counts of Assault 2nd Degree and Robbery 3rd Degree. He will be arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on Wednesday, August 24, 2016. 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 S'Espalmador, seen from the air. Archivo The owners of SEspalmador, a 147-hectare islet off the coast of the Balearic island of Formentera, have offered to sell the protected area to the local authorities for 18 million. For the last year, architect Norman Cinnamond and his sister, who own SEspalmador, have been in talks with Formentera local council to put the islet under public ownership. Formenteras council, which says it cannot afford the price tag, will meet with representatives of the Balearic regional government in September to discuss the purchase. Cinnamond, whose grandfather bought SEspalmador in 1932 for the equivalent of 252, has lowered his starting price from 24 million. Its the right thing to do to preserve the island as it should be, he says, adding that no agreement has been reached, although he describes the local council as very interested. SEspalmador is part of the Ses Salines Natural Park, which was created in 2001. For the moment, SEspalmadors owner says he has not approached any other possible buyer Jaume Ferrer, head of Formenteras local council, describes the purchase of SEspalmador as an offer not to be missed. In May, the owners offered to sell it for an 18 million lump sum or for 20 million in installments. Were certainly interested, but the problem is how to pay for it, says Ferrer, pointing out that the price tag for SEspalmador is equivalent to the islands annual budget. Pilar Costa, spokeswoman for the Balearics regional government, says that help will likely be sought from the European Union and the central government in Madrid. For the moment, Barramond says he has not approached any other possible buyer. But should SEspalmador remain in private hands, it would continue to be protected, with restricted access and a total ban on all construction. Nobody can build anything on SEspalmador, so dont worry. There isnt going to be a 10-story hotel there, says Barramond. English version by Nick Lyne. A retired Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander who was deployed to Syria gave a lengthy interview to a hardline media outlet last week about IRGC operations in the country. Serving with the Afghan Fatemiyoun Division, Brigadier General Mohammad Ali Falaki highly praised the militia. The commander describes the array of IRGC-backed forces fighting in Syria and the Middle East as a unified army apparently with the ultimate goal of destroying Israel. The interview with General Falaki is a window into IRGC propaganda. The Iranian public is the primary audience, though the message is also directed towards the outside world. The interviewer recommends the commanders discussion to those who want to see the bravery of the Fatemiyoun from a different angle. The interview, in other words, introduces itself as a response to the negative perceptions about Afghans forcibly recruited into the militias, and delves into the broader wars of the Middle East. A veteran of the Iran-Iraq War, Falaki rose to command a mechanized brigade of an infantry division. Following the war, he retired and has been involved in various cultural activities, including a veterans group. Falaki lamented about the insufficient support in Iran for Afghan refugees, which he views as an untapped pool of recruits. There are approximately three million Afghan refugees in Iran a majority of them are Shia Hazaras and discrimination against them is well documented. We go to south Lebanon and support the Shias over there, Falaki said, and spend so much money supporting Shias elsewhere. We in Iran have sometimes looked at them [Afghans] as drug-dealing criminals, trouble-makers, or construction workers, he added. Afghan nationals have participated in the Syrian war as early as 2012. According to interviews with commanders, the first wave from Iran were 25, most of whom were veterans who had fought under the IRGC during the Iran-Iraq War against Saddam, as part of the Abouzar Brigade, and against the Soviets and the Taliban, as part of the Mohammad Corps. The latter dissolved following the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, and its members fled to Iran. These experienced fighters later formed the senior leadership of the Fatemiyoun. None from the first generation of the Fatemiyoun leadership has survived, according to the militia. Prior to forming a distinct unit in Syria, Shia Afghans fought as auxiliaries of Iraqi militias. The revelations of commanders validate analysis of fatality announcements up to the formation of the Fatemiyoun in late 2013: killed Afghans were named as members of the Iraqi contingent in Syria, the Liwa Abu Fadl al Abbas. As the ranks swelled, the IRGC Qods Force helped establish, organize, train, and finance a separate Shia Afghan unit. The Fatemiyoun is named after the daughter of Prophet Muhammad, Fatima. Most combatants have been recruited from the diaspora in Iran, and some from Afghanistan and the small diaspora in Syria. An unnamed Fatemiyoun source reportedly told Iranian media last year that the militia was upgraded from a brigade to a division, which is supposed to number more than 10,000 forces. Falaki claims that the Fatemiyoun has several brigades, and that they include some Sunni brothers. According to slain Fatemiyoun commander Mohammad Hassan Hosseini (AKA Seyyed Hakim), the militia consists anywhere between 12,000 14,000 fighters. Iranian media claim more than 20,000 fight under the Fatemiyoun banner. Analysts and investigators, however, consider these figures to be exaggerations, with the actual number possibly in the several thousands. A former Fatemiyoun combatant told Human Rights Watch that 3,000 4,000 fighters are active in Syria. Falaki denied the allegation by enemies that Afghan fighters are mercenaries and guns for hire. They fight in Syria due to their commitment to Islam, not because of ethnicity but of their commitment to Shiism, he claimed. Their blood has proven to us that there are 3 million Afghans in this land, and we must have a positive view towards them, Falaki stated. The accounts of surviving members of the Fatemiyoun and eye-witnesses consistently indicate that Afghan fighters are considered expendable. Falaki claims that the Afghans are paid $100 per month to fight. Fatemiyoun combatants themselves, however, contradict this. Afghans fighters told the The Wall Street Journal in 2014 that their salaries were $500 per month. The former senior commander Seyyed Hakim told an Iranian outlet prior to his death that Afghan combatants receive $450 per month. Afghan residents of Iran have told The Los Angeles Times in 2016 that some fighters receive up to $800 per month. Recruits from Afghanistan are offered residency permits in Iran and $500 monthly salary, according to The Guardian, who spoke with a middleman. The IRGC downplays high payments to foreign fighters because the Iranian economy and ordinary Iranians are struggling. Falaki cites the example of recruiting from minorities during the Iran-Iraq War to strengthen the case for recruiting Afghan refugees. During the [Iran-Iraq] War, we were responsible for transforming all ethnicities and all tribes into combat divisions, he said. We never dared to say how many Sunni brothers or how many Afghan brothers have been in this war, he said, attempting to project an ecumenical outlook of the IRGC. During this period, the IRGC also successfully developed its proxy model abroad in Lebanon: Hezbollah. Falaki alludes to the experience of recruiting Iranian minorities in the IRGC in the war against Iraq. Resonating with the IRGCs egalitarian identity, this is a fundamental component of its efforts to expand. The IRGCs strategy includes recruiting regime loyalists from the local population, and exploiting and perpetuating rifts within communities. While discussing Afghan recruitment, Falaki interestingly lamented that not many clerics are joining the fight. We found Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon, while among all of these revolutionary and active clerics, we have not known a single leader in the field of combat, and we have not organized this massive force, he noted. Although a handful of Iranian clerics have been killed in Syria, Afghan clerics do not appear to have joined the struggle. Falaki calls for a parallel to Hezbollahs leader in the Fatemiyoun, serving as the militias political, spiritual, and military leader and pledging allegiance to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and velayat-e faghih (guardianship of the jurisprudence). Falakis statement may also indicate lingering resentment with lack of more clerical class participation in war. The IRGC was established to protect clerical rule, fundamentally that of the supreme leader. The generation of the Guard including Falaki who fought in the long and devastating Iran-Iraq War returned home to find rich and powerful clerics, while the Guard suffered the horrors of a brutal war. Shia liberation army The commander claimed that the establishment of the Fatemiyoun facilitated the formation of a Shia liberation army whose commander is Hajj Qassem Soleimani, the leader of IRGCs Qods Force. He proclaimed that the IRGC veterans are creating unity among ethnicities and unity among nations. According to Falaki, the Fatemiyoun obey the Leader of the Revolution [Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei]. Indeed, the IRGC and its proxies form a global jihadi network that answers to Tehran. The commander outlines the array of forces fighting under the Guards flag in Syria: the Zeynabiyoun Brigade, a Pakistani militia, and the Heydarioun brothers who are Iraqi brothers. IRGC commanders and Iranian media has given the name Heydarioun Brigade to the Iraqi militias in Syria on a more regular basis since roughly 2015. The Iraqi contingent in Syria has called itself Liwa Abu Fadl al Abbas, and was a formidable combat force between 2012 and 2014. Following the incursion of the Islamic State into Iraq in mid-2014, most of the units were called home. IRGC-backed Iraqi militias are still active in Syria, however. The Badr Organization and Harakat al Nujaba have notably participated in recent IRGC-led operations in Aleppo. Falaki also restated the goal for the destruction of Israel. Forming the first nucleus of the liberation army has the objective that, God willing, we will not have anything called Israel in 23 years, he stated. Supreme Leader Khamenei claimed in 2015 that Israel would not exist in 25 years. Falaki boasted that Iranian-led units are already by Israels border and that the Fatemiyoun brothers have established the basis for this fight. Iranian forces are not meant to comprise all of this [international] army, Falaki said. The IRGCs emphasis on building local forces creates an organic base of support and helps to spread the revolution in Arab and Muslim lands. The IRGC hopes to project an image of supporting locals, though its recruitment has a distinctly Shia identity. Perpetuating sectarianism and violence serves to bolster the IRGCs image as a protector of Shias. A foreign legion engaged in several wars abroad, furthermore, elicits less opposition and complaints within Iran, reducing the impact of fatalities and casualties on Iranian society. Discussing Irans military commitments, Falaki noted that Irans proxies are fighting on three major fronts: Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. One front of this army is in Syria, the other in Iraq, and another in Yemen, he stated. The first two are well known, though the claim about Yemen reflects the IRGCs ultimate goal more than facts on the ground. The Houthis are known to be militarily and politically supported by the IRGC, though the Guard may not exercise full control over the Houthis. The IRGCs objective is to use the Houthis as a foothold in the Arabian Peninsula, on Saudi Arabias southern border. The suspicion of the Houthis being a full Iranian proxy is precisely the reason the Saudis and allies have launched a war in Yemen. The Houthis, however, are not IRGC proxies like the Fatemiyoun and Iraqi militias. Houthi leaders have publicly complained about IRGC claims of full support. A senior Houthi official in March lashed out at a senior IRGC commander who claimed that the Guard would support the Houthis anyway it could, criticizing Tehran for exploiting the Yemeni file. The Houthis exercise some measure of independence, and do not presently appear to be inclined to serve as the IRGCs proxy in a perpetual fight against Saudi Arabia, as noted by Yemen scholars. What is clear is the IRGCs strategy to exploit the war in Yemen, primarily to be a thorn in Saudi Arabias side. They want to perpetuate the perception that Houthis are full Iranian proxies to elicit harsher Saudi reactions. The IRGC hopes that the continuation of conflict will leave the Houthis no choice but to fight and fully embrace the IRGC in order to survive. Falakis deployment to Syria, and IRGCs pattern of deployment When the then-Islamic State of Iraq and Syria shocked the world by sweeping through Iraq in June 2014, Falaki and a group of 50 retired, experienced IRGC commanders (the lowest rank of which was battalion commander) volunteered to join the war effort as advisers. He said they wanted to see how they could be effective. Falaki went to the airport, but his flight on that day and for the next several days was cancelled. The commander said that a decision came from the top to delay the deployment. This reflects the chaos and uncertainty about on-the-ground developments immediately following ISISs expansion into Iraq. Iranian government officials and commanders were indeed scrambling to respond to ISISs rapid gains, who soon threatened the gates of Baghdad and advanced closer to Irans borders. According to Falaki, the request came for the group of former IRGC commanders to deploy to Iraq to retake the Mosul dam towards the end of Ramadan in late July 2014. While Falaki declined because the work was hasty, Iraqi forces, IRGC-backed militias, Kurdish Peshmerga, and the US Air Force launched the operation to retake the dam in early August, claiming it by Aug. 19. A source close to the US special operations community has said that Qods Force operatives were on the ground during the operation. Falaki waited until mid-2015, when the volume of Iranian forces increased to launch a major offensive in Aleppo province in coordination with Russias military intervention in September 2015. Under Operation Muharram (as it coincided with the holy Shia month of Muharram), thousands of regular IRGC ground forces and Guard-backed militias participated in a pro-regime offensive in southern Aleppo and captured the major areas of Khan Touman, Afrain, and al Hadher. By mid-2015, Bashar al Assad was in danger of collapse following a string of rebel successes. The Syrian army was exhausted and depleted of manpower. Iran had overstretched its proxies and had no choice but to deploy its ground forces to save Assad. It also needed additional firepower. Iranian and Russian leaders held secret, high-level meetings from the beginning of 2015 to plan the intervention. Following the July nuclear deal, Qassem Soleimani reportedly traveled to Moscow to personally ink the deal. The Kremlin agreed, exploiting an opportunity to establish a foothold in the Middle East, become a power broker, and expand its strategic arc of influence, providing it with the potential to disrupt Americas freedom of action. Tehran and Moscow succeeded in reversing the rebel momentum eliminating Assads overthrow by military means. The pro-Assad regime campaign significantly weakened the opposition in southern Aleppo but was not decisive, and the offensive stalled by December 2015. IRGC fatalities had skyrocketed, including more than 100 Guardsmen, a majority of them officers including Brigadier General Hossein Hamedani, the commander of operations in Syria. The IRGC drew down its forces in December, which was interpreted by some Western officials as retreat from Syria. The IRGC, however, was not done fighting. Falaki claims that the offensive in southern Aleppo facilitated preparations to take northern Aleppo. This suggests that the IRGC may have considered and planned to cut off the oppositions major supply route to Turkey in the fall. Capturing the rebel-held area of eastern Aleppo while this supply route was still open would have been extremely costly and difficult, with a high chance of failure. The IRGC and its allies thus launched a fresh offensive in northern Aleppo in February 2016. The Guard again deployed a significant number of its ground forces during that offensive. They continued deploying contingents of ground forces at least through May. That month at Khan Touman in southwest Aleppo, the jihadist-led Jaish al Fatah coalition ambushed and seized the village from the IRGC and Shia forces, killing more than a dozen Guard troops and tens of Shia militiamen. Many of the fatalities were from a ground forces unit stationed in northern Iran. The defeat was widely publicized in Iranian media. The Guard vowed revenge. The IRGCs deployment of significant numbers of ground forces between October and May suggested broader transformation of the Guard into an expeditionary force. Since that defeat, however, the IRGC has not deployed its regular ground forces in large numbers. In the successful encirclement of Aleppo in late July, senior IRGC officers were killed, alongside large numbers of Afghans and Pakistanis. After the opposition broke the siege of Aleppo in August, the IRGC reportedly deployed trained Hezbollah and Iraqi militias to bolster the pro-regime front there. The Guard relies on its preferred model: Guard officers leading operations and proxies serving as the boots on the ground. We are looking for boys who can train, organize, and to go to Syria, Falaki said, adding that this is an order from highest national security decision-makers in Tehran. Training and organizing local forces can render unnecessary the deployment of large numbers of regular Iranian forces, who may lack the experience and training to succeed against some of the battle-hardened opposition groups. Indeed, Falaki underscores the Guards role in training and strengthening Syrian forces, which had made it unnecessary for us to take an army over there. The chief IRGC commander Mohammad Ali Jafari has claimed that the Guard has trained 100,000 Syrian National Defense Forces that act as auxiliaries to the Syrian Arab Army, which is still hemorrhaging manpower. Independent sources also estimate the NDF at this number. Falaki claims that we may be able to destroy the enemies occupation in Syria after sometime, just as we did in a year or two in Kurdistan, but that controlling the influence of the enemies is at their [locals] hands, and we cannot eliminate this influence. The IRGC knows full well the quagmire and difficulties of insurgencies facing a foreign army. The Guard, after all, has been at the forefront of assisting and bolstering insurgents, such as in Lebanon and Iraq. The Syrian conflict has flipped the script. Brigadier General Falakis statements may suggest that perhaps some in the senior Guard officer corps were considering large-scale deployment to Syria, though developments on the ground and similar statements by top IRGC commanders indicate the IRGCs aversion to larger scale deployment and emphasis on developing local forces. The IRGC, however, has not hesitated to deploy ground forces to Syria if the situation demanded it, as they did between October 2015 and at least through May 2016. The Syrian Civil War is as an existential matter for senior commanders and policy-makers in Tehran, threatening the Axis of Resistance alliance compromised by the Islamic Republic and its allies. Developing the foreign militias serves the IRGCs long-term interests and can act as a Shia liberation army, extending the Guards arms into the region. These forces could return to their home countries and act as Iranian assets there. Although Falaki could exaggerate the existing capabilities as part of propaganda, the IRGC is honing this capability in Syria and Iraq and aspires to develop a capable foreign legion. The war in Syria will certainly be the crucible for the IRGCs mission to export the revolution and expand its influence in the Middle East. Amir Toumaj is a independent analyst and contributor to FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. The US government has released an unclassified profile of the jihadist known as Abu Zubaydah, who is held at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. Abu Zubaydahs case is currently being evaluated by the Periodic Review Board (PRB), which was established in 2011 to review whether continued detention of particular individuals held at Guantanamo remains necessary to protect against a continuing significant threat to the security of the United States. Abu Zubaydah has been at the center of controversy for years. He was one of the first detainees subjected to the CIAs so-called enhanced interrogation techniques, including waterboarding, in 2002. Some argue that he was not really a senior al Qaeda operative at the time of his capture and that his importance was exaggerated by the US intelligence community during the Bush administration. One version of Abu Zubaydahs story, citing excerpts from his diary and other fragmentary evidence, holds that he never swore bayat (oath of allegiance) to Osama bin Laden and was merely an independent jihadist facilitator. The US governments unclassified summary tells a different story, citing several key pieces of evidence that tie Abu Zubaydah to al Qaedas senior leaders and the terror groups global operations. Abu Zubaydah allegedly played a key role in al Qaedas communications, closely interacted with Osama bin Ladens second-in-command, enlisted al Qaeda operatives in planned attacks against Israel, worked with 9/11 planner Khalid Shaykh Mohammed in 2002, and may have had foreknowledge of al Qaedas three most successful attacks between August 1998 and September 2001. The PRB summary also notes that he has been convicted in absentia in Jordan for his well-known role in the so-called millennium terror plots. Abu Zubaydah possibly had some advanced knowledge of the bombings of the US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998 and the USS Cole bombing in 2000, according to the governments PRB summary. He was also generally aware of the impending 9/11 attacks and possibly coordinated the training at Khaldan camp of two of the hijackers. The 1998 US Embassy Bombings and the attack on the USS Cole in 2000 were al Qaedas two most effective operations prior to 9/11. It is doubtful that a truly independent actor could have had some knowledge of these plots, as well as be generally aware of the 9/11 attacks beforehand, given al Qaedas penchant for secrecy and compartmentalized planning. In addition, the two future 9/11 hijackers were not the only al Qaeda operatives thought to have trained at Khaldan camp, which Abu Zubaydah helped oversee. According to declassified and leaked files prepared by Joint Task Force Guantanamo (JTF-GTMO), as well as other reports, numerous al Qaeda operatives trained at Khaldan. Trainees at Khaldan included: Ramzi Yousef (the nephew of Khalid Shaykh Mohammed and also the chief bomb maker for the 1993 World Trade Center attack, as well as the point man for a plot to bring down airliners in 1995), Mohamed al-Owhali (convicted for his role in the 1998 US Embassy Bombings), Zacarias Moussaoui (who was slated to take part in the 9/11 hijackings, or a follow-on al Qaeda plot, prior to his arrest in Aug. 2001), and Richard Reid (al Qaedas would-be shoe bomber in December 2001), among others. Abu Zubaydah would later argue before a tribunal at Guantanamo that he taught defensive jihad, as opposed to offensive jihad, and was not hostile to the US and its partners. The dossiers of Khaldans graduates, as well as many other facts, undermine this argument. According to the summary presented to the PRB, Abu Zubaydah played a key role in al Qaedas communications with supporters and operatives abroad and closely interacted with al Qaedas second-in-command at the time, Abu Hafs al Masri. The 9/11 Commission described Abu Hafs al Masri, who was killed in an American airstrike in late 2001, as bin Ladens chief of operations prior to 9/11. Bin Laden and Abu Hafs occupied undisputed leadership positions atop al Qaedas organizational structure. The 9/11 Commission continued: Within this structure, al Qaedas worldwide terrorist operations relied heavily on the ideas and work of enterprising and strong-willed field commanders who enjoyed considerable autonomy. Therefore, a senior jihadist could be part of al Qaedas organization and still maintain considerable autonomy a detail worth remembering when evaluating Abu Zubaydahs dossier. The 9/11 Commission cited the career of Khalid Shaykh Mohammed (KSM), the chief organizer of the 9/11 hijackings, as an example of how al Qaedas hierarchy worked. Although KSM didnt swear bayat to bin Laden (or so KSM claimed after being captured), he still planned the 9/11 attacks under the watchful eye al Qaedas most senior officials. Unlike Abu Zubaydah, no one seriously disputes KSMs al Qaeda role. According to multiple reports, Abu Zubaydah divulged during his first days in US custody that one of KSMs aliases was Mukhtar. Zubaydah also told FBI officials that KSM played a key role in the 9/11 hijackings. Again, we are left to wonder how someone supposedly outside of al Qaedas orbit could have known such important details concerning the secretive groups inner workings. In fact, according to the PRB summary and other files, Abu Zubaydah worked directly with KSM. Following 9/11, the PRB summary reads, [Abu Zubaydah] took a more active role in attack preparations, sending operatives to al Qaeda senior member Khalid Shaykh Muhammadto discuss the feasibility of exploding a radiological device in the United States, and supporting remote-controlled bomb attacks against US and Coalition Forces in Afghanistan. The first part of the sentence refers to Abu Zubaydahs involvement with Jose Padilla and Binyam Mohamed. They conceived a far-fetched plan to use a dirty bomb inside the US. KSM allegedly thought that their idea was foolish and so he directed one or both of them to consider setting fire to high rise buildings using natural gas instead. Zubaydah reportedly revealed details about Padilla and Mohamed while in US custody. Padilla was arrested in Chicago in May 2002 and eventually convicted on terrorism charges. Mohamed was detained in Pakistan and then held elsewhere before being sent to Guantanamo. Mohamed was transferred to the UK in 2009. It is telling that Abu Zubaydah was able to seamlessly pass Padilla and Mohamed on to KSM, who was attempting to strike the US again just months after the 9/11 hijackings. The second part of the sentence above from the PRBs summary (supporting remote-controlled bomb attacks in Afghanistan) is a reference to Abu Zubaydahs Martyrs Brigade. According to leaked JTF-GTMO files, the Martyrs Brigade was jointly created by Abu Zubaydah and Abdul Hadi al Iraqi, a top al Qaeda military commander who answered directly to Osama bin Laden. Known al Qaeda members joined the team, which was planning to travel back to Afghanistan to fight US and Coalition forces. The PRB file notes that Abu Zubaydah most actively plotted attacks against Israel, enlisting operatives from various militant groups, including al Qaeda, to conduct operations in Israel and against Israeli interests abroad. A brief biography released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) in 2006 contained additional allegations regarding his anti-Israeli plotting. According to that biography, Abu Zubaydah had enlisted the help of Abu Musab al Zarqawi, who would go on to establish al Qaeda in Iraq, to find a smuggling route into Israel for moving persons and materials. Abu Zubaydah had previously helped Zarqawi and dozens of others escape from Afghanistan into Iran in late 2001. Abu Zubaydah raised $50,000 from Saudi donors for his planned attacks in Israel. The money was passed to senior al Qaeda leadership, according to the ODNIs biography, and may have even been repurposed for the 9/11 plot. The millennium plots Abu Zubaydahs role in various planned terrorist attacks in late 1999 and early 2000 is well known. Khaldans graduates were directly responsible for some of the plots. Abu Zubaydah was convicted in absentia by the Jordanian Government for his role in planning attacks against Israeli, Jordanian, and Western targets during the Millennium time frame in Jordan, the newly released PRB file reads. The 9/11 Commission discussed the millennium plots in Jordan at length in its final report. Jordanian authorities unraveled the plans beginning on Nov. 30, 1999, when they intercepted a telephone call from Abu Zubaydah to an operative known as Abu Hoshar. The time for training is over, Abu Zubaydah said. The Jordanians suspected, according to the 9/11 Commission, that this was a signal for Abu Hoshar to commence a terrorist operation. Jordanian police then arrested 16 jihadists, including Abu Hoshar and his comrade Raed Hijazi. [See LWJ report, Jordan rearrests millennium bombings plotter.] By late 1998, Abu Hoshar and Hijazi had begun planning to attack multiple sites frequented by Western tourists. Hijazi and Abu Hoshar cased the intended targets and sent reports to Abu Zubaydah, who approved their plan, according to the 9/11 Commission. Hijazi stockpiled the ingredients necessary to make the bombs their plan required. Hijazi and Abu Hoshar contacted another alleged al Qaeda operative, Khalid Deek, in early 1999. They acquired a copy of the Encyclopedia of Jihad, a terrorist manual authored by Deek. The 9/11 Commission reported what happened next. In June 1999, with help from Deek, Abu Hoshar arranged with Abu Zubaydah for Hijazi and three others to go to Afghanistan for added training in explosives. Then, in late November 1999, Hijazi reportedly swore before Abu Zubaydah the bayat [oath of allegiance] to Bin Laden, committing himself to do anything Bin Laden ordered. How could Abu Zubaydah accept Hijazis blood oath to Osama bin Laden if he wasnt really part of al Qaeda? This is one of many details that doesnt make sense if Abu Zubaydah remained apart from al Qaeda. Another one of the plots extended all the way into the US. Ahmed Ressam, who was trained at the Khaldan camp, traveled from Canada to the US in late 1999 with the intent to bomb the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Ressam was arrested on Dec. 14, 1999 after customs officials discovered that his vehicle contained hidden explosives. Ressam would later explain Abu Zubaydahs role to the FBI. Ressams testimony was included in the Aug. 6, 2001 Presidential Daily Brief (PDB) delivered to President George W. Bush. The millennium plotting in Canada in 1999 may have been part of Bin Ladens first serious attempt to implement a terrorist strike in the US, the PDB read. Convicted plotter Ahmed Ressam has told the FBI that he conceived the idea to attack the Los Angeles International Airport himself, but that Bin Laden lieutenant Abu Zubaydah encouraged him and helped facilitate the operation. Ressam added that Bin Laden was aware of the Los Angeles operation and Abu Zubaydah was planning his own US attack as early as 1998. An extensive dossier The unclassified PRB file deals with just some of the known or suspected details of Abu Zubaydahs career. There is much additional evidence tying him to al Qaedas global enterprise. At a minimum, however, the file indicates that the officials representing the US government in the PRB process continue to view Abu Zubaydah as well-placed figure in al Qaedas network. This is true whether Abu Zubaydah swore his allegiance to Osama bin Laden or not, as the intelligence shows that he consistently worked with al Qaedas most senior operatives. Note: The spelling of al Qaeda has been made consistent throughout this article and therefore differs from how it is spelled in some of the US governments files. Thomas Joscelyn is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Senior Editor for FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. Luton is a large town, borough and unitary authority area of Bedfordshire. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 258,000. Luton is home to Championship team Luton Town Football Club, London Luton Airport and The University of Bedfordshire. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter. For all the latest news from Luton sign up to our newsletter here. Browser cookies were always a compromise. Surfing at its start decades ago was stateless: there was no connection between retrieving one page and the next. A cookie allowed a server (among other possibilities) to send a token that the browser could accept and then pass back with each subsequent request, allowing the server to create a session during which it could remember a browser. The compromise was that the continuity added by cookies also has the potential to cause privacy leaks. A new attack on your privacy leverages browsers ability to allow third-party cookies, ones that arent delivered by the site youre visiting, but used by scripts or content delivered from other sites. Third-party cookies most commonly get used by advertising technology that serves up scripts and other media hosted elsewhere, and employs cookies to track you. However, its also used for less-invasive purposes. For instance, the University of California, Berkeley library system requires third-party cookies to track the use of licensed resources through a proxy. Because of the ad-related use, however, browser makers added controls several years ago to disable third-party cookies at a users option. This sometimes breaks features on sites or renders them unavailable. Ad networks learned to work around the limitation, too. This new attack argues for instantly disabling third-party cookies on all your browsers, enabling only as needed, and letting commercial websites cope with the consequences of people no longer accepting them. It wont block ads, necessarily, and it wont break delivering words and videos in most cases, but its long overdue. Its the only current way to mitigate against an attack thats eminently possible right now. Oceans 00000011 The researchers who discovered this flaw labeled it HEIST, a back formation from the title of the paper they published and presented at the Black Hat conference recently: HTTP Encrypted Information can be Stolen through TCP-windows. That may sound obscure, but its easy to explain. HEIST takes advantage of browser functionality across all modern browsers and every platform. The TL;DR is that the exploit doesnt let attacker impersonate you, but does let them extract private information thats displayed at websites at which you havent logged out or which doesnt expire cookies used to maintain sessions over short periods of time, including web email. This could include credit card numbers and medical conditions, but in the current formulation shouldnt allow retrieving information about which something cant be guessed, such as the length of a credit card number or the usual format of an email address. JavaScript becomes more and more sophisticated each passing year because of the desire to run powerful, interactive Web apps in desktop and mobile browsers. In some cases now, its almost impossible to tell the difference between a Web app and the corresponding native version on the same platform. But more power brings more risk. The papers writers, Mathy Vanhoef and Tom Van Goethem, make use with HEIST of newer browser features that improve how scripts can communicate interactively with servers, and that let developers time the performance of interactions. By sending a series of carefully crafted requests via a script that loads on a page the user visits, HEIST can extract an enormous amount of information about the pages content. (Attackers using HEIST can get people to a malicious page via phishing techniques, or they can inject malicious JavaScript onto unsuspecting blogs and company sites through advertising networks that allow self-service ad purchases.) The authors manage this attack without violating same-origin policy, a bedrock of the Web since the early days of graphical browsers. This concept prohibits scripts on a given web page from accessing content on a different server, or even the same server but through a different method. That means that a non-securely loaded http page cant have a script that requests data from an https connection on the same server, as well as a script being unable to retrieve information from unrelated websites. The point of this policy is to prevent a script from accessing other information that the user might be connected to without the users knowledge and permission. It also prevents a cross-site request forgery (CSRF), where a malicious web page runs a script that tries to carry out bank transfers and other behavior on unrelated sites at which you have accounts. Websites also have varying means to protect against this, but they rely in part on the same-origin policy in browsers for some of the enforcement. HEIST makes use of newer, more efficient browser features and a newer form of the underlying Web protocol to make server requests it cant read, but which it can analyze and measure to see the rough shape of whats returned. It doesnt matter whether the interaction is encrypted, either. By varying requests and using known information, the attack can retrieve a black box that it can shake and figure out whats inside. Lets say someone (unwisely) emailed you their credit card information to make a purchase on their behalf; HEIST could perform searches against your web mail host that ultimately revealed the number, expiration date, and validation code. None of this requires malware to be installed: just visiting a malicious page can allow JavaScript to run that can carry out these tasks in the background for any site for which you have account information cached in the form of cookies for logging back in from the same browser. Crumble the cookies The authors paint a fairly dismal picture of several attributes of the underlying communications protocols that allow this data to leak. Browser makers, websites, server software developers, and probably operating system creators will need to tweak a number of low-level attributes to reduce the potential for HEIST and other attacks to work. The authors note one problem has been known since 1996, so dont hold your breath. However, disabling third-party cookies is a big win, because while it doesnt prevent a script from trying to retrieve pages from popular sites that you might have an unexpired session at, it does prevent including session tokens and other details in the cookies. Each browser has a different default behavior, and settings are often inherited as you upgrade from version to version. Its possible you turned on third-party cookie blocking years ago or disabled it, and youre still in that state. To block a new exploit, set Block Cookies to Allow from Current Website Only. Allow from Websites I Visit is the default. In Safari for OS X (Safari > Preferences > Privacy) and iOS (Settings > Safari > Block Cookies), Apple has mingled a couple of different states. Allow from Websites I Visit, the default in both my browsers, prevents third-party cookies, but passes cookies from sites youve ever visited before that have deposited cookies. To deal with this exploit, set to Allow from Current Website Only, which disables all third-party cookies from being sent; otherwise, youre in the same boat as if no protection were enabled, since the exploit only uses cookies from sites you frequent. In Chrome, visit chrome://settings/content and check Block Third-Party Cookies and Site Data. Chrome lets you work around restrictions at specific sites that require non-first-party cookies by clicking Manage Exceptions. In Firefox, visit about:preferences#privacy, and select the History menus Use Custom Settings for History. Then under Accept Cookies from Sites in the Accept Third-Party Cookies pop-up menu, dont pick From Visited (the same as Safaris limits); instead, choose Never. This exploit is both severe and weak at the same time: it can be easily weaponized into a tool that less-sophisticated attackers can use, and its most effective against the most popularly used websites (like Gmail and a few others) where malicious parties can predict the sort of information they might find and test to extract the details. I expect the biggest websites to deploy their own solutions, looking for patterns of this behavior, which should be distinguishable, and protecting users silently. Given how easy it is to disable third-party cookies and close the biggest window of exploitation, I recommend making that change immediately. CMA CGMs mega containership Vasco De Gama ran aground off the Port of Southampton on the UKs south coast just after midnight on August 22, 2016, reported Fleetmon. The damages of the 2015-built, 17,859 teu giant vessel are being assessed. There is no news on the damage as of yet. During the accident there were no injured people and no water pollution. The ship was refloated within an hour and proceeded to the port where an underwater survey will be conducted. The local authorities reported that traffic in the area was not affected by the grounding of ultra large container ship. The investigation for the root cause of grounding is under way. The ultra large container ship was built in 2015 by Jiangnan Changxing Shipbuilding in China. Named after the famous Portuguese explorer, the Vasco De Gama is one of the worlds largest boxships - Explorer class container ship - and was travelling ton Southampton from Algeciras. The Company: All American Marine Inc. was founded in 1987 and specializes in the construction of custom tailored aluminum boats from 30 to 150 feet LOA. Today, the company has become a leading builder of high speed passenger catamarans, survey craft, and research vessels. AAMs vessels feature the Teknicraft Design signature hull shape and hydrofoil technology, which aid in high speed travel with excellent fuel efficiency, producing lowest wake levels and minimal underwater noise. All American Marine has been given the exclusive construction rights within North America for Teknicraft designs and has constructed well over 30 Teknicraft Design vessels, including 28 foil-supported catamarans. The Case: AAMs workboat, research vessel, patrol, and passenger catamaran hull designs feature hydrofoil-assist technology that provides for shallow draft, enhanced seakeeping ability, improved speed and fuel economy. Since its inception in 1987, All American Marine has built over 100 aluminum boats. 200 Harris Avenue Bellingham, WA 98225 Tel: (360) 647-7602 Website: www.allamericanmarine.com CEO/President: Matt Mullett iNavX, the benchmark marine navigation mobile application, in partnership with Fugawi X-Traverse, today launched its chart and map in-app purchase program. Now enabled with one-touch purchase and download, iNavX gives boaters the most streamlined access to the broadest set of marine charts and maps from multiple providers. iNavX users will gain intuitive download capabilities for all of their favorite chartsand navigation data such as Navionics worldwide chart catalog, Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) charts; Fugawi Aboard quilted Canadian and US charts; NV Charts for Europe, the US and the Caribbean; Theyr weather; Waterway Guide and much more from X-Traverse.com.The iNavX app is also the exclusive source for the stand-alone electronic version of the popular Explorer Charts for the Bahamas. Marine navigation is a crucial part of any boat trip, whether down the lake or across the ocean, said Shaun Steingold, CEO, NavX Studios. We respect that navigators have their own preferences for the tools they use to the charts they prefer, which is why we are the first app to give users a choice. While mostapps can only distribute either their own charts or free National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) charts, iNavX is the most versatile and feature-rich navigation app available. iNavX is the leading marine navigation app and the only app that delivers hundreds of charts andfeatures to sailors, boaters and anglers. The perfect marine navigation chartplotter that also fits in thepalm of your hand, iNavX can be used as a primary chartplotter, a toolkit or as a redundancy system.The feature-rich app is capable of displaying current position in real-time using a mobile device's built-in GPS, as well as plotting course, bearing and waypoints. Supporting NMEA data over TCP/IP, iNavX also integrates with external GPS, AIS receivers and transponders, and networked instruments including depth, speed, wind, engine data, and batteryvoltage meters.Users can easily manipulate data by panning, zoomingand rotating charts, and also downloading GRIB weather forecasts. iNavX has always been at the forefront of innovation for handheld navigation, said Robin Martel, president of Northport Systems. By working closely with our programmers, iNavX has streamlined access for its customers to the chart offerings available through Fugawi X-Traverse.With this new in-app purchase option, iNavX handheld navigation can be personalized to fit your needs, while remaining precise, efficient and cost-effective. Pollution around the Port of Long Beach has been dramatically cut over the last decade, however, according to the latest study, lingering effects from ships at anchor in early 2015 impacted air quality last year. The 2015 annual inventory of port-related air emissions, conducted by an independent consultant, found the Ports aggressive actions to curtail pollution have decreased diesel particulate matter by 84 percent since 2005, a slight decrease from the 85 percent reduction reported in 2014. Sulfur oxides were 97 percent lower, the same level reported in 2014. Smog-forming nitrogen oxides and greenhouse gases were down 48 percent and 14 percent, respectively, compared to the 50 percent and 21 percent numbers, respectively, in the prior year. Meanwhile, annual container traffic increased 7 percent, or 296,000 TEUs, during the same period. Port officials attributed the rise in emissions to the unusual number of vessels at anchor due to terminal congestion through the first quarter of 2015. While at anchor, ships use auxiliary engines to run essential systems instead of plugging into shore electrical power available at berth. The latest emissions inventory shows the effects of last years congestion and increased ships at anchor. Thanks to labor and shipping partners, we cleared the backlog quickly, said Harbor Commission President Lori Ann Guzman. While weve had challenges, we continue to be committed to reaching our goal of zero-emissions operations. We are steadfast in our commitment to improving air quality for the region now and over the long term as evidenced by our recently approved $46 million mitigation grant program. The Ports efforts to improve air quality since 2005 have included the Clean Trucks Program, low-sulfur fuel regulations for ships, increased use of shore power for cargo ships and the Ports Green Flag Vessel Speed Reduction Program. The cleaner air is lowering risks in surrounding areas for cancers and other serious illnesses such as asthma and chronic lung disease. The Port remains focused on continued reductions through increased use of on-dock rail, use of advanced technologies, and joint efforts with Port of Los Angeles on Supply Chain Optimization and development of the next update to the Clean Air Action Plan. The annual emissions inventory is reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, California Air Resources Board and South Coast Air Quality Management District. The Clean Air Action Plan, initially created in 2006 and currently entering the third iteration of the Plan, outlines strategies to significantly reduce pollution from ships, locomotives, trucks, terminal equipment and harbor craft that move cargo. Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay President Dennis Rochford has announced the tristate port vessel arrival statistics for the first six months of 2016. On top of last years increase in vessel arrivals over 2014 activity, we continue to see steady growth through the first six months of 2016, Rochford said. According to Maritime Exchange records, 1,234 ships arrived at Delaware River port facilities compared to 1,127 arrivals for the same six-month period last year, a 9.5% increase in vessel activity throughout the port. Were seeing increases in import cargos such as petroleum, containers, and fruit, as well as container, petroleum, and steel export gains, Rochford said. A 17% growth in petroleum ship arrivals is driven by refineries receiving more crude oil by tanker from overseas and less product by rail from North Dakota and Canada. Changing market factors make it more cost effective to move crude by ship. The continued expansion of the Marcus Hook Industrial Complex is expected to further this growth. Natural gas liquids shipments, including propane and ethane, from the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania continue to spur exports to markets throughout the United States and Europe. Clearly, shippers and carriers welcome the deepening of the Delaware River main ship channel from 40 to 45 feet. Knowing this project will be completed in late 2017 has created an industry buzz and a heightened and positive perception among current and prospective port customers, said Rochford. The S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) have appointed former Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Koji Sekimizu, as a RSIS-MPA Distinguished Visiting Fellow for a period of two years commencing on 1 May 2016. The fellowship was established by RSIS and MPA to engage eminent maritime personalities with specialised knowledge, expertise and international experience. Koji Sekimizu, a naval architect by training, began his career as a ship inspector with Japans Ministry of Transport and joined the IMO as Technical Officer in the Sub-Division for Technology, Maritime Safety Division in 1989. During his 26 years of service, he held a number of appointments within the IMO Secretariat, including Director of the Marine Environment Division and Director of the Maritime Safety Division. Mr Sekimizu was appointed as the Secretary-General of the IMO from 2012 to 2015 and during this term, he was also Chancellor of the World Maritime University. As a RSIS-MPA Distinguished Visiting Fellow, Koji Sekimizu will be invited to deliver public lectures and seminars organised by RSIS and the MPA Academy. MPA Academy will tap his vast experience to lecture at the Academys flagship programmes such as the Advanced Maritime Leaders Programme and speak at key events during the annual Singapore Maritime Week - a leading international maritime event held in Singapore. In addition, Koji Sekimizu could undertake research and write policy commentaries for RSIS on international affairs and environmental issues. In conjunction with his first visit to Singapore as a Distinguished Visiting Fellow, Koji Sekimizu delivered his inaugural lecture today. Jointly organised by RSIS and the MPA Academy, his lecture titled What I dreamed about at IMO, was attended by close to 150 maritime industry leaders, government officials and academics. In his lecture, Koji Sekimizu shared about his experiences at the IMO, his aspirations and his hopes for the future of the organization. Ambassador Mary Seet-Cheng, who is Singapores IMO Maritime Ambassador, was the moderator at the lecture. e-Navigation and the Gulf Area: meeting information needs where blue water, brown water and port facilities interact San Jacinto College and the Seamens Church Institute will host e-Navigation Underway (North America) 2016, the third in the annual North American series of conferences focusing upon the development and application of e-navigation. The event will be held at the San Jacinto College Maritime Technology and Training Center, La Porte, Texas, a new facility that opened in Spring of this year. e-Navigation is an initiative of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the goal of which is to provide a decision support environment for the maritime community. Its scope is not fully appreciated by many and some consider it simply another intrusion by technology a Black Box sort of thing, imposed by governments. One of the objectives of the conference is to promote better understanding of e-navigation as an integrated application of individual competence, Best Practices and procedures, organization and technology to provide information to maritime decision makers in a form immediately useful for decision making. The intent, clearly articulated by the IMO, is that both development and application by driven by real user needs for information, not by regulatory fiat. The User Needs approach recognizes one size does not fit all, and that different operations and geographic areas have different information requirements, or need presentation of information in different forms. At the same time a degree of standardization is obviously required and users, if the results are to meet their needs, must be both knowledgeable about e-navigation and have an avenue through which their needs can be made known. The latter point is why much of the conference will focus on the use of Electronic Chart Systems (ECS) in U.S. domestic waters as implementation of the Coast Guard Maritime Transportation Act of 2004 proceeds. ECS will become a primary platform not only for navigation but also for provision of information vital to maritime safety, efficiency and environmental stewardship. Representatives of the federal agencies involved (U.S. Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers and NOAA) will provide information about relevant programs and plans and other sessions will explore the questions of what information must or should be included in ECS presentations. The corollary issue of how such information should be displayed will also be examined through presentations about whats being done in test bed activities and programs elsewhere. In addition to representatives of the government agencies there will be speakers from the Gulf Coast maritime world, such as Rick Dunn of SafeMarine LLC, Tom Marian, Buffalo Marine Service and Captain David Foret, President of the ACTion Group Companies. Captain Stephen Polk of the Seamens Church Institute in Houston and Dr. Sarah Percy Janes of San Jacinto College will be the conference Co-Chairs. By addressing ECS use the conference will enhance the understanding by attendees of the issues involved and provide a platform for the articulation of their views. The delegates to the conference will participate in framing recommendations not only for the U.S. agencies but also to standard-setting organizations and international bodies such as the International Maritime Organization. It is anticipated that those recommendations will be useful in helping to frame the regulatory requirements for ECS carriage and use, and for revision of the interim guidance for the use of official electronic nautical charts in lieu of paper charts. The fact that the conference series is organized under the auspices of the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) and the Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) provides an avenue for the recommendations to be placed before the appropriate regulatory and standards setting organizations. Registration for the not-for-profit conference is now open and details about it, the conference and hotel accommodations are available at www.e-navnorthamerica.org. Danish bunker fuel supplier and shipping firm Monjasa has signed a credit facility with French bank Societe Generale for USD 80 million. A statement from the company says credit facility is already operational. It also says has expanded business beyond bunkering activities and further up the value chain into oil trading. "We see the establishment of this new facility as a seal of approval in the robustness of our business model," says Monjasa Group CFO, Kenneth Henriks. Within the last year, Monjasa has expanded beyond bunkering activities and further up the value chain and into oil trading. By seizing control of the oil products and logistics at an earlier stage, Monjasa is increasing reliability and efficiency of its worldwide physical supply of marine fuels. Engaging into trading of larger oil parcels requires determination on combining distribution, compliance and not least robust financial capabilities. "Monjasa has grown considerably over the past years and we have gone from being a regional bunker company to a global diversified trading group. Our financing model is important for this development and decisive for offering our business partners the global services and efficiency they expect. Therefore, we have been very determined to obtain this deal and today I am delighted to introduce a new USD 80 million credit facility arranged by Societe Generale," says Kenneth and continues. "We see the establishment of this new facility as a seal of approval in the robustness of our business model and confirmation of the value of our strong balance sheet, most recently demonstrated in our 2015 Annual Report." Canada may ask oil companies to contribute to the hundreds of millions of dollars or more the country has to pay to an international body if they drill far offshore, according to an internal government memo. If that happens, it could make the operations more expensive and strain talks that companies will have with provincial governments, which already require them to pay royalties. A United Nations convention, which Canada ratified in 2003, says signatories need to pay the International Seabed Authority (ISA) if companies drill on the "extended continental shelf," the seabed part of a country's landmass, but more than 200 nautical miles (230 miles) offshore. It was never clear from where that money should come. The ISA said only that Canada, where Norway's Statoil ASA has done such far-offshore explorations, is close to a position that warrants payments under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. In the Feb. 19 memo obtained by Reuters under the access-to-information laws, an official from Global Affairs Canada, the country's foreign department, said the agency was reviewing how to fund the payments. Statoil's proposed Bay du Nord project 270 nautical miles off the eastern province of Newfoundland and Labrador, in its northern region, will likely be the first to trigger such payment obligations, then-Deputy Minister Daniel Jean wrote to Foreign Minister Stephane Dion in the memo. While Statoil holds exploration licenses for Bay du Nord and the surrounding Flemish Pass basin, it is not clear when it might reach a production agreement with Newfoundland. Talks stalled last year as the province instituted a new royalty program. Payments are not due until five years after production, but the issue represents a looming quagmire. The federal government is responsible for making the payments, but receives no money from the oil activity, with the province taking all royalties, the memo says. It does not estimate projected fees, but they would likely be hundreds of millions of dollars. Statoil said in June that Bay du Nord has at least 300 million barrels of oil, worth more than $14 billion at current prices. Fees would be up to 7 percent of the annual production value. "Whether and by how much the operators will be implicated in the sourcing for monies for Canada's ... (payment) obligations is a key part of the analysis," read the memo. Global Affairs spokesman John Babcock said the agency has not yet determined who would pay the fees, noting that such payments won't be required "for many years to come." Statoil spokesman Alex Collins said the company has no position on the issue while the government studies it. Newfoundland's Department of Natural Resources said payment details are "under development." (Reporting by Ethan Lou) Marine communications specialist Ocean Signal and VDR manufacturer AMI Marine will introduce a new float-free EPIRB with integrated voyage data recorder (VDR) memory capsule at this years SMM in Hamburg. The Ocean Signal E101V provides a reliable and innovative solution for commercial vessels of 3000+ gross tonnage to store recorded data in a float-free capsule within their VDR systems, as required for compliance with the revised recommendation on performance standards for VDRs. Developed by communication and safety at sea experts Ocean Signal in partnership with AMI Marine, world-leaders in VDR design and manufacturer of marine electronic equipment, the E101Vs leading design and technological capabilities reflect the knowledge and experience brought together by the unique collaboration of two UK companies at the forefront of their respective sectors. The E101V is supplied with AMIs regulation X-Series VDR which incorporates IEC61162-450 network protocol, applicable to the collection, storage and playback of important data. It also functions with AMIs new X-VHFR recorder. The Ocean Signal float-free EPIRB will be available on an OEM basis to selected VDR manufacturers and suppliers for integration with their own VDR systems. Cospas-Sarsat and MED certified, the E101V is approved to IEC61097-2 as a float-free EPIRB with memory capsule and incorporates notable market-leading features including an improved hydrostatic release unit with automatic disconnection of the interface cable on release, integral 66-channel GPS receiver, flexible blade antenna, 5-year battery life and 2-year warranty. The battery operating life is greater than 168 hours at -20C. In addition, the E101V is significantly smaller and lighter than similar products on the market, due to the use of low current technology developed by Ocean Signal for its current EPIRBs. The compact design also allows easy accessibility without damaging the product. The separate VDR storage module incorporated in the E101V has a memory capacity of 64GB. James Hewitt, Ocean Signal Sales and Marketing Manager, said: The development of the E101V is a result of many months of collaboration with AMI, one of the first companies to supply VDRs to commercial vessels and one which continues to lead the way in this sector, so we are very excited to be launching this new product to the market. We felt there was significant demand for an improved float-free EPIRB incorporating the VDR memory capsule, providing a trusted solution for new generation VDRs which comply with the latest IMO mandates. The opportunity to form a partnership with AMI offered the perfect combination of skills to develop the E101V, enabling us to use both companies separate engineering and technical areas of expertise to develop a product which showcases the skills of two innovative British maritime businesses. The result is a product which incorporates significant benefits for OEMs and manufacturers. The E101V has been developed for integration with VDR systems used by commercial vessels of 3000+ gross tonnage to enable ship owners and operators to meet new mandates for VDRs as defined by IMO Resolution MSC.333(90), enforced 1 July 2014. Martin Cox, sales director at AMI Marine, added: The introduction of the IMO resolution, along with IEC61996-1 Ed 2.0, heralded a new chapter in VDR requirements with both a fixed and float free capsule required, each holding a minimum of 48 hours of data. The E101V float-free capsule is a welcome addition to the AMI X-VDR system, allowing for easier and cheaper shipping with its refined compact design. Our X-VDR has been designed from the ground up to meet and exceed the requirements of the 2014 IEC 61996-1 Ed 2.0 regulations. We have partnered with select manufacturers and ship owners to create a product that is reliable, user friendly, economic and future proof. Completely European in its manufacture, all of the equipment is designed and built in the UK and Germany, with all but the fixed capsule being of an AMI Marine bespoke design. When the E101V float-free EPIRB is incorporated into a VDR system such as the AMI X-Series, the result is a flexible and functional system which meets the new regulations and ultimately provides an improved tool for accident investigators and ship owners. The X-VDR system is designed for commercial vessels in order to identify the cause of any accident, evaluate decision making on-board at the time of an incident, greatly improving safety and also assisting in accident avoidance, training and other areas of maintenance, monitoring and analysis. AMIs new X-VHFR recorder for vessels under 3000 GRT will be launched at this years SMM. It is designed to function with the E101V, assisting with safe recording and playback of basic vessel data in the event of an incident, or for general data analysis purposes. Fednav Limited, the largest international bulk shipowner in Canada, welcomed to the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor, the Federal Caribou, one of seven new oceangoing lakers equipped with a ballast water treatment system-a first for the Great Lakes. This vessel protects the Lakes by treating its ballast water two times: by conducting an exchange in the North Atlantic, and through filtration and a chlorine disinfection treatment on the ship. The Federal Caribou is part of a series of 16 Handysize vessels, representing an investment by Fednav of more than $400 million and designed specifically for the Great Lakes. The company is the leading international operator in the Great Lakes, has one of the most modern fleets of bulk carriers in the world, the average age being under 10 years. Of particular interest is the Federal Caribou and its sister-ships have box-shaped holds in order to facilitate the handling of general cargo. In April 2015, Fednav announced the signing of an agreement with JFE Engineering Corporation for the installation of ballast water treatment systems (BallastAce) on board its new ocean-going lakers. The Federal Caribou is one of those ships, and its voyage to Burns Harbor highlights the fact that Fednav is the first shipping company in the Great Lakes to treat ballast water using an onboard system. JFE is now pursuing US Coast Guard certification, with expected approval in 2017. Other outstanding environmental characteristics of these vessels include: * 25% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than similar vessels built less than 15 years ago * A decrease of over 15% nitrogen oxide emissions * A CLEAN notation from the DNV/GL classification society At the ceremony on board the ship, Paul Pathy, President and Co-CEO of Fednav Limited and Chairman of Federal Marine Terminals noted: "This vessel confirms that the protection of the Great Lakes is a priority for Fednav and demonstrates the confidence we have in the region's future. These ships will allow us to offer our customers in Indiana and throughout the region an unparalleled service at a higher standard." Fednav is the parent company for Federal Marine Terminals, the general cargo stevedore for the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor. "We commend and congratulate Fednav for its commitment to make these long-term investments that benefit so many on the Great Lakes," said Rich Cooper, CEO for the Ports of Indiana. "The company has always taken the Lake's environment very seriously and being the first to outfit its newer ships with on-board ballast water treatment systems further validates just how committed it really is. We are proud to call Fednav a 'true partner' at our port on Lake Michigan and salute the company for its innovation and leadership in the maritime industry." Thordon Bearings has called on the marine industry to investigate the characteristics of both conventional seawater-lubricated propeller shaft systems and podded propulsion arrangements in order to provide shipowners with a better understanding of the two very different propulsion configurations. In a recently published White Paper, the Canadian manufacturer of the COMPAC seawater-lubricated propeller shaft bearing system believes there is a great opportunity for independent comparative data so that cruise ship operators, in particular, can make more informed procurement decisions. Highlighting the development of both systems, the 24 page paper asks if the water-lubricated propeller shaft is more efficient than podded propulsion, encouraging readers to assess a number of different factors before selecting their optimum propulsion solution. The paper explores the key advantages and disadvantages of both arrangements, arguing the case for the conventional propeller shaft configuration due to its lower capital expenditure, reduced operating costs, zero pollution risk, life expectancy, low noise and vibration, maneuverability and survivability. While acknowledging that greater research is needed, Thordon Bearings argument for convention is supported by several high-profile marine engineers with first-hand experience of both concepts, one of whom said he was never able to ascertain with any certainty that the capital and through life costs of a podded propulsion system were any less than those for conventional drive arrangements. Other supporters of convention claim in the paper that a conventional passenger ship with a rounded skeg hull shape, twin six-blade fixed pitch propeller and a seawater lubricated shaft line, with appendages optimized using computational fluid dynamics, is comparable to a podded cruise ship in terms of hydrodynamic efficiency. According to press reports, cruise ships fitted with pods continue to suffer from system failures, resulting in downtime, emergency repairs and drydocking, all of which add to the high capital and operational costs of installation. Concerns have also been raised about the handling of ships with propulsive pods in certain maneuvering conditions, which is different to the handling of a direct-drive vessel, said Craig Carter, Director of Marketing and Customer Service, Thordon Bearings. While our paper does not purport to be an academic study in any way, it is intended to engender debate and, hopefully, spur greater research into the key attributes of both propulsion arrangements he added. Much of the research to date has focused on the maneuverability and hydrodynamic efficiency benefits of a cruise ship with podded propulsion, but this does not paint the complete picture. Owners have to also consider environmental, operational, safety, CAPEX and OPEX differences between podded and direct-drive configurations so that the cruise ship sector in particular can make more informed procurement decisions. The Company: Founded in 1992, UA Business Solutions was a pioneer in the field of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and an early Microsoft Partner. The ERP evolution into the maritime industry found UA developing industry specific solutions for marine clients. These UA marine solutions became commercially available in 2007 under the UA proprietary brand, MarineCFO. UA Business Solutions, along with the MarineCFO brand, was purchased by VerticaLive in 2013. A reimaged MarineCFO emerged from this acquisition at the forefront of SubChapter M solutions, maritime Machine Learning technologies, and competitive R & D opportunities. The firm employs about 20. Primary Product / Service: MarineCFO Enterprise is a full Workboat Resource Planning tool which includes Crewing/Personnel, Preventative Maintenance, Compliance & Safety, Work Orders & Purchasing, General Ledger, Document Management, Dispatch, and Dry Dock/Survey Modules. Marine CFO interfaces with a variety of 3rd Party accounting and management solutions. Local or Hosted Environment and scaled to operators specifications. MarineCFO Endurance (SaaS) The Software as a Service version of MarineCFO Enterprise features Microsoft Azure hosting with web-portal access. This is a traditional Workboat Resource Planning tool without the IT hardware or IT staffing requirements. The Case: 1340 W. Tunnel Blvd, Suite 450 Houma, LA 70360 Telephone: (866) 962-7463 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.marinecfo.com CTO: Dean Shoultz CEO/President: Jimmy Treuting In August 2015, the firm entered into a partnership with RINA & TBS and in June of 2016, the firm launched Vessel 365. MarineCFO is a trusted technology partner in the maritime industry with expertise in cutting edge Fleet Optimization Solutions and Maritime Predictive Analytics. The first partner to offer a Commercialized Condition Maintenance Model, it offers new generation maritime technologies supported by highly skilled staff. This is Technology developed by mariners for mariners. Despite its remote location in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument faces a looming threat of global climate change that will affect its land and marine ecosystems, as well as its cultural resources, according to a new NOAA report. The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Conservation Series report, Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, finds that sea-level rise, ocean acidification, ocean warming, and other climate-related changes are expected to significantly affect the monument. Projected sea-level rise, combined with likely increases in the strength of storms and ocean wave energy, means that low-lying islands within the monument will be flooded, harming endangered birds such as the Laysan duck and Laysan finch, as well as large populations of seabirds. Increased coastal erosion over the next 50 to 100 years will also deprive endangered Hawaiian monk seals and threatened sea turtles of beaches for nesting or haul-out areas. Coral reefs will also degrade because of increasing bleaching and coral disease. Covering 139,797 square miles of Pacific Ocean (362,073 square kilometers), Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument is the largest contiguous, fully protected American conservation area, and one of the largest marine protected areas in the world. Climate change is a complex issue that not only affects natural ecosystems, but also the rich cultural resources of Papahanaumokuakea, said Daniel Wagner, Ph.D., the monuments research specialist and a co-author of the report. Daniel added: In creating this climate change assessment, we looked not only to climate change scientists, but to everyone that we believe will be able to address the complex issues of climate change, including managers, scientists, policy makers, economists, historians, archaeologists, cultural practitioners and educators. The Philippines' territorial dispute with China over the South China Sea has not caused Manila to rebalance diplomatic ties with either its ally, the United States, or neighbouring China, Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay said on Wednesday. An arbitration court in the Hague infuriated China in July by ruling that China had no historical title over the South China Sea and that it had breached the Philippines' sovereign rights with various actions there. "We want to make close friendship with China. It does not mean that we'll weaken our friendship with the United States," Yasay told Reuters during a break in a meeting of the senate foreign relations committee. "We're just saying that in spite of our disputes, as regards China on the South China Sea, there are other aspects of our relationship that can proceed without having to touch upon the South China Sea issue." On Tuesday evening, President Rodrigo Duterte said he expects talks with China over the maritime dispute within a year. Duterte, who has been in office for seven weeks, said the Philippines will not raise the issues next month at a summit in Laos of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which the Chinese foreign ministry welcomed. "We look forward to China and the Philippines conducting dialogue at an early date." China's foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Wednesday. "We believe the two sides have the ability and the wisdom to appropriately discuss and resolve problems, promote the return of relations to a track of healthy development, and bring benefits to both countries' people. Speaking at an army base south of Manila on Wednesday, however, Duterte said he expected all ASEAN members to support the arbitration court's ruling on the maritime dispute, regardless of whether the Philippines raised the matter at the summit. China claims almost the entire South China Sea through which about $5 trillion worth of sea-borne trade passes every year. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims to parts of the sea believed to be rich in oil and gas. China has made seven artificial islands in the disputed waters, three of them had airfields that can accommodate fighters, bombers and tankers to refuel aircraft. At the senate hearing, Yasay said the United States will not allow China to reclaim Scarborough Shoal, a rocky outcrop near its former US Navy base in the Philippines, because it will impede in the freedom of navigation. In 2012, China seized Scarborough Shoal after a three-month standoff with the Philippines' coast guard. By Manolo Serapio Jr South Koreas Hanjin Shipping is planning on submitting a self-rescue plan to creditors this week to stave off bankruptcy by Aug. 25, reports Korea Herald quoting local media. According to the shipper, the plan includes details on securing funds from its parent Hanjin Group and cutting charter fees from foreign vessel owners. According to Pulse, Hanjin Group is expected have stronger units like Korean Air help out their troubled affiliate Hanjin Shipping through new share purchase and negotiate for cut in charter fees to up to 28 percent to normalize the countrys largest cargo carrier. The group is fine-tuning a new rescue package for Hanjin Shipping to submit the plan to state-run Korea Development Bank and other creditors within this week. Once the self-rescue plan is submitted, the creditors -- led by the state-run Korea Development Bank -- will decide whether it will give some breathing room to the shipper to stay afloat, such as by extending the maturity period of its debt or offering an equity swap for loans. Creditors warned that they could send the shipping company to court receivership once the temporary relief from creditors workout program ends on Sept. 4, demanding more group support for the company in order to prevent insolvency. Ship financing remains a challenging issue. Domestic creditors agreed to extend the maturity period, but no progress was made in talks with foreign creditors. The nations largest container carrier has been under creditor-led rehabilitation -- with conditions attached -- since May due to the escalating debt level, hit by falling ship prices amid a global economic slump. Post the taking over of Vishakhapatnam Port Trusts (VPT's) Iron Ore Handling Complex (OHC) on a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis for a period of 30 years in May 15, Essar Vizag Terminals Limited (EVTL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Essar Ports Limited (EPL) has boosted the EPLs strategy of diversifying its customer profile. Through addition of this facility EPL has seen its third party cargo share jump to more than 8% in FY 16 alone with the likes of JSW, NMDC/ MMTC etc. Once upgraded the mechanized system will be able to reach a capacity of 8000TPH, which will be one of the highest cargo-handling rate in Indian Major Ports. During QI FY 17, EVTL handled 2.19 MT (29 Vessels) of Cargo as against 0.31 MT (06 Vessels) in Q1 of FY16 on the backdrop of improving Indian Steel Sector performance and Project upgradation works. EVTL is now operating with a net average loading rate of 3000 TPH as against <1000 TPH during Q1 of FY16 and is targeting to achieve 4000 TPH by Q2 of FY 17 along with simultaneous project upgradation. Essars Iron-Ore Handling Terminal at Vizag Port is an all-weather deep draft facility that has the wherewithal to serve the rapidly growing markets of South-East Asia, including China, Japan, and Korea. It can accommodate super capesize vessels and has dedicated rail-connectivity with Bacheli & Kirandal Mining sources by which the facility has an advantage to serve western-sector of India. It is also integrated with its Essar Steel (pellet plant) in Vizag through a fully mechanized conveying facility with 6.7 km shipping conveyor system. As the bi-lateral agreement between MMTC and Japanese and South Korean steel mills for supply of high grade Indian iron ore during the three year period from April 2015 to March 2018 is finalized and mandates for shipment of 3.8 MMTPA to 5.5 MMTPA. EVTL, is upbeat for catering to these requirements. The agreement stipulates for supplying up to 16.5 MMT of high grade iron ore to steel plants in Japan and South Korea over three years till March 2018. With the production of Essar steel also expected to increase significantly during FY 17, the total cargo handling at Vizag is expected to double as compared to FY 16. The integrated customer i.e. EStIL has improved their performance by 121% growth in Q1 FY 17 as against Q1 FY 16 which is also facilitating the surge in traffic at the Ore Handling Complex Commenting on this Mr. Rajiv Agarwal Managing Director, Essar Ports said: This year Iron-Ore Terminal in Vizag Port had successfully started its operations from May15 and has been undertaking simultaneous operations and Project works with excellent outcomes. The Terminal has boosted the third-party business and enhanced Essar Ports presence on the East-Coast of India. Decades of experience of Essar in Port Sector has been the foundation which has helped deliver significant improvements in the Vizag facility in such a short time Essar Ports expects enhanced Capacity Utilization during FY 17 and cargo handling to increase from 59 MMT in FY 2016 to 85 MMT in FY 2017, thereby registering a growth of more than 40% on year on year basis with third party cargo business to increase to more than 14% in FY 2017. Engineer wisdom: Nothing is worse as the right idea at the wrong time. But with the new ECOCHARGE Two-Stage Turbocharging System MAN D&T has reached both goals. Aside from the ever-popular Fuel Consumption Reduction, a leading player in the development of large combustion engines since the second halve of the 1980s has been reducing harmful exhaust emissions. In view of increased environmental awareness and the future price movements for fossil fuels, these two factors will remain a dominant force in future engine developments for the immediate future. Even more, since the beginning of air pollution control, the green-house gas emissions has been the main point of dispute because the CO2 emissions are directly proportional to fuel consumption. Therefore, the development activities intensively concentrates on favorable fuel consumption values with, at the same time, reduced harmful emissions without additional fuel consumption. Consequently, legislation for further limitation of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions on large diesel engines lies at the heart of the current engine developments at MAN Diesel & Turbo in Augsburg, Germany. Technical Turbocharger Update During a press seminar in the Spring of 2016, MAN D&T Business Unit Turbocharger published its current development activities in the field of combustion air supply. Being a traditional turbocharger pioneer, MAN D&T never gave up its technological leading position since the beginning of turbocharger development and production in the early 1920s. Just a few years later, in 1940, MAN developed the fundamental turbine group concept, which, at all sizes of turbocharger, became predominant. The well advanced turbo-charging technology introduced by MAN D&T, significatnly increases the efficiency of large two and four-stroke diesel and gas engines, while at the same time helping to reduce NOx emissions. MAN ECOCHARGE: High-Pressure Turbo-Charging The combination of a MAN TCR20 for the low-pressure stage and an MAN TCX17 for the high-pressure stage offers significant potential for todays demand for more economical and environmentally-friendly engine operation, said Daniel Albrecht, Project Manager TCX. This is because two-stage turbocharging supplies engines with improved scavenging air pressures ranging from 5 to >10 bar, as well as significantly improved turbocharging efficiencies. According to MAN D&T the benefits for the customers are tremendous. The new MAN ECOCHARGE Two-Stage Turbocharging System offers major benefits for engine builders. The increase in turbocharging efficiencies, in comparison to single-stage turbochargers, is mainly related to the intercooler positioned between the low-pressure-stage and high-pressure-stage turbochargers that significantly reduces the energy required to compress the intake air to high pressure. The resulting higher efficiencies have an instantaneous impact on the engine by advantageously increasing the air pressure over the cylinder during the scavenging process. Additionally, greater turbocharging efficiency fosters the reduction of NOx emissions through the Miller engine cycle while the improved scavenging efficiencies provided by the ECOCHARGE system make the engine more fuel efficient, as Albrecht underlines: Fuel saving of up to around 8% are possible. Additionally he reports that the ECOCHARGE system has been developed for both gas- as well as HFO-burning engines. MAN D&T recently introduced its engine portfolio with the ECOCHARGE Two-Staged Turbocharged System which includes, for the time being, the following engine series: The 18V48/60TS which is already in operation since 2012, followed by the newly 12/20V32/44CR TS with an power increase of approx. 11 percent, the 12/20V35/44G TS with an power increase of about 20 per-cent, as well as the 18V51/60G TS with cylinder outputs of 1050/1150 kW/cyl. Retrofit & Modernization for Turbocharger Retrofitting, particularly for the new ECOCHARGE Two-Staged Turbocharged System, is a key element of MAN D&T. Whether replacing an existing turbocharger or introducing the latest (ECOCHARGE) technology for four- and / or two-stroke engines, the company provides end-to-end-support, said Albrecht. The first retrofit of the new ECOCHARGE has been done on Holland America Lines MV Westerdam, and two more HAL cruise ships will follow shortly. A New Player: MAN 175D With the MAN 175D, we are supplementing and completing MAN Diesel & Turbos and MAN Truck & Buss product portfolio in the maritime sector, said Lex Nijsen, Vice President, Head of Four-Stroke Marine. The new engine range will be offered with an output spectrum from 1,200 to 3,700 kW. The 12-cylinder version of the MAN 175D is designed to fit in precisely with the needs of commercial shipping market, optimized for propelling ferries, offshore supply vessels, tug boats and working vessels. Other applications, such for super yachts, are served by additional specialist model versions. The MAN 175D is compact, reliable and efficient properties that are of essential importance for use on working vessels to allow safe maneuverability in the most challenging and roughest weather conditions, said Nijsen. The business case behind it also has to be right for the customer. And this is where the engine sets standards in more than just fuel consumption. Our aspiration is to make the MAN 175D the overall most efficient engine throughout its lifetime. The MAN 175D also scores highly in terms of its eco-friendliness. Its compact and modular exhaust gas after-treatment system uses the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) method and is based on the MAN Ad Blue technology that has undergone many thousands of hours of testing. The engine will therefore satisfy the strict environmental standards of the IMO Tier III from the moment it hits the market. The compact and robust engine is designed for user-friendliness and efficiency: Simple commissioning, simple operation, simple maintenance, said Nijsen. Its compact dimensions and low weight make the MAN 175D an efficient power house. In the first instance it has been announced by the company that they come with a 12-cylinder only. But meanwhile MAN D&T has extended the number of cylinders. The 175D, a conventional diesel engine, is available as 12, 16 and 20 cylinder in V-configuration with a V-angle of 60 degrees for all cylinder variants. The new engine series features, according to the company, a modular engine design for a high number of identical components even the crankcase will be the same for all numbers of cylinder. This is done by integral balancing gears on the 16- and 20 cylinder units. With a bore and stroke of 175 mm x 215 mm (displacement of 5.2 l per cylinder), the 175D will be set to deliver 135 - 185 kW/cylinder at 1,200 1,900 rpm (1,620 to 3,700 kW) with a bmep of 25.96 / 22.46 bar; the max piston speed is of 14.3 m/s, ensuring that the traditional reliability and robustness of MAN D&T Marine engines is maintained. The 175D is a turbocharged, charge air cooled, non-reversible four-stroke diesel engine. The engines feature MAN D&T SaCoS (Safety and Control System on engine), TCR12 Turbocharger, Common Rail injection system and SCR after-treatment. An International Maritime Organization (IMO) workshop is raising awareness of the Organizations regulatory regime dealing with improving energy efficiency and the control of GHG emissions from ships. Participants from South African governmental departments and other related bodies are in attendance at the three-day MARPOL Annex VI and Technology Transfer workshop, taking place in Durban, South Africa (23-25 August). The event is the latest in a series of workshops organized under IMOs GloMEEP project, which is supporting uptake and implementation of energy efficiency measures for shipping in developing countries. South Africa is one of the 10 GloMEEP lead pilot countries. A total of 25 participants from the Department of Transport, Department of Energy, Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), the Transnet National Port Authority and others are taking part in the event. IMO is represented by Astrid Dispert and a team of consultants. 3 reasons as to why oil stocks are smart investments Alexander Bowring writes: It is true that oil stocks have taken a massive nosedive. In fact, the crash that caused the downturn was so seismic that it obliterated more than $1 trillion from portfolios since late 2014. You wouldnt be wrong to be hesitant about placing your money, and your trust, in oil stocks because of this. You shouldnt let this keep you from oil stocks though; this article explains the three reasons why they make for smart investments. Hedging against rising energy prices Oil stocks prices are dynamic, as they go up and down. Nobody can predict with certainty what will happen to them, and this is a risk to you: energy prices could rise unexpectedly. By investing in companies that will profit from rising oil prices, youre setting yourself up to profit too, and are thereby protecting yourself from the dangers of oil volatility by hedging. Collecting a growing income stream A large part of the attraction of oil stocks is the generous income they seemingly allow for and often this is the reason why people are invested in the sector. While, since the oil crash, oil stocks have had to cut investor payouts, most know that oil stock payouts are lucrative. Before the crash, they were issuing billions of dollars to investors each year. Indeed, not all stocks have gotten rid of dividends. The dividends of both ExxonMobil and Valero Energy, in fact, have actually continually increased during the downturn. For example, Exxon increased by 2.7% earlier in 2015, in a continuation of its reputation of uninterrupted dividends income. Oil stocks, then, represent lucrative opportunities for dividends income. Benefiting from global energy-demand growth The pile up of oil in 2014 can be partly attributed to the fact that global growth in oil demand was weaker than expected. Typically, the cure for this is lower prices. Recently revisiting its forecast for the growth of oil demand, the IEA now sees that demand will grow by 1.3 million barrels a day. By 2017, demand is forecasted to average 97.4 million barrels daily. In spite of efforts to counter global warming, it is expected that the demand for oil will still continue to grow and global growth will continue long into the future, thanks to the fact that emerging-market economies are only now beginning to flourish. Demand for oil will be growing at 0.7% per year by 2040, according to ExxonMobil. Though renewables are forecasted a sizeable demand growth, ultimately demand growth for oil is expected to be much higher thanks to emerging market economies. Investor takeaway Of course, the rough patch of the oil industry will inspire you to stay away from it. The reasons this article has outlined as to why this shouldnt be the case should hopefully be enough to persuade you to stick with oil stocks. Hedge against your future losses with oil stocks, get good dividends from them, and know that the industry isnt in permanent decline, meaning lots of investment opportunities are at hand. Spreadbetting, CFD trading and Forex are leveraged. This means they can result in losses exceeding your original deposit. Ensure you understand the risks, seek independent financial advice if necessary. The value of shares and the income from them may go down as well as up. Nothing on this website constitutes a solicitation or recommendation to enter into any security or investment. Alexander Bowring is a London based writer and a Southampton Solent University Screenwriting graduate. He has worked alongside TV personality and Telegraph feature writer Alison Cork, whilst also having produced content for ITV, This Morning, Canvas8, Who's Jack, Alison at Home, and Bonallack & Bishop Solicitors. Alexander also has a keen interest in investments. Copyright 2016 Alexander Bowring- All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors. 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. Crude and the Commodity Cycle Over the years we have written many times about the 34-year commodity cycle. Generally commodities rise as a group in a 13-year bull market, which is followed by a 21-year bear market. Each specific commodity has its own particular cycle which generally fits within the broader 34-year commodity cycle. A bullish phase of this cycle started about two decades ago in 1998, and ended in 2011. A bear market, lasting about 21-years, has been underway since then. Sorry gold bugs! During the bull market phase some commodities rise in five waves. During the bear market phase all commodities decline in three larger waves. Naturally, just like there are corrections in bull markets, there are rallies in bear markets. Commodities, in general, are currently in one of those bear market rallies. When one looks at a Crude chart covering nearly 50-years, one can clearly see two periods of rising prices and two periods of declining to sideways prices. While these rising and declining periods may look sporadic, they are actually quite regular when one knows what to look for. As we will explain in the following chart. The two rising periods were actually five wave 10-year bull markets, i.e. 1970-1980 and 1998-2008. These two bull markets were separated by an 18-year bear market, i.e. 1980-1998. The rise during the bull markets were quite spectacular. Well over 1000% in such a short period of time. Price rises like these always lead to excess-capacity events. And these events are normally followed by nearly as spectacular declines. Which eventually cuts capacity until supply/demand reaches an equilibrium. We are in one of those equilibrium periods now. With Crude 8-years into its bear market, and at least a decade away from starting a new bull market, we can already see a pattern unfolding which is relative to its previous bear market. To see this pattern one needs to review the larger waves first. During the last bear market Crude declined from 1980-1986, rallied to 1990, then declined from 1990-1998. A 6-year decline, then a 4-year rally, followed by an 8-year decline. Since the current bear market just had an 8-year decline, 2008-2016, we should look into the last 8-year decline. Then the 8-year decline unfolded in three waves [1990]: 1994-1997-1998. Now the 8-year decline has also unfolded in three waves [2008]: 2009-2011-2016. Notice 1990: 4dn-3up-1dn, and 2008: 1dn-2up-5dn, nearly the exact reverse or mirror image. If we consider this a completed pattern, and we do, the next thing that should occur is a choppy 4-year bear market rally, i.e. 1986-1990 or 2016-2020. Therefore the $26 low should be the low for at least the next four years. How far could Crude advance? During the last bear market all rallies, excluding the aberration from the Kuwait invasion, retraced 38.2%, 50.0%, or more of the previous larger decline. This suggests an upside target between $70 and $85 by the year 2020. Then, after that, a six-year decline into the final bear market low, which should be around the $26 area. In summary one should expect a price range between $25 and $85 over the next decade. Unless there is a supply-event, which could push the upper range higher. CHARTS: http://stockcharts.com/public/1269446/tenpp https://caldaro.wordpress.com After about 40 years of investing in the markets one learns that the markets are constantly changing, not only in price, but in what drives the markets. In the 1960s, the Nifty Fifty were the leaders of the stock market. In the 1970s, stock selection using Technical Analysis was important, as the market stayed with a trading range for the entire decade. In the 1980s, the market finally broke out of it doldrums, as the DOW broke through 1100 in 1982, and launched the greatest bull market on record. Sharing is an important aspect of a life. Over 100 people have joined our group, from all walks of life, covering twenty three countries across the globe. It's been the most fun I have ever had in the market. Sharing uncommon knowledge, with investors. In hope of aiding them in finding their financial independence. Copyright 2016 Tony Caldaro - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors. Tony Caldaro Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. For decades the main party of the Greek working class was the PASOK, founded in 1974 immediately after the fall of the military junta. It won 13.5% in the first elections it stood in that year, seven years later going on to win a landslide victory with 48% of the vote and forming the first left government in Greeces history. The rise of PASOK between 1974 and 1981 was a clear expression of a radicalisation to the left of Greek society. This radicalisation to the left was based on the revolutionary ferment that began with the student movement and the events at the Polytechnic in Athens in November 1973, the collapse of the Junta in July 1974 after the big national crisis provoked by the failed adventurist coup detat that the Greek colonels organised in Cyprus, together with the sudden sharp slowdown in the economy and the very radical left rhetoric of Andreas Papandreou, the founder of the party, and the general outburst of class struggle. This opened up a prolong period of radicalisation until the election of the first PASOK government in 1981. It seemed to the masses that Andreas Papandreou was proposing a radical socialist transformation of Greece. He was, what in Marxist terms is defined as a centrist, i.e. he vacillated, in words at least, between Marxism and Reformism, reflecting the opposite pressures of two classes, the working class and the bourgeoisie. Once in government, however, the party entered a long process of social-democratisation, with an abandonment of its previous rhetoric. Kostas Simitis, leader of the party between 1996 and 2004, was seen as the Greek Tony Blair, and in effect expressed the same political current, a bourgeois tendency that was using the main party of the working class to push through the agenda of the bourgeoisie. The PASOK was able to stabilise itself as one of the main political forces in Greece thanks to its strong base within the working class which had sought in it a party to defend its aspirations to greater social justice and better living and working conditions. As it shifted to the right losing in the process much of its active base itwas able to hold on to its electoral base due to the relative stability in the economic situation, especially with the return to significant growth post-1994. In these conditions, the PASOK won three consecutive elections in 1993, 1996 and 2000 (with 47%, 41.5% and 44% respectively). However, its policies in government eventually prepared a shift to the right and the victory of New Democracy in 2004. The end of the boom period and the onset of crisis of 2007-08, however, catapulted the PASOK back into government in 2009 with 44% in the elections of that year. Collapse of the PASOK vote and the rise of SYRIZA Within two years of being in office and carrying out draconian austerity measures imposed on Greece by the Troika [European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund], opinion polls started showing a sharp decline in support for the PASOK, with large numbers of its voters feeling very disappointed. In the 2012 elections its vote massively collapsed, falling to just over 13%. In the four elections of May 2012, June 2012, January 2015 and September 2015, its vote went down to 13.8%, 12%, 4.7% and 6.2%. Meanwhile, to its left we saw the emergence of SYRIZA, which expressed the radicalisation of the Greek workers and youth. SYRIZA is now a party, but previously it had been a coalition of left forces, the main component of which was Synaspismos. Back in 1993, when the PASOK was still riding high, Synaspismos failed to even reach the 3% threshold to get into parliament. But the following year in the European elections the party won its highest score ever (before the recent surge), winning 6.26% and then in the 1996 parliamentary elections it went on to win 5.12% in national parliamentary elections. Its vote fluctuated between 4% and 6% throughout this period. In 2001 there was a first attempt to build a coalition of the left, but it was in 2004 that SYRIZA emerged as an alliance of left forces, with its main component being Synaspismos, which won 3.3% and six MPs, in 2007 doing a little better with 5%, and in 2009 with 4.6% it won 13 MPs, among them Tsipras, who became leader of the parliamentary group. No one then imagined that SYRIZA would go on to play the role that we subsequently saw. Things were so bad that in 2010 the right wing of Synaspismos broke away to form the Democratic Left (DIMAR). This group aspired to greater things, i.e. to government positions, and were looking to make a deal with the PASOK. Little did they know what was about to happen! In December 2008 the killing of a young school student, Alexandros Grigoropoulos at the hands of a police officer, unleashed a massive student protest. That movement as we explained in Revolutionary ferment in Greece a taste of what is to come for the whole of Europe marked a significant turning point in the situation. It highlighted the growing youth radicalisation that was taking place, a harbinger of greater things to come within the working class as a whole. At one point in 2008 SYRIZA was at 18% in the opinion polls. This was cut acrosswhen its leaders came out saying they would be prepared to form a coalition government with the PASOK, and it fell back to 12%. No such coalition ever materialised, as the PASOK vote eventually collapsed and a mass of PASOK voters began shifting to SYRIZA. Youth radicalisation This future shift of the electorate could already be detected prior to the big electoral surges of SYRIZA. When it was still at 4-5% in the wider electorate, opinion polls began indicating that among the youth support for SYRIZA was around 18-20%. As is often the case, the youth are like a barometer indicating future changes in the political climate. The youth movement of 2008, and the political radicalisation that went with it, was an anticipation of what was to come about, a political earthquake that would shake Greece to its foundations. The first shock came in the May 2012 parliamentary elections, where SYRIZA won 16% of the vote, quadrupling its number of MPs, and this was followed in June in the second election when the party shot up to just under 27%, only a couple of percentage points behind New Democracy. SYRIZA won even higher levels of support among workers of both the private and public sectors and the unemployed. Among the youth the shift was even bigger. This was the first time that a party which had roots in the Communist tradition had overtaken a social democratic party since the fall of the Berlin Wall. But whereas the rise of the PASOK came in a period which allowed it to stabilise and become a major force in Greek politics for decades, the rise of SYRIZA came at a very different historical period. SYRIZA came to power promising an end to austerity, but once in government it rapidly moved away from the radical language it had adopted prior to the January 2015 election and ended up surrendering to the Troika after the July 2015 referendum. This had an impact on SYRIZAs electoral support, although if one looks only at the percentage it won, this would not be so apparent. In September 2015 the party managed to win more or less the same percentage (35.46%) as in January (36.34%), but this hid a process that had already begun, continues today and which will eventually materialise as a massive swing away from SYRIZA. Between the January 2015 elections and September it lost less than one percentage point, but this doesnt give the full picture, as there was a significant increase in the numbers abstaining. In January 6,180,872 turned out to vote, against Septembers 5,431,850, a net abstention of around 750,000 voters, 12% of those who had voted only nine months earlier. This reflects the disillusionment that had begun to set in already in September. Most of the youth abstained in the September elections because of disillusionment and confusion within the working class which was mirrored among the students as well. The youth didnt know who to vote for because none of the parties convinced them. If one takes a closer look, the shift in votes away from SYRIZA was much bigger than seemed the case.The total number of votes the party won in January was close to 2,250,000, but by September this had fallen to around 1,925,000, a net loss of about 325,000 votes. Studies have shown that SYRIZA actually lost 600,000 of the votes they had won in January, i.e. more than one quarter of those who had voted for the party. Before the September elections, SYRIZA also split, (we have covered this in other articles), and the new party that emerged from its left wing, Popular Unity (LAE), won around 150,000 votes, which would mostly have come from SYRIZA. Although SYRIZA lost votes to the left and to abstentions, it also gained 300,000 from other layers who had not voted for them previously. In working class areas SYRIZA lost much more in percentage terms, where many abstained, but they gained some layers in the more middle class areas, as the party was now seen as a new but more responsible force, a kind of PASOK Mark 2. There were also some interesting studies of the vote broken down by social groups. For instance in January 2015, 45% of the unemployed had voted SYRIZA, but by September only 15% of this layer continued to vote for them, indicating that among the more downtrodden layers the party had nothing left to offer once it had tied itself to the austerity of the Memoranda. Dramatic fall in support for SYRIZA The process of disillusionment continued after the September elections and recent polls show a dramatic fall in support for SYRIZA. The big hopes of January 2015 have turned to despair. A poll conducted by the University of Macedonia, and published at the beginning of July, reveals that 28.5% would vote for New Democracy if new elections were called in the coming period, and only 17% would vote for SYRIZA. That means the party would lose more than half the votes it won in September. The same poll revealed that 69% of those who had voted for SYRIZA last time are now dissatisfied with the government. This fall in support for SYRIZA is even sharper among the youth. The voting patterns in the university student elections give us an idea of what is going on among the youth. In each Faculty a council is elected by the students every year. We have to note that there is a very high level of abstention in the se student council elections, with around half the students not voting. The following are the main forces that stood last year (2015) with their overall vote nationally across all universities. DAP, the New Democracy (ND) student front was the biggest in absoluter terms with 23,000 votes. The PKS, the KNEs student front (KNE are the Young Communists) won 12,000 votes and was the second largest force. EAAK, the Antarsya front (most of the far left groups organised in a united front), won 8,500 votes. Left Unity, the SYRIZA student front, won around 7,500 votes. The PASP, the PASOKs student front, won 7,000 votes, although in the past it used to be the second biggest student front. This year there was a very sharp fall in support for SYRIZAs student front. Last year Left Unity won 8%, but this year it was sharply down to only 0.8%! Disillusionment with the SYRIZA government started already last year among the younger layers, an anticipation of what was about to happen among the wider electorate. But this years complete collapse in support for SYRIZA among the students is indicative of what is about to hit the party. Sharp turn to the left among students The percentage breakdown of the student vote this year is revealing. EAAK won 16%, PKS 21% [up from 19% the previous year], Left Unity [SYRIZA] 0.8%, PASP around 7%, and DAP [New Democracy] 36%. What has happened is that within the left vote there has been a radicalisation further to the left. This is shown particularly in the 16% won by EAAK, the Antarsya student front and also in the small increase of the PKS. It is worth noting that the left split from SYRIZA, Popular Unity (LAE) did not stand independently, but participated within EAAK, as it has very small forces among the students. The above figures do not give a precise image of the shifts among the youth, as young workers are not taken into account, but they do give a rough idea of the process. It is clear that among the youth there is a polarisation, as in the rest of Greek society, between left and right, and within this process the combined forces of the left clearly outnumber the right. The problem is that among the mainstream parties there is no force capable of giving expression to this radicalisation. What is evident is that SYRIZA is in serious decline, but to its left no major force is emerging. The KKE, in spite of significant support among the students, remains stuck around the figure of 5%. In fact, in last years September elections, in a situation where it should have been growing, it managed to accomplish an actual fall in its electoral support, losing almost 40,000 votes! This is due to its extremely sectarian stance in relation to all other left forces (but that is another story). Popular Unity, LAE, thought that it could increase its fortunes by pushing the slogan of a return to the Drachma, but flopped in the September elections, failing to get into parliament, when it only managed to win 2.7% of the vote, short of the 3% threshold. Since then polls indicate that it has weakened and not strengthened. This reveals that it is not in touch with the real mood on the left. Antarsya has seen a certain growth from its previous more or less 1% to around 2%, but again, this is very little to be able to have a major impact, although there is an important layer that looks to them, given the vacuum on the left. What is certain is that as the material conditions worsen further in the coming period, the youth will be forced to react and we will see new waves of protests. It is among this layer that the ideas of Marxism will find the most favourable response, and at some point will also find a political expression. The deep crisis of Greek capitalism is not going to end soon, but will get worse as the European and world economy enter further into crisis. In these conditions the political volatility we have seen in recent years will continue. We will see sharp turns to the left and to the right. If we look back to the past outlined above we can see that without the shock of the 2007-08 economic crisis and the severe austerity this led to, there would not have been the collapse of the PASOK and the meteoric rise of SYRIZA, just as without the revolutionary ferment of the 1970s there would not have been the sudden appearance and meteoric rise of the PASOK. The difference today is that SYRIZA does not have decades of relative economic stability ahead of it. On the contrary, it has a severe crisis to deal with, something it is incapable of handling. That means it is doomed to lose much of the support it gained in recent years. Only when a party emerges that is capable of solving the crisis Greece is mired in, will the fragmentation of the electoral front and the volatility end. The point is that there is no solution on a capitalist basis other than the internal devaluation referred to in previous articles, which means vicious attacks on the working class. The real solution is to be found in the ideas of Marxism, that explain that the way out is the revolutionary overthrow of capitalism, the nationalisation of the commanding heights of the economy, and a workers government that puts an end to capitalism. That is what the Marxists must patiently explain as they build up their forces. SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Charlie Baker will join executives from rail car maker CRRC MA, Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and others Thursday to conduct a "topping off" ceremony for CRRC MA's new $95 million plant in East Springfield. The ceremony is stet to being at noon, according to the governor's office. Also scheduled to speak are: state Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Jay Ash, Department of Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack, MBTA acting General Manager Brian Shortsleeve; CRRC Vice President Yu Weiping and CRRC MA President and Chairman Chuanhe Zhou. CRRC received a $566 million contract in 2014 to manufacture 284 subway cars for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Greater Boston's mass transit system. Of those cars, 152 will be for the Orange Line and 132 will be for the for the Red Line. First delivery of the Orange cars is expected in March 2018 and production is expected to last five years. CRRC, a unit of the state-owned Chines railway system, is the largest manufacturer of railroad rolling stock on Earth. The company is also building a facility near Chicago to build transit cars for that city's transit system. Construction of the Springfield factory is running ahead of schedule, according to CRRC. The plant will include a 2,240-foot test track and staging and storage area. The project is projected to be completed in the fall of 2017. Once completed, the 204,000-square-foot factory will employ 150 workers. The first cars are scheduled to be delivered in 2018. CRRC has reached out to unions and trade schools including Roger L. Putnam Vocational Academy in Springfield and Western New England University, the Regional Employment Board, and sheet metal and electrical union locals. Construction of the plant is creating about 150 jobs, many of them with local subcontractors. The state of Massachusetts, under then-Gov. Deval Patrick, went without federal funding for the cars so that it was able to specify that they be assembled here in the state. The idea was to use the MBTA work to stimulate a rail car industry here. Springfield was once a center for rail car manufacturing because of the Wason Manufacturing Co., which was one of the largest makers of railroad cars and locomotives in the country and operated here from 1845 to the Great Depression. The Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum has an operating Wason trolley car built in Springfield in 1896. The CRRC plant will be on the site of the old Westinghouse plant. Westinghouse built there in 1915 and had 4,500 employees by 1930. Westinghouse used the site for research, too, establishing radio station WBZ there in 1921 as America's first licensed commercial radio station. howie carr via FB.jpg Boston columnist and radio personality Howie Carr is the guest speaker at the West of the River Chamber of Commerce's Sept. 22 breakfast event at Chez Josef, 176 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam. (The Howie Carr Show / Facebook) AGAWAM Radio talk-show host and columnist Howie Carr will be the keynote speaker at the West of the River Chamber of Commerce's September Business Breakfast, which runs from 7-9 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, at Chez Josef, 176 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam. Tickets are $35 for chamber members, $40 for non-members and must be purchased in advance online or by calling or emailing 413-426-3880 or info@westoftheriverchamber.com. Carr is known for skewering Massachusetts' politicians, both on his radio program, which airs on WRKO 680 in Boston, and in the pages of the Boston Herald and other newspapers that carry his column. "Known for his scathing exposes of local politicians, he has raised lots of eyebrows and voices over the years," West of the River Chamber officials said in a news release. "He's not afraid to ask those 'no comment' questions. Join us for an unforgettable morning!" SPRINGFIELD -- The number of reported medical errors in Massachusetts hospitals increased by 60 percent last year, in part due to unsanitary conditions in a Western Massachusetts dialysis unit. In 2015, the number of serious preventable medical errors reported to state medical officials was 1,313, a jump from 821 in 2014. Of the 1,313 reported errors, the Boston Globe reports several hundred cases contaminated equipment or drugs, 51 resulted in patients killed or seriously injured and in 26 instances, a procedure or surgery was done on the wrong patient. The increase in the number of cases involving contaminated equipment rose in large part due to a potential exposure at Baystate Medical Center. Baystate announced in April that 575 kidney dialysis patients may have been exposed to unsanitary conditions in their dialysis unit. State health inspectors said this year that the hospital did not throughly clean machines after they were used for hepatitis B patients. Baystate informed patients of the inspection in April and said doctors believe there was little to no risk of infection. This announcement followed Baystate Noble Hospital notifying colonoscopy patients last year that scopes used during procedures conducted in 2012 and 2013 may not have been properly sterilized. Just under 300 patients who had the procedure done in the Westfield hospital were at risk of exposure to blood-borne pathogens. Baystate Health acquired Noble Hospital in July 2015. Free screenings for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV were offered to the 293 patients. At least one patient has tested positive for an infectious disease and a lawyer for a group of more than two dozen patients announced plans in April to file suit against Baystate Health. Leslie Jones Leslie Jones arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of "Ghostbusters" on July 9. (AP file photo) "Ghostbusters" actress Leslie Jones waged war against Twitter trolls last month, but her online problems did not end. Her website, justleslie.com, was taken offline Wedensday after hackers posted purportedly nude photos of the "Saturday Night Live" cast member, her driver's license and passport, Variety reported. A video of Harambe, the gorilla who was shot and killed at a Cincinnati zoo earlier this summer, was posted on her webpage, according to the New York Daily News. Last month, sexually explicit photos were sent to Jones on Twitter, along with racist comments and messages likening her to an ape, prompting her to publicly call out the social media giant. In the wake of the Jones episode, Twitter banned conservative writer Milo Yiannopoulos, an editor at Breitbart, from the social media service in what was termed a broader crackdown on offensive content. Last week, Twitter unveiled new settings that will allow users to control what they see in their feeds and what notifications they receive. Rockwell paintings.jpg "Golden Rule" (1961) and the "Four Freedom" (1943) will be displayed at three Massachusetts courthouses this fall. (Norman Rockwell Museum) STOCKBRIDGE The Norman Rockwell Museum announced Wednesday that reproductions of some the artist's most iconic works will soon be displayed at three U.S. District courthouses in Massachusetts. With the assistance of Clerk of Courts Robert Farrell, high-quality canvas reproductions of Rockwell's "The Four Freedoms" (1943) and "Golden Rule" (1961) paintings will be on view in the courthouses of Boston, Worcester, and Springfield. Prints of "The Four Freedoms" have also been on display at the courthouse in Pittsfield for many years. "A longtime Massachusetts resident, Norman Rockwell reminded us all about the importance of participating in government and our responsibility as citizens," Farrell said. "Our federal courthouses, as focal points of civic engagement in our community, are perfect venues to display these iconic images." Norman Rockwell Museum Director and CEO Laurie Norton Moffatt said the museum was "honored to share these inspiring images offering hope, respect, civility and community at its finest, in the important settings of American democracy in our commonwealth courtrooms." "The promise of freedom and of equal justice for all, are imbued in Norman Rockwell's 'Four Freedoms' paintings," she said. Moffatt will take part in an official reception to celebrate the unveiling at the Boston courthouse on Sept. 23 at 3:30 p.m. She will be joined by District Judge Patti Saris and Senior District Judge Douglas P. Woodlock in offering opening remarks at the unveiling of the permanent installation. Additional ceremonies will be held in Springfield on Oct. 6 at 2 p.m, and at Worcester on Oct. 11 at 2 p.m. This year marks the 75th anniversary of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1941 "Four Freedoms" address to Congress, which inspired Rockwell's paintings. After their publication in The Saturday Evening Post, the original paintings were reproduced and distributed widely by the U.S. Treasury Department, and went on to tour the nation, helping sell $133 million in war bonds. Rockwell's "Golden Rule" painting later inspired a mosaic on view at the United Nations. The original "Four Freedoms" and "Golden Rule" paintings are part of the permanent collection of Norman Rockwell Museum. mohegan sun via masslive.jpg The Agawam Lioness Club is sponsoring a Sept. 11 bus trip to Mohegan Sun to raise money for local charities and scholarships, according to club members. (Associated Press / File Photo) AGAWAM The Agawam Lioness Club still has openings for a Sunday, Sept. 11, bus trip to Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. "We still have a few seats available," Rose Kieffer, a member of the nonprofit club, said in an email to The Republican. The casino trip will raise money for "scholarships and various charities," said Kieffer, who can be reached at 413-786-5134. Tickets are $33, which includes a tip for the driver, and the bus will leave Agawam High School at noon. Participants will receive a $30 package from Mohegan Sun that includes $15 for food and $15 for a bet at the casino. "We hope you will be able to join us and support our worthy fundraiser," Kieffer said. Another number for reservations is 413-786-1782. BOSTON - Boston police and the FBI were justified in fatally shooting Usaamah Rahim, a man that law enforcement officials allege had links to the terrorist group ISIS, in June 2015, Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley said Wednesday. They had probable cause to arrest him, did not require a warrant, and acted in self-defense, Conley said at a press conference, where he went over recorded video and eyewitness accounts that he stated supported the police account. He would not seek criminal charges against the law enforcement officials, he added. "In fact, knowing what they now did about his plans for that day, they had the duty to stop him before he could act," Conley said. A joint terrorism task force had Rahim under surveillance, and on the morning of June 2, 2015, they listened to a recorded phone call between Rahim and an alleged co-conspirator. During the call, Rahim allegedly abandoned a plan to travel to New York and behead an unidentified individual, and shifted to targeting local police officers. "It was clear from this recorded conversation that Mr. Rahim did not expect to survive this attack," Conley said. Later that morning, as Rahim prepared to board a MBTA bus, members of the surveillance team approached him with weapons holstered and asked Rahim to put his hands in the area. He drew a 13-inch knife with an 8-inch double-edged blade, and he advanced as they backed away with their weapons drawn, Conley said. According to Conley, surveillance team members asked him to drop the weapon, but Rahim refused, saying, "You drop yours" and "Why don't you shoot me?" A Boston Police detective fired one round at Rahim, and an FBI agent fired two rounds. Rahim was later rushed to a hospital where he died. Because of the ongoing prosecution of two men linked to Rahim, certain documents related to the shooting were not released to the media on Wednesday, Conley said. Two men, charged as co-conspirators, are facing federal charges as part of an ongoing case. They are David Wright of Everett, also known as Dawud Sharif Abdul Khaliq, and Nicholas Alexander Rovinski of Rhode Island, also known as Nuh Amriki or Nuh al Andalusi, according to prosecutors. As a leader, you know that engaging employees and helping connect them to your business goals can directly impact the bottom line. Your internal communication plan can include two-way communication vehicles like feedback channels and listening sessions to help accomplish this. by David Grossman Full Story: http://www.yourthoughtpartner.com/blog/bid/37145/open-ended-questions-enhance-employee-communication According to a new study conducted by WalletHub analysts, Montana ranks fifth in the country for best community college system. Of the 821 schools scrutinized by 12 key metrics, Montana had four community colleges ranking in the top 100 of best community colleges in the country. Analysts looked at cost and financing, educational outcomes and career outcomes when determining their rankings. Sarah Dettmer Full Story: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/local/2016/08/22/montana-ranked-fifth-quality-community-colleges/89131298/ With organizations such as the Idaho National Laboratory, Boise State University, the University of Idaho, Idaho State University, BYU Idaho, HP, Micron and Simplot, innovation has not been an issue. We have seen tremendous growth in the tech sector across the state over the past 10 years. But all too often, our tech entrepreneurs have had to search outside the region for capital. Thats changing. By Jerry Henley Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/news/business/business-insider/article97408232.html#storylink=cpy 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. Liposomes, the microsocopic lipid vesicles that scientists have been making in great variety, are rapidly entering clinical medicine and are expected to improve how many diseases are treated. The Taiwan Liposome Company specializes in developing liposomes to improve how drugs are delivered. While we here at Medgadget normally dont cover pharmaceuticals, anything thats engineered at the nanoscale should interest our audience and we wanted to ask one of the commercial leaders in this field a bit about the industry. George Yeh is the President of Taiwan Liposome Company (TLC) and we thank him for fielding our questions. Medgadget: Your firm specializes in a very narrow and interesting field. Can you please give us an overview of the applications of liposomes in medicine and where you see this field heading. George Yeh, Taiwan Liposome Company: Liposomes and related lipid-based technologies are particularly useful in two areas of drug delivery: making more targeted therapies or providing more sustained release of a drug over time. Improving on the properties of current medicines is a straightforward concept, but tapping into key markets where lipid-based nanomedicines will make the greatest impact requires specialized expertise. In areas like ophthalmology or osteoarthritis, avoiding frequent injections by making medicines last longer is a major advantage of our technology. In oncology, lipid-based nanotechnologies have helped address the two most common problems in the development of new chemotherapies: high toxicity and low solubility. We are also beginning to design drugs that use lipid-based nanotechnology not only to target delivery to specific tissues, but also to target particular areas within a given cell in that specific tissue. For certain indications, better targeting of delivery has the potential to reduce side effects and may improve efficacy as well. Medgadget: What are some of the more exciting advancements TLC has developed? George Yeh: Currently available drugs for osteoarthritis have a short duration of action, leaving many patients in pain for long periods of time in between treatments. Our product TLC599 uses proprietary BioSeizer nanotechnology to encapsulate a steroid, allowing for the steroid to be released at a constant dose over time and provide pain relief for up to three months. This effect bridges the gap between treatments and should provide safe pain relief year-round. A Phase 1/2 clinical trial of TLC599 has recently completed enrollment and results are expected in the second half of 2016. In the treatment of macular edema, a common disease that can lead to blindness, patients are typically treated with inconvenient and unpleasant injections into the eye every one or two months. Our sustained release treatment TLC399 is designed to be effective for over six months, dramatically decreasing the frequency of injections. A Phase 1/2 clinical trial of TLC399 will start recruiting in the US before the end of 2016. Sustained release therapies not only help patients but can also decrease the number of visits to a clinic for treatment. Because these visits are often a very expensive part of overall care, sustained release therapies have the potential to significantly reduce costs to the healthcare system. Medgadget: Who are your customers and how do you work with them on creating new products? George Yeh: TLC has a unique market niche, working closely with global biopharmaceutical companies at multiple stages of product development. As downstream distributors of our products, they are our primary customers. We work together to share knowledge and identify market opportunities that are a fit for our unique technology and scale-up expertise. In turn, these biopharmaceutical companies, such as Teva and Sandoz (a subsidiary of Novartis), bring the products we develop to global networks of physicians and health care providers. Medgadget: Does operating from Taiwan help your business and what are some of the challenges of introducing your products in different world markets? George Yeh: Taiwan is a great place for biopharma companies in early stages of development and the Taiwanese biotechnology sector is poised for growth. There have been quite a number of biotech IPOs in Taiwan, partly because the financial regulators in Taiwan provide a unique review and approval mechanism for companies not yet profitable to be publicly listed. This is true in the US as well, but is not the case for Hong Kong and Singapore. This special route is particularly helpful for biotech companies because it allows them to raise funds for R&D and clinical trials before products enter the market. Another benefit in operating from Taiwan is that the political leadership has had experience in actually working in the healthcare industry before coming to power, so they are able to develop policies that support this sector of the economy. In addition, the unique relationship between Taiwan and mainland China contributes to its growing biotechnology sector. Agreements with Chinese regulators allow for clinical data collected at specific sites in Taiwan to be used for submission for regulatory approval. This is not the case for data from studies conducted in the US or Europe and makes Taiwan a distinctive gateway to an extremely large market. However, because regulations for biopharmaceutical products vary quite a bit across different regions, operating from Taiwan means we need help from individuals experienced in drug development in specific markets worldwide. While we currently depend on local help, we are hoping to attract talent from across the globe to come work in Taiwan and help address this challenge. Medgadget: What competitive advantage does your company have over your competitors? George Yeh: In addition to our patented and adaptable nanoparticle technology platforms and our advantages in gaining access to the mainland China market we owe a lot of our success to strategic planning. We plan ahead carefully in evaluating a path to regulatory approval. For example, our general approach is usually to initiate clinical trials in Taiwan first to obtain pilot results at a lower cost and then we take trials to a larger scale in both Taiwan and one or more additional major markets such as the US or Europe. Also, we plan for commercial scale production from early stages of product development to allow a low total cost of goods. Competitors that failed to consider production earlier on tend to have more complicated manufacturing practices, leading to higher costs and potentially lower profit margins. Link: Taiwan Liposome Company The degeneration of alveolar bone is a precursor to tooth loss and an ongoing issue for those who already wear dentures. Efforts to regenerate bone using agents such as recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) have been challenging, since high levels of such growth factors can trigger inflammation and tumorigenesis. Alternatively, a peptide named OP3-4 may inhibit bone degeneration and stimulate bone forming cell differentiation. A recent study published in the Journal of Dental Research by scientists at the Tokyo Medical and Dental University demonstrates the ability of an injectable gelatin-based gel carrying bone augmenting agents to stimulate osteogenesis in alveolar bone. Specifically, a gel carrying OP3-4 and a low concentration of BMP-2 was injected into the jaw bones of preclinical murine models to stimulate localized osteogenesis. The researchers found evidence of regeneration of mineralized bone and an increase in bone mass around the injection site, with a higher bone mineral content and density compared to controls. Overall, the injectable gel carrying these bone-augmenting agents shows promise as a non-surgical option for replacing degenerated alveolar bone and preventing subsequent tooth loss. Study in Journal of Dental Research: Delivery of RANKL-Binding Peptide OP3-4 Promotes BMP-2Induced Maxillary Bone Regeneration Via: Tokyo Medical and Dental University by Richard Whitman , Columnist, August 23, 2016 Here's something you may not have known. Very popular El Segundo-based ad agency David & Goliath does not own davidandgoliath.com. Nope. It's owned by a Dallas-based agency (I know which one but they really, really don't want me to say who it is) who's been using it for years and only recently switched over to a domain more suitable to their actual name. Of course David & Goliath, the ad agency, wants davidandgoliath.com and has for some time. Right now they're stuck with dng.com, shorter but doesn't really say much. So, because this Dallas-based agency is an ad agency and ad agencies never do business the boring normal way, they decided to have a little bit of fun in the form of a video ransom stunt. A series of videos featuring two masked men are being released daily this week. In the videos, hosted on urlransom.com, we see that a poor little laptop that's standing in for the davidandgoliath.com domain name is being held captive until David & Goliath pays up. In the second video, the two masked men...OMG...pry off the laptops keys! There will be three more videos until all is revealed or, I assume, David & Goliath pays up. advertisement advertisement The Dallas Agency, while holding davidandgoliath.com captive and demanding David & Goliath pay up, isn't all bad. All they want is for David & Goliath to donate to their charitable foundation. That said, I'm guessing even if David & Goliath doesn't pay up, the Dallas agency is going to hand the domain over any way since they're now quite happy with their new, more apropos URL. Hey, this is way more fun than a long, drawn-out legal battle complete with cease and desists and all manner of silly posturing, right? by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, August 23, 2016 Veritone, a cloud-based artificial intelligence (AI) media technology company, said it has signed an agreement with Acacia Research, a patent investment group, for up to $50 million in funding. The funding is structured as an initial $20 million convertible investment, with a contingent additional investment of $30 million based on set milestones. The company plans to use the capital to expand globally -- supporting AI analytics, search and predictive solution for media firms, corporate enterprise, political campaigns and government. Louis Graziadio, executive chairman of Acacia, joined the board of directors as part of the partnership. Veritones AI platform renders every second and frame of audio and video content searchable for objects, faces, license plates, logos, phrases, sentiment, voice identification, translation plus additional capabilities that are constantly evolving. It also located and identifies organic media and segments the data in a specific period of time. advertisement advertisement Veritone President Ryan Steelberg and his brother Chad -- who is Veritone's CEO and a former Google executive -- run the company and oversee the production of the platform, which produces an index from ingested data within five minutes of receiving the content. Back in September 2015 it took in about several thousand hours daily, Ryan Steelberg said. It enables the brand to identify when a specific word or image is used during a broadcast and at what time. The user can analyze the sentiment and tone of the audio, along with specific markets. Veritone had its breakthrough year in 2015, when it closed deals with Maker studios to accelerate native advertising campaigns. The partnership provides Veritone Media advertisers with access to Makers creator base, providing them with a way to easily activate channels that are available for in-content product mentions and integrations at scale. The company also announced that Microsoft began implementing Azure Media Services Indexer into Veritones Cognitive Media Platform, a collaboration aimed at delivering state-of-the-art speech recognition to its customers. The partnership with Microsoft was about having the ability to search audio and video streams for content as easily as searching for a recipe. Veritone calls it the future of the "cognitive cloud." Aside from Microsoft, Veritone clients include ESPN Radio, Nuance, Westwood One, LegalZoom, Spark Agency, Taco Bell, Republican National Committee, and Dollar Shave Club. by Tobi Elkin @tobielkin, August 24, 2016 Marketing technology firm Magnetic on Wednesday named Paul Phillips its chief data officer. The data strategy, analytics, and machine-learning veteran will be responsible for aligning Magnetic's data, analytics, and data science capabilities to deliver better performance and insights for marketers. Phillips will join the companys team in San Mateo, California. Phillips joins Magnetic from data analytics provider Causata, which he founded and led. The company was acquired by NICE Systems Ltd. Phillips also founded Touch Clarity, which specialized in personalization and machine learning. The company was acquired by Omniture, eventually becoming a part of Adobe. The future of marketing will not only demand that we understand what people are in-market for right now, but what every touch may mean to the expected lifetime value of a customer. Magnetic's data assets and technology platform position us well to deliver on that promise," Phillips stated. Magnetic's platform offers ad, email, and site solutions powered by a unique combination of data. As the worlds of programmatic advertising and CRM marketing converge, marketers demand high performance, transparency, and robust customer insights. They want to coordinate across devices and channels, both online and offline. Paul will unleash the enormous value from our data assets for our clients," stated Magnetic COO Sandeep Swadia. by Erik Sass , Staff Writer @eriksass1, August 24, 2016 GOP presidential candidate Donald Trumps wife Melania is threatening to sue the British newspaper the Daily Mail, as well as a number of other publications, for defamation. They published stories suggesting that the modeling agency she worked for in the 1990s was also an escort service, according to Politico. The stories were based on an article originally published in a Slovenian gossip magazine, Suzy. According to CNN, in addition to the Daily Mail, Trumps lawyer Charles Harder has sent emails demanding retractions from Politico, The Week, Inquisitr, Tarpley, Before Its News, Liberal America, LawNewz, Winning Democrats and Bipartisan Report. Subsequently, Inquisitr and Bipartisan Report retracted their stories and apologized for repeating the rumors about her. Harder is the same attorney who recently represented Terry Gene Bollea, aka the professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, in his lawsuit against Gawker Media. He claimed his privacy was violated when Gawker published part of a sex tape he claims was made without his knowledge. Bolleas successful civil suit ended with a jury awarding him $140 million in damages, forcing the company to declare bankruptcy. It was subsequently acquired by Univision. Bolleas lawsuit was funded by Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel, who was also a headline speaker at the Republican National Convention, where Trump accepted the GOP nomination. In an email to Politico, Harder asserted that the reports about Melania Trump supposedly working as an escort are false and defamatory. He stated: All such statements are 100% false, highly damaging to her reputation, and personally hurtful. She understands that news media have certain leeway in a presidential campaign, but outright lying about her in this way exceeds all bounds of appropriate news reporting and human decency. British laws governing libel and defamation tend to be much stricter than their American counterparts. In many cases, they public figures more leeway to push back against allegedly false claims published in the press and online media. by Larissa Faw , August 24, 2016 Adults are the target for a new ad initiative aimed at encouraging the 29 million Americans who didn't graduate with a high school diploma to return to school. Developed by the non-profit Dollar General Literacy Foundation, the Ad Council, and ad agency McKinney, the "Finish Your Diploma" campaign celebrates adult learners by showcasing four people who recently finished high school at ages ranging from 24 to 38. The creative states that No one gets their diploma alone" and emphasizes the role families, friends and supporters make in the journey to get a high school equivalency degree. The Story of Karim introduces a 26-year-old who spent most of his life in foster care and dropped out of school with only a few classes left. With the encouragement of his wife and 2-year-old daughter, he finally completes his degree. advertisement advertisement Authenticity was key to this project. The production company reached out to adult education centers and asked them to help connect with students who had completed their tests and were about to graduate. "Then once we had a working list of potential candidates we held a series of Skype and in person interviews to hear their stories, to determine how comfortable they were with being on camera, and to get to know their family members, friends, and teachers," says Stevie Archer, group creative director, McKinney. "And we had to do all of that without tipping them off about the surprises themselves." These PSAs are supported with a new Instagram channel and Facebook. Additionally, people are encouraged to share a video or photo of themselves tossing a hat into the air on social media with the #HatsOffToYou hashtag to celebrate the "tremendous achievements of adult graduates," they say. The donated buy includes English- and Spanish-language TV and radio, OOH, and other media. Per the Ad Council model, the PSAs are distributed to more than 33,000 media outlets nationwide and run on air time and space entirely donated by the media. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, August 24, 2016 A federal appellate panel has directed ad company Turn to respond to arguments by two New York residents who want to proceed in court with a privacy lawsuit against the company. The consumers, Anthony Henson and William Cintron, are seeking to vacate a trial judge's order sending the case to arbitration. They raised issues that "warrant an answer," a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said Tuesday. The appellate panel gave Turn until Sept. 6 to respond. The battle between the consumers and Turn dates to last year, when Henson and Cintron alleged in a potential class-action that Turn used a controversial tracking method. The technology, which relied on "supercookies," enabled Turn to track consumers for ad purposes even when people deleted their cookies. advertisement advertisement The allegations centered on Verizon's decision to insert headers into all unencrypted mobile traffic. Those headers -- 50-character alphanumeric strings -- enabled ad companies to compile profiles of users and serve them targeted ads. The headers are known as zombie cookies, or "supercookies," because they allow ad companies to recreate cookies that users delete. Turn asked for the case to be sent to arbitration on the grounds that the consumers' allegations were closely connected to their agreements with Verizon, and those subscriber agreements call for arbitration of all disputes. U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey White in the Northern District of California agreed with Turn. He sent the case to arbitration, ruling that questions raised by the matter "concern substantially interdependent and concerted conduct" between Turn and Verizon. In June, lawyers for Henson and Cintron asked the 9th Circuit to order White to vacate that order. Among other arguments, the consumers say their arbitration agreements were with Verizon, not Turn. They also argued that any agreements between Turn and Verizon "did not contemplate Turn secretly subverting users efforts to protect their privacy and security." Verizon has used the headers since 2012 to track people's activity online and send them targeted ads, but didn't disclose their existence in its privacy policy until last year. The company always allowed people to opt out of receiving targeted ads powered by its own ad programs, but didn't initially allow them to avoid header insertions. Last year, Verizon changed its policies to allow people to opt out of the header injections. In October, Verizon again narrowed the program by deciding to only send the header to Verizon companies, including AOL. In January of 2015, researcher Jonathan Mayer -- now with the FCC -- reported that the Turn was using Verizon's headers to collect data and send targeted ads to mobile users who delete their cookies. Turn initially acknowledged that it used the headers for ad targeting and defended the practice, arguing that the company uses the most stable identifier possible. Several days later, Turn said it had re-evaluated and would stop using Verizon's headers to target ads. Turn consistently said it honors the industry's self-regulatory code and doesn't serve targeted ads to users if their cookies reveal that they opted out via links at sites operated by the self-regulatory groups Network Advertising Initiative or Digital Advertising Alliance. But when people clear cookies -- often in order to protect their privacy -- they also delete the opt-out cookies installed by the DAA and NAI. Turn also says it won't serve targeted ads to people who opt out via its own link, or Verizon's opt-out mechanism. (Verizon's mechanism can persist even when users delete their cookies, according to Turn.) Earlier this year, the Federal Communications Commission fined Verizon $1.35 million to settle an investigation surrounding the header injections. The FCC's investigation focused on whether Verizon violated customers' privacy, and whether it violated a 2010 net neutrality rule requiring disclosure of broadband management practices. The FCC is now considering whether to ban broadband providers from using persistent tracking mechanisms similar to Verizon's headers. by Tobi Elkin @tobielkin, August 24, 2016 Brands need to leverage deterministic and probabilistic models to do cross-device targeting. Cross-device targeting solutions yield data and insights that can enable brands to understand which channels to place their media dollars in, according to Ian Johnson, EVP, managing director for global products at Cadreon, the data solutions unit of IPG MediaBrands. Johnson addressed programmatic experts at MediaPosts Programmatic Insider Summit in Lake Tahoe during the keynote: Improving The Customer Experience: Leveraging Data for Cross-Device Strategies. A self-described engineer by nature and a geek by training, Johnson said that by deploying cross-device strategies, data sets become richer and programmatic solutions can further improve the consumer experience by consistently reaching the right audience with the right message, regardless of the device that audience is using. Johnson said that if media planners and campaign managers can stop thinking in media and device silos, we can start to truly leverage the power of data to identify who, when, and where to deliver a brands messaging across all screens as part of a holistic strategy for audience engagement. advertisement advertisement Cadreons Unity is a tech platform that consolidates audience insights, targeting, and campaign management. From this information, the agency can build cross-platform intelligence and then apply insights from that intelligence to each device and media channel. The goal, Johnson said, is to shorten the amount of time from insights to action for brands. Johnson made the observation that if you go inside any agency, you find a lot of people with the word mobile on their business cards. But the key insight for us is that mobile is part of a journey. He pointed to a campaign for an automotive client where conversions took place on desktops, but much of the discovery was on mobile devices during working hours. But for a consumer packaged goods client, the scenario was in reverse: Consumers learned about a new program on mobile while in-store via a micro-site. Johnson called out agencies for continuing to use analytics tools that rely on last-click attribution. Its wrong and there are plenty of good deterministic attribution solutions, he said. There are deterministic solutions and probabilistic solutions for cross-device analytics. He said that Facebook, Google, and now Verizon/AOL/Yahoo offer deterministic solutions whereby if you log in to multiple devices, they can tie the device and cookie ID back to the consumers account. You only have to be logged in once for them to get information. However, Johnson said the deterministic providers dont talk about the fact that they dont have 100% reach. But their deterministic data can inform probabilistic models. Another challenge: Facebook, Google, and Verizon are limited with respect to the personally identifiable information they can expose. Cadreon works with Tapad and Drawbridge as well. Johnson cited data that shows that 67% of people access content through multiple devices. And surprisingly, only 13% of Millennials only use mobile devices -- i.e., they use many more. One of out of five waking minutes, a Millennial is on a smartphone. And 90% of people switch screens to actually complete a task. Per Google data via DoubleClick, consumers use at least two to three devices for a transaction. And 65% of people start on a smartphone and of that percentage, 61% then go to a computer to finalize a transaction or purchase, and 4% finalize on a tablet. The bottom line: Consumers want to access content and make transactions anywhere, anytime, and on any device. A key takeaway, according to Johnson, is that agencies need to do cross-device targeting and planning and its not happening because of fear, uncertainty, and doubt, and a siloed mentality at agencies. Agency people are geared toward TV panel datatheyre used to that. With cross-device, its about how do I connect someones smartphone to their laptop, and to their tablet? Furthermore, agencies need to educate and get organizational buy-in on cross-device solutions and analytics. Make sure cross-device works and that everyone knows how to do attribution, Johnson said. Next, Cadreon is working on cross-screen solutions and how to bring TV into the equation. An international team of scientists led by researchers at Imperial College London has discovered two genes that are switched on when a child has a bacterial infection. This revelation could allow the team to develop a rapid test for doctors surgeries and hospitals to identify infections such as meningitis, and assist with the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. Share on Pinterest Doctors usually have to send samples away to diagnose bacterial or viral infections. The new test could provide a rapid way for doctors to test patients immediately. The study, published in JAMA, found that the two genes, called IFI44L and FAM89A, only shifted to an on state when a bacterial infection was present. This knowledge could enable doctors to distinguish between bacterial and viral infections, and identify early cases of severe infections that could be deadly. While viral infections are more common than bacterial infections, bacterial infections are often more serious. Meningitis, septicemia, and pneumonia all occur as a result of a bacterial infection. Differentiating between these potentially life-threatening conditions and viruses can allow health providers to provide quicker, more accurate treatments. Also, making a distinction between whether an individual has a viral or bacterial infection can prevent antibiotics being prescribed for viruses. Antibiotics are only effective against bacteria and do not fight infections caused by viruses like colds, flu, most sore throats, bronchitis, and many sinus and ear infections. Ineffective prescribing of antibiotics for viral infections will not cure the infection, not prevent others from becoming ill, may cause unnecessary and harmful side effects, and may contribute to antibiotic resistance, which is when bacteria can resist the effects of an antibiotic and continue to cause harm. Antibiotics are among the most commonly prescribed drugs. However, up to 50 percent of the time , the use of antibiotics is not needed, is incorrectly dosed, and is used for the wrong duration. Research published this week in the journal mBio describes the creation of a Zika virus clone. Experts hope that this new development might help in the design and production of an effective vaccine. Share on Pinterest Could the end be in sight for Zika? The Zika virus was first identified almost 70 years ago, in Uganda. Over the last few months, however, it has rarely been out of the news. Zika is spread by the bite of a mosquito and can also be passed on through sexual intercourse. Importantly, pregnant women can pass the virus onto their fetus, causing birth defects. Until recently, Zika had only circulated in a small geographical area, predominantly affecting primates. In Brazil, in early 2015, the small local virus became an epidemic. From there it spread through South and Central America. In February 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Zika pandemic a public health emergency. Five months on, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) documented the first cases of infection in residents of Florida. Currently, there is no vaccine for Zika and, consequently, medical researchers are pooling their resources in order to design one. The trouble with viruses Virus behavior is notoriously unpredictable, making them very difficult to stop. Zika is a member of the Flavivirus group, a group that includes yellow and dengue fever. Flaviviruses have a single strand of RNA and have proven very challenging to manipulate or clone. As DNA technology has advanced, reverse genetics has allowed scientists to examine single-stranded RNA using viral complementary DNA (cDNA) a double-stranded DNA created from the virus single-stranded genome. This technique relies on growing the virus inside a bacterium; however, Zikas toxicity to bacteria has previously been a substantial stumbling block. Despite the inherent difficulties, a team of researchers at the National Institutes of Health, led by molecular biologist Alexander Pletnev, have made it their aim to create a live, attenuated vaccine similar to those already in use for yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, and polio. Pletnevs group had earlier successes with similar challenges; they created a vaccine for West Nile virus, which is currently being trialed; they also worked on vaccines for St. Louis and Japanese encephalitis. Our goal is to create long-term immunity after one short immunization. Alexander Pletnev, study leader Geographers at the University of Southampton have completed a large scale data and mapping project to track the flow of internal human migration in low and middle income countries. Researchers from the WorldPop project at the University have, for the first time, mapped estimated internal migration in countries across three continents; Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean. Professor Andy Tatem, Director of WorldPop, comments: "Understanding how people are moving around within countries is vital in combating infectious diseases like malaria. The parasite which causes the disease can be quickly reintroduced to a malaria free area by highly mobile populations. "Having an accurate overview of how different regions of countries are connected by human movement aids effective disease control planning and helps target resources, such as treated bed nets or community health workers, in the right places. Having data for all low and middle income countries across three continents will greatly aid disease control and elimination planning on global and regional scales." Working with colleagues at the Flowminder Foundation and supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the researchers have used census micro-data (anonymised census information at the individual level) to model estimates of migration flows within countries and then produced a series of maps to visually represent the data. The research paper 'Mapping internal connectivity through human migration in malaria endemic countries' published in Scientific Data details the methods they employed, and presents the freely available data. Lead author Dr Alessandro Sorichetta from the University of Southampton says: "We sourced the census data from around 40 different countries and have produced detailed population migration maps on a scale not seen before. They show webs of connectivity within countries - indicating high and low flows of people moving between different locations." Figures from the International Organization for Migration and The World Bank show that, without accounting for seasonal and temporary migrants, more than one billion people live outside their place of origin - 740 million as 'internal migrants'. Human mobility is expected to continue to rise, creating a range of impacts, such as invasive species, drug resistance spread and disease pandemics. Dr Sorichetta comments: "It's crucial we understand human mobility, so we can quantify the effect it has on our societies and the environment and provide strong evidence to support the development of policies to address issues, such as public health problems." The researchers are now integrating the migration estimates with data on malaria prevalence - helping to inform regional elimination and global eradication plans for the disease. Equally, they believe the data could be used to support regional control and elimination strategies for other infectious diseases, for example, Schistosomiasis, River Blindness, HIV, dengue and Yellow Fever. Furthermore, the datasets could help inform decisions in the fields of trade, demography, transportation and economics. The first global-scale genetic study of Salmonella Enteritidis bacteria, which is a major cause of blood poisoning and death in Africa and food poisoning in the Western World, has discovered that there are in fact three separate types. Scientists at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and University of Liverpool found two novel African types, which looked the same, but were genetically different from the Western type. Reported in Nature Genetics, the study showed the African types had developed resistance to many antibiotics and behaved slightly differently to the type commonly found in the West. This suggests a need to understand where in the African environment the bacteria live, in order to prevent this disease. Once Salmonella reaches the bloodstream it's known as invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS) disease, a serious and Neglected Tropical Disease. Last year, it was estimated to cause 680,000 per year deaths worldwide, more than half of which were in Africa. The scientists sequenced 675 isolates of S. Enteritidis from 45 countries and six continents. Analysis of the Salmonella genomes revealed three major types - a common global one and two novel African types. Routine microbiological testing is not able to distinguish between the S. Enteritidis circulating in Africa and the rest of the world. Identifying these new types is important because the common global type of S. Enteritidis, is normally associated with poultry and predominantly infects the intestine, causing diarrhoea. However, in Africa the two newly identified types are a major cause of blood poisoning and death, because in people with weak immune systems, Salmonellae are able to pass with greater ease from the gut into the bloodstream. The environmental reservoir from which these African bacteria are transmitted to people is unknown. The study also showed that the two African types carried more of the genes that give them resistance to common antibiotics. These strains do not respond to the antibiotics commonly available, and have to be treated with cephalosporins or ciprofloxacin, antibiotics of last resort in many African settings. Dr Nick Feasey, first author from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the Sanger Institute, said: " iNTS disease is a huge problem in Africa, but it is difficult to identify due to lack of laboratory capacity and difficult to treat due antibiotic resistance. Using whole genome sequencing of S. Enteritidis bacteria from different settings we have revealed three distinct types of this bacteria, which was previously thought to have only one type. In the two novel types of Salmonella Enteritidis we found resistance genes to antibiotics such as amoxicillin and chloramphenicol, that are still widely used in Africa and it may be only a matter of time before resistance to the last line antibiotic, cephalosporin, spreads. We urgently need to find strategies to eradicate this disease." Professor Melita Gordon, joint lead author from the University of Liverpool's Institute of Infection and Global Health, said: "To help prevent this disease, further investigations are urgently needed into where these African types reside in the environment and how they are passed on to or between people. It is possible that the Salmonella lives in standing water, so improving access to sanitation and clean water is extremely important. A human vaccine is also under development. Our research in Malawi, at the Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust (MLW) Clinical Research Programme, will hopefully yield and implement relevant public health strategies to prevent this disease." Professor Nick Thomson, joint lead author from the Sanger Institute, said: "This study highlights a very important issue; that a relatively mild version of a bacterium can evolve into a more dangerous pathogen under the right conditions. A combination of HIV, antibiotic resistance and lack of health care and sanitation has facilitated the emergence of Salmonella as a deadly disease in Africa and its importance was not originally recognised. The more we look, the more we understand the potential for bacteria which cause mild disease in rich settings to emerge as causes of highly deadly disease in Africa. Hence a critical first step in tackling diseases such as this is to be able to recognise the different 'types', which will in turn allow us to better understand how bacteria can exploit different ecological niches to which the global human population is exposed". Fertility experts are calling on the companies who make the solutions in which embryos are cultured during in vitro fertilisation (IVF) to give a clear list of ingredients following publication of a trial that shows that the composition of these laboratory cultures affects the outcomes of the resulting embryos and babies. The first randomised controlled trial (RCT) to look at the effect on perinatal outcomes of different IVF culture media found that they affected the numbers of viable embryos created, the rates of successful implantation in the womb, the pregnancy rates and the babies' birthweights. The research is published in Human Reproduction, one of the world's leading reproductive medicine journals, together with a second paper that reviews what is currently known about embryo culture media and which concludes "there is a strong case for demanding full transparency concerning the compositions of and scientific rationale behind the composition of embryo culture media". In an accompanying editorial, the journal's editor-in-chief, Professor Hans Evers, calls for urgent action by industry and regulators in the wake of these findings, saying that, just as with foods such as peanut butter, the exact composition of the culture media should be listed. He writes that the results from the clinical trial show that "floating an embryo for only a few days in a culture medium affects the birthweight of IVF children nine months later. The Barker hypothesis (Developmental Origins of Health and Disease) proposes that events in early life affect cardiovascular and metabolic health at an adult age. Small differences in birthweight may reflect more subtle disturbances that only will manifest themselves later in life. As of today, after publication of this RCT, not knowing the exact composition of their IVF culture media is no longer an option for clinical embryologists". Dr John Dumoulin, the IVF laboratory director in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology at Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands, and his colleagues recruited 836 couples who were scheduled for IVF or ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) treatment at one of ten IVF centres in The Netherlands between July 2010 and May 2012. They randomised them to have their embryos cultured in one of two culture media: human tubal fluid (HTF) or G5. The randomisation was "double-blind" so that the patients, their gynaecologists, fertility doctors or outcome assessors did not know which medium was being used. Blinding of the embryologists was not possible as they performed the laboratory procedures. The researchers followed the progress of the couples for a year after randomisation or, in the cases where there were ongoing pregnancies, until birth. A total of 383 babies were born alive, of which 300 were singletons and 80 were twin children. The researchers found that birthweight was lower in the G5 group compared with the HTF group, with an average difference of 158g. More singleton babies were born prematurely in the G5 group (8.6% versus 2.2%), and even when the researchers adjusted for gestational age at birth and gender, the average birthweight was still lower in the G5 group. There was a greater number of embryos cultured in the G5 medium that were good enough to be implanted compared to those cultured in the HTF medium (2.8 versus 2.3). In the G5 group implantation rates when using fresh embryos (rather than ones that had previously been frozen) were significantly higher (20.2% versus 15.3%) and pregnancy rates were significantly higher (47.7% versus 40.1%) than in the HTF group. There was a slightly higher (6%) live birth rate in couples assigned to G5 than those assigned to HTF (44% versus 38%), although this was not statistically significant. Dr Dumoulin said: "For the first time, by means of a large randomised controlled trial, we have shown that human embryos that are cultured in vivo are sensitive to their environment and that something is programmed into these embryos during those few days before transfer to the womb that still has an effect nine months later. This being the case, we must be aware that David Barker hypothesised that the environment in early life, from foetus to the first two years of life, can have a significant effect on long-term health. This means that we should be careful and we should no longer blindly accept new culture media, or other alterations in laboratory or clinical procedures, without first rigorously studying effectiveness and safety." However, he explained that his results are not as simple to interpret as saying that one medium was better than another, and that, for instance, the lower birthweight seen in the G5 group did not necessarily mean it was better or worse than HTF. "It has already been shown that birthweight of children born to sub-fertile couples who were conceived naturally is lower than of children in the general population. There must be some patient-related factors in play resulting in a lower birthweight in these particular couples. So, perhaps in our study, the G5 babies are the 'normal' ones, with a birthweight that is correct for their particular origin from sub-fertile couples, while the HTF babies are too heavy. We just know too little at the moment." One of the differences between the two culture media is that G5 medium contains certain amino acids that are not in the HTF medium. There are also about 20 other embryo culture media commercially available. Dr Dumoulin and his colleagues say that should be a greater level of scrutiny of them, with further randomised trials, that their full composition should be made publicly available by the companies that produce them and should have a scientific rationale; new formulations should only be introduced after properly conducted trials. In the second paper, a working group of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, led by Professor Arne Sunde, head of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University Hospital in Trondheim, Norway, made the same recommendations. Their research showed that culture media vary widely, their composition is usually unknown by the end users (the embryologists, clinicians and patients), and data about the influence of the media on outcomes are conflicting. Prof Sunde said: "The key issue is that we must know the composition of the culture media we use, since it seems to induce differences in the make-up of the children born. We have no information about long-term consequences of this, but we cannot rule out that the composition of the culture media may affect the health of children as they grow up and become adults." At present, there is no uniform regulation of embryo culture media. In Europe, the majority of media approved for use carry the CE mark, but other non-CE media can still be used. In the USA media must obtain approval from the Food and Drug Administration before being marketed. Overall, fertility centres choose the media they want to use according to their own preferences. Manufacturers differ on whether and how they give information on the composition of the culture media and the scientific rationale. Usually they notify end users, such as embryologists, of any changes and the scientific data that support those changes, but not always. "It is not obligatory to declare changes and the information we might get is far from sufficient," said Prof Sunde. "We want to know in detail what changes have been made and the scientific basis for the changes, including animal and human clinical data backing the change." Article: Time to take human embryo culture seriously, Arne Sunde, Daniel Brison, John Dumoulin, Joyce Harper, Kersti Lundin, M. Cristina Magli, Etienne Van den Abbeel, Anna Veiga, Human Reproduction, doi: 10.1093/humrep/dew157, published online 23 August 2016. Of biofuels and coals which constitute 34% Of fuel for transportation constituting 27% Hobby activities Paints Aerosols like hair spray or deodorants Air fresheners Mosquito repellents Clothes that have been dry cleaned Stored fuel Office equipments like scanners and printers Building material Pesticides Advertisement Dizziness Chest pain Headache Palpitations Loss of concentration Itchy eyes Nose or throat irritation Hoarse voice Sensitivity to smell Nose bleed Fever Colds Flu-like syndrome How much of the VOC was removed by the plant Which VOC was removed by the plant How long it took to remove VOC Indoor air pollution is a major health concern with WHO reporting that 4.3 million people die every year due to the effects of this form of pollution. In Asia, the highest level of volatile organic compounds is released during the combustionVolatile organic compounds constitute the largest percentage of indoor air pollution and gases like benzene, formaldehyde and acetone that are emitted from certain solids and liquids. There are many household products that release VOC into the air.All these products can lead to an increase in the level of VOC in indoor air and it can lead to the development of symptoms. This condition in which an individual develops an acute or chronic health condition due to the time spent in a building is called "sick building syndrome".Sick building syndrome is a significant disorder that affects many people working in offices, shops or even while staying at home when the level VOC is very high. This condition can affect the productivity of the individual and lead to symptoms that includeIn order to lower the risk of gaining sick building syndrome, the study conducted on using indoor plants that offers a simple solution and does not require expensive humidifiers or air filters to lower indoor air pollution.Indoor air pollution can be further controlled by storing paints and building material outside and by lowering the use of aerosols.Dr. Vadoud Niri and colleagues from The State University of New York in Oswego carried out a study that looked at indoor plants to lower such pollutionDr. Niri warns about the high level of VOC that may be present indoors, "Buildings, whether new or old, can have high levels of VOCs in them, sometimes so high that you can smell them."The researchers built a chamber that had several VOCs at specific concentrations. They placed specific plants in the chamber and noticed the concentration of the VOC.For every plant that was placed in the chamber, the scientists examinedThe researchers found variations in the level of VOC that was taken up by the plants. All the five plants that were tested took up acetone but the dracaena plant was found to remove nearly 80% of acetone.Dr. Niri discusses the results the team observedAs a next step, the researchers would like to test the effectiveness of the indoor plants in removing VOC in a nail salon. Nail salons are known to have high levels of acetone and would be ideal testing ground for these plants.The primary results were obtained from testing the plants in a closed glass cabinet and it would be interesting to see if the plants are equally effective in a more homogeneous setting.Source: Medindia Advertisement In their paper, which they will present at the 111th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association (ASA), Muller and her team of researchers analyzed the evolution of spatial inequality by examining the role of high school curriculum and performance in an individual's decision to move by midlife.The researchers used data from the High School and Beyond sophomore cohort -- a nationally representative sample of 14,825 sophomores in 1,015 U.S. high schools initially surveyed in 1980 and surveyed again in 1984, 1986, 1992, and 2014, when the respondents were around 50 years old, to weigh the influence of cognitive and non-cognitive skills, college preparatory courses, and academic degrees attained on migration between adolescence and midlife, over a time period that saw a rise in technology that drastically changed occupational demands.In the sample, 36% of people moved across labor markets between high school and midlife, and they migrated an average distance of 676 miles. A person's level of internal locus of control, or the extent to which people believe they control their own destiny, was one predictor of who moved, with those ranked in the 68th percentile of locus of control being 3% more likely to move than those with average (50th percentile) levels of locus of control.The researchers also found that people who had achieved more academically in high school, as indicated by their test scores, their GPAs, and taking advanced math coursework, were all more likely to move. For example, people who performed in the 68th percentile of the math achievement test were 2.3% more likely to move than those at the 50th percentile.Having a GPA in the 68th percentile increased the probability of moving by 2.5 percentage points over having an average GPA. And students who completed advanced mathematics were 6.2%more likely to move than students who only completed algebra 2, who were 4.2% more likely to move than students who had completed neither algebra 2 nor advanced mathematics."Data showed that some of the effects of academic preparation on moving were due to students attending college -- some likely first moved to attend college," Muller said.The researchers also found that by midlife, individuals who had earned at least a bachelor's degree lived in areas with larger shares of college-educated workers than their high school classmates who had not graduated from college. Having college-educated parents also predicted who lived in areas with a larger share of educated workers by midlife."Indeed, the educational gradients in employment, health, and many indicators of well-being have become steeper and opportunities for intergenerational social mobility have declined," Muller said. "Although the data do not allow us to establish whether early skills and education cause migration and living in a labor market with a better economy, the evidence is consistent with the possibility."Source: Medindia Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends. Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice. Advertisement More than 60 years ago, Alan Turing proposed a simple mathematical model called the reaction-diffusion model that corresponds to the change in space and time of the concentration of one or more chemical substances to explain nature's patterns. The model suggests that as two interacting chemicals spread out, they could arrange themselves as stripes, spots or other designs. Scientists have since used this reaction-diffusion model to explain a number of patterns like leopard spots, the location of feather buds in chicks, hair follicles in mice, and even the ridges on the roof of mouse embryo mouths.One major limitation, though, is that most of these studies were confined to one- or two-dimensional experiments. At the molecular level, nature's patterns are three-dimensional.But it's not easy to make 3-D patterns, Dong said. The first 3-D experiment didn't come until 2011, when researchers at Brandeis University used chemical reactions to generate patterns with Turing's reaction-diffusion model. A dielectric barrier discharge system, however, which Dong and her colleagues describe this week in Physics of Plasmas, from AIP publishing, has several advantages, she said.Not only can this system produce a wide variety of patterns, the patterns are also clear and easy to visualize. You can probe in great detail how the patterns vary over both space and time. While fluid or chemical-based experiments can take hours or days to make patterns, the dielectric barrier discharge system does it in seconds.The experimental system produces plasma -- electrically charged air and argon gas -- that's discharged through several gaps. Viewed from the side, the gaps form an H-shape. When the researchers change certain properties of the device, such as the voltage, the filaments of discharge plasma form different 3-D structures across the gaps. A high-speed camera can then record the changes of transient shapes with time.The researchers have already produced several patterns seen in nature by a previous single gas gap dielectric barrier discharge system. For example, they've recreated the distinct spot and stripe design of the 13-lined ground squirrel. The physics experiments suggest complex mechanisms may be behind the pattern -- and not Turing's simple reaction-diffusion equations.These patterned plasmas aren't just for biology. They can be used potentially in designing tunable photonic crystal devices, which could be used as components for telecommunication systems such as microwave filters, optical switches and waveguides, Dong said. Photonic crystal devices control and channel light, usually relying on an array of materials with different refractive indexes that help steer the light beam. But by producing patterns of plasma filaments instead -- which can be adjusted and modified -- researchers can tune the devices to work exactly as needed.Source: Eurekalert Advertisement Widespread concerns about gender ratios' effects on society intensified in the 1980s, largely as a result of China's one-child policy. Preferences for male children led to skewed sex ratios in favor of males, who are projected to reach a surplus of nearly 20 million by 2020. While the one-child policy was relaxed in 2015, the male-bias in China will nonetheless be experienced for generations.Male abundance is particularly worrisome to social scientists because criminological studies consistently find that men are predominantly both the perpetrators and victims of violence. Additionally, men, in general, are typically more aggressive, competitive and prone to risky behavior than women, leading to the prediction that unmarried men destabilize both families and societies. A 2004 book, "Bare Branches," (the term referring to excess unmarried men in Chinese culture) highlighted the potential dangers of such a demographic imbalance in both China and India due to the cultural practice of son preference. "Bare branches theory" became the prevailing paradigm supporting the association between male excess and family and social instability.For Schacht's 2014 doctoral dissertation, he traveled to Guyana to study dynamics of family formation in eight small villages in the country's interior. Economic conditions in the region had spurred local sex-biased migration and shaped sex ratios in each village, providing a laboratory for Schacht to compare family outcomes in response to partner availability.After conducting interviews with more than 300 people, he found that in villages with female-skewed ratios, men behaved stereotypically, engaging in risky sexual behaviors and preferring short-term relationships. But in villages with male-biased ratios, the men preferred sexually committed, long-term relationships with a single partner."The men on either end of the continuum were very different," Schacht says. "What became clear was that simple sex-based arguments or intuitions were, in some cases, useful rules of thumb, however, in many other cases they were inappropriate."The reason, Schacht believes, may lie in an economic theory of mate selection, rooted in the law of supply and demand. "If you are the relatively rare sex, you can be more demanding of a potential partner. You can be choosier, and of the partner you choose, you can be more demanding of what you want in a relationship." When faced with an abundance of women, men's "choosiness" may manifest through a preference for multiple partners and short-term, uncommitted relationships.Additionally, Schacht reviewed the available literature on both Western and non-Western populations. From the review, what became clear was that male-biased societies do not experience greater violence than others. Moreover, he also found that rates of monogamy were highest in male-biased communities."While we have our own intuitions and preferred theoretical frameworks, ultimately we're data driven scientists," he says. "We try to let the data speak for itself. And what is increasingly clear is that places with more women consistently have more negative outcomes."To extrapolate Schacht's findings to a larger, Western population, Schacht and Kramer used U.S. Census data to test the association between sex ratio imbalance and family outcomes across 2,800 counties in all 50 states. They evaluated the relationship between gender ratios and four variables indicative of family stability: The percentage of women and men married in each county, as well as numbers of female-headed households and out-of-wedlock births.An intriguing picture emerged as Schacht mapped out gender ratios across every county. "It is definitely a patchwork," he says. "Every state has counties that are both male- and female-biased." Overall, the West displayed more male-biased counties and the Southeast, and Mid-Atlantic contained more female-biased counties.Schacht's results from Guyana held true in the U.S. Adults were more likely to be married if they lived in male-biased counties than if they lived in female-biased counties. Rates of female-headed households and out-of-wedlock births, both factors associated with so-called "fragile families" were lower in male-biased counties. Thus, contrary to popular intuition, they found that when women are rare men are more likely to marry, be part of a family and be sexually committed to a single partner. In a related study, supporting these findings, Schacht found that violent crime rates were also lower in male-biased counties.The results may appear to be paradoxical. "You get more unmarried men when there are fewer of them," Schacht says. "Men may be less interested in committed relationships when they are relatively rare and partners are abundant. Men may be less interested in settling down with a single partner when there are multiple options available." He is also quick to point out that the negative outcomes associated with female-biased counties are probably not driven by the behavior of the women in those counties. "It's not the excess women who are driving the elevated levels of instability," he says. "It's more likely to be from the relatively high proportion of unmarried men."Because Schacht uses population-level data, he is cautious about claims of causality. It's difficult to draw any definite conclusions about which demographic or cultural factors cause certain societal outcomes. Nonetheless, from the characteristics of different counties, Schacht is able to explore possible explanations for the data trends."The cool thing is that this finding is robust across 2,800 counties in the U.S. for all outcomes of family stability," Schacht says.The prevalence of male-biased counties in Western states may be connected to some of the frontier aspects of the West that persist today, he says, such as ranching, mining, and drilling industries. Utah and Idaho have some of the highest rates of married adults in the nation, also possibly connected to the heritage and culture of Mormon populations in those states. Conversely, the number of female-biased counties in the Southeast could be connected to high incarceration rates, which disproportionately affect young African-American men and remove them from their respective communities.Because the causal link between gender ratios and societal outcomes still needs much research, Schacht doesn't think that moving men into female-biased areas will necessarily clear up societal ills, since there are many demographic factors in play in every community, including levels of poverty, inequality, and education, to name a few. "It's not just sex ratio," he says. "It's sex ratio in tandem with a number of other variables that all play a role." Still, his data does not support the prevailing views that an excess of men is a recipe for a societal powder keg. Identifying areas of sex ratio imbalance can help local governments target populations at risk for family instability and resultant negative child education and health outcomes, Schacht says, and accordingly allocate limited resources to do the most good.Cultural factors also come into play when applying Schacht's results to China or India. In India, for example, the caste system may exclude low-status men from the pool of available marriageable partners. Thus, in this cultural context, the risky behavior of men may be independent of their local sex ratio, challenging straightforward expectations present in the scientific literature.Regardless of culture, however, the study suggests that people's relationship goals are as much a matter of context as they are of chromosomes."It's time to move away from simple sex-based arguments about what people want," Schacht says, "because one of the most important factors influencing the kind of relationship one can have is: is anyone available?"The study, published inSource: Eurekalert Rhabdomyolysis is a rare dangerous condition in which muscles that help the body to move (skeletal or striped muscles), breaks down rapidly and the breakdown products leaks into the blood stream. Some of the products like the protein myoglobin gets filtered into the urine thereby paving the path to acute kidney failure. The term rhabdos comes from Greek word rod + myo- + -lysis and literally means dissolution of skeletal muscle. If the symptoms and signs of this condition are suspected, immediate medical attention is warranted. The early warning signs include: Severe muscular pain all over the body Muscle weakness Dark or cola-colored urine The prognosis of the condition is bad if complication like acute kidney injury occur. There is another condition called HyperCkemia, which is a less severe form of Rhabdomyolysis where the breakdown of the muscles in intermittent and this does not lead to kidney damage. The causes of rhabdomyolysis include various factors, such as the following: Crush injury or any other trauma that damages skeletal muscle Drug addiction involving the use of drugs such as amphetamines, cocaine, heroin or phencyclidine (PCP). Alcohol intake is also associated with rhabdomyolysis Extreme body temperatures due to heat stroke or malignant hyperthermia. Malignant hyperthermia results in high body temperature on exposure to certain drugs used in general anesthesia. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome causes hyperthermia when the person is exposed to antipsychotic drugs Genetic muscle diseases like Duchene muscular dystrophy Beckers dystrophy, metabolic enzymes deficiencies or mitochondrial function disorders Ischemia or reduced blood supply to muscles resulting in death to the muscle tissue Severe dehydration Seizures or muscle tremors Severe exertion, such as calisthenics or marathon running. Low blood potassium levels resulting from excessive sweating, exercise-induced asthma and sickle-cell trait can trigger rhabdomyolysis during exercise. Infections due to viruses like influenza type A and B virus, bacteria like leigionella, as well as fungal and parasitic infections Advertisement Intake of medications like statins or a combination of statins with drugs like cyclosporine or gemfibrozil Electrolyte abnormalities like low or high sodium levels, low potassium levels and low phosphate levels. Low sodium levels may occur due to polydipsia (excessive intake of water), while low phosphate level may occur due to diabetic ketoacidosis. Endocrine disorders like hyperaldosteronism (excessive secretion of aldosterone), Addisons disease hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and diabetic ketoacidosis Overweight with a (body mass index) BMI of >30% of ideal body mass Exposure to toxins from snake bites, spider venom and massive honey bee envomination Any of the above factors causes breakdown on muscles, which causes the release of the muscle protein myoglobin as well as the contents of the muscle into the circulation. The excess myoglobin gets filtered by the kidneys, where they can cause kidney damage. Statin and Risk of Rhabdomyolysis Statins are cholesterol or lipid lowering medications. The overall risk of developing rhabdomyolysis from statin is extremely low at about 1.5 for each 100,000 people taking statins. If there is myalgia after taking statin, a blood test can give an early warning if there is muscle breakdown. Generally statins may cause mild forms of muscle inflammation and measurement of enzyme creatinine kinase in the blood can reassure the physicians and the patients of no untoward harm with the tablets. Rhabdomyolysis risk is higher with higher the dose of statins and the risk increases if certain drugs like cyclosporine and gemfibrozil are taken in combination with statins. Rhabdomyolysis is identified using a variety of symptoms and signs. The include: Generalised body or muscle aches with Muscle tenderness, muscle stiffness or aching known as myalgia Fatigue Dark red or cola-colored urine Decreased urine output Seizures Weight gain Joint pain There are a variety of complications that occur as a result of rhabdomyolysis. These include: Acute kidney failure Electrolytes abnormalities. The high potassium and low calcium levels lead to arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat). Volume depletion can result in hypovolemic shock Compartment syndrome caused by increased pressure within the muscle compartments. Compartment syndrome reduces oxygen supply to the muscle Lactic acidosis due to depletion of oxygen in affected tissues Disseminated intravascular coagulation, which results in widespread clotting and bleeding complications in the body. It is initiated by the released components of necrotic muscle tissue. Diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis is based on the medical history obtained from the patient which may indicate an underlying precipitating factor, physical examination of the patient, and blood and urine tests. A high level of the enzyme creatine kinase in the blood (the CK-MM subtype) and myoglobin in the urine indicate the presence of rhabdomyolysis. The main aim of the treatment of rhabdomyolysis is the prevention and treatment of any form of kidney damage. The underlying cause should also be treated. Because of low fluid volume in the body, fluid management is crucial along with maintaining an adequate urinary output goal. Fluids containing bicarbonates should be prescribed. Electrolyte abnormalities should be corrected. The urine output and other parameters should be monitored Dialysis is an option for the treatment of kidney failure Fasciotomy is required in compartment syndrome. Fasciotomy releases the tension within the muscle External cooling measures are used to treat hyperthermia and benzodiazepines are administered to control muscular hyperactivity. Further in malignant hyperthermia, anesthetics should be discontinued and dantrolene sodium should be used. Advertisement The prognosis or the outcome depends definitely on the amount of kidney damage. Acute renal failure in many people when treated will reduce the risk for permanent kidney damage. Patients with milder cases return to normalcy within a few weeks to a month. However, some patients still continue to have issues like fatigue and muscle pain. Rhabdomyolysis causes kidney damage and hence the health tips focus mostly on protecting the kidneys. Following are a few lifestyle changes suggested for a person prone to rhabdomyolysis. At the invitation of the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Nikola Poposki, Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias will carry out a visit to Skopje on Thursday, 25 August, to address, as a keynote speaker, the annual Conference of the countrys Ambassadors. Mr. Kotzias will be received by the countrys Prime Minister, Emil Dimitriev, and President, Gjorge Ivanov, and he will have a one-on-one meeting and working luncheon with Mr. Poposki. BAD AXE Six individuals. More than 100 years of combined experience. Gone from a school district, but honored one last time. To kick off Mondays school board meeting, Bad Axe Superintendent Greg Newland introduced six former employees to the board who retired from their position during the 2015-16 school year. Each year, we like to recognize our staff members that have retired within the past year, Newland told the board. This year is no different. Unfortunately we are losing too many of them and they are going to be deeply, deeply missed. One-by-one the retirees accepted a gift, as well as handshakes and many thanks, from the superintendent and board members. The individuals, with their former title and number of years in service, are: Dennis Vahovick bus driver, 20 years. Deb Vahovick bus driver, 20 years. Rita Wencel high school teacher, 12 years. Chris Schmitt high school teacher, 19 years. Connie Maschke elementary school secretary, 27 years. Holly Swackhamer high school secretary, 27 years. In other news, the board renewed in a 5-0 vote the open campus policy for seniors to leave school during lunch hours on Fridays. What the word on the street versus what gets reported, we did not have any negative reports from any of the business owners in town, said high school principal Kurt Dennis. We had no pedestrians or any community members that have called or made negative reports. The kids enjoyed it, he added. I think the vast majority enjoyed that we offer it. Although the renewal was passed in a unanimous vote, board member Mike Anderson said he was still against the policy, but glad nothing bad has happened. The board hired the following individuals for the upcoming school year. They are: Kal Pokley high school biology teacher. Matt Varner part-time social studies and online learning room instructor. Sheryl Jahn elementary secretary. Sharon Taylor elementary office aide. Michelle Young and Brittany Renn elementary school paraprofessionals. Mary Booms middle school paraprofessional. Mick Engel custodian. The board also accepted the resignation of middle school cook Peggy Hellwig. The board will meet next at 7 p.m. Sept. 26, in the high school library. BAD AXE Since Lincoln Township is taking steps to develop its own zoning procedures, the issue of a new wind overlay district will go back to the Huron County Planning Commission. On the advice of its corporation counsel, the Huron County Board of Commissioners voted 5-1 Tuesday morning to send the issue back to the planning commission after a lengthy public hearing in the meeting room of the Huron Expo Center at the Huron Community Fairgrounds. Commissioner Clark Elftman voted against the resolution, and Commissioner Dave Peruski was absent. DTE Energy has proposed a wind overlay district covering Lincoln, Dwight, Sigel and Bloomfield townships. The majority of the turbines would be located in Lincoln Township, over 22,080 acres. The remainder would be located on 5,760 acres each in the remaining townships. While currently governed by county zoning, Lincoln Township on Aug. 8 took action that would lead to formation of its own planning commission and master plan. One resolution passed imposes a moratorium on the issuance of permits, licenses or approvals for construction of wind energy systems. A DTE official at the commission meeting called the move by Lincoln Township a late-night maneuver to stall the issue. Ron Chriss, regional relations manager for DTE, told the board, This is your opportunity to lead by approving the district. The board set a deadline of 60 days for the planning commission to act, as they acknowledged that the planners did not have the information about Lincoln Townships desire to self-zone when the planning commission recommended that the board approve the overlay zone last month. If the board were to approve the district, voters have a right to file a valid petition to take the issue to referendum. Commissioners Rich Swartzendruber and John Bodis said that the people would have no say in the matter if the board vetoed the application. After hearing dozens of opinions from residents, wind industry officials and attorneys, the majority of county commissioners supported sending the proposal back to the planning commission. Elftman told the Tribune that the reason he voted against the resolution was that Its gone far enough. A lot of effort was put into getting this to this point. This is just dragging our feet as far as Im concerned. Steve Allen, counsel for the county, said prior to the public hearing that Lincoln Township had requested to be pulled from the overlay district in light of two ordinances that were adopted earlier this month. We dont have the authority to pull the township out, Allen said. We still have a valid ordinance and will have a valid zoning ordinance until which time Lincoln Township enacts an interim zoning ordinance. And at that time, were preempted, no matter where we are in the process, were preempted. He predicted complications if the board moved forward with the vote since Lincoln Township wants to oversee its own zoning. Commissioner John Nugent made the motion to send the issue back to the planning commission before the scheduled public hearings so it could be tabled and sent back to new business. The public would then be able to comment on it before any action was taken. Two residents of the proposed overlay zone had requested public hearings in which they addressed the board: Don Rice of Lincoln Township called the recent years advent of wind turbines throughout the county the destruction of this county. Sue Lange of Bloomfield Township said that her two autistic sons sensory perception is very sensitive, and that they could have an adverse reaction to things like infrasound and flicker caused by the wind turbines. What happens if my sons cant stay in their home? she asked. What do we do? Where do we go? If it was your child, would you be voting yes for this, or would you do everything in your power to stop it? Many residents and landowners from both sides of the issue spoke during the two and half hour public hearing. ELKTON Ron and Deen Forster had a life-long fascination with dogs. Acting on that passion, the couple trained canines in various capacities throughout the country, before eventually returning home to Michigan in 1978. For the many years that followed, the Forsters operated a boarding kennel, before being presented with a unique opportunity by Huron County: the privatization of the county's existing animal shelter. "We talked about it and decided to do it, so we became the Thumb Animal Shelter," said Deen Forster of the decision. So in 1996, they formed the Thumb Animal Shelter, which is now celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Despite Ron's death three and a half years ago, the shelter has continued to thrive. "It was his dream," Deen Forster said. "The shelter has done great things and we continue to grow and we continue to do great things." Deen handles a lot of the duties at the shelter on her own these days, but is provided plenty of assistance. With a genuine love for animals instilled in them by their parents, children Missy and Mike help out at the shelter every chance they get. "Animals are a major part of this family," Forster said. Aside from pitching in at the shelter, Missy is owner/operator of Walnut Ridge Kennels in Bad Axe, while Mike has formed a company that specializes in falconry-based bird abatement. Forster also credited the help of many volunteers that keep things running smoothly, including Chris Champagne, who Forster said does an excellent job handling the shelter's Facebook account, which is used to help lost animals find their way back home. "Without Chris, we wouldn't be as active as we are," Forster said. "She does a super job of finding these dogs back to their homes when they're missing." The shelter has room for 15 to 20 dogs, with runs both inside and out. Forster said it takes in around 350 canines each year. Recently, the shelter met the necessary criteria to become a "no kill" animal shelter, which means the vast majority of animals that enter the shelter wind up saved. "That's kind of a feather in our cap," Forster said. "We are very proud of that." Coming up on Sept. 2, the Ron Forster Memorial Walk-a-Thon will take place in conjunction with Elkton's Autumnfest. The annual event is put on to raise money for the shelter, and has been doing so for the past nine years. According to coordinator Annette Renn, the event raised around $6,000 last year and has grown each year. The two-mile walk begins at 6 p.m. at Ackerman Memorial Park. Participants then walk their dogs through downtown Elkton and return back at the park. "Everybody has fun with their dog, a nice walk, and some camaraderie with each other," Renn said. For more information on the event, visit the Thumb Animal Shelter's Facebook page. For more information on the shelter itself, visit www.thumbanimalshelter.homestead.com. There were around 50 hospital staff in Brussels before Waterloo, some of whom had recently been on campaign elsewhere in the Low Countries. Other regimental doctors came over with their battalions, as did other hospital staff members (physicians, apothecaries, purveyors, and dispensers). At the time of Waterloo, there was no anaesthesia, no knowledge of or protection from bacterial infection, and hospital and daily care were still rudimentary. Most battalions at Waterloo had a regimental medical officer and two assistants, the senior of whom would usually go into line and perform first aid applying tourniquets, bandaging, splinting, suturing (stitching), giving water, and getting casualties out of the combat zone where feasible. The wounded would be carried off the field of battle by bandsmen or colleagues. Often casualties would then have to just fend for themselves. Many regimental surgeons and some assistant surgeons and staff surgeons collected at Mont-St-Jean Farm, about 400 metres behind Wellingtons line. This was the 1st Corps hospital, under the command of Dr John Gunning. Here wounds were redressed and cleaned, fractures were reset, and amputations and trepanning (skull surgery) performed. Larger hospitals and garrison and divisional services were staffed by Deputy Inspectors of Hospitals, the most senior rank of military doctor, staff surgeons (equivalent to todays hospital consultants), assistant staff surgeons, orderlies, and a few nurses. The four-day campaign had given them around 63,000 casualties to care for. Many had to struggle to a nearby aid-post or hospital. The rest waited (and many died) for comrades to collect them, taking most to the farm buildings of Mont-St-Jean. Wounded Frenchmen were anxious to avoid capture and imprisonment on the notorious British prison hulks. But priority, anyway, was given to the British and Allied wounded. About 40 springwagons were hired from Brussels to bring in the casualties from the battle Most wounds were inflicted on limbs (around 75%), and two-thirds were caused by small-arms fire from low-energy, smoothbore, muzzle-loading fusils, carbines, and pistols. After 50 metres or so, the lead missiles lost kinetic energy, since they were heavy and round. Also, loading and powder quality were often substandard. Thus many injuries were caused by spent balls. Discs of bacterially contaminated clothing were also frequently driven into the depths of these wounds by the missiles. To repair the damage, the surgeon first explored the wounds, using his finger. This preceded removal of debris, using probes, bullet scoops, or forceps. Wounds from heavy iron cannon-shot between 3lbs and 24lbs in weight were usually fatal if received centrally or on the head and neck. Many limbs were avulsed (torn off) by round-shot. Tangential strikes by large balls could cause severe internal disruption. Quartermaster Sir William Howe de Lancey was hit a glancing blow on his right loin by a round-shot. He took a week to die. At post-mortem, it was found that eight ribs had been avulsed from his spine, and he had suffered muscle, lung, and renal injuries. His new wife Magdalene nursed him until he died. Few contemporary surgeons believed in the wind of the ball as a potential cause of injury Most gaping wounds were left open and dressed with moist lint, or in the case of burns, non-adherent oily or waxed dressings. Rolled linen bandages (rollers) were applied to limb and trunk wounds. Although debridement (thorough wound-cleansing) as we know it today was rarely employed, surgeons often removed some dead tissue or foreign material. Other wounds, such as those caused by sabres, lances, or, rarely, bayonets, were closed with linen or silk sutures or adhesive tapes. Roughly 2,000 amputations were carried out during or after the four battles (Ligny, Quatre Bras, Wavre, and Waterloo), with perhaps 500 Allied limb removals on the day of Waterloo. Sitting upright and restrained by assistants, the unfortunate victims had a screw tourniquet applied to the damaged limb, and the soft tissues were pulled up and cut around in a series of sweeps of a large knife, followed by bone division. The arteries were then tied off and the wound was dressed. The whole operation took about 15-20 minutes. No alcohol or painkillers were administered before surgery. The most notorious amputation after the battle was that performed on Paget, Lord Uxbridge, after a serious knee injury. Wellingtons personal physician Dr John Hume (who was well rehearsed in surgery) performed a flap amputation (as opposed to a guillotine operation) after seeking a second opinion on his illustrious patient, who commanded the British cavalry and was brother-in-law to the Duke. At one point, the saw jammed as the bone became angled on the saw. The inpatient mortality at Waterloo was around 9% a seemingly very good result, until we realise how few serious casualties ever reached hospital. In April 1816, ten months after the battle, of 6,831 admitted casualties, 5,068 (74%) were able to rejoin their unit, 506 were discharged from service, 854 were still inpatients, 236 survived amputation, and 167 joined veteran battalions. Many casualties became in- or out-pensioners at the Royal Hospital Chelsea or at Kilmainham in Ireland. Prosthetic limbs were issued from these hospitals, but often a local artisan would construct an artificial part for an amputee. Many medical lessons gained from this long war were forgotten in the two generations of soldiering that followed. Parsimony, complacency, and gross mismanagement were to blight the British Army in the years 1815 to 1854, setting the stage for the medical disaster of the Crimea. Mick Crumplin is a retired surgeon, curator, and archivist at the Royal College of Surgeons, and author of The Bloody Fields of Waterloo. This is an extract from an article that appeared in issue 72 of Military History Monthly. Despite Flipping in Surf 4 Times in a Year, Marines Say New ACV Is the Future of Amphibious Warfare Some Marine veterans familiar with the vehicle and its operations have worried about the reliability of the ACV. At 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 23, 1945, six men raised an American flag atop Mount Suribachi, Japan, in a triumphant move that drew a cheer from Marines on the mountain and fanfare from U.S. ships in the waters below. But no photographs exist of this first celebrated flag-raising. Some time later in the afternoon, another six Marines raised a second flag on the mountain -- and that act, captured by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal, would become the most celebrated image of the war. Just months after the Marine Corps announced in June that it had misidentified the men in the Rosenthal photograph and was correcting its official records in light of new information, the service on Wednesday announced that it was wrong about the troops who participated in the first flag-raising and is altering its records again following a new review of evidence. For some, this may be a historical fine point; for others, it's a long-overdue move with great significance for the families of the men who were there. Most notably, the Marine Corps findings, reviewed by Military.com, prove that Navy corpsman John Bradley, a pharmacist's mate second class, participated in the first flag-raising. In June, officials concluded that Bradley, long believed to be pictured in the Rosenthal photo, was not in fact in the shot. Bradley, who died in 1994 at age 70, had been perhaps one of the best-known flag raisers. He posed for the sculpture that would become the Marine Corps memorial in Washington, D.C., and his story was told in the bestseller Flags of our Fathers, written by his son James Bradley. In a four-day review, a nine-member panel of Marine Corps leaders and historians determined that those who participated in the first flag-raising were Bradley, 1st Lt. Harold Schrier, Platoon Sgt. Ernest Thomas Jr., Sgt. Henry Hanson, Cpl. Charles Lindberg, and Pvt. Philip Ward. Marine Corps records had previously not listed Ward and Bradley as participants, and had incorrectly identified two other Marines, Pfcs. Louis Charlo and James Michels, as flag-raisers. The panel also reviewed photographic evidence and military records to identify 24 of the men in the patrol that summited Mount Suribachi ahead of the flag-raising, as well as the troops who provided support and security for the event. "We had suspicions that the official record was in error and needed to be updated," Charles Neimeyer, director of the Marine Corps' History Division, told Military.com. "After the second flag raising [review] that we did, the commandant made a suggestion that, wouldn't it be a good idea to look at the first one." While the task was complicated by the lack of photographic evidence of the flag-raising itself -- the combat cameraman, Staff Sgt. Lou Lowery, had run out of film when it went up -- images immediately before and after the event allowed the researchers to determine where the men were during the event. In Bradley's case, there could be little doubt: The photographs showed him smiling, with his hand on the flagpole. "When he was remembering, he wasn't being disingenuous; he was remembering his role in that first flag-raising," Neimeyer said. "This confirms that, yes, he was a participant, and reaffirms that tight Navy-Marine Corps bond." Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller personally called the families of those affected by the findings, Neimeyer said. And, he added, the news was largely well received. In the case of Michels, the findings showed he hadn't been a flag-raiser as he was providing security for the other Marines with his M1 carbine. Neimeyer had a conversation with Michels' daughter, he said, who agreed his role fit with what she knew about her father. "She said he always looked out for the guys raising the flag," Neimeyer said. "And that's what he's doing in the photos." Charlo, while not a member of the flag-raising team, had been a member of the reconnaissance team ahead of the event and later provided security for the second flag-raising, the panel found. In a statement, Neller said the findings did not change the heroism or legend of those who were on the mountain. "In my mind, all of the Marines involved in getting the flags flying above Mt. Suribachi could rightfully consider themselves 'flag raisers,' " he said. "Although Marines like Cpl. Raymond Jacobs, Pfc. Louis Charlo and Pfc. James Michels may not have been directly involved in the physical act of the first flag raising, their presence on Mt. Suribachi is irrefutable and their contributions were instrumental in raising the flags that inspired thousands of Marines to keep fighting." For some, it's unclear why it took the Marine Corps so long to correct the record. "I have long been trying to get the word out that my father was part of the first flag-raising, for over a decade," James Bradley told Military.com. Bradley, author of Flags of our Fathers and John Bradley's son, noted that filmmaker Dustin Spence had come forward with evidence challenging the official narrative of first flag-raising in 2006, later making a 2010 documentary about his findings. That film concluded with Spence asking Neimeyer why the record remained unchanged, the filmmaker told Military.com. "This is the first time it has been officially changed, 2016," Spence said. "I'm extremely happy that it is because I made deathbed promises to Raymond Jacobs and to Phil Ward." The presence of Pfc. Jacobs at the first flag-raising had been in doubt by historians, Spence said. The new findings indicate he participated in the patrol up the mountain and provided support for the flag-raising as a radio operator. Spence is now on a new mission: to track down all photographs taken on Mount Suribachi that day and identify the men in each photograph to create the most accurate possible account of what took place on the mountain. He already has about 100 photos, he said; he suspects as many as 200 exist. "[Iwo Jima flag-raiser] Rene Gagnon once said we'll never truly know what happened up there," Spence said. "I disagree with that." In its conclusions, the Marine panel noted that previous attempts to more accurately identify the individuals in the first flag-raising were complicated by "the stress of combat, the lack of popular recognition as to the significance of the first flag-raising, the subsequent passage of time." The panel acknowledged the debt they owed to the research of historians, authors and forensics experts. "I'm sorry it took as long as it did," Neimeyer told Military.com. "No one ever really looked too hard at these photos after a decision had been made earlier in the Marine Corps hierarchy." Bradley, who amended his book some time ago to reflect that his father participated in the first flag-raising, but not the second, said he was pleased to see the official record finally changed. "I'm so happy that the truth is out and that history has finally been corrected," Bradley said. "I'm vitally interested in the truth actually being corrected after 71 years." -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck. Turkish tanks and troops backed by U.S. air support flying out of Incirlik Air Base crossed into Syria on Wednesday with the intent of taking the border town of Jarablus -- partly to stop it from falling to U.S.-backed Kurdish militias. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the cross-border action, called Operation Euphrates Shield, was in response to recent terror attacks claimed by ISIS in Turkey but was also aimed at the Syrian Kurdish PYD, or Democratic Union Party. The military wing of the PYD is the YPG, or People's Protection Units, which has been the most effective U.S.-backed opposition force in northeastern Syria. In a speech to the Turkish parliament, Erdogan said the move against Jarablus targeted "terror organizations such as Daesh [an Arabic acronym for ISIS) and the PYD," Turkey's Hurriyet newspaper reported. "They challenged us. They said, 'This and that will happen to Turkey in Syria.' Now I am addressing them: You should think of what will happen to yourselves." The cross-border action began with a barrage at 4 a.m. Wednesday from Turkish TSK 155mm self-propelled howitzers and rocket launchers, Turkey's Anadalou news agency reported. The barrage was followed by at least 12 airstrikes. More than 20 tanks joined by other tracked vehicles reportedly crossed the border in support of contingents of the Free Syrian Army, another opposition group backed by the U.S. By midday Wednesday, the attacking force reportedly had advanced to the Jarablus town center. A senior Obama administration official traveling with Vice President Joe Biden, who was on a fence-mending, one-day visit to Ankara, said the U.S. had agreed to provide close-air support for the action against Jarablus. In a visit to the Turkish parliament, which was bombed during a failed military coup on July 15, Biden warned the YPG that they would lose U.S. backing if they failed to meet the demand of NATO ally Turkey to stay west of the Euphrates River and away from Jarablus. "We have made it absolutely clear that they must go back across the river," Biden said. "They cannot, will not and under no circumstances get American support if they do not keep that commitment. Period." Syria's Foreign Ministry condemned the Turkish incursion as a "blatant breach to its sovereignty," Syria's state news agency reported. "Fighting terrorism on Syrian territory from any side should have been coordinated with Syrian government," the Foreign Ministry said. Turkey has repeatedly complained about U.S. support for the YPG. In May, Turkish officials were incensed when U.S. Special Forces troops training and advising the YPG in northeastern Syria showed up in Agence France Presse photos wearing YPG arm patches. Army Lt. Gen. Sean MacFarland, then-commander of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, immediately ordered the troops to take off the patches. "Wearing those patches was unauthorized and inappropriate, and corrective action has been taken. We have communicated as much" to Turkey, said Army Col. Steve Warren, MacFarland's spokesman at the time. Turkey regards the PYD, and by association the YPG, as terrorist organizations linked to the PKK, or Kurdistan Workers Party. The State Department has designated the PKK as a terrorist organization. Biden's visit was meant to allay widespread suspicions in Turkey that the U.S. may have been involved in the failed coup attempt, and also to gauge how Erdogan's recent overtures to Russia would affect U.S.-Turkey relations. Erdogan has charged that Fethullah Gulen, an Islamic cleric now living in Pennsylvania, was behind the coup attempt and demanded his extradition. "Our legal experts are working right now with their Turkish counterparts on the production of an evaluation of material and evidence that needs to be supplied to an American court to meet the requirements under our law in the extradition treaty to extradite Gulen," Biden said during a news conference with Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. Earlier this week, Yildirim raised concerns with the U.S. and NATO allies by raising the possibility that Russia might be able to share the air base at Incirlik with the U.S. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Angels closer Huston Streets season is over, as hell undergo arthroscopic surgery due to persistent medial knee pain, tweets Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. The 33-year-old is expected to be healthy for Spring Training 2017. The Orange County Registers Jeff Fletcher wrote over the weekend that surgery was possible and called it likely earlier this afternoon. Streets 2016 season has been a disaster, as the former Rookie of the Year and two-time All-Star has struggled considerably since returning from an oblique issue that cost him a month earlier this year. Street yielded just one run through his first 7 2/3 innings before that oblique injury sidelined him for nearly all of the month of May. In the 14 2/3 innings that followed, Street surrendered 15 runs on 27 hits (four homers) and 10 walks with 10 strikeouts. The 88.2 mph he averaged on his fastball this season was the lowest average velocity of any season in his 12-year big league career, and his 5.6 K/9 and 4.8 BB/9 were also career-worsts. The 2016 campaign marked the first season of a two-year, $18MM contract extension signed by Street back in May of 2015. Hes guaranteed a $9MM salary next season plus at least a $1MM buyout on a $10MM club option for the 2018 season. That salary and Streets experience (324 career saves) probably make him a lock to serve as the teams closer in 2017, but the emergence of Cam Bedrosian could at least give the Angels some reason to consider a change next year. Bedrosian is currently on the DL himself due to a finger issue, but the 24-year-old broke out with a 1.12 ERA, 11.4 K/9, 3.1 BB/9 and a 49.5 percent ground-ball rate in 40 1/3 innings this season. The lost year for Street is just one entry in what is a seemingly endless list of things that have gone wrong for the Halos in 2016. The Angels have lost both Andrew Heaney and Nick Tropeano to Tommy John surgery, while Garrett Richards hasnt taken the mound since May 1 due to a UCL injury of his own. C.J. Wilson never pitched for the Angels this year, and Jered Weaver has been a shell of his former self, working with an 82-84 mph fastball and surrendering a woeful 5.47 ERA. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the event (Photo: VNA) We will not try to attract investment at any cost, PM Phuc said, emphasizing the environmental criterion in choosing investment projects. It is time to change the way of thinking towards attaching economic growth with environmental protection for sustainable development, he said. Environmental protection is no longer an issue of the future, but the present. Therefore, it is essential to have both short-term and long-term solutions, the PM stated, adding that sustainable environment can help Vietnam stay firm in the global production value chain, he added. The Government leader noted that the heads of peoples committees at all levels should take the responsibility for the environmental protection work in their localities. He asked for closer coordination between ministries, agencies and localities in implementing the work. Praising several localities refusal of projects that can cause pollution, the PM assigned the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) to supervise the enforcement of environment-related laws and promote the efficiency of operations of environment polices. The ministry was also urged to build a set of criteria to assess the environmental protection in localities from 2017. The leader requested the building of environmental protection monitoring systems in key economic zones and environmentally sensitive areas. He assigned relevant ministries and agencies to research the establishment of an emergency response committee. The Government will issue a direction on environmental protection, he added. Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Tran Hong Ha told the meeting that many investors as well as local governments, economic organisations and the public lack the awareness and sense of responsibility about environment protection, which is reflected in the emphasis on economic benefit at the cost of the environment. The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment submitted a report, which said there are more than 2,000 investment projects that need to make reports on their impact on the environment. The country is currently home to 283 industrial zones which discharge over 550,000cu.m of wastewater per day, not to mention 615 industrial clusters along with over 500,000 production facilities. Furthermore, 787 urban areas discharge into the environment three million cu.m of wastewater per day, but only 40 out of the urban areas have standard waste treatment systems with a total capacity of 800,000cu.m per day. The use of nearly 43 million motorbikes and over two million cars nationwide generate huge gas emission that is polluting the air environment. Over 23 million tonnes of domestic waste, seven million tonnes of industrial waste, and 630,000 tonnes of harmful waste, together with 337 insanitary landfills and over 100 low-capacity incinerators are also the reasons for environmental pollution. Besides, discarded packaging from around 100,000 tonnes of plant protection chemicals each year is another source of dangerous pollutants. The report noted that although FDI businesses are contributing 70 percent of the countrys GDP, they are tending to shift their investment into environmentally-unfriendly sectors such as metallurgy, ship repairing, footwear and garment./. Investment should be directed toward upgrading the countrys ageing industrial zones, as the government contemplates launching new ones, say Yangon industrialists. As the Yangon Region government and Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) mull the regeneration of the countrys industrial base, the owners of existing factories say more can be done to make them competitive. U Ko Gyi, chair of North Dagon industrial zone, said, Officials want to develop new industrial zones to strengthen the export sector, but they are not helping the old zones to be more productive. We need upgrades, but cannot afford to do it ourselves. If there is going to be new funding or equipment, it should come to [the existing zones] first. He said most of the old industrial zones, including in North and South Dagon, were home to small enterprises occupying 2400-square-foot lots. Almost 20 years old, they suffer from decaying infrastructure, poor roads, and insufficient water and electricity supplies, he said. Waste collection is inadequate, and operators complain of high tolls on access roads and bridges. U Ko Lay, spokesperson for South Dagon industrial zone agreed, saying, Yangon Region government wants to support the industrial sector, but only seems to have in mind the big zones that already have a lot of investment. Last week, the MIC agreed to develop new industrial zones and to expand the industrial sector to boost exports. Secretary U Aung Naing Oo told media that the commission would prioritise the creation of job opportunities in factories. The MIC will soon inaugurate new industrial zones, with more job opportunities, and will also train workers in industrial skills, he said, adding that the new zones would be provided with the necessary infrastructure. This will require greater productivity, so we will set up many new small industrial zones around the country. We will work with state and regional governments to invite companies to invest in them, he said. The most important requirement is skilled labour. The development of the industrial sector depends on the provision of training. That will both attract investors and provide local residents with higher wages. Yangon Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein has said he wants to upgrade all the industrial zones in Yangon, using the citys largest zone, Hlaing Tharyar, as a pilot project. Hlaing Tharyar has much more investment than North and South Dagon industrial zones. Were worried about the level of support for the smaller zones, said U Ko Lay. South Dagon is divided into three zones of about 750 acres (300 hectares) each. Factories there are labour-intensive and lack infrastructure and a reliable power supply, he said. U Min Thu Myint, a factory owner in Shwe Pyi Thar industrial zone, said, Although our zone is more than 1300 acres [520ha], only half of it is occupied because the land is so expensive. I would like to see new zones developed, but the government should support the existing ones with new infrastructure and investment. For U Myint Zaw, general manager of Myanmar Japan Thilawa Development, which runs the countrys only special economic zone, foreign investment requires good infrastructure. To sustain economic growth and to cut the trade deficit, we need to invest in export-oriented industries and import-substitution companies. But we cant attract that kind of investment without guaranteeing a reliable electricity supply, he said. In Thilawa SEZ, we are inviting that kind of investment for the future of our country, but even here, we cannot match neighbouring countries when it comes to providing electricity. There are 19 industrial zones in the country, with a further six under development. Two more SEZs are at the planning stages in Dawei, Tanintharyi Region, and Rakhine States Kyaukphyu. With oil and gas majors planning to ramp up their Myanmar operations the need for a local offshore supply base is becoming critical. Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE) is preparing to issue a tender to build and operate multiple bases, while a Singaporean joint venture is hoping to receive approval for its own supply base in the next few months. World prices for oil and liquefied natural gas may have fallen in recent years but Myanmar authorities have high hopes for the countrys production of both commodities. The government announced in April that international companies had started surveys at almost half of the 20 offshore-blocks awarded in a 2013 bidding round. Several international firms are now preparing to step up activity in Myanmar. Australian company Woodside made two gas discoveries earlier this year and is preparing a significant drilling campaign in 2017, the firm said in its half-year results published last week. The anticipated increase in activity, however, highlights the lack of offshore supply facilities, and local and foreign firms are well aware there is a lucrative opportunity to provide such infrastructure. MOGE owns the countrys only existing supply base at Thaketa near Yangon. But this is largely unsuitable because of a lack of water depth and is in serious need of upgrading, according to Andre Wheeler, chief executive of Asia Pacific Connex, who is helping Singaporean firm 2 Fish with its plans to construct an offshore supply base in Mawlamyine. Oil and gas firms in Myanmar mainly use supply bases in Thailand and Singapore, depriving Myanmar of valuable economic activity, said U Than Lin, deputy managing director at MOGE. A Woodside spokesperson said the firm uses a combination of Singapore, Ranong in Thailand and Myanmars Thaketa. The money is flowing to [those other countries], said U Than Lin. Also if we have a supply base in Myanmar it will easier to bring the materials to the operations, because there will be less distance to travel. Local and international firms are well aware that the right to build and operate a base would be lucrative. We have had many interested persons coming in and making presentations, said U Than Lin. He said MOGE is planning on issuing a tender for the construction and operation of several offshore supply bases this year, but needs to find an international consultant to help with the process. The state-owned entity has long recognised the need for a new supply base, which would make the countrys oil and gas industry more efficient and create local employment opportunities. An offshore supply base (OSB) provides a raft of facilities, including berths for supply and construction vessels, cranes and lifting equipment, helicopter rescue facilities, warehouses, and waste management and oil spill equipment. MOGE invited bids from interested companies for a joint venture in the first half of last year, and received 52 expressions of interest (EOI) from local and international firms. But the process then stalled and none of the firms that sent EOIs were selected. U Than Lin said those EOIs would not be ignored, and that MOGE will contact those firms when it holds its planned tender. Myanmar needs two or perhaps three offshore supply bases, but for the number depends on input from the international consultant, he said. Any one firm would only be allowed to operate one base. We dont want a monopoly, he said. He did not provide further details of the tenders structure, but said that MOGE will not provide the land for the base. The state-owned entity said last year that it would not provide any capital for a joint venture OSB. Oil and gas industry figures suggested that the lack of offshore facilities was a factor in US firm Chevrons decision to put its Myanmar assets up for sale, as reported by Reuters in April. Chevron has a 28.3 percent non-operator interest in the Yadana gasfields blocks M-5 and M-6, and is involved in the pipeline that sends the gas to Thailand. A Chevron spokesperson, however, said the lack of offshore supply bases had not affected the firms position on its Myanmar investment. There has been no decision yet on whether to sell the Myanmar assets, and the firm would only proceed with a sale if it could realise attractive value, the spokesperson added. But additional supply and logistics infrastructure could make Myanmars oil and gas industry more economically efficient, the Woodside spokesperson said. He declined to comment on whether the company would be prepared to invest in an offshore base, but said it supported MOGEs efforts to create one. While MOGE works on its tender, 2 Fish subsidiary Myanmar Offshore Supply Base (MOSB) is hoping to receive approval from the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) by the end of the year to build and operate a supply base, chief executive Leonard Oh told The Myanmar Times. He added that it remains unclear exactly what category of license operating an offshore supply base will require, but said that the MIC had accepted the initial application because under MIC notification 49 an offshore supply base was not one of the activities that required a joint venture with the Ministry of Energy. The planned Mawlamyine facility would drastically reduce the travelling time for oil and gas firms with Myanmar operations, which would otherwise have to travel to Singapore or Thailand, he said. Mr Oh said his firm has an agreement with the Mon State government to lease 46 acres of land for 50 years, with a standard option of two 10-year extensions. This lease will come into effect if the MIC gives its approval. With the land certification in place MOSB received a no objection verdict from a required list of over 10 different ministries and government bodies including the former Ministry of Energy, of which MOGE is a part, he added. Once the MIC approval is in place MOSB will issue its own tender for an international firm to build and operate the planned base. Outsourcing the construction and operation to a qualified international firm should remove the possibility that the new Ministry of Electricity and Energy could object to MOSB being allowed to proceed on the grounds it lacked the experience or expertise, Mr Oh said. An urban expert has approached the government with fresh ideas for expanding Yangon beyond its urban borders, in the hope of encouraging well-planned development, after the previous administrations ambitious but vague plans for the city fell short. Faced with accelerating urban growth, municipal authorities under the Thein Sein government planned to build seven satellite towns on the outskirts of Yangon but failed, partly due to opposition from communities but mostly because of a lack of detailed planning. Only one tender out of seven was called, for the Southwest New City, an 11,716-acre site between the Pan Hlaing River, the Twante-Yangon Canal, the Hlaing River and the Hlaing Tharyar-Twante road in western Yangon. The three companies that applied for the tender were awarded the contract and asked to work together. However, no work has yet started because the company is still waiting for permission from the current government to build a bridge across the Hlaing River to connect the area with central Yangon. Now the government may scrap these old plans altogether and look for new locations to build, U Nay Naing Oo (NLD; Twante) told The Myanmar Times. Satellite towns are part of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)s Greater Yangon 2040 master plan, which aims to cater to an expected urban population of 10 million by 2040. Yangon needs satellite towns, so the Planning, Finance and Economic Committee is asking experts where they think the best places are to build. We will submit their ideas to Yangon Region parliament, U Nay Naing Oo said. Urban planner U Kyaw Latt presented a new plan to the committee last week, he said, including four possible locations for satellite towns: Lay Daungkan ward in East Dagon township; a site near to Kalawe Bridge in Thanlyin township; a site between Dala and Kungyangon townships; and a site on the western side of Yangon River in Kyeemyindaing township. The government is also debating whether or not to pursue the Southwest New City project, U Nay Naing Oo said. We have been discussing whether this is a good place to build a new city, he said. U Kyaw Latt said the [former governments] project should not be built and pointed out that Lay Daungkan in East Dagon includes 17,000 acres of affordable land that would not be too expensive for the government to buy from residents. The area is also not too far from a main road that leads to Bago, where a new international airport is planned at Hanthawaddy, he said. The Yangon-Mandalay railway also passes through the area. Committee chair Daw Sandar Min said this is the first time the Yangon government has discussed urban expansion plans with experts and noted that discussions are still at a preliminary stage. We will meet with a wide range of urban experts and discuss the citys development many times, she said. We will only make an official announcement when we have a detailed plan. Some 162 on-strike Myanmar migrant workers in Thailands Lopburi province are now reliant on donations in order to purchase food, as a stand-off with factory management over unpaid wages continues. The employees of a vermicelli noodle factory in Ban Pon town stopped work last week, said the Thailand-based Aid Alliance Committee (AAC). Ko Shine Aung, a representative of the workers, told The Myanmar Times on August 21 that the migrants had worked at the factory since May this year. All were on a two-year contract through Moon Beam overseas employment agency. He said it is not the first time the factory has failed to pay wages on time. We have stopped working since August 17 because we were unpaid. We have no food because we have no money to buy it. The AAC and other organisations have donated foods and water, Ko Shine Aung said. The factorys owners reportedly agreed in writing to pay the workers salaries on August 13 and 28, after discussions between the Myanmar embassy, the employment agency and Thai labour officials in July. But payments due on August 13 failed to eventuate and the workers say they plan to take action. We will sue the agency because they sent us to this factory ... The agency has failed to solve our grievances effectively in the past. We often had to protest to get our unpaid wages, said Ko Shine Aung. The Moon Beam agency and Myanmar embassy officials have agreed to meet with factory owners on August 24 to resolve the dispute, said the AAC. The factory owner told us that they cant pay the wages to the workers because he has no work orders, AAC representative U Khaing Gyi told The Myanmar Times. We couldnt understand why the Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Federation asked the workers to keep waiting because workers have no money and no food, he said. The AAC and local civil society groups have been collecting private donations in order to supply the workers with food and water. Concerns over possible breaches of a memorandum of understanding between the Thai and Myanmar governments has meant the workers have had to stay put while the dispute is being resolved, said U Khaing Gyi. We have requested the workers not to go out, and to wait for [the result of the August 24 meeting], because if they go out on the street they will be illegal according to the MoU, he said. The Myanmar Times attempted to contact Myanmar embassy officials in Thailand, but was unsuccessful. The Moon Beam agencys Ma May Zu Hlaing said she would travel to Thailand this week in support of the workers. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc offers incense to commemorate late President Ho Chi Minh at House 67 (Source: VNA) The PM expressed his endless gratitude to the President for the great services he rendered to the national struggle for independence and reunification on the occasion of the Presidents 47th death commemorative anniversary (September 2nd, 1969) and the 47th year of implementing the Presidents testament. House 67 in the Presidential Palace is where the great leader lived, worked and passed away. It provides a venue for the Political Bureaus meetings during the fiercest years of the Vietnam war. PM Phuc met with the staff working in the President Ho Chi Minh relic site, asking them to pay more attention to popularizing the Presidents heritage to help people of all walks of life and international friends gain thorough understanding of the great leaders life and career and the countrys revolutionary cause./. Authorities in Rakhine State have announced they will take action against licensed boat owners who do not keep life jackets on board, following the sinking of a school ferry that claimed the life of four students in Rathedaung township. The boat, which was carrying 17 students, sank on the morning of August 19 as it approached the riverbank. The bodies of the four schoolgirls who drowned were found three days after the accident. Rakhine State Minister for Development U Min Aung said licences would be revoked for those boat owners who did not follow the order. He noted that this was the second such incident in recent months, with seven students having been killed under similar circumstances in June. We dont want this kind [of incident to happen] again, and we want students to be able to go to school safely, he said. The Rathedaung Township Police Department said the ferry was overloaded, and was the only way for the students to get to school. U Zayar Hlaing of Rathedaung Township Special Branch said the student ferries from Kong Tanzay village to Yan Aung Pyin Basic Education High School are running again, albeit under supervision to ensure that they are not overloaded and that life jackets are onboard. In addition to overloading, U Zayar Hlaing said the high speed at which the small boats are driven can make the journeys more hazardous. Heavy rainfall and tidal surges can also play a contributing factor. The ferryboat driver turned himself in and he was charged under section 280 of the penal code, said U Zayar Hlaing. Arakan National Party state representative U Oo Than Naing (ANP; Rathedaung 1) criticised the governments response on the matter, saying two such incidents in the space of less than two months was unacceptable. The government did not carry out proper implementation for students safety after the ferryboat sank the first time [in June], he said. He pointed out that many people in Rakhine State rely on boats for inland water travel, and it was the states obligation to ensure safe transportation for students. The four girls drowned in the August 19 incident ranged in age from nine to 13. All were enrolled at school in Yan Aung Pyin village. The commission tasked with reviewing and scrutinising hydropower projects along the Ayeyarwady River met for the first time this week, with the recently formed body planning to submit an interim report on its findings next month. Irrigation expert U Cho Cho, a member of the commission, told The Myanmar Times yesterday that the commission has begun reviewing several reports on matters ranging from environmental impacts to dam designs. It has also requested that the government disclose agreements inked for the projects, including the deal struck between the former military government and a Chinese state-run firm for the controversial Myitsone mega-dam in Kachin State. The commission cannot rescind the agreements. We can only review the agreements on hydropower projects ... The commission began its duties on August 22, U Cho Cho said. The commission held two days of meetings this week with all 20 members in attendance. State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Chinese leaders discussed the Myitsone hydropower project during her visit to China last week. Responding to questions from reporters following those meetings, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said her government had created the review commission to determine the best way to resolve the impasse over the fate of the Myitsone dam, which was suspended by then-president U Thein Sein in 2011 amid public uproar over the project. She added that she could not yet say what that solution might be and would await the commissions findings. This is precisely the duty of the commission to find out what the best solution is going to be, said the state counsellor. In its review, the commission has been instructed to determine whether hydropower projects along the countrys main waterway should go forward, bearing in mind costs and benefits to citizens. The commission is to submit its first full report to President U Htin Kyaw by November 11. The commission must also assess contractual arrangements and seek solutions amenable to both Myanmars people and foreign investors, as well as collect the opinions of average citizens and civil society organisations. U Cho Cho said the commissions initial work would not include surveying locals and CSOs, and that this would come later. Daw Ja Hkaung of the Kachin State-based Mungchying Rawt Jat organisation, a long-time opponent of the Myitsone project, said the commission needed to analyse all aspects of the dam, adding that the outcome of the review must be accepted by the public. The commission should be cautious of the peoples desire. If the commission reports that [the project] should continue, the people will be angry not only at the commission but also at the government, she said. U Aye Thar Aung (Arakan National Party; Rakhine 6), deputy Speaker of the Amyotha Hluttaw, highlighted the Ayeyarwady Rivers value to the nation, while noting the difficult spot the government has been put in. The river is the lifeblood of our country and people dont want it to be damaged. The peoples wish is to cancel the project. But we need to consider that China is a neighbouring country, he said. The former military junta and China Power Investment Corporation inked an agreement to construct the US$3.6 billion Myitsone dam in 2006. A relocation program for locals who would be displaced by the dams reservoir began in 2009. Two years later the project was suspended, however, with U Thein Sein conceding to an opposition campaign that objected to potential negative environmental impacts and an arrangement that would have seen some 90 percent of the electricity generated sent across the border to power Chinas Yunnan province. In a surprise shake-up at the top, former president U Thein Sein handed over his Union Solidarity and Development Party leadership role yesterday to U Than Htay, a member of the USDP central executive committee. U Thein Sein, whose party suffered a crushing defeat at the ballot box last November, will still hold a position within the formerly ruling USDP, as its patron. His unexpected abdication of the USDP chairship came on the second day of the partys convention in Nay Pyi Taw, which barred media access. U Than Htay was selected to succeed U Thein Sein in a vote by the partys central committee. A former brigadier general who served as both energy and railways minister under U Thein Seins government, 61-year-old U Than Htay will take the helm of a party, badly bruised in the wake of last years election losses (see profile). He is low-profile within the party, even though he is a very talented person, U Hla Swe, a prominent USDP member and former lawmaker, told The Myanmar Times after news of yesterdays leadership reshuffle broke. He was well-known as an obedient soldier when he served as an assistant to General Thura Kyaw Htin [a former Tatmadaw commander-in-chief]. U Hla Swe added that party members welcomed U Than Htays rise to the top, viewing him as a young and energetic leader. We believe he can lead the party very well because he was elected by a free election, not for show, U Hla Swe said. Since May, the USDP has been holding grassroots-level elections for members of the central executive committee. After elections were held at the village and regional levels, we formed the central committee with 273 members, said U Khin Yi, who yesterday was elected as a new central executive committee member as well as disciplinary committee chair. At the convention, the central committee elected 38 members of the central executive committee led by U Than Htay. He said he believes U Than Htay is well-suited for the position as the party chair because he is a long-term party member dedicated to working for the USDP. U Than Htay also received a masters degree in defence and earned many honours when he served in the military. He knows the party very well both the good and bad, said U Khin Yi. He also has had good leadership experience in his ministerial roles. In other changes yesterday, retired general U Myat Hein, a former minister for information and communications, was elected to serve as deputy chair, with U Thet Naing Win, a former minister for border affairs and a retired lieutenant general, elected as general secretary of the committee. In addition to anointing a new chair, the USDP formed a new central leadership committee comprising nine senior party members and led by U Thein Sein. The leadership committee will function in an advisory role, said U Khin Yi. Former party co-chair U Htay Oo, former parliamentary Speaker U Khin Aung Myint, and prominent senior party members Thura U Aye Myint, U Thaung, U Soe Tha, U Tin Htut and Thura U Myint Maung will join U Thein Sein in advisory roles. Yesterdays shake-up was a direct result of the November 2015 election, U Khin Yi said. We reformed the party with new faces, he said. All these changes are made with the aim of winning the 2020 election. Many were surprised by the changes, and many were sceptical that they would help the USDP alter the outcomes of a by-election due next year or of the nationwide election in 2020. If they want to win, they must change their attitudes and behaviour for the sake of the people, not for the party, said political commentator U Yan Myo Thein. It is impossible to win elections just by making changes to the leadership roles. Although U Thein Sein will take on an advisory role, U Yan Myo Thein said he and the other senior leaders still remain the real power behind the party. This group will not give up their roles and will maintain control over the party as retired generals, still controlling the party by forming a new powerful committee led by U Thein Sein, he said. The real reason behind the change was to quell problems within the party, said political analyst U Sithu Aung Myint. The USDP has had issues with unity at the leadership level, with splits occurring between factions led by Thura U Shwe Mann on one hand and U Thein Sein on the other. The issue is very hard to solve, U Sithu Aung Myint said. U Thein Sein removed Thura U Shwe Mann and his followers but many senior members still strongly support Thura U Shwe Mann for the party leadership role. If they want the party to be strong, the leaders will have to solve this issue of the split. I assume U Thein Sein reformed the party leadership by officially removing senior members who support Thura U Shwe Mann. This is the first step the USDP should take. Soon after the USDP announced its new leadership committee, the Special Issues and Legal Affairs Commission, led by Thura U Shwe Mann, released a statement with suggestions for the future of the USDP. May the party, including chairman, vice chairman, general secretary and central executive committee, move forward for the sake of the country, the statement said. Thura U Shwe Mann also took to Facebook to discuss the leadership changes. As with the partys policy, without perceiving any political party as foes and rivals, but as partners, I wish the party would continue to cooperate with any individual or organisation for the interest of the nation and the citizens by having dialogue, he said. It is very early to predict the future of the USDP, said U Sithu Aung Myint. We will have to wait and see how much changes. Profile of U Than Htay U Than Htay was born in November 1954 in Ayeyarwady Regions Myanaung township. When he was 17, he was accepted into the Defence Services Academy and earned a bachelor of arts and a masters degree in defence. Serving in the military until 2010, and peaking as a brigadier general, he received many honours. U Than Htay joined the Union Solidarity and Development Party at its founding in the lead-up to the 2010 election. He won election to the Pyithu Hluttaw, representing Myanaung township, in the 2012 by-election, and served as minister for energy and for railways. In November 2015, he ran for re-election but was defeated. He is a member of the partys executive committee and head of its youth affairs committee. (back to top) Former UN general secretary Kofi Annan will advise Myanmar's government on resolving conflicts in Rakhine State, the office of the state counsellor announced today. Rakhine State, one of the poorest in the Union, was wracked by sectarian violence in 2012 that forced more than 100,000 mostly Muslims who ethnically identify as Rohingya into squalid displacement camps where they face severe restrictions on movement as well as access to health care, education, and other other basic services. Addressing the ongoing crises has posed one of the most troubling challenges to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy-led government. Earlier today, the government announced the formation of an advisory panel that will be chaired by former UN chief, and focus on "finding lasting solutions to the complex and delicate issues in the Rakhine State". The board will submit recommendations to the government on "conflict prevention, humanitarian assistance, rights and reconciliation, institution-building and promotion of development of Rakhine State," a statement from the state counsellor's office said. The statement did not use the word "Rohingya". Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has come under fire both at home and from international rights groups for failing prioritise to address the group's plight and seeking to placate hardline Buddhist nationalists by avoiding the politically-charged term. The government has already requested that the US Embassy and other diplomatic groups avoid the term Rohingya, and in June, she proposed "Muslim community of Rakhine State". The proposed neutral terminology, which the state counsellor ordered government officials to adopt, sparked mass protests in Rakhine State and in Yangon by hardline nationalists, who insist on use of the term "Bengali" that was also preferred by the previous government's to suggest the group's origins in neighbouring Bangladesh. In July UN special rapporteur for human rights Yanghee Lee urged the government to make ending "institutionalised discrimination" against the Rohingya and other Muslims in Rakhine an urgent priority. Myanmar also announced this week that current UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will attend the highly-anticipated 21st Century Panglong conference at the end of the month. The five-day talks, aimed at ending a host of complicated border ethnic conflicts that have lasted for decades, will begin on August 31. This article has been updated. Read the newest version here Breaking: A powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit central Myanmar today, the US Geological Survey reported. The quake, which the agency said struck at a depth of 84 kilometres (52 miles), was felt in Yangon, as well as in the Thai and Bangladesh capitals (see map below). Officials from Myanmar's Relief and Resettlement Department confirmed four casualties, as well as damage to 68 stupas and pagodas. The epicentre was near Chauk, a town on the Ayeyarwady River around 30 kilometres south of Bagan, Myanmar's most famous archaeological site and home to more than 2,500 Buddhist monuments. "Some famous pagodas were damaged during the earthquake," a tourist police officer from Bagan said, adding some of the damage in the major tourist destination was "serious". Soe Win, a regional MP from the township in Magwe region, told AFP the tremors lasted for several minutes. "There was also some sound as well. A pagoda collapsed in Salay and a building also collapsed," he said. The death of a 22-year-old in a building collapse near the epicentre was also confirmed. The USGS estimated that the impact would be "relatively localised" but noted that many buildings in the region are "highly vulnerable" to earthquake shaking. The quake was also felt in the Indian city of Kolkata, rocking tall structures and sending panicked residents out onto the streets. "Services of the underground railway have been suspended fearing aftershocks of the quake," Kolkata Metro Railway spokesman Indrani Banerjee told AFP. It was also felt throughout south and southwestern Bangladesh close to the border with Myanmar, with television footage showing residents running into the streets. At least 20 people were injured as panicked workers tried to flee a building in the industrial area of Savar outside Dhaka, ATN Bangla television reported. "All of us ran to the streets leaving the houses and shops unsecured as the quake seemed very dangerous," Nazmus Sakib from the southern city of Chittagong close to the Myanmar border wrote on his Facebook wall. Earthquakes are relatively common in Myanmar, though there has not been a major quake since 2012. The last major quake struck in a nearby region in April and caused minor damages but no casualties. This story is developing, and will be updated as more information becomes available. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will attend the opening ceremony of the 21st-century Panglong Conference on August 31, according to U Zaw Htay, deputy director general of the Presidents Office. The United Nations has been supportive of the peace process of our country, U Zaw Htay said in explaining the reasoning behind the governments invitation to the UN chief. The secretary general, whose term will expire at the end of this year, will also attend a state-hosted dinner, he added. We are inviting all diplomats, embassies, donors to the peace process and international organisations to attend the 21st-century Panglong Conference, U Zaw Htay said. Vijay Nambiar, the UN secretary generals special adviser for Myanmar, who attended last months summit of ethnic armed organisations in Mai Ja Yang, Kachin State, said at the time that the United Nations would continue to support Myanmar in achieving internal peace by engaging with all concerned stakeholders. Meanwhile, following protests by some politicians, a planned meeting of political parties that did not win any seats in last years election, scheduled to select representatives for five seats at the Panglong Conference table, was called off yesterday. Members of about 30 political parties were left angry by a failure to address their grievances, chiefly that the seat allocation granted by the government was too small. According to accounts from some of the aggrieved, the officer-in-charge at the NRPC said he did not have the authority to handle the complaint, but would report the results of the meeting to his superiors. Although State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi previously said non-election-winning parties would not have any representation at the Panglong Conference and should instead join a Civil Society Organisations Peace Forum to be held concurrently, the government later backtracked and said five seats would be reserved for the parties as appropriate others, a designation that has been granted 50 seats in total. More than 1800 people are expected to attend the Panglong Conference in one capacity or another, according to peace negotiators. In accordance with the texts of the nationwide ceasefire agreement and the political dialogue framework, political parties are recognised as a vested stakeholder afforded representation at the political dialogue. However, the two guiding documents for Myanmars peace process do not clearly state whether political parties that failed to win a single race in last years election fall within the terms. At the Union Peace Conference held during the term of then-president U Thein Sein in January, all political parties were invited to the conference, given 150 seats to split among more than 90 registered political parties regardless of their electoral status. All told, more than 700 representatives attended that conference. Since the non-winning political parties are officially registered in accordance with the law, they should be allowed to participate in the peace process regardless of their size and election results, read a statement released yesterday by some of the non-winning parties, making the case that the conference marked an important event for the whole country. The intention of the meeting was to select five representatives on behalf of 70 political parties, who will not be allowed to participate as representatives of political parties, but as appropriate individuals. We strongly protest the plan, which is discriminatory, said the statement. In an apparent overture, government peace aides, after concluding a meeting with armed ethnic groups and election-winning political parties this week, said all chairpersons of non-election-winning political parties would be invited to the first day of the five-day conference in Nay Pyi Taw. Saw Than Myint, a member of the Federal Union Party, said that was not enough, arguing that the governments five-seat plan for non-election winning parties was unfair and discriminatory. We are also officially registered political parties. Will it be relevant if political parties are not allowed in the political dialogue and negotiation talks? It is unfair to exclude political parties from the Union Peace Conference, he said. Three ethnic Kayah political parties the All Nationalities Democracy Party (Kayah State), the Kayah Unity Democracy Party and the Kayan National Party on August 20 decided to reject a Panglong Conference invitation sent by the government, echoing accusations of discrimination. Man Aung Pyi Soe, a senior official from the Phlone-Sqaw Democratic Party, said four Karen parties his own, the Karen National Party, the Karen Democratic Party, and the Karen State Democracy and Development Party have urged the government to allow the non-election-winning parties to attend the conference as political parties rather than appropriate individuals because the latter are not political entities. He proposed another means of allocating representation for the 150 seats afforded to political parties, saying each registered political party - totalling 92 in all - should be given one seat, with the remaining 58 divided among election-winning parties. Salai Ngai Sak, chair of the Chin League for Democracy, said the governments plan has created controversy even among non-election-winning parties, about 70 of which are being told they will have to find a way to share just five seats. Each registered political party should be given a seat at the table, he said. But political commentator U Than Soe Naing said the representative framework of the Panglong Conference was already too sprawling to allow for genuine discussions among the various stakeholders. Losing the election means they do not have an electoral mandate. But here, it is not important if they are invited to the conference or not. Political parties should consider whether the conference is actually a place where the concerns they raise will be taken seriously, he said. He added, nonetheless, that the conference would be more than just political theatre because no gathering in the past has been as considerably inclusive and big as the upcoming 21st-century Panglong. With non-winning political parties continuing to cry foul, the seat-sharing arrangement for the 22 election-winning parties has already been made, with each party given seven seats. I think it is fair because a party that only won one seat in the election would still have seven seats at the table. We want equality among the election-winning parties, said U Tun Tun Hein, a National League for Democracy official. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is meeting with the ethnic armed group signatories to the NCA in Nay Pyi Taw today. Perhaps at wits end over chronic blackouts in the commercial capital, Yangon University is working on two projects that will allow it to generate electricity in-house. Yangon University rector U Pho Kaung said, We are undertaking two projects to get electricity. The first project is deploying a solar [power] system, which is being carried out jointly with Kyoto University from Japan. Another project is in collaboration with Mid-West University from South Korea, to generate electricity from combustible materials. Both Kyoto University and Mid-West University have signed memoranda of understanding with Yangon University, offering technical support. The Asia Research Center at Yangon University is providing financial support for the projects. Residents of Myanmars biggest city hoping to benefit from the new power sources will be disappointed, however. The electricity generated from these projects is only for Yangon University use. It is not much more we can use for lighting, but we cant use it to power [intensive electricity-demanding appliances] such as air con, U Pho Kaung said, adding that power generation would total 30 kilowatts. Surveys for both projects have already been completed and installation works are expected to begin next month. The two projects will be finish before December 2016. We will give a showing to public at a ceremony for the 96th anniversary of Yangon University, U Pho Kaung said. Yangon University, once one of the regions most preeminent institutions of higher learning, was founded in 1920. A 62-year-old woman was freed on August 22 after spending 22 days in jail for allegedly defaming another woman on Facebook. Last month, Daw Myint Myint Than took to the social media site to accuse Daw Moe Moe Oo of failing to repay K4 million that the former had lent the latter. In response, Daw Moe Moe Oo and her son, Soe Thiha, a lawyer, filed a lawsuit under the Telecommunications Law of 2013, claiming that Daw Myint Myint Than had defamed them online. Police detained Daw Myint Myint Than on July 31 in Pazundaung township and a judge denied her the right to bail. She spent 15 days in Pazundaungs police station and another seven days in Insein Prison. It was mentally disturbing because I did not commit any crimes, she said. The judge had denied her bail under an 1898 criminal code, said Daw Myint Myint Thans attorney U Robert San Aung. He questioned the courts decision to use the specific section of the legal code it settled on when there are similar charges in the penal code and the 2004 Electronic Act. Magwe Sayadaw U Pamaukkha showed up in front of Pazungdaung Township Court on August 22 to condemn the earlier decision not to grant bail. He called the court and police stations actions unreasonable. A power plant fuelled by garbage will add 300 kilowatts an hour to the Yangon city grid, while at the same time reducing pollution, experts say. The waste-energy factory, due to open next April in Shwe Pyi Thar township, is already 80 percent complete, said U Aung Myint Maw, assistant chief engineer at Yangon City Development Committee. Test runs will be conducted next February and March, he said. The factory will produce 700KW of electricity per hour, of which 400KW will be used to run the equipment, leaving 300KW for city use, he said. Now were negotiating with YESC over the price per unit, he said, referring to Yangon Electricity Supply Corporation. Energy ministry spokesperson U Sann Yu said no agreement had yet been reached. The US$16 million funding was provided by the Myanmar government and the Japanese Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment on a 50-50 basis. The factory will burn 60 tonnes of rubbish a day, taken from the Mingaladon dump, which grows by 72 tonnes a day. U Aung Myint Maw said that if left unburned, the rubbish would pollute the air, earth and subsoil. Burning the garbage will reduce air pollution by 75pc, he said. If sufficient funding can be generated, the city would like to build a second rubbish-burning factory. YCDC says costs could be significantly reduced if similar factories could be built in all four districts of Yangon. U Kyaw Tint, chair of the Ecosystem Conservation and Community Development Initiative, welcomed the project. Electricity generation from bio-energy is exactly what is needed, he said. Got a problem you think your local MP can fix? On August 27 you can call him or her up and talk about it. Elected representatives from six southern Yangon Region townships will be available on that morning to answer their constituents questions. MPs from both the upper and lower house and the Yangon Region government for the townships of Dala, Seikgyi Kanaungto, Twante, Kawhmu, Kungyangon and Cocokyun will respond to calls on 01-2399108 between 9am to 12 noon, says Blue Ocean Operating Management Company. Our CEO, U Tun Tun Naing, discussed with MPs how they could communicate with people directly without any media barrier, Blue Ocean spokesperson Ko Aung Aung Zaw told The Myanmar Times yesterday. Calls can be made through Ooredoo, Telenor or MPT. The line has actually been operative since August 8, with staff taking calls from members of the public and passing on their suggestions and concerns to the MPs. Its been working fine so far. We take down the information and pass it on to the MPs, said Ko Aung Aung Zaw. But on August 27, the MPs themselves will be picking up the phone at Blue Ocean Contact Centre on Pyay Road in Yangon. Amyotha Hluttaw MP U Kyaw Htwe (NLD; Yangon 8) said the hotline would help busy MPs keep in closer touch with the people they were representing. We have a responsibility to help people in difficulty. If we cant do anything directly, we will transfer the issue to the relevant department, he said. President Tran Dai Quang (Source: VNA) Vietnam and Brunei established diplomatic ties on February 29th, 1992. Since then, the two countries regularly exchanged visits and high-ranking meetings. Bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation has made big strides with two-way trade jumping from USD24.2 million in 2010 to USD73.7 million in 2015. The figure hit USD17 million as of June 2016. Vietnam mainly exports seafood and rice to Brunei while importing chemicals from the country. As of June 2016, Brunei has run 205 projects valued at more than USD2.18 billion in Vietnam, ranking 18th out of 116 countries and territories investing in the country and fourth among other ASEAN investors, behind Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Vietnam has one project worth USD650,000 in Brunei, specialising in metals and chemicals. The two countries also hold a lot of potential for cooperation in fisheries, real estate and education-training. Of note, they inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on educational cooperation in April 2014. Apart from scholarships granted to Vietnamese students to study in Brunei, the country has also offered oil and English scholarships to Vietnam. The two sides have also signed a range of agreements and MoUs on affiliation in tourism, aviation and trade. The Presidents trip to Singapore from August 28th-30th is crucial and meaningful, said Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Nguyen Tien Minh. Singapore is one of the first countries President Tran Dai Quang has visited after he took office, which manifests the importance Vietnam has attached to the countrys role in the region as well as the bilateral ties, the diplomat said. During the trip, representatives of the two countries new leaderships will seek measures to enhance bilateral cooperation and help each other reach their set targets in the time ahead. The relations between the two countries began in the 1990s and developed into strategic partnership in 2013. Two-way trade grew 12 percent annually in the past three consecutive years. Singapore now is Vietnams third largest investors, just behind Japan and the Republic of Korea, with a total investment at USD36 billion, Minh noted. Singapore has prioritised its investments in manufacturing, processing and real estate in Vietnam, he said, suggesting Vietnam seek ways to lure more Singaporean investments in other fields while enhancing the bilateral collaboration in politics, security, national defence, culture and sports. Mentioning the Vietnam-Singapore Agreement on Economic Connectivity signed in 2005, the ambassador described economic connectivity as a strategic step since the two economies are reciprocal. Singapore has capital and experience in economic development and nation-building while Vietnam boasts an abundant labour force and rich natural resources, he further explained. Joining hands with each other, the two countries aim to access not only the respective markets but the ASEAN Economic Community, ASEANs six partner countries and members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreements at large, he noted./. As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the World Wide Web, it gets more and more difficult to imagine life without it or without cat videos. And although our world certainly has been transformed by the webs capabilities, its history includes some persistent myths and comically naive predictions. Myth No 1: We know who invented the web and the internet, and when Ask Google who invented the web and the internet, and it will give you an answer. But the concept of invention does not map well to the actual histories of these technologies, which arose from collaborations among large numbers of people and whose development features very few moments that were obvious transformations. The history of the web has one singular figure, Tim Berners-Lee, who wrote the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) to format text-based documents, the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) to send documents across the internet, and a software program to view or browse pages. But Berners-Lee did not sit down one day and create the internet. There were many precursors, including ideas and systems sketched by Paul Otlet, Vannevar Bush and Ted Nelson. And Berners-Lee began to play with hypertext programs in 1980, nearly 10 years before he and Robert Cailliau developed a proposal for an information-management system. Other milestones included the posting of the first website on December 20, 1990; when Berners-Lee announced the web project to a public mailing list on August 6, 1991; and the declaration on April 30, 1993, that the webs underlying code would be publicly and freely available. Myths about the internets militaristic origins and Al Gores role have proved difficult to kill, despite some clear documentation of the facts by networking pioneers including Stephen Lukasik, Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn. Myth No 2: The web is an American innovation Discussions about internet governance often focus on international pressure to diminish US control. The US Defense Department spent hundreds of millions of dollars from the late 1960s to the mid-1980s developing the core technologies of the internet. Through entities such as the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) and the Defense Communications Agency, defence investments played major roles in the creation of the digital infrastructure that we use to browse the web. Congress and the White House yes, including congressman and later vice president Al Gore passed legislation and set policies to support the development of the commercial internet and e-commerce. And of course many icons of the webs history are American: Yahoo, AOL, Google and others. But the webs origins are distinctly European, and even the American contributions were infused with international collaboration. Berners-Lee, an Englishman, created some of the webs key technologies while working as a software consultant alongside Cailliau, a Belgian engineer, at a Swiss lab. The American protagonists of internet development at ARPA, Cerf and Kahn, worked closely with European researchers and built on the concepts of French computer scientist Louis Pouzin. And when Gore promoted the information superhighway, he did so within the context of an explicitly globalist vision, such as in a famous 1994 speech at the International Telecommunications Union. Myth No 3: Government power is obsolete on the internet The web came of age in an era of globalisation, so people writing about it picked up some of the same dizzying enthusiasm about what the future might hold. The best example is John Perry Barlows A Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace, which he wrote in Davos, Switzerland, in 1996. Barlow, a libertarian rancher from Wyoming and lyricist for the Grateful Dead, included some beautiful lines in his manifesto: Governments of the Industrial World, you weary giants of flesh and steel, I come from Cyberspace, the new home of Mind You have no sovereignty where we gather Your legal concepts of property, expression, identity, movement and context do not apply to us. They are all based on matter, and there is no matter here. Experience suggests that Barlows enthusiasm got the better of him. Over the past three decades, governments at all levels local, state, national and international have claimed and exercised jurisdiction over behaviour online. Examples include filtering and censorship regimes such as Chinas Great Firewall, court rulings that forced Yahoo to remove Nazi memorabilia from its online auction service in France and international treaties to protect intellectual property implemented in the United States via the Digital Millennium Copyright Act to say nothing of vast systems of espionage like those exposed by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden. Barlows essay also embodied some deeper flaws in cyberlibertarian arguments, which obscure the formative role of government in the creation and maintenance of network technologies. In his scolding of Governments of the Industrial World, Barlow wrote, You have not engaged in our great and gathering conversation, nor did you create the wealth of our marketplaces. In doing so, he ignored the ingenuity and investment of the government employees who created the internet and the web. Myth No 4: The gatekeepers are dead; everything is disrupted! Another example of breathless futurism is Thomas Friedmans 2005 book The World is Flat. Friedman and others saw the web and the internet as a sudden revolution in connectivity that constituted a major flattening force and would provide equal opportunity for all competitors. The obvious factual error in the books title should have alerted readers that Friedmans other metaphors such as the level playing field might also be flawed. The notion that the web hurt gatekeepers is not entirely wrong. Plenty of musicians, including Justin Bieber and Katy Perry, got record deals after they went viral on YouTube. A similar phenomenon has reshaped academia, where researchers can post their work on their own websites, bypassing the slow and costly apparatus of academic publishing. But in music, academic publishing and elsewhere, these shifts have not generated the predicted revolutions. Major music labels eventually adjusted to web-based distribution and revenue models, as did the old giants of academic and popular publishing. Other ideas that promised to disrupt this or that have fallen flat, such as the massive open online course (MOOC) craze that led some pundits to predict the end of college as we know it. The best example, of course, was the dot-com crash. Entrepreneurs and starry-eyed investors had fuelled the bubble, eager to believe that the webs rise changed all the rules. But by 2000, everyone had learned the harsh reality: Sound business practices were not fundamentally disrupted by the get big fast ethos of web entrepreneurship. And despite predictions that the web portends a new economic era of commons-based peer production, old-fashioned industrial capitalism has proved quite resilient. Even companies that lead the sharing economy, such as Uber and Airbnb, have massive capital expenditures and valuations that rival those of industrial giants such as Ford and General Motors. Myth No 5: A massive cyberattack is coming One constant in the webs history has been the expectation that a major event will come along and change everything. Political figures often issue warnings about a digital Pearl Harbor or a cyber Pearl Harbor. In Elon Universitys fascinating Imagining the Internet survey from 2004, two-thirds of web experts agreed with the statement that At least one devastating attack will occur in the next 10 years on the networked information infrastructure or the countrys power grid. But so far, weve seen nothing of the sort. Even though a large-scale attack hasnt materialised, experts continue to use the threat of one to try to shake the web out of some bad habits and inferior technologies. Neither the web nor the internet was designed with unshakeable commitments to security or privacy, and efforts to update them have, for the most part, failed. There have been plenty of proposals with broad consensus among technical communities, such as the World Wide Web Consortiums Platform for Internet Content Selection and Version 6 of the Internet Engineering Task Forces Internet Protocol (the current internet runs mostly on IP Version 4). These and other efforts have faltered, however, because of poor design and lethargic adoption rates, leaving web users vulnerable to governments, corporations and anonymous bad actors of all kinds. In the meantime, most users have grown accustomed to intrusions from hackers and viruses; they assume that there is no way to guarantee privacy or security on the web. But despite the massive vulnerabilities and the regular occurrence of significant data breaches, the long-predicted digital Pearl Harbor has not come to pass. The Washington Post [August 23, 2016] China Online Education Group to Participate in Upcoming Investor Conferences BEIJING, Aug. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- China Online Education Group ("51Talk" or the "Company") (NYSE: COE), a leading online education platform in China with core expertise in English education, today announced its participation in the following investor conferences: Credit Suisse Asia Internet C-Level Conference, August 25 , at Credit Suisse's office in the International Commerce Centre in Hong Kong . , at Credit Suisse's office in the International Commerce Centre in . Morgan Stanley China Internet & E-Commerce Conference, August 29 , at the Rosewood Hotel in Beijing . Management will meet with institutional investors throughout these events. For additional information, please contact your respective institutional sales representative at each sponsoring bank. About China Online Education Group China Online Education Group (NYSE: CE) is a leading online education platform in China, with core expertise in English education. The Company's mission is to make quality education accessible and affordable. The Company's online and mobile education platforms enable students across China to take live one-on-one interactive English lessons with overseas foreign teachers, on demand. The Company connects its students with a large pool of highly qualified foreign teachers that it assembled using a shared economy approach, and employs student and teacher feedback and data analytics to deliver a personalized learning experience to its students. For more information, please visit http://ir.51talk.com. For investor and media inquiries, please contact: China Online Education Group Investor Relations +86 (10) 5692-8909 [email protected] The Piacente Group, Inc. Brandi Piacente +86 (10) 6535-0148 +1-212-481-2050 [email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/china-online-education-group-to-participate-in-upcoming-investor-conferences-300317141.html SOURCE China Online Education Group [August 24, 2016] Ooma Premier Service Now Includes Unlimited Calling to Mexico Ooma, Inc. (NYSE:OOMA), a leading smart communications platform for small businesses and consumers, today announced an expansion to its smart home phone service with unlimited calling to Mexico. Premier subscribers in the U.S. and Canada can now enjoy Ooma's PureVoice HD technology and unlimited crystal-clear calls to all Mexico landlines and mobile phone numbers. Ooma Telo customers place tens of thousands of calls to Mexico each month. Premier subscribers can now enjoy unlimited calls to landlines and mobile phones in Mexico, in addition to the many advanced Premier features like blacklisting telemarketers, 911 text and call alerts, voicemail-to-email, multi-ring, call screening, and more. "Ooma has offered exceptional phone service with best-in-class features for over a decade and today we just made the already value-packed Premier subscription even better," said James Gustke, vice president of marketing for Ooma. "We're pleased to provide Premier subscribers unlimited calling to Mexico landlines and mobile phones, adding to the unbeatable combination of Ooma Telo's outstanding voice quality and the Premier suite of advanced features." For customers who call internationally occasionally, Ooma offers everyday low rates on a per-minute basis to countries worldwide. For customers who call internationally frequently, Ooma offers unlimited calling through the Ooma World Plan for $17.99 or the Ooma World Plus Plan for $25.99 for he most affordable way to stay connected. For more details on international calling rates, visit www.ooma.com/telo-international/. For more information on Ooma's Premier service, which is available for $9.99 per month, visit http://www.ooma.com/premier/. About Ooma, Inc. Founded in 2004, Ooma creates new communications experiences for small businesses and consumers. Its smart platform serves as a communications hub, which offers cloud-based telephony and other connected services. Ooma combines PureVoice HD call quality and innovative features with mobile applications for reliable anytime, anywhere calling. The company has been ranked the No. 1 home phone service for overall satisfaction and value for five consecutive years by the leading consumer research publication. Ooma is also partnering with connected device makers to create smarter offices and homes. Ooma is available in stores and online from leading retailers. For more information about Ooma, please visit www.ooma.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook. Ooma, PureVoice and the Ooma logo are trademarks of Ooma, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160824005275/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Photo for illustration Minh Dang Co., Ltd (DL 449) AGF8 Frozen Factory - An Giang Fisheries Import - Export Joint Stock Company (DL 08) Workshop 3 - Vinh Hoan Corp. (DL 500) Workshop 2 - Vinh Hoan Corp. (DL 61) Vinh Hoan JSC Company (DL 147) An Phu Seafood JSC Company (DL 26) Golden Quality Seafood Corp. (DL 753) Hoang Phuong Seafood Processing Factory, Ut Xi Seafood Processing JSC Company (DL 322) Quoc Ai Seafood Processing Import Export Co., Ltd (DL 747) Bien Dong Seafood Co., Ltd (DL 15) Hai Sang Seafood Corp. (DL 387) Dai Thanh Co., Ltd (DL 471) Europe JSC Company (DL 518) Thanh Hoa Seafood Import Export JSC Company (DL 47) NTSF Seafood JSC Company, Nha Trang Seafoods - Can Tho Processing Factory (DL 548) Vinh Quang Fisheries JSC Company (DL 405) Nha Trang Seafoods - F17 JSC Company - F17 Seafood Processing Factory (DL 17)./. The National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department (NAFIQAD) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reported that it has sent a document to AUPSA proposing to quickly publicize the mistakes of inspected processors which were not permitted to export to Panama, in order to seek measures to repair.NAFIQAD requested the 17 seafood processors to actively discuss with customers and importers to ensure that their products are approved by relevant Panamanian agencies.The processors should register for seafood consignments to Panama in line with regulations of NAFIQADs agro-forestry-fisheries quality centers.Head of NAFIQAD Nguyen Nhu Tiep urged the agro-forestry-fisheries quality centers to inspect and grant legal documents for seafood consignments produced by the 17 seafood processors as required by AUPSA.The list of the 17 seafood processors: Popular Ghanaian lawyer, Maurice Ampaw, has declared a 10-day hunger strike to register his protest against the release of the 'Montie 3' who are serving a four-month jail term after they were convicted of contempt charges. The actual release of the trio will take effect on August 26, 2016. I won't eat for 10 days and it started this morning. It is not easy but I have to do this to register my protest against the impunity that President John Mahama has exhibited. The action he has taken is wrong and has an indirect way of encouraging people to break the law. What the Supreme Court did was to deter people from misbehaving but the president seems to be against the attempt by the courts to make the laws of Ghana work. I do not believe Ghanaians should retain John Mahama, he does not deserve to be president, if this is the way he would be freeing persons who have offended the law. He is a one-sided president who cannot be a father for all, an embittered Maurice Ampaw told NEWS-ONE. The 'Montie 3' consists of Salifu 'Mugabe' Maase, a radio host at Accra-based Montie FM and two panelists, Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako-Gunn, were found guilty for scandalising the court and sentenced to four months in prison. After serving barely a month in prison, the government of Ghana issued a statement on Monday, announcing The President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, has, in consultation with the Council of State and in exercise of his constitutional powers under Article 72 of the Constitution, remitted the remainder of the prison sentence imposed on three persons: Salifu Maase (alias Mugabe), Alistair Nelson and Ako Gunn, who were sentenced to four months imprisonment and a fine of GH10, 000.00 each for contempt of court. The remission is effective 26th August, 2016. My hunger strike is achieving the intended effect because it is gaining national and international attention, and everyone is aware that there are several Ghanaians, including myself, Maurice Ampaw, against the president's action. There are many ways of protesting. Some may riot, some may demonstrate, some may write articles, some may go on hunger strike like me, Lawyer Ampaw added. Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Madam Dzifa Gomashie, last Saturday launched the 2016 Asogli Yam Festival, with a call on the Asogli State to give the festival a global outlook. She said the festival has the potential to make the Volta Region a destination of choice for local and international tourists and asked the planning committee to package the festival as a product for the region. Madam Gomashie also asked the indigenes to be welcoming and help make the festival all inclusive by involving other traditional areas in the region to enhance the event. She asked municipal and metropolitan assemblies to get actively involved in the celebration and explore opportunities to market potentials of their districts. The four-week celebration on the theme: 'Let's Unite For Peace, Stability & Development', is packed with innovative traditional events. It is expected to attract tourists from Germany, Benin, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Togo and members of the diplomatic corps. Some activities for the celebration are fireworks, mountain climbing, street carnivals, lectures, musical concerts, sporting events, cultural nights, business forums and a pilgrimage to Notsie in the Republic of Togo, the ancestral home of Ewes. Brigadier General Martin K. Ahiaglo (Rtd), Chairman, 2016 Asogli Yam Festival Planning Committee, called on indigenes of the Volta Region to make the festival a special homecoming event and the best fun-loving memorable celebration. He said since the revival of the festival in 2003 after the installation of Agbogbomefia Togbe Afede XIV, the festival had united the people and promoted socio-economic development of the state and the region. Togbe Kotoku XI, Paramount Chief of Kpenoe Traditional Area, who chaired the launch, urged the people to remain united and work together for the development of Asogli, Volta Region and Ghana. Popular songstress, Becca has denied kissing fellow musician Bisa Kdei on the lips in a circulating video on social media and some news platforms. The video shows the two hugging closely in a dark environment, but the songstress has denied kissing the reigning highlife Artiste of the year on the lips, as being suspected in the video, where the two were closely seen together. The African Woman hitmaker speaking to DJ Reuben on Drive Time on Luv FM advised people who doubt her to brighten the video for the truth. I keep asking people that did they see me kissing him in the video, I have never kissed him in my life. I hadnt seen Bisa in my life, I hadnt seen Bisa for eight months and actually that they everybody else if you look in that video was around," she explained. It is being rumored the two are in a love affair, with social media flooded with photographs of the two together at public events, with some publications claiming the two are secretly married. The two have denied being lovers with Becca insisting Bisa is my brother; I mean a brother and everyone around us know thatI love him as a brother and he also loves me as a sister. But Becca stirred another controversy when she confessed kissing the Mansa hitmaker on the cheeks. We were actually shooting a videoyou will see I saw him and kissed him on the cheeks, she confessed. Meanwhile, Becca is asking journalists to do further checks on the controversial video to ascertain the truth. If I was any journalist I will go and take it and lighten it up, brighten the picture to see but nobody seems to be doing that, then I realized that nobody seems to be interested. I actually told the people why you dont brighten the video to see, she said. Sorry, we can't find the content you're looking for at this URL. United Nations (United States) (AFP) - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday pushed for a further inquiry of the mysterious 1961 plane crash that killed ex-UN chief Dag Hammarskjold, saying documents from South Africa may help shed light. The former secretary-general died when his plane crashed on September 17 or 18, 1961, near Ndola in Northern Rhodesia, now known as Zambia. The cause of the crash has never been established. Ban proposed appointing an eminent person to review documents and "communications" from various individuals before re-opening the inquiry. Of particular interest is whether South Africa will be able to recover the original documents detailing a purported plot to kill Hammarskjold code-named Operation Celeste. The alleged plot came to light in 1998 when South Africa's truth and reconciliation commission received a file on the clandestine operation that may have involved a maritime research institute acting as a front for mercenaries. Former secretary-general Dag Hammarskjold (pictured) died when his plane crashed on September 17 or 18, 1961, near Ndola in Northern Rhodesia, now known as Zambia A panel appointed by Ban last year was unable to conclude whether the "Operation Celeste" documents were authentic because it examined "poor quality copies", Ban said in a report to the General Assembly. That inquiry however said that there was enough information to pursue leads on whether the plane was shot down or the target of "other interference as a hypothesis of the possible cause of the crash." Ban said that if South Africa can provide the original documents, it may be possible to conduct forensic tests to determine whether they are fake. "Whether the documents are authentic or not would allow the hypothesis relating to 'Operation Celeste' to be either supported or dispelled, either of which would be a contribution to the historical record," Ban added. In a letter included in Ban's report, South Africa offered its full support for the investigation and said it had ordered a search of documents and records concerning Hammarskjold's death. The eminent person tasked with reviewing the documents "would be in a position to determine the scope that any further inquiry or investigation should take," said Ban. The UN General Assembly in December 2014 adopted a resolution that called for a full investigation to finally shed light on the Swedish diplomat's death. By Paul Achonga Kwode/Kamara Osman Faisal, GNA Tamale, Aug. 23, GNA - The 'times are hard' demonstration organised by some opposition political parties in the Northern Region has concluded peacefully in Tamale. The demonstration organised on Monday and attended by supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Convention Peoples Party (CPP) and the All Peoples Congress (APC), was without any security protection due to a disagreement between organizers and the police. It started at about 0800hrs from the Legion Square and proceeded through the various principal streets of the Tamale metropolis with many of them carrying placards some of which read: 'Enough is enough', 'Killer tariffs', 'Reduce electricity tariffs now', 'We don't eat green book' 'Wahala school fees'. The demonstrators called for a drastic reduction to electricity tariffs for residents of the northern parts of the country and also expressed disappointment over what they claimed was the worsening socio-economic situation in the country. Mr Sammy Awuku, NPP Youth Organiser, addressing the demonstrators at the end of the demonstration at the Zogbelli Park, said the success of the demonstration was an indication that Ghanaians were disappointed in the ruling government. He said the claim by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that it has created jobs for the people of the region through various acquisitions including bicycles was untrue. Mr Awuku urged Ghanaians to teach politicians a lesson by voting out those who fail to deliver on their campaign promises saying, 'Nana Akufo Addo is your best choice for 2016 polls'. Mr Anthony Karbo, NPP Parliamentary Candidate for Lawra Constituency, said the NDC has put the country into serious economic difficulties because of corruption. He appealed to Ghanaians to vote massively for the NPP to ensure that the wisdom and maturity of its candidate would solve the nation's problems. He said 'those who doubt the performance of Nana Akufo Addo because of his age must rethink about the aged Presidents who are salvaging countries such as Nigeria, Ivory Coast, South Africa and other economies in the world'. Mr Karbo said if nothing was done about their demands within two weeks, they were going to organise a series of demonstrations across the country. Mr Nuhu Jingli, CPP Northern Regional Secretary, expressed disappointment over the current administration of the country saying government has totally failed the people of Ghana and must be shown the exit. GNA 23.08.2016 LISTEN NEW YORK, ACCRA, Aug. 23 - (UPI/GNA) - Donald Trump on Monday appeared to soften his stance on illegal immigration, saying his administration would not employ what he previously described as a "deportation force" to oust undocumented individuals and would instead delineate between "the bad ones" and "everybody else." Essentially, Trump said, he would do what President Barack Obama is doing but "perhaps with a lot more energy." Obama, Trump noted, has overseen more deportations than his predecessor, President George W. Bush. From 2009 to 2014, the Obama administration deported 2.4 million people. Bush deported 2 million people during his eight years. "The existing laws are very strong," Trump said Monday on Fox News. "The existing laws, the first thing we're gonna do, if and when I win, is we're gonna get rid of all of the bad ones. We've got gang members, we have killers, we have a lot of bad people that have to get out of this country ... they're gonna be out of this country so fast your head will spin." Trump's immigration shift comes after days of consulting with advisers and Hispanic supporters, and is a marked shift in style and substance from the strident illegal immigration tone he has struck since the day he announced his candidacy, when he accused Mexico of sending murderers and rapists to the United States illegally. During the interview, Trump did not mention his signature proposal to build a wall on the southern border -- one he has insisted the Mexican government will pay to erect. He did, however, repeat that mantra at a campaign rally earlier Monday in Ohio, when the Los Angeles Times reported he veered away from his prepared remarks to respond to an audience chant of "build that wall!" "Don't worry. We're going to build the wall," he said. "That wall will go up so fast, your head will spin. And you'll say, 'You know, he meant it.' And you know what else I mean? Mexico is going to pay for the wall." Much of that rhetoric was gone Monday night, when Trump sought to allay concerns his immigration position was unfairly harsh. He also backed off claims he would create a "deportation force," to find and arrest undocumented people. Instead, Trump said existing law enforcement would be empowered to make those decisions. Anyone caught with a criminal record in the country illegally would face immediate deportation. The remainder would be processed by the existing immigration courts. "As far as everybody else, we're going to go through the process," Trump said. "What people don't know is that Obama got tremendous numbers of people out of the country. Bush, the same thing. Lots of people were brought out of the country with the existing laws. Well, I'm going to do the same thing." Trump was also scheduled to give a major policy address on the topic of immigration Thursday in Colorado, but has since canceled that appearance. Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said the schedule change was made to give Trump more time to formulate his positions on the issue. "You know, we inherited this schedule and although I think it's a great idea to have that kind of speech and certainly put together a full plan, immigration is such a complex issue and Mr. Trump has been taking the counsel of many different people on this," Conway said. "He obviously has some very strong feelings and policy prescription with respect to immigration, but he's speaking to people to understand how to execute on those ideas." GNA Photo: VGP Minister To Lam thanked the Thai Government and the NSC for directing authorised agencies to effectively coordinate with the Vietnamese Government and authorised agencies in the spirit of friendship, cooperation, mutual respect over independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity in accordance with the legal documents of each country, principles and Charter of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as international laws and practices. Minister Lam noted that the cooperative relations between Vietnam and Thailand in general, and between the Vietnamese Minister of Public Security and Thai authorised agencies in particular, had been continuously reinforced and developed in diverse areas, especially in cooperation in politics, diplomacy, defence and security. He expressed his hope that the two countries would continue to maintain dialogues to increase mutual understanding, share assessments over and work out measures and action plans towards security in the region, looking forward to build and complete agreements on judicial assistance and extradition, creating a legal framework for the struggle against crime to become more effective. Appreciating the results of the cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand over the past time, Mr. Thawip Netniyom confirmed that Thailand always stands side by side and cooperates with Vietnam in fighting crime. Thailand will not allow any individuals, organizations or countries to use Thai territory to destroy its neighbouring countries. He also asserted that Thailand would do its utmost to carry out work under orientation in political and security cooperation in the future./. Now, you listen to Koku Anyidoho as he descends into the gutter and refers to those who are opposed to his contraption unprintable names. He, it was who described the Minority in Parliament as irresponsible lot who are bellicose whimsical and capricious. He also threatened Shamima Muslim when she cautioned him to mind his language. Let Opare Ansah understand, and I will call him honourable because the people of Suhum voted for him, so I will respect the people of Suhum. I may not respect Opare Ansah and his views, but I will respect the electorate who voted for him to become MP, so I will call him honourable. And tell him that I speak categorically that irresponsible people like him (Opare Ansah) will not lead the President down an irresponsible path. l The fact that people like Opare Ansah have gone and sat down and are making irresponsible statements does not mean that President Mills, having gotten the mandate of 23 to 24 million Ghanaians to build a Better Ghana should come and respond to this level of irresponsibility. And I m saying that with people like Osei Kyei Mensah and Opare Ansah in Parliament, we have a question to answer and President Mills will bear but will not pay attention to the bellicose, whimsical and capricious responsibility of Opare Ansah and his lot. And we are telling Opare Ansah and co that t5hey better get ready, this their irresponsibility, their bellicosity is nonsense and I use the word nonsense again. Daniel Danquah Damptey ( [email protected] ) 0243715297 (Self Appointed Special Aide to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo) 24.08.2016 LISTEN A Deputy Minister in charge of Tertiary Education and Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency in the Volta Region, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has advised self-acclaimed angel Bishop Daniel Obinim to seek the counsel and guidance of a true senior seasoned pastor or gird himself up for more troubles ahead. Hon. Ablakwa via his twitter handle (@S_OkudzetoAblak) on Wednesday, August 24, 2016, said the self-acclaimed angel could save himself and his church from destruction if he is willing to accept tutorials and guidance under the feet of a true senior seasoned pastor. What if this man rather needs a true senior seasoned pastor to guide, counsel and mentor him? On the other hand, (1) will he be humble enough to accept this kind of assistance that is most likely to save himself and his church from further destruction? (2) Mr. Ablakwa further questioned the credibility of Bishop Obinim as a true prophet of God but was quick to admit that he is just a mere mortal, therefore, did not have the power to judge and authenticate who a true pastor is. Be that as it may, I am not oblivious to the Biblical caution about the kind of prophets that will abound in the last days, but who am I (3) ...a mere lay mortal to judge. (4) A video of the man of God flogging two teenagers he purports to be his step children went viral on social media recently, drawing widespread criticism and condemnation. The criticism notwithstanding, angel Bishop Obinim has defended the action insisting they deserved it for engaging in fornication and attempting an abortion. Angel Bishop Obinim has since been arrested on Tuesday for allegedly defrauding under false pretense pending further investigations. Tema Regional Police PRO, ASP Juliana Obeng later told the media that Obinim is being sent to the Police CID headquarters in Accra. The CID headquarters in Accra has called for Obinims docket so as I speak, Obinim is being sent to Accra with one of his accomplices, she told the media. A committee set up by the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah under the office of the president has assured members of the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) that it has completed its work on proposed conditions of service of the members. A statement from the Finance Ministry copied to Citi Business News indicated that the Presidential Committee has handed over the report to the Presidency for further action. According to the release, the committee was set up to review proposals on the Conditions of Service for staff of the Judicial Service who are members of JUSAG. It further assured that appropriate actions are being taken on the recommendations contained in the report. JUSAG calls off strike It will be recalled that JUSAG recently embarked on a 10- day strike to press home their demand for better service of work conditions. The strike action was however called off after the Presidential Committee was formed to address the grievances of the workers. At the time, the association explained that the decision to call off the strike was aimed at aiding the government's presidential committee to begin deliberations. JUSAG President Alex Nartey addressing the media said the National Executive Committee of JUSAG had concluded on a framework with government and management in addressing their demands. Time of strike action The leadership of JUSAG on May 19 declared an indefinite nationwide strike over delays in the implementation of the consolidated salaries and emoluments of their members. The National Labour Commission (NLC) subsequently filed a writ in court to compel members of JUSAG to end what it described as a lawless strike but JUSAG called their bluff and continued with their strike. The strike , however lasted for 10 days. By: Lawrence Segbefia/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana President John Mahama has defended his government's decision to restore the allowances of nursing trainees till the end of the year. Government scrapped the allowances to remove the restrictions on admission to the various training institutions. This was in order to give more students the opportunity to gain admissions into these institutions. However, the scrapping was met with resistance from some students who rely on the allowances to support themselves in school. Speaking at the Nursing and Midwifery Training College at Kpembe in the Northern Region, President Mahama said his government will soon introduce an abated allowance scheme for the trainees. As the student loan is currently structured, it does not allow professional institutions like yours to be able to take advantage of the loan. And so we set up a committee to look at it and then it was decided that in the meantime that the student loan is not operational, we should reactivate an abated allowance scheme for you. There are many of you if we did not do an abated allowance, there are a number of you who have been admitted in this school would have to be cut down. So the Ministry of Finance is working on that abated allowance and you will soon start receiving it. So 'alawa' is coming, the President added. President Mahama also used the opportunity to explain to the nursing trainees some of the projects being undertaken in the health sector. In the last few years, we have added 600,000 new hospital beds. It is estimated that for each hospital bed to take care of a patient, you need at least two nurses and so if you multiply six by two, that means 12,000 jobs for nurses. By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana Follow @AlloteyGodwin Pregnant women have been encouraged to take steps to protect their unborn children from HIV, by availing themselves for HIV test and treatment services any time they visit antennal clinics nationwide. They have also been urged not to despair and live in denial and instead follow up with treatment when tested positive for HIV to safeguard their lives and that of their babies. These calls were made at the Antenatal Unit of the Ghana Police Hospital in Accra, when the Heartto-Heart (H2H) Ambassadors of the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) interacted with pregnant women at the facility and encouraged them to avail themselves of HIV services. The Government as part of efforts to ensure that no child is born HIV positive, has made it possible for every pregnant woman who attends antenatal clinic at a public hospital gets to test to know her status. The H2H Ambassadors are four persons living with HIV who have dedicated their lives to sharing their life stories to encourage a more tolerant attitude towards persons living with HIV. The tour is aimed at preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV and encouraging PLHIVs to adhere to treatment. The Ambassadors during the visit dispelled misconceptions that impede antenatal attendance and HIV treatment, sharing their experiences on HIV related stigma, benefits of early treatment and adherence. They in turns also threw light on Antiretroviral drugs (ARV), and how it has contributed to the huge reductions in death rates and suffering among people living with HIV. A member of the team, Mrs Lydia Azumah stressed on how the consistent use of ARV decreases one's chances of transferring the infection to another person. Mrs Azumah charged the visiting mothers to adhere to the directives of health professionals anytime they visit. Another H2H Ambasordor, Mrs Gifty Torkrnu, also advised mothers living with HIV to desist from self-stigma, and open up to their partners. This, she said would help in educating their loved ones on the condition. HIV positive pregnant woman may transmit the HIV to her unborn child during pregnancy, birth or breast feeding, she explained. A Reproductive and Child Health nurse at the hospital, Inspector Nicholina Kwashie said some pregnant women fail to report back when referred to the Antiretroviral Unit of the hospital. She advised against such practices since it will not inure to the benefit of mothers and their unborn babies. It is estimated that there are about 20,000 babies living with HIV in Ghana despite many positives recorded in Ghana's HIV response. HIV test is done twice during the pregnancy-on the first visit and at 34 weeks of the pregnancy. This is to ensure that no HIV positive expectant mother is missed out on PMTCT of HIV services before delivery. With ART, an HIV positive mother's chances of transferring the virus to her baby reduces to lower than five percent as opposed to the about 40 % chance, if the woman is not on treatment. Ghana has achieved 76% coverage of PMTCT services for pregnant women, with about 50% of all HIV positive mothers on treatment. The H2H Ambassadors answered questions from the participants. The team is scheduled to visit several other ANC and ART facilities within the Greater Accra region. ACP Dr Otu, Nyarko, the Head, Public Health Department of the Hospital thanked the team for the visit, and called for more collaboration in the National response. The Acting Director of Technical Services, Ghana AIDS Commission, Mr Cosmos Ohene-Adjei, joined the team to donate Information, Education and Communication (IE&C) materials to the hospital. Credit: AIDS Commission Presidential Candidate of the Progressive People's Party (PPP), Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom says this year's 2016 election is a competition between a doer and promisers. He says both President Mahama and Nana Addo are 'promisers' and he is a doer. The others, he says are only going around the country making promises they are fully aware they cannot deliver. According to him, his track record in both private and public life makes him stand out as the inevitable choice for president come December 7, since job creation has become germane to the aspirations of Ghanaians. You check those standing for election, check Nana Addo as flagbearer or John Dramani Mahama as president and ask yourself what jobs have these two people brought to Ghana, and then ask yourself what Papa Kwesi Nduom has been doing since the last election. He questioned why both Nana Addo and Prez Mahama have to wait till election time to realise that Ghanaians need jobs, citing that as opportunistic and unfortunate. So President Mahama is saying he just realised Ghanaians need jobs so he is promising to create one million jobs if reelected, and he Nana Addo I ask what he has been doing since the 2012 election. They know how to talk and talk. I on the other hand have continued to provide jobs for Ghanaians since the last election, so the choice for you is a clear one. Dr. Nduom was addressing the chiefs and people of Tsito-Awudome in the Ho West constituency of the Volta Region, where a mini rally was held to introduce the PPP candidate Joshua Akutey to the people. Addressing the people, Joshua Akutey reminded the people how the many votes they have given the NDC in the previous elections, have been wasted as they got very little in return. Because we continuously vote for the NDC they have taken us for granted, they don't even respect us. If we are going to see real progress and development we need to vote for Dr. Nduom and myself. Progress will come with your thumbs and your thumbs on the right candidates for the right job. Dr. Nduom had earlier opened the Tsito-Awudome branch of GN Bank. By: citifmonline.com/Ghana The Inspector General of Police (IGP), John Kudalor, has said the recent arrests of police officers involved in some criminal activities across the country, is simply a by-product of internal operations to rid the service off miscreants. Five police officers over the past week, have been arrested for engaging in criminal activities ranging from carjacking to robbery and murder The IGP in an interview with Citi News' Franklin Badu Jnr, debunked any suggestions that the recent arrests were indicative of critical flaws in the police services recruitment processes. He instead said it was proof that the police is now working, whilst adding that We are leaving no stone unturned. We are working as we are supposed to work. Whether you are a policeman or whoever, you are not above the law. The IGP also spoke of the polices services vetting processes which he said is also flushing out miscreants. According to him, there are instances were people have been in the service for three, four or five years and they are caught up with their vetting results and they are dismissed. Some people are able to pass through the vetting, some people are able to pass through the sieve bad ones sift through but I am happy that with time, we've caught them and that is the most important, he added. Police officers remanded for robbery, murder One of the more recent high profile cases of police criminality has culminated in an Accra magistrate court remanding two police men alleged to have attempted to rob an Nkawkaw GCB bullion van, leading to the death of the van driver. The two, Corporal Elvis Mensah and Lance Corporal Daniel Kissi, have been charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, and murder. Their attempted robbery led to the death of the driver, David Kofi Sarpong, aged 52, after a heated exchange of gunfire between the police officer in the van and the suspects. The two were arrested following the incident, but they subsequently escaped . The escape of the two led to clashes between the police and angry residents in the Afram Plains district, who alleged that the Police allowed the suspects to escape. By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana IMF Statement on Ghana, Attributable to Joel Toujas-Bernate, IMF Mission chief for Ghana: A visiting IMF Staff team in Accra last May assessed the implementation of the program to be broadly satisfactory and identified a few areas where further work and discussions were needed before the third review under the ECF-supported program could be completed. Since then several important legislations have been adopted by Parliament, including the Banks and Specialized Deposit-Taking Institutions Bill, the Deposit Insurance Bill, the Public Finance Management Law and the Amended Bank of Ghana Act. The authorities have also initiated discussions to address pressures that have emerged in the main State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) in the energy sector. Discussions between staff and the authorities are currently ongoing to update macroeconomic projections, firm up the fiscal outlook for the remainder of 2016 and ascertain that financial pressures in SOEs will not pose additional risks to the central government budget. Subject to a quick and positive conclusion of these discussions, staff expects the third program review to be considered by the IMF Executive Board around mid-September. The Brazilian Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, His Excellency Ambassador Luis Fernando Serra today Wednesday 24th August 2016 paid a courtesy call on Sierra Leone's Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, His Excellency Ambassador Omrie Golley at the Sierra Leone Mission in Seoul, Korea's Capital. The meeting was attended by the Minister Plenipotentiary and Head of Chancery at the Mission, Mr. James Sawi, together with the Second Secretary Mr. Steven Levey. Warmly receiving and welcoming his Brazilian counterpart, Ambassador Golley thanked Ambassador Serra for the honour accorded to him in visiting the Sierra Leone Mission in the Republic of Korea stating that their meeting was significant evidence of the excellent bilateral relations existing between the two countries. He congratulated the Brazilian Ambassador on the success of the recently concluded Olympic Games held in Rio de Janeiro. Ambassador Golley stated that the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone considered bilateral relations between the two countries as strategic, and indicated that plans were underway to establish a Mission in the Brazilian Capital in the near future. Ambassador Golley singled out agricultural development as a key sector for closer economic cooperation between the two countries. Ambassador Serra expressed his delight in visiting his colleague and thanked the Ambassador for the courtesies extended to him on this occasion. He indicated that Sierra Leone and Brazil enjoyed warm cordial diplomatic relations, recounting his earlier diplomatic role as Brazilian Ambassador to Sierra Leone stationed in Accra. He agreed that agriculture was an important sector for closer economic cooperation and recounted his earlier visits to the country and the potential for increased agricultural production and development. He invited Ambassador Golley to meet with the Brazilian Minister of Agriculture during his forthcoming visit to Seoul in September, maintaining that such a meeting offered a good opportunity to explore avenues for closer economic cooperation particularly in the field of agriculture between the two nations. Regional and district offices of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) will from today [Wednesday] to Friday, be shut down for three hours; between 8am to 11am, in protest of government's decision to cede the management of ECG to a private entity. The Public Utilities Workers Union (PUWU) is at the forefront of this protest and has called on government to review the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact which seeks to cede the ECG to private investors for a period of 25 years. At a press conference in Accra yesterday [Tuesday] when PUWU served notice of this protest, it urged government to rescind its decision which could lead to lay-offs if the MCC compact is seen through. TUC backs PUWU The Trades Union Congress (TUC), has thrown its weight behind PUWU indicating that dialogue between the unions and government is yielding no fruits. The TUC Secretary General, Dr. Yaw Baah said, The workers are not doing this for their sake. After all, we have got the promise from the president that for the next 5 years, no worker is going to lose his or her job but that is not going to stop us because we are not fighting only for ourselves. We are fighting for this country. Dr. Baah noted that 360 state enterprises were privatised between 1990 and 2006 and we are still selling but it not giving us any results. Why are we still selling? He also bemoaned the lack of trust and opportunities given on the part of government to PUWU. The union is saying they are not against the MCC. The union is saying that let us change the form and that they are ready to take the challenge. Give them three years to turn round and give them the same playing field. Why is that we are not giving them that opportunity? Why is that we are listening to everybody but our own Ghanaians? We support this cause Public Services Workers The Public Services Workers Union (PSWU), has also thrown their support behind PUWU. The General Secretary of PSWU, Richard Amperbeng said this is in solidarity with their colleagues. He also warned that By the time we see, in five years, there will be nothing called ECG, nothing called VR, nothing called GRIDCo. So this is the time for us to take action and stem this in the bud and I will say PSWU, we are ever ready, we support this cause. By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has revealed the General Overseer of the International Godsway Church (IGWC), Bishop Daniel Obinim is in its custody for alleged fraud to the tune of GHc 11.6 million. Bishop Obinim was arrested yesterday [Tuesday] with a video showing the preacher being led into a vehicle from the Police station in handcuffs, escorted by some police officers. The embattled preacher made headlines in the past week for the public flogging of two young adults for which he is under investigation but it is this claim of fraud that has seen him locked up. According to the CID, the complainant came to the Tema Police accusing Bishop Obinim of failing to deliver on a promise of helping him retrieve family gold proceeds from a fetish priest which culminated in him being defrauded of the GHc 11.6 million by the preacher. This is case of fraud which was reported directly at the CID head office. The complainant, reported that in November 2015, he paid an amount of GHc 780,000 to one Okomfo Dzakpata in the Eastern region. Apparently the money was fromfamily gold which was sold and he paid the proceeds, the PRO of the CID, ASP Joseph Darkwa explained to Citi News. According to the complainant, the Okomfo couldn't perform the rituals he want to see Bishop Obinim for him to assist him in retrieving the money and perform the rituals for him, he narrated further. The complainant then visited Bishop Obinim who asked him to bring the rest of the family gold money and the complainant gave the amount of GHc 11.6 million to Prophet Obinim under the pretense of him [Obinim] performing some rituals and blessing the money, ASP Darkwa stated. So we arrested him and we have begun with investigation into this very case, ASP Darkwa added. By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana Diane Mariechild was unmistakably spot on when she said A woman is the full circle; within her is the power to create, nurture and transform. And off such promising women is Akosua Afriyie Osei-Appaw; founder of the Dare 2 Dream Ghana foundation, who is helping the youth to develop their intellect through arts education and reading African literature. The 30-year old Christian was born and raised in Koforidua (the capital city of the Eastern province of Ghana); a photographer by passion and a social worker at heart. Akosua is extremely passionate about arts and everything associated to it in a world that she believes, education can be made more fun by using arts instead of memorizing to pass standardized tests. For Akosua Afriyie, being kind to others doesnt only change you but rather, changes the world; and its with this strong conviction of assisting others to make the world a better place, inspired her to join The Young African Leaders Initiative- YALI. What is YALI? The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) was initiated by President of the United States, Barack Obama, as a signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders. For Akosua, it was on the Facebook page of the US Embassy that she got to know about the YALI programme and with encouragement from family and friends; she submitted an online application and subsequently earned herself an invitation for a face-to-face interview at the Golden Tulip Kumasi City, Ghana. Together with other thirty-nine (39) successful Ghanaian applicants and one (1) Cameroonian resident in Ghana, a fully paid 6-weeks trip to the USA was the reward of her desire to be part of the YALI project under civic leadership, energy, business and entrepreneurship and public management tracks. On YALI, Akosua Afriyie recognises the program as a great opportunity for young Africans to hone their leadership skills, learn from outstanding leadership practices that have worked in the United States and adapt it to the current state of affairs in their respective African countries, as well as networking and sharing ideas with other young leaders across Sub-Saharan Africa. She notably remarks: Through YALI, I have been able to formulate a leadership development plan to guide me in my work. I have also made contacts and friends which would last me a lifetime. I have a couple of projects on-going, including the African Literature Reading Clubs, which was established in basic public schools to help the young ones develop their love for reading because like they say, there are many ways to enlarge your world but the love of books is the best of all. It was also during the YALI summit that Akosua Afriyie met US President Obama in-person and according to her, that moment will forever stay priceless as she witnessed the 44th USA President addressed her and other colleagues during the symposium. Honouring the YALI Program invitation was awe-inspiring and I have no regrets off being part of such a brilliant summit. President Barack Obama is an inspirational leader and the entire world would forever remember him for his leadership style, his love for his family and his legacy for Africa, she reflects on the moment of seeing the first ever USA Black President. For me, he's the epitome of a charismatic leader. It was unreal being in the same room with him and listening to him [talk to us]. I'm motivated to do more because he believes in my vision and that of 999 other young African leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa of helping build a united Africa. He told us that after this [YALI] experience, he wants us to do more for Africa. We have no excuse to fail and Im very determined not to. And the icing on the cake for all the participants of this years YALI programme was a certificate of completion signed by President Barack Obama himself. RETURN TO GHANA The six weeks stay in the United States for the YALI program is over and Nana Akosua Afriyie has returned to Ghana after her life-changing encounter with other YALI alumini from other participating African countries. She has already hit the ground running with new ideas in her dream of lending a hand to the younger generation in developing their enormous talents through arts education and reading. On her latest projects, she says: At the moment we're building collaborations with poets, musicians, writers and others to go to schools and mentor children on their passion and talents. Arts has a way of making kids more confident, outspoken and helps them to improve on their academic performance. Our hope is that through these initiatives they can get in touch with their God-given talents and make the best out of it. Akosua Afriyie remains optimistic of the future of the arts industry in her homeland Ghana but argues there is room for improvement. She adds: I think the arts industry in Ghana is still growing. There's a lot of awareness now about arts and the immense possibilities it offers. We still have a lot to do. I would not place so much emphasis on the government. Arts is something you feel as the change we're looking for comes from within. If you ask a lot of artists about their journeys, they would definitely tell you that it has not been easy. But that's what makes it beautiful and worthwhile. That passion to defy all the odds and go for what you believe in makes artists formidable. Come December 7th, Ghanaians will go to the polls to elect a President and Members of Parliament and with Ghana being among the few African countries that have not experienced large-scale political violence, Akosua and her Dare 2 Dream Ghana team are embarking on a crusade of educating the youth not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to stir up trouble in the coming elections. She reveals by adding: As young leaders, we ought to desist from violence. It is imperative for us to vote on policies which would influence our future and the future of the unborn generations. Most of us as young people do not exercise our civic right to vote. We need to change this. The future of our country depends on the decisions we make today. Just like everything that is off great value has a price, so are there financial challenges for young Akosua and her Dare 2 Dream Ghana team when raising funds for these projects but she remains very positive of getting co-operate Ghana to come on board to lend a hand. She adds: Most of our funding have come from ourselves, family and friends but we are hoping to have other individuals and companies [come on board] soon. At the end, its not how much we give but rather, how much love we put into giving. At Carnegie Corporation, Nyc At Lifestyles For The Disabled Certificate From President Obama Painting Pots For Children Living With Cancer In New Jersey On August 20, 2016, Oral Ofori, the Founder of TheAfricanDream LLC; a multi-platform information and communication consultancy on African affairs based in the Washington, DC area of the United States of America (USA) Mr. Ofori was invited by Black Bloggers Connect (blackbloggersconnect.com) to address their annual Blogger Week gathering. During his address of the occasion (which is in its third year) held at the Trinity Washington University in Washington, DC. Oral Ofori spoke on Google as an all-inclusive digital media tool for African entrepreneurs. Mr. Ofori delved into the story behind the formation of his business; TheAfricanDream LLC, how Google as a social media platform plays a major role in activities of young African entrepreneurs and how this is generally impacting lives positively. The week-long event was from August 15-21 is a multicultural festival of bloggers, journalists, and social media mavens. Blogger Week culminated in a large gathering at the Trinity Washington University in Washington DC where Mr. Ofori became the first Ghanaian to ever addressed the occasion (which is in its third year) in the Diaspora on the use of digital media by Africans. The Founder of TheAfricanDream LLC which is encouraged participants to understand social media deeper by learning more about its ever-evolving nature in order to discover the endless opportunities it provides. Africans all over are harnessing the power of social media for the ultimate good of society by putting in handwork and dedication. J.A.M. Aiwuyor, Blogger Week Founder said of the event that: "The 3rd Annual Blogger Week was a huge success! We had many amazing speakers and attendees from all over the world including the U.S., Canada, Jamaica, Nigeria, Honduras, and Ghana." Aiwuyor went on to reveal that: "this year we focused on social justice and digital storytelling. We wanted to make sure that bloggers from across the Pan African world were equipped with the tools to be successful in digital media. Thus, it was a great pleasure that Oral Ofori came to speak about Google as an all-inclusive digital media tool for African entrepreneurs." Other USA based individuals that delivered addresses over the week were: Yvelette Stines, Kierra M. Wagstaff, Brittney Simpson, Kristina Denise Sabrina Kizzie, Rachel Decoste, Gerald Olivari, and Nicola Mitchell. The rest are April Reign, Andrea Imafidon, Jason Francis, Ricki Fairley, Rashida Heard, Candice Nicole, and Kendra Webb-Scott. Over 200 bloggers participated in events for the first annual Blogger Week by Black Bloggers Connect. This third annual gathering featured workshops, panels, and networking events. Find out more about Black Bloggers Connect on twitter as @JoinBBC. Oral Ofori is also @oralofori on Twitter. Below is the video of Oral Ofori addressing the event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlaJXgza6Fw I am grateful to God Almighty for making me a follower of the Islamic faith before I was thrown into the repugnant strings of claims and counter claims of its owners, forerunners or custodians in Nigeria. Islam will remain what it is and some Muslims will remain what they are. As parochial as this topic may seem to be, it may give an insight on why the supremacy of who lords over Islam in Nigeria should not have risen in the first place. Whether it be true or measly flippant imagination, there is struggle uncalled in the handling of Islamic matters in Nigeria. And this has endangered the Ummah in the face of international Muslim community. When I was young, I used to think that there is no division amongst Muslims. That is how it should be. At least I was correct in my belief because that is what Islam says: Muslims can disagree as human beings but not in affairs affecting the Ummah. I was not born into a full-fledged Muslim family. My father was a Muslim before the civil war and he dedicated his life for the religion and fought with the Igbo Muslim preacher, Sheikh Ibrahim Nwagui to establish Islam in my village in particular and Igboland in general. In fact, he was imprisoned for several months for accepting Islam and for supporting the spread of Islam in those days. He believed in the strength of his chaplet which he used to glorify Allah to the best he could. My dear mother, though very religiously liberal and tolerant, did not accept Islam till she died. Both of them lived and tolerated each other. But something was always a trouble: the path to follow by the children. And it manifested that the children at maturity were left to choose their religions of choice: Christianity, Islam and paganism. It is such a difficult circumstance to keep these three defiantly conflicting beliefs under one roof. In our own case, it was managed carefully and though our parents are no more, we can still look at the faces of one another and smile, especially when religious discussions are not entertained. My teachers, then, because I attended a Christian missionary primary school which though became a community school, would tell me to accept Christianity because Islam is cultism; Islamic preaches killings; Islam is for Hausas; Islam is this and that. I was moderately stubborn and would tell the teachers: I will tell my father. Unfortunately my father was late before I was six and my elder brother who lived outside my village took care of me and simply I thought he was my father even at ten. One of my teachers I could remember called me out of the assembly for not shouting amen after the assembly conductor had concluded his prayers and said In Jesus name. Unaware of his presence behind me, I had kept silent. He knew that I was a Muslim but what did I know then. He tapped me from behind and asked me to go out of the line. It was a public disgrace and that is why it cannot easily escape my memory though I often prefer not to sing it everywhere. He said to me: This small boy, what is wrong with you. You claim that you are Muhammad. In short from today, your name is Michael. If I catch you silent next time, you will be in soup. Being in soup was a common language for threat or punishment by teachers then. Who owns this your religion self. Nonsense! he proclaimed. That day I went home with the question: who owns this your religion? And I did not know who owns Islam by then, neither could I get a soothing answer than the talk that it was the Hausas because they were the people practicing it around the vicinities. This was manifest too when we were told that Sheikh Ibrahim Nwagui conquered my village with the Hausa mallams. During the civil war, it was widely believed within the vicinities that the Hausa soldiers took control of the Islamic center established by the late Sheikh to defend one Nigeria. Till the early 80s when I joined the School of Arabic and Islamic Studies situated right in my own village, no better explanation could be offered against the general belief on the ownership of Islam in Nigeria. However, the Yoruba who were playing key roles in spreading Islam in other parts of the region began to pronounce their presence. So, it has been the show of strength and prominence between the two major ethnic nationalities in Nigeria on who really owns Islam. Islam, as I know today is not supposed to be owned by individuals or ethnic groups. It is a universal creed brought to all mankind by Prophet Muhammad who was an Arab by nationality. And it has steadily spread across the world, really not by mere efforts of mankind, but by the divine support of Allah Who has decreed that the message will spread even against the strong opposition by the non-Muslims. Yet, both the Quran and the tradition of Prophet Muhammad warned against complacency by Muslims. Here, although, is not an avenue to talk about which point Islam entered Nigerian first, my concern is how Islam has fared. Unfortunately, Islam has become a tool through which forces of oppression and ego are displayed. We can recall how the Jamatu Nasril Islam (JNI) used to operate and the allegation on how the northern oligarchy maneuvered its operations. The leadership of the organization most times reechoed the superiority complex of the two giant tribes of Nigeria. Then late super and fearless jihadist, Dr. Abdullateef Adegbite, with efforts of few individuals gave birth to the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA). Many people believed the formation was primarily to counter the domineering grip of JNI on Islamic affairs at the national level. To some, JNI is of the north while NSCIA is of the Southwest. By further explanation JNI is for Hausas; NSCIA is for Yorubas. That struggle for supremacy is still alive, though Justice Abdulqadir Orire once the general scribe of the JNI was said to be a Yoruba. And in NSCIA today, the leadership speaks for itself. As for the National Conference of Muslim Youth Organizations (NACOMYO), the tussle continues. And when you come to the Federation of Muslim Women Associations of Nigeria (FOMWAN), no much difference in this context is palpable. Though often said than done: We are one, has always been the resort by Muslim leaders. In all these, where are other Muslims of Nigeria especially the Igbo Muslims that are supposed to be the third largest Muslim ethic group in Nigeria? Nowhere! Conferences are held on their behalves in their own states but one wonders of what benefit the conferences have been. In their states, the Hausas and Yorubas lord over the Islamic affairs. Why will the Igbo not continue to prove right that Islam belongs to the Hausas and Yorubas, despite the fact that the Igbo leaderships do not in any way want Islam to thrive in Igboland. According to an interview published by Bende Analyst newspapers, Sheikh Adam Idoko explained that Islam was older than Christianity in Igboland. If this fact was anything to go by, then Muslims of the north and the west are responsible for the misfortunes of Islam in Igboland. It is either they got Islam and have been economical in spreading it in Igboland or they got it and hoarded it for private aggrandizement. Whichever way, the plight of Islam in Igboland cannot be unconnected with the complacency of the Muslims in these majority areas as well as the height of levity with which Muslim affairs are handled in the region. Another interview with the Weekly Trust newspapers in March 2009 by Ustaz Dr. Amin Igwegbe asserted that the Igbo have been Muslims as far back as 1900. Islam is not new in Igboland. I know we have over two million Igbo Muslims today though the number is not much. We have learned Muslim scholars. My concern is not even the number but the quality of the Igbo Muslims. Afikpo is a model Islamic community. If you are there, you will think you are in the North, he said. My experience as a Director of Administration for an Apex Islamic Organization in Nigeria (NSCIA) for 13 solid years has proven to me that the acclaimed custodians of Islam are actually working against the propagation of the religion in Igboland; they are simply using Islamic propagation in the area for their own selfish interest and Allah is watching!! The Igbo proverb says: the water from snail is used in cooking snail. Let them ponder over this. Even the Arabs can never claim to be the custodians of Islam as it is done in Nigeria today, it is ONLY Allah that is the Custodian and Protector of His Holy Book, the Quran, and His Religion, Islam Furthermore, Daily Trust in July 2012 spoke with Sheikh Usman Anaga who blew hot on the challenges faced by the Igbo Muslims. The perception is that if you are an Igbo man and you decide to become a Muslim, then you are not a normal human being. This perception of Islam in the east came about largely due to inadequate publicity and awareness campaigns, he rattled. And so many other interviews, statements, communiques and situation reports by prominent Igbo Muslim scholars, all pointing to the ingenuity in strengthening Islam in their area by themselves were there enough religious spirit cum will towards that by the Islamic leadership in Nigeria. Rather than actions, lip services have remained the friendship defence. Hitherto, some things remain worrisome. Why do these Muslims fear to empower the Igbo Muslims to carry out the spread of Islam in their areas? Are the Igbo Muslims being treated fairly in the Islamic affairs in Nigeria? In all the above mentioned organizations, where are the Igbo Muslims in the leadership? How do they respond to issues concerning the Igbo Muslims who are merely looked down upon as beggars and tagged Yamiri or ajaokuta mamamiri. Despite the presence of insignificant efforts by individuals, no one has been man enough to do the needful; rather they back on ancestral immunity to cause more harm and disunity amongst the Igbo Muslims in the east. This calls for deep reflection. It is always a difficult task to aid people who are nobody. Igbo Muslims are definitely not nobody because being a Muslim is already enough heavenly empowerment. What more favours does a man require if guided to be a Muslim! Nonetheless, in Islam, aids to people chiefly a presumed category of nobody is immeasurable. The truth is always bitter. But if there is any sense in this message, let it manifest. If, howbeit, there is nothing reasonable to reckon, let it go as normal to the bin but let me be. And lest the day continues to revolve unnoticed, what Allah has decreed, no man can change. He is not a man who reclines on mere ancestral proclivity; he is a man who treads the odds for a difference. All of us are mere tools under the Overpowering Hands of Allah. Muhammad Ajah is an advocate of humanity, peace and good governance in Abuja. E-mail [email protected] Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus, Sergei Rachkov, met with the Minister of Health and Population of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Ahmed Rady. During the meeting, the sides discussed promising areas of Belarusian-Egyptian cooperation in the field of healthcare, including the possibility of joint production of medicines, especially against Hepatitis C. The parties agreed to establish direct contacts between Belarusian and Egyptian manufacturers of medicines and exchange of visits of the ministers of health of the two countries. 24.08.2016 LISTEN All black walls are white-washed, all wrongs are being made to look right in the eyes of the masses. The political spectacle the party faithfuls are wearing is indeed dark in the Ghanaian setting. No wonder the Righteous African Stand Tall Alone(RASTAfarians) call it Politrics"! People intentionally deny what's known to be the bare fact and undeniable truth in the name of politics. Ghana is multiparty system, however, New Patriotic Party(NPP) and National Democratic Congress(NDC) have steered the governance affairs since the democratic offshoot. Therefore, they must be blamed for every mishappening in this country. The nation was and still in crisis all because of the citizens' political affiliations pertaining to these two major parties. NPP members will do everything possible to right the wrongs of their political leaders and the NDC faithfuls as well. In March 2001, the NPP Government under the leadership of His Excellency, President John Agyekum Kufuor took a bold decision to seek debt relief under the Enhanced Heavily Indebted and Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, while most of the minority in parliament especially the NDC faithfuls were talking ill if his actions. Likewise, His excellency, John Dramani Mahama also denied all constructive criticisms and went ahead to sign the International Monetary Fund(IMF BAILOUT) contract and now innocent Ghanaians are paying for its repercussions especially graduates from the various institutions. Undoubtedly, these two contract analogy by the aforementioned party faithfuls tried their possible best to suppress the evil sides or repercussions in respect to the HIPC under NPP and IMF Bailout under NDC. I still want to know why truth, integrity, honesty and trust have become an alien virtues to our political leaders? Our motherland is in crisis and nothing seems to be working especially the poor souls who suffers a lot. General election is at the corner, however, the tension keeps on rising per the actions and inactions of our politicians and the die-hard party faithfuls of NPP and NDC. Most war torn countries in Africa had had the media hands in it that triggered everything. Hotel Rwanda issue is no exception. Between April and June 1994, an estimated 800,000 Rwandans were killed in the space of 100 days. Most of the dead were Tutsis - and most of those who perpetrated the violence were Hutus. Nonetheless, a critical research about what caused this genocide in the shores of the African soil involved media hands in the uproar. Therefore, the earlier measures are put in place in the Ghanaian media to prevent doom, the better. Recently, three men sat in front of their console to spit more fire all because, they had political backing so they fear no evil. Concern citizens of Ghana thought their prison sentences will serve as a scarecrow to everyone who'll sat behind the media console or mount the campaign platform in terms of their utterances. Now, all things are lawful but not all things are expedient. The Montie 3" remission had left a deep sore, sorrow and disappointment in the hearts of all those who wished for the success of this county. This is common sense. This tragedy will never happen in any civilized larger society when conventions and morality works. The days in Ghana are growing darker progressively. The leading light of the ruling government is shedding their last glimmers of constitutional law, revealing an appetite for abuse of power, disregard for the rule of law and a tremendous lack of a true state of matured leadership. Anyone who wants to mount the art of statecraft must come to the academy. The normal practice of remission from what I know is graced to those who have served more than two-third of their sentence. Is this an advice or directive from the council of many men? I cant think far. Confidently, I can say that Rule of Law is going down the drain. The dead goat syndrome. It saddens my heart. Rule of Law has now amended into Rule of Men. Its sad to say that separation of powers is now theoretical not practical. Is there any conflict of interest? How can the seat of the presidency be run so low in this liberal era of modern civilization. The flag of Ghana is at half mast. I'm wondering what will be throbbing in the heart and mindset of the Chief Justice now. The standard set is wrong and an unpardonable error. This is a pure anomaly. This country is funny and to understand it, you have to live in it and look at the minds of the educated illiterates who rule it. The final habitats of the constitution is the judicial organ of government and in fact, this presidential pardon is a slap in their face. Again, the precedent set is an anomaly and it must be condemned to the highest brim. Ghanaians deserve better than this. Mr President, more pressing issues must be dealt with! Graduates from the health and the teaching sector deserves better attention than this pardon. Do Ghanaians have NDC president or national president? Few days after the Progressive People Party's (PPP) book concerning the agitations of the petition of the Montie 3" was stolen, the three ironical wise men have been fled. Who then stole the Progressive Peoples Party's petition book? Sadly, majority of the citizens in my motherland cast their votes unscientifically. Majority of Ghanaians do not vote based on realistic policies. They vote on tribal lines and cultural setting. Big-ups to our dear floating voters who analyse the political parties manifestos and policies in order to vote accordingly. The trend must change this time around. We're living in a county where the government governs in favour of its political adherents; their wishes and desires without considering the cry of the masses. Imagine if the montie trio were to be PPP affiliates, will the president of our land still pardon them? The gun-man who wanted to shoot the president at church had been pardoned? This prerogative of mercy had been in existence since the constitution of the land was drafted, therefore, there are more innocent souls in prisons who deserve this same mercy. My heart weeps for the future we hope to build as a nation. Our law courts crucifies only the small animals without reputation. Simply, the constitution is archaic now and needs a complete overhauling else I don't want to be like Jeremiah in the Christian Bible to be tagged as a prophet of doom. Nonetheless, if an appeal is not filed again to challenge this pardon nor amendments pertaining to our 1992 constitution with regards to the prerogative of mercy and things continue to be like this, then the Ghana as a nation's future is very blur and opaque all other things being equal. Akwasi Brobbey [email protected] 0548412192 Offinso College of Education Offinso- The ensuing debate on President Mahamas remission of the custodial sentence of the Montie trioMessrs Salifu Maase, Alistair Nelson, and Godwin Ako Gunnhas reconfirmed the long standing view that politics has no clearly defined boundaries. In that vein, keen observers and pundits would agree that even the legal aspect of the debate has veered off the boundary of legalism into open political questions. The key among these questions is why has president Mahama not reprimanded the presidential trio the AG, BNI Boss, and IGP whose actions and inactions have contributed to raising unnecessary political tension in the country? As I argued in the August 1, 2016 article which was published widely by media houses including Myjoyonline.com, Peacefmonlne.com and Daily Guide, the administrative conduct of the presidential trio should occupy the center stage of the debate regarding the appalling behavior of the Montie trio and the subsequent trial and conviction by the Supreme Court. The offices of these public officers did not serve the national interest. As usual, I will leave the content of the legal debate to the legal experts and concentrate my attention on the politics of the case and of legalism as expressed in the media. At the same time, I will reiterate my position that the presidents trio of appointeesthe BNI boss, the IGP, and the AGwhose collective failure to properly investigate and prosecute the offenders is the underlying cause of the current state of affairs, need to be reprimanded by President Mahama. This is in the interest of good governance and safeguarding the spirit and letter of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana and the international image of Ghana. The case of the Montie trio is a serious legal issue that has is overtly politicized. A careful study of the statement that was issued by the Minister of Communications, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, reveals a political and not necessarily legal victory for the NDC members, sympathizers and government ministers who signed the petition and called on the president to exercise his prerogative power of mercy under Article 72 of the 1992 Constitution to free the Montie tio. The political victory, as expected has excited the rank of file of the NDC party. However, the presidents refusal to exercise a full pardon means that the conviction of the Montie trio which is judicial-legal issue is intact. This singular act by the president reinforces the importance of judicial precedent on contempt of court cases. The presidential remission of the sentence for the Montie trio did not in any way undermine the judicial precedent upon which the Supreme Court exercises its constitutional mandate. Therefore, it should be expected that until Parliament establishes a law on contempt of court to guide future cases, Judges would not be breaking any law or violate due process, as established, to put on trial citizens who slander or bring the name of the judicial arm of government into disrepute. At the level of the Executive arm of government, however, it would take courage from a president to resist any public pressure be it from his own party members or sections of the public to exercise the powers of prerogative of mercy in contempt of court cases. Thus, the inherent relief or victory of president Mahamas action is only political and not judicial-legal for the Montie trio and their sympathizers. Nevertheless, the action of the president and his appointees has culminated in causing eternal injury to the principles of separation of powers and the rule of law. If not handled carefully, the essence of the legal question surrounding the Supreme Courts trial of contempt of court cases would be further diluted in politics and the country would miss an opportunity to improve upon its legal regime and good governance record. True to the nature of politics, what appears to be a scholarly and principled suggestion by Professor Kwaku Asare, especially, to promote fair trial, protect human rights, and awaken public consciousness on the need to reform the faulty due process of contempt of court trial has become the policy of the government to serve sectional political interest. The statement by the Ministry of Communications reveals more than the presidents compassion to protect the rights of the Montie trio. The statement is inherently political than just the exercise of quasi judicial powers by the president. Indeed, keen observers and pundits will note that President Mahama had not spoken publicly about this case, yet, the governments statement makes reference to the effect that the president reminds all concerned especially persons working in the media or appearing on its platforms to be circumspect and guard against the use of intemperate language which has the potential of causing unnecessary tension especially in this election year. This, inevitably, has turned the statement and the act of releasing the convicts from prison into a political strategy of the NDC party against the dissenters of the presidents remission of the custodial sentence. The end result is the excitement of NDC members and sympathizers. The polarized nature of the debate in the media is enough evidence to support this claim. It should be reiterated that the very fact that the presidents remission of the sentence did not undo the judicial precedent itself as established by the Supreme Court makes the presidents action more political than the exercise of quasi judicial powers. The politics of his action is not only found in the identity of the offenders who are known NDC activist but also in what appears to be an executive cover-up of the failure of the AG, BNI, and IGP to act. It therefore stands to reason that Ghanaians should demand answers from the president as to why a corollary statement was not issued on appropriate sanctions that would be or has been imposed on the presidents trio of appointees. President Mahama should not only project the virtue of compassion to the offenders. He should as well demonstrate that will discipline his failed appointees as far as this case is concerned. Within the context of national and human security, the totality of the Montie case and the governments action that has followed sets a bad precedent for Ghanas young democracy. It would take courageous and smart leadership and genuine public participation to heal a nation that is polarized by the politics it practices. In terms of foreign policy, the current state of affairs sends wrong signals to Ghanas partners and potential investors who are needed to create jobs for the youth and transform the already ailing economy. It is very important that the president does not set the standard low for public officers especially his appointees who are directly answerable to him. To this end, it is within the right of the people in whom the sovereignty of Ghana resides in whose name and for whose welfare the powers of government are to be exercised in the manner and within the limits laid down in this (1992 Fourth Republican) Constitution to express a moral outrage not necessarily through demonstration on the failure of the BNI, the IGP, and the AG to serve the national interest in this particular case. The people should call on the president to act on his own trio of appointees as a way of bringing closure to those who strongly feel that his remission of the sentence of the Montie trio is not just an act of compassion but a political cover-up of the failures of his own appointees. Any rebuke of the presidents trio should be made transparent like the remission of the custodial sentence to allow public scrutiny. For God and Country. Edward Akuffo is an associate professor of international security and international relations at the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. President John Mahama's decision to order the release of three National Democratic Congress (NDC) activists who were jailed for contempt by the Supreme Court has sparked outrage throughout the country. Many legal practitioners and influential personalities have observed that Mr. Mahama had set a 'dangerous' precedence while others said the president's action would promote lawlessness and incapacitate the judiciary from upholding the administration of justice and the promotion of the rule of law. Constitutional Lawlessness New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa South, Samuel Atta Akyea, a lawyer, described the president's action as 'constitutional lawlessness' and said his (president's) decision was founded on partisan grounds and was being used to spite the judiciary in the face. He explained on Joy FM that the president had proven by his action that when one speaks for him and rubbishes or threatens others, he will invoke his constitutional powers to grant pardon and added that his action showed clearly that he was determined to please his NDC supporters and not necessarily uphold the Constitution. He noted that the president has the comfort to rule this country because of a decision of the Supreme Court, without which he would not be president in reference to the landmark Presidential Election Petition. Recipe for Disrespect Former Attorney General Joseph Ayikoi Otoo said the president's action would promote disrespect directed at judges, saying the remission of the sentence would only lay the grounds for people with political leanings to misbehave towards the judiciary. He told Kasapa FM in Accra yesterday, It's unfortunate, I don't speak for the Judges and I don't know how they'll feel, but I can say that they will be highly disappointedthis is the logical inferences that could be drawn from what has happened. NDC President Mr Ayikoi Otoo said the invocation of the president's constitutional powers under Article 72 of the 1992 Constitution in the manner he did was for political expediency following the pressure mounted on him by members and ministers of the NDC to have the three freed, explaining, It's a show for the NDC this has proven that he is a president for only members of his party NDC. It is very clear that these are NDC operatives and they were sure that the president would do that (pardon them). Consulting the Council of State made no difference. If the president wants to be seen as an NDC president, he should go ahead and do that. Those words that they have added to the statement about him cautioning people, they shouldn't have added that. If he wanted to caution people, he should have allowed them to serve their sentence. Miscreants Endorsement The Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Committee on Legal, Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs, Joe Osei-Wusu, who is NPP MP for Bekwai, preferred to tackle the issue from the angle of the Council of State. He described the council as 'a haven for scoundrels' saying, Every country rests firmly on some pillars of state. One such pillar is the Council of State. Rather than standing firm and being a pillar, statesmen and women, they have chosen to be partisan; and I regret that very much. They have become an anchor for misconduct rather than the pillars of state, he bemoaned. He told Class FM that he found the actions of the president and the Council of State dangerous saying, People who misconduct themselves will petition and the Council of State will say: 'On compassionate grounds, give it to them, release them' rather than the Council of State standing firmly and saying: 'No, this state must be protected from miscreants; people who abuse their constitutional powers must be punished.' These statesmen and women have become supporters of miscreants, those who misconduct themselves and abuse the constitutional rights they have. PNC Disappointed Presidential candidate for the People's National Convention (PNC), Dr. Edward Nasigre Mahama also waded into the issue and condemned President Mahama on Twitter, a social media platform. He posted on Monday: I am very disappointed in the president's decision to endorse Montie Fm insults on our leaders, judges, by releasing them. John the other Mahama has just stabbed the judiciary in the back. Cry my beloved country. This is an attack on the rule of law. #RestoreGhana. Bishop Daniel Obinim, leader and founder of International God's Way Church, yesterday wept bitterly while in the custody of the police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for allegedly defrauding a businessman. He was detained at the Nima police station and passed the night at the facility. Obinim is alleged to have defrauded the man to the tune of over GH11.6 million. Police reports indicate that the embattled man of God, who is also being accused of flogging a pregnant girl and her boyfriend for fornication in his church, lured the complainant identified as Bismark Kusi to bring the money for blessing but he ended up pocketing it. After the victim had purportedly told other senior members of the church to intervene for the money to be paid, Bishop Obinim allegedly sent him a text message warning him to stop spreading the matter. The complainant then reported the matter to the police for investigations. The arrest came barely 24 hours after the Tema police had declared the bishop wanted for flogging the two teenage lovers in his church. Police reports indicate that he reported himself (to the police) at Tema but was later re-arrested and sent to the CID headquarters to assist in investigating the case of fraud leveled against him by the said Bismark Kusi. Okomfo Angle The complainant, in a statement to the police, stated that on November 28, 2015 he parted with an amount of GH780,000 to one Okomfo Dzakpata of Mampong Nkwanta near Koforidua, to help him (complainant) manage the proceeds from the sale of gold belonging to the family. In his desperation to recover the money from the said Okomfo Dzakpata, the complainant said he visited Bishop Daniel Obinim, also a charismatic preacher, for assistance. Bishop Obinim, after being briefed about the issue, allegedly directed the complainant to bring the remaining money for blessing. The complainant allegedly took the money to the bishop for blessing as he was directed, but after the prayers, he was instructed by Obinim to leave it with him for a period of two weeks. When the two-week period elapsed and the complainant went back to for the money, Bishop Obinim purportedly fabricated stories. On July 31, 2016 Bishop Obinim sent me a text message which read, 'Bismark, my senior brother told me you said the money you brought to me is GH12 billion. Bishop Obinim being sent to the police vehicle 'I have told you I will give the money to you by the end of this month. I have also heard that you have told some big men in this country about the money. Please stop that because I don't like that, bye bye, Mr Bismark Kusi averred. The complainant said all efforts to collect the money from the bishop proved futile. When Chief Superintendent Felix Mawusi, the director of operations at the CID headquarters in Accra was contacted, he confirmed that the police, based on the case reported by Mr Kusi, had invited the bishop to assist them in investigations. He said the police would prosecute the suspect after investigations. At the time of filing this report, Bishop Obinim was being interrogated by a team of investigators from the Documentation and Visa Fraud Unit. Bishop Daniel Obinim was declared wanted by the Tema police. He was seen in a video flogging the pregnant girl and her boyfriend. The bishop, who is said to be the foster parent of the boy in the video footage, was infuriated by the lustful action of the teenagers which resulted in a pregnancy. He flogged the shirtless young man on his back with his belt before turning to the girl, flogging her mercilessly in the full glare of his congregation. During the beating, Obinim was also heard questioning the jobless young man (believed to be a student) why he impregnated the girl when he had no means of livelihood for her upkeep and the upbringing of the unborn child. The girl, unable to stand the flogging, attempted to escape, but she was held by a right-hand man of the bishop identified as Pastor Blow to enable the bishop subject her to more beatings. Obinim, who was not satisfied, instructed his junior pastors to remove their belts and subject the couple to severe beatings, according to the video footage. Arrest In Tema The cleric Tuesday morning turned himself in to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Tema Regional Police Command together with some pastors and a lawyer. He was sent to the Regional Police Commander, DCOP Paul Manly Awini for a short meeting before meeting investigators at DOVVSU where his caution statement was obtained. The Tema police transferred the founder of the church to the police headquarters when members of his church started massing up at the regional command amidst chanting of war songs. Obinim, who was preliminarily charged with physical abuse, was transferred to the Police Headquarters in Accra over the fraud case. Bishop Obinim was whisked away together with the Resident Pastor of the Tema branch, Apostle Abraham Solomon alias One Blow, who had been charged with abetment of crime (to wit, physically abusing church members). The resident pastor of the Ashaley Botwe branch of the church, Pastor Kingsley Baah, who is yet to report himself to the police, is also under investigation in respect of the same offence. Interestingly, Bishop Obinim, who was handcuffed behind him, started screaming in the local language to the hearing of the crowd that 'Jesus is victorious' as the members of the church responded loudly, 'Amen!' Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Juliana Obeng, the spokeswoman of the Tema Region, told the media that Bishop Obinim reported himself upon the invitation sent to him. According to her, the preacher was yet to be charged but his caution statement had been obtained by the police. She said he was under investigation for physical abuse. Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur, had earlier lodged a formal complaint with the Tema DOVVSU against Bishop Obinim after a concerned citizen had reported him at the same police station. Later, Lawyer Francis Xavier Sosu, a private legal practitioner, also sued the bishop for flogging the two at the Accra High Court (Human rights division). He has sued the general overseer for breach of fundamental human rights of members of the church. By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey & Vincent Kubi, Tema ([email protected]) The governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) will not launch its Manifesto on August 28, 2016 as announced during its recent campaign launch in the Central Region. The event was scheduled to take place in the Brong Ahafo Region this Sunday, but the party's Director of Elections Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo disclosed that it will not come off as planned. Even though he failed to advance reasons for the change in plans, he revealed that the party will issue an official statement to announce a new date for the manifesto launch. We will be issuing a statement to that effect and so for now, our party people should not waste time and resources traveling to Sunyani in anticipation of the manifesto launch. Kwame I can assure you the official statement will detail our plans for the manifesto launch.He disclosed on Abusua Nkomo hosted by Kwame Adinkra -ghanapoliticsonline The chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) appears to have opened a new chapter in her relations with the media and therefore Ghanaians which we find laudable. Yesterday she hosted a cross-section of news editors, and as it were, flung open the lid over the Commission and its new approach to polls management, especially the forthcoming one which she says she intends making a world-class process. She definitely needs to bring all Ghanaians, especially the media onboard for the journey towards the promised land of credible polls devoid of skeletons in the cupboard as it were. And what better way to expedite the journey than periodic interactions and above all transparency and fairness in the management of the polls. Anything short of this can spell doom not for the EC but the country as a whole. We can avoid Armageddon by joining hands with the EC to ensure that the outcome of the elections is pure and credible. The role of the EC Chairman towards achieving this goal is critical and cannot be overlooked. At a time when the Commission has suffered arguably the worst media bashing in its history, her action in changing the election management as she promised yesterday was in the right direction provided the visible sincerity which she and her commissioners and staff exuded was sincere and really bereft of pretentiousness. We can only wait and see, especially, since we are close to putting her words to hard scrutiny. Should she fail this test the fallouts would be too dire to conjecture. She has opened her arms to invite the media to join her in accomplishing her mission. We cannot turn down her invitation. But in such endeavours, mutual trust is very critical which she knows too well. It is in the light of this that we advise that she should not go back to her old ways of seeming hubris and snobbishness. The haughtiness which characterized the initial days of her tenure appears to have given way to a new Mrs. Charlotte Osei which we cannot deny plaudits. As things stand now, if she carries out the reforms to enhance transparency and steer away from arbitrariness, we have no doubt in our mind that she could chalk success. Charlotte and the EC she leads must prove doubting Thomases wrong, a feat they can achieve if they so desire. Many Ghanaians do not have confidence in the Commission. Charlotte cannot ignore the sentiments of Ghanaians whom she is working for, anyway. We are excited about the novelties she claims to have introduced especially, the engagement of lawyers and accountants in the collation exercise, not forgetting persons with higher education. She has raised the level of polling on paper; it is left to be seen how the novelties pan out on the ground on Election Day and the application of the critical transparency required during collation and the final declaration of the winner. We are watching and would not hesitate to descend heavily on her should she disappoint us deliberately. We can only wish her Godspeed if her actions are underpinned by sincerity and the fear of God. It is emerging that the two serving police officers who attempted robbing the GCB Bank bullion van that was coming from Donkorkrom in the Eastern Region had always harboured the intention to rob. According to the prosecution, the two, General Lance Corporals Solomon Elvis Mensah and Daniel Kissi Abrokwah, had the intention to rob the vehicle which had always come to Donkorkrom to supply money to the bank. The two accused policemen, who were on duty at the GN and GCB Banks respectively, decided to exercise their plan of robbing the bullion van of any cash it was carrying, according to the prosecution. This was contained in the prosecution's charge sheet presented at the Accra central district court yesterday when the two cop robbers and their civilian counterpart, Hafisu Mohammed aka Danjuma, a mechanic, were hauled before the court. Charges The prosecution, led by DSP Abraham Annor, told the court that the three on August 16, this year, at Mame-Krobo near Tease in the Eastern Region, conspired and acted together with a common criminal objective to commit crime, to wit: murder. The two policemen have been slapped with additional charges of attempted robbery and murder. In the murder case, the prosecution stated that the cops at the same place and date caused the death of one Daniel K. Sarpong, 52, the driver of the Nkawkaw GCB Bank bullion van with registration number GN 1354-15. The prosecutor, DSP Annor, disclosed that on the said day, the policemen discussed the plan to rob the van with Danjuma, a cabbie who is their friend. He said the policemen waylaid the van at a spot between Tease and Mame-Krobo, each armed with an AK 47 assault rifle at about 10:30 am, stressing that Danjuma drove his vehicle towards Ekye Amanfrom to monitor the arrival of the van. Crossfire The prosecutor said about 20 minutes later, Danjuma signaled the policemen who upon seeing the van, opened fire, killing Sarpong, while another police guard on board the van got injured but managed to return fire, compelling the policemen to flee into the bush. The policemen called Danjuma who picked them in a bid to escape. Men were mobilized to arrest the accused persons on board the taxi. Two AK 47 rifles, 23 rounds of ammunition, a cutlass and two metal bars were retrieved from the taxi. No Pleas Taken The plea of the accused persons, who had no lawyers, was not taken when they appeared before the trial magistrate Stephen Owusu. The magistrate, who took the accused persons through the journey ahead in respect of the trial, said their persona were in the court for committal process. He said at the end of the process, he might or might not convict them for trial at the high court, depending on the evidence gathered by the prosecution. Mr. Owusu stated that the accused persons would be remanded into police custody until September 6, 2016 to give the police adequate time to conduct further investigations into the case. No Bail Application He explained that the charges preferred against the trio hitherto were non-bailable but the Supreme Court, in its ruling, had stated that bail could be granted, adding that they were also at liberty to get lawyers for their defence. However, the trial magistrate warned that they should not attempt bail in his court because he would dismiss any such application. Mr. Owusu said that as a committal court, it has no power to grant bail. Meanwhile, the body of the deceased has been deposited at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital awaiting autopsy. Three other occupants of the van escaped unhurt. By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson [email protected] The Writer 24.08.2016 LISTEN Lecturer: All of you must buy the HANDOUT, else you won't pass my COURSE! Class: Yes Sir.., yes Sir Master, Sir we hear Sir! Non-Conformist Student: Sir, I have not bought the HANDOUT, but I have it. Lecturer: You, hayyyyi! Where did you get it? Non-conformist Student: Sir, I read a copy bought by a colleague.. Lecturer: And so what! Non-conformist Student: When I went to Google, I saw it filli filli. Sir, nothing change kraaa! Lecturer! Hayyyi! Shut up! Non-conformist Student: Sir, punctuation gba, you no change am! So I go Google get my own way I no bia cobo. Class: Hahahahaba! Kikikikikiiki! Hehehehwhwhee!!!! Lecturer: You, get out of my class! The above scenario is a reality in many tertiary institutions, where some lecturers harass students to buy HANDOUTS plagiarized from Google. If a student fails to buy that piece of glorified plagiarism for whatever reasons, he or she is doomed. This is not to say that all HANDOUTS are bad. Not at all! Some are products of the original thinking of lecturers and simplified versions of consulted works of experts. But to copy contents from Google, bind them as HANDOUTS, and impose them on students for a fee amounts to Academic Slavery! At best it must be discouraged, and at worst penalized. Bitter truth, abi? Abubakar Mohammed Marzuq Azindoo Lecturer, University of Applied Management, Germany - Ghana Campus, McCarthy Hill, Accra. Email: [email protected] Supporters of the General Overseer of the International Godsway Church (IGWC), Bishop Daniel Obinim have massed at the Nima police station demanding the immediate release of their Pastor. The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is holding Bishop Obinim is in its custody for alleged fraud to the tune of GHc 11.6 million. Yesterday [Tuesday], a video emerged showing the preacher being led into a vehicle from a Police station in handcuffs, escorted by some police officers. Citi News' Phillip Nii Lartey is at the Nima he reported that some of the supporters were yelling: No Bishop no vote, No bishop no Ghana and We want bishop, we love Angel! among other cries. The embattled preacher made headlines in the past week for the public flogging of two young adults for which he is under investigation but it is this claim of fraud that has landed him in prison custody. According to the CID, the complainant came to the Tema Police accusing Bishop Obinim of failing to deliver on a promise of helping him retrieve family gold proceeds from a fetish priest which culminated in him being defrauded of the GHc 11.6 million by the preacher. By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana Citi Business News understands some commercial banks in the country are strategizing to meet a potential increase in the minimum capital requirement by the Bank of Ghana. The banks, which admit any such decision by the regulator will protect depositors and improve performance in the industry, however fear they may be forced out of business if they fail to meet the revise figures. Currently, the banks need 120 million cedis before they can be licensed to operate. The figure is however anticipated to increase to about 200 million cedis. The CEO of Capital Bank, FitzGerald Odonkor tells Citi Business News of his company's preparedness for a rise in the minimum capital requirement. We are absolutely prepared for any increases in the minimum capital; we realize that the regulatory authority [BoG] is looking at how to make the banking sector more efficient and so in line with that, we are also preparing ourselves for any increase in the minimum capital, he said. Meanwhile Mr. Odonkor says Capital Bank which is one of the new entrants into the banking industry is working to become a Tier 1 category bank within the next five years. Talking about being a Tier 1 Bank, it's the level of our operations, our scope, our clientele base and how visible we become with the market, and that is why we have a strategic plan of becoming a tier one bank in the next five years, he further noted. BoG to consider economic capital requirements Banking Consultant, Nana Otuo Acheampong has called on the Bank of Ghana to consider an economic capital requirement for universal commercial banks in Ghana rather than the regulatory minimum capital requirement. The economic capital requirement, according to Nana Otuo Acheampong, will allow the banks the choice to either remain a small bank or grow to become a bigger bank which allows them opportunity to participate in multimillion dollar transactions like the cocoa syndicated loan and the Ports expansion projects which require huge funding considering their capital base. There should be a choice in that if somebody wants to remain a small bank, then it should be allowed to remain as such but if the bank's economic activity is so high that it requires bigger capital, then the argument that is being advanced in the industry comes in handy, Nana Otuo Acheampong explained. By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana A report commissioned by Catholic relief agency, Caritas Ghana, has painted a gloomy picture of the country's chaotic management of lands and warned of dire consequences if land grabbing persists. Titled: Unmasking land grabbing in Ghana; restoring livelihoods; paving way for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the report enumerates how land grabbing is wreaking havoc in the country especially rural livelihoods and threatening food security in the long run. Inadequate land management and utilization policy coupled with previous economic development programmes, largely influenced by external forces, has created an environment for land grabbing in Ghana and it is dangerous for the future development of the country,Samuel Zan Akologo, Executive Secretary of Caritas Ghana said at the launch of the report yesterday. According to Mr. Akologo, the report identified urbanization as another 'evil catalyst' in the land grab craze and added that the 'limited consultation with farmers, communities and households whose livelihoods depend on land in very important decisions, is a serious aberration with consequences for the violation of fundamental human rights. He said the report presented three case studies which demonstrated how land grabbing is a real threat to lives and livelihoods of especially those already at the margins of society and whose only coping mechanism is through their God-given resource of land. Mr. Akologo further stated that the report indicated the dynamics of land grabbing which are tactfully driven and controlled by foreign investors with their ability to exploit loopholes in the national legal frameworks and the ignorance of communities. Rev. Fr. Wisdom Larweh, Assistant Secretary General of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference said they want to use the report as a springboard for many more fruitful steps to roll back the infested mat of land grabbing and restore productively the livelihood of our people. Rev. Fr. Dr. Aniedi Okure, Executive Director of African Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) who are co-sponsors of the report described foreign grab of African lands as an 'epidemic' but said some prominent and influential Africans are the conduits for such unfortunate happenings. The issue of Africans readily selling their heritage for a bowl of soup has assumed a troubling pattern, he complained. Programmes Director of Star Ghana Ibrahim Tanko Amidu who chaired the launch said land grabbing and land rights have become complex issues that need the attention of all stakeholders. Ms. Marilyn Aniwa, Coordinator of PIAC who co-chaired the launch said land grabbing is holding back development and bemoaned the plunder of Ghana's natural resources by foreigners. By William Yaw Owusu The Public Utilities Workers Union (PUWU) of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has declared a three-day nationwide demonstration against the privatization of ECG from today. The demonstration, which is expected to take place in the various offices of ECG across the country, will last for three hours each day from 8:00am to 11:00am. Michael Adumatta Nyantakyi, General Secretary of PUWU, who was addressing a press conference in Accra yesterday, said the Union has called on government to review the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact, which seeks to cede the ECG to private investors for a period of 25 years. We are not asking the Government of Ghana to abrogate the MCC compact, but we are requesting that GOG and MCC should review the Compact. Private Sector Participation (PSP) as a condition precedent and trigger for entry into force should be modified to include pragmatic steps or measures that can bring efficiency and profitability to ECG using the disciplined leadership and governance transformation method, he said. Mr Nyantakyi noted that they will not back down their decision until their demands are met, adding To buttress our resolve and determination to resist this privatization process, the leadership of the workers has decided that there will be a three-hour demonstration in the regional and district offices of ECG every morning from Wednesday, August 24, 2016 from 8:00 am to 11:00 am up to Friday, August 26, 2016. The red flags will continue to fly until further notice. He reiterated that the ECG's privatization policy decision is not the best option for the country. This policy is not the best option to bring reforms to make ECG more efficient and profitable. We have already articulated our views and suggestion in our position paper to MiDA and the Ministry of Power. Unfortunately, the Government of Ghana with tacit pressure from MCC of the United States of America is still pushing this agenda despite all the negative implications for our country and its citizens, Nyantakyi said. He said the union will continue to put pressure on government until the policy is reviewed in the best interest of the country. [email protected] Cephas Larbi The Deputy Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sammy Awuku, has expressed disquiet about President Mahama's distribution of head pans to residents in the Northern Region. According to him, when Nana Akufo-Addo, the party's standard bearer, said his government would set up a factory in every district of the country, the president said it's not possible; and instead of doing something that will profit the people, he (president) is only interested in buying more head pans for them (Northerners) to come to the south as head porters (popularly known as 'kayayei'). Somebody can only be a brother when you cry and he understands you and feels what you feel, Mr Sammy Awuku pointed out. According to him, When you go to the south, the president says he has developed the north; and when you come to the north he says he has developed the south; but in both the north and the south everybody is suffering. He made this observation when he addressed opposition political parties during a demonstration in Tamale, the Northern Regional capital, dubbed, 'Di Mi Ya' in the Dagban language (meaning, 'Enough is enough'). The opposition parties that staged the demonstration were the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Convention People's Party (CPP), National Democratic Party (NDP), Progressive People's Party (PPP), People's National Convention (PNC) and All People's Congress (APC). Speaking to DAILY GUIDE, Mr Sammy Awuku lambasted Mahama for saying that his government allocated GH250,000 to the 'youth in bicycle riding' programme. I can't imagine President Mahama saying they allocated that money to teach the youth in northern Ghana how to ride bicycle, he wondered. He urged the youth of Tamale to be vigilant this year so that politicians do not take them for granted. When politicians promise and do not deliver kick them out for others to learn from it, he urged. He indicated that it had been eight years since the National Democratic Congress (NDC) came to power but they do not want to hear the four years of the late professor Mills after all he did for President Mahama and the NDC government. All those who insulted Mills have gotten promotions. Mr Sammy Awuku appealed to voters in the three northern regions to try Nana Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who he said are ready to change the lives of Ghanaians when given the mandate on December 7. FROM Eric Kombat, Tamale Holger Adam (right), Ghana Country Head of Rendeavour, Stephen Jennings (second right), James Asare-Adjei and Frederick Alipui, Policy Advisor to the Trade Minister in a pose after unveiling the park Appolonia Development Company Limited, developer of Appolonia City, has launched its business park dubbed 'Appolonia Business Park (ABP).' ABP, which is a modern business and logistics hub, is expected to provide Ghanaian and international companies with an ideal location to establish and grow their businesses. The Appolonia Business Park has accordingly been designed to accommodate manufacturing, processing, storage, logistics and service companies. The park comprises 70 acres of land and provides space ranging from 0.25 acre to 10 acres depending on the requirement of the business. It is expected to provide modern infrastructure specifically engineered to suit light industrial and business uses. Stephen Jennings, Founder and CEO of Rendeavour, the lead investor and developer of Appolonia, said Appolonia Business Park's high quality infrastructure and secure land title create an ideal environment for companies looking to expand their businesses in Ghana and West Africa. Furthermore, the neighbouring residential areas of Appolonia allow employees to live nearby their workplace, while enjoying amenities such as parks, schools, healthcare and shopping, he said. Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr. Ekow Spio Gabrah, in a statement read on his behalf, lauded the ABP initiative. Projects such as Appolonia can bring immense benefits to the local community, Accra and the wider region, he said, adding that we are thankful to Rendeavour for the foresight to place one of its projects in Accra, ensuring that value is given the host nation. According to him, the entire Appolonia City has the potential of becoming Ghana and indeed West Africa's Silicon Valley. President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), James Asare-Adjei, urged businesses to patronize the ABP. He also called for support to establish industrial hubs for the growth of industries in Ghana. About Appolonia City The Appolonia City, a 2,250 acre (914 hectare) mixed-used urban project that has zones for residential, commercial, recreational and light industrial uses, was launched in 2012. Rendeavour is reportedly investing over $250 million in the provision of roads, water, sewerage and power, at Appolonia. This is expected to lead to the construction of over 25,000 houses for 88,000 residents during the project which is a partnership between the Appolonia community located within the Greater Accra region and Rendeavour, one of Africa's leading urban land developer with over 30,000 acres of land in the urban growth trajectories of major cities in Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. BY Melvin Tarlue The first Turkish Product Fair organized by the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of Economy of Turkey will start from Wednesday, August 24 27, 2016 at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel, Accra. A statement from Golden Apple Marketing Solutions Limited, a Ghana-based event management firm, said goods manufactured in Turkey will be exhibited at the fair. Turkish manufacturers are expected in the country to seek partnerships with Ghanaian businesses for the export of Turkish goods and also import of vital raw materials from Ghana to Turkey. Golden Apple Marketing Solutions (GAMS) is working closely with Armada International, an acclaimed Turkish fair organizer to ensure the success of the fair in Accra. The fair will further strengthen the bilateral business relationship between Turkey and Ghana, a representative of Armada International said, adding that Turkish products have acquired a worldwide reputation for quality and durability. Joshua Mgbakor, Chief Operating Officer of GAMS Limited said, The Turkish Export Products Exhibition will provide an enriching experience for all visitors to discover new products from Turkey that will make impact and transform lives and businesses in Ghana. Various products in building and construction, electrical/home appliances, machinery, furniture, textile, Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), fashion and cosmetics will be exhibited during the four-day exhibition. GAMS is renowned for organizing successful events. In the latest development following Bishop Daniel Obinim's arrest for an alleged defrauding someone of GHc 11.6 million , he has been transported by police from the Police Headquarters to an undisclosed location, Citi News Franklin Badu Jnr reported. Bishop Obinim entering a police vehicle for his second transfer today Followers of the controversial preacher had besieged the Police Headquarters in a show of support for their pastor but the crowd were dispersed with water cannons and pepper spray. Bishop Obinim's followers earlier massed up at the Nima police station demanding immediate release of their Pastor following his arrest on Tuesday , before he was later transferred to the Police Headquarters. The empty sidewalks in front of the Police HQ after the followers were dispersed with water cannons Yesterday [Tuesday], a video emerged showing the preacher being led into a vehicle from a Police station in handcuffs, escorted by some police officers. Citi News' Phillip Nii Lartey was at the Nima where he reported that some of the supporters were yelling: No Bishop no vote, No bishop no Ghana and We want bishop, we love Angel! among other cries. Bishop Obinim garnered widespread criticism this past week for his public flogging of two teenagers in his church for which he has been sued and is under investigation but it is this claim of fraud that has seen him locked up. According to the CID, the complainant came to the Tema Police accusing Bishop Obinim of failing to deliver on a promise of helping him retrieve family gold proceeds from a fetish priest which culminated in him being defrauded of the GHc 11.6 million by the preacher. By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana Telecom Analyst, Fouad Chalabi has downplayed any significant impact of the possible exit of Expresso on Ghana's telecom industry. He argues the telecom company's market share is quite negligible which will not adversely affect operations within the sector. It has no effect because they do not have any significant market share; it is not a big player which will affect the industry, he stated. The National Communications Authority (NCA), last week, intimated to Citi Business News, it has commenced processes to revoke Expresso's license . According to the Director for Engineering at the NCA, Henry Kanor, the prolonged inactivity of Expresso is affecting industry stakeholders and creating a shortfall in the revenue targets of the regulator and government. The company has also been unable to find an investor to turn around its fortunes. Some analysts had also earlier warned that Expresso risks folding up if it failed to re-strategize its operations. However Fouad Chalabi tells Citi Business News he is highly confident the NCA will devise pragmatic measures to compensate customers who will be affected by the exit of Expresso. According to him, customers will equally be offered the opportunity to switch to other telecom operators of their choice as the market is competitive. This is where the NCA will play a role to ensure that customers of the telecom company, he observed. The Telecom Analyst added, I think the NCA will ensure by giving the right notice .When the customers themselves know about this, they will make the arrangement in order to be hooked unto other operators. Expresso's share of the telecom market as at the first quarter of 2016, stood at 0.36 percent. By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana Humanitarian extraordinaire and parish priest of the Christ the King Church in Accra, Rev Father Andrew Campbell has praised efforts by the NHIS in reaching the poor and vulnerable in society. Father Campbell told NHIA Chief Executive, Nathaniel Otoo, that the work of the NHIA was helping bring relief to many people around the country and urged the Authority to keep up the good work. Continue supporting the poor, they dont have anybody. Some of them are always praying that they dont get sick because they cannot afford the cost of healthcare. Continue helping these marginalized people so they feel loved and cared for, he said. Father Campbell made the remark on Tuesday when he visited the NHIA boss to commend the Authority for its interest in enrolling the needy and vulnerable populations of the country onto the Scheme, and to enlist the support of the NHIA in other humanitarian causes. I see it [NHIS card] work when I go to Weija, Ho with people who cannot afford it [healthcare]. I want you to continue to do this, thats the only way we can help humanity, keep it up, he encouraged. According to him, he has been following the NHIAs work with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection in providing financial access to healthcare to the needy and less privileged in our society. In his remarks, Mr Otoo praised Father Campbells dedication to helping the needy and vulnerable in Ghana. He pledged the NHIAs continued support to helping the poor get access to healthcare. He said Father Campbells commitment to bringing happiness to the needy is exemplary. The Ghana Living Standards Survey 6, has put the number of the extremely poor among the Ghanaian population at 8.4%. This translates to about 2.26 million people. In 2015, the NHIA through inter-agency partnerships enrolled 1.2 million of this number onto the Scheme. According to the NHIA, this includes the aged, school children on the School Feeding Program, prisoners, head porters and many others who now have access to healthcare. Father Campbell extended an invitation to the NHIA to join in his soup kitchen initiative where many street and homeless people are fed a meal every day at the Christ the King Church in Accra. He called on people of all faiths to abandon the poor and vulnerable in society. He was later enrolled onto the Scheme and issued an NHIS card. Father Campbell who is originally from Ireland has been in Ghana since 1971 undertaking missionary and humanitarian work. In addition to his work as the parish priest of the Christ the King Church at Cantoments in Accra, he heads the Weija Leprosaria and is a founding member of the Help Age Ghana an NGO that cares for old people. Employees of the Electricity Company of Ghana in Tema embarked on a three-hour demonstration in line with the workers protest of government's decision to cede the management of the company to a private entity. Several workers clad in red downed their tools for three hours carrying placards to press home their demands. One of the placards read: Government just be a little sensitive to the same people who voted you power Politicians stop dumping substandard meters on ECG, another placard read. Today [Wednesday] was the first of the three-day protest which ends on Friday with the ECG offices shut down between 8am to 11am. The Public Utilities Workers Union (PUWU), which is spearheading the protest, has called on government to review the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact which seeks to cede the ECG to private investors for a period of 25 years. At a press conference in Accra yesterday [Tuesday] when PUWU served notice of this protest, it urged government to rescind its decision which could lead to lay-offs if the MCC compact is implemented. The Trades Union Congress (TUC), has thrown its weight behind PUWU indicating that dialogue between the unions and government is yielding no fruits. The Public Services Workers Union (PSWU), has also thrown their support behind PUWU According to the National Secretary of the Junior Staff Union Frank Adjetey, the decision taken by government will affect Ghanaians negatively in the long run. The private investor is going to handle the tariff issue. As an investor you want to make profit, so whatever they can do to make that possible, they'll do it. The tariffs will affect all Ghanaians, he told Citi News. By: Elvis Washington/citifmonline.com/Ghana President John Dramani Mahama 24.08.2016 LISTEN Two political parties, the Peoples National Convention and the Progressive Peoples People, have in separate press statements expressed disappointment at, and condemned, the decision by President Mahama to free the Montie 3 through a presidential pardon. The statements were issued in reaction to President Mahamas decision on Monday, August 21, 2006, after consultation with the Council of State, to release the three, Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Salifu Maase, alias Mugabe, who were sentenced to serve four months in jail in addition to a fine of Ghc10, 000 each by the Supreme Court that convicted them for contempt. The statement from the PNC, signed by its General Secretary, Atik Mohammed, said even though they recognize the powers given the president by the constitution to pardon convicted persons, it would have been better if it had been exercised in the collective interest of the nation. To this end, we find the decision by the President to grant remission to these the Montie trio reprehensible, as it clearly undermines our collective efforts at deepening democracy and promoting national cohesion. By this singular decision, the President has sought to establish a precedent that suggests that, individuals with sympathy to the NDC convicted of crimes against the state are more deserving of his mercy than other ordinary Ghanaians, Atik Mohammed pointed out. He continued that there are thousands of innocent prisoners in Ghanaian jails who equally need the President to come to their aid but unfortunately are unlucky because they are not sympathizers of the NDC. It is our view also that, the Presidents decision further provides insurance for all his sympathizers and NDC supporters in general, who wish to foment trouble in this years election to do so with impunity knowing pretty well the President will be there to guarantee their freedom. This certainly is not a good omen with 100 days to the polls, the PNC General Secretary noted. The PPP, on its part, said the decision by President Mahama to pardon the three is in bad faith and a scar on the democratic credentials of Ghana. Tagging him as weak, the PPP accused the President of kowtowing to pressures from party members whose intentions are based on sentiments and emotions without looking at the interest of the state is very unfortunate. According to Murtala Mohammed, National Secretary of the PPP, who signed the statement, history did not favour the NDC, when it comes to alleged murder of judges, maltreatment of journalists and threats to members of the bench. The PPP added that President Mahama should have taken into consideration all these instances before hurriedly succumbing to pressure from his party members into releasing the three. Murtala Mohammed in the statement indicated that the action of the President, though constitutional, was uncalled for and wrongly timed. Taking on the Council of State, the PPP said they were disappointed in the sort of advice given the President by the council, stressing, The PPP is sure not all council members were on the same page with the President and his NDC appointees. We therefore call upon members of the council of state to come out clearly on this matter in order to set records straight. May our conscience be the better judge. We reiterate our pledge of manning a just and disciplined society when elected into power; where laws are enforced without the consideration of party colourization and sympathy to cronies and political henchmen and women. The President has committed a political suicide and the people of Ghana must bury his political ambitions come December 7, 2016, the PPP proposed. Facts Alice has recently received an invitation letter to participate in a 5-day conference in Oxford, UK. Alices employers have stated that they will pay for the full cost of her trip. Alice has made previous visits to Germany, South Korea, Dubai and South Africa. She visited Germany in 2014. She was also recently refused a German visa in December, 2015. On her UK Visa Application Form (VAF) Alice has been invited to respond to this question: Have you travelled outside your country of residence, excluding the UK, in the last 10 years? Alice answers yes and writes down Germany, South Korea, Dubai, and South Africa. To what extent would Alices previous travels to these countries count in assessing her intentions for the visa? What are the rules on travel history? Under UK immigration rules, travel history is a pattern of travel that shows that an applicant has made previous visits to certain countries. These are the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Schengen countries or Switzerland. Examples of Schengen countries are Germany, France, Italy, Portugal, etc. A pattern of travel to any of these countries may indicate that an applicant is a genuine visitor. However travel history is not the only consideration in assessing an applicants intentions. The ECO must consider all relevant information including any social and economic factors of the applicant. How will the ECO assess Alices travel history? The Rules use the term a pattern of travel. A pattern denotes order, systematic, sequence, etc. To qualify as travel history there must be a sequence to the travel. Alice previously travelled to Germany in 2014. Germany is a Schengen country and therefore a listed country. However, a previous single travel to the Germany is not a pattern of travel and may not qualify as travel history under the Rules. The facts further show that Alice was recently refused a German visa in December, 2015. Under the Rules, the ECO may not consider travel history if there has been a change in circumstances since the previous visit. Thus even if the ECO was minded to consider Alices single visit, her recent visa refusal may cause him or her to discount the previous visit in Alices favour. Previous visits to countries other than those listed. The facts show that Alice has also made previous visits to South Korea, Dubai and South Africa. The countries listed under the Rules are the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Schengen countries or Switzerland. Clearly, South Korea, Dubai and South Africa are not among the listed countries. Therefore, a pattern of travel to countries other than the ones listed may generally not count as evidence of travel history. Alice therefore cannot rely on her previous travels to those countries as evidence of her travel history; no matter the number of previous travels she may have made. What if Alice had evidence of travel history? If Alice had made previous visits to say, the UK, Germany France and Australia that would count as evidence of travel history. However, travel history is only a part of all the evidence the ECO will consider. The ECO cannot rely only on travel history as the sole basis in assessing Alices intentions but must consider it in conjunction with her social and economic ties. For example, if the ECO made a finding on the evidence that Alices employer did not have sufficient means to pay for Alices visit; this would be a factor the ECO will take into account in assessing Alices overall intention for the visa. Conclusion Travel history may be taken into account in assessing your intentions for a visa. It is however not a sole criterion. The ECO may take account of your travel history, in addition to your social and economic factors in determining whether you are a genuine visitor. For example, if the ECO has concerns with your economic circumstances, they may refuse your application despite your travel history. By Emmanuel Opoku Acheampong Disclaimer: This article only provides general information and guidance on UK immigration law. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. The writer will not accept any liability for any claims or inconvenience as a result of the use of this information. The writer is an immigration law advisor and a practicing law attorney in Ghana. He advises on U.S., UK, and Schengen immigration law. He works for Acheampong & Associates Ltd, an immigration law firm in Accra. He may be contacted on [email protected] President John Mahama has asked Ghanaians not to risk voting a divided New Patriotic Party (NPP) presided over by a dictator into office. Addressing party supporters at Bimbilla in the Northern Region during a campaign tour, the president said NPP flagbearer Nana Akufo-Addo has failed to unite his party and should therefore not be voted for in the December elections. The NPP is not ready for power; it will be a very dangerous thing to hand over power to a party that is not ready, he told the cheering crowd. The president was playing on disciplinary action taken by the National Executive Committee (NEC) the NPP which upheld recommendations of the party's disciplinary committee to suspend three national officers for stated misbehavior. Two of the suspended officials Paul Afoko and Sammy Crabbe National Chairman and 2nd Vice-Chairman respectively, unsuccessfully challenged their suspensions in court. In both cases, the Human Rights Division of the High Court held that the processes used in suspending the two were fair and lawful. Playing on this, president Mahama said the NPP presidential candidate is leading a half of the party with the other half sitting down with their arms folded watching him drive the bus down the hill. He claimed the NPP presidential candidate had been sacking party members who criticise him. President Mahama said Ghana deserved a president who can unite the nation, wondering how the Nana Akufo-Addo could be relied on to unite Ghana if he couldnt unite his own party. Picking on the Nana Akufo-Addos appeal to voters to try him, the President said, It will be a dangerous experiment. Ghana is not at a stage where we are experimenting in leadership and so you cant come and beg that we should try you; we are not in the era of experiments and trials. Responding to the Presidents claims, Mustapha Abdul Hamid, Spokesperson for the NPP flagbearer said it was surprising that Mr. Mahama was playing to the gallery without a scintilla of evidence to back his outrageous claims. First, he said it was palpably false to claim that Nana Akufo-Addo was leading one-half of the NPP whilst the other remained aloof. About 96% of the grassroots of the NPP voted to elect Nana Akufo-Addo as the flagbearer of the NPP , he pointed out, stressing that those who competed with him for the flagbearership Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Alan Kyerematen, Francis Addai Nimo are all on the campaign trail. Related: I am not violent; Nana Akufo-Addo fights back So where is the half of NPP supporters sitting with their arms folded which the president is talking about? Mr. Hamid asked. He said the President has proven that he had intended to ride on divisions within the opposition party to win the elections. The university lecturer said the president conveniently ignored the fact that impartial judges had affirmed the partys actions as legal and fair, insisting this is a testament to a failed attempt to fan the NPPs internal divisions and exploit same for political gain. He said the President may have failed to appreciate what Nana Akufo-Addo means when he tells the electorate to try him. In any case, the results of the presidents leadership make trying another person imperative. All the economic indicators he inherited have been left in a worse state so where is the experience? Mustapha Hamid asked. He said the NPP flagbearer had proven to be a principled person and done well for himself in his personal life. He, therefore, is best placed to lead the transformation that Ghana badly deserves, he asserted. Appolonia Business Park has broken ground on its 70-acre site, welcoming leading Ghanaian and international companies to the light industrial area of Appolonia, the mixed-use, mixed income development near Accra. Inaugurated by U.S. Ambassador Robert Jackson and Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, represented by Frederick Alipui, Policy Advisor to the Minister, the event was also attended by representatives of European embassies in Ghana, as well as the Accra business community. Ambassador Jackson, welcoming the presence of American investors in the project, said, We congratulate Rendeavour for its dedication in bringing the Appolonia development to reality. It is really an investment in the future positioning this area as a social and economic hub, with the potential to create significant jobs. Projects such as Appolonia can bring immense benefits to the local community, Accra and the wider region, said Frederick Alipui. We are thankful to Rendeavour for the foresight to place one of its projects in Accra, ensuring that value is given the host nation. Stephen Jennings, Founder and CEO of Rendeavour, the lead investor and developer of Appolonia, said, Appolonia Business Parks high quality infrastructure and secure land title create an ideal environment for companies looking to expand their businesses in Ghana and West Africa. Furthermore, the neighbouring residential areas of Appolonia allow employees to live nearby their workplace, while enjoying amenities such as parks, schools, healthcare and shopping. Appolonia Business Parks fully serviced plots include water, sewerage, storm drainage and a dedicated substation for electricity, in close proximity to residential and recreational facilities in the wider Appolonia project. The business park is designed to accommodate a range of uses, from manufacturing and processing to storage and logistics. Appolonia will be home to more than 88,000 residents and 30,000 day visitors, creating tens of thousands of jobs during the lifetime of the project. Appolonia Business Park Appolonia Business Park offers 70 acres (30 hectares) of modern commercial areas with world-class infrastructure and estate management services. The park is designed to accommodate a range of uses including manufacturing, processing, storage, logistics and service companies. Img 1920 Img 1924 Img 1926 Img 1928 At the invitation of His Excellency Shri Pranab Mukherjee, President of India, His Excellency Mr Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt is paying a State Visit to India from 01 to 03 September, 2016. President Al Sisi is accompanied by high-level delegation comprising of Ministers, Officials and business leaders. During the visit, President of India will receive President Al Sisi and host a Banquet in his honour. Vice President of India, His Excellency Shri Mohammad Hamid Ansari would call on him. Prime Minister of India, His Excellency Shri Narendra Modi would hold bilateral discussions with President Al Sisi and host a lunch for him. Her Excellency Smt. Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs of India would call on President Al Sisi. President Al Sisi is expected to meet business leaders both of India and Egypt during his visit. India and Egypt enjoy excellent relations marked by strong, traditional and civilizational ties and contribute towards peace and development in the world. The lawyer for controversial Ghanaian pastor, Bishop Daniel Obinim, says the arrest of his client was an attempt by elements within government to divert public attention from the remission of Jail term of Montie three. Samuel Atta Akyea says government wants Ghanaians to look beyond the gaffe it committed when it remitted the four-month custodial sentence of a presenter Salifu Maase and two presenters Alistair Tairo Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn who were convicted for contempt. He said the Bishop has not done anything untoward to warrant the treatment meted out to him by the police. This is not a common criminal but he was locked up and handcuffed and place before Daily Graphic and Ghanaian Times as if this is the most topical issue in the country few hours after the Montie FM has hit the airwave, he told Francis Abban, host of Joy FMs Midday News. After several failed attempt by the police to him help them investigate an incident in which he flogged two church members for allegedly fornicating, Bishop Obinim on Tuesday turned himself in at the Tema Police Command. Supporters of Bishop Daniel Obinim at the police CID in Accra Later he was rounded up and sent to the headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for allegedly defrauding someone to the tune of GHS11.6 million. He was later transferred to the Nima Police Station to spend the night there. This angered his followers who massed up at the police station to be with him. Related Article: Obinim followers mass up at Nima Police Station Despite the plea by the police to have them returned to their homes, the members of Gods Way International Church refused. He was sent back to the CID office for questioning. Joy News Komla Adom who was on the scene said the supporters have massed up at the police CID office demanding the release of Bishop Obinim amidst chanting of songs. He explained not even the attempt by the police to spray water on them was enough to disperse them. But Mr Atta Akyea described the allegation as watery and doesnt make sense, adding, the Bishop does not even know the person who is accusing him. Commenting on the presence of the supporters, he said contrary to reports making the round, the supporters of Bishop Obinim did not block the road leading to the CID as was being put out in the public. I dont think that was the scenario, they came in their numbers [but] I do not think they have any criminal propensity, he said. He parried the claim that his client was denied a bill saying the police officials said they would do so after the interrogation. He disclosed Bishop Obinim is not unmoved by the development, adding, To my amazement, he is high spirited because he has never dealt with anybody in a gold business. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brakopowers | Email: [email protected] 24.08.2016 LISTEN If one begins to ask questions of what is wrong with our nation? One wont stop until the Cock starts growing teeth. Just ask asking questions of how Nigeria got to plunge herself in this mess wont get an answer, even after the wait of a century! Wait, does it mean we cant explain how Nigeria found herself in this trying time? I was at a conference one bright Monday, smiling and in my normal self until one of the speakers at the conference said something which automatically changed my mood as a remote to a television set would. What did he say? He said researches have shown that the world has about 36 different mineral resources, he then moved to what broke me down. He asserted that Nigeria had 33 of these 36 mineral resources. The first thing that came to my mind was, with 33 mineral resources, we are still termed underdeveloped. When then would we get developed? Maybe when we have all! The situation of our country Nigeria is getting worse by the second, rather than having things change for the better, things are becoming more difficult. The government in town today is claiming its trying her best in ensuring that life gets easier for her people, and her people are complaining of everyday difficulty. Whats wrong? Maybe because they felt they were coming to govern just the capital city, as apparent in their release that, they didnt plan for what they have met. What would a family relaying on civil servants do? How will they help their selves in times like this? When they have to get a month salary after working assiduously for months. A family like this also has other responsibilities to meet, like the paying of rents, electricity bills, children school fee among others. Now tell me, how do we expect them to thrive? I am forced to asking myself if this was the way it started, but the book of history is clearing my doubt, by making me understand it was never like this, even if it wasnt too good then, at least, people were living. Is Nigeria tired of her citizens? The rate at which our countries currency is plundering into the sea is another thing that puts the heart of an average Nigeria in his or her mouth. Our currency is fast losing value just like the rapid diffusion of a gluttons fart. How do we help this? Nigerians who by things online to sell are now jobless or on forceful leave, you cant even predict the price of what you want to buy in the market, if you do, you will just help yourself waste your time and money to the market. If not for the federal governments intervention, many would have performed their pilgrimage in their very own room. Its that bad. In spite all that we have at hand now, security is still a problem. Firms have fled out of our country to neighbouring countries, some of which we still supply electricity. Sometimes I am forced to agree our own countries brain relies on other countries own to work, even with the hemispheres of theirs not complete. We are the backbone of other countries development and sustenance, yet we are begging to breathe. How irrational this is! As hard as this time is, it even hasnt got to the pick. There are speculations that if things continue this way, we would run into recession. It surprises me, Nigeria, recession, how come? Many things are really wrong and not something any more. When we then get to that stage, an average Nigeria would then resolve to what? Feeding on grass or something? Because it wont be easy at all, even the sound of the word recession frightens. A nation with enough human and natural resources, hoping and praying not to go into recession; height of impunity. If the government of today gives room for corruption at this present time, I tell you, people will still steal. Sometimes one just think the solution to Nigerias problem is that it has no solution. But then, as long as optimism still remains in the dictionary, we would continue to believe things will get better. TIJANI, Sheriffdeen writes ( [email protected] , 07033254385) 24.08.2016 LISTEN By Maxwell Ofori ([email protected]) President John Mahama, on Monday, invoked his prerogative power of mercy, under Article 72 of the Constitution, to set free the Montie three, who were jailed four months by the Supreme Court for contempt. The Communications Ministry issued a statement, signed by its Minister, Dr. Omane Boamah, to the effect that President Mahama had granted the pardon on compassionate grounds, in consultation with the Council of State. The move by the President has, however, met numerous backlashes from Ghanaians, especially from the other side of the political divide, such as Mr. Ayikoi Otoo, a former Attorney General. According to him, the freeing of the trio, who were jailed for contempt, suggests that the judges of the Supreme Court, who sentenced the contemnors, were not reasonable. Ayikoi Otoo said, as myjoyonline reports, President John Dramani Mahama has slapped the judges in the face [by saying] that they are not reasonable people, and when they are giving sentences, they should think. Legal practitioner Egbert Fabille Junior also opposes the decision of the President, and described it as an attack on the judiciary. He said in a Facebook post, moments after the announcement, that: President Mahama has attacked the judiciary in a most unacceptable manner with the remission of the sentences of the Montie 3. Ebo Quansah, General Manager of The Chronicle, also had this to say: It is sad. The President is saying that once you are with the NDC, you can get away with 'murder'. The country is split down the middle. Thousands of prisoners have petitioned the President over the years, and nobody has listened to them, sadly, we have Montie 3 being released by the President under NDC's pressure. It is an upfront to the rule of law; attack on the judiciary, which is the third arm of government. It tells much about the capricious use of power by the government, led by President Mahama. With this decision, President Mahama has lost the moral authority to lead this nation, and Ghanaians must respond accordingly and vote him out. Director of Communications of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Akomea also said the decision by the cabinet ministers to join foot soldiers in signing the petition for the release of the three persons were all part of the orchestration. He was reacting to the decision by the President to remit the four month sentence handed to the host of Pampaso programme on Montie FM, Salifu Maase, and two other panellists, Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako-Gunn. Nana Akomea told Joy News that the President set out to free these contemnors from the very beginning. He added that the decision is a bad precedent by the President. These people have been removed from prison, basically, because they are NDC. President Mahama has chosen to exercise his power of mercy on the basis of partisan consideration. And it is unfortunate, he said. However, Communications Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah argued that President John Mahama still has unfettered respect for all state institutions, including the judiciary. Speaking on Joy FM's Super Morning Show, the President's spokesperson said his boss' decision to remit the sentences of the Montie 3, did not in any way undermine the role of the judiciary, but rather affirms his respect for the Constitution. President Mahama continues to respect state institutions, and that is why he acted in accordance with the Constitution. He will continue to respect the powers conferred on state institutions, and this includes the legislature, judiciary, executive, the media and citizens of Ghana, which these institutions must serve. At all times, he will ensure that he acts in a manner that does not offend the laws of our nation, he added. President Jacob Zuma, has today, Wednesday, 24 August 2016, on behalf of the Government and the people of South Africa, extended the countrys deepest condolences to the Republic of Italy following the earthquake that struck central Italy, in the regions of Lazio and Umbria, which resulted in the deaths of tens of citizens and extensive damage in several towns. President Zuma said: I wish to extend our condolences to H.E President Sergio Mattarella, the Government and the people of Italy. The people of South Africa share the pain and loss of the loved ones, their homes and property, and our thoughts and prayers go out to all the affected families. We also wish the injured a speedy recovery. South Africans in Italy or family members in South Africa requiring assistance, are requested to contact the South African Embassy in Rome or the Department at 012 351 1000. Dr. Ali Gabass 24.08.2016 LISTEN Family Members and friends of incarcerated Former Medical Director of Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital, Sekondi Dr. Ali Gabass, are appealing to President John Dramani Mahama to show compassion and pardon him. An Accra circuit court sentenced the senior medical officer, to 25 years imprisonment for engaging sexual intercourse with a sixteen year old senior high school boy. But Dr. Fiifi Brakatu has started collecting signatures to attach to a petition to be presented to the presented to President Mahama for clemency. In the petition, he stated, Dr. Ali Gabass, human as he is, has made mistakes in his life, one of which has landed in him in jail. We believe his punishment thus far, has served the purpose of not only correcting him, but will also deter others from committing a similar offense. Dr. Ali Gabass is certainly not above the laws of our dear nation and deserves to be treated like any other citizen. His actions deserve total condemnation by any well-meaning citizen. However, we believe that his past contribution to society, particularly by serving diligently as a medical doctor who performed countless bloodless surgeries at the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital, Sekondi, significantly helped in reducing the maternal mortality ratio within the western region of Ghana. We believe his skills as a medical practitioner could even be employed to the benefit of the various facilities at the Ghana Prisons Service which has for years been plagued with a dearth of medical practitioners. This will certainly inure to the benefit of society. We therefore implore the President, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, to activate article 72 of the 1992 constitution of Ghana and grant Dr. Sulley Ali Gabass a presidential pardon or a remittance of the 25-year sentence imposed on him, on account of his offense. We do pray on the President to grant this petition some consideration for the sake of the remorseful doctor and for the benefit of the good people of Ghana 24.08.2016 LISTEN Optimism has been raised for the microscopic number of employed, gigantic number of unemployed and underemployed Nigerians by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige (Onwa) on August 16 2016; he made public a new national policy on labour migration. The policy if sustained would give Nigerians proportional leverage in the labour market. This policy is essential in these times when cry is everywhere that Nigerians have not been treated favourably at their different work places; its of note that the insecurity that characterises the workforce in the country has compelled a lot of people to leave the shores of the country legally and illegally in search of secured job opportunities elsewhere. The thinking Ngige who had proved his leadership mettle beyond doubt as Governor of Anambra State and later Senator, can be seen is much engrossed in the new labour policy in order to curtail any underhand dealings that has been pummeling labour in the country. In making sure that Nigerians no longer die trying to cross the Sahara and the Mediterranean Seas, Ngige did not only expose the Policy on Labour Migration, but also unveiled two committees: Technical Working Committee and Social Partner Advisory Committee for implementation of the policy. In the words of Ngige, This is of utmost concern to the present administration as no responsible government will sit back and watch the depletion of its human resources which is the most critical factor of production and national development. Little did some Nigerians believe the federal government when it partnered the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) in Abuja on April 18 2016, to build migration-related knowledge and database, but many Nigerians who believe in Ngige knew that (while addressing a team of experts from the ICMPD) whatever that he touches becomes gold under any circumstance. The labour policy was coming after Ngiges disclosure at Abuja, in December 2015, saying that the leadership of the ministry had plans to revive the National Labour Advisory Council, NLAC. Before the Labour Policy was exposed to the public on August 16 2016, the elated Ngige had said before the team of experts from the ICMPD, Up-to-date evidence and information about labour market needs and migrant workers profiles, including their origin, citizenship, age and sex composition, education and skills, qualification, labour force participation are irreducible variables for mutually gainful labour migration. Sector of work treatment, conditions of work and extent of integration are necessary for effective labour administration, policy implementation, impact assessment, monitoring and evaluation, but most of the needed information are lacking in Nigeria. The ministry has to therefore partner the ICMPD to bridge the data gap. Having a data base for workers in Nigeria would help a lot; and this is what Ngige had told Nigerians that the ICMPD had agreed to support Nigeria as instrument for national survey on labour migration and development. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) defines Labour Force Survey as a standard household-based survey of work-related statistics. Many countries and territories make their Labour Force Surveys available online, with different labour statistics and meta-data for over 200 countries and territories found and are available from the ILOSTAT database. While Ngige has brought up this policy, there is the EU LFS which is a large household sample survey that gives quarterly results on labour participation of people aged 15 and over and persons outside the labour force in Europe, unlike Africa. Eurostat, a key to European statistics, informed, "The European Union Labour Force Survey (EU LFS) is conducted in the 28 Member States of the European Union, 2 candidate countries and 3 countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No. 577/98 of 9 March 1998. At the moment, the LFS microdata for scientific purposes contain data for all Member States plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland." Since this policy obtains in other climes, its not out of place that the Project Manager, ICMPD, Mr. Naozad Hodiwala, said the connoisseurs came to Nigeria for technical assistance on migration management because the Federal Government requested. The most heartening was the wise advise by Ngige, saying, While we create these jobs, we also need to support people who have the desire to migrate their expertise to other countries where they are needed, so that we dont have excess labour force here. But we must do this in consonance with the international best practices so that our skilled people going out of the country do not become an embarrassment to their host countries. So we want them to be guided as legal residents and accorded all rights for decent jobs in conformity with ILO convention. It is weighty that the labour policy is being championed by Ngige and if well managed would abate the increasing casualisation of labour in the country that cuts across practically all sectors of the Nigerian economy such as oil and gas, telecommunications, banking, construction, mining, among others. In May 2015, Mr. Igwe Achese of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, (NUPENG), at a rally to mark the 2015 May Day in Abuja, said, Issues on casualization in the country must be properly looked into to ensure workers are not cheated by employers. The menace is rather on the increase especially in the oil and gas and financial sectors of the nations economy." Recently, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) disclosed the high moments of frauds and forgeries ongoing in the banking system and the use of contract and outsourced staff, during its examination exercises of that sector. Pundits said that contract employment and casualisation of labour contravene Section 7 (1) of the Labour Act, Cap 198, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1990; adding that not later than three months after the beginning of a workers period of employment with an employer, the employer shall give the worker a written statement, specifying the terms and conditions of employment. Ngige could as well look into the statement of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) Rivers State Chapter. Comrade Chika Onuegbu of the union at this years International Workers Day, said, The joint leadership of the organized labour in the country had proposed and presented a new minimum wage of N56,000.00 (Fifty-six thousand naira) to the Federal Government. However, in July, 2016, while represented by the Director, Trade Dispute and Industrial Relations, Mrs Chinedu Dike, at the International Trade Union Congress (ITUC-Africa) Regional Conference on Advancing Decent Work in Global Supply Chain in Africa, held in Abuja, Ngige said that government was committed to job creation, social protection and promoting social dialogue which would be given top priority in the present administration. It is believed that with the Labour Policy, Ngige who was accused of not making much effort to lengthily address the casualisation palaver would arrest the situation. Odimegwu Onwumere is award-winning journalist based in Rivers State. Email: [email protected] 24.08.2016 LISTEN The 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is urging the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, as well as other churches and other religious organisations across the country, who is now mainly concentrating on the provision of tertiary education, to pay equal attention to early childhood education. According to Nana Akufo-Addo, the exponential growth in the number of tertiary institutions in the last few years certainly show that this has been a most popular decision by the churches and others that have gone into the sector. However, he made a heartfelt appeal to the Presbyterian Church to take a look back to the early childhood sector, stating that the Church used to be very active in this sector. There is an obvious, great need in this sector as we seem to be failing our young people. There is no gainsaying the fact that the most critical stages of education for any child are the early years. The NPP flagbearer made this known on Monday, August 22, 2016, whilst addressing the 16th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, at Abetifi, Kwahu, in the Eastern Region. Recounting the period during the erstwhile NPP administration, where basic education was redefined to include two years of kindergarten, Nana Akufo-Addo noted that the government of President Kufuor started a vigorous programme to make it possible for all four year olds to gain access to kindergartens. Unfortunately, he bemoaned that this programme has stalled in the last seven years and it has been left to the private sector to fill the gap. The Presbyterian Church has a proven track record in this sector and I urge you to go back and help our nation. I daresay it would be useful for the growth of the Church as well. The famous saying of St Francis Xavier comes to mind: 'give me a child until he is seven, and I will show you the man' I would suggest that there is an urgent need, therefore, for churches, like the Presbyterian Church, to step up and take the children until they are seven and mould the men and women that would build a successful Ghana, he said. With Presbyterian schools easily distinguished by the behaviour of the students and by the orderly nature of their campuses, Nana Akufo-Addo explained that there is a great opportunity for the Presbyterian Church to take the opening that presents itself today and play a leading role in the early childhood education sector. The values of the Church are badly needed in this critical sector. One of the things that set apart the early Presbyterians in this country, in the opinion of the NPP flagbearer, was the Salems. These were the communities that developed around the early Presbyterian churches around the country. The houses were well-laid out, they were clean and orderly, those who lived there obeyed the rules and regulations of the community and there was a sense of communal responsibility. People genuinely believed in being each other's keeper and one could say that it indeed took the entire village, the community to bring up a child, he said. Amongst others, Nana Akufo-Addo noted that inhabitants of these Salems were great proponents of educating the head, the heart and the hand. Even though they laid great emphasis on education, they were not afraid of working with their hands and they produced scholars and artisans of great repute. He continued, The teachers were held in high esteem, but were also held accountable to the community. In other words, these communities were the epitome of what many people feel we lack today in our communities and in our nation: cleanliness and orderliness, a sense of communal responsibility and being each other's keeper. By referring to these things, Nana Akufo-Addo explained that I am trying to take you to the future. I see you as a progressive partner in the project of the self-confident and prosperous Ghana that my Party seeks to build. 24.08.2016 LISTEN In First 6 Months -Nana Addo The 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has disclosed that his government would establish an Office of Special Prosecutor within the first six months of his administration, when, God-willing, he wins this year's elections. According to Nana Akufo-Addo, the Special Prosecutor, to be established by an act of Parliament, will be independent of the executive, and possess an exclusive remit to investigate and prosecute certain categories of cases and allegations of corruption, including those involving alleged violations of the Public Procurement Act, and cases implicating political office holders and politicians. Prosecutions of such persons, he stressed, will no longer be tainted by perceptions of witch-hunting and selective justice. The NPP flagbearer made this known on Monday, August 22, 2016, whilst addressing the 16th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana at Abetifi, Kwahu, in the Eastern Region. Announcing a raft of measures to deal with the toxic issue of corruption, Nana Akufo-Addo, who was the Special Guest at the General Assembly, explained that a successful Ghana can only be built on the basis of good governance, underpinned by efficient and honest public services. This requires that we succeed in eliminating corruption. In order to restore Ghana's reputation, which, sadly, over recent years, has become a byword for corruption, the NPP flagbearer stated that firstly, he, together with his team, will give the requisite leadership, which is lacking under President Mahama. Public service, is for me, exactly that public service. Anyone who joins my team to make money out of public office will not be welcome. Money is made in the private sector, not in public office. I will be strict in my supervision of this principle, he assured. Secondly, Nana Akufo-Addo stressed that his government will be scrupulous in enforcing the teachings of the Public Procurement Act (Act 663), which confine sole sourcing of public contracts to exceptional circumstances, and not the norm, as is the case under the Mahama government. Inflated contracts, which are currently the bane of our public finances, will be things of the past. Competitive bidding is the best protection of value for money in our public transactions, and will be the consistent mechanism for undertaking such transactions. The era of sole sourcing will come to an end, he said. The NPP flagbearer further added that an efficient and honest re-ordering and prioritisation of the country's public expenditure will enable us to devote more resources to enhance the capacity of our anti-corruption agencies. It is essential that they have the means to lead the fight against corruption. He continued: We will support all moves to give Parliament greater oversight capability over the activities of the executive. This will give true meaning to the principles of separation of powers and accountable government. Nana Akufo-Addo, therefore, appealed to the Presbyterian Church to give critical support to the next NPP government, God-willing, as it undertakes these crucial steps. Our very future depends on their success. With barely a little over three months to the holding of this year's elections, the NPP flagbearer asked for prayers for the peace of the nation, so that the country emerges from the elections more united. Add prayers for God's guidance to members of the Electoral Commission, so they can make transparent and fair arrangements for the electoral contests to enhance the stability of our country. And please pray for the NPP and myself, that I will be given, by Almighty God, wisdom, strength, courage and compassion to enable me carry out my duties as a good leader. And finally, I ask that you pray that, during this election campaign period, those who seek for votes from the people come with malice towards none, and love towards all, he concluded. 24.08.2016 LISTEN From Issah Alhassan, Kumasi Buoyed by the enthusiastic support of the teeming crowd that gathered at the Asawase taxi rank to witness the official launch of the campaign for the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), the partys presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, predicted emphatically that the party would, for the first time, annex the seat. The NPP presidential candidate, who made a surprised appearance at the constituency during the programme, which also formed part of the ongoing Peoples Forum being championed by a Kumasi-based radio station, ASHH FM, the rousing welcome he received from the constituents gives him hope that the needed change will happen on December 7. Nana Akufo-Addo said he was encouraged by the massive work done by the partys constituency parliamentary candidate, Alhaji Alidu Seidu, and was of the conviction that this time round, the people of Asawase will change their hands. We all know that [the] Asawase constituency has, over the years, gone in one direction, but despite all that you havent received what is expected of you. We are, therefore, appealing to you that this time change the trend and see the difference, Nana Addo said. Addressing the mammoth crowd, Nana Akufo-Addo urged residents of Zongo communities to ignore the wicked propaganda by the ruling NDC that he (Nana Addo) will discriminate against Muslims and Zongo indigenes when elected. According to him, the records of the NPP, as far as the relationship with Muslims and zongo communities were concerned, are there for everyone to see. Nana Akufo-Addo pointed out that he will never depart from the solid foundation laid down by former President John Agyekum Kufuor towards the development of zongo communities, stressing that both the Zongo Development Fund and the Northern Development Fund would be implemented in the first year budget of the NPP under his leadership. He pointed out that the NDC and President Mahama were short of real ideas, having spent eight precious years in power, and have, therefore, resorted to insults and propaganda.. The NDC and President Mahama have nothing good to offer the people; one would have expected that they would tell the people what they can do for them, and not hide behind propaganda. We have boldly stated that we are coming to implement new and innovative policies that have not been done in Ghana before, and we are committed to it, the NPP flagbearer emphasised . Nana Addo said the party, when elected, will deliberate in consultation with Zongo indigenes in government to implement tailor-made programmes that will help bridge the generational development gap in the Zongo areas. He said an NPP government would harness the nations resources and use them judiciously for the development of the country, stressing that industrialisation and job creation would be a major priority to address the increasing youth unemployment. The Asawase parliamentary candidate for the party, Alhaji Alidu Seidu, on his part, said he would continue to work hard and engage the people in order to win their support. He said the incumbent MP, Muntaka Mubarak Mohammed, has lost popularity amongst the constituents, because he has failed to meet their expectations. According to him, voters in the constituency have resolved to change their voting pattern, and this, he said, would reflect in the upcoming elections. Other speakers who graced the occasion included Joe Ghartey, Henry Kwabena Kokofu, former Regional Chairman, Mr. Robert Yaw Amankwaah, and other parliamentary candidates in the region. 24.08.2016 LISTEN Zoomlion Foundation in collaboration with Ministry of Education organized a National Quiz Competition in all 10 regions of Ghana for basic schools to help raise the level of environmental sanitation awareness among school children and the general public. The quiz competition, which involved members of Zoomkids Clubs in basic schools, was under the direct supervision of the School Health Education Programme (SHEP) and Club Patrons of selected schools. The winner of the competition, Ms. Mercy Abena Arthur of Nav-West Basic School at Old Seko in Western Region received a prize for an all-expense paid trip to Dubai. The purpose of the trip is for Mercy to experience firsthand how a clean city looks like to boost her morale to champion environmental cleanliness. She would be travelling during the school vacation with her Club patron (i.e. volunteer teacher of the Zoomkids Club). They will visit special areas of environmental education interests. The second prize of GHc7,000 went to Ms. Mary Tee Magdalene Tepuabil from Bolgatanga, Upper East, whilst Master Linus Tabari of Presbyterian SSNIT model primary school from Nator in Upper West took the third prize of GHc5,000. Master Godfred Bediako of Kakumdo M/A Basic School in the Central Region received the fourth prize of GHc4,000. The Executive Chairman of Zoomlion/Jospong Group of Companies, Dr. Joseph SiawAgyepong said as the company celebrates its10th anniversary, it is important to engage the school children to be part of this memorable event and to appreciate their contributions towards sanitation improvement. Touching on why Zoomlion funded the quiz competition, Mrs. Florence Larbi, Managing Director of Zoomlion Ghana Limited explained that the quiz competition will improve on the knowledge of young people on environmental issues. She said Zoomlion has operated the Zoomkids club which is environmental sanitation and health clubs in schools across the country for the past eight years and there is the need to continuously improve on the knowledge of children and youth on environmental sanitation. An elated Ms. Mercy Arthur who won the competition was grateful to God and the Foundation for organizing the event. I feel so excited; Zoomkids Club is the best club every student should join. Not only does it increase your knowledge in personal hygiene, your confidence is boosted as you are not shy to speak to your peers about the need to observe environmental sanitation, she said. Mercy hopes to become a doctor in future and said she would not only care for the sick but also take care of the environment. The Director of SHEP, Mrs. Nana Esi Inkoom said there is the need for more collaboration between Zoomlion and SHEP to bring about improvement in school health and sanitation. She encouraged Zoomlion not to relent in its efforts in supporting the activities of the club. The various stages of the quiz competition including Northern Sector Zonal competition, Southern Sector Zonal competition, and Semi-final and Final competitions were aired live on Ghana Television. The quiz master, Mr. Afari Yeboah of What do you know fame took the contestants through the various exciting moments. 24.08.2016 LISTEN From January to June This Year Despite being the second largest hospital in the greater Accra region and also noted for maternal healthcare , the La General hospital is challenged with maternal deaths, still births and early new born deaths. The hospital which has the total catchment population of 220 thousand as at half year has conducted over 2000 deliveries. To help address this challenge, the First lady, Mrs Lordina Mahama through her foundation and Siemens Ghana has donated an Ultra Sound Scanner to the La General hospital to help in diagnosing pregnancy related abnormalities, which could have resulted in unexpected emergency. With this every pregnancy will be scanned at least three times during pregnancy to enable clinicians to plan delivery ahead of time to reduce maternal deal death. The ultrasound machine which is Siemens Acuson X150 is capable of doing Obstetrics, Vaascular, Cerebrovascular, Abdomen, Urology and Musculoskeletal Exam. The Lordina Foundation, which has a goal to save lives in hospitals have donated medical supplies and equipment to deprive communities and so far many communities in all regions have benefitted from the donations as well as free medical health screening exercise across the country. At a colourful ceremony to hand over the Ultra Sound machine to the hospital the Minister of Health Alex Segbefia who represented the First Lady reiterated governments commitment towards safeguarding the health of the citizens and everyone living in Ghana. He indicated that the massive input the hospital is receiving is a testament to this and that it was everybody's responsibility to ensure that these equipment are taken good care of and applied to the benefit of patients. Under Better Ghana Agenda, Government in an uncompromising way has rededicated itself among other to ensuring a healthier population with reduced maternal and infant mortality because we believe that if Ghanaians have increased access to quality integrated health services, increased availability of community-based health resources, strengthen and responsive health systems and improved governance and accountability in the health sector, then they will experience more equitable improvements in their health status and the reason why government will not hesitate to invest in health infrastructure he stated. The health Minister stated that one major challenge to accelerating the procurement of healthcare technologies by the ministry for better clinical service is the lack of long term secure funding for the purchase of spare parts. According to him, the Ministry of Health has been under the burden of providing resources to fund all third party maintenance contracts on equipment it procured centrally under various projects and whose warranties had elapsed. The mobilization of resources for sustaining the installed base of medical equipment has become extremely difficult under the current economic climate where both government and private sectors budgets face a difficult battle for finite resources he asserted Mr Segbefia said it has become necessary to set up a Medical Equipment support Fund with resource from internally generated funds of healthcare institutions for the servicing of recurrent costs including maintenance and long term payment of the credit facilities with which these capital equipment are procured. Chief Executive Officer of Southern and Eastern Siemens Sabine Dall'omo said the global company was committed to playing a meaningful role in the development of the African continent and Ghana in particular. We are confident that this donation of the ultrasound unit will improve diagnostic imaging of patients, support the hospital's every day clinical requirements and contribute to affordable and accessible healthcare to Ghanaian citizens she said. Siemens used the opportunity of the programme to announced further investment in gas and steam projects Ghana over the next three to five years which will together with project partners will add hundreds MW to the national grid. Medical Director of the La General Hospital, Dr. Ebenezer OduroMensah expressed gratitude to the First Lady Mrs Lordina Mahama and Siemens Ghana for the donation of the Ultrasound scanner to the hospital saying that it will enhance service delivery as well as save lives. Dr Oduro Mensah used the opportunity to thank President John Dramani Mahama for the newly installed elevator for the hospital, since it has reduced the burden of carrying sick and pregnant women by the staircase. Isaac Mensah, 22, a small scale miner, has been remanded into police custody for allegedly defiling a fourteen-year-old girl at Damang. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge of defilement when he appeared before the Tarkwa Circuit Court, presided over by Mr Emmanuel Bart-Plange Brew. Mensah, who is to re-appear again on August 24, is said to have sexually assaulted the victim in an old abandoned structure whiles she was on her way to fetch water. Prosecuting, Detective Chief Inspector Oscar Amponsah told the court that the victim, lived with her parents at 4 Miles, a village, near Damang in the Prestea Huni/Valley district. On July 30 at 8:30 am, the victim left the house to fetch water from the only pipe in the community. While fetching the water, Mensah, who also reside in the neighborhood saw that the victim was alone and he called her and the victim agreed to go because she knew the accused person to be a regular customer to her mother. Mensah then lured the victim to the outskirts of the village and sexually assaulted her in an old abandoned structure located in the bush. Detective Amponsah told the court that while the victim was leaving the abandoned structure after the act, her mother who was then searching for her saw the victim. She dragged the victim home and demanded to know her mission in the abandoned structure, but she refused to utter a word. Upon further questioning, the victim disclosed her ordeal to the mother and she in turn informed her husband and with the help of a Unit Committee member Mensah was arrested on August 8 and was handed over to the police. The Prosecutor said a medical form was issued to the victim to seek medical attention. GNA 24.08.2016 LISTEN From Isaac Akwetye-Okunor, Koforidua The Deputy Eastern Regional Organizer of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Hackmann Kabore has descended heavily on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), John Kudalor, for failing to visit victims of the recent Donkorkrom riot. The IGP on Monday visited the place to have first-hand information about what led to the mayhem, but failed to visit the victims, who were sprayed with bullets by the police, during the mayhem at the hospital. He, however, met the chiefs, opinion leaders, police personnel and their wives. The Deputy Eastern Regional Organizer of the NDC described the conduct of the IGP as unfortunate and that it was a clear show of immaturity on the part of the person, who is considered as a father of civilians in the country. Speaking on some radio stations in Koforidua and in a follow up interview with The Chronicle, Kabore argued that Mr John Kudalor had shown a clear sign of arrogance and that as an IGP, he did not care about the lives of the injured victims. The NDC guru could also not fathom why the IGP chose to visit his men and their wives but deliberately ignored the victims. To him, the IGP, as a peace maker, should have visited the victims at the hospital for them to know that though they were shot by the police, the latter is still a peace maker and that they (police) are not at war with the civilians. Mr Kabore also described as below the belt, the decision by the IGP to withdraw his men fromthe Donkokrom and its surrounding areas and called on the Police Administration to immediately rescind the decision. When contacted, the Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, Supt Cephas Arthur confirmed that the IGP met the chiefs, police personnel and their wives and the opinion leaders, which included the Imams and the clergy. According to Arthur, the IGP had a long schedule when he visited the area, even though he would not ascribe his boss' failure to visit the victims to that. By George-Ramsey Benamba, GNA Bimbilla, Aug. 24, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama has stated that his administration has over the last four years performed tremendously well to deserve another chance in the 2016 polls. He said the 1992 Constitution makes room for every President to enjoy a second term after serving the first four years in government and appealed to the electorate to give him the opportunity to complete all the projects he had initiated in the first term of his administration. "Presidents Jerry John Rawlings and John Agyekum were given second chances to complete the development projects they started in their first terms and I think I have also performed well to deserve another term," he said. President Mahama was addressing a National Democratic Congress (NDC) party rally at Bimbilla, capital of Nanumba North as part of his four-day campaign tour of the Northern Region. President Mahama also addressed similar rallies at Kumidi and Kpandai in the Kpandai District, Lungni, Nakpayili and Wulensi in the Nanumba South District and Chamba. President Mahama explained that his administration had initiated numerous development projects throughout the country and therefore handing the governance of the country to another political party would truncate those strides. "That is why I believe that I deserve another chance to complete all those projects throughout the country to help in the onward March of this country." He said it was untenable to suggest that he had already served his eight years when it was crystal clear that his service to Ghana was from 2009 - 2012 was the position of a Vice President. President Mahama called on the opposition leaders who are calling for a change to continue to bid their time as Ghanaians are poised to return the NDC government into power on account of the development-oriented performance in the past four years. Enumerating some of the development projects his administration had initiated in the last four years, President Mahama said 123 Community Day Senior High Schools are under construction throughout the country, while numerous health facilities have also been completed at various locations. He said he had also initiated a number of water programmes to make potable water accessible throughout the country and called on the electorate to return NDC to power to provide more. President Mahama said Ghana needs peace and security to blossom into a developed country and his administration would continue to provide all the necessary facilities that would ensure complete peace and unity in the days leading the December 7 polls and beyond. President Mahama addressing a rally at Chamba. GNA By George-Ramsey Benamba, GNA Kpandai (N/R), Aug 23, GNA - Government has secured funding to extend electricity to 24 new communities in the Northern Region, President John Dramani Mahama has hinted. He said the extension would begin as soon as parliamentary approval is received in the coming days. President Mahama gave this hint when he addressed party supporters at Kpandai as part of his four-day campaign tour of the Region. President Mahama addressed similar rallies at Kumidi and Lungni in the Kpandai District and would be addressing others at Wulensi, Bimbilla, Chamba, Nakpayili, Yendi and Sambu. President Mahama said the NDC government has been instrumental in the provision of electricity in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions in the Fourth Republic. He said when President John Evans Atta Mills took over in 2009, only 30 per cent of people in the three regions had access to electricity but as at the end of 2015, the percentage had risen to 70. President Mahama said the extension to 24 communities under the new arrangements would further increase the percentage in the coming years. On agriculture, President Mahama said government had procured 500 tractors that would be distributed to farmers throughout the country through subsidised prices. He called on farmers interested in the machines to apply through their district assemblies to the Regional Ministers. He said government would also work on the Salaga-Kumidi-Kpandai roads to facilitate the carting of foodstuff from the farming communities to marketing centres. President Mahama also gave the assurance that the Kpandai-Wulensi and the Kpandai Bimbilla roads would also be upgraded in the course of the year. He promised to construct small town water systems in the Kpandai township to reduce the burden of women who had to travel to far away areas in search of potable water. President Mahama directed the National Health Insurance Authority to establish a District office at Kpandai to reduce burden of people who had to travel a number of kilometres to Salaga for the service. He promised to upgrade the Kpandai Polyclinic into a district hospital on account of the growing health needs of the people. President Mahama also introduced Mr Kwajo, Tawiah Likpalimor, the NDC Parliamentary candidate to the people. GNA 24.08.2016 LISTEN By D.I. Laary/Belinda Kusorgbor, GNA Accra, Aug. 24, GNA - Mrs Doris Wunu, Head of Customer Banking at GCB Bank, says the Bank has introduced packages of products and services to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) grow rapidly and contribute to national economic growth. GCB support to the SME sector is demonstrated by the initiative the Bank has taken, she said, adding: 'We have disbursed over GHa 20 million to about 603 businesses, since we introduced six SME loan products nine months ago.' 'Our loan origination process has also been simplified because we use an objective credit scoring system to determine the eligibility of a business for the loan,' she added. Mrs Wunu was speaking to the business community on Tuesday at the opening of GCB Bank SME 2016 Business forum organised on the theme: 'Sustaining SME opportunities in today's market.' She said the bank has introduced SME segment specialist in every region and branches with the singular aim of supporting and growing businesses in their catchment areas. 'We have introduced six different times of loan product for the SME sector alone. The intention is to tailor make the solution to the varying financial needs of the SME sector,' she said. SMEs constitute more than 92 per cent of registered businesses and nearly 99 per cent of unregistered businesses in the country. But, Mrs Wunu noted: 'Yet they have for a long time being neglected by most financial institutions in their strategies and resource allocations.' She said the development has led to what she described as 'loan sharks' to infiltrate and dominant business in the sector. 'GCB is determined to support and help nurture businesses in the SME sector so that they can exploit their potential and possibly become known brands or multinationals like the Toyotas and Apples of this world,' she said. 'We acknowledge that the SME sector forms over 90 per cent of our business banking portfolio and we want to improve the attractiveness of the segment for the banking industry.' Mr Ernest Mawuli Agbesi, Managing Director Of GCB Bank Limited said the forum was billed to offer great practical assistance to SMEs around the country and the national economy. He said the forum was a direct intervention and business solution for SMEs at a time when entrepreneurs were looking to maximise returns and enhance the bottom-line of their business. The forum took into consideration the immense contribution of SMEs make to productivity, employment, optimum use of resources and national development. The embodiment of Ghanaian business, representing various sectors such as manufacturing, commerce, hospitality, service and agriculture, participated in the forum. 'Our interest in your business is not only to take deposits; our interest lies in all aspect of your business. This includes your brand, your business strategy, your human resource management, bookkeeping, sustainability as well as the bottom-line of the business.' He said SMEs played important role as the engine of growth of Ghana's economy contributing to about 70 per cent of the country's Gross Domestic Product. 'They also account for 85 per cent of manufacturing employment as well as 75 per cent of employment, this makes SMEs extremely important to the national economy. 'Despite this significance of SMEs, they are often time faced with the threat of failure with statistics indicating that three out of five fail within the first few months and top of the list of threats is SME financing. 'As Ghana's largest indigenous bank with the development and growth of local business at the core of our strategy, GCB is confident to say we will ensure the success of the SME and informal sector for the good of the national economy.' 'This underlines our strong commitment to inject life into SMEs with right mix of products and services,' Mr Agbesi said. The Bank assured the SMEs they could be supported with timely credit facilities to the tune of GHa100,000.00 to grow their business with no collateral required. GNA 24.08.2016 LISTEN By Godwill Arthur-Mensah, GNA Sekondi (W/R), Aug. 24, GNA - The National Population Council (NPC) has said there is an urgent need for the establishment of a family planning and reproductive health fund to help acquire basic contraceptive materials and services for the citizenry. It said this has become necessary due to decline in international donor support to family planning programmes and services coupled with the surge in teenage pregnancies in the country. Mr Frank Ofosu-Asante, the Western Regional Manager of the NPC, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency said if the account is established, it would measure the extent to which contraceptive data and contraceptives commodities have been utilized in both public and private sectors. He said the low patronage of contraceptives among teenage girls, women and male adults is a recipe for population escalation considering the 2.5 percent population growth rate as recorded in the 2010 population census. Mr Ofosu-Asante said there is only 27 percent patronage of contraception usage in the country while 30 percent of the population was willing to use them but did not have access or the financial means to acquire them. In this regard, he said, the government must establish a special fund that would allow corporate entities, philanthropic organizations and individuals to contribute resources towards its running. According to the NPC projection, the country's population is projected to reach 45.8 million by 2040 should the current growth rate remain unchanged. Mr Ofosu-Asante called for scaling up the sensitization and usage of contraceptives so as to avoid population challenges and other socio-economic repercussions. He said funding for family planning is relevant, especially at the time that donor funding is dwindling and the demand for contraception is increasing in view of the youthful nature of the country's population. The Regional Population Council Manager said stimulating demand for modern contraceptives and fertility awareness methods and funding sources for family planning should be done through engagements with the appropriate stakeholders. He said both the private and commercial sectors must be involved in the supply chain management, to ensure contraceptive adequacy meets the needs of the people. GNA Accra, Aug. 24, GNA - The National Catholic Secretariat in collaboration with Caritas Ghana, a Catholic humanitarian organisation, and the Centre for Indigenous Knowledge and Development has launched a joint report on 'land grabbing' in Ghana. The 48-paged document was titled: 'Unmasking Land Grabbing in Ghana; Restoring Livelihoods; Paving way for Sustainable Development Goals', and catalog findings from a research they undertook on land issues in Ghana. The research, is expected to help in the development of a long term programme of work to address the problem of land grab and help mobilise apprehension, energies and the resources needed to confront the emerging threat to rural livelihoods. The findings are expected to kick-start a national dialogue on the issue of land grabbing with the view to provide policy and programme solutions to address the challenges. Mr Amidu Ibrahim-Tanko, the Programme Manager of STAR-Ghana, who chaired the launch, commended the institutions for spearheading the research which reveals some crucial setbacks to the country's land management and administration systems. He said the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the global new framework for development has provided sound lessons about how development ought to be done and the need for a change in mind-set. The proposal for policy consideration and recommendations in the report begins with a warning about the dire and negative implications of land grab to the attainment of some critical SDGs. Mr Ibrahim-Tanko said currently the country's natural resources have become the object of speculation and massive investments where the land owned by millions of Ghanaian peasant farmers are being grabbed by foreigners including the Chinese and other multinationals. The process, he said, was is weakening rural economies and with government pushing on with the development of agro-industry and making substantial efforts to attract foreign investments, the dire consequences may not only be on the environmental impact and the natural resources, but also fair and balanced food systems, peace, as well as the very sovereignty of millions of peasant and organic producers. He said seeking a reversal of the situation would depend on the way stakeholders and most importantly decision makers react to the issue. Mr Ibrahim-Tanko called for the collective and collaborative response of the church, society, corporate bodies and all stakeholders, to build consensus in addressing the problem. Mr Samuel Zan Akologo, the Executive Secretary of Caritas Ghana and Head of the Department of Human Development at the National Catholic Secretariat, in an overview of the report said land has currently become merely a commodity on which companies could speculate and it had become the new gold. He said the study highlights that farmland grabbing in Ghana interacts with long-term processes of land concentration which was a matter of high policy and social concern. It further study argues the threat posed by investors are mainly that they are often preoccupied with how to increase efficiency and develop their products at the expense of labour conditions or local economic development. He said the opening chapter of the report, reveals how inadequate land management and utilization policy, coupled with previous economic development programmes, largely influenced by external forces, has created an environment for land grabbing in Ghana. The issue of rapid urbanisation was also cited, stating that there were often limited consultation with farmers, communities and households whose livelihoods the depend on lands, in very important decisions on development projects. He said the preceding chapter of the report also have quotations from Pope Francis' encyclical 'Laudato Si on the Care of our Common Home', and his other teachings to emphasise the need for dialogue on how to shape the future of the planet and for the generations to come. He said the chapter suggests that the church has a critical role to play by first taking a hard look at itself to see where it may likely be part of the problem and by embarking on a strong advocacy on the care of the earth. The report, he said, presents some case studies on communities like Okumaning, Babator and Brewaniase in the Volta Region, which were chilling and sometimes heart-breaking from the atrocities and flagrant disregard to people's well-being. Mr Akologo said these communities are often promised massive development and scholarships for their children in exchange for their useful lands, which later prove to be disappointing. The report further presents some of the dynamics in land grabbing which was tactfully driven and controlled by foreign investors with their ability to exploit loopholes in national legal frameworks and the ignorance of communities. He said the potential for corruption, manipulation, threats and intimidation that pave the way for land deals done in surreptitious circumstances, have been explained in the report. Reverend Father Wisdom Laweh, the Assistant Secretary General of the Catholic Bishops' Conference, said his office was committed towards addressing the issue of land grabbing and land grabbers with the aim of protecting and restoring the livelihoods of rural people and protecting the environment. He expressed the hope that the report would become the timely and timeless springboard for many more fruitful steps to roll back the issue of land grab and restore productively of the livelihood of affected communities. Rev Fr Dr Aniedi Okure, the Executive Director of the African Faith and Justice Network, suggested some key areas for consideration during discussions as the bad contracts presented by some multinational companies to land owners or heads of communities. GNA Winneba, Aug. 24, GNA - The Connexional Methodist Youth Fellowship, as part of its 70th Anniversary Celebration, has donated assorted food items and toiletries to the Methodist Rafikki Village in the Central Region that provides motherly care and Christian training to children. The donation, which also forms part of the Fellowship's social evangelism activities, was to reach out to the needy and put smiles on the faces of the under privileged in society. Some of the items donated to the village include 2,500 liters poly tank, toiletries, mosquito nets, bags of rice and educational materials. Other items included assorted drinks, cooking oil, boxes of indomie, candies, rubber buckets and packs of bottled mineral water. Mr William Edmund Thompson, the 70th Anniversary Planning Committee Chairman, said every Christian had a responsibility to attend to the needs of the needy. He noted that Christianity is not only about attending church services and praying but includes the practical Christian life which is impacting and improving the lives of people especially the needy. 'It is the responsibility of every Christian to have compassion for the needy in society and this is what God expects from us to do as his followers,' he said. The Connexional Chairman of the Fellowship, Mr Benjamin Nana Yamoah, said kindness could minimise social vices which had engulfed the country through poor parenting and neglect. He, therefore, encouraged workers of the village to continue to show of motherly care to the children so that they would not feel neglected. Mr Yamoah urged the children to take their studies seriously since that is the surest way of becoming prosperous in life. 'Education is key to the success of every human being so take your studies seriously so as to become great men and women in future,' he said. The Director of the village, Very Reverend Ekow Sey, who received the gifts, expressed his appreciation to the Fellowship for the gesture. He praised the Methodist Youth Fellowship for its continuous support towards the village and called on other organisations in the church to emulate the example of the MYF. Rev. Sey said even though the village was established by the Methodist Church Ghana, the centre did not discriminate in its admissions. 'The educational facility of the village admits children from the surrounding communities to the school so as to enable them to gradually integrate the children into society,' Very Rev. Sey said. He said the centre's name 'Rafikki' means Friend and it gave the children the best of education and care adding that the 'Village' was also chosen instead of orphanage to avoid stigmatisation. The village, which started with five children, has now increased to 34 with the oldest being 14years and the youngest four years and a total students' population of 100. Rev. Sey, therefore, called on benevolent organisations, philanthropists and individuals to support the village to continue to give the best of care and education to the children. Present at the donation were Mr Godson Ekuful, the Connexional Vice Chairman, Mr Isdor Oheneba, the Secretary, Madam Esther Thompson, the Treasurer, the Financial Secretary, Mr Charles Tawiah and the NEC members from the various dioceses. GNA A timely intervention by some elders prevented angry youth of Nwineso Number One in the Ashanti Region from setting ablaze mining equipment belonging to defiant illegal miners. Protesting residents marched to the site on Tuesday in a bid to carry through an earlier threat to burn the machines if the miners refuse to leave the area. Excavators, water pumps and generator sets are among property targeted for destruction by in the farming community in the Atwima Kwanwoma District. The Police Special Weapons and Tactics Unit arrested eleven miners, led by Kofi Adu, in a special operation. Earlier, police had intervened to halt what could have been a bloodbath after residents decided to arm themselves in a move to attack the illegal miners. The protesters, mostly farmers, have vowed to protect their lands against mining activities. They say the move is to prevent the miners from re-grouping to perpetrate their activities again. One of the protesters, Augustine Nsiah told Nhyira FM the action is to ensure the illegal miners completely leave their land. He said the community has given the illegal miners up to the end of this week to move their equipment out of the community. Meanwhile, preliminary police investigations reveal the miners have no permit for their operations as police arraign the suspects before the court. DSP Abdulai Iddrissu is Second-in-Command of the SWAT Unit. As I am speaking right now, no document has been produced to us and that actually called for investigations so those arrested are being processed," he said. He explained that once they go to the court they will prove if they have adding "intelligence gathering is a continuous process, he emphasized. DSP Iddrisu tells Nhyira FM the miners have up to Thursday to move out with their machines. A number of restaurants in Germany have come up with a somewhat controversial way of fighting food waste charging patrons a small fee if they cannot finish all the food on their plates. Yuoki, a sushi restaurant in Stuttgart, Germany, is not your everyday all-you-can-eat buffet. For starters, there isnt an actual buffet to fill your plate at. Instead, patrons are seated at a table and provided with iPads which they can use to order up to five small dishes every ten minutes. They can eat as much as they want for 120 minutes, but having the food delivered at short intervals allows diners to constantly assess how hungry they are and order accordingly, preventing food waste. Also, owner Luan Guoyu believes our eyes are bigger than our stomachs, so not being able to see the cooked food at the buffet prevents people from ordering more food that they can actually eat just because they like the way it looks. But Luan Guoyus most effective way of fighting food waste, and the one that has attracted media attention, is his 1 ($1.15) fine for food still left on the plate. Its called all-you-can-eat, not all-you-can-chuck-away, he says, adding that the extra charge is not meant to increase his profits, but to act as a reminder not to waste food. In the two years since Yuoki implemented this eat up or pay up policy, Guoyu claims he has collected 900 ($1,020) to 1,000 ($1,133) in food waste fees, which he plans to donate to charity. Guoyu says he has received no complaints from patrons so far, and the few interviewed by local newspaper Stuttgarter Zeitung seemed to agree with his policy. At home, we try to produce as little waste as possible, so why not do the same at the restaurant, said James and Jessica Moss, a California couple on vacation in Germany. Cihan Karaman, a regular at Yuoki, says he has never been fined the 1, because he always orders only as much as he can eat. There are times when he wants to try new things and doesnt like the way they taste, but claims that Luan is lenient in such situations. Luan Guoyus system is unique in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg, but not in Germany. Okinii, a Japanese-style restaurant in Dusseldorf, has been charging patrons the same 1 tax for unfinished food on their plates since 2013, and also claims it has not received major complaints. And at the Chinese-Mongolian restaurant Himalaya in North Rhine-Westphalia, people are charged an extra 2 for food waste, but only if they have more than 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of food left on their plates. With so many people living on the edge of starvation, and food waste becoming a serious problem in developed countries, it will be interesting to see if more eateries will start implementing the eat up or pay up policy. Even if they donate the proceeds from this fine to charity, it would still help them top save money on waste disposal fees, so its a win for everyone. Well, except greedy patrons, obviously. I nterestingly, while Germany probably has the largest number of restaurants charging customers for not finishing the food they order, the concept is believed to have originated in Saudi Arabia, in 2011. Fahad Al Anezi, the owner of Marmar restaurant in the city of Dammam said he was inspired by news of a famine in Somalia, where people were literally starving to death. President John Dramani Mahama scribbled on a fresh page of history in the annals of the country with his decision to remit the sentences of the three gentlemen, Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Salifu Mugabe Maase. These gentlemen, since the advent of their Supreme Court contempt case, have popularly become known as the Montie three. The President's decision to literally reduce their 4-month sentence takes it legal foundations from the President's prerogative of mercy as stipulated in Article 72 of the 1992 constitution. The President's decision to literally reduce their 4-month sentence takes it legal foundations from the President's prerogative of mercy as stipulated in Article 72 of the 1992 constitution. To all intents and purposes, the President satisfied the constitutional requirements that come with such a decision. The Research and Advocacy Platform (RAP) initiated the signing of a petition which garnered a substantial number of signatures including high-powered ones like that of the Human Rights Activist turned Gender Minister, Nana Oye Lithur, Education Minister Jane Naana Opoku Agyeman and Foreign Minister, Hanna Tetteh. The petition was forwarded to the council of state and then appropriately, they offered advice to the President. All along, keen watchers of Ghana's political space felt that a grand scheme had been set in motion to free the biegya trio irrespective of the consequences it may have on the power relations and the friction thereof if the President freed them. Nana Oye Lithur, Gender and social protection Minister, signed the Montie 3 petition. In the midst of the arguments and counter arguments about whether it was proper or not for the President to call on his Article 72 powers, his lawyer, Tony Lithur advised that the President must take a decision on the matter, well aware of the political ramifications and timing-a few months to a crucial election as well as the spin that could be put on the decision by his political detractors in the heat of the campaign season. At that point, the President was caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. On one side, deep currents were bellowing from within his party for him to stand up for one of his own especially when the said Pampaso programme is one essentially put together to propagate the gospel of the incumbent government. A vigil was held in Accra as supporters of the trio demanded their release On the other hand, the President was being impressed upon to allow them serve the full haul of the sentence if not for anything, at least as a mark of respect to the arm of government whose clear-cut mandate is to interpret the laws of the country for the purposes of creating a just and fair society. The novelty of the President's decision is one that calls for some analysis. The President did not pardon the trio in an outright manner neither did he allow them to serve the entire sentence. This middle way tinkering of the President's article 72 powers in my opinion shows that the President did not want to get this decision wrong politically neither did he want to flagrantly disregard the judiciary's orders. In the fourth republican era, this is probably the first use of such a power of remission and it is interesting how it was craftily used to implement the President's balancing act. As they say in politics, all decisions have consequences whether good or bad. Chief of Staff presents petition to Council of State The decision, for me, represents how the President sought to please his party followers without so much regard for the precedent he was setting whether good or bad. But I can understand him, In an election year, in an African Country like Ghana, decisions that will gore the ox of grassroot faithful are not welcome. At least that is how most leaders under the fourth republic have done things in the heat of the electioneering season. But then again, governance is not only about taking political decisions, it is also about taking decisions that can properly fit to be part of one's legacy as leader. After being left off the hook in this manner, how will Mugaabe Maase and his crew conduct affairs on Pampaso. Will they be more vitriolic? And if they are, will that not be justified? After all, they have been to Nsawam and back for propounding the good works of JM and in their darkest night, he came through for them. In my humble view, I submit that even though the President's decision is smart politically, it is a recipe for the further degeneration of our already poisoned political media landscape ahead of this year's elections. This will not augur well for our beloved country whose electoral democracy is on the cusp of blossoming into another success story for the African Continent in December. I just wish a bit more tinkering in the spirit of the national interest had gone into this decision of the President to remit the sentence of the Montie trio. By; Duke Mensah Opoku/citifmonline.com 24.08.2016 LISTEN Nigeria is a huge amusement park. All you need do to have fun is sit back and watch the theatrics of the political gladiators. It is Gods doing, though. Our ability to laugh at our folly and the fact that there are so many clowns out there masquerading as statesmen is, perhaps, the only reason some are still sane. In the face of the pervasive desolation, any iota of bitterness even against those whose cluelessness dug us into this hole would have been suicidal because, as the legendary global statesman, Nelson Mandela, would say, Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die. Why should we commit suicide, which is exactly what those who superintend over our affairs want us to do, having tried every other strategy to accomplish the same goal, including the use of cruel economic policies without much success? Of course, they think we are fools. Far from it, never mind that sometimes we behave in ways that tend to lend credence to their prejudice. But the truth is that they dont get it, the joke is actually on them. I had a good laugh every day of last week. The shenanigan that involved the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the courts and the unseen hands of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was the icing on the cake. As I watched the drama and the movements in and out of courts with injunctions and counter-injunctions, I couldnt help but laugh. It was all dejavu. But what really got me reeling with laughter was the alleged attempt by mischief makers to add the name of the Edo State APC governorship candidate, Godwin Obaseki, to the ever growing list of leaders without certificates or with unverifiable certificates. Immediately the news broke, my first reaction was, Oh! My God, not again. You can then imagine my relief when Obaseki announced to the world that the certificates which he claimed to have lost have, indeed, been found. And guess where? In faraway Gods own country, the United States. While playing host to members of civil society organisations in Edo State on Wednesday, August 17, Obaseki, who looked visibly relieved, gave the wonderful testimony. "My certificate was missing in Lagos during this period so I had to get a sworn affidavit and all the institutions I attended acknowledged that I attended the schools. However, while the mischief makers in the PDP raised the alarm because they have nothing else to talk about me, my brother in New York read about it and called me to say Godwin your original certificate is here with me. I said oh my God please send it down. So I have found it. These guys are intimidated by my qualifications, that is why they are running up and down. Can you beat that? Isnt Obaseki a fluky guy? He was lucky his brother secured the documents in New York. Imagine those certificates being in Nigeria or in the custody of the Nigerian Military Board, nobody would see them again. President Muhammadu Buhari is still looking for his, which he left in the custody of the military board. Or, has he seen it? The only snag there is that Obaseki didnt tell us when the certificate(s) got missing and when, and how he became aware they had disappeared from his Lagos home. How did those very important documents end up in the custody of Obasekis brother? Could it be that he actually gave the certificate(s) to his brother knowing how unsafe those documents could be in Nigeria? Maybe he did, but forgot in the heat of politicking. Who says some brothers are not guardian angels? If only Buhari knew, he would have taken wise counsel from Obaseki rather than trusting the military board. And if he did, there wouldnt have been any need to hire Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) or even dragging elder statesmen from their well-deserved retirement for a photo opportunity as proof of certificate. While I was busy thanking God that Obaseki had found his missing certificates, the story of the dog named Buhari broke. A 30-year-old trader, Joe Fortemose Chinakwe, allowed his excessive admiration for (President) Buhari get him into trouble. Chinakwe loves Buhari to the point of obsession. In fact, he adores the president. And the best way to profess this love openly is to name his pet dog after the president. That is a patriotic act because he had the choice to name his pet dog Obama, Clinton, Bush, Trump or even The Donald. But that would have run against the grain of patriotism. He is, therefore, as surprised as anybody else why he should be punished rather than being praised for his patriotism. Hear him: I named my beloved pet dog Buhari, who is my hero. My admiration for (President) Buhari started far back when he was a military head of state. It continues to date that he is a civilian president. After reading his dogged fight against corruption, which is like a cankerworm eating into the very existence of this country, I solely decided to rename my beloved dog, which I call Buhari, after him. I did not know that I was committing an offence for admiring (President) Buhari. I was intimidated and thrown inside the cell with hardened criminals for about three days. Of course, Chinakwe committed no crime except for the fact that he is a Nigerian and the name of the president is Muhammadu Buhari, who hails from Daura village in Katsina State. In saner climes, who cares what you call your dog, particularly if the bond between you and your pet is as strong as the love and admiration you have for your president. In fact, in such climes, you may have your five-minute fame by being a guest of CNN or the BBC. And your dog will become a celebrity in its own right. In fact, if you are lucky, you may even be invited to the White House, the U.S. seat of power or No 10 Downing Street in London to have dinner with the British Prime Minister. But here, Chinakwe, a father of two from the Niger Delta, who trades in second hands clothing, was incarcerated for three days in a police cell. Meanwhile, his traducers, a Nigerien and Musa, a police sergeant from the North, reportedly placed fatwa on him. But he has himself to blame. He shouldnt have allowed his love for (President) Buhari, a love that most likely will be unrequited, to put him in trouble. While that controversy was raging, the PDP infuriated the APC by claiming it is on a mission to rescue Nigeria, a claim the APC likened to the tale of a killer presenting himself as a life-saver. APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, said it was impetuous for the PDP to claim to be on a rescue mission, and reeled out all the crimes committed by the opposition party against the Nigerian state in the 16 years it was in power. Then he concluded thus: This shameless distraction must stop forthwith, and here is serving notice that henceforth, the PDP will no longer have a field day in trying to twist facts and present the Buhari administration, which is on an urgent rescue mission, as the villain. Again, I had a hearty laugh. How fast roles change. It is instructive that 15 months after coming to power, many Nigerians are no longer sympathetic to APCs moonlight tales, as reflected in the reaction of most people to the story published by Premium Times, an online newspaper. In Nigeria, the more things change, or the more people claim that things have changed or are changing for the better, the more they remain the same or even worse. Welcome to the ultimate amusement park, where people only survive by having a laugh at their collective folly. *Ikechukwu Amaechi writes from Lagos ( [email protected] The Ministry of Health has set up a committee to investigate the demands by the striking Ghana Association of Biomedical Laboratory Scientists (GABMLS). The members of GABMLS laid down their tools on August 22, to highlight their displeasure with government's non-implementation of the National Health Laboratory policy which they say will help raise the quality of laboratory science practice in the country. GABMLS has said the Minister of Health, Alex Segbefia, should be blamed for the consequences of the strike, including lives that would be lost as a result. The National Labour Commission (NLC), has since filed a suit at the Labour Division of the High Court against the striking biomedical laboratory scientists, praying the court to compel them to go back to post. The Commission had ordered them not to embark on the strike, and has stated that the action is illegal. The developments notwithstanding, the Public Relations Officer for the Health Ministry, Tony Goodman, told Citi News that his outfit would wait for a report from the newly set up committee before any further action. GABMLS remains resolute The association of biomedical scientists has however said the NLC suit alone will not compel them to call off its strike. In a Citi News interview, Spokesperson for the Association, Dennis Adu- Gyasi, said his colleagues would only call off the strike if the court ordered so. We've been served with the writ and we are going to meet in court on the 30th. As it stands now, till we meet in court and listen to whatever the court will be advising, our strike is still continuing unabated, he said. Mr. Adu-Gyasi also bemoaned the fact that the NLC had not fought enough for his association saying the custodians of the law should have even been the arbiter between us and the Ministry but unfortunately, they have used the law to our disadvantage. If we are considered as essential service providers, we expected the Labour Commission to have treated the matter per the schedule in 162 in the act 651. For essential services, three days, the matters should have been resolved. If no resolution has been received then compulsory arbitration in the space of two weeks, he added. By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana I am a leftist for Trump. As an alumni of Leftists for Bush and living these past 10 years in the Horn of Africa, I cant help myself. I am irresistibly drawn to Leftists for Trump. Of course if I was living in the good old U-S-of A I would be in the streets demonstrating against The Trumpster. But then I would be in the streets marching against Lady Hillary as well. Since I live in Africa and having seen what evil miLady has wrought here I find myself rooting for Senor Trump. God knows what he would really do, but at least in his more lucid moments he has the courage to declare that what the Queen of Chaos wrought in Libya is an ongoing unnatural disaster. This unnatural disaster called NATO vs Libya is one that just keeps on giving, as the residents of Tunisia or the hapless denizens of North Eastern Nigeria have learned thanks to ISIS and Boko Harams Libyan weaponry. Of course there are the US supplied cluster bombs being dropped on Yemeni children, all part of an agenda supported by Madame Clinton. Bush barely came close to any such crimes against my adopted continent of Africa, from whence we were all migrants in times most ancient. Hillary scares us, especially out here in the Horn of Africa. We are living abreast the strategically critical Baab Al Mandeb, so aptly named The Gate of Tears by the Arabs, through which passes the commerce carried out between the worlds largest trading partners, Europe and Asia. The day the USA loses control of the Baab Al Mandeb marks the beginning of the end of Pax Americanas world empire. The USA has lost its economic domination and is left with its military as its only claim to super power status. So as the critical choke point Baab Al Mandeb goes so goes Pax Americana. This should explain the War in Yemen and the War in Somalia. What's left, the War Against Eritrea? As war torn as our region is, with Hillary in charge we can only expect an escalation of the most brutal forms of gun boat diplomacy, as in US aircraft carriers bombing all recalcitrant natives, be they Christian or Muslim. Its so awfully true that Lady Hillary never met a war that didn't lift her spirits and with all to many wars bringing joy to our presumptive President. Be it the USA backed rebel army in South Sudan, the slaughter of demonstrators by Americas Ethiopian gendarmes or drones and cluster bombs against the Somali and Yemeni people, Trump has claimed to be against such disasters as a matter of principle. Were as Mrs. Clinton is foaming at the bit, raring to bringing us rebellious Africans to heal. We can only imagine Madame President Clintons rage when Eritrea, a small socialist country founded on the motto Never Kneel Down is faced with her legendary imperial wrath for refusing to do just that, kneel down or be destroyed. Remember Sirte? Where while trying to escape, Gaddafi met his death, and that while on his knees? We came, we saw, he died Madame Clinton cackled. This horrific brainchild of Secretary Clinton foretells what will be Africas fate under her Imperial Rule. So Leftists for Trump is my cry, brought to you by the remainents of Leftists for Bush. Though I have to admit that this election has stirred a unique interest in a die hard democracy-phobe like myself what with the likes of the billionaire Koch Brothers backing the Democrats against the almost Libertarian utterances of Donald Trump, he of what used to be the Party of the New Jim Crow. Honestly, out here in the climate disaster wracked Horn of Africa, we really don't give a shit how bad youall in AmeriKKKa have it. If having Trump elected President means less of your murder and mayhem in our part of the world, then here's to Leftists for Trump, if that is what it takes. Thomas C. Mountain is an independent journalist in Eritrea, living and reporting from here since 2006. He can be reached at thomascmountain on Facebook or at thomascmountain at g mail dot com 24.08.2016 LISTEN From Inusa Musah, Tema The Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service yesterday whisked away controversial man of God, Bishop Daniel Obinim from Tema and driven to their headquarters in Accra, after he was arrested for violently whipping two teenagers in his church. Bishop Obinim had reported himself to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVSSU) of Tema Regional Police Command, after he was summoned by the police over the flogging. Soon after reporting himself to the police, his church members started massing up, forcing the CID to whisk him away to Accra. The Chronicle later discovered that he was sent to the CID headquarters over the alleged fraud charge that has been brought against him by a victim. Daniel Obinim holds his church service on Tuesdays in Tema, but because he could not meet his congregants at their worship center at Community '9', following his alleged physical abuse of two minors of his church for fornicating, the church members, in solidarity with their 'idol', thronged the Tema Police Command thus giving the police a hell of time to control the crowd. Spotting a well-tailored suit with a black pair of spectacles to match, Daniel Obinim stepped out of his car amidst loud cheers from his church members, who were at the venue as early as 7am. Flanked by police personnel, the head pastor of God's way International Church was ushered to the office of the Tema DOVSSU Coordinator while the anxious media and supporters of Daniel Obinim waited. After close to about two hours, Daniel Obinim descended in handcuffs and was whisked away in a police vehicle. Addressing the media, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Juliana Obeng, said Daniel Obinim had been transferred to the national CID headquarters where the department would do further investigation into his matter. ASP Obeng said no charge had been preferred against Mr. Obinim, however, he was cautioned on physical abuse. Two other persons with him, she explained, had been invited by the police for abetting in the same crime Bishop Obinim was cautioned on. As soon as the national CID department has finished with its investigations, a charge will be preferred against Daniel Obinim, ASP Juliana Obeng concluded. In a related development Joy News reports that the Criminal Investigative Department (CID) PRO, ASP Joseph Darkwa, has said Bishop Daniel Obinim was transferred from the Tema Police to the CID headquarters for further interrogation in a GH1.6 million fraud case. He told Joy News a complainant came to the Police some few weeks ago that he gave an amount of GH780,000 to Okomfo Gyapata of Mampong Nkwanta near Koforidua in the Eastern Region to do a spiritual ritual to bless the money. According to the complainant, after some time he realised that the Okomfo was unable to give him back his money, so he reported the matter to Bishop Obinim to help him retrieve the money. ASP Darkwa said it was based on this that Bishop Obinim asked him to bring the rest of the money but the Bishop did not do what he was expected to do, neither was he given his money. 24.08.2016 LISTEN The stakeholders at a day's sensitisation workshop on the utilisation of the petroleum revenues have expressed concern over the high cost of projects funded with the petroleum revenues. They have, therefore, asked the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) to impress upon the implementers of those projects to breakdown the various components of the expenditure for easy understanding. The event was organised by PIAC in Takoradi, which brought together the section of the public comprising assembly members, traditional rulers, technocrats, youth groups, women advocates, civil society organisations, the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) and the media. Some development projects in the Western Region funded with the petroleum revenues comprised the construction of a six-unit classroom block at Debiso/Essam Senior High School at the cost of GH 105,253 in 2014, the construction of Aboadze coastal protection works to protect the Thermal Power Plants at the cost of GH 28,990,890 in 2014 and the construction of the sea defence wall at Ngyiresia at the cost of GH 35,570, 875 in 2014. Other projects were the bitumen surfacing of Shama Town roads at the cost of GH772,833 in 2014, the construction of Enchi-Dadieso road at the cost of GH5,021,106, in 2014 and GH3,697,202.45 in 2015 rehabilitation of Juaboso/Akontombra road at the cost of GH1,789,584.66 in 2015, asphalting of roads in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis in 2014 at the cost of GH1,980,839, the dualisation of Kansawurodo by-pass in 2014 at the cost of GH4,599,266. The participants also expressed concern about the 11 per cent allocation of petroleum revenues to the modernisation of agriculture and, thus, described the allocation as woefully inadequate and called for increase since agriculture is the mainstay of the country's economy. They said the Petroleum Revenue Management Act (PRMA) should give prosecutory powers to PIAC, in order to prosecute duty bearers and institutions that misappropriate the petroleum revenues. With regards to the selection of priority areas, the participants suggested that improvement of health infrastructure should be added to the existing four selected areas. Osabarima Kwaw Entsie II, the Paramount Chief of Mpohor and Member of PIAC representing the National House of Chiefs, briefed the participants on the PIAC report, and stated that the Committee had made recommendations regarding the utilisation of the petroleum revenues. He noted that key concerns expressed by PIAC included the fact that, so many projects and national problems were tackled at the same time with the petroleum revenues, which eventually weakened the potential impact on the citizenry. PIAC therefore recommended proper guidelines for selection of priority areas and also identify legacy projects that could be supported with oil revenues from the Annual Budget Funding Amount. PIAC also reiterated the need to increase allocation to the agriculture sector in view of the pivotal role it had played over the years in sustaining the local economy, he stated. So far, the four priority areas comprised the development of roads and infrastructure, amortisation of loans, the modernisation of agriculture and capacity building. GNA 24.08.2016 LISTEN By Belinda Ayamgha Mr Kofi Bentil, Vice President of IMANI Ghana, has called on Ghanaian book publishers to form an industry chamber in order to better co-ordinate its efforts and have a greater impact on government and the society. He also urged them to widen their purview by publishing their books on all platforms, including electronic and audio, and not only in print. He made the comments when he gave the keynote address at the opening of the 14th Ghana International Book Fair in Accra, on the theme: Growing the knowledge-based economy through reading. Form a chamber, up your game and make sure you lobby government and compete with the other publishers from wherever they come from, he added. He urged the society to support publishers as what they do is important for the education of children and for personal and national development. Mr Bentil explained that while a large number of government spending is in the education sector, Ghanaian book publishers need to make their products internationally competitive so as to attract a larger part of government's spending on education. The content must be competitive internationally, he stated. I'm urging the book publishers association to, a few years from now, call yourself the Publishers Association and publish on all media; publish electronic books that can be read on mobile phones and if you do that, more of your work will be read, he said. Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang, Minister of Education, also encouraged writers and book publishers to involve their potential readers in the process of producing thee books so as to better understand what is or is not interesting to them. She said knowledge is influenced by various factors including the culture, language, vision and aspirations of the group who originate it. She urged Ghanaians to create relevant knowledge materials. The knowledge economy must not deepen our sense of dependency, she noted. Mrs Matilda Amissah-Arthur, wife of the Vice President, who chaired the occasion, entreated Ghanaians and the reading public to always question the knowledge that they receive. If we don't do anything with the knowledge, it will not transform us, she said. The 14 Ghana International Book Fair run in Accra from August to August, 21,and according to Mr Elliot Agyare, President of the Ghana Book Publishers Association, is to serve as a platform to focus national attention on ways to explore Ghana's preparedness for the opportunities brought by the advent of the knowledge-based economy. It was also to serve as a one-stop shop for educational materials for schools, students and parents. GNA 24.08.2016 LISTEN On July 26, the media was awash with news of the commissioning of the Abuja-Kaduna railway project. The news elicited a tweet from the PDP via their official twitter handle. This eventually sparked off a controversy on who should actually take the credit for the completion of the project. The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi was credited with this statement, The rail contract was awarded by President Obasanjo, partially executed by President Jonathan and completed by President Buhari. For the record, lets get this clear. While I commend Buharis administration for seeing the project to completion, do they deserve the credit? No. Even the PDP does not deserve the credit. Who then gets the credit? I wish I could say it is the Buhari-led government but the project would not have seen the light of the day had Dr Okonjo-Iweala opposed it as finance minister. Had she not approved the disbursal of funds for the project, APC members may have been in council meetings instead of posing in front of a camera at a so-called commissioning. Prior to the birth of Buharis administration which has Amaechi as the Transport Minister, the Chinese government signed a contract agreement with the Federal Government on October 22, 2009, for the construction of the 186-kilometre standard gauge rail line from Abuja (Idu Station) to Kaduna railway with construction deadline initially scheduled for December 2014, a 46-month period. Through the support of former Finance Minister, Dr Okonjo-Iweala, the Chinese government invested about $900,000,000.00 from the China Export and Import Bank (The Guardian, January 27, 2016) for the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) project. However, the project was stymied by different challenges. The Chinese construction company handling the project, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), cited exchange rate issues, as impediments to the completion of the project. Showing her commitment to the project, Dr Okonjo-Iweala categorized the Abuja-Kaduna Rail as a priority project, in 2015 budgetary and economic planning, despite her bid to cut down capital expenditure to alleviate the pain resulting from the economic headwinds. She writes, Inevitably, there will also be some cuts in capital expenditure in the 2015 Budget, but this is being done in a way that is pro-poor and pro-average Nigerian. Focus will be on priority sectors of infrastructure, Health, Education and Security, as well as growth stimulating and job creating sectors like Agriculture, Housing and Creative industries. Even in infrastructure, there will be focus on certain priority national projects such as Lagos-Ibadan expressway and the second Niger Bridge, Oweto Bridge, Abuja-Kaduna Rail, Maiduguri-Enugu Rail, Zungeru, Kashimbila and Mambila Hydro etc. (Afripol, December 5, 2014). I could go on stating many other facts and reports but my point is this; credit should be given to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for the approval, funding, start and completion of the Abuja-Kaduna Railway project. After all, many projects have been proposed but never saw the light of the day because of bureaucracies, corruption and selfish interests. Incidents of abandoned projects are rampant all over the country from Lagos to Ogun State, Port Harcourt to Delta, in the North, South-East and all over the country. Projects of high capital cost, such as residential buildings, office buildings and even road constructions are abandoned too. This is caused by numerous factors, including choice of project site, embarking on projects without need analysis, lack of social analysis of a projects development, project imposition by contemporary standard, improper financial analysis, under-bidding of projects, lack of technical analysis. But not the rail construction. From facilitating the release of a $900 million loan from the NEXIM Bank of China, a move masterminded to further strengthen Nigeria and Chinas relationship, to supervising and inspecting the project, Dr Okonjo-Iweala should be commended. Having taken the project to a commendable level, the present administration had no choice than to commission it; after all, everyone likes to associate with success! Lets give credit to whom it is due. Well done Okonjo-Iweala! Tope Bankole and Uzoma Ngozi Tope is a Digital Entrepreneur. He writes from Satelite Town, Lagos. He can be reached via [email protected] Uzoma Ngozi is an entrepreneur and a social commentator who resides in Lagos. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uzoma.ngozi.52 The Ghana Education Service (GES) has warned it will no longer tolerate the conduct of officials whose actions cost the service huge sums of money in judgment debt. Director-General, Jacob Kor, says negligence and unilateral action, especially, by some district directors against erring teachers have ended up in court. Mr Kor will not name the officers but said they failed to follow due process in taking disciplinary decisions, sometimes, without involving national officers. In one such instance, a decision by the District Director to unilaterally sack a teacher has cost the GES over Gh156,000 following a legal suit. Addressing the 23rd Annual Conference of Directors of Education (CODE) in Kumasi, Mr Kor warned the service will not allow such acts to continue as the service is faced with several legal suits. There are so many court cases at the district levels and at the headquarters. Just at the headquarters, we have as many as seven court cases and sometimes when you want to use our managerial skills to stop them, they say contempt of court. I cannot do anything," he said. "Seven court cases; and where are they emanating from, right from the district. Just because some due processes are not being followed in order to sanction teachers. You have no power to sack a teacher, a worried Mr Kor emphasized. Angered by the action of one District Director who is now deceased, Mr Kor told the education directors conference he would have been forced to cough the judgment debt if the unnamed officer were to be alive. It is unfortunately that this District Director has passed on. If he were to be alive, he would have paid a judgment debt of over Gh156, 000 for sacking a teacher. Because of this omission of a District Director not following due processes, GES will have to vomit Gh156,000.00. We will not also allow this to continue, he said. Meanwhile, Mr. Kor has cited school heads for blame for the perennial problem of examination malpractices which he says remains an embarrassment to the Service. He says some officials including directors have received queries for flouting the rules. Management, I urge you all to make a special effort to refrain from such acts. Several letters on this issue have been written so now queries have come to such heads and directors who disobey directives, he said. The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has disclosed to JOY BUSINESS, it is in the final stages of securing a licence for its bank from the Bank of Ghana (BoG). The association wants to set up what it calls an Industrial Development Bank to cater for the financial needs of Small and Medium Enterprises which constitute about 70 percent of its membership. This, it believes would significantly address the financing challenges affecting the growth of these enterprises. President of AGI, James Asare Agyei said it is going very well and they are expecting a favourable response from the Central Bank. "Industrial Development Bank focuses on industrialisation particularly in the areas of manufacturing so that we can be able to grow or develop the capacities of local industries," he said. Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline.com On Friday 19th August 2016 the AUC Department of Economic Affairs and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) through the collaborative initiative of the AUC department of Political Affairs held a session of Fridays of the Commission dedicated to current economic, financial, agricultural and humanitarian challenges facing African economies. The event was held on the theme Building Institutional and Community Resilience in the face of floods, droughts, conflict and economic shocks in Africa: Lessons from the response to El Nino in Eastern and Southern Africa Some of the delegates in attendance were H.E. Dr. Aisha Abdullahi, Commissioner for Political Affairs, H.E Lamine Yahiaoui, Chair of the Permanent Representatives Sub-Committee on Refugees, Returnees and IDPs, H.E Ambassador Devdone Abmoboroshimana, Chair of the PRC Sub-Committee on Special Emergency Assistance Funds (SEAF), Mr. Sunday Babatunde, Head of OCHA-AU liaison Office, members of the UN liaison team to the African Union, members of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Sub-cluster (RCM), Regional Economic Communities (RECs), NCPA (NEPAD Coordination and Planning Agency) and African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF). The delegates came together to discuss the 2015 and 2016 El Nino weather events that led to massive droughts and the devastating impacts it had on food security and the livelihood of millions of people across the horn of Africa, Eastern Africa and Southern Africa. The event aimed to find answers on how to build resilience through disasters, risk reduction and climate change adaptation, contribute to building coherence between humanitarian and development interventions and strengthening resilience to shocks and vulnerabilities through bridging the humanitarian-development divide. H.E. Dr. Aisha L. Abdullahi, described the conference as a special one as the AU joined other humanitarian workers to celebrate the world humanitarian day that is commemorated every 19th of August. H.E. Dr. Abdullahi reiterated that it is a day to stand in solidarity with those affected by humanitarian crisis and to celebrate humanity. She said It is only through humanitarian interventions that lives can be saved which also provides protection and assistance to the affected population. This years world humanitarian day being celebrated under the theme one humanity provides us with the opportunity to reaffirm our shared values underlined Dr. Abdullahi .In her conclusion, the Commissioner of Political Affairs called on the need to invest in humanity, peace and security which translates into the need to fight against risk factors such as violations of human rights, political exclusion, social economic marginalization, corruption and all that hinders good governance and development of society. Speaking at Fridays of The Commission dedicated to the World Humanitarian Day, H.E Ambassador Lamine Yahiaoui, Chair of the PRC sub-committee on Refugees, Returnees and IDPs, in his welcome remarks, highlighted the importance of celebrating (WHD) which was introduced to commemorate the victims of the UN headquarters bombing in Baghdad. This years celebration in particular has come at a time when Africa faces a number of humanitarian issues, the belt of Africa that was referred to as the Green Belt is now known as the yellow fever belt due to the yellow fever that has affected the region, including other diseases such as cholera, meningitis, zica virus and more. stated Ambassador Yahiaoui. The Ambassador called on the unified spirit among Africans to overcome humanitarian challenges that have caused major setback to the continents development H.E Amb. Devdone Abmoboroshimana, Chair of the sub-committee on Special Emergency Assistance Funds underlined that the World Humanitarian theme for this year was chosen not only to commemorate those who died in Baghdad, but also to remind Africans to keep and hold their values of solidarity. Ambassador Abmoboroshimana reiterated that this years celebration comes at a time when Africa is faced with many challenges and urged Africans in the battle to overcome these challenges, Africans should ensure no one is left behind and that the efforts made to eradicate the struggles must be felt in every corner of the continent by every affected person. In his conclusion, Ambassador Abmoboroshimana encouraged the involvement of the continents young people in creating positive change as they are the drivers of the future Mr. Sunday Babatunde, the Head of the OCHA-AU liaison office, in his World Humanitarian Day message, said that the 19th of August, the World Humanitarian Day is celebrated every year to pay tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service and to mobilize people to advocate for more humanitarian work. Mr. Babatunde highlighted the importance of maintaining the common African position of humanitarian effectiveness as was was presented at the world humanitarian summit During the celebrations, a short video with a message from United Nations Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki Moon was played reminding all leaders to keep their promise, invest in humanity and leave no one behind, We are one humanity with a shared responsibility stressed Mr. Ban Ki Moon in the video. 24.08.2016 LISTEN In the context of African politics, I have heard extreme stories, although unproven, about how far people can go to win political power or hold onto same. And that among others, include maligning your opponents in the worst possible form, the cruel spilling of innocent human blood, sometimes purportedly for rituals. In other cases, blood is also spilled through post-election violence. If the above is anything to go by, then sacrificing the sanctity of the judiciary if you like, to hold onto political power, shouldnt be too hard a thing to do. And in my candid view, it appears that is what the President, John Dramani Mahama, astonishingly deemed expedient to do with barely four months to the elections in December. Top officials of his party (NDC) and government have signed and forwarded to him a petition to free the three men, who gleefully and shamefully sat on a pro-government radio station Montie FM, and poured venom on the justices of the highest court of the land, as if they were in the wilderness where nobody will hear them. A handful of his party members who considered the four-month sentence as harsh, besieged the partys headquarters and demanded the release of the three, else they will not vote for him [Mahama]. So the President, whos not bound by the advice of the Council of State, pretentiously forwards the petition to them for an advice he doesnt need, and with barely one-month of the four-month sentence served, approves the pardon for the trio. Probably I am too young, but this is the first time in my adult life that I have seen people coerce a President in such a manner to invoke his prerogative of mercy. Well; there is always a first time for everything, and indeed President Mahama has made history for himself. But this is certainly bad history. But even politically, I do not really believe, that the President would have lost votes in the elections from those die-hard NDC members or sympathizers, if the Montie trio served their four-month jail term. The Presidents action, in my view, which has been met with mixed reactions, could instead cost him and his party votes from discerning floating voters, who play a pivotal role in deciding the outcome of elections in this country. I have heard people attempt to hold brief for the President by saying his hands were tied considering the enormous pressure from his party. I do not want to swallow that. There was no gun pointed at him; he may just have supported this view albeit clandestinely, and did it willingly. Everything about the petition and the back and forth may have been calculated. And mind you; this is not impossible in the Ghanaian political space. I hold the view that a principled person is one who stands by those principles even when they go against him or her, and the President could have decided otherwise if he so wished and had the willpower. And where integrity is non-existent; mediocrity rules. Maybe the President should honestly tell us how many more wrong doers in government he has shielded from prosecution or dismissal merely because some party folks put pressure on him. It is no surprise that we havent seen him genuinely and effectively crack the whip on corrupt and incompetent officials in his administration. Clearly in the scheme of things, party interest, has almost always been put above national interest, just like a former President once said that, if he is to effectively pursue corrupt officials, no one would be left in his government. But I dare say, that a true leader is not the one who simply pardons people for wrongdoing. The resilient economies we see elsewhere were not built this way. And in Africa where the societal rot is so deep, a leader simply has to be ruthless when it matters most to get the best results. Indeed, it is no doubt that Mr. President per this singular act has set a bad example for the rule of law and for justice delivery in this country. The circumstance of this pardon, albeit constitutional, is no doubt an affront to the judiciary; and somewhat emboldens the use of intemperate language on our airwaves that could potentially throw this country into chaos if not curtailed. Well; we can only hope and pray, that the consequence of this unpatriotic decision, will be milder and will not boomerang so hard on us. I genuinely felt for the Montie trio when they were jailed because I believe it was avoidable. Besides, the Ghanaian prison is not a place where I would even wish for my worst enemy. However, I believe the correction was very much necessary else the recklessness on our airwaves may take this country to a deadly point someday. I have heard arguments that the offenders apologized profusely and were remorseful and so they should have been forgiven. Well; remorse can be feigned, but even if it is genuine; it must not be a window to escape punishment for ones deeds. Many convicts in jail today may have showed remorse either genuine or fake, but were still jailed. And an apology doesnt undo the harm of ones actions. I am even more worried about the highest level of hypocrisy and dishonesty being exhibited by us in this case. I can bet with my life, that if this self-inflicted misfortune happened to some ordinary Ghanaians with no political party affiliation, they would have served their sentence fully, and no government official would have had the compassion, let alone the guts to petition the President for a pardon. In fact, if the three were affiliated to the largest opposition party, they would have better rot in jail. And even the NPP, which lauded the imprisonment of the trio and will soon castigate the President for freeing them, would have gone to heaven and back to ensure that they are released even though they deserve to be jailed. There must be justice for all irrespective of ones political colour. The talk of peace without equal rights and justice would be an exercise in futility. Those in support of the release have argued that the President has the power under Article 72 of the 1992 Constitution to grant presidential pardon when he deems fit; and so he invoked it; and has done nothing wrong. Well; per the Constitution, that makes a lot of sense; but can same be said in real wisdom? All things indeed as the good book says in Corinthians are lawful; but not all things are expedient. The Presidents act to me; is akin to the test Satan gave to Jesus to turn a stone into bread, but he refused. Jesus did not refuse because he couldnt do it. He declined because it was not expedient although he had unlimited power to do so. As usual, the sickening and unending politics of equalization will come to play, with some attempting to find similar scenarios of the past by the opposition party, to justify this unpatriotic but purely partisan and selfish act by the President. So at what point will anyone handed the mantle of leadership in this country change the status quo when the test of party and national interest is put to him or her? And sadly, the craving to win political power at all cost or hold onto it in our part of the world; is not borne out of a genuine desire to make lives better for all, but for a few. And dont be shocked when the Montie FM trio, who had a vigil held for them when they were incarcerated, are given a heroic welcome when they are released from the Nsawam Prisons. It will just be a replay of how the former NPP legislator, Eric Amoateng, who shamed Ghana internationally after he was busted for drugs in the United States, was welcomed upon his return to Ghana. In fact, the trio will be drenched with powder to signify victory, and some women may madly lay their expensive and most cherished cloth on the floor for them to walk on it majestically, as if they were jailed for fighting for Ghanas independence. And that is when you will know, that indeed, this society has a long way to go. By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/ Email: [email protected] Broadcast Journalist Citi FM/ www.citifmonline.com Workers of the Electricity of Company of Ghana (ECG) have threatened a nationwide blackout on Friday as part of their protest against moves by government to privatise the company. The workers have vowed to plunge the entire country into darkness on Friday should government go ahead to launch the 25-year concession arrangement. This was made known by the Volta Regional Chairman of the ECG Senior Staff Association, Stephen Norvixoxo, in an interview on Starr FM. According to him, the planned outage is to get the general public support their cause since the move by government will be detrimental to the country. We understand the government will be launching the private sector participation tomorrow and if they go ahead, then Friday we will put off the entire country to prove to the government that we are capable. We want the general public to be aware of what is going on. For all this while, we have been expecting the public to speak on the issue. Because if the government goes ahead to involve private participation in ECG, we will be paying very high bills, Mr. Norvixoxo explained. The ECG workers on Tuesday began a three-day, 3-hourly demonstration across the country. -graphic A Member of the Council of State -the body which advised President John Mahama to free the Montie three - has dared anyone who disagrees with their decision to go to court for redress. According to Nana Kodua Kesse, the Oyokohene of the New Juaben, their recommendation to the President was made after a careful consideration of the various dynamics involved in the case. A statement announcing the remission to the three said: The President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama has, in consultation with the Council of State and in exercise of his constitutional powers under Article 72 of the Constitution, remitted the remaining prison sentence imposed on three persons: Salifu Maase (alias Mugabe), Alistair Nelson and Ako Gunn who were sentenced to 4 months imprisonment and a fine of GH10,000.00 each for contempt of court. The remission is effective 26th August 2016. The move, has however, been met with heavy criticisms with many accusing the Council of State of endorsing recklessness. Speaking to Starr News, Nana Kesse said the three contemnors deserved mercy and so they advised the President to grant them mercy. Even Jesus Christ when he was on the cross, he said father forgive them. So are people saying they are so okay that they cant pardon people for any wrong doing? For the Council of State, we have done our work according to the provision of the constitution. If anybody feels that we have breached the constitution they can go to court for interpretation. The president has been giving pardon to prisoners every year; are they also not prisoners? What is so peculiar about the Montie three, what is so peculiar about the pardon the president has given them, it is his prerogative, he said. He added: I am not surprised about the public backlash because everyone is entitled to their opinions. There are those who are hiding behind their political parties and they are saying a lot of things, for us in the Council of State we have done our work. National Organizer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu says he is shocked at claims by President John Mahama that the flagbearer of the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo is not qualified to be President. According to John Boadu, the self-confessed 'indecisive' President has no moral right to doubt the capabilities of the NPP when it comes to governance. His comment is in reaction to President Mahamas admonition to Ghanaians not to risk voting a divided NPP headed by a dictator into office. Addressing party supporters at Bimbilla in the Northern Region during a campaign tour, the President said Nana Akufo-Addo has failed to unite his party and should therefore not be voted for in the December elections. But John Boadu on Asempa FM's Ekosii Sen programme Wednesday opined that, given President Mahama's performance in government, everyone can lead the nation. Even he Mahama who said in his own book 'My First Coup d'etat' that Danger lurks around any decision I make is president, why not Akufo-Addo he quizzed. Mr. Boadu who is also the acting General Secretary of the NPP could not fathom why President Mahama wants to be retained in power when he has moved Ghana's economy from bad to worse. Mahama knows he has failed so the only way to convince Ghanaians to vote for his is to make such loose comments but we will ignore him, he added. John Boadu called on party members to treat President Mahama's comment with the contempt it deserves and work hard to unseat the NDC in the December polls. -adomonline The Deputy Power Minister John Jinapor is accusing aggrieved workers of the Public Utility Workers Union of breach of faith. The workers have begun a three-day; three-hour sit down strike across the country to protest the impending privatization of the Electricity Company of Ghana to a private concessionaire. They claim the deal will not be in the interest of the workers and may eventually lead to loss of jobs, at least after five years. On Wednesday, the workers began the sitdown strike during which they wore red arm bands, chanted songs in protest over the impending sale. Deputy Minister John Jinapor said the strike came as a complete surprise to him. According to him, the ministry met with the leaders of the workers' union during which they addressed their grievances. He was therefore surprised that the workers, without notice to the employers will begin a three-day sit-down strike. "We should build trust and confidence and not spring surprises," he stated. He also suspected that the union's change in leadership may have accounted for the demonstration, adding, the new leaders voted into power may not have been apprised of all the information about the privatization. John Jinapor said his ministry will quickly convene a meeting with the new leadership early next week to address the outstanding issues. The minister said the call by the workers for job security is legitimate, adding the ministry is equally as concerned and is even more interested in the employee welfare. He said the ministry is looking for the best concessionaire who would have the interest of the workers at heart and not just to make profit. John Jinapor dismissed claims that the concessionaire will fix high tariffs when it takes over the management of ECG. "The concessionaire will not set tariffs; PURC will continue to set tariffs taking into consideration the welfare of consumers," he said. He said the ministry is undertaking a rigorous bidding process in order to select the best concessionaire to take over the management of ECG. "It is a long process of takeover ; we going through a competitive tender process and raising the bar. "We want the best with a great financial criteria," he stated. Story by Ghana|Myjoyonline.com|Nathan Gadugah Mustapha Hamid, Spokesperson for the flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo Addo, has said it would be ironic for President John Dramani Mahama to suggest that the opposition candidate is a divisive figure, given the public debate the presidents own decision to pardon the Montie trio has provoked. Speaking at Bimbilla on his four-day campaign tour of the Northern region, President Mahama said that Nana Addo was leading only half of the party and that the other half are sitting with their hands folded watching him drive the bus down the hill. What we need in Ghana is an understanding President. The era of dictatorship is gone. We are not looking for dictator, somebody who can't stand criticism. Within his own party, if you criticize him he will sack you. We are looking for a leader who can bring people together, he added. Mustapha Hamid stated that, the presidents remission of the four-month sentences of Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Salifu Maase, alias Mugabe, had created the biggest political division ever in Ghanas history and suggested that the president had no moral right to accuse Nana Addo of being divisive. It is the greatest irony in our political history today, that its President Mahama who is talking and labeling someone as divisive. Currently in Ghana, the biggest of division inside the country is his singular irreverent act of letting loose people who have threatened to kill and rape our Supreme Court judges and who have been incarcerated and who for partisan reasons he has set free. That is a subject of huge division, not yesterday or the day before yesterday, now, Mustapha Hamid said on Eyewitness News. Isn't it ironic that the person who has created the biggest political division ever in our country's history is the one who is pointing an accusing finger at somebody and saying that he's a divisionist and a dictator? . President freed Montie trio to continue their insults Mustapha Hamid suggested that, President Mahama might have pardoned the Montie FM contemnors to resume their attacks on the NPP flagbearer. According to him, their incarceration had forced the president to take up the personal attacks on Nana Addo which he believes the jailed host and panelists of the pro-government radio station would otherwise have done. Once they [Montie trio] are incarcerated, he [Mahama] is the one now leading the insult attack. He wants them out so they can come and take over from him so he can rest. They have said they were working on his behalf so now that they are not there, he's had to take up the insults himself. That's the reason he's [pardoned them], Mustapha Hamid said. He stated that, the Presidents attacks on Nana Addo was an attempt to divert the peoples attention from the deplorable conditions the people in the Northern Region live in. He however added that, the NPPs campaign will be a clean, issue-based one which would seek to address the concerns of Ghanaians. You are flying helicopters because your roads are inmmotorable and you don't want us to talk about that, you want us to talk about what is happening in somebody's party. How does what is happening in somebody's party put bread on my table or make it possible for somebody from Bimbilla to take his food produce to Yendi to sell? he noted We will continue to focus on the message because the Ghanaian people will understand who really has a message and who has no message. I would be very excited if he continues on this trajectory. I would be very sad if he was to abandon these attacks on Nana Addo. Let him continue. By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana Johannesburg (AFP) - South Africa's retired archbishop Desmond Tutu was on Wednesday hospitalised for a nagging infection, one of his daughters said. The 84-year-old Nobel Peace laureate "admitted himself to a Cape Town hospital today for treatment to a recurring infection," said Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe in a statement. "He is expected to remain in hospital for a week or two," she added. The much-loved anti-apartheid activist "underwent similar treatment last year," Tutu-Gxashe said. Tutu was hospitalised three times in 2015 over a persistent infection that his foundation -- the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation -- said was a result of the prostate cancer treatment he has been receiving for nearly 20 years. The last time he was admitted to hospital was in August last year, a stay that lasted just over two weeks. His other daughter, Reverend Canon Mpho Tutu-van Furth, on Tuesday delivered a speech on his behalf at a human rights conference in Johannesburg, mentioning that he was not feeling very well. Tutu, who is the former archbishop of Cape Town, this year celebrated the 40th anniversary of his priesthood. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984, gaining worldwide prominence for his strong opposition to South Africa's apartheid regime. By Dennis Peprah, GNA Sunyani, Aug. 24, GNA - Regional Ministers have been tasked to highlight government's achievements by the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) as the country approaches the 2016 general election. Mr Ato Sarpong, the Deputy Minister of Communication, said this is the surest way to push the electorate to make informed choices and vote to retain the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government in the December 7 polls. Addressing the Government for the People forum in Sunyani, the Deputy Communication Minister said the current administration has chalked significant and unprecedented successes and needed additional four years to consolidate the gains it had made. Mr Sarpong said President John Dramani Mahama has invested hugely in several sectors including education, road, health, agriculture and other relevant sectors of the economy, adding that 13,000 new housing facilities are in the process of completion. He said though the energy sector challenges seemed insurmountable, the government had worked out modalities to add 5,000 megawatts of power to the national grid. Mr Sarpong said the economy has seen a sharp turnaround, an indication that the living conditions of majority of Ghanaians would be improved by the end of 2016. He said until the MMDAs took the responsibility to propagate the government's achievements, its detractors would continue to throw dust into the eyes of the electorate to make the government unpopular. Mr Sarpong said multi-party democracy required transparency and grassroots participation in decision-making, hence the need for the forum to create the opportunity the government to account to the people. Mr Eric Opoku, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, said people in the region and Ghanaians in general would be ungrateful if they failed to retain the ruling NDC government in power. He said the region had benefited immensely from the national cake and urged the electorate not to disappoint the NDC in the general election. Nana Owusu Sakyi III, the Paramount Chief of Bassa Traditional Area, lauded the government for the level of development in the region and asked the electorate to vote on merit in the Election 2016. GNA Akim Oda (E/R), Aug. 24, GNA - Some members of the Ghana Blind Union and the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisation of the Birim Central Municipality, has been given a week's training in soap-making. This is to provide the members with some vocational support to improve their livelihood. The training was organised by the Birim Central Municipality and the Business Advisory Centre (BAC) under the National Board for Small Scale Industries. Mr Kwabena Nkansah Asare, the Birim Central Municipal Chief Executive, expressed satisfaction with the performance of previous trainees who were able to put into practice the skills acquired to transform their living standards. He assured the persons with disability in the area that the Assembly would respond to their call whenever the need arose. Mr Joseph Aniagyei Yeboah, the Chairman of the Ghana Disabled Society, said the BAC had provided skills in sewing, batik and tie-and -dye making for females within the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisation with start-up support from the assembly. Madam Vicentia Bansah, the Resource Person, took participants through the process of soap making including the liquid soap, powdered soap, and the bar soap. Mr Richard Mongson, an Officer of BAC, said the centre had been supporting the training programme of members of the Ghana Blind Union through the Rural Enterprise Programme, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the Agricultural Development Bank. GNA Accra, Aug. 24, GNA - Capital Bank has announced a partnership deal with Allied Oil aimed at making SpeedPay money vouchers available in all Allied filling stations nationwide. SpeedPay is a unique payment solution that allows customers to conveniently deposit funds into their account through their mobile phones. It is simply a money voucher, which could be used to make online payments by both customers and non-customers of Capital Bank. Speaking at the ceremony to announce the deal, Reverend Fitzgerald Odonkor, Managing Director Capital Bank, said the decision to partner Allied Oil was largely driven by a desire to partner an ambitious Ghanaian brand that places premium on innovative customer-focused solutions. He said in the highly competitive and fast paced world, banking is not just about developing customer focused solutions, it is about developing innovative solutions that are superior to competing solutions with speed and precision. Rev Odonkor said the solution now known as SpeedPay had evolved beyond a cash deposit solution and could be used by both customers and non-customers to make payments online through various platforms. Ms Eunice Brocke, Head, Retail and Personal Banking, Capital Bank said SpeedPay previously called Speedbanking, provided simple, easy and fast as well as convenient way to deposit money into the bank and make payments online. 'The SpeedPay cards can also be used to pay bills, purchase tickets for events and shop online currently on the following platforms-M-Power, Knoxxi, Slydepay and Omanye,' she said. She said the strategic partnership with Allied Oil Ghana would enable the two businesses to grow together and make their brands one of the strongest and attractive in the banking and the oil industry. The partnership deal with Allied Oil would enhance Capital Bank distribution channels of the flagship product to 51. 'Our strategy is to further increase the distribution channels to over a 100 by the end of the year,' Ms Brocke said. She said Capital Bank would continue to create more unique solutions to delight customers and make retail banking charming. Mr Elliot Mawuli Okudzeto, Managing Director of Allied Oil, lauded the partnership between the two organisations and expressed the hope that the collaboration would extend the boundaries of the country's cashless agenda. GNA 24.08.2016 LISTEN Accra Aug. 24, GNA - The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Air Marshall Michael Samson-Oje has inaugurated two boards at a ceremony in Accra. They are the nine-member Military Hospital Advisory Board and the seven- member 37 Military Hospital Nursing and Midwifery Board of Governors. The Military Hospital Advisory Board has Rear Admiral P.K Faidoo as its Chairman while the 37 Military Hospital is chaired by Air Commander J.S.K. Dzamefe Air Marshall Samson-Oje paid tribute to all past commanders and officers and staff of the hospital on whose shoulders they had stood to extend the reach of the 37 Military Hospital in the provision of health care. 'High Command applauds the efforts of the Ghana Armed Forces Medical Services in providing medical care for our troops and families and also putting its priorities within government's development agenda.' Air Marshall Samson-Oje said he was mindful of the challenges facing health care service delivery in the Ghana Armed Forces medical Service and the importance of addressing them. He assured the two boards that the High Command is doing all it could to ensure the resolution of those thorny issues. The CDS therefore charged them to 'discharge their duties with dispatch and be guided by the charter underpinning the establishment of their boards.' According to him the board had been charged to co-ordinate, monitor and promote the activities of the Hospital and the Medical reception stations. He said the board has to monitor the professional, technical and administrative matters affecting the hospital to ensure financial accountability at all levels of the Hospital. Air Marshall Samson-Oje implored the board to work to improve health care and turn out quality products from the Nursing and Midwifery Training Institutions. Brigadier General Ralph Kojo Ametepi, the Director of Medical Services said the 37 Military Hospital had expanded over the years and had now been designated as the National Disaster Hospital with the medical reception stations being upgraded to District Hospitals. 'This has not been without challenges in terms of human resources, infrastructure and equipment among others,' he recounted. To this end, Brigadier General Ametepi, said efforts are being made to address the human resource deficiency with the introduction of Special medical Intake and direct recruitment of medical personnel to training centres. He said the Nursing and Midwifery Training School, which started as a training school for orderlies has been transformed into an accredited tertiary institution affiliated to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. 'Plans are far advance for the school to offer degree programmes. The new board has the task to ensure that the dream of having a degree awarding institution becomes a reality,' Brigadier General Ametepi said. Rear Admiral P.K Faidoo, on behalf of the two boards thanked the CDS for giving them the opportunity to serve. He recounted that the stride achieved by the 37 Military Hospital had not come by chance rather through hard work and dedication. He said the boards would work as a team and carry out their task assiduously to achieve the vision of the Hospital. GNA By GNA Reporter, Ho Ho, Aug. 24, GNA - Workers of Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) have threatened to plunge the country into total darkness on Friday should government fail to back down on its resolve to privatise the company. Mr Novihoho Stephen, ECG Senior Staff Union Chairman of the Volta Region, at a demonstration in Ho on Wednesday said the protest would continue to coincide with the launch of the Private Sector Participation and 'if by Friday government has not rescinded its decision, we will give the country total blackout'. He said the ECG could do the work as demanded, and had sent a white paper to stop the concession but it looks as if government wants to go ahead with the launch. 'We would also black you out until we hear something from government,' he said. Mr Novihoho said government's indebtedness to ECG is what is collapsing the Company and not inefficiency. He said privatising the Company would not only increase the high rate of utility bill but also lay off many workers. The Chairman added that the privatisation of the Ghana Water Company Limited and Ghana Telecom saw the laying off of many workers and that ECG would not allow that. Local chapters of Public Utility Workers Union in ECG have begun series of demonstrations in district and regional offices of the Company to force government to reject plans of privatising of the Company. The workers are calling on government to review the terms of the second compact of the Millennium Challenge Corporation under, which ECG would be given out to a private investor under a concessional arrangement of 25 years. GNA By Morkporkpor Anku, GNA Accra, Aug. 24, GNA - The Management and Staff of the Labadi Beach Hotel have been asked to be thankful to God as they celebrate 25 years anniversary of the facility. Reverend Father Andrew Campbell, Parish Priest of the Christ the King Catholic Church, said leaders of the Hotel must be appreciative and grateful to the almighty God for seeing them through all the trying moments till now. Rev Campbell was delivering a sermon at the thanksgiving service to commence the Hotel's silver jubilee in Accra. He also commended management for their continuous commitment and support to the Weija Leprosarium. He urged the Hotel to extend its support to other compassionate individuals in the society for the development of the country. The five-star facility opened on August 22, 1991, with 110 rooms, two bars and two restaurants could now boast of 54 luxury rooms, four executive suits and two presidential suites. Mr Charles Darko Yeboah, the Financial Controller, Lababi Beach Hotel, recounting the history said the facility has gone through various structural changes albeit maintaining its unique food services. He said the construction works of the facility were completed within 11 months to enable them host the Non-Aligned Movement in 1991. Mr Yeboah said the Hotel has since kept a very high standard, which has brought them enviable successes over the years with the awards of the hotel of the year. Mr Michael Rathgeb, the New General Manager of the Hotel, said the facility is committed to customer service and would continue to expand its facilities to serve clients better. He said as part of the celebration, the Hotel would be providing special packages for customers. The occasion which had the Winneba Youth Choir in attendance was also used to honour some staff members who have dedicated themselves in long service to the growth of the hotel. GNA Supporters of the Founder of the International Gods Way Church, Bishop Daniel Obinim, are holding what appears to be a church service at the car park of the Nima Police Station. Led by a man said to be one of the junior pastors of Bishop Obinim, the people are singing songs of worship. Joy News Latif Iddrisu who visited the place disclosed the crowd is growing in strength as they have resolved to be closer to their spiritual father. Bishop Obinim has been sent to the Nima Police Station where he will be spending Wednesday night after he was interrogated at the Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for flogging two church members and allegedly defrauding a man in a GHS11.6 million gold business scam. Early today, attempts by his lawyer Samuel Atta Akyea to have the controversial Ghanaian pastor granted bail was rejected by the police who claimed they were not satisfied with information given them. They have disclosed they would be processing him for court Thursday over the issue in which he flogged two church members in the full glare of his congregation. A gathering by the supporters at the police CID office nearly resulted in a clash but the police used water cannon to disperse the crowd. As a result one man was arrested for disrupting the work of the police. He is currently in their custody. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brakopowers | Email: [email protected] The country is likely to be plunged into total darkness on Friday if workers of the Electricity of Company of Ghana (ECG) carry out a threat to protest governments bid to privatise the company. Volta Region Chair of the ECG Senior Staff Association, Stephen Norvixoxo, revealed plans about the nationwide blackout during an interview with Accra-based Starr FM on Wednesday. We understand the government will be launching the private sector participation tomorrow and if they go ahead, then Friday we will put off the entire country to prove to the government that we are capable, he said. Aggrieved workers of the power distribution company have begun a three-day; three-hour sit down strike across the country to protest the impending privatization of the Electricity Company of Ghana to a private concessionaire. They claim the deal will not be in the interest of the workers and may eventually lead to loss of jobs, at least after five years. Mr Norvixoxo says if Fridays event to invite private sector participation in the 25-year concession arrangement goes through, they will ensure no home or business has power. We want the general public to be aware of what is going on. For all this while, we have been expecting the public to speak on the issue. Because if the government goes ahead to involve private participation in ECG, we will be paying very high bills, he said. He explains Fridays move is to get public support for their cause. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | GN you are here: 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. Kids from less affluent homes, even when they have health insurance, are not as likely as others to get vision screenings that can identify conditions like lazy eye before the damage becomes irreversible, a new study found. Researchers at the University of Michigan examined commercial health insurance claims data between 2001 and 2014 for nearly 900,000 children from birth to age 14. They tracked how often kids at different family income levels visited ophthalmologists and optometrists and the diagnosis rates for strabismus (cross-eyed or wall-eyed) and amblyopia (lazy eye). The two conditions are relatively common, serious eye diseases in children. Because the eyes are seeing different things, the brain suppresses the vision in one eye. If not corrected by age 10, either condition can result in permanent vision loss. Treatment generally involves glasses, surgery, eye drops or patches, or some combination. Children in families with the lowest net worth of less than $25,000 a year had 16 percent fewer eye care visits than those in the middle-income category of $150,000 to $250,000, the study found. Meanwhile, kids from families with the highest net worth of $500,000 or more had 19 percent more visits to eye care professionals than those in the middle-income group. Lower income kids were also less likely to be diagnosed with strabismus or amblyopia than children from higher income families. By age 10, an estimated 3.6 percent of children in the lowest income category were diagnosed with strabismus, and 2 percent were diagnosed with amblyopia, the study found. For kids in the highest income bracket, the estimated diagnoses were 5.9 percent for strabismus and 3.1 percent for amblyopia. "We think that affluence is driving the eye care visit and the visit is driving the diagnosis of eye disease," said Dr. Joshua D. Stein, the study's lead author and an associate professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the University of Michigan's medical school. The researchers estimate that the lack of eye-care visits by lower income children resulted in 12,800 missed cases of strabismus and 5,400 missed cases of amblyopia. Many children receive vision screening in schools, which wouldn't appear in the claims data that were analyzed. Children who fail a school vision screening, however, should be referred to an optometrist or ophthalmologist for further testing, and that visit would show up in the claims data. Less affluent parents may have more difficulty taking time off from work or face transportation challenges getting a child to an eye care provider, said Stein, and there may be fewer eye care providers available in less affluent areas. Under the health law, services recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent panel of medical experts, are covered by insurance without requiring most people to pay anything out of pocket. The task force recommends that children between the ages of 3 and 5 receive at least one vision screening to check for amblyopia. That recommendation is being updated. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) Astronaut Jeffrey Williams has a new record for NASA under his space belt. The commander of the International Space Station marked a U.S. recording-breaking 521st day in orbit Wednesday, a number accumulated over four flights. That surpasses the 520-day record set by Scott Kelly, whose one-year space station mission ended in March. By the time Williams returns to Earth in two weeks to close out his latest half-year trip, he will have logged 534 days off the planet for NASA. His record won't last long. Space station veteran Peggy Whitson will top that after she flies up in November for another six-month stay. She's already at the 377-day mark for total space time, a record for a woman. And even that won't come close to the world record of 879 days held by Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka a total of 2 years. Kelly, who is now retired from NASA, called Williams from Mission Control in Houston and offered congratulations "on passing me up here." "It's great to see another record broken," Kelly radioed. "But I do have one question for you. And my question is: You got another 190 days in you?" Williams replied, "That question's not for me, that's for my wife." He thanked Kelly for accepting the one-year stint "so I didn't have to." Williams recalled telling his wife, Anna-Marie, and the rest of his family that if he did the one-year flight versus his current six-month assignment that he'd be back six months earlier in March. "That never flew with anybody," he confided. As it is, Williams will be No. 14 on the world's most-time-in-space list, behind 13 Russians, by the time he lands. Williams, 58, a retired Army colonel, rocketed into orbit in March along with two Russians. They will return via a Russian Soyuz capsule to Kazakhstan on Sept. 7. Williams will conduct one more spacewalk next week before heading home. ___ Online: NASA: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html A total of 2,504 Ukrainian servicemen have been killed in eastern Ukraine since the beginning of 2014, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said. "Looking back at more than two years of war, we can definitely say that the enemy has failed to accomplish any strategic task and to bring Ukraine down to its knees. As many as 2,504 soldiers have died for that," Poroshenko said at a military parade dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Ukrainian independence. The parade took place in Kyiv on Wednesday. Ukraine capable of defending itself, but needs further Western military support - Poroshenko Ukraine demonstrates that it is capable of defending itself, but it also needs the support of its international partners, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said. "Our international partners will get a signal from this parade that Ukraine is capable of defending itself, but demands further support. Because our enemy is a country that occupies one-ninth of the [world's] dry land and has a military budget that by far exceeds ours," Poroshenko said during a parade marking the 25th anniversary of Ukraine's independence in Kyiv on Wednesday. Ukraine needs more such support, he said. We won't be seeing the Dance of the Dragons for quite a while. After that epic season one finale, HBO is making sure viewers don't expect a sequel to House of the Dragon in the new year. "Don't expect it in 23, but I think sometime in Seventy-five percent of the people who now serve in the Ukrainian army are contract servicemen, and over 20,000 servicemen are expected to join them before the end of the year, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said. "The formation of a professional, contract army became a priority this year. On average, up to 6,000 contract servicemen join the Armed Forces every month. Over 46,000 contract servicemen have joined the army since January, and we expect over 20,000 other people by the end of the year. An overwhelming majority of them sign long-term contracts. As of today, contract servicemen account for 75% of the army," Poroshenko said during a military parade marking the 25th anniversary of Ukraine's independence in Kyiv on Wednesday. The president said the formation of a military reserve now continues and now comprises over 80,000 people. State-of-the-art modernized and repaired weapons and pieces of military equipment are being provided to the troops. "It's true that we cannot always get what we want and need. In the meantime, there is still a big divide between what is needed and what we can afford. We will need years and dozens of billions to sleep calmly," the president said. "However, you will see the real progress of the country in strengthening its defense potential right now," Poroshenko said. We were not bribed to drop ... Ukrainian army positions in Donbas came under 48 attacks in the past 24 hours, the press center of the anti-terrorist operation staff said on Facebook on Wednesday morning. A total of 19 shelling incidents were observed in the Donetsk sector, 22 in the Mariupol sector, and another seven in the Luhansk sector, the report said. In the Donetsk sector, over 70 shots were fired from 122mm artillery weapons on Ukrainian army positions in Zaitseve and Dacha, in addition to 40 shots fired from 152mm artillery north of Krasnohorivka. Ukrainian army positions near Avdiyivka came under attack of 120mm and 82mm mortars, various types of grenade launchers, large-caliber machineguns and small arms, and 120mm mortars were actively used in Semyhirya and Nevelske. Attacks on Svitlodarsk, Luhanske and Troitske were conducted by use of 82mm mortars and large-caliber machineguns, and grenade launchers of various types and large-caliber machineguns were fired in Verkhnotoretske. Automatic mounted grenade launchers were engaged in attacks near Mayorsk and Svitlodarsk. Infantry combat vehicles and 120mm mortars were used near Luhanske. In the Mariupol sector, 122mm artillery bombarded Myrne and 122mm weapons fired on positions in Syonitne in the morning; some 50 152mm projectiles were fired on Ukrainian fortifications near Talakivka after dark. Ukrainian army positions repeatedly came under fire of 120mm mortars in Maryinka and Vodiane. Krasnohorivka saw use of 82mm mortars, large-caliber machineguns fired on Maryinka and Novotroitske, grenade launchers were used in Mykolaivka and Vodyane, and small arms were fired in Starohnativka. Grenade launchers and large-caliber machineguns fired on Ukrainian army positions in Shyrokyne, and an infantry combat vehicle operated near Hnutove. In the Luhansk sector, 82mm mortars and automatic mounted grenade launchers fired on Krymske. Grenade launchers were used in Novozvanivka and Zolote, large-caliber machineguns in Novooleksandrivka, and small arms in Lopaskyne. A sniper was active near Zolote and Novooleksandrivka. A drone was thrice seen flying over the past day. Congratulations from foreign leaders on the occasion of the Independence Day of Ukraine continue coming to the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. "Countries' leaders wish peace, prosperity and well-being to the Ukrainian people and the state, and express hope for the further development of bilateral relations between the two countries based on mutual understanding and respect," the press service of the Ukrainian head of state reported on Wednesday morning. Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic in her greeting wished prosperity, security and stability to Ukraine, stressing Croatia's full support of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. She also expressed hope for the development of bilateral cooperation between the states. Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite stressed in her greeting that over the years the peoples of the two countries have become particularly close, namely the mutual support of the people lays the most solid foundation for the successful cooperation of the states. According to Grybauskaite, Lithuania strongly supports the Ukrainian people, and this year's participation of Lithuanian troops in the parade on the occasion of Independence Day of Ukraine is symbolic. Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius congratulated Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Groysman on the occasion of Ukraine's Independence Day. Leaders of Turkey also greeted the Ukrainian people and Poroshenko on the 25th anniversary of the Independence of Ukraine. "Our priority is to strengthen our relations in every area in the future I take this opportunity to reiterate that we will stand by a friendly Ukraine and will continue to strongly support the territorial integrity and independence," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said. In turn, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that the Turkish government attaches great importance to the further deepening of bilateral relations with Ukraine as a strategic partner. The Ukrainian president also received greetings from leaders of Bulgaria, Slovakia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, and Uzbekistan. "King Philippe of Belgium, President of the United Arab Emirates Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Emir of Dubai Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan also congratulated Ukraine on the 25th anniversary of its independence," the press service of the president of Ukraine reported. Sacramento, CA A bill gained approval in the California Senate that is designed to avoid similar type trademark disputes that have been witnessed in Yosemite National Park. The Senate unanimously voted in favor of AB 2249 that would prohibit concessionaires from claiming ownership of names connected to state parks. It would not impact federal parks like Yosemite. The bipartisan bill was introduced by Republican Frank Bigelow and Democrats Ken Cooley and Adam Gray. Several landmarks in Yosemite, including the Ahwahnee Hotel, were renamed due to a trademark dispute with Deleware North Company, the former concessionaire in the park. The bill now moves back to the Assembly for a vote. Dead Tree Removal On Lyons Bald Mountain Road View Photos Sonora, CA Work is well underway on a fuel reduction project in Sonora. We reported previously that the $50,000 Lyons Bald Mountain Road Fire Hazard Fuel Reduction Project is being funded by PG&E and is being overseen by the Highway 108 Fire Safe Council. Much of the labor intensive work is being carried out by Tuolumne County Jail inmate crews. You will experience periodic traffic delays in the work zone over the next several weeks. Work is being done all along Lyons Bald Mountain Road up to the PG&E Powerhouse station. Activities started on August 15 and it is expected to take up to six weeks to complete. Crews are on scene Monday through Friday from around 7am-4pm. Use caution when driving in the area and allow yourself extra time. OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has invited colleagues from OSCE member countries to an informal meeting in Potsdam in Germany on September 1. "Talks will focus on common challenges for the security of the OSCE region and deepening the cooperation between OSCE participating states," the OSCE press service said in a report. "A special emphasis will be put on the engagement of the OSCE in crisis and conflict management, especially in Ukraine, and in the fight against terrorism, as well as matters of arms control," it said. "The meeting also serves as preparation for the OSCE Ministerial Council, which will be held at the beginning of December in Hamburg," the report said. The Tampa man who reunites old family bibles with their original owners has been getting requests for help after we aired his story. RELATED: Tampa man connects families with their history Andy Smith's unique hobby caught the attention of at least one of our views Together, Smith and Chachere connected a North Florida family with their history Andy Smith, the man with that unique hobby, uses his investigative skills and family tree websites to return family bibles back to descendants of the family. Smith uses clues from the inscription pages of the Bible. Tampa resident Vickie Chachere saw the story and asked Andy for help with a family Bible shes had that dates back to 1879. Chachere and her father picked up the Bible at a garage sale in Oregon in the 1980s. We were hunting for old antique books, and we found this one for 25 cents, said Chachere. It was one of the many antique book purchases Chachere and her father would make over the years. They shared a special bond over collecting old books. Her father, born in 1911, was a first generation college graduate. Anything that was printed material to him really represented an opportunity to learn, Chachere said. But Chachere never learned about the family who owned the Bible originally. When her father passed away, she inherited his book collection. She desperately wanted to find the Bible's owners after seeing handwriting on the front page. The inscription reads, 'R.P. Bell in Washington County, Pennsylvania.' Thats all she knew, until Smith stepped in to help. Smith spent three weeks looking through U.S. Census Bureau records, family trees and obituaries. He learned the Bible traveled from Pennsylvania, to California. It was then sold in Oregon to Chachere, who then moved to Florida. And as luck would have it, descendants of the Bibles original owner now live in Apalachicola - a small fishing community in the Florida panhandle. The Bible has been from one end of the United States to the other," said Smith. "And back again. Its had its own little journey. Smith says the family is excited to see the Bible they didnt even know existed. Its really special because things disappear," said Chachere. "But stories dont." Smith has reunited more than a hundred bibles to their original families, but this was a first for him. Usually Smith finds the bibles online. As long as Ive been doing this, this is the first time Ive been able to touch the Bible Ive been reuniting with the family, Smith said. You know what, its not my family, but it doesnt make a difference. It feels like my family because Ive spent so much time investigating. Thanks to Smith, another family will get to carry on their story for generations to come. GET OUR APP Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Download it here. HART - Hart ISD school trustee Vickie Chavez has resigned from the board. That move was announced during the Aug. 8 school board meeting. There were four members present, with President Erasmo Mata absent. The board is allotted seven members, and four must be present to conduct a meeting. The board has two vacant seats and will be considering appointments to fill these. Vice President Angelica Ramirez presided over the meeting. Other members present were Steven Reyna, Mary Ann Rodriguez and Martha Gonzales. Also present were former Interim Superintendent Les Miller of Canyon and David Cox, new superintendent. Miller plans to continue attending board meetings during the immediate future, as a courtesy, to assist Cox during the sessions. Miller isnt being paid for that assistance. Business Manager Teresa Montemayor reported during the school board session that the district has a safe deposit box at Centennial Bank. At the meeting, Montemayor said she didnt know what was inside the box. However, she later reported that it contained backup copies of the districts financial information on floppy disk. She plans to create new backups on USB drivers, for storage in the safe deposit box. Cox reported attending the Superintendents Academy in Austin for first-year superintendents, and meeting with the superintendents of the Happy and Wellman-Union school districts. Cox reported that he is required to participate in a mentorship. Miller added that the mentor will be assigned by the Texas Association of School Administrators upon approval of the Region 16 Education Service Center in Amarillo. Trustees also discussed the lease agreement, rental fees, upkeep of fences and yard care of the districts teacher rental houses. Cox said hed like to see the agreements signed annually. Miller suggested that the agreement include mowing and watering the lawns, or the occupants would be charged for the school maintenance department to do that work. Cox explained that some of the houses and yards look trashy. Ramirez asked that the inside and outside of the houses be inspected quarterly. Rodriguez suggested annual inspections, with back yards being check quarterly. No formal action was taken on that issue since it was listed as an information item on the agenda. Cox added that he would like some improvements made on the 15 district-owned residences since only one, the superintendents house, has central heat and air conditioning. All 15 houses occupied by teachers except for one, which is occupied by a school secretary. The board approved the Faculty Handbook. The only change to the handbook involves the dress code. Cox listed what is acceptable and unacceptable in the handbook. "We ought to dress the part," he said. Trustees also approve an interlocal agreement between HISD and Hale County Juvenile Alternative Education program for the new school year. Students in the program are responsible for their own transportation to Plainview. It costs the district $25 per day for each student in the program. Students are required to pay a one-time uniform fee of $12.25. The parent of a student enrolled in that program may withdraw their child and instead home-school them. However, if the parent decides to re-enroll the student in Hart ISD, teacher evaluations are required before the student can return to school. Budget transfers of $8,000 for concrete work on ramps and $8,000 for repairs to rental houses were approved. The board, on Montemayors recommendation, approved paying premiums to the Texas Association of School Boards of $4,347 for workers' comp and $4,692 for unemployment insurance. Wayland Baptist Universitys Academy of Fine Arts, community music outreach program, will hold registration from 4-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30, in the Harral Fine Arts Center. Adults, youth and children may register for private lessons in guitar, piano, voice and other instruments as instructors are available. Cost for a weekly lesson is $15. The Childrens Chorus of Plainview, directed by Marla Maresca, will begin weekly rehearsals on Monday, Sept. 12, at 4:30 p.m. The CCP is generously funded by a grant through the Community Foundation of West Texas. Cost to participate is $25 per semester. The choir is open to young people ages 8-12. For additional information regarding CCP or private music lessons contact the Wayland Music Office at 806-291-1076. WALLINGFORD The Town Council voted not to veto the Public Utilities Commissions decision to alter its contract with Bristol-Myers Squibb to avoid an unintended rate increase on the business, which announced last year it would be closing its Research Parkway facility in 2018. While some councilors felt the PUC was out of line giving special treatment to the company by altering the contract, resulting in the loss of funds to the PUC as it grapples with impending rate increases, other councilors felt the commission acted fairly. Democratic Councilor Jason Zandri made a motion at the councils Tuesday meeting to veto the PUCs Aug. 16 action to change its contract with Bristol-Myers Squibb. By charter, the council requires seven votes to veto a PUC decision and must do so within 15 days of the action. In the absence of Public Utilities Director George Adair and PUC Chairman Bob Beaumont, Electric Division General Manager Richard Hendershot, PUC Commissioner Patrick Birney and Business Manager Tom Sullivan were called before the council to discuss the contract alteration on Tuesday night. Hendershot explained that Bristol-Myers Squibb buys electricity on the wholesale market and not directly through Wallingfords Electric Division. However, the company pays fees for using the towns infrastructure to deliver the power. The towns contract with Bristol-Myers Squibb states that the companys rates will not increase unless other rate classes also see increases. After adopting rates for the upcoming fiscal year, Electric Division staff realized Bristol-Myers Squibb would be facing an unintended 12 percent increase in fees, according to the companys contract, amounting to a charge of $39,000 through December when the contract will be renegotiated. Other rate classes did not see significant rate changes. Birney and Beaumont voted to change the contract. Bristol-Myers Squibb did not request the adjustment. Zandri said that Bristol-Myers Squibb should not receive special treatment. All this sophistication theyve got and they set up a contract which was real favorable at the time and now theyve hit a speed bump and now weve proactively gone out of our way to open the contract up because the speed bump affected you for three more months, Zandri said at the meeting. In an interview Wednesday, Zandri likened the towns relationship with the company, which utilizes town infrastructure without purchasing electricity, to a person going to the best restaurant in Wallingford and bringing better food from elsewhere. What if it was the other way around? Zandri said. They would say an agreement is an agreement if they had the unintended consequence of saving $39,000 they would keep it. Birney defended the PUCs decision as abiding to the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, as the increase was not intended in the original contract. Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. echoed this sentiment, stating that to not alter the contract would send a negative message to businesses considering moving to Wallingford. I dont think the town should be known for bad faith dealing, Dickinson said. I think that the PUC dealt very responsibly with the matter of the review of the rates. Republican Councilor Craig Fishbein argued that Bristol-Myers Squibb had already violated the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, by deciding to leave town and lay off employees. We gave them breaks so that they would be part of our community for the long haul, thats why we do that, so I respect the consideration of good faith and fair dealing, but as far as thats concerned we got slapped in the face first so I dont know that they deserve that consideration, Fishbein said. Republican Councilor Tom Laffin disagreed. I dont think Bristol-Myers Squibb is leaving to stick it to the town, they have their own reasons. They just have to move on and theyve made a decision to do so based on a larger bigger picture looking at the whole forest, Laffin said. I dont think it would be fair to stick it back to them because they have to leave. The council requires seven votes to override a decision of the PUC and only seven councilors were in attendance. After lengthy discussion and input from the public, the council ultimately voted down Zandris motion to veto. Republican Councilors Vincent Cervoni, Joseph Marrone, Tom Laffin, Democratic Councilor Vincent Testa Jr. and unaffiliated Councilor John Sullivan voted against the veto while Zandri and Fishbein voted in favor of the veto. ltauss@record-journal.com 203-317-2231 Twitter: @LeighTaussRJ The central part of government-controlled Avdiyivka came under heavy artillery fire during the night, and the local rail station was seriously damaged, the press center of the anti-terrorist operation in Donbas said on Wednesday. "The rail station in that populated locality suffered substantial damage. Rail traffic was suspended after an electric substation was hit, the track was ruptured, and contact wire was impacted," the press center said on Facebook, with reference to the Ukrainian mission to the Joint Center for Control and Coordination. A mortar shell hit a room housing the track's electric control station in a three-storey building of the Avdiyivka rail station's dispatcher office at 5 a.m., police of the Pokrovskyi district of the Donetsk region said. The track lost power, and arrivals in Avdiyivka stopped. The dispatcher was not hurt. The police said that the traffic was limited to Ocheretyne and trains could not reach Avdiyivka. An investigative team of the Avdyiivka police department is working at the bombardment scene. Railroad workers are repairing the damage. A criminal inquiry was opened under the 'terror attack' article of the Ukrainian Criminal Code. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Its a crumbling residential hotel on Eighth Street in downtown Oakland, with graffiti sprayed on its walls and cream-colored paint chipping from its brick facade. But to dozens of low-income Chinese immigrants, its home. Now, Oakland City Attorney Barbara Parker is fighting to keep 34 immigrant households there months after the hotel owners began destroying the communal bathrooms and kitchen, Parker says, ruining the buildings interior as a ploy to boot out longtime tenants and jack up rents all in the name of gentrification. The property owners also seized Lunar New Year decorations from tenants doors and neglected necessary repairs throughout the building, leaving water leaks, gashes in the windows and missing floor tiles, and allowing sheet rock to spill into the showers, according to a lawsuit filed June 17 by the city attorney, the housing rights law firm Sundeen Salinas & Pyle and San Franciscos Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus. The lawsuit, filed in Alameda County Superior Court, charges the hotel owners and manager with negligence, fair housing violations and elder abuse. Such behavior represents the ugly side of Oaklands hot real estate market, according to Parker. In a June 30 statement to media, she said the building owners had publicly expressed their desire to attract a new demographic, including tech workers. In a tentative ruling last week favoring the tenants, Judge Brad Seligman rejected the defendants assertions that they did not intend to displace the residents, noting that the building owners had repeatedly offered to pay tenants to move out. The overall course of conduct of (the) defendants demonstrates a concerted effort by them to make the living conditions more onerous for the tenants, Seligman said in the order. Brought on behalf of 14 tenants, the lawsuit was heard in an Oakland courtroom Tuesday afternoon, at which point the defendants attorneys said they had agreed with the city on a construction plan for the building, but it wasnt clear what it would involve or when it would begin. In the meantime, the plaintiffs lawyers are still waiting for Seligman to order the demolition work to stop outright, perhaps as early as the next court hearing on Aug. 30. The judge will visit the hotel Wednesday to decide whether security cameras that the owners installed violate residents privacy. Were one step closer to asserting our rights, said plaintiff Wing Fu Mah, who moved into the hotel in February 2015 before current owners James Kilpatrick, NAI Northern California/Highway Property Management and Green Group LP purchased it in September. All three owners are named in the suit, along with the hotels manager, JaEvon Marshall. On Jan. 13, the owners posted a notice in English, saying they would begin construction on the bathrooms and kitchen the following week, according to the court complaint. Most of the buildings residents could not read the notice because they only read Chinese, the complaint said. As a result, many were caught by surprise when a contractor arrived in February and began tearing down walls in the first- and second-floor bathrooms, leaving only wooden studs. Once the demolition work began, 25 households had to share two showers and three toilets. Tenants routinely wait in long lines to relieve themselves, which is particular hardship to tenant Maggie Lin, who is pregnant. Its difficult to go up and down the stairs to use the restroom, and there are long lines everyday, Lin told reporters outside the courthouse Tuesday. At least one plaintiff had to defecate in a bucket in his room to his embarrassment, shame and humiliation, the court complaint said. Building managers also trashed the curtains and Chinese scrolls that tenants hung on their doors, as well as the tangerines they displayed on door ledges as New Years blessings, the lawsuit said. Attorney Katherine Chu of the Asian Law Caucus described these acts as a campaign of harassment. In court declarations, representatives of Green Group LP blamed some of the demolition work on the companys hired contractor, Everlast Construction, saying it had mistakenly torn down walls in the second-floor bathrooms when it was supposed to demolish only some bathrooms on the first floor. Everlast was fired June 30 and a new contractor, Reed Construction, began work July 18, according to Thomas Kerbleski, a senior acquisitions analyst with Lakeside Investment Co., which is a partner of Green Group LP. Kerbleski denied that the building owners had acted in bad faith. Representatives of Everlast Construction were not available for comment. Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate State Sen. Steve Glazer, D-Orinda, who has relentlessly railed against BART, its labor contracts and financial mismanagement, told The Chronicle Wednesday that he will vote against Measure RR, the $3.5 billion property tax proposal on the Nov. 8 ballot to upgrade the regional rail transit system. Despite my strong support for the BART system, I am going to vote no on the bond, he said. I dont think we should reward bad behavior and expect anything to change. Glazers opposition is bad news for the Yes on RR campaign, since the senators district covers most of central and eastern Contra Costa County and the Tri-Valley in Alameda County areas where support for the bond measure is not considered particularly strong. Nick Josefowitz, a BART director from San Francisco, speaking for the pro-bond campaign, declined to discuss the significance of Glazers opposition other than to say the campaigns efforts were focused on voters rather than politicians. We have a really big district at BART, something like 1.8 million voters, and we need to get more votes to win than our U.S. senators need to win their elections. Its understandable in a district that big that some people will be excited about what were doing and some wont. For the measure to pass, BART needs to win support from a two-thirds supermajority of voters in Contra Costa, Alameda and San Francisco counties combined. The three counties make up the BART district. In 1962, voters in those counties were responsible for passage of the bond measure to build the system. Glazers opposition comes as somewhat of a surprise to bond backers who thought they had persuaded him not to publicly oppose Measure RR. Glazer has made clear his dissatisfaction with BART management, especially over what he sees as lavish labor contracts. In February, as BART directors contemplated a bond measure, he organized a group of elected local and state officials who threatened to oppose any proposal asking voters for funds unless BART negotiated a financially responsible contract with its labor unions before going to the ballot. BART officials quietly bargained a four-year contract extension with its unions, announced in April, that ensured no labor strike would take place in 2017 when negotiations for new deals were scheduled. The extension included 10.8 percent in raises through 2021. Glazer initially described the deal as a good first step but said it needed improvement. He said Wednesday that the contract extension succeeded in staving off a possible strike for five years but was too costly and failed to address critical issues, including training replacement workers and assuring any bond money cant be spent on labor. Recent stories of excessive overtime, on-train security cameras that dont work, salary bonuses for workers and big raises for BART managers, he said, persuaded him to oppose Measure RR. We all recognize how important BART is to the whole region, he said, but at some point there needs to be a level of accountability for how theyve conducted themselves. Josefowitz said BART directors and other bond supporters have been getting a supportive response from people around the district as they spread the message of BARTs need to upgrade the 44-year-old system troubled by aging infrastructure and overwhelmed by record ridership. Everyone in elected office is asked to take positions all the time, he said. What were really interested in is voters taking positions and were hearing a lot of support. Glazer said that while he will vote against BARTs bond measure, he has not yet decided whether he will campaign for its defeat. At some point, with all this irresponsible behavior, you have to say no, he said. Thats how I feel about this election. Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan Gloversville With no movement on a two-year-old contract impasse, about 140 registered nurses at Nathan Littauer Hospital seem headed for a two-day strike on Sept. 1, as announced by the New York State Nurses Association union last week. The hospital's board chair, Brian Hanaburgh, met with Nathan Littauer administrators Tuesday and released a statement supporting them, while also suggesting there may be no movement in contract negotiations. "As a board of directors, we are very comfortable with the contract proposals we offered to the union over 24 months ago. As a business leader and a community volunteer, I feel we (the hospital) are being very fair and equitable in this offer," Hanaburgh said. He went on to say that the hospital has plans in place for caring for patients over the scheduled two-day strike. "While we are disappointed the NYSNA union is choosing to strike, we would like to assure the community we serve that we have a plan to ensure our patients will be safe and will receive the same level of care throughout the strike period," Hanaburgh said. The nurses have said staffing issues and patient care are their primary concerns. Hospital officials have previously said the nurses have refused proposals for increased staff and are pushing for better compensation than afforded to other non-union staff. The head of a trade association representing upstate hospitals on Tuesday circulated a letter supporting leaders of the Gloversille hospital, as well as hospitals in Utica and Watertown where NYSNA also plans strikes. Gary Fitzgerald of the Iroquois Health Alliance said the contention fueling contract impasses at all three hospitals appears to be NYSNA's interest in including mandated nurse-to-patient staffing levels in the contracts, as they have urged passage of such legislation at the Capitol. If such legislation were passed, Fitzgerald said, it would cost the 54 hospitals in IHA $178 million. The nurses' association countered that the staffing issues are a genuine concern. Just this month, there was an inadequate number of nurses on 150 different shifts at the hospital, according to nurse Marion Enright. "Inadequate staffing is not good for the community, it's not good for the hospital and, most importantly, it's proven not to be good for the patients," Enright said. "Nathan Littauer has to do what's right for Gloversville and agree to a fair contract." chughes@timesunion.com 518-454-5417 @hughesclaire An accomplished photographer who lets the public use thousands of her images of America for free has sued the Getty Images photo agency for more than $1 billion, saying its improperly selling her work to customers and threatening those who dont pay. Carol Highsmith, whose work has been featured in books, newspapers and magazines and on two postage stamps, said she became aware that Getty was selling her work in December, when she received a letter from an affiliated company accusing her of copyright infringement for using one of her own photographs on the website of her nonprofit This Is America Foundation. The letter demanded a settlement payment of $120. While we appreciate the effort of removing the material in question from your site, we still need compensation, the letter said. Your company has benefited by using our imagery without our permission. The photo, of a striking sculpture of a badminton shuttlecock outside the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Mo., was one of thousands Highsmith has made available to the public through the U.S. Library of Congress for a quarter-century. Her suit, which was before a federal judge in New York for an initial conference Wednesday, said about 18,000 of the photographs in that collection were being offered for sale by Getty, at prices ranging between $175 and $575. Based on those numbers, her lawyers are asking for $468 million in damages, tripled because Getty had a judgment entered against it in another copyright case within the last three years. Highsmith, who lives in Maryland, did not attend Wednesdays court session and declined to be interviewed. A lawyer for Getty Images, Kenneth Doroshow, told the judge he plans to ask for the lawsuit to be dismissed. The Seattle company said last month the lawsuit is based on misconceptions. It said its standard practice for image libraries to distribute content thats in the public domain. And it said its legal to charge fees to cover costs including indexing, archiving, digitizing and making content easily searchable. Highsmith, in her lawsuit, said that in sharing the photographs through the Library of Congress she never intended to abandon the copyright to those images or to enable third parties to sell them for profit or send threatening letters to people who used her photos. Highsmiths photos are among 15 million images in the librarys Prints & Photographs archive, which also includes the work of Civil War master photographer Mathew Brady and Depression and Dust Bowl photojournalist Dorothea Lange. Acquisitions Pfizer makes another buy Pfizer Inc. is continuing its shopping spree with its fourth acquisition since the April collapse of its planned $160 billion megadeal to buy rival Allergan PLC and move its headquarters, on paper, to Allergans base in lower-tax Ireland. In its second deal this week, Pfizer said its buying rights to AstraZeneca PLCs portfolio of approved and experimental antibiotic and antifungal pills, a move to boost Pfizers business in one of its priority areas. The deal is valued in excess of $1.5 billion, including rights to sell the medicines in most countries outside the U.S., royalties and other payments. Under the deal announced Wednesday, AstraZeneca will receive an up-front payment of $550 million. Pfizer will get rights to some medicines in development and approved ones including Merrem, for treating bacterial meningitis and serious infections of the skin and stomach; Zinforo, for pneumonia and complex skin and soft tissue infections; and Zavicefta, a combination antibiotic the European Union just approved for treating serious bacterial infections. Ride services Uber drivers can get IRAs Uber has teamed up with an automated investor service to offer drivers a way to set up retirement accounts through the ride-hailing app. As part of a pilot program, drivers in certain markets can use the Uber app to open an IRA or Roth IRA through robo-adviser Betterment without a required minimum account balance. Drivers can use the accounts free for the first year. After that, they pay 0.25 percent of the average account balance for the year. San Franciscos Uber Technologies said Wednesday that this offer will apply to tens of thousands of drivers in Chicago, Boston, Seattle and New Jersey, and it is working with Betterment to expand the program nationwide. Real estate Home sales fall in July Sales of existing homes fell 3.2 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.39 million, the National Association of Realtors said Wednesday. The decline marks a reversal from rising demand that pushed sales in June to their highest level since February 2007. Fewer homes are coming onto the market, capping the sales growth that came in part from low mortgage rates and a brightening job market. The dwindling supply has pushed up prices, which suggests a market not yet at full health. This mismatch between supply and demand creates an environment of limited sales growth and escalating home values. Chronicle News Services Taking my dogs for a morning walk is a daily activity. In fact, unless theres lightning or its Sunday and I just really, really need to lounge in my pajamas and drink coffee for a while, its a non-negotiable activity right after getting out of bed. The walk itself comes with its own benefits, of course: happier dogs, cleaner floors, a chance to say hi to the neighbors and exercise. But now those walks can help raise money for animal rescue groups. The free ResQwalk app for Android and iPhones works with corporate sponsors that donate money based on miles walked in the app. You just click on the app when youre starting a walk and then designate the group of your choice to be the beneficiary of that walk. Then the app portions out the money to its 3,800 animal welfare partners based on how many miles each accumulated. As of Tuesday, there were 14 groups from the San Antonio area, from large ones such as San Antonio Pets Alive and the San Antonio Humane Society to smaller, more targeted groups like Texas Chihuahua Rescue and L&S Dog Diggity Rescue. ResQwalk launched in 2014 after an Indiegogo campaign raised $20,000, founder Bailey Schroeder wrote in an email. To date, the app has been downloaded more than 175,000 times and generated more than 5.4 million miles by people across North America. More than $123,000 has been distributed to animal welfare organizations, along with some $30,000 in products. Schroeder said that the app can be run at the same time as any fitness tracking app you might also use, such as Runkeeper, and that many of their users have the app running as they walk around hunting for Pokemon. The app is GPS based, so it tracks mileage from walking, running and biking but only outdoors, not on stationary bikes or treadmills. It also has tabs with lists of pet-friendly eateries, shops (Home Depot and Bath & Body Works, who knew?) and parks. Theres also a leaderboard tab so you can see which groups are getting the most mileage. On Tuesday morning, none from San Antonio was in the top 10. In fact the top Texas group was Bat World Sanctuary in Weatherford. The app is so easy. The hardest part is remembering, despite the commotion of whining and excited panting and jumping around that happens when the leashes come out, to turn it on. But when I remember, I feel extra virtuous on my dog walks. Thats especially true right now, as my boyfriend and I just adopted another rescue pooch. My old girl Pinta, who came from the Humane Society, passed away in June, and my younger dog Sebastian, a rescue from SNIPSA (Spay-Neuter-Inject-Protect San Antonio) was pretty lonely and mopey without a companion. Enter Dobson, an 8-pound mix of yorkie and what I suspect is koala, who captured my heart the moment I saw his picture on the site for Austins Forgotten Friends rescue group. This little man had heartworms, and the treatment for that can run upwards of $1,000. For $250, I got a wonderful, mannered dog who had a full dossier with information about his temperament, personality, likes and dislikes all the information thats so good to have when you already have a pet or small children and want help deciding if a dog will be a good fit. All the information that standard shelters are unfortunately unable to give. Pet fosters provide food, shelter, medical treatment and often training. These folks can be miracle workers, working to socialize traumatized creatures who otherwise would be unadoptable. So, a free app that can help direct more funding to these rescue groups? Sign me up. Cities cant achieve no-kill status without groups like this. They are a necessary part of the equation to clear space for more intake at city shelters. So, get those walking shoes on, and lets raise some money, San Antonio. Readers: Where did you adopt your pets from, and what was the transition like? Email me your stories and pet photos along with your name and daytime contact number, and you and your little friend could be in my column. espicer@express-news.net Twitter: @Spiced1 Instagram: @spiceoflife_en Pinterest: @SpicedOne The 'Normandy format' on the settlement of the Donbas situation with participation of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany will be resurrected in the near future, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said. "The 'Normandy format' will be resurrected in the near future, despite any statements. First, one should stand for maintaining and reinforcement of the sanctions against Russia until complete cessation of aggression. This is the criterion of the efficiency evaluation of our diplomats," he said at the meeting with the representatives of the Ukrainian diplomatic institutions with participation of Polish President Andrzej Duda in Kyiv on Wednesday. Police probe purloined street signs in Pittstown PITTSTOWN It's harder to find your way around this northern Rensselaer County town after thieves stole 17 road signs, State Police said Tuesday. Troopers are seeking the public's help to capture the culprits who took the signs from around town. The rash of thefts began June 21. Town public works crews discovered 11 signs were gone. These included two stop signs and nine street-name signs. Over the next months, six additional street-name signs were taken down, all in the overnight hours. Additional patrols have been assigned in an attempt to locate the culprits. The thefts remain under investigation. Anyone who knows anything about the stolen signs is asked to call the State Police at Brunswick at 279-4426. Woman owes $50K for late mom's veteran checks ALBANY A Troy woman was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay $50,000 restitution for unlawfully taking veteran benefits intended for her mother, the U.S. Attorney's Office said Tuesday. Catherine Kosakavich, 51, previously admitted she received her mother's monthly veteran benefit payment and failed to notify the VA of her mother's death in February 2013. Over 2 years, she received payments totaling $49,766, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. She also was sentenced to two years of probation for her March 17 guilty plea to theft of government property. Staff reports Albany Democratic state Senate candidate Terry Gipson earned a small amount of income last year working for the same consulting firm used by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, according to a recently filed financial disclosure form. That's a fact that, fairly or unfairly, fits directly into state Senate Republicans' messaging for 2016. While the amount is small between $1 and $1,000, according to the filing Gipson's work for Washington, D.C.-based Hilltop Public Solutions is further grist for the Senate GOP to tie Gipson to de Blasio, and the multiple federal investigations into the mayor's team. That includes one where Gipson's own 2014 campaign is part of the scrutiny. Gipson a former one-term senator who lost his bid for reelection in 2014 said on his financial disclosure form for 2015 that he earned the money as a "freelance consultant" doing "public relations" for Hilltop. His campaign told the Times Union that the specific amount of pay was $650, and that it was for out-of-state consulting work, not work in New York. Gipson also earned between $5,000 and $20,000 as a freelance designer last year, while his wife earned a larger income. The Democrat is running this year against his 2014 opponent, Republican state Sen. Sue Serino, in a possible battleground race that includes most of Dutchess and Putnam counties. Since de Blasio's election in 2013 running as a progressive champion, Senate Republicans have made him a major part of both their campaign mailers and their overall rhetoric. The strategy is meant to portray the Democratic conference as captive to downstate, New York City interests, especially since de Blasio unsuccessfully launched a major 2014 effort to flip the Senate to Democrats. In an email to the Times Union, Senate Republican spokesman Scott Reif slammed Gipson over the consulting payment and other controversies involving de Blasio. "Failed Senate candidate Terry Gipson ... is still working hand-in-hand with the mayor in a brazen attempt to take control of our entire state government," Reif wrote. He said Hilltop partner Bill Hyers "is wiring Terry Gipson cash and paying him a consultant's fee for doing God knows what, all because he knows he'll put the interests of his New York City cronies ahead of the needs of hardworking Hudson Valley families." Gipson was one of several Democratic state Senate candidates that benefited in 2014 from a tactic in which huge donations were raised by de Blasio's team and sent through upstate county committees, and then passed in six-figure sums to candidates, which may have circumvented campaign contribution limits. In Gipson's case, the Putnam County Democrats transferred $184,000 to his campaign account a couple weeks before the general election. Those tactics are now being investigated by Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara and Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance. De Blasio's attorney says they are entirely normal and legal. "The properly reported $650 consulting fee (Gipson) received from the D.C.-based company Hilltop for out-of-state consulting is work that resulted directly from a response to his resume, which he had sent to a number of public relations firms in early 2015," said Josh Mumm, Gipson's campaign manager. "Since the end of his term in 2014, Terry has pursued public relations consulting work with a wide variety of companies to gain experience in a field that he enjoys. " ... It's unfortunate that some Senate Republicans are more interested in crafting absurd accusations than promoting real solutions for working families in the Hudson Valley," Mumm said. Mumm did not immediately have a comment on the identity of Gipson's client. Hilltop was a key cog in de Blasio's 2014 election efforts, according to a leaked state Board of Elections report, which referred to the firm as "very involved" in the mayor's coordinated campaign among committees and consulting firms. The Daily News reported that Hilltop principal Sam Nagourney, who was de Blasio's 2013 finance director for his mayoral campaign, raised money from interests with business before de Blasio in his 2014 efforts. Hilltop's Hyers was the founder of the Campaign For One New York, the nonprofit that helped advance de Blasio's agenda, paid Hilltop handsomely, and is also under investigation by Bharara for potential pay-to-play fundraising. No one has been charged with wrongdoing in either probe. The nonprofit has now shut down. Hyers is also one of five people that de Blasio has designated an "agent of the city" whose emails with the administration he believes are exempt from public disclosure, despite the fact that they are not government employees. Hyers did not immediately have a comment responding to Reif on Tuesday. From 2006 to 2013, Gipson had a business, Gipson Design Group Inc. but shut it down when he won the initial Senate bid. Bronx Assemblyman Michael Blake landed an outside job earlier late last year with Hilltop, but then declined to take it after questions were raised about a lawmaker working for a political consulting firm. csbragg@timesunion.com 518-454-5303 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate In 1965, Shell Oil Co. decided to open a new office in Houston, a 30-story building where executives would run operations for the western United States. But over the next six years, Shell's ambitions for Houston grew, and so did the scale of its project. By the early 1970s, Shell Oil, the U.S. subsidiary of the international energy company Royal Dutch Shell, supported building not one but two skyscrapers in Houston and moved its headquarters from New York into the 50-story building known today as One Shell Plaza. That move not only vindicated Houston's claim as the world's oil capital, but also touched off a building boom that would transform the city's skyline as war and revolution in the Middle East launched oil prices and the industry to new heights. One Shell stood as the tallest building in Texas for more than a decade, surpassed in the 1980s by InterFirst (now Enterprise) Plaza and the Texas Commerce (now JPMorgan Chase) Tower. Today, One Shell is just a small part of Houston's downtown, the 10th-tallest building. But when the final touches were completed in 1971, it was something that Houston had never seen before, capturing the city's aspirations - as the energy historian Tyler Priest described it - in "gleaming white, Italian Travertine marble quarried from the same region as the marble in Rome's Colosseum." "Houston had already become the booming hub of the petroleum industry by the 1960s, but all the biggest companies' headquarters were somewhere else," said Priest, a University of Iowa professor who has written extensively on Shell's history. "Shell's decision kind of validated Houston's reputation as the center of the oil industry, and other companies followed." In the 1960s, with industry mired in low oil prices, Shell and other companies were looking to cut costs. Operations were scattered all over the country, wherever there might be oil. Administrative, support, and research functions were duplicated many times over. More Information One Shell Plaza Completed 1971 Address 910 Louisiana St. Height 715 feet; 1,000 feet counting the antenna spire Floors 50 Developer Hines Architect Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Main contractor W.S. Bellows Construction See More Collapse In Houston, for example, Shell already had the Bellaire Technology Center and offices in several buildings scattered around the city. But Shell was outgrowing these facilities and started working on an expansion with real estate brokers, one of whom put in a good word for a young, go-getter who would become the city's most prominent developer. Gerald Hines said he told Shell that he could build an office tower in downtown Houston that was 50 percent more energy efficient than the industry standard and brought on Chicago architects from Skidmore, Owings & Merrill firm to design it. With Shell moving to consolidate its U.S. offices, the company and the developer decided to erect a building that was 50 stories, rather than 30, to accommodate local workers as well as those who would be transferred from New York, Midland, Oklahoma, Colorado and other locations. Shell decided in 1968 to consolidate its many U.S. offices with two major operational hubs: the western region in Houston and the southern region in New Orleans. Shell, however, planned to maintain the New York headquarters with just top executives because of the proximity to financial markets and easier air travel to the Netherlands, where Royal Dutch Shell is headquartered. Jack Little, who would eventually become chief executive of Shell Oil was then a young engineer for Shell in Houston. Energy companies were looking to cut costs and improve communication between different divisions in the time before email, smartphones and cloud-based software made it possible to efficiently manage scattered operations "You had a (land-line) telephone and that was about it," Little said. At the time, it was considered revolutionary to move researchers and engineers away from the oil fields and consolidate them in a centralized locations like Houston because conventional wisdom in the industry held that these specialists would lose their feel for the oilfield. Instead, consolidation allowed for far greater collaboration among workers as they tried to find better ways to discover and exploit oil reserves. "It was a very high-risk decision," Little recalled. Other companies eventually followed Shell's lead. The news of Shell's plans to consolidate operations in Houston became public in August 1969. "Shell to Move 1,000 Workers Here," the Houston Chronicle's banner headline blared. The final number was closer to 1,400. New York, meanwhile, had become increasingly expensive and Shell's president, Dick McCurdy, wanted to shrink the company's footprint there. Shell started relocating people from New York in 1970 as One Shell neared completion. Shell moved people in shifts: after they finished work on a Thursday in New York, and they'd start on Tuesday in Houston. Only one day of work was lost each week. Shell also had to hire a lot of new people. Roughly 700 of the New York workers refused to move. "Let's face it: It was a little bit of a culture shock," Little said. "Most who made the move were pleasantly surprised." By 1971, only the uppermost Shell Oil executives remained in New York. That soon changed. The new president, Harry Bridges, decided to move the corporate headquarters to Houston and One Shell Plaza. Shell didn't stop there. Again working with Hines, it developed a 28-story Two Shell Plaza, which became the hub for western operations. It moved all of its data processing to Houston in 1973, giving Shell the city's second-most computing power after NASA. Shell then opened the Westhollow Technology Center in West Houston in 1975. The next major oil company to make the plunge was Pennzoil, which moved its headquarters from Pennsylvania to downtown Houston with the opening of Pennzoil Place in 1975. The banking industry, wanting to do more business with oil companies, soon started erecting their own skyscrapers downtown. Little said he loved seeing his employer make such a splash in Houston, where Shell today employs about 11,000 people. "It's a gross exaggeration to say Shell caused Houston's growth," Little said, "but Shell certainly helped to establish Houston and to amplify its significant role in oil and gas. Other companies followed in short order." Polish President Andrzej Duda has said that Poland will support the European integration and Euro-Atlantic aspirations of Ukraine. "We also stand shoulder to shoulder when Ukraine is going through an extremely difficult time and the complicated conflict in Ukraine's east and the occupation of Crimea. In this regard, Poland has been and, I believe, will stand together with Ukraine, supporting the European aspirations of Ukraine, as well as its trans-Atlantic aspirations," he said after a meeting with Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko in Kyiv on Wednesday. The Polish president recalled that the assistance package for Ukraine was adopted at the NATO summit in Warsaw and said he hoped this package will present substantial assistance to Ukraine. "I stress once again: security in Central and Eastern Europe, which is our region, will be the element of the European security," he said. Duda invited Poroshenko to visit Warsaw on December 2, which is a symbolic day, when Poland recognized Ukraine's independence. NEW CANAAN New Canaan News filed a request for an arrest warrant under the Freedom of Information Act with the New Canaan Police Department that was rejected on account of the police acting under outdated act. On Tuesday, July 26, New Canaan News received an arrest log on the arrest of a person suspected of driving under the influence. In requesting more information on the case the paper was told a Freedom of Information request would need to be filed to obtain that information. NORWALK An East Norwalk business owner on Tuesday evening asked for the state to use Veterans Memorial Park rather than his property to stage the replacement of the Walk Bridge over the Norwalk River. Vincent Penna, co-owner of A.J. Penna & Son Excavating Contractors, stands to lose his roughly 2-acre property on Goldstein Place as part of the Connecticut Department of Transportations replacement of the nearby 120-year-old railroad bridge. On Tuesday evening, Penna asked the Norwalk Common Council to consider the citys visitors dock within the park as a staging area for the roughly $1 billion bridge replacement project. Vets Park not the park itself, the parking lot that is going to be repaired would be an ideal spot to use for staging, Penna told the council. The DOT could do all the renovations that you want (to the docks), or the city wants, and probably it would be a trade for using it, Penna said. Id like a public hearing on that and alternatives that we could save money on if the state was to do it. Penna said his proposal would save taxpayers money. His request came as the council considered a $2.1 million contract to replace the worn-out boat launching ramps at the visitors docks at Veterans Memorial Park, build a seawall and raise the parking lot to make the boating center more usable. In a unanimous vote, however, the council approved the contract with L. Holzner Electric Company. Beforehand, however, Mayor Harry W. Rilling and council President Bruce I. Kimmel both expressed understanding with Pennas plight amid the massive bridge replacement. Mr. Mocciae is here, said Rilling, referring to Director of Recreation and Parks Michael A. Mocciae. He could step outside and explain to you the reasons behind that, and if tonight is not a convenient time, Id be more than happy to meet with you in my office. Rilling added, I understand. I feel for you in the project and the property, I absolutely do, and were trying to work through some things. Pennas Goldstein Place property is one of 16 parcels on the DOTs preliminary list of acquisitions some permanent, others for temporary easement as part of the bridge replacement. The DOT anticipates beginning the bridge replacement in mid-2018. Kimmel noted the launch ramp replacement contract would be voted upon without discussion. I understand the boat ramp is a complicated issue because anything thats reasonably close to the Walk Bridge is a complicated situation right now, Kimmel said. We will look at it as the mayor indicated. Speaking more generally, Kimmel counted the launch ramp replacement as both a boating and safety issue, and among a number of ongoing improvements to city parks. Its a good step forward for the city, and I hope we continue to improve all of our parks, Kimmel said. Penna approached DOT officials on their plans for the Walk Bridge replacement during an open house at the IMAX Theater at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk in South Norwalk last week. He maintains the state hasnt been forthright about the plans. He said he, his wife and the East Norwalk Business Association plan to hold a rally on the Sept. 7 at 10 a.m. 25 Van Zant St. Its to bring some attention to it, because a lot of people dont really realize what the impact is going to be not only to us, for us its devastating, Penna said. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has called on Ukrainian diplomats to ensure international political-legal condemnation of the actions of Russia on Ukraine. "There is a need to ensure international political-legal recognition and condemnation of Russia's military aggression in Ukraine, the occupation of Crimea, massive human rights violations in Donbas and Crimea," Poroshenko said at a meeting with representatives of Ukrainian diplomatic missions and in the presence of Polish President Andrjei Duda in Kyiv on Wednesday. The international law framework is currently not enough to support Ukraine and diplomats need to intensify this work at a global level, especially in the context of the upcoming session of the UN General Assembly, he said. "Ukraine should put forward new initiatives for the recognition and condemnation of Russia's crimes in Ukraine, the UN Security Council should be used to put the aggressor where it belongs," the Ukrainian president said. He also said Russia's plans for international recognition of Crimea as part of Russian territory did not pan out. A military parade was held on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Ukraine's independence in the Maidan (Independence Square) and Khreschatyk Street in Kyiv. The celebrations started with a performance of the national anthem of Ukraine and artillery salvos, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent said. Columns of various branches of the Ukrainian armed forces, including the National Guard, State Border Guards and others then proceeded along Khreschatyk Street. There was also a column of servicemen from the combined Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian brigade Litpolukrbrig, which participates in peacekeeping operations. Columns of military vehicles then swept along the central street of the city of Kyiv, including infantry fighting vehicles, airborne fighting vehicles, self-propelled artillery systems, other artillery pieces, multiple rocket launchers, and air defense systems. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and the military command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, including Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak and General Staff Chief Viktor Muzhenko, inspected the parade. Poroshenko addressed the audience with an introductory speech. Former Ukrainian presidents Leonid Kravchuk, Leonid Kuchma and Viktor Yuschenko also attended the parade. Polish President Andrzej Duda came to Ukraine to participate in the Independence Day celebrations. Despite the drizzling rain in the center of the Ukrainian capital, several thousand came to the event, many of them wearing 'vyshyvankas', the traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirts. People lined up along Khreschatyk Street, while access to the Maidan was restricted since the leadership of the Ukrainian state and senior military officials were there. Law enforcement servicemen securing the Maidan and restricting access to it redirected people to other streets nearby. The Ukrainian side is ready for a constructive dialogue with Poland on problematic issues of mutual history, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said. "The Ukrainian-Polish dialogue should continue to be based on the formula of solidarity and mutual understanding of our people, including what was entrenched in the Joint Declaration signed by the presidents on May 27, 1997," Poroshenko told reporters following the negotiations with Polish President Andrzej Duda in Kyiv on Wednesday. "I would like to point out once again that the Ukrainian side is ready for a candid and constructive dialogue on the issues of the tragic pages in our common history and I am confident that this is mutual understanding, we will already find this stand in the nearest future," he said. The Ukrainian-Polish dialogue "should not work for the good of third parties," because neither Ukrainians nor Poles will benefit from complications in their relations, he added. Historians of the two countries give different interpretations of the tragic events of July 11-12, 1943, the period considered the culmination of the Volyn tragedy when, according to different information, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army troops attacked from 60 to 100 populated localities in Poland. Poles said that there were over 60,000 victims, and Ukrainian researchers point out that the Volyn tragedy was a result of the war of Poland's Home Army with the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (the organization currently banned in Russia), in which the civil population participated. At that, the Polish side also engaged in repressions against the Ukrainian civilian population - Kyiv estimates death toll of the Ukrainian side as 10,000-20,000 people. Former Ukrainian presidents, leaders of a number of churches, state and society figures addressed the Polish leadership and society in early July prior to the Volyn tragedy anniversary with an appeal to refrain from political statements and establish Remembrance Day for the victims of the common past of the two countries. The individuals who signed the appeal also called on the Polish government "to stop any ill-considered political declaration, adoption of which will not alleviate the pain, but only allow our common enemies to use it against Poland and Ukraine." Despite that, the Polish Sejm established July 11 as National Remembrance Day for the victims of the genocide committed by Ukrainian nationalists against the citizens of the Second Polish Republic (1918-1939). Kyiv reacted badly to this. The Ukrainian president expressed his regret over the Polish Sejm's adoption of the decree recognizing the massacre of Poles in Volyn as genocide on July 22. "I regret the decision of the Polish Sejm. I know that many people would want to use it for political speculations," he said, calling on Poland for mutual forgiveness and continuation of work in joint evaluation of the tragic events. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate On Wednesday, 4,500 dildos will be distributed on the University of Texas at Austin campus in protest of the controversial campus carry law. The campus carry law took effect on Aug. 1, 2016 and allows students and staff with concealed carry licenses to bring firearms to campus. "CocksNotGlocks" reads the twitter handle of Ana Lopez, a UT sophomore organizing the rally. She and Jessica Jin, a UT alumna, say they are hoping to fight "absurdity with absurdity." "I want this movement to be taken seriously," Lopez told the Austin American-Statesman. "It's hard for the props not to overshadow the message. The Texas Legislature is trying to normalize gun culture. We're trying to normalize sex culture. This is something that is completely harmless and represents part of the male anatomy." READ MORE: Sex toys to replace guns at UT-Austin campus carry protest According to Jin, the sex toys violate the school's obscenity clause, but UT officials don't seem worried. "We are viewing this as a free speech issue," a UT spokesperson told the Statesman. "Students have a right to express themselves. This appears to be protected political speech." Political speech and shock value are staples to First Amendment law. "The Supreme Court has held that protesters have a constitutional right to make their point by displaying many upsetting things, including swastikas, burning American flags, and even flaming crosses of the type used by the KKK," a law school professor from George Washington University wrote on HoustonChronicle.com in November. "Other courts have upheld the right of women to bare their breasts as part of a protest." READ MORE: Sex industry support means 'it'll be raining dildos' at anti-gun protest On the protesters' Facebook page, many seem to agree. 10,000 students have signed up to attend the rally. But this is not the first time sex toys and political speech have mingled. In recent years, sex toys have claimed the spotlight as one of the most interesting political motivators. In January, the militia leaders in Oregon who occupied a national wildlife refuge received copious amounts of sex toys as hate mail. In 2015, a rubber dildo hit the face of New Zealand Prime Minister Steven Joyce, to which he responded in a tweet with: "Someone send the gif over to John Oliver so we can get it over with." In 2014, a political sculptor created a sex toy in the likeness of Russia's President, Vladimir Putin. READ MORE: Ted Cruz defended Texas ban on the sale of sex toys in state The organizers of the dildo protest say there is a good reason behind combining firearms and adult toys. "The narratives surrounding sexuality (or just dildos, in this case) and guns are more intertwined than one would expect, and more similarities seem to unfold every minute," Jessica Jin told the Houston Chronicle. "They each have the power to instantly masculate or emasculate at a moment's notice. Some shootings in this past year can even be traced straight back to sexual repression. Dildos and guns are in it together for the long haul." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Surrounded by a sea of of dildos, the organizer of the Cocks not Glocks protest at the University of Texas at Austin spoke Wednesday to hundreds of students and supporters carrying sex toys through campus in opposition to Senate Bill 11, which allows those with concealed handgun licenses to carry at public universities. "It seems that I have cracked an enormous dick joke on the internet," said Jessica Jin, speaking of the protest she launched all the way back in October 2015 that is now being heralded as possibly the largest anti-gun protest in Texas history. Students armed themselves with sex toys, specifically dildos, on the first day of class as reporters and camera crews flooded the West Mall at noon. Photos of students strapped with the plastic phalluses began circling of social media days before and the morning of, using the hashtag, #CocksNotGlocks. RELATED: 100-year-old photos show life at UT before the hoopla Jin did not prepare a speech for the big dayshe was too tired from carrying 55-pound boxes of sex toys around all week in preparation for the protest that has brought The Daily Show to campus to film the flamboyant event. "Let's put a dildo in the hands of every pissed off college student who hasn't been heard in this safety conversation," Jin said. "Strap it on, feel the discomfort, feel the weird looks. Wear it loud, wear it proud, and don't take them off until people take their guns home." RELATED: Austinites turn out in droves for anti-gun 'mass farting' protest The idea of "cocks, not glocks" was spawned when Jin realized her university's code of conduct prohibits obscene devices as it is defined in the Texas Penal Code. The Texas Penal Code defines obscene devices as anything "including a dildo or artificial vagina, designed or marketed as useful primarily for the stimulation of human genital organs." And thus, a dildo-baring movement was born. "You would receive a citation for taking a dildo to class before you would get in trouble for taking a gun to class," Jin wrote on the event page. "Heaven forbid the penis." Jin said on the page that dildos are "just about as effective at protecting" students from "sociopathic shooters" as guns are. RELATED: 'People want me dead for a dildo:' UT alumna behind 'Cocks not Glocks' protest Thousands of dildos were passed out to students from various groups on campus and counter-protests have begun including one man who stood on the edge of campus holding a semi-automatic rifle and a sign emblazoned with an Adolf Hitler quote. John Bird, director of media outreach for the university, told mySA.com Wednesday there would be no increased police presence on campus in light of the protest. "I don't want to minimize the creative nature of this protest but it's not unusual for us to have a student protest on subjects that are highly charged," he said, adding the university has a strong, regular police presence and procedures for students who want to conduct a protest. He said the protest so far is protected, political speech. "We encourage our students to engage in free speech and debate issues of public policy," Bird said. Students for Concealed Carry said Wednesday they had no problem with the dildo demonstration. "If carrying a phallus to class helps you express yourself, go for it," Brian Bensimon, Texas state director for the group, said in a statement. "We welcome this demonstration that freedom of speech and concealed carry of handguns can coexist on the same campus" The group is also selling items touting the phrase "coexist," forming what they call a "gun/dildo alliance." It was an interesting first day of class, to say the least. This article will be updated throughout the day with new photos and information from the protest. kbradshaw@express-news.net Twitter: @kbrad5 The May 1 disappearance of a 29-year-old San Antonio woman is receiving national attention from the likes of Nancy Grace. The former attorney and CNN TV host shared a photo on Friday of Bianca Z. Carrasco on her Facebook page over the weekend, asking for her viewers help in tracking down this missing woman. Foul play has not been ruled out in her disappearance. The post says Carrasco is a mother of three. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A former chief financial officer of a local real estate title company admitted Wednesday that he embezzled $367,309 and will be sentenced this fall. Joseph P. Karpowicz, 47, who was CFO of Presidio Title from October 2006 until August 2013, reached a plea deal with the government earlier this month. Instead of getting indicted, he pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to mail fraud and money laundering, admitting that the illegal conduct occurred between April 2010 until June 2013. Among the items he bought with the stolen money was a 2012 Nissan Frontier, which he bought with a check for $27,594, court records show. He feels bad about it and is doing what he can, his lawyer, Stephen Foster, said afterward. Hes taking responsibility so he can move on with his life. Company officials who attended the plea hearing declined comment. Presidio Title was formed in 2005, its website states. A factual summary included in Karpowiczs plea documents said the company didnt find out about the embezzlement until after he had left the company in 2013. State records show Karpowicz, now living in Spring Branch, formed his own company that year, Math Makes Sense LLC. A financial officer who replaced Karpowicz at Presidio discovered discrepancies in the books that Karpowicz handled, the summary said. The company determined he had written 47 checks to himself and made manual entries in the books to make it seem the money was going to underwriter fees, the summary said. Presidio called the U.S. Secret Service, whose Identity Theft Task Force investigated the case along with the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation division. The review revealed that these manual journal entries were fictitious and were posted to conceal the real transactions, which were checks deposited to an unknown U.S. bank account, and subsquently deleted out of QuickBooks, the summary said. Sentencing was scheduled for Nov. 16 before U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez. Karpowicz faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison on the mail fraud charge and a maximum of 10 years in prison for the money laundering count. Hell also be on the hook for restitution. SAN ANTONIO An employee at a Southeast Side steakhouse fired a gun three times into the air Wednesday afternoon when a patron put him in a headlock during the lunch rush hour, according to police. The shooting occurred at the Little Red Barn Steakhouse in the 1800 block of Hackberry Street at 1:10 p.m. Police said a man came into the restaurant and at some point got into an altercation with a waiter and put him in a headlock, a police sergeant said at the scene. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SAN ANTONIO Before a local man was arrested Monday on a capital murder charge for allegedly killing a 4-year-old boy, the suspect filled his Facebook profile with sorrowful posts asking "why" the child died, wishing he would "come back" and shared a fundraising page for the boy's funeral. Jordan Altamirano, 4, was set to start school on Monday, but died from a broken back and severed aorta after being fatally struck on Saturday by 21-year-old Ricardo Hernandez, according to an arrest affidavit. Hernandez told police he pushed Altamirano on his chest with a lot of force Saturday evening, sending the child flying into a sofa. Altamirano stood up and began crying and Hernandez allegedly told him to go upstairs to bed "because he didn't want to hear him crying," later taking the child to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the affidavit said. RELATED: SAPD: Man who killed 4-year-old was 'frustrated' with bills, taking care of children Police initially questioned Hernandez at the hospital, but he was released after providing a different story pending the boy's autopsy. Once the medical examiner determined the death was a result of homicide, Hernandez was arrested Monday and charged with capital murder. Between the time of the child's death on Aug. 20 and Hernandez's arrest on Aug. 22, the man posted more than a dozen Facebook updates mourning the death of Altamirano, according to a profile discovered by mySA.com under a moniker used by Hernandez. MORE: Sheriff: 8 children rescued, woman arrested after 'horrific' abuse discovered at San Antonio home "OMG I STILL CAINT (sic) BELIEVE IT. MY LIL MAN IS GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN," Hernandez said in a Aug. 21 post with photos showing himself with a smiling Altamirano. "HE WAS THE BEST SON I EVA (sic) HAD. ALL HE EVER WANTED WAS MY ATTENTION N MY LOVE [...] WHY HIM LORD." Hernandez is not the biological father of Altamirano, but the boy's mother was in a relationship with Hernandez and they all lived in the same home with three other children. Hernandez refferred to Altamirano as his "son" and "lil man" who he "misses so much" in the Facebook posts. The woman, who was at work at the time of the incident, is not identified in the affidavit and is not currently facing charges, police said. RELATED: Exclusive: Fellow students threatened violence, insulted David Molak online before his suicide "He didn't even get to wear his new shoes for school," Hernandez also said on Facebook, followed by crying emojis. "He started school tomorrow. Out of everybody why him Lord. We need him plz bring him back." "THIS AINT RIGHT," he said in a previous post the morning following Altamirano's death. Requests made to Hernandez's family for comment were not immediately returned Wednesday, but a GoFundMe account has been established to pay for his funeral expenses, which Hernandez linked to on his Facebook account prior to his arrest. "I'm sure many of you all have seen the news about our sweet boy...he suffered before he fell asleep," said an update on GoFundMe page, which has raised $2,195 so far and was established by Altamirano's family. On Saturday, prior to Altamirano's autopsy results, Hernandez told police who responded to the Children's Hospital of San Antonio that he was looking after the children when, around 6:24 p.m., Altamirano came to him and said he didnt feel well and was having difficulty breathing. Hernandez said he believed the child had a stuffy nose, so he told the boy to go to bed to get some rest. The suspect said he later checked on the child and found him unresponsive. He took him to the hospital, where the boy was pronounced dead, the affidavit said. RELATED: Murder-suicide leaves couple dead at North Side apartment Hernandez altered that story, adding in the details about the fatal push, after police contacted him again following the autopsy. Hernandez also told police he was very frustrated because "lots of bills are coming in, he can't find a job, and he was stressed out with taking care of all the children." The GoFundMe page also said Altamirano's mother is pregnant and expecting twins. If convicted, Hernandez faces life in prison or the death penalty. mmendoza@mysa.com Twitter: @MaddySkye This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate At a small-town bar northwest of Fort Worth visitors can find Tonya Couch, the infamous mother of the affluenza teen, working behind the bar. Couch now works as a bartender at Honky Tonk Woman Saloon in Azle, a town with a population just over 11,000, WFAA 8 reported Wednesday. The bars owner and Tonya Couchs attorney Stephanie Patten confirmed to the news station that she has been working at the establishment for about two months. RELATED: Report: Texas taxpayers paid almost $200,000 to put 'affluenza teen' Ethan Couch through rehab Darrell Collins, bar owner, said he hired Tonya Couch despite the family's attorney using an affluenza defense after her son killed four people in a drunken-driving crash in 2013. Tonya Couch and her son Ethan fled to Mexico last year after video surfaced apparently showing him at a party with alcohol a probation violation. RELATED: 'Affluenza teen' Ethan Couch caught in Mexico with mother: CNN A judge said Tuesday that Tonya Couch, who is charged with hindering apprehension of a felon and money laundering, no longer needs to be under house arrest, but must wear an electronic monitor and not consume alcohol or drugs while awaiting trial. At trial, a psychologist blamed "affluenza" acting irresponsibly due to wealth for Ethan Couch's actions. He is serving nearly two years in jail for the 2013 fatal crash. RELATED: 10 things to know about Texas 'affluenza' teen Ethan Couch, his capture and future punishments Collins said Tonya Couch deserved a second chance just like everyone else. Tonya Couch is required to wear a GPS monitor on her ankle and can only work certain hours at the bar, Collins said. Patten told the news station: Tonya is one of the few people in America where her lawful employment is news. Tonya has no assets and no other source of income outside of any job that she is able to get. She has sought and obtained other lawful employment, but because of the notoriety and intense media scrutiny surrounding her, she lost that employment. She is not in a position to be choosy about what type of lawful employment she will take. She is grateful that she has been able to find lawful employment and has not been forced to seek any government assistance." The Associated Press contributed to this report. kbradshaw@express-news.net Twitter: @kbrad5 Polish President Andrzej Duda said that Central and Eastern Europe should enhance their political presence in the North Atlantic Alliance for the purpose of maintaining the equilibrium in these parts of the world. "Central and Eastern Europe ought to enhance their political presence within the North Atlantic Alliance. It is important in terms of maintaining equilibrium in this part of the world where domination of external hegemons always brought wars and conflicts. A community of free nations and independent Central European countries that are combined by common history. It is exactly this community, which operates as part of the European Union and NATO, that can guarantee, in the long run, peace in the European continent," Duda said when addressing Ukrainian diplomats in Kyiv on Wednesday. Duda also noted that it is necessary to move away from the hierarchy model of interaction that suggests a division between central and periphery countries. Duda highlighted that his country consistently supports the EU expansion. "Poland is a country that repeatedly recalls that the European Community ought to expand its boundaries. Isolation leads to division and disintegration and is an obstacle to peace and understanding among nations. Openness, conversely, strengthens peace," Duda said. SAN ANTONIO Bexar County deputies were involved in a high-speed chase Wednesday morning that resulted in one arrest, according to the Bexar County Sheriffs Office. Deputies noticed a Dodge pickup with expired registration around 1 a.m. Wednesday on Highway 181 on the Southeast Side. The vehicle refused to stop and a pursuit ensued, police said. A lieutenant at the scene said the pursuit had speeds of more than 100 mph. SAN ANTONIO A woman suffered a minor injury after being shot Tuesday night at an apartment complex on the Northeast Side. The incident occurred around 11:13 p.m. Tuesday at the Spanish Oak Apartments in the 3200 block of Cripple Creek Street, where a woman was grazed by a bullet following an argument with someone. Courtesy of Continental Properties Company / The $46 million Springs at Stone Oak Village apartment complex on the far North Side has been sold to a partnership between two Texas real estate investment firms. Wisconsin-based developer Continental Properties sold the 27.5-acre complex last week to CAF Stone Oak Village LLC, a company that is jointly managed by Frisco-based CAF Capital Partners and Southlake-based Trinity Private Equity Group, county property records and state corporate filings show. Polish President Andrzej Duda has said that Ukraine and Poland should join efforts to ensure energy security, develop economic and human ties based on mutual respect. "We need to combine our efforts to ensure energy security, and we have talked a few times about this today, and Mr. President Poroshenko stressed this," he said speaking with Ukrainian diplomats in Kyiv on Wednesday. Duda stressed the need to actively develop ties between the two countries to "overcome the isolation", to develop the transport infrastructure, which will ensure the free exchange of services, to develop investment cooperation between Ukraine and Poland, to promote tourism and interaction between citizens of the two countries. "We need to break the blockade of cooperation that stems from the issues of history and identity. We will not change our history, but we must always maintain an open dialogue based on mutual respect and historical truth," the Polish president said. Duda also said that Warsaw will consistently promote the reforms in Ukraine and provide its assistance. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang took an inspection tour to Lattice Power Corp., and later an industrial park on August 23, 2016, in Nanchang, southeast Chinas Jiangxi province. Premier Li urged the technicians to make world-class brand, and commended the industrial park for providing platform for startups. Premier Li subsequently inspected a flood prevention project in Nanchang, urging the local government to increase efforts in water conservancy construction. China is suffering the biggest floods since 1998, said Premier Li, The construction of water conservancy projects have to secure the safety of our people, as well as stimulate investments. (People's Daily Online/Yang Fang) At CalPERS latest Investment Committee meeting, the committee chairman, Henry Jones, cut our public comment off illegally, over the objection of board member JJ Jelincic. This action took place despite the fact that the California agency has been put on notice repeatedly that it has not taken the steps under the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act to allow it to restrict the time of public remarks. In addition, a three-minute limit is substantively questionable. The matters before CalPERS are complex and the arbitrary three-minute limit that CalPERS currently imposes is often insufficient to present information to the board in adequate depth. CalPERS move is even more surprising given the chairman occasionally allows speakers more than the three minutes for comments limit and we were in the midst of offering helpful advice. To compound the damage, CalPERS general counsel Matt Jacobs tried depicting CalPERS illegal conduct as permissible, despite the fact that the states Office of Administrative Law depicts imposing a regulation without having gone through the necessary administrative procedures (which included having a public hearing) as an underground regulation. From the Office of Administrative Laws website: State agencies are prohibited from enforcing underground regulations. On top of that, Jacobs lied by saying that CalPERS already planned to address it at the next board meeting. The draft agenda for the September board meeting, released the next day, showed no such item. This contretemps matters for two reasons. First, CalPERS is abusing its authority even when the stakes are low. This refusal to comply with clear statutory requirements proves critics right when they say that officials cannot be trusted to exercise power and bolsters their case for reducing the role of government. Second, it raised serious doubts about Matt Jacobs judgment. The role of a general counsel, above all, is to keep his organization out of trouble and minimize the damage when it finds itself in hot water. Yet Jacobs was ultimately responsible for the disastrous recommendation of the tainted attorney Robert Klausner as fiduciary counsel and withheld information about his unsavory track record from the board when it was making its choice. As we wrote earlier this week, Klausner is being replaced, and given that the CalPERS relationship was a plus for him from a marketing standpoint, one can safely assume that his departure was not voluntary. We now have Jacobs having refused to address a violation that was called to his attention last November.and for what reason? Because CalPERS sees itself as above the law? Because Jacobs deemed it to be too much bother? Because he mistakenly thought the issue would go away? None of these lines of reasoning show an appreciation of CalPERS visibility and the downside risk of well-deserved bad press versus the small investment of effort it would take to bring CalPERS into compliance. And although Jacobs is acting as the front man for this ongoing abuse, as former CalPERS Investment Committee chairman Mike Flaherman told board members, their silence makes them complicit in the eyes of the law. Lets turn to the relevant sections of the board meeting and the evidence. Well cover: How we tried to offer helpful advice to CalPERS but were cut off illegally How general counsel Matt Jacobs misled the board and the public How the board is complicit in this misconduct How We Tried to Offer Helpful Advice to CalPERS But Were Cut Off Illegally Here are our remarks from the board meeting. They are as not as accessible to people who did not participate in the full meeting as I would like, since I was building on the discussion that had taken place earlier in the morning. With the benefit of hindsight, trying to do that wound up focusing too much on secondary issues and losing the main message. I could have acknowledged the preceding discussion in a much more cursory manner and spoken to the audience in the room and later viewers online more effectively. The context: Chief Investment Officer Ted Eliopoulos started off the meeting with a long but still cautious and coded discussion of the difficulties CalPERS was facing in meeting its 7.5% return target. Readers may recall that CalPERS has come under criticism for opposing the proposal of state governor Jerry Brown to lower the return target to 6.5% over four years. CalPERS instead opted for a Rube-Goldbergish plan that has them lower the return level in good years, and then only gradually, allowing the pension fund to take up to 20 years to make the 1% cut. You can find Eliopoulos remarks and the comments and questions of board members here, from 3:45 to 36:45*. Some board members suggested that CalPERS ask its Federal lobbyist to call for more infrastructure spending as a way to boost economic growth. We spoke right after the agenda item, Asset Allocation, Performance and Risk which gave more detail on this topic. Our message to CalPERS, which we did not get to deliver in full, was that we were offering them some friendly advice about their communication strategy. Like the unions, they are making the mistake of reacting tactically and defensively to critics, which lets them frame the message. They instead need to use every opportunity they can to sell a positive message about pension funds and CalPERS in particular: that pension funds are clearly a better alternative for workers than individual investing, since retail investors, by virtue of paying much higher fees, will find it almost impossible to achieve the same results unless they are extremely lucky. And thats before you add in that many retail investors further reduce their returns by overtrading or dabbling unsuccessfully in high risk strategies like futures trading (where 70% of retail investors lose money). Our second major point was that CalPERS, in line with some of the ideas that board members had discussed, should make use of its bully pulpit and become a forceful advocate of better growth policies. Ultimately, the cost of supporting retirees is a function of the growth of the real economy. The US has pursued much less sound policies, starting from the 1970s. CalPERS should call for higher levels of Federal spending, particularly for R&D and infrastructure, and more redistribution, since high levels of inequality are also linked to lower growth. I had also planned to discuss how the Fed and other central banks are making matters worse, particularly for long-term investors, and that CalPERS should also call out how over-reliance on monetary policy had become counter-productive. You can watch the clip below or view it here, starting at 1:13:50: Susan Webber, Aurora Advisors/Naked Capitalism: Thanks so much. Strange as it may seem, Im here to offer some helpful advice. Many of you know me through my website where Ive been a critic of you folks in private equity. But since you may not know the rest of the things that I write, Im actually a big supporter of government-provided pensions. And Im a very big critic of the efforts to privatize them. And therefore, when I look at your efforts to communicate with critics, I see that you are falling into some of the patterns that the unions exhibited in terms of operating generally tactically and being defensive. And that winds up accepting, often times accepting, the framing of your critics, which isnt to your advantage. What was encouraging about the discussion this morning around the chart that Mr. Eliopoulos presented is, is the candor about acknowledging the overall strategic issues. And Id encourage you to be more strategic in your discussions with the public. And, in fact, some of the things, and I think youve got much better messages that you can convey, despite the difficulty of this overall situation, and, you know, even despite the fact that I sort of disagree with you tactically on your not lowering the 7.5% investment return target. The way the conversations have gone around that sort of illustrate the general pattern that youve got better messages, theres an opportunity to shift the conversation to other topics. And, in fact, some of it came up in the Board meeting today, that the fact theres a difficult return environment, you know, is something that people, that parties other than CalPERS face, you know, articulating that this isnt just a CalPERS problem, that its a problem for all long-term investors, that its a problem for savers. And using that as an opportunity to reiterate the fact that if its hard for CalPERS, it would be even harder for private individuals, you know, to make the bigger strategic point that CalPERS is still better positioned to do this than other parties. Similarly, the sort of discussion you had, you know, with Ms. Mathur and Mr. Jelincic mentioning the fact that we need better growth policies. I would go much further than just talking to your lobbyists about this. There is sort of belatedly an emerging consensus among economists that weve had a very long term set of bad economic policies for growth. That what looked like was working for 30 years is now looking like it, that it wasnt such a good policy mix, that we need much more emphasis on wage growth. We need much more spending on R&D, that theres an emerging consensus that running deficits on an ongoing basis is actually, is actually productive, and, of course, the point about infrastructure spending. And not just talking to your lobbyist, but actually being a much more forceful external advocate for better growth policies. You know, similarly, the other thing, and I wish Id heard it more discussed this morning was the role of the Fed in this. That the difficult environment is driven to a very large degree by not just, not just the Fed, but the central banks around the world. [Mike cuts off]. Investment Committee Chairman Henry Jones: Ms. Webb, your time is up. Board Member JJ Jelincic: Henry. Webber [speaking without a mike]: With all due respect, you have not obtained the permission, Mr. Chairman, under Bagley-Keene to limit the time of speakers. There are certain steps you have to take to do that and those have not been taken. Jones: Ourthis is our policy to Webber: Theres certain steps under the law you need to take to limit the time. You have not done that under Bagley-Keene. Jones: Our policy to apprise the speakers that they have three minutes. And when that time expires, then the mike is cut off. Jelincic: Henry, I would like to ask that she be allowed to continue. We spent this morning talking about Bagley-Keene. We have been put on notice that the statute requires adoption of regulations if youre going to limit speakers. We have chosen not to adopt those regulations. I would.. Jones: Yeah, well, I think that the issues related to Bagley-Keene we will address with our legal counsel. Jelincic: Well.. Jones: Our general counsel. Jelincic: The state Jones: This is not the place to debate the Bagley-Keene with the.. Jelincic: Henry, the board has been put on notice that this was an issue. Jones: And I said that the general our General Counsel will be the person address that issue. Jelincic: But he hasnt since May. He hasnt since the lastand the statute is really clear. Jones: Okay. Then Im going to move on, because I said that thats our policy, and we will address the Bagley-Keene issues with our general counsel. Webber: Mr. Jelincic, can you raise a point of order? Jelincic: The Jones: So Im going to move on. Jelincic: Im not sure its a violation of our rules, so Im not sure a point of order is appropriate. However, I will point out that your behavior is illegal. Jones: Well, thats a different question. Anyway Jelincic: Well, actually.. Jones: Im moving forward. Jelincic: Its not.. Jones: As I said, this agenda item. Jelincic: Its not just a question if you actually look at the statute. Jones: Im going to ask that the Wilshire Group come forward to start your presentation on this issue. Jelincic: So much being a public agency. As you will see at the end of this post**, former CalPERS Investment Committee Chairman Mike Flaherman put the entire board on notice in May as JJ Jelincic indicated, but Jones and Jacobs knew of this issue as of at least last November. Several parties, including Flaherman, raised them as a result of misconduct in CalPERS private equity workshop last November. The two bones of contention were the imposition of the three-minute limit as well as the agency refusing to allow members of the public to speak after each item on its legal notice of its meeting, which was the version published on its website. As we wrote last December: Bear in mind that Bagley-Keene Act does allow state bodies to impose reasonable limits on remarks by members of the public. From Section 11125.7: (b) The state body may adopt reasonable regulations to ensure that the intent of subdivision (a) is carried out, including, but not limited to, regulations limiting the total amount of time allocated for public comment on particular issues and for each individual speaker. However, the statement that a state body may adopt reasonable regulations limiting speaker time is clearly a reference to the regulation adoption process stipulated in the California Administrative Procedures Act. This law is very specific about what it takes to adopt a regulation. It does not allow for a state agency to make things up as they go along and declare, This is our rule and everyone has to abide by it. Instead, an agency has to comply with a formal proposed rule notice process and hold a public hearing on it. Only then can it adopt it, at which point the regulation is published in the Code of California Regulations (CCR). Here is the section of the CCR that deals with CalPERS. There appears to be no regulation on public comments at board meetings: https://govt.westlaw.com/calregs/Browse/Home/California/CaliforniaCodeofRegulations?guid=I1E330C00D48E11DEBC02831C6D6C108E&originationContext=documenttoc&transitionType=Default&contextData=(sc.Default) It thus looks like CalPERS never went through the process that would allow it to restrict the length of public comments. Instead, it appears to have imposed limits and assumed no one would ever challenge them. Even worse, it appears that Jones knowingly violated the law last November and (as we will see) Jacobs has decided he will cover for him rather clear up the underlying issue. From the same post: A member of the audience who had sat right behind Jones, spoke to me after the board meeting. Hed heard the discussion with Jones over the public comment time limits. That audience member saw the general counsel, Jacobs, hand a piece of yellow paper to Jones after the lunch break. He could read nearly all of it. It clearly said not authorized regarding the time limits. The audience member is 99% certain from what they saw that Jacobs informed Jones that he could not impose time limits on public comments. That would seem logical given CalPERS evident failure to go through the steps required for them to do that. Nevertheless, Jones proceeded with his illegal remedy of a five minute limit instead [his finesse in that meeting for also having denied members the opportunity to comment after items on the internet version of the agenda]. This evidence should be deeply disturbing to every California taxpayer. If CalPERS is willing to break rules so casually to avoid tame challenges to its thinking, and one that any public institution should accept as part of its role, what is it capable of doing to cover up real dirt? How General Counsel Matt Jacobs Misled the Board and the Public Despite this history, CalPERS general counsel saw fit to double down after the lunch break. You can watch the clip below or view it here, starting at 0:30: General Counsel Matthew Jacobs: Mr. Chair, theres been some discussion and some confusion, I think, about what Bagley-Keene actually requires with respect to time limits on public comment. What it actually requires is that the public have an opportunity to comment. So heres what the most important line says, this is section 11125.7(a) of the Government Code. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the State body shall provide an opportunity for members of the public to directly address the state body on each agenda item before or during the state bodys discussion or consideration of the item. Then theres some other sentences, but thats the core of it. It also says in the next subsection that, The agency may, and it uses the that word, that is the permissive may as opposed to shall or must,, .. adopt regulations to effectuate the intent of subdivision (a), which is the one that I just read. So the basic idea is the intent of subdivision (a) is to ensure that the public has an opportunity, a chance, to be heard. So that section I just referenced 11125.7(b), the exact language is, The state body may adopt reasonable regulations to ensure that the intent of subdivision (a) is carried out, including, but not limited to, regulations limiting the total amount of time allocated for public comment on particular issues and for each individual speaker. The absence of a regulation that, an agency regulation under this cannot mean that there are no limits on public comment. The agency can utilize reasonable limits on public comment in the absence of a regulation, and certainly three minutes is reasonable. So, Mr. Jones, I think youre safe. I dont think that you committed any crimes. That said, we are bringing a draft regulation on public comment to the board next month. That is already in the works, its already drafted, and it will be before you next month, and it will address this and some other items. The only reason Jacobs may have been able to persuade himself that his ruse worked was that he did it verbally. If you read the text of the relevant section of the California Government Code, Section 11125.7, it parses that the government body.may adopt regulation.to implement. In other words, if they want to mayimplement more specific provisions via regulation. Due to the length of this post, we will not go through the information about the requirements of the Administrative Procedures Act and the relevant case law, but you can find information from the Office of Administrative Law about unenforceable underground regulations and more detail on when regulations are required. Moreover, Jacobs is being disingenuous when he tries to pass off Surely the statute cannot mean that in the absence of regulation there are no time limits on comments. As Flaherman pointed out in his e-mail to the board, which Jacobs presumably read, CalPERS historically did not impose any time limits on public comments, and many other California agencies still take that posture. Karl Olson, a top California attorney who has sued CalPERS twice, successfully, disagreed firmly with Jacobs interpretation: Its difficult to read the California open meeting law and come to the conclusion that the CalPERS general counsel presents to his board and the public, particularly given the very strong language in the statute that government bodies serve the public and not vice versa. If CalPERS wants to set time limits on public comments, the law is clear: it may do so via regulation, which is a formal process. Assertions about policy dont satisfy this requirement. And if Jacobs were so confident that CalPERS legal position is sound, why were he and Jones so eager to address the matter, and why is Jacobs bothering to bring a draft regulation to the board in September? His actions speak far louder than his words. But what is most disturbing is that Jacobs decided to tell a flagrantly obvious lie to the board and the public, namely, that a draft regulation was already in the works to be brought before the board next month. If this measure was set to be part of the September board meeting, it would have been included in the board agenda, which was released the following day. As you can see here, there is no such item. I cannot stress firmly enough how destructive it is to an organization to have an employee, and worse, the head of a critical control function, lie casually and flagrantly to his bosses and not be called out or otherwise sanctioned for it. As a consultant for over two decades to top executives of major financial firms, including ones who were larger and far more active in the financial markets than CalPERS, a obvious lie is the most dangerous and destructive sort of insubordination. It says loudly and clearly that the officer in question not only has no respect for the truth, but far worse, no respect for his superiors. And to make an ugly picture even worse, not only is Jacobs showing open disrespect to the to the highest level of authority at CalPERS, but he is doing this fully aware of the fact that both her and they are held to the standard of fiduciary duty, the highest standard of care. It is bad enough to see this sort of thing come from any executive, but to see if from the general counsel is very troubling. I would tell any client that this level of lack of respect for both accuracy and for the proper chain of command represented an unacceptable business risk. The only place Ive seen anything approaching this type of behavior first-hand was at Bankers Trust. That movie ended with Bankers Trust found first subject to private litigation for racketeering, and it later pled guilty to fraud for escheating customer funds, forcing its sale to Deutsche Bank. The fact that Jacobs so casually lied to deal with an embarrassing exchange at a board meeting is a strong indicator that outgoing CEO Anne Stausboll approved of, even encouraged, this type of ends-justify-the-means approach, and that it is therefore endemic in the CalPERS culture. How the Board is Complicit in This Misconduct Do not forget that the board is ultimately responsible for actions of CalPERS staff, as former CalPERS board member Michael Flaherman points out. You can watch the clip below or view it here, starting at 9:33: Michael Flaherman, Visiting Scholar, UC Berkeley: I was really disappointed by what happened with Miss Webber. You know, Mr. Jacobs is an effective advocate. He was a litigator for many years. No matter how illegal or even outrageous the behavior of his client, hes going to get up and say, make an argument for why it was legal. And its pretty transparent when he says, oh, it was legal, but dont worry were bringing back a regulation. And it was disappointing to me as a beneficiary and as a former member of the Board to see it as well, because what was the point of cutting off this woman? I suspect I think that many of you dont know actually that Susan Webber is actually one of the most important financial commentators in the United States. I dont think Ive ever talked to a financial journalist at any great length without them actually bringing up the fact that they read her avidly. In other words, she is the sort of central clearinghouse on a number of issues, private equity being the one that has the most nexus to this organization, and opinion maker. Similarly, all of themany of the members of the staffs of the congressional committees that are responsible for finance read her avidly. She is read avidly at the Securities and Exchange Commission among the staff. It was a mistake to cut her off. As far as I could tell actually, she was actually kind of praising you, which I dont think Ive ever heard her do, and, you know, and I also want to be clear. Im not a shill for her. Ive actually had very heated disagreements with her at times actually, and some of which actually related to some of her criticism of this organization. But I was the one, as you may know, who brought up the fact that there are no regulations permitting time limits on public comments. And its been disappointing to me that nothing has happened with it until today, where it got called publicly, and in a way that was embarrassing. And, you know, and there is, theres an age old legal doctrine I think that you all need to reflect on, which is, you know, which is, I took Latin for many years, so Ill say it in Latin, right, tacetus consensat importat, which means silence implies consent. If you sit here and an action is taken and you say nothing, then the world is left to believe that each of you supports that action. And thats very disappointing. Thank you. Flaherman is correct to stress that the board is culpable for its failure to rein in staff and question fellow board members. When Flahermnan made his statement, he did not know that Jacobs had made an even more serious misrepresentation in telling the board that he had already planned to have a draft regulation as part of the September board meeting. The documents posted the next day caught Jacobs out. The former co-head of McKinseys organization practice, Doug Smith, who is a top change management expert, was deeply disturbed by how Jacobs handled the board: Lying to the board telling unadorned and stark lies as in this case is not just sleazy. As a former attorney and current board member, its unimaginable to me that Matt Jacobs was not fired or put on leave immediately. A board cannot do its job cannot govern in the absence of accurate and truthful information, including information about what the law demands and requires a board to know and do. Who in their right mind can possibly disagree with this? Well, as we see in this case, the only ones who might disagree who might say, Hey, flat out lying is fine with us, are folks who have lost all common sense and, frankly, are one step away from being fire-able themselves. Appalling. One can only hope that incoming CEO Marcie Frost has the street smarts to recognize the signs of a diseased culture at CalPERS and take corrective action. Unfortunately, with a clueless and complicit board, the odds favor staff falsely persuading her that its behavior is normal for CalPERS, when its the result of decay over a long period, reinforced by a CEO who saw fit to aggrandize her own power and a board all too willing to go along. The result is an organization with $300 billion in assets that is effectively accountable to no one, which is a prescription for disaster. The staffs cavalier attitude towards honesty and accountability confirms that CalPERS is priming itself for bad outcomes. _____ * If you watch this segment, its disconcerting to see several CalPERS board members openly treat Eliopoulos soft-pedaled depiction of the tough investment CalPERS faces as depressing and seem at a loss as to how to deal with the information. ** Text of e-mail: Overcoming multidrug-resistant cancer with smart nanoparticles (Nanowerk News) Multidrug resistance (MDR) is the mechanism by which many cancers develop resistance to chemotherapy drugs, resulting in minimal cell death and the expansion of drug-resistant tumors. To address the problem of resistance, researchers have developed nanoparticles that simultaneously deliver chemotherapy drugs to tumors and inhibit the MDR proteins that pump the therapeutic drugs out of the cell. The process is known as chemosensitization, as blocking this resistance renders the tumor highly sensitive to the cancer-killing chemotherapy. MDR is a major factor in the failure of many chemotherapy drugs. The problem affects the treatment of a wide range of blood cancers and solid tumors, including breast, ovarian, lung, and colon cancers. Researchers at the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), are engineering multi-component nanoparticles that significantly enhance the killing of cancer cells. The results of their experiments are reported in recent articles in Scientific Reports ("A nanoparticulate pre-chemosensitizer for efficacious chemotherapy of multidrug resistant breast cancer") and Applied Materials & Interfaces ("Light-Responsive Biodegradable Nanomedicine Overcomes Multidrug Resistance via NO-Enhanced Chemosensitization"). Diagram illustrating the release of the active contents of the MDR nanoparticle inside a cancer cell. The blue stars represent the curcumin that inhibits the MDR pumps located in the cell membrane. Pump inhibition allows the doxorubicin (orange circles) to remain in the cell at a high concentration and enter the nucleus (gray circle) where it acts to disrupt cell division and kill the cell. (Image: Shawn Chen) The work is led by senior author Xiaoyuan (Shawn) Chen, Ph.D., Senior Investigator, Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Nanomedicine, NIBIB. His collaborators include scientists and engineers in China at Southeast University, Shenzhen University, Guangxi Medical University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, in addition to chemical engineers at the University of Leeds, United Kingdom. Says Chen about his substantial network of collaborators, success in this medically important endeavor has required a team with a wide range of expertise to engineer nanoparticles that survive the journey to the tumor site, enter the tumor, and successfully perform the multiple functions for chemosensitization. Targeting multidrug-resistant breast cancer The two publications report on the engineering of two separate nanoparticles that test different strategies for achieving chemosensitization of cancer cells. The first targets MDR breast cancer. The engineered round nanoparticle is made of several layers. The center of the particle is loaded with the anti-cancer drug doxorubicin. The drug is surrounded by a water-repelling (hydrophobic) capsule to protect it from the watery environment when the particle is injected into the circulatory system of an experimental animal or individual with cancer. The particle has several outer layers with different properties. One of the outermost components, a molecule called PEG, is hydrophilic (mixes with water) and helps the particle move through the bloodstream until it encounters the breast tumor cells. Another component on the surface of the particle, biotin, functions to bind specifically to the cancer cells and helps the drug-carrying nanoparticle to enter the cell. Once inside the breast cancer cell, a forth component called curcumin, which is intertwined with the doxorubicin center, is released along with the doxorubicin. The curcumin is the component that blocks the cell machinery that would pump the doxorubicin out of the cell. Without the ability to pump out the medicine, the cell is exposed to very high concentration of doxorubicin, which kills the breast cancer cells. Diagram illustrating how the UV-activated MDR nanoparticle bursts to release nitric oxide (NO, green circles) that blocks the MDR pump allowing doxorubicin (DOX, orange circles) to enter the nucleus, disrupt cell division, and kill the cell. (Image: Shawn Chen) Experiments in mice demonstrated that the multi-component nanoparticles were effective at targeting breast tumor cellsaccumulating at much higher concentrations in the cancer cells than in the other mouse tissues. Histology showed that the treated mice had a great reduction in cancer cell density in the tumor tissue compared with mice given saline or doxorubicin alone (not integrated into a nanoparticle). Complete analysis of the treated mice confirmed that the nanoparticle efficiently accumulated at the tumor site and achieved optimal tumor killing in the mouse breast cancer model. Changing nanoparticle components tests alternate anti-cancer strategies In the work published in Applied Materials & Interfaces, Chen and his colleagues describe the engineering of another nanoparticle that uses a different approach to the problem of MDR. This second nanoparticle is similar to the first in that it contains the centrally encapsulated doxorubicin surrounded by an outer hydrophilic surface layer that allows efficient transport through the bloodstream. However, this particle uses the gas nitric oxide (NO), which is known to block the system that pumps doxorubicin out of the cell. In addition, the NO is released from a compound called BNN6, which is activated by ultraviolet (UV) light. Thus, this nanoparticle is designed to be administered in the bloodstream and then activated with UV light when it reaches its cancer target. In experiments in cell culture, when hit with UV light the nanoparticles burst -- releasing the cell-killing doxorubicin and causing BNN6 to release the NO gas. The combination successfully inhibited the MDR machinery, resulting in chemosensitization and efficient cancer-cell killing. Based on the successful testing of this nanoparticle in cultured cells, the group expects it to perform well when tested in experiments in mice. Complete spherical nanoparticles (left, c). Nanoparticles burst and collapse following UV irradiation (right, d). (Image: : Shawn Chen) Smart nanomedicines vs multidrug resistance Chemotherapy is the most common treatment for cancer. Unfortunately, these drugs often cause minimal damage to tumors, because of MDR, and this can result in the expansion of populations of MDR tumors. Also, most chemotherapy drugs have very narrow therapeutic windows, frequently showing toxicity to healthy tissues and organs even at doses lower than required for a therapeutic effect. Therefore, there is an urgent need to devise ways to achieve high doses in tumor cells while eliminating harm to healthy tissue. Chen concludes, The mechanism of MDR is interesting scientifically, but also incredibly important medically. That is why we are using our bioengineering skills to develop strategies to optimize the effect of these drugs on the cancer while reducing the toxicity to the surrounding tissues, which is both a major impediment to successful treatment as well as extremely taxing for cancer patients. The robots are coming - and they are here to help (Nanowerk News) As Europes population ages, the number of people requiring rehabilitation following neurological diseases such as stroke is expected to rise. Specialist care from physiotherapists and occupational therapists offers a chance of regaining independence by recovering lost movement. However, in many countries, health professionals are already in short supply. To keep up with growing demand, scientists and engineers are turning to robots for help. For example, instead of two or three physiotherapists manually supporting an unsteady patient on a treadmill, helping them to move their limbs, robots can provide locomotion training while physiotherapies offer encouragement and feedback. This is just the beginning, says Dr Thierry Keller, Director of Rehabilitation at Tecnalia Research & Innovation. Robots can also motivate patients through gaming and virtual reality technologies. These technologies are equally useful in rehabilitating people who have suffered spinal injuries or are losing mobility due to multiple sclerosis . This fast-growing field, in which Europe is a leading player, was the subject of COST TD1006. The COST Action identified, for the first time, the diverse range of stakeholders working in this area and set about developing a common language. We identified and invited all stakeholders working on neurorehabilitation doctors, engineers, neuroscientists and experts in motor control to work with our multidisciplinary network, says Dr Keller who chaired the COST Action. The Action has put robot-assisted neurorehabilitation on the map. Network members are finalising guidelines on the use of robots in the assessment of patients , which will be published in leading journals in this field later this year. The network contributed to the multi-annual roadmap produced by euRobotics for a public-private partnership (PPP) in Horizon 2020, including an agenda for future work in robotic rehabilitation. Members of the Action also offer a European MSc in advanced rehabilitation therapies (ART). It also supported the foundation of the International Industry Society of Advanced Rehabilitation Technology (IISART) which aims to advance the use of modern healthcare technologies for the benefit of patients and society. Chinese President Xi Jinping made inspection tour on August 23, 2016, to Haidong city, northwest Chinas Qinghai province. In the drizzling rains, President Xi arrived at villager Lv Youzhangs new house. Lvs family was relocated from a mountainous area of harsh conditions to this new village. Xi asked the villagers if they are satisfied with the relocation work. Once everybody is settled, the poverty-lifting work should soon follow up, said Xi. In the afternoon, President Xi arrived at the Qinghai Eco-environment Monitoring Center. He watched the live monitoring footage taken from Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve that is hundreds of kilometers away from the center. The reserve contains the headwaters of the Yellow River and the Yangtze River. After learning about the status of wildlife protection such as snow leopards, President Xi said, Protecting Sanjiangyuan is vital to our country. Qinghai province should shoulder this responsibility. President Xi subsequently arrived at a solar energy development subsidiary of State Power Investment Corp. Xi stressed that Qinghai has to grasp talent and investment, develop a complete chain of industry, and let clean energy better benefit people. Earth-like planet near Proxima Centauri (Nanowerk News) At a distance of just over four light years, Proxima Centauri is the nearest star outside our solar system, and has thus long been a favourite of science fiction writers. The latter may now be getting fresh inspiration: astronomers have discovered a planet that orbits Proxima Centauri once every 11.2 days at a distance of seven million kilometres - within an area where there may just be the right conditions for the emergence of life (Nature, "A terrestrial planet candidate in a temperate orbit around Proxima Centauri"). The mass of the celestial body called Proxima Centauri b is estimated to amount to 1.3 Earth masses. Glimpse of a new world: artist's impression of the newly discovered planet orbiting Proxima Centauri, at a distance of 4.24 light-years the fixed star nearest to Earth. (Image: Ricardo Ramirez & James Jenkins (Department of Astronomy, Universidad de Chile) The planet may not necessarily possess habitable conditions. But in spite of the close proximity to its host star, the object is located in the region astronomers call the 'habitable zone'. Planets in the habitable zone around the host star could potentially have surface temperatures that would principally permit liquid water - a crucial prerequisite for life as we know it from our Earth. Proxima Centauri is a red dwarf star spectral type M5.5Ve, and as such significantly lighter and dimmer than our Sun. For example, Proxima has just 12% of the Suns mass, and merely 0.17% of the Suns overall brightness. Red dwarfs account for 70-80% of all stars in the solar neighbourhood, and with some probability for the same fraction of stars within our home galaxy as a whole. On the other hand, the close proximity of Proxima Centauri b to its host star makes it very likely that the planet is in bound rotation. This means that one side of the planet would always be oriented towards the star, resulting in perpetual day, the other side would be in perpetual night. It is unclear how life could evolve under such adverse conditions. Red dwarf stars with one third the Suns mass or less are fully convective: their matter is in constant motion, similar to the way that in a boiling pot, water is constantly moving around, each portion of water mixing with all other portions. A significant fraction of red dwarfs has a comparatively strong magnetic field, and shows substantial stellar activity, and Proxima Centauri is no exception. One consequence is the occurrence of flares: sudden releases of magnetic energy that lead to marked, but short-lived increases in the stars brightness. The activity of the host star also creates high-energy particles and X-rays regularly hitting the planet which would make conditions for possible life on Proxima Centauri b considerably more difficult. And while a possible detection of life, or at least of chemical properties suggestive of the presence of life, is likely to be some decades off, these observations provide opportunities to learn about a planet around the most common type of star in our galaxy with lessons that are interesting in their own right, for astronomers seeking a systematic understanding of planet formation in our home galaxy. Astronomers have found nearly 3500 such planets around stars other than the Sun. Most of the exoplanet discoveries are due to NASAs space telescope Kepler, which is able to monitor the brightness of many different stars with high accuracy. Planets whose orbits take them between their host star and an observer on Earth periodically obscure some of the host stars light. This allows them to be detected as astronomers monitor the host stars brightness for tell- tale, systematic dips. While Proxima has been monitored for such dips in the past, none have so far been found. This did not preclude the existence of a planet only of a suitably large planet whose orbit happened to be aligned in exactly the right way. More recently, the close passage of Proxima Cen in front of two other stars, in October 2014 and February 2016, opened up the possibility for an unusual detection method known as microlensing. Had there been a planet of Proxima that had passed directly in front of one of these stars, its mass would have deflected and intensified the more distant stars light. This would have created a fleeting increase in brightness based on effects of Einsteins theory of general relativity. But again, the absence of these detections did not rule out the existence of a planet. It merely showed that such a planet was not in the right place at the right time. This left a third method for detecting exoplanets: the radial velocity method, which measures tiny wobbles of a star as both the star and the planet orbit their common centre of mass, bound by mutual gravitational attraction. Similar to the way that the siren of a fire truck or police car changes pitch as the car passes you by, light from a star will be slightly shifted in frequency towards the blue end of the spectrum if the star approaches you, and towards the red end if the star is moving away. Data of a planet: radial velocity measurements phase folded at the 11.2 day period of the planet candidate for 16 years of observations. Different symbols are used for data from the Pale Red Dot (PRD) campaign, HARPS data taken before 2016, and the earlier data from UVES. The solid line depicts the best fitting Keplerian orbit to the data. (Image: Guillem Anglada-Escude et al., School of Physics and Astronomy, Queen Mary University of London, UK / Max Planck Institutw for Astronomy) (click on image to enlarge) This left a third standard method for detecting exoplanets: the radial velocity method, which measures tiny wobbles of a star as both the star and the planet orbit their common centre of mass, bound by mutual gravitational attraction. Similar to the way that the siren of a fire truck or police car changes pitch as the car passes you by, light from a star will be slightly shifted in frequency towards the blue end of the spectrum if the star approaches you, and towards the red end if the star is moving away. Stellar spectra the rainbow-like decomposition of the stars light into myriads of different shades of colour, or wavelengths contain characteristic patterns of thousands of narrow, dark lines. Precision measurements of how these lines shift are redshifted and blueshifted over time can help uncover a tiny, planet-caused wobble, and thus yield indirect evidence of the presence of a planet around the star. Several searches using this method targeted Proxima Centauri over the past decades, but no planet was discovered. Proxima Centauri b with its comparatively small mass causes a tiny wobble that is close to the limit of what can be detected with todays astronomical instruments. In particular, a detection takes a long series of measurements, and a stable spectrograph that can deliver precise and consistent high quality measurements over the course of years. The first ingredient of the present discovery was the spectrograph HARPS at the 3.6 m telescope of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) at La Silla Observatory in Chile, which was designed for precisely this kind of planet-hunting work and has been delivering reliable and accurate radial velocities since 2003. In 2013, Guillem Anglada-Escude, then at the University of Gottingen, Germany, and colleagues observed Proxima Centauri using HARPS, and found some indication of the possible presence of a planet with a period of 11.2 days, or, less likely, 13.6 days or 18.3 days. The data was not sufficiently conclusive to allow for the discovery of such a planet. The astronomers could not exclude that these were false alarms: the presence of a planet, mimicked by the ever-present noise in the observations. The data was sufficient, on the other hand, to convince Anglada-Escude to organize a systematic search campaign, dubbed "Pale Red Dot", which would involve extensive additional measurements with the HARPS spectrograph as well as regular luminosity measurements using smaller telescopes, which would allow the astronomers to better take into account the influence of stellar activity. The HARPS measurements were performed on 54 nights between Jan 18th and March 30th, 2016. Anglada-Escude, by then at Queen Mary University of London, had also added an outreach component to the campaign, the 'Pale Red Dot' websites, with scientists involved in the measurements writing regular blog articles and charting the campaigns progress on social media. The measurements began to show stronger and stronger signs of the presence of a planet. Guillem Anglada-Escude says: "The first 10 days were promising, the first 20 were consistent with expectations, and at 30 days the result was pretty much definitive, so we started drafting the paper!" Interpreting the data, however, was difficult. Because the red dwarf Proxima Centauri is active and has a strong magnetic field, astronomers expect that the stars atmosphere will frequently feature dark, cooler spots: the red dwarf version of the sunspots visible on the surface of our Sun through a (suitably shielded) telescope. Such spots affect the radial velocity measurements, as well: Such star spots show up in the stars spectrum, and can mimic the presence of a planet where no planet exists. In order for a detection to be solid, such effects need to be taken into account. In fact, the Alpha Centauri system, a double star system very close to Proxima, and which might even include Proxima as a third component, is the subject of a cautionary tale: The discovery of what was thought between 2012 and about 2015 to be the closest planet outside our Solar system, Alpha Centauri Bb orbiting the star Alpha Centauri B, is now widely regarded as the artefact of a flawed analysis demonstrating the difficulty of extracting weak radial velocity signals from among the various noise sources present in such observations, which prominently includes the effects of stellar spots. What clinched the detection were older observations taken by Martin Kurster from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy and his former PhD student Michael Endl (now at the University of Texas at Austin) and analysed jointly with his former PhD student Mathias Zechmeister (now at the University of Gottingen) during a systematic search for companions of M stars, taken with the UVES spectrograph at ESOs Very Large Telescope (VLT) during a period of seven years from 2000 to 2007. Martin Kurster says: "In our earlier measurements, the signal for the planet with a period of 11.2 days is visible." But with this data alone there was no way of telling whether the signal indicates the presence of a planet or is the result of random fluctuations. The Los Angeles City Council joined Los Angeles County in trying to get California Gov. Jerry Brown to declare a state of emergency for the problem of homelessness. Brown rejected a similar appeal from the county Board of Supervisors in June. The City Council voted Tuesday to ask Brown to declare homelessness a statewide emergency. Brown has said he believes programs are best developed at the local level, but the state is engaged in multiple efforts to deal with housing including a $3 billion bond ballot measure that would provide low-income housing. The California Emergency Services Act "explicitly grants the governor complete authority over all agencies of the state government to promulgate, issue and enforce such orders and regulations as he deems necessary," Los Angeles Chief Legislative Analyst Sharon Tso wrote in a report recommending the City Council encourage the governor to take such action. "Should the governor declare a State of Emergency as it relates to homelessness and exercise the powers enumerated under the act, authority could be given to waive existing state statutes or local laws that will help expeditiously deal with homelessness in local municipalities," Tso wrote. California has roughly 21% of the nation's homeless people and Los Angeles has the greatest density of the homeless population in the nation, Tso wrote. Of the 115,000 homeless people in the state, 28,000 reside in Los Angeles, Tso wrote. The city has experienced an 11% growth in homelessness in a year, she said. The city is working in partnership with Los Angeles County and the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles to more effectively coordinate the funding of services and project-based vouchers for permanent supportive housing projects. The city's Housing and Community Investment Department is also advancing a parallel effort to develop 13 city-owned parcels for affordable and permanent supportive housing. On July 25, Mayor Eric Garcetti invited affordable housing developers to submit proposals to develop city-owned properties for homeless residents. That day City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana released a request for qualifications and proposals for eight city-owned sites, with multiple parcels that will either be sold or developed. These sites represent at least $47 million of the city's plan to invest $138 million towards homeless programs, services, and housing in Los Angeles during this fiscal year. The development or sale of properties comes as the city prepares to place a general obligation bond on the November ballot to raise $1.2 billion for housing. Combined with Garcetti's proposed affordable housing linkage fee, the city is raising enough funding to nearly double the city's regular production of affordable housing and more than triple its production of permanent supportive housing for the homeless, according to the mayor's office. "Too many of our residents need help. It is our responsibility to act now and leverage every resource at our disposal including our publicly owned land," Garcetti said in a statement. "My office is working with the City Council to aggressively pursue new funding streams for permanent supportive housing, and address homelessness with the urgency that it deserves." The city will create a list of prequalified firms to develop parcels for homeless people or those at risk of becoming homeless. The developers will be selected based on their capacity, level of experience, and the strength of their proposed development strategy. After the RFQ/P process is complete, the city will determine whether each site is better suited for sale or development. The properties will either be developed into affordable housing using the land value as a subsidy, or sold for fair market value to raise revenue for the construction of permanent supportive housing for the homeless. Councilmember Mike Bonin said the city needs "to look at every available piece of city-owned land and determine if we can use it for housing, or for revenue to build housing." WASHINGTON The Federal Housing Finance Agency is seeking to make it easier for Federal Home Loan Banks to accept certain kinds of collateral for advances. Since 2000, some Home Loan banks have accepted "other real estate-related collateral" including commercial real estate loans, commercial mortgage-backed securities and home equity lines of credit. They also have accepted "community financial institution collateral" such as small business and small farm loans and community development loans. The FHFA said Tuesday that there is "little risk associated" with this collateral. As a result, it is opening the door for all 11 Home Loan banks to accept this collateral without seeking prior approval. It released a proposal Tuesday under which FHFA would simply review a bank's acceptance of the collateral through the examination process. "Those types of collateral are no longer new, and the remaining universe of new types of collateral that might potentially fall into the ORERC category is small," the proposal said. The FHFA is taking comments until Oct. 24. As of yearend 2015, the Home Loan Bank System had $631 billion in total advances, according to an annual report by FHFA. The "adjusted minimum level of collateral securing advances was $756 billion, and the total collateral pledged to the FHLBanks was $2.23 trillion." Other real estate-related collateral accounted for 13.3% of collateral, which has been "relatively constant over the last three years," the report said. Home Loan bank members had pledged $3.3 billion of community financial institution collateral as of yearend 2015 to support $2 billion in advances. CFI collateral includes small-business, small-farm, small agribusiness and community development loans as well as securities representing a whole interest in such loans. FHFA is also seeking to loosen its grip on the approval process for new business activities by proposing a materiality standard. Under the proposal, Home Loan banks would be required to submit a notice when they engage in new activities that "entail material risks not previously and regularly managed by the bank." The FHFA would review the riskiness of the new activity as part of the examination process. When it comes to newer, more risky activities, "FHFA expects a FHLB would discuss the contemplated activity with FHFA staff early in the process." If needed, the Home Loan bank would be required to submit a proposal for the new business activity that includes a "complete description" of the new activity along with a "thorough analysis of the legal authority for the activity." President Xi Jinping hugs 5-year-old Tseyang Lhamo while visiting Tibetan ethnic villagers in Qinghai province onMonday. PANG XINGLEI / XINHUA Restricting the exploitation of natural resources in the ecology-fragile Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is good for economic development, President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday during an inspection tour. Protecting the ecological environment of the Sanjiangyuan area, known as "China's water tower", is vital for the nation's development, Xi said. The ecological system is fragile in Qinghai, especially in the Sanjiangyuan area, where the headwaters of the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang (known as the Mekong outside China) rivers are located. The area is home to more than 2,200 types of wild plants, 85 animal species and more than 230 kinds of birds. Since the late 20th century, the lakes there have shrunk as a result of human activities and overgrazing. During a tour of the plateau on Monday, Xi said ecological protection must be made a top priority in exploiting natural resources. At the Qarhan Salt Lake in Qinghai province, he told the local government to draw up a proper strategy for natural resources and set an example for the nation in correctly exploiting them. Xi visited a potash fertilizer company's yard near the lake, where he was briefed on the firm's production, sales and technological upgrading. On Monday afternoon, Xi visited a Tibetan ethnic family in Tanggula, a township in Sanjiangyuan. The villagers presented whitehada(silk scarves) to the president to show their respect. Hearing that local people's livelihoods had been improved with better housing and home appliances, Xi told them they would continue to have happy lives and wished them good health. Poverty relief work has been a prominent feature of Xi's domestic tours. On Tuesday morning, he visited a newly built village in Haidong, Qinghai, where the residents have just been relocated from their shanty huts in the remote mountainous region. The huts had no running water. In late 2012, during his first inspection tour after becoming general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, he visited a poor village in Hebei province and presented the villagers with relief materials such as cooking oil, quilts and winter coats. During a tour last month of the Ningxia Hui autonomous region, an underdeveloped area with a high concentration of ethnic groups, Xi said: "There are still some 50 million Chinese struggling with poverty, and by 2020 they must all be lifted out of poverty. This is my top concern now." [email protected] Zhang Yaozhong contributed to this story. A Chinese millionaire with New Zealand citizenship and three other people have been ordered to hand over 42.85 million NZ dollars ($31.2 million) to the New Zealand and Chinese governments to settle money laundering charges. The New Zealand Police said Tuesday that a court order against controversial millionaire William Yan and Wei You, and two of Yan's acquaintances, was the single largest court-ordered forfeiture ever in New Zealand. It was also the first that related to crimes alleged to have occurred in China, said a statement from the Police. The activity underlying the forfeiture orders was alleged money laundering and the settlement was full and final without any admission of criminal or civil liability. The proceedings against Yan and You began in August 2014, when police officers raided their luxury penthouse apartment in the largest city of Auckland. Restraining orders were obtained over assets associated with the couple, including the apartment, several luxury vehicles and substantial shareholdings. Related proceedings were initiated in December 2013 against Yingzi Zeng and Shui Yong Huang, who were associates of Yan, said the statement. They were alleged to have assisted in money laundering and property associated with them was restrained, including three Auckland properties, a Porsche and Maserati, and more than 4.5 million NZ dollars ($3.27 million) in bank funds. Once the settlement sum was paid, the restrained properties, vehicles, shareholdings and third party assets would be released, said the statement. The settlement followed a complex three-year investigation focusing on money laundering of large sums of funds allegedly derived from a series of alleged frauds perpetrated in China from 1999 to 2001. "This is a significant success for New Zealand Police," Detective Inspector Paul Hampton said in the statement. "The outcome in this case reflects the effective working relationship between Chinese and New Zealand law enforcement agencies." The next process would be determining how the recovered monies would be shared between the New Zealand and Chinese governments. The court order was made under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act, which essentially forces someone to prove how an asset was paid for - even if they were acquitted or criminal charges are not laid. Yan - also previously known as Bill Liu, Yang Liu and Yong Ming Yan - reportedly had a reputation for spending millions in Auckland's biggest casino. Yan stood trial in the High Court at Auckland in May 2012 after pleading not guilty to five charges relating to false declarations on immigration and citizenship papers. Justice Timothy Brewer found him not guilty despite saying the evidence put before him "proves a situation that is highly suspicious." Yan has been a permanent resident in New Zealand since 2002. In 2005, he applied for citizenship, but this was opposed by the Department of Internal Affairs because his true identity was not known. He was then granted citizenship by then Internal Affairs Minister Shane Jones against the advice of officials. In June 2005, Chinese authorities reportedly posted a "red notice" with Interpol, claiming Yan was born Yong Ming Yan and stole the identity of Yang Liu in 1999, obtaining two false passports. He was wanted for embezzlement. Chinas drills reflect growing military capability South Korean media may have misinterpreted the recent entry of Chinese military planes into the overlapping areas of the two countries' air defense identification zones (ADIZ) as part of China's drills in the Sea of Japan, experts said. But they added the long-distance drills near South Korea's and Japan's sensitive locations reflect the Chinese military's growing capabilities. The Chinese military's official newspaper, the PLA Daily, reported on Saturday that Chinese bomber jets flew over the Sea of Japan to join drills with two Chinese fleets on Friday. The Yonhap News Agency reported Monday that three Chinese military aircraft flew over the airspace near South Korea's southern island of Jeju on Thursday without prior notice, and left shortly after the South Korean military issued a warning and sent fighter jets to escort them. The Japanese Defense Ministry also reported on Friday that the country's Self-Defense Force also detected two H-6 bombers and one Y-8 early warning aircraft over the East China Sea and the Sea of Japan. Yonhap said China is "flexing its muscles" in order to express its discontent with Seoul's recent decision to deploy the US missile defense system, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), on its soil. Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences research fellow Lu Chao said it was not the first time Chinese military planes flew over the area, and the earlier fly-by did not create much concern from Seoul. However, the timing of the South Korean media reports was also interesting, he told the Global Times. "The fly-by of Chinese military aircraft took place on Thursday, but the South Korean military did not release the information to the media until Monday, when US-South Korea military drills started. Was it because of the US backing?" Lu asked. A Yonhap report on February 2 said two Chinese fighter jets also flew into the overlapping ADIZ of China and South Korea on January 31, and the South Korean military said it did not feel threatened by the Chinese fighter jets' presence. "But South Korea should not exaggerate the Chinese planes' fly-by to avoid ties from becoming more tense," Lu said. Sensitive location Beijing-based military expert Song Zhongping said Japan and South Korea reacted because China picked a sensitive location. Song said China was trying to use the bomber jets to tell South Korea that apart from launching missiles from China's territory, China can also send bombers with cruise missiles to airspace near South Korea, so the THAAD cannot protect South Korea at all. An anonymous Chinese military expert told the Global Times that the Chinese military was doing the right thing if Japan and South Korea believe it was sending a strong signal, because the negative behavior of Japan and South Korea is harming their relations with China. He said that the dispute with Japan in the East China Sea and the THAAD issue affect China's national security, and that the fly-by is the Chinese military's duty, "so if we have power we should show it to countries which threaten our security." He added that Japan and South Korea should get used to China's military presence in the area, even in the overlapping ADIZ, because "in order to protect China's national interests, military drills in these areas will become routine, and our aircraft did not fly into any country's airspace." Another Chinese military expert who also requested anonymity said that because THAAD affects China's security, it should focus on its military. "THAAD is a military issue rather than a trade or cultural dispute, so China's response doesn't need to affect trade ties and cultural exchanges since it hurts both China and South Korea," he told the Global Times. However, the impact on China will be much smaller than on South Korea if the THAAD issue interrupts bilateral trade and cultural exchanges, he said. "Only those living in Northeast China would feel the impact, but the impact on South Korea could be more significant since South Korea's economy is heavily dependent on the Chinese market," he added. China's Xiaomi to enter U.S. smartphone market soon Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has announced its intention to finally enter the US smartphone market. The company's vice-President says plans are in the works to enter the smartphone battle in the United States sometime in October. However, specifics about what product Xiaomi plans to launch, or exactly when it plans to launch it, have not been revealed. Hugo Barra does say it will focus on social media, with a plan to reach out to younger consumers in the United States through new technology. The move is not unexpected. Xiaomi acquired around 15-hundred patents from Microsoft in June. The Beijing-based company officially entered the US market last year through its mi.com online store. However, Xiaomi has only been selling accessories, such as power banks and headphones. The US Air Force and the Bulgarian Air Force will jointly conduct air policing to protect Bulgarian airspace starting on 9 September 2016. Two US F-15 fighter jets will join Bulgarias MIG-29s for a week on this mission, which is part of NATOs enhanced air policing measures for eastern Allies. Until now, air policing over Bulgaria has been conducted by national means. The enhanced air policing measures for Bulgaria are being launched by NATO for the first time, in response to a request by the Bulgarian authorities. NATO takes its responsibility to ensure the safety and integrity of our airspace very seriously. This mission is a demonstration of solidarity and support for our Ally Bulgaria, NATO Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow said. Air policing scrambles respond to military and civilian aircraft that do not follow international flight regulations, or approach NATO airspace without proper clearance. Often they fail to properly identify themselves, communicate with Air Traffic Control, or file flight plans. NATOs air policing responses seek to minimise risks, and ensure the safety of the airspace and its users. NATO air policing helps ensure equal protection for all Allies, including those who do not have the full range of air defence assets in their own militaries. Microwave radiation permeates households Microwaves change the nature of food, depleting nutritional value Russia's warning to the world (NaturalNews) What would your life be like if you didn't have a microwave oven? While your microwave certainly saves you time, is it slowly destroying your health? Not only do microwaves attract the most unhealthy, nutrient-depleted foods, but they also expose families to electromagnetic radiation that permeates the walls and the human body.The electromagnetic field (EMF) produced by common household microwaves is something Russia has taken seriously in the past. After conducting thorough research into the health effects of microwave EMFs, Russia determined in 1976 that microwaves were dangerous to their people. In that year, Russia banned the devices to protect their citizenry.The radio frequency radiation emitted by microwaves doesn't remain contained in the microwave oven. In fact, the FDA has their own set of safety standards limiting the amount of microwaves that can leak from an oven throughout its lifetime. In the U.S., any microwave that lets off over 5 milliwatts (mW) of microwave radiation per square centimeter up to 2 inches from the oven's surface is faulty and dangerous.In the real world, is this radiation really being measured from household to household? Most likely not, and consumers are led to believe that this new age cooking method is safe for their bodies. A handheld EMF meter can be used to test household microwave appliances for radio frequency radiation levels. When a microwave is turned on, its non-ionizing radiation can penetrate the walls and permeate the human body. In May 2011 the World Health Organization classified this EMF exposure as a class 2B possible carcinogen.Microwaves seem fast and simple, but how they prepare food is far from what the body would recognize as natural . When foods are cooked in microwaves the molecules are exposed to waves of energy that vibrate at the speed of 2.4 billion times per second; this causes the food molecules to resonate at very high frequencies. The food molecules quickly generate heat from the inside, where water is present. This cooking method is strikingly different from a convection oven, which emits a slow heat that warms the food from the outside-in.Microwave ovens, on the other hand, heat the food up from the inside-out, changing the very nature of the food, deforming the structures of the food molecules. This is why microwave food loses 60 to 90 percent of its nutritional value. In fact, the amino acids in milk and cereal grains break down into carcinogenic substances after they are put through a microwave. When meats are put through the microwave a carcinogen called d-Nitrosodienthanolamines forms. When fruits are exposed to microwaves , their glucoside and galactoside content breaks down into carcinogenic substances.When food is heated up in plastic containers, the chemicals from the plastic can heat up and leach into the food as well. Known carcinogens and endocrine disrupters such as BPA, phthalates, polyethylene terpthalate (PET), benzene, toluene and xylene can leech directly into microwave food.Berlin research dating back to 1942 investigated the health hazards associated with microwave food; this was the same research that led Russia to ban the devices in 1976. The ban was eventually lifted to promote free trade with the west; however, the problems with microwaves are still the same today. Russia ultimately issued an international warning for microwaves and cell phones, which release similar frequencies that cause biological and environmental hazards.The good news is that transitioning from a microwave to a convection oven is easy. Steamers or turbo ovens are great alternatives, too. It's much safer to let food defrost and allow it to cook naturally through convection, to avoid depleting the food's nutritional properties and changing its natural molecular chemistry. It's important to remember that food is information for the cells, and if the body no longer recognizes what is going in, then it cannot utilize nutrition that is no longer there. Starving with full stomachs Plastic oriented society (NaturalNews) Since the beginning of this year, nearly thirty sperm whales washed up on the North Sea coast. Of these stranded animals, thirteen were found on a beach near the town of Toenning in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. An autopsy of these thirteen whales left scientists deeply disturbed.The animals' stomachs were full of plastic debris, including a 43-foot-long fisherman's net as well as a 28-inch piece from a car and sharp remains of plastic buckets.Some experts say violent storms in the north-eastern Atlantic pushed the squid into shallower water. The whales followed their staple food and eventually ended up on the German beach.Ursula Siebert from the Hanover Veterinary College, however, believes these animals were starving and hadn't eaten anything but plastic in the days before they died.Speaking to the, she said that, in spite of how much rubbish they found inside the intestines of the sperm whales, it was not the official cause of death. It is believed that the animals died of cardiac and circulatory failure. However, one could postulate that starvation certainly contributed to their untimely deaths She noted that all the animals were young males, aged between 10 and 15 and weighing between 12 and 18 tons. They didn't appear to have any issues with their internal organs and had a healthy number of parasites.A 15-ton sperm whale needs about 1,000 pounds of food every day. However, the investigation found no evidence that they had eaten anything other than plastic since they left the Norwegian waters and entered the North Sea.Rob Deaville, the project manager for the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme, toldthat he has never dealt with so many stranded whales around the North Sea coast in 20 years."Historically we have had mass strandings but nothing of this scale for decades," he said.Schleswig-Holstein environment Minister Robert Habeck said these findings show us the outcome of a plastic-oriented society. He further added that animals inevitably eat plastic and other rubbish which make them suffer and die from starvation.Not only the big food-sucking marine life has to cope with how we manage our plastic waste and are destroying the planet. As stated by Nicola Hodgkins of Whale and Dolphin Conservation in the, large pieces will cause obvious problems and block the gut, but we shouldn't ignore the smaller bits that could cause a more chronic problem for all marine species.It is said that about 80 percent of plastic waste dumped on land eventually ends up in the oceans where it is either eaten by marine life or floating around in massive garbage patches.Sadly, this is not the first time animals were killed due to accidental ingestion of human debris. In 2011, a young whale was found dead near the coast of the Greek island of Mykonos. When they dissected its four stomachs, they found nearly 100 plastic bags and other pieces of trash.A 2015 study published in the journalreported that 90 percent of sea birds accidentally ingest plastic.Marine pollution is posing a direct and severe threat to the balance of the marine ecosystems. Also, plastic microparticles are invading our food chain and threatening our wellbeing too. Until we get our plastic usage and pollution under control, animals and humans alike will suffer the horrible health effects of plastics, and we too will face starvation (NaturalNews) There is little that agribusiness giant Monsanto won't do to make a buck and to spread it's genetically modified, unclean seeds and food around the world, even if it means taking advantage of a country that has been decimated by war.As reported recently by, with the assistance of the U.S. government, Iraq's seed and agriculture industry was decimated by Monsanto and other U.S. corporations. In May 2003, after the second Iraq war officially ended, American diplomat Paul Bremer was appointed to head up an occupational authority, which was essentially the controlling arm of Iraq. During his tenure he issued 100 orders that established a rebuilding strategy, which included Order 81 titled, "Patent, Industrial Design, Undisclosed Information, Integrated Circuits and Plant Variety Law." To view it, click here Physician and environmental activist Dr. Dahlia Wasfi gave an explanation of how devastating this order was in a 2008 presentation "Before 2003 they had a well-functioning, centrally-controlled seed industry that had developed over the years a rich seed variety for almost [every] variation of wheat in the world today," she said, as cited byWasfi further noted that Iraqi farmers were able to achieve that success by adhering to ancient traditions of saving, replanting and sharing seeks from earlier harvests. As historians have noted, modern agriculture stems from these seed techniques that originated around 5,000 B.C.E., in a region of the Middle East that includes Iraq.However, by 2005, Iraq was only able to provide about 4 percent of all its seeds, said Wasfi, because under Order 81, "Iraqi farmers are not allowed to save seeds , they are not allowed to share seeds, no sharing, and they are not allowed to replant harvested seeds."The war, along with previous years of sanctions against the government of Saddam Hussein, were also key factors in decimating Iraq's domestic seed industry.In her presentation Wasfi said Monsanto marketed seeds to Iraqi farmers that contained "terminator genes," which effectively prevent seeds from being planted for future crops . Though Monsanto owns the technological patent for such seeds, it has not used it and has instead opted to charge royalties when Monsanto genetic materials are found in crops In addition, Wasfi explained that the order paved the way for other international agricultural corporations like Cargill Inc. and Dow Chemical to exploit Iraqi farmers. These companies gain profits from GMO seeds and special cancer-causing herbicides like Monsanto's Roundup, which are typically used together.noted that the Bush administration appointed Daniel Amstutz, a former Cargill VP, to head up efforts in Iraq to make its agriculture industry more amenable to Wall Street."They need a place, a laboratory if you will. To try out their new toys," Wasfi said.It should be noted that at the time, Iraqis were facing unprecedented starvation . UN human rights officials noted that in 2005 about a quarter of Iraq's children did not regularly receive enough food, and nearly 8 percent faced acute malnutrition."Order 81 allowed for Monsanto to promote the benefits of its seeds to a suffering population without warning farmers of the potential financial risks,"reported.Wasfi further noted that even Monsanto's choice of seeds made the food crisis in Iraq worse."They gave farmers six types of wheat to grow, only six," she said. "Three of them are for wheat for pasta. Iraqis don't eat pasta."That meant a population undergoing a food crisis, with some of its citizens starving to death, were given seeds to make half of their production only for exports, the activist noted. "Who is going to make money off of that? Not Iraqis," she said of a process she further described as "sick and wrong." Govt. policies only making food shortages worse 'We will starve' (NaturalNews) The slow but inevitable collapse of a major and formerly wealthy South American nation is at hand, and the cause of its demise is a familiar one: political opportunism.The slow, sad death of Venezuela has been chronicled now for years, ever since far-Left leaders took over the reins of power, promising the people the same thing Democrats in the U.S. promise: a utopia, where all are equal (except the ruling class), no one has any more than anyone else (except the ruling class), and economic benefits are spread equally, regardless of level of skill, education or training (except the ruling class; they get more because they are more important).Only, in this Left-wing utopia, equality means everyone is equallybecause all of the incentives for creating wealth and opportunity have been forcibly removed from the economy via Marxist/socialist ideology.Ordinary Venezuelans who have increasingly been deprived of even life's most basic provisions are now reduced to digging through trash just to get something anything to eat on a daily basis.As reported by the, people around the country are looking to garbage dumps for scraps and food that can either be exchanged or sold for more food. The situation has become particularly dire and common in Los Puertos de Altagracia, the capital of the municipality of Miranda, in the state of Zulia. In that place, Venezuelans comb through the debris of scraps tossed out by bakeries and other businesses in the hopes of being able to sustain themselves through the week.One citizen who refused to be named said that others are coming from the neighboring areas of Mother Mary of St. Joseph, Punta de Leiva, Punta de Piedras and La Guardarraya suburbs. The citizen said that parents are arriving with children in tow, in a desperate bid to find whatever they can to sustain themselves.Others say that their strategy involves arriving early and positioning themselves to be in the best possible place when garbage trucks arrive. That way, they get dibs on finding the best food "Surviving is what we do. Here we get bread, flour or wheat dough disposed in bakeries, with which to make arepas or bread. We also pull out vegetables and fruits. Of course, they are not very good," said one, Henry Quintero. "We have six people in the family my four children, my wife and me. Nowadays we rely only on what we get here."As for President Nicolas Maduro, he blames his failed socialist policies and those of his predecessor, the late Hugo Chavez on wild conspiracy theories. A favorite is to blame the United States for incidents like food riots, as if Washington had any influence whatsoever over Maduro's self-destructive economic policies. The government has encouraged citizens to grow their own foods, and by all means, everyone should do that to the extent possible. But government policies are not helping.Such assignments of blame, however, only exacerbate Venezuela's food crisis. By blaming others and refusing to relinquish government control over markets and the economy, Maduro is dooming his country to suicide; at some point ordinary citizens tired of the deprivation and chronic hunger will rebel.In the meantime, they continue to eke out a living as best they can, with many parents saying that large decreases in the weight of their children has forced them to consider extreme measures in order to feed them.One 25-year-old mother said her 5-year-old child has lost about 12 pounds already, while her oldest has lost nearly double that. She herself used to weight about 160 pounds but has lost more than 45 pounds.Jessica Gonzalez, who doesn't have a job and is a mother of three, said that finding several scraps of meat or raw chicken is considered quite the treasure, but in order to tolerate digging in garbage she has to cover her mouth and nose with a rag. She added that she tries not to see what others are eating, and to get to the dump early for fresher food.Others are not so lucky. Their children are in danger of dying from malnutrition. (NaturalNews) As biased ashas been against Republican presidential nominee Donald J. Trump , the paper has been equally biased inof his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton . Even to the point where Times' editors are willing to risk our national security and survival as a country which, frankly, is unforgivable.While most consumers of mainstream media don't know that Clinton is a medical basket case, as Natural News founder and editor Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, has documented recently , the media itself is aware that something is wrong with her otherwise they would not be trying to find ways to hide it.Aside from simply ignoring her many ailments her past brain injury/concussion, her routine coughing fits, her inability to climb a short flight of steps, her taking of blood thinner mediation to guard against new formations of blood clots now some in the MSM are actively calling on technology giant Google to "hide" her poor health by adjusting its search algorithms to prevent as many voters as possible from finding out.As reported by, one of the Times' technology columnists, Farhad Manjoo, made the 'suggestion' after former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani made reference to Clinton's obvious health problems on a Sunday morning cable news program."Go online and put down, 'Hillary Clinton illness,' and take a look at the videos yourself," Giuliani recently said on, during a discussion about how sick Clinton actually is.Manjoo's advice is for Google , the world's number one search engine, to "fix" the issue by covering up results that may hurt the Democratic nominee on the basis anyone who believes she is sick is just a conspiracy theorist and doesn't deserve honesty in search results "Google should fix this. It shouldn't give quarter to conspiracy theorists," Manjoo tweeted.Following Giuliani's advice to Google "Hillary Clinton illness" turns up alternative media reporting from sites likeand some others, alongside stories by newer, left-leaning sites like, which published a piece debunking the claims (and thus ignoring plenty of evidence).But asand Adams both note, the fact is despite efforts to ignore, downplay, hide or cover up her condition, Clinton's health is most definitely becoming a major issue this campaign cycle, as it should.One of the most recent pieces of evidence that voters are supposed to pretend they didn't see is a photo of Clintonup a short flight of steps at a residence in South Carolina, as noted in Adams' story.Even though her personal physician, Dr. Lisa Bardack, released a customary letter in 2015, in which she pronounces Clinton as healthy even though a majority of voters want her to release her medical records.In addition, it is a matter of public record that Clinton takes several potent medications like Coumadin, a blood thinner, after suffering a blot clot in her head and a concussion from a fall.There have also been medical experts who say that she is exhibiting signs of physical and even mental health issues. On a recent program, Dr. Drew Pinsky, a noted TV physician, said he was "gravely concerned" about Clinton's health, saying she appears to be receiving "1950s-level care." He noted that the blood clot in her head was "exceedingly rare" and that she appears to be getting care from "a friend" she met back in Arkansas.And while that is just one physician's opinion and granted, one that has made a name on television the rest of Clinton's medical file and history are matters of public record.What does it matter if she isn't physically fit for the job? Her lack of stamina and ability to remain focused could be devastating to our country should we find ourselves faced with another world war, which is increasingly likely. America cannot afford to lose one of those or our country ceases to exist as we know it.But you won't hear any concern about that from the sycophantic mainstream media that is continuing to protect Clinton at all costs. Flowers for Algernon Daniel Keyes Harcourt, Brace & World: 1966. Cliff Robertson as the title character in Charly, the 1968 film adaptation of Flowers for Algernon. Credit: Selmur/Cinema Rel. Ciro./The Kobal Collection By the time science-fiction writer Daniel Keyes died in 2014 at the age of 86, he had lived through vast upheavals in biomedical science, from the discovery of the DNA double helix to the sequencing of the human genome. But ethical oversight did not always keep pace. Keyes' novel Flowers for Algernon, 50 years old this year, highlights how often the need for oversight is ignored or flouted. A case in point is a 194653 study conducted by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and sponsored in part by food conglomerate Quaker Oats. Dozens of boys with learning difficulties at the Walter E. Fernald State School in Waltham, Massachusetts, were fed cereals containing radioactive tracers to track how they absorbed iron and calcium. The boys were told only that they were joining a science club, and consent forms sent to their parents made no mention of radiation exposure. A US Department of Energy committee concluded in 1994 that it was extremely unlikely that the boys had been harmed by the radiation, but the disregard for their human rights is breathtaking. Other experiments, including some sanctioned by the US government, were much more egregious. Hundreds of African-American men involved in the Tuskegee Syphilis Study in Alabama from 1932 to 1972 were never told that they had the disease; nor were they treated, despite the availability of penicillin from the 1940s. The Tuskegee 'experiment' would never happen today, but the Massachusetts study's more subtle transgressions in failing to fully regard the participants as ends in themselves, rather than a means to achieve the researchers' ends remain relevant. It is this suppression of feeling for people and laboratory animals in the pursuit of scientific knowledge that Keyes captures in Flowers for Algernon. Keyes' novel, based on a short story that he published in 1959, follows 32-year-old Charlie Gordon, who agrees to have an experimental brain operation that may help him to overcome his severe learning difficulties and increase his intelligence (he has an IQ of 68). The only subject to have previously undergone the procedure successfully is a lab mouse named Algernon. After the operation, Charlie's IQ rises rapidly; he soaks up new languages and knowledge of the arts and sciences. His journal entries, which make up the novel, chart his growing awareness of his own sexuality and emotions, particularly his feelings for his former teacher at the Beekman College Center for Retarded Adults. More revealing of Keyes' intent is the evolving relationship between Charlie and Algernon. At first resentful of Algernon's superior intellect (the mouse easily beats him at navigating a maze), Charlie develops a strong bond with his fellow experimental subject. At the height of his genius, Charlie begins to investigate the experiment to advance the work. Soon realizing that it has flaws, he kidnaps Algernon to protect him. The regression that ends the book is so crushing that five publishers rejected the manuscript before it found a home. Flowers for Algernon became a best-seller (more than 5 million copies have been sold so far) and was adapted for the hit 1968 film Charly, starring Cliff Robertson. It still features in bioethics discussions. Keyes had a degree in psychology and would later become a professor of creative writing at Ohio University in Athens. In between, he edited pulp magazine Marvel Science Stories and worked at Atlas Comics, the precursor to Marvel Comics. He also briefly taught English in New York City's public-school system. The empathy that suffuses the novel stems from his experience of teaching children with learning difficulties. When one student returned to classes after a long absence, Keyes noted that he had forgotten how to read. He had lost it all, Keyes said. It was a heartbreaker. His sympathy for Algernon seems to stem in part from dissecting a female mouse at university: Keyes was shaken when his incisions revealed a cluster of tiny fetuses in its uterus. What exercises Keyes is his scientists' failure to imagine Charlie as a whole human being. Despite his compassion for experimental subjects, human and animal, Keyes does not portray researchers as the evil geniuses of cultural cliche. Writing before modern ideas of informed consent were fully established in the late twentieth century, Keyes portrays the careerist psychologist Harold Nemur, who leads the trial, taking pains to get permission from Charlie's relatives to carry out the procedure. Neurosurgeon Jayson Strauss, who performs the operation, is concerned about Charlie's well-being throughout. What exercises Keyes is his scientists' failure to imagine Charlie as a whole human being before his intelligence-enhancing operation. Whereas Charlie's appreciation of Algernon's 'personhood' only grows, Nemur is unable to view Charlie as anything other than a sort of benign Frankenstein's monster. That hubris is sometimes evident today, when researchers fail to reflect fully on the consequences of their work (S. Aftergood Nature 536, 271272; 2016). A crop of findings suggests that the well-being of laboratory rodents has not been sufficiently prioritized. For example, mice are housed at around 20 C, cooler than their preferred temperature of 30 C (see Nature http://doi.org/bnh7; 2013). Many lab animals are also overweight. As well as being bad for their welfare, there is evidence that such conditions may skew experimental results (Nature 464, 19; 2010). This year, plans to make a synthetic human genome were criticized when discussions between more than 100 scientists took place behind closed doors and did not focus sufficiently on the proposal's ethical implications (Nature 534, 163; 2016). Another controversy centred on the widely used HeLa cell line, derived in 1951 from the cervical tumour that killed an African American woman, Henrietta Lacks. But she had never consented to such use. In 2013, the cell-line genome was published without permission from Lacks's living relatives. After years of observing children with the rare eye cancer retinoblastoma, Alfred Knudson proposed an explanation for how two different forms of it arise. His 'two-hit' hypothesis led to the realization that the loss of gene function, not just the activation of a cancer-causing gene, could cause cancer. Credit: Courtesy of UT Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston Knudson, who was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1922, died on 10 July, aged 93. After completing a bachelor of science degree at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena in 1944, he earned a medical degree from Columbia University in New York City in 1947, and a PhD in biochemistry and genetics in 1956, also at Caltech. Knudson then spent years treating children in medical centres in California and New York. During the 1950s and 1960s, cancer epidemiologists were preoccupied with trying to understand the environmental causes of the disease. In a 1953 paper, cancer biologist C. O. Nordling noted that in developed nations, the incidence of cancer seemed to increase with age (C. O. Nordling Br. J. Cancer 7, 6872; 1953). Nordling's proposal that the occurrence of cancer needed the accumulation of at least six sequential mutations was ultimately proved wrong. But his idea that cancer is caused by a certain number of 'hits' to the genome paved the way for Knudson's key insight. Knudson had the foresight to focus on inherited tumours in childhood, which were relatively easy to study. The tumours could be counted and the early occurrence of the disease meant that there were fewer confounding factors to grapple with, such as the random genetic mutations that occur throughout life. During his years in the clinic, Knudson had noticed that children with the hereditary form of retinoblastoma often developed multiple tumours in both eyes. By contrast, people with the 'sporadic' form developed a single tumour in only one eye. Also, in cases of hereditary retinoblastoma, the tumours typically occurred before the child was five; in sporadic cases, they occurred later in development. On the basis of these observations, Knudson proposed that in hereditary retinoblastoma, one copy of the gene involved is mutated in the germ line (in reproductive cells such as eggs and sperm) and the other copy is mutated in somatic (non-reproductive) cells during the first few years of life, thus the cancer forms earlier. And because the germline mutation affects all somatic cells, these children are more prone to developing multiple tumours in both eyes. He argued that people who develop the other form are born with two normal alleles, both of which must become mutated in two 'sporadic' events in somatic cells, so the cancer develops later in life. Knudson published his hypothesis in 1971 (A. G. Knudson Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 68, 820823; 1971). He subsequently applied the same logic to other inherited tumours, such as Wilms' tumours (a type of kidney cancer) and those of the adrenal glands. In 1983, cancer geneticist Webster Cavenee, then at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, proposed that the genetic 'hits' in Knudson's mathematical models must be recessive, because the development of cancer happens only when both gene copies are mutated or lost. Using a technique called restriction fragment length polymorphism, Cavenee compared the DNA of tumours to that in normal tissues taken from people with retinoblastoma. He showed that the loss of heterozygosity (caused by a loss of the second, previously unaffected allele) led to cancer. (W. K. Cavenee et al. Nature 305, 779784; 1983). Knudson's two-hit cancer hypothesis had a huge impact. Until this point, cancer was thought to be caused by the activation of oncogenes. Now the search was on for tumour-suppressor genes whose loss of activity or function causes cancer. Knudson won the 1998 Albert Lasker Clinical Medical Research Award for his work on the genetic basis for cancer. Knudson made other significant contributions through his leadership of one of the oldest cancer centres in the United States: the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Joining in 1976, he spent 40 years there. He served as president (198082), scientific director (198283) and director of the centre's Institute for Cancer Research (197682). The achievement of which he was most proud was giving Irwin Rose, a biochemist who joined the centre in 1963, US$50,000 so that Rose could extend the stay of two visiting scientists from Israel. Rose and these scientists, Avrum Hershko and Aaron Ciechanover, won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2004 for discovering ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation. Cells use this process to break down and recycle protein; it has aided the development of several cancer drugs. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday that the bilateral talks between the Philippines and China may happen "within the year." Asked if there is already a date for the start of the talks, Duterte told reporters at the Malacanang presidential palace that, "Yes. Nearer than you think. Within the year, maybe." Duterte again said that he does not plan to bring the South China Sea dispute in the ASEAN summit in Vientiane, Laos next month, saying he would rather talk about the issue face to face with China. Asked if he would bring up the issue in the bilateral meeting, Duterte said, "There is always a time for that. It's impossible, when we are face to face and we come up with the hard facts." Meantime, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said Duterte will start this ASEAN tour with Brunei from Sept. 4 to 5. After Brunei, Andanar said he will fly to Laos for the ASEAN summit and related meetings from Sept. 6 to 8. From Laos, he said Duterte will visit Indonesia from Sept. 8 to 9. ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Moonlighting requires a time commitment that is likely to be noticed. Those who have taken the plunge say that anyone considering doing likewise should consider discussing it with their principal investigator (PI). At at the very least, the PI can try to understand changes in your schedule. For Rachel Haurwitz, co-founder and chief executive of Caribou, a start-up that is developing the genome-editing tool CRISPR, that discussion turned into a dream come true. When Haurwitz began her PhD at the University of California, Berkeley, she kept quiet about her interests in industry. But her ears pricked up whenever her adviser, Jennifer Doudna, mused about potential commercial applications of technologies developed in the lab. When those musings turned to CRISPR, the subject of Haurwitz's doctoral research, Haurwitz confessed to her interest in biotechnology. Soon the two were brainstorming names for the CRISPR company that they would co-found. Writing CRISPR-related patent applications taught Haurwitz that she did not enjoy patent law one career that she had quietly considered in her first year of graduate school. But she loved building the company. During her PhD programme, she took a class taught by venture capitalists, which paid off when she later became chief executive of Caribou. Students considering jobs outside academia can learn which lab heads will be open to the idea by listening for encouraging comments about former students and colleagues now working in industry, or about discoveries being made outside the ivory tower. When Meredith Fisher was being interviewed for graduate school, she homed in on mentors who were likely to be supportive by telling every professor whom she spoke to that she did not intend to continue in academia after her PhD. Many senior faculty members indicated their disapproval, and Fisher, now a partner at a venture-capital fund in Boston, Massachusetts, ruled them out. Some PIs expect a full commitment to lab research, and see themselves purely as mentors in academic science. Certain graduate students and postdocs say that they regret having been frank with their bosses because it cost them grant money or teaching opportunities, and it sometimes caused a personal rift. Discretion may be the best choice. A neuroscience postdoc who is nurturing a food-related start-up never works on the company in the lab, and weekly catch-ups allay any concerns that the PI might have about the progress of the research. In addition, many science departments have policies on outside employment, particularly when the university is supporting a researcher with funds. Before earning money on the side, or becoming a stakeholder in a company, students should learn about these policies from their institution's human-resources staff or office of graduate-student affairs. Those who decide to have 'the talk' with an adviser should be positive about their research and open about their long-term goals, Fisher says. Rather than say, 'I don't want to do this,' you might say that your talents may lie somewhere else, she advises. Beforehand, consider how an adviser could help you, and try to recognize their needs so that you can pre-empt any concerns. And be prepared for objections. I was asked why I wanted to waste my time with a PhD when I didn't intend to be a professor, Fisher recalls. I would say my PhD offers the training I want in science, and the recognition it provides will be a boon to my future career. She adds: Be proud of what you're doing. President of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) How easy is it to get a job at a South Korean institution? Credit: Korea Institute of Science and Technology The job market is getting tougher, but the country's increasing globalization offers great opportunities for foreign scientists. What advice do you have for scientists hoping to work in South Korea? Without learning Korean, foreign scientists cannot compete for R&D funding. For those who find work, I strongly advise that they broaden their professional and personal network. Tight social and business circles can limit opportunities, but Koreans are warm-hearted, and Korean scientists in particular are open-minded to scientists from abroad. What are the relative benefits of working for government institutes, universities or industry? Industry is well funded, but focuses on the profit motive to the extent that your project is continuously under review and can be terminated quickly. Government institutions also provide good resources, but it can be difficult to find high-quality students to fill positions, which can make it difficult to make progress. Academic institutions have access to very good students, but funding is sometimes limited. How does South Korea's famously hierarchical work culture affect scientists? Local researchers are very respectful towards principal investigators and senior researchers. Foreign researchers have a bit more freedom. They can freely walk out of the lab, whereas Koreans typically ask permission if they want to leave before the principal investigator. What is the best thing about working in South Korea? It's the Koreans. They are highly educated, and have strong characters and great energy. M.Z. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. When mathematician Alys Clark left the United Kingdom to do her master's degree in Australia, she only intended to be gone for a year. She ended up following her course with a PhD, before moving across the ditch to take up a job in New Zealand. Seven years after leaving home, she's still there, living with her New Zealand husband and their young son amid ferns and kauri trees, just a short drive from the black sands of the country's west-coast beaches. Jason Johnston works on automated monitoring of stored fresh produce at Plant and Food Research. Credit: Plant & Food Research It's pretty amazing, in that you can drive for half an hour and you are on the beach and not far away are the mountains, says Clark, who uses mathematics and physics to create virtual organs and identify early pathological changes at the University of Auckland. In 2014, Clark was awarded a five-year Rutherford Discovery Fellowship, which she is now using to mathematically model the physical processes involved in early pregnancy. Beyond the natural beauty on her doorstep, Clark feels at home in what she describes as a collegial, informal and inclusive research culture. The senior academics are very approachable and supportive of researchers going off and setting up their own projects. The whole way of life is a little more relaxed than back home in the UK. New Zealand has a population of less than 5 million and spends just 1.2% of its gross domestic product on research and development half the international average, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. As a result, the science community is small and the scope for career progression is limited, particularly in academia. It's not always an easy environment to stay in if you want a long-term career, says Clark. boxed-textBut for others, the small pool has advantages. Having previously worked in his native Germany, as well as Switzerland and the United Kingdom, meteorologist Olaf Morgenstern moved to New Zealand to continue his climate-modelling research in one of the field's most challenging environments. Before the move, a colleague told him that whereas in larger communities he may be a small fish in a big pond, in New Zealand, the pond is all yours. Indeed, since arriving to take a position at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research in 2008, Morgenstern has become something of a big fish: last year he took on a job in Wellington, leading the Earth system modelling and prediction programme for the Deep South National Science Challenge, the country's Antarctic climate-science endeavour. A growing interest in climate science and modelling in New Zealand in recent years fits well with the country's conventional strengths in Earth and environmental sciences. In the Asia-Pacific region, New Zealand leads the field, according to the Nature Index, which assesses research performance on the basis of contributions to high-quality publications. Agricultural research is a particular strength, driven by both government-owned research institutes and large corporations, such as the multinational dairy cooperative Fonterra. Although New Zealand's dramatic landscape is central to its appeal to many international researchers, for others, such as Morgenstern, the country's beauty is just an attractive backdrop to the scientific challenges and opportunities that it provides. Where to work The top ten institutions in New Zealand, based on research output included in the 2015 Nature Index, May 1 2015April 30 2016, shown as weighted fractional count (WFC), a measure of the relative contribution of an author to an article weighted to correct for imbalances between subjects. Bars are divided according to the proportion that each subject area contributes to the overall score. Salaries The relative gap between the best and worst paid in New Zealand is the smallest of those in the Asia-Pacific countries profiled, according to data collected in Natures interviews. Collaborations New Zealands average collaboration score (top) the sum of Nature Indexs fractional count (the relative contribution of authors to an article) for international collaborations divided by the number of countries New Zealand collaborates with. Research focus Perched on the edge of the Southern Ocean, New Zealand is an ideal base from which to assess the roles that the Antarctic and its surrounding waters have in climate change. Motivated by the most recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change which says that existing international climate models do not accurately account for the unusual cloud-cover patterns caused by the low-pressure systems that dominate in the Antarctic the New Zealand government has established the Deep South National Science Challenge. The multidisciplinary collaboration's mission is to better measure the changes occurring now, and more reliably predict what might happen in the future. Deep South researchers are creating their own modelling system based on ongoing observations, and sharing their data with international groups to improve global modelling. Their results will also inform policies about domestic issues that could be affected by climate change. Deep South is 1 of 11 National Science Challenges established by the New Zealand government to address issues of national and international significance. The others include Ageing Well, Sustainable Seas, and Building Better Homes, Towns, and Cities. The aim is to bring together publicly funded Crown Research Institutes, non-government bodies and business to tackle these challenges. The government is backing the plan with NZ$1.6 billion (US$1.2 billion) over a decade. Opportunities & contacts The government's New Zealand Now service offers personalized e-mails about jobs opportunities, including those in research, as well as information on studying, working and living in the country. New Zealand International Doctoral Research Scholarships provide university tuition fees, living expenses and medical insurance for three years for international students undertaking a PhD in the country. The Li Lairong Horticultural Research Fellowship is available to Chinese students for research placements of up to three-month with Plant and Food Research, a government-owned institute. Environmental advocate website, Wikigreen released a video that gives in-depth insights about the highs and lows of antifouling. What is Antifouling? According to the video release entited "Toxic Time Bomb" sent to Nature World News, antifouling is found on the ship hullsthat will help ships to go faster by keeping these ships free from marine life and can save using much fuel. In a report published by UK Marine Special Areas of Conservation, being submerged in the watermost of the time, there are of course parts of ships and boats that are "colonized by micro organisms found in an aquatic environment" and this will cause boat hulls to be subjected of infestation. This result is called fouling. Antifouling Paint a Possible Solution However, antifouling also contains biocide or toxic materials. According to Wikigreen, every year, there are about one million tons of antifouling being thrown to the oceans. That's too much toxic waste even for humans to take. Tin is a main component of antifouling products and is considered to be very dangerous that according to the video release, it causes genetic damage to female snaisl. Though in 2008, tin was finally banned to use for antifouling, there are still some who get away with it. Copper as a Safer Alternative to Tin Obviously, anything toxic is already a threat especially to the environment. In this case, marine environment will be severely affected as it can kill many marine species. It was even reported that species found underwater -- as deep as Mariana trench -- toxic wastes were found in sea animals due to the dumping of antifouling with a mixture of copper and pesticides. The video released by Wikigreen also features an issue about Akxo-Nobel, one of the two largest manufacturers of antifouling, and on how shipping industry finds that antifouling is not totally effective in making their hulls clean. A dog is not only a man's best friend. In Cormorant, Minnesota, a dog can also be a mayor. No kidding. This happened last weekend. According to a report from Mirror, the dog named Duke won again for the coveted position. Yes, we are talking about a seasoned mayor here, as this year is Duke's third term. A very, very lucky dog Duke is. WDay said that Duke won three years ago by accident. According to David Rick, Duke's owner, it happened due to a write-in vote where one pays a dollar and vote. This nine-year old Great Pyrenees was with the residents of Cormorant, who were enjoying their yearly Cormorant Daze event. It seems like everyone who voted for Duke is in good spirits and they all supported Duke's mayoralty race. "He's the only dog that's been elected mayor in America." said Becky Ulven told WDay. Duke won by landslide, making it pretty amazing on how popular he is with his citizens. And of course, not bad for a dog. It was a great day for the residents of Comorant. Beaming with pride, these residents gave Duke a victory pat to celebrate his awesome victory. "I don't know who would run against him, because he's done such great things for the community," said local resident Karen Nelson told WDay. WDay said that Duke's winning will land him to doghouse though. But do you ever wonder what Duke will do after winning? "He's pretty busy working at the farm," said Nelson. It must be pretty unimaginable and unthinkable to have a dog as a mayor, but for the people in Comorant, Duke's winning is not something unusual -- as they said, Duke has done great things for the community. Perhaps, Duke united them. But perhaps, is there even anyone who didn't vote for Duke? And yes, Duke even has a rival. "Everybody voted for Duke, except for one vote for his girlfriend, Lassie" said Rick. The recent activity in Antarctica may seem innocuous, but they can spell disaster. From stunning lakes to expanding cracks, find out how the region is in danger as an effect of the rapidly rising heat. New Blue Lakes Can Destabilize the Ice Sheets, Lead to Disintegration Beautiful lakes don't usually mean doom. However, in this case, it might. According to a report from Science Alert, nearly 8,000 lakes had formed on the ice sheets of East Antarctica from 2000 to 2013. Some of these superglacial lakes seem to be draining into the floating ice below, which can compromise the stability of the ice shelf. Scientists suggest that this phenomenon could be one of the reasons for the loss of Greenland's ice sheets. The region was recorded to have lost about one trillion tonnes of ice just between 2011 and 2014. Chris Mooney explained in a report from Washington Post that these superglacial lakes are created in the summer months when temperatures rise. Thousands have been recorded, but the lakes don't last long. The best case scenario is it refreezes, but it can also disappear by draining through the floating ice or overflowing and draining into the ice below as well. The draining lakes can render the ice sheets and ice shelves weaker and get them disintegrating even more rapidly. East Antarctica used to be considered the most stable part of the continent, but climate change has turned the tables on the region. Scientists found a direct correlation between the temperature and the appearance of lakes with hotter months yielding a higher number of lakes. A Chunk the Size of Delaware Could Break Away From Larsen C and Raise Sea Levels Lakes aren't the only danger currently plaguing the ice shelves of the continent. A separate report from Washington Post reveals that there is a widening crack on Antarctica's fourth largest ice shelf called Larsen C, an activity that's a growing concern to the scientists tracking its progression. This particular ice shelf is so big that it's nearly as big as Scotland. Unfortunately, the crack is growing longer and wider through the years. Now the rift is 130 kilometers or 80 miles long. Researchers from Project MIDAS said this could mean a massive chunk of Larsen C could break off from the ice shelf, likely around 6,000 square kilometers or 2,316 square miles -- practically as big as Delaware. The loss of such a huge section could distabilize the ice shelf and cause further loss of mass, especially when coupled with warm temperatures creating superglacial lakes on the surface. If this huge chunk does break off, the activity could indirectly raise sea levels by causing the seaward flow of the non-floating ice behind it to go more quickly. Mars alert! The debate on Mars habitability has been ongoing for a long time now. Some say it can harbor life while some don't believe it can. But one thing is for sure, Mars possesses attributes that are similar to the Earth's landscape. NASA recently released a 360-degree video of Mars showing the Murray Buttes. Buttes are rock formations that were formed naturally with the youngest type of material sitting on top of the formation. One distinct object on the video is the "Murray Buttes" that are almost 50 feet high and 300 meters wide, according to TechTimes. NASA's Mars Curiosity Rover captured the said video. Aside from the fascinating view that it offers, scientists recognized that the Martian surface has Earth-like properties. Curiosity's Mast Camera (MastCam) captured the panoramic image of the terrain near Mount Sharp on Aug. 5, during the fourth year anniversary of its landing on the Gale Crater. Prominent features of the terrain are buttes and eroded mesas. Experts say these are similar to the terrain and landscape of the U.S. Southwest. The rock formations looklike it was taken from Earth and in Arizona, some scientists say. The only difference is that the rock formations on the red planet are resistant the harsh weather on the planet. "The buttes and mesas are capped with rock that is relatively resistant to wind erosion. This helps preserve these monumental remnants of a layer that were more fully covered that the underlying layer that the rover is now driving on," a NASA official said in a press release. But despite Mars' Earth-like appearance, it doesn't mean that the planet can host human life. However, the images captured by NASA's Mars Curiosity Rover provide vital information in the agency's attempt to send human crew to the red planet in the near future. NASA is certainly opening up to the public. Aside from allowing their research to be freely accessed by the community, the space agency is now taking part in the upcoming "Star Trek: Mission New York" convention. These five "Trek Talks" would hopefully shed light on the real final frontier. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the "Star Trek" franchise, NASA will take part in the convention this September. The agency will talk about the reality behind the science fantasy film. Experts from the agency will talk about alien life, the exploration of new worlds, and how the science fiction film has influenced technological development and space exploration. "NASA's Trek Talks at Star Trek: Mission New York will give fans the opportunity to be fully immersed in the fascinating ways in which Star Trek has impacted space exploration, from paving the way for new technologies, to fostering an interest in the exploring beyond Earth, and dreaming up alien life," stated Lance Fensterman, the global senior VP of Mission New York organizers ReedPOP. The "Star Trek: Mission New York" will run at the Javits Center from September 2 to 4. For those interested in the NASA "Star Trek" talks across the weekend, the schedule is as follows: "Ugly Bags of Mostly Water: What Will Aliens Really Be Like?" - Topic led by Phil Plait and NASA's Bobak Ferdowsi at Room 1A23 on September 3 at 12:15. "The Science of Exoplanets" - Topic led by NASA's Matt Ritsko and Jeff Volosin at Room 1A23 on September 3 at 3:30. "First Contact: Looking for Life in the Universe" - Topic led by SETI's Dan Werthimer and Ferdowsi at Room 1A23 on September 4 at 10:30. "The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite: NASA's Next Mission to Find Strange New Worlds" - Topic led by Volosin and Ritsko at Room 1A23 on September 4 at 11:45. "NASA" - Topic moderated by Robert Picardo at the main stage on September 4 at 1:30. Panel members will include NASA Astronaut Kiell Lindgren, Program Executive for Solar System Exploration Dave Lavery, Deputy Director of Science Communications Michelle Taller, Adam Nimoy, and Senior Technical Officer Jeffrey Sheehy. As to how much the film is close to reality as possible, David Allen Batchelor of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center claims it is pretty close to science compared to other sci-fi series. "Generally, Star Trek is pretty intelligently written and more faithful to science than any other science fiction series ever shown on television," stated Batchelor in a press release, adding, "Star Trek also attracts and excites generations of viewers about advanced science and engineering, and it's almost the only show that depicts scientists and engineers positively, as role models. So let's forgive the show for an occasional misconception in the service of an epic adventure." A new study from the University of Missouri reveals that a chemical used in many consumer products, including water bottles, metal food storage products and certain resins, could potentially reprogram the brain of male painted turtles, making them behave and act like females. Previously, the same team of researchers has discovered that the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) and ethinyl estradiol (EE2) could change the sexual orientation of painted turtles, making male turtles develop female sex organs. Now, a new study published in the journal Hormones and Behavior showed that BPA could also alter the brain of male turtles to exhibit certain behaviors common in females. "Studies have shown that exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), such as BPA, can override incubation temperature and switch the sex of males to females," explained Cheryl Rosenfeld, an associate professor of biomedical sciences in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine and an investigator in the Bond Life Sciences Center, in a statement. In our latest study, we found that BPA also affects how the male brain is 'wired,' potentially inducing males to show female type behavioral patterns." For the study, the researchers applied a liquid form of BPA and ethinyl estradiol to painted turtle eggs and incubated the eggs at a temperature that typically results in males. The researchers conducted a spatial navigational test to the turtles five months after being hatched. Surprisingly, the male turtles who were exposed to BPA and EE2 have improved spatial navigational learning and memory, a character trait that is more dominant among female turtles. Despite improving the male turtles' ability to navigate, the researchers are worried that the female-like behavior of the turtles could also affect their adulthood. Researchers noted that once the exposed turtles reached adulthood, they might not exhibit courtship behavior needed to attract a mate and reproduce. This change in behavior could potentially result to a dramatic decline in their population. Student interns at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in California successfully flew a prototype of the aircraft that could one day fly to Mars. During the summer, a group of student interns had started the Martian plane project, which was called Preliminary Research Aerodynamic Design to Land on Mars (Prandtl-M). Another group of students continued the project and worked on the design before testing. The boomerang-shaped glider, which was remotely piloted, was finally test-flown on Aug. 11. "The first successful flights felt like a huge relief," John Bodylski, a mechanical engineering student at Irvine Valley College in California, said in a news release. "While we still plan to perfect the design, it is a pretty exciting feeling to realize that the aircraft is working. At first I didn't believe it and had to rewatch the footage from the flight." Students started flying designs in the halls of the research center. Prior to the test flights, the student crew and their mentors created a steel construction launcher and tested six different flight vehicle shapes to determine which will work best. The Prandtl-M, which will be made of fiberglass and carbon fiber, is planned to be launched from a high altitude balloon later this year. It will be released at about 100,000 feet altitude to simulate the flight conditions of the Martian atmosphere, Al Bowers, NASA Armstrong chief scientist and Prandtl-M program manager, said in a statement. The actual wingspan of the aircraft when deployed would measure 24 inches and weigh less than a pound. "What we like about small prototypes and this student program is this is real research, real cutting edge technology development," Dave Berger, manager of education activities at Armstrong, said in a statement. "They can work on all the major areas of aerospace engineering, such as controls, aerodynamics, structures and instrumentation encapsulated in one project. The program is small enough that we can design and fabricate very fast and we can try something that no one has ever done before. It might not be successful the first time, or the second time." According to Bowers, the next steps will involve the integration of the airframe and autonomous systems and addressing the challenges that will result from the integration. (Photo from Imagine China) On Aug. 22, during a nationally televised speech, Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie announced that the Bahamian government had signed an agreement with Export-Import Bank of China (EIBC) to promote the completion of the Baha Mar Resort. The resort will then be sold to a world-class owner of hotels and casinos. Christie also explained that, in addition to local government officers and relevant Chinese corporations, the Chinese ambassador and People's Bank of China also provided assistance. According to the agreement, China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) will re-start construction on the resort in September. The resort is scheduled to open before the 2016-2017 peak tourism season. The lender, EIBC, will provide a loan so that construction may resume. From early 2015, because of delays in completion, the developer was in conflict with CSCEC. In June 2015, the project filed for bankruptcy liquidation. In October, approved by the court, EIBC lent $2.34 billion, taking over the whole project. Since then, EIBC has been trying to seek purchasers, but proceeding slowly. In the televised speech, Christie did not disclose the name of the purchaser, but just explained that the government would make public all key elements of the agreement. However, it still remains a mystery who will take on the project's over-expenditures. Christie said that the government would make appropriate concessions for assisting in the operation of the resort. Referring to statistics from July 2015, Christie said that 97 percent of the Baha Mar Resort has been completed, and that an additional expenditure of $400 million would bring the project to operation. One year later, the estimated required expenditure has likely increased. Christie says CSCEC will resolve the unpaid cost of local subcontractors, and creditors are likely to get full refunds. Thousands of workers at the Baha Mar Resort will finally receive their unpaid wages. In May 2016, Bahamas talk show host Steve McKinney revealed that CSCEC requested a 30-year operation license for the resort's casino and a 30-year exemption of added value from the Bahamas government. Christie did not say he had rejected these requirements. So far, CSCEC has not made a formal statement about the situation. From king penguin to a highly decorated knight. Sir Nils Olav III, a resident king penguin at the Edinburgh Zoo, has recently been promoted from an honorary member of the king of Norway's guard to Brigadier. A special ceremony was held to commemorate his promotion. Too cute! Edinburgh Zoo's King Penguin Sir Nils Olav inspects the Royal Norwegian Guard https://t.co/rQsTU22xcS pic.twitter.com/T3DqHHexkc ScotlandNow (@ScotlandNow) August 23, 2016 The ceremony was attended by more than 50 Norwegian soldiers from the unit. Video of Sir Nils Olav III walking past members of the guard and receiving a medal was captured in a video. As mentioned by The Telegraph, Barbara Smith, acting chief executive for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said: "We are honoured to host His Majesty the King of Norway's Guard as they bestow a prestigious new title upon our king penguin, Sir Nils Olav. "It is a very proud moment and represents the close collaboration between our two countries, Scotland and Norway." The three-foot tall penguin was made honorary colonel-in-chief of the elite Norwegian King's Guard in 2005 and was knighted in 2008. According to The Guardian, the tradition of bestowing ranks to penguins started in the early 1970 when a young lieutenant from the Norwegian army Nils Egelien fell in love with the penguin colony during his annual visit to the annual Edinburgh Military Tattoo. He decided to adopt and make one of the king penguins as a mascot and honorary member. NBC News reported that they picked the name Nils Olav as inspired by Nils Egelien and Norway's then-King Olav V. When the original Nils Olav died, they decided to continue the tradition. Sir Nils Olav III who was promoted as Brigadier is only the third penguin to serve as the guards' mascot. Just like any member of the military group, Nils Olav is required to wear something to distinguish him from other penguins. Because he cannot fit a uniform, an insignia is used as alternative. Mental Floss explains that since you cannot take penguins to wars, Nils Olav's is honored "outstanding service and good conduct," meaning he should be well mannered towards other penguins and stands tall when called to attention. Scientists have recently discovered that female ocellated wrasses, Symphodus ocellatus, have learned a trick to outwit their sexual partners -- learning how to choose who will father their offsprings. According to the study published in the journal Nature Communications, female ocellates wrasses actually prefer males who are armed with good parental care, meaning they build algae nests and are committed to take care of the eggs as they hatch. Marine animals usually reproduce by spawning. During which, the female fish will release the eggs into the water or the algal bed and at the same time, the male fish will release sperm to fertilize the eggs. Usually, during this process, "sneaky" fish enter the scene. These fish, without the consensus of the female fish, begin to act like a third party and excrete their own sperm to fertilize the egg. The researchers found that the female ocellated wrasse has found a way to counter their rude deed. According to the study, during spawning, the female occelated wrasse releases an ovarian fluid along with the eggs. "The sneaker males release more sperm than the nesting males, and you'd think that would give them a better chance to fertilize the eggs, but there is something in the ovarian fluid that removes that advantage," said first author Suzanne Alonzo, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UC Santa Cruz in a press release. Through fertilization experiments, the researchers found out that the ovarian fluid ensures that the sperm of their "real partner" will get to the egg faster. The study implies that direct selection in marine animals is possible and that it can affect the male traits being passed on from generations to generations. "When we think about why marine species look and act the way they do, part of what we are seeing depends on this cryptic level of interactions between males and females, or really between eggs and sperm. It makes sense that you would see these kinds of effects in the reproductive tract, but that it's happening in the water is pretty amazing." International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List describes ocellated wrasses as protogynous hermaphrodites that live in small groups, mainly over algal-covered rocky substrates, but also in seagrass beds throughout most of the Mediterranean Sea. The Clayton Fire that ravaged Lake County is expected to be out any day now, which means it's finally safe for students to return to school. Lower Lake High School, north of Napa, was closed for a week because of flames. Nearly 200 homes were destroyed and 4,000 acres scorched after a serial arsonist allegedly set fire to the community. The blaze is 96 percent contained as of Tuesday. "A lot of people just lost their homes, and it seems like practically the whole town is gone, but we'll pull through," said Gloria Schussoln of Lower Lake. On Tuesday, relief was palpable on the faces of parents and faculty all of whom credited firefighters for keeping them safe. Said firefighters were on campus Tuesday to greet returning students. The kids that I've talked to, especially the ones who lost their homes, want to be back at school because this is their safe spot, said Principal Jessica Taliaferro. A shed housing the high school's softball equipment was burnt down in the Clayton Fire, but no other major damage was reported. Taliaferro on Tuesday credited firefighters for that feat. We've gotten to know a lot of the firefighters, CHP, personally, she said. So to have them here with us means so much. Elizabeth Naber agreed. Everyone is talking about it, the Lower Lake resident said. We see the firefighters every day. There's a lot of them. They're working very hard and people thank them and stuff. A pair of shootings in San Francisco overnight Wednesday that happened less than two hours apart from each other resulted in two men landing in the hospital, police said. The first reports of gunfire came in shortly after 10:30 p.m. in the Ingleside neighborhood near Mission Street and Geneva Avenue, police said. A 28-year-old male told authorities that he was waiting at a bus stop when he was shot, police said. The victim suffered non-life threatening injuries and was transported to the hospital by a friend. No suspect(s) have been made known to police. Less than two hours later, shots were fired in the Tenderloin neighborhood at the United Nations Plaza, injuring a 23-year-old male, police said. Two men became involved in a verbal argument before both parties opened fire on each other, police said. The victim sustained a gunshot wound to the torso and was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Authorities are looking an unknown 18-year-old suspect, police said. (Photo/Xiaoxiang Morning Herald's Sina Weibo) A 4-year-old girl was shot on Aug. 19 in Hunan province. The girl, nicknamed Xiaoximei, was injured by her 8-year-old playmate, who was allegedly trying to stop her from entering the second floor of an old house in their village of Datongshi in Hengyang, Hunan. The boy fetched a gun from the second floor, possibly trying to scare the other kids away, said Chang Yi, the father of Xiaoximei, adding that his daughter got shot simply because she was standing in front of the group. Seeing that Xiaoximei was injured, the other children ran to get help, Xiaoxiang Morning Herald reported. More than 100 bullets remain in the young girls body after a four-hour surgery. According to Huang Bin, a senior nurse at the ICU of Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, the girls gunshot wounds spread across her ribcage to her right arm and abdomen. The steel bullets also affected her heart and liver. The bullets are relatively small, and move even without much force. More surgery could cause additional damage to the childs body. Some [of the bullets] can stay inside if they do not affect her organs, Huang noted, adding that the girl is also being treated for tetanus in case any of the bullets cause the infection, the report explained. (Photo/Xiaoxiang Morning Herald's Sina Weibo) Xiaoximeis mother said the family chose not to call the police because they are acquaintances of the boys family, and know his parents cannot afford expensive surgeries. Chinese citizens are not allowed to possess guns without formal approval. Violators can be sentenced to up to seven years in prison, noted Hunan-based lawyer Xiong Lin, adding that the boys family could be held criminally accountable if the gun was found in illegal possession. A judge has ruled in favor of a Southern California museum in its 10-year legal battle over the ownership of two German Renaissance masterpieces that were seized by the Nazis in World War II. U.S. District Court Judge John F. Walter ruled last week that Pasadena's Norton Simon Museum, where the paintings "Adam" and "Eve" have been for more than 30 years, is the rightful owner of the two life-size oil-on-panel paintings. The museum called the decision mindful of "the facts and law at the heart of the dispute," the Los Angeles Times reported Monday. Marei von Saher alleged that the paintings were seized from her father-in-law, Dutch Jewish art dealer Jacques Goudstikker, after his family fled Holland during the Holocaust. The Norton Simon countered that it legally acquired the works in the 1970s from the descendant of Russian aristocrats who had them wrongly taken by the Soviet Union in the 1920s. Lucas Cranach the Elder painted the works in around 1530. In 1971, they were acquired by the museum for $800,000, the equivalent of about $4.8 million today. They were appraised at $24 million in 2006. Depicting mankind in the ominous moment before the biblical Fall, the painting's ownership battle, too, points to a period in human history fraught with uncertainty: a 20th-century Europe ravaged by war. The dispute is one of many to emerge in recent years involving precious art looted by the Nazis. The judge said that because Goudstikker's art dealership decided not to seek restitution for the works after the war, his family thereby abandoned their claim to the art. "Obviously, Ms. von Saher is disappointed with the court's decision," representatives from her legal firm, who plan to appeal the decision, said in a statement to the Times. They also criticized a legal motion exchanged with them by the museum's legal team, presenting evidence that von Saher's father was a member of the Nazi Party. "Using this information in an attempt to discredit Ms. von Saher is nothing more than a distasteful device to evade responsibility for refusing to restitute artworks that were indisputably stolen from her husband's family," the attorneys said. A statement from the Norton Simon Art Foundation said in part, "We take seriously the fiduciary responsibility to the public that our ownership of such important artworks confers. We have placed the panels on near-constant public display since 1971 and will continue to ensure they remain accessible to the public for years to come." A South Florida teen beat the odds to survive a brain-eating amoeba thanks to some quick-working doctors in Orlando. Every brain-eating amoeba patient Dr. Humberto Liriano has ever treated died. The cases are so rare that only four people have survived in the past 50 years. One of the survivors is 16-year-old Sebastian DeLeon, and talking about him brings Liriano to tears. "We woke him up, we decided to take the breathing tube out and within hours he spoke," Liriano said Tuesday. "Since then hes done very well. Hes walking, hes speaking. I saw him already this morning. Hes ready to go home." DeLeon was infected by swimming in a private lake in Broward County. He and his family were visiting theme parks in Orlando when he suffered brain-crushing headaches and severe light sensitivity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says only four out of 138 people have survived being infected with the amoeba in the past 50 years, including DeLeon, according to the hospital's doctors. Emergency room doctors at Orlando's Florida Hospital for Children first thought he had meningitis, but gut instinct pushed doctors to perform a spinal puncture test. DeLeon tested positive for the amoeba and the race against the clock to save his life was on. Luck was on their side as amoeba-fighting drugs happened to be local. "By 4:00, he was already cooled, intubated, in a coma and received all five medications," Liriano said. For 10 days DeLeon has been recovering and getting stronger. He beat grim odds to a deadly reality that claims 97 percent of its victims. "We are so thankful that God has given us the miracle through this medical team and this hospital for having our son back and having him full of life," mother Brunilda Gonzalez said. "He's a very energetic, adventurous, wonderful teen, and we are so thankful for the gift of life." The Chicago Board of Education voted Wednesday to approve a $5.4 billion budget that relies heavily on a series of property tax increases and borrowing for the financially struggling school district. The budget includes a 7 percent pension payment for teachers that would help pay for the districts $300 million deficit. That pension pick-up was paid for by the city for more than 20 years. A report by watchdog group the Civic Federation criticized the new spending plan for relying on a large amount of borrowing, being filled with property tax increases and lacking long-term planning. A disability rights group also says it is concerned with the way the budget funds special education. Just weeks ago, 1,000 CPS teachers received layoff notices heading into the new school year. Meanwhile, the Chicago Teachers Union has told its members to prepare for a strike. Teachers who weren't laid off are threatening to walk out like they did four years ago, especially if CPS demands the new contract will include phasing in the 7 percent pension payment now paid by the city. "I want the teachers to be part of the solution, there's a pay raise in there for them," Mayor Emanuel said. "There are changes to also make sure they get a pension. It's their pension, they individually retire on it." As for the timing of a strike, CTU president Karen Lewis said schools will open on time. "I think we have to because we need to have conversations with our members," Lewis said. "We haven't haven't had them yet." And even though teachers voted already and approved a strike, they may be asked to vote again. Some are suggesting there won't be a strike until after September 16th, which is when teachers receive their first paycheck of the school year. Meanwhile, weekly negotiations continue between the union and the district. CPS schools are set to open the day after Labor Day, on Tuesday September 6th. Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump told Bill OReilly Monday that he thought Chicagos violence could be stopped within a week using tough police tactics." Trump was featured as a guest on OReilly's Fox News show Monday night. The host opened the interview with a question about Trump's immigration policy, but the conversation quickly shifted to violent crime and, ultimately, Chicago. Trump told OReilly that he knows police officers in Chicago who would put an end to the violence if they were given the authority to do it. After being pressed, Trump explained that police would be much tougher than they are right now. The GOP nominee explained that he met a top Chicago police officer who reportedly told him that he could stop much of this horror show thats going on in the city within a single week. Trump explained that the officer, who is "not the police chief," would use "tough police tactics, noting that those sorts of measures were acceptable "when you have people being killed. However, the billionaire said he didnt ask the officer for specifics on the plan because he isnt the mayor of Chicago. Im sure hes got a strategy, he added. I didnt ask him his strategy. Trump also claimed that he submitted the officers name for some sort of job. "I sent his name in and I said, 'you probably should hire this guy because you have nothing to lose, Trump said. Look at whats going on in Chicago, its horrible. This guy felt totally confident that he could stop it in a very short period of time. Trump faced resistance last week after asking African-American voters what they "have to lose by trying something new like Trump?" The Trump campaign is currently trying to bolster minority support. At the same rally, Trump asked for "the vote of every, single African-American citizen in this country who wants to see a better future." The billionaire cancelled a rally at the University of Illinois-Chicago Pavillion in March after violence erupted outside of the venue. Trump hasn't made a public appearance in the city since. Prosecutors say an Arizona man strangled his friend with two electrical cords in her Logan Square apartment and then used the womans Link card hours later, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting. John Skyblue Antone had left Bernadette Glomski on the couch with her jacket covering her neck after the April 2015 murder in the 2500 block of West Moffat, Assistant Cook County States Attorney Becky Walters said. When her friends came in the next day, the pals thought the 58-year-old was sleeping and left her there, Walters said. One of those friends had been with Antone and Glomski in the basement apartment on April 13, 2015. The next day, one of the friends came back and found Glomski in the same position, Walters said. This time, the friend went closer and realized Glomski was dead. The friend called 911. Glomski had a bruise on her left upper cheek and marks and bruising around her neck, Walters said. The two wires around her neck included a cellphone charging cable, Walters said. Glomski was wearing a glove on her right hand that looked as if it was discolored by bleach, Walters said. A bottle of bleach, a knife and several cans of beer were on a table next to Glomskis lifeless body, Walters said. A rape kit was administered. Meanwhile, on April 15, 2015, Walters said video surveillance showed Antone used Glomskis Link card at a gas station. He never came back to Glomskis apartment, Walters said. Recent tests concluded Antones DNA was found on Glomski, Walters said. His DNA also cannot be eliminated as a possible source found on the ligature cord and his palm print was found on the bleach bottle, Walters said. Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. ordered 29-year-old Antone, of Sacaton, Arizona, held without bail on Tuesday. Antone has previous convictions for armed robbery and aggravated DUI in Arizona. He has held jobs in the automotive industry and other labor trades, an assistant public defender said. A dream wedding at the Lincoln Home for Lisa Foster and John Novak comes with historic restrictions this weekend. The suburban Chicago couple has been given permission for a ceremony Saturday in the foyer in what is thought to be a first for the Lincoln Home National Historic Site. But there are rules. The ceremony just inside the front door is limited to the couple, Lincoln presenter Max Daniels presiding as Mr. Lincoln and a photographer. Two National Park Service staff also have been assigned to the proceedings. Guests and family must remain outside. The ceremony is scheduled for about 5:30 p.m., after daily tours have ended. "If you could put together the dream wedding for me, this would be it, though I don't think as a little girl I would have imagined it," said Foster, who is a marketing manager for a Crystal Lake public-relations firm. It is the second marriage for Foster and Novak, both of whom describe themselves as passionate Lincoln history buffs. Novak's passion for Lincoln extends to a tattoo of the 16th president on his right forearm. Novak said the couple has dated for about seven years. He added that the Lincoln-themed wedding request seemed logical. "You never know unless you ask. We wanted to make the day special," said Novak. Family and guests are coming from as far away as Texas, Minnesota, California and perhaps Italy, according to the couple. Lincoln Home Superintendent Dale Phillips said the park usually hosts about a half-dozen weddings a year, including in front of the home and on the back porch. The Foster-Novak wedding, said Phillips, is thought to be a first. The Lincoln Home and neighborhood was added to the U.S. Park Service system in 1972. "My way of managing is that I'm always willing to try different things. We always try to err on the side of what's best for the visitor because we're a public resource," said Phillips, who was named to the Springfield post in 2010. In addition to the $110 cost of a special-use permit, Phillips said the couple agreed to the limits on the number of people in the wedding party and that the ceremony would not go beyond the front-door foyer. "Two of my staff members will be with them, and they are compensating their overtime," said Phillips. "We've done them (weddings) on the back porch, we've done them in front of the house, we've done them in the Burch lot (a vacant lot)." Phillips said he would consider other such requests, so long as couples are willing to pay Park Service costs and to comply with restrictions. While weddings are common, Phillips said he turns down other not-so-conventional requests for use of the Lincoln Home. "I get asked some very unusual things -- overnight stays, paranormal usage, things like that," said Phillips. The ceremony also is a first for Daniels in his nearly 30 years of in-character work as Abraham Lincoln. His wife, Donna, joins him in historic re-enactments as Mary Todd Lincoln. Daniels said they have known Foster and Novak for several years, adding that he obtained an online ordination just for the occasion as a minister of the Universal Life Church. "They are extreme Lincoln buffs, and they are an adorable couple," said Daniels. "I ask them some serious questions, because marriage is very important, and they answered all my questions to my satisfaction. It's an honor for me to be a part of their ceremony." While Daniels will be in period-attire, Foster said she and Novak decided on a contemporary wedding dress and suit after looking into Lincoln-era wedding styles. "He said, 'Did you see how folks dressed back then?'" Rarely does a day go by without the music of Hamilton playing at the Ansah home in Downers Grove, but it was that passion for the hit musical that turned into a financial nightmare for the suburban family. When the news broke that Hamilton was headed to a stage in Chicago, Diane Ansah said she knew she had to get her two teenage daughters there to see it. Emma, 15, and Sarah, 16, are dedicated fans who know the story- and every lyric in the showby heart. "Every day, all day long. If it's not blaring on someone's headphones, it's blaring on the speakers," mom Diane Ansah told NBC5 Responds. The familys first plan for getting tickets was foiled as soon as they drove by the ticket line the night before tickets went on sale. More than 100 people had already camped outmore than the Ansahs were prepared to wait behind. So they devised a multi-gadget Plan B: to fire up every phone and laptop the next morning as soon as tickets dropped. "And when 10 o'clock came, you know, they get in, Diane Ansah told NBC5. And on her screen.hers was spinning, his was spinning." The screens they saw will look familiar to anyone who has hunted hot tickets: the slow-churning icon that means maybe you are in, maybe you are not. In the midst of the hunt, Diane Ansah had to drive Sarah to her job. When she returnedexcitement was in the air. Emma was asking me questions about where we could sitI could tell she was having some success! Diane Ansah said. But then, a look in her inbox changed everything. Multiple confirmations from Ticketmaster were loading. And loading. And loadingto the tune of 57 tickets purchased. "I looked at my bank account and I wasn't sure I was reading it right, Diane Ansah told NBC5 Responds. I'm still in shock. It was $11,116.74." Somehow, while scores of fans across the city got shut outEmma got way in. Fifty-seven tickets in several batches, just minutes apart. "Eighteen times. I never, I mean for something that wasn't supposed to be able to be gotten through once. I never imagined," Diane Ansah said. She spent the next few days trying to unravel the mess, but says Ticketmaster would not budge, neither letting her return nor re-sell, due to anti-scalping rules. Unlike Alexander Hamiltons own life, the Ansahs story has a happy ending. After the family shared their dilemma, NBC5 Responds contacted Ticketmaster to ask what options the family could exercise. The options were to either to re-sell tickets to friends and family, or return the dozens of mistaken purchases. Ticketmaster agreed to let Diane Ansah keep one batch of tickets and return the restjust enough to get them in to the show, and out of the financial mess. I called NBC5 that night. I just felt it was my last-ditch effort, Ansah said. Her hunch paid off, and now she says the trip to see the show in Decemberwith just her six tickets- will be an outing she and her girls remember forever. As for how Emma was able to purchase so many tickets so quicklyTicketmaster would not offer comment, except to say it was happy to help clear up the problem. A spokesperson said that, in general terms, the company takes some time to verify that a customer has not exceeded the allowable ticket purchase limit before enabling the function that allows them to re-sell tickets. As the investigation into a fatal fire that killed three children in Chicago continued into its second day, authorities say a person of interest remains in custody, but no charges have been filed. Candles and balloons mark the scene where the three young sisters were among four people killed in the extra-alarm fire in a South Chicago apartment complex early Tuesday morning. Family members say they've been left heartbroken and angry as fire officials believe the fire may have been intentionally set. I just loved them so much and they loved me, the girls mother, Kyra Smith, said. Three-month-old Melanie Watson, 4-year-old Madison Watson and 7-year-old Shaniyah Staples were killed in the balze, along with an unidentified man, according to family members and the Cook County Medical Examiner's office. Around 1:40 a.m., approximately 200 firefighters were called to a burning three-story building in the 8100 block of South Essex Avenue, authorities said. The stairwells were consumed by fire, officials said, forcing several people to exit the 32-unit apartment building through windows. A witness told NBC 5 he had tried to save himself and the 3-month-old by jumping from a third-story window with the baby in his arms. Crews searched for hours after the blaze was put out for the other three victims who were unaccounted for before they were found dead in two different areas of the building. The bodies of the two other children were found in one unit, while the adult male was found in another location. One woman on the scene told NBC 5 the children were her nieces and they were staying with the 4-year-olds father in the building when the fire broke out. Chicago Fire officials said they found evidence that leads them to believe someone intentionally set the fire, and a person of interest was taken into custody, according to police. Resident Latoya Terry says she had an argument with the person she believes set the fire after a squabble over $10. "I didn't know it would escalate to this," she said. Three additional adults were taken to area hospitals. The building's owner released a statement Tuesday saying the "incomprehensible tragedy leaves our company forever changed." "It is an utterly stark reminder of how fragile life is and how quickly our world can be turned upside down," EquityBuild CEO Jerry Cohen and President Shaun Cohen said in a statement. "We are shaken to our essence, yet we are left to respond as human beings. Each of us is called upon to be vigilant in searching for opportunities to help, elevate and inspire those around us, and to live with compassion and love for all of our fellows." The owners say they were working with their property manager to provide housing for all residents affected by the fire and are working with the Red Cross to provide clothing and support. Shawn Staples, Shariyahs father, remembered the girls at a vigil Tuesday night. They are looking down on me, he said. Down on all of this and see how much love and how much support they had out here. A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise funds for the burials of the three sisters and to help the parents who lost everything in the fire. Nigeria's Abuja-Kaduna Railway, constructed by China Civil and Engineering Company (CCECC), started its trial operation on June 17, 2016. This is the first railway in Africa that has been built based on Chinese technical standards. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com] China-Africa relations have reached a new historical starting point. Though problems and challenges exist, cooperation is creating significant opportunities for both sides. Firstly, Africa has become one of the fastest growing areas in the world. Meanwhile, China's economy will also maintain a strong momentum. Secondly, African countries will continue to adopt economic policies in favor of infrastructure construction, labor intensive manufacturing, agriculture, extraction and livelihood related sectors. China and Africa will enjoy more cooperation opportunities in resource development, information communication and manufacturing. Thirdly, African economic integration will open new space for China-Africa cooperation at a higher level and in broader areas. China-Africa cooperation has also encountered some problems and obstacles. For instance, the political and security situation in some parts of Africa remains vulnerable, and the profound impact of the European debt crisis on regional economies is unfolding, which way lead to commodity price risks. At the same time, low cooperation level, weak cooperation results and quality, and unregulated operation of individual companies have also dampened the healthy and sustainable development of China-Africa trade and economic cooperation. A benign China-Africa trade and economic cooperation is significant for ensuring economic growth of both China and Africa, promoting peace and security in Africa and safeguarding the interests of developing countries. Moving forward, China will continue to work with African countries and take concrete measures to properly address problems existing in ChinaAfrica business cooperation, identify new converging points and growth points in China-Africa cooperation, and achieve new leapfrog development of China-Africa relations. China has provided some economic assistance to African countries for projects related to people's livelihood, human resource training and supply of goods and materials. The above mentioned assistance was made to the best of China's capabilities and represented a rather small share of its GDP, which was well affordable for a developing country. Development assistance is an important way for countries to give mutual support and achieve common development. It includes assistance of developed countries to developing countries and mutual assistance between developing countries. China's aggregate economy jumped to number two in the world from relatively backward conditions, and this achievement is inseparable from the support and help of many countries including African ones. In the wake of the Wenchuan earth quake in 2008, some African countries which do not have much financial resources generously afforded their assistance to China. Therefore, Chinese government will lend a helping hand to Africa within its capacity when it realize its own development. The author is a journalist with Sudan News Agency Today, the national nonprofit Active Minds announced the six winners of the 2016 Active Minds Healthy Campus Award, each recognized as one of the healthiest college campuses in the nation: -- California State University, Long Beach (Long Beach, CA) -- Jefferson College (Hillsboro, MO) -- Lawrence University (Appleton, WI) -- Sacramento State (Sacramento, CA) -- School of the Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago, IL) -- University of Wisconsin-Madison (Madison, WI) -- Honorable Mention: Ohio State University (Columbus, OH) This year's recipients represent a range of campuses - from small liberal arts colleges to major research universities - that operate within widely different contexts and challenges. Together they demonstrate how institutions of all types and sizes can create healthy communities that allow every student the opportunity to thrive and succeed. "The Healthy Campus Award winners stand out because they invest in students' physical and mental health on a comprehensive scale and for the long term," says Alison Malmon, executive director and founder of Active Minds, the national nonprofit that presents the Healthy Campus Award as part of its commitment to student wellness. "They are models of what's possible when a college prioritizes a campus culture of health, safety, and well-being." In recognizing the healthiest college campuses in the nation, the Healthy Campus Award celebrates institutions that are transitioning from a traditional, infirmary model of student health care toward a public health approach to student well-being - a change of emphasis from getting healthy to staying well. This focus on awareness and prevention also encompasses multiple dimensions of health (not just physical health) to include mental, social, and financial well-being. "The health and wellness of our entire campus community is a priority of mine," says Jane Close Conoley, president of California State University, Long Beach. "Good physical and mental health is essential to student success, which is why we support a variety of programs that directly affect health and wellness. Winning the Active Minds Healthy Campus Award validates our commitment to this important mission." The award, now in its second year, involves an extensive application process, as well as multiple endorsements and interviews. Each applicant is assessed across eight criteria, with winners chosen by a panel of prominent researchers and health and higher education experts. Students enrolled at schools that demonstrate excellence in prioritizing and promoting student health and well-being often find the programs and services offered there are life changing. "I was bullied in high school and struggled with terrible depression," says Haley Arbuthnot, an art major at Jefferson College. "It wasn't until I enrolled at Jefferson that I was able to start seeing a therapist (thanks to Jefferson's free counseling service). I'm living proof that, if provided with access to these important resources, any student can thrive in college." Research shows that investing in campus health allows more students to thrive and leads to increased student engagement, retention, and success. Campus efforts also broaden the way society as a whole thinks about, cares for, and values wellness. The Healthy Campus Award is made possible through the generous support of The Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation. Additional resources are available from Active Minds, including photos and a downloadable summary called "Key Findings from the Nation's Healthiest Campuses" (www.activeminds.org/award). A call for applications for the 2018 award will open in October 2017. [Tuesday], the national nonprofit Active Minds announced the six winners of the 2016 Active Minds Healthy Campus Award, each recognized as one of the healthiest college campuses in the nation: -- California State University, Long Beach (Long Beach, CA) -- Jefferson College (Hillsboro, MO) -- Lawrence University (Appleton, WI) -- Sacramento State (Sacramento, CA) -- School of the Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago, IL) -- University of Wisconsin-Madison (Madison, WI) -- Honorable Mention: Ohio State University (Columbus, OH) This year's recipients represent a range of campuses - from small liberal arts colleges to major research universities - that operate within widely different contexts and challenges. Together they demonstrate how institutions of all types and sizes can create healthy communities that allow every student the opportunity to thrive and succeed. "The Healthy Campus Award winners stand out because they invest in students' physical and mental health on a comprehensive scale and for the long term," says Alison Malmon, executive director and founder of Active Minds, the national nonprofit that presents the Healthy Campus Award as part of its commitment to student wellness. "They are models of what's possible when a college prioritizes a campus culture of health, safety, and well-being." In recognizing the healthiest college campuses in the nation, the Healthy Campus Award celebrates institutions that are transitioning from a traditional, infirmary model of student health care toward a public health approach to student well-being - a change of emphasis from getting healthy to staying well. This focus on awareness and prevention also encompasses multiple dimensions of health (not just physical health) to include mental, social, and financial well-being. "The health and wellness of our entire campus community is a priority of mine," says Jane Close Conoley, president of California State University, Long Beach. "Good physical and mental health is essential to student success, which is why we support a variety of programs that directly affect health and wellness. Winning the Active Minds Healthy Campus Award validates our commitment to this important mission." The award, now in its second year, involves an extensive application process, as well as multiple endorsements and interviews. Each applicant is assessed across eight criteria, with winners chosen by a panel of prominent researchers and health and higher education experts. Students enrolled at schools that demonstrate excellence in prioritizing and promoting student health and well-being often find the programs and services offered there are life changing. "I was bullied in high school and struggled with terrible depression," says Haley Arbuthnot, an art major at Jefferson College. "It wasn't until I enrolled at Jefferson that I was able to start seeing a therapist (thanks to Jefferson's free counseling service). I'm living proof that, if provided with access to these important resources, any student can thrive in college." Research shows that investing in campus health allows more students to thrive and leads to increased student engagement, retention, and success. Campus efforts also broaden the way society as a whole thinks about, cares for, and values wellness. The Healthy Campus Award is made possible through the generous support of The Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation. Additional resources are available from Active Minds, including photos and a downloadable summary called "Key Findings from the Nation's Healthiest Campuses" (www.activeminds.org/award). A call for applications for the 2018 award will open in October 2017. Donald Trump is suggesting he could favor "softening" laws dealing with immigrants living in the United States illegally. Trump taped a town hall in Austin on Tuesday for Fox News. Moderator Sean Hannity asked the Republican presidential nominee if he would change any statute to accommodate law-abiding citizens or those with children. Trump answered, "There certainly can be a softening because we're not looking to hurt people. We want people, we have some great people in this country." He added, "We are going to follow the laws of this country." His remarks could indicate he is considering easing his earlier pledge to deport the 11 million people living in the country illegally. Trump said he would make a decision "very soon" about deportations. Trump's visit to Texas included a fundraiser Tuesday morning in Fort Worth and a public rally later Tuesday evening. A quick stop in Texas to raise money for a campaign is very common, but hosting a rally in the Lone Star State just 11 weeks out from the general election is not. "The dye is cast here in Texas. It's going to go Republican, and so a lot of consultants feel like he's wasting his time here," said Gromer Jeffers, political reporter for The Dallas Morning News. Texas has gone red in every presidential election since 1976. "In fact, no presidential candidate on either side Democrat or Republican has held a public rally in Texas this late in the process since Bob Dole in 1996," Jeffers said. Some big Republican names in Texas politics skipped the Austin rally. Gov. Greg Abbott was in San Antonio Tuesday at Brooke Army Medical Center, for ongoing treatment of burns on his legs and feet he suffered last month. Land Commissioner George P. Bush, the only member of the Bush family to endorse Trump, told NBC 5 he had a previous commitment. Attorney General Ken Paxton said he had a previously scheduled speech. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, who gave Trump a lukewarm endorsement, was traveling overseas. And U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has not endorsed Trump. But some other state lawmakers were in attendance, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, who represents the 26th district. On Thursday former president Bill Clinton is scheduled to appear at fundraising stops in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio in support of his wife, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. But no rallies are scheduled. The Associated Press' Johnathan Lemire contributed to this report. What to Know 41-year-old Patrick Hardison is thriving a year after his historic transplant and can drive and swim for the first time in 15 years. Hardison, a volunteer firefighter was badly burned in a 2001 blaze in his Mississippi hometown. His body hasn't attempted to reject the extensive face transplant, NYU Langone officials said. The volunteer firefighter who underwent the most extensive face transplant in history last year at a New York City hospital last year can now swim and drive a car. NYU Langone Medical Center announced on Wednesday that 41-year-old Patrick Hardison is thriving a year after his historic transplant, and that his body hasn't attempted to reject his new face. The surgery has truly given me back my life, he said. I go about my day just like everyone else. Its allowed me to do things with my family that I had not been able to do. I cant tell you what a sense of freedom it is to even drive my kids to school. We recently went on a family vacation to Disney World, and I swam in the pool with them something I hadnt done in 15 years. Hardison, a former volunteer firefighter from Senatobia, Mississippi, has no scars on his face, and although he resembles his old self, some of his features are different. His eyes are smaller and his face is rounder, but he still has sandy brown hair. The divorced father of five said one of the best moments of his life was seeing his children for the first time after the August 2015 surgery. Four of his children attended the news conference. His 21-year-old daughter, Allison, said she cried after seeing him because she was so relieved. "After the injury, he wasn't normal on the inside. He was very unhappy," she said. "Now he's happy with himself and happy with life." Hardison was badly burned while fighting a fire in his hometown on Sept. 5, 2001. The then-27-year-old Hardison had been a volunteer firefighter for seven years and had entered the burning house to search for a woman. While he was searching, the roof collapsed and gave him third-degree burns on his head, neck and upper body. Hardison spent two weeks in a burn center in Memphis, Tennessee, about 40 miles north of Senatobia, and lost his ears, lips, most of his noes and most of his eyelids. Doctors used grafts to reinforce what remained of his eyelids and sewed them nearly shut to protect his eyes, leaving him with pinhole vision. Eventually a church friend wrote Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez, the chair of NYU Langone's plastic surgery department. Hardison was placed on a wait list for surgery in 2014 while doctors tried to find a facial match. A year later, doctors matched Hardison with New York artist and cyclist David Rodenbaugh, who died in a bike accident in Brooklyn. Rodenbaugh's mother gave permission to use his face, and said that her son had always wanted to be a firefighter. That gave way for the extensive, 26-hour surgery last August. Doctors stretched the new face over Hardison's skull and down the collar bones in front. In back, the transplant reaches far enough down that only a tiny patch of Hardison's original hair remains its color matched by the dark blond hair growing on his new scalp. The transplant includes both ears and new eyelids and blinking mechanisms, allowing Hardison to again see. Rodriguez called the surgery a "game changer." "Being able to give Pat this level of independence is a primary reason why we undertook this surgery," Rodriguez says. After the procedure, Hardison went through several months of rehabilitation and had a few other procedures to adjust his eyelids and lips and remove his feeding tube. "Pat has been incredibly compliant with his post-surgical regimen, and that has allowed us to expedite his surgical schedule," Rodriguez said. "He is extremely committed to daily exercise, taking his medications and meeting with his physicians regularly. All of this has put him way ahead of schedule in terms of getting to the optimal level of recovery and appearance." The hospital said that the next step in Hardison's recovery is to meet Rodenbaugh's family. The organization that arranged the donation, LiveOnNY is set to plan a meeting for later this fall. "With many successful transplants, there is a donor or donor family that makes these altruistic gifts possible, at the most trying time in their lives, said Irving. We look forward to arranging their meeting. The price of the EpiPen has risen more than 400 percent over the last eight years and a Connecticut member of Congress is calling on the manufacturer to lower prices and for a federal investigation into pricing. The life-saving device that holds an emergency dose of epinephrine is critical for treating people with life-threatening allergic reactions and the price has jumped from $56.64 to $317.82, according to an NBC News report. Families need to buy EpiPens every year because they expire and need to be replaced. U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal has reached out to the manufacturer, Mylan, and is also calling for the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Federal Trade Commission to investigate what he calls potential anti-trust violations and deceptive and illegal trade practices. My office has been contacted by dozens of concerned Connecticut residents, families, school nurses, and first responders who urgently require your life-saving product but fear that its skyrocketing price has put it out of reach. Due to Mylans virtual monopoly of the epinephrine auto-injector market and its unique life-saving attribute, it is crucial that your product remains affordable. Therefore, I demand that Mylan take immediate action to lower the price of EpiPens for all who rely on this product for their health and safety, Blumenthal wrote in a letter to Mylan. Families, buoyed by the union that represents caretakers for their relatives in state care, stood up against efforts from Governor Dannel Malloy's administration to privatize state services for the developmentally disabled Tuesday. They argued that the state's plan would hurt the health and wellbeing of their family members, many of whom have been in state facilities for decades. The staff is the lifeline to my brother," said Lori Gaglione as she fought back tears. Her brother is in a state-run facility slated to be transitioned to a private non-profit provider by the beginning of next year. I cant quit my job and stay for him. The staff is well trained, theyre there. They inform me. Youre not going to get that in the private sector. The turnover is greater. Im begging you, Governor Malloy. I will take you on a tour. I will do whatever it takes. Roughly 400 Department of Developmental Services employees will be laid off according to the governor's office, making room for what's been described by his administration as more efficient, cost-effective services. Non-profits are known for providing similar services at reduced costs compared to state services. Parents like Lindsay Mathews, whose son is in a New Haven facility argues private care is code for inadequate care. "These are cuts. Clear and simple cuts. Theyre not coming back unless we demand that they come back and we need to do that and we will. The governor says the arguments coming from those families are unfounded, and he has heard from many families optimistic that the reductions in expenses will lead to increased spots for the more than 2,000 people on state waiting lists. The changes we are making will allow us to continue having those services. If we dont make those changes, we would have to discontinue services. Thats the reason were doing that. Further, a spokesperson for the Office of Policy and Management, the governor's budget agency, said what's happening in Connecticut is long overdue on a wide scale, but has already happening in increments. Chris McClure with OPM said, "Since 2009, the number of individuals served directly by DDS in state run Community Service Arrangements has dropped from about 15% to less than 10%. That means today, over 90% of those living in CLAs are receiving services in facilities operated by non-profits and community providers." Lindsay Mathews who spoke at the press conference Tuesday morning, said the governor and his administration are mismanaging the state's most vulnerable population. Personally, I think he should be arrested today and put on trial for what hes doing." The Connecticut State police Troop D Quality of Life Task Force arrested two Killingly residents accused of selling heroin from a Stone Road home Tuesday. Thirty-three-year-old Daniel Baillargeon, also known as Digger, and 33-year-old Tana Dashnaw, both of 65 Stone Road, face charges of possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to sell, and operating a drug factory. Police said the pair was arrested after troopers executing a search and seizure warrant at their home around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday discovered drugs and drug paraphernalia. Baillargeon and Dashnaw were not home at the time officers arrived, but they were located at the Kings Inn in Putnam around 11 p.m. Between the home and their persons, police seized over one ounce of raw heroin, 3.8 grams of cocaine, nearly $8,000 in cash, three cell phones and a concealment device. Both were arrested. Baillargeon was issued a $100,000 bond and is expected in court Wednesday. Dashnaw was issued a $50,000 bond and is also expected in court Wednesday. President Obama spent Tuesday on the ground in Louisiana, experiencing first-hand the devastation after historic flooding. The president toured some of the hardest hit areas around Baton Rouge, vowing federal support and financial help for those who lost everything. Help for flood victims has come in many forms and from many places, including Connecticut. Plans that came together at the international headquarters of the Knights of Columbus in New Haven are already aiding people nearly fifteen hundred miles away in Louisiana. Floodwaters around Baton Rouge are receding, revealing even more of the 60,000 homes damaged last week by storms that dumped as much as two feet of rain in just two days. At least thirteen people died in the flooding. Those who survived have a difficult road ahead. They need food. They need clothing," said Andrew Walther of the Knights of Columbus. "They need shelter and a couple of days after that, they need clean up supplies. The scale of this disaster has elicited an enormous amount of support, sympathy and also donations," said Walther. Over the last week, the Knights of Columbus said the organization had raised more than $250,000 for flood relief. Volunteers are also on the ground in hard-hit Baton Rouge. Running food kitchens, moving pallets of food to people, renting trucks to move supplies around, helping people clean homes," Walther said of the assistance volunteers are offering. Officials with the Knights of Columbus said they will continue their fundraising efforts in Connecticut and nationwide and will continue with assistance in Louisiana, where more than two thousand people were said to still be staying in shelters on Tuesday night. It really speaks volumes to the fabric of the country that we can see a problem hundreds of miles away and say I want to help those people," said Walther. A 69-year-old Stratford man is dead after construction equipment hit him duriing work at a Westport home on Tuesday and the office of the chief medical examiner is investigating the cause of his death. Police said 69-year-old Herbert Grant, of Stratford, was supervising as concrete was being poured for a construction project at a home on Country Lane when the boom on the front of the concrete truck hit him. Grant, who was a private contractor hired by a concrete company to deliver concrete for the job, was unresponsive at the scene, according to police. First repsonders provided medical aid until Westport EMS arrived to transport Grant to Norwalk Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The chief medical examiner is investigating the cause of Grant's death. Two Quinnipiac students are spending their year off-campus at an assisted living facility to gain some real-world experience during their studies. Quinnipiac students Joe Huberman and Victoria Kozar are both looking to start a profession in senior care after graduation. So theyre getting an early start by spending the year living at Wallingfords Masonicare at Ashler Village, an assisted living village. "I think it's age cohort that we have a lot to learn from and I think I have as much to learn from them as I can hopefully give to them," Huberman said. Both students beat out 17 other applicants looking to ditch the dorm room for an apartment at the village and a job caring for more than 100 residents. "Moving forward how to treat patients, knowing from this side living among them I feel I can get a lot being a provider in this setting," Kozar said. Resident Howard Luppi graduated from Quinnipiac and loves the idea of having students in residence. "You're dealing with people that are basically all over 60, 70, 80, 90 and these are young people, and when they merged together a lot of it is going to come out of it that's going to be good," Luppi said. To earn credit the students will have to work eight hours a week and commute to campus for their other courses. While most campus courses are done with a pen and paper, these lessons will be measured in care. "I want to give them my heart my all, Kozar said. I was telling them I'm going to have office hours I'm ready to get the cookies out, I have a lot of life experience they have way more than me I hope to give what I have." Windsor Locks are searching for a suspect accused of sexually assaulting a minor. Police said Jose Rosario, 42, of 109 Martin Street in Hartford, is wanted on a first-degree sexual assault of a minor charge. Details about the incident were not immediately available. Rosario may be driving a gray 1999 Nissan Quest with license plate number 3AUPE8, police said. He was seen in Windsor Locks sometime last week. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact Windsor Locks police at (860) 627-1461. A recent survey found that business and management have become the most popular majors for students with high scores on the college entrance examination. However, the fact that these are the most commonly selected majors does not necessarily mean top students are most interested in these topics. For students who aren't sure what they want to study, the selection of a major often comes down to peer pressure, with the most outstanding students simply defaulting to majors such as business and management. For instance, more than one-third of the students in the Guanghua School of Management at Peking University were top scorers on the college entrance examination, with many boasting additional victories in academic competitions. One reason these students choose to study management is that doing so creates an easy path to a future career. Another reason for this phenomenon is called the signal effect: since the students in these majors are mostly at the top of their respective classes, employers are willing to offer the outstanding management graduates high salaries. This, in turn, motivates top students to choose such majors, since they are viewed as an incubator for high-paying careers. Statistics show that more than 45 percent of the top scores on the college entrance examination from 2000 to 2016 majored in economics and business management. But this phenomenon doesn't end with graduation. When top students finish school, they are more likely once again to be affected by peer pressure. They often give up potential careers that they truly love in favor of the ones that are most commmonly chosen by other elite students. After graduation, they tend to take jobs in investment, stocks and consulting. This cycle not only hurts the students themselves, but can also have a negative impact on society as a whole. When top students occupy all the vacancies in a given profession, they leave no space for those with lower grades who are truly interested in the field. This means that even more students are being prevented from following their passions. Seventeen people hurt at a Snoop Dogg and Whiz Khalifa concert in Camden on Aug. 5 when a railing collapsed are suing the two rappers and Live Nation, the venue operator, claiming the collapse "occurred due to poorly maintained guard rail at the venue, the poorly selected stage location and the inadequate crowd control measures in place." The suit filed Wednesday in a Philadelphia court doesn't specify what damages are being sought. The plaintiffs, represented by Philadelphia attorney Robert J. Mongeluzzi, include 14 fans who were attending the concert and three workers at the BB&T Pavilion along the Delaware Riverfront in Camden. It has previously been called the Susquehanna Bank Center and the Tweeter Center. Many suffered serious injuries when a partition separating the lawn from a secondary stage set up at the rear of the seating section collapsed shortly after the show began Aug. 5, causing a mass of concertgoers to fall roughly 10 feet onto the concrete below. [[391127021, C]] Authorities have said 42 people were hurt in the collapse, which occurred as the rappers were gesturing to fans to come toward the small stage. Lawyers say concertgoers were trampled and pinned to the ground, causing some to have broken bones, torn ligaments and tendons, loss of consciousness and emotional trauma. "I can tell you there is no doubt there was a crowd surge based upon the setup of the lawn with no chairs and no aisles, lack of security ... and then the artists telling people to come forward,'' Mongeluzzi said. "That's the setup, and that's the failure." According to the suit, the most seriously injured plaintiff who claims to have suffered a broken back is Michael Carpenter, who was working security at the event. "Mr. Carpenter suffered excruciating pain when the railing collapsed and trapped him underneath," the suit reads. "Portions of the railing and a wave of people landed on Mr. Carpenter and crushed him, fracturing his spine." Live Nation, which operates the venue, announced after the incident that it had "secured" the section of railing that had collapsed. The company also said in a statement at the time that it was working with authorities and structural engineers to determine the cause of the collapse. It has since setup a "safety zone'' to block a section of space in front of the railing. "This is really a post-accident admission that this is the way it should've been set up,'' Mongeluzzi said. An email seeking comment from Live Nation was not immediately returned. Wiz Khalifa, whose real name is Cameron Thomaz, and Snoop Dogg, whose real name is Cordozar Calvin Broadus Jr., were ushered from the stage moments after the collapse, and the show was later canceled. A call and email to the artists' representatives requesting comment was not immediately returned. Lawyers say their first step will be requesting an inspection of the area and railing to determine the cause of the collapse. [[238904721, C]] Philadelphia-based firm Saltz, Mongeluzzi, Barrett & Bendesky, P.C., has represented clients in similar cases, including a bleacher railing collapse at Philadelphia's Veteran's Stadium in 1998. Attorney Andrew Duffy said lawyers are "extremely confident'' they met the legal requirement for having the case litigated in Philadelphia, despite the concert's New Jersey venue. Live Nation operates venues nationally and does significant business in Philadelphia County, Duffy said. Joan Marcus The Dallas stop of the national tour of 'A Gentlemans Guide to Love and Murder' at the AT&T Performing Arts Center is a homecoming for Kristen Beth Williams. When she steps onstage to play Sibella Hallward, she is aware of the many Dallas theater friends, college professors, and family members sitting in the audience, anticipating her performance. One of her biggest fans in the audience is a fellow actor: her father, James W. Williams IV. The elder Williams is a licensed financial adviser with Raymond James Financial Service in Rowlett who stumbled into his acting career accidentally. After performing in a Christmas program at church, someone encouraged him to look into auditioning for a summer show in Garland. Since 1991, he has performed in approximately sixty musicals and plays in the Dallas area, appearing at Lyric Stage, Uptown Players, Theatre Three, WaterTower Theatre, MainStage Irving-Las Colinas, Garland Summer Musicals, and Garland Civic Theatre. "He is still my favorite Daddy Warbucks and Captain von Trapp," his daughter said. He recognized his daughters talent as she performed in Garland Civic Theatres Children On Stage summer shows. Seeing 'Cats' at the Dallas Summer Musicals confirmed Kristen Beth Williams desire to perform professionally. She began performing in regional theaters at age 13 and her father was always impressed with the high quality production teams of her shows. When it was time for her to select her college, her stepfather, a University of Oklahoma alumnus, encouraged her to look at his alma maters musical theater program. At that time, the school offered fall auditions. "Many students now apply to 10 or 15 programs and wait to find out where they will go. I only applied and auditioned for one program. I knew where I was going to school by December of my senior year," she said. Her father did not have any anxieties about her pursuing an acting career. "She has always been a phenomenal student. She could have been anything. I just had to get out of her way and let her follow her dream," he said. While she was in college, Williams spent her summers performing at Music Theatre Wichita, earning her Equity card during her third summer with the company. With that credential in hand, she moved to New York only months after her college graduation in 2003. He provided more financial advice and encouragement than acting tips, acting as a guarantor on the lease for a New York apartment. Her father credits his daughters focus for her success in New York. She has worked consistently, appearing in 'Top Hat' in Londons West End and 'Pippin,' 'Nice Work If You Can Get It', 'Anything Goes,' and 'Promises, Promises' on Broadway. He is particularly proud of her performance as Marge in 'Promises, Promises.' "She got exit applause after her number and only Sean Hayes got a better ovation at the end of the show," he boasts with tears in his eyes. "Exit applause!" She often performs in tours and her father is more than happy to travel anywhere to see her perform. "Its a great excuse for vacation," he said with a laugh. Meanwhile, his daughter attempts to keep up with his acting appearances. "I can't keep track his opening night schedule! He has performed in more shows than I have in the last few years." He is quick to point out an important difference in their schedule. "My runs are shorter than yours," he said. Joan Marcus. A break in 'A Gentlemans Guide to Love and Murder' tour schedule almost perfectly aligns with a rare opportunity for father and daughter to perform together. Both will appear in 'Camelot' at Lyric Stage in September, with Kristen Beth Williams playing Guinevere. As best they can recall, they last performed together in 'The Merchant of Venice' in 1999. Of course, they played the roles of father and daughter. 'A Gentlemans Guide to Love and Murder' is now playing through August 28. CLICK HERE To read The Dallas Morning News review. Kimberly Richard is a North Texan with a passion for the arts. Shes worked with Theatre Three, Inc. and interned for the English National Opera and Royal Shakespeare Company. She graduated from Austin College and currently lives in Garland with her very pampered cocker spaniel, Tessa. Regulators with the United States Department of Agriculture have proposed new guidelines for food store retailers that accept SNAP benefits or food stamps. Each year in Texas, close to 4 million people rely on the governments food stamp program. Last year in the United States, more than 45 million people utilized the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. If the regulations are passed, food stamp retailers that accept food stamps would have to stock seven varieties of foods in each of the four food groups: fruits and vegetables, breads and cereals, dairy meats, poultry, and fish. At least three of the items would have to be perishable. Through the program, the USDA is trying to provide healthier choices for residents that depend on smaller grocery stores, and corner stores for their food. I think that would be great, said Tara Pratt who is a mother of two teenagers. My son loves to eat salads, and Im trying to eat healthier too. If these stores had more fruit it would be a boost to parents on the go." "In the morning for breakfast, fresh fruit would be a benefit for people on the go. In a lot of fast food restaurants it costs more money to get a salad than it does to buy a burger. So to have that option for people who are trying to eat healthy, that would be beneficial, Pratt said. If stores are not able to meet the requirements they could lose the ability to accept food stamps. The southern sector of Dallas is void of quality grocery stores, making it difficult for families who live in below I-30 to buy fresh produce. There arent many places that you can buy food around here, said Joseph Alrob, who manages a small grocery store in Dallas Oak Cliff neighborhood. There arent many restaurants either. We sell grocery store items and hot food. We have tried to sell vegetables in the past. A few people will ask for them, but when we stock them, we dont have many buyers and we have to throw the food out, he said. Store owners, however, believe the proposed regulations would hurt their business and families in their communities. For some people, this is all they have. People dont just buy hot foot here, they are buying daily items like cereal, milk, bread, and meat. If we dont accept food stamps, thats going to hurt a lot of people. They are going to have to travel far to get food, and some of them dont have transportation, said Arob. The USDA has proposed a change that would require certain food retailers to stock seven varieties of foods in each of four food groups in order to accept benefits from snap or food stamps. The proposed regulations are still being revised by the USDA. The mother of a Texas teenager who used an "affluenza" defense after he killed four people in a drunken-driving crash has been released from home confinement. Tonya Couch is charged with hindering apprehension of a felon and money laundering. She and her son Ethan fled to Mexico last year after video surfaced apparently showing him at a party with alcohol a probation violation. A judge said Tuesday that Tonya Couch no longer need be under house arrest, but must wear an electronic monitor and not consume alcohol or drugs while awaiting trial. According to TMZ, Couch was cleared to work in June and currently tends bar at the Honky Tonk Woman Saloon in Azle. At trial, a psychologist blamed "affluenza" acting irresponsibly due to wealth for Ethan Couch's actions. He is serving nearly two years in jail for the 2013 fatal crash. An armed man was shot and killed by Dallas police Wednesday morning after pointing a weapon at an officer following a traffic stop, police say.[[391172591,R]] Dallas police said an officer pulled over a driver at about 9:43 a.m. on the 3600 block of West Davis Street and that when the car stopped, someone exited the vehicle with a gun and began running. Lt. Latoya Porter, with the Dallas Police Department's Homicide and Special Investigations Unit, said Wednesday afternoon the officer chased the man, giving loud, verbal commands. With the weapon still in his hand, the man turned toward the officer, police said, and was shot at least once. Dallas police are investigating an officer-involved shooting where one person was shot near West Davis and Kramer streets Wednesday morning. The man, whose identity has not been confirmed, was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. Porter said the traffic stop took place because the paper license plate on the car, a gray Nissan Sentra, didn't match the vehicle. Porter added there were other people in the car at the time of the traffic stop. Dallas police are investigating an officer-involved shooting near West Davis and Kramer streets Wednesday morning. According to the department, the officer was not injured in the incident. Neighbor Mariana Delgado said she saw the officer and man running down a side street near the traffic stop. I told the boy, 'stop, stop. Hes going to shoot you if you not stop.' And I look at the officer, and I say 'dont shoot him, dont shoot him.' Delgado said she watched the mant climb over a fence into a backyard and then saw the officer shoot the man through a gap in the fence. I just hear [sic] gunshot. And I just turn around because I dont want to see it. And I start to pray for him, said Delgado. Delgado said she never saw the gun police say the man had. Dallas police said the investigation into the shooting is ongoing and no further details have been confirmed. Investigators ask anyone with information about the shooting, or the other people in the car at the time of the traffic stop, to please call 214-671-3661 or Crime Stoppers. NBC 5's Ken Kalthoff contributed to this report. Help for flood victims in Louisiana continues to pour in from North Texas. "People who are out of their homes have the most immediate need. We need to get them sheltered," said Federal Emergency Management Agency spokesman Kurt Pickering. As many as 400 workers from FEMA's Region 6 Headquarters in Denton are in Louisiana to get federal assistance to the people there. "We really want everybody to be back into safe sanitary housing," Pickering said. "We want everybody to have whatever benefits match up with what their need is and their loss is." In Denton, 300 more are answering the phones at FEMA's National Processing Service Center. "We're probably one of the first places that the survivor contacts after a disaster," said FEMA's Robert Gunter. "We can talk to them and make sure they understand that things are going to be OK and that we're going to work to get assistance for them where they're eligible." Truckloads of supplies from FEMA's Fort Worth warehouse are also in Baton Rouge, delivering generators, tarps, food and water. "Obviously our goal is to try and get people back on their feet, get people back into their homes, cause that's one of our priorities," said FEMA's Bullet Young, in Denton. "We want to try to move the individuals back into their homes as quickly as possible." More than 115,000 families have already registered for federal assistance, and $127 million has already been distributed. The Dallas Independent School District opened three more single-gender schools this year, bringing the district's total to five. The Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women's Leadership School opened in 2004 and has earned national recognition. Its success led the way for the Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy to open in 2011. And now in 2016, the district opens Young Women's STEAM Academy at Balch Springs Middle School, Young Men's Leadership Academy at Fred T. Florence Middle School and Solar Prepartory School for Girls at James B. Bonham Elementary School. "The minute I saw these girl's faces, it was pure joy," said Principal Nancy Bernardino. "This is the moment we've been waiting for for a year and a half." Solar Prep is the dream of a principal determined to give girls a solid foundation in math, science and leadership. Bernardino proudly welcomed the first 198 kindergarteners, first and second-graders to the school on Monday. The school will add a grade level every year and eventually educate 750 to 1,000. It is open to all girls who live within the Dallas ISD boundaries. The district, through funding from a bond program, will expand the old James B. Bonham School where Solar Prep is housed to accomodate for the expected growth. A news release from the district said, "the building itself, constructed in 1924 as James B. Bonham Elementary School, stopped being a school after the 2011-2012 school year. A dwindling student population meant the school wasnt financially feasible to keep open as a comprehensive school. The district occupied Bonham by using it as office space until the Solar Prep concept was approved. Work began in earnest the past few months to convert the facility back to a school, not only returning it to its normal function but modifying the spaces for a more modern style of teaching." "I have four boys," said Bernardino."My boys are 9, 10, 11 and 14, and I get the question, 'Mom, why did you open an all-girls' school?' I had to explain to my boys, this is a need." The need, said Mike Koprowski, the district's chief of transformation and innovation, is rooted in several reasons. "The fact that it's single gender. It's STEAM, but also a diverse enrollment. It's the first time in the district we've run an income-based admission lottery," said Koprowski. STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and math. The challenging curriculum, a socio-economic diversity model and social emotional learning are Solar Prep's three priorities. Bernardino and a team of three other veteran educators wrote the proposal for Solar Prep as part of the Public School Choice Initiative in Dallas ISD. The district approved the plan and tapped Bernardino as the first principal. As for the income-based admission lottery, half the girls who attend are eligible for reduced or free lunch; the other half is not. "Right now, we have girls from Seagoville to Addison and everything in between," said Bernardino. "We want to extend so girls are truly representative of the whole district." "If we're surrounded by people like us, it's harder to develop empathy, hard to understand different perspectives," said Koprowski. Empathy, curiousity, self-awareness, humility, leadership and grit are the Solar Six, qualities Solar Prep hopes to instill in its scholars as they are taught and shown how to lead with confidence and purpose. "Humility and grit," said parent Amelia Giddens. "They want girls to be humble but they want them to take charge, to be fierce. So, when I heard about it, I jumped on it." Giddens has a first-grader and a kindergartener now attending Solar Prep. She is excited about the possibilites for her daughters. "I love the dual language program," said Giddens. "Kylie, my kindergartener, got chosen for it and they said by fifth grade she'll be fluently speaking Spanish." Solar Prep also hopes to get girls fluent in the languages of science, technology, engineering, art and math. Through hands-on learning, the girls, or future trailblazers as Bernardino said, will be exposed to possible careers in fields where women are traditionally underrepresented. "Every day they will go to the maker space, a space where they can use their creativity to make whatever they like," said Bernardino. "Computer design, coding, robotics, draw, paint. We want to provide an enviroment where these girls can be themselves and the sky's the limit." Supporters of a more expensive, all underground subway path for the so called D-2 downtown light rail transit expansion passed out hundreds of T-shirts in advance of Tuesday nights DART board meeting. They are campaigning to change courses from the mostly surface route currently favored by the transit agency. D-2 would relieve traffic on the single existing light rail route which carries all transit trains through downtown Dallas now. Subway support has grown through opposition to the proposed surface routes, according to Matt Tranchin, Executive Director of the Coalition for a New Dallas. Whats changed in the past year is those stakeholders have come together and realized any surface line is bad for the heart of Dallas, Tranchin said. DART says the cost could be twice as high for an all underground route. At the same time, supporters of another new DART rail line fear a downtown subway would come at their expense. The Cotton Belt line would link Plano with D/FW Airport. Last month, the Plano City Council agreed to pay an extra $12 million to speed completion of a Cotton Belt rail transit line. The Cotton Belt route also crosses Carrollton. I think we need some sort of transit on the Cotton Belt line. I think thats imperative, Carrollton Mayor Matthew Marchant said. But the Carrollton mayor said Bus Rapid Transit technology instead of light rail could cut the cost of the Cotton Belt by two-thirds. BRT uses rubber wheel buses on dedicated busway lanes removed from regular street traffic. It has been used in Los Angeles other U.S. cities. It is a much more affordable form of transit that in my opinion would allow both things to happen. I think you could have the Cotton Belt be developed as a BRT and also free up enough money for D-2 in Downtown to be a subway, Marchant said. Carrollton Mayor Marchant also serves on the North Texas Regional Transportation Council. He supports completion of the D-2 project as well as the Cotton Belt line. A strong downtown Dallas is really important for inner ring suburbs like Carrollton and I think for the entire region, Marchant said. If you choose BRT on the Cotton Belt, I dont think there is a rivalry. The subway supporters hope to change DART plans before final decisions are made in the next few months. Right now D-2 is a need for the entire system and it think its a need for those of us who live work and play in the city of Dallas to have an alignment that doesnt hinder future growth, Tranchin said. DART is also pursuing a downtown street car project to link the Oak Cliff line that currently ends at Houston Street with the Uptown McKinney Avenue Trolley. A prison gang member on the Texas 10 Most Wanted list who served time for attacking a guard has been arrested on parole violation and kidnapping charges. The Texas Department of Public Safety on Tuesday announced Johnny Garcia of Kirby was captured in San Antonio. The 35-year-old Garcia was caught Friday at a residence. Records show Garcia's criminal history includes convictions for assault, weapons offenses and drugs. Garcia in 2009 was convicted of assaulting a prison guard three years earlier. He was sentenced to eight years behind bars, then paroled in 2014. Investigators say Garcia was sought in Bexar County in a kidnapping case in which a female associate was abducted. Further details on that case weren't immediately released. Garcia had been wanted since April. Arlington Police are apologizing for an error that led officers to break into a family's south Arlington home while responding to a domestic disturbance. But a wrong address led police to the wrong home. "About midnight we just heard this 'bang, bang, bang,'" explained Tommy Osbakken. "We thought we were encountering a home invasion." Osbakken said he and his wife had just returned from a family vacation. They considered grabbing their guns. "And then we heard the magic words: 'Arlington Police Department,'" Osbakken said. Osbakken said it didn't take long for officers to realize there was a mistake. "The police were sent to the wrong home altogether," he said. "Nothing really happened, but my family was completely terrorized in our own living room." Osbakken said the officers were extremely apologetic once they realized their mistake. "The cops were completely professional," he said. "I don't want to throw them under the bus at all." Osbakken said he doesn't want anything from police except a new door. He's also hoping whatever led to the error doesn't happen to another family in the future. It appears one wrong number in the address led to the mistake. Police are investigating whether it came from the 911 caller, the dispatcher or an officer responding to the call. Police eventually responded to the correct home. Osbakken thought back to the moment he considered grabbing his gun, thinking it was an intruder. "You're in Texas. We all have firearms," he explained. "One thing differently, and things could have been completely different. We're very lucky people." Ever since the Chinese womens volleyball team claimed gold in Rio, the home of the team's star spiker, Zhu Ting, has become a new "scenic spot," attracting people from nearby villages to take photos in front of it. Zhu's house is located in Dancheng County, Henan province. According to a neighbor, Zhus parents came from the countryside into the village on the day of the final match so that everyone in the village could gather in their home to cheer for Zhu together. "The village has never been so bustling! Since the team won the title, many people come to visit [Zhu's] house every day," the neighbor added. When a reporter visited the house, there were two tourists taking photos in front of it. Cui Zhenji and Cui Tingliang said that they rode an electric tricycle 30 kilometers along the bumpy, dusty road to see the site. Zhu Ting "I knew Zhu Ting was a Dancheng local. I watched every game of the women's volleyball competition. Zhu Ting's performance was superb, so we wanted to take a look at her home. Even just taking a photo here makes me proud," Cui Tingliang said happily. Cui Jizhen, a village school teacher, said he never thought he could get so close to an Olympic champion. "Media reports said Zhu Ting grew up in village, and that her family was not well-off. I know that is true after visiting her hometown and seeing her house. It's really hard for a village child to make that sort of accomplishment," he said, adding that he would tell his students Zhu Ting's story to inspire them when the new semester begins. Zhu Kangfei, another villager, reminisced about last Chinese New Year when Zhu Ting came home to visit her family. "She greeted everyone she met and never refused people's requests to take photos with her," he said. In his impression, Zhu Ting is still the same village girl she used to be. A Winnetka woman says she's waited months for a toy she bought for her great-grandson, but the company has continued to push her off. It happens to all of us at some point: you buy something and keep checking the mail but it never shows up. For Diane Martin, that waiting has been accompanied by the questions of her great-grandson, who keeps asking when his glow-in-the-dark race track will arrive. She says she doesn't know what to tell him anymore. Martin says she saw this commercial for the toy, called Magic Tracks, with her great-grandson back in March. I was thinking at the time, this is really, kind of neat, she says. So, Martin did what grandmothers do, ordering two sets of tracks for about $40 as a gift for her grandson. Sixteen weeks later there was still no sign of them, and the company says they're on backorder. I really want him to remember that his nana got those tracks for him, Martin says, but every week she has to tell him she doesnt know when theyll finally arrive My heart sinks, she says. It just is wrong, you know, it's just wrong. Steve McFarland, chief executive of the Better Business Bureau of Los Angeles, says if a company can't ship your order in the time promised 30 days in the case of Magic Tracks it must get your permission to deliver it at a later date or else refund your money. If you paid with a credit card, you have another protection in the first 60 days. Consumers expect to have their products shipped in a reasonable amount of time, McFarland says. You can contact your credit card company and ask them to reverse the charge. Ontel products, the company that sells Magic Tracks, did not respond to requests for comment, but Martin's order finally shipped after inquiries by the NBC4 I-Team. Relieved her great-grandson will finally be able to play with his new toy, Martin has a message for the company. They should really handle their customers better. After the body of a malnourished, abused 11-year-old boy was found wrapped in a blanket in a closet Tuesday, police arrested the child's mother, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Veronica Aguilar, the 39-year-old mother of the boy, was arrested on suspicion of child endagerment resulting in death or great bodily injury. Police responded to the 2200 block of West Sunset Ave. at 2:15 p.m. on Monday after the father of the child, Jose Pinzon, called police. He told officers that his wife told him that his son was dead. The boy's father had gone to the woman's home in the 2100 block of Santa Ynez St. in LA and found the boy in the closet. The child was wrapped in a blanket, police said. When paramedics arrived at the home, they confirmed he was dead. The boy was discovered to be starved, physically abused, and had been dead for hours. The cause of death would not be revealed until a coroner could release autopsy findings. A bill that would end taxes on women's menstrual products in California is headed to the governors office for final approval. The State Assembly unanimously approved Assembly Bill 1561 Tuesday, which would make tampons, sanitary napkins, menstrual cups, and menstrual sponges exempt from state sales and uses taxes, according to a spokeswoman for Assemblymember Cristina Garcia, D-Downey. "Every month, for 40 years of our lives, we are taxed for being born women," Garcia said. "Every month of our adult life we are taxed for our biology. Every month we are told our periods are a luxury, while also being told they are something to be ashamed of and we must hide. Periods are not luxuries and they are definitely not something women should be ashamed of, period!" The so-called "NO Tax on Tampons" bill is joint authored by Garcia and Ling Ling Chang, R-Diamond Bar. "It's great that my colleagues in both the Assembly and Senate unanimously agree that it is time to end this out of date practice and support gender equity in the State of California's tax code and I hope the governor agrees," Garcia said. If it is passed, California will join eight states, Canada, and the U.K., that have all ended the tax. New York, Connecticut and Illinois all voted to end the tax this year, according to a spokeswoman for Garcia's office. There are five additional states in the U.S. that do not have a tax because they did not have a tax in place to begin with. Although California introducted this legislation early, California's state legislative process takes longer than some of the other states that have passed legislation this year, said a spokeswoman for Garcia's office. Ohio and Michigan are also trying to pass tampon tax bills, but are still in committee, a spokeswoman for Garcia's office said. Some cities have also taken action. The city of Chicago eliminated the tax before the entire state of Illinois, and the Council of Washington D.C. is currently reviewing getting rid of the tax. The measure now awaits the signature of Gov. Jerry Brown. If it is passed, the bill will go into effect on Jan. 1. Back in the day, if you were a big-name talk show host, and you knew Truman Capote was going to be your next guest, you could be certain that viewers would gather around the water cooler the following day to lengthily discuss the segment. For the lauded author of "In Cold Blood" and "Breakfast at Tiffany's" was an ace at bon mots and wicked witticisms, and he could make a most unforgettable appearance both on the screen and off (such as at 1966's Black and White Ball in New York City, which he hosted, with aplomb, at The Plaza Hotel). And in memorable Capote style, he is again making headlines, this time for an upcoming auction at Julien's in Beverly Hills. It isn't his iconic fedora that's on the block, nor glittery photographs from the parties he loved; rather, the writer's memorial ashes will be auctioned, along with the Japanese carved wooden box that holds them. "The ashes were kept by Joanne Carson," reveals the auction house, "who was one of Capote's closest friends. She said the ashes brought her great comfort." (The house puts the estimate at $4,000 to $6,000). Several articles belonging to Ms. Carson, who was married to iconic TV host Johnny Carson, are a part of the Icons & Idols: Hollywood auction including artworks, clothing, and her wedding ring. Darren Julien, CEO and President of Julien's, shared that while the auction house "has sold some items associated" with the career of Mr. Capote, Julien's has never participated in an auction of the luminary's "personal belongings." The memorial ashes, with box, is, of course, far from a usual item to see at a traditional auction. Mr. Julien revealed to NBC LA that "Truman loved the element of shock and to create publicity by doing things that no one else had ever done. This is exactly what he would have done and wanted done." "He lived an adventurous and exciting life when he was alive," continued Mr. Julien, "and he continues this excitement in death." The auction, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 24, also includes a pair of high-heeled shoes belonging to Rita Hayworth, a movie poster of "The Kid" (it once was displayed in Charlie Chaplin's office), and a Western shirt seen in "Urban Cowboy." The Chicago Police Department denied Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's claim this week that he met with a "top" Chicago officer and argued the city's violence would not be solved with "tough police tactics." "We've discredited this claim months ago," CPD spokesperson Frank Giancamilli said Tuesday in a statement. "No one in the senior command at CPD has ever met with Donald Trump or a member of his campaign." Trump said in an interview Monday that he believed Chicago's violence could be stopped using "tough police tactics," telling Fox News' Bill O'Reilly that he met a "top" Chicago officer who reportedly said he could "stop much of this horror show thats going on" within a single week. Trump added that he knows officers in Chicago who would put an end to violent crime "if they were given the authority to do it," a claim that Giancamilli refuted. "Beyond that, the best way to address crime is through a commitment to community policing and a commitment to stronger laws to keep illegal guns and repeat violent offenders off the street," Giancamilli added. Trump told O'Reilly he didnt ask the officer for specifics on the plan because he isnt the mayor of Chicago, but added that police would be "much tougher than they are right now." "Im sure hes got a strategy," Trump added. "I didnt ask him his strategy." Trump also claimed that he submitted the officers name for some sort of job. "I sent his name in and I said, 'you probably should hire this guy because you have nothing to lose,'" Trump said. "Look at whats going on in Chicago, its horrible. This guy felt totally confident that he could stop it in a very short period of time." Trump's campaign told the Chicago Tribune Tuesday that he did not specifically say the officer he spoke with was in senior command, but rather he "spoke with some talented and dedicated police officers on a prior visit." It's not the first time Chicago police have disagreed with Trump's claims. During Trump's failed Chicago rally, which was canceled due to violence concerns, the candidate said he met with law enforcement before canceling his appearance. CPD said in a statement, however, the department had not advised Trump's campaign to cancel the rally and did not issue any public safety threats or safety risks. The fight against Zika will continue Wednesday on Miami Beach, as county officials begin another round of spraying to combat mosquitoes in the area after recent cases of the virus were announced. One new case of non-travel Zika were confirmed Wednesday in Palm Beach County. "This case is not connected to the investigation into an individual in Palm Beach County that was announced earlier this month," Florida's Department of Health said in a statement, NBC News reported. More than 3,900 people had been tested for Zika, the statement added. If one person is diagnosed but their family members, friends, neighbors and other close contacts do not become infected, it's not considered an outbreak. The case in Palm Beach County brings the total number of homegrown Zika cases to 43. Over 520 cases of travel related Zika have been confirmed in the state. Last Friday, five cases of non-travel Zika infections were confirmed from the area, located between 8th Street and 28th Street. Mayor Philip Levine has asked the government with help in fighting the possible spread. Tuesday, Florida Gov. Rick Scott announced that the Zika Zone in the Wynwood area north of Downtown Miami was being reduced. That area gained national attention after the CDC told people to avoid it following dozens of non-travel cases being confirmed. Photo/Suzhou Daily In recent years, many countries have updated their civil aviation regulations to allow the use of smart phones onboard aircraft. Those countries include the U.S., Brazil, Singapore and more. Now China may follow suit. The Civil Aviation Administration of China is currently drafting an amendment that would relax restrictions on which electronic devices may be used on Chinese airplanes. Zhu Tao, director of the air transportation division of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, said that the new, relaxed regulations will go into effect at the end of this year or in early 2017, according to a report on U.K. news site The Independent. While most passengers are excited about the possibility, some have expressed concerns over safety. A reporter from China News spoke with one man, surnamed Guan, who was bewildered by the implications of the amendment. If passengers can use cell phones, wont cell phone signals disrupt the planes operations? Guan wondered. And if the restrictions are loosened, does that prove that cell phones are safe to use on planes? Of course, Wi-Fi on airplanes is not a new concept, even in China. While smart phones are currently not permitted to be used on Chinese airlines, tablets are. In 2011, Air China operated the first Chinese flight, from Beijing to Chengdu, on which Wi-Fi was available; China Eastern, Shenzhen Air, Hainan Airlines, Xiamen Air and Spring Airlines quickly followed. Nevertheless, since Wi-Fi was first introduced by Chinese airlines, further progress has been slow, according to a report published by the Air China Wi-Fi Alliance. The report says that most Chinese airlines are taking a wait and see approach to onboard Wi-Fi service. The China News reporter found that many Chinese airlines offer Wi-Fi to a small, fixed number of passengers. For example, according to the report in The Independent, China Eastern offers free Wi-Fi to the first 50 passengers who register for any given flight. More and more, industry insiders say that access to Wi-Fi will become a deciding factor for consumers looking to buy airfare. The Independent cited a recent survey showing that 90 percent of Chinese passengers prefer airlines that offer onboard connectivity. The article also cited Will Horton, an analyst at Hong Kongs CAPA Centre for Aviation, who pointed out that even airlines who provide Wi-Fi for free are still likely to profit from the service. Profit doesnt have to be objective, it can be about differentiation, Horton explained. Police responding to a call about a burglary at a Staten Island home encountered an unusual suspect a three-foot-long alligator, and it was in the bathtub. The reptile was hanging out in the empty tub when police responding to the anonymous call arrived at the abandoned Mariners Harbor home. [NATL] Unbelievable Animal Stories: Dog Befriends Abandoned Baby Giraffe Animal care workers took the gator for evaluation. They're also looking into how the gator got into the tub. The NYPD tweeted responding officers were "surprised" by the reptile, but no one was injured. The department tweeted photos of cops smiling next to the crate. No arrests have been made. Police are looking for a green New York City taxi in a drive-by shooting that injured a 21-year-old man in Brooklyn early on Wednesday. The man was taken to the hospital with two gunshot wounds to his leg after the shooting on Chester Street in Brownsville at about 2 a.m., according to the NYPD. He is expected to survive his injuries. Authorities said that the shooter fired a weapon from the taxi. The victim's mother, Beverly Wright, said that her son was hanging out outside a building when he was targeted by the gunman. She said she isn't sure why someone would have shot her son, who was undergoing surgery at the hospital. "I pray to God this operation, he goes through it," she said. "It hurts because that's my baby." She called on the shooter to surrender to police. "Whoever shot my son, please come forward," Wright said. "My son is not a problem child, he does not carry guns, he doesn't need any of that." The cab had left the scene by the time authorities arrived. Anyone with information on the shooting should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS. The Final Five are taking New York City by storm. The gold medal-winning U.S. women's gymnastics team visited the Empire State Building Tuesday morning as they begin a whirlwind media tour after their incredible accomplishments in Rio. Their Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics Champions will officially start on Sept.15, in Spokane, Washington and end on Nov. 13 in Boston. They will visit 36 U.S. cities and showcase gymnasts from 2012 and 2016, according to Kellogg's. Hometown hero and breakout star Laurie Hernandez, along with Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman and Madison Kocian took in the view of the city from 86 floors above the ground. And it provided another first for Old Bridge, New Jersey resident Hernandez: being able to take in the view from the observatory of the Empire State Building. It's all making for a surreal experience, she said. "I used to have someone pinch me beforehand just to make sure it wasn't a dream," Hernandez told NBC 4 New York. Biles called Hernandez a "perfect fit to the team" in Rio. "She's always making all of us laugh," she told NBC 4. "I think she has a very similar personality to me. We roomed the whole time to Rio. We just love her to death." Since getting back Monday, Hernandez has been able to see her parents for a bit, and she's now looking forward to reuniting with her siblings. In the meantime, the team is hoping to "rest and eat and chill," said Douglas, who was also on the 2012 Fierce Five. Raisman, also a two-time Olympian, said "it's been a blur" since the team arrived in New York and that the intense public focus and being followed by papparrazzi has been "crazy" and "surreal." "There's just so much, you just never expect it," she said. "Laurie lives like 45 minutes from here, I don't know if she's ever experienced the craziness of New York like this. I don't think any of the girls have right after the Olympics, except me and Gabby." "Everything has been go, go, go, we haven't had time to sit down and think about it," added Biles. One thing on top of the women's New York agenda? Finding some great pizza. "Gabby will probably find us the best pizza because she's gotten pizza multiple times here, so she's probably our best best," said Raisman. As for the native Hernandez's pick? "It's all pretty good!" she said diplomatically. The team will later appear Tuesday night on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. What to Know Ken Thompson used funds from his office to pay for personal meals for about a year He also had members of his security detail use their own money to buy him food on occasion Thompson reimbursed his office and security detail members, but the use of the money still violates city law, authorities say Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson has agreed to pay a $15,000 fine for using several thousand dollars in office funds to pay for his personal meals for about a year, and in some cases, he had the members of his security detail use their own money to purchase his food, authorities say. Thompson reimbursed his office for the $2,043 he used on weekday meals from January 2014 to May 2014 and for the $1,489 he used to buy dinner and weekday meals from January 2014 to February 2015, according to the New York Conflicts of Interest Board, which negotiated the settlement. The security detail members who had to shell out money for Thompson's food also were paid back, the COIB said. But using the office funds for his food violates the city's conflicts of interest law. According to the COIB, Thompson admitted his conduct violated legal provisions that prohibit elected officials and other public servants from using city resources for any personal, non-city purpose and from using their positions to obtain any private or personal advantage. Thompson also acknowledged that having subordinates regularly advance their own money to cover his meals constituted a prohibited financial relationship, according to the COIB. In determining the fine amount, the agency said it took into consideration that all the funds had been reimbursed, but also "the high level of accountability required for the chief prosecutor of Brooklyn." Thompson's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the matter. A Bronx man has been arrested in the killing of his girlfriend, more than a month after she went missing and whose body remains unaccounted for, police say. Miguel Bonilla, 44, was arrested on charges of murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon Monday night, police said. He's accused of killing 52-year-old Juana Alvarez, who's been missing since July 11. At his arraignment in Bronx Criminal Court Tuesday, prosecutors said Bonilla testified on video that he was sleeping next to Alvarez when he woke up and thought "I f---ing hate her." He stabbed her several times in the chest, turned on his phone to play music, then continued to stab her, prosecutors said. Bonilla put Alvarez's body in the closet and took her out when the stench got bad, according to prosecutors. He put a towel over her body, then put her in a cart and wheeled her out of their Grand Concourse building and dumped her body in a Dumpster. Police are now searching for Alvarez's body. The Daily News reports Bonilla confessed to a friend he killed Alvarez. Detectives acting on that tip recovered surveillance video showing Bonilla wheeling a shopping cart out of their apartment building. As police sarched for Bonilla Monday, he was caught jumping a subway turnstile at Penn Station, and he was taken back to the Bronx, where he was charged with murder, police said. Alvarez was remanded to jail after arraignment and is being held without bail. He's due back in court on Aug. 26. He did not enter a plea. Neighbors told NBC 4 New York they saw Alvarez last month crying and asking for money. "Before she was missing, she was like crying. I never saw her crying," said Jassiel Herrera. "She would see me in the street, she'd ask me for a dollar. The last time, she was like crying and stuff." A close friend and neighbor told NBC 4 New York in Spanish that Alvarez had a drug problem but was seeking help. "She was just trying her best to continue her life, and to show her family she was living a sober life," said a cousin of Alvarez who gave her name as Sonia. "She died horrible. And it's hard, really hard," said Zoraida Gonzalez, another cousin. Bonilla has 24 prior arrests since 1989, including for drugs and robbery. A New York City child services worker has been arrested, accused of abusing a child at a Brooklyn shelter, state authorities say. Carl Hosannah, 59, of Brooklyn, allegedly hit the child in the face at a Brooklyn facility where the child was living, according to the state's Justice Center for the Protection of People With Special Needs, which is prosecuting the case. The incident happened in June. Hosannah was working as a congregate care specialist with the ACS Children's Center. He has since been reassigned, officials say. Hosannah was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on charges of misdemeanor child endangerment and a violation of second-degree harassment. Attorney information for Hosannah wasn't immediately available. What to Know Two teens were arrested a day after they allegedly broke into the Indonesian Consulate on the Upper East Side The teens allegedly stole a case of Grey Goose vodka and a Honda Odyssey minivan among other things Police say one of the suspects tried to bribe an officer with the loot Police say they've arrested the two suspects who allegedly broke into the Indonesian Consulate in Manhattan and stole a case of vodka, among other items, before taking off in a stolen van. One of the suspected burglars, an 18-year-old man, allegedly tried to bribe an officer with the van, the case of Grey Goose vodka and $400 in stolen cash when he was placed under arrest. The man was charged with a number of crimes, including burglary, grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and criminal trespass. A 16-year-old girl was also arrested and charged as an adult with similar crimes, including burglary and criminal trespass. The NYPD says a security guard at the Marriot Hotel on Eastchester Road in the Bronx recognized the pair from a separate burglary over the weekend. A woman's jewelry, Coach wallet and credit cards were stolen from her room at the hotel on Sunday morning. The teens apparently went back to the Marriot on Tuesday and that's when the guard recognized them and called police. The teens took off, but security followed them and they were eventually arrested by the NYPD, who tied them to the consulate burglary. The duo broke into the Indonesian Consulate on the Upper East Side early Monday morning and made off with a case of vodka, a Samsung tablet, a suitcase full of clothing and keys to a 2004 tan-colored Honda Odyssey, police say. They then allegedly loaded their loot into the stolen van and took off. It wasn't immediately known if either of them had an attorney. FactCheck.org is a non-partisan non-profit organization that will hold candidates and key figures accountable during the 2016 presidential campaign. FactCheck.org will check facts of speeches, advertisements and more for NBC. Donald Trumps new TV ad on immigration creates a misleading comparison, saying that under Hillary Clinton, illegal immigrants convicted of committing crimes get to stay but under Trump, terrorists and dangerous criminals are kept out. In fact, Clinton has said she would deport violent criminals, terrorists, and anyone who threatens our safety. The Trump campaign did not respond to our questions about the ad. However, Clinton has supported measures, including the 2013 bipartisan Senate immigration bill, that would have allowed those living in the U.S. illegally who committed fewer than three misdemeanors, not including minor traffic violations, to stay provided they met other requirements. This could be what the ad means by criminals get to stay. See Donald Trump's new ad // If so, the ad, titled Two Americas: Immigration, misleads the viewer by contrasting Clintons plan with Trumps proposal to keep terrorists and dangerous criminals out. Thats no different from what Clinton has proposed on illegal immigration. There are certainly different definitions of the word dangerous, but Clinton has used the same language in talking about whom she would deport. And the bill she supported barred convicted felons from becoming legal residents or citizens. The Republican presidential nominees ad began airing Aug. 19 on a $4.8 million ad buy over 10 days in Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Florida, the campaign has said. The ad begins with the narrator describing immigration in Hillary Clintons America: The system stays rigged against Americans. Syrian refugees flood in. Illegal immigrants convicted of committing crimes get to stay. Collecting Social Security benefits, skipping the line. Our border open. In contrast, the narrator gives this description of Donald Trumps America: Terrorists and dangerous criminals: kept out. The border: secured. Our families: safe. Weve written about a few of these claims before. Clinton hasnt supported open borders, as the ad falsely implies. The 2013 Senate immigration bill the most recent comprehensive immigration legislation, which Clinton has said she backed would have made large investments in border security, including additional border fencing, and Clinton said during a Democratic debate in November, Border security has always been a part of that [immigration] debate. As well explain later, the immigration plan on her website talks about deporting some individuals. Thats not an open border. The ad also uses a deceptive image of people crowded on top of train cars when it says our border open, as if anyone and everyone could stream in legally. Thats not what Clinton has proposed or supported. The 2013 Senate bill would have set up a path to citizenship for those who had entered the country prior to Dec. 31, 2011. The ad also leaves the impression that illegal immigrants would be collecting Social Security benefits under Clintons presidency, but that would only happen if those immigrants became citizens or had legal status. And thats the case under current law. As weve explained before back in 2009 and 2006, those in the country illegally are barred from collecting Social Security. Once an immigrant gains legal status, then that person can get credit for the Social Security taxes he or she paid when working illegally. As for whether Clinton would allow a flood of Syrian refugees, thats a matter of opinion. Obama has authorized the acceptance of 10,000 Syrian refugees for fiscal year 2016, while Clinton has said the number should be as many as 65,000. For context, there are nearly 5 million Syrian refugees displaced by the countrys civil war, which began in 2011. And the U.S. is set to accept a total of 85,000 refugees from around the world in fiscal 2016. Trump has said that no Syrian refugees should be admitted to the U.S., because terrorists may be among them, and Clinton has said the refugees should be admitted only if we have as careful a screening and vetting process as we can imagine. The claim that piqued our fact-checking interest, though, was the assertion that under Clinton illegal immigrants convicted of committing crimes get to stay. Criminals Stay? The ad includes a graphic that says criminals stay and a citation of NBC News 7/9/16. We tried internet and Lexis Nexis searches to find a relevant NBC News article on that day, but we came up empty. We asked the Trump campaign to point us to the article in question, and spokeswoman Hope Hicks told us over the phone that she would take a look at our emailed request. We have not received a response, but we will update this article if we do. However, Clinton has talked about deporting criminals as part of her illegal immigration plan. Clintons proposal says that she will send a plan to Congress that will include a path to full and equal citizenship within her first 100 days in office. That plan will treat every person with dignity, fix the family visa backlog, uphold the rule of law, protect our borders and national security, and bring millions of hardworking people into the formal economy. The plan goes on to say that she would defend Obamas executive orders to delay deportation for so-called DREAMers and the parents of citizens and lawful residents. But she specifically talks about deporting other immigrants, saying, she would focus resources on detaining and deporting those individuals who pose a violent threat to public safety. During a March Democratic debate, Clinton was asked about allowing immigrants to stay if they lacked a criminal record. She said: But if you are asking about everyone who is already here, undocumented immigrants, the 11-12 million who are living here, my priorities are to deport violent criminals, terrorists, and anyone who threatens our safety. In a speech to the National Immigrant Integration Conference in December 2015, Clinton also talked about prioritiz[ing] whom to deport. She said: Dangerous criminals? Yes. DREAMers and their families? No. As for Trump, he initially talked about deporting all immigrants living in the country illegally, but his stance has recently softened. At a February debate, he said that all immigrants with illegal status will go out, adding that some will come back legally. Last November, he talked about using a deportation force to deport all of the estimated 11 million immigrants living here illegally. But in an interview with Fox News Bill OReilly on Aug. 22, Trump said that were going to get rid of all of the bad ones, mentioning gang members and killers, and talked about using the existing deportation process for others. As far as the rest, were going to go through the process, like they are now, perhaps with a lot more energy, and were going to do it only through the system of laws, Trump said. Trump described his deportation approach as similar to past administrations, including the current one. What people dont know is that Obama got tremendous numbers of people out of the country. Bush the same thing. Lots of people were brought out of the country with the existing laws. Well, Im going to do the same thing and I just said that, he told OReilly. The candidates obviously differ on what to do about noncriminals who are illegally living in the United States: Clinton would create a path to citizenship, while Trump says he would keep existing laws and deportation processes. But as far as prioritizing whom to deport, both have said theyd focus on criminals and dangerous individuals. What about the measures Clinton has supported in the past? The 2013 Senate immigration bill included a years-long path to citizenship, but that path would not have been available to those convicted of a felony, three misdemeanor crimes (not counting minor traffic offenses), a foreign crime or unlawful voting. Also, an individual would have been ineligible if there were reasonable grounds to believe that the person is engaged in or is likely to engage after entry in any terrorist activity. That would mean that an immigrant in the country illegally who was convicted of two misdemeanors could have stayed under the bill provided that person met other requirements including paying a $500 fine and back taxes. Becoming a citizen then required other measures, such as having a steady work history, knowing English, passing background checks and more. The bipartisan legislation, also known as the Gang of Eight bill, said that it would be possible for the secretary of homeland security to waive the barring of those convicted of three misdemeanors for humanitarian or public interest reasons. Under federal immigration laws, a misdemeanor is an offense punishable by up to a year in prison. There are similar exclusions for felons and other criminals in Obamas executive order on deferring deportation for so-called DREAMers, those who came to the United States at a young age and are attending or have graduated from high school or have served in the U.S. military. Among the requirements to apply for a two-year deferral of deportation proceedings: Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, or three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Such language leaves open the possibility that some convicted criminals if their offenses were misdemeanors and fewer than three would be allowed to stay under the types of proposals Clinton has supported. But contrasting that with a Trump plan to keep out terrorists and dangerous criminals is a misleading comparison. Clinton, too, has said she would deport dangerous and violent criminals, terrorists and anyone who threatens our safety. A 6.1-magnitude earthquake strikes the town of Amatrice in central Italy on August 24, 2016. Many buildings were left in ruins after the tremor. [Photo: CFP] A strong earthquake struck central Italy early on Wednesday, collapsing homes on top of residents as they slept. At least 11 people were reported dead in two hard-hit towns where rescue crews raced to dig out survivors from the rubble. The magnitude 6 quake struck at 03:36 local time (01:36 GMT) and was felt across a broad stretch of central Italy, including the capital Rome, where residents felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. The hardest-hit towns were Amatrice and Accumoli, near Rieti, some 100 kilometers (80 miles) northeast of Rome, though the quake was felt beyond the Lazio region, into Umbria and Le Marche on the Adriatic coast. The center of Amatrice was devastated, with entire palazzos razed to the ground. Rocks and metal tumbled onto the streets and dazed residents huddled in piazzas as dozens of aftershocks continued into the morning hours, some as strong as 5.1. "The whole ceiling fell but did not hit me," marveled resident Maria Gianni. "I just managed to put a pillow on my head and I wasn't hit luckily." As daylight dawned, residents, civil protection workers and even priests began digging out with shovels, bulldozers and their bare hands, trying to reach survivors. There was a sigh of relief as a woman was pulled out alive from one building, followed by a dog. "We need chainsaws, shears to cut iron bars, and jacks to remove beams - everything. We need everything," civil protection worker Andrea Gentili told The Associated Press. The devastation harked back to the 2009 quake that killed more than 300 people in and around L'Aquila - from where emergency teams were sent on Wednesday to help with the rescue. The Italian geological service put the magnitude at 6.0. The US Geological Survey put the magnitude at 6.2 with the epicenter at Norcia, about 170 kilometers (105 miles) northeast of Rome, and with a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles). "I don't know what to say. We are living through this immense tragedy," said the Rev. Savino D'Amelio, an Amatrice parish priest. "We are only hoping there will be the fewest number of victims possible and that we all have the courage to move on." The mayor of the quake-hit town of Accumoli, Stefano Petrucci, said at least six people had died there, including a family of four, and two others. "There are deaths," he told state-run RaiNews24. In Amatrice, the ANSA news agency reported two bodies had been pulled from one building. The Rev. Fabio Gammarota told ANSA another three were killed in a separate collapse. Amatrice Mayor Pirozzi told state-run RAI radio and Sky TG24 that residents were buried under collapsed buildings, that the lights had gone out and that heavy equipment was needed to clear streets clogged with debris. The office of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi tweeted that heavy equipment was on its way. Donald Trump portrays himself as an indispensable cash resource for fellow Republicans. So far, they're not seeing much of a benefit. The presidential nominee's July fundraising provided the Republican National Committee with less than half as much as Mitt Romney's efforts four years ago, an Associated Press review of the campaign finance documents found. "Typically you see the nominee lift everyone up," said Chris Schrimpf, a spokesman for Ohio Gov. John Kasich, one of Trump's defeated primary rivals. The battleground state features a critical Senate race this year, but Trump has all but ignored the Ohio state party. "This time, if anything, everyone else is carrying his water." The RNC received $18.1 million from joint fundraising with Trump last month, but only $10.6 million can be used to help Republicans including Trump win elections this fall, the filings show. The remainder is earmarked for convention and legal proceedings accounts, or was eaten up by Trump-centered fundraising costs. RNC chairman Reince Priebus defends Trump as a strong fundraising partner for Republicans. Trump has made the same argument. "I'm the one that's raising the money, and other people are getting to use the money that I raised," Trump said in an Aug. 11 interview with Fox News, adding that he is "raising a lot of money for the Republican Party." The Trump campaign said that as of Aug. 1 his victory accounts contained $37 million to be disbursed to his campaign, the RNC and other partners. Trump's national finance chairman, Steven Mnuchin, said it was a strategic decision not to transfer the money right away. "It has been a major priority of Donald to fundraise for the party, and the money for field expenses helps not only him but the rest of the ticket," Mnuchin said Monday. Still, each day that money isn't in action puts Republicans a little further behind. Election Day is fewer than 80 days away, and early voting in some states begins in a few weeks. Effective voter contact and turnout operations are time-consuming and costly. Mnuchin said there is "plenty of money" available. "We're deploying money as we think we need to deploy money," he said. Andrew Weinstein and more than 100 other Republicans wrote an open letter to Priebus earlier this month urging the RNC to ditch Trump and focus on Senate and House candidates. Weinstein said Trump's lackluster aid to others "validates our entire point." "He's all downside and no upside for the party," said Weinstein, a former communications director for Bob Dole's 1996 campaign. Beyond the RNC, Trump could be helping state parties directly. But he has been particularly stingy with the states that have the toughest Senate elections, such as Ohio and New Hampshire, where Sens. Rob Portman and Kelly Ayotte could be key to maintaining GOP control of the chamber. Trump's joint fundraising agreement overlooks those and other states, instead naming 11 partners that are somewhat head-scratching. Several of them, including West Virginia and Tennessee, don't have a Senate race and are expected to vote Republican in the presidential, while Democrats are heavily favored to win Senate races in other states, such as New York and Connecticut. Mnuchin called the choice of benefactors a "strategic decision" and declined to explain it. Regardless, the Trump Victory Committee hadn't transferred money to any of his state allies as of July 31. In another change from 2012, Trump is not helping raise money for the National Republican Senatorial Committee or the National Republican Congressional Committee; Romney's joint fundraising account included both groups. Trump's opponent, Hillary Clinton, is taking a broader approach to helping fellow Democrats. Her fundraising agreement spans 38 state and territory party groups and provided them at least $20.3 million last month, federal filings show. That doesn't include money used for the convention. The Republican nominee has had a touchy relationship with his party, from threatening to quit the party and run as an independent to disparaging GOP stars and withholding endorsement of House Speaker Paul Ryan. Raising money for others could help smooth things over, and that may be a reason Trump frequently talks up his efforts. When he formed his fundraising partnership in late May, Trump told the AP he is only raising money because "the RNC really wanted to do it, and I want to show good spirit." Consistently claiming others as the focus of his fundraising also helps Trump obscure his change from a mostly self-funded primary candidate to one who raises money like everyone else. The self-reliance talk has continued even though it's no longer entirely true. At a rally Saturday in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Trump said: "I have no donors telling me what to do. I'm my donor." That same day, his July finance report showed he gave his campaign $2 million and raised more than $34.7 million from donors other than himself. That means he was about 5 percent self-funded last month. A Bucks County family is taking on the U.S. Navy over chemicals that bled off local military bases and into their drinking water as well as water used by close to 70,000 other people who live and work nearby. Toxic chemicals, called PFCs, were used for decades in firefighting foam at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove and Naval Air Warfare Center in Warminster. PFCs have been linked to cancers and numerous other ailments. The Giovanni family, who declined an interview, has lived virtually across the street from Willow Grove, since 2003. Test results of their well water showed PFC levels 40 times higher than what's considered safe over a lifetime by the Environmental Protection Agency. The suit does not say if any family member is suffering health-wise from exposure to PFCs, but no one really knows the long term effects of these unregulated chemicals. In the complaint, filed Tuesday, the family asks the Navy to cover the cost of monitoring the future health of the parents and three children. But the big ask is for the Navy to pay for a health assessment and/or study that includes blood testing not just for the Giovannis, but for the close to 70K others exposed in Warrington, Warminster and Horsham Townships where both the public and private water supplies have been contaminated with PFCs.[[380762121,C]] To date, the Navy has rejected calls by lawmakers, including Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, to test the blood of community members and have not responded to NBC10's recent requests to discuss the issue. In late May, however, the director of Base Closure Management Office, Greg Preston said the Navy wasn't prepared to pay for blood tests because they'd hadn't found any value in the testing. "Because we're not really sure, the experts are not really sure what to do with those results at this point in time -- what they really mean and how they translate," Preston said.[[380767661,C]] When it comes to winning the race for the White House, Marlon Marshall, a top staffer for Hillary Clintons presidential campaign, believes young peoples social networks are key to success. If Im a millennial and I have my friend circle, for lack of a better word, I am a more powerful messenger to them than a TV ad, Marshall, director of state campaigns and political engagement, said Tuesday during a visit to Clintons Pennsylvania headquarters on Market Street in Center City. But its not the Facebook posts or Snapchats about why they support the former Secretary of State that hes most interested in; rather, their impassioned, in-person chats with friends, family and neighbors. To have them be able to say why they personally support the secretary is something thats just really powerful and meaningful, he adds. Millennials, those born between 1980 and the early 2000s, basically match Baby Boomers for their share of the electorate this year. That means the bloc can make or break a candidates bid for office. Recent polling shows Clinton is enjoying healthy support among young people in Pennsylvania. According to a survey by Franklin & Marshall college earlier this month, 49 percent of those under 35 years old supported Clinton. Trump garnered 25 percent, third-party candidates like the Green Partys Jill Stein and Libertarian Gary Johnson got support from 19 percent while 7 percent were undecided. Nationally, Clintons youth support grows even larger. A recent USA Today/Rock the Vote poll found Clinton trouncing Trump 56 percent to 20 percent. Young people right now very much support the secretary and we want to turn that support into votes, Marshall said. NBC10 But historically, getting Millennials to the voting booths has been a challenge. The Pew Research Center found that only 50 percent of the eligible Millennial voters cast a ballot in the 2008 presidential election. In 2012, the tally dropped to 46 percent even though the number of Millennials who were eligible to vote had grown. So Clintons campaign is heavily investing in recruiting young voters to join her ranks by growing their local operation. The ramp-up is happening as the number of days until November 8th dwindles into the 70s. Twenty outreach staffers have been deployed college campuses across the state, with a heavy focus in college-rich Philadelphia, to interact with students as they move back for the new school year, the campaign says. They will also help first-time voters get registered to vote. This week, three new campaign outposts will open their doors bringing the statewide total to more than three dozen. The campaign is hiring young people from the communities theyre canvassing who can identify neighborhood businesses where potential Millennial supporters, including those whove chosen not to go to college or couldnt afford it, can be found. Every community is different and the key is that we know those spots in each community and that we do that direct contact, Marshall said. All the ground game talk doesnt mean the campaign is avoiding the digital connections. Clintons campaign has begun buying digital ads targeted to young people living in Pennsylvania and heavily uses Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. They post everything from policy briefs to memes about her and opponent Donald Trump. With Millennials being the most digitally-savvy and connected generation in history, Marshall says, you gotta do both. As for the issue that the campaign believes resonates most with younger voters, it always comes back to the economy. Weve come a long way from the recession since President Obama took office, but making sure we continue to bring jobs into America and then also reduce that income inequality, were finding are big issues, he said. Marshall said the biggest challenge will be to help young people understand where Clinton stands on the issues and turn that into actual votes. The worst natural disaster since Superstorm Sandy has decimated parts of Louisiana, killing 13 people and destroying more than 100,000 homes. Assisting in the recovery efforts are dozens of people from the Philadelphia area. NBC10.com's Sara Smith has traveled to Baton Rouge and will share stories of pain, loss and hope among residents and the aid teams helping them rebuild their lives. Sara is no stranger to disaster recovery. She spent five years working for the American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Her experience will give you a unique view at how recovery efforts take place following a natural disaster. Follow Sara's dispatches from Louisiana here and on Facebook and Twitter. Saturday, August 27 It was amazing to spend the day with Samaritan's Purse Friday. The team of 14 worked hard ripping our flooring, walls, insulation and more despite the unbearable conditions. The Kim home in Lafayette had power, but no air conditioning. Working beside the crew were Mr. And Mrs. Kim, a Korean couple Saturday is my last day on the ground in Baton Rouge and I have plans to meet up with more local volunteers who have come down from the Philadelphia area who are working with the Red Cross. Friday, August 26 Thursday, in Baton Rouge, was eye-opening. It's difficult to understand the scope of what's happening in Louisiana until you really get into the neighborhoods. The houses are well-kept and nice. The lawns are neatly manicured. Everything looks perfectly normal -- aside from the piles and piles and piles of debris at each and every driveway end. In my time with the Red Cross, I worked many types of disaster, but never was sent to work a flood. With tornadoes, the damage is clearly evident. Either the home is leveled, or damaged in some way. Homes hit by tornadoes or hurricanes show the scars of the damage on the outside. Homes battered by flooding hide their wounds. The water damages them from the inside out. Here in Baton Rouge, many residents have power washed away any and all marks on the outside of their homes and it's not until you step inside that you see the shell that remains. There's the McClarty family, who couldn't be more sweet. I was lucky to spend the day with them hearing their story. Wagner, the mom, broke out with an allergic reaction after the first day of cleaning out her damaged home. Now, it's mostly up to husband Richard to do the work. Wagner has to try to stay away, but on this day, she brought their son Eddie to help carry clothing and some other salvageable items to the car. Richard told me that he carried his son through the flood waters, even though it's evident this middle schooler could hold his own. Richard explained there are alligators and snakes in this part of the country and he didn't want his son in the water. Eddie told me his dad ended up with a snake in his boot after the trek. Eddie joked using the "Toy Story" quote: "There's a snake in my boot." Wagner said the snakes were everywhere. Richard told me that his parents waited for hours, floating in a boat he tied up at their home, as a precaution before the water rose. His parents live a few miles away. The whole family has an amazing attitude and resolve to make a new normal of their lives. It's something that has struck me not just on this disaster, but on the many I've worked. Today, I'm headed further west into Lafayette. A whole other operation is going on in that area, also as part of this deadly flooding response. I will spend the day with a group from the Philadelphia area who drove down to volunteer with Samaritan's Purse. It is a faith-based group that, according to its website, "provides spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world." The organization has volunteers in Baton Rouge and Lafayette cleaning out homes and helping in the rebuilding process. Thursday, August 25 Today, I take you into the flood zone. I'll be going along with Team Rubicon, a volunteer organization made up of veterans and first responders who go into disaster areas and provide much-needed clean-up. In Baton Rouge, Team Rubicon is mucking out houses in nearly 100 degree heat every day, all day. It's a never-ending job. Team members go into houses that have been damaged by flood water and remove all of the damaged furniture, carpet, drywall and anything else that needs to go. You may have seen piles of stuff along the roadway during President Obama's visit to the area. A lot of those piles are being made by volunteers with Team Rubicon.[[391325471,C]] While following Team Rubicon, I met the McClarty family who lost about 75% of their belongings:[[391331871,C]] About 2,500 people are still in shelters across Louisiana from flooding. NBC10.coms Sara Smith tells how people are finding even more bad news as they return to their homes. Watch for more later here and on the NBC10 Facebook page. Wednesday, August 24 The devastating floods in Louisiana have left over 100,000 homes ravaged. NBC10.coms Sara Smith is in Baton Rouge following the states recovery efforts. Full disclosure: I'm no stranger to disaster response. I spent nearly five years working as an employee for the American Red Cross. In my time as a communications specialist, I was sent to a few disasters outside of the local area, including New York and New Jersey for Superstorm Sandy and Mississippi and Arkansas for a massive tornado outbreak. So, when I was asked to go to Baton Rouge in the midst of a disaster no one seems to be talking about, there was no way I would say no. I drove in to Baton Rouge from New Orleans this morning, and it was odd, because if you didn't know there was a flood a few miles away, you wouldn't know there was a flood a few miles away. Traffic was light, businesses are open, people are doing their normal things. Thing is, there is... And it's a big one - so I'm told and so the pictures show. I, personally, haven't seen the flooding, but stick with me, I will get there. Sara Smith What I have seen is the massive gathering of resources. The headquarters of the Red Cross operation in Baton Rouge is buzzing with activity, the parking lot of the Home Depot is transformed into a relief center headed by Team Rubicon, and everywhere you turn, there are signs for donation drop offs and help for those affected. Just last night, more than 2300 people spent the night in a Red Cross shelter. I'm told the work is just beginning. Sara Smith American Red Cross in Louisiana More than a dozen volunteers from the Red Cross in Eastern PA alone are here helping. They are driving supplies and meals into areas where folks are beginning to clean up. They are sheltering folks who have no where to go, they are counseling families about next steps and how to handle the realization that everything may be gone. Two volunteers from our area are even working hard to make sure the trucks that deliver food and supplies are in tip top shape for the work they must do. Mary Noll from Montgomery County will spend possibly six weeks on the job inspecting and caring for those trucks... All 97 of them that are here right now. She says she misses her family but thinks it's important to be here. More notes from Baton Rouge to come. Tuesday, August 23 I'm heading south to cover the Louisiana floods. Flying into New Orleans and then driving up to Baton Rouge. I'll make sure to share updates as I have them. The condition of the radios used by police in Norristown became downright "irresponsible" in recent years, according to Chief Mark Talbot. Some officers held their all-valuable communications device together with rubber bands as many of the department's radios were bought back in the late 1990s. That changed this week when the borough became the first in Montgomery County to receive a new batch of the expensive equipment. One radio costs $3,600. The 75 handheld radios and 14 mobile devices for Norristown are the first of 4,700 that will eventually be given out to every police, fire and EMS department in Pennsylvania's third-most populous county. They are an integral part of a $36 million overhaul to the county emergency radio dispatch system. Thirty new or improved antennas are also being erected at locations spread out across Montgomery County to improve coverage for first responders. "It is irresponsible if you use technology that out of date," Talbot said at a news conference unveiling the new radios Wednesday. "We are in a much better place right now." The next police departments to receive the new Motorola radios are Cheltenham and Montgomery Township, officials said. All of Montgomery County's police departments will have new radios by the end of September. All fire and EMS departments will have new radios by October. To listen to Plymouth Township police Chief Joe Lawrence tell it, a well-functioning radio is the most crucial piece of equipment to a cop. "If I had to put one gun or one radio in an officer's hand, I'd put a radio," said Lawrence, who is chairman of the county Police Chiefs Association. "That's how important communication is." The county secured funding of more than $6 million for all of the new radios through the Delaware Vallery Regional Finance Agency, and is not charging municipalities the interest that comes with the financing. In Norristown, the radios cost $326,000. County Commissioner Josh Shapiro said the radios are the first tangible pieces of the dispatch system overhaul that began in 2012. "It was failing, and it had been failing for more than a decade," he said, adding that dead spots in radio coverage have also been addressed. Twenty-nine of 30 new giant antennas have been erected or are currently in construction. The lone remaining antenna to be built is being held up by Upper Merion elected officials, the county said. Upper Merion has disputed the county's portrayal of what has become a public battle of the antenna's construction at a state police-owned parcel along Hughes Road. The county commissioners sent a letter to Upper Merion's board of supervisors Wednesday afternoon asking "for quick action related to a matter of Public Safety that impacts residents of Upper Merion as well as residents of neighboring communities." Here is the full contents of the letter: Dear Upper Merion Township Supervisors, We are writing to ask for quick action related to a matter of Public Safety that impacts residents of Upper Merion as well as residents of neighboring communities. As you know, we have been working successfully with municipalities across the County to upgrade and improve radio service for first-responders. Montgomery County began its $36.4 million radio upgrade project more than four years ago, with input from police, fire and EMS units countywide, including Upper Merion. The system that these first responders helped craft is designed to improve communication, and in turn, the safety of the men and women who protect us all. To date, 29 of 30 municipalities have taken action to upgrade their radios, and ensure, through the development of new or improved radio towers, that these radios will receive the signals necessary to serve the community. Weve worked hard with these municipalities to improve public safety for county residents, law enforcement and first responders and look forward to working with you to accomplish our shared objective. Under your leadership, you have already moved forward with the purchase of $700,000 worth of radios for the Upper Merion township police and $800,000 worth of radios for the townships volunteer fire and EMS agencies. While this is an important first step, without the radio tower on Hughes Road, there will be numerous dead zones throughout Upper Merion and neighboring communities. Municipalities that will also have diminished coverage are copied on this letter. We estimate that there will be more than 4000 properties without proper radio coverage, including more than 800 in Upper Merion Township. The full value of your investment in radios will be unrealized because so many properties in Upper Merion Township are in areas that will not get a clear signal. Montgomery County staff has tried to work closely with Upper Merion Township officials to ensure radio coverage for police, fire and EMS but we have been unsuccessful. For the last two years we have tried to use existing pathways in zoning and with the Board of Supervisors to get the tower approved. Along the way we have experienced numerous roadblocks to moving the project forward, culminating in your adoption on November 12 of last year of changes to the townships zoning code, which altered the treatment of radio towers such as ours, changing it from being permissible by special exception to being categorized as a prohibited use of the land. Regardless of these past difficulties, the time has come to ensure the public safety of the citizens we serve, and we respectfully request, as the elected representatives of your township, to take either of two simple steps to ensure this project moves forward in a timely manner: An amendment to the zoning code changes you adopted in November of last year, adding a conditional use in Section 1.B (2.1) with the language except for emergency public safety whereby permitted by conditional use would quickly remedy the situation, and the exception would be limited strictly to public safety uses. Alternatively, you could grant the County the same exception you have granted yourself - Tower-based WCFs not located within a right-of-way are permitted by right on all land owned by the Township or a Township authority, regardless of zoning district. By simply adding the text land owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to the exception Upper Merion carved out for itself, the County could proceed with the zoning approval process. We cannot further delay this important radio upgrade project, as doing so would be to the detriment of the safety of all Montgomery County residents, and at a considerable cost to taxpayers. The County will go through zoning on issues such as tower height and setback from the property line once the public safety exemption is made. As we know, the fundamental purpose of zoning is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public. We know you believe in and share in this important responsibility. Sincerely, JOSH SHAPIRO VALERIE A. ARKOOSH JOSEPH C. GALE cc: Township of Lower Merion Borough of Bridgeport Borough of West Conshohocken Borough of Conshohocken Township of Whitemarsh Township of Plymouth Township of East Norriton Township of West Norriton Michael J. Fox, MCATO Chief Joe Lawrence, Police Chiefs Association Radio Committee Tom Sullivan, Montgomery County Public Safety A now-vacant landmark diner in southern New Jersey may soon be reborn as an office building that will house a fertility clinic. Evesham Township officials say the three-story building is planned for the site near Routes 70 and 73 where the crumbling Olga's Diner now stands. If approved, the building's principal tenant would be Reproductive Medicine Associates of New Jersey. Township officials have hailed the proposed project, which has been in planning for more than a year. Construction would likely start in the spring if the developer--Basking Ridge-based Genesis Property Management-- can get the needed permits this year. Built in 1959, Olga's once attracted hordes of travelers headed to and from the Jersey shore. It was shuttered in 2008 after years of declining business and financial difficulties. A serial sexual predator is on the loose in South Philadelphia, and police say he assaulted four women in a week -- including two on the same night -- this month. Police on Wednesday released surveillance video showing part of one of the assaults and the attacker in hopes that the public may be able to identify him and help get him off the street. The black-and-white video, which lasts about 30 seconds, shows the man riding up behind a woman on a bicycle, reaching out and touching her inappropriately. Police say that assault occurred on Aug. 13 shortly after midnight as the 27-year-old victim walked down 8th Street near Fitzwater, in Bella Vista. The woman screamed, and the assailant rode away on his bicycle. Police said within about two and a half hours of that attack, the suspect was at it again, this time targeting a 39-year-old woman as she got out of her car and walked home on 13th Street between McKean Street and Snyder Avenue. The same man is also suspected in two other sexual assaults that occurred elsewhere in South Philadelphia earlier the same week. In the first assault, police say the man approached a 24-year-old woman walking on 15th Street near Moore about 1 a.m. on Aug. 6. He committed that assault in the same way as the one in the released video, approaching his victim from behind while riding a bicycle, then touching her inappropriately and continuing on to flee when she began yelling. A few days later, police said, the same man is believed to have struck again. In that assault, a 42-year-old woman was walking along Lombard Street between 9th and 10th when police say a man approached her from behind on a bike, touched her inappropriately and then fled west on Lombard. A healthy fast-casual restaurant known for its salad and stir fries on Temple University's campus is expanding, with additional locations planned for Center City and New Jersey. Crisp Kitchen opened on Temple's campus in February this year at the student apartment complex The View at Montgomery alongside other food options, including Chipotle Mexican Grill and Potbelly Sandwich Shop, making Crisp the only non-national, homegrown restaurant to set up shop there. The restaurant has the student population and demographic down pat, so now it's looking to expand to other demographics, particularly the office lunch and high-end suburban crowds. Crisp Kitchen has inked deals to open restaurants on West Market Street in Center City and another one in Marlton, New Jersey. The first of the two to open will be at 1900 Market St., a 456,000-plus-square foot, 9-story office building by Brandywine Realty Trust. To read the full story, click here. For more business news, visit Philadelphia Business Journal. Moms know everything, right? One Utah mom admittedly did not know how to solve her daughter's dilemma. The kindness of strangers from across the world helped Deborah Grimshaw Skouson find the answer. Her daughter with autism, Cami, wore out her favorite flower print Target shirt, after five years. Grimshaw Skouson had replaced the shirt before via eBay but her recent search for additional shirts had been unsuccessful. She took to Facebook to solve the issue by posting a photo of the prized pink shirt pleading for help. "Okay friends and family, I need your help! As most of you know, my daughter Cami has autism. For the past 4-5 years, she has been fixated on THIS shirt. Her current one is almost unwearable, and eBay has gone dry," Grimshaw Skouson wrote. "We will pay for the shirt and the shipping if someone would be kind enough to sell it to us. It has to be this exact shirt! We've tried similar shirts, and they don't cut it with Cami!" The post has been shared 5,401 times. So far, 178 people have responded and the family is already in receipt of 50 of the shirts by mail with the furthest coming from Germany. Skouson, who has four other children and is a special education teacher, said her family was shocked by all the support. [NATL] Top Entertainment Photos: Best of the American Music Awards, and More Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi,Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida andSouth Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung Se (from L to R) attend a joint press conference in Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 24, 2016. The 8th trilateral foreign ministers' meeting was held here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Ma Ping) TOKYO, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida and South Korean counterpart Yun Byung-se agreed on Wednesday that the three countries shall reinforce cooperation to promote regional stability and development. The Eighth China-Japan-South Korea foreign ministers' meeting was held in Tokyo on Wednesday. The foreign ministers'' meeting followed the leaders' meeting of China, Japan and South Korea in November 2015. The leaders' meeting that resumed last year after a three-year interval marked an important new opportunity for the trilateral cooperation, said Wang. China, Japan and South Korea, as three large economies of East Asia, are accountable for promoting East Asian economic development, taking a lead in East Asian regional cooperation and safeguarding regional peace and stability, he said. The three countries shall, in the spirit of facing history squarely and advancing towards the future, overcome obstacles and interruptions, build up consensus and focus on cooperation, to make sure the trilateral cooperation follow the right direction and develop steadily, Wang said. In the next stage, the three countries shall build up political mutual trust, carry out practical cooperation, promote people-to-people exchanges and push forward sustainable development, so as to strengthen the trilateral cooperation and provide new momentum for East Asian cooperation, Wang added. During the meeting, the Chinese foreign minister also introduced China's preparations for the upcoming Group of 20 (G20) summit in Hangzhou, China. China is willing to strengthen communication and cooperation with Japan and South Korea, both important members of G20, to make the summit a conference that boosts confidence, helps building consensus and guides future directions, and makes due contribution to promoting world economic development and improving global economic governance, said Wang. Regarding the current situation in East Asia, Wang said that compared to other regions in the world, East Asia generally enjoys peace and relatively fast economic growth. East Asian countries shall make common efforts to promote regional integration, stability and common prosperity through giving play to the leading role of trilateral cooperation between China, Japan and South Korea, and moving towards the goal of building the East Asian economic community and the Asian community of common destiny, he said. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, for their part, agreed that trilateral cooperation between China, Japan and South Korea is of great significance to regional peace, stability and prosperity. The two foreign ministers also said that the three countries shall further strengthen cooperation to improve bilateral relations. The Japanese and South Korean foreign ministers expressed their support for China to make the G20 Hangzhou summit a success. Hundreds of thousands of dead fish were spotted floating in the waterways in New Jersey this week. Officials said that the scores of dead bunker fish that were spotted on the surface of local waterways around the Raritan Bay in West Keansburg Tuesday were victims of a fish kill. Department of Environmental Protection officials said the fish were likely chased into the bay by bluefish or skates, and once there the fish were killed off by low levels of dissolved oxygen in the water. Fish were found in Natco Lake, Thornes Creek and Waackaak Creek, officials said. Officials said that it was the second fish kill in the waterway this week. Its a common occurrence caused by a cocktail of warm, still waters and growing plant life. "The temperatures have been sweltering, and you can imagine what it's like in the smaller bodies of water," said Greg Remaud, the deputy director of NY/NJ Baykeeper. Baykeeeper officials said that tests revelaed that oxygen levels in the waterways were below the minimum concentration for fish to survive. This is primarily a natural phenomenon, but it is exacerbated by polluted runoff, including fertilizers from lawns, which is why preserving stream corridors and buffers is important, said Remaud. Chopper 4 footage from the scene showed thousands of fish carcasses floating in the bay, mostly grouped around docks and twists in the waterway. Officials said that most of the fish, normally used for fertilizer, will likely be washed out of the bay within two tide cycles. There is no risk to the public from the water or the dead fish, authorities said. THIS IS WHERE THE REAL DEBATE IS Ask just about any climate scientist and theyll tell you that the climate is warming, and most of that warming is due to human activity. Period. But ask if a record flood, or hurricane, or blizzard, or wildfire, or drought has been made worse due to climate change (or global warming, depending on which term you choose). Youll probably get a lot of different answers. THIS is where debate among climate scientists is REAL. Its called Attribution Science," and it is a rather recent development. For decades, climate scientists and meteorologists kept quoting the same line after each weather disaster: No single extreme event can be blamed on global warming (or something close to that). It quickly closed any debate environmental activists tried to start. It was easy. But its not easy anymore. Computer models of future climate have long shown that the future will include: *more (and worse) heat waves *more (and worse) droughts *more (and worse) floods *more (and worse) wildfires But the question always was: How far in the future do we expect this increase to start? Many of us talked about how all these above things would happen in decades to come. But a series of incredible record events got some thinking differently. Had the expected future changes already started? THE BLIZZARD OF 96: THE TALK BEGINS I remember questions about the possible effect of global warming on the Blizzard of 96 in Philadelphia, when we broke our all-time snowstorm record by an amazing amount. The old record: 21.3. The new record: 30.7. How can a place with detailed records going back 120+ years break a record by so much? There were a lot of articles about the possible connection, even in our local papers: http://articles.philly.com/1996-01-19/news/25653806_1_discernible-human-influence-influence-on-global-climate-greenhouse-warming http://www.newsweek.com/global-warming-176896 .and many more. But most scientists (including me) repeated the established line: No single storm can be blamed on global warming. We even did an in-depth special report on the possible connection. I got the chance to interview the late Dr. Jerry Mahlman, Director of the GFDL, a top government research organization. Even though he said, The debate is over, when it came to whether global warming was real (1996!), he scoffed at the idea that the blizzard was caused (or even significantly aided) by global warming. MORE STORMS, MORE RECORDS, MORE MINDS CHANGED As the 90s came to a close and the new century began, we started noticing more and more extreme weather-from heat waves and drought to record snowstorms-and incredible floods. With each event, our defenses got a bit lower. All of the below happened in the U.S. There were obviously many others in different parts of the world (info from NCDC-National Climatic Data Center): 1998: severe drought/heat wave- kills 200 1999: severely dry and hot-kills 500 2000: drought/heat wave-kills 140 2001: remnants of Tropical Storm produce 30-40 inches of rain $11 billion damage-kills 43 2003: record 1-week total 400 tornadoes-kills 51 2004: series of hurricane strikes in Florida-kills more than 150 More than $70 Billion damage 2005: Katrina-kills 1800+. Damage $154 billion 2006: numerous wildfires-kills 28. Record area burned 2008: 2 separate tornado outbreaks-kills 70. Total 320+ tornadoes 2008: massive flooding in Midwest-kills 24. Damage $11 billion 2008: Hurricane Ike (largest on record)-kills 112. Damage $33 billion 2011: Blizzard Midwest to Northeast-kills 36 2011: 4 massive tornado outbreaks-kills 545. Total 746 tornadoes 2011: Drought/heat wave-kills 95. Damage $13 billion 2012: 6 separate outbreaks with 20+ tornadoes-Damage $17 billion 2012: Superstorm Sandy-kills 159. Damage $68 billion 2012: Drought/heat wave-kills 123. Damage $31 billion 2013: Drought/heat wave-kills 53. Damage $11 billion This was a 15 year period that started getting more and more meteorologists and climate scientists wondering more and more about whether we can ATTRIBUTE at least some of those events to the changing climate. We started hearing experts saying that the dice are loaded toward more extreme events, and that its the atmosphere on steroids." And those who didnt agree with those statements had to say it over and over. Every time a major disaster occurred, the debate rose up again. ATTRIBUTION SCIENCE But most of us needed something more than suspicions. We needed to see a concrete, specific reason for the extremes. What is the cause and effect relationship? One of the first widely publicized studies was from Dr. Jennifer Francis of Rutgers. As you saw above, the year 2012 had numerous extreme events, and that was the year her research became known: Her theory was that the rapid ice melt in the Arctic was causing: 1. Warming in the Arctic (more of the suns rays get absorbed in water than over ice) 2. This leads to less of a temperature contrast from the Arctic to the mid-latitudes and tropics 3. Since jet streams are related to temperature differences, they become wavier," instead of more west to east 4. This leads to more cut-off LOWS in the upper atmosphere 5. Which leads to more intense and slow-moving storms http://e360.yale.edu/feature/linking_weird_weather_to_rapid_warming_of_the_arctic/2501/ That seemed like a reasonable cause and effect, and later papers expanded on that theory. It even helped explain the unprecedented sharp left turn that Sandy took. Since her papers came out right around that time, they gained even more publicity. And, in time, other climate scientists either agreed with the theory or did their own research that agreed with it. That seemed like a reasonable cause and effect, and later papers expanded on that theory. It even helped explain the unprecedented sharp left turn that Sandy took. Since her papers came out right around that time, they gained even more publicity. And, in time, other climate scientists either agreed with the theory or did their own research that agreed with it. USGS MORE RECORD FLOODS, HEAT, WILDFIRES, TYPHOONS, ETC. So now, every record-smashing event seems to be tied to climate change. Just recently, the devastating floods in Ellicott City, MD and Louisiana have been added to the list. And, at the same time, major wildfires were hitting California-again. NBC News NBC News NBC News ITS NOT THAT SIMPLE Yes, it would be easy to say that every record event in weather has been created, or made worse, by climate change. But weve seen extreme weather and record weather ever since the beginning of time. Weather is naturally variable, so how can we tell that any single one has an unnatural aid? Attribution Science is trying to answer those questions. Below is one such attempt-from the National Academy of Sciences. Some types of extreme events have more obvious ties to climate change than others. Note how both extreme heat and extreme cold are at the top of the list. [[391086101, C]] SO, WHAT WAS THE CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT ON LOUISIANA FLOOD? It will take months of research for respected scientific papers to come out and see how much of a tie there is to climate change. Attempts are being made for those attribution studies to come faster than they used to. Was there more moisture in the atmosphere because of the increase in water vapor due to climate change? Yes. But was it enough to say that there wouldnt have been devastating flooding without climate change? The added moisture probably made it worse, but was it 2% worse, 20% worse, or more? The science is still too primitive to say with confidence. Below are a few articles related to this subject, if youre interested in more detail. http://dels.nas.edu/resources/static-assets/materials-based-on-reports/reports-in-brief/Attribution-Extreme-Weather-Brief-Final.pdf https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/08/15/what-we-can-say-about-the-louisiana-floods-and-climate-change/?postshare=7811471294385986&tid=ss_tw&utm_term=.f1f8323cc0d3 These extremes of the past 15-20 years have me wondering if 15-20 years from now, scientists will be wondering how we missed such obvious changes in our climate. By then, the extremes of today may seem modest by comparison. Glenn Hurricane Schwartz, Chief Meteorologist, NBC10 Philadelphia A 12-year-old girl from a small Nebraska town marked an important moment in her fight against a rare brain tumor Tuesday. Izabella Voelker came to San Diego's Rady Children's Hospital two months ago to undergo Proton Therapy treatment to fight a rare brain tumor, seen in only one percent of children. Doctors first told her and her parents she had a slim chance at life, but with her incredible strength, she's beaten the odds. "There was only a five percent chance of survival through the second surgery," Izabella said. "I was like, I'm not afraid to die. Actually, I wrote my will out because I'm a planner. I wrote my will out and planned my funeral." What started as elbow pain was later discovered to be fluid in her brain. The 12-year-old has had three surgeries and came to San Diego to undergo proton therapy, a series of 30 treatments. The proton therapy here precisely targets tumors instead of exposing the rest of the body to radiation. While in San Diego, she visited SeaWorld and fell in love with the Killer Whales. Tuesday, she rang the bell at Rady Children's, indicating this part of her treatment is over. "I like it here," she said. "It's a nice place to be having treatment, but I miss home and I miss my siblings and I miss my friends." Now, she returns to Nebraska to continue her chemotherapy. San Diego police are asking for the public's help in finding a man wanted in connection with two violent sexual assaults, one in University City and a second at a Motel 6. Jeremiah Williams, 24, is wanted for two recent attacks: the University City sex assault and another assault that happened the day after at a Motel 6, SDPD Capt. Brian Ahearn announced Tuesday. In a strange twist, investigators say police officers had the suspect in handcuffs after the second attack but weren't aware of the allegations until days later when the victim came forward. Captain Brian Ahearn of the San Deigo Police Department describes the details of a second sexual assault case related to the assault that happened in the UTC area on August 13. Williams is described as being 5-foot, 11-inches and 180 pounds. He has the numbers "210" tattooed on his right wrist and an outline of the State of Texas tattooed on his left forearm. He also has wings tattooed on both upper arms. Physical evidence from the scene of the first University City sex assault linked Williams as the suspect, Ahearn said. The University City sex assault happened on Saturday, Aug. 13 when a woman was attacked at the Venetian Condominiums on Nobel Drive. The woman had been dropped off outside the complex around 10:30 p.m. and was walking to her apartment when she thought someone was following her. Before the victim could unlock her door, the man knocked her to the ground and asked her for money at gunpoint. After giving him the money, the woman was dragged into her apartment where police say she was beaten and sexually assaulted. Three days after that incident, San Diego Police were called to Sharp Memorial Hospital for a report of a separate attack. A 23-year-old woman told police she had been violently sexually assaulted on Sunday, Aug. 14 at a Motel 6 on Alvarado Canyon Road in Mission Valley. "The suspect, who she had recently met, entered her room choked and sexually assaulted her and then hit her in the head with a hand gun," Ahearn said. After the interview, sex crimes detectives went to the motel and collected evidence. During their investigation, detectives found that officers initially responded to the incident at the motel as a report of a man hitting a woman. Witnesses told police Sunday night they heard the victim yell for help, and the suspect fled on foot. The Motel 6 manager told NBC 7 that the victim smashed a window in the room and drove off in a car before police arrived at the scene. Authorities located the suspect in a nearby canyon with a hand gun, Ahearn said. Initial statements given to California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers placed Williams at the scene, and he was cited with a misdemeanor gun charge and released. It was only on Tuesday that police linked Williams as the suspect in the motel sex assault. The victim's mother spoke to NBC 7 Tuesday night, saying her daughter is recovering. She tells us she knew nothing about Williams. Physical evidence and victim interviews linked Williams to the Motel 6 sex assault and to the University City sex assault, Ahearn said. The suspect remains at large; he is considered armed and dangerous. He has a criminal background in California and Texas. Anyone who sees Williams is asked to call 911. Police believe he is still in the San Diego area. The San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) announced a new initiative to make pre-kindergarten affordable to more families. The initiative is called Pre-K for All. Right now, a family of four making less than $47,000 a year qualifies for free pre-school for their children. But what about other families? Price has put preschool out of reach for many working families, said the district's Director of Early Childhood Education, Stephanie Cimensky. The fee-based program will allow other families to qualify for preschool for the first time. There is room for 3,400 students right now. If more students enroll, more sites can be added, Cimensky said. This is an investment in our children's future, said San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer. There are no new teachers being hired this year, though pre-schools will be opening at eleven new sites this year. Tuition ranges from $530 to $1060 a month, depending upon income, and program options. Pre-K for All offers a three-hour part time program, a six-hour full time program, and child development centers. Military families, district employees and families with siblings going to pre-school will qualify for a discount. SDUSD said it has set aside about $24 million to offer Pre-K programs next year. Funding will come from multiple sources. In a statement, the district wrote: Our expectation is that about 3.4 million of this investment will come directly from the district. Another 6.6 million will come from the new students who pay fees and from a grant we are hoping to receive. Finally, about 14 million will come from the state, assuming the District is able to fill the 2,948 seats they have contracted with the District to provide." A new backpack full of pencils, notebooks, crayons and more can get a child excited about going back to school! That's why Apple Federal Credit Union is teaming up with NBC4 again this year to collect donations for children in need. On Wednesday, August 24, you can drop off new backpacks and school supplies at the Apple Federal Credit Union Kingstowne branch, at 6831 Sir Viceroy Drive, Alexandria, Va., from 6 a.m. until noon. News 4s Erika Gonzalez and Amelia Draper will be there to accept your donations. Also, all Apple Federal Credit Union branches are accepting donations now. Suggested school supplies: Two packs of loose-leaf notebook paper Two dozen #2 pencils Two packages of cap erasers Spiral notebook or bound composition book Yellow highlighters Plain folders with pockets and brads Loose leaf binder with dividers Package of 24 crayons or package of colored pencils Small pencil or supply box or zippered supply pouch Paper glue stick Kleenex purse packs 12-inch ruler Other ways to help: Donate money securely online here. or Text NBC4DC to 56512 or Send a check made out to CFNCR/Backpacks 4 Kids to: Backpacks 4 Kids NBC4 4001 Nebraska Ave, NW Washington, DC 20016 NBC4s Backpacks 4 Kids is a component fund of the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region. Apple Federal Credit Union is an official sponsor of Backpacks 4 Kids. Health officials say an increasing number of people are sick with hepatitis A after ordering from a chain of smoothie shops. Seventeen cases in the state are now tied to Tropical Smoothie Cafes, The Virginian-Pilot reports. Strawberries imported from Egypt are suspected of carrying the virus into stores. Tropical Smoothie Cafe said it stopped using strawberries from Egypt at all of its stores, including those outside Virginia, after learning about the potential issue. The smoothie chain said the cafes and their food handling practices "have not been implicated in any way." Health officials are encouraging anyone who consumed a smoothie with frozen strawberries at a restaurant in the last 50 days to watch for symptoms of hepatitis A. Those include jaundice, fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine and light-colored stools. Individuals who consumed a smoothie from a Tropical Smoothie Cafe in Virginia that contained frozen strawberries on Aug. 5, 6, 7 or 8, 2016, may still benefit from vaccine or immune globulin to prevent hepatitis A, the health department said. The World Health Organization says almost everyone fully recovers from the liver disease. Symptoms include yellowing of the skin or eyes, fever and nausea. Hepatitis A presents itself within 15 to 50 days of exposure. It can also be transmitted between people in direct contact. There are 96 Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations throughout Virginia, according to the chain's website. Visit their website for all locations. There is no information at this time that any Maryland locations have been affected. Below is the full statement from Tropical Smoothie Cafe: "Tropical Smoothie Cafe was notified by the Virginia Department of Health about several foodborne illnesses in the state linked to frozen strawberries sourced from Egypt. Our cafes and their food handling practices have not been implicated in any way the health department believes this is a single product issue (strawberries) sourced from Egypt. Egyptian strawberries represent a fraction of our overall strawberries purchased, and were predominantly distributed to stores in the Virginia market. Today, our strawberries are primarily sourced from Mexico and California. However, in an abundance of caution, we voluntarily pulled all strawberries sourced from Egypt from every cafe in our system, not only the Virginia cafes. Our primary concern is for the safety and well-being of our guests and crew members and we will continue to cooperate with the health authorities." For more information about hepatitis A, visit the health department's website. The Virginia Department of Health said anyone with questions concerning the investigation can contact their local health department. A group of 21 D.C. residents have filed a lawsuit, seeking to stop the building of a homeless shelter in northwest Washington until they are allowed input on the location, according to court papers. The suit, filed Tuesday in the civil division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, said D.C. leaders violated the law by not notifying the community of the location for a planned homeless shelter. D.C. council approved a plan to locate a 50-bed shelter in the parking lot of the Metropolitan Police Departments 2nd District Station. The legal filing claimed part of the 2016 Homeless Shelter Replacement Act, passed by the D.C. Council and signed by Mayor Muriel Bowser, violates what is known as the District of Columbia ANC (Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners) Act. The group wants the court to issue a permanent injunction against any progress on the homeless shelter until the areas Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners can offer input to the plan. "What we are going to court with is not to ask the court to substitute its judgment for that of the council in choosing this site," said plaintiffs' attorney David Brown. "But to go back to the drawing board and give the ANC an opportunity to presents its issues and concerns." The Homeless Shelter Replacement Act is part of an effort to replace the problem-plagued D.C General Family Shelter by putting smaller facilities in each ward. In May, the focus changed from putting the shelters on private property to placing them on city-owned land, like the 2nd District police station. In a statement to News4, Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh said ANCs are required have input in D.C. zoning changes, but those changes haven't been requested, yet. "Once the application for zoning relief is made, the ANC will be asked to provide its view," Cheh said. Officials say Virginia's Medicaid program has begun covering the cost of mosquito repellent to prevent people from being infected by the Zika virus. The program began covering repellent on Monday, according to The Washington Post. The state health department says prescriptions are required for people to obtain the payment. One refill is allowed per month. Zika causes a mild illness in most people but can lead to severe brain-related birth defects if women are infected during pregnancy. No vaccine exists to provide protection against the mosquito-borne virus. Zika has been spreading across the Americas since last year, with virus-carrying mosquitoes reported to have reached Florida last month. Frank Quan(left) Frank Quan, the last remaining shrimper of China Camp, a community established by Chinese immigrants in the mid-1800s, died on August 15. He was 90 years old, and would have been 91 years old on August 25. He was found by his friend in his cabin in the camp. Born and raised in the camp, he spent most of his life there, witnessing the ups and downs of the village. China Camp has a history of over 150 years. After the discovery of gold in Californias Sacramento Valley in 1848, thousands of Chinese immigrants arrived. Data shows that there were only three Chinese residents in California in 1848, but that number increased to 30,000 by 1852. The population influx and exhausting surface claims/the system of staking claims disappointed newcomers, and Chinese laborers were driven out. Together with other Chinese laborers driven away from railway construction, Chinese immigrants became cooks, laundrymen, and servants. But some of them moved to San Pablo Bay and turned to commercial shrimp fishing, establishing China Camp on the shore of San Pedro Bay. In 1875, 26 China Camp communities were founded in the bay area, and they reached their height in the 1880s, with 469 residents. Some of the shrimp they caught was sold to local restaurants, but most was sun-dried and exported to China. More than three million pounds of shrimp were caught annually from the late 1800s to the early 20th century. This all changed after the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882. Over the next few decades, additional discriminatory exclusion laws were passed, making life difficult for the camps shrimp fishers. In 1905, the U.S. banned shrimp exports, striking a severe blow to the China Camp economy. In 1911, the fishing nets widely used by the Chinese were prohibited. As a result, the population of China Camp declined dramatically. Quan Hung Quock, grandfather of Frank Quan, was an early inhabitant of China Camp. After moving to the camp from San Franciscos Chinatown he built a general store there in 1895. Thirty years later, Frank Quan was born. During World War II, Quan served in the Navy as a signalman. The shrimp fishery industry once again thrived in the 1930s and 1940s, but on a much smaller scale. Only a small community centered on the Quan family remained. The Quan family continued shrimp fishing and ran a small restaurant. In 1977, China Camp was transformed into a state park and the 36-acre village was preserved as a living memorial. Frank Quan was the only person permitted to reside in the park. He shrimp fished sometimes and did some maintenance work. The park was almost closed twice due to budget crises facing the state of California in 2008 and 2011. With great effort and help from legislators and volunteers, the closures were averted. Friends of China Camp, a non-profit organization, signed an operating agreement with the California state park system to keep the park open. Quan never married his whole life. He just operated his small restaurant would and even prepare clam chowder on the weekends for visitors. Ren Faqiang, Chinese deputy consul general in San Francisco, visited him on August 12, just three days before his death. The next day, Quan told Heidi Kuhn, the granddaughter of California land magnate, entrepreneur and civic leader John A. McNear: Officials from my country of origin visited me, listened to my stories, and gave me Chinese tea: I am contented. Heidi Kuhn says that Mr. John A. McNear rented land to early Chinese immigrants for just one US Dollar in the 1870s. Thats the beginning of China Camp. Now, the last shrimper of the camp is gone. Three women are accusing staff at a popular Martha's Vineyard restaurant of making racially insensitive remarks. Part of the interaction was caught on camera. "I didn't really understand why we were being talked to in that way," says Nicole Jones. Jones, along with her two friends Medina Jett and Whitley Mingo, tell necn Investigates the incident occurred on Friday night at the Jimmy Seas Pan Pasta restaurant on Martha's Vineyard. "Even now I'm trying to hold back tears because I really cannot believe that I would be degraded in that manner just because I wanted to have dinner," said Jones. The group of three friends were vacationing in Martha's Vineyard on Friday night. They decided to eat at the popular Italian restaurant because several days prior President Obama and the first family had dined there. Jones said she was excited to eat at Jimmy Seas. However, the group of three said after sitting down at the bar, they began to feel uncomfortable. "Sweat was starting to bead up. It was running down our backs," said Medina Jett. When the group asked for a nearby window to be opened, they claim the staff denied their request. "At that point the owner had said to me 'You're trying to get a free meal. Is this what this about?' And just grabbed her purse and just started throwing out cash $100," according to Jett. "As she was doing that, Whitley, she said 'No, no, no. We don't want your money.'" Jett told necn Investigates that they offered to pay for the meal, but things escalated after she told her friend she would write a Yelp review. She said the owner - William Craffy - allegedly started taking pictures of women. "He started to say that 'you people' don't realize that this is Martha's Vineyard," Jett told necn. At that point, Jett said the owner began taking their pictures. When she inquired why, "He said, 'So that when you post a negative review, I can show everybody what you look like.' And at that point, it sounded to me like he was saying if people see that if you're black, then your opinion won't really matter." One of the women grabbed their cellphone, which allegedly captured the owner stating "Get the (expletive) out." The women said the requested their bill and a to go container but the owner refused. "He was just screaming at us as though we were animals on the street. I've never had an experience like that in my life," said Jett. Eventually, the women did leave Jimmy Seas. Necn asked Craffy, the owner, for comment regarding Friday's incident. But he declined multiple times to make any statement. The women have filed a civil rights complaint with the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office. A spokesperson said they are reviewing the complaint. FactCheck.org is a non-partisan non-profit organization that will hold candidates and key figures accountable during the 2016 presidential campaign. FactCheck.org will check facts of speeches, advertisements and more for NBC. Hillary Clintons campaign manager, Robby Mook, made the baseless insinuation that Donald Trump compromised national security by inviting a man with Russian ties to his intelligence briefing. Appearing on ABC News This Week, Mook said Trump was accompanied to his first intelligence briefing on Aug. 17 by someone whos on the payroll of the Russia Times, which is a basically a propaganda arm of the Kremlin. Mook claimed this gentleman whom he did not name was sitting two seats away from Vladimir Putin at RTs 10th anniversary gala in December, and he demanded that Trump disclose whether his advisers are having meetings with the Kremlin. Who is this mysterious, unnamed gentleman? The Clinton campaign told us Mook was referring to retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, who until two years ago was director of the Defense Intelligence Agency under President Barack Obama. Flynn is not on the payroll of the Russia Times. He was merely one of many speakers at RTs anniversary conference on Dec. 10, 2015, in Moscow. RT is a Russian government-funded TV station once known as Russia Today. Mook made his misleading assertion about Flynn shortly after he claimed that real questions being raised about whether Donald Trump himself is just a puppet for the Kremlin. Host George Stephanopoulos questioned Mook about that claim which has been part of the Clinton campaigns attacks on Trump ever since it was reported that Russia was likely behind the successful attacks on computer servers at the Democratic National Committee and the release of DNC emails. Stephanopoulos: Youre saying hes a puppet for the Kremlin? Mook: Well, real questions are being raised about that. We again, theres a web of financial ties to the Russians that he refuses to disclose. Weve seen over the last few week, him parroted Vladimir Putin in his own remarks. We saw the Republican Party platform changed. She saw Donald Trump talk about leaving NATO and leaving our Eastern European allies vulnerable to a Russian attack. The gentleman he brought with him to his security briefing just last week is someone whos on the payroll of the Russia Times, which is a basically a propaganda arm of the Kremlin. He was sitting two seats away from Vladimir Putin at their 10th anniversary gala. There are a lot of questions here. And we need Donald Trump to disclose all of his financial ties and whether his advisers are having meetings with the Kremlin. Trump has praised Putin and has called for improved relations with Russia, but he has denied that he has had any financial ties with Russia beyond holding the Miss Universe Pageant in Moscow in 2013. Also, Trumps personal financial disclosure report required of all presidential candidates does not show any investments in Russia. However, Paul Manafort, who until last week was Trumps campaign chairman, did have business dealings with Russian-aligned leaders in Ukraine, as uncovered by the New York Times. With Manafort gone, Mook redirected the campaigns guilt-by-association attack on Trump by questioning Flynns associations with the Kremlin. Trump was joined at his first intelligence briefing on Aug. 17 at FBI headquarters in New York City by Flynn and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. As Huffington Post wrote, Flynn was paid by a Russian state-funded television network to speak at its 10th-anniversary gala, and Putin attended that conference. Reuters reported that Flynn was pictured sitting at the head table with Putin at the conference. In an Aug. 15 article, Flynn told the Washington Post that his speaking engagement was arranged by his speakers bureau and that he was paid for it. He said he was introduced to Putin, but did not speak to him. Flynn was one of many speakers at the conference. Others included former London Mayor Ken Livingstone, Green Party presidential nominee Jill Stein and liberal U.S. media commentator Thom Hartmann. Flynn sat for a one-on-one Q&A with RT correspondent Sophie Shevardnadze on the Islamic State terrorist group and the crisis in the Middle East. His conference topic coincided with the announcement that he is writing a book with Michael Ledeen on the Middle East called The Field of Fight: How We Can Win the Global War Against Radical Islam and Its Allies. The Clinton campaign provided no evidence that Flynn is on the payroll of RT or that he is having meetings with the Kremlin, as Mook alleged. It forwarded us a Politico story from May that said Flynn makes semi-regular appearances on RT as an analyst. Politico wrote that Flynn is presumably paid for those TV appearances, but the retired lieutenant general told the Post that he is not paid by RT or any other TV stations, because I want to be able to speak freely about what I believe. Steve Sestanovich, a senior fellow for Russian and Eurasian studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, told us that Flynns appearance at the conference certainly raises a question about Flynns judgment and good sense, but it probably doesnt make him a security risk. Flynn served for more than three decades in the military, including in Afghanistan and Iraq. He became the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency under Obama in July 2012. He was asked to resign after two years and quickly became one of the Obama administrations most vocal critics on foreign policy. I was asked to step down, Flynn admitted in an interview with Foreign Policy. It wasnt necessarily the timing that I wanted, but I understand. Trump reportedly considered Flynn during his search for a vice presidential candidate, but ultimately picked Indiana Gov. Mike Pence. The Clinton campaign certainly has legitimate questions it can raise about Trumps foreign policy positions, such as his comments that he would certainly look at pulling the United States out of NATO, because it is obsolete and is costing us a fortune. But Mook goes too far in falsely claiming that Flynn is on the payroll of the government-funded Russia TV station and insinuating without evidence that the retired United States Army lieutenant general is a security risk. Donald Trump is campaigning in the battleground state of Florida, where he will hold a rally at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa at 1 p.m. Wednesday. The campaign event comes a day after Trump suggested during a Fox News town hall in Texas that he is open to "softening" laws dealing with immigrants in the country illegally. It is the latest sign that the Republican presidential nominee is considering easing the hardline stance he has taken since the beginning of his campaign. Trump will continue to urge African-American voters to support him and is also expected to reiterate his calls for the Justice Department to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the connection between Hillary Clinton's State Department and the Clinton Foundation, his campaign told NBC News. The Boston Police SWAT team arrested a fugitive wanted on several outstanding warrants, including bank robberies in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Boston Police SWAT arrested Stephen Gingras, age 39, of Manchester, New Hampshire after a five hour standoff in the area of 9 Orton-Moratta Way in South Boston on Wednesday morning. According to Boston Police, investigators from the Fugitive Unit learned on Tuesday night that Gingras was armed and dangerous and possibly in the area. Gingras was wanted for bank robberies out of Bedford, Massachusetts and Salem, New Hampshire. During the standoff, Gingras displayed an AK-47-style assault rifle. Once officers learned he was inside the building, they moved in to arrest him, however, Gingras attempted to jump out of a second story window. But then he instead retreated inside and barricaded himself inside. Police were unable to negotiate with Gingras and eventually forced their way into the building and placed him under arrest. Officers recovered a fully loaded .762 caliber Century Arms Inc. rifle with a large capacity magazine during the standoff. The area was secured pending an investigation. Gingras will appear in South Boston District Court on various charges, including fugitive from justice, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and unlawful possession of a large capacity feeding device before facing extradition to New Hampshire. On Monday night, Gingras allegedly robbed a Citizens Bank inside a Stop and Shop on Great Road in Bedford, Massachusetts. He faces charges out of Bedford for unarmed robbery, larceny over $250, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and being a fugitive from justice. On Tuesday, he allegedly robbed a Citizens Bank on Cluff Crossing Road in Salem, New Hampshire. Police there were able to recover a stolen vehicle they believe Gingras used in the robbery. Salem Police also assisted Boston Police with the arrest on Wednesday morning. A couple in Laconia, New Hampshire, survived what they are calling the most horrifying night of their lives, after they were held at gunpoint for more than an hour Tuesday night. Jillian and Jordan Smith said there were hanging out at the park behind the Laconia Library when a man approached them and pulled a gun. "He whipped it out and held it right at me and told me to shut up," Jillian Smith recalled. Police said it was a revolver, and Jillian is convinced it was loaded. "I just dropped to the ground and started crying and screaming," she said. Laconia Police say at about 10:30 p.m., David Bickford took the Smiths hostage for more than an hour, marching them through city streets, and promising to pull the trigger if they didn't find his lost duffle bag. "The most fear I've ever gone through in my life," Jillian said. Jillian escaped, ran to a friend's house, and called police. Meanwhile, police say Bickford was forcing Jordan Smith to rob the Laconia Spa convenience store. Jordan said once inside, he knew he could get away. "I said, 'there's a guy out there who is going to shoot me,'" Jordan told necn. So, the clerk called 911, Jordan ran into the basement, and police eventually caught up with the suspect. Laconia Police Capt. Matt Canfield said the Smiths and Bickford are familiar with each other, but that the Smiths were true victims in this case. Wednesday afternoon, investigators were still searching for the gun to make a stronger case against Bickford. "This had a lot of potential to go really bad and cause a lot of harm," Capt. Canfield said. But it didn't. And for that, the Smith's are thankful, knowing Tuesday night could've been their last. "I don't think he was going to let me go," Jordan said. When asked if he thought he was going to die, Jordan said, "Pretty much, yeah." Police said Bickford appeared to be under the influence when they arrested him. He's being held on $50,000 bail. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump will be back in swing-state New Hampshire on Thursday for a campaign rally. According to his campaign website, Trump will hold a rally at 1 p.m. Thursday at The Radisson Hotel in Manchester. Doors open at 10 a.m. Trump was last in New Hampshire on Aug. 6. Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence was just in the state last week. Hidden underneath Boston is a web of 800 wells. "This well network is really the canary in the coal mine. This is the warning sign," said Christian Simonelli, executive director of Boston Groundwater Trust. The well levels are so key because so much of Boston is filled in. "All this Back Bay area, South End, has been filled in," he said while showing maps outlining the city's expansion hundreds of years ago. Many buildings in those areas, constructed on the weak fill, are supported by wood pilings underground. If that wood suddenly sits outside of groundwater, it can rot. "We have to make sure the groundwater level is always above the tops of those pilings," notes Simonelli. Right now, the levels are dropping due to drought. "It's really been a slow steady decline in groundwater levels since May," he said. A property in the South End provides a classic example of what happens after prolonged low water levels. "In some areas they had rotted away or were not exist any at all," said John Holland of the pilings under the building he is currently renovating. That rot left the building's facade, which Holland hoped to preserve in a rehab project, unsteady. "It drove out a change in the project, where we had to go back to the historical commission and get permission to remove the entire structure," he said of the challenges he faced. It's something he's faced in other projects in Boston as well. The extra steps delayed the South End project by about a year, and cost money. "The older fabric of these buildings in these neighborhoods is why people want to relocate down here so building a brand new building is, I believe, less valuable than a persevered building with new behind it," he added. The rot in his South End building happened over a long period of time. And officials in Boston say it does in fact take years for damage to occur because of rot. So, while they continue to monitor levels during this drought, they're not worried about widespread damage in the short term. A woman who delivers food for a Chinese restaurant was killed and a male coworker was injured during a robbery in Waterbury on Tuesday night and police have arrested a four teens, who police suspect placed the order themselves with the intention of committing the robbery. Police responded to the report of a robbery at 70 Linden St. just before 9:30 p.m. and found two victims -- a male and a female -- who were delivering food for Golden Wok in the area for a local Chinese restaurant, according to police. Four people attacked and robbed the victims, according to police. They assaulted the male delivery driver and shot the female victim, 59-year-old Helena Vargas, of Waterbury, in the neck, police said. She was transported to St. Marys Hospital, where she was pronounced dead just after 10 p.m., police said. Waterbury Police worked throughout the night and morning hours and have arrested four people. Anthony Wright, 20, a 16-year-old girl, a 17-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy have been arrested. All four were charged with felony murder, first-degree robbery and first-degree conspiracy to commit robbery. "We believe it's an isolated incident. We believe that these four individuals conspired to commit the robbery and we believe they intentionally ordered the food and called these people to that address in an effort to commit the robbery." Deputy Police Chief Fred Spagnolo said. Wright and the 16-year-old boy have also been charged with second-degree larceny, conspiracy at larceny in the second degree, carrying a pistol without a permit and criminal use of a firearm. After a court appearance, Wright is being held on $2.5 million bond. Prosecutors said Wright is a known gang member and were pushing for $5 million bond, but the judge set it at $2.5 million. New Hampshire and Maine's transportation departments have decided to permanently close the Sarah Long Bridge to vehicle traffic after a mechanical failure last weekend. The bridge, which connects Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to Kittery, Maine, wasn't able to lift to the "up" position on Sunday to allow marine traffic access to the Piscataqua River. Engineers from both NHDOT and MaineDOT say the bridge isn't safe for routine operation without complicated repairs that could cost more than $1 million to complete. The bridge was already scheduled to permanently close Nov. 1 to allow for construction on the new Sarah Long Bridge to be completed by Sept. 2017. Detours are in place for drivers to use the I-94 "High Level" bridge and the Memorial Bridge on Route 1. Two people were injured in a crash in Wilmington, Massachusetts, Tuesday evening, police said. The crash happened around 10 p.m. at the intersection of Lake Street and Jacques Lane, where police say they found a heavily damaged 2012 Honda CRV. The driver, a 40-year-old Wilmington man, was taken to Lahey Clinic with serious injuries, while his passenger, a 37-year-old man from Tewksbury, was flown to Mass. General Hospital by medical helicopter. Wilmington police say speeding may have been a factor in the crash. State police are also helping in the investigation, which is ongoing. The Boston police officer and FBI agent who shot and killed a man suspected in a terror plot last year have been found justified in using deadly force and no charges will be filed. Usaamah Rahim, 26, of Boston's Roslindale neighborhood was shot and killed on June 2, 2015 by members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force after allegedly lunging at investigators with a knife when they approached him and about recorded phone conversations. "The evidence proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Rahim was armed with a large, military-style knife and posed the threat of death or serious bodily injury to the task force officers," Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley said at a Wednesday afternoon media briefing. "Their use of deadly force was a lawful exercise of self defense and defense of others." Rahim allegedly plotted with two others to behead conservative blogger Pamela Geller, who organized a Prophet Muhammad cartoon contest in Texas. They abandoned that plot in favor of one where they attacked police officers. The FBI said they confronted Rahim because he had bought knives and talked of an imminent attack on "boys in blue." "There is no question that members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force had probable cause to arrest Mr. Rahim," Conley said. "Knowing what they know and knowing what they now know about his plans for that day, they had the duty to stop him before he could act." The two other men - Nicholas Rovinski of Warwick, Rhode Island, and David Wright of Everett, Massachusetts - were indicted on conspiracy and terrorism charges in connection with the alleged plot and are being held without bail. They are scheduled to face trial sometime next year. Conley said he met with Rahim's family earlier Wednesday to inform them he would not be seeking criminal charges against the officers. He also released his office's 770-page investigative file to the family. The district attorney also met with members of the local Islamic community on Wednesday, and said he made it clear that Rahim was being investigated "for his actions, not for his faith." Rahim's family held their own press conference later Wednesday afternoon, saying they still have concerns about the shooting despite the district attorney's report, feeling that more could have been done to de-escalate the situation. Family spokesman Ronald Sullivan said Rahim "was the subject of an illegal arrest," and cited comments by Congressman Stephen Lynch and Boston Police Commissioner William Evans after the shooting that implied that police were under orders not to let him go. "This illegal arrest was the first call in a series of events that led to Usaamah's untimely death," he said. He also connected Rahim's death "to the many tragic police-involved shootings of other African-American men around this country," saying it was not an isolated event. Here's how you know An official website of the United States government Mind the Gap - God is there Whilst standing at London underground stations we become incredibly alert when we hear the words Mind the Gap coming over the loudspeakers. Why do we need warning of what should be obvious to those who are just about to step onto their train? People can be so focused on their destination and the vehicle that will take them there that they ignore potential dangers that await them in the process of shifting from one place to another. Thankfully we very rarely hear stories about those who fall in the gap. People go through many different seasons in life but to shift from one to another usually results in a period of transition. For many, these transitions can be pain-free but to see real change we often go through trials and tribulations. The bible is full of examples of this - We see Gods people in difficult situations over and over again. With Gods hand on His people these trials result in a shifting forward into the purposes of God. We cannot say that all of those who find God working in their lives have victory. Only those who are co-operating with God experience this. Saul had Gods grace upon His life as he pursued David with intent to do him harm. At any stage in the 13 years of pursuit Saul could have submitted to God and repented of his ways, and yet He chose to doggedly pursue David to kill him. Saul ultimately lost His life in battle. We, however, should learn from this that Gods plans cannot be thwarted by a man, and therefore when the trials come we should humbly walk with our God and allow the process of change to take root; so that we can move to the next season of our lives. Without allowing this process we stop the growth that is necessary for God to move us into our new season. God opens our eyes to see what has been there all the time. His grace allows us to deal with one thing at a time so we are not overwhelmed by the process of change. The birthing pains of change can happen so quickly that we are left reeling from the circumstances that have hit us like a whirlwind, as we ask Where is God in all of this?. It is only when the dust settles and hearts have been healed that God begins to reveal His love in the situation, as well as the bigger picture. We can be lost in the emotions and the details of what we are going through but God is focused on the end result - a result that will bring glory to Him and release us into a greater freedom. All we have to do is remember that when we feel lost, confused and possibly emotionally wrecked, that God is in the mess. In time, we will be healed; a peace will come and through the mist of our trials we begin to see a picture forming of the next stage of our lives. So for those of you who have been through some tough times, remember that God is in the gaps of our lives. He is the one who stops us falling in between seasons. He is the one that encourages us to trust in the place of confusion. God is in the gap; making sure we dont fall before we reach a place in which we see the vehicle and the open door that will take us on to our next destination. The Mind the Gap image is courtesy of Philip Jackson on http://www.freeimages.com/ Alison Hill has been involved in Christian ministry for twenty five years and attends her local church in King's Lynn, Norfolk. She runs Butterfly Ministries, offering Christian workshops to churches, conferences, small and large gatherings, bringing teaching that encourages growth in all areas of Christian life. She is also an author, now writing her third book. She believes that Christianity is about walking with God daily and learning about His ways through His Word and hearing His voice. Visit: www.alisonhill-author.co.uk The views carried here are those of the author, not of Network Norfolk, and are intended to stimulate constructive debate between website users. Necessity is the mother of invention. So, its no surprise that the best solutions are designed close to where theyre most needed. How do you empower people in remote parts of the world to develop their own solutions? How can their best solution be shared globally with others to maximize the benefit? Responding to disasters in El Salvador Floods and mudslides regularly devastate El Salvador. Villagers can identify impending floods and mudslides, but they are unable to warn others in time. Rugged terrain, lack of power and cellular networks present a formidable communication challenge. Reaccion, a team of El Salvadorian experts in electronics, community development and disaster relief, decided to do something about it. Working with local villagers and global experts, they developed an IoT-based early warning system for disasters thats now shared globally. Solution design Understanding the need Reaccion surveyed rural farmers and village elders to understand their concerns. They soon realized that a system that relied only on automated sensors wouldnt be adequate. Instead it had to incorporate input from village elders who had experience in identifying signs of natural disasters. The solution also had to be battery powered, rugged, affordable and simple enough for villagers without formal education to use. The design process A team of villagers and experts in community development, data analysis, disaster risk reduction, electronics and open design methodologies was assembled to design the solution. They adopted a design thinking approach to brainstorm on designs that would meet the technical requirements and also fit with existing village dynamics. This helped ensure that the final offering would be widely adopted across El Salvador. The Reaccion team worked with the local FabLab to develop a prototype. This organization is the brainchild of Professor Neil Gershenfeld at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). These labs are found around the world and "solve local problems with local actors through technological innovation and the use of digital manufacturing tools." Their Early Warning System lets villages alert each other even when power and phone communications have been disrupted in a natural disaster. Villagers alert others through a simple battery-powered device that has color-coded buttons to indicate an impending danger, as well as its severity. Reaccion found that even villagers without formal education could easily use the color-coded buttons. The device supplements human input with IoT weather sensors and accelerometers to measure tremors. The devices connect villages with a radio-signal powered mesh network. GPRS links are used to connect the mesh network to the cloud for additional data analysis of weather conditions and natural disasters. Mesh networks Reaccion connects villages with an Early Warning System through a mesh network where each village has its own alerting device, which becames a node in the mesh. The devices store and update information across the mesh network in a peer-to-peer (P2P) manner. A high-capacity network would be overkill, as the devices are only meant to be used in the event of a disaster. A mesh network is a network topology where all of the nodes cooperate in the distribution of data in the network. A message is propagated by hopping from node to node until it reaches its destination. Mesh networks offer more than one path between a source and a destination, making them highly reliable. Traffic is rerouted around a broken node, such as a village whose device isnt working properly. Reaccion chose ZigBee radio circuits from Digi International because they can spontaneously organize themselves into a mesh network. The devices save power by synchronizing transmission and reception and turning off radios when they aren't being used. Each device has a radio antenna and is aware of the alert status of all the other devices on the mesh network. A mesh network can affordably connect villages scattered across rugged mountainous terrain. The XBee-PRO DigiMesh transmits over a mile with a clear line of sight. In El Salvador, however, the transmission range is reduced due to trees and mountains. So, the villagers set up their mesh network nodes at higher elevations to overcome these obstacles, and they use multiple IoT devices to strengthen the network signal. Sharing the benefits How can humanitarian innovations be shared to maximize their benefits? There are a few options: Open source: Distribute your design as open source. Reaccions Early Warning System design is freely available on GitHub. Global Humanitarian Lab (GHL): Engage with GHL. This is a joint initiative between public, private and academic organizations to promote collaboration for the development and distribution of humanitarian solutions. It supports grassroots innovators with global experts and the maker community to incubate, make and accelerate products and processes. GHL is supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), IKEA Foundation, Vodafone Foundation, and the Center for Bits and Atoms at MIT (CBA MIT). FieldReady: Collaborate with this non-profit group that enables communities affected by disaster to locally manufacture lifesaving supplies with 3D printing and open-sourced designs. Their approach overcomes the challenges of slow and expensive humanitarian supply chains. Developing solutions to meet local problems requires empathy, expertise and community collaboration. Regardless of who invented it and in what country it was first used, it makes sense to share the benefits of humanitarian innovation globally. Baku, Azerbaijan, August 24 Trend: A student group took part in a summer internship program at FINCA Azerbaijan Non-Bank Credit Organization. Five students from different universities had an opportunity to get acquainted with real work environment at the Organization and develop their some skills by attending one month internship program. At the end of the summer internship program, students were presented recommendation letters. FINCA Azerbaijan CEO Timothy Tarrant took part in the award ceremony thanking the students for their attendance in the program and wished them good luck in their future careers. The Summer Internship program at FINCA became very beneficial for me, Eltaj Hasanova, intern at marketing department said. I especially liked the friendly environment and the enthusiasm of my co-workers who shared their knowledge with me. I could see many things that I learnt theoretically in practice and I obtained new skills as well. The summer internship program is being held within the framework of the Central Banks project of Financial Literacy: the road leading to a professional career. A number of banking and financial institutions are taking part in this project with various training and study tours organized with financial institutions that participate in it. At the end of these trainings the students passing the exams successfully are accepted to the one month internship program. French government officials have been revealed as fervent users of Telegram, a messaging app that is frustrating their interior minister with its end-to-end encryption. Telegram's fans include the current head of the French judicial police, Christian Sainte, and his predecessor, Frederic Pechenard. The app's security has also won over a number of legislators, including the French finance minister, who encourages his team to use it, according to Wednesday's edition of French newspaper Le Canard Enchaine. Telegram claims over 100 million monthly users of its secure messaging app, but it was the action of just one of them -- Normandy church attacker Adel Kermiche -- that prompted French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve to call on Tuesday for investigators to be allowed to eavesdrop on Telegram users' conversations. Kermiche used the app to tell a group with 200 members to "download what's coming and share it with everyone," less than an hour before he and an accomplice stabbed a priest to death in northern France last month. The two filmed their action, but it is not known whether they succeeded in transmitting the video. Police now have a transcript of the group chat, presumably either from Kermiche's own phone or that of another group member, but Cazeneuve wants Telegram to provide investigators with much faster access to encrypted chats. Cazeneuve doesn't want to make communications operators like Telegram stop encrypting messages -- merely to assist in decrypting them when asked by law enforcers, he said. Many companies are already providing such assistance, he said, but Telegram is not one of them. Cazeneuve and his German counterpart Thomas de Maiziere called on Tuesday for the European Commission to move ahead with plans for legislation that would require communications operators offering service in Europe to provide law enforcers with access to encrypted messages. The move echoes the view of former British Prime Minister David Cameron, who in January 2015 said it was unacceptable that messaging apps provided "a means of communication between people which even in extremis with a signed warrant from the Home Secretary that we cannot read." Cameron has now been succeeded by his Home Secretary, Theresa May, who has long pushed for greater surveillance powers. But others are more supportive of the availability of encryption too strong even for governments to crack. The head of the French National Data Protection Commission (CNIL), Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, was among 25 signatories of an open letter defending encryption. "Encryption -- like the fundamental freedoms it enables -- is a bulwark against the arbitrary actions of the state. It also protects us from the increasing control of the economic actors in our lives," said the letter, published Monday in newspapers in France and Germany and signed by 25 leaders of French businesses and other organizations. The Moto Z and Moto Mods announcement last month caught the attention of everyone who has followed modular phone designs like Google Project ARA. The intriguing Moto Mods are the most viable modular design yet because consumers can add features to their phones, simply and cleanly without stressing them with a complex interconnection procedure or having to wait for the phone to reboot. The magnetic interface intuitively explains how it works and guides the user the first time a Mod is added to the Moto Z. I sat down with Paul Fordham, lead mechanical architect on the Moto Mods design team at Motorola, to talk about how Moto Mods were conceived and developed into a product. Interviewing software and electrical engineers can be tedious because of the high level of abstraction in their work. It was a pleasure to talk with Fordham, however, because mechanical engineers, like physicists, are tethered to the physical world, making for a very enjoyable and tangible conversation. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Steven: Smartphone designers face a dilemma. With each new phone design, features are incrementally better because components such as displays, processors chips, GPS chips get better, but they cant really add a new hardware component that might add a game-changing feature without creating an overpriced device. How does Moto Mods change this? Fordham: You cant burden every phone with technology that perhaps only 10 or 20 percent of consumers might want. You are taxing everyone with the new technology cost of a unique component that may provide unique features but might not have reached the low price points from production at the smartphone scale of hundreds of million units. You cant just roll out an intriguing phone design to the masses unless the price is intriguing, too. That's literally what the whole Moto Mods concept was about. The design allows for customization for the consumers willing to pay for premium feature modules. Look, if a premium camera is important to one consumer segment or really long battery life is important to another, they can pick and choose or they can choose both. They can decide what they want to use on any particular occasion without taxing everyone with the cost of building these features into every phone. Its very similar to the concept of apps. Apps let you customize your phone with software. Moto Mods let you customize your phones hardware. Steven: What were the principals you had in mind when you started designing Moto Mods? Fordham: It has to function as a smartphone first. The Moto Mods concept would have failed if we didnt design a phone with great performance and user experience. No one's going to buy Moto Mods for a phone they dont love. The design had to be hot swappable. Put the Mod on, take it off, again and again, simply without hanging Android. The design was meant not only for our inside Motorola engineering team, but for independent hardware engineers using the open-sourced hardware designs. We created a physical user experience when adding or removing a Mod that is really clean, simple and easy. And after a user does it once, he or she gets it. This is the clever part of the design. Apps let you customize your phone with software. Moto Mods let you customize your phones hardware. This cleverness was the result of mechanical designers, working with software and electrical engineers to make the experience as clean as it is. Steven: Please tell a bit more about how you designed this cleverness. It was a unique situation. We were four mechanical engineers that started looking into how to modularize a phone. Three years have flown by because we've had a great deal of fun doing this. We started experimenting with the Moto X. The Moto X curved back made the modules feel like an afterthought. All the attachment concepts we applied came out kludgey. Working with the three other mechanical engineers, we decided the first thing we have to do is make the phone light, super light thin and then you have to make it the back flat where the phone and module attach together. Not just connect, they have to attach and be one. We started in about the August 2013. We added a few electrical and software engineers, but it was still a pretty small team. We released the first fully functional prototypes in December. Note: At this point, Fordham produced the first prototype in one hand, a polished design, very thinthinner than the Moto Zand a thin battery module in the other and let them magnetically marry themselves. This prototype amazed our colleagues and management. Wed let them hold the device with the battery attached and asked them what do you think? The answers were politely positive, which changed to jaw-dropping amazement when we pulled the module and the phone apart. Magnets were the right choice to invisibly and tightly connect the phone and module because people like and understand them. That convinced us that we had something worth developing into a product. There were some compromises, some of them a little painful. We made it thicker for a Type-C USB connector and settled on a camera bump so we could spec a high-quality camera assembly. We learned to compromise. We just would say, OK, how do we make this design work? How do we evolve the design so that it will really work for consumers in everyday life? And when the Moto Mods designs are made available under an open-source license, how will we attract independent hardware designers motivated to create an ecosystem of unique add-on modules? Steven: This reminds me of Googles Project ARA, a concept modular phone. Fordham: We were aware of Project ARA because Motorola was owned by Google at the time, but we had a different idea. We didnt think that the typical consumer would be able to makeor care about makingmodular choices like processors and displays. Steven: Three Moto Mods were released with the Moto Z: an LCD projector Mod, a JBL stereo speaker Mod and a battery Mod. What were some of the other concepts you worked on? Fordham: We built a battery module that had a full QWERTY keyboard inside. I could show it to you; it's almost like a slider type concept for people who like the tactile feel of a real keyboard. We had all these different ideas that we hadn't even partly developed. But we dont have a monopoly on all the possible ideas for modular phone applications. Our developer program lets other hardware design teams build intriguing Moto Mods that consumers want. I think there are some good ideas that are coming in. It certainly is different; it's a new revenue stream that Moto Mod brings for Motorola and our hardware and carrier partners. Steven: How did you choose magnets? Fordham: Magnets really turned out to be the only real choice. We looked at mechanical snaps, drop-and-slide type stuff. These were kludgy, not a good experience. So, when we started, magnets came into focus, not just because of the mechanical properties but because people actually gravitate towards magnetsthey understand them, there's something unique about them and they're super easy. People immediately understand how the Mods work and dont stress about damaging the phone or Mod putting them together or taking them apart. We hit some bumps in the roadwe learned a lotwe were not experts in magnets. We worked with K&J Magnetics They really helped us realize our design. They were intrigued by our questions, I think, because while magnets arent new, the application is pretty unique. The engineering challenge wasnt so much driven by the magnet connection of the Mod to the phone back, but a strong enough magnetic field to counter the force of the 16 pins that make consistent electrical contact. We designed the phone that would marry tightly with a Mod up to about 200 grams. Each of the connector pins on the back imparts a 60-gram force against the opposing contact, and there are 16 of them, so we engineered the magnets to counter the force of the pins. We would have preferred to build the phone with Cobalt stainless steel because it has the best magnetic properties, but we chose a Series 400 stainless steel because it is much better for decorative surface coatings applied with physical vapor deposition (PVD). We also had to design in tolerance for slight warping of the phone or Mod. It all turned out well, but there were a few dark moments during which we went back to mechanical snaps for three days. Steven: The electrical interfaces, RF, things that keep engineers up late at nightwhat were some of the challenges you ran into in doing that? Fordham: We had a number of constraints that we had to accommodate. The most important to be considered in the final design were optimizing the antenna functions without interference from the high-speed data going over the 16-pin connector and what position on the internal system board was best for interfacing the internal phone bus with the bus in the Moto Mod. We tried different pin configurations, too8, 14, 16. Some team members would want fewer; others would have been happier with 40. This interface achieved our goalone we believed was essentialmaking a connection that would not need a reboot like the LG G5 does. We [mechanical, software and electrical engineers] were pretty happy with the design, and we didnt lose too much sleep. The design performs well, transmits high-speed data across a reliable connector and bus. The phone doesnt have to be rebooted when Mods are attached, detached and exchanged, and the design is future-proofed. Steven: When did you think the Moto Mods design was far enough along to include manufacturing engineers in the discussion? Fordham: Each member of the team had experience designing for manufacturing. Together we had many years of experience. We started meeting with the manufacturing engineers early on. When we saw a point of contention coming with the manufacturing engineers, we would meet, push back and forth, explain that we had to evolve a really thin phone design and a dead-simple method for attaching Mods. We took some risks and mitigated them, found the middle ground with the manufacturing engineers that allowed the design to continue to evolve. Drop testing and accelerated life testing produced the new flagship design of Moto Z family that is robust, manufacturable and provides the end user with a good experience. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak may be a beloved figure in Silicon Valley, but he hasnt had a big voice in Apple product decisions in a long, long time. And right now, that seems like a shame, as Woz is absolutely right to object to Apples widely reported plans to eliminate the headphone jack in the next model iPhone. + Also on Network World: iPhone 7: Why abandoning the headphone jack makes sense + Wozniak told the Australian Financial Review this week, that if the iPhone 7 is missing the 3.5mm earphone jack, that's going to tick off a lot of people. And Wozniak doesnt believe Bluetooth wireless connectionswhich work with a wide variety of devicesare the answer, claiming Bluetooth doesnt sound as good as a wired connection. I admit Im a big fan of Wozniaks, but in this case, hes merely the latest big name saying something that most everybody outside of Apple already believes. Ditching the iPhone headphone jack is a bad idea that no amount of adapters and glitchy Bluetooth connections can fix. + Also on Network World: Steve Wozniak talks Apple history, products, and the Steve Jobs movie + Yes, there are legitimate technical reasons for losing the headphone jackthinner devices, more room for batteries, the ability to send a digital signal and power through the Lightning port, and morebut thats not the point. The point is that millions of iPhone users have invested billions of dollars on devices to work with their smartphones, and many of those peripherals rely on the headphone jack. Not the first time The problemwell, one problem, anywayis that Apple has done this before. Many times, in fact. And mostly, theyve gotten away with it. The company is famous for eliminating ports from its Macintosh laptops before most consumers are ready to see them go, but it hasnt seemed to hurt sales. And I was one of many iPhone users who complained mightily when Apple ditched its old 30-pin connector in favor of the new Lightning Connector. Still, even though I had to give away my old sound docks because they no longer worked with my new phone, I continued to be an iPhone user. But my patience is running out. Ive spent good money on peripherals for my iPhone, most recently a sweet pair of noise cancelling headphones. They cost more than the subsidized price of a new iPhone, and if I cant use them with an iPhone 7 (or have to buyand carryan expensive, awkward dongle in order to use them), Im not sure I really want to upgrade my phone. Especially if there isnt a truly compelling improvement in the new models. And, no, more storage space isnt compelling enough. The case for following the standards The bigger solution, as is often the case, would be for Apple to leverage universal standards, not proprietary alternatives. The 3.5mm headphone jack is one such standard, but so is USB-C, which Apple has eschewed on the iPhone even as it becomes common almost everywhere else. The value of using standard connections to share accessories across devices cant be overestimated. Apple could safely ignore that value when it was the dominant smartphone maker, but that position is ebbing as Android piles up market share gains, and as Android smartphones increasingly employ standard connectivity choices. It used to be that Apples ecosystem gave it a huge advantage in terms of a wide range of devices configured especially to work with iPhones. You go to a random hotel room, and they might have an iPhone connector, but nothing specific for other devices. Ceding the peripheral battle to Android But as Android grows and connectors standardize, the tide is turning in the other direction. Increasingly, its Android devices that work with the widest selection of peripherals. That erodes yet another of Apples key competitive advantages and gives hesitant iPhone users another reason to switch platforms. Tim Cook, if its not too latethough it probably isplease listen to Steve Wozniak on this. Hes got your companys best interests at heart. And hes right. DCNS, a French submarine builder, has allegedly been hackedpotentially for economic espionage reasonsand 22,400 pages of secret documents pertaining to its Scorpene-class submarine have been leaked. The Australian published redacted portions of the leaked documents, claiming to have seen thousands of pages outlining highly sensitive details about systems, sensors, specifications, tech manuals, stealth capabilities, antennae models, electromagnetic and infrared data, conditions under which the periscope can be used and more. The leaked documents reportedly detail the entire secret combat capability of the six Scorpene-class submarines that French shipbuilder DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy. DCNS confirmed the serious leak, adding that an investigation has been launched. The Financial Times reported the breach sparked immediate concerns in India that regional rivals China and Pakistan could have gained access to the trove of information. That same class of vessel is also used by Malaysia, Chile and soon Brazil. Just this year, Australia ordered 12 submarines from DCNS. ZDNet reported that the Australian government has said a leak of secret documents has no bearing on the DCNS' build of the country's AU$50 billion submarine fleet. The story seems to be hopping all over the place. For example, in one article, Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar is quoted by Reuters as saying, I understand there has been a case of hacking. We will find out what has happened. If it's 22,400 pages, it's a major stuff-up, added an unnamed Australian political source. It's a huge deal. It allows them to understand everything about the submarines. What speeds it can do, how noisy it is, what speeds the mast can be raised at ... all of that is just devastating. In a different article, DCNS told Reuters it could not rule out that leaked documents on submarines built for India were part of an economic war by competitors after the firm won a tender in Australia earlier this year. Yet another source, who wished to rename anonymous, later told Reuters, It seems to be sensitive information but appears neither critical nor confidential. According to The Australian: The data on the Scorpene was written in France for India in 2011 and is suspected of being removed from France in that same year by a former French Navy officer who was at that time a DCNS subcontractor. The data is then believed to have been taken to a company in Southeast Asia, possibly to assist in a commercial venture for a regional navy. It was subsequently passed by a third party to a second company in the region before being sent on a data disk by regular mail to a company in Australia. It is unclear how widely the data has been shared in Asia or whether it has been obtained by foreign intelligence agencies. Some of the leaked confidential documents talk about other possible sales to Chile and Russia. Those projects have no link to India, which adds weight to the probability that the data files were removed from DCNS in France. Tod Beardsley, Senior Research Manager at Rapid7, said: A vulnerability in a widely-used internet forum software is becoming a go-to method for hackers to steal data. Hackers recently targeted 11 different sites, many of them from Russia, and stole information from more 27 million Internet accounts, according to LeakedSource, a repository for data breaches. About 25 million accounts of those accounts were from cfire.mail.ru, parapa.mail.ru, and tanks.mail.ru, all of them Russian language games. Another 1 million were tied to gaming titles from Funcom, including The Secret World and Age of Conan. The stolen data includes email addresses and hashed passwords that can be easily cracked. LeakedSource said four or five hackers were responsible, but all of them targeted the same SQL injection vulnerability found in the forum software vBulletin. Vendor vBulletin patched that vulnerability in June. Even so, customers of the software appear to be slow to install the update. On Wednesday, affected Internet sites were contacted, and a few of them said they were investigating the issue. LeakedSource, however, has been receiving the stolen data from the hackers. It provides a searchable database for users to see if any of their Internet accounts were part of past breaches. Many hackers are feeding data to LeakedSource because they like what we do, Leaked Source said in an email. Some want to draw publicity to themselves, and others don't want their enemies to be able to profit off selling data, it added. Not a single website used proper password storage, in these cases, LeakedSource said. So far, it's been able to crack more than 13 million of the passwords stolen. Nearly all the hacks occurred this month, LeakedSource added. Other sites affected include freeadvice.com, expertlaw.com, and ppcgeeks.com. News of the recent breaches comes as hackers also targeted forums from Epic Games with the same attack and stole data from more than 800,000 accounts. On Monday, Epic Games encouraged affected users to change their passwords. Group raised 13,000 for local causes A group of Berkshire cyclists took to the tarmac last month in a bid to raise funds for a local charity. The nine riders set off from London to Paris on July 20, pedalling a total of 315 miles in four days, and raised 13,000 for Younger People with Dementia for their efforts. One of the cyclists, Caroline Blanchette, said: We do like to push ourselves and fundraise for YPWD Berkshire, a charity that thinks differently about dementia and that is close to our hearts. We therefore embarked on this cycling challenge. Some of us were very inexperienced cyclists and had to come to terms with the saddle, balance, learning to hold handlebars with one hand and putting in the miles. But we kept in mind our end goal helping those living with young onset dementia. It was an amazing experience and I think we have all grown from it. Trustee of YPWD Berkshire, Kathy Taylor, said: That thing where people put their souls and bodies on the line for causes close to them and us in speechless awe. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 24 Trend: Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev extended condolences to Italys President Sergio Mattarella on Aug. 24 over the casualties as a result of an earthquake in the country. We were deeply saddened by the news of the heavy casualties and major damage caused by the earthquake in your country, said Aliyev in a letter of condolences. On behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and on my own behalf, I extend my deep condolences to you, the bereaved families, the loved ones of those who died and the people of Italy, and wish the injured recovery, he added. I hope that the consequences of this natural disaster will be eliminated as soon as possible. A strong, shallow earthquake devastated towns in central Italy early Wednesday. The 6.2-magnitude earthquake badly damaged villages in a mountainous rural area of central Italy that is a popular vacation spot. Baku, Azerbaijan, August 24 Trend: The Huffington Post published an article entitled Finding a Multifaith Model in a Secular Muslim Society by Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean at the US Simon Wiesenthal Center. In his article, the author writes about the bans on religious rites and beliefs in the Soviet Union, and relevant problems related to violence and terrorism. Forty-four years ago, I spent the Jewish High Holy Days in what was then the Soviet Union, Cooper said. The majority of synagogues, churches, and mosques had been shuttered or destroyed. During his visit to Baku Cooper met a cross-section of Jews ranging from Polish Jews who fled the Nazis to Jews who traced their ancestry back to the destruction of Solomons Temple, some 2,500 years ago. 2016 presents us a dramatically changed world, he said. In 2016, more often than not, religion is seen, not as source of light and hope but as a legitimizer of conflict, of division and violence and terrorism. My global travels in search of moderates and partners have led me back to Baku, the capital of now independent Republic of Azerbaijan, he said. This majority-Muslim nation stands out for its embrace of multiculturalism and citizens are able to go to the House of Worship. How interesting that Azerbaijan declared 2016 as the Year of Multiculturalism. Cooper said that Azerbaijan has steadfastly stood by Israel as well in a time of great upheaval. He added that Azerbaijan has historically been a safe haven for Jews and Christians. For decades since its independence, Azerbaijan is one of Israels and the United States most loyal and risk-taking friends, he said. In a region where people have been ethnically-cleansed, where the Islamic State (aka IS, ISIS, ISIL, Daesh) proudly broadcasts its Medieval brutalities, we can learn a great deal from every leader who has the courage to safeguard and respect religious minorities, he said. Baku, Azerbaijan, August 24 By Azad Hasanli Trend: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved the fourth tranche worth $75 million as part of the Azerbaijan: Water Supply and Sanitation Investment Program, said a message posted on the bank's website Aug. 24. According to the message, the first three tranches of the multi-tranche financing facility (MFF) financed construction of water networks in Goychay, Agdash and Beylagan towns. The fourth tranche will be used to complete work in Agdash and Beylagan towns, the message said. According to the message, water supply system efficiency will be improved through rehabilitation and replacement and coverage expansion in Agdash sewerage. The sanitation system efficiency will be improved through construction and coverage expansion in Agdash and Beylagan towns, the message said. The Azerbaijani government will provide some $25 million for the project implementation. The investment program on water supply and sanitation with total cost of $800 million was approved by the ADB Board of Directors in 2009. The first loan worth $75 million under the program was allocated for the reconstruction of water supply and sewerage infrastructure in the towns of Goychay and Nakhchivan, and the second tranche worth $300 million - for the works on reconstruction and upgrade of infrastructure and services in Aghdash, Beylagan, Goychay and Nakhchivan. The third tranche worth $150 million was envisaged to improve the water supply and sewerage network in Aghjabedi and Nakhchivan. ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, ADB is owned by 67 members - 48 from the region. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug.24 By Aygun Badalova - Trend: PJSC Ukrtransnafta, an operator of Ukraines oil transportation system, spoke about the perspective route for the possible supply of Iranian oil to Europe through Ukrainian territory. It is obvious that the perspective route for transit to Central and Eastern Europe through Ukraine can be oil supplies through Bosphorus to the Pivdenny maritime terminal in Odessa and then via OdessaBrody pipeline and further through Druzhba pipeline to Europe, the source in Ukrtransnafta told Trend. Earlier in August Ukrtransnafta offered Iran to use the companys oil transportation infrastructure to transit oil to the Central and Eastern European markets. The source in the Ukraines ministry of energy and coal industry confirmed to Trend that talks on this possibility with Iran are underway. The source in Ukrtransnafta pointed out some positive moments of the supply route through Ukraine for Iran, among which is flexibility and activity of Iranian exporters marketing strategy, as well as Ukraines focus on diversification of routes and supply sources to the country and transit through its territory to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Moreover, as the source said, Ukraine is ready to take concrete steps for increasing attractiveness of Ukrainian route if the readiness of supplier to reach agreements with consumers and transit countries is in place. Irans oil export has already reached 2.74 million barrels per day (mbpd) in July. The Islamic Republic exported 2.1 million barrels of crude oil per day in July. About 25 percent of Irans crude oil export goes to Europe, while Asian markets share 75 percent of Irans crude oil exports. Tehran eyes to export 63 percent of its crude oil to Asian markets and the remaining to European and other consumers. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug.24 By Aygun Badalova - Trend: Oil prices will fall over the rest of the year as any substantial agreement between OPEC and non-OPEC countries at the upcoming meeting in Algeria is unlikely, Tom Pugh, the economist at British economic research and consulting company Capital Economics believes. The recent rally in oil prices has been primarily driven by speculation about a deal between OPEC and major non-OPEC producers to freeze production. We think that prices will fall back, though, as the outcome of next months unofficial meeting underwhelms expectations, economist said in the report, obtained by Trend. The informal OPEC meeting is expected in late September in Algeria. It is expected that the talks on oil production freeze will be held between OPEC and non-OPEC countries. Oil prices fell Wednesday, with fears over a US crude stock build wiping out gains made Tuesday on the back of a report that Iran could participate in a joint production freeze, the Wall Street Journal reported. The October contract for global crude benchmark Brent was down 1.6 percent at $49.16 a barrel while its US counterpart WTI was down 1.9 percent at $47.2. We believe that the price of both the major oil benchmarks will fall over the rest of the year. Indeed, we think that they could fall back quite sharply if, as seems likely, OPEC and non-OPEC members are unable to agree anything substantial, Pugh said in the report. Capital Economics analysts end-2016 forecasts for the prices of both Brent and WTI are $45 per barrel. Nevertheless, they still expect oil prices to rally again next year as the market moves further into deficit and stocks are drawn down with end-2017 forecast of $60 per barrel for both Brent and WTI. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug.24 By Aygun Badalova - Trend: Kazakhstan and Serbia within the official visit of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev to Belgrade, signed several documents envisaging the expanding of cooperation between two countries. According to the report on Kazakhstan Presidents official website, the sides, in particular, signed the following documents: Joint statement by President of Kazakhstan and President of Serbia; agreement between Kazakhstan and Serbia on legal assistance in criminal matters, extradition and transfer of sentenced persons; agreement on Serbias participation in the international EXPO-2017 exhibition; - agreement on cooperation between Akimat of Almaty region and the Government of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. During the talks at the expanding meeting the sides discussed the realization of perspective projects of mutual interest. The sides noted the potential for further expanding bilateral cooperation in different spheres. Tehran, Iran, August 24 By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend: Iran expects to achieve an agricultural export of over 117 million tons, according to agriculture minister advisor Shahrokh Ramezannejad. The countrys agricultural output increased by 15.4 percent during the Rouhani administration, that is, from 97 million tons in 2013 to 112 million tons in 2015, he told Mehr news agency August 24. According to Ramezannejad, the value of agricultural products produced in Iran was about $50 billion in 2013, but it increased to $77 billion by 2015. Irans agricultural sector witnessed a growth of 5.4 percent last Iranian calendar year (which ended March 19). Irans food balance grew from -8.1 billion USD in 2013 to -3.4 billion USD in 2015. Agricultures share of added value in Irans business market is 23.6 percent. Also, according to Ramezannejad, the increase of products in various agricultural sections from 2013 and 2015 was as follows: crops from 68 million tons to 81 million tons, horticultural from 16 million tons to 17 million tons, livestock and poultry from 12 million tons to 13 million tons, fisheries from 900,000 tons to 1 million tons. He added that Iran annually exports $2 billion worth of horticultural products. By Fatih Karimov Trend: Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 24 Iranian lawmakers on Aug. 24 passed the amendments to 2016-17 annual budget law, allowing the government to receive loan from Russia till $5 billion, the state-run IRINN TV reported. The loan which will be granted to Iran by two percent interest rate, will be used for constructional projects, according to the parliaments approval. The amendment was added to the current fiscal years budget by 148 MPs voting in favor, 45 against, and 8 abstaining. It was earlier reported that Russia and Iran have prepared a package of agreements on allocating a $2.5 billion loan to Tehran. Russias President Vladimir Putin said early in August that Moscow is committed to a pledge it has already made to grant two loans worth $2.5 billion to Iran. Russia intends to grant two state loans to Iran to the amount of $2.5 billion to finance the construction of a thermal power plant near the city of Bandar Abbas on the Persian Gulf coast and the electrification of the GarmsarInce Burun railway section in the north-east of the country," Putin said. Tehran, Iran, August 24 By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend: Turkeys decision to carry out military operations in Syria has definitely been welcomed by Tehran and Moscow, Political Science Professor at University of Tehran Ahmad Naqibzadeh believes. Iran and Turkey have interests in the issue. If they cooperate, the outcome will be a positive one, he told Trend August 24. Turkey launched a military operation against the Islamic State (aka IS, ISIS, ISIL, Daesh) in northern Syria earlier in the day. Turkish artillery units and warplanes belonging to the US-led coalition pounded the ISIS-held Syrian town of Jarablus. Turkish tanks and special forces units were also operating along the border. Jarablus lies along the west bank of the Euphrates River, less than a kilometer from Turkey. It's the last major town held by IS on the Syrian-Turkish border. However, there are the Kurds, which are backed by the US but over which Tehran and Ankara hold similar positions, so the Kurds issue could be challenging, the professor noted. Kurds remain a major point of disagreement between Moscow on one hand and Tehran and Ankara on the other despite new efforts from the three countries to increase friendly relations, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said August 22. The positions of Russia on the Kurds may be different from those of Turkey and Iran because they are not their neighbors and are likely to be manipulated. Also, Turkey and Iran tend to think alike about Kurds in some occasions and vary in some other, the spokesman said. All in all, although Iran and Turkey have not reached a common stance regarding the conflicting groups in Syria, they will do so in time, Naqibzadeh said, adding that there are the Hezbollah forces that favor Iran and there are other forces that are backed by Turkey, and they could come together through some reconciliation. Turkey has grown more welcoming of Russia and Irans position on the Syrian crisis in the past few months. The country sued to side with the US and Saudi Arabia in rearing opposition groups in Syria, but now voices a position that is more like that of Tehran and Moscow. Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif visited Ankara a week ago. There, the Syrian issue constituted the hottest topic of discussion. On August 16, it was announced that Iran had accommodated Russian bombers at one of its western air bases to help Russias air raids on Syrian terrorists. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said August 24 that Turkey will "fully support" operations against IS positions in Jarabulus. Meanwhile, US Vice-President Joe Biden has arrived in Ankara, the country's capital, where he is scheduled to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim Tehran, Iran, August 24 By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend: Numerous accounts are emerging in Iran over the arrest of one of the countrys nuclear negotiators, one contradicting the other. The latest account is that the arrest is true and the arrestee is a dual citizen who, other than being active in economy in both the private and governmental sectors, was the head of one of the key committees of the negotiation team and the representative of a financial organization on the team, Nasim Online news agency reported August 24. On August 22, the Foreign Ministry said the arrest of one of the members of the Committee on the Implementation of the JCPOA is completely false, but on the same day, Deputy Editor of Fars news Agency for Research Yasser Jebraili wrote on Telegram that the arrested man was named Abdolrasoul Dorri Esfahani, the banking head of the nuclear negotiation team who holds a second nationality of Great Britain. The journalist said Esfahani was arrested on charges of espionage. Nasim Online added that the man was charged, among other things, of receiving money from US and British institutes in return for important financial and economic information on the Islamic Republic. These come at a time when Esfahani spoke over the telephone with Bank Mardom website on August 24, calling the reports laughable, and adding, Now that I am speaking to you I am at the Central Bank and am not arrested. In the meantime, Javad Karimi Qoddusi, a rightist MP, said the arrestee had been returned to Iran last week when he was accompanying Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to Turkey without having set foot on the Turkish soil. Qoddusis remarks were refuted as baseless claim, insubstantial, impertinent, sheer lie, and false statement, on August 24 by Foreign Ministry spokesman Qassem Bahrami. Esfahani had in June introduced himself as banking and financial member to Irans nuclear negotiation team. Tehran, Iran, August 24 By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend: Iran and Russia have been brainstorming the military developments in Iraq and Syria in joint operation rooms in Baghdad and Syria that were established one year ago, Chairman of the Iranian Parliaments National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi said. We were facing a joint undertaking regarding regional equations, especially over the developments in Syria, which also had political aspects, the MP said, Tasnim news agency reported August 24. The recent fuelling of Russian bombers in Iran was also carried out within the framework of the decisions of the joint operations room and was the result of consensus among Baghdad, Tehran, Moscow, and Damascus, he stated. The MP said that no other airbase than the Nojeh is considered to accommodate Russian military aircraft. On August 16, it was announced that Iran had accommodated Russian bombers at one of its western air bases to help Russias air raids on Syrian terrorists. Iran and Russia back President Bashar al-Assad against armed groups now engaged in the Syrian conflict. The two countries were recently joined by Turkey which had previously held contrary positions over the crisis. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said August 24 that Turkey will "fully support" operations against IS positions in Jarabulus, Syria as Turkish forces were carrying out operations in the area. What if one blood test could screen for more than 50 types of cancer? Tehran, August 24 By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend: Iran is going to use international lawyers in its efforts to sue Saudi Arabia over a mass crush that killed thousands of pilgrims during the Hajj last year, a diplomat has said. Iran is not going to appear lax on the issue and will pursue the case legally in full force, Deputy Foreign Minister Hassan Qashqavi told the IRIB news agency August 24. Head of Irans Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization Said Owhadi said August 9 that a delegation from Irans Foreign Ministry was going to France as part of legal efforts to the case of the tragic stampede, noting Iran is using the French legal expertise to restore the rights of Hajj victims. Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said on August 4 that not only have the Iranian diplomatic representatives put forward the case in many international organizations, but the country is also in consultation with renowned local and foreign jurists to officially hold Saudi Arabia accountable for the tragic incident. More than 460 Iranians were among the thousands of pilgrims who died in a stampede on September 24, 2015 in Mina, near Mecca, during the Hajj ritual. The incident marked the worst tragedy in the history of Hajj. Saudi authorities have come under fire for their inability to ensure the safety of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who converge on Mecca every year. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Scientists have proposed that inflammation is the harbinger of aging and central to the aging process, a phenomenon described as 'inflamm-aging,' said Dr. Yuxiang Sun. Sun, a faculty member in the department of nutrition and food science at Texas A&M University in College Station, said aging is commonly associated with low-grade adipose inflammation, which is closely linked to insulin resistance, a condition often leading to type 2 diabetes. In research recently published in the premier science journal Aging, Sun and colleagues investigated the role of the ghrelin receptor, growth hormone secretagogue receptor, or GHS-R, in age-associated adipose tissue inflammation and insulin resistance in mice. "Ghrelin is a ligand, a molecule that binds to a specific receptor to transduce specific kind of signal" she explained. "GHS-R is the receptor of ghrelin, for which it has a binding pocket for ghrelin. Ghrelin and GHS-R work like a key and a lock." She said hunger stimulates the ghrelin section in the gut, which activates brain regions where GHS-R is highly expressed, triggering the hunger sensation. Ghrelin enhances appetite and increases weight gain, promoting obesity and insulin resistance. "To date, ghrelin is the only known orexigenic or appetite-stimulating hormone," she said. "The pharmaceutical industry has been calling ghrelin 'the key to obesity' since its discovery. We investigated the impact of ghrelin signaling on adipose tissue macrophages, in order to understand the role of ghrelin signaling in obesity." Sun said obesity, in essence, is a low-grade chronic inflammation in adipose tissues Adipose tissue serves as a major endocrine organ, secreting various hormones and cytokines which play crucial roles in normal metabolism and obesity-associated dysfunctions. "There are 2 types of adipose tissues: white and brown adipose tissues," Sun said. "While the hallmark function of white adipose tissue is to store excess lipids in the body and supply free fatty acids as energy as needed, the symbolic function of brown adipose tissue is to break down lipids to generate heat, which burns fat." Adipose tissue macrophages, or ATMs, are a major mediator of inflammation in adipose tissues, which are closely linked to insulin resistance, she explained. Macrophages are a type of white blood cells that surround and digest microbes, pathogens and other foreign substances. Sun said recent literature suggests macrophages play central roles in inflammation/immune responses as well as the stress response. "Macrophages are a major mediator of inflammation in the body," she said. "Increased macrophage infiltration in adipose tissues has been shown to positively correlate with age-associated metabolic complications, neurodegenerative diseases and cardiovascular diseases." Sun said ATMs consist of two subsets -pro-inflammatory M1 and anti-inflammatory M2. M1-like macrophages are associated with an obese and insulin-resistant state, while M2-like macrophages are associated with a lean and insulin-sensitive state. M1-like macrophages release pro-inflammatory cytokines to inhibit insulin action in the tissues, she said. On the other hand, M2-like macrophages release anti-inflammatory cytokines. New findings indicate M2-like macrophages also release the 'fight or flight' response hormone norepinephrine, promoting lipid mobilization in white adipose tissue and thermogenesis, or heat production, in brown adipose tissue, Sun noted. "We have found that the GHS-R functions as a key regulator of age-associated adipose tissue inflammation in both white and brown adipose tissues," she said. "The removal of GHS-R shifts macrophages toward an anti-inflammatory state and leads to higher norepinephrine production in the macrophages." Neuroscience eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today Sun also noted aging is commonly accompanied by increased fat mass and chronic low-grade inflammation, so concurrences of obesity and insulin resistance become significantly greater as people get older. "Epidemiological studies show that the prevalence of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes is clearly higher in the elderly," she said. Sun said little is known about the genes that regulate ATMs and adipose tissue inflammation during aging, and information in regard to the role of M2 macrophages in adipose tissues is even scarcer. "Identification of factors regulating macrophage infiltration in adipose tissues and controlling macrophage polarization are important questions in obesity and aging research," she said. Her study, GHS-R global null mice -- with the GHS-R removed in all cell types -- showed a macrophage profile shifted toward the anti-inflammatory M2, exhibiting a healthier lean and insulin-sensitive phenotype. "Old mice with GHS-R deletion showed a reduction in macrophage infiltration, M1/M2 ratio and pro?inflammatory cytokine production in both white and brown adipose tissues," she said. Sun said there is a clear correlation between adipose inflammation and the incidences of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes during aging. "Our study shows macrophage numbers and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in white adipose tissue increase with aging," she said. "We found that removal of GHS-R prevents age-associated obesity and insulin resistance, at least in part, through increased heat production in brown adipose tissue. And the ATMs from the aged GHS-R global null mice produce higher norepinephrine, which is line with our observation that the null mice have reduced fat mass in white adipose tissue and increased thermogenic activation in brown adipose tissue." She said the new findings suggest suppressing the ghrelin receptor may serve as new therapeutic strategy for inflammation and obesity in aging. The study clearly indicates the ghrelin receptor plays an important role in macrophages, which can have profound implications on obesity and insulin resistance, she said. "GHS-R antagonists may serve as a unique class of anti-obesity drugs that can prevent or treat age-associated obesity and insulin resistance by simultaneously suppressing adipose tissue inflammation, promoting lipid mobilization in white adipose tissue and stimulating the heat production in brown adipose tissues." She said, put simply, GHS-R antagonists likely to have dual effects of breaking down fat and burning more fat. "I believe suppressing the ghrelin receptor in macrophages has enormous therapeutic potential," she said. "It would not only have beneficial effects on inflammation, but also can improve whole body metabolism in aging." However, she cautioned, her current research using global null mice cannot determine whether the phenotype is resulted in by the effect of GHS-R in macrophages alone. Scientists must determine the macrophage-specific effects of GHS-R and understand precisely how ghrelin signaling works, in order to avoid unintended side effects. Her laboratory now is developing new mouse models which would enable them to delete GHS-R selectively in macrophages. Tehran, Iran, August 24 By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend: Five people have died in a blast in an apartment in Ahvaz, Khuzestan Province in southwestern Iran. The explosion, which took place at 7:45 local time, also left eight wounded, Fars news agency reported August 24. Nasser Charkhsaz, head of Relief and Rescue Organization, said the incident took place as the apartments gas line blasted. Breast cancer patients in the U.S. will have a new surgical option that eliminates exposure to radioactive materials and offers a less invasive, more flexible alternative for cancer detection. Receiving FDA approval in April and a distribution deal this month, the new device will be used to locate early stage tumors that cannot yet be felt. Co-invented by University of Houston physicist Audrius Brazdeikis and his collaborators at the University College of London, the Sentimag technology platform is a magnetic surgical guidance probe used with nanoparticle tracers and other magnetic devices to more safely and easily determine the spread of cancer. Its first introduction commercially in the U.S. will be its use with an implantable magnetic lesion marker, called Magseed, that easily guides surgeons to cancerous lesions. The Sentimag+Magseed combination serves as a replacement for procedures involving surgical wire needles and radioactive seeds, which are the two standards of care currently in practice for finding a breast tumor in advance of a lumpectomy. Receiving 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April, the Sentimag+Magseed breast cancer diagnostic system can now be marketed stateside. Thanks to the distribution deal unveiled this month between Devicor Medical Products and Endomag, a UH spinoff medical devices company co-founded by Brazdeikis, the technology will be immediately available for use here in the U.S. Devicor Medical Products, a division of Leica Biosystems, will be the exclusive distributor of Sentimag in the U.S. and Canada. As breast cancer screening programs have advanced, tumors are now detected much earlier, so they are smaller, less defined and harder to feel. In fact, 50 percent of all breast tumors cannot be felt at diagnosis. Since these small tumors are often impalpable, they are difficult for surgeons to locate during a lumpectomy. "Magseed is designed to guide surgeons using Sentimag to locate impalpable tumors for biopsy and has many advantages over wire and radioactive seed localization," Brazdeikis said. "Radiologists can place the Magseed magnetic markers up to 30 days in advance of surgery using X-ray or ultrasound guidance. This offers scheduling flexibility for surgeons and radiologists, as well as for patients, compared to wire-guided localization." Traditional guide wires, which are inserted by a radiologist in a separate procedure prior to a patient's lumpectomy, protrude from a patient's breast, leading to potential discomfort and restricting the patient to the hospital. More critically, the protruding guide wires risk movement prior to surgery, requiring follow-up surgery in up to 55 percent of lumpectomy procedures. Conversely, Magseed is similar in size to a grain of rice and placed within the tumor, allowing the possibility for patients to return home before their operations. During the lumpectomy, the Magseed magnetic marker is located using audio-visual cues from the Sentimag device. Lab Diagnostics & Automation eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today Prior to its approval for use in the U.S., Sentimag received its European conformity (CE) mark in 2010 for use in Europe and has been used in more than 14,000 breast cancer procedures across Europe with another Endomag product, the Sienna magnetic nanoparticle tracer. The Sentimag+Sienna combination, used as part of the sentinel lymph node biopsy procedure for breast cancer staging, completed a multicenter clinical trial with 160 subjects in the U.S. earlier this year at six medical centers in Texas, Pennsylvania and California. The Sienna was the first magnetically detected lymphatic mapping agent to be trialed in the U.S. under an Investigational Device Exemption. The results of the trial are being used for a Premarket Approval (PMA) submission, which is the most stringent type of device marketing application required by the FDA. Brazdeikis estimates it will take 12 to 18 months for Sienna to receive regulatory approval under the stricter PMA guidelines. Brazdeikis, who heads the Biomedical Imaging Group at the Texas Center for Superconductivity at UH, co-founded Endomag with his colleagues at the University College of London, physics professor Quentin Pankhurst and systems engineer Simon Hattersley, to bring their technology to the marketplace. Their Sentimag invention is the foundation of these new surgical options. As the world's most sensitive handheld magnetic probe, Sentimag is capable of detecting minute quantities of magnetic material in the body to guide surgeons, using Magseed in lumpectomies and Sienna in sentinel lymph node biopsies to locate the first lymph node to which a tumor's metastasizing cancer cells drain. "Our partnership with Devicor Medical Products, a leader in breast cancer care, strengthens our ability to support the entire U.S. and Canadian market," said Eric Mayes, CEO of Endomag. "And our continued research collaboration with Professor Brazdeikis and UH, as well as clinical research collaborations with M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, means that Texas remains essential to our success as we grow our business in the U.S." The Medicines Discovery Catapult (MDC) has appointed its first Chief Executive Officer. Chris Molloy, who has more than 25 years experience in the international life science industry, will lead the MDC in developing new approaches for the discovery and early development of new medicines. Currently CEO at the RSA Group, Chris has significant senior level experience across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, informatics and start-up sectors. He will join MDC in November and work with the MDCs Board to develop and implement the Catapults initial five year business plan, which will be agreed with Innovate UK at the end of this year. The MDC is based at Alderley Park in the north west of England, a location chosen as a hub of life science expertise. The Catapult, the first for drug R&D in the UK, is chaired by life sciences businessman and academic, Professor Graham Boulnois. Making todays announcement, Professor Boulnois said: We are delighted to bring Chris on board as we start our exciting journey at the Medicines Discovery Catapult. Chris experience of leading companies operating in life sciences combined with his in-depth knowledge of drug discovery will be of tremendous value to the company. He continued: I am looking forward to working alongside Chris to bring the Medicines Discovery Catapults vision alive - enabling the UK to become a world leader in the development of new means of drug discovery, and reducing the number of drugs which dont make it to market. Molloy began his career in discovery biology at Glaxo. In addition to broad internal and collaborative drug discovery experience, Chris was involved in Glaxo Wellcome and GSK in delivering transformational change across research by implementing specialist automation and informatics systems. He then moved into biotech as Chief Operating Officer of MerLion Pharmaceuticals, a venture-backed biotechnology company headquartered in Singapore. During Chris tenure, MerLion raised significant international finance and advanced two novel antibacterials into clinical development. On returning to the UK in 2008, he became VP Corporate Development and Marketing at IDBS, a high-growth international software company focussed on improving R&D and healthcare organisations through better access to their R&D data. This included the creation of the UKs first stratified medicine informatics platform, co-funded with Innovate UK. His most recent role is as CEO of RSA, a senior-level global Talent Advisory firm specialising in Life Sciences. Chris has held a number of Board and advisory roles and acts as CSO for KFLP Biotech LLP, a virtual drug discovery company focussed on new treatments for HIV. Chris Molloy said: I am very much looking forward to building and leading the team at the Medicines Discovery Catapult. The UK has a wealth of talent and capability in drug R&D, and a strong tradition in the sector. Particularly at this time of national change, the UK has the opportunity and responsibility to harness these resources, which will enhance the flow of new drugs to a global market. The Catapult will be a nexus for great drug R&D science, technology and informatics: delivering multidisciplinary approaches to meet this challenge. Fundamental to its mission will be the fact that great people make great R&D, something I have seen throughout my career and recently in advising RSAs global clients. The Catapult will engage the UKs experienced drug discovery talent and help launch a new generation of drug R&D leaders into a successful future. It is an incredibly exciting and forward-thinking organisation that will actively shape the direction of travel in drug discovery and development and enable others in the UK to do so too. Welcoming the appointment, Innovate UK Chief Executive Ruth McKernan said: This is an excellent appointment for the Medicines Discovery Catapult. Chris long-standing experience and expertise in the international life sciences sector will be invaluable to the Catapults development and I look forward to working closely with him. The MDC will work alongside industry, technologists, academics and regulators from across the country to develop and implement new ways to discover new medicines. By improving efficiency in drug development, the Catapult will also enable the delivery of better medicines to patients in a more cost effective way. The appointment of Chris Molloy as CEO to the MDC, follows the recruitment of a Board with immense experience in drug discovery and the wider STEM environment. The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) -- the nation's largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to the field of aging -- has chosen Kali St. Marie Thomas, PhD, MA, of Brown University and the Providence VA Medical Center as the 2016 recipient of the Carroll L. Estes Rising Star Award. This distinguished honor is given annually by GSA's Social Research, Policy, and Practice Section (SRPP) to one of its members in acknowledgment of outstanding early career contributions in social research, policy, and practice. It was established in 2009 and honors Carroll L. Estes, PhD, a distinguished gerontological researcher, a tireless advocate for older persons, a former SRPP section chair, and a former GSA president. The award presentation will take place at GSA's 2016 Annual Scientific Meeting, which will be held from November 16 to 20 in New Orleans, Louisiana. This conference is organized to foster interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers, educators, and practitioners who specialize in the study of the aging process. Visit http://www. geron. org/ 2016 for further details. Thomas is an assistant professor in the Department of Health Services, Policy and Practice at Brown University, and a research health science specialist at the Providence VA Medical Center's Center of Innovation for Long-term Services and Supports. She received her PhD in aging studies from the University of South Florida and completed an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality-funded postdoctoral research fellowship at the Brown University Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research. Thomas' research focuses on identifying ways to improve the quality of life of older and disabled adults needing long-term services and supports. Funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the National Institute on Aging, and multiple foundations, she has led research projects related to the quality of care delivered in long-term care facilities and the role of home- and community-based services in preventing or postponing nursing home placement. Investors include MaSa Partners, Holly Branson, and Dr. Joshua Boger mOm has raised 630,000 in seed funding from a prominent set of investors to further develop its revolutionary baby incubator. Led by MaSa Partners (a US-based impact fund), investors include Holly Branson (as part of the Virgin Group), Lord Rumi Verjee (as part of the The Rumi Foundation), Continuity Capital, Dr. Joshua Boger, Johannes Heine, Rockspring, and The London Co Investment Fund. The mOm Incubator will provide a much-needed alternative to the bulky and costly incubators of today. Relative to conventional incubators, the system collapses to a fraction of the size and is approximately 90% lighter, meaning it can be deployed easily anywhere in the world. In addition, the mOm Incubator will be around 5% of the cost of conventional incubators. With this new design, mOm aims to significantly reduce the 1 million infant deaths that occur every year due to premature birth (World Health Organisation). mOms incubator was initially designed to provide incubation technology in refugee camps, and after extensive research on the challenges associated with the use of incubators in remote areas, the product has evolved into a high-quality, robust apparatus that can address both developed and developing market needs. Today, mOm features an impressive team of medical, business, and engineering experts. mOm has also signed a strategic partnership with Morgan Innovation & Technology (MIAT), a leading medical device developer with more than 25 years experience in designing and manufacturing medical equipment. MIAT will help develop the product and attain regulatory approval for the medical device. The mOm Incubator, and its creator James Roberts, have already won a number of awards, including the 2014 Sir James Dyson award for innovation and the JC Gammon award for enterprise and entrepreneurship as part of the Royal academy of Engineering. In addition, mOm received the 50,000 diamond award from MassChallenge UK, a leading global accelerator for early-stage entrepreneurs, for which Dr. Boger and Lord Verjee are both advisors. The company is currently headquartered out of their UK office in London. James Roberts, Founder & CEO, said: It is still mind blowing for me to see my project, which was originally conceived in my final year of University, go on to become a reality and secure funding from a great team of investors. This is just the beginning, and we are working hard to bring the product to market and ensure it is able to have widespread impact in helping to reduce premature deaths. Dr. Alan Davies, the former Chief Medical Officer of GE Healthcare, and a member of mOms advisory board, said: The link between sleep problems and suicidal thoughts and behaviours is made starkly clear in new research from The University of Manchester, published in the BMJ Open. In this study, conducted by researchers from the University's School of Health Sciences alongside the University of Oxford, 18 participants were interviewed about the role sleep problems have on suicidal tendencies. Three inter-related pathways to suicidal thoughts were identified arising from sleep problems. The first was that being awake at night heightened the risks of suicidal thoughts and attempts, which in part was seen as a consequence of the lack of help or resources available at night. Secondly, the research found that a prolonged failure to achieve a good night's sleep made life harder for respondents, adding to depression, as well as increasing negative thinking, attention difficulties and inactivity. Finally, respondents said sleep acted as an alternative to suicide, providing an escape from their problems. However, the desire to use sleep as an avoidance tactic led to increased day time sleeping which in turn caused disturbed sleeping patterns - reinforcing the first two pathways. Donna Littlewood, lead author of the study, said the research has implications for service providers, such as health care specialist and social services. "Our research underscores the importance of restoring healthy sleep in relation to coping with mental health problems, suicidal thoughts and behaviours. "Additionally, night time service provision should be a key consideration within suicide prevention strategies, given that this study shows that those who are awake in the night are at an increased risk of suicide." Urea as one of the essential components in Darwins "warm little pond" The phosphate ion is almost insoluble and is one of the most inactive of Earth's most abundant phosphate minerals. So how could phosphate have originally been incorporated into ribonucleotides, the building blocks of RNA, which are considered to be among the earliest constituents of life? American and Spanish scientists have now identified reasonable conditions to mobilize phosphate from insoluble apatite minerals for prebiotic organophosphate synthesis, including ribonucleotides. The pivotal role of urea in this process is also described in their article in the journal Angewandte Chemie. The energy-rich organophosphate bond is one of the basic features found in modern life. Phosphoester and phosphodiester bonds are currently formed using energy from photosynthesis and the energy in our food, and are continuously degraded and reconstructed during metabolic activity within living cells. Phosphate groups also ensure the solubility of RNA and DNA molecules. But how were the very first phosphate ester bonds formed on the prebiotic Earth? Phosphate would have been mostly locked in minerals when the first nucleobases, sugars, and amino acids started life in the primeval soup, which is also known as Darwins "warm little pond". Cesar Menor-Salvan and Nicholas V. Hud at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA, and collaborators have now explored, in detail, realistic geochemical conditions that could have led to the first relevant organophosphates. They were especially interested in the role of urea, a hydrolysis product of cyanamide and produced in MillerUrey type reactions, which also has been shown to catalyze phosphate ester synthesis. The authors hypothesized that a eutectic mixture of urea, ammonium formate, and water could both serve as a milieu for direct phosphorylation and mobilize the phosphate of minerals, and thus allow phosphorylation from mineral sources. Additionally, upon heating formamide is formed, which is a cosolvent and could enhance phosphorylation from mineral sources. Therefore, the eutectic mixture would ensure "a consistent starting concentration of components regardless of their initial abundances," the authors wrote. Their experiments resulted in effective phosphorylation of nucleosides when heated at moderate temperatures, provided soluble phosphate ions were available. To address the latter point, the scientists added various mixtures of ions and salts to the mixture and observed not only increased solubility of phosphate from hydroxyapatite, but also the formation of moderately soluble secondary phosphate minerals. They wrote: These experiments suggest that an environment rich in ammonia, small organics such as urea and formate, magnesium sulfate, and phosphate could be an ideal location for prebiotic organophosphate synthesis. Every salt and ion added was very likely abundant in the environment of the prebiotic Earth. Overall, the scientists have identified realistic conditions under which early phosphorylation from insoluble sources could have taken place. So, consistent with Darwins early thoughts: With the help of urea, phosphorylated molecules important for life can be readily formed in "warm little ponds". We reported on how Sastodeal became Kathmandus first company to implement a menstrual leave policy for its women employees. Now we have positively good news coming from our own country IndustryARC, a three year old start up in Hyderabad has already put in place its own menstrual policy that allows many of the women in the workforce to opt for a leave if needed.The market research and strategic consulting firm company did a closed survey in which about 100 female respondents participated. The questionnaire focused on the frequency and length of the menstrual cycle and its overlap with work days, how many were effected by PMS and if they suffered from severe pain or cramps during their period rated on a scale of 1 to 10. We also asked if their focus and productivity seemed affected during menstruation and if they wanted to take a leave or compensatory off if available, says Chaitanya Kumar, CEO and co-founder of the 70 employees strong company.The findings of the survey made it clear that most days of the menstrual cycle coincided with work days and many suffered severe pain for a period of 1 to 3 days typically. We also realised many were unable to give their complete focus to work and would like to take an off day if it was made possible. Infact, many women admitted they had taken leaves for this specific reason many times in the past. We simply had to devise this policy after the feedback, he said.With 25 women working in the company, about 40% have availed it in the three months of its existence. It has even been incorporated in the employee guidelines handbook. But it comes with a catch; employees need to simply drop a mail to the HR and reporting manager with the subject line ML Request and mention if they are taking a leave of 1 or 2 days. They however, need to inform when they shall be compensating the leaves in the succeeding consecutive weekends to complete the pending work. If the MLs are not compensated within the fortnight, they will be considered as paid or unpaid leave depending on the leave balance of the employee.Even so, it seems like a move in the right direction. Our company aims at equal opportunities for growth, irrespective of gender. So it made us take a hard look at issues faced by women and what effects their daily tasks. While it took us some time to realise, understand and implement this policy, we are proud of the work done by them and want to convey that we have their back no matter what. I hope our small endeavour can champion change in workplace rules nationally and internationally, says Chaitanya.Venkat, the head of business development in the firm agrees. The policy is a part of the employee feedback loop system and we wish this was implemented much earlier. But we are happy to get it working now. There can be a billion different things that should be on a politician's agenda. Some may be important, others less so. But actively waging a war against Indian-style squat toilets is the most bizarre thing ever. And an Australian politician is doing just that!Pauline Hanson, a Queensland representative in the Australian senate, is worried about how an Australian taxation office in Melbourne has introduced Indian-style squat toilets to cater to the 20 per cent of the workforce that is from a non-English speaking background.We are committed to maintaining an inclusive workplace that engages, informs and supports all our employees, whatever their background. This commitment includes building designs with a range of facilities that cater for the different needs of our employees" said an official from the aforementioned taxation office to the Herald Sun.Her video comes with the caption "Just when you thought our PC brigade couldn't be any more backward, someone came up with an idea to put squat toilets into the new Australian Tax Office in Melbourne. Why? Because over 20% of the ATO workforce in Melbourne come from NON ENGLISH SPEAKING BACKGROUNDS."The important question this politician asks is if they cant work out how to use a westernised toilet, how are they expected to work out our tax system?I know what is more confusing than using our toilets, it is doing our tax she added.Her insinuation is that those who might be more comfortable squatting while taking a dump may just not be intelligent enough to figure out Australian taxation laws. Well ma'am we'd just like to sayPauline Hanson's war against toilets can also find it's roots in xenophobia and racism which is evident from one of her replies to a question posed to her. A Facebook user commented on her video with a simple question: "And how much is this costing the Australian taxpayer?"Her answer was worrisome, to say the least: "It's not just a matter of dollars Wade. It starts with toilets and ends with costing us our Australian way of life."Okay, then. Bengaluru: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday will hold a protest against Amnesty International in Bengaluru over the alleged anti-national slogans raised at an event on Jammu and Kashmir organised by the human rights watch-dog. The Kashmiris who were present at the event reportedly got into an argument with a Kashmiri Pandit leader for hailing the Indian Army. Holding that it had organised the event as part of a campaign to seek justice for "victims of human rights violations" in Jammu and Kashmir, Amnesty International India in a statement had said towards the end of the event, some of those who attended raised slogans, some of which referred to calls for 'azadi' (freedom). BJP Karnataka Chief BS Yeddyurappa will lead the protests against the NGO. A sedition case was also filed against actor-turned-politician Ramya for praising Pakistan. In a media statement, Ramya refused to apologies for her comment and claimed that she has done nothing wrong. Srinagar: Curfew remained in force in some areas of Srinagar and two towns of south Kashmir on Wednesday, while restrictions on the assembly of people in rest of the Valley continued for the 47th consecutive day in the wake of violence following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. Curfew is in force in five police station areas of downtown city and Batamaloo and Maisuma areas in the uptown, a police official said. He said in south Kashmir, curfew continued in Anantnag town and was imposed in Pampore town today to maintain law and order. On Tuesday, the authorities lifted curfew from most areas of Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, in view of the improving situation. The lifting of the curbs allowed movement of people in the city as there was increased traffic of private cars and auto-rickshaws in and around Lal Chowk city centre on Tuesday. However, the official said, restrictions on the assembly of four or more people under Section 144 of the CrPC will continue in the rest of the Valley to maintain law and order. Meanwhile, normal life remained paralysed for the 47th consecutive day due to curfew, restrictions and separatist sponsored strike. Shops, private offices, educational institutions and petrol pumps remained closed while public transport continued to be off roads. The attendance in government offices and banks was also affected, the official said. Mobile Internet also continued to remain suspended in the entire Valley, where the outgoing facility on prepaid mobiles remained barred. The separatist camp, which is spearheading the agitation in the Valley over the civilian killings during the protests against Wani's killing, has asked people to hold an assessment drive in all villages and localities today to prepare a list of the needy. As many as 65 persons, including two cops, have been killed and several thousands injured in the clashes that began on July 9, a day after Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kokernag area of south Kashmir's Anantnag district. The separatist camp, headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, has extended the agitation till August 25. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 24 Trend: Moscow is concerned over the situation in the area of the Syrian-Turkish border, RIA Novosti reported Aug. 24 citing Russian Foreign Ministry. On Aug. 24 morning, the Turkish Air Force with the support of the coalition aircraft launched an operation to liberate the city of Jarabulus from the IS militants in northern Syria, near Aleppo city. The operation is carried out under the name Shield of the Euphrates. Earlier, it was reported that Turkish tanks entered Syria. Syria has been suffering from an armed conflict since March 2011, which, according to the UN, has so far claimed over 500,000 lives. Militants from various armed groups are confronting the Syrian government troops. The Islamic State (IS, ISIL, ISIS or Daesh) is the most active terrorist group in Syria. New Delhi: Taking the Indian government's idea of reaching out to citizens of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir a step further the government announced on Wednesday that its Rs 5 lakh compensation for victims of cross border firing and mine explosions will be available to citizens of PoK too. Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Minister of State for Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh said, "The Cabinet has accepted the long pending demand of compensation for victims of cross-border firing, mining explosion etc. This will be available to citizens of POJK too; if Pakistan allows the money to reach them." The Cabinet meeting chaired by Modi on Wednesday gave its approval to enhance the grant of compensation under "Central Scheme for Assistance to Civilian Victims of Terrorist, Communal, Left Wing Extremist (LWE), Cross Border Firing and Mine or Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) blasts on Indian Territory" from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. On August 12, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said at the all party meeting on Kashmir, "When we talk about Jammu and Kashmir, we should talk about four parts of Jammu and Kashmir Jammu, Kashmir valley, Ladakh and PoK." He had urged the Indian Ministry of External Affairs to establish contact with PoK residents who live outside Pakistan, gather information from them about the pitiable condition in PoK and apprise the world of it. Singh's claim that the Union Cabinet's decision on compensation is seen as a step further in needling Pakistan on the issue of PoK even as government alleges that the 46 day long impasse in Jammu and Kashmir is completely Pakistan sponsored. Approximately 770 km of the Line of Control and approximately 220 km of International Border have been a witness to frequent ceasefire violation and the influx of terrorists since 1990. More than 50 civilians die every year due to shelling and cross border firing along the Indo-Pak order in Jammu and Kashmir. As many as 13,921 civilians have lost their lives till 2015. A total of 168 civilians were killed due to naxal violence in Naxal-hit states in 2015. "Now onwards, any civilian who dies anywhere in the country due to terror attack, LWE violence, firing from across the border, shelling or IED explosion will be given Rs 5 lakh as compensation uniformly. The amount will be given to the next of kin of the victim," an official release said. The amount will also be given to those who receive 50 per cent or more disability or incapacitation due to the same reasons, it said. (With inputs from PTI) Home Minister Rajnath Singh is in Kashmir for two-day talks with various stakeholders to end the unrest in the valley but he is unlikely to meet separatist leaders who are under house arrest. Singh said on his arrival in Srinagar on Wednesday that he has invited all those who believe in 'Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat', invoking the famous approach of former prime minister AB Vajpayee which the Centre has vowed to follow. Hours before the minister arrived, a youth died in fresh clashes between protesters and security forces in Pulwama district of south Kashmir. Singh, who is accompanied by Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, will review the situation in Kashmir where as many as 66 persons have been killed and over 8000 injured in clashes between protesters and security forces that broke out in the wake of killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter. As the team hold talks, separatist leaders continue to be under house arrest making any meeting between them and the Home minister unlikely. Separatist leader Mirwaiz Farooq told CNN-News18 that "Kashmir has been converted into a jail" where essential commodities are not being allowed in. Mirwaiz said, "New Delhi has closed its eyes as far as the realities on the ground are concerned and they are trying to parrot a script which will not lead to anything. Fact is, Kashmir has been literally converted into a jail. I am under house arrest for the last 46 days, my telephone lines have been cut, my internet has been disconnected. ""They make sure that none of the shops are allowed to open, they aren't even allowing essential commodities into the city, especially into downtown Srinagar, they are not allowing medicines, food," he added. The Home Minister has said he would, "interact with civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders." Singh's second visit to Kashmir in a month comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's interaction with a delegation of Opposition parties led by former state chief minister Omar Abdullah in the national capital on Monday. Modi had expressed "deep concern and pain" over the situation there and had asked all political parties to work together to find a "permanent and lasting" solution to problems in Jammu and Kashmir. New Delhi: Home Minister Rajnath Singh is all set to undertake a two-day visit to the Kashmir Valley during which he will review the situation and may hold talks with cross section of people. This is the second visit of Singh in a month to the Valley which has been witnessing unrest since July 8 when Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces. As many as 68 people, including two policemen, have been killed and several thousand were injured so far in different violence. The Home Minister had said the Centre wants an emotional relationship with the state and not just need-based. Singh had said the central government will talk to whosoever needed once peace and normalcy is restored in the state. "As far as Government of India is concerned, I want to make it clear that we don't just want need-based ties, but to build an emotional relationship with Kashmir," he said. The leak of documents related to Scorpene-class submarines is likely to create a major strategic problem for India apart from countries like Malaysia and Chile which also use its variants. A massive leak of secret data of French defence contractor DCNS has potentially exposed the combat capabilities of India's Scorpene-class submarines. An Australian newspaper revealed that the 22,400-page leak has details of combat capabilities of the six submarines that DCNS designed for the Indian Navy. The report said the leaked DCNS data, running to 22,400 pages, details of the secret stealth capabilities of six new Indian submarines, including what frequencies they gather intelligence at, what levels of noise they make at various speeds and their diving depths, range and endurance - all sensitive information that is highly classified. The data tells the submarine crew where on the boat they can speak safely to avoid detection by the enemy. It also discloses magnetic, electromagnetic and infra-red data as well as the specifications of the submarines torpedo launch system and the combat system, it said. It details the speed and conditions needed for using the periscope, the noise specifications of the propeller and the radiated noise levels that occur when the submarine surfaces. The data, accessed by the paper, includes 4457 pages on the submarine's underwater sensors, 4209 pages on its above-water sensors, 4301 pages on its combat management system, 493 pages on its torpedo launch system and specifications, 6841 pages on the sub's communications system and 2138 on its navigation systems. Security analyst Uday Bhaskar said that, at the time when India's underwater capability is in dire need of new platforms, such leaks and probes are going to delay the full operational induction of the Scorpene to enhance India's overall firepower. "I think we have to proceed with some caution to check the veracity of the documents whether it is an accurate reflection of the boat in terms of design and other technical parametres. If it's accurate, then as an analyst I would say that this is a serious compromise of the credibility of the Indian Scorpene because an attack submarine is all about stealth and that you should remain undetected," Bhaskar said. "There's one section of about 4,000 pages that referred to the entire acoustic signature of the boat i.e., all the frequencies, various other details about the electro-magnetic spectrum, the combat management system, the wiring of the torpedo tubes. All this to me as an analyst, would recognise as a significant compromise," he added. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday said the leak of secret data of India's Scorpene-class submarines could be a case of hacking and called for a report."It came to my knowledge at about 12 AM. What I understand is there is a hacking. So we will find out all this," Parrikar said.Sources in the Navy have said that the leak could be a result of corporate wars that plays out over major defence contracts.Reacting to allegations that the leak may have been from India, the Defence Ministry issued a statement saying the source of leak appears to be from overseas and not from India.The available information is being examined at Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy) and an analysis is being carried out by the specialists concerned, the Ministry said.The Defence Minister also said he does not suspect the leak to be 100% since a lot of final integration lies with India. "I have asked the Navy chief to study the entire issue about what has been leaked, what is there about us and to what extent," he said adding that a clear picture will emerge in a couple of days.A massive leak of secret data of French defence contractor DCNS has potentially exposed the combat capabilities of India's Scorpene-class submarines. An Australian newspaper has revealed that the 22,400-page leak has details of combat capabilities of the six submarines that DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy.The leaked DCNS data, running to 22,400 pages, details the secret stealth capabilities of six new Indian submarines, including what frequencies they gather intelligence at, what levels of noise they make at various speeds and their diving depths, range and endurance all sensitive information that is highly classified, according to Australia's 'The Australian' newspaper.The data tells the submarine crew where on the boat they can speak safely to avoid detection by the enemy. It also discloses magnetic, electromagnetic and infra-red data as well as the specifications of the submarines torpedo launch system and the combat system, it said.It details the speed and conditions needed for using the periscope, the noise specifications of the propeller and the radiated noise levels that occur when the submarine surfaces.The data, accessed by the paper, includes 4457 pages on the submarine's underwater sensors, 4209 pages on its above-water sensors, 4301 pages on its combat management system, 493 pages on its torpedo launch system and specifications, 6841 pages on the sub's communications system and 2138 on its navigation systems.The leak has created fear in Australia about the future security of top-secret data on its navy's future fleet, the Australian media reported as the French company had won the bid to design Australia's new Australian Dollar 50 billion submarine fleet. A massive leak of secret data of French defence contractor DCNS has potentially exposed the combat capabilities of India's Scorpene-class submarines. An Australian newspaper has revealed that the 22,400-page leak has details of combat capabilities of the six submarines that DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy. The information leaked includes details of the submarine's torpedo launch system, what levels of noise they make at various speeds, their diving depths, range and endurance. India spent 3.9 billion dollars on the 6 submarines which were inducted for trial in 2015. The data leak is a major intelligence win for Pakistan and China. Apart from India, the leak is likely to affect Malaysia and Chile which uses variants of Scorpene-class submarines. Brazil is also due to deploy the vessels from 2018. Australia awarded DCNS an Aus$50 billion (US$38 billion) contract last April to design and build its next generation of submarines. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull sought to play down the impact in Canberra saying while the leak was "of concern", the Scorpene was a different model to the subs Australia is buying. "The submarine we are building or will be building with the French is called the Barracuda, quite, completely different submarine to the Scorpene they are building for India," he told Channel Seven. Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne issued a statement saying the leak "has no bearing on the Australian government's future submarine programme". The programme, the statement said, "operates under stringent security requirements that govern the manner in which all information and technical data is managed now and into the future". The leaked documents were marked "Restricted Scorpene India" and gave the combat capabilities of India's new submarine fleet, The Australian said. They also included thousands of pages on the submarine sensors and thousands more on its communication and navigation systems as well as nearly 500 pages on the torpedo launch system alone. The Australian said DCNS implied that the leak may have come from India rather than France. The daily, however, said the data was thought to have been removed from France in 2011 by a former French navy officer who at the time was a subcontractor for DCNS. DCNS said that it was aware of the articles published in the Australian press and that "national security authorities" had launched an inquiry into the matter, without giving details. "This inquiry will determine the precise nature of the documents which have been leaked, the potential damage to our customers as well as those responsible." The data is believed to have passed through firms in Southeast Asia before eventually being mailed to a company in Australia, the newspaper said. Australia awarded its submarine contract to DCNS but the secret combat system for the 12 Shortfin Barracudas is being supplied by the United States. The submarines are a scaled-down conventionally powered version of France's 4,700-tonne Barracuda. The DCNS website says the new vessel would be "the recipient of France's most sensitive and protected submarine technology and will be the most lethal conventional submarine ever contemplated". (With inputs from AFP) New Delhi: In just three weeks of Communications Minister Manoj Sinha launching 'Twitter Sewa' for registration and resolution of complaints, over 2,000 telecom-related complaints have been received through the social media platform and over 1,800 of them have already been resolved. Since its launch on August 2, as many as 2,042 consumer complaints pertaining to telephone bills, broadband, and connectivity issues, were received through Twitter Sewa by the Telecom Department, and 1,807 of them have already been resolved, sources told PTI. For postal services, 1,683 complaints were received through the social media platform, of which 1,555 have been resolved, they said. Sources further said the Telecom Minister has been calling for daily status reports on resolution of postal and telecom complaints received through the newly-launched platform. "The Minister is directly monitoring the initiative," sources added. The complaints received are from across the country including the Hindi heartland. "On the postal side, the complaints relate to issues on speedpost, parcels and moneyorder," they added. On August 2, the Communications Minister launched Twitter Sewa for registration and resolution of complaints, a move that enables telecom and postal service users to file complaints with the government directly on social media platform Twitter. The complaints lodged through Twitter Sewa are available to the Ministry officials and can be categorised as immediate, mid-term and long-term complaints. The initiative allows the Ministry to respond to complaints in real-time, assign it to relevant officers, assign criticality and track the complaints. At the launch event in early August, Twitter India had said that in order to register complaints a customer will only need to tweet and the platform will pick key words used in the complaint to forward it to concerned authorities. People can use four commands to escalate their complaints. These are #DoTSewa, #BSNLSewa, #MTNLSewa, #PostalSewa. Ahmedabad: Three persons were on Wednesday arrested in connection with the murder of a journalist at a newspaper office in Gujarat's Junagadh district with a police probe finding that dispute over money led to the crime. Kishore Dave (53), the bureau chief of Gujarati daily 'Jai Hind-Sanjh Samachar', published from Rajkot, was stabbed to death by sharp weapons at the newspaper's office in Vanjari chowk area of Junagadh on Monday night. "We have arrested three persons involved in the murder of journalist Kishore Dave. From investigation, it was revealed that Dave was a partner in transport business with the accused, and was murdered due to disputes arising out of payment of money," Junagadh B-division police inspector MM Makwana said. The arrested persons have been identified as - Firoz Kasambhai Hala, Sanjay Rama Rathod and Arif Alam Saiyed. Dave was involved in transport business along with the three accused since about last five years, Makwana said. "They had purchased a mini bus and Dave had to make payment in that connection, and was murdered after he failed to make the payment," he said. Following the murder, separate teams of local police, local crime branch, and special operations group were formed to crack the case. They also took the help of a CCTV camera footage in which the murderers were apparently seen riding two motorcycles towards Dave's office, which assisted in solving the case, police said. Pretty in Prague... A video posted by Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) on Aug 20, 2016 at 8:31am PDT Imtiaz said I could post this picture from the sets...& promised there will be some close ups of me in the film too! A photo posted by Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) on Aug 21, 2016 at 6:44am PDT Hello from Prague #nofilter A video posted by AnushkaSharma1588 (@anushkasharma) on Aug 18, 2016 at 9:21am PDT Actor Anushka Sharma will star opposite the actor in the film, which will be the pairs third on screen outing together. Superstar Shah Rukh Khan has started shooting for director Imtiaz Alis upcoming love story in the stunning locales of Prague. The film, reportedly titled The Ring, marks the first collaboration between the 50-year-old Fan star and Imtiaz.Shah Rukh is said to be playing a tourist guide in the movie. The actor posted on Instagram a video of a museum in Prague, which he captioned, Pretty in Prague.A video from the films set, shows Shah Rukh walking up to a parapet with a large brown bag strung around his shoulder, while waving a red flag in order to attract attention from the crowd.Actor Anushka Sharma will star opposite the actor in the film, which will be the pairs third on screen outing together after Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Jab Tak Hai Jaan.The 28-year-old plays a Gujarati in the movie.The film also marks SRKs return to an out-and-out romantic film after four years. His last on screen love story was late director Yash Chopras Jab Tak Hai Jaan.Hence, his fans are excited about the movie, more so because he has teamed up with Imtiaz, who is known for his penchant for contemporary romances. Chennai: The makers of Suriya-starrer Tamil actioner Singam 3, which is nearing completion, are headed to Malaysia to shoot the climax. The film is gearing up for a grand release this Diwali. "The team along with Suriya leaves on Friday to Malaysia. It will be a two-week schedule and they will shoot some important sequences apart from a major action block. Apart from this schedule, the team has one more song to shoot," a source from the film's unit told IANS. The film marks the debut of Hindi television actor Thakur Anoop Singh, who will be playing the antagonist. Directed by Hari, the project also stars Shruti Haasan and Anushka Shetty in the lead. Suriya, according to the source, will return in his police avatar, but in a more fierce role. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 24 Trend: 20:25 (GMT+4) Gunmen attacked the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul on Aug. 24, with explosions and gunfire reported inside the campus, an Afghan interior ministry official and a student said, Reuters reported. "Several gunmen attacked the American University in Kabul and there are reports of gunfire and explosions," the official said. "They are inside the compound and there are foreign professors along with hundreds of students." Ahmad Shaheer, a student at the university, told Reuters by telephone that he was trapped inside the university. "We are stuck inside our classroom and there are bursts of gunfire," he said. The university's president confirmed a militant attack was underway on the campus, according to Sky News. The attack comes two weeks after two university staff were kidnapped from their car by unknown gunmen, said the report. Their whereabouts are still unknown. 19:25 (GMT+4) Gunfire was heard at the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul on Aug. 24, an Afghan interior ministry official said, Reuters reports. There were no further details immediately available. Continuing with its Kashmir outreach after Prime Minister's Narendra Modi's meeting with Opposition leaders from the valley earlier this week, the government has decided to provide employment opportunities to 50,000 youth from Jammu and Kashmir. The Ministry of Minority Affairs will pilot this ambitious project which is being seen as part of a double-pronged strategy - dialogue and development. The announcement comes while Home Minister Rajnath Singh camps in Srinagar to calm tempers in the valley. The recurring cycle of violence in the valley has on the last count claimed close to 70 lives while large parts of the state have been under uninterrupted curfew for more than seven weeks now since the killing of the Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. In a statement after his meeting with a delegation of Opposition leaders led by former CM Omar Abdullah, the Prime Minister had expressed deep concern and pain at the prevailing situation in the state. Appealing for restoration of normalcy he had expressed commitment towards the development of the state and the people. "The idea is to train these youth, and provide them employment in the private sector. Even school dropouts can opt for the scheme which we will be implementing with support from the private sector," says Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. The ministry plans to dovetail government's skill development mission with the requirements of the industry to guarantee employment at the end of the training. The blueprint of the scheme lays as much importance on employment generation as on national integration as trained personnel will be posted across the country with hospitals, real estate and private security agencies. In another development, the Ministry of Minority Affairs is planning to build Sadbhav Mandaps in minority-dominated localities in the country. In the first leg of the program, 1000 such pavilions will be built to cater to largely poor population among the minorities. These pavilions can also be utilised for holding private functions like weddings and also for educational activities in localities with poor infrastructure. New Delhi: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that he never blamed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as an organisation for Mahatma Gandhi's assassination but only some people associated with the group. Kapil Sibal appearing on behalf of the Congress leader drew the attention of the bench to the affidavit filed by Rahul in the high court. "Rahul Gandhi has always denied making the statement that the RSS as an organisation was responsible for Gandhiji's assassination," he told the SC bench. A bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and RS Nariman, which was hearing the petition filed by Rahul challenging the summons issued to him as an accused in a defamation case, said it will dispose of the petition if the complainant agreed. The bench noted that the Congress leader had filed an affidavit in the Bombay High Court while seeking quashing of the defamation complaint against him stating that, at an election rally, he had not blamed RSS as an institution for the assassination of Gandhi but a person associated with it. The bench, which posted the matter for September 1, asked the complainant's counsel and senior advocate UR Lalit to seek instruction whether the complainant was ready to end the case if Gandhi's statement is taken on record. Reacting to this, BJP leader GVL Narsimha Rao said, "Rahul Gandhi's statement in SC is misleading. His statement was directly against the RSS and politically motivated." New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday slammed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa for misusing the defamation law and said that public figures must face criticism. Hearing a matter related to defamation cases filed by the Jayalalithaa government against actorturned politician Vijayakanth, the SC said that public figures cannot use defamation law to throttle democracy and criticism of policy could not be a ground for defamation. The SC has reissued a notice to Jayalalithaa on a petition against her for alleged misuse of defamation laws. The next hearing would take place on September 22. Earlier, the Madras High Court had stayed all further proceedings in the 14 criminal defamation cases pending against him in various courts. Justice PN Prakash had granted interim relief to the actor who, along with his wife, had filed a petition to quash the cases registered against them for their speeches and statements against the Tamil Nadu government. Faced with cases and summons, he had first moved the apex court challenging the constitutionality of Section 499 of CrPC and Section 199 of the IPC. Jaya government and her party AIADMK have filed hundreds of criminal defamation cases against all kinds of people including the media and opposition leaders across the state. Sydney: A 29-year-old Frenchman shouted "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest) as he stabbed a British woman to death and wounded two people at a backpackers' hotel in northern Queensland, police said on Wednesday. The man was in Australia on a valid tourist visa and had no known links to radical groups such as Islamic State, which has urged its followers to attack civilians with knives or other readily available weapons, police said. A 30-year-old British man was in critical condition in hospital after the attack south of the city of Townsville late on Tuesday night. Police said they were not ruling out any motive. "Initial inquiries indicate that comments which may be construed of being of an extremist nature were made by the alleged offender," Queensland Police Service Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski told reporters. "This person appears to have acted alone," he said. "He is a visitor to Australia and has no known local connections, however investigations are ongoing." About 100 people have left Australia for Syria to fight alongside organisations such as Islamic State, Australia's Immigration Minister said earlier this year. Australia, a staunch US ally, has been on heightened alert for attacks by home-grown radicals since 2014 and authorities say they have thwarted a number of plots. The FBI on Tuesday said that it was investigating a similar attack in Virginia, in which the suspect shouted the same words while attacking a man and woman with a knife. Similar attacks have recently occurred in France, Bangladesh and Germany. There have been several "lone wolf" assaults, including a 2014 cafe siege in Sydney that left two hostages and the gunman dead. Also in 2014, police shot dead a Melbourne teenager after he stabbed two counter-terrorism officers. In 2015, a 15-year-old boy fired on an accountant at a police headquarters in a Sydney suburb and was killed in a gunfight with police. Police did not give details of the third person wounded in the attack, which was captured on video and witnessed by more than a dozen people. There was no ongoing threat to the community, Gollschewski said. A dog was also killed in the attack, he added. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump today accused Democratic rival Hillary Clinton of "bigotry", saying she sees African-Americans as no more than votes to be won. "We reject the bigotry of Hillary Clinton which panders to and talks down to communities of colour and sees them only as votes, not as individual human beings worthy of a better future. She does not care at all about the hurting people of this country, or the suffering she has caused them," Trump said as he sought the support of African-American voters. "I am asking for the vote of every African-American citizen struggling in our country today who wants a different future. It is time for our society to address some honest and very difficult truths," Trump said at an election rally in Wisconsin. He vowed to restore law and order, only days after a fatal police shooting of a black man sparked more street violence. "The Democratic Party has failed and betrayed the African-American community. Democratic crime policies, education policies, and economic policies have produced only more crime, more broken homes, and more poverty," he alleged. Trump said his tough immigration would prevent illegal immigrants from coming into the country, who basically eat into their job. "The Democratic Party has taken the votes of African American community for granted. They have just assumed they will get support and done nothing in return for it. They have taken advantage of the African American community," he said. Trump said it is time to give Democrats some competition for these votes and it's time to rebuild the inner cities of American and to reject the failed leadership of a rigged political system. "No community in this country has been hurt worse by Hillary Clintons immigration and all her policies than theAfrican-American community and she considers them a guaranteed vote ," he said. Trump said he is fighting for a peaceful regime change and if elected he will give the people their voices back. Trump reiterated his proposal for extreme vetting. In his speech, Trump also accused Clinton of setting herself "against the police". He called for more law enforcement officers in local communities and vowed to "break up the gangs, cartels, and syndicates terrorising our country." Referring to the latest riots, Trump said the main victims of these riots are law-abiding African-Americans. The impact of Democratic control of major cities has been,"more crime, more broken homes, and more poverty," he added."Just like Hillary Clinton is against the miners, she is against the police. You know it, and I know it. In his speech, Trump said he would impose restrictions on spouses of US officials giving paid speeches. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said he regretted causing pain to people by not choosing the "right words" sometimes and uttering "wrong things" even as his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton termed the statement as a mere "well-written phrase". "Sometimes, in the heat of debate and speaking on a multitude of issues, you don't choose the right words or you say the wrong thing. I have done that, and I regret it, particularly where it may have caused personal pain. Too much is at stake for us to be consumed with these issues," Trump said at an election rally in Charlotte, North Carolina. Defending his stance, he also said that he has always been a businessman and not a politician. "I have worked in business, creating jobs and rebuilding neighborhoods my entire adult life. I've never wanted to learn the language of the insiders, and I've never been politically correct it takes far too much time, and can often make more difficult," he said. "But one thing I can promise you is this: I will always tell you the truth. I speak the truth for all of you, and for everyone in this country who doesn't have a voice. I speak the truth on behalf of the factory worker who lost his or her job," Trump asserted. Trump said his only interest is the American people. "So while sometimes I can be too honest, Hillary Clinton is the exact opposite: she never tells the truth. One lie after another, and getting worse each passing day," he said. In a late night statement, the Clinton Campaign said he has much for which he should apologize. "Donald Trump literally started his campaign by insulting people. He has continued to do so through each of the 428 days from then until now, without shame or regret. We learned tonight that his speech writer and teleprompter knows he has much for which he should apologize," said Christina Reynolds from the Clinton Campaign. "But that apology tonight is simply a well-written phrase until he tells us which of his many offensive, bullying and divisive comments he regretsand changes his tune altogether," Reynolds said. "The American people are still waiting for Hillary Clinton to apologize for all of the many lies she's told to them, and the many times shes betrayed them. Tell me, has Hillary Clinton ever apologized for lying about her illegal email server and deleting 33,000 emails?" he asked. Slamming Hillary, Trump further said "Has Hillary Clinton apologized for turning the State Department into a pay-for-play operation where favors are sold to the highest bidder? Has she apologized for lying to the families who lost loved ones at Benghazi? Has she apologized for putting Iran on the path to nuclear weapons?" he asked. Trump alleged that Clinton's mistakes destroy innocent lives, sacrifice national security, and betray the working families of this country. "Please remember this. I will never put personal profit before national security. I will never leave our border open to appease donors and special interests. I will never support a trade deal that kills American jobs. I will never put the special interests before the national interest. I will neverput a donor before a voter, or a lobbyist before a citizen," he said. "Instead, I will be a champion for the people," he said. "The establishment media doesnt cover what really matters in this country, or what's really going on in peoples lives. They will take words of mine out of context and spend a week obsessing over every single syllable, and then pretend to discover some hidden meaning in what I said," he alleged British rocker Ozzy Osbourne ridiculed the fate of famed Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson when recently visiting the grave of his left arm buried in the family cemetery at historic Ellwood on the Wilderness Battlefield in Orange County as portrayed on a recent episode of the new History Channel show, Ozzy and Jacks World Detour. Premiering last month, the program follows the former Black Sabbath front man and his reality TV star son both apparent history buffs as they visit significant sites. The duo was on its way to Jamestown when they made a detour in Orange, resulting in two minutes of humorous air time. Were in Civil War country now, are we? asks Ozzy in the beginning of the brief segment to which Jack replies, Big time. The Civil War started around here and ended around here. This was the front line. Jack said he stumbled upon the site of Stonewalls Jacksons amputated arm on the internet. This famous generals arm is buried here, he says, eliciting an incredulous, What? from Ozzy, the first of many similar reactions. Jackson was one of the most gifted tactical commanders in history, Jack says, and they called him Stonewall because he stopped an advance like a stone wall that is, until his own troops shot him during the 1863 Battle at Chancellorsville. Jackson was badly wounded and transported to the nearby field hospital at Ellwood manor, where his arm was amputated. Why didnt they call him Stonewall one-arm Jackson? asks Ozzy to which Jack replied, They probably would have but he died seven days later. Jackson was 39. Stonewall one-arm dead Jackson, Ozzy says as they travel along Virginia 20 approaching the Wilderness Battlefield area and entrance to Ellwood. They had a funeral for his arm? asks Ozzy to which Jack explained that Jacksons wife didnt want to disturb the grave where the appendage had already been buried. What? says Ozzy. Weird, right? says Jack. Pulling up to Ellwood unannounced, Ozzy proclaims, Lets see the slimmest grave in history. Reading an interpretative sign on site, the rocker again acts surprised when informed, here lies the amputated left arm of Stonewall Jackson. Its like a Monty Python [expletive deleted]! he says. Why did they bury it here? Jacks explains that a resident of Ellwood saw the limb lying outside on the ground, gathered it up and brought it across the field for burial in the family cemetery. He just feels so incomplete in the afterlife, says Jack, making his father laugh. He was armless, Ozzy said. It was an armless thing to, Jack said. Stonewalls arm ahhh! Ozzy then turned toward the grave and gave Jackson a high five. The rest of Jackson is buried in Lexington. A bit irreverent, the History Channel segment was all in good fun, said Mark Leach, president of the Friends of Wilderness Battlefield. He got to meet Ozzy and Jack when they visited in March. I actually thought they did a good job, Leach said Tuesday. When the TV crew arrived, local people doing yard work on-site, including Leach, were not allowed to watch the filming. We didnt quite know what to expect, he said. I was kind of happy with it. They showed us on the map and the signs for the battlefield. He added that Ozzy and Jack were really respectful in not attempting to cross a rope surrounding the grave site and took the time to read the interpretative panels. They showed there is something to learn there, Leach said, who said he wasnt all offended by Ozzys comments about Jacksons left arm. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 24 Trend: 20:49 (GMT+4) At least five people were injured in an attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, RIA Novosti reported citing Pajhwok agency. 20:25 (GMT+4) Gunmen attacked the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul on Aug. 24, with explosions and gunfire reported inside the campus, an Afghan interior ministry official and a student said, Reuters reported. "Several gunmen attacked the American University in Kabul and there are reports of gunfire and explosions," the official said. "They are inside the compound and there are foreign professors along with hundreds of students." The senior interior ministry official said elite Afghan forces had surrounded the university compound and gunfire was continuing. Early reports were that several gunmen, some wearing suicide vests, were involved, he said. Ahmad Shaheer, a student at the university, told Reuters by telephone that he was trapped inside the university. "We are stuck inside our classroom and there are bursts of gunfire," he said. It is the second time this month that the university or its staff have been targeted. Two teachers, an American and an Australian, remain missing after being abducted at gunpoint from a road nearby on Aug. 7. 19:25 (GMT+4) Gunfire was heard at the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul on Aug. 24, an Afghan interior ministry official said, Reuters reports. There were no further details immediately available. 23:17 (GMT+4) The downtown Moscow bank hostage taker has surrendered to the police, the Russian Interior Ministry has told TASS. Before surrendering, the man freed the last hostage. The man who called himself a businessman from the Moscow region took hostages in a Citibank office located some 800 meters from the Kremlin on Wednesday evening. He said he had been manufacturing first aid kits until recently before going bankrupt. According to a source, the attacker had no explosive device; the makeshift box was filled with salt. 22:37 (GMT+4) A man has taken hostages in a bank in central Moscow, he threatened to blow himself up. A SWAT team has been deployed, Sputnik reported. Four people were held hostage in a bank in central Moscow, a law enforcement source told RIA Novosti on Wednesday. Later, three people have been released. "The man is holding four employees of the bank," the source said. "Today, at 18:45 a man entered the bank office at the Nikitskaya street. An unknown object was attached to his head. Presumably, three people were in the office", police told RIA Novosti. Police are in talks with a man with a yellow box on his neck, who is threatening to blow up a Citi bank branch in Moscow, a law enforcement source told RIA Novosti. "The negotiations are underway," the source said. Suspect's motive remains unknown. Armed police cordon is at the scene, along with a bomb squad. According to Life News citing an eyewitness, the man who has taken hostages, is about 60 years old. Prior to the hostage situation, a video with a message of the alleged gunman appeared online, RIA Novosti reported. A source in the police told RIA Novosti that the hostage taker may be a bankrupt businessman, Aram Petrosyan. The video message was posted on August 24. "Today, on August 24, 2016, I will carry out a resonance violation of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation", the man said. He said that he intended to commit a crime due to bankruptcy and urged the Russian authorities to create a body that would deal with the issue of bankruptcy. GamesRadar+ 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. Hawk Claus spreads Christmas cheer in DC's Grifter Got Run Over By a Reindeer first look Take a look at two stories from the DC holiday special including the titular chapter and a Hawkwoman and Hawkman tale Turkish fighter jets early Wednesday bombed Daesh targets in Jarabulus, Syria, Anadolur reported. Turkish Armed Forces and air forces belonging to the U.S.-led international coalition launched an operation against Daesh in an effort to clear the Syrian city of Jarabulus from the terror group, Turkish officials told Anadolu Agency. Daesh targets were "neutralized" as Turkish forces used intense artillery fire against the militants in Jarabulus in a retaliatory strike, officials said. The operation, which began at around 4 a.m. local time (0100 GMT), is aimed at clearing the Turkish border of terrorist groups, helping to enhance border security and supporting the territorial integrity of Syria, officials said, adding that preventing a new flow of migrants and delivering aid to the regions civilian population in need are also among the goals. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 24 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Turkey has tightened security measures throughout the country after the operation against the Islamic State (IS, ISIL, ISIS or Daesh) terrorist organization in Syria started, the Haber7 newspaper reported Aug. 24. The decision to strengthen the security measures was adopted after the IS terrorists threatened with attacks in major cities of Turkey, according to the newspaper. On Aug. 24 morning, the Turkish army with the support of the coalition aircraft launched an operation to liberate the city of Jarabulus from the IS militants in northern Syria, near Aleppo city. Syria has been suffering from an armed conflict since March 2011, which, according to the UN, has so far claimed over 500,000 lives. Militants from various armed groups are confronting the Syrian government troops. The Islamic State (IS, ISIL, ISIS or Daesh) is the most active terrorist group in Syria. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Canboulay taste of the world The restaurant in question is Canboulay and Newsday chatted last week with owner, general manager and head chef Damien Nandalal. We pass the bar and television screens showing Olympics as we are escorted to our seats. The lighting is muted and there is general cosy atmosphere. Nandalal described the menu at his six-year-old restaurant as Caribbean international fusion. A taste of all worlds, he added. For our meal we had crunchy sweet potato fries, tasty and spicy shrimp and lamb wantons, Canboulay burger which features a half pounder patty, pepper jack cheese, bacon and mushrooms which was a beautiful collage of flavours, and also a platter with chadon beni shrimp, Canboulay wings with home-made tangy barbecue sauce, fried shark and jerk lamb. Everything was tasty and full flavoured. He explained that Canboulay is a third-generation, family business which began with his grandparents and Nandalals Hot-o-Hot Roti Shop on the Southern Main Road (they had a massive bottle of pepper sauce atop their home) and then his parents had Hilltops Restaurant and Fungs Caf? at the corner of Keith and Mucurapo Street. The business burned down due to an electrical problem but they would rise again as Joes Meating Place commonly known as Joes BBQ, a favourite of Naparima Boys students in the 1980s. Next it would be Damiens turn to take up the mantle. After completing St Benedicts College he attended the Trinidad and Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute (TTHTI) where he got his associate degree in food and beverage management, was part of an exchange programme to Assiniboine Community College in the city of Brandon, Manitoba, Canada, and had an internship at the Royal Crown Revolving Restaurant in Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba, Canada. He returned home in November 1999 and after working at the Trinidad Country Club for some time opened Canboulay in 2010. It started off with a skeleton crew opened only weekends but expanded to Mondays to Saturdays. On the name of the restaurant they wanted something that not only represented the callaloo nation but also the bringing together of many cultures, adding that Caribbean people today represent many influences including British, Spanish and French. Nandalal said the food features local herbs, spices and ingredients and they also use local fruits in drinks at the bar. The rum punch we were served contained passion fruit, mint, dark aged rum really packed a punch. He said their burgers are very popular including their very tall San Fernando Hill burger. They do quite a variety of dishes: steak, lobster, Italian pastas, seafood, soups, hearty salads, freshly baked ham all year round, all the way down to callaloo soup. He said that Canboulay gives customers value for money in a decent environment. Nandalal pointed out that with a steak you can get saut?ed buttered cassava or sweet potato fries which brings in the Caribbean element with local provisions. He said the customers are purely returns and they have never advertised but spread by word of mouth, attracting people from around the country. The clientele ranges from government ministers to man just popping in for a takeout for lunch. Nandalal explained that families can come and dine because the music is not too loud and young women can feel comfortable to lime by the bar. Within a few weeks he plans to launch a new menu with 11 varieties of burgers and all the other dishes they have added but not previously included on the menu. In homage to Joes BBQ they will be introducing Joes Chicken Sandwich with a quarter chicken. He said that food should not just fill hunger but have memories attached to them. For more info or to make reservations at Canboulay: 653- 2138. Pita Pit opens up at South Park Founded in TT September 2012, the Canadian franchise has found favour with an increasingly health-conscious population. Managing director, Daniel Fakoory reiterated the brands commitment to promoting healthier lifestyles throughout TT . He said: Its extremely fulfilling to see the demand for this brand and these meals increase exponentially throughout the nation, because it indicates a greater awareness and a preference for healthier eating choices and healthier lifestyles by our citizens and the population as a whole. We have received numerous requests and enquiries from this part of the country, so its a pleasure to be able to cater to the south-land finally and we look forward to meeting the needs of interested consumers and conscious eaters throughout Trinidad and Tobago. On the official opening day, the Pita Pete mascot toured the South Park Plaza and distributed balloons and special coupons to children and adults. The new staff was busy serving a steady stream of consumers, as patrons flocked to the store to experience the unique tastes and flavours on the Pita Pit menu. Fakoory noted: I am a firm believer in the adage that you are what you eat, so here at Pita Pit we are committed to making it easy for people to have healthy, delicious options to grab on the go - with fresh foods that exemplify our claim as the healthier choice! Pita Pit has four other locations: Starlite Shopping Plaza, Diego Martin; Shoppes of Maraval, UWI, St Augustine campus and Trincity Mall. The company plans to continue its expansion in the coming years across TT and the Caribbean. The new branch open from 11 am 9 pm every Monday to Thursday, until 10 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 12 pm - 9 pm on Sundays. MATH WHIZ GOES AGAINST THE TIDE Frederick Thomas Jr, a student of the Open Bible High School in San Fernando, and felt by Education Ministry officials to be too young for such an exercise sat the examination in May when he was just 11 years old. The exam is one that is usually done by students five years his senior. All the hard work paid off so Im feeling very excited, the pre-teen told Newsday yesterday. When I got the results during the night, I couldnt sleep. I was too excited to sleep. When I got the results, I was in Tobago. And, my mom told me, Now Freddie, Im going to show you the results; I got through online, because before, she wasnt getting a connection to the site, because too many people were on it. And she got on, and she saw my results. Fredericks achievement comes on the heels of Education Minister, Anthony Garcias declaration last week that there has been a decline in the math pass rate in the CSEC in Trinidad and Tobago. Seated calmly and confidently on one of the benches in Assings Classes where he studied for the math examination and where Newsday chatted with him, Frederick, discussed his passion for the subject but his math lessons teacher, Bernard Assing, referred to fondly as Dad by Frederick chimed in: He got inspiration from reading the article on my grandson. His mom took exams in Form 2, shes a student of mine too. And he got inspired by this (gesturing to a previous Newsday article on his grandson Kiran Christian Dyaanand who also achieved a distinction in Math last year at the age of 12 that he had laminated). And when she (Fredericks mother Sharon Thomas) came in, I said, Well, why dont I take him, if you want him to write within the year? And he was all keen on doing it, and I said Ok. Kiran took three months to do it. He took the year. That is because he couldnt sign up. Fredericks mother explained that when she tried to register him for the January exam, it was already September 2015, and the deadline for registration had passed. Therefore, she resolved to register him for the May exam, but even then, she encountered resistance from ministry officials entrusted with the task of registering candidates, who advised her that he was too young and should not be put through that stress. Thomas ignored them and registered her son for the examination anyway. Furthermore, she rebuked the officials saying, that as a parent, if your child wants to do something, then you ought to encourage him or her. It took a lot of sacrifice, however. For each day of math lessons, Thomas, a teacher at San Fernando Girls Anglican, waited at Assings Classes until her sons lessons, from five to seven pm, were over. I came from work, sat down and waited until the classes were finished and then we went home together, she told Newsday. Sometimes we reach home around 8 oclock or 8.30; because if its an evening class, a five o clock class, it will finish around seven or a little after seven, and we travel home. So for me, it was all about supporting his decision. When he was ready to do his exam, I was there on the day, and sat down, waited for the whole day. Mr. Assing and Mrs. Assing came and supported us, and we chatted while he was in the exam room to give him that support. She continued, On the day, he was relaxed, and I was nervous. He said, well, mommy, I did the work... When he saw Mr. Assing, he was very happy, and he went in the room very joyous, and he took it at his pace. Frederick. sat the exam in Marabella South Secondary School. Frederick comes from a single home. Any communication he has with his father is via skype. Nonetheless, he pushed past this challenge and succeeded at a young age, in the CSEC exam. According to his mother, Frederick was and remains really padded at home, having the benefit of living in an extended family: his mother and grand-parents. Thomas also said that he received support from his aunt and her twin sister, also a teacher and a former student of Assing. When asked if he had any advice for youngsters undertaking math studies, Frederick said, Anybody could do mathematics. You just have to put your heart and mind into it and say, I want to get top marks, I want to get a distinction, and of course, if you study hard, and even if necessary, you could take extra classes, then anybody could receive a distinction. Frederick intends to begin studying for CSEC additional mathematics in September of this year, and hopes to sit the exam the following year. He may also pursue English and some science subjects in the future. Education moving to new home Employees were supposed to start moving on Monday, but were unable to do so because of malfunctioning air conditioning in the building. Seecharan said the matter has since been rectified and it was expected all employees housed in various buildings in Port-of-Spain would soon be under one roof. He said he did not see any other problems that might hinder the move. The ministrys new head office was handed over by Udecott in May. The 16-floor building had been undergoing outfitting since last year and was now ready to be occupied. Lights have been on in the building night and day and floors have been furnished with desks, computers and other equipment. PM, Ghana continue energy talks The meeting was a follow-up to an official visit which the Prime Minister made to Ghana in May, during which Rowley and Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama held bilateral talks about energy sector collaboration between TT and Ghana. They signed a memorandum of understanding to that effect during the visit. The BOST delegation was led by Managing Director Kwame Awuah-Darko and Chairman Ernest Essamuah. National Gas Company Chairman Gerry Brooks and Phoenix Park Gas Processors Ltd acting President Alvin Dookie were among local energy sector representatives attended Mondays meeting. Brooks is also a member of the Cabinet standing committee on energy, chaired by Rowley. US: We See No Signs Putin Will Use Dirty Bomb Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 24 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: US Vice President Joe Biden has arrived in Ankara, Turkey, the TRT Haber TV channel reported Aug. 24. The vice president will have his first meeting with the Speaker of the Turkish parliament Ismail Kahraman and then he will meet with the countrys Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. Biden also might meet Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his visit. The extradition of Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of organizing the July 15 military coup attempt in Turkey, will be the main topic of discussions during the meetings. Previously, Turkish authorities sent two requests to the US for extradition of Fethullah Gulen. An Istanbul court ordered on Aug. 4 to arrest Fethullah Gulen. On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country. Meanwhile, a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them. However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had said the death toll as a result of the military coup attempt stood at 246 people, excluding the coup plotters, and over 2,000 people were wounded. Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu (Newser) Philadelphia Magazine takes an in-depth look at one of the city's most iconic companies, Urban Outfitters, and its efforts to overcome a slew PR disasters in recent years. Writer Jason Fagone puts them in the three categories of "outrageous product" (like a Kent State shirt that seemed to have a blood-spattered design), "theft" (including the suit by the Navajo Nation against UO for Navajo-themed panties and other items) and a public perception that the company is anti-gay. The latter apparently stems from CEO Dick Hayne's support of politicians such as Rick Santorum, though all interviewed for the story, including a gay female executive, pushed back hard, and sincerely, against the notion. As for the iffy products, chief global creative director Sue Otto defends some of them as being well-intentioned but misunderstood. But, she concedes, There are some people who worked here who were stupid. ... People go, did you do that for marketing? And Im like, it was just an error." Her goal now is changing the way people think about us," she says, adding that she has no idea what "hipster culture"which the company is often accused of purveyingeven means. Perhaps one clue about a future direction: "The idea of social consciousness and being involved is huge," says Otto. The story suggests the $3.4 billion empire is at a "crucial crossroads," but it ends on an optimistic note. UO "has always functioned as a kind of ruthless creative vortex" for the young, writes Fagone, "and now Ottos customers are telling her they believe they can change the world, and shes listening." Click for the full story, which delves into the corporate culture of Urban Outfitters Inc.parent company of brands Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Free People, and Terrainat Philly's old Navy Yard. (Read more Urban Outfitters stories.) (Newser) A family is left searching for answers after a deaf man was shot and killed by a North Carolina state trooper last week, CNN reports. Daniel Harris, 29, was driving on the interstate near Charlotte when a trooper attempted to pull him over Thursday. Harris didn't stop, and the trooper followed him for seven miles to his neighborhood. There, Harris got out of his car. Something happened between the trooper and Harris that left Harris dead from a gunshot wound, but police aren't giving details of what led to the shooting. They won't say if anything was said between the trooper and Harris, who is also speech-impaired, or if Harris was armed. Sam Harris wants to know if his brother's disabilities led to a fatal misunderstanding with the trooper. "The police need to become aware of how to communicate with deaf people, what that might look like, and how to avoid situations like this from ever happening again," he tells WSOC. Residents of Harris' neighborhood were stunned by what happened. "I saw him out in the neighborhood signing with his family," one neighbor tells WBTV. "It seemed like a very peaceful family." The State Bureau of Investigation is looking into the shooting, and the trooper is on administrative leave, which is standard following a shooting. (Read more police shooting stories.) (Newser) Between his capture by the CIA in Pakistan in 2002 and his appearance at a US government hearing Tuesday, Abu Zubaydah lost his left eye. How remains unclear (Dexter Filkins dedicates an entire piece to the question at the New Yorker), but other details of what happened to him while in US custody have been revealed: Zubaydah is one of three men the CIA has admitted to waterboarding83 times in August 2003. Filkins notes the interrogations Zubaydah was subjected to were so extreme that CIA agents asked for "reasonable assurances that [Zubaydah] will remain in isolation and incommunicado for the remainder of his life." On Tuesday the AP reports he sat "expressionless" in a short hearing tasked with determining whether he should remain at Gitmo, where he has been for the last decade. It was Zubaydah's first public appearance since his capture, with the initial 10 minutes of the hearing aired live in a secure room at the Pentagon to journalists and others. The AP reports the government no longer maintains, as it once did, that Zubaydah was a senior al-Qaeda leader at the time of this capture; the CIA detainee profile on him now says things like he was "generally aware" of the planned 9/11 attacks. Detainees cannot speak at their review hearings, and a statement read on Zubaydah's behalf conveyed his "desire to be reunited with his family and begin the process of recovering from injuries he sustained during his capture." The Guardian suggests his knowledge of CIA torture is a huge barrier to release. As one of his lawyers puts it, "Abu Zubaydah will not be released." A decision should come in 30 days. (Read more Abu Zubaydah stories.) (Newser) A 27-year-old South Carolina mother of a toddler has been accused of killing her 4-day-old newborn by putting him in the refrigerator for three hours, where he suffered hypothermia with asphyxiation, reports the Rock Hill Herald. After a lengthy investigation over the February incident, authorities arrested Angela Blackwell on Monday and charged her with homicide by child abuse for her "extreme indifference to human life." Her older son has been removed from her care, though the child's father, Jeff Lewis, contends that his common-law wife, who he says is mentally disabled, is not responsible. "Shes always good to the kids," adds Lewis' father, who got to hold his grandchild for a couple hours in the first days of baby William's short life. The magistrate was not allowed to set bond because Blackwell's charge carries a sentence of up to life in prison, so she remains in custody until a November bond hearing before a circuit court judge. Records show that Lewis, who is 35, has been convicted of shoplifting and larceny dating back to 2005 and spent more than two years in prison, reports ABC News. An image of Lewis with Blackwell in 2012 on Heavy.com shows him with several tattoos, including what appears to be a swastika on his forearm. "I think its all bull (expletive)," he tells WSOC. "She didn't do nothing to cause it to die." Multiple family members say there were many people in the house the night of the baby's death and that another young child with autism may have put William in the refrigerator. (These parents were allowed to visit their abused baby before she was taken off life support.) (Newser) "Get rid of the gouda" isn't something you'd expect from a government directive, but that's the gist of what the Department of Agriculture is doing to ease the country's cheese crisis. By "crisis," we mean there's more cheese stockpiled and languishing in the US than there has been in three decades, per CNNMoney, and the USDA announced Tuesday it will spend $20 million to scoop up 11 million pounds of the excess dairy product from private inventories and distribute it to food banks and pantries nationwide. "This commodity purchase is part of a robust, comprehensive safety net that will help reduce a cheese surplus that is at a 30-year high while, at the same time, moving a high-protein food to the tables of those most in need," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says. To put the surplus in context, the Wall Street Journal noted in May that every American would have to scarf down an extra 3 pounds of cheese in 2016 to get rid of the excess. "The US is sitting on more butter and cheese than it knows what to do with," Bloomberg lamented in April, noting half of the US cheese inventory is American, 2% is Swiss, and the rest falls under "other." The USDA says it decided to act after receiving pleas from farmers groups, Congress, and the National Milk Producers Federation to help pull them out of the cheese mire, a result of low prices worldwide, plentiful milk inventories (and ample European exports), and slowed demand, among other factors. The consequence of this sluggish market: Dairy farmers have seen their revenues plummet 35% over the past two years, the USDA notes. (Thank donkeys for the world's most expensive cheese.) (Newser) North Korea on Wednesday fired a ballistic missile from a submarine into the sea in an apparent protest against Monday's start of annual South Korea-US military drills. The missile fired from a submarine off the eastern coastal town of Sinpo flew about 310 miles, the longest flight of a North Korean submarine-launched missile, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement, per the AP. US Strategic Command said it had tracked the North Korean submarine launch of the presumed KN-11 missile over and into the Sea of Japan. North Korea fired two other missiles from submarines earlier this year, but they were believed to have exploded in midair after flying about 18 miles, according to South Korean defense officials. The North's acquiring the ability to launch missiles from submarines would be an alarming development because missiles fired from submerged vessels are harder to detect in advance. Wednesday's launch comes two days after the US and South Korea began their 12-day Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercises, prompting North Korean threats of retaliation. The South Korean military statement said it considers the North Korean missile launch as an "armed protest" against the military drills and a challenge to peace on the Korean Peninsula. It also noted that the launch violated UN Security Council resolutions that ban any ballistic missile activities by North Korea. (Read more North Korea stories.) (Newser) A 16-year-old South Florida boy has made a miraculous recovery after becoming infected with a rare brain-eating amoeba. Sebastian DeLeon is only the fourth person in the US to survive an infection by the Naegleria fowleri parasite, which he contracted while swimming, Florida Today reports. On Aug. 5, the teen was at an Orlando theme park with his family when he was overcome with headache so excruciating that he "couldn't tolerate people touching him, said Dr. Humberto Lirian, a critical care pediatrician. Sebastians parents took him to Florida Hospital for Children, where Dr. Dennis Hernandez decided not to stop at a migraine diagnosis and took a sample of his spinal fluida move that saved the boys life. Call it "divine intervention and a gut instinct," Hernandez said, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Other symptoms can include fever, nausea, and seizures. A lab test revealed the deadly amoeba, which can be tough to spot, and doctors immediately reached out to the maker of a drug recently approved to treat the parasitethe company, Profounda, happens to be based in Orlando. After Profounda got the call, notes the Sentinel, "the drug to treat Sebastian was delivered in 12 minutes." Miltefosine isn't commonly stocked by hospitals, which cost the life of an 11-year-old Florida boy in 2014, but that may change after Sebastians close call. Quick treatment was credited with saving a 12-year-old in Arkansas in 2014. Only three people out of 138 have survived infection, according to the CDC. For the DeLeon family at least, there is a happy ending. We are so thankful that God has given us the miracle, said the teens mother, Brunilda Gonzalez. (In June, an 18-year-old in Ohio died after becoming infected on a white-water rafting trip.) (Newser) A case Artnet.com calls "one wild ride" may finally be over after a federal judge ruled Tuesday that artist Peter Doig wasn't the painter of a painting owned by an ex-corrections officerand that the man and his art dealer couldn't sue Doig for foiling plans to sell the painting for millions, the New York Times reports. "Peter Doig could not have been the author of this work," Judge Gary Feinerman said, refuting plaintiffs' claims that Doig was fibbing by denying the landscape painting owned by Robert Fletcher was his. What made the case uncommon: Doig, a living artist, was forced to deny he'd made a painting rather than prove he had. Fletcher said he had seen Doig paint the piece in the mid-'70s while the artist was serving a short stint at the prison where Fletcher worked, and that Doig had later sold Fletcher the painting for $100. But Doig said he'd never been jailed and that the painting was by one Peter Edward Doige, whose sister provided evidence that seemed to indicate he was a closer match to being the artist behind the piece. The Times notes the plaintiffs used "somewhat unorthodox efforts" to make their case and compared Doig's other workswhich often sell for tens of millions of dollarsto this particular painting, claiming Doig was lying because he didn't want to be publicly embarrassed at knocking off his own painting in later pieces. But the judge ruled against the plaintiffs, who had sought almost $8 million in damages and a certificate of authenticity for the now "worthless" paintingwhich Forbes notes was valued at $10 million before Doig disputed its origins, saying any similarities were "purely coincidental." The Chicago Sun-Times notes "no one's happy" with the ruling, with Doig's attorney calling the case a "flagrant example of unethical conduct in the US courts," Fletcher still insisting the painting is a Doig, and Fletcher's art dealer noting, "No one should be allowed to lie." (Read more art stories.) Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 24 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Turkish tanks have entered Syria, according to the statement of Turkeys General Staff Aug. 24. Some 249 rocket attacks were inflicted on 81 positions of the Islamic State (IS, ISIL, ISIS or Daesh) terrorist group within the framework of the operations by Turkish Air Force in Syria under the name Shield of the Euphrates. On Aug. 24 morning, the Turkish Air Force with the support of the coalition aircraft launched an operation to liberate the city of Jarabulus from the IS militants in northern Syria, near Aleppo city. Syria has been suffering from an armed conflict since March 2011, which, according to the UN, has so far claimed over 500,000 lives. Militants from various armed groups are confronting the Syrian government troops. The Islamic State (IS, ISIL, ISIS or Daesh) is the most active terrorist group in Syria. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu (Newser) Makers of the EpiPen gave themselves fat raises as they were jacking up the cost of the life-saving device, NBC News reports. Mylan CEO Heather Bresch saw her salary leap to $18.9 million from $2.4 milliona 671% increasefrom 2007 to 2015. That was same period during which Mylan, after acquiring EpiPen, began steadily raising its price by 500%. Bresch wasnt alone. President Rajiv Malik's base pay jumped 11.1% to $1 million and Chief Commercial Officer Anthony Mauros rose 13.6% to $625,000, NBC reports, citing proxy filings. News of EpiPens price hike has outraged consumers and doctors, and senators including Chuck Grassley and Amy Klobuchar are demanding investigations, reports the Washington Post. Bresch is the daughter of another senator, Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia. A company spokesman didn't respond to NBC's requests for comment, but officials have previously said Mylan put a significant investment into EpiPen after acquiring it. After nearly dropping the old device, they instead launched a marketing and lobbying strategy credited with making the marker-sized stick a staple in US schools and household medicine cabinets. The device delivers a stab of epinephrine to the thigh that halts allergic reactions to such things as peanuts and insect bites. Federal legislation in 2013 requiring schools to stock epinephrine devices also helped make EpiPen a $1 billion-a-year product. It now accounts for 40% of Mylans profits, Bloomberg reports. Since the FDA in 2010 recommended that EpiPens come in packs of two instead of one, the cost of a double pack has exploded to as much as $600 from $100. (Is there an alternative to EpiPen? Yes.) (Newser) A birthday party in California turned tragic after the guest of honor was run over and killed by his friend. Police say Jonathan Carlyle Merkley was celebrating his 34th birthday early Sunday at a hotel near San Diego when a woman decided to leave the party. Merkley wanted her to stay and reportedly walked toward her BMW and laid down in front of what the Orange County Register describes as a moving car. The woman didnt stop, ran him over, and kept going. Police cite witnesses as saying both had been drinking, Fox 5 reports. Merkley, who suffered major chest trauma, died about 45 minutes later at a hospital. Police tracked the woman down and a car that "may have been involved" was impounded, cops tell the San Diego Union-Tribune. The woman was not arrested but police said on Tuesday that the investigation is continuing. "There's a lot we still need to find out," says San Diego Police Sgt. Tim Underwood. (Read more birthday party stories.) (Newser) If you needed further proof of just how convoluted the situation in Syria is these days, look no further than Wednesday's visit by Joe Biden to Turkey. The main point of his trip didn't directly involve Syriahe was there to try to ease tensions with Ankara, which blames the US for playing a role in a failed coup attempt last month. But the visit coincided with a US-backed Turkish military offensive into Syria against the Islamic State, and that's where things get complicated. Coverage of the two developments: At a press conference, Biden insisted that the US "had no knowledge beforehand of what was to befall you on July 15, referring to the coup attempt. "Turkey has the United States' unwavering support," he added. The Wall Street Journal. But that support does not involve quickly extraditing the man Turks blame for the coup, Fethullah Gulen, a cleric living in Pennsylvania. "We have no, no, no, no interest whatsoever in protecting anyone who has done harm to an ally, but we need to meet legal standard requirement under our law," said Biden, per USA Today. He urged patience; lawyers from the Justice Department are working with Turkish lawyers on the extradition request. Hours earlier, Turkish tanks rolled across the border into Syria in a bid to oust ISIS militants from the border town of Jarablus, a key site in that it's last big town held by ISIS on the Syria-Turkey border. The Guardian. US airstrikes backed the mission, given that the US and Turkey share the goal of defeating ISIS. But Turkey had a dual purpose: to knock back ISIS and Syrian Kurds who were threatening to take over the town. Those Kurds are US allies in the ISIS fight, but Turkey considers them a threat because a Kurd-controlled border town could inflame Turkey's own Kurdish population. The New York Times. In the end, Turkey-backed militants, not the Kurds, appeared to have taken control of the town, reports CNN. (Biden had publicly warned the Syrian Kurds to hold back or risk losing US support elsewhere, notes the Times.) Syria, meanwhile, is also fighting ISIS, but it objected to the invasion as a breach of its sovereignty. It views the Turkey-backed militants as terrorists as well. ArmenPress.am. (Read more Joe Biden stories.) (Newser) Kimberly Harvill was found dead on the side of a California road on Aug. 14, and her three young children are missing. Los Angeles County authorities are now searching for two people suspected of kidnapping them, the Los Angeles Times reports. According to the LA County Sheriff's Department, Joshua Robertson, 27, and Brittany Humphrey, 22, were last seen with the kidsJoslynn Watkins, 2; Brayden Watkins, 3; and Rylee Watkins, 5. Humphrey is Harvill's half-sister, CBS LA reports. Robertson has a criminal history, and both he and Humphrey are considered armed and dangerous, authorities say; the pair is believed to have left California. They are likely driving Harvill's green 1999 Ford Expedition, which has a rear sticker that says "RIP Chad Watkins" as well as a six-person stick-figure family decal. Harvill's neighbor tells ABC 7 the children lost their father to suicide. Harvill was found with head trauma and gunshots to the upper body, and police also want to question Robertson and Humphrey about her murder. (Read more kidnapping stories.) (Newser) A French man shouting the Arabic phrase "Allahu akbar" stabbed a British woman to death and wounded two men in an attack at a hostel in northeast Australia, police said Wednesday. The 29-year-old suspect did not have any known links to the Islamic State group and appeared to have acted alone, said Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski, per the AP. Police were trying to determine whether the man had been motivated by extremism, or something else. "We are not ruling out any motivations at this early stage, whether they be political or criminal," said Gollschewski, adding that investigators are also looking into the suspect's mental health and history of drug use. The attack took place Tuesday night at a hostel in the town of Home Hill. A 21-year-old British woman was found dead at the scene and a 30-year-old British man was hospitalized in critical condition. The third victim was treated and released. The assailant, a French national visiting Australia, shouted "Allahu akbar"the Arabic phrase meaning "God is great"both during the attack and while being arrested by police, Gollschewski said. He has not yet been charged. In the US, the FBI is investigating the double stabbing of a couple in Roanoke, Va., over the weekend in which the suspect yelled the same phrase, reports CBS News. Both victims were seriously wounded, and Wasil Farooqui, 20, is in custody. Police say he told them he was hearing voices before he attacked. (Read more stabbing stories.) (Newser) Lyle Jeffs' lawyer really wishes she could consult with him regarding a food stamp fraud trial involving 11 members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Fox 13 reports. But the polygamist leader of the FLDS, who the New York Daily News notes had been under house arrest for allegedly stealing and laundering $12 million in government benefits, has been missing from home confinement since June, and said attorney is now offering some interesting possible explanations for his vanishing. In a Utah court filing Monday, Kathryn Nester concedes Jeffs may indeed be guilty of "absconding"the FBI believes he may have used something slippery like olive oil to weasel his way out from under a GPS monitoring devicebut she also threw out some other ideas. Nester said in the filing she's unsure if he fled of his own accord, whether he was kidnapped, or "whether he experienced the miracle of rapture." Both Fox 13 and the Daily News note her theories appear to be a joke and that she informed the judge she'd be OK with delaying the fraud trial, apparently even if her client has ascended into the clouds to meet the Lord. (Read more FLDS stories.) (Newser) Parents whose 19-year-old daughter was strangled, raped, and thrown in a river in 2012 are having old wounds reopened as the man serving a life sentence for the crime fights to reveal their daughter's sexual history to the world, the Huffington Post reports. Seth Mazzaglia was convicted in 2014 of the rape and murder of Lizzi Marriott, whose body has not been found. He said the University of New Hampshire sophomore died accidentally during consensual sex. According to CBS News, Mazzaglia's girlfriend at the time said she brought Marriott to Mazzaglia as a "sexual offering" and he killed her when she wouldn't have sex with him. During the trial, Marriott's sexual history was deemed inadmissible due to New Hampshire's rape shield laws. But the state Supreme Court in June ruled that those records be made public as part of Mazzaglia's appeal, the New Hampshire Union Leader reports. Both the state and Marriott's parents filed emergency motions and they're now going to court to try to keep any documents regarding Marriott's sexual past sealed. "This has completely traumatized her family, who ... was just starting to heal," their attorney, Rus Rilee, tells HuffPo. The family is joined by more than a dozen organizations, including the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police and the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence. They argue the state Supreme Court's ruling would destroy rape shield laws around the country, as victims of sexual assault would be less likely to report it if they knew their sexual histories would become public on appeal. A hearing is scheduled for Sept. 21. (Read more rape stories.) (Newser) An attack Wednesday on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul left dozens of students and foreign staff trapped inside campus buildings, Reuters reports. The attack by suspected militants armed with guns and explosives started around 6:30pm and was followed by more than an hour of shooting when Afghan forces arrived. According to the AP, one of its photographers, Massoud Hossaini, was in class at the university when the attack started. Hossaini says he was shot at when he looked out a window after hearing an explosion and at least two grenades were thrown into his classroom. Students proceeded to barricade themselves in classrooms. A witness told CNN fires were burning on the campus. Eighteen people were reported injured in the attack, and authorities say a university guard was killed. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, though the Taliban seems like a likely culprit. More than 1,000 students are enrolled in the American University of Afghanistan. The US-style liberal arts school shut down for a time after two teachers, one American and one Australian, were abducted Aug. 7. They haven't been seen since. (Read more Afghanistan stories.) (Newser) Explorers' great hopes for finding a legendary Nazi gold train in Poland appeared dashed Wednesday when, after digging extensively, they admitted they have found "no train, no tunnel" at the site, the AP reports. The legend has sparked a gold rush, drawing in treasure hunters from across Europe to Walbrzych in Poland. Local legend says in 1945, the Nazi Germans hid a train laden with gold and valuables in a secret tunnel nearby as they were fleeing the advancing Soviet army at the end of WWII. Last week two explorersAndreas Richter and Piotr Kopermoved in with heavy equipment and dug deep at a site near rail tracks in Walbrzych, following comments by residents who said they had knowledge of the train's existence. Richter and Koper said last year that their own tests using earth-penetrating radar confirmed a train was at the site. But the explorers' spokesperson said Wednesday that they found "no train, no tunnel" there and that the machines were covering over the three pits that cost $37,000 to dig. Saying "hope dies last," the spokesperson said a smaller-scale search using probes will resume at a nearby site in September. The dig confirmed findings by experts from a university in Krakow last year who used magnetic equipment but found no trace of train or tunnel. (Read more Nazi gold train stories.) Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 24 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Time has come to put an end to terrorism in Syria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, TRT Haber TV channel reported Aug. 24. Turkey will not tolerate threats at its borders, according to the president. Erdogan also said that Turkey will eliminate all the threats the country is facing. On Aug. 24 morning, the Turkish Air Force with the support of the coalition aircraft launched an operation to liberate the city of Jarabulus from the IS militants in northern Syria, near Aleppo city. The operation is carried out under the name Shield of the Euphrates. Earlier, it was reported that Turkish tanks entered Syria. Syria has been suffering from an armed conflict since March 2011, which, according to the UN, has so far claimed over 500,000 lives. Militants from various armed groups are confronting the Syrian government troops. The Islamic State (IS, ISIL, ISIS or Daesh) is the most active terrorist group in Syria. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu The Daily News-Miner encourages residents to make themselves heard through the Opinion pages. Readers' letters and columns also appear online at newsminer.com. Contact the editor with questions at letters@newsminer.com or call 459-7574. New Delhi : After Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was mocked on social media for his viral picture in which he was being carried by people in his security profile during a visit to flood-hit Panna, he finally breaks his silence. Clearing the air on his photo, Chouhan said that he was caught unawares by the cops. In Panna, at one place, a group of villagers were sitting on the other side of a small bridge and I started walking towards them and before I could realise and react, the police constables picked me up and took me there, the Chief Minister clarified. Earlier PTI had quoted Principal Secretary SK Mishra as saying that considering CM Chouhans safety and to avoid any venomous bites from animal in the flood water it had to be done. The 57-year-old chief minister could be seen walking barefoot through mud, an aide carrying his shoes which went viral on social media and were heavily criticised. The pictures gave rise to heated debate over ubiquitous VIP culture. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 24 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: The US Vice President Joe Biden is holding meetings in Turkey, TRT Haber news channel reports. Currently, Biden is at the Turkish parliament, and then he will meet with the countrys Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. After the meeting with the prime minister, Biden is expected to have a meeting with Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The extradition of Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of organizing the July 15 military coup attempt in Turkey, will be the main topic of discussions during the meetings. Previously, Turkish authorities sent two requests to the US for extradition of Fethullah Gulen. An Istanbul court ordered on Aug. 4 to arrest Fethullah Gulen. On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country. Meanwhile, a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them. However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had said the death toll as a result of the military coup attempt stood at 246 people, excluding the coup plotters, and over 2,000 people were wounded. Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Mumbai: As the hunt for tiger Jai continued after it went missing from Umred Karhandla wildlife sanctuary near Nagpur, state Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar today said he would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a CBI probe into its disappearance. Rescuers, wildlife experts and volunteers have been scouring the forest, trying to locate the 250-kilogram tiger, who was last spotted on April 18. Speaking to reporters here, Mungantiwar said, I would soon write to Prime Minister demanding investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the missing big cat. Meanwhile, BJP Lok Sabha MP from Bhandara-Gondia, Nana Patole, also said that he would seek PMs intervention into the matter. Patole expressed apprehension that Jai might have fallen prey to poachers as there has been no trace of it since the past four months. Along with Jai, his grandfather Rashtrapati, his father Dendu and sibling Viru have also gone missing. Jais disappearance has become such a hot topic of debate that even Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had in July said that he also felt that Jai was alive, the MP said. According to Patole, Jai was radio-collared, but of late his radio collar had stopped working, giving rise to the worst fears. He added that two persons were arrested on suspicion of poaching, further fuelling the poaching theory. Meanwhile, sources in the Forest department said that a wide search for Jai is on covering the forest area between Bor in Wardha district, Bramhapuri in Chandrapur district and New Nagzira Navegaon Tiger Reserve (NNTR). Named after Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchans character in the hit 1975 film Sholay, Jai was in limelight three years ago after embarking on an epic hike through villages, rivers and perilously dangerous highways in successful pursuit of a mate. Jai has been a firm favourite with tourists and conservationists alike. Wildlife officials have launched a search operation for the royal feline. So far, there is no substantial clue about the whereabouts of the tiger, whose electronic collar stopped transmitting his location in April. The tiger population of Maharashtra, which was 169 in 2010, has gone up to 190 in 2015. Out of this 70-odd tigers are accounted for in Tadoba tiger reserve. The state government has offered a reward of Rs 50,000 for information on Jais location. Some people residing close to the Umred Karhandla sanctuary have also performed a pooja for his safety. Jais disappearance since for over four months has come as a huge setback for the state. Recently, the state had roped in Amitabh Bachchan as its brand ambassador for its tiger conservation initiative. Karachi: Pakistan charged MQM chief Altaf Hussain with treason for his inflammatory speech that incited party workers to attack media outlets here. Hussain, leader of Mutthaida-E-Qaumi Movement - the single largest party in Karachi, was accused of raising anti-Pakistan slogans at a protest rally that turned violent. Several journalists of various media organisation were attacked by the activists of the MQM. The protesters pelted stones and resorted to heavy aerial firing that killed one person and wounded others. Two cases have been filed against Hussain: one for treason for his anti-Pakistan speech to participants in the hunger strike organised by MQM and the other for inciting party workers to violent protests, Inspector General of Sindh AD Khawaja was quoted as saying by the Geo News. The case pertains to the attack on ARY News office, vandalising of property, arson and pelting of stones at police.MQM party workers took to streets yesterday after Hussain, in an address from London, incited them to storm media outlets and chant anti-Pakistan slogans during the hunger strike. The hunger strike was launched to protest the disappearance and arrest of their workers by the paramilitary rangers. Responding to the protests, paramilitary rangers launched a major offensive here and sealed offices of the party.The senior membership of MQM confirmed that they are no longer under the directive of Hussain. Senior MQM leader Farooq Sattar and other leaders said that in future the party would operate from Pakistan alone and that all decisions would be taken by the leadership in Pakistan and not from London from where Hussain has controlled the MQM for years now. The MQM should operate from Pakistan alone, Sattar said. We totally disassociate ourselves from the violence that took place in Karachi yesterday. It is totally against our policy to use violence to achieve our ends, he added. Altaf Hussain and the entire party are being ridiculed due to these statements, Sattar added.Enough is enough we cannot side with anti-Pakistan statements or ideology, said another MQM leader Aamir Liaquat Hussain. The MQM remains the single largest party in Karachi for decades now and have dominated the political landscape for years sweeping provincial and national elections but since the clean-up operation began on the orders of the centre, the party has come under intense pressure. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Scorpene submarine has been jointly developed by French defence contractor DCNS and Navantia of Spain. India had placed an order for six Scorpene submarines in October 2005. The submarines were being built at the Mazagon dockyard in Mumbai, with technical assistance from French defence contractors DCN and Thales. India had also placed an order for 36 MBDA SM-39 Exocet anti-ship missiles to arm the submarines. These submarines are to be manufactured under a technology transfer agreement by the state-owned Mazagon Docks in Mumbai and delivered between 2012 and 2016. [ALSO READ: India's $3.9bn Scorpene submarine project data leaked, Parrikar seeks report from Navy] Construction of the first vessel began in 2006 and was scheduled to be delivered by September 2016. One submarine will be delivered each year until 2017. The total cost of the submarines is estimated to be $3.75bn. However the project is running four years behind the schedule. India has plans to incorporate the DRDO-developed air independent propulsion (AIP) system onto the last two submarines being built and also to equip the submarines, of which the DCNS is participating in the tender process. [ALSO READ: Defence Minister Parrikar asks Indian Navy chief to study what has been leaked] According to reports, the DRDO-developed AIP system for the last two Scorpene submarines for the Indian Navy was developed in 2014. The first Scorpene submarine, named INS Kalvari, was undocked for the purpose of starting sea trials in April 2015 and will be delivered in September 2016. (With inputs from naval-technology.com) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Sensitive documents detailing the technical and stealth capabilities of India's Scoprene submarines designed by French shipbuilder DCNS have been leaked, with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar seeking a report from the Navy chief on the matter. The leaked DCNS data, running to 22,400 pages, details the secret stealth capabilities of six new Indian submarines, including what frequencies they gather intelligence at, what levels of noise they make at various speeds and their diving depths, range and endurance - all sensitive information that is highly classified, according to Australia's 'The Australian' newspaper. [ALSO READ: Secret documents about India's $3.9bn Scorpene submarine project leaked] The data tells the submarine crew where on the boat they can speak safely to avoid detection by the enemy. It also discloses magnetic, electromagnetic and infra-red data as well as the specifications of the submarine?s torpedo launch system and the combat system, it said. It details the speed and conditions needed for using the periscope, the noise specifications of the propeller and the radiated noise levels that occur when the submarine surfaces. The data, accessed by the paper, includes 4457 pages on the submarine's underwater sensors, 4209 pages on its above-water sensors, 4301 pages on its combat management system, 493 pages on its torpedo launch system and specifications, 6841 pages on the sub's communications system and 2138 on its navigation systems. [ALSO READ: Indian Navy's ambitious Scorpene submarine project: All you need to know] "I have asked the Navy chief to study the entire issue about what has been leaked, what is there about us and to what extent. It came to my knowledge at about 12 AM. What I understand is there is a hacking. So we will find out all this," Parrikar told reporters here. The Defence Minister said he does not suspect the leak to be 100 per cent since a lot of final integration lies with India. He said a clear picture will emerge in a couple of days. In a statement, the Navy said, "A case of suspected leak of documents related to Scorpene submarines has been reported by a foreign media house. "The available information is being examined at Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy) and an analysis is being carried out by the concerned specialists. "It appears that the source of leak is from overseas and not in India," the Navy said. The leak has created fear in Australia about the future security of top-secret data on its navy's future fleet, the Australian media reported as the French company had won the bid to design Australia's new Australian Dollar 50 billion submarine fleet. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said it was important to note the submarine DCNS was building for India was a completely different model to the one it will build for Australia and the leaked information was a few years out of date. "Nevertheless, any leak of classified information was a concern," he was quoted as saying. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : The beleaguered liquor baron Vijay Mallya has over the past few years been selling off most of his assets, among them is his priced Airbus A319 jet. Mallyas Airbus A319-133CJ VT- VJM has got a new bidder in Aircraft Auction held by MSTC Ltd on August 18, 2016 on behalf of Service Tax Commissionerate with a Bid of $ 4.1 million. Mr G S Srivastava, Chairman of MSTC Ltd is a well-known art connoisseur intends to utilise the Aircraft to promote exotic Art Work ingrained in various Temples & religious places across the country. Srivastava, an IIT Delhi alumni is also known for his landmark deal with renowned painter M F Hussain for Our Planet Called Earth Series (OPCE) painting series. The venture will not only highlight Indias rich heritage and art culture but also bring India into focus as a country with incredible Art and Religious heritage. The aircrafts inaugural flight will be Shirdi, Maharashtra. It will take religious tours cutting across all religions which will include Buddhist, Muslim, Christian & Sikh shrines. They also stressed that the aircraft will not be used as their private carrier. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New York: A commemorative Diwali stamp will be issued by the US this year, capping seven years-long efforts by Indian-Americans here and influential American lawmakers to have a stamp marking the Indian festival of lights, a move welcomed by the community. The stamp that shows a photo of a traditional diya lit against a sparkling gold background and the words Forever USA 2016 written below will be formally unveiled on October 5. The postage stamp will be issued by the US Postal Service (USPS) from November honoring Diwali, the festival of lights, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney from New York said. USPS Sally Andersen-Bruce of Connecticut photographed the diya and Greg Breeding of Virginia designed the stamp, with William Gicker of Washington serving as the projects art director.The Diwali stamp is a result of years and years of hard work, Maloney said yesterday. She lamented that despite Diwali being an important spiritual and cultural festival for many Indian-Americans and millions around the world, it had not been given its own commemorative stamp till now. Given that every other major religion has its own commemorative stamp, she said a stamp for Diwali had been long over-due. She was joined by Indias Consul General in the city Riva Ganguly Das, Chair of the Diwali Stamp Project Ranju Batra and eminent Indian-American attorney Ravi Batra as she made the historic announcement from the steps of the City Hall. Maloney underscored that the stamp would also be a very important revenue generator for the US postal department. The efforts in the Indian-American community had been spearheaded by Ranju Batra, who as chair of the Diwali stamp project and with the help of other community leaders, got tens of thousands of signatures for petitions to issue the stamp. Maloney had also informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visits to the US in 2014 and 2015, about efforts to get a Diwali postage stamp issued, Batra said. Ravi Batra called the move as the strongest soft power that combines a billion people of India as he lauded Maloney for her years-long efforts. Among other lawmakers Senators Mark Warner and John Cornyn and House members Joe Crowley, Ed Royce, Ami Bera, and George Holding, all past or present co-chairs of their chambers India Caucuses, also led significant campaigns to assure Congressional support for this measure. An important recognition for the more than 3 million Indian-Americans who celebrate Diwali, tweeted Senator Mark Warner, Co-Chair of the Senate India Caucus. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, the only Hindu member of Congress, led the most recent write in campaign to the USPS with hundreds of signatories. This has been a long and arduous process but this act by the USPS to recognize this special day and to further increase and enrich our nations tapestry of religious and cultural diversity will be greatly appreciated by many, Gabbard said. This year and for many more, diyas and spirits will shine brighter, as will greetings cards and gift packages sent donning the Diwali stamp, said Suhag Shukla, Hindu American Foundation (HAF) executive director and legal counsel. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday held a high-level meeting on the issue of Scorpene Submarine documents leak to discuss the present and future impact of the data hacking on Indian security and defence strategies. Defence secretary G Mohan Kumar, Navy chief Sunil Lanba and other top level naval officials also attended the meeting. According to the source, the defence ministry also discussed plans to send an investigating team to France to look into the extent of leaks and the people behind it. Earlier on the day, Parrikar briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about this leaks during the Union Cabinet meeting. The defence minister has also sought a report from the Navy chief on the matter. The Australian reported on Wednesday that sensitive documents detailing the technical and stealth capabilities of India's Scoprene submarines designed by French shipbuilder DCNS were leaked on Wednesday. Also Read: India's $3.5bn Scorpene submarine data hacked as France's DCNS suffers massive documents leak Scorpene submarine data hacking: All you need to know about Indian Navy's project Scorpene submarines data hacking: Parrikar says 'documents not 100% leaked', seeks report from Navy chief The leaked DCNS data, running to 22,400 pages, details the secret stealth capabilities of six new Indian submarines, including what frequencies they gather intelligence at, what levels of noise they make at various speeds and their diving depths, range and endurance - all sensitive information that is highly classified, according to Australia's 'The Australian' newspaper. The data, accessed by the paper, includes 4457 pages on the submarine's underwater sensors, 4209 pages on its above-water sensors, 4301 pages on its combat management system, 493 pages on its torpedo launch system and specifications, 6841 pages on the sub's communications system and 2138 on its navigation systems. The Defence Minister said he does not suspect the leak to be 100 per cent since a lot of final integration lies with India. He said a clear picture will emerge in a couple of days. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Zurich/New Delhi: Banker turned whistle-blower Rudolf Elmer, who is facing jail term in Switzerland, has claimed that bank accounts data leaked by him back in 2008 included Indian names. As an employee of a subsidiary of Swiss entity Julius Baer bank in Cayman Islands, he had accessed certain client data. He is also suspected to have handed over the data to the whistle-blower site Wikileaks in 2011. Elmer has told a television channel that the list included not only Americans but also people from Africa, South America and also from India. When asked whether the list had Indian names, he said, "that is correct". According to media reports, Elmer was given suspended jail term by a Swiss court this week for alleged forgery, among others. As part of efforts to curb the black money menace, Indian government has been taking various measures and has also stepped cooperation with other countries on tax matters. Earlier this month, the government said investigations are going on into the Panama paper leaks and that legal action would be taken depending on the outcome of the probe. The leak of Panama papers in April this year revealed a list of nearly 500 Indians, including celebrities and industrialists, who allegedly stashed money in offshore entities in Panama. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Beijing: The Chinese army is all set to discard erstwhile Soviet-style bulky military and opt for lean US-style forces for quick deployment with plans to retrench three lakh troops as part of reorganising the worlds largest military. The Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) which together with navy and airforces constitutes 2.3 million strong forces, the worlds largest, will phase out its army corps as it tries to mould a more nimble fighting force, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported. The move will also impact the military deployment along the India-China borders, the PLA now plans to turn its 18 Army Corps into 25 to 30 divisions. The size of a corp varies from 30,000 to a lakh of soldiers. The current approach was inherited from the Soviet Union, but its a bulky model no longer suited to the demands of modern warfare, which prizes modularity, a retired senior colonel based in Beijing said. Instead the the style of the US 101st Airborne Division is the best example that the PLA land forces will study, he said. This is a main trend in modern warfare. Even the Russian army has tried to learn from the US army by reducing the size of their troops, making land forces become more nimble and quick-response, the veteran said. The style of the US 101st Airborne Division is the best example that the (Peoples Liberation Armys) land forces will study, especially its quick deployment, equipment and logistic supplies, as well as other supporting networks, which reflect the success of its nimble and efficient system, he said. A Chinese defence white paper last year highlighted the importance of building small, multifunctional and modular units that could take on different purposes for joint operations. As part of the overall military reforms initiated by President Xi Jinping, who also heads the decision-making Central Military Commission, the PLA has dissolved the four general headquarters and instead set up 15 new organisations including the Headquarters of the Joint Force. The seven military commands were reshaped into five theatre commands. Also Xi has proposed to cut three lakh troops by next year. It was only a matter of time for the army corps units to be either downsized or scrapped, although the change would inevitably encounter strong opposition from the ground force, the report said. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : French naval contractor DCNS said on Wednesday it may have been the victim of economic warfare after secrets about its Scorpene submarines being built in India were leaked. Speaking to PTI, DCNS said that the matter will be thoroughly investigated by French national authorities for defence security. This serious matter is being thoroughly investigated by French national authorities for defence security, DCNS on India's Scorpene document, tweeted PTI. Probe will determine the exact nature of leaked papers, potential damage to DCNS customers and responsibilities for this leakage: DCNS. This serious matter is being thoroughly investigated by French national authorities for defence security: DCNS on India's Scorpene document Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 24, 2016 Probe will determine the exact nature of leaked papers, potential damage to DCNS customers and responsibilities for this leakage: DCNS. Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 24, 2016 India opened an investigation after The Australian newspaper published documents relating to the submarine's combat capabilities, raising concerns over another major contract with Australia. The leak contains more than 22,000 pages outlining the details of six submarines that DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy. "I understand there has been a case of hacking," Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told reporters. "We will find out what has happened." The submarines are being built at a state-run shipyard in Mumbai and the first one was expected to go into service by the end of the year, the first step in the Indian Navy's effort to rebuild its dwindling fleet. Also read: Scorpene Submarine data hacking: Defence Minister Parrikar holds high-level meeingt, probe team may go to France The leak has raised doubts about the security of DCNS's submarine project in Australia where it is locked in exclusive negotiations after seeing off rivals for a A$50 billion ($38 billion) contract to build the Barracuda next generation of submarines. DCNS, which is 35 per cent owned by Thales, said it was working to determine if any harm had been caused to clients with a view to drawing up an action plan. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 24 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: As a result of an attack on Turkish servicemen in the countrys southeastern province of Diyarbakir, five servicemen have been killed, Haber7 newspaper reported Aug. 24. According to preliminary data, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) terrorist organization stands behind the attack, said the report. 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 list the PKK as a terrorist organization. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Kabul: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday strongly condemned the Kabul attack which left at least two people dead. An attack at the American University in Kabul ended after two attackers were killed, police said early today, nearly 10hours after militants stormed the complex. "We have ended our clean-up operation. Two attackers were gunned down," Fraidoon Obaidi, chief of Kabul police's Criminal Investigation Department, told AFP without offering any details on the casualties. Explosions and gunfire rocked the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul on Wednesday, leaving at least two people dead and five injured, media reports said. The attack which started right after a bomb blast on Wednesday evening went on for almost an hour, during which hundreds of students and faculty remained trapped inside, an official said. I heard explosions and gunfire is going on close by... our class is filled with smoke and dust, a desperate student told AFP by telephone.We are stuck inside and very afraid. Many other trapped students were tweeting desperate messages for help. Among them was Associated Press photojournalist Massoud Hossaini. Also Read: Explosion, gunfire rock American University in Kabul; Pulitzer Prize winner trapped inside - As it happened Hossaini later successfully escaped along with nine students. Soon after, almost 100 students followed them to safety. No militant group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes as the Taliban step up their summer fighting season against the Western-backed Kabul government. #AUAF under attack. I along with my friends escaped and several other of my friends and professors trapped inside, Kabul-based journalist Ahmad Mukhtar tweeted. The Italian-run Emergency Hospital in Kabul tweeted that at least five wounded people had been brought to the facility for treatment. The management of the elite American University of Afghanistan, which opened in 2006 and enrols more than 1,700 students, was not immediately reachable for comment. The private university is usually packed with students in the evening, many of them working professionals doing part-time courses at the facility. The assault comes after two professors at the university - an American and Australian - were kidnapped in the heart of Kabul earlier this month, the latest in a series of abductions of foreigners in the conflict-torn country. No group has publicly claimed the abductions so far. The Afghan capital is infested with organised criminal gangs who stage kidnappings for ransom, often targeting foreigners and wealthy Afghans, and sometimes handing them over to insurgent groups. It appeared to be the first reported abduction related to a private university in Afghanistan. The Taliban have stepped up nationwide attacks. Afghan forces backed by US troops are seeking to head off a potential Taliban takeover of Lashkar Gah, the capital of the southern opium-rich province of Helmand as fighting intensifies. A roadside bomb killed an American soldier yesterday near the city, and left another American and six Afghan soldiers wounded, the US-led NATO coalition said. The turmoil convulsing Helmand, blighted by a huge opium harvest that helps fund the insurgency, underscores a rapidly unravelling security situation in Afghanistan. Fighting has left thousands of people displaced in Helmand in recent weeks, sparking a humanitarian crisis as officials report food and water shortages. (With PTI Inputs) #WATCH Visuals from the site of attack at American University in Kabul, security forces keep watch at the site.https://t.co/mtMhDLFlg9 ANI (@ANI_news) August 24, 2016 We strongly condemn the attack on American University in Kabul. Condolences to the bereaved families & prayers with the injured. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 25, 2016 For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Mumbai: Maharashtra Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar wants state CID to locate missing tiger Jai before CBI is tasked with looking into the matter. Mungantiwar has written a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis urging him to order a CID probe into the disappearance of the tiger from the Umred Karhandla wildlife sanctuary spread over Bhandara and Nagpur districts. The Forest Minister had on Tuesday said he would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a CBI probe into the big cats disappearance. Mungantiwar on Wednesday said Criminal Investigation Department (CID) should take over the task of finding Jai till the Centre orders a CBI probe. Rescuers, wildlife experts and volunteers have been scouring the forest, trying to locate the 250-kg tiger who was last spotted on April 18. The BJP leader appeared miffed at party Lok Sabha MP from Bhandara-Gondia, Nana Patole, writing directly to the Prime Minister seeking his intervention in the matter. Mungantiwar, in a sarcastic tone, said probably Patole has more information on Jai, which he is not comfortable sharing with the state Forest Department officials. Patole has contended that Jai has been killed with collusion of Forest Department officials. On the other hand a local at Pauni (a town in Bhandara) has claimed to have seen Jai. Therefore, I have requested the CM to conduct a CID probe till the CBI takes over, Mungantiwar told reporters. He said wildlife experts have argued tigers tend to migrate to other areas once their cubs grow up. The Minister said at present the roads around the sanctuary are not motorable due to heavy rains. Replying to queries on nod to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill, he said Maharashtra will ask Centre for time-bound compensation of losses due to abolition of local bodies tax (LBT) and octroi to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) after the new indirect tax regime comes into force. The BMC earns octroi to the tune of Rs 7,000 crore every year which the civic body would not be able to collect once GST is implemented. Mungantiwar, who also holds the Finance portfolio, ruled out the possibility of Maharashtra incurring any revenue loss on account of advent of GST. The services sector alone accounts for 58 per cent of the states Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). At the national level, the states contribution in services sector is 16 per cent. He said the government has decided to set up a committee of experts to study the impact of GST on state finances. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : Explosions and gunfire rocked the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul on Wednesday, leaving at least two people dead and five injured, media reports said.French naval contractor DCNS said on Wednesday it may have been the victim of economic warfare after secrets about its Scorpene submarines being built in India were leaked. Banker turned whistle-blower Rudolf Elmer, who is facing jail term in Switzerland, has claimed that bank accounts data leaked by him back in 2008 included Indian names. Here are the top 5 stories of the hour. 1. Blast, gunfire rock American University of Afghanistan in Kabul; 2 killed, 5 injured Explosions and gunfire rocked the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul on Wednesday, leaving at least two people dead and five injured, media reports said. The attack which started right after a bomb blast on Wednesday evening went on for almost an hour, during which hundreds of students and faculty remained trapped inside, an official said. I heard explosions and gunfire is going on close by... our class is filled with smoke and dust, a desperate student told AFP by telephone.We are stuck inside and very afraid. 2. Scorpene submarine data leak: French shipbuilder DCNS suspect economic warfare French naval contractor DCNS said on Wednesday it may have been the victim of economic warfare after secrets about its Scorpene submarines being built in India were leaked. Speaking to PTI, DCNS said that the matter will be thoroughly investigated by French national authorities for defence security. This serious matter is being thoroughly investigated by French national authorities for defence security, DCNS on India's Scorpene document, tweeted PTI. 3. Leaked Swiss bank data had Indian names, says jailed black money whistle-blower Rudolf Elmer Banker turned whistle-blower Rudolf Elmer, who is facing jail term in Switzerland, has claimed that bank accounts data leaked by him back in 2008 included Indian names. As an employee of a subsidiary of Swiss entity Julius Baer bank in Cayman Islands, he had accessed certain client data. He is also suspected to have handed over the data to the whistle-blower site Wikileaks in 2011. Elmer has told a television channel that the list included not only Americans but also people from Africa, South America and also from India. 4. Watch: Airlander 10, world's biggest aircraft, crashes during second test flight in Bedfordshire Airlander 10, world's biggest aircraft, crashed on Wednesday during its second test flight since being revamped in the UK.According to reports, The 92-metre-long (302ft) Airlander 10 part plane, part helicopter, part airship was damaged after reportedly hitting a telegraph pole at its base at Cardington airfield, Bedfordshire. As per photographs available, it can be seen that aircraft came on ground with its nose pointing downwards. 5. Sushma Swaraj takes a jibe at Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir over surrogacy External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday took a jibe at Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan saying that even Bollywood stars with two or three children went for surrogacy. Swaraj was speaking to media after the Union Cabinet cleared a draft Surrogacy Bill which aims to safeguard the rights of surrogate mothers and make parentage of such children legal. "Big celebrities who not only have one but two children, a son, and a daughter, even then they went ahead with Surrogacy," reported ANI. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 24 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Only the US Federal Court can make decision to extradite Fethullah Gulen, said the US Vice President Joe Biden. Biden made the remarks at the meeting with Speaker of the Turkish parliament Ismail Kahraman. The US understands Turkeys efforts on Gulens extradition, said the vice president. Biden arrived in Turkey on Aug. 24. Currently, Biden is at the Turkish parliament, and then he will meet with the countrys Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. After the meeting with the prime minister, Biden is expected to have a meeting with Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The extradition of Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of organizing the July 15 military coup attempt in Turkey, will be the main topic of discussions during the meetings. Previously, Turkish authorities sent two requests to the US for extradition of Fethullah Gulen. An Istanbul court ordered on Aug. 4 to arrest Fethullah Gulen. On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country. Meanwhile, a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them. However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had said the death toll as a result of the military coup attempt stood at 246 people, excluding the coup plotters, and over 2,000 people were wounded. Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 24 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Fethullah Gulens extradition from the US to Turkey is still on the agenda, TRT Haber news channel quoted Turkeys Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag as saying. Bozdag said that the US Vice President Joe Biden and Turkish president will also discuss this issue on Aug. 24. Biden arrived in Turkey on Aug. 24. Only the US Federal Court can make decision to extradite Fethullah Gulen, said Biden during his meeting with Speaker of the Turkish parliament Ismail Kahraman. The US understands Turkeys efforts on Gulens extradition, added the vice president. Biden also met with Turkeys Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. After the meeting with the prime minister, Biden is also expected to have a meeting with Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The extradition of Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of organizing the July 15 military coup attempt in Turkey, will be the main topic of discussions during the meetings. Previously, Turkish authorities sent two requests to the US for extradition of Fethullah Gulen. An Istanbul court ordered on Aug. 4 to arrest Fethullah Gulen. On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country. Meanwhile, a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them. However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had said the death toll as a result of the military coup attempt stood at 246 people, excluding the coup plotters, and over 2,000 people were wounded. Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 24 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: The military coup attempt was directed against democracy in Turkey, said the US Vice President Joe Biden. Biden made the remarks Aug. 24 during a joint press conference with Turkeys Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, TRT Haber news channel reported. The vice president said that the US, as before, sees Turkey as its main ally in the region. The US is ready to provide any support to Turkey, he added. The US is delighted with the Turkish people, who supported democracy, noted the vice president. The US didnt know that a military coup attempt was prepared in Turkey, he added. Speaking about Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkey wants extradited from the US, Biden said that that the US is not going to defend the Fethullah Gulen movement, but there is a law in the country and everyone respects the law, he noted adding that Gulens extradition may be delayed. Previously, Turkish authorities sent two requests to the US for extradition of Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of organizing the July 15 coup attempt in Turkey. An Istanbul court ordered on Aug. 4 to arrest Fethullah Gulen. On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country. Meanwhile, a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them. However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had said the death toll as a result of the military coup attempt stood at 246 people, excluding the coup plotters, and over 2,000 people were wounded. Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen announce divorce Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen on Friday announced they are divorcing after 13 years of marriage. #giselebundchen #tombrady Footage shows woman being hit with gas canister at Notting Hill Carnival Police have released footage showing the moment a 19-year-old bystander was very seriously injured when she was hit on the head with a gas canister and... Vermeer's 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' back on display THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) Johannes Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring went back on display at the Netherlands' Mauritshuis museum Friday, a day... Cornwall weather forecast predicts thunder and lightning The Met Office says different areas of Cornwall could be hit by lightning Jerry Lee Lewis dies aged 87 Rock n roll's original wild man, Jerry Lee Lewis, died at his home in the US state of Mississippi at the age of 87. 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Spain prosecutors drop charges against Neymar Neymar had been one of nine defendants on trial on corruption-related charges, among them his parents and their N&N company, which manages his affairs Russias Wagner military company recruited prisoners with HIV, hepatitis - report In order to properly classify which of the Russian soldiers are sick or suffer from such diseases, a specific wristband will be placed on their hands - red for... Deaths of 8 in Oklahoma home investigated as murder-suicide The deaths of eight family members including six children found in a burning Oklahoma home are being investigated as a murder-suicide, authorities said... What the papers say October 29 The papers on Saturday focus on health and environmental concerns, as well as Elon Musks Twitter takeover and Tyson Furys inspiration. Trevor Noah: I did not say the entire UK was racist about Rishi Sunak Trevor Noah says he did not claim the entire UK is racist, as he sought to clarify remarks he made on The Daily Show following the appointment of Rishi... 'Christmas guy' Kevin prepares for big switch-on in his front garden Dad's famous illuminations will raise money for charity Prince Harry and Meghan 'reject Royal Christmas invite as relations near rock bottom' The couple have reportedly turned down an invitation from the King to join the rest of the Royal Family for their first Christmas since the Queen's passing Florence Pugh says she intends to release a solo music album Florence Pugh says as a teenager she would have put money on being a singer songwriter way before being an actor, and intends to release a solo music... It is now abundantly obvious that if America is to survive as a nation of law and order,for her deep corruption and criminal racketeering. Furthermore, every individual still supporting Hillary Clinton for President needs to be rudely reminded that they are supporting an insidious globalist criminal who ferociously abuses her power by operating an illegal influence racket which surreptitiously funnels hundreds of millions of dollars through the Clinton Foundation.It is time toand end this sad, dark era of deep corruption, deception and criminality at the highest levels of our national government.From a bombshell Associated Press investigation published today: More than half the people outside the government who met with Hillary Clinton while she was secretary of state gave money either personally or through companies or groups to the Clinton Foundation. The AP goes on to report, the 85 donors contributed as much as $156 million to the Clinton Foundation, after which Hillary Clinton deployed her influence as Secretary of State to reward those donors with huge government favors or approvals of their international moneymaking schemes. Some of those schemes included clear-cutting forests in Colombia. As described by Breitbart.com: [J]ust after Hillary and Bill Clinton spent an evening with the president of Colombia, the government of Colombia promptly granted exclusive approval to Prima Colombia Properties. That company was owned by longtime Clinton Foundation donor Frank Giustra, As Schweizer writes: Days after Hillary left Bogota, Prima Colombia Properties, which Frank Giustra has ownership interest in through a shell company called Flagship Industries, announced that it had acquired the right to cut timber in a biologically diverse forest on the pristine Colombian shoreline. Giustra has a long history with the Clintons, giving the foundation over $100 million and allowing Bill to use his plane some 26 times. Giustra allegedly used his connection with Bill to gain connections to the Kazakh government, benefitting his companies. Giustra was also a major shareholder in Uranium One, and his former partners allegedly benefited heavily from the relationship between Uranium One leadership and the Clintons when Hillarys State Department looked the other way on Russias buy-up of the uranium company. Hillary Clintons pay to play corruption ultimately served the interests of oil magnates, weapons development companies and open pit coal mining corporations. Its against federal law for charities to act in the interests of private business or individuals, reports the NY Post. Yet the Clinton Foundation secured high-paying gigs for its namesakes and helped for-profit corporations with family ties set up lucrative deals. That same NY Post article adds: Recently, the foundation announced it would ban donations from corporations and foreign countries if Hillary is elected president. The question is: If its a conflict of interest when Hillary will be president, why wasnt it a problem when she was secretary of state? If you want a favor from Hillary Clinton, you have to cough up millions of dollars first What every international business person running any sort of profiteering scheme knows today is that to get a meeting with the Secretary of State, you first have to donate huge dollars to the Clinton Foundation. Its classic pay for play, and its illegal. Flatly stated, Bill and Hillary Clinton are career criminals who have been running a grand scale criminal racketeering scheme to defraud America and peddle political influence to the highest bidder. Sometimes, the bribery money was given directly to Bill Clinton as payment for his speeches. Soon after, Hillary would initiate some State Dept. action in favor of the organization that paid Bill $250,000 or more for his speech. Voila! Its political magic! By peddling their political influence while collecting money as either donations or speeches, the Clintons have committed global political fraud and racketeering at an astonishing scale. And because of the extreme left-wing media which covers for all the crimes of all Democrats, theyve continued to get away with it! Now, their extraordinary reign of corruption and criminality is finally coming to an end. It is time to end this Hillary Clinton bid for the presidency and put her behind bars where she belongs. The Presidency has already been SOLD OUT by crooked Hillary The $156 million paid to the Clinton Foundation by 85 donors was only the beginning of the racketeering and corruption, by the way. According to the Associated Press, another $170 million came from foreign donors. Clinton met with representatives of at least 16 foreign governments that donated as much as $170 million to the Clinton charity, but they were not included in APs calculations because such meetings would presumably have been part of her diplomatic duties. In other words, whats really happening here is that the Clintons have collected hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes and payoffs while leveraging their positions of government influence to grant regulatory decisions, approvals and other favors to those who coughed up the most money. This is deep, criminal corruption at its worst. The hundreds of millions of dollars in pay to play donations to the Clinton Foundation means that Hillary Clinton has already pre-sold the White House to foreign interests. This means that if she is elected President, she will be prioritizing the globalist interests of her rich donors over the interests of Americans. Hillary isnt just willing to sell you out, shes already sold you out! The Clintons must be stopped We the People simply cannot allow this traitorous criminal to attain the highest political seat in the nation. She is a clear enemy of America and an international racketeering and money laundering mafia boss. The FBI if it has any loyalty to law and order whatsoever must go public with recommendations of charges of corruption against the Clintons. And all those left-wing media outlets and shameless celebrities pushing for Clinton should be absolutely ashamed of themselves for promoting such a lawless, traitorous criminal. Their support for Clinton just shows the absolute lawlessness and political criminality that infests the minds of many on the political left. Their slogan is win at all costs, even if it means voting for a murdering criminal engaged in deep acts of political corruption. Where to get honest search engine results: GoodGopher.com Click here to watch the jaw-dropping Clinton Cash documentary on Breitbart.com. This is a must-see film if you seek to understand even a little of whats going on with all this. If you want to dig even further, use the GoodGopher.com search engine that I created, which indexes thousands of independent news websites. You probably already know that Google is rigged to promote Hillary by hiding results of her health problems and criminal corruption. So check out these search results on GoodGopher.com (and start using GoodGopher.com for all your news searches): Clinton body count Hillary Clinton health problems Andrew Breitbart was murdered Only through the independent media can you now learn the truth about the Hillary Clinton criminal racket and long list of dead people who once had dirt on the Clintons. Recognize that these people are extreme criminals. If they seize power yet again in Washington, its over for not just America, but the entire independent media. (Many indy media journalists will quickly find themselves arrested and imprisoned by the Clinton regime, if not killed outright.) The answer to all this is, of course, Donald J. Trump. If youre fed up with the criminality and corruption of the Clintons, vote for Donald Trump and give America one last fighting chance against the globalist political cartels that are seeking the complete subversion and occupation of America. Stay informed at Newstarget.com Headline changed, details added (first version posted on 17:47) Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 24 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: The military coup attempt was directed against democracy in Turkey, said the US Vice President Joe Biden. Biden made the remarks Aug. 24 during a joint press conference with Turkeys Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, TRT Haber news channel reported. The vice president said that the US, as before, sees Turkey as its main ally in the region. The US is ready to provide any support to Turkey, he added. The US is delighted with the Turkish people, who supported democracy, noted the vice president. The US didnt know that a military coup attempt was prepared in Turkey, he added. Speaking about Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkey wants extradited from the US, Biden said that that the US is not going to defend the Fethullah Gulen movement, but there is a law in the country and everyone respects the law, he noted adding that Gulens extradition may be delayed. Previously, Turkish authorities sent two requests to the US for extradition of Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of organizing the July 15 coup attempt in Turkey. An Istanbul court ordered on Aug. 4 to arrest Fethullah Gulen. On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country. Meanwhile, a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them. However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had said the death toll as a result of the military coup attempt stood at 246 people, excluding the coup plotters, and over 2,000 people were wounded. Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Fans of the early-2000s show "Gilmore Girls," which is getting a Netflix reboot on November 25, 2016, have something else to be excited about: Stars Hollow is coming to life. On October 21, 22 and 23, Washington, Conn., the town fictional Stars Hollow was modeled after, will host Gilmore Girls Fan Fest. The three-day festival will offer fans the chance to stroll through Rory and Lorelei's recreated town and participate in events like tea at the inn, a cake tasting at the market, coffee at the hardware store, a staged knit-a-thon, a Friday Night Dinner. According to a press release, eight of the show's stars have confirmed appearances during the festival: Jackson Douglas (Jackson), Rini Bell (Lulu), Aris Alvarado (Caesar), Biff Yeager (Tom), Kelly Bishop (Emily), Yanic Truesdale (Michel), Vanessa Marano (April) and Ted Rooney (Morey) with an open invite for the rest of the cast, crew and creators. A cast panel will take place on Saturday, October 22, 2016 at Town Hall. The author of the cookbook "Eat Like a Gilmore," (coming out at the end of October), will also be on hand to discuss recipes you might find at Luke's Diner or Sookie's kitchen. Festival founders Jennie and Marcus Whitaker came up with the idea on a drive through Connecticut. "What comes to mind, for me, every time I think about the festival, is a direct quote from Amy Sherman-Palladino in a 2001 Desert News interview about her thoughts on the series," festival co-founder, Jennie Whitaker, said in a press release. "Pulling one from Amy's book I'll say, 'If I can make people feel this much of what I felt walking around this fairy town, I thought that would be wonderful'. And that's really why we're doing this, it's all for fun, for fellow fans.' A trip to Stars Hollow will cost you, though. Limited tickets are available for $175 and VIP admission with Town Hall access is $250. Related: TV shows set in Connecticut One of the must-visit sites in Washington for a Gilmore fan is the Mayflower Innit was the catalyst for Amy Sherman-Palladino's vision of Gilmore Girls. In 2002, Sherman-Palladino told the Hartford Courant she came up with the idea for the show after a brief stay at the Mayflower. ''I borrowed from a lot of towns but the location is a bit more Litchfield [County in Conn.],'' she told the paper. Related: 20 actors who were on 'Gilmore Girls' before becoming huge stars In the show, Lorelei Gilmore works at an inn very similar to the Mayflower called the Independence Inn (later renamed the Dragonfly). "We are excited to play a role in the Gilmore Girls Fan Fest. For years, we have watched fans look for Gilmore-inspired sites in town and I think this will provide them with even more than they could hope for," Lisa Stein, President of the Washington Business Association, said in a press release. "Washington is full of charming character and stunning natural beauty, it's no wonder the show runner found inspiration from her visit so many years ago. What a great opportunity for us to be able to share this with others!" This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ROXBURY For many Catholics in Roxbury and Washington, an archdiocese of Hartford plan to restructure local churches feels more like a warning that they could be closed. After an Aug. 15 meeting at Southburys Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where archdiocese officials, parishioners and priests met to discuss what a restructured archdiocese would look like, some parishioners from the two towns worried that Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church and St. Patricks Church might be shuttered. The official position of the archdiocese Office of Pastoral Planning is that there are currently no plans at this time to close parishes in Bethlehem, Washington Depot and Roxbury. The Archdiocese of Hartford is looking closely at a wide array of trends and other pertinent information to ensure that pastoral plans promote spiritual vitality and sustainability, according to an official statement issued Wednesday. The Rev. Joseph Donnelly of Sacred Heart, who convened the Aug. 15 meeting, said it is likely that restructuring will result in the closure of some churches. But he said no churches have been picked yet, and diocese officials are still gathering information. The archbishop is very keen that this process should be from the ground up, Donnelly said. No decisions have been made at all; theyre still culling information. Even so, many Catholics in Roxbury think the closure of local St. Patricks may be a done deal, said First Selectman Barbara Henry, who is also a trustee for the church. If thats the case, the archdiocese can expect stiff resistance. Were not going down without a fight, Henry said. Fran DeSimone, a parishioner of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, expressed similar sentiments in a letter to the editor of the News-Times. I am outraged by what the Diocese of Hartford is planning, DeSimone wrote. What will they accomplish by closing these parishes? Parishioners are aware that a shortage of priests is one key reason for closure of Catholic churches nationwide, and they already are drafting a plan to overcome that difficulty by having the Rev. Mathew Kappalumakkel, , who already serves the parishes in Roxbury and Washington, serve the Bethlehem parish as well. Nationally, the number of Catholic parishes has been shrinking for years from 19,620 parishes in 1990 to 17,483 in 2014, according to the Pew Research Center. The archdiocese of Hartford has closed or suppressed a several churches of its own in recent decades. blytton@hearstmediact.com; 203-731-3411; @bglytton This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BRIDGEPORT Mayor Joe Ganim will have to eliminate providing tenants fresh sheets and towels from his list of responsibilities as he governs Connecticuts largest city. Ganim broke the rules when he launched short-term rentals out of his condominium at The Cove, a residential complex on Ellsworth Street in the citys trendy Black Rock neighborhood. So now, according to a source, The Coves condominium association has asked that Chez Ganim be shuttered. Its inappropriate, said one upset resident who declined to give his name Tuesday. Its not in the bylaws to do. ... Youre not supposed to have a business here. While unit owners can rent units out, tenants have long-term leases. Ganim did not respond to a request for comment, so it is not clear how familiar he was with the regulations. The purchase was recent, because when the administration on June 30 provided copies of the mayors tax bills, the Ellsworth property was not among them, and it only recently appeared on the tax collectors website. Ganim, who was mayor in the 1990s and moved back to Bridgeport last year to wage a comeback campaign, had claimed another condominium he purchased on Cartright Street as his primary residence. But, confusing things further, that one-bedroom Cartright Street unit was being advertised to rent on the hotpads.com website for $1,250 a month as of Aug. 7, making it unclear just where the mayor lives. John Soltis, president of The Cove association, declined to discuss the groups position on Ganims condo, other than to say he was confident the situation will be amicably resolved. Ganims side endeavor as a hotelier was well-known at The Cove, according to other residents some in favor of it, some not. And earlier this month an out-of-town reporter working on a story about Connecticut politics unknowingly booked the mayors condo through Airbnb Inc. The online marketplace allows property to rent real estate out to visitors and use extra income to fund their passions. The reporter contacted Lennie Grimaldi, who runs the Only in Bridgeport blog and who helped advise Ganim when he was first mayor from 1991 to 2003. Ganim was re-elected last year. The reporter, Grimaldi said, began asking some basic questions about the mayor. I started getting into it about Joe, and she goes, Holy crap, he was just here. Hes the landlord, Grimaldi said. The reporter told Grimaldi that when she arrived at The Cove, Ganim was waiting for her towels to dry and later helped fixed her wireless internet connection. Grimaldi wrote about it on Only in Bridgeport, keeping her identity confidential. Grimaldi said she also found another place to stay. I didnt know Joe had become so domesticated, Grimaldi joked Tuesday. Webster Abbott, who lives next to Ganims unit, said he had seen a couple tenants there, and that they did not cause any problems. Joshua Kotos, of Black Rock, who was visiting The Cove Tuesday, said at least the mayor now has a presence in that neighborhood. Some Black Rock homeowners, infuriated over recent property tax increases, believe Ganim is more supportive of the lower-income areas. Condominiums, by contrast, actually saw their taxes drop because of a state-mandated property revaluation. Its good for him to know about Black Rock, said Kotos. I think all he cares about is people outside of Black Rock in the East End. One resident of The Cove found Ganims effort to make money off of his property there odd. Its strange, this woman said. He needs more money? The mayors salary is $144,000, though he took several unpaid furlough days this year because of the budget deficit. It is not unusual for elected officials to also be in the real estate business. Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti, for example, has owned numerous properties, including riverfront acreage he had considered redeveloping but sold in 2013 for $1.9 million. According to city tax records, Ganim also is being taxed on a 2002 Jaguar. No word on whether he is marketing that car as a private taxi through the popular Uber website... Announcing the 2016 Schulich Leaders, receiving up to $80,000 each TORONTO, Aug. 23, 2016 /CNW/ - The 2016 class of Schulich Leader Scholarship recipients are heading off to university this Fall. Now in its fifth year, this scholarship program encourages high school graduates to embrace STEM disciplines in their future careers. This year 1,500 high schools and Cegeps across Canada participated in the program - a new record! Since inception, 220 students have received this celebrated award. Two scholarship recipients are selected at each of the 20 participating universities, with five of these universities receiving an additional two scholarships for attracting the most applications. Twenty-five undergraduate scholarships, valued at $80,000, are given out to students pursuing Engineering degrees. The other 25 scholarships, valued at $60,000, are reserved for students pursuing degrees in Science, Technology or Math. The 2016 Schulich Leaders are: First Name Last Name University Home City Home Province Mackenzie Collins University of Waterloo Bay Roberts Newfoundland Colin Daly University of Waterloo Hamilton Ontario Emma Paynter University of Waterloo Albany Prince Edward Island Kyne Santos University of Waterloo Kitchener Ontario Sabrina Cruz University of Toronto Ajax Ontario Kevin Han University of Toronto Burlington Ontario Haleema Khan University of Toronto Niagara Falls Ontario James Xu University of Toronto Aurora Ontario Behrad Dehnadi McMaster University Toronto Ontario Kaylie Lau McMaster University Toronto Ontario Emma Mogus McMaster University Oakville Ontario Erin Puersten McMaster University Hampton Ontario Becky Balcom Queen's University Wolfville Nova Scotia Isabel Hazan Queen's University Toronto Ontario Jessie Payne Queen's University Bayfield Ontario Jaedyn Smith Queen's University Whitehorse Yukon Amelia Carver Western University Mississauga Ontario Linda Guo Western University Fort McMurray Alberta Sandra Sabongui Western University Richmond Hill Ontario Lovdeep Singh Western University Surrey British Columbia Noah Tajwar University of British Columbia Port Coquitlam British Columbia Lasya Vankayala University of British Columbia Burnaby British Columbia Abtin Ameri McGill University Toronto Ontario Mana Moshkforoush McGill University Prince George British Columbia Tyler Dacosta University of Ottawa Timmins Ontario Maria Park University of Ottawa Corner Brook Newfoundland Sheldon Cannon University of Alberta KINDERSLEY Saskatchewan Ben Hallworth University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Joycelyn Ho University of Calgary Calgary Alberta Hannah Rahim University of Calgary North Vancouver British Columbia Rebecca Hansen University of Victoria Victoria British Columbia Robert Lee University of Victoria Victoria British Columbia Jack DeGooyer Dalhousie University Hammonds Plains Nova Scotia Bailey Tarrant Dalhousie University Lawn Newfoundland Scott Bernard Simon Fraser University North Vancouver British Columbia Jennifer Yi Simon Fraser University Langley British Columbia Alana Krug-MacLeod University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon Saskatchewan Andrew te Linde University of Saskatchewan Calgary Alberta Grant Legaree University of Manitoba Atikokan Ontario Viktor Popp University of Manitoba Erickson Manitoba Rathesh Balendran York University Toronto Ontario Arma Khan York University St Catharines Ontario Kenzie Grace Memorial University of Newfoundland Trepassey Newfoundland Julie Young Memorial University of Newfoundland St. Albans Newfoundland Cassie Hall University of New Brunswick Johnville New Brunswick Finnegan Kummer University of New Brunswick Little Shemogue New Brunswick Pierre-Antoine Bernard Universite de Montreal La Pocatiere Quebec Felix Desrochers Universite de Montreal Montreal Quebec Camille Comtois Laval University Notre-Dame-des-Prairies Quebec Michelle Janusz Laval University Surrey British Columbia "It is very important that we support exceptional students that demonstrate great leadership and embrace STEM fields," says founder Seymour Schulich. "It is an investment not only in their future, but the future of our country. Their pursuits are sure to lead to key innovations in the years ahead." Each year, every Canadian high school and Cegep can submit their Schulich Leader Nominee based on their student excelling in STEM subjects and demonstrating at least two of the following attributes: academic excellence, leadership and financial need. Universities then select their recipients from the Nominees that apply to their school. Nominations for the 2017 program will be accepted starting in September 2016. About Schulich Leader Scholarships Schulich Leader Scholarships are prestigious entrance scholarships awarded to high school graduates enrolling in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) undergraduate program at participating universities in Canada and Israel. Recognizing the increasing importance and impact that STEM disciplines will have on the prosperity of future generations, businessman and philanthropist Seymour Schulich established this $100 million scholarship fund in 2011 to encourage our best and brightest students to be the next pioneers of global scientific research and innovation. This program awards 100 scholarships annually, valued at more than $5.5 million. Schulich Leaders can devote their full time and attention to their studies, as all of their financial needs are covered over the course of their degree. As a result, many of our highest potential students are winning these scholarships and will make great contributions to society. SOURCE Schulich Leader Scholarships Image with caption: "Schulich Leader Scholarships (CNW Group/Schulich Leader Scholarships)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160823_C4116_PHOTO_EN_754678.jpg For further information: visit schulichleaders.com; For media inquiries contact: David Goodman, [email protected], 647-289-1950 TICKER SYMBOL: IFX MONTREAL, Aug. 23, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Imaflex Inc. (the "Company") (TSXV: IFX) announces results for the quarter ended June 30, 2016. (unaudited) (CDN $ thousands, except per share amounts) Q2 2016 Q2 2015 YTD 2016 YTD 2015 Revenue 18,195 18,716 37,573 34,626 Cost of sales (excluding amortization) 15,378 15,915 32,015 30,548 Gross profit ($) (before amortization) 2,817 2,801 5,558 4,078 Gross profit (%)(before amortization) 15.5% 15.0% 14.8% 11.8% Amortization of production equipment 398 356 813 717 Gross Profit 2,419 2,445 4,745 3,361 Gross profit (%) 13.3% 13.1% 12.6% 9.7% Sales and administrative expenses 1,529 1,673 3,242 3,140 FX loss (gain) 96 122 574 (551) Other expenses 161 154 322 349 Profit (loss) before income taxes 633 496 607 423 Provision for income taxes 110 151 256 371 Profit (loss) 523 345 351 52 Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share 0.010 0.007 0.007 0.001 EBITDA 1,242 1,062 1,844 1,574 The results include those of Imaflex Inc. ("Imaflex") located in Montreal (Quebec), its divisions Canguard Packaging ("Canguard") and Canslit ("Canslit") located in Victoriaville (Quebec), and its wholly owned subsidiary, Imaflex USA Inc. ("Imaflex USA") located in Thomasville (North Carolina). Management Outlook Management is once again pleased to report an increase in profitability for the second quarter of 2016. The rebuilding of the legacy business is not yet entirely completed, but quarter after quarter the foundation of our operations is getting stronger. Management is also pleased to report that the tests for the coating machine needed for our ADVASEAL product were conducted. Our findings were positive: the coating equipment proved to be the correct technology, however additional tests need to be completed in order to ensure that the coater's drying capacity will permit us to coat at a rate of 1,000 feet per minute. Our technical team, together with the manufacturer's team, is presently working on this issue and expects it to be resolved by the end of the year. Sales Sales decreased by $ 520,381 during the second quarter of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015. Mulch film sales decreased in the second quarter of 2016 following a high level of sales in the first quarter. The Company faced a very competitive market and management is seeking to return to an upward sales trend for metallized mulch films. The Company benefited from a higher foreign exchange conversion rate for its USD sales which offset part of the impact of the decrease in resin prices from the end of the second quarter of 2015 through the beginning of the second quarter of 2016. Sales increased by $ 2,948,382 during the six-month period ended June 30, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015, mainly as a result of the strong performance in the first quarter. The Canadian operations generated an important increase in sales volume which, coupled with the favourable foreign exchange rate, was an important factor in the improvement in sales over the period. Management is now aiming to maintain the production volume that will enable the Company to remain profitable throughout the end of the year. Gross profit margin The gross profit before the amortization of production equipment remained stable despite the decrease in sales but increased as a percentage of sales, from 15.0% during the second quarter of 2015 to 15.5% in the second quarter of 2016. Without having to manage the important and rapid fluctuations in the price of raw material at the beginning of the 2015 fiscal year, management was able to focus on operational efficiency. The improvements achieved in the Canadian operations enabled the Company to maintain good profitability despite lower consolidated sales. Following investments in production equipment, gross profit after the amortization of production equipment decreased from $ 2,444,477 in the second quarter of 2015 to $ 2,419,608 in 2016 but, as a percentage of sales, increased from 13.1% in the second quarter of 2015 to 13.3% in 2016. Over the six-month period ended June 30, 2016, the gross margin, both in relative and absolute terms, improved compared to the same period in 2015. The Company encountered important challenges at the onset of the 2015 fiscal year following increases in resin prices and foreign exchange volatility. In 2016, efforts to improve operational efficiency and to increase sales enabled the Company to improve its gross margin. Despite the fluctuations in sales levels, management was able to maintain its profitability in both the first and second quarters of 2016. Selling and administrative Selling and administrative expenses decreased in the second quarter of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015, from $ 1,672,267 in 2015 to $ 1,529,639 in 2016. Administrative and sales salaries were lower in the second quarter of 2016 and sales commissions also decreased due to the lower level of sales in 2016 compared to 2015. As a percentage of sales, selling and administrative salaries decreased from 8.9% in 2015 to 8.4% in 2016. Over the six-month period ended June 30, 2016, sales and administrative expenses increased by $ 102,327 mainly due to the increase in sales and to the appreciation of the USD that led to an increase in expenses denominated in USD. Moreover, professional fees related to projects the Company is involved in also contributed to the increase in 2016. Net income The Company's net income increased in 2016 compared to 2015, for the quarter and for the six-month period. The Company was able to significantly improve its operational profitability in the first quarter following an important increase in sales and to maintain it in the second quarter, despite the decrease in sales. The stability in the market enabled the Company to operate in more favourable conditions in 2016 compared to 2015 and the sales level achieved in the first six months of 2016 led to efficient and profitable operations. Even considering the very unfavourable impact of foreign exchange over the six-month period, the improvements achieved still allowed for an important increase in the Company's net income. Management is aiming to continue these positive trends for the remainder of 2016 to further improve results. Capital Resources The Company has an operating line of credit with its bankers to a maximum of $ 10,000,000 bearing interest at a rate of prime plus 1.15%. The line of credit is secured by trade receivables and inventories. As at June 30, 2016, the Company was using $ 7,312,481 on its line of credit ($ 6,925,713 as at December 31, 2015). The Company's working capital increased from $ 4,905,236 as at December 31, 2015 to $ 5,237,711 on June 30, 2016. The Company experienced a strong performance throughout the quarter which enabled the Company to retain a solid financial position and to generate sufficient funds to support its operations and future growth plans. Following the Company's good financial results, management believes that the Company currently has a healthy capital structure and may consider additional long term debt or equity as possibilities to fund its long term needs. The Company does currently have sufficient funds for its operations and will only choose to obtain additional financing at the right terms. Critical Accounting Policies The Company's accounting policies under IFRS have not changed since the Company's last annual financial statements and have been applied consistently to the interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the periods ended June 30, 2016 and 2015. Imaflex Appoints John Ripplinger as VP Corporate Affairs Imaflex announces the appointment of John Ripplinger as Vice President Corporate Affairs, effective September 6, 2016. "John is a highly qualified professional with extensive financial expertise and a track record of success working with industry-leading companies," highlighted Mr. Abbandonato. "He also brings broad-based experience managing investor relations programs, making him an excellent addition to our team. In this newly created position, John will play a key role communicating our business fundamentals and building relations with the investment community, as we continue to strengthen, grow and diversify our business." Prior to joining Imaflex, John worked with BCE, Bell Canada, Bell Nordiq Group, Miranda Technologies, and Neptune Technologies. John holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from McGill University. Safe Harbor Statement Certain statements and information included in this release constitute "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Additional discussion of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from management's projections, estimates and expectations is contained in the Company's other public filings. Unless otherwise required by the securities authorities, we do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by us or on our behalf. Non-IFRS Measure The Company's management uses a non-IFRS measure in this press release, namely EBITDA. Management wishes to specify that in the performance of the Company's financial results, EBITDA is calculated as "Earnings before finance expenses, taxes, the change in fair value of the derivative financial instrument, depreciation and amortization". While EBITDA is not a standard IFRS measure, management, analysts, investors and others use it as an indicator of the Company's financial and operating management and performance. EBITDA should not be construed as an alternative to net income determined in accordance with IFRS as an indicator of the Company's performance. The Company's method of calculating EBITDA may be different from those used by other companies. The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Imaflex Inc. For further information: Imaflex Inc., Tony Abbandonato, Interim President and C.E.O, Giancarlo Santella, Corporate Controller, Tel: (514) 935-5710, Fax: (514) 935-0264, e-mail: [email protected] ODANAK, QC, Aug. 24, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - It is with great excitement that the newly enrolled students have been welcomed to Kiuna, a collegial studies centre for First Nations youth. Second-year students have also reintegrated the First Nations Social Sciences program with anticipation and enthusiasm. Highly motivated to achieve a collegial studies diploma recognized by the Ministere de l'Education et de l'Enseignement superieur in an entirely adapted setting of learning that reflects First Nations' realities, students have been many to choose Kiuna as their educational institution. Among the nearly 400 applications from Aboriginal youth processed in the last five years, Kiuna is proud to have 60 graduates since 2013. In addition to the First Nations Social Science program, Kiuna and the First Nations Education Council will offer an attestation of collegial studies in special education in Aboriginal settings (AEC en education specialisee et contextes autochtones), in partnership with Cegep de l'Abitibi-Temiscamingue, starting September 2016. The Kiuna Institution and the FNEC The Kiuna Institution is a First Nations college-level studies centre located in Odanak, an Abnaki community. Established by the First Nations Education Council in 2011, Kiuna's mission is to enhance academic achievement among Aboriginal youth and raise their level of education by providing a learning environment that respects and thrives on the identity, values and traditions of First Nations. www.kiuna-college.com. The First Nations Education Council is an association that represents 22 Quebec First Nations communities, from eight different nations. The FNEC's mission is to work in the best interest of its members and improve the quality of educational services provided to First Nations students throughout their learning cycle. www.cepn-fnec.com. SOURCE Kiuna Institution For further information: Prudence Hannis, Associate Director, Kiuna Institution, 450-568-6464, [email protected] TORONTO, Aug. 24, 2016 /CNW/ - The United Steelworkers (USW) welcomes a Canadian Border Services Agency investigation into the dumping of concrete reinforcing bar (rebar) from Belarus, Chinese Taipei, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, Japan, Portugal and Spain. The USW also welcomes the inquiry by the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) into the question of injury to the Canadian industry. The complaint initiated by Canadian steel producers AltaSteel Ltd., ArcelorMittal and Gerdau Ameristeel Corp., follows on last year's successful imposition of duties against China, South Korea and Turkey for the illegal dumping of rebar in the Canadian market. The USW represents workers at Altasteel in Edmonton, Gerdau in Selkirk, Man., and Whitby, Ont., as well as ArcelorMittal operations in Hamilton and in Contrecoeur, Que. Canada's steel industry directly employs more than 20,000 Canadians and indirectly supports more than 100,000 other jobs across the country. "With a level playing field Canadian workers can compete with anyone in the world," said Ken Neumann, USW National Director for Canada. "Illegal dumping is a race to the bottom, whether it's wages, working conditions, health and safety of workers or the environment. Defending Canadian workers should be Canada's trade priority," Neumann said. The United Steelworkers continues to press the federal government to strengthen and modernize Canada's outdated trade remedy system. Much-needed reforms include allowing trade unions to participate fully in the remedy process, including filing trade complaints to better represent the interests of Canadian working families, Neumann said. Similar provisions are available to workers and their unions in the United States and numerous other countries, he noted. SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW) For further information: Ken Neumann, USW National Director for Canada, 416-544-5951; Bob Gallagher, USW Communications, 416-544-5966, 416-434 2221, [email protected] Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 24 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Turkey and the US will continue joint fight against militants of the Islamic State terrorist organization, said the US Vice President Joe Biden, who arrived in Turkey on a visit. Biden made the remarks Aug. 24 during a joint press conference with Turkeys Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, TRT Haber news channel reported. Biden said that terror is the main threat for the whole region. On Aug. 24 morning, the Turkish Air Force with the support of the coalition aircraft launched an operation to liberate the city of Jarabulus from the IS militants in northern Syria, near Aleppo city. The operation was carried out under the name Shield of the Euphrates. Syria has been suffering from an armed conflict since March 2011, which, according to the UN, has so far claimed over 500,000 lives. Militants from various armed groups are confronting the Syrian government troops. The Islamic State (IS, ISIL, ISIS or Daesh) is the most active terrorist group in Syria. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu The U.S. Army and Navy are teaming up to test a hypersonic glide vehicle next year, according to an Army official. The offensive weapon technology is part of the Department of Defenses Conventional Prompt Global Strike demonstration. Conventional prompt global strike (CPGS) weapons would allow the United States to strike targets anywhere on Earth in as little as an hour. This capability may bolster U.S. efforts to deter and defeat adversaries by allowing the United States to attack high-value targets or fleeting targets at the start of or during a conflict. Congress has generally supported the PGS mission, but it has restricted funding and suggested some changes in funding for specific programs. The Air Force and Navy have both considered deploying conventional warheads on their long range ballistic missiles. The Navy sought to deploy conventional warheads on a small number of Trident II submarine-launched ballistic missiles. While most analysts expected the Air Force to take the lead in deploying a hypersonic delivery system on a modified ballistic missilea concept known as the conventional strike missile (CSM)tests of the hypersonic vehicle known as the HTV-2 have not succeeded. An alternative glider, known as the AHW [Advanced Hypersonic Weapon], may be deployed on missiles based at sea. Congress may review other weapons options for the CPGS mission, including bombers, cruise missiles, and possibly scramjets or other advanced technologies. The PGS system is intended to complement existing American rapid-response forces, such as Forward Deployed Forces, Air Expeditionary Groups (which can deploy within 48 hours) and carrier battle groups (which can respond within 96 hours). Possible delivery systems for PGS warheads include: a rocket similar to existing ICBMs, launched from land or via submarine an air- or submarine-launched hypersonic cruise missile, such as the Boeing X-51 or Advanced Hypersonic Weapon a kinetic weapon launched from an orbiting space platform Advanced Hypersonic Weapon On 18 November 2011, the first Advanced Hypersonic Weapon (AHW) glide vehicle was successfully tested by the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command as part of the Prompt Global Strike program. The missile was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii, and struck a target at the Reagan Test Site on Kwajalein Atoll, over 3,700 kilometres (2,300 mi) away, in under 30 minutes. The prototype, which incorporated technologies developed by Sandia National Laboratories, was used to gather data to assist the development of future hypersonic warheads. The AHW followed an endo-atmospheric (within earth atmosphere, at altitude below 100 kilometers) non-ballistic trajectory during the test flight. This is a crucial design feature, as following a depressed trajectory that is much lower and flatter than a normal ICBM prevents other nuclear-armed nations from mistakenly thinking the AHW is a nuclear-tipped missile. The second AHW test flight occurred on 25 August 2014 from the Kodiak Launch Complex in Alaska. The mission was terminated shortly after liftoff due to an anomaly in the launch vehicle. Operators triggered a self-destruct sequence four seconds after launching, with eyewitnesses claiming the weapon had veered off trajectory just as it took off. A Failure Review Board released the results of their investigation into the failed launch in early February 2015. SOURCES- Defense Daily, Congressional report, Wikipedia CAN president The Christian Association of Nigeria in the north has summoned an emergency meeting over Mondays killings of eight perso... CAN president The Christian Association of Nigeria in the north has summoned an emergency meeting over Mondays killings of eight persons in Talata-Mafara community in Zamfara State and the death of a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Luka Ubangari, by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Unguwan Anjo, Kaduna State.The meeting is being called as an islamic organisation, Nasrul-Lahi-il Fathi, also condemned the killings.The Northern CAN, in an interview with journalists, said it summoned the emergency meeting to discuss the incidents and the failure of government to bring the perpetrators to book. The meeting is expected to hold in Maiduguri on August 26.Eight people were killed on Monday, when a mob set the house of a man ablaze for rescuing an undergraduate, who was accused of blasphemy. Also on Monday, gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen killed three persons, including Ubangari, at Unguwan Anjo in the Jemaa Local Government Area of Kaduna State.CAN said the failure of the government to punish the perpetrators would mean collaboration between government agencies and Islamic extremists.The Borno State Chairman of CAN and spokesperson for the 19 northern states CAN chairmen, Bishop Abubakar Naga, stated this on Tuesday.He said Christians would resist any plan to Islamise the country under any guise.He said, Islamisation of Nigeria is not possible. Christians will never allow that, Nigeria is a secular country and no religion will dominate others.Christians have become targets of attacks. So, we are having an emergency meeting in Maiduguri on August 26.The government must take action and if it does not take any action, it means there is collaboration between the government and the perpetrators of the killings.However, on his Twitter handle on Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the violence.He stated, I received news of the mob killings in Zamfara with great dismay. It is barbaric and unacceptable. I assure Nigerians that the law will take its course. Under my watch, we will work to ensure that there is no place for violence in the name of religion, ethnicity, or in any guise whatsoever.Also, the Chief Missioner, Nasrul-lahi-li Fathi Society, Alhaji Abdullahi Akinbode, described the Zamfara killing as a crime against God and humanity, and called for a proper investigation into the incident.Aknibode told newsmen on the telephone on Tuesday that blasphemy was not a crime in Nigeria, being a secular state. He added that the perpetrators of the act should be brought to justice.He said, I have not been fully briefed about the incident. But whatever the case may be, life is sacred. God has not given anybody the right to take life, except the authority and the authority is the government of a nation if one has committed a crime that carries the death penalty.No religion preaches that life should be taken except there is war. But there is no war and there can never be war. The stand of NASFAT is that life is sacred. The culprits should be apprehended and be made to face justice.Nigeria is a multi-religious country. You can only talk of blasphemy where there is one religion. A blasphemy case will only be established in jurisprudence if the state makes a rule that the state shall be a state of one religion. Blasphemy is not unlawful in Nigeria because it is a multi-religious state.The President, Campaign for Democracy, Abdul Usman, also condemned the Zamfara killings.He said, Those who fight the cause of religion should understand that Almighty God says in many chapters and verses in His holy book that He will protect His religion.In the days of the holy prophet, he was cursed right to his face without any reaction from him. Rather, he continued to preach peace.Today, ignorance has bedevilled the religion. The government should investigate the act and the perpetrators be brought to book. No religion preaches violence.On his part, the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, said it was a shame that people were getting lynched for blasphemy that is unknown to the laws of Nigeria.He said, Are these barbarians saying their God is not powerful enough to handle those who disrespect him.? The full weight of the law should be brought to bear on these murderers to end this nonsense. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is set to arraign a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, ... The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is set to arraign a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, for allegedly receiving N100m from the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation during the 2015 General Elections.The N100m, which was given to Falae on the instruction of a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, was said to have emanated from the imprest account of the Office of the National Security Adviser in the Central Bank of Nigeria.A document sighted by our correspondent indicated that the commission would charge the ex-SGF and one-time Minister of Finance with conspiracy to indirectly retain the sum of N100m which he ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: stealing, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012, and punishable under Section 15(3) and 4 of the same Act.Falae had, in a statement in February, admitted collecting the N100m, but said he did not know that the money emanated from the account of ONSA.A detective at the anti-graft agency told The Punch that 78-year-old Falae had been frequenting the EFCC office in Lagos in the last couple of weeks.Chief Falae has been reporting to our office every week to answer questions on the N100m he received from the Jonathan campaign organisation. We have told him to refund the money.But he said he received the money through Anenih and it was meant for campaign. However, investigations revealed that he deposited N60m into SDPs account while he kept N40m.We told him that he should return the N40m, but he has not been forthcoming. We have no other option but to charge him to court.The EFCC had alleged in March that about N3.145bn was mysteriously transferred from the account of ONSA to the account of the Joint Trust Dimensions Limited, a company allegedly owned by the Director of Finance, Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Senator Nenadi Usman.Usman was said to have transferred N840m to the account of the Director of Publicity of the organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, in Zenith Bank, Maitama branch, with account number, 1004735721, on February 19, 2015.Falae, who is the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, allegedly received N100m through a company, Marreco Limited, where he is chairman. The fund was credited into the companys United Bank for Africa Plc account, 1000627022, on March 25, 2014.According to the document, N320m was also paid into the bank account of the Goodluck Support Group, an association which played a major role in Jonathans campaign.A former Governor of Imo State, Achike Udenwa, and a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Viola Onwuliri, also got N350m in two tranches. The first tranche of N150m was paid into their joint account with Zenith Bank on January 13, 2015. The second tranche of N200m was credited into their account with Diamond Bank.Usman and Fani-Kayode had been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos and their accounts frozen, while Udenwa is expected to be arraigned this week.The source at the EFCC told our correspondent that since all the others were facing prosecution, it would only be fair for Falae to be charged.He was detained for hours without foodA spokesman for Falae, Mr. Alfa Mohammed, said any attempt to prosecute Falae would be nothing but a witch-hunt.Mohammed, who spoke on the telephone, said Falae had been ill for some time because of the stress of shuttling between Lagos and Ondo due to the EFCC investigation.He said the former presidential candidate was usually grilled for eight hours without food or water.He said Falae never used part of the money for his personal benefit, adding that the money was used by the SDP to campaign for Jonathan.He said, The PDP wanted us to render a service and they gave us money, which we did by adopting and working for Jonathan. So, what is our business with arms deal?We never had contact with Dasuki. If you are given money to cook food for guests at a ceremony and after everyone has eaten, you are informed that the money given to you was stolen from CBN, would you tell all the guests to pay you?This is nothing but harassment. They want to distract us from the coming Ondo election which we are set to win. The SDP still owes Chief Falae N70m because we asked him to borrow N170m in anticipation that the PDP would pay, but the party gave us only N100m.The N100m came about three days to the election and chief had been spending money before then. He has fallen ill because of the intense interrogation in the EFCC office. The operatives usually grill him for eight hours without food or water. If they are probing party funds, let them start from the APC. Inside Abuja-Kaduna train On July 26, the media was awash with news of the commissioning of the Abuja-Kaduna railway project. The news e... Inside Abuja-Kaduna train On July 26, the media was awash with news of the commissioning of the Abuja-Kaduna railway project. The news elicited a tweet from the PDP via their official twitter handle. This eventually sparked off a controversy on who should actually take the credit for the completion of the project.The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi was credited with this statement, The rail contract was awarded by President Obasanjo, partially executed by President Jonathan and completed by President Buhari.For the record, lets get this clear.While I commend Buharis administration for seeing the project to completion, do they deserve the credit?No.Even the PDP does not deserve the credit.Who then gets the credit?I wish I could say it is the Buhari-led government but the project would not have seen the light of the day had Dr Okonjo-Iweala opposed it as finance minister.Had she not approved the disbursal of funds for the project, APC members may have been in council meetings instead of posing in front of a camera at a so-called commissioning.Prior to the birth of Buharis administration which has Amaechi as the Transport Minister, the Chinese government signed a contract agreement with the Federal Government on October 22, 2009, for the construction of the 186-kilometre standard gauge rail line from Abuja (Idu Station) to Kaduna railway with construction deadline initially scheduled for December 2014, a 46-month period.Through the support of former Finance Minister, Dr Okonjo-Iweala, the Chinese government invested about $900,000,000.00 from the China Export and Import Bank (The Guardian, January 27, 2016) for the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) project.However, the project was stymied by different challenges. The Chinese construction company handling the project, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), cited exchange rate issues, as impediments to the completion of the project.Showing her commitment to the project, Dr Okonjo-Iweala categorized the Abuja-Kaduna Rail as a priority project, in 2015 budgetary and economic planning, despite her bid to cut down capital expenditure to alleviate the pain resulting from the economic headwinds.She writes, Inevitably, there will also be some cuts in capital expenditure in the 2015 Budget, but this is being done in a way that is pro-poor and pro-average Nigerian. Focus will be on priority sectors of infrastructure, Health, Education and Security, as well as growth stimulating and job creating sectors like Agriculture, Housing and Creative industries. Even in infrastructure, there will be focus on certain priority national projects such as Lagos-Ibadan expressway and the second Niger Bridge, Oweto Bridge, Abuja-Kaduna Rail, Maiduguri-Enugu Rail, Zungeru, Kashimbila and Mambila Hydro etc. (Afripol, December 5, 2014).I could go on stating many other facts and reports but my point is this; credit should be given to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for the approval, funding, start and completion of the Abuja-Kaduna Railway project.After all, many projects have been proposed but never saw the light of the day because of bureaucracies, corruption and selfish interests.Incidents of abandoned projects are rampant all over the country from Lagos to Ogun State, Port Harcourt to Delta, in the North, South-East and all over the country. Projects of high capital cost, such as residential buildings, office buildings and even road constructions are abandoned too.This is caused by numerous factors, including choice of project site, embarking on projects without need analysis, lack of social analysis of a projects development, project imposition by contemporary standard, improper financial analysis, under-bidding of projects, lack of technical analysis.But not the rail construction.From facilitating the release of a $900 million loan from the NEXIM Bank of China, a move masterminded to further strengthen Nigeria and Chinas relationship, to supervising and inspecting the project, Dr Okonjo-Iweala should be commended. Having taken the project to a commendable level, the present administration had no choice than to commission it; after all, everyone likes to associate with success!Lets give credit to whom it is due.Well done Okonjo-Iweala!Tope Bankole and Uzoma NgoziTope is a Digital Entrepreneur. He writes from Satelite Town, Lagos. He can be reached via topebankole89@gmail.comUzoma Ngozi is an entrepreneur and a social commentator who resides in Lagos. Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/uzoma.ngozi.52 A young British woman died and a man was critically injured when a French national allegedly stabbed three people while saying Allahu Akb... A young British woman died and a man was critically injured when a French national allegedly stabbed three people while saying Allahu Akbar at an Australian backpackers hostel, police said Wednesday.Police are investigating the murder, which occurred late Tuesday in Home Hill, a rural town south of Townsville in far north Queensland state, but could not say whether the alleged attacker had been radicalised.The motivations behind the stabbings, which left a 30-year-old British man in a critical condition and a local man with non-life threatening injuries, were still unknown, Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said.Initial inquiries indicate that comments which may be construed of being of an extremist nature were made by the alleged offender, he said.It is alleged that the suspect used the phrase Allahu Akbar during the attack and when arrested by police, he said.While this information will be factored into the investigation we are not ruling out any motivations at this stage, whether they be political or criminal, he added.Gollschewski said investigators would also consider whether mental health or drug misuse were factors in the incident in which a dog was also fatally injured.Police said the Frenchman, who had been in Australia since March, allegedly said Allahu Akbar (God is greatest) both during the attack and his arrest, which were reportedly witnessed by about 30 people at the hostel.When asked if the 29-year-old had links to the so-called Islamic State group, Gollschewski said no and added that there was no ongoing threat to the community.At this stage theres no indications other than the fact he was acting alone, Australian Federal Police Commander Sharon Cowden added at the same press conference.It is a shocking incident and the community should remain vigilant. He was lawfully in Australia and at this stage he is not known to any authorities. Henry Okah Henry Okah, the alleged mastermind of several bombing incidents in Nigeria on Wednesday appealed his conviction, challenging ... Henry Okah Henry Okah, the alleged mastermind of several bombing incidents in Nigeria on Wednesday appealed his conviction, challenging South Africas right to try him, his lawyer said.Henry Okah is serving 24 years behind bars for masterminding a series of terror attacks, including twin bombings which killed 12 people in the Nigerian capital Abuja during independence day celebrations in 2010.The bombs exploded outside a venue where the 50th anniversary was being marked, with several foreign heads of state attending.He was put on trial in South Africa, where he has permanent residence, on charges of orchestrating the bombings from his home in Johannesburg and was convicted in early 2013 on 13 terror charges.He has denied any involvement in the blasts and said the charges against him were politically motivated. His appeal hinges on whether his host country had the jurisdiction to try him. Judgement has been reserved and we dont know when it will be handed down, his lawyer Idemudia Uriesi told AFP.Okahs appeal was first heard by the Supreme Court of Appeals in November 2014, but was adjourned indefinitely after his legal team decided to launch a constitutional challenge to his original conviction.Okah, who was also convicted over two other explosions in 2010 in the southern Nigerian city of Warri, a major hub of the oil-rich Delta region, was the presumed leader of the Nigerian militant group Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND).MEND claimed responsibility for the bombings.The group has since 2006 been demanding reparations and a fair share of oil revenue for residents of the Niger Delta.The group has now seen spin-offs by radicals who want independence for the region. A woman in South Carolina has been accused of killing her four-day-old baby by putting him in a fridge. In court in Chester. Bond hearing soon for Angela Blackwell, accused of putting her newborn in a refrigerator. pic.twitter.com/800HymtNrG August 23, 2016 A woman in South Carolina has been accused of killing her four-day-old baby by putting him in a fridge.Emergency workers who arrived at the scene tried to revive the boy but was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.Angela Blackwell has been charged with homicide by child abuse.Blackwell may spend her entire life in jail if convicted.The 27-year-old mother put her newborn son in the fridge for three hours in February, before taking him out and seeking medical attention, the South Carolina law enforcement division agents said.The baby died of hypothermia with asphyxiation from being placed in the cold, according to Chester County Coroner Terry Tinker.Authorities have not said what they think may have led Blackwell to act as she did.According to an online obituary for the child, Blackwell has another child.A Facebook profile that appears to belong to her shows photos of her with a toddler and a newborn, posted the day after Williams birth. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 24 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Turkey expects prompt action from the US in the extradition of Fethullah Gulen, said Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. Yildirim made remarks Aug. 24 during a joint press conference with the US Vice President Joe Biden in Ankara, TRT Haber news channel reported. Yildirim said that the process of Gulens extradition began between the US and Turkey. Joe Biden, in turn, said that only the US Federal Court can make decision to extradite Fethullah Gulen. The US is not going to defend the Fethullah Gulen movement, but there is a law in the country and everyone respects the law, he noted adding that Gulens extradition may be delayed. Previously, Turkish authorities sent two requests to the US for extradition of Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of organizing the July 15 coup attempt in Turkey. An Istanbul court ordered on Aug. 4 to arrest Fethullah Gulen. On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country. Meanwhile, a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them. However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had said the death toll as a result of the military coup attempt stood at 246 people, excluding the coup plotters, and over 2,000 people were wounded. Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20. --- Nigerian track and field athlete Blessing Okagbare will hope to salvage some pride when she files out for the long jump event this Thursday at the Lausanne Athletissima meeting, the first IAAF Diamond League meeting following the Rio Olympics.The Nigerians name was among the seven on the provisional list of entries organisers of the 11th meeting of the 2016 IAAF Diamond League announced on Monday.Okagbare who opted out of the long jump event at the Rio Olympics to concentrate on the sprint (100m, 200m) where she failed to race beyond the semi-finals will however need to jump farther than her 6.73m personal seasons best to stand any chance of picking the cash ($10,000) and the maximum points (10) on offer at the event.The seven-time Nigeria 100m champion will have to battle reigning world and Olympic champion Tianna Bartoleta of the USA and five others for the opportunity to climb up the Diamond race ladder.Okagbare, who is also on the provisional entry list for the event at the Paris leg of the IAAF Diamond League meeting on Sunday, is presently placed eighth in the standing with the three points she got when she placed fourth at the Prefontaine Diamond League meeting in Eugene, Oregon, USA in May.Serbias Ivana Spanovic who is also competing on Thursday in Laussanne leads the standing with 36 points.Interestingly Okagbare won this event three years ago when she jumped 6.98m to beat then reigning world and Olympic champion, USAs Britneey Reese (6.96m), who would go on to retain her world title at the IAAF Worlds in Moscow, Russia.Meanwhile Tosin Oke has been listed for the triple jump event of the 12th meeting of the IAAF Diamond League series on Sunday in Paris. An elder of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Joseph Waku, on Tuesday, said the President Muhammadu Buharis anti-corruption fight will b... An elder of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Joseph Waku, on Tuesday, said the President Muhammadu Buharis anti-corruption fight will be seen to be effective if he probes former President, Oluesegun Obasanjo.Waku, a former Senator from Benue State, said this while addressing reporters at the sideline of the ongoing Annual General Assembly of the Arewa Consultative Forum in Kaduna.Wondering why the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had left Obasanjo untouched, Waku stressed that Nigerians would not take Buharis fight against corruption seriously if the likes of the former President went about freely.Waku said, Look, I am 70 years old now and have been in this game for more than 50 years.Therefore, there is no way I can just look at some totality of what people are saying about corruption and believe it as it has been reported to me. If I have an investigating mechanism, I know that this accusation is real obviously.I have access to authority. I have access to Mr. President. I told Mr. President that this corruption probe of past regimes, if you dont probe Obasanjo, then you havent done anything yet. Corruption in Nigeria was introduced by Obasanjo. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says there are urgent health problems in 15 local government areas of Borno state which were formerl... The World Health Organisation (WHO) says there are urgent health problems in 15 local government areas of Borno state which were formerly held by Boko Haram.According to the health agency, mortality rates in the areas are four times higher than emergency thresholds while theres also a high rate of severe acute malnutrition.Despite the dire situation, WHO noted that over half of Bornos health facilities are not functioning.A WHO emergency health team arrived 19 August 2016 in Maiduguri city to assess and respond to the health needs of 800 000 people in north eastern Nigeria, formerly held by militant insurgency groups.WHO is scaling up its emergency response activities, together with partners, to assist hundreds of thousands of people in desperate need of health services. More than half of the health facilities in Borno State, the area most severely affected, are not functioning.Initial assessments reveal urgent health problems among the population in 15 local government areas (LGAs) formerly held by insurgency groups. Estimated mortality rates in some of the areas are 4 times higher than emergency thresholds. The rate of severe acute malnutrition is estimated to be 14%.In addition, Nigeria last week reported 2 polio cases in Borno state, 2 years after the last recorded case in the country. One of the cases is from an LGA that is still inaccessible to health service delivery, while the other is from a newly accessible LGA. Measles cases have also been reported in the area, further complicating a challenging humanitarian environment.EXPERT STAFF DEPLOYED TO TOUGH ENVIRONMENTSome of the challenges faced by expert staff of WHO is inclement working environment and inadequate resources to address the problems of the affected areas.The immediate goal of WHO and its partners is to urgently reduce the rates of death and disease by rapidly scaling up life-saving health services. WHO will work closely with local officials and specialist agencies to address the health risks posed by malnutrition, disease outbreaks, and long-term lack of access to basic health services.The working environment in the affected areas is extremely challenging. Resources and capacities to meet the enormous health service gaps are grossly inadequate. Insecurity is a major constraint, with a number of recent attacks on humanitarian staff by insurgents.The annual wet season is also peaking and there are forecasts of major floods in the coming weeks. Access to the 15 local government areas require military escort over long distances on poor roads.Nonetheless, WHO and its partners are taking immediate steps to tackle these issues head-on. WHO has already deployed expert staff to Nigeria for emergency operations, coordination, and data management. Another team is on the ground in Borno State to help with the polio outbreak response.The government has already launched emergency polio vaccination activities, with support from WHO and partners. The first round of vaccinations will soon be completed, targeting 1 million children. Subsequent large-scale polio immunization rounds are planned before November. WHO has also dispatched emergency drugs and supplies, while the organizations emergency operations will be further reinforced by an expanded, experienced response team in coming days.CONTINUED VIOLENCE THREATENS GLOBAL HEALTHFurthermore, Peter Salama, a doctor and executive director of WHOs Health Emergencies Programme, said the continued violence in the northeast is a huge threat to global health.He said: Protracted conflict situations, such as seen in northern Nigeria and the surrounding Lake Chad basin countries of Cameroon, Chad and Niger are among the greatest threats to health globally. Not only are they associated with the worlds highest rates of death among children and pregnant women, they can also be breeding grounds for infectious diseases and outbreaks but are too often neglected by the international community.Consequently, WHO intends to give priority to life-saving health care, especially disease control, child health and maternal health.According to the global health agency, Nigeria needs $25 million to address its urgent health needs. HACKENSACK - Following a 90-minute bench trial Tuesday, a judge found a Ho-Ho-Kus man not guilty of murder by reason of insanity in the brutal death of his mother in their home two years ago, according to a report on NorthJersey.com. Nicholas Piotti (BCPO) Nicholas Piotti heard voices, worshipped pop stars and became convinced he worked for the CIA in the years before beating and stabbing his mother to death in their Ho-Ho-Kus home on Sept. 1, 2014. Karen Piotti, 63, suffered six stab wounds to her face, 11 to her torso, defensive wounds and bleeding on the brain, according to the report. Nicholas, now 24, told investigators he heard "a bad man's voice who told me to go downstairs and kill my mother," according to the report. A psychiatrist testified Nicholas Piotti suffers from schizophrenia and Superior Court Judge Margaret Foti agreed, finding the defendant not guilty of murder and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Defense attorneys maintained that Piotti - a high school lacrosse standout who worked as a stagehand for WABC-TV - became mentally ill after a friend was killed by a drunken driver. He was obsessed with Rihanna and other pop stars, communicating with them via ESP, according to the report. Piotti will be remanded to a state psychiatric hospital and his behavioral health will be monitored by the court for up to 81.5 years, according to the report. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. HACKENSACK -- A lengthy legal battle that began with allegations the city's chief of police covered up a 2008 drunk-driving crash involving his girlfriend ended in Superior Court Tuesday, when the sole remaining charge against Ken Zisa was dismissed. Ken Zisa "Mr. Zisa will begin the impossible task of reconstructing his life. He is indeed grateful that Judge [Susan] Steele's decided to dismiss the indictment, and that this aspect of his nightmare is over," his attorney, Patricia Prezioso of McCusker, Anselmi, Rosen and Carvelli in Florham Park, said. On Feb. 4, 2008, authorities said Zisa arrived at the scene where his girlfriend, while driving Zisa's car, drove into a utility pole. Zisa was accused of filing a false insurance claim, of ordering responding officers to say that the woman swerved to avoid an animal and of taking the woman from the scene before a field-sobriety test could be administered. He was arrested in 2010. Zisa, a member of a Hackensack political dynasty who had also served in the Assembly, was sentenced to five years in prison in 2012. But the prosecution of Zisa suffered a series of setbacks over the next few years. The trial judge immediately set aside three convictions for misconduct, a decision upheld last year by an appellate court, Prezioso said. An appeals panel also acquitted Zisa of insurance fraud, leaving just the single misconduct charge. During the lengthy legal saga, Zisa and his attorney also blasted former Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli for overseeing various, alleged prosecutorial abuses. After Zisa stepped down as chief, city officials created a civilian position, public safety director, which has been held by Michael Mordaga since 2013. Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook. ELMWOOD PARK - An unidentified pedestrian was in critical condition Tuesday after he was struck by a cargo train Monday night above River Road, authorities said. The man was hit by a New York-Susquehanna Western train about 7:10 p.m. while walking west on the tracks, away from the train, according to Elmwood Park Police Chief Michael Foligno. The train conductor told police he sounded the train's horn several times but the man did not react. The victim was struck and thrown onto a steal beam about 25 feet above the roadway, police said. Elmwood Park police officers, along with firefighters and EMS found the man breathing but unconscious. He had suffered severe head and facial injuries and a possible broken leg, police said. The man was taken to St. Joseph's Medical Center in Paterson. Police said the man had not been identified as of Wednesday morning. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 24 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: The US and Turkey have agreed not to allow YPG (Kurdish Peoples Protection Units) and PYD (Kurdish Democratic Union Party) to the territory in the west from Euphrates, said Turkeys Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, TRT Haber news channel reported. Yildirim made the remarks Aug. 24 during a joint press conference with the US Vice President Joe Biden in Ankara. The prime minister noted that Turkey considers the YPG and PYD as terrorist organizations. US officials said before that the PYD in Syria is not a terrorist organization and it is an ally of the US in the region. After that, US Ambassador to Turkey John Bass was summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry. Moreover, Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said previously that the US must decide who is its ally - Turkey, or the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) in Syria that he called a terrorist organization. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 24 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Turkish Armed Forces have reached Syrias Jarabulus city, said a message from the Turkish General Staff Aug. 24. Currently, tanks of the Turkish Armed Forces are shelling positions of militants of the Islamic state terrorist organization, according to the message. On Aug. 24 morning, the Turkish Air Force with the support of the coalition aircraft launched an operation to liberate the city of Jarabulus from the IS militants in northern Syria, near Aleppo city. The operation is carried out under the name Shield of the Euphrates. Earlier, it was reported that Turkish tanks entered Syria. Syria has been suffering from an armed conflict since March 2011, which, according to the UN, has so far claimed over 500,000 lives. Militants from various armed groups are confronting the Syrian government troops. The Islamic State (IS, ISIL, ISIS or Daesh) is the most active terrorist group in Syria. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu The Free Syrian Army (FSA) has taken control of Syrian city of Jarabulus Wednesday as part of Turkeys Operation Euphrates Shield to clear Daesh out from its border region, military sources told Anadolu Agency. According to Turkish army and FSA commanders, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, the opposition forces managed to take control of the city center near the Turkish border. During the clashes with Daesh, one FSA member was killed and 10 others injured; no casualties were reported among the Turkish army, the sources said. Opposition commanders said the clashes had stopped now, but warned against suicide bomb attacks across the city. The FSA had earlier captured another Daesh-held village of Kaklijah, some three kilometers (1.86 miles) south of the Turkish-Syrian border. Jarabulus is located five kilometers (three miles) away. Turkish militarys Operation Euphrates Shield in Syria was launched early Wednesday, when artillery and airstrikes were followed by Turkish tanks crossing the border to target Daesh and the PYD in support of the Free Syrian Army fighters. The operation is in line with the countrys right to self-defense borne out of international treaties and a mandate given to the Armed Forces by the Turkish parliament in 2014 and extended for another year in September 2015. Operations by the Turkish army which have been actively fighting Daesh, have significantly contributed to ongoing efforts of the U.S.-backed international coalition against the terror group. Since January, rocket attacks on the Turkish province of Kilis from Daesh-held territory in Syria have killed at least 21 people, while terrorist attacks in Gaziantep blamed on Daesh include Saturdays suicide bombing of a wedding that killed 54 and a car bomb attack in May that martyred two police officers. A view of Tbilisi, the capital city of Georgia, is seen in a photo taken of the city's central district. (Photo : Getty Images) Chinese conglomerate Hualing Group has built a modern Chinese city in Georgia, an article published by Forbes said. The city, which is named Hualing Tbilisi Sea New City, was designed to be an all-inclusive, macro-planned urban center, located north of the Georgia's capital beside the city reservoir. Advertisement The city has its own shopping malls, schools, hospital and hotels, with rows of housing and the largest retail and wholesale trading center in the Caucasus. The Hotels and Preference hotel, a huge five-star hotel with 250 rooms and has the largest ballroom in the country, is located at the center of the emerging city. According to the report, the plan to build the city started after Mi Enhua, the founder and president of Hualing Group, visited Georgia in 2007 and fell in love with the place. He said he will build a city to help rebuild the country which has been recovering from the post-Soviet chaos. "He just liked Georgia because of its scenery and good political and business environment," Tatia Sioridze, who works for the Chinese company's hotel in the city, said. "So they decided to start developing their business here." As the single largest investor in Georgia, Hualing has already poured in about half a billion dollars into the country, supporting large-scale projects that include the Kutaisi Free Industrial Zone, several luxury hotels, a growing wine export enterprise, a major wood harvesting operation, a large tea cultivation program, and 90 percent ownership of Basisbank, previously a local bank. In addition to this, the company has built the new city. But Hualing's operations are not confined to Georgia alone, the report said. The company has heeded China's "Going Out" policy, encouraging Chinese company to invest overseas. Now the company has extended its presence and build its international portfolio with projects in countries in the European Union and the U.S. as well as in Georgia. FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) Survivors of Hurricane Ian face a long emotional road to recover from one of the most damaging storms to hit the U.S. mainland. For those who lost everything to disaster, the anguish can be crushing to return home to find so much gone. Grief can run the gamut from frequent tears to utter despair. The Lee County medical examiner says two men in their 70s even took their own lives a day apart after viewing their losses. Experts say suicides climb after disasters and more funding for mental health should be provided as climate change makes storms and fires more frequent and devastating. China is popularly known for its record-breaking glass bridges and walkways. (Photo : Getty Images) The newly opened glass-bottomed bridge in China has won over the world record for the longest and highest glass bridge, spanning over a valley and connecting two mountains in Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province, independent.co.uk reported. Advertisement The structure measures six meters wide and 430 meters long, suspended 300 meters above the ground, costing about 2.6million (22 million yuan). Designed by Israeli architect Haim Dotan, the glass bridge immediately drew the attention of thousands of tourists from all over the world. Made of 99 panels of clear glass, it can carry up to 800 individuals at the same time. Anyone who has the guts to see this newest tourist attraction in China can do so for only 138 yuan per head. Plans to set up a zip line and a bungee jumping area have also been in the works in order to entice even more tourists; albeit the access to the bridge is restricted to only 8,000 people a day. The location of the glass bridge is surrounded by a lush, green scenery of high mountains, caves, and waterfalls. The setting of the highly-acclaimed science fiction movie, Avatar, was said to have taken inspiration from the area. China is known for having a number of glass bridges and walkways. In an interview with BBC, Architect Keith Brownlie attempted to answer why people are fascinated by these, he said, "It is the relationship between emotionally driven fear and the logical understanding of safety. These structures tread the boundary between those two contrasting senses and people like to challenge their rational mind in relation to their irrational fear." In 2015, there was a glass bridge cracking incident at the Yuntai mountain in northern Henan, causing panic and fear to the tourists. With this, the authorities in Zhangjiajie eagerly promised the public their safety while traversing the new glass bridge. Several demonstrations have been organized, where people were invited to smash the bridge with sledge hammer; a car was also driven across the bridge. 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. Mobile payments are a huge industry in China. (Photo : Twitter) Chinese telecommunications companies are now in a rush to tap into the lucrative mobile payments market currently dominated by internet companies. China Telecom, the country's third-largest carrier by number of subscribers, was the first of the three major telcos to delve into mobile payments, establishing China Telecom Bestpay Co. in 2011. Bestpay, as it is popularly known, handled 770 billion yuan ($116 billion) in mobile transactions in 2015, the Global Times reported. Advertisement Bestpay is followed closely by China Mobile's service, which managed 600 billion yuan. On the other hand, China Unicorn was able to muster only 100 billion yuan. However, despite them getting their licenses to operate mobile payment services since 2011, the three carriers have still to establish a foothold in the industry dominated by e-commerce giant Alibaba\'s Alipay, which handled a staggering 72.0 percent of the 9.31 trillion yuan worth of mobile payments in 2015. And while being a distant second, internet company Tencent's WeChat Wallet still managed to snag 17.4 percent of the market. Nevertheless, Gao Hongliang, China Telecom BestPay's general manager, expressed optimism that they would still be able to catch up with the giants. "We expect to overtake them once the next generation of payment technologies replaces QR codes," Gao enthusiastically said in an interview. QR (quick response) codes have been very successful in China for facilitating mobile payments. However, experts believe that biometrics-based payment schemes will supersede the technology within two decades. For its part, China Mobile is looking to push near-field communication (NFC) technology as an alternative method for mobile payments. Meanwhile, after establishing itself as the dominant player in the Chinese mobile payment market, Alibaba is now seeking to expand its services to other countries. The company has recently signed an agreement with French payments processing provider Ingenico to allow European merchants accept payments to them made through Alipay, the Financial Times reported. Ingenico executive vice-president for Europe and Africa Jacques Behr said that the partnership will help Chinese tourists pay for services during their trips easier. Behr added that the deal also opens the door for European merchants to get a hold of sales to the burgeoning Chinese tourist population. Welcome to non league daily news now - your number one spot for all things relating to the National League System. Our dedicated reporters have come straight from the sidelines to bring you news fresh from the dugout - but not before theyve stopped off at the burger van first! We know that non league football fans are full of heart, passion, and belief. You trust the manager, you believe in the team, and, for some strange reason, you trust those rickety stands, too! Here at Non League Daily, we hope we can become your trusted non league news resource - a platform thats just as passionate about non league daily news now as you. Come rain or shine, well be out reporting on the latest non league fixtures. Well also be scouring the news, refreshing social media, and sourcing information from team websites in the hopes of finding the latest breaking non league daily news for our readers. As youll soon see, weve got exclusive match reports on the Vanarama National League, weve got transfer speculation thatll affect the National League South, weve found great stories thatll spice up the National League North, and weve even got news on the latest giant killers of the FA Cup. We may not be able to agree on who is going up this year, but we can all agree that any news on the NLS worth knowing will be published here, at Non League Daily. Public health in China is being affected by the country's urbanization and industrialization. (Photo : Getty Images) Speaking for the first time about the proposed Healthy China strategy in a recently held top-level gathering, Chinese President Xi Jinping underscored the significance of considering public health in the policies being drafted by authorities, China Daily reported. Advertisement According to the Chinese leader, "an all-around moderately prosperous society cannot be achieved without the people's all-around health." The meeting was attended by the members of the Communist Party of China (CPC)'s Political Bureau standing committee. During the meeting, the top-level officials agreed that "that health authorities alone cannot ensure a healthy populace, as there are many complex socioeconomic, policy and personal factors, such as the environment and education," the article noted. Xi further emphasized that a concerted effort is needed to efficiently promote healthy lifestyle and foster the government's medical services and disease prevention strategies. The president also delved on the complicated risks brought about by the country's aging population, urbanization and industrialization. "If these issues are not addressed effectively, the people's health may be seriously undermined, and economic development and social stability will be compromised," he stated. Authorities first proposed the Healthy China strategy earlier in 2015. However, details are being discussed. China Preventive Medicine Association chairman Wang Longde said that the meeting marks a new era that puts public health on top of the national government's priorities. Meanwhile, Premier Li Keqiang stressed out that more health resources should be allocated to China's rural and less developed regions. He also urged officials to provide greater insurance support to help lessen the burden of medical costs. China has launched several public health campaigns to boost the said sector, including a system of family doctors being rolled out nationwide. Microchip (Photo : Getty Images) Researchers have designed a microchip that detects deliberately inserted hardware defects such as "back doors" that permit hacking and the entry of malware. This chip that checks for sabotage was developed at New York University's Tandon School of Engineering. It contains both an embedded module that proves its calculations are correct and an external module that validates the first module's proofs. Advertisement The configuration developed by multi-institution team of researchers is an example of an approach called "verifiable computing" (VC) that keeps tabs on a chip's performance and can spot telltale signs of Trojans. The research project involved Riad S. Wahby of Stanford, ahbi shelat of the University of Virginia, Max Howald of The Cooper Union, Michael Walfish of the NYU Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Siddarth Garg of New York University Under the system proposed by the team, the verifying processor can be fabricated separately from the chip. "Employing an external verification unit made by a trusted fabricator means that I can go to an untrusted foundry to produce a chip that has not only the circuitry-performing computations, but also a module that presents proofs of correctness," said Garg, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at NYU and a team member. The chip designer turns to a trusted foundry to build a separate, less complex module: an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) whose sole job is to validate the proofs of correctness generated by the internal module of the untrusted chip. Garg said this arrangement provides a safety net for the chip maker and the end user. "Under the current system, I can get a chip back from a foundry with an embedded Trojan. It might not show up during post-fabrication testing, so I'll send it to the customer," said Garg. "But two years down the line it could begin misbehaving. The nice thing about our solution is that I don't have to trust the chip because every time I give it a new input, it produces the output and the proofs of correctness, and the external module lets me continuously validate those proofs." An added advantage is the chip built by the external foundry is smaller, faster and more power-efficient than the trusted ASIC, sometimes by orders of magnitude. The VC setup can potentially reduce the time, energyand chip area needed to generate proofs. "For certain types of computations, it can even outperform the alternative: performing the computation directly on a trusted chip," said Garg. The researchers next plan to investigate techniques to reduce both the overhead that generating and verifying proofs imposes on a system and the bandwidth required between the prover and verifier chips. "And because with hardware, the proof is always in the pudding, we plan to prototype our ideas with real silicon chips," said Garg. To pursue the promise of verifiable ASICs, Garg; abhi shelat of the University of Virginia; Rosario Gennaro of the City University of New York; Mariana Raykova of Yale University and Michael Taylor of the University of California, San Diego will share a five-year National Science Foundation Large Grant of $3 million. Verifiable ASICS by Riad S. Wahby of Stanford University, Max Howald of The Cooper Union, Garg, shelat, and Michael Walfish of the NYU Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, earned a Distinguished Student Paper Award at the IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy, one of the leading global conferences for computer security research. The authors were supported by grants from the NSF, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the Office of Naval Research, a Microsoft Faculty Fellowship, and a Google Faculty Research Award. Alibaba founder Jack Ma wants to establish a new online free trade platform for small businesses. (Photo : Getty Images) Free trade has found a surprising ally in Alibaba founder Jack Ma, who expressed his support for the establishment of on online global trading platform free from bureaucratic interference. Ma made his position known in a new video released for the upcoming G20 summit in Hangzhou, Zhejiang in September. In the video, the business tycoon detailed what he called the Electronic World Trade Platform or e-WTP, Fortune reported. Advertisement "What if we can use a new technology to let 1-2-3 billion people to do trade," Ma opened in the video. He then proceeded to elaborate on the idea. Ma envisioned the e-WTP as a venue where small businesses will be able to do trade without having to deal with tedious and cumbersome customs procedures and where raw trade serves as a primary driving force. The e-commerce magnate has been proposing the establishment of the online exchange platform since early this year, championing it as a more effective alternative to trade blocs in fostering more trade. In March, Ma heavily criticized trade agreements, including the World Trade Organization, for siding more with large multinationals instead of small and medium-sized businesses. While Ma's proposal is seen by some as advancing Alibaba's own push to expand overseas, it has also gained a lot of support in China. Chinese press has suggested that policymakers also want a similar scenario, as it would open a larger market to local sellers and will also help to China's economy as it moves from heavy industry to products and services. He is expected to lobby with international economic leaders during the meeting for support of the project. Meanwhile, Ma has also announced that Alibaba has adopted a new stock sales plan following Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities and exchange act of 1934. Under the new plan, the company will open the sale of 9.9 million shares of its stock, which represents 5 percent of Ma's total hold on Alibaba, Street Insider reported. Aside from being used in wealth management, the new plan will also be used for generating funds for Ma's philanthropic activities. Dragon Ball Super episodes 57 and 58 titles and airdates revealed: Arrival of the Immortal God Zamasu [SPOILERS] Dragon Ball Super episodes 57 and 58 titles and airdates revealed: Arrival of the Immortal God Zamasu [SPOILERS] (Photo : Facebook/Gojiitaaf) We have new titles for the upcoming "Dragon Ball Super" episodes that will air in the month of September. The titles for "Dragon Ball Super" episodes 57 and 58 are out. It looks like they are set to revolve around Zamasu's story. Warning: This article contains spoilers for "Dragon Ball Super" episodes. Read to know more. Advertisement "Dragon Ball Super" episode 57 title and airdate The title of episode 57 is "Advent of the Immortal God, Zamasu," noted Herms98. This episode is likely to focus on descending of Zamasu as the immortal God. We know that he is the evil, creepy dude in the anime series and he will show his true colors. "Dragon Ball Super" episode 57 will air on Sept. 4, Sunday on Fuji TV at 9 a.m. Japan time. "Dragon Ball Super" episode 58 title and airdate This episode is titled "The Mystery of Black and Zamasu." It looks like the mystery of how Black and Zamasu are similar will be unveiled in this instalment. Watch "Dragon Ball Super" episode 58 on Sept. 11, Sunday on Fuji TV at 9 a.m. Note: There will be no "Dragon Ball Super" episode on Sept. 18, 2016. Stay tuned for more details. Meanwhile, "Dragon Ball Super" episode 56 is set to telecast this week, Aug. 27, and it showcases Goku, Vegeta and Future Trunks in the future. Trunks will find out that Mai is not dead. However, she is missing. Recently, the Jump preview for "Dragon Ball Super" episode 56 has been released. "To save humanity, we're going to future Earth! Guided by Trunks, Goku and company head to the base of the resistance trying to defeat Goku Black. They have a stand-off with the people who live there! Vegeta this week: At his future son's growth Vegeta sees the one who loves future Trunks despite the harsh conditions, and how the people around Trunks admire him. He cracks a smile...!" reads the translation. Read more about "Dragon Ball Super" episode 56: "Dragon Ball Super" episode 56 Jump preview revealed, spoilers: Vegeta witnesses the harsh conditions in the future [UPDATED] "Dragon Ball Super" episode 56 two preview trailers, spoilers: "Rematch with Goku Black! Introducing Super Saiyan Rose!" Share your views in the section below. If you love history, or even if you just need to got some kilometers in to hatch eggs in Pokemon Go, you'll likely enjoy the final in a series of four walking tours of Michigan City on Saturday. This $10 tour $5 for youth 15 and under will highlight Michigan Citys post-Civil War history. The tour will begin at 5 p.m. at Barker Mansion, 631 Washington St. It will be led by heritage interpreter T.J. Kalin of the Barker Mansion. The event will tell guests about the citys history from the mid-1860s through the present day. The walk will be tied into historic locations across the Uptown Arts District. Water and seating will be available along the tour route, but wear comfortable shoes and bring a refillable bottle. Children will be offered a scavenger hunt during the walk. This special event precedes the October 1 Heritage Ball, which will celebrate 180 years of history since the incorporation of Michigan City in 1836. Reservations are not necessary for this tour, but don't forget to bring money to pay for it. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children 15 and under. Next NWI Next The Barker Mansion will be the next site of the NWI Next series of community conversations, this one on wealth and the economy. That event will be at 7 p.m. Sept. 22. RSVP to Jessica Rosier at jrosier@emichigancity.com or (219) 873-1520. The NWI Next events are being held throughout Indiana's bicentennial year in a partnership between The Times Media Co., local historical societies and Valparaiso University's Center for Civic Reflection. The Federal Caribou, a 600-foot-long oceangoing ship that can haul 41,651 metric tons of cargo, docked in the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor for the first time this week. Paul Pathy, President and CEO of Montreal-based Fednav Limited, the deepwater ports stevedore, said the ship is good for the freight industry and good for the environment. I challenge anybody to find a ship of this size anywhere in the world that is more environmentally friendly than this one, he said. We burn less fuel, we emit less emissions and we treat our ballast twice. The new ship releases 25 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions and 15 percent fewer nitrogen oxide emissions than ships made just 15 years ago, he said. The $25 million ship is part of a larger investment of $400 million Fednav is making on Handysize vessels designed to cross the Great Lakes. The company started looking at additional environmental protections before they even became a hot topic, Ports of Indiana CEO Rich Cooper said. We commend and congratulate Fednav for its commitment to make these long-term investments that benefit so many on the Great Lakes, Cooper said. We are proud to call Fednav a true partner at our port on Lake Michigan and salute the company for its innovation and leadership in the maritime industry, he added. Fednav is installing onboard ballast water treatment systems on all its new ships in anticipation of new regulations aimed to protect biodiversity in the Great Lakes. The Federal Caribou and other new ships prevent invasive species like Zebra mussels from entering by exchanging the ballast water in the North Atlantic and then by filtering and disinfecting it onboard the ship. We have them on all our new vessels, starting with this one going forward, Pathy said. We are treating our ballast water twice anywhere we go on the Great Lakes. Fednav, which ships goods all over the world, wanted to take the lead on the issue before different states and international governments starting imposing a patchwork of rules, Pathy said. We wanted to show the industry it could be done and were doing it, he said. Steel output rose in China last month, but fell in the United States. The World Steel Association reported that America produced 6.9 million tons of crude steel in July, a year-over-year decrease of 2.2 percent. China produced 66.8 million tons last month, a 2.6 percent increase as compared to July 2015. Overall, the worlds steelmakers made 133.7 million tons of steel, a 1.4 percent rise compared to last year, according to the World Steel Association. Steelmakers operated at a capacity utilization of 68.3 percent, which was unchanged compared to a year ago. In July, steel production rose in Japan, India, South Korea, Turkey, Russia, and Ukraine. The Ukraine posted the most dramatic gain of 10.5 percent as compared to July 2015. Steel output fell last month in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Brazil. The U.K. saw the biggest decline at 27.3 percent. Hao Jinfang with her Hugo Award (Photo : Sina) Chinese science fiction writer Hao Jinfang, 32, has won the 2016 Hugo Award for best novelette for her work, "Folding Beijing," a troubling tale about life in future Beijing split by social classes. Her novelette, written in Chinese, was translated into English by Ken Liu, a famous American science fiction and fantasy writer and translator of science fiction and literary stories from Chinese into English. The story was published in 2015 by the online magazine, Uncanny. Advertisement "I hope the real future will be brighter than my story," said Hao, who hails from Tianjin. She said she wasn't confident about winning and joked that she had been planning to attend the Hugo losers' party after the ceremony. "Sci-fi writers always consider all possibilities," she said. In her novelette, Beijing is divided into three different physical layers: one for the elite, middle class and underclass. Hao began writing science fiction stories after graduating with a degree in physics from Tsinghua University in 2006. She currently works for the China Development Research Foundation. Hao's victory makes her the second Chinese citizen to win in The Hugo Awards, a set of awards given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. Another Chinese science fiction writer, Cixin Liu, 53, won a Hugo in 2015 for Best Novel for his bestseller, The Three-Body Problem, the first in a trilogy. Liu's work, also written in Chinese, was also translated into English by Ken Liu. The Three-Body Problem is also the first translated novel in history to win the honor for Best Novel. A multi-awarded sci-fi writer, Ken Liu won a Hugo in 2013 for his short story, "Mono no aware." His short story, "The Paper Menagerie," is the first work of fiction, of any length, to win the Nebula, Hugo and World Fantasy Awards. Caixin Liu said he was proud of the success of Nobel laureate Mo Yan and Cao Wenxuan, who on Aug. 20, became the first Chinese to win the Hans Christian Andersen Award for children's literature in New Zealand. Liu, the first Asian to win a Hugo, believes the growing global acceptance of Chinese science-fiction stories is thanks to experienced translators such as Ken Liu. The scent of Thai curry cooking is very possibly one of the greatest kitchen smells ever. Ingredients like lemongrass, chilies, garlic, ginger, coconut milk, and spices like coriander and cumin all mingle together to create a heady perfume that pulls people to the table. There are as many versions of Thai curry as there are provinces of the country perhaps as many as there are Thai cooks. Thailand is at the center of Southeast Asia, and its cooking has influenced and been influenced by the cuisines of many countries, from India to China. While making your own curry paste is an interesting and rewarding experience, opening a jar of Thai curry paste is by far the easiest solution for a weeknight dinner. It's available in the Asian section of supermarkets, and online. Fish sauce is a traditional ingredient in Thai and other Southeast Asian cuisines. It is made from fermented anchovies or other seafood, and has a pungent smell, but when a small amount is employed in a recipe it adds a bracing, salty flavor that calls your taste buds to attention. If you like Thai food, you probably like fish sauce. Start with a small amount, and add more from there. The sauce of this curry is fairly thin. If you want a thicker sauce, stir a couple of teaspoons of cornstarch into 2 tablespoons of water and add with the coconut milk. Either way, you'll want to serve it with plenty of rice to soak up the delicious liquid. THAI GREEN PORK CURRY Start to finish: 30 minutes Servings: 6 ___ 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 1 tablespoon vegetable or peanut oil 1 onion, halved and thinly sliced 2 garlic cloves, minced 3 tablespoons Thai green curry paste 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger 1 red bell pepper, slivered 1 1/2 cups chicken broth 1 (14-ounce) can coconut milk 1 tablespoon fish sauce or soy sauce 2 cups small cauliflower florets 4 cups cubed pork loin 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained 3/4 cup slivered fresh basil leaves 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice 6 cups hot cooked white or jasmine rice to serve Lime wedges to serve ___ In a large pot over medium high heat, melt the butter with the oil. Add the onion and garlic and saute until tender, about 4 minutes. Add the curry paste and ginger and stir until you can smell the spices. Stir in the bell pepper, then add the broth and coconut milk and bring to a gentle simmer (do not let the mixture boil or it might separate or curdle). Add the fish sauce or soy sauce, and the cauliflower. Simmer for 5 minutes, until the cauliflower starts to become tender. Add the pork and the chickpeas and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 7 to 10 minutes, until the pork is cooked and the cauliflower is tender. Stir in the basil and lime juice and serve over the hot rice, with the lime wedges on the side to squeeze over. ___ Nutrition information per serving: 644 calories; 382 calories from fat; 42 g fat (22 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 105 mg cholesterol; 963 mg sodium; 25 g carbohydrate; 7 g fiber; 5 g sugar; 44 g protein.___ Katie Workman has written two cookbooks focused on easy, family-friendly cooking, "Dinner Solved!" and "The Mom 100 Cookbook." She blogs at http://www.themom100.com/about-katie-workman/ GARY Police asked for help Wednesday locating a person of interest in a bank robbery in the citys Miller section. Police want to question Jeffery D. Watkins, 29, in connection with a robbery Monday at Centier Bank in the 600 block of Lake Street, according to a news release. Watkins also has an active warrant on unrelated charges. Gary police responded to the bank about 10:50 a.m. Monday for a robbery, Lt. Dawn Westerfield said. A man entered the bank and passed a teller a note implying he had a weapon and demanding money, she said. He left on foot and headed south on Lake Street, police said. Watkins was described at 5-foot-10 and 205 pounds with hazel eyes and black hair. A photo shows facial hair, but he may be clean-shaven now, police said. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Justin Clark at (219) 240-5474. To remain anonymous, call (866) CRIME-GP. VALPARAISO A former inmate at Porter County Jail has filed suit claiming she was denied treatment for cancer during her month behind bars and her disease progressed to a terminal stage as a result. Brandi White, of Chesterton, is seeking an unspecified amount of money from Porter County, Sheriff Dave Reynolds, unknown officers and Correct Care Solutions, which was hired by the county to provide medical care to inmates, according to the suit. White said she was arrested on several charges and locked up at the jail on May 23. She said she told officials with the jail and Correct Care Solutions at the time that she was receiving treatment for cancer and needed medical care. Porter County refused to provide Brandi White with medical treatment for the month she was incarcerated, according to the lawsuit. As a result, the cancer that Brandi White was being treated for prior to her incarceration has progressed and is now terminal. The sheriffs department declined comment on the pending litigation. The lawsuit accuses the sheriffs department of breaching its duty to provide adequate and reasonable medical care to Brandi White. As a result of said breach, Brandi White suffered damages, incurred medical expenses, endured pain and suffering, physical injury and a dramatically shortened life expectancy, according to the suit. The sheriffs department and Correct Care Solutions are further accused of violating Whites Constitutional rights. White is charged with possessing cocaine, two paraphernalia charges and a couple driving-related violations, according to court records. Her case is set for trial Oct. 24. VALPARAISO The defense has failed to convince a local judge to drop nearly half of the 19 charges in the fraud case against former local real estate agent Donald Johnson. Porter Superior Court Judge Roger Bradford rejected the request Wednesday without a detailed explanation. The judge said only that he reviewed arguments from both sides in the case and earlier case law. A status hearing was set for Oct. 3. An attorney with the Indiana secretary of states office warned last week of dire consequences for consumers if the defense had succeeded in erasing the charges on the grounds they were filed beyond the five-year statute of limitations. Matt Kestian said a dismissal would set the stage for others to avoid prosecution by setting up long-term investments that would conceal wrongdoing by maturing after the statute of limitations, which is the period following a crime when criminal charges can be filed. That cant be the law, he said. The law allows for criminal charges to be filed beyond the statute of limitation period, if it can be shown a defendant concealed a crime, Kestian said. He accused Johnson of concealing his crime by not registering as an agent and not registering the securities, which left the state with no way of discovering that unlawful acts occurred between two private parties. Johnson also structured the securities to mature many years down the road. The charges accuse Johnson, of Porter, of bilking former clients, co-workers and even fellow church members out of hundreds of thousands of dollars by illegally soliciting and investing their money, which went missing without investors being immediately informed, according to court records. Johnson, 51, is charged with 17 felony counts of selling unregistered securities and selling securities without having the proper registration, according to court records. He also faces felony counts of forgery and theft. Defense attorney James Koch, of Chicago, argued last week the crime is alleged to have occurred in 2007 and 2008, yet the charges were not filed until 2014. Prosecutors knew as early as January 2012 that Johnson may have committed a crime and interviewed him later that same year, Koch said. There is no evidence Johnson took any specific action to conceal a crime, such as manipulating financial records or burying evidence, he said. Koch said the prosecutors claim that investors would have no reason to believe that a crime has been committed until an investment has matured and no payment is made is flawed. Any prudent investor could use the several tools at his or her disposal to check the licensing and registration of both the alleged securities broker and the securities, he said. Furthermore, the investors ignorance to the fact that a crime has been committed, in itself, cannot stop the statute of limitations from running. EAST CHICAGO Charges have been brought against a couple accused of leaving two children alone in a car while gambling at the Ameristar Casino. Alfredo Flores, 29, of Hammond, and Christina Pedraza, 26, of East Chicago, have each been charged with neglect of two counts of neglect of a dependent a level six felony. The two were arrested on preliminary charges of child endangerment after the East Chicago Police Department got a call at around 6:30 Sunday that two infant children were in distress and left alone in a vehicle outside the casino on Lake Michigan. East Chicago officers arrived at the casino Sunday night and found a 3-month-old child and a 1-year-old child alone in a car, according to a probable cause affidavit. The doors were unlocked and the windows were rolled all the way up according to a police report. About five minutes after police arrived, the mother came out of the casino and told police she left the kids with their father, according to the affidavit. About 10 minutes later, he emerged and said he went inside to use the bathroom. Security footage at the casino showed both had been playing table games for 20 minutes. The temperature in East Chicago climbed as high as 78 degrees Sunday, according to the Weather Channel. At that temperature, the inside of a car can reach 99 degrees in 10 minutes and 114 degrees in half an hour, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Child Protective Services took custody of both children. MERRILLVILLE Charges have been brought against a 22-year-old suspect accused of robbing First Merchants Bank on Monday. Juan Santiago Rivera Jr., 22, of Merrillville, was arrested Tuesday, a day after Merrillville police were dispatched at about 11 a.m. Monday to the bank at 6101 Harrison St. for a robbery. He has been charged with robbery through the Lake County prosecutors office, according to a Merrillville Police Department news release. According to police, Rivera had passed a note to a teller demanding money, the teller complied and he left with an undisclosed amount of money. During the investigation, police reviewed video from the bank and surrounding businesses and developed a suspect, Cmdr. Jeff Rice said. The vehicle used in the robbery was located at Rivera's residence at the Tiberon Trails apartment complex in Calumet Township, where he was taken into custody and a search warrant was executed, police said. Police said a large sum of money was recovered from Riveras residence. Also located in the home were several bills that had previously been recorded as bait money, a mechanism that aides with the tracing of bank robbers. Those bills were also found with serial numbers previously recorded by the bank for the bait money bills, according to police. Rice credited good detective work for the quick arrest. Times reporter Lauren Cross contributed to this report. VALPARAISO Its been a summer packed with lies factoring in the presidential election and the Summer Olympics, Valparaiso University president Mark Heckler said. Maybe historians will call it the summer of deceit, Heckler said in reference to lies told by Olympics swimmers and politicians. Heckler, whose speech was titled Pursuit of Truth, welcomed new students, faculty and administrators during the 88th convocation at Valparaiso Universitys Chapel of the Resurrection on Tuesday afternoon. Truth seeking is something that is strongly encouraged by students who attend Valparaiso University, Heckler said. While here you will seek the truth and you will have the chance to deepen your own faith and learn about the faith of others, Heckler said. Heckler said the freshman class, the class of 2020, is made up of top students, gifted musicians and great athletes. Incoming freshmen represent some 20 nations, including Saudi Arabia and Mexico, and come from all over the United States, including Hawaii. The majority of the class is pursuing Bachelor of Science degrees, but many others are pursuing degrees in nursing and health, engineering, and business, Heckler said. And some are still undecided, Heckler said. Heckler said the incoming class listed their professional goals when applying for Valparaiso University and they include visions of becoming teachers, engineers or journalists. Some listed very specific goals such as wanting to work for Google, Disney or Microsoft or to be a meteorologist on the Today show, Heckler said. Heckler also gave a rundown of the many activities the class had been involved with during the summer, including traveling and service-related trips. There are 1,075 freshman and transfer students this year. God has blessed us with an exceptional class. Welcome. Were thrilled to have you, Heckler said. The ceremony included scripture reading, recognition of newly-tenured members of the faculty, recognition of faculty and staff who have served the university for 25, 30 and 40 years, and the signing of the honor code which expresses the promise of the student not to cheat through either action or inaction. Nura E. Zaki, Valparaiso University student body president, told fellow students she was so glad they chose to come to Valparaiso University. It truly was a choice, Zaki said. Zaki said the 3,183 students who comprise the universitys total enrollment come in all shapes and sizes and beliefs, and each has his or her own story. Valparaiso University is some place you can come with all of you and all of us trust in the process, Zaki said. Zaki likened fellow students as being part of the new students new family, with there sometimes being conflicted views just as in a family. But new students need to learn and grow from disagreements that might come about. You have a place at the table, Zaki said. HAMMOND A frequent critic of Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. has a new complaint against the mayors campaign. John Lefty Nauracy, of East Chicago-based Johns Automotive Network, submitted a two-page complaint, Tuesday to the Lake County elections board. It alleges the mayors re-election campaign has failed to account in its recent public finance reports for rent payments to the Musicians Guild Local 203 building, 7414 Indianapolis Blvd. Mayor McDermott and his wife, Marissa McDermott, the Democratic nominee for Lake Circuit Court judge, have both used the union hall as their campaign headquarters. Nauracy filed a string of election complaints against McDermott last year that were all dismissed by the elections board. McDermott responded Tuesday, saying, Hes wrong. This complaint will be dismissed in five minutes. McDermott said his re-election campaign paid $13,000 in advance rent to the guild when he was running for mayor. He said further payments recently shifted to his wifes judicial campaign. He has no credibility. He is a felon who went to prison for lying, McDermott said. Nauracy was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison in the mid-1990s after pleading guilty in Chicago federal court to a mail fraud charge stemming from allegations he made false insurance claims on reportedly stolen vehicles, according to federal court records. INDIANAPOLIS State judges and lawyers are likely to consider whether to continue permitting news reporters and others to live tweet criminal trials using the Twitter online social networking service. A three-judge panel of the Indiana Court of Appeals called Wednesday for the Hoosier legal community to re-evaluate its understanding of broadcasting, and decide how to regulate courtroom use of social media platforms by spectators and trial participants including jurors. When the ethics rules regarding broadcasting were written, social media was a vastly different medium than today, wrote Judge Margret Robb. Given the rapidly evolving relationship between Twitter and our judicial system, we believe it is time for all appropriate judicial, attorney and ethics committees to come together to specifically address these concerns. The Twitter issue was raised in an appeal of an Evansville triple murder conviction. Christopher Compton, 34, was sentenced last year to 200 years in prison for starting a 2014 house fire that killed Keri Jones, 28, Jazmine Jones, 3, and Donald Lankford, 76. During Comptons trial, Vanderburgh Superior Judge Robert Pigman authorized a local reporter to tweet about courtroom proceedings after he advised jurors and witnesses not to use the internet to gather information about the case. Compton argued in his appeal that the live tweeting was equivalent to broadcasting the trial, which generally is not permitted in Indiana, and that it violated his right to due process by inherently prejudicing the jury against him. The appeals court unanimously rejected the argument that tweeting is inherently prejudicial, since the U.S. Supreme Court has declined to find that even television broadcasting of a trial is automatically contrary to a defendants interests. It also affirmed Comptons convictions and sentence after finding no indication that Compton was harmed in any way by the live tweeting and that the evidence against him was overwhelming. At the same time, the court left unresolved the question of whether live tweeting is broadcasting, while also noting that Twitter use by prosecutors and jurors in other states has led to mistrials. The pretrial instructions in this case did not instruct the jury not to refrain from seeking information through social media applications. Rather, the instructions merely instructed the jurors not to receive information from the internet, Robb said. Given how easily one may access the internet in this technological age, we fear such an instruction may not be specific enough to deter jurors from using Twitter now and in the future. As a result, she said, the state court system needs to decide how to approach the use of social media during criminal trials. VALPARAISO A request for more money for overtime pay may have backfired Tuesday night for the two directors of the Porter County Voter Registration office and perhaps other top employees in county government. Porter County Human Resources Director Pamela Courtney said it was her understanding that Republican Voter Director Sundae Schoon and Democratic Director Kathy Kozuszek are exempt as salaried employees, and thus should not continue receiving overtime pay. Courtney said there is a big misunderstanding about these classifications in other departments of county government as well. The discussion surfaced when Schoon presented the Porter County Council with a request for $25,000 more in overtime pay this year for her office. She said the overtime pay, and a corresponding request for $20,000 more for part-time help, was needed because of a particularly busy election year and an increased work load caused by a state mandate to update voter registration records. As council members questioned how the money would be spent, Schoon said an unspecified amount of the overtime money would be paid to her and Kozuszek. She said she and Kozuszek have worked 35-hour work weeks like other county employees and have received overtime pay for years. Councilman Bob Poparad, D-at-large, questioned how the pairs overtime share has been figured considering they are not paid an hourly wage. Councilman Jim Biggs, R-1st, said he is not in favor of paying exempt employees overtime, but they should be paid a fair wage and that may need adjusting. Following a lengthy discussion on how to address the issue, the council agreed to approve the request for the part-time employee pay and table the overtime request. The group planned to explore the issue and come back next month to, as Poparad put it, clean up the situation. Poparad asked that a determination also be made whether the chief deputies in the other various departments of county government are eligible for overtime pay. President and CEO of Sony Mobile Communication Hiroki Totoki presents the new Sony Xperia X device on the opening day of the World Mobile Congress at the Fira Gran Via Complex on Feb. 22, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo : Getty Images/ David Ramos) Sony has officially confirmed the list of Sony Xperia smartphones that will get the latest Android 7.0 Nougat update. The update will be rolled out to new Sony Xperia X series smartphones and recent flagships from the company. Google has started the official roll out of Android 7.0 Nougat update to Nexus devices. Other smartphone OEMs will soon confirm the list of devices that will be upgraded to Android 7.0 Nougat. Sony has already jumped the gun and confirmed the list of devices that will get the latest Android version. Advertisement The following smartphones from Sony will receive the Android N update: Sony Xperia X Sony Xperia XA Sony Xperia XA Ultra Sony Xperia X Performance Sony Xperia Z5 Premium Sony Xperia Z5 Compact Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet Sony Xperia Z3+ Along with the latest Android OS, the update will also bring along new features and functionality for better user experience, the Sony Mobile blog reported. It is interesting to note that the above list does not include the Sony Xperia E5 smartphone was launched in June. Since it is one of the newest devices from Sony, it will also release Android N to it in the future. Sony has not revealed any information on when the update will be made available to the aforementioned devices. Owners of Sony Xperia X Performance can now try the preview version of the Android N OS by joining the Xperia Beta Program. This program is only available to limited users of Xperia X Performance in regions like Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Iceland, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Netherland, Phone Arena reported. Hence, Xperia X Performance owners are advised to register soon to secure a place in the Xperia Beta Program. Sony had unveiled the new Xperia X lineup at the beginning of this year to replace the older Xperia Z series. Speculations have it that it will unveil a new flagship smartphone at the upcoming IFA 2016 event in September. The rumored device is named as Sony Xperia XR and the specs of the device have been already revealed by the rumor mill. It is expected to feature 5.1-inch display, a Snapdragon 820 chipset, a USB Type-C, 4K video shooting support on front and rear cameras. Here are all the new features that will arrive with Android N: VALPARAISO Valparaiso aims to designate a creative district in the city, which may result in improvement grants. The Valparaiso City Council voted 7-0 Monday to petition the Indiana Arts Commission to designate the creative district as a statewide cultural district. The purpose of the district, as stated in the councils resolution, is to promote the exploration of arts and humanities through cultural experiences unique to the Valparaiso community. The district encompasses the areas between Valparaiso University and Campbell Street, where the core of the district is a five-block portion of Indiana Avenue between Morgan Boulevard and Napoleon St. Planning director Tyler Kent said the designation would serve as a marketing tool for the city, as no funding is currently available for district improvements. However, Kent said the commission is working to obtain funding for grants in the upcoming year, and the city would be eligible to apply for those grants. Kent said Valparaiso, if approved by the commission, would join the cities of Carmel, Columbus, Bloomington, and Madison which have such a district. Valparaiso resident Walt Breitinger addressed the council at the end of the meeting, asking that the old Valpo Tech building at Lincolnway and Center streets, which he owns, be included in the creative district. Describing himself as a dedicated historic preservationist, Breitinger, said he is making progress on his goal to convert the building into the Valparaiso Center for the Arts. We should work hard to preserve our own historical buildings, said Breitinger. Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas reminded Breitinger the council had already approved the application to the commission to designate the district, and that he should talk to Tyler about extending the boundaries. Clerk-Treasurer Sharon Swihart praised Breitingers efforts and the building, encouraging council members to go see it. Its a great old building, Swihart said. Most urban planners know the benefits of developing areas around transportation hubs. But no one wants to invest in a transportation district surrounded by dilapidated buildings that signal blight, rather than opportunity. So the desire of the Gary Redevelopment Commission to create a facade improvement program aimed at sprucing up buildings near the city's transit hubs is welcome news. The commission wants to partner with the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority in offering up to $45,000 grants to beautify buildings within a half mile of transit areas, including Gary's Metro Center, the Miller train station and a planned rapid bus station in University Park. To obtain the full $45,000, grant recipients would need to use Gary contractors for the facade work. Another $10,000 in matching grant money could be sought by recipients five years later if they show proper facade maintenance in that time period. The program would be available to both businesses and residences within the transit areas. We appreciate that the money behind the grant program would begin with $530,000 in money left over from the scandal-plagued, now-defunct Gary Urban Enterprise Association. The GUEA was created in 1985 to channel money to one of Gary's poorest neighborhoods. But a 2004 Times investigation revealed former GUEA Director Jojuana Meeks used the money for personal perks, including a luxury car, and charged more than $163,000 while authorizing over-payments to herself and other GUEA officials. Ultimately, Meeks and eight other GUEA officials or employees were federally convicted of financial crimes, and the attorney general seized GUEA accounts. Now Gary and the RDA are looking to channel the money of what was once a corrupt stain into something beautiful for the city. RDA President and CEO Bill Hanna said the grants would further the goal of beautifying transit areas while respecting and restoring historic architecture. We encourage the agencies behind the facade plan to seek ways to include the area surrounding the Gary/Chicago International Airport in their beautification blueprint. The blighted, crumbling area surrounding the airport provides no sense of arrival for anyone using the facility or potential investors. Hanna told us his agency would like to see aesthetically pleasing boulevards and streetscaping near the airport for this very purpose. Gary's location makes it a natural place for transportation improvements. The facade grant program puts the city on the right track for that purpose. ANKARA, Turkey Turkey signaled Tuesday it would step up its engagement in the Syrian war, as Turkish-backed Syrian rebels massed along the border to assault one of the last Syrian frontier towns held by Islamic State militants. Foreign Minister Mevlet Cavusolgu pledged every kind of support for operations against IS along a 100-kilometer (62-mile) stretch of Syrian frontier, putting the NATO member on track for a confrontation with U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters in Syria, who have been the most effective force against IS and who are eyeing the same territory. Cavusolgu said Turkey would support twin operations stretching from the Syrian town of Afrin in the northwest, which is already controlled by Kurdish forces, to Jarablus, in the central north, which is held by the Islamic State group. It is important that the terror organizations are cleansed from the region, Cavusolgu said in a joint news conference with his Hungarian counterpart. Turkish artillery shelled Jarablus for the second consecutive day as reports circulated that Turkish-backed Syrian rebels were preparing to storm the town, a vital supply line and the last border point that directly connects the Islamic State group with Turkey and the outside world. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said some 500 Syrian rebels were massed on the Turkish side of the border in preparation for an assault, including local fighters from Jarablus. One rebel at the border told the BBC the number was as high as 1,500 fighters. The latest developments have thrust the town into the spotlight of the ongoing Syrian civil war. Jarablus, which lies on the western bank of the Euphrates River where it crosses from Turkey into Syria, is one of the last important IS-held towns standing between Kurdish-controlled areas in northern Syria. Located 20 miles (33 kilometers) from the town of Manbij, which was liberated from IS by Kurdish-led forces earlier this month, taking control of Jarablus and the IS-held town of al-Bab to the south would be a significant step toward linking up border areas under Kurdish control east and west of the Euphrates River. Turkey has increased security measures on its border with Syria, deploying tanks and armored personnel carriers in recent days. On Tuesday, residents of the Turkish town of Karkamis, across the border from Jarablus, were told to evacuate after three mortars believed to be fired by IS militants landed there, Turkeys Dogan news agency said. Turkey has vowed to fight IS militants at home and to cleanse the group from its borders after a weekend suicide bombing at a Kurdish wedding in southern Turkey killed at least 54 people, many of them children. Turkish officials have blamed IS for the attack. Ankara is also concerned about the growing power of U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish forces, who it says are linked to Kurdish groups waging an insurgency in southeastern Turkey. The Kurdish-led group known as the Syria Democratic Forces, or SDF, recaptured Manbij from IS earlier this month, triggering concerns in Ankara that Kurdish forces would seize the entire border strip with Turkey. The U.S. says it has embedded some 300 special forces with the SDF, and British special forces have also been spotted advising the group. Syrian activists, meanwhile, said that hundreds of Turkish-backed Syrian opposition fighters were gathered in the Turkish border area near Karkamis in preparation for an attack on Jarablus. Nasser Haj Mansour, an SDF official on the Syrian side of the border, said the fighters gathering in Turkey include terrorists as well as Turkish special forces. He declined to comment on whether the SDF would send fighters to the town, but an SDF statement said the Syrian Kurdish force was prepared to defend the country against any plans for a direct or indirect occupation. The reports and rhetoric appeared to set up a confrontation between the SDF, the most effective U.S. proxy in Syria, and NATO ally Turkey. A rebel commander affiliated with the SDF was killed shortly after broadcasting a statement announcing the formation of the so-called Jarablus Military Council and vowing to protect civilians in Jarablus from Turkish aggression. Abdel-Sattar al-Jader was shot by unknown gunmen late Monday, an hour after he accused Turkey of mobilizing fighters and terrorists for an assault on Jarablus. Al-Jader had pledged to resist Turkish efforts to take control of the city and warned Ankara against further aggression. The Jarablus Military Council blamed the killing on Turkish security agents. There was no immediate comment from Turkey. Haj Mansour said two suspects were in custody but declined to comment on their identities. The Kurds outsized role in the Syrian civil war is a source of concern for the Syrian government as well. Fierce clashes erupted between the two sides over control of the northeastern province of Hasakeh last week, and Syrian warplanes bombed Kurdish positions for the first time, prompting the U.S. to scramble its jets to protect American troops in the area. The Syrian government and the Kurds agreed on a cease-fire Tuesday, six days after the clashes erupted. The Kurdish Hawar News Agency said government forces agreed to withdraw from Hasakeh as part of the truce. Syrian state media did not mention any withdrawal, saying only that the two sides had agreed to evacuate the wounded and exchange detainees. Government and Kurdish forces have shared control of Hasakeh since the early years of the Syrian war. Meanwhile, the Syrian army and its allies intensified their attacks on militant positions around the so-called military college in the northern city of Aleppo. A video obtained by The Associated Press showed air raids, shelling and firing on the complex, which was taken over by al-Qaida-affiliated fighters earlier this month. Plumes of smoke were seen billowing overhead. Russias Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said in emailed comments on Tuesday that Russia and the Syrian government will announce the first 48-hour humanitarian break in hostilities in Aleppo as soon as they receive an official request from the U.N. envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura. Though her body hasn't been found, police say the tragic end for a Bronx woman who went missing weeks ago has been revealed, and her boyfriend is behind bars. NY1's Jose Martinez has the details. Juana Alvarez hadn't been seen around her Grand Concourse apartment building since July and two weeks ago, a missing persons report was filed for the 52-year-old mother. On Tuesday, authorities revealed why. 44-year-old Miguel Bonilla was charged with fatally stabbing her inside this second-floor apartment. "They seemed like they had a good relationship, there seemed like nothing out of the ordinary," said one neighbor who spoke to NY1. "What's strange to me is that if you was her boyfriend, you was so concerned about her, why you didn't look for her? Where were you? What you was doing?" Bronx prosecutors said Bonilla admitted on video that he killed Alvarez. They said he stabbed her in the head and chest with a knife he had hidden beneath a pillow. This after police at the 44th Precinct said they were tipped off by one of his friends on Monday morning that he had confessed to the killing during a phone call. Authorities said they also have surveillance video of Bonilla taking a shopping cart out of the apartment building with what they believe is the victim's towel-covered body inside. "I thought it was really crazy that this happened right next door," said another neighbor. Neighbors described Bonilla as a quiet man who had been making himself scarce around the building in the weeks since Alvarez was last seen. "I don't know what happen," said Sandra Ceaprain, a friend of the victim. "He don't look like a bad guy." Police sources painted a different picture of Bonilla, saying he was arrested 15 times from 1986 through 2012, on charges that included drug possession, attempted robbery and criminal trespassing. Cops say he was arrested in connection with this incident after jumping a subway turnstile at Penn Station. "She was a nice person, didn't deserve to die like that," said another neighbor. "He should have never did that to her." In addition to the second-degree murder charge, Bonilla is also accused of manslaughter and weapons possession. Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson on Wednesday announced he has agreed to pay a $15,000 fine for improper meal expense payments. The Conflicts of Interest Board says between January 2014 and May 2014, Thompson used more than $2,000 in office funds to buy food. He repaid the money two months later. But Thompson also used nearly $1,500 in office funds to purchase dinner and weekend meals from January 2014 to February of last year. In some cases, investigators say he made his security detail use their own money to buy him food. The District Attorney's office reimbursed the staff for nearly $2,000, but the report finds some of the payments were delayed. A spokesperson for Thompson released a statement on his behalf saying, "I accept complete responsibility for this violation and regret that it occurred. As recognized by the Board, the Charter violation occurred in the early part of my term as the Kings County District Attorney, while I was focused primarily on organizing my Office and as new fiscal policies were being implemented." A 42-year-old volunteer firefighter who received a groundbreaking face transplant at a Manhattan hospital meets with reporters for the first time to share his story. Our Michael Herzenberg has the story. "I do whatever I want to do," said Patrick Hardison. "I get them out of school we ride four wheelers we do we always like to have fun." Hardison is living life again, after a historic face transplant. Doctors initially gave him a 50-50 chance of survival. But he's gone a year now without his body rejecting his new face, a crucial milestone. The father of five's biggest challenge now sounds refreshingly mundane. "Well, I got five kids so that's every day is a challenge, I don't really have any challenge the challenge was before the surgery," Hardison said. Hardison was a volunteer firefighter in Mississippi in 2001 when a burning roof collapsed on him destroying his face. He says for 14 years he struggled to even cope with each day. Those are memories his children would rather forget. "It was hard people staring at him and having to worry if kids were gonna run away being scared and just hearing screams," said Cullen Hardison. Then last year, a 26-year-old from Brooklyn died in a bicycle accident, and his face was donated. It was a life changing decision for Hardison. "When he called to tell us that we had a donor he was like 'I'm gonna get to look normal walking you down the aisle' and I was like that's the least of my worries right now," said Patrick's daughter Alison. Doctors at NYU-Langone Medical Center performed the 26-hour face transplant last August, using the donor's face, scalp, ears, ear canals, eyelids and some skull bones. "Patrick looks like his children because of the selection of the donor but also because of the underlying structure or matrix or skeleton," said Hardison's surgeon Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez. NYU says there have been more than three dozen similar procedures around the world but this was the first to include the scalp and functional eyelids. "The amount of soft tissue that was transplanted has been the largest about that's been performed in a face transplant," Dr. Rodriguez said. "Now we know that this can be performed safely, reliably." Doctors have reduced Hardison's regimen of rejection drugs and they say in the next year swelling will come down in his face. He hopes to work again soon with a mission to give people with facial injuries hope. City investigators say the NYPD failed to comply with its own rules when it comes to investigating terrorism cases, nearly all of which targeted Muslims or people involved in activities associated with Islam. But the police department is actually celebrating the findings, arguing that the overall message is that the department is doing its job properly and without ulterior motives. Our Grace Rauh has more. When the Police Department opens an investigation into a terrorism case, officers have a fixed period of time in which to do their work. At a certain point the official authorization of an investigation expires. But a report from the city's Department of Investigation - conducted by the NYPD Inspector General - found that more than half of the time, police forged ahead with their probes anyway... ignoring the rules that govern the way they handle investigations into potential terror and political activities. "It's possible to keep the city safe and to follow the rules," said Philip Eure, NYPD Inspector General. The report chided the Police Department for using confidential informants and undercover officers even after approval of those sources had expired. And the NYPD came under fire for only vaguely describing the role an undercover officer would play in an investigation. "These failures cannot be dismissed or minimized as paperwork or administrative errors," the report said. However, the NYPD was actually celebrating the report, zeroing in on the finding that they had valid and factual reasons for opening the terror-related investigations in question. "I think if we look at it objectively, what we got here was an extraordinarily helpful clean bill of health and some good recommendations about how to improve tracking processes," said John Miller, the department's Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence and Counterterrorism. The investigations commissioner argued that the praise the department heaped on itself seemed to miss the point. "To say that this was a clean bill of health was to paint with too broad a brush stroke," said Department of Investigations Commissioner Mark Peters. "We did find that the NYPD was able to state a valid factual basis for opening their investigations and that's really important. On the other hand we also found that a lot of the rules designed to make sure that we don't pose a risk to constitutional rights were not getting followed all of the time." The inspector general and commissioner say that going forward they will be keeping close tabs on the NYPD to ensure the department is following all the rules. As Overton worked earlier this year on his own exercise in accounting, I asked Nic Marsh, a researcher at the Peace Research Institute Oslo, to take a crack at the same tally, but using other sources he tracks, most notably export data from the European Union and American military inspector-general reports. Marshs back-of-the-envelope total for the two wars also exceeded the Pentagons by a large margin. By examining declared arms transfers from Europe, he found official reported totals of more than 465,000 firearms provided by the Pentagon to Afghanistan since 2001. Marsh said the exports included weapons from Albania, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Montenegro, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and the United States. He also found at least another 628,000 firearms exported to Iraq from 2003 to 2014, from a similar list of nations, plus Bosnia, Estonia, France, Latvia and Turkey. His Iraq count does not include almost 300,000 more firearms that he suspects were moved there for the Pentagon but for which the records are not quite clear. The number is much larger than 628,000, he said, but we are not certain the exact number exported from Bosnia. The weapons sent from Europe to Iraq, and the crates of ammunition necessary to keep them fed, filled cargo planes though Marsh said the available data also does not say how many were directly paid for by the United States, as opposed to those bought by Iraqi ministries with American-donated funds or those donated by countries unloading old stock. This is an important observation, because the latter two categories state-to-state gifts via American handlers or otherwise and firearms purchased directly by Afghanistan or Iraq might not be in Overtons final count. This is one of many reasons to suspect that the 1.45 million tally might understate the real quantity of weapons disbursements during a long run of years when the Pentagon played the role in Afghanistan and Iraq of small-arms provider. It could be twice as much, as far as we know, Overton said last Friday, not entirely in jest. Overtons analysis also does not account for many weapons issued by the American military to local forces by other means, including the reissue of captured weapons, which was a common and largely undocumented practice. Adding to the suspicion that the number is even larger, Overton is certain that his tally missed shipments, because the data that the Defense Department made available was incomplete or laden with contradictions that were not readily reconciled. For example, the contracts it released were for more than $6.5 million or $7 million, depending on the year. Overton suspects that this hides many smaller purchases. And the contract data often labeled purchases vaguely, sometimes making it difficult to determine exactly what was bought, much less for whom. The Pentagons data, in short, did not declare much of what the Pentagon actually bought. One point is inarguable: Many of these weapons did not remain long in government possession after arriving in their respective countries. In one of many examples, a 2007 Government Accountability Office report found that 110,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles and 80,000 pistols bought by the United States for Iraqs security forces could not be accounted for more than one firearm for every member of the entire American military force in Iraq at any time during the war. Those documented lapses of accountability were before entire Iraqi divisions simply vanished from the battlefield, as four of them did after the Islamic State seized Mosul and Tikrit in 2014, according to a 2015 Army budget request to buy more firearms for the Iraqi forces to replace what was lost. These spectacular losses were on top of the more gradual drain that many veterans of the wars watched firsthand including such scams as Afghan National Army recruits showing up for training and disappearing after rifles were issued. They were leaving, soldiers suspected, to sell their weapons. On the outposts where American troops and Afghan and Iraqi units worked together, the local units were often a fraction of their reported strength and dwindled as ever more national police officers or soldiers disappeared or deserted, vanishing with their firearms. The American arming of Syrian rebels, by both the Central Intelligence Agency and the Defense Department, has also been troubled by questions of accountability and outright theft in a war where the battlefield is thick with jihadists aligned with Al Qaeda or fighting under the banner of the Islamic State. By this year, various internet arms traders, including many on Facebook, were hawking a seemingly unending assortment of weapons of obvious American origin, including the M4 offered by Hussein Mahyawi, whose Facebook profile spoke of his background in interior design. In April, after being approached by The New York Times and reviewing data from Armament Research Services, a private arms-investigation consultancy, Facebook closed many pages in the Middle East that were serving as busy arms bazaars, including pages in Syria and Iraq on which firearms with Pentagon origins accounted for a large fraction of the visible trade. Hussein Mahyawis profiled vanished. But many new arms-trading Facebook pages have since cropped up, including, according to their own descriptions, virtual markets operating from Baghdad and Karbala. The trade goes on. Life is bleak in Gomorrah, the popular Italian series about the underbelly of Naples. LeBron James helps revive a struggling neighborhood in Cleveland Hustles. And Cate Blanchett clutches her pearls after her wealth is depleted in Blue Jasmine. Whats on TV GOMORRAH 10 p.m. on Sundance. Italys most popular television series arrives in the United States. An expanded version of the 2009 film, based on the book of the same title by Roberto Saviano, it follows the Camorra, a Neapolitan crime organization, from the perspective of Ciro Di Marzio (Marco DAmore), who sits at the right hand of the clans godfather, Pietro Savastano (Fortunato Cerlino). Two of the 12 episodes will be shown each week. In Part 1, Ciro defends his clans turf by setting fire to the home of a rival mob boss and war ensues. With hints of The Wire and traditional Mafia melodrama, the combination is handled so adroitly that the show sucks you in, Mike Hale wrote in The New York Times. The Securities and Exchange Commission has been scrutinizing private equity for several years, concerned that firms are not always transparent with their investors. Theyve had plenty to chew on, but it seems the misbehavior has continued nevertheless. On Tuesday, the S.E.C. fined Apollo Global Management about $53 million over accusations the firm misled investors on two issues and failed to supervise a senior executive suspected of misconduct. The executive was caught improperly charging personal items and services to Apollo funds, the S.E.C. said. The Financial Times identified the executive as Ali Rashid, a former partner. It seems to fit a pattern. A common theme in our recent enforcement actions against private equity firms is their failure to properly disclose fees and conflicts of interest to fund investors, said Andrew J. Ceresney, the S.E.C.s head of enforcement. Apollo now joins a list of around 10 private equity firms that have faced S.E.C. action, including Blackstone and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Company. In this handout from NASA, the planet Saturn is seen backlit by the sun, sent Cassini spacecraft July 19, 2013 in space. NASA unvieled the image, that spans 404,880 miles (651,591 kilometers) across, November 12, 2013. (Photo : Getty Images/NASA/JPL-Caltech/SSI) NASA has been working on a number of missions in the past few years and finding life on other planets is one of them. Now it seems like the American space agency has finally made a breakthrough with a NASA scientist claiming that Saturn already has an intelligent alien form living on its rings. Advertisement NASA scientists Normal Bergrun has claimed that Saturn's ring has been already a breeding ground for a number of unidentified flying objects (UFO)s, Nature World News reports. In fact, Bergrun believes that "living alien UFO spaceships" are already multiplying the planet's rings and that they have reached "critical levels." Bergrun was once a part of NASA's Ames Research Center. The renowned NASA engineer has been interviewed a number of times in the past about the status of the solar system and the traces of life discovered so far and the scientist who has worked on many top-secret level projects has definite claims to make about Saturn. The scientists became famous for his "pet theory," which states that aliens and UFOs already exist in the solar system, however, the astronomers and scientists are yet to identify them. Out of the three ringed planets in the solar system - Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus - Bergrun claimed to have discovered evidence of life on Saturn's rings. The initial findings were published in "Ringmakers of Saturn" back in 1986. In the book, Bergrun was the first one to theorize that rings on the three planets were purposefully created to act as a source of energy for the aliens and the UFOs. The theory has not been accepted by NASA as yet, however, there are a number of scientists and astronomers who believe that it's true. "What I found out is, these things inhabit Saturn, that's where I first discovered them, and they're proliferating. You can [also] find them around Uranus and Jupiter," Bergrun told the publication. "Wherever you see some rings, that is where I see the crafts, I call them a ringmaker." Meanwhile, NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab engineer Kevin Gill has created an image of the interaction between Saturn's rings and Daphnis, which is planet's one of the smallest moons. According to Daily Mail, the image shows Daphnis inducing a wavy pattern across the edge of the planet's rings. The following video talks about alien ships proliferating in Saturn's rings: The vast majority of the local transmissions hit a dead end after one or two people in one household, Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a briefing last week. While the Pinellas case could still turn into a cluster, state officials took pains to say they do not have evidence of that yet. The Florida Department of Health still believes ongoing active transmission is only taking place within the small identified areas in Wynwood and Miami Beach in Miami-Dade County, Gov. Rick Scott said in a statement. Health officials have been warning for months that Zika, which can cause severe brain damage in babies born to women who contract it during pregnancy, would arrive in the continental United States. Despite the number of homegrown cases in Florida 42 as of Tuesday officials do not believe that the virus will spread explosively in the United States like it has in Latin America and the Caribbean. That is because the mosquitoes that carry it, the Aedes aegypti, are slow, and dont fly very far or live very long. In Brazil, where the virus has raged since last year, one infected bug can do a lot of damage because people live in close quarters. But in the United States, where people are more spread out and often sealed up in air-conditioned houses or cars, even if an infected mosquito manages to bite someone, it is unlikely that the insect will live long enough or fly far enough to bite another. At a recent Times Insider event, Jake Silverstein, the editor of The New York Times Magazine, discussed The Timess virtual reality initiative with Sam Dolnick, an associate editor; Jenna Pirog, a virtual reality editor; and Graham Roberts, a senior graphics editor. Virtual reality, the panelists all agreed, is in its early stages. In five years, in 10 years, theyll be making movies about this moment, and people looking through Cardboard will be one of these ridiculous laugh lines that signals how silly and naive we all were, Mr. Dolnick said. But even in its nascency, virtual reality is a powerful journalistic tool. A lot of people have referred to virtual reality as an empathy machine, an empathy engine, Mr. Silverstein said. Its capable of triggering a sense of connection between you as a viewer and the people or the events that are in the film, because you feel as if youre present. As he sits in a jail in Kearny, N.J. he does not have the $75,000 to pay his bail John Cramsey makes no apologies for the journey that brought him there. The only thing he would have done differently before the mission to Brooklyn that ended in his arrest would have been to clear out his truck first, Mr. Cramsey said. If I got called to come back to New York and help another child out, would I? he said. Youre damn right I would. Mr. Cramsey, 51, and the two people he was traveling with, Dean Smith, 53, and Kimberly Arendt, 29, never made it to New York, where they were headed, Mr. Cramsey said, to rescue a 16-year-old girl in trouble. All three have been at the Hudson County Correctional Center since their arrest at the Holland Tunnel in June. The police said they found a cache of weapons and ammunition in the car, along with a small amount of marijuana, and some Valium and Xanax. Hundreds of police officers gathered along with family, friends, politicians and community leaders for a funeral Mass for Mr. Timoney, a man who was widely respected for his candor and for his knack for innovation in a law-enforcement career that stretched over decades. His coffin sat at the front of the sanctuary, draped in the green-and-white-striped flag of the department, where he had spent much of his career. Mr. Bratton said Mr. Timoney, who was born in Ireland and immigrated to New York when he was 12, was outside a bodega in Washington Heights in Upper Manhattan one day when he decided to follow some friends who were headed to take the test to become a police officer. And thus began Johns fateful career in American law enforcement, Mr. Bratton said. How fortunate for us, how fortunate for this great city. Mr. Timoney started as a police officer patrolling in the Bronx and ascended quickly in the department. In 1994, at 46, he became its youngest chief of department, the top uniformed post. The next year, Mr. Bratton, who was in his first run as commissioner, elevated him again, to first deputy commissioner. Mr. Timoney went on to become the police commissioner in Philadelphia and the chief in Miami. During the funeral service, Mr. Timoney was remembered for being just as comfortable talking with fellow officers as he was for discussing the finer points of policy. They lauded his efforts to drive down crime and his ability to connect with members of the community who had grown to distrust the police. Few in the citys political class felt the need to criticize the travels of a mayor who two years ago demonstrated his willingness to work hard but also take time off, and who has not been beholden to the workaholism of his predecessors, Michael R. Bloomberg and Rudolph W. Giuliani. Neither appeared to take a full week off during his term in office two decades of vacationless summers for the citys chief executive though Mr. Bloomberg, a billionaire, had other methods of relieving stress, frequently jetting to his Bermuda home on weekends. If theres a week to get away, its probably this one, said Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer of Queens, who sparred briefly with the mayor Thursday on Twitter after Mr. de Blasio, a fellow Democrat, told reporters he would be polite but firm with Mr. Van Bramer over his opposition to a City Hall-backed housing plan. I will disagree with him on some things, but Im certainly not going to begrudge him a vacation, Mr. Van Bramer said. So far, he said, the mayor had not called from the road to have that firm talk. Some, like Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, cloaked their comments in the ancient rhetorical art of declining to discuss something but then discussing it anyway. For me, I am not comfortable leaving the state, Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat, added in an able display of preterition with reporters on Monday. You wanna be the governor of New York? Be in New York." Others lamented that they could not find the time to get away even as they refused to comment on the mayors ability to do so. I dont have one planned right now, Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, a Queens Democrat, said when asked about her vacation. I did get to go to Long Island for, like, two nights. But one of those nights I was on a radio show, so I couldnt go out to dinner. That official, John J. Miller, the Police Departments deputy commissioner for intelligence and counterterrorism, said the office of the inspector general, Philip K. Eure, had given the Police Department very high marks on issues involving whether we were looking at the right people for the right reasons within the bounds of privacy guidelines. Members of Mr. Eures staff, as part of their inquiry, analyzed a set of cases closed from 2010 to 2015 but opened as early as 2004 to test for compliance with a set of safeguards known as the Handschu Guidelines. Those guidelines were created in response to a 1971 class-action lawsuit and are meant to protect political and religious activities from overreaching police surveillance. From a broad perspective, the inspector generals office found, the Police Department was always able to explain its rationale for new cases and always met the informational threshold required to open them. The report said that there was no evidence of improper motives on the departments part in those cases. The report said, however, that the failures that had been uncovered demonstrated the need for ongoing oversight of the department, and it included 11 new recommendations. Mr. Eure said that adopting the recommendations would give the public greater confidence in how the police operate. In January, Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat, agreed to appoint a civilian to monitor the departments counterterrorism activities as part of a settlement of two lawsuits claiming Handschu guidelines had been violated. That settlement has not yet been approved by a federal judge, according to the New York Civil Liberties Union, which represents plaintiffs in one of the suits. 1. A powerful earthquake in a mountainous stretch of central Italy devastated historic towns in three regions. The stunned mayor of one, Amatrice, reported that half the town no longer exists. More than 100 people were killed in the quake and its aftershocks, many more were injured, and more than 1,000 people are spending the night in emergency camps. Watch video from the scene. In the centuries that followed, accounting was joined by statistics, economics, surveys and a range of other numerical methods. But even as these methods expanded, they tended to be the preserve of small, tight-knit institutions, academic societies and professional associations who could uphold standards. National statistical associations, for example, soon provided the know-how for official statistics offices, affiliated with and funded by governments. In the 20th century, an industry for facts emerged. Market-research companies began to conduct surveys in the 1920s and extended into opinion polling in the 1930s. Think tanks like the American Enterprise Institute were established during and after World War II to apply statistics and economics to the design of new government policies, typically in the service of one political agenda or another. The idea of evidence-based policy, popular among liberal politicians in the late 1990s and early 2000s, saw economics being heavily leaned on to justify government programs, in an allegedly post-ideological age. Of course the term fact isnt reserved exclusively for numbers. But it does imply a type of knowledge that can be reliably parceled out in public, without constant need for verification or interpretation. Yet there is one much more radical contributor to our post-truth politics that could ultimately be as transformative of our society as accounting proved to be 500 years ago. We are in the middle of a transition from a society of facts to a society of data. During this interim, confusion abounds surrounding the exact status of knowledge and numbers in public life, exacerbating the sense that truth itself is being abandoned. The place to start in understanding this transition is with the spread of smart technologies into everyday life, sometimes called the internet of things. Thanks to the presence of smartphones and smartcards in our pockets, the dramatic uptake of social media, the rise of e-commerce as a means of purchasing goods and services, and the spread of sensory devices across public spaces, we leave a vast quantity of data in our wake as we go about our daily activities. Like statistics or other traditional facts, this data is quantitative in nature. Whats new is both its unprecedented volume (the big in big data) and also the fact that it is being constantly collected by default, rather than by deliberate expert design. Numbers are being generated much faster than we have any specific use for. But they can nevertheless be mined to get a sense of how people are behaving and what they are thinking. The latest criminal charges of public officials in the contamination of the Flint, Mich., water supply seem righteous. After so much government ineptitude with such hideous consequences tens of thousands of Flint residents poisoned; elevated blood lead levels in nearly 5 percent of the citys children, many with possibly irreversible brain damage surely these criminal charges will bring, at long last, justice for Flint. Not really. Though these sorts of charges fulfill an emotional need for retribution and are of great benefit to district attorneys on the make, they are seldom more than a mediagenic booby prize. Prosecutorial responses fill the void left when health and safety regulations succumb to corporate and political pressure. Take the collapse at the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia that killed 29 miners in 2010. Flouting safety regulations was an integral part of the corporate culture of the mines owner, Massey Energy, and last year its chief executive, Donald L. Blankenship, was convicted of a misdemeanor carrying a one-year sentence. Although some portrayed this as a blow for social justice, its difficult to see how it had much impact on mine safety. Far more significant was the West Virginia Legislatures passage last year of the Creating Coal Jobs and Safety Act, the first statutory loosening of mine safety standards in state history. While on its deregulatory binge last year, the state almost entirely rolled back aboveground chemical-tank safety standards enacted in response to the Elk River contamination disaster of 2014 which made the water of 300,000 people undrinkable. The jurisprudence reflects a perspective deeply ingrained in the French conception of Muslims and Muslim religious garb. To the extent that these French politicians were calculating their legal risk when banning burkinis, they had to know the European Court of Human Rights, which has routinely affirmed lower courts on these issues, would be on their side if they cited public order concerns. The same rationale has been used to deny a schoolteacher the right to wear her head scarf in the classroom, and to bar a university student from sitting for an exam while wearing a head scarf. Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights is the key provision, and it lays out a broad conception of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion in the 47 member states of the Council of Europe; this includes the right of a person in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance. However, a further clause allows for exceptions limits on the manifestation of belief as necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others. Unfortunately, the European Court of Human Rights has shown time and again that a challenged state can satisfy these exceptions largely in the strength of unsubstantiated stereotypes (the notion of a burkini as a type of jihadist uniform comes to mind). One reason member states get away with this is the courts consistent deference to national officials and judges tipping the balance in favor of the government and against the plaintiff. This deference has been institutionalized by the makeup of the court, since each member state gets one judge on the bench, and the court always includes the relevant national judge when it hears a case, either as a seven-judge chamber or a 17-strong grand chamber. (Recent Muslim religious-clothing cases have gone to the grand chamber.) Versakini x Amanda Perna Runway Show Presented By Ivy (Photo : Getty Images) Seeing people, especially women or men with enviable bodies, parade around in underwear is the secret behind the financial success of fashion brands such as Victoria's Secret or Bench. In Singapore, some enterprising women decided to up the underwear game not by designing new undergarments but by selling online used panties. The Star reported that soiled underwear sells online for up to S$80. Advertisement The price goes higher if the panties were worn right or during sex. More than just engaging in online sales, the women auction the used undergarments to the highest bidder, and they deliver it personally, reported Nanyang Siang Pau. To help the buyers select what used panties to buy, photos of the underwear as well as the women who own them in compromising posts are posted on social media sites. Buyers of the soiled panties are people who want to satisfy their fetishes for school girl underwear which are often sold within one week of posting. A reporter from The New Paper pretended to be a buyer and contacted one of the sellers. She offered a soiled panty which she claimed she wore for 12 hours right after sex for S$80. However, when the journalist revealed his identity, the Singaporean seller immediately took down her website. The sellers usually suggest a meet-up for an additional amount so she could personally deliver the soiled underwear. A down payment is also frequently asked, paid to a POSB savings account, with the balance to be settled in cash, reported New Paper. The Upshots new Senate election forecast gives Democrats a 60 percent chance of winning control of the chamber in November. Included within this 60 percent is a 17 percent chance that the Senate ends up evenly split with a Democratic vice president providing the tiebreaking vote. By our count, the Democrats need to win five seats among the 11 most competitive races. (The Democrats will need to win six if Donald J. Trump wins the presidential race; we put Mr. Trumps chances of winning at only 11 percent). Ten of these seats are held by Republicans, and one by a Democrat, Harry Reid of Nevada, who is retiring. That the Democrats are favored in this election should not be surprising. The 2016 Senate elections boded well for the Democrats without any consideration of a possible Trump effect on down-ballot races. In recent history, Democrats have done better in presidential election years than in midterm years, when turnout is lower. Most of the senators up for re-election last went before the voters in the Republican wave election of 2010 when the G.O.P. made big and broad gains in an anti-Obama environment leaving Republicans with several potentially vulnerable incumbents. Later on Wednesday, in a statement issued after a meeting of its top security officials, South Korea confirmed that the latest North Korean SLBM test had been conducted from a submarine. The latest missile test came two days after the United States and South Korea kicked off one of their annual joint military exercises. North Korea condemns all such drills as a rehearsal for an invasion and has often responded with warlike words, or missile tests. The test also came hours before the foreign ministers of South Korea, Japan and China were to continue talks in Tokyo to discuss the Norths growing missile and nuclear threats, as well as territorial and other disputes in the region. We see this SLBM test as an attempt by the North to use the South Korean-United States military exercise as a pretext to raise tensions, the South Korean military said. It also said the test posed a serious threat to the Souths security and marked a grave violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions that bar the North from developing ballistic missile technology. North Koreas growing missile threats have been unsettling enough for the United States and South Korea to decide to deploy the American-built Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or Thaad, battery in the South by the end of next year despite a vehement protest from China. BEIRUT, Lebanon Kurdish militias took a major step toward full control of a northeast Syrian province on Tuesday, signing a cease-fire with the government that gave them all but a few blocks of the provincial capital. The cease-fire, reached after days of deadly fighting with government forces in the province of Hasaka, brings the province closer to becoming the third to slip from the grasp of President Bashar al-Assad in the countrys five-year-old war. The neighboring province of Raqqa has been under the control of the Islamic State militant group for the past few years. Idlib, a northwestern province, fell to other insurgents last year. The battle for Hasaka was the first time the Syrian government had used airstrikes on Kurdish areas. It signaled a new, volatile period in the northeast, where fighting had mainly been between Kurdish-led, American-backed forces and the Islamic State. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has just added a little more time to see Manus x Machina: Fashion in the Age of Technology. Six hours, to be exact. On Sept. 2 and 3, during the exhibitions final weekend, the Met will keep its doors open until midnight, an extra three hours. The museums other galleries will be closed, but the exhibition, the Great Hall Balcony Bar and the Manus x Machina exhibition shop, of course will be open for business. This adds to the already prolonged farewell to the show, which explores the convergence of couture and technology and was originally slated to close on Aug. 14. Extended hours have been the norm for the Costume Institutes hits: The museum stayed open late on the final weekends of Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty in 2011 and China: Through the Looking Glass last year. Those exhibitions and this years were organized by Andrew Bolton. In Paolo Sorrentinos recent movie Youth, Robert Seethaler had a brief but memorable turn playing a big-bearded mountain climbing instructor who falls hard for Rachel Weisz. While the Austrian-born Berliner may moonlight as a European character actor, he spends most of his time writing. Mr. Seethalers latest book, A Whole Life (Ein ganzes Leben) was a huge bestseller in Germany. Its English translation (by Charlotte Collins), short-listed for the Man Booker International Prize, comes out next month in the United States via Farrar, Straus and Giroux. At 150 pages, the story is something like a heroic saga in miniature, recounting the life of a plainspoken farmhand whose pastoral solitude in the Austrian Alps is disrupted by the arrival of war, tourism and industry. The book has been compared to a slew of famous works from the Into Their Labours novels of John Berger to the late-blooming classic Stoner by John Williams. The following is an edited transcript of an interview with Mr. Seethaler, which was translated from the German by Ms. Collins. Q. How did you wind up playing an alpine instructor in Mr. Sorrentinos latest film Youth? A. Sorrentino invited me to Italy for a casting. At first I didnt want to go because I didnt want to travel all the way to Rome. Then I saw La Grande Bellezza Sorrentinos previous film, which won an Oscar and I realized: This man makes great classical cinema! And that was what happened. My character, Luca Moroder, is a good mountaineer, but he doesnt have a clue about women. Its a little story of love at first sight. And of course it was great dangling on a rope over an abyss with Rachel Weisz. Your new novella, A Whole Life, is also set in the mountains, in this case the Austrian Alps . Was the village and the landscape based on places that you knew firsthand? I invented all the places in the book, and all the place names. In a way, theyre mythical places. This life, or something very like it, could have been lived anywhere at any time. But of course I do have memories, or emotional memories, of my childhood experiences in the mountains. The wonderful silence of the snow; and also the dangers of the mountains themselves you dont forget things like that. Nature can often be enjoyed, but sometimes you have to endure it, too. It can fill you with dread. Theres more to it than just its beauty; its also inconceivable and frightening. Wagner meets Tinder: Intimacy in the age of dating apps was the inspiration, the composer Wang Lu said in remarks from the stage, for her effervescent chamber concerto Cloud Intimacy, which received its world premiere on Tuesday at Merkin Concert Hall. This quirky and touching work for six instrumentalists ended on what might have been the first selfie cadenza for a cellphone-mugging clarinetist (Campbell MacDonald). Firsts like these are the lifeblood of the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), which performed Cloud Intimacy as part of a program of five brand-new concertos written for its members. The evenings conductor was Karina Canellakis, who steered the ensemble through rhythmically thorny material with clarity and relaxed elegance. This was the homestretch of ICEs ambitious 50 for 50 project, with which the ensemble set out to perform one premiere for each of the Mostly Mozart Festivals years during its anniversary season. Tuesdays concert showed once again why composers are so eager to work with this relentlessly inventive ensemble. Technically, every icicle, as its members are affectionately called, possesses the requisite killer instinct to tackle virtuosic new music. But the members also bring a certain theatrical flair to their work that helps ward off the dusting of dry self-importance that can cling to some new-music ventures. And ICE commands such a loyal following that it can almost guarantee full halls and a vocal cheering squad. Viacom has one good reason to keep its interim chief executive, Thomas Dooley: a breakup of the media company. Mr. Dooley, the companys former chief operating officer, who has close ties to his predecessor, Philippe Dauman, makes an odd choice if the $17 billion company plans to do anything else. A veteran who has been at Viacom on and off since 1980, though, Mr. Dooley may be well suited to finding the best value for Viacoms various assets. Mr. Dooley emerged from Viacoms most recent boardroom drama as Mr. Daumans replacement through Sept. 30, when Viacoms fiscal year ends. Beyond that, he needs to convince five new board members of his usefulness atop a group that controls the cable networks Nickelodeon and MTV and a Hollywood studio, Paramount Pictures. That comes down to what sort of strategy the new board, in conjunction with the Redstone family, which controls Viacom through National Amusements, wants to pursue. They could try to turn around their lackluster properties, like Comedy Central, on their own, but that would be a Sisyphean task. Ratings for Viacoms networks are in the dumps. At MTV, for example, viewership among 12- to 34-year-olds declined from the end of June through August, mostly in double digits, from the same period last year, according to Nielsen. Paramounts operating loss for the nine months ending in June tallied $316 million. Detailed plans for stealth submarines built by a French military manufacturer for the Indian navy have been leaked, raising concerns over the companys digital security just months after it signed a multibillion dollar deal to build submarines for Australia. Officials in France and India were scrambling on Wednesday to assess the damage from the leak, with both countries opening investigations. It appears to be the latest example of a companys critical internal information falling into the wrong hands, and it comes with the Indian navy scheduled to put the first of the submarines into service later this year. In all, 22,400 pages detailing the entire secret combat capability of six Scorpene-class diesel-electric submarines being built for the Indian navy were leaked to The Australian, the newspaper reported on Wednesday, without identifying its source. The publication said the leak from the French manufacturer DCNS included technical manuals and other sensitive information, including details of the submarines secret stealth technology, torpedo-launching systems and its many intelligence-gathering systems. It was a steamy summer day in New York in 2009 when Luke Holden, an investment banker, had a craving for a lobster roll. Not just any lobster roll, though. He longed for the fresh off the docks taste he enjoyed growing up in Cape Elizabeth, Me. After an exhaustive search on New Yorks streets, he came up dissatisfied and disappointed. Every lobster was served over a white tablecloth, extremely expensive, drowning in mayo and diluted with celery, he said. I wondered why all the great chefs in this city had screwed this up so badly. So that year, Mr. Holden decided to open an authentic Maine lobster shack in Manhattan. To replicate that fresh taste that he remembered, he would need to oversee, track and, where possible, own every step in the process. Today, he owns 19 Lukes Lobster restaurants, two food trucks and a lobster tail cart in the United States, and five shacks in Japan. MONTAUK, N.Y. Id rather swim in the ocean every morning than take a clean shower, said Jesse Joeckel, standing at Ditch Plains Beach. The 30-year-old surf-wear designer and magazine editor, who looks as if he has never stepped onto a New York City subway, starts each morning with a half-mile bike ride to catch a few waves on the East End of Long Island. Then, he gets down to business. Around 11 a.m. on a recent Monday, that involved hopping into his silver 2006 Tacoma pickup (unopened Coronas visible in the back), and driving to his clothing store, Whalebone, which occupies a former 1930s icehouse next door to Duryeas, a lobster deck and fish market here. As soon as he walked in, he began fluffing up the graphic T-shirts and colorful hats arranged on barn-wood shelves. I need to be involved in everything, said Mr. Joeckel, who was barefoot and wearing a white T-shirt and maroon cap from his label. I always want to know whats going on. Its hard for me to lose control. 4th China Reproductive Health New Technologies and Products Expo (Photo : Getty Images) Until now, China still has a problem shaking off the bad quality associated with made-in-China labels, whether it is childrens toys or condoms. One country which is regretting having ordered 1.2 million condoms from China is Chile which raised a nationwide alarm on Monday. The Chilean Public Health Institute said defects became noticeable such as the tendency of the condoms to break and leak lubricant, reported Vice News. Advertisement Later test showed some of the contraceptives were too small and are in packages that deteriorate quickly upon handling. The institute also called on Chileans to stop using the condoms made in China, while those that are still in stock would not be released to the public until the problems are solved. Chile ordered the condoms to halt the increase in new cases of HIV which have doubled in the last 10 years, reported Washington Post. According to Chilean health officials, 25,000 people are undergoing treatment, but another 14,000 Chileans are unaware they have the virus. Activists believe the Chilean government is not doing enough to stem the rise of new HIV case because of its failure to meet head-on deeply entrenched conservative attitudes toward sex. But Alejandro Afani, head of the HIV Center of the University of Chile, pointed out that it is not only Chile which is conservative but the whole of Latin America. The problem is a lack of political will rather than cultural idiosyncrasy. They don't take the issue seriously or dedicate the resources it deserves, Afani said. Name Michael S. Smith Age 52 Occupation Interior designer, White House decorator for the Obamas. Location Residence of the United States ambassador in Madrid. His Favorite Room Mr. Smiths partner, James Costos, is the ambassador to Spain and Andorra, and when not at home in California, Mr. Smith spends a sliding week each month in Madrid. His favorite room is a study where he can retreat from the embassys packed social calendar. How does this embassy residence stack up? Is Spain a good posting? A lot of residences in the world are separate from the actual embassy. Here, the embassy is connected to the house, which is great. European embassies tend to be super, superactive. A lot of people come through town. Weve had everyone from John Kerry to Martha Stewart to Gwyneth Paltrow. It makes it superconvenient and very dynamic. Leslie Jones, a co-star of this years Ghostbusters movie who has been besieged in the past month by online abusers who have targeted her appearance and her race, was victimized again on Wednesday when her personal website appeared to have been hacked. The hackers inserted a picture of the gorilla Harambe on the site, and exposed what appeared to be explicit photos of the actress, along with pictures of her drivers license and a passport, and images of her with stars like Rihanna, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West. The website was taken offline after the hack, which was initially reported by TMZ. An email to a representative for Ms. Jones was not immediately returned on Wednesday. The website, which had contained information about her comedy career and her past work in film, appeared to have been retooled to display the personal photos and information. The Post said Ben Carson might even give Trump a personal tour of the neighborhoods in Detroit where Carson grew up. And, according to Carson, Trump is now getting ready for his big adventure prepping the ground for talking to minorities by talking to white people about minorities. Its wise before you start going into these places to put things out there for people to cogitate about, and not just walk into an environment where people might be so hostile they wont listen to you, Carson said. The problem, of course, is not that minorities wont listen to Trump. They have been listening, and they are appalled. And its not just minorities who have heard him. A Washington Post/ABC News poll conducted this month showed that 60 percent of Americans think Trump is biased against women and minorities. So what are minority voters supposed to be hearing now? On Tuesday, at a Fox News event before a mostly white audience, Sean Hannity asked Trump about his threat to deport every illegal immigrant. There certainly can be a softening because were not looking to hurt people, Trump said. But he has said before that hes flexible on the mass-deportation thing and then gone right back to talking about kicking people out of the country. It was hard to believe him on Tuesday, especially when he subsequently made a point of saying that he will 100 percent build that wall along the Mexican border. To the Editor: In this election the democratic process appears to have failed us. With every passing day it is more apparent that Donald Trump is unfit to be president because of his hate-filled rhetoric and unrealistic policies. In these troubling times we do not need more polarization and we certainly dont need a bully. I am a lifelong Democrat and I really want to support Hillary Clinton, but I am finding it harder and harder. While Republicans are blowing the use of her personal email server way out of proportion, it does point to a flagrant disregard for playing by the rules. So this leaves me with a very big problem: Whom am I going to vote for in November? Under no circumstances will I vote for Mr. Trump. Mrs. Clinton leaves a very bad taste in my mouth. Voting for the Libertarian candidate, Gary Johnson, just hands the election to one of the two major-party candidates, and writing in someone else is a waste of my vote. I am leaning toward not voting for the president. I will dutifully go to the polls and push the buttons for all of the Democratic candidates, and maybe just skip the top row. Image Proxima Centauri, which is in the constellation of Centaurus 4.2 light-years from Earth. Credit... ESA/Hubble & NASA And the planets proximity to Earth gives hope that robotic probes could someday be zooming past the planet for a close-up look. A privately funded team of scientists and technology titans, led by the Russian entrepreneur Yuri Milner and the theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, have announced Breakthrough Starshot Initiative, a project to develop and launch a fleet of iPhone-size spacecraft within two to three decades. Their proposed destination is the Alpha Centauri star system, which includes two larger, sunlike stars in addition to Proxima Centauri. We will definitely aim at Proxima, said Avi Loeb, a Harvard astronomer who is the chairman of an advisory committee for Breakthrough Starshot. This is like finding prime real estate in our neighborhood. This newly discovered planet is much closer to its parent star, about five million miles apart, than Earth is to the sun, 93 million miles. Even Mercury, the innermost planet of our solar system, is 36 million miles from the sun. While Proxima b might be similar to Earth, its parent star, Proxima Centauri, is very different from the sun. It is tiny, belonging to a class of stars known as red dwarfs, with only about 12 percent of the mass of the sun and about 1/600th the luminosity so dim that it cannot be seen from Earth with the naked eye. Thus Proxima b, despite its closeness to the star, receives less warmth than Earth, but enough that water could flow on the surface. Whether the planet has liquid water or an atmosphere is pure speculation at this point, Dr. Anglada-Escude said in a news conference. If the planet formed close to the star, it could be dry and airless, but it might also have formed farther out and migrated inward to its current orbit. It is also possible that the planet formed dry and was later bombarded by comets or ice-rich asteroids. Life expectancy had improved significantly in Syria in recent decades, reaching 74 years for men and 79 years for women by 2010. Infant mortality had declined substantially, and heart disease the single biggest killer in most developed countries had taken center stage. But the war knocked men back to 69 and women to 76, amid a surge in deaths from violence, infections and even malnutrition. This is a region that, against all odds, had been doing very well, said Professor Ali Mokdad, a professor of global health at the Seattle-based institute. Thats all being destroyed right now. There were about 30,000 deaths in 2013 that were casualties from the war, researchers found, about a third of the 100,000 total deaths in the country that year. He estimated that 11,000 more were associated with the war including a lack of medical care, untreated infection and respiratory illnesses, and malnutrition. Heart disease was still the No. 1 killer, with about 42,000 deaths. In some ways the findings are unsurprising. War takes lives, particularly young ones, slicing years off life expectancy, often suddenly. But the authors argued that quantifying the loss an undertaking that involved stitching together different data sources and using mathematical modeling to fill in the gaps would show just how devastating war has been for some of these societies. The analysis also found declines in life expectancy for Yemenis, Tunisians and Egyptians, though they were all less than one year. There were some surprises. Life expectancy had actually increased in Afghanistan. It rose to 56, up from 50 in 1990, with the vast majority of improvement taking place since the early 2000s, when the United States invaded. In Iraq, life expectancy declined from 67 in 2003, the year the Americans invaded, to 63 in 2006, one of the worst years of the war for civilian casualties. It has risen to 71 since then. The two women were asleep on a bed after drinking at a party when they were sexually assaulted. A high school athlete pleaded guilty to indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 in the case, according to court documents. But when a Massachusetts judge sentenced the defendant, David Becker, to two years probation last week, he reignited a debate on white privilege, leniency and judicial discretion. The case is being compared to a rape trial in which a champion student swimmer from Stanford University, Brock Turner, received six months in jail for raping an unconscious woman behind a Dumpster at a party on campus. The judge in that case, Aaron Persky of the Santa Clara County Superior Court, was the subject of a recall effort in June. Prosecutors in the Massachusetts case recommended a two-year sentence for Mr. Becker, 18, a former student at East Longmeadow High School, a spokesman for the Hampden County district attorneys office, James Leydon, said in an email on Wednesday. Mr. Becker also would have had to register as a sexual offender. How much homework is enough? My daughter, Maya, who is entering second grade, was asked to complete homework six days a week during the summer. For a while, we tried gamely to keep up. But one day she turned to me and said, I hate reading. I put the assignment aside. That was my abrupt introduction to the debate over homework that is bubbling up as students across the United States head back to school. This month, Brandy Young, a second-grade teacher in Godley, Tex., let parents know on Meet the Teacher night that she had no plans to load up her students backpacks. There will be no formally assigned homework this year, Ms. Young wrote in a note that was widely shared on Facebook. Rather, I ask that you spend your evenings doing things that are proven to correlate with student success. Eat dinner as a family, read together, play outside, and get your child to bed early. OXFORD, Miss. A Mississippi man who tried to travel to Syria with his fiancee to join the Islamic State was sentenced on Wednesday to eight years in prison on federal terrorism charges. Judge Sharion Aycock of the United States District Court in Starkville, Miss., sentenced the man, Muhammad Dakhlalla, after he pleaded guilty in March to conspiring to provide material support to a terrorist organization. He was also sentenced to 15 years of probation. His fiancee, Jaelyn Young, was sentenced earlier this month to 12 years in prison and 15 years of probation, and was ordered to undergo mental health treatment. Prosecutors portrayed Ms. Young, who converted to Islam while in college at Mississippi State University, as the mastermind who persuaded Mr. Dakhlalla to go along. However, prosecutors added, Mr. Dakhlalla did ultimately agree to the plan. Investigators have not commented on what role Mr. Harriss disability may have played, but his brother said he believed his death was the product of a police department that does not know how to interact with those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Being shot by the police is just not acceptable, the victims brother, Sam Harris, who is also deaf, said through an interpreter during a video interview with Reuters. If the officer had known that he was deaf, it would have ended differently, and he would still be around with family, and life would be going on. Hed be happy. But on Tuesday, Frank L. Perry, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, urged the public to refrain from making assumptions or drawing conclusions prior to the internal and independent reviews. Any loss of life regardless of the circumstances is truly a tragic and sad event for all involved, he said in a statement. While the Highway Patrol, the State Bureau of Investigation and the district attorneys office conduct their respective reviews, we are keeping all those affected by this tragedy in our thoughts and prayers. President Obama turned a vast stretch of Maine woods into the nations newest federal parkland on Wednesday, siding with conservationists who want the wild lands protected, over residents and officials who oppose intrusion from Washington and restrictions on use of the land. Mr. Obama designated more than 87,500 acres of rugged terrain, donated by a founder of the Burts Bees product line, as the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, administered by the National Park Service, a day before the services 100th anniversary. It became by far the largest region of federal parkland in Maine, surpassing the 48,900-acre Acadia National Park on the coast. It takes an act of Congress to create a national park, but under a 1906 federal law, the Antiquities Act, a president can act unilaterally to establish a national monument, a power that Mr. Obama has used to build a major part of his environmental legacy. He has created two dozen national monuments, more than any previous president, ranging from small sites like the Stonewall Inn, a gay rights landmark in Manhattan, to more than 300,000 acres in the mountains east of Los Angeles. The designations prevent new mining and drilling operations, and sometimes curtail logging, grazing, road-building, hunting and recreation limits that in some rural areas, particularly in the West, are bitterly resented by residents and business people who say their regions economies depend on use of the land. Advocates say the monuments can actually generate economic activity and jobs, through tourism and recreation. I left and others left because we were alarmed that Jeff would mismanage this organization as he mismanaged the campaign, she said, expressing concern that Mr. Weaver would betray its core purpose by accepting money from billionaires and not remaining grass-roots-funded and plowing that billionaire cash into TV instead of investing it in building a genuine movement. Kenneth Pennington, who was the digital director of Our Revolution, declined to go into detail about his reasons for leaving but confirmed that he was no longer with the organization. The staff members who quit also said that they feared that the 501(c)(4) designation meant that the group would not be able to work directly with Mr. Sanders or the people that he had encouraged to run for office because such organizations are not allowed to coordinate directly with candidates. Mr. Weaver did not respond to requests for comment. In an email sent to Sanders supporters on Tuesday night encouraging them to participate, Mr. Weaver said that the new group would work together to empower a wave of progressive candidates this November and win the major upcoming fights for the values we share. Mr. Sanders has been using his vast list of supporters to raise money for local lawmakers like Chris Pearson, a state representative in Vermont. He is also supporting Tim Canova, a liberal Democrat who is trying to unseat Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, whom Mr. Sanders accused of favoring Hillary Clintons campaign during the primary race. In his live-stream announcement, Mr. Sanders sounded nostalgic about his presidential campaign as he repeatedly said his candidacy had changed the Democratic Party and pulled Hillary Clinton toward his progressive ideas. ATLANTA Demeitrus Williams has heard what Donald J. Trump has been saying recently about black people: That their neighborhoods were war zones. That they struggle to get by on food stamps. That they see nothing but failure around them. Mr. Williams, 61, a retired postal employee who is African-American, acknowledged that Mr. Trumps remarks described a reality for some black people. But it was not his reality, or that of people he knew. And the fact that those generalizations, in which all African-Americans inhabit a hell of violence and dysfunction, came as part of an outreach effort on Mr. Trumps part elicited from Mr. Williams an incredulous and slightly bitter cascade of chuckles. Whos he talking about? Mr. Williams said Wednesday over lunch at Ponce City Market, an upscale development with a hip food court that draws an ethnically and racially mixed crowd. I dont know most of the black people I know are educated and live in nice neighborhoods. Everybody in my family is required to have a degree. Dogged by suggestions that he has been running a racist campaign, Mr. Trump has been expressing concern for African-Americans more in the past week than at any other point in his presidential run and making a direct appeal for their votes. What do you have to lose? he has asked. In the months since Harambe, a 17-year-old silverback gorilla, was shot and killed at the Cincinnati Zoo after he grabbed and dragged a child who had fallen into his enclosure, zoo officials have tried to return to normal. But the people of the internet have other plans. Cries for justice for the ape some earnest and some nonsensical have spawned a meme with a life all its own, complete with goofy song lyrics, Photoshop creations and some hilarious mash-ups with other memes. The meme has also been used to spread harmful messages and revive racist tropes: One high-profile example is the harassment of the Ghostbusters actress Leslie Jones, whose website appeared to have been hacked Wednesday when a video of the gorilla was among nude photos posted to her personal website. In the case of the zoo, the harassment fell somewhere in between. The zoos Twitter account has been flooded with so many jokes and harsh comments invoking Harambe that officials saw fit to issue a plea, asking the internet to relent. KEY HAVEN, Fla. To live here, along this chain of tiny islands, a place vulnerable to hurricanes and steeped in the lore of piracy and smuggling, requires a blend of carefree eccentricity and go-it-alone grit. So when, several years ago, the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District offered up the peninsula of Key Haven, a tiny suburb of Key West, for the first United States test of genetically modified mosquitoes built to blunt the spread of dengue and Zika, it was only a matter of time before opposition mounted. Today, even as federal officials have told pregnant women to stay away from parts of Miami-Dade County because of the Zika virus, Key Havens hardened position against the trial or the experiment, as they call it is hard to miss amid the bougainvillea and hibiscus flowering on lawns here. No Consent to Release of Genetically Modified Mosquitoes, red-and-white placards declare. People here can survive what nature throws at them, said Gilda Niles, 64, who arrived in Key West from Cuba in 1967 and moved to Key Haven in 1980, when it was just a plot of earth with cheaper land, water on three sides and more space. Hurricanes, bring them on; long-timers here seldom evacuate. Mosquitoes, well, thats the price of paradise. Zika, this too shall pass, like dengue. But science and government, Im not so sure about. But last year, Mr. Mliswa said, hundreds of youths sent by the party invaded the farm again, destroying property and beating his workers. They eventually left, but one of Mr. Mugabes ministers recently held a rally in which he threatened to take Mr. Mliswas farm unless he stopped criticizing the presidents party. They use the land to control you, Mr. Mliswa said. Zimbabwes political uncertainty has weakened the economy, already hit hard by a severe drought and a fall in global commodity prices. People have been hoarding cash Zimbabwe adopted the American dollar in 2009 and taking it out of the country, leaving bank A.T.M.s empty. Mr. Mugabes Look East campaign, which focused on attracting China as a counterweight to Western influence, has suffered from Chinas economic slowdown and recent disagreements over economic policy, though billboards still laud China as Zimbabwes all-weather friend. With few other options left, Mr. Mugabes government has turned to the International Monetary Fund, an organization he vilified in the past as an instrument of colonial domination. In talks with the fund, the government has agreed to reforms in the hope that it will qualify for loans for the first time since 1999. The fund has sent positive signals about government steps in areas like curbing the size of the public work force and cleaning up the banking sector. The reforms are in our interest, and not in order to please anybody, said Patrick Chinamasa, the finance minister. Whether the I.M.F. is there or not, we have to do reforms in order to restore confidence in our economy. But significant hurdles remain. The Zimbabwean government must clear $1.8 billion it owes to the I.M.F., the World Bank and the African Development Bank. It must also persuade the I.M.F., where a skeptical United States holds the most votes, that it is committed to change. For years, participants in the Port Huron Float Down in Michigan have gathered by the hundreds in inflatable rafts, inner tubes and other devices to bob on the St. Clair River between Michigan and Canada for an eight-mile trip on a summer afternoon. Occasionally in the past, a misguided floater or two ended up on the Canadian side, landing in points east instead of south, after launching from a beach in Port Huron, Mich. But this years event, held on Sunday, was one for the record books, officials said, as wind gusts helped drive an estimated 1,500 participants off course to the shore of the city of Sarnia, Ontario, prompting a large rescue effort that made worldwide news, with headlines like Canada invaded by 1,500 people on wayward play rafts. Erik Kimball of Port Huron, a participant and a past organizer of a safety patrol for the event, said this was the most floaters to go astray and end up in Canada. He said that things started routinely at 1 p.m. with about 5,000 floaters but that winds began to pick up, to as much as 30 miles per hour by 4 p.m., sending more and more people drifting off course. The accusations of forced organ extraction were ridiculous, Huang Jiefu, a former deputy health minister who is in charge of overhauling Chinas organ donation system, said in a speech. The Chinese government says that it switched from a system dependent on executed prisoners to one based on voluntary, nonprisoner donations on Jan. 1, 2015. Im in stress, Dr. Huang said of the accusations. I couldnt sleep well enough at night. There is wild speculation of 100,000 transplants per year from executed prisoners in China, he added, possibly conflating the issues of using organs from prisoners convicted of capital crimes and organs from prisoners of conscience. Some investigators and Falun Gong adherents say that their compiled data from individual hospitals shows at least 60,000 organ transplants a year, about six times the official total of about 10,000 last year, and that the difference is made up by forced organ extractions from prisoners of conscience. In a cafe at the convention center, David Matas and David Kilgour, who first published a report on the issue in 2006, said they were familiar with the widespread skepticism, even hostility, not just from the Chinese government but from many outside China, including the news media. (An update to their book, Bloody Harvest, this time with Ethan Gutmann, author of The Slaughter, came out this year.) I heard about the workshop from Ms. Yang while she was making the film. In July, I traveled to the Sangke Grasslands to meet with the Yeshi family and to take a look at their new social enterprise, Norden, a luxury campsite near the Buddhist monastery of Labrang. The purpose of the campsite is to raise revenue for Norlha, the textile workshop, which is a short drive away. In a telephone interview, Ms. Yang shared her thoughts on what she learned while shooting at Norlha in 2012: Its a way for nomads to transition to modern life. Some of the families, especially women, can have a stable job. Its very difficult for women to find a job outside of the village. They have to travel so far. In the village, they now have a job that makes decent money. And it also helps for the men. Now the nomads are changing. The younger people might not want to be a nomad anymore. If one member of the family can have a stable income while another person decides to become a nomad, the family can be better off. Thats modern life. One goes into modern industry. The products they make are absolutely beautiful. They are taking the traditional skills they have and marketing it to the outside world. Few people know nomads can make such beautiful products. People dont know they have been doing it for centuries. I was able to some spend time with the nomads. Even though a lot of them havent had a real education, a lot of the people in the workshop, they know how to do these things. And they have only had a few years of education. In Hong Kong, people spend hours and hours on tutoring, on studying for exams, on trying to get into the best schools. And they might not learn anything. Here, they dont have much schooling, but they are doing the best job. I also noticed that a lot of them, when they weave, they also pray. They have their prayer beads and pray with those when they dont need to use both hands for their work. The thing is, they dont have to leave the village. They can walk to the workshop in five minutes. I think thats so important for them, so they can be with their family. They can have a job and spend time with their family. If they have to go to the city and have to leave their children, they dont necessarily have the income to hire a babysitter. For a lot of nomads to go to the city, to go to modern life, I dont think they like it. Its a big shock for them. Its too huge a shock. TOKYO The missile that North Korea test-fired from a submarine off its east coast on Wednesday momentarily brought together three nations that have recently had reasons to squabble. At a previously scheduled meeting in Tokyo, the foreign ministers of the three nations China, Japan and South Korea criticized the missile test, which appeared to demonstrate a significant advance in North Koreas efforts to build a harder-to-detect means to strike American and allied forces. The missile flew 310 miles toward Japan, much farther than previous tests. Tensions between the three countries have risen in recent months: Chinese vessels have repeatedly entered disputed waters surrounding a group of Japanese-controlled islands in the East China Sea, setting off protests from Japan. Tokyo opposed a visit this month by South Korean lawmakers to islands both nations claims. And China has harshly criticized South Koreas agreement to host an American-built advanced missile defense system that the Chinese believe could be used against their missiles. But North Koreas missile launch briefly united the three other nations on Wednesday. If there was a silver lining, it would be the fact that it provided the three an opportunity to have something in common, which is rare, said J. Berkshire Miller, an international affairs fellow with the Council on Foreign Relations. YANGON, Myanmar An earthquake on Wednesday in Myanmar left at least three people dead and badly damaged dozens of ancient temples in the old city of Bagan, government officials said. The magnitude 6.8 temblor hit Chauk, along the Irrawaddy River in central Myanmar, according to the United States Geological Survey. The epicenter was almost 400 miles north of Yangon, the countrys largest city. The quake caused landslides along the riverbanks and damaged more than 170 Buddhist temples in Bagan. The area is at the heart of Central Myanmars growing tourism industry, which has taken off since the country began a democratic transition in 2011. According to officials from the Myanmar Fire Service Department responding to the quake, an 18-year-old woman and a 6-year-old girl were killed in a landslide in Yenangyaung, 40 miles downriver from the reported epicenter. A man was killed in the town of Pakokku, about 40 miles north of the epicenter, when a tobacco processing plant collapsed. It was a slow and gentle plunge: The worlds largest aircraft, the Airlander 10, crashed in southern England on Wednesday during its second test flight. In a video posted on YouTube, spectators could be heard saying, Oh my God, he just crashed it, as the nose of the aircraft made contact with the ground after an agonizingly slow descent at Cardington Airfield, about 40 miles north of London, before coming to rest. Hybrid Air Vehicles the British developer of the 302-foot, 44,100-pound, helium-filled aircraft, which has a top cruising speed of about 90 miles an hour said on Twitter that the crew members were safe and well. Airlander sustained damage on landing during todays flight, the company added, though no damage was sustained midair. AMATRICE, Italy The chaos came in the middle of the night. People were screaming and dying in the darkness across Amatrice, a summer getaway in central Italy famous as the birthplace of a pasta dish made with tomatoes and pork cheeks. It was 3:36 a.m. when the 6.2 magnitude earthquake hit, followed by a succession of strong aftershocks including one nearly as strong an hour later that flattened houses and buried residents in the rubble. Amatrice was the worst hit by the quake, which also damaged surrounding towns. As of Thursday morning, the deaths totaled 241, officials said. Half the town no longer exists, Mayor Sergio Pirozzi of Amatrice told reporters on Wednesday morning. He might have been too optimistic. By midday Amatrice, a quiet mountain town about 100 miles northeast of Rome, felt more like a ghost town. The combination of a shallow fault and old, unreinforced masonry buildings led to widespread devastation in the earthquake that struck central Italy early Wednesday. The magnitude-6.2 quake killed at least 241 people and left hundreds more injured. Many people were trapped in the rubble of collapsed buildings. AMATRICE, Italy A strong earthquake struck a mountainous stretch of central Italy early Wednesday, killing at least 241 people, trapping scores under debris and setting off tremors that awakened residents in Rome, nearly 100 miles to the southwest. The earthquake, which had a preliminary magnitude of 6.2, struck at 3:36 a.m., about 6.5 miles southeast of the town of Norcia in the Umbria region, followed by about 200 aftershocks over the next several hours, including a 5.5-magnitude tremor at 4:33 a.m. The authorities said the quake was comparable in intensity to one in 2009 in the Abruzzo region of central Italy that killed more than 300 people. WALBRZYCH, Poland Two treasure hunters who were hoping to find a buried Nazi train full of gold, jewels and weapons halted their efforts on Wednesday, after a week of digging turned up no sign of the train. The excavation began last week outside the town of Walbrzych, Poland, in an area that was part of Germany before World War II. The dig became the subject of intense interest after the treasure hunters claimed last year that they had found what appeared to be a buried rail tunnel that might contain such a train. According to local lore, the train vanished after it entered a complex of secret tunnels carved by the Germans into the Owl Mountains as they fled the advancing Soviet Army in 1945. But skeptics have said there was no hard evidence to corroborate the story, and the digging near Walbrzych did not change that. Unfortunately, the excavation has revealed no train, no tunnel and no trackway in the location where we thought they would be, Andrzej Gaik, a spokesman for the project, said Wednesday in a telephone interview. PERM, Russia Perm, a provincial Russian city on the western edge of Siberia, is defined these days not by what it is, but by what it was supposed to be by now and isnt. By now it should have had a new sleek opera theater, designed by the British architect David Chipperfield, a shining contemporary art museum in a refurbished landmark building and a gallery of celebrated local wooden statues an imposing white cube standing over the wide expanse of the Kama River. The central esplanade proudly described by locals as longer than the National Mall in Washington should have been full of avid visitors from around Russia and beyond, taking in theater on pop-up stages and progressive street art. But none of this has happened. ISTANBUL Turkey sent tanks, warplanes and special operations forces into northern Syria on Wednesday in its biggest plunge yet into the Syrian conflict, enabling Syrian rebels to take control of an important Islamic State stronghold within hours. The operation, assisted by American airstrikes, is a significant escalation of Turkeys role in the fight against the Islamic State, the militant extremist group ensconced in parts of Syria and Iraq that has increasingly been targeting Turkey. By evening, Syrian rebels backed by the United States and Turkey declared that they had seized the town of Jarabulus and its surroundings, which had been the Islamic States last major redoubt near the Turkish border. Numerous fighters posted photographs and videos of themselves online with the green, black and white flag adopted by the Syrian opposition as they walked through empty streets where the black flag of Islamic State still flew; it appeared that most of the militants had fled without a fight. The offensive had two immediate goals: To clear Islamic State militants from their remaining border stronghold, and roll back recent advances by Syrian Kurdish militias that Turkey considers an equal or greater threat because of their links to its own domestic Kurdish insurgents. Walter Scheel, who as foreign minister and deputy chancellor of West Germany under Chancellor Willy Brandt from 1969 to 1974 helped foster detente with the Soviet bloc and rapprochement with Communist East Germany, died on Wednesday in Bad Krozingen, in southwest Germany. He was 97. The death was confirmed by his political party, the Free Democratic Party, and by the office of Germanys president, Joachim Gauck. Mr. Scheel served in the largely ceremonial role of president of West Germany until his retirement from politics in 1979. He lived in Bad Krozingen. Although he was one of Bonns most durable postwar leaders, Mr. Scheel was overshadowed by the far more dynamic and popular Mr. Brandt, the architect of Ostpolitik, the West German initiatives that led to improved relations with Moscow and its East European allies, and to a Berlin agreement that eased Cold War tensions in 1972 by establishing diplomatic ties between the two Germanys. The reunification of Germany in 1990, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War followed a long process of Soviet political and economic stagnation and corresponding declines in Soviet influence over European satellites it acquired at the end of World War II. But historians say Ostpolitik played a crucial role as an early catalyst, letting West and East step back from destructive confrontations. As the civilian death toll mounted in Gaza in 2014, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations condemned the motorcycle strike as a criminal act and demanded that those responsible be held accountable. But in its report on Wednesday, the Israeli military said that while the harm to the civilians was a tragic and regrettable result, its forces had been unable to discern the group of civilians in real time, and that the targeting process was in line with Israeli domestic law and the requirements of international law. Another case that was closed on Wednesday involved an Israeli strike on a building in the Bureij refugee camp that killed at least six members of the Zeyada family. Israel concluded that the strike was justified and legal; that the building was being used by Hamas, the militant group that dominates Gaza, as an active command and control center; that four of the casualties were military operatives, including three of the Zeyadas; and that Israeli forces did their best to limit harm to noncombatants by using precise munitions. In a third case, involving the deaths of 12 members of the Siyam family in Rafah, the Israeli military concluded that no Israeli strike had occurred in the area at that time, and said the family had probably been hit by an errant mortar shell fired at Israel by a militant group. The military also announced that it had ordered criminal investigations into two cases. One involved allegations of the abuse of a resident and the looting of his property, it said; the other involved claims of intentional discharge of a weapon and damage to property. About 2,200 Palestinians died during the 2014 war, while 73 people were killed on the Israeli side, most of them soldiers. A United Nations Commission of Inquiry found that both Israel and the Palestinian militants had been responsible for violations of international law that could amount to war crimes. The diaspora kicked in especially in the aftermath of natural disasters like the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, when money sent home by Nepalese abroad helped many victims survive. Countries like India and Egypt that send many laborers to Persian Gulf countries saw their remittances dip last year because of falling oil prices, the World Bank found. Countries like Tajikistan, whose citizens often work in Russia, were hit even harder because the Russian ruble also slid in value. Even so, remittances have become crucial to relieving some of the worlds poorest people from hunger and want, just as they have become a major revenue source for a number of fragile nations. Nepals remittances equal a whopping 29.4 percent of the countrys entire economic output. A separate World Bank study found that remittances were the main reason poverty had declined so sharply there in recent years. Not only do families of migrant workers benefit, the study found; so does everybody else, when the families spend that money locally. Here are some more examples of places where remittances account for a big chunk of the economy. Tajikistan: 37 percent. Victims of the recent flooding in Louisiana and wildfires in California should all do one thing: Document the damage to their property. Taking photos is crucial to help bolster an insurance claim, said Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders, a nonprofit consumer advisory group, particularly with flood damage. Flood coverage is not included in homeowner policies. It must be bought separately, usually from the National Flood Insurance Program, and victims of some previous storms have reported problems getting claims paid. It is best to promptly remove soggy carpet, bedding and furniture, to help prevent the growth of mold after a flood. But Ms. Bach recommends first taking photographs to avoid the possibility of having damaged property thrown out by cleanup crews before the damage can be recorded. No. 1 is definitely to take pictures, she said, even though its painful and sad. In Louisiana, more than 140,000 homes in areas around Baton Rouge may have been affected by heavy rain and flooding that began on Aug. 11. Much of the hardest-hit areas were not considered at high risk for flooding, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, so many homes did not carry flood insurance. Homes in high-risk areas must carry flood insurance if they carry a federally backed mortgage, but coverage is optional for lower-risk zones. Now 36, Provost helps run US Uncut, a left-leaning Facebook page and website with more than 1.5 million followers, about as many as MSNBC has, from his apartment in Philadelphia. (Sample headlines: Bernie Delegates Want You to See This DNC Scheme to Silence Them and This Sanders Delegate Unleashing on Hillary Clinton Is Going Absolutely Viral.) He frequently contributes to another popular page, The Other 98%, which has more than 2.7 million followers. Occupy got him on Facebook, but it was the 2012 election that showed him its potential. As he saw it, that election was defined by social media. He mentioned a set of political memes that now feel generationally distant: Clint Eastwoods empty chair at the 2012 Republican National Convention and Mitt Romneys debate gaffe about binders full of women. He thought it was a bit silly, but he saw in these viral moments a language in which activists like him could spread their message. Provosts page now communicates frequently in memes, images with overlaid text. May I suggest, began one, posted in May 2015, when opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership was gaining traction, the first 535 jobs we ship overseas? Behind the text was a photo of Congress. Many are more earnest. In an image posted shortly thereafter, a photo of Bernie Sanders was overlaid with a quote: If Germany, Denmark, Sweden and many more provide tuition-free college, read the setup, before declaring in larger text, we should be doing the same. It has been shared more than 84,000 times and liked 75,000 more. Not infrequently, this level of zeal can cross into wishful thinking. A post headlined Did Hillary Clinton Just Admit on LIVE TV That Her Iraq War Vote Was a Bribe? was shared widely enough to merit a response from Snopes, which called it quite a stretch. This year, political content has become more popular all across the platform: on homegrown Facebook pages, through media companies with a growing Facebook presence and through the sharing habits of users in general. But truly Facebook-native political pages have begun to create and refine a new approach to political news: cherry-picking and reconstituting the most effective tactics and tropes from activism, advocacy and journalism into a potent new mixture. This strange new class of media organization slots seamlessly into the news feed and is especially notable in what it asks, or doesnt ask, of its readers. The point is not to get them to click on more stories or to engage further with a brand. The point is to get them to share the post thats right in front of them. Everything else is secondary. While web publishers have struggled to figure out how to take advantage of Facebooks audience, these pages have thrived. Unburdened of any allegiance to old forms of news media and the practice, or performance, of any sort of ideological balance, native Facebook page publishers have a freedom that more traditional publishers dont: to engage with Facebook purely on its terms. These are professional Facebook users straining to build media companies, in other words, not the other way around. From a users point of view, every share, like or comment is both an act of speech and an accretive piece of a public identity. Maybe some people want to be identified among their networks as news junkies, news curators or as some sort of objective and well-informed reader. Many more people simply want to share specific beliefs, to tell people what they think or, just as important, what they dont. A newspaper-style story or a dry, matter-of-fact headline is adequate for this purpose. But even better is a headline, or meme, that skips straight to an ideological conclusion or rebuts an argument. Rafael Rivero is an acquaintance of Provosts who, with his twin brother, Omar, runs a page called Occupy Democrats, which passed three million followers in June. This accelerating growth is attributed by Rivero, and by nearly every left-leaning page operator I spoke with, not just to interest in the election but especially to one campaign in particular: Bernie Sanders is the Facebook candidate, Rivero says. The rise of Occupy Democrats essentially mirrored the rise of Sanderss primary run. On his page, Rivero started quoting text from Sanderss frequent email blasts, turning them into Facebook-ready memes with a consistent aesthetic: colors that pop, yellow on black. Rivero says that its clear what his audience wants. Ive probably made 10,000 graphics, and its like running 10,000 focus groups, he said. (Clinton was and is, of course, widely discussed by Facebook users: According to the company, in the last month 40.8 million people generated interactions around the candidate. But Rivero says that in the especially engaged, largely oppositional left-wing-page ecosystem, Clintons message and cautious brand didnt carry.) Howards End, the 1992 movie adapted from E. M. Forsters 1910 novel about upper-middle-class British life at the turn of the century, was the artistic pinnacle of what became known as the Merchant-Ivory brand. With a cast featuring Emma Thompson, Helena Bonham Carter, Vanessa Redgrave and Anthony Hopkins, this third adaptation of a Forster novel made by Ismail Merchant (producer), James Ivory (director) and Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (screenwriter) received nine Academy Award nods. (Ms. Thompson won for best actress.) Its success inaugurated a backlash against a much-imitated style that has been described as belonging to the Laura Ashley school of filmmaking, and its refined Edwardian tone is echoed in Downton Abbey. But in the words of the critic Roger Ebert, the movie, which recently began an open-ended engagement at Film Forum, is a film seething with anger, greed, passion and emotional violence. (filmforum.org.) LITCHFIELD, CONN. WHAT: A white clapboard farmhouse with four bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms; a one-bedroom garage apartment and a one-bedroom guest cottage HOW MUCH: $1,400,000 SIZE: 4,137 square feet in the main house, 456 square feet in the garage apartment and 1,080 square feet in the guest cottage PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT: $247 SETTING: Litchfield is a town of around 8,600 people in northwestern Connecticut, about 110 miles north of New York. This house is on 5.3 acres overlooking the Bantam River at the edge of the town. Litchfield, with its many frame buildings and central green, is considered a good example of a typical late-18th-century New England town by the Department of the Interior. Much of the countryside is either agricultural or protected land, including the 4,000-acre White Memorial Conservation Center, crisscrossed by nature trails. Metro-North trains stop about 20 minutes away in Waterbury; the ride into New York takes about two and a half hours. INDOORS: The two-story main house was built in 1868 and last updated over the past three years. Much of its interior has been preserved and restored, including wood floors, mantels, molding and built-ins. Though they were on the same side of the case, in later years the two womens accounts of it and positions on abortion diverged. Ms. McCorvey, who said she had been misled by Ms. Weddington, ultimately did a complete reversal, becoming a born-again Christian and an anti-abortion activist. Ms. Weddington, who served in government and was a professor at the University of Texas at Austin until 2012, continued to be an advocate for abortion rights. Ms. Loomer was fascinated by the idea of using the womens relationship as a lens to examine the cultural divide over abortion. Sarah Weddington, when she approaches the subject of Roe v. Wade, its about the law, she said. Its about choice, its about doing something to impact the lives of all women. For Norma McCorvey, Roe is about her. Its utterly personal. The play she ultimately wrote, Roe, which is running here through October and will have two other prominent productions this season, has arrived as the countrys divisions are on lurid display. In telling the messy back story behind one of the most controversial Supreme Court decisions, it offers a new window on the still-roiling debate over abortion. Perhaps surprisingly, given the subject matter, it is also quite funny. Characters often address the audience directly to discuss how different factual sources contradict each other. They will sometimes pause midscene to say how and when they died or to note, often sardonically, how history has summed them up. After the Supreme Court issues its decision, the actress playing Linda Coffee, a young lawyer who worked on the case with Ms. Weddington, says, Well, Ill leave now, as this will be the high point of my life. After a pause, she adds, with an edge in her voice: According to Wikipedia. Turkish tanks backed by fighter jets and special forces rolled into Syria Wednesday in an unprecedented operation to drive Islamic State (IS) militants out of a key Syrian border town. The air and ground operation also involving Syrian fighters -- the most ambitious launched by Ankara in the Syria conflict -- is aimed at clearing Islamist militants from the town of Jarabulus directly opposite Turkey. But President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasised the operation was also targeting Kurdish militia fighters opposed by Ankara who had also been closing in on IS-held Jarabulus. The operation -- named "Euphrates Shield" -- began around 4:00am local time (0100 GMT) with Turkish artillery pounding dozens of IS targets around Jarabulus, the prime minister's office said. Turkish F-16 fighter jets, backed by international coalition war planes, also hit targets inside Syria. An AFP photographer saw around a dozen Turkish tanks cross into Syria in support of Syrian opposition fighters. Tensions had flared across the Syria-Turkey border the previous day following rocket fire from Jarabulus which landed inside Turkey, with the Turkish army firing howitzer rounds in response. As well as tanks, the AFP photographer in the area of Karkamis opposite Jarabulus saw several smaller military vehicles believed to be carrying pro-Ankara Syrian rebels. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu confirmed the Syrian fighters had crossed from Turkey into Syria and the state-run Anadolu agency said they were now three kilometres (two miles) inside the border. Security sources quoted by Turkish television said a small contingent of special forces had travelled into Syria to secure the area before a possible larger ground operation. Turkish authorities had late Tuesday ordered the evacuation of Karkamis for safety reasons, raising expectations that an offensive was imminent. Air strikes by Turkish jets also echoed through the skies, the photographer said. The effects of one air strike on the northern outskirts of Jarabulus were easily visible, sending up a cloud of black smoke and sand. Turkey will want to show with the operation that it is serious about taking on IS, which has been blamed for a string of attacks inside the country, the latest a weekend attack on a Kurdish wedding in Gaziantep that left 54 dead. Ankara was long accused of turning a blind eye to the rise of IS in Syria and even aiding its movements to-and-fro across the border, claims the government had always vehemently denied. The launch of the operation comes as US Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Ankara to meet Erdogan, with agreeing a unified strategy on Syria set to be a crucial issue. Biden is likely to face expressions of alarm from Turkey about the activities inside Syria of the People's Protection Units (YPG) militia, which Washington sees as an ally but Ankara regards as a terror group. Saleh Moslem, the head of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the YPG's political wing, tweeted that Turkey was now in the "Syrian quagmire" and would be "defeated" like IS. Erdogan said the operation was aimed against both IS and PYD -- "terror groups that continuously threaten our country in northern Syria." "We have said 'enough is enough' ... This process began from 4:00 am. This now needs to be resolved," said Erdogan. The air strikes by Turkish F-16s were the first since a November crisis with Russia sparked when the Turkish air force downed one of Moscow's warplanes. A dozen IS targets were completely destroyed in the air strikes. Turkish artillery meanwhile destroyed 70 IS targets, according to Turkish television. The incursion by Turkish forces is the first such into Syria since February 2015, when hundreds of Turkish troops crossed the border to move the relics of the grandfather of the founder of the Ottoman Empire. The movements have come at a critical juncture for Turkey in Syria's five-and-a-half-year war, with signs growing it is on the verge of a landmark policy shift. Ankara has always called for the removal of President Bashar al-Assad, putting Turkey at odds with his main supporters Iran and Russia. However Prime Minister Binali Yildirim acknowledged at the weekend for the first time that Assad was one of the "actors" in Syria and may need to stay on as part of a transition. Turkey has been shaken by one of the bloodiest years in its modern history, with a string of attacks by IS militants and Kurdish militants and the botched July 15 coup. The attack Saturday in Gaziantep on a wedding party for a young couple has horrified the country, with the majority of the 54 victims aged under 18 and including children as young as four. Search Keywords: Short link: Donald Eugene Bohanan June 20, 1925 - August 19, 2016 Retired Army Major Donald E. Bohanan died August 19 at his home in Auburn, Alabama. He was 91 years old, and his biography reads like that of many of his generation. Born in Hugo, Oklahoma, his family moved to Eldorado, Oklahoma when Bo was a young child. Their lives in Eldorado were almost immediately and certainly profoundly shaped by the Great Depression and the great Dust Bowl. After graduation from Eldorado High School in 1943, what followed was historic and momentous in this young life. He was drafted immediately and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as the ball turret gunner for the B-17, the "Flak Eater," part of the bombing fleet that flew missions over France and Germany. In 1945, like others who survived service in World War II, Bo took advantage of opportunities provided by the G.I. Bill and the U.S. government. He returned to Oklahoma, went to college, and served in the Oklahoma National Guard. Then came the war in Korea, and the Oklahoma Guard was activated. By this time Bo was part of an armored unit, tankers, and that he would remain -- always a tanker. Korea was the defining conflict for Bo. Of WWII, he always said he was one of the lucky ones -- he was not in the infantry, or at Anzio, or at the Bulge, or in the Pacific, as were so many classmates from Eldorado. He was grateful to have been in the skies, and he always said he was too young to understand how vulnerable the skies were and how heroic its pilots and crews. But Korea was different. He was older, and it was his experiences there that shaped his lifelong revulsion to war and his lifelong gratitude to those who serve. He was given a battlefield commission to lead a platoon of Okies in tanks. From the "Big Bo" he commanded his own Band of Brothers, whom he cherished always. He saw these men as the finest. After Korea Bo remained in the army. His next assignment Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. There he met and married his great love Jean Tays Bohanan. From this point, it was "Bo and Jean, Jean and Bo." They were a Cold War army couple. Two tours in West Germany that encompassed the Berlin Wall crisis, the 1960 Grafenwoehr training tragedy, and then, stateside, the Cuban Missile Crisis. Some of the best years were with the 322nd Tank Battalion in the 1950s. Together this unit moved to Hammelburg, then to Schweinfurt, and finally to Fort Benning, and the couples who were part of the 322nd became lifelong friends. Bo retired from the army in 1968, after another year in Korea. This is when they moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas to be near Jean's family and to rear and educate three daughters at Hendrix College, his proudest achievement. Bo loved being part of the Tays clan, and, in particular he cherished his mother-in-law, Cleavie Roberson Tays, the "finest person he knew," and his two sisters-in-law, Yvonne Tays Heyliger and Cleta Tays Shaw. They were his sisters. And anyone who knew him knew Bo loved Fort Smith. He loved its history as the last outpost before Indian territory (he was proud to be the descendant of his Choctaw forebears), and he always loved the community. He worked in the insurance business until his retirement, after which Bo and Jean simply enjoyed life in western Arkansas. In 2003 and upon the death of their daughter, Lindy, Bo and Jean moved to Auburn to assist in the rearing of their grandson, Eric, and to be near their daughter, Donna, and son-in-law, Frank Smith. This was a good move. Here they found the love of new communities. First, the Burke Place community, which included Doris Howland, Liz and Mike Diorio, and Jane and Mike Bracht. The Bohanan family will always be grateful to them for their friendship and support. Then, they found the support of the very special medical practice of Jonathan Commander. Dr. Commander and his right-hand nurse Diane Mitchell gave Bo and Jean care that took them to ripe old ages with quality and dignity. The Bohanan/Tays clan cannot thank them enough for their medical interventions, and then their compassionate medical maintenance. Our debt to them is enormous. Finally, how can we thank enough the team of people who took care of Bo and Jean at home their family/community? The people whose efforts allowed Bo and Jean to remain in their homes with quality of life until the end. Michael Key and Marah Sanders came on early, and Michael remained till the end. He became part of the calvary, or special forces, who joined the team a year and a half ago. Who were the special forces? Alfreda Crosby, Evelyn Philpott, LouRenia Willborn. Together with Michael, Alfreda, Evelyn, LouRenia allowed Bo and Jean to live their lives as they had hoped to. Crucial as well was the support and care given by April Lockhart and Aubrey Walker. These are the people to whom the Bohanan family has the greatest debt. They are our heroes. Bo lost his wife, Jean, a year and one day earlier. He lost his daughter Belinda, or Lindy, in 2003. He is survived by his daughters, Donna Jean Bohanan (Frank Smith, Jr.) of Auburn, Cynthia Lea Bohanan-Ackermann (Paul Ackermann) of Bern, Switzerland, and his grandson Eric Bohanan-Caddell (fiance, Marah Sanders) of Franklin, Alabama. There will be a visitation at the Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home on Thursday, August 25, 6:00-7:00 PM,Central Standard Time and a graveside service at Fort Mitchell National Cemetary on Friday, August 26 at 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time. The family respectfully suggests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Ronald McDonald House of Columbus, Georgia, Bo and Jean's favorite charity, or to a relief fund for the victims of the recent and devastating floods in Louisiana. I was praying for health and comfort; for my family, especially those of my children in Canada and Australia, and of course for my country, but things still need to be put on the right path, said Samiyah, an elderly Coptic woman, as she left prayers marking the end of the 15-day fast for the Assumption of the Virgin Mary at the Mar-Girgis Church in Heliopolis. In a perfect serenity of an upper middle-class woman in her late 70s, Samiyah who has lived all her life in Heliopolis since she was married to her now-deceased husband Youssef spoke of her unease about the situation in the country. You see, I think that we have to be a bit more aware about the problems of the poor and the very poor, and we have to realise that pain is sometimes hard to put up with. I honestly fear that things might be very difficult for many people with the continued rise in prices that is affecting all of us, and we have to worry about what kind of reaction this will cause, she said. Samiyah said that she is praying that nothing bad will happen to President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, because she thinks that he is the one who saved Egypt at a time of ordeal, and she is certainly disturbed over the idea of a possible angry reaction from the masses over the harsh economic conditions. I am just hoping that he will pay attention to the voices of those suffering and perhaps utilise better advisors to reconsider some economic priorities, such as whether he wants still to go ahead with mega projects or to give attention first to food prices, health, and so on, Samiyah said. She also expressed pessimism over the situation faced by Copts, who are still suffering sectarian attacks, especially in Upper Egypt, as well as discriminatory policies that put constraints on the building of churches; constraints that are not faced by anyone looking to build a mosque. These are very unfortunate things that we had hoped would start to change, but unfortunately this has not happened. I must say that I am thinking that this might not happen in my life time but maybe one day, she said. I just hope that President El-Sisi will act to secure a breakthrough in the matter of church construction, because just as I like to come to my church for prayers and solace, I hope that every Christian will also have a church to go to that is not too far from where they live, especially for the sake of the elderly and the women in Upper Egypt who are not allowed to travel far without male companionship, Samiyah said. During the past week, Christians were yet again dismayed following the state's failure to agree on terms for passing a new law that would introduce reform on church construction, the restrictions on which are based on radical Wahhabi interpretations of Islam's stance on building churches. Although the passing of a new law easing regulations for the construction of churches has been set as a priority by the 2014 constitution, it was only a few weeks ago that a draft came out. Initial optimism over the expected passing of the law was short-lived, as the government insisted that the final say on church construction should be with security authorities, which leaders of the Coptic community, both religious and political, accuse of being biased against Christians. The dismay over the fate of the long-promised law comes only a few weeks after signs emerged of unexpected tension between the state and the Coptic community and worse still, between the state and the Church. Over the past few months, several attacks on Christians took place in rural Upper Egypt over a rumour that a group of Christians intended to convert a house into a church. Following the attacks, the Coptic Orthodox Church said that security officials failed to provide protection for Copts and their properties. The head of security in Minya was recently replaced against the backdrop of growing Coptic unrest. Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi vowed tin a quick response to hold violators accountable. The US State Department has said that Egyptian Coptic Christians still face enormous challenges, though stated that President-Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has made efforts to protect the country's christians, according to its 2015 Annual Report on International Freedom released last month. Leading Coptic activist Ramy Kamel said that all this blood and suffering has not prompted the state to act to end the inequality Copts are subjected to when they simply want to pray. At a seminar held last week in Cairo by Egyptians Against Discrimination, Kamil also blamed some Church leaders for toeing the line with the government at the expense of fighting for basic constitutional rights for Christians. Kamil, along with other activists and leading church figures, has criticised the state over its reluctance to take prompt action against those who commit sectarian-based violence and harassment, whether attacking churches or assaulting Christians. One recent incident involved an attack on an elderly Christian woman by a Muslim mob over rumours that her son was having an affair with a Muslim woman. Coptic researcher Soliman Shafik believes that the government does not want a confrontation with what he says is likely a dominant sentiment in society against giving Christians equal opportunities to build Churches or assume top positions. What the constitution says [about equal citizenship and freedom of worship] cannot change reality, and what the government is willing to offer Copts will continue for the most part to be lip service and minor gestures like the presidential participation in the Christmas Mass, rather than anything more fundamental, Shafik stated. Many Coptic activists and researchers also believe that the state is not willing to put any pressure on the police to adjust its attitude towards Christians, at a time when police cooperation is required to deal with expected protests against looming prices rise. [The government] does not want to lose the support of the Salafists, whose clergy and sheikhs are very influential in rural Egypt, said Shafik, referring to those who follow the ultraconservative Salafist strain of Islam. Consequently, Shafik is not expecting any breakthroughs on any major Coptic issues, including the passing of the law on church construction. Shafik believes that the debate over the building of churches will be put on the shelf, and the Church will not be able to challenge this decision given the current economic hurdles facing the country. However, Mary, a Coptic woman in her mid-30s living in the lower-class Ain Shams neighbourhood in eastern Cairo, sees that the situation for Christians in Egypt is more favourable than that of Christians elsewhere in the region. God is here for the weak and the vulnerable; at least the current regime is not going to allow [the Islamic State militant group] to kill us like they did with Christians in Iraq," Mary said, though she added that "otherwise, [the government] is not at all what it had promised to be. We had great dreams and expectations when we saw the president attending the Christmas Mass in 2015, but today we know that this is the maximum we will get and that the times for dreams is over, she said. The US State Department's 2015 report on human rights offered unprecedented praise for the positive attitude that the Egyptian state was taking on Christians, though still voicing some concerns including whether full freedom of worship is fully supported in Egypt. In public statements addressing the grievances of Christians last month, President El-Sisi said that the state is doing everything it can to ensure equality among citizens, but that there are things within the dominant culture that require change, and this needs time. Pope Tawadros, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, who sources close to him say has been "very depressed," applauded the presidential statement. A few weeks earlier, the Coptic patriarch had made a statement criticising what he said was the government's failure to address attacks against Christians in Upper Egypt. Following the statement, the pope paid a visit to the presidential palace with other leading Church figures, where they were offered reassurance of the presidency's commitment to supporting Christian rights. In the same meeting, the pope was blamed by the presidency for having failed to contain the increasing criticism of the regime by Copts in the US and Australia over the situation of Christians in Egypt. On the other hand, senior political commentator Amr El-Shobaki says that the grievances of Copts are not very different from that of any other group who had hoped that the ruling regime that followed the 25 January and 30 June uprisings would act to end inequality. Obviously there is inequality, but there are also challenges that stand in the way of ending this inequality, said El-Shobaki. He argues that it is the role of civil society to address these matters; working to end prejudiced beliefs in order to pave the way for equal rights for all citizens, as well as ease the potentially long wait for equality. However, the state has co-opted the role of civil society, and in the absence of any credible or serious political medium to act as the natural go-between in these situations, the state has been pitted against the people, he said. Although both El-Shobaki and Shafik dismissed the idea of a larger fallout between the state and the Church, neither could predict the wider Coptic reaction. We praying for patience but we are seeing signs of impatience. We are seeing it with Copts in the expatriate communities and we cannot predict what will happen next, Shafik said. Search Keywords: Short link: A lawyer filed a complaint against TV host Ahmed Moussa and parliamentarian Mostafa Bakry for voicing an opinion that contradicts a court ruling on the Red Sea island deal with Saudi Arabia Egypt's prosecutor-general opened an investigation on Tuesday into "high treason" claims against TV host Ahmed Moussa and parliamentarian Mostafa Bakry after a complaint was filed against them for supporting the governments assertion that two Red Sea islands under Egyptian control are in fact Saudi. The investigation into Moussa and Bakry was launched after lawyer Amr Abdel-Salam filed a complaint, in his capacity as a concerned citizen, saying that they "spread false information and unfounded rumours." In April, Egypt's government decided to transfer the islands of Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia, saying that they had always belonged to the Gulf Country. However, an Egyptian court voided the deal in June, ruling that the islands belong to Egypt, a decision that has been appealed by the government. The complaint against Moussa alleges that the controversial media figure committed a violation by voicing an opinion that contradicts the courts June ruling on his nightly television show on Sada El-Balad TV channel. Abdel-Salam also accused Sada El-Balads owner, businessman Mohamed Abul-Enein, of colluding with Moussa to influence public opinion, spread false news and harm national peace and stability. The complaint against media figure and parliamentarian Mostafa Bakry accused him of publishing a book that "spreads false news" about the islands' ownership. The complaint called for the maximum punishment for treason, the death sentence, against both figures. The prosecution will investigate the claims and decide whether to refer the case to court or dismiss it. Egypts decision to transfer the two strategic islands at the southern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba into Saudi hands sparked widespread public outcry in the country. Dozens of people have been arrested and put on trial for protesting the deal, though many have since been released after paying hefty fines. The Egyptian government has repeatedly said that the islands have always belonged to Saudi Arabia and that Egypt has merely been administering them on behalf of the Saudis since the 1950s. Search Keywords: Short link: SANTA ANA After attending Nova Academy Early College High School classes in church buildings for three years, senior Andrea Rodriguez walked into a shiny, four-story building wrapped in a 200-foot red bow Monday night. Its a lot bigger, nicer, like an actual school, the 17-year-old said after the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The charter school opened for the year Tuesday at its new permanent home, a 37,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art building at 500 W. Santa Ana Blvd. It was purchased for $8.3 million after Everest College vacated when Corinthian Colleges Inc. shut its campuses in August 2015. With 20 classrooms, the building allows Nova Academy to increase its student body from 400 to 450 students, all of whom will have access to Chromebook laptop computers and classrooms equipped with smart projectors and other new technology. It gives us the room to do what weve already been doing and the opportunity to do it better, said Thomas Butler, a teacher with Nova Academy since 2008. To keep moving to the best and better level. Nova Academy was founded 11 years ago with nine students at a church on 17th Street. The school then moved to another church, Templo Calvario, before returning to classrooms at its original location, which is now Newsong Church. Administrators sought their own home for the past five years. We turned over every rock, every location, that could serve our students, Nova Academy CEO Renee Lancaster said. We wanted a high-tech-oriented school that would engage our students, allow us to build out our classrooms. This seemed like the perfect location. We want that family atmosphere its like a private school but its not private, she said. A large donation from Pimco CEO Doug Hodge, who runs the Hodge and Schuyler Family Foundation, helped pay for the building and renovations. Nova Academy was one of eight Orange County charter schools that a recent American Civil Liberties Union report accused of having illegal policies that created unfair barriers for underprivileged students. Lancaster disputed the accusation and said the ACLU did not contact Nova Academy. If you walked in here, you would know that we advocate for all students attending, she said. We align with ACLU that no student, or any, should be excluded or discriminated against as a result of enrollment admissions or policies at any public school, and that includes charter schools. Nova Academys student body is 98 percent Latino, with about 80 percent of students coming from low-income families; 13 percent are considered homeless. Senior Janet Martinez, 17, said the schools new downtown location means a chance to build a deeper relationship with the community. Just coming in here and knowing that this building is ours is exciting, its kind of gratifying, Martinez said. All that hard work is paying off. Contact the writer: 714-796-7762 or jkwong@ocregister.com Twitter: @JessicaGKwong KABUL, Afghanistan A U.S. soldier was killed by a bomb near the southern Afghan city of Lashkar Gah, officials said on Tuesday, days after more than 100 U.S. soldiers arrived there to help plan the strategic citys defense against a fierce Taliban assault. The U.S. military has increasingly found itself drawn back to regular combat situations this year as the Afghan forces have struggled against Taliban offensives. The increased U.S. presence around Lashkar Gah in particular, more than two years after British soldiers closed their last base in the city, highlights a scramble to prevent the fall of a major population center. In a statement on Tuesday, the U.S. military said the service member had died of wounds sustained during operations near Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province, when a joint patrol encountered an improvised explosive device. Six Afghan soldiers and another U.S. soldier were wounded in the blast. Even as local Afghan officials were reporting the presence of U.S. personnel near the battlefield in the Chah-e-Anjir area, about 10 miles from Lashkar Gah, U.S. military officials in Kabul insisted that the new team was there only to advise the leadership of the southern police zone based out of the city. The troops that have gone down there are really focused on force protection of the advisers there, to make sure they are secure, Brig. Gen. Charles E. Cleveland, a spokesman for the U.S. military in Afghanistan, told reporters on Monday. What you wont see is they are not about to go out and conduct operations. On Tuesday, Cleveland said, The service members killed and wounded today were not a part of the new advisory mission in Lashkar Gah, suggesting that they were part of the regular advisory support the NATO mission has been providing Afghan special operation forces, often traveling with them in their raids. Omar Zwak, a spokesman for the governor of Helmand, said that joint operations by NATO forces mostly Americans and Afghan forces were continuing in the Chah-e-Anjir and Babajii neighborhoods outside Lashkar Gah, with the Westerners providing air and ground support. NATO troops are now on the ground fighting with Afghan forces against the Taliban, he said. Among the many pieces of legislation circulating around Sacramento these days is Assembly Bill 1671, a contentious measure introduced by Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez, D-Los Angeles, that would make it a crime to secretly record communications with a health care provider, which would include abortion clinics. Under the bill, first-time violators may be subject to up to three years in jail and a $2,500 fine, and subsequent violations may result in up to three years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine. The legislation is sponsored by Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, and was prompted by the 2015 hidden-camera recordings released by the anti-abortion Center for Medical Progress which showed Planned Parenthood employees cavalierly discussing the sale of aborted fetus parts. Planned Parenthood noted that there was a marked increase in threats and violence against its clinics after the release of the videos, which it blamed, in part, on the rapid and widespread distribution made available by the internet. But just because technology makes communication cheaper and easier, and offers access to a wider audience than before, this does not mean that the First Amendment should be suspended. After all, who is to determine how many people must see or hear a message and how quickly before constitutional rights may be curtailed? The bill originally also made it a crime for one to aid and abet in the distribution of such recorded materials, meaning that, for example, journalists who obtained such recordings could have been prosecuted for simply distributing the material. Thankfully, that provision has been stricken from the bill, as it was unconstitutional on its face. The U.S. Supreme Court has dealt with such issues multiple times, including the 1971 New York Times Co. v. United States decision, which upheld the papers right to publish the classified Pentagon Papers, and the 2001 Bartnicki v. Vopper decision, which upheld a radio stations right to air an illegally recorded cellphone conversation between a teachers union president and chief negotiator, which included a threat of violence if the unions demands were not met in contract negotiations. AB1671 remains objectionable even without the aiding and abetting provision, however. The bill is unclear and CNPA continues to vigorously oppose it, the California Newspaper Publishers Association contended in a legislative bulletin. Additionally, newspapers could still be criminally charged under general aiding and abetting criminal law principles. This is especially true if it is unclear who made and distributed the recording to the media, and the publisher is the only known entity for the prosecutor to charge. Moreover, the bill still offers no protection to whistleblowers, except where the parties to the communication may reasonably expect that the communication may be overheard and recorded, or in the collection of evidence of certain serious or violent crimes. As Electronic Frontier Foundation senior counsel Adam Schwartz told Courthouse News Service, when the right of privacy and the freedom of speech come into conflict, [I]ts important that we write laws with a scalpel. AB1671 resorts to using a clever, and should be rejected by the Legislature or Gov. Jerry Brown. DAKAR, Senegal The Nigerian military said on Tuesday that airstrikes had killed and wounded several top Boko Haram commanders in the Sambisa Forest in the countrys northeast, where militants have been hiding for months. Among the wounded was Abubakar Shekau, who took the helm of the group after the death of its founder in 2009, according to Col. Sani Usman, a military spokesman. The militarys attack took place Friday. At least three other top commanders were killed in the most unprecedented and spectacular air raid, the military said in a news release. The military has claimed to have killed Shekau before. Leaders of the militant group are thought to be holed up deep in the forest, and any reports of deaths or injuries to commanders were impossible to independently confirm. The news release from the military on Tuesday prompted confusion by stating that Shekau was fatally wounded on his shoulders. Usman later clarified, saying he had been wounded. The Nigerian military has been stepping up its offensive against Boko Haram even as the group appears to be fracturing. Shekau has taken to YouTube in recent weeks to air a theological spat with Abu Musab al-Barnawi, who had previously been described as a spokesman for Boko Haram, over whether the group should refrain from targeting fellow Muslims with suicide bombings and other acts of violence. A recent issue of an Islamic State magazine ran an interview with Barnawi, in which it called him its governor for West Africa and made no mention of Shekau. Barnawi is apparently leading an Islamic State-endorsed faction of Boko Haram. Boko Haram pledged allegiance to the Islamic State last year. During a visit to Nigeria on Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry issued a veiled warning to Nigerias military against committing human rights abuses as it goes about battling Boko Haram. Nigerias military has long been dogged by reports that in its aggressive hunt to defeat Boko Haram, its soldiers kill innocent civilians, torture prisoners and more recently subject former captives or people fleeing militants to lengthy detentions in an attempt to determine whether they are sympathizers. Kerry dedicated much of his speech to urging Nigeria to prioritize employing and educating young people so they dont join groups like Boko Haram. Kerry decried Boko Harams nihilistic view of the world. They actually teach girls how to hold a bomb under their armpits so that the explosives remain steady. They show teenagers how to use swords to decapitate, he said. We might as well ask how anyone could be brainwashed into such atrocities, but because the children are so young and because the abuse that they suffer is so great, even brave souls can be broken. Tuesdays announcement follows a claim this month from Boko Haram, which released a video purporting to show the bodies of several girls who were kidnapped two years ago from a school in Chibok. A fighter who appears in the video says the girls were killed in Nigerian airstrikes on the forest. The Chibok episode is the most high-profile hostage taking to date by the group. More than 250 girls were taken from Chibok, prompting a social media campaign #BringBackOurGirls. So far, only one has been rescued. If Californians legalize marijuana under Proposition 64 in November, legal cannabis sales in the state likely will climb by $1.6 billion within the first year of implementation, according to a report released Tuesday. That would put the states medical and recreational market on track to hit $6.5 billion in revenue by 2020 up from $2.8 billion in 2015, industry research firms Arcview Group and New Frontier state in the report. And the researchers argue it would serve as a watershed moment for the industry in and outside the United States. We think the activation of the adult-use market in California will undoubtedly make California the new epicenter in cannabis, said John Kagia, executive vice president of industry analytics for New Frontier. Sheer size will help the state maintain that status, Kagia said. Even with a fractured, unregulated medical industry, the report states California already accounts for nearly half of all legal cannabis sales in the nation. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is campaigning for Prop. 64, cautioned against legalizing marijuana merely to pad government coffers with new tax revenue or to chase the next great California gold rush. Still, he acknowledged theres a lot of money to be made, citing estimates that the states gray cultivation market now brings in $9 billion to $13 billion annually. Californias influence isnt just about dollar signs, Kagia said. Theres going to be a professionalism of the industry, an emphasis on innovation once the market is legal in California that will dramatically accelerate the industry in a way that legalization (efforts) in Colorado and Washington havent been able to do. Silicon Valley should play a leading role, both via capital as well as technical and intellectual expertise, Kagia and co-authors say in the report. California also is poised to be a leader in creating rules for social pot use, it should become a front-runner in developing organic standards, and it likely will become a hub for cannabis research, as Prop. 64 calls for 10 percent of sales tax collected to be spent on drug abuse research and another 10 percent on cannabis research, according to the market study. The ripple effects could be vast and could affect industries such as biomedical research, applied materials and nutraceuticals, among many others, Kagia said. Additionally, if California goes recreational, researchers predict it will apply greater pressure on Mexico to legalize. The authors state: The legalization debate south of the U.S. border has evolved quickly as illustrated by the evolution of Mexicos President Enrique Pena Nieto who, in just six years, has transformed from one of Latin Americas most vocal drug warriors to a proponent of medical cannabis use and advocate for decriminalizing possession of up to an ounce for all adults. Legalization in California will only add fuel to the debate on cannabis law reform in Mexico and in other Latin American countries. Californias medical sales should stay relatively flat, according to the report. Arcview and New Frontier project the medical market should decline to $2.53 billion in 2020 from $2.76 billion in 2015. California also will face plenty of unique challenges if it were to legalize, Kagia said. The state already has an outsized scale of cannabis production and is starting to see some land-grabs by pot prospectors. A greater supply should mean cheaper costs for consumers but also could pinch the producers, the report says. Legalization also would raise questions about the viability of indoor grow houses and whether the energy costs could be prohibitive as more greenhouses open, Kagia said. But perhaps one of the greatest challenges for California is whether it can overcome itself. Californias medical market operated for nearly 20 years with very limited government regulation. There was no agency tasked with regulatory oversight or business licensing, no requirement for patients to register with the state, and essentially no market standards for product safety and quality. This led to significant problems with diversion of product from the legal to the illicit market, exposed early business operators to enforcement crackdowns and made it difficult for the state to closely monitor the program because of the lack of centralized data and reporting. Last fall, the state took steps to establish more stringent regulations for medical cannabis businesses, and individual jurisdictions will likely see further policy adjustments in the coming years. The stringent regulations came in the form of the Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act, a two-year program intended to provide oversight for the medical industry, create a commercial license program and set consumer and environmental standards, according to the report. Industry members told Arcview and New Frontier that theyre concerned about how distribution policies outlined in the act could result in higher prices for consumers, whether the costs would be too high for the majority of existing dispensaries to continue operating, and how local jurisdiction approvals would stymie the industrys potential. Prop. 64 does have some solutions for those concerns; however, if the contested legalization ballot issue does not pass, its not necessarily a death knell for California or the nations industry as a whole, Kagia said, noting that other states have legalization measures up for vote. To some in the industry, the measures failure would give the state the chance to implement MCRSA first and set up an established foundation, he said. While the failure of the measure in California would be a setback, broadly speaking, we do not think it is going to significantly impede continued forward progress that we have been seeing in the shifting public attitudes (toward legalization), he said. Staff writer Brooke Edwards Staggs contributed to this report. LAGUNA BEACH Nearly 300 sea lions beached along Orange Countys coastline were rescued, rehabilitated and released back to the Pacific Ocean this year, thanks to staff and volunteers at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center. This was the third year of mass sea lion strandings along the California coastline that scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say is due to a warming ocean and lack of food for these marine mammals birthed by the thousands each year on the Channel Island rookeries. The mass strandings were declared an unusual mortality event by federal officials. The Laguna Beach center, an institution established in Laguna Canyon in 1971, has been front and center in the fight to save the starving and dehydrated animals, taking in 1,465 since 2012 when conditions in the ocean began changing. On Saturday, artists from Art-A-Fair, another Laguna Beach institution, celebrated the marine centers success and pledged their commitment to raising awareness of sea lion strandings by dedicating a new sculpture. Seamore, a painted fiberglass sea lion, was placed next to Murphy, a bronze sea lion sculpture at the entrance to the center. City officials, artists, and chamber representatives dedicated the piece a collaboration of 15 artists from the 50 year-old art festival in a ceremony. The ceremony was preceded by a parade along Laguna Canyon Road from Art-A-Fair to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center. For the Pacific Marine Mammal Center to be honored this way is amazing, said Keith Matassa, executive director of the center. To be recognized like this by a well-established art organization is an honor. This is another way people have recognized the plight of the sea lions and the ocean. As long as we bring the message forward, relieve the plight and re-establish the health of the ocean its great. LESSONS AND COLLABORATION In 2015, the Pacific Marine Mammal Center took in 536 sea lions a record. With resources already stretched from the year before, when 228 sea lions came in, center staff this year was bracing for what NOAA scientists thought could bring animals in at even a higher rate. So far, 289 sea lions have been rescued. Thats more rescues than in 2014, but the pace of rescues has been slower than expected. Still, Matassa said there have been other challenges. The center also took in other marine animals, such as elephant seals and harbor seals. Different species means the animals must be housed separately, a challenge for a small space. This year you saw a lack of food affect all the species, he said. They came in starving, dehydrated and heavy on parasites. It was everything we saw for past years just magnified among multiple species and age groups. What has made this year a bit easier though was that Matassa, his staff and volunteers could take advantage of lessons learned from past years. They also took advantage of help from agencies across the country. Similar to mutual aid responses among law enforcement and fire agencies, Matassa and the center are part of a network that work with officials from NOAAs National Fisheries Service and its marine mammal stranding network. That means weekly calls to check in on what was happening at other marine mammal rescue centers in San Diego, the Channel Islands and in Northern California. If help is needed at a center, trained staff is sent out. Standards of practice and resource management is set, with equipment and people with training in marine mammal sciences on the ready. When more sea lions, harbor seals and elephant seals began stranding in March, April and May and the Pacific Marine Mammal Center needed to open a triage center in Huntington Beach, Matassa had access to veterinarians and experienced staff through the mutual aid network called Special Trained Animal Response Teams, or START. Its become streamlined with a collaboration of experienced people from across the country, he said. If we had that in 2013, when the masses started coming in, we would have been in a completely different place.. REPEAT STRANDINGS There are currently 33 animals at the center 29 sea lions, three elephant seals and one harbor seal. Releases are anticipated over the next few weeks, Matassa said. On average. the center releases about 65 percent to 75 percent of its patients. Some animals arrive with severe malnutrition and dont survive. Each animal that is treated at the center and released is tagged so marine mammal staff in Laguna Beach and others along the California coastline know the animal has been treated. All released sea lions are monitored. Matassa and his staff go out of Dana Point Harbor to look for tagged animals and for those that have satellite GPS monitors attached as part of a NOAA monitoring program. Three were released this year with satellite tags. Data from the device attached to the sea lion is monitored by Matassa and provides an indication of what the animals are doing in the wild. He points to Buzzie, a sea lion released earlier this year. Data shows hes been splitting his time between Dana Point Harbor, the coves in Laguna Beach and the Newport Beach Harbor. Were seeing him on monitoring trips off Dana Point, Matassa said. Were seeing lots of animals closer to shore. The food has moved in there. Contact the writer: 714-796-2254 or eritchie@ocregister.com or on Twitter:@lagunaini Orange County is set to get its first emergency medical centers dedicated to treating people who suffer sudden psychiatric episodes, addressing a void that critics say long has burdened local hospitals and left mentally ill patients with inadequate treatment. County supervisors voted Tuesday to accept a nearly $3.1 million competitive state grant that will help pay for building renovations and program start-up costs for the expanded care at two undetermined locations. Supervisor Andrew Do credited newspaper articles stemming from a 2014 Orange County Register investigation with revealing that the countys lack of an outpatient emergency mental health care center had resulted in psychiatric patients being sent to hospital emergency rooms, where they sometimes were held for hours, or days, without treatment. That also delayed medical treatment for other patients at those ERs. Hospital emergency rooms generally are ill-equipped and often lack the proper expertise to treat patients suffering psychiatric episodes, said Dr. Michael Brant-Zawadski, executive medical director of Hoag Neurosciences Institute. Likewise, those same patients often dont need to be held at inpatient psychiatric facilities, which keep people for multiple days. The countys new crisis stabilization program will provide a middle-ground treatment method that currently is missing. Patients could be evaluated, discharged and transferred to the proper outpatient treatment program, Brant-Zawadski said. Other counties, like Alameda, already have a robust psych emergency program, where ambulance and cops take people who have mental issues to those places instead of emergency rooms. This is a great step forward, he said. Once the centers open, all Orange County police and emergency medical personnel will be told to take people suffering mental episodes or those under involuntary psychiatric holds to the new centers. Patients will be able to stay at the new facilities for just shy of 24 hours, at which point theyll need to be released or transferred to an inpatient facility. Tom Loats, director of behavioral health at St. Joseph Hospital, said adding a psychiatric emergency program should free up the countys limited psych beds, which are sometimes occupied by people who would benefit from outpatient treatment. A 2015 grand jury report found that the county had 16 beds for every 100,000 residents less than one-third the number the California Hospital Association recommends to meet the needs of psychiatric patients. Crisis stabilization units take all comers, so there is no limit on the number of patients they will triage, Loats said. Ive always said you dont know whether we have too few beds until youre doing it right on the front end. Orange County has in recent years publicly discussed expanding its 10-bed, inpatient psychiatric crisis stabilization unit in Santa Ana. But real movement began in August 2015 when Supervisors Do and Lisa Bartlett formed an ad-hoc committee to study the countys $323 million mental health system. In March, after meeting with hospital and law enforcement groups, the two supervisors hosted a forum to seek public input on whats wrong with county mental health services. That same month, the countys Health Care Agency applied for the $3.1 million state mental health grant. In April, Bartlett and Do directed county staff to seek partnerships with local medical facilities to operate new emergency psychiatric centers. And in July, the California Department of Health Care Services released a statement clarifying that restricted revenue from the Mental Health Services Act, which provides funding for county mental health programs, could be spent on involuntary mental health services. The Health Care Agency said that funding will be spent on the new facilities. Brant-Zawadski said the medical community had been pressuring county officials for years to seek state grants and other funding to improve local mental health services. They are finally acting on the pressure, he said. Do said in a statement that he expects the changes will improve the quality of medical care for everyone in Orange County by relieving pressure on hospital emergency rooms. The county doesnt yet know where the centers will be located or when they will open. But a Health Care Agency representative said the grant requires that the contracts and plans for the facilities be in place by the end of 2017. Bartlett has proposed positioning one in north Orange County and one in the south. And Do has said the new facilities would need to be near, or linked to, existing medical facilities so that they can admit people with mental health issues who also have physical injuries. Contact the writer: 714-796-7960 or jgraham@ocregister.com Orange County found itself $26 million richer last week after an international software company paid a settlement, ending a lawsuit in which the county alleged it had been defrauded of millions while trying to replace its automated property tax system. The county announced Tuesday that it will drop its lawsuit against Tata Consultancy Services, a multinational information technology company based in Mumbai, India, and that the company will dismiss a cross-complaint. County spokeswoman Jean Pasco said in a statement that it was the most money the county had won in a settlement in over two decades. Orange County hired Tata for a two-year contract in 2008, eventually offering $6.4 million to replace an antiquated computer system used to generate annual property tax bills. But over the next five years, the company requested three extensions and an additional $10.9 million to complete the project, leading the county to terminate the contract and eventually accuse Tata of fraud in a 2013 lawsuit. The county alleged that Tata fraudulently induced the county into selecting Tata to develop the property tax system and then presented false claims in the form of invoices and reports, provided false and unachievable milestone completion dates, and intentionally understaffed the project to maximize profit, Pasco wrote. In response, Tata filed a cross-complaint against the county. The countys case was set to go to trial Aug. 2, but the two sides entered mediation in late July and agreed on a settlement. Tata spokesman Benjamin Trounson said Tuesday, Both parties had asserted claims against each other, but neither admits any liability. But county officials are adamant that the software company tried to swindle it out of money, noting that internal emails, obtained during discovery, revealed Tata employees appearing to strategize as to how to mislead the county about the status of the property tax management system. We knew their system didnt work because they lied about their capabilities, Supervisor Shawn Nelson said in a statement. They flat-out lied to us and I caught them. Orange County paid a total of $4,925,541 to Tata during its contract and another $10 million in legal fees while suing the company. Supervisor Todd Spitzer said the settlement money would be used to finally purchase a new automated property tax system, but he did not know when that would happen. The lawsuit was about, You caused so much damage to the county, that not only do you have to pay for the system you screwed up, but you have to pay for a new system, Spitzer said. Contact the writer: 714-796-7960 or jgraham@ocregister.com SAN FRANCISCO A federal appeals court has for the second time upheld Californias first-in-the nation ban on so-called gay aversion therapy. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday tossed out a San Diego pastors legal challenge to the counseling ban Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law in late 2012. The pastor and other opponents of the therapy ban argued the law violated 1st Amendment religious freedom rights. The court tossed out a similar lawsuit in 2014 and the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals upheld New Jerseys ban the same year. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear both cases. The 9th Circuit said Tuesday the ban doesnt violate religious rights because the law is limited only to licensed therapist and not aimed at pastors and other religious leaders. The fear of bloodhounds is evident in the poetry, songs and written passages of Americas slave history, which has led to the research of slave dogs by Cal State Fullerton assistant professor of African American studies Tyler D. Parry. I am trying to peel back the layers of certain documents that were written about these specific canines and trying to see if I can unpack the history of the canines and how they relate to slavery and the degree to which that still matters to us today, Parry said. He recently discussed his research as part of the CSUF Osher Lifelong Learning Institutions summer lecture series in a presentation titled Bloodhounds on My Track. In his research, Parry has pinpointed the introduction of dogs used for subjection purposes to the 1500s, a time in which the Europeans had begun colonizing the Americas. During this time, dogs were used as weapons against the indigenous peoples, Parry said. Dogs become vehicles of terror, he said. Now Im not trying to blame the dogs for this; obviously they are acting at the behest of the masters. In the Caribbean in the 1700s, settlers begin crossbreeding dogs to create a breed that would excel in tracking and hunting down people, specifically those of color. This led to the birth of the Cuban bloodhound. While it is unknown what breeds made up this new one, it was considered the most ferocious, most menacing and most efficient dog for hunting black people, Parry said. The reputation of the dog spread and Cuba began to export the dogs globally. The Cuban bloodhounds were introduced into the United States in the 1840s during the Second Seminole War in the Florida Everglades. These Seminoles were essentially a mixture of indigenous peoples called the Seminoles and then runaway slaves who had joined them in opposition to the U.S. government, Parry said. The United States turned to the Cuban bloodhounds as a way to find the rebels and subdue them, he said. The dogs soon thereafter became a commodity in the United States. The importing and selling of the hounds caused a popularization in occupational slave hunting, said Parry, adding that the hounds became known as slave dogs throughout the United States. So here you actually have poor white people who are having a hard time investing in the slave economy doing so through canines, he said. Parrys research emphasizes the fear the slave community harbored toward these animals. He cited published works by Spanish historian and explorer Bartolome de las Casas, and former slaves Solomon Northup, Harriet Tubman and William Parker, among others. According to the accounts he has studied, the slaves feared the animals more than the lash or musket, Parry said. Inanimate objects needed somebody to wheeled them. Dogs could act on impulse; so even if an enslaved person was walking near a canine it was never entirely clear if that dog was going to attack them, he said Following the Civil War, dogs were used to track convicts. Blacks living in the South under Jim Crow laws were typically targeted by these dogs, Parry said. You could break a law just by walking down the street. So one thing that happens is dogs become retrained or continued to be trained to essentially hunt black people, he said. His research also includes first-person accounts from the 1950s of dogs being used to violently subdue peaceful African American protesters at civil rights rallies, he said. In the 1960s, K-9 Units are introduced. Many black communities immediately questioned why the units were being used disproportionally in areas with high African American populations, Parry said. Once again the high crime rate of an area is a cop-out in my opinion and an excuse for essentially patrolling many of these areas with dogs that were used to intimidate many of these populations, he said, adding that this is an ongoing issue in todays black communities. Through his work, Parry aims to contextualize and further examine what he refers to as the convoluted relationship between police dogs and African Americans. Contact the writer: amarcos@scng.com Israeli forces carried out a series of airstrikes in the Gaza Strip late Sunday in response to an attack on an Israeli border town The Arab League condemned on Tuesday Israeli strikes earlier this week on the besieged Gaza Strip, calling on the international community to take action against the assault, state news agency MENA reported. In a statement to reporters, the deputy secretary-general of the Arab League, Ahmed Bin Hali, stressed that the international community should not be "silent" in the face of the "blatant" Israeli assault. The Israeli occupation forces carried out up to 50 airstrikes in the Gaza Strip late Sunday, according to the Times of Israel, saying it was targeting Hamas positions in response to a Palestinian rocket attack that hit an Israeli border town on Sunday. Bin Hali said he believes that Israel aims to provoke the Palestinian people with the assault, which comes on the anniversary of the Al-Aqsa mosque arson attack of 1969. The deputy chief also commented on last weeks storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third-holiest site, by 400 Jewish settlers, saying that Israel would not escalate the situation as "they are aware of the consequences [of such an action], as the mosque does not only concern 10 million Palestinians or 350 million Arabs, but [over 1 billion] Muslims worldwide." Jews are allowed to visit but not to pray on the esplanade. On Wednesday, Egypts Al-Azhar, the worlds highest seat of Sunni Islam, strongly condemned the storming by Israeli settlers of the mosque. The anger of Palestinians in the occupied territories has increased over the last 10 months over the repeated storming of the mosque in occupied east Jerusalem by Jewish settlers. "The Palestinian issue is the key and cornerstone of restoring peace and stability in the Middle East, which is what the international community must realise," Bin Hali said. Since October 2015, Israeli occupation forces have killed at least 160 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. In July 2014, Israels 51-day assault on Gaza killed over 2,200 people, mostly civilians, and left more than 12,000 others injured, according to UN figures. More than 100,000 people were displaced. Search Keywords: Short link: ROME Strong earthquakes struck central Italy early Wednesday, killing several people, trapping many others under debris and setting off tremors that awakened sleeping residents in Rome nearly 100 miles away. The first, 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck at 3:36 a.m. near the town of Accumoli, in the province of Rieti. The mayor of Accumoli, Stefano Petrucci, reported that six people had been killed there. And at least two people were reported to have been killed in Pescara del Tronto in the province of Ascoli Piceno, according to the authorities Severe damage was reported in Amatrice, where Mayor Sergio Pirozzi said, Half the town no longer exists. He added that Amatrice had been cut off because of damage to roads and to a bridge, and appealed during a live television broadcast for assistance. There are people stuck in the rubble, he said, calling on emergency services to help clear roads. Houses are no longer there, he added, suggesting that victims had been buried in the rubble. The paths of destruction led to other places, including the Tyrrhenian coast. A witness in Sperlonga, a popular seaside town in Lazio, said that the historic city center had been seriously damaged, and news channels showed photos of crumbled buildings, and rubble-covered cars. The earthquake was felt from Rome to Bologna, in Emilia Romagna, in a broad area pockmarked with dozens of small towns, and Italian officials said it was difficult to gauge the number of casualties or the damage as the earth trembled throughout the night. Fabrizio Curcio, the director of Italys Civil Protection Department, said that the earthquake had been severe and that national emergency procedures had been activated. On social media, there were many reports of friends or relatives being buried or trapped under rubble. But local people said ambulances and rescue teams were having difficulty getting to the mountainous area, where most towns are reachable only along winding country roads. In Norcia, dozens of residents wrapped in blankets greeted the dawn in the towns main square. Much of our patrimony is damaged, but there are no victims, Mayor Nicola Alemanno told RaiNews24. That is the good news. The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology reported that there had been nearly a dozen other earthquakes in the affected area over the course of about two hours. None was as strong as the 6.2 quake. Katherine Selby, of Nottingham, England, was vacationing with her family in Campagnano di Roma, just outside Rome, when the wardrobe doors began shaking like crazy, she wrote on Twitter. It was frightening because it was unclear what was going on, she said, adding that she was anxiously waiting for the next aftershock. She said there was no damage. The U.S. Geological Survey said the population in the region lives in structures that are a mix of vulnerable and earthquake-resistant construction. A Twitter user in Le Marche reported that electricity had been knocked out. In 2009, a devastating earthquake in the Abruzzo region of central Italy killed more than 300 people and left about 65,000 homeless. Thousands of structures that remained standing were rendered uninhabitable because of damage to the foundations, support beams or walls. ANKARA, Turkey Turkish and American justice officials met on Tuesday to discuss Turkeys demands for the extradition of a U.S.-based cleric accused of masterminding last months failed coup attempt. The meeting came ahead of a visit to Ankara Wednesday by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, during which he will discuss the extradition request and other issues. During the talks, Turkish Justice Ministry officials would share with the visiting U.S. Justice Department and State Department officials evidence and testimonies obtained until now concerning Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulens involvement in the July 15 coup, the ministry said in a statement. Gulen, who has lived in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania for the past 17 years in self-imposed exile, has denied any connection to the coup attempt that claimed at least 270 lives. The U.S. government has asked for firm evidence before considering extradition. In Washington, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Turkey has formally requested Gulens extradition. But Toner said the request doesnt relate to the recent coup attempt in Turkey. He declined to provide any further details. We are now considering the merits of the request, Toner told reporters. The Turkish ministry said officials have sent four files amounting to a total of 6,382 pages containing evidence and extradition requests compiled by courts in Istanbul, Ankara and the northwestern city of Bursa. The government has declared a state of emergency and launched a massive crackdown on Gulens supporters in the aftermath of the coup, raising concerns among Turkeys allies and human rights groups. Some 35,000 people have been detained for questioning and more than 17,000 of them have been formally arrested to face trial, including soldiers, police, judges and journalists. Tens of thousands more people with suspected links to Gulen have been suspended or dismissed from their jobs in the judiciary, media, education, health care, military and local government. On Tuesday, the military extended the terms of hundreds of apparently trusted colonels. A high military council meeting regrouping military leaders and government ministers extended by two additional years the service terms of 434 colonels, the Defense Ministry announced. It said 586 other colonels were retired from the Turkish Armed Forces. A man in his 50s was severely injured after his sport-utility vehicle crashed into a house in Santa Ana Wednesday, fire officials say. The crash occurred around 9:40 a.m. in the 2100 block of South Greenville Avenue at W. St. Gertrude Place, said Capt. Stephen Horner of the Orange County Fire Authority. The bronze Hyundai crashed into the garage portion of the house. OCFAs Urban Search and Rescue Team responded to the scene with a heavy rescue truck and provided shoring and bracing to keep part of the structure standing, Horner said. The driver was taken to an area hospital in serious condition, Horner said. Horner said authorities do not know the cause of the crash or whether drugs or alcohol played a role. The Santa Ana Police Department is investigating the cause of the crash. Contact the writer: npercy@scng.com Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsoms track record of getting out in front on issues has helped him emerge as a leading proponent of two of Novembers hot-button ballot measures, propositions to legalize recreational marijuana and add new gun controls. His advocacy of those measures, which on Tuesday included a meeting with Southern California News Group editorial and newsroom writers, is also raising the Democrats profile as he gears up a 2018 bid for governor. Proposition 63, which includes seven gun control provisions, helped spur the Legislature to pass measures of its own this summer. But that hasnt slowed Newsom. They failed to address many of these (key) issues, he said. One Prop. 63 component Newsom emphasized Tuesday would establish a new system for confiscating firearms from convicted felons. A 2014 study found that 17,500 Californians who, as felons, were banned from having guns still owned 35,000 licensed firearms. While Attorney General Kamala Harris has been given money by the Legislature to go door-to-door and round up those weapons, that approach gathered just 11,500 in the first year, Newsom said. Prop. 63 would require felons to surrender weapons, including those they are on record as owning, before sentencing. Another provision would tighten loopholes in a new law requiring background checks for people buying ammunition. The majority of guns in inner-city violence are not licensed, but these people are legally buying ammunition, Newsom said. One of the most controversial components of Prop. 63, a ban on ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds, has already been signed into law. Critics say Prop. 63 unnecessarily burdens gun and ammunition buyers and sellers, and affects law-abiding gun owners rather than criminals. Newsom acknowledged Prop. 63 wouldnt end gun violence, but he pointed to studies showing that California has experienced a steady drop in gun violence over the past two decades as state gun laws have tightened. Newsom gained national headlines in 2004 when, as mayor of San Francisco, he directed the city clerk to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The licenses were eventually annulled, but it set the stage for the 2008 state Supreme Court ruling legalizing such unions. He also has been an early supporter of recreational cannabis, forming the Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy in 2013 to study the best path toward legalization. While there were 19 initiatives to legalize marijuana proposed for the Nov. 8 election, Newsom helped gain support for the only one that incorporated most of his commissions recommendations and the only one that made the ballot. Newsom said hes not campaigning for Proposition 64 because he likes marijuana. He said hes seen lives stalled by the drug and he hopes his kids never use it. He even joked that his wife might not back him for governor because hes supporting the measure. But Newsom said he believes a significant number of Californians are in the same boat as him: Theyre not pro-marijuana, but theyre vehemently anti-prohibition. Under the current system, he said, young people have easy access to marijuana, law enforcement is dedicating resources to catch nonviolent drug offenders and Californias black market for pot is flourishing. Newsom isnt promising those problems will dissolve overnight if voters approve Prop. 64, which would allow adults to possess an ounce of marijuana. But he believes the law will be a step in the right direction, pointing at the measures protections for children, tax revenue for public safety and flexibility for the Legislature to make changes down the road. Both propositions, Newsom argued, give voters a chance to steer the national debate on these significant public policy issues. California is a game-changer, he said. Contact the writer: mwisckol@ocregister.com or bstaggs@ocregister.com YORBA LINDA The director of the CIA was in Orange County on Wednesday for the release of seven years of declassified daily briefings that painted a picture of the world for Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. About 2,500 documents containing the governments most up-to-date intelligence analysis on key national security issues during Nixons term beginning in January 1969 through the end of Fords term in January 1977 were released by the CIA. The release was followed by an afternoon symposium at the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda discussing the importance of the documents. Today is an opportunity to shed a bit more light on our mission and our history for the benefit of the American people, CIA Director John Brennan said. See all the released declassified documents. Brennan and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper toured the ongoing $15 million renovation of the Nixon Librarys galleries before participating in the symposium, which was attended by about 600 people. The intelligence provided each day reported on critical historical events, including the Vietnam War which is mentioned in more than two thirds of the briefings and Nixons historic trip to China. The briefings also monitored international response to Watergate and Nixons resignation Aug. 9, 1974, which was mixed: The Soviets expressed worry about the future of detente. North Korea reacted brashly, calling Nixons exit the falling out of the wicked boss of American imperialists. South Vietnam put its forces on high alert because it feared the North Vietnamese would take advantage of the vulnerable U.S. political situation. The world in the past 24 hours has seemed to mark time as the U.S. succession process worked itself out, the Aug. 10, 1974, brief says. None of the potential troublemakers has produced even a rumble. It may be that many have not had time to consider how the situation might be turned to advantage. Many, the Soviets for example, had probably not anticipated the situation to come to a climax so rapidly. The brief on Sept. 5, 1973, said that Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev had voiced suspicions that opponents of the emerging detente were trying to exploit Watergate and that he wanted to build detente so firmly that it will not be an issue in future U.S. politics. Clapper, who served in the Vietnam War, said he thought the daily briefings were a pretty good chronicle of what he remembers during his time in Vietnam. It was very interesting for me to look back, he said. David Robarge, chief historian at the CIA, said the importance placed on the briefings depended on the president. In the case of Nixon, he got a lot of information from other sources, and his national security adviser Henry Kissinger would present them to him as kind of a morning package, said Robarge, who described Nixon as a hostile audience. The CIA didnt have a daily role in briefing Nixon it is said he frequently ignored the reports. By the end of 1969, the presidential daily briefings were about 10 pages long. Ford, the eager consumer, requested more analysis, and his briefings were at times close to 20 pages. Today, President Barack Obama gets his daily briefings on his iPad; they include graphics, videos and previous articles. I think that this is going to be a really amazing contribution to historians and political scientists who are going to be able to dig deeper into this material and really understand the information that Presidents Nixon and Ford were given and how they were informed to make these very controversial decisions that have already been judged by history, said Cathleen Buzan of Orange, who attended the symposium. She is starting her masters degree at the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance in September. Now well be able to see a little bit more specifically what intelligence they were provided, she said, and have a little bit more of a roadmap to how they made those really important and challenging decisions for foreign policy. The Nixon and Ford briefings released Wednesday are available on the CIA website, though some information has been redacted. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact the writer: 714-796-7868 or desalazar@ocregister.com FULLERTON An off-duty Los Angeles police officer was critically injured after a crash between an SUV and motorcycle in Fullerton, police said Tuesday. At 10:54 p.m. Monday, a Harley-Davidson and Toyota Sequoia crashed at the intersection of Commonwealth and Basque avenues, said Fullerton police Sgt. Jon Radus. The driver of the SUV was making a left turn onto Basque, when it hit the motorcyclist, who was traveling westbound on Commonwealth. The 24-year-old officer, who was riding the Harley-Davidson, was taken to UC Irvine Medical Center in critical condition. The 19-year-old woman driving the SUV was uninjured and is cooperating with the investigation. Neither drugs nor alcohol appear to be factors in the crash, Radus said. The officer was a fairly new employee, hired only three or four months ago, said LAPD officer Drake Madison. Anyone with information is asked to call the Fullerton Police Departments traffic bureau at 714-738-5313. Contact the writer: lawilliams@scng.com The U.S. Supreme Court in its famous Citizens United decision tells us corporations are just like people. But we saw the opposite in the multiple convictions of Pacific Gas & Electric Co. the other day for obstruction of justice and breaking safety laws in the 2010 San Bruno natural gas pipeline explosion that killed eight people and destroyed many homes. No, the PG&E case says, corporations are not like people. When juries convict real people of felonies, they do jail time, serve probation and/or pay fines that hurt. They often have trouble getting jobs for the rest of their lives and carry serious stigma wherever they go. None of that will happen to PG&E, where no one appears likely to pay much of a price for the companys wrongdoing before and after the big blast. The big utility cannot do jail time; its impossible. No one has put it on probation, even if a few small communities are opting out of its services to join the states budding publicly owned Community Choice Aggregation power suppliers. And PG&E was fined just $6 million for its offenses, a bare pittance for a company that was in June awarded more than $600 million in rate increases for safety work on its gas pipelines. The most important thing here is that not a single person was convicted. No one will pay any significant price for the tragic havoc PG&E wreaked. Even so, PG&E now wants its convictions overturned. Why this company needs $600 million yearly in extra pipeline safety money is anyones guess. After all, PG&E and other California gas utilities have collected billions of dollars from their customers over the last 65 years for pipeline maintenance, even if no one ever tracked how they spent it. Whats more, when the state Public Utilities Commission fined PG&E $1.6 billion last year for violating state and federal gas pipeline safety standards, more than 53 percent of the money $850 million was earmarked for pipeline repairs and improvements. That meant PG&Es big fine, cited by federal authorities as one reason for the paltry amount assessed as a criminal penalty this summer, was less than half as big as billed. It is surely no fine when a company is forced to make updates it was paid to perform over the previous six decades. But the really big question in the PG&E case was clear from the day charges were filed: Why doesnt anyone face charges? Plenty of individuals were involved, and the federal Justice Department surely knew it. One example: His own testimony in the months-long PG&E trial showed that the companys former vice president of gas maintenance and construction may have been at the very least incompetent. One example he admitted to: He signed a letter instrumental in PG&E being charged with obstructing the federal investigation of San Bruno by trying to conceal some flawed company policies. The executive said he didnt write or edit the letter and signed it without understanding its technical language. He said that he often did that with documents he was asked to approve. I would read what I could and what I could understand, he testified. Most of it was technical information. It didnt do much good for me to read it. I pretty much had to trust what the team had gotten me. No one explained why this man was not charged with criminal negligence for signing such letters and documents without bothering to get them deciphered. Other testimony saw PG&E engineers say cutbacks in spending on safety were the fault of the companys top brass. But no executive, active or retired, has been charged. No one paid any significant price for what probably amounted to multiple manslaughters, at a minimum. Meanwhile, PG&E suffers no reduction in employability after its crimes. Its service area is not reduced. Its rates are rising. Its executives still are paid well into six and seven figures. So no, corporations are not like people. At least not when they commit major crimes. Not in real life. SAN DIEGO A San Diego police officer who was badly wounded in a shooting that killed his partner is out of the hospital. A police spokesman says Wade Irwin was released Saturday night and is recovering at home. The 32-year-old gang unit officer was shot in the throat on July 28 as he got out of a patrol car to ask a man if he lived in the area. Police say the gunman then went to the open passenger door and fired into the car. Forty-three-year-old Jonathan De Guzman was hit five times as he sat in the drivers seat. Irwin managed to wound the gunman. Fifty-two-year-old Jesse Gomez has pleaded not guilty to murder and attempted murder. IRVINE Doug Bender had a plan for his retirement. He invested $2.2 million to buy a piece of land and construct a building in an emerging research and industrial park at the southeast end of this master-planned city. He ran his civil engineering firm in the new building and planned to lease it in the future. What he didnt know was that 15 years later, there would be a plan to build an electrical substation just 10 feet from his building. Bender, who retired in 2011, lost his tenant this month, leaving his 10,000-square-foot building empty. I dont know if I can rent my building to anybody, the 64-year-old said Monday. Bender is among the property and business owners in the Spectrum 5 district, near Irvine Center and Lake Forest drives, who are fighting Southern California Edisons plan to build a substation, which will convert 33-kilovolt current to a lower distribution voltage of 12 kilovolts, in an empty field. They say they are worried about potential health and fire risks and damage to property values that could be caused by the structure, scheduled to open next summer. Some, including Vizio, known for its budget-priced televisions, have threatened to move their businesses out of Irvine if the substation is built. Bender and seven other business and property owners recently sued Irvine and Edison, complaining that the utility company which aims to start construction Sept. 16 has not gone through the citys land use and environmental reviews. City officials say they want to do the reviews, but their hands are tied by state law. Edison maintains the company is complying with the law and has done as much as possible to communicate with the affected parties. DEMAND FOR MORE POWER Edison officials say the new substation, referred to as the Safari Substation, is needed to meet the growing power demand in the area. It will serve customers within a mile including Irvine Co.s second Los Olivos apartment complex, which will begin construction next year and feature 1,950 units. The substation will be built on a 2.4-acre lot along Wald adjacent to four buildings. Edison bought the land Oct. 29 from the Irvine Co. The substation is expected to begin operating on June 1, Edison officials said. Edisons existing Santiago Substation on Sand Canyon Avenue, 3 miles away, will begin exceeding its capacity by the end of this year, mainly because of a growing population and new developments, and cannot be expanded, the company said. Dac Clark, chairman of L Space, which sells swimwear for women, said his company decided to move out of Benders building after five years solely because of the proposed substation. Most of the companys employees are women in their childbearing years, he said, and they were worried about radiation. Studies have shown weak or no links between electric and magnetic fields, often referred to as radiation, and adult cancers and childhood leukemia, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. The agency states radiation from substations is generally indistinguishable from background levels beyond the substation fence or wall. Nonetheless, the perception of risk persists. Vizio, which employs about 250 at its Irvine headquarters, is considering a move out of Irvine if the substation goes in, said Paul Wang, a company director and shareholder. If the citys action on this substation is focused more on the profitability of some companies, rather than the quality of life for its residents and businesses, this should be a major concern that the city is no longer publicly serving the best interests of its citizens and businesses, Wang said. LAW VS. LOCAL AUTHORITY Spectrum 5 is zoned for industrial uses, and the citys zoning ordinance states that operating utility buildings and facilities there requires a conditional use permit, which must be reviewed by city staff and approved by the Planning Commission. However, Edison said California Public Utilities Commission rules preempt the city from imposing land use restraints on the project. In addition, state law allows Edison to build substations of fewer than 50 kilovolts without the commissions permit and environmental reviews, the company said. Commission officials didnt respond to the Registers requests to discuss the agencys oversight. In their lawsuit filed in Orange County Superior Court in July, property owners are asking the court to declare that the city can require Edison to get a conditional use permit. They also want the court to stop the city from issuing nondiscretionary permits, such as grading and building permits, until the matter is resolved. The city, in its response to the suit, stated Irvine takes no position and will follow the courts decision. The city declined to comment on the ongoing litigation and issued the following statement to the Register: The city is exploring all available avenues within the confines of state law to allow it to exercise discretionary zoning authority over the Safari Substation project. The citys zoning code contemplates that the city would have that authority and, as such, represent the policy and desired outcome for the city. Edison said the company has consulted the city throughout the project, as required by state law, and has met with neighboring property owners and tenants and accommodated their requests as much as possible. Substation walls will be covered with smooth concrete or plaster to match adjacent buildings, Edison said. The walls will be 10 feet tall instead of the standard 8 feet, and there will be increased vegetation along the perimeter. CLASH OF INTEREST Property owners have also criticized the Irvine Co. for selling the land to Edison. They say Irvine Co.s own guidelines ban substations in Spectrum 5, citing the section prohibiting any electro-mechanical or electro-magnetic disturbance radiation. Electrical substations have long been considered a compatible use in business districts in Irvine and elsewhere in Orange County, Irvine Co. said in a statement to the Register. Bender and others say they moved to Spectrum 5 because they bought into the master plan and the rules and regulations, and Edison shouldnt be exempt from them. Zeki Kayiran runs an engineering consulting firm next to the substation site. Like Bender, Kayiran plans to rely on his property for retirement income. Do you think any of us would have bought the property if we knew a substation was coming? Kayiran said. No one would. Contact the writer: 949-445-6397 or tshimura@ocregister.com One of the victims had survived another assassination attempt two months ago at the site of Tuesdays attack Two police officers were killed by suspected militants on Tuesday in El-Arish city, North Sinai, Ahram Arabic news website reported. The bodies of the two officers, Mohamed Abdel Razik and Mohamed El-Zamlut, were transferred to El-Arish Military Hospital. Security sources and eye-witnesses told Ahram Arabic news website that the 30-year-old El-Zamlut, an El-Arish local, had survived another assassination attempt two months ago at the site of Tuesdays attack. Egypt's security forces have been fighting a decade-long Islamist insurgency in parts of North Sinai that spiked following the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013. Hundreds of policemen and soldiers have since been killed by militants, and the army has stated that security operations have resulted in the killing of hundreds of militants by security forces. Search Keywords: Short link: SAN DIEGO A former producer at NPR who lost his ability to walk and speak asked a judge Tuesday to restore his right to vote under a new California law that makes it easier for people with disabilities to keep that right and regain it if lost. David Rector, 66, handed a letter to a court clerk shortly after an advocacy group filed a complaint with the U.S. Justice Department asking that California be required to notify people who have been disqualified from voting about the law in time for the Nov. 8 election. How are these folks supposed to know about the right to get their voting rights back unless somebody tells them? Thomas Coleman, legal director of the Spectrum Group, said outside the federal building in downtown San Diego. The state judiciary has been dragging its feet. For years, California judges had stripped away the voting rights of people with some disabilities, including autism, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy, almost as a matter of routine, said Thomas Coleman, legal director of the Spectrum Group. Mandy Griffith, an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of California, declined to discuss the status of a year-old Justice Department investigation, launched at Colemans request, into whether California unlawfully deprives disabled people of voting rights. Rector was pushed in his wheelchair several blocks to San Diego Superior Court to deliver his written request. Wearing a white T-shirt with black letters that said, I want to vote, he looked at a computer with eye-tracking software that voiced his desire to cast a ballot. A judge will consider the request, court spokeswoman Karen Dalton said. All but about a dozen states have some type of law limiting voting rights for individuals based on competence. Advocates say how those laws are enforced varies widely not just by state but by county and judge. Supporters of the limits say the restrictions protect against voter fraud. Under Californias new law, which took effect Jan. 1, seniors and other people with disabilities who are assigned conservators to manage their financial and other affairs keep the right to vote unless a court finds clear and convincing evidence that they cannot express a desire to exercise it. Theyre not at the head of the pack, but theyre definitely on the forefront, said Michelle Bishop, voting rights specialist at the National Disability Rights Network. This idea that you simply have to express the desire to vote is how we want people to be thinking about voting rights. Coleman anticipates the law will provide voting protections in conservatorship cases going forward. The challenge, he said, is getting the word out to people who have lost the right a number he estimates at 32,000 in California based on a review of Los Angeles County records. California Secretary of State Alex Padilla said in a statement that his office had not seen the complaint and could not comment specifically on it. But Padilla said he supported the bill that became the law. We continually explore ways to provide information to Californias diverse population and are always open to receiving recommendations to improve our outreach efforts, Padilla said. The Judicial Council of California, which sets policies for state courts, had no immediate comment Tuesday. Rector moved to San Diego from Washington, D.C., in July 2008 to join his fiancee, Rosalind Alexander-Kasparik. He registered to vote almost immediately, even before getting a new drivers license. Eight months later, Rector clutched his chest and fell to his knees while reading a newspaper at breakfast, stricken by a tear in his aorta. After two days in the hospital, he suffered severe brain trauma that left him unable to speak or use his arms and legs. Today, he uses a wheelchair to move around and can write with limited use of his right thumb. He communicates with electronic devices, using his thumb or eye-tracking software to indicate what he wants. According to the complaint, he can think, feel, comprehend, remember, see, hear and express emotions. During an interview, he cried out when Alexander-Kasparik described his injury and extended his hand to say goodbye. Alexander-Kasparik says her fiance is still a voracious consumer of TV and radio news and that they collaborate on a comic book series. He laughs when watching scenes from Star Wars. Rector voted in 2010, telling his fiancee of his opinions on a flurry of state ballot measures. At a hearing the following year to appoint Alexander-Kasparik his conservator, Rector cried out after a judge checked a box that said he could no longer vote. We knew it was coming, but we didnt know there was anything that could be done about it, said Alexander-Kasparik, describing it as a devastating blow. As this years election neared, Alexander-Kasparik asked friends on social media for help getting Rectors rights restored. She eventually learned about the law authored by state Sen. Marty Block, a San Diego Democrat. Voting is central to his life, Alexander-Kasparik said. Civic responsibility is central to his life There are so many people who died for this right. So many people take it for granted. WASHINGTON After 14 years of detention, Abu Zubaydah, the suspected terrorist brutally tortured after his capture in 2002, appeared for the first time at a Guantanamo Bay hearing on Tuesday morning and said he should be released because he posed no threat. Through an anonymous soldier who read a summary of his views under convoluted Defense Department rules, Zubaydah declared that he has no desire or intent to harm the United States or any other country. He said he would like to be reunited with his family and has some seed money that could be used to start a business after he is reintegrated into society. Video of the 17-minute open part of the hearing was streamed to a Pentagon conference room where a dozen reporters and human rights advocates were allowed to watch. It was a landmark of a sort: the hearing was the first time that members of the public other than his lawyers had been allowed to see him since his capture after being badly injured in a shootout in Pakistan in March 2002. Zubaydah, now 45, did not speak during the unclassified part of the hearing, called a Periodic Review Board. Born in Saudi Arabia to a family of Palestinian background, Zubaydah became a sort of travel agent, camp administrator and facilitator for militant fighters in Afghanistan in the early 1990s. But when he was shot and taken into U.S. custody six months after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, he was the first significant suspect captured in an increasingly desperate global CIA manhunt. At the time, U.S. intelligence officials wrongly concluded that he was a top-ranking leader of al-Qaida who might have knowledge of forthcoming plots. That mistaken belief was one reason CIA officials, advised by two military psychologists who had no experience conducting interrogations, decided to use extreme physical force to try to break him. The decision followed a productive, traditional interrogation by FBI agents, who believed Zubaydah was cooperating and thought the harsh measures unnecessary and unjustified. He was the first prisoner to be subjected to waterboarding 83 times water was poured over a cloth covering his mouth and nose to give him the feeling of drowning, as records later would show. Interrogators were themselves distressed by his suffering and told CIA supervisors that they thought he had no more information to offer, only to be told to continue the rough treatment. Officials later acknowledged that the initial description of him as the No. 3 figure in al-Qaida was incorrect. Richard Goldstein This month Im writing about Doing it the right way. What do I mean by this? Its the title of new book by Rick Gould, managing partner of Gould + Partners. Goulds book discusses the steps necessary for a successful PR agency merger or acquisition. Why is this book important? How does the market look for 2016 and beyond? Ricks book is important to every PR agency thinking of acquiring or selling. In 117 pages it gives you solid information on whats necessary if youre considering a sale or purchase. Where is the market heading? According to Rick, the marketplace is active and robust. There are more buyers and sellers than ever before. There are new buyers who know they can capitalize on pricing and intellectual capital. (Point of information: intellectual capital does not appear on your balance sheet, but it is truly your most important asset.) If you cant perform to the highest standard of a customers expectations, you wont have a client for long. 2015 was the biggest year for mergers and acquisitions on record, with more than $5 trillion in transactions (including all industries, not just PR). 2015 was a busy year for independent PR agencies. New York-based Finn Partners acquired Seigenthaler PR and DVL in Nashville and combined the two firms to create the largest firm in Nashville and a dominant force in the Southeast. They also acquired New York-based The Horn Group. Long Island and NYC based Didit acquired Bridge Global and J.B. Cumberland. In April 2016, National Public Relations, the largest PR firm in Canada, acquired Boston-based Shift Communications, an integrated communications firm known for its thought leadership, innovation and robust technology practice, data driven PR, and Google Analytics Certified Partner distinction. It seems to me that future PR agencies will need to take on a greater role in providing integrated communications and marketing services. Customers of your agency will be looking to you to provide strategies and solutions involving a more integrated approach. By integrated communications/marketing I mean an approach to creating a unified and seamless experience for consumers to interact with the brand/enterprise; it attempts to meld all aspects of marketing communication such as advertising, sales/service promotion, public relations, direct marketing and social media through their respective mix of tactics, methods, channels, media and activities, so that all work together as a unified force. Its a process designed to ensure that all messaging and communications strategies are consistent across all channels and centered on the customer. Why the spike in 2015? Why are new buyers evolving? Strategic acquisitions are the new norm. Buyers are acquiring to improve specialties, locations, quality of staff (intellectual capital, if you will), clients, name brands and an integrated marketing strategy. Who are the new buyers? Many are one-office firms acquiring other firms in locations that will facilitate and improve service and firm depth. They recognize a need for niche specialties. They realize that integrated marketing services are the wave of the future. Firms are starting to realize that bigger is better. With size, there are economies of scale, and these economies go straight to the bottom line. Why are firms selling? Sellers pools have increased. There are many quality firms available to be sold. Owners are looking to monetize their years of sweat equity. They want relief from back-office distractions. They need regional and/or international reach. They desire expansion of brain trust and depth of staff needs to grow. Owners want to practice PR versus building and managing the firm. They see many efficiencies of scale by sharing labor and operational expenses, among other reasons. Also, smaller firms are losing pitches that they could have won if they were bigger. Financial resources and the intellectual capital of the buyer is a huge advantage in winning and retaining clients. The age factor as a reason to sell The age factor is now more relevant than ever. The boomer-generation are now at an age where selling makes sense. To retire comfortably, they need to monetize their twenty-to-thirty-year invested asset. Buyers dont want to buy firms whose owners are in their late sixties or early seventies, thinking they may not have enough stamina to fulfill an earn-out obligation and stay beyond. Buyers are willing to acquire seller firms with older executives if there is a solid, experienced second tier of management. Does the size of your firm matter? The short answer is yes. There are certain plateaus in the PR industry/profession. Firms want to reach the next financial plateau: $3 million to $10 million to $15 million and so on. Frankly, I have not seen many firms go from $1 to $10 million in a short time span, but it is possible. I believe firms doing $1 to $3 million should consider $5 to $6 million as a first plateau. The reason: to get to and operate a $5 million or $6 million firm requires a lot more infrastructure and a stronger second tier of management than a $1 million or $2 million firm. In my view, bigger firms have more intellectual capital that can be monetized, not to mention a higher profile customer base. So you want to sell in two or three years? Whenever I talk to PR firm principals I always ask if they have plans to sell, buy or merge. I titled this column as Doing it the right way. So, what is the right way? In my view, the very first step is to understand what is takes to have a successful transaction. Rick feels there are 13 steps or keys to a successful transaction. This column will review this and other keys to success in future columns. For now, however, I leave you with this: the key is value creation; the key is merging cultures; the key is to create a best-place-to-work environment and culture by maximizing the intellectual and creative capacity of both the seller and buyer; the key is to overcome the apparent risks in consolidation and the merging of cultures; and the key is not making your transaction a statistic in the failed-deal column. Remember, you should not try and sell a distressed firm, such as a fire sale, but a firm that is going growing and profitable, ready to capitalize on a buyer with wider reach in geography, talent, service offerings, and overall depth. Heres a good start and a plug for me. Make sure your CPA, lawyer, and management consultants know your industry and have relationships within the industry! If they dont, switch! * * * Richard Goldstein is a partner at Buchbinder Tunick & Company LLP, New York, Certified Public Accountants. Loading... OilVoice will be with you shortly... Agricultural News Changes to Help Offset Market Volatility to Be Implemented By CME Group in Live Cattle Contracts Lots of concerns are being raised by beef producers these days over the volatility being observed in recent market activity. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Group has met with members of the cattle industry to discuss possible solutions to this situation that has producers at a disadvantage. In response, the CME has announced some changes being implemented for live cattle contracts in an effort to offset the volatility. K-State Extension Beef Specialist Dr. Glynn Tonsor explained to Farm Director Ron Hays, he believes these changes will have a positive impact for cattle producers. Three changes to live cattle futures contracts have been announced - two of which Tonsor says address important technicalities in futures trading. The first change, is CME's intention to place a "seasonal discount" of $1.50 on the October contract only for deliveries to Worthing, South Dakota, according to Tonsor. The second he says is to create equality in the specifications of deliveries. Instead of a 55/45 split, the delivery mix will change to 60 percent Choice and 40 percent Select. This is scheduled to start with the October 2017 contract. "Basically, the stated goal here is to better align delivery values with cash market prices - keep regional differences a little more in line with what we'd expect," Tonsor said, adding also, "Effectively, that's basically just trying to get the specs in line with what we actually observe in live cattle." The third change, calls for a short-term pause in deferred live contracts beyond the fall of 2017. Tonsor says, for now, the CME has stated that they do not plan to list or make available any of the contracts after October 2017. He says this is due to concerns about the inner workings of the cash market. Tonsor asserts that the CME is working with several segments of the industry in an effort to try and understand all the aspects of liquidity transparency of the fed cattle market; an issue markets have wrestled with for a long time. "There's a lot of things on the table here," Tonsor said. "A lot more unanswered questions than there are answers at the moment, I think can be a fair statement. "I think it's an effort to get this contract, which is basically a price risk management tool, to get them better in line with what we think real value of animals are-And I think that's good." Listen to Dr. Glynn Tonsor explain CME's changes to live cattle futures trading in further detail to Farm Director Ron Hays, during today's Beef Buzz. The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today. Listen to Dr. Glynn Tonsor explain to Farm Director Ron Hays the changes the CME Group is making WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady NSI Top Agricultural News A Russian official announced on Tuesday that Russian experts are reporting positive assessment of security measures at Egyptian airports, adding that flights from Russia to Egypt may be resumed in the second half of October, according to Russian state news agency Sputnik. The comments by director of the Russian Tourist Association Turpomosch Alexander Osaulenko came one day after Egypt's aviation minister Sherif Fathy said that a Russian delegation was expected to visit Egypt next week to inspect security measures at Egyptian airports, after which Russia would make a decision on whether flights would resume in October. Moscow suspended passenger flights to Egypt last year over security concerns after the crash of a Russian jet minutes after taking off from the airport at the Egyptian resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh. All 224 people on board were killed in the crash, which was claimed by Islamist militants. Fathy said on Monday that investigations into the crash are still underway and that a delegation of Russian investigators is currently cooperating with Egypts general prosecution before it issues a final report on the cause of the crash. Britain also halted flights to Sharm following the crash. Russian, British and Italian tourists make up more than 50 percent of the total number of tourists to Egypt. The Bristish and Russian decisions to suspend flights to Egypt dealt a huge blow to the country's vital tourism industry. Osaulenko told the Russian Izvestia newspaper there is a possibility that the cost of tours to Egypt after flights resume will be higher than rates for similar dates of the previous years. Search Keywords: Short link: Macaroni cheese is the ultimate indulgent food to keep you going through essay writing, studying and of course lazy hangover days. We have plenty more macaroni cheese recipes here... Looking for cheap student meals? Want easy recipe ideas for your flatmates? We've made it easier to socialise over great comfort food with your housemates at uni. From simple jacket potatoes for one to ideas for the ultimate taco or fajita party, check out our student food inspiration... Check out these super easy veggie mac 'n' cheese one-pans, topped with a punchy salsa. This simple recipe is a real treat without the calories, plus it's ready in just 25 minutes too Comfort food at its best. Mac 'n' cheese is always a winner and this one, with shredded ham and a crispy top is top of our list. Fresh salad is good as a side. How do you make mac 'n' cheese better? Add bacon of course! This oozing cheesy pasta bake is also rich with Red Leicester and finished with a crunchy breadcrumb topping. Double up the recipe for all of your flat mates Jacket potatoes for students Jacket potatoes make a great option for cheap student meals for one or the whole gang. Try our fun ideas here, and here's how to make the perfect jacket potatoes... This recipe for baked sweet potatoes with smoky beans makes for an easy veggie student meal that will give you a veg fix before a big night out. Plus, it's under 500 calories. Tinned tuna makes a great budget-friendly topping for a baked-potato. This recipe adds cheese and spring onions for an extra melty finish, ideal for indulging on. Some nights, only a baked potato will do. Why not make it a bit more special with this recipe for baked sweet potatoes with feta cream and crisp chorizo? Ultimate comfort food. Flatmate sharers for students Best beef chilli fit for a crowd. Made with chipotle chilli and fresh green chilli this is both warming and with a kick. Serve with guacamole and rice A comforting white fish, smoked haddock, prawns and leek pie, topped with fluffy mash, that you can make in advance and freeze. A classic family dish special enough to serve to guests too Make a batch of this Italian veggie classic to feed a crowd, or make two smaller dishes and freeze one for later. Plus, it's gluten free Give our tear-and-share gooey cheese-filled dough balls a go at home with step-by-step help from the olive test kitchen. They'd make a great starter for the kids or something to kick off a laid back dinner party Recipes with mince for students Mince makes a great-value option for feeding a crowd. Buy a large pack and make one of these easy meals for a cheap dinner. Plenty more student meal ideas with mince here... Make this for your uni flat mates and reap the rewards. With our best-ever spaghetti bolognese we've perfected a family favourite including tips on how to make it in a slow cooker. This is our take on a classic cottage pie that will feed a crowd. With rich beef and creamy mash, it's a long-standing family favourite and a good one to have in the freezer for emergencies! Get your mates round for a seriously indulgent flat party. Our most popular chilli con carne recipe EVER! Made Tex-Mex style with aged minced beef, chipotle powder, red wine, 70% dark chocolate and semi-dried tomatoes. Stir-fry noodles for students Stir fries are the perfect solution for quick meals between lectures, library sessions and before pre drinks. More stir-fry ideas here... This 10-minute beef and black bean stir-fry is the ideal quick fix. It's super speedy, under 300 calories, and packed full of flavour. It's also great for when you want to be a bit healthier and ditch your usual take-away. More like this Pork, noodles, mangetout: the three main ingredients for this quick and easy stir-fry. Spice it up with sweet chilli sauce to serve and tuck in for a fast meal for two. Ready in just 30 minutes, these Shanghai fried beef noodles make a great, easy meal for two. Pasta bakes for students One of the easiest student meal ideas, a pasta bake makes plenty for your whole flat, with leftovers for heating up between lectures or to tuck into after a night out... This indulgent lasagne is a great dinner party entertaining pleaser to assemble then bake just before your friends arrive. Really meaty and full of great texture, your guests will keep coming back for more. An easy winner! This must be the best easy vegetarian lasagne! Mix the courgettes, garlic and chilli with ricotta, add a shop-bought tomato sauce and fresh lasagne and dinner can be on the table in under 30 minutes. This recipe for baked tortellini with spinach and chilli is super-easy to make, ready in under and hour and less than 500 calories - a perfect quick meal for two. Use shop bought tortellini and the hard work is done for you. Fajitas recipes for students Everyone loves fajitas, and they make a great flatmate dinner for everyone to dig in to. Double or triple the ingredients in the below recipes to feed your housemates. Check out this flavour packed recipe for these next-level chicken fajitas. Our cookery writer Adam Bush shares his tips and tricks to getting this classic family meal right, every time. Check out our lower calorie steak fajitas. These fajitas are super easy to make and take no time at all. Serve in the middle of the table and dig in If you're a veggie who loves fajitas, check out these super simple wraps with salty halloumi, sweet red peppers and crunchy red onions. Ready in 20 minutes, this easy recipe is a great midweek meal for two. Pizzas for students Nothing says student grub like pizza. Save your pennies and learn how to make your own pizza, you'll be the most popular Fresher in your halls. All the comfort of pizza but ready in a flash and healthier, too. These 5-minute flatbread pizzas are a great recipe to have on hand midweek when you and your flat mates don't want to spend hours cooking Trying to please both veggies and meat-eaters? This patchwork pizza gives you the best of both worlds with pepperoni on one half and olives, capers and peppers on the other. Flat party, anyone?? This broccoli and spiced sausage pizza with fennel, chilli and taleggio is delicious and feels like a real treat. It's ready in under an hour, though, which makes it achievable midweek. These sloppy joe pizzettes are a great way to use up leftover bolognese sauce, and kids will love them! Using a bread mix keeps things super easy, and the chilli oil adds a kick Tacos for students Get your mates round for the best taco party in town with these easy recipe ideas. Go even further and create a Mexican feast with our Mexican fiesta recipes... These quick pork and bean tacos are the perfect speedy meal to make for your flat mates and they're under 500 calories. Put everything on the table and let people help themselves. Invite your pals over last-minute and whip up these speedy prawn tacos. Fill tortillas with punchy stir-fried prawns and a chopped tomato and coriander salad for a punchy dinner. Tofu doesn't have to be boring with this recipe for cajun tofu tacos. They're vegan, low calorie, and only need 30 minutes cooking time. One pot pasta for students Save on the washing up with our easy one pot pasta ideas, perfect for feeding a crowd before a night out. Pasta and sauce all cooked in one pot? Sounds mad but it works! Try Sabrina Fauda-Role's orecchiette primavera recipe (taken from her book, One-Pot Pasta) tonight Cheesy pasta is always going to be a winner, but making it all in one pot makes it so much easier. Give Sabrina Fauda-Role's four cheeses pasta a go tonight, for a creamy, dreamy dinner (taken from her book, One-Pot Pasta) One-pot tomato and basil pasta Tomato and basil is a classic Italian pasta sauce and this on-pot version is up there with the best. Try Sabrina Fauda-Role's tomato and basil pasta recipe (taken from her book, One-Pot Pasta) tonight Omelettes for students Possibly the easiest cheap meal out there for students, the trusty omelette helps you get in plenty of your five-a-day with mushrooms, peppers and lots more. Use up those last few eggs in the fridge with our protein-rich omelette ideas, from quick vegetarian omelettes to our elaborate Tex-mex frittata. This recipe for chilli, cheese and garlic mushroom omelette is easy, vegetarian and ready in under 30 minutes making it a perfect midweek meal for one The ultimate comfort food which clears out the fridge too, try our best Spanish omelette recipe with red onion, red pepper and new potatoes. Serve with a rocket salad. Brownies for student baking Become the resident baker among your student friends and you will be the most popular person on campus. Our indulgent brownie recipes are easy to make! What's better than a chocolate Bourbon biscuit? Chocolate Bourbon brownies! This is one of our favourite recipes of 2016 - trust us, you'll need to make a double batch A foolproof traditional brownie recipe topped with indulgent peanut butter fudge. These easy decadent brownies are the ideal dinner party treat to serve with coffee, or an indulgent afternoon snack A classic, gooey chocolate brownie recipe that can be ramped up with added ingredients (weve included three suggestions in the recipe). This recipe uses a square tin, but you can use an oblong or even round cake tin provided it is roughly the same size just keep an eye on the brownie, you may need slightly less or more time than the recipe states. Healthy recipes for students Check out these vibrant vegan Mexican salad bowls. This quick and easy recipe is super fresh and has just the right amount of spice and zing - ready in 20 minutes Ready in 30 mins, these deliciously sweet and smokey flatbreads are low cal but high in protein perfect for an on-the-go lunch or quick and easy dinner Check out these indulgent meaty sandwich subs with gooey mozzarella and nutty parmesan. This easy recipe serves a family of four and is ready in less than an hour. Plus, it's low calorie, too This hasselback chicken tray bake with mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes and pesto makes a quick and easy tray-bake that's easily doubled or halved. Plus, it's just over 300 calories Check out this indulgent french toast recipe oozing with melting cheese and punchy sweet chilli jam, perfect weekend comfort food Advertisement Check out this quick and simple creamy gnocchi recipe with pancetta and peas ready in just 20 minutes Two of those injured in the gas cylinder explosion are in critical condition Egypt's foreign ministry said 10 Egyptian nationals have been severely injured when a cooking gas cylinder blew up in a house in Libya. Two of those injured in the blast, which took place at an eastern Tripoli district, are in a critical condition, with burns affecting 90 percent of their bodies, the ministry added in a statement Wednesday. The rest have suffered second-degree burn covering 65-75 percent of their bodies. The health ministry dispatched ten ambulances to the Egypt-Libya Salloum border crossing to transport the injured for treatment in Egypt. Libya plunged into civil war following the 2011 toppling and killing of dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Egypt's foreign ministry has repeatedly called on Egyptian nationals to avoid travelling to Libya due to the unstable security conditions in the war-torn country. Search Keywords: Short link: In Midwest Food Stories, Clayton Chapman, chef and owner at The Grey Plume, remembers fondly his grandmothers recipe for cranberry fluff. Chef Bryce Coulton, known around Omaha for his handmade charcuterie, remembers learning a food lesson from the complete opposite style of cooking: baking. And Colin Duggan, co-owner of Kitchen Table, tells the story of how the simplest of dishes homemade bread spread with fresh ricotta inspired his food philosophy. The project, which includes video, photographs and a new cookbook, is the brainchild of Brad Iwen, who brought 11 chefs to his Blackstone District studio to photograph and film each making a recipe that had, in some way, inspired their place in the food world. Its something Ive wanted to do for a long time, Iwen said. I became interested in capturing something that inspired a chef from a young age or a developmental moment. Many chefs turned to early memories. Sarah Jane Hunt, an Omaha-based food stylist, shares the story and recipe for lil pie, a depression-era dish that her grandmother made from scraps. Cookbook author Summer Miller, who wrote New Prairie Kitchen, tells the story of how an apple cake that appeared at a difficult moment reminded her that she wasnt alone. And John Jelinek, who owns and runs Peanut Butter Johnnys food truck, shared the story of a Czech potato salad thats been a mainstay at his family gatherings for four generations. Jason Olsen, who will play host to a pop-up event called Banh Fire this Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m. at Mula, 3932 Farnam St., contributed a recipe he was taught by his father, a firefighter who cooked in his fire station. Ham and pea tortellini introduced Olsen to roux, the classic mixture of fat and flour, which he learned later was the basis for lots of dishes, including Italian staples, gravy and even soup. My dad said, If you can make this, you can make any sauce, Olsen remembered. I feel humbled to be part of the project. In the book, Iwen shares the images of the chefs, their food and the recipes. In the video series, online at midwestfoodstories.com, the subjects get into the backstories of why they chose these dishes. Set to music, the stories are juxtaposed with images of each person making his or her featured dish. The project came together so well that Iwen is already planning a second book. This time, he hopes to photograph chefs and food professionals in their own environments. Learn more about his project at facebook.com/midwestfoodstories and purchase the book at midwestfoodstories.com. Recipes From-scratch Ricotta Cheese 4 quarts whole milk 2 quarts heavy cream 4 tablespoons lemon juice 4 teaspoons kosher salt In a nonreactive pot, bring the milk, cream and salt to 190 degrees over medium heat, stirring regularly to prevent scalding. Stir in the lemon juice. As soon as the curd breaks from the whey, remove from heat. Let it rest for 10 minutes to completely separate. Line a colander with cheesecloth and set it up over a bowl in the refrigerator overnight to strain. Colin Duggan, chef/owner, Kitchen Table Apple Cinnamon Cake For the cake Butter 1 cups granulated sugar, divided 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons cinnamon, divided 2 apples cup oil cup applesauce 2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 teaspoon cinnamon extract 1 cups all purpose flour 1 teaspoons baking powder teaspoon salt teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 1/8 teaspoon ground clove For the whipped cream cup heavy whipping cream 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Powdered sugar, to taste Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter the bottom and sides of a springform pan. In a small bowl, combine cup sugar with 2 teaspoons of cinnamon. Take half of the mixture and sprinkle the bottom of the buttered pan with it. Save the rest for later. Peel, core and thinly slice the apples so they are ready when you are. In a medium-sized bowl, use a spoon to stir together the remaining 1 cup of sugar, oil and applesauce. Make sure its well mixed. Add the eggs and extracts, mixing thoroughly. In a smaller bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg and clove. Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and stir until almost all the dry ingredients have been dampened, but you still see pockets of flour. Add the apples and stir until coated. This step will make or break the texture of the cake. If you overmix, it will be tough, so take your time. Pour it into the prepared pan, sprinkle the top with the remaining sugar and cinnamon mixture. Bake for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool for about 15 minutes before removing from the pan, cutting and serving warm. If you want to get fancy, loosely whip some heavy cream, add the vanilla and powdered sugar to taste just before soft peaks form and serve a dollop on each slice of cake. Summer Miller, author New Prairie Kitchen Recipes courtesy Midwest Food Stories, Volume One by Brad Iwen. LINCOLN Nebraska mounted a legal challenge Tuesday to new federal health care rules that bar discrimination against transgender people. The state joined Texas and three other Republican-led states in a lawsuit arguing that the new rules could force doctors and other health care providers to act contrary to their medical judgment or religious beliefs. Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson said the suit addresses an attempt by the Obama administration to expand the definition of legal terms beyond that intended by Congress. Specifically, when Congress passed the Affordable Care Act, it used the term sex as a biological category, he said. The federal government is now attempting to unlawfully redefine the regulation so that sex includes ones gender identity. Peterson said the issue is the same as that raised by Nebraskas recent lawsuit against an administration letter directing public schools to let transgender students use restrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity. On Sunday, a federal judge in Texas issued a temporary injunction blocking the administrations school guidance from taking effect. The order came in a lawsuit brought by Texas and 12 other states, but the injunction applies nationwide. Nebraska and nine other states raised similar arguments in a separate suit. The new lawsuit asks the same Texas court to block new regulations intended to ban discrimination by doctors, hospitals and insurers against transgender people. The lawsuit contends that the rules, which were finalized in May, could force doctors to perform gender transition surgery, or refer patients for such surgery, contrary to their religious beliefs or medical judgment. Transgender rights advocates called that a far-fetched hypothetical, saying that a person would not approach a doctor who lacked suitable experience and expertise. Joining Texas and Nebraska in the lawsuit are Wisconsin, Kentucky and Kansas, along with the Christian Medical and Dental Association and Franciscan Alliance, an Indiana-based network of religious hospitals. It discards independent medical judgment and a physicians duty to his or her patients permanent well-being and replaces them with rigid commands, the lawsuit states. Jillian Weiss, executive director of the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund, said the new federal rules were groundbreaking and pointed out that other states already had similar protections. Ten states and Washington, D.C., require private insurers to cover transgender health care, while six states plus the nations capital cover such services through their Medicaid programs, according to advocates. The only thing a doctor is obliged to do is treat all patients, including trans patients, with dignity and respect and to make treatment decisions free from bias, Weiss said. If a doctor has a sound, evidence-based, medical reason to delay transition care for a specific patient, that would be respected under the regulations. The Obama administration finalized the regulations around the time it issued the directive to public schools regarding transgender students that was blocked by U.S. District Judge Reed OConnor. The Justice Department has not said whether it will appeal the ruling. OConnor ruled that the federal anti-discrimination law known as Title IX is not ambiguous about sex being defined as the biological and anatomical differences between male and female students as determined at their birth. He also said that federal officials skirted the federal rule-making process, which requires a chance for public input and feedback before new regulations are implemented. The new health care regulations did go through the rule-making process. They broadly affect the health care system because providers who accept federal funding, including Medicare and Medicaid, have to comply. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services referred questions about the lawsuit to the Justice Department, which declined to comment. Transgender rights have become a growing legal battleground, with struggles emerging about whether to add gender identity and expression to anti-discrimination policies and whether to adopt policies accommodating transgender individuals in areas such as restroom use. The new lawsuit also raises questions about religious freedom and the extent to which businesses and individuals can refuse to provide services based on their sincerely held beliefs. Similar questions have arisen in the context of same-sex marriage and of providing contraceptives. An increasing number of large employers are voluntarily covering transgender treatment, following medical recognition that it can lead to healthier outcomes overall for the individuals involved. The number was up to 418 last year from none in 2002, according to federal health officials. Medicare began covering medically necessary sex-reassignment surgery in 2014. Traditionally, its medical necessity was questioned, and it carried a social stigma. This report includes material from the Associated Press. Contact the writer: 402-473-9583, martha.stoddard@owh.com The hedge fund that owns a big stake in Cabelas and is agitating for change now owns about 2.2 million more of the companys shares than it did at the end of 2015. That the New York hedge fund is putting more chips on the table, finance watchers say, is a sign the fund is confident its going to get its way when it comes to a push for change at the retailer. That could include carving up the company and closing its headquarters in Sidney, Nebraska. The recent buys bring Elliott Managements ownership of Cabelas to 9.3 percent of the company, up from its initial stake of 8.9 percent. It still has options to buy more up to about 11 percent of Cabelas. The change in ownership shows Elliott probably does not expect to go away empty-handed, said Erik Gordon, a professor at the University of Michigans Ross School of Business. They expect a change that will make their shares more valuable, he said. The increase in ownership, now over 9 percent, gives them a lot of presence with management and other stockholders, Gordon said. Regulatory filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission show the hedge fund bought or exercised options to buy roughly 1.9 million shares in the first quarter of this year and 325,000 more in the second quarter. Elliott declined to comment when contacted by The World-Herald. * * * * * * The so-called activist investor declared its stake in Cabelas in October last year and has since pressed for changes, including a sale of the company or parts of it. On the table: the companys valuable credit card business, Worlds Foremost Bank, which operates the Cabelas Club Visa card; the companys real estate; and the companys retail arm itself. Since then, Bloomberg and Reuters news services have reported that Springfield, Missouri-based Bass Pro Shops is eying a bid for Cabelas in partnership with the private-equity arm of Goldman Sachs. Bass Pro has declined to comment. Several large credit card issuers are also reportedly licking their chops for Worlds Foremost Bank. Cabelas has stayed silent apart from announcing in December that it would review strategic alternatives. Such a process often results in a sale of part of the business or all of it. Chief Executive Tommy Millner said on a call with investors in July that the process is ongoing and that the company had no updates. If Cabelas were to be sold to a competitor like Bass Pro, Elliott and other shareholders would stand to benefit. Such buyers typically pay a premium over the going share price to sweeten the offer and get shareholders to say yes to a deal. Prospective buyers also tout cost savings that could come in the wake of a combined company no need to have two personnel departments, for instance as measures that will increase a merged companys profitability. Elliott has a reputation for pushing firms successfully toward a sale or breakup of a company, said Nick Gantchev, a finance professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who researches shareholder activism. The recent purchase of additional shares could be a positive signal that potentially they see things might be moving in the right direction. For Elliott, the right direction is likely a sale of at least part of the business. Such hedge funds typically stay with a company for about 16 to 18 months, Gantchev said, before selling their stakes. Elliott tends to stick with companies even longer than that, his research shows. Maybe thats why theyre also more successful in restructurings and mergers and acquisitions because theyre more persistent, he said. Gordon, the professor at the University of Michigan, agreed. Activists are not short-term traders. They expect the changes they want to take some time to be agreed to and implemented, he said. Cabelas is Elliotts seventh-largest holding of more than 30 companies that include Hess Corp., EMC Corp., Alcoa Inc. and Allergan. Many of those companies have already been broken up (Hess, for example) or pushed toward a sale (EMC was acquired by Dell about a month ago, under pressure from Elliott. Allergan was acquired by Actavis last year.) Cabelas makes up about 4 percent of Elliotts overall portfolio about $319 million in shares. Neither Elliott nor Cabelas has resorted to public mudslinging as Elliott presses for change. That, at least, suggests the two are likely working together, Gantchev said. There hasnt been much info coming out, which suggests they are working and they are moving in some direction, he said. Contact the writer: 402-444-1414, paige.yowell@owh.com A job fair will be a new feature at the Midlands Latino Community Development Corp.s annual Conference and Business Expo. The events will be held Thursday at the Livestock Exchange Building at 4920 S. 30th St. from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The organization will celebrate its 10-year anniversary at the conference. The group, a member of the National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders, exists to empower Latinos by assisting in economic achievement. Marta Sonia Londono Mejia, executive director of the group, said the event is an opportunity to network with people from different communities. One objective of the organization is inclusion, Londono Mejia said. Admission to the job fair is open to all. Business owners attending the conference and business expo must register on the corporations website. All events are free. Conference speakers include Rep. Brad Ashford, State Sen. Heath Mello and Martha Elena Silva, director of Economic Integration at Conexion Americas in Nashville, Tennessee, a fellow NALCAB member. The business expo features workshops on finance and insurance, search engine optimization and virtual marketing. There will be 27 companies at the job fair from the banking, health and education industries and others. There will also be a seminar on interview tips. Prospective attendees are encouraged to bring copies of resumes. Business casual dress is suggested. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said lawmakers would hold hearings in the wake of a recent round of mergers and acquisitions in the crop and seed industry. The consolidation wave could reduce competition and lead to higher prices for farmers who are struggling with depressed commodities prices, Grassley told the Wall Street Journal. In most instances when you have less competition, prices go up, and consumers pay more, Grassley said in an interview with the Journal. In the case of agriculture, farmers are both consumers of (seeds and chemicals), as well as marketers of products. His comments came a day after the China National Chemical Co. bid for Syngenta AG was cleared by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., or CFIUS. Syngenta generates about 25 percent of its sales in North America, the Journal reported Tuesday. Meanwhile, DuPont and Dow Chemical are proceeding with their own merger plan as Bayer pursues a takeover of Monsanto. Grassley said the September hearings will push to make sure government agencies are properly vetting proposed deals. U.S. Air Force retirees Dave and Bea Britton for 44 years have leaned on the third-largest credit union in the country for savings accounts and car loans. But their varying assignments in the Air Force didnt always land them in markets where Pentagon Federal Credit Union had branch locations, such as the Omaha metro area. Still, the Brittons maintained their relationship with PenFed through two different assignments at Offutt Air Force Base near Bellevue and through a third move back to Bellevue when Bea retired in 1999. And so the couple for years have mailed off checks to PenFeds remote service center, waiting days for their deposits to be delivered and then posted to their account. At last, that couple and about 10,000 other local PenFed members can drop by the credit unions newest branch at 312 Olson Drive in Papillion. This is so much faster for us now since we live in Bellevue, Dave Britton said Tuesday at the grand opening of the branch. PenFed officials told The World-Herald that they chose the location in Papillion because its in the middle of a region that has been surging economically, PenFed President and Chief Executive James Schenck said. Housing and business starts within this community are phenomenal, Schenck said. Theres just incredible growth within this community. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau released in May show nearby that Bellevue was the fastest-growing city in Nebraska from mid-2014 to mid-2015; its also closest to Offutt and almost 10,000 employees. PenFeds field of membership includes current or retired members of the U.S. military and members of their immediate families. The credit union currently has 1.4 million members and $20 billion in assets. By comparison, SAC Federal Credit Union, the largest such institution in Nebraska, has about 97,500 members and $848 million in assets. First National Bank of Omaha, the largest bank headquartered in Nebraska, has more than $18 billion in assets. The new Papillion branch marks a sort of new start in the metro area for PenFed, which has operated a service center near 72nd Street and Cornhusker Road since 1992. The credit union has beefed up employment at that facility to more than 500 employees, compared with about 400 in early 2015. Contact the writer: 402-444-1534, cole.epley@owh.com Correction: James Schenck's name was misspelled in a previous version of this story. MINDEN, Neb. A wholly owned subsidiary of KAAPA Ethanol of Minden was the successful bidder, at $115 million, for the Abengoa Bioenergy ethanol plant in Ravenna, Nebraska, according to a notice from U.S. Bankruptcy Court in St. Louis. KAAPA Ethanol Chief Executive Officer Chuck Woodside said Tuesday he hopes the closing on the KE Holdings purchase of the Ravenna plant can be completed by Sept. 30. We are anxious to get in and get started. Harvest is just around the corner, he said, and work will be done soon to enhance ground storage facilities at Ravenna. The KE Holdings bid is one of four successful bids worth more than $355 million for U.S. ethanol plants owned by Abengoa SA of Seville, Spain, and offered for sale in connection with the companys global restructuring to resolve bankruptcy proceedings in Spain and U.S. courts. Omaha-based Green Plains Inc. was the successful bidder for the three other U.S. plants, in York, Nebraska; Mount Vernon, Indiana; and Madison, Illinois. The sales must be approved at a Bankruptcy Court hearing Monday in St. Louis. Woodside confirmed that KE Holdings was the only bidder for the Ravenna plant, and the new ownership subsidiary will be KAPPA Ethanol Ravenna LLC. The plant was shut down for several weeks early this year after its creditors filed lawsuits in February. It was reopened after Abengoa secured a $41 million bankruptcy loan in late March. Woodside said the Ravenna plant is operating at its capacity of 90 million gallons per year, which requires 33 million bushels of corn. There are 51 employees. Weve made a commitment that we will offer every one of those employees a job, Woodside said. Woodside said hes had good feedback from Ravenna-area farmers and KAAPA Ethanol stockholders about the change from Abengoa Bioenergy to local ownership. KE Holdings also owns plants at Janesville, Minnesota; Hankinson, North Dakota; and Lima, Ohio, with other partners. Turkish Airlines is set to operate four flights per week to and from the Egyptian resort The Turkish Embassy in Cairo said on Wednesday that flights between Turkey and Egypt's resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh would resume on 10 September. In early August, Turkish Airlines told Ahram Online that the first flight from Istanbul to Sharm El-Sheikh will leave on 10 September at 23:30 local time. Turkish Airlines is set to operate four flights per week to and from the Egyptian resort. Since November 2015, flights from Istanbul to Sharm El-Sheikh have been suspended following the downing of a Russian airliner over central Sinai in October that year, killing all 224 people on board. A number of European airlines and governments introduced restrictions on flights to Sharm El-Sheikh over security concerns after the Russian airliner disaster. The airline's downing was a blow to Egypt's already ailing tourism industry. The number of tourists coming to Egypt dropped by 50 percent in the first half of 2016 compared to the same period last year, according to Egypt's tourism authority. Tourism revenues during that period witnessed a drop of 60 percent compared to 2015. Search Keywords: Short link: Activist investor Jana Partners pared back its stake in ConAgra Foods in the three months ending June 30, selling about 16 percent of the shares it held at the end of the previous quarter. The move continues a pattern: Jana has reduced its stake in the food manufacturer in each of the past three quarters, profiting from a rising share value. The New York hedge fund started buying shares in the firm, formerly headquartered in Omaha, in the spring of 2015, amassing a 7.2 percent stake in the company through a combination of shares and options to buy shares, at prices ranging from about $36 a share to nearly $39. ConAgra stock jumped almost 7 percent in June 2015 in the wake of the news that Jana was an investor. Then Jana pressed for changes to further boost the value of the company. Since Jana got involved, ConAgra sold its troubled private-label foods unit and announced that it would spin off its Lamb Weston potato unit. It also relocated its headquarters to Chicago and cut costs in part by slashing its corporate workforce by 1,500. The stock traded Tuesday at around $46 a share. Jana has trimmed its stake to 5.5 percent as of June 30, reporting holdings of more than 18 million shares, for 4.1 percent of the firm, plus 6 million call options, which would represent an additional 1.4 percent. Activists cant dump their entire stake at once because it would reduce prices. It doesnt happen right away because its a very large stake, said Nick Gantchev, a finance professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who researches shareholder activism. They tend to do it gradually, with time. Observers told The World-Herald in June that Jana typically sticks with an investment for 2 to three years. Among the other companies its invested in since 2001, Jana has seen a 27 percent return, on average, in 35 activist campaigns. Jana is still the third-largest shareholder in ConAgra after investment management firms the Vanguard Group, with 8.8 percent, and BlackRock Inc. with 7.8 percent, according to ConAgras annual proxy statement, filed in August. World-Herald staff writer Paige Yowell contributed to this report. Contact the writer: 402-444-1336, barbara.soderlin@owh.com A 44-year-old Oakland, Iowa, man died late Tuesday after a long standoff with southwest Iowa authorities. The Pottawattamie County Sheriffs Office said deputies were dispatched to an Oakland residence around 7:15 p.m. about a man who was inside with a loaded rifle. Deputies were told that the man had said he had four bullets, three for law enforcement officers and one for himself. The Sheriffs Office requested help from deputies in neighboring counties, officers from the Iowa Department of Transportation and the Iowa State Patrol. Authorities set up a perimeter around the residence before making contact with the man. The Pottawattamie County Sheriffs Office said attempts to get the man to surrender peacefully were unsuccessful. About 8 p.m., deputies reported hearing a loud bang and glass shattering. A minute later, a second bang was heard and deputies reported seeing orange sparks near where they were taking cover, the Sheriffs Office said. Then a third muffled bang was heard. Later, it was discovered that one of the Sheriffs Office cruisers had a hole in the rear bumper cover that probably came from a shot fired by the man, the Sheriffs Office said. The Pottawattamie County Emergency Response Team arrived on the scene, the Sheriffs Office said, and new efforts to re-establish contact with the man were unsuccessful. A robot was deployed into the residence and the man was spotted unresponsive on a floor. About 20 minutes after midnight, the Sheriffs Office said, authorities entered the residence and the man was found with a fatal, self-inflicted gunshot wound. The body of Marshall Deshong was taken to the Iowa State Medical Examiners Office in Ankeny for an autopsy, the Sheriffs office said. The case remains under investigation. In January 2006, Deshong was critically injured when he was run over in Oakland by a pickup truck driven by another Oakland man. Deshong was dragged under the pickup and into the parking lot of a NAPA Auto Parts store in Oakland. The Sheriffs Office said Deshong and the man were acquaintances who had problems in the past. The Omaha Public Schools busing contractor pushed back Tuesday against criticism from the district for ongoing busing delays, saying OPS set the stage by adding dozens of bus routes to its plate shortly before school began. A spokeswoman for Student Transportation of America said that the company did not have enough time to recruit and train school bus drivers to cover the extra routes. An OPS attorney disagreed, saying the district gave the company plenty of notice verbally and in writing that it would need more buses this school year. We notified them in the spring in a verbal meeting that we were going to have additional routes, said OPS attorney Megan Neiles-Brasch. The district and Student Transportation of America have been struggling with driver shortages that have left bus routes unmanned or running late since school started, earning the ire of parents. OPS Superintendent Mark Evans has laid some of the blame at the busing contractors feet, saying the company didnt notify the district of widespread driver shortages until Aug. 15, two days before school started. Evans said the district was short about 65 drivers. From September 2015 through July 31, OPS paid Student Transportation of America $25.09 million for day-to-day busing, field trips and student activities. Were paying (Student Transportation of America) a lot of money, and we expect better service for it, Evans said last week. In a statement, Lynette Viviani, a spokeswoman for the bus company, indicated that the school district shared some of the blame for the scheduling mess. Viviani said that OPS informed the company on Aug. 4 that it was adding more than 50 new bus routes this year. With that short notice school started Aug. 17 the company did not have enough drivers to cover the extra routes, she said. According to Viviani, the company ran 419 bus routes for OPS during the 2015-16 school year. On Aug. 4, Viviani said OPS submitted 476 preliminary routes, a more than 13 percent increase. We did not anticipate such an increase in the total number of routes and notified OPS we would be short on drivers for the start-up, she said in a statement. On Aug. 10, the finalized number of routes stood at 471. Neiles-Brasch said that bus routes change each year, and that the district told the company that more routes would be needed due to tweaks to the OPS student assignment plan and middle school grade changes. She said the district added only 19 routes. The busing contract requires the district to provide preliminary routes on or before Aug. 1 each year. OPS did that, Neiles-Brasch said. In July, she said OPS Transportation Director Trevis Sallis told Student Transportation of America via phone and email that the district would need about 476 routes for the upcoming school year. At an Aug. 3 meeting, OPS and bus company officials discussed the number of routes, and OPS was told that everything seemed to be in good shape, Neiles-Brasch said. The first sign of trouble came late in the afternoon on Aug. 15, when OPS received an email alerting the district to driver shortages, she said. OPS added routes this year due to a decision to shrink the walk zone for middle schoolers from 2 to 1.5 miles. That adjustment came ahead of additional busing changes that will start during the 2017-18 school year, which board members hope will make busing more efficient and less expensive. More students also may be taking buses due to school construction that required the temporary relocation of several elementary schools to the Mills Building in north Omaha and the former Ryan High campus in South Omaha. Another factor may have been OPS adding sixth-graders to several middle schools that previously taught only grades 7 and 8. Student Transportation of America has said it is working with OPS to get all routes covered as soon as possible. Ninety-five percent of routes should be covered by Wednesday, Viviani said in the statement. The vast majority of our routes are running on time, she said. However, we will not rest until all issues are resolved. Families were to receive letters Tuesday outlining new efforts, starting Wednesday, to get more buses to school on time. Students on certain routes could get picked up 10 to 20 minutes earlier in the morning. OPS special education drivers also are being tapped to cover some Student Transportation of America routes, and OPS has contracted with other bus companies, including Chief Transportation Inc., to pitch in. Routing specialists from the district and Student Transportation of America consolidated 38 routes, and trainers are working to get more drivers licensed. Student Transportation of America said more drivers are waiting in the wings. The bus company expects that about 20 would-be bus drivers will undergo final testing for their commercial drivers license in the next 10 days. Another 20 applicants are training to be drivers, a process that requires 46 hours of classroom and on-the-road training. Another 15 people contacted the company Monday to apply for openings. We thank the Omaha Public School community for their patience and understanding, and the caring community members who have entered our training program. We invite others to join us as well, Viviani said. OPS and Millard, acting as the Metropolitan Omaha Education Consortium Interlocal Transportation Association, first signed a contract with the New Jersey-based company in 2013, replacing longtime busing contractor First Student. The OPS board voted this spring to extend that contract through 2019. Student Transportation of America buses general education students, while OPS has its own in-house buses and drivers for special education students. Contact the writer: 402-444-1210, erin.duffy@owh.com This years Nebraska high school graduates scored slightly lower on the ACT exam than the Class of 2015, but the dip is nowhere near as big as the plunge that is probably coming down the road. The statewide average composite score for the Class of 2016 was 21.4, down from 21.5, according to a report to be released today by the ACT organization. The highest score possible on the college entrance exam is a 36, achieved by less than one-tenth of 1 percent of test-takers. For perspective, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln wants first-time freshmen to have an ACT score of at least 20. This years dip is not enough to raise alarm for Nebraska Commissioner of Education Matt Blomstedt, who attributed it to natural variability. The score, he said, is kind of the same as last year. But this type of incremental change that Nebraska has seen in recent years probably will give way to a big one-time drop when the state implements a significant change in its accountability tests. This month, the Nebraska Department of Education will move forward on lawmakers plan for all high school juniors to take a college entrance exam. The plan calls for replacing the existing 11th-grade accountability tests with either the SAT or ACT. Eighty-eight percent of 2016 Nebraska high school graduates took the ACT, the same as last year. Blomstedt said he would recommend next week to the State Board of Education which test he prefers. Juniors would begin taking the new test this school year. The results would be reported after they graduated in 2018. Nationally, the average ACT score is down this year from 21.0 to 20.8. The Condition of College & Career Readiness 2016, being released today by the ACT organization, attributes the drop to a significant increase in the number and percentage of U.S. students who took the exam. Close to two-thirds of the nations 2016 graduating seniors nearly 2.1 million students took the ACT, an all-time high. That compares to 59 percent of graduates last year and 52 percent in 2012. The report says that when states increase the number of test-takers, they bring in students who are not as well-prepared for college. According to ACT research, students who meet readiness benchmarks basically target scores in math, reading, English and science are more likely to go to and stay in college and earn a degree than those who dont. The benchmarks specify the minimum score that students must earn on each of the four ACT subject tests to have about a 75 percent chance of earning a grade of C or higher and a 50 percent chance of earning a B in a typical credit-bearing, first-year college course in that subject area. Among the tested 2016 graduates in the United States, 38 percent met the benchmarks in at least three of the four core subject areas, indicating that they have strong readiness for college coursework. That was a decrease from 40 percent in 2015. In contrast, 34 percent of 2016 graduates did not meet any of the four benchmarks, suggesting that they are likely to struggle in first-year college courses, the organization reported. Thirty-one percent of 2015 graduates didnt meet any of the benchmarks. The higher percentage of students failing to hit those benchmarks can be explained in large part, the organization said, by the addition this year of seven more states that funded the ACT for all 11th-graders as part of their statewide testing programs. Average scores went down significantly in each of those seven states, helping to drive the national average down, the report said. The average score increased in 22 states this year, and there was no change in eight states. Nebraska test-takers have, so far, proved better prepared for college than the national average. Twenty-eight percent of tested 2016 Nebraska graduates met all four benchmarks, compared to 26 percent for the nation. In Iowa, which tests a smaller percentage of students, 32 percent of graduates met the benchmarks. Iowas average composite ACT score dipped from 22.2 in 2015 to 22.1 this year. Iowas reading and science scores were unchanged; English and math decreased slightly. Sixty-eight percent of graduating Iowa seniors 23,132 students were tested, up from 67 percent in 2015. Contact the writer: 402-444-1077, joe.dejka@owh.com * * * * * See how your school fared on the ACT School (% of graduates tested) 2016 2015 Archdiocese of Omaha schools (96.6) 24.9 24.6 Bellevue East (63) 21.4 22.0 Bellevue West (70) 22.7 22.3 Bennington (78) 24.0 21.8 Brownell-Talbot (96) 28.5 27.1 Council Bluffs St. Albert (88) 23.0 23.1 Douglas County West (88) 22.0 23.2 Elkhorn (91.3) 23.6 23.6 Elkhorn South (95.3) 25.6 25.3 Fremont (67) 20.7 20.1 Glenwood (63) 21.9 22.6 Gretna (82) 24.0 24.3 Lincoln East (100) 23.2 23.3 Lincoln High (100) 19.2 18.5 Lincoln North Star (100) 18.6 19.0 Lincoln Northeast (100) 19.5 19.7 Lincoln Southeast (100) 21.3 21.7 Lincoln Southwest (100) 22.2 22.0 Millard North (99) 23.3 22.9 Millard South (97.7) 20.1 19.8 Millard West (99.5) 22.7 22.9 Omaha Benson (47) 16.7 16.6 Omaha Bryan (52) 16.2 16.9 Omaha Burke (71) 20.4 20.9 Omaha Central (70) 21.2 20.5 Omaha North (61) 20.5 20.2 Omaha Northwest (54) 17.3 18.3 Omaha South (65) 17.4 17.3 Papillion-La Vista (82) 22.2 21.9 Papillion-La Vista South (78) 22.9 22.7 Ralston (91) 18.2 19.6 Springfield Platteview (75) 22.0 22.3 Westside (87.2) 23.7 23.2 Nebraska (88) 21.4 21.5 Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln (50) 21.4 21.1 Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson (49) 20.0 19.4 Iowa (68) 22.1 22.2 Gretna Public Schools will see work on a $1.9 million addition to its administration building begin this fall. The school board approved a bid from Rogge Construction at Monday nights meeting. The 10,000-square-foot addition is necessary to accommodate the rapidly growing districts staff, said Superintendent Kevin Riley. The last two central office hires are working in temporary offices, he said. Construction on the addition is set to begin this fall and finish next summer. The districts enrollment was 2,094 at the beginning of the 2005-2006 school year, when district administration moved into its building outside Gretna Middle School off 216th Street. This school year, enrollment is 4,492, Riley said. Retired Bellevue Police Sgt. Michael Wayne Laufenberg dedicated his life to making his hometown a better place. He was a servant soul to the community, Police Chief Mark Elbert said. He spent hours upon hours of his own time and effort to make Bellevue what it is. Laufenberg served for 27 years at the Bellevue Police Department and 35 years at the Bellevue Volunteer Fire Department. He was a positive role model, he took pride in everything he did, and he loved what he did, said his wife, Dana Laufenberg. He was always there for you, he was someone that you could always count on. He wanted to make a difference in the world. He wanted to make Bellevue a better place. Laufenberg died Monday of a heart attack. He was 55. He was born in Topeka, Kansas, but moved to Bellevue during his childhood and graduated from Bellevue East High School. He knew everyone, and everyone knew him, Elbert said. He was one of the names thats a staple to the community. Laufenberg was a family man and enjoyed spending time with his three children and two grandchildren. He liked camping and spent summers on Linoma Beach in Ashland with his wife. During his career, Laufenberg was involved in many different divisions of the Police Department. Because of all that he was involved in, a lot of the programs that he was working on were just getting started, so he was on the front end, Elbert said. His overall professionalism helped to bring us into modern policing. His footprint is a big part of who we are culturally. Laufenberg looked forward to experiences where he was able to interact and help community members firsthand, which is why Elbert said he thrived in the role of community policing supervisor. He cared really deeply about the town and you could tell that was what brought him the most joy, Elbert said. One of his favorite events was Bellevues annual Shop With a Cop, where officers were able to interact with children and help buy presents for families struggling financially during the holiday season. Laufenberg helped train new officers and Elbert said he was regarded highly by his colleagues. He was like a father figure, Elbert said. He was the kind of person who would give you the shirt off of his back and do anything to help. Laufenbergs outstanding service and dedication earned him multiple awards, including Bellevue Police Officer of the Year in 1990. He retired from the Police Department in 2011 because of health reasons. Laufenberg spent much of his free time helping out at the fire hall with events and was passionate about fundraising for the department. His children were inspired by his commitment to helping others and are pursuing careers that follow in their fathers footsteps. His son Micah is a paramedic, daughter Hallie is going into the medical field, and daughter Nikki works at the Police Department and hopes to become an officer. Besides his wife and children, Laufenberg is survived by grandchildren Phoenix and Maddix; parents Richard and Kay Laufenberg; sister Gail Bollenback; and brothers Keith, James and Terry Laufenberg. A visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday and 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at Bellevue Memorial Chapel. The funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Friday at the chapel. Mary Lee Williams bought her home in 1964, paid off her mortgage in 1992 and has never let the house slide, even while raising five children and working factory jobs. For all these years, she has invested her labor in the chores and repairs she can do herself, from planting a zoysia lawn from plugs to finishing garage and bedroom space. And she has invested her money in bigger jobs, such as a new furnace, a new air conditioner and a couple of new roofs. At age 78, Williams still climbs on her roof twice a year to clean the gutters. So she took it personally when a letter came from Douglas County telling her that her home valuation had been cut in half this year. In the governments estimation, Williams home suddenly was worth $32,300, not the $65,000 it was valued at the year before. It knocked me to my knees, Williams said, sitting in a cozy living room that she and a grandson had recently repainted, again. Similar notices of valuation decreases went to thousands of north Omaha homeowners this summer. They live in neighborhoods where a state property tax equalization commission ordered an 8 percent decrease in valuations for tax purposes, on top of decreases proposed by the Douglas County Assessor, for about 20,000 residential properties. Most people who protest their property tax valuations want them to be lower, so they can pay less in taxes. But in north Omaha, hundreds of homeowners, including Mary Williams, took the unusual step this year of protesting their valuations as too low. They asked for their valuations to be raised, even though that could mean higher taxes. Tax referees agreed with Williams and 139 other north Omaha homeowners that their valuations should be increased. The referees recommended raising Williams valuation to $60,000, one of many double-digit percentage increases. The Douglas County Board approved those valuations earlier this month. Douglas County Board member Chris Rodgers and Omaha City Councilman Ben Gray, who represent the area, welcomed the protests, although they wish there were more. They are concerned that the lower valuations could depress home values, discourage renovations by homeowners and even cause people to panic and sell their homes for less than theyre worth to unscrupulous speculators. Im glad that there were a number of protesters from north Omaha who wanted their valuations increased, Gray said. I wish the numbers had been a little higher, and I think the number will grow next year as people learn about the negative effects lower valuations can have. Rodgers successfully protested the valuation on his own home as too low. The county raised it. He abstained from the vote on his own property, which is in the Miami Heights subdivision. Im like some other people in the area who are trying to refinance their houses, Rodgers said. A lower valuation, while its not necessarily the same as a homes market value, makes refinancing more difficult, he said. Then there are older people who are starting to think about selling after assiduously maintaining their homes for years. You want to get to a point where you retire and sell it, and you can move or whatever you want to do, Rodgers said. And then you get there and find out thats not true; the profit is gone. The dramatic decrease in property values also feeds into long-term fears of gentrification among some people who live in north Omaha. They worry that home and land prices will be driven down artificially, making it easier for wealthier, white people to acquire property, displace black residents of north Omaha, and redevelop the area. When the land is undervalued, it breeds conspiracy theories, Rodgers said. The lower valuations touched off strong emotions among many north Omaha residents. The topic was considered at several meetings of community groups over the past several months. Its not fair to us. Its an insult, said the Rev. Portia Cavitt, pastor of Clair Memorial United Methodist Church. It might have been a tax break, but youre telling me that my investment is not worth anything, while everybody else is coming and building in north Omaha. Why is their property worth more than mine? To be sure, a valuation for tax purposes does not set the selling price of a home. The market value is determined by what a willing buyer will pay a seller. Michael Elston, managing director of mortgage lending for First National Bank, said the countys valuation for tax purposes has no direct effect on most lenders decisions about home loans or refinancing mortgages. For home values, lenders instead rely on appraisals, which are based on sales of comparable houses, Elston said. The (countys) assessment is going to have no effect on us, he said. But it does have an effect on public opinion. When the public sees that a county is lowering valuations in an area, buyers will try to buy homes there for less, he said. Elston said a good real estate agent will research sales of comparable houses when setting a price. Carl Christian, a north Omaha homeowner who sells properties all over the city for NP Dodge Real Estate, said his own valuation went up this year. I was OK with it, he said. You want some appreciation. He said he has seen one effect in north Omaha of valuations decreasing, and its not good. The valuations keep going down, and when people want to sell their property, they get low-balled, Christian said. Douglas County Assessor/Register of Deeds Diane Battiato said her staff reassessed much of northeast Omaha this year because the valuations there hadnt been examined for many years. Her office based the valuations on mass appraisal practices that we follow by law, Battiato said. Those include examining sales of similar properties in the area. That resulted in lower valuations for many properties. The Nebraska Tax Equalization and Review Commission then ordered an additional decrease of 8 percent across the board in a large portion of northeast Omaha. They felt we had not gone far enough in lowering it, Battiato said. Her staff argued that the commissions 8 percent decrease was unwarranted. They convinced the state property tax administrator, but not the commission. The commission also ordered a 7 percent across-the-board increase for about 78,000 residential properties in west and central Omaha. Property owners filed 2,673 protests from the area of the state-mandated increase, according to records of Douglas County Clerk Dan Esch. Of those, 1,124 won decreases. Only seven saw their valuation raised. In north Omaha, 586 people filed protests. Of those, 140 properties received higher valuations, 226 stayed the same, and 220 were lowered, according to Eschs records. Battiato noted that protests were filed on only about 4 percent of valuations, or 4,887 of them. The county also is suing to try to overturn increases and decreases mandated by the Tax Equalization and Review Commission. County records dont readily reflect how many of the north Omaha taxpayers who filed protests had asked for increases, or why. But from what constituents told Rodgers and Gray, many were like Mary Williams. She just doesnt think its right for the government to value her home so low and worries that it will affect the selling price someday. On a sunny day last week, Williams had rows of cookies in plastic bags on the dining room table in her home at 43rd and Emmet Streets. Each bag contained two cookies and was tidily tied with a ribbon color-coded to indicate the flavor chocolate chip, chocolate chip with nuts, pudding sugar, oatmeal toffee, peanut butter or Neiman Marcus. Through the dining room window, you can see the backyard and a screened-in gazebo that Williams son-in-law and a friend built from a kit. It looks like it could have been built last week, not 18 years ago. That was my 60th birthday present, Williams said. In the winter, I plastic the whole thing so the snow and ice dont break the screens. Williams sells the cookies, plus brownies and miniature pies, at beauty salons and barber shops to supplement her retirement income. Baked with pride by Mary Lee, she says of her wares. She might say something similar about her home. People will come through and say, Your house is so nice, Williams said. Ill think, Whats it supposed to be? I live here! I like nice things. I dont like nothing junky and broke down. And it just upsets me when they just say, Oh, this is all that this is worth. The Marine Corps has again changed its official history by re-identifying the six men who raised a flag on Iwo Jima. Yes, again. This time, were talking about the so-called first flag raising a significant military act on Feb. 23, 1945, that is now, unfortunately, relegated to historys dusty back shelf. Everyone knows about the second flag raising that happened on Iwo Jima that day, because an Associated Press photographer named Joe Rosenthal snapped a photo that became one of the most iconic images in American history. But few people realize that, several hours before that, a group of 40 men climbed Mount Suribachi and raised a smaller American flag an act that set off a celebration among the thousands of U.S. Marines and sailors battling desperately for control of Iwo Jima. (The second flag, a bigger one, replaced the first one on orders from Marine and Navy leadership.) Everybody was cheering, throwing helmets into the air, ships were blowing their horns, Charles Neimeyer, director of the Marine Corps History Division, told me Wednesday morning. To the Marines on Iwo Jima that day, the most memorable moment was that first flag raising. If you are a reader of my column, or simply a history nerd, you know that research by Omaha amateur historian Eric Krelle led to the Marine Corps changing the names attached to that second flag raising, the famous one. You know that in June, the Marines determined that John Bradley the most famed flag raiser and father of the man who wrote, Flags of Our Fathers was in fact not in the photo. They found that Harold Schultz, a completely unknown Marine private, was in fact standing in the middle of one of the most iconic images in U.S. history. The Marine Corps continued to research the flag raisings after that announcement, which made headlines nationwide. They turned their attention to the first flag raising. And Wednesday morning they announced that, yup, they had the identities of the men who raised that flag wrong for decades, too. A panel of Marine leaders and historians determined that Louis Charlo and James Michels did not help to raise the first flag, as had been previously believed and recorded in the Marine Corps official history of the flag raisings. They did officially recognize two new raisers of the first flag: Private Philip Ward and, in the irony of ironies, Navy corpsman John Bradley. Bradleys son, James Bradley, the Flags of Our Fathers co-author, long argued that his father was the only man to raise both flags. And while the evidence proves that he didnt raise the second, more-famous flag (a fact that James Bradley now concedes), it does prove that he did raise the first and in many ways more-significant flag that day on Mount Suribachi. I asked Neimeyer a variation of the question that many people have asked me since I started writing about the famous flag raising. Why does any of this matter? It matters, says the director of the Marine Corps history division, because it is important to get history right, to record accurately what actually happened on Feb. 23, 1945, for the men who were there, their children and grandchildren and the public. But it doesnt matter nearly as much as the fighting and dying that was taking place on Iwo Jima. More than 23,000 men died or were wounded during the battle, one of the bloodiest in World War II. I think we can legitimately say that all 70,000 Marines and sailors who served on Iwo Jima can indirectly be credited, with raising the flag, Neimeyer said. Each of them contributed something to the battle that led to an American flag being raised and staying atop Mount Suribachi, he thinks. Each of them contributed something to the costly victory at Iwo Jima. GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. (AP) When Asha Jones and other Grand Canyon interns arrived for their summer at the national park, they were struck by its sheer immensity, beauty and world-class hiking trails. Soon, they noticed something else. It is time for a change here, specifically, at Grand Canyon and in the National Park Service in general, to get people who look like me to your parks, said Jones, a 19-year-old black student at Atlantas Spelman College. The National Park Service, which oversees more than 131,000 square miles of parks, monuments, battlefields and other landmarks, thinks its time for a change, too. As it celebrates its 100th birthday Thursday, the agency is facing some key challenges ahead. Among them is reaching out to minority communities in an increasingly diverse nation and getting them to visit and become invested in preserving the national parks. If public lands arent telling their story, and they dont see themselves reflected in these beautiful places, they may not support them, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said. They may not recognize that these are their assets and protect them for future generations. The NPS doesnt track the makeup of its visitors, but commissioned studies have shown about three-quarters are white. The agencys workforce is less diverse, at 83 percent white, a figure that can fluctuate with temporary employees. Minorities are expected to eclipse the countrys white population before 2050. The problem of lack of minority engagement is longstanding and complex but can be tied to two main factors, said Myron F. Floyd, a leading scholar on race and ethnicity in outdoor recreation at North Carolina State University. The first relates to cultural traditions. Outings to national parks generally arent passed down through generations in minority communities, he said, and few minorities grow up with an appreciation for such sites. Also, for many years, African-Americans were excluded from national parks and other public resources, he said. Barriers to visiting national parks also can be as simple as not knowing they exist, or not having a way to get to them or enough money for entry fees and gear, said Jose Gonzales, Latino Outdoors founder. Asian-Americans, meanwhile, can be reluctant to travel outside their ethnic circles, and they might find few billboards or brochures in their language at national parks, said Mark Masaoka of the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council. It may not seem welcoming or as inviting to go to a place where there are hardly any visitor centers, few signs, and youre left to figure it out, Masaoka said. The Park Service has made some changes to address these issues, including recruiting minority interns and producing videos and brochures for Spanish-speaking audiences. Its employees spend time in schools with large minority populations to encourage children to visit the outdoors. The agency also has pushed to designate more sites that highlight the history and contributions of minorities. Some of its newest locations include the Cesar A. Chavez National Monument, established in 2012, and New Yorks Stonewall Inn, the first national monument to gay rights, in June. National parks need more support than ever because years of tight budgets have left them with a lengthy and growing backlog of maintenance projects, officials say. The list of needed repairs totaled almost $12 billion as of last year. The Park Service gets help from some outside groups like the nonprofit Rocky Mountain Conservancy, which recently worked to restore old cabins used by research scientists at Colorados Rocky Mountain National Park. But thats not enough, experts say. I would argue that one of the greatest challenges (the agency) faces in the 21st century is how to engage an increasingly racially and ethnically diverse population in order to maintain the support it has had for generations, Floyd said. Kristen Smith, a 44-year-old black woman from Long Island, New York, said she and two white friends were subjected to racial slurs and gawked at by visitors during a 2014 trip to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. But she didnt let it spoil her outlook on the outdoors. She particularly enjoyed an earlier visit to Yosemite, where a hiking guide nonchalantly noted black men built some of the parks first trails. The hundreds of Buffalo Soldiers members of the nations first black Army regiments were protectors of the land before it became Yosemite National Park, and also served at Californias Sequoia National Park. The part that was the nicest was having someone so casually mention that, acknowledge the truth, Smith said. The history of minorities in national parks isnt always well-known. An annual pilgrimage to Yosemites Sing Peak honors Chinese Americans. Frazer Point in Maines Acadia National Park is named for a freed black slave who built a homestead on land that became part of the park. Those types of stories are important in selling national parks to minorities, Grand Canyon intern Iesha Baldwin said. Conversations in the students cabins sometimes focus on frustrations about seemingly being the only black people in the park. Jaszymne McKenzie, a black intern from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, will return this fall with another adventure to share. She walked along the East Coast looking at stingrays during a previous internship, and this year watched Grand Canyon visitors marvel at elk and squirrels. The Park Service hopes the interns experiences translate into a desire to work for the agency, and McKenzie isnt ruling that out. She wants to be part of a team that recruits minorities. Its the National Park Service. You think, Does it need a marketing team? But when you look at it with ethnicities, I would say so, she said. Copyright 2016, the Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.